bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prévalence du syndrome métabolique et de ses facteurs de risque chez les enfants et les adolescents canadiens : Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé,
cycle 1 (2007-2009) et cycle 2 (2009-2011)
Authors: MacPherson M. , de Groh M. , Loukine L. , Prud'homme D. , Dubois L.
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Nous avons étudié la prévalence du syndrome métabolique (SMet) et de ses facteurs de risque ainsi que l’influence du statut socioéconomique chez les enfants et les adolescents
canadiens.

Méthodologie

Nous avons inclus dans notre étude les 1228 répondants de l’Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé, cycle 1 (2007-2009) et cycle 2 (2009-2011), âgés de 10 à 18
ans et ayant fourni un échantillon de sang à jeun. Nous avons utilisé les définitions consensuelles du SMet proposées par la Fédération internationale du diabète (FID) pour les
enfants et adolescents (10 à 15 ans) et pour les adultes (16 ans et plus). Nous avons mesuré la prévalence du SMet et de ses facteurs de risque ainsi que les différences en
fonction du statut socioéconomique au moyen de tests du χ2.

Résultats

La prévalence du SMet était de 2,1 %. Le tiers (37,7 %) des répondants présentaient au moins un facteur de risque, les plus répandus étant l’obésité abdominale
(21,6 %), un faible taux de C-HDL (19,1 %) et un taux de triglycérides élevé (7,9 %). Cette combinaison d’obésité abdominale, de faible taux de C-HDL et de taux élevé de
triglycérides correspondait à 61,5 % des cas de SMet. Les participants des ménages de la tranche supérieure de revenu et bénéficiant d’un niveau de scolarité élevé présentaient
la plus faible prévalence d’un ou de plusieurs facteurs de risque du SMet, d’obésité abdominale et de faible taux de C-HDL.

Conclusion

La prévalence du SMet (2,1 %) s’est révélée inférieure à celle mesurée auparavant pour le Canada (3,5 %) et les États-Unis (4,2 % à 9,2 %), sans doute en raison de
l’application stricte des critères de la FID pour l’étude du SMet. Le tiers des enfants et des adolescents canadiens présentaient au moins un facteur de risque de SMet. Comme le
risque de SMet augmente avec l’âge, ces estimations de la prévalence, couplées à une prévalence nationale de l’obésité d’environ 10 % chez les jeunes, laissent entrevoir un
accroissement du risque de SMet et d’autres maladies chroniques chez les jeunes Canadiens.
Corrélats de la violence entre conjoints et en milieu familial chez les Canadiens âgés : une approche fondée sur les parcours de vie
Authors: Miszkurka M. , Steensma C. , Phillips S. P.
Published: April 2017

Introduction

La connaissance des corrélats personnels et interpersonnels de la violence
chez les aînés canadiens est limitée. Cette étude établit les corrélats de la violence actuelle
et passée infligée par un conjoint ou un membre de la famille chez les aînés canadiens
résidant dans la collectivité, en tenant compte des conditions défavorables dans l’enfance.

Méthodologie

Nous avons procédé à une analyse de régression logistique des données de base d’une étude longitudinale sur des personnes de 65 à 74 ans résidant dans la
collectivité à Kingston (Ontario) et à Saint-Hyacinthe (Québec). La violence familiale a été mesurée avec l’outil d’évaluation du risque Frapper-Insulter-Menacer-Crier
(FIMC) (Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream, HITS). Les rapports de cotes (RC) ont été établis avec un intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95 %.

Résultats

Dix-huit pour cent des sujets de l’échantillon ont déclaré subir de la violence de nature psychologique. Les femmes présentaient un risque plus élevé
que les hommes de subir ou d’avoir subi de la violence de la part d’un membre de leur famille (violence actuelle : RC ajusté ¼ 1,83; IC à 95 % : 1,02 à 3,30) et de la
part d’un conjoint au cours de leur vie (RC ajusté ¼ 2,48; IC à 95 % : 1,40 à 4,37). Les facteurs de risque accumulés au cours de la vie associés systématiquement à
la violence actuelle et passée sont d’avoir été témoin de violence domestique dans l’enfance (violence au cours de la vie infligée par un membre de la famille : RC
ajusté ¼ 9,46; IC à 95 % : 5,11 à 17,52) ainsi que des relations de mauvaise qualité avec le conjoint, la famille et les amis.

Conclusion

Notre recherche documente les conséquences à long terme de conditions défavorables dans l’enfance sur la violence conjugale et familiale au Canada. Nos résultats
isolent certains facteurs évitables associés à la violence psychologique actuelle et passée chez les personnes âgées résidant dans la collectivité au Canada.
Interactive social media interventions to promote health equity: an overview of reviews
Authors: Welch V. , Petkovic J. , Pardo Pardo J. , Rader T. , Tugwell P.
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Social media use has been increasing in public health and health promotion
because it can remove geographic and physical access barriers. However, these interventions
also have the potential to increase health inequities for people who do not have access to or
do not use social media. In this paper, we aim to assess the effects of interactive social media
interventions on health outcomes, behaviour change and health equity.

Methods

We conducted a rapid response overview of systematic reviews. We used a
sensitive search strategy to identify systematic reviews and included those that focussed
on interventions allowing two-way interaction such as discussion forums, social networks
(e.g. Facebook and Twitter), blogging, applications linked to online communities
and media sharing.

