bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renormalization for a Scalar Field in an External Scalar Potential
Authors: Fulling Stephen , Settlemyre Thomas , Milton Kimball
Published: February 2018

The Pauli–Villars regularization procedure confirms and sharpens the conclusions reached previously by covariant point splitting. The divergences in the stress tensor of a quantized scalar field interacting with a static scalar potential are isolated into a three-parameter local, covariant functional of the background potential. These divergences can be naturally absorbed into coupling constants of the potential, regarded as a dynamical object in its own right; here, this is demonstrated in detail for two different models of the field-potential coupling. There is a residual dependence on the logarithm of the potential, reminiscent of the renormalization group in fully-interacting quantum field theories; these terms are finite, but numerically dependent on an arbitrary mass or length parameter, which is purely a matter of convention. This work is one step in a program to elucidate boundary divergences by replacing a sharp boundary by a steeply-rising smooth potential.
Risks of Stigmatisation Resulting from Assistive Technologies for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: O’Brolcháin Fiachra , Gordijn Bert
Published: February 2018

Assistive technologies (ATs) are currently being developed for cohorts of vulnerable people, including persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This paper focuses on the risks that the development of ATs for persons with ASD might lead to increased risks of stigmatisation. Firstly, we assess the ways in which the use of ATs might result in the stigmatisation of users, alongside the corollary question of risks associated with a refusal to use ATs in the event of their being socially expected. Secondly, we focus on the question of whether the “project” of developing ATs for persons with ASD is itself stigmatising, and whether the “project” risks stigmatising persons with ASD by offering “cures”.
Fatal Canine Intoxications Linked to the Presence of Saxitoxins in Stranded Marine Organisms Following Winter Storm Activity
Authors: Turner Andrew , Dhanji-Rapkova Monika , Dean Karl , Milligan Steven , Hamilton Mike , Thomas Julie , Poole Chris , Haycock Jo , Spelman-Marriott Jo , Watson Alice , Hughes Katherine , Marr Bridget , Dixon Alan , Coates Lewis
Published: February 2018

At the start of 2018, multiple incidents of dog illnesses were reported following consumption of marine species washed up onto the beaches of eastern England after winter storms. Over a two-week period, nine confirmed illnesses including two canine deaths were recorded. Symptoms in the affected dogs included sickness, loss of motor control, and muscle paralysis. Samples of flatfish, starfish, and crab from the beaches in the affected areas were analysed for a suite of naturally occurring marine neurotoxins of dinoflagellate origin. Toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were detected and quantified using two independent chemical testing methods in samples of all three marine types, with concentrations over 14,000 µg saxitoxin (STX) eq/kg found in one starfish sample. Further evidence for PSP intoxication of the dogs was obtained with the positive identification of PSP toxins in a vomited crab sample from one deceased dog and in gastrointestinal samples collected post mortem from a second affected dog. Together, this is the first report providing evidence of starfish being implicated in a PSP intoxication case and the first report of PSP in canines.
Domain III of Cry1Ac Is Critical to Binding and Toxicity against Soybean Looper (Chrysodeixis includens) but Not to Velvetbean Caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis)
Authors: Mushtaq Rubina , Shakoori Abdul , Jurat-Fuentes Juan
Published: February 2018

Insecticidal proteins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ac7 from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) belong to the three-domain family of Bt toxins. Commercial transgenic soybean hybrids produce Cry1Ac to control the larvae of the soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includens) and the velvet bean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis). The specificity of Cry1Ac is determined by loops extending from domain II and regions of domain III in the three-dimensional structure of the toxin. In this study, we constructed a hybrid toxin (H1.2Ac) containing domains I and II of Cry1Ac and domain III of Cry2Ac7, in an attempt to obtain a protein with enhanced toxicity compared to parental toxins. Bioassays with H1.2Ac revealed toxicity against the larvae of A. gemmatalis but not against C. includens. Saturation binding assays with radiolabeled toxins and midgut brush border membrane vesicles demonstrated no specific H1.2Ac binding to C. includens, while binding in A. gemmatalis was specific and saturable. Results from competition binding assays supported the finding that Cry1Ac specificity against A. gemmatalis is mainly dictated by domain II. Taken together, these distinct interactions with binding sites may help explain the differential susceptibility to Cry1Ac in C. includens and A. gemmatalis, and guide the design of improved toxins against soybean pests.
Light-Like Shockwaves in Scalar-Tensor Theories
Authors: Racskó Bence , Gergely László
Published: February 2018

Both electromagnetic shock-waves and gravitational waves propagate with the speed of light. If they carry significant energy-momentum, this will change the properties of the space-time they propagate through. This can be described in terms of the junction conditions between space-time regions separated by a singular, null hypersurface. We derived generic junction conditions for Brans-Dicke theory in the Jordan frame, exploring a formalism based on a transverse vector, rather than normal, which can be applied to any type of hypersurfaces. In the particular case of a non-null hypersurface we obtain a generalised Lanczos equation, in which the jump of the extrinsic curvature is sourced by both the distributional energy-momentum tensor and by the jump in the transverse derivative of the scalar. In the case of null hypersurfaces, the distributional source is decomposed into surface density, current and pressure. The latter, however, ought to vanish by virtue of the scalar junction condition.
Expert Views on HPV Infection
Authors: McBride Alison , Münger Karl
Published: February 2018

