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The frequency response of the photocurrent (Iph) generated in perovskite photodetectors is a crucial issue in imaging or telecommunication applications, although it is briefly discussed in the literature. The present work obtains for the first time the complete expression of the Iph generated on MAPbI3 (MA:methylamoniumI) perovskite polycrystalline thin films. A conditioning circuit is used to extract Iph at 1 V of bias voltage under a square‐modulated laser excitation with a sensitivity smaller than 1 nW and a linear dynamic range LDR > 200 dB; It allows an accurate determination of the module of Iph together with the phase, which is not usually reported in photodetector systems. The frequency domain analysis reveals that Iph can be modeled by two fractional poles located at low (10 kHz) and high (39–250 kHz) cut‐off frequencies. Optimum geometrical parameters and excitation fluence are found for the wider response, resulting for the best device on a cut off frequency up to 250 kHz, and the reproduction of square‐modulated optical waves up to 100 kHz. These results represent an important strategy toward the electrical analysis of MAPbI3 (or other perovskite materials) for the design of posterior electronic stages, optimization of devices and determination of their figures of merit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling mass and energy is a feature in almost all plants and industries. It is reported as an inevitable characteristic in actual industries due to differences between the designed processes and implementation. When a process is set, engineers identify inefficiencies in the planned performance and utilize recycles to try to reduce this difference. However, although recycles help in improving a plant's overall performance compared with a serial arrangement, its effect on dynamic plant behaviour is seldom considered, and these changes begin to impact the features of processes like controllability and stability. Similarly, even though recycles affect the feasible region of individual equipment, its effect is not verified. Based on the aforementioned background, several studies have demonstrated that advanced control strategies allow for the improvement of the dynamic behaviour of complex plants. Different techniques, such as model‐based predictive control and plant‐wide control (PWC), also show that their implementation reduces the effects of recycles. However, there is no explicit methodology to design these controllers and address the impacts of recycles on dynamic behaviour and feasibility. Additionally, there is no tuning procedure to design controllers that optimize the dynamic performance of plants, including the control system. In this context, this work presents an analysis to characterize the effects of recycles on the dynamic behaviour of plants, including how they affect the feasible operating region. Based on the previous analysis, a control methodology is also proposed to design the PWC strategy, explicitly addressing the dynamical phenomena of recycles in processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a phenomenological‐based semiphysical model (PBSM) for the mixing process to predict meat protein denaturation and their interactions with water molecules when salts and phosphates are present. Protein fractions are measured according to their solubility, which is an indicator of structural changes. A reaction scheme is proposed based on the literature review and the consolidation of individual experiments carried out at an industrial scale mortadella fed‐batch reactor. The model is simulated with numerical integration of a set of ODEs governing the time‐evolution of species concentrations. The results show that the model was able to predict the water‐holding capacity at standard formulation and operational conditions. Practical applications: The knowledge of the effects of processing conditions on the structure and the interactions of muscle proteins contributes to understanding the impact of processing on meat product quality. The phenomenological‐based semiphysical model developed in this study has broad applicability in the food industry since it is the first attempt to link meat protein composition with the functional property water‐holding capacity mathematically. The high interpretability of model parameters provides a deeper understand of the process phenomena; so that the model becomes a way to develop strategies to improve the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The posterior root muscle response (PRM) is a monosynaptic reflex that is evoked by single pulse transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS). The main aim of this work was to analyse how body weight loading influences PRM reflex threshold measured from several lower limb muscles in healthy participants. PRM reflex responses were evoked with 1‐ms rectangular monophasic pulses applied at an interval of 6 s via a self‐adhesive electrode (9 × 5 cm) at the T11–T12 vertebral level. Surface electromyographic activity of lower limb muscles was recorded during four different conditions, one in decubitus supine (DS) and the other three involving standing at 100%, 50%, and 0% body weight loading (BW). PRM threshold intensity, peak‐to‐peak amplitude, and latency for each muscle were analysed in different conditions study. PRM reflex threshold increased with body weight unloading compared with DS, and the largest change was observed between DS and 0% BW for the proximal muscles and between DS and 50% BW for distal muscles. Peak‐to‐peak amplitude analysis showed only