Results

Eleven systematic reviews met our inclusion criteria. Most interventions addressed by
the reviews included online discussion boards or similar strategies, either as stand-alone
interventions or in combination with other interventions. Seven reviews reported mixed effects
on health outcomes and healthy behaviours. We did not find disaggregated analyses across
characteristics associated with disadvantage, such as lower socioeconomic status or age.
However, some targeted studies reported that social media interventions were effective in
specific populations in terms of age, socioeconomic status, ethnicities and place of residence.
Four reviews reported qualitative benefits such as satisfaction, finding information and
improved social support.

Conclusion

Social media interventions were effective in certain populations at risk for
disadvantage (youth, older adults, low socioeconomic status, rural), which indicates that
these interventions may be effective for promoting health equity. However, confirmation
of effectiveness would require further study. Several reviews raised the issue of
acceptability of social media interventions. Only four studies reported on the level of
intervention use and all of these reported low use. More research on established social
media platforms with existing social networks is needed, particularly in populations at
risk for disadvantage, to assess effects on health outcomes and health equity.
PERSEPSI PEMANGKU KEPENTINGAN DALAM PENGELOLAAN WISATA BAHARI DI KEPULAUAN KAPOPOSAN KABUPATEN PANGKEP
Authors: Samudra Khrisna , Baskoro Mulyono S. , Wisudo Sugeng Hari , Iskandar Budhi H.
Published: April 2017

Kepulauan Kapoposan di Kabupaten Pangkep terdiri dari enam pulau kecil yaitu Pulau Kapoposan, Gondongbali, Papandangan, Suranti , Tambakulu, dan Pamanggangan. Berdasarkan Keputusan Bupati Pangkajene dan Kepulauan Nomor 180 Tahun 2009 tentang Penetapan Kawasan Konservasi Laut Daerah Kabupaten Pangkep, keenam pulau kecil di kawasan Kepulauan Kapoposan pengembangannya diarahkan bagi kegiatan wisata bahari yang berkelanjutan. Pengambilan data dilakukan melalui survei, wawancara dengan key person, dan wawancara kelompok terfokus, yang dilanjutkan dengan pengolahan data menggunakan Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) dengan bantuan expert choice. Persepsi pemangku kepentingan terhadap pengelolaan wisata bahari di kawasan Kepulauan Kapoposan berdasarkan AHP, sesuai urutan prioritas pemangku kepentingan yang paling memiliki peran adalah Pemerintah Pusat, Pemerintah Daerah, dunia usaha dan institusi non birokrasi.
PENGARUH EKSTRAK KIMIA PADA UMPAN PANCING DASAR TERHADAP HASIL TANGKAPAN IKAN-IKAN KARANG DI SELAT BANGKA, MINAHASA UTARA
Authors: Reppie Emil , Labaro Ivor L.
Published: April 2017

Pancing dasar telah digunakan secara luas oleh masyarakat pantai di Sulawesi Utara untuk menangkap ikan-ikan karang, karena konstruksinya sederhana, relatif murah dan mudah dioperasikan dengan kapal atau perahu ukuran kecil. Walaupun alat tangkap ini telah berkembang sejak lama, tetapi masih memiliki potensi untuk meningkatkan efisiensi penangkapan dan selektivitasnya. Suatu upaya untuk memahami proses tertangkapnya ikan dengan pancing dasar adalah tertuju pada umpan dan bagaimana komposisi kimia dan sifat-sifat fisiknya yang merangsang ikan untuk memakan umpan dan tertangkap. Penambahan ekstrak kimia pada umpan dapat meningkatkan fishing power dari alat tangkap pancing dasar. Tetapi informasi ilmiah tentang aplikasinya belum tersedia. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari pengaruh pemberian ekstrak kimia pada umpan pancing dasar terhadap hasil tangkapan ikan-ikan karang. Tiga jenis ekstrak kimia yang diberikan pada umpan potongan daging ikan malalugis segar, adalah power bait, squid liver oil, ekstrak udang dan umpan ikan segar tanpa ekstrak sebagai kontrol. Data tangkapan dikumpulkan dengan mengoperasikan 4 unit alat tangkap pancing dasar di perairan dekat karang pada kedalaman antara 30 sampai 50 m; dan analisis data dikerjakan berdasarkan rancangan acak kelompok. Hasil tangkapan total berjumlah 205 ekor, terdiri dari 20 famili dan 29 spesies ikan. Hasil analisis sidik ragam menunjukan bahwa pemberian ekstrak kimia pada umpan pancing dasar, memberikan pengaruh yang sangat nyata terhadap hasil tangkapan. Hasil uji BNT untuk perlakuan menunjukan bahwa pemberian ketiga jenis ekstrak pada umpan tidak ada perbedaan terhadap hasil tangkapan; tetapi pemberian ekstrak power bait dan squid liver oil sangat berbeda nyata terhadap umpan segar tanpa ekstrak; sedangkan pemberian ekstrak udang tidak berbeda nyata dengan umpan tanpa ekstrak.
MODEL PENGEMBANGAN PERIKANAN TANGKAP BERBASIS MINAPOLITAN DI KABUPATEN GORONTALO UTARA
Authors: Baruadi Alfi Sahri R. , Simbolon Domu , Purbayanto Ari , Yusfiandayani Roza
Published: April 2017

