bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decoupling Food from Land: The Evolution of Spanish Agriculture from 1960 to 2010
Authors: González de Molina Manuel , Soto Fernández David , Infante-Amate Juan , Aguilera Eduardo , Vila Traver Jaime , Guzmán Gloria
Published: December 2017

For a large extent of historiography, the history of Spanish agriculture during the twentieth century is a story of success. However, this narrative has been built on monetary analysis, and it does not usually take into account the effects on rural society and agroecosystems. The aim of this paper is to analyze what has happened from a biophysical perspective to ascertain whether transformations linked with industrialization of agriculture have also been positive. For this, we have integrated the results—some unpublished and others already published—of a broader research project about different aspects of food production from a biophysical perspective in Spain, applying methodologies pertaining to the Social Metabolism. Our research seeks to provide a new narrative, emerging through the consideration of environmental aspects of the process, providing a more complex vision of the process of industrialization in European agriculture. The results show that the industrialization of Spanish agriculture has brought about profound changes in land uses and in the functionality of the biomass produced, increasing pressure on croplands and, paradoxically, facilitating the abandonment of an important proportion of pasture and croplands. This has led to the subordination of a very significant portion of Spanish agroecosystems to the feed demands of intensive livestock farming. This process has been based on the injection of large quantities of external energy. Agricultural production has undergone significant growth since the 1960s, but this has been insufficient to deal with the growing demand created by the change in the Spanish diet and the increasing trend to focus on livestock farming. The process of globalization has allowed both roles to be reconciled, although in recent decades Spain has accentuated its role as a net importer of biomass from a biophysical perspective, with very significant impacts on third party countries, particularly in Latin America. From a biophysical perspective, the industrialization of Spanish agriculture has entailed negative consequences that threaten the sustainability of Spanish agroecosystems and also negatively affect the sustainability of other territories.
The Role of University Campuses in Reconnecting Humans to the Biosphere
Authors: Colding Johan , Barthel Stephan
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we explore the potential for integrating university campuses in a global sustainability agenda for a closer reconnection of urban residents to the biosphere. This calls for a socio-cultural transition that allows universities and colleges to reconnect to the biosphere and become active stewards of the Earth System. Recognizing their pivotal role of fostering coming generations of humans, university campuses represent a unique socio-cultural setting to promote sustainable development in practice. Among others, this involves the nurturing of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Antropocene era, which is characterized by ongoing climate change and massive loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. We explore the traditional campus setting, its role as a community for rejuvenating town planning and its role as a governance authority that may promote or retard sustainable development with an ecological focus. We explore the “sustainable” university and describe the campus as an ecosystem and how a resilient campus can be designed to meet the novel and critical challenges of the Anthropocene. We conclude by providing some policy recommendations for higher educational institutes to speed up their ambitions in the area of sustainable biosphere management.
Direct Measurement of Static and Dynamic Contact Angles Using a Random Micromodel Considering Geological CO2 Sequestration
Authors: Jafari Mohammad , Jung Jongwon
Published: December 2017

The pore-level two-phase fluids flow mechanism needs to be understood for geological CO2 sequestration as a solution to mitigate anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide. Capillary pressure at the interface of water–CO2 influences CO2 injectability, capacity, and safety of the storage system. Wettability usually measured by contact angle is always a major uncertainty source among important parameters affecting capillary pressure. The contact angle is mostly determined on a flat surface as a representative of the rock surface. However, a simple and precise method for determining in situ contact angle at pore-scale is needed to simulate fluids flow in porous media. Recent progresses in X-ray tomography technique has provided a robust way to measure in situ contact angle of rocks. However, slow imaging and complicated image processing make it impossible to measure dynamic contact angle. In the present paper, a series of static and dynamic contact angles as well as contact angles on flat surface were measured inside a micromodel with random pattern of channels under high pressure condition. Our results showed a wide range of pore-scale contact angles, implying complexity of the pore-scale contact angle even in a highly smooth and chemically homogenous glass micromodel. Receding contact angle (RCA) showed more reproducibility compared to advancing contact angle (ACA) and static contact angle (SCA) for repeating tests and during both drainage and imbibition. With decreasing pore size, RCA was increased. The hysteresis of the dynamic contact angle (ACA–RCA) was higher at pressure of one megapascal in comparison with that at eight megapascals. The CO2 bubble had higher mobility at higher depths due to lower hysteresis which is unfavorable. CO2 bubbles resting on the flat surface of the micromodel channel showed a wide range of contact angles. They were much higher than reported contact angle values observed with sessile drop or captive bubble tests on a flat plate of glass in previous reports. This implies that more precaution is required when estimating capillary pressure and leakage risk.
Impact of Organizational Culture Values on Organizational Agility
Authors: Felipe Carmen , Roldán José , Leal-Rodríguez Antonio
Published: December 2017

