bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Selected Forest Stand Characteristics with Multispectral ALS Data
Authors: Dalponte Michele , Ene Liviu , Gobakken Terje , Næsset Erik , Gianelle Damiano
Published: April 2018

In this study, the potential of multispectral airborne laser scanner (ALS) data to model and predict some forest characteristics was explored. Four complementary characteristics were considered, namely, aboveground biomass per hectare, Gini coefficient of the diameters at breast height, Shannon diversity index of the tree species, and the number of trees per hectare. Multispectral ALS data were acquired with an Optech Titan sensor, which consists of three scanners, called channels, working in three wavelengths (532 nm, 1064 nm, and 1550 nm). Standard ALS data acquired with a Leica ALS70 system were used as a reference. The study area is located in Southern Norway, in a forest composed of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and broadleaf species. ALS metrics were extracted for each plot from both elevation and intensity values of the ALS points acquired with both sensors, and for all three channels of the ALS multispectral sensor. Regression models were constructed using different combinations of metrics. The results showed that all four characteristics can be accurately predicted with both sensors (the best R2 being greater than 0.8), but the models based on the multispectral ALS data provide more accurate results. There were differences regarding the contribution of the three channels of the multispectral ALS. The models based on the data of the 532 nm channel seemed to be the least accurate.
Optimization Strategies for Responsivity Control of Microgel Assisted Lab-On-Fiber Optrodes
Authors: Giaquinto Martino , Micco Alberto , Aliberti Anna , Bobeico Eugenia , La Ferrara Vera , Ruvo Menotti , Ricciardi Armando , Cusano Andrea
Published: April 2018

Integrating multi-responsive polymers such as microgels onto optical fiber tips, in a controlled fashion, enables unprecedented functionalities to Lab-on-fiber optrodes. The creation of a uniform microgel monolayer with a specific coverage factor is crucial for enhancing the probes responsivity to a pre-defined target parameter. Here we report a reliable fabrication strategy, based on the dip coating technique, for the controlled realization of microgel monolayer onto unconventional substrates, such as the optical fiber tip. The latter was previously covered by a plasmonic nanostructure to make it sensitive to superficial environment changes. Microgels have been prepared using specific Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based monomers that enable bulky size changes in response to both temperature and pH variations. The formation of the microgel monolayer is efficiently controlled through the selection of suitable operating pH, temperature and concentration of particle dispersions used during the dipping procedure. The effect of each parameter has been evaluated, and the validity of our procedure is confirmed by means of both morphological and optical characterizations. We demonstrate that when the coverage factor exceeds 90%, the probe responsivity to microgels swelling/collapsing is significantly improved. Our study opens new paradigms for the development of engineered microgels assisted Lab-on-Fiber probes for biochemical applications.
Application of Deep Learning Architectures for Accurate and Rapid Detection of Internal Mechanical Damage of Blueberry Using Hyperspectral Transmittance Data
Authors: Wang Zhaodi , Hu Menghan , Zhai Guangtao
Published: April 2018

Deep learning has become a widely used powerful tool in many research fields, although not much so yet in agriculture technologies. In this work, two deep convolutional neural networks (CNN), viz. Residual Network (ResNet) and its improved version named ResNeXt, are used to detect internal mechanical damage of blueberries using hyperspectral transmittance data. The original structure and size of hypercubes are adapted for the deep CNN training. To ensure that the models are applicable to hypercube, we adjust the number of filters in the convolutional layers. Moreover, a total of 5 traditional machine learning algorithms, viz. Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO), Linear Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Bagging and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), are performed as the comparison experiments. In terms of model assessment, k-fold cross validation is used to indicate that the model performance does not vary with the different combination of dataset. In real-world application, selling damaged berries will lead to greater interest loss than discarding the sound ones. Thus, precision, recall, and F1-score are also used as the evaluation indicators alongside accuracy to quantify the false positive rate. The first three indicators are seldom used by investigators in the agricultural engineering domain. Furthermore, ROC curves and Precision-Recall curves are plotted to visualize the performance of classifiers. The fine-tuned ResNet/ResNeXt achieve average accuracy and F1-score of 0.8844/0.8784 and 0.8952/0.8905, respectively. Classifiers SMO/ LR/RF/Bagging/MLP obtain average accuracy and F1-score of 0.8082/0.7606/0.7314/0.7113/0.7827 and 0.8268/0.7796/0.7529/0.7339/0.7971, respectively. Two deep learning models achieve better classification performance than the traditional machine learning methods. Classification for each testing sample only takes 5.2 ms and 6.5 ms respectively for ResNet and ResNeXt, indicating that the deep learning framework has great potential for online fruit sorting. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of deep CNN application on analyzing the internal mechanical damage of fruit.
Drawing Inspiration from Human Brain Networks: Construction of Interconnected Virtual Networks
Authors: Murakami Masaya , Kominami Daichi , Leibnitz Kenji , Murata Masayuki
Published: April 2018

