bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies of the Formation of Smoke Phenols
Authors: Dyakonov AJ , Walker RT , Brown CA , Perini FR , Passer DS , Guan J , Robinson EA
Published: July 2016

Processes involving or forming phenols during combustion of tobacco were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), mass-spectrometry (MS), X-band electron spin resonance (ESR), and thermocouple (TCT) and infrared thermography (IRT) methods. Thermochemical properties of polyhydroxybenzenes, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and carbohydrates were investigated both individually and when the compounds were embedded in combustible or non-combustible matrices; the compounds were studied in an O2/He atmosphere at temperatures up to 800 °C, with a heating rate up to 60 °C/min. ESR of the mainstream smoke ‘tar’ was performed at temperatures down to -253 °C. The radicals found differed in their magnetic behavior depending on the material studied; this difference was attributed to the presence of relatively unstable isolated semiquinone and/or PAH-type molecules and the more stable quinone-hydroquinone-semiquinone redox complex.

Phenols themselves were found to affect combustion by radical scavenging and initiation. Added carbohydrates introduced diffusion limitations to oxygen. They also affected the combustion temperatures and could intensify the formation of phenols via quinone. Oxidation of PAHs was investigated and enthalpies were determined. These enthalpies decreased from benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) to anthracene, naphthalene and phenanthrene.
Investigation of Tobacco Pyrolysis Gases and Puff-by-puff Resolved Cigarette Smoke by Single Photon Ionisation (SPI) - Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS)
Authors: Adam T , Mitschke S , Baker RR
Published: July 2016

The work presented deals with the application of Single Photon Ionisation- Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SPI-TOFMS) for the investigation of tobacco smoke. SPI-TOFMS is a modern analytical technique, which enables the simultaneous analysis of a large number of organic species in complex gas mixtures in real time. The paper is a summary of a PhD thesis (1) and seven research articles, which were recently published in various scientific journals (2-8). Consequently, more detailed information on particular aspects can be found in there.

The experimental part covers two different approaches, and therefore, it is divided into two sub-sections. In the first one, the SPI-TOFMS is coupled to a pyrolysis furnace. The objective is to examine the thermal behaviour of tobacco under various controlled conditions. In so doing, three tobacco types (Virginia, Oriental, and Burley) were pyrolysed in two reaction gas compositions (nitrogen and synthetic air) and seven different furnace temperatures (400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, 800 °C, 900 °C, and 1000 °C). Results can help to unravel the complex formation and decomposition reactions taking place when tobacco is heated. In the second part the SPI-TOFMS is connected to a cigarette smoking machine in order to investigate the behaviour of cigarette smoke constituents on a puff-by-puff basis. The work incorporates the comparison of whole smoke and gas phase of cigarette smoke, a puff-resolved quantification of several hazardous smoke constituents, and the overall chemical characterisation of the individual smoking puffs. In addition, a critical consideration of the prevailing smoking procedure is given when applied to single puff analysis. A further study examines the influence of five different cigarette lighting devices (gas lighter, electric lighter, candle, match, and burning zone of another cigarette) on the chemical composition of the first puff.
The Effect of Fertilization and Mycorrhiza on Cadmium Uptake by Tobacco
Authors: Janouskova M , Lugon-Moulin N , Martin F , Vosatka M
Published: July 2016

The effect of fertilization and arbuscularmycorrhiza (AM) on cadmium (Cd) uptake by tobacco (Nicotianatabacum L.) was studied in a greenhouse pot experiment. Two tobacco varieties and five AM fungal isolates were included in this study. Each combination of tobacco variety × AM fungal isolate was compared in two fertilization treatments: a nutrient solution and a slow-release fertilizer. Unexpectedly, root colonisation levels were low for most treatments. They were lower in the treatments having received the slow-release fertilizer than in the treatments with the nutrient solution. Inoculation with two AM fungal isolates led to a significant reduction of the Cd concentration in tobacco leaves. However, the main outcome of this study was the important effect of the fertilization regime on the Cd concentration of tobacco leaves. For one variety, Cd concentration was decreased by 48-58% in the slow-release fertilizer treatment when compared to the nutrient solution treatment. The effect of the fertilization regime on leaf Cd concentration was thus clearly more pronounced than that of AM. Similar results were obtained for the other variety, although the decrease was less pronounced.
Fibre and Particle Release from Cigarette Filters
Authors: Hengstberger M , Stark M
Published: July 2016

Particulates, especially those in the respirable fraction, are generally suspected of being responsible for a host of respiratory and cardiovascular health problems that may include an increase in morbidity and mortality. These effects have been related not only to the carbonaceous particulates, such as diesel soot, but also to more inert dust particles without any specific intrinsic hazard.

Therefore, any exposure to respirable dust from consumer products, and especially from tobacco products, is of considerable concern. In this context, a report of particular interest to the general public purported to show that cellulose acetate fibres released from cigarette filters could represent an additional burden and risk to the smoker. The underlying presumption was that these fibres could be respired and retained in portions of the respiratory tract, in particular in the lung.

