bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-Practice Hydration Status in Soccer (Football) Players in a Cool Environment
Authors: Kiitam Urmo , Voitkevica Lilita , Timpmann Saima , Pontaga Inese , Ereline Jaan , Unt Eve , Ööpik Vahur
Published: December 2018

Background and Objectives: Only a few studies have reported the pre-practice hydration status in soccer players (SPs) who train in a cool climate. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the hydration status of male semiprofessional SPs immediately before their regular training session in winter. The secondary purpose was to compare the urinary indices of the hydration status of Estonian and Latvian SPs. Materials and Methods: Pre-training urine samples were collected from 40 Estonian (age 22.1 ± 3.4 years, soccer training experience 13.7 ± 3.9 years) and 41 Latvian (age 20.8 ± 3.4 years, soccer training experience 13.3 ± 3.0 years) SPs and analyzed for urine specific gravity (USG). The average outdoor temperature during the sample collection period (January–March) was between −5.1 °C and 0.2 °C (Estonia) and −1.9 °C and −5.0 °C (Latvia). Results: The average pre-training USG of Estonian and Latvian SPs did not differ (P = 0.464). Pooling the data of Estonian and Latvian SPs yielded a mean USG value of 1.021 ± 0.007. Hypohydration (defined as a USG ≥ 1.020) was evident altogether in fifty SPs (61.7%) and one of them had a USG value greater than 1.030. Conclusions: Estonian and Latvian SPs do not differ in respect of USG and the prevalence of pre-training hypohydration is high in this athletic cohort. These findings suggest that SPs as well as their coaches, athletic trainers, and sports physicians should be better educated to recognize the importance of maintaining euhydration during the daily training routine in wintertime and to apply appropriate measures to avoid hypohydration.
Modeling and Efficiency Analysis of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Based on the Flow Induced Vibration of a Piezoelectric Composite Pipe
Authors: Zhou Maoying , Al-Furjan Mohannad Saleh Hammadi , Wang Ban
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes and investigates a piezoelectric energy harvesting system based on the flow induced vibration of a piezoelectric composite cantilever pipe. Dynamic equations for the proposed energy harvester are derived considering the fluid-structure interaction and piezoelectric coupling vibration. Linear global stability analysis of the fluid-solid-electric coupled system is done using the numerical continuation method to find the neutrally stable vibration mode of the system. A measure of the energy harvesting efficiency of the system is proposed and analyzed. A series of simulations are conducted to throw light upon the influences of mass ratio, dimensionless electromechanical coupling, and dimensionless connected resistance upon the critical reduced velocity and the normalized energy harvesting efficiency. The results provide useful guidelines for the practical design of piezoelectric energy harvester based on fluid structure interaction and indicate some future topics to be investigated to optimize the device performance.
‘A Very Unstatic Sport’: An Ethnographic Study of British Savate Classes
Authors: Southwood James Victor , Delamont Sara
Published: December 2018

The empirical focus of this paper is a martial art, Savate, which has received little scholarly attention from social scientists in the English-speaking world. The disciplinary framework is based on symbolic interactionist approaches to bodies, embodiment and movement. The ethnographic methods employ the research agenda of John Urry as set out in his wider call for a mobile sociology. Here Urry’s research agenda is used as a strategy: a key goal for ethnographic researchers. The utility of Urry’s sociological work on mobilities for scholarship on combat sports is exemplified. Until now that approach has not been widely used in martial arts investigations or sports studies. The data are drawn from an ethnographic study conducted dialogically by an experienced Savate teacher and a sociologist who observes him teaching. Nine ways in which the ethnographic data on Savate classes are illuminated by the mobilities paradigm are explored so that previously unconsidered aspects of this martial art are better understood and the potential of Urry’s ideas for investigating other martial arts and sports is apparent.
Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy in (Photo)Electrochemistry
Authors: Fracchia Martina , Ghigna Paolo , Vertova Alberto , Rondinini Sandra , Minguzzi Alessandro
Published: December 2018

This minireview aims at providing a complete survey concerning the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for time-resolved studies of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical phenomena. We will see that time resolution can range from the femto-picosecond to the second (or more) scale and that this joins the valuable throughput typical of XAS, which allows for determining the oxidation state of the investigated element, together with its local structure. We will analyze four different techniques that use different approaches to exploit the in real time capabilities of XAS. These are quick-XAS, energy dispersive XAS, pump & probe XAS and fixed-energy X-ray absorption voltammetry. In the conclusions, we will analyze possible future perspectives for these techniques.
Scube—Concept and Implementation of a Self-balancing, Autonomous Mobility Device for Personal Transport
Authors: Klöppel Manfred , Römer Felix , Wittmann Michael , Hatam Bijan , Herrmann Thomas , Sim Lee Leng , Lim Jun Siang Douglas , Lu Yunfan , Medovy Vladimir , Merkle Lukas , Ten Wy Xin Richmond , Ongel Aybike , Hong Yan Jack Jeffrey , Ng Heong Wah , Lienkamp Markus
Published: December 2018

