bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enabling nanotechnology entrepreneurship in a French context
Authors: Glaser Anna , Ben Slimane Sonia , Auplat Claire , Coeurderoy Régis
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a holistic theoretical framework of enabling factors contributing to the development of enterprise in nanotechnology-related industries, in a French context.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review methodology was adopted. The review used three gauges to identify enabling factors contributing to the development of enterprise in nanotechnology-related industries in a French context: first, it analysed the literature related to the development of nanotechnologies in a perspective of sustainability in a multidisciplinary stance (“Green view”). Second, it took a disciplinary stance by exploring academic journals in the field of entrepreneurship (“Entrepreneurship view”). Third, it studied the perspective of France (“French view”).

Findings

The main finding is that in spite of different approaches and sometimes seemingly conflicting stances, the three views converge on three enabling factors: the importance of knowledge sharing across boundaries, access to university scientists and facilities, and government intervention. However, each view also has its particularities: the “Green view” emphasizes the need for civil society inclusion, the “Entrepreneurship view” underlines the importance of early stage capital and entrepreneurial behaviour and the “French view” concentrates on the role of clusters.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a theoretical framework and a starting point for further work on entrepreneurial nanotechnology facilitation. Its findings constitute a benchmark which may be tested in empirical cases. The focus on the French context may be seen as a limitation but also as a source of interesting comparative work focussing on other national or regional contexts.

Practical implications

The paper shows that public policy is an important element in the nascent field of enterprise development for nano-based materials. It outlines how different contexts create different barriers to entrepreneurship, and it proposes recommendations to overcome some of these barriers.

Originality/value

In this paper, findings result from an exploration of the nanotechnology literature that focusses solely on nanotechnology data sets and not on mixed data sets. The use of three different gauges leads to the construction of a holistic theoretical framework that includes enabling factors as well as the types of barriers that entrepreneurs have to overcome to succeed.
Action learning: ripples within and beyond the set
Authors: Warwick Robert James , Palmer Adam , McCray Janet
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the impact of action learning (AL) on an individual and an organisation, particularly the process by which each affected the other. The organisation is a UK National Health Service (NHS) Trust that includes two hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a single person case study involving a clinician, but the voice of an author can also be heard. It involves the experience of the individual as they experience AL as part of a leadership development programme leading to a postgraduate certificate. The authors explain their caution of the case study approach and in doing so offer their thoughts in how this paper could be read and impact on practice.

Findings

The authors show a process whereby an AL set participant moves from being confident about their project to one of uncertainty as the impact of the project ripples throughout the organisation. Through this process of unsettlement, the individual’s unnoticed assumptions are explored in ways that enable practical action to be taken. In doing so, the individual’s leadership and identity developed.

Research limitations/implications

This is a single person case study in one organisation, thus affecting wider generalisation.

Originality/value

This single case study contributes to the debate on critical AL and the use of AL in the NHS.
Working in a therapeutic community: exploring the impact on staff
Authors: Vyas Anisha , Spain Cathy , Rawlinson David
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact working in a therapeutic community (TC) has on staff practice and personal development.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight female members of staff who work in the TC participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used.

Findings

The findings of this paper show three superordinate themes: confidence gained within TC; the staff impact of the intensity of TC; and staff value for specific TC principles.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include researcher bias as both authors work in the TC and/or in the service. Reasonable adjustments were made in order to account for this.

Practical implications

Implications for future research include understanding and supporting the needs of staff and further exploration of the impact of staff working within TCs for people diagnosable with emotionally unstable personality disorders.

Originality/value

The research was carried out at one of the longest running TCs for people with emotional instability in the country. It offers a unique opportunity to garner the views of staff members with up to 27 years of experience. Findings may be of value to practitioners, administrators, policy makers and researchers interested in therapeutic communities.
Training for enabling environments
Authors: Lombardo Aldo , Haigh Rex
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the training value of a residential “enabling environments” (LLEE) workshop in relation to the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ (RCPsych) ten specified standards, as rated by workshop participants.

Design/methodology/approach

A 34 question yes/no/na questionnaire was drawn up, derived from the ten value-based standards and criteria which need to be met for the enabling environment (EE) award by the RCPsych’s Centre for Quality Improvement (Table AI). It was administered after six residential workshops, in Italy and UK, to 99 participants. Results were analysed for each of the six workshops, and for each of the ten standards, to show the degree to which participants recognised whether the standards were met.

Findings

High rates of positive responses were recorded with little variation across the six workshops sampled. Some standards and criteria showed higher levels of positive responses, and some showed slightly higher scores for “not applicable”.

Practical implications

Experiential Living-Learning Experience (LLE) workshops provide a valid training experience for those developing or working in EEs.

Social implications

Value-based standards can only be fully understood by direct experience of them, as verbal or written explanations fail to convey the psychological impact of the experience.

