bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in floods in West Africa: analysis based on 11 catchments in the region
Authors: Nka B. N. , Oudin L. , Karambiri H. , Paturel J. E. , Ribstein P.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. After the drought of the 1970s in West Africa, the variability in rainfall and land use changes mostly affected flow, and recently flooding has been said to be an increasingly common occurrence throughout the whole of West Africa. These changes have raised many questions about the impact of climate change on the flood regimes in West African countries. This paper investigates whether floods are becoming more frequent or more severe and to what extent climate patterns have been responsible for these changes. We analyzed the trends in the floods occurring in 11 catchments within West Africa's main climate zones. The methodology includes two methods for sampling flood events, namely the AM (annual maximum) method and the POT (peak over threshold), and two perspectives of analysis are presented: long-term analysis based on two long flood time series and a regional perspective involving 11 catchments with shorter series. The Mann–Kendall trend test and the Pettitt break test were used to detect nonstationarities in the time series. The trends detected in flood time series were compared to the rainfall index trends and vegetation indices using contingency tables in order to identify the main driver of change in flood magnitude and flood frequency. The relation between the flood index and the physiographic index was evaluated through a success criterion and the Cramer criterion calculated from the contingency tables. The results show the existence of trends in flood magnitude and flood frequency time series, with two main patterns. Sahelian floods show increasing flood trends and one Sudanian. catchment presents decreasing flood trends. For the overall catchments studied, trends in the maximum 5-day consecutive rainfall index (R5d) show good coherence with trends in flood, while the trends in normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVIs) do not show a significant agreement with flood trends, meaning that this index has possibly no impact on the behavior of floods in the region.
HESS Opinions: Advocating process modeling and de-emphasizing parameter estimation
Authors: Bahremand A.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Since the origins of hydrology as an engineering discipline, where "black box" modelling approaches were common, it has evolved into a scientific discipline that seeks a more "white box" modelling approach to solving problems such as description and simulation of the rainfall–runoff responses of a watershed. There has been much recent debate regarding the future of the hydrological sciences, and several publications have voiced opinions on this subject. This opinion paper seeks to comment and expand on some recent publications that have advocated an increased focus on process modelling while de-emphasizing the focus on detailed attention to parameter estimation. In particular, it offers a perspective that emphasizes a more hydraulic (more physics and less conceptual) approach to development and implementation of hydrological models.
Assessing land–ocean connectivity via Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) in the Ria Formosa Lagoon (Portugal): combining radon measurements and stable isotope hydrology
Authors: Rocha C. , Veiga-Pires C. , Scholten J. , Knoeller K. , Gröcke D. R. , Carvalho L. , Anibal J. , Wilson J.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Natural radioactive tracer-based assessments of basin-scale Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) are well developed, but because of the different modes in which SGD takes place and the wide range of spatial and temporal scales under which the flow and discharge mechanisms involved occur, quantifying SGD while discriminating its source functions remains a major challenge. Yet, correctly identifying both the fluid source and composition is critical: when multiple sources of the tracer of interest are present, failure to adequately discriminate between them will lead to inaccurate attribution and the resulting uncertainties will affect the reliability of SGD solute loading estimates. This lack of reliability then extends to the closure of local biogeochemical budgets, confusing measures aiming to mitigate pollution. Here, we report a multi-tracer study to identify the sources of SGD, distinguish its component parts and elucidate the mechanisms of their dispersion throughout the Ria Formosa – a seasonally hypersaline lagoon in Portugal. We combine radon budgets that determine the total SGD (meteoric + recirculated seawater) in the system with stable isotopes in water (2H, 18O), to specifically identify SGD source functions and characterize active hydrological pathways in the catchment. Using this approach, SGD in the Ria Formosa could be separated into a net water input and another involving no net water transfer, i.e. originating in seawater recirculation through permeable sediments. The former SGD mode is present occasionally on a multiannual timescale, while the latter is a permanent feature of the system. In the absence of meteoric SGD inputs, seawater recirculation through beach sediments occurs at a rate of ~ 1.4 × 106 m3 day−1, implying the entire tidal-averaged volume of the lagoon is filtered through local sandy sediments within 100 days, or about 3.5 times a year, driving an estimated nitrogen (N) load of ~ 350 t N yr−1 into the system as NO3−. Land-borne SGD could add a further ~ 61 t N yr−1 to the lagoon. The former source is autochthonous, continuous and responsible for a large fraction (59 %) of the estimated total N inputs into the system via non-point sources, while the latter is an occasional allochthonous source, so more difficult to predict, but capable of driving new production in the system.
Large scale landslide susceptibility assessment using the statistical methods of logistic regression and BSA – study case: the sub-basin of the small Niraj (Transylvania Depression, Romania)
Authors: Roşca S. , Bilaşco Ş. , Petrea D. , Fodorean I. , Vescan I. , Filip S. , Măguţ F.–L.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The existence of a large number of GIS models for the identification of landslide occurrence probability makes difficult the selection of a specific one. The present study focuses on the application of two quantitative models: the logistic and the BSA models. The comparative analysis of the results aims at identifying the most suitable model. The territory corresponding to the Niraj Mic Basin (87 km2) is an area characterised by a wide variety of the landforms with their morphometric, morphographical and geological characteristics as well as by a high complexity of the land use types where active landslides exist. This is the reason why it represents the test area for applying the two models and for the comparison of the results. The large complexity of input variables is illustrated by 16 factors which were represented as 72 dummy variables, analysed on the basis of their importance within the model structures. The testing of the statistical significance corresponding to each variable reduced the number of dummy variables to 12 which were considered significant for the test area within the logistic model, whereas for the BSA model all the variables were employed. The predictability degree of the models was tested through the identification of the area under the ROC curve which indicated a good accuracy (AUROC = 0.86 for the testing area) and predictability of the logistic model (AUROC = 0.63 for the validation area).
The effects of grazing on the spatial pattern of elm (Ulmus pumila L.) in the sparse woodland steppe of Horqin Sandy Land in Northeastern China
Authors: Zhang M. , Wu J. , Tang Y.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of grazing on the formation of the spatial pattern of elm growth in a sparse woodland steppe. We used a point pattern method to analyze the elm trees within different diameter classes in both grazed and fenced plots, which were established in Horqin Sandy Land, northeastern, China. The results showed that, in the grazed plot, the distances where transformation between random and aggregated patterns occurred in class 1 (10 cm ≤ DBH ≤ 15 cm) and class 2 (15 cm ≤ DBH ≤ 20 cm) were 2.27 and 2.37 m, respectively. Meanwhile, in the fenced plot, the distances between random and aggregated patterns that occurred in class 1, class 2 and class 3 (DBH > 20 cm) were 3.13, 3.13 and 7.85 m, respectively. In the fenced plot, in distances larger than 67.72 m there were a negative association between class 1 and class 2, which was also the case between class 2 and class 3 and between class 1 and class 3 for distances greater than 104.09 and 128.54 m, respectively. Meanwhile, negative associations occurred only with distances larger than 29.38 m in the grazed plot. These findings suggest that grazing reduced the competition intensity between elm trees; and therefore, grazing management could be an effective strategy used to regulate the elm population in the degraded sandy land of Northern China.
Teachers’ Entrepreneurial Profile: Case Study
Authors: Stettiner Caio Flavio , Formigoni Alexandre , Filho Mário Pereira Roque , De Camargo Mauricio Ortiz , Moia Roberto Padilha
Published: November 2015