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The Interactions between Host Glycobiology, Bacterial Microbiota, and Viruses in the Gut
Authors: Monedero Vicente , Buesa Javier , Rodríguez-Díaz Jesús
Published: February 2018

Rotavirus (RV) and norovirus (NoV) are the major etiological agents of viral acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Host genetic factors, the histo-blood group antigens (HBGA), are associated with RV and NoV susceptibility and recent findings additionally point to HBGA as a factor modulating the intestinal microbial composition. In vitro and in vivo experiments in animal models established that the microbiota enhances RV and NoV infection, uncovering a triangular interplay between RV and NoV, host glycobiology, and the intestinal microbiota that ultimately influences viral infectivity. Studies on the microbiota composition in individuals displaying different RV and NoV susceptibilities allowed the identification of potential bacterial biomarkers, although mechanistic data on the virus–host–microbiota relation are still needed. The identification of the bacterial and HBGA interactions that are exploited by RV and NoV would place the intestinal microbiota as a new target for alternative therapies aimed at preventing and treating viral gastroenteritis.
Avian Respiratory Coinfection and Impact on Avian Influenza Pathogenicity in Domestic Poultry: Field and Experimental Findings
Authors: Samy Ahmed , Naguib Mahmoud
Published: February 2018

The avian respiratory system hosts a wide range of commensal and potential pathogenic bacteria and/or viruses that interact with each other. Such interactions could be either synergistic or antagonistic, which subsequently determines the severity of the disease complex. The intensive rearing methods of poultry are responsible for the marked increase in avian respiratory diseases worldwide. The interaction between avian influenza with other pathogens can guarantee the continuous existence of other avian pathogens, which represents a global concern. A better understanding of the impact of the interaction between avian influenza virus and other avian respiratory pathogens provides a better insight into the respiratory disease complex in poultry and can lead to improved intervention strategies aimed at controlling virus spread.
Ocularity Feature Contrast Attracts Attention Exogenously
Authors: Zhaoping Li
Published: February 2018

An eye-of-origin singleton, e.g., a bar shown to the left eye among many other bars shown to the right eye, can capture attention and gaze exogenously or reflexively, even when it appears identical to other visual input items in the scene and when the eye-of-origin feature is irrelevant to the observer’s task. Defining saliency as the strength of exogenous attraction to attention, we say that this eye-of-origin singleton, or its visual location, is salient. Defining the ocularity of a visual input item as the relative difference between its left-eye input and its right-eye input, this paper shows the general case that an ocularity singleton is also salient. For example, a binocular input item among monocular input items is salient, so is a left-eye-dominant input item (e.g., a bar with a higher input contrast to the left eye than to the right eye) among right-eye-dominant items. Saliency by unique input ocularity is analogous to saliency by unique input colour (e.g., a red item among green ones), as colour is determined by the relative difference(s) between visual inputs to different photoreceptor cones. Just as a smaller colour difference between a colour singleton and background items makes this singleton less salient, so does a smaller ocularity difference between an ocularity singleton and background items. While a salient colour difference is highly visible, a salient ocularity difference is often perceptually invisible in some cases and discouraging gaze shifts towards it in other cases, making its behavioural manifestation not as apparent. Saliency by ocularity contrast provides another support to the idea that the primary visual cortex creates a bottom-up saliency map to guide attention exogenously.
Evaluating Temporal and Spatial Variation in Nitrogen Sources along the Lower Reach of Fenhe River (Shanxi Province, China) Using Stable Isotope and Hydrochemical Tracers
Authors: Meng Zhilong , Yang Yonggang , Qin Zuodong , Huang Lei
Published: February 2018

Nitrate is one of the most common pollutants in river systems. This study takes the lower reach of Fenhe River as a case study, combined with a multi-isotope and hydrochemical as the tracers to identify nitrate sources in river system. The results show that all samples in the industrial region (IR) and urban region (UR) and 68.8% of the samples in the agriculture region (AR) suffer from nitrate pollution. NO3−–N is the main existing form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), followed by NH4+–N, which account for 57.9% and 41.9% of the DIN, respectively. The temporal variation in nitrogenous species concentration is clear over the whole hydrological year. The spatial variation is smaller among different sampling sites in the same region but greater among different regions. The main source of nitrogenous species is from anthropogenic rather than natural effects. Multi-isotope analysis shows that denitrification is found in some water samples. Combined with the apportionment of nitrate sources by the IsoSource model and the analysis of the Cl− content, the main source of nitrate in the IR, UR and AR are industrial sewage and manure, domestic sewage and manure, and chemical fertilizers, respectively. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is also a source of nitrate in the study area.
Multi-Domain 2.5D Method for Multiple Water Level Hydrodynamics
Authors: Guo Zhiqun , Ma Qingwei , Qin Hongde
Published: February 2018

