bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contributing factors of teenage pregnancy among pregnant teenagers at selected hospitals of Dhaulagiri zone
Authors: Chalise S , Bajracharya S
Published: February 2017

Teenage pregnancy is a challenging issue and public health concern for families, health workers, societies, governments and adolescents themselves both in developed and developing countries. A descriptive study was conducted to find out contributing factors of teenage pregnancy among the pregnant teenagers at selected hospitals of Dhaulagiri zone. Fifty pregnant teenagers attending these hospitals for antenatal check-up and delivery were selected by using non- probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by semi structured interview schedule and analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics. The finding of this study revealed that 48% respondents were 18 years old, 98% were Hindu, 78% were homemaker, and 15% had positive history of teenage pregnancy in family either-side. Regarding contributing factors of teenage pregnancy, 76% had lower secondary level of education, 92% were living in rural areas, 34% and 58% respectively had no knowledge about its consequences and disadvantage, 14% had faced problem in getting contraceptive of own choice, 94% had cultural acceptance for early marriage and in 58% guardians were less strict in trying to monitor activity were contributing factors of teenage pregnancy. Based on the findings, it is concluded that most of the identified factors were modifiable. For minimizing the teenage pregnancy, chances for girls in formal education should be increased, vocational training should be provided to those not continuing their education, and parents need to be equipped with knowledge regarding teenage pregnancy.
A hospital based study on snake bite poisoning in adults in the western region of Nepal
Authors: Poudyal V P , Paudal K M , Rana N B , Adhikari S
Published: February 2017

Snake bite poisoning is an emergency condition with significant morbidity and mortality. It is more prevalent in Terai and Inner Terai regions of Nepal especially during monsoon season. There is no study on snake bite poisoning in adults in this part of the country after the introduction of national snake bite management guideline in 2003. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinico-epidemiological profile, amount of anti-snake venom used and outcome of snake bites. Six hundred and thirty eight cases of snake bite poisoning above the age of 15 years admitted in emergency department of the hospital, over a period of 6 years from 2004/2005 to 2009/2010 were evaluated retrospectively. The study showed almost equal numbers of bites in males and females (50.3% vs 49.7%) with two third of victims of 15 to 45 years of age. Most of the poisonings (68%) was seen during June, July and August months corresponding to the monsoon season in Nepal. Majority of the victims could not identify the snakes (45 %).Fingers & hands were bitten in majority cases (43 %). Ptosis was observed in all cases of snake bite poisoning. About 21% of the adults had respiratory distress needing respiratory support. Average ASV used was 21.3 vials. Case fatality rate (CFR) was 11.9% with more fatality on those with respiratory distress. As mortality due to snakebite poisoning and consumption of antisnake venom is still high with the use of national protocol 2003, further study to evaluate alternate protocol is recommended.
Stress and coping strategies among adolescents in private school, Chitwan, Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai B , Maskey S , Lopchan M
Published: February 2017

Changing emotional and physical status along with increasing social, family and academic pressure adolescents experience stress and their coping abilities determine the outcome. The objective of the study was to find out the level of stress and coping strategies among adolescents studying at Skyrider Higher Secondary English Boarding School, Ratnanagar-12, Chitwan. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used in which a total of 50 adolescence studying in grade 9 and 10 were selected by using non- probability purposive sampling technique. The study findings revealed that the mean age of respondents was 15.26 ± 0.96, 48% respondents had high level of stress. Statistically, there was significant association between respondents’ level of stress and sex (P= 0.025), type of residence (P=0.049) and father’s education level (P= 0.045). “Investing in close friends” is the most common and “Avoiding” is the least common coping strategy used by adolescents. Overall study concluded that the adolescents has high stress level whereas as they use various coping strategies.
Treatment adherence of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Sharma B , Joshi K
Published: February 2017

Adherence to Antiretroviral therapy (ART)is a principle predictor for the success of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome treatment. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has led to the reduction of mortality and the improvement of the quality of people living with HIV/AIDS. It has been estimated that at least 95% adherence with therapy is required to reduce HIV viral load. Non-adherence to treatment can lead to inadequate suppression of viral replication, continued destruction of CD4 cells, progressive decline in immune function and disease progression. The aim of the study is to assess treatment adherence of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS at Seti Zonal Hospital, Kailali. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 people living with HIV/AIDS in ART Clinic, Seti Zonal Hospital, Kailali. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used for data collection between 22/03/2071 to 02/04/2071. Informed consent was obtained prior collecting data from self-structured questionnaire using interview technique. Collected data were entered and analyzed by SPSS 17.0 and represented by using percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation and chi- square test. Results: Among the respondents majority of them were “female” 85(53.1%) sex, from age group “31-45 years” 85 (53.1%), ethnicity “minority group/ Dalit” 76 (47.5%) and education “illiterate” 79 (50.3%). The mean adherence rate for one month was found to be 89.92%. Majority of the respondents were adherent to ART 96 (60%). Regarding non-adherence the major barrier was “forgetting” 52 (45.6%). There is statistically significant association between age of the respondents (p=0.04), ethnicity (p=0.03) and prescribed ARV regimen (p=0.02) with drug adherence. More than half of the respondents were adherent to ART. Among non-adherent, the most of them reported “forgetting to take drug”. Non adherence patient and family members can be addressed with proper counseling and motivation for their drug compliance.
Solitary osteochondroma of scapula: A case report
Authors: Sharma B D , Sitaula J , Prajapati A , Regmi A P
Published: February 2017

Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumours of bone. They are most commonly seen in the metaphyseal regions of long bones (femur, tibia, humerus). The scapula is rarely involved, and very few cases of solitary osteochondroma of scapula have been reported in literature. We present the case of a 17 year old male who presented with pain and limited range of motion of his right shoulder. CT scan revealed an osteochondroma on the dorsomedial surface of the right scapula extending into the ventral surface. Surgical excision was done and histopathological study showed osteochondroma of the scapula.
Knowledge and practices of bed sore prevention among staff nurses working in a selected hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Authors: Shrestha R
Published: February 2017

The majority of pressure ulcers are preventable. Nurses should be able to constantly observe their client’s skin for breaks or impairment in skin integrity. Pressure ulcers not only cause suffering to the patients but also increases nurses’ work­load in clinical setting. Prevention of pressure ulcers is a significant nursing concern to reduce the costs of treatment and patients’ suffering. To assess the level of knowledge and observe the practices of bed sore prevention among staff nurses working in general wards as well as special units. A descriptive, cross sectional and participating observational method was adopted. This study was conducted in Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India among 60 staff nurses working in general wards and special units. Non probability, purposive sampling technique was used. Semi structured self administered questionnaire was developed for assessing knowledge and observation checklist was developed for practice of bed sore prevention for data collection procedure. Data were entered in SPSS 17.0 version and analyzed using in terms of descriptive (Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and mean percentage) and inferential statistics (Inde­pendent t test, ANOVA and correlation). Findings highlight a difference in knowledge between special (73%) and general (62%) based nurses regarding pressure ulcers. Similar results were also found for practice. Overall discrepancies between knowledge (68%) and practice (53%) were reported for staff nurses regarding bed sore prevention. The results showed special unit nurses’ practice significantly better (60.29%) than general ward nurses (46.68%). Although 40% of overall staff nurses achieved excellent level on knowledge, none of them crossed the excellent level on practice. It is concluded that knowledge and practice of bed sore prevention among nurses working within specialists and generalist ward differed and a theory practice gap exists which has implications for patients care suggesting the need for a specific educational interven­tion to respond to this need.
Knowledge regarding harmful effects on cell phone use among higher secondary school students Bharatpur Chitwan, Nepal
Authors: Gautam S , Shakya J
Published: February 2017

There is no doubt that the cell phone is a very useful today, cell phones are a major part of society. It eases communication with colleagues, friends and relatives. But every technology that provides such benefits comes with consequences. The effect of cell phones on youth and society is excessive. A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to identify the knowledge regarding harmful effects on cell phone use among higher secondary school students. The study population consisted of 70 higher secondary school students of Saptagandaki Multiple College, Bharatpur10, Chitwan. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the college and faculty .Whereas, out of 145 students, 70 students were selected respectively by using simple random sampling technique from the lottery method. Data was analyzed by using SPSS and various tests frequency, mean, median, percentage and standard deviation and the findings were presented in tables. Chi-square test as inferential statistics was used to analyze the associations between the independent and dependent variables. The study findings revealed that out of the 70 respondents, 24 (34.3%) respondents were in the age of 17 years and 3 (4.3%) respondents were in age of 15 years. The mean age was 17.31 with standard deviation of 1.04. Similarly regarding the sex 45 (64.3%) were male and 25 (35.7%) were female. Respondents’ have good level of knowledge regarding harmful effects of cell phone as it causes addiction on cell phone 90.0% but have average level of knowledge as it causes headache 78.6%, gradual loss of hearing 77.1%, eye strain 70.0%, dizziness 71.4%, skin allergy 71.45%, risk for breast cancer 75.7% and have poor level of knowledge as it causes dry eye 47.1%, warmness around ear 35.7%, decrease fertility rate 22.9%, tiredness if used after lights out. Out of 70 respondents, 53 (75.7%) of respondents answered risk for breast cancer is the harmful effects of cell phone if kept on chest region, and 20 (28.6%) answered chest injury. The level of knowledge regarding harmful effects on cell phone use is statistically not- significant with age (p=0.141), sex (p=0.943), faculty (p=0.632), grade (p=0.490) and previous experience (p=0.311).The study concluded that the some educational intervention need to lunch by institution in order to enhance the awareness among higher secondary school students.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection in a child presenting as herpes zoster ophthalmicus and non-healing keratitis
Authors: Chaudhary M , Chaudhary R P
Published: February 2017