This article was prepared in order to investigate whether the teachers working in a Business Administration BA degree have an entrepreneurial profile, with the aim of finding whether such teachers are able to support the Pedagogical Proposal of the Institution to which they belong to in what concerns the requirement of the course and also the Pedagogical Proposal of the course itself. The methodological procedure adopted was the Documentary Analysis, i.e., a study that is based on documents such as books, statistic maps, journal articles and the procedure of a Case Study. The data collection technique adopted was also the Documentary Analysis plus a Survey-type questionnaire. As a result, the Research has shown that the teachers of said course do have an entrepreneurial profile that range from medium to medium-high, plus a good knowledge of Entrepreneurship Education, which can truly guarantee the Course Pedagogical Proposal.
The Association between Attitude towards the Implementation of Staff Development Training and the Practice of Knowledge Sharing Among Lecturers
Authors: Kassim Abd. Latif , Raman Arumugam , Don Yahya , Daud Yaakob , Omar Mohd Sofian
Published: November 2015

This study was aimed to identify the association of teachers’ attitude towards the implementation of Staff Development Training with Knowledge Sharing Practices among the lecturers of the Teacher Training Instituition (TTI). In addition, this study was also to examine the differences in attitudes towards the implementation of Staff Development Training and differences of knowledge sharing practices of lecturers based on demographic factors (gender, teaching experience, and academic qualifications). This is a quantitative approach in cross-sectional survey to collect data on the attitude towards staff development training and knowledge sharing practices among lecturers. The population of this study involved 748 lecturers from TTI in Perlis, Kedah, and Pulau Pinang. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 336 samples from the population. The instruments used in this research were Attitude of Staff Development Training (Siti-Zanariah, 2010) and Knowledge Sharing (Siti-Zanariah, 2010). Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 19.0 was used for analysis of data. The descriptive data analysis involved the description of the respondents such as frequency and percentage, while the second part of inferential analysis was to test the hypotheses, using Pearson correlation, t-test, and ANOVA. This study had found that there was a significant and positive association between attitude towards SDT with knowledge sharing practices, a significant difference and positive attitude towards SDT based on gender and teaching experience and a significant and positive difference in terms of knowledge sharing practices based on gender, teaching experience, and academic qualifications. However, the results revealed that there were no significant differences in the attitudes of SDT based on academic qualifications. This research also discussed about the findings, implications, and contributions to the body of knowledge and the country, as well as the direction of future research.
Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions (TVET) In Malaysia
Authors: Ibrahim Wan Nur Azlina , Bakar Ab. Rahim , Asimiran Soaib , Mohamed Shamsiah , Zakaria Noor Syamilah
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine the entrepreneurial intention level of vocational and technical students in Malaysia. A total of 289 final year students who were enrolled at two different TVET institutions (community colleges and National Youth and Skills Institutes) were chosen to participate in the study. The findings indicated that students have a strong interest in entrepreneurship (mean = 4.23, S.D. = 0.73) and a high level of entrepreneurial attitudes (mean = 4.03, S.D. = 0.47). It was also revealed that their social norms (mean = 3.82, S.D. = 0.59), entrepreneurial efficacy (mean = 3.99, S.D. = 0.59), and efficiency of entrepreneurship knowledge (mean = 3.93, S.D. = 0.55) were at moderate levels. There was no significant difference in the entrepreneurship intentions between students from community colleges and students from National Youth and Skill Training Institutes (t 260 = .23, p = .82).
The Integration of New Media in Schools: Comparing Policy with Practice
Authors: Ismail Nurzali
Published: November 2015

