bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toxicity of Pekinenin C from Euphorbia Pekinensis Radix on Rat Small Intestinal Crypt Epithelial Cell and Its Apoptotic Mechanism
Authors: Cao Yudan , Cheng Fangfang , Yao Weifeng , Bao Beihua , Zhang Kaicheng , Zhang Li , Ding Anwei
Published: June 2016

Pekinenin C is a casbane diterpenoid separated from the root of the traditional Chinese medicine, Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., which is used as drug for the treatment of edema, ascites, and hydrothorax. Whereas pekinenin C exhibits severe cytotoxicity, the exact toxicity mechanism is unclear. In this study, the effects of pekinenin C on cell inhibition, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were examined to explain its toxic mechanism. The proliferation of IEC-6 cells was accessed via MTT colorimetric assay after incubated with different concentrations of pekinenin C. Pekinenin C-treated IEC-6 cells labeled with RNase/PI and Annexin V/PI were analyzed by flow cytometric analyses for evaluation of cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis, respectively. The apoptosis mechanism of pekinenin C on IEC-6 was investigated through assaying the activities of caspase-3, 8, 9 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), protein expression of Bax, Bcl-2, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), Apaf-1, Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and type 1-associated death domain (TRADD) by Western-blot, mRNA expression of Fas receptor (FasR), Fas ligand (FasL), tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1) and NF-κB by RT-PCR. The results showed that pekinenin C has exhibited obvious IEC-6 cells toxicity and the IC50 value was 2.1 μg·mL−1. Typical apoptosis characteristics were observed under a transmission electron microscopy, and it was found that pekinenin C could cause G0/G1 phase arrest in IEC-6 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induce apoptosis of IEC-6 cells. Additionally, pekinenin C could increase the expressions of Bax, AIF, Apaf-1, FasR, FasL, TNFR1 and NF-κB, suppress the expression of Bcl-2, FADD and TRADD, then activate caspase-3, 8, 9 cascades, and at last result in apoptosis. These results demonstrated that pekinenin C effectively promoted cell apoptosis, and induced IEC-6 cells apoptosis through both the mitochondrial and death receptor pathways.
High DRC Levels Are Associated with Let-7b Overexpression in Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Encarnación Jarline , Ortiz Carmen , Vergne Ralphdy , Vargas Wanda , Coppola Domenico , Matta Jaime
Published: June 2016

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) is a critical pathway involved in breast cancer (BC). We have previously published that a low DNA repair capacity (DRC) is associated with a higher risk of BC in Puerto Rican women. Let-7b belongs to a miRNA family with tumor suppressor activity that targets oncogenes. We isolated miRNAs from plasma of 153 Puerto Rican women with and without BC. DRC was measured in lymphocytes by means of a host cell reactivation assay. These women were divided into four groups according to their DRC level: High (>3.8%) and low (<3.8%). The four groups consisted of BC patients with high (n = 35) and low (n = 43) DRC and controls with high (n = 39) and low (n = 36) DRC. Epidemiologic data were collected at initial BC diagnosis and almost five years after diagnosis. A significant difference in Let-7b expression was found in BC patients with high DRC versus the remaining groups (p < 0.001). Thus, our data reveal a possible role of Let-7b on DRC during breast carcinogenesis. Our study is innovative because it provides the first evidence that Let-7b may play role in DRC regulation (through the NER repair pathway) in BC.
The Simple Lamb Wave Analysis to Characterize Concrete Wide Beams by the Practical MASW Test
Authors: Lee Young , Oh Taekeun
Published: June 2016

In recent years, the Lamb wave analysis by the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) for concrete structures has been an effective nondestructive evaluation, such as the condition assessment and dimension identification by the elastic wave velocities and their reflections from boundaries. This study proposes an effective Lamb wave analysis by the practical application of MASW to concrete wide beams in an easy and simple manner in order to identify the dimension and elastic wave velocity (R-wave) for the condition assessment (e.g., the estimation of elastic properties). This is done by identifying the zero-order antisymmetric (A0) and first-order symmetric (S1) modes among multimodal Lamb waves. The MASW data were collected on eight concrete wide beams and compared to the actual depth and to the pressure (P-) wave velocities collected for the same specimen. Information is extracted from multimodal Lamb wave dispersion curves to obtain the elastic stiffness parameters and the thickness of the concrete structures. Due to the simple and cost-effective procedure associated with the MASW processing technique, the characteristics of several fundamental modes in the experimental Lamb wave dispersion curves could be measured. Available reference data are in good agreement with the parameters that were determined by our analysis scheme.
Influence of the Overlapping Factor and Welding Speed on T-Joint Welding of Ti6Al4V and Inconel 600 Using Low-Power Fiber Laser
Authors: Janasekaran Shamini , Tan Ai , Yusof Farazila , Abdul Shukor Mohd
Published: June 2016

