bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental Practice Combined with Motor Rehabilitation to Treat Upper Limb Hemiparesis of Post-Stroke Patients: Clinical and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Machado Sergio , Lattari Eduardo , Paes Flávia , Rocha Nuno B.F. , Nardi Antonio E. , Arias-Carrión Oscar , Mura Gioia , Yuan Ti-Fei , Carta Mauro G. , Campos Carlos
Published: March 2016

Stroke is one of the major causes of disability in the world. Due to the extended lifetime of the world's population, the number of people affected by stroke has increased substantially over the last years. Stroke may lead to sensorimotor deficits, usually causing hemiplegia or hemiparesia. In order to reduce motor deficits and accelerate functional recovery, MP combined with motor rehabilitation was introduced to the rehabilitation process of post-stroke patients. Evidence has shown that MP combining with motor rehabilitation based on activities of daily living was more effective than conventional motor rehabilitation used per se. This combination proved very useful and effective, with significant results in improvement of motor deficits in post-stroke patients. However, further studies must be conducted to determine specific parameters, such as type of imagery, frequency or duration.
Postural Control of Healthy Elderly Individuals Compared to Elderly Individuals with Stroke Sequelae
Authors: Alfieri Fábio Marcon , Riberto Marcelo , Lopes José Augusto Fernandes , Filippo Thais Raquel , Imamura Marta , Battistella Linamara Rizzo
Published: March 2016

A stroke and aging process can modify the postural control. We aimed to compare the postural control of health elderly individuals to that of individuals with stroke sequelae. This cross-sectional transversal study was made with individuals capable of walking without any assistance and that were considered clinically stable. The study had 18 individuals in the group with stroke sequelae (SG) and 34 in the healthy elderly control group (CG). The participants were evaluated for the timed up and go test (TUG) and force platform. The SG showed the worst results in relation to the time of execution of the TUG and the force platform evaluation. The displacement of center of pressure was worse for both groups in the eyes-closed situation, especially in the anteroposterior direction for the CG. The GS showed worse results in the static and dynamic postural control. The healthy elderly showed more dependence on sight to maintain their static balance and there was no difference in the balance tests in relation to the side affected by the stroke.
Text Mining to Uncover the Intensity of SEC Comment Letters and Its Association with the Probability of 10-K Restatement
Authors: Liu Yue , Moffitt Kevin C.
Published: March 2016

The SEC comment letter is the correspondence between SEC staff and SEC filers about the filers' public information disclosures. The intensity of comment letters in terms of the use of strong/weak modal language can reflect perceived deficiencies in the reviewed filings. This paper uses text mining to examine the intensity of SEC comment letters. A measure of intensity based on the modality of comment letters is developed. Empirical analysis is conducted on a sample of initial comment letters related to 10-K filings. Results show that intensity is positively associated with the probability of a restatement of the reviewed 10-K filings and that this association is robust using both the original Loughran and McDonald (2011) word lists and the modified word lists.
A Bargain Half Fulfilled
Authors: Oberfield Zachary W.
Published: March 2016

Public charter schools (PCS) are thought to succeed because they have greater autonomy and are held more accountable than traditional public schools (TPS). Though teachers are central to this expectation, there is little evidence about whether teachers in PCS enjoy more autonomy and are held more accountable than teachers in TPS. Also, it is unclear what the franchising of the PCS sector—the growth of schools run by educational management organizations (EMOs)—means for teacher autonomy and accountability. Using nationally representative survey data, this article compares teachers’ perceptions of autonomy and accountability in PCS and TPS and in EMO-run and non-EMO-run PCS. It shows that teachers in PCS reported greater autonomy than teachers in TPS; similarly, teachers in non-EMO-run schools indicated greater autonomy than teachers in EMO-run schools. However, there were no differences in perceptions of accountability across these different school types.
Assessing the Effects of a School-Wide Data-Based Decision-Making Intervention on Student Achievement Growth in Primary Schools
Authors: van Geel Marieke , Keuning Trynke , Visscher Adrie J. , Fox Jean-Paul
Published: March 2016

Despite growing international interest in the use of data to improve education, few studies examining the effects on student achievement are yet available. In the present study, the effects of a two-year data-based decision-making intervention on student achievement growth were investigated. Fifty-three primary schools participated in the project, and student achievement data were collected over the two years before and two years during the intervention. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the differential effect of data use on student achievement. A positive mean intervention effect was estimated, with an average effect of approximately one extra month of schooling. Furthermore, the results suggest that the intervention especially significantly improved the performances of students in low socioeconomic status schools.
Naumore Storage Project Should be the Last Resort of Development on the Main Course of Rapti (West), Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Hari Man
Published: March 2016

