bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Templating in the Emergence of RNA from the Prebiotic Chemical Mixture
Authors: Tupper Andrew , Shi Kevin , Higgs Paul
Published: October 2017

Biological RNA is a uniform polymer in three senses: it uses nucleotides of a single chirality; it uses only ribose sugars and four nucleobases rather than a mixture of other sugars and bases; and it uses only 3′-5′ bonds rather than a mixture of different bond types. We suppose that prebiotic chemistry would generate a diverse mixture of potential monomers, and that random polymerization would generate non-uniform strands of mixed chirality, monomer composition, and bond type. We ask what factors lead to the emergence of RNA from this mixture. We show that template-directed replication can lead to the emergence of all the uniform properties of RNA by the same mechanism. We study a computational model in which nucleotides react via polymerization, hydrolysis, and template-directed ligation. Uniform strands act as templates for ligation of shorter oligomers of the same type, whereas mixed strands do not act as templates. The three uniform properties emerge naturally when the ligation rate is high. If there is an exact symmetry, as with the chase of chirality, the uniform property arises via a symmetry-breaking phase transition. If there is no exact symmetry, as with monomer selection and backbone regioselectivity, the uniform property emerges gradually as the rate of template-directed ligation is increased.
Remineralization Property of an Orthodontic Primer Containing a Bioactive Glass with Silver and Zinc
Authors: Lee Seung-Min , Kim In-Ryoung , Park Bong-Soo , Lee Dong , Ko Ching-Chang , Son Woo-Sung , Kim Yong-Il
Published: October 2017

White spot lesions (WSLs) are irreversible damages in orthodontic treatment due to excessive etching or demineralization by microorganisms. In this study, we conducted a mechanical and cell viability test to examine the antibacterial properties of 0.2% and 1% bioactive glass (BAG) and silver-doped and zinc-doped BAGs in a primer and evaluated their clinical applicability to prevent WSLs. The microhardness statistically significantly increased in the adhesive-containing BAG, while the other samples showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group. The shear bond strength of all samples increased compared with that of the control group. The cell viability of the control and sample groups was similar within 24 h, but decreased slightly over 48 h. All samples showed antibacterial properties. Regarding remineralization property, the group containing 0.2% of the samples showed remineralization properties compared with the control group, but was not statistically significant; further, the group containing 1% of the samples showed a significant difference compared with the control group. Among them, the orthodontic bonding primer containing 1% silver-doped BAG showed the highest remineralization property. The new orthodontic bonding primer used in this study showed an antimicrobial effect, chemical remineralization effect, and WSL prevention as well as clinically applicable properties, both physically and biologically.
Calcium Phosphate Cement with Antimicrobial Properties and Radiopacity as an Endodontic Material
Authors: Shieh Tzong-Ming , Hsu Shih-Ming , Chang Kai-Chi , Chen Wen-Cheng , Lin Dan-Jae
Published: October 2017

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have several advantages for use as endodontic materials, and such advantages include ease of use, biocompatibility, potential hydroxyapatite-forming ability, and bond creation between the dentin and appropriate filling materials. However, unlike tricalcium silicate (CS)-based materials, CPCs do not have antibacterial properties. The present study doped a nonwashable CPC with 0.25–1.0 wt % hinokitiol and added 0, 5, and 10 wt % CS. The CPCs with 0.25–0.5 wt % hinokitiol showed appreciable antimicrobial properties without alterations in their working or setting times, mechanical properties, or cytocompatibility. Addition of CS slightly retarded the apatite formation of CPC and the working and setting time was obviously reduced. Moreover, addition of CS dramatically increased the compressive strength of CPC. Doping CS with 5 wt % ZnO provided additional antibacterial effects to the present CPC system. CS and hinokitiol exerted a synergic antibacterial effect, and the CPC with 0.25 wt % hinokitiol and 10 wt % CS (doped with 5 wt % ZnO) had higher antibacterial properties than that of pure CS. The addition of 10 wt % bismuth subgallate doubled the CPC radiopacity. The results demonstrate that hinokitiol and CS can improve the antibacterial properties of CPCs, and they can thus be considered for endodontic applications.
Functional Characterization of a Hydroxyacid/Alcohol Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase Produced by the Liverwort Marchantia emarginata
Authors: Wang Ping-Ping , Liu Hui , Gao Shuai , Cheng Ai-Xia
Published: October 2017

