bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A High-Efficiency Method of Mobile Positioning Based on Commercial Vehicle Operation Data
Authors: Chen Chi-Hua , Lin Jia-Hong , Kuan Ta-Sheng , Lo Kuen-Rong
Published: June 2016

Commercial vehicle operation (CVO) has been a popular application of intelligent transportation systems. Location determination and route tracing of an on-board unit (OBU) in a vehicle is an important capability for CVO. However, large location errors from global positioning system (GPS) receivers may occur in cities that shield GPS signals. Therefore, a highly efficient mobile positioning method is proposed based on the collection and analysis of the cellular network signals of CVO data. Parallel- and cloud-computing techniques are designed into the proposed method to quickly determine the location of an OBU for CVO. Furthermore, this study proposes analytical models to analyze the availability of the proposed mobile positioning method with various outlier filtering criteria. Experimentally, a CVO system was designed and implemented to collect CVO data from Chunghwa Telecom vehicles and to analyze the cellular network signals of CVO data for location determination. A case study found that the average errors of location determination using the proposed method vs. using the traditional cell-ID-based location method were 163.7 m and 521.2 m, respectively. Furthermore, the practical results show that the average location error and availability of using the proposed method are better than using GPS or the cell-ID-based location method for each road type, particularly urban roads. Therefore, this approach is feasible to determine OBU locations for improving CVO.
PAMP Activity of Cerato-Platanin during Plant Interaction: An -Omic Approach
Authors: Luti Simone , Caselli Anna , Taiti Cosimo , Bazihizina Nadia , Gonnelli Cristina , Mancuso Stefano , Pazzagli Luigia
Published: June 2016

Cerato-platanin (CP) is the founder of a fungal protein family consisting in non-catalytic secreted proteins, which work as virulence factors and/or as elicitors of defense responses and systemic resistance, thus acting as PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns). Moreover, CP has been defined an expansin-like protein showing the ability to weaken cellulose aggregates, like the canonical plant expansins do. Here, we deepen the knowledge on CP PAMP activity by the use of a multi-disciplinary approach: proteomic analysis, VOC (volatile organic compound) measurements, and gas exchange determination. The treatment of Arabidopsis with CP induces a differential profile either in protein expression or in VOC emission, as well changes in photosynthetic activity. In agreement with its role of defense activator, CP treatment induces down-expression of enzymes related to primary metabolism, such as RuBisCO, triosephosphate isomerase, and ATP-synthase, and reduces the photosynthesis rate. Conversely, CP increases expression of defense-related proteins and emission of some VOCs. Interestingly, CP exposure triggered the increase in enzymes involved in GSH metabolism and redox homeostasis (glutathione S-transferase, thioredoxin, Cys-peroxiredoxin, catalase) and in enzymes related to the “glucosinolate-myrosinase” system, which are the premise for synthesis of defence compounds, such as camalexin and some VOCs, respectively. The presented results are in agreement with the accepted role of CP as a PAMP and greatly increase the knowledge of plant primary defences induced by a purified fungal elicitor.
Metabolomic Studies of Oral Biofilm, Oral Cancer, and Beyond
Authors: Washio Jumpei , Takahashi Nobuhiro
Published: June 2016

Oral diseases are known to be closely associated with oral biofilm metabolism, while cancer tissue is reported to possess specific metabolism such as the ‘Warburg effect’. Metabolomics might be a useful method for clarifying the whole metabolic systems that operate in oral biofilm and oral cancer, however, technical limitations have hampered such research. Fortunately, metabolomics techniques have developed rapidly in the past decade, which has helped to solve these difficulties. In vivo metabolomic analyses of the oral biofilm have produced various findings. Some of these findings agreed with the in vitro results obtained in conventional metabolic studies using representative oral bacteria, while others differed markedly from them. Metabolomic analyses of oral cancer tissue not only revealed differences between metabolomic profiles of cancer and normal tissue, but have also suggested a specific metabolic system operates in oral cancer tissue. Saliva contains a variety of metabolites, some of which might be associated with oral or systemic disease; therefore, metabolomics analysis of saliva could be useful for identifying disease-specific biomarkers. Metabolomic analyses of the oral biofilm, oral cancer, and saliva could contribute to the development of accurate diagnostic, techniques, safe and effective treatments, and preventive strategies for oral and systemic diseases.
v-Src Causes Chromosome Bridges in a Caffeine-Sensitive Manner by Generating DNA Damage
Authors: Ikeuchi Masayoshi , Fukumoto Yasunori , Honda Takuya , Kuga Takahisa , Saito Youhei , Yamaguchi Naoto , Nakayama Yuji
Published: June 2016

