bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FPGA-Based HD Camera System for the Micropositioning of Biomedical Micro-Objects Using a Contactless Micro-Conveyor
Authors: Yusifli Elmar , Yahiaoui Reda , Qaisar Saeed , Addouche Mahmoud , Al-Mahdawi Basil , Bourouina Hicham , Herlem Guillaume , Gharbi Tijani
Published: March 2017

With recent advancements, micro-object contactless conveyers are becoming an essential part of the biomedical sector. They help avoid any infection and damage that can occur due to external contact. In this context, a smart micro-conveyor is devised. It is a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based system that employs a smart surface for conveyance along with an OmniVision complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) HD camera for micro-object position detection and tracking. A specific FPGA-based hardware design and VHSIC (Very High Speed Integrated Circuit) Hardware Description Language (VHDL) implementation are realized. It is done without employing any Nios processor or System on a Programmable Chip (SOPC) builder based Central Processing Unit (CPU) core. It keeps the system efficient in terms of resource utilization and power consumption. The micro-object positioning status is captured with an embedded FPGA-based camera driver and it is communicated to the Image Processing, Decision Making and Command (IPDC) module. The IPDC is programmed in C++ and can run on a Personal Computer (PC) or on any appropriate embedded system. The IPDC decisions are sent back to the FPGA, which pilots the smart surface accordingly. In this way, an automated closed-loop system is employed to convey the micro-object towards a desired location. The devised system architecture and implementation principle is described. Its functionality is also verified. Results have confirmed the proper functionality of the developed system, along with its outperformance compared to other solutions.
Pharmacological Activities and Synthesis of Esculetin and Its Derivatives: A Mini-Review
Authors: Liang Chengyuan , Ju Weihui , Pei Shaomeng , Tang Yonghong , Xiao Yadong
Published: March 2017

Esculetin, synonymous with 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, is the main active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Fraxini. The twig skin or trunk bark of Cortex Fraxini are used by herb doctors as a mild, bitter liver and gallbladder meridians’ nontoxic drug as well as dietary supplement. Recently, with a variety of novel esculetin derivatives being reported, the molecular mechanism research as well as clinical application of Cortex Fraxini and esculetin are becoming more attractive. This mini-review will consolidate what is known about the biological activities, the mechanism of esculetin and its synthetic derivatives over the past decade in addition to providing a brief synopsis of the properties of esculetin.
Maternal Dietary Nutrient Intake and Its Association with Preterm Birth: A Case‐control Study in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhou Hong , Perkins Anthony , Wang Yan , Sun Jing
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to evaluate dietary nutrient intake among Chinese pregnant women by comparison with Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and to explore the association between dietary nutrients and preterm birth. A case‐control design was conducted in Beijing with 130 preterm delivery mothers in case group and 381 term delivery mothers in control group. Information on mothers’ diet was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and nutrients and energy intakes were subsequently calculated based on DRIs. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between term and preterm groups in relation to dietary nutrients. Dietary nutrient intakes were imbalanced in both groups compared with Chinese DRIs. Preterm delivery mothers had a lower level of fat and vitamin E intake than term delivery mothers (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed lower vitamin E intake in preterm delivery mothers with a prepregnancy BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (p < 0.05) and higher carbohydrate intake in preterm delivery mothers with prepregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (p < 0.05). An imbalanced diet in both groups and low level of dietary intakes of fat and vitamin E in preterm group suggest health education measures should be taken to improve the dietary quality of pregnant women, especially for those with an abnormal prepregnancy BMI.
Micronutrient‐Fortified Milk and Academic Performance among Chinese Middle School Students: A Cluster‐Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Xiaoqin , Hui Zhaozhao , Dai Xiaoling , Terry Paul , Zhang Yue , Ma Mei , Wang Mingxu , Deng Fu , Gu Wei , Lei Shuangyan , Li Ling , Ma Mingyue , Zhang Bin
Published: March 2017

Many children suffer from nutritional deficiencies that may negatively affect their academic performance. This cluster‐randomized controlled trial aimed to test the effects of micronutrient‐fortified milk in Chinese students. Participants received either micronutrient‐fortified (n = 177) or unfortified (n = 183) milk for six months. Academic performance, motivation, and learning strategies were estimated by end‐of‐term tests and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed for micronutrients. In total, 296 students (82.2%) completed this study. Compared with the control group, students in the intervention group reported higher scores in several academic subjects (p < 0.05), including languages, mathematics, ethics, and physical performance at the end of follow‐up. Students in the intervention group showed greater self‐efficacy and use of cognitive strategies in learning, and reported less test anxiety (p < 0.001). Moreover, vitamin B2 deficiency (odds ratio (OR) = 0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.11~0.30) and iron deficiency (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14~0.81) were less likely in the students of the intervention group, whereas vitamin D, vitamin B12, and selenium deficiencies were not significantly different. “Cognitive strategy” had a partial mediating effect on the test scores of English (95% CI: 1.26~3.79) and Chinese (95% CI: 0.53~2.21). Our findings suggest that micronutrient‐fortified milk may improve students’ academic performance, motivation, and learning strategies.
Why Organization May Be the Primary Limitation to Implementing Sustainability at the Local Level: Examples from Swedish Case Studies
Authors: Keskitalo E. , Andersson Elias
Published: March 2017