Virtualization of wireless sensor networks (WSN) is widely considered as a foundational block of edge/fog computing, which is a key technology that can help realize next-generation Internet of things (IoT) networks. In such scenarios, multiple IoT devices and service modules will be virtually deployed and interconnected over the Internet. Moreover, application services are expected to be more sophisticated and complex, thereby increasing the number of modifications required for the construction of network topologies. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a method for constructing a virtualized WSN (VWSN) topology that achieves low latency on information transmission and high resilience against network failures, while keeping the topological construction cost low. In this study, we draw inspiration from inter-modular connectivity in human brain networks, which achieves high performance when dealing with large-scale networks composed of a large number of modules (i.e., regions) and nodes (i.e., neurons). We propose a method for assigning inter-modular links based on a connectivity model observed in the cerebral cortex of the brain, known as the exponential distance rule (EDR) model. We then choose endpoint nodes of these links by controlling inter-modular assortativity, which characterizes the topological connectivity of brain networks. We test our proposed methods using simulation experiments. The results show that the proposed method based on the EDR model can construct a VWSN topology with an optimal combination of communication efficiency, robustness, and construction cost. Regarding the selection of endpoint nodes for the inter-modular links, the results also show that high assortativity enhances the robustness and communication efficiency because of the existence of inter-modular links of two high-degree nodes.
Visual Servoing-Based Nanorobotic System for Automated Electrical Characterization of Nanotubes inside SEM
Authors: Ding Huiyang , Shi Chaoyang , Ma Li , Yang Zhan , Wang Mingyu , Wang Yaqiong , Chen Tao , Sun Lining , Toshio Fukuda
Published: April 2018

The maneuvering and electrical characterization of nanotubes inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) has historically been time-consuming and laborious for operators. Before the development of automated nanomanipulation-enabled techniques for the performance of pick-and-place and characterization of nanoobjects, these functions were still incomplete and largely operated manually. In this paper, a dual-probe nanomanipulation system vision-based feedback was demonstrated to automatically perform 3D nanomanipulation tasks, to investigate the electrical characterization of nanotubes. The XY-position of Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) cantilevers and individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were precisely recognized via a series of image processing operations. A coarse-to-fine positioning strategy in the Z-direction was applied through the combination of the sharpness-based depth estimation method and the contact-detection method. The use of nanorobotic magnification-regulated speed aided in improving working efficiency and reliability. Additionally, we proposed automated alignment of manipulator axes by visual tracking the movement trajectory of the end effector. The experimental results indicate the system’s capability for automated measurement electrical characterization of CNTs. Furthermore, the automated nanomanipulation system has the potential to be extended to other nanomanipulation tasks.
Maritime over the Horizon Sensor Integration: High Frequency Surface-Wave-Radar and Automatic Identification System Data Integration Algorithm
Authors: Nikolic Dejan , Stojkovic Nikola , Lekic Nikola
Published: April 2018

To obtain the complete operational picture of the maritime situation in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which lies over the horizon (OTH) requires the integration of data obtained from various sensors. These sensors include: high frequency surface-wave-radar (HFSWR), satellite automatic identification system (SAIS) and land automatic identification system (LAIS). The algorithm proposed in this paper utilizes radar tracks obtained from the network of HFSWRs, which are already processed by a multi-target tracking algorithm and associates SAIS and LAIS data to the corresponding radar tracks, thus forming an integrated data pair. During the integration process, all HFSWR targets in the vicinity of AIS data are evaluated and the one which has the highest matching factor is used for data association. On the other hand, if there is multiple AIS data in the vicinity of a single HFSWR track, the algorithm still makes only one data pair which consists of AIS and HFSWR data with the highest mutual matching factor. During the design and testing, special attention is given to the latency of AIS data, which could be very high in the EEZs of developing countries. The algorithm is designed, implemented and tested in a real working environment. The testing environment is located in the Gulf of Guinea and includes a network of HFSWRs consisting of two HFSWRs, several coastal sites with LAIS receivers and SAIS data provided by provider of SAIS data.
Preventing Tire Blowout Accidents: A Perspective on Factors Affecting Drivers’ Intention to Adopt Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Authors: Chen Kai-Ying , Yeh Chih-Feng
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study is to explore whether risk perception or anticipated regret is responsible for intensifying the participants’ intention to adopt a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to prevent a tire-related accident, and whether the optimism bias has a moderator effect between risk perception/anticipated regret and intention. With 274 valid questionnaires and PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equation modeling) analysis, the results indicate a significant positive relationship between risk perception and intention to adopt TPMS, but not between anticipated regret and intention. The moderator effect of optimism bias on risk perception and anticipated regret is not found in the model. The findings will prove useful for public service advertising campaigns by providing a basis for an understanding of the role of cognitive and emotional factors in tire-blowout accident prevention, thereby increasing the motivation for drivers in Taiwan to take advantage of the protection afforded them by using TPMS.
Gliadin Peptide Facilitates FITC Dextran Transport across the Non Everted Gut Sac of Rat Small Intestine
Authors: Utami Ratna , Hakiki Aunillah , Asyarie Sukmadjaja , Retnoningrum Debbie
Published: April 2018

