bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Application of Social Characteristic and L1 Optimization in the Error Correction for Network Coding in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Guangzhi , Cai Shaobin , Xiong Naixue
Published: February 2018

One of the remarkable challenges about Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) is how to transfer the collected data efficiently due to energy limitation of sensor nodes. Network coding will increase network throughput of WSN dramatically due to the broadcast nature of WSN. However, the network coding usually propagates a single original error over the whole network. Due to the special property of error propagation in network coding, most of error correction methods cannot correct more than C/2 corrupted errors where C is the max flow min cut of the network. To maximize the effectiveness of network coding applied in WSN, a new error-correcting mechanism to confront the propagated error is urgently needed. Based on the social network characteristic inherent in WSN and L1 optimization, we propose a novel scheme which successfully corrects more than C/2 corrupted errors. What is more, even if the error occurs on all the links of the network, our scheme also can correct errors successfully. With introducing a secret channel and a specially designed matrix which can trap some errors, we improve John and Yi’s model so that it can correct the propagated errors in network coding which usually pollute exactly 100% of the received messages. Taking advantage of the social characteristic inherent in WSN, we propose a new distributed approach that establishes reputation-based trust among sensor nodes in order to identify the informative upstream sensor nodes. With referred theory of social networks, the informative relay nodes are selected and marked with high trust value. The two methods of L1 optimization and utilizing social characteristic coordinate with each other, and can correct the propagated error whose fraction is even exactly 100% in WSN where network coding is performed. The effectiveness of the error correction scheme is validated through simulation experiments.
Crowdsensing in Smart Cities: Overview, Platforms, and Environment Sensing Issues
Authors: Alvear Oscar , Calafate Carlos , Cano Juan-Carlos , Manzoni Pietro
Published: February 2018

Evidence shows that Smart Cities are starting to materialise in our lives through the gradual introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. In this scope, crowdsensing emerges as a powerful solution to address environmental monitoring, allowing to control air pollution levels in crowded urban areas in a distributed, collaborative, inexpensive and accurate manner. However, even though technology is already available, such environmental sensing devices have not yet reached consumers. In this paper, we present an analysis of candidate technologies for crowdsensing architectures, along with the requirements for empowering users with air monitoring capabilities. Specifically, we start by providing an overview of the most relevant IoT architectures and protocols. Then, we present the general design of an off-the-shelf mobile environmental sensor able to cope with air quality monitoring requirements; we explore different hardware options to develop the desired sensing unit using readily available devices, discussing the main technical issues associated with each option, thereby opening new opportunities in terms of environmental monitoring programs.
Foil Strain Gauges Using Piezoresistive Carbon Nanotube Yarn: Fabrication and Calibration
Authors: Abot Jandro L. , Góngora-Rubio Mário R. , Anike Jude C. , Kiyono César Y. , Mello Luis A. M. , Cardoso Valtemar F. , Rosa Reinaldo L. S. , Kuebler Derek A. , Brodeur Grace E. , Alotaibi Amani H. , Coene Marisa P. , Coene Lauren M. , Jean Elizabeth , Santiago Rafael C. , Oliveira Francisco H. A. , Rangel Ricardo , Thomas Gilles P. , Belay Kalayu , Da Silva Luciana W. , Moura Rafael T. , Seabra Antonio C. , Silva Emílio C. N.
Published: February 2018

Carbon nanotube yarns are micron-scale fibers comprised by tens of thousands of carbon nanotubes in their cross section and exhibiting piezoresistive characteristics that can be tapped to sense strain. This paper presents the details of novel foil strain gauge sensor configurations comprising carbon nanotube yarn as the piezoresistive sensing element. The foil strain gauge sensors are designed using the results of parametric studies that maximize the sensitivity of the sensors to mechanical loading. The fabrication details of the strain gauge sensors that exhibit the highest sensitivity, based on the modeling results, are described including the materials and procedures used in the first prototypes. Details of the calibration of the foil strain gauge sensors are also provided and discussed in the context of their electromechanical characterization when bonded to metallic specimens. This characterization included studying their response under monotonic and cyclic mechanical loading. It was shown that these foil strain gauge sensors comprising carbon nanotube yarn are sensitive enough to capture strain and can replicate the loading and unloading cycles. It was also observed that the loading rate affects their piezoresistive response and that the gauge factors were all above one order of magnitude higher than those of typical metallic foil strain gauges. Based on these calibration results on the initial sensor configurations, new foil strain gauge configurations will be designed and fabricated, to increase the strain gauge factors even more.
Calibration of Elasto-Magnetic Sensors on In-Service Cable-Stayed Bridges for Stress Monitoring
Authors: Cappello Carlo , Zonta Daniele , Ait Laasri Hassan , Glisic Branko , Wang Ming
Published: February 2018

