bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Characterization and Expression Analyses of the Complement Component C8α, C8β and C9 Genes in Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) after the Aeromonas hydrophila Challenge
Authors: Zheng Huan , Ji Wei , Zhang Gui-Rong , Zhang Xiao-Ting , Shi Ze-Chao , Wei Kai-Jian , Yang Rui-Bin , Gardner Jonathan
Published: March 2016

The complement components C8α, C8β and C9 have important roles in the innate immune system against invading microorganisms. Partial cDNA sequences of the Pf_C8α, Pf_C8β and Pf_C9 genes (Pf: abbreviation of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) were cloned from yellow catfish. The Pf_C8α, Pf_C8β and Pf_C9 genes showed the greatest amino acid similarity to C8α (54%) and C8β (62%) of zebrafish and to C9 (52%) of grass carp, respectively. Ontogenetic expression analyses using real-time quantitative PCR suggested that the three genes may play crucial roles during embryonic and early larval development. The mRNA expressions of the three genes were all at the highest levels in liver tissue, and at lower or much lower levels in 16 other tissues, demonstrating that the liver is the primary site for the protein synthesis of Pf_C8α, Pf_C8β and Pf_C9. Injection of Aeromonas hydrophila led to up-regulation of the three genes in the spleen, head kidney, kidney, liver and blood tissues, indicating that the three genes may contribute to the host’s defense against invading pathogenic microbes. An increased understanding of the functions of the Pf_C8α, Pf_C8β and Pf_C9 genes in the innate immunity of yellow catfish will help enhance production of this valuable freshwater species.
Chemical Conditioning as an Approach to Ischemic Stroke Tolerance: Mitochondria as the Target
Authors: Jin Zhen , Wu Jinzi , Yan Liang-Jun
Published: March 2016

It is well established that the brain can be prepared to resist or tolerate ischemic stroke injury, and mitochondrion is a major target for this tolerance. The preparation of ischemic stroke tolerance can be achieved by three major approaches: ischemic conditioning, hypoxic conditioning and chemical conditioning. In each conditioning approach, there are often two strategies that can be used to achieve the conditioning effects, namely preconditioning (Pre-C) and postconditioning (Post-C). In this review, we focus on chemical conditioning of mitochondrial proteins as targets for neuroprotection against ischemic stroke injury. Mitochondrial targets covered include complexes I, II, IV, the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (mitoKATP), adenine dinucleotide translocase (ANT) and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). While numerous mitochondrial proteins have not been evaluated in the context of chemical conditioning and ischemic stroke tolerance, the paradigms and approaches reviewed in this article should provide general guidelines on testing those mitochondrial components that have not been investigated. A deep understanding of mitochondria as the target of chemical conditioning for ischemic stroke tolerance should provide valuable insights into strategies for fighting ischemic stroke, a leading cause of death in the world.
Effect of Initial Aluminum Alloy Particle Size on the Damage of Carbon Nanotubes during Ball Milling
Authors: Zhu Xian , Zhao Yu , Wu Min , Wang Hui , Jiang Qi
Published: March 2016

Damage to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during the fabrication process of CNT reinforced composites has great influence on their mechanical properties. In this study, the 2014 Al with powder sizes of 20, 9 and 5 μm was selected to study the effect of initial particle size on the damage to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during ball milling. The result shows that for CNTs in the ball milled CNT/Al (with powder size of 20 and 9 μm) mixtures, the intensity ratio of the D band and the G band (ID/IG) first increased and then reached a plateau, mainly because most of the CNTs are embedded, to a certain extent, in the aluminum powder after milling, which could protect the CNTs from damage during further milling. While for CNTs in the ball milled CNT/Al (with powder size of 5 μm) mixture, the ID/IG ratio continues to climb from 1.31 to 2.33 with time, indicating continuous damage to the CNTs occurs during the milling. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis demonstrates that the chemical instability increased with an increase in the damage level of CNTs, resulting in the formation of aluminum carbide (Al4C3) at a lower temperature before the melting of aluminum, which is detrimental to their mechanical properties.
Revealing the Dark Side of Portlandite Clusters in Cement Paste by Circular Polarization Microscopy
Authors: Çopuroğlu Oğuzhan
Published: March 2016

Plane and crossed polarization are the two standard light modes in polarized light microscopy that are widely used to characterize crystalline and amorphous phases in cement-based materials. However, the use of the crossed polarized light mode has been found to be restrictive for studying birefringent phases quantitatively due to the extinction phenomenon that arises depending on the crystal orientation. This paper introduces circular polarization microscopy as an alternative technique to overcome the extinction problem during the examination of cementitious materials’ microstructure with optical microscopy. In order to evaluate the feasibility of this technique, selected optical and micromorphological features of portlandite clusters were investigated in cement paste. Image analysis results showed that compared to the conventional crossed polarization technique, circular polarization offers significant advantages when portlandite quantification is of interest, and it stands out as a promising low-cost alternative to backscattered electron microscopy.
Compositional Design of Dielectric, Ferroelectric and Piezoelectric Properties of (K, Na)NbO3 and (Ba, Na)(Ti, Nb)O3 Based Ceramics Prepared by Different Sintering Routes
Authors: Eiras José , Gerbasi Rosimeire , Rosso Jaciele , Silva Daniel , Cótica Luiz , Santos Ivair , Souza Camila , Lente Manuel
Published: March 2016

