bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Input-Output Analysis for Sustainability by Using DEA Method: A Comparison Study between European and Asian Countries
Authors: Tsai Wen-Hsien , Lee Hsiu-Li , Yang Chih-Hao , Huang Chung-Chen
Published: November 2016

Policymakers around the world are confronted with the challenge of balancing between economic development and environmental friendliness, which entails a robust set of measures in energy efficiency and environmental protection. The increasing complexity of these issues has imposed pressure on the Asian countries that have been acting as global factories. This paper proposes a meta-frontier slacks-based measure (SBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, with the hope that policymakers clarify the relationship between labor force, energy consumption, government expenditures, GDP, and CO2 emissions. Clarification of the causal relationship can serve as a template for policy decisions and ease concerns regarding the potential adverse effects of carbon reduction and energy efficiency on the economy. The results show: (1) Developing countries should establish their own climate change governance and policy frameworks; (2) Developed economies should seek to lower carbon emissions; (3) Energy policies play a pivotal role in energy efficiency improvement; (4) Top-down efforts are critical for the success of carbon reduction policies; (5) Learning from the success of developed countries helps to improve the effectiveness of energy policies; (6) Environmental policies should be formulated, and new production technologies, pollution prevention measures, and treatment methods should be introduced; (7) Governments are suggested to build long-term independent management institutions to promote energy cooperation and exchange.
Sustainability Concept in Decision-Making: Carbon Tax Consideration for Joint Product Mix Decision
Authors: Tsai Wen-Hsien , Chang Jui-Chu , Hsieh Chu-Lun , Tsaur Tsen-Shu , Wang Chung-Wei
Published: November 2016

Carbon emissions are receiving greater scrutiny in many countries due to international forces to reduce anthropogenic global climate change. Carbon taxation is one of the most common carbon emission regulation policies, and companies must incorporate it into their production and pricing decisions. Activity-based costing (ABC) and the theory of constraints (TOC) have been applied to solve product mix problems; however, a challenging aspect of the product mix problem involves evaluating joint manufactured products, while reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution to fulfill social responsibility. The aim of this paper is to apply ABC and TOC to analyze green product mix decision-making for joint products using a mathematical programming model and the joint production data of pharmaceutical industry companies for the processing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in drugs for medical use. This paper illustrates that the time-driven ABC model leads to optimal joint product mix decisions and performs sensitivity analysis to study how the optimal solution will change with the carbon tax. Our findings provide insight into ‘sustainability decisions’ and are beneficial in terms of environmental management in a competitive pharmaceutical industry.
Multi-Objective Scheduling of Electric Vehicles in Smart Distribution Network
Authors: Deng Changhong , Liang Ning , Tan Jin , Wang Gongchen
Published: November 2016

Due to the energy savings and environmental protection they provide, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are increasing in number quickly. Rapid development of PEVs brings new opportunities and challenges to the electricity distribution network’s dispatching. A high number of uncoordinated charging PEVs has significant negative impacts on the secure and economic operation of a distribution network. In this paper, a bi-level programming approach that coordinates PEVs’ charging with the network load and electricity price of the open market is presented. The major objective of the upper level model is to minimize the total network costs and the deviation of electric vehicle aggregators’ charging power and the equivalent power. The subsequent objective of the lower level model after the upper level decision is to minimize the dispatching deviation of the sum of PEVs’ charging power and their optimization charging power under the upper level model. An improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to solve the bi-level programming. Numerical studies using a modified IEEE 69-bus distribution test system including six electric vehicle aggregators verify the efficiency of the proposed model.
Imbalance in Spatial Accessibility to Primary and Secondary Schools in China: Guidance for Education Sustainability
Authors: Gao Yuan , He Qingsong , Liu Yaolin , Zhang Lingyu , Wang Haofeng , Cai Enxiang
Published: November 2016

Compulsory education is an important aspect of the societal development. Meanwhile, education equality safeguards the effectiveness of education systems and is an important part of social equality. This study analyzes the inequality of compulsory education from the perspective of imbalanced spatial distribution. Unlike previous studies that have measured the spatial distribution of education simply based on the spatial position of primary and secondary schools, we explore spatial accessibility based on the shortest travel distance from residents to schools, and then analyze the inequality of compulsory education through the distribution of spatial accessibility. We use 2873 Chinese counties as statistical units, and perform a statistical and graphical analysis of their spatial accessibility using the Theil index and spatial autocorrelation analyses. To analyze the differences in the spatial accessibility distribution on the national and regional levels, we use three partitioned modes: the terrain partitioned mode, the economic development partitioned mode, and the province-level partitioned mode. We then analyze the spatial agglomeration characteristics and distribution patterns of compulsory education accessibility through global autocorrelation, local autocorrelation, and hot-spot and cold-spot analysis. The results demonstrate an obvious imbalance in the distribution of spatial accessibility to compulsory education at the national level. Accessibility and equality in eastern and central regions are significantly better than those in the western region; both are significantly better in coastal regions than in inland regions; and equality alone is better in the municipalities, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing, than in other provinces and autonomous regions. The spatial pattern analysis shows significant global autocorrelation and obvious clusters. Counties in cold-spot areas (clusters of good spatial accessibility) are large in number but small in size. Cold-spot areas present a ring-shaped structure in space with Henan Province as the core. Counties in hot-spot areas (clusters of weak spatial accessibility) are not as numerous, but most are large in size; hot-spot areas are mainly in the northwest regions, characterized by complex terrain and severe economic difficulty. This study can provide significant information to aid policy making related to compulsory education sustainability in China and can facilitate research on the equality and sustainable development of compulsory education.
Growth-Phase Sterigmatocystin Formation on Lactose Is Mediated via Low Specific Growth Rates in Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Németh Zoltán , Molnár Ákos , Fejes Balázs , Novák Levente , Karaffa Levente , Keller Nancy , Fekete Erzsébet
Published: November 2016

