bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Argonaute 4-Associated Long Non-Coding RNA in Arabidopsis thaliana Sheds Novel Insights into Gene Regulation through RNA-Directed DNA Methylation
Authors: Au Phil Chi Khang , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Wang Ming-Bo
Published: August 2017

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is a plant-specific de novo DNA methylation mechanism that requires long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) as scaffold to define target genomic loci. While the role of RdDM in maintaining genome stability is well established, how it regulates protein-coding genes remains poorly understood and few RdDM target genes have been identified. In this study, we obtained sequences of RdDM-associated lncRNAs using nuclear RNA immunoprecipitation against ARGONAUTE 4 (AGO4), a key component of RdDM that binds specifically with the lncRNA. Comparison of these lncRNAs with gene expression data of RdDM mutants identified novel RdDM target genes. Surprisingly, a large proportion of these target genes were repressed in RdDM mutants suggesting that they are normally activated by RdDM. These RdDM-activated genes are more enriched for gene body lncRNA than the RdDM-repressed genes. Histone modification and RNA analyses of several RdDM-activated stress response genes detected increased levels of active histone mark and short RNA transcript in the lncRNA-overlapping gene body regions in the ago4 mutant despite the repressed expression of these genes. These results suggest that RdDM, or AGO4, may play a role in maintaining or activating stress response gene expression by directing gene body chromatin modification preventing cryptic transcription.
Collaborations on the Edge
Authors: Rohde Katharina
Published: August 2017

Since 2005 I have been working with mobile communities in the cities of Berlin, Germany and Johannesburg, South Africa.[...]
Predicting Urban Medical Services Demand in China: An Improved Grey Markov Chain Model by Taylor Approximation
Authors: Duan Jinli , Jiao Feng , Zhang Qishan , Lin Zhibin
Published: August 2017

The sharp increase of the aging population has raised the pressure on the current limited medical resources in China. To better allocate resources, a more accurate prediction on medical service demand is very urgently needed. This study aims to improve the prediction on medical services demand in China. To achieve this aim, the study combines Taylor Approximation into the Grey Markov Chain model, and develops a new model named Taylor-Markov Chain GM (1,1) (T-MCGM (1,1)). The new model has been tested by adopting the historical data, which includes the medical service on treatment of diabetes, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease from 1997 to 2015 in China. The model provides a predication on medical service demand of these three types of disease up to 2022. The results reveal an enormous growth of urban medical service demand in the future. The findings provide practical implications for the Health Administrative Department to allocate medical resources, and help hospitals to manage investments on medical facilities.
Bullying Behaviors among Macanese Adolescents—Association with Psychosocial Variables
Authors: Weng Xue , Chui Wing , Liu Liu
Published: August 2017

Bullying is a widespread public health problem among school students. Using a large sample of Macanese school adolescents, the present study examines psychosocial conditions and demographic characteristics in discriminating the following four subgroups of students: victims; bullies; bully-victims; and a comparison group of adolescents. Participants included 2288 adolescents from 13 primary and secondary schools in Macau whose ages ranged from 10 to 20 years. Statistical results revealed significant differences among the groups and indicated that adolescents who are involved in school bullying experience worse psychosocial adjustment. Specifically, among the four subgroups of students, bully-victims reported the strongest feelings of anxiety, depression, and negative affectivity, and expressed the lowest satisfaction with life. Compared with students who were not involved in bullying and victimization, bullies experienced more anxiety and depression and victims had lower levels of satisfaction with life. In addition, boys were more likely to engage in bullying behaviors and younger students had a greater probability of being victimized by their peers at school. Implications for future research and practice on bullying perpetration and the prevention of peer victimization are discussed.
Collective Migration of Lens Epithelial Cell Induced by Differential Microscale Groove Patterns
Authors: Kwon Chunga , Kim Youngjun , Jeon Hojeong
Published: August 2017

Herein, a micro-patterned cell adhesive surface is prepared for the future design of medical devices. One-dimensional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro patterns were prepared by a photolithography process. We investigated the effect of microscale topographical patterned surfaces on decreasing the collective cell migration rate. PDMS substrates were prepared through soft lithography using Si molds fabricated by photolithography. Afterwards, we observed the collective cell migration of human lens epithelial cells (B-3) on various groove/ridge patterns and evaluated the migration rate to determine the pattern most effective in slowing down the cell sheet spreading speed. Microgroove patterns were variable, with widths of 3, 5, and 10 µm. After the seeding, time-lapse images were taken under controlled cell culturing conditions. Cell sheet borders were drawn in order to assess collective migration rate. Our experiments revealed that the topographical patterned surfaces could be applied to intraocular lenses to prevent or slow the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) by delaying the growth and spread of human lens epithelial cells.
A Unique 3D Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composite as High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Catalyst
Authors: Karunagaran Ramesh , Tung Tran , Shearer Cameron , Tran Diana , Coghlan Campbell , Doonan Christian , Losic Dusan
Published: August 2017