The mean water surface (interface) under the air cushion of a surface effect ship (SES) or an air cushion supported platform (ACSP) is generally lower than the outside water surface due to the overpressure of the air cushion. To precisely analyze the hydrodynamics under the air cushion, multiple water levels should be considered in numerical models. However, when using free surface Green’s functions as numerical methods, the water level difference cannot be taken into account, because free surface Green’s functions normally require users to set in the whole water domain a unique datum water surface that completely separates the air domain and the water domain. To overcome this difficulty, a multi-domain approach is incorporated into a 2.5D method that is based on a time domain free surface Green’s function with viscous dissipation effects in this paper. In the novel multi-domain 2.5D method, the water domain is partitioned into inner and outer domains, and the interface is located in the inner domain while the outside water surface is placed in the outer domain. In each domain there exists only one unique water level, while water levels in different domains are allowed to be different. Benefited from this characteristic, the multi-domain 2.5D method is able to precisely consider the water level difference and its influence on hydrodynamics. The newly proposed multi-domain 2.5D method is employed to predict the hydrodynamics of an SES, and it is confirmed that the multi-domain 2.5D method can give better numerical results than the single-domain one for the given case.
Forecasting Quarterly Inflow to Reservoirs Combining a Copula-Based Bayesian Network Method with Drought Forecasting
Authors: Kim Kwanghoon , Lee Sangho , Jin Youngkyu
Published: February 2018

Especially for periods of drought, the higher the accuracy of reservoir inflow forecasting is, the more reliable the water supply from a dam is. This article focuses on the probabilistic forecasting of quarterly inflow to reservoirs, which determines estimates from the probabilistic quarterly inflow according to drought forecast results. The probabilistic quarterly inflow was forecasted by a copula-based Bayesian network employing a Gaussian copula function. Drought forecasting was performed by calculation of the standardized inflow index value. The calendar year is divided into four quarters, and the total inflow volume of water to a reservoir for three months is referred to as the quarterly inflow. Quarterly inflow forecasting curves, conforming to drought stages, produce estimates of probabilistic quarterly inflow according to the drought forecast results. The forecasted estimates of quarterly inflow were calculated by using the inflow records of Soyanggang and Andong dams in the Republic of Korea. After the probability distribution of the quarterly inflow was determined, a lognormal distribution was found to be the best fit to the quarterly inflow volumes in the case of the Andong dam, except for those of the third quarter. Under the threshold probability of drought occurrences ranging from 50% to 55%, the forecasted quarterly inflows reasonably matched the corresponding drought records. Provided the drought forecasting is accurate, combining drought forecasting with quarterly inflow forecasting can produce reasonable estimates of drought inflow based on the probabilistic forecasting of quarterly inflow to a reservoir.
Adaptation Tipping Points of a Wetland under a Drying Climate
Authors: Nanda Amar , Beesley Leah , Locatelli Luca , Gersonius Berry , Hipsey Matthew , Ghadouani Anas
Published: February 2018

Wetlands experience considerable alteration to their hydrology, which typically contributes to a decline in their overall ecological integrity. Wetland management strategies aim to repair wetland hydrology and attenuate wetland loss that is associated with climate change. However, decision makers often lack the data needed to support complex social environmental systems models, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of current or past practices. Adaptation Tipping Points (ATPs) is a policy-oriented method that can be useful in these situations. Here, a modified ATP framework is presented to assess the suitability of ecosystem management when rigorous ecological data are lacking. We define the effectiveness of the wetland management strategy by its ability to maintain sustainable minimum water levels that are required to support ecological processes. These minimum water requirements are defined in water management and environmental policy of the wetland. Here, we trial the method on Forrestdale Lake, a wetland in a region experiencing a markedly drying climate. ATPs were defined by linking key ecological objectives identified by policy documents to threshold values for water depth. We then used long-term hydrologic data (1978–2012) to assess if and when thresholds were breached. We found that from the mid-1990s, declining wetland water depth breached ATPs for the majority of the wetland objectives. We conclude that the wetland management strategy has been ineffective from the mid-1990s, when the region’s climate dried markedly. The extent of legislation, policies, and management authorities across different scales and levels of governance need to be understood to adapt ecosystem management strategies. Empirical verification of the ATP assessment is required to validate the suitability of the method. However, in general we consider ATPs to be a useful desktop method to assess the suitability of management when rigorous ecological data are lacking.
Long-Term Hydropower Generation of Cascade Reservoirs under Future Climate Changes in Jinsha River in Southwest China
Authors: Feng Yu , Zhou Jianzhong , Mo Li , Yuan Zhe , Zhang Peilun , Wu Jiang , Wang Chao , Wang Yongqiang
Published: February 2018

In this paper, the impact of future climate changes on long-term hydropower generation (LTHG) of cascade hydropower stations in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River is discussed. Global climate models (GCM) were used to estimate the impacts of future climate changes, the Xinanjiang model (XAJ) was applied to project the streamflow of the hydropower stations, and then gravitational search algorithm (GSA) was adopted to solve the LTHG problem. In case studies, the validation of the XAJ model shows that it perform well in the projection of streamflow in the Jinsha River. Moreover, the future hydropower generation is simulated based on five different GCMs under three climate change scenarios. Finally, the GSA algorithm is used to obtain a set of schemes under the influence of climate change. The results show that future climate changes are expected to have different impact on power generation of cascade reservoirs in the downstream of the Jinsha River when the climate change scenarios are different. These findings can provide decision support for future water resources management of the Jinsha River.
Upscaling the Zeolite-Anammox Process: Treatment of Secondary Effluent
Authors: Collison Robert , Grismer Mark
Published: February 2018