Water, food and energy are three essential elements of life and, therefore, they need to be made internally secured in a long lasting manner. In the case of Nepal, river waters are the basic sources of all these elements and are the only resources available indigenously in Nepal for these purposes. Rapti (West), being medium size river of rain-fed nature, the dry spell continues long from December up to the end of May; at the same time the flood waters available particularly in July, August and September create havoc by flooding in the downstream reaches. The Kapilvastu area which can be commanded by the Rapti (West) river does not have other dependable sources for fulfilling its requirements. The only way to fulfill its requirements without affecting downstream users is, thus, to capture a portion of flood water of Rapti behind a storage dam aimed at diversion to Kapilvastu for use during dry season. An appropriate site for such purpose is located at Bhalubang. Hence, this site needs to be developed first to ensure the diversion to Kapilvastu and then a much higher storage dam site at Naumore could, later at appropriate time but within 25 to 30 years after development of Bhalubang site, be developed for increasing the flow regulation potential of the Rapti River so that the hydropower generation, flood control and intensification of irrigated agriculture at its commendable areas, could be maximized. HYDRO Nepal Journal of Water Energy and EnvironmentVolume- 18, 2016, JanuaryPage -1 to 5
A History of FDI in Hydropower Development in Nepal
Authors: Dhungel Kamal Raj
Published: March 2016

In Nepal, hydropower is an obvious target for foreign aid and foreign investment. To date, a number of notable hydropower projects were constructed through foreign aid and that history dates back to 1911, when the Britain supported the Pharping hydropower project near Kathmandu. Today, India, China, USA and Norway are investigating the prospects for Nepali hydropower development. This paper traces this history of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nepal. HYDRO Nepal Journal of Water Energy and EnvironmentVolume- 18, 2016, JanuaryPage -22 to 24
In vivo Analgesic activity of methanolic extract of Helianthus annuus seeds
Authors: Islam Rubab Tarannum , Islam Ahmed Tanjimul , Hossain Mir Monir , Mazumder Kishor
Published: March 2016

The sunflower seed is the seed of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). The methanol extract of seeds of Helianthus annuus were screened for analgesic activity in mice model to systematically explore the medicinal values of the plant. Acetic acid induced writhing and hot plate methods were used to confirm the central and peripheral analgesic action. In case of acetic acid-induced writhing test the extract showed significant (P <0.05) analgesic potential at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (50.35 and 57.85% inhibition, respectively). In the hot plate method, increase (p < 0.05) of latency period was also observed in comparison to standard aspirin. At 60 minutes, the latency period of two different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) was found at 13 ± 0.91 and 16.5 ± 1.55 second. The results obtained support the use of Helianthus annuus seeds in painful conditions acting both centrally and peripherally.Islam et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, March 2016, 5(4): 38-40http://www.icpjonline.com/documents/Vol5Issue4/02.pdf
Analytical method development and validation of Secnidazole in the tablet dosage form by RP-HPLC method
Authors: Sharmin Tanzina , Akter Mariyam , Hossain Mohammad Salim
Published: March 2016

Objective of the present work is to develop and validate a simple, cost effective, sensitive and fast HPLC method for the analysis of Secnidazole. A Shimadzu HPLC system with Luna 5µm C18 column is employed for the analysis using Methanol:H2O (60:40, v/v) as mobile phase. Signal from Secnidazole is detected at 310nm by UV Spectrophotometer. The proposed method is fully validated and found to be linear over a workable drug concentration, accurate, precise and robust. This fast and inexpensive method is suitable for research laboratories as well as for quality control analysis in pharmaceutical industries.Sharmin et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, March 2016, 5(4): 41-44http://www.icpjonline.com/documents/Vol5Issue4/03.pdf
Comparison between Laser and Stamping without Die (SWD) for Micro Tapered Hole Forming
Authors: Hung Yung-Chou , Chang Yuan-Jen , Kuo Chia-Lung , Hsu Jin-Chen , Ho Chao-Ching
Published: March 2016

The forming of a micro tapered hole is based on nanosecond pulsed laser processing, which conforms to fast processing time and high throughput; however, the microhole quality should be improved. Micro stamping is a technology providing high precise size and speed. The greatest difficulty in forming a microhole by micro stamping is the precision alignment of the punch head to the lower die. In order to overcome the difficulty, we proposed a concept of stamping without die (SWD). Without a lower die, the tapered punch head was directly applied to the workpiece for micro stamping, and a thicker workpiece surrounding the punching area provides a better support to the stamping process. Thus, a successful forming of micro tapered holes is completed. The micro tapered hole depth is 300 μm, and the maximum ratio of inlet to outlet diameter is 18:1. In order to reduce the number of experiments, the finite element analysis software DEFORM-3D was used for forming analysis. The simulation forecast result was compared with the experimental processing, which was well validated. Under different experimental parameters of laser energy and defocusing distance, drilling results by two methods show that the microhole quality by stamping process is better than by laser processing.
Communication Network Architectures Based on Ethernet Passive Optical Network for Offshore Wind Power Farms
Authors: A. Ahmed Mohamed , Pan Jae-Kyung , Song Minho , Kim Young-Chon
Published: March 2016

