bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illumination on “Reserving Phloem and Discarding Xylem” and Quality Evaluation of Radix polygalae by Determining Oligosaccharide Esters, Saponins, and Xanthones
Authors: Yang Fan , Yu Huijuan , Chai Xin , Peng Siwei , Yang Junjun , Wu Dan , Du Jie , Wang Yuefei
Published: April 2018

The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. or Polygala sibirica L. exhibits protective effects on the central nervous system and is frequently used to treat insomnia, amnesia, and other cognitive dysfunction. In our study, we studied nine bioactive compounds spanning oligosaccharide esters, saponins, and xanthones by using a sensitive, efficient, and validated method established on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The quantified result of interesting compounds proved that accumulation of those compounds were found in phloem rather than in xylem. By taking the standardized result of nine compound contents into account, the “Spider-web” analytical result of xylem and phloem from Radix polygalae (RP) unveiled the rationality of RP’s classical use in clinic including discarding the xylem and reserving the phloem. Moreover, the remarkable variation was also revealed from the quantitative result of 45 samples with different diameters from the different origins, which did not significantly correlate with the variation of RP’s diameter. Our study could shed the light on the quality assessment of RP for further research and illustrate the scientific connotation of the processing method of “discarding the xylem and reserving the phloem”.
Indium-Catalyzed Annulation of o-Acylanilines with Alkoxyheteroarenes: Synthesis of Heteroaryl[b]quinolines and Subsequent Transformation to Cryptolepine Derivatives
Authors: Yonekura Kyohei , Shinoda Mika , Yonekura Yuko , Tsuchimoto Teruhisa
Published: April 2018

We disclose herein the first synthetic method that is capable of offering heteroaryl[b]quinolines (HA[b]Qs) with structural diversity, which include tricyclic and tetracyclic structures with (benzo)thienyl, (benzo)furanyl, and indolyl rings. The target HA[b]Q is addressed by the annulation of o-acylanilines and MeO–heteroarenes with the aid of an indium Lewis acid that effectively works to make two different types of the N–C and C–C bonds in one batch. A series of indolo[3,2-b]quinolines prepared here can be subsequently transformed to structurally unprecedented cryptolepine derivatives. Mechanistic studies showed that the N–C bond formation is followed by the C–C bond formation. The indium-catalyzed annulation reaction thus starts with the nucleophilic attack of the NH2 group of o-acylanilines to the MeO-connected carbon atom of the heteroaryl ring in an SNAr fashion, and thereby the N–C bond is formed. The resulting intermediate then cyclizes to make the C–C bond through the nucleophilic attack of the heteroaryl-ring-based carbon atom to the carbonyl carbon atom, providing the HA[b]Q after aromatizing dehydration.
CuGaS2 and CuGaS2–ZnS Porous Layers from Solution-Processed Nanocrystals
Authors: Berestok Taisiia , Guardia Pablo , Estradé Sònia , Llorca Jordi , Peiró Francesca , Cabot Andreu , Brock Stephanie
Published: April 2018

The manufacturing of semiconducting films using solution-based approaches is considered a low cost alternative to vacuum-based thin film deposition strategies. An additional advantage of solution processing methods is the possibility to control the layer nano/microstructure. Here, we detail the production of mesoporous CuGaS2 (CGS) and ZnS layers from spin-coating and subsequent cross-linking through chalcogen-chalcogen bonds of properly functionalized nanocrystals (NCs). We further produce NC-based porous CGS/ZnS bilayers and NC-based CGS–ZnS composite layers using the same strategy. Photoelectrochemical measurements are used to demonstrate the efficacy of porous layers, and particularly the CGS/ZnS bilayers, for improved current densities and photoresponses relative to denser films deposited from as-produced NCs.
Anti-Cancer Potential of Homemade Fresh Garlic Extract Is Related to Increased Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Petrovic Voin , Nepal Anala , Olaisen Camilla , Bachke Siri , Hira Jonathan , Søgaard Caroline K. , Røst Lisa M. , Misund Kristine , Andreassen Trygve , Melø Torun M. , Bartsova Zdenka , Bruheim Per , Otterlei Marit
Published: April 2018

The use of garlic and garlic-based extracts has been linked to decreased incidence of cancer in epidemiological studies. Here we examine the molecular and cellular activities of a simple homemade ethanol-based garlic extract (GE). We show that GE inhibits growth of several different cancer cells in vitro, as well as cancer growth in vivo in a syngeneic orthotopic breast cancer model. Multiple myeloma cells were found to be especially sensitive to GE. The GE was fractionated using solid-phase extractions, and we identified allicin in one GE fraction; however, growth inhibitory activities were found in several additional fractions. These activities were lost during freeze or vacuum drying, suggesting that the main anti-cancer compounds in GE are volatile. The anti-cancer activity was stable for more than six months in −20 °C. We found that GE enhanced the activities of chemotherapeutics, as well as MAPK and PI3K inhibitors. Furthermore, GE affected hundreds of proteins involved in cellular signalling, including changes in vital cell signalling cascades regulating proliferation, apoptosis, and the cellular redox balance. Our data indicate that the reduced proliferation of the cancer cells treated by GE is at least partly mediated by increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.
Association between Vegetable Consumption and Blood Pressure, Stratified by BMI, among Chinese Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years: A National Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yang Yide , Dong Bin , Zou Zhiyong , Wang Shuo , Dong Yanhui , Wang Zhenghe , Ma Jun
Published: April 2018