Water quality in San Francisco Bay is reportedly adversely affected by nitrogen loading from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) discharging around the periphery of the Bay. Here, we consider a zeolite-anammox system to remove ammonia and nitrate from secondary-treated wastewater at ambient temperatures (12–30 °C). Until now, use of anammox bacteria has been largely limited to treatment of high-ammonia content wastewater at warm temperatures (30–40 °C). Specifically, we investigate upscaling the zeolite-anammox system to nitrogen removal from relatively low-ammonia content (~35 NH3-N mg/L) effluent using gravity-fed 0.7 m wide and 0.17 m deep linear-channel reactors within pilot plants located at either the WWTP or some eight kilometers away. Following establishment, we monitored ammonia and nitrate concentrations along one reactor bi-weekly and only inflow–outflow concentrations at the other for more than a year. We found nearly complete ammonia removal within the first 22 m of reactor consistent with the theoretical 89% nitrogen removal capacity associated with the nitrogen-conversion stoichiometry of anammox bacteria. We also determined degradation parameters of a constant 1.41 mg NH3-N/L per hour in the first 15 m, or 20.7 g NH3-N/m3/day for overall reactor volume. At the higher flowrate of the second reactor, we achieved a removal rate of 42 g NH3-N/m3/day. Overall, the linear-channel reactors operated with minimal maintenance, no additional energy inputs (e.g., for aeration) and consistently achieved NH3-N discharge concentrations ~1 mg/L despite fluctuating temperatures and WWTP effluent concentrations of 20–75 mg NH3-N/L.
Powerful Software to Simulate Soil Consolidation Problems with Prefabricated Vertical Drains
Authors: García-Ros Gonzalo , Alhama Iván , Cánovas Manuel
Published: February 2018

The present work describes the program Simulation of Consolidation with Vertical Drains (SICOMED_2018), a tool for the solution of consolidation processes in heterogeneous soils, with totally or partially penetrating prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) and considering both the effects of the smear zone, generated when introducing the drain into the ground, and the limitation in the discharge capacity of the drain. In order to provide a completely free program, the code Next-Generation Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (Ngspice) has been used as a numerical tool while the Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) code was used to program and create an interface with the user through interactive screens. In this way, SICOMED_2018 is presented as an easy-to-use and intuitive program, with a simple graphical interface that allows the user to enter all the soil properties and geometry of the problem without having to resort to a complex software package that requires programming. Illustrative applications describe both the versatility of the program and the reliability of its numerical solutions.
A review of carbon-based and non-carbon-based catalyst supports for the selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide
Authors: Anthonysamy Shahreen Binti Izwan , Afandi Syahidah Binti , Khavarian Mehrnoush , Mohamed Abdul Rahman Bin
Published: February 2018

Various types of carbon-based and non-carbon-based catalyst supports for nitric oxide (NO) removal through selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with ammonia are examined in this review. A number of carbon-based materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), activated carbon (AC), and graphene (GR) and non-carbon-based materials, such as Zeolite Socony Mobil–5 (ZSM-5), TiO2, and Al2O3 supported materials, were identified as the most up-to-date and recently used catalysts for the removal of NO gas. The main focus of this review is the study of catalyst preparation methods, as this is highly correlated to the behaviour of NO removal. The general mechanisms involved in the system, the Langmuir–Hinshelwood or Eley–Riedeal mechanism, are also discussed. Characterisation analysis affecting the surface and chemical structure of the catalyst is also detailed in this work. Finally, a few major conclusions are drawn and future directions for work on the advancement of the SCR-NH3 catalyst are suggested.
A Study of Two Dwarf Irregular Galaxies with AsymmetricalStar Formation Distributions
Authors: Hunter Deidre A. , Gallardo Samavarti , Zhang Hong-Xin , Adamo Angela , Cook David O. , Oh Se-Heon , Elmegreen Bruce G. , Kim Hwihyun , Kahre Lauren , Ubeda Leonardo , Bright Stacey N. , Ryon Jenna E. , Fumagalli Michele , Sacchi Elena , Kennicutt R. C. , Tosi Monica , Dale Daniel A. , Cignoni Michele , Messa Matteo , Grebel Eva K. , Gouliermis Dimitrios A. , Sabbi Elena , Grasha Kathryn , Gallagher John S. , Calzetti Daniela , Lee Janice C.
Published: February 2018

Two dwarf irregular galaxies, DDO 187 and NGC 3738, exhibit a striking pattern of star formation: intense star formation is taking place in a large region occupying roughly half of the inner part of the optical galaxy. We use data on the H i distribution and kinematics and stellar images and colors to examine the properties of the environment in the high star formation rate (HSF) halves of the galaxies in comparison with the low star formation rate halves. We find that the pressure and gas density are higher on the HSF sides by 30%–70%. In addition we find in both galaxies that the H i velocity fields exhibit significant deviations from ordered rotation and there are large regions of high-velocity dispersion and multiple velocity components in the gas beyond the inner regions of the galaxies. The conditions in the HSF regions are likely the result of large-scale external processes affecting the internal environment of the galaxies and enabling the current star formation there.
A new species of sea urchin associating clingfish of the genus Dellichthys from New Zealand (Teleostei, Gobiesocidae)
Authors: Conway Kevin W. , Stewart Andrew L. , Summers Adam P.
Published: February 2018

