bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality in Miners with Coal-Workers’ Pneumoconiosis in the Czech Republic in the Period 1992–2013
Authors: Tomášková Hana , Šplíchalová Anna , Šlachtová Hana , Urban Pavel , Hajduková Zdeňka , Landecká Irena , Gromnica Rostislav , Brhel Petr , Pelclová Daniela , Jirák Zdeněk
Published: March 2017

While working underground, miners are exposed to a number of risk factors that have a negative impact on their health and may be a cause of an increased mortality in miners. The aim of the study was to compare total and specific mortality in black coal miners with acknowledged coal-workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) and without CWP, and the mortality of the general male population in the Czech Republic in the period 1992–2013. The sample consisted of 3476 coal miners with CWP and 6687 ex-coal miners without CWP, who were removed after achieving the maximum permissible exposure (MPE). The mortality risk differences were analyzed with the use of the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and 95% confidence interval. Significantly higher total mortality (SMR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.02–1.17), and mortality from malignant neoplasm (SMR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03–1.30), lung cancers (SMR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.41–2.04), and non-malignant respiratory diseases (SMR = 2.78; 95% CI: 2.32–3.31) were found in the sample of coal miners with CWP. In this sample, the severity of CWP was assessed, and the SMR increased with the severity of CWP. The total (SMR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.82–0.91) and specific mortality of miners without CWP were not higher compared with the general population. In the case where the miners were removed from underground work after achieving the MPE (without CWP), their mortality was not higher than that of the general population, but the mortality of miners with CWP was higher compared to the general population. This mortality was affected by malignant and non-malignant respiratory diseases.
Evidence of the Role of R-Spondin 1 and Its Receptor Lgr4 in the Transmission of Mechanical Stimuli to Biological Signals for Bone Formation
Authors: Shi Gui-Xun , Zheng Xin-Feng , Zhu Chao , Li Bo , Wang Yu-Ren , Jiang Sheng-Dan , Jiang Lei-Sheng
Published: March 2017

The bone can adjust its mass and architecture to mechanical stimuli via a series of molecular cascades, which have been not yet fully elucidated. Emerging evidence indicated that R-spondins (Rspos), a family of secreted agonists of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, had important roles in osteoblastic differentiation and bone formation. However, the role of Rspo proteins in mechanical loading-influenced bone metabolism has never been investigated. In this study, we found that Rspo1 was a mechanosensitive protein for bone formation. Continuous cyclic mechanical stretch (CMS) upregulated the expression of Rspo1 in mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), while the expression of Rspo1 in BMSCs in vivo was downregulated in the bones of a mechanical unloading mouse model (tail suspension (TS)). On the other hand, Rspo1 could promote osteogenesis of BMSCs under CMS through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and could rescue the bone loss induced by mechanical unloading in the TS mice. Specifically, our results suggested that Rspo1 and its receptor of leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein-coupled receptor 4 (Lgr4) should be a novel molecular signal in the transmission of mechanical stimuli to biological signal in the bone, and this signal should be in the upstream of Wnt/β-catenin signaling for bone formation. Rspo1/Lgr4 could be a new potential target for the prevention and treatment of disuse osteoporosis in the future.
Liver Effects of Clinical Drugs Differentiated in Human Liver Slices
Authors: Vickers Alison , Ulyanov Anatoly , Fisher Robyn
Published: March 2017

Drugs with clinical adverse effects are compared in an ex vivo 3-dimensional multi-cellular human liver slice model. Functional markers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, glutathione GSH and ATP levels, were affected by acetaminophen (APAP, 1 mM), diclofenac (DCF, 1 mM) and etomoxir (ETM, 100 μM). Drugs targeting mitochondria more than GSH were dantrolene (DTL, 10 μM) and cyclosporin A (CSA, 10 μM), while GSH was affected more than ATP by methimazole (MMI, 500 μM), terbinafine (TBF, 100 μM), and carbamazepine (CBZ 100 μM). Oxidative stress genes were affected by TBF (18%), CBZ, APAP, and ETM (12%–11%), and mitochondrial genes were altered by CBZ, APAP, MMI, and ETM (8%–6%). Apoptosis genes were affected by DCF (14%), while apoptosis plus necrosis were altered by APAP and ETM (15%). Activation of oxidative stress, mitochondrial energy, heat shock, ER stress, apoptosis, necrosis, DNA damage, immune and inflammation genes ranked CSA (75%), ETM (66%), DCF, TBF, MMI (61%–60%), APAP, CBZ (57%–56%), and DTL (48%). Gene changes in fatty acid metabolism, cholestasis, immune and inflammation were affected by DTL (51%), CBZ and ETM (44%–43%), APAP and DCF (40%–38%), MMI, TBF and CSA (37%–35%). This model advances multiple dosing in a human ex vivo model, plus functional markers and gene profile markers of drug induced human liver side-effects.
Serum-Infliximab Trough Levels in 45 Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Maintenance Treatment
Authors: Rolandsdotter Helena , Marits Per , Sundin Ulf , Wikström Ann-Charlotte , Fagerberg Ulrika , Finkel Yigael , Eberhardson Michael
Published: March 2017