Lead free piezoelectric materials are being intensively investigated in order to substitute lead based ones, commonly used in many different applications. Among the most promising lead-free materials are those with modified NaNbO3, such as (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) and (Ba, Na)(Ti, Nb)O3 (BTNN) families. From a ceramic processing point of view, high density single phase KNN and BTNN ceramics are very difficult to sinter due to the volatility of the alkaline elements, the narrow sintering temperature range and the anomalous grain growth. In this work, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) and high-energy ball milling (HEBM), following heat treatments (calcining and sintering), in oxidative (O2) atmosphere have been used to prepare single phase highly densified KNN (“pure” and Cu2+ or Li1+ doped), with theoretical densities ρth > 97% and BTNN ceramics (ρth - 90%), respectively. Using BTTN ceramics with a P4mm perovskite-like structure, we showed that by increasing the NaNbO3 content, the ferroelectric properties change from having a relaxor effect to an almost “normal” ferroelectric character, while the tetragonality and grain size increase and the shear piezoelectric coefficients (k15, g15 and d15) improve. For KNN ceramics, the results reveal that the values for remanent polarization as well as for most of the coercive field are quite similar among all compositions. These facts evidenced that Cu2+ may be incorporated into the A and/or B sites of the perovskite structure, having both hardening and softening effects.
Antimicrobials from Cnidarians. A New Perspective for Anti-Infective Therapy?
Authors: Mariottini Gian , Grice Irwin
Published: March 2016

The ability of microbes to counter the scientific and therapeutic advancements achieved during the second half of the twentieth century to provide effective disease treatments is currently a significant challenge for researchers in biology and medicine. The discovery of antibiotics, and the subsequent development of synthetic antimicrobial compounds, altered our therapeutic approach towards infectious diseases, and improved the quality and length of life for humans and other organisms. The current alarming rise in cases of antibiotic-resistance has forced biomedical researchers to explore new ways to recognize and/or produce new antimicrobials or to find other approaches for existing therapeutics. Aquatic organisms are known to be a source of compounds having the potential to play a role in fighting the battle against pathogenic microbes. In this connection, cnidarians occupy a pre-eminent role. Over the past few decades several studies have explored the antimicrobial/antibiotic properties of cnidarian extracts with the aim of isolating compounds possessing useful therapeutic features. This paper aims to review the existing data on this subject, taking into account the possible utilization of identified compounds.
Synthesis of New Bis(3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone) Ligands as Chelating Agents for Uranyl Complexation
Authors: Jin Bo , Zheng Rongzong , Peng Rufang , Chu Shijin
Published: March 2016

Five new bis(3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone) tetradentate chelators were synthesized in this study. The structures of these tetradentate chelators were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, and mass spectral analyses. The binding abilities of these tetradentate chelators for uranyl ion at pH 7.4 were also determined by UV spectrophotometry in aqueous media. Results showed that the efficiencies of these chelating agents are dependent on the linker length. Ligand 4b is the best chelator and suitable for further studies.
The Optimal Leaf Biochemical Selection for Mapping Species Diversity Based on Imaging Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhao Yujin , Zeng Yuan , Zhao Dan , Wu Bingfang , Zhao Qianjun
Published: March 2016

Remote sensing provides a consistent form of observation for biodiversity monitoring across space and time. However, the regional mapping of forest species diversity is still difficult because of the complexity of species distribution and overlapping tree crowns. A new method called “spectranomics” that maps forest species richness based on leaf chemical and spectroscopic traits using imaging spectroscopy was developed by Asner and Martin. In this paper, we use this method to detect the relationships among the spectral, biochemical and taxonomic diversity of tree species, based on 20 dominant canopy species collected in a subtropical forest study site in China. Eight biochemical components (chlorophyll, carotenoid, specific leaf area, equivalent water thickness, nitrogen, phosphorus, cellulose and lignin) are quantified by spectral signatures (R2 = 0.57–0.85, p < 0.01). We also find that the simulated maximum species number based on the eight optimal biochemical components is approximately 15, which is suitable for most 30 m × 30 m forest sites within this study area. This research may support future work on regional species diversity mapping using airborne imaging spectroscopy.
Forest Disturbances and Regrowth Assessment Using ALOS PALSAR Data from 2007 to 2010 in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR
Authors: Mermoz Stéphane , Le Toan Thuy
Published: March 2016

