bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Politainment: a szórakoztató média és a politika összefüggéseinek vizsgálata – nemzetközi szakirodalmi kitekintés
Authors: Szombati Orsolya
Published: July 2015

-
Szegénységben élő fiatalok családalapítását meghatározó tényezők
Authors: Molnár Éva
Published: July 2015

-
Las reformas a la protección social en salud en México: ¿rupturas o continuidades?
Authors: Uribe Gómez Mónica , Abrantes Pêgo Raquel
Published: July 2015

Desde la década de los ochenta comenzó un proceso de reformas al sistema de salud mexicano con el fin de promover cambios estructurales en el sector mediante una mayor presencia del sector privado. Se argumenta que la reforma fue propuesta por un grupo de actores tecno-burocráticos que han concentrado recursos de poder cruciales para modificar las reglas institucionales y que tales cambios se han llevado a cabo sin consultar ampliamente a los diversos actores interesados: gobiernos de los estados de la república, proveedores de los servicios públicos y usuarios.Abstract This paper examines the reform process within the Mexican health system undertaken since the eighties that led to an increasing privatization of health services. It argues that such process have been led by a small group of techno-bureaucratic actors that have changed institutional rules according to their interests without considering the interests of local governments, public services providers and public health services users.
Nuevas instituciones de democracia participativa en América Latina: la voz y sus consecuencias, de Maxwell A. Cameron, Eric Hershberg y Kenneth E. Sharpe (eds.)
Authors: Hernández Cortez Noé
Published: July 2015

Acceder al texto completo para consultar el contenido.
Cuba en la era de Raúl Castro. Reformas económico-sociales y sus efectos, de Carmelo Mesa Lago
Authors: Bobes Velia Cecilia
Published: July 2015

Acceder al texto completo para consultar el contenido.
El PRD: orígenes, itinerario, retos, de Jorge Cadena Roa y Miguel Armando López Leyva, comps.
Authors: Palma Esperanza
Published: July 2015

Acceder al texto completo para consultar el contenido.
Ecological and biogeographic null hypotheses for comparing rarefaction curves
Authors: Cayuela Luis , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Colwell Robert K.
Published: July 2015

The statistical framework of rarefaction curves and asymptotic estimators allows for an effective standardization of biodiversity measures. However, most statistical analyses still consist of point comparisons of diversity estimators for a particular sampling level. We introduce new randomization methods that incorporate sampling variability encompassing the entire length of the rarefaction curve and allow for statistical comparison of i ≥2 individual‐based, sample‐based, or coverage‐based rarefaction curves. These methods distinguish between two distinct null hypotheses: the ecological null hypothesis (H0eco) and the biogeographical null hypothesis (H0biog).

H0eco states that the i samples were drawn from a single assemblage, and any differences among them in species richness, composition, or relative abundance reflect only sampling effects. H0biog states that the i samples were drawn from assemblages that differ in their species composition but share similar species richness and species abundance distributions. To test H0eco, we created a composite rarefaction curve by summing the abundances of all species from the i samples. We then calculated a test statistic Zeco, the (cumulative) summed areas of difference between each of the i individual curves and the composite curve. For H0biog, the test statistic Zbiog was calculated by summing the area of difference between all possible pairs of the i individual curves. Bootstrap sampling from the composite curve (H0eco) or random sampling from different simulated assemblages using alternative abundance distributions (H0biog) was used to create the null distribution of Z, and to provide a frequentist test of Z | H0. Rejection of H0eco does not pinpoint whether the samples differ in species richness, species composition, and/or relative abundance.

In benchmark comparisons, both tests performed satisfactorily against artificial data sets randomly drawn from a single assemblage (low Type I error). In benchmark comparisons with different species abundance distributions and richness, the tests had adequate power to detect differences among curves (low Type II error), although power diminished at small sample sizes and for small differences among underlying species rank abundances.
Spatial and isotopic niche partitioning during winter in chinstrap and Adélie penguins from the South Shetland Islands
Authors: Hinke Jefferson T. , Polito Michael J. , Goebel Michael E. , Jarvis Sharon , Reiss Christian S. , Thorrold Simon R. , Trivelpiece Wayne Z. , Watters George M.
Published: July 2015

