bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zoanthamine Alkaloids from the Zoantharian Zoanthus cf. pulchellus and Their Effects in Neuroinflammation
Authors: Guillen Paul O. , Gegunde Sandra , Jaramillo Karla B. , Alfonso Amparo , Calabro Kevin , Alonso Eva , Rodriguez Jenny , Botana Luis M. , Thomas Olivier P.
Published: July 2018

Two new zoanthamine alkaloids, namely 3-acetoxynorzoanthamine (1) and 3-acetoxyzoanthamine (2), have been isolated from the zoantharian Zoanthus cf. pulchellus collected off the coast of the Santa Elena Peninsula, Ecuador, together with three known derivatives: zoanthamine, norzoanthamine, and 3-hydroxynorzoanthamine. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were determined by interpretation of their 1D and 2D NMR data and comparison with literature data. This is the first report of zoanthamine-type alkaloids from Zoanthus cf. pulchellus collected in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. The neuroinflammatory activity of all the isolated compounds was evaluated in microglia BV-2 cells and high inhibitory effects were observed in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) generation.
Structural Characteristics and Anticoagulant Property In Vitro and In Vivo of a Seaweed Sulfated Rhamnan
Authors: Liu Xue , Wang Shuyao , Cao Sujian , He Xiaoxi , Qin Ling , He Meijia , Yang Yajing , Hao Jiejie , Mao Wenjun
Published: July 2018

Great diversity and metabolite complexity of seaweeds offer a unique and exclusive source of renewable drug molecules. Polysaccharide from seaweed has potential as a promising candidate for marine drug development. In the present study, seaweed polysaccharide (SPm) was isolated from Monostroma angicava, the polymeric repeat units and anticoagulant property in vitro and in vivo of SPm were investigated. SPm was a sulfated polysaccharide which was mainly constituted by 3-linked, 2-linked-α-l-rhamnose residues with partially sulfate groups at C-2 of 3-linked α-l-rhamnose residues and C-3 of 2-linked α-l-rhamnose residues. Small amounts of xylose and glucuronic acid exist in the forms of β-d-Xylp(4SO4)-(1→ and β-d-GlcA-(1→. SPm effectively prolonged clotting time as evaluated by the activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time assays, and exhibited strong anticoagulant activity in vitro and in vivo. The fibrin(ogen)olytic and thrombolytic properties of SPm were evaluated by plasminogen activator inhibitior-1, fibrin degradation products, D-dimer and clot lytic rate assays using rats plasma, and the results showed that SPm possessed high fibrin(ogen)olytic and thrombolytic properties. These results suggested that SPm has potential as a novel anticoagulant agent.
The Use of Biochemical and Biophysical Markers in Early Screening for Preeclampsia in Mongolia
Authors: Tserensambuu Urjindelger , Chuluun-Erdene Ariunbold , Janlav Munkhtsetseg , Tudevdorj Erkhembaatar
Published: July 2018

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. In Mongolia, preeclampsia and eclampsia have occurred among pregnancy complications at a rate of 25% in recent years. Recent studies in the literature have screened for preeclampsia by combining maternal factors with biomarkers. This study was conducted using prospective cohort research including 393 singleton pregnancies at 11–13+6 weeks. Maternal plasmas pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured using Perkin Elmer time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (DELFIA) kits, and the measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) was performed by automated devices and the uterine artery pulsatility index was measured by Doppler ultrasound. In the study population, there were 16.7% showing complicated preeclampsia. The receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed a sensitivity of 71.21%, and a specificity of 75.54% when the mean arterial pressure cut-off was 89.5 mm; while a sensitivity of 33.36% and specificity of 77.68% were observed when the uterine artery mean pulsatility index (mPI) cut-off was 2.34; a sensitivity of 79.66% and specificity of 44.04% were observed when the PAPP-A cut-off was 529.1 mU/L; and a sensitivity of 74.58% and specificity of 46.6% were observed when the PlGF cut-off was 39.87 pg/mL. The detection rates following the combination of markers with the maternal history were as follows: 62.7% with mean arterial pressure, 69.5–82.9% with two markers 86.5% with three markers and 91.4% with four markers. In conclusion, the mean arterial pressure was highly sensitive and demonstrated its easy usage and cost-effectiveness as a predictive marker for the early screening of preeclampsia from other biomarkers.
The Fracturing Behavior of Tight Glutenites Subjected to Hydraulic Pressure
Authors: Li Zhichao , Li Lianchong , Zhang Zilin , Li Ming , Zhang Liaoyuan , Huang Bo , Tang Chun’an
Published: July 2018

