bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Management of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bloodstream Infection Non-Susceptible to Carbapenems but Susceptible to “Old” Cephalosporins and/or to Penicillins
Authors: Zaidenstein Ronit , Miller Asaf , Tal-Jasper Ruthy , Ofer-Friedman Hadas , Sklarz Menachem , Katz David , Lazarovitch Tsillia , Lephart Paul , Mengesha Bethlehem , Tzuman Oran , Dadon Mor , Daniel Chen , Moran-Gilad Jacob , Marchaim Dror
Published: January 2018

It is unknown as to whether other beta-lactams can be used for bloodstream infections (BSI) resulting from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) which are non-susceptible to one or more carbapenem. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center (AHMC) from January 2010 to August 2014. Adult patients with PA-BSI non-susceptible to a group 2 carbapenem but susceptible to ceftazidime or piperacillin (with or without tazobactam), were enrolled. We compared the outcomes of patients who received an appropriate beta-lactam antibiotic (“cases”) to those who received an appropriate non-beta-lactam antibiotic (“controls”). Whole genome sequencing was performed for one of the isolates. Twenty-six patients with PA-BSI met inclusion criteria: 18 received a beta-lactam and 8 a non-beta-lactam (three a fluoroquinolone, two colistin, one a fluoroquinolone and an aminoglycoside, one a fluoroquinolone and colistin, and one colistin and an aminoglycoside). All clinical outcomes were similar between the groups. There were large variations in the phenotypic susceptibilities of the strains. A detailed molecular investigation of one isolate revealed a strain that belonged to MLST-137, with the presence of multiple efflux pumps, OXA-50, and a chromosomally mediated Pseudomonas-derived cephalosporinase (PDC). The oprD gene was intact. Non-carbapenem-β-lactams may still be effective alternatives for short duration therapy (up to 14 days) for BSI caused by a carbapenem non-susceptible (but susceptible to ceftazidime, piperacillin, and/or piperacillin-tazobactam) PA strain. This observation requires further confirmatory analyses. Future molecular investigations should be performed, in order to further analyze additional potential mechanisms for this prevalent phenotype.
Two Novel Proline-Containing Catechin Glucoside from Water-Soluble Extract of Codonopsis pilosula
Authors: Qin Fu-Ying , Cheng Li-Zhi , Yan Yong-Ming , Liu Bao-Hua , Cheng Yong-Xian
Published: January 2018

Choushenflavonoids A (1) and B (2), two unusual proline-containing catechin glucosides, were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula cultivated in a high-altitude location of Yunnan province. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data and chemical methods. Specifically, the absolute configuration of glucose residue in 1 and 2 was assigned by acid hydrolysis followed by derivatization and gas chromatography (GC) analysis. In addition, biological evaluation of 1 and 2 against Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was carried out.
Synergistic Antifungal, Allelopatic and Anti-Proliferative Potential of Salvia officinalis L., and Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oils
Authors: Alexa Ersilia , Sumalan Renata , Danciu Corina , Obistioiu Diana , Negrea Monica , Poiana Mariana-Atena , Rus Cristian , Radulov Isidora , Pop Georgeta , Dehelean Cristina
Published: January 2018

The current study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and the synergistic potential of two essential oils (EOs), as obtained from Salvia officinalis L. (SEO), and Thymus vulgaris L. (TEO). The antifungal potential was tested in vitro against Fusarium graminearum (Fg 06_17), the herbicidal effect was studied using weed seeds of Amaranthus retroflexus (ARET), Chenopodium album (CALB), Echinochloa crus-galli (EGAL), but also wheat seeds (WS) of the Lovrin variety and tomato seeds Saint-Pierre of the variety. The GC-MS profile highlights that the mains compounds identified in SEO were: caryophyllene (25.364%), camphene (14.139%), eucalyptol (13.902%), and β-pinene (11.230%), while in TEO, the predominant phytochemicals were: γ-terpinene (68.415%) and p-thymol (24.721%). The results indicated that the tested EOs alone as well as in combination have allelopathic effect against investigated seeds, while the synergistic effect of TEO and SEO in terms of fungal growth was demonstrated at a level of 0.06%. Thyme and sage EOs exhibited in vitro anti-proliferative activity on two melanoma cell lines, namely A375 human melanoma and B164A5 mouse melanoma alone, as well as in combination. SEO was most effective in terms of decreasing the cell viability of murine and human melanoma cell lines when compared to TEO.
β-Escin Effectively Modulates HUVECs Proliferation and Tube Formation
Authors: Varinská Lenka , Fáber Lenka , Kello Martin , Petrovová Eva , Balážová Ľudmila , Solár Peter , Čoma Matúš , Urdzík Peter , Mojžiš Ján , Švajdlenka Emil , Mučaji Pavel , Gál Peter
Published: January 2018