Seed contamination with polyketide mycotoxins such as sterigmatocystin (ST) produced by Aspergilli is a worldwide issue. The ST biosynthetic pathway is well-characterized in A. nidulans, but regulatory aspects related to the carbon source are still enigmatic. This is particularly true for lactose, inasmuch as some ST production mutant strains still synthesize ST on lactose but not on other carbon substrates. Here, kinetic data revealed that on d-glucose, ST forms only after the sugar is depleted from the medium, while on lactose, ST appears when most of the carbon source is still available. Biomass-specified ST production on lactose was significantly higher than on d-glucose, suggesting that ST formation may either be mediated by a carbon catabolite regulatory mechanism, or induced by low specific growth rates attainable on lactose. These hypotheses were tested by d-glucose limited chemostat-type continuous fermentations. No ST formed at a high growth rate, while a low growth rate led to the formation of 0.4 mg·L−1 ST. Similar results were obtained with a CreA mutant strain. We concluded that low specific growth rates may be the primary cause of mid-growth ST formation on lactose in A. nidulans, and that carbon utilization rates likely play a general regulatory role during biosynthesis.
Geochemical Characteristics of Shallow Groundwater in Jiaoshiba Shale Gas Production Area: Implications for Environmental Concerns
Authors: Li Yiman , Huang Tianming , Pang Zhonghe , Wang Yingchun , Jin Chao
Published: November 2016

The geochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater are essential for environmental impact studies in the shale gas production area. Jiaoshiba in the Sichuan basin is the first commercial-scale shale gas production area in China. This paper studied the geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the shallow groundwater of the area for future environmental concerns. Results show that the average pH of the shallow groundwater is 7.5 and the total dissolved solids (TDS) vary from 150 mg/L to 350 mg/L. The main water types are HCO3-Ca and HCO3-Ca·Mg due to the carbonates dissolution equilibrium in karst aquifers. The concentrations of major ions and typical toxic elements including Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ba, and Pb are below the drinking water standard of China and are safe for use as drinking water. The high nitrate content is inferred to be caused by agricultural pollution. The shallow groundwater is recharged by local precipitation and flows in the vertical circulation zone. Evidences from low TDS, water isotopes, and high 3H and 14C indicate that the circulation rate of shallow groundwater is rapid, and the lateral groundwater has strong renewability. Once groundwater pollution from deep shale gas production occurs, it will be recovered soon by enough precipitation.
Assessing Sensitivity of Paddy Rice to Climate Change in South Korea
Authors: Kim Soojin , Bae Seungjong , Kim Sorae , Yoo Seung-Hwan , Jang Min-Won
Published: November 2016

Paddy rice constitutes a staple crop in Korea. This study conducted sensitivity analysis to evaluate the vulnerability of paddy rice to future climate change, and compared temporal and regional characteristics to classify regions with unfavorable water balances. Rainfall Effectiveness Index for Paddy fields (REIP), the ratio of effective rainfall and consumptive use, was used as a sensitivity index. Weather data from 1971 to 2010 and future climate change scenarios Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 were used to evaluate the sensitivity. Results showed an overall increase in water requirements and consumptive use. The REIP values were small for every period, except the 2040s, 2060s, and 2080s under scenario RCP 4.5, and the 2040s and 2080s under scenario RCP 8.5. Both climate change scenarios showed high sensitivity in regions Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongnam-do. However, regions Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do had low sensitivity compared to other regions. The REIPs were used to categorize sensitivity into four types: low consumption–water rich, low consumption–water poor, high consumption–water rich, and high consumption–water poor. The Gangwon-do region had the highest number of regions that changed from the low consumption–water rich category to the high consumption-water poor category, making it a priority for measures to improve its adaptive capacity for climate change.
miR-489 Suppresses Proliferation and Invasion of Human Bladder Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Jing , Qu Weixing , Jiang Yazhou , Sun Yi , Cheng Yongyi , Zou Tiejun , Du Shuangkuan
Published: November 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be involved in bladder cancer progression. miR-489 (also known as miR-489-3p) was recently reported to be a tumor suppressor in several cancers. However, its exact role and mechanism in the progression of bladder cancer are largely unknown. In this study, we explore the role of miR-489 in the proliferation and invasion of human bladder cancer cells. The miR-489 expression levels were detected in bladder cancer and normal adjacent tissues, as well as in human normal bladder epithelial cells and bladder cancer cell lines. The results showed that miR-489 was sharply reduced in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. Then the miR-489 mimic or oligo anta-miR-489 was transfected into T24 and UMUC3 bladder cancer cell lines. The results showed that the miR-489 mimic greatly increased the miR-489 level and significantly decreased the proliferation and invasion of T24 and UMUC3 cells. In contrast, the anta-miR-489 had a completely opposite effect on miR-489 expression, cell proliferation, and cell invasion. Moreover, bioinformatics and luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that miR-489 targeted the mRNA 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) region of Jagged1 (JAG1), a Notch ligand. In conclusion, miR-489 suppressed proliferation and invasion of human bladder cancer cells.
[ARTICLE WITHDRAWN] MicroRNA-223 Promotes Tumor Progression in Lung Cancer A549 Cells via Activation of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Huang Li , Li Fang , Deng Pengbo , Hu Chengping
Published: November 2016