Tight glutenites are typically composed of heterogeneous sandstone and gravel. Due to low or ultra-low permeability, it is difficult to achieve commercial production in tight glutenites without hydraulic fracturing. Efficient exploitation requires an in-depth understanding of the fracturing behavior of these reservoirs. This paper provides a numerical method that integrates the digital image processing (DIP) technique into a numerical code rock failure process analysis (RFPA). This method could consider the glutenite heterogeneities, including intrarock and interrock heterogeneities, and the practicability is verified through two numerical tests. Two-dimensional (2D) simulations show hydraulic fractures (HFs) can penetrate or deflect to propagate along the gravels, depending on the magnitude of stress anisotropy and gravel strength. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations with the consideration of gravel distribution orientation, gravel size and axial ratio show HFs could propagate past the gravel with no deflection, forming a bypass fracture that is not easy to observe in common laboratory experiments. HFs could also deflect to propagate along the gravels. The impacts of the gravel distribution orientation, gravel size and axial ratio are discussed in detail. The main propagation modes of HFs intersecting the gravels are summarized as: (1) penetrating directly; (2) deflecting to propagate along the gravels to form distorted HFs; (3) propagating to bypass the gravels; (4) a combination of (1) and (2), or (2) and (3).
A 3D Relative-Motion Context Constraint-Based MAP Solution for Multiple-Object Tracking Problems
Authors: Wang Zhongli , Fan Litong , Cai Baigen
Published: July 2018

Multi-object tracking (MOT), especially by using a moving monocular camera, is a very challenging task in the field of visual object tracking. To tackle this problem, the traditional tracking-by-detection-based method is heavily dependent on detection results. Occlusion and mis-detections will often lead to tracklets or drifting. In this paper, the tasks of MOT and camera motion estimation are formulated as finding a maximum a posteriori (MAP) solution of joint probability and synchronously solved in a unified framework. To improve performance, we incorporate the three-dimensional (3D) relative-motion model into a sequential Bayesian framework to track multiple objects and the camera’s ego-motion estimation. A 3D relative-motion model that describes spatial relations among objects is exploited for predicting object states robustly and recovering objects when occlusion and mis-detections occur. Reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) particle filtering is applied to solve the posteriori estimation problem. Both quantitative and qualitative experiments with benchmark datasets and video collected on campus were conducted, which confirms that the proposed method is outperformed in many evaluation metrics.
Monitoring Athletes during Training Camps: Observations and Translatable Strategies from Elite Road Cyclists and Swimmers
Authors: Saw Anna E. , Halson Shona L. , Mujika Iñigo
Published: July 2018

Monitoring is an essential yet unstandardized component of managing athletic preparation. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the typical measurements and responses observed from monitoring elite road cyclist and swimmers during training camps, and translate these observations to practical strategies for other practitioners to employ. Twenty-nine male professional cyclists, 12 male and 19 female international swimmers participated in up to three of the eight 4–19 day training camps, held early in the season or leading into major competitions, at sea-level or moderate altitude. Monitoring included body mass and composition, subjective sleep, urinary specific gravity (USG), resting heart rate (HR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) at altitude. Sum of seven skinfolds most likely decreased in the order of 3.1 ± 3.6 mm week-to-week, accompanied by a most likely trivial decrease in body mass of 0.4 ± 0.4 kg week-to-week. At altitude, sleep quality very likely trivially improved week-to-week (0.3 ± 0.3 AU), SpO2 possibly increased week-to-week (0.6 ± 1.7%), whilst changes in resting HR were unclear (0 ± 4 bpm). Sleep duration and USG were stable. Comparing individual to group day-to-day change in monitored variables may prove effective to flag athletes potentially at risk of training maladaptation. Practitioners may replicate these methods to establish thresholds specific to their cohort and setting. This study provides further support for a multi-faceted approach to monitoring elite athletes in training camp environments.
Carbon Lock-Out: Leading the Fossil Port of Rotterdam into Transition
Authors: Bosman Rick , Loorbach Derk , Rotmans Jan , Van Raak Roel
Published: July 2018

The port of Rotterdam is a global leader in the fossil fuel economy, with a 50% market share for fossil fuel products in North-Western Europe. Although it is one of the most efficient and innovative ports globally, over the last decade it has seen a gradual increase of pressures on its activities and the need to develop alternative low-carbon strategies. This paper describes how a turbulent energy context, growing societal pressure and a change in the leadership of the Port Authority opened up space for a transition management process. The process impacted the business strategy and the discourse amongst its leaders and contributed to the set-up of a transition unit and a change in investments. It subsequently led to an externally oriented transition arena process with incumbent actors in the port area and actors from outside around the transition pathway to a circular and bio-based economy. By exploring how transition management could support the repositioning of incumbent actors in the energy transition, the research contributes to discussions in the transitions literature on regime destabilisation, the role of (incumbent) actors in transitions, and large-scale energy-intensive industries as the next frontier in the energy transition.
Assessment of Cardiac Autonomic Function in Relation to Methylmercury Neurotoxicity
Authors: Karita Kanae , Iwata Toyoto , Maeda Eri , Sakamoto Mineshi , Murata Katsuyuki
Published: July 2018

