bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correcting a Longstanding Misconception about Social Roles and Personality: A Case Study in the Psychology of Science
Authors: Johnson John A.
Published: June 2018

Psychologists often argue that sex roles direct different types of socializing behaviors toward males and females and that this differential treatment, in turn, leads to sex differences in personality. Widely cited in support of this thesis has been the Fels longitudinal study finding that dependency and passivity are stable from childhood to adulthood for females only and aggressiveness and sexuality for males only. The present article explains why the type of sex differences in personality stability cited by Fels researchers actually contradicts the view that sex role expectations cause these differences. The report suggests ways in which social learning theory, the dominant developmental paradigm of the 1960s, may have contributed to the misinterpretation of the Fels data and how the rise of social constructivism maintained this misinterpretation for decades. The article concludes by correcting misconceptions about biology and personality stability and by explaining why theories that incorporate biology are not only more adequate than social constructivism but also more effective in bringing about the changes in society that constructivists desire.
p53 and the Viral Connection: Back into the Future ‡
Authors: Aloni-Grinstein Ronit , Charni-Natan Meital , Solomon Hilla , Rotter Varda
Published: June 2018

The discovery of the tumor suppressor p53, through its interactions with proteins of tumor-promoting viruses, paved the way to the understanding of p53 roles in tumor virology. Over the years, accumulating data suggest that WTp53 is involved in the viral life cycle of non-tumor-promoting viruses as well. These include the influenza virus, smallpox and vaccinia viruses, the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Human herpes simplex virus-1, and more. Viruses have learned to manipulate WTp53 through different strategies to improve their replication and spreading in a stage-specific, bidirectional way. While some viruses require active WTp53 for efficient viral replication, others require reduction/inhibition of WTp53 activity. A better understanding of WTp53 functionality in viral life may offer new future clinical approaches, based on WTp53 manipulation, for viral infections.
KIAA0100 Modulates Cancer Cell Aggression Behavior of MDA-MB-231 through Microtubule and Heat Shock Proteins
Authors: Zhong Zhenyu , Pannu Vaishali , Rosenow Matthew , Stark Adam , Spetzler David
Published: June 2018

The KIAA0100 gene was identified in the human immature myeloid cell line cDNA library. Recent studies have shown that its expression is elevated in breast cancer and associated with more aggressive cancer types as well as poor outcomes. However, its cellular and molecular function is yet to be understood. Here we show that silencing KIAA0100 by siRNA in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 significantly reduced the cancer cells’ aggressive behavior, including cell aggregation, reattachment, cell metastasis and invasion. Most importantly, silencing the expression of KIAA0100 particularly sensitized the quiescent cancer cells in suspension culture to anoikis. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that KIAA0100 may play multiple roles in the cancer cells, including stabilizing microtubule structure as a microtubule binding protein, and contributing to MDA-MB-231 cells Anoikis resistance by the interaction with stress protein HSPA1A. Our study also implies that the interaction between KIAA0100 and HSPA1A may be targeted for new drug development to specifically induce anoikis cell death in the cancer cell.
Electrochemical Biosensor for the Determination of Amlodipine Besylate Based on Gelatin–Polyaniline Iron Oxide Biocomposite Film
Authors: Djaalab Elbahi , Samar Mohamed , Zougar Saida , Kherrat Rochdi
Published: June 2018

In the present study, a new biosensor based on lipase from Candida rugosa (CRL) was developed for amlodipine besylate drug (AMD) with biodegradable material using a mixture of polyaniline iron oxide and gelatin. Polyaniline/Fe2O3 (PANI@Fe2O3) was prepared by a chemical polymerization method in a medium of ammonium persulfate as an oxidant and characterized by employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Ultra-violet (UV) spectroscopy. The purified enzyme was entrapped in the biocomposite matrix film with the aid of a glutaraldehyde cross-linking reagent to establish the immobilization of the lipase. The principle of the biosensor is based on the electrochemical properties of amlodipine besylate (AMD), which were studied for the first time using the cyclic voltammetric method. The cathodic behavior of AMD was measured on the irreversible reduction signal at −0.185 V versus Ag/AgCl at pH 7.4 and 30 °C in a phosphate alkaline buffer.
The Nutrient-Sensing Hexosamine Biosynthetic Pathway as the Hub of Cancer Metabolic Rewiring
Authors: Chiaradonna Ferdinando , Ricciardiello Francesca , Palorini Roberta
Published: June 2018