Herpes Zoster is produced by reactivation of latent varicella zoster from the dorsal root ganglion of sensory nerves. It is common in older individuals and rarely described in Pediatric age group. Its occurrence in younger age should be viewed with suspicion. We describe an 11-year-old Nepali child who presented with herpes zoster ophthalmicus of right half of the forehead and a perforated corneal ulcer in the right eye. On investigations he was found to have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patient responded well to systemic acyclovir. Thus, herpes zoster ophthalmicus in a young child should be viewed with suspicion.
Music, Noise, and the First World War in Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End
Authors: Moss Gemma
Published: February 2017

Parade's End registers the potential and necessity for a transition in conceptions of music informed by new sounds experienced during the First World War. In the trenches, Tietjens interprets a bombardment as a Wagnerian orchestra, encouraging contemplation of where and why demarcation lines between music and noise are drawn, as well as reflection on the utopian project of Wagner's Gesamtkunstwerk (Total Art-Work). Ford's tetralogy has a significant contribution to make towards understanding how writers were navigating the impact of noise on music in the early twentieth century.
Apocalypse 1917: Esoteric Modernism and the War in Aleister Crowley's Moonchild
Authors: Morrisson Mark S.
Published: February 2017

This article explores the apocalyptic fervor of 1917 as a context for the rise of the esoteric modernism of W. B Yeats and Aleister Crowley, paying special attention to the contributions of Crowley's Moonchild to a specifically modernist form of esoteric fiction. Moonchild featured a modernist synthesis of ritual, transpersonal epistemology, experimental prose, and a play of competing popular genres in a contemplative fiction that continued to impact twentieth-century culture well beyond the death of its author. This literature turned to communications with spirit entities and to ritual magic to reveal spiritual interpretations of a world in which the flux of modernity augured technologically sophisticated war as a permanent state of affairs, the world of 1917.
The Northern Front Imagined: Defending Denmark in Emil Bønnelycke's Spartanerne (1919)
Authors: Bendtsen Bjarne S.
Published: February 2017

In late October 1919 the Danish author Emil Bønnelycke published a highly ambitious war novel, Spartanerne (The Spartans), in which he merged the war experiences of a Spartan soldier of the Antique world, a soldier fighting in the trenches of the First World War, and that of a young Danish recruit being trained for war. The three different war experiences mirror each other in this modernist novel that makes use of chronological jump cutting à la D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915) and imagines Denmark being drawn into the world war that had ended scarcely a year before the time of the novel's publication.
Dispute, Quarrel, Interpellation
Authors: Lecercle Jean-Jacques
Published: February 2017

This essay starts from the theory of disputes and progresses towards a theory of ‘interpellation’, which it aims to outline. The starting point is given by Lyotard's differend, which provides a first contrast between dispute and quarrel. Dispute can be seen as the more irenic pole of a system where quarrel would be identified as clearly agonistic. The essay first revisits the differend in the light of Habermas's theory, which posits that discussions take place against the background of a lifeworld. This enables ways of conceptualizing both dispute, as emerging from the possibilities offered by language games, and quarrel, which belongs to the world of incomprehension. This first model is subjected to the test of Lewis Carroll's ‘Alice in Wonderland’ books, where dissensus is transformed into consensus, where a quarrel may end up in a dispute which respects conventions. But the crucial point of the essay is to provide a philosophy of language which enables the conceptualization of quarrels. The essay revisits the conceptions put forward in The Violence of Language and A Marxist Philosophy of Language but then carries the analysis into new territory. Finding inspiration in Althusser's theory of interpellation and in Judith Butler's reading of Althusser, the essay shows that quarrels enact both interpellation and counter-interpellation, and views further quarrels as one of the characteristics of human language.
Postcolonial Studies and the Ethics of the Quarrel
Authors: McLeod John
Published: February 2017

The history of postcolonial studies is a history of quarrels. Since its emergence in the late 1970s in the wake of Edward W. Said's Orientalism (1978), a book with which many have quarrelled due to its daring conjoining of culture with imperialism, the fortunes of postcolonial thought have been shaped by ongoing wrangles between contrary positions. These conceptual quarrels, turning still, include: Marxist versus ‘culturalist’ postcolonialisms; diasporic theory versus nationalism; metropolitan versus ‘third world’; cosmopolitanism versus materialism; cultural studies versus the ‘English department’; anglophone versus ‘native’ languages; poststructuralism versus tricontinentalism; globalization versus planetarity. Acknowledging that postcolonial studies is arguably one of the most critiqued and self-critical theoretical paradigms of recent decades, this essay considers the quarrel not simply as the product of divergent politics but as a crucial element of postcolonialism's ethical modus operandi. It ultimately both establishes the ethical agency of quarrels in postcolonial thought and looks ahead to the latest unfolding of key contentions in an ever-developing field.
Preliminary Study on the Damping Effect of a Lateral Damping Buffer under a Debris Flow Load
Authors: Lu Zheng , Yang Yuling , Lu Xilin , Liu Chengqing
Published: February 2017

