bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Community of Others or What is a Humanist Critique of Empire?
Authors: Seshadri Kalpana
Published: December 2014

The essay argues that the perceived waning of the influence of the Humanities (Literature, Continental Philosophy, Art, and Religion) and their irrelevance to contemporary problems of globalization and environmental issues is due to a limited exploration of the notion of interdisciplinarity. The essay suggests that, insofar as contemporary power relations pose a problem for our conception of human-being, the resources offered by the humanities acquire a renewed value and power for thinking through the era of the anthropocene.
The Application of Model Life Table Systems in China: Assessment of System Bias and Error
Authors: Hu Songbo , Yu Chuanhua
Published: December 2014

and projection. Although China is the world's most populous country with approximately a fifth of the world's population, none of the empirical tables from mainland China were used in calibrating the existing models. In this paper, we applied recent three model life table systems with different inputs to China mortality data to investigate whether or not these systems truly reflect Chinese mortality epidemiological patterns and whether or not system biases exist. The resulting residuals show that, in most cases, the male infant mortality rate (1q0), adult mortality rate (45q15) and old age mortality rate (20q60) have a strong bias towards being overestimated and the life expectancy at birth (e0) bias is underestimated. We also give the detailed results for each case. Furthermore, we found that the average relative errors (AREs) for females are more than those for males for e0, 45q15 and 20q60, but for 1q0, males have larger AREs in the Wilmoth and Murray systems. We also found that the urban population has more errors than the rural population in almost all cases. Finally, by comparing the AREs with 10 other countries, we found the errors for China are more than those for other countries in most cases. It is concluded that these existing model life table systems cannot accurately reflect Chinese mortality epidemiological situations and trajectories. Therefore, model life tables should be used with caution when applied to China on the basis of 5q0.
Battle Against Cancer: An Everlasting Saga of p53
Authors: Hao Qian , Cho William
Published: December 2014

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of malignant cells. The tumor suppressor p53 is the master regulator of tumor cell growth and proliferation. In response to various stress signals, p53 can be activated and transcriptionally induces a myriad of target genes, including both protein-encoding and non-coding genes, controlling cell cycle progression, DNA repair, senescence, apoptosis, autophagy and metabolism of tumor cells. However, around 50% of human cancers harbor mutant p53 and, in the majority of the remaining cancers, p53 is inactivated through multiple mechanisms. Herein, we review the recent progress in understanding the molecular basis of p53 signaling, particularly the newly identified ribosomal stress—p53 pathway, and the development of chemotherapeutics via activating wild-type p53 or restoring mutant p53 functions in cancer. A full understanding of p53 regulation will aid the development of effective cancer treatments.
MiR-222 Targeted PUMA to Improve Sensitization of UM1 Cells to Cisplatin
Authors: Jiang Fangfang , Zhao Wei , Zhou Lijie , Liu Zifeng , Li Wenqing , Yu Dongsheng
Published: December 2014

microRNAs have been shown to play critical roles in regulating the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. As a member of the oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs), miR-222 has been reported to drive the oncogenesis of many types of malignancies. However, little is known concerning the specific role of miR-222 in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study explored the role and mechanism of miR-222 in increasing the expression of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) and enhancing the sensitivity of OSCC to cisplatin (CDDP). Results showed that antisense (As)-miR-222 inhibits the expression of miR-222. In contrast, PUMA was dramaticallyup-regulated. IC50 values were significantly decreased in cells treated with As-miR-222 combined with CDDP, to a greater extent than in cells treated with CDDP alone. Furthermore, As-miR-222 enhanced apoptosis and inhibited the invasiveness of UM1 cells. Analysis of the above data suggested that, in UM1 cells, there might be a regulatory loop between miR-222 and PUMA, and that miR-222 inhibition increased the chemosensitivity to CDDP. These findings demonstrated that down-regulation of miR-222 could enhance the chemosensitivity of human OSCC cells to CDDP, and that the combination of As-miR-222 and CDDP could be an effective therapeutic strategy by boosting the expression of PUMA for controlling the growth of OSCC.
Altered Fatty Acid Metabolism-Related Gene Expression in Liver from Morbidly Obese Women with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Auguet Teresa , Berlanga Alba , Guiu-Jurado Esther , Martinez Salomé , Porras José , Aragonès Gemma , Sabench Fátima , Hernandez Mercé , Aguilar Carmen , Sirvent Joan , Del Castillo Daniel , Richart Cristóbal
Published: December 2014