Alterations in glucose and glutamine utilizing pathways and in fatty acid metabolism are currently considered the most significant and prevalent metabolic changes observed in almost all types of tumors. Glucose, glutamine and fatty acids are the substrates for the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). This metabolic pathway generates the “sensing molecule” UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). UDP-GlcNAc is the substrate for the enzymes involved in protein N- and O-glycosylation, two important post-translational modifications (PTMs) identified in several proteins localized in the extracellular space, on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria. Since protein glycosylation controls several key aspects of cell physiology, aberrant protein glycosylation has been associated with different human diseases, including cancer. Here we review recent evidence indicating the tight association between the HBP flux and cell metabolism, with particular emphasis on the post-transcriptional and transcriptional mechanisms regulated by the HBP that may cause the metabolic rewiring observed in cancer. We describe the implications of both protein O- and N-glycosylation in cancer cell metabolism and bioenergetics; focusing our attention on the effect of these PTMs on nutrient transport and on the transcriptional regulation and function of cancer-specific metabolic pathways.
Characterization of Flake Boron Nitride Prepared from the Low Temperature Combustion Synthesized Precursor and Its Application for Dye Adsorption
Authors: Qu Jinglong , Li Qun , Luo Chang , Cheng Jin , Hou Xinmei
Published: June 2018

Flake boron nitride (BN) in large yield was successfully synthesized at low temperature from the combustion synthesized precursor. The precursor was prepared by a low-temperature (350 °C) combustion synthesis (LCS) method using nitric acid (HNO3), urea (CO(NH2)2), boric acid (H3BO3), and glucose (C6H12O6·H2O) as starting materials. The precursor consists of B2O3 and amorphous carbon and the morphology is composed of blocks with average diameters of about 10 μm by statistical methods using SEM at different fields. Then BN was synthesized at 900 °C in NH3 at a heating rate of 5 °C min−1. The as-prepared BN possesses a flake morphology and high specific surface area up to 936 m2 g−1. It also has high density structural defects and abundant –NH2/–OH groups. The surface groups improve its water wettability and electronegativity, which contributes to the rapid and selective adsorption performance, especially towards the cationic dyes. When 4 mg of the sample was added into a 100 mL RhB solution with an initial concentration of 5 mg L−1, 95% of the RhB was removed within 1 min and the adsorption capacity is 125 mg g−1. Importantly, the sample can be regenerated by heating at 400 °C in air.
Influence of Dislocations in Transition Metal Oxides on Selected Physical and Chemical Properties
Authors: Szot Kristof , Rodenbücher Christian , Bihlmayer Gustav , Speier Wolfgang , Ishikawa Ryo , Shibata Naoya , Ikuhara Yuichi
Published: June 2018

Studies on dislocations in prototypic binary and ternary oxides (here TiO2 and SrTiO3) using modern TEM and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques, combined with classical etch pits methods, are reviewed. Our review focuses on the important role of dislocations in the insulator-to-metal transition and for redox processes, which can be preferentially induced along dislocations using chemical and electrical gradients. It is surprising that, independently of the growth techniques, the density of dislocations in the surface layers of both prototypical oxides is high (109/cm2 for epipolished surfaces and up to 1012/cm2 for the rough surface). The TEM and locally-conducting atomic force microscopy (LCAFM) measurements show that the dislocations create a network with the character of a hierarchical tree. The distribution of the dislocations in the plane of the surface is, in principle, inhomogeneous, namely a strong tendency for the bundling and creation of arrays or bands in the crystallographic <100> and <110> directions can be observed. The analysis of the core of dislocations using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques (such as EDX with atomic resolution, electron-energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)) shows unequivocally that the core of dislocations possesses a different crystallographic structure, electronic structure and chemical composition relative to the matrix. Because the Burgers vector of dislocations is per se invariant, the network of dislocations (with additional d1 electrons) causes an electrical short-circuit of the matrix. This behavior is confirmed by LCAFM measurements for the stoichiometric crystals, moreover a similar dominant role of dislocations in channeling of the current after thermal reduction of the crystals or during resistive switching can be observed. In our opinion, the easy transformation of the chemical composition of the surface layers of both model oxides should be associated with the high concentration of extended defects in this region. Another important insight for the analysis of the physical properties in real oxide crystals (matrix + dislocations) comes from the studies of the nucleation of dislocations via in situ STEM indentation, namely that the dislocations can be simply nucleated under mechanical stimulus and can be easily moved at room temperature.
Estimating Fish Species Richness across Multiple Watersheds
Authors: Paller Michael H.
Published: June 2018

Assessing fish species richness at the scale of an entire watershed or multiple watersheds is important when designing conservation areas and maintaining aquatic biodiversity. Estimating biodiversity at this scale requires considering the effects of habitat heterogeneity within and across drainages on the species-area relationship (SAR). I examined the SAR using unusually complete data to assess fish species richness in minimally disturbed watersheds on large public lands in the Sand Hills ecoregion, southeastern United States of America (USA). My objectives were to compare (1) true richness with estimates produced by different species richness estimators and sampling designs and (2) species richness among reservations. Accurate estimates were obtained for five contiguous watersheds (780 km2 total) by using Chao 2 or first-order jackknife estimators, coupled with (1) a stratified design that apportioned sampling effort over 25 sample sites based on major spatial correlates of assemblage composition, including stream size and drainage basin identity and (2) sufficient sampling effort to collect enough individuals to include rare species. The greatest species richness was in streams within a large land holding characterized by greater instream habitat diversity, less disturbed land coverage, more forested land, and closer proximity to source pools than other reservations. Species richness in these streams was within the range observed in high diversity Neotropical and Indomalayan realms.
Psoriasis and Microbiota: A Systematic Review
Authors: Benhadou Farida , Mintoff Dillon , Schnebert Benjamin , Thio Hok Bing
Published: June 2018