THIS ARTICLE WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE PUBLISHER IN NOVEMBER 2020
MicroRNA-155 Downregulation Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Zhu Fu-qiang , Zeng Li , Tang Na , Tang Ya-ping , Zhou Bo-ping , Li Fang-fang , Wu Wei-gang , Zeng Xiao-bing , Peng Shu-song
Published: November 2016

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the adult population, and treatment of DLBCL is still unfavorable. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying DLBCL tumorigenesis. To study the
potential function of microRNA-155 (miR-155) involved in the regulation of lymphoma, we monitored lymphoma cell behavior including proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis using CCK-8 and flow cytometry analysis. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-155 in 118 lymphoma
patients’ tissues, and Western blot was also used to analyze the expression level of proteins correlated with cell cycle and apoptosis in lymphoma cells. miR-155 expression levels were higher in lymphoma tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Downregulation of miR-155 inhibited lymphoma
cell progress by arresting cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and promoting apoptosis. Cell cycle-correlated proteins (cyclin B1, cyclin D1, and CDK4) were inhibited by downregulation of miR-155. Apoptosis-correlated proteins level (Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase 3 activity) were increased
by downregulation of miR-155. In addition, a significant inverse correlation between the level of miR-155 and transforming growth factor-β receptor 2 (TGFBR2) was observed, which has been demonstrated to be a novel tumor suppressor gene. A further in vivo tumor formation study in nude
mice indicated that downregulation of miR-155 in lymphoma cells delayed the progress of tumor formation. These findings indicate that miR-155 may serve as a useful potential target for the treatment of lymphoma.
Astragaloside IV Enhances Cisplatin Chemosensitivity in Human Colorectal Cancer via Regulating NOTCH3
Authors: Xie Tao , Li Yao , Li Shi-Lei , Luo Hai-Feng
Published: November 2016

Although astragaloside IV exhibits anti-inflammation, immunoregulatory, and anticancer properties, the chemosensitization effects of astragaloside IV in colorectal cancer have never been reported. Our study tested whether astragaloside could increase cisplatin sensitivity in colorectal
cancer. CCK-8 assay was used to measure the cell viability of colorectal cancer cells. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Our data revealed that astragaloside IV administration significantly suppressed the
cell growth of colorectal cancer cells, whereas no obvious cytotoxicity of astragaloside IV was observed in nonmalignant colonic cells. In addition, combined treatment with astragaloside IV dramatically elevated the chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to cisplatin. Mechanical investigation
revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of NOTCH3 was significantly lower in cisplatin and astragaloside IV-treated cells compared with cells treated with cisplatin alone. On the contrary, no obvious changes in tumor cell growth were shown after upregulation of NOTCH3 whether in the
presence or absence of astragaloside IV. Thus, our data demonstrate that astragaloside IV increases the chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to cisplatin, at least partly, through inhibition of NOTCH3. This study suggests that combined therapy with astragaloside IV might be a novel
therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer.
RNA Interference of IQ Motif Containing GTPase-Activating Protein 3 (IQGAP3) Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Breast Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Hu Gaowu , Xu Ye , Chen Wenquan , Wang Jiandong , Zhao Chunying , Wang Ming
Published: November 2016

Breast cancer is a highly prevalent disease affecting women. The association of IQ motif containing GTPase-activating protein 3 (IQGAP3) and breast cancer is poorly defined. Here we reported that IQGAP3 is a key regulator of cell proliferation and metastasis during breast cancer progression.
The expression of IQGAP3 was significantly increased in breast tissues compared to nontumor tissues at both protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, IQGAP3 had a high expression level in ZR-75-30 and BT474 compared to other breast cancer cell lines. Depletion of IQGAP3 through RNA interference
in ZR-75-30 and BT474 significantly inhibited cell proliferation. More importantly, IQGAP3 silencing in breast cancer cells notably repressed cell migration and invasion. Further analysis suggested that inhibition of cell proliferation and metastasis was associated with some proteins, including
p53, MMP9, Snail, CDC42, p-ERK1/2, KIF2C, KIF4A, PCNA, and Twist. Since expression of IQGAP3 seems to be associated with the pathogenesis of breast cancer and suppression of it can inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis, IQGAP3 may be a potential therapeutic target in human breast cancer.
Knockdown of Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing-1 Inhibits the Proliferation and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Jin Xue-fei , Li Hai , Zong Shi , Li Hong-yan
Published: November 2016

Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1), a secreted glycoprotein, is frequently upregulated in human cancers. However, the functional role of CTHRC1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the role of CTHRC1 in RCC. Our results
demonstrated that CTHRC1 was upregulated in RCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of CTHRC1 significantly inhibits the proliferation in RCCs. Furthermore, knockdown of CTHRC1 significantly inhibited the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in RCCs, as well as suppressed RCC cell
migration and invasion. Mechanistically, knockdown of CTHRC1 inhibited the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1 in RCC cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that CTHRC1 downregulation inhibited proliferation, migration, EMT, and β-catenin expression in RCC cells. Therefore, CTHRC1 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of RCC.
CSTB Downregulation Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration and Suppresses Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer SGC-7901 Cell Line
Authors: Zhang Jian , Shi ZhenFeng , Huang JinXing , Zou XiaoGuang
Published: November 2016

This study aimed to investigate the pivotal role of cystatin B (CSTB) in the development of gastric cancer and to explore its possible regulatory mechanism. Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells as a model in vitro were transfected with plasmid PCDNA3.1-CSTB and siRNA-CSTB using Lipofectamine
2000. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were performed to determine the relative expression of CSTB and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-related protein. Moreover, MTT assay, Transwell assay, and flow cytometry were used to assess cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis,
respectively. The results showed that CSTB was significantly downregulated in SGC-7901 cells compared with gastric epithelial cells. CSTB was successfully overexpressed and suppressed after cells were transfected with pc-CSTB and si-CSTB, respectively. Moreover, cell viability and migration
were significantly decreased after being transfected with pc-CSTB when compared with the control group, while being obviously increased after transfection with si-CSTB. However, cell apoptosis was significantly induced after being transfected with pc-CSTB, while being obviously suppressed
after transfection with si-CSTB. Besides, the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR proteins were all significantly decreased in the pc-CSTB transfection group when compared with the control group, while being increased in the si-CSTB transfection group. Our findings suggest that
CSTB downregulation may promote the development of gastric cancer by affecting cell proliferation and migration, and the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was activated in this process. CSTB may serve as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Knockdown of SLC34A2 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Invasion
Authors: Li Yanhua , Chen Xia , Lu Hong
Published: November 2016

The gene solute carrier family 34 (sodium phosphate), member 2 (SLC34A2), is a member of the SLC34 family. Increasing evidence suggests that SLC34A2 is involved in the development of many human carcinomas. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear.
Therefore, in this study we investigated the role of SLC34A2 in HCC and explored the underlying mechanism. We found that the expression of SLC34A2 is upregulated in HCC cell lines. Knockdown of SLC34A2 obviously inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration/invasion, and the epithelial‐mesenchymal
transition (EMT) phenotype. Furthermore, knockdown of SLC34A2 significantly inhibited the expression of phosphorylated PI3K and AKT in HCC cells. Taken together, these results suggest that knockdown of SLC34A2 inhibits proliferation and migration by suppressing activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in HCC cells, and SLC34A2 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
Chitosan-based nanoparticles for improved anticancer efficacy and bioavailability of mifepristone
Authors: Zhang Huijuan , Wu Fuqiang , Li Yazhen , Yang Xiping , Huang Jiamei , Lv Tingting , Zhang Yingying , Chen Jianzhong , Chen Haijun , Gao Yu , Liu Guannan , Jia Lee
Published: November 2016

In addition to its well-known abortifacient effect, mifepristone (MIF) has been used as an anticancer drug for various cancers in many studies with an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of action. However, application of MIF is limited by its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability. In this work, we developed a drug delivery system based on chitosan nanoparticles (CNs) to improve its bioavailability and anticancer activity. The MIF-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MCNs) were prepared by convenient ionic gelation techniques between chitosan (Cs) and tripolyphosphate (TPP). The preparation conditions, including Cs concentration, TPP concentration, Cs/MIF mass ratio, and pH value of the TPP solution, were optimized to gain better encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug loading capacity (DL). MCNs prepared with the optimum conditions resulted in spherical particles with an average size of 200 nm. FTIR and XRD spectra verified that MIF was successfully encapsulated in CNs. The EE and DL of MCNs determined by HPLC were 86.6% and 43.3%, respectively. The in vitro release kinetics demonstrated that MIF was released from CNs in a sustained-release manner. Compared with free MIF, MCNs demonstrated increased anticancer activity in several cancer cell lines. Pharmacokinetic studies in male rats that were orally administered MCNs showed a 3.2-fold increase in the area under the curve from 0 to 24 h compared with free MIF. These results demonstrated that MCNs could be developed as a potential delivery system for MIF to improve its anticancer activity and bioavailability.
Facile synthesis of a 3-deazaadenosine phosphoramidite for RNA solid-phase synthesis
Authors: Mairhofer Elisabeth , Fuchs Elisabeth , Micura Ronald
Published: November 2016