The aerial organs of most terrestrial plants are covered by a hydrophobic protective cuticle. The main constituent of the cuticle is the lipid polyester cutin, which is composed of aliphatic and aromatic domains. The aliphatic component is a polyester between fatty acid/alcohol and hydroxycinnamoyl acid. The BAHD/HxxxD family enzymes are central to the synthesis of these polyesters. The nature of this class of enzymes in bryophytes has not been explored to date. Here, a gene encoding a fatty ω-hydroxyacid/fatty alcohol hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HFT) has been isolated from the liverwort Marchantia emarginata and has been functionally characterized. Experiments based on recombinant protein showed that the enzyme uses ω-hydroxy fatty acids or primary alcohols as its acyl acceptor and various hydroxycinnamoyl-CoAs—preferentially feruloyl-CoA and caffeoyl-CoA—as acyl donors at least in vitro. The transient expression of a MeHFT-GFP fusion transgene in the Nicotiana benthamiana leaf demonstrated that MeHFT is directed to the cytoplasm, suggesting that the feruloylation of cutin monomers takes place there.
Human Perception Measures for Product Design and Development—A Tutorial to Measurement Methods and Analysis
Authors: Hatzfeld Christian , Kühner Manuel , Söllner Stefan , Khanh Tran , Kupnik Mario
Published: October 2017

This tutorial describes the necessary steps for designing and conducting a perception experiment in order to obtain design parameters for human–machine interactions. It is intended for engineers and product designers, which require design parameters not included in the current state of the art. Topics addressed are the preposition of hypotheses, the selection of parameters, psychophysical measurement procedures and the calculation of sample sizes. Relevant steps for data analysis from psychology and social sciences are applied to the engineering and design context and guidelines for reporting results are given. The required steps are illustrated with an example experiment assessing detection thresholds of damping parameters of haptic automotive rotary controls with regard to parameters like knob diameter and distraction. Results imply significant effects of knob diameter on both absolute and differential thresholds, but no effect of distraction, implying a good transferability of laboratory results to real-world applications.
Probiotic Supplementation in Preterm Infants Does Not Affect the Risk of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Villamor-Martínez Eduardo , Pierro Maria , Cavallaro Giacomo , Mosca Fabio , Kramer Boris , Villamor Eduardo
Published: October 2017

Probiotic supplementation reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants, but it remains to be determined whether this reduction translates into a reduction of other complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the possible role of probiotics in altering the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Fifteen randomized controlled trials (4782 infants; probiotics: 2406) were included. None of the included studies assessed BPD as the primary outcome. Meta-analysis confirmed a significant reduction of NEC (risk ratio (RR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33 to 0.81, p = 0.004; random effects model), and an almost significant reduction of LOS (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.03, p = 0.084). In contrast, meta-analysis could not demonstrate a significant effect of probiotics on BPD, defined either as oxygen dependency at 28 days of life (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.11, p = 0.900, 6 studies) or at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.20, p = 0.203, 12 studies). Meta-regression did not show any significant association between the RR for NEC or LOS and the RR for BPD. In conclusion, our results suggest that NEC and LOS prevention by probiotics does not affect the risk of developing BPD in preterm infants.
Leaching of Metals from Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Aaltonen Miamari , Peng Chao , Wilson Benjamin , Lundström Mari
Published: October 2017

The recycling of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is becoming increasingly important due to the depletion of natural resources and potential pollution from the spent batteries. In this work, different types of acids (2 M citric (C6H8O7), 1 M oxalic (C2H2O4), 2 M sulfuric (H2SO4), 4 M hydrochloric (HCl), and 1 M nitric (HNO3) acid)) and reducing agents (hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), glucose (C6H12O6) and ascorbic acid (C6H8O6)) were selected for investigating the recovery of valuable metals from waste LIBs. The crushed and sieved material contained on average 23% (w/w) cobalt, 3% (w/w) lithium, and 1–5% (w/w) nickel, copper, manganese, aluminum, and iron. Results indicated that mineral acids (4 M HCl and 2 M H2SO4 with 1% (v/v) H2O2) produced generally higher yields compared with organic acids, with a nearly complete dissolution of lithium, cobalt, and nickel at 25 °C with a slurry density of 5% (w/v). Further leaching experiments carried out with H2SO4 media and different reducing agents with a slurry density of 10% (w/v) show that nearly all of the cobalt and lithium can be leached out in sulfuric acid (2 M) when using C6H8O6 as a reducing agent (10% g/gscraps) at 80 °C.
Black Buddhists and the Body: New Approaches to Socially Engaged Buddhism
Authors: Vesely-Flad Rima
Published: October 2017

This article deconstructs how Buddhist practitioners of African descent acknowledge racism and challenge predominantly white, affluent Buddhist sanghas that embrace the tenets of Socially Engaged Buddhism. It argues that practitioners of African descent directly acknowledge the social constructs of the black body that result in violent practices such as police brutality and disproportionate black incarceration. To support this argument, I rely on primary texts published by Socially Engaged Buddhists. The results conclude that black Buddhists not only highlight the suffering wrought by racism in the West, they also challenge white sangha members to reckon with the depth of racism in society and in their sanghas. I conclude that black Buddhists, in their acknowledgement of the socially constructed meanings of the black body, offer an important challenge to Socially Engaged Buddhism.
A Node-Based Method for SLAM Navigation in Self-Similar Underwater Environments: A Case Study
Authors: Trabes Emanuel , Jordan Mario
Published: October 2017