Background: Recent advances have highlighted the crucial role of microbiota in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases as well as its impact on the efficacy of therapeutic agents. Psoriasis is a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder, which has a microbiota distinct from healthy, unaffected skin. Aim: Through an extensive review of the literature, we aim to discuss the skin and gut microbiota and redefine their role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Conclusions: Unfortunately, the direct link between the skin microbiota and the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains to be clearly established. Apart from improving the course of psoriasis, selective modulation of the microbiota may increase the efficacy of medical treatments as well as attenuate their side effects.
Hierarchical Scaling in Systems of Natural Cities
Authors: Chen Yanguang , Jiang Bin
Published: June 2018

Hierarchies can be modeled by a set of exponential functions, from which we can derive a set of power laws indicative of scaling. The solution to a scaling relation equation is always a power law. The scaling laws are followed by many natural and social phenomena such as cities, earthquakes, and rivers. This paper reveals the power law behaviors in systems of natural cities by reconstructing the urban hierarchy with cascade structure. Cities of the U.S.A., Britain, France, and Germany are taken as examples to perform empirical analyses. The hierarchical scaling relations can be well fitted to the data points within the scaling ranges of the number, size and area of the natural cities. The size-number and area-number scaling exponents are close to 1, and the size-area allometric scaling exponent is slightly less than 1. The results show that natural cities follow hierarchical scaling laws very well. The principle of entropy maximization of urban evolution is then employed to explain the hierarchical scaling laws, and differences entropy maximizing processes are used to interpret the scaling exponents. This study is helpful for scientists to understand the power law behavior in the development of cities and systems of cities.
SavingLife: An Educational Technology for Basic and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
Authors: Naz Najma , Sayyed Ali , Dal Sasso Grace Teresinha Marcon , Khanum Sabiha , De Souza Maria de Lourdes
Published: June 2018

The development of information and communication technologies and the accessibility of mobile devices has increased the possibilities of the teaching and learning process anywhere and anytime. Mobile and web application allows the production of constructive teaching and learning models in various educational settings, showing the potential for active learning in health. The objective of this study was to present the design and development of an educational technology (SavingLife, a web, and mobile-based application) for learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced cardiovascular life support for adults. SavingLife is a technological production, based on the concept of virtual learning and problem-based learning approaches. SavingLife was developed using five phases (analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate) of the instructional systems development process. The technology presents 10 scenarios and 12 simulations, covering different aspects of basic and advanced cardiac life support skills. The contents can be accessed in a non-linear way leaving the students free to build their knowledge based on their previous experience. Each scenario is presented through interactive tools such as scenario description, assessment, diagnose, intervention and re-evaluation. Animated ECG rhythms, text documents, images, and videos are provided to support procedural and active learning considering the real-life situations. Accessible equally on small to large devices with or without an internet connection, SavingLife offers a dynamic, interactive and flexible tool, placing students at the center of the learning process. SavingLife can contribute to the student’s learning in the assessment and management of basic and advanced cardiac life support for adults, in a safe and ethical way.
A Simple Fractal-Based Model for Soil-Water Characteristic Curves Incorporating Effects of Initial Void Ratios
Authors: Tao Gaoliang , Chen Yin , Kong Lingwei , Xiao Henglin , Chen Qingsheng , Xia Yuxuan
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a simple and efficient fractal-based approach is presented for capturing the effects of initial void ratio on the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) in a deformable unsaturated soil. In terms of testing results, the SWCCs (expressed by gravimetric water content) of the unsaturated soils at different initial void ratios were found to be mainly controlled by the air-entry value (Ψa), while the fractal dimension (D) could be assumed to be constant. As a result, in contrast to the complexity of existing models, a simple and efficient model with only two parameters (i.e., D and Ψa) was established for predicting the SWCC considering the effects of initial void ratio. The procedure for determining the model parameters with clear physical meaning were then elaborated. The applicability and accuracy of the proposed model were well demonstrated by comparing its predictions with four sets of independent experimental data from the tests conducted in current work, as well as the literature on a wide range of soils, including Wuhan Clay, Hefei and Guangxi expansive soil, Saskatchewan silt, and loess. Good agreements were obtained between the experimental data and the model predictions in all of the cases considered.
An Optimal Scheduling Dispatch of a Microgrid under Risk Assessment
Authors: Lin Whei-Min , Yang Chung-Yuen , Tu Chia-Sheng , Tsai Ming-Tang
Published: June 2018