Public transportation (PT) systems suffer from disutility compared to private transportation due to the inability to provide passengers with a door-to-door service, referred to as the first/last mile problem. Personal mobility devices (PMDs) are thought to improve PT service quality by closing this first/last mile gap. However, current PMDs are generally driven manually by the rider and require a learning phase for safe vehicle operation. Additionally, most PMDs require a standing riding position and are not easily accessible to elderly people or persons with disabilities. In this paper, the concept of an autonomously operating mobility device is introduced. The visionary concept is designed as an on-demand transportation service which transports people for short to medium distances and increases the accessibility to public transport. The device is envisioned to be operated as a larger fleet and does not belong to an individual person. The vehicle features an electric powertrain and a one-axle self-balancing design with a small footprint. It provides one seat for a passenger and a tilt mechanism that is designed to improve the ride comfort and safety at horizontal curves. An affordable 3D-camera system is used for autonomous localization and navigation. For the evaluation and demonstration of the concept, a functional prototype is implemented.
Shell Analysis and Optimisation of a Pure Electric Vehicle Power Train Based on Multiple Software
Authors: Guo Shaocui , Tong Xiangrong , Yang Xu
Published: December 2018

Motor end cover mounting fracture is a problem recently encountered by novel pure electric vehicles. Regarding the study of the traditional vehicle engine mount bracket and on the basis of the methods of design and optimisation available, we have analysed and optimised the pure electric vehicle end cover mount system. Multi-body dynamic software and finite element software have been combined. First, we highlight the motor end cover mount bracket fracture engineering problems, analyse the factors that may produce fracture, and propose solutions. By using CATIA software to establish a 3D model of the power train mount system, we imported it into ADAMS multi-body dynamic software, conducted 26 condition analysis, obtained five ultimate load conditions, and laid the foundations for subsequent analysis. Next, a mount and shell system was established by the ANSYS finite element method, and modal, strength, and fatigue analyses were performed on the end cover mount. We found that the reason for fracture lies in the intensity of the end cover mount joint, which leads to the safety factor too small and the fatigue life not being up to standard. The main goal was to increase the strength of the cover mount junction, stiffness, safety coefficient, and fatigue life. With this aim, a topology optimisation was conducted to improve the motor end cover. A 3D prototype was designed accordingly. Finally, stiffness, strength, modal, and fatigue were simulated. Our simulation results were as follows. The motor end cover suspension stiffness increases by 20%, the modal frequency increases by 2.3%, the quality increases by 3%, the biggest deformation decreases by 52%, the maximum stress decreases by 28%, the minimum safety factor increases by 40%, and life expectancy increases 50-fold. The results from sample and vehicle tests highlight that the component fracture problem has been successfully solved and the fatigue life dramatically improved.
Étude des squelettes découverts dans la basilique funéraire de Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (Haute-Savoie). Informations apportées à l'historien
Authors: Buchet Luc
Published: December 2018

An anthropological study of a site like Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, because of the numerous reservations the limited nature of the sampling forces one to make, does not allow one to draw any general conclusions applying to a given region but does, on the other hand, provide specific information about the people buried there which can be of direct use to the historian.
Une tuilerie briqueterie médiévale au Fousseret (Haute-Garonne )
Authors: Manière Gabriel
Published: December 2018

The author studies the remains of six potter's ovens, round in form, which were discovered in the department of Haute-Garonne. Their diameter ranges from 1.8 to 2.6 metres. Bits of ordinary ceramic chips that can be dated to the end of the Middle Ages, as well as tile and brick fragments, were also found on the site.
L'ancienne église de Saint-Pierre-l'Estrier à Autun
Authors: Sapin Christian
Published: December 2018

Christian Sapin, The old church of St.-Pierre-l'Estrier at Autun.

Located along the inner perimeter of the Autun (Department of Saone-et-Loire) cemetery, the old church of Saint-Pierre-l'Estrier was partially destroyed and modified by work carried out in the 18th and 19th centuries. In spite of these radical changes in its superstructure and substructure, it still contains considerable elements belonging to the different edifices that followed on the same site. Recent archaeological work has made it possible to set up for this complex, which had never been studied, a relative chronology that stretches from the 2d to the beginning of the 11th century in the case of the oldest periods.

It would appear that the structure of the 9th century church rests in part on constructions from the Lower Empire that at the time played some funerary role. Although it is not yet possible to determine their outline in full, a number of elements point to their monumental character. As was the case in identical circumstances noted at other funerary sites in Europe, these early constructions were determinant as to the site of cult buildings that were often rebuilt a number of times. There is evidence of these stages in the superstructure. The last of these stages indicates the extent of this project in the Carolingian tradition, with sculptural work the like of which is to be found nowhere else in Burgundy. It was in what would remain of this edifice that much later the tombs of the early bishops of Autun would be erected, whose mausoleums, close to Saint-Pierre, were to be destroyed in the 18th century.
La cathédrale Saint-André et les origines chrétiennes d'Avranches
Authors: Levalet Daniel
Published: December 2018

Daniel Levalet, The cathedral church St-André at Avranches.

The excavations carried out from 1972 to 1977 at the site of the early cathedral of St-André d'Avranches have uncovered, beneath the Romanesque church, three structures that go back even earlier : a church with three naves and with a western apse of trapezoidal shape from the middle of the 9th century ; a church from the end of the 4th century that can, with some likelihood, be considered to have been the first cathedral of Avranches ; and finally, a building the exact purpose of which was unclear, though it was quite certainly built at the beginning of the period of the Roman occupation.

