bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A satellite-derived glacier inventory for North Asia
Authors: Earl Lucas , Gardner Alex
Published: August 2015

This study outlines a consistent methodology for identifying glacier surfaces from Landsat 5, 7 and 8 imagery that is applied to map all mainland North Asian glaciers, providing the first methodologically consistent and complete glacier inventory for the region ~2010. We identify 5065 glaciers covering a planimetric area of 2326 ± 186 km2, most of which is located in the Altai mountain subregion. The total glacier count is 15% higher, but the total glacier area is 32 ±11.6% lower, than the estimated glacier coverage provided in version 4.0 of the Randolph Glacier Inventory. We investigate the distribution of glacier size within North Asia and find that the majority of glaciers (82%) are smaller than 0.5 km2 but only account for a third of the total glacier area, with the largest 1 % (60 glaciers ≥ 5 km2 ) accounting for 28% of the total area. We present hypsometric characterizations of North Asian glaciers, largely substantiating existing findings that glaciers in this region are dominated by cold, relatively dry conditions. We provide a detailed assessment of errors and determine the uncertainty in our area estimate to be ±8.0%, with snow-cover uncertainty the largest contributing factor. Based on this assessment, the new glacier inventory presented here is more complete and of higher quality than other currently available data sources.
Automated detection and temporal monitoring of crevasses using remote sensing and their implications for glacier dynamics
Authors: Bhardwaj Anshuman , Sam Lydia , Singh Shaktiman , Kumar Rajesh
Published: August 2015

Detailed studies on temporal changes of crevasses and their linkage with glacier dynamics are scarce in the Himalayan context. Observations of temporally changing surficial crevasse patterns and their orientations are suggestive of the processes that determine seasonal glacier flow characteristics. In the present study, on a Himalayan valley glacier, changing crevasse patterns and orientations were detected and mapped on Landsat 8 images in an automated procedure using the ratio of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) band 10 to Optical Land Imager (OLI) shortwave infrared (SWIR) band 6. The ratio was capable of mapping even crevasses falling under mountain shadows. Differential GPS observations suggested an average error of 3.65% and root-mean-square error of 6.32m in crevasse lengths. A year-round observation of these crevasses, coupled with field-based surface velocity measurements, provided some interesting interpretations of seasonal glacier dynamics.
EFFECTS OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF FLUID ON FREE CONVECTION FLOW ALONG A VERTICAL FLAT PLATE WITH TRANSVERSE CONDUCTION
Authors: Islam A K M Safiqul , Alim M. A. , Karim Md Rezaul , Rahman ATM M
Published: August 2015

This paper reports the effects of transverse conduction variation with thermal conductivity on freeconvection flow along a vertical flat plate. The governing equations with associated boundary conditions reduceto local non-similarity boundary layer equations for this phenomenon are converted to dimensionless forms usinga suitable transformation. The transformed non-linear equations are then solved using the implicit finitedifference method together with Keller-box technique. Numerical results of the velocity and temperature profiles,skin friction and surface temperature profiles for different values of the thermal conductivity parameter, thePrandtl number and the transverse conduction variation parameters are presented graphically. Detaileddiscussion is given for the effect of the aforementioned parameters. Mentionable effect is found in skin friction andsurface temperature for the transverse conduction variation parameter.
A COMPARETIVE ANALYSIS OF AERODYNAMIC CHARECTERISTICS OF A VERTICAL AXIS VANE TYPE WIND TURBINE OVER EVEN AND ODD NUMBER OF BLADES
Authors: Ferdous Zulfa , Islam Md. Quamrul , Ali M
Published: August 2015

This paper reports on the experimental investigation of the aerodynamic effects on even and odd number bladed vertical axis vane type rotor. The experiment was conducted with the help of a subsonic wind tunnel together with the experimental set-up of the vane type rotor and a spring balance. To ensure a Reynolds number independent approach, different stream flow was maintained. The flow velocities varied from 5 m/s to 9 m/s covering the Reynolds number from 0.6375 X 10^5 to 1.2 X 10^5. A four, five and six bladed vertical axis vane typerotor was used to determine the aerodynamic properties in dynamic condition. It is found that the power coefficient increases with increasing the number of blade but the significant effect of even and odd number blade is observed on the range of tip speed ratio. An odd number bladed rotor covered a wide range of tip speed ratio compare to the even number one.
INFLUENCING FACTORS OF BOREHOLE FAILURE IN BEDDING PLANE OF A RESERVOIR
Authors: Shamsuzzoha Md.
Published: August 2015