This paper presents the scheduling dispatch of a microgrid (MG), while considering renewable energy, battery storage systems, and time-of-use price. For the risk evaluation of an MG, the Value-at-Risk (VAR) is calculated by using the Historical Simulation Method (HSM). By considering the various confidence levels of the VAR, a scheduling dispatch model of the MG is formulated to achieve a reasonable trade-off between the risk and cost. An Improved Bee Swarm Optimization (IBSO) is proposed to solve the scheduling dispatch model of the MG. In the IBSO procedure, the Sin-wave Weight Factor (SWF) and Forward-Backward Control Factor (FBCF) are embedded in the bee swarm of the BSO to improve the movement behaviors of each bee, specifically, its search efficiency and accuracy. The effectiveness of the IBSO is demonstrated via a real MG case and the results are compared with other methods. In either a grid-connected scenario or a stand-alone scenario, an optimal scheduling dispatch of MGs is carried out, herein, at various confidence levels of risk. The simulation results provide more information for handling uncertain environments when analyzing the VAR of MGs.
Exploiting Game Theoretic Based Coordination Among Appliances in Smart Homes for Efficient Energy Utilization
Authors: Rahim Muhammad Hassan , Khalid Adia , Javaid Nadeem , Ashraf Mahmood , Aurangzeb Khursheed , Altamrah Abdulaziz Saud
Published: June 2018

In this paper, a demand side management (DSM) scheme is used to make energy utilization more efficient. The DSM scheme encourages the consumer to change energy utilization patterns which benefit the utility. In return, the consumer gets some incentives from the utility. The objectives of the proposed DSM system include: electricity bill reduction, reduced peak to average ratio (PAR), and maximization of consumer comfort. In the proposed system, the electrical devices are scheduled by using elephant herding optimization (EHO) and adaptive cuckoo search (ACS) algorithms. Moreover, a new algorithm called hybrid elephant adaptive cuckoo (HEAC) is proposed which uses the features of both former algorithms. A comparison of these algorithms is also presented in terms of three performance parameters. The HEAC shows better performance as compared to EHO and ACS which is evident from the simulation results. Different electricity tariffs are introduced by the utility to provide incentives to the consumers. A regional based time of use (ToU) tariff is used to make the system effective for different types of regions. Moreover, this enables the consumers to act according to the regional environment. The coordination can play a very important role in cost reduction as well as in consumer comfort maximization. The coordination is incorporated among the electrical devices by using cooperative game theory (GT) and dynamic programming (DP). Extensive simulations are performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in terms of electricity utilization cost, PAR reduction, and consumer comfort maximization.
Single-Ended Protection Scheme for VSC-Based DC Microgrid Lines
Authors: Lv Cheng , Zheng Xiaodong , Tai Nengling , Chen Shi
Published: June 2018

With the promotion of distributed energy and direct current (DC) loads, the DC microgrid is able to provide a higher power quality and improve the grid efficiency. Various technical issues in DC microgrids are still to be addressed, particularly a proper protection scheme for fault detection and isolation in DC microgrids utilizing voltage source converters (VSCs). In this paper, the pole-to-pole DC fault transient behavior of the VSC-based microgrids is firstly analyzed with four successive stages, and then the exact requirements for protections are presented. Furthermore, a novel single-ended protection scheme based on local transient signals is proposed, which needs no data transmission or synchronization between two ends, ensuring the speed. A four-terminal DC microgrid model was built in PSCAD/EMTDC. Numerous simulations have demonstrated the validity of the proposed scheme.
Impacts of the Allocation Mechanism Under the Third Phase of the European Emission Trading Scheme
Authors: Eichhammer Wolfgang , Friedrichsen Nele , Healy Sean , Schumacher Katja
Published: June 2018

This paper focuses on the following two key research questions in the context of the change in allocation rules in the move from Phase I/II (2005–2012) to Phase III (2013–2020) of the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS): First, how do allocations compare with actual installation-verified emissions in Phase III? For that purpose we analyse changes in sector-country allocations and verified emissions between Phase II and Phase III. The analysis is based on a selection of 2150 installations present in all phases of the EU ETS, taken from the European Union Transaction Log (EUTL) The results show that over-allocation has been considerably reduced in Phase III. Overall, allocation for the selected sectors decreased by 20% in 2013 compared to 2008 but varying across installations. Second, we investigate, whether the introduction of benchmarks in Phase III may have triggered carbon-reducing measures for industrial processes. For that purpose, we analyse for four product groups (cement clinker, pig iron, ammonia and nitric acid) the specific emissions (per tonne of product). Care was taken to define a data set with a similar delimitation of emission and production data. The findings were cross-checked through selected expert interviews. Our findings indicate that there is no evidence so far for improving specific emissions, though the strong improvement for nitric acid, as well as some improvement linked to ammonia occurring before the start of Phase III may have been supported by the introduction of Phase III.
Economic and Technical Aspects of Flexible Storage Photovoltaic Systems in Europe
Authors: Zsiborács Henrik , Hegedűsné Baranyai Nóra , Vincze András , Háber István , Pintér Gábor
Published: June 2018

