bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repair of Anterior Palatal Fistula by Local Mucoperiosteal Flap
Authors: Ibrahim Farzana Bilquis , Khundkar Shafquat Hussain , Mannan Iftekhar Ibne , Ahmed Tanveer
Published: May 2017

Background: The closure of a residual post-palatoplasty anterior palatal fistula can be among the most difficult of all surgical techniques and remains challenging. No single technique is satisfactory and attempts at closure of these fistulae have been associated with high failure rate. The local mucoperiosteal flaps are a useful technique for closing such defect. This flap was selected for its alikeness and its abundant blood supply from the greater palatine vessels. It is also easily accessible, versatile and can be transposed without tension.Objective: To see the outcome of closure of anterior palatal fistula by local mucoperiosteal flap, and also to evaluate the efficacy of closure of this flap without complications such as recurrence.Methods: This is a prospective, non randomized, non controlled clinical trial that was carried out on 15 patients with anterior palatal fistula (Type V), who presented between the time of January 2010 to August 2011 in Medi-Aid hospital, Dhaka.Results: The clinical study comprised of 15 patients (n=15) with anterior palatal fistula with an average of 5.74 years of age. The average size of the fistula in the study group was seen to be 5.93 mm.Donor site morbidity such as haematoma, infection, vascular compromise, flap necrosis, flap dehiscence etc was low and hospital stay was shorter in comparison to a complicated palatal surgery.Conclusion: The clinical results indicated that anterior palatal fistula closure with local mucoperiosteal flap technique is relatively safe, uncomplicated and effective than the other bulky techniques that have been used across the world till date.Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2017; 5(1): 17-22
Brain death diagnosis in adult for potential cadaveric organ donation in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Fatema , Ahsan ASM Areef , Faruq Mohammad Omar , Fatema Kaniz , Saha Debasish Kumar , Saha Madhurima , Nazneen Suraiya , Zaman Md Shah , Karim Md Rezaul , Alam Khan Md Shafikul , Hamid Tarikul
Published: May 2017

Aim: The objectives of this study was (i) To increase knowledge of the epidemiological and clinical features of patients diagnosed with brain death for potential cadaveric organ donation (ii) To determine the compliance of guidelines brain death based on neurological criteria (iii) To analyse process of clinical decision making regarding continuation of life support after brain death diagnosis.Materials and Method: A prospective observational study was carried out in a 12 bed adult ICU of a tertiary care hospital with neurosurgery services in Bangladesh over a period of 2 years from January 2015 to December2016. All patients admitted during this period were scrutinized for identification of brain death and impending brain death. They were analyzed for causes of brain death, diagnosis of brain death, and the use of ancillary testing. Potential for organ donation was also kept in mind.Results: During the study period, total 1387 patients were admitted into the study ICU and there were 329 deaths. And out of them 69 were diagnosed as brain death. The main causes of brain death were intracerebral haemorrhage (32/69, 46%), followed by ischemic stroke (11/69, 16%), subarachnoid haemorrhage (11/69, 12%), traumatic brain injury (8/69, 12%) and brain tumor and CNS infection. The diagnosis of brain death was made in 33 (47%) cases in the first 48 hours and 23 (33%) cases in 48-96 hours of ICU admission. With the exception of two cases, all study patients had GCS score ? 8 (97%). Brain death was diagnosed according to American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2010 guidelines. Only two cases Electroencephalography was done for family request. All life-sustaining measures were withdrawn in 67 (97%) cases with consent of family.Conclusion: There is no scarcity of brain death cases in our country according to our study. We need to promote and popularize the cadaveric organ transplant along with living donor transplantation.Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2017; 5(1): 48-52
ECG Mishaps, Artifacts and Operator Faults
Authors: Mohammad Rasheed Kaja
Published: May 2017

Electrocardiography is one of the most frequent bedside investigations in clinical practice. Often they are performed and interpreted by less experienced personnel with inadequate expertise.Equipment settings, proper technique and standardizations are prerequisites which may be overlooked, leading to costly and dangerous misinterpretations. This article highlights operational faults in ECG and emphasises that clinical staff must be equipped with necessary knowledge to identify these mistakes. It also tries to classify the common errors arising due to artifacts, electrode misplacement and improper standardization along with providing possible remedial measures. An awareness of these often neglected aspects and incorporating them in clinical discussions would not only enhance ECG interpretation but also improve patient safety.Bangladesh Crit Care J March 2017; 5(1): 63-67
Shunt Damping Vibration Control Technology: A Review
Authors: Yan Bo , Wang Ke , Hu Zifan , Wu Chuanyu , Zhang Xinong
Published: May 2017

Smart materials and structures have attracted a significant amount of attention for their vibration control potential in engineering applications. Compared to the traditional active technique, shunt damping utilizes an external circuit across the terminals of smart structure based transducers to realize vibration control. Transducers can simultaneously serve as an actuator and a sensor. Such unique advantage offers a great potential for designing sensorless devices to be used in structural vibration control and reduction engineering. The present literature combines piezoelectric shunt damping (PSD) and electromagnetic shunt damping (EMSD), establishes a unified governing equation of PSD and EMSD, and reports the unique vibration control performance of these shunts. The schematic of shunt circuits is given and demonstrated, and some common control principles and equations of these shunts are summarized. Finally, challenges and perspective of the shunt damping technology are discussed, and suggestions made based on the knowledge and experience of the authors.
Random Vibration Suppression of a Truss Core Sandwich Panel Using Independent Modal Resonant Shunt and Modal Criterion
Authors: Guo Kongming , Xu Yalan
Published: May 2017