The results of the excavations are important for the knowledge they yield of the Christianization of Normandy. They entitle us to consider that Christianiza-tion was thoroughly rooted in the area by the end of the 4th century, at the same time that the Church's organizational framework was in working order. Moreover, the discovery of a huge structure from the Carolingian era makes it tempting to think that the Scandinavian invasions had not totally upset the entire region and that some towns had been able to resist and even to expand.
Un village médiéval breton du XIe siècle : Lann-Gouh Melrand (Morbihan)
Authors: André Patrick
Published: December 2018

La reprise d'une fouille partielle faite au début du siècle sur un village abandonné de la Bretagne intérieure a révélé, au terme de quatre années de recherches, un habitat du XIe siècle. Une dizaine de constructions subsistent d'un village perché et clos, où une paysannerie pauvre vivait d'un élevage modeste associé à des cultures céréalières peu étendues. Parfois mixtes, les maisons présentent un foyer ouvert et offrent le mobilier céramique habituel des sites médiévaux bretons. L'étude de ce village, dont l'auteur ne prétend pas qu'il reflète de façon exemplaire l'habitat rural breton du XIe siècle, s'inscrit dans le cadre des recherches en cours sur le village médiéval et la maison rurale de ces régions d'habitat dispersé.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIO-ALIVE BUILDING: THE CASE OF BAHRAIN CITY CENTER
Authors: Soliman Ashraf M. , Alkhalefa Ali M.
Published: December 2018

Socio-Alive Building is Architecture where people enjoy being around to live within its environment and want to come back after leaving. This paper discusses the terminology of Socio-Alive Building and identifies the building characteristics which make a building social and alive. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the concept of alive-socio building as an approach to keep the building alive and have social role through the consideration of characteristics of socio-alive building. The paper begins by introducing the definitions of Socio-Alive Building and then discusses the characteristics of Socio-Alive Building to construct a theoretical background, then reports the outcomes of a survey in Bahrain to find out perceptions of people of Bahrain toward building characteristics, which could produce socio-alive build environments. A people’s survey concluded significance scale factors of building characteristics that achieve the sociality and alive of the building in Bahrain which were used to evaluate Bahrain City Center. The paper offers ten compromised building characteristics that can produce Socio-Alive with certain significance scale of each. The authors argue that these could be considered during design process to produce socio-alive buildings.
PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS IN DESIGNING TROPICAL-SHORE SETTLEMENT IN ESTUARY ECOSYSTEM CASE STUDY: WERIAGAR DISTRICT, BINTUNI BAY
Authors: Firmansyah Firmansyah , Wulanningsih Resya , Kusuma Bintang Nidia , Allo Ira Prayuni Rante
Published: December 2018

Weriagar District is located in estuary area and is prone to land loss, due to river and coastal erosion. Without any prevention efforts, Weriagar land might be disappear due to erosion on coastal and riverside. The Shore Housing Improvement Program was developed in 2014 to improve the environment, housing and settlement in Weriagar District. Based on the preliminary site observation and further site survey, the program continued in conducting in-depth analysis consists of house assessment method prior to concept select matrix development, in which design criteria were obtained. The results from analysis phase shows that it is necessary to design a house and settlement that can fulfil the needs of indigenous people, both functionally and aesthetically. Functionally, the house is designed to provide spaces for both private and public needs of the family. It can be used either as a family private space or as a public gathering space between family and their neighbours. Aesthetically, houses’ architectural form is designed to identify the locality of Weriagar District. The houses’ design feature highlighted in using local material, rainwater harvesting system, high pitched roof feature as a response to hot-humid climate and elevated-floor feature as response to tidal condition in estuary area.
RIVERBANK SETTLEMENT AND HUMANITARIAN ARCHITECTURE, THE CASE OF MANGUNWIJAYA’S DWELLINGS AND 25 YEARS AFTER, CODE RIVER, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
Authors: Idham Noor Cholis
Published: December 2018

Code riverbank has drawn worldwide attention since 90’s when Architect Mangunwijaya involved in the dispute of urban riverside settlement in Yogyakarta. Struggling for the slum between the municipality and the dwellers gradually dwindled, and one of most significant causes was his humanitarian dwelling self-help scheme on Kampung Code. The project, which was later recognized by Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1992, was not only purposed for reducing the tension but also promoting appropriate social order by considering the natural environment vulnerability. One of the poorest and most crook riverbank zones of the city had transformed to be a better environment with positive atmosphere afterward. Unfortunately, the project was hardly followed by other dwelling construction either in the site or other parts of the bank. This paper studies how the architecture could cure the social problems as well as resolve the environmental challenges and its sustainability. The social approaches done by Mangunwijaya and how he captured the high-risk of riverbank nature to the dwelling concepts were accessed. The results indicate that in spite of the riverside’s slum controversies, the architecture should be considered as a remedy both for social and natural problems.
Warm Molecular Hydrogen in Nearby, Luminous Infrared Galaxies
Authors: Petric Andreea O. , Armus Lee , Flagey Nicolas , Guillard Pierre , Howell Justin , Inami Hanae , Charmandaris Vassillis , Evans Aaron , Stierwalt Sabrina , Diaz-Santos Tanio , Lu Nanyao , Spoon Henrik , Mazzarella Joe , Appleton Phil , Chan Ben , Chu Jason , Hand Derek , Privon George , Sanders David , Surace Jason , Xu Kevin , Zhao Yinghe
Published: December 2018

