bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transforming Communities through Academic Activism: An Emancipatory, Praxis-led Approach
Authors: Hawthorne-Steele Isobel , Moreland Rosemary , Rooney Eilish
Published: August 2017

This article tracks the engagement of university faculty in academic and community activism during thirty years in conflict-affected Northern Ireland. Over time, the team of three academics who wrote the article developed programs to help tackle educational disadvantage in a deeply divided society riven with violent conflict. Our pedagogical approach was driven by social justice principles in practice. In the process, students became what Ledwith & Springett (2010) describe as participative activists in the academy and in their own communities. The aim of this collective activism was to foster transformative change in a society that is now in transition from conflict. Key examples of critical practice are described. We use a case study approach to describe challenges faced by faculty and participants. We argue that academic activism and community partnership can play a positive role in community transformation in the most difficult circumstances.
Julie Delporte : un portrait
Authors: Delporte Julie
Published: August 2017

Julie Delporte
L’art séquentiel – espace expérimental
Authors: Fong Kevin Pat
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
Analyse des difficultés des étudiants jordaniens dans l’écrit scientifique universitaire : le cas du rapport de recherche dans une formation FLE
Authors: Kandeel Rana
Published: August 2017

La présente étude s’inscrit dans le domaine de la formation à l’écrit universitaire et tout particulièrement la didactique de l’écrit scientifique en langue française. Elle a pour objectif de présenter les résultats de l’analyse des difficultés de la compétence Faire savoir dans la rédaction de rapports de recherche par des enseignants du FLE, inscrits dans une formation de master sciences du langage, spécialité langue française à l’université de Yarmouk en Jordanie. Dans la première partie, nous présenterons le cadre général de la communication scientifique écrite et nous définirons le cadre spécifique de notre recherche : le rapport de recherche comme type de l’écrit scientifique y compris ses fonctions et leurs liens avec les compétences de la communication scientifique. Dans la deuxième partie, nous analyserons quatre rapports de recherche d’étudiants ayant pour objectif l’évaluation critique des travaux de recherche de leurs pairs dans la même formation.
Evans, Claude. L’abbaye cistercienne de Begard des origines à 1476 : histoire et chartes
Authors: Benchaabane Salwa
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
L’image-saudade : iconographie photographique d’un sentiment ambigu
Authors: De Jesus Samuel
Published: August 2017

Quels liens la saudade, expression majeure de la littérature portugaise du XVIe siècle peut-elle à priori entretenir vis-à-vis de la photographie contemporaine ? Difficilement traduisible, la saudade nous éveille un être ou un lieu cher dont l’absence ou la perte nous cause autant de tristesse que joie. Pourtant la saudade se révèle aussi comme une pensée singulière opérant une synthèse temporelle et spatiale de l’expérience éprouvée vis-à-vis du monde, par un agencement « virtuel » d’images. Ce sentiment construit, au fil du temps, un imaginaire dont la poïétique révèle paradoxalement présent, par son absence, tout ce qui fut mais qui n’est plus, ou encore la nostalgie de ce qui ne serait pas encore advenu ?

The image-saudade: photographic iconography of a double-edged feeling

Which relations can the saudade, a major expression of the Portuguese literature of the 16th century, maintain a priori with contemporary photography? If the saudade remains not easily translatable, it wakes up the remembrance related to a beloved being or place – whose absence, lack or loss cause us as much sadness as joy. However, the saudade also appears as a singular thought operating a temporal and spatial synthesis coming from man’s experience of the world, a “virtual” collage governed like a true layout of images. This feeling has built, all long time, an imaginary field revealed as present by poetry, paradoxically through its own absence — all that was, one day, but which is not anymore, or perhaps, the nostalgia for what has not occurred yet.
Photographies : passerelles du dedans au dehors
Authors: Frigon Sylvie
Published: August 2017

Photographies
Thériault, Annie-Claude. Quelque chose comme une odeur de printemps
Authors: Brise Pauline
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
André Gide en Égypte : l’inachèvement et la créativité
Authors: Geary Keohane Elizabeth
Published: August 2017

Cet article analyse un ouvrage d’André Gide, Carnets d’Égypte, dans le contexte de ‘late style’, un concept adornien développé par Edward Said. Bien que Carnets d’Égypte représente un des derniers ouvrages de Gide, il ne s’agit pas d’une tentative de créer une impression de complétude ni de couronner une œuvre variée. C’est plutôt un espace créatif où il peut se permettre de se concentrer sur l’inachèvement. Nous examinons donc ce que Gide a choisi de ne pas ‘terminer’ ou même de ne pas ‘finaliser’ – le voyage lui-même et surtout le processus d'écriture qui s'ensuit. Pour Said, ‘late style’ est une attitude que nous pouvons déceler chez certains auteurs qui se trouvent devant la mort. Se concentrer sur l’inachèvement et non sur la complétude dans un tel cas révèle une certaine résistance chez Gide qui est tout de même productive, car elle arrive à faire avancer le processus d’écriture.