The role of trough serum infliximab (s-IFX) and antibodies toward IFX (ATI) during maintenance treatment remains unclear in children. The aim of the present study was to investigate trough s-IFX and ATI to identify any correlation with inflammatory activity and clinical response in a pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort. We investigated the s-IFX trough levels in pediatric IBD patients (n = 45) on maintenance IFX treatment. Ninety-three blood samples were collected and demographics, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and albumin were recorded. The mean s-IFX trough level was 5.2 µg/mL. The mean trough s-IFX level was significantly higher in the samples taken during remission (7.2 µg/mL) compared to active disease (4.5 µg/mL, p < 0.05). The trough s-IFX levels correlated with ESR, CRP, and albumin. S-IFX was undetectable in eight of the patients, all with positive ATI and active disease. Surprisingly, clinical and biochemical remission was observed at only 26 of the 93 visits. The correlation between dose variations and changes in trough s-IFX was not evident. In line with studies in adults, the s-IFX trough levels correlated with response to infliximab.
The Characterization of GSDMB Splicing and Backsplicing Profiles Identifies Novel Isoforms and a Circular RNA That Are Dysregulated in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Cardamone Giulia , Paraboschi Elvezia , Rimoldi Valeria , Duga Stefano , Soldà Giulia , Asselta Rosanna
Published: March 2017

Abnormalities in alternative splicing (AS) are emerging as recurrent features in autoimmune diseases (AIDs). In particular, a growing body of evidence suggests the existence of a pathogenic association between a generalized defect in splicing regulatory genes and multiple sclerosis (MS). Moreover, several studies have documented an unbalance in alternatively-spliced isoforms in MS patients possibly contributing to the disease etiology. In this work, using a combination of PCR-based techniques (reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR, fluorescent-competitive, real-time, and digital RT-PCR assays), we investigated the alternatively-spliced gene encoding Gasdermin B, GSDMB, which was repeatedly associated with susceptibility to asthma and AIDs. The in-depth characterization of GSDMB AS and backsplicing profiles led us to the identification of an exonic circular RNA (ecircRNA) as well as of novel GSDMB in-frame and out-of-frame isoforms. The non-productive splicing variants were shown to be downregulated by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in human cell lines, suggesting that GSDMB levels are significantly modulated by NMD. Importantly, both AS isoforms and the identified ecircRNA were significantly dysregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of relapsing-remitting MS patients compared to controls, further supporting the notion that aberrant RNA metabolism is a characteristic feature of the disease.
Inducing Stable α + β Microstructures during Selective Laser Melting of Ti-6Al-4V Using Intensified Intrinsic Heat Treatments
Authors: Barriobero-Vila Pere , Gussone Joachim , Haubrich Jan , Sandlöbes Stefanie , Da Silva Julio , Cloetens Peter , Schell Norbert , Requena Guillermo
Published: March 2017

Selective laser melting is a promising powder-bed-based additive manufacturing technique for titanium alloys: near net-shaped metallic components can be produced with high resource-efficiency and cost savings [...]
Design and Fabrication of a Slanted-Beam MEMS Accelerometer
Authors: Xu Wei , Yang Jie , Xie Guofen , Wang Bin , Qu Mingshan , Wang Xuguang , Liu Xianxue , Tang Bin
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a novel capacitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer with slanted supporting beams and all-silicon sandwich structure. Its sensing mechanism is quite similar to an ordinary sandwich-type MEMS accelerometer, except that its proof mass is suspended by a beam parallel to the {111} plane of a (100) silicon wafer. In this way, each sensing element can detect accelerations in two orthogonal directions. Four of these sensing elements could work together and constitute a 3-axis micro-accelerometer by using a simple planar assembly process. This design avoids the traditional 3-axis accelerometer’ disadvantage of possible placement inaccuracy when assembling on three different planes and largely reduces the package volume. The slanted-beam accelerometer’s performance was modeled and analyzed by using both analytical calculations and finite element method (FEM) simulations. A prototype of one sensing element was fabricated and tested. Measured results show that this accelerometer has a good bias stability 76.8 ppm (1σ, tested immediately after power on), two directional sensitivities (sensitivity angle α = 45.4°) and low nonlinearity (<0.5%) over a sensing range up to ±50 g, which demonstrates a great opportunity for future high-precision three-axis inertial measurement.
Influence of Se/N Codoping on the Structural, Optical, Electronic and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2
Authors: Gurkan Yelda , Kasapbasi Esra , Turkten Nazli , Cinar Zekiye
Published: March 2017

Se4+ and N3− ions were used as codopants to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under sunlight irradiation. The Se/N codoped photocatalysts were prepared through a simple wet-impregnation method followed by heat treatment using SeCl4 and urea as the dopant sources. The prepared photocatalysts were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The codoped samples showed photoabsorption in the visible light range from 430 nm extending up to 580 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the Se/N codoped photocatalysts was evaluated by degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The degradation of 4-NP was highly increased for the Se/N codoped samples compared to the undoped and single doped samples under both UV-A and sunlight irradiation. Aiming to determine the electronic structure and dopant locations, quantum chemical modeling of the undoped and Se/N codoped anatase clusters was performed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations with the hybrid functional (B3LYP) and double-zeta (LanL2DZ) basis set. The results revealed that Se/N codoping of TiO2 reduces the band gap due to mixing of N2p with O2p orbitals in the valence band and also introduces additional electronic states originating from Se3p orbitals in the band gap.
Hydrogen Atomic Positions of O–H···O Hydrogen Bonds in Solution and in the Solid State: The Synergy of Quantum Chemical Calculations with 1H-NMR Chemical Shifts and X-ray Diffraction Methods
Authors: Siskos Michael , Choudhary M. , Gerothanassis Ioannis
Published: March 2017