Beyond policy, this paper investigates the actual practice related to the integration of new media in schools. Despite continuous government effort to integrate new media in schools, the use of digital technologies for teaching and learning in the classroom remains limited. This study suggests that, apart from the issue related to the state of technological infrastructure, other related factors, including school’s leadership and policy, and teachers’ attitude and knowledge of new media, can also influence the integration of digital technologies into the classroom. Hence, it is important for schools to develop a comprehensive policy of new media, to ensure that the technological infrastructure is carefully managed and maintained. Schools also should provide teachers with continuous professional development opportunities, to ensure that their knowledge and skills of new media remain relevant in the constantly changing digital environment.
The Relationship between WTC and Oral Proficiency Measurements in the Study Abroad Context
Authors: Robson Graham G.
Published: November 2015

Theories of second language acquisition such as the Interaction Hypothesis (Long, 1996) and Pushed Output Hypothesis (Swain, 1995) emphasize that learners must actually communicate in order to bring about the conditions for language acquisition. Learners who are more willing to communicate may create more opportunities for interaction, and thereby possibly improve their spoken proficiency. In L2 research fluency, accuracy and complexity have been used to extensively measure spoken output. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate a largely under-researched area: whether there is a relation between fluency, accuracy and complexity, task engagement, and measures of willingness to communicate and actual learner communication and how these change for a group of 23 high-proficiency mainly Asian L2 English learners on a nine-week academic preparation course at a university in England.
Types, Problems and Their Causes, and Solutions to the Offences against the Environmental Laws by Probationers in Maha Sarakham Province
Authors: Wanlu Somchai , Singseewo Adisak , Suksringarm Paitool
Published: November 2015

This study aimed to explore types, problems and their causes, and solutions to the offences against the environmental laws of probationers in Maha Sarakham Province. The study comprised 2 phases: Phase 1 was a study of types of the offences against the environmental laws: and phase 2 was an interview with 25 people directly dealing with the probationers including judges, public prosecutors, probation officers, lawyers and 20 probationers. The findings revealed that the offence types against the environmental laws were both criminal cases and civil suit cases which caused impacts on the environment and natural resources. Most problems were caused from offenders’s lack of knowledge, understanding, and awareness of the environmental laws, no participation in the environmental conservation, unemployment, drug addiction, moral decline, incorrect values, broken families, economy recession, poverty, social inequality, and communication technology problems etc. Hence, the solutions to solve these problems are educating the people about the related laws starting from a family, a school, a training institution both in government and private agencies: building a good sense toward the society and environment: and building the habit of participation in maintaining the social regulations.
Market-Based Approaches to Quality Assessment and Management of Higher Education in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Valikhanova Zarina
Published: November 2015

This article considers the problems of the definition of quality in the educational sphere. Alternative approaches to the concept of quality of education and its evaluation are determined given the different approaches of scientists and experts. The most important criteria in assessing the quality is distinguished and formed in the matrix for quality control and to further enhance the higher education institutions. For the formation of the quality policy as it is conventionally defined in the market environment, interested parties are considered in the quality of education. The article shows an example of quality environment, you can analyze and generate a correct policy of higher education institution, taking into account the market environment and the matrix quality can complement each other in the process of quality management education. The article also discusses the current situation in the market of educational services of the Republic of Kazakhstan, based on the data that are not presented in the article. It is invited to consider the quality index which is formed on the basis of analysis of the “price-quality”.
Stem Cell Banking-Awareness and Acceptance by Expecting Mothers in Mumbai Region
Authors: Ashish Wankhede Abha , Laghate Kavita
Published: November 2015

Stem cell technology is the breakthrough in Medical science. It seems to be the solution for all the human diseases and has the potential to change the way we live. Fatal diseases will cease to be fatal anymore with this innovation in medical science. Considering its promising endowment many countries have adopted Stem Cell Banking and Medical research and curative studies are growing in this area. This paper explores the pregnant women’s awareness and acceptance of cord blood stem cells in Mumbai region. It is an empirical study to understand the association between the ‘Awareness and Acceptance of Stem Cell Banking’ and the demographic profile of the expecting mothers, the effect of the environmental factors such as Gynecologist initiative, promotional activities of Stem Cell Banks, cost associated with storage, and attitude towards preventive health care.