Closely related species with similar ecological requirements should exhibit segregation along spatial, temporal, or trophic niche axes to limit the degree of competitive overlap. For migratory marine organisms like seabirds, assessing such overlap during the non‐breeding period is difficult because of long‐distance dispersal to potentially diffuse foraging habitats. Miniaturization of geolocation devices and advances in stable isotope analysis (SIA), however, provide a robust toolset to quantitatively track the movements and foraging niches of wide ranging marine animals throughout much of their annual cycle. We used light‐based geolocation tags and analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes from tail feathers to simultaneously characterize winter movements, habitat utilization, and overlap of spatial and isotopic niches of migratory chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Adélie (P. adeliae) penguins during the austral winter of 2012. Chinstrap penguins exhibited a higher diversity of movements and occupied portions of the Southern Ocean from 138° W to 30° W within a narrow latitudinal band centered on 60° S. In contrast, all tracked Adélie penguins exhibited smaller‐scale movements into the Weddell Sea and then generally along a counter‐clockwise path as winter advanced. Inter‐specific overlap during the non‐breeding season was low except during the months immediately adjacent to the summer breeding season. Intra‐specific overlap by chinstraps from adjacent breeding colonies was higher throughout the winter. Spatial segregation appears to be the primary mechanism to maintain inter‐ and intra‐specific niche separation during the non‐breeding season for chinstrap and Adélie penguins. Despite low spatial overlap, however, the data do suggest that a narrow pelagic corridor in the southern Scotia Sea hosted both chinstrap and Adélie penguins for most months of the year. Shared occupancy and similar isotopic signatures of the penguins in that region suggests that the potential for inter‐specific competition persists during the winter months. Finally, we note that SIA was able to discriminate eastward versus westward migrations in penguins, suggesting that SIA of tail feathers may provide useful information on population‐level distribution patterns for future studies.
A Dilated Pore of Winer with Four Openings
Authors: Zhang Ru-Zhi , Zhu Wen-Yuan
Published: July 2015

Dilated pore was originally designated as a secondary or acquired trichoepithelioma by Winer, represents an
appendageal tumor with differentiation towards hair structures. It is clinically characterized by having the appearance of a
large blackhead filled with keratinous material. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of a dilated pore
with four openings. We herein describe such a case.
Neighborhood structures of graded ditopological texture spaces
Authors: Ekmekçi Ramazan , Ertürk Rıza
Published: July 2015

Graded ditopological texture spaces have been presented and discussed in
categorical aspects by Alexander Sostak and Lawrence M. Brown in [18]. In
this paper, the authors study the generalization of two sorts of neighborhood
structure defined in [10] to the graded ditopological texture spaces.
Sequence spaces of fuzzy numbers defined by a Musielak-Orlicz function
Authors: Alotaibi A. , Mursaleen M. , Sharma Sunil , Mohiuddine S.A.
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this paper is to introduce some sequence spaces of fuzzy
numbers defined by a Musielak-Orlicz function. We also make an effort to
study some topological properties and prove some inclusion relations between
these spaces.
Limit formulas related to the p-gamma and p-polygamma functions at their singularities
Authors: Yin Li , Huang Li-Guo
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we mainly give much simple proof to Theorem 1.1 and (1.6) of
Theorem 1.2 posed in the paper ?F. Qi, Limit formulas for ratios between
derivatives of the gamma and digamma functions at their singularities,
Filomat 27 (2013) 601-604.?
Hessenberg matrices and the generalized Fibonacci-Narayana sequence
Authors: Ramírez José
Published: July 2015

In this note, we define the generalized Fibonacci-Narayana sequence
{Gn(a,b,c)}n?N. After that, we derive some relations between these sequences,
and permanents and determinants of one type of upper Hessenberg matrix.
Some equivalent characterizations of inner product spaces and their consequences
Authors: Marinescu Dan , Monea Mihai , Opincariu Mihai , Stroe Marian
Published: July 2015

In this paper, first we prove the equivalence of the Frechet and the
Jordan-Neumann relations in normed spaces. Next, we will present some
characterizations of the inner product spaces and we will show their
equivalence. Finally, we will prove some consequences of our main results.
Coefficient estimates for three generalized classes of meromorphic and bi-univalent functions
Authors: Xiao Hai-Gen , Xu Qing-Hua
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we introduce and investigate three interesting subclass ?*v(?,?), ?Bv(?,?) and ??*v(?,?) of meromorphic and bi-univalent functions on
? = {z ? C : |z| > 1}, obtain their coefficient estimates. The results
presented in this paper generalize the recent work of several earlier
authors.
Fixed points of integral type contractions in uniform spaces
Authors: Aghanians Aris , Nourouzi Kourosh
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we discuss the existence of fixed points for integral type
contractions in uniform spaces endowed with both a graph and an E-distance.
We also give two sufficient conditions under which the fixed point is unique.
Our main results generalize some recent metric fixed point theorems.
n-dimensional Ostrowski type inequalities with applications on time scales
Authors: Hussain Sabir , Rashad Muhammad
Published: July 2015

An n-dimensional Montgomery identity in the form of generalized polynomial
has been derived and as a consequence we find Ostrowski type inequalities.
Our established results generalized some results in [12]. Some new
applications are also given.
On Hermite-Hadamard type integral inequalities for n-times differentiable log-preinvex functions
Authors: Latif M.A. , Dragomir S.S.
Published: July 2015

In this paper, new Hermite-Hadamard type inequalities for n-times
differentiable log-preinvex functions are established. The established
results generalize some of those results proved in recent papers for
differentiable log-preinvex functions and differentiable log-convex functions.
Absolute purity in the category of quasi coherent sheaves
Authors: Aghasi Mansour , Nemati Hamidreza
Published: July 2015