Lipid accumulation in the human liver seems to be a crucial mechanism in the pathogenesis and the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to evaluate gene expression of different fatty acid (FA) metabolism-related genes in morbidly obese (MO) women with NAFLD. Liver expression of key genes related to de novo FA synthesis (LXRα, SREBP1c, ACC1, FAS), FA uptake and transport (PPARγ, CD36, FABP4), FA oxidation (PPARα), and inflammation (IL6, TNFα, CRP, PPARδ) were assessed by RT-qPCR in 127 MO women with normal liver histology (NL, n = 13), simple steatosis (SS, n = 47) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n = 67). Liver FAS mRNA expression was significantly higher in MO NAFLD women with both SS and NASH compared to those with NL (p = 0.003, p = 0.010, respectively). Hepatic IL6 and TNFα mRNA expression was higher in NASH than in SS subjects (p = 0.033, p = 0.050, respectively). Interestingly, LXRα, ACC1 and FAS expression had an inverse relation with the grade of steatosis. These results were confirmed by western blot analysis. In conclusion, our results indicate that lipogenesis seems to be downregulated in advanced stages of SS, suggesting that, in this type of extreme obesity, the deregulation of the lipogenic pathway might be associated with the severity of steatosis.
Amelioration of Mitochondrial Dysfunction-Induced Insulin Resistance in Differentiated 3T3-L1 Adipocytes via Inhibition of NF-κB Pathways
Authors: Bakar Mohamad , Sarmidi Mohamad , Kai Cheng , Huri Hasniza , Yaakob Harisun
Published: December 2014

A growing body of evidence suggests that activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways is among the inflammatory mechanism involved in the development of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation in adipose tissues derived from obese animal and human subjects. Nevertheless, little is known about the roles of NF-κB pathways in regulating mitochondrial function of the adipose tissues. In the present study, we sought to investigate the direct effects of celastrol (potent NF-κB inhibitor) upon mitochondrial dysfunction-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Celastrol ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction by altering mitochondrial fusion and fission in adipocytes. The levels of oxidative DNA damage, protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation were down-regulated. Further, the morphology and quantification of intracellular lipid droplets revealed the decrease of intracellular lipid accumulation with reduced lipolysis. Moreover, massive production of the pro-inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were markedly depleted. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake activity was restored with the enhancement of insulin signaling pathways. This study signified that the treatments modulated towards knockdown of NF-κB transcription factor may counteract these metabolic insults exacerbated in our model of synergy between mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation. These results demonstrate for the first time that NF-κB inhibition modulates mitochondrial dysfunction induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
Protection Method for Data Communication between ADS-B Sensor and Next-Generation Air Traffic Control Systems
Authors: Lee Seoung-Hyeon , Kim Yong-Kyun , Han Jong-Wook , Lee Deok-Gyu
Published: December 2014

Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems utilize digital technologies, satellite systems, and various levels of automation to facilitate seamless global air traffic management. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), the core component of CNS/ATM, broadcasts important monitoring information, such as the location, altitude, and direction of aircraft, to the ground. However, ADS-B data are transmitted in an unencrypted (or unprotected) communication channel between ADS-B sensors and Air Traffic Control (ATC). Consequently, these data are vulnerable to security threats, such as spoofing, eavesdropping, and data modification. In this paper, we propose a method that protects the ADS-B data transmitted between ADS-B sensors and ATC using Simple Public Key Infrastructure (SPKI) certificates and symmetric cryptography. The SPKI certificates are used to grant transmission authorization to the ADS-B sensors, while symmetric cryptography is used to encrypt/decrypt the ADS-B data transmitted between the ADS-B sensors and ATC. The proposed security framework comprises an ADS-B sensor authentication module, an encrypted data processing module, and an ADS-B sensor information management module. We believe that application of the proposed security framework to CNS/ATM will enable it to effectively obviate security threats, such as ground station flood denial, ground station target ghost injection, and ADS-B data modification.
Influence of Rice Seeding Rate on Efficacies of Neonicotinoid and Anthranilic Diamide Seed Treatments against Rice Water Weevil
Authors: Hamm Jason , Lanka Srinivas , Stout Michael
Published: December 2014

Rice in the U.S. is frequently seeded at low rates and treated before sowing with neonicotinoid or anthranilic diamide insecticides to target the rice water weevil. A previous study of the influence of seeding rate on rice water weevil densities showed an inverse relationship between seeding rates and immature weevil densities. This study investigated interactive effects of seeding rate and seed treatment on weevil densities and rice yields; in particular, experiments were designed to determine whether seed treatments were less effective at low seeding rates. Four experiments were conducted over three years by varying seeding rates of rice treated at constant per seed rates of insecticide. Larval suppression by chlorantraniliprole was superior to thiamethoxam or clothianidin, and infestations at low seeding rates were up to 47% higher than at high seeding rates. Little evidence was found for the hypothesis that seed treatments are less effective at low seeding rates; in only one of four experiments was the reduction in weevil densities by thiamethoxam greater at high than at low seeding rates. However, suppression of larvae by neonicotinoid seed treatments in plots seeded at low rates was generally poor, and caution must be exercised when using the neonicotioids at low seeding rates.
Reliability Study of Solder Paste Alloy for the Improvement of Solder Joint at Surface Mount Fine-Pitch Components
Authors: Rahman Mohd , Zubir Noor , Leuveano Raden , Ghani Jaharah , Mahmood Wan
Published: December 2014