Much of the effort to address environmental issues at the local level has focused on defining principles and aims rather than addressing the operational difficulties of implementation. Drawing upon insights from sustainability scholarship, this study reviews two cases: the development of a Swedish standard for implementing sustainable development at municipality, county council, and regional levels, and attempts by a small rural municipality to establish a process towards implementing the Aalborg Commitments. The research illustrates the specific organizational and managerial complexity of these case study experiences. It concludes that an organizational focus on integration and mainstreaming deserves particular attention to achieve broader sustainability, or related environmental or adaptation goals. The results, in particular, highlight the role that integrated management systems can play for sustainability work at the local level.
Differences in Rate and Direction of Shifts between Phytoplankton Size Structure and Sea Surface Temperature
Authors: Waga Hisatomo , Hirawake Toru , Fujiwara Amane , Kikuchi Takashi , Nishino Shigeto , Suzuki Koji , Takao Shintaro , Saitoh Sei-Ichi
Published: March 2017

Species distributions are changing with various rates and directions in response to recent global warming. The velocity of sea surface temperature (SST) has been used to predict species migration and persistence as an expectation of how species track their thermal niches; however, several studies have found that evidence for species shifts has deviated from the velocity of SST. This study investigated whether estimation of the velocity of shifts in phytoplankton size structure using remote sensing data could contribute to better prediction of species shifts. A chlorophyll-a (Chla) size distribution (CSD) model was developed by quantifying the relationships between the size structure of the phytoplankton community and the spectral features of the phytoplankton absorption coefficient (aph(λ)), based on the principal component analysis approach. Model validation demonstrated that the exponent of CSD (hereafter, CSD slope), which can describe the synoptic size structure of a phytoplankton community, was derived successfully with a relative root mean square error of 18.5%. The median velocity of CSD slope across the ocean was 485.2 km·decade−1, broadly similar to Chla (531.5 km·decade−1). These values were twice the velocity of SST, and the directions of shifts in CSD slope and Chla were quite different from that of SST. Because Chla is generally covariant with the size structure of a phytoplankton community, we believe that spatiotemporal changes in Chla can explain the variations of phytoplankton size structure. Obvious differences in both rate and direction of shifts were found between the phytoplankton size structure and SST, implying that shifts of phytoplankton size structure could be a powerful tool for assessing the distributional shifts of marine species. Our results will contribute to generate global and regional maps of expected species shifts in response to environmental forcing.
Assessment of Canopy Chlorophyll Content Retrieval in Maize and Soybean: Implications of Hysteresis on the Development of Generic Algorithms
Authors: Peng Yi , Nguy-Robertson Anthony , Arkebauer Timothy , Gitelson Anatoly
Published: March 2017

Canopy chlorophyll content (Chl) closely relates to plant photosynthetic capacity, nitrogen status and productivity. The goal of this study is to develop remote sensing techniques for accurate estimation of canopy Chl during the entire growing season without re-parameterization of algorithms for two contrasting crop species, maize and soybean. These two crops represent different biochemical mechanisms of photosynthesis, leaf structure and canopy architecture. The relationships between canopy Chl and reflectance, collected at close range and resampled to bands of the Multi Spectral Instrument (MSI) aboard Sentinel-2, were analyzed in samples taken across the entirety of the growing seasons in three irrigated and rainfed sites located in eastern Nebraska between 2001 and 2005. Crop phenology was a factor strongly influencing the reflectance of both maize and soybean. Substantial hysteresis of the reflectance vs. canopy Chl relationship existed between the vegetative and reproductive stages. The effect of the hysteresis on vegetation indices (VI), applied for canopy Chl estimation, depended on the bands used and their formulation. The hysteresis greatly affected the accuracy of canopy Chl estimation by widely-used VIs with near infrared (NIR) and red reflectance (e.g., normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and simple ratio (SR)). VIs that use red edge and NIR bands (e.g., red edge chlorophyll index (CIred edge), red edge NDVI and the MERIS terrestrial chlorophyll index (MTCI)) were minimally affected by crop phenology (i.e., they exhibited little hysteresis) and were able to accurately estimate canopy Chl in two crops without algorithm reparameterization and, thus, were found to be the best candidates for generic algorithms to estimate crop Chl using the surface reflectance products of MSI Sentinel-2.
A Study on Optimal Strategy in Relative Radiometric Calibration for Optical Sensors
Authors: Yu Kai , Liu Suhong , Zhao Yongchao
Published: March 2017

