bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Conference on the Origin (and Evolution) of Baryonic Galaxy Halos
Authors: Forbes Duncan , Lopez Ericson
Published: May 2017

A conference was held in March 2017 in the Galapagos Islands on the topic of The Origin (and Evolution) of Baryonic Galaxy Halos. It attracted some 120 researchers from around the world. They presented 68 talks (nine of which were invited) and 30 posters over five days. A novel element of the talk schedule was that participants were asked which talks they wanted to hear and the schedule was made up based on their votes and those of the Scientific Organizing Committee SOC . The final talk schedule had 34% of the talks given by women. An emphasis was given to discussion time directly after each talk. Combined with limited/no access to the internet, this resulted in high level of engagement and lively discussions. A prize was given to the poster voted the best by participants. A free afternoon included organized excursions to see the local scenery and wildlife of the Galapagos (e.g., the giant tortoises). Four public talks were given, in Spanish, for the local residents of the town. A post-conference survey was conducted, with most participants agreeing that the conference met their scientific needs and helped to initiate new research directions. Although it was challenging to organize such a large international meeting in such an isolated location as the Galapagos Islands (and much credit goes to the Local Organizing Committee LOC and staff of Quito Astronomical Observatory for their logistical efforts, organizing the meeting for over a year), it was very much a successful conference. We hope it will play a small part in further developing astronomy in Ecuador.
A Controlled Antibiotic Release System for the Development of Single-Application Otitis Externa Therapeutics
Authors: Serban Bogdan , Stipe Kristian , Alverson Jeremy , Johnston Erik , Priestley Nigel , Serban Monica
Published: May 2017

Ear infections are a commonly-occurring problem that can affect people of all ages. Treatment of these pathologies usually includes the administration of topical or systemic antibiotics, depending on the location of the infection. In this context, we sought to address the feasibility of a single-application slow-releasing therapeutic formulation of an antibiotic for the treatment of otitis externa. Thixotropic hydrogels, which are gels under static conditions but liquefy when shaken, were tested for their ability to act as drug controlled release systems and inhibit Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, the predominant bacterial strains associated with outer ear infections. Our overall proof of concept, including in vitro evaluations reflective of therapeutic ease of administration, formulation stability, cytocompatibility assessment, antibacterial efficacy, and formulation lifespan, indicate that these thixotropic materials have strong potential for development as otic treatment products.
Epigenetic Regulation of Telomere Maintenance for Therapeutic Interventions in Gliomas
Authors: Naderlinger Elisabeth , Holzmann Klaus
Published: May 2017

High-grade astrocytoma of WHO grade 4 termed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common human brain tumor with poor patient outcome. Astrocytoma demonstrates two known telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) based on telomerase activity (TA) and on alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT is associated with lower tumor grades and better outcome. In contrast to ALT, regulation of TA in tumors by direct mutation and epigenetic activation of the hTERT promoter is well established. Here, we summarize the genetic background of TMMs in non-malignant cells and in cancer, in addition to clinical and pathological features of gliomas. Furthermore, we present new evidence for epigenetic mechanisms (EMs) involved in regulation of ALT and TA with special emphasis on human diffuse gliomas as potential therapeutic drug targets. We discuss the role of TMM associated telomeric chromatin factors such as DNA and histone modifying enzymes and non-coding RNAs including microRNAs and long telomeric TERRA transcripts.
Chronic Exposure to Uranium from Gestation: Effects on Behavior and Neurogenesis in Adulthood
Authors: Dinocourt Céline , Culeux Cécile , Legrand Marie , Elie Christelle , Lestaevel Philippe
Published: May 2017

Uranium exposure leads to cerebral dysfunction involving for instance biochemical, neurochemical and neurobehavioral effects. Most studies have focused on mechanisms in uranium-exposed adult animals. However, recent data on developing animals have shown that the developing brain is also sensitive to uranium. Models of uranium exposure during brain development highlight the need to improve our understanding of the effects of uranium. In a model in which uranium exposure began from the first day of gestation, we studied the neurobehavioral consequences as well as the progression of hippocampal neurogenesis in animals from dams exposed to uranium. Our results show that 2-month-old rats exposed to uranium from gestational day 1 displayed deficits in special memory and a prominent depressive-like phenotype. Cell proliferation was not disturbed in these animals, as shown by 5-bromo-2′deoxyuridine (BrdU)/neuronal specific nuclear protein (NeuN) immunostaining in the dentate gyrus. However, in some animals, the pyramidal cell layer was dispersed in the CA3 region. From our previous results with the same model, the hypothesis of alterations of neurogenesis at prior stages of development is worth considering, but is probably not the only one. Therefore, further investigations are needed to correlate cerebral dysfunction and its underlying mechanistic pathways.
A Novel Analysis Method of Geographical Centrality Based on Space of Flows
Authors: Li Jiwei , Qian Jing , Liu Yaolin
Published: May 2017