After the European Food Safety Authority reviewed reports of methylmercury and heart rate variability (HRV) in 2012, the panel concluded that, although some studies of cardiac autonomy suggested an autonomic effect of methylmercury, the results were inconsistent among studies and the implications for health were unclear. In this study, we reconsider this association by adding a perspective on the physiological context. Cardiovascular rhythmicity is usually studied within different frequency domains of HRV. Three spectral components are usually detected; in humans these are centered at <0.04 Hz, 0.15 Hz (LF), and 0.3 Hz (HF). LF and HF (sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, respectively) are evaluated in terms of frequency and power. By searching PubMed, we identified 13 studies examining the effect of methylmercury exposure on HRV in human populations in the Faroe Islands, the Seychelles and other countries. Considering both reduced HRV and sympathodominant state (i.e., lower HF, higher LF, or higher LF/HF ratio) as autonomic abnormality, eight of them showed the significant association with methylmercury exposure. Five studies failed to demonstrate any significant association. In conclusion, these data suggest that increased methylmercury exposure was consistently associated with autonomic abnormality, though the influence of methylmercury on HRV (e.g., LF) might differ for prenatal and postnatal exposures. The results with HRV should be included in the risk characterization of methylmercury. The HRV parameters calculated by frequency domain analysis appear to be more sensitive to methylmercury exposure than those by time domain analysis.
Survey of the Extent of the Persisting Effects of Methylmercury Pollution on the Inhabitants around the Shiranui Sea, Japan
Authors: Takaoka Shigeru , Fujino Tadashi , Kawakami Yoshinobu , Shigeoka Shin-ichi , Yorifuji Takashi
Published: July 2018

In 1956 methylmercury poisoning, known as Minamata disease, was discovered among the inhabitants around the Shiranui Sea, Kyushu, Japan. Although about five hundred thousand people living in the area had supposedly been exposed to methylmercury, administrative agencies and research institutes had not performed any subsequent large scale, continuous health examination, so the actual extent of the negative health effects was not clearly documented. In 2009, we performed health surveys in order to examine residents in the polluted area and to research the extent of the polluted area and period of pollution. We analyzed data collected on 973 people (age = 62.3 ± 11.7) who had lived in the polluted area and had eaten the fish there and a control group, consisting of 142 persons (age = 62.0 ± 10.5), most of whom had not lived in the polluted area. Symptoms and neurological signs were statistically more prevalent in the four groups than in the control group and were more prevalent and severe in those who had eaten most fish. The patterns of positive findings of symptoms and neurological findings in the four groups were similar. Our data indicates that Minamata disease had spread outside of the central area and could still be observed recently, almost 50 years after the Chisso Company’s factory had halted the dumping of mercury polluted waste water back in 1968.
Performance of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Development of an Assessment Platform Based on Charging Data
Authors: Maase Simone , Dilrosun Xiomara , Kooi Martijn , Van den Hoed Robert
Published: July 2018

Developers of charging infrastructure, be it public or private parties, are highly dependent on accurate utilization data in order to make informed decisions where and when to expand charging points. The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, in close cooperation with the municipalities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and the Metropolitan Region of Amsterdam Electric, developed both the back- and front-end of a charging infrastructure assessment platform that processes and represents real-life charging data. Charging infrastructure planning and design methods described in the literature use geographic information system data, traffic flow data of non-EV vehicles, or geographical distributions of, for example, refueling stations for combustion engine vehicles. Only limited methods apply real-life charging data. Rolling out public charging infrastructure is a balancing act between stimulating the transition to zero-emission transport by enabling (candidate) EV drivers to charge, and limiting costly investments in public charging infrastructure. Five key performance indicators for charging infrastructure utilization are derived from literature, workshops, and discussions with practitioners. The paper describes the Data Warehouse architecture designed for processing large amounts of charging data, and the web-based assessment platform by which practitioners get access to relevant knowledge and information about the current performance of existing charging infrastructure represented by the key performance indicators developed. The platform allows stakeholders in the decision-making process of charging point installation to make informed decisions on where and how to expand the already existing charging infrastructure. The results are generalizable beyond the case study regions in the Netherlands and can serve the roll-out of charging infrastructure, both public and semi-public, all over the world.
Mode 2 Charging—Testing and Certification for International Market Access
Authors: Hanauer Dieter
Published: July 2018

This paper provides an analysis of the current IEC 62752 standard. Establishing measures to protect against electric shock is one of the major tasks in the development of safe electric appliances. For electric vehicles this is very important too, because they are movable and in a public area most of the time. Even during recharge of the batteries, it is very likely that the electric vehicle is accessible to playing children or other people. IEC 62752 is a standard for a product which connects the electric vehicle with a standard household socket. This connection is required to provide electricity to the on-board charger of the electric vehicle and is called Mode 2 charging. In this article, the complexity of worldwide standardization for eMobility products is shown. Because the development of these products is still going on, some special requirements of IEC 62752 are explained, and some unique tests are described to help development engineers to design a safe, reliable, and durable product.
Synthesis of 9-arylalkynyl- and 9-aryl-substituted benzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives by Palladium-mediated cross-coupling reactions
Authors: Bandaru Siva Sankar Murthy , Dzubiel Darinka , Ihmels Heiko , Karbasiyoun Mohebodin , Mahmoud Mohamed M A , Schulzke Carola
Published: July 2018