Methodology adopted-Questionnaire was administered among the expecting mothers in Mumbai region and Bi-variate statistical analysis, cross tabulation, chi-square data analysis tool were adopted to understand the association among the variables defined.
The authors have done a substantial literature review of recent news articles and papers publications to understand the stem cell technology and its benefits. This paper highlights future scope of research that can be carried out in this area with reference to practical application so that our Government can reap the benefits of this innovation in medical science for the citizens of our country.
The Application of Altman’s Z-Score Model in Predicting Bankruptcy: Evidence from the Trading Sector in Sri Lanka
Authors: J. Aloy Niresh , T. Pratheepan
Published: November 2015

Prediction of bankruptcy is crucial as the early warning may change entire complications and may avoid the high cost that is associated with distress. The main purpose of this study is to examine the likelihood of bankruptcy of the firms belonging to the Trading Sector in Sri Lanka. The research used data from the financial reports of seven trading companies for a period of the last five years from 2010 to 2014. Altman’s original (1968) bankruptcy model has been applied in order to classify the companies in various levels of financial position namely safe, grey and distress. Findings reveal that 71% of the companies belonging to the Trading Sector were in financial distress and the rest of whole 29% were in the grey zone. The fact that none of the companies lie under the safe zone highlights that as a whole the sector is in a menace.
Het natuurazijnkartel: beboeting van ‘feitelijk leidinggevenden’ en ‘vereenvoudigde afdoening’
Authors: Swaak Christof , Mennema Jip
Published: November 2015

Het natuurazijnkartel: beboeting van ‘feitelijk leidinggevenden’ en ‘vereenvoudigde afdoening’

Deze bijdrage gaat in op de ACM-besluiten inzake Burg en Kühne van 25 juli 2015. Met de besluiten deelde ACM boetes uit aan twee producenten van industrieel natuurazijn en vijf van hun medewerkers wegens deelname aan een kartel. In deze bespreking besteden de auteurs aandacht aan (1) de boetes opgelegd aan ‘feitelijk leidinggevenden’ en het impliciete ACM-beleid daaromtrent, (2) de boeteverhoging van 20 procent opgelegd aan een feitelijk leidinggevende, omdat deze zich volgens ACM ten onrechte beriep op zijn zwijgrecht en (3) het nieuwe begrip ‘vereenvoudigde afdoening’, dat in feite neerkomt op een schikking met ACM.
A Cross-Sectional Survey Study About the Most Common Solitary and Social Flow Activities to Extend the Concept of Optimal Experience
Authors: Magyaródi Tímea , Oláh Attila
Published: November 2015

Previous assumptions note that the most powerful experiences of engagement are shared with others. Therefore, in the framework of positive psychology, to expand the dynamic interactionism-related flow theory, we have attempted to conduct an exploratory study about flow to reveal the most common activities that can trigger this experience during solitary or social situations. The study involved 1,709 adult participants from Hungary (Age: M = 26.95, SD = 11.23). They read descriptions about optimal experience in solitary and social situations and were asked to identify the activity from their life that is most typically followed by the described experiences. The social context was supplemented by other flow-related questions for a deeper understanding and to contribute to the research. According to the results the most typical solitary flow activities are found to be work, sports, creative activities and reading. The most common flow-inducing social activities are work and sports. The choice of the most frequent flow-inducing activities in both solitary and interpersonal situations is dependent on the gender of the respondent, and various demographical factors can influence the frequency of flow experiences in different contexts. Analysis reveal that optimal experience during a social interaction is determined by the perceived level of challenges, the perceived level of cooperation, the immediateness and clarity of the feedback, and the level of the skill. Our study may contribute to the broadening purpose of positive psychology as it focuses on the interpersonal level in relation to flow experience, which, in turn, may also support a higher level of well-being.
Paradoxical Personality and Academic Achievement in College Students From Buenos Aires
Authors: Freiberg Hoffmann Agustín , Fernández Liporace María Mercedes
Published: November 2015

This paper presents a study on paradoxical personality, defined as a distinctive feature in creative persons, developed with 350 college students from Buenos Aires. Goals aimed at describing and analysing possible significant differences of paradoxical traits in students from diverse majors representing seven different fields of study, and examining the relationship between each bipolar trait and academic achievement. The sample was composed of 7 groups (n = 50 by group) representing fields of study typically offered in public universities, Biology, Computer Science, Engineering, Law, Nutrition, Psychology, and History of Art. Analyses by career provided descriptive information about students of these majors, concerning their paradoxical personality profiles. Correlational studies verified significant associations between academic achievement and most paradoxical traits in majors such as Computer Science, Nutrition and Psychology. Results are discussed regarding practical outcomes and teaching programs.
The CUL4-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex controls adult and embryonic stem cell differentiation and homeostasis
Authors: Gao Jie , Buckley Shannon M , Cimmino Luisa , Guillamot Maria , Strikoudis Alexandros , Cang Yong , Goff Stephen P , Aifantis Iannis
Published: November 2015

