bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating Place in Early Canada
Authors: Harris Cole
Published: December 2016

The many local places created by immigrants and their descendants in early Canada developed within one of three characteristic frames: towns, work camps, and countrysides. The towns, the most conservative, largely reproduced the ways of small European towns. Work camps subjected groups of men, abstracted from intricate European social formations, to the conditions of work associated with particular staple trades. Countrysides, where most people lived, were loci of rapid social and cultural change. The availability of land and scarcity of labour provided opportunity for the poor and disincentive for the rich, and compressed European social hierarchies. The convergence of Europeans from different regional backgrounds, coupled with the many influences of new environments, created distinctive rural cultures. In early Canada, these new countrysides were scattered along a northern edge of North American agriculture. Small and bounded, they soon filled, westward Canadian alternatives were inaccessible or occupied, and the surplus young migrated southward into American melting pots. A scattered country that was neither European nor American, and that was inherently diverse, was in the process of formation.
Damage-Sequences of Mountain Anchors
Authors: Freitag C. , Panzenböck M.
Published: December 2016

Strand anchors are a perennial problem [1]. In many instances such anchor systems have been in service for decades. Information regarding their construction, composition or manufacturer is often uncertain. In this article the damage to a number of broken strand anchors is investigated. Using relatively simple methods of investigation, it is shown that the main cause of failure encountered is hydrogen-induced stress corrosion cracking.
Best of Schadensanalyse an Turbomaschinen – die Highlights aus 20 Jahren Laborpraxis
Authors: Neidel A. , Cagliyan E. , Gädicke T. , Giller M. , Hartanto V. , Kramm C. , Riesenbeck S. , Ullrich T. , Wallich S. , Wöhl E.
Published: December 2016

In this contribution, the most interesting and educational failure cases are presented that the author came across during his over twenty years of laboratory practice as manager of the Materials Testing Laboratory of the Berlin Gas Turbine Plant of Siemens’ Power and Gas Division. The case studies are presented and categorised in accordance with VDI Guideline 3822, the German failure analyst’s guide to the subject of how to organise and run a root cause failure analysis. An effort was made to have each of the main four categories of failure causes represented, namely failures due to mechanical loading, corrosive failures, failures due to thermal loading, and tribological failures. Case studies include turbomachinery components that failed due to tensile overload, stress corrosion cracking, intergranular corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, hot cracking, fretting, erosion, and galling. Affected components include valves, retaining rings, tubing and piping, burners, rotor disks, lifting lugs, and casings. Some of the presented cases were published in the new section “Failure Analysis” of Practical Metallography between October 2011 and the present time. Others were oral presentations at the Metallography conferences and at the annual failure analysis conferences “VDI Jahrestagung Schadensanalyse”, held during that time. The focus of discussion of the failure cases in this paper is the metallurgical evaluation of failure causes. This is the approach taken in many small and industrial laboratories. A holistic approach of a failure case, which includes calculation and simulation methods such as finite element analysis, and which also implies a knowledge of the service stresses intended by design as well as the actual loading situation of the failed part, is not the aim of this contribution.
Comparative Colonialism and Collections-Based Archaeological Research
Authors: King Julia A.
Published: December 2016

Legacy collections are an increasingly valued source of information for researchers interested in the study and interpretation of colonialism in the Chesapeake Bay region of North America. Through the reexamination of 34 archaeological collections ranging in date from 1500 through 1720, researchers, including the author, have been able to document interactions among Europeans, Africans, and indigenous people in this part of the early modern Atlantic. We could do this only because we turned to existing collections; no single site could reveal this complex story. This article summarizes the major findings from this work and describes the pleasures and challenges of comparative analysis using existing collections. Collections-based research can also be used to inform fieldwork, so the legacy collections of tomorrow are in as good shape as possible. Indeed, collections-based work reveals the need for a critical dialogue concerning the methods, methodology, and ethics of both collections and field-based research.
Integrating Research and Collections Management
Authors: Mulrooney Mara A. , Wong Charmaine , Esh Kelley , Belluomini Scott , McCoy Mark D.
Published: December 2016

The Ho‘omaka Hou Research Initiative is a collaborative research endeavor that is primarily focused on the analysis of the Bishop Museum’s Archaeology Collections. The goal of Ho‘omaka Hou (which literally means “to begin again”) is to encourage continued work with these invaluable museum collections, and to bring together researchers and students with various research interests in order to learn more about the past. In addition to conducting research on museum collections using the most up-to-date methods in the field of archaeology, we are building a digital inventory of the collections. This integrated approach highlights the relevance of archaeological collections housed in museums for informing researchers about the past, and also emphasizes the need for modernizing digital inventories to safeguard these collections for the future.
Democratizing the Digital Collection
Authors: Nancarrow Jane-Heloise
Published: December 2016