An increase in Src activity is commonly observed in epithelial cancers. Aberrant activation of the kinase activity is associated with malignant progression. However, the mechanisms that underlie the Src-induced malignant progression of cancer are not completely understood. We show here that v-Src, an oncogene that was first identified from a Rous sarcoma virus and a mutant variant of c-Src, leads to an increase in the number of anaphase and telophase cells having chromosome bridges. v-Src increases the number of γH2AX foci, and this increase is inhibited by treatment with PP2, a Src kinase inhibitor. v-Src induces the phosphorylation of KAP1 at Ser824, Chk2 at Thr68, and Chk1 at Ser345, suggesting the activation of the ATM/ATR pathway. Caffeine decreases the number of cells having chromosome bridges at a concentration incapable of inhibiting Chk1 phosphorylation at Ser345. These results suggest that v-Src induces chromosome bridges via generation of DNA damage and the subsequent DNA damage response, possibly by homologous recombination. A chromosome bridge gives rise to the accumulation of DNA damage directly through chromosome breakage and indirectly through cytokinesis failure-induced multinucleation. We propose that v-Src-induced chromosome bridge formation is one of the causes of the v-Src-induced malignant progression of cancer cells.
Effects of Temperature on the Compressive Strength Parallel to the Grain of Bamboo Scrimbe
Authors: Zhong Yong , Ren Hai-Qing , Jiang Ze-Hui
Published: June 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the compressive strength parallel to the grain of bamboo scrimber during and after exposure to various temperatures, in a range from 20 to 225 °C. These data were used to provide a basis for the evaluation of the fire performance of bamboo structures. A total of 152 specimens, assembled as group “during-fire” and “post-fire”, were tested during and after exposure to high temperatures. The experimental results indicated that there were significant differences in compressive properties between the “during-fire” and “post-fire” groups. At one temperature level, the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of the “post-fire” group were significantly higher than those properties of the “during fire” group, but the ductility coefficient was reversed. FTIR analysis results showed that 175 °C was a key turning point, at which thermal decomposition occurred in the cellulose of the bamboo and phenolic resin.
Development of Styrene-Grafted Polyurethane by Radiation-Based Techniques
Authors: Jeong Jin-Oh , Park Jong-Seok , Lim Youn-Mook
Published: June 2016

Polyurethane (PU) is the fifth most common polymer in the general consumer market, following Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and Polystyrene (PS), and the most common polymer for thermosetting resins. In particular, polyurethane has excellent hardness and heat resistance, is a widely used material for electronic products and automotive parts, and can be used to create products of various physical properties, including rigid and flexible foams, films, and fibers. However, the use of polar polymer polyurethane as an impact modifier of non-polar polymers is limited due to poor combustion resistance and impact resistance. In this study, we used gamma irradiation at 25 and 50 kGy to introduce the styrene of hydrophobic monomer on the polyurethane as an impact modifier of the non-polar polymer. To verify grafted styrene, we confirmed the phenyl group of styrene at 690 cm−1 by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and at 6.4–6.8 ppm by 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and contact angle analysis were also used to confirm styrene introduction. This study has confirmed the possibility of applying high-functional composite through radiation-based techniques.
Development of in-Situ Al-Si/CuAl2 Metal Matrix Composites: Microstructure, Hardness, and Wear Behavior
Authors: Tash Mahmoud , Mahmoud Essam
Published: June 2016

In the present work, in-situ metal matrix composites were fabricated through squeeze casting. The copper particles were dispersed with different weight percentages (3%, 6%, 10%, and 15%) into Al-12% Si piston alloy. Also, heat treatments were performed at 380 °C and 450 °C for holding times of 6 and 18 h. The microstructures, X-ray diffractometer (XRD) pattern, hardness, and wear characteristics were evaluated. The results showed that these copper particles have reacted with the aluminum under all of the aforementioned processing conditions resulting in the formation of fine copper aluminide intermetallics. Most of the intermetallics were CuAl2, while AlCu appeared in a small ratio. Additionally, these intermetallics were homogenously distributed within the alloy matrix with up to 6% Cu addition. The amounts of those intermetallics increased after performing heat treatment. Most of these intermetallics were CuAl2 at 380 °C, while the Cu-rich intermetallics appeared at 450 °C. Increasing the holding time to 18 h, however, led to grain coarsening and resulted in the formation of some cracks. The hardness of the resulting composite materials was improved. The hardness value reached to about 170 HV after heat treating at 380 °C for 8 h. The wear resistance of the resulting composite materials was remarkably improved, especially at lower additions of Cu and at the lower heat treatment temperature.
Eriobotrya japonica Water Extract Characterization: An Inducer of Interferon-Gamma Production Mainly by the JAK-STAT Pathway
Authors: Matalka Khalid , Abdulridha Nada , Badr Mujtaba , Mansoor Kenza , Qinna Nidal , Qadan Fadi
Published: June 2016

Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (Loquat) (EJ) has been used as a medicinal plant to treat chronic bronchitis, coughs, phlegm, high fever and gastro-enteric disorders. Since the traditional use of EJ is related to modulating inflammation processes, our earlier studies on EJ leaves were performed on the water extract to investigate specific cytokines’ modulation. These earlier studies, however, have shown that EJ leaf water extract (WE) and the water phase (WP) induce cytokines’ production in in vitro and in vivo models. Therefore, the aim of this study was to specify the group(s) of compounds in EJ leaves that have this immunomodulatory activity and their mechanism of action. WE was obtained from boiling the leaves followed by butanol extraction, yielding a butanol-water phase (WP). WP was then subjected to methanol:acetone fractionation, yielding upper (MAU) and lower (MAL) phases. For further fractionation, MAU was subjected to column chromatography followed by elution with ethanol:water (EW), methanol:ethanol (ME) and, lastly, acetone:water (AW), respectively, to reveal three sub-fractions; MAU-EW, MAU-ME and MAU-AW. MAU-AW significantly increased IFN-γ production from unstimulated and stimulated mouse spleen cells, as well as CD3+ T cells and natural killer cells. Furthermore, the fold increase of IFN-γ production by MAU-AW was concentration dependent, higher than the parent extract or any of the other sub-fractions, and such an IFN-γ increase was reversed by two JAK-STAT inhibitors. In addition, MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of the extracts and sub-fractions showed compounds with molecular weights of >500 Daltons. The MAU-AW sub-fraction contained more polar compounds, such as flavonol and caffeic glycosides. In conclusion, these polar compounds in the EJ extract are responsible for inducing IFN-γ production. Further chemical elucidation is warranted to lead to a specific IFN-γ inducer and an immunomodulator in polarizing immune cells and balancing immune responses in certain diseases.
Comparison of Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition with Glucose or Amino Acid Mixtures in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Liu Yan , Xiao Xiao , Qin Dan-Ping , Tan Rong-Shao , Zhong Xiao-Shi , Zhou Dao-Yuan , Liu Yun , Xiong Xuan , Zheng Yuan-Yuan
Published: June 2016

Many long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients have symptoms of protein-energy wasting caused by malnutrition. Each session of hemodialysis removes about 10 to 12 g of amino acids and 200 to 480 kcal of energy. Patients receiving hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease may be undernourished for energy, protein consumption, or both. Non-diabetic hemodialysis patients were randomized to three treatment groups: oral supplementation, oral supplementation plus high-concentration glucose solution (250 mL containing 50% glucose) and these two interventions plus 8.5% amino acids solution. The post-treatment energy status of the glucose group was significantly higher than its baseline level, whereas the control group’s status was significantly lower. The glucose group had significantly higher concentrations of asparagine, glutamine, glycine, alanine, and lysine after treatment. All treatment groups had significantly increased hemoglobin levels but significantly decreased transferrin levels after treatment compared to baseline. After treatment, the amino acid group had significantly higher albumin level compared to the glucose group (p = 0.001) and significantly higher prealbumin level compared to the control group (p = 0.017). In conclusion, long-term intervention with high-concentration glucose solution at each hemodialysis session is a simple and cheap method that replenished energy stores lost during hemodialysis of non-diabetic patients.
Preparation, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Poly(Glutamic Acid)-b-Polyphenylalanine Polymersomes
Authors: Vlakh Evgenia , Ananyan Anastasiia , Zashikhina Natalia , Hubina Anastasiia , Pogodaev Aleksander , Volokitina Mariia , Sharoyko Vladimir , Tennikova Tatiana
Published: June 2016

Different types of amphiphilic macromolecular structures have been developed within recent decades to prepare the polymer particles considered as drug delivery systems. In the present research the series of amphiphilic block-copolymers containing poly(glutamatic acid) as hydrophilic, and polyphenylalanine as hydrophobic blocks was synthesized and characterized. Molecular weights for homo- and copolymers were determined by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) and amino acid analysis, respectively. The copolymers obtained were applied for preparation of polymer particles. The specific morphology of prepared polymerosomes was proved using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence on particle size of polymer concentration and pH used for self-assembly, as well as on the length of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks of applied copolymers, was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Depending on different experimental conditions, the formation of nanoparticles with sizes from 60 to 350 nm was observed. The surface of polymersomes was modified with model protein (enzyme). No loss in biocatalytic activity was detected. Additionally, the process of encapsulation of model dyes was developed and the possibility of intracellular delivery of the dye-loaded nanoparticles was proved. Thus, the nanoparticles discussed can be considered for the creation of modern drug delivery systems.
Detection of High-Density Crowds in Aerial Images Using Texture Classification
Authors: Meynberg Oliver , Cui Shiyong , Reinartz Peter
Published: June 2016

Automatic crowd detection in aerial images is certainly a useful source of information to prevent crowd disasters in large complex scenarios of mass events. A number of publications employ regression-based methods for crowd counting and crowd density estimation. However, these methods work only when a correct manual count is available to serve as a reference. Therefore, it is the objective of this paper to detect high-density crowds in aerial images, where counting– or regression–based approaches would fail. We compare two texture–classification methodologies on a dataset of aerial image patches which are grouped into ranges of different crowd density. These methodologies are: (1) a Bag–of–words (BoW) model with two alternative local features encoded as Improved Fisher Vectors and (2) features based on a Gabor filter bank. Our results show that a classifier using either BoW or Gabor features can detect crowded image regions with 97% classification accuracy. In our tests of four classes of different crowd-density ranges, BoW–based features have a 5%–12% better accuracy than Gabor.
A Tale of Two RNAs during Viral Infection: How Viruses Antagonize mRNAs and Small Non-Coding RNAs in The Host Cell
Authors: Herbert Kristina , Nag Anita
Published: June 2016

