bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Surfactant Directed Microcrystalline Cellulose/Polyaniline Composite with Enhanced Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Abdi Mahnaz M. , Md Tahir Paridah , Liyana Rawaida , Javahershenas Ramin
Published: September 2018

In this study a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), was used as a soft template for in situ chemical polymerization of aniline on the surface of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The morphology of the wire-like and porous nanostructure of the resulting composite was highly dependent on the MCC and CTAB concentrations. The effect of the MCC and CTAB concentrations on the electrochemical and morphological properties of the polyaniline (PAni) nanocomposite was studied. Cyclic voltammograms of modified PAni/MCC/CTAB electrode displayed a high current response and the effect of scan rate on the current response confirmed a diffusion controlled process on the surface of the electrode that makes it suitable for sensor applications. The overlapping characteristic peaks of pure PAni and MCC caused peak broadening at 3263 cm−1 in the IR spectra of PAni/MCC/CTAB nanocomposite that revealed the interaction between NH of PAni and OH group of MCC via electrostatic interactions. The addition of MCC to PAni through chemical polymerization decreased the thermal stability of composite compared to pure PAni. Lower crystallinity was observed in the XRD diffractogram, with 2 theta values of 22.8, 16.5, and 34.6 for PAni/MCC, confirming the formation of PAni on the MCC surface.
Binding of Red Clover Isoflavones to Actin as A Potential Mechanism of Anti-Metastatic Activity Restricting the Migration of Cancer Cells
Authors: Budryn Grażyna , Grzelczyk Joanna , Pérez-Sánchez Horacio
Published: September 2018

Actin functions are crucial for the ability of the cell to execute dynamic cytoskeleton reorganization and movement. Nutraceuticals that form complexes with actin and reduce its polymerization can be used in cancer therapy to prevent cell migration and metastasis of tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of isoflavones to form complexes with actin. Docking simulation and isothermal titration calorimetry were used for this purpose. The formation of complexes by hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic and π-π interactions was demonstrated. Interactions occurred at the ATP binding site, which may limit the rotation of the actin molecule observed during polymerization and also at the site responsible for contacts during polymerization, reducing the ability of the molecule to form filaments. The greatest therapeutic potential was demonstrated by isoflavones occurring in red clover sprouts, i.e., biochanin A and formononetin, being methoxy derivatives of genistein and daidzein.
Designing Behavioural Artificial Intelligence to Record, Assess and Evaluate Human Behaviour
Authors: Hildmann Hanno
Published: September 2018

The context of the work presented in this article is the assessment and automated evaluation of human behaviour. To facilitate this, a formalism is presented which is unambiguous as well as such that it can be implemented and interpreted in an automated manner. In the greater scheme of things, comparable behaviour evaluation requires comparable assessment scenarios and, to this end, computer games are considered as controllable and abstract environments. Within this context, a model for behavioural AI is presented which was designed around the objectives of: (a) being able to play rationally; (b) adhering to formally stated behaviour preferences; and (c) ensuring that very specific circumstances can be forced to arise within a game. The presented work is based on established models from the field of behavioural psychology, formal logic as well as approaches from game theory and related fields. The suggested model for behavioural AI has been used to implement and test a game, as well as AI players that exhibit specific behavioural preferences. The overall aim of this article is to enable the readers to design their own AI implementation, using the formalisms and models they prefer and to a level of complexity they desire.
Vacuum Thermal Treated Ni-CeO2/SBA-15 Catalyst for CO2 Methanation
Authors: Wang Luhui , Liu Hui , Ye Han , Hu Rong , Yang Shuqing , Tang Guoli , Li Kunqiang , Yang Yanpeng
Published: September 2018

Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-V catalyst was prepared by the impregnation method with vacuum thermal treatment and used for CO2 methanation reaction. Compared with Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-air catalyst with thermal treatment in air, the reduced Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-V catalyst with vacuum thermal treatment exhibited higher Ni dispersion and smaller Ni particle size. In CO2 methanation reaction, the Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-V catalyst was more active and selective than the Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-air catalyst. The good activity and selectivity of Ni-CeO2/SBA-15-V catalyst should be due to highly dispersed Ni in contact with small CeO2 particles.
Detection and Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Kaidi , Li Shenmiao , Petersen Marlen , Wang Shuo , Lu Xiaonan
Published: September 2018

This mini-review summarizes the most recent progress concerning the use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for the detection and characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We first discussed the design and synthesis of various types of nanomaterials that can be used as the SERS-active substrates for biosensing trace levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We then reviewed the tandem-SERS strategy of integrating a separation element/platform with SERS sensing to achieve the detection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environmental, agri-food, and clinical samples. Finally, we demonstrated the application of using SERS to investigate bacterial antibiotic resistance and susceptibility as well as the working mechanism of antibiotics based on spectral fingerprinting of the whole cells.
The Structure-To-Function Relationships of Gammaherpesvirus-Encoded Long Non-Coding RNAs and Their Contributions to Viral Pathogenesis
Authors: Chavez-Calvillo Gabriela , Martin Sarah , Hamm Chad , Sztuba-Solinska Joanna
Published: September 2018