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an antioxidant protein. When administered orally, it has low bioavailability due to its low permeation. In a previous study we fused gliadin peptide P51 (LGQQQPFPPQQPYPQPQPF) and gliadin peptide P61 (QQPYPQPQPF) with SOD Citrus limon (SOD_Cl), namely GliSOD_P51 and GliSOD_P61 to increase permeation of SOD_Cl through intestine. In this work, the permeation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Dextran 10 kDa, FD10 and 40 kDa, FD40 as paracellular transport markers across excised rat intestinal wall was investigated with the presence of GliSOD_P51 and GliSOD_P61. A permeability study was performed using non-everted rat intestine by incubating FD10 or FD40 with SOD_Cl, and GliSOD_P61. The presence of SOD_Cl, GliSOD_P51 or GliSOD_P61 inside intestine (apical) and outside intestine (basolateral) was analyzed by protein electrophoresis. The concentration of FD that penetrated to the basolateral solution was analyzed by spectrofluorometry. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis revealed the presence of GliSOD_P51 and GliSOD_P61 but not SOD_Cl in basolateral compartment. The percentage of FD10 but not FD40 and SOD_Cl that penetrated to the basolateral solution significantly increased with the presence of gliadin in GliSOD_P51 and GliSOD_P61. GliSOD_P51 and GliSOD_P61 are able to penetrate the rat intestinal epithelial membrane and the gliadin peptides facilitate FD10 to penetrate the epithelial.
The Coexistence of Multiple Worldviews in Livestock Farming Drives Agroecological Transition. A Case Study in French Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Cheese Mountain Areas
Authors: Cayre Patrice , Michaud Audrey , Theau Jean-Pierre , Rigolot Cyrille
Published: April 2018

Livestock systems contribute significantly to environmental issues and need to undergo an agroecological transition. This transition is not only technical, but also involves an evolution of farmers’ ways of seeing and interpreting the world, i.e., worldviews. We investigate livestock farmers’ worldviews and their relationships with farming practices (grazing and mowing management) in three Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese areas in the French mountains. The study is based on quantitative and comprehensive qualitative surveys in 37 farms. We identify entities typically considered by farmers and the kind of relations they have with these entities, as well as the ontological background, sources of knowledge, and worlds of justifications. Four ideal-typical worldviews emerge: Modern; Traditional; Ecological Intensive; Holist. These four worldviews coexist in each area and also at the farm scale. Three selected farmer monographs illustrate this complexity in detail. The four worldviews are consistent with other typologies in literature. Both Ecological Intensive and Holist worldviews can be considered as “agroecological”; however, they correspond to very different conceptions of agroecology. Different worldviews imply different sustainability indicators and pathways, as well as alternative knowledge-management systems. Finally, the coexistence of multiple worldviews is a key driver of the agroecological transition, which can be enhanced by facilitating confrontation and exchanges between worldviews.
Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water near a Uranium Tailing Pond in Jiangxi Province, South China
Authors: He Liu , Gao Bai , Luo Xin , Jiao Jimmy , Qin Huanhuan , Zhang Chunyan , Dong Yihui
Published: April 2018

This study was performed in the Linshui River Watershed to explore the contents of heavy metals in river water, their species, and health risks. The test results show that the contents of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), uranium (U), and thorium (Th) are relatively low and below the limit of class III of the environmental quality standards for surface water. According to the analysis through PHREEQC (version 2.18), the main species of As, Cr, Cu, U, and Th are H2AsO4− and HAsO42−, HCrO4−, Cr2O72− and CrO42−, Cu2+, CuSO4 and CuCO3, UO2CO3, (UO2)2CO3(OH)3−, and UO2(CO3)22−, Th(OH)4, Th(OH)22+, and Th(OH)3+, respectively. Health risk assessment demonstrates that the average total risk value is 5.68 × 10−5 year−1, which is higher than the maximum acceptable level of 5.05 × 10−5 year−1 recommended by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Moreover, the average of total radionuclide risk (U and Th) is calculated to be 7.85 × 10−9 year−1, which is five orders of magnitude lower than the standard value of 5.0 × 10−4 year−1. The health risk of chemical non-carcinogenic (Cu) is lower than that of chemical carcinogenic (As and Cr). Human health risk values descend in the order of Cr, As, U, Th, and Cu. Therefore, As and Cr in the study area are labeled as the priority pollutants.
L'inscription K. 237 de Prāsāt Preaḥ Khsaet. Une caturmūrti insolite ?
Authors: Estève Julia
Published: April 2018

During the first centuries A.D., Indian culture spread towards the countries of Southeast Asia, diffusing ideas and some aspects of its social structure. A co-existence of certain elements of Indian and indigenous religion thus appeared over time, which has been labelled syncretism. In order to illustrate this religious phenomenon, we here examine one of the direct testimonies of the period: an inscription in old Khmer and in Sanskrit dating from the 11th century A.D., recording the singular case of a foundation with both Hindu and Buddhist elements. This case has been used to support a strong definition of syncretism as a conscious and assertive union of heterogeneous religious elements. But does co-existence necessarily evince syncretism? Deciphering the meaning of the religious components present in this inscription is necessary for assessing the use of the term syncretism with respect to this inscription, and more broadly, the religions of Southeast Asia.
Inscriptions du Phnom Kulen. Corpus existant et inscriptions inédites, une mise en contexte
Authors: Chevance Jean-Baptiste
Published: April 2018