In response to these assertions, studies were performed by and on behalf of the affected industry and the results showed that these fibres did not pose a health risk. The findings revealed that some acetate fibres were generated during the processing of the cigarettes, but they were captured on the cross-section of the cigarette filter and remained on the filter during smoking. Those fibres potentially released during smoking would be deposited inside the mouth area because they were too large to pass the larynx and could not physically enter the bronchial or pulmonary sections of the respiratory tract.

A working group from the German StandardisationOrganisation (DIN) recently discussed the experimental findings regarding the fibres generated during the processing of the acetate cigarette filter. Additional examinations on the release of respirable particles were initiated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to focus special attention on fibre-shaped particulates. The results of these recent analyses and the former findings led the group to the conclusion that ‘from the toxicological perspective, compared to the health risks otherwise associated with cigarette smoking, the release of particles from acetate filters does not constitute a particular health risk’.

Subsequent to this review and evaluation of the results some additional examinations were performed to examine further aspects of particle release. Using an improved analytical technique with real-time detection, the particle number and sizes were determined for the release of respirable particles from cigarettes and cigarette filters. The studies were performed by drawing air through filters and filter cigarettes in a clean room under intense smoking conditions, and the particles were analysed in real time with a Laser Aerosol Spectrometer. Using this technique, approximately 10 particles with a size greater than 0.3 ìm were counted per cigarette. This is comparable to a particle load in a clean room environment and representing approx. 0.05% of the particle load in ambient air.
The Composition of Cigarette Smoke. An Historical Perspective of Several Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Rodgman A , Cook LC
Published: July 2016

Because of the significant advancements in fractionation, analytical, and characterization technologies since the early 1960s, hundreds of components of complex mixtures have been accurately characterized without the necessity of actually isolating the individual component. This has been particularly true in the case of the complex mixtures tobacco and tobacco smoke. Herein, an historical account of a mid-1950 situation concerning polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cigarette smoke is presented. While the number of PAHs identified in tobacco smoke has escalated from the initial PAH, azulene, identified in 1947 to almost 100 PAHs identified by late 1963 to more than 500 PAHs identified by the late 1970s, the number of PAHs isolated individually and characterized by several of the so-called classical chemical means (melting point, mixture melting point, derivative preparation and properties) in the mid-1950s and since is relatively few, 14 in all. They were among 44 PAHs identified in cigarette mainstream smoke and included the following PAHs ranging from bicyclic to pentacyclic: Acenaphthylene, 1,2-dihydroacenaphthylene, anthracene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, dibenz[a, h]anthracene, fluoranthene, 9H-fluorene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene. One of them, benzo[a]pyrene, was similarly characterized in another study in 1959 by Hoffmann.
Prevalence of Maxillary Central Incisor Impaction and Supernumerary Teeth among Nepalese Orthodontic Patients
Authors: Kafle Dashrath , Shrestha Sita , Acharya Nisha , Agarwal Aaradhana
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Very few studies have been done on impacted maxillary central incisors and supernumerary teeth.Objective: To find the prevalence of maxillary central incisor impaction and supernumerary teeth among orthodontic patients attending Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Teaching Hospital.Materials & Method: The retrospective study consisted of 787 records of orthodontic patients of age 10-35 years. Dental model and orthopantomograph were retrieved and searched for impacted maxillary central incisors and supernumerary teeth. Incomplete records and patients with known syndromes were excluded from the study. Descriptive statistics was applied to find the prevalence rate and comparison between male and female was done by chi-square test.Result: Out of total samples, 14(1.8%) and 11(1.4%) samples were found to have impacted maxillary central incisors and supernumerary teeth respectively. There was no significant difference in prevalence of impacted maxillary central incisors between male and female samples (p=0.78), however there was significant difference in occurrence of supernumerary teeth between gender groups (p=0.025).Conclusion: The prevalence of impacted maxillary central incisor and supernumerary teeth among orthodontic patients attending Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Teaching Hospital is 1.8% and 1.4% respectively. Male patients have higher chance of having supernumerary teeth than female patients
On the abrasion of heat-treated 2.8C21Cr1Mo white cast iron
Authors: Al-Rubaie Kassim S. , Preti Orlando , Pohl Michael
Published: July 2016

The abrasion behaviour of heat-treated 2.8C21Cr1Mo cast iron was studied. The specimens were destabilised at two temperatures, 980 and 1050°C, for 4 h, air hardened, and then tempered at five temperatures, 220, 320, 400, 500, and 620°C, for 2 h followed by air cooling. Using a pin-on-plate abrasion apparatus, the specimens were abraded on four types of bonded abrasives (silicon carbide, corundum, flint, and glass). The effect of work hardening on the abrasion resistance was investigated. It was found that the increase in alloy hardness produced by heat treatment had little effect on the abrasion resistance against silicon carbide or corundum; the inverse was true against flint or glass. The as-hardened structure containing 40% retained austenite gave the best abrasion resistance, whereas the hardened and tempered at 620°C showed the worst. Both bulk hardness and matrix hardness before wear correlated poorly with the abrasion resistance. Therefore, a general model “equivalent hardness” was developed, in which the hardness of the abraded matrix was considered. With this model, the abrasion behaviour can be clearly analysed.
Novel method for dynamic control of intracranial pressure
Authors: Luciano Mark G. , Dombrowski Stephen M. , Qvarlander Sara , El-Khoury Serge , Yang Jun , Thyagaraj Suraj , Loth Francis
Published: July 2016