Nowadays, with large-scale offshore wind power farms (WPFs) becoming a reality, more efforts are needed to maintain a reliable communication network for WPF monitoring. Deployment topologies, redundancy, and network availability are the main items to enhance the communication reliability between wind turbines (WTs) and control centers. Traditional communication networks for monitoring and control (i.e., supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems) using switched gigabit Ethernet will not be sufficient for the huge amount of data passing through the network. In this paper, the optical power budget, optical path loss, reliability, and network cost of the proposed Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON)-based communication network for small-size offshore WPFs have been evaluated for five different network architectures. The proposed network model consists of an optical network unit device (ONU) deployed on the WT side for collecting data from different internal networks. All ONUs from different WTs are connected to a central optical line terminal (OLT), placed in the control center. There are no active electronic elements used between the ONUs and the OLT, which reduces the costs and complexity of maintenance and deployment. As fiber access networks without any protection are characterized by poor reliability, three different protection schemes have been configured, explained, and discussed. Considering the cost of network components, the total implementation expense of different architectures with, or without, protection have been calculated and compared. The proposed network model can significantly contribute to the communication network architecture for next generation WPFs.
Multi-Wire Tri-Gate Silicon Nanowires Reaching Milli-pH Unit Resolution in One Micron Square Footprint
Authors: Accastelli Enrico , Scarbolo Paolo , Ernst Thomas , Palestri Pierpaolo , Selmi Luca , Guiducci Carlotta
Published: March 2016

The signal-to-noise ratio of planar ISFET pH sensors deteriorates when reducing the area occupied by the device, thus hampering the scalability of on-chip analytical systems which detect the DNA polymerase through pH measurements. Top-down nano-sized tri-gate transistors, such as silicon nanowires, are designed for high performance solid-state circuits thanks to their superior properties of voltage-to-current transduction, which can be advantageously exploited for pH sensing. A systematic study is carried out on rectangular-shaped nanowires developed in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible technology, showing that reducing the width of the devices below a few hundreds of nanometers leads to higher charge sensitivity. Moreover, devices composed of several wires in parallel further increase the exposed surface per unit footprint area, thus maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio. This technology allows a sub milli-pH unit resolution with a sensor footprint of about 1 µm2, exceeding the performance of previously reported studies on silicon nanowires by two orders of magnitude.
Mechanistic Investigation of the Reduction of NOx over Pt- and Rh-Based LNT Catalysts
Authors: Kubiak Lukasz , Castoldi Lidia , Lietti Luca , Andonova Stanislava , Olsson Louise
Published: March 2016

The influence of the noble metals (Pt vs. Rh) on the NOx storage reduction performances of lean NOx trap catalysts is here investigated by transient micro-reactor flow experiments. The study indicates a different behavior during the storage in that the Rh-based catalyst showed higher storage capacity at high temperature as compared to the Pt-containing sample, while the opposite is seen at low temperatures. It is suggested that the higher storage capacity of the Rh-containing sample at high temperature is related to the higher dispersion of Rh as compared to Pt, while the lower storage capacity of Rh-Ba/Al2O3 at low temperature is related to its poor oxidizing properties. The noble metals also affect the catalyst behavior upon reduction of the stored NOx, by decreasing the threshold temperature for the reduction of the stored NOx. The Pt-based catalyst promotes the reduction of the adsorbed NOx at lower temperatures if compared to the Rh-containing sample, due to its superior reducibility. However, Rh-based material shows higher reactivity in the NH3 decomposition significantly enhancing N2 selectivity. Moreover, formation of small amounts of N2O is observed on both Pt- and Rh-based catalyst samples only during the reduction of highly reactive NOx stored at 150 °C, where NOx is likely in the form of nitrites.
The Durability and Performance of Short Fibers for a Newly Developed Alkali-Activated Binder
Authors: Funke Henrik , Gelbrich Sandra , Kroll Lothar
Published: March 2016

This study reports the development of a fiber-reinforced alkali-activated binder (FRAAB) with an emphasis on the performance and the durability of the fibers in the alkaline alkali-activated binder (AAB)-matrix. For the development of the matrix, the reactive components granulated slag and coal fly ash were used, which were alkali-activated with a mixture of sodium hydroxide (2–10 mol/L) and an aqueous sodium silicate solution (SiO2/Na2O molar ratio: 2.1) at ambient temperature. For the reinforcement of the matrix integral fibers of alkali-resistant glass (AR-glass), E-glass, basalt, and carbon with a fiber volume content of 0.5% were used. By the integration of these short fibers, the three-point bending tensile strength of the AAB increased strikingly from 4.6 MPa (no fibers) up to 5.7 MPa (carbon) after one day. As a result of the investigations of the alkali resistance, the AR-glass and the carbon fibers showed the highest durability of all fibers in the FRAAB-matrix. In contrast to that, the weight loss of E-glass and basalt fibers was significant under the alkaline condition. According to these results, only the AR-glass and the carbon fibers reveal sufficient durability in the alkaline AAB-matrix.
Association of Geography and Ambient Air Pollution with Urine Metal Concentrations in Six US Cities: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Pang Yuanjie , Jones Miranda , Tellez-Plaza Maria , Guallar Eliseo , Vaidya Dhananjay , Post Wendy , Kaufman Joel , Delaney Joseph , Navas-Acien Ana
Published: March 2016