Based on the analysis of three main factors involved in the relative radiometric calibration for optical sensors, namely: the number of radiance level; the number of measurements at each level; and the radiance level grouping method, an optimal strategy is presented in this paper for relative radiometric calibration. First, the maximization to the possible extent of either the number of the radiance level or the number of measurements at each level can improve the precision of the calibration results, where the recommended number of measurements is no less than 20. Second, when the number of the radiance level is divisible by four, dividing all the levels evenly into four groups by intensity gradient order and conducting averages for each group could achieve calibration results with the highest precision, which is higher than the result of no grouping or any other grouping method with the mean square error being 2 2 M n / I T (where M n is the mean square error of noise in the calibration data, I is the number of the radiance level, and T is the number of measurements for each level. In this case, the first two factors had an equivalent effect and showed their strongest effect on the precision. Third, when the calibration data were not evenly divided, the number of measurements demonstrated a stronger effect than the number of the radiance level. These cognitions are helping to achieve more precise relative radiometric calibration of optical sensors.
Dynamic Context-Aware Event Recognition Based on Markov Logic Networks
Authors: Liu Fagui , Deng Dacheng , Li Ping
Published: March 2017

Event recognition in smart spaces is an important and challenging task. Most existing approaches for event recognition purely employ either logical methods that do not handle uncertainty, or probabilistic methods that can hardly manage the representation of structured information. To overcome these limitations, especially in the situation where the uncertainty of sensing data is dynamically changing over the time, we propose a multi-level information fusion model for sensing data and contextual information, and also present a corresponding method to handle uncertainty for event recognition based on Markov logic networks (MLNs) which combine the expressivity of first order logic (FOL) and the uncertainty disposal of probabilistic graphical models (PGMs). Then we put forward an algorithm for updating formula weights in MLNs to deal with data dynamics. Experiments on two datasets from different scenarios are conducted to evaluate the proposed approach. The results show that our approach (i) provides an effective way to recognize events by using the fusion of uncertain data and contextual information based on MLNs and (ii) outperforms the original MLNs-based method in dealing with dynamic data.
Erratum: Kudo, S.; et al. Population Aging: An Emerging Research Agenda for Sustainable Development. Soc. Sci. 2015, 4, 940–966
Authors: Kudo Shogo , Mutisya Emmanuel , Nagao Masafumi
Published: March 2017

n/a
Knowledge Management in Startups: Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Centobelli Piera , Cerchione Roberto , Esposito Emilio
Published: March 2017

This paper conducts a systematic literature review on knowledge management (KM) in the context of startups in order to analyze the state of the art, identify research gaps and define a future research agenda. The main findings highlight that, even though there is an increasing number of papers on the topic of KM in startups, several issues are still neglected. Specifically, the paper identifies four main gaps in the body of literature. The first gap deals with the environmental and socio-political factors influencing the adoption of KM in startups. The second gap regards the lack of a comprehensive taxonomy of knowledge management systems (KMSs) that may support the processes of knowledge creation, acquisition, storage, transfer, sharing and application. This second gap allows us to identify a third gap concerning the level of alignment between startup’s strategies and technologies adopted. Finally, the fourth gap deals with the issue of the impact of KM on startup’s performances with regard to economic, financial, market, technical, technological, organizational, human and relational performance. From these four gaps, six research questions (RQs) have been proposed. These RQs allow us to identify possible areas of analysis to define a future research agenda. Neglecting these issues means underestimating all the possible advantages of KM adoption for a startup to achieve efficiency, effectiveness and scalability goals.
Identification of the Anti-Aflatoxinogenic Activity of Micromeria graeca and Elucidation of Its Molecular Mechanism in Aspergillus flavus
Authors: El Khoury Rhoda , Caceres Isaura , Puel Olivier , Bailly Sylviane , Atoui Ali , Oswald Isabelle , El Khoury André , Bailly Jean-Denis
Published: March 2017

Of all the food-contaminating mycotoxins, aflatoxins, and most notably aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), are found to be the most toxic and economically costly. Green farming is striving to replace fungicides and develop natural preventive strategies to minimize crop contamination by these toxic fungal metabolites. In this study, we demonstrated that an aqueous extract of the medicinal plant Micromeria graeca—known as hyssop—completely inhibits aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus without reducing fungal growth. The molecular inhibitory mechanism was explored by analyzing the expression of 61 genes, including 27 aflatoxin biosynthesis cluster genes and 34 secondary metabolism regulatory genes. This analysis revealed a three-fold down-regulation of aflR and aflS encoding the two internal cluster co-activators, resulting in a drastic repression of all aflatoxin biosynthesis genes. Hyssop also targeted fifteen regulatory genes, including veA and mtfA, two major global-regulating transcription factors. The effect of this extract is also linked to a transcriptomic variation of several genes required for the response to oxidative stress such as msnA, srrA, catA, cat2, sod1, mnsod, and stuA. In conclusion, hyssop inhibits AFB1 synthesis at the transcriptomic level. This aqueous extract is a promising natural-based solution to control AFB1 contamination.
Effects of pH and Temperature on the Stability of Fumonisins in Maize Products
Authors: Bryła Marcin , Waśkiewicz Agnieszka , Szymczyk Krystyna , Jędrzejczak Renata
Published: March 2017