Three-dimensional modeling and printing of museum artifacts have a growing role in public engagement and teaching—introducing new cultural heritage stakeholders and potentially allowing more democratic access to museum collections. This destabilizes traditional relationships between museums, collections, researchers, teachers and students, while offering dynamic new ways of experiencing objects of the past. Museum events and partnerships such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art “Hackathon”; the MicroPasts initiative; and Sketchfab for Museums and Cultural Heritage, encourage non-traditional methods of crowd-sourcing and software collaboration outside the heritage sector. The wider distribution properties of digitized museum artifacts also have repercussions for object-based and kinesthetic learning at all levels, as well as for experiential and culturally sensitive aspects of indigenous heritage. This article follows the existing workflow from model creation to classroom: considering the processes, problems, and applications of emerging digital visualization technologies from both a museum and pedagogical perspective.
Obligations to Objects
Authors: Asmussen Brit , Hill Lester Michael , Ulm Sean , Knowles Chantal
Published: December 2016

This article discusses changing obligations toward objects from an archaeological site held by the Queensland Museum, through a long-term, 40-year case study. Between 1971 and 1972 a selection of 92 stone blocks weighing up to 5 tons containing Aboriginal engravings were cut out of the site and distributed to multiple locations across Queensland by the State Government under the provisions of the then Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1967. The site was subsequently flooded following dam construction and the removed blocks became part of the Queensland Museum’s collection. This article chronicles the history of the site and its “salvage,” the consequences of fragmentation of the site for community and institutions, the creation of 92 museum objects, the transformation from immobile to mobile cultural heritage, and community-led requests for their repatriation back to country.
With an Open Mind and Open Heart
Authors: Roth Kate
Published: December 2016

Archaeological repositories are active spaces that preserve the archaeological record for future research and care for the cultural and ancestral heritage of Indigenous communities. Repositories therefore have the potential to be sites of continued collaborative engagement between scholars and communities. The Laboratory of Archaeology (LOA) at the University of British Columbia is a repository that now works with communities to respectfully care for their cultural material, while still remaining committed to research and education. Drawing on interviews with LOA members and my own experience working at the lab, I explore the ways LOA’s practices and policies work to mitigate power asymmetry and facilitate sharing knowledge between communities and scholars.
Analyzing Museum Collections in Scandinavia
Authors: Ytterberg Niklas
Published: December 2016

This article emanates from studies and analyses of collections in cultural-historical museums in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway within the international research project CONTACT, concerning contacts between the aforementioned countries in southern Scandinavia during the Middle Neolithic (approximately 3000 BCE). This case study intends to raise questions related to research strategies at the museums holding the collections, in relation to the demand from research institutions using them. In what ways could these strategies coincide, and in what ways could they diverge? In what ways could we improve the research strategies for a better use of the collections?
Steamships to Suffragettes
Authors: Bigourdan Nicolas , Edwards Kevin , McCarthy Michael
Published: December 2016

Since 1985 the shipwreck site and related artifacts from the steamship SS Xantho (1872) have been key elements in the Western Australian Museum Maritime Archaeology Department’s research, exhibition, and outreach programs. This article describes a continually evolving, often intuitive, synergy between archaeological fieldwork and analyses, as well as museum interpretations and public engagement that have characterized the Steamships to Suffragettes exhibit conducted as part of a museum in vivo situation. This project has centered on themes locating the SS Xantho within a network of temporal, social, and biographical linkages, including associations between the ship’s engine and a visionary engineer (John Penn), a controversial entrepreneur (Charles Broadhurst), a feminist (Eliza Broadhurst), and a suffragette (Kitty Broadhust), as well as to Aboriginal and “Malay” divers and artists. Achieved with few funds, the project may be a valuable case study at a time when funds allocated to museums and archaeological units are rapidly diminishing.
Assesment of Lead in Water, Sediments, Soils and Vegetables Grown on the Bank of Shitalakhya River, Bangladesh
Authors: Razee NM Al , Abser Md Nurul , Mottalib Md Abdul , Ansary Md Zahed Hossien
Published: December 2016

The study was carried out to examine the Pb concentrations of water, sediment and soil of Shitalakhya River at Polash and Ghorashal areas in Bangladesh. The ranges of Pb in water, sediments, soils and vegetables like pumpkin leaves and alligator weeds were found 1.87 - 49.08, 8.49 - 75.81, 19.68 - 85.13, 1.08 - 3.92 and 1.18 - 4.22 mg/kg, respectively. The lead concentrations of surface water, sediment and soil samples were within the safe limit of different international standard except samples of the point source of urea fertilizer factory. The highest concentrations of Pb in alligator weeds and pumpkin vegetable leaves were recorded 3.92 and 4.224 mg/kg, respectively at the point source of urea fertilizer factory.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 40, No. 2, 91-99, 2016
Spectroscopic Characterization of Croconate Bridging Complex: Conversion of Rhodizonate (C6O6 2-) to Croconate Bridging Ligand in a Pyridine Modified Large Macrocyclic Metal Arrangements
Authors: Alam Md Mahbubul , Saha Ramkrishna , Miah Md Rezwan , Ahmed Belal , Siddiquey Iqbal Ahmed
Published: December 2016