9-Arylbenzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives were prepared with base-free Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions between benzo[b]quinolizinium-9-trifluoroborate and selected benzenediazonium salts. In addition, the Sonogashira coupling reaction between 9-iodobenzo[b]quinolizinium and the arylalkyne derivatives yielded four novel 9-(arylethynyl)benzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives under relatively mild reaction conditions. The 9-(N,N-dimethylaminophenylethynyl)benzo[b]quinolizinium is only very weakly emitting, but the emission intensity increases by a factor >200 upon protonation, so that this derivative may operate as pH-sensitive light-up probe. Photometric and fluorimetric titrations of duplex and quadruplex DNA to 9-(arylethynyl)benzo[b]quinolizinium derivatives revealed a significant binding affinity of these compounds towards both DNA forms with binding constants of Kb = 0.2–2.2 × 105 M−1.
Modeling of the Hydrogen Lyman Lines in Solar Flares
Authors: Brown Stephen A. , Fletcher Lyndsay , Kerr Graham S. , Labrosse Nicolas , Kowalski Adam F. , Rodríguez Jaime De La Cruz
Published: July 2018

The hydrogen Lyman lines (91.2 nm < λ < 121.6 nm) are significant contributors to the radiative losses of the solar chromosphere, and they are enhanced during flares. We have shown previously that the Lyman lines observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability instrument onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory exhibit Doppler motions equivalent to speeds on the order of 30 km s−1. However, contrary to expectations, both redshifts and blueshifts were present and no dominant flow direction was observed. To understand the formation of the Lyman lines, particularly their Doppler motions, we have used the radiative hydrodynamic code, RADYN, along with the radiative transfer code, RH, to simulate the evolution of the flaring chromosphere and the response of the Lyman lines during solar flares. We find that upflows in the simulated atmospheres lead to blueshifts in the line cores, which exhibit central reversals. We then model the effects of the instrument on the profiles, using the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) instrument's properties. What may be interpreted as downflows (redshifted emission) in the lines, after they have been convolved with the instrumental line profile, may not necessarily correspond to actual downflows. Dynamic features in the atmosphere can introduce complex features in the line profiles that will not be detected by instruments with the spectral resolution of EVE, but which leave more of a signature at the resolution of the Spectral Investigation of the Coronal Environment instrument onboard the Solar Orbiter.
Faraday Conversion in Turbulent Blazar Jets
Authors: MacDonald Nicholas R. , Marscher Alan P.
Published: July 2018

Low (≲1%) levels of circular polarization (CP) detected at radio frequencies in the relativistic jets of some blazars can provide insight into the underlying nature of the jet plasma. CP can be produced through linear birefringence, in which initially linearly polarized emission produced in one region of the jet is altered by Faraday rotation as it propagates through other regions of the jet with varying magnetic field orientation. Marscher has begun a study of jets with such magnetic geometries using the turbulent extreme multi-zone (TEMZ) model, in which turbulent plasma crossing a standing shock in the jet is represented by a collection of thousands of individual plasma cells, each with distinct magnetic field orientations. Here we develop a radiative transfer scheme that allows the numerical TEMZ code to produce simulated images of the time-dependent linearly and circularly polarized intensity at different radio frequencies. In this initial study, we produce synthetic polarized emission maps that highlight the linear and circular polarization expected within the model.
Spectroscopic Determination of Capella’s Photospheric Abundances: Possible Influence of Stellar Activity
Authors: Takeda Yoichi , Hashimoto Osamu , Honda Satoshi
Published: July 2018

Capella is a spectroscopic binary consisting of two G-type giants, where the primary (G8 iii) is a normal red clump giant while the secondary (G0 iii) is a chromospherically active fast rotator showing considerable overabundance of Li as Li-enhanced giants. Recently, Takeda & Tajitsu reported that abundance ratios of specific light elements (e.g., [C/Fe] or [O/Fe]) in Li-rich giants of high activity tend to be anomalously high, which they suspected to be nothing but superficial caused by unusual atmospheric structure due to high activity. Toward verifying this hypothesis, we determined the elemental abundances of the primary and the secondary of Capella based on the disentangled spectrum of each component, in order to see whether any apparent disagreement exists between the two, which should have been formed with the same chemical composition. We found that the primary is slightly supersolar (by ∼+0.1 dex), while the secondary is subsolar (by several tenths of dex) for heavier elements such as Fe, resulting in a marked discrepancy between the primary and secondary, though such a trend is not seen for light elements (e.g., C or O). These observational facts suggest that anomalously large [X/Fe] ratios found in Li-rich giants were mainly due to an apparent decrease of Fe abundance, which we speculate is caused by the overionization effect due to chromospheric UV radiation. We thus conclude that conventional model-atmosphere analysis would fail to correctly determine the abundances of fast-rotating giants of high activity, for which proper treatment of the chromospheric effect is required for deriving true photospheric abundances.
Effect of the Heating Rate on the Stability of the Three-phase Interstellar Medium
Authors: Hill Alex S. , Mac Low Mordecai-Mark , Gatto Andrea , Ibáñez-Mejía Juan C.
Published: July 2018