Double-sided laser beam welding of skin-stringer joints is an established method for many applications. However, in certain cases with limited accessibility, single-sided laser beam joining is considered. In the present study, single-sided welding of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V and nickel-based alloy Inconel 600 in a T-joint configuration was carried out using continuous-wave (CW), low-power Ytterbium (Yb)-fiber laser. The influence of the overlapping factor and welding speed of the laser beam on weld morphology and properties was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. XRD analysis revealed the presence of intermetallic layers containing NiTi and NiTi2 at the skin-stringer joint. The strength of the joints was evaluated using pull testing, while the hardness of the joints was analyzed using Vickers hardness measurement at the base metal (BM), fusion zone (FZ) and heat-affected zone (HAZ). The results showed that the highest force needed to break the samples apart was approximately 150 N at a laser welding power of 250 W, welding speed of 40 mm/s and overlapping factor of 50%. During low-power single-sided laser welding, the properties of the T-joints were affected by the overlapping factor and laser welding speed.
Experimental Verification of Statistically Optimized Parameters for Low-Pressure Cold Spray Coating of Titanium
Authors: Adebiyi Damilola , Popoola Abimbola , Botef Ionel
Published: June 2016

The cold spray coating process involves many process parameters which make the process very complex, and highly dependent and sensitive to small changes in these parameters. This results in a small operational window of the parameters. Consequently, mathematical optimization of the process parameters is key, not only to achieving deposition but also improving the coating quality. This study focuses on the mathematical identification and experimental justification of the optimum process parameters for cold spray coating of titanium alloy with silicon carbide (SiC). The continuity, momentum and the energy equations governing the flow through the low-pressure cold spray nozzle were solved by introducing a constitutive equation to close the system. This was used to calculate the critical velocity for the deposition of SiC. In order to determine the input temperature that yields the calculated velocity, the distribution of velocity, temperature, and pressure in the cold spray nozzle were analyzed, and the exit values were predicted using the meshing tool of Solidworks. Coatings fabricated using the optimized parameters and some non-optimized parameters are compared. The coating of the CFD-optimized parameters yielded lower porosity and higher hardness.
Malignant Mesothelioma and Delivery of Polyphenols
Authors: Bishop Karen , Braakhuis Andrea , Ferguson Lynnette
Published: June 2016

Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin cell wall lining of the body’s internal organs and structures.[...]
Functionalized Polymers for Enhance Oral Bioavailability of Sensitive Molecules
Authors: Pérez Yolanda , Urista Claudia , Martínez Javier , Nava María , Rodríguez Francisco
Published: June 2016

Currently, many sensitive molecules have been studied for effective oral administration. These substances are biologically active compounds that mainly suffer early degradation in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and physicochemical instability, inactivation and poor solubility and permeability. The sensibility of the biomolecules has limited their oral administration in the body and today is an important research topic to achieve desired effects in medicine field. Under this perspective, various enhancement approaches have been studied as alternatives to increase their oral bioavailability. Some of these strategies include functionalized polymers to provide specific useful benefits as protection to the intestinal tract by preventing its degradation by stomach enzymes, to increase their absorption, permeability, stability, and to make a proper release in the GIT. Due to specific chemical groups, shapes and sizes, morphologies, mechanical properties, and degradation, recent advances in functionalized polymers have opened the door to great possibilities to improve the physicochemical characteristics of these biopharmaceuticals. Today, many biomolecules are found in basic studies, preclinical steps, and others are late stage clinical development. This review summarizes the contribution of functionalized polymers to enhance oral bioavailability of sensitive molecules and their application status in medicine for different diseases. Future trends of these polymers and their possible uses to achieve different formulation goals for oral delivery are also covered in this manuscript.
Religion and International Migration: A Case Study of Ukraine
Authors: Strielkowski Wadim , Bilan Yuriy , Demkiv Oleh
Published: June 2016

This paper studies the relationships between religion and migration in modern-day Ukraine. We focus on Ukraine’s numerous churches and their attitude toward the phenomenon of emigration, their relevant activities with regard to the outward migration from the country, and the migration experiences and intentions of the believers. We find that the Greek Catholic Church has put special attention on the emigration phenomenon in its social doctrine, while the doctrines of other churches have been less elaborate, both in general terms and with regard to the issue of external migration in particular. Moreover, we demonstrate that worshippers belonging to the different churches have very similar growing concerns about the negative effects of Ukraine’s economic development—social divide and unemployment in particular.
Evaluation of IMERG and TRMM 3B43 Monthly Precipitation Products over Mainland China
Authors: Chen Fengrui , Li Xi
Published: June 2016

As the successor of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission significantly improves the spatial resolution of precipitation estimates from 0.25° to 0.1°. The present study analyzed the error structures of Integrated Multisatellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) monthly precipitation products over Mainland China from March 2014 to February 2015 using gauge measurements at multiple spatiotemporal scales. Moreover, IMERG products were also compared with TRMM 3B43 products. The results show that: (1) overall, IMERG can capture the spatial patterns of precipitation over China well. It performs a little better than TRMM 3B43 at seasonal and monthly scales; (2) the performance of IMERG varies greatly spatially and temporally. IMERG performs better at low latitudes than at middle latitudes, and shows worse performance in winter than at other times; (3) compared with TRMM 3B43, IMERG significantly improves the estimation accuracy of precipitation over the Xinjiang region and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, especially over the former where IMERG increases Pearson correlation coefficient by 0.18 and decreases root-mean-square error by 54.47 mm for annual precipitation estimates. However, most IMERG products over these areas are unreliable; and (4) IMERG shows poor performance in winter as TRMM 3B43 even if GPM improved its ability to sense frozen precipitation. Most of them over North China are unreliable during this period.
An Optical Fiber Lateral Displacement Measurement Method and Experiments Based on Reflective Grating Panel
Authors: Li Yuhe , Guan Kaisen , Hu Zhaohui , Chen Yanxiang
Published: June 2016