A new species of clingfish, Dellichthystrnskii sp. n. is described on the basis of 27 specimens, 11.9–46.0 mm SL, collected from intertidal and shallow coastal waters of New Zealand. It is distinguished from its only congener, D.morelandi Briggs, 1955 by characters of the cephalic sensory system and oral jaws, snout shape, and colouration in life. A rediagnosis is provided for D.morelandi, which is shown to exhibit sexual dimorphism in snout shape.
Validation of two simple, objective tools for the assessment of synovial swelling in the equine fetlock region
Authors: Bergh A. , Svernhage M. , Connysson M.
Published: February 2018

Simple objective assessment tools are essential to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic interventions used in clinical settings. The purpose of present study was to investigate different ways of assessing synovial swelling of the equine fetlock region: tape measure and slide calliper, and to examine the method’s inter- and intra-examiner reliability. The hypotheses were that inter-examiner reliability would be fair and intra-examiner reliability strong. Measurements were performed on both hind limbs, on 16 horses. Palpation was done once for each limb, over the plantar pouch of the fetlock joint and the plantar digital flexor tendon sheath (PDFTS). Tape measure and slide calliper registrations were made, in triplicate by two independent assessors blinded to the measurements, horizontally over the fetlock joint and PDFTS areas, respectively. Intra-class correlation was used to measure inter- and intra-examiner reliability. The inter-examiner reliability was fair for the tape measurement of the plantar pouch of the fetlock joint, and almost perfect for the PDFTS. It was moderate for the slide calliper assessment of the PDFTS and almost perfect for the plantar pouch. The intra-examiner reliability was almost perfect for tape measure and slide calliper assessment, for the plantar pouch and PDFTS, respectively. Our results support our hypothesis and indicate that tape measure and slide calliper measurement of plantar pouch of the fetlock joint and PDFTS can be reliably performed by the same therapist. Slide calliper and circumference tape measures are promising objective techniques for assessing synovial swelling of the equine fetlock region.
Producción científica en Chile: las limitaciones del uso de indicadores de desempeño para evaluar las universidades públicas
Authors: Quezada-Hofflinger Álvaro , Vallejos-Romero Arturo
Published: February 2018

El año 2015 las 25 universidades del Consejo de Rectores (CRUCH) recibieron $15.3 millones de dólares como incentivo, dinero que estuvo supeditado a la posición que ocuparon en el ranking de indicadores de desempeño. El indicador con mayor peso es el índice de productividad (35%), que representa la proporción entre el número de publicaciones indexadas dividido por el número de académicos que posee la universidad. Expresado el indicador como valor absoluto, éste no diferencia las publicaciones por áreas, calidad o generación propia de conocimiento. Ante la falta de cualificación y diferenciación de la producción científica en Chile, esta investigación analiza 10.377 documentos publicados en la Web of Science (WOS) por las universidades del CRUCH el año 2015 y su objetivo fue explorar las consecuencias no deseadas del uso no diferenciado de las publicaciones indexadas como indicador de productividad y su efecto sobre la equidad financiera de las universidades y áreas del conocimiento.
Análisis de la presencia de pseudociencia en los catálogos de las bibliotecas públicas españolas
Authors: Cortiñas-Rovira Sergi , Darriba Zaragoza Marc
Published: February 2018

El presente artículo examina la presencia de libros que traten manifestaciones pseudocientíficas como tema principal en los catálogos de las bibliotecas públicas españolas, así como la posición que estas obras toman respecto a la pseudociencia. Se ha creado una base de datos para analizar las cifras tanto relativas como absolutas de textos en todos los catálogos autonómicos. Las cifras muestran un pequeño pero preocupante porcentaje del 0,15% de títulos abordando varias pseudociencias y señalan la astrología como la manifestación más presente en las bibliotecas. El estudio también muestra la amenaza que supone la homeopatía, dado que el número de obras tratando esta pseudoterapia supera en una ratio de 1 a 20 las obras referentes a la quimioterapia.
¿Riesgos despejados? Estrategias proactivas como servicio en entornos de Cloud Computing
Authors: Moro-Cabero Manuela , Llanes-Padrón Dunia
Published: February 2018

Es una realidad insoslayable el incremento del uso de servicios de Cloud Computing en las organizaciones debido a las ventajas que conlleva. Los gestores de documentos deben adoptar una posición proactiva, asesora y comprometida ante el empleo de dichos servicios, caracterizados por cierta opacidad, fundamentada en el desconocimiento de su funcionamiento y regulación, hecho que suscita reticencias para su adopción. En el estudio, de naturaleza descriptiva y sustentado en un notable número de fuentes heterogéneas, se sistematizan las amenazas derivadas de la gestión y almacenamiento en dichos servicios, a la par que se establecen estrategias de actuación, tanto ante la concreción de acuerdos como para su contratación. Su finalidad es la de sensibilizar al profesional sobre su potencial labor asesora y de control para asegurar la continuidad digital y la preservación de los recursos documentales en la nube.
Analysis Approach to Identify Factors Influencing Digital Learning Technology Adoption and Utilization in Developing Countries
Authors: Kashada Abubaker , Li Hongguang , Koshadah Osama
Published: February 2018