This paper is a study of the stability of fumonisins in dough based on maize flour prepared in a phosphate buffer with a pH of 3.5, 5.5 or 7.5 and baked at a temperature within the range of 100–250 °C. Buffers with various pH values were tested, since it is well-known that pH may significantly influence interactions of fumonisins with other substances. A standard analytical procedure was used to determine the concentration of free fumonisins. Hydrolysis in an alkaline medium was then applied to reveal the hidden forms, while the total fumonisins concentations was determined in another measurement. The total concentration of fumonisins was statistically higher in pH = 3.5 and pH = 5.5 than the concentration of free fumonisins; no similar difference was found at pH = 7.5. The applied phosphate buffer pH 7.5 may enhance solubility of fumonisins, which would increase extraction efficiency of free analytes, thereby decreasing the difference between concentrations of total and free fumonisins. Hydrolysed B1 fumonisin (HFB1) and partially hydrolysed B1 fumonisin (isomers a and b: PHFB1a and PHFB1b, respectively) were the main investigated substances. For baking temperatures below 220 °C, fumonisins were slightly more stable for pH = 5.5 than for pH = 3.5 and pH = 7.5. In both of these latter cases, the concentration of partially hydrolysed fumonisins grew initially (up to 200 °C) with an increase in the baking temperature, and then dropped. Similar behaviour was observed for free HFB1, which may suggest the following fumonisin degradation mechanism: initially, the tricarballylic acid (TCA) groups are removed from the molecules, and next, the HFB1 molecules disintegrate.
Vulnerability of Maize Yields to Droughts in Uganda
Authors: Epule Terence , Ford James , Lwasa Shuaib , Lepage Laurent
Published: March 2017

Climate projections in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) forecast an increase in the intensity and frequency of droughts with implications for maize production. While studies have examined how maize might be affected at the continental level, there have been few national or sub-national studies of vulnerability. We develop a vulnerability index that combines sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity and that integrates agroecological, climatic and socio-economic variables to evaluate the national and spatial pattern of maize yield vulnerability to droughts in Uganda. The results show that maize yields in the north of Uganda are more vulnerable to droughts than in the south and nationally. Adaptive capacity is higher in the south of the country than in the north. Maize yields also record higher levels of sensitivity and exposure in the north of Uganda than in the south. Latitudinally, it is observed that maize yields in Uganda tend to record higher levels of vulnerability, exposure and sensitivity towards higher latitudes, while in contrast, the adaptive capacity of maize yields is higher towards the lower latitudes. In addition to lower precipitation levels in the north of the country, these observations can also be explained by poor soil quality in most of the north and socio-economic proxies, such as, higher poverty and lower literacy rates in the north of Uganda.
Highly Expressed Antisense Noncoding RNA in the INK4 Locus Promotes Growth and Invasion of Renal Clear Carcinoma Cells via the β-Catenin Pathway
Authors: Li Qingchun , Tian Yuan , Hu Guangrui , Liang Yun , Bai Wei , Li Hongjun
Published: March 2017

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) is involved in several human cancers. However, the role of ANRIL in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether, and how, ANRIL affects the progression of RCC. First, the expression of ANRIL in clinical tumor tissues and four kinds of RCC cell lines was evaluated. After transfection, cell viability, colony number, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed. The expression of proteins related to apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the β-catenin signaling pathway was then assessed. In addition, the effect of IWR-endo (β-catenin inhibitor) on cell viability, migration, and invasion, as well as β-catenin expression, was also evaluated. The results showed that ANRIL was highly expressed in RCC tissues and RCC cell lines. ANRIL significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT but inhibited cell apoptosis. Additionally, the expression levels of β-catenin, Ki-67, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), phosphorylated GSK-3β, T-cell transcription factor 4 (TCF-4), and leukemia enhancer factor 1 (LEF-1) were all markedly upregulated by ANRIL. The effect of ARNIL silencing was opposite to that of ANRIL overexpression. The effect of ARNIL on proliferation, migration, and invasion of RCC cells was found to be reversed by IWR-endo. In conclusion, ANRIL, which is highly expressed in RCC, acted as a carcinogen in RCC cells through the activation of the β-catenin pathway.
Procaine Inhibits Proliferation and Migration and Promotes Cell Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma Cells by Upregulation of MicroRNA-133b
Authors: Ying Boda , Huang Hong , Li Hongfei , Song Meng , Wu Sizhan , Ying Hongliang
Published: March 2017

Procaine (PCA) is a conventional chemotherapeutic agent for osteosarcoma. Recent studies have proposed that the growth-inhibitory effect of PCA is through regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs). miR-133b has been proven to be a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma, but whether it is involved
in the antitumor effects of PCA on osteosarcoma has not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of PCA on osteosarcoma MG63 cells by regulation of miR-133b, as well as its underlying mechanisms. MG63 cells were treated with different concentrations of PCA, and cell
viability, apoptosis, and miR-133b expression were then detected by MTT, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR, respectively. Cells were then transfected with the miR-133b inhibitor and treated with 2 μM PCA. Thereafter, cell viability, migration, and apoptosis were detected. Analysis of signaling
pathways was detected by Western blot. Our results showed that PCA significantly inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis and the expression level of miR-133b in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Moreover, we observed that
PCA + miR-133b inhibitor dramatically reversed the effects of PCA on cell viability, apoptosis, and migration (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). In addition, PCA significantly decreased the levels of p/t-AKT (p308 or p473), p/t-ERK, and p/t-S6,
whereas PCA + miR-133b inhibitor rescued these effects. Our results suggest that PCA inhibits proliferation and migration but promotes apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells by upregulation of miR-133b. These effects may be achieved by inactivation of the AKT/ERK pathways.
YEATS Domain Containing 4 Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation and Mediates Tumor Progression via Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Ji Sheqing , Zhang Youxiang , Yang Binhai
Published: March 2017