Mid-infrared molecular hydrogen (H2) emission is a powerful cooling agent in galaxy mergers and in radio galaxies; it is a potential key tracer of gas evolution and energy dissipation associated with mergers, star formation, and accretion onto supermassive black holes. We detect mid-IR H2 line emission in at least one rotational transition in 91% of the 214 Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) observed with Spitzer as part of the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey. We use H2 excitation diagrams to estimate the range of masses and temperatures of warm molecular gas in these galaxies. We find that LIRGs in which the IR emission originates mostly from the Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) have about 100 K higher H2 mass-averaged excitation temperatures than LIRGs in which the IR emission originates mostly from star formation. Between 10% and 15% of LIRGs have H2 emission lines that are sufficiently broad to be resolved or partially resolved by the high-resolution modules of Spitzer’s Infrared Spectrograph (IRS). Those sources tend to be mergers and contain AGN. This suggests that a significant fraction of the H2 line emission is powered by AGN activity through X-rays, cosmic rays, and turbulence. We find a statistically significant correlation between the kinetic energy in the H2 gas and the H2 to IR luminosity ratio. The sources with the largest warm gas kinetic energies are mergers. We speculate that mergers increase the production of bulk inflows leading to observable broad H2 profiles and possibly denser gas.
Transformation of HST WFC3/UVIS Filters to the Standard BVI System
Authors: Harris William E.
Published: December 2018

Empirical transformations of selected broadband filters in the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)/UVIS camera into the BVI system are derived. These conversions employ photometry of stars in a standard field in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae that has repeatedly been imaged with both the WFC3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) cameras, enabling direct comparisons of photometry for large numbers of stars over a wide range of colors. The photometry of these stars on the ACS camera is used to define their BVI magnitudes, through the standard transformations from Sirianni et al. These BVI magnitudes are then used to define the conversions from the native WFC3 filter system. Results are presented for six WFC3 broadband filters: F438W, F475W, F475X, F555W, F606W, F814W. For these, convenient equations are given to transform (F438W, F475W, F475X) into standard B, (F555W, F606W) into V, and F814W into I. In a parallel study with the same database, a new transformation is presented for conversion of the ACS/WFC F475W filter into B.
Magnetic Helicity Reversal in the Corona at Small Plasma Beta
Authors: Bourdin Philippe , Singh Nishant K. , Brandenburg Axel
Published: December 2018

Solar and stellar dynamos shed small-scale and large-scale magnetic helicity of opposite signs. However, solar wind observations and simulations have shown that some distance above the dynamo both the small-scale and large-scale magnetic helicities have reversed signs. With realistic simulations of the solar corona above an active region now being available, we have access to the magnetic field and current density along coronal loops. We show that a sign reversal in the horizontal averages of the magnetic helicity occurs when the local maximum of the plasma beta drops below unity and the field becomes nearly fully force free. Hence, this reversal is expected to occur well within the solar corona and would not directly be accessible to in situ measurements with the Parker Solar Probe or SolarOrbiter. We also show that the reversal is associated with subtle changes in the relative dominance of structures with positive and negative magnetic helicity.
Predicting Exoplanet Masses and Radii: A Nonparametric Approach
Authors: Ning Bo , Wolfgang Angie , Ghosh Sujit
Published: December 2018

A fundamental endeavor in exoplanetary research is to characterize the bulk compositions of planets via measurements of their masses and radii. With future sample sizes of hundreds of planets to come from TESS and PLATO, we develop a statistical method that can flexibly yet robustly characterize these compositions empirically, via the exoplanet M–R relation. Although the M–R relation has been explored in many prior works, they mostly use a power-law model, with assumptions that are not flexible enough to capture important features in current and future M–R diagrams. To address these shortcomings, a nonparametric approach is developed using a sequence of Bernstein polynomials. We demonstrate the benefit of taking the nonparametric approach by benchmarking our findings with previous work and showing that a power law can only reasonably describe the M–R relation of the smallest planets and that the intrinsic scatter can change non-monotonically with different values of a radius. We then apply this method to a larger data set, consisting of all the Kepler observations in the NASA Exoplanet Archive. Our nonparametric approach provides a tool to estimate the M–R relation by incorporating heteroskedastic measurement errors into the model. As more observations will be obtained in the near future, this approach can be used with the provided R code to analyze a larger data set for a better understanding of the M–R relation.
Tidal Interactions and Mergers in Intermediate-redshift EDisCS Clusters
Authors: Deger Sinan , Rudnick Gregory , Kelkar Kshitija , Aragón-Salamanca Alfonso , Desai Vandana , Lotz Jennifer M. , Jablonka Pascale , Moustakas John , Zaritsky Dennis
Published: December 2018

