bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Characterization of the Avidin Interactions with Fluorescent Pyrene-Conjugates: 1-Biotinylpyrene and 1-Desthiobiotinylpyrene
Authors: Strzelczyk Paweł , Plażuk Damian , Zakrzewski Janusz , Bujacz Grzegorz
Published: September 2016

Avidin is a tetrameric protein that belongs to the calycin superfamily. It has been studied mainly because of its extraordinary affinity to biotin, which led to a wide range of applications based on the avidin-biotin system. In the present study, we report the first crystal structures of avidin in a complex with two novel fluorescent pyrene derivatives: 1-biotinylpyrene (B9P) and 1-desthiobiotinylpyrene (D9P). The crystal structures were solved by molecular replacement using the coordinates of avidin molecule as a starting model and the final models of avidin/B9P and avidin/D9P were refined to resolutions of 2.0 Å and 2.1 Å, respectively. Our data reveal changes in loop conformation as well as in overall fold and quaternary arrangement of the avidin upon the binding of these fluorescent probes. Moreover, the crystal structures allowed analysis of the details of the interactions between the protein and the pyrene derivatives. Structural description of the complexes will contribute to the design of conjugates for expanding the capabilities of avidin–biotin technology.
Anti-Cancer Effect of Quercetin in Xenograft Models with EBV-Associated Human Gastric Carcinoma
Authors: Lee Hwan , Lee Seulki , Shin Yu , Cho Miyeon , Kang Hyojeung , Cho Hyosun
Published: September 2016

Licorice extracts have been widely used in herbal and folk medications. Glycyrrhiza contains diverse range of biological compounds including triterpenes (glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid) and flavonoids (quercetin, liquiritin, liquiritigenin, glabridin, licoricidin, isoliquiritigenin). The flavonoids in licorice are known to have strong anti-cancer activities. Quercetin, the most abundant flavonoid, has been shown to have anti-ulcer, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection can lead to serious malignancies, such as, Burkitt’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and gastric carcinoma(GC), and (Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric carcinoma) EBVaGC is one of the most common EBV-associated cancers. In this study, the authors first examined the anti-cancer effects of quercetin and isoliquiritigenin in vivo xenograft animal models implanted with EBV(+) human gastric carcinoma (SNU719) or EBV(−) human gastric carcinoma (MKN74), and then explored the molecular mechanisms responsible for their anti-cancer activities. The results obtained showed that anti-cancer effect of quercetin was greater than isoliquiritigenin in mice injected with EBV(+) human gastric carcinoma (SNU719) cells. On the other hand, quercetin and isoliquiritigenin had similar anti-cancer effects in mice injected with EBV(−) human gastric carcinoma (MKN74) cells. Interestingly, quercetin inhibited EBV viral protein expressions, including EBNA-1 and LMP-2 proteins in tumor tissues from mice injected with EBV(+) human gastric carcinoma. Quercetin more effectively induced p53-dependent apoptosis than isoliquiritigenin in EBV(+) human gastric carcinoma, and this induction was correlated with increased expressions of the cleaved forms of caspase-3, -9, and Parp. In EBV(−)human gastric carcinoma (MKN74), both quercetin and isoliquiritigenin induced the expressions of p53, Bax, and Puma and the cleaved forms of caspase-3 and -9 and Parp at similar levels.
Glycyrrhizic Acid Reduces Heart Rate and Blood Pressure by a Dual Mechanism
Authors: Singh Kailash , Zaw Aung , Sekar Revathi , Palak Ahuja , Allam Ahmed , Ajarem Jamaan , Chow Billy
Published: September 2016

Beta adrenergic receptors are crucial for their role in rhythmic contraction of heart along with their role in the pathological conditions such as tachycardia and high risk of heart failure. Studies report that the levels of beta-1 adrenergic receptor tend to decrease by 50%, whereas, the levels of beta-2 adrenergic receptor remains constant during the risk of heart failure. Beta blockers—the antagonistic molecules for beta-adrenergic receptors, function by slowing the heart rate, which thereby allows the left ventricle to fill completely during tachycardia incidents and hence helps in blood pumping capacity of heart and reducing the risk of heart failure. In the present study, we investigate the potential of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) as a possible principal drug molecule for cardiac arrhythmias owing to its ability to induce reduction in the heart rate and blood pressure. We use in vitro and in silico approach to study GA′s effect on beta adrenergic receptor along with an in vivo study to examine its effect on heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, we explore GA′s proficiency in eliciting an increase in the plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide, which by dilating the blood vessel consequently, can be a crucial aid during the occurrence of a potential heart attack. Therefore, we propose GA as a potential principal drug molecule via its potential in modulating heart rate and blood pressure.
Phytochemical Compositions of Immature Wheat Bran, and Its Antioxidant Capacity, Cell Growth Inhibition, and Apoptosis Induction through Tumor Suppressor Gene
Authors: Kim Mi , Yoon Won-Jin , Kim Sang
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical compositions and antioxidant capacity, cell growth inhibition, and apoptosis induction in extracts of immature wheat bran. Immature wheat bran (IWB) was obtained from immature wheat harvested 10 days earlier than mature wheat. The phytochemical compositions of bran extract samples were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. The total ferulic acid (3.09 mg/g) and p-coumaric acid (75 µg/g) in IWB were significantly higher than in mature wheat bran (MWB, ferulic acid: 1.79 mg/g; p-coumaric acid: 55 µg/g). The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC: 327 µM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA: 4.59 µM Quercetin equivalents (QE)/g) of the IWB were higher than those of the MWB (ORAC: 281 µM TE/g; CAA: 0.63 µM QE/g). When assessing cell proliferation, the IWB extracts resulted in the lowest EC50 values against HT-29 (18.9 mg/mL), Caco-2 (7.74 mg/mL), and HeLa cells (8.17 mg/mL) among bran extract samples. Additionally, the IWB extracts increased the gene expression of p53 and PTEN (tumor suppressor genes) in HT-29 cells, indicating inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis through tumor suppressor genes.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Glucose-Based Fatty Acid Esters in Bisolvent Systems Containing Ionic Liquids or Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Zhao Kai-Hua , Cai Yu-Zheng , Lin Xiao-Sheng , Xiong Jun , Halling Peter , Yang Zhen
Published: September 2016

