bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ISLAM DAN AKULTURASI BUDAYA LOKAL DI ACEH (STUDI TERHADAP RITUAL RAH ULEI DI KUBURAN DALAM MASYARAKAT PIDIE ACEH)
Authors: Arifin Muhammad , @ Hambali Khadijah Binti Mohd Khambali
Published: October 2016

The people of Aceh are known for adherence to religion and uphold the culture and customs. Before Islam came to Aceh, Hindu and Buddhist influence is rooted in the traditions and beliefs of Acehnese society. Therefore, even though Islam has flourished and developed in Aceh, there are some cultures and traditional beliefs which is still preserved by the people of Aceh. It is strongly associated with the teachings of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah which is the only school of theology of the people of Aceh. The existence of those cultures and traditional beliefs leaded Islamic culture as a newcomer must be in harmony with. Consequently, there was a process of influencing each others. It formed a traditional Islam i.e., the Islam that has been acculturated to the culture and beliefs before. One of those traditional cultures which has been practiced in Aceh is rah ulei. This research aims at studying the cultural acculturation in Aceh i.e. rah ulei from the Islamic perspective. The data was obtained through interviews and observations, then analyzed by descriptive analysis method. The results show that there are some traditions and cultures of Aceh which acculturated with foreign culture, including rah ulei. Meanwhile, according to the Islamic perspective, worshiping grave or asking divine spirits for something but God is violating Islamic theology.
Carnosol promotes endothelial differentiation under H2O2-induced oxidative stress
Authors: Ou Shulin , Lv Jianfeng , Peng Liming , Zhao Jin , Chi Luxiang
Published: October 2016

Oxidative stress causes deregulation of endothelial cell differentiation.
Carnosol is a potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory compound. In the
present study, we examined whether the antioxidant effect of carnosol might
protect bone marrow stem cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and
promote endothelial differentiation. We examined cell viability by the MTT
assay; oxidative stress and apoptosis were analyzed through changes in ROS
levels, apoptotic ratio and caspase-3 activity; changes in protein expression
of OCT-4, Flk-1, CD31 and Nrf-2 were assessed by Western blot analysis. H2O2
treatment increased oxidative stress and reduced cell viability, while the
stem cell marker OCT-4 and endothelial markers Flk-1, CD31 were significantly
downregulated as a result of the treatment with H2O2. Treatment with carnosol
improved the antioxidant status, increased OCT-4 expression and promoted
endothelial differentiation. This study provides evidence that carnosol could
increase the antioxidant defense mechanism and promote endothelial
differentiation.
Gaston Bachelard`s phenomenology of imagination as exemplified by dematerialization of contemporary architectural form
Authors: Vignjevic Ana
Published: October 2016

This paper investigates the potential of Gaston Bachelard? phenomenology of
imagination in the context of contemporary changes in the relationship
between architectural form and architectural materials. Considering that
contemporary architectural discourse is based on negation of any determined
form of appearance, former modernist approach to architectural form nowadays
gives way to architectural materials by which the `disappearing` form is at
the same time integrated and disintegrated. Observing dematerialization of
architectural form as a symbolic, sensitive and meta-poetic category, this
paper identifies the influences of Bachelard's phenomenology of
imagination as a suitable philosophic and model platform. The priority that
Bachelard gives to material rather than to formal imagination represents the
backbone for understanding physical and spatial presence in the field of
architecture. By accepting material imagination as ability to `deform`
perceptive images, the paper aims to identify the mechanisms for transposing
such philosophical premise to a corresponding architectural domain.
Dematerialization of architectural form is, therefore, observed as a process
of overcoming our unconscious attempt to attach to a usual perceptual
phenomenon. On one hand, such act results in denial of any visual
determination of architectural form, while on the other hand, it relativizes
former `moral` value of materials through the inversion of archetypal notion
of their application.
Effect of Sitagliptin on Kidney Function and Respective Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes: Outcomes From TECOS
Authors: Cornel Jan H. , Bakris George L. , Stevens Susanna R. , Alvarsson Michael , Bax Willem A. , Chuang Lee-Ming , Engel Samuel S. , Lopes Renato D. , McGuire Darren K. , Riefflin Axel , Rodbard Helena Wachslicht , Sinay Isaac , Tankova Tsvetalina , Wainstein Julio , Peterson Eric D. , Holman Rury R.
Published: October 2016

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular outcomes in TECOS (Clinical trial reg. no. NCT00790205, clinicaltrials.gov) participants with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease treated with sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, according to baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used data from 14,671 TECOS participants assigned in a double-blind design to receive sitagliptin or placebo added to existing therapy, while aiming for glycemic equipoise between groups. Cardiovascular and CKD outcomes were evaluated over a median period of 3 years, with participants categorized at baseline into eGFR stages 1, 2, 3a, and 3b (≥90, 60–89, 45–59, or 30–44 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively).