We investigate the impact of the far-UV (FUV) heating rate on the stability of the three-phase interstellar medium using three-dimensional simulations of a

1

kpc

2

, vertically extended domain. The FUV heating rate sets the range of thermal pressures across which the cold (

∼

10

2

K

) and warm (

∼

10

4

K

) neutral media (CNM and WNM) can coexist in equilibrium. Even absent a variable star formation rate regulating the FUV heating rate, the gas physics keeps the pressure in the two-phase regime: because radiative heating and cooling processes happen on shorter timescales than sound wave propagation, turbulent compressions tend to keep the interstellar medium within the CNM–WNM pressure regime over a wide range of heating rates. The thermal pressure is set primarily by the heating rate with little influence from the hydrostatics. The vertical velocity dispersion adjusts as needed to provide hydrostatic support given the thermal pressure: when the turbulent pressure

〈
ρ
〉

σ

z

2

is calculated over scales

≳
500

pc

, the thermal plus turbulent pressure approximately equals the weight of the gas. The warm gas volume filling fraction is

0.2
<

f

w

<
0.8

over a factor of less than three in heating rate, with f

w
near unity at higher heating rates and near zero at lower heating rates. We suggest that cosmological simulations that do not resolve the CNM should maintain an interstellar thermal pressure within the two-phase regime.
Liberating links between datasets using lightweight data publishing: an example using plant names and the taxonomic literature
Authors: Page Roderic
Published: July 2018

Constructing a biodiversity knowledge graph will require making millions of cross links between diversity entities in different datasets. Researchers trying to bootstrap the growth of the biodiversity knowledge graph by constructing databases of links between these entities lack obvious ways to publish these sets of links. One appealing and lightweight approach is to create a "datasette", a database that is wrapped together with a simple web server that enables users to query the data. Datasettes can be packaged into Docker containers and hosted online with minimal effort. This approach is illustrated using a dataset of links between globally unique identifiers for plant taxonomic namesand identifiers for the taxonomic articles that published those names.
Le feuilleton de l’été : que pensent les Français des questions bioéthiques d’aujourd’hui ?
Authors: Bourdaire-Mignot Camille , Gründler Tatiana
Published: July 2018

États généraux de la bioéthique (rapport de synthèse du Comité consultatif national d’éthique) : billet introductif
Defining Batches under Consideration of Quality-Related Factors for Improved Failure and Scrap Analysis
Authors: Baier Lukas , Spindler Simon , Wacker Manuel , Schuderer Peter , Franke Jörg
Published: July 2018

In order to satisfy upcoming needs for detailed traceability of products, components and manufacturing conditions, identification of every part is required. As for bulk goods applied marks are generally not appropriable due to variable costs, aggregation of individual parts manufactured under similar conditions to batches is carried out and these batches are identified and linked to information for tracking and tracing. Currently there is no standard for dividing bulk goods into batches. Hence, there are varying, company-specific approaches regarding rules for batch segregation and batch number definition. Thereby, transparency for subsequent stages of the supply chain is almost non-existent.In this paper we developed a method for batch segregation and number definition considering quality-related impacts. By identifying relevant influences and associated characteristics affecting events, basic parameters regarding segregation of batches can be found. As, especially in the automotive industry, FMEA and similar tools already are required, deriving this information is possible at low effort. Based on the factors identified, a meaningful batch ID may be generated including information on changes in particular parameters by encoding each parameter into the ID. While the overall objective should be outright informational transparency, sharing manufacturing data is not realistic in the short term. Therefore, our approach increases information sharing between members of the supply chain whilst protecting manufacturing know-how.The proposed systematic for batch IDs is supposed to enable subsequent participants in the supply chain to identify failure and scrap causes by communicating meaningful ID including relevant parameters. Hence, data analysis should be able to track down issues to changes in the manufacturing process at the supplier much faster and at lower effort than before. Additionally this may be a first step to pro-actively identify expectable quality issues due to information given in the ID and knowledge about correlation between different components and conditions with automated algorithms or some sort of artificial intelligence.
Cigarette Smoke–Induced Emphysema Exhausts Early Cytotoxic CD8+ T Cell Responses against Nascent Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Kerdidani Dimitra , Magkouta Sophia , Chouvardas Panagiotis , Karavana Vassiliki , Glynos Konstantinos , Roumelioti Fani , Zakynthinos Spyros , Wauters Els , Janssens Wim , Lambrechts Diether , Kollias George , Tsoumakidou Maria
Published: July 2018

