bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Methodology to Support Decision-Making Towards an Energy-Efficiency Conscious Design of Residential Building Envelope Retrofitting
Authors: Konstantinou Thaleia
Published: November 2015

Over the next decade investment in building energy savings needs to increase, together with the rate and depth of renovations, to achieve the required reduction in building-related CO2 emissions. Although the need to improve residential buildings has been identified, guidelines come as general suggestions that fail to address the diversity of each project and give specific answers on how these requirements can be implemented in the design. During early design phases, architects are in search of a design direction to make informed decisions, particularly with regard to the building envelope, which mostly regulates energy demand. To result in an energy-efficient residential stock, this paper proposes a methodology to support refurbishment strategies design. The methodology, called “façade refurbishment toolbox (FRT) approach”, is based on compiling and quantifying retrofitting measures that can be also seen as “tools” used to upgrade the building’s energy performance. The result of the proposed methodology enables designers to make informed decisions that lead to energy and sustainability conscious designs, without dictating an optimal solution, from the energy point of view alone. Its applicability is validated through interviews with refurbishment stakeholders.
Non-Surgical Breast-Conserving Treatment (KORTUC-BCT) Using a New Radiosensitization Method (KORTUC II) for Patients with Stage I or II Breast Cancer
Authors: Ogawa Yasuhiro , Kubota Kei , Aoyama Nobutaka , Yamanishi Tomoaki , Kariya Shinji , Hamada Norihiko , Nogami Munenobu , Nishioka Akihito , Onogawa Masahide , Miyamura Mitsuhiko
Published: November 2015

The purpose of the present study was to establish a non-surgical breast-conserving treatment (BCT) using KORTUC II radiosensitization treatment. A new radiosensitizing agent containing 0.5% hydrogen peroxide and 0.83% sodium hyaluronate (a CD44 ligand) has been developed for intra-tumoral injection into various tumors. This new method, named KORTUC II, was approved by our local ethics committee for the treatment of breast cancer and metastatic lymph nodes. A total of 72 early-stage breast cancer patients (stage 0, 1 patient; stage I, 23; stage II, 48) were enrolled in the KORTUC II trial after providing fully informed consent. The mean age of the patients was 59.7 years. A maximum of 6 mL (usually 3 mL for tumors of less than approximately 3 cm in diameter) of the agent was injected into breast tumor tissue twice a week under ultrasonographic guidance. For radiotherapy, hypofraction radiotherapy was administered using a tangential fields approach including an ipsilateral axillary region and field-in-field method; the energy level was 4 MV, and the total radiation dose was 44 Gy administered as 2.75 Gy/fraction. An electron boost of 3 Gy was added three times. Treatment was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects in all 72 patients. No patients showed any significant complications other than mild dermatitis. A total of 24 patients under 75 years old with stage II breast cancer underwent induction chemotherapy (EC and/or taxane) prior to KORTUC II treatment, and 58 patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors also received hormonal therapy following KORTUC II. The mean duration of follow-up as of the end of September 2014 was 51.1 months, at which time 68 patients were alive without any distant metastases. Only one patient had local recurrence and died of cardiac failure at 6.5 years. Another one patient had bone metastases. For two of the 72 patients, follow-up ended after several months following KORTUC II treatment. In conclusion, non-surgical BCT can be performed using KORTUC II, which has three major characteristics: imaging guidance; enzyme-targeting; and targeting of breast cancer stem cells via the CD44 receptor.
Comparing World Economic and Net Energy Metrics, Part 2: Total Economy Expenditure Perspective
Authors: King Carey , Maxwell John , Donovan Alyssa
Published: November 2015

We translate between energetic and economic metrics that characterize the role of energy in the economy. Specifically, we estimate monetary expenditures for the primary energy and net external power ratio (NEPR direct ; NEPR, net external power ratio), a power return ratio of annual energy production divided by annual direct energy inputs within the energy industry. We estimate these on an annualized basis for forty-four countries from 1978 to 2010. Expressed as a fraction of gross domestic product (GDP), f e , GDP , the forty-four country aggregate (composing >90% world GDP) worldwide expenditures on energy decreased from a maximum of 10.3% in 1979 to a minimum of 3.0% in 1998 before increasing to a second peak of 8.1% in 2008. While the global f e , GDP fluctuates significantly, global NEPR direct declined from a value of 34 in 1980 to 17 in 1986 before staying in a range between 14 and 16 from 1991 to 2010. In comparing both of these metrics as ratios of power output over power input, one economic ( f e , GDP - 1 ) and one biophysical (NEPR direct ), we see that when the former divided by the latter is below unity, the world was in a low-growth or recessionary state.
Social Empowerment of Intellectually Impaired through a Cloud Mobile System
Authors: Freina Laura , Bottino Rosa , Ott Michela , Costa Filippo
Published: November 2015

