bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alice Munro and ‘Alternate Realities’
Authors: Kluge Walter 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe critical discussion of Alice Munro’s short stories began under the heading of realism but has moved on to recognize her combination of the ordinary with the amazing. This has continued to move towards the exploration of ‘alternate realities’ in human life which may lead to double or multiple lives of originally single characters in the same story. This division does not happen in Gothic fantasy but in Munro’s ordinary and commonplace (fictional) reality.
Shaking Table Test of a Half-Scale Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Bridge Abutment
Authors: Zheng Yewei , Sander Andrew C. , Rong Wenyong , Fox Patrick J. , Shing P. Benson , McCartney John S. 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
This paper presents an experimental study on the dynamic response of a half-scale geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutment system using a shaking table. Experimental design of the model specimen followed established similitude relationships for shaking table tests on reduced-scale models in a 1-g gravitational field, including scaling of model geometry, geosynthetic-reinforcement stiffness, backfill soil modulus, bridge load, and characteristics of the earthquake motions. The 2.7-m-high GRS bridge abutment was constructed using well-graded sand backfill, modular facing blocks, and uniaxial geogrid reinforcements with a vertical spacing of 0.15 m in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. A bridge beam was placed on the GRS bridge abutment at one end and on a concrete support wall resting on a sliding platform off the shaking table at the other end. The GRS bridge abutment system was subjected to a series of input motions in the longitudinal direction. Results indicate that the testing system performed well, and that the GRS bridge abutment experienced small deformations. For two earthquake motions, the maximum incremental residual facing displacement in model scale was 1.0 mm, and the average incremental residual bridge seat settlement in model scale was 1.4 mm, which corresponds to a vertical strain of 0.7 %.
Improvement of Measuring Accuracy for Coating Covered on Conical Steel Shells by Correction of Eddy Current Signals
Authors: Wu Meixian , Zhang Dongli , Chen Zhenmao , Li Yong 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
In the petroleum industry and other fields, the thickness of the layer coated on the inner surface of containers is an important indicator to ensure the containers work in a safe or normal state. To acquire an accurate measurement, some appropriate corrections are necessary, especially for the eddy current sensor scanning over an irregular surface. The sensor’s inclining or deviating state might cause much lift-off signal to be mixed in the testing signals, which would lead to an inaccurate result. To solve this problem, this paper analyzed the influencing factors of measuring accuracy for the coating on the conical steel shells. An effective correction method was proposed based on the characteristic of testing signals. Its effectiveness for enhancing the measuring accuracy was confirmed by simulation results.
Performance Evaluation of PV-Supported STATCOM for Voltage and Frequency Regulation of Standalone SEIG System
Authors: Tamilselvan K. , Anita R. 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
This paper deals with a static compensator (STATCOM) incorporated with a photovoltaic (PV) system for the regulation of voltage and frequency in the standalone Wind Energy Conversion System (WECS). This standalone WECS is employed with the self-excited induction generator and flywheel energy storage system. The PV power-generating system is interfaced into the dc link of the STATCOM to provide long-duration compensation against voltage and frequency deviation. The synchronous reference frame control scheme with a fuzzy logic controller is employed to extract the reference source current signal and generate the gating pulses to the STATCOM. A coordinating logic has been proposed to handle the different situation, and it makes the system energy efficient. For an ideal utilization of electrical energy produced by renewable energy sources, this system is constructed with physical energy storage devices such as a flywheel and battery. The surplus amount of power generated by the PV system and WECS is stored in the battery and flywheel, respectively. The simulation and experimental study are carried out for different load conditions to confirm the effectiveness of the PV–supported STATCOM.
Shank Proteins Differentially Regulate Synaptic Transmission
Authors: Shi Rebecca , Redman Patrick , Ghose Dipanwita , Hwang Hongik , Liu Yan , Ren Xiaobai , Ding Lei J. , Liu Mingna , Jones Kendrick J. , Xu Weifeng 
Published: December 2017