The recent developments in measurement technology have led to the installation of efficient monitoring systems on many bridges and other structures all over the world. Nowadays, more and more structures have been built and instrumented with sensors. However, calibration and installation of sensors remain challenging tasks. In this paper, we use a case study, Adige Bridge, in order to present a low-cost method for the calibration and installation of elasto-magnetic sensors on cable-stayed bridges. Elasto-magnetic sensors enable monitoring of cable stress. The sensor installation took place two years after the bridge construction. The calibration was conducted in two phases: one in the laboratory and the other one on site. In the laboratory, a sensor was built around a segment of cable that was identical to those of the cable-stayed bridge. Then, the sample was subjected to a defined tension force. The sensor response was compared with the applied load. Experimental results showed that the relationship between load and magnetic permeability does not depend on the sensor fabrication process except for an offset. The determination of this offset required in situ calibration after installation. In order to perform the in situ calibration without removing the cables from the bridge, vibration tests were carried out for the estimation of the cables’ tensions. At the end of the paper, we show and discuss one year of data from the elasto-magnetic sensors. Calibration results demonstrate the simplicity of the installation of these sensors on existing bridges and new structures.
Implementation of a Surface Electromyography-Based Upper Extremity Exoskeleton Controller Using Learning from Demonstration
Authors: Siu Ho Chit , Arenas Ana M. , Sun Tingxiao , Stirling Leia A.
Published: February 2018

Upper-extremity exoskeletons have demonstrated potential as augmentative, assistive, and rehabilitative devices. Typical control of upper-extremity exoskeletons have relied on switches, force/torque sensors, and surface electromyography (sEMG), but these systems are usually reactionary, and/or rely on entirely hand-tuned parameters. sEMG-based systems may be able to provide anticipatory control, since they interface directly with muscle signals, but typically require expert placement of sensors on muscle bodies. We present an implementation of an adaptive sEMG-based exoskeleton controller that learns a mapping between muscle activation and the desired system state during interaction with a user, generating a personalized sEMG feature classifier to allow for anticipatory control. This system is robust to novice placement of sEMG sensors, as well as subdermal muscle shifts. We validate this method with 18 subjects using a thumb exoskeleton to complete a book-placement task. This learning-from-demonstration system for exoskeleton control allows for very short training times, as well as the potential for improvement in intent recognition over time, and adaptation to physiological changes in the user, such as those due to fatigue.
Sustainable Urban Homecare Delivery with Different Means of Transport
Authors: Szander Norina , Ros-McDonnell Lorenzo , De-la-Fuente-Aragón María , Vodopivec Robert
Published: February 2018

Due to the increasing number of requests for homecare services, care institutions struggle to perform in urban traffic, which eventually makes travel times longer and less predictable and, therefore, leads to a declining service quality. Homecare delivery scheduling and planning tools must lead to efficient reliable routes that allow the nursing crew to make the least efforts and use the fewest institutional resources, and that consider urban sustainability goals. For the case study, a European city was selected with 58,000 people of whom 73 patients received long-term care at homes provided by 11 homecare nurses. While maximising patient satisfaction, a homecare planning algorithm considered many means of transport and minimised travel times. The study reduced the total nurses’ working hours/day by a bus and walking combination, and by comparing if nurses ride e-bikes, which respectively reduced ~35–44% of the total time that nurses spent travelling. This result is applicable to an urban environment where the public transport network is sufficient and biking is allowed on a reasonable number of roads. Better homecare management can support the efficient use of resources of health care institutions, high-quality home care and aspirations towards livable communities and sustainable development.
Sustainable RC Beam-Column Connections with Headed Bars: A Formula for Shear Strength Evaluation
Authors: Tran Minh-Tung , Bui Quoc-Bao , Sentosa Bastian , Nguyen Nhat-Tien , Duong Trung-Hieu , Plé Olivier
Published: February 2018

Beam-column joints are critical regions for reinforced concrete (RC) frames subjected to earthquakes. The steel reinforcement is, in general, highly concentrated in these zones. This is why in many cases, headed bars are used. A headed bar is a longitudinal steel reinforcement whose end has a special button added to reduce the bonding length of the steel rebar. This paper establishes a formula predicting the shear strength of exterior RC beam-column connections where the beam longitudinal reinforcements use headed bars. A database was collected, which contained 30 experimental data about the exterior beam-column joints using headed bars and subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading. First, from the collected database, a statistical study was carried out to identify the most influencing parameters on the shear strength of the beam-column joints tested. The three most important parameters were identified and an empirical modified formula was developed based on the formula existing in the standards. The study showed that the results obtained from the modified formula proposed in the present study were closer to the experimental results than that obtained from the formula existing in the standards. Finally, a numerical study was performed on two T-form RC structures and the numerical results were compared with the prediction calculated from the modified formula proposed. For two investigated cases, the proposed formula provided the results in the safety side and the differences with the numerical results were less than 20%. Thus, the proposed formula can be used for a rapid assessment of the shear strength of RC joints using headed bars.
Formation of a Community of Practice in the Watershed Scale, with Integrated Local Environmental Knowledge
Authors: Kitamura Kenji , Nakagawa Chigusa , Sato Tetsu
Published: February 2018