This paper aims to develop a new methodology for monitoring forest disturbances and regrowth using ALOS PALSAR data in tropical regions. In the study, forest disturbances and regrowth were assessed between 2007 and 2010 in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The deforestation rate in Vietnam has been among the highest in the tropics in the last few decades, and those in Cambodia and Lao are increasing rapidly. L-band ALOS PALSAR mosaic data were used for the detection of forest disturbances and regrowth, because L-band SAR intensities are sensitive to forest aboveground biomass loss. The methodology used here combines SAR data processing, which is particularly suited for change detection, forest detection and forest disturbances and regrowth detection using expectation maximization, which is closely related to fuzzy logic. A reliable training and testing database has been derived using AVNIR-2 and Google Earth images for calibration and validation. Efforts were made to apply masking areas that are likely to show different SAR backscatter temporal behaviors from the forests considered in the study, including mangroves, inundated forests, post-flooding or irrigated croplands and water bodies, as well as sloping areas and urban areas. The resulting forest disturbances and regrowth map (25-m resolution) indicates disturbance rates of −1.07% in Vietnam, −1.22% in Cambodia and −0.94% in Lao between 2007 and 2010, with corresponding aboveground biomass losses of 60.7 Tg, 59.2 Tg and 83.8 Tg , respectively. It is expected that the method, relying on free of charge data (ALOS and ALOS2 mosaics), can be applied widely in the tropics.
Measuring Surface Pressure on Rotating Compressor Blades Using Pressure Sensitive Paint
Authors: Pastuhoff Markus , Tillmark Nils , Alfredsson P.
Published: March 2016

Pressure sensitive paint (PSP) was used to measure pressure on the blades of a radial compressor with a 51 mm inlet diameter rotating at speeds up to 50 krpm using the so called lifetime method. A diode laser with a scanning-mirror system was used to illuminate the paint and the luminescent lifetime was registered using a photo multiplier. With the described technique the surface-pressure fields were acquired for eight points in the compressor map, useful for general understanding of the flow field and for CFD validation. The PSP was of so called fast type, which makes it possible to observe pressure variations with frequencies up to several kHz. Through frequency spectrum analysis we were able to detect the pulsating flow frequency when the compressor was driven to surge.
Perfringolysin O Theta Toxin as a Tool to Monitor the Distribution and Inhomogeneity of Cholesterol in Cellular Membranes
Authors: Maekawa Masashi , Yang Yanbo , Fairn Gregory
Published: March 2016

Cholesterol is an essential structural component of cellular membranes in eukaryotes. Cholesterol in the exofacial leaflet of the plasma membrane is thought to form membrane nanodomains with sphingolipids and specific proteins. Additionally, cholesterol is found in the intracellular membranes of endosomes and has crucial functions in membrane trafficking. Furthermore, cellular cholesterol homeostasis and regulation of de novo synthesis rely on transport via both vesicular and non-vesicular pathways. Thus, the ability to visualize and detect intracellular cholesterol, especially in the plasma membrane, is critical to understanding the complex biology associated with cholesterol and the nanodomains. Perfringolysin O (PFO) theta toxin is one of the toxins secreted by the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium perfringens and this toxin forms pores in the plasma membrane that causes cell lysis. It is well understood that PFO recognizes and binds to cholesterol in the exofacial leaflets of the plasma membrane, and domain 4 of PFO (D4) is sufficient for the binding of cholesterol. Recent studies have taken advantage of this high-affinity cholesterol-binding domain to create a variety of cholesterol biosensors by using a non-toxic PFO or the D4 in isolation. This review highlights the characteristics and usefulness of, and the principal findings related to, these PFO-derived cholesterol biosensors.
Rigid multipodal platforms for metal surfaces
Authors: Valášek Michal , Lindner Marcin , Mayor Marcel
Published: March 2016

In this review the recent progress in molecular platforms that form rigid and well-defined contact to a metal surface are discussed. Most of the presented examples have at least three anchoring units in order to control the spatial arrangement of the protruding molecular subunit. Another interesting feature is the lateral orientation of these foot structures which, depending on the particular application, is equally important as the spatial arrangement of the molecules. The numerous approaches towards assembling and organizing functional molecules into specific architectures on metal substrates are reviewed here. Particular attention is paid to variations of both, the core structures and the anchoring groups. Furthermore, the analytical methods enabling the investigation of individual molecules as well as monomolecular layers of ordered platform structures are summarized. The presented multipodal platforms bearing several anchoring groups form considerably more stable molecule–metal contacts than corresponding monopodal analogues and exhibit an enlarged separation of the functional molecules due to the increased footprint, as well as restrict tilting of the functional termini with respect to the metal surface. These platforms are thus ideally suited to tune important properties of the molecule–metal interface. On a single-molecule level, several of these platforms enable the control over the arrangement of the protruding rod-type molecular structures (e.g., molecular wires, switches, rotors, sensors) with respect to the surface of the substrate.
LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD NEAR-INFRARED SYNOPTIC SURVEY. II. THE WESENHEIT RELATIONS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE DISTANCE SCALE
Authors: Bhardwaj Anupam , Kanbur Shashi M. , Macri Lucas M. , Singh Harinder P. , Ngeow Chow-Choong , Wagner-Kaiser R. , Sarajedini Ata
Published: March 2016

