bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Type-4 Resistant Starch in Substitution for Available Carbohydrate Reduces Postprandial Glycemic Response and Hunger in Acute, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study
Authors: Stewart Maria , Wilcox Meredith , Bell Marjorie , Buggia Mary , Maki Kevin
Published: January 2018

Resistant starch (RS) is a type of dietary fiber that has been acknowledged for multiple physiological benefits. Resistant starch type 4 (RS4) is a subcategory of RS that has been more intensively studied as new types of RS4 emerge in the food supply. The primary aim of this randomized, double-blind, controlled study was to characterize the postprandial glucose response in healthy adults after consuming a high fiber scone containing a novel RS4 or a low fiber control scone without RS4. Secondary aims included assessment of postprandial insulin response, postprandial satiety, and gastrointestinal tolerance. The fiber scone significantly reduced postprandial glucose and insulin incremental areas under the curves (43–45% reduction, 35–40% reduction, respectively) and postprandial glucose and insulin maximum concentrations (8–10% and 22% reduction, respectively). The fiber scone significantly reduced hunger and desire to eat during the 180 min following consumption and yielded no gastrointestinal side effects compared with the control scone. The results from this study demonstrate that a ready-to-eat baked-good, such as a scone, can be formulated with RS4 replacing refined wheat flour to yield statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in blood glucose and insulin excursions. This is the first study to report increased satiety after short-term RS4 intake, which warrants further investigation in long-term feeding studies.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of (S)-Ketoprofen Co-Administered with Caffeine: A Preclinical Study in Arthritic Rats
Authors: Medina-López Raúl , Vara-Gama Nancy , Soria-Arteche Olivia , Moreno-Rocha Luis , López-Muñoz Francisco
Published: January 2018

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether caffeine modifies the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of (S)-ketoprofen following oral administration in a gout-type pain model. 3.2 mg/kg of (S)-ketoprofen alone and combined with 17.8 mg/kg of caffeine were administered to Wistar rats and plasma levels were determined between 0.5 and 24.0 h. Additionally, antinociception was evaluated based on the protocol of the PIFIR (pain-induced functional impairment in the rat) model before blood sampling between 0.5 and 4.0 h. Significant differences in Cmax, AUC0-24, and AUC0-∞ values were observed with caffeine administration (p < 0.05). Also, significant differences in Emax, Tmax, and AUC0-4 values were determined when comparing the treatments with and without caffeine (p < 0.05). By relating the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data, a counter-clockwise hysteresis loop was observed regardless of the administration of caffeine. When the relationship between AUCe and AUCp was fitted to the sigmoidal Emax model, a satisfactory correlation was found (R2 > 0.99) as well as significant differences in Emax and EC50 values (p < 0.05). With caffeine, Emax and EC50 values changed by 489.5% and 695.4%, respectively. The combination studied represents a convenient alternative for the treatment of pain when considering the advantages offered by using drugs with different mechanisms of action.
Studies of Interfacial Interaction between Polymer Components on Helical Nanofiber Formation via Co-Electrospinning
Authors: Wu Huihui , Zhao Shihang , Ding Wenhua , Han Lei
Published: January 2018

Helical fibers in nanoscale have been of increasing interest due to their unique characteristics. To explore the effect of polymer type on helical fiber formation, three polymer systems, Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (Nomex)/polyurethane (TPU), polystyrene (PS)/TPU and polyacrylonitril (PAN)/TPU are used to fabricate helical nanofibers via co-electrospinning. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Zeta potential were employed to investigate the interfacial interaction between the two phases of the polymer system. The larger rigidity differential of Nomex and TPU leads to a larger interfacial interaction. The hydrogen bonds help to increase the interfacial interaction between Nomex and TPU components. The attractive force between the chloride-ions contained in Nomex molecules and the free charges on the solution surface lead to a longitudinal interfacial interaction in the Nomex/TPU system. The analysis results provide the explanation of the experimental results that the Nomex/TPU system has the greatest potential for producing helical nanofibers, while the PS/TPU and PAN/TPU systems cannot fabricate helical fibers effectively. This study based on the interfacial interaction between polymer components provides an insight into the mechanism of helical fiber formation.
Improving Photovoltaic Properties of P3HT:IC60BA through the Incorporation of Small Molecules
Authors: Xu Binrui , Sai-Anand Gopalan , Gopalan Anantha-Iyengar , Qiao Qiquan , Kang Shin-Won
Published: January 2018

We investigated the role of a functional solid additive, 2,3-dihydroxypyridine (DHP), in influencing the optoelectronic, morphological, structural and photovoltaic properties of bulk-heterojunction-based polymer solar cells (BHJ PSCs) fabricated using poly(3-hexylthiophene): indene-C60 bisadduct (P3HT:IC60BA) photoactive medium. A dramatic increase in the power conversion efficiency (~20%) was witnessed for the BHJ PSCs treated with DHP compared to the pristine devices. A plausible explanation describing the alignment of pyridine moieties of DHP with the indene side groups of IC60BA is presented with a view to improving the performance of the BHJ PSCs via improved crystalline order and hydrophobicity changes.
The Dispersion of Pulp-Fiber in High-Density Polyethylene via Different Fabrication Processes
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Wang Guangzhao , Miao Menghe , Yue Jinquan , Hao Jianxiu , Wang Weihong
Published: January 2018