An optical fiber sensing method based on a reflective grating panel is demonstrated for lateral displacement measurement. The reflective panel is a homemade grating with a periodic variation of its refractive index, which is used to modulate the reflected light intensity. The system structure and operation principle are illustrated in detail. The intensity calculation and simulation of the optical path are carried out to theoretically analyze the measurement performance. A distinctive fiber optic grating ruler with a special fiber optic measuring probe and reflective grating panel is set up. Experiments with different grating pitches are conducted, and long-distance measurements are executed to accomplish the functions of counting optical signals, subdivision, and discerning direction. Experimental results show that the proposed measurement method can be used to detect lateral displacement, especially for applications in working environments with high temperatures.
A Novel Location-Centric IoT-Cloud Based On-Street Car Parking Violation Management System in Smart Cities
Authors: Dinh Thanh , Kim Younghan
Published: June 2016

Nowadays, in big cities, parking management is a critical issue from both the driver’s side and the city government’s side. From the driver’s side, how to find an available parking lot in a city is a considerable concern. As a result, smart parking systems recently have received great interest, both in academia and industry. From the city government’s side, how to manage and distribute such a limited public parking resource efficiently to give every visitor a fair chance of finding an on-street parking lot is also a considerable concern. However, existing studies of smart parking management focus only on assisting the driver’s side to find available parking spaces. This study aims to raise a new perspective on such smart parking management and to propose a novel location-centric IoT-cloud-based parking violation management system. The system is designed to assist authoritative officers in finding parking violations easily and recommends the least cost path for officers so that officers can achieve their highest productivity in finding parking violations and issuing parking tickets. Experimental results show that the system not only improves the productivity of officers in finding parking violations and issuing tickets, but also helps reduce the traveling cost of officers and to reduce the average violation period of violating cars considerably.
Investigating the Impact of Possession-Way of a Smartphone on Action Recognition
Authors: Kim Zae , Jeong Young-Seob , Oh Hyung , Oh Kyo-Joong , Lim Chae-Gyun , Iraqi Youssef , Choi Ho-Jin
Published: June 2016

For the past few decades, action recognition has been attracting many researchers due to its wide use in a variety of applications. Especially with the increasing number of smartphone users, many studies have been conducted using sensors within a smartphone. However, a lot of these studies assume that the users carry the device in specific ways such as by hand, in a pocket, in a bag, etc. This paper investigates the impact of providing an action recognition system with the information of the possession-way of a smartphone, and vice versa. The experimental dataset consists of five possession-ways (hand, backpack, upper-pocket, lower-pocket, and shoulder-bag) and two actions (walking and running) gathered by seven users separately. Various machine learning models including recurrent neural network architectures are employed to explore the relationship between the action recognition and the possession-way recognition. The experimental results show that the assumption of possession-ways of smartphones do affect the performance of action recognition, and vice versa. The results also reveal that a good performance is achieved when both actions and possession-ways are recognized simultaneously.
Two Capacitive Micro-Machined Ultrasonic Transducers for Wind Speed Measurement
Authors: Bui Gia , Jiang Yu-Tsung , Pang Da-Chen
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a new wind speed measurement method using a single capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT). The CMUT was arranged perpendicular to the direction of the wind flow, and a reflector was set up a short distance away, facing the CMUT. To reduce the size, weight, cost, and power consumption of conventional ultrasonic anemometers this study proposes two CMUT designs for the measurement of wind speed using either the amplitude of the signal or the time of flight (TOF). Each CMUT with a double array element design can transmit and receive signals in five different operation modes. Experiments showed that the two CMUT designs utilizing the TOF were better than those utilizing the amplitude of the signal for wind speed measurements ranging from 1 m/s to 10 m/s, providing a measurement error of less than 0.2 m/s. These results indicate that the sensitivity of the TOF is independent of the five operation modes.
Temps des institutions et temps de l’histoire dans la Bibliothèque Historique de Diodore de Sicile
Authors: Cohen-Skalli Aude
Published: June 2016

Diodore de Sicile donne de la κοινὴ ἱστορία une définition nouvelle dans sa Bibliothèque Historique : son histoire doit à elle seule couvrir une extension maximale dans l’espace et dans le temps, comme l’explique le proème. Pour l’échelle verticale, Diodore choisit un triple comput qui suit la datation grecque par olympiades, la datation athénienne par archontes et la datation romaine par consuls, un système que le lecteur peut voir à l’oeuvre à partir du livre XI. Mais la lecture croisée de deux fragments de la tradition indirecte permet de préciser que, dans la série des livres fragmentaires, ce comput commençait aux livres VIII et X.
RADIAL MOTIONS IN DISK STARS: ELLIPTICITY OR SECULAR FLOWS?
Authors: López-Corredoira M. , González-Fernández C.
Published: May 2016

Average stellar orbits of the Galactic disk may have some small intrinsic ellipticity which breaks the exact axisymmetry and there may also be some migration of stars inwards or outwards. Both phenomena can be detected through kinematic analyses. We use the red clump stars selected spectroscopically from the APO Galactic Evolution Experiment, with known distances and radial velocities, to measure the radial component of the Galactocentric velocities within 5 kpc < R < 16 kpc,

