bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constraste entre el perfil del postulante y los alumnos de primer año en 2005. Universidad católica de la Santísima Concepción.
Authors: Casanova Daniel , Fernández Enrique , Marín Raúl
Published: August 2018

El presente artículo contrasta y analiza el grado de coherencia entre los perfiles de ingreso declarados por la Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción para determinadas carreras, la forma en que éstos son operacionalizados y el perfil de ingreso de los estudiantes de primer año en 2005. Además, realiza una propuesta metodológica para tratar este tema.
Programa remedial de matemáticas. La experiencia del Instituo Profesional DUOC UC
Authors: Allendes Juan Pablo
Published: August 2018

El tipo de alumno que ingresa al Instituto Profesional DuocUC presenta serias deficiencias formativas en el área de matemáticas. Lo anterior ha obligado a que la misma institución entregue las herramientas necesarias que permitan a los alumnos avanzar en sus estudios superiores y tener una oportunidad real de acceder a un título técnico o profesional. En 2001 DuocUC comenzó a desarrollar un proyecto de nivelación de conocimientos matemáticos consistente en la dictación de una asignatura remedial para los alumnos de la Escuela de Ingeniería. Este plan piloto se desarrolló hasta 2002, tiempo durante el cual se definieron contenidos, estrategias metodológicas, materiales de apoyo e instrumentos de evaluación.
Habilitación y certificación para los profesores en Chile.
Authors: Montecinos Carmen , Walker Horacio
Published: August 2018

Asegurar la calidad de los nuevos profesores y profesoras que se integran al sistema escolar financiado con fondos públicos es una responsabilidad del Estado chileno. Convocando a universidades, sostenedores y profesores este artículo sugiere diseñar e implementar una política de habilitación y acreditación, que integre la evaluación docente y el desarrollo profesional. Esto involucraría, al menos, tres acciones que se describen en esta propuesta: ajustes en los criterios del proceso de acreditación, elaboración de exámenes nacionales de conocimientos disciplinarios y el diseño de programas de inducción para profesores novatos.
E2: Empleabilidad temprana y emprendimiento. Dos grandes desafíos en la formación superior en chile.
Authors: Aliaga Claudia , Schalk Ana
Published: August 2018

This article is aimed to show the relationship between Entrepreneurship/Early Employment Opportunity â€“ "E2â€ â€“ as an add value and a new asset for the Chilean higher education system. It presents the preliminary findings of a proposal included in a unique model "E2â€ (Modelo EmprénDT y Modelo Movile, by Universidad del Pacífico). It is a strategy developing basic competences across all areas of professional formation for early employment and entrepreneurship in those students entering into the world of work as dependant or independent workers. This supplementary and voluntary education includes a set of skills adequate for the labor market and intended to close the gap among the internship, the graduation and the first professional job and/or free lance work (entrepreneurship).
El retorno de las carreras: Un estudio de caso de los factores que inciden en las remuneraciones de universitarios recién titulados.
Authors: Schurch Santana Roberto
Published: August 2018

The income of new university graduated studentsThe aim of this paper is enhancing current evidence about factors that impact the income of university graduates who have joined the labor market recently. For that purpose, it uses data about incomes obtained by graduates from a non traditional private university, considering a wide range of degrees in different areas. Using multilevel models, main findings show the effect of variables related to disciplines themselves affecting the income of graduates who studied those disciplines. In this sense, it is possible to see a wage punishment for graduates of female dominated disciplines- which is observable in the case of both women and men-, a positive effect of selectivity, beyond academic records of graduates, and also a wage recognition to programs that take more time to be completed, although students get their degree much later.
Conceptualización y experiencia de la internacionalización en el pregrado chileno.
Authors: Contreras Paola
Published: August 2018

Despite the increasing relevance of the international dimension of the Chilean higher education system, little is known about the way it shapes the activities of our higher education institutions (HEIs). Therefore, the main aim of this research was to determine how Chilean HEIs understand and experience internationalisation at the undergraduate level. An explorative, qualitative study was conducted, based on semi-structured interviews to a non-probability sample of 33 micro and macro stakeholders of the Chilean higher education system. Major contradictions between the discourse about internationalisation and the way it is actually experienced within the HEIs were found. The main argument of this article is that Chilean HEIs understand and experience internationalisation as a set of international activities to be conducted alongside their traditional local activities, and not as a process by which they can enrich their ethos and mission. Thus, the country does not have truly internationalised HEIs, but rather institutions conducting some academic activities with different degrees of international involvement. The findings of the study serve as a starting point to explore the impact of potential inequalities in the provision of and access to international academic activities in the higher education system.
Análisis comparado sobre patrimonio cultural indígena y currículo: Australia, Chile y Sudáfrica
Authors: Aravena Felipe
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this article is to conduct a comparative analysis of national curriculum regarding the way indigenous culture patrimony is treated in three different contexts; Australia, Chile and South Africa. The following curriculum is analyzed; Australian case Cross-Curriculum Priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (2015); South African case, National Curriculum Statements: Grades R-12 (2013), and finally for the Chilean case Marco Curricular Lengua Indígena 1º a 6º básico (2009). This study suggests that it is necessary to value indigenous culture patrimony in the curriculum. The challenge for curriculum developers, however, lies within the creation of strategies and orientations for contextualized learning with indigenous and non-indigenous students. The analysis conducted uses a qualitative methodology, comparing the cases along three dimensions: identity, curricular categorization and indigenous content knowledge. The results allow for the development of curriculum projections on an adequate focus of indigenous culture patrimony, considering as a priority, the validation of these communities' knowledge. This study concludes that in all three cases, a monocultural curriculum has been preserved, incorporating a limited vision of indigenous culture patrimony. This option has affected processes of identity building, national integration and cultural differentiation.
Holocaust Tweets as an Act of Resistance
Authors: Friesem Lia
Published: August 2018