RESULTS

Participants with eGFR stage 3b were older, were more often female, and had a longer duration of diabetes. Four-point major adverse cardiovascular event rates increased with lower baseline eGFR (3.52, 3.55, 5.74, and 7.34 events/100 patient-years for stages 1–3b, respectively). Corresponding adjusted hazard ratios for stages 2, 3a, and 3b versus stage 1 were 0.93 (95% CI 0.82–1.06), 1.28 (1.10–1.49), and 1.39 (1.13–1.72), respectively. Sitagliptin therapy was not associated with cardiovascular outcomes for any eGFR stage (interaction P values were all >0.44). Kidney function declined at the same rate in both treatment groups, with a marginally lower but constant eGFR difference (−1.3 mL/min/1.73 m2) in those participants who were assigned to sitagliptin. Treatment differences in these eGFR values remained after adjustment for region, baseline eGFR, baseline HbA1c, time of assessment, and within-study HbA1c levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired kidney function is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. Sitagliptin has no clinically significant impact on cardiovascular or CKD outcomes, irrespective of baseline eGFR.
The Importance of Broadband for Socio-Economic Development: A Perspective from Rural Australia
Authors: Freeman Julie , Park Sora , Middleton Catherine , Allen Matthew
Published: October 2016

Advanced connectivity offers rural communities prospects for socio-economic development. Despite Australia’s national broadband infrastructure plans, inferior availability and quality of rural Internet connections remain persistent issues. This article examines the impact of limited connectivity on rural socio-economic opportunities, drawing from the views of twelve citizens from the Boorowa local government area in New South Wales. The available fixed wireless and satellite connections in Boorowa are slow and unreliable, and remote regions in the municipality are still without any Internet access. Participants identified four key areas in their everyday lives that are impacted by insufficient connectivity: business development, education, emergency communication, and health. Rural citizens often already face challenges in these areas, and infrastructure advancements in urban spaces can exacerbate rural-urban disparities. Participants’ comments demonstrated apprehension that failure to improve connectivity would result in adverse long-term consequences for the municipality. This article suggests that current broadband policy frameworks require strategic adaptations to account for the socio-economic and geographic contexts of rural communities. In order to narrow Australia’s rural-urban digital divide, infrastructure developments should be prioritised in the most underserved regions.
State of the art atmospheric dispersion modelling: should the Gaussian plume model still be used?
Authors: Richter C.
Published: October 2016

For regulatory purposes with respect to licensing and supervision of airborne releases of nuclear installations, the Gaussian plume model is still in use in Germany. However, for complex situations the Gaussian plume model is to be replaced by a Lagrangian particle model. Now the new EU basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation (EU BSS) [1] asks for a realistic assessment of doses to the members of the public from authorised practices. This call for a realistic assessment raises the question whether dispersion modelling with the Gaussian plume model is an adequate approach anymore or whether the use of more complex models is mandatory.
Revisiting Merge-Influence Area Empirically: Operations Inside Recurrent Freeway Bottlenecks
Authors: Dehman Amjad , Drakopoulos Alexander
Published: October 2016

The current effort aims to analyze traffic operations empirically at merge-influence areas positioned inside recurrent freeway bottlenecks. Four years of data at four bottlenecks in the Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, freeway system were used in the analysis. Bottlenecks were ranked on the basis of merge-area capacity use and were treated individually. The study evaluated how merge-area traffic mix influenced freeway breakdown characteristics such as prebreakdown flow (PBF), queue discharge flow (QDF), queue discharge speed, and congestion duration (CD). Merge-area traffic mix was evaluated with the ramp volume ratio (RVR), which was defined as the percentage of the ramp flow in the total merge-area traffic flow. For bottlenecks with heavily used merge areas, both capacities (PBF and QDF) and queue discharge speed were reduced when RVR increased in value. The value of CD appeared to be sensitive to RVR. The value of CD was found to double, triple, or almost quadruple when ramp flow composed a higher percentage of merge-area flow. Bottlenecks with lightly used merge areas sometimes showed different or even contradictory results. The study also modeled two capacity flows (PBF and QDF) stochastically at merge areas with the three-parametric Weibull distribution. From the current analysis, it appears that the maximum merge-area flow (4,600 passenger cars per hour) recommended by the Highway Capacity Manual is not a conservative design value.
Simulation Guidance for Calibration of Freeway Lane Closure Capacity
Authors: Yeom Chunho , Rouphail Nagui M. , Rasdorf William , Schroeder Bastian J.
Published: October 2016

