bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Visual Analysis Approach for Inferring Personal Job and Housing Locations Based on Public Bicycle Data
Authors: Shi Xiaoying , Yu Zhenhai , Fang Qiming , Zhou Quan
Published: July 2017

Information concerning the home and workplace of residents is the basis of analyzing the urban job-housing spatial relationship. Traditional methods conduct time-consuming user surveys to obtain personal job and housing location information. Some new methods define rules to detect personal places based on human mobility data. However, because the travel patterns of residents are variable, simple rule-based methods are unable to generalize highly changing and complex travel modes. In this paper, we propose a visual analysis approach to assist the analyzer in inferring personal job and housing locations interactively based on public bicycle data. All users are first clustered to find potential commuting users. Then, several visual views are designed to find the key candidate stations for a specific user, and the visited temporal pattern of stations and the user’s hire behavior are analyzed, which helps with the inference of station semantic meanings. Finally, a number of users’ job and housing locations are detected by the analyzer and visualized. Our approach can manage the complex and diverse cycling habits of users. The effectiveness of the approach is shown through case studies based on a real-world public bicycle dataset.
Effects of Titanium Mesh Surfaces-Coated with Hydroxyapatite/β-Tricalcium Phosphate Nanotubes on Acetabular Bone Defects in Rabbits
Authors: Nguyen Thuy-Duong , Bae Tae-Sung , Yang Dae-hyeok , Park Myung-sik , Yoon Sun-jung
Published: July 2017

The management of severe acetabular bone defects in revision reconstructive orthopedic surgery is challenging. In this study, cyclic precalcification (CP) treatment was used on both nanotube-surface Ti-mesh and a bone graft substitute for the acetabular defect model, and its effects were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Nanotube-Ti mesh coated with hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate (HA/β-TCP) was manufactured by an anodizing and a sintering method, respectively. An 8 mm diameter defect was created on each acetabulum of eight rabbits, then treated by grafting materials and covered by Ti meshes. At four and eight weeks, postoperatively, biopsies were performed for histomorphometric analyses. The newly-formed bone layers under cyclic precalcified anodized Ti (CP-AT) meshes were superior with regard to the mineralized area at both four and eight weeks, as compared with that under untreated Ti meshes. Active bone regeneration at 2–4 weeks was stronger than at 6–8 weeks, particularly with treated biphasic ceramic (p < 0.05). CP improved the bioactivity of Ti meshes and biphasic grafting materials. Moreover, the precalcified nanotubular Ti meshes could enhance early contact bone formation on the mesh and, therefore, may reduce the collapse of Ti meshes into the defect, increasing the sufficiency of acetabular reconstruction. Finally, cyclic precalcification did not affect bone regeneration by biphasic grafting materials in vivo.
Structural Elements Recognized by Abacavir-Induced T Cells
Authors: Yerly Daniel , Pompeu Yuri , Schutte Ryan , Eriksson Klara. , Strhyn Anette , Bracey Austin. , Buus Soren , Ostrov David
Published: July 2017

Adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in health care worldwide. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles have been strongly associated with drug hypersensitivities, and the causative drugs have been shown to stimulate specific T cells at the sites of autoimmune destruction. The structural elements recognized by drug-specific T cell receptors (TCRs) in vivo are poorly defined. Drug-stimulated T cells express TCRs specific for peptide/HLA complexes, but the characteristics of peptides (sequence, or endogenous or exogenous origin) presented in the context of small molecule drugs are not well studied. Using HLA-B*57:01 mediated hypersensitivity to abacavir as a model system, this study examines structural similarities of HLA presented peptides recognized by drug-specific TCRs. Using the crystal structure of HLA-B*57:01 complexed with abacavir and an immunogenic self peptide, VTTDIQVKV SPT5a 976–984, peptide side chains exhibiting flexibility and solvent exposure were identified as potential drug-specific T cell recognition motifs. Viral sequences with structural motifs similar to the immunogenic self peptide were identified. Abacavir-specific T cell clones were used to determine if virus peptides presented in the context of abacavir stimulate T cell responsiveness. An abacavir-specific T cell clone was stimulated by VTQQAQVRL, corresponding to HSV1/2 230–238, in the context of HLA-B*57:01. These data suggest the T cell polyclonal response to abacavir consists of multiple subsets, including T cells that recognize self peptide/HLA-B*57:01 complexes and crossreact with viral peptide/HLA-B*57:01 complexes due to similarity in TCR contact residues.
The Roles of β-Integrin of Chinese Shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) in WSSV Infection
Authors: Tang Xiaoqian , Zhai Fude , Sheng Xiuzhen , Xing Jing , Zhan Wenbin
Published: July 2017