Sumberdaya Perikanan di Gorontalo Utara sangat besar. Potensi Manajemen Perikanan Daerah dari Laut Sulawesi ke Samudera Pasifik mencakup sekitar 590,970 ton ikan pelagis, termasuk 175.260 ton pelagis besar, 384,750 ton pelagis kecil dan jenis ikan lainnya sekitar 30,960 ton. Di sisi lain, pemanfaatan sumberdaya perikanan masih minimum hanya 46%. Pemerintah Gorontalo Utara menetapkan perikanan tangkap sebagai program utama untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat untuk meminimalkan kurangnya pemanfaatan sumberdaya perikanan. Pemerintah harus menyadari situasi ini untuk merumuskan dan memutuskan setiap kebijakan. Kebijakan yang telah diterapkan di tahun terakhir di Gorontalo Utara adalah Minapolitan yang diselenggarakan oleh Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan Indonesia bergabung dengan Pemerintah Daerah. Jadi, penelitian pengembangan penangkapan perikanan berdasarkan Model minapolitan diperlukan untuk merancang model kebijakan sebagai panduan untuk memutuskan kebijakan perikanan tangkap. Metodologi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis produksi surplus untuk menganalisis sumber daya ikan yang tepat untuk menangkap ikan, dan analisis SEM (Struktur Equation Modeling). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan sumber daya perikanan masih kurang di bawah MSY (Maximum Sustainable Yield). Beberapa program yang harus dikembangkan adalah purse seine, tuna hand line, bagan, garis tangan, dan payang. Tujuan dari kebijakan minapolitan adalah menciptakan pertumbuhan ekonomi lokal dan meningkatkan produksi perikanan penangkapan dan menjamin kualitas perikanan tangkap.
HUBUNGAN TIPE DASAR PERAIRAN DENGAN DISTRIBUSI IKAN DEMERSAL DI PERAIRAN PANGKAJENE SULAWESI SELATAN 2011
Authors: Akbar Hidayanto , Pujiyati Sri , Natsir M.
Published: April 2017

Tipe substrat dasar perairan berpengaruh terhadap sebaran jenis ikan demersal. Tipe substrat di Perairan Pangkajene Sulawesi Selatan didominasi oleh pasir berlumpur. Distribusi ikan demersal tertinggi berada di kedalaman 10.45 m sampai 15.25 m menyukai substrat pasir berlumpur, ikan demersal tersebut merupakan famili dari kapan atau jenaha (Lutjanidae). Ikan demersal di Perairan Pangkajene lebih dipengaruhi oleh kedalaman perairan dibandingkan oleh tipe substrat pada perairan tersebut.
Out of uniform: psychosocial issues experienced and coping mechanisms used by Veterans during the military–civilian transition
Authors: Blackburn Dave
Published: April 2017

Introduction: The military–civilian transition is an important moment in the life course of Veterans. Collecting and interpreting data on psychosocial problems experienced during the transition make it possible to outline reintegration needs. Methods: A qualitative approach including semi-structured interviews was adopted. A total of 17 Veterans participated in the study. Participants speak French at home, live in Quebec, and were released from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) no more than five years before being interviewed. Results: Among participants released from the CAF for medical reasons, the main spheres of life in which problems occur are the medical / mental health, social, family, and personal spheres; among those released voluntarily, the main problem spheres are mental health, social, family, and financial. To remedy their psychosocial problems, the majority of participants relied on two coping mechanisms: social support and family support. Despite certain points of convergence, significant differences exist between the transitional course of Veterans released voluntarily and that of Veterans released for medical reasons,, which appears very arduous indeed. Discussion: This research enables a better understanding of the psychosocial problems experienced by Veterans during the transitional process and the coping mechanisms used to counter them.
L’impact du système de monétisation sur l’expérience de jeu des gamers
Authors: Guintcheva - Sapino Guergana
Published: April 2017

Cet article tente de mettre en évidence un nouveau modèle de revenu (Free-to-Play) dans l’industrie du jeu vidéo qui consiste à donner un accès gratuit au jeu et inciter par la suite les joueurs à effectuer des micro-transactions pour accéder à un contenu additionnel. Par une approche centrée sur l’expérience de jeu, ce nouveau modèle de monétisation est comparé au modèle dominant Pay-to-Play (achat du jeu ou abonnement). L’article montre comment satisfaire les joueurs en misant sur des achats virtuels pertinents sans dénaturer l’expérience de jeu, tout en garantissant une source de revenus pérenne et un modèle économique stable pour les éditeurs.
L’assurance obsèques au sein du marché funéraire
Authors: Boissin Olivier , Trompette Pascale
Published: April 2017

L’assurance obsèques se développe de façon accélérée depuis les années 2000 en France, consacrant l’entrée en scène des acteurs financiers – assurance et bancassurance – sur le marché funéraire. Cet article décrypte les enjeux de cette mutation en s’intéressant à la façon dont se déploie cette intermédiation financière dans l’achat d’obsèques. Il montre que la qualification du « mandat » entre la famille, l’assureur et les pompes funèbres est au cœur des luttes professionnelles et concurrentielles au sein du secteur. En prenant appui sur la notion « d’agencement organisationnel » proposée par J. Girin, il décrit l’apparition de nouveaux intermédiaires de marché, les plateformes d’assistance funéraire, qui pourraient jouer un rôle déterminant dans le contrôle de l’interface entre bancassurance et réseaux d’entreprises funéraires.
Optimization design of E-core hybrid- excitation linear switched-flux permanent magnet machine
Authors: Zeng Zhiqiang , Lu Qinfen , Ye Yunyue
Published: April 2017