Borehole instability during drilling is common in shale formation. Weak bedding plane in borehole is critical in understanding in-situ stress and borehole instability. Unified decision about the plane of weakness and failure of borehole on shale has yet to be fully realized by the industry, particularly because borehole stability has not been well addressed. This research was based on a linear elastic and isotropic model for stresses around the wellbore with the aim of trying to understand the general behaviour of inclined borehole failure due to bedding plane. Using Aadnoy et. al (2009)s model, this paper discussed mechanical wellbore stability and plane of weakness of shale formation. This paper investigated three major factors firstly, borehole failure of bedding plane, secondly it introduced optimized well path. Thirdly, it analysed whether well data was present at a safe position or bedding exposed positions. This paper also analysed the 3D effect of attack angle changing azimuth with a constant inclination on bedding plane. This paper argues that bedding exposed does not only depend on inclination but also depend on dip of the formation, attack angle and azimuth. It also found the different value of attack angle of up dip and down dip position of Aadnoy model and addressed way to solve the existing difficulty
ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIALLY USED ALUMINIUM ENGINE BLOCK AND PISTON IN 0.1M NaCl
Authors: Kaiser M S , Qadir M R , Dutta Swagata
Published: August 2015

The corrosion behaviour of commercially used aluminium engine block and piston were investigated in 0.1M NaCl solution at room temperatures. The study was done by electrochemical method, using Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The surface was characterized by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated differences in the charge transfer resistance of engine block and piston alloys. The current density (Icorr) of engine block material showed higher value than that of piston material. The corrosion potential (Ecorr) and pitting corrosion potential (Epit) of piston material were shifted to the more noble direction. In aluminium piston alloy there seems to be uniform surface pits formations which are in fewer amounts as compared to those in engine block alloy. The corrosion performance of aluminium piston alloy was found to be higher than that of aluminium engine block due to the presence of Ni and lower percentage of Fe in aluminium piston alloy.
Theorizing School Bullying
Authors: Yoneyama Shoko
Published: August 2015

This paper identifies a lacuna in the existing paradigms of bullying: a gap caused by the frame of reference being largely limited to the highly industrialized societies of the ‘west’: Europe, North America and Oceania. The paper attempts to address this gap by presenting research developed in Japan. In Japan, sociological discourse on school bullying, i.e. the analysis of institutional factors relevant to understanding bullying was established relatively early, as was the epistemology now referred to as the second paradigm of bullying. The paper attempts to integrate the research strengths of Japan with this new trend in bullying research, with the view of incorporating ‘non-western’ research traditions into mainstream discourse on bullying. It introduces a typology of school bullying: Types I&II, and discusses 1) hierarchical relationships in schools, focusing on corporal punishment and teacher-student bullying, and 2) group dynamics surrounding bullying. The paper illustrates how bullying among students is entwined with various aspects of schools as social institutions. It argues that school bullying may represent a state of anomie in both formal and informal power structures in schools, which have become dysfunctional communities unable to deal with bullying, while at the same time it can be students’ way of compensating their sense of alienation and disconnectedness from school.
What Butterfly Effect? The Contextual Differences in Public Perceptions of the Health Risk Posed by Climate Change
Authors: Stoutenborough James , Kirkpatrick Kellee , Field M. , Vedlitz Arnold
Published: August 2015

One of the most difficult aspects of persuading the public to support climate change policy is the lack of recognition that climate change will likely have a direct impact on an individual’s life. Anecdotal evidence and arguments within the media suggest that those who are skeptical of climate change are more likely to believe that the negative externalities associated with climate change will be experienced by others, and, therefore, are not a concern to that individual. This project examines public perceptions of the health risk posed by climate change. Using a large national public opinion survey of adults in the United States, respondents were asked to evaluate the health risk for themselves, their community, the United States, and the world. The results suggest that individuals evaluate the risk for each of these contexts differently. Statistical analyses are estimated to identify the determinants of each risk perception to identify their respective differences. The implications of these findings on support for climate change policy are discussed.
Fundamental Study on the Effect of Spray Parameters on Characteristics of P3HT:PCBM Active Layers Made by Spray Coating
Authors: Xie Yu , Gao Siyi , Eslamian Morteza
Published: August 2015

This paper is an attempt to elucidate the effects of the important spray characteristics on the surface morphology and light absorbance of spray-on P3HT:PCBM thin-films, used as an active layer in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Spray coating or deposition is a viable scalable technique for the large-scale, fast, and low-cost fabrication of solution-processed solar cells, and has been widely used for device fabrication, although the fundamental understanding of the underlying and controlling parameters, such as spray characteristics, droplet dynamics, and surface wettability, is still limited, making the results on device fabrication not reproducible and unreliable. In this paper, following the conventional PSC architecture, a PEDOT:PSS layer is first spin-coated on glass substrates, followed by the deposition of P3HT:PCBM using an automatic ultrasonic spray coating system, with a movable nozzle tip, to mimic an industrial manufacturing process. To gain insight, the effects of the spray carrier air pressure, the number of spray passes, the precursor flow rate, and precursor concentration are studied on the surface topography and light absorbance spectra of the spray-on films. Among the results, it is found that despite the high roughness of spray-on films, the light absorbance of the film is satisfactory. It is also found that the absorbance of spray-on films is a linear function of the number of spray passes or deposition layers, based on which an effective film thickness is defined for rough spray-on films. The effective thickness of a rough spray-on P3HT:PCBM film was found to be one-quarter of that of a flat film predicted by a simple mass balance.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antibacterial Activity of Mg(II) Complex [Mg(H2O)6]·(4-amino-3-methylbenzenesulfonate)2
Authors: Tai Xi-Shi , Jie Yin
Published: August 2015