We study the fraction of tidal interactions and mergers (TIMs) with well-identified observability timescales (f
TIM) in group, cluster, and accompanying field galaxies and its dependence on redshift (z), cluster velocity dispersion (σ), and environment analyzing Hubble Space Telescope/ACS images and catalogs from the ESO Distant Cluster Survey. Our sample consists of 11 clusters, seven groups, and accompanying field galaxies at 0.4 ≤ z ≤ 0.8. We derive f
TIM using both a visual classification of galaxy morphologies and an automated method, the G − M
20 method. We calibrate this method using the visual classifications that were performed on a subset of our sample. We find marginal evidence for a trend between f
TIM and z, in that higher z values correspond to higher f
TIM. However, we also cannot rule out the null hypothesis of no correlation at higher than 68% confidence. No trend is present between f
TIM and σ. We find that f
TIM shows suggestive peaks in groups, and tentatively in clusters at R > 0.5 × R
200, implying that f
TIM gets boosted in these intermediate-density environments. However, our analysis of the local densities of our cluster sample does not reveal a trend between f
TIM and density, except for a potential enhancement at the very highest densities. We also perform an analysis of projected radius–velocity phase space for our cluster members. Our results reveal that TIM and undisturbed galaxies only have a 6% probability of having been drawn from the same parent population in their velocity distribution and 37% in radii, in agreement with the modest differences obtained in f
TIM at the clusters.
The Far-infrared Emission of the First Massive Galaxies
Authors: De Rossi Maria Emilia , Rieke George H. , Shivaei Irene , Bromm Volker , Lyu Jianwei
Published: December 2018

Massive Population II galaxies undergoing the first phase of vigorous star formation after the initial Population III stage should have high energy densities and silicate-rich interstellar dust. We have modeled the resulting far-infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs), demonstrating that they are shifted substantially to bluer (“warmer”) wavelengths relative to the best fitting ones at z ≈ 3, and with strong outputs in the 10–40 μm range. When combined with a low level of emission by carbon dust, their SEDs match that of Haro 11, a local moderately low-metallicity galaxy undergoing a very young and vigorous starburst that is likely to approximate the relevant conditions in young Population II galaxies. We expect to see similar SEDs at high redshifts (z ≳ 5) given the youth of galaxies at this epoch. In fact, we find a progression with redshift in observed galaxy SEDs, from those resembling local ones at 2 ≲ z < 4 to a closer resemblance with Haro 11 at 5 ≲ z < 7. In addition to the insight on conditions in high-redshift galaxies, this result implies that estimates of the total infrared luminosities at z ∼ 6 based on measurements near λ ∼ 1 mm can vary by factors of 2–4, depending on the SED template used. Currently popular modified blackbodies or local templates can result in significant underestimates compared with the preferred template based on the SED of Haro 11.
Distant White Dwarfs in the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station Parallax Sample
Authors: Leggett S. K. , Bergeron P. , Subasavage John P. , Dahn Conard C. , Harris Hugh C. , Munn Jeffrey A. , Ables Harold D. , Canzian Blaise J. , Guetter Harry H. , Henden Arne H. , Levine Stephen E. , Luginbuhl Christian B. , Monet Alice B. , Monet David G. , Pier Jeffrey R. , Stone Ronald C. , Vrba Frederick J. , Walker Richard L. , Tilleman Trudy M. , Xu Siyi , Dufour P.
Published: December 2018

This paper presents new trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for 214 stars. The measurements were made at the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station between 1989 and 2017, and the average uncertainty in the parallax values is 0.6 mas. We find good agreement with Gaia Data Release 2 measurements for the stars in common, although there may be a small systematic offset similar to what has been found by other investigators. The sample is matched to catalogs and the literature to create a photometric data set that spans the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. New mid-infrared photometry is obtained for 19 stars from archived Spitzer mosaics. New optical spectroscopy is presented for seven systems and additional spectra were obtained from the literature. We identify a subsample of 179 white dwarfs (WDs) at distances of 25–200 pc. Their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are analyzed using model atmospheres. The models reproduce the entire flux-calibrated SED very well and provide the atmospheric chemical composition, temperature, surface gravity, mass, and cooling age of each WD. Twenty-six WDs are newly classified, and 12 systems are presented as candidate unresolved binaries. We confirm one WD+red dwarf system and identify two WDs as candidate dust disk systems. Twelve old and high-velocity systems are identified as candidate thick disk or halo objects. The WDs in the sample generally have Galactic disk-like ages of <8 Gyr and masses close to the canonical 0.6 M
⊙.
Automated Nucleic Acid Isolation Methods for HDV viral Load Quantification can Lead to viral Load Underestimation
Authors: Bremer Birgit , Anastasiou Olympia E , Ciesek Sandra , Wedemeyer Heiner
Published: December 2018

Background

HDV infection is a cause of severe liver disease. Diagnosis and monitoring of HDV RNA are important to patient management. Since 2012, a WHO standard for HDV RNA quantification has been available; however, the impact of RNA extraction methods on HDV viral load quantification has never been evaluated.