This work deals with the development of a node-based monocular visual methodology for autonomous vehicle navigation which has the goal of exploring unknown regions of the sea bottom with a posterior safe revisiting of them. The work accentuates characteristics of the seabed like self-similarity and backscattering. In a stepwise fashion, a visual guidance system constructs a shape similar to a narrow corridor by optimally creating a heading function on the basis of keypoints threads, which ensures future revisits. The corridor is composed of nodes and paths in between. Each path is composed of a visual-odometry-based trail which is generated in feature-poor environments, in combination with a feature-based trail which emerges in feature-rich regions. A probabilistic analysis of the uncertainties and their impact in the success rate on loop closings is carried out. We work out two case studies, the first employing an ad-hoc benchmark and the second a series of experiments in the real world. From here qualitative conclusions can be drawn out that enable us to anticipate potential applications of the approach in the field of autonomous navigation underwater.
Smart Homes for Elderly Healthcare—Recent Advances and Research Challenges
Authors: Majumder Sumit , Aghayi Emad. , Noferesti Moein , Memarzadeh-Tehran Hamidreza , Mondal Tapas , Pang Zhibo , Deen M.
Published: October 2017

Advancements in medical science and technology, medicine and public health coupled with increased consciousness about nutrition and environmental and personal hygiene have paved the way for the dramatic increase in life expectancy globally in the past several decades. However, increased life expectancy has given rise to an increasing aging population, thus jeopardizing the socio-economic structure of many countries in terms of costs associated with elderly healthcare and wellbeing. In order to cope with the growing need for elderly healthcare services, it is essential to develop affordable, unobtrusive and easy-to-use healthcare solutions. Smart homes, which incorporate environmental and wearable medical sensors, actuators, and modern communication and information technologies, can enable continuous and remote monitoring of elderly health and wellbeing at a low cost. Smart homes may allow the elderly to stay in their comfortable home environments instead of expensive and limited healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel can also keep track of the overall health condition of the elderly in real-time and provide feedback and support from distant facilities. In this paper, we have presented a comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art research and development in smart home based remote healthcare technologies.
Feasibility Study of the Electromagnetic Damper for Cable Structures Using Real-Time Hybrid Simulation
Authors: Jung Ho-Yeon , Kim In-Ho , Jung Hyung-Jo
Published: October 2017

Cable structure is a major component of long-span bridges, such as cable-stayed and suspension bridges, and it transfers the main loads of bridges to the pylons. As these cable structures are exposed to continuous external loads, such as vehicle and wind loads, vibration control and continuous monitoring of the cable are required. In this study, an electromagnetic (EM) damper was designed and fabricated for vibration control and monitoring of the cable structure. EM dampers, also called regenerative dampers, consist of permanent magnets and coils. The electromagnetic force due to the relative motion between the coil and the permanent magnet can be used to control the vibration of the structure. The electrical energy can be used as a power source for the monitoring system. The effects of the design parameters of the damper were numerically analyzed and the damper was fabricated. The characteristics of the damper were analyzed with various external load changes. Finally, the vibration-control and energy-harvesting performances of the cable structure were evaluated through a hybrid simulation. The vibration-control and energy-harvesting performances for various loads were analyzed and the applicability to the cable structure of the EM damper was evaluated.
Design, Fabrication, and Modeling of a Novel Dual-Axis Control Input PZT Gyroscope
Authors: Chang Cheng-Yang , Chen Tsung-Lin
Published: October 2017

Conventional gyroscopes are equipped with a single-axis control input, limiting their performance. Although researchers have proposed control algorithms with dual-axis control inputs to improve gyroscope performance, most have verified the control algorithms through numerical simulations because they lacked practical devices with dual-axis control inputs. The aim of this study was to design a piezoelectric gyroscope equipped with a dual-axis control input so that researchers may experimentally verify those control algorithms in future. Designing a piezoelectric gyroscope with a dual-axis control input is more difficult than designing a conventional gyroscope because the control input must be effective over a broad frequency range to compensate for imperfections, and the multiple mode shapes in flexural deformations complicate the relation between flexural deformation and the proof mass position. This study solved these problems by using a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) material, introducing additional electrodes for shielding, developing an optimal electrode pattern, and performing calibrations of undesired couplings. The results indicated that the fabricated device could be operated at 5.5±1 kHz to perform dual-axis actuations and position measurements. The calibration of the fabricated device was completed by system identifications of a new dynamic model including gyroscopic motions, electromechanical coupling, mechanical coupling, electrostatic coupling, and capacitive output impedance. Finally, without the assistance of control algorithms, the “open loop sensitivity” of the fabricated gyroscope was 1.82 μV/deg/s with a nonlinearity of 9.5% full-scale output. This sensitivity is comparable with those of other PZT gyroscopes with single-axis control inputs.
How Did Crew Resource Management Take-Off Outside of the Cockpit? A Systematic Review of How Crew Resource Management Training Is Conceptualised and Evaluated for Non-Pilots
Authors: Havinga Jop , De Boer Robert Jan , Rae Andrew , Dekker Sidney
Published: October 2017

