bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Authors: Dodd Megan , Conder Julie , Potter David K. , Allen Richard , Bawa Salman , Fleisig Robert
Published: April 2017

In Innovation Studio, students learn how tomake meaningful, creative contributions to theircommunities as emerging practicing professionals workingon complex, multi-stakeholder problems involvingelements of technology, design, business, and publicpolicy.Innovation Studio builds on McMaster University’slongstanding commitment to relevance through communityengagement. In the Walter G. Booth School of EngineeringPractice (W Booth School) in the Faculty of Engineering,we encourage our students to see not just the technical sideof the international problems such as energyindependence, food security and clean water, but as anopportunity to co-create change with our global and localcommunities for the good of all human beings, society, andnature.Students immerse themselves in the communities inwhich challenges have been identified. Innovation Studiois the place and time where students bring thoseexperiences back to the School, share their learnings andexplore new ideas in a safe and familiar environment.W Booth students develop a deeper understanding of theneed for empathy as they move toward a new direction oridea. Working within the context of problem identification,the teams learn how to define a project and plan anapproach to produce meaningful work, prototypes, policyanalysis and new enterprises.This paper reports on the design and development ofInnovation Studio as well as feedback collected fromstudents through focus groups.
PEER MENTORING IN ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN STUDENTS
Authors: Elliott Catherine , Anis Hanan , Mavriplis Catherine
Published: April 2017

Entrepreneurship in engineering is anintersection of two male-dominated domains and isparticularly prone to a gender gap. Entrepreneurshipeducation—the teaching of skills and cultivation of talentsthat students need to start businesses, identifyopportunities, manage risk and innovate in the course oftheir careers—is now a staple in many universities acrossCanada and around the world. However, theparticipation of women in such entrepreneurial programsremains quite low. This paper presents the novel Women'sStart-up Network program at the University of Ottawa.The objective of the program was to develop anentrepreneurial mind-set and competencies in femaleengineering and computer science students throughfacilitated peer mentorship training. Participants weresurveyed to determine the degree to which a peer mentortrainingprogram could increase participants’ knowledgeabout entrepreneurship and influence participants’entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intentions. This paperreports on the preliminary results of the program and theimplications for entrepreneurial learning and careerintentions among female engineering students.
A GRADUATE COURSE IN FIRE PROTECTIVE DESIGN AND BUILDING CODES AN INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION
Authors: Frye M. J. , Zurkan P.
Published: April 2017

Since the fall of 2013, the Faculty of Engineering has offered a graduate course in Fire Protective Design and Building Codes based on Part 3 of the National Building Code of Canada. The course is made available to graduate students in architecture and to all branches of engineering. It is also offered to off campus practicing architects and engineers who wish to either take the course for credit or who would like to audit the course.Introduction of this course into the graduate studies program at the University of Manitoba was the direct result of collaboration between the university Centre for Engineering Professional Practice and Engineering Education and industry. Industry financial support for the course instructors was provided by the Winnipeg Construction Association and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba. (Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba).This paper provides an overview of the course objectives, the course content and the expected and realized outcomes. The course proved to be very popular, with course registration averaging between fourteen and eighteen graduate students each year. It was highly rated by the year end student course evaluations. It was particularly popular with international graduate students, many who came from countries where exposure to fire protective design and building codes was limited or non-existent. As a spin off from the course, in 2015, the Winnipeg Construction Association began offering a workshop/seminar series of five half day courses. These workshop/seminars have been oversubscribed and are attended by a very diverse group of construction practitioners that includes architects, engineers, building officials and contractors.
AN OPEN-ENDED DESIGN-BASED LAB EXERCISE FOR A FIRST THERMOFLUIDS COURSE
Authors: Hastie Michele , Haelssig Jan
Published: April 2017

The Thermo-Fluid Engineering I course provides all first-semester second-year engineering students at Dalhousie University with a basic introduction to thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. In the past three years, we have used a combination of six traditional laboratory exercises and a short four-week design project to provide students with hands-on learning experiences in this course. In general, these projects have been well-received by students as a welcome break from the many abstract theoretical concepts that are normally associated with introductory thermodynamics. However, two of the continuing challenges with these projects have been the students’ limited engineering design experience and the availability of time to perform a design project. To address these challenges, in the fall 2015 offering of Thermo-Fluid Engineering I, the four-week design project was replaced by an open-ended design-based lab exercise.The open-ended lab exercise required groups of students to develop specific laboratory experiments related to thermodynamics and fluid dynamics, given a limited quantity of resources. While the focus shifted away from a traditional short design project, the open-ended lab exercise continues to allow students to develop their creative thinking, critical analysis, hands-on, communication, and team work skills, which was the primary purpose of the short design projects in the first place.
The Impact of Entrepreneurship on Engineering Education
Authors: Jarrar Majed , Anis Hanan
Published: April 2017