The Internet has given learners the ability to learn anytime and anywhere at their own pace facilitated by interactive and adaptive software. Digital learning technology is more than just providing students with a laptop. Digital learning requires a combination of technology, digital content, and instruction. This study aims to identify and observe the impact and mediation of top management support in relation to the successful adoption of digital learning technologies in developing countries. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to rate the successful adoption and utilization of digital learning technologies in developing countries and data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. This study provides empirical evidence and explains many complex factors, such as user awareness, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and information communication technology infrastructure, in the context of top management support to facilitate the effective utilization of a digital learning technology. Mediating the top management support between adoption of a digital learning technology and user awareness, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use provides clear and crucial evidence to support the effective adoption of a digital learning technology.
Construction of Interactive Teaching System for Course of Mechanical Drawing Based on Mobile Augmented Reality Technology
Authors: Cheng Juan , Wang YuLin , Tjondronegoro Dian , Song Wei
Published: February 2018

The teaching aim of Mechanical Drawing is to cultivate the students' graphics interpreting ability, plotting ability, inter-space imagination and innovation ability. For engineering students in China Universities, Mechanical Drawing course with the characteristics of 3D and 2D inter-space transformation, is often difficult to master. The ordinary dull teaching method is not enough for stimulating students’ spatial imagination capability, interest in learning, and cannot meet teachers’ teaching needs to explain complicated graphs relationships. In this paper, we design an interactive teaching system based on mobile augmented reality to improve the learning efficiency of Mechanical Drawing course. To check the effect of the proposed system, we carried out a case study of course teaching of Mechanical Drawing. The results demonstrate that the class for which interactive teaching system based on mobile augmented reality technology was adopted is significantly superior to the class for which the ordinary dull teaching approach was adopted with regard to the degree of proficiency of course key and difficult points content，spatial imagination capability, students’ interest in learning and study after class, especially in respect of students’ learning interest and spatial imagination capability.
NON-INVASIVE BLOOD GLUCOSE ANALYSIS BASED ON GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS
Authors: Snekhalatha U. , Rajalakshmi T. , Vinitha Sri C. H. , Balachander G. , Shankar K. S.
Published: February 2018

Diabetes is a chronic disease due to the lack of production of hormone insulin by the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. Many diabetic patients often draw a small amount of blood to measure the glucose level every day. This vital information is needed to control their daily food intake. One such method could cause infection and discomfort to the patient. Non-invasive glucose measurement techniques overcome these challenges to monitor blood glucose level continuously. The aim and objective of this study are as follows: (i) to correlate the skin resistance based on Galvanic skin response (GSR) and blood glucose level for diabetic and non-diabetic subject and (ii) to estimate the blood glucose value based on GSR voltage and resistance using stepwise linear regression model. About 50 diabetic and 50 non-diabetic subjects were included in this study. Blood glucose level is recorded using the minimally invasive device called accu-chek for all the subjects. GSR resistance and GSR voltage were recorded using the designed instrumentation setup. In diabetic subjects, the measured blood glucose level shows negative correlation with the GSR voltage ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and GSR resistance ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). The estimated blood glucose level can be predicted with good sensitivity (94%) and accuracy (92%) using age and GSR voltage, or by the combination of age and GSR resistance in the evaluation of diabetic subjects.
Introduction of Gram negative microrganisms rapid identification and direct susceptibility testing to reduce turnaround time in blood cultures
Authors: Mauro Maria Vittoria , Dodaro Saveria , Perugini Daniela , Greco Francesca , Giraldi Cristina
Published: February 2018

Background. Bloodstream infections and sepsis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The successful outcome of patients suffering from bacteremia depends on a rapid identification of the infectious agent to guide optimal antibiotic treatment. Beginning antimicrobial therapy early is vital for the treatment of bloodstream infections and sepsis. Reducing the time for microbial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing could decrease the average time needed for an appropriate antimicrobial therapy which leads to a decrease in mortality, a shortened hospital stay, and lower hospitalization costs.Methods. The direct identification and the antibiotic susceptibility testing evaluated with disk diffusion directly from blood cultures provided excellent results in Gram-negative.Results and Conclusions. Our study reveals the importance of direct methods that significantly reduce the turn around time and therefore has an impact on the successful outcome of patients suffering from bloodstream infections.
Molecular characterization of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli harbouring extended spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases genes at a tertiary hospital, Kenya
Authors: Maina Daniel , Revathi Gunturu , Whitelaw Andrew C.
Published: February 2018