The association between vegetable intake and blood pressure (BP) in adolescents is still inconsistent, and the description of the recommended daily vegetable consumption is abstract and nonfigurative. Here we aimed to investigate the association between vegetable consumption and BP and further look for a simple way to describe a satisfactory level of daily vegetable consumption for adolescents. We recruited 18,757 adolescents, aged 13–17 years, from seven provinces in China in 2013. A standard physical examination, including height, weight and BP was conducted. Information regarding vegetable intake was collected by questionnaire, and one serving of vegetables was defined as the size of an adult’s fist. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used for analysis after adjusting for covariates. Approximately 12.2%, 38.0%, 28.7%, and 21.1% of the adolescents reported daily vegetable consumption of <1, 1~2, 2~3, and ≥3 servings, respectively. Adolescents whose daily vegetable consumption was ≥3 servings showed a lower risk of high blood pressure (HBP) (OR = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.58~0.94, p = 0.013) compared to those with daily vegetable consumptions of < 1 serving. When stratified by body mass index (BMI), in overweight adolescents, participants with 2~3 or ≥3 servings/day had an OR of 0.66 (95%CI: 0.45~0.97) or 0.63 (95%CI: 0.42~0.95) compared with the reference group. Daily vegetable intake of at least three servings (three adult’s fists) is associated with a lower HBP risk in adolescents, which leads to a simple message: “consuming at least three fists of vegetables every day will improve your blood pressure profile”.
Testing the Predictive Validity of the Healthy Eating Index-2015 in the Multiethnic Cohort: Is the Score Associated with a Reduced Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality?
Authors: Panizza Chloe , Shvetsov Yurii , Harmon Brook , Wilkens Lynne , Le Marchand Loic , Haiman Christopher , Reedy Jill , Boushey Carol
Published: April 2018

The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) was created to assess conformance of dietary intake with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) 2015–2020. We assessed the association between the HEI-2015 and mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC). White, African American, Native Hawaiian, Japanese American, and Latino adults (n > 215,000) from Hawaii and California completed a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire at study enrollment. HEI-2015 scores were divided into quintiles for men and women. Radar graphs were used to demonstrate how dietary components contributed to HEI-2015 scores. Mortality was documented over 17–22 years of follow-up. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using Cox proportional hazards models. High HEI-2015 scores were inversely associated with risk of mortality from all-cause, CVD, and cancer for men and women (p-trend <0.0001 for all models). For men, the HRs (CIs) for all-cause, CVD, and cancer comparing the highest to the lowest quintile were 0.79 (0.76, 0.82), 0.76 (0.71, 0.82), and 0.80 (0.75, 0.87), respectively. For women, the HRs were 0.79 (0.76, 0.82), 0.75 (0.70, 0.81), and 0.84 (0.78, 0.91), respectively. These results, in a multiethnic population, demonstrate that following a diet aligned with the DGAs 2015–2020 recommendations is associated with lower risk of mortality from all-cause, CVD, and cancer.
Crystalline Modification and Its Effects on Dielectric Breakdown Strength and Space Charge Behavior in Isotactic Polypropylene
Authors: Zhang Ling , Zhang Yunxiao , Zhou Yuanxiang , Teng Chenyuan , Peng Zhaowei , Spinella Stephen
Published: April 2018

Adding nucleating agents (NAs) is one of the most efficient ways to obtain improved mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). While it is well appreciated that electrical property is critically affected by crystalline modification, the role between them remains unclear. Here, we address this issue by incorporating commercial α-NA and β-NA into iPP, both of which exhibit strong nucleation ability, e.g., reducing the size of crystalline agglomerates from 45.3 μm (Pure-iPP) to 2.5 μm (α-iPP) and 7.6 μm (β-iPP), respectively. Mechanical testing results show that while β-modification decreases the tensile strength a little, it does enhance the elongation at break (200%) and toughness (25.3% higher), relative to its unfilled counterparts. Moreover, a well-dispersed β-iPP system obtains a comprehensive improvement of electrical properties, including dielectric breakdown strength, space charge suppression, and internal field distortion under a high external field (−100 kV/mm) due to newly-generated deep charge trapping sites. This crystalline modification strategy is attractive for future development of many engineering insulating polymers.
Railway Track Condition Assessment at Network Level by Frequency Domain Analysis of GPR Data
Authors: Fontul Simona , Paixão André , Solla Mercedes , Pajewski Lara
Published: April 2018