In this study, a pulp beating machine was used to premix the pulp fibers with high density polyethylene (HDPE) particles in water. The wet or pre-dried pulp fiber/HDPE mixture was then melt-compounded by a twin screw extruder. For further improving the dispersion of pulp fiber, some mixture was forced to pass through the twin-screw extruder twice. The resulting mixture was compression molded to the composite. The fiber distribution was observed by the aid of an optic and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical and rheological properties and creep resistance of the composites were characterized. Test results demonstrate that when the wet pulp fiber/HDPE mixture was subjected to pre-pressing and oven drying prior to extrusion compounding, the resulting composites exhibited homogeneous fiber distribution, superior flexural property, creep-resistance, and high storage modulus. Particularly, its flexural strength and modulus were 57% and 222% higher, respectively, than that of the neat HDPE, while the composites prepared without pre-dried were 19% and 100% higher, respectively. Drying the wet mixture in advance is more effective than re-passing through the extruder for improving the fiber dispersion and composite performance.
Control of the Singular Points Location for Miniature Switches with Magnetically Driven Contacts
Authors: Wang Xin , Habrych Marcin , Miedzinski Bogdan , Wosik Julian
Published: January 2018

This paper presents and discusses usefulness and possibility of control of the singular points location of a driving magnetic field under as structure considerations as well as selection of energizing magnet systems for miniature electromagnetic switches. The sample results of theoretical analysis and experimental testing concern selected reed switches with normally open contacts as well as a developed miniature switch with a metallic ball contact. It must be noted that the switch with the contact performed by means of the metallic tiny ball can be effectively used both as a change-over switch as well as a detector of the energizing magnetic field distribution under designing and assembling of any electromagnetic contact device preferably with an increased degree of integration and miniaturization.
A Novel Inverse Solution of Contact Force Based on a Sparse Tactile Sensor Array
Authors: Liu Weiting , Gu Chunxin , Zeng Ruimin , Yu Ping , Fu Xin
Published: January 2018

High-density tactile sensing has been pursued for humanoid robotic hands to obtain contact force information while the elastomer skin cover is traditionally considered to impair the force discrimination. In this work, we try to utilize the diffusion effect of the elastomer cover to identify an arbitrary contact force load just based on a sparse tactile sensor array. By numerical analysis, we proved the monotonous relation between the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the relative distance of two single-force loads. Then, we meshed the elastomer surface and conducted the calibration load process to establish the calibration database of the sensing outputs. Afterwards, we applied the correlation method to the database and the sensing output of the unknown load to determine its location and intensity. For validation tests of the proposed method, we designed and fabricated a 3 × 3 sparse tactile sensor array with flat elastomer cover and established an automatic three-axis loading system. The validation tests were implemented including 100 random points with force intensity ranging from 0.1 to 1 N. The test results show that the method has good accuracy of detecting force load with the mean location error of 0.46 mm and the mean intensity error of 0.043 N, which meets the basic requirements of tactile sensing. Therefore, it is feasible for the sparse tactile sensor array to realize high-density load detection.
A Novel Grid SINS/DVL Integrated Navigation Algorithm for Marine Application
Authors: Kang Yingyao , Zhao Lin , Cheng Jianhua , Wu Mouyan , Fan Xiaoliang
Published: January 2018

Integrated navigation algorithms under the grid frame have been proposed based on the Kalman filter (KF) to solve the problem of navigation in some special regions. However, in the existing study of grid strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS)/Doppler velocity log (DVL) integrated navigation algorithms, the Earth models of the filter dynamic model and the SINS mechanization are not unified. Besides, traditional integrated systems with the KF based correction scheme are susceptible to measurement errors, which would decrease the accuracy and robustness of the system. In this paper, an adaptive robust Kalman filter (ARKF) based hybrid-correction grid SINS/DVL integrated navigation algorithm is designed with the unified reference ellipsoid Earth model to improve the navigation accuracy in middle-high latitude regions for marine application. Firstly, to unify the Earth models, the mechanization of grid SINS is introduced and the error equations are derived based on the same reference ellipsoid Earth model. Then, a more accurate grid SINS/DVL filter model is designed according to the new error equations. Finally, a hybrid-correction scheme based on the ARKF is proposed to resist the effect of measurement errors. Simulation and experiment results show that, compared with the traditional algorithms, the proposed navigation algorithm can effectively improve the navigation performance in middle-high latitude regions by the unified Earth models and the ARKF based hybrid-correction scheme.
Electrochemical Biosensors - Sensor Principles and Architectures
Authors: Grieshaber Dorothee , MacKenzie Robert , Vörös Janos , Reimhult Erik
Published: January 2018