Little is known on post-transcriptional regulation of adult and embryonic stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Here we characterize the role of Ddb1, a component of the CUL4-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex. Ddb1 is highly expressed in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors and its deletion leads to abrogation of both adult and fetal hematopoiesis, targeting specifically transiently amplifying progenitor subsets. However, Ddb1 deletion in non-dividing lymphocytes has no discernible phenotypes. Ddb1 silencing activates Trp53 pathway and leads to significant effects on cell cycle progression and rapid apoptosis. The abrogation of hematopoietic progenitor cells can be partially rescued by simultaneous deletion of Trp53. Conversely, depletion of DDB1 in embryonic stem cell (ESC) leads to differentiation albeit negative effects on cell cycle and apoptosis. Mass spectrometry reveals differing protein interactions between DDB1 and distinct DCAFs, the substrate recognizing components of the E3 complex, between cell types. Our studies identify CUL4-DDB1 complex as a novel post-translational regulator of stem and progenitor maintenance and differentiation.
The evolution of adhesiveness as a social adaptation
Authors: Garcia Thomas , Doulcier Guilhem , De Monte Silvia
Published: November 2015

Cellular adhesion is a key ingredient to sustain collective functions of microbial aggregates. Here, we investigate the evolutionary origins of adhesion and the emergence of groups of genealogically unrelated cells with a game-theoretical model. The considered adhesiveness trait is costly, continuous and affects both group formation and group-derived benefits. The formalism of adaptive dynamics reveals two evolutionary stable strategies, at each extreme on the axis of adhesiveness. We show that cohesive groups can evolve by small mutational steps, provided the population is already endowed with a minimum adhesiveness level. Assortment between more adhesive types, and in particular differential propensities to leave a fraction of individuals ungrouped at the end of the aggregation process, can compensate for the cost of increased adhesiveness. We also discuss the change in the social nature of more adhesive mutations along evolutionary trajectories, and find that altruism arises before directly beneficial behavior, despite being the most challenging form of cooperation.
Greatwall promotes cell transformation by hyperactivating AKT in human malignancies
Authors: Vera Jorge , Lartigue Lydia , Vigneron Suzanne , Gadea Gilles , Gire Veronique , Del Rio Maguy , Soubeyran Isabelle , Chibon Frederic , Lorca Thierry , Castro Anna
Published: November 2015

The PP2A phosphatase is often inactivated in cancer and is considered as a tumour suppressor. A new pathway controlling PP2A activity in mitosis has been recently described. This pathway includes the Greatwall (GWL) kinase and its substrates endosulfines. At mitotic entry, GWL is activated and phosphorylates endosulfines that then bind and inhibit PP2A. We analysed whether GWL overexpression could participate in cancer development. We show that GWL overexpression promotes cell transformation and increases invasive capacities of cells through hyperphosphorylation of the oncogenic kinase AKT. Interestingly, AKT hyperphosphorylation induced by GWL is independent of endosulfines. Rather, GWL induces GSK3 kinase dephosphorylation in its inhibitory sites and subsequent SCF-dependent degradation of the PHLPP phosphatase responsible for AKT dephosphorylation. In line with its oncogenic activity, we find that GWL is often overexpressed in human colorectal tumoral tissues. Thus, GWL is a human oncoprotein that promotes the hyperactivation of AKT via the degradation of its phosphatase, PHLPP, in human malignancies.
Stable G protein-effector complexes in striatal neurons: mechanism of assembly and role in neurotransmitter signaling
Authors: Xie Keqiang , Masuho Ikuo , Shih Chien-Cheng , Cao Yan , Sasaki Keita , Lai Chun Wan J , Han Pyung-Lim , Ueda Hiroshi , Dessauer Carmen W , Ehrlich Michelle E , Xu Baoji , Willardson Barry M , Martemyanov Kirill A
Published: November 2015

In the striatum, signaling via G protein-coupled neurotransmitter receptors is essential for motor control. Critical to this process is the effector enzyme adenylyl cyclase type 5 (AC5) that produces second messenger cAMP upon receptor-mediated activation by G protein Golf. However, the molecular organization of the Golf-AC5 signaling axis is not well understood. In this study, we report that in the striatum AC5 exists in a stable pre-coupled complex with subunits of Golf heterotrimer. We use genetic mouse models with disruption in individual components of the complex to reveal hierarchical order of interactions required for AC5-Golf stability. We further identify that the assembly of AC5-Golf complex is mediated by PhLP1 chaperone that plays central role in neurotransmitter receptor coupling to cAMP production motor learning. These findings provide evidence for the existence of stable G protein-effector signaling complexes and identify a new component essential for their assembly.
Successful retrieval of competing spatial environments in humans involves hippocampal pattern separation mechanisms
Authors: Kyle Colin T , Stokes Jared D , Lieberman Jennifer S , Hassan Abdul S , Ekstrom Arne D
Published: November 2015