Solar energy has an increasing role in the global energy mix. The need for flexible storage photovoltaic systems and energy storage in electricity networks is becoming increasingly important as more generating capacity uses solar and wind energy. This paper is a study on the economic questions related to flexible storage photovoltaic systems of household size in 2018. The aim is to clarify whether it is possible in the European Union to achieve a payback of the costs of flexible storage photovoltaic system investments for residential customers considering the technology-specific storage aspects prevalent in 2018. We studied seven different flexible storage photovoltaic investments with different battery technologies in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain because, in Europe, these countries have a prominent role with regard to the spread of photovoltaic technology. These investment alternatives are studied with the help of economic indicators for the different cases of the selected countries. At the end of our paper we come to the conclusion that an investment of a flexible storage photovoltaic (PV) system with Olivine-type-LiFePO4, Lithium-Ion, Vented lead-acid battery (OPzS), Sealed lead-acid battery (OPzV), and Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHI) batteries can have a positive net present value due to the high electricity prices in Germany and in Spain. The most cost-effective technology was the Olivine-type-LiFePO4 and the Lithium-Ion at the time of the study. We suggest the provision of governmental support and uniform European modifications to the regulatory framework, especially concerning grid fees and tariffs, which would be necessary in the beginning to help to introduce these flexible storage PV systems to the market.
Growth Response of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm) Regeneration to Thinning and Prescribed Burn Treatments
Authors: Retzlaff Molly L. , Keane Robert E. , Affleck David L. , Hood Sharon M.
Published: June 2018

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) forests play a prominent role throughout high-elevation ecosystems in the northern Rocky Mountains, however, they are vanishing from the high mountain landscape due to three factors: exotic white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola Fischer) invasions, mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreaks, and successional replacement by more shade-tolerant tree species historically controlled by wildfire. Land managers are attempting to restore whitebark pine communities using prescribed fire and silvicultural cuttings, but they are unsure if these techniques are effective. The objective of this study was to determine how whitebark pine regeneration responds to selective thinning and prescribed burn treatments. We studied changes in diameter growth after restoration treatments using ring width measurements obtained from 93 trees at four sites in Montana and Idaho that were treated in the late 1990s. Overall, the average annual radial growth rates of the trees in treated areas were greater than those of trees in control areas. Specifically, there were significant increases in the growth ratio (180%) in the two sites that were both thinned and later burned. Younger regeneration showed more response to the treatments than older regeneration. All sites showed high variability in post-treatment growth rates across individual trees, with greater variability for trees in treated areas than in trees from the control areas. Results suggest that whitebark pine regeneration can respond to thin and burn release treatments and that managers may see positive results in areas that are treated similarly.
Leaf Temperature Fluctuations of Typical Psammophytic Plants and Their Application to Stomatal Conductance Estimation
Authors: Yu Minghan , Ding Guodong , Gao Guanglei , Zhao Yuanyuan , Sai Ke
Published: June 2018

Monitoring of stomatal conductance to water vapor in psammophytes is important in studies of vegetation transpiration in sandy areas. Leaf temperature monitoring has the advantages of convenience, reduced damage to the plant without contact, and a larger measurement area. Stomatal conductance to water vapor estimation models, based on leaf temperature, have been proposed in agricultural studies in recent years. However, observations for verification of these models are still lacking, which has limited the application of these models. We performed a drought stress experiment on three typical psammophytes: Artemisia ordosica, Salix psammophila, and Caragana korshinskii. We monitored their leaf temperature and built two leaf temperature-based models to test whether the models could accurately estimate stomatal conductance. Results verified that neither of the two models accurately quantified psammophytes’ stomatal conductance in field operations. We further tested the differences among plants and identified that the differences in stomatal mechanism and physical morphology of the leaves drives leaf temperature differences, which affects the accuracy of stomatal conductance estimation using the models. We concluded that more precise measurements of leaf temperature-related parameters, such as wind speed and leaf physical morphology, are needed to improve the models’ estimation accuracy. Our study offers references for developing a practical application of stomatal conductance estimation models in field operations.
Changes in Species Composition in Alder Swamp Forest Following Forest Dieback
Authors: Pielech Remigiusz , Malicki Marek
Published: June 2018