Access to 3-deazaadenosine (c3A) building blocks for RNA solid-phase synthesis represents a severe bottleneck in modern RNA research, in particular for atomic mutagenesis experiments to explore mechanistic aspects of ribozyme catalysis. Here, we report the 5-step synthesis of a c3A phosphoramidite from cost-affordable starting materials. The key reaction is a silyl-Hilbert–Johnson nucleosidation using unprotected 6-amino-3-deazapurine and benzoyl-protected 1-O-acetylribose. The novel path is superior to previously described syntheses in terms of efficacy and ease of laboratory handling.
GEOTECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFLUENT CONTAMINATED COHESIVE SOILS
Authors: KHAN Muhammad Imran , IRFAN Muhammad , AZIZ Mubashir , KHAN Ammad Hassan
Published: November 2016

In developing countries like Pakistan, raw industrial effluents are usually disposed-off directly into open lands or in water bodies resulting in soil contamination. Leachate formation due to rainfalls in openly dumped solid waste also adds to soil contamination. In this study, engineering behavior of soils contaminated by two industrial effluents, one from paper industry (acidic) and another from textile industry (basic), has been investigated. Laboratory testing revealed significant effects of effluent contamination on engineering behavior of tested soils. Liquid limit, plasticity index, optimum moisture content and compression index of tested soils were found to increase with effluent contaminant, indicating a deterioration in the engineering behavior of soils. Whereas maximum dry density, undrained shear strength and coefficient of consolidation of the contaminated soils showed a decreasing trend. The dilapidation in engineering characteristics of soils due to the addition of industrial effluents could pose serious threats to existing and future foundations in terms of loss of bearing capacity and increase in settlement. Keywords: soil contamination, industrial waste, engineering behavior, effluent waste, leachate.
A CATALOG OF NEW SPECTROSCOPICALLY CONFIRMED MASSIVE OB STARS IN CARINA
Authors: Alexander Michael J. , Hanes Richard J. , Povich Matthew S. , McSwain M. Virginia
Published: November 2016

The Carina star-forming region is one of the largest in the Galaxy, and its massive star population is still being unveiled. The large number of stars combined with high, and highly variable, interstellar extinction makes it inherently difficult to find OB stars in this type of young region. We present the results of a spectroscopic campaign to study the massive star population of the Carina Nebula, with the primary goal to confirm or reject previously identified Carina OB star candidates. A total of 141 known O- and B-type stars and 94 candidates were observed, of which 73 candidates had high enough signal-to-noise ratio to classify. We find 23 new OB stars within the Carina Nebula, a 32% confirmation rate. One of the new OB stars has blended spectra and is suspected to be a double-lined spectroscopic binary (SB2). We also reclassify the spectral types of the known OB stars and discover nine new SB2s among this population. Finally, we discuss the spatial distribution of these new OB stars relative to known structures in the Carina Nebula.
HOW ACCURATE ARE INFRARED LUMINOSITIES FROM MONOCHROMATIC PHOTOMETRIC EXTRAPOLATION?
Authors: Lin Zesen , Fang Guanwen , Kong Xu
Published: November 2016

Template-based extrapolations from only one photometric band can be a cost-effective method to estimate the total infrared (IR) luminosities (

) of galaxies. By utilizing multi-wavelength data that covers across 0.35–500 μm in GOODS-North and GOODS-South fields, we investigate the accuracy of this monochromatic extrapolated

based on three IR spectral energy distribution (SED) templates out to

. We find that the Chary & Elbaz template provides the best estimate of

in Herschel/Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) bands, while the Dale & Helou template performs best in Herschel/Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) bands. To estimate

, we suggest that extrapolations from the available longest wavelength PACS band based on the Chary & Elbaz template can be a good estimator. Moreover, if the PACS measurement is unavailable, extrapolations from SPIRE observations but based on the Dale & Helou template can also provide a statistically unbiased estimate for galaxies at

. The emission with a rest-frame 10–100 μm range of IR SED can be well described by all three templates, but only the Dale & Helou template shows a nearly unbiased estimate of the emission of the rest-frame submillimeter part.
A YOUNG ECLIPSING BINARY AND ITS LUMINOUS NEIGHBORS IN THE EMBEDDED STAR CLUSTER Sh 2-252E
Authors: Lester Kathryn V. , Gies Douglas R. , Guo Zhao
Published: November 2016