Sugar fatty acid esters (SFAEs) are biocompatible nonionic surfactants with broad applications in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. They can be synthesized enzymatically with many advantages over their chemical synthesis. In this study, SFAE synthesis was investigated by using two reactions: (1) transesterification of glucose with fatty acid vinyl esters and (2) esterification of methyl glucoside with fatty acids, catalyzed by Lipozyme TLIM and Novozym 435 respectively. Fourteen ionic liquids (ILs) and 14 deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were screened as solvents, and the bisolvent system composed of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([HMIm][TfO]) and 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M2B) was the best for both reactions, yielding optimal productivities (769.6 and 397.5 µmol/h/g, respectively) which are superior to those reported in the literature. Impacts of different reaction conditions were studied for both reactions. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the transesterification reaction. Results also demonstrated that as co-substrate, methyl glucoside yielded higher conversions than glucose, and that conversions increased with an increase in the chain length of the fatty acid moieties. DESs were poor solvents for the above reactions presumably due to their high viscosity and high polarity.
Immune-Enhancing Effects of a High Molecular Weight Fraction of Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley in Macrophages and Immunosuppressed Mice
Authors: Jang Mi , Lim Tae-Gyu , Ahn Sungeun , Hong Hee-Do , Rhee Young , Kim Kyung-Tack , Lee Eunjung , Lee Jeong , Lee Yun , Jung Chan , Lee Dae , Cho Chang-Won
Published: September 2016

The objective of this study was to investigate the immune-enhancing activity of a high molecular weight fraction (HMF) of Cynanchum wilfordii in RAW 264.7 macrophages and the cyclophosphamide (CYC)-induced mouse model of immunosuppression. To identify the bioactive substances of HMF, a crude polysaccharide (HMFO) was obtained and treated with sodium periodate (an oxidation agent) or digested with protease. In macrophages, HMF treatment enhanced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β)), as well as phagocytic ability. In CYC-immunosuppressed mice, HMF improved relative spleen and thymus weights, natural killer (NK) cell activity, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation. These increases in NO and cytokines were mediated by up-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Periodate treatment, but not protease treatment, decreased the immune-enhancing activity of HMFO, suggesting that polysaccharides are the active ingredients in C. wilfordii extract.
Short-Term Change Detection in Wetlands Using Sentinel-1 Time Series
Authors: Muro Javier , Canty Morton , Conradsen Knut , Hüttich Christian , Nielsen Allan , Skriver Henning , Remy Florian , Strauch Adrian , Thonfeld Frank , Menz Gunter
Published: September 2016

Automated monitoring systems that can capture wetlands’ high spatial and temporal variability are essential for their management. SAR-based change detection approaches offer a great opportunity to enhance our understanding of complex and dynamic ecosystems. We test a recently-developed time series change detection approach (S1-omnibus) using Sentinel-1 imagery of two wetlands with different ecological characteristics; a seasonal isolated wetland in southern Spain and a coastal wetland in the south of France. We test the S1-omnibus method against a commonly-used pairwise comparison of consecutive images to demonstrate its advantages. Additionally, we compare it with a pairwise change detection method using a subset of consecutive Landsat images for the same period of time. The results show how S1-omnibus is capable of capturing in space and time changes produced by water surface dynamics, as well as by agricultural practices, whether they are sudden changes, as well as gradual. S1-omnibus is capable of detecting a wider array of short-term changes than when using consecutive pairs of Sentinel-1 images. When compared to the Landsat-based change detection method, both show an overall good agreement, although certain landscape changes are detected only by either the Landsat-based or the S1-omnibus method. The S1-omnibus method shows a great potential for an automated monitoring of short time changes and accurate delineation of areas of high variability and of slow and gradual changes.
A Review of Image Fusion Algorithms Based on the Super-Resolution Paradigm
Authors: Garzelli Andrea
Published: September 2016