Advances in next-generation sequencing have facilitated the discovery of a multitude of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with pleiotropic functions in cellular processes, disease, and viral pathogenesis. It came as no surprise when viruses were also revealed to transcribe their own lncRNAs. Among them, gammaherpesviruses, one of the three subfamilies of the Herpesviridae, code their largest number. These structurally and functionally intricate non-coding (nc) transcripts modulate cellular and viral gene expression to maintain viral latency or prompt lytic reactivation. These lncRNAs allow for the virus to escape cytosolic surveillance, sequester, and re-localize essential cellular factors and modulate the cell cycle and proliferation. Some viral lncRNAs act as “messenger molecules”, transferring information about viral infection to neighboring cells. This broad range of lncRNA functions is achieved through lncRNA structure-mediated interactions with effector molecules of viral and host origin, including other RNAs, proteins and DNAs. In this review, we discuss examples of gammaherpesvirus-encoded lncRNAs, emphasize their unique structural attributes, and link them to viral life cycle, pathogenesis, and disease progression. We will address their potential as novel targets for drug discovery and propose future directions to explore lncRNA structure and function relationship.
The Acute Effect of Oleic- or Linoleic Acid-Containing Meals on Appetite and Metabolic Markers; A Pilot Study in Overweight or Obese Individuals
Authors: Naughton Shaan S. , Hanson Erik D. , Mathai Michael L. , McAinch Andrew J.
Published: September 2018

Despite the abundance of plant-derived fats in our diet, their effects on appetite, and metabolic markers, remain unclear. This single-blinded 3-way cross-over pilot study aimed to investigate the ability of the two most abundant dietary plant-derived fats, oleic (OA) and linoleic (LA) acids, to modulate postprandial appetite and levels of circulating appetite and metabolic regulators in overweight/obese individuals. Meals were a high-carbohydrate control, a high-OA or a high-LA meal, and provided 30% of participants’ estimated energy requirements. Meals were consumed after an overnight fast, with blood samples collected over 3¼ h. Appetite parameters were assessed via a validated visual analogue scale questionnaire. Hormones and other circulating factors were quantified using multiplex immunoassays. Eight participants (age 45.8 ± 3.6 (years), body mass index 32.0 ± 1.3 (kg/m2)) completed the study. All meals significantly increased fullness and reduced desire to eat. The control and high-OA meals significantly decreased prospective food intake. The high-LA meal increased ghrelin levels (p < 0.05), a hormone which encourages food intake. This was coupled with a significant acute increase in resistin levels, which impairs insulin signaling. Taken together, this study indicates that in overweight/obese individuals, high-LA meals may promote excess energy intake and alter glucose handling, though a larger cohort may be required to strengthen results.
PPESK-Modified Multi-Functional Epoxy Resin and Its Application to the Pultrusion of Carbon Fiber
Authors: Wang Liwei , Wang Jinyan , Zhang Fengfeng , Qi Yu , Weng Zhihuan , Jian Xigao
Published: September 2018

Multi-functional epoxy resins are generally brittle due to their high crosslinking densities, which can limit their use for applications that require impact resistance. Pultruded poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK)-modified epoxy resins were prepared and their curing behaviors, heat resistance properties, and viscosity changes investigated. The glass transition temperature of these resins was found to increase with increasing PPESK content; however, these values were still compatible with the pultrusion process. Little change in the tensile strength and elongation lengths at breaking point were observed for blended PPESK/multi-functional epoxy resin containing 4–6% PPESK, and its viscosity levels were still within the requirements of the pultrusion process. Carbon fiber/multi-functional epoxy resin/PPESK (CF/E/PPESK) composites were also prepared and their performance investigated. The bending radius of these PPSEK-modified composites could reach up to 55 D with no cracking or peeling observed in their surface layers. The fatigue frequency of the sinusoidal waveforms for the composite did not change after one million fatigue test cycles, meaning that a strength retention rate of >90% was achieved. Therefore, this study describes a powerful approach for preparing toughened multi-functional epoxy resins that are well suited to pultrusion processes.
Ecumenical Ecclesiology in its New Contexts: Considering the Transformed Relationship between Roman Catholic Ecclesiology and Ecumenism
Authors: Colberg Kristin
Published: September 2018

The quest for Christian unity is entering a new phase amidst the movement’s many voices, perspectives and tensions. Christians are witnessing the advent of an emerging ecumenical paradigm, which, because it is not fully realized, is still realizing its full definition. The paradigm operates in a global context rather than a Eurocentric one, and even as it is more global, it is simultaneously more local. It cultivates shared praxis while being less concerned with the comparison of dogmas. Ecclesiology is also entering a new paradigm which shares many features with its ecumenical counterpart, particularly its global perspective and interest in shared praxis ahead of dogmatic questions. Even though ecumenism and ecclesiology share common trajectories, their journeys are unfolding in largely parallel rather than cooperative and mutually-enriching ways. This raises the question: What opportunities might arise from examining the shifts in ecumenism and ecclesiology together? This article examines how new methodological and practical developments in these two fields can form and inform one another. It studies the shift to synodality in the Catholic Church and the turn towards discernment in the ecumenical sphere as manifestations of similar theological commitments and a common interest in cultivating participatory processes. The seismic changes reshaping the religious landscape are transforming the relationship between ecumenism and ecclesiology; yet a strong connection between them endures and illumines paths forward for the church in the third millennium.
Least Angle Regression-Based Constrained Sparse Unmixing of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Feng Ruyi , Wang Lizhe , Zhong Yanfei
Published: September 2018