In the present study we evaluated the anti-angiogenic activities of β-escin (the major active compound of Aesculus hippocastanum L. seeds). Human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as an in vitro model for studying the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-angiogenic effect of β-escin. We investigated the in vitro effects on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs and in vivo anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated in a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis assay. Moreover, the effect on gene expressions was determined by the RT2 ProfilerTM human angiogenesis PCR Array. It was found that β-escin exerts inhibitory effect on the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation, migration and tube formation, as well as CAM angiogenesis in vivo. The inhibition of critical steps of angiogenic process observed with β-escin could be partially explained by suppression of Akt activation in response to bFGF. Moreover, the anti-angiogenic effects of β-escin could also be mediated via inhibition of EFNB2 and FGF-1 gene expressions in endothelial cells. In conclusion, β-escin affects endothelial cells as a negative mediator of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and may therefore be considered as a promising candidate for further research elucidating its underlying mechanism of action.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Pharmacy in 2017
Authors:   Pharmacy Editorial Office
Published: January 2018

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Pharmacy maintains high quality standards for its published papers.[...]
Accurately Determining the Extent of Coupling in Post Polymerization Reactions of Polystyrene
Authors: Pan Ching , Tillman Eric
Published: January 2018

Polymers prepared by controlled radical polymerization (CRP) can be employed in subsequent chain-end joining reactions, yet accurately assessing the extent of coupling in mechanistically unique paths is not straightforward. Precisely known mixtures of polystyrene standards were prepared and analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), mimicking the coupled product and precursor that could be present after a post-polymerization, chain-end joining reaction. The exactly known percentages of each polymer in the mixture allowed for comparison of the true “extent of coupling” (Xc) to that determined by a commonly used equation, which is based on number average molecular weights (Mn) of the precursor and coupled product. The results indicated that an improvement in accuracy could be achieved by instead using refractive index (RI) signal height ratios under the peak molecular weight (Mp) of each component, with all calculations being within 0.05 of the true Xc of the fabricated “product” mixture (compared to greater than 0.10 average error using the more established method) when the sample mixture had nominal molecular weights of 2500 and 5000 Da. Moreover, when “precursor” and “coupled” pairs mixed were not related as a simple doubling of molecular weight, the calculation method presented here remained effective at determining the content of the mixture, especially at higher Xc values (>0.45). This second case is important for experiments that may link polymer chains together with a spacer, such as a radical trap, a triazole, or even larger structure such as an oligomer.
Enrichment and Identification of the Most Abundant Zinc Binding Proteins in Developing Barley Grains by Zinc-IMAC Capture and Nano LC-MS/MS
Authors: Dionisio Giuseppe , Uddin Mohammad , Vincze Eva
Published: January 2018

Background: Zinc accumulates in the embryo, aleurone, and subaleurone layers at different amounts in cereal grains. Our hypothesis is that zinc could be stored bound, not only to low MW metabolites/proteins, but also to high MW proteins as well. Methods: In order to identify the most abundant zinc binding proteins in different grain tissues, we microdissected barley grains into (1) seed coats; (2) aleurone/subaleurone; (3) embryo; and (4) endosperm. Initial screening for putative zinc binding proteins from the different tissue types was performed by fractionating proteins according to solubility (Osborne fractionation), and resolving those via Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane blotting and dithizone staining. Selected protein fractions were subjected to Zn2+-immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, and the captured proteins were identified using nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). Results: In the endosperm, the most abundant zinc binding proteins were the storage protein B-hordeins, gamma-, and D-hordeins, while in the embryo, 7S globulins storage proteins exhibited zinc binding. In the aleurone/subaleurone, zinc affinity captured proteins were late abundant embryogenesis proteins, dehydrins, many isoforms of non-specific lipid transfer proteins, and alpha amylase trypsin inhibitor. Conclusions: We have shown evidence that abundant barley grain proteins have been captured by Zn-IMAC, and their zinc binding properties in relationship to the possibility of zinc storage is discussed.
Throughput Analysis on 3-Dimensional Underwater Acoustic Network with One-Hop Mobile Relay
Authors: Zhong Xuefeng , Chen Fangjiong , Fan Jiasheng , Guan Quansheng , Ji Fei , Yu Hua
Published: January 2018

Underwater acoustic communication network (UACN) has been considered as an essential infrastructure for ocean exploitation. Performance analysis of UACN is important in underwater acoustic network deployment and management. In this paper, we analyze the network throughput of three-dimensional randomly deployed transmitter–receiver pairs. Due to the long delay of acoustic channels, complicated networking protocols with heavy signaling overhead may not be appropriate. In this paper, we consider only one-hop or two-hop transmission, to save the signaling cost. That is, we assume the transmitter sends the data packet to the receiver by one-hop direct transmission, or by two-hop transmission via mobile relays. We derive the closed-form formulation of packet delivery rate with respect to the transmission delay and the number of transmitter–receiver pairs. The correctness of the derivation results are verified by computer simulations. Our analysis indicates how to obtain a precise tradeoff between the delay constraint and the network capacity.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Societies in 2017
Authors:   Societies Editorial Office
Published: January 2018

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Societies maintains high quality standards for its published papers[...]
Modeling and Evaluation of the Possibilities of Forming a Regional Industrial Symbiosis Networks
Authors: Mileva-Boshkoska Biljana , Rončević Borut , Uršič Erika
Published: January 2018