Originality/value

The questionnaire and its translation is the original work of AL. RH is the founder of LLE training workshops and the EE award.
The Paris Agreement – Protecting the Human Right to Health?
Authors: Dietzel Alix
Published: March 2017

The Paris Agreement was largely viewed as a resounding success by those who took part in its negotiation. This paper examines whether these claims hold up to closer scrutiny. More specifically, the paper will assess whether the Paris Agreement protects the human right to health. Considering that the widely celebrated 1.5°C target aims to protect present and future generations from the effects of climate change, which include substantial threats to human health, this is an especially pertinent area of study for climate justice theorists. Despite the threats climate change poses to human health, the subject of health has been somewhat neglected among climate justice scholars and policy makers alike. This paper illustrates that a focus on health can reveal much about the inadequacies of the Paris Agreement and multilateral climate change governance more widely. Unfolding in two parts, the paper first focuses on human health, explaining how this is threated by climate change and why a human rights based climate justice approach can highlight the importance of these threats and define what is morally required of policy makers. Part two of the paper turns to the assessment of the Paris Agreement, focusing on whether the policy makers who negotiated the Agreement have met these requirements. By briefly examining what has been promised in the Convention and what has been achieved under the Kyoto Protocol to date, the paper is able to assess whether the Paris Agreement represents a significant departure from the so far inadequate response to the climate change problem. It will be illustrated that although there has been a small step forward, the Paris Agreement cannot be said to represent a just response which protects the right to health of present and future generations.
Measuring consumer outcomes: Development and testing of the Australian Community Care Outcomes Measure
Authors: Cardona Beatriz , Fine Michael , Stebbing Adam , Duncan Cathy , Samsa Peter , Eagar Kathy
Published: March 2017

Objectives

In the increasingly competitive environment of aged care in Australasia, how can providers and consumers be sure that the care support delivered is efficient and makes a positive difference? Monitoring outcomes has long been emphasised for ensuring quality service delivery, yet there is currently no consistently applied approach available.

Methods

This paper considers the importance of measuring outcomes in community care and reports on the development and field trial of the Australian Community Care Outcomes Measure (ACCOM). The ACCOM combines data already collected by services on the capabilities and care needs of individual consumers and their demographic characteristics with a short questionnaire on quality of life based on the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT). It is completed by consumers and staff.

Results

In the first round of a field test of the ACCOM (2016), baseline data were successfully collected for over 200 individual aged care clients, each receiving consumer‐directed care (CDC) packages at home. Results show the measure to be practical and easy to use. A second round to measure change and enable the calculation of outcomes for each consumer was successfully completed 6 months later.

Conclusion

Field testing of the ACCOM shows promising results. More extensive trials of the measure are planned across Australia.
Tales from the ACFI: Dementia in residential aged care
Authors: Joenperä Jenni
Published: March 2017

Objective

Provide an overview of how care needs in permanent residential aged care differ by dementia status.

Methods

On entry into permanent residential aged care, people's care needs are assessed on the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI). ACFI also captures health conditions that are considered to affect the cost of people's care, such as dementia. Data were compared between 2009 and 2015.

Results

Assessed care needs have increased regardless of dementia status. However, compared with people without dementia, people with dementia were more likely to be rated ‘high’ in each of the three care need domains. In addition, people with dementia were more likely to require some assistance in specific areas that underlie these broad domains, such as nutrition, continence and cognition.

Conclusion

Dementia is associated with increased complexity in assessed care needs in permanent residential aged care.
Persistence of the effect of frugivore identity on post‐dispersal seed fate: consequences for the assessment of functional redundancy
Authors: Lugon Ana Paula , Boutefeu Marion , Bovy Emilie , Vaz‐de‐Mello Fernando Z. , Huynen Marie‐Claude , Galetti Mauro , Culot Laurence
Published: March 2017

Large frugivores play an important role as seed dispersers and their extinction may affect plant regeneration. The consequences of such extinctions depend on the likelihood of other species being functionally redundant and on how post‐dispersal events are affected. We assess the functional redundancy of two seed dispersers of the Atlantic Forest, the muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) and the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) through the comparison of their seed dispersal quality, taking into account post‐dispersal events. We compare tapirs and muriquis for: (1) the dung beetle community associated with their feces; (2) the seed burial probability and burial depth by dung beetles; and (3) the seed mortality due to predators or other causes according to burial depth. We determine how seed burial affects seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) and compare the dispersal quality of four plant species dispersed by these frugivores. Muriqui feces attract 16‐fold more dung beetles per gram of fecal matter and seeds experience 10.5‐fold more burial than seeds in tapir feces. In both feces types, seed mortality due to predation decreases with burial depth but seed mortality due to other causes increases. Total seed mortality differ within plant species according to the primary disperser. Therefore, the effect of seed burial on SDE varies according to the plant species, burial depth, and primary disperser. As tapirs and muriquis differently affect the seed fate, they are not functionally redundant. Since the effect of the primary disperser persists into the post‐dispersal events, we should consider the cascading effects of these processes when assessing functional redundancy.
Experimental and theoretical insight into the electronic properties of 4‐aryl‐5‐arylazo‐3‐cyano‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone dyes
Authors: Vitnik Vesna D. , Vitnik Željko J. , Božić Bojan Đ. , Valentić Nataša V. , Dilber Sanda P. , Mijin Dušan Ž. , Ušćumlić Gordana S.
Published: March 2017