There is not a unique definition of “empowerment”, nevertheless the idea that it involves, on the one hand, people having control over their own lives and, on the other, some social aspects seems to be a common characteristic. Most authors recognize three levels of empowerment: individual, group, and community level, which are interconnected and changes at one level influence the others. Enhancing individual competence and self-esteem has a direct effect on the control of one’s own life and, in turn, on the social components of empowerment. In this paper we present Smart Angel, a project that aims at creating a network involving families, caregivers, experts, and tutors, as well as the final users and their friends, based on a mobile cloud system in support of both everyday living and urban mobility for people with medium-mild intellectual disabilities, with particular attention to the Down syndrome. The system can be seen as a tool to empower its users to be more independent and therefore increasing their possibility to have an active role in their life and an active participation to the community.
Flash Flood Prediction by Coupling KINEROS2 and HEC-RAS Models for Tropical Regions of Northern Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hong , Degener Jan , Kappas Martin
Published: November 2015

Northern Vietnam is a region prone to heavy flash flooding events. These often have devastating effects on the environment, cause economic damage and, in the worst case scenario, cost human lives. As their frequency and severity are likely to increase in the future, procedures have to be established to cope with this threat. As the prediction of potential flash floods represents one crucial element in this circumstance, we will present an approach that combines the two models KINEROS2 and HEC-RAS in order to accurately predict their occurrence. We used a documented event on 23 June 2011 in the Nam Khat and the larger adjacent Nam Kim watershed to calibrate the coupled model approach. Afterward, we evaluated the performance of the coupled models in predicting flow velocity (FV), water levels (WL), discharge (Q) and streamflow power (P) during the 3–5 days following the event, using two different precipitation datasets from the global spectral model (GSM) and the high resolution model (HRM). Our results show that the estimated Q and WL closely matched observed data with a Nash–Sutcliffe simulation efficiency coefficient (NSE) of around 0.93 and a coefficient of determination (R2) at above 0.96. The resulting analyses reveal strong relationships between river geometry and FV, WL and P. Although there were some minor errors in forecast results, the model-predicted Q and WL corresponded well to the gauged data.
Characterization of La/Fe/TiO2 and Its Photocatalytic Performance in Ammonia Nitrogen Wastewater
Authors: Luo Xianping , Chen Chunfei , Yang Jing , Wang Junyu , Yan Qun , Shi Huquan , Wang Chunying
Published: November 2015

La/Fe/TiO2 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by Sol-Gel method and well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen-physical adsorption, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS). It is interesting that the doped catalysts were in anatase phase while the pure TiO2 was in rutile phase. In addition, the composites possessed better physical chemical properties in photocatalytic activity than pure TiO2: stronger visible-light-response ability, larger specific surface area, and more regular shape in morphology. The photodegradation results of ammonia nitrogen indicate that: the La/Fe/TiO2 had higher catalytic activity to ammonia nitrogen waste water compared pure TiO2 and the other single metal-doped TiO2. pH 10 and 2 mmol/L H2O2 were all beneficial to the removal of ammonia nitrogen by La/Fe/TiO2. However, the common inorganic ions of Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, HCO3−/CO32−, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in water all inhibited the degradation of ammonia nitrogen. By balance calculation, at least 20% of ammonia nitrogen was converted to N2 during the 64.6% removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen.
Maternal Prenatal Mental Health and Placental 11β-HSD2 Gene Expression: Initial Findings from the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study
Authors: Seth Sunaina , Lewis Andrew , Saffery Richard , Lappas Martha , Galbally Megan
Published: November 2015

High intrauterine cortisol exposure can inhibit fetal growth and have programming effects for the child’s subsequent stress reactivity. Placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2) limits the amount of maternal cortisol transferred to the fetus. However, the relationship between maternal psychopathology and 11β-HSD2 remains poorly defined. This study examined the effect of maternal depressive disorder, antidepressant use and symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnancy on placental 11β-HSD2 gene (HSD11B2) expression. Drawing on data from the Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study, placental HSD11B2 expression was compared among 33 pregnant women, who were selected based on membership of three groups; depressed (untreated), taking antidepressants and controls. Furthermore, associations between placental HSD11B2 and scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during 12–18 and 28–34 weeks gestation were examined. Findings revealed negative correlations between HSD11B2 and both the EPDS and STAI (r = −0.11 to −0.28), with associations being particularly prominent during late gestation. Depressed and antidepressant exposed groups also displayed markedly lower placental HSD11B2 expression levels than controls. These findings suggest that maternal depression and anxiety may impact on fetal programming by down-regulating HSD11B2, and antidepressant treatment alone is unlikely to protect against this effect.
TriFabs—Trivalent IgG-Shaped Bispecific Antibody Derivatives: Design, Generation, Characterization and Application for Targeted Payload Delivery
Authors: Mayer Klaus , Baumann Anna-Lena , Grote Michael , Seeber Stefan , Kettenberger Hubert , Breuer Sebastian , Killian Tobias , Schäfer Wolfgang , Brinkmann Ulrich
Published: November 2015

TriFabs are IgG-shaped bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) composed of two regular Fab arms fused via flexible linker peptides to one asymmetric third Fab-sized binding module. This third module replaces the IgG Fc region and is composed of the variable region of the heavy chain (VH) fused to CH3 with “knob”-mutations, and the variable region of the light chain (VL) fused to CH3 with matching “holes”. The hinge region does not contain disulfides to facilitate antigen access to the third binding site. To compensate for the loss of hinge-disulfides between heavy chains, CH3 knob-hole heterodimers are linked by S354C-Y349C disulphides, and VH and VL of the stem region may be linked via VH44C-VL100C disulphides. TriFabs which bind one antigen bivalent in the same manner as IgGs and the second antigen monovalent “in between” these Fabs can be applied to simultaneously engage two antigens, or for targeted delivery of small and large (fluorescent or cytotoxic) payloads.
Salivary Biomarkers in the Control of Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Authors: Doucoure Souleymane , Drame Papa
Published: November 2015