AbstractShank proteins, one of the principal scaffolds in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of the glutamatergic synapses, have been associated with autism spectrum disorders and neuropsychiatric diseases. However, it is not known whether different Shank family proteins have distinct functions in regulating synaptic transmission, and how they differ from other scaffold proteins in this aspect. Here, we investigate the role of Shanks in regulating glutamatergic synaptic transmission at rat hippocampal SC-CA1 synapses, using lentivirus-mediated knockdown and molecular replacement combined with dual whole-cell patch clamp in hippocampal slice culture. In line with previous findings regarding PSD-MAGUK scaffold manipulation, we found that loss of scaffold proteins via knockdown of Shank1 or Shank2, but not Shank3, led to a reduction of the number but not the unitary response of AMPAR-containing synapses. Only when both Shank1 and Shank2 were knocked down, were both the number and the unitary response of active synapses reduced. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in NMDAR-mediated synaptic response, indicating more profound deficits in synaptic transmission. Molecular replacement with Shank2 and Shank3c rescued the synaptic transmission to the basal level, and the intact sterile α-motif (SAM) of Shank proteins is required for maintaining glutamatergic synaptic transmission. We also found that altered neural activity did not influence the effect of Shank1 or Shank2 knockdown on AMPAR synaptic transmission, in direct contrast to the activity dependence of the effect of PSD-95 knockdown, revealing differential interaction between activity-dependent signaling and scaffold protein families in regulating synaptic AMPAR function.
The Maintenance of Synaptic Homeostasis at theDrosophilaNeuromuscular Junction Is Reversible and Sensitive to High Temperature
Authors: Yeates Catherine J. , Zwiefelhofer Danielle J. , Frank C. Andrew 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHomeostasis is a vital mode of biological self-regulation. The hallmarks of homeostasis for any biological system are a baseline set point of physiological activity, detection of unacceptable deviations from the set point, and effective corrective measures to counteract deviations. Homeostatic synaptic plasticity (HSP) is a form of neuroplasticity in which neurons and circuits resist environmental perturbations and stabilize levels of activity. One assumption is that if a perturbation triggers homeostatic corrective changes in neuronal properties, those corrective measures should be reversed upon removal of the perturbation. We test the reversibility and limits of HSP at the well-studiedDrosophila melanogasterneuromuscular junction (NMJ). At theDrosophilaNMJ, impairment of glutamate receptors causes a decrease in quantal size, which is offset by a corrective, homeostatic increase in the number of vesicles released per evoked presynaptic stimulus, or quantal content. This process has been termed presynaptic homeostatic potentiation (PHP). Taking advantage of the GAL4/GAL80TS/UAS expression system, we triggered PHP by expressing a dominant-negative glutamate receptor subunit at the NMJ. We then reversed PHP by halting expression of the dominant-negative receptor. Our data show that PHP is fully reversible over a time course of 48–72 h after the dominant-negative glutamate receptor stops being genetically expressed. As an extension of these experiments, we find that when glutamate receptors are impaired, neither PHP nor NMJ growth is reliably sustained at high culturing temperatures (30–32°C). These data suggest that a limitation of homeostatic signaling at high temperatures could stem from the synapse facing a combination of challenges simultaneously.
Regulated Alternative Splicing of Drosophila Dscam2 Is Necessary for Attaining the Appropriate Number of Photoreceptor Synapses
Authors: Kerwin Sarah K , Li Joshua Shing Shun , Noakes Peter G , Shin Grace Ji-eun , Millard S Sean 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
How the brain makes trillions of synaptic connections using a genome of only 20,000 genes is a major question in modern neuroscience. Alternative splicing is one mechanism that can increase the number of proteins produced by each gene, but its role in regulating synapse formation is poorly understood. In Drosophila, photoreceptors form a synapse with multiple postsynaptic elements including lamina neurons L1 and L2. L1 and L2 express distinct isoforms of the homophilic repulsive protein Dscam2, and since these isoforms cannot bind to each other, cell-specific expression has been proposed to be necessary for preventing repulsive interactions that could disrupt the synapse. Here, we show that the number of synapses are reduced in flies that express only one isoform, and L1 and L2 dendritic morphology is perturbed. We propose that these defects result from inappropriate interactions between L1 and L2 dendrites. We conclude that regulated Dscam2 alternative splicing is necessary for the proper assembly of photoreceptor synapses.
Probiotics for Diarrhea in Children
Authors: Mandal Anirban , Sahi Puneet Kaur 
Published: December 2017

Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death in children below 5 years of age; in addition it is also the reason for a considerable morbidity in children of all ages throughout the globe. Apart from oral rehydration solution, continued feeding, oral zinc and antibiotics for diarrhea of bacterial etiology, there have been no other proven measures for diarrheal illnesses in children. Probiotics are non-pathogenic live microorganisms. When ingested, probiotics can survive passage through the stomach and small bowel. Probiotics are supposed to have preventive as well as curative effects on several types of diarrhea of different etiologies.
Keywords: Gastroenteritis, Saccharomyces, Bifidobacterium, Functional food.
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Successfully Treated with Dexamethasone: A Case Report of Six-Year-Old Female
Authors: Adhikari Purushottam 
Published: December 2017

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) is one of the most common causes of small vessel vasculitis in children. A six-year-old female presented with abdominal pain, swelling and rashes over both the legs associated with multiple episodes of vomiting for around ten days. Stool for the occult blood test was positive but there was an absence of hematuria and albuminuria. The case was diagnosed as HSP and treated with dexamethasone for ten days. The patient was finally discharged on the resolution of her symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment favor the better outcome in cases without any renal complications.
Keywords: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura, Vasculitis, Steroids, Dexamethasone.
A talaj kadmium szennyezettségének vizsgálata angolperje (Lolium perenne L.) bioteszttel
Authors: Mónok Dávid , Füleky György 
Published: December 2017

Cadmium accumulation in soils causes ecological, biological and human health risks. Previous studies have shown that reductions in the shoot height and fresh biomass of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are a sensitive indicator of the cadmium pollution level in soils.
Four soils with different types and properties were included in the experiment. In the first period of the biotest, 2 g cotton-wool pads moistened with distilled water were planted with 2 g of perennial ryegrass seeds and the seedlings were grown for 6 days. On the 7th day the cotton-wool pads containing the seedlings were placed on soils polluted with four levels of cadmium: 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg Cd kg−1 soil, added to the soil in the form of cadmium acetate. After a first nutrient-deficient period, the seedlings took up nutrients and toxic substances intensively from the soil samples. After a 14-day period of soil–plant contact the fresh biomass, dry biomass and Cd concentration of the shoots were measured, in addition to which the shoot height was measured every 2 days.
Cadmium treatment significantly reduced the shoot height and fresh weight of ryegrass in all the tested soils, and the damaging effect was proportional to the applied dose. A reduction of more than 10% in the shoot height and fresh weight were observed even at a Cd pollution level of 1 mg Cd kg−1 soil. At the highest Cd level the decrease in shoot height was more than 40% and the decrease in fresh weight more than 35% in all the soils.
The increasing level of Cd application significantly increased the Cd concentration of the shoots. More Cd was accumulated in ryegrass shoots on soils with low pH and low organic matter content.
The results indicate that the ryegrass biotest method is suitable for the characterization of Cd contamination in different soils.
Nitrogén, réz és molibdén kölcsönhatások repcére (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Kádár Imre 
Published: December 2017