The exact knowledge of hydrogen atomic positions of O–H···O hydrogen bonds in solution and in the solid state has been a major challenge in structural and physical organic chemistry. The objective of this review article is to summarize recent developments in the refinement of labile hydrogen positions with the use of: (i) density functional theory (DFT) calculations after a structure has been determined by X-ray from single crystals or from powders; (ii) 1H-NMR chemical shifts as constraints in DFT calculations, and (iii) use of root-mean-square deviation between experimentally determined and DFT calculated 1H-NMR chemical shifts considering the great sensitivity of 1H-NMR shielding to hydrogen bonding properties.
Pressure Analysis of Dynamic Injection Molding and Process Parameter Optimization for Reducing Warpage of Injection Molded Products
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Li Hongxia , Gu Junfeng , Li Zheng , Ruan Shilun , Shen Changyu , Wang Minjie
Published: March 2017

Plastic injection molding technology is one of the important technologies for the manufacturing industry. In this paper, a numerical dynamic injection molding technology (DIMT) is presented, which is based on the finite element (FE) method. This numerical simulation method introduces a vibrational force into the conventional injection molding technology (CIMT). Some meaningful work has been executed for investigating the mechanical evolution behavior of DIMT. As the basis for illustrating the mechanism in warpage optimization results, dynamic parameter analysis on the rule of pressure response is performed in detail. In the warpage optimization work, three kinds of structure with different molding materials are selected as the comparison. The final warpage of each product is efficiently minimized by using a Gaussian process-based sequential optimization method. From the further discussions, the features of DIMT in improving the molding quality are revealed, indicating that it may not be appropriate for geometrically large structures. This study has significant meaning for the actual injection molding industry.
Exploitation of SAR and Optical Sentinel Data to Detect Rice Crop and Estimate Seasonal Dynamics of Leaf Area Index
Authors: Campos-Taberner Manuel , García-Haro Francisco , Camps-Valls Gustau , Grau-Muedra Gonçal , Nutini Francesco , Busetto Lorenzo , Katsantonis Dimitrios , Stavrakoudis Dimitris , Minakou Chara , Gatti Luca , Barbieri Massimo , Holecz Francesco , Stroppiana Daniela , Boschetti Mirco
Published: March 2017

This paper presents and evaluates multitemporal LAI estimates derived from Sentinel-2A data on rice cultivated area identified using time series of Sentinel-1A images over the main European rice districts for the 2016 crop season. This study combines the information conveyed by Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-2A into a high-resolution LAI retrieval chain. Rice crop was detected using an operational multi-temporal rule-based algorithm, and LAI estimates were obtained by inverting the PROSAIL radiative transfer model with Gaussian process regression. Direct validation was performed with in situ LAI measurements acquired in coordinated field campaigns in three countries (Italy, Spain and Greece). Results showed high consistency between estimates and ground measurements, revealing high correlations (R2 > 0.93) and good accuracies (RMSE < 0.83, rRMSEm < 23.6% and rRMSEr < 16.6%) in all cases. Sentinel-2A estimates were compared with Landsat-8 showing high spatial consistency between estimates over the three areas. The possibility to exploit seasonally-updated crop mask exploiting Sentinel-1A data and the temporal consistency between Sentinel-2A and Landsat-7/8 LAI time series demonstrates the feasibility of deriving operationally high spatial-temporal decametric multi-sensor LAI time series useful for crop monitoring.
Design and Optimization of a Stationary Electrode in a Vertically-Driven MEMS Inertial Switch for Extending Contact Duration
Authors: Xu Qiu , Yang Zhuo-Qing , Fu Bo , Bao Yan-Ping , Wu Hao , Sun Yun-Na , Zhao Meng-Yuan , Li Jian , Ding Gui-Fu , Zhao Xiao-Lin
Published: March 2017

A novel micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial microswitch with a flexible contact-enhanced structure to extend the contact duration has been proposed in the present work. In order to investigate the stiffness k of the stationary electrodes, the stationary electrodes with different shapes, thickness h, width b, and length l were designed, analyzed, and simulated using ANSYS software. Both the analytical and the simulated results indicate that the stiffness k increases with thickness h and width b, while decreasing with an increase of length l, and it is related to the shape. The inertial micro-switches with different kinds of stationary electrodes were simulated using ANSYS software and fabricated using surface micromachining technology. The dynamic simulation indicates that the contact time will decrease with the increase of thickness h and width b, but increase with the length l, and it is related to the shape. As a result, the contact time decreases with the stiffness k of the stationary electrode. Furthermore, the simulated results reveal that the stiffness k changes more rapidly with h and l compared to b. However, overlarge dimension of the whole microswitch is contradicted with small footprint area expectation in the structure design. Therefore, it is unreasonable to extend the contact duration by increasing the length l excessively. Thus, the best and most convenient way to prolong the contact time is to reduce the thickness h of the stationary electrode while keeping the plane geometric structure of the inertial micro-switch unchanged. Finally, the fabricated micro-switches with different shapes of stationary electrodes have been evaluated by a standard dropping hammer system. The test maximum contact time under 288 g acceleration can reach 125 µs. It is shown that the test results are in accordance with the simulated results. The conclusions obtained in this work can provide guidance for the future design and fabrication of inertial microswitches.
Improving the Accuracy of Urban Environmental Quality Assessment Using Geographically-Weighted Regression Techniques
Authors: Faisal Kamil , Shaker Ahmed
Published: March 2017