This study provides a methodology for calibrating freeway work zone capacity in a microsimulation environment and guidance for replicating field-observed freeway work zone capacity through simulation. From 81 field observations at 12 U.S. work zone sites, 90 work zone sites from literature archival sources, and a macroscopic capacity model developed in NCHRP Project 03-107, the authors show how to replicate field-observed or forecast capacity in the Vissim simulation tool under various scenarios of freeway work zone lane closure. With guidance from an in-depth literature review, key car-following and lane-changing parameters are proposed as a result of the calibration effort and extensive sensitivity tests of numerous combinations of parameter values. Lane configuration specific guidance is provided for two key car-following parameters in Vissim, cc1 and cc2. During the process of developing the guidance, every tested capacity scenario was verified by using a lane use volume balance that was obtained upstream of the lane closure point in order to replicate realistic freeway work zone conditions. The calibration methodology as well as default parameter guidance developed through this research are useful to practitioners who wish to model freeway work zone impacts accurately through microsimulation.
Comparison of Variability of Individual Vehicle Delay and Average Control Delay at Signalized Intersections
Authors: Chen Peng , Zheng Fangfang , Lu Guangquan , Wang Yunpeng
Published: October 2016

Two types of delay variability have been commonly referred to at signalized intersections: arrival-time-dependent individual vehicle delay variability and average control delay variability. The former focuses on the delay experienced by individual vehicles, whereas the latter deals with the average consequence of signal control for the entire traffic flow during a given evaluation period. With a number of methods available for estimation, little research has been conducted to enable a comprehensive comparison of these two variability measures. This issue is addressed by a comparison of these two types of delay variability at isolated, fixed-time controlled intersections based on two analytical models accounting for the stochastic nature of traffic arrivals and overflow queues. The results show that in undersaturated conditions, individual vehicle delay tends to have a wider distribution and a larger variance compared with average control delay. In oversaturated conditions, the shapes of both types of delay distributions shift to the higher values with larger variances. Different arrival processes are found to have a significant influence on the pairwise delay distributions. In addition, the width of the delay distribution based on percentiles is used to quantify the delay uncertainty under different degrees of saturation. Compared with average control delay, individual vehicle delay is found to have a larger uncertainty in undersaturated conditions, whereas it becomes relatively certain in oversaturated conditions. All the analyses have special practical implications for enriched knowledge of stochastic arrival and departure processes at signals.
Anti-Nuclear Mobilisation and Environmentalism in Europe: A View from Portugal (1976-1986)
Authors: Barca Stefania , Delicado Ana
Published: October 2016

The article addresses the rise of anti-nuclear mobilisation in Portugal in the 1970s against the backdrop of similar movements across Western Europe. After performing a brief review of the literature on social mobilisation against nuclear energy, an overview is provided of the available sociological literature on environmental mobilisation in Portugal, mostly developed in a comparative southern-European perspective. The second section adds new empirical evidence on Portuguese anti-nuclear mobilisation, and its connection with environmental mobilisation, based on in-depth research conducted through both archival scrutiny and oral history interviews. In the conclusion, a fresh perspective is offered on the contribution of the Portuguese case to the advancement of research on the relationship between anti-nuclear and environmental mobilisation in Western Europe.
Swedish Forestry, Forest Pasture Grazing by Livestock, and Game Browsing Pressure Since 1900
Authors: Kardell Örjan
Published: October 2016

Growing numbers of wild ungulates are increasingly seen by concerned authorities in Europe as posing serious management problems, which include increasing browsing pressure by moose (
Alces alces
) and roe deer (
Capreolus capreolus
) in Swedish forests. Recent investigations by the Swedish Forest Agency identify high browsing pressure as the main reason for a recent decline in regeneration of Scots pine (
Pinus sylvestris
), one of the two main commercial species in Swedish forestry. The high browsing pressure is also having a negative impact on biodiversity. Thus, voices within the forest community claim that browsing pressure has never been so high. This paper examines that claim from a historical perspective by comparing livestock grazing in forest pastures a century ago with contemporary game browsing, and identifying the main factors driving both the livestock exodus from Swedish forests during the first half of the twentieth century and the rapid increase in deer populations during the second half. Finally, testing the claim that browsing impact has never been so high, past grazing and present browsing are theoretically sized up and compared. Estimates of live weights and numbers of large herbivores in 1902 and 2012 are used. The result indicates that the claim might possibly be lacking in historical context.
'Dust Bowls', TVAs and Snowy River Waters: John Heyer,
The Valley is Ours
and an Early Post-War 'Image of Australia'
Authors: Bailey Janette-Susan
Published: October 2016

This paper introduces the story of the 1940s debate between the Australian state of Victoria and the north-bordering state of New South Wales, over Australia's Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. It describes the campaign imagery generated by the state of Victoria and the Murray Valley Development League (MVDL) to promote their vision for a Murray Valley TVA. The focus is on Australian documentary film-maker John Heyer and
The Valley is Ours
(1948).
The Valley
was created to support the MVDL's claims that a scheme to benefit their valley would be the best post-war scheme for both New South Wales and Victoria, and for the nation. This paper takes a transnational and cultural approach to investigating this story. This is because Heyer used nationalist US concepts to strengthen Australian national myths - the film's transnational content was set to a nationalist purpose. This paper describes the environmental imagery - not just images, but sound and text, used by Heyer and the MVDL campaign, to convey a transnational set of ideas. It retrieves a material record from the archives, of what these transnational environmental ideas actually looked and sounded like. And it sheds light on the cultural influences and political forces behind the Murray TVA campaign and the film's creation.
A Study of Preliminary Breakdown and Return Stroke Processes in High-Intensity Negative Lightning Discharges
Authors: Zhu Yanan , Rakov Vladimir , Tran Manh
Published: October 2016