A critical analysis of remote sensing image fusion methods based on the super-resolution (SR) paradigm is presented in this paper. Very recent algorithms have been selected among the pioneering studies adopting a new methodology and the most promising solutions. After introducing the concept of super-resolution and modeling the approach as a constrained optimization problem, different SR solutions for spatio-temporal fusion and pan-sharpening are reviewed and critically discussed. Concerning pan-sharpening, the well-known, simple, yet effective, proportional additive wavelet in the luminance component (AWLP) is adopted as a benchmark to assess the performance of the new SR-based pan-sharpening methods. The widespread quality indexes computed at degraded resolution, with the original multispectral image used as the reference, i.e., SAM (Spectral Angle Mapper) and ERGAS (Erreur Relative Globale Adimensionnelle de Synthèse), are finally presented. Considering these results, sparse representation and Bayesian approaches seem far from being mature to be adopted in operational pan-sharpening scenarios.
Changes in Mountain Glaciers, Lake Levels, and Snow Coverage in the Tianshan Monitored by GRACE, ICESat, Altimetry, and MODIS
Authors: Yi Shuang , Wang Qiuyu , Chang Le , Sun Wenke
Published: September 2016

The Tianshan mountain range is experiencing a notable environmental change as a result of global warming. In this paper; we adopt multiple remote sensing techniques to examine the diversified geophysical changes in the Tianshan; including glacier changes measured by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat); lake level changes measured by radar altimetry; and snow coverage measured by moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS). We find a rapid transition from dry years to wet years in 2010 in the western and northern Tianshan for all the geophysical measurements. The transition is likely caused by increasing westerlies and greatly pollutes the gravity signals in the edge of Tianshan. However, glaciers in the central Tianshan are unaffected and have been steadily losing mass at a rate of –4.0 ± 0.7 Gt/year during 2003–2014 according to space gravimetry and –3.4 ± 0.8 Gt/year during 2003–2009 according to laser altimetry. Our results show a weaker declining trend and greater linearity compared with earlier estimates; because we investigate the signal pattern in more detail. Finally; water level records of 60 years in Bosten Lake; China; are presented to show that for areas strongly dependent on meltwater; rising temperature can benefit the water supply in the short run; but cause it to deteriorate in the long run.
A Multi-View Dense Image Matching Method for High-Resolution Aerial Imagery Based on a Graph Network
Authors: Yan Li , Fei Liang , Chen Changhai , Ye Zhiyun , Zhu Ruixi
Published: September 2016

Multi-view dense matching is a crucial process in automatic 3D reconstruction and mapping applications. In this paper, we present a robust and effective multi-view dense matching algorithm for high-resolution aerial images based on a graph network. The overlap ratio and intersection angle between image pairs are used to find candidate stereo pairs and build the graph network. A Coarse-to-Fine strategy based on an improved Semi-Global Matching algorithm is applied for disparity computation across stereo pairs. Based on the constructed graph, point clouds of base views are generated by triangulating all connected image nodes, followed by a fusion process with the average reprojection error as a priority measure. The proposed method was successfully applied in experiments on aerial image test dataset provided by the ISPRS of Vaihingen, Germany and an oblique nadir image block of Zürich, Switzerland, using three kinds of matching configurations. The proposed method was compared to other state-of-art methods, SURE and PhotoScan. The results demonstrate that the proposed method delivers matches at higher completeness, efficiency, and accuracy than the other methods tested; the RMS for average reprojection error reached the sub pixel level and the actual positioning deviation was better than 1.5 GSD.
A Novel Petri Nets-Based Modeling Method for the Interaction between the Sensor and the Geographic Environment in Emerging Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Feng , Xu Yuetong , Chou Jarong
Published: September 2016

The service of sensor device in Emerging Sensor Networks (ESNs) is the extension of traditional Web services. Through the sensor network, the service of sensor device can communicate directly with the entity in the geographic environment, and even impact the geographic entity directly. The interaction between the sensor device in ESNs and geographic environment is very complex, and the interaction modeling is a challenging problem. This paper proposed a novel Petri Nets-based modeling method for the interaction between the sensor device and the geographic environment. The feature of the sensor device service in ESNs is more easily affected by the geographic environment than the traditional Web service. Therefore, the response time, the fault-tolerant ability and the resource consumption become important factors in the performance of the whole sensor application system. Thus, this paper classified IoT services as Sensing services and Controlling services according to the interaction between IoT service and geographic entity, and classified GIS services as data services and processing services. Then, this paper designed and analyzed service algebra and Colored Petri Nets model to modeling the geo-feature, IoT service, GIS service and the interaction process between the sensor and the geographic enviroment. At last, the modeling process is discussed by examples.
Design and Evaluation of Novel Textile Wearable Systems for the Surveillance of Vital Signals
Authors: Trindade Isabel , Machado da Silva José , Miguel Rui , Pereira Madalena , Lucas José , Oliveira Luís , Valentim Bruno , Barreto Jorge , Santos Silva Manuel
Published: September 2016

