bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oil Sands in European Media: Representations of the Canadian Oil Sands in European Newspapers, 2008–2013
Authors: Fiřtová Magdalena
Published: October 2017

This article examines how leading European newspapers reported on oil-sands production in Canada between 2008 and 2013. Based on content and critical discourse analysis of news reports published in major daily newspapers in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, it compares the interpretative frames and dominant storylines. The data analysis suggests that overall, European coverage adopted a critical perspective based on the environmental impacts of oil-sands development, with very particular differences in environmental frame building among the national media analyzed. The British coverage focused mainly on narratives based on a combination of factors such as cultural ties between the two countries and social and cultural practices of reporting on annual shareholders’ meetings. In contrast, the later German and French environmental frame building was embedded mostly in the European debate over the Fuel Quality Directive or in discussions of the Keystone XL pipeline project. This article aims to provide a broader picture of how a prominent Canadian public policy issue is reflected in Europe and to contribute to the assessment of Stephen Harper’s goal of fostering the international image of Canada as an energy superpower. The results of the empirical analysis suggest that Canada’s position in the oil market did not allow it to actively lead the international energy discourse and instead fractured its ability to efficiently influence this aspect of its international image. As a result, oil-sands production had important destabilizing effects on Canada’s international image in European media.
Creating Canada: Education for Inclusion or Different Versions of Colonial Stories?
Authors: Pandolfi Krysta , James Carl E.
Published: October 2017

In 2006, Dragon Hill Publishing released a book (the first of the series) titled How the Scots Created Canada. Since then, it has released six additional books detailing how the groups they identify as Italian, French, English, Black, Chinese, and Polish have each “created” Canada. Dragon Hill claims that their aim “is to produce and market books to the popular adult and youth markets … that will help individuals improve their self-image and that will help increase understanding and tolerance among diverse individuals and cultures.” In this article we examine how, rooted in the Canadian multicultural discourse, these “count me in” narratives of the featured ethnically and racially minoritized Canadians are presented as “add-ons” rather than integrated into the “Canadian narrative.” We explore how attempts at inclusive education and the quest to dispel, for some ethnic groups, the perpetual foreigner trope re-inscribe an uncritical embrace of Western European narratives based on discourses of whiteness, individualism, and conquest. Employing critical theories relating to decolonization, we highlight how the “counter-narratives” presented in the series serve to accommodate and simultaneously become complicit in “creating” problematic, incomplete, contradictory, and misrepresentative narratives of Canada and the featured minoritized groups.
Corans maghrébins copiés du XIIe au XVIIe siècle. conservés dans les musées et Bibliothèques de France autres que la BnF
Authors: Guesdon Marie-Geneviève
Published: October 2017

Plusieurs bibliothèques et musées français conservent dans leurs fonds des manuscrits ou des fragments du Coran qui ont été copiés dans l'Occident musulman entre le XIIe et le XVIIe siècle, mais n'ont parfois pas été correctement identifiés. Si on laisse de côté la Bibliothèque nationale de France, sa collection ayant été déjà décrite de manière exhaustive, le présent article rassemble de l'information sur des manuscrits possédant ces caractéristiques, tirée de divers catalogues et bases de données où ils sont décrits.

[Various libraries and museums in France have in their holdings Qur'an manuscripts and fragments copied in the Western Islamic World between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries that are sometimes not properly identified. Leaving aside the Bibliothèque nationale de France, since its collection has already been fully described, the present paper collates information about such manuscripts from the various disparate catalogues or databases in which they are described.]
Le prince et la nourrice
Authors: Déroche François
Published: October 2017

Le manuscrit du Coran dit « de la Nourrice » est l'un des plus célèbres de la collection de Kairouan, maintenant conservée au Musée des arts islamiques de Raqqada. Son origine est exceptionnellement bien connue grâce à un texte qui équivaut à un colophon et donne la date d'achèvement en ramadan 410/janvier 1020—ou légèrement plus tôt. Les dimensions remarquables de cette copie (environ 445x300 mm), sa calligraphie spectaculaire et son enluminure frappent l'imagination. Près de 2000 feuillets ont été préservés et une étude détaillée sera nécessaire pour comprendre cet important épisode de la calligraphie et de l'art du livre dans l'Ifriqiya ziride. Le présent article représente une première étape dans cette direction et montre que différents copistes et/ou enlumineurs ont été impliqués dans la réalisation de cet exemplaire en soixante volumes. Il tente de replacer ce superbe manuscrit dans le contexte de son époque.