The rodent hippocampus represents different spatial environments distinctly via changes in the pattern of “place cell” firing. It remains unclear, though, how spatial remapping in rodents relates more generally to human memory. Here participants retrieved four virtual reality environments with repeating or novel landmarks and configurations during high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both neural decoding performance and neural pattern similarity measures revealed environment-specific hippocampal neural codes. Conversely, an interfering spatial environment did not elicit neural codes specific to that environment, with neural activity patterns instead resembling those of competing environments, an effect linked to lower retrieval performance. We find that orthogonalized neural patterns accompany successful disambiguation of spatial environments while erroneous reinstatement of competing patterns characterized interference errors. These results provide the first evidence for environment-specific neural codes in the human hippocampus, suggesting that pattern separation/completion mechanisms play an important role in how we successfully retrieve memories.
Intracellular sphingosine releases calcium from lysosomes
Authors: Höglinger Doris , Haberkant Per , Aguilera-Romero Auxiliadora , Riezman Howard , Porter Forbes D , Platt Frances M , Galione Antony , Schultz Carsten
Published: November 2015

To elucidate new functions of sphingosine (Sph), we demonstrate that the spontaneous elevation of intracellular Sph levels via caged Sph leads to a significant and transient calcium release from acidic stores that is independent of sphingosine 1-phosphate, extracellular and ER calcium levels. This photo-induced Sph-driven calcium release requires the two-pore channel 1 (TPC1) residing on endosomes and lysosomes. Further, uncaging of Sph leads to the translocation of the autophagy-relevant transcription factor EB (TFEB) to the nucleus specifically after lysosomal calcium release. We confirm that Sph accumulates in late endosomes and lysosomes of cells derived from Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) patients and demonstrate a greatly reduced calcium release upon Sph uncaging. We conclude that sphingosine is a positive regulator of calcium release from acidic stores and that understanding the interplay between Sph homeostasis, calcium signaling and autophagy will be crucial in developing new therapies for lipid storage disorders such as NPC.
Maturation of metabolic connectivity of the adolescent rat brain
Authors: Choi Hongyoon , Choi Yoori , Kim Kyu Wan , Kang Hyejin , Hwang Do Won , Kim E Edmund , Chung June-Key , Lee Dong Soo
Published: November 2015

Neuroimaging has been used to examine developmental changes of the brain. While PET studies revealed maturation-related changes, maturation of metabolic connectivity of the brain is not yet understood. Here, we show that rat brain metabolism is reconfigured to achieve long-distance connections with higher energy efficiency during maturation. Metabolism increased in anterior cerebrum and decreased in thalamus and cerebellum during maturation. When functional covariance patterns of PET images were examined, metabolic networks including default mode network (DMN) were extracted. Connectivity increased between the anterior and posterior parts of DMN and sensory-motor cortices during maturation. Energy efficiency, a ratio of connectivity strength to metabolism of a region, increased in medial prefrontal and retrosplenial cortices. Our data revealed that metabolic networks mature to increase metabolic connections and establish its efficiency between large-scale spatial components from childhood to early adulthood. Neurodevelopmental diseases might be understood by abnormal reconfiguration of metabolic connectivity and efficiency.
Calculation of tunable type-II band alignments in InAsxSbyP1−
x
−
y/InAs heterojunctions
Authors: Shim Kyurhee
Published: November 2015

The energy band gaps of the alloy InAs
x
Sb
y
P1−

x

−

y
are calculated using the correlated function expansion (CFE) technique over the entire composition space x and y, for which the CFE band gap composition contour for the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region of 2 (0.62)–5 µm (0.25 eV) is presented. The composition dependence of the valence-band maximum (VBM) is obtained using the universal tight binding (UTB) method, and the corresponding conduction-band minimum (CBM) can be computed from the difference between the band gap and the VBM. By organizing the relative positions of the VBM and CBM between the quaternary alloy InAsSbP and the binary compound InAs, the band alignments and band types of InAsSbP/InAs heterojunctions (HJs) along the lattice-matching conditions x and y [i.e., y = 0.311(1 − x)] are determined. It is found that the VBMs of the alloy InAs
x
Sb
y
P1−

x

−

y
are located within the band gap of InAs, whereas the CBMs of the alloy lie outside the band gap of InAs over the entire composition range. This implies that the InAs
x
Sb
y
P1−

x

−

y
/InAs HJs exhibit composition-tunable, type-II (staggered) band alignments. In addition, the conduction-band offset (CBO) and valence-band offset (VBO) of InAsSbP/InAs HJs both present the upward bowing trend, with the CBO curves appearing sharp and the VBO curves appearing smooth.
Adsorption of carbon dioxide by solution-plasma-synthesized heteroatom-doped carbon nanospheres
Authors: Thongwichit Nanthiya , Li Oi Lun Helena , Yaowarat Wattanachai , Saito Nagahiro , Suriyapraphadilok Uthaiporn
Published: November 2015