a significant mean decrease of 34.6% (SD 10.4, p = 0.028) in TA and 53.6% (SD 15.1, p = 0.019) in GM muscles between DS and 50% BW. No significant differences were observed for PRM latency. This study has shown that sensorimotor networks can be activated with tSCS in various conditions of body weight unloading. Higher stimulus intensities are necessary to evoke reflex response during standing at 50% body weight loading. These results have practical implications for gait rehabilitation training programmes that include body weight support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand by United Nations development agencies and governments for a higher engagement of firms in sustainable development goals, including that of eradicating poverty. Nevertheless, the social issue of poverty has not traditionally been covered by firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. In addition, there is a need to integrate theories in order to better explain pro‐poor CSR in developing countries. Relying on a review of both conceptual and empirical research articles on CSR for poverty alleviation, this study contributes to the CSR research agenda by proposing an integrated research framework for assessing and explaining a firm's contribution to poverty alleviation. Besides discussing the existing evidence, the following issues are critically analysed with the general purpose of obtaining the framework and suggesting avenues for future research: the assessment of a firm's contribution to poverty alleviation, types of pro‐poor CSR initiatives that could be adopted by firms, and the factors influencing a firm's contribution. The framework, which intends to be useful for future research, can also assist the United Nations to increase the firms' contribution to its alleviating poverty sustainable development goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Broeggeria assemblage is a peculiar brachiopod association that has been recorded mainly from Tremadocian black shales of Baltoscandia, the Anglo‐Welsh Basin, Nova Scotia, South Urals and Kazakhstan. Here, we report a low diversity brachiopod association dominated by Broggeria omaguaca n. sp. from upper Tremadocian open‐shelf mudstones of northwestern Argentina. The dark‐grey transgressive muddy interval bearing the Broeggeria assemblage starts with an erosive flooding surface marked by a glauconite‐rich bed containing reworked bioclasts, which overlies storm‐dominated shoreface sandstones. Lithologic and taphonomic evidence indicates that the fauna from the mudstones represents a palaeocommunity inhabiting oxygen‐depleted bottoms. Besides Broeggeria omaguaca, which by far is the more abundant linguloid, the assemblage includes the obolids Palaeoglossa elongata (Harrington) and Libecoviella aff. tilcarensis Benedetto and Muñoz, and the punctate orthide Lipanorthis andinus Benedetto. Associated trilobites are abundant and low diversity, the more common being the large asaphid Asaphellus jujuanus Harrington. Coeval strata exposed in the Santa Victoria area contain rare specimens of Broeggeria omaguaca associated with Leptembolon argentinum Benedetto and Muñoz and Palaeoglossa elongata. Comparable dysoxic black shales of Furongian age bearing the olenid trilobite Parabolina (Neoparabolina) frequens have yielded a monospecific association of Lingulella n. sp. The records of Broeggeria at global scale support its late Cambrian origin in the Anglo‐Welsh Basin (Avalonia) and its rapid migration into the Karatau–Naryn terrane (a part of the Kazakhstanian collage). By the early Tremadocian, Broeggeria spread to Belgium and to the neighbouring Megumia terrane, migrating later (mid‐late Tremadocian) to Baltica, Southern Urals, Kazakhstanian terranes, Perunica and the Central Andean Basin. By the late Floian/early Dapingian, Broeggeria colonized palaeoequatorial deep shelves (Spitsbergen). Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is a significant or growing economic sector in most countries with high levels of poverty on a global scale. Consequently, previous studies have suggested that tourism enterprises could and should play an active role in reducing poverty. This paper analyses the engagement of tourism enterprises in poverty alleviation. First, different sustainable development approaches are considered as regards increasing the contribution of this stakeholder to poverty alleviation, including corporate social responsibility. Second, empirical studies on the impacts of tourism organizations on poverty published since the year 1999 are critically analysed in order to generate an empirical research framework embracing the following issues: geographical scope, tourism scope and study methods. Third, there is an integrative discussion of empirical evidence from the literature regarding the contribution of private tourism enterprises and other tourism organizations to poverty reduction. Findings suggest that their contribution to poverty alleviation is linked to voluntary social responsibility initiatives and the organization size. Additional findings are shown regarding economic, socio-culturaland environmental impacts. Recommendations for future research and public policy implications are also provided, which could be of interest to other industries. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractiveness of tourism destinations is a topic of great interest to researchers and professionals wishing to understand the ability of destinations to attract and satisfy tourists. However, there is a lack of consensus on the attributes that could explain the attractiveness of destinations, attributes that can also vary according to the tourist product under analysis. An importance-performance-satisfaction approach is adopted, to identify the attributes that are important for tourists travelling to enjoy wellness vacations, assess the performance of Gran Canaria in those attributes and analyze the possible association between the performance of Gran Canaria and tourist satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A simulation model of the thermal behavior of a reactor during aniline polymerization is proposed. The model takes into account the polymerization mechanism together with heat production and dissipation. The temperature-time profiles can be simulated with different kinetic parameters. The model is used for two purposes: to extract kinetic parameters by fitting experimental temperature-time profiles of a cooled agitated batch reactor; and to estimate the temperatures changes occurring in a reactor under different experimental conditions to find the best conditions for industrial production of polyaniline. The rate equation used includes two rate constants: one in the absence of polymer ( k1) and another in the presence of polymer ( k2). The thermal factors, such as the heat transfer coefficient and the reaction enthalpy, are experimentally measured. A computer program is written that fits the experimental data using different kinetic parameters. The data analysis shows a temperature peak ( Tmax) whose magnitude decreases when k2 decreases, whereas it is not affected by k1. The time to reach the Tmax is inversely proportional to k1 and k2. The model allows obtaining the kinetic parameters in different reaction media, e.g. varying the concentration of acid. The model is used to simulate the thermal behavior, to polymerize 1 M of aniline: in one step the temperature of the reactor will increase till 82ºC, such thermal runaway will cause polymer degradation, successive additions of portions of the total oxidant amount, paced at defined time intervals, is devised to maintain low temperatures while producing the same amount of polymer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39409. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic exercise is associated with changes in the blood profile of fatty acids. Caffeine is known to be a potential lipolytic agent. Hence, caffeine ingestion in addition to exercise might have an influence on fatty acids, with positive effects on health and performance. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to assess the effect of caffeine (5 mg · kg body mass-1) ingested before aerobic exercise on the total plasma fatty acid profile. In a crossover, double-blind, randomized study involving 20 untrained males ([image omitted] 43.57±6.48 ml · kg-1 · min-1), blood lactate concentration, plasma caffeine values, and plasma fatty acid profile were examined using chromatographic techniques before and after 30 min of steady-state cycle exercise at 75% [image omitted] under placebo and caffeine conditions. Ventilatory responses and substrate oxidation rates were determined during exercise and recovery. Ventilatory responses, lactate concentrations, and fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates were not affected by caffeine ingestion. Carbohydrate was the main substrate oxidized during steady-state trials under both conditions, although exercise increased blood saturated fatty acids (placebo: 28.30±5.90% vs. 31.09±4.59, P<0.05; caffeine: 28.88±4.12% vs. 29.60±4.56%). Unsaturated blood concentrations of oleic fatty acid trans (C18:1t) increased due to caffeine (placebo: 2.22±2.81% vs. 2.61±3.86%; caffeine 1.53±0.19% vs. 1.70±0.49%, P<0.05). In conclusion, the ingestion of caffeine prior to moderate-to-high aerobic exercise may not have a clear metabolic advantage under the conditions of the present study in untrained individuals, although it might influence some individual unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1t) despite low fat oxidation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While sustainable development is recognized as an essential requirement for achieving economic goals without degrading the environment, major problems arise in defining methods for formulating and implementing sustainable strategic actions at the macro-level, including islands. Bearing in mind this limitation, this research paper will attempt to present a strategic planning methodology for drawing up strategic issues for tourism development from the point of view of sustainability, which is particularly appropriate to islands. The authors first review existing literature on sustainable development with a view to defining a conceptual approach to sustainability and identifying particular areas for sustainable tourism development in the island context. A methodology for formulating strategic issues for sustainable tourism development in Gran Canaria is then drawn up. Sociocultural aspects, the environment and the economy, with particular emphasis on tourism, are examined in order to identify major strategic issues for sustainable development in Gran Canaria. Copyright Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the role of non-invasive spinal simulation in spasticity therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI.) Topics discussed include studies related to mechanism of action by which spinal stimulation modulate SCI spasticity; importance of stimulation patterns in modulating spinal reflex excitability, voluntary motor control, and clinical measures of spasticity; and effect of transcutaneous spinal stimulation protocols to promote residual motor function.