OBJECT

Intracranial pressure (ICP) pulsations are generally considered a passive result of the pulsatility of blood flow. Active experimental modification of ICP pulsations would allow investigation of potential active effects on blood and CSF flow and potentially create a new platform for the treatment of acute and chronic low blood flow states as well as a method of CSF substance clearance and delivery. This study presents a novel method and device for altering the ICP waveform via cardiac-gated volume changes.

METHODS

The novel device used in this experiment (named Cadence) consists of a small air-filled inelastic balloon (approximately 1.0 ml) implanted into the intracranial space and connected to an external programmable pump, triggered by an R-wave detector. Balloons were implanted into the epidural space above 1 of the hemispheres of 19 canines for up to 10 hours. When activated, the balloons were programed to cyclically inflate with the cardiac cycle with variable delay, phase, and volume. The ICP response was measured in both hemispheres. Additionally, cerebral blood flow (heat diffusion and laser Doppler) was studied in 16 canines.

RESULTS

This system, depending on the inflation pattern of the balloon, allowed a flattening of the ICP waveform, increase in the ICP waveform amplitude, or phase shift of the wave. This occurred with small mean ICP changes, typically around ± 2 mm Hg (15%). Bilateral ICP effects were observed with activation of the device: balloon inflation at each systole increased the systolic ICP pulse (up to 16 mm Hg, 1200%) and deflation at systole decreased or even inverted the systolic ICP pulse (−0.5 to −19 mm Hg, −5% to −1600%) in a dose-(balloon volume) dependent fashion. No aphysiological or deleterious effects on systemic pressure (≤ ±10 mm Hg; 13% change in mean pressure) or cardiac rate (≤ ± 17 beats per minute; 16% change) were observed during up to 4 hours of balloon activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of these initial studies using an intracranially implanted, cardiac-gated, volume-oscillating balloon suggest the Cadence device can be used to modify ICP pulsations, without physiologically deleterious effects on mean ICP, systemic vascular effects, or brain injury. This device and technique may be used to study the role of ICP pulsatility in intracranial hemo- and hydrodynamic processes and introduces the creation of a potential platform of a cardiac-gated system for treatment of acute and chronic low blood flow states, and diseases requiring augmentation of CSF substance clearance or delivery.
Minimally invasive atlantoaxial fusion: cadaveric study and report of 5 clinical cases
Authors: Srikantha Umesh , Khanapure Kiran S. , Jagannatha Aniruddha T. , Joshi Krishna C. , Varma Ravi G. , Hegde Alangar S.
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE

Minimally invasive techniques are being increasingly used to treat disorders of the cervical spine. They have a potential to reduce the postoperative neck discomfort subsequent to extensive muscle dissection associated with conventional atlantoaxial fusion procedures. The aim of this paper was to elaborate on the technique and results of minimally invasive atlantoaxial fusion.

MATERIALS

Minimally invasive atlantoaxial fusion was done initially in 4 fresh-frozen cadavers and subsequently in 5 clinical cases. Clinical cases included patients with reducible atlantoaxial instability and undisplaced or minimally displaced odontoid fractures. The surgical technique is illustrated in detail.

RESULTS

Among the cadaveric specimens, all C-1 lateral mass screws were in the correct position and 2 of the 8 C-2 screws had a vertebral canal breach. Among clinical cases, all C-1 lateral mass screws were in the correct position. Only one C-2 screw had a Grade 2 vertebral canal breach, which was clinically insignificant. None of the patients experienced neurological worsening or implant-related complications at follow-up. Evidence of rib graft fusion or C1–2 joint fusion was successfully demonstrated in 4 cases, and flexion-extension radiographs done at follow-up did not show mobility in any case.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive atlantoaxial fusion is a safe and effective alternative to the conventional approach in selected cases. Larger series with direct comparison to the conventional approach will be required to demonstrate clinical benefit presumed to be associated with a minimally invasive approach.
Contextualising ‘Sin’ in Chinese Culture: A Historian's Perspective
Authors: Hsu Danny
Published: July 2016

Is the Christian teaching on sin a ‘stumbling block’ to Chinese accepting Christianity? This paper critiques the notion that Chinese have difficulty comprehending ‘sin’ because of the culture's long-standing belief in the humanistic potential for self-perfection without any reference to the divine. This view of Chinese culture has been too narrow and does not account for the fact that Chinese religious traditions have always had at their disposal a wide variety of resources to comprehend the Christian concept of sin. Incorporating a history-of-practice perspective can contribute to a more productive balance between the representation of Chinese culture and its actual practice and avoid the current tendency to posit Western theology against a narrowly constructed and idealised version of Chinese culture that is severed from both historical and present-day realities.
Watchman Nee, Chinese Christianity and the Global Search for the Primitive Church
Authors: Woodbridge David
Published: July 2016