The railway track system is a crucial infrastructure for the transportation of people and goods in modern societies. With the increase in railway traffic, the availability of the track for monitoring and maintenance purposes is becoming significantly reduced. Therefore, continuous non-destructive monitoring tools for track diagnoses take on even greater importance. In this context, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technique results yield valuable information on track condition, mainly in the identification of the degradation of its physical and mechanical characteristics caused by subsurface malfunctions. Nevertheless, the application of GPR to assess the ballast condition is a challenging task because the material electromagnetic properties are sensitive to both the ballast grading and water content. This work presents a novel approach, fast and practical for surveying and analysing long sections of transport infrastructure, based mainly on expedite frequency domain analysis of the GPR signal. Examples are presented with the identification of track events, ballast interventions and potential locations of malfunctions. The approach, developed to identify changes in the track infrastructure, allows for a user-friendly visualisation of the track condition, even for GPR non-professionals such as railways engineers, and may further be used to correlate with track geometric parameters. It aims to automatically detect sudden variations in the GPR signals, obtained with successive surveys over long stretches of railway lines, thus providing valuable information in asset management activities of infrastructure managers.
A General Approach to Enhance Short Wave Satellite Imagery by Removing Background Atmospheric Effects
Authors: Scheirer Ronald , Dybbroe Adam , Raspaud Martin
Published: April 2018

Atmospheric interaction distorts the surface signal received by a space-borne instrument. Images derived from visible channels appear often too bright and with reduced contrast. This hampers the use of RGB imagery otherwise useful in ocean color applications and in forecasting or operational disaster monitoring, for example forest fires. In order to correct for the dominant source of atmospheric noise, a simple, fast and flexible algorithm has been developed. The algorithm is implemented in Python and freely available in PySpectral which is part of the PyTroll family of open source packages, allowing easy access to powerful real-time image-processing tools. Pre-calculated look-up tables of top of atmosphere reflectance are derived by off-line calculations with RTM DISORT as part of the LibRadtran package. The approach is independent of platform and sensor bands, and allows it to be applied to any band in the visible spectral range. Due to the use of standard atmospheric profiles and standard aerosol loads, it is possible just to reduce the background disturbance. Thus signals from excess aerosols become more discernible. Examples of uncorrected and corrected satellite images demonstrate that this flexible real-time algorithm is a useful tool for atmospheric correction.
Effects of Ambient Ozone on Soybean Biophysical Variables and Mineral Nutrient Accumulation
Authors: Sagan Vasit , Maimaitiyiming Matthew , Fishman Jack
Published: April 2018

The effects of increasing ambient ozone (O3) concentrations on food security has become a major concern as the demand for agricultural productivity is projected to increase significantly over the next several decades. In this contribution, the responses of common soybean genotypes (AK-HARROW, PI88788, DWIGHT, PANA, and WILLIAMS82) to ambient O3 are characterized using hyperspectral data and foliar biophysical, mineral nutrient concentrations and soybean yield. Specifically, leaf reflectance spectra measured at different growth stages and canopy layers were used to examine the spectral indices that were most strongly correlated with leaf physiological status. The effects of elevated O3 on six important nutrients (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn and Cu) were evaluated by analyzing the variations in nutrient concentrations at two critical growth stages with increasing ambient O3 concentration using Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR). Lastly, the identified best spectral indices and the robust nutrient prediction models were extrapolated to the entire growth period to explore their ability to track the effects of ambient O3 concentrations on soybean physiology and nutrient uptake. The results showed that fluorescence yield (ΔF/Fm’) and photochemical quenching (qP) appear to be good indicators of soybean physiological responses to O3 stress that are echoed by the harvest index (HI). Newly identified normalized difference spectral index (NDSI) [R416, R2371] always had the highest correlation (R2 > 0.6) with ΔF/Fm’, qP and electron transport rate (ETR, μmol m−2 s−1) compared to the published indices. Additionally, there were significant and broad spectral regions in visible and near infrared region that were well-correlated with ΔF/Fm’ and selected NDSIs that were applicable to satellite observations. The results of nutrient modeling using PLSR explained 54–87% of the variance in nutrient concentrations, and the predicted mineral nutrient accumulation throughout the growing season reflected the responses of ozone tolerant and sensitive genotypes well. NDSI [R416, R2371] demonstrated great potential in regard to its sensitivity in tracking plant physiological responses to changing ambient O3 concentrations. The outcome of this research has potential implications for development of space-based observation of large-scale crop responses to O3 damage, as well as for biotechnological breeding efforts to improve ozone tolerance under future climate scenarios.
Dynamically Rough Boundary Scattering Effect on a Propagating Continuous Acoustical Wave in a Circular Pipe with Flow
Authors: Romanova Anna V. , Horoshenkov Kirill V. , Krynkin Anton
Published: April 2018

The pattern of the free surface of the turbulent flow in a partially filled circular pipe contains information on the underlying hydraulic processes. However, the roughness of the free surface of flow and its temporal variation in a pipe is a dynamic and non-stationary process that is difficult to measure directly. This work examines a new acoustic method that is used to study the characteristics of the free surface roughness under controlled laboratory conditions. The acoustic method makes use of a continuous sine wave that is transmitted through the air above the turbulent flow of water over a section of the pipe instrumented with an array of wave probes and microphones. The results obtained for a representative range of flow regimes and variety of pipe bed conditions illustrate that it is possible to unambiguously relate variations in the recorded acoustic field to the standard deviation in the free surface roughness and mean flow depth. These variations are clearly linked to the hydraulic friction factor of the pipe, which is shown to be related to airborne acoustic data obtained non-invasively.
Real-Life/Real-Time Elderly Fall Detection with a Triaxial Accelerometer
Authors: Sucerquia Angela , López José , Vargas-Bonilla Jesús
Published: April 2018