Our previous study demonstrated that an integrin β subunit of Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) (FcβInt) plays an important role in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. In the present work, in order to further elucidate the potential role of FcβInt in WSSV infection, the recombinant extracellular domain of β integringene of F. Chinensis (rFcβInt-ER) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the eukaryotic expression plasmid PcDNA3.1-FcβInt-ER (PFcβInt-ER) was also constructed. Far-western blotting was performed to determine the binding specificity of rFcβInt-ER to WSSV envelope proteins, and results showed that rFcβInt-ER was able to specifically interact with rVP31, rVP37, rVP110 and rVP187. Moreover, the blocking effects of mouse anti-rFcβint-ER antibodies were both detected in vivo and in vitro. The ELISA and Dot-blotting in vitro assays both showed that mouse anti-rFcβInt-ER antibodies could partially block the binding of WSSV to the hemocyte membrane of F. chinensis. In the in vivo assays, the mortality of shrimp injected with WSSV mixed with anti-rFcβInt-ER antibodies was delayed, and was lower than in the control group. While the shrimp were intramuscularly injected with PFcβInt-ER, transcripts of PFcβInt-ER could be detected in different shrimp tissues within 7 days, and the mortality of shrimp injected with PFcβInt-ER was also delayed and lower compared with the control group post WSSV challenge. Furthermore, gene silencing technology was also used to verify the effect of FcβInt in WSSV infection, and results showed that the expression levels of the WSSV immediate early gene iel, early gene wsv477, and late gene VP28 and the mortality of F. Chinensis were all significantly decreased in the FcβInt knock-down hemocyctes compared to the control group. Taken together, these results suggest that FcβInt plays important roles in WSSV infection.
Assessing Probabilistic Risk Assessment Approaches for Insect Biological Control Introductions
Authors: Kaufman Leyla V. , Wright Mark G.
Published: July 2017

The introduction of biological control agents to new environments requires host specificity tests to estimate potential non-target impacts of a prospective agent. Currently, the approach is conservative, and is based on physiological host ranges determined under captive rearing conditions, without consideration for ecological factors that may influence realized host range. We use historical data and current field data from introduced parasitoids that attack an endemic Lepidoptera species in Hawaii to validate a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) procedure for non-target impacts. We use data on known host range and habitat use in the place of origin of the parasitoids to determine whether contemporary levels of non-target parasitism could have been predicted using PRA. Our results show that reasonable predictions of potential non-target impacts may be made if comprehensive data are available from places of origin of biological control agents, but scant data produce poor predictions. Using apparent mortality data rather than marginal attack rate estimates in PRA resulted in over-estimates of predicted non-target impact. Incorporating ecological data into PRA models improved the predictive power of the risk assessments.
Proliferating Cells in Knee Epiphyses of Lizards Allow for Somatic Growth and Regeneration after Damage
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo
Published: July 2017

After bone damage, fracture or amputation, lizards regenerate a variable mass of cartilaginous and fibro-cartilaginous tissues, depending from the anatomical site and intensity of inflammation. Aside tail and vertebrae, also long bones and knee epiphyses can regenerate a relative large mass of cartilage after injury. Regeneration is likely related to the persistence of stem cells in growing centers of these bones, localized in the epiphyses of femur, tibia and fibula. The epiphyses form ossified secondary centers in adults but a few progenitor cells remain in the articular cartilage and growth plate, allowing a continuous growth during most lifetime of lizards. The present Review indicates that putative progenitor/stem cells, identified by long labeling retaining of 5-bromo-deoxy-uridine (5BrdU) and immunolocalization of telomerase, remain localized in the articular cartilage and growth plates of the femur and tibia. These cells are re-activated after limited epiphyses damage or amputation of the distal part of the femur or tibia-fibula, and can re-form cartilaginous epiphyses. Regenerating chondrocytes show an intense proliferation and the production of new extracellular matrix components such as collagen VI, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and hyaluronate receptors. The molecular factors at the origin of the chondrogenic potential of the articular cartilage, growth plates, and the periosteum in lizard bones remain to be studied.
Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Fusarium
Authors: Avalos Javier , Pardo-Medina Javier , Parra-Rivero Obdulia , Ruger-Herreros Macarena , Rodríguez-Ortiz Roberto , Hornero-Méndez Dámaso , Limón María
Published: July 2017

Many fungi of the genus Fusarium stand out for the complexity of their secondary metabolism. Individual species may differ in their metabolic capacities, but they usually share the ability to synthesize carotenoids, a family of hydrophobic terpenoid pigments widely distributed in nature. Early studies on carotenoid biosynthesis in Fusarium aquaeductuum have been recently extended in Fusarium fujikuroi and Fusarium oxysporum, well-known biotechnological and phytopathogenic models, respectively. The major Fusarium carotenoid is neurosporaxanthin, a carboxylic xanthophyll synthesized from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate through the activity of four enzymes, encoded by the genes carRA, carB, carT and carD. These fungi produce also minor amounts of β-carotene, which may be cleaved by the CarX oxygenase to produce retinal, the rhodopsin’s chromophore. The genes needed to produce retinal are organized in a gene cluster with a rhodopsin gene, while other carotenoid genes are not linked. In the investigated Fusarium species, the synthesis of carotenoids is induced by light through the transcriptional induction of the structural genes. In some species, deep-pigmented mutants with up-regulated expression of these genes are affected in the regulatory gene carS. The molecular mechanisms underlying the control by light and by the CarS protein are currently under investigation.
Study of Superbase-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents as the Catalyst in the Chemical Fixation of CO2 into Cyclic Carbonates under Mild Conditions
Authors: García-Argüelles Sara , Ferrer Maria , Iglesias Marta , Del Monte Francisco , Gutiérrez María
Published: July 2017