The significant increase in metal costs has forced the electronics industry to provide new materials and methods to reduce costs, while maintaining customers’ high-quality expectations. This paper considers the problem of most electronic industries in reducing costly materials, by introducing a solder paste with alloy composition tin 98.3%, silver 0.3%, and copper 0.7%, used for the construction of the surface mount fine-pitch component on a Printing Wiring Board (PWB). The reliability of the solder joint between electronic components and PWB is evaluated through the dynamic characteristic test, thermal shock test, and Taguchi method after the printing process. After experimenting with the dynamic characteristic test and thermal shock test with 20 boards, the solder paste was still able to provide a high-quality solder joint. In particular, the Taguchi method is used to determine the optimal control parameters and noise factors of the Solder Printer (SP) machine, that affects solder volume and solder height. The control parameters include table separation distance, squeegee speed, squeegee pressure, and table speed of the SP machine. The result shows that the most significant parameter for the solder volume is squeegee pressure (2.0 mm), and the solder height is the table speed of the SP machine (2.5 mm/s).
Laser Controlled Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticle Arrays for Low Concentration Molecule Recognition
Authors: Fazio Enza , Neri Fortunato , Ponterio Rosina , Trusso Sebastiano , Tommasini Matteo , Ossi Paolo
Published: December 2014

Nanostructured gold and silver thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition.Performing the process in an ambient gas (Ar) leads to the nucleation and growth ofnanoparticles in the ablation plasma and their self-organization on the substrate. Thedependence of surface nanostructuring of the films on the deposition parameters is discussedconsidering in particular the number of laser pulses and the ambient gas nature and pressure.The performance of the deposited thin films as substrates for surface-enhanced Ramanspectroscopy (SERS) was tested against the detection of molecules at a low concentration.Taking Raman maps on micrometer-sized areas, the spatial homogeneity of the substrateswith respect to the SERS signal was tested.
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Six Essentials Oils from the Alliaceae Family
Authors: Mnayer Dima , Fabiano-Tixier Anne-Sylvie , Petitcolas Emmanuel , Hamieh Tayssir , Nehme Nancy , Ferrant Christine , Fernandez Xavier , Chemat Farid
Published: December 2014

Six essential oils (EOs) from the Alliaceae family, namely garlic (Allium sativum), onion (Allium cepa), leek (Allium porrum), Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum), shallot (Allium ascalonicum) and chive (Allium schoenoprasum) were characterized by GC and GC-MS and evaluated for their functional food properties. Antibacterial properties were tested on five food-borne pathogens: Two Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 19115) and three Gram-negative Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC 14028), Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and Campylobacter jejuni (ATCC 33291) bacteria. Antioxidant and radical-scavenging properties were tested by means of Folin-Ciocalteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Garlic, Chinese chive and onion EOs had the highest antibacterial activity whereas shallot and leek EOs were the strongest antioxidants. Heating caused a decrease in the antioxidant activity of these Eos, as shown in the Total Polar Materials (TPM) test. Suggestions on relationships between chemical composition and biological activities are presented. Results show that the EOs could be of value in the food industry as alternatives to synthetic antioxidants.
Alteration of N-glycans and Expression of Their Related Glycogenes in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of HCV29 Bladder Epithelial Cells
Authors: Guo Jia , Li Xiang , Tan Zengqi , Lu Wei , Yang Ganglong , Guan Feng
Published: December 2014

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential step in the proliferation and metastasis of solid tumor cells, and glycosylation plays a crucial role in the EMT process. Certain aberrant glycans have been reported as biomarkers during bladder cancer progression, but global variation of N-glycans in this type of cancer has not been previously studied. We examined the profiles of N-glycan and glycogene expression in transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ)-induced EMT using non-malignant bladder transitional epithelium HCV29 cells. These expression profiles were analyzed by mass spectrometry, lectin microarray analysis, and GlycoV4 oligonucleotide microarray analysis, and confirmed by lectin histochemistry and real-time RT-PCR. The expression of 5 N-glycan-related genes were notably altered in TGFβ-induced EMT. In particular, reduced expression of glycogene man2a1, which encodes α-mannosidase 2, contributed to the decreased proportions of bi-, tri- and tetra-antennary complex N-glycans, and increased expression of hybrid-type N-glycans. Decreased expression of fuca1 gene, which encodes Type 1 α-L-fucosidase, contributed to increased expression of fucosylated N-glycans in TGFβ-induced EMT. Taken together, these findings clearly demonstrate the involvement of aberrant N-glycan synthesis in EMT in these cells. Integrated glycomic techniques as described here will facilitate discovery of glycan markers and development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to bladder cancer.
Aggregation Behavior of Long-Chain Piperidinium Ionic Liquids in Ethylammonium Nitrate
Authors: Dai Caili , Du Mingyong , Liu Yifei , Wang Shilu , Zhao Jianhui , Chen Ang , Peng Dongxu , Zhao Mingwei
Published: December 2014