The synthesis and properties of an oxygen reduction catalyst based on a unique 3-dimensional (3D) nitrogen doped (N-doped) carbon composite are described. The composite material is synthesised via a two-step hydrothermal and pyrolysis method using bio-source low-cost materials of galactose and melamine. Firstly, the use of iron salts and galactose to hydrothermally produceiron oxide (Fe2O3) magnetic nanoparticle clusters embedded carbon spheres. Secondly, magnetic nanoparticles diffused out of the carbon sphere when pyrolysed in the presence of melamine as nitrogen precursor. Interestingly, many of these nanoparticles, as catalyst-grown carbon nanotubes (CNTs), resulted in the formation of N-doped CNTs and N-doped carbon spheres under the decomposition of carbon and a nitrogen environment. The composite material consists of integrated N-doped carbon microspheres and CNTs show high ORR activity through a predominantly four-electron pathway.
High Aspect Ratio Nanoimprint Mold-Cavity Filling and Stress Simulation Based on Finite-Element Analysis
Authors: Sun Hongwen , Yin Minqi , Wang Haibin
Published: August 2017

High aspect ratio three-dimensional micro- and nanopatterns have important applications in diverse fields. However, fabricating these structures by a nanoimprinting method invites problems like collapse, dislocation, and defects. Finite-element analysis (FEA) is a good approach to help understand the filling process and stress distribution. The FEA method was employed to simulate the nanoimprinting process using positive and negative molds with aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 7:1. During the filling process, the resist adjacent to boundaries has the maximum displacement. The corners of contact areas between the protruding part of the mold and the resist has the maximum Von Mises stress. For both positive and negative molds, the maximum stress in the mold increases with aspect ratio. However, filling up negative molds is more difficult than positive ones. With the same aspect ratio, the maximum stress in a negative mold is approximately twice as large as that in a positive one.
Mechanical Vibration Measurement of Solidly Mounted Resonator in Fluid by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Xu Fei , Guo Xinyi , Xu Linyan , Duan Xuexin , Zhang Hao , Pang Wei , Fu Xing
Published: August 2017

The very small vibration of a solidly-mounted resonator (SMR) in fluid may trigger a relatively large motion of the covering fluid, which was implied by our protein-related experimental results. Therefore, a series of experimental methods for characterizing the mechanical longitudinal vibration of the SMR and the corresponding out-of-plane dynamic response of the fluid above the SMR surface is described in this paper. A SMR device with theoretical resonance frequency of 2.5 GHz was driven by an amplitude-modulated (AM) signal, in which the amplitude is modulated by a signal of the second resonance frequency of the atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever. A lock-in amplifier is used to demodulate the vibration response of the AFM cantilever, which is proportional to the amplitude of the sample vibration in contact mode and tapping mode. The amplitude-frequency curve of the SMR surface is obtained in contact mode with a relatively stronger interaction force between the AFM tip and the SMR surface. The amplitude-frequency curve of the motion of the liquid above the SMR device and the peak amplitude of the fluid at different distances above the SMR surface are measured in tapping mode with a relatively weak interaction force between the AFM tip and the fluid sample.
Tuning the Density of Poly(ethylene glycol) Chains to Control Mammalian Cell and Bacterial Attachment
Authors: Al-Ani Ahmed , Pingle Hitesh , P Reynolds Nicholas , Wang Peng-Yuan , Kingshott Peter
Published: August 2017

Surface modification of biomaterials with polymer chains has attracted great attention because of their ability to control biointerfacial interactions such as protein adsorption, cell attachment and bacterial biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to control the immobilisation of biomolecules on silicon wafers using poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) chains by a “grafting to” technique. In particular, to control the polymer chain graft density in order to capture proteins and preserve their activity in cell culture as well as find the optimal density that would totally prevent bacterial attachment. The PEG graft density was varied by changing the polymer solubility using an increasing salt concentration. The silicon substrates were initially modified with aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES), where the surface density of amine groups was optimised using different concentrations. The results showed under specific conditions, the PEG density was highest with grafting under “cloud point” conditions. The modified surfaces were characterised with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and water contact angle measurements. In addition, all modified surfaces were tested with protein solutions and in cell (mesenchymal stem cells and MG63 osteoblast-like cells) and bacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) attachment assays. Overall, the lowest protein adsorption was observed on the highest polymer graft density, bacterial adhesion was very low on all modified surfaces, and it can be seen that the attachment of mammalian cells gradually increased as the PEG grafting density decreased, reaching the maximum attachment at medium PEG densities. The results demonstrate that, at certain PEG surface coverages, mammalian cell attachment can be tuned with the potential to optimise their behaviour with controlled serum protein adsorption.
An RFID Indoor Positioning Algorithm Based on Bayesian Probability and K-Nearest Neighbor
Authors: Xu He , Ding Ye , Li Peng , Wang Ruchuan , Li Yizhu
Published: August 2017