This article addresses the design, development, and evaluation of T-shirt prototypes that embed novel textile sensors for the capture of cardio and respiratory signals. The sensors are connected through textile interconnects to either an embedded custom-designed data acquisition and transmission unit or to snap fastener terminals for connection to external monitoring devices. The performance of the T-shirt prototype is evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise ratio amplitude and signal interference caused by baseline wander and motion artefacts, through laboratory tests with subjects in standing and walking conditions. Performance tests were also conducted in a hospital environment using a T-shirt prototype connected to a commercial three-channel Holter monitoring device. The textile sensors and interconnects were realized with the assistance of an industrial six-needle digital embroidery tool and their resistance to wear addressed with normalized tests of laundering and abrasion. The performance of these wearable systems is discussed, and pathways and methods for their optimization are highlighted.
A Novel Zero Velocity Interval Detection Algorithm for Self-Contained Pedestrian Navigation System with Inertial Sensors
Authors: Tian Xiaochun , Chen Jiabin , Han Yongqiang , Shang Jianyu , Li Nan
Published: September 2016

Zero velocity update (ZUPT) plays an important role in pedestrian navigation algorithms with the premise that the zero velocity interval (ZVI) should be detected accurately and effectively. A novel adaptive ZVI detection algorithm based on a smoothed pseudo Wigner–Ville distribution to remove multiple frequencies intelligently (SPWVD-RMFI) is proposed in this paper. The novel algorithm adopts the SPWVD-RMFI method to extract the pedestrian gait frequency and to calculate the optimal ZVI detection threshold in real time by establishing the function relationships between the thresholds and the gait frequency; then, the adaptive adjustment of thresholds with gait frequency is realized and improves the ZVI detection precision. To put it into practice, a ZVI detection experiment is carried out; the result shows that compared with the traditional fixed threshold ZVI detection method, the adaptive ZVI detection algorithm can effectively reduce the false and missed detection rate of ZVI; this indicates that the novel algorithm has high detection precision and good robustness. Furthermore, pedestrian trajectory positioning experiments at different walking speeds are carried out to evaluate the influence of the novel algorithm on positioning precision. The results show that the ZVI detected by the adaptive ZVI detection algorithm for pedestrian trajectory calculation can achieve better performance.
Gait Phase Recognition for Lower-Limb Exoskeleton with Only Joint Angular Sensors
Authors: Liu Du-Xin , Wu Xinyu , Du Wenbin , Wang Can , Xu Tiantian
Published: September 2016

Gait phase is widely used for gait trajectory generation, gait control and gait evaluation on lower-limb exoskeletons. So far, a variety of methods have been developed to identify the gait phase for lower-limb exoskeletons. Angular sensors on lower-limb exoskeletons are essential for joint closed-loop controlling; however, other types of sensors, such as plantar pressure, attitude or inertial measurement unit, are not indispensable.Therefore, to make full use of existing sensors, we propose a novel gait phase recognition method for lower-limb exoskeletons using only joint angular sensors. The method consists of two procedures. Firstly, the gait deviation distances during walking are calculated and classified by Fisher’s linear discriminant method, and one gait cycle is divided into eight gait phases. The validity of the classification results is also verified based on large gait samples. Secondly, we build a gait phase recognition model based on multilayer perceptron and train it with the phase-labeled gait data. The experimental result of cross-validation shows that the model has a 94.45% average correct rate of set (CRS) and an 87.22% average correct rate of phase (CRP) on the testing set, and it can predict the gait phase accurately. The novel method avoids installing additional sensors on the exoskeleton or human body and simplifies the sensory system of the lower-limb exoskeleton.
Strain Modal Analysis of Small and Light Pipes Using Distributed Fibre Bragg Grating Sensors
Authors: Huang Jun , Zhou Zude , Zhang Lin , Chen Juntao , Ji Chunqian , Pham Duc
Published: September 2016

Vibration fatigue failure is a critical problem of hydraulic pipes under severe working conditions. Strain modal testing of small and light pipes is a good option for dynamic characteristic evaluation, structural health monitoring and damage identification. Unique features such as small size, light weight, and high multiplexing capability enable Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors to measure structural dynamic responses where sensor size and placement are critical. In this paper, experimental strain modal analysis of pipes using distributed FBG sensors ispresented. Strain modal analysis and parameter identification methods are introduced. Experimental strain modal testing and finite element analysis for a cantilever pipe have been carried out. The analysis results indicate that the natural frequencies and strain mode shapes of the tested pipe acquired by FBG sensors are in good agreement with the results obtained by a reference accelerometer and simulation outputs. The strain modal parameters of a hydraulic pipe were obtained by the proposed strain modal testing method. FBG sensors have been shown to be useful in the experimental strain modal analysis of small and light pipes in mechanical, aeronautic and aerospace applications.
Effective Waterline Detection of Unmanned Surface Vehicles Based on Optical Images
Authors: Wei Yangjie , Zhang Yuwei
Published: September 2016

Real-time and accurate detection of the sailing or water area will help realize unmanned surface vehicle (USV) systems. Although there are some methods for using optical images in USV-oriented environmental modeling, both the robustness and precision of these published waterline detection methods are comparatively low for a real USV system moving in a complicated environment. This paper proposes an efficient waterline detection method based on structure extraction and texture analysis with respect to optical images and presents a practical application to a USV system for validation. First, the basic principles of local binary patterns (LBPs) and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) were analyzed, and their advantages were integrated to calculate the texture information of river images. Then, structure extraction was introduced to preprocess the original river images so that the textures resulting from USV motion, wind, and illumination are removed. In the practical application, the waterlines of many images captured by the USV system moving along an inland river were detected with the proposed method, and the results were compared with those of edge detection and super pixel segmentation. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm is effective and robust. The average error of the proposed method was 1.84 pixels, and the mean square deviation was 4.57 pixels.
Dispositional Immobility: An Analysis of Non-Decisions as Public Policy in Alberta’s City-Regions
Authors: Lightbody James , Kline Lisa
Published: September 2016