Increased expression of YEATS domain containing 4 (YEATS4) has been reported to have a correlation with progression in many types of cancer. However, the mechanism by which it promotes the development of gastric cancer (GC) is rarely reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect
of YEATS4 on cell proliferation and tumor progression. The mRNA and protein expressions of YEATS4 in GC tissues and cell lines were analyzed. BGC-823 cells then overexpressed or silenced YEATS4 by transfection of different plasmids. The regulatory effect of YEATS on cell viability, colony
formation, cell apoptosis, and tumor growth in vivo was evaluated. Finally, we explored the underlying regulatory mechanism of YEATS4 on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. YEATS4 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis and qRT-PCR
analysis showed that the increased expression of YEATS4 indicated poor prognosis and tumor progression. The overexpression of YEATS4 significantly promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis, whereas the opposite trends were found upon the downregulation of YEATS4. Western blot
analysis showed that the downregulation of YEATS4 inhibited protein expression and phosphorylation of β-catenin. In addition, decreased expressions of c-Myc, CDK6, CDK4, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 and increased expression of Bax were observed in YEATS4 knockdown cells. Our results showed that
increased expression of YEATS4 might play a critical role in promoting GC cell proliferation and apoptosis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, indicating that the control of YEATS4 expression might be used as a promising therapy for GC.
The Hospital at Home Program: No Place Like Home
Authors: Lippert M. , Semmens S. , Tacey L. , Rent T. , Defoe K. , Bucsis M. , Shykula T. , Crysdale J. , Lewis V. , Strother D. , Lafay-Cousin L.
Published: March 2017

Background: The treatment of children with cancer is associated with significant burden for the entire family. Frequent clinic visits and extended hospital stays can negatively affect quality of life for children and their families. Methods: Here, we describe the development of a Hospital at Home program (H@H) that delivers therapy to pediatric hematology, oncology, and blood and marrow transplant (bmt) patients in their homes. The services provided include short infusions of chemotherapy, supportive-care interventions, antibiotics, post-chemotherapy hydration, and teaching. Results: From 2013 to 2015, the H@H program served 136 patients, making 1701 home visits, for patients mainly between the ages of 1 and 4 years. Referrals came from oncology in 82% of cases, from hematology in 11%, and from bmt in 7%. Since inception of the program, no adverse events have been reported. Family surveys suggested less disruption in daily routines and appreciation of specialized care by hematology and oncology nurses. Staff surveys highlighted a perceived benefit of H@H in contributing to early discharge of patients by supporting out-of-hospital monitoring and teaching. Conclusions: The development of a H@H program dedicated to the pediatric hematology, oncology, or bmt patient appears feasible. Our pilot program offers a potential contribution to improvement in patient quality of life and in cost–benefit for parents and the health care system.
Solid-phase enrichment and analysis of electrophilic natural products
Authors: Wesche Frank , He Yue , Bode Helge B
Published: March 2017

In search for new natural products, which may lead to the development of new drugs for all kind of applications, novel methods are needed. Here we describe the identification of electrophilic natural products in crude extracts via their reactivity against azide as a nucleophile followed by their subsequent enrichment using a cleavable azide-reactive resin (CARR). Using this approach, natural products carrying epoxides and α,β-unsaturated enones as well as several unknown compounds were identified in crude extracts from entomopathogenic Photorhabdus bacteria.
Planetesimal Formation in the Warm, Inner Disk: Experiments with Tempered Dust
Authors: de Beule Caroline , Landers Joachim , Salamon Soma , Wende Heiko , Wurm Gerhard
Published: March 2017

It is an open question how elevated temperatures in the inner parts of protoplanetary disks influence the formation of planetesimals. We approach this problem here by studying the tensile strength of granular beds with dust samples tempered at different temperatures. We find via laboratory experiments that tempering at increasing temperatures is correlated with an increase in cohesive forces. We studied dust samples of palagonite (JSC Mars-1a) which were tempered for up to 200 hr at temperatures between 600 and 1200 K, and measured the relative tensile strengths of highly porous dust layers once the samples cooled to room temperature. Tempering increases the tensile strength from 800 K upwards. This change is accompanied by mineral transformations, the formation of iron oxide crystallites as analyzed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, changes in the number size distribution, and the morphology of the surface visible as cracks in larger grains. These results suggest a difference in the collisional evolution toward larger bodies with increasing temperature as collisional growth is fundamentally based on cohesion. While high temperatures might also increase sticking (not studied here), compositional evolution will already enhance the cohesion and the possibility of growing larger aggregates on the way toward planetesimals. This might lead to a preferred in situ formation of inner planets and explain the observed presence of dense inner planetary systems.
A New View on the Maximum Mass of Differentially Rotating Neutron Stars
Authors: Gondek-Rosińska D. , Kowalska I. , Villain L. , Ansorg M. , Kucaba M.
Published: March 2017