Micelles formed by the long-chain piperidinium ionic liquids (ILs) N-alkyl-N-methylpiperidinium bromide of general formula CnPDB (n = 12, 14, 16) in ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) were investigated through surface tension and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. Through surface tension measurements, the critical micelle concentration (cmc), the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Πcmc), the maximum excess surface concentration (Гmax) and the minimum area occupied per surfactant molecule (Amin) can be obtained. A series of thermodynamic parameters (DG0 m, DH0 m and DS0 m) of micellization can be calculated and the results showed that the micellization was entropy-driven. In addition, the DPD simulation was performed to simulate the whole aggregation process behavior to better reveal the micelle formation process.
Evolution of the Aroma Volatiles of Pear Fruits Supplemented with Fatty Acid Metabolic Precursors
Authors: Qin Gaihua , Tao Shutian , Zhang Huping , Huang Wenjiang , Wu Juyou , Xu Yiliu , Zhang Shaoling
Published: December 2014

To examine the biochemical metabolism of aroma volatiles derived from fatty acids, pear fruits were incubated in vitro with metabolic precursors of these compounds. Aroma volatiles, especially esters, were significantly increased, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in pear fruits fed on fatty acid metabolic precursors. Cultivars having different flavor characteristics had distinctly different aroma volatile metabolisms. More esters were formed in fruity-flavored “Nanguoli” fruits than in green-flavored “Dangshansuli” fruits fed on the same quantities of linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Hexanal and hexanol were more efficient metabolic intermediates for volatile synthesis than linoleic acid and linolenic acid. Hexyl esters were the predominant esters produced by pear fruits fed on hexanol, and their contents in “Dangshansuli” fruits were higher than in “Nanguoli” fruits. Hexyl esters and hexanoate esters were the primary esters produced in pear fruits fed on hexanal, however the content of hexyl ester in “Dangshansuli” was approximately three times that in “Nanguoli”. The higher contents of hexyl esters in “Dangshansuli” may have resulted from a higher level of hexanol derived from hexanal. In conclusion, the synthesis of aroma volatiles was largely dependent on the metabolic precursors presented.
Current Levels of Salt Knowledge: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Sarmugam Rani , Worsley Anthony
Published: December 2014

High salt intake increases the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Given the role of knowledge as a determinant of food intake, this paper aims to review the current levels of salt knowledge and the association between salt knowledge and dietary salt intake and salt-related dietary practices in the general population. Twenty two studies were included in the review. In general, the studies showed consumers were able to identify the health risks associated with high salt intake. However, knowledge of recommended daily intakes, understanding of the relationships between salt and sodium and foods that contribute most salt to the diet were poor. Four of the five studies which examined the relationships between salt knowledge and salt-related dietary practices reported significant associations. Two important gaps in the current literature were identified. First, there is a need for a robustly validated tool to examine salt knowledge and its impact on salt intake. Second, a comprehensive salt knowledge assessment should include assessment of procedural, as well as declarative, knowledge.
Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Raman Optical Parametric Amplifier in the O- and E-Bands for CWDM PONs
Authors: Peiris Sasanthi , Madamopoulos Nicholas , Antoniades Neophytos , Richards Dwight , Dorsinville Roger
Published: December 2014

We describe a hybrid Raman-optical parametric amplifier (HROPA) operating at the O- and E-bands and designed for coarse wavelength division multiplexed (CWDM) passive optical networks (PONs). We present the mathematical model and simulation results for the optimization of this HROPA design. Our analysis shows that separating the two amplification processes allows for optimization of each one separately, e.g., proper selection of pump optical powers and wavelengths to achieve maximum gain bandwidth and low gain ripple. Furthermore, we show that the proper design of optical filters incorporated in the HROPA architecture can suppress idlers generated during the OPA process, as well as other crosstalk that leaks through the passive optical components. The design approach enables error free performance for all nine wavelengths within the low half of the CWDM band, assigned to upstream traffic in a CWDM PON architecture, for all possible transmitter wavelength misalignments (±6 nm) from the center wavelength of the channel band. We show that the HROPA can achieve error-free performance with a 170-nm gain bandwidth (e.g., 1264 nm–1436 nm), a gain of >20 dB and a gain ripple of <4 dB.
Pistil Smut Infection Increases Ovary Production, Seed Yield Components, and Pseudosexual Reproductive Allocation in Buffalograss
Authors: Chandra Ambika , Huff David
Published: December 2014