Quantification of biological or biochemical processes are of utmost importance for medical, biological and biotechnological applications. However, converting the biological information to an easily processed electronic signal is challenging due to the complexity of connecting an electronic device directly to a biological environment. Electrochemical biosensors provide an attractive means to analyze the content of a biological sample due to the direct conversion of a biological event to an electronic signal. Over the past decades several sensing concepts and related devices have been developed. In this review, the most common traditional techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry, impedance spectroscopy, and various field-effect transistor based methods are presented along with selected promising novel approaches, such as nanowire or magnetic nanoparticle-based biosensing. Additional measurement techniques, which have been shown useful in combination with electrochemical detection, are also summarized, such as the electrochemical versions of surface plasmon resonance, optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy, ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance, and scanning probe microscopy. The signal transduction and the general performance of electrochemical sensors are often determined by the surface architectures that connect the sensing element to the biological sample at the nanometer scale. The most common surface modification techniques, the various electrochemical transduction mechanisms, and the choice of the recognition receptor molecules all influence the ultimate sensitivity of the sensor. New nanotechnology-based approaches, such as the use of engineered ion-channels in lipid bilayers, the encapsulation of enzymes into vesicles, polymersomes, or polyelectrolyte capsules provide additional possibilities for signal amplification. In particular, this review highlights the importance of the precise control over the delicate interplay between surface nano-architectures, surface functionalization and the chosen sensor transducer principle, as well as the usefulness of complementary characterization tools to interpret and to optimize the sensor response.
Bonding and Bridging Forms of Social Capital in Wildlife Tourism Microentrepreneurship: An Application of Social Network Analysis
Authors: KC Birendra , Morais Duarte , Seekamp Erin , Smith Jordan , Peterson M.
Published: January 2018

Tourism has been recognized as an important economic sector, requiring a high degree of involvement from the entrepreneurial sector to diversify tourism products and services to meet increasing demand. Tourism is often considered a tool for economic development and a strategy to improve the livelihoods of rural citizens. Specifically, nature-based tourism, such as wildlife tourism, is growing faster than tourism in general, providing a myriad of opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurial engagement. However, several obstacles exist for these small-scale tourism enterprises, such as a lack of social capital. This study examined a network of wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs for bonding and bridging forms of social capital using a social network analysis approach, where bonding and bridging social capital have their own interpretation. Thirty-seven in-person interviews were conducted with wildlife tourism microentrepreneurs from North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound Region. The study revealed that microentrepreneurs interacted with each other in a bridging network structure. The ability to reciprocate with other members of the network was essential for business success. The results identified four key bridging ties connecting potential sub-groups in the network, connected to each other in a redundant fashion. We concluded that the formation of a bridging network structure was a function of entrepreneurial phenomena that may not promote a highly trusted, well-connected network. The findings and implications are further discussed in the paper.
Comparison of Modeling Grassland Degradation with and without Considering Localized Spatial Associations in Vegetation Changing Patterns
Authors: Wang Yuwei , Wang Zhenyu , Li Ruren , Meng Xiaoliang , Ju Xingjun , Zhao Yuguo , Sha Zongyao
Published: January 2018

Grassland ecosystems worldwide are confronted with degradation. It is of great importance to understand long-term trajectory patterns of grassland vegetation by advanced analytical models. This study proposes a new approach called a binary logistic regression model with neighborhood interactions, or BLR-NIs, which is based on binary logistic regression (BLR), but fully considers the spatio-temporally localized spatial associations or characterization of neighborhood interactions (NIs) in the patterns of grassland vegetation. The BLR-NIs model was applied to a modeled vegetation degradation of grasslands in the Xilin river basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Residual trend analysis on the normalized difference vegetation index (RESTREND-NDVI), which excluded the climatic impact on vegetation dynamics, was adopted as a preprocessing step to derive three human-induced trajectory patterns (vegetation degradation, vegetation recovery, and no significant change in vegetation) during two consecutive periods, T1 (2000–2008) and T2 (2007–2015). Human activities, including livestock grazing intensity and transportation accessibility measured by road network density, were included as explanatory variables for vegetation degradation, which was defined for locations if vegetation recovery or no significant change in vegetation in T1 and vegetation degradation in T2 were observed. Our work compared the results of BLR-NIs and the traditional BLR model that did not consider NIs. The study showed that: (1) both grazing intensity and road density had a positive correlation to vegetation degradation based on the traditional BLR model; (2) only road density was found to positively correlate to vegetation degradation by the BLR-NIs model; NIs appeared to be critical factors to predict vegetation degradation; and (3) including NIs in the BLR model improved the model performance substantially. The study provided evidence for the importance of including localized spatial associations between the trajectory patterns for mapping vegetation degradation, which has practical implications for designing management policies to counterpart grassland degradation in arid and semi-arid areas.
Dependence Structures and Systemic Risk of Government Securities Markets in Central and Eastern Europe: A CoVaR-Copula Approach
Authors: Yang Lu , Ma Jason Z. , Hamori Shigeyuki
Published: January 2018