The E-core hybrid-excitation linear switched-flux permanent magnet machine (LSFPMM) is low cost, which not only accommodates armature and permanent magnets (PMs) in short primary, but also cuts half of PM volumes compared with its C-core counterpart. It also can easily adjust the air gap magnetic field flexibly through the injection of different DC currents. This paper introduces E-HELSFM with different end shapes firstly, while a shape with the best symmetry of flux and minimal detent force is developed and further investigated. Based on finite element model, the flux-adjusting principle of the proposed hybrid-excitation motor is presented, and certain geometric parameters are optimized for better flux-regulating capability and larger thrust force density. Then, the field ratio, which means the ratio of field area to a single slot area, is optimized to reach a tradeoff between force density and flux-adjusting capability. For the optimized model, the flux-adjusting as well as thrust force performances under different excitation conditions are investigated. Then, the flux-weakening control under different excitation levels is discussed. The simulated results show that the optimized machine exhibits good constant power operation capability through flux-weakening control and enhanced overload ability by flux-enhancing control.
Eddy currents in a passive magnetic axial thrust bearing for a flywheel energy storage system
Authors: Hedlund Magnus , Abrahamsson Johan , Pérez-Loya Jesús José , Lundin Johan , Bernhoff Hans
Published: April 2017

Two types of passive magnetic lift bearings were evaluated in terms of thrust force and eddy current losses. The first type of bearings were based on two sets of segmented Halbach arrays mounted in repulsive mode, and the second type was based on ring-magnets. The eddy-currents studied arose in the bearing due to manufacturing variations of magnetic remanence, and due to non-radial magnetization. Both a 3D time-dependent and a quasi-stationary Finite-Element Method (FEM) formulation were used, and the simulated results were compared with lift-force measurements from experiment. The losses were found (by FEM) to be in the order of 25 W at a rotational speed of 30000 rpm while lifting a 45 kg rotor with a stiffness of 359 N/mm.
Evaluation of a poly-herbal preparation for the treatment of peptic ulcer
Authors: Hayat Zaman , Chaudhry Mueen Ahmad , Alamgeer .
Published: April 2017

The aim of this study was to validate the traditional uses of ulcerene, a poly-herbal formulation in ethanol, aspirin and stress-induced gastric ulcer model of rat. The extent of gastric ulcer formation was studied, using ulcer score, ulcer index, percentage cure through gross examination and histopathological evaluation. A significant (p<0.001) dose-dependent anti-ulcerant effect was observed in ulcerene (50 and 100 mg/kg)-treated group with highest effectiveness against ethanol-induced ulcer. The concentration-dependent spasmolytic effect was seen in spontaneously contracting, high K+ (80 mM) and carbachol (1 µM)-induced jejunum contractions (10, 0.3 and 1 mg/mL), similar to dicyclomine (10, 1 and 3 µM), indicated non-specific spasmolytic mechanism behind the effect. By considering these results, ulcerene can be suggested for the treatment of peptic ulcer.
Perpetual Solar-Powered Flight across Regions around the World for a Year-Long Operation
Authors: Rajendran Parvathy , Masral Muhammad , Kutty Hairuniza
Published: April 2017

This study aims to promote the conventional solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to be used as a satellite known as a pseudo-satellite (pseudolite). The applications of UAV as a satellite are still in the initial stages because these proposed UAVs are required to fly for long hours at a specified altitude. Any solar-powered system requires extensive mission operation planning to ensure sufficient power to sustain a level flight. This study simulates the optimal UAV configurations at various global locations, and determines the feasibility of a solar-powered UAV to sustain a continuous mission. This study is divided into two different phases. An all-year operation of the average UAV (AVUAV) is simulated in Phase One and is designed specifically for each of 12 cities, namely, Ottawa, Honolulu, Quito, Tahiti, Brasilia, London, Riyadh, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Accra, Port Louis, and Suva. Phase Two is a simulation of a solar-powered UAV design model known as 1UAV, applicable to any city around the world for a year-long flight. The findings state that a single UAV design is sufficient to operate continuously around the world if its detailed mission path planning has been defined.
Study of the Effect of Time-Based Rate Demand Response Programs on Stochastic Day-Ahead Energy and Reserve Scheduling in Islanded Residential Microgrids
Authors: Vahedipour-Dahraie Mostafa , Najafi Hamid , Anvari-Moghaddam Amjad , Guerrero Josep
Published: April 2017

In recent deregulated power systems, demand response (DR) has become one of the most cost-effective and efficient solutions for smoothing the load profile when the system is under stress. By participating in DR programs, customers are able to change their energy consumption habits in response to energy price changes and get incentives in return. In this paper, we study the effect of various time-based rate (TBR) programs on the stochastic day-ahead energy and reserve scheduling in residential islanded microgrids (MGs). An effective approach is presented to schedule both energy and reserve in presence of renewable energy resources (RESs) and electric vehicles (EVs). An economic model of responsive load is also proposed on the basis of elasticity factor to model the behavior of customers participating in various DR programs. A two-stage stochastic programming model is developed accordingly to minimize the expected cost of MG under different TBR programs. To verify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach, a number of simulations are performed under different scenarios using real data; and the impact of TBR-DR actions on energy and reserve scheduling are studied and compared subsequently.
Modulation of NMDA Receptor Activity in Fibromyalgia
Authors: Littlejohn Geoffrey , Guymer Emma
Published: April 2017