Simulating the impact of debris flows on structures and exploring the feasibility of applying energy dissipation devices or shock isolators to reduce the damage caused by debris flows can make great contribution to the design of disaster prevention structures. In this paper, we propose a new type of device, a lateral damping buffer, to reduce the vulnerability of building structures to debris flows. This lateral damping buffer has two mechanisms of damage mitigation: when debris flows impact on a building, it acts as a buffer, and when the structure vibrates due to the impact, it acts as a shock absorber, which can reduce the maximum acceleration response and subsequent vibration respectively. To study the effectiveness of such a lateral damping buffer, an impact test is conducted, which mainly involves a lateral damping buffer attached to a two-degree-of-freedom structure under a simulated debris flow load. To enable the numerical study, the equation of motion of the structure along with the lateral damping buffer is derived. A subsequent parametric study is performed to optimize the lateral damping buffer. Finally, a practical design procedure is also provided.
Overload Control in Smart Transformer-Fed Grid
Authors: De Carne Giovanni , Zou Zhixiang , Buticchi Giampaolo , Liserre Marco , Vournas Costas
Published: February 2017

Renewable energy resources and new loads—such as electric vehicles—challenge grid management. Among several scenarios, the smart transformer represents a solution for simultaneously managing low- and medium-voltage grids, providing ancillary services to the distribution grid. However, unlike conventional transformers, the smart transformer has a very limited overload capability, because the junction temperature—which must always be below its maximum limit—is characterized by a short time constant. In this work, an overload control for smart transformer by means of voltage and frequency variations has been proposed and veriﬁed by means of simulations and experiments.
Physical Activity: A Viable Way to Reduce the Risks of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Vascular Dementia in Older Adults
Authors: Gallaway Patrick , Miyake Hiroji , Buchowski Maciej , Shimada Mieko , Yoshitake Yutaka , Kim Angela , Hongu Nobuko
Published: February 2017

A recent alarming rise of neurodegenerative diseases in the developed world is one of the major medical issues affecting older adults. In this review, we provide information about the associations of physical activity (PA) with major age-related neurodegenerative diseases and syndromes, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. We also provide evidence of PA’s role in reducing the risks of these diseases and helping to improve cognitive outcomes in older adults. Finally, we describe some potential mechanisms by which this protective effect occurs, providing guidelines for future research.
Experimental Study on Use of Sound Absorption Treatment for Reduction of Environmental Sound Propagation and Reverberation in Staircases: A Case Study in Housing
Authors: Matsuda Toru , Shimizu Takafumi , Suminaga Hikaru , Yoshitani Kimie , Koike Masaru , Matsushima Yasutomi
Published: February 2017

In recent years, many open-plan houses have been proposed not only for comfort reasons, but also as a place to engage in family life. However, in contrast to the fact that this kind of plan makes it easy for people to interact, the daily life household sounds that occur inside the home may be perceived as noise. It is especially difficult to suppress the propagation of sound and reverberation in staircase and stairwell areas due to the absence of sound-absorbing furniture. In this study, we focused on addressing sound management within the staircase area in open-plan housing where sound absorption is particularly difficult. In order to suppress sound propagation on the upper and lower floors and the reverberation of sound, we placed a thin sound absorption panel on the wall, ceiling, and riser of the staircase. As a result, we were able to confirm that the propagation of sound on upper and lower floors can be suppressed by carrying out the sound absorption treatment on the staircase. Furthermore, we found that in stairway landing areas, the suppression effect of the propagation of sound varies depending on the position of the sound source and the positioning of the sound absorption panel, and that there is a position for placing the sound absorption panel where the sound-absorbing effect is effective.
Oncologic Photodynamic Therapy: Basic Principles, Current Clinical Status and Future Directions
Authors: Van Straten Demian , Mashayekhi Vida , De Bruijn Henriette , Oliveira Sabrina , Robinson Dominic
Published: February 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved cancer therapy, based on a photochemical reaction between a light activatable molecule or photosensitizer, light, and molecular oxygen. When these three harmless components are present together, reactive oxygen species are formed. These can directly damage cells and/or vasculature, and induce inflammatory and immune responses. PDT is a two-stage procedure, which starts with photosensitizer administration followed by a locally directed light exposure, with the aim of confined tumor destruction. Since its regulatory approval, over 30 years ago, PDT has been the subject of numerous studies and has proven to be an effective form of cancer therapy. This review provides an overview of the clinical trials conducted over the last 10 years, illustrating how PDT is applied in the clinic today. Furthermore, examples from ongoing clinical trials and the most recent preclinical studies are presented, to show the directions, in which PDT is headed, in the near and distant future. Despite the clinical success reported, PDT is still currently underutilized in the clinic. We also discuss the factors that hamper the exploration of this effective therapy and what should be changed to render it a more effective and more widely available option for patients.
Precipitation Intensity Trend Detection using Hourly and Daily Observations in Portland, Oregon
Authors: Cooley Alexis , Chang Heejun
Published: February 2017