Rural communities around the world face formidable problems such as resource depletion, environmental degradation and economic decline. While the term ‘community’ is often used without clear definition or context, it can be viewed as a group of people emerging through social interaction. Through a series of collaborative action toward a shared goal, a community of practice can be formed. This paper proposes a hypothetical framework of integrated local environmental knowledge (ILEK), and applies it to analyze the processes of collaborative actions in the case of the Nishibetsu Watershed in Hokkaido, Japan. The case study identified several phases of actions, all initiated by a group of local residents on a grassroots and voluntary basis. These local resident-initiated collaborative actions had a particular confluence of elements to facilitate gradual strengthening of formal and informal institutions in the watershed scale beyond jurisdictional boundaries, making this a worthy case to study. The local residents used diverse types of knowledge, including livelihood-based technologies and skills of working as a group and with local governments, for establishing and strengthening various institutions for collaborative actions, with such knowledge being used in the manner of tools in a box of bricolage for community formation.
Towards Sustainable Neighborhoods: Challenges and Opportunities for Neighborhood Planning in Transitional Urban China
Authors: Zhang Qi , Yung Esther , Chan Edwin
Published: February 2018

Unlike many developed countries where sustainable development has been implemented at neighborhood scale, sustainable planning research and action has still been concentrated at the national level and little has focused on the neighborhood level in China. This issue was highlighted by the demand of facilitating sustainable development and significant transition of the socio-political context, which made the development of neighborhood planning even more urgent and challenging. Hence, this study aims to identify the major challenges, particularly related to the institutional aspects, for adopting neighborhood planning in the local community in China. Comprehensive literature review was employed to demonstrate the crucial position of institutional elements in facilitating sustainable neighborhood development and planning. A comparative study of the common characteristics for adopting neighborhood planning in four different countries was conducted. Based on the characters, the possible barriers hindering the practice of neighborhood planning in China were proposed and then validated with the in-depth expert interviews. The results show that there is little support from national policy and local governance, ambiguous legislation on community public management, as well as inadequate public participation and a weak sense of community. Corresponding policy implications and recommendations are included to provide insight for planners and decision makers to better utilize neighborhood planning to achieve sustainable urban development.
Cytotoxicity Enhancement in Breast Cancer Cells with Carbonate Apatite-Facilitated Intracellular Delivery of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Authors: Fatemian Tahereh , Chowdhury Ezharul
Published: February 2018

Pharmacotherapy as the mainstay in the management of breast cancer has demonstrated various drawbacks, including non-targeted bio distribution and narrow therapeutic and safety windows. Thus, enhancements in pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of the classical anti-cancer drugs could lead to improved efficacy against cancer cells. Therefore, inorganic pH-dependent carbonate apatite (CA) nanoparticles were utilized to efficiently deliver various drugs into cancer cells. Following characterization and various modifications in the structure of CA complexes with different drugs, lifted outcomes were achieved. Markedly, complexing paclitaxel with CA resulted in 20.71 ± 4.34% loading efficiency together with 24.14 ± 2.21% enhancement in cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells plus superior in vivo anti-tumour efficacy compared to free paclitaxel.
Galactic Doppelgängers: The Chemical Similarity Among Field Stars and Among Stars with a Common Birth Origin
Authors: Ness M. , Rix H-W. , Hogg David W. , Casey A. R. , Holtzman J. , Fouesneau M. , Zasowski G. , Geisler D. , Shetrone M. , Minniti D. , Frinchaboy Peter M. , Roman-Lopes Alexandre
Published: February 2018

We explore to what extent stars within Galactic disk open clusters resemble each other in the high-dimensional space of their photospheric element abundances and contrast this with pairs of field stars. Our analysis is based on abundances for 20 elements, homogeneously derived from APOGEE spectra (with carefully quantified uncertainties of typically 0.03 dex). We consider 90 red giant stars in seven open clusters and find that most stars within a cluster have abundances in most elements that are indistinguishable (in a

-sense) from those of the other members, as expected for stellar birth siblings. An analogous analysis among pairs of

field stars shows that highly significant abundance differences in the 20 dimensional space can be established for the vast majority of these pairs, and that the APOGEE-based abundance measurements have high discriminating power. However, pairs of field stars whose abundances are indistinguishable even at 0.03 dex precision exist: ∼0.3% of all field star pairs and ∼1.0% of field star pairs at the same (solar) metallicity [Fe/H] = 0 ± 0.02. Most of these pairs are presumably not birth siblings from the same cluster, but rather doppelgängers. Our analysis implies that “chemical tagging” in the strict sense, identifying birth siblings for typical disk stars through their abundance similarity alone, will not work with such data. However, our approach shows that abundances have extremely valuable information for probabilistic chemo-orbital modeling, and combined with velocities, we have identified new cluster members from the field.
Herschel and ALMA Observations of Massive SZE-selected Clusters
Authors: Wu John F. , Aguirre Paula , Baker Andrew J. , Devlin Mark J. , Hilton Matt , Hughes John P. , Infante Leopoldo , Lindner Robert R. , Sifón Cristóbal
Published: February 2018

We present new Herschel observations of four massive, Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect–selected clusters at