The consequences of a fall on an elderly person can be reduced if the accident is attended by medical personnel within the first hour. Independent elderly people often stay alone for long periods of time, being in more risk if they suffer a fall. The literature offers several approaches for detecting falls with embedded devices or smartphones using a triaxial accelerometer. Most of these approaches have not been tested with the target population or cannot be feasibly implemented in real-life conditions. In this work, we propose a fall detection methodology based on a non-linear classification feature and a Kalman filter with a periodicity detector to reduce the false positive rate. This methodology requires a sampling rate of only 25 Hz; it does not require large computations or memory and it is robust among devices. We tested our approach with the SisFall dataset achieving 99.4% of accuracy. We then validated it with a new round of simulated activities with young adults and an elderly person. Finally, we give the devices to three elderly persons for full-day validations. They continued with their normal life and the devices behaved as expected.
The Cramér–Rao Bounds and Sensor Selection for Nonlinear Systems with Uncertain Observations
Authors: Wang Zhiguo , Shen Xiaojing , Wang Ping , Zhu Yunmin
Published: April 2018

This paper considers the problems of the posterior Cramér–Rao bound and sensor selection for multi-sensor nonlinear systems with uncertain observations. In order to effectively overcome the difficulties caused by uncertainty, we investigate two methods to derive the posterior Cramér–Rao bound. The first method is based on the recursive formula of the Cramér–Rao bound and the Gaussian mixture model. Nevertheless, it needs to compute a complex integral based on the joint probability density function of the sensor measurements and the target state. The computation burden of this method is relatively high, especially in large sensor networks. Inspired by the idea of the expectation maximization algorithm, the second method is to introduce some 0–1 latent variables to deal with the Gaussian mixture model. Since the regular condition of the posterior Cramér–Rao bound is unsatisfied for the discrete uncertain system, we use some continuous variables to approximate the discrete latent variables. Then, a new Cramér–Rao bound can be achieved by a limiting process of the Cramér–Rao bound of the continuous system. It avoids the complex integral, which can reduce the computation burden. Based on the new posterior Cramér–Rao bound, the optimal solution of the sensor selection problem can be derived analytically. Thus, it can be used to deal with the sensor selection of a large-scale sensor networks. Two typical numerical examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Adaptive LINE-P: An Adaptive Linear Energy Prediction Model for Wireless Sensor Network Nodes
Authors: Ahmed Faisal , Tamberg Gert , Le Moullec Yannick , Annus Paul
Published: April 2018

In the context of wireless sensor networks, energy prediction models are increasingly useful tools that can facilitate the power management of the wireless sensor network (WSN) nodes. However, most of the existing models suffer from the so-called fixed weighting parameter, which limits their applicability when it comes to, e.g., solar energy harvesters with varying characteristics. Thus, in this article we propose the Adaptive LINE-P (all cases) model that calculates adaptive weighting parameters based on the stored energy profiles. Furthermore, we also present a profile compression method to reduce the memory requirements. To determine the performance of our proposed model, we have used real data for the solar and wind energy profiles. The simulation results show that our model achieves 90–94% accuracy and that the compressed method reduces memory overheads by 50% as compared to state-of-the-art models.
Vibration and Noise in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Vocal Tract: Differences between Whole-Body and Open-Air Devices
Authors: Přibil Jiří , Přibilová Anna , Frollo Ivan
Published: April 2018

This article compares open-air and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment working with a weak magnetic field as regards the methods of its generation, spectral properties of mechanical vibration and acoustic noise produced by gradient coils during the scanning process, and the measured noise intensity. These devices are used for non-invasive MRI reconstruction of the human vocal tract during phonation with simultaneous speech recording. In this case, the vibration and noise have negative influence on quality of speech signal. Two basic measurement experiments were performed within the paper: mapping sound pressure levels in the MRI device vicinity and picking up vibration and noise signals in the MRI scanning area. Spectral characteristics of these signals are then analyzed statistically and compared visually and numerically.
Sustainable Water Use in Agriculture: A Review of Worldwide Research
Authors: Velasco-Muñoz Juan , Aznar-Sánchez José , Belmonte-Ureña Luis , Román-Sánchez Isabel
Published: April 2018

Sustainability of water use in agriculture is a line of research that has gained in importance worldwide. The present study reviewed 25 years of international research on sustainable water use in agriculture. A bibliometric analysis was developed to sample 2084 articles. Results indicate exponential growth in the number of articles published per year, with research in this field having acquired a global scale. Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences are the main categories. Three journals—Agricultural Water Management, Water Resources Management and Nongye Gongcheng Xuebao Agricultural Engineering—published the most of the articles. China, the U.S., Australia, India and Germany produced the most research. The three institutions that published the most articles were all Chinese (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Agricultural University and Northwest A&F University). The most cited authors were Ridoutt, Hoekstra and Zhang. The keywords most frequently used include: water-use, irrigation, water-management, water-supply, and sustainability. A network map shows three clusters that focus on the environmental, agronomic and management aspects. The findings of this study can assist researchers in this field by providing an overview of research on the sustainability of hydric resources.
Performance, Economics and Potential Impact of Perennial Rice PR23 Relative to Annual Rice Cultivars at Multiple Locations in Yunnan Province of China
Authors: Huang Guangfu , Qin Shiwen , Zhang Shilai , Cai Xiaolin , Wu Shukang , Dao Jinrong , Zhang Jing , Huang Liyu , Harnpichitvitaya Dome , Wade Len , Hu Fengyi
Published: April 2018