Vector control remains the most effective measure to prevent the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. However, the classical entomo-parasitological methods used to evaluate the human exposure to mosquito bites and the effectiveness of control strategies are indirect, labor intensive, and lack sensitivity in low exposure/transmission areas. Therefore, they are limited in their accuracy and widespread use. Studying the human antibody response against the mosquito salivary proteins has provided new biomarkers for a direct and accurate evaluation of the human exposure to mosquito bites, at community and individual levels. In this review, we discuss the development, applications and limits of these biomarkers applied to Aedes- and Anopheles-borne diseases.
Analysis of Dietary Pattern Impact on Weight Status for Personalised Nutrition through On-Line Advice: The Food4Me Spanish Cohort
Authors: San-Cristobal Rodrigo , Navas-Carretero Santiago , Celis-Morales Carlos , Brennan Lorraine , Walsh Marianne , Lovegrove Julie , Daniel Hannelore , Saris Wim , Traczyk Iwonna , Manios Yannis , Gibney Eileen , Gibney Michael , Mathers John , Martinez J.
Published: November 2015

Obesity prevalence is increasing. The management of this condition requires a detailed analysis of the global risk factors in order to develop personalised advice. This study is aimed to identify current dietary patterns and habits in Spanish population interested in personalised nutrition and investigate associations with weight status. Self-reported dietary and anthropometrical data from the Spanish participants in the Food4Me study, were used in a multidimensional exploratory analysis to define specific dietary profiles. Two opposing factors were obtained according to food groups’ intake: Factor 1 characterised by a more frequent consumption of traditionally considered unhealthy foods; and Factor 2, where the consumption of “Mediterranean diet” foods was prevalent. Factor 1 showed a direct relationship with BMI (β = 0.226; r2 = 0.259; p < 0.001), while the association with Factor 2 was inverse (β = −0.037; r2 = 0.230; p = 0.348). A total of four categories were defined (Prudent, Healthy, Western, and Compensatory) through classification of the sample in higher or lower adherence to each factor and combining the possibilities. Western and Compensatory dietary patterns, which were characterized by high-density foods consumption, showed positive associations with overweight prevalence. Further analysis showed that prevention of overweight must focus on limiting the intake of known deleterious foods rather than exclusively enhance healthy products.
Coleus forskohlii Extract Supplementation in Conjunction with a Hypocaloric Diet Reduces the Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight and Obese Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Loftus Hayley , Astell Katie , Mathai Michael , Su Xiao
Published: November 2015

Limited studies have shown that Coleus forskohlii extract may aid in weight management. This randomized, double blind placebo-controlled clinical study assessed the effects of supplementation with C. forskohlii extract on key markers of obesity and metabolic parameters in overweight and obese individuals. Thirty participants completed the trial and they were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg of C. forskohlii extract (n = 15) or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. All participants were advised to follow a hypocaloric diet throughout the study. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and waist to hip ratio, were monitored fortnightly. Dietary intake was assessed at the baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Appetite was assessed using visual analogue scales and blood samples were analyzed for plasma lipids, ghrelin, leptin, glucose and insulin at the baseline and end of the intervention. Significant reductions to waist and hip circumference (p = 0.02; p = 0.01, respectively) were recorded in both experimental and placebo groups after the 12 week intervention. Furthermore, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased (p = 0.01) in both groups. The experimental group showed a favorable improvement in insulin concentration and insulin resistance (p = 0.001; 0.01 respectively) compared to the placebo group. These findings suggest that C. forskohlii extract in conjunction with a hypocaloric diet may be useful in the management of metabolic risk factors.
Amino Acid-Modified Polyethylenimines with Enhanced Gene Delivery Efficiency and Biocompatibility
Authors: Zhang Qin-Fang , Luan Chao-Ran , Yin Dong-Xiao , Zhang Ji , Liu Yan-Hong , Peng Qi , Xu Yong , Yu Xiao-Qi
Published: November 2015

The development of gene delivery vectors with high efficiency and biocompatibility is one of the key points of gene therapy. A series of polycations were prepared from polyethylenimine (PEI) with several amino acids or their analogs. The target polymers have different charge and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties, which may affect their performance in the gene transfection process. Gel retardation and DLS assays showed that these polymers may condense DNA into nanoparticles with positive zeta potentials and proper sizes for cellular uptake. Luciferase reporter gene transfection results revealed their higher transfection efficiency than PEI; especially in the presence of serum, in which up to 23 times higher efficiency was achieved by employing glycolic acid-grafted PEI. Moreover, it was found that the degree of substitution on PEI has an apparent influence on the transfection, and the balance between electron-positive/negative groups largely affects the delivery process. The higher serum tolerance was also proven by BSA adsorption, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy assays. Results demonstrate that such type of polycations may serve as promising non-viral gene delivery vectors.
Effect of Thermal Distress on Residual Behavior of CFRP-Strengthened Steel Beams Including Periodic Unbonded Zones
Authors: Yoshitake Isamu , Tsuda Hisatsugu , Kim Yail , Hisabe Nobuhiro
Published: November 2015