Sparse unmixing has been successfully applied in hyperspectral remote sensing imagery analysis based on a standard spectral library known in advance. This approach involves reformulating the traditional linear spectral unmixing problem by finding the optimal subset of signatures in this spectral library using the sparse regression technique, and has greatly improved the estimation of fractional abundances in ubiquitous mixed pixels. Since the potentially large standard spectral library can be given a priori, the most challenging task is to compute the regression coefficients, i.e., the fractional abundances, for the linear regression problem. There are many mathematical techniques that can be used to deal with the spectral unmixing problem; e.g., ordinary least squares (OLS), constrained least squares (CLS), orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), and basis pursuit (BP). However, due to poor prediction accuracy and non-interpretability, the traditional methods often cannot obtain satisfactory estimations or achieve a reasonable interpretation. In this paper, to improve the regression accuracy of sparse unmixing, least angle regression-based constrained sparse unmixing (LARCSU) is introduced to further enhance the precision of sparse unmixing. Differing from the classical greedy algorithms and some of the cautious sparse regression-based approaches, the LARCSU algorithm has two main advantages. Firstly, it introduces an equiangular vector to seek the optimal regression steps based on the simple underlying geometry. Secondly, unlike the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM)-based algorithms that introduce one or more multipliers or augmented terms during their optimization procedures, no parameters are required in the computational process of the LARCSU approach. The experimental results obtained with both simulated datasets and real hyperspectral images confirm the effectiveness of LARCSU compared with the current state-of-the-art spectral unmixing algorithms. LARCSU can obtain a better fractional abundance map, as well as a higher unmixing accuracy, with the same order of magnitude of computational effort as the CLS-based methods.
Suppression Attack Against Multicast Protocol in Low Power and Lossy Networks: Analysis and Defenses
Authors: Pu Cong , Zhou Xitong
Published: September 2018

With increasingly prevalent wireless sensors and devices, low power and lossy networks (LLNs) play an essential role in the realization of ubiquitous computing and communication infrastructure, which, in turn, leads to enhanced data accessibility and availability. A multicast protocol for LLNs (MPL), has been standardized to provide both efficient and reliable multicast communication. Due to the shared wireless medium, lack of tamper resistance, and inherent resource constraints, MPL-based LLNs are undoubtedly vulnerable to various Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. In this paper, we propose a heuristic-based detection scheme, called HED, against the suppression attack in MPL-based LLNs, where a malicious node multicasts a series of spoof data messages with continuous sequence numbers to prevent normal nodes from accepting valid data messages and cause them to delete cached data messages. In the HED, each node maintains an increment rate of the minimum sequence number in the Seed Set to detect the potential malicious node by comparing the recent increment of sequence numbers with the heuristically calculated increment threshold of sequence numbers. We evaluate the proposed scheme through extensive simulation experiments using OMNeT++ and compare its performance with original MPL with and without adversary, respectively. The simulation results show high detection rate and packet reception rate but low false detection rate, and indicate that the proposed scheme is a potentially viable approach against the suppression attack in MPL-based LLNs.
Characteristics of Smart Sustainable City Development: Implications for Project Management
Authors: Schipper R. , Silvius A.
Published: September 2018

Projects and project management (PM) are becoming a way of working, and many changes in society have evolved because of projects. However, will the societal agenda also influence the project management discipline? Societal issues generated by urban population growth and rapid urbanization arise in cities. Making a city “smart” and sustainable is emerging as a strategy to mitigate these issues. How does this development impact project management? In order to answer this question, we performed meaningful learning by mapping the concepts for Smart Sustainable Cities (SSC) and project management and developing prior and post concept maps. We identified four major findings describing the implication of societal issues on project management: quality of life acts as a societal objective for PM; PM governs autonomous projects with new business models; and PM success criteria are related to stakeholders and long-term effects, as well as extensive connection to the digital world with consideration of the privacy and ethics. From this, we were able to redefine the definition of project management as “a collaborative endeavor of all affected stakeholders equivalently participating in exploring and exploiting, via an autonomous temporary organization, fit-for-purpose deliverables with connections to the digital platform, thereby aiming to prepare the entities of the affected stakeholders for the future”. Our study is novel and relevant for PM and SSC practice: societal issues are on the strategy agenda of many governments and companies, and these will drive the projects that are performed in this environment. The project management community should align with this development, since these challenges are part of their environment. As a start, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of societal issues is relevant to build new definitions, competences, and supporting processes.
Analysis of the Ecosystem Soil Conservation Function Based on the Major Function-Oriented Zones across the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China
Authors: Wu Dan , Zou Changxin , Cao Wei , Liu Lulu
Published: September 2018