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is widely used in outdoor environmental positioning. However, GPS cannot support indoor positioning because there is no signal for positioning in an indoor environment. Nowadays, there are many situations which require indoor positioning, such as searching for a book in a library, looking for luggage in an airport, emergence navigation for fire alarms, robot location, etc. Many technologies, such as ultrasonic, sensors, Bluetooth, WiFi, magnetic field, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), etc., are used to perform indoor positioning. Compared with other technologies, RFID used in indoor positioning is more cost and energy efficient. The Traditional RFID indoor positioning algorithm LANDMARC utilizes a Received Signal Strength (RSS) indicator to track objects. However, the RSS value is easily affected by environmental noise and other interference. In this paper, our purpose is to reduce the location fluctuation and error caused by multipath and environmental interference in LANDMARC. We propose a novel indoor positioning algorithm based on Bayesian probability and K-Nearest Neighbor (BKNN). The experimental results show that the Gaussian filter can filter some abnormal RSS values. The proposed BKNN algorithm has the smallest location error compared with the Gaussian-based algorithm, LANDMARC and an improved KNN algorithm. The average error in location estimation is about 15 cm using our method.
Cloud-Assisted UAV Data Collection for Multiple Emerging Events in Distributed WSNs
Authors: Cao Huiru , Liu Yongxin , Yue Xuejun , Zhu Wenjian
Published: August 2017

In recent years, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have been widely applied for data collection and image capture. Specifically, UAVs have been integrated with wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to create data collection platforms with high flexibility. However, most studies in this domain focus on system architecture and UAVs’ flight trajectory planning while event-related factors and other important issues are neglected. To address these challenges, we propose a cloud-assisted data gathering strategy for UAV-based WSN in the light of emerging events. We also provide a cloud-assisted approach for deriving UAV’s optimal flying and data acquisition sequence of a WSN cluster. We validate our approach through simulations and experiments. It has been proved that our methodology outperforms conventional approaches in terms of flying time, energy consumption, and integrity of data acquisition. We also conducted a real-world experiment using a UAV to collect data wirelessly from multiple clusters of sensor nodes for monitoring an emerging event, which are deployed in a farm. Compared against the traditional method, this proposed approach requires less than half the flying time and achieves almost perfect data integrity.
Applying Sensor-Based Technology to Improve Construction Safety Management
Authors: Zhang Mingyuan , Cao Tianzhuo , Zhao Xuefeng
Published: August 2017

Construction sites are dynamic and complicated systems. The movement and interaction of people, goods and energy make construction safety management extremely difficult. Due to the ever-increasing amount of information, traditional construction safety management has operated under difficult circumstances. As an effective way to collect, identify and process information, sensor-based technology is deemed to provide new generation of methods for advancing construction safety management. It makes the real-time construction safety management with high efficiency and accuracy a reality and provides a solid foundation for facilitating its modernization, and informatization. Nowadays, various sensor-based technologies have been adopted for construction safety management, including locating sensor-based technology, vision-based sensing and wireless sensor networks. This paper provides a systematic and comprehensive review of previous studies in this field to acknowledge useful findings, identify the research gaps and point out future research directions.
Investigation of the Impacts of Urban Land Use Patterns on Energy Consumption in China: A Case Study of 20 Provincial Capital Cities
Authors: Zhao Jie , Thinh Nguyen , Li Cheng
Published: August 2017

Urban land use patterns are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to energy consumption. However, few studies have quantified the impacts of urban land use patterns on energy consumption. In this study, we analyzed the impacts of urban land use patterns on energy consumption for 20 provincial capital cities in China from 2000 to 2010. Landsat data and spatial metrics were first used to quantify the urban land use patterns, and then city-level energy consumption was estimated based on nighttime light (NTL) data and statistical provincial energy consumption data. Finally, a panel data analysis was applied to investigate the impacts of urban land use patterns on energy consumption. Our results showed that NTL data were effective for estimating energy consumption at the city level and indicated that accelerated energy consumption was caused by increases in the irregularity of urban land forms and the expansion of urban land. Moreover, significant regional differences in the impacts of urban land use patterns on energy consumptions were identified. Our results provide insights into the relationship between urban growth and energy consumption and may support effective planning towards sustainable development.
Vulnerability of Fishing Communities from Sea-Level Change: A Study of Laemsing District in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand
Authors: Panpeng Jirawat , Ahmad Mokbul
Published: August 2017

Continuous increases in global mean sea level is affecting coastal communities worldwide. In Thailand, the rising sea level exacerbates the vulnerability of coastal communities to changes in geographic conditions seriously affecting communities with low adaptive capacity and mostly dependent on natural resources. This paper identifies the potential vulnerability of coastal fishing communities which are prone to severe sea-level rises, like in the case of Laemsing District in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand. Climate simulation, Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were applied to quantify potential sea-level change (exposure), inundated areas and affected households (sensitivity). Adaptive capacity was analyzed in terms of social, human, institutional, economic, and natural conditions. Based on A1F1 (the worst case of future greenhouse gas emissions) and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies model EH (GISS-EH) best estimate for 2050, relative sea-level increase from 2000 would be 0.50 m, resulting in a loss of about 87.77 km2 of land and inundation of 2060 households. Opinions on alleviating vulnerability suggested that each condition of vulnerability is associated with two stages of development, urgent and medium. Laemsing District can face the serious effects of seawater inundation in the future. The results of this paper could be appropriately used as a reference for mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development policies and raising the awareness of stakeholders on how to cope with sea-level change and its impacts.
Effects of Wheat-Maize Intercropping on Population Dynamics of Wheat Aphids and Their Natural Enemies
Authors: Liu Junhe , Yan Yan , Ali Abid , Wang Ningtao , Zhao Zihua , Yu Mingfu
Published: August 2017