This article presents the state of our current knowledge about both the published and the recently discovered inscriptions that are to be found on the rock massif of the Phnom Kulen. Contextualising each of them and translating the unpublished ones enables us to sketch out a history of the plateau, from the time when it was the seat of the capital Mahendraparvata in the ninth century, covering the rock-cut inscriptions of the tenth and eleventh centuries, and going up to the post-Angkorean inscriptions of Preah Ang Thom. Notwithstanding their paucity and relatively thin content, these inscriptions indicate a continuity of occupation that confirms the importance of the Phnom Kulen, which still maintains it sacred character today, from the beginning of the Angkorean period.
Note sur les inscriptions en cam du pāḷāt' Tut, estampeur d'Étienne Aymonier
Authors: Weber Nicolas
Published: April 2018

Cet article présente trois courtes inscriptions rédigées en langue cam et adoptant la graphie du cam moderne en usage au Cambodge par les Cam de la diaspora. Ces trois inscriptions ont été réalisées par l'un des collaborateurs cam d'Etienne Aymonier, nommé Tut, à l'occasion de la recherche de stèles qu'il mena au Cambodge et de leur estampage.
Sailing from the China Coast to the Pescadores and Taiwan: A Comparative Study on the Resemblances in Chinese and Dutch Sailing Patterns
Authors: Cheng Weichung
Published: April 2018

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) controlled the southwestern coast of Taiwan for thirty-eight years as an entrepôt within its trans-Asian trading network. As a latecomer in East Asian waters, the VOC usually looted Portuguese nautical documents through piracy on the high seas. However, since Taiwan waters are located on the margin of Portuguese shipping routes, the Portuguese documents did not contain sufficient nautical knowledge about this area. The VOC mariners thus had to develop their sailing solutions with the assistance of Chinese mariners. These early sailing instructions along the China coast, the Pescadores and Taiwan recorded in the VOC archives and sea charts produced during the same period are comparable to Chinese sailing practices that were pieced together from later sailing directions, travelogues and chorographies. By examining such similar features, the author reveals the particular meteorological, oceanographic and topographical contexts that Chinese and Dutch mariners confronted. Further, the author uses those common sailing patterns to elucidate the spatial features of Chinese access to the Taiwan coast in the first two decades of the 17th century, long before the arrival of the Dutch.
Le site de plein air de Peyre Blanque (Fabas, Ariège): un jalon original du Magdalénien dans le Sud-Ouest de la France
Authors: Lacombe Sébastien , Sterling Kathleen , Wright Conkey Margaret , Dietrich William
Published: April 2018

Découvert dans le cadre d’une prospection thématique sur les sites de plein air, le gisement de Peyre Blanque est un des rares exemples d’occupation à l’air libre du Magdalénien dans les Pyrénées. Nonobstant sa localisation au sommet d’une crête, le site apparaît remarquablement bien conservé, à l’exception toutefois des vestiges organiques en raison de l’acidité du sol. Estimé à plusieurs centaines de mètres carrés, le gisement a livré une industrie lithique variée et résolument originale dans le cadre pyrénéen, marquée notamment par l’association de débitages lamellaires de types carénés avec de nombreux triangles scalènes, le tout accompagnant un fonds commun plus typique du Magdalénien régional. Sur la base de comparaisons typotechnologiques surtout avec des gisements lointains (Sud-Ouest de la France et Espagne), cette industrie est rapportée à une phase plutôt ancienne du Magdalénien moyen, peut-être centrée sur le XIXe millénaire BP en chronologie calibrée, et inconnue jusqu’alors dans les Pyrénées centrales. D’un point de vue fonctionnel, le site est interprété comme un lieu d’activités multiples et organisées spatialement. On peut notamment citer la production d’équipements lithiques, par le biais de chaînes opératoires lamino-lamellaires distinctes et un débitage autonome d’éclats, ainsi que le travail des peaux fraîches, déduit de la présence d’un nombre singulier de racloirs et de larges éclats plus ou moins retouchés. Le site fut également un rare lieu de collecte et de traitement des colorants naturels, lesquels comptent à ce jour plusieurs centaines d’échantillons de composition et coloration très variées. Sans doute associée à cette activité, on trouve en particulier une enclume dont le contour naturellement zoomorphe a été probablement accentué. Par ailleurs, un aménagement de l’espace à vocation vraisemblablement domestique a été mis au jour, lui-aussi visiblement bien conservé, et dont les dimensions et la complexité architecturale sont tout à fait remarquables à l’échelle du Paléolithique supérieur européen. Cet article se veut être une présentation générale du site, mettant en particulier l’accent sur l’assemblage lithique.
Profiling Scuba Divers to Assess Their Potential for the Management of Temperate Marine Protected Areas: A Conceptual Model
Authors: Lucrezi Serena , Milanese Martina , Sarà Antonio , Palma Marco , Saayman Melville , Cerrano Carlo
Published: April 2018