We investigated the associations of urinary concentrations of antimony, cadmium, tungsten and uranium with geographic locations and with ambient air pollution in 304 adults in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis from six US cities. After adjustment for sociodemographics, body mass index, and smoking status, urinary cadmium was the highest in Winston-Salem among all study sites (the geometric mean [GM] in Winston-Salem was 0.84 µg/L [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–1.22]). The adjusted GMs of urinary tungsten and uranium were highest in Los Angeles (0.11 µg/L [95% CI 0.08–0.16] and 0.019 µg/L [95% CI 0.016–0.023], respectively). The adjusted GM ratio comparing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) tertiles 2 and 3 with the lowest tertile were 1.64 (95% CI 1.05–2.56) and 3.55 (95% CI 2.24–5.63) for tungsten, and 1.18 (95% CI 0.94–1.48) and 1.70 (95% CI 1.34–2.14) for uranium. The results for tungsten remained similar after adjustment for study site. Urinary cadmium, tungsten and uranium concentrations differed by geographic locations in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) communities. PM2.5 levels could contribute to geographic differences in tungsten exposure. These findings highlight the need to implement preventive strategies to decrease toxic metal exposure and to evaluate the health effects of chronic exposure to those metals.
A Framework for Data-Centric Analysis of Mapping Activity in the Context of Volunteered Geographic Information
Authors: Rehrl Karl , Gröchenig Simon
Published: March 2016

Over the last decade, volunteered geographic information (VGI) has become established as one of the most relevant geographic data sources in terms of worldwide coverage, representation of local knowledge and open data policies. Beside the data itself, data about community activity provides valuable insights into the mapping progress which can be useful for estimating data quality, understanding the activity of VGI communities or predicting future developments. This work proposes a conceptual as well as technical framework for structuring and analyzing mapping activity building on the concepts of activity theory. Taking OpenStreetMap as an example, the work outlines the necessary steps for converting database changes into user- and feature-centered operations and higher-level actions acting as a universal scheme for arbitrary spatio-temporal analyses of mapping activities. Different examples from continent to region and city-scale analyses demonstrate the practicability of the approach. Instead of focusing on the interpretation of specific analysis results, the work contributes on a meta-level by addressing several conceptual and technical questions with respect to the overall process of analyzing VGI community activity.
Molecular Mobility in Hyperbranched Polymers and Their Interaction with an Epoxy Matrix
Authors: Román Frida , Colomer Pere , Calventus Yolanda , Hutchinson John
Published: March 2016

The molecular mobility related to the glass transition and secondary relaxations in a hyperbranched polyethyleneimine, HBPEI, and its relaxation behaviour when incorporated into an epoxy resin matrix are investigated by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Three systems are analysed: HBPEI, epoxy and an epoxy/HBPEI mixture, denoted ELP. The DRS behaviour is monitored in the ELP system in three stages: prior to curing, during curing, and in the fully cured system. In the stage prior to curing, DRS measurements show three dipolar relaxations: γ, β and α, for all systems (HBPEI, epoxy and ELP). The α-relaxation for the ELP system deviates significantly from that for HBPEI, but superposes on that for the epoxy resin. The fully cured thermoset displays both β- and α-relaxations. In DMA measurements, both α- and β-relaxations are observed in all systems and in both the uncured and fully cured systems, similar to the behaviour identified by DRS.
Development and Characterization of a Bioinspired Bone Matrix with Aligned Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite on Collagen Nanofibers
Authors: Wu Hsi-Chin , Wang Tzu-Wei , Sun Jui-Sheng , Lee Yi-Hsuan , Shen Meng-Han , Tsai Zong-Ruei , Chen Chih-Yu , Hsu Horng-Chaung
Published: March 2016

Various kinds of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds have been designed to mimic the biological spontaneous bone formation characteristics by providing a suitable microenvironment for osteogenesis. In view of this, a natural bone-liked composite scaffold, which was combined with inorganic (hydroxyapatite, Hap) and organic (type I collagen, Col) phases, has been developed through a self-assembly process. This 3D porous scaffold consisting of a c-axis of Hap nanocrystals (nHap) aligning along Col fibrils arrangement is similar to natural bone architecture. A significant increase in mechanical strength and elastic modulus of nHap/Col scaffold is achieved through biomimetic mineralization process when compared with simple mixture of collagen and hydroxyapatite method. It is suggested that the self-organization of Hap and Col produced in vivo could also be achieved in vitro. The oriented nHap/Col composite not only possesses bone-like microstructure and adequate mechanical properties but also enhances the regeneration and reorganization abilities of bone tissue. These results demonstrated that biomimetic nHap/Col can be successfully reconstructed as a bone graft substitute in bone tissue engineering.
The Growth of Gypsum in the Presence of Hexavalent Chromium: A Multiscale Study
Authors: Morales Juan , Astilleros José , Matesanz Emilio , Fernández-Díaz Lurdes
Published: March 2016