In this paper we consider the class of absolutely pure and Fp-injective
quasi-coherent sheaves. We show that these two classes of quasi-coherent
sheaves over a locally coherent scheme are equivalent. As a corollary we
will show that the class of absolutely pure quasi-coherent sheaves over such
a scheme is an enveloping and a covering class. It is proved that over a
locally coherent scheme, the pair (?(Abs(X),Abs(X)) is a cotorsion theory.
The existence of a duality between absolutely pure envelopes and flat covers
is proved as expected.
Resolvent operator and spectrum of new type boundary value problems
Authors: Mukhtarov Oktay , Olğar Hayati , Aydemir Kadriye
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study is to investigate a new type boundary value problems
which consist of the equation -y''(x) + (By)(x) = ?y(x) on two disjoint
intervals (-1,0) and (0,1) together with transmission conditions at the point
of interaction x = 0 and with eigenparameter dependent boundary conditions,
where B is an abstract linear operator, unbounded in general, in the direct
sum of Lebesgue spaces L2(-1,0)( L2(0,1). By suggesting an own approaches we
introduce modified Hilbert space and linear operator in it such a way that
the considered problem can be interpreted as an eigenvalue problem of this
operator. We establish such properties as isomorphism and coerciveness with
respect to spectral parameter, maximal decreasing of the resolvent operator
and discreteness of the spectrum. Further we examine asymptotic behaviour of
the eigenvalues.
Systems of organic farming in spring vetch I: Biological response of sucking insect pests
Authors: Nikolova Ivelina , Georgieva Natalia
Published: July 2015

Four systems of organic farming and a conventional farming system were
studied over the period 2012-2014. The organic system trial variants
included: I - an organic farming system without any biological products used
(growth under natural soil fertility) - Control; II - an organic farming
system involving the use of a biological foliar fertilizer and a biological
plant growth regulator (Polyversum+Biofa); III - an organic farming system in
which a biological insecticide (NeemAzal T/S) was used; IV - an organic
farming system including a combination of three organic products: the foliar
fertilizer, the plant growth regulator and the bioinsecticide
(Polyversum+Biofa+NeemAzal T/S). Variant V represented a conventional farming
system in which synthetic products were used in combination (foliar
fertilizer, plant growth regulator and insecticide: Masterblend+Flordimex
420+Nurelle D). Treatment of vetch plants with the biological insecticide
NeemAzal in combination with Biofa and Polyversum resulted in the lowest
density of sucking pests, compared to all other organic farming methods
tested (i.e. without NeemAzal, with NeemAzal alone, and its combination with
Biofa and Polyversum). The greatest reduction in pest numbers during the
vegetation period in that variant was observed in species of the order
Thysanoptera (36.0-41.4%), followed by Hemiptera, and the families Aphididae
(31.6-40.3%) and Cicadellidae (27.3-28.6%). This combination showed an
efficient synergistic interaction and an increase in biological efficacy as
compared to individual application of NeemAzal. The highest toxic impact was
found against Thrips tabaci, followed by Acyrthosiphon pisum. An analysis of
variance regarding the efficacy against the species A. pisum, E. pteridis and
T. tabaci showed that type of treatment had the most dominant influence and
statistically significant impact.
Effect of sintering temperature and boron carbide content on the wear behavior of hot pressed diamond cutting segments
Authors: Islak S. , Çelik H.
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sintering temperature
and boron carbide content on wear behavior of diamond cutting segments. For
this purpose, the segments contained 2, 5 and 10 wt.% B4C were prepared by
hot pressing process carried out under a pressure of 35 MPa, at 600, 650 and
700 ?C for 3 minutes. The transverse rupture strength (TRS) of the segments
was assessed using a three-point bending test. Ankara andesite stone was cut
to examine the wear behavior of segments with boron carbide. Microstructure,
surfaces of wear and fracture of segments were determined by scanning
electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. As a
result, the wear rate decreased significantly in the 0-5 wt.% B4C contents,
while it increased in the 5-10 wt.% B4C contents. With increase in sintering
temperature, the wear rate decreased due to the hard matrix.
Cu-TiB metal matrix composites prepared by powder metallurgy route
Authors: Guo Z. , Li N. , Hu J.
Published: July 2015

Titanium boride (TiB) is characterized by good conductivity, high strength
and high melting point. In this work, TiB was used to make Cu-TiB metal
matrix composites (MMCs). Amounts of TiB added into Cu matrix were 2wt.%,
5wt.%, 10 wt.% and 15 wt.%. The samples were pressed at pressures of 500MPa,
600MPa, 700MPa and 800MPa and sintered at 820o and 920o, respectively. The
properties of the sintered composites such as hardness and impact toughness
were studied. Hardness and impact toughness of samples increased with
increasing pressures and decreased with increasing contents of TiB. Composite
with good mechanical properties and high conductivity was obtained from the
sample containing 2wt.%TiB compacted at 800MPa and sintered at 920o. It was
shown that 2wt.% TiB is a suitable content to make Cu-TiB MMCs with good
mechanical properties and excellent conductivity.
Interpretation of Frenkel’s theory of sintering considering evolution of activated pores: III. Determination of equilibrium sintering time
Authors: Yu C.L. , Gao D.P. , Wang F. , Huo R.J. , Hao X.M. , Xie X.L.
Published: July 2015