Methods

The aim of this study was to compare four commonly used automated nucleic acid (NA) extraction methods (AmpliPrep, MagNA Pure, QIAcube QBK and QIAcube VRK) with a manual RNA extraction method (Instant Virus RNA/DNA kit) and evaluate the possible effect of each method on HDV RNA yield with subsequent amplification with the Robogene HDV assay. Serum samples from HDV-positive patients taken before treatment with pegylated interferon-α2a and at treatment weeks 12 and 48 were studied.

Results

The automated extraction methods MagNA Pure, Ampliprep and QIAcube VRK extraction led to about 10-fold lower HDV RNA values compared with the manual method of NA extraction, while the difference was smaller with QIAcube QBK (about 6-fold lower). The median viral load was 10,665 IU/ml for the manual method, 445 IU/ml for AmpliPrep, 3,209 IU/ml for MagNA Pure, 2,060 IU/ml for QIAcube QBK and 3,568 IU/ml for QIAcube VRK. Use of MagNA Pure led to misclassification of two on-treatment samples with low viral load as being false negative.

Conclusions

The NA extraction method had a significant impact on the measured HDV viral loads determined by the commonly used Robogene assay, with the manual RNA method yielding consistently higher values of viral load. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00932971.
Amazonopsis, an unusual new genus of riffle beetle from South America with two new species (Coleoptera, Elmidae, Elminae)
Authors: Barr Cheryl B.
Published: December 2018

Amazonopsisgen. n.is described to includeA.theranyisp. n.from Peru, Venezuela and French Guiana, andA.camachoisp. n.from Venezuela. The descriptions are accompanied by figures illustrating the male and female habitus ofA.theranyi, the male habitus ofA.camachoi, and male genitalia of both species.Amazonopsistheranyiexhibits pronounced secondary sexual dimorphism which likewise may be a characteristic of the genus.Amazonopsismales have modified protarsal and mesotarsal claws, a pair of small spines on the anterior prosternum, and a pair of ventrally directed processes on the posterior metaventrite. Females ofA.theranyidisplay a pair of unique, oval perforations in the cuticle of the pronotum and have unmodified claws; females ofA.camachoiare unknown. Descriptions are furnished of the stream habitats and microhabitats where the study specimens were collected.
Redescription of Chribellphorura allanae (Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980) (Collembola, Onychiuridae), with comments on the systematic position of the genus
Authors: Paśnik Grzegorz , Weiner Wanda Maria
Published: December 2018

Chribellphoruraallanae(Christiansen & Bellinger, 1980), a poorly known Nearctic springtail, is redescribed and important morphological characters are illustrated (Figs 1–7). The genus is characterized by the following characters: postantennal organ with one vesicle divided into five lobes, antennal segment IV with apical vesicle closely flanked by two papillae, sense organ of the third antennal segment with four papilla, four guard setae, two straight sensory clubs and two sensory rods, very similar in shape and length, labial palp of 0-type, abdominal sternum IV divided ventrally into two subsegments, furcal remnant as a finely granulated area with three rows of setae posteriorly, tibiotarsi with clavate setae in distal whorl and anal spines present. The taxonomic status of thisChribellphorurais also discussed.
A new species of Gaurax from the Czech Republic (Diptera, Chloropidae)
Authors: Kubík Štěpán , Barták Miroslav
Published: December 2018

Gauraxsiostrzonekisp. n.(Diptera, Chloropidae) is described from the Czech Republic and the main differential characters are illustrated. A key to the European species of the genus is provided.
The EU’s Policy in the South Caucasus
Authors: Delcour Laure , Hoffmann Katharina
Published: December 2018

Dans cet article, nous analysons comment l’Arménie, l’Azerbaïdjan et la Géorgie réagissent et essaient de façonner la politique de l’UE dans le Caucase du Sud. L’UE a développé depuis les années 2000 des politiques différenciées pour les trois pays. Nous nous demandons dans quelle mesure cette différenciation appuie les objectifs de l’UE visant à renforcer l’impact et la visibilité dans la région. Nous soutenons que les politiques de l’UE ont trois défauts. Premièrement, l’UE n’a pas réussi à accroître significativement son engagement dans la résolution des conflits dans la région. Deuxièmement, même si l’état de droit suscitait de vives inquiétudes dans certains pays du Caucase du Sud, l’UE s’est abstenue d’utiliser la conditionnalité politique. Troisièmement, l’UE a mis l’accent sur l’exportation à grande échelle des normes de l’UE, ce qui soulève des questions concernant la capacité de l’acquis de l’UE à servir en tant que modèle pour le développement dans ces pays post-soviétiques.
The Changing Image of Russia in the European Project of Post-Soviet Georgia
Authors: Gamkrelidze Tamar
Published: December 2018

L’article traite du rôle de la Russie en ce qui concerne le projet européen de la Géorgie institué par le gouvernement du Mouvement national uni (MNU) en 2004-2012. Il se penche sur les raisons pour lesquelles le projet européen, qui prévoyait initialement des relations de coopération avec la Russie, a fini par faire de son voisin du nord son principal adversaire. Il ressort de cette étude que la politique pro-européenne en Géorgie comportait une adroite combinaison d’inclusion et d’exclusion de la Russie : le Kremlin a été exclu des questions intérieures géorgiennes tout en s’engageant dans les initiatives de politique étrangère de la Géorgie. Cette tactique s’est effondrée en 2008 en raison d’erreurs de calcul et de fautes aboutissant à faire de la Russie le principal ennemi du pays.
Islamism in Tajikistan and What the EU Can Do
Authors: Braun Yvonne
Published: December 2018