The sorption of dissolved inorganic pollutants into the structure of minerals is an important process that controls the mobility and fate of these pollutants in the Earth’s crust. It also modifies the surface structure and composition of the host mineral, affecting its crystallization kinetics. Here, we investigate the effect of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), on the nucleation and growth of gypsum by conducting two types of experiments: (i) in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations of the growth of gypsum {010} surfaces in the presence of Cr(VI) and (ii) gypsum precipitation experiments by mixing aqueous solutions containing variable amounts of Cr(VI). Gypsum precipitation is progressively delayed when occurring from solutions bearing increasing Cr(VI) concentrations. Chemical analyses of gypsum precipitates show that gypsum incorporates small Cr(VI) amounts that correlate with the content of this ion in the aqueous solution. Gypsum cell parameters variation reflects this incorporation. At the molecular scale, Cr(VI) induces a slowdown of step advance rates on gypsum {010} surfaces accompanied by the roughening of nanostep edges and the so-called “template effect”. This effect involves the reproduction of the original nanotopography after the completion of individual advancing monolayers and appears as a general nanoscale phenomenon occurring during growth of solid solutions from aqueous solutions even in the case of compositionally-restricted solid solutions.
Self-Assembled Modified Soy Protein/Dextran Nanogel Induced by Ultrasonication as a Delivery Vehicle for Riboflavin
Authors: Jin Bei , Zhou Xiaosong , Li Xiangzhong , Lin Weiqin , Chen Guangbin , Qiu Riji
Published: March 2016

A simple and green approach was developed to produce a novel nanogel via self-assembly of modified soy protein and dextran, to efficiently deliver riboflavin. First, modified soy protein was prepared by heating denaturation at 60 °C for 30 min or Alcalase hydrolysis for 40 min. Second, modified soy protein was mixed with dextran and ultrasonicated for 70 min so as to assemble nanogels. The modified soy protein-dextran nanogels were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ζ-potential studies to confirm the formation of NGs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the NGs to be spherical with core-shell structures, in the range of 32–40 nm size. The nanogels were stable against various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the particle size of the nanogels hardly changed with the incorporation of riboflavin. The encapsulation efficiency of nanogels was found to be up to 65.9% at a riboflavin concentration of 250 μg/mL. The nanogels exhibited a faster release in simulated intestine fluid (SIF) compared with simulated gastric fluid (SGF). From the results obtained it can be concluded that modified soy protein-dextran nanogels can be considered a promising carrier for drugs and other bioactive molecule delivery purposes.
Vision-Based SLAM System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Munguía Rodrigo , Urzua Sarquis , Bolea Yolanda , Grau Antoni
Published: March 2016

The present paper describes a vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping system to be applied to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The main contribution of this work is to propose a novel estimator relying on an Extended Kalman Filter. The estimator is designed in order to fuse the measurements obtained from: (i) an orientation sensor (AHRS); (ii) a position sensor (GPS); and (iii) a monocular camera. The estimated state consists of the full state of the vehicle: position and orientation and their first derivatives, as well as the location of the landmarks observed by the camera. The position sensor will be used only during the initialization period in order to recover the metric scale of the world. Afterwards, the estimated map of landmarks will be used to perform a fully vision-based navigation when the position sensor is not available. Experimental results obtained with simulations and real data show the benefits of the inclusion of camera measurements into the system. In this sense the estimation of the trajectory of the vehicle is considerably improved, compared with the estimates obtained using only the measurements from the position sensor, which are commonly low-rated and highly noisy.
A New Linear Oscillatory Actuator with Variable Characteristics Using Two Sets of Coils
Authors: Kitayama Fumiya , Hirata Katsuhiro , Niguchi Noboru , Kobayashi Masashi
Published: March 2016

Nowadays, electromagnetic linear oscillatory actuators are used as vibration control devices because of their high controllability. However, there is a problem that thrust and vibration are small at a wide drive frequency range. In order to improve this problem, we propose a new linear oscillatory actuator that can easily change its own characteristics by using two sets of coils. Through finite element analysis, large vibration was observed at 100 Hz in a series connection, and large vibration and high thrust were observed at 70 Hz and 140 Hz in a parallel connection. From these results, we verified that the actuator had two different characteristics due to switchable connections, and could generate high thrust and large vibration by smaller currents at a wide drive frequency range.
Incumbent Actors as Niche Agents: The German Car Industry and the Taming of the “Stuttgart E-Mobility Region”
Authors: Späth Philipp , Rohracher Harald , Von Radecki Alanus
Published: March 2016

The system of mobility currently faces severe challenges. Particularly in cities, strategic interventions are made to support a transition towards sustainable mobility. Incumbent actors from the car industry are often invited to play a key role in such initiatives. The Stuttgart region is supported with public money to become a model region of sustainable mobility because it is base to key actors of the German car industry. This paper examines the locus of agency in such a “transition arena”. How do key actors frame the challenge of sustainable mobility? What role is attributed to public policy at various governance levels and to the “local” industry, respectively? In the case of the Stuttgart region, we find a high ability of key industry actors to reframe transition initiatives for sustainable mobility and align public policy with their interests—particularly in local, i.e., place-bound contexts. This underlines the need for transition studies to pay more attention to the agency of incumbent actors and their capacity to absorb sustainable alternatives without changing dominant industry structures.
Human-Nature for Climate Action: Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Sustainability
Authors: Santiago Fink Helen
Published: March 2016