A Mg(II) complex, [Mg(H2O)6]·L2 (H2L = 4-amino-3-methylbenzenesulfonate), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Infrared (IR) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the Mg(II) complex was monoclinic with P21/n, a = 6.3184(16) Å, b = 7.0522(18) Å, c = 24.434(6) Å, β = 93.946(3)°, V = 1086.2(5) Å3, Z = 2, Mr = 504.81, Dc = 1.544 g/cm3, T = 296(2) K, F(000) = 532, μ(MoKa) = 0.338 mm−1, R = 0.0339 and wR =0.1194. The Mg(II) ion lies in a distorted octahedral geometry. The hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interaction play an important role in the forming of one dimensional chain structure. The antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus white of the Mg(II) complex has also been investigated.
Application of Model Predictive Control to BESS for Microgrid Control
Authors: Nguyen Thai-Thanh , Yoo Hyeong-Jun , Kim Hak-Man
Published: August 2015

Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) have been widely used for microgrid control. Generally, BESS control systems are based on proportional-integral (PI) control techniques with the outer and inner control loops based on PI regulators. Recently, model predictive control (MPC) has attracted attention for application to future energy processing and control systems because it can easily deal with multivariable cases, system constraints, and nonlinearities. This study considers the application of MPC-based BESSs to microgrid control. Two types of MPC are presented in this study: MPC based on predictive power control (PPC) and MPC based on PI control in the outer and predictive current control (PCC) in the inner control loops. In particular, the effective application of MPC for microgrids with multiple BESSs should be considered because of the differences in their control performance. In this study, microgrids with two BESSs based on two MPC techniques are considered as an example. The control performance of the MPC used for the control microgrid is compared to that of the PI control. The proposed control strategy is investigated through simulations using MATLAB/Simulink software. The simulation results show that the response time, power and voltage ripples, and frequency spectrum could be improved significantly by using MPC.
Epidemiological Characteristics of Work-Related Ocular Trauma in Southwest Region of China
Authors: Cai Mingming , Zhang Jie
Published: August 2015

Purpose: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of work-related eye injury in representative southwest region of China. Methods: Patients with eye injuries treated at the Ninth People’s Hospital of Chongqing from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 were included in the current study. All patients completed a comprehensive examination and interview. Demographic characteristics and injury details were recorded. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) were used. Results: The average age of eye injury patients was 37.52 years and the majority were male. Among the 1055 total patients, approximately 42.9% of the injuries were work-related. The highest proportion of occupational eye trauma was observed in the group between 36 and 45 years of age. Occupational ocular trauma occurred more frequently in summer, with most from 16:00 to 18:00. Metal was the most common injury cause. Foreign body on external eye was the most common diagnosis. Workers in the manufacturing industry without pre-work safety training or eye protection were far more likely to suffer from occupational ocular trauma than those with training and protection. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the epidemiological characteristics of occupational ocular trauma in southwest region of China. The current findings might be considered as a baseline for future research on regional work-related eye injuries. Our findings will provide valuable information for further development of preventive strategies.
Historical Urban Land Use Transformation in Virtual Geo-Library
Authors: Ramdani Fatwa , Putra Alfian , Utomo Bayu
Published: August 2015

As countries become increasingly urbanized, understanding how urban areas are changing within the landscape becomes increasingly important. Urbanized areas are often the strongest indicators of human interaction with the environment, and understanding how urban areas develop through remotely sensed data allows for more sustainable practices. A Landsat satellite sensor which is a remote sensing platform, with its ability to analyze global data, rapidly present itself as being an invaluable tool for studying the growth of urban areas. In this study, we present the virtual geo-library as the geovisualization tools to provide the analytical studies of the urbanization process in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia, using images derived from Landsat sensor family (1989 to 2014). We provide a dynamic geovisualization through virtual geo-library, where users could understand and get valuable scientific information (e.g., urban area changes and land use transformation in higher land). This system is also equipped with the tools to enable users to create automatic cartographic maps and print the results out as a digital pdf format file.
The Incremental Induction of Neuroprotective Properties by Multiple Therapeutic Strategies for Primary and Secondary Neural Injury
Authors: Lee Seunghoon , Park Sookyoung , Won Jinyoung , Lee Sang-Rae , Chang Kyu-Tae , Hong Yonggeun
Published: August 2015