The aim of this paper is to suppress the random spatial vibration of the face sheet of a lightly damped truss core sandwich panel structure. Because broad-bandwidth vibration energy is concentrated in resonance peaks for lightly damped structures, an independent modal resonant shunt control method is utilized to add damping ratios to the chosen modes. In this method, each piezoelectric transducer is connected to a single resonant shunt which is tuned to control the vibration of a single mode. An H2 norm sensitivity-based modal criterion is proposed in order to determine which modes to control under a given bandwidth of excitation and input-output condition. Numerical simulation is implemented while control strategies with different controlled modes are compared. The result shows that the independent modal resonant shunt control method can suppress random vibration response of the face sheet by using only a few piezoelectric transducers, and the proposed modal criterion can be used to determine which modes to control.
The State-of-the-Art on Framework of Vibration-Based Structural Damage Identification for Decision Making
Authors: Kong Xuan , Cai Chun-Sheng , Hu Jiexuan
Published: May 2017

Research on detecting structural damage at the earliest possible stage has been an interesting topic for decades. Among them, the vibration-based damage detection method as a global technique is especially pervasive. The present study reviewed the state-of-the-art on the framework of vibration-based damage identification in different levels including the prediction of the remaining useful life of structures and the decision making for proper actions. This framework consists of several major parts including the detection of damage occurrence using response-based methods, building reasonable structural models, selecting damage parameters and constructing objective functions with sensitivity analysis, adopting optimization techniques to solve the problem, predicting the remaining useful life of structures, and making decisions for the next actions. For each part, the commonly used methods were reviewed and the merits and drawbacks were summarized to give recommendations. This framework is aimed to guide the researchers and engineers to implement step by step the structure damage identification using vibration measurements. Finally, the future research work in this field is recommended.
A Functorial Construction of Quantum Subtheories
Authors: Contreras Ivan , Duman Ali
Published: May 2017

We apply the geometric quantization procedure via symplectic groupoids to the setting of epistemically-restricted toy theories formalized by Spekkens (Spekkens, 2016). In the continuous degrees of freedom, this produces the algebraic structure of quadrature quantum subtheories. In the odd-prime finite degrees of freedom, we obtain a functor from the Frobenius algebra of the toy theories to the Frobenius algebra of stabilizer quantum mechanics.
Muscle Fatigue Analysis of the Deltoid during Three Head-Related Static Isometric Contraction Tasks
Authors: Cui Wenxiang , Chen Xiang , Cao Shuai , Zhang Xu
Published: May 2017

This study aimed to investigate the fatiguing characteristics of muscle-tendon units (MTUs) within skeletal muscles during static isometric contraction tasks. The deltoid was selected as the target muscle and three head-related static isometric contraction tasks were designed to activate three heads of the deltoid in different modes. Nine male subjects participated in this study. Surface electromyography (SEMG) signals were collected synchronously from the three heads of the deltoid. The performances of five SEMG parameters, including root mean square (RMS), mean power frequency (MPF), the first coefficient of autoregressive model (ARC1), sample entropy (SE) and Higuchi’s fractal dimension (HFD), in quantification of fatigue, were evaluated in terms of sensitivity to variability ratio (SVR) and consistency firstly. Then, the HFD parameter was selected as the fatigue index for further muscle fatigue analysis. The experimental results demonstrated that the three deltoid heads presented different activation modes during three head-related fatiguing contractions. The fatiguing characteristics of the three heads were found to be task-dependent, and the heads kept in a relatively high activation level were more prone to fatigue. In addition, the differences in fatiguing rate between heads increased with the increase in load. The findings of this study can be helpful in better understanding the underlying neuromuscular control strategies of the central nervous system (CNS). Based on the results of this study, the CNS was thought to control the contraction of the deltoid by taking the three heads as functional units, but a certain synergy among heads might also exist to accomplish a contraction task.
Full-Diversity QO-STBC Technique for Large-Antenna MIMO Systems
Authors: Anoh Kelvin , Okorafor Godfrey , Adebisi Bamidele , Alabdullah Ali , Jones Steve , Abd-Alhameed Raed
Published: May 2017