To remain competitive within the current, uncertain business scenario, it is vital for firms to develop capabilities that lead them to adapt and offer quick responses to market changes. Under the dynamic capabilities view of the firm, this paper proposes a model that presents an exhaustive analysis of two relevant research gaps: (i) the underlying relationships that determine the impact exerted by each of the four organizational culture typologies, comprised in Cameron and Quinn’s Competing Values Framework on organizational agility and, (ii) the contingency effect exerted by a key environmental factor, the industry’s technology intensity. An empirical study is performed to test the relationships proposed, using data collected from 172 Spain-based companies. To examine the contingency effect of technology intensity, the sample is divided into two subsamples, high and medium tech companies. This work uses partial least squares path-modeling, a variance-based structural equations modeling technique, in order to test and validate the research model and hypotheses posited. In addition, thorough analyses are carried out to assess the predictive performance of our model.
Ecosystem Services Value Assessment and Uneven Development of the Qingjiang River Basin in China
Authors: Lin Zhengsong , Ye Xinyue , Wei Qian , Xin Fan , Lu Zhang , Kudva Sonali , Dai Qiwen
Published: December 2017

As an important ecological barrier in Southwest China, the Qingjiang river basin plays a vital role in shaping the mountainous terrain. This paper analyzes the Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) using a series of methods based on the data of changes in land use from 2000 to 2015 and the statistical yearbook. The changes in land use between 2000 and 2015 were dominated by forest land, which accounted for 60.63% of the total area, followed by arable landwhich accounted for about 22.26%, while grassland and other land use contribution rates were the lowest, accounting for only about 17.11%. Environmental changes and economic development were uneven. The regional comprehensive strength of En’shi City, Changyang County, and Yidu City were among the highest, while Badong County, Hefeng County, and Wufeng County were among the lowest in the area under study. In addition, the ESV in 2035 was estimated to be 1.56 billion dollars, a decrease of 27.64% when compared with the year 2000. The ESV of Yidu City, Lichuan City, Jianshi County, and Hefeng County grew faster, at the rates of 94.76%, 65.12%, 96.96%, and 92.38%, respectively. However, the ESV of En’shi City, Badong County, Wufeng County and Xuan’en County showed a downward trend, at the rates of −32.53%, −487.80%, −368.07%, and −181.52%, respectively.
Energy-Aware Cluster Reconfiguration Algorithm for the Big Data Analytics Platform Spark
Authors: Duan Kairong , Fong Simon , Song Wei , Vasilakos Athanasios , Wong Raymond
Published: December 2017

The development of Cloud computing and data analytics technologies has made it possible to process big data faster. Distributed computing schemes, for instance, can help to reduce the time required for data analysis and thus enhance its efficiency. However, fewer researchers have paid attention to the problem of the high-energy consumption of the cluster, placing a heavy burden on the environment, especially when the number of nodes is extremely large. As a consequence, the principle of sustainable development is violated. Considering this problem, this paper proposes an approach that can be applied to remove less-efficient nodes or to migrate over-utilized nodes of the cluster so as to adjust the load of the cluster properly and thereby achieve the goal of energy conservation. Furthermore, in order to testify the performance of the proposed methodology, we present the simulation results implemented by using CloudSim.
Application of Source-Sink Landscape Influence Values to Commuter Traffic: A Case Study of Xiamen Island
Authors: Wu Tong , Tang Lina , Chen Huaxiang , Wang Ziyan , Qiu Quanyi
Published: December 2017

Landscape patterns are closely related to ecological processes. Different spatial scales and research methods may lead to different results. Therefore, it is crucial to choose suitable research methods when studying different landscape patterns and ecological processes. In the present study, the methods of source-sink landscape theory were applied to the interactions between urban landscape characteristics and commuter traffic behavior around the arterial roads in Xiamen Island. After classification of land use types using remote sensing images from the IKONOS satellite and ArcGIS software (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA), the landscape patterns of areas surrounding arterial roads (within 1 km) were evaluated using source-sink landscape influence (SLI). The results showed that Xiamen Island’s urban expressway had the highest SLI value (0.191), followed by the state highways (0.067), the provincial highways (0.030), and the county roads (0.025). When considering all road types, the correlation between a road’s SLI value and its commuter traffic flow was 0.684. This result was explained by three observations: (1) The contribution of the core area of each landscape pattern to traffic flow was positively correlated with the traffic flow. (2) Areas surrounding the urban expressway and the state highways had lower values for Shannon’s diversity index, indicating that these areas had a lower degree of landscape fragmentation. (3) The landscape patterns surrounding the urban expressway and the state highways were more concentrated and complex than those around other road types. The application of source-sink landscape pattern theory allows for researchers to integrate the relationships between landscape patterns surrounding roads and commuter traffic flow on those roads and to analyze the reasons for these relationships.
Progress towards Sustainable Production: Environmental, Economic, and Social Assessments of the Cellulose Nanofiber Production Process
Authors: Moon Dami , Sagisaka Masayuki , Tahara Kiyotaka , Tsukahara Kenichiro
Published: December 2017