In this study, we proposed a new empirical method by combining generalized autoregressive score functions and a copula model with high-frequency data to model the conditional time-varying joint distribution of the government bond yields between Poland/Czech Republic/Hungary, and Germany. Capturing the conditional time-varying joint distribution of these bond yields allowed us to precisely measure the dependence of the government securities markets. In particular, we found a high dependence of these government securities markets in the long term, but a low dependence in the short term. In addition, we report that the Czech Republic showed the highest dependence with Germany, while Hungary showed the lowest. Moreover, we found that the systemic risk dynamics were consistent with the idea that the global financial crisis not only had spillover effects on countries with weak economic fundamentals (e.g., Hungary, which had the highest systemic risk), but also had contagion effects for both CEEC-3 countries and Germany. Finally, we confirm that three major market events, namely the EU accession, the global financial crisis, and the European debt crisis, caused structural changes to the dynamic correlation.
A Review of Eight High-Priority, Economically Important Viral Pathogens of Poultry within the Caribbean Region
Authors: Brown Jordan Arianne , Gongora Victor , Hartley Dane , Oura Christopher
Published: January 2018

Viral pathogens cause devastating economic losses in poultry industries worldwide. The Caribbean region, which boasts some of the highest rates of poultry consumption in the world, is no exception. This review summarizes evidence for the circulation and spread of eight high-priority, economically important poultry viruses across the Caribbean region. Avian influenza virus (AIV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), fowl adenovirus group 1 (FADV Gp1), and egg drop syndrome virus (EDSV) were selected for review. This review of serological, molecular, and phylogenetic studies across Caribbean countries reveals evidence for sporadic outbreaks of respiratory disease caused by notifiable viral pathogens (AIV, IBV, NDV, and ILTV), as well as outbreaks of diseases caused by immunosuppressive viral pathogens (IBDV and FADV Gp1). This review highlights the need to strengthen current levels of surveillance and reporting for poultry diseases in domestic and wild bird populations across the Caribbean, as well as the need to strengthen the diagnostic capacity and capability of Caribbean national veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
Point de vue sur l'évolution récente de la spéléologie : conséquences sur l'exploration et la recherche scientifique
Authors: Maire Richard
Published: January 2018

Depuis 20 à 30 ans, la spéléologie mondiale a fait des

progrès immenses. En 1975, seuls 3 gouffres situés en France (Berger, Pierre Saint-Martin, Jean-Bernard) dépassaient 1 000 m de profondeur. En 1980, on en comptait 11 et début 1995, une cinquantaine ! Ce "boom" des explorations est lié à un ensemble de facteurs : facilités de déplacement, développement des expéditions à l'étranger, techniques de désobstruction, développement de la plongée, publication des résultats, étude des topographies. Le point de départ correspond à la mise au point en France des techniques alpines (progression sur corde simple) et leur application dans des cavités profondes et difficiles dès la fin des années 60 (Vercors, Chartreuse, Pyrénées) provoquant une révolution dans les mentalités. Sur le plan scientifique, cette évolution accélérée des explorations spéléologiques a beaucoup apporté. Grâce aux topographies des cavités et à l'addition progressive de nouveaux passages, on voit les réseaux souterrains s'agrandir. Ces données irremplaçables constituent un moyen objectif pour comprendre l'organisation des systèmes karstiques, même si certains s'emploient à dire que les réseaux souterrains explorés ne représentent qu'une faible partie de la réalité. De plus en plus, on remarque que les réseaux alpins sont souvent assez vieux, certains étant sans doute antérieurs aux glaciations quaternaires. Dans les karsts tropicaux, les recherches ont également fait des progrès importants, notamment dans trois pays pilotes : le Mexique (avec sept -1 000), la Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée (avec ses puits et torrents souterrains sous la jungle équatoriale, et son 1er -1 000), et surtout la Chine avec ses karsts et ses grottes-tunnels légendaires. Enfin, c'est la plongée souterraine qui aujourd'hui fait des progrès spectaculaires. En plus des siphons très longs explorés au cours des années 80, la plongée aux mélanges a permis d'atteindre des profondeurs étonnantes (Sheck EXLEY) : -262 m à Bushmangat (Afrique du Sud) et -267 m dans la source vauclusienne du Rio Mante (Mexique) sondée jusqu'à -329 m ! Il faut rendre hommage au courage et à la grande technicité des plongeurs qui ont fait faire un bond remarquable dans la recherche spéléologique. En spéléologie alpine, la prochaine révolution technique qui s'amorce déjà viendra entre autres d'un allégement conséquent du matériel.
Wafer-scale bioactive substrate patterning by chemical lift-off lithography
Authors: Chen Chong-You , Wang Chang-Ming , Li Hsiang-Hua , Chan Hong-Hseng , Liao Wei-Ssu
Published: January 2018