[The so-called ‘Qur'an of the Nurse’ is one of the most famous manuscripts from the Qayrawān collection, now in the Museum of Islamic arts in Raqqada. Its provenance is exceptionally well documented, with the equivalent of a colophon giving the date of completion in Ramaḍān 410/January 1020 or slightly before. The outstanding size of the copy (c. 445x300 mm), and its dramatic calligraphy and illumination capture the imagination. About 2,000 folios have survived and a full study of the manuscript is required in order to understand this important episode of calligraphy and art of the book in Zirid Ifriqiyya. The present paper is a first step towards this goal and shows that various copyists and/or illuminators have been involved in the production of the sixty-volume set. It tries to put this magnificent manuscript into the context of this period.]
Un concurrent du Coran en Occident musulman du Xe/XVIe à l'aube du XIIe/XVIIIe siècle: les Dalāʾil al-khayrāt d'al-Jazūlī
Authors: Abid Hiba
Published: October 2017

Près d'un siècle après sa composition, le livre de prières sur le Prophète du mystique marocain al-Jazūlī (m. 869/1465), les Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt, commença à circuler de façon intensive à travers le monde musulman sunnite jusqu'à devenir, très rapidement, le texte religieux le plus copié après le Coran. Au-delà de cette proximité avec le Livre de la révélation, les exemplaires du bréviaire partagent un certain nombre de traits matériels et ornementaux avec les manuscrits coraniques. C'est ce que révèle l'examen de copies produites en Occident musulman entre le Xe/XVIe et le XIIe/XVIIIe siècles, dans lesquelles nous rencontrons des particularités codicologiques ou des formules ornementales jusqu'alors strictement réservées aux Corans maghrébins. Ce mimétisme est très certainement le signe de la révérence et de la sacralité accordées au livre de prières comme le montre par ailleurs la présence, dans certains exemplaires, de texte fournissant des instructions sur la pureté rituelle préalable avant la récitation des prières, similaire à celle que requiert la lecture du Coran.

[Nearly a century after it was written by the Moroccan Ṣūfī Sīdī b. Sulaymān al-Jazūlī (d. 869/1465), the book of salutations [on the Prophet Muḥammad] entitled the Dalāʾil al-khayrāt, widely circulated throughout the Muslim Sunnī world. It soon became one of the most copied religious books after the Qur'an. Most importantly, it appears that the Dalāʾil manuscripts share a great amount of material and decorative features with the Qur'an manuscripts. Indeed, examination of copies produced in the Muslim West from the tenth/sixteenth century to the twelfth/eighteenth century reveals that several material characteristics of the manuscripts and their ornamentation closely follow those of Qur'an manuscripts in North Africa. This ‘imitation’ certainly indicates the esteem in which the Dalāʾil was held and the extent to which it was viewed with religious deference in Islamic piety. This is reinforced by some examples of texts appended to a few surviving manuscripts, in which instructions to the reader on attaining ritual purity before reciting or holding the book are provided.]
Trading and Translating: English Literature in Rouen, 1730–56
Authors: Schabert Ina
Published: October 2017

In this period the city of Rouen is known for commercial activity and for certain literary connections, but its status as a centre of sorts for English-French translation has gone unrecognized. This paper explores the writers involved (some well known, some less familiar), the rationales for their translations (particularly from the poetry of Alexander Pope), and their relation on the one hand to the commercial life of Rouen, on the other to its Académie Royale, founded in 1744.
Penguin Classics and the Canonization of Chinese Literature in English Translation
Authors: Menghan Qian
Published: October 2017

This article examines the process by which translated Chinese literature becomes ‘canonical’ in the anglophone literary system. Adopting a notion of the ‘classic’ that takes into account both essentialist and historical stances, it conducts a study of Penguin Classics originally written in Chinese under the aspects of choice of texts, translations, publishing, and literary-critical reception. It addresses the questions: What is the current canon of Chinese literature in English translation? What are the forces that certify some Chinese works as deserving canonical status in anglophone culture? And what consequences might the politics of recognition have for the understanding of world literature at large? It argues that translated texts are valorized by multiple mediators within institutional frameworks, and the status they are accorded reflects the structures of the global literary economy.
Self-Injury in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: Exploring the Role of Reactivity to Pain and Sensory Input
Authors: Summers Jane , Shahrami Ali , Cali Stefanie , D’Mello Chantelle , Kako Milena , Palikucin-Reljin Andjelka , Savage Melissa , Shaw Olivia , Lunsky Yona
Published: October 2017

This paper provides information about the prevalence and topography of self-injurious behavior in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Dominant models regarding the etiology of self-injury in this population are reviewed, with a focus on the role of reactivity to pain and sensory input. Neuroimaging studies are presented and suggestions are offered for future research.
Photoactive Hybrid Film Photocatalyst of Polyethersulfone-ZnO for the Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye: Kinetic Study and Operational Parameters
Authors: Mohd Hir Zul , Abdullah Abdul , Zainal Zulkarnain , Lim Hong
Published: October 2017

A facile and effective technique to immobilize photocatalyst nanoparticles by incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) into polyethersulfone polymeric films by means of a phase inversion technique is reported. The degradation study of methyl orange (MO) dye was performed using a series of ZnO-embedded polymer hybrid systems. The photoactivity of the films increased in parallel with increased ZnO loading up to 17 wt%. The photodegradation process followed a pseudo first-order kinetics with an achievement of almost 100% MO removal in original conditions. The PZ-17 film demonstrated an excellent and comparable degradation performance up to five cycles, signifying the reliability of the film photocatalyst against ultraviolet irradiation and degradation.
Feynman’s Ratchet and Pawl with Ecological Criterion: Optimal Performance versus Estimation with Prior Information
Authors: Singh Varinder , Johal Ramandeep
Published: October 2017