We assessed the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the process for producing cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which are considered to be a valuable sustainable woody biomass feedstock. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with CNF production are greater than the emissions associated with producing most plastic materials used in vehicle components because the grinding process during CNF production generates significant GHG emissions. The cost of CNF production is also higher than the cost of producing comparable plastics for automotive use because of the high cost of the pulverization process. The sensitivity analysis in this study suggested that GHG emissions and manufacturing costs could be reduced by 19.1–76.4% and 3.6–12.2%, respectively, by improving the energy efficiency of CNF production by two to five times. We compared the potential social risks associated with CNF production between Japan and Vietnam using a product social impact life cycle assessment database. It is desirable to reduce the social risk on the fair salary and child labor, and to improve the safe and healthy living conditions in the local communities that import wood chips harvested in Vietnam.
Assessment of Selected Parameters of the Automatic Scarification Device as an Example of a Device for Sustainable Forest Management
Authors: Tadeusiewicz Ryszard , Tylek Paweł , Adamczyk Florian , Kiełbasa Paweł , Jabłoński Mirosław , Bubliński Zbigniew , Grabska-Chrząstowska Joanna , Kaliniewicz Zdzisław , Walczyk Józef , Szczepaniak Jan , Juliszewski Tadeusz , Szaroleta Michał
Published: December 2017

Due to technological progress in forestry, seedlings with covered root systems—especially those grown in container nurseries—have become increasingly important in forest nursery production. One the trees that is most commonly grown this way is the common oak (Quercus robur L.). For an acorn to be sown in a container, it is necessary to remove its upper part during mechanical scarification, and evaluate its sowing suitability. At present, this is mainly done manually and by visual assessment. The low effectiveness of this method of acorn preparation has encouraged a search for unconventional solutions. One of them is the use of an automated device that consists of a computer vision-based module. For economic reasons related to the cost of growing seedlings in container nurseries, it is beneficial to minimize the contribution of unhealthy seeds. The maximum accuracy, which is understood as the number of correct seed diagnoses relative to the total number of seeds being assessed, was adopted as a criterion for choosing a separation threshold. According to the method proposed, the intensity and red components of the images of scarified acorns facilitated the best results in terms of the materials examined during the experiment. On average, a 10% inaccuracy of separation was observed. A secondary outcome of the presented research is an evaluation of the ergonomic parameters of the user interface that is attached to the unit controlling the device when it is running in its autonomous operation mode.
Spatial–Temporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Rapid Urban Land Development in Provincial China: A Case Study of Jiangsu
Authors: Yang Qingke , Duan Xuejun , Wang Lei
Published: December 2017

Since its economic reform and opening-up, China has undergone unprecedented urbanization, where massive areas of rural land have been converted into urban use. Urban land development plays an important role in dynamic urban economic development. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of urban land development and its mechanisms in China. We conceptualized the mechanism of urban land development from multiple perspectives based on a case study in Jiangsu Province. We employed the methods of global and local spatial auto-correlation detection and spatial lag model to analyze the provincial land use conveyance and survey data from 2004 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012 to understand the dynamics of urban land development. The results show that urban land development varies significantly across different time periods, spatial scales, and regions in Jiangsu. Higher absolute urban land development mainly occurred in Sunan, expanding to Subei and Suzhong, while faster development occurred mainly in Subei, where the initial bases were lower but had strong economic growth potential. The regression analysis shows that market activities and administrative levels had played a more critical role in driving urban land development, which suggests that rapid urban land development has institutional and market foundations. Urban land development was not only a consequence of economic development but also a strategy of local governments to stimulate and govern the urban economy. This study enriches the literature on urban dynamics by providing an institutional understanding of rapid urban land development in a transitional economy.
A Novel String Grammar Unsupervised Possibilistic C-Medians Algorithm for Sign Language Translation Systems
Authors: Klomsae Atcharin , Auephanwiriyakul Sansanee , Theera-Umpon Nipon
Published: December 2017

Sign language is a basic method for solving communication problems between deaf and hearing people. In order to communicate, deaf and hearing people normally use hand gestures, which include a combination of hand positioning, hand shapes, and hand movements. Thai Sign Language is the communication method for Thai hearing-impaired people. Our objective is to improve the dynamic Thai Sign Language translation method with a video captioning technique that does not require prior hand region detection and segmentation through using the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) method and the String Grammar Unsupervised Possibilistic C-Medians (sgUPCMed) algorithm. This work is the first to propose the sgUPCMed algorithm to cope with the unsupervised generation of multiple prototypes in the possibilistic sense for string data. In our experiments, the Thai Sign Language data set (10 isolated sign language words) was collected from 25 subjects. The best average result within the constrained environment of the blind test data sets of signer-dependent cases was 89–91%, and the successful rate of signer semi-independent cases was 81–85%, on average. For the blind test data sets of signer-independent cases, the best average classification rate was 77–80%. The average result of the system without a constrained environment was around 62–80% for the signer-independent experiments. To show that the proposed algorithm can be implemented in other sign languages, the American sign language (RWTH-BOSTON-50) data set, which consists of 31 isolated American Sign Language words, is also used in the experiment. The system provides 88.56% and 91.35% results on the validation set alone, and for both the training and validation sets, respectively.
In Vitro Toxicological Assessment of Cylindrospermopsin: A Review
Authors: Pichardo Silvia , Cameán Ana , Jos Angeles
Published: December 2017