In this article, the Frenkel?s theory of liquid-phase sintering was
interpreted regarding pores as the activated volume. The mathematical model
established by Nikolic et al. was used to infer the equilibrium sintering
time at varied sintering temperatures during the isothermal sintering of
codierite glass by Giess et al. Through the calculation, the equilibrium time
at 800?C, 820?C, 840?C and 860?C is inferred to be 7014.42mins, 1569.65mins,
368.92mins and 114.61mins, respectively. The equilibrium time decreases as
the temperature increases. And the theoretical value is in good accordance
with the experimental results. Thus, the model established by Nikolic et al.
can be applied successfully to predict the equilibrium sintering time of the
cordierite glass at varied temperatures during isothermal sintering.
Role of Graded Compression Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis.
Authors: Shrestha Mukunda Singh , Pant Hom Prasad , Basnet Shiv Bahadur , Khadka Govinda Bhahadur , Shahi Rajive Raj , Panta Sujata
Published: July 2015

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is common surgical emergency which can lead to high morbidity and mortalityin absence of timely treatment. Ultrasonography (USG) is commonly used to diagnose appendicitis and excludeother intraabdominal pathology leading to right iliac fossa pain in emergency setting. We aimed to Þ nd out thediagnostic value of graded compression USG in suspected appendicitis cases.Methods: Altogether 107 patients with clinical impression of acute appendicitis were followed. Four caseswere excluded because of other diagnosis established in USG. Appendicitis was diagnosed by standard criteriasof inß ammed appendix by graded compression technique. Informations of 103 cases were recorded in proformawhich was later entered in SPSS and statistical calculations done.Results: Out of 103 cases followed, 93 had appendicitis. Of those, 46 cases only showed inß ammed anddistended appendix, others showed ancillary features only. Males were more affected 61(65.6%) than females.Sensitivity, speciÞ city, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of ultrasound indetecting appendicitis were 98.9%,90%,98.9%,90% and 97.1% respectively.Conclusions: Graded compression ultrasonography is good investigation modality in assessement of suspectedacute appendicitis.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/mjsbh.v12i2.12929
Bilateral Three Headed Biceps Brachii Muscle
Authors: Singh Poonam , Tandon Aseem , Bhatnagar Rajan , Pokhrel Rishi
Published: July 2015

During routine human cadaveric dissection for the purpose of teaching learning of medical undergraduates inour department, third head of the biceps brachii muscle was found bilaterally in a 67 years old male cadaver. Bilaterally symmetrical third head was found with ß eshy proximal attachment on humerus between the insertionof the coracobrachialis and the upper part of the origin of the brachialis. This supernumerary head was deep tothe other two heads of biceps and was inserted into the bicipital aponeurosis. A branch of musculocutaneousnerve could be traced upto the third head. Long and short heads of biceps were of usual anatomy.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/mjsbh.v12i2.12931
“Does Supplementing Traditional teaching with Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) Module Facilitates Understanding of Human Embryology in Medical Undergraduates? A Randomized Control Trial”
Authors: Bhatnagar Rajan Bhatnagar , Tandon Aseem , Pokhrel Rishi
Published: July 2015

Introduction: In present scenario when lesser time is being devoted to basic medical sciences, and at the same time knowledge and concepts required to be mastered by medical undergraduates increasing exponentially, structured modules and software have a potential role to play. Embryology in particular can be a subject for such modules owing to its complex dynamics and even less proportion of time available to master it. This study evaluates if supplementing traditional methods with computer-aided instruction improve students' understanding of human embryology. Methods: The study was conducted during revision sessions before university examinations. Subjects of study were first year medical undergraduates (n=128), divided into two equal groups by simple randomization. Demographic data and prior academic performance of students were collected from student profile register. Revision sessions for control group were conducted using traditional methods and for test group CAL module was used. Students were evaluated by pre and post-tests consisting of 50 multiple choice answers questions each and each question fetched 0.5 marks. Independent sample t test was used for comparison of means. Opinion of students and instructors were collected using anonymous questionnaire under heads of subject-interest, appropriateness of CAL module as teaching materials, overall satisfaction and its possible effectiveness as self-learning module. Results: Two groups showed no statistical difference in terms of sex ratio, age and prior academic performance. Pre-test showed no significant difference in mean scores of two groups, mean post-test scores on the other hand were significantly greater in test group as compared to the control group. Most of the students and instructors involved in the study graded the CAL-module as ‘excellent’. Conclusions: The study shows that traditional teaching methods supplemented with CAL module improves the understanding of developmental anatomy in medical undergraduates. Use of this module as a self-study material requires further evaluations.doi:  http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/mjsbh.v13i1.12997
Spinning a National Imaginary
Authors: Stanley Sarah Garton
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

What is SpiderWebShow, and how did it start? Since October 2013, through articles, podcasts, digital performance art projects, live interfaces, and other initiatives, SpiderWebShow has been angling toward building a national theatre online, or at the very least keeping the following question alive: What, in Canada, constitutes our national theatre?
Digesting Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor
Authors: Moschopedis Eric , Rushton Mia
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