For local governments in city-regions, the term “dispositional immobility” can be applied in situations where the question of municipal restructuring becomes an arena for permanent public policy non-decisions. Disposition is here used to mean both the inherent qualities of persons and communities, and the arrangement of the structures within an area. It is argued that administrative stasis results as dispositional immobility creates tactical political barriers to innovation, and policy inaction becomes a deliberate response. In Alberta, city-regions since the 1950s have preserved multiple autonomous municipalities rather than initiating centripetal reforms as is the case elsewhere in Canada. An analysis of the province and its leadership during the past half-century suggests reasons for this entrenched dispositional immobility within the institutional culture of Alberta’s city-regions. Our conclusion suggests that the time has come to rethink and challenge the long-standing and unquestioned continuation of the city-regional structural status quo.
Performance Evaluation of Asphalt Modified with Municipal Wastes for Sustainable Pavement Construction
Authors: Amin Muhammad , Khan Muhammad , Saleem Muhammad
Published: September 2016

The severe hot temperature and high traffic loadings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are causing distress in flexible pavements within a few years of service. Secondly, the conventional bitumen extracted from Saudi oil refineries have a performance grade of 64-10 (PG 64-10), which does not meet the SuperPave performance grade requirement for most of the KSA’s regions. In order to improve the performance grade of bitumen, different percentages of municipal wastes (plastic and crumb rubber) were used as bitumen additives. The performance of bitumen at low, intermediate, and high temperatures was evaluated. This is important as the waste production is rising significantly due to the fast urbanization and high population growth in the KSA. Particularly, when there are very few ways of recycling these wastes (municipal, as well as industrial), which in fact have great impact on the environment. High-density polyethylene (HDP), low-density polyethylene (LDP), and crumb rubber (CR) with 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight of bitumen, were mixed with the base bitumen (PG 64-10). Rotational viscometer (RV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR) were used to evaluate the viscosity, rutting, fatigue, and low-temperature behavior of base and modified binders. The test results indicated that the rutting (permanent deformation) and fatigue resistance were significantly improved in modified binders due to the improvement in the visco-elastic properties.
New Algorithm for Evaluating the Green Supply Chain Performance in an Uncertain Environment
Authors: Liu Pan , Yi Shuping
Published: September 2016

An effective green supply chain (GSC) can help an enterprise obtain more benefits and reduce costs. Therefore, developing an effective evaluation method for GSC performance evaluation is becoming increasingly important. In this study, the advantages and disadvantages of the current performance evaluations and algorithms for GSC performance evaluations were discussed and evaluated. Based on these findings, an improved five-dimensional balanced scorecard was proposed in which the green performance indicators were revised to facilitate their measurement. A model based on Rough Set theory, the Genetic Algorithm, and the Levenberg Marquardt Back Propagation (LMBP) neural network algorithm was proposed. Next, using Matlab, the Rosetta tool, and the practical data of company F, a case study was conducted. The results indicate that the proposed model has a high convergence speed and an accurate prediction ability. The credibility and effectiveness of the proposed model was validated. In comparison with the normal Back Propagation neural network algorithm and the LMBP neural network algorithm, the proposed model has greater credibility and effectiveness. In practice, this method provides a more suitable indicator system and algorithm for enterprises to be able to implement GSC performance evaluations in an uncertain environment. Academically, the proposed method addresses the lack of a theoretical basis for GSC performance evaluation, thus representing a new development in GSC performance evaluation theory.
Production Patterns of Eagle Ford Shale Gas: Decline Curve Analysis Using 1084 Wells
Authors: Guo Keqiang , Zhang Baosheng , Aleklett Kjell , Höök Mikael
Published: September 2016

This paper analyzes and quantifies characteristic production behavior using historical data from 1084 shale gas wells in the Eagle Ford shale play from 2010 to 2014. Decline curve analysis, using Hyperbolic and Stretched Exponential models, are used to derive average decline rates and other characteristic parameters for shale gas wells. Both Hyperbolic and Stretched Exponential models fit well to aggregated and individual well production data. The hyperbolic model is found to perform slightly better than the Stretched Exponential model in this study. In the Eagle Ford shale play, about 77% of wells reach the peak production of 1644–4932 mil cubic feet per day; the production decline rate of the first year is around 70%, and over the first two years it is around 80%; shale gas wells were estimated to yield estimated ultimate recoverable total resources of 1.41–2.03 billion cubic feet (20 years as life span), which is in line with other studies.
Factors Influencing Perceived Crowding of Tourists and Sustainable Tourism Destination Management
Authors: Jin Qian , Hu Hui , Kavan Philip
Published: September 2016