Background. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram negative rods are increasingly being reported in sub-Saharan Africa. Molecular investigations play an important role, alongside other measures, in controlling nosocomial infections attributed to these organisms. This study aimed to determine the common extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases genes, and clonal relationship in MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Methods. Fifty-four MDR isolates collected at the Aga Khan University hospital, Nairobi in the month of August 2012 formed the study. These were picked after an increase in the number of resistant strains during the said period was experienced. Results. blaCTXM was present in 41 (74%) of the isolates, while blaSHV was detected in 18 (33%) and blaTEM in 13 (24%) of the isolates. Nine (16.7%) of the isolates harboured all three ESBL genes and 8 (14.8%) harboured two. Eight of the isolates (all E. coli) had none of the ESBL genes tested. Two isolates harboured carbapenemases genotypes: one had blaNDM-1 and the other blaSPM. Sequencing matched CTXM-15 and TEM-1 genes in all the isolates harbouring blaCXTM and blaTEM respectively. However, there was diversity in blaSHV with SHV-11 and SHV-12 genes predominant. The isolates were non-clonal. Conclusions. The isolates mostly harboured blaCTX-M-15 while only a few had carbapenemases genes. Lack of clonality suggests these were the stable circulating strains at the time of the study.
The eminence status of bacterial pigments under different aspects
Authors: Sabbagh Parisa , Ebrahimzadeh Namvar Amirmorteza
Published: February 2018

Several bacteria such as Flavobacterium, Serratias, Chromobacterium and Streptomyces that produce different pigments are playing a significant role in various fields of sciences. Alternatively, current knowledge about bacterial pigments is limited to medical bacteriology, for instance their importance in virulence factors and protective features, however recently the investigators have revealed the supplementary consequence of pigments in food, textile and pharmaceutical aspects.
Case Report: Delayed or Recurrent Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Migrants: A Report of Three Cases with a Literature Review
Authors: Dauby Nicolas , Figueiredo Ferreira Mariana , Konopnicki Deborah , Nguyen Vo Thanh Phuong , Cantinieaux Brigitte , Martin Charlotte
Published: February 2018

Emerging evidence indicates that migrants from Plasmodium falciparum endemic regions are at risk of delayed presentation of P. falciparum malaria. We report three cases of P. falciparum malaria occurring years after arrival in Europe. All patients were originally from Sub-Saharan Africa. Two subjects had controlled human immunodeficiency virus infection and one was a pregnant woman. We performed a literature review of all published cases of delayed presentation of P. falciparum in migrants and identified 32 additional cases. All cases but one originate from sub-Saharan Africa. There was a median time of 36 months between the last visit to a malaria-endemic country and clinical malaria (range: 3 months to 10 years). Pregnancy was the most frequently reported risk factor (11/35 or 31.4%). Parasitemia was ≤ 0.1% in 38% of cases (11/29 reported), and no death was reported. The underlying possible mechanisms for this delayed presentation in migrants from an endemic area probably include the persistence of submicroscopic parasitemia combined with decaying P. falciparum–specific immunity. Suspicion of P. falciparum delayed malaria should remain high in migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, even without a recent travel history, especially in those presenting risk factors for impaired parasite clearance or distinct immune responses such as pregnancy and HIV infection. In these patients, new prevention and screening strategies should be studied and blood safety policies adapted.
Malaria in Southeastern China from 2012 to 2016: Analysis of Imported Cases
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Yao Linong , Sun Jimin , Pan Jinren , Chen Hualiang , Zhang Lingling , Ruan Wei
Published: February 2018

To study the epidemiological distribution and the incident trends of imported malaria from 2012 to 2016 in Zhejiang Province, southeastern China, we collected data on malaria from the Information System for Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 1,003 malaria cases were reported during 2012–2016, and all of these cases were imported. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species (76.3%) in Zhejiang Province. The percentage of Plasmodium vivax decreased from 33.6% to 8.1%, whereas the percentage of Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae increased. Most cases were male (89.8%), mostly in the age group of 21–50 years (82.6%). Businessmen (33.0%), workers (21.0%), farmers (18.8%), and overseas laborers (11.7%) were at high risk. The origin of the largest number of imported cases was Africa (89.5%), followed by Asia (10.0%) and Oceania (0.5%). The time interval from illness onset to confirmation was found to be significantly associated with the complications of patients. Out of 3,461 febrile individuals tested during reactive case detection, 10 malaria-positive individuals were identified. Effective surveillance and response system should be strengthened to prevent the reintroduction of malaria.
Minorias nacionais, proteção internacional e transnacionalidade
Authors: Lopes Ana Maria D´Ávila , Santos Junior Luis Haroldo Pereira dos
Published: February 2018

Em razão da internacionalização dos direitos humanos, os indivíduos alcançaram, no âmbito internacional, uma proteção jurídica para além dos Estados nacionais. Neste contexto, desponta a preocupação em torno das minorias nacionais, grupos que se encontram frequentemente em uma situação de vulnerabilidade social e requerem, portanto, uma salvaguarda na seara supranacional, em face da transnacionalidade que este problema apresenta. Dessa forma, este trabalho pretende elucidar, a partir da análise da doutrinária e jurisprudência internacionais, de que forma os órgãos internacionais asseguram a tais indivíduos a proteção dos seus direitos humanos, especialmente diante da denegação, por parte das autoridades estatais, da sua participação política, elemento este de legitimação decisória. Verificou-se que, ao acionar tais órgãos, as minorias vislumbram um meio de terem respeitados seus direitos, garantindo, ademais, sua inserção nas deliberações nas esferas internas a fim de apresentar suas demandas, devendo as autoridades nacionais conformar-se com os parâmetros protetivos conferidos internacionalmente, concretizando sua feição transnacional.
Molecular distribution and compound-specific stable carbon isotopic composition of dicarboxylic acids, oxocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls in PM2.5 from Beijing, China
Authors: Zhao Wanyu , Kawamura Kimitaka , Yue Siyao , Wei Lianfang , Ren Hong , Yan Yu , Kang Mingjie , Li Linjie , Ren Lujie , Lai Senchao , Li Jie , Sun Yele , Wang Zifa , Fu Pingqing
Published: February 2018