Using an automated data processing algorithm, we examined electric field records of 5498 negative cloud-to-ground flashes reported by the U.S. National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) within 50 to 500 km of the Lightning Observatory in Gainesville (LOG), Florida. Out of the 5498 flashes, 3496 (64%) had detectable preliminary breakdown (PB) pulse trains. Only 3077 flashes with a single PB pulse train and NLDN-reported first-return-stroke (RS) peak current ≥50 kA were selected for detailed analysis. The arithmetic mean values of PB pulse train duration, PB-RS interval, and PB/RS pulse peak ratio were 2.7 ms, 8.8 ms, and 0.15, respectively. The PB-RS interval was found to decrease with increasing RS peak current (Spearman correlation coefficient was statistically significant and equal to −0.80). The range-normalized PB pulse peak exhibited statistically significant positive correlation with the RS peak current, with Spearman correlation coefficient being 0.48. Thus, it appears that the high-intensity (≥50 kA) negative lightning is characterized by shorter (and, by inference, faster) stepped leaders and more pronounced PB pulse trains.
Measurements and Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons near a Major Interstate
Authors: Mikel Dennis , Aneja Viney
Published: October 2016

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured near Interstate 40, just east of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. The goals of this project were to ascertain whether a sufficient quantity of PAHs could be collected using low flow (16.7 L/minute) over 8-h periods and if so, do investigate how the PAHs correlate to local sources, atmospheric pollutants and meteorology. The 8-h integrated samples were collected on 20 sampling days over a two month period during fall 2014. The samples were collected using low flow (BGI Incorporated PQ200) fine particulate samplers analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Temporal distributions of the PAHs (average mean 9.2 nanogram/cubic meter ±9.0 std) were compared to traffic count, and meteorological and pollutant data collected at the near roadway station. Using the meteorological data (i.e., wind speed and direction vector data), wind roses were created illustrating the local sources of the PAHs. In terms of correlation to atmospheric oxidants, (i.e., ozone, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide) wind rose analysis illustrated the morning hours which were predominantly southern winds, while the afternoon hours illustrated southerly and easterly winds, which suggests that the automobile traffic is the main source of PAHs. The nighttime hours wind rose shows winds from the northerly and easterly direction, which are predominantly from the RDU International Airport. Since the wind direction vectors illustrated that the afternoon hours (i.e., 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.) were from the interstate, comparisons were performed on the samples collected in this time period for both the traffic and pollutant data. The comparison of the traffic data showed a correlation with the number of vehicles (>60 feet i.e., heavy duty diesel engine vehicles). In addition, with the ozone, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide) there is a significant linear correlation between the sum of the measured PAHs with nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) with the R2 values being 0.1, 0.04 and 0.07 respectively. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical regression was performed on the pollutant data versus the measured sum of the PAHs. With the alpha set at 0.05, (α = 0.05) the p-values for O3, NO2 and NO were 0.00613, 0.000496 and 0.000264, respectively, which are significant. In addition, the PAH concentration found in this study compare favorably to other published studies (0.1 to 193.6 ng/m3) both nationally and internationally.
Inverse Modeling of Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from the 2010 Russian Wildfires by Using Satellite Measurements of Nitrogen Dioxide
Authors: Berezin Evgeny , Konovalov Igor , Romanova Yulia
Published: October 2016

Observational constraints to biomass burning (BB) NOx emissions as provided by satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) critically depend on quantitative assumptions regarding the atmospheric NOx lifetime. In this study, we investigated NOx emissions from the extreme wildfires that occurred in the European part of Russia in summer 2010 by using an original inverse modeling method that allowed us to avoid any a priori assumptions regarding the NOx lifetime. The method was applied to the tropospheric NO2 columns retrieved from the measurements performed by the OMI satellite instrument, while the relationship between BB NOx emissions and tropospheric NO2 columns was simulated with the CHIMERE mesoscale chemistry transport model. Our analysis indicated that this relationship depends strongly on BB emissions of volatile organic compounds and that a dependence of the effective NOx lifetime on the NOx fluxes can be essentially nonlinear. Our estimates of the total NOx emissions in the study region are found to be at least 40% larger compared to the respective data from the GFASv1.0 and GFED4.1s global fire emission inventories.
Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth over Arid Areas from MODIS Data
Authors: Tian Xin-peng , Sun Lin
Published: October 2016