Superbases have shown high performance as catalysts in the chemical fixation of CO2 to epoxides. The proposed reaction mechanism typically assumes the formation of a superbase, the CO2 adduct as the intermediate, most likely because of the well-known affinity between superbases and CO2, i.e., superbases have actually proven quite effective for CO2 absorption. In this latter use, concerns about the chemical stability upon successive absorption-desorption cycles also merits attention when using superbases as catalysts. In this work, 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to get further insights about (1) whether a superbase, the CO2 adduct, is formed as an intermediate and (2) the chemical stability of the catalyst after reaction. For this purpose, we proposed as a model system the chemical fixation of CO2 to epichlorohydrin (EP) using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of a superbase, e.g., 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine (TBD) or 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,10-octahydropyrimido[1,2-a]azepine (DBU), as a hydrogen acceptor and an alcohol as a hydrogen bond donor, e.g., benzyl alcohol (BA), ethylene glycol (EG), and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), as the catalyst. The resulting carbonate was obtained with yields above 90% and selectivities approaching 100% after only two hours of reaction in pseudo-mild reaction conditions, e.g., 1.2 bars and 100 °C, and after 20 h if the reaction conditions of choice were even milder, e.g., 1.2 bars and 50 °C. These results were in agreement with previous works using bifunctional catalytic systems composed of a superbase and a hydrogen bond donor (HBD) also reporting good yields and selectivities, thus confirming the suitability of our choice to perform this study.
Localization Phenomena in Disordered Tantalum Films
Authors: Kovaleva Natalia , Chvostova Dagmar , Dejneka Alexandr
Published: July 2017

Using dc transport and wide-band spectroscopic ellipsometry techniques we study localization phenomena in highly disordered metallic β -Ta films grown by rf sputtering deposition. The dc transport study implies non-metallic behavior (d ρ /dT < 0), with negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR). We found that as the absolute TCR value increased, specifying an elevated degree of disorder, the free charge carrier Drude response decreases, indicating the enhanced charge carrier localization. Moreover, we found that the pronounced changes occur at the extended spectral range, involving not only the Drude resonance, but also the higher-energy Lorentz bands, in evidence of the attendant electronic correlations. We propose that the charge carrier localization, or delocalization, is accompanied by the pronounced electronic band structure reconstruction due to many-body effects, which may be the key feature for understanding the physics of highly disordered metals.
Effect of Austempering Time on the Microstructure and Carbon Partitioning of Ultrahigh Strength Steel 56NiCrMoV7
Authors: Luo Quanshun , Kitchen Matthew , Abubakri Shahriar
Published: July 2017

Ultrahigh strength steel 56NiCrMoV7 was austempered at 270 °C for different durations in order to investigate the microstructure evolution, carbon partitioning behaviour and hardness property. Detailed microstructure has been characterised using optical microscopy and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy. A newly developed X-ray diffraction method has been employed to dissolve the bainitic/martensitic ferrite phase as two sub-phases of different tetragonal ratios, which provides quantitative analyses of the carbon partitioning between the resultant ferrites and the retained austenite. The results show that, a short-term austempering treatment was in the incubation period of the bainite transformation, which resulted in maximum hardness being equivalent to the oil-quenching treatment. The associated microstructure comprises fine carbide-free martensitic and bainitic ferrites of supersaturated carbon contents as well as carbon-rich retained austenite. In particular, the short-term austempering treatment helped prevent the formation of lengthy martensitic laths as those being found in the microstructure of oil-quenched sample. When the austempering time was increased from 20 to 80 min, progressive decrease of the hardness was associated with the evolution of the microstructure, including progressive coarsening of bainitic ferrite, carbide precipitating inside high-carbon bainitic ferrite and its subsequent decarbonisation.
A Purified Serine Protease from Nereis virens and Its Impaction of Apoptosis on Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Tang Yunping , Yu Fangmiao , Zhang Guomei , Yang Zuisu , Huang Fangfang , Ding Guofang
Published: July 2017

Nereis active protease (NAP) is a novel fibrinolytic active serine protease from the polychaete Nereis virens. In this study, NAP was purified from Nereis virens and the effects of NAP on human lung cancer cells were investigated. Our results indicated that NAP inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of H1299 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the activation of Bax and cleaved-caspase 3/9, the release of cytochrome C, and the suppression of Bcl-2 and poly-ADP ribose polymerase were observed in NAP-treated H1299 cells by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Moreover, the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio was increased in the NAP-treated cell lines. The results indicated that NAP-induced apoptosis may be related to mitochondria mediated apoptosis and occurs through caspase-dependent pathways. Then, the effects of NAP on tumor growth in animal models were observed, where 5 or 10 mg/kg of NAP noticeably reduced tumor volume and weight and increased apoptosis as determined by Western blotting when compared to the negative control group. Therefore, our findings suggest that NAP could be a hopeful anticancer medicine for its propensity to inhibit growth and induce of apoptosis in human lung cancer cells.
Cytotoxic Compounds from Aloe megalacantha
Authors: Abdissa Negera , Gohlke Sebastian , Frese Marcel , Sewald Norbert
Published: July 2017

Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Aloe megalacantha led to the isolation of four new natural products—1,8-dimethoxynepodinol (1), aloesaponarin III (2), 10-O-methylchrysalodin (3) and methyl-26-O-feruloyl-oxyhexacosanate (4)—along with ten known compounds. All purified metabolites were characterized by NMR, mass spectrometric analyses and comparison with literature data. The isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against a human cervix carcinoma cell line KB-3-1 and some of them exhibited good activity, with aloesaponarin II (IC50 = 0.98 µM) being the most active compound.
Non-Noble Metal Oxide Catalysts for Methane Catalytic Combustion: Sonochemical Synthesis and Characterisation
Authors: Jodłowski Przemysław , Jędrzejczyk Roman , Chlebda Damian , Dziedzicka Anna , Kuterasiński Łukasz , Gancarczyk Anna , Sitarz Maciej
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study was to obtain nanocrystalline mixed metal-oxide–ZrO2 catalysts via a sonochemically-induced preparation method. The effect of a stabiliser’s addition on the catalyst parameters was investigated by several characterisation methods including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and µRaman. The sonochemical preparation method allowed us to manufacture the catalysts with uniformly dispersed metal-oxide nanoparticles at the support surface. The catalytic activity was tested in a methane combustion reaction. The activity of the catalysts prepared by the sonochemical method was higher than that of the reference catalysts prepared by the incipient wetness method without ultrasonic irradiation. The cobalt and chromium mixed zirconia catalysts revealed their high activities, which are comparable with those presented in the literature.
Selective Dielectric Metasurfaces Based on Directional Conditions of Silicon Nanopillars
Authors: Algorri José , García-Cámara Braulio , Cuadrado Alexander , Sánchez-Pena José , Vergaz Ricardo
Published: July 2017

Dielectric metasurfaces based on high refractive index materials have been proposed recently. This type of structure has several advantages over their metallic counterparts. In this work, we demonstrate that dielectric metasurfaces can be theoretically designed satisfying Kerker’s zero-forward condition. This is the first time that a dielectric metasurface based on this principle has been designed. A selective dielectric metasurface of silicon nanopillars is designed to work at 632.8 nm. This structure could work both as a dielectric mirror and a reject band filter. Furthermore, by scaling up the structure, it could be possible to manufacture a terahertz (THz) dielectric mirror.
The Gene-Lifestyle Interaction on Leptin Sensitivity and Lipid Metabolism in Adults: A Population Based Study
Authors: Luglio Harry , Sulistyoningrum Dian , Huriyati Emy , Lee Yi , Wan Muda Wan
Published: July 2017

Background: Obesity has been associated with leptin resistance and this might be caused by genetic factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene-lifestyle interaction between −866G/A UCP2 (uncoupling protein 2) gene polymorphism, dietary intake and leptin in a population based study. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted in adults living at urban area of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Data of adiposity, lifestyle, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, leptin and UCP2 gene polymorphism were obtained in 380 men and female adults. Results: UCP2 gene polymorphism was not significantly associated with adiposity, leptin, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, dietary intake and physical activity (all p > 0.05). Leptin was lower in overweight subjects with AA + GA genotypes than those with GG genotype counterparts (p = 0.029). In subjects with AA + GA genotypes there was a negative correlation between leptin concentration (r = −0.324; p < 0.0001) and total energy intake and this correlation was not seen in GG genotype (r = −0.111; p = 0.188). Conclusions: In summary, we showed how genetic variation in −866G/A UCP2 affected individual response to leptin production. AA + GA genotype had a better leptin sensitivity shown by its response in dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) and this explained the protective effect of A allele to obesity.
A Balanced Risk–Benefit Analysis to Determine Human Risks Associated with Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PA)—The Case of Tea and Herbal Infusions
Authors: Habs Michael , Binder Karin , Krauss Stefan , Müller Karolina , Ernst Brigitte , Valentini Luzia , Koller Michael
Published: July 2017

Humans are exposed to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) through different sources, mainly from contaminated foodstuff. Teas and herbal infusions (T&HI) can be contaminated by PA producing weed. PA can possess toxic, mutagenic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic properties. Thus, possible health risks for the general population are under debate. There is a strong safety record for T&HI and additionally epidemiological evidence for the preventive effects of regular tea consumption on cardiovascular events and certain types of cancer. There is no epidemiological evidence, however, for human risks of regular low dose PA exposure. Recommended regulatory PA-threshold values are based on experimental data only, accepting big uncertainties. If a general risk exists through PA contaminated T&HI, it must be small compared to other frequently accepted risks of daily living and the proven health effects of T&HI. Decision making should be based on a balanced riskbenefit analysis. Based on analyses of the scientific data currently available, it is concluded that the benefits of drinking T&HI clearly outweigh the negligible health risk of possible PA contamination. At the same time, manufacturers must continue their efforts to secure good product quality and to be transparent on their measures of quality control and risk communication.
Reply to Alizadeh’s Letter to the Editor Re: Lu, P.Y. et al., Nutrients 2017, 9, 38
Authors: Lu Pei-Ying , Shu Long , Shen Shan-Shan , Chen Xu-Jiao , Zhang Xiao-Yan
Published: July 2017