Neural diseases including injury by endogenous factors, traumatic brain injury, and degenerative neural injury are eventually due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus ROS generation in neural tissues is a hallmark feature of numerous forms of neural diseases. Neural degeneration and the neural damage process is complex, involving a vast array of tissue structure, transcriptional/translational, electrochemical, metabolic, and functional events within the intact neighbors surrounding injured neural tissues. During aging, multiple changes involving physical, chemical, and biochemical processes occur from the molecular to the morphological levels in neural tissues. Among many recommended therapeutic candidates, melatonin also plays a role in protecting the nervous system from anti-inflammation and efficiently safeguards neuronal cells via antioxidants and other endogenous/exogenous beneficial factors. Therefore, given the wide range of mechanisms responsible for neuronal damage, multi-action drugs or therapies for the treatment of neural injury that make use of two or more agents and target several pathways may have greater efficacy in promoting functional recovery than a single therapy alone.
Investigation of Laminar Convective Heat Transfer for Al2O3-Water Nanofluids Flowing through a Square Cross-Section Duct with a Constant Heat Flux
Authors: Ting Hsien-Hung , Hou Shuhn-Shyurng
Published: August 2015

The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the convective heat transfer of water-based Al2O3 nanofluids flowing through a square cross-section duct with a constant heat flux under laminar flow conditions. The effects of nanoparticle concentration and Peclet number on the heat transfer characteristics of Al2O3-water nanofluids are investigated. The nanoparticle diameter is 25 nm and six particle concentrations (0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 vol.%) are considered. The numerical results show that the heat transfer coefficients and Nusselt numbers of Al2O3-water nanofluids increase with increases in the Peclet number as well as particle volume concentration. The heat transfer coefficient of nanofluids is increased by 25.5% at a particle volume concentration of 2.5% and a Peclet number of 7500 as compared with that of the base fluid (pure water). It is noteworthy that at the same particle volume concentration of 2.5%, the enhancement of the convective heat transfer coefficient of Al2O3-water nanofluid (25.5%) is much higher than that of the effective thermal conductivity (9.98%). Thus, the enhancement of the convective heat transfer cannot be solely attributed to the enhancement of the effective thermal conductivity. Additionally, the numerical results coincide well with the published experimental data.
Preparation of LuAG Powders with Single Phase and Good Dispersion for Transparent Ceramics Using Co-Precipitation Method
Authors: Pan Liangjie , Jiang Benxue , Fan Jintai , Yang Qiuhong , Zhou Chunlin , Zhang Pande , Mao Xiaojian , Zhang Long
Published: August 2015

The synthesis of pure and well dispersed lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG) powder is crucial and important for the preparation of LuAG transparent ceramics. In this paper, high purity and well dispersed LuAG powders have been synthesized via co-precipitation method with lutetium nitrate and aluminum nitrate as raw materials. Ammonium hydrogen carbonate (AHC) was used as the precipitant. The influence of aging time, pH value, and dripping speed on the prepared LuAG powders were investigated. It showed that long aging duration (>15 h) with high terminal pH value (>7.80) resulted in segregation of rhombus Lu precipitate and Al precipitate. By decreasing the initial pH value or accelerating the dripping speed, rhombus Lu precipitate was eliminated and pure LuAG nano powders were synthesized. High quality LuAG transparent ceramics with transmission >75% at 1064 nm were fabricated using these well dispersed nano LuAG powders.
Evaluation of Fatigue Strength Improvement by CFRP Laminates and Shot Peening onto the Tension Flanges Joining Corrugated SteelWebs
Authors: Wang Zhi-Yu , Wang Qing-Yuan , Liu Yong-Jie
Published: August 2015

Corrugated steel web with inherent high out-of-plane stiffness has a promising application in configuring large span highway bridge girders. Due to the irregularity of the configuration details, the local stress concentration poses a major fatigue problem for the welded flange plates of high strength low alloy structural steels. In this work, the methods of applying CFRP laminate and shot peening onto the surfaces of the tension flanges were employed with the purpose of improving the fatigue strength of such configuration details. The effectiveness of this method in the improvement of fatigue strength has been examined experimentally. Test results show that the shot peening significantly increases hardness and roughness in contrast to these without treatment. Also, it has beneficial effects on the fatigue strength enhancement when compared against the test data of the joints with CFRP strengthening. The stiffness degradation during the loading progress is compared with each treatment. Incorporating the stress acting on the constituent parts of the CFRP laminates, a discussion is made regarding the mechanism of the retrofit and related influencing factors such as corrosion and economic cost. This work could enhance the understanding of the CFRP and shot peening in repairing such welded details and shed light on the reinforcement design of welded joints between corrugated steel webs and flange plates.
Silaffins in Silica Biomineralization and Biomimetic Silica Precipitation
Authors: Lechner Carolin , Becker Christian
Published: August 2015