The creation of bioactive substrates requires an appropriate interface molecular environment control and adequate biological species recognition with minimum nonspecific attachment. Herein, a straightforward approach utilizing chemical lift-off lithography to create a diluted self-assembled monolayer matrix for anchoring diverse biological probes is introduced. The strategy encompasses convenient operation, well-tunable pattern feature and size, large-area fabrication, high resolution and fidelity control, and the ability to functionalize versatile bioarrays. With the interface-contact-induced reaction, a preformed alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer on a Au surface is ruptured and a unique defect-rich diluted matrix is created. This post lift-off region is found to be suitable for insertion of a variety of biological probes, which allows for the creation of different types of bioactive substrates. Depending on the modifications to the experimental conditions, the processes of direct probe insertion, molecular structure change-required recognition, and bulky biological species binding are all accomplished with minimum nonspecific adhesion. Furthermore, multiplexed arrays via the integration of microfluidics are also achieved, which enables diverse applications of as-prepared substrates. By embracing the properties of well-tunable pattern feature dimension and geometry, great local molecular environment control, and wafer-scale fabrication characteristics, this chemical lift-off process has advanced conventional bioactive substrate fabrication into a more convenient route.
Hearing Screening in the Community
Authors: Saunders Gabrielle H. , Frederick Melissa T. , Silverman ShienPei C. , Penman Tina , Gardner Austin , Chisolm Theresa H. , Escabi Celia D. , Oree Preyanca H. , Westermann Laura C. , Sanchez Victoria A. , Arnold Michelle L.
Published: January 2018

Background:Adults typically wait 7‐10 yr after noticing hearing problems before seeking help, possibly because they are unaware of the extent of their impairment. Hearing screenings, frequently conducted at health fairs, community events, and retirement centers can increase
this awareness. To our knowledge, there are no published studies in which testing conditions and outcomes have been examined for multiple “typical screening events.”Purpose:The purpose of this article is to report hearing screening outcomes for pure tones and self-report
screening tests and to examine their relationship with ambient noise levels in various screening environments.Study Sample:One thousand nine hundred fifty-four individuals who completed a hearing screening at one of 191 community-based screening events that took place in the Portland,
OR, and Tampa, FL, metro areas.Data Collection and Analysis:The data were collected during the recruitment phase of a large multisite study. All participants received a hearing screening that consisted of otoscopy, pure-tone screening, and completion of the Hearing Handicap Inventory‐Screening
Version (HHI-S). In addition, ambient sound pressure levels were measured just before pure-tone testing.Results:Many more individuals failed the pure-tone screening (n = 1,238) and then failed the HHI-S (n = 796). The percentage of individuals who failed the pure-tone screening increased
linearly with age from <20% for ages <45 yr to almost 100% for individuals aged ≥85 yr. On the other hand, the percentage of individuals who failed the HHI-S remained unchanged at approximately 40% for individuals aged ≥55 yr. Ambient noise levels varied considerably across the
hearing screening locations. They impacted the pure-tone screen failure rate but not the HHI-S failure rate.Conclusions:It is important to select screening locations with a quiet space for pure-tone screening, use headphones with good passive attenuation, measure sound levels regularly
during hearing screening events, halt testing if ambient noise levels are high, and/or alert individuals to the possibility of a false-positive screening failure. The data substantiate prior findings that the relationship between pure-tone sensitivity and reported hearing loss changes with
age. Although it might be possible to develop age-specific HHI-S failure criteria to adjust for this, such an endeavor is not recommended because perceived difficulties are the best predictor of hearing health behaviors. Instead, it is proposed that a public health focus on education about
hearing and hearing loss would be more effective.
Optimization of natural gas transport pipeline network layout: a new methodology based on dominance degree model
Authors: Zhu Zhenjun , Sun Chaoxu , Zeng Jun , Chen Guowei
Published: January 2018

At the phase of 13-th five-year plan in China, natural gas will play an important role in energy revolution. With the growth of consumption, natural gas infrastructures will become hot spots of future investment and pipeline network construction will also usher in a period of rapid development. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to study layout methods of transport pipeline network. This paper takes natural gas transport pipeline network as a research object, introduces dominance degree to analyse benefits of pipeline projects. Then, this paper proposes Dominance Degree Model (DDM) of transport pipeline projects based on Potential Model (PM) and Economic Potential Theory (EPT). According to DDM of gas transport pipeline projects, layout methods of pipeline network are put forward, which is simple and easy to obtain the overall optimal solution and ensure maximum comprehensive benefits. What’s more, construction sequences of gas transport pipeline projects can be also determined. Finally, the model is applied to a real case of natural gas transport pipeline projects in Zhejiang Province, China. The calculation results suggest that the model should deal with the transport pipeline network layout problem well, which have important implications for other potential pipeline networks not only in the Zhejiang Province but also throughout China and beyond.
Optical Photometric Monitoring for 3C 66A during 1996–2009 and Its Periodicity Analysis
Authors: Fan J. H. , Tao J. , Liu Y. , Yuan Y. H. , Sawangwit Utane , Yang J. H. , Huang Y. , Zhang Y. T. , Zhang J. Y. , Zhang L. X. , Zhu J. T.
Published: January 2018

3C 66A is one of the most interesting blazars and one of our monitoring objects carried out with the 1.56 m telescope at Sheshan station, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (ShAO). It has been monitored since 1996 December 11. In the present work, we show its optical light curves during the period of 1996 December 11–2009 December 28. From our observations, we found that the largest variations in the V, R, and I bands are