, and within 20° from the Sun–Galactic center line. The average Galactocentric radial velocity is V

R
= (1.48 ± 0.35)[R(kpc) − (8.8 ± 2.7)] km s−1 outwards in the explored range, with a higher contribution from stars below the Galactic plane. Two possible explanations can be given for this result: (i) the mean orbit of the disk stars is intrinsically elliptical with a Galactocentric radial gradient of eccentricity around 0.01 kpc−1; or (ii) there is a net secular expansion of the disk, in which stars within R ≈ 9–11 kpc are migrating to the region R ≳ 11 kpc at the rate of ∼2 M
⊙ yr−1, and stars with R ≲ 9 kpc are falling toward the center of the Galaxy. This migration ratio would be unattainable for a long time and should decelerate, otherwise the Galaxy would fade away in around 1 Gyr. At present, both hypotheses are speculative and one would need data on the Galactocentric radial velocities for other azimuths different to the center or anticenter in order to confirm one of the scenarios.
MULTI-FILTER LIGHT CURVES OF 29 VERY SHORT PERIOD CANDIDATE CONTACT BINARIES
Authors: Koen C. , Koen T. , Gray R. O.
Published: June 2016

Light curves of 26 probable contact binary stars are made available, from a list of candidates with the shortest periods known. This is supplemented by sets of light curves of three previously studied systems. Photometry was obtained in the Johnson UBV, Cousins RI system. All stars but one were observed in four wavebands, either UBV R

C
or

BV

(
RI
)

C

, depending on brightness. Tentative spectral classifications are given for 23 of the stars. Effective temperatures are derived from infrared and optical photometric indices, and from spectral types. These are generally in good agreement. The multicolor photometry, spectral typing, and estimated effective temperatures can be used to model these systems in detail. A preliminary study, based on Fourier coefficients of the light curves, suggests that all the systems are indeed eclipsing stars, with all but a handful probably in contact configurations.
THE ORION FINGERS: NEAR-IR SPECTRAL IMAGING OF AN EXPLOSIVE OUTFLOW
Authors: Youngblood Allison , Ginsburg Adam , Bally John
Published: June 2016

We present near-IR (1.1–2.4 μm) position–position–velocity cubes of the 500 year old Orion BN/KL explosive outflow with spatial resolution 1″ and spectral resolution 86 km s−1. We construct integrated intensity maps free of continuum sources of 15 H2 and [Fe ii] lines while preserving kinematic information of individual outflow features. Included in the detected H2 lines are the 1-0 S(1) and 1-0 Q(3) transitions, allowing extinction measurements across the outflow. Additionally, we present dereddened flux ratios for over two dozen outflow features to allow for the characterization of the true excitation conditions of the BN/KL outflow. All of the ratios show the dominance of the shock excitation of the H2 emission, although some features exhibit signs of fluorescent excitation from stellar radiation or J-type shocks. We also detect tracers of the PDR/ionization front north of the Trapezium stars in [O i] and [Fe ii] and analyze other observed outflows not associated with the BN/KL outflow.
OBSERVATIONAL DETECTION OF DRIFT VELOCITY BETWEEN IONIZED AND NEUTRAL SPECIES IN SOLAR PROMINENCES
Authors: Khomenko Elena , Collados Manuel , Díaz Antonio J.
Published: May 2016

We report the detection of differences in the ion and neutral velocities in prominences using high-resolution spectral data obtained in 2012 September at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope (Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife). A time series of scans of a small portion of a solar prominence was obtained simultaneously with high cadence using the lines of two elements with different ionization states, namely, Ca ii 8542 Å and He i 10830 Å. The displacements, widths, and amplitudes of both lines were carefully compared to extract dynamical information about the plasma. Many dynamical features are detected, such as counterstreaming flows, jets, and propagating waves. In all of the cases, we find a very strong correlation between the parameters extracted from the lines of both elements, confirming that both lines trace the same plasma. Nevertheless, we also find short-lived transients where this correlation is lost. These transients are associated with ion-neutral drift velocities of the order of several hundred m s−1. The patches of non-zero drift velocity show coherence in time–distance diagrams.
GLOBULAR CLUSTERS HOSTING INTERMEDIATE-MASS BLACK HOLES: NO MASS-SEGREGATION BASED CANDIDATES
Authors: Pasquato Mario , Miocchi Paolo , Won Sohn Bong , Lee Young-Wook
Published: May 2016

Recently, both stellar mass segregation and binary fractions were uniformly measured on relatively large samples of Galactic globular clusters (GCs). Simulations show that both sizable binary-star populations and intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) quench mass segregation in relaxed GCs. Thus mass segregation in GCs with a reliable binary-fraction measurement is a valuable probe to constrain IMBHs. In this paper we combine mass-segregation and binary-fraction measurements from the literature to build a sample of 33 GCs (with measured core binary fractions), and a sample of 43 GCs (with binary-fraction measurements in the area between the core radius and the half-mass radius). Within both samples we try to identify IMBH-host candidates. These should have relatively low mass segregation, a low binary fraction (<5%), and a short (<1 Gyr) relaxation time. Considering the core-binary-fraction sample, no suitable candidates emerge. If the binary fraction between the core and the half-mass radius is considered, two candidates are found, but this is likely due to statistical fluctuations. We also consider a larger sample of 54 GCs where we obtained an estimate of the core binary fraction using a predictive relation based on metallicity and integrated absolute magnitude. Also in this case no suitable candidates are found. Finally, we consider the GC core- to half-mass radius ratio, which is expected to be larger for GCs containing either an IMBH or binaries. We find that GCs with large core- to half-mass radius ratios are less mass-segregated (and show a larger binary fraction), confirming the theoretical expectation that the energy sources responsible for the large core are also quenching mass segregation.
CAN STAR–DISK COLLISIONS EXPLAIN THE MISSING RED GIANTS PROBLEM IN THE GALACTIC CENTER?
Authors: Kieffer T. Forrest , Bogdanović Tamara
Published: June 2016