To study the effects of wheat-maize intercropping on the population dynamics of wheat aphids and their natural enemies, wheat-maize intercropping patterns were divided into four levels: 8:2, 6:2, and 4:2 intercropping, and monoculture wheat. The results showed that as the wheat coverage rate decreased, the quantities of immigrating winged aphids and their natural enemies significantly differed; the population densities of the natural enemies of wheat aphids continuously rose and reached the highest levels in the 4:2 intercropping. During the stable periods, the maximum population density of wheat aphids was the highest in monoculture wheat. With a reduction in the wheat coverage ratio, the maximum population density of wheat aphids showed a decreasing trend. The control imposed by predatory natural enemies in intercropped wheat was higher than that in monoculture wheat; it was strongest in the 8:2 intercropping and the lowest in wheat monoculture. With an increase in the proportion of wheat, the parasitism rate of parasitic wasps increased gradually and reached the highest level in 4:2 intercropping. The effect of host density on hyperparasitism was significant in the intercropped wheat. The intercropping pattern had a great effect on the wheat aphids’ natural enemies. In different agricultural landscapes, the diversity of wheat aphids’ natural enemies differed significantly between intercropped wheat and monoculture wheat; in the heterogeneous landscape, the natural enemy diversity was highest in intercropped wheat, and it was far higher than that in the other wheat cultivation patterns. The natural enemy diversity was also slightly different between monoculture wheat in the heterogeneous landscape and intercropped wheat in the homogeneous agricultural landscape.
A Study on Big Data Thinking of the Internet of Things-Based Smart-Connected Car in Conjunction with Controller Area Network Bus and 4G-Long Term Evolution
Authors: Kwon Donghwoon , Park Suwoo , Ryu Jeong-Tak
Published: August 2017

A smart connected car in conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging topic. The fundamental concept of the smart connected car is connectivity, and such connectivity can be provided by three aspects, such as Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X). To meet the aspects of V2V and V2I connectivity, we developed modules in accordance with international standards with respect to On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII) and 4G Long Term Evolution (4G-LTE) to obtain and transmit vehicle information. We also developed software to visually check information provided by our modules. Information related to a user’s driving, which is transmitted to a cloud-based Distributed File System (DFS), was then analyzed for the purpose of big data analysis to provide information on driving habits to users. Yet, since this work is an ongoing research project, we focus on proposing an idea of system architecture and design in terms of big data analysis. Therefore, our contributions through this work are as follows: (1) Develop modules based on Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, OBDII, and 4G-LTE; (2) Develop software to check vehicle information on a PC; (3) Implement a database related to vehicle diagnostic codes; (4) Propose system architecture and design for big data analysis.
Origin and Evolution of Short-period Comets
Authors: Nesvorný David , Vokrouhlický David , Dones Luke , Levison Harold F. , Kaib Nathan , Morbidelli Alessandro
Published: August 2017

Comets are icy objects that orbitally evolve from the trans-Neptunian region into the inner solar system, where they are heated by solar radiation and become active due to the sublimation of water ice. Here we perform simulations in which cometary reservoirs are formed in the early solar system and evolved over 4.5 Gyr. The gravitational effects of Planet 9 (P9) are included in some simulations. Different models are considered for comets to be active, including a simple assumption that comets remain active for

perihelion passages with perihelion distance

. The orbital distribution and number of active comets produced in our model is compared to observations. The orbital distribution of ecliptic comets (ECs) is well reproduced in models with

and without P9. With P9, the inclination distribution of model ECs is wider than the observed one. We find that the known Halley-type comets (HTCs) have a nearly isotropic inclination distribution. The HTCs appear to be an extension of the population of returning Oort-cloud comets (OCCs) to shorter orbital periods. The inclination distribution of model HTCs becomes broader with increasing

, but the existing data are not good enough to constrain

from orbital fits.

is required to obtain a steady-state population of large active HTCs that is consistent with observations. To fit the ratio of the returning-to-new OCCs, by contrast, our model implies that

, possibly because the detected long-period comets are smaller and much easier to disrupt than observed HTCs.
K2 Ultracool Dwarfs Survey. II. The White Light Flare Rate of Young Brown Dwarfs
Authors: Gizis John E. , Paudel Rishi R. , Mullan Dermott , Schmidt Sarah J. , Burgasser Adam J. , Williams Peter K. G.
Published: August 2017

We use Kepler K2 Campaign 4 short-cadence (one-minute) photometry to measure white light flares in the young, moving group brown dwarfs 2MASS J03350208+2342356 (2M0335+23) and 2MASS J03552337+1133437 (2M0355+11), and report on long-cadence (thirty-minute) photometry of a superflare in the Pleiades M8 brown dwarf CFHT-PL-17. The rotation period (5.24 hr) and projected rotational velocity (45 km s−1) confirm 2M0335+23 is inflated (