Porous carbon nanospheres (CNSs) synthesized by a plasma-in-liquid technique were applied as an adsorbent for CO2 adsorption. Two different types of aromatic solvents, benzene and pyridine, were used as precursors to generate CNSs. The prepared CNSs were carbonized and then activated with CO2 to obtain carbon materials with a suitable porous structure for CO2 adsorption. To improve CO2 adsorption capacity, activated CNSs were then chemically modified using different approaches of surface treatment, namely, HNO3 oxidation, amination without HNO3 preoxidation, and amination with HNO3 preoxidation. The CO2 adsorption capacities of the samples were investigated at 1 atm and 40 °C using a simultaneous thermal analyzer. It was found that the CO2 adsorption of CNSs was enhanced through the development of textural properties. All of the surface treatment approaches led to the increase in CO2 adsorption capacity of the activated CNSs owing to the presence of nitrogen or oxygen functional groups introduced onto the carbon surface during the treatment.
Determination of dynamical changes in sputtering and retention on bubble-growing tungsten under helium plasma irradiation by binary-collision-approximation-based simulation
Authors: Saito Seiki , Nakamura Hiroaki , Tokitani Masayuki , Sakaue Ryota , Yoshida Kenta
Published: November 2015

Binary-collision-approximation-based (BCA) simulation is performed for the investigation of bubble formation and the influence of the growth of bubbles on the characteristics of tungsten as a plasma-facing material. The BCA simulation provides the time evolution of the surface modification, the sputtering yield of tungsten atoms, and the absorption rate and retention of helium atoms for incident energies from 100 to 1000 eV and fluences up to 1.0 × 1022 He/m2. The following results are obtained: the tungsten material is eroded by repeated swelling and exfoliation near the surface, the sputtering yield of the bubble-formimg tungsten is lower than that of a material without bubbles, and the absorption rate increases as bubbles grow.
A three-dimensional imaging detector based on nano-scale silver-related defects in X- and gamma-ray-irradiated glasses
Authors: Kurobori Toshio , Yanagida Yuka , Chen Yao Qiang
Published: November 2015

Ag-activated phosphate glass, which is the most commonly known radiophotoluminescent (RPL) material, has the capability to operate not only dosimeters but also two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) dose imaging detectors in the same host. This passive detector is based on radiation-induced, optically active nano-scale defects. In this work, the transient-state optical properties of the blue and orange RPL were investigated using a time-resolved spectrum technique for 137Cs and 60Co gamma-ray-irradiated Ag-activated phosphate glass. Specifically, the blue RPL intensity with a decay time of 5 ns as a function of the depth at the vicinity of the surface was systematically examined to clarify an accurate dose distribution within the glass. Moreover, a feasibility study into the use of an RPL Ag-activated phosphate glass detector for fluorescent nuclear track imaging was demonstrated using a confocal fluorescence image microscope for the first time.
EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL E ATIVIDADE CRIADORA
Authors: Hillesheim Giovana Bianca Darolt
Published: November 2015

Refletimos neste artigo sobre o ensino de arte no contexto das instituições de educação infantil partindo do pressuposto que a vida social é fundamental para que a criança construa seu pensamento e interaja no meio cultural. Resgatamos o conceito de atividade criadora desenvolvido pelo psicólogo russo Lev Vigotsky ao defender que toda atividade humana que não se limita a reproduzir impressões vividas, mas que cria novas ações e impressões enquadra-se no conceito de criatividade. Ao abordar a relevância da mesma no ambiente escolar, especificamente nas instituições de Educação Infantil, ressaltamos que para oportunizar o desenvolvimento da capacidade criadora o docente precisa ter em mente que quanto maiores são as vivências, maior a imaginação e que o ímpeto criativo não se manifesta repentinamente, senão de forma lenta e gradual. Conforme a criança vê, experimenta e assimila elementos reais, maior seu potencial criativo. Neste estudo inter-relacionamos os conceitos vigotskianos de atividade criadora com os estudos realizados pela pesquisadora Maria Carmem Silveira Barbosa sobre a rotina nas instituições de educação infantil. Buscamos elucidar de quais formas a arte se insere na estrutura destas instituições considerando as rotinas de organização do tempo e do espaço, assim como a seleção e a oferta de materiais. Nosso intuito é oportunizar aos docentes de artes visuais subsídios para que reflitam acerca da ação pedagógica na educação infantil mesclando os saberes próprios do campo educacional àqueles específicos da área artística.
FILME COMO PROPOSTA DE ENSINO E APRENDIZAGEM: O USO DO CINEMA EM AULAS DE LÍNGUA ESTRANGEIRA
Authors: Hausmann Elisa Probst , Cugik Lutiane Schramm , Ignaczuk Odete
Published: November 2015