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cyanobacterial toxin that is gaining importance, owing to its increasing expansion worldwide and the increased frequency of its blooms. CYN mainly targets the liver, but also involves other organs. Various mechanisms have been associated with its toxicity, such as protein synthesis inhibition, oxidative stress, etc. However, its toxic effects are not yet fully elucidated and additional data for hazard characterization purposes are required. In this regard, in vitro methods can play an important role, owing to their advantages in comparison to in vivo trials. The aim of this work was to compile and evaluate the in vitro data dealing with CYN available in the scientific literature, focusing on its toxicokinetics and its main toxicity mechanisms. This analysis would be useful to identify research needs and data gaps in order to complete knowledge about the toxicity profile of CYN. For example, it has been shown that research on various aspects, such as new emerging toxicity effects, the toxicity of analogs, or the potential interaction of CYN with other cyanotoxins, among others, is still very scarce. New in vitro studies are therefore welcome.
Seeing the Forest through the Trees: Sociocultural Factors of Dense Urban Spaces
Authors: Wolfel Richard , Richmond Amy , Grazaitis Peter
Published: December 2017

Coming to terms with the complexity of dense urban areas represents one of the major challenges people, organizations and governments will face in the next few decades. Defining, explaining and modeling socio-cultural factors associated with the development of dense urban regions will be among the most complex problems researchers will face when studying dense urban areas. In this paper, we seek to open the discussion and begin to define the modeling process by conducting a literature review and creating a conceptual framework based on Verba, Binder, Coleman, La Palombara, Pye, & Weiner’s (1971) model of political development. The model emphasizes six key elements of political development, which we use as a point of departure to begin to identify key socio-cultural factors of dense urban areas. Our framework also embarks on identifying a difference between factor relationships in loosely and tightly integrated cities. The interrelationship between variables and the recursive nature of variables are some of the major difficulties we identify when it comes to modeling sociocultural dynamics in dense urban areas.
The Influence of E1A C-Terminus on Adenovirus Replicative Cycle
Authors: Crisostomo Leandro , Soriano Andrea , Frost Jasmine , Olanubi Oladunni , Mendez Megan , Pelka Peter
Published: December 2017

Adenovirus Early 1A proteins (E1A) are crucial for initiation of the viral life cycle after infection. The E1A gene is encoded at the left end of the viral genome and consists of two exons, the first encoding 185 amino acids in the 289 residues adenovirus 5 E1A, while the second exon encodes 104 residues. The second exon-encoded region of E1A is conserved across all E1A isoforms except for the 55 residues protein, which has a unique C-terminus due to a frame shift following splicing into the second exon. This region of E1A contributes to a variety of processes including the regulation of viral and cellular gene expression, immortalization and transformation. Here we evaluated the contributions that different regions of the second exon of E1A make to the viral life cycle using deletion mutants. The region of E1A encoded by the second exon was found to be important for overall virus growth, induction of viral and cellular gene expression, viral genome replication and deregulation of the cell cycle. Efficient viral replication was found to require exon 2 and the nuclear localization signal, as loss of either resulted in severe growth deficiency. Induction of cellular DNA synthesis was also deficient with any deletion of E1A within the C-terminus even if these deletions were outside of conserved region 4. Overall, our study provides the first comprehensive insight into the contributions of the C-terminus of E1A to the replicative fitness of human adenovirus 5 in arrested lung fibroblasts.
Stress Granule-Inducing Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4A Inhibitors Block Influenza A Virus Replication
Authors: Slaine Patrick , Kleer Mariel , Smith Nathan , Khaperskyy Denys , McCormick Craig
Published: December 2017