This paper presents the residual behavior of wide-flange steel beams strengthened with high-modulus carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates subjected to thermal loading. Because the coefficients of thermal expansion of the steel and the CFRP are different, temperature-induced distress may take place along their interface. Periodic unbonded zones are considered to represent local interfacial damage. Five test categories are designed depending on the size of the unbonded zones from 10 to 50 mm, and corresponding beams are loaded until failure occurs after exposing to a cyclic temperature range of ΔT = 25 °C (−10 to 15 °C) up to 84 days. The composite action between the CFRP and the steel substrate is preserved until yielding of the beams happens, regardless of the thermal cycling and periodic unbonded zones. The initiation and progression of CFRP debonding become apparent as the beams are further loaded, particularly at geometric discontinuities in the vicinity of the unbonded zones along the interface. A simple analytical model is employed to predict the interfacial stress of the strengthened beams. A threshold temperature difference of ΔT = 30 °C is estimated for the initiation and progression of CFRP debonding. Multiple debonding-progression stages in conjunction with the extent of thermal distress appear to exist. It is recommended that high-modulus CFRP be restrictively used for strengthening steel members potentially exposed to a wide temperature variation range.
A Wavelet-Based Area Parameter for Indirectly Estimating Copper Concentration in Carex Leaves from Canopy Reflectance
Authors: Wang Junjie , Wang Tiejun , Shi Tiezhu , Wu Guofeng , Skidmore Andrew
Published: November 2015

Due to the absence of evident absorption features and low concentrations, the copper (Cu) concentration in plant leaves has rarely been estimated from hyperspectral remote sensing data. The capability of remotely-sensed estimation of foliar Cu concentrations largely depends on its close relation to foliar chlorophyll concentration. To enhance the subtle spectral changes related to chlorophyll concentration under Cu stress, this study described a wavelet-based area parameter (SWT (605−720), the sum of reconstructed detail reflectance at fourth decomposition level over 605−720 nm using discrete wavelet transform) from the canopy hyperspectral reflectance (350−2500 nm, N = 71) of Carex (C. cinerascens). The results showed that Cu concentrations had negative and strong correlation with chlorophyll concentrations (r = －0.719, p < 0.001). Based on 1000 random dataset partitioning experiments, the 1000 linear calibration models provided a mean R2Val (determination coefficient of validation) value of 0.706 and an RPD (residual prediction deviation) value of 1.75 for Cu estimation. The bootstrapping and ANOVA test results showed that SWT (605−720) significantly (p < 0.05) outperformed published chlorophyll-related and wavelet-based spectral parameters. It was concluded here that the wavelet-based area parameter (i.e., SWT (605−720)) has potential ability to indirectly estimate Cu concentrations in Carex leaves through the strong correlation between Cu and chlorophyll. The method presented in this pilot study may be used to estimate the concentrations of other heavy metals. However, further research is needed to test its transferability and robustness for estimating Cu concentrations on other plant species in different biological and environmental conditions.
An Intrusion Detection System Based on Multi-Level Clustering for Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Butun Ismail , Ra In-Ho , Sankar Ravi
Published: November 2015

In this work, an intrusion detection system (IDS) framework based on multi-level clustering for hierarchical wireless sensor networks is proposed. The framework employs two types of intrusion detection approaches: (1) “downward-IDS (D-IDS)” to detect the abnormal behavior (intrusion) of the subordinate (member) nodes; and (2) “upward-IDS (U-IDS)” to detect the abnormal behavior of the cluster heads. By using analytical calculations, the optimum parameters for the D-IDS (number of maximum hops) and U-IDS (monitoring group size) of the framework are evaluated and presented.
A Mode Matched Triaxial Vibratory Wheel Gyroscope with Fully Decoupled Structure
Authors: Xia Dunzhu , Kong Lun , Gao Haiyu
Published: November 2015

To avoid the oscillation of four unequal masses seen in previous triaxial linear gyroscopes, a modified silicon triaxial gyroscope with a rotary wheel is presented in this paper. To maintain a large sensitivity and suppress the coupling of different modes, this novel gyroscope structure is designed be perfectly symmetrical with a relatively large size of about 9.8 mm × 9.8 mm. It is available for differentially detecting three-axis angular rates simultaneously. To overcome the coupling between drive and sense modes, numerous necessary frames, beams, and anchors are delicately figured out and properly arranged. Besides, some frequency tuning and feedback mechanisms are addressed in the case of post processing after fabrication. To facilitate mode matched function, a new artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFSA) performed faster than particle swarm optimization (PSO) with a frequency split of 108 Hz. Then, by entrusting the post adjustment of the springs dimensions to the finite element method (FEM) software ANSYS, the final frequency splits can be below 3 Hz. The simulation results demonstrate that the modal frequencies in drive and different sense modes are respectively 8001.1, 8002.6, 8002.8 and 8003.3 Hz. Subsequently, different axis cross coupling effects and scale factors are also analyzed. The simulation results effectively validate the feasibility of the design and relevant theoretical calculation.
Hiding the Source Based on Limited Flooding for Sensor Networks
Authors: Chen Juan , Lin Zhengkui , Hu Ying , Wang Bailing
Published: November 2015