Viral infection initiates an array of changes in host gene expression. Many viruses dampen host protein expression and attempt to evade the host anti-viral defense machinery. Host gene expression is suppressed at several stages of host messenger RNA (mRNA) formation including selective degradation of translationally competent messenger RNAs. Besides mRNAs, host cells also express a variety of noncoding RNAs, including small RNAs, that may also be subject to inhibition upon viral infection. In this review we focused on different ways viruses antagonize coding and noncoding RNAs in the host cell to its advantage.
Optimal Allocation of Water Resources Based on Water Supply Security
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Hou Baodeng , Jiang Dachuan , Xiao Weihua , Wu Yongxiang , Zhao Yong , Zhou Yuyan , Guo Chongshan , Wang Gaoxu
Published: June 2016

Under the combined impacts of climate change and human activities, a series of water issues, such as water shortages, have arisen all over the world. According to current studies in Science and Nature, water security has become a frontier critical topic. Water supply security (WSS), which is the state of water resources and their capacity and their capacity to meet the demand of water users by water supply systems, is an important part of water security. Currently, WSS is affected by the amount of water resources, water supply projects, water quality and water management. Water shortages have also led to water supply insecurity. WSS is now evaluated based on the balance of the supply and demand under a single water resources condition without considering the dynamics of the varying conditions of water resources each year. This paper developed an optimal allocation model for water resources that can realize the optimal allocation of regional water resources and comprehensively evaluate WSS. The objective of this model is to minimize the duration of water shortages in the long term, as characterized by the Water Supply Security Index (WSSI), which is the assessment value of WSS, a larger WSSI value indicates better results. In addition, the simulation results of the model can determine the change process and dynamic evolution of the WSS. Quanzhou, a city in China with serious water shortage problems, was selected as a case study. The allocation results of the current year and target year of planning demonstrated that the level of regional comprehensive WSS was significantly influenced by the capacity of water supply projects and the conditions of the natural water resources. The varying conditions of the water resources allocation results in the same year demonstrated that the allocation results and WSSI were significantly affected by reductions in precipitation, decreases in the water yield coefficient, and changes in the underlying surface.
Modular synthesis of the pyrimidine core of the manzacidins by divergent Tsuji–Trost coupling
Authors: Bretzke Sebastian , Scheeff Stephan , Vollmeyer Felicitas , Eberhagen Friederike , Rominger Frank , Menche Dirk
Published: June 2016

The design, development and application of an efficient procedure for the concise synthesis of the 1,3-syn- and anti-tetrahydropyrimidine cores of manzacidins are reported. The intramolecular allylic substitution reaction of a readily available joint urea-type substrate enables the facile preparation of both diastereomers in high yields. The practical application of this approach is demonstrated in the efficient and modular preparation of the authentic heterocyclic cores of manzacidins, structurally unique bromopyrrole alkaloids of marine origin. Additional features of this route include the stereoselective generation of the central amine core with an appending quaternary center by an asymmetric addition of a Grignard reagent to a chiral tert-butanesulfinyl ketimine following an optimized Ellman protocol and a cross-metathesis of a challenging homoallylic urea substrate, which proceeds in good yields in the presence of an organic phosphoric acid.
Processing gradable adjectives in context: A Visual World study
Authors: Aparicio Helena , Xiang Ming , Kennedy Christopher
Published: June 2016

Both relative adjectives (RAs) like ‘big’ and absolute adjectives (AAs) like ‘empty’ are sensitive to the context: in the former case, the context determines how much size is required to count as big; in the latter, the context determines how much deviation from total emptiness is allowed to count as empty. Whereas it is generally agreed that the role of context with RAs is to fix the value of a threshold variable, the status of absolute adjective thresholds, and therefore the role of context in their interpretation, remains an object of debate. Some researchers have argued that all gradable adjectives have context-sensitive threshold variables that are assigned values by the same mechanisms (Lassiter & Goodman 2013). Others have claimed that AAs have fixed, endpoint-oriented meanings and that sensitivity to context arises from pragmatic reasoning about imprecision (Kennedy 2007; Syrett, Kennedy & Lidz 2009; van Rooij 2011; Burnett 2014; Qing & Franke 2014). In an eye-tracking Visual World experiment, we investigate RAs and AAs used as restrictive modifiers. We find that target identification is significantly faster for both types of adjectives when the visual context supports a restrictive interpretation of the predicate, although this effect is considerably delayed in the case of AAs. We conclude that for RAs, the target facilitation effect is driven by the lexical semantics of the predicate itself. However, it is argued that the extra processing cost observed with AAs results from pragmatic reasoning about imprecision.
Unalternative Semantics
Authors: Büring Daniel
Published: June 2016

The paper introduces a new method of calculating focus alternatives without the use of F-markers or comparable devices. Relative metrical weights are directly mapped onto restrictions on what can be a focal target, i.e. what a given structure can be used to correct, answer, or contrast with. The results are virtually identical to those achieved e.g. in the system of Rooth (1992), but differ in some crucial aspects, which allows broader empirical coverage without additional mechanisms. Among these are a non-transderivational ban on overfocusing, a treatment of second occurrence focus, a new way of incorporating contrast to non-salient targets and a natural account of discontinuous foci. The paper closes with some outlooks on applications in non-Indo-European languages. Keywords: Focus, Alternative Semantics, Second Occurrence Focus, F-Marking, Overfocussing
CREATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS IN VISUAL ARTS OF EARLY FRENCH MODERNISM: TREATMENT OF NUDE BODY
Authors: Juzefovič Agnieška
Published: June 2016