This article will examine aspects of Watchman Nee's interactions with British churches and missions during the 1920s and 1930s. It will argue that, rather than simply appropriating and adapting Christianity for a Chinese context, as has been claimed, a more complex exchange was taking place. In particular, Nee was seeking to develop churches in China on a primitivist basis – that is, using the New Testament as a model for church forms and practices. In this, he was drawing inspiration from the Christian (or Plymouth) Brethren, a radical evangelical group that had emerged in Britain during the nineteenth century. For a number of reasons, the significance of Nee's primitivism has been played down, both by his admirers in the West and by historians. However, it was a vital factor in the success of his movement and gave an important impetus to the spread of Christianity in China during the twentieth century.
Investigating Characteristics of the Static Tri-Switches Tactile Probing Structure for Micro-Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM)
Authors: Sun Yin , Tseng Kuo-Yu , Sheu Dong-Yea
Published: July 2016

This paper describes the fabrication of a series of micro ball-ended stylus tips by applying micro-EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) and OPED (One Pulse Electrical Discharge) processes, followed by a manual assembly process of a static tri-switches tactile structure on a micro-CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine). This paper further proves that the essential performance of the proposed system meets an acceptable benchmark among peer micro-CMM systems with a low cost. The system also adjusts for ambient temperature and humidity as the ordinary lab environmental conditions. For demonstration, several experiments used a randomly selected glass stylus with the diameters of stem and sphere of 0.07 mm and 0.12 mm, respectively. By leveraging research guidelines and common practice, this paper further investigates the probing relationship between measurement accuracy and its associated critical characteristics, namely triggering scenarios and geometric feature probing validation. The experimental results show that repeated detections in the uncertainty, in vertical and horizontal directions of the same point, achieved as small as 0.11 μm and 0.29 μm, respectively. This customized tri-switches tactile probing structure was also capable of measuring geometric features of micro-components, such as the inner profile and depth of a micro-hole. Finally, extensions of the proposed approach to pursue higher accuracy measurement are discussed.
Hydrothermal Method Using DMF as a Reducing Agent for the Fabrication of PdAg Nanochain Catalysts towards Ethanol Electrooxidation
Authors: Feng Yue , Zhang Ke , Yan Bo , Li Shumin , Du Yukou
Published: July 2016

In this article, we developed a facile one-step hydrothermal method using dimethyl formamide (DMF) as a reducing agent for the fabrication of PdAg catalyst. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images have shown that the as-synthesized PdAg catalyst had a nanochain structure. The energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX) spectrum presented the actual molar ratio of Pd and Ag in the PdAg alloy. Traditional electrochemical measurements, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS), were performed using a CHI 760D electrochemical analyzer to characterize the electrochemical properties of the as-synthesized catalyst. The results have shown that the PdAg catalyst with a nanochain structure displays higher catalytic activity and stability than pure Pd and commercial Pd/C catalysts.
Multi-Party Energy Management for Clusters of Roof Leased PV Prosumers: A Game Theoretical Approach
Authors: Liu Nian , Wang Cheng , Lin Xinhao , Lei Jinyong
Published: July 2016

The roof-leased business mode is an important development method for the distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems. In this paper, the benefits of the PV energy are considered in a PV cluster (PVC) consisting of a certain number of prosumers and a PVC operator (PVCO). In order to distribute the benefits, a multi-party energy management method for the PVC is proposed, including an internal pricing model and a demand response (DR) model. First, the dynamic internal pricing model for the trading between PVCO and prosumers is formulated according to the economic principle of demand and supply relation. Moreover, in order to improve the local consumption of PV energy, the DR model is formulated as a non-cooperative game among the prosumers. Meanwhile, the existence and uniqueness of the Nash Equilibrium (NE) are proved, and a distributed solving algorithm is introduced to approach the NE solution. Finally, the PVC including four prosumers is selected as the study object, the results have shown that the internal pricing model and DR model can improve the benefit of both prosumers and PVCO, as well as the local consumption of PV energy.
Artist Photovoltaic Modules
Authors: Lien Shui-Yang
Published: July 2016