We study the optimal performance of Feynman’s ratchet and pawl, a paradigmatic model in nonequilibrium physics, using ecological criterion as the objective function. The analysis is performed by two different methods: (i) a two-parameter optimization over internal energy scales; and (ii) a one-parameter optimization of the estimate for the objective function, after averaging over the prior probability distribution (Jeffreys’ prior) for one of the uncertain internal energy scales. We study the model for both engine and refrigerator modes. We derive expressions for the efficiency/coefficient of performance (COP) at maximum ecological function. These expressions from the two methods are found to agree closely with equilibrium situations. Furthermore, the expressions obtained by the second method (with estimation) agree with the expressions obtained in finite-time thermodynamic models.
Modular Multilevel Converters: Control and Applications
Authors: Martinez-Rodrigo Fernando , Ramirez Dionisio , Rey-Boue Alexis , De Pablo Santiago , Herrero-de Lucas Luis
Published: October 2017

This review article is mainly oriented to the control and applications of modular multilevel converters (MMC). The main topologies of the switching modules are presented, for normal operation and for the elimination of DC faults. Methods to keep the capacitor voltage balanced are included. The voltage and current modulators, that are the most internal loops of control, are detailed. Voltage control and current control schemes are included which regulate DC link voltage and reactive power. The cases of unbalanced and distorted networks are analyzed, and schemes are proposed so that MMC contribute to improve the quality of the grid in these situations. The main applications in high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission along with other medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) applications are included. Finally, the application to offshore wind farms is specifically analyzed.
Human Thermal Comfort and Heat Removal Efficiency for Ventilation Variants in Passenger Cars
Authors: Khatoon Saboora , Kim Man-Hoe
Published: October 2017

The realization of a comfortable thermal environment with low energy consumption and improved ventilation in a car has become the aim of manufacturers in recent decades. Novel ventilation concepts with more flexible cabin usage and layouts are appealing owing to their potential for improving passenger comfort and driving power. In this study, three variant ventilation concepts are investigated and their performance is compared with respect to energy efficiency and human comfort of the driver and passenger in front and a child in the rear compartment. FLUENT 16.0, a commercial three-dimensional (3D) software, are used for the simulation. A surface-to-surface radiation model is applied under transient conditions for a car parked in summer conditions with its engine in the running condition. The results for the standard Fanger’s model and modified Fanger’s model are analyzed, discussed, and compared for the driver, passenger, and child. The modified Fanger’s model determines the thermal sensation on the basis of mean arterial pressure.
Applications of Hybrid EMD with PSO and GA for an SVR-Based Load Forecasting Model
Authors: Fan Guo-Feng , Peng Li-Ling , Zhao Xiangjun , Hong Wei-Chiang
Published: October 2017

Providing accurate load forecasting plays an important role for effective management operations of a power utility. When considering the superiority of support vector regression (SVR) in terms of non-linear optimization, this paper proposes a novel SVR-based load forecasting model, namely EMD-PSO-GA-SVR, by hybridizing the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) with two evolutionary algorithms, i.e., particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the genetic algorithm (GA). The EMD approach is applied to decompose the load data pattern into sequent elements, with higher and lower frequencies. The PSO, with global optimizing ability, is employed to determine the three parameters of a SVR model with higher frequencies. On the contrary, for lower frequencies, the GA, which is based on evolutionary rules of selection and crossover, is used to select suitable values of the three parameters. Finally, the load data collected from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) in the United States of America (USA) and the New South Wales (NSW) in the Australian electricity market are used to construct the proposed model and to compare the performances among different competitive forecasting models. The experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed model that it can provide more accurate forecasting results and the interpretability than others.
Preparation and Application of Carboxylated Graphene Oxide Sponge in Dye Removal
Authors: Zhao Lianqin , Yang Sheng-Tao , Feng Shicheng , Ma Qiang , Peng Xiaoling , Wu Deyi
Published: October 2017

Spongy graphene is a newly developed adsorbent of high performance for water treatment. Proper functionalization is an efficient approach to improve the adsorption capacity of graphene adsorbents. In this study, we prepared graphene oxide (GO), functionalized it with carboxyl groups to produce carboxylated GO (GO-COOH) dispersion, and lyophilized the GO-COOH dispersion to obtain the GO-COOH sponge. The adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics, influencing factors, and regeneration of the adsorption of dye methylene blue (MB) on GO-COOH sponge were evaluated in batch experiments. The adsorption capacity of GO-COOH sponge was measured as 780 mg/g, which was nearly twice that of GO sponge (446 mg/g). The adsorption isotherm could be well described by the Freundlich model with a KF of 508 (L/mg)1/n. The adsorption kinetic was nicely fitted by pseudo-first-order model with a k1 of 0.00157·min−1. In thermodynamics analysis, the negative ΔG indicated the spontaneous nature of adsorption on GO-COOH sponge. The adsorption process was endothermic and was driven by the increase of entropy. Higher pH benefited the removal of MB by GO-COOH sponge and the ionic strength had no meaningful effect. The regeneration was poor due to the strong electrostatic interaction between MB and the GO-COOH sponge. The results collectively suggested that carboxylation increased the adsorption performance of GO sponge.
Toward an Asbestos Ban in the United States
Authors: Lemen Richard , Landrigan Philip
Published: October 2017