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar e refletir acerca da utilização de filmes como estratégia de ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Estrangeira. Este estudo é integrante das atividades propostas na disciplina de Estágio Supervisionado de Língua Inglesa IV realizada no oitavo semestre do curso de Letras da Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB). Neste artigo, são analisadas quatro aulas de uma hora cada, em uma escola de idiomas na cidade de Blumenau – SC. Considera-se a importância deste artigo como objeto de análise que pode contribuir para o aprimoramento de estratégias e métodos de ensino de Língua Estrangeira por meio de filmes legendados em língua estrangeira. Os resultados desta análise indicam que o trabalho com filmes como estratégia de ensino e aprendizagem da Língua Estrangeira pode ser uma importante ferramenta para trabalhar com as habilidades de listening e writing, usando estratégias orais e visuais. As análises assinalam que a motivação foi um fator que influenciou no desempenho dos alunos, pois a estratégia de ensino ora tratada conseguiu aproximar o ensino ao cotidiano e à realidade dos alunos. Aponta-se, então, para a necessidade de constante reflexão dos professores acerca de novas teorias e estratégias de ensino.

 
USO DE OBJETOS INTELIGENTES DE APRENDIZAGEM COMO FERRAMENTA DA INFORMÁTICA NA EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Sabino Allan Renato , Anschau Darlan
Published: November 2015

O presente artigo apresenta um estudo sobre o uso de objetos inteligentes de aprendizagem, baseados em agentes na educação. Foi realizado um estudo exploratório sobre o fundamental teórico necessário para a confecção do referido artigo, podendo-se citar: o uso da informática na educação, o conceito de agentes e como os agentes podem ser utilizados para a criação dos objetos inteligentes de aprendizagem. A partir deste estudo, conclui-se que a inserção do computador na educação criou um novo paradigma de ensino. Nele, o uso de objetos inteligentes de aprendizagem, amparados pelo advento da inteligência artificial e dos seus agentes, fez com que os ambientes virtuais se tornassem inteligentes, respondendo melhor às necessidades dos educandos.
The solar wind during current and past solar minima and maxima
Authors: Zerbo J.‐L. , Richardson J. D.
Published: November 2015

This paper presents solar wind data from the last five solar cycles. We review solar wind parameters over the four solar minima and five maxima for which spacecraft data are available and show the recovery from the last very weak minimum to the current solar maximum. The solar wind magnetic field, speed, and density have remained anomalously low in this time period. However, the distributions of these parameters about the (lower than normal) average are similar to those from previous solar minima and maxima. This result suggests that the acceleration mechanism for the recent weak solar wind is probably not significantly different from earlier solar cycles. The He++/H+ ratio variation with solar cycle continues to be a function of speed, but the most recent solar minimum has significantly lower ratios than in the previous solar cycle.
Kinematics of interacting CMEs of 25 and 28 September 2012
Authors: Mishra Wageesh , Srivastava Nandita , Singh Talwinder
Published: November 2015

We have studied two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that occurred on 25 and 28 September 2012 and interacted near the Earth. By fitting the Graduated Cylindrical Shell model on the SECCHI/COR2 images and applying the Stereoscopic Self‐Similar Expansion method on the SECCHI/HI images, the initial direction of both the CMEs is estimated to be west of the Sun‐Earth line. Further, the three‐dimensional (3‐D) heliospheric kinematics of these CMEs have been estimated using Self‐Similar Expansion (SSE) reconstruction method. We show that the use of SSE method with different values of angular extent of the CMEs leads to significantly different kinematics estimates for the CMEs propagating away from the observer. Using the estimated kinematics and true masses of the CMEs, we have derived the coefficient of restitution for the collision which is found to be close to elastic. The in situ measurements at 1 AU show two distinct structures of interplanetary CMEs, heating of the following CME, and ongoing interaction between the preceding and the following CME. We highlight the signatures of interaction in remote and in situ observations of these CMEs and the role of interaction in producing a major geomagnetic storm.
Theory of spacecraft potential jump in geosynchronous plasma
Authors: Huang Jianguo , Liu Guoqing , Jiang Lixiang
Published: November 2015

For disturbed geosynchronous plasma, the onset of spacecraft charging and its evolution become more complex than quiet environment. A sudden jump of spacecraft potential can occur in specific environment conditions which can be detrimental to onboard electronics. In this paper, the potential jump for geosynchronous spacecraft charging is theoretically modeled and comprehensively characterized. Two types of potential jump in opposite directions are elucidated, and the threshold conditions for both types of jump are determined. At both thresholds, the spacecraft potentials are semisteady, but in opposite directions, with the possibility of a jump to a stable potential. The polarity of movement across the thresholds from different plasma will cause a spacecraft to experience irreversible charging histories which result in significant hysteresis. Generally, the jump to negative potential occurs with greater magnitude as compared to a potential jump in positive direction. Ion distribution has negligible influence to the threshold condition for jump to negative potential. However, ion distribution significantly affects the threshold for jump to positive potential and subsequently modifies the parametric domains of spacecraft charging.