More than other collective memories, the Holocaust is the
most vivid memory in today’s Israeli existence. As a result of comprehensive
official and unofficial memory work that utilizes the Holocaust
as a political and educational tool, on the one hand, and due to the
advent of the new media, on the other, its grip on everyday Israeli reality
is only growing stronger. As part of a broader research project focusing
on resistive cultural activity on Israeli Twitter, this article makes visible
the striking omnipresence of the Holocaust on this social network, while
maintaining that many of the ‘Holocaust tweets’ constitute an act of
resistance. That is, users are engaged in oppositional decoding in a battle
against the hegemonic Holocaust discourse.
Using Op-ed Writing to Teach Israeli-Palestinian Relations
Authors: Saleh Lena , Sucharov Mira
Published: August 2018

Drawing from the authors’ experience teaching op-ed writing
across a variety of subjects as well as teaching Israeli-Palestinian
relations using a range of methods, this article describes the benefits
of using op-ed writing assignments in an Israel-Palestine course. The
authors demonstrate the value of showing students how to develop concise,
research-based prescriptive arguments that can complement what is
often an explanatory-only approach to understanding Israeli-Palestinian
relations. The article lays out the challenges and opportunities of helping
students master a public commentary form that is becoming increasingly
central in the digital age.
High-resolution QSM for functional and structural depiction of subthalamic nuclei in DBS presurgical mapping
Authors: Dimov Alexey V. , Gupta Ajay , Kopell Brian H. , Wang Yi
Published: August 2018

OBJECTIVE

Faithful depiction of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is critical for planning deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has been shown to be superior to traditional T2-weighted spin echo imaging (T2w). The aim of the study was to describe submillimeter QSM for preoperative imaging of the STN in planning of DBS.

METHODS

Seven healthy volunteers were included in this study. T2w and QSM were obtained for all healthy volunteers, and images of different resolutions were reconstructed. Image quality and visibility of STN anatomical features were analyzed by a radiologist using a 5-point scale, and contrast properties of the STN and surrounding tissue were calculated. Additionally, data from 10 retrospectively and randomly selected PD patients who underwent 3-T MRI for DBS were analyzed for STN size and susceptibility gradient measurements.

RESULTS

Higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values were observed in both high-resolution and low-resolution QSM images. Inter-resolution comparison demonstrated improvement in CNR for QSM, but not for T2w images. QSM provided higher inter-quadrant contrast ratios (CR) within the STN, and depicted a gradient in the distribution of susceptibility sources not visible in T2w images.

CONCLUSIONS

For 3-T MRI, submillimeter QSM provides accurate delineation of the functional and anatomical STN features for DBS targeting.
Induction of aneurysmogenic high positive wall shear stress gradient by wide angle at cerebral bifurcations, independent of flow rate
Authors: Lauric Alexandra , Hippelheuser James E. , Malek Adel M.
Published: August 2018

OBJECTIVE

Endothelium adapts to wall shear stress (WSS) and is functionally sensitive to positive (aneurysmogenic) and negative (protective) spatial WSS gradients (WSSG) in regions of accelerating and decelerating flow, respectively. Positive WSSG causes endothelial migration, apoptosis, and aneurysmal extracellular remodeling. Given the association of wide branching angles with aneurysm presence, the authors evaluated the effect of bifurcation geometry on local apical hemodynamics.

METHODS

Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed on parametric bifurcation models with increasing angles having: 1) symmetrical geometry (bifurcation angle 60°–180°), 2) asymmetrical geometry (daughter angles 30°/60° and 30°/90°), and 3) curved parent vessel (bifurcation angles 60°–120°), all at baseline and double flow rate. Time-dependent and time-averaged apical WSS and WSSG were analyzed. Results were validated on patient-derived models.