This article considers the project Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor, created by interdisciplinary artists Eric Moschopedis and Mia Rushton. Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor attempts to reveal how planted and indigenous flora affects social and spatial relationships within a city. Through a process of urban foraging, the artists create edible art objects using ingredients from specific communities as a way of tasting class differences and geography. The article reflects on how the experience of creating the project was one of misconception and discovery, and it relates the artists’ experience of collecting vegetation in different communities in Edmonton, Alberta, and elsewhere in Canada. Hunter, Gatherer, Purveyor proposes the mouth as a stage for performance, a site where the artist’s research about the city can be enacted and digested by residents of a community and participants of the project.
Collaborative Producing
Authors: Jain Ravi
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

This article looks at a new collaborative producing model called the RISER Project, led by Why Not Theatre. The RISER Project brings together a community of senior leadership and emerging artists to support the artistic risk that independent artists must take in order to create art and innovate. The model is designed to maximize existing infrastructures by sharing resources, risk, and energy to reduce the producing burden on artists.

This model was created to address the major challenges that independent theatre creators face when producing work: the rising costs of production and the challenge of building an audience to see those productions.
The Futures of Theatre Criticism
Authors: Fricker Karen
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

Canadian theatre criticism will look considerably different in fifteen years than it does now, argues Karen Fricker, because it is already a field in ongoing, radical transition, largely triggered by the global decline in print media and the rise of the Internet. Fricker provides an overview of the shifting dynamics throughout the Western world between critics working for mainstream outlets and independent (and largely unremunerated) bloggers, arguing that new voices are adding dynamism to the field. In Canada as elsewhere, the amount of paid criticism is in decline, and while bloggers have emerged in many markets, they are still considered a less significant source of legitimation by artists and funding agencies than their mainstream counterparts. These changes are nonetheless causing anxiety among mainstream critics, as became evident in the strongly negative reaction of Toronto critics to an attempt by the Factory Theatre to delay the press night of a production in September 2014 in an attempt to favour public and community responses over reviews. Fricker further considers the ethics and practicalities around new forms of critical engagement, including theatre organizations’ hiring of critics and “embedded” or behind-the-scenes criticism, and exhorts theatre scholars to take a leadership role in shaping Canada’s theatre critical future.
Matter Matters: Performing a Stone in the Woods
Authors: Horner Mariah , Renyk Grahame
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

A conversation between an emerging theatre artist (Mariah Horner) and a Queen’s University professor (Grahame Renyk), this article analyzes Stones in the Woods, a production mounted in 2014 by Mariah’s historical and site-specific company, the Cellar Door Project. The production was performed around a stone in a park that was originally a part of Kingston’s nineteenth-century observatory. Drawing inspiration from thing theory (as discussed in Performing Objects and Theatrical Things, edited by Marlis Schweitzer and Joanne Zerdy) and Pierre Nora’s work on lieux de mémoire, Mariah and Grahame discuss how the performance treats the stone as an actant, equal in status to the human actors. By foregrounding the stone in its “thingness,” the performance highlights its material longevity and reveals its presence in actor networks past, present, and since. Clear threads are tied from the past, through the stories in between, and into the present, reconnecting audiences with a sense of historical continuum at the site. Distinguishing the Cellar Door Project’s work as a rematerialization rather than a reanimation of history, Mariah and Grahame discover that this kind of work may be a more effective approach than re-enactment for connecting ourselves with those who came before.
Taking the Measure of Nuit Blanche 2014
Authors: Austin Caitlin , Santos Kat Dos , Gilpin Sarah , Kim Minji (Rita) , Trottier Jonas , Solga Kim
Published: July 2015

Abstract:

Six years ago, Laura Levin and Kim Solga reflected in CTR on their travels through the 2008 edition of Toronto’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche all-night art festival. That review offered a trenchant critique of the ways in which “the event that is Nuit Blanche” was beginning uncomfortably to “eclips[e] the art that is Nuit Blanche.” Today, with nearly a decade of Nuit Blanches in Toronto behind us, with attendance numbers increasing every year, and with Toronto an established “creative city” at the forefront of urban neoliberalism, that critique seems almost too obvious. Nuit Blanche is now marketed and represented in the media as a good-time street party, but it does not necessarily follow that the meanings Nuit Blanche makes for spectators on the ground are in any way stable, or necessarily banal.

In October 2014, Solga set out for Nuit Blanche with a vanload of students from her undergraduate performance studies seminar. The goal: to experience as much of the festival as possible, with an eye to investigating the ways in which the art on offer hailed it spectators and invited active, participatory engagement. What did Nuit Blanche want from a keen and largely novice group of performance art enthusiasts? What would it offer in return? Would it let them down? And, if so, what might they learn from their disappointment?
Religion andRespeto: The Role and Value of Respect in Social Relations in Rural Oaxaca
Authors: Gross Toomas
Published: July 2015