Perennial grain crops hold the promise of stabilizing fragile lands, while contributing grain and grazing in mixed farming systems. Recently, perennial rice was reported to successfully survive, regrow, and yield across a diverse range of environments in Southern China and Laos, with perennial rice PR23 being identified as a prime candidate for release to farmers. This paper reports the evaluation of PR23 for release, by (1) comparing its survival, regrowth, performance, and adaptation with preferred annual rices across nine ecological regions in southern Yunnan Province of China; (2) examining the economic costs and benefits of perennial versus annual rice there; and (3) discussing the evidence for the release of PR23 as a broadly adapted and acceptable cultivar for farmers. Overall, the grain yield of PR23 was similar to those of the preferred annual rice cultivars RD23 and HXR7, but the economic analysis indicated substantial labour savings for farmers by growing the perennial instead of the annual. PR23 was comparable to the annuals in phenology, plant height, grain yield, and grain size, and was acceptable in grain and cooking quality. Farmers were keen to grow it because of reduced costs and especially savings in labour. PR23 is proposed for release to farmers because of its comparable grain yields to annual rices, its acceptable grain and milling quality, its cost and labour savings, and the likely benefits to soil stability and ecological sustainability, along with more flexible farming systems.
Phosphorus Supply Chain—Scientific, Technical, and Economic Foundations: A Transdisciplinary Orientation
Authors: Mew Michael , Steiner Gerald , Geissler Bernhard
Published: April 2018

Natural mineral resources, such as phosphates, represent global assets of tremendous economic value to stakeholders. Given its special characteristics and its essentiality for all life on Earth, phosphorus (P) bears additional value to society as it is both indispensable and not substitutable. Most peers in the field, as well as those coming to phosphorus research, are aware of the complex underlying system dynamics of the P supply chain. In view of the manifold problems involved, scientists from various disciplines as well as practice need to find (new) ways to generate, utilize, transfer, and integrate knowledge. This manuscript serves as a best-practice example as it originates from a long-lasting science/practice collaboration and is the result of a mutual learning process. As a cornerstone of the special issue on “Phosphorus Circular Economy: Closing Loops through Sustainable Innovation” we provide state-of-the-art scientific knowledge as well as practical expert insights from the perspectives of geology, technology, economics, and policy making. This manuscript shall help scientific peers, the public, respective companies, and policymakers to address the issue of sustainable phosphorus management.
Characterization of Fine Particulate Matter in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Using Complementary Experimental Techniques
Authors: Hamdan Nasser , Alawadhi Hussain , Jisrawi Najeh , Shameer Mohamed
Published: April 2018

Airborne particulate matter (PM) pollutants were sampled from an urban background site in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The fine fraction (PM2.5) (particulates with aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5 μm) was collected on 47-mm Teflon filters and analyzed using a combined set of non-destructive techniques in order to provide better understanding of the sources of pollutants and their interaction during transport in the atmosphere. These techniques included gravimetric analysis, equivalent black carbon (EBC), X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Generally, the PM2.5 concentrations are within the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency. The EBC content is in the range of 10–12% of the total PM concentration (2–4 µg m−3), while S (as ammonium sulfate), Ca (as calcite, gypsum, and calcium carbonate), Si (as quartz), Fe, and Al were the major sources of PM pollution. EBC, ammonium sulfate, Zn, V, and Mn originate from anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel burning, traffic, and industrial emissions. Natural elements such as Ca, Fe, Al, Si, and Ti are due to natural sources such as crustal materials (enhanced during dust episodes) and sea salts. The average contribution of natural sources in the total PM2.5 mass concentration over the sampling period is about 40%, and the contribution of the secondary inorganic compounds is about 27% (mainly ammonium sulfate in our case). The remaining 22% is assumed to be secondary organic compounds.
Study on the Improvement of Expected Energy Savings and Actual Energy Savings in Apartments
Authors: Park Won-Jun , Kim Hye-Mi
Published: April 2018

Regulating energy consumption can reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and expenditures. In order to maximize efficiency, appropriate energy protocols for buildings must be devised and implemented. This study examines predicted and real energy savings, the differences between them, and the methods which might reduce these discrepancies. Analyses for 195 high-efficiency apartment units (certified based on the energy efficiency rating system in use in Korea) indicated an average difference of 23% between predicted and real energy savings. This was found to be due to the fact that predictions failed to take variables such as Heating Type, Corridor Type, and Climate into account. By accounting for these factors, an appropriate calculation formula may be established. Using the revised calculation formula to reevaluate the predicted energy savings of 13 apartment units resulted in a reduction of 7% in the aforementioned discrepancy between predicted and real energy savings. Using the proposed formula to predict energy savings in buildings could improve accuracy, thus facilitating the setting of appropriate standards for restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions of buildings.
Benefit and Risk Perceptions of Controversial Facilities: A Comparison between Local Officials and the Public in China
Authors: Mao Qingduo , Zhang Manli , Ma Ben
Published: April 2018