Urban Environmental Quality (UEQ) can be treated as a generic indicator that objectively represents the physical and socio-economic condition of the urban and built environment. The value of UEQ illustrates a sense of satisfaction to its population through assessing different environmental, urban and socio-economic parameters. This paper elucidates the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Geographically-Weighted Regression (GWR) techniques to integrate various parameters and estimate the UEQ of two major cities in Ontario, Canada. Remote sensing, GIS and census data were first obtained to derive various environmental, urban and socio-economic parameters. The aforementioned techniques were used to integrate all of these environmental, urban and socio-economic parameters. Three key indicators, including family income, higher level of education and land value, were used as a reference to validate the outcomes derived from the integration techniques. The results were evaluated by assessing the relationship between the extracted UEQ results and the reference layers. Initial findings showed that the GWR with the spatial lag model represents an improved precision and accuracy by up to 20% with respect to those derived by using GIS overlay and PCA techniques for the City of Toronto and the City of Ottawa. The findings of the research can help the authorities and decision makers to understand the empirical relationships among environmental factors, urban morphology and real estate and decide for more environmental justice.
Use of Wearable Sensors and Biometric Variables in an Artificial Pancreas System
Authors: Turksoy Kamuran , Monforti Colleen , Park Minsun , Griffith Garett , Quinn Laurie , Cinar Ali
Published: March 2017

An artificial pancreas (AP) computes the optimal insulin dose to be infused through an insulin pump in people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) based on information received from a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor. It has been recognized that exercise is a major challenge in the development of an AP system. The use of biometric physiological variables in an AP system may be beneficial for prevention of exercise-induced challenges and better glucose regulation. The goal of the present study is to find a correlation between biometric variables such as heart rate (HR), heat flux (HF), skin temperature (ST), near-body temperature (NBT), galvanic skin response (GSR), and energy expenditure (EE), 2D acceleration-mean of absolute difference (MAD) and changes in glucose concentrations during exercise via partial least squares (PLS) regression and variable importance in projection (VIP) in order to determine which variables would be most useful to include in a future artificial pancreas. PLS and VIP analyses were performed on data sets that included seven different types of exercises. Data were collected from 26 clinical experiments. Clinical results indicate ST to be the most consistently important (important for six out of seven tested exercises) variable over all different exercises tested. EE and HR are also found to be important variables over several types of exercise. We also found that the importance of GSR and NBT observed in our experiments might be related to stress and the effect of changes in environmental temperature on glucose concentrations. The use of the biometric measurements in an AP system may provide better control of glucose concentration.
Phenotypic Responses of Twenty Diverse Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) Accessions to Irrigation
Authors: Habiyaremye Cedric , Barth Victoria , Highet Kelsey , Coffey Todd , Murphy Kevin
Published: March 2017

To date, little research has been conducted on the phenotypic responses of proso millet to drought and deficit irrigation treatments in the dryland wheat-based cropping systems of the Palouse bioregion of the U.S. The objectives of this study were to evaluate critical agronomic traits of proso millet, including emergence, plant height, days to heading, days to maturity, and grain yield, with and without supplemental irrigation. Twenty diverse proso millet accessions, originating from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, the former Soviet Union, Turkey, and the United States, were grown in irrigated and non-irrigated treatments under organic conditions in Pullman, WA, from 2012 to 2014. Irrigation was shown to significantly improve emergence and increase plant height at stem extension and to hasten ripening of all the varieties, whereas heading date was not affected by irrigation in two of the three years tested. Irrigation resulted in higher mean seed yield across all varieties, with ‘GR 665’ and ‘Earlybird’ performing best under irrigation. Seed yield was highest in ‘GR 658’ and ‘Minsum’ in the non-irrigated treatment, suggesting the importance of identification and utilization of varieties adapted to low rainfall conditions. The highest yielding varieties in irrigated systems are unlikely be the highest yielding in dryland systems. Our results suggest that millet has potential as a regionally novel crop for inclusion in traditional dryland cropping rotations in the Palouse ecosystem, thereby contributing to increased cropping system diversity.
Social Surveys about Solid Waste Management within Higher Education Institutes: A Comparison
Authors: Ferronato Navarro , D’Avino Carolina , Ragazzi Marco , Torretta Vincenzo , De Feo Giovanni
Published: March 2017