André Gide in Egypt: the Unfinished and the Creative Process

This article analyses a work by André Gide, Carnets d’Égypte, in the context of 'late style', an Adornian concept developed by Edward Said. Although Carnets d’Égypte is one of Gide’s final works, it does not attempt to create a sense of completeness nor does it attempt to crown a varied body of work. It is instead a creative space where he can allow himself to concentrate on the incomplete or the unfinished. I therefore examine what Gide has chosen not to ‘finish’ or even not to ‘finalise’ – that is, the journey itself and more particularly, the related writing process. For Said, ‘late style’ is an attitude that can be detected in certain authors facing death. Concentrating in such a case on what remains unfinished, instead of on completeness, reveals a certain resistance on Gide’s part which is nonetheless productive, since it manages to advance the writing process.
Des histoires de frontières : L’historien de rien de Daniel Poliquin
Authors: Brun del Re Ariane
Published: August 2017

Cet article vise à faire ressortir le jeu sur les frontières à l’œuvre dans L’historien de rien (2012) de Daniel Poliquin tout en situant ce livre face aux précédents titres de l’écrivain. Trois types de frontières y sont analysés : génériques, spatiales et linguistiques. Nous y verrons que dans ce livre, comme ailleurs dans son œuvre, Poliquin prend plaisir à déconstruire ces frontières jusqu’à faire pencher L’historien du côté de la « frontier » plutôt que de la frontière.
L’argent n’apporte pas le bonheur mais il achète la liberté : carrière et refus du bonheur conjugal chez les personnages femmes de Malika Mokeddem
Authors: Pruteanu Simona Emilia
Published: August 2017

Malika Mokeddem s’inscrit dans la lignée d’écrivaines francophones qui traitent dans leurs textes de la situation socio-politique et culturelle de la femme en Algérie, mais aussi de l’entre-deux dans lequel se situent les femmes migrantes. On ne peut s’empêcher de noter que, sur les dix romans publiés jusqu'à date, aucune de ses héroïnes ne connait la sérénité dans le couple et elles rejettent toutes la maternité. Nous nous interrogerons donc, dans cet article sur les raisons de ces manques, afin de voir si on peut y lire plutôt une affirmation absolue de la liberté de la femme que des échecs. En outre, nous ferons un survol de l’évolution des narratrices de Mokeddem jusqu’à son roman le plus récent, La Désirante (2011), qui met en scène un nouveau type de rapport entre femme, homme aimé, argent et besoin de liberté.
Léveillé, J.R. Sondes : essais et entrevues
Authors: Brise Pauline
Published: August 2017

Léveillé, J.R. Sondes : essais et entrevues

Compte rendu
Les voix singulières d’Alexandre Amprimoz : sapientia et eloquentia
Authors: Meadwell Kenneth
Published: August 2017

Hommage à Alexandre Amprimoz
La transgression : de l’émancipation à la progression. Troisième partie
Authors: Cocton Marie-Noëlle , Favreau Hélène , Roch-Veiras Sophie
Published: August 2017

La transgression : de l’émancipation à la progression. Troisième partie

Introduction
Hotte, Lucie, dir. René Dionne et Gabrielle Poulin : œuvres et vies croisées
Authors: Bell Kirsty
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
Côté Legault, Antoine. Corps à corps. Une blind date poétique
Authors: Jamme Eric
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
Percées : Traversées des littératures francophones canadiennes d’aujourd’hui
Authors: Kellett Kathleen , Papillon Joëlle
Published: August 2017

Introduction au dossier "Percées : Traversées des littératures francophones canadiennes d’aujourd’hui".
« Un seul oiseau en cage / La liberté est en deuil »
Authors: Service culturel de l’Ambassade de France au Canada Concours Twittérature
Published: August 2017

« Un seul oiseau en cage / La liberté est en deuil » (Jacques Prévert)

Concours de twittérature (Semaine de la Francophonie 2017)

Pour célébrer la Semaine de la Francophonie 2017, le service culturel de l’Ambassade de France au Canada a lancé en mars dernier un concours de twittérature, autour de la figure du poète et artiste français Jacques Prévert, disparu il y a tout juste quarante ans.

En 140 signes maximum – incluant le mot dièse #Prévert et le tag @francetoronto – élèves, enseignants, parents, poètes en herbe comme poètes confirmés, ont pu laisser libre cours à leur imagination en répondant au vers de la plume de Prévert – « Un seul oiseau en cage / La liberté est en deuil » – à partir de leur compte Twitter.
Adultère et romantisme
Authors: Houel Annik
Published: August 2017

En ce début de XIXème siècle, le combat que mène George Sand pour le droit des femmes à l’amour s’inscrit dans la tradition d’une contestation - qu’on peut qualifier de féministe - qui porte essentiellement sur les conditions du mariage, le plus souvent arrangé. Le leitmotiv de l’amour, qui traverse les oeuvres de la plupart des femmes qui l’ont précédée en littérature manifeste leur opposition au mariage tel qu’il leur est imposé, et l’adultère symbolise leur rêve : ainsi en va-t-il, dès le Moyen-Âge, pour Marie de France, Christine de Pisan, Marguerite de Navarre même, et bien sûr pour Madame de La Fayette avec La Princesse de Clèves qui incarne le clivage psychique entre corps et esprit auquel les femmes sont alors acculées.
Une approche écologique : les lieux d'enfance chez Michel Tournier
Authors: Posthumus Stéphanie
Published: August 2017

Dans Vent Paraclet de Michel Tournier, le premier chapitre intitulé « L’enfant coiffé » donne à croire que l’auteur raconte sa vie à partir de l’enfance. En réalité, il n’en est pas ainsi. Certes, l’auteur relève ici et là des événements importants de sa jeunesse ; mais il passe tout autant de temps à présenter ses théories philosophiques, ses observations sociologiques et ses critiques du statut de l’enfant dans la société moderne.
Le recueil de nouvelles de Danièle Vallée Debout sur la tête d’un chat reflète-t-il une identité franco-ontarienne ?
Authors: Caron Hélène
Published: August 2017