This paper discusses the relationship between religious affiliation and the ways that the notion of ‘respect’ (respeto) is used in common discourse in rural Oaxaca. Drawing on the ethnographic example of indigenous Zapotec villages in the Sierra Juárez, I examine how Protestants and Catholics employ the term to justify their attitudes towards each other and towards the norms of communal life. Both consider ‘respect’ an important value in social relations, but in significantly different ways. Catholics conceptualise ‘respect’ mainly as a hierarchical value central to which is the villagers' subordination to the authority of customs and communal leaders. For most Protestants, however, respect is a horizontal notion that is associated with freedom of religion and the right of individuals to distance themselves from local traditions without being socially excluded or marginalised. The differences between these two perspectives are reconciled by a mutual acknowledgement of the need to ‘reciprocate’ respect.
Target Detection Algorithm Based on Two Layers Human Visual System
Authors: Cui Zheng , Yang Jingli , Jiang Shouda , Wei Changan
Published: July 2015

Robust small target detection of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is very important in infrared search and track applications for self-defense or attacks. Due to the complex background, current algorithms have some unsolved issues with false alarm rate. In order to reduce the false alarm rate, an infrared small target detection algorithm based on saliency detection and support vector machine was proposed. Firstly, we detect salient regions that may contain targets with phase spectrum Fourier transform (PFT) approach. Then, target recognition was performed in the salient regions. Experimental results show the proposed algorithm has ideal robustness and efficiency for real infrared small target detection applications.
Approximate Methods for Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Multivariate Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models
Authors: Wang Wan-Lun
Published: July 2015

Multivariate nonlinear mixed-effects models (MNLMM) have received increasing use due to their flexibility for analyzing multi-outcome longitudinal data following possibly nonlinear profiles. This paper presents and compares five different iterative algorithms for maximum likelihood estimation of the MNLMM. These algorithmic schemes include the penalized nonlinear least squares coupled to the multivariate linear mixed-effects (PNLS-MLME) procedure, Laplacian approximation, the pseudo-data expectation conditional maximization (ECM) algorithm, the Monte Carlo EM algorithm and the importance sampling EM algorithm. When fitting the MNLMM, it is rather difficult to exactly evaluate the observed log-likelihood function in a closed-form expression, because it involves complicated multiple integrals. To address this issue, the corresponding approximations of the observed log-likelihood function under the five algorithms are presented. An expected information matrix of parameters is also provided to calculate the standard errors of model parameters. A comparison of computational performances is investigated through simulation and a real data example from an AIDS clinical study.
A FPGA-Based Broadband EIT System for Complex Bioimpedance Measurements—Design and Performance Estimation
Authors: Kusche Roman , Malhotra Ankit , Ryschka Martin , Ardelt Gunther , Klimach Paula , Kaufmann Steffen
Published: July 2015

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging method that is able to estimate the electrical conductivity distribution of living tissue. This work presents a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based multi-frequency EIT system for complex, time-resolved bioimpedance measurements. The system has the capability to work with measurement setups with up to 16 current electrodes and 16 voltage electrodes. The excitation current has a range of about 10 µA to 5 mA, whereas the sinusoidal signal used for excitation can have a frequency of up to 500 kHz. Additionally, the usage of a chirp or rectangular signal excitation is possible. Furthermore, the described system has a sample rate of up to 3480 impedance spectra per second (ISPS). The performance of the EIT system is demonstrated with a resistor-based phantom and tank phantoms. Additionally, first measurements taken from the human thorax during a breathing cycle are presented.
Cr(VI) Sorption/Desorption on Pine Sawdust and Oak Wood Ash
Authors: Núñez-Delgado Avelino , Fernández-Sanjurjo María , Álvarez-Rodríguez Esperanza , Cutillas-Barreiro Laura , Nóvoa-Muñoz JuanCarlos , Arias-Estévez Manuel
Published: July 2015

The objective of this work was to study Cr(VI) sorption/desorption on two by-products from the wood industry: pine sawdust and oak wood ash. The retention/release experiments were carried out using standard batch-type trials. In the sorption-phase experiments, pine sawdust showed 23% sorption when a concentration of 100 mg Cr(VI)L−1 was added, whereas sorption on oak wood ash was 17%. In the desorption-phase, chromium release was clearly higher from pine sawdust than from oak wood ash (98% and 66%, respectively). Sorption curves were well fitted to the Freundlich and Lineal models. In view of the results, both materials can be considered of very limited value to remove Cr from polluted soil and water, which can be of relevance regarding its appropriate use as biosorbents and recycled by-products.
Direct Reprogramming—The Future of Cardiac Regeneration?
Authors: Doppler Stefanie , Deutsch Marcus-André , Lange Rüdiger , Krane Markus
Published: July 2015

Today, the only available curative therapy for end stage congestive heart failure (CHF) is heart transplantation. This therapeutic option is strongly limited by declining numbers of available donor hearts and by restricted long-term performance of the transplanted graft. The disastrous prognosis for CHF with its restricted therapeutic options has led scientists to develop different concepts of alternative regenerative treatment strategies including stem cell transplantation or stimulating cell proliferation of different cardiac cell types in situ. However, first clinical trials with overall inconsistent results were not encouraging, particularly in terms of functional outcome. Among other approaches, very promising ongoing pre-clinical research focuses on direct lineage conversion of scar fibroblasts into functional myocardium, termed “direct reprogramming” or “transdifferentiation.” This review seeks to summarize strategies for direct cardiac reprogramming including the application of different sets of transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules for an efficient generation of cardiomyogenic cells for regenerative purposes.
A Double-Negative Metamaterial-Inspired Mobile Wireless Antenna for Electromagnetic Absorption Reduction
Authors: Alam Touhidul , Faruque Mohammad , Islam Mohammad
Published: July 2015