Wireless sensor networks are widely used to monitor valuable objects such as rare animals or armies. Once an object is detected, the source, i.e., the sensor nearest to the object, generates and periodically sends a packet about the object to the base station. Since attackers can capture the object by localizing the source, many protocols have been proposed to protect source location. Instead of transmitting the packet to the base station directly, typical source location protection protocols first transmit packets randomly for a few hops to a phantom location, and then forward the packets to the base station. The problem with these protocols is that the generated phantom locations are usually not only near the true source but also close to each other. As a result, attackers can easily trace a route back to the source from the phantom locations. To address the above problem, we propose a new protocol for source location protection based on limited flooding, named SLP. Compared with existing protocols, SLP can generate phantom locations that are not only far away from the source, but also widely distributed. It improves source location security significantly with low communication cost. We further propose a protocol, namely SLP-E, to protect source location against more powerful attackers with wider fields of vision. The performance of our SLP and SLP-E are validated by both theoretical analysis and simulation results.
Imposed Hispanicity: How the Imposition of Racialized and Gendered Identities in Texas Affects Mexican Women in Romantic Relationships with White Men
Authors: Guillén Jennifer
Published: November 2015

Intimate, romantic spaces are important sites for the examination of self-identification and perceived identification, especially with regard to gender and racial power. In this article I examine how white men in romantic relationships or marriages with Mexican women and residing in Texas, impose “Hispanic” as a racial identity as a discursive tactic that reinforces the hegemonic power of being white and being a man in order to define the situation, impose ideals that distance Mexican partners from being “too ethnic” or “threatening” in order to achieve closer proximity to “honorary whiteness” and acceptability of racial others, and creates a romantic space that is coercive instead of loving and safe. This study thus finds that white men used their hegemony to not only employ imposed Hispanicity, which I define as an institutionally created but culturally and institutionally imposed label, and an action based on the use of direct and indirect coercion and force by others, in this case, white romantic partners, for the purpose of establishing power and determining the situation in which racial definitions are made. Therefore, “Hispanic” becomes an identity that is chosen by others and while participants of Mexican descent do employ agency, the socially imposed conditions and expectations associated with “Hispanic” serve to police the identities, bodies, lives, and actions of people of Latin American descent.
Impact of Electric Vehicles as Distributed Energy Storage in Isolated Systems: The Case of Tenerife
Authors: Díaz Alfredo , Ramos-Real Francisco , Marrero Gustavo , Perez Yannick
Published: November 2015

Isolated regions are highly dependent on fossil fuels. The use of endogenous sources and the improvement in energy efficiency in all of the consumption activities are the two main ways to reduce the dependence of petroleum-derived fuels. Tenerife offers an excellent renewable resource (hours of sun and wind). However, the massive development of these technologies could cause important operational problems within the electric power grids, because of the small size of the system. In this paper, we explore the option of coupling an electric vehicle fleet as a distributed energy storage system to increase the participation of renewables in an isolated power system, i.e., Tenerife Island. A model simulator has been used to evaluate five key outputs, that is the renewable share, the energy spilled, the CO2 emissions, the levelized cost of generating electricity and fuel dependence, under alternative scenarios. Comparing to the current situation, combining a gradual renewable installed capacity and the introduction of an electric vehicle fleet using alternative charging strategies, a total of 30 different scenarios have been evaluated. Results shows that the impact of 50,000 electric vehicles would increase the renewable share in the electricity mix of the island up to 30%, reduce CO2 emissions by 27%, the total cost of electric generation by 6% and the oil internal market by 16%.
Antiviral Activity of Porcine Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 against Swine Viruses in Cell Culture
Authors: Li Yongtao , Chang Hongtao , Yang Xia , Zhao Yongxiang , Chen Lu , Wang Xinwei , Liu Hongying , Wang Chuanqing , Zhao Jun
Published: November 2015

Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), as an important transcription factor, is abundantly induced upon virus infections and participates in host antiviral immune responses. However, the roles of porcine IRF1 (poIRF1) in host antiviral defense remain poorly understood. In this study, we determined that poIRF1 was upregulated upon infection with viruses and distributed in nucleus in porcine PK-15 cells. Subsequently, we tested the antiviral activities of poIRF1 against several swine viruses in cells. Overexpression of poIRF1 can efficiently suppress the replication of viruses, and knockdown of poIRF1 promotes moderately viral replication. Interestingly, overexpression of poIRF1 enhances dsRNA-induced IFN-β and IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter activation, whereas knockdown of poIRF1 cannot significantly affect the activation of IFN-β promoter induced by RNA viruses. This study suggests that poIRF1 plays a significant role in cellular antiviral response against swine viruses, but might be dispensable for IFN-β induction triggered by RNA viruses in PK-15 cells. Given these results, poIRF1 plays potential roles in cellular antiviral responses against swine viruses.
Efficacy of a Trivalent Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Vaccine against Enterovirus 71 and Coxsackieviruses A16 and A6 in Mice
Authors: Caine Elizabeth , Fuchs Jeremy , Das Subash , Partidos Charalambos , Osorio Jorge
Published: November 2015