To the Editor: We have read the letter by Alizadeh regarding our article entitled “Dietary Patterns and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis” as published in Nutrients in January 2017 [1].[...]
How Do Pharmacists Develop into Advanced Level Practitioners? Learning from the Experiences of Critical Care Pharmacists
Authors: Seneviratne Ruth , Bradbury Helen , Bourne Richard
Published: July 2017

The national UK standards for critical care highlight the need for clinical pharmacists to practise at an advanced level (equivalent to Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Great Britain, Faculty Advanced Stage II (MFRPSII)) and above. Currently the UK is unable to meet the workforce capacity requirements set out in the national standards in terms of numbers of pharmacist working at advanced level and above. The aim of this study was to identify the strategies, barriers and challenges to achieving Advanced Level Practice (ALP) by learning from the experiences of advanced level critical care pharmacists within the UK. Eight participants were recruited to complete semi-structured interviews on their views and experiences of ALP. The interviews were analysed thematically and three overarching themes were identified; support, work-based learning and reflective practice. The results of this study highlight that to increase the number of MFRPSII level practitioners within critical care support for their ALP development is required. This support involves developing face-to-face access to expert critical care pharmacists within a national training programme. Additionally, chief pharmacists need to implement drivers including in house mentorship and peer review programmes and the need to align job descriptions and appraisals to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Great Britain, Advanced Practice Framework (APF).
Exploring the Potential of Airyscan Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging
Authors: Korobchevskaya Kseniya , Lagerholm B. , Colin-York Huw , Fritzsche Marco
Published: July 2017

Biological research increasingly demands the use of non-invasive and ultra-sensitive imaging techniques. The Airyscan technology was recently developed to bridge the gap between conventional confocal and super-resolution microscopy. This technique combines confocal imaging with a 0.2 Airy Unit pinhole, deconvolution and the pixel-reassignment principle in order to enhance both the spatial resolution and signal-to-noise-ratio without increasing the excitation power and acquisition time. Here, we present a detailed study evaluating the performance of Airyscan as compared to confocal microscopy by imaging a variety of reference samples and biological specimens with different acquisition and processing parameters. We found that the processed Airyscan images at default deconvolution settings have a spatial resolution similar to that of conventional confocal imaging with a pinhole setting of 0.2 Airy Units, but with a significantly improved signal-to-noise-ratio. Further gains in the spatial resolution could be achieved by the use of enhanced deconvolution filter settings, but at a steady loss in the signal-to-noise ratio, which at more extreme settings resulted in significant data loss and image distortion.
Youth and Emerging Adults: The Changing Contexts of Faith and Giving
Authors: Herzog Patricia
Published: July 2017

This is a book about young people—youth and emerging adults.[...]
Ultrasensitive Magnetic Field Sensing Based on Refractive-Index-Matched Coupling
Authors: Rao Jie , Pu Shengli , Yao Tianjun , Su Delong
Published: July 2017

An ultrasensitive magnetic field sensor is proposed and investigated experimentally. The no-core fiber is fusion-spliced between two pieces of single-mode fibers and then immersed in magnetic fluid with an appropriate value of refractive index. Under the refractive-index-matched coupling condition, the guided mode becomes leaky and a coupling wavelength dip in the transmission spectrum of the structure is observed. The coupling wavelength dip is extremely sensitive to the ambient environment. The excellent sensitivity to the refractive index is measured to be 116.681 μm/RIU (refractive index unit) in the refractive index range of 1.45691–1.45926. For the as-fabricated sensors, the highest magnetic field sensing sensitivities of 6.33 and 1.83 nm/mT are achieved at low and high fields, respectively. The sensitivity is considerably enhanced compared with those of previously designed, similar structures.
Residents’ Attitude toward Tourism Development: A Sociocultural Perspective
Authors: Meimand Sajad , Khalifah Zainab , Zavadskas Edmundas , Mardani Abbas , Najafipour Amir , Ahmad Ungku
Published: July 2017

Host population support for tourism development has attracted the attention of researchers in tourism studies. Given the importance of understanding local community support for tourism development, limitations in understanding their priority and lack of a socio-cultural model of support for tourism, this study attempted to model locals’ support for tourism development based on socio-cultural factors in Malaysian Homestay program. Using extensive literature review, a tourism support model was proposed including several hypothesized paths. The proposed socio-cultural research framework predicted the impact of Islamic religiosity, locals’ knowledge about tourism, intrinsic motivation factors and community attachment on locals support for tourism development through mediating variables of perceived socio-cultural benefits and costs in Malaysian Homestays. , the model and paths were tested using structural equation modelling and partial least square algorithm (PLS-SEM) with the aid of SmartPLS software. Findings reveal that locals’ support for tourism development in Homestay program is a function of perceived socio-cultural benefits and costs perceived by local community and four independent variables of Islamic religiosity, knowledge about tourism, intrinsic motivations, and community attachment.
Correlations between Socioeconomic Drivers and Indicators of Urban Expansion: Evidence from the Heavily Urbanised Shanghai Metropolitan Area, China
Authors: Li Jinghui , Fang Wei , Wang Tao , Qureshi Salman , Alatalo Juha , Bai Yang
Published: July 2017