The intensity of precipitation is expected to increase in response to climate change, but the regions where this may occur are unclear. The lack of certainty from climate models warrants an examination of trends in observational records. However, the temporal resolution of records may affect the success of trend detection. Daily observations are often used, but may be too coarse to detect changes. Sub-daily records may improve detection, but their value is not yet quantified. Using daily and hourly records from 24 rain gages in Portland, Oregon (OR), trends in precipitation intensity and volume are examined for the period of 1999–2015. Daily intensity is measured using the Simple Daily Intensity Index, and this method is adapted to measure hourly scale intensity. Kendall’s tau, a non-parametric correlation coefficient, is used for monotonic trend detection. Field significance and tests for spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s Index are used to determine the significance of group hypothesis tests. Results indicate that the hourly data is superior in trend detection when compared with daily data; more trends are detected with hourly scale data at both the 5% and 10% significance levels. Hourly records showed a significant increase in 6 of 12 months, while daily records showed a significant increase in 4 of 12 months at the 10% significance level. At both scales increasing trends were concentrated in spring and summer months, while no winter trends were detected. Volume was shown to be increasing in most months experiencing increased intensity, and is a probable driver of the intensity trends observed.
Metastability Phenomena in VO2 Thin Films
Authors: Gioacchino Daniele , Marcelli Augusto , Puri Alessandro , Zou Chongwen , Fan Lele , Zeitler Uli , Bianconi Antonio
Published: February 2017

VO2 is a transition metal oxide in which complex electronic phases appear near the metal-to-insulator transition due to electron correlation and electron–lattice interactions. This system is characterized by a metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) at around 341 K. The metal (high T) phase is tetragonal while the insulator (low T) phase is monoclinic and the resistivity changes at the MIT by about five orders of magnitude. Here, we report investigations of the MIT in a thin VO2 film deposited on a sapphire substrate showing hysteresis. The MIT has been characterized by resistance measurements versus temperature and a DC magnetic field. The thin sample shows different final resistance values in both the insulating and metallic state after different temperature cycles. Moreover, some cycles do not close in the insulating phase. An unexpected magnetic dependence of the temperature cycle in the sample was also observed. The results show that the MIT of VO2 can be controlled by reducing the thickness below 40 nm in micron-sized ribbons since MIT is associated with the emergence of coexisting metastable conformations controlled by the thickness-dependent misfit strain and stress distributions induced by the mismatch between thin ribbon film and the substrate.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Hydroxyapatite Nanopores in Contact with Electrolyte Solutions: The Effect of Nanoconfinement and Solvated Ions on the Surface Reactivity and the Structural, Dynamical, and Vibrational Properties of Water
Authors: Di Tommaso Devis , Prakash Muthuramalingam , Lemaire Thibault , Lewerenz Marius , De Leeuw Nora , Naili Salah
Published: February 2017

Hydroxyapatite, the main mineral phase of mammalian tooth enamel and bone, grows within nanoconfined environments and in contact with aqueous solutions that are rich in ions. Hydroxyapatite nanopores of different pore sizes (20 Å ≤ H ≤ 110 Å, where H is the size of the nanopore) in contact with liquid water and aqueous electrolyte solutions (CaCl2 (aq) and CaF2 (aq)) were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations to quantify the effect of nanoconfinement and solvated ions on the surface reactivity and the structural and dynamical properties of water. The combined effect of solution composition and nanoconfinement significantly slows the self-diffusion coefficient of water molecules compared with bulk liquid. Analysis of the pair and angular distribution functions, distribution of hydrogen bonds, velocity autocorrelation functions, and power spectra of water shows that solution composition and nanoconfinement in particular enhance the rigidity of the water hydrogen bonding network. Calculation of the water exchange events in the coordination of calcium ions reveals that the dynamics of water molecules at the HAP–solution interface decreases substantially with the degree of confinement. Ions in solution also reduce the water dynamics at the surface calcium sites. Together, these changes in the properties of water impart an overall rigidifying effect on the solvent network and reduce the reactivity at the hydroxyapatite-solution interface. Since the process of surface-cation-dehydration governs the kinetics of the reactions occurring at mineral surfaces, such as adsorption and crystal growth, this work shows how nanoconfinement and solvation environment influence the molecular-level events surrounding the crystallization of hydroxyapatite.
The Efficiency Improvement by Combining HHO Gas, Coal and Oil in Boiler for Electricity Generation
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Chou Min-Tsong , Hsu Hsien-Pin , Wang Jing-Wein , Selvaraj Sridhar
Published: February 2017