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has recently emerged as a major public health concern across the Asian-Pacific region. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) are the primary causative agents of HFMD, but other members of the Enterovirus A species, including Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6), can cause disease. The lack of small animal models for these viruses have hampered the development of a licensed HFMD vaccine or antivirals. We have previously reported on the development of a mouse model for EV71 and demonstrated the protective efficacy of an inactivated EV71 vaccine candidate. Here, mouse-adapted strains of CVA16 and CVA6 were produced by sequential passage of the viruses through mice deficient in interferon (IFN) α/β (A129) and α/β and γ (AG129) receptors. Adapted viruses were capable of infecting 3 week-old A129 (CVA6) and 12 week-old AG129 (CVA16) mice. Accordingly, these models were used in active and passive immunization studies to test the efficacy of a trivalent vaccine candidate containing inactivated EV71, CVA16, and CVA6. Full protection from lethal challenge against EV71 and CVA16 was observed in trivalent vaccinated groups. In contrast, monovalent vaccinated groups with non-homologous challenges failed to cross protect. Protection from CVA6 challenge was accomplished through a passive transfer study involving serum raised against the trivalent vaccine. These animal models will be useful for future studies on HFMD related pathogenesis and the efficacy of vaccine candidates.
Coupled Heuristic Prediction of Long Lead-Time Accumulated Total Inflow of a Reservoir during Typhoons Using Deterministic Recurrent and Fuzzy Inference-Based Neural Network
Authors: Huang Chien-Lin , Hsu Nien-Sheng , Wei Chih-Chiang
Published: November 2015

This study applies Real-Time Recurrent Learning Neural Network (RTRLNN) and Adaptive Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) with novel heuristic techniques to develop an advanced prediction model of accumulated total inflow of a reservoir in order to solve the difficulties of future long lead-time highly varied uncertainty during typhoon attacks while using a real-time forecast. For promoting the temporal-spatial forecasted precision, the following original specialized heuristic inputs were coupled: observed-predicted inflow increase/decrease (OPIID) rate, total precipitation, and duration from current time to the time of maximum precipitation and direct runoff ending (DRE). This study also investigated the temporal-spatial forecasted error feature to assess the feasibility of the developed models, and analyzed the output sensitivity of both single and combined heuristic inputs to determine whether the heuristic model is susceptible to the impact of future forecasted uncertainty/errors. Validation results showed that the long lead-time–predicted accuracy and stability of the RTRLNN-based accumulated total inflow model are better than that of the ANFIS-based model because of the real-time recurrent deterministic routing mechanism of RTRLNN. Simulations show that the RTRLNN-based model with coupled heuristic inputs (RTRLNN-CHI, average error percentage (AEP)/average forecast lead-time (AFLT): 6.3%/49 h) can achieve better prediction than the model with non-heuristic inputs (AEP of RTRLNN-NHI and ANFIS-NHI: 15.2%/31.8%) because of the full consideration of real-time hydrological initial/boundary conditions. Besides, the RTRLNN-CHI model can promote the forecasted lead-time above 49 h with less than 10% of AEP which can overcome the previous forecasted limits of 6-h AFLT with above 20%–40% of AEP.
Tonal and Morphological Identity in Reduplication
Authors: Kaplan Aaron F.
Published: November 2015

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Polarity Sensitivity in Inflectional Morphology
Authors: Levinson Dmitry
Published: November 2015

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Prosody and Utterance Boundaries in American Sign Language Interpretation
Authors: Nicodemus Brenda , Smith Caroline L.
Published: November 2015

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Some Remarks on the Morphosemantics of Multiple Causative Sequences
Authors: Peterson Tyler
Published: November 2015

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Unergative Verbs in Norwegian Intransitive Expletive Constructions
Authors: Stensrud Kjersti G.
Published: November 2015

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The Effect of Decreased Audibility on MMSE Performance: A Measure Commonly Used for Diagnosing Dementia
Authors: Jorgensen Lindsey E. , Palmer Catherine V. , Pratt Sheila , Erickson Kirk I. , Moncrieff Deborah
Published: November 2015

Background:Hearing loss and dementia are both prevalent in late adulthood. The most common test used to determine cognitive status in late adulthood, the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), is presented face to face, usually in the context of the physician’s office
in the presence of background noise. Despite the problems of hearing loss and cognitive problems in late life, there is an absence of evidence linking hearing-related deficits to performance on the MMSE and dementia diagnoses.Purpose:This study examined the effect of decreased audibility
on performance on the MMSE.Research Design:A between-subjects design was implemented. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five degrees of simulated hearing loss conditions and were blinded to condition assignment.Study Sample:One hundred and twenty-five young normal-hearing
participants were randomized into five conditions of varying degrees of simulated hearing loss.Data Collection and Analysis:Performance on the MMSE was scored and cognitive status was categorized based on the scores. Analysis of variance with conditions as a between-subjects factor
was conducted with post hoc multiple comparisons to determine the effect of audibility on performance.Results:Reduced audibility significantly affected performance on the MMSE in a sample of young adults, resulting in greater apparent cognitive deficits as audibility decreased.Conclusions:Apparent
cognitive deficits based on MMSE scores obtained in test conditions in which audibility is reduced could result in incorrectly identified cognitive loss if clinicians are not alert to hearing loss when patients are evaluated. Furthermore, health care providers should be cautious when using
family report of cognitive impairment to diagnose dementia without accounting for hearing loss because the impression of family members may be based on misinterpretation of the effects of hearing loss.
Commuting : le passage d’un problème de la sphère individuelle au champ du groupe
Authors: Neri Claudio
Published: November 2015