Observations have revealed a relative paucity of red giant (RG) stars within the central 0.5 pc in the Galactic Center (GC). Motivated by this finding we investigate the hypothesis that collisions of stars with a fragmenting accretion disk are responsible for the observed dearth of evolved stars. We use three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations to model a star with radius 10 R
⊙ and mass 1 M
⊙, representative of the missing population of RGs, colliding with high density clumps. We find that multiple collisions with clumps of column density ≳108 g cm−2 can strip a substantial fraction of the star’s envelope and in principle render it invisible to observations. Simulations confirm that repeated impacts are particularly efficient in driving mass loss as partially stripped RGs expand and have increased cross sections for subsequent collisions. Because the envelope is unbound on account of the kinetic energy of the star, any significant amount of stripping of the RG population in the GC should be mirrored by a systematic decay of their orbits and possibly by their enhanced rotational velocity. To be viable, this scenario requires that the total mass of the fragmenting disk has been several orders of magnitude higher than that of the early-type stars which now form the stellar disk in the GC.
THE EFFECT OF 22Ne DIFFUSION IN THE EVOLUTION AND PULSATIONAL PROPERTIES OF WHITE DWARFS WITH SOLAR METALLICITY PROGENITORS
Authors: Camisassa María E. , Althaus Leandro G. , Córsico Alejandro H. , Vinyoles Núria , Serenelli Aldo M. , Isern Jordi , Bertolami Marcelo M. Miller , García–Berro Enrique
Published: June 2016

Because of the large neutron excess of 22Ne, sedimentation of this isotope occurs rapidly in the interior of white dwarfs. This process releases an additional amount of energy, thus delaying the cooling times of the white dwarf. This influences the ages of different stellar populations derived using white dwarf cosmochronology. Furthermore, the overabundance of 22Ne in the inner regions of the star modifies the Brunt–Väisälä frequency, thus altering the pulsational properties of these stars. In this work we discuss the impact of 22Ne sedimentation in white dwarfs resulting from solar metallicity progenitors (Z = 0.02). We performed evolutionary calculations of white dwarfs with masses of 0.528, 0.576, 0.657, and 0.833

derived from full evolutionary computations of their progenitor stars, starting at the zero-age main sequence all the way through the central hydrogen and helium burning, the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (AGB), and post-AGB phases. Our computations show that at low luminosities (

), 22Ne sedimentation delays the cooling of white dwarfs with solar metallicity progenitors by about 1 Gyr. Additionally, we studied the consequences of 22Ne sedimentation on the pulsational properties of ZZ Ceti white dwarfs. We find that 22Ne sedimentation induces differences in the periods of these stars larger than the present observational uncertainties, particularly in more massive white dwarfs.
A SELECTION OF GIANT RADIO SOURCES FROM NVSS
Authors: Proctor D. D.
Published: June 2016

Results of the application of pattern-recognition techniques to the problem of identifying giant radio sources (GRSs) from the data in the NVSS catalog are presented, and issues affecting the process are explored. Decision-tree pattern-recognition software was applied to training-set source pairs developed from known NVSS large-angular-size radio galaxies. The full training set consisted of 51,195 source pairs, 48 of which were known GRSs for which each lobe was primarily represented by a single catalog component. The source pairs had a maximum separation of

and a minimum component area of 1.87 square arcmin at the 1.4 mJy level. The importance of comparing the resulting probability distributions of the training and application sets for cases of unknown class ratio is demonstrated. The probability of correctly ranking a randomly selected (GRS, non-GRS) pair from the best of the tested classifiers was determined to be 97.8 ± 1.5%. The best classifiers were applied to the over 870,000 candidate pairs from the entire catalog. Images of higher-ranked sources were visually screened, and a table of over 1600 candidates, including morphological annotation, is presented. These systems include doubles and triples, wide-angle tail and narrow-angle tail, S- or Z-shaped systems, and core-jets and resolved cores. While some resolved-lobe systems are recovered with this technique, generally it is expected that such systems would require a different approach.
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE X-RAY FLARES FROM GAMMA-RAY BURSTS OBSERVED BY SWIFT
Authors: Yi Shuang-Xi , Xi Shao-Qiang , Yu Hai , Wang F. Y. , Mu Hui-Jun , Lü Lian-Zhong , Liang En-Wei
Published: June 2016

X-ray flares are generally supposed to be produced by later activities of the central engine, and may share a similar physical origin with the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). In this paper, we have analyzed all significant X-ray flares from the GRBs observed by Swift from 2005 April to 2015 March. The catalog contains 468 bright X-ray flares, including 200 flares with redshifts. We obtain the fitting results of X-ray flares, such as start time, peak time, duration, peak flux, fluence, peak luminosity, and mean luminosity. The peak luminosity decreases with peak time, following a power-law behavior