Biomineralization processes leading to complex solid structures of inorganic material in biological systems are constantly gaining attention in biotechnology and biomedical research. An outstanding example for biomineral morphogenesis is the formation of highly elaborate, nano-patterned silica shells by diatoms. Among the organic macromolecules that have been closely linked to the tightly controlled precipitation of silica in diatoms, silaffins play an extraordinary role. These peptides typically occur as complex posttranslationally modified variants and are directly involved in the silica deposition process in diatoms. However, even in vitro silaffin-based peptides alone, with and without posttranslational modifications, can efficiently mediate biomimetic silica precipitation leading to silica material with different properties as well as with encapsulated cargo molecules of a large size range. In this review, the biomineralization process of silica in diatoms is summarized with a specific focus on silaffins and their in vitro silica precipitation properties. Applications in the area of bio- and nanotechnology as well as in diagnostics and therapy are discussed.
Mitochondrial DNA Variation Reveals a Sharp Genetic Break within the Distribution of the Blue Land Crab Cardisoma guanhumi in the Western Central Atlantic
Authors: Amaral Maria , Albrecht Marc , McKinley Alan , De Carvalho Adriana , Cavalcante de Sousa Severino , Diniz Fabio
Published: August 2015

The blue land crab Cardisoma guanhumi is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical estuarine regions in the Western Central Atlantic (WCA). Patterns of population genetic structure and historical demographics of the species were assessed by mtDNA control region sequence analysis to examine the connectivity among five populations (n = 97) within the region for future conservation strategies and decision-making of fishery management. A total of 234 polymorphic nucleotides were revealed within the sequence region, which have defined 93 distinct haplotypes. No dominant mtDNA haplotypes were found but instead a distribution of a few low-frequency recurrent haplotypes with a large number of singletons. A NJ-tree and a median-joining haplotype network revealed two distinct clusters, corresponding to individuals from estuaries located along the Caribbean Sea and Brazilian waters, respectively. AMOVA and FST statistics supported the hypothesis that two main geographic regions exists. Phylogeographical discontinuity was further demonstrated by the Bayesian assignment analysis and a significant pattern of isolation-by-distance. Additionally, tests of neutral evolution and analysis of mismatch distribution indicate a complex demographic history in the WCA, which corresponds to bottleneck and subsequent population growth. Overall, a sharp genetic break between Caribbean and Brazilian populations raised concerns over the conservation status of the blue land crab.
Role of Physicochemical Properties in Nanoparticle Toxicity
Authors: Shin Seung , Song In , Um Soong
Published: August 2015

With the recent rapid growth of technological comprehension in nanoscience, researchers have aimed to adapt this knowledge to various research fields within engineering and applied science. Dramatic advances in nanomaterials marked a new epoch in biomedical engineering with the expectation that they would have huge contributions to healthcare. However, several questions regarding their safety and toxicity have arisen due to numerous novel properties. Here, recent studies of nanomaterial toxicology will be reviewed from several physiochemical perspectives. A variety of physiochemical properties such as size distribution, electrostatics, surface area, general morphology and aggregation may significantly affect physiological interactions between nanomaterials and target biological areas. Accordingly, it is very important to finely tune these properties in order to safely fulfill a bio-user’s purpose.
Protein Oxidation in the Lungs of C57BL/6J Mice Following X-Irradiation
Authors: Barshishat-Kupper Michal , McCart Elizabeth , Freedy James , Tipton Ashlee , Nagy Vitaly , Kim Sung-Yop , Landauer Michael , Mueller Gregory , Day Regina
Published: August 2015

Damage to normal lung tissue is a limiting factor when ionizing radiation is used in clinical applications. In addition, radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis are a major cause of mortality following accidental radiation exposure in humans. Although clinical symptoms may not develop for months after radiation exposure, immediate events induced by radiation are believed to generate molecular and cellular cascades that proceed during a clinical latent period. Oxidative damage to DNA is considered a primary cause of radiation injury to cells. DNA can be repaired by highly efficient mechanisms while repair of oxidized proteins is limited. Oxidized proteins are often destined for degradation. We examined protein oxidation following 17 Gy (0.6 Gy/min) thoracic X-irradiation in C57BL/6J mice. Seventeen Gy thoracic irradiation resulted in 100% mortality of mice within 127–189 days postirradiation. Necropsy findings indicated that pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis were the leading cause of mortality. We investigated the oxidation of lung proteins at 24 h postirradiation following 17 Gy thoracic irradiation using 2-D gel electrophoresis and OxyBlot for the detection of protein carbonylation. Seven carbonylated proteins were identified using mass spectrometry: serum albumin, selenium binding protein-1, alpha antitrypsin, cytoplasmic actin-1, carbonic anhydrase-2, peroxiredoxin-6, and apolipoprotein A1. The carbonylation status of carbonic anhydrase-2, selenium binding protein, and peroxiredoxin-6 was higher in control lung tissue. Apolipoprotein A1 and serum albumin carbonylation were increased following X-irradiation, as confirmed by OxyBlot immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. Our findings indicate that the profile of specific protein oxidation in the lung is altered following radiation exposure.
Predicting Blood Lactate Concentration and Oxygen Uptake from sEMG Data during Fatiguing Cycling Exercise
Authors: Ražanskas Petras , Verikas Antanas , Olsson Charlotte , Viberg Per-Arne
Published: August 2015