) as predicted for a

, 24 Myr old brown dwarf βPic moving group member. We detect 22 white light flares on 2M0335+23. The flare frequency distribution follows a power-law distribution with slope

over the range 1031 to 1033 erg. This slope is similar to that observed in the Sun and warmer flare stars, and is consistent with lower-energy flares in previous work on M6–M8 very-low-mass stars; taking the two data sets together, the flare frequency distribution for ultracool dwarfs is a power law over 4.3 orders of magnitude. The superflare (

erg) on CFHT-PL-17 shows higher-energy flares are possible. We detect no flares down to a limit of

erg in the nearby L5γ AB Dor moving group brown dwarf 2M0355+11, consistent with the view that fast magnetic reconnection is suppressed in cool atmospheres. We discuss two multi-peaked flares observed in 2M0335+23, and argue that these complex flares can be understood as sympathetic flares, in which fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic waves similar to extreme-ultraviolet waves in the Sun trigger magnetic reconnection in different active regions.
On the Binary Nature of Massive Blue Hypergiants: High-resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy Suggests That Cyg OB2 12 is a Colliding Wind Binary
Authors: Oskinova L. M. , Huenemoerder D. P. , Hamann W.-R. , Shenar T. , Sander A. A. C. , Ignace R. , Todt H. , Hainich R.
Published: August 2017

The blue hypergiant Cyg OB2 12 (B3Ia+) is a representative member of the class of very massive stars in a poorly understood evolutionary stage. We obtained its high-resolution X-ray spectrum using the Chandra observatory. PoWR model atmospheres were calculated to provide realistic wind opacities and to establish the wind density structure. We find that collisional de-excitation is the dominant mechanism depopulating the metastable upper levels of the forbidden lines of the He-like ions Si xiv and Mg xii. Comparison between the model and observations reveals that X-ray emission is produced in a dense plasma, which could reside only at the photosphere or in a colliding wind zone between binary components. The observed X-ray spectra are well-fitted by thermal plasma models, with average temperatures in excess of 10 MK. The wind speed in Cyg OB2 12 is not high enough to power such high temperatures, but the collision of two winds in a binary system can be sufficient. We used archival data to investigate the X-ray properties of other blue hypergiants. In general, stars of this class are not detected as X-ray sources. We suggest that our new Chandra observations of Cyg OB2 12 can be best explained if Cyg OB2 12 is a colliding wind binary possessing a late O-type companion. This makes Cyg OB2 12 only the second binary system among the 16 known Galactic hypergiants. This low binary fraction indicates that the blue hypergiants are likely products of massive binary evolution during which they either accreted a significant amount of mass or already merged with their companions.
Searching for High-energy, Horizon-scale Emissions from Galactic Black Hole Transients during Quiescence
Authors: Lin L. C.-C. , Pu Hung-Yi , Hirotani Kouichi , Kong Albert K. H , Matsushita Satoki , Chang Hsiang-Kuang , Inoue Makoto , Tam Pak-Hin T.
Published: August 2017

We search for the gamma-ray counterparts of stellar-mass black holes using the long-term Fermi archive to investigate the electrostatic acceleration of electrons and positrons in the vicinity of the event horizon. We achieve this by applying the pulsar outer-gap model to their magnetospheres. When a black hole transient (BHT) is in a low-hard or quiescent state, the radiatively inefficient accretion flow cannot emit enough MeV photons that are required to sustain the force-free magnetosphere in the polar funnel via two-photon collisions. In this charge-starved gap region, an electric field arises along the magnetic field lines to accelerate electrons and positrons into ultra-relativistic energies. These relativistic leptons emit copious Gamma-rays via the curvature and inverse-Compton (IC) processes. It is found that these gamma-ray emissions exhibit a flaring activity when the plasma accretion rate typically stays between 0.01% and 0.005% of the Eddington value for rapidly rotating, stellar-mass black holes. By analyzing the detection limit determined from archival Fermi/Large Area Telescope data, we find that the 7-year averaged duty cycle of such flaring activities should be less than 5% and 10% for XTE J1118+480 and 1A 0620-00, respectively, and that the detection limit is comparable to the theoretical prediction for V404 Cyg. It is predicted that the gap emission can be discriminated from the jet emission if we investigate the high-energy spectral behavior or observe nearby BHTs during deep quiescence simultaneously in infrared wavelength and very-high energies.
De la diversification au recentrage : le groupe Thomson (1976-1989)
Authors: Fridenson Patrick
Published: August 2017

Le changement complet de stratégie et de structures imposé par le gouvernement français à l’entreprise publique Thomson S.A. amène à s’interroger sur les stratégies suivies par ce groupe durant les vingt dernières années. Les années 1970 avaient vu la poursuite d’une stratégie de croissance externe et de diversification. Les capacités organisationnelles n’ayant pas crû au même rythme, l’entreprise avait été secouée par des pertes financières. Après la nationalisation de 1982, le cap inverse a été pris : recentrer l’entreprise sur deux métiers de base (les matériels grand public, l’électronique professionnelle). De la période précédente ont été conservées deux dimensions importantes : la croissance externe et l’expansion multinationale. Devant les difficultés financières rencontrées par l’électronique grand public, l’Etat choisit de diviser le groupe et pour chacun de ses morceaux revient à une stratégie de diversification. L’article montre que l’identité des entreprises n’est pas stable et que les frontières fluctuent au gré des fusions dans l’électronique.
Entre famille et métier : les passementiers stéphanois
Authors: Reynaud Brigitte
Published: August 2017