Geographical centrality is an evolving concept that differs from one perspective to another at different stages. The unprecedented development of high-speed information and transportation networks has highlighted the important role of space of flows and has restructured the mode of spatial interaction. The geographical centrality analysis method based on relational networks currently becomes the mainstream, but most related methods ignore the spatial structure. In this study, we first analyze the impacts of space of flows on geographical space based on spatial interaction theory. We argue that geographical space and space of flows dominate short- and long-distance interactions, respectively. Based on this hypothesis, the concept of geographical centrality based on space of flows is proposed. The new concept categorizes spatial units into four types: global centers, isolated units, externally oriented units, and locally oriented units. Then, two quantitative measures, namely, global and local geographical centrality indexes, are defined. In the case study, we analyze the geographical centrality of cities in China at three different spatial scales and compare the result with three other geographical centrality analysis methods. City attribute is concluded to be more important than spatial distance in urban spatial interaction at the national scale, and this situation is caused by the effect of space of flows on geographical space. The similarities and differences between the proposed geographical centrality analysis method and the classic spatial autocorrelation analysis method of Moran’s I are also discussed.
Unraveling Prion Protein Interactions with Aptamers and Other PrP-Binding Nucleic Acids
Authors: Macedo Bruno , Cordeiro Yraima
Published: May 2017

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and other mammals. The etiologic agents common to these diseases are misfolded conformations of the prion protein (PrP). The molecular mechanisms that trigger the structural conversion of the normal cellular PrP (PrPC) into the pathogenic conformer (PrPSc) are still poorly understood. It is proposed that a molecular cofactor would act as a catalyst, lowering the activation energy of the conversion process, therefore favoring the transition of PrPC to PrPSc. Several in vitro studies have described physical interactions between PrP and different classes of molecules, which might play a role in either PrP physiology or pathology. Among these molecules, nucleic acids (NAs) are highlighted as potential PrP molecular partners. In this context, the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) methodology has proven extremely valuable to investigate PrP–NA interactions, due to its ability to select small nucleic acids, also termed aptamers, that bind PrP with high affinity and specificity. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides that can be folded into a wide range of structures (from harpins to G-quadruplexes). They are selected from a nucleic acid pool containing a large number (1014–1016) of random sequences of the same size (~20–100 bases). Aptamers stand out because of their potential ability to bind with different affinities to distinct conformations of the same protein target. Therefore, the identification of high-affinity and selective PrP ligands may aid the development of new therapies and diagnostic tools for TSEs. This review will focus on the selection of aptamers targeted against either full-length or truncated forms of PrP, discussing the implications that result from interactions of PrP with NAs, and their potential advances in the studies of prions. We will also provide a critical evaluation, assuming the advantages and drawbacks of the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) technique in the general field of amyloidogenic proteins.
Synthesis and Antiradical Activity of Isoquercitrin Esters with Aromatic Acids and Their Homologues
Authors: Heřmánková-Vavříková Eva , Křenková Alena , Petrásková Lucie , Chambers Christopher , Zápal Jakub , Kuzma Marek , Valentová Kateřina , Křen Vladimír
Published: May 2017

Isoquercitrin, (IQ, quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) is known for strong chemoprotectant activities. Acylation of flavonoid glucosides with carboxylic acids containing an aromatic ring brings entirely new properties to these compounds. Here, we describe the chemical and enzymatic synthesis of a series of IQ derivatives at the C-6″. IQ benzoate, phenylacetate, phenylpropanoate and cinnamate were prepared from respective vinyl esters using Novozym 435 (Lipase B from Candida antarctica immobilized on acrylic resin). The enzymatic procedure gave no products with “hydroxyaromatic” acids, their vinyl esters nor with their benzyl-protected forms. A chemical protection/deprotection method using Steglich reaction yielded IQ 4-hydroxybenzoate, vanillate and gallate. In case of p-coumaric, caffeic, and ferulic acid, the deprotection lead to the saturation of the double bonds at the phenylpropanoic moiety and yielded 4-hydroxy-, 3,4-dihydroxy- and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylpropanoates. Reducing capacity of the cinnamate, gallate and 4-hydroxyphenylpropanoate towards Folin-Ciocalteau reagent was significantly lower than that of IQ, while other derivatives displayed slightly better or comparable capacity. Compared to isoquercitrin, most derivatives were less active in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, but they showed significantly better 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, ABTS) scavenging activity and were substantially more active in the inhibition of tert-butylhydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes. The most active compounds were the hydroxyphenylpropanoates.
An Effective and Robust Single Image Dehazing Method Using the Dark Channel Prior
Authors: Yuan Xiaoyan , Ju Mingye , Gu Zhenfei , Wang Shuwang
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we propose a single image dehazing method aiming at addressing the inherent limitations of the extensively employed dark channel prior (DCP). More concretely, we introduce the Gaussian mixture model (GMM) to segment the input hazy image into scenes based on the haze density feature map. With the segmentation results, combined with the proposed sky region detection method, we can effectively recognize the sky region where the DCP cannot well handle this. On the basis of sky region detection, we then present an improved global atmospheric light estimation method to increase the estimation accuracy of the atmospheric light. Further, we present a multi-scale fusion-based strategy to obtain the transmission map based on DCP, which can significantly reduce the blocking artifacts of the transmission map. To further rectify the error-prone transmission within the sky region, an adaptive sky region transmission correction method is also presented. Finally, due to the segmentation-blindness of GMM, we adopt the guided total variation (GTV) to tackle this problem while eliminating the extensive texture details contained in the transmission map. Experimental results verify the power of our method and show its superiority over several state-of-the-art methods.
Morphogenetically-Active Barrier Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration, Based on Amorphous Polyphosphate
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Ackermann Maximilian , Neufurth Meik , Wang Shunfeng , Schröder Heinz , Müller Werner
Published: May 2017