In this paper, spectroscopic and quantum mechanical investigation of nine 4‐aryl‐5‐arylazo‐3‐cyano‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone dyes was performed, and obtained density functional theory (DFT) results were compared with experimental data. The structural and spectroscopic properties of azo‐2‐pyridone dyes were studied by DFT using B3LYP, CAM‐B3LYP, and M06‐2X methods with a 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set. Comparison of results reveals that the scaled theoretical vibrational frequencies of azo dyes are in good agreement with experimental data. The time‐dependent DFT calculated and experimental ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) absorption spectra are also in good agreement. The effect of electron‐donating –OCH3 and electron‐withdrawing –NO2 groups on the structural parameters, vibrational frequencies, UV‐vis absorption, and natural bond orbital (NBO) atomic charges were thoroughly analysed. Vibrational, UV‐vis, and NBO analyses confirm that investigated dyes exist in the hydrazo tautomeric form in the solid state and ethanol solution. These analyses signify the occurrence of intramolecular charge transfer in these azo‐pyridone dyes.
Behavioral, transcriptomic and epigenetic responses to social challenge in honey bees
Authors: Shpigler H. Y. , Saul M. C. , Murdoch E. E. , Cash‐Ahmed A. C. , Seward C. H. , Sloofman L. , Chandrasekaran S. , Sinha S. , Stubbs L. J. , Robinson G. E.
Published: March 2017

Understanding how social experiences are represented in the brain and shape future responses is a major challenge in the study of behavior. We addressed this problem by studying behavioral, transcriptomic and epigenetic responses to intrusion in honey bees. Previous research showed that initial exposure to an intruder provokes an immediate attack; we now show that this also leads to longer‐term changes in behavior in the response to a second intruder, with increases in the probability of responding aggressively and the intensity of aggression lasting 2 and 1 h, respectively. Previous research also documented the whole‐brain transcriptomic response; we now show that in the mushroom bodies (MBs) there are 2 waves of gene expression, the first highlighted by genes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and the second highlighted by genes related to hormones, stress response and transcription factors (TFs). Overall, 16 of 37 (43%) of the TFs whose cis‐motifs were enriched in the promoters of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were also predicted from transcriptional regulatory network analysis to regulate the MB transcriptional response, highlighting the strong role played by a relatively small subset of TFs in the MB's transcriptomic response to social challenge. Whole brain histone profiling showed few changes in chromatin accessibility in response to social challenge; most DEGs were ‘ready’ to be activated. These results show how biological embedding of a social challenge involves temporally dynamic changes in the neurogenomic state of a prominent region of the insect brain that are likely to influence future behavior.
Measuring Flow Rate in Crystalline Bedrock Wells Using the Dissolved Oxygen Alteration Method
Authors: Vitale Sarah A. , Robbins Gary A.
Published: March 2017

Determination of vertical flow rates in a fractured bedrock well can aid in planning and implementing hydraulic tests, water quality sampling, and improving interpretations of water quality data. Although flowmeters are highly accurate in flow rate measurement, the high cost and logistics may be limiting. In this study the dissolved oxygen alteration method (DOAM) is expanded upon as a low‐cost alternative to determine vertical flow rates in crystalline bedrock wells. The method entails altering the dissolved oxygen content in the wellbore through bubbler aeration, and monitoring the vertical advective movement of the dissolved oxygen over time. Measurements were taken for upward and downward flows, and under ambient and pumping conditions. Vertical flow rates from 0.06 to 2.30 Lpm were measured. To validate the method, flow rates determined with the DOAM were compared to pump discharge rates and found to be in agreement within 2.5%.
On‐axis versus off‐axis Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction technique: application to the characterisation of severe plastic deformation‐induced ultrafine‐grained microstructures
Authors: YUAN H. , BRODU E. , CHEN C. , BOUZY E. , FUNDENBERGER J‐J. , TOTH L.S.
Published: March 2017

A new configuration for Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) in a scanning electron microscope is presented; called ‘on‐axis TKD’. Compared to the usual off‐axis configuration, the scintillator is placed perpendicular to the incident beam under the electron‐transparent sample, not in vertical position. In this way, the setup benefits from intense forward scattered electrons enabling short acquisition times. At equivalent diffraction pattern quality, the electron dose needed on the sample is estimated to be 20 times lower in comparison to the off‐axis configuration. The technique is particularly suited to the characterisation of severe plastic deformation induced ultrafine grained microstructures. The evolution of the microstructure of an Al–Mg alloy deformed by high pressure tube twisting was analysed. It is shown that the grain refinement was in the steady state stage for a shear strain of 24 with a mean grain size of 120 nm.
Investigation of C3S hydration mechanism by transmission electron microscope (TEM) with integrated Super‐XTM EDS system
Authors: SAKALLI Y. , TRETTIN R.
Published: March 2017