Activation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) results in increased sensitivity of spinal cord and brain pathways that process sensory information, particularly those which relate to pain. The NMDAR shows increased activity in fibromyalgia and hence modulation of the NMDAR is a target for therapeutic intervention. A literature review of interventions impacting on the NMDAR shows a number of drugs to be active on the NMDAR mechanism in fibromyalgia patients, with variable clinical effects. Low-dose intravenous ketamine and oral memantine both show clinically useful benefit in fibromyalgia. However, consideration of side-effects, logistics and cost need to be factored into management decisions regarding use of these drugs in this clinical setting. Overall benefits with current NMDAR antagonists appear modest and there is a need for better strategy trials to clarify optimal dose schedules and to delineate potential longer–term adverse events. Further investigation of the role of the NMDAR in fibromyalgia and the effect of other molecules that modulate this receptor appear important to enhance treatment targets in fibromyalgia.
The Effect of Temperature and Local pH on Calcareous Deposit Formation in Damaged Thermal Spray Aluminum (TSA) Coatings and Its Implication on Corrosion Mitigation of Offshore Steel Structures
Authors: Ce Nataly , Paul Shiladitya
Published: April 2017

This paper is based on experimental data and provides better understanding of the mechanism of calcareous deposit formation on cathodically polarized steel surfaces exposed to synthetic seawater at 30 °C and 60 °C. The study comprises measurement of the interfacial pH of thermally sprayed aluminum (TSA) coated steel samples with and without a holiday (exposing 20% of the surface area). Tests were conducted at the corrosion potential for up to 350 h. It was experimentally determined that the local pH adjacent to the steel surface in the holiday region reached a maximum of 10.19 and 9.54 at 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively, before stabilizing at about 8.8 and 7.9 at the two temperatures. The interfacial pH on the TSA coating at 30 °C was initially 7.74 dropping to 4.76 in 220 h, while at 60 °C it increased from pH 6.41 to the range pH 7.0–8.5. The interfacial pH governed the deposition of brucite and aragonite from seawater on the steel surface cathodically polarized by the TSA. This mechanism is likely to affect the performance of TSA-coated offshore steel structures, especially when damaged in service.
CO2 Foam Stability Improvement Using Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles Prepared in Produced Water
Authors: Nazari Negar , Tsau Jyun-Syung , Barati Reza
Published: April 2017

Despite the increasing interest in CO2 foam flooding for enhanced oil recovery applications, it is challenging to have a successful field operation as the performance of the surfactant is often affected by the presence of crude oil and salinity of the water. It is also challenging to dispose of huge amounts of water associated with the field operation. Due to the incompatibility of the produced water with chemicals used in the foam system, the produced water cannot be used as an injecting fluid. The objective of this project is to design a chemical system compatible with produced water which may fully utilize the oil field produced water as an injecting fluid and make the foam injection economically viable and environmentally friendly. In this study, we investigate the performance of a foam system with a surfactant and the addition of polyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PECNP) in various salinities of produced water. A recipe is developed to prepare a nanoparticle solution that is sustainable in high salinity produced water. The rheological property of the foam, the stability, and durability of the foam with and without the presence of crude oil are measured and compared as the water salinity is changed. It is found that foam stability and durability deteriorated when water salinity increased. However, by the addition of polyelectrolyte and PECNP in the system, the foam stability and durability was improved even in high salinity water with or without the presence of crude oil.
How Smart LEDs Lighting Benefit Color Temperature and Luminosity Transformation
Authors: Huang Yu-Sheng , Luo Wei-Cheng , Wang Hsiang-Chen , Feng Shih-Wei , Kuo Chie-Tong , Lu Chia-Mei
Published: April 2017

Luminosity and correlated color temperature (CCT) have gradually become two of the most important factors in the evaluation of the performance of light sources. However, although most color performance evaluation metrics are highly correlated with CCT, these metrics often do not account for light sources with different CCTs. This paper proposes the existence of a relationship between luminosity and CCT to remove the effects of CCT and to allow for a fairer judgment of light sources under the current color performance evaluation metrics. This paper utilizes the Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) technique to recreate images of a standard color checker under different luminosities, CCT, and light sources. The images are then analyzed and transformed into interpolation figures and equal color difference curves. This paper utilizes statistic tools and symmetry properties to determine an exponential relationship between luminosity and CCT in red-green-blue (RGB) LED and OLED light sources. Such a relationship presents an option to remove the effects of CCT in color evaluation standards, as well as provide a guide line for adjusting visual experience solely by adjusting luminosity when creating a lighting system.
Fire History of Appalachian Forests of the Lower St-Lawrence Region (Southern Quebec)
Authors: Payette Serge , Pilon Vanessa , Couillard Pierre-Luc , Laflamme Jason
Published: April 2017

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) forests are among the main forest types of eastern North America. Sugar maple stands growing on Appalachian soils of the Lower St-Lawrence region are located at the northeastern limit of the northern hardwood forest zone. Given the biogeographical position of these forests at the edge of the boreal biome, we aimed to reconstruct the fire history and document the occurrence of temperate and boreal trees in sugar maple sites during the Holocene based on soil macrocharcoal analysis. Despite having experienced a different number of fire events, the fire history of the maple sites was broadly similar, with two main periods of fire activity, i.e., early- to mid-Holocene and late-Holocene. A long fire-free interval of at least 3500 years separated the two periods from the mid-Holocene to 2000 years ago. The maple sites differ with respect to fire frequency and synchronicity of the last millennia. According to the botanical composition of charcoal, forest vegetation remained relatively homogenous during the Holocene, except recently. Conifer and broadleaf species coexisted in mixed forests during the Holocene, in phase with fire events promoting the regeneration of boreal and temperate tree assemblages including balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and sugar maple.
Controlling the Master: Chromatin Dynamics at the MYC Promoter Integrate Developmental Signaling
Authors: Zaytseva Olga , Quinn Leonie
Published: April 2017