Rhodizonic acid (H2RHOD) was reacted with Co(PF6)2.6H2O in the presence of pyridine modified large macrocyclic ligand (H2Lopy) and triethylamine in N,N-dimethylformamide under argon atmosphere. Instead of [Co4(RHOD)2(Lopy)](PF6)2 (1), the main product of this reaction was a crystalline compound [Co4(CROC)2(Lopy)](PF6)2, which was isolated in low yield (< 25%). Based on the elemental analysis, ESI-mass spectroscopy, and infrared spectrum, the isolated compound was confirmed to be [Co4(CROC)2(Lopy)](PF6)2 (2), where CROC2- is croconate anion C5O52-.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 40, No. 2, 101-108, 2016
Triacylglycerol Profile of a Microalga Chlorococcum Sp. as a Potential Biofuel Feedstock
Authors: Hasan Chowdhury Md Monirul , Aftabuddin Sheikh , Sharif Miskat , Khan Mala
Published: December 2016

Chlorococcum sp. has been studied as its possibility for biofuel feedstock. This alga was grown in Zarrouk media. After harvesting, lipid extraction was done by pure n-hexane and mixture of chloroform: methanol (2 : 1)) and hexane: ethanol (3 : 1). Highest oil recovery (21.20%) derived from chloroform: methanol (2 : 1) solvent system from dry biomass whereas the lowest (2.83%) came from n-hexane: ethanol solvent system from wet biomass. GC/MS used for the analysis of extracted lipid revealed that, palmitic acid methyl ester (C17H34O2), 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (C19H36O2) were major contents of this biofuel. The acquired fatty acid profile indicates that Chlorococcum sp. could be used as promising biofuel feedstock in near future.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 40, No. 2, 147-153, 2016
Association of Blood Pressure with Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference and its Effects Among School Students (Aged 8-16 Years) of Rural West Bengal, India
Authors: Sengupta Ratnabali , Ghorai Narayan , Basu Saikat Kumar
Published: December 2016

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are considered as the most important anthropometric indicators to investigate the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and other obesity-related diseases. This study assessed the relationship between blood pressure (BP) with BMI and WC in students (aged 8 - 16 years) of rural West Bengal (WB) in Eastern India. About 551 rural secondary school going students were surveyed for BP, height, weight and WC. Among them 283 were boys and 268 were girls. BMI was derived using standard formula; Pearsons correlation coefficient was done to assess the degree of correlation among BP with BMI and WC. A lower range of obesity was found in rural areas in both boys and girls. WC was found to be more correlated with BP than BMI. Increase of BP was found with a higher BMI and WC. Prevalence of higher BP was found among school boys than girls in rural WB.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 40, No. 2, 169-178, 2016
Generalization of Semiprime Subsemimodules
Authors: Farzalipour F , Ghiasvand P
Published: December 2016

The authors introduce the concept of almost semiprime subsemimodules of semimodules over a commutative semiring R. They investigated some basic properties of almost semiprime and weakly semiprime subsemimodules and gave some characterizations of them, especially, for (fnitely generated faithful) multiplication semimodules. They also study the relations among the semiprime, weakly semiprime and almost semiprime subsemimodules of semimodules over semirings.Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 40, No. 2, 187-197, 2016
Adaptive multicomponent nanocomposite coatings in surface engineering
Authors: Pogrebnjak A D , Bagdasaryan A A , Pshyk A , Dyadyura K
Published: December 2016

This paper reviews experimental research on nanocomposite protective coatings of various chemical compositions and structure. For adaptive multielement and multilayer systems with specific phase composition, structure, substructure, stress state, and high functional properties, formation conditions are considered; the behavior of such systems under extreme operating conditions and in tribological applications is examined; the structural, phase, and chemical composition are discussed as well as the hardness, friction and wear at elevated temperatures; and the adhesive strength of hierarchical protective coatings is analyzed. Finally, the adaptive behavior under different tribological test conditions of multifunctional, multilayer coatings as a function of their properties and structure is examined.
Housing of Cull Sows in the Hours before Transport to the Abattoir—An Initial Description of Sow Behaviour While Waiting in a Transfer Vehicle
Authors: Herskin Mette , Fogsgaard Katrine , Erichsen Ditte , Bonnichsen Mia , Gaillard Charlotte , Thodberg Karen
Published: December 2016