In this paper, a full-color photovoltaic (PV) module, called the artist PV module, is developed by laser processes. A full-color image source is printed on the back of a protective glass using an inkjet printer, and a brightened grayscale mask is used to precisely define regions on the module where colors need to be revealed. Artist PV modules with 1.1 × 1.4 m2 area have high a retaining power output of 139 W and an aesthetic appearance making them more competitive than other building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products. Furthermore, the installation of artist PV modules as curtain walls without metal frames is also demonstrated. This type of installation offers an aesthetic advantage by introducing supporting fittings, originating from the field of glass technology. Hence, this paper is expected to elevate BIPV modules to an art form and generate research interests in developing more functional PV modules.
City “Green” Contributions: The Role of Urban Greenspaces as Reservoirs for Biodiversity
Authors: MacGregor-Fors Ian , Escobar Federico , Rueda-Hernández Rafael , Avendaño-Reyes Sergio , Baena Martha , Bandala Víctor , Chacón-Zapata Santiago , Guillén-Servent Antonio , González-García Fernando , Lorea-Hernández Francisco , Montes de Oca Enrique , Montoya Leticia , Pineda Eduardo , Ramírez-Restrepo Lorena , Rivera-García Eduardo , Utrera-Barrillas Elsa
Published: July 2016

Urbanization poses important environmental, social, and ecological pressures, representing a major threat to biodiversity. However, urban areas are highly heterogeneous, with some greenspaces (e.g., urban forests, parks, private gardens) providing resources and a refuge for wildlife communities. In this study we surveyed 10 taxonomic groups to assess their species richness and composition in six greenspaces that differ in size, location, management, and human activities. Species richness differed among taxonomic groups, but not all differed statistically among the studied greenspaces (i.e., sac fungi, bats). Plants, basidiomycetous and sac fungi, and birds showed intermediate assemblage composition similarity (<54%). The composition of assemblages of copro-necrophagous beetles, grasshoppers, amphibians, and bats was related to the specific traits of greenspaces, mainly size and location. The species richness contribution of each greenspace considering all studied taxonomic groups was highest in the largest greenspace that is located at the southeastern border of the city, while the lowest contribution was recorded in the smallest ones, all of them closer to the city’s center. Our results shed some light on the way in which different taxonomic groups respond to an array of neotropical urban greenspaces, providing an important basis for future studies.
Case Study: IBM Watson Analytics Cloud Platform as Analytics-as-a-Service System for Heart Failure Early Detection
Authors: Guidi Gabriele , Miniati Roberto , Mazzola Matteo , Iadanza Ernesto
Published: July 2016

In the recent years the progress in technology and the increasing availability of fast connections have produced a migration of functionalities in Information Technologies services, from static servers to distributed technologies. This article describes the main tools available on the market to perform Analytics as a Service (AaaS) using a cloud platform. It is also described a use case of IBM Watson Analytics, a cloud system for data analytics, applied to the following research scope: detecting the presence or absence of Heart Failure disease using nothing more than the electrocardiographic signal, in particular through the analysis of Heart Rate Variability. The obtained results are comparable with those coming from the literature, in terms of accuracy and predictive power. Advantages and drawbacks of cloud versus static approaches are discussed in the last sections.
The Movement, the Mine and the Lake: New Forms of Maya Activism in Neoliberal Guatemala
Authors: Way J.
Published: July 2016

This article explores the social, economic, cultural and political issues bound up in two matters relating to the environment in the Sololá and Lake Atitlán region of the Guatemalan Mayan highlands in 2004–2005: the violent breakup of an anti-mine protest and the various reactions to a tropical storm that threatened the lake ecosystem. It views these events as part of a historical conjuncture and centers them in a larger discussion of Maya political activism, environmentalism and neoliberal development in Guatemala from the 1990s–mid-2010s. It begins with the transition from war to peace in the 1990s, charting how Maya participation in municipal politics soared even as the official Mayan movement waned as the state turned to neoliberalism. Zooming in on municipal development and politics in Sololá in the early 2000s, it then traces at the ground level how a decentralizing, “multicultural” state promoted political participation while at the same time undermining the possibility for that participation to bring about substantive change. The center of the article delves deeper into the conjuncture of the first decade of the new millennium. By mapping events in Sololá against development, agrarian transformation and rural urbanization, it argues that resilient Maya community structures, although unable to stop the exploitative tide, continued to provide local cohesion and advocacy. Activists and everyday citizens became more globally attuned in the 2000s. The article’s final section analyzes municipal plans made between 2007 and 2012, arguing that creating and controlling community structures became increasingly important to the state in a time when Guatemala’s “outward” global turn was accompanied by an “inward” turn as people confronted spiraling violence in their communities. Critics called young people apolitical, but in 2015, massive demonstrations led to the imprisonment of the nation’s president and vice-president, showing that there is a chapter of Guatemala’s history of activism yet to be written.
Saving the Other Amazon: Changing Understandings of Nature and Wilderness among Indigenous Leaders in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Erazo Juliet
Published: July 2016

