bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flow and heat transfer of hydromagnetic Oldroyd-B fluid in a channel with stretching walls
Authors: Nasir Ali , Khan Sami Ullah , Sajid Muhammad , Abbas Zaheer
Published: April 2016

The present study investigates the heat transfer in an electrically conducting Oldroyd-B fluid through a channel with stretchingwalls in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The governing partial differential equations are reduced in a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using dimensionless variables. An implicit finite difference method is employed to develop a numerical solution at each spatial node for the governing nonlinear differential equations. The obtained results are analyzed and discussed graphically under the influence of controlling pertinent parameters.
Frequency analysis of nonlinear oscillations via the global error minimization
Authors: Kalami Yazdi M , Hosseini Tehrani P
Published: April 2016

The capacity and effectiveness of a modified variational approach, namely global error minimization (GEM) is illustrated in this study. For this purpose, the free oscillations of a rod rocking on a cylindrical surface and the Duffing-harmonic oscillator are treated. In order to validate and exhibit the merit of the method, the obtained result is compared with both of the exact frequency and the outcome of other well-known analytical methods. The corollary reveals that the first order approximation leads to an acceptable relative error, specially for large initial conditions. The procedure can be promisingly exerted to the conservative nonlinear problems.
Analysis of a metal clad waveguide sensor having metamaterial as a guiding layer
Authors: Upadhyay A. , Prajapati Y.K. , Tripathi R. , Singh V. , Saini J.P.
Published: April 2016

In this study a metal clad waveguide sensor with a metamaterial guiding layer is analyzed. Sensitivity of the proposed sensor is derived using dispersion and Fresenal’s equations for waveguiding mode and reflection mode. While efficiently analyzing and comparing the results with the existing one, some interesting findings are achieved. It is observed that the proposed sensor shows larger cover layer sensitivity and larger adlayer sensitivity compared to the dielectric guiding layer sensor due to adsorbtive properties of metamaterial. Henceforth, it concludes that the proposed sensor shows sensitivity improvement over a dielectric guiding layer sensor.
Survey of supercritical fluid techniques for producing drug delivery systems for a potential use in cancer therapy
Authors: Tabernero Antonio , González-Garcinuño Álvaro , Galán Miguel A. , Martín del Valle Eva M.
Published: April 2016

Standard drug delivery systems for cancer treatment usually comprise a device with a specific size and shape (depending on the type of cancer that has to be treated), which is composed by a biodegradable compound with a chemotherapeutic entrapped within it. This device should have a molecule (mainly a protein) bound to its surface to target only cancer cells. On the contrary, supercritical fluids (SCF) have been widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for creating drug delivery systems or for extracting drugs from natural sources. This review explains the potential of SCFs for cancer therapies by studying the current uses of the different high-pressure processes that can be useful for this medical treatment, such as the development of new drug delivery systems (with their drug release) or the extraction of chemotherapeutics from a vegetal matrix.
From the Heart of Darkness: Critical Reading and Genuine Listening in Constructivist Norm Research
Authors: Deitelhoff Nicole , Zimmermann Lisbeth
Published: April 2016

In their article on critical norm research, Stephan Engelkamp, Katharina Glaab, and Judith Renner propose a poststructuralist, hegemony-critical program. They contrast it with an affirmative mainstream in constructivist norm research, which they argue is oblivious to power, unreflective, and Eurocentric. Therefore, they make a case for a program that unmasks hegemonic values, reconstructs and strengthens non-Western, local values, and reflects more systematically on its own position in the process of truth production. We show based on three points that the proposed program is not fruitful for a truly “critical” form of norm research: (1) it distorts the weaknesses and achievements of constructivist norm research, (2) it rewards an unreflected use of the terms “Western” and “local,” and (3) it lacks the necessary instruments for subjecting political processes to normative reflection.
The effect of coniine on presynaptic nicotinic receptors
Authors: Erkent Ulkem , Iskit Alper B. , Onur Rustu , Ilhan Mustafa
Published: April 2016

Toxicity of coniine, an alkaloid of Conium maculatum (poison hemlock), is manifested by characteristic nicotinic clinical signs including excitement, depression, hypermetria, seizures, opisthotonos via postsynaptic nicotinic receptors. There is limited knowledge about the role of presynaptic nicotinic receptors on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of coniine in the literature. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible role of presynaptic nicotinic receptors on the pharmacological and toxicological effects of coniine. For this purpose, the rat anococcygeus muscle and guinea-pig atria were used in vitro. Nicotine (100 μM) elicited a biphasic response composed of a relaxation followed by contraction through the activation of nitrergic and noradrenergic nerve terminals in the phenylephrine-contracted rat anococcygeus muscle. Coniine inhibited both the nitrergic and noradrenergic response in the muscle (–logIC50 = 3.79 ± 0.11 and –logIC50 = 4.57 ± 0.12 M, respectively). The effect of coniine on nicotinic receptor-mediated noradrenergic transmission was also evaluated in the guinea-pig atrium (–logIC50 = 4.47 ± 0.12 M) and did not differ from the –logIC50 value obtained in the rat anococcygeus muscle. This study demonstrated that coniine exerts inhibitory effects on nicotinic receptor-mediated nitrergic and noradrenergic transmitter response.
Susceptibility of Primary Sensory Cortex to Spreading Depolarizations
Authors: Bogdanov Volodymyr B. , Middleton Natalie A. , Theriot Jeremy J. , Parker Patrick D. , Abdullah Osama M. , Ju Y. Sungtaek , Hartings Jed A. , Brennan K.C.
Published: April 2016

Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are recognized as actors in neurological disorders as diverse as migraine and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Migraine aura involves sensory percepts, suggesting that sensory cortices might be intrinsically susceptible to SDs. We used optical imaging, MRI, and field potential and potassium electrode recordings in mice and electrocorticographic recordings in humans to determine the susceptibility of different brain regions to SDs. Optical imaging experiments in mice under isoflurane anesthesia showed that both cortical spreading depression and terminal anoxic depolarization arose preferentially in the whisker barrel region of parietal sensory cortex. MRI recordings under isoflurane, ketamine/xylazine, ketamine/isoflurane, and urethane anesthesia demonstrated that the depolarizations did not propagate from a subcortical source. Potassium concentrations showed larger increases in sensory cortex, suggesting a mechanism of susceptibility. Sensory stimulation biased the timing but not the location of depolarization onset. In humans with TBI, there was a trend toward increased incidence of SDs in parietal/temporal sensory cortex compared with other regions. In conclusion, SDs are inducible preferentially in primary sensory cortex in mice and most likely in humans. This tropism can explain the predominant sensory phenomenology of migraine aura. It also demonstrates that sensory cortices are vulnerable in brain injury.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSpreading depolarizations (SDs) are involved in neurologic disorders as diverse as migraine and traumatic brain injury. In migraine, the nature of aura symptoms suggests that sensory cortex may be preferentially susceptible. In brain injury, SDs occur at a vulnerable time, during which the issue of sensory stimulation is much debated. We show, in mouse and human, that sensory cortex is more susceptible to SDs. We find that sensory stimulation biases the timing but not the location of the depolarizations. Finally, we show a relative impairment of potassium clearance in sensory cortex, providing a potential mechanism for the susceptibility. Our data help to explain the sensory nature of the migraine aura and reveal that sensory cortices are vulnerable in brain injury.
Chirurginis išeminis koloito gydymas
Authors: Park Kyu Joo
Published: April 2016

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Perianalinis pūlinys, diagnozuotas praėjus daug laiko po praryto svetimkūnio: klinikinis atvejis
Authors: Kolosov Andrej , Jotautas Valdemaras , Strupas Kęstutis
Published: April 2016

Abscesai bei fistulės – dažnai pasitaikantys perianalinės srities dariniai. Paprastai jie būna kriptogeninės kilmės, tačiau juos gali išprovokuoti ir kitos priežastys. Viena jų – į perianalinius audinius patekęs svetimkūnis. Retrogradinis patekimas pastebimas ir iškart sukelia skausmą, o pro burną patekęs svetimkūnis gali likti nepastebėtas ir išbūti organizme ilgą laiką, kol atsiranda ryškūs simptomai. Aprašome retą klinikinį atvejį, kai 42 metų moteris kreipėsi į Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikas dėl 7 mėnesius po atliktos pilonidinio sinuso abscesotomijos pūliuojančios pooperacinės žaizdos ir su tuo susijusio skausmo bei diskomforto uodegikaulio srityje. Po papildomų tyrimų atlikta plati abscesotomija ir pašalinti abu tyrimų metu rasti fistulių kanalai. Operacijos metu pūlinio ertmėje rastas svetimkūnis – odontologinis grąžtas, kuris, numanoma, sukėlė abscesus bei fistules. Nurytas svetimkūnis gali ilgai išbūti organizme nepastebėtas. Įsitvirtinęs perianalinėje srityje, sukelia aplinkinių audinių uždegimą. Tinkamai surinkus anamnezę reikėtų įvertinti šios uždegimo etiologijos tikimybę netgi nesant fistulės angų analiniame kanale bei išangėje.
TEISĖ KREIPTIS Į TEISMĄ DĖL PROCESINIŲ PRIEVARTOS PRIEMONIŲ TAIKYMO
Authors: Goda Gintaras
Published: April 2016

Straipsnyje analizuojamos procesinių prievartos priemonių taikymo problemos, atkreipiant dėmesį į būtinybę keisti šiuo metu nustatytą tokių priemonių apskundimo tvarką. Remiantis Europos Žmogaus Teisių Teismo, konstitucine jurisprudencija straipsnyje nagrinėjami teisminės gynybos nuo jau pritaikytų prievartos priemonių klausimai, taip pat prievartos priemonių taikymo neatidėliotinais atvejais problema.
Development of elite sportsmen’s training system
Authors: Yessentayev T.K.
Published: April 2016