Studies on tourists crowding are developed to explore the perception of crowding, and these studies indicate crowding influence on sustainable development of tourist destinations. This study aims to reveal the influential factors of tourists’ perceived crowding. We obtained data from interviewing over 400 tourists and five senior tourism officials in Xi’an, China. This study firstly applies factor analysis to identify the constructed variables of tourists’ motivations from the principle component analysis. It then examines the correlation between nationality and perceived crowding. Consequently, a multiple regression is used to identify the connection between motivations and perceived crowding. The results of the study indicate nationality and motivation as two significant influential factors to perceived crowding management. This study also shows that management in tourist destinations would benefit from provision of the authentic travel experience integrated with zoning the travel destination.
Aerobic De-Epoxydation of Trichothecene Mycotoxins by a Soil Bacterial Consortium Isolated Using In Situ Soil Enrichment
Authors: He Wei-Jie , Yuan Qing-Song , Zhang You-Bing , Guo Mao-Wei , Gong An-Dong , Zhang Jing-Bo , Wu Ai-Bo , Huang Tao , Qu Bo , Li He-Ping , Liao Yu-Cai
Published: September 2016

Globally, the trichothecene mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) are among the most widely distributed mycotoxins that contaminate small grain cereals. In this study, a bacterial consortium, PGC-3, with de-epoxydation activity was isolated from soil by an in situ soil enrichment method. Screening of 14 soil samples that were sprayed with DON revealed that 4 samples were able to biotransform DON into de-epoxydized DON (dE-DON). Among these, the PGC-3 consortium showed the highest and most stable activity to biotransform DON into dE-DON and NIV into dE-NIV. PGC-3 exhibited de-epoxydation activity at a wide range of pH (5–10) and temperatures (20–37 °C) values under aerobic conditions. Sequential subculturing with a continued exposure to DON substantially reduced the microbial population diversity of this consortium. Analyses of the 16S rDNA sequences indicated that PGC-3 comprised 10 bacterial genera. Among these, one species, Desulfitobacterium, showed a steady increase in relative abundance, from 0.03% to 1.55% (a 52-fold increase), as higher concentrations of DON were used in the subculture media, from 0 to 500 μg/mL. This study establishes the foundation to further develop bioactive agents that can detoxify trichothecene mycotoxins in cereals and enables for the characterization of detoxifying genes and their regulation.
Structural Maturation of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase—A Metamorphic Solution to Genomic Instability
Authors: London Robert
Published: September 2016

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT)—a critical enzyme of the viral life cycle—undergoes a complex maturation process, required so that a pair of p66 precursor proteins can develop conformationally along different pathways, one evolving to form active polymerase and ribonuclease H (RH) domains, while the second forms a non-functional polymerase and a proteolyzed RH domain. These parallel maturation pathways rely on the structural ambiguity of a metamorphic polymerase domain, for which the sequence–structure relationship is not unique. Recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies utilizing selective labeling techniques, and structural characterization of the p66 monomer precursor have provided important insights into the details of this maturation pathway, revealing many aspects of the three major steps involved: (1) domain rearrangement; (2) dimerization; and (3) subunit-selective RH domain proteolysis. This review summarizes the major structural changes that occur during the maturation process. We also highlight how mutations, often viewed within the context of the mature RT heterodimer, can exert a major influence on maturation and dimerization. It is further suggested that several steps in the RT maturation pathway may provide attractive targets for drug development.
Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in the Songhua River Basin
Authors: Li Fengping , Zhang Guangxin , Xu Y.
Published: September 2016

The Songhua River Basin (SRB) in Northeast China is one of the areas most sensitive to global climate change because of its high-latitude location. In this study, we conducted a modeling assessment on the potential change of water resources in this region for the coming three decades using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). First, we calibrated and validated the model with historical streamflow records in this basin. Then, we applied the calibrated model for the period from 2020 to 2049 with the projected and downscaled climatic data under two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). The study results show: (1) The SWAT model performed very well for both the calibration and validation periods in the SRB; (2) The projected temperatures showed a steady, significant increase across the SRB under both scenarios, especially in two sub-basins, the Nenjiang River Basin (NRB) and the Lower SRB (LSRB). With regard to precipitation, both scenarios showed a decreasing trend in the NRB and LSRB but an increasing trend in the Upper Songhua River Basin (USRB); and (3), generally, the hydrologic modeling suggested a decreasing trend of streamflow for 2020–2049. Compared to baseline conditions (1980–2009), the streamflow in the NRB and LSRB would decrease by 20.3%–37.8%, while streamflow in the USRB would experience an increase of 9.68%–17.7%. These findings provide relevant insights into future surface water resources, and such information can be helpful for resource managers and policymakers to develop effective eco-environment management plans and strategies in the face of climate change.
La découverte de Madagascar par les Portugais au XVIe siècle
Authors: Thomaz Luis Filipe F.R.
Published: September 2016