The transcription factor and cell growth regulator MYC is potently oncogenic and estimated to contribute to most cancers. Decades of attempts to therapeutically target MYC directly have not resulted in feasible clinical applications, and efforts have moved toward indirectly targeting MYC expression, function and/or activity to treat MYC-driven cancer. A multitude of developmental and growth signaling pathways converge on the MYC promoter to modulate transcription through their downstream effectors. Critically, even small increases in MYC abundance (<2 fold) are sufficient to drive overproliferation; however, the details of how oncogenic/growth signaling networks regulate MYC at the level of transcription remain nebulous even during normal development. It is therefore essential to first decipher mechanisms of growth signal-stimulated MYC transcription using in vivo models, with intact signaling environments, to determine exactly how these networks are dysregulated in human cancer. This in turn will provide new modalities and approaches to treat MYC-driven malignancy. Drosophila genetic studies have shed much light on how complex networks signal to transcription factors and enhancers to orchestrate Drosophila MYC (dMYC) transcription, and thus growth and patterning of complex multicellular tissue and organs. This review will discuss the many pathways implicated in patterning MYC transcription during development and the molecular events at the MYC promoter that link signaling to expression. Attention will also be drawn to parallels between mammalian and fly regulation of MYC at the level of transcription.
Exploitation of Satellite A-DInSAR Time Series for Detection, Characterization and Modelling of Land Subsidence
Authors: Bonì Roberta , Meisina Claudia , Cigna Francesca , Herrera Gerardo , Notti Davide , Bricker Stephanie , McCormack Harry , Tomás Roberto , Béjar-Pizarro Marta , Mulas Joaquín , Ezquerro Pablo
Published: April 2017

In the last two decades, advanced differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (A-DInSAR) techniques have experienced significant developments, which are mainly related to (i) the progress of satellite SAR data acquired by new missions, such as COSMO-SkyMed and ESA’s Sentinel-1 constellations; and (ii) the development of novel processing algorithms. The improvements in A-DInSAR ground deformation time series need appropriate methodologies to analyse extremely large datasets which consist of huge amounts of measuring points and associated deformation histories with high temporal resolution. This work demonstrates A-DInSAR time series exploitation as valuable tool to support different problems in engineering geology such as detection, characterization and modelling of land subsidence mechanisms. The capabilities and suitability of A-DInSAR time series from an end-user point of view are presented and discussed through the analysis carried out for three test sites in Europe: the Oltrepo Pavese (Po Plain in Italy), the Alto Guadalentín (Spain) and the London Basin (United Kingdom). Principal component analysis has been performed for the datasets available for the three case histories, in order to extract the great potential contained in the A-DInSAR time series.
Geospatial Analysis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer and Associated Community Characteristics in the United States
Authors: Scott Lia , Mobley Lee , Il’yasova Dora
Published: April 2017

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, almost always diagnosed at late stage where mortality outcomes and morbidity burdens are known to be worse. Missed by mammography screening, IBC progresses rapidly and reaches late stage by the time of diagnosis. With an unknown etiology and poor prognosis, it is crucial to evaluate the distribution of the disease in the population as well as identify area social and economic contextual risk factors that may be contributing to the observed patterns of IBC incidence. In this study, we identified spatial clustering of county-based IBC rates among US females and examined the underlying community characteristics associated with the clusters. IBC accounted for ~1.25% of all primary breast cancers diagnoses in 2004–2012 and was defined by the Collaborative Stage (CS) Extension code 710 and 730. Global and local spatial clusters of IBC rates were identified and mapped. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare median differences in key contextual variables between areas with high and low spatial clusters of IBC rates. High clusters are counties and their neighbors that all exhibit above average rates, clustered together in a fashion that would be extremely unlikely to be observed by chance, and conversely for low clusters. There was statistically significant evidence of spatial clustering into high and low rate clusters. The average rate in the high rate clusters (n = 46) was approximately 12 times the average rate in low rate clusters (n = 126), and 2.2 times the national average across all counties. Significant differences were found in the medians of the underlying race, poverty, and urbanicity variables when comparing the low cluster counties with the high cluster counties (p < 0.05). Cluster analysis confirms that IBC rates differ geographically and may be influenced by social and economic environmental factors. Particular attention may need to be paid to race, urbanicity and poverty when considering risk factors for IBC and when developing interventions and alternative prevention strategies.
Spatial Dynamic Modelling of Future Scenarios of Land Use Change in Vaud and Valais, Western Switzerland
Authors: Gago-Silva Ana , Ray Nicolas , Lehmann Anthony
Published: April 2017