Purpose: to study conditions and organizational management forms of material-technical and personnel potential’s realization in modern system of elite sportsmen’s training. Material: publications on the topic of the article were used as sources of information. Results: approaches to optimization of sportsmen’s training and competition functioning management were analyzed. In the basis of modern system of elite sportsmen’s training for competition functioning is realization of knowledge and practical experience of different specialists. Provisioning of conditions for different profiles specialists’ participation in sportsmen’s training is ensured by large training centers with developed infrastructure and wide complex of services for sportsmen. Conclusions: coordination of different profiles’ specialists in sportsmen’s preparation for competition functioning and in competition functioning is ensured by different forms of management. The most effective of them is model of chief coach’s and chief of complex scientific group’s cooperation.
Detection and quantification of human adenovirus genomes in Acanthamoeba isolated from swimming pools
Authors: STAGGEMEIER RODRIGO , ARANTES THALITA , CAUMO KARIN S. , ROTT MARILISE B. , SPILKI FERNANDO R.
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT Acanthamoeba is the most common free-living environmental amoeba, it may serve as an important vehicle for various microorganisms living in the same environment, such as viruses, being pathogenic to humans. This study aimed to detect and quantify human adenoviruses (HAdV) in Acanthamoebas isolated from water samples collected from swimming pools in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. Free-living amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba were isolated from water samples, and isolates (n=16) were used to investigate the occurrence of HAdVs. HAdV detection was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). HAdVs were detected in 62.5% (10/16) of Acanthamoeba isolates, ranging from 3.24x103 to 5.14x105 DNA copies per milliliter of isolate. HAdV viral loads found in this study are not negligible, especially because HAdV infections are associated with several human diseases, including gastroenteritis, respiratory distress, and ocular diseases. These findings reinforce the concept that Acanthamoeba may act as a reservoir and promote HAdV transmission through water.
Detection by multiplex PCR of Staphylococcus aureus , S. intermedius and S. hyicus in artificially contaminated milk
Authors: Gandra Eliezer Avila , Fernandez Maria Aparecida , Silva Jorge Adolfo , Silva Wladimir Padilha da
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT: This research aimed to detect coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CPS) directly in samples of artificially contaminated milk, using multiplex PCR (mPCR). Standard and isolated bacterial strains of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. hyicus, S. intermedius, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli species were used, evaluating the specificity and detection limit of mPCR, for artificially contaminated UHT milk. Primers specific for the nuc gene (NUC1-NUC2 were used for S. aureus, NUC3-NUC4 for S. hyicus and NUC5-NUC6 for S. intermedius). It was possible to detect the three target species by mPCR, directly from bovine whole milk, with adequate specificity and acceptable detention limit for identification of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CPS) in foods. The specificity was determined by the amplification of species-specific fragments, and the detection limit was assessed by the detection thresholds obtained for the three species (103 CFU mL-1). From these results, the mPCR described, with the proposed set of primers, has the potential for use in precise identification and differentiation between CPSs in milk samples.
Nematodes as indicators of shrimp farm impact on an amazonian estuary (Curuçá, Pará, Brazil)
Authors: Venekey Virag , Melo Tatianne Pereira Gomes de
Published: April 2016

Abstract Shrimp farming reduces demand on wild fishery stocks and avoids environmental damage resulting from fishing practices, however, it has the potential to affect the water quality if not properly managed. In this study the impacts of a shrimp farm in an Amazonian estuary were evaluated, focusing on changes in nematodes regarding taxonomic composition, richness, density and diversity. Sampling was conducted in August 2004 (dry season) and January 2005 (rainy season) in the river at stations situated upstream and downstream at different distances from the main source of farm effluent discharge. Thirty-eight genera were recorded with Terschellingia dominating in the dry season and Terschellingia, Daptonema, Ptycholaimellus and Gomphionema in the rainy season. Abundances were within the range recorded in other estuaries and together with genera richness and diversity showed a strong temporal pattern with significantly higher values in the rainy season. No clear patterns of changes were observed at the stations. Some signs of organic enrichment were detected but they were not yet intense, probably a consequence of the strong local hydrodynamics and the age of the shrimp farm, which was just starting its operation. We recommend that in future studies on farming impacts a combination of factors, beyond the physical and chemical parameters of the water and sediments or taxonomic refinement, should be taken into account - such as the duration of the operation of the farm, the area occupied by ponds and the farm's production. Furthermore, we also believe that nematodes are a useful tool for evaluating aquaculture impacts due to the ease of sampling and because they are organisms at the base of marine food chain.
Dilemas da docência na educação a distância: um estudo sobre o desenvolvimento profissional na perspectiva dos tutores da Rede e-Tec Brasil
Authors: Chaquime Luciane Penteado ,   Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo,  Brasil, Mill Daniel ,   Universidade Federal de São Carlos,  Brazil,   ,  Brazil,   Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,  Brazil
Published: April 2016

Resumo: A docência configura-se como profissão por possuir um corpo de conhecimentos específicos para seu exercício, além de ser aprendida continuamente. Ao longo da trajetória profissional, o docente reinterpreta e amplia saberes da formação inicial e constrói novos por meio da prática e das interações com os alunos. Assim, pode-se pensar a tutoria virtual como uma atividade que contribui para o desenvolvimento profissional docente ao favorecer a construção de saberes pela experiência. O artigo traz resultados de um estudo em que um dos objetivos foi analisar como a atuação na tutoria virtual de cursos de educação a distância (EaD) mediados por tecnologias digitais de informação e comunicação pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento profissional docente. A triangulação metodológica foi empregada para a investigação que ocorreu em etapas: levantamento e estudo de bibliografia; coleta de dados utilizando questionário, entrevista individual, sessões de entrevistas coletivas e análise de documentação oficial; sistematização e análise dos dados; e divulgação dos resultados. Os sujeitos foram os tutores virtuais de cursos EaD oferecidos pelo Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo (IFSP), por meio da Rede e-Tec Brasil. Dentre os principais resultados, observou-se que a experiência na tutoria virtual pode ser considerada um elemento que contribui para o desenvolvimento profissional docente, embora gere alguns dilemas.
Conteúdos linguísticos como subsídio à formação de professores alfabetizadores - a experiência do Brasil e de Portugal
Authors: Godoy Dalva Maria Alves ,   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina,  Brazil, Viana Fernanda Leopoldina ,   Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina,  Brazil,   Universidade do Minho,  Portugal,   Universidade do Minho,  Portugal
Published: April 2016