Interactions between the elements N, Cu and Mo were studied on rape in 2000 in a field experiment set up on chernozem loam soil with lime deposits. The ploughed layer of the soil contained 3% humus, around 5% CaCO3 and around 20% clay. Soil analysis showed that the area was well supplied with Ca, Mg, K and Mn, had satisfactory Cu content, but was only poorly or moderately supplied with P and Zn. The groundwater depth was 13–15 m and the area was prone to drought. The experiment was originally set up in a split-plot design with 4N × 3Cu = 12 treatments in three replications, giving a total of 36 plots. The N rates, applied as calcium ammonium nitrate, were 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha−1 and the Cu rates, in the form of CuSO4, were 0, 50 and 100 kg ha−1. In the 5th year of the experiment the 15 m long plots were halved and the two half-plots were separated by a 1 m path. The experiment thus became a strip-split-plot design, consisting of 4N×3Cu×2Mo = 24 treatments in three replications, giving a total of 72 plots. The 48 kg ha−1 Mo was applied in the form of (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O. The generative phases of flowering and ripening were characterized by drought and depression. The main results were as follows:
As a result of N fertilization, the seed yield fell from 2 t ha−1 to 0.8 t ha−1. However, the stem yield increased from 5 t ha−1 to 8 t ha−1 due to the more favourable N effects in the vegetative phase. As a result, the harvest index increased from 4.6 to 13.0.Most of the element contents became concentrated and enriched in the plant parts. The concentrations of Na, Fe, Mn and Zn increased with the N supply, whereas that of Ba decreased in the straw at harvest. Both N and Cu addition stimulated the incorporation of Cu in the straw. The phenomenon of N×Mo synergy was observed. N and Mo became enriched in the stem in both the N and Mo treatments. This N×Mo interaction was also manifested in the seed.Higher contents of N, P, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mo, Se and Co were recorded in the seed at harvest, exceeding the concentrations in the straw. A total of 206 kg N, 172 kg Ca, 142 kg K, 78 kg S, 39 kg P and 32 kg Mg was incorporated into the aboveground biomass of rapeseed, i.e. 10.4 t ha−1 air-dry matter. In the case of combine harvesting, if the by-products are ploughed into the soil, the quantity of nutrients leaving the field falls to a fraction.Under the conditions of this experiment, 40 kg N, 5 kg Ca (7 kg CaO), 14 kg K (17 kg K2O), 10 kg S, 12 kg P (27 kg P2O5) and 5 kg Mg (8 kg MgO) was required for the production of 1 t rapeseed. These data could serve as a guideline for the extension service in establishing the nutritional needs of winter rapeseed.
Vermikomposztálás, mint a szennyvíziszap-komposztálás alternatív megoldása ─ Szemle ─
Authors: Draskovits Eszter , Németh-Borsányi Barbara , Rivier Pierre-Adrien , Szabó Anita 
Published: December 2017

Agricultural utilisation is one of the most promising uses of sewage sludge in Hungary. Sewage sludge can be applied to agricultural fields in two ways: the injection of dewatered sewage sludge and the application of sewage sludge after composting. Vermicomposting is a special type of composting, where the organic residues are broken down by earthworms. The worms facilitate the decomposition process both by mixing the sludge and by physically degrading it. Earthworm species have various morphotypes requiring different habitats. Compost worms have great adaptability to extreme conditions and are capable of exploiting organic matter in a state of decomposition. Eisenia sp., Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx excavatus are important species for vermicomposting.
When examining the role and possibilities of vermicomposting, it is important to compare it with traditional composting methods.
The most important aspect of producing vermicompost is to ensure optimum environmental conditions for the earthworms, especially in terms of temperature, humidity and aeration, which requires constant attention.
An important feature of traditional composting is the thermophilic phase, during which the pathogenic organisms in sewage sludge are destroyed. The thermophilic phase is omitted during vermicomposting due to the thermal sensitivity of the earthworms, but the presence and activity of the earthworms results in similar sterility.
Regarding its nutrient content, vermicompost contains larger quantities of total and plant-available macroelements than conventional composts. A further advantage is the presence of the plant hormone agents excreted by earthworms.
From the environmental point of view, the ability of earthworms to accumulate heavy metals and the role of their special gut flora in the decomposition of organic pollutants could contribute to the wider use of vermicomposting to dispose of sewage sludge.
While vermicompost has many advantages, a number of obstacles need to be overcome before it can be routinely used in Hungary. Many landowners regard sewage sludge compost as hazardous waste that could contaminate their soil and crops rather than as a nutrient and soil amendment. Although numerous studies have been published on sewage sludge, the assessment of long-term effects, including the issues currently of most concern in Hungary, is still lacking.
Vermicomposting is therefore a promising, innovative technology for sewage sludge recycling. Sewage sludge and sewage sludge composts with pollutant contents greater than the limits laid down in Government Regulation 50/2001. (IV.3.) can be made suitable for agricultural use by vermicomposting.
ENHANCING THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF DIRECT CURRENT DRIVE BASED ON USE OF SUPERCONDENSER POWER STORAGE UNITS
Authors: А. M. Mukha  , М. О. Kostin  , О. Y. Kurylenko  , H. V. Tsyplia  
Published: December 2017