This article examines a new set of policies embraced by indigenous leaders in the Upper Napo region of the Ecuadorian Amazon, driven, in part, by a growing appreciation for “wilderness” —large areas where humans exercise a very light touch. In the past few years, leaders have pursued wilderness conservation initiatives while simultaneously promoting petroleum extraction in their own backyards. Both political positions run counter to those pursued in previous decades, when opposition to both oil development and strict forms of conservation within their territory was strong. To address this reversal, I trace some of the development interventions and North-South collaborations that have contributed to the emergence of “nature” as a meaningful imaginary for Amazonian indigenous leaders and for a new generation of young people, drawing connections to William Cronon’s critical analysis of how wilderness conservation became a priority in the United States. I conclude that more than two decades of conservationist interventions in the Upper Napo region have led to some largely unintended consequences, as Amazonian leaders increasingly subscribe to Northern environmentalists’ romanticization of “the Amazon” as a wild place, one that therefore must be distant from the places where they work and live.
Perceived Neighborhood and Home Environmental Factors Associated with Television Viewing among Taiwanese Older Adults
Authors: Hsueh Ming-Chun , Liao Yung , Chang Shao-Hsi
Published: July 2016

This study examined the associations between perceived neighborhood and home environmental factors and excessive television (TV) viewing time among Taiwanese older adults. The sample data was collected by administering computer-assisted telephone interviewers to 980 Taiwanese older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) living in two regions. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to examine the associations between self-reported perceived neighborhood and home environmental attributions and TV viewing time by using logistic regression analyses. The results showed that perceived neighborhood and home environmental factors were associated with excessive TV viewing time (≥2 h/day) after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared with a reference group, older adults who perceived their neighborhoods to have unsafe traffic were more likely to report excessive TV viewing time (OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.02–1.82). Older adults who reported having two or more TV sets in the home (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.28–2.44) and having a TV in the bedroom (OR = 1.55, CI = 1.18–2.03) were also more likely to report excessive TV viewing time. Further longitudinal research can confirm these findings, and tailored interventions focusing on the perceptions of neighborhood traffic safety and TV access at home for older adults might be effective means of preventing excessive TV viewing time.
A Multilevel Study of Students in Vietnam: Drinking Motives and Drinking Context as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Diep Pham , Tan Frans , Knibbe Ronald , De Vries Nanne
Published: July 2016

Background: This study used multi-level analysis to estimate which type of factor explains most of the variance in alcohol consumption of Vietnamese students. Methods: Data were collected among 6011 students attending 12 universities/faculties in four provinces in Vietnam. The three most recent drinking occasions were investigated per student, resulting in 12,795 drinking occasions among 4265 drinkers. Students reported on 10 aspects of the drinking context per drinking occasion. A multi-level mixed-effects linear regression model was constructed in which aspects of drinking context composed the first level; the age of students and four drinking motives comprised the second level. The dependent variable was the number of drinks. Results: Of the aspects of context, drinking duration had the strongest association with alcohol consumption while, at the individual level, coping motive had the strongest association. The drinking context characteristics explained more variance than the individual characteristics in alcohol intake per occasion. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, among students in Vietnam, the drinking context explains a larger proportion of the variance in alcohol consumption than the drinking motives. Therefore, measures that reduce the availability of alcohol in specific drinking situations are an essential part of an effective prevention policy.
How Do Vegetation Density and Transportation Network Density Affect Crime across an Urban Central-Peripheral Gradient? A Case Study in Kitchener—Waterloo, Ontario
Authors: Du Yikang , Law Jane
Published: July 2016

The relationship between vegetation, transportation networks, and crime has been under debate. Vegetation has been positively correlated with fear of crime; however, the actual correlation between vegetation and occurrences of crime is uncertain. Transportation networks have also been connected with crime occurrence but their impact on crime tends to vary over different circumstances. By conducting spatial analyses, this study explores the associations between crime and vegetation as well as transportation networks in Kitchener-Waterloo. Further, geographically weighted regression modeling and a dummy urban variable representing the urban center/other urban areas were employed to explore the associations across an urban central-peripheral gradient. Associations were analyzed for crimes against persons and crimes against property for four specific crime types (assaults, vehicle theft, sex offences, and drugs). Results suggest that vegetation has a reverse association with crimes against persons and crimes against property while transportation networks have a positive relationship with these two types of crime. Additionally, vegetation can be a deterrent to vehicle theft crime and drugs, while transportation networks can be a facilitator of drug-related crimes. Besides, these two associations appear stronger in the urban center compared to the urban periphery.
Integrating Spatial and Attribute Characteristics of Extended Voronoi Diagrams in Spatial Patterning Research: A Case Study of Wuhan City in China
Authors: Miao Zuohua , Chen Yong , Zeng Xiangyang , Li Jun
Published: July 2016