Electricity is an essential energy that can benefit our daily lives. There are many sources available for electricity generation, such as coal, natural gas and nuclear. Among these sources, coal has been widely used in thermal power plants that account for about 41% of the worldwide electricity supply. However, these thermal power plants are also found to be a big pollution source to our environment. There is a need to explore alternative electricity sources and improve the efficiency of electricity generation. This research focuses on improving the efficiency of electricity generation through the use of hydrogen and oxygen mixture (HHO) gas. In this research, experiments have been conducted to investigate the combined effects of HHO gas with other fuels, including coal and oil. The results show that the combinations of HHO with coal and oil can improve the efficiency of electricity generation while reducing the pollution to our environment.
A Parameter Selection Method for Wind Turbine Health Management through SCADA Data
Authors: Du Mian , Yi Jun , Mazidi Peyman , Cheng Lin , Guo Jianbo
Published: February 2017

Wind turbine anomaly or failure detection using machine learning techniques through supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system is drawing wide attention from academic and industry While parameter selection is important for modelling a wind turbine’s condition, only a few papers have been published focusing on this issue and in those papers interconnections among sub-components in a wind turbine are used to address this problem. However, merely the interconnections for decision making sometimes is too general to provide a parameter list considering the differences of each SCADA dataset. In this paper, a method is proposed to provide more detailed suggestions on parameter selection based on mutual information. First, the copula is proven to be capable of simplifying the estimation of mutual information. Then an empirical copulabased mutual information estimation method (ECMI) is introduced for application. After that, a real SCADA dataset is adopted to test the method, and the results show the effectiveness of the ECMI in providing parameter selection suggestions when physical knowledge is not accurate enough.
On the CFD Analysis of a Stratified Taylor-Couette System Dedicated to the Fabrication of Nanosensors
Authors: Griffini Duccio , Insinna Massimiliano , Salvadori Simone , Barucci Andrea , Cosi Franco , Pelli Stefano , Righini Giancarlo
Published: February 2017

Since the pioneering work of Taylor, the analysis of flow regimes of incompressible, viscous fluids contained in circular Couette systems with independently rotating cylinders have charmed many researchers. The characteristics of such kind of flows have been considered for some industrial applications. Recently, Taylor-Couette flows found an innovative application in the production of optical fiber nanotips, to be used in molecular biology and medical diagnostic fields. Starting from the activity of Barucci et al., the present work concerns the numerical analysis of a Taylor-Couette system composed by two coaxial counter-rotating cylinders with low aspect ratio and radius ratio, filled with three stratified fluids. An accurate analysis of the flow regimes is performed, considering both the variation of inner and outer rotational speed and the reduction of fiber radius due to etching process. The large variety of individuated flow configurations provides useful information about the possible use of the Taylor-Couette system in a wide range of engineering applications. For the present case, the final objective is to provide accurate information to manufacturers of fiber nanotips about the expected flow regimes, thus helping them in the setup of the control process that will be used to generate high-quality products.
Long-Term Monitoring of Bright Blazars in the Multi-GeV to TeV Range with FACT
Authors: Temme Fabian , Adam Jan , Ahnen Max , Baack Dominik , Balbo Matteo , Bergmann Matthias , Biland Adrian , Blank Michael , Bretz Thomas , Brügge Kai , Buss Jens , Dmytriiev Anton , Dorner Daniela , Einecke Sabrina , Hempfling Christina , Hildebrand Dorothee , Hughes Gareth , Linhoff Lena , Mannheim Karl , Müller Sebastian , Neise Dominik , Neronov Andrii , Nöthe Max , Paravac Aleksander , Pauss Felicitas , Rhode Wolfgang , Shukla Amit , Thaele Julia , Walter Roland
Published: February 2017

Blazars like Markarian 421 or Markarian 501 are active galactic nuclei (AGN), with their jets orientated towards the observer. They are among the brightest objects in the very high energy (VHE) gamma ray regime (>100 GeV). Their emitted gamma-ray fluxes are extremely variable, with changing activity levels on timescales between minutes, months, and even years. Several questions are part of the current research, such as the question of the emission regions or the engine of the AGN and the particle acceleration. A dedicated longterm monitoring program is necessary to investigate the properties of blazars in detail. A densely sampled and unbiased light curve allows for observation of both high and low states of the sources, and the combination with multi-wavelength observation could contribute to the answer of several questions mentioned above. FACT (First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope) is the first operational telescope using silicon photomultiplier (SiPM, also known as Geigermode—Avalanche Photo Diode, G-APD) as photon detectors. SiPM have a very homogenous and stable longterm performance, and allow operation even during full moon without any filter, leading to a maximal duty cycle for an Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescope (IACT). Hence, FACT is an ideal device for such a longterm monitoring of bright blazars. A small set of sources (e.g., Markarian 421, Markarian 501, 1ES 1959+650, and 1ES 2344+51.4) is currently being monitored. In this contribution, the FACT telescope and the concept of longterm monitoring of bright blazars will be introduced. The results of the monitoring program will be shown, and the advantages of densely sampled and unbiased light curves will be discussed.
MNT and Emerging Concepts of MNT‐MYC Antagonism
Authors: Yang Guang , Hurlin Peter
Published: February 2017