Crew resource management (CRM) training for flight crews is widespread and has been credited with improving aviation safety. As other industries have adopted CRM, they have interpreted CRM in different ways. We sought to understand how industries have adopted CRM, regarding its conceptualisation and evaluation. For this, we conducted a systematic review of CRM studies in the Maritime, Nuclear Power, Oil and Gas, and Air Traffic Control industries. We searched three electronic databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus) and CRM reviews for papers. We analysed these papers on their goals, scope, levers of change, and evaluation. To synthesise, we compared the analysis results across industries. We found that most CRM programs have the broad goals of improving safety and efficiency. However, there are differences in the scope and levers of change between programs, both within and between industries. Most evaluative studies suffer from methodological weaknesses, and the evaluation does not align with how studies conceptualise CRM. These results challenge the assumption that there is a clear link between CRM training and enhanced safety in the analysed industries. Future CRM research needs to provide a clear conceptualisation—how CRM is expected to improve safety—and select evaluation measures consistent with this.
Experimental Application of an Advanced Separation Process for NOM Removal from Surface Drinking Water Supply
Authors: Callegari Arianna , Boguniewicz-Zablocka Joanna , Capodaglio Andrea
Published: October 2017

Natural organic matter (NOM) in drinking water supplies significantly impacts on water supply quality and treatment, due to observed reactivity with many dissolved and particulate species. Several technologies are used nowadays to remove NOM from the water supply. The evolution of water-related directives, and progressively more restrictive standards for drinking water, however, call for the investigation of advanced, more efficient, and cost-effective water treatment processes. This paper contains a brief overview on the state-of-the-art methods for NOM removal from supply waters, and describes the experimental application of an advanced technology, tested and validated at the pilot scale on the water supply source of a town in Poland. The process allowed significant removal of natural organic matter (about 50% as Dissolved Organic Carbon) and turbidity (from 50% to 90%), however, these results requested significant additions of powdered activated carbon. The key to success of this type of process is a correct setup with the identification of optimal types and dosages of reagents. Based on the results of the tests conducted it is foreseeable that this technology could be used onsite, not only for removal of NOM, but also of other hard-to-tackle pollutants potentially contained in the freshwater supply and not presently considered.
Habitat Effect on Urban Roof Vegetation
Authors: Yalcinalp Emrah , Ozveren Selva , Meral Alperen , Pulatkan Muberra , Akbulut Sefa
Published: October 2017

Urban growth has been fast for decades. Because money is very important in this urban-based world, humanity focuses on economic development, and is often too busy to deal with sustainability. Therefore, in a world that is constantly changing, creating sustainable cities that contain a diverse range of habitats supporting plant establishment is essential. Some surprising urban habitats in which plants can grow, such as cracks on pavements and walls, rocky areas, abandoned places and roofs might be extremely important for sustainability, while urban spaces are under artificial pressure. In this study, which suggesting a method to create more sustainable green roofs for urban areas, and considering roof vegetation is already important for supporting the ecology of urban areas, we surveyed 37 roofs in an urban part of Trabzon city focusing on the habitat effect. We found 51 plant species growing on these 37 roofs, and determined five different roof vegetation typologies in the research area. The main goal in any artificial green roof is to cover roof surfaces with vegetation, and success is considered a perfect coverage rate. We found roof surface size, species richness, size of the sunlit part, daily sunlight duration, and depth of the substrate are the most effective habitat attributes on vegetation coverage on rooftops in the research area.
A Values-Based Approach to Exploring Synergies between Livestock Farming and Landscape Conservation in Galicia (Spain)
Authors: Swagemakers Paul , Dominguez Garcia Maria , Onofa Torres Amanda , Oostindie Henk , Groot Jeroen
Published: October 2017

The path to sustainable development involves creating coherence and synergies in the complex relationships between economic and ecological systems. In sustaining their farm businesses farmers’ differing values influence their decisions about agroecosystem management, leading them to adopt diverging farming practices. This study explores the values of dairy and beef cattle farmers, the assumptions that underpin them, and the various ways that these lead farmers to combine food production with the provision of other ecosystem services, such as landscape conservation and biodiversity preservation. This paper draws on empirical research from Galicia (Spain), a marginal and mountainous European region whose livestock production system has undergone modernization in recent decades, exposing strategic economic, social and ecological vulnerabilities. It applies a Q-methodology to develop a values-based approach to farming. Based on a sample of 24 livestock farmers, whose practices promote landscape conservation and/or biodiversity preservation, the Q-methodology allowed us to identify four ‘farming styles’. Further analysis of the practices of the farmers in these groups, based on additional farm data and interview material, suggests that all 24 farmers valorize landscape and nature and consider cattle production and nature conservation to be compatible within their own farm practices. However, the groups differed in the extent to which they have developed synergies between livestock farming and landscape conservation. We conclude by discussing how rural development policy in Galicia could strengthen such practices by providing incentives to farmers and institutionally embedding a shift towards more diversified farming and product development.
Aspergillus korhogoensis, a Novel Aflatoxin Producing Species from the Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Carvajal-Campos Amaranta , Manizan Ama , Tadrist Souria , Akaki David , Koffi-Nevry Rose , Moore Geromy , Fapohunda Stephen , Bailly Sylviane , Montet Didier , Oswald Isabelle , Lorber Sophie , Brabet Catherine , Puel Olivier
Published: October 2017