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data have been widely applied for the remote sensing of aerosol optical depth (AOD) because the MODIS sensor features a short revisit period and a moderate spatial resolution. The Dense Dark Vegetation (DDV) method is the most popular retrieval method. However, the DDV method can only be used to retrieve the AOD with high precision when the surface reflectance in the visible spectrum is low, such as over dense vegetation or water. To obtain precise AOD values in areas with higher reflectance, such as arid areas, Land Surface Reflectance (LSR) must be estimated accurately. This paper proposes a method of estimating LSR for AOD retrieval over arid areas from long-term series of MODIS images. According to the atmospheric parameters (AOD and water vapor), the clearest image without clouds was selected from the long-term series of continuous MODIS images. Atmospheric correction was conducted based on similar ground-measured atmospheric parameters and was used to estimate the LSR and retrieve the AOD at adjacent times. To validate this method, aerosol inversion experiments were performed in northern Xinjiang, in which the inverted AOD was compared to ground-measured AOD and MODIS aerosol products (MOD04). The AOD retrieved using the new algorithm was highly consistent with the AOD derived from ground-based measurements, with a correlation coefficient of 0.84. Additionally, 82.22% of the points fell within the expected error defined by NASA. The precision of the retrieved AOD data was better than that of MOD04 AOD products over arid areas.
A Proposal for New Microclimate Indexes for the Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality in Museums
Authors: Schito Eva , Testi Daniele , Grassi Walter
Published: October 2016

A correct artwork preservation requires strict values of several microclimate parameters, in particular temperature, humidity, and light. In existing museums, the evaluation of the effectiveness of current building plant systems and management is essential to avoid artwork deterioration. In this work, we propose the use of five simple performance indexes that use monitored data to estimate the suitability of the whole museum system in the maintenance of benchmark values of temperature, humidity, and light. The new indexes also take into account microclimate daily span and spatial homogeneity, which can represent a criticality in the preservative process. We apply these new indexes to the results of a monitoring campaign in Palazzo Blu, a museum in Pisa, which lasted for almost four months during a temporary exhibition on Toulouse-Lautrec works. The indexes show a mainly acceptable instantaneous microclimate, but HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) system improvement is necessary to avoid high thermo-hygrometric daily span. This methodology is useful for the identification of microclimate criticalities and can help the cooperation between conservation experts and professionals giving hints to improve museum internal microclimate. In case ofalready optimal microclimate, these indexes can be useful in more complex analyses, including simulations of possible retrofit actions, keeping microclimate suitability as a constraint.
Quantum Genetic Algorithms for Computer Scientists
Authors: Lahoz-Beltra Rafael
Published: October 2016

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are a class of evolutionary algorithms inspired by Darwinian natural selection. They are popular heuristic optimisation methods based on simulated genetic mechanisms, i.e., mutation, crossover, etc. and population dynamical processes such as reproduction, selection, etc. Over the last decade, the possibility to emulate a quantum computer (a computer using quantum-mechanical phenomena to perform operations on data) has led to a new class of GAs known as “Quantum Genetic Algorithms” (QGAs). In this review, we present a discussion, future potential, pros and cons of this new class of GAs. The review will be oriented towards computer scientists interested in QGAs “avoiding” the possible difficulties of quantum-mechanical phenomena.
Radial Growth Response of Black Spruce Stands Ten Years after Experimental Shelterwoods and Seed-Tree Cuttings in Boreal Forest
Authors: Montoro Girona Miguel , Morin Hubert , Lussier Jean-Martin , Walsh Denis
Published: October 2016

Partial cutting is thought to be an alternative to achieve sustainable management in boreal forests. However, the effects of intermediate harvest intensity (45%–80%) on growth remain unknown in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) stands, one of the most widely distributed boreal species with great commercial interest. In this study, we analysed the effect of three experimental shelterwood and one seed-tree treatments on tree radial growth in even-aged black spruce stands, 10 years after intervention. Our results show that radial growth response 8–10 years after cutting was 41% to 62% higher than in untreated plots, with stand structure, treatment, tree position relative to skidding trails, growth before cutting and time having significant interactions. The stand structure conditioned tree growth after cutting, being doubled in younger and denser stands. Tree spatial position had a pronounced effect on radial growth; trees at the edge of the skidding trails showed twice the increase in growth compared to interior trees. Dominant trees before cutting located close to the skidding trails manifested the highest growth response after cutting. This research suggests that the studied treatments are effective to enhance radial wood production of black spruce especially in younger stands, and that the edge effect must be considered in silvicultural management planning.
Analysis of Japanese Articles about Suicides Involving Charcoal Burning or Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Authors: Nabeshima Yoshihiro , Onozuka Daisuke , Kitazono Takanari , Hagihara Akihito
Published: October 2016