MYC family proteins play fundamental roles in stem and progenitor cell homeostasis, morphogenesis and cancer. As expected for proteins that profoundly affect the fate of cells, the activities of MYC are regulated at a multitude of levels. One mechanism with the potential to broadly affect the activities of MYC is transcriptional antagonism by a group of MYC‐related transcriptional repressors. From this group, the protein MNT has emerged as having perhaps the most far‐reaching impact on MYC activities. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of MNT, its regulation and how, as a MYC antagonist, it functions both as a tumor suppressor and facilitator of MYC‐driven proliferation and oncogenesis.
Environmental Criteria in the Spanish Public Works Procurement Process
Authors: Fuentes-Bargues José , González-Cruz Mª , González-Gaya Cristina
Published: February 2017

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is defined as a process of contracting products, services, and works with the least possible damage to the environment during their life cycle. In order to improve the knowledge about GPP, a study of the use of environmental tendering criteria in the Spanish public construction sector has been performed. The results of this study show that the use of environmental criteria in Spanish public sector construction procurement is low in comparison to a certain group of countries, known as “Green 7”, in the European Union. Environmental criteria is the fourth criterion in importance, but its weight in the global of the process is much lower than other criteria such as price, memory of the construction process and the delivery time. National administrations use environmental criteria more frequently because they have more resources and staff training about environmental issues. Environmental criteria are more used in the tendering of civil projects and works whose budget exceeds ten million euro due to the environmental impact of these kind and/or size of projects.
Smart Device Use and Perceived Physical and Psychosocial Outcomes among Hong Kong Adolescents
Authors: Kwok Stephen , Lee Paul , Lee Regina
Published: February 2017

Excessive electronic screen-based activities have been found to be associated with negative outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalences and patterns of smart device activities and the purposes and perceived outcomes related to smart device use, and the differences in patterns of smart device activities between adolescents who did and did not perceive these outcomes. The study was a cross-sectional survey of Hong Kong primary and secondary school students. Demographic characteristics, purpose and pattern of the activities, and frequencies of the outcomes were measured. Data from 960 adolescents aged 10–19 were analyzed. Nearly 86% of the sample use smart device daily. The one-week prevalence of perceived sleep deprivation, eye discomfort, musculoskeletal discomfort, family conflict and cyberbullying victimization related to smart device use were nearly 50%, 45%, 40%, 20% and 5% respectively. More than 25% of the respondents were at risk of negative outcomes related to smart device activities for more than 1 h per day, browsing and gaming on at least 4 days per week and watching TV/movies and posting on more than 2 days per week. Their patterns of smart device activities may put a significant number of them at risk of negative outcomes.
Optimistic Bias, Risk Factors, and Development of High Blood Pressure and Obesity among African American Adolescents in Mississippi (USA)
Authors: White Monique , Addison Clifton , Jenkins Brenda , Bland Vanessa , Clark Adrianne , LaVigne Donna
Published: February 2017

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is linked to hypertension among African American youth. Optimistic bias influences behavior of youth causing them to underestimate their susceptibility to negative health outcomes. This study explored adolescent behaviors and prevalence of high blood pressure and obesity in a school district. We examined the relationship between individual health risk practices and optimistic bias on health outcomes; 433 African American high school students were administered a survey and had their obesity and blood pressure measured by the school nurse. Canonical correlational analyses were used to examine relationships between health risk practices and descriptive statistics for optimistic bias and health outcomes. Engaging in moderate exercise for at least 30 min in the last 7 days and lower blood pressure was the only statistically significant relationship. Two-thirds of the students did not perceive themselves to be at risk of developing cardiovascular disease with males at greater risk than females, despite the presence of clinical risk factors for hypertension and obesity. Reducing health optimistic bias is an effective way of motivating young people to adopt more positive behaviors using educational institutions to implement intervention programs that promote positive health behavior as a way to reduce health disparities.
A New GNSS Single-Epoch Ambiguity Resolution Method Based on Triple-Frequency Signals
Authors: Wang Shengli , Deng Jian , Lu Xiushan , Song Ziyuan , Xu Ying
Published: February 2017