Tricalciumsilicate (C3S, Alite) is the major component of the Portland cement clinker. Hydration of Alite is decisive in influencing the properties of the resulting material. This is due to its high content in cement. The mechanism of the hydration of C3S is very complicated and not yet fully understood. There are different models describing the hydration of C3S in various ways. In this work for a better understanding of hydration mechanism, the hydrated C3S was investigated by using the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and for the first time, the samples for the investigations were prepared by using of focused ion beam from sintered pellets of C3S. Also, an FEI Talos F200x with an integrated Super‐X EDS system was used for the investigations. FEI Talos F200X combines outstanding high‐resolution S/TEM and TEM imaging with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy signal detection, and 3D chemical characterization with compositional mapping.

TEM is a very powerful tool for material science. A high energy beam of electrons passes through a very thin sample, and the interactions between the electrons and the atoms can be used to observe the structure of the material and other features in the structure. TEM can be used to study the growth of layers and their composition. TEM produces high‐resolution, two‐dimensional images and will be used for a wide range of educational, science and industry applications. Chemical analysis can also be performed. The purpose of these investigations was to get the information about the composition of the C‐S‐H phases and some details of the nanostructure of the C‐S‐H phases.
Two Paradoxes of Common Knowledge: Coordinated Attack and Electronic Mail
Authors: Lederman Harvey
Published: March 2017

The coordinated attack scenario and the electronic mail game are two paradoxes of common knowledge. In simple mathematical models of these scenarios, the agents represented by the models can coordinate only if they have common knowledge that they will. As a result, the models predict that the agents will not coordinate in situations where it would be rational to coordinate. I argue that we should resolve this conflict between the models and facts about what it would be rational to do by rejecting common knowledge assumptions implicit in the models. I focus on the assumption that the agents have common knowledge that they are rational, and provide models to show that denying this assumption suffices for a resolution of the paradoxes. I describe how my resolution of the paradoxes fits into a general story about the relationship between rationality in situations involving a single agent and rationality in situations involving many agents.
A morphometric study of the canine skull and periorbita and its implications for regional ocular anesthesia
Authors: Klaumann Paulo Roberto , Moreno Juan Carlos Duque , Montiani‐Ferreira Fabiano
Published: March 2017

Objective

A hypothetical relationship between canine cranial length and the length of the periorbita could be used for intraconal anesthetic volume estimation.

Study subjects

Forty‐one canine cadaver heads and one macerated dog skull.

Procedures

Inion and nasion points were recognized in the macerated skull and used as landmarks for cranial length measure. Thirty cadavers classified as dolichocephalic, mesaticephalic and brachycephalic were distributed in three study groups. Anatomic references of the skull shapes were recognized and parameters measured: body weight (BW), cranial length (Lcr) and length of the periorbita (Lpo). Results were compared and statistical analyses were performed to find correlations between BW and the skull parameters. Contrast medium was injected in another 11 cadavers with a total volume calculated based on Lcr (10 cadavers) or BW (one cadaver) and then submitted to computerized tomography examination to compare techniques, estimate the capacity of the intraconal space of the periorbita and to illustrate practical implications.

Results

There is a positive correlation between BW and Lpo (P < 0.001) as well as between Lcr and Lpo (P < 0.0001). Linear regression of the variable BW predicts only 71% of the variable Lpo (r2 = 0.71), whereas the variable Lcr predicts 88% (r2 = 0.88) of Lpo.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated a mathematical relation between Lcr and Lpo. A method for calculating anesthetic solution volumes based on canine morphometric features is presented. The formula 0.1 mL/cm Lcr to calculate total intraconal anesthetic volume is suggested.
Effect of needle diameter on the viability of equine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Lang Hayley M. , Schnabel Lauren V. , Cassano Jennifer M. , Fortier Lisa A.
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are frequently delivered via needle injection for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of needle diameter on the viability of MSCs.

Methods

Equine bone marrow‐derived MSCs from 5 horses were suspended in PBS, and held at room temperature for 7 hours to mimic shipping conditions. Two replicate samples for each needle size (20, 22, 23, or 25‐gauge [ga]) were aspirated into a 3 mL syringe and re‐injected into the holding vial 3 times, to reproduce the resuspension of cells prior to injection in clinical cases. Cells were stained with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide to measure viability. Flow cytometry (FC) was performed to compare cell debris and intact cells between groups.