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) is a helicase that facilitates assembly of the translation preinitiation complex by unwinding structured mRNA 5′ untranslated regions. Pateamine A (PatA) and silvestrol are natural products that disrupt eIF4A function and arrest translation, thereby triggering the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates of stalled preinitiation complexes known as stress granules (SGs). Here we examined the effects of eIF4A inhibition by PatA and silvestrol on influenza A virus (IAV) protein synthesis and replication in cell culture. Treatment of infected cells with either PatA or silvestrol at early times post-infection resulted in SG formation, arrest of viral protein synthesis and failure to replicate the viral genome. PatA, which irreversibly binds to eIF4A, sustained long-term blockade of IAV replication following drug withdrawal, and inhibited IAV replication at concentrations that had minimal cytotoxicity. By contrast, the antiviral effects of silvestrol were fully reversible; drug withdrawal caused rapid SG dissolution and resumption of viral protein synthesis. IAV inhibition by silvestrol was invariably associated with cytotoxicity. PatA blocked replication of genetically divergent IAV strains, suggesting common dependence on host eIF4A activity. This study demonstrates that the core host protein synthesis machinery can be targeted to block viral replication.
Implication of Different HIV-1 Genes in the Modulation of Autophagy
Authors: Liu Zhenlong , Xiao Yong , Torresilla Cynthia , Rassart Éric , Barbeau Benoit
Published: December 2017

Autophagy is a complex cellular degradation pathway, which plays important roles in the regulation of several developmental processes, cellular stress responses, and immune responses induced by pathogens. A number of studies have previously demonstrated that HIV-1 was capable of altering the regulation of autophagy and that this biological process could be induced in uninfected and infected cells. Furthermore, previous reports have indicated that the involvement of HIV-1 in autophagy regulation is a complex phenomenon and that different viral proteins are contributing in its modulation upon viral infection. Herein, we review the recent literature over the complex crosstalk of the autophagy pathway and HIV-1, with a particular focus on HIV-1 viral proteins, which have been shown to modulate autophagy.
How Human Papillomavirus Replication and Immune Evasion Strategies Take Advantage of the Host DNA Damage Repair Machinery
Authors: Bordignon Valentina , Di Domenico Enea , Trento Elisabetta , D’Agosto Giovanna , Cavallo Ilaria , Pontone Martina , Pimpinelli Fulvia , Mariani Luciano , Ensoli Fabrizio
Published: December 2017

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex signalling network activated when DNA is altered by intrinsic or extrinsic agents. DDR plays important roles in genome stability and cell cycle regulation, as well as in tumour transformation. Viruses have evolved successful life cycle strategies in order to ensure a chronic persistence in the host, virtually avoiding systemic sequelae and death. This process promotes the periodic shedding of large amounts of infectious particles to maintain a virus reservoir in individual hosts, while allowing virus spreading within the community. To achieve such a successful lifestyle, the human papilloma virus (HPV) needs to escape the host defence systems. The key to understanding how this is achieved is in the virus replication process that provides by itself an evasion mechanism by inhibiting and delaying the host immune response against the viral infection. Numerous studies have demonstrated that HPV exploits both the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ataxia-telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) DDR pathways to replicate its genome and maintain a persistent infection by downregulating the innate and cell-mediated immunity. This review outlines how HPV interacts with the ATM- and ATR-dependent DDR machinery during the viral life cycle to create an environment favourable to viral replication, and how the interaction with the signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) protein family and the deregulation of the Janus kinase (JAK)–STAT pathways may impact the expression of interferon-inducible genes and the innate immune responses.
Experimental Cowpox Virus (CPXV) Infections of Bank Voles: Exceptional Clinical Resistance and Variable Reservoir Competence
Authors: Franke Annika , Ulrich Rainer , Weber Saskia , Osterrieder Nikolaus , Keller Markus , Hoffmann Donata , Beer Martin
Published: December 2017

Cowpox virus (CPXV) is a zoonotic virus and endemic in wild rodent populations in Eurasia. Serological surveys in Europe have reported high prevalence in different vole and mouse species. Here, we report on experimental CPXV infections of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) from different evolutionary lineages with a spectrum of CPXV strains. All bank voles, independently of lineage, sex and age, were resistant to clinical signs following CPXV inoculation, and no virus shedding was detected in nasal or buccal swabs. In-contact control animals became only rarely infected. However, depending on the CPXV strain used, inoculated animals seroconverted and viral DNA could be detected preferentially in the upper respiratory tract. The highest antibody titers and virus DNA loads in the lungs were detected after inoculation with two strains from Britain and Finland. We conclude from our experiments that the role of bank voles as an efficient and exclusive CPXV reservoir seems questionable, and that CPXV may be maintained in most regions by other hosts, including other vole species. Further investigations are needed to identify factors that allow and modulate CPXV maintenance in bank voles and other potential reservoirs, which may also influence spill-over infections to accidental hosts.
Characterization of HIV-1 Near Full-Length Proviral Genome Quasispecies from Patients with Undetectable Viral Load Undergoing First-Line HAART Therapy
Authors: Alves Brunna , Siqueira Juliana , Garrido Marianne , Botelho Ornella , Prellwitz Isabel , Ribeiro Sayonara , Soares Esmeralda , Soares Marcelo
Published: December 2017

Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) by human immunodeficiency virus postive (HIV+) individuals has become a reality worldwide. In Brazil, HAART currently reaches over half of HIV-infected subjects. In the context of a remarkable HIV-1 genetic variability, highly related variants, called quasispecies, are generated. HIV quasispecies generated during infection can influence virus persistence and pathogenicity, representing a challenge to treatment. However, the clinical relevance of minority quasispecies is still uncertain. In this study, we have determined the archived proviral sequences, viral subtype and drug resistance mutations from a cohort of HIV+ patients with undetectable viral load undergoing HAART as first-line therapy using next-generation sequencing for near full-length virus genome (NFLG) assembly. HIV-1 consensus sequences representing NFLG were obtained for eleven patients, while for another twelve varying genome coverage rates were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis showed the predominance of subtype B (83%; 19/23). Considering the minority variants, 18 patients carried archived virus harboring at least one mutation conferring antiretroviral resistance; for six patients, the mutations correlated with the current ARVs used. These data highlight the importance of monitoring HIV minority drug resistant variants and their clinical impact, to guide future regimen switches and improve HIV treatment success.
Contrasting Two Dimensions of Disaster-Induced Water-Shortage Experiences: Water Availability and Access
Authors: Kato Takaaki , Endo Aiko
Published: December 2017

The value of a good is contingent on an individual’s experience that reveals the nature of the good. This study investigates the effects of a water shortage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in 2011 on the voluntary management of community wells in the water-rich town of Otsuchi, Japan. A questionnaire survey based on a choice experiment (CE) framework was conducted in 2015 in which a total of 127 residents participated. The responses were then analyzed using two types of logit models that consider preference heterogeneity across survey participants. The results revealed that the severity and duration of the water shortage had opposing effects on people’s attitudes toward the wells. More specifically, increasingly severe water shortages due to the unavailability of water rendered people less supportive of the wells, whereas water shortages of a longer duration caused by limited access to water resources made people more supportive.
Use and Utility: Exploring the Diversity and Design of Water Models at the Science-Policy Interface
Authors: Chong Natalie , Bach Peter , Moilleron Régis , Bonhomme Céline , Deroubaix José-Frédéric
Published: December 2017

Effort to narrow the gap between the production and use of scientific knowledge for environmental decision-making is gaining traction, yet in practice, supply and demand remains largely unbalanced. A qualitative study based on empirical analysis offers a novel approach to exploring key factors, focussing on seven water models in the context of two organisations at the science-policy interface: the PIREN-Seine in France and the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities in Australia. Tentative linkages drawn from these examples identify: (1) objective and expertise; (2) knowledge and tools; and (3) support structures as main drivers influencing the production of scientific knowledge which, in turn, affect the use and utility of modelling tools. Further insight is gained by highlighting the wide spectrum of uses and utilities existing in practice, suggesting that such ‘boundary organisations’ facilitate interactions and exchanges that give added value to scientific knowledge. Coordinated strategies that integrate inter-, extra-, and intra-boundary activities, framed through collaborative scenario building and the use of interactive modelling platforms, may offer ways to enhance the use and utility of scientific knowledge (and its tools) to better support water resources management, policy and planning decisions, thus promoting a more cohesive relationship between science and policy.
Quantifying the Effects of Near-Bed Concentration on the Sediment Flux after the Operation of the Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River
Authors: He Li
Published: December 2017

The regime of sediment transport in the Jingjiang Reach has significantly changed from quasi-equilibrium to sub-saturation since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), and vertical profiles of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) have changed accordingly. Vertical profiles of SSC data measured at three hydrological stations in the Jingjiang Reach (Zhicheng, Shaishi, and Jianli), before and after the impoundment of TGD, were collected and analyzed. Analytic results indicate a remarkably large concentration in the near-bed zone (within 10% of water depth from the river-bed) in a sub-saturated channel. The maximum measured concentration was up to 15 times the vertical average concentration, while the ratio in quasi-equilibrium channel was less than four times that. Concentrations normalized with reference concentration at the same height, and may decrease with increasing values of suspension index (settling velocity over shear velocity). In addition, concentration near the water surface may be larger than concentration in the near-bed region when the suspension index is smaller than 0.01. Sediment flux transported in the near-bed zone may be up to 35% of the total sediment flux in unsaturated flows. The relationship between deviations of estimating sediment flux when ignoring the near-bed concentration and discharge in flood season and non-flood season are different in unsaturated and quasi-equilibrium channels. Analysis indicates that, in the quasi-equilibrium channel, more attention should be paid to near-bed concentration during non-flood season, the same as measurements during flood season with larger discharge.
System Dynamics Modeling of Water Level Variations of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Alifujiang Yilinuer , Abuduwaili Jilili , Ma Long , Samat Alim , Groll Michael
Published: December 2017