L’article montre que la rhétorique du gouvernement tadjik sur le « mythe de la radicalisation » relative à la menace « islamiste » dans le pays rend difficile la distinction entre ce récit et le véritable danger posé par les mouvements islamistes. Cela crée un climat opaque et confus au Tadjikistan avec des acteurs différents, un droit restreint à la liberté de religion pour les citoyens tadjiks et un gouvernement tadjik pas toujours coopératif. Il est donc difficile pour l’UE d’aborder le phénomène de manière adéquate. L’article indique finalement comment l’UE peut affiner sa stratégie actuelle en appliquant des définitions exactes, en fixant des objectifs clairs et réalistes, en tenant compte des opportunités de coopération mondiales et régionales, et en se concentrant sur son approche en termes de « soft power ».
Blitzkrieg pour la paix : la réconciliation Éthiopie-Érythrée
Authors: Gascon Alain
Published: December 2018

Il faut, pour comprendre les chaotiques relations entre l’Éthiopie et l’Érythrée – avant-dernier État indépendant d’Afrique –, remonter au début du xx e  siècle et aux conséquences des actions multiples des grandes puissances dans la région. Guerre de trente, ou de cinquante ans, l’opposition entre Addis-Abeba et Asmara semble désormais muer en dialogue. L’héritage d’une histoire et d’une culture communes suffira-t-il à garantir la paix, en dépit du caractère dictatorial du régime érythréen ?
Thermo-Fluid Dynamic of Gaseous Pollutant Dispersion: Fundamentals and Applications in Thermal Power Plants
Authors: Gadelha A.J. Ferreira , Porto T.R. Nascimento , Freire de Andrade T.H. , de Farias Neto Severino Rodrigues , Barbosa de Lima A.G.
Published: December 2018

This work focuses on the pollutant dispersion problem with particular reference to thermal power plants. A powerful mathematical modeling to predict gaseous pollutant concentration at atmosphere and different CFD simulations results by Ansys CFX® software are presented. The gaseous pollutant dispersion was evaluated by analyzing of different process parameters as wind velocity, gas emission rate and temperature. The study confirms wind velocity as main variable that strongly affecting dispersion phenomena.
Preparation and Flammability Properties of Polyethylene/Organoclay Nanocomposites
Authors: de Oliveira Sara Verusca , dos Santos Filho E.A. , Araújo Edcleide Maria , Pereira C.M. Correia , Passador Fábio Roberto
Published: December 2018

Polyethylene (PE) nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation, in order to evaluate the flame retardant effect of this material. For the development of nanocomposites were used the montmorillonite clay (MMT), organoclay (OMMT) and flame retardant product (FRP) with the percentage of 1, 3, 6 and 9 wt%. Grafted polyethylene with maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizer of the systems. PE and its systems were evaluated: XRD, TEM, TG and flammability (UL94HB, oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimetry). The X-ray diffraction showed a partial intercalation and exfoliation as well as formation of microcomposite. The phase morphology of the systems was observed by TEM that it showed that the system with 1% OMMT clay presented a predominance of exfoliation. Already the system with 3% OMMT showed partial exfoliation and this exfoliation reduced as the clay content increased. By TG it was seen that MMT, OMMT and FRP acted improving the thermal behavior of the nanocomposites compared to PE matrix. The results obtained for the oxygen index showed that both PE and its systems presented flame retardancy behavior. By means of the horizontal flammability tests, it was found that the presence of 1% MMT clay reduced 25% the flammability of PE. By cone calorimetry it was found that the system that contains 9% of OMMT clay decreased by about 33% the flammability of PE.
Alcohol and burden of disease: countering myths for effective prevention
Authors: Dharmawardene Vajira
Published: December 2018

No abstract available
Cutting Edge: Dynamic Expression of Id3 Defines the Stepwise Differentiation of Tissue-Resident Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Sullivan Jenna M. , Höllbacher Barbara , Campbell Daniel J.
Published: December 2018

Foxp3+ regulatory T (TR) cells are phenotypically and functionally diverse and broadly distributed in lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. However, the pathways guiding the differentiation of tissue-resident TR cell populations have not been well defined. By regulating E-protein function, Id3 controls the differentiation of CD8+ effector T cells and is essential for TR cell maintenance and function. We show that dynamic expression of Id3 helps define three distinct mouse TR cell populations: Id3+CD62LhiCD44lo central TR cells, Id3+CD62LloCD44hi effector TR (eTR) cells, and Id3− eTR cells. Adoptive transfer experiments and transcriptome analyses support a stepwise model of differentiation from Id3+ central TR to Id3+ eTR to Id3− eTR cells. Furthermore, Id3− eTR cells have high expression of functional inhibitory markers and a transcriptional signature of tissue-resident TR cells. Accordingly, Id3− eTR cells are highly enriched in nonlymphoid organs but virtually absent from blood and lymph. Thus, we propose that tissue-resident TR cells develop in a multistep process associated with Id3 downregulation.
An overview of antimicrobial resistance surveillance among healthcare-associated pathogens in South Africa
Authors: Singh-Moodley Ashika , Ismail Husna , Perovic Olga
Published: December 2018