This article investigates the perception biases of local government officials and the general public by comparing their benefit and risk perceptions towards controversial facilities. The analysis framework of Social Judgement Theory (SJT)—i.e., (a) economic benefits, (b) environmental health, and (c) social and political factors—was used to design the research. SJT is a widely recognized theoretical framework that includes experimental approaches to the study of cognitive conflicts. An experimental survey was conducted to collect data in order to make a comparison of the weight of different elements. Results demonstrate that there are perception differences between the general public and local officials on controversial facilities. Local officials responsible for endorsing and supervising plants attach more significance to environmental factors than the public, while the public focuses more on social and political factors than officials. There is no significant difference in the cognition of economic benefits. Factors such as demolition compensation and legitimacy may provoke these perception gaps. This paper enriches the current understanding of SJT and policy making for controversial facilities by investigating the perception gaps between officials and the general public.
Criteria for Selecting Suitable Infectious Diseases for Phage Therapy
Authors: Harper David
Published: April 2018

One of the main issues with phage therapy from its earliest days has been the selection of appropriate disease targets. In early work, when the nature of bacteriophages was unknown, many inappropriate targets were selected, including some now known to have no bacterial involvement whatsoever. More recently, with greatly increased understanding of the highly specific nature of bacteriophages and of their mechanisms of action, it has been possible to select indications with an increased chance of a successful therapeutic outcome. The factors to be considered include the characteristics of the infection to be treated, the characteristics of the bacteria involved, and the characteristics of the bacteriophages themselves. At a later stage all of this information then informs trial design and regulatory considerations. Where the work is undertaken towards the development of a commercial product it is also necessary to consider the planned market, protection of intellectual property, and the sourcing of funding to support the work. It is clear that bacteriophages are not a “magic bullet”. However, with careful and appropriate selection of a limited set of initial targets, it should be possible to obtain proof of concept for the many elements required for the success of phage therapy. In time, success with these initial targets could then support more widespread use.
Expert Opinion on Three Phage Therapy Related Topics: Bacterial Phage Resistance, Phage Training and Prophages in Bacterial Production Strains
Authors: Rohde Christine , Resch Grégory , Pirnay Jean-Paul , Blasdel Bob , Debarbieux Laurent , Gelman Daniel , Górski Andrzej , Hazan Ronen , Huys Isabelle , Kakabadze Elene , Łobocka Małgorzata , Maestri Alice , Almeida Gabriel , Makalatia Khatuna , Malik Danish , Mašlaňová Ivana , Merabishvili Maia , Pantucek Roman , Rose Thomas , Štveráková Dana , Van Raemdonck Hilde , Verbeken Gilbert , Chanishvili Nina
Published: April 2018

Phage therapy is increasingly put forward as a “new” potential tool in the fight against antibiotic resistant infections. During the “Centennial Celebration of Bacteriophage Research” conference in Tbilisi, Georgia on 26–29 June 2017, an international group of phage researchers committed to elaborate an expert opinion on three contentious phage therapy related issues that are hampering clinical progress in the field of phage therapy. This paper explores and discusses bacterial phage resistance, phage training and the presence of prophages in bacterial production strains while reviewing relevant research findings and experiences. Our purpose is to inform phage therapy stakeholders such as policy makers, officials of the competent authorities for medicines, phage researchers and phage producers, and members of the pharmaceutical industry. This brief also points out potential avenues for future phage therapy research and development as it specifically addresses those overarching questions that currently call for attention whenever phages go into purification processes for application.
Linkage of Infection to Adverse Systemic Complications: Periodontal Disease, Toll-Like Receptors, and Other Pattern Recognition Systems
Authors: Wallet Shannon , Puri Vishwajeet , Gibson Frank
Published: April 2018

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that provide innate immune sensing of conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to engage early immune recognition of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Furthermore, TLRs provide a conduit for initiation of non-infectious inflammation following the sensing of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) generated as a consequence of cellular injury. Due to their essential role as DAMP and PAMP sensors, TLR signaling also contributes importantly to several systemic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and others. The overlapping participation of TLRs in the control of infection, and pathogenesis of systemic diseases, has served as a starting point for research delving into the poorly defined area of infection leading to increased risk of various systemic diseases. Although conflicting studies exist, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity/metabolic dysfunction have been associated with differing degrees of strength to infectious diseases. Here we will discuss elements of these connections focusing on the contributions of TLR signaling as a consequence of bacterial exposure in the context of the oral infections leading to periodontal disease, and associations with metabolic diseases including atherosclerosis and type 2 diabetes.
Syringomyelia in an Adult American Paint Horse
Authors: Kurz Jacqueline , Schoenhals Kate , Hullinger Gordon , Van Wettere Arnaud
Published: April 2018