Industrial symbiosis (IS) is a term used to describe a network of diverse organizations that make use of different byproducts to improve their ability to achieve common goals, improve environmental conditions, and/or improve business and technical processes. In this paper, we propose a model for evaluation of the possibilities of the establishment of such IS on a regional level. This paper studied a benchmark of seven IS examples, which are used to build a qualitative multi-criteria decision model for evaluation of the development of IS network model. Through these examples, where two are the best known IS cases in the world, we demonstrate the importance of social actors’ involvement in IS in their industrial or non-industrial technological processes.
When a Good Is a Bad (or a Bad Is a Good)—Analysis of Data from an Ambiguous Nonmarket Valuation Setting
Authors: Gudding Petter , Kipperberg Gorm , Bond Craig , Cullen Kelly , Steltzer Eric
Published: January 2018

This paper analyses data from a contingent valuation experiment carried out in a context with large degree of preference heterogeneity and valuation ambiguity. Despite this challenge, by implementing estimation of an unrestricted valuation function on pooled data from two elicitation formats, utilizing all preference information available from the survey, we are able to estimate welfare measures with an acceptable degree of statistical confidence. It turns out that an offshore wind farm, a priori believed to constitute a bad that people would be willing to pay to avoid, instead was a good that people would be willing to forego under compensation. This was true on average but not for all study participants. Two key determinants of preferences were spatial proximity to the proposed wind farm and perceptions of the visual impacts of wind turbines. Individuals who would be near and thought wind turbines are “ugly” had a mean willingness to pay to avoid the wind farm of about $508 per household per year. In contrast, those who would be far away and perceived wind turbines to be “beautiful” had a negative mean willingness to pay to avoid the wind farm of about −$595 per household per year.
Innovative Business Model for Realization of Sustainable Supply Chain at the Outsourcing Examination of Logistics Services
Authors: Tamás Péter
Published: January 2018

The issue of sustainability is becoming more and more important because of the increase in the human population and the extraction of non-renewable natural resources. We can make decisive steps towards sustainability in the fields of logistics services by improvement of logistics processes and/or application of new environment-friendly technologies. These steps are very important for companies because they have a significant effect on competitiveness. Nowadays significant changes are taking place in applied methods and technologies in the fields of logistics services as part of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Most companies are not able to keep pace with these changes in addition to carrying out their main activities by using own resources; consequently, in many cases logistics services are outsourced in the interest of maintaining or increasing competitiveness. The currently applied outsourcing examination process contains numerous shortcomings. We have elaborated a new business model to eliminate these shortcomings, namely the basic concept for an outsourcing investigation system integrated in the electronic marketplace. The paper introduces the current process of logistics service outsourcing examination and the elaborated business model concept.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Sustainability in 2017
Authors:   Sustainability Editorial Office
Published: January 2018

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Sustainability maintains high quality standards for its published papers [...]
Progress in copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation
Authors: Li Guan-bao , Zhang Chao , Song Chun , Ma Yu-dao
Published: January 2018

The introduction of trifluoromethyl groups into organic molecules has attracted great attention in the past five years. In this review, we describe the recent efforts in the development of trifluoromethylation via copper catalysis using nucleophilic, electrophilic or radical trifluoromethylation reagents.
Long-term Stability of Planets in the α Centauri System. II. Forced Eccentricities
Authors: Quarles B. , Lissauer Jack J. , Kaib N.
Published: January 2018

We extend our study of the extent of the regions within the α Centauri AB star system where small planets are able to orbit for billion-year timescales to investigate the effects of minimizing the forced eccentricity of initial trajectories. We find that initially prograde, circumstellar orbits require a piecewise quadratic function to accurately approximate forced eccentricity as a function of semimajor axis, but retrograde orbits can be modeled using a linear function. Circumbinary orbits in the α Centauri AB system are less affected by the forced eccentricity. Planets on circumstellar orbits that begin with eccentricity vectors near their forced values are generally stable, up to

, out to a larger semimajor axis than are planets beginning on circular orbits. The amount by which the region of stability expands is much larger for retrograde orbits than it is for prograde orbits. The location of the stability boundary for two-planet systems on prograde, circular orbits is much more sensitive to the initial eccentricity state than it is for analogous single-planet systems.
More Rapidly Rotating PMS M Dwarfs with Light Curves Suggestive of Orbiting Clouds of Material
Authors: Stauffer John , Rebull Luisa , David Trevor J. , Jardine Moira , Cameron Andrew Collier , Cody Ann Marie , Hillenbrand Lynne A. , Barrado David , Eyken Julian van , Melis Carl , Briceno Cesar
Published: January 2018

In a previous paper, using data from K2 Campaign 2, we identified 11 very low mass members of the ρ Oph and Upper Scorpius star-forming region as having periodic photometric variability and phased light curves showing multiple scallops or undulations. All of the stars with the “scallop-shell” light curve morphology are mid-to-late M dwarfs without evidence of active accretion and with photometric periods generally <1 day. Their phased light curves have too much structure to be attributed to non-axisymmetrically distributed photospheric spots and rotational modulation. We have now identified an additional eight probable members of the same star-forming region plus three stars in the Taurus star-forming region with this same light curve morphology and sharing the same period and spectral type range as the previous group. We describe the light curves of these new stars in detail and present their general physical characteristics. We also examine the properties of the overall set of stars in order to identify common features that might help elucidate the causes of their photometric variability.
Raréfaction ou renouveau de l’engagement politique des clercs ?
Authors: Chanel Christian
Published: January 2018