This article presents a study of the relationship between electromyographic (EMG) signals from vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles, collected during fatiguing cycling exercises, and other physiological measurements, such as blood lactate concentration and oxygen consumption. In contrast to the usual practice of picking one particular characteristic of the signal, e.g., the median or mean frequency, multiple variables were used to obtain a thorough characterization of EMG signals in the spectral domain. Based on these variables, linear and non-linear (random forest) models were built to predict blood lactate concentration and oxygen consumption. The results showed that mean and median frequencies are sub-optimal choices for predicting these physiological quantities in dynamic exercises, as they did not exhibit significant changes over the course of our protocol and only weakly correlated with blood lactate concentration or oxygen uptake. Instead, the root mean square of the original signal and backward difference, as well as parameters describing the tails of the EMG power distribution were the most important variables for these models. Coefficients of determination ranging from R2 = 0:77 to R2 = 0:98 (for blood lactate) and from R2 = 0:81 to R2 = 0:97 (for oxygen uptake) were obtained when using random forest regressors.
Reconceptualizing Cultural Globalization: Connecting the “Cultural Global” and the “Cultural Local”
Authors: Magu Stephen
Published: August 2015

Scholars generally are in agreement that the pace of globalization is rapidly accelerating. Globalization’s impact, beyond the socio-economic and political discourses, is affecting conceptions of culture and cultural studies, and changing and restructuring spaces, global, national and personal interactions and relationships. The “texts” and artifacts borne of culture—activities, events and our conception thereof are a mechanism for the propagation of culture. Simultaneously Westernization/Americanization impacts local cultures through consumerism, which obfuscates local traditions, knowledge and experiences. This research argues that culture is a dynamic, adaptive concept and practice, “borrowing” liberally from ideological and technological innovations of other cultures and integrating these borrowed aspects into the construction and modification of culture across spatial and geographical divides to ensure particular cultures’ survival. The research shows that the local affects the global, and vice versa. It selects local communication “texts” to show that cultures are not “victims” of globalization or the proliferation of mass media. Cultures actively adopt and integrate globalization’s technological artifacts. Globalization’s positive effects are dynamic and span cultural interactions and permeate structures of authority at personal, national and global levels.
The Environmental Sustainability of Nations: Benchmarking the Carbon, Water and Land Footprints against Allocated Planetary Boundaries
Authors: Fang Kai , Heijungs Reinout , Duan Zheng , De Snoo Geert
Published: August 2015

Growing scientific evidence for the indispensable role of environmental sustainability in sustainable development calls for appropriate frameworks and indicators for environmental sustainability assessment (ESA). In this paper, we operationalize and update the footprint-boundary ESA framework, with a particular focus on its methodological and application extensions to the national level. By using the latest datasets available, the planetary boundaries for carbon emissions, water use and land use are allocated to 28 selected countries in comparison to the corresponding environmental footprints. The environmental sustainability ratio (ESR)—an internationally comparable indicator representing the sustainability gap between contemporary anthropogenic interference and critical capacity thresholds—allows one to map the reserve or transgression of the nation-specific environmental boundaries. While the geographical distribution of the three ESRs varies across nations, in general, the worldwide unsustainability of carbon emissions is largely driven by economic development, while resource endowments play a more central role in explaining national performance on water and land use. The main value added of this paper is to provide concrete evidence of the usefulness of the proposed framework in allocating overall responsibility for environmental sustainability to sub-global scales and in informing policy makers about the need to prevent the planet’s environment from tipping into an undesirable state.
Planning the Green Walkable City: Conceptualizing Values and Conflicts for Urban Green Space Strategies in Stockholm
Authors: Littke Hélène
Published: August 2015

Urban green spaces are essential elements of cities, contributing to the quality of life in numerous ways. However, densification strategies create a complex relationship between urban development and the quality, as well as the quantity, of urban green space. This paper examines the Green Walkable City Programme in Stockholm, a document developed to supplement the comprehensive plan as a strategic backbone for green urban planning. Based on interviews and content analysis, this paper identifies and discusses concerns raised in the development of the planning programme, and addresses the importance of urban green space for citizens’ well-being. The new comprehensive plan has introduced a shift in the attitude towards the urban green space in Stockholm. The need for urban growth is used to justify development of green fields, and a focus on the quality, rather than the quantity, of urban green space is promoted. Despite this progress, the public requests definitions for this quality approach and fears that nature within the city will be “parkified”. Therefore, this paper offers a critical reflection on the role of the Green Walkable City Programme, its situation within the context of Swedish green urban planning, and various areas of concern that have been highlighted.
Estrada and L-Estrada Indices of Edge-Independent Random Graphs
Authors: Shang Yilun
Published: August 2015