Du recueil de nouvelles Debout sur la tête d’un chat, écrit par l’auteure franco-ontarienne Danièle Vallée, émerge un fil conducteur indicateur d’une perte d’équilibre et d’une lutte pour la survie qui remet en question la notion d’espace identitaire de chaque personnage. Le recueil de nouvelles de Danièle Vallée reflète-t-il une identité franco-ontarienne ? Certaines facettes de l’identité franco-ontarienne seront cernées et mettront en lumière les éléments de réponse analysés par la suite. La synthèse des éléments présentés démontrera qu’une réponse absolue n’existe pas à la question de départ, mais plutôt que l’ensemble
La terreur, l’intertextualité et l’hybridité culturelle dans Sans Voix de Hafsa Zinaï-Koudi
Authors: Miraglia Anne Marie
Published: August 2017

Condamnée à mort par les intégristes en Algérie, la romancière et cinéaste, Hafsa Zinaï Koudil a dû fuir son pays natal pour se réfugier alternativement en France et en Tunisie. Son oeuvre, dont cinq romans publiés entre 1984 et 1997, poursuit, cependant, sa lutte pour la démocratie, pour les droits de la femme et pour la fin de l’intégrisme en Algérie. Mère de quatre enfants, Hafsa Zinaï-Koudil a dénoncé courageusement les violences faites aux femmes par les extrémistes algériens surtout pendant la guerre civile. Celle-ci a éclaté en 1992 après un coup d’état qui a interrompu le processus de démocratisation, et a privé le FIS (Front Islamique du Salut) de sa victoire électorale.
La dimension diachronique des textes beckettiens
Authors: Taban Carla
Published: August 2017

La présente discussion se propose de montrer que les aspects diachroniques du français et de l’anglais – entendues restrictivement comme évolutions sémantiques des lexèmes des deux idiomes et non pas comme évolutions syntaxiques ou phonétiques de ceux-ci – opèrent dans les textes de Beckett en tant que modalités po(ï)étiques de différenciation de sens. Autrement dit, la manière dont les unités lexicales sont inscrites dans leurs environnements intra-textuel (d’un texte donné) et intra-inter-textuel (d’une paire bilingue de textes correspondants) permet, voire requiert de les actualiser simultanément avec plusieurs significations, dont certaines sont originaires ou historiques. La dimension diachronique dans les deux langues offre ainsi à Beckett un outil d’accroissement du potentiel signifiant de ses textes.
Quand la maison devient papier, et le papier refuge
Authors: Domingues Clara
Published: August 2017

Le voyageur de nulle part, un exilé dénommé Alfred, élit domicile au dernier sous-sol de

l’aéroport Charles de Gaulle où il entasse des valises pleines de liasses de papiers et de journaux.

Car Alfred écrit tout autant qu’il fait écrire les journalistes intrigués par son personnage, et

l’intrication de son écriture et de celle des journalistes lui bâtit progressivement un refuge :

refuge mental de mots et refuge physique de papiers entassés, comme autant de protections face

à une société qui disloque la vie des humains au point que leur unique refuge ne soit plus que de

papier, et leurs livres des mots sur des feuillets volatiles.
La bibliothèque de Shéhérazade en voyage. Reprises et réécritures d’un livre-édifice dans la littérature algérienne contemporaine
Authors: Vitali Ilaria
Published: August 2017

Au carrefour de l’Orient et de l’Occident, la littérature algérienne de langue française a su s’approprier la bibliothèque du recueil des Mille et une Nuits pour en faire un espace scripturaire complexe. Véritable livre-édifice riche en symboles, le célèbre recueil a construit par sa structure un ensemble foisonnant de textes qui ont enchanté le lecteur et ont fait l’objet d’innombrables remaniements et emprunts. Il suffit de penser aux romans d’Assia Djebar, de Leïla Sebbar et plus récemment à ceux de Salim Bachi et de Mourad Djebel.

Nous proposons d’explorer l’étoilement de cette bibliothèque dans la littérature algérienne contemporaine, qui a su exploiter les étagères des Mille et une Nuits comme un véritable espace à habiter et à réinventer.
« Sans dieu ni maître » : brouillage des frontières ontologiques, temporelles et mythiques dans L’ogre de Grand Remous de Robert Lalonde
Authors: Brochot Viviane
Published: August 2017

Cet article se concentre sur les techniques qui ont été utilisées par Robert Lalonde pour repousser les limites

des frontières ontologiques et temporelles. C’est grâce à cette destruction minutieuse des frontières que

l’auteur remet en question non seulement le mythe dans lequel vivent les héros du roman, mais aussi celui de

l’American dream à la québécoise.
Médiamorphoses
Authors: Parayre Catherine
Published: August 2017

compte rendu
Demarcq, Jacques. Nervaliennes.
Authors: Hetzel Aurelia
Published: August 2017

Compte rendu
Marty, Éric. Pourquoi le XXe siècle a-t-il pris Sade au sérieux ?
Authors: Marion Dominic
Published: August 2017

Compte rendu
Roy, Joëlle. Xman est back en Huronie
Authors: Bonifaci Gabrielle
Published: August 2017

Roy, Joëlle. Xman est back en Huronie. Compte rendu
Introduction : Lectures contemporaines des littératures acadienne et franco-ontarienne
Authors: Hotte Lucie
Published: August 2017

Lectures contemporaines des littératures acadienne et franco-ontarienne
Le cidre aux pieds de pommes sales
Authors: Villeneuve Philippe
Published: August 2017