Solid waste mismanagement is a social burden that requires the introduction of reliable public policies, including recycling principles and technological facilities. However, the development of recycling plans is a real issue for municipal governments, since it involves psychological and cultural factors, both in developed and developing countries. Questionnaire survey is an important tool for evaluating which solid waste management policy is suited for each specific study area, involving citizens and stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to evaluate what approach should be applied for social surveys in higher education institutes, comparing developing and developed countries. Italy is the developed country analyzed, where two universities in different cities are compared, while La Paz (Bolivia) is the emerging reality considered. The research conducted in La Paz led us to understand that, although recycling rates are low (about 8%), many students (56.96%) separate up to half of the waste produced at home. At the same time, about 53% of those interviewed do not know the recycling practices implemented by the informal sector which is the one that constantly act for improving the recycling rates of the city. Low technological acceptance is instead underlined in the high income country, since there is a common negative opinion concerning the introduction of landfills and incinerators near residential areas (49% disagree). A comparison of the methodologies adopted for the two case studies is introduced whereas investigations results are presented.
Energy Storage System Sizing Based on a Reliability Assessment of Power Systems Integrated with Wind Power
Authors: Shi Nian , Luo Yi
Published: March 2017

The available capacity is a major factor that influences the reliability contribution of energy storage in power systems integrated with wind power. This paper presents the capacity value of the energy storage metrics to quantitatively estimate the contribution of energy storage to the generation adequacy. A method in accordance with EFC approach has been introduced to model the capacity value of energy storage. The adequacy-oriented model of the energy storage available capacity is proposed for the energy storage system, regarding the roles of the key parameters for the CVES analysis. The case study results indicate that the capacity value of energy storage quantitatively weigh the contribution of the energy storage to system reliability. The sensitivity analysis of the impact factors for the CVES is conducted.
Vulnerability Analysis of Urban Drainage Systems: Tree vs. Loop Networks
Authors: Zhang Chi , Wang Yuntao , Li Yu , Ding Wei
Published: March 2017

Vulnerability analysis of urban drainage networks plays an important role in urban flood management. This study analyzes and compares the vulnerability of tree and loop systems under various rainfall events to structural failure represented by pipe blockage. Different pipe blockage scenarios, in which one of the pipes in an urban drainage network is assumed to be blocked individually, are constructed and their impacts on the network are simulated under different storm events. Furthermore, a vulnerability index is defined to measure the vulnerability of the drainage systems before and after the implementation of adaptation measures. The results obtained indicate that the tree systems have a relatively larger proportion of critical hydraulic pipes than the loop systems, thus the vulnerability of tree systems is substantially greater than that of the loop systems. Furthermore, the vulnerability index of tree systems is reduced after they are converted into a loop system with the implementation of adaptation measures. This paper provides an insight into the differences in the vulnerability of tree and loop systems, and provides more evidence for development of adaptation measures (e.g., tanks) to reduce urban flooding.
Janis–Newman Algorithm: Generating Rotating and NUT Charged Black Holes
Authors: Erbin Harold
Published: March 2017

In this review we present the most general form of the Janis–Newman algorithm. This extension allows generating configurations which contain all bosonic fields with spin less than or equal to two (real and complex scalar fields, gauge fields, metric field) and with five of the six parameters of the Plebański–Demiański metric (mass, electric charge, magnetic charge, NUT charge and angular momentum). Several examples are included to illustrate the algorithm. We also discuss the extension of the algorithm to other dimensions.
Stakeholder Engagement and Knowledge Co-Creation in Water Planning: Can Public Participation Increase Cost-Effectiveness?
Authors: Graversgaard Morten , Jacobsen Brian , Kjeldsen Chris , Dalgaard Tommy
Published: March 2017

In 2014, a radical shift took place in Danish water planning. Following years of a top-down water planning approach, 23 regional water councils were established to co-create and provide input to Danish authorities on the development of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). The water councils advised local authorities on the application of measures to improve the physical conditions in Danish streams within a given economic frame. The paper shows the difference the use of water councils (public participation) made by comparing the final water council proposal included in the 2015 RBMP to the RBMPs proposed by the central government (Nature Agency) in 2014. The study concludes that the measures proposed by the water councils will generally deliver better results than the proposed Nature Agency plans, which do not include the same level of participation. Specifically, the water councils with stakeholder involvement proposed a much longer network of streams (3800 km), yielding a better ecological outcome than the shorter stream network (1615 km) proposed by the Nature Agency for the same budget. Having a structured and fixed institutional frame around public participation (top-down meeting bottom-up) can produce cost-effective results, but the results show that cost-effectiveness was not the only deciding factor, and that local circumstances like the practicalities of implementing the measures were also considered when developing the Programmes of Measures. The findings suggest that the use of water councils in water planning has significant advantages, including the fact that the knowledge of local conditions helps to identify efficient solutions at lower costs, which can be useful for administrators, policy-makers, and other stakeholders implementing the Water Framework Directive in years to come.
Photoautotrophic Microalgae Screening for Tertiary Treatment of Livestock Wastewater and Bioresource Recovery
Authors: Kim Ji-Yeon , Kim Hyun-Woo
Published: March 2017