Le travail analytique de groupe est caractérisé par la centralité du passage de fantasmes, de pensées et de problèmes de la sphère individuelle au champ du groupe. L’importance de ce passage peut être assimilée à celle que revêtent, dans l’analyse duelle, le transfert et le passage de l’inconscient au préconscient et au conscient. J’ai choisi le terme commuting pour indiquer l’ensemble des opérations liées à ce passage. Dans l’anglais courant, un c ommuter est une personne qui vit en banlieue et qui se rend chaque jour en ville pour travailler. Les commuters font la navette dans les deux sens. Dans le petit groupe à visée psychanalytique, pour qu’un commuting puisse avoir lieu, il faut du temps, des efforts et un certain degré de créativité. Dans certains cas, il faut également que la personne « qui souhaite partager un problème » modifie préalablement sa position et son statut à l’intérieur du groupe.
Le travail psychique de rêverie et de figurabilité en psychanalyse groupale et familiale
Authors: Benghozi Pierre
Published: November 2015

Le travail psychanalytique groupal de corêverie donne accès à une figurabilité onirique de l’inconscient et permet un travail d’élaboration d’un matériel psychique qui ne peut être rêvé. L’émergence d’un néo-contenant narratif groupal est supplétif des failles de la contenance psychique. Nous sommes concernés dans l’espace du préconscient groupal par la production progrédiente de ces figurations narratives imaginaires, comme étayage à la production de proto-enveloppes formelles de représentation, en amont du travail de symbolisation. Des exemples cliniques illustrent l’importance du travail groupal de corêverie, et l’intérêt de l’utilisation du spatiogramme figurant l’espace vécu par exemple de la maison comme une forme de médiation narrative à la figurabilité des empreintes psychiques.
« La Formation à la relation thérapeutique » en faculté de médecine. Comment la psychanalyse peut-elle créer un espace transitionnel entre malade et médecin ?
Authors: Fabre Martine
Published: November 2015

L’expérience de groupe menée avec les internes de médecine générale à la Faculté Paris Descartes dans un module nommé « Formation à la relation thérapeutique » a permis de dégager la notion d’ambivalence comme un passage nécessaire au dégagement trop réducteur de la pensée médicale, vers un assouplissement de la relation médecin-malade ; la reconnaissance par le groupe de cette évidence permet une amélioration de l’écoute. La notion d’ambivalence se retrouve au sein de diverses articulations dynamiques. Elle est censée amortir toute forme d’excès et censée faire rebondir tous les mouvements plus ou moins inconscients qui se forment, s’allient, se délient dans un groupe de parole clinique. L’ambivalence permet un dégagement, une expression du négatif, et un recul dans un espace transitionnel où la subjectivation peut s’amorcer et permettre une meilleure approche entre soignant-soigné.
A dimensão territorial da inovação e sustentabilidade no território de cachaça e dos derivados da cana – Litoral Norte do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Flores Shana Sabbado
Published: November 2015

O artigo tem como objetivo analisar o território da “Cachaça e Derivados da Cana”, no município de Santo Antônio da Patrulha (RS), observando fatores que contribuem para processos de inovação e sustentabilidade no território. O município se destaca por um perfil diferenciado em uma das regiões mais pobres do estado, e possui PIB per capta quase duas vezes superior à média do Litoral Norte. A inserção da cana de açúcar no estado se deu no séc XVIII, de forma tardia quando comparada ao resto do país; uma especificidade do RS é a estruturação em minifúndios, voltados para a produção artesanal de derivados da cana para atender ao mercado interno. No séc XIX ocorre o reconhecimento da região como produtora de açúcar, em uma perspectiva industrial. Após sucessivas crises, o território resgata características e tradições locais que dão início, na década de 1980, às fábricas de doces a base de açúcar mascavo e melado e, mais tarde, os alambiques nos anos 1990. Assim, se reinventando e utilizando os recursos e tradições locais o setor garantiu a sua continuidade. O processo de inovação com base territorial foi definitivo para garantir a sustentabilidade do território. Hoje, o arranjo produtivo é uma rede institucionalizada, reconhecida e apoiada por políticas públicas do estado. Os processos de inovação com base territorial ocorrem dentro das empresas, mas também em sua organização e relação com o território. Os fatores locais atrelados a produtos e processos conferem características específicas aos produtos, assim como, a cultura entre as instituições, bem como os produtos desse terroir, também atuam de modo à reforçar a identidade local. São pontos de estabilidade que permitem releituras e a inovação, trazendo propostas para melhor utilizar os recursos territoriais e garantir, assim, sua sustentabilidade, em escopo amplo.
A região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro na atualidade: recuperação econômica e reestruturação espacial
Authors: Silva Oséias Teixeira Da
Published: November 2015