Rapid urbanization has caused numerous problems, and the urban spatial structure has been a hot topic in sustainable development management. Urban spatial structure is affected by a series of factors. Thus, the research model should synthetically consider the spatial and non-spatial relationship of every element. Here, we propose an extended Voronoi diagram for exploring the urban land spatial pattern. In essence, we first used a principal component analysis method to construct attribute evaluation indicators and obtained the attribute distance for each indicator. Second, we integrated spatial and attribute distances to extend the comparison distance for Voronoi diagrams, and then, we constructed the Voronoi aggregative homogeneous map of the study area. Finally, we make a spatial autocorrelation analysis by using GeoDA and SPSS software. Results show that: (1) the residential land cover aggregation is not significant, but spatial diffusion is obvious; (2) the commercial land cover aggregation is considerable; and (3) the spatial agglomeration degree of the industrial land cover is increased and mainly located in urban fringes. According to the neo-Marxist theory, we briefly analyzed the driving forces for shaping the urban spatial structure. To summarize, our approach yields important insights into the urban spatial structure characterized by attribute similarity with geospatial proximity, which contributes to a better understanding of the urban growth mechanism. In addition, it explicitly identifies ongoing urban transformations, potentially supporting the planning for sustainable urban land use and protection.
Modeling and Querying Moving Objects with Social Relationships
Authors: Zhang Hengcai , Lu Feng , Xu Jianqiu
Published: July 2016

Current moving-object database (MOD) systems focus on management of movement data, but pay less attention to modelling social relationships between moving objects and spatial-temporal trajectories in an integrated manner. This paper combines moving-object database and social network systems and presents a novel data model called Geo-Social-Moving (GSM) that enables the unified management of trajectories, underlying geographical space and social relationships for mass moving objects. A bulk of user-defined data types and corresponding operators are also proposed to facilitate geo-social queries on moving objects. An implementation framework for the GSM model is proposed, and a prototype system based on native Neo4J is then developed with two real-world data sets from the location-based social network systems. Compared with solutions based on traditional extended relational database management systems characterized by time-consuming table join operations, the proposed GSM model characterized by graph traversal is argued to be more powerful in representing mass moving objects with social relationships, and more efficient and stable for geo-social querying.
Astrocyte Aquaporin Dynamics in Health and Disease
Authors: Potokar Maja , Jorgačevski Jernej , Zorec Robert
Published: July 2016

The family of aquaporins (AQPs), membrane water channels, consists of diverse types of proteins that are mainly permeable to water; some are also permeable to small solutes, such as glycerol and urea. They have been identified in a wide range of organisms, from microbes to vertebrates and plants, and are expressed in various tissues. Here, we focus on AQP types and their isoforms in astrocytes, a major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes have anatomical contact with the microvasculature, pia, and neurons. Of the many roles that astrocytes have in the CNS, they are key in maintaining water homeostasis. The processes involved in this regulation have been investigated intensively, in particular regulation of the permeability and expression patterns of different AQP types in astrocytes. Three aquaporin types have been described in astrocytes: aquaporins AQP1 and AQP4 and aquaglyceroporin AQP9. The aim here is to review their isoforms, subcellular localization, permeability regulation, and expression patterns in the CNS. In the human CNS, AQP4 is expressed in normal physiological and pathological conditions, but astrocytic expression of AQP1 and AQP9 is mainly associated with a pathological state.
Global Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Phelipanche aegyptiaca Seed Germination
Authors: Yao Zhaoqun , Tian Fang , Cao Xiaolei , Xu Ying , Chen Meixiu , Xiang Benchun , Zhao Sifeng
Published: July 2016

Phelipanche aegyptiaca is one of the most destructive root parasitic plants of Orobanchaceae. This plant has significant impacts on crop yields worldwide. Conditioned and host root stimulants, in particular, strigolactones, are needed for unique seed germination. However, no extensive study on this phenomenon has been conducted because of insufficient genomic information. Deep RNA sequencing, including de novo assembly and functional annotation was performed on P. aegyptiaca germinating seeds. The assembled transcriptome was used to analyze transcriptional dynamics during seed germination. Key gene categories involved were identified. A total of 274,964 transcripts were determined, and 53,921 unigenes were annotated according to the NR, GO, COG, KOG, and KEGG databases. Overall, 5324 differentially expressed genes among dormant, conditioned, and GR24-treated seeds were identified. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses demonstrated numerous DEGs related to DNA, RNA, and protein repair and biosynthesis, as well as carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Moreover, ABA and ethylene were found to play important roles in this process. GR24 application resulted in dramatic changes in ABA and ethylene-associated genes. Fluridone, a carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitor, alone could induce P. aegyptiaca seed germination. In addition, conditioning was probably not the indispensable stage for P. aegyptiaca, because the transcript level variation of MAX2 and KAI2 genes (relate to strigolactone signaling) was not up-regulated by conditioning treatment.
Beamforming and Antenna Grouping Design for the Multi-Antenna Relay with Energy Harvesting to Improve Secrecy Rate
Authors: Lei Weijia , Zhan Meihui
Published: July 2016

The physical security strategy in the wireless network with a single-antenna eavesdropper is studied. The information transmits from a single-antenna source to a single-antenna destination, and an energy-limited multi-antenna relay is employed to forward information. The antennas of the relay are divided into two groups. One group receives and forwards information, and the other converts the received signal into energy. Beamforming is used by the relay to prevent the eavesdropper from intercepting confidential information. For the purpose of maximizing the secrecy rate, antenna grouping and beamforming vectors are designed. A low complexity scheme of antenna grouping is presented. The simulation results show that the secrecy rate can be significantly improved by arranging part of the antennas for energy harvesting, and part for forwarding and optimizing the beamforming vector at the relay. The antenna grouping scheme significantly reduces the computational complexity at the cost of acceptable performance loss.
Real-Time Hybrid In-Station Bus Dispatching Strategy Based on Mixed Integer Programming
Authors: An Shi , Zhang Xinming
Published: July 2016