,

mag, and ΔI = 1.659 ± 0.047 mag, respectively. Intra-day variabilities are found in the three bands: in the V band, an A = 17.7% brightness increase over

minutes on JD 2455119, and an

brightness increase over

minutes on JD 2454816; in the R band, an

brightness increase over

minutes on JD 2454004, and an

brightness increase over

minutes on JD 2453995; and in the I band, an

brightness decrease over ΔT = 38.44 minutes on JD 2453995, and an

brightness decrease over ΔT = 344.02 minutes on JD 2454818. For micro-variability, we found that R variability leads I variability by 25.92 ± 1.09 minutes. When the periodicity analysis methods, with the red noise being considered, are adopted to the V, R, and I observations, we can find that the periodogram to the V data is consistent with red noise, except for 1 CLEANest peak corresponding to the timescale of 696.0 ± 182.0 days, those to the R data are 653.0 ± 171.0 and 156.0 ± 17.0 days; and those to the I data are 801.0 ± 207.0 and 156.0 ± 15.0 days, respectively.
The California-Kepler Survey. IV. Metal-rich Stars Host a Greater Diversity of Planets
Authors: Petigura Erik A. , Marcy Geoffrey W. , Winn Joshua N. , Weiss Lauren M. , Fulton Benjamin J. , Howard Andrew W. , Sinukoff Evan , Isaacson Howard , Morton Timothy D. , Johnson John Asher
Published: January 2018

Probing the connection between a star’s metallicity and the presence and properties of any associated planets offers an observational link between conditions during the epoch of planet formation and mature planetary systems. We explore this connection by analyzing the metallicities of Kepler target stars and the subset of stars found to host transiting planets. After correcting for survey incompleteness, we measure planet occurrence: the number of planets per 100 stars with a given metallicity M. Planet occurrence correlates with metallicity for some, but not all, planet sizes and orbital periods. For warm super-Earths having P = 10–100 days and

 = 1.0–1.7 

, planet occurrence is nearly constant over metallicities spanning −0.4 to +0.4 dex. We find 20 warm super-Earths per 100 stars, regardless of metallicity. In contrast, the occurrence of warm sub-Neptunes (

= 1.7–4.0

) doubles over that same metallicity interval, from 20 to 40 planets per 100 stars. We model the distribution of planets as

, where β characterizes the strength of any metallicity correlation. This correlation steepens with decreasing orbital period and increasing planet size. For warm super-Earths β = 

, while for hot Jupiters β = 

. High metallicities in protoplanetary disks may increase the mass of the largest rocky cores or the speed at which they are assembled, enhancing the production of planets larger than 1.7 

. The association between high metallicity and short-period planets may reflect disk density profiles that facilitate the inward migration of solids or higher rates of planet–planet scattering.
A Testable Conspiracy: Simulating Baryonic Effects on Self-interacting Dark Matter Halos
Authors: Elbert Oliver D. , Bullock James S. , Kaplinghat Manoj , Garrison-Kimmel Shea , Graus Andrew S. , Rocha Miguel
Published: January 2018

We investigate the response of self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) halos to the growth of galaxy potentials using idealized simulations, with each run in tandem with collisionless cold dark matter (CDM). We find that if the stellar potential strongly dominates in the central parts of a galaxy, then SIDM halos can be as dense as CDM halos on observable scales. For extreme cases, core collapse can occur, leading to SIDM halos that are denser and cuspier than their CDM counterparts. If the stellar potential is not dominant, then SIDM halos retain isothermal cores with densities far below CDM predictions. When a disk is present, the inner SIDM halo becomes more flattened in the disk plane than the CDM halo. These results are in excellent quantitative agreement with the predictions of Kaplinghat et al. We also simulated a cluster halo with a central stellar distribution similar to the brightest central galaxy of the cluster A2667. An SIDM halo simulated with the cross-section over mass

provides a good match to the measured dark matter (DM) density profile, while an adiabatically contracted CDM halo is denser and cuspier. The profile of the same halo simulated with

is not dense enough. Our findings are in agreement with previous results that

is disfavored for DM collision velocities above about 1500 km s−1. More generally, the interaction between baryonic potentials and SIDM densities offers new directions for constraining SIDM cross-sections in galaxies where baryons are dynamically important.
Clumpy Galaxies in CANDELS. II. Physical Properties of UV-bright Clumps at 0.5 ≤ z < 3
Authors: Guo Yicheng , Rafelski Marc , Bell Eric F. , Conselice Christopher J. , Dekel Avishai , Faber S. M. , Giavalisco Mauro , Koekemoer Anton M. , Koo David C. , Lu Yu , Mandelker Nir , Primack Joel R. , Ceverino Daniel , de Mello Duilia F. , Ferguson Henry C. , Hathi Nimish , Kocevski Dale , Lucas Ray A. , Pérez-González Pablo G. , Ravindranath Swara , Soto Emmaris , Straughn Amber , Wang Weichen
Published: January 2018

Studying giant star-forming clumps in distant galaxies is important to understand galaxy formation and evolution. At present, however, observers and theorists have not reached a consensus on whether the observed “clumps” in distant galaxies are the same phenomenon that is seen in simulations. In this paper, as a step to establish a benchmark of direct comparisons between observations and theories, we publish a sample of clumps constructed to represent the commonly observed “clumps” in the literature. This sample contains 3193 clumps detected from 1270 galaxies at