Engineering schools are integrating entrepreneurship within their curriculum in order to equip their students with the capacity to adapt quickly to technological innovation. The University of Ottawa has developed an entrepreneurship course that is open to all engineering students, and aims to provide them with a hands-on approach to starting and growing a technology start-up. This paper is centred on assessing the students who took this course. The results of the survey analyze the impact entrepreneurship has had on their engineering skillset. This skillset reflects the graduate attributes that the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) expects engineering students to develop. We will observe whether this impact has changed since the inception of this course in 2012 and throughout 5 course cycles. Using the survey results as well as the direct observation during those semesters, we present our analysis on how these outcomes can be replicated in other environments.
Creativity in Design Engineers: Attitudes, Opinions and Potentially Influential Factors
Authors: Neufeld Paul , Mirzaei Omid , Runco Mark , Maw Sean
Published: April 2017

Is creativity important in engineering design? If it is, then why do most undergraduate engineering programs spend so little time teaching creativity? And therefore, as a result of our programs, do our students emerge more creative, less creative or no different compared to when they arrived? If creativity is worth developing, can we accurately measure it in our students, and can we enhance it systematically?These were some of the questions that motivated the initiation of a creativity research program in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. The assumption was that creativity is important in engineering, especially in design. The intent was to understand how we could assess creativity in our students and then enhance it.The focus of this initial study is a precursor to many of these more applied questions. We had students and faculty from a variety of Colleges, including Engineering, answer an online survey that probed attitudes towards creativity, respondent personality characteristics, opinions regarding conditional influences on creativity, and potential demographic factors influencing the creativity of individuals. As well, we employed a validated creativity attitudes and beliefs measurement tool (rCAB) as an accepted benchmark for assessment.The survey included both closed- and open-ended questions. The results from some of the open-ended questions have been analyzed to determine emerging groups of similar types of answers, and then efforts have been made to relate the groups in a meaningful framework.The results for the Engineering students are emphasized, but they are also compared with students and faculty from other Colleges. Closed questions were analyzed using inferential statistical tests (distributions, means, standard deviations, t-tests, ANOVA, Cronbach’s alpha), while the open-ended responses are compared more qualitatively when they cannot be quantified easily.The survey went through ethics approval and was distributed in the latter half of the Fall 2015 term.
UNDERGRADUATE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS IN ENGINEERING: TARGETING COMMUNICATION SKILLS (Attribute 7)
Authors: Parker Anne , Marcynuk Kathryn
Published: April 2017

This paper will report on some of our findings from a national study investigating the writing demands placed on students in various disciplines,   including   Engineering.   This  is  a  timely study given that Reave notes that a “well-­‐designed program  [in  Engineering]  will  include  a  solid foundation  in  communication  skills,”  something  she says also requires high quality feedback. For our part of the study, we investigated which courses in our Engineering school target Attribute 7 (A7, Communication Skills) and then analyzed the course syllabi to determine whether they required written assignments. We then described these assignments according to 20 variables, such as the total number of assignments  written per year, feedback provided and genre.Ever   since   the   accreditation   board introduced them, the graduate attributes and their assessment  have  become  the  focus  of  most Engineering   schools,   so  much  so  that  Engineering course syllabi will necessarily include both a series of course outcomes and a complex chart of the expected competency levels. However, information on the assignments themselves can be far less detailed. Consequently,     our    findings    tend    to    be    more suggestive than definitive, though certain trends do stand out. For example, while many writing scholars, such as Paretti and Reave, would argue that students should   learn   the  various   discipline-­‐specific   writing genres  and  then  be  able  to  shape  their  material  to satisfy the specific rhetorical demands, many course syllabi in our study simply listed “assignments”  rather than  specifying  the  kind  of  assignment:  Civil Engineering listed 16 “assignments” of 33 (total) and Mechanical Engineering 47 of 105.Finally,  even  though  this  paucity  of  detail may  reflect  what  Broadhead  calls  the  general “paucity of requirements for writing instruction” in an Engineering  school,  one of the goals  of the national study   was   to   initiate   discussions   about   the   way writing     is    taught     and     supported     within     the departments   of   the   schools   involved.   Our   study’s findings,   suggestive   as   they   are,   may   be   able   to initiate that discussion.
Some Epistemological Groundwork for a Qualitative Analysis of a Communication Community of Practice
Authors: Rolfes Debora , Owen Corey
Published: April 2017