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder with an increased incidence of lung cancer. The emphysema component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease confers the greatest proportion to lung cancer risk. Although tumors create inflammatory conditions to escape immunity, the immunological responses that control growth of nascent cancer cells in pre-established inflammatory microenvironments are unknown. In this study, we addressed this issue by implanting OVA-expressing cancer cells in the lungs of mice with cigarette smoke–induced emphysema. Emphysema augmented the growth of cancer cells, an effect that was dependent on T cytotoxic cells. OVA-specific OTI T cells showed early signs of exhaustion upon transfer in emphysema tumor hosts that was largely irreversible because sorting, expansion, and adoptive transfer failed to restore their antitumor activity. Increased numbers of PD-L1– and IDO-positive CD11c+ myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) infiltrated emphysema tumors, whereas sorted emphysema tumor DCs poorly stimulated OTI T cells. Upon adoptive transfer in immunocompetent hosts, T cells primed by emphysema tumor DCs were unable to halt tumor growth. DCs exposed to the emphysema tumor microenvironment downregulated MHC class II and costimulatory molecules, whereas they upregulated PD-L1/IDO via oxidative stress–dependent mechanisms. T cell activation increased upon PD-L1 blockade in emphysema DC–T cell cocultures and in emphysema tumor hosts in vivo. Analysis of the transcriptome of primary human lung tumors showed a strong association between computed tomography–based emphysema scoring and downregulation of immunogenic processes. Thus, suppression of adaptive immunity against lung cancer cells links a chronic inflammatory disorder, emphysema, to cancer, with clinical implications for emphysema patients to be considered optimal candidates for cancer immunotherapies.
Understanding the concept of health insurance: An innovative social marketing tool
Authors: Adewole David Ayobami
Published: July 2018

Health insurance scheme is relatively new in many low to middle income countries. Awareness about and knowledge of the scheme is poor among potential beneficiaries. There are some misconceptions associated with health insurance, which contributes to its low acceptance in affected nations. The aim of this work is to present an information-education and communication concept that will serve as a social marketing tool that could enhance peoples’ understanding of the modus operandi of health insurance scheme, and as well as to demystify superstitious belief associated with it. This will contribute to a better understanding of the scheme among the people and enhance its uptake.
Contents
Authors: Matzdorff Robert
Published: July 2018

Contents
Арифметические поверхности и адельные факторгруппы
Authors: Osipov Denis Vasilievich
Published: July 2018

В работе явно вычисляется арифметическая адельная факторгруппа для локально свободного пучка на арифметической поверхности с учетом слоя над бесконечной точкой базы. Результат вычислений представлен в виде короткой точной последовательности.
Последний член этой короткой точной последовательности представлен также как проективный предел групп, каждая из которых есть конечное прямое произведение копий одномерных вещественных торов и связана с первыми группами когомологий локально свободных пучков на арифметической поверхности.
Библиография: 20 наименований.
On Perfective –le in Mandarin Chinese: Theoretical and Pedagogical Issues
Authors: WOO I-hao
Published: July 2018

Although Mandarin Chinese perfective -‍le has been extensively studied in the literature, views on its linguistic properties nevertheless remain controversial. In this study, I first discuss the temporal function of perfective -‍le and provide an alternative account. In the spirit of Klein’s (1994) approach regarding different temporal intervals, I demonstrate that the core function of this suffix is to indicate that one event occurs after another. I then address the issue of the English translation of perfective -‍le in a Chinese as a foreign or second language class and argue that English present perfect construction may not represent the translation correctly. The proposal not only gives a more straightforward definition of the perfective -‍le, but also provides a simpler way for the instruction of the suffix.
Foreword
Authors: GOLOB Nina
Published: July 2018

This last year has been busy for the journal not only in terms of the volume of submissions but also due to the newliest demands as an online journal. Words of appreciaton go to the authors who have contributed to this edition, all the reviewers, finally to the production team, who prepared the papers for publication. Altogether this summer’s edition of the journal brings together six research articles.
The first paper was authored by Karen HUANG, who acoustically analyzed neutral tone syllables in Taiwan Mandarin to show the effects of stress and accent on its tone patterns.  
The following paper is a corpus study on phonemic status of Bangla nasal vowels and was written by Jahurul ISLAM. It offers a new insight into the number of such vowels, which is lower than reported up until now.
Nina GOLOB and Mateja PETROVČIČ wrote an article on vowel sequences in Japanese and Chinese, and reviewed their appearance in official Latin scripts of the two languages and pronunciation catches in those scripts.
A paper by Liulin ZHANG dedicates its attention to a character-based historical overview of the notional passive construction in Chinese through corpus analysis.
Yet another paper on Chinese was written by LI Wenchao, who focused on the evolution of the Chinese verb 断 (duàn ‘break’) and discussed the development of its several syntactic functions.
Last but not least, I-hao WOO’s paper on Mandarin Chinese perfective suffix -‍le proposed a straightforward definition on the core function of the suffix, and provided a simple way for the instruction of it.
Editors and Editorial Board wish the regular and new readers of the ALA journal a pleasant read full of inspiration.
Phonemic status of Bangla nasal vowels: A corpus study
Authors: ISLAM Md Jahurul
Published: July 2018