We describe a novel regeneratively-active barrier membrane which consists of a durable electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) net covered with a morphogenetically-active biohybrid material composed of collagen and inorganic polyphosphate (polyP). The patch-like fibrous collagen structures are decorated with small amorphous polyP nanoparticles (50 nm) formed by precipitation of this energy-rich and enzyme-degradable (alkaline phosphatase) polymer in the presence of calcium ions. The fabricated PCL-polyP/collagen hybrid mats are characterized by advantageous biomechanical properties, such as enhanced flexibility and stretchability with almost unaltered tensile strength of the PCL net. The polyP/collagen material promotes the attachment and increases the viability/metabolic activity of human mesenchymal stem cells compared to cells grown on non-coated mats. The gene expression studies revealed that cells, growing onto polyP/collagen coated mats show a significantly (two-fold) higher upregulation of the steady-state-expression of the angiopoietin-2 gene used as an early marker for wound healing than cells cultivated onto non-coated mats. Based on our results we propose that amorphous polyP, stabilized onto a collagen matrix, might be a promising component of functionally-active barrier membranes for guided tissue regeneration in medicine and dentistry.
Using UPLC-MS/MS for Characterization of Active Components in Extracts of Yupingfeng and Application to a Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study in Rat Plasma after Oral Administration
Authors: Jia Meng-Qi , Xiong Ye-Juan , Xue Yun , Wang Yan , Yan Chao
Published: May 2017

Yupingfeng (YPF), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, which contains a large array of compounds, has been effectually used in health protection. A two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) method was firstly established to separate and identify chemical components in YPF. A total of 33 compounds were identified, including 15 constituents (flavonoids and saponins) in Astragali radix; seven constituents (sesquiterpenoids and polysaccharide) in Atractylodis rhizoma; and 11 constituents (chromone and coumarins) in Saposhnikoviae radix. The corresponding fragmentation pathway of typical substances was investigated. Then, seven active constituents (astragaloside, calycosin, formononetin, cimicifugoside, 4-O-beta-d-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, sec-O-glucosylhamaudol, and atractylenolide II) derived from three medicinal plants were chosen to further investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of YPF formula using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry system. The method was sensitive, accurate and reliable. We also used the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0−∞) as weighting factor to make an integrated pharmacokinetic curve. Results show that the constituents of Saposhnikoviae radix have the best absorption and pharmacokinetic behavior and may play important role in leading to the changes of overall therapeutic effects of YPF. Further study is needed to confirm the association between them.
Biomimetic Synthesis of Resveratrol Trimers Catalyzed by Horseradish Peroxidase
Authors: Zhang Jian-Qiao , Li Gan-Peng , Kang Yu-Long , Teng Bin-Hao , Yao Chun-Suo
Published: May 2017

Biotransformation of trans-resveratrol and synthetic (±)-ε-viniferin in aqueous acetone using horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide as oxidants resulted in the isolation of two new resveratrol trimers (3 and 4), one new resveratrol derivative (5) with a dihydrobenzofuran skeleton, together with two known stilbene trimers (6 and 7), and six known stilbene dimers (8–13). Their structures and relative configurations were identified through spectral analysis and possible formation mechanisms were also discussed. Among these oligomers, trimers 6 and 7 were obtained for the first time through direct transformation from resveratrol. Results indicated that this reaction is suitable for the preparation of resveratrol oligomers with a complex structure.
From Cell to Beak: In-Vitro and In-Vivo Characterization of Chicken Bitter Taste Thresholds
Authors: Cheled-Shoval Shira , Behrens Maik , Korb Ayelet , Di Pizio Antonella , Meyerhof Wolfgang , Uni Zehava , Niv Masha
Published: May 2017

Bitter taste elicits an aversive reaction, and is believed to protect against consuming poisons. Bitter molecules are detected by the Tas2r family of G-protein-coupled receptors, with a species-dependent number of subtypes. Chickens demonstrate bitter taste sensitivity despite having only three bitter taste receptors—ggTas2r1, ggTas2r2 and ggTas2r7. This minimalistic bitter taste system in chickens was used to determine relationships between in-vitro (measured in heterologous systems) and in-vivo (behavioral) detection thresholds. ggTas2r-selective ligands, nicotine (ggTas2r1), caffeine (ggTas2r2), erythromycin and (+)-catechin (ggTas2r7), and the Tas2r-promiscuous ligand quinine (all three ggTas2rs) were studied. Ligands of the same receptor had different in-vivo:in-vitro ratios, and the ggTas2r-promiscuous ligand did not exhibit lower in-vivo:in-vitro ratios than ggTas2r-selective ligands. In-vivo thresholds were similar or up to two orders of magnitude higher than the in-vitro ones.
Detecting and Discriminating Shigella sonnei Using an Aptamer-Based Fluorescent Biosensor Platform
Authors: Song Myeong-Sub , Sekhon Simranjeet , Shin Woo-Ri , Kim Hyung , Min Jiho , Ahn Ji-Young , Kim Yang-Hoon
Published: May 2017