The need to achieve high data rates in modern telecommunication systems, such as 5G standard, motivates the study and development of large antenna and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. This study introduces a large antenna-order design of MIMO quasi-orthogonal space-time block code (QO-STBC) system that achieves better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and bit-error ratio (BER) performances than the conventional QO-STBCs with the potential for massive MIMO (mMIMO) configurations. Although some earlier MIMO standards were built on orthogonal space-time block codes (O-STBCs), which are limited to two transmit antennas and data rates, the need for higher data rates motivates the exploration of higher antenna configurations using different QO-STBC schemes. The standard QO-STBC offers a higher number of antennas than the O-STBC with the full spatial rate. Unfortunately, also, the standard QO-STBCs are not able to achieve full diversity due to self-interference within their detection matrices; this diminishes the BER performance of the QO-STBC scheme. The detection also involves nonlinear processing, which further complicates the system. To solve these problems, we propose a linear processing design technique (which eliminates the system complexity) for constructing interference-free QO-STBCs and that also achieves full diversity using Hadamard modal matrices with the potential for mMIMO design. Since the modal matrices that orthogonalize QO-STBC are not sparse, our proposal also supports O-STBCs with a well-behaved peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and better BER. The results of the proposed QO-STBC outperform other full diversity techniques including Givens-rotation and the eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) techniques by 15 dB for both MIMO and multiple-input single-output (MISO) antenna configurations at 10 − 3 BER. The proposed interference-free QO-STBC is also implemented for 16 × N R and 32 × N R MIMO systems, where N R ≤ 2 . We demonstrate 8, 16 and 32 transmit antenna-enabled MIMO systems with the potential for mMIMO design applications with attractive BER and PAPR performance characteristics.
A Self-Tuning Filter-Based Adaptive Linear Neuron Approach for Operation of Three-Level Inverter-Based Shunt Active Power Filters under Non-Ideal Source Voltage Conditions
Authors: Hoon Yap , Mohd Radzi Mohd , Hassan Mohd , Mailah Nashiren
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a self-tuning filter (STF)-based adaptive linear neuron (ADALINE) reference current generation algorithm to enhance the operation of a three-phase three-level neutral-point diode clamped (NPC) inverter-based shunt active power filter (SAPF) under non-ideal (unbalanced and/or distorted) source voltage conditions. SAPF is an effective and versatile mitigation tool for current harmonics. As for its controller, ADALINE-based reference current generation algorithmd have widely been applied and proven to work effectively under balanced and purely sinusoidal source voltage conditions. However, no work has been conducted to study its performance under non-ideal source voltage conditions. In this work, a STF-based fundamental voltage extraction algorithm is integrated with an ADALINE algorithm, serving as synchronizer algorithm to ensure in-phase operation of the generated reference current with the non-ideal source voltage. Hence, it completely eliminates any dependency on conventional synchronizer algorithms such as phase-locked loop (PLL) and zero-crossing detector (ZCD). Additionally, the proposed STF-based ADALINE algorithm implements the modified Widrow-Hoff (W-H) weight updating algorithm for fast generation of reference current. Both simulation and experimental works are performed to verify design concept and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Comparative study with another recently reported algorithm is performed to investigate the performance improvement achieved by SAPF while using the proposed algorithm.
Energy Trading and Pricing in Microgrids with Uncertain Energy Supply: A Three-Stage Hierarchical Game Approach
Authors: Ma Kai , Hu Shubing , Yang Jie , Dou Chunxia , Guerrero Josep
Published: May 2017

This paper studies an energy trading and pricing problem for microgrids with uncertain energy supply. The energy provider with the renewable energy (RE) generation (wind power) determines the energy purchase from the electricity markets and the pricing strategy for consumers to maximize its profit, and then the consumers determine their energy demands to maximize their payoffs. The hierarchical game is established between the energy provider and the consumers. The energy provider is the leader and the consumers are the followers in the hierarchical game. We consider two types of consumers according to their response to the price, i.e., the price-taking consumers and the price-anticipating consumers. We derive the equilibrium point of the hierarchical game through the backward induction method. Comparing the two types of consumers, we study the influence of the types of consumers on the equilibrium point. In particular, the uncertainty of the energy supply from the energy provider is considered. Simulation results show that the energy provider can obtain more profit using the proposed decision-making scheme.
Thinning of Beech Forests Stocking on Shallow Calcareous Soil Maintains Soil C and N Stocks in the Long Run
Authors: Tejedor Javier , Saiz Gustavo , Rennenberg Heinz , Dannenmann Michael
Published: May 2017

Sustainable forest management should avoid disturbance and volatilization of the soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks both under present and projected future climate. Earlier studies have shown that thinning of European beech forests induces a strong initial perturbation of the soil C and N cycles in shallow Rendzic Leptosol, which consists of lower soil N retention and strongly enhanced gaseous losses observed over several years. Persistence of these effects could decrease soil organic matter (SOM) levels and associated soil functions such as erosion protection, nutrient retention, and fertility. Therefore, we resampled untreated control and thinned stands a decade after thinning at sites representing both typical present day and projected future climatic conditions for European beech forests. We determined soil organic C and total N stocks, as well as δ13C and δ15N as integrators of changes in soil C and N cycles. Thinning did not alter these parameters at any of the sampled sites, indicating that initial effects on soil C and N cycles constitute short-term perturbations. Consequently, thinning may be considered a sustainable beech forest management strategy with regard to the maintenance of soil organic C and total N stocks both under present and future climate.
Molecular Surveillance of Cronobacter spp. Isolated from a Wide Variety of Foods from 44 Different Countries by Sequence Typing of 16S rRNA, rpoB and O-Antigen Genes
Authors: Miranda Nancy , Banerjee Pratik , Simpson Steven , Kerdahi Khalil , Sulaiman Irshad
Published: May 2017