In modern pig production, sows are transported by road to abattoirs. For reasons of biosecurity, commercial trucks may have limited access to farms. According to Danish regulations, sows can be kept in stationary transfer vehicles away from the farm for up to two hours before being loaded onto the commercial truck. We aimed to describe the behaviour of sows in transfer vehicles. This preliminary, exploratory study included data from 11 loads from a total of six Danish sow herds. Selection of animals to be slaughtered was done by the farmers. Clinical registrations were made before collection of the sows, after which they (in groups of 7–13) were mixed and moved to the transfer vehicle (median stocking density: 1.2 sow/m2), and driven a short distance to a public road. The duration of the stays in the transfer vehicles before being loaded onto the commercial trucks ranged from 6–59 min. During this period, the median frequency of aggressive interactions per load was 18 (range: 4–65), whereas the median frequency of lying per load was 1 (range: 0–23). The duration of the stay correlated positively with the frequency of aggressive interactions (rs = 0.89; n = 11; p < 0.001) and with the frequency of lying (rs = 0.62; n = 11; p < 0.05). Frequency of aggressive interactions correlated positively with the temperature inside the transfer vehicle (rs = 0.89; n = 7; p < 0.001). These preliminary results are the first to describe the behaviour of cull sows during waiting in transfer vehicles, and may suggest that this period can be challenging for sow welfare, especially for longer stays and during hot days.
Leak Detection in Water-Filled Small-Diameter Polyethylene Pipes by Means of Acoustic Emission Measurements
Authors: Martini Alberto , Troncossi Marco , Rivola Alessandro
Published: December 2016

The implementation of effective strategies to manage leaks represents an essential goal for all utilities involved with drinking water supply in order to reduce water losses affecting urban distribution networks. This study concerns the early detection of leaks occurring in small-diameter customers’ connections to water supply networks. An experimental campaign was carried out in a test bed to investigate the sensitivity of Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring to water leaks. Damages were artificially induced on a polyethylene pipe (length 28 m, outer diameter 32 mm) at different distances from an AE transducer. Measurements were performed in both unburied and buried pipe conditions. The analysis permitted the identification of a clear correlation between three monitored parameters (namely total Hits, Cumulative Counts and Cumulative Amplitude) and the characteristics of the examined leaks.
Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation for the Thermal Analysis of a Compact LED Recessed Downlight with Heat Sink Design
Authors: Hsu Huan-Chu , Huang Yi-Cheng
Published: December 2016

Light emitting diode (LED)-recessed downlighting is currently mainly used for indoor lighting of residential and commercial buildings. Maintaining a low junction temperature and increasing the lifetime and reliability of LED lighting is desirable. This study investigated designed heat sinks’ heat dissipation and capability of maintaining a low junction temperature, as well as increases in the lifetime and reliability of the lighting. This paper presents a designed traditional trapezoidal aluminum finned heat sink (ALFHS) and annular open cell copper foam heat sink (CUFHS) mounted to a 10 W compact LED-recessed downlight (CLRDL) and individually installed in a simulation 105 mm × 105 mm × 100 mm (L × W × H) test box. The purpose was to evaluate the temperature performance by testing the downlight in a small enclosed space with high ambient temperature while the LED is in operation. The downlight exhibited a long lifetime at normal use temperature and functioned according to Arrhenius’ law. Numerical simulation was performed first and followed by experimental validation. The heat sink design was the main factor in the heat management of the CLRDL. The heat sinks height was determined using numerical simulation and experimental validation before and after installation (INST) of the ALFHS and CUFHS. The CUFHS height was initially selected based on a larger heat dissipation capacity, and then by determining the ALFHS height. Both the ALFHS and CUFHS with the same height of 17 mm exhibited a similar capacity of heat dissipation before INST. Subsequent to INST, the temperature of the solder point of the ALFHS was higher than that of the CUFHS with an identical height of 17 mm. To compare the heat dissipation behavior of the two heat sinks, the ALFHS height was increased to 23 mm, which is 6 mm higher than that of the CUFHS. The results of a stationary simulation study for junction temperature coincides with the experimental results tested obtained using J-type thermocouples and a data acquisition system. The temperature of the solder point of the CLRDL with both the ALFHS and CUFHS was 91.7 °C after INST, corresponding to an LED junction temperature of 121.7 °C, which is lower than specified 135 °C LED limit temperature. The temperature distributions of specified points under natural convection were evaluated. The CLRDL installed in a small enclosed space withstood the lifetime requirements according to the results of an accelerated life test prediction. The CLRDL lumen maintenance was tested to be more than 25,000 h. The experimental results demonstrate compliance with the Energy Star® requirements for indoor LED lighting fixtures.
Application of the Recursive Finite Element Approach on 2D Periodic Structures under Harmonic Vibrations
Authors: Yassine Reem , Salman Faten , Al Shaer Ali , Hammoud Mohammad , Duhamel Denis
Published: December 2016

The frequency response function is a quantitative measure used in structural analysis and engineering design; hence, it is targeted for accuracy. For a large structure, a high number of substructures, also called cells, must be considered, which will lead to a high amount of computational time. In this paper, the recursive method, a finite element method, is used for computing the frequency response function, independent of the number of cells with much lesser time costs. The fundamental principle is eliminating the internal degrees of freedom that are at the interface between a cell and its succeeding one. The method is applied solely for free (no load) nodes. Based on the boundary and interior degrees of freedom, the global dynamic stiffness matrix is computed by means of products and inverses resulting with a dimension the same as that for one cell. The recursive method is demonstrated on periodic structures (cranes and buildings) under harmonic vibrations. The method yielded a satisfying time decrease with a maximum time ratio of 1 18 and a percentage difference of 19%, in comparison with the conventional finite element method. Close values were attained at low and very high frequencies; the analysis is supported for two types of materials (steel and plastic). The method maintained its efficiency with a high number of forces, excluding the case when all of the nodes are under loads.
Applicability of Effective Medium Approximations to Modelling of Mesocrystal Optical Properties
Authors: Zhuromskyy Oleksandr
Published: December 2016