Several strains of a new aflatoxigenic species of Aspergillus, A. korhogoensis, were isolated in the course of a screening study involving species from section Flavi found contaminating peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) and peanut paste in the Côte d’Ivoire. Based on examination of four isolates, this new species is described using a polyphasic approach. A concatenated alignment comprised of nine genes (ITS, benA, cmdA, mcm7, amdS, rpb1, preB, ppgA, and preA) was subjected to phylogenetic analysis, and resulted in all four strains being inferred as a distinct clade. Characterization of mating type for each strain revealed A. korhogoensis as a heterothallic species, since three isolates exhibited a singular MAT1-1 locus and one isolate exhibited a singular MAT1-2 locus. Morphological and physiological characterizations were also performed based on their growth on various types of media. Their respective extrolite profiles were characterized using LC/HRMS, and showed that this new species is capable of producing B- and G-aflatoxins, aspergillic acid, cyclopiazonic acid, aflavarins, and asparasones, as well as other metabolites. Altogether, our results confirm the monophyly of A. korhogoensis, and strengthen its position in the A. flavus clade, as the sister taxon of A. parvisclerotigenus.
Clinical Relevance of Total HIV DNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Compartments as a Biomarker of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)
Authors: Ruhanya Vurayai , Jacobs Graeme , Glashoff Richard , Engelbrecht Susan
Published: October 2017

The pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders is complex and multifactorial. It is hypothesized that the critical events initiating this condition occur outside the brain, particularly in the peripheral blood. Diagnoses of HIV-induced neurocognitive disorders largely rely on neuropsychometric assessments, which are not precise. Total HIV DNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), quantified by PCR, correlate with disease progression, which is a promising biomarker to predict HAND. Numerous PCR assays for HIV DNA in cell compartments are prone to variation due to the lack of standardization and, therefore, their utility in predicting HAND produced different outcomes. This review evaluates the clinical relevance of total HIV DNA in circulating mononuclear cells using different published quantitative PCR (qPCR) protocols. The rationale is to shed light on the most appropriate assays and sample types used to accurately quantify HIV DNA load, which predicts severity of neurocognitive impairment. The role of monocytes as a vehicle for trafficking HIV into the CNS makes it the most suitable sample for determining a HAND associated reservoir. Studies have also shown significant associations between monocyte HIV DNA levels with markers of neurodamage. However, qPCR assays using PBMCs are cheaper and available commercially, thus could be beneficial in clinical settings. There is need, however, to standardise DNA extraction, normalisation and limit of detection.
Household Behavior with Respect to Meat Consumption: Differences between Households with and without Children
Authors: Merlino Valentina Maria , Borra Danielle , Verduna Tibor , Massaglia Stefano
Published: October 2017

Meat consumers around the world are increasingly paying attention to product quality and safety, and are starting to reduce their meat consumption, especially with regard to red meat. This trend is prevalent in households with children who prefer health-certified meat products. Our study compares meat consumption habits in households with and without children or adolescences (0–18 years). A structured questionnaire was distributed to 401 retail purchasers at 12 different points of sales of meat in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy. Socio-demographic variables and quantitative-qualitative meat consumption habits of retail purchasers were investigated. One part of the questionnaire analyzed the relative importance of 12 meat choice purchasing attributes by employing the Best-Worst scaling methodology, a type of choice experiment. Our research found that households without children (subset B) have higher weekly meat consumption habits than those with children (subset A). Alternatively, the households with children (subset A) have a diet characterized by a greater variety of protein sources, such as legumes and fish. Both of the considered subsets preferred trusted butchers for meat buying, with supermarkets as a second choice. However, only consumers of subset A bought meat from farm butchers. Our team performed a consumer analysis to identify meat consumption patterns in the two considered subsets. Simultaneously, a Best-Worst analysis evidenced several choice attributes with different relevance for the two investigated samples segmentation in three clusters of purchase.
Enhancing the Economic Value of Large Investments in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) through Inclusion of Ecosystems Services Benefits
Authors: Vincent Santiago , Radhakrishnan Mohanasundar , Hayde Laszlo , Pathirana Assela
Published: October 2017