Syringomyelia is a form of myelodysplasia defined by the formation of one or more fluid-filled cavities within the spinal cord that do not communicate with the central canal. The defect may be congenital or acquired. Clinical signs correlate to the segment of spinal cord affected and include pain, paresis, proprioceptive deficits, alterations in sensation, scoliosis, and autonomic dysfunction. This report describes the clinical and pathologic changes in a case of acquired syringomyelia in a 10-year-old American Paint Horse mare. The horse had a six-week history of progressive proprioceptive deficits in all four limbs, bilateral pelvic limb ataxia, and muscle fasciculations that were unresponsive to treatment with stall rest, phenylbutazone, and dexamethasone. Syringomyelia was diagnosed postmortem within cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord segments. Acquired syringomyelia should be considered among differential diagnoses in adult horses displaying progressive neurologic deficits.
Inventer une mutation monétaire. La première réformation, 1689-1693
Authors: Jambu Jérôme
Published: April 2018

The War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) required the King of France to seek out alternative sources of funds, since the ordinary fiscal resources were insufficient. The monarchy therefore turned once again to the lamentable and controversial practice of monetary manipulations. The 1689 manipulation presented a new character : coins were simply “ reformed” through the stamping of a new symbol indicating their new value. The first “ reformation” of coins was managed by private entrepreneurs who worked with the staff of the monetary administration, while the process was overseen by the Contrôle général des finances. This necessitated the opening of numerous mints and the setting up of a complex management and accounting framework. The process took more time to implement than originally foreseen and its impact on specie circulation was evident. It was nevertheless a success for the state in spite of the malpractices of some of its servants.
La réouverture de la Monnaie de Grenoble et la dernière émission des espèces « aux armes du Dauphiné » (1702-1703)
Authors: Charlet Christian
Published: April 2018

The mint of Grenoble, which had been closed in 1662, reopened only in March 1702, on the occasion of the third reformation (September 1701-October 1703). Its production was mediocre and the mint ceased operating even before the end of the reformation. Over this period it struck a small quantity of gold and silver coins, including the extremely rare silver series with “ royal insignia” and “ the arms of Dauphiné” on its four denominations : ecu, half-ecu, quarter-ecu, twelfth-ecu. This issue was the last one to show the quartered arms of the province with that of the king. Later on, when it reopened in 1704 and 1709, Grenoble struck only with the arms of France. The author has already devoted to this mint three articles in the Revue Numismatique (1990, 1992 and 1995), and four communications in the BSFN (1990, 1991, 1992 and 2012). He thus pursues his study of the mint of Grenoble from 1610 to 1715, and analyses for the first time the period 1702-1703 while publishing all the 15 known specimens with the arms of Dauphiné.
Hôtel des monnaies et faux monnayage. Les destinées surprenantes des deux premiers graveurs de la Monnaie de Grenoble au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Charlet Christian , Clairand Arnaud
Published: April 2018

Peu d’informations ont été publiées au sujet des graveurs particuliers de la Monnaie de Grenoble au début du XVIIIe siècle. L’exploitation de diverses sources d’archives a permis de reconstituer une partie de la vie de Charles Hervé (1702-1710) et François Jaley (1710-1736). Charles Hervé trouva la mort après avoir été accusé de fournir des coins à des faux monnayeurs. L’affaire eut de nombreuses répercussions et fut dramatique pour sa famille. Elle nous offre l’occasion de plonger dans le monde interlope des faux-monnayeurs de Provence, de Savoie et du Dauphiné. Ces recherches ont également permis d’établir de manière irréfutable la nature des différents apposés sur les monnaies grenobloises entre 1702 et 1736 et de corriger les interprétations de nos devanciers.
Documents du Minutier central des notaires de Paris pour servir à l’histoire des Roettiers
Authors: Villela-Petit Inès
Published: April 2018

Le Minutier central des notaires de Paris a déjà fourni une documentation utile sur les médailleurs et tailleurs de coins monétaires. Le dépouillement des minutes notariées d’Ancien Régime est cependant loin d’être complet. Nous donnons ici les résultats d’une prospection systématique dans l’étude XIV, sise au quartier Sainte-Avoye, qui s’avère avoir été l’étude principale dans laquelle les Roettiers ont passé leurs contrats et transactions durant les années 1700-1730. Les actes analysés permettent notamment de reconstituer la succession de Joseph Roettiers († 1703) dans les charges de graveur particulier de la Monnaie de Paris et de graveur général des monnaies de France.
Les moules monétaires de Sées (Orne). Monnayeurs locaux et circulation du bronze au IIIe siècle apr. J.-C.
Authors: Guihard Pierre-Marie , Fichet de Clairfontaine François
Published: April 2018

77 clay moulds were discovered in Sées (Orne) during preventive operations carried over by the Service régional de l’Archéologie de Basse-Normandie in 1992-1993. They document the existence of a counterfeiters’ workshop located in the center of the ancient city of the Sagii. It produced cast bronze coins. The closest parallel is that of the Danubian Limes falsa. The counterfeiters preferred cast coins were the Antonines’ radiates. This discovery shows the premium given to radiate types in the circulation, closely related to Postumus monetary policy.
A Hoard of Sixth-Century Solidi, Light-Weight Solidi and Fractions from Gökler (Phrygia)
Authors: Gökalp Zeliha Demirel , Gândilă Andrei
Published: April 2018