We study the main astrophysical properties of differentially rotating neutron stars described as stationary and axisymmetric configurations of a moderately stiff

Γ
=
2

polytropic fluid. The high level of accuracy and of stability of our relativistic multidomain pseudo-spectral code enables us to explore the whole solution space for broad ranges of the degree of differential rotation, but also of the stellar density and oblateness. Staying within an astrophysically motivated range of rotation profiles, we investigate the characteristics of neutron stars with maximal mass for all types of families of differentially rotating relativistic objects identified in a previous article. We find that the maximum mass depends on both the degree of differential rotation and the type of solution. It turns out that the maximum allowed mass can be up to 4 times higher than what it is for nonrotating stars with the same equation of state. Such values are obtained for a modest degree of differential rotation but for one of the newly discovered types of solutions. Since such configurations of stars are not that extreme, this result may have important consequences for the gravitational wave signal expected from coalescing neutron star binaries or from some supernova events.
Identification of Accretion as Grain Growth Mechanism in Astrophysically Relevant Water–Ice Dusty Plasma Experiment
Authors: Marshall Ryan S. , Chai Kil-Byoung , Bellan Paul M.
Published: March 2017

The grain growth process in the Caltech water–ice dusty plasma experiment has been studied using a high-speed camera and a long-distance microscope lens. It is observed that (i) the ice grain number density decreases fourfold as the average grain major axis increases from 20 to 80 μm, (ii) the major axis length has a log-normal distribution rather than a power-law dependence, and (iii) no collisions between ice grains are apparent. The grains have a large negative charge resulting in strong mutual repulsion and this, combined with the fractal character of the ice grains, prevents them from agglomerating. In order for the grain kinetic energy to be sufficiently small to prevent collisions between ice grains, the volumetric packing factor (i.e., ratio of the actual volume to the volume of a circumscribing ellipsoid) of the ice grains must be less than ∼0.1 depending on the exact relative velocity of the grains in question. Thus, it is concluded that direct accretion of water molecules is very likely to dominate the observed ice grain growth.
DDO 216-A1: A Central Globular Cluster in a Low-luminosity Transition-type Galaxy∗
Authors: Cole Andrew A. , Weisz Daniel R. , Skillman Evan D. , Leaman Ryan , Williams Benjamin F. , Dolphin Andrew E. , Johnson L. Clifton , McConnachie Alan W. , Boylan-Kolchin Michael , Dalcanton Julianne , Governato Fabio , Madau Piero , Shen Sijing , Vogelsberger Mark
Published: March 2017

We confirm that the object DDO 216-A1 is a substantial globular cluster at the center of Local Group galaxy DDO 216 (the Pegasus dwarf irregular), using Hubble Space Telescope ACS imaging. By fitting isochrones, we find the cluster metallicity [M/H] = −1.6 ± 0.2, for reddening E(B–V) = 0.16 ± 0.02; the best-fit age is 12.3 ± 0.8 Gyr. There are

≈
30

RR Lyrae variables in the cluster; the magnitude of the fundamental mode pulsators gives a distance modulus of 24.77 ± 0.08—identical to the host galaxy. The ratio of overtone to fundamental mode variables and their mean periods make DDO 216-A1 an Oosterhoff Type I cluster. We find a central surface brightness of 20.85 ± 0.17 F814W mag arcsec−2, a half-light radius of

3
.″
1

(13.4 pc), and an absolute magnitude M814 = −7.90 ± 0.16 (

M

/

M

☉

≈ 105). King models fit to the cluster give the core radius and concentration index, r

c
 = 

2
.″
1

 ± 

0
.″
9

and c = 1.24 ± 0.39. The cluster is an “extended” cluster somewhat typical of some dwarf galaxies and the outer halo of the Milky Way. The cluster is projected ≲30 pc south of the center of DDO 216, unusually central compared to most dwarf galaxy globular clusters. Analytical models of dynamical friction and tidal destruction suggest that it probably formed at a larger distance, up to ∼1 kpc, and migrated inward. DDO 216 has an unexceptional specific cluster frequency, S

N
 = 10. DDO 216 is the lowest-luminosity Local Group galaxy to host a 105 

M

⊙

globular cluster and the only transition-type (dSph/dIrr) galaxy in the Local Group with a globular cluster.
Mass Distribution in Galaxy Cluster Cores
Authors: Hogan M. T. , McNamara B. R. , Pulido F. , Nulsen P. E. J. , Russell H. R. , Vantyghem A. N. , Edge A. C. , Main R. A.
Published: March 2017