It is generally hypothesized that forest dieback is a characteristic of alder swamp forests (alder carrs, Alnion glutinosae alliance). Different internal and external factors may trigger this process, including human disturbance, changes in river discharge, unusually severe and prolonged flooding, terminal age of an even-aged alder forest (ca. 100–150 years) and others. Although forest dieback in this type of forest may cause major changes in environmental conditions, the influence of this change on the floristic composition has not been well recognized. The study aimed to detect any possible changes in floristic variation in alder swamp forest following forest dieback. Vegetation plots in alder swamp forests affected by forest dieback were resurveyed 20 years after a previous study. PERMANOVA was used to test the significance of the compositional change and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) with passively fitted means of the Ellenberg’s Indicator Values were used to interpret its ecological meaning. In addition, different structural and diversity indices were compared, including species richness, percentage cover of vegetation layers, Shannon and Simpson diversity and evenness. Finally, we analyzed changes in the frequency of vascular plant species using Chi square tests. We recorded clear and significant compositional changes following alder swamp forest dieback. This change was most related to the gradient of moisture, followed by the gradients of light and temperature. The analysis of the individual species showed that the species of hummocks declined, while the species of hollows increased. Moreover, the current communities are dominated by some hydrophytes that were not recorded 20 years ago. Forest dieback resulted in profound changes in the hydrological regime. The observed changes are consistent with a model of cyclic succession as proposed for alder swamps. In addition, we conclude that the natural forest dynamics have to be taken into consideration while interpreting the results of re-survey studies.
A Tiered Control Plane Model for Service Function Chaining Isolation
Authors: Gunleifsen Håkon , Gkioulos Vasileios , Kemmerich Thomas
Published: June 2018

This article presents an architecture for encryption automation in interconnected Network Function Virtualization (NFV) domains. Current NFV implementations are designed for deployment within trusted domains, where overlay networks with static trusted links are utilized for enabling network security. Nevertheless, within a Service Function Chain (SFC), Virtual Network Function (VNF) flows cannot be isolated and end-to-end encrypted because each VNF requires direct access to the overall SFC data-flow. This restricts both end-users and Service Providers from enabling end-to-end security, and in extended VNF isolation within the SFC data traffic. Encrypting data flows on a per-flow basis results in an extensive amount of secure tunnels, which cannot scale efficiently in manual configurations. Additionally, creating secure data plane tunnels between NFV providers requires secure exchange of key parameters, and the establishment of an east–west control plane protocol. In this article, we present an architecture focusing on these two problems, investigating how overlay networks can be created, isolated, and secured dynamically. Accordingly, we propose an architecture for automated establishment of encrypted tunnels in NFV, which introduces a novel, tiered east–west communication channel between network controllers in a multi-domain environment.
Flame Retardant Multilayered Coatings on Acrylic Fabrics Prepared by One-Step Deposition of Chitosan/Montmorillonite Complexes
Authors: Carosio Federico , Alongi Jenny
Published: June 2018

Multilayered coatings deposited using the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly technique have attracted great interest in recent years as a sustainable and efficient solution for conferring flame retardant properties to fabrics. The unique structure and interaction established upon the coating assembly are the key factors for successful flame retardant properties. In this study we aimed at the deposition of multilayered coatings comprising chitosan and montmorillonite with a LbL-like structure and interactions by the simple processing of compacted chitosan/montmorillonite complexes obtained by the direct mixing of an oppositely charged solution/suspension. Upon drying, the prepared complex yielded a continuous coating characterized by a brick-and-mortar multi-layered structure, in which oriented clay nanoplatelets were held together by a continuous chitosan matrix. When deposited on acrylic fabrics these coatings were able to suppress the melt-dripping phenomenon, and at 10 and 20% add-ons achieved self-extinguishing behavior within a few seconds after ignition. Cone calorimetry testing revealed an increase in time to ignition (up to +46%) and considerable reductions of the rates at which heat is released (up to −62 and −49% for peak of heat release rate and total heat release, respectively). A reduction in the total smoke release (up to −49%) was also observed.
Temporal Drivers of Liking Based on Functional Data Analysis and Non-Additive Models for Multi-Attribute Time-Intensity Data of Fruit Chews
Authors: Kuesten Carla , Bi Jian
Published: June 2018

Conventional drivers of liking analysis was extended with a time dimension into temporal drivers of liking (TDOL) based on functional data analysis methodology and non-additive models for multiple-attribute time-intensity (MATI) data. The non-additive models, which consider both direct effects and interaction effects of attributes to consumer overall liking, include Choquet integral and fuzzy measure in the multi-criteria decision-making, and linear regression based on variance decomposition. Dynamics of TDOL, i.e., the derivatives of the relative importance functional curves were also explored. Well-established R packages ‘fda’, ‘kappalab’ and ‘relaimpo’ were used in the paper for developing TDOL. Applied use of these methods shows that the relative importance of MATI curves offers insights for understanding the temporal aspects of consumer liking for fruit chews.
GeoHazards: A New Interdisciplinary Journal Devoted to the Study of Geomorphological Hazards
Authors: Ferreira Tiago Miguel , Lu Zhong
Published: June 2018