Purpose.The scientific work is intended to analyse the expansion of the load range and the implementation of regeneration braking (RB) of the direct current drive by using the supercondenser power storage units. Methodology.To solve the problem, we use the methods of the electric drive theory, impulse electronics and the method of calculation of transient electromagnetic processes in linear electric circuits in the presence of super-condensers therein. Findings.The stiffness of the mechanical and electromechanical characteristics of a series motor is significantly increased, which makes it possible to use a DC drive under load, much smaller than 15…20% of the nominal one. Numerical calculations of the operation process of the supercondenser power storage unit were fulfilled with a sharp decrease in the load of a traction electric motor of a direct current electric locomotive. The possibility of RB of the direct current drive with the series motor is substantiated. The equations of the process of charging and discharging of super-condenser storage unit in RB mode are solved. The authors examined the effect of capacitance on the nature of maintaining the excitation current of an electric motor in the mode of small loads.Originality.The paper developed theoretical approaches for the transformation of soft (mechanical and electromechanical) characteristics into hard ones of DC series motors. For the first time a new, combined method of the series motor RB is proposed and substantiated. Further development obtained the methods for evaluating the storage unit parameters, taking into account the criteria for reliable parallel operation of super-condensers with an electric motor field. Practical value.The proposed and substantiated transformation of soft characteristics into stiff ones allows us to use general-purpose electric drives with series motors and at low loads, and in traction electric drives - to reduce the intensity of electric stockwheel slipping. Thedevelopedmethodofsolvingtransitionalequationsmakesitpossibletotakeintoaccounttherandomnatureofthevoltagechangeonthemotorinsuper-condenserdrivechargeanddischargemodes. The proposed combined method makes it possible to carry out RB at low speeds of the motor armature as well, and thus to increase energy efficiency of operation of electric drives of this type.
Kuwil method for spectral clustering algorithm
Authors: Kuwil Farag Homed Ali 
Published: December 2017

The open issues and challenges that exist while using the spectral clustering algorithm (SCA) have led to its limited spread in practical life. This paper proposes to find an easier, faster and more accurate method to implement SCA that will lead to its wide use by statisticians, researchers, institutions and others. I suggest a new method called â€˜Kuwil methodâ€™ for SCA on any dataset points without needing estimation or evaluation of any parameters or the use of linear algebra, not even the k_mean algorithm. The main aim is to apply an algorithm that relies on distance laws among points only. The algorithm by the Kuwil method has been applied a number of times on real data from the warehouse European Economic Association (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database) and on unreal data. The results were highly efficient in terms of time, effort and simplification. It eliminates the problem of parameters and increases the effectiveness to give static results obtained from the first execution. No errors were seen from functions in the MATLAB language such as eigenvalues, eigenvector and k_mean.
Keywords: Spectral clustering, Kuwil method.
Perancangan SITANI Sebagai Media Informasi Bagi Petani
Authors: Pratisto Eko Harry , Waluyo Arif Budi 
Published: December 2017

<p><em>Agriculture is one source of livelihood of people in Surakarta. However, there are some problems that occur in agriculture, such as: the shortage of agricultural goods, the difficulty of obtaining workshop activities information, and difficulty to sell crops at harvest periode for the arragement price from middlemen.</em></p><p><em>SITANI application is develop using waterfall method and built using Java programming language with tool Android Studio. The design includes table of functional requirements, use case diagram, ERD, activity diagrams, and interface design. Application testing is done using quistionnaire.</em></p><em>The results of this research is the creation of android-based application with modules SITANI advertsement, workshop activities information, and ordering goods.</em>