In this paper, a Whole-Bacteria SELEX (WB-SELEX) strategy was adopted to isolate specific aptamers against Shigella sonnei. Real-time PCR amplification and post-SELEX experiment revealed that the selected aptmers possessed a high binding affinity and specificity for S. sonnei. Of the 21 aptamers tested, the C(t) values of the SS-3 and SS-4 aptamers (Ct = 13.89 and Ct = 12.23, respectively) had the lowest value compared to other aptamer candidates. The SS-3 and SS-4 aptamers also displayed a binding affinity (KD) of 39.32 ± 5.02 nM and 15.89 ± 1.77 nM, respectively. An aptamer-based fluorescent biosensor assay was designed to detect and discriminate S. sonnei cells using a sandwich complex pair of SS-3 and SS-4. The detection of S. sonnei by the aptamer based fluorescent biosensor platform consisted of three elements: (1) 5’amine-SS-4 modification in a 96-well type microtiter plate surface (N-oxysuccinimide, NOS) as capture probes; (2) the incubation with S. sonnei and test microbes in functionalized 96 assay wells in parallel; (3) the readout of fluorescent activity using a Cy5-labeled SS-3 aptamer as the detector. Our platform showed a significant ability to detect and discriminate S. sonnei from other enteric species such as E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and other Shigella species (S. flexneri, S. boydii). In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of an aptamer sensor platform to detect S. sonnei in a variety of foods and pave the way for its use in diagnosing shigellosis through multiple, portable designs.
Resonance Rayleigh Scattering and SERS Spectral Detection of Trace Hg(II) Based on the Gold Nanocatalysis
Authors: Ouyang Huixiang , Li Chongning , Liu Qingye , Wen Guiqing , Liang Aihui , Jiang Zhiliang
Published: May 2017

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal pollutant, there is an urgent need to develop simple and sensitive methods for Hg(II) in water. In this article, a simple and sensitive resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) method was developed for determination of 0.008–1.33 µmol/L Hg, with a detection limit of 0.003 μmol/L, based on the Hg(II) regulation of gold nanoenzyme catalysis on the HAuCl4-H2O2 to form gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an RRS peak at 370 nm. Upon addition of molecular probes of Victoria blue B (VBB), the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) peak linearly decreased at 1612 cm−1 with the Hg(II) concentration increasing in the range of 0.013–0.5 μmol/L. With its good selectivity and good accuracy, the RRS method is expected to be a promising candidate for determining mercury ions in water samples.
Deleterious Metabolic Effects of High Fructose Intake: The Preventive Effect of Lactobacillus kefiri Administration
Authors: Zubiría María , Gambaro Sabrina , Rey María , Carasi Paula , Serradell María , Giovambattista Andrés
Published: May 2017

Modern lifestyle and diets have been associated with metabolic disorders and an imbalance in the normal gut microbiota. Probiotics are widely known for their health beneficial properties targeting the gut microbial ecosystem. The aim of our study was to evaluate the preventive effect of Lactobacillus kefiri (L. kefiri) administration in a fructose-rich diet (FRD) mice model. Mice were provided with tap water or fructose-added (20% w/v) drinking water supplemented or not with L. kefiri. Results showed that probiotic administration prevented weight gain and epidydimal adipose tissue (EAT) expansion, with partial reversion of the adipocyte hypertrophy developed by FRD. Moreover, the probiotic prevented the increase of plasma triglycerides and leptin, together with the liver triglyceride content. Leptin adipocyte secretion was also improved by L. kefiri, being able to respond to an insulin stimulus. Glucose intolerance was partially prevented by L. kefiri treatment (GTT) and local inflammation (TNFα; IL1β; IL6 and INFγ) was completely inhibited in EAT. L. kefiri supplementation generated an impact on gut microbiota composition, changing Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes profiles. Overall, our results indicate that the administration of probiotics prevents the deleterious effects of FRD intake and should therefore be promoted to improve metabolic disorders.
Effect of Low-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Serum 25(OH)D in School Children and White-Collar Workers
Authors: Zhang Ronghua , Muyiduli Xiamusiye , Su Danting , Zhou Biao , Fang Yueqiang , Jiang Shuying , Wang Shuojia , Huang Lichun , Mo Minjia , Li Minchao , Shao Bule , Yu Yunxian
Published: May 2017