Although Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are used in cities across the world as effective flood adaptation responses, their economic viability has frequently been questioned. Inclusion of the monetary value of ecosystem services (ES) provided by SuDS can increase the rate of return on investments made. Hence, this paper aims at reviewing the enhancement of the economic value of large-scale investments in SuDS through inclusion of ecosystem services. This study focuses on the flood reduction capacity and the ES benefits of green roofs and rain barrels in the combined sewerage network of Montevideo Municipality in Uruguay. The methodology comprises a cost–benefit analysis—with and without monetised ES provided by SuDS—of two drainage network configurations comprising: (i) SuDS; and (ii) SuDS and detention storage. The optimal drainage design for both these drainage configurations have been determined using SWMM-EA, a tool which uses multi-objective optimisation based evolutionary algorithm (EA) and the storm water management model (SWMM). In both design configurations, total benefits comprising both flood reduction and ES benefits are always higher than their costs. The use of storage along with SuDS provides greater benefits with a larger reduction in flooding, and thus is more cost-effective than using SuDS alone. The results show that, for both of the drainage configurations, the larger investments are not beneficial unless ES benefits are taken into account. Hence, it can be concluded that the inclusion of ES benefits is necessary to justify large-scale investments in SuDS.
Far-infrared to Millimeter Data of Protoplanetary Disks: Dust Growth in the Taurus, Ophiuchus, and Chamaeleon I Star-forming Regions*
Authors: Ribas Álvaro , Espaillat Catherine C. , Macías Enrique , Bouy Hervé , Andrews Sean , Calvet Nuria , Naylor David A. , Riviere-Marichalar Pablo , van der Wiel Matthijs H. D. , Wilner David
Published: October 2017

Far-infrared and (sub)millimeter fluxes can be used to study dust in protoplanetary disks, the building blocks of planets. Here, we combine observations from the Herschel Space Observatory with ancillary data of 284 protoplanetary disks in the Taurus, Chamaeleon I, and Ophiuchus star-forming regions, covering from the optical to mm/cm wavelengths. We analyze their spectral indices as a function of wavelength and determine their (sub)millimeter slopes when possible. Most disks display observational evidence of grain growth, in agreement with previous studies. No correlation is found between other tracers of disk evolution and the millimeter spectral indices. A simple disk model is used to fit these sources, and we derive posterior distributions for the optical depth at 1.3 mm and 10 au, the disk temperature at this same radius, and the dust opacity spectral index β. We find the fluxes at 70 μm to correlate strongly with disk temperatures at 10 au, as derived from these simple models. We find tentative evidence for spectral indices in Chamaeleon I being steeper than those of disks in Taurus/Ophiuchus, although more millimeter observations are needed to confirm this trend and identify its possible origin. Additionally, we determine the median spectral energy distribution of each region and find them to be similar across the entire wavelength range studied, possibly due to the large scatter in disk properties and morphologies.
Effect of Local Thermal Equilibrium Misbalance on Long-wavelength Slow Magnetoacoustic Waves
Authors: Nakariakov V. M. , Afanasyev A. N. , Kumar S. , Moon Y.-J.
Published: October 2017

Evolution of slow magnetoacoustic waves guided by a cylindrical magnetic flux tube that represents a coronal loop or plume, is modeled accounting for the effects of finite gas pressure, weak nonlinearity, dissipation by thermal conduction and viscosity, and the misbalance between the cooling by optically thin radiation and unspecified heating of the plasma. An evolutionary equation of the Burgers–Malthus type is derived. It is shown that the cooling/heating misbalance, determined by the derivatives of the combined radiative cooling and heating function, with respect to the density, temperature, and magnetic field at the thermal equilibrium affect the wave rather strongly. This effect may either cause additional damping, or counteract it, or lead to the gradual amplification of the wave. In the latter case, the coronal plasma acts as an active medium for the slow magnetoacoustic waves. The effect of the cooling/heating misbalance could be important for coronal slow waves, and could be responsible for certain discrepancies between theoretical results and observations, in particular, the increased or decreased damping lengths and times, detection of the waves at certain heights only, and excitation of compressive oscillations. The results obtained open up a possibility for the diagnostics of the coronal heating function by slow magnetoacoustic waves.
Parallel Tracks as Quasi-steady States for the Magnetic Boundary Layers in Neutron-star Low-mass X-Ray Binaries
Authors: Erkut M. Hakan , Çatmabacak Onur
Published: October 2017

The neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are usually thought to be weakly magnetized objects accreting matter from their low-mass companions in the form of a disk. Albeit weak compared to those in young neutron-star systems, the neutron-star magnetospheres in LMXBs can play an important role in determining the correlations between spectral and temporal properties. Parallel tracks appearing in the kilohertz (kHz) quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) frequency versus X-ray flux plane can be used as a tool to study the magnetosphere–disk interaction in neutron-star LMXBs. For dynamically important weak fields, the formation of a non-Keplerian magnetic boundary layer at the innermost disk truncated near the surface of the neutron star is highly likely. Such a boundary region may harbor oscillatory modes of frequencies in the kHz range. We generate parallel tracks using the boundary region model of kHz QPOs. We also present the direct application of our model to the reproduction of the observed parallel tracks of individual sources such as 4U 1608–52, 4U 1636–53, and Aql X-1. We reveal how the radial width of the boundary layer must vary in the long-term flux evolution of each source to regenerate the parallel tracks. The run of the radial width looks similar for different sources and can be fitted by a generic model function describing the average steady behavior of the boundary region over the long term. The parallel tracks then correspond to the possible quasi-steady states the source can occupy around the average trend.
Fabriquer le nuage parfait
Authors: Hamus-Vallée Réjane
Published: October 2017