Resent paper is focused on the early modern culture, particularly on the topic of visual art and its confrontation with traditional, pre-modern culture and aesthetic. The author unveils how and why painters of early French modernism had rejected traditional representation of eroticism, typical for pre-modern art, especially for the art of academicism. Thus from their artworks disappeared sublimated, exalted nudity, withdrew nudes modestly hidden under mythological or religious context. In the works of impressionists and postimpressionists naked body was depicted frankly, openly, without any excuse of what was supposed to be decent. Such were the nude women of paintings of Auguste Manet and Amedeo Modigliani who present merely their femininity and sexuality, while symbolizing the liberation from moral norms and heralding sexual revolution of the 20th century. Relaxed, healthy, pink-cheeked girls in Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s paintings spread subtle eroticism and the mood of joyful life. Life of Parisian cabarets and brothels come alive through naked or semi-naked female figures which on Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Edgar Degas canvases seem as if they are unaware of being watched. Nude bodies in the paintings of such French post-impressionists like Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin were depicted in exotic, oriental ambience and referred to the philosophical background of romanticism. Paul Cézanne’s nudes particularly his famous scenes with bathers disclose essential aims of this painter – to reach the essence of the very thing. Transformations of the treatment of nude body by early French modernists help to understand general context of creative changes in visual arts on the edge of the 19th and 20th centuries.
SANTA BARBARA CLUSTER COMPARISON TEST WITH DISPH
Authors: Saitoh Takayuki R. , Makino Junichiro
Published: June 2016

The Santa Barbara cluster comparison project revealed that there is a systematic difference between entropy profiles of clusters of galaxies obtained by Eulerian mesh and Lagrangian smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) codes: mesh codes gave a core with a constant entropy, whereas SPH codes did not. One possible reason for this difference is that mesh codes are not Galilean invariant. Another possible reason is the problem of the SPH method, which might give too much “protection” to cold clumps because of the unphysical surface tension induced at contact discontinuities. In this paper, we apply the density-independent formulation of SPH (DISPH), which can handle contact discontinuities accurately, to simulations of a cluster of galaxies and compare the results with those with the standard SPH. We obtained the entropy core when we adopt DISPH. The size of the core is, however, significantly smaller than those obtained with mesh simulations and is comparable to those obtained with quasi-Lagrangian schemes such as “moving mesh” and “mesh free” schemes. We conclude that both the standard SPH without artificial conductivity and Eulerian mesh codes have serious problems even with such an idealized simulation, while DISPH, SPH with artificial conductivity, and quasi-Lagrangian schemes have sufficient capability to deal with it.
NuSTAR DISCOVERY OF A CYCLOTRON LINE IN THE ACCRETING X-RAY PULSAR IGR J16393-4643
Authors: Bodaghee Arash , Tomsick John A. , Fornasini Francesca M. , Krivonos Roman , Stern Daniel , Mori Kaya , Rahoui Farid , Boggs Steven E. , Christensen Finn E. , Craig William W. , Hailey Charles J. , Harrison Fiona A. , Zhang William W.
Published: June 2016

The high-mass X-ray binary and accreting X-ray pulsar IGR J16393-4643 was observed by the Nuclear Spectroscope Telescope Array in the 3–79 keV energy band for a net exposure time of 50 ks. We present the results of this observation which enabled the discovery of a cyclotron resonant scattering feature with a centroid energy of

keV. This allowed us to measure the magnetic field strength of the neutron star for the first time: B = (2.5 ± 0.1) × 1012 G. The known pulsation period is now observed at 904.0 ± 0.1 s. Since 2006, the neutron star has undergone a long-term spin-up trend at a rate of

s s−1 (−0.6 s per year, or a frequency derivative of

Hz s−1). In the power density spectrum, a break appears at the pulse frequency which separates the zero slope at low frequency from the steeper slope at high frequency. This addition of angular momentum to the neutron star could be due to the accretion of a quasi-spherical wind, or it could be caused by the transient appearance of a prograde accretion disk that is nearly in corotation with the neutron star whose magnetospheric radius is around 2 × 108 cm.
WHEN SHOCK WAVES COLLIDE
Authors: Hartigan P. , Foster J. , Frank A. , Hansen E. , Yirak K. , Liao A. S. , Graham P. , Wilde B. , Blue B. , Martinez D. , Rosen P. , Farley D. , Paguio R.
Published: June 2016

Supersonic outflows from objects as varied as stellar jets, massive stars, and novae often exhibit multiple shock waves that overlap one another. When the intersection angle between two shock waves exceeds a critical value, the system reconfigures its geometry to create a normal shock known as a Mach stem where the shocks meet. Mach stems are important for interpreting emission-line images of shocked gas because a normal shock produces higher postshock temperatures, and therefore a higher-excitation spectrum than does an oblique shock. In this paper, we summarize the results of a series of numerical simulations and laboratory experiments designed to quantify how Mach stems behave in supersonic plasmas that are the norm in astrophysical flows. The experiments test analytical predictions for critical angles where Mach stems should form, and quantify how Mach stems grow and decay as intersection angles between the incident shock and a surface change. While small Mach stems are destroyed by surface irregularities and subcritical angles, larger ones persist in these situations and can regrow if the intersection angle changes to become more favorable. The experimental and numerical results show that although Mach stems occur only over a limited range of intersection angles and size scales, within these ranges they are relatively robust, and hence are a viable explanation for variable bright knots observed in Hubble Space Telescope images at the intersections of some bow shocks in stellar jets.
LINE-OF-SIGHT VELOCITY AND METALLICITY MEASUREMENTS OF THE PALOMAR 5 TIDAL STREAM
Authors: Ishigaki M. N. , Hwang N. , Chiba M. , Aoki W.
Published: June 2016