Pour comprendre l’identité des passementiers stéphanois au tournant du XX e siècle, il faut distinguer trois éléments : le travail, la famille et l’indépendance. C’est autour du métier à tisser, outil de production et objet patrimonial, que se constituent les relations de l’ouvrier à son travail. Le métier permet un maintien de l’”autonomie” vis-à-vis du patron. Il permet ainsi la construction d’une aristocratie ouvrière autour d’une sévère morale professionnelle et sociale. C’est sur ces conditions de fabrication que viennent se greffer les relations et les rôles à l’intérieur de la famille. L’efficacité du réseau économique et social du ménage est assurée par la femme. L’héritage professionnel et matrimonial des enfants est organisé très tôt par le couple. Enfin, l’identité des passementiers repose sur une indépendance du groupe par rapport à l’environnement, elle se prolonge entre les individus eux-mêmes. En limitant la solidarité entre ces ouvriers-patrons, l’indépendance mine du même coup la cohésion de l’ensemble notamment face aux patrons donneurs d’ordres. Avec le XX e siècle, les nouvelles conditions économiques et sociales vont dissoudre progressivement les bases qui conditionnent la survie autonome du groupe.
Banque et industrie en Grande-Bretagne et en Allemagne 1870-1939
Authors: Cassis Youssef
Published: August 2017

Cet article compare les relations entre banque et industrie en Angleterre et en Allemagne de 1870 à 1939. Les deux systèmes sont en général présentés comme deux modèles opposés : la banque de dépôts en Grande-Bretagne et la banque mixte en Allemagne. L’article s’interroge sur la validité de l’opposition entre les deux modèles. Après un rappel des principes directeurs de chacun des deux systèmes, il examine les controverses qui continuent à entourer cette question, en particulier en Angleterre où le rôle de la finance est au cœur du débat sur les causes du déclin industriel relatif. L’article conclut que la banque a sans doute mieux servi l’industrie en Allemagne qu’en Angleterre, mais moins en raison d’attitudes différentes de la part des grandes banques que du poids beaucoup plus lourd de la finance dans l’économie et la société britanniques.
Structures financières et performances des entreprises industrielles en France dans la seconde moitié du XX e siècle
Authors: Straus André
Published: August 2017

L’analyse de la croissance économique est souvent construite à partir de variables macroéconomiques. Pourtant, celle-ci doit aussi s’appuyer sur des explications d’ordre microéconomique. De ce point de vue, l’étude des ressources financières des entreprises nous permet de mieux comprendre certaines des caractéristiques de la croissance française. L’évolution des ressources financières des entreprises doit être replacée dans le contexte de la mise en place des circuits de financement au sein de l’économie française. Au développement d’une économie d’endettement, au poids de l’intermédiation, au retour de l’autofinancement correspondent l’utilisation de ressources financières très liquides, une montée puis un recul des dettes dans les bilans des entreprises. Cependant, une constatation empirique ne peut suffire à expliquer cette évolution. L’article s’intéresse aussi aux modèles théoriques qui fondent les choix de financement des dirigeants d’entreprise. Trois points sont abordés : le rôle du profit dans les comportements d’investissement, les relations entre l’effet de levier et la solvabilité des entreprises industrielles et enfin l’évolution des comportements financiers des entreprises.
Histoire des “grandes surfaces” : méthodes américaines, entrepreneurs européens
Authors: Villermet Jean-Marc
Published: August 2017

L’avènement de l’hypermarché en Europe au cours de l’année 1963 est allé de pair avec l’évolution des modes de vie et du comportement des consommateurs, le développement et l’éclatement des villes ainsi que la généralisation de l’automobile. En s’inspirant du “self service” et du “supermarket” américains, les distributeurs européens créèrent des structures commerciales originales, progressivement concurrencées par les “shopping centers” régionaux. Néanmoins, à l’euphorie initiale succéda un climat de morosité au sein des entreprises les plus petites, compte tenu de l’extraordinaire complexification de la distribution européenne. Finalement, la fin des “30 Glorieuses” fut marquée par un équilibre entre équipements commerciaux péri-urbains et ceux installés au centre des villes. Entre 1950 et 1975, le comportement du client évolua considérablement. L’hypermarché comme le centre commercial font partie du paysage environnant : les chefs d’entreprises déploient une énergie considérable pour améliorer la place de leur société sur un marché qui fait sans cesse de nouveaux émules.
Urbanisation, distribution commerciale : des histoires parallèles
Authors: Parent Jean-François , Videcoq Georges
Published: August 2017