Scuba diving tourism may both positively and negatively affect the natural environment, as well as human economies and societies. Marine protected areas (MPAs) in particular attract scuba diving tourism. Even though the activities of scuba divers could conflict with the conservation
agendas of MPAs, they also potentially could endorse and support the management of MPAs. Thus, depending on the types of interactions that develop between scuba diving tourism and MPAs, more or less rigid management actions may be required. Although studies in temperate locations are rare,
there is evidence that scuba divers in these locations tend to be more experienced, knowledgeable about local issues, responsible towards the environment, and willing to participate in stewardship, compared with divers at tropical destinations. This study assessed the profile of scuba divers
at a temperate MPA in Italy, to determine which types of diving management actions are needed, and to understand how the potential of scuba divers could be exploited for the management of temperate MPAs. Data on the profile of 279 scuba divers in the Portofino MPA, Italy, were collected during
the summer of 2015. Scuba divers in Portofino are generally experienced, loyal, satisfied, aware of the code of underwater conduct, knowledgeable of ecosystems in the MPA, and willing to participate in marine conservation activities. Although some important considerations must be taken into
account regarding the management of scuba diving activities, a case is made that scuba divers could exert many positive impacts on MPAs. A conceptual model of the conservation-oriented behavior of scuba divers and its impacts both inside and outside MPAs is proposed. The positive messages
and actions of scuba divers inside MPAs appear to exert potentially positive effects on other diving destinations outside the MPAs.
British Picnics Come of Age: Food and Fashionability in the 1930s
Authors: Lyon Phil
Published: April 2018

Picnics are an ephemeral feature of social life and suggest a meal that is different in form, eaten in unfamiliar surroundings, and often representing an escape from routine. Although picnics might be regarded as a longstanding tradition in Britain, they were popularized in the 1930s
as an adjunct to substantial changes in leisure patterns, and by the opportunities provided by private and public transport. Newspapers reflected this popularity in their coverage. Using digital archive material, primarily for The Times and the Manchester Guardian, period newspaper
reports were analyzed in terms of popularity, advice on what to eat, the consumer market for equipment, and rural impact. Picnics, goods, and services connected with them, and the negative environmental consequences of picnicking were regular features of media discourse during the period 1930–1939:
this coverage represent a window into the perhaps surprising fashionability of what is now a tacit feature of food culture.
A Regional Analysis of U.S. Insurance Reimbursement Guidelines for Massage Therapy
Authors: Miccio, MS, LMT, CEIM Robin S. , Cowen, PhD, LMT Virginia S.
Published: April 2018

Introduction: Massage techniques fall within the scope of many different health care providers. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and chiropractors receive insurance reimbursement for health care services, including massage. Although many patients pay out of pocket for massage services, it is unclear how the insurance company reimbursement policies factor provider qualifications into coverage. This project examined regional insurance reimbursement guidelines for massage therapy in relation to the role of the provider of massage services.Methods: A qualitative content analysis was used to explore guidelines for 26 health insurance policies across seven US companies providing coverage in the northeastern United States. Publicly available information relevant to massage was obtained from insurance company websites and extracted into a dataset for thematic analysis. Data obtained included practice guidelines, techniques, and provider requirements. Information from the dataset was coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Of the policies reviewed, 23% explicitly stated massage treatments were limited to 15-minute increments, 19% covered massage as one part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, and 27% required physician prescription. Massage techniques mentioned as qualifying for reimbursement included: Swedish, manual lymphatic drainage, mobilization/manipulation, myofascial release, and traction. Chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists could directly bill for massage. Massage therapists were specifically excluded as covered providers for seven (27%) policies.Conclusion: Although research supports massage for the treatment of a variety of conditions, the provider type has not been separately addressed. The reviewed policies that served the Northeastern states explicitly stated massage therapists could not bill insurance companies directly. The same insurance companies examined reimbursement for massage therapists in their western U.S. state policies. Other health care providers were able to bill directly for massage services to companies that did not accept direct billing by massage therapists. The specific exclusion of massage therapists as eligible providers violates the Affordable Care Act’s non-discriminatory provision. Massage therapists should continue to advocate for reimbursement privileges to spur wider acceptance of massage therapy in health care.
WDEC: A Code for Modeling White Dwarf Structure and Pulsations
Authors: Bischoff-Kim Agnès , Montgomery Michael H.
Published: April 2018

The White Dwarf Evolution Code (WDEC), written in Fortran, makes models of white dwarf stars. It is fast, versatile, and includes the latest physics. The code evolves hot (∼100,000 K) input models down to a chosen effective temperature by relaxing the models to be solutions of the equations of stellar structure. The code can also be used to obtain g-mode oscillation modes for the models. WDEC has a long history going back to the late 1960s. Over the years, it has been updated and re-packaged for modern computer architectures and has specifically been used in computationally intensive asteroseismic fitting. Generations of white dwarf astronomers and dozens of publications have made use of the WDEC, although the last true instrument paper is the original one, published in 1975. This paper discusses the history of the code, necessary to understand why it works the way it does, details the physics and features in the code today, and points the reader to where to find the code and a user guide.
Excitation Mechanism of O i Lines in Herbig Ae/Be Stars
Authors: Mathew Blesson , Manoj P. , Narang Mayank , Banerjee D. P. K. , Nayak Pratheeksha , Muneer S. , Vig S. , Pramod Kumar S. , Paul K. T. , Maheswar G.
Published: April 2018