RESULTS

Narrow symmetrical bifurcations are characterized by protective negative apical WSSG, with a switch to aneurysmogenic WSSG occurring at angles ≥ 85°. Asymmetrical bifurcations develop positive WSSG on the more obtuse daughter branch. A curved parent vessel leads to positive apical WSSG on the side corresponding to the outer curve. All simulations revealed wider apical area coverage by higher WSS and positive WSSG magnitudes, with increased bifurcation angle and higher flow rate. Flow rate did not affect the angle threshold of 85°, past which positive WSSG occurs. In curved models, high flow displaced the impingement area away from the apex, in a dynamic fashion and in an angle-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Apical shear forces and spatial gradients are highly dependent on bifurcation and inflow vessel geometry. The development of aneurysmogenic positive WSSG as a function of angular geometry provides a mechanotransductive link for the association of wide bifurcations and aneurysm development. These results suggest therapeutic strategies aimed at altering underlying unfavorable geometry and deciphering the molecular endothelial response to shear gradients in a bid to disrupt the associated aneurysmal degeneration.
A double-blind randomized controlled trial of the local application of vancomycin versus ampicillin powder into the operative field for thoracic and/or lumbar fusions
Authors: Takeuchi Mikinobu , Wakao Norimitsu , Kamiya Mitsuhiro , Hirasawa Atsuhiko , Murotani Kenta , Takayasu Masakazu
Published: August 2018

OBJECTIVE

Retrospective studies have reported that the local application of vancomycin (VCM) powder into the operative field decreases the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in thoracic and/or lumbar fusion. Authors of the present study prospectively evaluated the effects of VCM in patients undergoing thoracic and/or lumbar fusion.

METHODS

In this randomized double-blind trial, 230 patients undergoing thoracic and/or lumbar fusion were randomly assigned to the local administration of VCM (interventional group, 1 g) or ampicillin (AMP; control group, 1 g) into the surgical field. The primary outcome was SSI results within 1 year of surgery.

RESULTS

The trial was prematurely stopped according to predetermined rules. The results showed one superficial infection (0.9%, Staphylococcus aureus) and one deep infection (0.9%, S. aureus) in the VCM group and two superficial infections (1.8%, Staphylococcus epidermidis and culture negative) and one deep infection (0.9%, methicillin-resistant S. aureus) in the AMP group. No significant differences in infection rates were observed between the groups (p = 0.8).

CONCLUSIONS

This double-blind randomized controlled trial demonstrated that the local application of VCM or AMP powder into the operative field in short thoracic and/or lumbar fusion procedures resulted in a similar incidence of SSI.

■ CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE Type of question: therapeutic; study design: randomized controlled trial; evidence: class III.

Clinical trial registration no.: UMIN000009377 (umin.ac.jp/ctr)
Giant intracranial aneurysms of the posterior circulation and their relation to the brainstem: analysis of risk factors for neurological deficits
Authors: Lenga Pavlina , Hohaus Christian , Hong Bujung , Kursumovic Adisa , Maldaner Nicolai , Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Bijlenga Philippe , Rüfenacht Daniel A. , Schmidt Nils O. , Vajkoczy Peter , Dengler Julius
Published: August 2018

OBJECTIVE

Giant posterior circulation aneurysms (GPCirAs) usually cause substantial mass effect on the brainstem, which may lead to neurological deficits. So far, there has been no systematic investigation of factors associated with such deficits in GPCirA. The authors aim to examine the risk factors for cranial nerve deficit (CND), motor deficit, and disability in patients with GPCirA.

METHODS

Using MR images obtained in 30 patients with unruptured GPCirA, the authors examined GPCirA volume, presence of hydrocephalus or partial thrombosis (PT) of the aneurysm, and the degree of brainstem displacement measured by the distance between the McRae line and the tip of the GPCirA (∆MT). They evaluated associations between these factors and neurological deficits.

RESULTS

Thirty GPCirAs in 30 patients were included. The prevalence of CNDs was 50%. Patients with CNDs significantly differed from those without CNDs in terms of age (mean 51.0 years [SD 15.0 years] vs 69.0 years [SD 21.0 years], p = 0.01) and in ∆MT (median 50.7 mm [IQR 39.2–53.9 mm] vs 39.0 mm [IQR 32.3–45.9 mm], p = 0.02). The prevalence of motor deficits was 33.3%. Patients with motor deficits showed a larger ∆MT (median 50.5 mm [IQR 40.8–54.6 mm]) compared with those without (∆MT: median 39.1 mm [IQR 32.8–50.5 mm], p = 0.04). GPCirA volume was larger in patients with poor modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores (median 14.9 cm3 [IQR 8.6–18.7 cm3]) than in those with mRS scores of 0–2 (median 6.8 cm3 [IQR 4.4–11.7 cm3], p = 0.03). After adjusting for patient age and the occurrence of hydrocephalus or PT, the authors found that higher degrees of disability were significantly associated with aneurysm volume (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.0–1.3; p = 0.04), but not with ∆MT. The occurrence of CND or motor deficit was not associated with any of the examined variables. There was no correlation between GPCirA volume and ∆MT (rs = 0.01, p = 0.96). The prevalence of neurological deficits did not differ between GPCirA at the basilar apex, the basilar trunk, the vertebrobasilar junction, or the vertebral artery.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the neurological condition of the patients was associated only with GPCirA volume and not with the degree of brainstem displacement, the occurrence of PT or hydrocephalus, or the exact location of the GPCirA. These findings highlight the clinical relevance of GPCirA volume and suggest that factors such as brainstem displacement or PT should play less of a role when finding arguments for or against treatment of GPCirA.