Resumo: Objetiva identificar em dois programas de formação de professores alfabetizadores - no Brasil, Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa (Pnaic) e, em Portugal, Programa Nacional do Ensino do Português (Pnep) - os conteúdos linguísticos relacionados ao ensino da leitura que fundamentaram a atualização dos professores com vistas a compreender como as descobertas científicas penetram o campo pedagógico. Por meio de análise documental, são apresentadas, de forma resumida, a estrutura e a organização dos dois programas e os respectivos conteúdos de formação. Há muita similaridade entre os dois programas com relação à organização e às estratégias metodológicas e há diferenças importantes quanto à atualidade dos conteúdos oferecidos aos professores alfabetizadores, assim como o tempo de formação aplicado a este conteúdo. A formação linguística do professor é essencial para desenvolver competência para o ensino da língua e, por conseguinte, melhorar as habilidades de ler e escrever dos alunos do ensino fundamental.
O lúdico como contribuição para a aprendizagem
Authors: Sousa Givoneide Barbosa de , Santos José Ozildo dos
Published: April 2016

Este artigo aborda como o lúdico, por meio da formação do educador, interfere no processo de aprendizagem. Trata-se de um estudo teórico a respeito das estratégias voltadas para o conceito histórico de criança, concepção sobre o cuidar, fundamentos sobre as instituições escolares. Nele também aborda-se as atividades, nas quais são observados conteúdos que envolvessem as brincadeiras lúdicas e que possibilitam as crianças aprendem com mais facilidade brincando. Demonstrou-se que a ludicidade ajuda no aprimoramento da educação, pode ser crítica e criativa. De acordo com a demanda e realidade da sala de aula, cabe ao educador desenvolve possibilidades que permitam aos educandos possam experimentar situações que interfiram de forma positiva no ensino, tornando-o produtivo. A utilização de jogos e brincadeiras no meio educacional propicia as crianças o aprimoramento de diversos conhecimentos de forma lúdica. Aos educadores, estes além de estarem motivados também com o lúdico, é preciso um conhecimento mais elaborado acerca do tema, para poder intervir nas brincadeiras das crianças. Contudo, faz-se necessário auxiliar a criança, de maneira sutil, para que brinque com diversos tipos de brinquedos.

The playful as a contribution to learning

Abstract: This article discusses how the playful, through teacher education, interferes with the learning process. This is a theoretical study on the strategies for the historical concept of child conception of care, fundamentals of the schools. It also covers up the activities in which contents are observed involving the playful banter and enable children learn more easily playing. It was demonstrated that playfulness helps in the improvement of education, can be critical and creative. According to the demand and reality of the classroom, it is the educator develops possibilities that allow students to experience situations that interfere positively in the school, making it productive. The use of games and activities in the educational environment providing children the improvement of diverse knowledge in a playful manner. Educators, these besides being also motivated by the playful, we need a more elaborate knowledge on the subject, to be able to intervene in the games of children. However, it is necessary to help the child, subtly, to play with different types of toys.
Efeito da adubação orgânica e mineral no crescimento de plantas de orégano cultivadas em ambiente protegido
Authors: Oliveira Vanuze Costa de , Santos Anacleto Ranulfo dos , Souza Girlene Santos de
Published: April 2016

O orégano é uma das plantas aromáticas e condimentares mais utilizadas no Brasil e a maior parte do produto consumido é proveniente de importação, mesmo o País apresentando condições de clima e solo favoráveis para o cultivo desta erva.  Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da adubação orgânica e mineral em plantas de orégano cultivado sob malha colorida. Foi adotado o esquema fatorial 4x4 (sendo quatro ambientes de luz modificada e quatro fontes de nutrientes: Latossolo Amarelo, esterco bovino, composto orgânico e NPK), adotou-se o DIC com seis repetições. Avaliaram-se as seguintes características de crescimento: altura das plantas, produção de massa seca e razão de peso foliar. Constatou-se que as plantas adubadas com esterco bovino obtiveram maior altura e maior produção de massa seca; e as plantas cultivadas no ambiente protegido pela malha azul tiveram maior altura, massa seca de raiz e massa seca total.Effect of organic and mineral fertilizers in growth of oregano's plants grown in protected environmentAbstract: The oregano is one of aromatic and spice plants most used in Brazil and the more part of the to consumption comes from imports, even the Country presenting favorable conditions of soil and climate for growing this herb. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilizer in oregano plants cultivated under colored mesh. It was adopted a factorial scheme 4x4 (four modified light environments and four sources of nutrients: Oxisol, bovine manure, organic compound and NPK), was adopted the DIC with six replications. We evaluated the following growth characteristics: plant height, dry matter yield and leaf weight ratio. We evaluated the following growth characteristics: plant height, dry matter yield and leaf weight ratio. It was found that plants fertilized with bovine manure had presented greater height and higher production of dry matter; and plants grown under blue net had greater height, root dry weight and total dry mass.
Audiences, Journalists, and Forms of Capital in the Online Journalistic Field
Authors: Tandoc Jr. Edson C.
Published: April 2016