Cronobacter spp. are emerging infectious bacteria that can cause acute meningitis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal and immunocompromised individuals. Although this opportunistic human-pathogenic microorganism has been isolated from a wide variety of food and environmental samples, it has been primarily linked to foodborne outbreaks associated with powdered infant formula. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration use the presence of these microbes as one of the criteria to assess food adulteration and to implement regulatory actions. In this study, we have examined 195 aliquots of enrichments from the nine major categories of foods (including baby and medical food, dairy products, dried food, frozen food, pet food, produce, ready-to-eat snacks, seafood, and spices) from 44 countries using conventional microbiological and molecular techniques. The typical colonies of Cronobacter were then identified by VITEK2 and real-time PCR. Subsequently, sequence typing was performed on the 51 recovered Cronobacter isolates at the 16S rRNA, rpoB and seven O-antigen loci for species identification in order to accomplish an effective surveillance program for the control and prevention of foodborne illnesses.
Change of Land Use/Cover in Tianjin City Based on the Markov and Cellular Automata Models
Authors: Wang Ruci , Murayama Yuji
Published: May 2017

In recent years, urban areas have been expanding rapidly in the world, especially in developing countries. With this rapid urban growth, several environmental and social problems have appeared. Better understanding of land use and land cover (LULC) change will facilitate urban planning and constrain these potential problems. As one of the four municipalities in China, Tianjin has experienced rapid urbanization and such trend is expected to continue. Relying on remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) tools, this study investigates LULC change in Tianjin city. First, we used RS to generate classification maps for 1995, 2005, and 2015. Then, simulation models were applied to evaluate the LULC changes. Analysis of the 1995, 2005, and 2015 LULC maps shows that more than 10% of the cropland areas were transformed into built-up areas. Finally, by employing the Markov model and cellular automata (CA) model, the LULC in 2025 and 2035 were simulated and forecasted. Our analysis contributes to the understanding of the development process in the Tianjin area, which will facilitate future planning, as well as constraining the potential negative consequences brought by future LULC changes.
An Innovative Support Structure for Gob-Side Entry Retention in Steep Coal Seam Mining
Authors: Ning Jianguo , Wang Jun , Bu Tengteng , Hu Shanchao , Liu Xuesheng
Published: May 2017

This study considered longwall working face No. 41101—located in a steeply inclined coal seam at the Awuzisu coal mine in Xinjiang, China—as an example in which macroscopic shear cracks had occurred in the cement-based filling body of the gob-side entry retention structure. A mechanical model of the support structure for the gob-side entry retention was first established. Then, field observations and laboratory tests were used to obtain the force exerted by the coal wall on the main roof, the relationship between the axial bearing capacity and compression ratio of the rubble inside the gob, the supporting force exerted by the rubble and filling body, and the thrust of the rubble on the filling body. The shear stress experienced by the roadside filling body of the gob-side entry retention in working face No. 41101 was calculated to be 15.89 MPa. To meet the needs of roadside support, an innovative roadside backfill–truss support structure was adopted, with a 60° angle of inclination used for the anchor bolts of the gob-side entry retention structure. In this way, the ultimate shear strength was improved by 107.54% in comparison with the cement-based filling body.
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carriers for Intracellular Delivery of Nucleic Acids and Subsequent Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Cha Wenzhang , Fan Rengen , Miao Yufeng , Zhou Yong , Qin Chenglin , Shan Xiangxiang , Wan Xinqiang , Li Jinbo
Published: May 2017

Nucleic acids, including DNA, microRNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), are powerful gene regulators, which have been demonstrated as promising drug candidates for therapeutic treatments. Nevertheless, poor cellular membrane permeability and serum stability have greatly hindered the applications of nucleic acids in biomedicine. To address these issues, associate carriers that can encapsulate and protect nucleic acids are urgently required. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs or MSNPs), which are nanomaterials with excellent biocompatibility, large surface area for functionalization, and tunable pore size for encapsulating different cargos, are emerging as novel and ideal biomaterials for different biomedical applications. In this review paper, we focus on the applications of MSNs in nucleic acid delivery and nucleic acid-guided therapeutic treatments. General strategies for the preparation of nucleic acid-MSN complexes will be firstly introduced, followed by a summary of recent applications of MSNs in nucleic acid delivery and nucleic acid-guided therapeutics.
Erratum: Bircher, S.; et al. L-Band Relative Permittivity of Organic Soil Surface Layers—A New Dataset of Resonant Cavity Measurements and Model Evaluation. Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 1024
Authors:   Remote Sensing Editorial Office
Published: May 2017

n/a
An Automatic Localization Algorithm for Ultrasound Breast Tumors Based on Human Visual Mechanism
Authors: Xie Yuting , Chen Ke , Lin Jiangli
Published: May 2017

Human visual mechanisms (HVMs) can quickly localize the most salient object in natural images, but it is ineffective at localizing tumors in ultrasound breast images. In this paper, we research the characteristics of tumors, develop a classic HVM and propose a novel auto-localization method. Comparing to surrounding areas, tumors have higher global and local contrast. In this method, intensity, blackness ratio and superpixel contrast features are combined to compute a saliency map, in which a Winner Take All algorithm is used to localize the most salient region, which is represented by a circle. The results show that the proposed method can successfully avoid the interference caused by background areas of low echo and high intensity. The method has been tested on 400 ultrasound breast images, among which 376 images succeed in localization. This means this method has a high accuracy of 94.00%, indicating its good performance in real-life applications.
Detection of Soil Nitrogen Using Near Infrared Sensors Based on Soil Pretreatment and Algorithms
Authors: Nie Pengcheng , Dong Tao , He Yong , Qu Fangfang
Published: May 2017