The global climate change agenda proceeds at an incremental pace while the Earth is approaching critical tipping points in its development trajectory. Climate action at this pinnacle juncture needs to be greatly accelerated and rooted in the fundamentals of the problem—human beings’ disconnection from nature. This paper underscores the valuable role nature and nature-based solutions can play in addressing climate change at the city scale and its implications for broader sustainability. Urban ecosystems (nature in cities) are seen as an integral part of a proposed local climate action rubric wherein policy measures and integrated planning guide lowcarbon/impact development to create more resilient and sustainable urban environments. The use of green infrastructure is highlighted as a cost-effective means to contribute to mitigation and adaptation needs as well as to promote human wellbeing. The paper takes an exploratory view of the influence of ecosystem services, particularly cultural services, and its economics in relation to the individual and society to understand how biophilia can be nurtured to promote environmental stewardship and climate action.
Evaluation of Investment in Renovation to Increase the Quality of Buildings: A Specific Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Approach of Appraisal
Authors: Bonazzi Giuseppe , Iotti Mattia
Published: March 2016

The objective of this article is to develop and apply a specific discounting cash flow (DCF) approach to evaluate investment in renovation to improve building quality, thus increasing energy efficiency. In this article, we develop and apply a specific net present value (NPV) and an internal rate of return (IRR) approach to quantify the value created for the owners of the building by the investment in renovation via energy-saving investments that produce positive externalities. The model has an applied interest because, in recent years, a lot of investments in real estate were made by owners in order to increase the green quality of the buildings, and several funds of public aid were provided by the government to stimulate these energy-saving investments. The model proposed here is applied to a case study of a 16-apartment building located in northern Italy considers the model attempts to quantify the initial investment value, the energy savings, the tax deduction of the initial investment and the terminal value of the investment as the increase in building value. The analysis shows that the model is consistent in evaluating investments to improve building quality, and investments within the context of the specific case study considered in the research have IRRs ranging from a minimum of 4.907% to a maximum of 12.980%. It could even be useful to consider a sample of cases to verify whether our results are representative of this specific case study. The model could represent a useful tool for consumers in evaluating their own investments in building renovation, from a stand-alone perspective and even by comparing them with other types of investment. The research could be developed in the future to quantify the social welfare generated by public spending via tax deductions to reduce the costs of investment in energy savings for buildings and could even be applied to new real estate projects in comparing different construction technologies and even comparing the return of renovation investment with other investments not even in the real estate sector.
A Combinatorial Approach to Time Asymmetry
Authors: Tamm Martin
Published: March 2016

In this paper, simple models for the multiverse are analyzed. Each universe is viewed as a path in a graph, and by considering very general statistical assumptions, essentially originating from Boltzmann, we can make the set of all such paths into a finite probability space. We can then also attempt to compute the probabilities for different kinds of behavior and in particular under certain conditions argue that an asymmetric behavior of the entropy should be much more probable than a symmetric one. This offers an explanation for the asymmetry of time as a broken symmetry in the multiverse. The focus here is on simple models which can be analyzed using methods from combinatorics. Although the computational difficulties rapidly become enormous when the size of the model grows, this still gives hints about how a full-scale model should behave.
Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation-Mediated Alteration of Microglial/Macrophage Phenotypes after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Gao Junling , Grill Raymond J. , Dunn Tiffany J. , Bedi Supinder , Labastida Javier Allende , Hetz Robert A. , Xue Hasen , Thonhoff Jason R. , DeWitt Douglas S. , Prough Donald S. , Cox Charles S. , Wu Ping
Published: March 2016

Neural stem cells (NSCs) promote recovery from brain trauma, but neuronal replacement is unlikely the sole underlying mechanism. We hypothesize that grafted NSCs enhance neural repair at least partially through modulating the host immune response after traumatic brain injury (TBI). C57BL/6 mice were intracerebrally injected with primed human NSCs (hNSCs) or vehicle 24 h after a severe controlled cortical impact injury. Six days after transplantation, brain tissues were collected for Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Observations included indicators of microglia/macrophage activation, M1 and M2 phenotypes, axonal injury detected by amyloid precursor protein (APP), lesion size, and the fate of grafted hNSCs. Animals receiving hNSC transplantation did not show significant decreases of brain lesion volumes compared to transplantation procedures with vehicle alone, but did show significantly reduced injury-dependent accumulation of APP. Furthermore, intracerebral transplantation of hNSCs reduced microglial activation as shown by a diminished intensity of Iba1 immunostaining and a transition of microglia/macrophages toward the M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. The latter was represented by an increase in the brain M2/M1 ratio and increases of M2 microglial proteins. These phenotypic switches were accompanied by the increased expression of anti-inflammatory interleukin-4 receptor α and decreased proinflammatory interferon-γ receptor β. Finally, grafted hNSCs mainly differentiated into neurons and were phagocytized by either M1 or M2 microglia/macrophages. Thus, intracerebral transplantation of primed hNSCs efficiently leads host microglia/macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype that presumably contributes to stem cell-mediated neuroprotective effects after severe TBI in mice.
Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells toward Functional Pancreatic β-Cell Surrogates through Epigenetic Regulation ofPdx1by Nitric Oxide
Authors: Salguero-Aranda Carmen , Tapia-Limonchi Rafael , Cahuana Gladys Margot , Hitos Ana Belen , Diaz Irene , Hmadcha Abdelkrim , Fraga Mario , Martín Franz , Soria Bernat , Tejedo Juan Rigoberto , Bedoya Francisco Javier
Published: March 2016