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is an important ecological security barrier for China. The spatial-temporal pattern of land use changes and changing characteristics of soil conservation function were analyzed based on the Major Function-Oriented Zones (MFOZs) from 2010 to 2015. Soil conservation was calculated by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Results were as follows: in 2015, the area ratio of built-up land in the optimal development zones (ODZs), key development zones (KDZs), agricultural production zones (APZs) and key ecological function zones (KEFZs) was 25.25%, 6.55%, 3.70% and 0.40%, respectively, which reflected the gradient of territorial development based on their functions. The average annual soil retention was 18.76 billion t/year during the study period, and the per unit soil retention was 91.54 t/hm2/year. The soil conservation function capacity was weakened in the order of KEFZs, APZs, KDZs and ODZs. Soil conservation function of the YREB showed an overall improvement from 2010 to 2015. The implementation of the MOFZs strategy has contributed significantly to improving the ecological security capability of the YREB.
Climate Change Impacts on Farmland Values in the Southeast United States
Authors: Quaye Frederick , Nadolnyak Denis , Hartarska Valentina
Published: September 2018

This study uses the Ricardian (hedonic) approach to estimate the impact of potential climate change on agricultural farmland values in the Southeast U.S. as a distinct agricultural region. Using the Agricultural Resource Management Survey and seasonal county-level climate and data, we find that regional farmland values increase with spring and fall temperatures and fall precipitation and decrease with winter and summer temperatures. Long-term climate change projections predict aggregate farmland value losses of 2.5–5% with differential state-level impacts, ranging from large losses in Florida to significant gains in Virginia. The results are consistent with recent research and can be helpful in policy design and forecasting land use change.
Vehicular CO Emission Prediction Using Support Vector Regression Model and GIS
Authors: Azeez Omer Saud , Pradhan Biswajeet , Shafri Helmi Z. M.
Published: September 2018

Transportation infrastructures play a significant role in the economy as they provide accessibility services to people. Infrastructures such as highways, road networks, and toll plazas are rapidly growing based on changes in transportation modes, which consequently create congestions near toll plaza areas and intersections. These congestions exert negative impacts on human health and the environment because vehicular emissions are considered as the main source of air pollution in urban areas and can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this study, we developed a hybrid model based on the integration of three models, correlation-based feature selection (CFS), support vector regression (SVR), and GIS, to predict vehicular emissions at specific times and locations on roads at microscale levels in an urban areas of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The proposed model comprises three simulation steps: first, the selection of the best predictors based on CFS; second, the prediction of vehicular carbon monoxide (CO) emissions using SVR; and third, the spatial simulation based on maps by using GIS. The proposed model was developed with seven road traffic CO predictors selected via CFS (sum of vehicles, sum of heavy vehicles, heavy vehicle ratio, sum of motorbikes, temperature, wind speed, and elevation). Spatial prediction was conducted based on GIS modelling. The vehicular CO emissions were measured continuously at 15 min intervals (recording 15 min averages) during weekends and weekdays twice per day (daytime, evening-time). The model’s results achieved a validation accuracy of 80.6%, correlation coefficient of 0.9734, mean absolute error of 1.3172 ppm and root mean square error of 2.156 ppm. In addition, the most appropriate parameters of the prediction model were selected based on the CFS model. Overall, the proposed model is a promising tool for traffic CO assessment on roads.
Group User Profile Modeling Based on Neural Word Embeddings in Social Networks
Authors: Zheng Jianxing , Li Deyu , Arun Kumar Sangaiah
Published: September 2018

How to find a user’s interest from similar users a fundamental research problems in socialized recommender systems. Despite significant advances, there exists diversity loss for the majority of recommender systems. With this paper, for expanding the user’s interest, we overcome this challenge by using representative and diverse similar users from followees. First, we model a personal user profile vector via word2vec and term frequency mechanisms. According to user profiles and their follow relationships, we compute content interaction similarity and follow interaction similarity. Second, by combining two kinds of interaction similarity, we calculate the social similarity and discover a diverse group with coverage and dissimilarity. The users in a diverse group can distinguish each other and cover the whole followees, which can model a group user profile (GUP). Then, by tracking the changes of followee set, we heuristically adjust the number of diverse group users and construct an adaptive GUP. Finally, we conduct experiments on Sina Weibo datasets for recommendation, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed GUP outperforms conventional approaches for diverse recommendation.
Strategic Management for Systems Archetypes in the Piggery Industry of Ghana—A Systems Thinking Perspective
Authors: Banson Kwamina E. , Nguyen Nam C. , Sun Daowei , Asare Daniel Kwasi , Sowah Kodia Samuel , Afful Isaac , Leigh Jasmine
Published: September 2018