Sex expression of dioecious buffalograss [Bouteloua dactyloides Columbus (syn. Buchloë dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.)] is known to be environmentally stable with approximate 1:1, male to female, sex ratios. Here we show that infection by the pistil smut fungus [Salmacisia buchloëana Huff & Chandra (syn. Tilletia buchloëana Kellerman and Swingle)] shifts sex ratios of buffalograss to be nearly 100% phenotypically hermaphroditic. In addition, pistil smut infection decreased vegetative reproductive allocation, increased most seed yield components, and increased pseudosexual reproductive allocation in both sex forms compared to uninfected clones. In female sex forms, pistil smut infection resulted in a 26 fold increase in ovary production and a 35 fold increase in potential harvest index. In male sex forms, pistil smut infection resulted in 2.37 fold increase in floret number and over 95% of these florets contained a well-developed pistil. Although all ovaries of infected plants are filled with fungal teliospores and hence reproductively sterile, an average male-female pair of infected plants exhibited an 87 fold increase in potential harvest index compared to their uninfected clones. Acquiring an ability to mimic the effects of pistil smut infection would enhance our understanding of the flowering process in grasses and our efforts to increase seed yield of buffalograss and perhaps other grasses.
Quantifying the Recoverable Resources of Companion Metals: A Preliminary Study of Australian Mineral Resources
Authors: Mudd Gavin , Yellishetty Mohan , Reck Barbara , Graedel T. E.
Published: December 2014

The long-term availability of mineral resources is crucial in underpinning human society, technology, and economic activity, and in managing anthropogenic environmental impacts. This is increasingly true for metals that do not generally form the primary product of mines (“host” metals), such as copper or iron, but are recovered as by-products (or sometimes co-products during the processing of primary ores). For these “companion” metals, it is therefore useful to develop methodologies to estimate the recoverable resource, i.e., the amount that could, if desired, be extracted and put into use over the next several decades. We describe here a methodological approach to estimating the recoverable resources of companion metals in metal ores, using preliminary data for some particular host/companion pairs in Australia as examples.
GaAs Coupled Micro Resonators with Enhanced Sensitive Mass Detection
Authors: Chopard Tony , Lacour Vivien , Leblois Therese
Published: December 2014

This work demonstrates the improvement of mass detection sensitivity and time response using a simple sensor structure. Indeed, complicated technological processes leading to very brittle sensing structures are often required to reach high sensitivity when we want to detect specific molecules in biological fields. These developments constitute an obstacle to the early diagnosis of diseases. An alternative is the design of coupled structures. In this study, the device is based on the piezoelectric excitation and detection of two GaAs microstructures vibrating in antisymmetric modes. GaAs is a crystal which has the advantage to be micromachined easily using typical clean room processes. Moreover, we showed its high potential in direct biofunctionalisation for use in the biological field. A specific design of the device was performed to improve the detection at low mass and an original detection method has been developed. The principle is to exploit the variation in amplitude at the initial resonance frequency which has in the vicinity of weak added mass the greatest slope. Therefore, we get a very good resolution for an infinitely weak mass: relative voltage variation of 8%/1 fg. The analysis is based on results obtained by finite element simulation.
Regional Frameworks for Safeguarding Children: The Role of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
Authors: Sloth-Nielsen Julia
Published: December 2014

This article discusses the safeguarding movement in the context of child protection. After providing it’s key principles and precepts, the relevant provisions of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which link to safeguarding are stipulated, as well as a brief description given of the mandate of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Some aspects of the practical working methods of the Committee are thereafter considered. With reference to the Committee’s interface with non-governmental organisations, some proposals concerning the Committee and the safeguarding movement are put forward.
Biomass Power Generation Industry Efficiency Evaluation in China
Authors: Yan Qingyou , Tao Jie
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we compare the properties of the traditional additive-based data envelopment analysis (hereafter, referred to as DEA) models and propose two generalized DEA models, i.e., the big M additive-based DEA (hereafter, referred to as BMA) model and the big M additive-based super-efficiency DEA (hereafter, referred to as BMAS) model, to evaluate the performance of the biomass power plants in China in 2012. The virtues of the new models are two-fold: one is that they inherited the properties of the traditional additive-based DEA models and derived more new additive-based DEA forms; the other is that they can rank the efficient decision making units (hereafter, referred to as DMUs). Therefore, the new models have great potential to be applied in sustainable energy project evaluation. Then, we applied the two new DEA models to evaluate the performance of the biomass power plants in China and find that the efficiency of biomass power plants in the northern part of China is higher than that in the southern part of China. The only three efficient biomass power plants are all in the northern part of China. Furthermore, based on the results of the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank-sum test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, there is a great technology gap between the biomass power plants in the northern part of China and those in the southern part of China.
Distinguishing Technical Inefficiency from Desirable and Undesirable Congestion with an Application to Regional Industries in China
Authors: Wang Jun , Zha Yong
Published: December 2014

Congestion is an important issue that requires the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs). We first classify conventional congestion into congestion (newly defined) and technical inefficiency, based on prior research and real applications. Modified definitions and mathematical expression of congestion, managerial inefficiency, and technical inefficiency are proposed to better illustrate the differences between them. Several modified models are provided to identify and recognize those types of inefficiencies and congestion. We then extend the model by considering the desirable and undesirable types of congestion simultaneously. The proposed approach is applied and verified by identifying resource congestion and environmental inefficiencies in China’s economic development.
Deux scarabées d’Orgamè/Argamum
Authors: Dan Anca
Published: December 2014

Two scarabs from Orgame/ Argamum.