Clinical trial registration no.: NCT02066493 (clinicaltrials.gov)
“QUIERO SER COMO JEFF, THE KILLER” Lo disocial en menores, un diagnóstico difícil
Authors: Hernández Antón Rebeca , Gómez Sánchez Sofía , Mongil López Beatriz , Geijo Uribe Soraya , Sevillano Benito Isabel , Isidro García Guillermo
Published: August 2018

Presentamos en caso clínico de una paciente de 15 años, sin antecedentes de Salud Mental, que ingresa en la Unidad de Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil por alteraciones conductuales y agresividad en escalada, tanto en el domicilio, como en el colegio.

Es un ejemplo de que la psicopatología en edades tempranas no está tan claramente definida, y que puede adoptar formas muy diversas. Es difícil establecer una línea divisoria entre lo psicótico y lo afectivo, lo afectivo y lo caracterial e incluso lo normal de la patología. Encontramos compatibilidad con un Trastorno del espectro autista; Esquizotipia y Trastorno disocial de la personalidad.

En la discusión expondremos el diagnóstico diferencial y nos centraremos en el Trastorno Disocial, ya que continúa siendo un tema controvertido en Psiquiatría; ¿qué es?, ¿presenta dificultades en el diagnóstico?; ¿existe relación entre niños y adulto? y ¿cuál es el tratamiento?
Síndrome de Deleción 22q11.2 y su asociación con Trastornos Psiquiátricos. A propósito de un caso
Authors: Alberdi Páramo Í , Ladrón Jiménez A , Gutiérrez Fernández N , Pérez Moreno R
Published: August 2018

El Síndrome de Deleción 22q11.2 o Síndrome de DiGeorge es una entidad genética caracterizada por la triada clínica de anomalías cardiacas conotruncales, hipoplasia tímica e hipocalcemia. No obstante, el fenotipo 22q11.2 es bastante variable, incluyendo anomalías físicas, metabólicas, endocrinológicas y a nivel conductual y del desarrollo. Incluye asociación piscopatológica con distintos síndromes psiquiátricos. Describimos el caso de un varón de 16 años con criterios diagnósticos de Trastorno del Espectro Autista enmarcado en un Síndrome de Deleción 22q11.2.
METHODOLOGY OF PREDICTION OF TERRIGENOUS RESERVOIR ROCKS
Authors: Lazaruk Yа. Н. , Demyanenko I. I.
Published: August 2018

A sedimentational model of terrigenous reservoir rocks is based on the results of structural-paleogeomorphological and lithological-facies investigations. The reconstruction of the paleolrelif in time of the deposition of sandstones is carried out on the basis of the analysis of small thicknesses of one-aged deposits enclosing these sandstones. Minimum values of deposits thickness will correspond to the paleorelief rasing, and maximum ones – to its lowering. The information on the facies composition of rocks was obtained according to the result of studies of their composition, structure, texture, plant and fauna remnants, mineral inclusions, contacts and transitions between layers, interaction with hydrochloric acid and other diagnostic indications. It was also taken into consideration that sand material, which is carried over by linear sedimentary flows with one-directed dynamics of the water surroundings (rivers, their deltas, sewering and marine currents), is accumulated in the lover forms of the relief. Feedback is characteristic of lithofacies of litorial formations: beaches, bars and spits (wave dynamics of water surroundings). As an example we have constructed a sedimentational model of the Upper Serpukhovian productive horizon C-4 that contains the information on the distribution of alluvial, deltaic, avandeltaic, beach sandstones, their contents in the section of the productive horizon. On the basis of the sedimentation model and data of geophysical studies of wells, the regional map of reservoir rocks of the productive horizon C-4 was compilled which contains data on the sandstones thickness and their collecting properties.
Power System Stability Investigation Using Micro Grid
Authors: Singh Abinash , Surjan Balwinder Singh
Published: August 2018

This paper presents the MATLAB simulation and stability investigation of a power system in the presence of micro grid. Micro grid considered has hydro, wind and PV energy sources as its constituents. Different possible combinations of these energy sources have been presented and the system response is analysed. Fuzzy logic controller has also been incorporated in the rotor side and grid side converters of DFIG of wind power plant. The effect of micro grid on the system during grid connected and partially islanded modes is investigated through voltage, current, power and frequency. The system performance under different combinations of the micro grid constituents has been studied using ISE performance index.
Performance and Emission Characteristics of Thumba Oil Based Biodiesel on Diesel Engine: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Qayoom Shahid , Kanchan Sumit
Published: August 2018

Nowadays, the whole world is facing the problems of lack of fossil fuels and the rise of emission level in automobiles like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc. In order to prevent the whole world from these problems, a number of research developments are taking place to change the concept of using only fossil fuels by displaying some new alternative fuels to the market so that this dependence on fossil fuels can be reduced. For most of the countries in the world, there are limitations of petroleum-based fuels. In other words, the petroleum-based reserves are limited to certain countries. Therefore, those countries which are totally dependent on import of crude oil have to go through many crises or intense difficulties. Hence it becomes very important to develop some alternative fuels, which could be easily obtained from many available resources like vegetables etc.