Many developed countries have banned the use of asbestos, but not the United States. There have, however, been multiple efforts in the US to establish strict exposure standards, to limit asbestos use, and to seek compensation through the courts for asbestos-injured workers’ In consequence of these efforts, asbestos use has declined dramatically, despite the absence of a legally mandated ban. This manuscript presents a historical review of these efforts.
Road2Vec: Measuring Traffic Interactions in Urban Road System from Massive Travel Routes
Authors: Liu Kang , Gao Song , Qiu Peiyuan , Liu Xiliang , Yan Bo , Lu Feng
Published: October 2017

Good characterization of traffic interactions among urban roads can facilitate traffic-related applications, such as traffic control and short-term forecasting. Most studies measure the traffic interaction between two roads by their topological distance or the correlation between their traffic variables. However, the distance-based methods neglect the spatial heterogeneity of roads’ traffic interactions, while the correlation-based methods cannot capture the non-linear dependency between two roads’ traffic variables. In this paper, we propose a novel approach called Road2Vec to quantify the implicit traffic interactions among roads based on large-scale taxi operating route data using a Word2Vec model from the natural language processing (NLP) field. First, the analogy between transportation elements (i.e., road segment, travel route) and NLP terms (i.e., word, document) is established. Second, the real-valued vectors for road segments are trained from massive travel routes using the Word2Vec model. Third, the traffic interaction between any pair of roads is measured by the cosine similarity of their vectors. A case study on short-term traffic forecasting is conducted with artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms to validate the advantages of the presented method. The results show that the forecasting achieves a higher accuracy with the support of the Road2Vec method than with the topological distance and traffic correlation based methods. We argue that the Road2Vec method can be effectively utilized for quantifying complex traffic interactions among roads and capturing underlying heterogeneous and non-linear properties.
The Analysis of A Frequent TMPRSS3 Allele Containing P.V116M and P.V291L in A Cis Configuration among Deaf Koreans
Authors: Kim Ah , Chung Juyong , Kim Nayoung , Lee Chung , Park Woong-Yang , Oh Doo-Yi , Choi Byung
Published: October 2017

We performed targeted re-sequencing to identify the genetic etiology of early-onset postlingual deafness and encountered a frequent TMPRSS3 allele harboring two variants in a cis configuration. We aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the allele. Among 88 cochlear implantees with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss, subjects with GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutations were excluded. Thirty-one probands manifesting early-onset postlingual deafness were sorted. Through targeted re-sequencing, we detected two families with a TMPRSS3 mutant allele containing p.V116M and p.V291L in a cis configuration, p.[p.V116M; p.V291L]. A minor allele frequency was calculated and proteolytic activity was measured. A p.[p.V116M; p.V291L] allele demonstrated a significantly higher frequency compared to normal controls and merited attention due to its high frequency (4.84%, 3/62). The first family showed a novel deleterious splice site variant—c.783-1G>A—in a trans allele, while the other showed homozygosity. The progression to deafness was noted within the first decade, suggesting DFNB10. The proteolytic activity was significantly reduced, confirming the severe pathogenicity. This frequent mutant allele significantly contributes to early-onset postlingual deafness in Koreans. For clinical implication and proper auditory rehabilitation, it is important to pay attention to this allele with a severe pathogenic potential.
Impact of 3–Aminopropyltriethoxysilane-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Menaquinone-7 Production Using B. subtilis
Authors: Ranmadugala Dinali , Ebrahiminezhad Alireza , Manley-Harris Merilyn , Ghasemi Younes , Berenjian Aydin
Published: October 2017

One of the major issues associated with industrial production of menaquinone-7 (MK–7) is the low fermentation yield. In this study, we investigated the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with 3–aminopropyltriethoxysilane (IONs@APTES) on the production of MK–7 using B. subtilis (ATCC 6633). Decoration of B. subtilis cells with IONs@APTES significantly enhanced both MK–7 production and yield. An approximately two-fold increase in MK–7 production (41 mg/L) was observed in the presence of 500 µg/mL IONs@APTES, as compared to MK–7 production using untreated bacteria (22 mg/L). This paper, therefore, illustrates the immense biotechnological potential of IONs@APTES in increasing MK–7 concentration using B. subtilis, and its future role in bioprocess engineering.
Opportunistic Pathogens and Microbial Communities and Their Associations with Sediment Physical Parameters in Drinking Water Storage Tank Sediments
Authors: Qin Ke , Struewing Ian , Domingo Jorge , Lytle Darren , Lu Jingrang
Published: October 2017