This study found divergence in how online journalists and student-audiences rated articles with varying popularity, as measured by audience metrics, and quality, as operationalized by winning a journalistic award. The findings revealed that while metrics and awards did not matter for young online news audiences, they were important for online journalists. But even among journalists, the importance of metrics and awards varied depending on whether the journalists were evaluating stories or their peers. For online journalists, popular stories were more newsworthy than those that were not. Awards did not influence their judgment of newsworthiness. But when evaluating the authors of the articles, online journalists rated authors of articles that won awards more favorably than authors of articles without awards. The popularity of stories did not matter in their evaluation of the authors.
The mediated live experience and the spatial reconfiguration of the sport act
Authors: Dumitriu Diana Luiza
Published: April 2016

The media-sport relation of interdependency has influenced both the commodity value of sport actors and events, as well as the mere sport experience. The present study focuses on the reconfiguration process of the spectatorship experience through media, addressing two of its central dimensions: the emotional and physical one. Along with the wide accessibility to sport events and a progressive grow of audiences, media provided a mediated live experience that ended up competing with the genuine live experience. Strongly related and dependent on the technological changes and the dynamics of the globalization process, media went beyond simply transmitting the sport event, engaging in a process of redefining it. In doing so, they generated a deterritorialized laboratory sport experience, “hotting-up” the spectatorship experience and minimizing the perceptual constrains. This, in turn, ended up by making this media-sport hyperreality more appealing than the genuine live experience of sport acts. In addressing the spatial reconfiguration of the spectatorship experience, I have built up a new model in order to better respond to the primacy of connectivity over the space-dependent experience of sport acts: the scattering model of sport spectatorship. Moreover, I discuss the mixture of the private and public zones as a strategic way of maximizing the accessibility and customization of sport media-products, inside the wider process of sport commodification.
Social Media coverage of “Maspero”: Solidarity between Muslims and Christians post The Egyptian Uprising
Authors: Bakry Amal , Alkazemi Mariam F
Published: April 2016

The current study examines the print and social media coverage of the “Maspero” massacre in Egypt, in which military forces attacked Coptic Christians in a predominantly Muslim country. By employing a qualitative content analysis, the authors examine the role of media in inducing a state of social cohesion. Data were collected from a state-owned newspaper, Al-Ahram, and an independent newspaper, Al-Masry Al-Youm. Data were also collected from a blog that compiles testimonies of witnesses to the “Maspero” massacre as well as three of Egypt’s best-known online activists: Alaa Abd El Fattah (@alaa), Salma Said (@salmasaid), and Rasha Azab (@RashaPress). The results reveal the themes of print and social media coverage of the events, with the suggestion that social media was much more effective in inducing social cohesion than the print media.
Golden reputation wanted for a gold producer. The case of the Rosia Montana Gold Corporation
Authors: David George , Chiciudean Ion
Published: April 2016

Inappropriate stakeholder communication often generates risks or even dangers to the organizations which are not aware of the importance of a proper flow of information to/from its publics. “Rosia Montana Gold Corporation”, a Canada-based company specialized in gold extraction, has initiated since 1996 a project to extract gold from the perimeter Rosia Montana (Western Carpathians, county of Alba, Romania). Although the technical documentation has been submitted back in 2004 to the authorities to be endorsed and approved, the approval is still pending due to a great amount of negative public perceptions often turned to hostile behaviors. In order to diminish this hostility, the company has started a huge communication campaign founded on factuality in its attempt to extract gold in Romania. However, the results are still unsatisfactory, even if the amount of negative perceptions has been lowered in a certain measure. In our paper we would like to analyze, based on the Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) and quantitative analysis methods, several influences produced by the organizational communication done so far over the organization itself, as well as over stakeholders such as the local community in Rosia Montana, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Rate Decline, Power Laws, and Subdiffusion in Fractured Rocks
Authors: Raghavan R. , Chen C.
Published: April 2016

A two-dimensional, mathematical model that considers transient flow under subdiffusion towards a horizontal well that produces a rectangular drainage region through multiple fractures is considered. Subdiffusive behavior expressed through a fractional constitutive flux law is intended to reflect a complex geology that may exist on a number of scales in the form of obstacles and channels as well as attendant changes induced by hydraulic fracturing, and considers transient diffusion as a continuous time random walk (CTRW). The hydraulic fractures intersect the horizontal well at arbitrary locations with distinct properties (length, width, permeability). Pressure distributions expressed in terms of the Laplace transformation are inverted numerically. Computational issues are addressed and numerical solutions are compared with asymptotic results. The focus of the work is on the boundary-dominated period for production at a constant pressure. Long-time responses described in terms of a two-parameter, Mittag-Leffler function lead to a decline in rate that exhibits power-law behavior — an outcome of a complex geological structure with significant variations in properties; that is, a complex geology where cracks, fissures and discontinuities abound. Conventional expectations of an exponential decline that until now has been the norm for the flow of a slightly compressible liquid in bounded regions are a subset of the results presented here.
Comparison of Steady-State and Transient Methods for Measuring Shale Permeability
Authors: Mathur Ashish , Sondergeld Carl H. , Rai Chandra S.
Published: April 2016