, two of which have also been observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We detect 19 Herschel/Photoconductor Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) counterparts to spectroscopically confirmed cluster members, five of which have redshifts determined via CO (4–3) and [C i] (

) lines. The mean [C i]/CO line ratio is 0.19 ± 0.07 in brightness temperature units, consistent with previous results for field samples. We do not detect significant stacked ALMA dust continuum or spectral-line emission, implying upper limits on mean interstellar medium (H2 + H i) and molecular gas masses. An apparent anticorrelation of

with clustercentric radius is driven by the tight relation between star formation rate and stellar mass. We find an average specific star formation rate of log(sSFR/yr−1) = −10.36, which is below the

correlation measured for field galaxies at similar redshifts. The fraction of infrared-bright galaxies (IRBGs;

) per cluster and average sSFR rise significantly with redshift. For CO detections, we find

, comparable to those of field galaxies, and gas depletion timescales of about 2 Gyr. We use radio observations to distinguish active galactic nuclei (AGNs) from star-forming galaxies. At least four of our 19 Herschel cluster members have

, implying an AGN fraction

for our PACS-selected sample.
Resurrecting the Power-law, Intermediate, and Logamediate Inflations in the DBI Scenario with Constant Sound Speed
Authors: Amani Roonak , Rezazadeh Kazem , Abdolmaleki Asrin , Karami Kayoomars
Published: February 2018

We investigate the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflationary models in the framework of DBI non-canonical scalar field with constant sound speed. In the DBI setting, we first represent the power spectrum of both scalar density and tensor gravitational perturbations. Then, we derive different inflationary observables including the scalar spectral index n

s
, the running of the scalar spectral index

, and the tensor-to-scalar ratio r. We show that the 95% CL constraint of the Planck 2015 T + E data on the non-Gaussianity parameter

leads to the sound speed bound

in the DBI inflation. Moreover, our results imply that, although the predictions of the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflations in the standard canonical framework (c

s
= 1) are not consistent with the Planck 2015 data, in the DBI scenario with constant sound speed

, the result of the

diagram for these models can lie inside the 68% CL region favored by Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data. We also specify the parameter space of the power-law, intermediate, and logamediate inflations for which our models are compatible with the 68% or 95% CL regions of the Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data. Using the allowed ranges of the parameter space of the intermediate and logamediate inflationary models, we estimate the running of the scalar spectral index and find that it is compatible with the 95% CL constraint from the Planck 2015 TT,TE,EE+lowP data.
Photospheric and Coronal Abundances in an X8.3 Class Limb Flare
Authors: Doschek G. A. , Warren H. P. , Harra L. K. , Culhane J. L. , Watanabe T. , Hara H.
Published: February 2018

We analyze solar elemental abundances in coronal post-flare loops of an X8.3 flare (SOL2017-09-10T16:06) observed on the west limb on 2017 September 10 near 18 UT using spectra recorded by the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on the Hinode spacecraft. The abundances in the corona can differ from photospheric abundances due to the first ionization potential (FIP) effect. In some loops of this flare, we find that the abundances appear to be coronal at the loop apices or cusps, but steadily transform from coronal to photospheric as the loop footpoint is approached. This result is found from the intensity ratio of a low-FIP ion spectral line (Ca xiv) to a high-FIP ion spectral line (Ar xiv) formed at about the same temperature (4–5 MK). Both lines are observed close in wavelength. Temperature, which could alter the interpretation, does not appear to be a factor based on intensity ratios of Ca xv lines to a Ca xiv line. We discuss the abundance result in terms of the Laming model of the FIP effect, which is explained by the action of the ponderomotive force in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in coronal loops and in the underlying chromosphere.
Models of the Mass-ejection Histories of Pre-planetary Nebulae. II. The Formation of Minkowski’s Butterfly and its Proboscis in M2–9
Authors: Balick Bruce , Frank Adam , Liu Baowei , Corradi Romano
Published: February 2018

M2–9, or the “Minkowski’s Butterfly,” is one of the most iconic outflow sources from an evolved star. In this paper we present a hydrodynamic model of M2–9 in which the nebula is formed and shaped by a steady, low-density (“light”), mildly collimated “spray” of gas injected at 200 km s−1 that interacts with a far denser, intrinsically simple pre-existing AGB wind that has slowly formed all of the complex features within M2–9’s lobes (including the knot pairs N3/S3 and N4/S4 at their respective leading edges, and the radial gradient of Doppler shifts within 20″ of the nucleus). We emphasize that the knot pairs are not ejected from the star but formed in situ. In addition, the observed radial speed of the knots is only indirectly related to the speed of the gas injected by the star. The model allows us to probe the early history of the wind geometry and lobe formation. We also formulate a new estimate of the nebular distance D = 1.3 kpc. The physical mechanism that accounts for the linear radial speed gradient in M2–9 applies generally to many other pre-planetary nebulae whose hollow lobes exhibit similar gradients along their edges.
The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database: Computational Version 3.00 with Updated Content and the Introduction of Multiple Scaling Factors
Authors: Bauschlicher Charles W. , Ricca A. , Boersma C. , Allamandola L. J.
Published: February 2018