Plusieurs phénomènes peuvent caractériser l’évolution de ces trente dernières années : l’expansion urbaine, l’augmentation du pouvoir d’achat et de la motorisation. Le secteur commercial a tiré parti de ces transformations lourdes pour inventer de nouvelles formes de distribution qui ont modelé les comportements des individus et l’aspect spatial des agglomérations. Face à ces bouleversements, les pouvoirs publics, d’abord l’Etat, puis, à partir des lois de décentralisation, les collectivités locales, tentent d’encadrer cette évolution. L’article vise à mettre en parallèle, pour l’agglomération grenobloise, la volonté politique de maîtriser l’usage de l’espace et le dynamisme commercial.
Diapause induction and termination in Indian strains ofTrichogramma chilonis(Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)
Authors: Ghosh Enakshi , Ballal Chandish R.
Published: August 2017

The role of temperature in diapause induction was studied as a mode of long-term storage ofTrichogramma chilonis(Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Three different strains of this widely used biocontrol agent (T. chilonisNilgiris strain,T. chilonisKodaikanal strain, andT. chilonis15 °C strain) reared on the factitious hostCorcyra cephalonica(Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were used for this experiment. ExceptT. chilonislaboratory strain, all the other strains could successfully undergo diapause at their pre-pupal stage. Maximum percentage of healthy pre-pupae were recorded in the three strains by providing a pre-storage temperature of 10 °C for 35 days with eight hours of photophase wherein 75–87% could enter into diapause. Further, at a maintenance temperature of 5 °C with 24 hours of scotophase, diapause could be maintained. Diapause could be terminated after six months of storage with 23–36% of adult emergence. However, there was significant reduction in longevity and parasitism rate of the emerged adults. Considering superior biological parameters, 95 days of storage (including pre-storage duration) could provide around 60% adult emergence. Successful long-term storage ofT. chilonisstrains through diapause induction can facilitate commercial insectaries in stockpiling this biocontrol agent for large-scale field releases. This is the first study on successful induction and termination of diapause inT. chilonisstrains and evaluating their performance attributes.
The Troubles in Northern Ireland and Theories of Social Movements
Authors: Bosi Lorenzo , Fazio Gianluca , Campbell Sarah , Demirel-Pegg Tijen , Furguson Neil , Maney Gregory , McAuley James , Nagle John , O'Hearn Denis , O'Keefe Theresa , Ruane Joseph , Smithey Lee , Todd Jennifer , Turner Erin-Beth , White Robert
Published: August 2017

This volume focuses on a number of research questions, drawn from social movement scholarship: How does nonviolent mobilisation emerge and persist in deeply divided societies? What are the trajectories of participation in violent groups in these societies? What is the relationship between overt mobilisation, clandestine operations and protests among political prisoners? What is the role of media coverage and identity politics? Can there be non-sectarian collective mobilisation in deeply divided societies? The answers to these questions do not merely try to explain contentious politics in Northern Ireland; instead, they inform future research on social movements beyond this case. Specifically, we argue that an actor-based approach and the contextualisation of contentious politics provide a dynamic theoretical framework to better understand the Troubles and the development of conflicts in deeply divided societies.
African-Asian Encounters
Authors: Graf Arndt , Azirah Hashim Azirah , Röschenthaler Ute , Nguepjouo Diderot , Runge Jürgen , Hartig Falk , Mageza-Barthel Rirhandu , Gröger André , Klump Rainer , Engel Susan , Nauta Wiebe , Lee Tae-Joo , Rehal Satwinder S.
Published: August 2017

In recent decades, ties between Africa and Asia have greatly increased. And while most of the scholarly attention to the phenomenon has focused on China, often with an emphasis on asymmetric power relations in both politics and economics, this book takes a much broader view, looking at various small and medium-sized actors in Asia and Africa in a wide range of fields. It will be essential for scholars working on Asian-African studies and will also offer insights for policymakers working in this fast-changing field.
A ubiquitous ice size bias in simulations of tropical deep convection
Authors: Stanford McKenna W. , Varble Adam , Zipser Ed , Strapp J. Walter , Leroy Delphine , Schwarzenboeck Alfons , Potts Rodney , Protat Alain
Published: August 2017

Abstract. The High Altitude Ice Crystals – High Ice Water Content (HAIC-HIWC) joint field campaign produced aircraft retrievals of total condensed water content (TWC), hydrometeor particle size distributions (PSDs), and vertical velocity (w) in high ice water content regions of mature and decaying tropical mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The resulting dataset is used here to explore causes of the commonly documented high bias in radar reflectivity within cloud-resolving simulations of deep convection. This bias has been linked to overly strong simulated convective updrafts lofting excessive condensate mass but is also modulated by parameterizations of hydrometeor size distributions, single particle properties, species separation, and microphysical processes. Observations are compared with three Weather Research and Forecasting model simulations of an observed MCS using different microphysics parameterizations while controlling for w, TWC, and temperature. Two popular bulk microphysics schemes (Thompson and Morrison) and one bin microphysics scheme (fast spectral bin microphysics) are compared. For temperatures between −10 and −40 °C and TWC  >  1 g m−3, all microphysics schemes produce median mass diameters (MMDs) that are generally larger than observed, and the precipitating ice species that controls this size bias varies by scheme, temperature, and w. Despite a much greater number of samples, all simulations fail to reproduce observed high-TWC conditions ( >  2 g m−3) between −20 and −40 °C in which only a small fraction of condensate mass is found in relatively large particle sizes greater than 1 mm in diameter. Although more mass is distributed to large particle sizes relative to those observed across all schemes when controlling for temperature, w, and TWC, differences with observations are significantly variable between the schemes tested. As a result, this bias is hypothesized to partly result from errors in parameterized hydrometeor PSD and single particle properties, but because it is present in all schemes, it may also partly result from errors in parameterized microphysical processes present in all schemes. Because of these ubiquitous ice size biases, the frequently used microphysical parameterizations evaluated in this study inherently produce a high bias in convective reflectivity for a wide range of temperatures, vertical velocities, and TWCs.
ESTIMATIVA DO COEFICIENTE DE EXPANSÃO VOLUMÉTRICA DA ÁGUA DE COCO
Authors: Canciam César Augusto
Published: August 2017