Shale matrix permeability is important in evaluating the economic viability of unconventional reservoirs. Inconsistent permeability measurements reported from pressure decay analysis on crushed rock samples is forcing a re-examination of core plugs measurements. Various methods have been developed to measure permeability on core plugs which include steady state and transient methods. Because of the use of different techniques to measure permeability by different laboratories it becomes necessary to compare the resulting values. An experimental apparatus has been developed which has the capability to measure permeability using steady state and several transient methods.

To compare some permeability values, appropriate gas corrections have to be applied. Gas corrections depend on the flow regime prevalent during the measurement. The transient flow regime dominates at low pressures when the pore sizes are small. In the transition flow regime, gas permeability measurements cannot be corrected with a simple Klinkenberg correction but require second order permeability correction such as the double slip correction. An experimental investigation to understand the flow regime at different pore pressures was carried out on two Wolfcamp shale samples. Steady state permeability of these samples was measured using helium and nitrogen at a constant effective pressure of 3000 psi over different pore pressure ranges from 100 psi to 3000 psi; the permeabilities were corrected using the Klinkenberg and the double slip correction. It was assumed that whichever correction resulted in similar permeabilities for both gases over the pore pressure range, would be the appropriate correction for that range. It was found that for pore pressures less than 250 psi permeabilities required second order corrections, indicating a transition flow regime at these pore pressures in shales. However at pore pressures greater than 2000 psi permeabilities required negligible corrections. It is therefore recommended to use pore pressures greater than 2000 psi for gas permeability measurements in shale.

Permeability of five horizontal Wolfcamp shale samples were measured using steady state and transient methods at an effective pressure of 3000 psi using nitrogen gas. Three measurements were applied for each method at pore pressures less than 250 psi and a double slip correction was applied. The three methods yielded similar permeabilities with differences being less than 30%. Therefore transient methods provide comparable results to steady state gas permeability measurements when the proper corrections are applied.
Pollutant characteristics of road deposited sediments collected by road sweeping
Authors: Kim Do-Gun , Kim Hyun-Seop , Kang Hee-Man , Ko Seok-Oh
Published: April 2016

Road deposited sediments (RDS) swept from highways in South Korea were characterized to quantitatively evaluate the reduction in non-point source pollutants by sweeping. The swept RDS consisted primarily of sand (63 μm to 2 mm) particles (80.34 ± 8.33% of total weight) highly contaminated by organics, nutrients and heavy metals. The average concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), volatile solids (VS), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) were 20.17 ± 9.13, 1.04 ± 0.62, 39.92 ± 16.55, 1.99 ± 0.96, and 0.54 ± 0.19 g kg−1 (±one standard deviation), respectively, for 63 μm to 2 mm RDS. The concentrations of the pollutants were high for RDS smaller than 63 μm, but most of the mass was associated with the 63 μm to 2 mm RDS. The results suggest that the pollutants associated with RDS swept from highways originated mainly from engine wear, exhaust emissions, and tire wear. These results were different from the RDS on roads in residential and commercial areas, where natural particles and brake wear contribute significantly to RDS. In addition, the reductions in TOC, BOD, VS, T-N, T-P, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, and As based on the swept RDS measurements were calculated to be 3,355.3, 175.1, 6,621.4, 323.0, 88.3, 30.3, 13.7, 1.0, 303.4, 11,198.7, and 0.4 g km−1, respectively.
Application of central composite design and artificial neural network in modeling of reactive blue 21 dye removal by photo-ozonation process
Authors: Mehrizad Ali , Gharbani Parvin
Published: April 2016

The present study deals with use of central composite design (CCD) and artificial neural network (ANN) in modeling and optimization of reactive blue 21 (RB21) removal from aqueous media under photo-ozonation process. Four effective operational parameters (including: initial concentration of RB21, O3 concentration, UV light intensity and reaction time) were chosen and the experiments were designed by CCD based on response surface methodology (RSM). The obtained results from the CCD model were used in modeling the process by ANN. Under optimum condition (O3 concentration of 3.95 mg L−1, UV intensity of 20.5 W m−2, reaction time of 7.77 min and initial dye concentration of 40.21 mg L−1), RB21 removal efficiency reached to up 98.88%. A topology of ANN with a three-layer consisting of four input neurons, 14 hidden neurons and one output neuron was designed. The relative significance of each major factor was calculated based on the connection weights of the ANN model. Dye and ozone concentrations were the most important variables in the photo-ozonation of RB21, followed by reaction time and UV light intensity. The comparison of predicted values by CCD and ANN with experimental results showed that both methods were highly efficient in the modeling of the process.
Work motivation and job satisfaction of health workers in urban and rural areas
Authors: Grujicic Maja , Jovicic-Bata Jelena , Radjen Slavica , Novakovic Budimka , Sipetic-Grujicic Sandra
Published: April 2016