Soil nitrogen content is one of the important growth nutrient parameters of crops. It is a prerequisite for scientific fertilization to accurately grasp soil nutrient information in precision agriculture. The information about nutrients such as nitrogen in the soil can be obtained quickly by using a near-infrared sensor. The data can be analyzed in the detection process, which is nondestructive and non-polluting. In order to investigate the effect of soil pretreatment on nitrogen content by near infrared sensor, 16 nitrogen concentrations were mixed with soil and the soil samples were divided into three groups with different pretreatment. The first group of soil samples with strict pretreatment were dried, ground, sieved and pressed. The second group of soil samples were dried and ground. The third group of soil samples were simply dried. Three linear different modeling methods are used to analyze the spectrum, including partial least squares (PLS), uninformative variable elimination (UVE), competitive adaptive reweighted algorithm (CARS). The model of nonlinear partial least squares which supports vector machine (LS-SVM) is also used to analyze the soil reflectance spectrum. The results show that the soil samples with strict pretreatment have the best accuracy in predicting nitrogen content by near-infrared sensor, and the pretreatment method is suitable for practical application.
Remote Sensing for Crop Water Management: From ET Modelling to Services for the End Users
Authors: Calera Alfonso , Campos Isidro , Osann Anna , D’Urso Guido , Menenti Massimo
Published: May 2017

The experiences gathered during the past 30 years support the operational use of irrigation scheduling based on frequent multi-spectral image data. Currently, the operational use of dense time series of multispectral imagery at high spatial resolution makes monitoring of crop biophysical parameters feasible, capturing crop water use across the growing season, with suitable temporal and spatial resolutions. These achievements, and the availability of accurate forecasting of meteorological data, allow for precise predictions of crop water requirements with unprecedented spatial resolution. This information is greatly appreciated by the end users, i.e., professional farmers or decision-makers, and can be provided in an easy-to-use manner and in near-real-time by using the improvements achieved in web-GIS methodologies (Geographic Information Systems based on web technologies). This paper reviews the most operational and explored methods based on optical remote sensing for the assessment of crop water requirements, identifying strengths and weaknesses and proposing alternatives to advance towards full operational application of this methodology. In addition, we provide a general overview of the tools, which facilitates co-creation and collaboration with stakeholders, paying special attention to these approaches based on web-GIS tools.
Assessment of Inheritance and Fitness Costs Associated with Field-Evolved Resistance to Cry3Bb1 Maize by Western Corn Rootworm
Authors: Paolino Aubrey , Gassmann Aaron
Published: May 2017

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is among the most serious insect pests of maize in North America. One strategy used to manage this pest is transgenic maize that produces one or more crystalline (Cry) toxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). To delay Bt resistance by insect pests, refuges of non-Bt maize are grown in conjunction with Bt maize. Two factors influencing the success of the refuge strategy to delay resistance are the inheritance of resistance and fitness costs, with greater delays in resistance expected when inheritance of resistance is recessive and fitness costs are present. We measured inheritance and fitness costs of resistance for two strains of western corn rootworm with field-evolved resistance to Cry3Bb1 maize. Plant-based and diet-based bioassays revealed that the inheritance of resistance was non-recessive. In a greenhouse experiment, in which larvae were reared on whole maize plants in field soil, no fitness costs of resistance were detected. In a laboratory experiment, in which larvae experienced intraspecific and interspecific competition for food, a fitness cost of delayed larval development was identified, however, no other fitness costs were found. These findings of non-recessive inheritance of resistance and minimal fitness costs, highlight the potential for the rapid evolution of resistance to Cry3Bb1 maize by western corn rootworm, and may help to improve resistance management strategies for this pest.
Water Bridging Dynamics of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Gauge Theory Paradigm of Quantum Fields
Authors: Montagnier L. , Aïssa J. , Capolupo A. , Craddock T. , Kurian P. , Lavallee C. , Polcari A. , Romano P. , Tedeschi A. , Vitiello G.
Published: May 2017

We discuss the role of water bridging the DNA-enzyme interaction by resorting to recent results showing that London dispersion forces between delocalized electrons of base pairs of DNA are responsible for the formation of dipole modes that can be recognized by Taq polymerase. We describe the dynamic origin of the high efficiency and precise targeting of Taq activity in PCR. The spatiotemporal distribution of interaction couplings, frequencies, amplitudes, and phase modulations comprise a pattern of fields which constitutes the electromagnetic image of DNA in the surrounding water, which is what the polymerase enzyme actually recognizes in the DNA water environment. The experimental realization of PCR amplification, achieved through replacement of the DNA template by the treatment of pure water with electromagnetic signals recorded from viral and bacterial DNA solutions, is found consistent with the gauge theory paradigm of quantum fields.
Long Noncoding RNA SChLAP1 Accelerates the Proliferation and Metastasis of Prostate Cancer via Targeting miR-198 and Promoting the MAPK1 Pathway
Authors: Li Ye , Luo Haihong , Xiao Nan , Duan Jianmin , Wang Zhiping , Wang Shuanke
Published: May 2017