Villeneuve, Philippe. Création
Chen, Ying. Espèces
Authors: Savoie Paul
Published: August 2017

Chen, Ying. Espèces. Compte rendu
Le Dernier Frère de Nathacha Appanah: l’internement des Juifs à la prison de Beau-Bassin, à l’Ile Maurice - une subalternité oubliée par la grande histoire
Authors: Tirven-Gadum Vina
Published: August 2017

Le Dernier frère, publié aux Editions de l’Olivier en août 2007, est le roman le plus récent de Nathacha Appanah, jeune auteure Indo-Mauricienne. Il a remporté le Prix de la FNAC en 2007, le Prix Culture et Bibliothèques Pour Tous en 2008, le Prix des lecteurs du magazine français L’Express en 2008, aussi bien que le Prix des librairies du Québec en 2008. Le roman se concentre sur le destin des minorités souffrantes, des enfants victimes, de prolétaires exploités et de peuples humiliés qui se rejoignent dans la même situation de déportation et d’exil, presque tous victimes de situations qui les dépassent. En premier lieu, il s’agit du sort d’un millier d’émigrants juifs partis d’Europe centrale en 1940, refoulés par les autorités britanniques de Palestine et internés en prison à l’Ile Maurice pendant toute la durée de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale.
Adaptibility of tomato genotypes suitable for coastal region of Patuakhali in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan MN , Hasan MM , Haque MZ , Howlader MHK , Shanta UK
Published: August 2017

A field experiment was carried out at the Regional Horticultural Research Station, Lebukhali, Patuakhali, during the winter. The experiment was conducted to find out adaptive tomato genotypes suitable for coastal Patuakhali region considering their growth and yield performance. The genotypes of this experiment showed significant influence independently on different parameters of tomato plant. The maximum plant height (86.80 cm) was found in BARI tomato-3. The maximum primary (2.55), secondary (9.55) and tertiary branch (4.48) were obtained from BARI tomato-14. The maximum number of leaves (34.93) obtained from BARI tomato-14. The highest length of largest leaves (35.87 mm) was recorded in BARI tomato-3. The maximum number of flower clusters plant-1 (19.47), number of flowers cluster-1 (6.62), number of fruit cluster-1 (4.84), number of flowers plant-1 (126.3), number of fruits plant-1 (88.0), minimum date for 50% flowering(53.33), highest percentage of fruit setting (76.27), minimum days to first harvest (101.7) were obtained from BARI tomato-14. Moreover, BARI tomato-14 also performed better in respect of yield (3.51 kg/plant and 124.8 t/ha). It may therefore concluded that the genotype BARI tomato-14 showed better growth and yield performance under the coastal condition and suitable for Patuakhali region.Progressive Agriculture 28 (2): 84-91, 2017
Strength and weakness of existing traceability system of seafood production in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam MR , Rahman MM , Haque MM
Published: August 2017

Gher farming with shrimp and prawn (seafood) is blooming in the south-west region of Bangladesh, impacting positively on household level nutritional security, employment generation and foreign currency earning. Such positive impacts increased the importance of seafood production and trade to the international market from Bangladesh. Out of several food safety requirement of international market, seafood traceability is a key issue for Bangladeshi producers. To develop a traceability system about 200,000 gher farmers were registered by DoF with the support of UNIDO project and a paper based traceability system was developed since 2009. This study was designed to understand existing traceability system, trend of gher ownership changes and its impact on the traceability in term of its strength and weakness. Three gher farming clusters in three upazilas of Bagerhat district were selected to carry out this study to assess the facts above using focus group discussion, key informant interview, questionnaire survey, physical observation, and literature review. The micro-level observation on the gher and its ownership changes were critically analyzed taking the Google Earth images from the farming cluster in the selected upazilas. The study revealed that gher farming has huge positive impacts on total farm productivity, income, and farmers well-being however, land ownership changes impacting negatively on existing traceability of farms. It was found that out of 167 ghers in three clusters, a massive change of gher ownership happened over the last 10 years. Under this situation existing traceability system cannot sustain for a long time. Therefore, land administration system should be brought under digital system and e-traceability needs to be implemented by the collaborative initiative of the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Land.Progressive Agriculture 28 (2): 156-166, 2017
An Innovative Dual-Column System for Heavy Metallic Ion Sorption by Natural Zeolite
Authors: Ciosek Amanda , Luk Grace
Published: August 2017

This study investigates the design and performance of a novel sorption system containing natural zeolite. The apparatus consists of packed, fixed-bed, dual-columns with custom automated controls and sampling chambers, connected in series and stock fed by a metering pump at a controlled adjustable distribution. The purpose of the system is to remove heavy metallic ions predominately found in acid mine drainage, including lead (Pb2+), copper (Cu2+), iron (Fe3+), nickel (Ni2+) and zinc (Zn2+), combined in equal equivalence to form an acidified total 10 meq/L aqueous solution. Reported trends on the zeolite’s preference to these heavy metallic ions is established in the system breakthrough curve, as Pb2+ >> Fe3+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ >> Ni2+. Within a 3-h contact period, Pb2+ is completely removed from both columns. Insufficient Ni2+ removal is achieved by either column with the promptest breakthrough attained, as zeolite demonstrates the least affinity towards it; however, a 48.97% removal is observed in the cumulative collection at the completion of the analysis period. The empty bed contact times for the first and second columns are 20 and 30 min, respectively; indicating a higher bed capacity at breakthrough and a lower usage rate of the zeolite mineral in the second column. This sorption system experimentally demonstrates the potential for industrial wastewater treatment technology development.
Aging Characteristics of Rubber Modified Asphalts in Different Environmental Factors Combinations
Authors: Xiao Peng , Zheng Jiahui , Kang Aihong , Sun Lu , Wang Yingqian
Published: August 2017