Résumé Dès la naissance du Cinématographe le nuage a posé un souci logistique mais aussi esthétique aux cinéastes : comment le contrôler afin de le faire participer à l’histoire et à l’esthétique finale du plan ? Comment ajouter des nuages absents du tournage, comment ôter des nuages trop présents, et avec quels moyens obtenir le nuage parfaitement adapté aux souhaits du cinéaste, tant dans la forme, la texture, que dans son déplacement ? Tout au long de l’histoire du cinéma, plusieurs techniques de trucages ont été utilisées pour permettre un contrôle sans cesse accru de la place du nuage dans l’image. Cet article se penche sur quatre formes de nuages truqués (les nuages composité, peint, liquide et numérique) et les effets spéciaux particuliers que chaque technique regroupe. Il analyse ces différentes façons de créer des nuages à volonté, et leur enjeu commun : maîtriser, au moins dans les films, le temps qu’il fait.
Faire face aux épreuves de la vie juvénile : l’usage détourné de médicaments psychotropes chez les jeunes
Authors: Milhet Maitena , Langlois Emmanuel
Published: October 2017

Cet article porte sur le détournement de médicaments psychotropes chez les jeunes. Il est issu d’une recherche conduite en 2015 et financée par l’Observatoire Français des Drogues et des Toxicomanies. Ces pratiques méritent d’être examinées dans un contexte de diffusion massive des produits médicamenteux et de trouble des frontières entre leurs fonctions thérapeutiques et leur mobilisation dans le cadre d’usages récréatifs, de pratiques dopantes ou de conduites addictives. S’agissant des jeunes en particulier, les fonctions attribuées à ces substances dans le cadre d’usages détournés demeurent très peu documentées alors que ces pratiques interviennent à un moment crucial de la formation personnelle. À partir d’une revue de la littérature internationale réunissant les connaissances actuellement disponibles et d’une enquête qualitative inédite conduite directement auprès de jeunes, l’article se penche sur ces conduites d’usages détournés de médicaments en les mettant en perspective avec les épreuves de la vie juvénile. Globalement, il s’agit de mieux comprendre quelle est l’expérience de ces jeunes qui font un usage détourné de médicaments et quelle est la dynamique de leurs trajectoires de consommation.
Des techniques actuarielles dans la boîte à outils foucaldienne ? Un usage « décalé » des statistiques en justice pénale pour susciter les contre-conduites
Authors: Slingeneyer Thibaut
Published: October 2017

Cet article présente quelques considérations méthodologiques, épistémologiques et éthiques concernant une utilisation « décalée » des statistiques en justice pénale. Un tel usage est qualifié de « décalé » en ce qu’il cherche à identifier, non pas les prédicteurs relatifs à la récidive des infracteurs, mais les prédicteurs relatifs aux activités (avis et décisions) des décideurs pénaux. Produire un tel type de données statistiques peut s’analyser comme une contre-conduite (de la part du chercheur) cherchant à en produire d’autres dans le chef des détenus et des décideurs. L’article illustre cet usage décalé à partir d’une recherche relative à la prise de décision en matière de libération conditionnelle en Belgique.
Thana-Capitalism and the Sense of Reality
Authors: Korstanje Maximiliano Emanuel
Published: October 2017

Based on the contributions of Jean Baudrillard, a French well known philosopher who exerted a radical criticism to the mass-media and its position respecting to migration and terrorism, Korstanje alluded to a neologism, “Thana-Capitalism”, which situates as a new stage of production where the suffering of others is the main commodity exchanged among classes. In times of Thana Capitalism, though we horrify from refugees and their miseries or the latest terrorist blow in CNN, we have doing nothing to change reality. This begs an interesting question, how does perception form in times of thana capitalism? what is the concept of reality in the age of pseudo-reality? is the media and the spectacle of disasters disorganizing social ties? This chapter centers on the role of reality in times where others` death crystalized as a criterion of consumption.
How Can World Leaders Understand the Perverse Core of Terrorism?
Authors: Korstanje Maximiliano E.
Published: October 2017

Based on the recently-dated terrorist attacks perpetrated in Europe, where terrorists weaponized classic forms of transport against civilian targets, one might speculate that likely mobilities and terrorism would be inextricably intertwined. In the mid of this mayhem, this chapter centers on the mobilities-paradigm as an ideological platform that keeps the interests of ruling elite, inasmuch as only 1% of mankind is legally authorized to travel worldwide. It is vital for social scientists to interrogate on the cultural effects of 9/11, in a world which is characterized by serious economic imbalances. In this world of full contrasts, while first world tourists are encouraged to move from one point to another without any restriction, migrants, asylum-seekers and vagabonds are energetically pursued, jailed or exiled by nation-state.
CAM Use From Western and Asian Perspectives
Authors: Walker Dawn-Marie , Tangkiatkumjai Mayuree
Published: October 2017