Rapid urban expansion resulting in increased impervious surfaces causes a series of urban environmental problems, e.g., the urban heat island and urban forest fragmentation. Urban expansion is a serious threat to human quality of life and living environments. It has been studied from a variety of aspects, but its driving factors and time series expansion characteristics (i.e., expansion intensity, pattern and direction) need to be better explained in order to devise more effective management strategies. This study examined how social and economic factors are linked in driving urban expansion. Based on multi-temporal aerial images, a rapid urban expansion period, 2000–2010, in Shanghai was analysed. The urban area expanded from 1770.36 to 2855.44 km2 in the period, with a mean annual expansion rate of 108.51 km2. Urban expansion in 2000–2005 (40.42%) was much faster than in 2005–2010 (14.86%), and its direction was southeast, southwest and south. The main pattern was edge expansion in both sub-periods. Social factors, especially population density, significantly affected urban expansion. These findings can help understand the urban expansion process and its driving factors, which has important implications for urban planning and management in Shanghai and similar cities.
Experts’ Analysis of the Quality and Usability of SILVANET Software for Informing Sustainable Forest Management
Authors: Martínez-Falero Jose , Ayuga-Tellez Esperanza , Gonzalez-Garcia Concepcion , Grande-Ortiz M. , Garrido Alvaro
Published: July 2017

It is important today to take account of the opinions of both experts and stakeholders in the sustainable management of forests. SILVANET (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain) is a software package that offers a useful methodology for assessing the preferences of individuals or groups, and applying them to the design of a sustainable forest management plan. The program starts by identifying the personal preferences of the evaluators based on information provided individually when comparing and selecting sustainability options from a series of site pairs. The evaluator is given information on certain sustainability indicators obtained in the area to be assessed. The scope of the evaluator’s knowledge of sustainable forest management and the consistency of his/her decisions is assessed, and he/she is then included in a group of people with similar systems of preferences to encourage interaction between evaluators in the same group. The preferences are characterized by matrices that encode individual assessments, the maximization of their utility and the analysis of past decisions. Finally, by identifying preferences, we are able to design the forest management system that maximizes the concept of sustainability for each individual or group of individuals. In this paper, we present the results of its application to mono-specific conifer forest stands, although it can be adapted to other forest types. The forestry management experts classify its usability as good, although non-expert users give it a lower rating.
Comparison of a Micro-Neutralization Test with the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test for Measuring Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibodies
Authors: Smith Todd , Gilbert Amy
Published: July 2017

The rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) is routinely used in the United States to measure rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (rVNA). RFFIT has a long history of reproducible and reliable results. The test has been modified over the years to use smaller volumes of reagents and samples, but requires a 50 μL minimum volume of test serum. To conduct pathogenesis studies, small laboratory animals such as mice are regularly tested for rVNA, but the minimum volume for a standard RFFIT may be impossible to obtain, particularly in scenarios of repeated sampling. To address this problem, a micro-neutralization test was developed previously. In the current study, the micro-neutralization test was compared to the RFFIT using 129 mouse serum samples from rabies vaccine studies. Using a cut-off value of 0.1 IU/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, and concordance of the micro-neutralization test were 100%, 97.5%, and 98%, respectively. The geometric mean titer of all samples above the cut-off was 2.0 IU/mL using RFFIT and 3.4 IU/mL using the micro-neutralization test, indicating that titers determined using the micro-neutralization test are not equivalent to RFFIT titers. Based on four rVNA-positive hamster serum samples, the intra-assay coefficient of variability was 24% and inter-assay coefficient of variability was 30.4%. These results support continued use of the micro-neutralization test to determine rabies virus neutralizing antibody titers for low-volume serum samples.
Increase in the Amplitude of Line-of-sight Velocities of the Small-scale Motions in a Solar Filament before Eruption
Authors: Seki Daikichi , Otsuji Kenichi , Isobe Hiroaki , Ishii Takako T. , Sakaue Takahito , Hirose Kumi
Published: July 2017

We present a study on the evolution of the small-scale velocity field in a solar filament as it approaches the eruption. The observation was carried out by the Solar Dynamics Doppler Imager (SDDI) that was newly installed on the Solar Magnetic Activity Research Telescope at Hida Observatory. The SDDI obtains a narrowband full-disk image of the Sun at 73 channels from Hα − 9.0 Å to Hα + 9.0 Å, allowing us to study the line-of-sight (LOS) velocity of the filament before and during the eruption. The observed filament is a quiescent filament that erupted on 2016 November 5. We derived the LOS velocity at each pixel in the filament using the Becker’s cloud model, and made the histograms of the LOS velocity at each time. The standard deviation of the LOS velocity distribution can be regarded as a measure for the amplitude of the small-scale motion in the filament. We found that the standard deviation on the previous day of the eruption was mostly constant around 2–3 km s−1, and it slightly increased to 3–4 km s−1 on the day of the eruption. It shows a further increase, with a rate of 1.1 m s−2, about three hours before eruption, and another increase, with a rate of 2.8 m s−2, about an hour before eruption. From this result we suggest that the increase in the amplitude of the small-scale motions in a filament can be regarded as a precursor of the eruption.
Attractivité, fidélisation et implication du personnel des EHPAD : une problématique sectorielle et de management
Authors: Petit Renaud , Zardet Véronique
Published: July 2017