Let \(G\) be a simple graph of order \(n\) with eigenvalues \(\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\cdots,\lambda_n\) and normalized Laplacian eigenvalues \(\mu_1,\mu_2,\cdots,\mu_n\). The Estrada index and normalized Laplacian Estrada index are defined as \(EE(G)=\sum_{k=1}^ne^{\lambda_k}\) and \(\mathcal{L}EE(G)=\sum_{k=1}^ne^{\mu_k-1}\), respectively. We establish upper and lower bounds to \(EE\) and \(\mathcal{L}EE\) for edge-independent random graphs, containing the classical Erdös-Rényi graphs as special cases.
Regulation of the Host Antiviral State by Intercellular Communications
Authors: Assil Sonia , Webster Brian , Dreux Marlène
Published: August 2015

Viruses usually induce a profound remodeling of host cells, including the usurpation of host machinery to support their replication and production of virions to invade new cells. Nonetheless, recognition of viruses by the host often triggers innate immune signaling, preventing viral spread and modulating the function of immune cells. It conventionally occurs through production of antiviral factors and cytokines by infected cells. Virtually all viruses have evolved mechanisms to blunt such responses. Importantly, it is becoming increasingly recognized that infected cells also transmit signals to regulate innate immunity in uninfected neighboring cells. These alternative pathways are notably mediated by vesicular secretion of various virus- and host-derived products (miRNAs, RNAs, and proteins) and non-infectious viral particles. In this review, we focus on these newly-described modes of cell-to-cell communications and their impact on neighboring cell functions. The reception of these signals can have anti- and pro-viral impacts, as well as more complex effects in the host such as oncogenesis and inflammation. Therefore, these “broadcasting” functions, which might be tuned by an arms race involving selective evolution driven by either the host or the virus, constitute novel and original regulations of viral infection, either highly localized or systemic.
The Antiviral Effect of Baicalin on Enterovirus 71 In Vitro
Authors: Li Xiang , Liu Yuanyuan , Wu Tingting , Jin Yue , Cheng Jianpin , Wan Changbiao , Qian Weihe , Xing Fei , Shi Weifeng
Published: August 2015

Baicalin is a flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria roots that has been reported to possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. However, the antiviral effect of baicalin on enterovirus 71 (EV71) is still unknown. In this study, we found that baicalin showed inhibitory activity on EV71 infection and was independent of direct virucidal or prophylactic effect and inhibitory viral absorption. The expressions of EV71/3D mRNA and polymerase were significantly blocked by baicalin treatment at early stages of EV71 infection. In addition, baicalin could decrease the expressions of FasL and caspase-3, as well as inhibit the apoptosis of EV71-infected human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Altogether, these results indicate that baicalin exhibits potent antiviral effect on EV71 infection, probably through inhibiting EV71/3D polymerase expression and Fas/FasL signaling pathways.
Towards collaboration as learning: evaluation of an open CPD opportunity for HE teachers
Authors: Nerantzi Chrissi , Gossman Peter
Published: August 2015

Flexible, Distance and Online Learning (FDOL) is an open online course offered as an informal cross-institutional collaboration based on a postgraduate module in the context of teacher education in higher education. The second iteration, FDOL132, was offered in 2013 using a problem-based learning (PBL) design (FISh) to foster collaborative learning. How this was experienced by participants and how it affected learning within facilitated small groups are explored in this paper. Findings show that authentic learning in groups can be applied directly to practice, and greater flexibility and a focus on the process of collaborative learning has the potential to increase engagement and learning.Keywords: academic development; problem-based learning; open educational practice; phenomenographyCitation: Research in Learning Technology 2015, 23: 26967 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v23.26967
Structure and conformational analysis of spiroketals from 6-O-methyl-9(E)-hydroxyiminoerythronolide A
Authors: Čikoš Ana , Ćaleta Irena , Žiher Dinko , Vine Mark B , Elenkov Ivaylo J , Dukši Marko , Gembarovski Dubravka , Ilijaš Marina , Dragojević Snježana , Malnar Ivica , Alihodžić Sulejman
Published: August 2015

Three novel spiroketals were prepared by a one-pot transformation of 6-O-methyl-9(E)-hydroxyiminoerythronolide A. We present the formation of a [4.5]spiroketal moiety within the macrolide lactone ring, but also the unexpected formation of a 10-C=11-C double bond and spontaneous change of stereochemistry at position 8-C. As a result, a thermodynamically stable structure was obtained. The structures of two new diastereomeric, unsaturated spiroketals, their configurations and conformations, were determined by means of NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. The reaction kinetics and mechanistic aspects of this transformation are discussed. These rearrangements provide a facile synthesis of novel macrolide scaffolds.
Insights from Collaborative Care: A Review of the Evidence for Depression and Diabetes
Authors: Lahijani Sheila , Rosenthal Lisa J.
Published: August 2015

The field of integrated care has undergone rapid development over the past 20 years with the introduction of a variety of models and myriad studies to evaluate their effectiveness and costs. Collaborative care is an evidence-based model that uses a nonphysician care manager who may provide screening, symptom management, and treatment by coordinating care between a primary care physician and a psychiatrist. This approach has been shown to be particularly effective for patients with depression and diabetes and improves measures of both mental health and glycemic control. The use of the collaborative care model provides the opportunity to improve the health of patients while enhancing medical services and decreasing health care costs.