We present Subaru/Faint Object Camera and Spectrograph and Keck/Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrometer medium-resolution spectroscopy of a tidally disrupting Milky Way (MW) globular cluster Palomar 5 (Pal 5) and its tidal stream. The observed fields are located to cover an angular extent of ∼17° along the stream, providing an opportunity to investigate a trend in line-of-sight velocities (V
los) along the stream, which is essential to constrain its orbit and underlying gravitational potential of the MW’s dark matter halo. A spectral fitting technique is applied to the observed spectra to obtain stellar parameters and metallicities ([Fe/H]) of the target stars. The 19 stars most likely belonging to the central Pal 5 cluster have a mean V
los of −58.1 ± 0.7 km s−1 and metallicity [Fe/H] = −1.35 ± 0.06 dex, both of which are in good agreement with those derived in previous high-resolution spectroscopic studies. Assuming that the stream stars have the same [Fe/H] as the progenitor cluster, the derived [Fe/H] and

values are used to estimate the possible V
los range of the member stars at each location along the stream. Because of the heavy contamination of the field MW stars, the estimated V
los range depends on prior assumptions about the stream’s

, which highlights the importance of more definitely identifying the member stars using proper motion and chemical abundances to obtain unbiased information of V
los in the outer part of the Pal 5 stream. The models for the gravitational potential of the MW’s dark matter halo that are compatible with the estimated V
los range are discussed.
CALIBRATION OF THE VOYAGER ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROMETERS AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE HELIOSPHERE NEUTRALS: REASSESSMENT
Authors: Ben-Jaffel Lotfi , Holberg J. B.
Published: June 2016

The data harvest from the Voyagers’ (V
1 and V
2) Ultraviolet Spectrometers (UVS) covers encounters with the outer planets, measurements of the heliosphere sky-background, and stellar spectrophotometry. Because their period of operation overlaps with many ultraviolet missions, the calibration of V1 and V2 UVS with other spectrometers is invaluable. Here we revisit the UVS calibration to assess the intriguing sensitivity enhancements of 243% (V1) and 156% (V2) proposed recently. Using the Lyα airglow from Saturn, observed in situ by both Voyagers, and remotely by International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), we match the Voyager values to IUE, taking into account the shape of the Saturn Lyα line observed with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. For all known ranges of the interplanetary hydrogen density, we show that the V1 and V2 UVS sensitivities cannot be enhanced by the amounts thus far proposed. The same diagnostic holds for distinct channels covering the diffuse He i 58.4 nm emission. Our prescription is to keep the original calibration of the Voyager UVS with a maximum uncertainty of 30%, making both instruments some of the most stable EUV/FUV spectrographs in the history of space exploration. In that frame, we reassess the excess Lyα emission detected by Voyager UVS deep in the heliosphere, to show its consistency with a heliospheric but not galactic origin. Our finding confirms results obtained nearly two decades ago—namely, the UVS discovery of the distortion of the heliosphere and the corresponding obliquity of the local interstellar magnetic field (

from upwind) in the solar system neighborhood—without requiring any revision of the Voyager UVS calibration.
DIRECT DETECTION OF PRECURSORS OF GAS GIANTS FORMED BY GRAVITATIONAL INSTABILITY WITH THE ATACAMA LARGE MILLIMETER/SUBMILLIMETER ARRAY
Authors: Mayer Lucio , Peters Thomas , Pineda Jaime E. , Wadsley James , Rogers Patrick
Published: June 2016

Phases of gravitational instability are expected in the early phases of disk evolution, when the disk mass is still a substantial fraction of the mass of the star. Disk fragmentation into sub-stellar objects could occur in the cold exterior part of the disk. Direct detection of massive gaseous clumps on their way to collapse into gas giant planets would offer an unprecedented test of the disk instability model. Here we use state-of-the-art 3D radiation-hydro simulations of disks undergoing fragmentation into massive gas giants, post-processed with RADMC-3D to produce dust continuum emission maps. These are then fed into the Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) ALMA simulator. The synthetic maps show that both overdense spiral arms and actual clumps at different stages of collapse can be detected with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in the full configuration at the distance of the Ophiuchus star forming region (125 pc). The detection of clumps is particularly effective at shorter wavelengths (690 GHz) combining two resolutions with multi-scale clean. Furthermore, we show that a flux-based estimate of the mass of a protoplanetary clump can be comparable to a factor of three higher than the gravitationally bound clump mass. The estimated mass depends on the assumed opacity, and on the gas temperature, which should be set using the input of radiation-hydro simulations. We conclude that ALMA has the capability to detect “smoking gun” systems that are a signpost of the disk instability model for gas giant planet formation.
EXPLORATORY CHANDRA OBSERVATION OF THE ULTRALUMINOUS QUASAR SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 AT REDSHIFT 6.30
Authors: Ai Yanli , Dou Liming , Fan Xiaohui , Wang Feige , Wu Xue-Bing , Bian Fuyan
Published: June 2016