Ghana is predominantly an agricultural country with a clear majority of its population depending partly or fully on agriculture for their livelihoods. Pork consumption in Ghana is on the increase and the livestock industry is a key sector of alternative agri-business for farmers looking for profitable business ventures and household income. The growth of Ghana’s domestic piggery industry has been impeded by several constraints such as inadequate information, lack of improved breeding stock, land limitations, rising feed cost and water availability. In this research, systems models provide an understanding of the interconnectedness and relationships present within the piggery industry of Ghana. The Industry’s problems were pooled together and key factors identified, whose behavior over time causes problems by developing various individual two-loop system archetypes coupled with a list of sustainable management strategies. Also, the individual variables affecting the industry were consolidated to obtain a causal loop structure and behavior-over-time graph of the piggery industry. The system archetype developed here is generic enough to explain any productivity decline and business rivalry behavior of any agribusiness industry. The proposed archetype can also help farm managers and producers to make various decisions. The system archetypes contribute effectively to understanding the root cause of challenges rather than providing quick fixes ‘now’ which gives rise to a much bigger problem to fix ‘later’. Application of CLDs models and system archetypes can help farmers and policy makers understand the behaviour of the entire complex piggery systems that will aid in more clarity and consistency in decisions and policy objectives. This will close the gap of inadequate information both to farmers and policy makers and governance. Through the archetypes and the CLDs, it has been identified that using a systemic approach in addressing the problems could lead to the provision of adequate data and management strategies for effective decision making for improving the piggery/livestock industry.
Low Microfilaremia Levels in Three Districts in Coastal Ghana with at Least 16 Years of Mass Drug Administration and Persistent Transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis
Authors: De Souza Dziedzom K. , Otchere Joseph , Ahorlu Collins S. , Adu-Amankwah Susan , Larbi Irene A. , Dumashie Edward , McCarthy Frances A. , King Sandra A. , Otoo Samson , Osabutey Dickson , Osei Joseph H. N. , Sedzro Kojo M. , Asiedu Odame , Dadzie Samuel K. , Ayi Irene , Marfo Benjamin , Biritwum Nana-Kwadwo , Boakye Daniel A.
Published: September 2018

Ghana has been implementing mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin and albendazole for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) since the year 2000, as part of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). It was estimated that 5–6 years of treatment would be sufficient to eliminate the disease. Tremendous progress has been made over the years, and treatment has stopped in many disease endemic districts. However, despite the successful implementation of MDA, there are districts with persistent transmission. In this study we assessed the epidemiology of LF in three adjoining districts that have received at least 16 years of MDA. The assessments were undertaken one year after the last MDA. 1234 adults and 182 children below the age of 10 years were assessed. The overall prevalence of circulating filarial antigen in the study participants was 8.3% (95% CI: 6.9–9.9), with an estimated microfilaria prevalence of 1.2%. The microfilarial intensity in positive individuals ranged from 1 to 57 microfilariae/mL of blood. Higher antigen prevalence was detected in males (13.0%; 95% CI: 10.3–16.2) compared to females (5.5%; 95% CI: 4.1–7.2). The presence of infection was also highest in individuals involved in outdoor commercial activities, with the risks of infection being four- to five-fold higher among farmers, fishermen, drivers and artisans, compared to all other occupations. Using bednets or participating in MDA did not significantly influence the risk of infection. No children below the age of 10 years were found with infection. Detection of Wb123 antibodies for current infections indicated a prevalence of 14.4% (95% CI: 8.1–23.0) in antigen-positive individuals above 10 years of age. No antibodies were detected in children 10 years or below. Assessment of infection within the An. gambiae vectors of LF indicated an infection rate of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.3–2.1) and infectivity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1–1.6). These results indicate low-level transmission within the districts, and suggest that it will require targeted interventions in order to eliminate the infection.
Antiviral Activity of Tannic Acid Modified Silver Nanoparticles: Potential to Activate Immune Response in Herpes Genitalis
Authors: Orłowski Piotr , Kowalczyk Andrzej , Tomaszewska Emilia , Ranoszek-Soliwoda Katarzyna , Węgrzyn Agnieszka , Grzesiak Jakub , Celichowski Grzegorz , Grobelny Jarosław , Eriksson Kristina , Krzyzowska Malgorzata
Published: September 2018

(1) Background: Tannic acid is a plant-derived polyphenol showing antiviral activity mainly because of an interference with the viral adsorption. In this work, we tested whether the modification of silver nanoparticles with tannic acid (TA-AgNPs) can provide a microbicide with additional adjuvant properties to treat genital herpes infection. (2) Methods: The mouse model of the vaginal herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection was used to test immune responses after treatment of the primary infection with TA-AgNPs, and later, after a re-challenge with the virus. (3) Results: The mice treated intravaginally with TA-AgNPs showed better clinical scores and lower virus titers in the vaginal tissues soon after treatment. Following a re-challenge, the vaginal tissues treated with TA-AgNPs showed a significant increase in the percentages of IFN-gamma+ CD8+ T-cells, activated B cells, and plasma cells, while the spleens contained significantly higher percentages of IFN-gamma+ NK cells and effector-memory CD8+ T cells in comparison to NaCl-treated group. TA-AgNPs-treated animals also showed significantly better titers of anti-HSV-2 neutralization antibodies in sera; and (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TA-AgNPs sized 33 nm can be an effective anti-viral microbicide to be applied upon the mucosal tissues with additional adjuvant properties enhancing an anti-HSV-2 immune response following secondary challenge.
Ex Vivo Hyperspectral Autofluorescence Imaging and Localization of Fluorophores in Human Eyes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Mohammed Taariq , Tong Yuehong , Agee Julia , Challa Nayanika , Heintzmann Rainer , Hammer Martin , Curcio Christine A. , Ach Thomas , Ablonczy Zsolt , Smith R. Theodore
Published: September 2018