We have investigated the role of a few prominent excitation mechanisms viz. collisional excitation, recombination, continuum fluorescence, and Lyman beta fluorescence on the O i line spectra in Herbig Ae/Be stars. The aim is to understand which of them is the central mechanism that explains the observed O i line strengths. The study is based on an analysis of the observed optical spectra of 62 Herbig Ae/Be stars and near-infrared spectra of 17 Herbig Ae/Be stars. The strong correlation observed between the line fluxes of O i λ8446 and O i λ11287, as well as a high positive correlation between the line strengths of O i λ8446 and Hα suggest that Lyman beta fluorescence is the dominant excitation mechanism for the formation of O i emission lines in Herbig Ae/Be stars. Furthermore, from an analysis of the emission line fluxes of O i λλ7774, 8446, and comparing the line ratios with those predicted by theoretical models, we assessed the contribution of collisional excitation in the formation of O i emission lines.
Primordial Plasma Fluctuations. I. Magnetization of the Early Universe by Dark Aperiodic Fluctuations in the Past Myon and Prior Electron–Positron Annihilation Epoch
Authors: Schlickeiser R. , Kolberg U. , Yoon P. H.
Published: April 2018

During the past myon and prior electron annihilation epoch of the early universe the electron–positron pair number density was very high as the pairs were in thermal equilibrium with the intense superluminal photons at temperatures k

B

T > 1

MeV. With classical plasma fluctuation theory, it is shown that these pairs generate random electric and magnetic fields in the form of collective damped aperiodic fluctuations with very high tera-Gauss strengths on spatial scales greater than

cm with a 100% volume filling factor. The associated field decay with time by damping is compensated by their perpetually re-excitation due to the spontaneous emission by the pairs to maintain a lasting fluctuation level.
Photospheric Observations of Surface and Body Modes in Solar Magnetic Pores
Authors: Keys Peter H. , Morton Richard J. , Jess David B. , Verth Gary , Grant Samuel D. T. , Mathioudakis Mihalis , Mackay Duncan H. , Doyle John G. , Christian Damian J. , Keenan Francis P. , Erdélyi Robertus
Published: April 2018

Over the past number of years, great strides have been made in identifying the various low-order magnetohydrodynamic wave modes observable in a number of magnetic structures found within the solar atmosphere. However, one aspect of these modes that has remained elusive, until now, is their designation as either surface or body modes. This property has significant implications for how these modes transfer energy from the waveguide to the surrounding plasma. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, we present conclusive, direct evidence of these wave characteristics in numerous pores that were observed to support sausage modes. As well as outlining methods to detect these modes in observations, we make estimates of the energies associated with each mode. We find surface modes more frequently in the data, as well as that surface modes appear to carry more energy than those displaying signatures of body modes. We find frequencies in the range of ∼2–12 mHz, with body modes as high as 11 mHz, but we do not find surface modes above 10 mHz. It is expected that the techniques we have applied will help researchers search for surface and body signatures in other modes and in differing structures from those presented here.
Interferometric Imaging Directly with Closure Phases and Closure Amplitudes
Authors: Chael Andrew A. , Johnson Michael D. , Bouman Katherine L. , Blackburn Lindy L. , Akiyama Kazunori , Narayan Ramesh
Published: April 2018

Interferometric imaging now achieves angular resolutions as fine as ∼10 μas, probing scales that are inaccessible to single telescopes. Traditional synthesis imaging methods require calibrated visibilities; however, interferometric calibration is challenging, especially at high frequencies. Nevertheless, most studies present only a single image of their data after a process of “self-calibration,” an iterative procedure where the initial image and calibration assumptions can significantly influence the final image. We present a method for efficient interferometric imaging directly using only closure amplitudes and closure phases, which are immune to station-based calibration errors. Closure-only imaging provides results that are as noncommittal as possible and allows for reconstructing an image independently from separate amplitude and phase self-calibration. While closure-only imaging eliminates some image information (e.g., the total image flux density and the image centroid), this information can be recovered through a small number of additional constraints. We demonstrate that closure-only imaging can produce high-fidelity results, even for sparse arrays such as the Event Horizon Telescope, and that the resulting images are independent of the level of systematic amplitude error. We apply closure imaging to VLBA and ALMA data and show that it is capable of matching or exceeding the performance of traditional self-calibration and CLEAN for these data sets.
The Dramatic Size and Kinematic Evolution of Massive Early-type Galaxies
Authors: Lapi A. , Pantoni L. , Zanisi L. , Shi J. , Mancuso C. , Massardi M. , Shankar F. , Bressan A. , Danese L.
Published: April 2018