Un trésor de monnaies d’or byzantines du vie siècle a été trouvé à Gökler, Turquie en 1994 au cours de prospections illégales au détecteur de métaux. Le trésor comprend sept solidi de Justinien liés de coins, trois solidi de Justin II, cinq solidi de Tibère II et trente-six solidi, semisses et tremisses de Maurice, ces derniers avec plusieurs liaisons. Les pièces les plus intéressantes sont les deux solidi légers de 23 carats de Maurice. Le trésor a probablement été enfoui pendant la dernière décennie du VIe siècle.
Les tailleresses de la Monnaie de Paris au travail (1640-1789)
Authors: Delcamp Marion
Published: April 2018

Aucune publication n’a jusqu’à présent eu pour objet les tailleresses des ateliers monétaires français, malgré l’extraordinaire exemple d’emploi manuel qualifié exercé par des femmes à l’époque moderne qu’elles constituent. L’exploitation des archives de la Monnaie de Paris pour la période 1640-1789 a permis d’exhumer de nombreuses sources qui permettent de mieux les cerner. Leur situation est relativement bien connue pour le Moyen Âge et le début de l’époque moderne, période pendant laquelle elles avaient une véritable place au sein du processus de production puisqu’elles étaient chargées de tailler les flans aux ciseaux avant leur impression par les monnayeurs. Elles faisaient à ce titre partie des «officiers particuliers de fabrication » , corps constitué des monnayeurs, des ajusteurs et des tailleresses. Avec l’introduction et la généralisation à partir de 1640-1641 du laminoir, du balancier et surtout du coupoir réalisant désormais leur travail, elles furent affectées à la même tâche que les ajusteurs : limer les flans à l’aide d’écouennes. Le progrès technique a donc provoqué un doublon d’ouvriers pour exercer une même action, l’ajustage. La question du maintien des femmes au sein de l’atelier a assurément dû se poser. Bien que l’organisation médiévale n’ait plus eu de raison d’être en l’état, elle fut cependant maintenue au sein de l’atelier parisien et eut pour conséquence la marginalisation des tailleresses et la dévalorisation de leur travail. Plus tout à fait utiles, mal reconverties, difficilement limogeables, elles restèrent officiellement officiers des monnaies mais se virent peu à peu dépouillées de leurs droits.
La création du centre de documentation juive contemporaine en France (avril 1943)
Authors: Poznanski Renée
Published: April 2018

La création du Centre de documentation juive contemporaine en France (avril 1943), Renée Poznanski.

À la fin du mois d'avril 1943, à Grenoble alors sous occupation italienne, quarante militants de la vie juive se réunirent sous l'impulsion d'Isaac Schneersohn et décidèrent de créer le Centre de documentation juive contemporaine (CDJC), alors appelé le centre Schneersohn. Fondateur d'une historiographie, premier centre d'archives disponible aux chercheurs sur le destin des Juifs de France pendant la guerre, le Centre se confond aujourd'hui avec la mémoire de la shoah portée par les Juifs français dont il est le dépositaire. Pourtant, en replaçant l'acte fondateur dans son contexte historique, on est amené, dans un premier temps, à séparer la légende de la réalité.
À propos des archives militaires de la guerre d'Algérie
Authors: Ageron Charles-Robert
Published: April 2018

À propos des archives militaires de la guerre d'Algérie, Charles-Robert Ageron.

Le Service historique de l'armée de terre poursuit la publication de ses recueils d'archives relatives à la guerre d'Algérie avec un volume consacré à l'« entre-deux-guerres » de 1945 à 1954. On y trouvera maint témoignage de l'aveugle confiance en soi de l'Administration française, de l'intransigeance des Européens d'Algérie et de l'essor, parmi les Algériens, d'un sentiment national de moins en moins dissimulé.
Villes « riches », villes « pauvres ». Les finances municipales de l'entre-deux-guerres
Authors: Pinol Jean-Luc
Published: April 2018

« Rich » Cities, « Poor » Cities. Town Finance in the Between-the-Two-Wars Period, Jean-Luc Pinol.

A data bank bas been made of 835 towns (communes) from the summary of receipts and expenses of the 1934 administrative and geographical departments and towns (Situation résumée des recettes et des dépenses effectuées pour le compte des départements et des communes au titre de l'exercice 1934). Studied are the finances of 399 towns of more than 10 000 habitants. France has a very unbalanced urban System in which the principles of primacy and macrocephaly played to the hilt. In taxes, the rule of primacy was even more accentuated than in the demographic area. Paris receipts represented half the total receipts of the towns. What come to the fore are the disparities in the means the towns dispose of and the size of State subsidies in this period of economic troubles. These subsidies benefited the Paris area mostly while the industrial cities of the 19th c were characterized by the poverty of their means. Regional capitals whose per capita receipts were often lower than those of the towns ofthe Paris area had to borrow to solve their problems.