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the nutritional vitamin D status of school children aged 9–15 years and white-collar workers in Zhejiang province, and evaluate the efficacy of low-dose-oral vitamin D supplementation in both populations. Methods: We conducted a prospective controlled trial during March 2014 to November 2015, comparing the efficacy of vitamin D supplements (400 IU/day) with non-intervention for 18 months in school children aged 9–15 years. Meanwhile, a before-after study was conducted among white-collar workers for 1 year. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was measured at baseline and after vitamin D supplementation, respectively. Results: At the baseline, 95% of school children and 84% of adult participants had vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL). In school children, no difference was observed between the intervention and control groups with regard to anthropometric data. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations of the school children intervention group, school children control group and white-collar workers were 12.77 ± 3.01 ng/mL, 14.17 ± 3.59 ng/mL and 16.58 ± 3.66 ng/mL at baseline and increased to 17.34 ± 3.78 ng/mL, 18.04 ± 4.01 ng/mL and 17.75 ± 5.36 ng/mL after vitamin D supplementation, respectively. Although, after adjusting for potential confounders, the 400 IU oral vitamin D supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D concentration in school children (β = 0.81, p = 0.0426) as well as in white-collar workers (p = 0.0839), the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was still very high among school children (79.23% in intervention group and 72.38% in control group) and white-collar workers (76.00%). Conclusions: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was common in these two study populations. Daily doses of 400 IU oral vitamin D supplementation was not able to adequately increase serum 25(OH)D concentrations. A suitable recommendation regarding the level of vitamin D supplementation is required for this Chinese population.
Fat, Sugar, and Bone Health: A Complex Relationship
Authors: Tian Li , Yu Xijie
Published: May 2017

With people aging, osteoporosis is expected to increase notably. Nutritional status is a relatively easily-modified risk factor, associated with many chronic diseases, and is involved in obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease (CHD), along with osteoporosis. Nutrients, such as fats, sugars, and proteins, play a primary function in bone metabolism and maintaining bone health. In Western nations, diets are generally high in saturated fats, however, currently, the nutritional patterns dominating in China continue to be high in carbohydrates from starch, cereals, and sugars. Moreover, high fat or high sugar (fructose, glucose, or sucrose) impart a significant impact on bone structural integrity. Due to diet being modifiable, demonstrating the effects of nutrition on bone health can provide an approach for osteoporosis prevention. Most researchers have reported that a high-fat diet consumption is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and, as bone strength diminishes, adverse microstructure changes occur in the cancellous bone compartment, which is involved with lipid metabolism modulation disorder and the alteration of the bone marrow environment, along with an increased inflammatory environment. Some studies, however, demonstrated that a high-fat diet contributes to achieving peak bone mass, along with microstructure, at a younger age. Contrary to these results, others have shown that a high-fructose diet consumption leads to stronger bones with a superior microarchitecture than those with the intake of a high-glucose diet and, at the same time, research indicated that a high-fat diet usually deteriorates cancellous bone parameters, and that the incorporation of fructose into a high-fat diet did not aggravate bone mass loss. High-fat/high-sucrose diets have shown both beneficial and detrimental influences on bone metabolism. Combined, these studies showed that nutrition exerts different effects on bone health. Thus, a better understanding of the regulation between dietary nutrition and bone health might provide a basis for the development of strategies to improve bone health by modifying nutritional components.
Intravenous Arginine Administration Promotes Proangiogenic Cells Mobilization and Attenuates Lung Injury in Mice with Polymicrobial Sepsis
Authors: Yeh Chiu-Li , Pai Man-Hui , Shih Yao-Ming , Shih Juey-Ming , Yeh Sung-Ling
Published: May 2017

This study investigated the influence of intravenous arginine (Arg) administration on alteration of circulating proangiogenic cells and remote lung injury in a model of polymicrobial sepsis. Mice were assigned to one normal control group (NC) and two sepsis groups that were induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). One of the sepsis groups was injected with saline (SS), whereas the other (SA) was administered with a single bolus of 300 mg Arg/kg body weight via the tail vein 1 h after CLP. Septic mice were sacrificed at either 24 or 48 h after CLP, with their blood and lung tissues collected for analysis. Results showed that septic groups had higher proangiogenic cells releasing factors and proangiogenic cells percentage in blood. Also, concentration of inflammatory cytokines and expression of angiopoietin (Angpt)/Tie-2 genes in lung tissues were upregulated. Arg administration promoted mobilization of circulating proangiogenic cells while it downregulated the production of inflammatory cytokines and expression of Angpt/Tie-2 genes in the lung. The results of this investigation suggested that intravenous administration of Arg shortly after the onset of sepsis enhanced the mobilization of circulating proangiogenic cells, maintained the homeostasis of the Angpt/Tie-2 axis, and attenuated remote organ injury in polymicrobial sepsis.
Learning Low Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks for High-Resolution Remote Sensing Image Retrieval
Authors: Zhou Weixun , Newsam Shawn , Li Congmin , Shao Zhenfeng
Published: May 2017

Learning powerful feature representations for image retrieval has always been a challenging task in the field of remote sensing. Traditional methods focus on extracting low-level hand-crafted features which are not only time-consuming but also tend to achieve unsatisfactory performance due to the complexity of remote sensing images. In this paper, we investigate how to extract deep feature representations based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for high-resolution remote sensing image retrieval (HRRSIR). To this end, several effective schemes are proposed to generate powerful feature representations for HRRSIR. In the first scheme, a CNN pre-trained on a different problem is treated as a feature extractor since there are no sufficiently-sized remote sensing datasets to train a CNN from scratch. In the second scheme, we investigate learning features that are specific to our problem by first fine-tuning the pre-trained CNN on a remote sensing dataset and then proposing a novel CNN architecture based on convolutional layers and a three-layer perceptron. The novel CNN has fewer parameters than the pre-trained and fine-tuned CNNs and can learn low dimensional features from limited labelled images. The schemes are evaluated on several challenging, publicly available datasets. The results indicate that the proposed schemes, particularly the novel CNN, achieve state-of-the-art performance.
Measuring the Vulnerability of an Energy Intensive Sector to the EU ETS under a Life Cycle Approach: The Case of the Chlor-Alkali Industry
Authors: Garcia-Herrero Isabel , Margallo Maria , Laso Jara , Onandía Raquel , Irabien Angel , Aldaco Ruben
Published: May 2017