We report exploratory Chandra observations of the ultraluminous quasar SDSS J010013.02+280225.8 at redshift 6.30. The quasar is clearly detected by Chandra with a possible component of extended emission. The rest-frame 2–10 keV luminosity is

9.0

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9.1

×

1045 erg s−1 with an inferred photon index of Γ =

3.03

−
0.70

+
0.78

. This quasar is X-ray bright, with an inferred X-ray-to-optical flux ratio

α

ox

=

−

1.22

−
0.05

+
0.07

, higher than the values found in other quasars of comparable ultraviolet luminosity. The properties inferred from this exploratory observation indicate that this ultraluminous quasar might be growing with super-Eddington accretion and probably viewed with a small inclination angle. Deep X-ray observations will help to probe the plausible extended emission and better constrain the spectral features for this ultraluminous quasar.
THE COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF MAGNETIC FIELD DISCONTINUITIES IN THE TURBULENT SOLAR WIND
Authors: Greco A. , Perri S. , Servidio S. , Yordanova E. , Veltri P.
Published: June 2016

Using high-resolution Cluster satellite observations and a multi-dimensional intermittency technique, we show that the magnetic discontinuities in the turbulent solar wind are connected through the spatial scales, going from proton down to electron scales. In some circumstances, their structure resembles the Harris equilibrium profile in plasmas. Observations are consistent with a scenario where many current layers develop in turbulence and where the outflow of these reconnection events are characterized by complex sub-proton networks of secondary islands, in a self-similar way. Although in the past these pictures have been speculated to be separately ubiquitous, through theories and simulations, the present work confirms that “reconnection in turbulence” and “turbulent reconnection” coexist in space plasmas.
INTERSTELLAR SCINTILLATION AND THE RADIO COUNTERPART OF THE FAST RADIO BURST FRB 150418
Authors: Akiyama Kazunori , Johnson Michael D.
Published: June 2016

Keane et al. have recently reported the discovery of a new fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 150418, with a promising radio counterpart at 5.5 and 7.5 GHz—a rapidly decaying source, falling from 200–300 μJy to 100 μJy on timescales of ∼6 days. This transient source may be associated with an elliptical galaxy at redshift z = 0.492, providing the first firm spectroscopic redshift for an FRB and the ability to estimate the density of baryons in the intergalactic medium via the combination of known redshift and radio dispersion of the FRB. An alternative explanation, first suggested by Williams & Berger, is that the identified counterpart may instead be a compact active galactic nucleus (AGN). The putative counterpart’s variation may then instead be extrinsic, caused by refractive scintillation in the ionized interstellar medium of the Milky Way, which would invalidate the association with FRB 150418. We examine this latter explanation in detail and show that the reported observations are consistent with scintillating radio emission from the core of a radio-loud AGN having a brightness temperature T
b ≳ 109 K. Using numerical simulations of the expected scattering for the line of sight to FRB 150418, we provide example images and light curves of such an AGN at 5.5 and 7.5 GHz. These results can be compared with continued radio monitoring to conclusively determine the importance of scintillation for the observed radio variability, and they show that scintillation is a critical consideration for continued searches for FRB counterparts at radio wavelengths.
Plasma miR-26a as a Diagnostic Biomarker Regulates Cytokine Expression in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Sun Juan , Feng Miao , Wu Fengqi , Ma Xiaolin , Lu Jie , Kang Min , Liu Zhewei
Published: June 2016

Objective.

We sought to identify specific microRNA (miRNA) for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and to determine the involvement of these miRNA in regulating the expression of cytokines.

Methods.

Microarray profiling was performed to identify differentially expressed miRNA in sJIA plasma. Levels of candidate miRNA and mRNA were assessed by real-time PCR, and cytokines were measured by ELISA. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the direct interaction between miR-26a and interleukin 6 (IL-6).

Results.

Forty-eight miRNA were differentially expressed in the plasma of patients with sJIA compared with healthy controls (HC). Five miRNA were selected for further validation. The expression level of miR-26a was exclusively elevated in the plasma of patients with sJIA as compared with 4 rheumatic diseases and 2 subtypes of JIA (oligoarticular and polyarticular). The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the plasma of patients with sJIA were increased, and only IL-6 presented a positive correlation with miR-26a (r = 0.539, p < 0.0001). After stimulation with IL-6, miR-26a expression was upregulated in THP-1 cells, while the supernatant level of IL-6 was downregulated by transfection of miR-26a mimics. Consistently, direct target relationship between miR-26a and IL-6 was confirmed.

Conclusion.