It is well known that certain types of media reports about suicide can result in imitative suicides. In the last two decades, Japan has experienced two suicide epidemics and the subsequent excessive media coverage of these events. However, the quality of the media suicide reports has yet to be evaluated in terms of the guidelines for media suicide coverage. Thus, the present study analyzed Japanese newspaper articles (n = 4007) on suicides by charcoal burning or hydrogen sulfide gas between 11 February 2003 and 13 March 2010. The suicide reports were evaluated in terms of the extent to which they conformed to the suicide reporting guidelines. The mean violation scores were 3.06 (±0.7) for all articles, 3.2 (±0.8) for articles about suicide by charcoal burning, and 2.9 (±0.7) for articles about suicide by hydrogen sulfide (p < 0.001). With the exception of not following several recommendations, newspaper articles about suicide have improved in quality, as defined by the recommendations for media suicide coverage. To prevent imitative suicides based on media suicide reports, individuals in the media should try not to report suicide methods and to make attempts to report the poor condition of suicide survivors.
A Proposal of a Constitutive Description for Aluminium Alloys in Both Cold and Hot Working
Authors: León Javier , Luis Carmelo , Fuertes Juan , Puertas Ignacio , Luri Rodrigo , Salcedo Daniel
Published: October 2016

The most important difficulties when the behaviour of a part that is subjected to external mechanical forces is simulated deal with the determination of both the material thermo-mechanical properties and its boundary conditions. The accuracy of the results obtained from the simulation is directly related to the knowledge of the flow stress curve. Therefore, the determination of a material flow rule which is valid for both a wide temperature range and different initial deformation conditions in the starting material presents a great deal of interest when simulation results close to the experimental values are required to be obtained. In this present study, a novel flow stress curve is proposed that is able to accurately predict the behaviour of both materials with no previous accumulated strain and materials that have been previously subjected to severe plastic deformation processes. Moreover, it is possible to use it both for hot and cold working. The results are analysed in a wide test temperature range, which varies from room temperature to 300 °C, and from material previously processed by angular channel extrusion or with no previous strain accumulated. It is shown that the flow rule proposed is effective to model the material behaviour in a wide temperature range and it makes it possible to take the recrystallization phenomena that appear in previously deformed materials into account. In addition, the results obtained are compared with those predicted by other flow rules that exist in the prior literature. Furthermore, the study is complemented with finite element simulations and with a comparison between simulation and experimental results.
Electrostatic Comb-Drive Actuator with High In-Plane Translational Velocity
Authors: Eltagoury Yomna , Soliman Mostafa , Sabry Yasser , Alotaibi Mohammed , Khalil Diaa
Published: October 2016

This work reports the design and opto-mechanical characterization of high velocity comb-drive actuators producing in-plane motion and fabricated using the technology of deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The actuators drive vertical mirrors acting on optical beams propagating in-plane with respect to the substrate. The actuator-mirror device is a fabrication on an SOI wafer with 80 μm etching depth, surface roughness of about 15 nm peak to valley and etching verticality that is better than 0.1 degree. The travel range of the actuators is extracted using an optical method based on optical cavity response and accounting for the diffraction effect. One design achieves a travel range of approximately 9.1 µm at a resonance frequency of approximately 26.1 kHz, while the second design achieves about 2 µm at 93.5 kHz. The two specific designs reported achieve peak velocities of about 1.48 and 1.18 m/s, respectively, which is the highest product of the travel range and frequency for an in-plane microelectromechanical system (MEMS) motion under atmospheric pressure, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. The first design possesses high spring linearity over its travel range with about 350 ppm change in the resonance frequency, while the second design achieves higher resonance frequency on the expense of linearity. The theoretical predications and the experimental results show good agreement.
Natural Products for the Treatment of Chlamydiaceae Infections
Authors: Brown Mika , Potroz Michael , Teh Seoh-Wei , Cho Nam-Joon
Published: October 2016

Due to the global prevalence of Chlamydiae, exploring studies of diverse antichlamydial compounds is important in the development of effective treatment strategies and global infectious disease management. Chlamydiaceae is the most widely known bacterial family of the Chlamydiae order. Among the species in the family Chlamydiaceae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae cause common human diseases, while Chlamydia abortus, Chlamydia psittaci, and Chlamydia suis represent zoonotic threats or are endemic in human food sources. Although chlamydial infections are currently manageable in human populations, chlamydial infections in livestock are endemic and there is significant difficulty achieving effective treatment. To combat the spread of Chlamydiaceae in humans and other hosts, improved methods for treatment and prevention of infection are needed. There exist various studies exploring the potential of natural products for developing new antichlamydial treatment modalities. Polyphenolic compounds can inhibit chlamydial growth by membrane disruption, reestablishment of host cell apoptosis, or improving host immune system detection. Fatty acids, monoglycerides, and lipids can disrupt the cell membranes of infective chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs). Peptides can disrupt the cell membranes of chlamydial EBs, and transferrins can inhibit chlamydial EBs from attachment to and permeation through the membranes of host cells. Cellular metabolites and probiotic bacteria can inhibit chlamydial infection by modulating host immune responses and directly inhibiting chlamydial growth. Finally, early stage clinical trials indicate that polyherbal formulations can be effective in treating chlamydial infections. Herein, we review an important body of literature in the field of antichlamydial research.
Study on Selective Removal of Impurity Iron from Leached Copper-Bearing Solution Using a Chelating Resin
Authors: Li Yubiao , Wang Xinyu , Xiao Qing , Zhang Xu
Published: October 2016