Fast and reliable ambiguity resolution (AR) has been a continuing challenge for real-time precise positioning based on dual-frequency Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier phase observation. New GNSS systems (i.e., GPS modernization, BDS (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System), GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and Galileo) will provide multiple-frequency signals. The GNSS multiple-constellation and multiple-frequency signals are expected to bring great benefits to AR. A new GNSS single-epoch AR method for a short-range baseline based on triple-frequency signals is developed in this study. Different from most GNSS multiple-constellation AR methods, this technique takes advantage of the triple-frequency signals and robust estimation as much as possible. In this technique, the double difference (DD) AR of the triple-frequency observations is achieved in the first step. Second, the triple-frequency carrier phase observations with fixed ambiguities are used with the dual-frequency carrier phase observations to estimate their ambiguity. Finally, to realize reliable GNSS single-epoch AR, robust estimation is involved. The performance of the new technique is examined using 24 hours of GPS/GLONASS/BDS observation collected from a short-range baseline. The results show that single-epoch AR of the GNSS signals can be realized using this new technique. Moreover, the AR of BDS Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites’ observations is easier than are those of the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit (IGSO) satellites’ observations.
Geovisualization for Association Rule Mining in Oil and Gas Well Data
Authors: Sun Xiaodong , Wang Xin
Published: February 2017

Association rule mining on oil and gas data has recently been successfully used to help understand reservoirs; therefore, the visualization and understanding of the discovered association rules based on well locations and subsequent predictions based on the applicable areas of the rules are important. In this paper, two visualization methods—point- and surface-based geovisualization—are proposed for association rules from oil and gas well data. The point-based method represents association rules based on well locations, and the surface-based method represents potentially applicable areas through spatial interpolation and visualization. A case study has been carried out on a real cold production oil well dataset in western Alberta, Canada, and, the results illustrate the feasibility of the proposed geovisualization methods.
AHS Model: Efficient Topological Operators for a Sensor Web Publish/Subscribe System
Authors: Huang Chih-Yuan , Liang Steve
Published: February 2017

The Worldwide Sensor Web has been applied for monitoring the physical world with spatial and temporal scales that were impossible in the past. With the development of sensor technologies and interoperable open standards, sensor webs generate tremendous volumes of priceless data, enabling scientists to observe previously unobservable phenomena. With its powerful monitoring capability, the sensor web is able to capture time-critical events and provide up-to-date information to support decision-making. In order to harvest the full potential of the sensor web, efficiently processing sensor web data and providing timely notifications are necessary. Therefore, we aim to design a software component applying the publish/subscribe communication model for the sensor web. However, as sensor web data are geospatial in nature, existing topological operators are inefficient when processing a large number of geometries. This paper presents the Aggregated Hierarchical Spatial Model (AHS model) to efficiently determine topological relationships between sensor data and predefined query objects. By using a predefined hierarchical spatial framework to index geometries, the AHS model can match new sensor data with all subscriptions in a single process to improve the query performance. Based on our evaluation results, the query latency of the AHS model increases 2.5 times more slowly than that of PostGIS. As a result, we believe that the AHS model is able to more efficiently process topological operators in a sensor web publish/subscribe system.
Alternative Splicing in Plant Genes: A Means of Regulating the Environmental Fitness of Plants
Authors: Shang Xudong , Cao Ying , Ma Ligeng
Published: February 2017

Gene expression can be regulated through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Transcription in eukaryotes produces pre-mRNA molecules, which are processed and spliced post-transcriptionally to create translatable mRNAs. More than one mRNA may be produced from a single pre-mRNA by alternative splicing (AS); thus, AS serves to diversify an organism’s transcriptome and proteome. Previous studies of gene expression in plants have focused on the role of transcriptional regulation in response to environmental changes. However, recent data suggest that post-transcriptional regulation, especially AS, is necessary for plants to adapt to a changing environment. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of AS during plant development in response to environmental changes. We suggest that alternative gene splicing is a novel means of regulating the environmental fitness of plants.
Time, Concentration, and pH-Dependent Transport and Uptake of Anthocyanins in a Human Gastric Epithelial (NCI-N87) Cell Line
Authors: Atnip Allison , Sigurdson Gregory , Bomser Joshua , Giusti M.
Published: February 2017

Anthocyanins are the largest class of water soluble plant pigments and a common part of the human diet. They may have many potential health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cardioprotective activities. However, anthocyanin metabolism is not well understood. Studies suggest that anthocyanins absorption may occur in the stomach, in which the acidic pH favors anthocyanin stability. A gastric epithelial cell line (NCI-N87) has been used to study the behavior of anthocyanins at a pH range of 3.0–7.4. This work examines the effects of time (0–3 h), concentration (50–1500 µM), and pH (3.0, 5.0, 7.4) on the transport and uptake of anthocyanins using NCI-N87 cells. Anthocyanins were transported from the apical to basolateral side of NCI-N87 cells in time and dose dependent manners. Over the treatment time of 3 h the rate of transport increased, especially with higher anthocyanin concentrations. The non-linear rate of transport may suggest an active mechanism for the transport of anthocyanins across the NCI-N87 monolayer. At apical pH 3.0, higher anthocyanin transport was observed compared to pH 5.0 and 7.4. Reduced transport of anthocyanins was found to occur at apical pH 5.0.