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which is a cornerstone of the EU’s policy to combat climate change, has been criticised by its effects on the competitiveness of intensive energy demanding industries, and in particular, of the chlor-alkali sector. The main chlorine application in Europe is the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from ethylene dichloride (EDC) as intermediate. Since chlorine is mainly traded in terms of derivatives, the aim of this work is to assess the vulnerability of the European chlor-alkali industry to chlorine replacement by imported EDC. An Energetic, Economic and Environmental Sustainability Assessment (EEESA) methodology is proposed based on the main variables affecting EDC production. Moreover, the influence of the EU ETS compensation measures and the emission allowance price in the current (mercury, diaphragm and membrane) and emergent (oxygen-depolarized cathodes (ODC)) technologies is studied. The most vulnerable scenarios become mercury and diaphragm technologies due to energy consumption. However, the salt price dependency on the quality requirements substantially influences the EEESA results. This analysis also shows the importance of hydrogen valorisation, whose major impact is observed in ODC scenario.
Assessing Environmental Impact Indicators in Road Construction Projects in Developing Countries
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed , Abdelkader Eslam Mohammed , El-zayat Mohamed , Aboushady Ahmed
Published: May 2017

Environmental pollution is considered to be one of the main concerns in the construction industry. Environmental pollution has become a major challenge to construction projects due to the huge amount of pollution caused by construction projects. There are different types of environmental impact indicators, such as the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), human health (HH) particulate, ozone depletion, and smog. Each of these environmental impact indicators can be linked to different phases of the construction projects. The overall environmental impact indicators can be divided into direct, indirect, and operational emissions. This paper presents a Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based methodology for the assessment of environmental impacts in road construction projects. The model takes into account the overall life cycle of the road construction project, which is divided into: manufacturing phase, transportation phase, construction phase, maintenance phase, operational phase, recycling phase, and deconstruction phase. A case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. The proposed model solves a major problem for road construction project teams who want to assess the environmental impact indicators associated with their project prior to the start of the execution of their projects.
Transcriptional and Physiological Responses to Nutrient Loading on Toxin Formation and Photosynthesis in Microcystis Aeruginosa FACHB-905
Authors: Peng Guotao , Lin Sijie , Fan Zhengqiu , Wang Xiangrong
Published: May 2017

An important goal of understanding harmful algae blooms is to determine how environmental factors affect the growth and toxin formation of toxin-producing species. In this study, we investigated the transcriptional responses of toxin formation gene (mcyB) and key photosynthesis genes (psaB, psbD and rbcL) of Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 in different nutrient loading conditions using real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Three physio-biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH)) were also evaluated to provide insight into the physiological responses of Microcystis cells. We observed an upregulation of mcyB gene in nutrient-deficient conditions, especially in nitrogen (N) limitation condition, and the transcript abundance declined after the nutrient were resupplied. Differently, high transcription levels were seen in phosphorus (P) deficient treatments for key photosynthesis genes throughout the culture period, while those in N-deficient cells varied with time, suggesting an adaptive regulation of Microsystis cells to nutrient stress. Increased contents of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH) were seen in both N and P-deficient conditions, suggesting the presence of excess amount of free radical generation caused by nutrient stress. The amount of SOD and GSH continued to increase even after the nutrient was reintroduced and a strong correlation was seen between the MDA and enzyme activities, indicating the robust effort of rebalancing the redox system in Microcystis cells. Based on these transcriptional and physiological responses of M. aeruginosa to nutrient loading, these results could provide more insight into Microcystis blooms management and toxin formation regulation.
Using δ15N and δ18O Signatures to Evaluate Nitrate Sources and Transformations in Four Inflowing Rivers, North of Taihu Lake
Authors: Li Da , Jiang Xia , Zheng Binghui
Published: May 2017

Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. Due to rapid economic development and excessive nutrient discharges, there is serious eutrophication in the northern part of the lake. Nitrogen (N) is one of the key factors for eutrophication in Taihu Lake, which mainly comes from the rivers around the lake. Samples from four inflowing rivers were analysed for δ15N and δ18O isotopes in December 2013 to identify the different sources of nitrogen in the northern part of Taihu Lake. The results indicated that the water quality in Taihu Lake was clearly influenced by the water quality of the inflowing rivers and nitrate (NO3−-N) was the main component of the soluble inorganic nitrogen in water. The soil organic N represented more than 70% of the total NO3−-N loads in the Zhihugang. Domestic sewage was the major NO3−-N source in the Liangxi river, with a contribution of greater than 50%. Soil organic N and domestic sewage, with contributions of more than 30% and 35% respectively, were the major NO3−-N sources in the Lihe river and Daxigang river. Denitrification might be responsible for the shifting δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3− values in the Daxigang river, and a mixing process may play a major role in N transformations in the Lihe river in winter. The results of this study will be useful as reference values for reducing NO3− pollution in the inflowing rivers in the north of Taihu Lake.
Mapping Dynamic Water Fraction under the Tropical Rain Forests of the Amazonian Basin from SMOS Brightness Temperatures
Authors: Parrens Marie , Al Bitar Ahmad , Frappart Frédéric , Papa Fabrice , Calmant Stephane , Crétaux Jean-François , Wigneron Jean-Pierre , Kerr Yann
Published: May 2017