Suite à la disparition de l’Ordre du Clergé (1860), certains clercs luthériens suédois estiment nécessaire de maintenir une présence politique à tous les niveaux. Après 50 ans de domination conservatrice, les élus se positionnent davantage à gauche (libéraux et sociaux démocrates) accompagnant les évolutions politiques et sociales du pays, ce qui permet une amélioration des relations avec l’État social-démocrate. Le résultat en est un désengagement politique progressif à partir des années 1930-1940 mais aussi une réforme consensuelle de l’Église d’État, dans le même temps les partis politiques investissent peu à peu les instances religieuses locales et nationales.
La Justice contre l’Injustice
Authors: Rousseau Sabine
Published: January 2018

Henri Burin des Roziers (1930), dominicain de la Province de France, milite en Haute-Savoie dans les années post-68 au sein d’un monde associatif qui réunit des « cathos de gauche » et des maoïstes, autour de la défense des plus faibles : clochards, travailleurs immigrés, petits paysans… Il expérimente des formes nouvelles de communion, prédication et confession en vivant un engagement religieux et sacerdotal non séparé de l’état laïque.
« L’amour est l’acte suprême de l’être ». La philosophie de Hans Urs von Balthasar : réception et chantiers (II)
Authors: Ide Pascal
Published: January 2018

Cet article en trois parties traite de la philosophie de Hans Urs von Balthasar. Une première partie propose un bref état de sa réception qui, comparativement à celle de l’œuvre théologique, est encore pauvre. Elle passe en revue les études relatives aux sources, puis celles relatives aux grands thèmes de la pensée balthasarienne ; enfin, elle considère la distribution des études selon les aires linguistiques. Une deuxième partie interroge le présupposé implicite de ce propos : que Balthasar soit un philosophe digne de ce nom. Il se pose trois questions : est-il un philosophe ? Est-il un philosophe de l’École ? Est-il le philosophe d’une école ? Une troisième partie affronte la question du cœur de la métaphysique balthasarienne : est-ce l’être ou l’amour ? Après avoir montré que l’amour n’est pas au-delà de l’être, elle montre que, pour Balthasar, l’amour et l’être sont coextensifs, tout en étant distincts quant au contenu ; elle fait alors quelques propositions de connexion, en appelant une exploration complémentaire.
A Study of Exfoliated Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) Based on Raman and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy
Authors: Munkhbayar G. , Palleschi S. , Perrozzi F. , Nardone M. , Davaasambuu J. , Ottaviano L.
Published: January 2018

In this study, We demonstrate mono and few layers MoS2 samples on the SiO2(270nm)/Si substrate from bulk MoS2 crystal by micromechanical exfoliation technique. We have systematically studied Atomic Force Microscopy, Raman and PL properties of mono and few layer MoS2 on the SiO2(270nm)/Si substrate. First, we find that the number of layer values dependent the Raman and PL emission. First, Raman intensity area ratio of the MoS2E12g, A1g and 2LA modes to that area of the Si substrate increased linear with increasing number of layers MoS2. Second, Normalized PL intensity area of the (A) peak decreased linear with increasing number of layers MoS2. The value of those graphs is a method to understand the number of layers the exfoliated MoS2.
Reduction of 2,4-Dinitrophenol to 2,4-Diaminophenol Using AuNPs and AgNPs as Catalyst
Authors: Gerelbaatar Khongorzul , Tsogoo Ariunzaya , Dashzeveg Rentsenmyadag , Tsedev Ninjbadgar , Ganbold Erdene-Ochir
Published: January 2018

In this study, colloidal metal nanoparticles have been prepared by the wet-chemical synthesis method. Gold and silver nanoparticles with approximate sphere shape were synthesized through the citrate-reduction method. The colloidal metal nanoparticles were characterized by using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Catalytic activities of the metal nanoparticles were investigated through reduction of 2,4-dinitrophenol to 2,4-diaminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 at room temperature. Both gold and silver nanoparticles showed an excellent catalytic activity.
Antagonism of Integrin CD11b Affords Protection against Endotoxin Shock and Polymicrobial Sepsis via Attenuation of HMGB1 Nucleocytoplasmic Translocation and Extracellular Release
Authors: Zhou Huiting , Li Yanhong , Gui Huan , Zhao He , Wu Ming , Li Gang , Li Yiping , Bai Zhenjiang , Yin Zhimin , Redmond H. Paul , Wang Jian , Wang Jiang Huai , Zhao Zhihui
Published: January 2018