The occurrence and densities of opportunistic pathogens (OPs), the microbial community structure, and their associations with sediment elements from eight water storage tanks in Ohio, West Virginia, and Texas were investigated. The elemental composition of sediments was measured through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra. The occurrence and densities of OPs and amoeba hosts (i.e., Legionella spp. and L. pneumophila, Mycobacterium spp., P. aeruginosa, V. vermiformis, Acanthamoeba spp.) were determined using genus- or species-specific qPCR assays. Microbial community analysis was performed using next generation sequencing on the Illumina Miseq platform. Mycobacterium spp. were most frequently detected in the sediments and water samples (88% and 88%), followed by Legionella spp. (50% and 50%), Acanthamoeba spp. (63% and 13%), V. vermiformis (50% and 25%), and P. aeruginosa (0 and 50%) by qPCR method. Comamonadaceae (22.8%), Sphingomonadaceae (10.3%), and Oxalobacteraceae (10.1%) were the most dominant families by sequencing method. Microbial communities in water samples were mostly separated with those in sediment samples, suggesting differences of communities between two matrices even in the same location. There were associations of OPs with microbial communities. Both OPs and microbial community structures were positively associated with some elements (Al and K) in sediments mainly from pipe material corrosions. Opportunistic pathogens presented in both water and sediments, and the latter could act as a reservoir of microbial contamination. There appears to be an association between potential opportunistic pathogens and microbial community structures. These microbial communities may be influenced by constituents within storage tank sediments. The results imply that compositions of microbial community and elements may influence and indicate microbial water quality and pipeline corrosion, and that these constituents may be important for optimal storage tank management within a distribution system.
Genus-Specific Real-Time PCR and HRM Assays to Distinguish Liriope from Ophiopogon Samples
Authors: Masiero Eva , Banik Dipanwita , Abson John , Greene Paul , Slater Adrian , Sgamma Tiziana
Published: October 2017

Liriope and Ophiopogon species have a long history of use as traditional medicines across East Asia. They have also become widely used around the world for ornamental and landscaping purposes. The morphological similarities between Liriope and Ophiopogon taxa have made the taxonomy of the two genera problematic and caused confusion about the identification of individual specimens. Molecular approaches could be a useful tool for the discrimination of these two genera in combination with traditional methods. Seventy-five Liriope and Ophiopogon samples from the UK National Plant Collections of Ophiopogon and Liriope were analyzed. The 5′ end of the DNA barcode region of the gene for the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcLa) was used for the discrimination of the two genera. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) between the two genera allowed the development of discriminatory tests for genus-level identification based on specific PCR and high-resolution melt curve (HRM) assays. The study highlights the advantage of incorporating DNA barcoding methods into plant identification protocols and provides simple assays that could be used for the quality assurance of commercially traded plants and herbal drugs.
Tantric Yoga in the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa of Hinduism and the Jñānārṇava of Jainism
Authors: Chapple Christopher
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the Markaṇḍeya Purāṇa, one of the earliest expositions of what become Tantric themes in Hinduism, and the Jñānārṇava, which provides an early template for the practice of Jaina Tantra. The former text follows the traditional mapping of the five elements and correlative senses, linking earth to smell, water to taste, fire to form, air to touch, and space to hearing, in a sequence of ascent. In contrast, the Jaina practice relates earthy, lotus-like material to the earth, to be incinerated by fire, stirring up strong winds that involve vigorous breathing that bring pounding rains, washing away all karmic impurity and its residues, exposing one’s true nature as a distinct liberated soul.
Soft Sensing of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Open Venturi Channel Using an Array of Ultrasonic Level Sensors—AI Models and Their Validations
Authors: Chhantyal Khim , Viumdal Håkon , Mylvaganam Saba
Published: October 2017

In oil and gas and geothermal installations, open channels followed by sieves for removal of drill cuttings, are used to monitor the quality and quantity of the drilling fluids. Drilling fluid flow rate is difficult to measure due to the varying flow conditions (e.g., wavy, turbulent and irregular) and the presence of drilling cuttings and gas bubbles. Inclusion of a Venturi section in the open channel and an array of ultrasonic level sensors above it at locations in the vicinity of and above the Venturi constriction gives the varying levels of the drilling fluid in the channel. The time series of the levels from this array of ultrasonic level sensors are used to estimate the drilling fluid flow rate, which is compared with Coriolis meter measurements. Fuzzy logic, neural networks and support vector regression algorithms applied to the data from temporal and spatial ultrasonic level measurements of the drilling fluid in the open channel give estimates of its flow rate with sufficient reliability, repeatability and uncertainty, providing a novel soft sensing of an important process variable. Simulations, cross-validations and experimental results show that feedforward neural networks with the Bayesian regularization learning algorithm provide the best flow rate estimates. Finally, the benefits of using this soft sensing technique combined with Venturi constriction in open channels are discussed.
Isolation and Functional Characterization of an Acidic Myotoxic Phospholipase A2 from Colombian Bothrops asper Venom
Authors: Posada Arias Silvia , Rey-Suárez Paola , Pereáñez J Andrés , Acosta Cristian , Rojas Mauricio , Delazari dos Santos Lucilene , Ferreira Jr Rui , Núñez Vitelbina
Published: October 2017

Myotoxic phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are responsible for many clinical manifestations in envenomation by Bothrops snakes. A new myotoxic acidic Asp49 PLA2 (BaCol PLA2) was isolated from Colombian Bothrops asper venom using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). BaCol PLA2 had a molecular mass of 14,180.69 Da (by mass spectrometry) and an isoelectric point of 4.4. The complete amino acid sequence was obtained by cDNA cloning (GenBank accession No. MF319968) and revealed a mature product of 124 amino acids with Asp at position 49. BaCol PLA2 showed structural homology with other acidic PLA2 isolated from Bothrops venoms, including a non-myotoxic PLA2 from Costa Rican B. asper. In vitro studies showed cell membrane damage without exposure of phosphatidylserine, an early apoptosis hallmark. BaCol PLA2 had high indirect hemolytic activity and moderate anticoagulant action. In mice, BaCol PLA2 caused marked edema and myotoxicity, the latter seen as an increase in plasma creatine kinase and histological damage to gastrocnemius muscle fibers that included vacuolization and hyalinization necrosis of the sarcoplasm.
Combining Econometric, Cost–Benefit, and Financial Methodologies in a Framework to Increase Diffusion and to Predict the Feasibility and Sustainability of Irrigation Schemes: A Case Study in Kurdistan, Iraq
Authors: Zagonari Fabio
Published: October 2017