We use Bayesian methods with a weights of evidence approach to model the probability of land use change over the Western part of Switzerland. This first model is followed by a cellular automata model for spatial allocation of land use classes. Our results extend and enhance current land use scenarios studies by applying Dinamica Environment for Geoprocessing Objects (Dinamica EG) to a study area comprising of the upper Rhone river basin in the Cantons of Vaud and Valais. In order to take into account the topography, we divide the study area into four regions, based on their altitude and administrative region. We show that the different regions are affected in differing ways by the same driving forces. We analyse possible outcomes in land use change in 2050 for three different scenarios: “business as usual”, “liberalisation” and a “lowered agriculture production”. The “business-as-usual” scenario results indicate a decrease in agriculture, mostly in extensive agriculture, with a share in the total area of 12.3% in 2009 decreasing by 3.3% in 2050. Losses expected under a “business-as-usual” scenario in agriculture, are mostly due to the conversion to shrubland and forest. Further losses in extensive agriculture are expected under the “liberalisation” scenario, decreasing by 10.3 % in 2050. Along with a marked increase in the closed and open forest area, increasing from 27.1% in 2009 to 42.3% by 2050. Gains in open land habitat with the increase of the share of extensive agriculture area under the “lowered agricultural production” scenario are expected to increase by 3.2% in 2050, while the share of intensive agriculture area is expected to decrease by 5.6%.
Genetics of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract: The Current State of Play
Authors: Capone Valentina , Morello William , Taroni Francesca , Montini Giovanni
Published: April 2017

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most frequent form of malformation at birth and represent the cause of 40–50% of pediatric and 7% of adult end-stage renal disease worldwide. The pathogenesis of CAKUT is based on the disturbance of normal nephrogenesis, secondary to environmental and genetic causes. Often CAKUT is the first clinical manifestation of a complex systemic disease, so an early molecular diagnosis can help the physician identify other subtle clinical manifestations, significantly affecting the management and prognosis of patients. The number of sporadic CAKUT cases explained by highly penetrant mutations in a single gene may have been overestimated over the years and a genetic diagnosis is missed in most cases, hence the importance of identifying new genetic approaches which can help unraveling the vast majority of unexplained CAKUT cases. The aim of our review is to clarify the current state of play and the future perspectives of the genetic bases of CAKUT.
ADAR1 and MicroRNA; A Hidden Crosstalk in Cancer
Authors: Cho Charles , Myung Seung-Jae , Chang Suhwan
Published: April 2017

The evolution of cancer cells is believed to be dependent on genetic or epigenetic alterations. However, this concept has recently been challenged by another mode of nucleotide alteration, RNA editing, which is frequently up-regulated in cancer. RNA editing is a biochemical process in which either Adenosine or Cytosine is deaminated by a group of RNA editing enzymes including ADAR (Adenosine deaminase; RNA specific) or APOBEC3B (Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Enzyme Catalytic Subunit 3B). The result of RNA editing is usually adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) or cytidine to uridine (C-to-U) transition, which can affect protein coding, RNA stability, splicing and microRNA-target interactions. The functional impact of these alterations is largely unclear and is a subject of extensive research. In the present review, we will specifically focus on the influence of ADARs on carcinogenesis via the regulation of microRNA processing and functioning. This follows a brief review of the current knowledge of properties of ADAR enzyme, RNA editing, and microRNA processing.
Molecular Targets for PET Imaging of Activated Microglia: The Current Situation and Future Expectations
Authors: Tronel Claire , Largeau Bérenger , Santiago Ribeiro Maria , Guilloteau Denis , Dupont Anne-Claire , Arlicot Nicolas
Published: April 2017

Microglia, as cellular mediators of neuroinflammation, are implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of microglia has matured over the last 20 years, through the development of radiopharmaceuticals targeting several molecular biomarkers of microglial activation and, among these, mainly the translocator protein-18 kDa (TSPO). Nevertheless, current limitations of TSPO as a PET microglial biomarker exist, such as low brain density, even in a neurodegenerative setting, expression by other cells than the microglia (astrocytes, peripheral macrophages in the case of blood brain barrier breakdown), genetic polymorphism, inducing a variation for most of TSPO PET radiopharmaceuticals’ binding affinity, or similar expression in activated microglia regardless of its polarization (pro- or anti-inflammatory state), and these limitations narrow its potential interest. We overview alternative molecular targets, for which dedicated radiopharmaceuticals have been proposed, including receptors (purinergic receptors P2X7, cannabinoid receptors, α7 and α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, adenosine 2A receptor, folate receptor β) and enzymes (cyclooxygenase, nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase, β-glucuronidase, and enzymes of the kynurenine pathway), with a particular focus on their respective contribution for the understanding of microglial involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss opportunities for these potential molecular targets for PET imaging regarding their selectivity for microglia expression and polarization, in relation to the mechanisms by which microglia actively participate in both toxic and neuroprotective actions in brain diseases, and then take into account current clinicians’ expectations.
Drug Induced Liver Injury: Can Biomarkers Assist RUCAM in Causality Assessment?
Authors: Teschke Rolf , Schulze Johannes , Eickhoff Axel , Danan Gaby
Published: April 2017

Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is a potentially serious adverse reaction in a few susceptible individuals under therapy by various drugs. Health care professionals facing DILI are confronted with a wealth of drug-unrelated liver diseases with high incidence and prevalence rates, which can confound the DILI diagnosis. Searching for alternative causes is a key element of RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) to assess rigorously causality in suspected DILI cases. Diagnostic biomarkers as blood tests would be a great help to clinicians, regulators, and pharmaceutical industry would be more comfortable if, in addition to RUCAM, causality of DILI can be confirmed. High specificity and sensitivity are required for any diagnostic biomarker. Although some risk factors are available to evaluate liver safety of drugs in patients, no valid diagnostic or prognostic biomarker exists currently for idiosyncratic DILI when a liver injury occurred. Identifying a biomarker in idiosyncratic DILI requires detailed knowledge of cellular and biochemical disturbances leading to apoptosis or cell necrosis and causing leakage of specific products in blood. As idiosyncratic DILI is typically a human disease and hardly reproducible in animals, pathogenetic events and resulting possible biomarkers remain largely undisclosed. Potential new diagnostic biomarkers should be evaluated in patients with DILI and RUCAM-based established causality. In conclusion, causality assessment in cases of suspected idiosyncratic DILI is still best achieved using RUCAM since specific biomarkers as diagnostic blood tests that could enhance RUCAM results are not yet available.
Transition Models for Turbomachinery Boundary Layer Flows: A Review
Authors: Dick Erik , Kubacki Slawomir
Published: April 2017

Current models for transition in turbomachinery boundary layer flows are reviewed. The basic physical mechanisms of transition processes and the way these processes are expressed by model ingredients are discussed. The fundamentals of models are described as far as possible, with a common structure of the equations and with emphasis on the similarities between the models. Tests of models reported in the literature are summarized and our own test is added. A conclusion on the performance of models is formulated.
Specific Features of Aerodynamic Journal Bearings with Elastically Supported Pads
Authors: Šimek Jiří
Published: April 2017

Aerodynamic bearings with elastically supported tilting pads have operational properties comparable with widely-used foil journal bearings. They combine the excellent stability of tilting pad bearings, as a result of very small cross-coupling stiffness terms, with the positive properties of foil bearings, namely their ability to adapt to changing operating conditions and presence of additional damping due to friction between elastic members and bearing casings. Air cycle machines (ACMs) are used in the environmental control systems of aircrafts to manage the pressurization of the cabin. An ACM with the abovementioned type of bearings and an operational speed of 60,000 rpm was designed and successfully tested, even under conditions of strong external excitation. Some problems with rotor stability in certain operation regimes were encountered. Rotor relative vibrations measured at both bearing locations increased substantially when excitation frequency was close to the lowest rotor eigenvalues. In spite of that and the 1000 start/stop cycles passed by the end of the test, any traces of wear on the bearing sliding surfaces were negligible. When the bearing distance had to be shortened in order to insert the machine into the defined space, the rotor quickly became unstable at relatively low speeds. Although rotor stability reserve was reduced only slightly, the rotor had to be redesigned in order to achieve stability. Operation characteristics of aerodynamic bearings with elastically supported tilting pads are presented together with rotor dynamic analysis and validated with measured results.
Preparation and Chemical/Microstructural Characterization of Azacrown Ether-Crosslinked Chitosan Films
Authors: Toeri Julius , Osorio-Madrazo Anayancy , Laborie Marie-Pierre
Published: April 2017

Chemically stable porous azacrown ether-crosslinked chitosan films were prepared by reacting varying molar amounts of N,N-diallyl-7,16-diaza-1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-dibenzo-18-crown-6 (molar equivalents ranging from 0, 0.125, 0.167, 0.25 and 0.5) with chitosan. Their chemical and structural properties were characterized by solid state-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), elemental, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), microscopy, and X-ray analyses, as well as gel content. NMR and FTIR analyses of the reaction products suggested that new –CH2– crosslink bridges were produced between the amine groups of chitosan (Ch) and the allyl groups of the azacrown (DAC). The crosslinking chemistry between allyl and amine groups of the reactants was further evidenced with solution NMR studies on model compound of glucosamine with the azacrown. X-ray diffraction analysis of the Ch/azacrown films using wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), including synchrotron-WAXS, revealed that the crystalline arrangement of chitosan (Ch) was partially destroyed with increasing grafting of azacrown ether proportion on the Ch polymer chain. Solubility and gel content determination confirmed network formation with a gel content as high as 84–95 wt %. Microstructural analysis revealed microporous morphology with high surface area. The morphology and structure of the azacrown ether-crosslinked chitosan films could be tailored by stoichiometry of the reacting species.
Small Strain Stiffness of Unsaturated Sands Containing a Polyacrylamide Solution
Authors: Jung Jongwon , Ku Taeseo , Ahn Jaehun
Published: April 2017

Sand improvements using organic agents have shown promising results. Polyacrylamide is one possible organic agent, which has been shown to influence the shear strength, stiffness, soil remediation, and erosion resistance of geomaterials. In this study, we explored the shear wave velocity (S-wave) and water retention curves of unsaturated sands containing polyacrylamide solutions. The shear wave velocity was measured during the water retention curve measurement tests according to the variation of the degree of saturation. The experimental setup was verified through comparison of the measured water retention curves with the published data. The results show that (1) the S-wave velocity of saturated sands increases with polyacrylamide concentration; (2) as the degree of saturation decreases, the S-wave velocity increases; (3) near the residual water (or polyacrylamide solution) saturation, the S-wave velocity increases dramatically; (4) as the degree of saturation decreases, the S-wave velocity at unsaturated conditions increases with any given water (or polyacrylamide solution) saturation, like the water retention curves; (5) the S-wave velocity increases with the increase in capillary pressure; and (6) the predicted S-wave velocity at a given degree of saturation is slightly overestimated, and the modification of the equation is required.