. The flare duration increases with peak time. The 0.3–10 keV isotropic energy of the distribution of X-ray flares is a log-normal peaked at

erg. We also study the frequency distributions of flare parameters, including energies, durations, peak fluxes, rise times, decay times, and waiting times. Power-law distributions of energies, durations, peak fluxes, and waiting times are found in GRB X-ray flares and solar flares. These distributions could be well explained by a fractal-diffusive, self-organized criticality model. Some theoretical models based on magnetic reconnection have been proposed to explain X-ray flares. Our result shows that the relativistic jets of GRBs may be dominated by Poynting flux.
HIGHEST REDSHIFT IMAGE OF NEUTRAL HYDROGEN IN EMISSION: A CHILES DETECTION OF A STARBURSTING GALAXY AT z = 0.376
Authors: Fernández Ximena , Gim Hansung B. , Gorkom J. H. van , Yun Min S. , Momjian Emmanuel , Popping Attila , Chomiuk Laura , Hess Kelley M. , Hunt Lucas , Kreckel Kathryn , Lucero Danielle , Maddox Natasha , Oosterloo Tom , Pisano D. J. , Verheijen M. A. W. , Hales Christopher A. , Chung Aeree , Dodson Richard , Golap Kumar , Gross Julia , Henning Patricia , Hibbard John , Jaffé Yara L. , Meyer Jennifer Donovan , Meyer Martin , Sanchez-Barrantes Monica , Schiminovich David , Wicenec Andreas , Wilcots Eric , Bershady Matthew , Scoville Nick , Strader Jay , Tremou Evangelia , Salinas Ricardo , Chávez Ricardo
Published: June 2016

Our current understanding of galaxy evolution still has many uncertainties associated with the details of the accretion, processing, and removal of gas across cosmic time. The next generation of radio telescopes will image the neutral hydrogen (H i) in galaxies over large volumes at high redshifts, which will provide key insights into these processes. We are conducting the COSMOS H i Large Extragalactic Survey (CHILES) with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, which is the first survey to simultaneously observe H i from z = 0 to z ∼ 0.5. Here, we report the highest redshift H i 21 cm detection in emission to date of the luminous infrared galaxy COSMOS J100054.83+023126.2 at z = 0.376 with the first 178 hr of CHILES data. The total H i mass is (2.9 ± 1.0) × 1010
M
⊙ and the spatial distribution is asymmetric and extends beyond the galaxy. While optically the galaxy looks undisturbed, the H i distribution suggests an interaction with a candidate companion. In addition, we present follow-up Large Millimeter Telescope CO observations that show it is rich in molecular hydrogen, with a range of possible masses of (1.8–9.9) × 1010
M
⊙. This is the first study of the H i and CO in emission for a single galaxy beyond z ∼ 0.2.
Costs in Relation to Disability, Disease Activity, and Health-related Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Observational Data from Southern Sweden
Authors: Wallman Johan K. , Eriksson Jonas K. , Nilsson Jan-Åke , Olofsson Tor , Kristensen Lars-Erik , Neovius Martin , Geborek Pierre
Published: June 2016

Objective.

To compare how costs relate to disability, disease activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

Antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF)-treated patients with RA in southern Sweden (n = 2341) were monitored 2005–2010. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), and EQ-5D scores were linked to register-derived costs of antirheumatic drugs (excluding anti-TNF agents), patient care, and work loss from 30 days before to 30 days after each visit (n = 13,289). Associations of HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D to healthcare (patient care and drugs) and work loss costs (patients < 65 yrs) were studied in separate regression models, comparing standardized β coefficients by nonparametric bootstrapping to assess which measure best reflects costs. Analyses were conducted based on both individual means (linear regression, comparing between-patient associations) and by generalized estimating equations (GEE), using all observations to also account for within-patient associations of HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D to costs.

Results.

Regardless of the methodology (linear or GEE regression), HAQ was most closely related to both cost types, while work loss costs were also more closely associated with EQ-5D than DAS28. The results of the linear models for healthcare costs were standardized β = 0.21 (95% CI 0.15–0.27), 0.16 (0.11–0.21), and –0.15 (−0.21 to −0.10) for HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D, respectively (p < 0.05 for HAQ vs DAS28/EQ-5D). For work loss costs, the results were standardized β = 0.43 (95% CI 0.39–0.48), 0.27 (0.23–0.32), and −0.34 (−0.38 to −0.29) for HAQ/DAS28/EQ-5D, respectively (p < 0.05 for HAQ vs DAS28/EQ-5D and for EQ-5D vs DAS28).

Conclusion.

Overall, HAQ disability is a better marker of RA costs than DAS28 or EQ-5D HRQOL.
Differences in Clinical Features and Mortality between Childhood-onset and Adult-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Single-center Study
Authors: Joo Young Bin , Park So-Yeon , Won Soyoung , Bae Sang-Cheol
Published: June 2016

Objective.

To compare clinical features and mortality between childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and adult-onset SLE (aSLE) in a prospective single-center cohort.

Methods.