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a chromatin-binding nuclear protein, plays a critical role in sepsis by acting as a key “late-phase” inflammatory mediator. Integrin CD11b is essential for inflammatory cell activation and migration, thus mediating inflammatory responses. However, it is unclear whether CD11b participates in the development of sepsis. In this study, we report that CD11b contributes to LPS-induced endotoxin shock and microbial sepsis, as antagonism of CD11b with the CD11b blocking Ab or CD11b inhibitor Gu-4 protects mice against LPS- and microbial sepsis-related lethality, which is associated with significantly diminished serum HMGB1 levels. Consistent with this, CD11b-deficient mice were more resistant to microbial sepsis with a much lower serum HMGB1 level compared with wild-type mice. Pharmacological blockage and genetic knockdown/knockout of CD11b in murine macrophages hampered LPS-stimulated HMGB1 nucleocytoplasmic translocation and extracellular release. Furthermore, silencing CD11b interrupted the interaction of HMGB1 with either a nuclear export factor chromosome region maintenance 1 or classical protein kinase C and inhibited classical protein kinase C–induced HMGB1 phosphorylation, the potential underlying mechanism(s) responsible for CD11b blockage-induced suppression of HMGB1 nucleocytoplasmic translocation and subsequent extracellular release. Thus, our results highlight that CD11b contributes to the development of sepsis, predominantly by facilitating nucleocytoplasmic translocation and active release of HMGB1.
Secure ID-Based Routing for Data Communication in IoT
Authors: Singh Madhusudan
Published: January 2018

Internet of Things is rising technology that could inspire the way wireless network access is provided. In IoT, secure data communication has lot of research scope. Especially message authentication, authorization cure path for IoT devices still remains as an open research problem. Some researcher proposed security mechanism without certification, MIC and token but still we didn’t find standard security mechanism for data communication between sensor nodes. In this article author has proposed an Identity based security (IBS) mechanism for IoT devices during data communication in IoT networks. IBS mechanism uses identity-based cryptography (IBC) to avoid certificates, MIC and tokens to minimize the computational overhead. IBS Mechanism is resistant to most common security attacks such as modification, fabrication, replay attacks and it can also protect hop count. It does provide secure data communication between sensor nodes. The results, based on NS-3 simulation, reveal that proposed mechanism is effectively able to protect the black hole attacks. In results, we have shown the packet delivery ratio, quality of services (QoS), and throughput between IBS mechanism, AODV path and AODV with black hole.
On the Non-vanishing Conjecture and Existence of Log Minimal Models
Authors: Hashizume Kenta
Published: January 2018

We prove that the non-vanishing conjecture and the log minimal model conjecture for projective log canonical pairs can be reduced to the non-vanishing conjecture for smooth projective varieties such that the boundary divisor is zero.
Free and Nearly Free Curves vs. Rational Cuspidal Plane Curves
Authors: Dimca Alexandru , Sticlaru Gabriel
Published: January 2018

We define a class of plane curves that are close to the free divisors in terms of the local cohomology of their Jacobian algebras and such that, conjecturally, any rational cuspidal curve

C

is either free or belongs to this class. We prove this conjecture when the degree of

C

is either even or a prime power, or when the group of

C

is abelian.
Around Trace Formulas in Non-commutative Integration
Authors: Yamagami Shigeru
Published: January 2018

Trace formulas are investigated in non-commutative integration theory. The main result is to evaluate the standard trace of Takesaki duals and, for this, we introduce the notion of interpolator and accompanied boundary objects. The formula is then applied to explore a variation of Haagerup's trace formula.
The new macroeconomics has no clothes
Authors: Rogers Colin
Published: January 2018

The new macroeconomics emerged from the new classical counter-revolution against Keynesian economics in the 1970s. Today it is regarded as the dominant form of macroeconomic analysis despite the fact that it proved incapable of anticipating or understanding the global financial crisis (GFC) of 2007–2009 and that it was based on well-known conceptual errors. The new macroeconomics is based on Walrasian/Arrow–Debreu general equilibrium microeconomic foundations that preclude any role for money, banks, finance or governments. Attempts to integrate these institutions into microfounded general equilibrium models where no such functions are required represents a misapplication of the Walrasian/Arrow–Debreu model and leads only to confusion. The conceptual errors that existed before the GFC continue to go unrecognised or unacknowledged and undermine the post-GFC attempts to correct what were perceived to be limitations of the theory. Today the new macroeconomics has no sound economic foundations, microeconomic or macroeconomic; it has no clothes.
GOCI Yonsei aerosol retrieval version 2 products: an improved algorithm and error analysis with uncertainty estimation from 5-year validation over East Asia
Authors: Choi Myungje , Kim Jhoon , Lee Jaehwa , Kim Mijin , Park Young-Je , Holben Brent , Eck Thomas F. , Li Zhengqiang , Song Chul H.
Published: January 2018