This paper applies ex ante econometric, cost–benefit, and financial methodologies to increase participation in an irrigation project and predict its financial feasibility and social sustainability in Shahrazoor, Kurdistan, Iraq. I investigated the socio-economic, psycho-cultural, and financial factors that determine participation. The socio-economic part of the econometric analysis showed that the project was appreciated more by poorer and economically weaker farmers who rely on agriculture than by those who rely on livestock activities. The psycho-cultural part of the econometric analysis emphasized that the project was appreciated more by literate farmers who adopt a maximization (rather than habit) approach. The cost–benefit analysis applied to the irrigation project was tailored to poorer and weaker farmers (i.e., costs of the irrigation scheme and benefits from new cultivation patterns were defined with reference to small farms) by including indirect benefits from both irrigation (e.g., flood control) and hydropower (e.g., eliminated GHG emissions), and determined a 7.1% mean internal rate of return; this was affected more strongly by uncertainty in crop prices than by uncertainty in indirect benefits. The financial analysis highlighted values for water prices, financial returns, and loan rates that met government and farmer budgets. A single framework summarized the main relevant social, economic, and financial conditions, and, by including insights from sensitivity analyses, determined the feasibility and sustainability of the irrigation project. Provided that the water price charged to farmers is between 0.32 and 0.57 USD/m3, and the loan interest rate paid by farmers is smaller than 3.0%, the irrigation project in Shahrazoor is financially feasible for 13.6% of all reliable economic solutions and socially sustainable for 35.8% of the solutions.
ALMA Multiple-transition Molecular Line Observations of the Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy IRAS 20551–4250: Different HCN, HCO+, and HNC Excitation, and Implications for Infrared Radiative Pumping
Authors: Imanishi 今西 Masatoshi 昌俊 , Nakanishi 中西 Kouichiro 康一郎 , Izumi 泉 Takuma 拓磨
Published: October 2017

We present our ALMA multi-transition molecular line observational results for the ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 20551−4250, which is known to contain a luminous buried active galactic nucleus and shows detectable vibrationally excited (v
2 = 1f) HCN and HNC emission lines. The rotational J = 1–0, 4–3, and 8–7 of HCN,

, and HNC emission lines were clearly detected at a vibrational ground level (v = 0). Vibrationally excited (v
2 = 1f) J = 4–3 emission lines were detected for HCN and HNC, but not for

. Their observed flux ratios further support our previously obtained suggestion, based on J = 3–2 data, that (1) infrared radiative pumping plays a role in rotational excitation at v = 0, at least for HCN and HNC, and (2) HCN abundance is higher than

and HNC. The flux measurements of the isotopologue H13CN,

, and HN13C J = 3–2 emission lines support the higher HCN abundance scenario. Based on modeling with collisional excitation, we constrain the physical properties of these line-emitting molecular gases, but find that higher HNC rotational excitation than HCN and

is difficult to explain, due to the higher effective critical density of HNC. We consider the effects of infrared radiative pumping using the available 5–30 μm infrared spectrum and find that our observational results are well-explained if the radiation source is located at 30–100 pc from the molecular gas. The simultaneously covered very bright CO J = 3–2 emission line displays a broad emission wing, which we interpret as being due to molecular outflow activity with the estimated rate of

.
Deep CO(1–0) Observations of z = 1.62 Cluster Galaxies with Substantial Molecular Gas Reservoirs and Normal Star Formation Efficiencies
Authors: Rudnick Gregory , Hodge Jacqueline , Walter Fabian , Momcheva Ivelina , Tran Kim-Vy , Papovich Casey , da Cunha Elisabete , Decarli Roberto , Saintonge Amelie , Willmer Christopher , Lotz Jennifer , Lentati Lindley
Published: October 2017

We present an extremely deep CO(1–0) observation of a confirmed z = 1.62 galaxy cluster. We detect two spectroscopically confirmed cluster members in CO(1–0) with signal-to-noise ratio