Healthcare-associated infections are a serious public health concern resulting in morbidity and mortality particularly in developing countries. The lack of information from Africa, the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new resistance mechanisms intensifies this concern warranting the need for vigorous standardised surveillance platforms that produce reliable and accurate data which can be used for addressing these concerns. The implementation of national treatment guidelines, policies, antimicrobial stewardship programmes and infection prevention and control practices within healthcare institutions require a platform from which it can draw information and direct its approach. In this review, the importance of standardised surveillance systems, the challenges faced in the application of a surveillance system and the condition (existence and nonexistence) of such systems in African countries is discussed. This review also reports on some South African data.
Leveraging donor support to develop a national antimicrobial resistance policy and action plan: Ghana’s success story
Authors: Opintan Japheth A.
Published: December 2018

Background: To mitigate the increasing trend of antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR), the Global Action Plan (GAP) on AMR was adopted at the 68th World Health Assembly in May 2015. Subsequently, member countries were encouraged to mirror the five key strategic objectives of GAP to develop their respective National Action Plans (NAPs) by 2017. Country-specific data on AMR is, however, critical for a comprehensive NAP that will inform policy and also anchor all the objectives of GAP. Systematic reviews have been suggested by some authors to generate relevant data to inform NAP development.Objectives: This article highlights Ghana’s success story in the development of its AMR policy documents and how it could further be implemented through donor support.Methods: Literature and desk review of the activities of Ghana’s National Platform on Antimicrobial Resistance leading to the development of the NAP and AMR policy was done.Results: Ghana launched its NAP together with the accompanying policy document in April 2018. Country-specific data, which guided these documents, were obtained by leveraging donor support activities through the National Platform on Antimicrobial Resistance.Conclusion: Ghana’s success story on the development of AMR policy documents is pivoted on a strong political will and the leveraging of donor support for specific activities.
Reassortment of bluetongue virus vaccine serotypes in cattle
Authors: Van den Bergh Carien , Coetzee Peter , Venter Estelle H.
Published: December 2018

Bluetongue is primarily a disease of sheep in South Africa, while cattle and goats are mostly subclinically infected. The viraemia of bluetongue virus in cattle lasts much longer than in sheep and the role of cattle in the epidemiology of bluetongue in South Africa is poorly understood. Bluetongue virus has a segmented double-stranded ribonucleic acid genome and reassortment of genomes is a common feature. The aim of the study was to investigate whether reassortment occurs between vaccine and field strains when simultaneously administered to cattle. Six cattle between the ages of 6 and 12 months were infected with five strains of modified live vaccine bluetongue virus and a virulent field isolate of bluetongue virus 4. Blood samples were subsequently collected daily from these animals from day 1 to day 39 post-inoculation. Viruses were directly isolated during viraemia from the buffy coat on Vero cells using the plaque forming unit method. Analysis of plaques indicated that no reassortants between virulent field and vaccine strains occurred and the virulent bluetongue virus 4 was identified as the predominant virus strain. However, a reassortant virus between two bluetongue virus vaccine strains was isolated from the buffy coat. Whole genome sequences from the vaccine viruses were compared to the suspected reassortant and it was found that segment 8 exchanged between the bluetongue virus 8 and bluetongue virus 9 vaccine strains. The use of the live-attenuated bluetongue virus multivalent vaccine in South Africa causes circulation of different vaccine serotypes in Culicoides spp. and susceptible hosts and cattle might provide the ideal host for reassortment to occur.
Well-being of residents in training programs of Abu Dhabi health services
Authors: Al Ghailani Bushra , Al Nuaimi Mouza , Al Mazrouei Asma , Al Shehhi Eiman , Al Fahim Maha , Darwish Ebtihal
Published: December 2018

Background: Residency is a stressful period adversely affecting the health and lifestyle of resident physicians. In September 2001, the American Council of Graduate Medical Education released requirements that limit resident working hours in an effort to decrease resident fatigue. Aims: We aimed to measure the prevalence of stress, burnout, and depression among residents working in Abu Dhabi Health Services and to determine the percentage of residents with a healthy lifestyle and to compare the well-being of residents from different specialties. Setting and Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the year 2016 among resident doctors in Abu Dhabi. The study population comprised 458 residents representing 20 training programs at six institutions. Subjects and Methods: All the residents were provided self-administered questionnaires. Results: Response rate was 81%. The prevalence of perceived stress among residents was 86.4%. Stress was significantly associated with workload (P < 0.01) and night shifts (P < 0.001) among residents from most specialties. Regarding burnout, 65.7% of the residents felt emotionally exhausted and 50.8% felt depressed at some point during their residency. Furthermore, 58.8% of the residents with chronic diseases had an uncontrolled disease status. Conclusion: Majority of the residents of Abu Dhabi Health Services experienced high rates of burnout, depression, and stress along with poor lifestyle and uncontrolled status of chronic diseases.