Inland surface waters in tropical environments play a major role in the water and carbon cycle. Remote sensing techniques based on passive, active microwave or optical wavelengths are commonly used to provide quantitative estimates of surface water extent from regional to global scales. However, some of these estimates are unable to detect water under dense vegetation and/or in the presence of cloud coverage. To overcome these limitations, the brightness temperature data at L-band frequency from the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission are used here to estimate flood extent in a contextual radiative transfer model over the Amazon Basin. At this frequency, the signal is highly sensitive to the standing water above the ground, and the signal provides information from deeper vegetation density than higher-frequencies. Three-day and (25 km × 25 km) resolution maps of water fraction extent are produced from 2010 to 2015. The dynamic water surface extent estimates are compared to altimeter data (Jason-2), land cover classification maps (IGBP, GlobeCover and ESA CCI) and the dynamic water surface product (GIEMS). The relationships between the water surfaces, precipitation and in situ discharge data are examined. The results show a high correlation between water fraction estimated by SMOS and water levels from Jason-2 (R > 0.98). Good spatial agreements for the land cover classifications and the water cycle are obtained.
Reversed Currents in Charged Liquid Bridges
Authors: Morawetz Klaus
Published: May 2017

The velocity profile in a water bridge is reanalyzed. Assuming hypothetically that the bulk charge has a radial distribution, a surface potential is formed that is analogous to the Zeta potential. The Navier–Stokes equation is solved, neglecting the convective term; then, analytically and for special field and potential ranges, a sign change of the total mass flow is reported caused by the radial charge distribution.
The Use of the Gaps-In-Noise Test as an Index of the Enhanced Left Temporal Cortical Thinning Associated with the Transition between Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Iliadou Vasiliki (Vivian) , Bamiou Doris-Eva , Sidiras Christos , Moschopoulos Nikolaos P. , Tsolaki Magda , Nimatoudis Ioannis , Chermak Gail D.
Published: May 2017

Background:The known link between auditory perception and cognition is often overlooked when testing for cognition.Purpose:To evaluate auditory perception in a group of older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Research Design:A cross-sectional
study of auditory perception.Study Sample:Adults with MCI and adults with no documented cognitive issues and matched hearing sensitivity and age.Data collection:Auditory perception was evaluated in both groups, assessing for hearing sensitivity, speech in babble (SinB), and temporal
resolution.Results:Mann‐Whitney test revealed significantly poorer scores for SinB and temporal resolution abilities of MCIs versus normal controls for both ears. The right-ear gap detection thresholds on the Gaps-In-Noise (GIN) Test clearly differentiated between the two groups
(p < 0.001), with no overlap of values. The left ear results also differentiated the two groups (p < 0.01); however, there was a small degree of overlap ∼8-msec threshold values. With the exception of the left-ear inattentiveness index, which showed a similar distribution
between groups, both impulsivity and inattentiveness indexes were higher for the MCIs compared to the control group.Conclusions:The results support central auditory processing evaluation in the elderly population as a promising tool to achieve earlier diagnosis of dementia, while identifying
central auditory processing deficits that can contribute to communication deficits in the MCI patient population. A measure of temporal resolution (GIN) may offer an early, albeit indirect, measure reflecting left temporal cortical thinning associated with the transition between MCI and Alzheimer’s
disease.
KMOS3D Reveals Low-level Star Formation Activity in Massive Quiescent Galaxies at 0.7 < z < 2.7∗
Authors: Belli Sirio , Genzel Reinhard , Förster Schreiber Natascha M. , Wisnioski Emily , Wilman David J. , Wuyts Stijn , Mendel J. Trevor , Beifiori Alessandra , Bender Ralf , Brammer Gabriel B. , Burkert Andreas , Chan Jeffrey , Davies Rebecca L. , Davies Ric , Fabricius Maximilian , Fossati Matteo , Galametz Audrey , Lang Philipp , Lutz Dieter , Momcheva Ivelina G. , Nelson Erica J. , Saglia Roberto P. , Tacconi Linda J. , Tadaki Ken-ichi , Übler Hannah , van Dokkum Pieter
Published: May 2017

We explore the Hα emission in the massive quiescent galaxies observed by the KMOS3D survey at 0.7 < z < 2.7. The Hα line is robustly detected in 20 out of 120 UVJ-selected quiescent galaxies, and we classify the emission mechanism using the Hα line width and the [N ii]/Hα line ratio. We find that AGNs are likely to be responsible for the line emission in more than half of the cases. We also find robust evidence for star formation activity in nine quiescent galaxies, which we explore in detail. The Hα kinematics reveal rotating disks in five of the nine galaxies. The dust-corrected Hα star formation rates are low (0.2–7 M
⊙ yr−1), and place these systems significantly below the main sequence. The 24 μm-based, infrared luminosities, instead, overestimate the star formation rates. These galaxies present a lower gas-phase metallicity compared to star-forming objects with similar stellar mass, and many of them have close companions. We therefore conclude that the low-level star formation activity in these nine quiescent galaxies is likely to be fueled by inflowing gas or minor mergers, and could be a sign of rejuvenation events.
Explosive Chromospheric Evaporation Driven by Nonthermal Electrons around One Footpoint of a Solar Flare Loop
Authors: Li D. , Ning Z. J. , Huang Y. , Zhang Q. M.
Published: May 2017