To characterize fluorophore signals from drusen and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and their changes in age related macular degeneration (AMD), the authors describe advances in ex vivo hyperspectral autofluorescence (AF) imaging of human eye tissue. Ten RPE flatmounts from eyes with AMD and 10 from eyes without AMD underwent 40× hyperspectral AF microscopic imaging. The number of excitation wavelengths tested was initially two (436 nm and 480 nm), then increased to three (436 nm, 480 nm, and 505 nm). Emission spectra were collected at 10 nm intervals from 420 nm to 720 nm. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithms decomposed the hyperspectral images into individual emission spectra and their spatial abundances. These include three distinguishable spectra for RPE fluorophores (S1, S2, and S3) in both AMD and non-AMD eyes, a spectrum for drusen (SDr) only in AMD eyes, and a Bruch’s membrane spectrum that was detectable in normal eyes. Simultaneous analysis of datacubes excited atthree excitation wavelengths revealed more detailed spatial localization of the RPE spectra and SDr within drusen than exciting only at two wavelengths. Within AMD and non-AMD groups, two different NMF initialization methods were tested on each group and converged to qualitatively similar spectra. In AMD, the peaks of the SDr at ~510 nm (436 nm excitation) were particularly consistent. Between AMD and non-AMD groups, corresponding spectra in common, S1, S2, and S3, also had similar peak locations and shapes, but with some differences and further characterization warranted.
Influence of Proteins on Transport of Ferrihydrite Particles Formed during Recharge of Groundwater Containing Fe with Reclaimed Water
Authors: Zhu Suiyi , Zhu Junna , Fan Wei , Yu Yang , Yang Jiakuan , Chang Ying , Huo Mingxin , Zhang Leilei , Bian Dejun
Published: September 2018

When reclaimed water was recharged into groundwater containing a low content of ferrous iron, Fe-rich particles were generated and started to transport into the porous medium. X-ray powder diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis showed that the generated Fe-rich particles were in a poorly crystallized ferrihydrite phase. After the formation of ferrihydrite particles, the mass loss of contaminants was calculated, which was 88.2% for Al, 93.3% for Zn, and 41.6% for chemical oxygen demand (COD). Protein-like compounds were predominant in the removed COD. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model to investigate the effect of proteins on the transport of ferrihydrite particles in porous medium. Results showed that the attachment efficiency of ferrihydrite particles on the porous medium decreased from 100% to 75% with the increase of BSA concentration from 10 mg/L to 100 mg/L. BSA was attached to the surface of ferrihydrite particles via electrostatic adsorption. Thus, the zeta potential of ferrihydrite particles changed from positive to negative, and the particles became less aggregated, thereby enhancing particle mobility. This observation provided evidence that protein residues in reclaimed water enhance the transport of Fe-rich particles in saturated porous medium.
Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium in Europa: An Atomic Journey through Water Ice
Authors: Ozgurel Ozge , Mousis Olivier , Pauzat Françoise , Ellinger Yves , Markovits Alexis , Vance Steven , Leblanc François
Published: September 2018

Sodium and potassium are known to be present as neutral elements in the exosphere of Europa. The question of the origin of these alkalis—endogenous or exogenous—remains open. They have been ascribed to exogenous contamination due to volcanism from nearby Io, or the accretion of meteorites and dust. However, these mechanisms fail to fit the observed sodium-to-potassium ratio. Sodium and potassium have also been considered to originate from Europa’s putative subsurface ocean, generated by past rock-water leaching. The latter scenario implies a journey of the ions and atoms throughout the ice covering Europa. This raises questions about their stability into the bulk as well as on top of ice. These questions are addressed with first principle periodic solid-state density functional theory simulations describing the relative propensities of sodium, potassium, and calcium for being trapped in the bulk. The evolution of the ionic character of these atoms is followed by means of a topological analysis as they come up to the surface of the ice crust. We find that the metals, almost totally ionized in the ice bulk (net charge ∼+0.8) where they are stabilized by ∼1 eV or more, recover a quasi-neutrality (net charge ∼+0.2) when weakly adsorbed at the surface by ∼0.15 eV. Our results are consistent with the assumption that sodium and potassium observed in Europa exosphere come from the sputtering of materials issued from the underlying ocean and exposed by resurfacing events. They also suggest that calcium should be searched for by future missions.
Modeling Star Formation as a Markov Process in a Supersonic Gravoturbulent Medium
Authors: Scannapieco Evan , Safarzadeh Mohammadtaher
Published: September 2018