Results

MSC viability was higher when cells were passed through a 20‐ga rather than a 25‐ga needle. Cell suspensions passed through a 20‐ga needle contained a larger percentage of intact cells, compared to 25‐ga samples. The percentage of debris present in cell suspensions tended to increase with decreasing needle diameter. Neither horse nor passage had a significant effect on viability.

Conclusions

Cell damage is more likely when MSCs are passed through 25‐ga rather than 20‐ga needles.

Clinical relevance

Use of needles larger than 25‐ga is recommended to maintain the viability of MSCs injected in horses.
The Slope of the Euro Area Phillips Curve: Always and Everywhere the Same?
Authors: Amberger Johanna , Fendel Ralf
Published: March 2017

To determine whether the sensitivity of inflation to changes in the business cycle varies over time, hybrid new Keynesian Phillips curves are formulated in state space form and estimated via the Kalman filter. Analyses cover the Euro Area aggregate and eleven Euro Area countries. Results confirm the increasingly important role of inflation expectations. While the Phillips curve flattens until 2007, slope coefficients increase considerably with the financial crisis in 2007/08 on the basis of output gaps. Nonetheless, stable or decreasing slope coefficients are observed on the basis of unemployment gaps, indicating strong dependence on the driving variable used in estimations. Overall, differences in cross-country Phillips curve parameters are decreasing, indicating a convergence of Euro Area countries' inflation dynamics since 1990.
Method for patterning poly(acrylic acid) sacrificial layers for use in solder-based self-assembly
Authors: Smith Connor S. , Feng Ying , Burkett Susan L.
Published: March 2017

Solder-based self-assembly is a method for micromachining three-dimensional structures on silicon. This process has been used for educational purposes due to the significant experience gained by students interested in semiconductor processing. However, patterning the silicon dioxide sacrificial layer involves handling hazardous materials such as buffered hydrofluoric acid. To provide a safer alternative to this dangerous etchant, the authors describe a method for using poly(acrylic acid), a water soluble polymer, as a patternable sacrificial layer in the solder-based self-assembly process. Key to this method is the use of thermal crosslinking, a partial development technique, oxygen plasma ashing, and a strong alkaline solution to etch the sacrificial layer and reflow the solder. Plasma ashing is important to keep water and alkaline developers from etching the vulnerable poly(acrylic acid) layer too early in the process. This method is able to achieve the goal of promoting the self-assembly of three-dimensional structures on silicon. Beyond its use in our solder-based self-assembly process, this method may also prove useful in any application requiring the use of a patternable sacrificial layer made from poly(acrylic acid), as well as other polymers of a similar nature.
Resolution, identification, and stability of broadband acoustic arrivals in Fram Strait
Authors: Sagen Hanne , Worcester Peter F. , Dzieciuch Matthew A. , Geyer Florian , Sandven Stein , Babiker Mohamed , Beszczynska-Möller Agnieszka , Dushaw Brian D. , Cornuelle Bruce
Published: March 2017

An ocean acoustic tomography system consisting of three moorings with low frequency, broadband transceivers and a moored receiver located approximately in the center of the triangle formed by the transceivers was installed in the central, deep-water part of Fram Strait during 2010–2012. Comparisons of the acoustic receptions with predictions based on hydrographic sections show that the oceanographic conditions in Fram Strait result in complex arrival patterns in which it is difficult to resolve and identify individual arrivals. In addition, the early arrivals are unstable, with the arrival structures changing significantly over time. The stability parameter α suggests that the instability is likely not due to small-scale variability, but rather points toward strong mesoscale variability in the presence of a relatively weak sound channel as being largely responsible. The estimator-correlator [Dzieciuch, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 136, 2512–2522 (2014)] is shown to provide an objective formalism for generating travel-time series given the complex propagation conditions. Because travel times obtained from the estimator-correlator are not associated with resolved, identified ray arrivals, inverse methods are needed that do not use sampling kernels constructed from geometric ray paths. One possible approach would be to use travel-time sensitivity kernels constructed for the estimator-correlator outputs.
Trump's 2018 budget proposal ‘devalues’ science
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: March 2017

Drastic cuts meet strong resistance from Congress, community.
Tweak makes U.S. nukes more precise—and deadlier
Authors: Marshall Eliot
Published: March 2017

Improved targeting could upset strategic balance with Russia and spur arms race.
Bringing proteins into the fold
Authors: Douglas Shawn M.
Published: March 2017

A molecular origami method uses double-stranded DNA scaffolds and protein staples
to create hybrid nanostructures
Multiple Sources of Genetic Diversity of Influenza A Viruses during the Hajj
Authors: Cobbin Joanna C. A. , Alfelali Mohammad , Barasheed Osamah , Taylor Janette , Dwyer Dominic E. , Kok Jen , Booy Robert , Holmes Edward C. , Rashid Harunor
Published: March 2017