Background/Aim. Motivated and job satisfied health professionals represent a
basis of success of modern health institutions. The aim of this study was to
investigate whether there was a difference in work motivation and job
satisfaction between health workers in urban and rural areas in the region of
Central Serbia. Methods. The study included 396 health professionals from
urban setting, and 436 from a rural area, employed in four randomly selected
health facilities. An anonymous questionnaire was used for data gathering.
Statistical analysis was performed using ?2, Student t-test, Spearman's
correlation coefficient, and logistic regression analysis. Results. Urban
health professionals were significantly more motivated and job satisfied than
respondents from rural area. In relation to work motivation factors and job
satisfaction of health professionals in urban and rural areas, there were no
significant differences in working conditions and current equipment, and in
terms of job satisfaction there were no significant differences in relation
to income either. Conclusion. In order to increase the level of work
motivation and job satisfaction of health workers in rural areas, apart from
better income, they should get more assistance and support from their
supervisors, and awards for good job performance; interpersonal
relationships, promotion and advancement opportunities, managerial
performance and cooperation at work should be improved; employment security
should be provided, as well as more independence at work, with professional
supervision of health workers.
A context-sensitive infrastructure for coordinating agents in ubiquitous environments
Authors: Bortenschlager Manfred , Castelli Gabriella , Rosi Alberto , Zambonelli Franco
Published: April 2016

The combination of contextual information about the real world (e.g., collected by sensors) with information coming from the virtual world (e.g., the Web 2.0), may represent an enormous enrichment particularly for services organized and provided by agents in ubiquitous environments. To address the challenging need for coordination in such environments, and to provide the user a high-level of service quality, an engineered approach to exploit such information is required. Such an approach should generate added-value by offering means for combining diverse data sources, should allow delivering context-sensitive information and, hence, should promote context-dependent coordination of entities in ubiquitous environments. In this paper, we report the scenario-based analysis of key requirements for ubiquitous environments that we have used as the basis for the design of our proposal. Following, our proposal for the Ubiquitous Coordination Model (UbiCoMo) and its associated infrastructure is detailed. The UbiCoMo model covers an expressive data model based on four-field tuples to represent contextual information, data distribution and management concepts based on tuple spaces, and the integration of coordination patterns to resolve reoccurring coordination problems in ubiquitous scenarios. The UbiCoMo infrastructure integrates the fundamental mechanisms for agent-based coordination in ubiquitous environments, and is well-suited to provide the specific means required to offer high-level services and context-sensitive functionalities. A concrete ubiquitous application, the living diary, is assumed as a case study both to illustrate the requirements analysis and to exemplify the usage and the suitability of UbiCoMo.
Predicting Aboveground Biomass in Second Growth Coast Redwood: Comparing Localized with Generic Allometric Models
Authors: Kizha Anil , Han Han-Sup
Published: April 2016

Biomass amounts predicted by generalized models are often not applicable for small regions. Localized allometric models were developed relating tree/biomass components to diameter at breast height (dbh) for coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) from an industrial timberland in northwestern California, USA. dbh for the candidate trees ranged from 2.54 cm to 84.07 cm. Biomass of tree components, such as bole, foliage, bark, live and dead branches, along with the total aboveground biomass (TAGB) were estimated. Other tree dimensions such as tree height, height to live crown, weight and volume of bole wood were also modeled. Localized allometric models were able to explain more than 93% of the variability for most of the tree components (p < 0.001). Biomass amounts predicted from the widely used generalized models were different from that estimated by the localized allometric model developed from this study. However, the results presented in this study should be used carefully to predict the biomass components, if applied outside the stated dbh range or stand conditions on which this study was based.
Crowdsourcing, Citizen Science or Volunteered Geographic Information? The Current State of Crowdsourced Geographic Information
Authors: See Linda , Mooney Peter , Foody Giles , Bastin Lucy , Comber Alexis , Estima Jacinto , Fritz Steffen , Kerle Norman , Jiang Bin , Laakso Mari , Liu Hai-Ying , Milčinski Grega , Nikšič Matej , Painho Marco , Pődör Andrea , Olteanu-Raimond Ana-Maria , Rutzinger Martin
Published: April 2016

Citizens are increasingly becoming an important source of geographic information, sometimes entering domains that had until recently been the exclusive realm of authoritative agencies. This activity has a very diverse character as it can, amongst other things, be active or passive, involve spatial or aspatial data and the data provided can be variable in terms of key attributes such as format, description and quality. Unsurprisingly, therefore, there are a variety of terms used to describe data arising from citizens. In this article, the expressions used to describe citizen sensing of geographic information are reviewed and their use over time explored, prior to categorizing them and highlighting key issues in the current state of the subject. The latter involved a review of ~100 Internet sites with particular focus on their thematic topic, the nature of the data and issues such as incentives for contributors. This review suggests that most sites involve active rather than passive contribution, with citizens typically motivated by the desire to aid a worthy cause, often receiving little training. As such, this article provides a snapshot of the role of citizens in crowdsourcing geographic information and a guide to the current status of this rapidly emerging and evolving subject.
Forsythoside A Controls Influenza A Virus Infection and Improves the Prognosis by Inhibiting Virus Replication in Mice
Authors: Deng Li , Pang Peng , Zheng Ke , Nie Jiao , Xu Huachong , Wu Sizhi , Chen Jia , Chen Xiaoyin
Published: April 2016