The two faience scarabs discovered at Orgame in a house dated, on the basis of a stamped amphora fragment and other fine wares, to the end of the IVth century BC are of the "Naucratite type" (Gorton 1996, type XXVIII). For the ICEM 46773, a mould representing the Scarabaeus Sacer in a naturalistic way has been used ; the Tilapia Nilotica, with a Nymphaea Caerulea in its mouth, cast on the underside, is very common on scarabs : the fish which guides and protects Rê against Apophis and which spits its own alevins, like Atoum the Creator, associated with a lotus bloom, the flower of the beginnings and of the "Gott auf der Blume" , is a strong symbol of renewal and resurrection. The ICEM 46774, cast with a simplified mould into an inferior faience, has on its backside the name of Amon, joining up, in cryptographic form, the forces of Maât, Horus and Rê, just like some other scarabs from Olbia, Carthage or Egypt, found in VIth-Vth centuries layers. These amulets, preserved during generations or made and exported at a later date than usually accepted, could fill a gap in our knowledge of the (in) direct relations between the southern and northern parts of the eastern Mediterranean in the classical period.
La transformación del paisaje en la cuenca media del Duero (siglos IV a. C.-I d. c.)
Authors: Hernández Guerra Liborio
Published: December 2014

La transformation du paysage de la moyenne vallée du Douro (IVe av.-Ier apr. J. -C.).

L’étude de l’évolution des formes d’occupation et d’exploitation du territoire est une bonne façon d’approcher les transformations paysagères qui se produisent dans la moyenne vallée du Douro du IVe siècle avant J.-C. au Ier siècle de notre ère. De fait, l’archéologie rurale et urbaine nous permet de mettre en valeur les différentes formes d’organisation socio-économique dans un environnement naturel original.
Pour une étude des contacts culturels en zone frontalière à l’époque romaine : quelques réflexions conceptuelles
Authors: Morin Mélissa S.
Published: December 2014

For a study of frontier cultural contacts in the Roman period : some considerations.

Roman frontiers are not barriers between people. They are now treated by modern historiography as contact areas as well as socio-economic and cultural confluences. Cultural contacts are an essential aspect of the development of frontier societies. Therefore historians interested in Roman frontiers have to consider conceptual frameworks of contact situations drawn up not only in Roman history but also in other disciplines. This paper aims to provide some conceptual remarks on the different words proposed by anthropologists, ethnologists and historians to describe contact situations. First, the author addresses the correlation between frontiers and contact areas in modern historiography. Then, she discusses the different concepts of cultural exchanges developed in anthropology and Roman history, including the concept of romanization.
Pedicle digital pad transfer and negative pressure wound therapy for reconstruction of the weight-bearing surface after complete digital loss in a dog
Authors: Van Goethem B. , Polis I. , Spillebeen A. , Vandekerckhove P. , Saunders J. , de Rooster H. , Or M.
Published: December 2014

A young Labrador Retriever was presented for treatment of severe distal hindlimb necrosis caused by bandage ischemia. During digit amputation at the metatarsophalangeal joints, the third and fourth digital pads were salvaged and transferred to the metatarsal stump to create a weight-bearing surface. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was utilized for flap immobilization and to promote granulation tissue in the remaining wound defect. Sturdy adherence of the digital pads was achieved after only four days. The skin defect healed completely by second intention and the stump was epithelialized with a thin pad after three months. At the nine month follow-up examination, the stump had a thick hyperkeratinized pad. The dog walked and ran without any apparent signs of discomfort and compensated for the loss of limb length by extending the stifle and tarsocrural joints.

Despite a challenging wound in a difficult anatomical location, digital pad flap transfer and NPWT proved successful in restoring long-term ambulation in an active large breed dog.
Question régionale, identité nationale et émergence du monde urbain-industriel. La modernité dans l'œuvre de Paul Vidal de la Blache
Authors: Ribeiro Guilherme
Published: December 2014

En soulignant l’actualité de l’œuvre de Paul Vidal de la Blache (1845-1918), cet article analyse la manière dont sa géographie régionale a été construite à la lumière de la question de l’identité nationale française et de l’émergence du monde urbain et industriel. Cette dynamique a bouleversé les paysages et la vie sociale de la France paysanne et agraire : Vidal de la Blache a bien compris les conséquences spatio-temporelles de ce mouvement. Au-delà d’une approche purement disciplinaire, une réflexion autour de son héritage intellectuel nous amène à suggérer que Vidal de la Blache a été un perspicace interprète de la modernité.
Levantamiento del comedor del IETcc: una crónica de la innovación en la representación de edificios
Authors: Casinello P. , Álvarez M. , Rodríguez R. , Miranda M. , Ramos L. A. , Azorín V.
Published: December 2014

En este artículo se presenta un avance más en el proceso de aplicación de las últimas técnicas de adquisición de datos para la documentación del archivo de planos del IETcc, en el año en el que se celebra el 80 aniversario de su construcción.