Many processes within galaxy clusters, such as those believed to govern the onset of thermally unstable cooling and active galactic nucleus feedback, are dependent upon local dynamical timescales. However, accurate mapping of the mass distribution within individual clusters is challenging, particularly toward cluster centers where the total mass budget has substantial radially dependent contributions from the stellar (M
*), gas (M
gas), and dark matter (M
DM) components. In this paper we use a small sample of galaxy clusters with deep Chandra observations and good ancillary tracers of their gravitating mass at both large and small radii to develop a method for determining mass profiles that span a wide radial range and extend down into the central galaxy. We also consider potential observational pitfalls in understanding cooling in hot cluster atmospheres, and find tentative evidence for a relationship between the radial extent of cooling X-ray gas and nebular Hα emission in cool-core clusters. At large radii the entropy profiles of our clusters agree with the baseline power law of K ∝ r
1.1 expected from gravity alone. At smaller radii our entropy profiles become shallower but continue with a power law of the form K ∝ r
0.67 down to our resolution limit. Among this small sample of cool-core clusters we therefore find no support for the existence of a central flat “entropy floor.”
Amélioration du codage PMSI avec l’information paramédicale
Authors: Strukov Andrey , Perozziello Anne , Delon Myriam , Picouleau Dominique , Buzzi Jean-Claude
Published: March 2017

Objectif : Estimer l’apport de l’information paramédicale à la valorisation de séjours à travers le codage PMSI. Matériel et Méthodes : Les observations paramédicales ont été revues pour les séjours 2014 ayant une durée supérieure à 4 jours et un GHM de niveau de sévérité 1 dans deux services de médecine et trois services de chirurgie de l’Hôpital Bichat. Les complications ou les comorbidités retrouvées dans ces observations ont été codées en DAS le cas échéant. La nature et la fréquence des codes ajoutés ont été analysées et la durée de séjours recodés a été comparée aux autres séjours. Pour améliorer le codage de la dénutrition, un fichier Excel a été créé pour les diététiciennes afin de répondre aux critères de dénutrition. La différence de valorisation des séjours après recodage a été évaluée. Résultats : Sur 503 séjours contrôlés, 26,2% ont été recodés. Les séjours recodés ont été plus longs. Le diabète insulinotraité, l’anémie et la dénutrition ont été ajoutés le plus souvent. Les codes de dénutrition, répondants à la définition, ont pu être codés pour 32 des 49 patients enregistrés. Le gain après recodage à partir des observations infirmières a été de 336 216€ et celui issu du recueil de la dénutrition de 52 547€. Discussion : La contribution du personnel paramédical exprimée par le codage a été importante, mais le recueil de dénutrition et la mise à disposition des informations sont à améliorer.
Tarification à l’activité et équilibre financier des prises en charge avec télémédecine : l’exemple du dispositif TéléAVC en Bourgogne
Authors: Peyron Christine , Wallut Laure
Published: March 2017

Afin de contribuer aux réflexions sur un modèle économique pour la télémédecine, cette étude exploratoire analyse, du point de vue des établissements, les équilibres financiers des prises en charge au sein du dispositif bourguignon TéléAVC. Ce dispositif permet de fibrinolyser, à distance et avec la téléassistance d’une UNV, les patients victimes d’un accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique et accueillis dans des centres hospitaliers périphériques, dits hôpitaux requérants dans le dispositif. Nous avons mobilisé des données de microcosting (observation de 18 prises en charge) et exploité des données issues de 92 dossiers patients pour évaluer les coûts hospitaliers réels des prises en charge. Nous avons également collecté les données nécessaires au calcul des recettes perçues pour ces patients. Nous montrons que le coût de l’acte de fibrinolyse est identique dans l’UNV et dans les centres hospitaliers requérants. Pour un patient téléfibrinolysé, les centres hospitaliers requérants connaissent une perte financière (d’une valeur médiane de -2234 euros) alors que l’UNV qui prend en charge le patient pour la surveillance post téléfibrinolyse a un solde financier positif (1624 euros). Dans ce dispositif de télémédecine, la T2A « favorise » les établissements requis. Du point de vue de la collectivité, la logique de financement de la T2A rend, hors transport et infrastructure, la prise en charge avec télémédecine plus coûteuse qu’une prise en charge conventionnelle. L’impact de la facturation au séjour et non au parcours est déterminant, la nécessité d’un modèle économique adéquat pour la télémédecine trouve ici des arguments quantifiés.
Chapter 7. Ignaz Bregenzer (1844-1906). A brief hommage to the most important source of Fritz Jahr’s ideas on animal ethics
Authors: Muzur Amir , Rinčić Iva
Published: March 2017