Lake Issyk-Kul is an important endorheic lake in arid Central Asia. Climate change, anthropogenic water consumption and a complex basin hydrology with interlocked driving forces have led to a high variability of the water balance and an overall trend of decreasing lake water levels. The main objective of this study was to investigate these main driving forces and their interactions with the lake’s water level. Hydro-meteorological and socioeconomic data from 1980 to 2012 were used for a dynamic simulation model, based on the system dynamics (SD) method. After the model calibration and validation with historical data, the model provides accurate simulation results of the water level of Lake Issyk-Kul. The main factors impacting the lake’s water level were evaluated via sensitivity analysis and water resource scenarios. Results based on the sensitivity analysis indicated that socio-hydrologic factors had different influences on the lake water level change, with the main influence coming from the water inflow dynamic, namely, the increasing and decreasing water withdrawal from lake tributaries. Land use changes, population increase, and water demand decrease were also important factors for the lake water level variations. Results of four scenario analyses demonstrated that changes in the water cycle components as evaporation and precipitation and the variability of river runoff into the lake are essential parameters for the dynamic of the lake water level. In the future, this SD model can help to better manage basins with water availability uncertainties and can guide policymakers to take necessary measures to restore lake basin ecosystems.
An NDVI-Based Statistical ET Downscaling Method
Authors: Tan Shen , Wu Bingfang , Yan Nana , Zhu Weiwei
Published: December 2017

This study proposes a new method for downscaling ETWatch 1-km actual evapotranspiration (ET) products to a spatial resolution of 30 m using Landsat8 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. The NDVI is employed as an indicator of land-surface vegetation, which displays periodic spatial patterns on the land surface. A 30-m-resolution ten-day ET dataset is then calculated primarily using the NDVI and the historical ratio of coarse NDVI and ET that considers different land cover types. Good agreement and correlations were obtained between the downscaled data and observations from three flux sites in two study areas. The mean bias (MB) per ten-day period ranges from 4.21 mm in Guantao to 1.55 mm in Huazhaizi, and the coefficient of determination (R2) varies from 0.87 to 0.95. The downscaling results show good consistency with the original ETWatch 1-km data over both temporal and spatial scales for different land cover types, with R2 values ranging from 0.82 to 0.98. In addition, the downscaled results capture the progression of vegetation growth well. This study demonstrates the applicability of the new “de-pixelation” downscaling method in the management of water resources.
A Comparison of Preference Handling Techniques in Multi-Objective Optimisation for Water Distribution Systems
Authors: Reynoso-Meza Gilberto , Alves Ribeiro Victor , Carreño-Alvarado Elizabeth
Published: December 2017

Dealing with real world engineering problems, often comes with facing multiple and conflicting objectives and requirements. Water distributions systems (WDS) are not exempt from this: while cost and hydraulic performance are usually conflicting objectives, several requirements related with environmental issues in water sources might be in conflict as well. Commonly, optimisation statements are defined in order to address the WDS design, management and/or control. Multi-objective optimisation can handle such conflicting objectives, by means of a simultaneous optimisation of the design objectives, in order to approximate the so-called Pareto front. In such algorithms it is possible to embed preference handling mechanisms, with the aim of improving the pertinency of the approximation. In this paper we propose two mechanisms to handle such preferences based on the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) and PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organisation METHod for Enrichment of Evaluations) methods. Performance evaluation on two benchmarks validates the usefulness of such approaches according to the degree of flexibility to capture designers’ preferences.
Associations between diagnostic activity and measures of patient experience in primary care: a cross-sectional ecological study of English general practices
Authors: Lyratzopoulos Georgios , Mendonca Silvia C , Gildea Carolynn , McPhail Sean , Peake Michael D , Rubin Greg , Singh Hardeep , Hamilton William , Walter Fiona M , Roland Martin , Abel Gary A
Published: December 2017

Background

Lower use of endoscopies and urgent referrals for suspected cancer has been linked to poorer outcomes for patients with cancer; it is important to examine potential predictors of variable use.

Aim

To examine the associations between general practice measures of patient experience and practice use of endoscopies or urgent referrals for suspected cancer.

Design and setting

Cross-sectional ecological analysis in English general practices.

Method

Data were taken from the GP Patient Survey and the Cancer Services Public Health Profiles. After adjustment for practice population characteristics, practice-level associations were examined between the use of endoscopy and urgent referrals for suspected cancer, and the ability to book an appointment (used as proxy for ease of access), the ability to see a preferred doctor (used as proxy for relational continuity), and doctor/nurse communication skills.

Results

Taking into account practice scores for the ability to book an appointment, practices rated higher for the proxy measure of relational continuity used urgent referrals and endoscopies less often (for example, 30% lower urgent referral and 15% lower gastroscopy rates between practices in the 90th/10th centiles, respectively). In contrast, practices rated higher for doctor communication skills used urgent referrals and endoscopies more often (for example, 26% higher urgent referral and 17% higher gastroscopy rates between practices in the 90th/10th centiles, respectively). Patients with cancer in practices that were rated higher for doctor communication skills were less likely to be diagnosed as emergencies (1.7% lower between practices in the 90th than in the 10th centile).