We present new near-infrared (NIR) Cepheid period–Wesenheit (P–W) relations in the LMC using time-series observations from the Large Magellanic Cloud NIR Synoptic Survey. We also derive optical+NIR P–W relations using V and I magnitudes from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. We employ our new JHK

s
data to determine an independent distance to the LMC of

(statistical) mag, using an absolute calibration of the Galactic relations based on several distance determination methods and accounting for the intrinsic scatter of each technique. We also derive new NIR period–luminosity and Wesenheit relations for Cepheids in M31 using observations from the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury survey. We use the absolute calibrations of the Galactic and LMC

relations to determine the distance modulus of M31,

mag. We apply a simultaneous fit to Cepheids in several Local Group galaxies covering a range of metallicities (

dex) to determine a global slope of −3.244 ± 0.016 mag dex−1 for the

relation and obtain robust distance estimates. Our distances are in good agreement with recent TRGB based distance estimates and we do not find any evidence for a metallicity dependence in the NIR P–W relations.
HATS-17b: A TRANSITING COMPACT WARM JUPITER IN A 16.3 DAY CIRCULAR ORBIT*
Authors: Brahm R. , Jordán A. , Bakos G. Á. , Penev K. , Espinoza N. , Rabus M. , Hartman J. D. , Bayliss D. , Ciceri S. , Zhou G. , Mancini L. , Tan T. G. , de Val-Borro M. , Bhatti W. , Csubry Z. , Bento J. , Henning T. , Schmidt B. , Rojas F. , Suc V. , Lázár J. , Papp I. , Sári P.
Published: March 2016

We report the discovery of HATS-17b, the first transiting warm Jupiter of the HATSouth network. HATS-17b transits its bright (V = 12.4) G-type (

=

,

=

) metal-rich ([Fe/H] = +0.3 dex) host star in a circular orbit with a period of P =

days. HATS-17b has a very compact radius of

given its Jupiter-like mass of

. Up to 50% of the mass of HATS-17b may be composed of heavy elements in order to explain its high density with current models of planetary structure. HATS-17b is the longest period transiting planet discovered to date by a ground-based photometric survey, and is one of the brightest transiting warm Jupiter systems known. The brightness of HATS-17 will allow detailed follow-up observations to characterize the orbital geometry of the system and the atmosphere of the planet.
STAR FORMATION BLACK HOLE GROWTH AND DUSTY TORI IN THE MOST LUMINOUS AGNS AT Z = 2–3.5
Authors: Netzer Hagai , Lani Caterina , Nordon Raanan , Trakhtenbrot Benny , Lira Paulina , Shemmer Ohad
Published: March 2016

We report Herschel/SPIRE observations of 100 very luminous, optically selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at

with

(erg s−1) ≥ 46.5 , where

is λL

λ
at 1350 Å. The distribution in

is similar to the general distribution of Sloan Digital Sky Survey AGNs in this redshift and luminosity interval. We measured star-formation (SF) luminosity,

, and SF rate (SFR) in 34 detected sources by fitting combined SF and torus templates, where the torus emission is based on Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer observations. We also obtained statistically significant stacks for the undetected sources in two luminosity groups. The sample properties are compared with those of very luminous AGNs at

. The main findings are: (1) The mean and the median SFRs of the detected sources are

and

M
⊙ yr−1, respectively. The mean SFR of the undetected sources is 148 M
⊙ yr−1. The ratio of SFR to the black hole accretion rate is ≈80 for the detected sources and less than 10 for the undetected sources. Unlike a sample of sources at z ≃ 4.8 that we studied recently, there is no difference in

and only a very small difference in

between the detected and undetected sources. (2) The redshift distribution of

and

for the most luminous, redshift 2–7 AGNs are different. Similar to previous studies, the highest

are found at z ≈ 3. However, the

of such sources peaks at z ≈ 5. Assuming the objects in our sample are hosted by the most massive galaxies at those redshifts, we find that approximately 2/3 of the hosts are already below the main sequence of SF galaxies at z = 2−3.5. (3) The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of dusty tori at high redshift are similar to the shapes found in low redshift, low luminosity AGNs. Herschel upper limits put strong constraints on the long wavelength shape of the SED, ruling out several earlier suggested torus templates as applicable for this sample. (4) We find no evidence for a luminosity dependence of the torus covering factor in sources with

(erg s−1) = 44−47.5. This conclusion is based on the recognition that the estimated

in several earlier studies is highly uncertain and non-uniformally treated. The median covering factors over this range are 0.68 for isotropic dust emission and 0.4 for anisotropic emission.
SYNTHESIZING EXOPLANET DEMOGRAPHICS: A SINGLE POPULATION OF LONG-PERIOD PLANETARY COMPANIONS TO M DWARFS CONSISTENT WITH MICROLENSING, RADIAL VELOCITY, AND DIRECT IMAGING SURVEYS
Authors: Clanton Christian , Gaudi B. Scott
Published: March 2016

We present the first study to synthesize results from five different exoplanet surveys using three independent detection methods: microlensing, radial velocity, and direct imaging. The constraints derived herein represent the most comprehensive picture of the demographics of large-separation (≳2 AU) planets orbiting the most common stars in our Galaxy that has been constructed to date. We assume a simple, joint power-law planet distribution function of the form

with an outer cutoff radius of the separation distribution function of a
out. Generating populations of planets from these models and mapping them into the relevant observables for each survey, we use actual or estimated detection sensitivities to determine the expected observations for each survey. Comparing with the reported results, we derive constraints on the parameters

that describe a single population of planets that is simultaneously consistent with the results of microlensing, radial velocity, and direct imaging surveys. We find median and 68% confindence intervals of