Prostate cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males. The long noncoding RNA second chromosome locus associated with prostate-1 (SChLAP1) has been found to be overexpressed in a subset of prostate cancer. However, the significance and mechanism of SChLAP1 in prostate cancer are not well known. In this study, we explored the role of SChLAP1 in prostate cancer tissues, cell lines, and mouse models. The effect of SChLAP1 on miR-198 and MAPK1 was specifically examined. We found that SChLAP1 expression was significantly increased in prostate cancer cells and tissues. Knockdown of SChLAP1 promoted apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo. In addition, a potential bonding site between miR-198 and SChLAP1 was predicted, and a low expression of miR-198 was found in prostate cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of SChLAP1 significantly increased the expression of miR-198, and SChLAP1 overexpression markedly decreased it, indicating that SChLAP1 acted as a negative regulator in the expression of miR-198. Furthermore, our results showed that SChLAP1 interacted with miR-198 and subsequently modulated the MAPK1 signaling pathway in prostate cancer. In conclusion, our study has identified a novel pathway through which SChLAP1 exerts its oncogenic role in prostate cancer at the level of miRNAs and provided a molecular basis for potential applications of SChLAP1 in the prognosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Metal-free hydroarylation of the side chain carbon–carbon double bond of 5-(2-arylethenyl)-3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles in triflic acid
Authors: Zalivatskaya Anna S , Ryabukhin Dmitry S , Tarasenko Marina V , Ivanov Alexander Yu , Boyarskaya Irina A , Grinenko Elena V , Osetrova Ludmila V , Kofanov Eugeniy R , Vasilyev Aleksander V
Published: May 2017

The metal-free reaction of 5-(2-arylethenyl)-3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles with arenes in neat triflic acid (TfOH, CF3SO3H), both under thermal and microwave conditions, leads to 5-(2,2-diarylethyl)-3-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles. The products are formed through the regioselective hydroarylation of the side chain carbon–carbon double bond of the starting oxadiazoles in yields up to 97%. According to NMR data and DFT calculations, N4,C-diprotonated forms of oxadiazoles are the electrophilic intermediates in this reaction.
Les mémoires républicaines des guerres civiles anglaises dans les années 1650
Authors: Hunt Alice
Published: May 2017

En 1649, après sept années de guerre civile, l’exécution de Charles i er conduisit à l’établissement d’une république puis à l’initiative de Cromwell, d’un Protectorat. En 1660, l’expérience républicaine échoua et Charles ii fut rétabli sur le trône. À partir de la Restauration, la plupart des mémorialistes soulignèrent le caractère détestable de la décennie précédente – « un chaos sauvage et informe » – mais d’autres avancèrent des interprétations plus favorables. Si les discours autour de la commémoration des « troubles » pendant la Restauration ont fait l’objet d’une historiographie récente, nous savons en réalité peu de choses sur ce que les hommes et les femmes de la décennie 1650 ont écrit sur leurs souvenirs des affrontements sanglants. Au-delà des histoires officielles des guerres commanditées par le gouvernement républicain, il convient de prêter attention à d’autres récits, notamment les nombreux poèmes et prophéties de la période. Les officiels de la nouvelle République comme les citoyens ordinaires étaient confrontés à la difficulté de vivre avec le souvenir entêtant de la guerre, son cortège d’horreurs et de disparus.
Dentelles et Bonnets rouges : les révoltes du Papier timbré vues par la marquise de Sévigné
Authors: Aubert Gauthier
Published: May 2017

Sans cesse citées pour illustrer la brutalité de la répression subie par les Bretons en 1675 suite aux révoltes appelées communément « du Papier timbré » et « des Bonnets rouges », les lettres de la marquise de Sévigné peuvent-elles être tenues pour des sources fiables ? C’est la question que cet article propose de poser en passant au crible de l’état actuel des connaissances sur cette crise la quarantaine de lettres dans lesquelles, de manière souvent courte, la marquise a évoqué la crise bretonne et son règlement.
(Ne pas) raconter la révolte. Seigneurs et sujets face à la désobéissance en Saxe et en Thuringe dans la seconde moitié du xviie siècle
Authors: Renault Rachel
Published: May 2017

Cet article analyse la manière dont la révolte est racontée ou passée sous silence par les deux principales parties impliquées : gouvernants et gouvernés. En partant de l’exemple de l’Allemagne du xviie siècle, il montre qu’il faut tenir compte non seulement du statut du locuteur, mais encore du contexte d’élocution et du (des) destinataire(s) : selon que le discours est destiné à la scène publique impériale, ou au contraire à demeurer dans les arcanes du territoire, la révolte n’est pas présentée sous le même jour, et ce sont des éléments différents qui sont mis en avant (désobéissance, violence ou organisation collective).
L’Union européenne, un territoire en construction. Réflexions sur la crise des réfugiés de 2015
Authors: Loyer Barbara
Published: May 2017