Conclusion

Practices where patients rated doctor communication highly were more likely to investigate and refer patients urgently but, in contrast, practices where patients could see their preferred doctor more readily were less likely to do so. This article discusses the possible implications of these findings for clinical practice.
CF3SO2X (X = Na, Cl) as reagents for trifluoromethylation, trifluoromethylsulfenyl-, -sulfinyl- and -sulfonylation and chlorination. Part 2: Use of CF3SO2Cl
Authors: Chachignon Hélène , Guyon Hélène , Cahard Dominique
Published: December 2017

The recent progresses of the application of trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride, CF3SO2Cl, in the formation of C–CF3, C–SCF3, C–SOCF3, and C–Cl bonds are summarised in this second part of a two-part review published back-to-back on both sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate, CF3SO2Na, (Part 1) and trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride, CF3SO2Cl (Part 2). There are many reactions in common between these two reagents but it should be noted that CF3SO2Cl reacts under reductive conditions while CF3SO2Na requires oxidative conditions. Electrophilic chlorination is obviously the exclusive preserve of CF3SO2Cl that has been exploited with emphasis in enantioselective chlorination.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
10th ICEE
Authors: Čygas Donatas , Vaiškūnaitė Rasa
Published: December 2017

The 10th International Conference “Environmental Engineering”, 27–28 April 2017, Vilnius, LITHUANIA
Source: ICEE-2017 – International Conference on Environmental Engineering
Book Series: International Conference on Environmental Engineering (ICEE) Selected papers
Idéalité et corps familial
Authors: Cuynet Patrice
Published: December 2017

Comment une famille investit-elle le futur pour soutenir son narcissisme ? L’auteur montre que la fonction des idéaux est nécessaire pour donner un sens aux événements de la vie et au désir de vivre. Le narcissisme de base de la famille peut être illustré par l’espace contenant et étayant que représente le dessin de la maison de rêve. Celui-ci est l’équivalent de l’image inconsciente du corps familial projetée dans l’habitation.
Le rétrofuturisme en clinique familiale
Authors: Loncan Anne
Published: December 2017

Dans les arts, le rétrofuturisme repose sur les représentations de l’avenir qui ont eu cours dans le passé et sur leur influence dans la création présente. L’émergence du rétrofuturisme comme phénomène culturel de masse s’est produite avec Blade Runner , de Ridley Scott (1982), où se multiplient les références à Metropolis de Fritz Lang (1927). Ces emboîtements sont caractéristiques de la fiction rétrofuturiste où se manifeste la fusion des figures et des thématiques de l’imaginaire passé. En psychanalyse familiale, ces hypothèses rétrofuturistes rencontrent les questions que nous nous posons sur l’avenir de nos patients. Les effets du contre-transfert nous ont conduit à imaginer un avenir présumable. Quelles en sont les traces lors de reprises de thérapies dix ans ou vingt ans plus tard ? Ces signaux d’un futur imaginé autrefois ont-ils permis un travail créatif ?
Un adolescent « porte-fantôme », sauveur des idéaux familiaux
Authors: Bernard Alexandra
Published: December 2017

L’étude des idéaux familiaux à travers différentes situations cliniques qui jalonnent la pratique de l’auteur peut enrichir la compréhension du fonctionnement de la famille et du sens du symptôme groupal dont un membre est porteur. L’exemple clinique présenté montre comment la mise en acte sexuelle d’un adolescent se place paradoxalement, par sa dimension négative, comme un contenant psychique groupal pour sauvegarder les idéaux familiaux.
Intérêt du concept de signifiant formel en thérapie familiale psychanalytique
Authors: Lebon Cristelle , Roussillon René
Published: December 2017

La thérapie familiale psychanalytique confronte le clinicien à des éléments psychiques du registre de l’originaire. À partir du concept de néo-groupe, qui implique un travail sur l’ici et maintenant des séances et sur l’appareil psychique groupal du groupe thérapeutique, cette recherche interroge l’intérêt du concept de signifiant formel dans le repérage des formes primaires de la symbolisation, en particulier dans les débuts d’une thérapie familiale.
Conjuguer libération des énergies et transformation de l’entreprise : le nouveau défi du groupe OCP
Authors: El Habti Hicham
Published: December 2017

Le groupe OCP, première entreprise marocaine, a mené, entre 2006 et 2011, une transformation radicale qui en a fait un leader mondial. Après avoir recruté de nombreux jeunes et lancé pour eux un ambitieux plan de formation complémentaire, le PDG, Mostafa Terrab, pense qu’il faut faire levier sur eux pour inventer l’avenir du Groupe. Hicham El Habti a été chargé de coordonner le processus alors baptisé le Mouvement . Il explique comment ce dernier est mené, quels sont ses défis et quelles opportunités il offre au management de l’entreprise.