(

),

(

),

(

), and

AU (

AU) assuming “hot-start” (“cold-start”) planet evolutionary models. These values are consistent with all current knowledge of planets on orbits beyond ∼2 AU around single M dwarfs.
TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE: CAN CORIOLIS FORCE BREAK THE SYMMETRY OF THE GRAVITATIONAL CONFINED DETONATION EXPLOSION MECHANISM?
Authors: García-Senz D. , Cabezón R. M. , Domínguez I. , Thielemann F. K.
Published: March 2016

Currently the number of models aimed at explaining the phenomena of type Ia supernovae is high and distinguishing between them is a must. In this work we explore the influence of rotation on the evolution of the nuclear flame that drives the explosion in the so-called gravitational confined detonation models. Assuming that the flame starts in a pointlike region slightly above the center of the white dwarf (WD) and adding a moderate amount of angular velocity to the star we follow the evolution of the deflagration using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code. We find that the results are very dependent on the angle between the rotational axis and the line connecting the initial bubble of burned material with the center of the WD at the moment of ignition. The impact of rotation is larger for angles close to 90° because the Coriolis force on a floating element of fluid is maximum and its principal effect is to break the symmetry of the deflagration. Such symmetry breaking weakens the convergence of the nuclear flame at the antipodes of the initial ignition volume, changing the environmental conditions around the convergence region with respect to non-rotating models. These changes seem to disfavor the emergence of a detonation in the compressed volume at the antipodes and may compromise the viability of the so-called gravitational confined detonation mechanism.
PLANETARY SIGNATURES IN THE SAO 206462 (HD 135344B) DISK: A SPIRAL ARM PASSING THROUGH VORTEX?
Authors: Bae Jaehan , Zhu Zhaohuan , Hartmann Lee
Published: March 2016

The disk surrounding SAO 206462, an 8 Myr old Herbig Ae star, has recently been reported to exhibit spiral arms, an asymmetric dust continuum, and a dust-depleted inner cavity. By carrying out two-dimensional, two-fluid hydrodynamic calculations, we find that a planetary-mass companion located at the outer disk could be responsible for these observed structures. In this model, the planet excites primary and secondary arms interior to its orbit. It also carves a gap and generates a local pressure bump at the inner gap edge where a vortex forms through Rossby wave instability. The vortex traps radially drifting dust particles, forming a dust-depleted cavity in the inner disk. We propose that the vortex is responsible for the brightest southwestern peak seen in infrared scattered light and sub-millimeter dust continuum emission. In particular, it is possible that the scattered light is boosted as one of the spiral arms passes through the high density vortex region, although the vortex alone may be able to explain the peak. We suggest that a planetary companion with a mass of 10–15

is orbiting SAO 206462 at 100–120 au. Monitoring of the brightest peak over the next few years will help reveal its origin because the spiral arms and vortex will show distinguishable displacement.
OSCILLATOR STRENGTHS OF VIBRIONIC EXCITATIONS OF NITROGEN DETERMINED BY THE DIPOLE (γ, γ) METHOD
Authors: Liu Ya-Wei , Kang Xu , Xu Long-Quan , Ni Dong-Dong , Yang Ke , Hiraoka Nozomu , Tsuei Ku-Ding , Zhu Lin-Fan
Published: March 2016

The oscillator strengths of the valence-shell excitations of molecular nitrogen have significant applicational values in studies of the Earth's atmosphere and interstellar gases. In this work, the absolute oscillator strengths of the valence-shell excitations of molecular nitrogen in 12.3–13.4 eV were measured by the novel dipole (γ, γ) method, in which the high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering is operated at a negligibly small momentum transfer and can simulate the photoabsorption process. Because the experimental technique used in the present work is distinctly different from those used previously, the present experimental results give an independent cross-check to previous experimental and theoretical data. The excellent coincidence of the present results with the dipole (e, e) and those that were extrapolated indicates that the present oscillator strengths can serve as benchmark data.
THE ISLANDS PROJECT. I. ANDROMEDA XVI, AN EXTREMELY LOW MASS GALAXY NOT QUENCHED BY REIONIZATION*
Authors: Monelli Matteo , Martínez-Vázquez Clara E. , Bernard Edouard J. , Gallart Carme , Skillman Evan D. , Weisz Daniel R. , Dolphin Andrew E. , Hidalgo Sebastian L. , Cole Andrew A. , Martin Nicolas F. , Aparicio Antonio , Cassisi Santi , Boylan-Kolchin Michael , Mayer Lucio , McConnachie Alan , McQuinn Kristen B. W. , Navarro Julio F.
Published: March 2016