Photoautotrophic microalgae offer high promise for a tertiary treatment of livestock wastewater owing to their rapid growth and nutrient uptake. To screen better microalga for the tertiary treatment, batch photobioreactor tests were conducted using Chlorella emersonii, Chlorella sorokiniana, and Botryococcus braunii. This study evaluated their specific growth rates, CO2 utilization rates, and nutrient removal rates to provide appropriate selection guidelines. Based on statistical comparisons, results indicate that selecting the right microalgae was the key to success in the tertiary treatment since each microalga responded differently, even under the same light, temperature, and nutrient conditions. Among the tested species, Chlorella emersonii was found to present the fastest photoautotrophic growth, total inorganic carbon (TIC) utilization, and nutrient removal for livestock wastewater treatment. Regression results identified that its specific growth and total nitrogen removal rates were as high as 0.51 day−1 and 0.18 day−1, respectively. Estimated TIC utilization over the supplied TIC was much higher (~34%) than those of others (11%–18%). This systemic evaluation of rate-limiting factors provides a quantitative understanding of the kinetic-based selection strategy of microalgae to polish livestock wastewater with better effluent quality.
Evaluating the Impact of Low Impact Development (LID) Practices on Water Quantity and Quality under Different Development Designs Using SWAT
Authors: Seo Mijin , Jaber Fouad , Srinivasan Raghavan , Jeong Jaehak
Published: March 2017

The effects of Low Impact Development (LID) practices on urban runoff and pollutants have proven to be positive in many studies. However, the effectiveness of LID practices can vary depending on different urban patterns. In the present study, the performance of LID practices was explored under three land uses with different urban forms: (1) a compact high-density urban form; (2) a conventional medium-density urban form; and (3) a conservational medium-density urban form. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used and model development was performed to reflect hydrologic behavior by the application of LID practices. Rain gardens, permeable pavements, and rainwater harvesting tanks were considered for simulations, and a modeling procedure for the representation of LID practices in SWAT was specifically illustrated in this context. Simulations were done for each land use, and the results were compared and evaluated. The application of LID practices demonstrated a decrease in surface runoff and pollutant loadings for all land uses, and different reductions were represented in response to the land uses with different urban forms on a watershed scale. In addition, the results among post-LIDs scenarios generally showed lower values for surface runoff and nitrate in the compact high-density urban land use and for total phosphorus in the conventional medium-density urban land use compared to the other land uses. We suggest effective strategies for implementing LID practices.
Cidnopus marginellus (Perris, 1864) (Coleoptera, Elateridae), espèce nouvelle pour la faune de France. Cidnopus marginellus subsp. brusteli nov.
Authors: Leseigneur Lucien
Published: March 2017

De nombreuses captures récentes de Cidnopus marginellus (Perris) confirment la présence en France de cette espèce, dont la distribution principale est l'Espagne et le Portugal et dont les citations de France ne concernaient jusqu'alors que des variétés chromatiques de Cidnopus pilosus (Leske). Le présent article complète les descriptions qui ont été données de cette espèce, situe celle-ci dans un tableau dichotomique parmi les autres espèces de l'Europe sud-occidentale et indique les localités où sa présence a été constatée en France. Quelques localités d'Espagne et du Portugal sont ajoutées à celles citées par Zapata et Sanchez-Ruiz (2003). Une sous-espèce brusteli nov. est décrite.
Un discomycète inoperculé plutôt discret, Pezoloma ciliifera, et remarques sur le genre Pezoloma
Authors: Garcia Guy , Van Vooren Nicolas
Published: March 2017

Description et illustration de Pezoloma ciliifera , un petit ascomycète discret mais remarquable poussant dans les milieux humides. Commentaires sur la systématique du genre Pezoloma.
Note sur les Hyménoptères Tenthredoïdes (XV). 29. Tenthrèdes rares ou nouvelles pour la France
Authors: Chevin Henri
Published: March 2017

L'auteur signale la capture de quelques Symphytes rares dont un nouveau pour la France : Pristiphora anderschi (Zaddach).
Sur quelques Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) paléarctiques et orientaux
Authors: Keith Denis
Published: March 2017

Nouvelles combinaisons, synonymies, nouvelles citations, redécouvertes de types égarés de Scarabaeoidea paléarctiques et orientaux, description de la femelle de Pseudoapterogyna tynetis Baraud, 1972, de Maladera ahrensi nov. sp. et de Clypeolontha alboplagiata myanmarensis nov. ssp.
Les Braconides parasitoïdes de fourmis et observations biologiques sur Elasmosoma berolinense Ruthe (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) et les ouvrières parasitées de Camponotus vagus Scopoli (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)
Authors: Panis André
Published: March 2017

Les genres d'Hyménoptères Braconidae parasitoïdes de fourmis à travers le monde, et leur mode de parasitisme sont présentés. Deux espèces de Neoneura et quatre espèces d' Elasmosoma sont connues en Europe et une seulement, Elasmosoma berolinense Ruthe a été observée en France, dès le XIXe siècle. Camponotus vagus Scopoli est un hôte nouveau dont le comportement des ouvrières après le dépôt d'un ouf du parasitoïde, celui du Braconide en train de pondre et les conditions du milieu d'observation dans le sud de la France (climat méditerranéen) sont décrits.
Evaluation de la qualité biologique des eaux du Nahr el Jaouz (Liban) : application des méthodes indicielles
Authors: Khalaf Gaby , Slim Kamal , Saad Zeinab , Nakhlé Khaled Farès
Published: March 2017