Two kinds of rubber modified asphalts were investigated and compared with virgin asphalt. In order to get closer to engineering practice, different combinations of four environmental factors were merged into the laboratory aging simulation. Subsequently, conventional property tests, including softening point, viscosity, creep stiffness, creep rate, and fatigue cracking were conducted on asphalt samples. The performance difference of asphalt before and after aging was selected as an evaluation index for asphalt aging degree. The results indicate that two kinds of rubber modified asphalts show stronger resistant ability to temperature deformation and better resistance to traffic loading than virgin asphalt in all kinds of environmental factors combinations. Tests on chemical analyses were conducted to investigate the asphalt aging characteristics. The apparent morphology of rubber modified asphalts are described in detail under an environment scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The damage condition reflected in images reveals the aging degree caused by multiple environmental factors. Moreover, the thermogravimetric analysis (TG) confirms that three kinds of asphalts can maintain thermal stability in various environments. Additionally, new characteristic functional groups were not detected in the infrared (IR) spectra of rubber modified asphalts, which means they have stable antioxidant properties given that their oxidation degrees change slightly throughout the aging processes.
New Insights into the Short Pitch Corrugation Enigma Based on 3D-FE Coupled Dynamic Vehicle-Track Modeling of Frictional Rolling Contact
Authors: Li Shaoguang , Li Zili , Núñez Alfredo , Dollevoet Rolf
Published: August 2017

A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) dynamic frictional rolling contact model is presented for the study of short pitch corrugation that considers direct and instantaneous coupling between the contact mechanics and the structural dynamics in a vehicle-track system. In this study, we examine the system responses in terms of vibration modes, contact forces and the resulting wear with smooth rail and corrugated rail with progressively increasing amplitude to infer the conditions for consistent corrugation initiation and growth. Wear is assumed to be the damage mechanism, and short pitch corrugation is modeled using wavelengths from field observations of a Dutch railway. The contribution of this paper is a global perspective of the consistency conditions that govern the evolution of short pitch corrugation. The main insights are as follows: (1) the longitudinal vibration modes are probably dominant for short pitch corrugation initiation; (2) during short pitch corrugation evolution, the interaction and consistency between longitudinal and vertical modes should determine the development of short pitch corrugation, and once a certain severity is reached, vertical modes become dominant; and (3) in the case simulated in this paper, corrugation does not grow probably due to not only the different resulting main frequencies of the vertical and longitudinal contact forces, but also the inconsistency between the frequencies of the vertical and longitudinal vibration modes and the resulting wear. It is inferred that in the continuous process of initiation and growth of the corrugation, there should be a consistency between them, and this could be done by the control of certain track parameters.
Intrinsic Losses Based on Information Geometry and Their Applications
Authors: Rong Yao , Tang Mengjiao , Zhou Jie
Published: August 2017

One main interest of information geometry is to study the properties of statistical models that do not depend on the coordinate systems or model parametrization; thus, it may serve as an analytic tool for intrinsic inference in statistics. In this paper, under the framework of Riemannian geometry and dual geometry, we revisit two commonly-used intrinsic losses which are respectively given by the squared Rao distance and the symmetrized Kullback–Leibler divergence (or Jeffreys divergence). For an exponential family endowed with the Fisher metric and α -connections, the two loss functions are uniformly described as the energy difference along an α -geodesic path, for some α ∈ { − 1 , 0 , 1 } . Subsequently, the two intrinsic losses are utilized to develop Bayesian analyses of covariance matrix estimation and range-spread target detection. We provide an intrinsically unbiased covariance estimator, which is verified to be asymptotically efficient in terms of the intrinsic mean square error. The decision rules deduced by the intrinsic Bayesian criterion provide a geometrical justification for the constant false alarm rate detector based on generalized likelihood ratio principle.
A Novel Observer for Lithium-Ion Battery State of Charge Estimation in Electric Vehicles Based on a Second-Order Equivalent Circuit Model
Authors: Xia Bizhong , Zheng Wenhui , Zhang Ruifeng , Lao Zizhou , Sun Zhen
Published: August 2017

Accurate state of charge (SOC) estimation can prolong lithium-ion battery life and improve its performance in practice. This paper proposes a new method for SOC estimation. The second-order resistor-capacitor (2RC) equivalent circuit model (ECM) is applied to describe the dynamic behavior of lithium-ion battery on deriving state space equations. A novel method for SOC estimation is then presented. This method does not require any matrix calculation, so the computation cost can be very low, making it more suitable for hardware implementation. The Federal Urban Driving Schedule (FUDS), The New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), and the West Virginia Suburban Driving Schedule (WVUSUB) experiments are carried to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the SOC estimation error can converge to 3% error boundary within 30 seconds when the initial SOC estimation error is 20%, and the proposed method can maintain an estimation error less than 3% with 1% voltage noise and 5% current noise. Further, the proposed method has excellent robustness against parameter disturbance. Also, it has higher estimation accuracy than the extended Kalman filter (EKF), but with decreased hardware requirements and faster convergence rate.
Exploring PANI-TiN Nanoparticle Coatings in a PEFC Environment: Enhancing Corrosion Resistance and Conductivity of Stainless Steel Bipolar Plates
Authors: Sharma Surbhi , Zhang Kun , Gupta Gaurav , Santamaria Daniel
Published: August 2017