A double-negative metamaterial-inspired antenna is presented for mobile wireless applications. The antenna consists of a semi-circular radiating patch and a 3 × 4 hexagonal shaped metamaterial unit cell array in the ground plane. The antenna is fed with a 50 Ω microstrip feed line. The electric dimensions of the proposed antenna are 0.20λ × 0.26λ × 0.004λ, at the low-end frequency. The proposed antenna achieves a −10 dB impedance with a bandwidth of 2.29 GHz at the lower band and 1.28 GHz at the upper band and can operate for most of the mobile applications such as upper GSM bands, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and wireless local area network (WLAN) frequency bands. The focused novelties of the proposed antenna are its small size, multi-standard operating bands, and electromagnetic absorption reduction at all the operating frequencies using the double-negative metamaterial ground plane.
A European Competence Framework for Industrial Pharmacy Practice in Biotechnology
Authors: Atkinson Jeffrey , Crowley Pat , De Paepe Kristien , Gennery Brian , Koster Andries , Martini Luigi , Moffat Vivien , Nicholson Jane , Pauwels Gunther , Ronsisvalle Giuseppe , Sousa Vitor , Van Schravendijk Chris , Wilson Keith
Published: July 2015

The PHAR-IN (“Competences for industrial pharmacy practice in biotechnology”) looked at whether there is a difference in how industrial employees and academics rank competences for practice in the biotechnological industry. A small expert panel consisting of the authors of this paper produced a biotechnology competence framework by drawing up an initial list of competences then ranking them in importance using a three-stage Delphi process. The framework was next evaluated and validated by a large expert panel of academics (n = 37) and industrial employees (n = 154). Results show that priorities for industrial employees and academics were similar. The competences for biotechnology practice that received the highest scores were mainly in: “Research and Development”, ‘“Upstream” and “Downstream” Processing’, “Product development and formulation”, “Aseptic processing”, “Analytical methodology”, “Product stability”, and “Regulation”. The main area of disagreement was in the category “Ethics and drug safety” where academics ranked competences higher than did industrial employees.
A Decentralized Wireless Solution to Monitor and Diagnose PV Solar Module Performance Based on Symmetrized-Shifted Gompertz Functions
Authors: Molina-García Angel , Campelo José , Blanc Sara , Serrano Juan , García-Sánchez Tania , Bueso María
Published: July 2015

This paper proposes and assesses an integrated solution to monitor and diagnose photovoltaic (PV) solar modules based on a decentralized wireless sensor acquisition system. Both DC electrical variables and environmental data are collected at PV module level using low-cost and high-energy efficiency node sensors. Data is real-time processed locally and compared with expected PV module performances obtained by a PV module model based on symmetrized-shifted Gompertz functions (as previously developed and assessed by the authors). Sensor nodes send data to a centralized sink-computing module using a multi-hop wireless sensor network architecture. Such integration thus provides extensive analysis of PV installations, and avoids off-line tests or post-processing processes. In comparison with previous approaches, this solution is enhanced with a low-cost system and non-critical performance constraints, and it is suitable for extensive deployment in PV power plants. Moreover, it is easily implemented in existing PV installations, since no additional wiring is required. The system has been implemented and assessed in a Spanish PV power plant connected to the grid. Results and estimations of PV module performances are also included in the paper.
A Rapid Convergent Low Complexity Interference Alignment Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Jiang Lihui , Wu Zhilu , Ren Guanghui , Wang Gangyi , Zhao Nan
Published: July 2015

Interference alignment (IA) is a novel technique that can effectively eliminate the interference and approach the sum capacity of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is high, by casting the desired signal and interference into different signal subspaces. The traditional alternating minimization interference leakage (AMIL) algorithm for IA shows good performance in high SNR regimes, however, the complexity of the AMIL algorithm increases dramatically as the number of users and antennas increases, posing limits to its applications in the practical systems. In this paper, a novel IA algorithm, called directional quartic optimal (DQO) algorithm, is proposed to minimize the interference leakage with rapid convergence and low complexity. The properties of the AMIL algorithm are investigated, and it is discovered that the difference between the two consecutive iteration results of the AMIL algorithm will approximately point to the convergence solution when the precoding and decoding matrices obtained from the intermediate iterations are sufficiently close to their convergence values. Based on this important property, the proposed DQO algorithm employs the line search procedure so that it can converge to the destination directly. In addition, the optimal step size can be determined analytically by optimizing a quartic function. Numerical results show that the proposed DQO algorithm can suppress the interference leakage more rapidly than the traditional AMIL algorithm, and can achieve the same level of sum rate as that of AMIL algorithm with far less iterations and execution time.
The Influence of Environmental Friendliness on Green Trust: The Mediation Effects of Green Satisfaction and Green Perceived Quality
Authors: Chen Yu-Shan , Lin Ching-Ying , Weng Chia-Sui
Published: July 2015