Abstract. The Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) Yonsei aerosol retrieval (YAER)
version 1 algorithm was developed to retrieve hourly aerosol optical depth at
550 nm (AOD) and other subsidiary aerosol optical properties over East Asia.
The GOCI YAER AOD had accuracy comparable to ground-based and other
satellite-based observations but still had errors because of uncertainties
in surface reflectance and simple cloud masking. In addition, near-real-time
(NRT) processing was not possible because a monthly database for each year
encompassing the day of retrieval was required for the determination of
surface reflectance. This study describes the improved GOCI YAER algorithm
version 2 (V2) for NRT processing with improved accuracy based on updates to
the cloud-masking and surface-reflectance calculations using a multi-year
Rayleigh-corrected reflectance and wind speed database, and inversion channels for surface conditions. The improved GOCI AOD τG is closer to that of the Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) AOD than was the case for AOD from the YAER V1 algorithm. The V2
τG has a lower median bias and higher ratio within
the MODIS expected error range (0.60 for land and 0.71 for ocean) compared with
V1 (0.49 for land and 0.62 for ocean) in a validation test against Aerosol
Robotic Network (AERONET) AOD τA from 2011 to
2016. A validation using the Sun-Sky Radiometer Observation Network (SONET)
over China shows similar results. The bias of error (τG−τA) is within −0.1 and 0.1, and it is
a function of AERONET AOD and Ångström exponent (AE), scattering angle, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), cloud fraction and
homogeneity of retrieved AOD, and observation time, month, and year. In
addition, the diagnostic and prognostic expected error (PEE) of τG are estimated. The estimated PEE of GOCI V2 AOD is well
correlated with the actual error over East Asia, and the GOCI V2 AOD over
South Korea has a higher ratio within PEE than that over China and Japan.
Simulating sustained yield harvesting adaptive to future climate change
Authors: Yousefpour Rasoul , Nabel Julia E. M. S. , Pongratz Julia
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Forests are the main source of biomass production from solar energy and take up globally around 2.4 ± 0.4 PgC per year. Future changes in climate may affect forest growth and productivity. Currently, state-of-the-art Earth system models use prescribed wood harvest rates in future climate projections. These rates are defined by integrated assessment models (IAMs) only accounting for regional wood demand and largely ignoring the supply side from forests. Therefore, we apply the concept of sustained yield (SY) to represent a climate-adaptive forest management allowing a wood harvest rate oriented towards the actual rate of forest growth. Applying SY in JSBACH, the land component of the Max-Planck-Institute's Earth System Model, forced by several future climate scenarios, we realized a wood harvest amount twice to four times (3–9 PgCy−1) the rates prescribed by IAMs (1–3 PgCy−1). This highlights the need to account for the dependence of forest growth on climate. A life cycle analysis showed that the higher supply with SY as an adaptive forest harvesting rule may improve the net mitigation effects of forest harvest during the 21st century by sequestering carbon in anthropogenic wood products (max. 379 PgC).
A humid early Holocene in Yemen interpreted from palaeoecology and taxonomy of freshwater ostracods
Authors: Mohammed Munef , Frenzel Peter , Keyser Dietmar , Hussain Fadhl , Abood Abdulkareem , Sha'af Abdulmajed , Alzara'e Sadham , Alammari Sakher
Published: January 2018

Abstract. Lake or marsh sediments in the Qa'a Jahran–Dhamār area indicate a period of
higher moisture availability in the early Holocene of the highlands of Yemen.
Forty-two marl–peat sediment samples from eight stratigraphic sections of
that area have been collected and are examined for the first time for their
ostracod associations. Eight species belonging to seven genera and four
families are reported. Their ecological tolerances and preferences are used
to investigate the climatic and environmental changes in the early to
mid-Holocene. Our data are compared and correlated with previous
archaeological results, particularly from the region of Qa'a Jahran (Dhamār)
in the vicinity of the village of Beyt Nahmi. We conclude that the wettest
period of the Holocene was from about 7900 to 7400 cal yr BP, when
northwards incursion of the Indian Ocean Monsoon caused intensified monsoon
precipitation over southern Arabia.
Extraction of the wake induction and angle of attack on rotating wind turbine blades from PIV and CFD results
Authors: Herráez Iván , Daniele Elia , Schepers J. Gerard
Published: January 2018

Abstract. The analysis of wind turbine aerodynamics requires accurate information about
the axial and tangential wake induction as well as the local angle of attack
along the blades. In this work we present a new method for obtaining them
conveniently from the velocity field. We apply the method to the New Mexico
particle image velocimetry (PIV) data set and to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the same turbine. This allows
the
comparison of experimental and numerical results of the mentioned quantities on
a rotating wind turbine. The presented results open up new possibilities for
the validation of numerical rotor models.
DETERMINAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIMICROBIANA E AVALIAÇÃO DA TOXICIDADE DO Cereus jamacaru DC (MANDACARU) E DA Opuntia fícus-indica (L) Mill. (PALMA FORRAGEIRA)
Authors: Silva Paula Priscila Paixão , Lima Meyrilane , Silva Thamara , Melo Arquimedes , Cordeiro Risonildo
Published: January 2018