Le vieillissement de la population en France se traduit par des besoins sans cesse accrus de prise en charge des personnes âgées dépendantes. Toutefois, le marché du travail s’avère paradoxal car, malgré un taux de chômage élevé de la population active, les établissements du secteur médico-social et principalement les Établissements D’Hébergement pour Personnes Âgées Dépendantes (EHPAD) ont peine à embaucher et à fidéliser leurs personnels. Notre problématique porte donc sur le lien entre l’attractivité des EHPAD aux yeux des professionnels de soin du secteur et leurs pratiques managériales d’implication et de fidélisation de leurs personnels. Sur la base d’une recherche-intervention auprès de huit établissements à but non lucratif, nos travaux visent, en premier lieu, à décrire l’analyse des données sur l’attractivité et la fidélisation des personnels soignants des EHPAD. Cette analyse s’avère complexe et dépend de nombreuses variables telles que le territoire d’implantation, le statut juridique, la coopération inter-organisationnelle, l’image-même du métier... Dans un second temps, les observations des organisations rencontrées illustrent une hétérogénéité des impacts de l’attractivité. L’attractivité est une problématique à la fois sectorielle et d’établissement, et au-delà du simple concept d’attractivité, ceux de la fidélisation et de l’implication des personnels soignants sont étroitement imbriqués dans l’analyse des situations réelles. Enfin, cet article identifie quelques pistes de gestion des ressources humaines pour développer l’implication, la fidélisation et par conséquent l’attractivité des EHPAD.
Luossa and Laks
Authors: Law John , Joks Solveig
Published: July 2017

When technoscience and state policy interact with indigenous knowledges and practices they usually do so asymmetrically. Within relations of domination indigenous knowledges are treated as ‘beliefs’ or ‘culture’ whereas technoscience qualifies as ‘knowledge’ or truth. This paper explores one such interaction: a controversy in north Norway and Finland between biological modellers and policymakers on the one hand, and Sámi fisherpeople on the other. The scientists and the policymakers argue that salmon numbers are falling in the Deatnu (Tana) river as a result of overfishing, and seek to limit fishing. Local fishermen partially agree, but argue that other factors (and especially the protection of predators) are also crucial. They also resist restrictions being imposed on local (and often Sámi) driftnet fishing practices. The paper treats this controversy as epistemological, political and metaphysical, with a particular focus on the last of these. The metaphysical assumptions enacted by technoscience –and in particular its commitments to nature-culture dualism and a singular ‘one-world’ ontology– are explored. These commitments are shown to be absent in Sámi practices. It is argued, following other work in postcolonial anthropology, that those embedded assumptions prevent technoscience and policy practices from recognising metaphysical difference, and so allow policymakers and scientists to refuse the possibility that there might be multiple and different worlds. The paper concludes by arguing that if less dominatory relations between science and policy on the one hand, and Sámi practices and knowledges on the other, are to be achieved it will be important to attend: (a) to the down-to-earth material practices of knowledge production; and (b) to the significance of metaphysical difference within and between those practices. It will also be important: (c) to create ways of knowing that recognise and enact differences rather than hoping to seek consensus.
L’espace de l’activité : Une construction conjointe de l’activité et de l’espace
Authors: Heddad Nadia
Published: July 2017

Toute activité humaine requiert un espace. La situation de travail n’échappe pas à cette exigence. Ce texte apporte un éclairage sur la relation et le rôle de l’espace dans la réalisation de l’activité. L’objet de la réflexion consiste à revisiter la notion d’espace dans la situation de travail. Les résultats d’une analyse du travail réalisée en milieu postal sont exploités pour proposer le concept d’espace de l’activité. Il s’agit de l’espace modelé et agi dans et par l’activité de travail. Il s’inscrit dans un double cadre théorique, construit sur la base de l’approche instrumentale et de la théorie de l’énaction. L’approche instrumentale permet de montrer comment l’espace donné est modifié et ajusté dans l’activité. L’artefact comporte le dispositif matériel (éléments du bâti, matériels), mais aussi organisationnel (agencements). La théorie défendue par l’énaction vise à saisir la dimension émergente de l’espace de l’activité dans sa construction simultanée et imbriquée au déroulé de l’activité, notamment dans le faire des agents en situation. Elle permet de mettre la focale sur les formes d’interaction et communications (verbales ou non) s’appuyant sur l’espace. La visée est de développer en ergonomie la réflexion sur la dimension spatiale. Le concept d’espace de l’activité constitue une nouvelle unité d’analyse permettant la prise en compte de la dimension spatiale propre à l’activité dans la situation de travail.
Focusing on the Extracted Data from STEP CAD Files for Prismatic Surfaces
Authors: Koura Omar Monir
Published: July 2017