Rigorous superposition T-matrix method is used to compute light interaction with mesocrystalline structures. The results are used to validate the applicability of effective medium theories for computing the effective optical constants of mesocrystal structures composed of optically isotropic materials. It is demonstrated that the Maxwell-Garnett theory can fit the rigorous simulation results with an average accuracy of 2%. The thus obtained refractive indexes can be used with any electromagnetic simulation software to represent the response of mesocrystals composed of optically small primary particles arranged into a cubic type lattice structures.
Maximum Entropy Models for Quantum Systems
Authors: Łuczak Andrzej , Podsędkowska Hanna , Seweryn Michał
Published: December 2016

We show that for a finite von Neumann algebra, the states that maximise Segal’s entropy with a given energy level are Gibbs states. This is a counterpart of the classical result for the algebra of all bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space and von Neumann entropy.
A Multivariate Multiscale Fuzzy Entropy Algorithm with Application to Uterine EMG Complexity Analysis
Authors: Ahmed Mosabber , Chanwimalueang Theerasak , Thayyil Sudhin , Mandic Danilo
Published: December 2016

The recently introduced multivariate multiscale entropy (MMSE) has been successfully used to quantify structural complexity in terms of nonlinear within- and cross-channel correlations as well as to reveal complex dynamical couplings and various degrees of synchronization over multiple scales in real-world multichannel data. However, the applicability of MMSE is limited by the coarse-graining process which defines scales, as it successively reduces the data length for each scale and thus yields inaccurate and undefined entropy estimates at higher scales and for short length data. To that cause, we propose the multivariate multiscale fuzzy entropy (MMFE) algorithm and demonstrate its superiority over the MMSE on both synthetic as well as real-world uterine electromyography (EMG) short duration signals. Based on MMFE features, an improvement in the classification accuracy of term-preterm deliveries was achieved, with a maximum area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.99.
Modeling of a Photovoltaic-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station with Vehicle-to-Grid Implementation
Authors: Ul-Haq Azhar , Cecati Carlo , Al-Ammar Essam
Published: December 2016

This paper is aimed at modelling of a distinct smart charging station for electric vehicles (EVs) that is suitable for DC quick EV charging while ensuring minimum stress on the power grid. Operation of the charging station is managed in such a way that it is either supplied by photovoltaic (PV) power or the power grid, and the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is also implemented for improving the stability of the grid during peak load hours. The PV interfaced DC/DC converter and grid interfaced DC/AC bidirectional converter share a DC bus. A smooth transition of one operating mode to another demonstrates the effectiveness of the employed control strategy. Modelling and control of the different components are explained and are implemented in Simulink. Simulations illustrate the feasible behaviour of the charging station under all operating modes in terms of the four-way interaction among PV, EVs and the grid along with V2G operation. Additionally, a business model is discussed with comprehensive analysis of cost estimation for the deployment of charging facilities in a residential area. It has been recognized that EVs bring new opportunities in terms of providing regulation services and consumption flexibility by varying the recharging power at a certain time instant. The paper also discusses the potential financial incentives required to inspire EV owners for active participation in the demand response mechanism.
Improved Battery Parameter Estimation Method Considering Operating Scenarios for HEV/EV Applications
Authors: Yang Jufeng , Xia Bing , Shang Yunlong , Huang Wenxin , Mi Chris
Published: December 2016

This paper presents an improved battery parameter estimation method based on typical operating scenarios in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles. Compared with the conventional estimation methods, the proposed method takes both the constant-current charging and the dynamic driving scenarios into account, and two separate sets of model parameters are estimated through different parts of the pulse-rest test. The model parameters for the constant-charging scenario are estimated from the data in the pulse-charging periods, while the model parameters for the dynamic driving scenario are estimated from the data in the rest periods, and the length of the fitted dataset is determined by the spectrum analysis of the load current. In addition, the unsaturated phenomenon caused by the long-term resistor-capacitor (RC) network is analyzed, and the initial voltage expressions of the RC networks in the fitting functions are improved to ensure a higher model fidelity. Simulation and experiment results validated the feasibility of the developed estimation method.
Post Construction Green Infrastructure Performance Monitoring Parameters and Their Functional Components
Authors: Geberemariam Thewodros
Published: December 2016