We present a photometric and light curve analysis of an eccentric eclipsing binary in the K2 Campaign 0 field, which resides in Sh 2-252E, a young star cluster embedded in an H ii region. We describe a spectroscopic investigation of the three brightest stars in the crowded aperture to identify which is the binary system. We find that none of these stars are components of the eclipsing binary system, which must be one of the fainter nearby stars. These bright cluster members all have remarkable spectra: Sh 2-252a (EPIC 202062176) is a B0.5 V star with razor sharp absorption lines, Sh 2-252b is a Herbig A0 star with disk-like emission lines, and Sh 2-252c is a pre-main-sequence star with very red color.
THE SHORT ROTATION PERIOD OF HI’IAKA, HAUMEA’S LARGEST SATELLITE
Authors: Hastings Danielle M. , Ragozzine Darin , Fabrycky Daniel C. , Burkhart Luke D. , Fuentes Cesar , Margot Jean-Luc , Brown Michael E. , Holman Matthew
Published: November 2016

Hi’iaka is the larger outer satellite of the dwarf planet Haumea. Using relative photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope and Magellan and a phase dispersion minimization analysis, we have identified the rotation period of Hi’iaka to be ∼9.8 hr (double peaked). This is ∼120 times faster than its orbital period, creating new questions about the formation of this system and possible tidal evolution. The rapid rotation suggests that Hi’iaka could have a significant obliquity and spin precession that could be visible in light curves within a few years. We then turn to an investigation of what we learn about the (currently unclear) formation of the Haumea system and family based on this unexpectedly rapid rotation rate. We explore the importance of the initial semimajor axis and rotation period in tidal evolution theory and find that they strongly influence the time required to despin to synchronous rotation, relevant to understanding a wide variety of satellite and binary systems. We find that despinning tides do not necessarily lead to synchronous spin periods for Hi’iaka, even if it formed near the Roche limit. Therefore, the short rotation period of Hi’iaka does not rule out significant tidal evolution. Hi’iaka’s spin period is also consistent with formation near its current location and spin-up due to Haumea-centric impactors.
SDSS-IV MaNGA IFS GALAXY SURVEY—SURVEY DESIGN, EXECUTION, AND INITIAL DATA QUALITY
Authors: Yan Renbin , Bundy Kevin , Law David R. , Bershady Matthew A. , Andrews Brett , Cherinka Brian , Diamond-Stanic Aleksandar M. , Drory Niv , MacDonald Nicholas , Sánchez-Gallego José R. , Thomas Daniel , Wake David A. , Weijmans Anne-Marie , Westfall Kyle B. , Zhang Kai , Aragón-Salamanca Alfonso , Belfiore Francesco , Bizyaev Dmitry , Blanc Guillermo A. , Blanton Michael R. , Brownstein Joel , Cappellari Michele , D’Souza Richard , Emsellem Eric , Fu Hai , Gaulme Patrick , Graham Mark T. , Goddard Daniel , Gunn James E. , Harding Paul , Jones Amy , Kinemuchi Karen , Li Cheng , Li Hongyu , Maiolino Roberto , Mao Shude , Maraston Claudia , Masters Karen , Merrifield Michael R. , Oravetz Daniel , Pan Kaike , Parejko John K. , Sanchez Sebastian F. , Schlegel David , Simmons Audrey , Thanjavur Karun , Tinker Jeremy , Tremonti Christy , van den Bosch Remco , Zheng Zheng
Published: November 2016

The MaNGA Survey (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory) is one of three core programs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV. It is obtaining integral field spectroscopy for 10,000 nearby galaxies at a spectral resolution of R ∼ 2000 from 3622 to 10354 Å. The design of the survey is driven by a set of science requirements on the precision of estimates of the following properties: star formation rate surface density, gas metallicity, stellar population age, metallicity, and abundance ratio, and their gradients; stellar and gas kinematics; and enclosed gravitational mass as a function of radius. We describe how these science requirements set the depth of the observations and dictate sample selection. The majority of targeted galaxies are selected to ensure uniform spatial coverage in units of effective radius (R

e
) while maximizing spatial resolution. About two-thirds of the sample is covered out to 1.5R

e
(Primary sample), and one-third of the sample is covered to 2.5R

e
(Secondary sample). We describe the survey execution with details that would be useful in the design of similar future surveys. We also present statistics on the achieved data quality, specifically the point-spread function, sampling uniformity, spectral resolution, sky subtraction, and flux calibration. For our Primary sample, the median r-band signal-to-noise ratio is ∼70 per 1.4 Å pixel for spectra stacked between 1R

e
and 1.5R

e
. Measurements of various galaxy properties from the first-year data show that we are meeting or exceeding the defined requirements for the majority of our science goals.
SYSTEMATIC THEORETICAL STUDY ON THE INTERSTELLAR CARBON CHAIN MOLECULES
Authors: Etim Emmanuel E. , Gorai Prasanta , Das Ankan , Chakrabarti Sandip K. , Arunan Elangannan
Published: November 2016