La construction de la figure de l’étranger est un élément de la genèse d’un territoire géopolitique européen. L’article aborde cette hypothèse à travers trois sujets de réflexion : (1) la limite Schengen et l’impact de la crise des réfugiés, notamment dans le cas hongrois ; (2) la représentation de la citoyenneté au Royaume-Uni qui est, à ce jour, dans l’Union européenne (UE) et hors Schengen ; et (3) les débats internes à la Suisse sur l’appartenance du pays à l’espace Schengen. Ces exemples relativisent ce qui pourrait être décrit comme une évolution linéaire vers l’apparition d’un peuple européen car la notion de citoyen européen est encore bien floue. L’article étudie également la frontière externe de l’UE qui est un objet plus complexe que celui que dessinent les grillages et les lieux de naufrages. Les accords bilatéraux de gestion de la frontière avec des pays situés au-delà de l’Union européenne, Partenariat oriental et accords avec les États africains, suggèrent l’idée que celle-ci est une marche idéologique autant qu’une ligne de front.
Le référendum britannique sur la sortie de l’Union européenne et ses conséquences
Authors: Schnapper Pauline
Published: May 2017

Le choix des électeurs britanniques de quitter l’Union européenne lors du référendum du 23 juin 2016 soulève une série de questions qui relèvent non seulement de la situation politique et économique du Royaume-Uni mais aussi plus généralement nous interrogent sur l’avenir de l’Union européenne. Cet article analyse les raisons de l’échec de David Cameron et la position difficile dans laquelle se trouve la nouvelle Première ministre, Theresa May, au moment de négocier le Brexit. Il envisage enfin les conséquences potentielles de ce scrutin pour l’Union européenne dans son ensemble.
Les enjeux de la crise européenne
Authors: Kahn Sylvain
Published: May 2017

L’Union européenne traverse sa crise la plus grave. C’est en effet une crise multiregistre et cumulative : politique et démocratique, économique et sociale, géopolitique et géographique. Elle débouche non pas tant sur une déconstruction européenne que sur la confrontation entre deux futurs politiques et territoriaux pour l’Union européenne.
Les pays baltes et la « nouvelle guerre froide », géopolitique des États « duels »
Authors: Filler André
Published: May 2017

L’article examine le positionnement des trois États baltes dans le contexte de tension grandissante entre la Russie et l’Otan. Anciennes républiques soviétiques, membres depuis 2004 de l’Union européenne et de l’Otan, les républiques baltes, porteuses de nombreux traumatismes dans leurs relations avec la Russie, représentent de par leur déterminisme géographique et leurs contingences géopolitiques un cas particulier dans l’affrontement russo-occidental. L’auteur se propose d’apprécier le risque d’un conflit militaire, avec la Baltique orientale comme théâtre potentiel des hostilités, d’étudier le rôle que jouent ces État dans la « nouvelle guerre froide », et d’élaborer un concept d’« État duel », défini par une incompatibilité géopolitique avec un État adjacent, tout en y étant lié commercialement, culturellement, linguistiquement, et par les présences de diasporas et de flux migratoires, touristiques ou économiques.
Du « British Exit » à l’« American Brexit » : les perspectives incertaines d’une défense européenne autonome
Authors: Mongrenier Jean-Sylvestre
Published: May 2017

Le 23 juin 2016, le vote du « Brexit » ( British Exit ) a provoqué un choc. Selon certaines analyses, le départ des Britanniques ouvrirait la possibilité de nouvelles avancées sur le plan de la Politique de sécurité et de défense commune de l’UE (PSDC). Un « noyau dur » d’États regroupés autour de Paris et Berlin pourrait instituer une Europe politique et militaire. La thèse suscite le doute. L’opposition de longue date du Royaume-Uni à une défense européenne susceptible de concurrencer l’Otan ne doit pas dissimuler les contradictions entre les autres États membres. À bien des égards, l’atlantisme demeure le point de référence. Certes, les incertitudes ouvertes par l’élection de Donald Trump (un American Brexit  ?) incitent à un plus grand effort militaire commun, mais le projet de défense européenne bute sur une vérité mise en évidence par la théorie des biens publics : sans acteur hégémonique, un but collectif ne débouche pas toujours sur une action collective. Dans l’immédiat, l’objectif est donc de développer une Europe des capacités militaires plutôt qu’une défense européenne. Cela permettrait aussi de renforcer le pouvoir de négociation des alliés européens dans la relation transatlantique.
Le Parlement européen : tensions entre efficacité institutionnelle et démocratie
Authors: Brack Nathalie , Costa Olivier
Published: May 2017

La montée en puissance du Parlement européen (PE) est un phénomène abondamment étudié, notamment en lien avec le déficit démocratique de l’Union européenne (UE). Toutefois, on sait peu de choses sur l’organisation du travail parlementaire et son impact pour la démocratie au sein de l’institution. Cet article se penche sur l’évolution du règlement intérieur du PE et ses enjeux. L’analyse révèle qu’un train constant de réformes a pris place depuis le milieu des années 1980, au nom de l’« efficacité » du travail parlementaire. Les organes de direction ont vu leur pouvoir s’étendre, ce qui a renforcé l’influence des deux grands groupes politiques au PE tandis que le rôle individuel des députés a été réduit de manière significative. Les modalités de la délibération en séance plénière ont été de plus en plus encadrées, jusqu’à ne laisser qu’une faible marge de manœuvre aux députés. Ces évolutions sont considérées par leurs tenants comme un moyen d’accroître la capacité du PE de profiter de ses pouvoirs formels, mais aussi de garantir sa « crédibilité » dans les négociations interinstitutionnelles. Toutefois, elles ont aussi porté atteinte à la représentativité de l’institution et à la lisibilité de la politique européenne pour les citoyens.
Au paroxysme de la polarisation : les paradoxes de la stratégie électorale du Parti républicain
Authors: Richomme Olivier
Published: May 2017