As Madagascar was known in the West at least since the 12th century, the Portuguese were presumably aware of its existence. At any rate the first Portuguese ship to sight it was apparently one of the fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral – probably on 10th August 1500, whence the name of Isle of Saint Lawrence as the island is referred to in Portuguese sources. Madagascar was met with a second time by Afonso de Albuquerque, who in February 1504 navigated the coast of the island from Cape Amber to Cape Saint Andrew. Knowledge of Madagascar improved during the year 1506 : in February Fernão Soares sailed along the whole East shore ; and in October two ships of the fleet of Afonso de Albuquerque sighted again the island. Albuquerque and Tristão da Cunha explored the coast between Capes St Andrew and Amber ; one of their ships was able to explore the East coast up to Matatana, where it was well received – a fact that gave the Portuguese King the idea of using it as a port of call. The news that reached the Portuguese court exaggerated the riches of the island, and accredited the belief that the source of cloves and nutmeg lay nearby. This led King Emmanuel to report the good news to the Pope. In 1508, he sent an expedition to explore Madagascar, which caused the myth of the “ New India” or “ Taprobana Major” to collapse.
Kroncong Revisited: New Evidence from Old Sources
Authors: Yampolsky Philip B.
Published: September 2016

This article looks at kroncong, the most prominent type of popular music in Indonesia in the first half of the 20th century. Though much of its history is elusive, some elements of kroncong apparently derive from Portuguese music of the 16th and 17th centuries. Earlier studies of kroncong have tended to jump straight from the 17th century to the 1960s, passing over the period of its greatest commercial success. This article concentrates on previously unexplored sources (78-rpm recordings and the secondary evidence from newspapers and popular literature) to identify significant changes in kroncong in the period 1900-1942. The article focuses on musical and textual features (tempo, melodic variation, verse-form) and, in a coda, considers their correlation with kroncong’s social standing and its success as a commodity in the recording industry.
Wayan Gandera et l’histoire cachée du Gamelan Gong Kebyar
Authors: Tenzer Michael
Published: September 2016

Wayan Gandera and the Hidden History of Gamelan Gong Kebyar

In 2002 the notorious but celebrated Balinese gamelan drummer and composer Wayan Gandera passed away at the age of 69. His last musical act, months before his death, was by far his most stunning : he taught the members of Çudamani, the dynamic young gamelan collective of Pengosekan – a village close to his own home community of Peliatan – a pair of complex modern compositions that he had confined to the secrecy of his memory for almost 40 years. Why did Gandera keep this extraordinary music to himself for so long, where did the music originate, and was he the only one who knew it ? To answer these questions, this article examines Gandera''s personal story in relation to a series of concentric social and historical circles : his home village, its region, Balinese music institutions and networks of power, and ultimately the international community of Balinese music devotees. Gandera''s trajectory, small and perhaps insignificant in some ways, positioned him at numerous junctures of traditional, state, and international aspects of Balinese culture. Gandera''s story also sheds light on 20th century developments that run counter to the cultural status quo. Finally, it suggests that in terms of their impact on society, the actions of individuals matter at least as much as those of the institutions and cultures within which they function.
From Kuṭa Rāja to Singhasāri: Towards a Revision of the Dynastic History of 13th Century Java
Authors: Sidomulyo Hadi
Published: September 2016

In attempting to reconstruct Javanese dynastic history of the first half of the 13th century, scholars have in the past been forced to rely almost entirely upon later works of literature, notably the Deśawarn M ana and Pararaton. Recently discovered epigraphical data demands a re-evaluation of these literary accounts. From an examination of the new evidence provided by the 1255 inscription of Mūla-Malurung, the author concludes that the term Singhasāri as it is currently applied to define 13th century Java is something of a misnomer. The accession of the king Wis J n J uwardhana in around 1250 needs to be viewed as a definitive landmark separating two distinct chapters, represented by the ages of Kut M a Rāja and Singhasāri proper. It is proposed that this new perspective can serve as a more accurate framework upon which to construct a revised history of the Rājasa dynasty.
From Slave to King: The Role of South Asians in Maritime Southeast Asia (from the late 13th to the late 17th century)
Authors: Perret Daniel
Published: September 2016

From Slave to King : The Role of South Asians in Maritime Southeast Asia (from the late 13th to the late 17th century).

This study is focused on people coming from South Asia not at all or at least not mainly involved in trade among the various societies of maritime Southeast Asia. One of the main obstacles related to this research is that these individuals and groups can be traced mostly through surviving material evidence or through identifications mentioned by others with all the distortions and uncertainties attached to this kind of sources. A panorama of the main social and occupational settings in which they found a place is presented : slaves, spouses and concubines, warriors, tax collectors, moneylenders, seamen and fishermen, miners and artisans, interpreters, staff and servants, religious proselytizers and leaders, rulers and civil dignitaries. All the coastal areas from Gujarat to Bengal yielded migrants to a greater or lesser extent, along with Ceylon and the Maldives. The Tamil area, Bengal, and Gujarat were probably the most significant suppliers, followed by Ceylon, the Maldives, Orissa and Malabar. Regarding geographical distribution, during the period under consideration South Asians not involved in trade were present from Aceh to Maluku. Even if the demographic weight of this migratory phenomenon is impossible to estimate with precision, I suggest that over one million individuals found their way to maritime Southeast Asia at that time.
Indonésie 2010 : les infortunes de la vertu
Authors: Raillon François
Published: September 2016