Biodiesel is nowadays considered as the most effective, renewable and environmentally friendly fuel in place of diesel. While selecting the sources for extraction of biodiesel, the maximum focus is towards non-edible oils like Thumba, cotton, mahua oil etc., instead of edible oils like sunflower, palm, soybean oil etc., to reduce affecting food security. This review, therefore, displays various characteristics like performance and emission characteristics while using Thumba oil biodiesel in a diesel engine. Among highlights, this review covers properties of Thumba oil and Thumba oil treatment methods as well. In this review paper, researchers indicated that Thumba biodiesel reduces various pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), etc. related to diesel. It also covers that among all blends, preheated B20 Thumba biodiesel blend is having better emission and performance characteristics.
Minimum optimal trials and interval during measurement of maximal handgrip strength
Authors: Kim Joon Yub , Kwon Ki Bum , Song Seong Hun , Kwon Soon-Sun , Kang Byoung Youl , Kim Dong Hee
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND:

There are controversies regarding the optimal number of trials and intervals during required for testing of maximal handgrip strength.

OBJECTIVES:

To verify the minimum optimal number of trials (two versus three consecutive trials) and inter-effort interval (15, 30, 45 and 60-s) during the measurement of maximal handgrip strength.

METHODS:

One hundred healthy subjects, 51 males and 49 females, were enrolled. During the measurement of maximal handgrip strength, two consecutive trials were hypothesized to be the minimum necessary. We compared the maximal handgrip strengths between two and three consecutive trials at four different intervals (15, 30, 45, and 60-s).

RESULTS:

Irrespective of hand dominance, maximal handgrip strength was best measured with three consecutive trials rather than two at each interval (all [Formula: see text] 0.05 except 15-s intervals with the dominant hand). The values at 60-s interval (dominant hands: 40.6 kgf, non-dominant hands: 36.7 kgf) were significantly higher than at other intervals (all [Formula: see text] 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Three consecutive trials with a 60-s interval might be the minimum needed for optimal measurement of maximal handgrip strength.
Monitoring the improvement of muscle performance using isokinetic dynamometry: A comparative analysis based on the full range of motion vs. the valid isokinetic sector
Authors: Ozdemir Cigdem , Ozgünen Kerem , Sarpel Tunay , Günaştı Ozgur , Bıldırcın Caglar , Coşkun Funda , Kurdak S. Sadi
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND:

Isokinetic dynamometers measure moment and calculate work and power values, which are generally used to interpret muscle performance.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to determine the differences of peak moment (PM), work, and power between FRoM and calculated valid isokinetic sector (VIS) data to define the possibility of the misinterpretation of isokinetic dynamometer data.

METHODS:

Fourteen professional male soccer players who had ACL reconstruction were recruited to the muscle strengthening program which was conducted four days a week for six weeks with increasing training intensity each week. Isokinetic muscle peak moment, work, and power of knee extensors and flexors were measured at angular velocities of 60, 120, 180 and 240[Formula: see text]/s.

RESULTS:

The results of the standard full-RoM (FRoM) report were compared with the calculated VIS data. Analyses of the FRoM data showed that PM, work, and power values for both extensor and flexor muscle groups improved significantly. However, a comparison of FRoM and VIS data showed significant differences for the work and power values at 120, 180 and 240[Formula: see text]/s.

CONCLUSION:

The evaluation of FRoM isokinetic data may cause improper interpretations in muscle performance, particularly for contractions with higher angular velocities.
Influence of traditional and cluster set plyometric warm-ups on reactive strength index and leg stiffness in male rugby players
Authors: Kurt Cem , Kafkas M. Emin , Kurtdere İmren , Selalmaz Okan
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND:

Cluster set plyometrics (CSP) promise greater muscular performance than traditional set plyometrics (TSP).

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of TSP and CSP warm-ups via bounce drop jump (BDJ) on reactive strength index (RSI), leg stiffness (K[Formula: see text]), ground contact time (CT), and jump height (JH).

METHODS:

Thirteen male rugby players (age, 20.92 [Formula: see text] 2.25 years; body mass, 82.88 [Formula: see text] 9.22 kg; rugby experience, 3.61 [Formula: see text] 3.04 years; training volume, 10.69 [Formula: see text] 3.75 h/week) were recruited for this study from two rugby clubs competing in the Second League in Turkey. The players completed 3 different set configurations of equal jump volume 72 h apart in a randomized, balanced order. The sets configurations were TSP (2 [Formula: see text] 10 jump with 90 s interval), CSP-1 (4 [Formula: see text] 5 jump with 30 s interval), and CSP-2 (10 [Formula: see text] 2 jump with 10 s interval). Pre and post values of RSI, K[Formula: see text], CT, and JH on each session were determined via the Myotest Pro system.

RESULTS:

Statistically significant changes were not found between pre- and post-values of RSI, K[Formula: see text], CT, and JH in each session, either positive or negative ([Formula: see text] 0.05), as well as among the three different set configurations in any of the outcome variables according to post-results ([Formula: see text] 0.05). These findings indicated that low-volume TSP and CSP bounce drop jump had no effect on RSI, K[Formula: see text], CT, and JH in male rugby players.