En este trabajo se expone la realización del levantamiento del comedor de personal, elemento singular del edificio, que ha sufrido modificaciones a través del tiempo. En una etapa posterior se editarán los datos, para realizar los planos que permitan la comparación con los que se conservan en el archivo del IETcc.

Se ha utilizado el escáner láser, que ha pasado de ser una tecnología emergente a ser una técnica presente, útil y una alternativa real a la fotogrametría terrestre en las labores de reconocimiento y análisis del patrimonio arquitectónico.
Interaction between plasticized polyvinyl chloride waterproofing membrane and extruded polystyrene board, in the inverted flat roof
Authors: Pedrosa A. , Del Río M. , Fonseca C.
Published: December 2014

The inverted flat roof is a constructive system widely used in flat roof construction. In this constructive solution, the insulation is placed over the waterproofing material as a protection. It is believed that this solution provides a longer life cycle; given the fact that it limits the thermal variation the waterproofing material bears up to the end of its life cycle. Consequently, the result will be providing a longer life to the waterproofing membrane. This constructive solution always incorporates polymers or other materials with a thermoplastic addition in their composition. Some polymers show interactions between them that can affect their integrity, and, at the same time, the bulk of the polymeric materials are incompatible. The extruded polystyrene board is always present in the inverted flat roof, and although it is an unbeatable product for this use, it presents incompatibilities and interactions with other materials, and these can affect their properties and therefore the durability of them.
Assessing Individual Influence on Group Decisions in Geological Carbon Capture and Storage Problems
Authors: Polson Debbie , Curtis Andrew
Published: December 2014

The inherent uncertainty in information about the Earth's subsurface requires experts to interpret and reach judgements about geological data based on their individual experience and expertise. This is particularly true for the geological storage of CO2 in subsurface saline aquifers where the fate of the injected CO2 needs to be predicted far into the future. In this chapter, linear modelling is used in a structured elicitation exercise to estimate the relative influence of individual experts within a group and to assess whether a group consensus reflects a genuine shared opinion or is biased towards or away from any dominant member or subgroup. The method is applied to a real expert evaluation of the carbon storage potential of a siliciclastic formation. This reveals herding behaviour amongst the experts, and levels of inter-expert influence that are undue given individual experts' levels of expertise, though neither phenomena was apparent during the meeting.
Persistence of Knowledge across Layered Architectures
Authors: Fredericks Janet
Published: December 2014

In this chapter, a model demonstrating methods for integration of semantic technologies within observational data services is described. Implementation of the model captures knowledge about data provenance where it is best understood and also enables its persistence across architectural layers through the use of standards-based technologies. Domain experts can build upon the semantic layer to create meaningful ontologies. Brokering services can utilize the ontologies for automated mediation of terms and translation between standards-based technologies. Research communities will be enabled to operate within their own framework, utilizing their familiar, specialized terminology and tools. The role of communities of practice is explored relating to knowledge management across layered architectures. Implementation of semantic technologies within Web-based data and brokering services will minimize the operational barriers to data discovery and access and provide mechanisms that enable the formation of collaborative environments that will facilitate repeatable, well-documented research.
The Brokering Approach for Enabling Collaborative Scientific Research
Authors: Boldrini Enrico , Craglia Max , Mazzetti Paolo , Nativi Stefano
Published: December 2014

Collaborative research poses important challenges and opportunities to scientific communities, such as the realization of effective interactions between different groups and organizations. Data sharing is growing increasingly important, as repositories are growing in size, number, and variety in the different domains. The underlying challenge is interoperability: between data, services, applications, models, and ultimately people. Abstraction and standardization (e.g. of data and services) have historically played an essential role in enabling interoperability. However, they proved not to be sufficient alone to let large-scale collaborative research thrive. For different spheres (e.g. social/economic realms), intermediation approaches were successfully applied to pursue similar goals in the so-called brokering approach. This chapter argues that brokering is useful to enable collaborative research as well, both by addressing technological interoperability and supporting socio-organizational challenges. A technological brokering framework, implemented to help the earth system science collaborative research, is finally presented, along with success stories.
Building Collaborative Ontologies
Authors: Gavrilova Tatiana A. , Leshcheva Irina A.
Published: December 2014

The chapter describes the research performed within the KOMET (Knowledge and cOntent structuring via METhods of collaborative ontology design) project, which was aimed at developing a new paradigm for knowledge structuring. By knowledge structure, the authors define the main domain concepts and relations between them in a form of graph, map, or diagram. The approach considers the specifics of individual cognitive style. Two stages of research have been completed: research into correlations between the expert's individual cognitive style and the peculiarities of expert's subject domain ontology development; and study of correlations between the expert's individual cognitive style and the group ontology design (including the design performed in groups consisting of experts either of similar or of different cognitive styles). The results of this work can be applied to organizing collaborative ontology design (especially for research and learning purposes), data structuring, and other group analytical work. Implications for practice are briefly delineated.
Perspectives of Use of Petri Nets in Collaborative Research
Authors: Rogalchuk Vyacheslav , Solomin Konstantin
Published: December 2014