Abstract. This study investigates the seasonal variation, molecular distribution and
stable carbon isotopic composition of diacids, oxocarboxylic acids and
α-dicarbonyls to better understand the sources and formation
processes of fine aerosols (PM2.5) in Beijing. The concentrations of
total dicarboxylic acids varied from 110 to 2580 ng m−3, whereas
oxoacids (9.50–353 ng m−3) and dicarbonyls (1.50–85.9 ng m−3)
were less abundant. Oxalic acid was found to be the most abundant individual
species, followed by succinic acid or occasionally by terephthalic acid
(tPh), a plastic waste burning tracer. Ambient concentrations of phthalic
acid (37.9 ± 27.3 ng m−3) and tPh (48.7 ± 51.1 ng m−3)
were larger in winter than in other seasons, illustrating that fossil fuel
combustion and plastic waste incineration contribute more to wintertime
aerosols. The year-round mass concentration ratios of malonic acid to
succinic acid (C3 ∕ C4) were relatively low by comparison with
those in other urban aerosols and remote marine aerosols. The values were
less than or equal to unity in Beijing, implying that the degree of
photochemical formation of diacids in Beijing is insignificant. Moreover,
strong correlation coefficients of major oxocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls with nss-K+ suggest that biomass burning contributes
significantly to these organic acids and related precursors. The mean
δ13C value of succinic acid is the highest among all species, with
values of −17.1 ± 3.9 ‰ (winter) and −17.1 ± 2.0 ‰ (spring), while malonic acid is more enriched in
13C than others in autumn (−17.6 ± 4.6 ‰) and
summer (−18.7 ± 4.0 ‰). The δ13C values
of major species in Beijing aerosols are generally lower than those in the
western North Pacific atmosphere, the downwind region, which indicates that
stable carbon isotopic compositions of diacids depend on their precursor
sources in Beijing. Therefore, our study demonstrates that in addition to
photochemical oxidation, high abundances of diacids, oxocarboxylic acids and
α-dicarbonyls in Beijing are largely associated with anthropogenic
primary emissions, such as biomass burning, fossil fuel combustion and
plastic waste burning.
Importance of sulfate radical anion formation and chemistry in heterogeneous OH oxidation of sodium methyl sulfate, the smallest organosulfate
Authors: Kwong Kai Chung , Chim Man Mei , Davies James F. , Wilson Kevin R. , Chan Man Nin
Published: February 2018

Abstract. Organosulfates are important organosulfur compounds present in atmospheric particles. While the abundance, composition, and formation mechanisms of organosulfates have been extensively investigated, it remains unclear how they transform and evolve throughout their atmospheric lifetime. To acquire a fundamental understanding of how organosulfates chemically transform in the atmosphere, this work investigates the heterogeneous OH radical-initiated oxidation of sodium methyl sulfate (CH3SO4Na) droplets, the smallest organosulfate detected in atmospheric particles, using an aerosol flow tube reactor at a high relative humidity (RH) of 85 %. Aerosol mass spectra measured by a soft atmospheric pressure ionization source (direct analysis in real time, DART) coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer showed that neither functionalization nor fragmentation products are detected. Instead, the ion signal intensity of the bisulfate ion (HSO4−) has been found to increase significantly after OH oxidation. We postulate that sodium methyl sulfate tends to fragment into a formaldehyde (CH2O) and a sulfate radical anion (SO4 ⋅ −) upon OH oxidation. The formaldehyde is likely partitioned back to the gas phase due to its high volatility. The sulfate radical anion, similar to OH radical, can abstract a hydrogen atom from neighboring sodium methyl sulfate to form the bisulfate ion, contributing to the secondary chemistry. Kinetic measurements show that the heterogeneous OH reaction rate constant, k, is (3.79 ± 0.19)  ×  10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 with an effective OH uptake coefficient, γeff, of 0.17 ± 0.03. While about 40 % of sodium methyl sulfate is being oxidized at the maximum OH exposure (1.27  ×  1012 molecule cm−3 s), only a 3 % decrease in particle diameter is observed. This can be attributed to a small fraction of particle mass lost via the formation and volatilization of formaldehyde. Overall, we firstly demonstrate that the heterogeneous OH oxidation of an organosulfate can lead to the formation of sulfate radical anion and produce inorganic sulfate. Fragmentation processes and sulfate radical anion chemistry play a key role in determining the compositional evolution of sodium methyl sulfate during heterogeneous OH oxidation.