Outbreaks of respiratory virus infection at mass gatherings pose significant health risks to attendees, host communities, and ultimately the global population if they help facilitate viral emergence. However, little is known about the genetic diversity, evolution, and patterns of viral transmission during mass gatherings, particularly how much diversity is generated by
in situ
transmission compared to that imported from other locations. Here, we describe the genome-scale evolution of influenza A viruses sampled from the Hajj pilgrimages at Makkah during 2013 to 2015. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the diversity of influenza viruses at the Hajj pilgrimages was shaped by multiple introduction events, comprising multiple cocirculating lineages in each year, including those that have circulated in the Middle East and those whose origins likely lie on different continents. At the scale of individual hosts, the majority of minor variants resulted from
de novo
mutation, with only limited evidence of minor variant transmission or minor variants circulating at subconsensus level despite the likely identification of multiple transmission clusters. Together, these data highlight the complexity of influenza virus infection at the Hajj pilgrimages, reflecting a mix of global genetic diversity drawn from multiple sources combined with local transmission, and reemphasize the need for vigilant surveillance at mass gatherings.

IMPORTANCE
Large population sizes and densities at mass gatherings such as the Hajj (Makkah, Saudi Arabia) can contribute to outbreaks of respiratory virus infection by providing local hot spots for transmission followed by spread to other localities. Using a genome-scale analysis, we show that the genetic diversity of influenza A viruses at the Hajj gatherings during 2013 to 2015 was largely shaped by the introduction of multiple viruses from diverse geographic regions, including the Middle East, with only little evidence of interhost virus transmission at the Hajj and seemingly limited spread of subconsensus mutational variants. The diversity of viruses at the Hajj pilgrimages highlights the potential for lineage cocirculation during mass gatherings, in turn fuelling segment reassortment and the emergence of novel variants, such that the continued surveillance of respiratory pathogens at mass gatherings should be a public health priority.
BST-2 Expression Modulates Small CD4-Mimetic Sensitization of HIV-1-Infected Cells to Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity
Authors: Richard Jonathan , Prévost Jérémie , von Bredow Benjamin , Ding Shilei , Brassard Nathalie , Medjahed Halima , Coutu Mathieu , Melillo Bruno , Bibollet-Ruche Frédéric , Hahn Beatrice H. , Kaufmann Daniel E. , Smith Amos B. , Sodroski Joseph , Sauter Daniel , Kirchhoff Frank , Gee Katrina , Neil Stuart J. , Evans David T. , Finzi Andrés
Published: March 2017

Antibodies recognizing conserved CD4-induced (CD4i) epitopes on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Env and able to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) have been shown to be present in sera from most HIV-1-infected individuals. These antibodies preferentially recognize Env in its CD4-bound conformation. CD4 downregulation by Nef and Vpu dramatically reduces exposure of CD4i HIV-1 Env epitopes and therefore reduce the susceptibility of HIV-1-infected cells to ADCC mediated by HIV-positive (HIV+) sera. Importantly, this mechanism of immune evasion can be circumvented with small-molecule CD4 mimetics (CD4mc) that are able to transition Env into the CD4-bound conformation and sensitize HIV-1-infected cells to ADCC mediated by HIV+ sera. However, HIV-1 developed additional mechanisms to avoid ADCC, including Vpu-mediated BST-2 antagonism, which decreases the overall amount of Env present at the cell surface. Accordingly, BST-2 upregulation in response to alpha interferon (IFN-α) was shown to increase the susceptibility of HIV-1-infected cells to ADCC despite the activity of Vpu. Here we show that BST-2 upregulation by IFN-β and interleukin-27 (IL-27) also increases the surface expression of Env and thus boosts the ability of CD4mc to sensitize HIV-1-infected cells to ADCC by sera from HIV-1-infected individuals.

IMPORTANCEHIV-1 evolved sophisticated strategies to conceal Env epitopes from ADCC-mediating antibodies present in HIV+ sera. Vpu-mediated BST-2 downregulation was shown to decrease ADCC responses by limiting the amount of Env present at the cell surface. This effect of Vpu was shown to be attenuated by IFN-α treatment. Here we show that in addition to IFN-α, IFN-β and IL-27 also affect Vpu-mediated BST-2 downregulation and greatly enhance ADCC responses against HIV-1-infected cells in the presence of CD4mc. These findings may inform strategies aimed at HIV prevention and eradication.
Geraniol promotes functional recovery and attenuates neuropathic pain in rats with spinal cord injury
Authors: Lv Yan , Zhang Liang , Li Na , Mai Naiken , Zhang Yu , Pan Shuyi
Published: March 2017