Cette chronique consacrée à l’année 2010, insiste sur un autre paradoxe de l’Indonésie : alors qu’elle entre sur la voie du succès économique dans la stabilité d’une démocratie qui se veut vertueuse, elle est confrontée à la permanence de maux structurels : corruption, tensions religieuses et vanité des élites dirigeantes. Le désir de bien faire est contrarié par les excès malheureux du zèle réformiste, comme en témoigne l’affaire du président contre le sultan.
Villeneuve-Saint-Germain (Aisne). Du nouveau sur le site éponyme
Authors: Robert Bruno , Constantin Claude , Allard Pierre , Hamon Caroline , Fromont Nicolas
Published: September 2016

Une fouille préventive effectuée sur une petite surface a livré des fosses du groupe de Villeneuve-Saint-Germain. Une partie importante du matériel recueilli provient d’un niveau néolithique en partie préservé autour des fosses. Ces installations sont postérieures à celles anciennement connues et témoignent d’une longue occupation du site à cette période.
1977-2007 : trente années de recherches sur les « fossés en croix » de l’oppidum de Villeneuve-Saint-Germain (Aisne).
Authors: Ruby Pascal , Auxiette Ginette
Published: September 2016

À l’occasion de la reprise des fouilles sur l’oppidum du second âge du Fer de Villeneuve-Saint-Germain, dans le cadre d’un programme plus spécifiquement axé sur les fossés «en croix » , la première partie présente un historique des recherches archéologiques sur le site depuis le XIX e s. dont il se dégage trois grandes époques, nos recherches pouvant constituer le début d’une quatrième. Au fil des fouilles qui les ont concernés entre 1977 et 1982, les fossés ont progressivement révélé une partie de leurs propriétés, qui ont donné lieu à plusieurs interprétations et reconstitutions que l’on rappelle et commente. Le nouveau programme de recherche part de cet état des connaissances qui a fait émerger des problématiques complémentaires, à l’origine du nouveau programme qui cherche à intégrer dans ses approches la nouvelle superficie estimée pour l’oppidum, soit 100 hectares.

Trois principaux acquis se dégagent des nouvelles fouilles : la mise en évidence d’un cuvelage, dans les fossés, dont les poteaux verticaux, plantés dans la paroi, constituaient le support ; la confirmation de la présence de cloisons transversales, au moins aux extrémités des fossés ; la vérification que le fossé visible en photo aérienne, au nord du méandre, près de la rivière, est bien l’extrémité -à près de 900 m de distance -du fossé exploré en 1981. Les conséquences de ces découvertes pour la compréhension du site dans son ensemble, sont rapidement envisagées. Les comparaisons anciennement proposées entre ces structures si originales et des aménagements d’autres sites sont pour finir réexaminées à la lumière des résultats de ces nouvelles recherches.
Des traces discrètes d’occupations paléolithiques et mésolithiques dans le marais de Warluis (Oise) : les sites VI et IX
Authors: Ducrocq Thierry
Published: September 2016

Warluis VI et IX font partie d’un ensemble de gisements fouillés dans la plaine alluviale du Thérain, un affluent de l’Oise. Les vestiges proviennent d’un limon fluviatile intercalé entre la nappe de graviers et une tourbe boréale. Sa partie inférieure est attribuée à l’oscillation climatique de l’Allerød et sa partie supérieure est datée du Préboréal et du début du Boréal. Des reliques de niveaux en place du Paléolithique à Federmesser s’inscrivent dans le limon inférieur alors que le Mésolithique est dispersé dans le limon supérieur. Les sites VI et IX se singularisent par des concentrations de vestiges peu étendues témoignant d’activités restreintes. Une zone d’acquisition de matière première (VIb), un ensemble seulement composé d’outils (IXc) et une structure de combustion, associée à une fosse dendrogénétique (IXb), sont attribués au Paléolithique final. Deux corpus limités à des fractions de plein débitage lithique sont mésolithiques (VIa et IXb). Ce sont, peut-être, des traces de haltes éphémères liées à un site résidentiel éloigné de quelques kilomètres. Il peut aussi s’agir de témoignages d’activités ponctuelles pratiquées à une centaine de mètres des principales unités.
Le site artisanal de La Tène finale et du gallo-romain de Ronchères (Aisne) "Le Bois de la Forge"
Authors: Malrain François , Bauvais Sylvain , Hénon Bénédicte , Legros Vincent , Saurel Marion , Pissot Véronique , Boulen Muriel , Fechner Kai
Published: September 2016

Als die Siedlung von Ronchères angelegt wird, zieht dies bedeutende Bauarbeiten nach sich. Ein breiter und tiefer Graben begrenzt ein fast 1 ha. großes Siedlungsareal in einer Umgebung, in der sich Wälder und bestelltes Land abwechseln. Zahlreiche Indizien lassen erkennen, dass der Grundriss und die Anordnung der einzelnen Gebäude vorgeplant waren. Das Vorhandensein einer Schmiede, deren Produktion nicht auf den Eigenbedarf ausgerichtet ist, schließt eine bedeutende wirtschaftliche Funktion ein. Die Qualität des Keramikgeschirrs, der Amphoren und einer Knebeltrense sprechen für den Wohlstand der Bewohner. In gallo-römischer Zeit wird der Ort zwar umgestaltet, doch scheint er seinen hohen Rang eingebüßt zu haben und zunehmend zu verfallen. Im Laufe des 2. Jahrhunderts unserer Zeit wird er schließlich aufgegeben.