This paper describes a study that attempts to assess learning transfer in an engineering communication programme through a qualitative study using narrative and rhetorical theory, both of which are humanistic theories that have only recently been considered in such assessment. The communicationprogramme attempts to foster a communication community of practice among its students, and thereby ensure that the skills they cultivate in the classroom can be applied in the various contexts provided by the engineering profession. The researchers use narrative and rhetorical theory to analyze transcripts of in-depth interviews, in order to detect evidence of what EtienneWenger would regard as an identity of participation.
ASSESSING STUDENT EXPERIENCES: ASSIGNMENT DESIGN TO ENCOURAGE STUDENT REFLECTION AND FEEDBACK ON PROGRAM-LEVEL EFFECTIVENESS
Authors: Wilkinson Lydia , McGuigan Alison
Published: April 2017

Within our second year communication course in Chemical Engineering an assignment asks students to reflect upon their experience through thesecond year to identify courses and suggest course or program-level recommendations that deserve funding. Student presentations for this assignment provide a method of capturing student responses to their current curriculum and integrating their values and ideas into future planning.These presentations propose a range of initiatives to improve the educational experience: cross-curricular integration, opportunities for professional development and exposure to industry, increased lab time, hands-on learning through practical projects, introduction or increased use of engineering software, improvements to facilities or equipment, increased teaching assistant support, and better use of instructional technology. The responses as a whole indicate that this activity helpsstudents to better understand the interconnectedness of their curriculum, and the challenge of orchestrating program-level change.
The Impact of Total Immunoglobulin E Levels on Outcomes of Maximal Medical Therapy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Lemos-Rodriguez Ana M. , Farzal Zainab , Sreenath Satyan B. , Thorp Brian D. , Senior Brent A. , Zanation Adam M. , Ebert Charles S.
Published: April 2017

Introduction

The goal of this project was to evaluate the impact of immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels on outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who received maximal medical therapy (MMT).

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Thirty-eight patients who underwent MMT for CRS were assigned to three different cohorts based on their IgE levels: low IgE (<25 IU), moderate (>25 to <149 IU), and high (≥150 IU). The primary outcome evaluated was MMT failure with a surgical recommendation within each IgE cohort. Secondary outcomes included changes in pre- and post-MMT scores for the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index, Chronic Sinusitis Survey, and computed tomography-based Lund-Mackay evaluation. The cohorts were substratified based on the presence of nasal polyps and nasal allergies.

Results

No significant difference was found when MMT failure was compared between the cohorts in terms of quality of life. When substratified based on the presence of nasal polyps and nasal allergies, there was no significant difference between the cohorts. In the high-IgE cohort, all patients regardless of presence of nasal polyps and nasal allergic disease, frequently failed MMT and were recommended for surgery.

Conclusions

Overall, IgE levels did not seem to have a significant effect on the quality of life or outcomes of MMT in the patients with CRS. However, the presence of nasal allergies regardless of IgE levels seemed to result in more frequent recommendations for surgery after MMT. In the patients with higher-IgE levels (≥150 IU), MMT seemed to fail at high rates with or without the presence of polyps or allergic disease.
Intrasinus Penetration of a Silastic Malar Implant, which Resulted in Chronic Sinusitis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Kim Luke Y. , Schwartz Joseph S. , Tajudeen Bobby A. , Adappa Nithin D. , Palmer James N.
Published: April 2017

Background

Malar augmentation is a common cosmetic procedure utilizing silastic materials. We describe an uncommon complication of a silastic implant eroding into the anterior maxillary sinus wall resulting in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Methods

A literature review is presented describing the presentation, surgical management and outcome of this uncommon adverse event.

Results

An 80 year old female with a history of bilateral cosmetic malar implants placed approximately 25 years ago presented to our office with a 4–5 month history of left-sided symptoms consistent with chronic sinusitis, and was found to have intrasinus penetration of her left malar implant. Only one other case series of 5 cases in 4 patients is reported in the literature.

Conclusions

Intrasinus malar implant migration is a rare complication of malar augmentation. The present experience suggests that removal of the offending foreign body often results in successful symptom resolution.
Autoimmune-Related Nasal Septum Perforation: A Case Report and Systematic Review
Authors: Guntupalli Lohitha , Patel Kunjan , Faraji Farhoud , Brunworth Joseph D.
Published: April 2017

Background

Inflammatory injury of nasal respiratory mucosa is a common feature of multisystem autoimmune disease. Certain autoimmune disorders are associated with nasal septum perforation (NSP). We performed a systematic review of the literature to better understand the association of NSP with specific autoimmune disorders. This is a case report of a 29-year-old woman with a history of arthralgia, autoreactive antibody titers, platelet dysfunction, and NSP. The constellation of symptoms and potential familial involvement indicated that the NSP in this patient was an early sign of an autoimmune disorder, an unknown autoimmune disorder, or a known disease with incomplete penetrance.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed by two independent reviewers. Relevant articles were reviewed, and data that pertained to autoimmune-related NSP were extracted and analyzed.