Molecular clouds exhibit log-normal probability density functions (PDF) of mass densities, which are thought to arise as a consequence of isothermal, supersonic turbulence. Star formation is then widely assumed to occur in perturbations in which gravitational collapse is faster than the rate of change due to turbulent motions. Here we use direct numerical simulations to measure this rate as a function of density for a range of turbulent Mach numbers, and show that it is faster at high densities than at low densities. Furthermore, we show that both the density PDF and rate of change arise naturally in a simple model of turbulence as a continuous Markov process. The one-dimensional Langevin equation that describes this evolution depends on only two parameters, yet it captures the full evolution seen in direct three-dimensional simulations. If it is modified to include gravity, the Langevin equation also reproduces the rate of material collapsing to high densities seen in turbulent simulations including self-gravity. When generalized to include both temperature and density, similar analyses are likely applicable throughout astrophysics.
Hyperparasitism in caves: bats, bat flies and ectoparasitic fungus
Authors: Jensen Katrine , Rodrigues Luísa , Pape Thomas , Garm Anders , Santamaria Sergi , Reboleira Ana Sofia
Published: September 2018

Bat flies (Nycteribiidae) of the order Diptera are highly specialized bloodsucking ectoparasites living on bats. The life-cycle of the bat flies emphasizes their obligate relationship with their hosts as they spend almost their entire life on bats. Upon mating, the female bat fly carries the larvae internally until the 3rd-instar when it deposits the larvae on the ceiling of the roost occupied by bats. The larvae then form a puparium. After 3-4 weeks the adult bat fly emerges from the puparium and starts searching for a host bat to colonize.

Some of these ectoparasitic bat flies themselves are infected with an ectoparasitic fungus of the genus Arthrorhynchus (Laboulbeniales). Ascospores of the fungi attach themselves to the cuticle of the bat fly and develop a very conspicuous haustorium that penetrates into the soft tissues from where it presumably extract nutrition from the hemolymph of the bat flies. This interaction converts the fungus into a hyperparasite. Both the parasite and hyperparasite are obligates and cannot live separate from their hosts. This peculiar case of hyperparasitism remains highly unknown.

The bat flies were collected in caves of Portugal, in maternity and hibernation bat seasons, and in the autumn migration period. The most common species of cave-dwelling bat species in Portugal is Miniopterus schreibersii, frequently parasitized with Nycteribia schmidlii and Penicillidia conspicua bat flies. We have studied the prevalence of the Laboulbeniales of the genus Arthrorhynchus in natural populations of bat flies. The site and position of the fungus on male and female bat flies unveils the mechanism of fungal transmission among bat flies, indicating that it occurs during mating behavior. This study is the starting point towards the understanding of this unique case of fungus-insect-vertebrate hyperparasitism interaction. See Suppl. material 1.
Environmental DNA in subterranean biology update: from “Where?” to “How many?”
Authors: Gorički Špela , Presetnik Primož , Prosenc-Zmrzljak Uršula , Blatnik Matej , Gredar Tajda , Kogovšek Blaž , Koit Oliver , Strah Sara , Bilandžija Helena , Jalžić Branko , Aljančič Gregor , Košir Rok , Mayaud Cyril , Štebih Dejan , Hudoklin Andrej , Jeffery William
Published: September 2018

Recent records ofProteus anguinusoutside its historically known range (Gorički et al. 2017), discovered through detection of its DNA dissolved in groundwater (environmental DNA or eDNA), mark the beginning of a new era in the study and conservation of cryptic subterranean biodiversity. An upgraded technology, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), initially developed for studies of gene expression, detection of genetically modified organisms and in medical diagnostics, is being tested for improved detection of the much smaller and rare stygobiont, the cave clamCongeria jalzici. In parallel to eDNA assay development for various stygobiotic species of the Dinaric Karst, a groundwater-sample library is being created. The samples will be available for future analysis of their species composition and will also serve as a source of information on any changes in species distribution over time. In another line of eDNA research, the utility of ddPCR for direct quantification of eDNA molecules in groundwater is being explored by using the large, accessible and well-characterized (Zakšek and Trontelj 2017) naturalProteuspopulation in the Planina Cave (Slovenia) as a model. The eDNA methodology may in the future be applied in estimation and monitoring ofProteuspopulation sizes without having to see, mark or otherwise disturb the animals themselves.
Introduction
Authors: Croché Sarah , Derouet-Besson Marie-Claude
Published: September 2018

La revue a vingt ans. Elle est née avec l’appui d’un consortium international d’institutions scientifiques qui souhaitaient à la fois construire un lieu d’expression pour la sociologie de l’éducation de langue française et l’inscrire dans un large espace de dialogue international. Le dossier des numéros 40 et 41 tente de rendre compte des évolutions qu’elle a accompagnées et analysées au cours de ces vingt ans. La première est une globalisation, à la fois cadre et objet pour la sociologie et ouverture sur de nouveaux espaces de coopération scientifique. Ce processus porte un retour des préoccupations d’intégration et d’éducation morale, l’affirmation des objectifs de développement durable sans que ces nouvelles perspectives effacent les engagements concernant l’égalité, centraux dans les débats du siècle précédent. La période a aussi été marquée par d’importants changements dans les rapports entre science, politique et sociétés. Les difficultés de mise en œuvre des politiques de démocratisation avaient entraîné une crise de confiance. Celle-ci s’est reconstruite à partir de réseaux d’experts et de centres de ressources liés aux organisations internationales. Les processus de diffusion de la connaissance ont de même été bouleversés par le développement des équipements numériques : open science, blogosphère, réseaux sociaux. La concurrence s’accroît entre les différents discours de vérité qui parcourent les sociétés. Toutes ces évolutions appellent un renouvellement de la critique sociale : la définition d’un nouveau cosmopolitisme ouvert aux différences, mais intransigeant sur les valeurs fondamentales, une approche de la redistribution qui pense ensemble les difficultés des pays du Nord et des pays du Sud, des fonctionnements démocratiques qui ne laissent pas la définition du bien commun aux mains des experts.
L’École inclusive, face à l’impératif d’accessibilité
Authors: Ebersold Serge
Published: September 2018