O presente trabalho pretende ser uma contribuição ao debate sobre a reestruturação metropolitana, tendo como referência da análise a região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. A seguir descrevemos o caminho que percorremos analiticamente a partir desse objetivo: na primeira parte do trabalho nos dedicamos a compreensão da origem e formação da metrópole e da região metropolitana, destacando o contexto histórico em que ocorre, as características que diferenciam estas áreas de outras e o significado delas para o desenvolvimento capitalista; na segunda parte do texto analisamos os aspectos do processo de reestruturação metropolitana que vem ocorrendo a partir dos anos 1970, destacando dois elementos desse processo, a dispersão metropolitana e a produção de novas centralidades metropolitanas; na terceira parte buscamos compreender as características da ocorrência desses dois elementos na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. Assim partimos da compreensão histórica da formação das metrópoles e regiões metropolitanas, passando pela análise do processo de reestruturação pelo qual elas passam a partir da década de 1970 para finalmente compreender esse processo a partir de uma referência concreta: a região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro.
Le cluster de Rio Verde ou l’interaction de l’agrobusiness et du développement territorial au Brésil
Authors: Bonaudo Thierry , Poccard-Chapuis René , Coutinho Cassia , Tourrand Jean-François , Duarte Laura
Published: November 2015

La mondialisation des échanges des produits agricoles provoque l’expansion, d’un modèle agroindustriel, basé sur l’intégration de systèmes de production intensifs et spécialisés à des grandes firmes pilotant l’apport d’intrants, la production, la transformation et la commercialisation au travers de circuits commerciaux et financiers planétaires. Impulsant des trajectoires de développement exogènes aux bassins de production, ce modèle interroge quant aux formes de durabilité qu’il instaure.La commune de Rio Verde (Goías, Brésil), illustre ce processus, avec la construction successive d’un pôle agroindustriel autour de la production de grains (maïs, soja), puis d’un pôle avicole et porcin organisé par la firme Perdigao (aujourd’hui Brasil Foods). L’émergence de ce cluster agroindustriel international appuyé par des politiques publiques fédérales volontaristes, a permis une amélioration substantielle des principaux indicateurs de développement socio-économique, même si cela s’est réalisé au prix de pressions environnementales fortes et d’une gouvernance territoriale dominée par les grandes firmes privées et le pouvoir public fédéral. Plus récemment, l’expansion de la canne-à-sucre et du secteur de l’alcool réinterroge cette dynamique territoriale autour de l’articulation
O reerguimento da Rússia, os EUA/OTAN e a crise da Ucrânia: a Geopolítica da nova Ordem Mundial
Authors: Costa Wanderley Messias da
Published: November 2015

Este texto examina aspectos importantes do cenário internacional deste início do século 21 do ponto de vista da geopolítica, com destaque para o processo em curso de reerguimento da Rússia como Grande Potência. A abordagem articula conhecimentos da geografia regional, geopolítica, história e teoria das relações internacionais e procura concentrar-se na análise de aspectos relevantes da trajetória russa, desde o período czarista, passando pelo socialismo no âmbito da URSS, o declínio após 1991, o reerguimento a partir de 2000 e a atual política e estratégia de poder regional e mundial, na qual são destacadas suas rivalidades com os EUA/OTAN e os conflitos com a Ucrânia. Além da análise desse percurso, procura compreender o modo particular de atuação das grandes potências em sua incessante luta para manter e ampliar parcelas do poder mundial, especialmente nas duas últimas décadas. Enfatiza, ao mesmo tempo, o notável renascimento da perspectiva geopolítica e da sua contribuição para desvendar a complexa trama de relações da política internacional no contexto da atual transição de uma Ordem Mundial para outra, aqui preliminarmente designada como tripolar.
Characterization of Amphioxus IFN Regulatory Factor Family Reveals an Archaic Signaling Framework for Innate Immune Response
Authors: Yuan Shaochun , Zheng Tingting , Li Peiyi , Yang Rirong , Ruan Jie , Huang Shengfeng , Wu Zhenxin , Xu Anlong
Published: November 2015

The IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family encodes transcription factors that play important roles in immune defense, stress response, reproduction, development, and carcinogenesis. Although the origin of the IRF family has been dated back to multicellular organisms, invertebrate IRFs differ from vertebrate IRFs in genomic structure and gene synteny, and little is known about their functions. Through comparison of multiple amphioxus genomes, in this study we suggested that amphioxus contains nine IRF members, whose orthologs are supposed to be shared among three amphioxus species. As the orthologs to the vertebrate IRF1 and IRF4 subgroups, Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense (bbt)IRF1 and bbtIRF8 bind the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) and were upregulated when amphioxus intestinal cells were stimulated with poly(I:C). As amphioxus-specific IRFs, both bbtIRF3 and bbtIRF7 bind ISRE. When activated, they can be phosphorylated by bbtTBK1 and then translocate into nucleus for target gene transcription. As transcriptional repressors, bbtIRF2 and bbtIRF4 can inhibit the transcriptional activities of bbtIRF1, 3, 7, and 8 by competing for the binding of ISRE. Interestingly, amphioxus IRF2, IRF8, and Rel were identified as target genes of bbtIRF1, bbtIRF7, and bbtIRF3, respectively, suggesting a dynamic feedback regulation among amphioxus IRF and NF-κB. Collectively, to our knowledge we present for the first time an archaic IRF signaling framework in a basal chordate, shedding new insights into the origin and evolution of vertebrate IFN-based antiviral networks.