0.5
≤
z
<
3.0

. The clumps are detected from rest-frame UV images, as described in our previous paper. Their physical properties (e.g., rest-frame color, stellar mass (

M

*

), star formation rate (SFR), age, and dust extinction) are measured by fitting the spectral energy distribution (SED) to synthetic stellar population models. We carefully test the procedures of measuring clump properties, especially the method of subtracting background fluxes from the diffuse component of galaxies. With our fiducial background subtraction, we find a radial clump U − V color variation, where clumps close to galactic centers are redder than those in outskirts. The slope of the color gradient (clump color as a function of their galactocentric distance scaled by the semimajor axis of galaxies) changes with redshift and

M

*

of the host galaxies: at a fixed

M

*

, the slope becomes steeper toward low redshift, and at a fixed redshift, it becomes slightly steeper with

M

*

. Based on our SED fitting, this observed color gradient can be explained by a combination of a negative age gradient, a negative E(B − V) gradient, and a positive specific SFR gradient of the clumps. We also find that the color gradients of clumps are steeper than those of intra-clump regions. Correspondingly, the radial gradients of the derived physical properties of clumps are different from those of the diffuse component or intra-clump regions.
A Model of Titan-like Chemistry to Connect Experiments and Cassini Observations
Authors: Raymond Alexander W. , Sciamma-O’Brien Ella , Salama Farid , Mazur Eric
Published: January 2018

A numerical model is presented for interpreting the chemical pathways that lead to the experimental mass spectra acquired in the Titan Haze Simulation (THS) laboratory experiments and for comparing the electron density and temperature of the THS plasma to observations made at Titan by the Cassini spacecraft. The THS plasma is a pulsed glow-discharge experiment designed to simulate the reaction of N2/CH4-dominated gas in Titan's upper atmosphere. The transient, one-dimensional model of THS chemistry tracks the evolution of more than 120 species in the direction of the plasma flow. As the minor species C2H2 and C2H4 are added to the N2/CH4-based mixture, the model correctly predicts the emergence of reaction products with up to five carbon atoms in relative abundances that agree well with measured mass spectra. Chemical growth in Titan's upper atmosphere transpires through ion–neutral and neutral–neutral chemistry, and the main reactions involving a series of known atmospheric species are retrieved from the calculation. The model indicates that the electron density and chemistry are steady during more than 99% of the 300 μs long discharge pulse. The model also suggests that the THS ionization fraction and electron temperature are comparable to those measured in Titan's upper atmosphere. These findings reaffirm that the THS plasma is a controlled analog environment for studying the first and intermediate steps of chemistry in Titan's upper atmosphere.
A Hydrodynamic Model of Alfvénic Wave Heating in a Coronal Loop and Its Chromospheric Footpoints
Authors: Reep Jeffrey W. , Russell Alexander J. B. , Tarr Lucas A. , Leake James E.
Published: January 2018

Alfvénic waves have been proposed as an important energy transport mechanism in coronal loops, capable of delivering energy to both the corona and chromosphere and giving rise to many observed features of flaring and quiescent regions. In previous work, we established that resistive dissipation of waves (ambipolar diffusion) can drive strong chromospheric heating and evaporation, capable of producing flaring signatures. However, that model was based on a simplified assumption that the waves propagate instantly to the chromosphere, an assumption that the current work removes. Via a ray-tracing method, we have implemented traveling waves in a field-aligned hydrodynamic simulation that dissipate locally as they propagate along the field line. We compare this method to and validate against the magnetohydrodynamics code Lare3D. We then examine the importance of travel times to the dynamics of the loop evolution, finding that (1) the ionization level of the plasma plays a critical role in determining the location and rate at which waves dissipate; (2) long duration waves effectively bore a hole into the chromosphere, allowing subsequent waves to penetrate deeper than previously expected, unlike an electron beam whose energy deposition rises in height as evaporation reduces the mean-free paths of the electrons; and (3) the dissipation of these waves drives a pressure front that propagates to deeper depths, unlike energy deposition by an electron beam.
VLBA Determination of the Distance to Nearby Star-forming Regions. VIII. The LkHα 101 Cluster
Authors: Dzib Sergio A. , Ortiz-León Gisela N. , Loinard L. , Mioduszewski A. J. , Rodríguez L. F. , Medina S.-N. X. , Torres R. M.
Published: January 2018

The LkHα 101 cluster takes its name from its more massive member, the LkHα 101 star, which is an ∼15 M
⊙ star whose true nature is still unknown. The distance to the LkHα 101 cluster has been controversial for the last few decades, with estimated values ranging from 160 to 800 pc. We have observed members and candidate members of the LkHα 101 cluster with signs of magnetic activity, using the Very Long Baseline Array, in order to measure their trigonometric parallax and, thus, obtain a direct measurement of their distances. A young star member, LkHα 101 VLA J043001.15+351724.6, was detected at four epochs as a single radio source. The best fit to its displacement on the plane of the sky yields a distance of 535 ± 29 pc. We argue that this is the distance to the LkHα 101 cluster.
A Self-consistent Model of the Solar Tachocline
Authors: Wood T. S. , Brummell N. H.
Published: January 2018