A total of 1112 patients with SLE (133 cSLE and 979 aSLE) were enrolled and followed from 1998 to 2012. The 2 groups were compared regarding American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for SLE, autoantibodies, disease activity measured by the Adjusted Mean SLE Disease Activity Index (AMS), damage measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index (SDI), and medication. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated. Predictors of mortality in SLE were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results.

After a mean followup of 7.6 years, patients with cSLE had a higher number of cumulative ACR criteria and a higher AMS (p < 0.001 each), but there was no difference in SDI (p = 0.797). Immunosuppressants were used more frequently by patients with cSLE (p < 0.001). The SMR of cSLE was 18.8 (95% CI 8.6–35.6), significantly higher than that of aSLE (2.9, 95% CI 2.1–3.9). We found cSLE to be an independent predictor of mortality (HR 3.6, p = 0.008). Moreover, presence of hemolytic anemia (7.2, p = 0.034) and antiphospholipid antibody (aPL; 3.8, p = 0.041) increased the magnitude of risk of early mortality more in the patients with cSLE than in those with aSLE.

Conclusion.

The clinical course of cSLE as measured by number of clinical manifestations and disease activity is worse than that of aSLE. Also, cSLE patients with hemolytic anemia and aPL are at greater risk of death than patients with aSLE who have those features.
Trends in Emergency Department Visits and Charges for Gout in the United States between 2006 and 2012
Authors: Jinno Sadao , Hasegawa Kohei , Neogi Tuhina , Goto Tadahiro , Dubreuil Maureen
Published: June 2016

Objective.

To examine temporal trends in the rate of gout emergency department (ED) visits and charges in the United States between 2006 and 2012.

Methods.

A serial cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample.

Results.

The rate of ED visits for gout in adults overall increased from 75.0 to 85.4 per 100,000 persons over the study period (14% increase, p < 0.001), and increased 29% for those aged 45–54 years. Nationwide ED charges increased from $156 million to $281 million (80% increase, p < 0.001).

Conclusion.

Between 2006 and 2012, the rate of gout ED visits increased among US adults, most notably in those aged 45–54 years.
Note sur les entrepreneurs en complots
Authors: Campion-Vincent Véronique
Published: June 2016

Cette note présente une esquisse des conditions sociales et intellectuelles rendant compte de l’essor des entrepreneurs en complots, c’est-à-dire ces penseurs hétérodoxes qui tirent leurs ressources de leur activité de dénonciation et de leurs révélations sur les organisations et êtres maléfiques menant réellement le monde. Une attention particulière a été apportée aux signalements des entrepreneurs en complots par les médias, qui les décrivent comme des personnages hors normes et par là même distrayants. Après la présentation de quelques études consacrées à l’hypothèse reptilienne de David Icke, on se demande s’il n’est pas légitime d’envisager que les universitaires étudiant les théories du complot soient eux-mêmes des entrepreneurs en complots par leur rôle dans la diffusion de leur objet de recherche.
« Qui y a-t-il derrière tout ça ? » Révolutions et théories du complot en Europe de l’est
Authors: Haluzík Radan , Albert Nicole G.
Published: June 2016

En 1989, des mouvements de masse démocratiques – et plus tard nationalistes – s’élevèrent contre les gouvernements des pays d’Europe de l’Est. Tous les régimes communistes tombèrent comme des poires trop mûres. La rapidité et la facilité de cet effondrement entraînèrent des spéculations et des théories du complot dans le public ainsi que parmi ceux-là mêmes qui avaient pris part aux mouvements. Pourquoi tout ceci était-il arrivé en même temps, si soudainement ? Pourquoi cela avait-il été si facile, et qui avait organisé tout cela ? La « mise en scène » des révolutions démocratiques en Europe centrale et les conflits ethniques et nationaux qui s’en suivirent en Yougoslavie et dans le Caucase post-soviétique furent attribués à diverses causes : les sombres forces politiques des États-Unis, de la Russie, de l’Union européenne, de l’Allemagne ; le capitalisme international ; les politiciens avides de pouvoir ; la police secrète et ainsi de suite… Cet article tente de transcrire l’expérience de l’auteur, comme étudiant activiste durant la Révolution de Velours tchécoslovaque, puis comme chercheur travaillant plusieurs années pendant les guerres ethniques de Yougoslavie et du Caucase post-soviétique. Sont examinées les principales raisons qui ont empêché une compréhension des mouvements de masse post-communistes et ouvert un espace aux mythes populaires et aux théories du complot : 1. La transformation interne de l’acteur-activiste ; 2. La spontanéité et l’auto-organisation ; 3. Les tendances au théâtre politique. Explorer les points d’interrogation et les spéculations à propos des moments-clés de ces mouvements de masse contribue à leur compréhension.
Un manque d’imagination : récits en concurrence sur le 11 septembre
Authors: Fenster Mark , Rollet Brigitte
Published: June 2016