Les travaux de Fritz Jahr (1895-1953), le théologien et enseignant de Halle (Allemagne), ont été découverts relativement tard, ce qui suggère que c’était Jahr qui a inventé le terme et le concept de la bioéthique (en 1926) comme une discipline préconisant l’élargissement de l’impératif catégorique de Kant pour inclure les animaux et les plantes (le soi-disant « impératif bioéthique »). Les sources de Jahr étaient nombreuses et hétérogènes. Cependant, certaines semblent avoir été plus importantes et, bien entendu, ont davantage influencé les idées de Jahr. Il est certain qu’il faut inscrire le nom d’Ignaz Bregenzer (1844-1906) dans ce groupe. Bregenzer est une personnalité à qui l’on n’a pas encore consacré suffisamment d’attention. Il est l’auteur du livre exhaustif Thier-Ethik: Darstellung der sittlichen und rechtlichen Beziehungen zwischen Mensch und Thier [Ethique animale : une présentation des relations morales et juridiques entre l’homme et l’animal ; 1894], cité aussi par Fritz Jahr, ainsi que de l’étude “Thierisches Sittlichkeits- und Rechtsgefühl” [Sens de la moralité et de la justice chez l’animal], publiée dans le journal Deutscher Thierfreund en 1901. Dans le présent article nous commentons les idées majeures – cruciales pour l’œuvre de Bregenzer – préconisées dans ses travaux ultérieurs.
Le second gouvernement de Bachelet : projet de transformation et crise politique
Authors: Garretón M. Manuel Antonio
Published: March 2017

L’article analyse les deux premières années du gouvernement de Michelle Bachelet au Chili en partant de l’hypothèse que nous nous trouvons face au premier projet de refondation durant la période démocratique post-dictatorial initiée en 1990. Ce projet politique est fondé sur des mobilisations sociales qui eurent lieu en 2011-2012, et dont l’objectif est de dépasser le modèle social, économique et politique hérité de la dictature, et seulement partiellement corrigé par les gouvernements démocratiques. Nous discuterons des principales réformes proposées par le gouvernement ainsi que des débats et des réactions qu’elles provoquèrent. Nous développerons une analyse spéciale sur les phénomènes de corruption durant le second mandat de Michelle Bachelet, qui creusèrent la distance entre politique et société et affaiblirent le leadership présidentiel dans la réalisation des réformes. La corruption, la forte opposition de la droite et les divisions internes de la coalition de gouvernement, affaiblissent le caractère transformateur des réformes, et empêchent la constitution d’un acteur politico-social. Finalement, il semble que le processus constitutionnel soit l’unique solution réduire la distance entre politique et acteurs sociaux, et assurer le projet de refondation.
Internationally Educated Nurses in Transition in the United States: Challenges and Mediators
Authors: Rosenkoetter Marlene M. , Nardi Deena , Bowcutt Marilyn
Published: March 2017

International migration has doubled worldwide since 1970, and nurses are increasingly becoming a part of this trend. In 2008, approximately 5.6% of RN positions were filled by nurses educated in other countries. One of the critical issues is the transition of these immigrated nurses to the U.S. health care system and acculturation in a new society. Continuing education is necessary to promote adjustment and provide for a successful transition while ensuring quality patient care. The life patterns model provides a framework to describe the challenges and potential mediators in the transition process.

J Contin Educ Nurs.
2017;48(3):139–144.
Functions and Value of Reminiscence for Nursing Home Staff
Authors: Kris Alison E. , Henkel Linda A. , Krauss Kaitlyn M. , Birney Sarah C.
Published: March 2017

The purpose of the current study was to understand (a) the extent to which reminiscence is used among nursing home staff (RNs, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants), (b) the reasons nursing home staff engage in reminiscence activities with nursing home residents, and (c) the value they attribute to these activities. The degree to which engagement in reminiscence activities by nursing staff contributed to knowledge about residents was also explored. The most frequently used functions of reminiscence, as reported by nursing staff, were to calm anxiety, help residents see meaning in life, and reorient confused residents. Although nursing caregivers (
N
= 43) found reminiscence activities moderately to very enjoyable (76.5%), less than one half (46.5%) reported engaging in reminiscence activities with residents frequently or very frequently. Nurses who engaged in reminiscence activities more often also reported knowing residents better—a hallmark of high-quality care for residents with dementia. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 43
(6), 35–43.]
¿Qué dice la investigación social sobre las pruebas educativas externas?
Authors: Feito Alonso Rafael
Published: March 2017

Las pruebas externas estandarizadas (high-stakes tests, en la jerga anglosajona), que han de ser aprobadas para obtener una credencial de Educación Secundaria, han dado lugar a amplios debates en los países en que se han implantado. Especialmente en el caso de los Estados Unidos de América se ha detectado que este tipo de test ha provocado una reducción considerable de los contenidos curriculares, los cuales se han centrado en exceso en lo que se pueda preguntar en los propios test. Al mismo tiempo, se ha producido una modificación sustancial en los procesos de aprendizaje que, centrados en unos conocimientos de tipo fáctico, se alejan de la experimentación, el debate o el trabajo en equipo. Pese a que hay discrepancias, en general, la investigación ha detectado que es dudoso que estas pruebas mejoren los resultados académicos. Sin embargo, se incrementa el porcentaje de abandono escolar temprano. Ha sido frecuente cierto nivel de fraude en las pruebas por parte de los directivos escolares, evitando que se presentasen a los test los alumnos de menor rendimiento académico. La revisión de investigaciones que se lleva a cabo en este artículo permite contextuar el debate que en España se ha generado en torno a las pruebas externas que plantea la Ley Orgánica de Mejora de la Calidad Educativa (LOMCE) aprobada en 2013.