The actual bus headway often deviates from the planned departure frequency because of external factors, such as traffic conditions and public transport demand, leading to transit resource waste and reducing the quality of service. In view of the existing shortcomings of the current dispatching strategy, a mixed integer programming model, integrating a bus-holding and stop-skipping strategy, is constructed to improve transit service with a minimum cost. The real-time optimal holding and stop-skipping strategies can be obtained by solving the proposed model using the Lagrangian relaxation algorithm. A numerical example is conducted using real transit GPS (Global Position System) and IC (Intelligent Card) data in Harbin. The results show that compared to a single control strategy, the proposed hybrid model is a better trade-off between the quality of the transit service and the operation cost. Notably, such a strategy would produce a minimal passengers’ average travel time coefficient. It is a great help for promoting the transit service level and increasing competitiveness.
Conservation of the Exon-Intron Structure of Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNA Genes in Eutherian Mammals
Authors: Chernikova Diana , Managadze David , Glazko Galina , Makalowski Wojciech , Rogozin Igor
Published: July 2016

The abundance of mammalian long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) genes is high, yet their functions remain largely unknown. One possible way to study this important question is to use large-scale comparisons of various characteristics of lincRNA with those of protein-coding genes for which a large body of functional information is available. A prominent feature of mammalian protein-coding genes is the high evolutionary conservation of the exon-intron structure. Comparative analysis of putative intron positions in lincRNA genes from various mammalian genomes suggests that some lincRNA introns have been conserved for over 100 million years, thus the primary and/or secondary structure of these molecules is likely to be functionally important.
Nb5+-Doped SrCoO3−δ Perovskites as Potential Cathodes for Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Cascos Vanessa , Alonso José , Fernández-Díaz María
Published: July 2016

SrCoO3−δ outperforms as cathode material in solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFC) when the three-dimensional (3C-type) perovskite structure is stabilized by the inclusion of highly-charged transition-metal ions at the octahedral positions. In a previous work we studied the Nb incorporation at the Co positions in the SrCo1−xNbxO3−δ system, in which the stabilization of a tetragonal P4/mmm perovskite superstructure was described for the x = 0.05 composition. In the present study we extend this investigation to the x = 0.10–0.15 range, also observing the formation of the tetragonal P4/mmm structure instead of the unwanted hexagonal phase corresponding to the 2H polytype. We also investigated the effect of Nb5+ doping on the thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties of SrCo1−xNbxO3−δ (x = 0.1 and 0.15) perovskite oxides performing as cathodes in SOFC. In comparison with the undoped hexagonal SrCoO3−δ phase, the resulting compounds present high thermal stability and an increase of the electrical conductivity. The single-cell tests for these compositions (x = 0.10 and 0.15) with La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.83Mg0.17O3−δ (LSGM) as electrolyte and SrMo0.8Fe0.2CoO3−δ as anode gave maximum power densities of 693 and 550 mW∙cm−2 at 850 °C respectively, using pure H2 as fuel and air as oxidant.
Hydrostatic Compression Behavior and High-Pressure Stabilized β-Phase in γ-Based Titanium Aluminide Intermetallics
Authors: Liss Klaus-Dieter , Funakoshi Ken-Ichi , Dippenaar Rian , Higo Yuji , Shiro Ayumi , Reid Mark , Suzuki Hiroshi , Shobu Takahisa , Akita Koichi
Published: July 2016

Titanium aluminides find application in modern light-weight, high-temperature turbines, such as aircraft engines, but suffer from poor plasticity during manufacturing and processing. Huge forging presses enable materials processing in the 10-GPa range, and hence, it is necessary to investigate the phase diagrams of candidate materials under these extreme conditions. Here, we report on an in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction study in a large-volume press of a modern (α2 + γ) two-phase material, Ti-45Al-7.5Nb-0.25C, under pressures up to 9.6 GPa and temperatures up to 1686 K. At room temperature, the volume response to pressure is accommodated by the transformation γ → α2, rather than volumetric strain, expressed by the apparently high bulk moduli of both constituent phases. Crystallographic aspects, specifically lattice strain and atomic order, are discussed in detail. It is interesting to note that this transformation takes place despite an increase in atomic volume, which is due to the high ordering energy of γ. Upon heating under high pressure, both the eutectoid and γ-solvus transition temperatures are elevated, and a third, cubic β-phase is stabilized above 1350 K. Earlier research has shown that this β-phase is very ductile during plastic deformation, essential in near-conventional forging processes. Here, we were able to identify an ideal processing window for near-conventional forging, while the presence of the detrimental β-phase is not present under operating conditions. Novel processing routes can be defined from these findings.