A caatinga possui uma biodiversidade vegetativa ímpar e entre suas inúmeras riquezas vegetais encontra-se o Cereus jamacaru e a Opuntia fícus-indica, cactos muito utilizados na medicina popular. Objetivou-se determinar a atividade antimicrobiana e toxicológica a partir do extrato bruto seco destas cactáceas. A atividade antimicrobiana foi determinada por: Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM), Concentração Mínima Bactericida (CMB), Concentração Inibitória Mínima de Aderência (CIMA) e Potencial antibiótico. Para determinar a toxicidade foi utilizado o método de Meyer. No CMI e CMB o extrato de mandacaru efetivou frente a Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp. e Staphylococcus aureus bactéria esta, que obteve os resultados mais expressivos nos testes. A palma foi efetiva frente Staphylococcus aureus e Pseudomonas aeruginose, com halos de maior significado em sua maior concentração. No CIMA não houve formação de biofilme para Salmonella sp. e Proteus sp. na maior concentração de extrato do mandacaru. O potencial antibiótico foi de 37% comparado ao antibiótico padrão. O mandacaru obteve uma CL50 = 19.591,1767 µg/mL e a palma de 16.645,5557 µg/mL. Ambas as plantas revelam ter um potencial antimicrobiano significativo, o que as tornam potenciais terapêuticos para o desenvolvimento de novos fitoterápicos visto que, as mesmas revelaram-se praticamente atóxicas nas condições testadas.
GEOPROCESSAMENTO ALGÉBRICO PARA ESTUDO DA DINÂMICA DA COBERTURA FLORESTAL NO MUNICÍPIO DE NOVA PALMA
Authors: Facco Douglas Stefanello , De Souza Angelica Cargnin , Paim Benedetti Ana Caroline
Published: January 2018

A utilização de imagens orbitais de sensoriamento remoto para mapeamento do uso e cobertura da terra permite o monitoramento de uma dada porção da superfície terrestre. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um mapeamento multitemporal da cobertura florestal no município de Nova Palma, RS, com análise espacial em LEGAL no programa SPRING. A metodologia está resumida nas seguintes etapas: download e importação de imagens, processamento digital, validação das classificações e análise em LEGAL. Através da classificação das imagens, dos anos 1985, 2000 e 2014 foram quantificadas as áreas das seguintes classes de uso e cobertura: floresta, campo, agricultura, solo exposto, água e sombra. As análises geográficas foram realizadas com o cruzamento das imagens, evidenciando a cobertura florestal, considerando áreas de manutenção, desmatamento e regeneração florestal. Os resultados revelam que de 1985 – 2000, as áreas de expansão florestal se concentram na porção leste do município, antes de ser implantada a Usina hidrelétrica de Dona Francisca. Já ás áreas de desmatamento foram verificadas em maior abrangência no primeiro período em que a legislação não era vigente. A manutenção florestal se deu principalmente em locais de maior declividade do terreno, topos de morro e áreas entorno da rede hidrográfica, consideradas como área de preservação permanente.
Audit Committee and Value Relevance of Accounting Information of Listed Hotels and Travels in Sri Lanka
Authors: Balagobei Saseela
Published: January 2018

The audit committee (AC) is the potential mechanism that reduces the agency problems in organizations and investigating this mechanism separate from alternate corporate governance mechanisms may have led to different results in the literature. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of audit committee on value relevance of accounting information of listed hotels and travels in Sri Lanka. Value relevance of accounting information is measured by earning per share (EPS) and book value per share (BVPS) while Audit committee consists of AC size, AC independence, AC experts and AC meetings. The sample consists of 15 hotels and travels listed in Colombo Stock Exchange. In this study, data was collected from secondary sources and hypotheses are examined by using Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis. The results reveal that audit committee attributes such as AC size, AC experts and AC meetings have a significant impact on book value per share of listed hotels and travels in Sri Lanka. Further only AC experts influence earnings per share. AC independence is not found to have a significant impact on the value relevance of accounting information. The findings could be useful to regulators in other jurisdiction who are looking at ways to enhance the effectiveness of audit committee, overall firm governance.
Determinants of Rice Farmers’ Risk-attitudes in Rural Ghana: An Operational Domain Scale Approach
Authors: Addey Kwame Asiam
Published: January 2018

Production of rice in Ghana has been marred by various production risks which reduce the yield potentials of farmers. The introduction of agricultural insurance presents an opportunity to mitigate these risks. However, individual preferences for risk-mitigating strategies are dependent on their risk attitudes. And this is affected by a broad spectrum of characteristics. This study, therefore analysed the determinants of the risk attitudes of rice farmers in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Their risk-attitudes were obtained using an operational domain-scaled statement set. Majority of the respondents (96.14%) were found to be risk averse. The gender, household size, land tenure system and the ratio of non-farm income to rice farm income were found to significantly affect the probability of risk neutrality whiles marital status, land tenure system and the probability of failure to achieve target yields were observed to significantly influence the probability of being risk-loving. Further study is recommended to identify the relationship between these risk attitudes and adoption of crop insurance.
Can the Use of Seven Key Manipulations and Predicted Pattern Testing Bring More Clarity to Negative Priming Investigations?
Authors: Neumann Ewald , Levin Joel R.
Published: January 2018

Christie and Klein (2008) recommended using the 7 key conditions used by Neumann and DeSchepper (1991) and Stadler and Hogan (1996) to investigate the full range of effects produced by recently rejected distractors (negative priming) and recently attended targets (positive priming) in selective attention tasks. They suggested that incorporating all seven conditions should help to overcome the current muddle of possible explanations for positive and negative priming effects. Crucially, although the overall patterns of results reported by Neumann and DeSchepper and Stadler and Hogan were identical, some of the conditions in Stadler and Hogan’s experiment produced much larger effects, particularly in the attended repetition (positive priming) conditions, compared with those of Neumann and DeSchepper. Here we use statistical support provided by an analytic approach known as predicted pattern testing (Levin & Neumann, 1999) to argue that asymmetric transfer produced by participant expectancy effects could account for the magnitude of Stadler and Hogan’s positive priming outcomes, rather than the commonly accepted assumption made by Christie and Klein, and others, that prime-probe congruencies involving targets should affect performance (responses to probe targets) more than prime-probe congruencies involving distractors.
Survival Processing in Recognition Memory: Separating Recollection From Familiarity
Authors: Cho Kit W. , Kazanas Stephanie A. , Altarriba Jeanette
Published: January 2018