Version 3.00 of the library of computed spectra in the NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database (PAHdb) is described. Version 3.00 introduces the use of multiple scale factors, instead of the single scaling factor used previously, to align the theoretical harmonic frequencies with the experimental fundamentals. The use of multiple scale factors permits the use of a variety of basis sets; this allows new PAH species to be included in the database, such as those containing oxygen, and yields an improved treatment of strained species and those containing nitrogen. In addition, the computed spectra of 2439 new PAH species have been added. The impact of these changes on the analysis of an astronomical spectrum through database-fitting is considered and compared with a fit using Version 2.00 of the library of computed spectra. Finally, astronomical constraints are defined for the PAH spectral libraries in PAHdb.
Lutter contre les discriminations ou promouvoir la diversité en matière d'emploi ? Histoire d'une action publique en Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (1997-2012)
Authors: Tandé Alexandre
Published: February 2018

A la fin des années 1990, la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale engage des actions pour lutter contre les discriminations liées à l'origine étrangère dans le domaine de l'emploi. Dans une perspective socio-historique, mobilisant sources orales et documentaires, cet article retrace les conditions de création de cette politique publique, les actions expérimentales des premières années, puis sa transformation au milieu des années 2000. En même temps qu'elle est consolidée (inscription dans le droit régional de nouveaux dispositifs, constitution d'une cellule bruxelloise de consultants en diversité), cette politique se voit aussi réorientée vers un nouvel objectif, la promotion de la diversité. Or si lutte contre les discriminations et promotion de la diversité sont souvent présentées comme les « deux faces d'une même pièce », ces deux objectifs peuvent aussi diverger ou s'opposer. Revenir sur l'histoire de cette politique bruxelloise, ses évolutions et son impact, permet alors d'interroger les réponses actuelles à deux défis majeurs de l'agglomération : les inégalités d'accès à l'emploi et la reconnaissance de la diversité socio-culturelle.
A Decision Model Based on a GRASP Genetic Algorithm for Solving the Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Yahyaoui Hiba , Krichen Saoussen , Dekdouk Abdelkader
Published: February 2018

In this paper, the authors address a delivery process with time requirements in the supply chain, stated as follows: orders launched from customers are centralized and assigned to firms' depots for the delivery process. The consideration of a depot and a set of customers belonging to different firms, is seen as a VRPTW that serves n customers using a subset of vehicles. Implemented in this article is a DSS that handles the delivering activity in the supply chain. The DSS embeds a Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP) and Genetic components for generating promising solutions in a concurrently run time. Simulation results are conducted on Solomon's benchmarks. The DSS records very competitive results regarding state-of-the-art approaches.
Determinants of Time-to-Under-Five Mortality in Ethiopia
Authors: Wogi Abebe Argaw , Wakweya Shibru Temesgen , Tesfay Yohannes Yebabe
Published: February 2018

This article describes how under-five mortality rate is one of the critical indicators of development of a country. This rate tells of children's access to basic health interventions such as vaccinations, medical treatment and adequate nutrition. This article proposes to identify the determinants of time to under-five mortality in Ethiopia based on the 2014 data taken from the Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health Survey of women of the age group15-49 years. In this survival quantitative analysis, this article considers relevant socioeconomic, demographic variables and environmental factors. Various parameters shared among frailty models are employed to identify the determinants of Time-To-Under-Five Mortality of Ethiopia. The selection of the best-fit survival model is done by applying the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The AIC prevailed that the Weibull-gamma multivariable-shared frailty model is relatively the best-fit model. The estimation result of the Weibull-gamma multivariable-shared frailty model predicted that the major factors identified for under-five mortality in Ethiopia were mothers' educational level, mothers' age at first birth, place of residence, household size, sex of child born, preceding birth interval, economic status of family, place of delivery, marital status of family, and source of drinking water. The result implied that vast work is expected from governmental and non-governmental bodies to reduce the under-five mortality in the country by considering the identified factors.
Arabidopsis Homologues to the LRAT a Possible Substrate for New Plant-Based Anti-Cancer Drug Development
Authors: Kaloudas Dimitrios , Penchovsky Robert
Published: February 2018

This article describes how an NC gene family has been identified in the genome of the Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) by homology to the human Lecithin Retinal Acyl Transferase (LRAT) and the picornavirus 2A protein. The Arabidopsis proteins contain two motifs identified in a vast variety of organisms, an H-Box and an NC. Among related proteins are the C. elegans EGL-26, a regulator protein of cell morphogenesis in the vulva region, and human proteins that might be related to cell proliferation or development. Human homologues include HRAS-like tumour suppressors, the Tazarotene-induced gene 3 (TIG3), and a deSumoylating Isopeptidase (PNAS-4) that induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Preservation of the two motifs observed in the Arabidopsis proteins in homology to tumour suppressors, and the conservation of residues important for the function of the LRAT amongst the Arabidopsis homologues can be indicative not only of the importance of these domains for the function of the plant proteins but can also reveal a new candidate group for the design of plant-based tumour-targeting drug development.
Technological Skills and Initial Teacher Training
Authors: Nuzzaci Antonella
Published: February 2018