Electrochemically-deposited polymer-metal composites, although explored for various uses, have only recently attracted attention for metallic bipolar plates used in fuel cells. Utilising a facile electrochemical deposition process, composite polyaniline and titanium nitride nanoparticle (PANI-TiN) coatings of varying thickness (5–50 cyclic voltammetry cycles) and composition (TiN nanoparticle concentration, 0.1 g L−1 and 0.5 g L−1) were deposited on stainless steel 304L (SS304) substrates. As compared to the pristine PANI coatings, which displayed an interfacial contact resistance (ICR) value of 367.5 mΩ cm2 and corrosion resistance (Ecorr) of 214 mVSHE, the composite PANI-TiN0.5 coatings displayed significantly reduced ICR values of 32.6 mΩ cm2 while maintaining similar corrosion resistance. The superior properties of these thin (~10 nm) composite coatings with low TiN loading (0.05–0.1 mg cm−2) show potential for further improvement in ICR with the possible use of higher TiN (or slightly lower PANI) concentrations. The study also demonstrated an interesting dynamic between PANI and TiN simultaneous deposition where the concentration of TiN NPs negatively affects the deposition rate for PANI, allowing the deposition of even thinner PANI coatings and possibly enabling control over the composition of the composite coating. The TiN NPs not only impart better conductivity for use as bipolar plates but, at higher loading, also assist PANI in enhancing corrosion resistance. Even for the lowest number of coating cycles (five cycles), the PANI-TiN0.5 composite films showed a remarkable 48 mV shift towards more positive/higher corrosion potential (Ecorr = 5 mVSHE) with respect to PANI (Ecorr = −57 mVSHE). The coatings demonstrated a reduction in corrosion current density to values of ~0.5 µA cm−2 achieving beyond the DoE 2020 target of 1 µA cm−2.
c-di-AMP: An Essential Molecule in the Signaling Pathways that Regulate the Viability and Virulence of Gram-Positive Bacteria
Authors: Fahmi Tazin , Port Gary , Cho Kyu
Published: August 2017

Signal transduction pathways enable organisms to monitor their external environment and adjust gene regulation to appropriately modify their cellular processes. Second messenger nucleotides including cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (c-GMP), cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), and cyclic di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) play key roles in many signal transduction pathways used by prokaryotes and/or eukaryotes. Among the various second messenger nucleotides molecules, c-di-AMP was discovered recently and has since been shown to be involved in cell growth, survival, and regulation of virulence, primarily within Gram-positive bacteria. The cellular level of c-di-AMP is maintained by a family of c-di-AMP synthesizing enzymes, diadenylate cyclases (DACs), and degradation enzymes, phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Genetic manipulation of DACs and PDEs have demonstrated that alteration of c-di-AMP levels impacts both growth and virulence of microorganisms. Unlike other second messenger molecules, c-di-AMP is essential for growth in several bacterial species as many basic cellular functions are regulated by c-di-AMP including cell wall maintenance, potassium ion homeostasis, DNA damage repair, etc. c-di-AMP follows a typical second messenger signaling pathway, beginning with binding to receptor molecules to subsequent regulation of downstream cellular processes. While c-di-AMP binds to specific proteins that regulate pathways in bacterial cells, c-di-AMP also binds to regulatory RNA molecules that control potassium ion channel expression in Bacillus subtilis. c-di-AMP signaling also occurs in eukaryotes, as bacterially produced c-di-AMP stimulates host immune responses during infection through binding of innate immune surveillance proteins. Due to its existence in diverse microorganisms, its involvement in crucial cellular activities, and its stimulating activity in host immune responses, c-di-AMP signaling pathway has become an attractive antimicrobial drug target and therefore has been the focus of intensive study in several important pathogens.
Health Risks and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals in Dusts from Parks and Squares of an Industrial City in Semi-Arid Area of China
Authors: Han Xiufeng , Lu Xinwei , Qinggeletu  , Wu Yongfu
Published: August 2017

The contamination characteristics and health risk of barium (Ba), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) in samples of dust gathered from squares and parks of Baotou city, an industrial city situated in a semi-arid location of the northwest China were investigated. The contents of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, Pb, and Zn in the collected dust samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, while the contents of As and Hg in the dust were investigated by use of the ICP-MS. Further, cadmium was quantified through the atomic absorption spectrometry. Levels of contamination of heavy metals analyzed in the dust samples were evaluated using the Geo-Accumulation index (Igeo) as well as through a Pollution Load Index (PLI). Their health risks to children and adults were evaluated based on the US EPA model of health risk. The findings portrayed that the mean concentrations of Ba, Co Cr, Cu, Pb, V, Cd, and Hg were elevated as compared with their local soil background values. Mean values of Igeo illustrate the order of Co > Cr> Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Ba > V > Ni > Mn > Zn > As. It was evident that dusts from the parks and squares were “unpolluted” to “moderately polluted”. Assessment of health risk depicts that ingestion is the foremost route of exposure in regard to the heavy metals, then the dermal adsorption follows. Hg exposure from dust might also set impending health threats to children. Besides, the cancer risks of Co, Cr, Ni, Cd, and As are considered to be within the presently tolerable range.
Regulation of DNA Repair Mechanisms: How the Chromatin Environment Regulates the DNA Damage Response
Authors: Stadler Jens , Richly Holger
Published: August 2017