Geraniol, a plant-derived monoterpene, has been extensively studied and showed a wide variety of beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of geraniol on functional recovery and neuropathic pain in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Rats received a clip-compression SCI and were treated with geraniol 6 h following SCI. Treatment of SCI rats with geraniol markedly improved locomotor function, and reduced sensitivity to the mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Treatment of SCI rats with geraniol increased NeuN-positive cells, suppressed expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, and reduced activity of caspase-3 in the injured region. Treatment of SCI rats with geraniol reduced levels of malondialdehyde and 3-nitrotyrosine, upregulated protein expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase 1, and suppressed expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the injured region. In addition, treatment of SCI rats with geraniol downregulated protein expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor 1 and reduced the number of CD68-positive cells and protein levels of TNF-α in the injured region. In conclusion, geraniol significantly promoted the recovery of neuronal function and attenuated neuropathic pain after SCI.
Study of simple land battles using agent-based modeling: Strategy and emergent phenomena
Authors: Westley Alexandra , De Meglio Nicholas , Hager Rebecca , Mok Jorge Wu , Shanahan Linda , Sen Surajit
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we expand upon our recent studies of an agent-based model of a battle between an intelligent army and an insurgent army to explore the role of modifying strategy according to the state of the battle (adaptive strategy) on battle outcomes. This model leads to surprising complexity and rich possibilities in battle outcomes, especially in battles between two well-matched sides. We contend that the use of adaptive strategies may be effective in winning battles.
Effect of boron impurity in a carbon nanotube superlattice
Authors: Ghobadi Zahra Karimi , Shokri Aliasghar , Zarei Sonia
Published: March 2017

In this work, the influence of boron atom impurity is investigated on the electronic properties of a single-wall carbon nanotube superlattice which is connected by pentagon–heptagon topological defects along the circumference of the heterojunction of these superlattices. Our calculation is based on tight-binding [Formula: see text]-electron method in nearest-neighbor approximation. The density of states (DOS) and electronic band structure in presence of boron impurity has been calculated. Results show that when boron atom impurity and nanotube atomic layers have increased, electronic band structure and the DOS have significant changes around the Fermi level.
Magnetotransport phenomena in layered conductors under magnetic breakdown
Authors: Galbova O. , Peschansky V. G. , Stepanenko D. I.
Published: March 2017

We study the transport phenomena in layered conductors with rather general electron energy spectrum placed in a high magnetic field [Formula: see text], under conditions when the distance between various sheets of the Fermi surface (FS) may become small under the external effects, such as hydrostatic pressure or impurity atom doping, and electrons can transfer from one sheet of the FS to another due to magnetic breakdown. We calculate the dependence of the in-plane electrical conductivity and magnetoresistance on magnetic field and probability of magnetic breakdown and show that the field-induced quadratic increase of the in-plane resistance in the absence of magnetic breakdown is changed by a linear dependence on [Formula: see text]. With a further reduction of the energy gap between FS sheets, the in-plane resistance is saturated.
Single- and double-sided sensor applications of metamaterials based on square-ring and diamond resonators for terahertz region
Authors: Shawky Najlaa , Adnan Taha Salah Al-deen , Altan Hakan , Sabah Cumali
Published: March 2017

This study investigates the sensing applications of metamaterial (MTM) structures in the terahertz (THz) region and is based on a broadside-coupled diamond and square-ring resonator (DSRR) structures. The resonators are designed and simulated as sensors in detail. Compared with single-sided sensors, the sensing capability of double-sided sensors provide an enhancement with respect to the sensitivity. To analyze the structure as sensor, the changes in the transmission resonance are investigated as a function of the permittivity and thickness of overlayer for the single- and double-sided MTM. The results demonstrate that this design can provide good sensitivity when sensing the chemical or biological agents that are resonant in the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These types of designs can be employed in the many sensing applications that are of interest in the THz region.
Status of dark matter in the universe
Authors: Freese Katherine
Published: March 2017

Over the past few decades, a consensus picture has emerged in which roughly a quarter of the universe consists of dark matter. I begin with a review of the observational evidence for the existence of dark matter: rotation curves of galaxies, gravitational lensing measurements, hot gas in clusters, galaxy formation, primordial nucleosynthesis and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations. Then, I discuss a number of anomalous signals in a variety of data sets that may point to discovery, though all of them are controversial. The annual modulation in the DAMA detector and/or the gamma-ray excess seen in the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope from the Galactic Center could be due to WIMPs; a 3.5 keV X-ray line from multiple sources could be due to sterile neutrinos; or the 511 keV line in INTEGRAL data could be due to MeV dark matter. All of these would require further confirmation in other experiments or data sets to be proven correct. In addition, a new line of research on dark stars is presented, which suggests that the first stars to exist in the universe were powered by dark matter heating rather than by fusion: the observational possibility of discovering dark matter in this way is discussed.
SOLID PARTICLE EROSION RESISTANCE OF HVAF-SPRAYED WC-10Co-4Cr COATING ON CA6NM STEEL
Authors: HAMILTON ANURAG , SHARMA ASHOK , PANDEL UPENDER
Published: March 2017