Drainage system infrastructures in most urbanized cities have reached or exceeded their design life cycle and are characterized by running with inadequate capacity. These highly degraded infrastructures are already overwhelmed and continued to impose a significant challenge to the quality of water and ecological systems. With predicted urban growth and climate change the situation is only going to get worse. As a result, municipalities are increasingly considering the concept of retrofitting existing stormwater drainage systems with green infrastructure practices as the first and an important step to reduce stormwater runoff volume and pollutant load inputs into combined sewer systems (CSO) and wastewater facilities. Green infrastructure practices include an open green space that can absorb stormwater runoff, ranging from small-scale naturally existing pocket of lands, right-of-way bioswales, and trees planted along the sidewalk as well as large-scale public parks. Despite the growing municipalities’ interest to retrofit existing stormwater drainage systems with green infrastructure, few studies and relevant information are available on their performance and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, this paper aims to help professionals learn about and become familiar with green infrastructure, decrease implementation barriers, and provide guidance for monitoring green infrastructure using the combination of survey questionnaires, meta-narrative and systematic literature review techniques.
Resource Limitations Influence Growth and Vigor of Idaho Fescue, a Common Understory Species in Pacific Northwest Ponderosa Pine Forests
Authors: Carr Craig , Krueger William
Published: December 2016

Alterations in under-canopy resource availability associated with elevated ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl.) abundance can negatively influence understory vegetation. Experimental evidence linking under-canopy resource availability and understory vegetation is scarce. Yet this information would be beneficial in developing management strategies to recover desired understory species. We tested the effects of varying nitrogen (N) and light availability on Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer), the dominant understory species in ponderosa pine/Idaho fescue plant associations in eastern Oregon. In a greenhouse experiment, two levels of N (50 kg∙N∙ha−1 and 0 kg∙N∙ha−1) and shade (80% shade and 0% shade) were applied in a split-plot design to individual potted plants grown in soil collected from high abundance pine stands. Plants grown in unshaded conditions produced greater root (p = 0.0027) and shoot (p = 0.0017) biomass and higher cover values (p = 0.0378) compared to those in the shaded treatments. The addition of N had little effect on plant growth (p = 0.1602, 0.5129, and 0.0853 for shoot biomass, root biomass, and cover, respectively), suggesting that soils in high-density ponderosa pine stands that lack understory vegetation were not N deficient and Idaho fescue plants grown in these soils were not N limited. Management activities that increase under-canopy light availability will promote the conditions necessary for Idaho fescue recovery. However, successful restoration may be constrained by a lack of residual fescue or the invasion of more competitive understory vegetation.
A Model of Health for Family Caregivers of Elders
Authors: Weierbach Florence , Cao Yan
Published: December 2016

Family members who provide care to their loved ones experience changes in their own health. The caregiver health model (CGHM) is a new model that identifies health holistically and identifies four determinant(s) that contribute to the health status of the family caregiver. The purpose is to introduce the CGHM: Hypothesis 1: the determinants of health in the CGHM contribute to the health of the Caregiver, Hypothesis 2: the determinants of health contribute to changes in the caregivers’ health at 8 and 16 weeks, and Hypothesis 3: a change in health occurs from baseline to 8 and 16 weeks. Methods: A descriptive, longitudinal design used three data collection points and five survey instruments. Community recruitment (N = 90) occurred through word of mouth and newspapers. Inclusion criteria consisted of being a family caregiver, living in a rural residence, and providing care to elders with necessary activities of daily living (ADLs) and/or instrumental ADLs (IADLs). Following a participant generated phone call to provide consent, caregivers received an initial study packet, additional packets were sent upon return of the previous packet. Analysis for the three hypotheses included multiple backwards stepwise linear regression, generalized estimating equations (GEE), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) α = 0.05. Results: A significant decrease in mental (p < 0.01) but not physical health at 8 weeks (p = 0.38) and 16 weeks (p = 0.29) occurred over time. Two determinants displayed significant (p < 0.05 or less) changes in mental and/or physical health at one or more time points. Study limitations include caregiver entry at varying times and self-report of elder nursing needs and medical conditions. Conclusions: Findings support two of the four determinants contributing to caregiver health.
Prospective Cohort Study to Elucidate the Correlation between Occupational Stress and Hypertension Risk in Oil Workers from Kelamayi City in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China
Authors: Li Rong , Gao Xiaoyan , Liu Bo , Ge Hua , Ning Li , Zhao Junling , Liu Jiwen
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this study was to assess the major risk factors for hypertension in oil workers, and investigate the effect of occupational stress on the incidence of hypertension after controlling for other risk factors. A prospective cohort approach was used following enrollment of 1354 oil workers. The occupational stress experienced by oil workers was higher than for the general population in China. By the end of the cohort study, 231 new cases of hypertension among the oil workers had been diagnosed. The cumulative incidence of hypertension was 17.06%. There were 44, 112, and 75 workers who developed hypertension in the low, intermediate, and high occupational stress groups, which represented a 12.0%, 15.6%, and 20.3% cumulative incidence, respectively (chi-square value = 9.812, p < 0.01). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed that type of work, cigarette smoking, excess body weight, and obesity were risk factors for hypertension (p < 0.05). After risk factors such as type of work, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI) were controlled, the hypertension risk (hazard ratio, HR) in the high occupational stress group was 1.549 (1.072–2.236) compared to the low exposure group, and 2.337 (1.191–4.585) in female subjects. Our study indicated that an increase in occupational stress was associated with an increased risk of hypertension after other factors were adjusted.
Ecosystem Health Assessment at County-Scale Using the Pressure-State-Response Framework on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Liu Delin , Hao Shilong
Published: December 2016