This article describes how the use of education technology by those responsible for teacher training is one of the training issues that are often associated with the importance of enhancing didactic efficiency and the procedural and logistical difficulties associated with the instructional design that are identified as the main sources of concern in the professionalization of teachers and sometimes lead to unjustified assumptions about the very nature of the formation. Understanding attitudes towards ICT is important in determining whether future teachers' perceptions about the advantages or disadvantages of using ICT in higher education may condition their proper use in teaching as this provides the basics for professional conduct that is most appropriate. The present article aims to investigate the attitudes of personal and didactic use of technologies and the perception of their digital skills in students attending the Degree Course in Primary Teacher Education at the University of Aquila Studies.
Parallel Hierarchical Pre-Gauss-Seidel Value Iteration Algorithm
Authors: Chafik Sanaa , Larach Abdelhadi , Daoui Cherki
Published: February 2018

The standard Value Iteration (VI) algorithm, referred to as Value Iteration Pre-Jacobi (PJ-VI) algorithm, is the simplest Value Iteration scheme, and the well-known algorithm for solving Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). In the literature, several versions of VI algorithm were developed in order to reduce the number of iterations: the VI Jacobi (VI-J) algorithm, the Value Iteration Pre-Gauss-Seidel (VI-PGS) algorithm and the VI Gauss-Seidel (VI-GS) algorithm. In this article, the authors combine the advantages of VI Pre Gauss-Seidel algorithm, the decomposition technique and the parallelism in order to propose a new Parallel Hierarchical VI Pre-Gauss-Seidel algorithm. Experimental results show that their approach performs better than the traditional VI schemes in the case where the global problem can be decomposed into smaller problems.
Mobile Extension in Enhancing the Livelihood of Farmers in India
Authors: Murugan G. Sakthivel , Aram I. Arul , Raj S. Amal , Nambi A. Arivudai , Anabel Nancy J.
Published: February 2018

This research article is based on an empirical investigation into mobile advisory services co-created by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the agriculture farmers' community of the Union Territory of Puducherry, India. It seeks to map pattern of mobile advisory use and its impact on agricultural livelihood vis-à-vis agriculture and animal husbandry. This research article investigates the effectiveness of the agricultural extension tool of mobile phone among farmers in areas of rural in Puducherry, during the years 2010-2013. Investigation with the farmers revealed that innovative dissemination of mobile advisory has improved their agricultural productivity. The mobile audio advisories played a vital role in bridging the knowledge gap and scientific solutions between the scientific and farming communities. This research paper analyses farmers' benefits, gaps in mobile advisory services (MAS), perception of mobile messages, socio-demographic, and socio-economic data. As a result, farmers were able to acquire knowledge and skills relating to their livelihoods and make timely decisions to cope with emerging issues and trends in agriculture to an extent of diversifying their cropping pattern. The audio advisories helped farmers with timely information on agriculture. Mobile advisory has also strengthened the local agricultural extension system where farmers have updated their knowledge and skills. These messages enhanced their knowledge in crop management, latest farming technologies, and agriculture-related government schemes and entitlements, and post-harvest techniques along with care and management of livestock. These skills are very much useful for them to get adapted to changing climate scenarios and to have improved livelihood opportunities.
Examining Mobile SNS Continuance from a Dual Perspective of Social Capital and Privacy Concern
Authors: Zhou Tao
Published: February 2018

This article contends that due to the intense competition, it is crucial for mobile social networking services (SNS) providers to retain users and facilitate their continuance. Integrating both perspectives of social capital and privacy concern, this research examined mobile SNS continuance. Social capital includes three dimensions: structural capital, relational capital and cognitive capital. The results indicated that both social capital and privacy concerns have significant effects on continuing usage. The results imply that service providers need to develop social capital and curb privacy concerns in order to facilitate users' continuance usage of mobile SNS.
ILDR2-Fc Is a Novel Regulator of Immune Homeostasis and Inducer of Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance
Authors: Podojil Joseph R. , Hecht Iris , Chiang Ming-Yi , Vaknin Ilan , Barbiro Inbal , Novik Amit , Neria Eyal , Rotman Galit , Miller Stephen D.
Published: February 2018