Un impératif d’accessibilité accompagne aujourd’hui les politiques inclusives à l’avènement d’un nouvel imaginaire social instituant d’autres manières de faire école. Il corrèle ces nouvelles manières de faire école aux conceptions de la solidarité promues par un mode d’analyse rapportant les inégalités sociales à l’inaccessibilité des pratiques éducatives. Il les infère également à l’avènement d’une conception post-disciplinaire des systèmes éducatifs corrélant l’impératif d’accessibilité à la capacité affiliatrice des établissements scolaires. Il les associe enfin aux formes de normativité promues par la réorganisation des politiques éducatives autour des contingences organisationnelles et des formes d’entendement instaurées pour ancrer l’impératif d’accessibilité dans les rouages organisationnels et fonctionnels des établissements.
Intelligences naturelles et artificielles, apprentissage et éducation. Le grand retour sur nos fondements bio-neuro-symboliques
Authors: Petitat André
Published: September 2018

Le point de départ de l’article est une interrogation sur les algorithmes informatiques, qui pénètrent dans tous les aspects de la vie matérielle, biologique et sociale. La réflexion progresse en suivant le fil qui va de l’externalisation de l’intelligence humaine dans des machines à l’incorporation par les êtres humains des procédures numériques. Les frontières entre naturel, culturel et technique se brouillent. L’opposition Humains/Non-Humains, en remplacement de Culture/Nature, a heureusement focalisé l’attention sur nos connexions avec l’environnement. En contrastant vivants (créateurs de connaissances) et non-vivants (porteurs d’informations) et en procédant par étagement des intelligences, ce texte souligne à la fois nos parentés et nos différences avec le non-vivant et avec le monde animal et invite donc à une décentration du regard et des interrogations. L’éducation, diffuse ou scolaire, doit encourager cette prise de conscience progressive de la stratification et de l’interdépendance des intelligences du vivant. L’ensemble des systèmes d’enseignement, de l’école enfantine aux recherches de pointe, devrait participer à la prise de conscience de nos rapports à la biosphère, apporter sa contribution critique et documentée aux débats sur ces questions, passer au crible scientifique les arguments des grandes entreprises privées et de l’État.
La scolarisation des enfants migrants à Shanghai : orientations nationales et mises en œuvre locales
Authors: Zhang Dan
Published: September 2018

L’étude des tensions que provoquent les migrations en Chine montre qu’elles diffèrent fortement de celles qui inquiètent les États-Unis ou les pays européens. Elles sont quantitativement plus importantes, mais concernent l’exode de paysans pauvres vers les grandes villes et non des populations étrangères. La question peut donc contribuer à la construction de problématiques sociologiques correspondant à la globalisation. L’analyse met en évidence une tension entre deux rationalités et deux espaces. À l’échelle nationale, l’État et le Parti communiste affirment l’égalité de traitement et la garantie de neuf années de scolarité inclusive et de qualité pour tous. Localement, les dynamiques de concurrence l’emportent : les citoyens de Shanghai veulent que leurs enfants reçoivent une formation de qualité pour s’inscrire dans la compétition internationale. Des écoles pour migrants se développent donc en marge des écoles publiques : la formation des maîtres et leur rémunération, les conditions de travail y sont inférieures et les chances d’accéder à l’enseignement secondaire quasi nulles. Pour ceux qui accèdent aux établissements publics, l’article étudie, dans une tradition inspirée de Bourdieu, les procédures de distinction qui les tiennent à distance, même lorsqu’ils ont de bons résultats scolaires.
Les petits pas de la Paix. Note sur le courant “Humane Education”
Authors: Michalon Jérôme
Published: September 2018

La proposition d’introduire dans les programmes scolaires une éducation au respect des animaux s’inscrit dans l’élargissement des définitions du bien commun qui mettent en jeu l’ensemble de la nature. Cet article attire l’attention sur une autre source. Le courant Humane Education qui s’est développé dans le monde anglo-saxon dans la seconde moitié du XIX e  siècle. Il insiste sur les vertus propédeutiques de l’enseignement du respect des animaux : les enfants y apprennent le contrôle de la violence et l’ouverture vers des formes de vie différentes, les futurs responsables y puisent les manières d’être leader sans être tyran. L’établissement de ce lien a abouti au fait que, dans plusieurs pays, les mauvais traitements aux animaux sont utilisés pour repérer d’autres difficultés : violences conjugales, maltraitance des enfants, etc. Ces principes progressent lentement en France : les revendications apparaissent dans les médias, mais elles n’ont pas, pour le moment, trouvé de traduction institutionnelle dans le domaine de l’éducation.