Based on data aquired in 13 orbits of Hubble Space Telescope time, we present a detailed evolutionary history of the M31 dSph satellite Andromeda XVI, including its lifetime star formation history (SFH), the spatial distribution of its stellar populations, and the properties of its variable stars. And XVI is characterized by prolonged star formation activity from the oldest epochs until star formation was quenched ∼6 Gyr ago, and, notably, only half of the mass in stars of And XVI was in place 10 Gyr ago. And XVI appears to be a low-mass galaxy for which the early quenching by either reionization or starburst feedback seems highly unlikely, and thus it is most likely due to an environmental effect (e.g., an interaction), possibly connected to a late infall in the densest regions of the Local Group. Studying the SFH as a function of galactocentric radius, we detect a mild gradient in the SFH: the star formation activity between 6 and 8 Gyr ago is significantly stronger in the central regions than in the external regions, although the quenching age appears to be the same, within 1 Gyr. We also report the discovery of nine RR Lyrae (RRL) stars, eight of which belong to And XVI. The RRL stars allow a new estimate of the distance, (m − M)0 = 23.72 ± 0.09 mag, which is marginally larger than previous estimates based on the tip of the red giant branch.
REVEALING THE NATURE OF EXTREME CORONAL-LINE EMITTER SDSS J095209.56+214313.3
Authors: Palaversa Lovro , Gezari Suvi , Sesar Branimir , Stuart J. Scott , Wozniak Przemyslaw , Holl Berry , Ivezić Željko
Published: March 2016

Extreme coronal-line emitter (ECLE) SDSS J095209.56+214313.3, known by its strong, fading, high-ionization lines, has been a long-standing candidate for a tidal disruption event; however, a supernova (SN) origin has not yet been ruled out. Here we add several new pieces of information to the puzzle of the nature of the transient that powered its variable coronal lines: (1) an optical light curve from the Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey that serendipitously catches the optical flare, and (2) late-time observations of the host galaxy with the Swift Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT) and X-ray telescope (XRT) and the ground-based Mercator telescope. The well-sampled, ∼10 yr long, unfiltered LINEAR light curve constrains the onset of the flare to a precision of ±5 days and enables us to place a lower limit on the peak optical magnitude. Difference imaging allows us to estimate the location of the flare in proximity of the host galaxy core. Comparison of the GALEX data (early 2006) with the recently acquired Swift UVOT (2015 June) and Mercator observations (2015 April) demonstrates a decrease in the UV flux over a ∼10 yr period, confirming that the flare was UV-bright. The long-lived UV-bright emission, detected 1.8 rest-frame years after the start of the flare, strongly disfavors an SN origin. These new data allow us to conclude that the flare was indeed powered by the tidal disruption of a star by a supermassive black hole and that tidal disruption events are in fact capable of powering the enigmatic class of ECLEs.
THE NANOGRAV NINE-YEAR DATA SET: NOISE BUDGET FOR PULSAR ARRIVAL TIMES ON INTRADAY TIMESCALES
Authors: Lam M. T. , Cordes J. M. , Chatterjee S. , Arzoumanian Z. , Crowter K. , Demorest P. B. , Dolch T. , Ellis J. A. , Ferdman R. D. , Fonseca E. F. , Gonzalez M. E. , Jones G. , Jones M. L. , Levin L. , Madison D. R. , McLaughlin M. A. , Nice D. J. , Pennucci T. T. , Ransom S. M. , Siemens X. , Stairs I. H. , Stovall K. , Swiggum J. K. , Zhu W. W.
Published: March 2016

The use of pulsars as astrophysical clocks for gravitational wave (GW) experiments demands the highest possible timing precision. Pulse times of arrival (TOAs) are limited by stochastic processes that occur in the pulsar itself, along the line of sight through the interstellar medium, and in the measurement process. On timescales of seconds to hours, the TOA variance exceeds that from template-fitting errors due to additive noise. We assess contributions to the total variance from two additional effects: amplitude and phase jitter intrinsic to single pulses and changes in the interstellar impulse response from scattering. The three effects have different dependencies on time, frequency, and pulse signal-to-noise ratio. We use data on 37 pulsars from the North American Nanohertz Observatory for GWs to assess the individual contributions to the overall intraday noise budget for each pulsar. We detect jitter in 22 pulsars and estimate the average value of rms jitter in our pulsars to be

of pulse phase. We examine how jitter evolves as a function of frequency and find evidence for evolution. Finally, we compare our measurements with previous noise parameter estimates and discuss methods to improve GW detection pipelines.
Biological richness of a large urban cemetery in Berlin. Results of a multi-taxon approach
Authors: Buchholz Sascha , Blick Theo , Hannig Karsten , Kowarik Ingo , Lemke Andreas , Otte Volker , Scharon Jens , Schönhofer Axel , Teige Tobias , von der Lippe Moritz , Seitz Birgit
Published: March 2016

Urban green spaces can harbor a considerable species richness of plants and animals. A few studies on single species groups indicate important habitat functions of cemeteries, but this land use type is clearly understudied compared to parks. Such data are important as they (i) illustrate habitat functions of a specific, but ubiquitous urban land-use type and (ii) may serve as a basis for management approaches.

We sampled different groups of plants and animals in the Weißensee Jewish Cemetery in Berlin (WJC) which is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. With a total of 608 species of plants and animals, this first multi-taxon survey revealed a considerable biological richness in the WJC. In all, 363 wild-growing vascular plant, 72 lichen and 26 bryophyte taxa were recorded. The sampling also yielded 34 bird and 5 bat species as well as 39 ground beetle, 5 harvestman and 64 spider species. Some species are new records for Berlin.
Two new species of Prionomastix Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) with a key to Indian species
Authors: Krishnachaitanya Tirunagaru , Manickavasagam Sagadai
Published: March 2016

Species of Prionomastix Mayr were not known from India when Manickavasagam and Rameshkumar 2011 and Rameshkumar and Poorani 2015 misidentified a new species as P. siccarius. Now it is corrected by explaining the characters as to why it is new and not P. siccarius along with another new species. As we have one another new species, P. orientialis, described by Rameshkumar and Poorani 2015 our two new species are compared with P. orientalis also.