This study investigated the phonemic status of the nasal vowels in Bangla (aka Bengali). It has been claimed for decades that all the seven monophthongal oral vowels in Bangla have phonemically contrastive nasal counterparts; however, an in-depth investigation of the status of nasality for all the vowels is lacking in the current literature. With a phoneme dictionary build from a text corpus of 8 (eight) million word-tokens and about 275 thousand word-types, this study investigated whether all the oral vowels have phonemically contrastive nasal vowels. Findings revealed that only five of the seven monophthongal vowels form phonemically contrastive relationships with their nasal counterparts; nasality in /æ/ and /ɔ/ are not contrastive phonemically.
African volcanic emissions influencing atmospheric aerosols over the Amazon rain forest
Authors: Saturno Jorge , Ditas Florian , Penning de Vries Marloes , Holanda Bruna A. , Pöhlker Mira L. , Carbone Samara , Walter David , Bobrowski Nicole , Brito Joel , Chi Xuguang , Gutmann Alexandra , Hrabe de Angelis Isabella , Machado Luiz A. T. , Moran-Zuloaga Daniel , Rüdiger Julian , Schneider Johannes , Schulz Christiane , Wang Qiaoqiao , Wendisch Manfred , Artaxo Paulo , Wagner Thomas , Pöschl Ulrich , Andreae Meinrat O. , Pöhlker Christopher
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The long-range transport (LRT) of trace gases and aerosol particles plays an
important role for the composition of the Amazonian rain forest atmosphere.
Sulfate aerosols originate to a substantial extent from LRT sources and play
an important role in the Amazonian atmosphere as strongly light-scattering
particles and effective cloud condensation nuclei. The transatlantic
transport of volcanic sulfur emissions from Africa has been considered as a
source of particulate sulfate in the Amazon; however, direct observations
have been lacking so far. This study provides observational evidence for the
influence of emissions from the Nyamuragira–Nyiragongo volcanoes in Africa
on Amazonian aerosol properties and atmospheric composition during September
2014. Comprehensive ground-based and airborne aerosol measurements together
with satellite observations are used to investigate the volcanic event. Under
the volcanic influence, hourly mean sulfate mass concentrations in the
submicron size range reached up to 3.6 µg m−3 at the Amazon
Tall Tower Observatory, the highest value ever reported in the Amazon region.
The substantial sulfate injection increased the aerosol hygroscopicity with
κ values up to 0.36, thus altering aerosol–cloud interactions over
the rain forest. Airborne measurements and satellite data indicate that the
transatlantic transport of volcanogenic aerosols occurred in two major
volcanic plumes with a sulfate-enhanced layer between 4 and 5 km of
altitude. This study demonstrates how African aerosol sources, such as
volcanic sulfur emissions, can substantially affect the aerosol cycling and
atmospheric processes in Amazonia.
Capturing the signature of heavy rainfall events using the 2-d-/4-d
water vapour information derived from GNSS measurement in Hong Kong
Authors: Zhao Qingzhi , Yao Yibin , Yao Wanqiang
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Apart from the well-known applications like positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has manifested its ability in many other areas that are vital to society largely. With the dense setting of the regional continuously operating reference station (CORS) networks, monitoring the variations in atmospheric water vapour using a GNSS technique has become the focus in the field of GNSS meteorology. Most previous studies mainly concentrate on the analysis of relationship between the two-dimensional (2-d) Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV) and rainfall while the four-dimensional (4-d) variations of atmospheric water vapour derived from the GNSS tomographic technique during rainfall events are rarely discussed. This becomes the focus of this work, which investigates the emerging field of GNSS technology for monitoring changes in atmospheric water vapour during rainfall, especially in the vertical direction. This paper includes an analysis of both 2-d, and 4-d, precipitable water vapour profiles. A period with heavy rainfall events in this study was selected to capture the signature of atmospheric water vapour variation using the ground-based GNSS tomographic technique. GNSS observations from the CORS network of Hong Kong were used. Analysed results of the 2-d PWV/4-d water vapour profiles change during the arrival, occurrence, and depression of heavy rainfall show that: (i) the PWV time series shows an increasing trend before the arrival of heavy rainfall and decreases to its average value after the depression of rainfall; (ii) rainfall leads to an anomalous variation in relative humidity and temperature while their trends are totally opposite and show daily periodicity for periods without rain (this is highly correlated with the changes in solar radiation); (iii) atmospheric water vapour presents unstable conditions with intense vertical convective motion and hydrometeors are formed before the arrival of rainfall while returning to relatively stable conditions during heavy rainfall. This study indicates the potential for using GNSS-derived 2-d PWV and 4-d profiles to monitor spatio-temporal variations in atmospheric water vapour during rainfall, which provides a better understanding of the mechanism of convection and rainfall induced by the extreme weather events.
Using network theory and machine learning to predict El Niño
Authors: Nooteboom Peter D. , Feng Qing Yi , López Cristóbal , Hernández-García Emilio , Dijkstra Henk A.
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The skill of current predictions of the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) reduces significantly beyond a lag time of 6 months. In this paper, we aim to increase this prediction skill at lag times of up to 1 year. The new method combines a classical autoregressive integrated moving average technique with a modern machine learning approach (through an artificial neural network). The attributes in such a neural network are derived from knowledge of physical processes and topological properties of climate networks, and they are tested using a Zebiak–Cane-type model and observations. For predictions up to 6 months ahead, the results of the hybrid model give a slightly better skill than the CFSv2 ensemble prediction by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). Interestingly, results for a 12-month lead time prediction have a similar skill as the shorter lead time predictions.
Concentrations and radiative forcing of anthropogenic aerosols from 1750–2014
simulated with the OsloCTM3 and CEDS emission inventory
Authors: Lund Marianne T. , Myhre Gunnar , Haslerud Amund S. , Skeie Ragnhild B. , Griesfeller Jan , Platt Stephen M. , Kumar Rajesh , Myhre Cathrine Lund , Schulz Michael
Published: July 2018