In an effort to further our interest in understanding the basic chemistry of interstellar molecules, here we carry out an extensive investigation of the stabilities of interstellar carbon chains; C
n
, H2C
n
, HC
n
N and C
n
X (X = N, O, Si, S, H, P, H−, N−). These sets of molecules account for about 20% of all the known interstellar and circumstellar molecules. Their high abundances, therefore, demand serious attention. High-level ab initio quantum chemical calculations are employed to accurately estimate the enthalpy of formation, chemical reactivity indices, global hardness and softness, and other chemical parameters of these molecules. Chemical modeling of the abundances of these molecular species has also been performed. Of the 89 molecules considered from these groups, 47 have been astronomically observed, and these observed molecules are found to be more stable with respect to other members of the group. Of the 47 observed molecules, 60% are odd-numbered carbon chains. Interstellar chemistry is not actually driven by thermodynamics, but it is primarily dependent on various kinetic parameters. However, we found that the detectability of the odd-numbered carbon chains could be correlated due to the fact that they are more stable than the corresponding even-numbered carbon chains. Based on this aspect, the next possible carbon chain molecule for astronomical observation in each group is proposed. The effect of kinetics in the formation of some of these carbon chain molecules is also discussed.
AGE DEPENDENCE OF WIND PROPERTIES FOR SOLAR-TYPE STARS: A 3D STUDY
Authors: Réville Victor , Folsom Colin P. , Strugarek Antoine , Brun Allan Sacha
Published: November 2016

Young and rapidly rotating stars are known for intense, dynamo-generated magnetic fields. Spectropolarimetric observations of those stars in precisely aged clusters are key input for gyrochronology and magnetochronology. We use Zeeman Doppler imaging maps of several young K-type stars of similar mass and radius but with various ages and rotational periods to perform three-dimensional (3D) numerical MHD simulations of their coronae and follow the evolution of their magnetic properties with age. Those simulations yield the coronal structure as well as the instant torque exerted by the magnetized, rotating wind on the star. As stars get older, we find that the angular momentum loss decreases with

, which is the reason for the convergence on the Skumanich law. For the youngest stars of our sample, the angular momentum loss shows signs of saturation around

, which is a common value used in spin evolution models for K-type stars. We compare these results to semianalytical models and existing braking laws. We observe a complex wind-speed distribution for the youngest stars with slow, intermediate, and fast wind components, which are the result of interaction with intense and nonaxisymmetric magnetic fields. Consequently, in our simulations, the stellar wind structure in the equatorial plane of young stars varies significantly from a solar configuration, delivering insight about the past of the solar system interplanetary medium.
Microbiological Assessment of Moringa Oleifera Extracts and Its Incorporation in Novel Dental Remedies against Some Oral Pathogens
Authors: Elgamily Hanaa , Moussa Amani , Elboraey Asmaa , EL-Sayed Hoda , Al-Moghazy Marwa , Abdalla Aboelfetoh
Published: November 2016

AIM: To assess the antibacterial and antifungal potentials of different parts of Moringa oleifera plant using different extraction methods in attempts to formulate natural dental remedies from this plant.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three solvents extracts (Ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate) of different parts of Egyptian Moringa tree were prepared and tested against oral pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, and Candida albicans using disc diffusion method; As well as to incorporate the plant extract to formulate experimental toothpaste and mouthwash.Â  The two dental remediesÂ  were assessed against the same microbial strains. Statistical analysis was performed using One-Way ANOVA test to compare the inhibition zone diameter and t-test.RESULTS: EthanolÂ  extractsÂ  as well as leaves extracts demonstrated the highest significant mean inhibition zone values (P â‰¤ 0.05) against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans growth. However, all extracts revealed no inhibition zone against Candida albicans. For dental remedies, experimental toothpaste exhibited higher mean inhibition than the mouthwash against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and only the toothpaste revealed antifungal effect against Candida albicans.CONCLUSION: The different extracts of different parts of Moringa showed an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans growth. The novel toothpaste of ethanolic leaves extract has antimicrobial and antifungal potential effects all selected strains.
O conceito de interações ecológicas em livros didáticos de biologia
Authors: Freire Caio Castro , De Castro Rafael Gil , Motokane Marcelo Tadeu
Published: November 2016

O artigo analisa como é abordado o conceito de interações ecológicas em livros didáticos de biologia do ensino médio, tendo em vista a importância deste material instrucional no contexto escolar, assim como a relevância deste conceito no currículo de biologia, especialmente para a compreensão de fenômenos ecológicos. Utilizando referenciais da transposição didática, do paradigma indiciário e da ecologia, observou-se que os livros didáticos analisados apresentam uma abordagem que pode limitar a compreensão dos estudantes sobre interações ecológicas. Assim, este trabalho aponta a necessidade de planejar melhor a transposição didática de conceitos ecológicos de modo a diminuir o distanciamento entre a ecologia profissional (acadêmica) e a ecologia escolar.
A Modelagem Computacional no Ensino de Física: Um Estudo Exploratório sobre o Oscilador Harmônico Simples
Authors: Verbeno Carlos Henrique Santos , Da Silva Rodrigo Marques Almeida , Maziero Rômulo , Gomes Thiéberson Da Silva , Ferracioli Laércio
Published: November 2016