The survival processing effect is the finding that items processed for their survival relevance are remembered better than those processed using other elaborative types of encoding strategies. This effect has been attributed to more elaborative encoding processes engendered by the survival scenario; however, there are various limitations with previous studies used to support the elaborative processing account. The present study sought to provide evidence for the elaborative processing account by examining the types of memory processes enhanced by the survival scenario. According to dual process models, recognition memory reflects two distinct processes: recognition and familiarity. Elaborative processing has been shown to increase recollection but not familiarity. The present study explored the survival processing effect using 2 different paradigms to separate recognition from familiarity. Experiment 1 used the process dissociation procedure, and Experiment 2 used the remember/know procedure. In both experiments, we replicated the survival processing effect in recognition memory, showing an increase in hit rates for words rated for their survival relevance. More important, our results advance the literature by demonstrating that survival relevance rating increased recollection but not familiarity (Experiment 1) and elicited more “remember” (recollection) than “know” (familiarity) judgments (Experiment 2). These results support the notion that survival processing is due, in part, to greater elaborative processing.
Ways of Knowing and Appraisals of Intellectual Activities
Authors: Galotti Kathleen M. , Schneekloth Michael J. , Smith Anna P. , Mansour Carl Bou , Nixon Andrea Lisa
Published: January 2018

This study explored implications of individual differences in epistemological approaches to knowledge and learning. We examine the relationship between “separate” and “connected” ways of knowing and assessments of how enjoyable and how important different intellectual activities are. In Study 1, undergraduates (n = 108) completed the Attitudes Toward Learning and Thinking Survey (ATTLS) and a new instrument, the Intellectual Activities Ratings (IAR) survey, listing 12 intellectual activities, including both academic tasks, such as “writing a proof of a theorem,” and nonacademic tasks, such as “keeping a personal journal.” Study 2 was conducted online with a larger sample (n = 200) of undergraduates from across the United States, with the same 12 IAR tasks but expanding the number of ratings of each task. Study 3 also was conducted online, again with a sample of 200, correlating ATTLS scores with various ratings of ongoing learning tasks: acquiring knowledge of different aspects of a new location-based augmented reality game, Pokémon Go. Our results replicated previous findings of gender differences in separate knowing (SK) and connected knowing (CK) scores in all three studies. SK and CK scores showed different and strong patterns of correlation with individuals’ enjoyment ratings of academic and extracurricular tasks and with different aspects of learning the augmented reality game. Moreover, SK and CK scores showed different patterns of correlation with how important students perceived different intellectual tasks to be in their own self-definition.
Cognitive Profile of Individuals With Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies
Authors: Ansari Zohreh , Shahabi Rouhollah
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study is to compare working memory capacity (WMC), short-term memory (STM), and attention mechanisms of executive function (including inhibition, shifting, and updating) between people with obsessive-compulsive tendencies (OCT) and controls without OCT. For this purpose, 164 undergraduate students (90 women and 74 men) were selected using the stratified random method, and they individually responded to the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory to measure OCT and to executive function tests including Forward Digit Span, Backward Digit Span, Stroop, Set Shifting, and Keep Track tasks. These tasks assessed STM, WMC, and inhibition of prepotent responses, mental set shifting, and information updating and monitoring, respectively. In this study, the cutoff point of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory was considered to be 11. With regard to this cutoff point, 44 people in the group had OCT and 120 did not. The obtained results from the Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of variance showed that students with OCT had significantly limited STM and WMC compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, their executive function abilities including shifting, updating, and inhibition were significantly weaker than those in the control group.
The Beta Weibull-G Family of Distributions: Model, Properties and Application
Authors: Makubate Boikanyo , O. Oluyede Broderick , Motobetso Gofaone , Huang Shujiao , Fagbamigbe Adeniyi F.
Published: January 2018

A new family of generalized distributions called the beta Weibull-G (BWG) distribution is proposed and developed. This new class of distributions has several new and well known distributions including exponentiated-G, Weibull-G, Rayleigh-G, exponential-G, beta exponential-G, beta Rayleigh-G, beta Rayleigh exponential, beta-exponential-exponential, Weibull-log-logistic distributions, as well as several other distributions such as beta Weibull-Uniform, beta Rayleigh-Uniform, beta exponential-Uniform, beta Weibull-log logistic and beta Weibull-exponential distributions as special cases. Series expansion of the density function, hazard function, moments, mean deviations, Lorenz and Bonferroni curves, R\'enyi entropy, distribution of order statistics and maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters are given. Application of the model to real data set is presented to illustrate the importance and usefulness of the special case beta Weibull-log-logistic distribution.