. Both galaxies have log(

/

) > 11 and are gas rich, with

/(

+

) ∼ 0.17–0.45. One of these galaxies lies on the star formation rate (SFR)–

sequence, while the other lies an order of magnitude below. We compare the cluster galaxies to other SFR-selected galaxies with CO measurements and find that they have CO luminosities consistent with expectations given their infrared luminosities. We also find that they have gas fractions and star formation efficiencies (SFE) comparable to what is expected from published field galaxy scaling relations. The galaxies are compact in their stellar light distribution, at the extreme end for all high-redshift star-forming galaxies. However, their SFE is consistent with other field galaxies at comparable compactness. This is similar to two other sources selected in a blind CO survey of the HDF-N. Despite living in a highly quenched protocluster core, the molecular gas properties of these two galaxies, one of which may be in the process of quenching, appear entirely consistent with field scaling relations between the molecular gas content, stellar mass, star formation rate, and redshift. We speculate that these cluster galaxies cannot have any further substantive gas accretion if they are to become members of the dominant passive population in

clusters.
The EDGE–CALIFA Survey: Variations in the Molecular Gas Depletion Time in Local Galaxies
Authors: Utomo Dyas , Bolatto Alberto D. , Wong Tony , Ostriker Eve C. , Blitz Leo , Sanchez Sebastian F. , Colombo Dario , Leroy Adam K. , Cao Yixian , Dannerbauer Helmut , Garcia-Benito Ruben , Husemann Bernd , Kalinova Veselina , Levy Rebecca C. , Mast Damian , Rosolowsky Erik , Vogel Stuart N.
Published: October 2017

We present results from the EDGE survey, a spatially resolved CO(1−0) follow-up to CALIFA, an optical Integral Field Unit survey of local galaxies. By combining the data products of EDGE and CALIFA, we study the variation in molecular gas depletion time (τ
dep) on kiloparsec scales in 52 galaxies. We divide each galaxy into two parts: the center, defined as the region within

, and the disk, defined as the region between 0.1 and

. We find that 14 galaxies show a shorter τ
dep (∼1 Gyr) in the center relative to that in the disk (τ
dep ∼ 2.4 Gyr), which means the central region in those galaxies is more efficient at forming stars per unit molecular gas mass. This finding implies that the centers with shorter τ
dep resemble the intermediate regime between galactic disks and starburst galaxies. Furthermore, the central drop in τ
dep is correlated with a central increase in the stellar surface density, suggesting that a shorter τ
dep is associated with molecular gas compression by the stellar gravitational potential. We argue that varying the CO-to-H2 conversion factor only exaggerates the central drop of τ
dep.
A Face-on Accretion System in High-mass Star Formation: Possible Dusty Infall Streams within 100 AU
Authors: Motogi Kazuhito , Hirota Tomoya , Sorai Kazuo , Yonekura Yoshinori , Sugiyama Koichiro , Honma Mareki , Niinuma Kotaro , Hachisuka Kazuya , Fujisawa Kenta , Walsh Andrew J.
Published: October 2017

We report on interferometric observations of a face-on accretion system around the high-mass young stellar object, G353.273+0.641. The innermost accretion system of 100 au radius was resolved in a 45 GHz continuum image taken with the Jansky-Very Large Array. Our spectral energy distribution analysis indicated that the continuum could be explained by optically thick dust emission. The total mass of the dusty system is ∼0.2 M
☉ at minimum and up to a few M
☉ depending on the dust parameters. 6.7 GHz CH3OH masers associated with the same system were also observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The masers showed a spiral-like, non-axisymmetric distribution with a systematic velocity gradient. The line-of-sight velocity field is explained by an infall motion along a parabolic streamline that falls onto the equatorial plane of the face-on system. The streamline is quasi-radial and reaches the equatorial plane at a radius of 16 au. This is clearly smaller than that of typical accretion disks in high-mass star formation, indicating that the initial angular momentum was very small, or the CH3OH masers selectively trace accreting material that has small angular momentum. In the former case, the initial specific angular momentum is estimated to be 8 × 1020 (

M
☉)

cm2 s−1, or a significant fraction of the initial angular momentum was removed outside of 100 au. The physical origin of such a streamline is still an open question and will be constrained by the higher-resolution (∼10 mas) thermal continuum and line observations with ALMA long baselines.
Probing the Metal Enrichment of the Intergalactic Medium at z = 5–6 Using the Hubble Space Telescope
Authors: Cai Zheng , Fan Xiaohui , Dave Romeel , Finlator Kristian , Oppenheimer Ben
Published: October 2017

We test the galactic outflow model by probing associated galaxies of four strong intergalactic C iv absorbers at z = 5–6 using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) ramp narrowband filters. The four strong C iv absorbers reside at z = 5.74, 5.52, 4.95, and 4.87, with column densities ranging from N
C iv
 = 1013.8 to 1014.8 cm−2. At z = 5.74, we detect an i-dropout Lyα emitter (LAE) candidate with a projected impact parameter of 42 physical kpc from the C iv absorber. This LAE candidate has a Lyα-based star formation rate (SFRLyα
) of 2 M
⊙ yr−1 and a UV-based SFR of 4 M
⊙ yr−1. Although we cannot completely rule out that this i-dropout emitter may be an [O ii] interloper, its measured properties are consistent with the C iv powered galaxy at z = 5.74. For C iv absorbers at z = 4.95 and z = 4.87, although we detect two LAE candidates with impact parameters of 160 and 200 kpc, such distances are larger than that predicted from the simulations. Therefore, we treat them as nondetections. For the system at z = 5.52, we do not detect LAE candidates, placing a 3σ upper limit of SFRLyα
 ≈ 1.5 M
⊙ yr−1. In summary, in these four cases, we only detect one plausible C iv source at z = 5.74. Combining the modest SFR of the one detection and the three nondetections, our HST observations strongly support that smaller galaxies (SFRLyα
 ≲ 2 M
⊙ yr−1) are main sources of intergalactic C iv absorbers, and such small galaxies play a major role in the metal enrichment of the intergalactic medium at z ≳ 5.
Distance and Properties of NGC 4993 as the Host Galaxy of the Gravitational-wave Source GW170817
Authors: Im Myungshin , Yoon Yongmin , Lee Seong-Kook J. , Lee Hyung Mok , Kim Joonho , Lee Chung-Uk , Kim Seung-Lee , Troja Eleonora , Choi Changsu , Lim Gu , Ko Jongwan , Shim Hyunjin
Published: October 2017