Este trabalho investigou a integração de um módulo educacional com base em atividades de modelagem computacional no estudo de um tópico específico de Ciências: o Oscilador Harmônico Simples (OHS). O estudo consistiu do planejamento, implementação, teste e avaliação do módulo educacional. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram divididos em duas partes: as atividades de modelagem e a planilha de avaliação do módulo educacional. O teste foi realizado com professores de Física do Ensino Médio cursando pós-graduação na Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Os dados da avaliação do módulo educacional demonstraram a adequação ao objetivo a que se propôs, sendo que, foram sugeridas modificações que foram implementadas para utilização futura. Por outro lado, os resultados das atividades de modelagem mostraram que os professores puderam confrontar o entendimento prévio sobre os conceitos abordados com os resultados da simulação e, em alguns casos, reforçar as concepções e em outros evoluí-las ao conhecimento científico.
Interlocução entre neurociência e aprendizagem significativa: uma proposta teórica para o ensino de genética
Authors: Dos Santos Fabio Seidel , Francisco Antonio Carlos de , Klein Angela Ines , Ferraz Daniela Frigo
Published: November 2016

Este artigo de revisão bibliográfica se propôs a verificar a possibilidade de associar os conhecimentos neurocientíficos com a Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa de Ausubel como proposta teórica para facilitar o ensino e aprendizagem de Genética. Os resultados desta revisão mostraram que os conceitos centrais da Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa (estrutura cognitiva, conhecimentos prévios, aprendizagem mecânica e significativa, mapas conceituais) apresentam um forte correlato neurofisiológico, por isso a interlocução entre Neurociência e Aprendizagem Significativa é possível. Diante disso, conclui-se que a Neurociência associada à Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa resulta em uma abordagem neurocognitiva, que possibilita uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos neurais e cognitivos envolvidos no processo de ensino e aprendizagem e, a partir disso, pode oferecer subsídios teóricos e práticos importantes para o trabalho docente, facilitando a aprendizagem significativa de Genética.
Dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) assemblages in the western Italian Alps: benchmark data for land use monitoring
Authors: Tocco Claudia , Villet Martin
Published: November 2016

Traditional agro-pastoral practices are in decline over much of the Alps (MacDonald et al. 2000), leading to shrub and tree encroachment, and this represents one of the main threats for the conservation of alpine biodiversity, as many plant and animal species are dependent on the presence of semi-natural open habitats. However, quantifying this environmental change and assessing its impact on biodiversity may be difficult, especially in the context of sparse historical survey data. The accessibility of contemporary data about local biodiversity surveys in general, and indicator taxa in particular, is an essential consideration for planning future evaluations of conservation status in the Alps and for conservation plans that use ecological indicators to monitor temporal changes in biodiversity. Dung beetles are important ecosystem service providers (Nichols et al. 2008) that have been assessed as a good ecological indicator taxon in several studies (reviewed by Nichols and Gardner 2011), and although the Alps is perhaps one of the best-studied regions in respect of dung beetles, there are still only eight readily-accessible publications. We have augmented and comprehensively reviewed the data from these publications.

We first provide data about changes on a temporal scale of seasons in a dung beetle community in the western Italian Alps, an issue that has to be addressed in the local assemblages because it would affect regional biomonitoring and conservation research. This survey of 12 099 individuals belonging to 22 species illustrates a distinct seasonal pattern at a single site. Second, we collate the results of 13 published surveys of the presence of 46 species of dung beetles in 11 valleys in the western Italian Alps in the period from 2005 to 2012, a period of accelerated change in land use that started around 1945 (MacDonald et al. 2000). Because ten of the surveys used baited pitfall traps and four more used manual collection of specimens, the abundance data were not strictly comparable and they were therefore transformed to binary data (presence-or-absence records) with measures of sampling effort. The results illustrate both spatial variation and temporal variation at the scale of years.Because of the importance of dung beetles in agro-pastoral ecosystems and the high sensitivity of montane ecosystems to climate change, these spatially and temporally explicit data sets provide important baseline information about western Italian Alpine dung beetles for investigations of the effects of land use change under ongoing climate change scenarios.
Health Literacy Competencies for Registered Nurses: An e-Delphi Study
Authors: Toronto Coleen E.
Published: November 2016

Background:

The Institute of Medicine's landmark report,
Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion
, recommends that health professionals be trained to effectively communicate with patients with limited health literacy. Nurse-specific competencies that explicitly address the needs of patients with low health literacy are lacking.

Method:

A national group of nurse health literacy experts (
N
= 41) participated in a three-round e-Delphi study to identify essential health literacy competencies for RNs in any work setting.

Results:

Based on partial replication of prior work by Coleman, Hudson, and Maine, a final list of 50 nursing health literacy core competencies were identified in round two and prioritized in round three.

Conclusion:

The final list of prioritized competencies generated in this study have been provided as a starting point for health literacy education efforts in practice.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2016;47(12):558–565.