We aim to provide a holistic view on the typical size and kinematic evolution of massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) that encompasses their high-z star-forming progenitors, their high-z quiescent counterparts, and their configurations in the local Universe. Our investigation covers the main processes playing a relevant role in the cosmic evolution of ETGs. Specifically, their early fast evolution comprises biased collapse of the low angular momentum gaseous baryons located in the inner regions of the host dark matter halo; cooling, fragmentation, and infall of the gas down to the radius set by the centrifugal barrier; further rapid compaction via clump/gas migration toward the galaxy center, where strong heavily dust-enshrouded star formation takes place and most of the stellar mass is accumulated; and ejection of substantial gas amount from the inner regions by feedback processes, which causes a dramatic puffing-up of the stellar component. In the late slow evolution, passive aging of stellar populations and mass additions by dry merger events occur. We describe these processes relying on prescriptions inspired by basic physical arguments and by numerical simulations to derive new analytical estimates of the relevant sizes, timescales, and kinematic properties for individual galaxies along their evolution. Then we obtain quantitative results as a function of galaxy mass and redshift, and compare them to recent observational constraints on half-light size R

e
, on the ratio v/σ between rotation velocity and velocity dispersion (for gas and stars) and on the specific angular momentum j
⋆ of the stellar component; we find good consistency with the available multiband data in average values and dispersion, both for local ETGs and for their z ∼ 1–2 star-forming and quiescent progenitors. The outcomes of our analysis can provide hints to gauge sub-grid recipes implemented in simulations, to tune numerical experiments focused on specific processes, and to plan future multiband, high-resolution observations on high-redshift star-forming and quiescent galaxies with next-generation facilities.
Gravitational Wave Speed: Undefined. Experiments Proposed
Authors: Russell Daniel
Published: April 2018

Since changes in all 4 dimensions of spacetime are components of displacement for gravitational waves, a theoretical result is presented that their speed is undefined, and that the Theory of Relativity is not reliable to predict their speed. Astrophysical experiments are proposed with objectives to directly measure gravitational wave speed, and to verify these theoretical results. From the circumference of two merging black hole's final orbit, it is proposed to make an estimate of a total duration of the last ten orbits, before gravitational collapse, for comparison with durations of reported gravitational wave signals. It is proposed to open a new field of engineering of spacetime wave modulation with an objective of faster and better data transmission and communication through the Earth, the Sun, and deep space. If experiments verify that gravitational waves have infinite speed, it is concluded that a catastrophic gravitational collapse, such as a merger of quasars, today, would re-define the geometry and curvature of spacetime on Earth, instantly, without optical observations of this merger visible, until billions of years in the future.
Initial commented checklist of Iranian mayflies, with new area records and description of Procloeon caspicum sp. n. (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Baetidae)
Authors: Bojková Jindřiška , Sroka Pavel , Soldán Tomáš , Imanpour Namin Javid , Staniczek Arnold H. , Polášek Marek , Hrivniak Ľuboš , Abdoli Ashgar , Godunko Roman J.
Published: April 2018

An initial checklist of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Iran is compiled based on critical review of available literature data, complemented with new data from 38 localities of Gilan and Ardabil provinces. At present, altogether only 46 species and 25 genera are known from Iran, 18 species are reported as new to Iran in this study. Some previously published data are critically evaluated and doubtful taxa are excluded from the list. Basic analysis of the distribution and biogeography of recorded species is given. Procloeon (Pseudocentroptilum) caspicum Sroka,sp. n.is described based on mature larva and egg. Critical differential diagnostic characters distinguishing the species from related taxa are discussed in detail.
The smallest known species of Afrotropical Scolytoplatypus Schaufuss (Curculionidae, Scolytinae) – with unique features and an isolated phylogenetic position
Authors: Jordal Bjarte H.
Published: April 2018

Recent flight intercept trapping in Gabon provided four female specimens of a new species of Scolytoplatypus Schaufuss with several unusual features. It is the smallest known Afrotropical species found to date (1.6 mm long), it has unusually long antennal clubs, and some characters show resemblance to small Asian species or to the Malagasy genus Remansus Jordal. Genetic data from four genes nevertheless place this species as the sister lineage to all other Afrotropical species where it forms an isolated position corresponding to deviant morphological features.
Le limnosystème est-il un concept géographique ?
Authors: Touchart Laurent , Bartout Pascal
Published: April 2018

Le limnosystème est un terme sous-utilisé, qui souffre d’un déficit de conceptualisation. Il est trop souvent réduit à la seule démarche écosystémique concernant un lac ou à une approche valorisant les liens entre un lac et son bassin. La richesse potentielle du concept est discutée à partir d’une épistémologie d’autres termes existants : l’écosystème lentique a comme but l’étude de la biocénose, le système fluvial celle du biotope ; le géosystème valorise la modélisation, l’hydrosystème a été créé pour le bassin fluvial. Cela conduit à revisiter les échelles spatio-temporelles à travers les réflexions d’écosystème fermé favorisant l’isolat lacustre et son endémisme, et celles d’hydrosystème ouvert, dans la pratique tournées jusqu’à présent vers les tributaires plus que vers l’émissaire. Une tentative est faite de cadrer les composantes classiques du géosystème, la structure, le fonctionnement et le comportement, dans les démarches de géographie limnologique différenciant les lacs des étangs et des mares, recherchant les discontinuités entre les masses d’eau, opposant les parts relatives des processus majeurs en eau stagnante (convection libre ou forcée) et les rythmes temporels de brassage. Enfin, la place de la société est débattue en soulignant la mécompréhension envers les plans d’eau artificiels dans les approches écosystémiques, voire hydrosystémiques. Le concept d’anthroposystème limnique serait sans doute apte à répondre à ce problème. Une nouvelle définition du limnosystème est finalement proposée.
Image du globe/image de soi : la pratique du selfie comme s(t)imulation géographique
Authors: Leresche Nicolas
Published: April 2018