Recently, the optical counterpart of the gravitational-wave source GW170817 has been identified in the NGC 4993 galaxy. Together with evidence from observations in electromagnetic waves, the event has been suggested as a result of a merger of two neutron stars (NSs). We analyze the multi-wavelength data to characterize the host galaxy property and its distance to examine if the properties of NGC 4993 are consistent with this picture. Our analysis shows that NGC 4993 is a bulge-dominated galaxy with

and a Sérsic index of

for the bulge component. The spectral energy distribution from 0.15 to 24 μm indicates that this galaxy has no significant ongoing star formation, a mean stellar mass of

, a mean stellar age greater than ∼3 Gyr, and a metallicity of about 20%–100% of solar abundance. Optical images reveal dust lanes and extended features that suggest a past merging activity. Overall, NGC 4993 has characteristics of normal, but slightly disturbed elliptical galaxies. Furthermore, we derive the distance to NGC 4993 with the fundamental plane relation using 17 parameter sets of 7 different filters and the central stellar velocity dispersion from the literature, finding an angular diameter distance of 37.7 ± 8.7 Mpc. NGC 4993 is similar to some host galaxies of short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) but much different from those of long GRBs, supporting the picture of GW170817 as a result of the merger of two NSs.
Histological Characteristics of Bruises with Different Age
Authors: Kostadinova-Petrova Irena , Mitevska Elida , Janeska Biljana
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND: In forensics bruises as injuries take an important part in the interpretation of the causes of death. Since activating the inflammatory response of the body in their formation, histological analysis of the bruised tissue can provide data on the determination the time when the injury occurred.AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the histological features of 1-day and 5-days old bruises.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bruised human skin samples, 1-day old in group A and 5-day-old in group B, obtained at autopsy from individuals who died from a violent death, were analyzed in this study. The qualitative microscopic analysis was performed on serial paraffin sections of tissues stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Pearls Prussian Blue method, using a light microscope connected to a digital camera.RESULTS: Qualitative histological analysis of the studied group A  presented with fresh bruises, less than 24 hours old, showed ruptured smaller vessels and extravasated red blood cells in the connective tissue of the skin, with subsequent expansion and infiltration of fibrous septa of the skin. In the area of bleeding an initial infiltration by macrophages was observed. In the studied group B, presented with bruises 3-7 days old, histological analysis showed a marked presence of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and presence of hematoidin granules in the area of bleeding, as well as ruptured small blood vessels and red blood cells extravasation in the dilated fibrous septa.CONCLUSION: A detailed analysis of tissue changes in bruises every day from the initiation until their recovery, a detailed description of the histological finding can be given, which will be supported in the precise determination of the age of the injuries themselves.
L’ancrage territorial : atout ou boulet pour le développement industriel. Le cas des PME du bassin métallurgique de Saint-Dizier (1830-1970)
Authors: Perchet Dominique
Published: October 2017

L’innovation est souvent vue à travers le prisme des grandes entreprises ou, à l’inverse, par l’histoire d’inventeurs exceptionnels. La communication s’intéresse à des entreprises ordinaires, modestes, installées en zone rurale (Haute-Marne-Meuse) qui, au XIXe et début du XXe siècle, ont prospéré avant de disparaître. Ce qui conduit à évaluer, par comparaisons et à travers les outils de la modélisation et de la systémique, le rôle du territoire dans la performance des entreprises. L’exposé revient sur les expériences récentes de la décentralisation (années soixante) et des SPL (années quatre-vingt-dix), politiques de la Datar où le territoire joue un rôle capital.
Building Competitive Advantage: Iberian Book-publishing Industrial Districts between Crisis and Recovery, 1901-2014
Authors: Catalan Jordi
Published: October 2017

L’industrie de l’édition de livres en Espagne occupa probablement le dixième rang international en nombre de titres produits vers 1935. Ensuite, elle subit un déclin relatif à cause de la guerre civile et des politiques de reconstruction engagées par le premier franquisme. A partir des années 1950, la récupération commence et l’industrie atteint son zénith vers 1999, quand elle se situe parmi les cinq premières mondiales en nombre de titres. Cette industrie, développant un remarquable avantage comparatif, est très concentrée dans les districts de Barcelone et Madrid. Ces districts bénéficient d’externalités de type marshallien : la circulation de savoirs spécifiques, une main d’œuvre qualifiée et la présence d’industries connexes. Les deux peuvent être comparés à des écosystèmes forestiers complets, dans lesquels les arbres jeunes sont en compétition avec les plus vieux pour la lumière et les nutriments. L’Amérique latine contribua au succès des « grands arbres » de ces forêts marshaliennes, mais causa aussi la chute de quelques-uns d’entre eux.