Cellular DNA is constantly challenged by damage-inducing factors derived from exogenous or endogenous sources. In order to maintain genome stability and integrity, cells have evolved a wide variety of DNA repair pathways which counteract different types of DNA lesions, also referred to as the DNA damage response (DDR). However, DNA in eukaryotes is highly organized and compacted into chromatin representing major constraints for all cellular pathways, including DNA repair pathways, which require DNA as their substrate. Therefore, the chromatin configuration surrounding the lesion site undergoes dramatic remodeling to facilitate access of DNA repair factors and subsequent removal of the DNA lesion. In this review, we focus on the question of how the cellular DNA repair pathways overcome the chromatin barrier, how the chromatin environment is rearranged to facilitate efficient DNA repair, which proteins mediate this re-organization process and, consequently, how the altered chromatin landscape is involved in the regulation of DNA damage responses.
The Role of Sphingolipids on Innate Immunity to Intestinal Salmonella Infection
Authors: Huang Fu-Chen
Published: August 2017

Salmonella spp. remains a major public health problem for the whole world. To reduce the use of antimicrobial agents and drug-resistant Salmonella, a better strategy is to explore alternative therapy rather than to discover another antibiotic. Sphingolipid- and cholesterol-enriched lipid microdomains attract signaling proteins and orchestrate them toward cell signaling and membrane trafficking pathways. Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of sphingolipids in the innate immunity against infecting pathogens. It is therefore mandatory to exploit the role of the membrane sphingolipids in the innate immunity of intestinal epithelia infected by this pathogen. In the present review, we focus on the role of sphingolipids in the innate immunity of intestinal epithelia against Salmonella infection, including adhesion, autophagy, bactericidal effect, barrier function, membrane trafficking, cytokine and antimicrobial peptide expression. The intervention of sphingolipid-enhanced foods to make our life healthy or pharmacological agents regulating sphingolipids is provided at the end.
Shear Bond Strength and Remineralisation Effect of a Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement on Artificial “Caries-Affected” Dentine
Authors: Zhao Irene Shuping , Mei May Lei , Zhou Zhuo Long , Burrow Michael Francis , Lo Edward Chin-Man , Chu Chun-Hung
Published: August 2017

This study investigated the effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP)-modified glass ionomer cement (GIC) on shear bond strength (SBS) and remineralisation of artificial “caries-affected” dentine. Human dentine slices were demineralised and allocated to three groups: group 1, conventional GIC; group 2, CPP-ACP-modified GIC; and group 3, resin-modified GIC. The SBS was measured using a universal testing machine (n = 16 per group). Remaining samples (n = 8 per group) were subjected to pH-cycling for 28 days. After pH-cycling, lesion depth and micro-mechanical properties at the sample-bonding interface were investigated using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and nano-indentation, respectively. The SBS for groups 1 to 3 were 4.6 ± 1.5 MPa, 4.2 ± 1.1 MPa, and 5.9 ± 1.9 MPa, respectively (p = 0.007; group 1, group 2 < group 3). Lesion depths determined by micro-CT for groups 1 to 3 were 186 ± 8 µm, 149 ± 14 µm, and 178 ± 8 µm, respectively (p < 0.001; group 2 < group 1, group 3). The mean (±SD, standard deviation) nano-hardness values for groups 1 to 3 were 0.85 ± 0.22 GPa, 1.14 ± 0.21 GPa, and 0.81 ± 0.09 GPa, respectively (p = 0.003; group 1, group 3 < group 2). The mean (±SD) elastic moduli for groups 1 to 3 were 1.70 ± 0.33 GPa, 2.35 ± 0.44 GPa, and 1.59 ± 0.13 GPa, respectively (p < 0.001; group 1, group 3 < group 2). The results suggest that the incorporation of CPP-ACP into GIC does not adversely affect the adhesion to artificial caries-affected dentine. Furthermore, CPP-ACP-modified GIC is superior to conventional GIC in promoting dentine remineralisation.
In-Field Habitat Management to Optimize Pest Control of Novel Soil Communities in Agroecosystems
Authors: Pearsons Kirsten , Tooker John
Published: August 2017

The challenge of managing agroecosystems on a landscape scale and the novel structure of soil communities in agroecosystems both provide reason to focus on in-field management practices, including cover crop adoption, reduced tillage, and judicial pesticide use, to promote soil community diversity. Belowground and epigeal arthropods, especially exotic generalist predators, play a significant role in controlling insect pests, weeds, and pathogens in agroecosystems. However, the preventative pest management tactics that dominate field-crop production in the United States do not promote biological control. In this review, we argue that by reducing disturbance, mitigating the effects of necessary field activities, and controlling pests within an Integrated Pest Management framework, farmers can facilitate the diversity and activity of native and exotic arthropod predators.
Algicidal Activity of Bacillamide Alkaloids and Their Analogues against Marine and Freshwater Harmful Algae
Authors: Wang Bo , Tao Yuanyuan , Liu Qisheng , Liu Na , Jin Zhong , Xu Xiaohua
Published: August 2017