The name GeoHazards comes from the word “geomorphological”, which refers to the study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological structures, and the word “hazard”, meaning an agent which has the potential to cause harm to a vulnerable target [...]
Rethinking the Essence of Human and Other-Than-Human Communication in the Anthropocene Epoch: A Biosemiotic Interpretation of Edgar Morin’s “Complex Thought”
Authors: Moser Keith
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this essay is to explore the philosophical and linguistic implications of the French philosopher Edgar Morin’s “complex thought.” In stark contrast to standard communicative models which profess that Homo sapiens are the only organisms that are capable of engaging in semiosis, Morin unequivocally proves that other-than-human communication is laden with significance and purpose. Living on an imperiled planet that is increasingly defined by an anthropogenic, ecological calamity that is spiraling further out of control with each passing day, Morin persuasively argues that we must transcend our myopic, anthropocentric frame of reference and adopt a more ecocentric view of communication.
Prescribing Physical Activity in Parks to Improve Health and Wellbeing: Protocol of the Park Prescription Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Müller-Riemenschneider Falk , Petrunoff Nick , Sia Angelia , Ramiah Anbumalar , Ng Alwyn , Han Jane , Wong Michael , Choo Tai Bee , Uijtdewilligen Léonie
Published: June 2018

Previous studies in primary care settings showed that brief advice prescribing physical activity for inactive patients could be an effective way to promote physical activity. Park prescription interventions confer health benefits associated with exposure to nature and increased physical activity by recommending park use specifically to increase physical activity in parks. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a park prescription intervention for increasing time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) assessed by accelerometry. Middle-aged Singaporeans who were insufficiently active and who met health screening criteria were recruited via existing community health screening programs and allocated to one of two groups. Intervention participants received a prescription of physical activity in parks, an information pack, access to a weekly group exercise program in parks and telephone counselling (n = 80). Control participants received physical activity materials (n = 80). The primary outcome (mean difference between both groups in time spent in MVPA minutes per week measured by accelerometer) will be assessed at six months. Secondary outcomes include self-reported health behaviors, self-reported mental wellbeing and objectively-measured physical health. This is the first randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a park prescription intervention for increasing health-enhancing MVPA.
ETS Exposure and PAH Body Burden in Nonsmoking Italian Adults
Authors: Campo Laura , Polledri Elisa , Bechtold Petra , Gatti Giulia , Quattrini Giulia , Olgiati Luca , Romolo Michael , Ranzi Andrea , Lauriola Paolo , Carrozzi Giuliano , Fustinoni Silvia
Published: June 2018

Active smoking is associated with increased body burden of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); the aim of this study was to assess whether environmental tobacco smoking (ETS) increases the internal dose of PAHs. In 344 nonsmoking Italian adults, out of 497 individuals selected as representative of the population of the town of Modena, ETS exposure was evaluated by a self-administered questionnaire and by the measurement of urinary cotinine (COT-U). PAH exposure was assessed by the measurement of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) and of ten urinary PAHs. In all subjects, median (5th–95th percentile) COT-U was 0.47 (<0.1–3.91) µg/L. While 58 subjects reported to be ETS exposed (ETSQUEST), 38 individuals were identified as ETS exposed on the basis of a COT-U value of 1.78 (90% confidence interval 1.75–1.80) µg/L, previously derived as an upper reference value in not ETS exposed Italian adults (ETSCOT). Median COT-U levels were 1.38 (<0.1–9.06) and 3.63 (1.80–17.39) µg/L in ETSQUEST and in ETSCOT subjects, respectively. Significant correlations between COT-U and 1-OHPYR, and urinary anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene were found among all subjects. Significantly higher levels of 1-OHPYR, and urinary fluorene, anthracene, and pyrene were found in ETSCOT individuals. The results of multiple linear regression analyses, taking into consideration diet and other sources of PAHs exposures such as the residence area/characteristics and traffic, confirmed that 1-OHPYR and urinary fluorene were affected by ETS exposure, even if ETS played a minor role.
Impacts of Haze on Housing Prices: An Empirical Analysis Based on Data from Chengdu (China)
Authors: Liu Runqiu , Yu Chao , Liu Canmian , Jiang Jian , Xu Jing
Published: June 2018