ILDR2 is a member of the Ig superfamily, which is implicated in tricellular tight junctions, and has a putative role in pancreatic islet health and survival. We recently found a novel role for ILDR2 in delivering inhibitory signals to T cells. In this article, we show that short-term treatment with ILDR2-Fc results in long-term durable beneficial effects in the relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and NOD type 1 diabetes models. ILDR2-Fc also promotes transplant engraftment in a minor mismatch bone marrow transplantation model. ILDR2-Fc displays a unique mode of action, combining immunomodulation, regulation of immune homeostasis, and re-establishment of Ag-specific immune tolerance via regulatory T cell induction. These findings support the potential of ILDR-Fc to provide a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
A Childhood Obesity Prevention Programme in Barcelona (Poiba Project): Study Protocol of the Intervention
Authors: Sánchez-Martínez Francesca , Juárez Olga , Serral Gemma , Valmayor Sara , Puigpinós Rosa , Pasarín María Isabel , Díez Élia , Ariza Carles ,   Evaluation Group of the POIBA Project, Ariza Carles , Cortina Carme , Díez Elia , Juárez Olga , Lorenzo Concha , Pasarín Maribel , Roca Dolors , Sagarra Natalia , Sánchez-Martínez Francesca , Serral Gemma , Suades Elisabet , Valmayor Sara , Castell Conxa , Roure Eulalia , Lozano Núria , Llinàs Marc , Moncada Albert , Rajmil Luis , Montero Yolanda , Ortega Eduard
Published: February 2018

Background

Childhood obesity preventive interventions should promote a healthy diet and physical activity at home and school. This study aims to describe a school-based childhood obesity preventive programme (POIBA Project) targeting 8-to-12- year-olds.

Design and methods

Evaluation study of a school-based intervention with a pre-post quasi-experimental design and a comparison group. Schools from disadvantaged neighbourhoods are oversampled. The intervention consists of 9 sessions, including 58 activities of a total duration between 9 and 13 hours, and the booster intervention of 2 sessions with 8 activities lasting 3 or 4 hours. They are multilevel (individual, family and school) and multicomponent (classroom, physical activity and family). Data are collected through anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests and lifestyle surveys before and after the intervention and the booster intervention. In the intervention group, families complete two questionnaires about their children's eating habits and physical activity. The outcome variable is the cumulative incidence rate of obesity, obtained from body mass index values and body fat assessed by triceps skinfold thickness. The independent variables are socio-demographic, contextual, eating habits, food frequency, intensity of physical activity and use of new technologies.

Expected impact for public health

It is essential to implement preventive interventions at early ages and to follow its effects over time. Interventions involving diet and physical activity are the most common, being the most effective setting the school. The POIBA Project intervenes in both the school and family setting and focuses on the most disadvantaged groups, in which obesity is most pronounced and difficult to prevent.
[Noteridae, Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) of Gabon (11th part). Birougou Monts National Park (mission 2016)]
Authors: Bilardo Armando , Rocchi Saverio
Published: February 2018

[Article in French]

This work concerns the Coleoptera Hydradephaga collected in several sites of the Birougou Monts National Park (Republic of Gabon), in which altogether 67 species are listed (4 Noteridae and 63 Dytiscidae). The authors describe 6 new species (1 Noteridae and 5 Dytiscidae): Canthydrus lepidus (notula group) distinguishable from other african species for elytral drawing and for shape of penis; Hyphydrus simulans (opaculus group) close to H. congoanus Biström, 1982 and H. ntsa Bilardo & Rocchi, 2008, distinguishable for shape of penis; Liodessus contractipenis distinguishable for shape of penis clearly different from all other species know for Africa; Copelatus apicinotatus (erichsonii group, atrosulcatus subgroup) close to bottegoi Régimbart, 1895 and distinguishable chiefly for shape of penis; Copelatus birougouensis (haemorrhoidalis, group, ferruginicollis subgroup, sensu Guignot, 1961 = hydroporoides group, sensu Nilsson and Hájek, 2017) with penis different that one other all african species know of group; Hydaticus (Prodaticus) lepemangoyei (leander group, leander subgroup) close to H. arcuatus Régimbart, 1895 and H. matruelis Clark, 1864, distinguishable for more width of body and for shape of penis. Besides observations concerning some of the collected species are furnished.
Sparse Bounds for a Prototypical Singular Radon Transform
Authors: Oberlin Richard
Published: February 2018

We use a variant of a technique used by M. T. Lacey to give sparse
$L^{p}(\log (L))^{4}$
bounds for a class of model singular and maximal Radon transforms.
The discrete spectrum of Schrödinger operators with $\delta$-type conditions on regular metric trees
Authors: Zhao Jia , Shi Guoliang , Yan Jun
Published: February 2018

This paper deals with the spectral properties of the self-adjoint Schrödinger operators

L_{Q}=-D^{2}+Q

with

\delta

-type conditions on regular metric trees. Firstly, we prove that the operator

\mathcal{L}_{\delta,Q}

given in this paper is self-adjoint if it is lower semibounded. Then a necessary and sufficient condition is given for the spectrum of the operator

\mathcal{L}_{\delta,Q}

to be discrete. The condition is an analog of Molchanov's discreteness criteria. Finally, using the theory of deficiency indices we get the necessary and sufficient condition which ensures the spectra of the self-adjoint Schrödinger operators with general boundary conditions to be discrete.
Transformation of the Velenje subsidence lake
Authors: Šterbenk Emil , Ramšak Rudi , Glinšek Andrej , Mavec Marko
Published: February 2018