Assessing ecosystem health is helpful to determine reasonable eco-environmental restoration and resource management strategies. Based on a pressure-state-response (PSR) framework, a set of comprehensive indicators including natural, social and economic aspects was proposed and applied for assessing the ecosystem health of Yuanzhou County, Loess Plateau, Ningxia Province, China. The basic data used to calculate the values of the assessment indicators include Landsat TM image and socio-economic data, and remote sensing (RS) and the geographic information system (GIS) were used to process image data. The results showed that the ecosystem health conditions of most townships in Yuanzhou County were at the moderately healthy level, three townships were at the healthy level, and only two townships were at the unhelathy level; the areas (percentage) at the unhealthy, moderately healthy and healthy levels were 443.91 km2 (12.66%), 2438.75 km2 (69.54%) and 624.50 km2 (17.81%), respectively. The results could provide useful information for local residents and the government to take measures to improve the health conditions of their township ecosystem.
Visualising and Thinking and Interpreting. Response to the Burstyn and De Roos Comments on Sorahan, T. Multiple Myeloma and Glyphosate Use: A Re-Analysis of US Agricultural Health Study (AHS) Data. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 1548–1559
Authors: Sorahan Tom
Published: December 2016

I am grateful to the Editor for the opportunity of responding to the recent paper of Burstyn and De Roos [1], that is in part, a critical commentary of my own analysis of data from the US Agricultural Health Study (AHS) concerning the findings for multiple myeloma and glyphosate use [2].[...]
Motivations and Limitations Associated with Vaping among People with Mental Illness: A Qualitative Analysis of Reddit Discussions
Authors: Sharma Ratika , Wigginton Britta , Meurk Carla , Ford Pauline , Gartner Coral
Published: December 2016

This study aims to understand the nature and significance of online lay discussions about e-cigarettes and mental illness. We systematically searched the website Reddit.com using keywords related to e-cigarettes and mental illness. We coded relevant posts into themes under the framework of motivations for and limitations of vaping for people with mental illness. The thematic analysis included 3263 comments from 133 discussion threads. Six themes were classified as motivations to vape for people with mental illness: Self-medication; Quitting smoking; Freedom and control; Hobby; Social connectedness; and Motivation from caregivers and online communities. The limitations of vaping included: Unsatisfactory substitute for cigarettes and psychiatric medicines; Drug interactions; Nicotine addiction; Risks of e-liquid; Practical difficulties and Cost. People with mental illness; and their carers; use online discussion boards like Reddit to discuss the benefits and limitations of e-cigarettes for people with mental illness. Both positive and negative views exist. Media platforms like Reddit may shape the opinions of stakeholders and generate lay expertise about contentious health topics such as e-cigarettes. These findings have implications for policy and practice concerning assisting smokers with mental illness to reduce their health risk through switching to e-cigarettes.
Detecting Road Intersections from GPS Traces Using Longest Common Subsequence Algorithm
Authors: Xie Xingzhe , Liao Wenzhi , Aghajan Hamid , Veelaert Peter , Philips Wilfried
Published: December 2016

Intersections are important components of road networks, which are critical to both route planning and path optimization. Most existing methods define the intersections as locations where the road users change their moving directions and identify the intersections from GPS traces through analyzing the road users’ turning behaviors. However, these methods suffer from finding an appropriate threshold for the moving direction change, leading to true intersections being undetected or spurious intersections being falsely detected. In this paper, the intersections are defined as locations that connect three or more road segments in different directions. We propose to detect the intersections under this definition by finding the common sub-tracks of the GPS traces. We first detect the Longest Common Subsequences (LCSS) between each pair of GPS traces using the dynamic programming approach. Second, we partition the longest nonconsecutive subsequences into consecutive sub-tracks. The starting and ending points of the common sub-tracks are collected as connecting points. At last, intersections are detected from the connecting points through Kernel Density Estimation (KDE). Experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms the turning point-based methods in terms of the F-score.
CD11c+ CD8+ T Cells Reduce Renal Fibrosis Following Ureteric Obstruction by Inducing Fibroblast Apoptosis
Authors: Wang Haidong , Wang Juan , Bai Yun , Li Jinwei , Li Lixin , Dong Yanjun
Published: December 2016