CONCLUSIONS:

Set configurations, jump volume, and intensity applied in this study may be too low to change muscle-tendon complex (MTC) stiffness and produce a post-activation potentiation (PAP) effect. Further research, with larger samples, is needed to determine which set configurations, jump volume ([Formula: see text] 20 jumps/session), and intensity (box height [Formula: see text] 30 cm) are the best option for enhancement of RSI, K[Formula: see text], CT, and JH.
The effect of familiarization on squats done with a robotic exoskeleton
Authors: Daunis M.K. , Bayers T.A. , Bai L. , Vargas L.J. , Symons T.B. , Caruso J.F.
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND:

Validity may refer to the inter-workout similarity of data from novel hardware to a device deemed the “gold standard”. The degree of familiarization to novel hardware may impact subsequent validity outcomes produced from repeated workouts.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare physiological, performance and perceptual variables to squats done with a barbell to those done with an exoskeleton intended as hardware for manned space flights.

METHODS:

Subjects made four laboratory visits. They did two familiarization sessions on the exoskeleton, followed by two workouts in which the sequence of the exercise hardware examined was determined by a coin flip. Per workout they did four repetitions each against four loads (23, 34, 45 and 57 kg) separated by 90-second rests. For the final two visits the same dependent variables were obtained before, during and after workouts. Z-scores identified outliers that were eliminated from further analyses. Dependent variables were compared with paired t-tests, Cohen’s d effect size, Bland-Altman plots and Pearson product moment correlation coefficients.

RESULTS:

Less than 1% of our data were outliers. Values for our dependent variables generally exhibited considerable inter-workout similarity.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exoskeleton findings were similar to those from a barbell and warrant continued inquiry, such as with microgravity simulation in human subjects.
A Television Recommender System Learning a User’s Time-Aware Watching Patterns Using Quadratic Programming
Authors: Kim Noo-ri , Oh Sungtak , Lee Jee-Hyong
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a novel television (TV) program recommendation method is proposed by merging multiple preferences. We use channels and genres of programs, which is available information in standalone TVs, as features for the recommendation. The proposed method performs multi-time contextual profiling and constructs multiple-time contextual preference matrices of channels and genres. Since multiple preference models are constructed with different time contexts, there can be conflicts among them. In order to effectively merge the preferences with the minimum number of conflicts, we develop a quadratic programming model. The optimization problem is formulated with a minimum number of constraints so that the optimization process is scalable and fast even in a standalone TV with low computational power. Experiments with a real-world dataset prove that the proposed method is more efficient and accurate than other TV recommendation methods. Our method improves recommendation performance by 5–50% compared to the baselines.
Influence of Aggregate Gradation on the Engineering Properties of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Chen How-Ji , Wu Chung-Hao
Published: August 2018

Expanded shale lightweight aggregates, as the coarse aggregates, were used to produce lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) in this research. At the fixed water-cement ratio, paste quantity, and aggregate volume, the effects of various aggregate gradations on the engineering properties of LWAC were investigated. Comparisons to normal-weight concrete (NWC) made under the same conditions were carried out. From the experimental results, using normal weight aggregates that follow the specification requirements (standard gradation) obtained similar NWC compressive strength to that using uniform-sized aggregates. However, the compressive strength of LWAC made using small uniform-sized aggregates was superior to that made from standard-grade aggregates. This is especially conspicuous under the low water-cement ratio. Even though the workability was affected, this problem could be overcome with developed chemical additive technology. The durability properties of concrete were approximately equal. Therefore, it is suggested that the aggregate gradation requirement of LWAC should be distinct from that of NWC. In high strength LWAC proportioning, following the standard gradation suggested by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is optional.
Feature of Echo Envelope Fluctuation and Its Application in the Discrimination of Underwater Real Echo and Synthetic Echo
Authors: Chen Yunfei , Li Sheng , Jia Bing , Li Guijuan , Wang Zhenshan
Published: August 2018

Discriminating a real underwater target echo from a synthetic echo is a key challenge to identifying an underwater target. The structure of an echo envelope contains information which closely relates to the physical parameters of the underwater target, and the characterization and extraction of echo features are problematic issues for active sonar target classification. In this study, firstly, the high-frequency envelope fluctuation of a complex underwater target echo was analyzed, the envelope fluctuation was characterized by the envelope fluctuation intensity, and a characterization model was established. The features of a benchmark model echo were extracted and analyzed by theoretical simulation and sea testing of a scaled model, and the result shows that the envelope fluctuation intensity varies with carrier frequency and azimuth of incident signal, but the echo envelope fluctuation of the synthetic target echo does not present these features. Then, based on the characteristics of echo envelope fluctuation, a novel method was developed for active sonar discrimination of a real underwater target echo from the synthetic echo. Through a sea experiment, the real target echo and synthetic echo were classified by their different echo envelope fluctuations, and the feasibility of the method was verified.
Acceleration Harmonics Identification for an Electro-Hydraulic Servo Shaking Table Based on a Nonlinear Adaptive Algorithm
Authors: Yao Jianjun , Xiao Chenguang , Wan Zhenshuai , Zhang Shiqi , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: August 2018