Bien que conceptuellement et empiriquement la rotondité de la Terre ne fît plus aucun doute depuis longtemps, la photographie aérienne transforma fondamentalement les représentations du monde. Permettant pour la première fois de voir la Terre dans sa totalité, les prises de vues à la verticale contribuèrent à forger une nouvelle conscience environnementale globale. Ce que Denis Cosgrove qualifiait à ce propos de « nouvelles spatialités globales » représente également de nouvelles modalités de subjectivation. C’est ainsi qu’en 2014 à l’occasion de la journée de la Terre, la NASA, diffusa une image du globe composée de dizaines de milliers de selfies envoyés par les internautes. En combinant les deux pratiques paradigmatiques qui bornent le champ d’exploration proprement géographique (la représentation du globe terrestre et le selfie), la NASA illustre ainsi parfaitement l’idée d’une Terre universelle , partout habitable et habitée. À partir de ces éléments, cet article revient à la fois sur les liens historiques qui unissent la photographie à la géographie, et sur ce que je qualifierai de savoir-faire géographique vernaculaire : la pratique du selfie. Il s’agira alors de montrer comment l’image produite par la NASA s’inscrit dans le nouvel idéal de subjectivation qui fait de l’objet Terre une forme de souverain auquel chacun est appelé à s’identifier.
Intégration, exequatur et sécurité juridique dans l’espace OHADA. Bilan et perspective d’une avancée contrastée
Authors: Ekani Serge Christian
Published: April 2018

Le statut des arrêts de la Cour commune de justice et d’arbitrage (CCJA) et des sentences arbitrales rendues sous son égide a été perçu par les juristes comme l’étoile de Noël annonçant une ère nouvelle. Pourtant, le bilan à ce jour montre que le régime de la circulation des titres exécutoires nationaux dans l’espace OHADA va à l’encontre des finalités d’intégration et de sécurité juridique et judiciaire visées. Il trahit, d’une part, des relents souverainistes et, d’autre part des incohérences diverses qui freinent les objectifs de l’OHADA. L’hypothèse de l’auteur est qu’un encadrement pragmatique de la libre circulation des titres exécutoires dans un espace intégré serait un gage de sécurité juridique et d’une plus grande confiance entre les États. Conscient de ce que la suppression de l’exequatur a des effets ambivalents, il propose des pistes pour une minimalisation maîtrisée des procédures intermédiaires, prenant en compte l’équilibre des intérêts des parties. Il s’agirait d’un pas décisif vers la sécurisation du climat des affaires et la création d’un marché commun contribuant à l’unité africaine, finalités souvent occultées de l’OHADA.
Manipulation of intestinal dysbiosis by a bacterial mixture ameliorates loperamide-induced constipation in rats
Authors: Deng Y. , Li M. , Mei L. , Cong L.M. , Liu Y. , Zhang B.B. , He C.Y. , Zheng P.Y. , Yuan J.L.
Published: April 2018

Constipation has a significant influence on quality of life. Patients with constipation have slow waves in their gastrointestinal smooth muscles and less faecal water contents, which are closely associated with down-regulation of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the gastrointestinal muscles and the aquaporin protein AQP3 expressed in colon epithelial cells. Recent studies supported that patients with constipation have altered intestinal microbial structures compared with healthy controls. Intestinal dysbiosis might be one possible pathophysiological mechanism causing constipation. Bacterial strains, such as Lactobacillus spp., have shown many beneficial effects on the amelioration of constipation. However, few studies reported the structural changes of intestinal microbiota post-intervention of probiotics. In this study, a bacterial mixture was administrated to rats with loperamide-induced constipation. Effects of the bacterial mixture on small intestine transit (SIT), faecal water content, and the intestinal microbiome in rats were evaluated. Meanwhile, we investigated several factors involved in signalling pathways that regulate function of ICC and expression of AQP3 to discuss the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Intervention of the bacterial mixture improved SIT and faecal water content in constipated rats. The up-regulation of C-kit/SP signalling pathways in ICC and AQP3 significantly contributed to improvements. These changes were closely associated with the manipulation of intestinal dysbiosis in constipated rats. Furthermore, our results revealed the important role of intestinal microbiota in affecting gut motility through regulation of serotonin biosynthesis. This monoamine neurotransmitter, secreted from enterochromaffin cells, up-regulated both substance P/neurokinin 1 receptors pathway of ICC and the expression of AQP3 in intestinal epithelial cells. Our study suggested that the disrupted microbiome in patients could be a potential therapeutic target for the improvement of constipation.