A CAD/CAM system has become a dominant system in modern production techniques. In the attempts to facilitate the transfer of design data and geometry between the huge varieties of the International working CAD/CAM systems, the International Standard for the Exchange of Product coding system (STEP) is introduced (ISO Step AP-203). Extraction of the entities is the first step in the automated programming either for process planning, product classification or in programming for Numerical Control Machine Tools. This step is the aim of this paper in a line of several steps to build a complete CAD/CAM system for manufacturing of complicated products. A methodology is developed to extract each entity. Software has been built using Visual Studio C# - Version 2010. Interface is designed giving all the entities and showing the geometrical shape of the product. Different cases have been tested to verify the developed software and full successfulresults were obtained.
A Chaotic Krill Herd Algorithm for Optimal Solution of the Economic Dispatch Problem
Authors: Bachir Bentouati , Saliha Chettih , El-Sehiemy Ragab Abdelaziz
Published: July 2017

The aim of economic dispatch (ED) problem is to provide an efficient utilization of energy resources to produce economic and secure operating conditions for the planning and operation of a power system. ED is formed as a nonlinear optimization problem with conflicting objectives and subjected to both inequality and equality constraints. An efficient improvement of krill herd (KH) algorithm, a powerful metaheuristic method, has been introduced in this paper. The KH algorithm inspired by the Lagrangian and evolutionary behaviour of the krill people in nature, has been investigated to solve ED problem on 6, 13, 20 and 40 generating units. The proposed chaotic krill herd (CKH)) improvement is done by incorporating the chaos approach to KH algorithm for raising the global convergence speed and for enhancing its performance. The elitism scheme serves to save the best krill during the procedure when updating the krill. The results show clearly the superiority of CKH in searching for the best cost value results when compared with well-known metaheuristic search algorithms.
Effect of Electrode Materials Type on Resistance Spot Welding of AISI 430 Ferritic Stainless Steel
Authors: Onsekiz Murat , ALTUNPAK Yahya
Published: July 2017

In this study, AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel sheet with 0.6 mm thickness was joined by resistance spot welding using different electrode materials. The effects of electrode materials and welding parameters on the mechanical properties of welded samples are defined in terms of peak load. The hardness and tensile shear load bearing capacity of welded joint was determined and the microstructure of welded samples was also evaluated. The most suitable welding parameters for each electrode material were determined.
A Production Method for Wear-Resistant Deposited Coatings Modified with TiN Particles
Authors: Artem'ev Alexander , Sokolov Gennady , Antonov Aleksey , Zorin Ilya , Dubtsov Yuri , Lysak Vladimir I.
Published: July 2017

A method of arc surfacing with a consumable electrode and a flux-cored wire containing titanium nitride micro-and nanoparticles added to the weld pool was developed. The influence of the modifier on the structure and properties of the deposited coatings was studied.
Structural Characteristics of Diamond-Like Carbon Films Synthesized by Different Methods
Authors: Zolkin Alexander , Semerikova Anna , Chepkasov Sergey , Khomyakov Maksim
Published: July 2017

In the present study, the Raman spectra of diamond-like amorphous (a-C) and hydrogenated amorphous (a-C:H) carbon films on silicon obtained using the ion-beam methods and the pulse cathodic arc deposition technique were investigated with the aim of elucidating the relation between the hardness and structure of the films. The hardness of the samples used in the present study was 19 – 45 GPa. Hydrogenated carbon films were synthesized using END–Hall ion sources and a linear anode layer ion source (LIS) on single-crystal silicon substrates. The gas precursors were CH4 and C3H8, and the rate of the gas flow fed into the ion source was 4.4 to 10 sccm. The ion energies ranged from 150 to 600 eV. a-C films were deposited onto Si substrates using the pulse cathodic arc deposition technique. The films obtained by the pulse arc technique contained elements with an ordered structure. In the films synthesized using low- (150 eV) and high-energy (600 eV) ions beams, an amorphous phase was the major phase. The significant blurriness of the diffraction rings in the electron diffraction patterns due to a large film thickness (180 – 250 nm) did not allow distinctly observing the signals from the elements with an ordered structure against the background of an amorphous phase.
Metallographic Study of Mesostructure-Ordered Plasma Ceramic Coatings
Authors: Bogdanovich Valery I. , Giorbelidze Mikhail G.
Published: July 2017

This article provides the reader with results of the study of mesostructure ordered plasma ceramic coatings derived from narrow-fraction powders under optimum modes for this fraction. It is noted that it is succeeded to implement mesostructure ordering of coatings eliminating the formation of continuous columnar structures by means of spraying mode control. It is proven that it is possible to get formation of nanocolumnar structures in a near surface layer, and these structures provide bonds damping between clusters under alternating force and thermal loads of coated parts. To evaluate the quality of formed ordered structure, a quantitative criterion—mesostructure ordering coefficient—is used. The Methods of quantitative evaluation of mesoordering of coating structure has been developed.