This chapter will discuss the impact on the provision and integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into the patient's medical pathway and in turn, the prevalence of usage, not only for treatment but also prevention. Similarities and differences of these issues between Western and Asian perspectives will be presented. The authors will provide an overview of regulatory organisations which influence this provision, as well as advertising within the cultures which will have impact on belief of efficacy, which in turn will increase the placebo effect (thereby increasing efficacy). Due to a lack of evidence for CAM advertising in Asian cultures, further research is needed.
Herbal Drug Interactions
Authors: Akhter Mymoona
Published: October 2017

Use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for preventive and therapeutic purposes has increased tremendously in the last two decades internationally. The manufacturers of these products are not required to submit proof of safety or efficacy to the Food and Drug Administration. As a result, the adverse effects and drug interactions associated with them are largely unknown. In this chapter, the author presents interactions of herbal medicines with other medicines (herbal or non-herbal). A large number of herbal drugs, including from single drug to a variety of mixtures have been used to treat kidney disorders. Herb-herb or herb drug interaction has been reported intensively during last decade, therefore it becomes important to keep an eye on the use of combination herbal therapy in order to avoid serious results because of interactions with each other. Due to the growing awareness about the interactions and side effects of herbal drugs/supplements over the past few years, regulatory bodies are working on these issues and pharmacopoeias are being developed for reference.
Integrative Medicine and Prospective Research on CAM
Authors: Tangkiatkumjai Mayuree , Casarin Annalisa
Published: October 2017

There is a link between integrative medicine (IM) and prospective research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). IM is the future direction of CAM and research is needed to support clinical practice. Meaning of IM, proposed models of IM, and existing research on IM will be presented. Prospective research on CAM will cover methodologies presenting randomised controlled trials, harms studies of CAM in kidney disease, and a gap of CAM research. Study design and outcome measures are current challenges in CAM/IM research. Several networks of CAM research worldwide are still working on them and have proposed possible alternative approaches, such as pragmatic clinical trials and cohort multiple randomised controlled trials. These approaches would solve some limitations of randomised controlled trials in CAM research.
Understanding Green Attitudes
Authors: Coskun Aysen
Published: October 2017

Many environmental researches are interested in attitudes. Particularly in consumer behavior studies, attitudes are frequently used to identify the determinants of behavior. This chapter provides a framework for green attitude, first by focusing on its components and formation. The attitude-behavior gap is also discussed by categorizing a number of variables that are found to affect this relationship in the environmental literature. Following sections provide well-established scales of green attitudes and how they are measured. Finally, insights for green attitude change are discussed, along with future research directions, which underline the importance of new methods for attitude measurement.
Green Attitudes and Thinking in The New Green Market
Authors: Florea Nicoleta Valentina
Published: October 2017

People are concerned by the implications of product consumption on their health, which is why they become followers of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, using green products and becoming aware of a sustainable environment. To have a viable business and to respond to customers' needs, the organization must have an attractive product that offers utility, value, health, joy, and satisfaction to consumers. This chapter analyses a few approaches regarding the implementation of green marketing policies and the situation of green marketing in the world and in Romania. Green customers' behaviour in choosing a green product (using Markov chains), the impact this could have on the number of specialists and the surfaces used in ecological agriculture on green production (using a regression function) are also anaylsed, and the author developed some measures in order to improve companies' involvement in implementing green activities.
Pro-Social Behaviour and Philanthropy in Conflict and Post-Conflict Contexts
Authors: Aldairany Shaza , Omar Rosmini
Published: October 2017

Pro-social behaviour and philanthropy are critical traits to act in a responsible manner towards society and environment through providing money, time and efforts. Most studies have focused on stable locations. However, conflict may still appear as potential places for such behaviour. This chapter raises three major inquiries: Do individuals and corporates perform pro-social behaviour in conflict context? If so, how do they perform such behaviour? How does literature approach specifically consumer pro-social behaviour in conflict and post-conflict locations. This chapter tries to conceptually review recent literature of pro-social practices in conflict contexts. The chapter reveals that no absolute positive impact relating to violence and conflict on pro-social behaviour. The majority of evidence supports the idea that pro-sociality increases during times of war. People exposed to direct violence may participate more in social activities, with early development of environmental and consumer issues. Moreover, entrepreneurship is found to have similar implications on the war-torn society.
Green Marketing Strategies and Marketing Performance
Authors: Kılıç Serkan , Özdemir Erkan
Published: October 2017

Businesses have increasingly paid more attention to the production and marketing of green products. The aim of this study is to establish the marketing mix (4P) strategies that businesses pursuit for their green products and examine the effects of green product, green pricing, green marketing channel and green marketing communication strategies on the marketing performance. The results of the present study are particularly important in terms of shaping the marketing mix strategies of businesses that have already implemented/will implement the production and marketing of green products. The research data were collected by the web based questionnaire method from 258 businesses that operated in Turkey. SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 17.0 softwares were used to conduct the analysis. As a result of multiple regression analysis, it was found that green pricing and green marketing communication strategies had a significant effect on the marketing performance.