This study demonstrates that miR-26a is expressed specifically and highly in sJIA plasma and suggests that miR-26a may regulate the levels of cytokines in sJIA. Our findings highlight miR-26a as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis as well as differential diagnosis of sJIA.
Répéter n’est pas croire. Sur la transmission des idées conspirationnistes
Authors: Delouvée Sylvain
Published: June 2016

Les théories du complot et les rumeurs, comme formes de manifestation de la pensée sociale (Rouquette, 1973), partagent processus et fonctions. Le peu d’études s’intéressant spécifiquement à la question des croyances dans les rumeurs questionnait le lien entre adhésion et transmission (Allport & Lepkin, 1943 ; Rosnow, 1991 ; Guerin et Miyazaki, 2006). Il s’agira ici de s’interroger sur le lien entre « connaissance », « adhésion » et « transmission » dans les théories du complot et les rumeurs à travers deux études empiriques. Peut-on connaître et transmettre sans adhérer ? Peut-on connaître et adhérer sans transmettre ? Peut-on adhérer et transmettre sans réellement « connaître » ?
Lectotypification and a new synonym in Palicourea (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Gubáu Manão Carla Y’ , Lourenço Esteves Roberto , Da Silva Neto Sebastião José
Published: June 2016

Here we designate specimen no. 10424 from the Museu Nacional (R) as the lectotype of Palicourea rudgeoides (Müll. Arg.) Standl. [Psychotria rudgeoides Müll. Arg., basion.], and assign a new synonym for Palicourea fulgens (Müll. Arg.) Standl., Psychotria exannulata Müll. Arg., based on specimen no. 607125 from the Field Museum of Natural History (F).
Affaire Karadzic : Une retentissante condamnation des crimes commis en Bosnie-Herzégovine
Authors: Fauveau Ivanovic Natacha
Published: June 2016

L’importance du jugement rendu par la Chambre de première instance le 24 mars 2016 dans l’affaire le Procureur c. Radovan Karadzic (IT-95-5/18-T) réside principalement dans le fait que ce dernier, ancien Président de la Republika Srpska et commandant suprême de ses forces armées, est le plus haut responsable jamais condamné par le Tribunal. La plupart des crimes jugés dans l’affaire Karadzic ont déjà été jugés dans d’autres affaires. La Chambre de première instance s’est fréquemment référée aux conclusions auxquelles les autres Chambres étaient parvenues lorsqu’elles jugeaient les subordonnés de Radovan Karadzic. Seul le crime de guerre de prise d’otage a été jugé pour la première fois devant le Tribunal et la Chambre de première instance a eu la tâche d’en établir les éléments constitutifs et de se prononcer sur le statut des membres d’une mission des Nations Unies en concluant que ceux-ci ont bien le statut de personnes protégées. Radovan Karadzic a été condamné pour la participation aux différentes entreprises criminelles et sa responsabilité a été établie selon les principes bien établis dans la jurisprudence du Tribunal. Il a été condamné à 40 ans d’emprisonnement, une peine qui suscite certaines questions compte tenu de la gravité des crimes et des fonctions exercées par l’Accusé.
Standing Alone in Computer Science Education
Authors: Gittens Mechelle
Published: June 2016

This chapter explores issues that have influenced Black women in Canada and the Caribbean in their pursuit of advanced degrees and regular academic roles in Computer Science (CS) and related fields. The concern is with the low representation of Black women in such roles and the reasons why some women have chosen the field and others have fled from it. The issues are related to gender and race and have been gathered from the scientific literature on Computer Science Education. Black women in Canada and the Caribbean who are on paths towards and in regular academic roles in CS were surveyed about how these issues have influenced them and their peers for or against CS in general and more specifically advanced education in Computer Science, since these such choices for CS are a requirement for regular academic roles in CS. This work delivers insights into an understudied locale for an underrepresented group in a field critical to economic development in Canada and the Caribbean. Based on our findings, we make recommendations to increase the number of this underrepresented group.
Race and Gender Inequalities in Medicine and Biomedical Research
Authors: Harp Djana , Shim Ruth S. , Johnson Japera , Harp Jamil A. , Wilcox William Clyde , Wilcox Judith K.
Published: June 2016

There is a critical need to develop initiatives aimed at expanding and diversifying the healthcare workforce, beginning with medical education. This chapter addresses racial and gender disparities in academic medicine and biomedical research. Racial and ethnic minorities and women remain underrepresented in medicine, biomedical research, and healthcare leadership. These disparities are national issues and have far-reaching effects which translate into significant educational and healthcare-delivery disparities. Research has shown that health care professionals from underserved backgrounds are more likely than others to work in underserved areas which would address current shortages in health professionals for the medically underserved. The authors describe their theory for the existence and persistence of these disparities. They offer evidence of these disparities while concluding with current initiatives to address these disparities, calling for innovative approaches to training underrepresented minorities and women as physicians and biomedical research scientists.
Fortitude
Authors: Kurtz Robert S.
Published: June 2016

In New York City, from the 1990s to the present, covert racism is alive and well in the field of medicine and medical education. This racism largely manifested itself as inequitable treatment of illness. The most heavily impacted are African American and Caribbean American females and males. These inequities engendered results such as unwarranted criticism in residency education, forced changes of medical occupations and jobs, and false attributions of behavioral health issues. Combating these challenges requires fortified character armor, seeking percipient well positioned minorities, white and off-whites allies, and a willingness to maintain continued vigilance. With persistence and tenacity, success is possible in terms of protecting minorities both in the educational process, and subsequent medical career.