Petri Nets are efficient and well-formalized tools for modeling the dynamic systems. With some reasonable constraints, they can be readily applied to knowledge representation and engineering, and thus assist in collaborative research. This chapter proposes a way to do this based on the unified grammar of dynamic knowledge. Petri Nets appear interpretable in terms of the said grammar and may be considerably enhanced by the introduction of semantic rules for formulation of expressions in their places. In such form, they are quite apt to be used as a knowledge representation and visualization method in computer-based tools for support of collaborative research, and their quantification potential (i.e., marking of the net and attributing weights to its arcs) may appear very useful for this task, which is usually accomplished by purely qualitative tools.
Maps, Graphs, and Annotations as Boundary Objects in Knowledge Networks, Distributed Cognition, and Collaborative E-Research
Authors: Diviacco Paolo , Busato Alessandro
Published: December 2014

Scientific communities tend to speciate in tribes that evolve their culture so that after some time they do not have the same understanding of the same terms or concepts. Tacit knowledge, that is the knowledge that cannot be expressed or formalized, complicates this even more. Since we cannot fully know what a concept refers to, we would have limitations in developing IT systems to support collaborative and distributed cognition activities and knowledge networks trying to map knowledge between paradigms. To address this, the authors propose to switch to another perspective where knowledge is kept implicit and the referential communication function (iconic signification) is exploited instead. In this perspective, they develop a specific virtual research environment named COLLA-ANT, which, albeit being still a prototype and needing more use cases, has proved successful in addressing the above-mentioned issues.
Crosstalk among IL-23 and DNAX Activating Protein of 12 kDa–Dependent Pathways Promotes Osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Shin Hyun-Seock , Sarin Ritu , Dixit Neha , Wu Jian , Gershwin Eric , Bowman Edward P. , Adamopoulos Iannis E.
Published: December 2014

IL-23 has been well studied in the context of T cell differentiation; however, its role in the differentiation of myeloid progenitors is less clear. In this paper, we describe a novel role of IL-23 in myeloid cell differentiation. Specifically, we have identified that in human PBMCs, IL-23 induces the expression of MDL-1, a PU.1 transcriptional target during myeloid differentiation, which orchestrates osteoclast differentiation through activation of DNAX activating protein of 12 kDa and its ITAMs. The molecular events that lead to the differentiation of human macrophages to terminally differentiated osteoclasts are dependent on spleen tyrosine kinase and phospholipase Cγ2 phosphorylation for the induction of intracellular calcium flux and the subsequent activation of master regulator osteoclast transcription factor NFATc1. IL-23–elicited osteoclastogenesis is independent of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand pathway and uses a unique myeloid DNAX activating protein of 12 kDa–associated lectin-1+/DNAX activating protein of 12 kDa+ cell subset. Our data define a novel pathway that is used by IL-23 in myeloid cells and identify a major mechanism for the stimulation of osteoclastogenesis in inflammatory arthritis.
Anaesthetic Concerns for Large Intracranial Cyst Excision: Expect the Unexpected!
Authors: Hariharan Uma Hariharan , Garg Rakesh , Gupta Alka , Wasnik Seema , Pawar Mridula
Published: December 2014

Neurosurgical procedures in infants poses various challenges such as difficulty in venous cannulation, securing invasive vascular lines, difficult airway, controlling intra-cranial tension, managing large fluid shifts to positioning- related issues and temperature maintenance. We hereby present an case of a large intracranial space occupying lesion, suspected to be a hydatid cyst, which later turned out to be an infected ventricular cyst and intraoperative problems. A thorough preparation prior to operation of infected cystic lesion of the brain is required including anticipation of massive blood loss and its management. A slow decompression of the large cystic lesion should be done.
What Does Self Rated Mental Health Represent
Authors: Levinson Daphna , Kaplan Giora
Published: December 2014

Background

Unlike the widely used self rated health, the self rated mental health was found unsuitable as a proxy for mental illness. This paper analyses the relationships between the self ratings of physical health, mental health and overall health, and their association of with the objective indicators for physical and mental health.

Design and methods

The study is a secondary analysis of data from a nationwide representative sample of the non-institutionalized adult residents of Israel in 2003 that was collected via computer-assisted personal interview methods [n=4859].

Results

The self rated physical health and the self rated mental health were strongly related to each other yet the self rated mental health was not related to chronic physical conditions and the self rated physical health was not related to mental disorders. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, those with positive self rated mental health had 93 times the odds of reporting positive overall health whereas those with positive self rated physical health had 40 times the odds of reporting positive overall health.

Conclusions

The self rating of mental health presents a qualitatively different dimension from mental illness. The self rated mental health is two times more important than the self rated physical health in predicting the self rated overall health