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a common consequence of various kidney diseases that lead to end-stage renal failure, and lymphocyte infiltration plays an important role in renal fibrosis. We previously found that depletion of cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cells increases renal fibrosis following ureteric obstruction, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-expressing CD8+ T cells contribute to this process. CD8+ T cells are cytotoxic T cells; however, whether their cytotoxic effect reduces fibrosis remains unknown. This study showed that CD8+ T cells isolated from obstructed kidney showed mRNA expression of the cytotoxicity-related genes perforin 1, granzyme A, granzyme B, and FAS ligand; additionally, CD8 knockout significantly reduced the expression levels of these genes in obstructed kidney. Infiltrated CD8+ T cells were distributed around fibroblasts, and they are associated with fibroblast apoptosis in obstructed kidney. Moreover, CD11c+ CD8+ T cells expressed higher levels of the cytotoxicity-related genes than CD11c− CD8+ T cells, and infiltrated CD11c+ CD8+ T cells in obstructed kidney could induce fibroblast death in vitro. Results indicated that induction of fibroblast apoptosis partly contributed to the effect of CD8+ T cells on reduction of renal fibrosis. Given that inflammatory cells are involved in fibrosis, our results suggest that kidney fibrosis is a multifactorial process involving different arms of the immune system.
Overexpression of AmRosea1 Gene Confers Drought and Salt Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Dou Mingzhu , Fan Sanhong , Yang Suxin , Huang Rongfeng , Yu Huiyun , Feng Xianzhong
Published: December 2016

Ectopic expression of the MYB transcription factor of AmROSEA1 from Antirrhinum majus has been reported to change anthocyanin and other metabolites in several species. In this study, we found that overexpression of AmRosea1 significantly improved the tolerance of transgenic rice to drought and salinity stresses. Transcriptome analysis revealed that a considerable number of stress-related genes were affected by exogenous AmRosea1 during both drought and salinity stress treatments. These affected genes are involved in stress signal transduction, the hormone signal pathway, ion homeostasis and the enzymes that remove peroxides. This work suggests that the AmRosea1 gene is a potential candidate for genetic engineering of crops.
Plant MicroRNAs—Novel Players in Natural Medicine?
Authors: Lukasik Anna , Zielenkiewicz Piotr
Published: December 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of small non-coding RNAs that act as efficient gene expression regulators and thus play many important roles in living organisms. Due to their involvement in several known human pathological and pathogenic states, miRNA molecules have become an important issue in medicine and gained the attention of scientists from the pharmaceutical industry. In recent few years, a growing number of studies have provided evidence that miRNAs may be transferred from one species to another and regulate gene expression in the recipients’ cells. The most intriguing results revealed that stable miRNAs derived from food plants may enter the mammals’ circulatory system and, after reaching the target, inhibit the production of specific mammalian protein. Part of the scientific community has perceived this as an attractive hypothesis that may provide a foundation for novel therapeutic approaches. In turn, others are convinced about the “false positive” effect of performed experiments from which the mentioned results were achieved. In this article, we review the recent literature that provides evidence (from both fronts) of dietary, plant miRNA uptake and functionality in various consumers. Additionally, we discuss possible miRNA transport mechanisms from plant food sources to human cells.
Cofilin-1 and Other ADF/Cofilin Superfamily Members in Human Malignant Cells
Authors: Shishkin Sergey , Eremina Lidia , Pashintseva Natalya , Kovalev Leonid , Kovaleva Marina
Published: December 2016

Identification of actin-depolymerizing factor homology (ADF-H) domains in the structures of several related proteins led first to the formation of the ADF/cofilin family, which then expanded to the ADF/cofilin superfamily. This superfamily includes the well-studied cofilin-1 (Cfl-1) and about a dozen different human proteins that interact directly or indirectly with the actin cytoskeleton, provide its remodeling, and alter cell motility. According to some data, Cfl-1 is contained in various human malignant cells (HMCs) and is involved in the formation of malignant properties, including invasiveness, metastatic potential, and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. The presence of other ADF/cofilin superfamily proteins in HMCs and their involvement in the regulation of cell motility were discovered with the use of various OMICS technologies. In our review, we discuss the results of the study of Cfl-1 and other ADF/cofilin superfamily proteins, which may be of interest for solving different problems of molecular oncology, as well as for the prospects of further investigations of these proteins in HMCs.
Calcium-Mediated Control of Polydopamine Film Oxidation and Iron Chelation
Authors: Klosterman Luke , Bettinger Christopher
Published: December 2016

The facile preparation of conformal polydopamine (PDA) films on broad classes of materials has prompted extensive research into a wide variety of potential applications for PDA. The constituent molecular species in PDA exhibit diverse chemical moieties, and therefore highly variable properties of PDA-based devices may evolve with post-processing conditions. Here we report the use of redox-inactive cations for oxidative post-processing of deposited PDA films. PDA films incubated in alkaline CaCl2 solutions exhibit accelerated oxidative evolution in a dose-dependent manner. PDA films incubated in CaCl2 solutions exhibit 53% of the oxidative charge transfer compared to pristine PDA films. Carboxylic acid groups generated from the oxidation process lower the isoelectric point of PDA films from pH = 4.0 ± 0.2 to pH = 3.1 ± 0.3. PDA films exposed to CaCl2 solutions during post-processing also enhance Fe2+/Fe3+ chelation compared to pristine PDA films. These data illustrate that the molecular heterogeneity and non-equilibrium character of as-deposited PDA films afford control over the final composition by choosing post-processing conditions, but also demands forethought into how the performance of PDA-incorporated devices may change over time in salt solutions.