Based on cross-section data of 20 districts in Chengdu, this article reviews the relationships between haze and housing prices with the combined application of Spatial Error Model (SEM) and Spatial Lag Model (SLM). The results illustrate that haze significantly have negative impacts on both the selling and rental prices of houses. Controlling other variables, if the air quality index rises by 0.1, the housing selling prices and rental prices will drop by 3.97% and 4.01%, respectively. Interestingly, housing rental prices have a more significant response to the air quality than housing sale prices. Residents are willing to pay a premium for better air quality and the influence of air quality is partially reflected in housing prices, which indicates that better air quality has been becoming a scarce resource with the improvement of people’s living standard. Furthermore, the impacts of haze on housing prices are also expected to lead to a “crowding out effect” in different regions. This would be detrimental for human capital accumulation and will accelerate the regional divergence in the internal economy and population structure, thus forming a region “fence” within cities.
Paraquat Exposure of Pregnant Women and Neonates in Agricultural Areas in Thailand
Authors: Konthonbut Pajaree , Kongtip Pornpimol , Nankongnab Noppanun , Tipayamongkholgul Mathuros , Yoosook Witaya , Woskie Susan
Published: June 2018

This study aimed to assess paraquat concentrations in the urine of women at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum and in the meconium of neonates. In all, 79 pregnant women were recruited from three hospitals located in agricultural areas in Thailand. The subjects were interviewed about personal characteristics, agricultural activities and pesticide use patterns. Paraquat was analyzed in urine and meconium using high performance liquid chromatography equipped with a fluorescence detector. The geometric mean (GSD) of urinary paraquat concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum were 2.04 (4.22), 2.06 (5.04) and 2.42 (5.33) ng/mL, respectively. The urinary paraquat concentrations at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum between agriculturist and non-agriculturist were not significantly different (p = 0.632, p = 0.915, p = 0.57 respectively). The geometric mean (GSD) of paraquat concentration in the meconium was 33.31 (4.59) ng/g. The factors predicting paraquat exposures among pregnant women and neonates included working outside, living near farmland, having family members who work on a farm, drinking well water and using herbicides or paraquat.
Evaluation of the First Polish Web-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Cancer Prevention (the PORINA Study)
Authors: Gajda Maksymilian , Kowalska Małgorzata , Zejda Jan E.
Published: June 2018

The appropriate level of the society’s health-oriented knowledge is essential for improving the effectiveness of actions to reduce the number of new cases and deaths caused by cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the role of web-based educational campaigns in the field of cancer prevention in Poland. From 14.05.2015 to 13.11.2016 readers of Polish scientific websites were invited to participate in the “PORINA” prospective interventional study. A total of 1118 volunteers (unrepresentative sample) were recruited and randomized (interventional and control groups). After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 463 participants (41.4% of the recruited) qualified for the final analysis; 207 were allocated to the interventional and 256 to the control group. A specially designed internet platform, a self-reported questionnaire (validated during the study) and educational materials which were prepared by a physician specialized in clinical oncology were used. Assessments of participants’ knowledge were based on the authors Cancer Knowledge Index (CKI). The number of subjects with an increase in CKI score was significantly higher for the interventional group with minor changes in the control (p < 0.001). The highest increase in CKI scores was obtained in the following demographic groups: females, younger participants, those living in smaller villages and also among the less educated. An overall impact of presented web-based educational intervention was moderate. However, the results obtained confirmed that well-organized intervention supported by oncologists may be useful in cancer prevention.
Improving Building Change Detection in VHR Remote Sensing Imagery by Combining Coarse Location and Co-Segmentation
Authors: Chen Jie , Liu Haifei , Hou Jialiang , Yang Minhua , Deng Min
Published: June 2018

Building change detection based on remote sensing imagery is a significant task for urban construction, management, and planning. Feature differences caused by changes are fundamental in building change detection, but the spectral and spatial disturbances of adjacent geo-objects that can extensively affect the results are not considered. Moreover, the diversity of building features often renders change detection difficult to implement accurately. In this study, an effective approach is proposed for the detection of individual changed buildings. The detection process mainly consists of two phases: (1) locating the local changed area with the differencing method and (2) detecting changed buildings by using a fuzzy clustering-guided co-segmentation algorithm. This framework is broadly applicable for detecting changed buildings with accurate edges even if their colors and shapes differ to some extent. The results of the comparative experiment show that the strategy proposed in this study can improve building change detection.
VEGF Upregulation in Viral Infections and Its Possible Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Alkharsah Khaled R.
Published: June 2018

Several viruses are recognized as the direct or indirect causative agents of human tumors and other severe human diseases. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is identified as a principal proangiogenic factor that enhances the production of new blood vessels from existing vascular network. Therefore, oncogenic viruses such as Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and non-oncogenic viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) and dengue virus, which lack their own angiogenic factors, rely on the recruitment of cellular genes for angiogenesis in tumor progression or disease pathogenesis. This review summarizes how human viruses exploit the cellular signaling machinery to upregulate the expression of VEGF and benefit from its physiological functions for their own pathogenesis. Understanding the interplay between viruses and VEGF upregulation will pave the way to design targeted and effective therapeutic approaches for viral oncogenesis and severe diseases.