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) is a transcription factor that regulates the embryonic development of the pancreas and the differentiation toward β cells. Previously, we have shown that exposure of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to high concentrations of diethylenetriamine nitric oxide adduct (DETA-NO) triggers differentiation events and promotes the expression of Pdx1. Here we report evidence that Pdx1 expression is associated with release of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and P300 from its promoter region. These events are accompanied by epigenetic changes in bivalent markers of histones trimethylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and H3K4me3, site-specific changes in DNA methylation, and no change in H3 acetylation. On the basis of these findings, we developed a protocol to differentiate mESCs toward insulin-producing cells consisting of sequential exposure to DETA-NO, valproic acid, and P300 inhibitor (C646) to enhance Pdx1 expression and a final maturation step of culture in suspension to form cell aggregates. This small molecule-based protocol succeeds in obtaining cells that express pancreatic β-cell markers such as PDX1, INS1, GCK, and GLUT2 and respond in vitro to high glucose and KCl.
Les mobilisations des « Noirs tunisiens » au lendemain de la révolte de 2011 : entre affirmation d’une identité historique et défense d’une « cause noire »
Authors: Inès Mrad Dali
Published: March 2016

Cet article se propose d’analyser l’émergence, depuis la révolte de janvier 2011, d’un mouvement de revendications identitaires des Noirs tunisiens, porté par des associations et des groupes indépendants. Si, dans les années 1960 et 1970, la Tunisie a déjà connu de telles revendications, ce sont de nouvelles formes de lutte qui se manifestent aujourd’hui, s’inscrivant dans une dynamique contestataire plus globale et dans le contexte de la transition démocratique. Cette contribution s’intéresse aux conditions sociétales et politiques dans lesquelles les « descendants d’esclaves » - ou ceux perçus comme tels - choisissent de se faire entendre sur la scène publique.
Promesses, contingences et iniquité des politiques transnationales de conservation
Authors: Riegel Julie
Published: March 2016

Cet article se penche sur le partenariat liant l’Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature et la Direction des parcs nationaux du Sénégal, entre 1994 et 2004, pour la cogestion des aires protégées du littoral. Il analyse la rhétorique officielle de cette alliance, le poids de la politique de coopération des Pays-Bas dans son évolution et l’asymétrie des rapports de pouvoir qui biaise insidieusement ce partenariat, jusqu’à son implosion. Ce faisant, notre contribution relativise la dimension hégémonique attribuée aux ONG vertes globalisées et la rationalité technico-scientifique censée prévaloir dans leur stratégie d’action.
Classical monsters in new "Doctor Who" fan fiction
Authors: Potter Amanda
Published: March 2016

Although a number of classic Doctor Who episodes featured story lines and characters drawn from Greek myth, no new Who episodes based on Greek myth appeared until seasons 5 and 6, in 2010 and 2011. These episodes featured Pandora's box, the Minotaur, and a Siren. They all use the mythical monster or artifact outside of its ancient Greek context, and I argue that the mythical monsters were additions to earlier story ideas. I compare this with the treatment of the myths of the Minotaur and the Sirens in five stories posted to FanFiction.net between 2008 and 2013. These stories all engage with classical myths, and the longest, "Lure of the Sirens," even engages with different versions of the myth of the Sirens. In this article I discuss how the writers use the classical myths within their stories, and how the myths fit in with the primary aims of the writers, for example in developing romantic relationships between characters.
Virgilian fandom in the Renaissance
Authors: Basu Balaka
Published: March 2016

Considered as fan works, early modern homages to, derivations from, and continuations of classical texts can help contemporary readers better understand the past and potential future of fan fiction as a queer, emotional, and affectionate investment in the universe of a text. Demonstrating that Sir Philip Sidney's queer, fractured Arcadia can be understood as fan fiction of Virgil's Eclogues shows how readers have always responded to the notion of beloved texts held in the creative commons with traditional fan practices such as subversive slash subtexts, inserted selves, feminine communities of reader-writers, and carefully orchestrated gift economies, whether in ancient Rome, Tudor England, or our own digital era.
role of affect in fan fiction
Authors: Wilson Anna
Published: March 2016

In this article, I argue for greater consideration of the role of affect in fan fiction when comparing it with literary forms from antiquity. Fan fiction uses an affective hermeneutics—knowing through feeling—and as a literary form it is inextricable from the fannish discourses that produce it. Yuletide letters—story requests in the annual fan fiction gift exchange for historical RPF—show how fan fiction readers and writers frame knowledge of history in terms of affect in order to fill the gaps in the past.
Amateur mythographies: Fan fiction and the myth of myth
Authors: Willis Ika
Published: March 2016