Since the electro-hydraulic servo shaking table came into existence, many nonlinear elements, such as, dead zone, friction and backlash, as well as its acceleration response has higher harmonics which result in acceleration harmonic distortion, when the electro-hydraulic system is excited by sinusoidal signal. For suppressing the harmonic distortion and precisely identify harmonics, a combination of the adaptive linear neural network and least mean M-estimate (ADALINE-LMM), is proposed to identify the amplitude and phase of each harmonic component. Specifically, the Hampel’s three-part M-estimator is applied to provide thresholds for detecting and suppressing the impulse noise. Harmonic generators are used by this harmonic identification scheme to create input vectors and the value of the identified acceleration signal is subtracted from the true value of the system acceleration response to construct the criterion function. The weight vector of the ADALINE is updated iteratively by the LMM algorithm, and the amplitude and phase of each harmonic, even the results of harmonic components, can be computed directly online. The simulation and experiment are performed to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm. According to the experiment result, the above method of harmonic identification possesses great real-time performance and it has not only good convergence performance but also high identification precision.
Effects and Mechanisms of Microbial Remediation of Heavy Metals in Soil: A Critical Review
Authors: Jin Yuyao , Luan Yaning , Ning Yangcui , Wang Lingyan
Published: August 2018

The use of microbes to change the concentration of heavy metals in soil and improve the ability of plants to deal with elevated metals concentrations has significant economic and ecological benefits. This paper reviews the origins and toxic effects of heavy metal pollution in soil, and describes the heavy metal accumulation mechanisms of microbes, and compares their different bioconcentration abilities. Biosorption, which depends on the special structure of the cell wall, is found to be the primary mechanism. Furthermore, Escherichia coli are found to adsorb more heavy metals than other species. Factors influencing microbial treatment of wastewater and soil containing heavy metals include temperature, pH, and different substrates. Finally, problems in the application of microbial treatment of heavy metal contamination are considered, and possible directions for future research are discussed.
Erbium Ring Fiber Laser Cavity Based on Tip Modal Interferometer and Its Tunable Multi-Wavelength Response for Refractive Index and Temperature
Authors: Lopez-Dieguez Yanelis , Estudillo-Ayala Julian M. , Jauregui-Vazquez Daniel , Herrera-Piad Luis A. , Sierra-Hernandez Juan M. , Garcia-Mina Diego F. , Gallegos-Arellano Eloisa , Hernandez-Garcia Juan C. , Rojas-Laguna Roberto
Published: August 2018

A tunable multi-wavelength fiber laser is proposed and demonstrated based on two main elements: an erbium-doped fiber ring cavity and compact intermodal fiber structure. The modal fiber interferometer is fabricated using the cost-effective arc splice technique between conventional single-mode fiber and microfiber. This optical fiber structure acts as a wavelength filter, operated in reflection mode. When the refractive index and temperature variations are applied over the fiber filter, the ring laser cavity provides several quad-wavelength laser spectra. The multi-wavelength spectra are tuned into the C-band with a resolution of 0.05 nm. In addition, the spectra are symmetric with minimal power difference between the lasing modes involved, and the average of the side mode suppression ratio is close to 37 dB. This laser offers low-cost implementation, low wavelength drift, and high power stability, as well as an effect of easy controllability regarding tuned multi-wavelength.
Charge Carrier Distribution in Low-Voltage Dual-Gate Organic Thin-Film Transistors
Authors: Shiwaku Rei , Tamura Masataka , Matsui Hiroyuki , Takeda Yasunori , Murase Tomohide , Tokito Shizuo
Published: August 2018

Dual-gate organic thin-film transistors (DGOTFTs), which exhibit better electrical properties, in terms of on-current and subthreshold slope than those of single-gate organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) are promising devices for high-performance and robust organic electronics. Electrical behaviors of high-voltage (>10 V) DGOTFTs have been studied: however, the performance analysis in low-voltage DGOTFTs has not been reported because fabrication of low-voltage DGOTFTs is generally challenging. In this study, we successfully fabricated low-voltage (<5 V) DGOTFTs by employing thin parylene film as gate dielectrics and visualized the charge carrier distributions in low-voltage DGOTFTs by a simulation that is based on finite element method (FEM). The simulation results indicated that the dual-gate system produces a dual-channel and has excellent control of charge carrier density in the organic semiconducting layer, which leads to the better switching characteristics than the single-gate devices.
An Improved Opportunistic Routing Protocol Based on Context Information of Mobile Nodes
Authors: Baek Kyung Min , Seo Dong Yeong , Chung Yun Won
Published: August 2018

Delay tolerant network (DTN) protocol was proposed for a network where connectivity is not available. In DTN, a message is delivered to a destination node via store-carry-forward approach while using opportunistic contacts. Probabilistic routing protocol for intermittently connected networks (PRoPHET) is one of the widely studied DTN protocols. In PRoPHET, a message is forwarded to a contact node, if the contact node has a higher delivery predictability to the destination node of the message. In this paper, we propose an improved opportunistic routing protocol, where context information of average distance travelled and average time elapsed from the reception of a message to the delivery of the message to the destination node is used. In the proposed protocol, the average distance and average time are updated whenever a message is delivered to a destination node. Then, both average distance and average time as well as delivery predictability of PRoPHET protocol are used to decide a message forwarding. The performance of the proposed protocol is analyzed and compared with that of PRoPHET and reachable probability centrality (RPC) protocol, which is one of the latest protocols using the contact history information of a mobile node. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol has better performance than both PRoPHET and RPC, from the aspect of delivery ratio, overhead ratio, and delivery latency for varying buffer size, message generation interval, and the number of nodes.
Cyberpunk Redux: Dérives in the Rich Sight of Post-Anthropocentric Visuality
Authors: Lunning Frenchy
Published: August 2018