Face au délitement de la coalition Reagan en 2008 et confronté à une augmentation de l’électorat non blanc, le Parti républicain a fait le pari d’une stratégie électorale à court terme. Cette stratégie s’appuie sur une multiplication des lois visant à démobiliser l’électorat démocrate. Cette tactique est celle d’un parti qui pousse sa stratégie électorale à ses limites alors même qu’elle s’avère inadaptée à l’Amérique de demain et est, par conséquent, symptomatique de la crise que traverse le parti républicain.
La lutte pour les droits des personnes LGBT et le Parti républicain
Authors: Tiemeyer Phil , Mort Sébastien
Published: May 2017

Depuis la fin des années soixante-dix, le mouvement pour les droits LGBT et la Droite Religieuse ont joué le rôle de « frères ennemis », permettant ainsi au GOP de se financer auprès des mouvements religieux tandis que les Démocrates font de même auprès des partisans des droits LGBT. Néanmoins, la défaite du GOP en 2012 et des décisions récentes de la Cour suprême en faveur des droits LGBT, complexifient la donne au sein du Parti républicain. De nos jours, ces enjeux menacent la coalition héritée de Reagan.
Le GOP et la politique étrangère : vers un nouvel isolationnisme ?
Authors: Heurtebize Frédéric
Published: May 2017

Le Parti républicain dispose d’ordinaire d’un avantage acquis auprès des électeurs sur les questions de politique étrangère. Plus enclin à un effort de défense soutenu, plus prompt à l’interventionnisme militaire et, surtout, plus intransigeant dans la défense de la souveraineté des États-Unis, il apparaît comme le meilleur garant de la sécurité nationale. En 2016, alors même que les questions internationales occupent une place importante, le GOP semble pourtant divisé. Si l’establishment reste fidèle à la ligne interventionniste qui domine depuis la présidence Eisenhower, le candidat investi prône un isolationnisme musclé qui fait fi de toute dimension idéaliste ou morale américaine.
Comment lutter contre l’élite- bashing ?
Authors: Hetzel Patrick
Published: May 2017

Cet article s’intéresse tout d’abord aux différentes formes d’expression de l’élite- bashing . Puis il s’attache à déceler les stratégies à l’œuvre sous les discours pour mettre en perspective les raisons d’être de l’élite- bashing . Il aborde ensuite les problèmes réels que pose l’élite- bashing et les défis à relever dans un contexte international où règne le brain-drain . Enfin, il s’interroge sur ce qui peut permettre aux élites de jouer leur rôle, notamment en renouant avec le concept fondateur de mérite républicain.
Élites économiques : à qui profite la financiarisation ?
Authors: François Pierre , Lemercier Claire
Published: May 2017

Les rémunérations des pdg des plus grandes entreprises (comme celles des traders) se sont très fortement accrues depuis les années 1990, donnant lieu à des scandales et à la mise en place de codes de bonne conduite. Ces augmentations sont justifiées par la concurrence supposée pour le recrutement des pdg , mais aussi par l’idée qu’elles permettraient d’aligner leurs intérêts sur ceux des actionnaires de leurs entreprises – ce que contredisent les données empiriques disponibles. La financiarisation a ainsi permis aux patrons d’accroître leurs rémunérations, sans vraiment entamer leur autonomie. Les réformes de la gouvernance ont même finalement contribué à l’inflation de leurs salaires.
Les mathématiques comme outil ou comme révélateur : reconstruction d’un débat silencieux entre Walras et Pareto
Authors: Berthonnet Irène , Müller Thomas
Published: May 2017

Cet article se propose d’ajouter un argument à la dés-homogénéisation des contributions de Walras et Pareto, en montrant que, même ce qui reste considéré comme le point commun par excellence entre Walras et Pareto – leurs instruments analytiques permettant une représentation mathématique de l’équilibre économique général – n’a pas le même statut. Walras et Pareto revendiquent tous deux la pertinence des mathématiques pour faire progresser la science économique, mais leur interprétation épistémologique du rôle des mathématiques en économie est radicalement différente, voire contradictoire. L’article montre que les mathématiques sont articulées à une forme de déterminisme chez Walras, tandis qu’elles permettent la liberté individuelle chez Pareto. Cette opposition entre liberté et déterminisme est rattachée à celle qui distingue les mathématiques comme langage de la Nature (chez Walras) aux mathématiques comme outil au service de la science (chez Pareto).
La philosophie sociale est-elle un no man’s land  ? Réflexions sur l’idée d’émancipation de l’économie politique
Authors: Deschamps Marc , Ravix Joël Thomas
Published: May 2017

Le domaine de la philosophie sociale peut être vu comme un no man’s land engendré par le processus d’autonomisation de la science économique et en particulier son émancipation de la politique. Cet article montre au contraire que, d’une part, ce processus ne répond pas à un souci de spécialisation mais se présente comme une réponse politique particulière visant à soumettre l’action politique à des impératifs économiques, et, d’autre part, qu’il existe une autre conception de l’économie politique qui, dans le prolongement de Hume et de Smith, lie étroitement économie et philosophie. Il en résulte que, dans un cas comme dans l’autre, l’idée selon laquelle la philosophie sociale serait un no man’s land s’évanouit.