This paper draws on classical scholarship on myth in order to critically examine three ways in which scholars and fans have articulated a relationship between fan fiction and myth. These are (1) the notion of fan fiction as a form of folk culture, reclaiming popular story from corporate ownership; (2) the notion of myth as counterhegemonic, often feminist, discourse; (3) the notion of myth as a commons of story and a universal story world. I argue that the first notion depends on an implicit primitivizing of fan fiction and myth, which draws ultimately on the work of Gottfried von Herder in the 18th century and limits our ability to produce historically and politically nuanced understandings of fan fiction. The second notion, which is visible in the work of Henry Jenkins and Constance Penley, is more helpful because of its attention to the politics of narration. However, it is the third model of myth, as a universal story world, where we find the richest crossover between fan fiction's creative power and contemporary classical scholarship on myth, especially in relation to Sarah Iles Johnston's analysis of hyperserial narrative. I demonstrate this through some close readings of fan fiction from the Greek and Roman Mythology fandom on Archive of Our Own. I conclude the paper by extending Johnston's arguments to show that fan-fictional hyperseriality, specifically, can be seen as mythic because it intervenes not only in the narrative worlds of its source materials but also in the social world of its telling.
"Oresteia" as transformative work
Authors: Turk Tisha
Published: March 2016

Robert Icke's transformative adaptation of Aeschylus' Oresteia updates its themes and gives it a profound emotional urgency.
"Fandom at the crossroads" and "Fangasm!," by Lynn K. Zubernis and Katherine Larsen
Authors: Fathallah Judith May
Published: March 2016

Review of Lynn S. Zubernis and Katherine Larsen. Fandom at the crossroads: Celebration, shame and fan/producer relationships. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012. Hardcover, $67.99 (250p) ISBN 978-1443835305; paperback, $24.99 ISBN 978-1443841405; and Lynn S. Zubernis and Katherine Larsen. Fangasm! Supernatural fangirls. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2013. Paperback $14.67 (246p) ISBN 978-1609381981; e-book $17.48 (6732 KB) ASIN B00F5S6IIK.
K-Based Geopolymer from metakaolin: roles of K/Al ratio and water or steam Curing at different temperatures
Authors: Tawfik A. , Abd El-Raoof F. , Katsuki H. , MacKenzie K. J.D. , Komarneni S.
Published: March 2016

K-based geopolymer binder was prepared by reacting metakaolin with alkaline solutions having different potassium contents and by water curing at room temperature and 80 °C as well as steam curing at 150 and 180 °C. The phase formation, microstructure and Al and Si nearest neighbor environments were studied using XRD, TEM and 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, respectively. The results revealed that amorphous alumino-silicates were predominant in geopolymer prepared by curing up to 28 days at room temperature or at 80 °C. The amorphous alumino-silicates persisted after hydrothermal treatment at 150 °C/48 hrs and even at 180 °C/30 hrs. However, the samples cured hydrothermally at 180 °C/48 hrs revealed formation of crystalline potassium aluminum silicate and chabazite phases. The Al nearest neighbor environments was not significantly affected by increasing the K/Al ratio up to 1.55 or by the curing temperatures. On the other hand, the geopolymer reaction appears to have increased when cured at 80 °C or steam cured at 150° and 180 °C and crystalline aluminosilicates resulted when the geopolymer sample was hydrothermally treated at 180 °C/48 hrs.
Article défini, pronoms personnels de 3e personne et démonstratifs : approche comparée de l’accès à la référence
Authors: Gardelle Laure
Published: March 2016

In the study of anaphora, one major issue is that of the access modes provided by full NPs and pronouns. An access mode is understood not as the whole process of anaphor resolution, but as the set of procedural and qualitative information common to all NPs of a given type (for instance, common to all definite descriptions). The present study proposes a comparative approach to those access modes, focusing more specifically on demonstratives, definite descriptions and third-person pronouns. About demonstratives, which can be either pronouns or determiners, it confirms that, as stated in the utterer-centred approach to language, each has a single core value, and therefore encodes a single access mode, whether it is used as a determiner or as a pronoun in context. The study seeks to determine on what grounds a simple demonstrative is preferred over a complex one. The other question raised is whether such pairing between a determiner and a pronoun can also occur with members of the determiner and pronoun paradigms that do not share a form. To that end, the study compares the access modes coded by the definite article and third-person pronouns. It argues that they, too, form a pair.
Filtering Techniques for Estimating the Angular Motion Using All-Accelerometers
Authors: Al-Rawashdeh Yazan M. , Elshafei Moustafa
Published: March 2016

Linear accelerometers can be used to retrieve the angular motion of the body they are attached to if their measurements are handled in an appropriate way. In this paper, an 18-accelerometer configuration is used to facilitate angular motion determination. Various measurement models are investigated where each model utilizes different accelerometers’ measurements. These models are used to build linear and nonlinear filters. The filters performances are evaluated and the associated sign ambiguity problem is solved. It is shown that a norm-constrained Kalman filters bank will give the best results. This work can be used within inertial navigation systems as a replacement of the gyroscopes.