In order to selectively remove iron from copper laden solution after leaching but prior to electrowinning, equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies have been conducted on an a chelating resin of Rexp-501 at pH 1.0 and at various temperatures. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models were investigated, with the Langmuir model proving to be more suitable for fitting iron removal performance, with little influence from copper concentration. Compared with the pseudo first order kinetic model, the pseudo second order kinetic model fitted the dynamic adsorption process better, indicating a chemisorption mechanism. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results indicated that C=O from carbonyl group played a key role in combining with iron and can be regenerated and reused. However, the C=O of the acylamino group combining with iron was not able to be released after oxalic acid was applied.
Reactions of an Isolable Dialkylsilylene with Aroyl Chlorides. A New Route to Aroylsilanes
Authors: Xiao Xu-Qiong , Liu Xupeng , Lu Qiong , Li Zhifang , Lai Guoqiao , Kira Mitsuo
Published: October 2016

The reactions of isolable dialkylsilylene 1 with aromatic acyl chlorides afforded aroylsilanes 3a–3c exclusively. Aroylsilanes 3a–3c were characterized by 1H-, 13C-, and 29Si-NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and single-crystal molecular structure analysis. The reaction mechanisms are discussed in comparison with related reaction of 1 with chloroalkanes and chlorosilanes.
The Eighth Central European Conference “Chemistry towards Biology”: Snapshot
Authors: Perczel András , Atanasov Atanas , Sklenář Vladimír , Nováček Jiří , Papoušková Veronika , Kadeřávek Pavel , Žídek Lukáš , Kozłowski Henryk , Wątły Joanna , Hecel Aleksandra , Kołkowska Paulina , Koča Jaroslav , Svobodová-Vařeková Radka , Pravda Lukáš , Sehnal David , Horský Vladimír , Geidl Stanislav , Enriz Ricardo , Matějka Pavel , Jeništová Adéla , Dendisová Marcela , Kokaislová Alžběta , Weissig Volkmar , Olsen Mark , Coffey Aidan , Ajuebor Jude , Keary Ruth , Sanz-Gaitero Marta , Van Raaij Mark , McAuliffe Olivia , Waltenberger Birgit , Mocan Andrei , Šmejkal Karel , Heiss Elke , Diederich Marc , Musioł Robert , Košmrlj Janez , Polański Jarosław , Jampílek Josef
Published: October 2016

The Eighth Central European Conference “Chemistry towards Biology” was held in Brno, Czech Republic, on August 28–September 1, 2016 to bring together experts in biology, chemistry and design of bioactive compounds; promote the exchange of scientific results, methods and ideas; and encourage cooperation between researchers from all over the world. The topics of the conference covered “Chemistry towards Biology”, meaning that the event welcomed chemists working on biology-related problems, biologists using chemical methods, and students and other researchers of the respective areas that fall within the common scope of chemistry and biology. The authors of this manuscript are plenary speakers and other participants of the symposium and members of their research teams. The following summary highlights the major points/topics of the meeting.
Bioanalytical Method Development Using Liquid Chromatography with Amperometric Detection for the Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Forsythiaside in Rats
Authors: Wu Yu-Tse , Cai Meng-Ting , Chang Chih-Wei , Yen Ching-Chi , Hsu Mei-Chich
Published: October 2016

An analytical method entailing high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection was developed for determining forsythiaside (FTS) in rat plasma. Rat plasma samples were prepared through efficient trichloroacetic acid deproteination. FTS and the internal standard were chromatographically separated on a reversed-phase core-shell silica C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, i.d. 2.6 μm), with a mobile phase consisting of an acetonitrile—0.05-M phosphate solution (11.8:88.2, v/v), at a flow rate of 400 μL/min. The calibration curve, with r2 > 0.999, was linear in the 20–1000 ng/mL range. The intra- and interday precision were less than 9.0%, and the accuracy ranged from 94.5% to 106.5% for FTS. The results indicated that the newly developed HPLC-EC method is more sensitive than previous reported methods using UV detection, and this new analytical method is applied successfully for the pharmacokinetic study of FTS. The hydrogel delivery system can efficiently improve bioavailability and mean residual time for FTS, as evidenced by the 2.5- and 6.3-fold increase of the area under the curve and the extension of the half-life, respectively.
New Sesquiterpenoids and Anti-Platelet Aggregation Constituents from the Rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria
Authors: Chen Jih-Jung , Tsai Tung-Han , Liao Hsiang-Ruei , Chen Li-Chai , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung , Sung Ping-Jyun , Chen Chun-Lin , Wei Chun-Sheng
Published: October 2016