Two new species of Prionomastix Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), one from Bihar state and the other from Tamil Nadu state, India, are described viz., P. tamilnadensis sp. nov and P. biharensis sp. nov. and a key to all known Indian species is provided.
Aperçus sur la christologie de Thomas d’Aquin
Authors: Ols Daniel
Published: March 2016

L’article s’emploie à comparer la doctrine de l’Incarnation dans les trois grandes œuvres spéculatives de saint Thomas : Scriptum super Sententiis, Summa contra Gentiles, Summa theologiae . Il examine d’abord le plan suivi dans les trois ouvrages pour traiter ce thème ; puis la façon dont saint Thomas remédie à deux lacunes de la christologie du Lombard (convenances de l’Incarnation, mystères de la vie du Christ) ; ensuite, les deux opinions christologiques du Lombard rejetées par les docteurs parisiens et concernant, l’une, l’âme séparée du corps et, l’autre, la question de savoir si, durant le triduum mortis , le Christ était un homme ; enfin, dix-sept des articuli in quibus . Malgré son caractère pointilliste, cette recherche permet d’explorer les aspects essentiels de la christologie de saint Thomas, de souligner les progrès de sa pensée et aussi de relever quelques positions problématiques de son enseignement.
Pourquoi le Christ est-il descendu aux enfers ?
Authors: Vetö Étienne
Published: March 2016

Balthasar est connu pour sa vision radicale et controversée du descensus Christi , qui présente un Christ passif et souffrant, partageant jusqu’à la poena damni des réprouvés, pour sauver non pas seulement les justes de l’Ancienne Alliance mais tous les hommes. Le présent article se propose d’évaluer cette position. Pour ce faire, après une présentation synthétique de la thèse de Balthasar et de son cadre christologique et trinitaire, il opte pour une clef de compréhension sotériologique, qui seule peut rendre raison de la conception balthasarienne du Samedi saint. De fait, si le Christ nous sauve par représentation vicaire et si les enfers sont avant tout le « lieu » de la mort, le Sauveur doit assumer cette condition et le faire pour tous, par delà les limites de la temporalité de l’histoire. Cependant la sotériologie met aussi en lumière la contradiction interne que constituerait un partage du refus définitif de Dieu des réprouvés, car la représentation vicaire signifie au contraire obéissance et ouverture à Dieu pro nobis . À condition de le dégager de ce dernier aspect, l’enseignement de Balthasar peut constituer un apport appréciable à une compréhension plénière du descensus .
Intimacy Boundaries: Between Mental Health Nurses & Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Campbell R. Joan , Yonge Olive , Austin Wendy
Published: March 2016

This was the first research study in Canada to explore intimacy boundary violations and sexual misconduct between nurses (both RNs and registered psychiatric nurses) and patients. Using a researcher-generated survey, a total of 923 mental health nurses commented on their sexual attraction to patients, and dating and sexual intercourse patterns with patients. The findings indicated that very few nurses had dated or engaged in sexual intercourse with discharged patients, and the few nurses who had done so tended to be younger men prepared at the registered psychiatric nursing diploma level. A small number of nurses believed it was permissible to have a sexual relationship with a patient while the patient was hospitalized, but none reported having a current relationship. Given the severity of this intimacy boundary violation, nurses need to be educated regarding the serious and dangerous psychiatric effects that can result for patients from engaging in a sexual relationship with nurses. The Code of Ethics of the Canadian Nurses Association and nurses' obligation to follow it needs to be reinforced. Nurses engaging in intimacy boundary violations are vulnerable to patient-initiated lawsuits.
Optimization Algorithms in Local and Global Positioning
Authors: Montillet Jean-Philippe , Yu Kegen , Bonenberg Lukasz Kosma , Roberts Gethin Wyn
Published: March 2016

With the rise of large city and the need of large civil engineering structures and city planning, surveying industry improves continuously their instruments/software in order to get cm accuracy position anywhere. Moreover, since the boom of mobile phones in the late 90s, location has become very valuable information for security, emergency and commercial applications. Depending of the application, the location technologies vary based on the accuracy of the location and the price of the system, which delivers the location information to the user. For outdoor applications, Global Navigation Satellite System is the main candidate, whereas if the user/mobile node is indoors or in a narrow street other technologies will be preferred such as the ones based on Wi-Fi or radio-frequency signal.This chapter provides an overview of different positioning technologies used in geo-location together with their limits/advantages. This chapter studies also a number of algorithms developed to estimate the position coordinates of a static or mobile user or target.
Variable Selection in Multiple Linear Regression Using a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Trejos Javier , Villalobos-Arias Mario A. , Espinoza Jose Luis
Published: March 2016