In the present investigation, WC-10Co-4Cr coating was deposited by high velocity air-fuel (HVAF) process on CA6NM hydro turbine steel. A detailed microstructural and phase compositional study was carried out on the coating. Mechanical properties of the coating were also evaluated. WC-10Co-4Cr coating showed a homogeneous, well-bonded structure with low porosity, which is mainly attributed to less decarburization of WC. Erosion resistance of the coating was evaluated by air jet erosion tester at three different impingement angles (30[Formula: see text], 60[Formula: see text] and 90[Formula: see text]) for 35 and 70[Formula: see text]m/s impact velocities. The FESEM micrographs were taken, before and after erosion tests, to determine the erosion mechanism. The test results revealed that the coating protects the substrate at 30[Formula: see text], 60[Formula: see text] and 90[Formula: see text] impingement angles. At 70[Formula: see text]m/s impact velocity, uncoated and coated steel showed higher cumulative volume loss than in the case of 35[Formula: see text]m/s impact velocity. It was observed that uncoated steel showed a ductile behavior during erosion and WC-10Co-4Cr coating showed mixed (ductile and brittle) mode of fracture during erosion.
On numerical heat transfer characteristic study of flat surface subjected to variation in geometric thickness
Authors: Umair Siddique Mohammed , Kolawale Abhijeet Rangnath , Bhise Ganesh Anurath , Gulhane Nitin Parashram
Published: March 2017

Thermal management in the looming world of electronic packaging system is the most prior and conspicuous issue as far as the working efficiency of the system is concerned. The cooling in such systems can be achieved by impinging air jet over the heat sink as jet impingement cooling is one of the cooling technologies which are widely studied now. Here the modulation in impinging and geometric parameters results in the establishment of the characteristic cooling rate over the target surface. The characteristic cooling curve actually resembles non-uniformity in cooling rate. This non-uniformity favors the area average heat dissipation rate. In order to study the non-uniformity in cooling characteristic, the present study takes an initiative in plotting the local Nusselt number magnitude against the non-dimensional radial distance of the different thickness of target surfaces. For this, the steady temperature distribution over the target surface under the impingement of air jet is being determined numerically. The work is completely inclined towards the determination of critical value of geometric thickness below which the non-uniformity in the Nusselt profile starts. This is done by numerically examining different target surfaces under constant Reynolds number and nozzle-target spacing. The occurrences of non-uniformity in Nusselt profile contributes to over a 42% enhancement in area average Nusselt magnitude. The critical value of characteristic thickness (t/d) reported in the present investigation approximate to 0.05. Below this value, the impingement of air jet generates a discrete pressure zones over the target surface in the form of pressure spots. As a result of this, the air flowing in contact with the target surface experiences a damping potential, in due of which it gets more time and contact with the surface to dissipate heat.
Use of semantics in robotics — improving doctors’ performance using a cricothyrotomy simulator
Authors: D’Auria Daniela , Persia Fabio
Published: March 2017

In the last years, the use of robotics and semantics in medical context has become more and more essential to improve medical doctors’ performance. In this work, we present a framework which exploits reasoning and semantic techniques to assist medical doctors during the cricothyrotomy — a well-known life-saving procedure. More specifically, it first acquires data in real-time from a cricothyrotomy simulator, when used by medical doctors, then it stores the acquired data into a scientific database and finally it exploits an Activity Detection Engine for finding expected activities, in order to evaluate the medical doctors’ performance in real-time, that is very essential for this kind of applications. In fact, an incorrect use of the simulator promptly detected can save the patient’s life.
Combining Structured Node Content and Topology Information for Networked Graph Clustering
Authors: Guo Ting , Wu Jia , Zhu Xingquan , Zhang Chengqi
Published: March 2017

Graphs are popularly used to represent objects with shared dependency relationships. To date, all existing graph clustering algorithms consider each node as a single attribute or a set of independent attributes, without realizing that content inside each node may also have complex structures. In this article, we formulate a new networked graph clustering task where a network contains a set of inter-connected (or networked) super-nodes, each of which is a single-attribute graph. The new super-node representation is applicable to many real-world applications, such as a citation network where each node denotes a paper whose content can be described as a graph, and citation relationships between papers form a networked graph (i.e., a super-graph). Networked graph clustering aims to find similar node groups, each of which contains nodes with similar content and structure information. The main challenge is to properly calculate the similarity between super-nodes for clustering. To solve the problem, we propose to characterize node similarity by integrating
structure
and
content
information of each super-node. To measure node content similarity, we use cosine distance by considering overlapped attributes between two super-nodes. To measure structure similarity, we propose an Attributed Random Walk Kernel (ARWK) to calculate the similarity between super-nodes. Detailed node content analysis is also included to build relationships between super-nodes with shared internal structure information, so the structure similarity can be calculated in a precise way. By integrating the structure similarity and content similarity as one matrix, the spectral clustering is used to achieve networked graph clustering. Our method enjoys sound theoretical properties, including bounded similarities and better structure similarity assessment than traditional graph clustering methods. Experiments on real-world applications demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms baseline approaches.