Cette étude est basée sur l'application de diverses méthodes biologiques permettant de déterminer la qualité des eaux du Nahr el Jaouz. Il s'agit d'indices de diversité et de similitude, des deux indices biotique IB et biologique normalisé IBGN. et de l'indice diatomique ID. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de distinguer : i) un tronçon depuis la source jusqu'en amont du village de Tannourine. présentant une faune benthique relativement riche et diversifiée et une flore diatomique oligosaprobe. traduisant une bonne qualité des eaux ; ii) un tronçon en aval de Tannourine correspondant à la zone des rejets des eaux usées où les valeurs des différents indices sont faibles et où on note une abondance des Chironomidés ; une auto-épuration s'ensuit dans cette partie du cours supérieur, améliorant la qualité de l'eau et la diversité spécifique iii) un cours moyen et inférieur présentant une détérioration de la qualité des eaux due essentiellement aux conditions climatiques et hydrologiques ; les valeurs des indices de qualité sont faibles, surtout pour le cours inférieur.
Imbalanced Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and Mitochondrial Antioxidant SOD2 in Fabry Disease-Specific Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Differentiated Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Tseng Wei-Lien , Chou Shih-Jie , Chiang Huai-Chih , Wang Mong-Lien , Chien Chian-Shiu , Chen Kuan-Hsuan , Leu Hsin-Bang , Wang Chien-Ying , Chang Yuh-Lih , Liu Yung-Yang , Jong Yuh-Jyh , Lin Shinn-Zong , Chiou Shih-Hwa , Lin Shing-Jong , Yu Wen-Chung
Published: March 2017

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by α-galactosidase A (GLA) deficiency. Progressive intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) is considered to be pathogenically responsible for the phenotype variability of FD that causes cardiovascular dysfunction; however, molecular mechanisms underlying the impairment of FD-associated cardiovascular tissues remain unclear. In this study, we reprogrammed human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from peripheral blood cells of patients with FD (FD-iPSCs); subsequently differentiated them into vascular endothelial-like cells (FD-ECs) expressing CD31, VE-cadherin, and vWF; and investigated their ability to form vascular tube-like structures. FD-ECs recapitulated the FD pathophysiological phenotype exhibiting intracellular Gb3 accumulation under a transmission electron microscope. Moreover, compared with healthy control iPSC-derived endothelial cells (NC-ECs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production considerably increased in FD-ECs. Microarray analysis was performed to explore the possible mechanism underlying Gb3 accumulation-induced ROS production in FD-ECs. Our results revealed that superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), a mitochondrial antioxidant, was significantly downregulated in FD-ECs. Compared with NC-ECs, AMPK activity was significantly enhanced in FD-ECs. Furthermore, to investigate the role of Gb3 in these effects, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with Gb3. After Gb3 treatment, we observed that SOD2 expression was suppressed and AMPK activity was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, our results indicate that excess accumulation of Gb3 suppressed SOD2 expression, increased ROS production, enhanced AMPK activation, and finally caused vascular endothelial dysfunction. Our findings suggest that dysregulated mitochondrial ROS may be a potential target for treating FD.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED DISCOUNTING STRATEGY BASED ON VENDORS’ EXPECTATIONS USING FAHP AND FUZZY GOAL PROGRAMMING
Authors: UCAL SARI Irem
Published: March 2017

The main goal of a company is to increase its market share and total profits at the same time. However, these two objectives conflict if discount rates are applied to vendors. The objective of this paper is to develop an integrated discounting strategy method to effectively manage the trans­actions of the vendors by determining the optimum discount rates which balance the increase on the market share and the total profit. With the proposed methodology which utilizes fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy goal programming, determination of the discount rates of each vendor under different discounting strategies is facilitated. This enables the vendors to choose the most suitable discounting strategy with the best applicable discount rate and enables the managers to predict the transactions of the vendors. The proposed method is validated with a numerical study conducted on a pilot region of an international company.
grim: A Flexible, Conservative Scheme for Relativistic Fluid Theories
Authors: Chandra Mani , Foucart Francois , Gammie Charles F.
Published: March 2017

Hot, diffuse, relativistic plasmas such as sub-Eddington black-hole accretion flows are expected to be collisionless, yet are commonly modeled as a fluid using ideal general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD). Dissipative effects such as heat conduction and viscosity can be important in a collisionless plasma and will potentially alter the dynamics and radiative properties of the flow from that in ideal fluid models; we refer to models that include these processes as Extended GRMHD. Here we describe a new conservative code, grim, that enables all of the above and additional physics to be efficiently incorporated. grim combines time evolution and primitive variable inversion needed for conservative schemes into a single step using an algorithm that only requires the residuals of the governing equations as inputs. This algorithm enables the code to be physics agnostic as well as flexibility regarding time-stepping schemes. grim runs on CPUs, as well as on GPUs, using the same code. We formulate a performance model and use it to show that our implementation runs optimally on both architectures. grim correctly captures classical GRMHD test problems as well as a new suite of linear and nonlinear test problems with anisotropic conduction and viscosity in special and general relativity. As tests and example applications, we resolve the shock substructure due to the presence of dissipation, and report on relativistic versions of the magneto-thermal instability and heat flux driven buoyancy instability, which arise due to anisotropic heat conduction, and of the firehose instability, which occurs due to anisotropic pressure (i.e., viscosity). Finally, we show an example integration of an accretion flow around a Kerr black hole, using Extended GRMHD.
Sonneberg Plate Photometry for Boyajian's Star in Two Passbands
Authors: Hippke Michael , Kroll Peter , Matthai Frank , Angerhausen Daniel , Tuvikene Taavi , Stassun Keivan G. , Roshchina Elena , Vasileva Tatyana , Izmailov Igor , Samus Nikolay N. , Pastukhova Elena N. , Bryukhanov Ivan , Lund Michael B.
Published: March 2017