In this article it is studied the application of a genetic algorithm in the problem of variable selection for multiple linear regression, minimizing the least squares criterion. The algorithm is based on a chromosomic representation of variables that are considered in the least squares model. A binary chromosome indicates the presence (1) or absence (0) of a variable in the model. The fitness function is based on the adjusted square R, proportional to the fitness for chromosome selection in a roulette wheel model selection. Usual genetic operators, such as crossover and mutation are implemented. Comparisons are performed with benchmark data sets, obtaining satisfying and promising results.
An Application of Alpha-Stable Distributions for the Economic Analysis of Unit Commitment
Authors: Marmolejo Jose Antonio , Rodríguez Román
Published: March 2016

In power systems, we still lack the existence of standardized test systems that can be used to benchmark the performance and solution quality of proposed optimization techniques. It is therefore necessary to develop new methods for design of test cases for economic analysis in power systems. We compared two methods to generate test systems: time series and a method for simulating stable random variables that can be used to multiperiod unit commitment based on the use of Chambers-Mallows-Stuck. Hence, after comparing both methods, we describe the method for simulating stable random variables in the generation of test systems for economic analysis in power systems. A study focused on generating test electrical systems through fat tail model for unit commitment problem in electrical power systems is presented. Usually, the instances of test systems in Unit Commitment are generated using normal distribution, but in this work, simulations data are based on alpha-stable distribution. Numerical results illustrate the applicability of the proposed method.
Hybrid Cuckoo Search Algorithm for Optimal Placement and Sizing of Static VAR Compensator
Authors: Nguyen Khai Phuc , Vo Dieu Ngoc , Fujita Goro
Published: March 2016

This chapter proposes a Hybrid Cuckoo search algorithm to determine optimal location and sizing of Static VAR Compensator (SVC). Hybrid Cuckoo search algorithm is a simple combination of the Cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) and Teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO), where the learner phase of TLBO is added to improve performance of Cuckoo eggs. The proposed method is applied for optimizing location and sizing of SVC in electric power system. This problem is a kind of discrete and combinatorial problem. The objective function considers loss power, voltage deviation and operational cost of SVC and other operating constraints in power system. Numerical results from three various tested systems show that the proposed method is better than the conventional CSA and TLBO in finding the global optimum solutions and its performance is also high than others.
Software Module Clustering Using Bio-Inspired Algorithms
Authors: Jeet Kawal , Dhir Renu
Published: March 2016

Nature has always been a source of inspiration for human beings. Large numbers of complex optimization problems have been solved by the techniques inspired by nature. Software modularization is one of such complex problems that have been encountered by software engineers. It is the process of organizing modules of a software system into optimal clusters. In this chapter, some bio-inspired algorithms such as bat, artificial bee colony, black hole and firefly algorithm have been proposed for the cause of software modularization. The hybrid of these algorithms with crossover and mutation operators of the genetic algorithm has also been proposed. All the algorithms along with their hybrids are tested on seven benchmark open source software systems. It has been evaluated from the results thus obtained that the hybrid of these algorithms proved to optimize better than the existing genetic and hill-climbing approaches.
Performances of Adaptive Cuckoo Search Algorithm in Engineering Optimization
Authors: Ong Pauline , Kohshelan S.
Published: March 2016

A new optimization algorithm, specifically, the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), which inspired by the unique breeding strategy of cuckoos, has been developed recently. Preliminary studies demonstrated the comparative performances of the CSA as opposed to genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization, however, with the competitive advantage of employing fewer control parameters. Given enough computation, the CSA is guaranteed to converge to the optimal solutions, albeit the search process associated to the random-walk behavior might be time-consuming. Moreover, the drawback from the fixed step size searching strategy in the inner computation of CSA still remain unsolved. The adaptive cuckoo search algorithm (ACSA), with the effort in the aspect of integrating an adaptive search strategy, was attached in this study. Its beneficial potential are analyzed in the benchmark test function optimization, as well as engineering optimization problem. Results showed that the proposed ACSA improved over the classical CSA.
Are Vietnamese Accounting Academics and Practitioners Ready for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)?
Authors: Phan Duc Hong Thi , Joshi Mahesh , Mascitelli Bruno
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this chapter is twofold. First, it reports the findings of a survey on the perception of Vietnamese accountants regarding the benefits and disadvantages of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as well as the potential costs and challenges of IFRS implementation. Second, it examines the differences in the perceptions of accounting academics and practitioners pertaining to IFRS adoption in Vietnam. Perceptions of Vietnamese accountants and academics were obtained and analysed from 3,000 mailing survey questionnaires across Vietnam in 2012. A total of 728 usable responses were received producing an effective response rate of 24 per cent. The respondents perceived that credibility and comparability are the most perceived benefits of IFRS reporting. Over-complexity and time-consumption are the most perceived disadvantages of IFRS reporting. Although IFRS reporting was perceived as being costly and challenging, surprisingly, the respondents were optimistic on the long-term benefits and two-thirds of the respondents showed their willingness to adopt IFRS.
Consequences of IFRS Adoption
Authors: Outa Erick R.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to review the consequences of IFRS adoption by reviewing circumstances under which the benefits and costs accrue to firms, countries and the world. Notwithstanding, all issues raised about the consequences, IFRS adoption has had positive consequences and no wonder nearly 120 countries around the world and significant markets have adopted it. The chapter contributes to our understanding of the importance of IFRS and its effects and it is important to regulators and parties involved with world economic stability.