We explore the temporal relationship between microwave/hard X-ray (HXR) emission and Doppler velocity during the impulsive phase of a solar flare on 2014 October 27 (SOL2014-10-27) that displays a pulse on the light curves in the microwave (34 GHz) and HXR (25–50 keV) bands before the flare maximum. Imaging observation shows that this pulse mainly comes from one footpoint of a solar flare loop. The slit of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) stays at this footpoint during this solar flare. The Doppler velocities of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å and Si iv 1402.77 Å are extracted from the Gaussian fitting method. We find that the hot line of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å (log T ∼ 7.05) in the corona exhibits blueshift, while the cool line of Si iv 1402.77 Å (log T ∼ 4.8) in the transition region exhibits redshift, indicating explosive chromospheric evaporation. Evaporative upflows along the flare loop are also observed in the AIA 131 Å image. To our knowledge, this is the first report of chromospheric evaporation evidence from both spectral and imaging observations in the same flare. Both microwave and HXR pulses are well correlated with the Doppler velocities, suggesting that the chromospheric evaporation is driven by nonthermal electrons around this footpoint of a solar flare loop.
La transformation des compétences collectives : l’influence d’une politique d’integration des nouveaux arrivants
Authors: Garcia Jean-François
Published: May 2017

Si le thème de l’intégration des nouveaux embauchés a déjà été abordé dans le cadre de la socialisation organisationnelle, la question de son lien avec les compétences et en particulier avec les compétences collectives reste inexplorée à ce jour. L’enjeu est important puisque la capacité à renouveler les compétences constitue un avantage concurrentiel pour l’entreprise (Teece et al., 1997 ; Teece, 2007) susceptible de renforcer sa performance organisationnelle (d’Arcimoles et Saulquin, 2008). En parallèle, le contexte contemporain tend à orienter les actions RH vers plus de collectif après plusieurs décennies marquées par la montée de l’individualisme (Besseyre des Horts, 2015). À ce titre et à partir d’une analyse lexicale complétée d’une analyse manuelle de contenu thématique des données, ce papier propose d’établir une perspective entre politique d’intégration des nouveaux embauchés et compétences collectives. Afin de mesurer la pertinence du lien énoncé, une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de 54 salariés appartenant à SNCF Réseau Direction Maintenance et Travaux Atlantique : 48 néo-opérateurs, 3 directeurs de proximité et 3 formateurs. Notre étude de cas montre que l’intégration met à l’épreuve les compétences collectives existantes en les transformant. Du point de vue des contextes d’usage : passage d’une dynamique de constitution d’équipe à une dynamique conjointe d’apprentissage collectif, de partage des savoirs et des expériences, et de gestion des aléas par la coopération. Du point de vue de ses attributs : au regard du savoir coopérer qui fait figure de nouvelle méta compétence et de la nécessaire actualisation des compétences, l’intention prospective apparaît comme un nouvel attribut constitutif de la compétence collective. Par extension, le rôle du tuteur est appelé à évoluer vers de nouvelles prérogatives dont celles qui consistent à organiser et à s’assurer de la qualité du transfert intergénérationnel des compétences.
Deux ans après le rapport sur les services à domicile
Authors: Watrin Dominique , Barreyre Jean-Yves
Published: May 2017

En 2014, Jean-Marie Vanlerenberghe et Dominique Watrin, sénateurs du Pas-de-Calais, remettaient un rapport d’information au Sénat intitulé « L’aide à domicile des personnes fragiles : un système à bout de souffle à réformer d’urgence ». Deux ans après, Dominique Watrin revient sur les débats autour de la loi sur l’accompagnement de la société au vieillissement qui a suivi et sur les mesures qu’il faudrait prendre pour répondre aux besoins des personnes fragiles et aux questions posées par leurs aides à domicile.
L’autodétermination des personnes très dépendantes grâce au choix politique d’attribuer les financements de l’assistance personnelle directement aux personnes concernées
Authors: Ratzka Adolf
Published: May 2017

Cet article présente l’assistance personnelle selon la perspective du mouvement social pour la Vie autonome. Pierre angulaire sur laquelle se fonde l’autodétermination de la personne dépendante dans les actes de la vie quotidienne, l’assistance personnelle est au cœur de tout projet de Vie autonome. Elle s’inscrit dans une politique publique de solvabilisation de la demande des personnes handicapées, permettant que ces dernières puissent à tout moment choisir leur prestataire de service ou décider de devenir particulier employeur. Des critères d’évaluation de la qualité de l’assistance personnelle sont proposés et explicités. L’exemple de la politique suédoise relative à l’assistance personnelle est présenté.