Cet article décrit l’émergence des attentats du 11 septembre contre le World Trade Center et le Pentagone comme un objet d’intrigue et d’imagination conspirationniste, proposant un instantané du « mouvement de vérité du 11 septembre » et de ses diverses théories lors de leur éclosion. Les théories concernant ces attentats dominent le présent des conspirationnistes –un présent remarquablement proche du passé du milieu et de la fin du 20° siècle, en dépit de changements significatifs dans la technologie de l’information et du développement continu des théories du complot comme forme influente de politique populaire. Au-delà de la communauté des conspirationnistes autour du 11 septembre, l’article considère le conflit autour de l’étude par la Commission du 11 septembre de la faillite prévisionnelle du gouvernement face aux attentats terroristes. La Commission s’est engagée dans des efforts bien dirigés et astucieux pour répondre aux théories du complot et déraciner l’adhésion populaire qu’elles suscitent, en offrant un récit faisant autorité (plus précisément un ensemble de récits). Pendant ce temps le « mouvement de vérité du 11 septembre » a également fait des efforts bien dirigés et astucieux pour critiquer le récit officiel, répondant avec ses propres efforts pour réinterpréter et re-narrer les attentats, leurs causes et leur signification dans le monde contemporain. Tandis que la Commission du 11 septembre avait critiqué les autorités fédérales et leurs services de renseignement pour leurs échecs d’imagination avant les attentats, le mouvement de vérité critiquait la Commission soit pour son échec d’imagination –elle n’avait pas offert une explication des attentats capable de déchiffrer la « version officielle » -- soit pour sa dissimulation trop inventive des vérités cachées du 11 septembre. En considérant l’affrontement entre les autorités officielles et une communauté active de conspirationnistes, cet essai montre comment le mouvement a tenté de former une communauté politique et érudite, produisant une avalanche de textes offrant des récits en compétition avec ceux proposés par la Commission afin d’atteindre ce Graal des théories du complot : la vérité. L’essai considère également les effets, s’il y en a, des tentatives de l’État pour préempter et répondre aux théories du complot.
L’objectif de simplification dans les réformes territoriales récentes : l’exemple de la clause de compétence générale
Authors: Gerardin Noé
Published: June 2016

Résumé La complexité de la répartition des compétences entre collectivités territoriales semble faire l’objet d’un constat largement partagé. En revanche, les moyens pour parvenir à simplifier cette répartition apparaissent bien moins consensuels. L’une des pistes, longuement débattue, réside dans la suppression de la clause de compétence générale des régions et des départements, afin que ces collectivités n’interviennent plus que dans les domaines de compétence qui leur ont été attribués par la loi ou le règlement. Cette clause ayant été supprimée par la loi du 7 août 2015, se pose la question des limites et des risques juridiques et politiques de cette mesure se voulant simplificatrice.
Louis Couturat, ou une occasion perdue pour une approche sémiotique dans l’épistémologie française
Authors: Schlaudt Oliver
Published: June 2016

Il existe chez Couturat une ambiguïté qui semble cruciale pour la réception de son œuvre. L’idiosyncrasie de son approche métaphysique et antinominaliste des théories scientifiques a empêché un dialogue fécond entre l’auteur et l’épistémologie française ; mais dans la réalisation de son programme métaphysique, Couturat s’est approché d’une théorie sémiotique qui n’est pas sans ressemblance avec celle de Goodman et qui a gardé un intérêt pour l’épistémologie contemporaine.
A General Simulation Modelling Framework for Train Timetabling Problem
Authors: Yalçınkaya Özgür
Published: May 2016

One of the most important problems encountered and needed to be solved in railway systems is train timetabling (scheduling) problem. This is the problem of determining a feasible timetable for sets of trains which does not violate track capacities and additionally satisfies some operational constraints of the railway system. In this chapter, a feasible timetable generator framework for stochastic simulation modelling is introduced. The objective is to obtain a feasible train timetable for all trains in the railway system, which includes train arrival and departure times at all visited stations and calculated average train travel time. Although this chapter focuses on train timetabling (scheduling) problem, the developed general framework can also be used for train dispatching (rescheduling) problem if the model can be fed by the real-time data. Since, the developed simulation model includes stochastic events, and it can easily cope with the disturbances that occur in the railway systems, it can be used for dispatching.
Steady State Modeling of Electric Railway Power Supply Systems for Planning and Operation Purposes
Authors: Arboleya Pablo
Published: May 2016

This chapter describes the different electric railway power supply systems and their main characteristics from the point of view of the power flow modeling and simulation. It considers the DC traction systems and also the AC ones, explaining the different elements embedded in the network and proposing steady state electrical models of each element. The basic methods for modeling the train behavior in terms of demanded/regenerated power are also detailed. Finally, the procedures to simulate the trains motion into the electrical network and how their motion and power demand affect to the electrical variables will be unraveled, explaining how to merge all the models in a system of equations.
Constructing Conducive Environment for Women of Color in Engineering Undergraduate Education
Authors: Ro Hyun Kyoung , McIntosh Kadian
Published: June 2016

The engineering field, in particular, struggles to recruit and retain students, especially women of color. Thus, consideration of how academic environments, such as treatment by faculty and peers, interaction with faculty, and available resources for learning and tutoring, uniquely affect women of color is examined. Several theories, such as critical racial theory, intersectionality, and campus climate framework, highlight the importance of examining individual characteristics and details of the environmental context. This study used data from a sample of 850 women students in 120 U.S. engineering undergraduate programs from 31 four-year institutions. Black women engineering students experienced and perceived more differential treatment because of their race/ethnicity but interacted more with faculty than White women students. This study provides critical implications for policy and practice regarding how administrators and faculty members can design engineering programs to create better climate and offer resources for women of color students.