Objective: The objective of this study was to observe the effects of forsythoside A on controlling influenza A virus (IAV) infection and improving the prognosis of IAV infection. Methods: Forty-eight SPF C57BL/6j mice were randomly divided into the following four groups: Group A: normal control group (normal con); Group B: IAV control group (V con); Group C: IAV+ oseltamivir treatment group (V oseltamivir; 0.78 mg/mL, 0.2 mL/mouse/day); Group D: IAV+ forsythoside A treatment group (V FTA; 2 μg/mL, 0.2 mL/mouse/day). Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure mRNA expression of the TLR7, MyD88, TRAF6, IRAK4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA in TLR7 signaling pathway and the virus replication level in lung. Western blot was used to measure TLR7, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 protein. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of the T cell subsets Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg. Results: The body weight began to decrease after IAV infection, while FTA and oseltamivir could reduce the rate of body weight loss. The pathological damages in the FTA and oseltamivir group were less serious. TLR7, MyD88, TRAF6, IRAK4 and NF-κB p65 mRNA were up-regulated after virus infection (p < 0.01) while down-regulated after oseltamivir and FTA treatment (p < 0.01). The results of TLR7, MyD88 and NF-κB p65 protein consisted with correlative mRNA. Flow cytometry showed the Th1/Th2 differentiated towards Th2, and the Th17/Treg cells differentiated towards Treg after FTA treatment. Conclusions: Our study suggests forsythoside A can control influenza A virus infection and improve the prognosis of IAV infection by inhibiting influenza A virus replication.
Inhibitory Effects of Aschantin on Cytochrome P450 and Uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase Enzyme Activities in Human Liver Microsomes
Authors: Kwon Soon-Sang , Kim Ju-Hyun , Jeong Hyeon-Uk , Cho Yong , Oh Sei-Ryang , Lee Hye
Published: April 2016

Aschantin is a bioactive neolignan found in Magnolia flos with antiplasmodial, Ca2+-antagonistic, platelet activating factor-antagonistic, and chemopreventive activities. We investigated its inhibitory effects on the activities of eight major human cytochrome P450 (CYP) and uridine 5′-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes of human liver microsomes to determine if mechanistic aschantin–enzyme interactions were evident. Aschantin potently inhibited CYP2C8-mediated amodiaquine N-de-ethylation, CYP2C9-mediated diclofenac 4′-hydroxylation, CYP2C19-mediated [S]-mephenytoin 4′-hydroxylation, and CYP3A4-mediated midazolam 1′-hydroxylation, with Ki values of 10.2, 3.7, 5.8, and 12.6 µM, respectively. Aschantin at 100 µM negligibly inhibited CYP1A2-mediated phenacetin O-de-ethylation, CYP2A6-mediated coumarin 7-hydroxylation, CYP2B6-mediated bupropion hydroxylation, and CYP2D6-mediated bufuralol 1′-hydroxylation. At 200 µM, it weakly inhibited UGT1A1-catalyzed SN-38 glucuronidation, UGT1A6-catalyzed N-acetylserotonin glucuronidation, and UGT1A9-catalyzed mycophenolic acid glucuronidation, with IC50 values of 131.7, 144.1, and 71.0 µM, respectively, but did not show inhibition against UGT1A3, UGT1A4, or UGT2B7 up to 200 µM. These in vitro results indicate that aschantin should be examined in terms of potential interactions with pharmacokinetic drugs in vivo. It exhibited potent mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4.
Benefits of Selenium Supplementation on Leukocyte DNA Integrity Interact with Dietary Micronutrients: A Short Communication
Authors: Karunasinghe Nishi , Zhu Shuotun , Ferguson Lynnette
Published: April 2016

A male cohort from New Zealand has previously shown variability in Selenium (Se) supplementation effects on measured biomarkers. The current analysis is to understand the reasons for variability of the H2O2-induced DNA damage recorded after Se supplementation. We have looked at the variation of demographic, lifestyle, medication, genetic and dietary factors and biomarkers measured at baseline and post-supplementation in these two extreme subgroups A and B. Group A showed increased H2O2-induced DNA damage and group B showed decreased damage after Se supplementation. We have also considered correlations of biomarkers and dietary factors in the complete dataset. The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and DNA damage were significantly lower at post-supplementation in Group B compared to Group A. Post-supplementation, Group B showed a significant reduction in the GPx activity, while Group A showed a significant increase in DNA damage compared to baseline levels. Dietary methionine intake was significantly higher and folate intake was significantly lower in Group B compared to Group A. Se supplementation significantly increased the caspase-cleaved keratin 18 levels in both groups, indicating increased apoptotic potential of this supplement. Parameter correlation with the complete dataset showed dietary methionine to have a significant negative correlation with H2O2-induced DNA damage post-supplementation. The data suggest that Se supplementation is beneficial for the leukocyte DNA integrity only in interaction with the dietary methionine and folate intake.