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Psychiatr Ann
. 2015;45(8):401–405.]
Patients in Pain: An Approach to Evaluation and Management
Authors: Tobin Marie , Binius Tracy
Published: August 2015

Pain is a major problem in our society with nearly one-third of people experiencing chronic pain. Unfortunately, formal training in pain issues during psychiatric residency is woefully inadequate. Given that pain is highly comorbid with psychiatric problems, psychiatrists are in the business of managing pain issues whether they like it or not. We present an overview of pain, psychiatric comorbidity, evaluation, and management.

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Psychiatr Ann
. 2015;45(8):406–410.]
Aggression After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Review of the Current Literature
Authors: Aaronson Alexandra , Lloyd R. Brett
Published: August 2015

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in an increase in aggression in nearly one-third of patients. Aggressive behaviors can be severe and impede rehabilitation and quality of life. This study reviews current literature on the definitions, subtypes, predisposing factors, neuroanatomy, and proposed treatment strategies for aggression after TBI. Post-TBI aggression has been found to be associated with higher rates of premorbid anger and impulsivity. It has been linked to damage in the orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortices and associated with higher levels of norepinephrine and lower levels of serotonin post-injury. Although medications are often used to address management of post-TBI aggression, large-scale studies are still needed to determine the appropriate indications for medication use.

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Psychiatr Ann
. 2015;45(8):422–426.]
An Interactive Tool for Visualizing and Analyzing Spatio-Temporal Data
Authors: Turk Alican , Balcisoy Selim Saffet , Bozkaya Burcin
Published: August 2015

Spatio-temporal data analysis has gained a degree of importance with the emergence of widespread location sensor technologies and applications generating data from activities such as location based GSM services and credit card transactions recorded by POS machines. By analyzing large-scale spatio-temporal data, companies can perform quality control for their services, and predict customer behavior. In this chapter, we introduce an interactive and configurable tool that effectively visualizes spatio-temporal data using two-dimensional cluster heat maps along with temporal histograms. We divide each dataset into geographical grids, cluster data within each grid, visualize clusters as heat maps, and finally calculate similarity scores between pairs of map images to help detect recurring patterns. We employ the tool in analyzing activity data of a GSM operator's friend-finder service and credit card transaction data of Akbank, a major bank in Turkey. We report examples of patterns observable using our tool, that are not otherwise observable.
Building a Visual Analytics Tool for Location-Based Services
Authors: Kaya Erdem , Eren Mustafa Tolga , Doger Candemir , Balcisoy Selim Saffet
Published: August 2015

Conventional visualization techniques and tools may need to be modified and tailored for analysis purposes when the data is spatio-temporal. However, there could be a number of pitfalls for the design of such analysis tools that completely rely on the well-known techniques with well-known limitations possibly due to the multidimensionality of spatio-temporal data. In this chapter, an experimental study to empirically testify whether widely accepted advantages and limitations of 2D and 3D representations are valid for the spatio-temporal data visualization is presented. The authors implemented two simple representations, namely density map and density cube, and conducted a laboratory experiment to compare these techniques from task completion time and correctness perspectives. Results of the experiment revealed that the validity of the generally accepted properties of 2D and 3D visualization needs to be reconsidered when designing analytical tools to analyze spatio-temporal data.
A Theoretical Learning Model Combining Stochastic Cellular Automata and Economic Indicators to Simulate Land Use Change
Authors: Sfa Fatima Ezahra , Nemiche Mohamed , Lopez Rafael Pla
Published: August 2015

The study of change in land use has been included in territorial planning to inform spatial planners and policy makers of the possible developments they face in order to optimize future management decisions. In this paper the authors present the core of an original learning model coupling stochastic Cellular Automata and economic indicators to simulate the land use change. This model is an important step in building an “environmental virtual laboratory” to explore, explain and forecast land use change.
Improvement of 2-Partition Entropy Approach Using Type-2 Fuzzy Sets for Image Thresholding
Authors: Assas Ouarda
Published: August 2015

Thresholding is a fundamental task and a challenge for many image analysis and pre-processing process. However, the automatic selection of an optimum threshold has remained a challenge in image segmentation. The fuzzy 2-partition entropy approach for threshold selection is one of the best image thresholding techniques. In this work, an improvement of the later method using type-2 fuzzy sets is proposed to represent the imprecision or lack of knowledge of the expert in the choice of the membership function associated with the image. Two databases are used to evaluate its effectiveness: dataset of standard grayscale test images and MR Brain images. Experiment results show that the type-2 Fuzzy 2-partition entropy algorithm performs equally well in terms of the quality of image segmentation and leads to a good visual result.