O coeficiente de expansão volumétrica é uma propriedade termodinâmica que fornece uma medida da variação da massa específica em resposta à variação da temperatura, mantendo a pressão constante. Com o coeficiente de expansão volumétrica é possível avaliar o impacto da dilatação térmica sobre a medição volumétrica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o coeficiente de expansão volumétrica da água de coco. Para tanto, realizou uma análise de regressão linear de dados experimentais da massa específica da água de coco em função da temperatura. O valor encontrado para o coeficiente de expansão volumétrica foi de 3,39 x 10-4ºC-1, em um intervalo de temperatura de 5 a 80ºC e pressão de 1 atm. Na literatura não foram encontrados valores experimentais para o coeficiente de expansão volumétrica da água de coco. Observou-se que o coeficiente de expansão volumétrica da água de coco é próximo do coeficiente de expansão volumétrica do suco de abacaxi com 11ºBrix.
La abstracción del Tango y del pecio de Zencity, dos polémicas para la arqueología urbana de Buenos Aires
Authors: Weissel Álvarez Marcelo
Published: August 2017

Con perspectiva urbana se polemiza sobre el rol social del patrimonio en la producción de políticas de pensamiento y práctica arqueológica para Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se analizan dos casos de acción profesional para debatir líneas de conservación social de patrimonio arqueológico
incorporando la materia mueble e inmueble como abstracción política de ontología social. El primer caso polemiza la posibilidad de una arqueología del Tango en su ciudad Meca, y el segundo caso discute el destino social del hallazgo de un naufragio, realizado bajo un emprendimiento inmobiliario de lujo, con posterior traslado al sector histórico naval, vulnerable y contaminado de la ciudad.
América Latina e as histórias transnacionais, conectadas e cruzadas: a comparação ainda é pertinente para o campo historiográfico?
Authors: Luis Andreo Igor
Published: August 2017

Parte preponderante dos defensores dos conceitos e das teorias de histórias transnacionais, conectadas e cruzadas, ao propor enfoques renovadores e inovações fundamentais para as análises no campo
historiográfico, acaba por colocá-los como antagônicos à história comparada, que passa a ser apresentada como algo completamente superado. Neste artigo, intenta-se apontar as possibilidades de se empregar como complementares, em pesquisas historiográficas entre diferentes regiões latino-americanas, os avanços dessas (relativamente) novas teorias e conceitos com os caminhos enfatizados pela “velha” análise comparativa, além de se destacar a sempre necessária adequação dos métodos, das teorias e dos conceitos aos objetivos e objetos a serem estudados.

Palavras-chave: Comparação. Complementação. Transnacionalidade.
Animals in Walden
Authors: Liu Qin
Published: August 2017

Henry David Thoreau is a great American writer of transcendentalism and the pioneer of modern environmentalism. Being an ardent lover of nature, he devoted his entire life to studying the relationship between man and nature, and bequeathed a legacy of works in this field. He believed that nature was the symbol of spirit, and had a far-reaching influence on man and his character, and human beings should live harmoniously with nature for the long sustainable development. In Walden which is his masterpiece He endows the animals with human characteristics. Thereupon, Thoreau often describes the similarities between animals and people he comes across. People can be just as greedy and shallow as the marmot of the prairie, or as naughty and clumsy as red squirrels, or as lazy and cunning as chickadees, or as loyal as gundogs in Thoreau’s writings. Thoreau spent two years living a simple life at Walden on his own. He recounted in details the living habits of these animals, from woodchucks, loons to mice and hawks.
Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Piezoelectric Bimorph Transducer for Broadband Vibration Energy Harvesting
Authors: Chen Nan , Bedekar Vishwas
Published: August 2017

We demonstrate the detailed analysis for conversion of piezoelectric properties into compliance matrix and simulate a series bimorph configuration for vibration based energy generation. Commercially available software COMSOL Multiphysics was used to apply boundary conditions for optimization of geometric parameters such as length, width and thickness of piezoelectric layer to study voltage and power characteristics of the harvester. The resulting energy harvester was found to generate 1.73 mW at 53.4 Hz across a 3MW load with an energy density of 13.08mJ/cm3. We also investigated feasibility of this model by comparing it with existing experimental data of known piezoelectric ceramic compositions and found good correlation between the two.