As global green trends became more prevalent, green marketing also developed into an important issue. Although prior literature explored the main factors affecting green trust, it was inconclusive as to how environmental friendliness could affect the green trust in green marketing. This study aims to focus on the positive influence of environmental friendliness on green trust, and explore the mediation effects of green satisfaction and green perceived quality. This study undertakes an empirical study by means of questionnaire survey. The respondents are consumers who have experience purchasing green products. This study applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses. The findings of this study indicate that (1) environmental friendliness has a significant positive impact on green satisfaction, green perceived quality, and green trust; (2) both green satisfaction and green perceived quality positively affect green trust; and (3) green satisfaction and green perceived quality partially mediate the positive relationship between environmental friendliness and green trust.
Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of hSOD1G93A Transgenic Mice
Authors: Lee Sun-Hwa , Choi Sun-Mi , Yang Eun
Published: July 2015

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) includes progressively degenerated motor neurons in the brainstem, motor cortex, and spinal cord. Recent reports demonstrate the dysfunction of multiple organs, including the lungs, spleen, and liver, in ALS animals and patients. Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used for treating inflammatory diseases in Oriental Medicine. In a previous study, we demonstrated that BV prevented motor neuron death and increased anti-inflammation in the spinal cord of symptomatic hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. In this study, we examined whether BVA’s effects depend on acupuncture point (ST36) in the organs, including the liver, spleen and kidney, of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. We found that BV treatment at ST36 reduces inflammation in the liver, spleen, and kidney compared with saline-treatment at ST36 and BV injected intraperitoneally in symptomatic hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. Those findings suggest that BV treatment combined with acupuncture stimulation is more effective at reducing inflammation and increasing immune responses compared with only BV treatment, at least in an ALS animal model.
Evaluation of Trichodysplasia Spinulosa-Associated Polyomavirus Capsid Protein as a New Carrier for Construction of Chimeric Virus-Like Particles Harboring Foreign Epitopes
Authors: Gedvilaite Alma , Kucinskaite-Kodze Indre , Lasickiene Rita , Timinskas Albertas , Vaitiekaite Ausra , Ziogiene Danguole , Zvirbliene Aurelija
Published: July 2015

Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a promising tool for protein engineering. Recently, trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) viral protein 1 (VP1) was efficiently produced in yeast expression system and shown to self-assemble to VLPs. In the current study, TSPyV VP1 protein was exploited as a carrier for construction of chimeric VLPs harboring selected B and T cell-specific epitopes and evaluated in comparison to hamster polyomavirus VP1 protein. Chimeric VLPs with inserted either hepatitis B virus preS1 epitope DPAFR or a universal T cell-specific epitope AKFVAAWTLKAAA were produced in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Target epitopes were incorporated either at the HI or BC loop of the VP1 protein. The insertion sites were selected based on molecular models of TSPyV VP1 protein. The surface exposure of the insert positions was confirmed using a collection of monoclonal antibodies raised against the intact TSPyV VP1 protein. All generated chimeric proteins were capable to self-assemble to VLPs, which induced a strong immune response in mice. The chimeric VLPs also activated dendritic cells and T cells as demonstrated by analysis of cell surface markers and cytokine production profiles in spleen cell cultures. In conclusion, TSPyV VP1 protein represents a new potential carrier for construction of chimeric VLPs harboring target epitopes.
Selected synthetic strategies to cyclophanes
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Shirbhate Mukesh Eknath , Waghule Gopalkrushna T
Published: July 2015

In this review we cover various approaches to meta- and paracyclophanes involving popular reactions. Generally, we have included a strategy where the reaction was used for assembling the cyclophane skeleton for further functionalization. In several instances, after the cyclophane is made several popular reactions are used and these are not covered here. We included various natural products related to cyclophanes. To keep the length of the review at a manageable level the literature related to orthocyclophanes was not included.
El legado de las mujeres a la cristalografía
Authors: Sanz-Aparicio Julia
Published: July 2015

Existe la impresión de que la cristalografía ha sido una ciencia donde las mujeres han estado más representadas que en otras disciplinas. Esto se debe a la contribución esencial de unas cuantas científicas excepcionales en los inicios de la nueva ciencia. Por tanto, este capítulo pretende reconocer especialmente el legado de Kathleen Lonsdale, Dorothy Hodgkin, Rosalind Franklin e Isabella Karle, que fueron verdaderas pioneras en tiempos en que las mujeres tenían que enfrentarse a una fuerte discriminación social. Otras científicas destacadas, como Caroline MacGillavry, Olga Kennard, Eleanor Dodson, Louise Johnson, Jenny Glusker o Jane Richardson, contribuyeron al desarrollo de los procedimientos fundamentales que configuraron la cristalografía moderna. Los espectaculares resultados que la cristalografía ha aportado a las ciencias de la vida están bien representados en el Premio Nobel concedido a Ada Yonath en 2009 por su contribución al estudio del ribosoma, la mayor estructura determinada hasta el momento.