Our future effects on the earth, in light of the Anthropocene, are all dire expressions of a depleted world left in piles of detritus and toxic ruin—including the diminished human as an assemblage of impoverished existence, yet adumbrating that handicapped existence with an ersatz advanced technology. In the cyberpunk films, these expressions are primarily visual expressions—whether through written prose thick with densely dark adjectives describing the world of cyberpunk, or more widely known, the comic books and films of cyberpunk, whose representations have become classically understood as SF canon. The new films of the cyberpunk redux however, represent an evolution in cyberpunk visuality. Despite these debatable issues around this term, it will provide this paper with its primary object of visuality, that of the “rich sight”, a further term that arose from the allure created in the late 19th century development of department stores that innovated the display of the goods laid out in a spectacular view, presenting the shopper with a fantasy of wealth and fetishized objects which excited shoppers to purchase, but more paradoxically, creating the desire to see a fantasy that was at the same time also a reality. This particular and enframed view—so deeply embedded and beloved in our commodity-obsessed culture—is what I suggest so profoundly typifies the initial cyberpunk postmodern representation in the Blade Runner films, and its continuing popularity in the early part of the 21st century. Both films are influenced by Ridley Scott’s initial vision of the cinematic cyberpunk universe and organized as sequential narratives. Consequently, they serve as excellent examples of the evolution of this visual spectacular.
The FuGas 2.3 Framework for Atmosphere–Ocean Coupling: Comparing Algorithms for the Estimation of Solubilities and Gas Fluxes
Authors: Vieira Vasco M. N. C. S. , Jurus Pavel , Clementi Emanuela , Mateus Marcos
Published: August 2018

Accurate estimates of the atmosphere–ocean fluxes of greenhouse gases and dimethyl sulphide (DMS) have great importance in climate change models. A significant part of these fluxes occur at the coastal ocean which, although much smaller than the open ocean, have more heterogeneous conditions. Hence, Earth System Modelling (ESM) requires representing the oceans at finer resolutions which, in turn, requires better descriptions of the chemical, physical and biological processes. The standard formulations for the solubilities and gas transfer velocities across air–water surfaces are 36 and 24 years old, and new alternatives have emerged. We have developed a framework combining the related geophysical processes and choosing from alternative formulations with different degrees of complexity. The framework was tested with fine resolution data from the European coastal ocean. Although the benchmark and alternative solubility formulations generally agreed well, their minor divergences yielded differences of up to 5.8% for CH4 dissolved at the ocean surface. The transfer velocities differ strongly (often more than 100%), a consequence of the benchmark empirical wind-based formulation disregarding significant factors that were included in the alternatives. We conclude that ESM requires more comprehensive simulations of atmosphere–ocean interactions, and that further calibration and validation is needed for the formulations to be able to reproduce it. We propose this framework as a basis to update with formulations for processes specific to the air–water boundary, such as the presence of surfactants, rain, the hydration reaction or biological activity.
Gallstone Magnesium Distributions from Optical Emission Spectroscopy
Authors: Pathak Ashok K. , Rai Nilesh K. , Kumar Rohit , Rai Pradeep K. , Rai Awadhesh K. , Parigger Christian G.
Published: August 2018

This work reports measurements of calcified gallstone elemental compositions using laser-induced optical emission spectroscopy. The experimental results support the importance of the magnesium concentration in gallstone growth. Granular stones reveal an increased magnesium concentration at the periphery of the granules, suggesting the inhibition of further growth. Non-granular gallstones reveal lower overall magnesium concentrations, but with higher values near the center.
Characterization of Plastidial and Nuclear SSR Markers for Understanding Invasion Histories and Genetic Diversity of Schinus molle L.
Authors: Lemos Rafael Plá Matielo , Matielo Cristiane Barbosa D’Oliveira , Beise Dalvan Carlos , Da Rosa Vanessa Gonçalves , Sarzi Deise Schröder , Roesch Luiz Fernando Würdig , Stefenon Valdir Marcos
Published: August 2018

Invasive plant species are expected to display high dispersal capacity but low levels of genetic diversity due to the founder effect occurring at each invasion episode. Understanding the history of invasions and the levels of genetic diversity of such species is an important task for planning management and monitoring strategy for these events. Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L.) is a pioneer tree species native from South America which was introduced in North America, Europe and Africa, becoming a threat to these non-native habitats. In this study, we report the discovery and characterization of 17 plastidial (ptSSR) and seven nuclear (nSSR) markers for S. molle based on low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data acquired through next-generation sequencing. The markers were tested in 56 individuals from two natural populations sampled in the Brazilian Caatinga and Pampa biomes. All loci are moderately to highly polymorphic and revealed to be suitable for genetic monitoring of new invasions, for understanding the history of old invasions, as well as for genetic studies of native populations in their natural occurrence range and of orchards established with commercial purposes.