Results

Overall, 140 cases of autoimmune-associated NSPs were reported. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (48%), relapsing polychondritis (26%), and cocaine-induced midline lesions (15%) constituted 89.3% of the reported cases.

Conclusion

NSP is a potential sign of systemic disease. The identification of an NSP, especially in the context of other unexplained symptoms or workup suggestive of an autoimmune disorder, should prompt clinical evaluation for multisystem autoimmune disease with consideration of granulomatosis with polyangiitis, relapsing polychondritis, or cocaine-induced midline lesions.
Comparative Study of the Lipid Lowering Effect of Leaf Extract of Catharanthus roseus & Atorvastatin
Authors: Jesmin Sabina , Khan Anisur Rahman , Jahan Waseka Akther , Yusuf Md. Abdullah , Begum Wahida , Begum Mahbuba , Ara Showkat
Published: April 2017

Background: Leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus has medicinal effect.Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus (Nayantara) with atorvastatin on serum lipid profile in fat-fed rats.Methodology: This was an experimental animal study carried out in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2005 to June 2006 for a period of one year. Adult Long Evans rats of both sexes were used for the study. The rats were divided into seven groups designed as A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Each group was comprised of 8 rats which were treated for 10 days and were sacrificed on 11th day. The experiment were designed to demonstrate the effect of C. roseus on serum lipid profile in hyperlipidaemic rats and the hypolipidaemic effects were compared to a standard oral lipid lowering drug, atorvastatin.Result: A total number of 56 adult Long Evans rats of both sexes were used for the study. Here the effect of leaf extract of C. roseus at different doses on lipid level of fat-fed rats was observed which were compared with the hyperlipidaemic control group. In the same time the effect of Atorvastatin on serum lipid level were observed. The observed lipid lowering effect of leaf extract of C. roseus was evaluated biochemically by significant (p<0.001) decrease of serum total cholesterol (TCL), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. The leaf extract of C. roseus was given at three different doses daily in oral route for 10 days along with fatty diet and statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease was observed in all serum lipid parameter (TCL,TG, LDL) except high density lipoprotein (HDL). Which was more evident in higher doses treated group (1 ml/kg and 1.5 ml/kg). Atorvastatin reduced all three parameter (TCL, TG, &LDL) significantly (p<0.001). It increased HDL significantly high (p<0.001).Conclusion: The leaf extract of C. roseus is responsible for lipid lowering effect.Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2015;1(2): 53-56
Plasmapheresis in the Treatment of Neurologic Disorders in Bangladesh: A Review Update
Authors: Jahan Sharmin , Hussain Mohammad Enayet , Alam Md Badrul , Mohammad Quazi Deen
Published: April 2017

Plasmapheresis is a very effective modality of treatment for many of the immune-mediated neurological disorders. It is a relatively new concept in the context of our country. Although it was previously done in one or two of the private hospitals but the expense was beyond the affordability of m59ost of our patients. Since its inception on September, 2012 the National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital (NINS) has made some major advancement in patient management. Initiation of plasmapheresis at an affordable cost is one such example. In this article we intend to share our experience of the few cases who have received this treatment. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, 2015;1(2): 62-64
An Open Economy: The Berwick Shipping Trade, 1311–1373
Authors: Donnelly Joe
Published: April 2017

The argument of this paper is that studies of an earlier world have something to tell modern political economy about the way economies develop and that, while history must draw on economic insights, economics ought not to be a science without time. The paper generalises from one sphere of trade, known from the Berwick ‘particulars of custom’, to national income, which can be estimated (or guessed at) from ecclesiastical taxations. Where studies of medieval Scotland have taken a distinctly theoretical, legal turn, it may do no harm to discuss the practicalities of concrete economic evidence: cargoes, merchants, ships, sailors and so on. The mechanics of customs administration can also be followed in the particulars. The taxations suggest that the immediate demand-side impacts of the export trade had longer-term supply-side effects, as landlords developed their sheep farming interests. The export trade tied in with foreign taxations, generating funds for transmission overseas. The opening of the economy had the potential for the usual multiplier effects but these were counter-balanced by selfish, and hugely damaging, English interference in Scotland's trade in Europe. Fourteenth-century Scots put up stiff resistance but could not entirely escape the tribulations brought on their heads by English decisions.
Strange Bedfellows: Nuclear Factor, Erythroid 2-Like 2 (Nrf2) and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1) in Tumor Hypoxia
Authors: Toth Rachel , Warfel Noel
Published: April 2017