Abstract. We document the ability of the new generation Oslo chemistry-transport model, OsloCTM3, to accurately simulate present-day aerosol distributions. The model is then used with the new Community Emission Data System (CEDS) historical emission inventory to provide updated time series of anthropogenic aerosol concentrations and consequent direct radiative forcing (RFari) from 1750 to 2014. Overall, the OsloCTM3 performs well compared with measurements of surface concentrations and remotely sensed aerosol optical depth. Concentrations are underestimated in Asia, but the higher emissions in CEDS than previous inventories result in improvements compared to observations. The black carbon (BC) treatment in OsloCTM3 gives better agreement with observed vertical BC profiles relative to the predecessor OsloCTM2. However, Arctic wintertime BC concentrations remain underestimated, and a range of sensitivity tests indicate that better physical understanding of processes associated with atmospheric BC processing is required to simultaneously reproduce both the observed features. Uncertainties in model input data, resolution and scavenging affects the distribution of all aerosols species, especially at high latitudes and altitudes. However, we find no evidence of consistently better model performance across all observables and regions in the sensitivity tests than in the baseline configuration. Using CEDS, we estimate a total net RFari in 2014 relative to 1750 of −0.17 W m−2, significantly weaker than the IPCC AR5 2010–1750 estimate. Differences are attributable to several factors, including stronger absorption by organic aerosol, updated parameterization of BC absorption, and reduced sulfate cooling. The trend towards a weaker RFari over recent years is more pronounced than in the IPCC AR5, illustrating the importance of capturing recent regional emission changes.
Getting Healthy Without Getting High: Lexaria’s Approach to Cannabinoids
Authors: Charlebois Sylvain
Published: July 2018

The legalization of cannabis in Canada has been a controversial issue. Over the last few years most of the attention has been on the production and distribution of cannabis. As the public discourse on cannabis matured, the drug and inherent benefits remained misunderstood by industry, policymakers, and consumers alike. Lexaria Bioscience, a British Columbia-based licensing company in Canada, is attempting to change how we market edibles in Canada and elsewhere. This case study first looks at the market of cannabis in general. It then describes how the company began to investigate cannabinoids. Based on interviews conducted with key informants in the company, some key elements of Lexaria’s business model were isolated, including their challenges. The company argues that many people want to consume edibles without the psychoactive effects of THC. This case study attempts to conceptualize what the state of the market should look like to accommodate Lexaria’s technologies and the commercialization of edibles. A discussion on the case is presented and future research paths on edible research are suggested
Evaluating financial performance in local government: A study in South Sulawesi Province (Indonesia)
Authors: Pirade Ramadhan , Mus H. Abdul Rahman , Mas’ud Hj. Masdar , Nur Hj. Andi Nirwana
Published: July 2018

This study investigates the financial performance measurement (fiscal decentralization, allocation of capital expenditure, economic growth effect on the regional own revenue) in South Sulawesi Province (Indonesia) local government. The database used is sourced from the Central Statistics Agency and the financial statements 24 County and City on 2012-2016, in order to obtain a total sample of 120 units of the sample. The results of the panel regression analysis using Eviews program 9 shows that increasing fiscal decentralization, capital expenditure and hence economic growth increasingly important role in increasing on the regional own revenue.  Recommendations of these studies to the parties concerned to be pursued acceleration of economic growth quality and useful for the improvement of the regional own revenue (PAD) and creating equitable economic growth, especially in economic sectors that are closely related to the acceptance of the PAD. This study is very important that further research is necessary to perform additional variables with a longer observation time. Later research can also be done in other provinces in the entire territory of the Republic of Indonesia even more wide-ranging.
“Who in England cares about the champion spear tosser?” Field Events and the British Athletic Psyche before the First World War
Authors: Day Dave , Harris Luke
Published: July 2018

The British Olympic Association was formed by men whose class attitudes were reflected in their adherence to traditional notions of amateurism. An emphasis on elegance and a suspicion of professional coaches were central to their ethos and resulted in the middle-class amateur focusing on events that accommodated the symmetrical body while avoiding events that demanded a more proletarian, highly trained functional body. The result was the almost complete absence of amateurs from the field-event arena to the long-term detriment of the competitiveness of British international teams, although, between the 1908 London Games and the outbreak of war in 1914, efforts were made to redress the balance between track and field. Using press reports and organizational archives, this paper uncovers some of these initiatives and concludes that their failure to make a difference is confirmation of how deeply amateur values had been embedded within the British athletic system.