We present a local but fully nonlinear model of the solar tachocline, using three-dimensional direct numerical simulations. The tachocline forms naturally as a statistically steady balance between Coriolis, pressure, buoyancy, and Lorentz forces beneath a turbulent convection zone. Uniform rotation is maintained in the radiation zone by a primordial magnetic field, which is confined by meridional flows in the tachocline and convection zone. Such balanced dynamics has previously been found in idealized laminar models, but never in fully self-consistent numerical simulations.
The Outcome of HIV-Positive Late Presenters According to Detectable CMV DNA and Anti-CMV Treatment
Authors: Bigliano Paolo , Calcagno Andrea , Lucchini Anna , Audagnotto Sabrina , Montrucchio Chiara , Marinaro Letizia , Alcantarini Chiara , Ghisetti Valeria , Perri Giovanni Di , Bonora Stefano
Published: January 2018

Background

HIV late presenters are at high risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and end-organ disease. CMV viraemia has been associated with poor survival but the effect of anti-CMV treatment has not been studied in this setting.

Methods

HIV-positive patients were included in a retrospective study if presenting with <350 CD4+ T-cells/μl and starting an antiretroviral treatment within 3 months of the diagnosis. Primary end point was 5-year survival according to the presence of CMV viraemia, CMV end-organ disease and anti-CMV treatment.

Results

302 patients were included. 157 patients (52%) presented CMV viraemia (CMV-V) and 44 (14.6%) CMV end-organ disease (CMV-EOD). 5-year mortality was higher in CMV-EOD and CMV-V patients than in CMV-negative patients (11.4 versus 9.6 versus 0%; P=0.002). In patients with CMV-V, 5-year mortality was numerically higher in untreated patients (12.9% versus 6.9%; P=0.257) without reaching statistical significance. At univariate analysis the diagnosis of serious opportunistic infections (cryptococcosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, lymphoma; P=0.001) and the absence of a negative CMV DNA in the follow-up ( P<0.001) were associated with poor outcome. At multivariate analysis HCV coinfection ( P=0.016; aOR 6.98, 95% CI 1.50, 32.59), the absence of a negative CMV DNA in the follow-up ( P<0.001; aOR 19.40, 95% CI 3.70, 101.64) and marginally the absence of anti-CMV treatment ( P=0.052; aOR 4.944, 95% CI 0.99, 24.73) were independent predictors of poor outcome.

Conclusions

CMV reactivation in HIV-positive patients with poor immunity is associated with worse prognosis: the pre-emptive use of anti-CMV therapy was associated with a better outcome in patients with CMV-V.
Elaboração e aplicação de um plano diretor de manutenção em uma empresa mineradora
Authors: Viana Herbert Ricardo Garcia , Ribeiro José Luis Duarte
Published: January 2018

Este artigo tem como objetivo desenvolver uma estrutura de elaboração de planos diretores de manutenção em empresas de grande porte. Apoiando-se em uma lista de fatores de sucesso, utilizou-se o método de grupos focados para elaborar uma estrutura que define elementos e informações que devem ser contemplados e a forma como essas informações devem ser processadas para gerar os elementos de um plano diretor. Esta estrutura foi testada através da aplicação da sistemática proposta na elaboração do plano diretor de manutenção de uma planta industrial de mineração para o triênio 2014-2016. A aplicação obedeceu ao seguinte roteiro: i) definição de cronograma para as revisões de cada fator; ii) definição e treinamento dos profissionais revisores nos métodos para reunir e processar as informações relativas a cada elemento; iii) elaboração de proposta do plano diretor, contemplando seus diferentes elementos; iv) validação de cada responsável de acordo com a atividade (fator) revisado. Como resultados, estima-se uma redução de 20% da taxa de acidentes pessoais, aumento da capacidade de produção em cerca de dois milhões de toneladas ao ano e redução de 13% no orçamento da manutenção.
Medidas de desempenho logístico: um levantamento nas empresas de grande porte dos estados do Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Zon Carolina Souza , Chaves Gisele De Lorena Diniz , Ferreira Karine Araujo
Published: January 2018

O propósito deste artigo foi investigar e analisar a aplicação prática dos sistemas e medidas de desempenho adotados pelas indústrias de grande porte dos estados do Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. Para isso, o modelo World Class Logistics (WCL) foi utilizado como base. Uma pesquisa de levantamento survey foi conduzida em 29 empresas do setor industrial de grande porte. Os resultados permitiram, além de maior discussão sobre o tema, a identificação da utilização de medidas de desempenho para avaliar a logística nas empresas investigadas, e a verificação das hipóteses formuladas nesta pesquisa. Dentre os principais resultados obtidos, foi possível verificar que, em diferentes proporções, as empresas pesquisadas utilizam tanto medidas financeiras, quanto não financeiras, para avaliar a logística. Porém, nem todas as empresas de grande porte utilizam medidas de desempenho para avaliar a atividade logística em todas as dimensões do WCL. Adicionalmente, por  contribuir na análise e indicação de medidas mais utilizadas, este trabalho pode fornecer melhor compreensão e entendimento para outras empresas na avaliação de suas atividades logísticas.