The F3 main-sequence star KIC 8462852 (Boyajian’s Star) showed deep (up to 20%) day-long brightness dips of unknown cause during the four years of the Kepler mission. A 0.164 mag (16%) dimming between 1890 and 1990 was claimed, based on the analysis of photographic plates from the Harvard Observatory. We have gathered an independent set of historic plates from Sonneberg Observatory, Germany, covering the years of 1934–1995. With 861 mag in B, and 397 mag in V, we find the star to be of constant brightness within 0.03 mag per century (3%). Consistent outcomes are found using by-eye estimates of the best 119 plates. Results are supported by data from Sternberg Observatory, Moscow, which show the star as constant between 1895 and 1995. The previously claimed century-long dimming is inconsistent with our results at the

-level, however, the recently reported modest dimming of 3% in the Kepler data is not inconsistent with our data. We find no periodicities or shorter trends within our limits of 5% per five year bin, but note a possible dimming event on 1978 October 24.
Rapid Orbital Decay in Detached Binaries: Evidence for Circumbinary Disks
Authors: Chen Wen-Cong , Podsiadlowski Philipp
Published: March 2017

Some short-period, detached binary systems have recently been reported as experiencing very rapid orbital decay, much faster than is expected from the angular-momentum loss caused by gravitational radiation alone. As these systems contain fully convective stars, magnetic braking is not believed to be operative, making the large orbital-period derivative puzzling. Here, we explore whether a resonant interaction between the binary and a surrounding circumbinary (CB) disk could account for the observed orbital decay. Our calculations indicate that the observed orbital-period derivatives in seven detached binaries can be produced by the resonant interaction between the binary and a CB disk if the latter has a mass in the range of

, which is of the same order as the inferred disk mass (

) in the post-common-envelope binary NN Ser.
Detection of an Optical Counterpart to the ALFALFA Ultra-compact High-velocity Cloud AGC 249525
Authors: Janesh William , Rhode Katherine L. , Salzer John J. , Janowiecki Steven , Adams Elizabeth A. K. , Haynes Martha P. , Giovanelli Riccardo , Cannon John M.
Published: March 2017

We report on the detection at >98% confidence of an optical counterpart to AGC 249525, an ultra-compact high-velocity cloud (UCHVC) discovered by the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA survey blind neutral hydrogen survey. UCHVCs are compact, isolated H i clouds with properties consistent with their being nearby low-mass galaxies, but without identified counterparts in extant optical surveys. Analysis of the resolved stellar sources in deep g- and i-band imaging from the WIYN pODI camera reveals a clustering of possible red giant branch stars associated with AGC 249525 at a distance of 1.64 ± 0.45 Mpc. Matching our optical detection with the H i synthesis map of AGC 249525 from Adams et al. shows that the stellar overdensity is exactly coincident with the highest-density H i contour from that study. Combining our optical photometry and the H i properties of this object yields an absolute magnitude of

, a stellar mass between

and

, and an H i to stellar mass ratio between 9 and 144. This object has stellar properties within the observed range of gas-poor ultra-faint dwarfs in the Local Group, but is gas-dominated.
Le financement des projets entrepreneuriaux disruptifs
Authors: Ciet Noé , Fernandez Valérie , Houy Thomas , Venegas Nicole
Published: March 2017

Comment les investisseurs en capital-risque traitent-ils les projets entrepreneuriaux dits « disruptifs » ? L’article instruit la question à partir d’une série d’entretiens réalisés auprès d’acteurs de plusieurs fonds d’investissement. Cette recherche est l’occasion d’avancer trois résultats. Premièrement, les investisseurs ne semblent pas s’accorder sur la signification de « disruption ». Deuxièmement, ils évaluent les projets disruptifs au moyen de méthodes quasiment équivalentes à celles mises en œuvre pour juger de la pertinence de projets plus classiques. Troisièmement, les projets disruptifs financés donnent souvent lieu à des modalités d’investissement atypiques.
Les compétences spécifiques des designers entrepreneurs
Authors: Borja de Mozota Brigitte , Chouki Mourad
Published: March 2017

Cet article étudie les compétences spécifiques d’un designer indépendant au sein d’un projet d’innovation. Le cadre théorique s’inspire des travaux en design management, ainsi que d’un ensemble de référentiels du design. A travers un dispositif qualitatif appliqué à neuf designers entrepreneurs, il devient possible de commencer à élaborer un référentiel métier commun à toutes les disciplines du design. A l’issue de ce travail, la compétence esthétique, le rôle stratégique et la fonction médiatrice du designer dans les projets d’innovation apparaissent clairement.