Velenjsko jezero je nastalo kot posledica podzemnega odkopavanja lignita v velenjskem premogovniku. V prispevku so obravnavane nekatere posebnosti, izoblikovane v procesu spremembe pokrajine iz rečne v jezersko zaradi rudarjenja in energetike. Na podlagi raziskovanja in monitoringa lastnosti ter kroženja jezerske vode so pojasnjene anomalije v jezerskem sistemu. Velenjsko jezero, ki je nastalo na kmetijskih površinah, je zaradi intenzivnega onesnaževanja v šestdesetih in sedemdesetih letih dvajsetega stoletja predstavljalo okoljsko poškodbo, ki se po večdesetletni obsežni okoljski sanaciji postopno preobraža v rekreacijsko območje.
Gender domination and domestic violence in Nigerian video films: a paradigmatic appraisal
Authors: Utoh-Ezeajugh Tracie Chima , Anijah Ekene Euphemia
Published: February 2018

This paper examines the symmetry between domestic violence and gender domination by x-raying some of the issues and challenges that generate domestic violence. Using two video Films produced in the Nigerian Film Industry as case studies, the work argues that gender based violence is not limited to the female gender because, beyond physical demonstration of violence against women, men face psychological violence in the pursuance of their patriarchal ideologies. The study employed the interpretative approach to content analysis within the qualitative research methodology in undertaking a critical analysis of the films. Video Compact Discs (VCDs) and Digital Video Discs (DVDs) and related literatures in film, and feminist theory as well as postulations on domestic violence and Gender domination are used for data analysis. The findings reveal that domestic violence is not limited to the feminine gender. Beyond physical demonstration of violence against women, men also face psychological violence in varied degrees. The investigation reveals that gender domination generates violence among men and women because groups with the intent to dominate and suppress one another in a relationship cause marital crises. A strive towards mutual co-existence is therefore advocated.
The nexus between ‘person’, personhood, and community in Kwame Gyekye’s philosophy
Authors: Majeed H.M.
Published: February 2018

It is not the case that ‘person’ and ‘personhood’ could always be used in the same contexts. In African philosophy, especially, they are deemed as concepts that are connected but significantly different in some respects. While the concept of a person is discussed only sometimes in connection with the notion of community, personhood seems to be discussed always in connection with latter. In the philosophy of the renowned Ghanaian thinker, Kwame Gyekye, evidence of this is found. However, the relationships between these concepts are so complex that in the works of Gyekye, a clear, simple position of his is sometimes difficult to find. This article does not discuss the usual subject of the clash of rights between the individual and the community. However, it offers to show how the concepts of ‘person’, personhood, and community are presented in Gyekye’s works. The article argues that Gyekye’s interpretation of personhood in Akan philosophy is unclear and that given the relationship which personhood has with the concept of the community, aspects of his arguments for moderate communitarianism are negatively affected.
Challenge of ethnicity, politics by identity and prebendalism to security and social stability in Nigeria, 1999 to 2015
Authors: Mbalisi Chinedu N.
Published: February 2018

Nigeria is plagued by avalanche of challenges. Prominent among them are issues of ethnicity, politics by identity, security, religious cleavages, corruption and nepotism, and prebendalism to mention a few. These factors have continued to generate tensions that sap the country of its vitality. They have created unhealthy competition among different Nigerian elites mainly, those from the three largest ethnic groups centered on national economic control and political leadership. The continued dominance of the country’s national life by the Hausa-Fulani, the Igbo and Yoruba, and the ensuing conflict among political elites of the diverse groups, distort and threaten socio-economic development, national security and disturb peaceful co-existence among Nigerians. Ethnic and religious cleavages have assumed terrorist dimension that interrupt economic and social stability. Hence, government ineptitude, manipulations and growing Islamic and Christian assertion seem to heighten violence between adherents of the two religions in the country. This paper essays on the challenges of security and social stability. It argues that amongst the numerous challenges to security and social stability in Nigeria, ethnicity, politics by identity and prebendal politics are directly responsible. The persistence of these grim issues makes the country trade the tumbled pathway to disintegration heightened state of insecurity and social instability.Keywords: ethnicity, politics by identity, corruption, prebendalism, security and social stability
Etude comparative du systeme phonematique et tonal des deux parlers: le Yoruba du Nigeria et l’Itsa parle en Republique du Benin
Authors: Lateef Ajani Akinwumi , Ajibabi Ayuba G.
Published: February 2018

En ce début de l’époque ou la mondialisation et la coexistence des peuples dans le monde entier résonnent en écho, le besoin de voir les rapports entre les langues et les dialectes du monde entier surtout en Afrique de l’ouest se fut sentir de plus en plus. Ainsi l’objet de cette communication est de faire un examen critique d’étude phonologique de Itsa l’un des parlers yorùbá parlé au Bénin et le yorùbá standard parlé au Nigéria. L’autre but du travail est de faire une étude comparative du système phonématique et tonal repartisses dans les deux parlers : le résultat envisagé est de trouver des lieux de convergence et de divergence et ainsi trouver le rapport entre Itsa parlé au Bénin et le yorùbá standard parlé au Nigéria.Mots clés: Etude, phonématique, tonal, parler yorùbá, Itsa