Harmful algal blooms have become a great challenge to global aquatic ecosystems over the past decades. Given their low toxicity, high selectivity, and environment-friendly properties, the use of natural products and their analogues as algicides has proven to be particularly efficient. In the present study, algicidal activity of naturally occurring bacillamides A–C, alkaloid (1), and neobacillamide A, as well as their synthetic analogues were investigated intensively. Bioassay results showed that, relative to natural bacillamide alkaloids, aniline-derived analogue (10d) exhibited higher algicidal potential against three freshwater harmful algae Mycrocyctis aeruginosa, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Chlorella pyrenoidosa, suggesting that it could be used as a promising lead compound to develop novel algicide for controlling harmful algal blooms.
Effects of Vacuum-Carburizing Conditions on Surface-Hardened Layer Properties of Transformation-Induced Plasticity-Aided Martensitic Steel
Authors: Sugimoto Koh-ichi , Hojo Tomohiko , Mizuno Yuta
Published: August 2017

The effects of carbon potential in vacuum-carburization on the surface-hardened layer properties of the 0.2%C-1.5%Si-1.5%Mn-1.0%Cr-0.05%Nb transformation-induced plasticity-aided martensitic steel were investigated for the fabrication of precision gears. The volume fraction of retained austenite and hardness in the surface hardened layer of the steel increased with increasing carbon potential. Subsequent fine-particle peening enhanced the hardness and the compressive residual stress via severe plastic deformation and strain-induced martensite transformation, especially under a high carbon potential. The severe plastic deformation mainly contributed to increased hardness and compressive residual stress and the contribution of the strain-induced martensitic transformation was relatively small.
Reaction Mechanism and Distribution Behavior of Arsenic in the Bottom Blown Copper Smelting Process
Authors: Wang Qinmeng , Guo Xueyi , Tian Qinghua , Chen Mao , Zhao Baojun
Published: August 2017

The control of arsenic, a toxic and carcinogenic element, is an important issue for all copper smelters. In this work, the reaction mechanism and distribution behavior of arsenic in the bottom blown copper smelting process (SKS process) were investigated and compared to the flash smelting process. There are obvious differences of arsenic distribution in the SKS process and flash process, resulting from the differences of oxygen potentials, volatilizations, smelting temperatures, reaction intensities, and mass transfer processes. Under stable production conditions, the distributions of arsenic among matte, slag, and gas phases are 6%, 12%, and 82%, respectively. Less arsenic is reported in the gas phase with the flash process than with the SKS process. The main arsenic species in gas phase are AsS (g), AsO (g), and As2 (g). Arsenic exists in the slag predominantly as As2O3 (l), and in matte as As (l). High matte grade is harmful to the elimination of arsenic to gas. The changing of Fe/SiO2 has slight effects on the distributions of arsenic. In order to enhance the removal of arsenic from the SKS smelting system to the gas phase, low oxygen concentration, low ratios of oxygen/ore, and low matte grade should be chosen. In the SKS smelting process, no dust is recycled, and almost all dust is collected and further treated to eliminate arsenic and recover valuable metals by other process streams.
About the Genetic Mechanisms of Apatites: A Survey on the Methodological Approaches
Authors: Pastero Linda , Bruno Marco , Aquilano Dino
Published: August 2017

Apatites are properly considered as a strategic material owing to the broad range of their practical uses, primarily biomedical but chemical, pharmaceutical, environmental and geological as well. The apatite group of minerals has been the subject of a huge number of papers, mainly devoted to the mass crystallization of nanosized hydroxyapatite (or carboapatite) as a scaffold for osteoinduction purposes. Many wet and dry methods of synthesis have been proposed. The products have been characterized using various techniques, from the transmission electron microscopy to many spectroscopic methods like IR and Raman. The experimental approach usually found in literature allows getting tailor made micro- and nano- crystals ready to be used in a wide variety of fields. Despite the wide interest in synthesis and characterization, little attention has been paid to the relationships between bulk structure and corresponding surfaces and to the role plaid by surfaces on the mechanisms involved during the early stages of growth of apatites. In order to improve the understanding of their structure and chemical variability, close attention will be focused on the structural complexity of hydroxyapatite (HAp), on the richness of its surfaces and their role in the interaction with the precursor phases, and in growth kinetics and morphology.
The Interaction between Ca2+ and Molybdenite Edges and Its Effect on Molybdenum Flotation
Authors: Wan He , Yang Wei , Cao Weicheng , He Tingshu , Liu Yanying , Yang Jianbo , Guo Lin , Peng Yongjun
Published: August 2017

In this paper, the influence of Ca2+ on the flotation of a skarn type molybdenum ore and pure molybdenite mineral at pH 8 was studied using diesel as the collector. It was found that Ca2+ had little effect on molybdenum flotation at low concentrations. By further increasing Ca2+ concentration, the floatability of molybdenite—especially from the fine size fractions—was depressed even without the presence of fine gangue minerals. The mechanism responsible for the deleterious effect of Ca2+ on molybdenite flotation was studied by a range of techniques including zeta potential measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analyses and molybdenum phase analyses. It was found that Ca2+ interacted with molybdenite edges producing CaMoO4 precipitates which were responsible for the depression of molybdenite flotation of Ca2+ by preventing the adsorption of diesel.
A New Approach to Synthesize of 4-Phenacylideneflavene Derivatives and to Evaluate Their Cytotoxic Effects on HepG2 Cell Line
Authors: Chen Hongbin , Xu Yang , Zhang Yinan , Zheng Zongping
Published: August 2017

In this study, a convenient approach and green procedure for the synthesis of 4-phenacylideneflavenes has been developed from the reaction between 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and substituted acetophenones using boric acid as a catalyst in polyethylene glycol 400. Seven 4-phenacylideneflavenes were synthetized and their structures were confirmed by NMR and mass spectral analyses. Meanwhile, their possible mechanism of formation was also discussed. These products were found to have potential cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cell line with IC50 values from 12.5 to 50 µM.