Two new sesquiterpenoids—13-hydroxycurzerenone (1) and 1-oxocurzerenone (2)—have been isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria, together with 13 known compounds (3–15). The structures of two new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Among the isolated compounds, 13-hydroxycurzerenone (1), 1-oxocurzerenone (2), curzerenone (3), germacrone (4), curcolone (5), procurcumenol (6), ermanin (7), curcumin (8), and a mixture of stigmast-4-en-3,6-dione (12) and stigmasta-4,22-dien-3,6-dione (13) exhibited inhibition (with inhibition % in the range of 21.28%–67.58%) against collagen-induced platelet aggregation at 100 μM. Compounds 1, 5, 7, 8, and the mixture of 12 and 13 inhibited arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation at 100 μM with inhibition % in the range of 23.44%–95.36%.
Characterization, in Vivo and in Vitro Evaluation of Solid Dispersion of Curcumin Containing d-α-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate and Mannitol
Authors: Song Im-Sook , Cha Jin-Sun , Choi Min-Koo
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study was to prepare a solid dispersion formulation of curcumin to enhance its solubility, dissolution rate, and oral bioavailability. The formulation was prepared with d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and mannitol using solvent evaporation and freeze-drying methods, which yielded a solid dispersion composed of curcumin, TPGS, and mannitol at a ratio of 1:10:15 (w/w/w). The solubility and dissolution rate of the curcumin solid dispersion markedly improved compared with those of curcumin powder and a physical mixture of curcumin, TPGS, and mannitol. About 90% of the curcumin was released from the solid dispersion formulation within 10 min. After administering the formulation orally to rats, higher plasma concentrations of curcumin were observed, with increases in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of 86- and 65-fold, respectively, compared with those of curcumin powder. The solid dispersion formulation effectively increased intestinal permeability and inhibited P-gp function. These effects increased the anti-proliferative effect of curcumin in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Moreover, 2 h incubation with curcumin powder, solid dispersion formulation, and its physical mixture resulted in differential cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel in P-gp overexpressed LLC-PK1-P-gp and MDA-MB-231 cells through the inhibition of P-gp-mediated paclitaxel efflux. In conclusion, compared with curcumin, a solid dispersion formulation of curcumin with TPGS and mannitol could be a promising option for enhancing the oral bioavailability and efficacy of curcumin through increased solubility, dissolution rate, cell permeability, and P-gp modulation.
Effects of G-Quadruplex Topology on Electronic Transfer Integrals
Authors: Sun Wenming , Varsano Daniele , Di Felice Rosa
Published: October 2016

G-quadruplex is a quadruple helical form of nucleic acids that can appear in guanine-rich parts of the genome. The basic unit is the G-tetrad, a planar assembly of four guanines connected by eight hydrogen bonds. Its rich topology and its possible relevance as a drug target for a number of diseases have stimulated several structural studies. The superior stiffness and electronic π-π overlap between consecutive G-tetrads suggest exploitation for nanotechnologies. Here we inspect the intimate link between the structure and the electronic properties, with focus on charge transfer parameters. We show that the electronic couplings between stacked G-tetrads strongly depend on the three-dimensional atomic structure. Furthermore, we reveal a remarkable correlation with the topology: a topology characterized by the absence of syn-anti G-G sequences can better support electronic charge transfer. On the other hand, there is no obvious correlation of the electronic coupling with usual descriptors of the helix shape. We establish a procedure to maximize the correlation with a global helix shape descriptor.
Mid-Season High-Resolution Satellite Imagery for Forecasting Site-Specific Corn Yield
Authors: Peralta Nahuel , Assefa Yared , Du Juan , Barden Charles , Ciampitti Ignacio
Published: October 2016

A timely and accurate crop yield forecast is crucial to make better decisions on crop management, marketing, and storage by assessing ahead and implementing based on expected crop performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery data collected at mid-growing season for identification of within-field variability and to forecast corn yield at different sites within a field. A test was conducted on yield monitor data and RapidEye satellite imagery obtained for 22 cornfields located in five different counties (Clay, Dickinson, Rice, Saline, and Washington) of Kansas (total of 457 ha). Three basic tests were conducted on the data: (1) spatial dependence on each of the yield and vegetation indices (VIs) using Moran’s I test; (2) model selection for the relationship between imagery data and actual yield using ordinary least square regression (OLS) and spatial econometric (SPL) models; and (3) model validation for yield forecasting purposes. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran’s I test) for both yield and VIs (red edge NDVI = NDVIre, normalized difference vegetation index = NDVIr, SRre = red-edge simple ratio, near infrared = NIR and green-NDVI = NDVIG) was tested positive and statistically significant for most of the fields (p < 0.05), except for one. Inclusion of spatial adjustment to model improved the model fit on most fields as compared to OLS models, with the spatial adjustment coefficient significant for half of the fields studied. When selected models were used for prediction to validate dataset, a striking similarity (RMSE = 0.02) was obtained between predicted and observed yield within a field. Yield maps could assist implementing more effective site-specific management tools and could be utilized as a proxy of yield monitor data. In summary, high-resolution satellite imagery data can be reasonably used to forecast yield via utilization of models that include spatial adjustment to inform precision agricultural management decisions.