The importance of the tumor microenvironment for cancer progression and therapeutic resistance is an emerging focus of cancer biology. Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is a hallmark of solid tumors that promotes metastasis and represents a significant obstacle to successful cancer therapy. In response to hypoxia, cancer cells activate a transcriptional program that allows them to survive and thrive in this harsh microenvironment. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is considered the main effector of the cellular response to hypoxia, stimulating the transcription of genes involved in promoting angiogenesis and altering cellular metabolism. However, growing evidence suggests that the cellular response to hypoxia is much more complex, involving coordinated signaling through stress response pathways. One key signaling molecule that is activated in response to hypoxia is nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like-2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 is a transcription factor that controls the expression of antioxidant-response genes, allowing the cell to regulate reactive oxygen species. Nrf2 is also activated in various cancer types due to genetic and epigenetic alterations, and is associated with poor survival and resistance to therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that coordinated signaling through Nrf2 and HIF-1 is critical for tumor survival and progression. In this review, we discuss the distinct and overlapping roles of HIF-1 and Nrf2 in the cellular response to hypoxia, with a focus on how targeting Nrf2 could provide novel chemotherapeutic modalities for treating solid tumors.
Experimental Damage Identification of a Model Reticulated Shell
Authors: Xu Jing , Hao Jiajia , Li Hongnan , Luo Minzhang , Guo Wen , Li Weijie
Published: April 2017

The damage identification of a reticulated shell is a challenging task, facing various difficulties, such as the large number of degrees of freedom (DOFs), the phenomenon of modal localization and transition, and low modeling accuracy. Based on structural vibration responses, the damage identification of a reticulated shell was studied. At first, the auto-regressive (AR) time series model was established based on the acceleration responses of the reticulated shell. According to the changes in the coefficients of the AR model between the damaged conditions and the undamaged condition, the damage of the reticulated shell can be detected. In addition, the damage sensitive factors were determined based on the coefficients of the AR model. With the damage sensitive factors as the inputs and the damage positions as the outputs, back-propagation neural networks (BPNNs) were then established and were trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (L–M algorithm). The locations of the damages can be predicted by the back-propagation neural networks. At last, according to the experimental scheme of single-point excitation and multi-point responses, the impact experiments on a K6 shell model with a scale of 1/10 were conducted. The experimental results verified the efficiency of the proposed damage identification method based on the AR time series model and back-propagation neural networks. The proposed damage identification method can ensure the safety of the practical engineering to some extent.
Experimental and Numerical Analyses of a Flat Plate Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Collector
Authors: Calise Francesco , Figaj Rafal , Vanoli Laura
Published: April 2017

This paper presents a one-dimensional finite-volume model of an unglazed photovoltaic/thermal (PVT) solar collector. The unit consists of a conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) collector coupled with a suitable heat exchanger. In particular, the collector includes a roll bond heat exchanger and it is not equipped with back and frame insulation. The system is discretized along the flow direction (longitudinal) of the cogenerative collector. For each finite-volume element of the discretized computational domain, mass and energy balances are implemented. The collector geometry and materials parameters are taken from a commercially available device. An on-field experimental investigation is performed in order to validate the proposed model. The model is used to evaluate both electrical and thermodynamic parameters for each element of the domain and for fixed operating conditions. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is also performed in order to investigate the energetic performance of the cogenerative collector as a function of the main design/environmental parameters.
An Assessment of Carbon Storage in China’s Arboreal Forests
Authors: Shao Weiwei , Cai Jingya , Wu Haibing , Liu Jiahong , Zhang Haixing , Huang Hao
Published: April 2017

In the years 2009–2013, China carried out its eighth national survey of forest resources. Based on the survey data, this paper used a biomass conversion function method to evaluate the carbon stores and carbon density of China’s arboreal forests. The results showed that: (1) By age group, the largest portion of carbon stores in China’s arboreal forests are in middle-aged forests. Over-mature forests have the least carbon storage; (2) By origin, natural forests of all age groups have higher carbon storage and carbon density than man-made forest plantations. The carbon density of natural forests and forest plantations increases gradually with the age of the trees; (3) By type (dominant tree species), the 18 most abundant types of arboreal forest in China account for approximately 94% of the nation’s total arboreal forest biomass and carbon storage. Among these, broadleaf mixed and Quercus spp. form the two largest portions. Taxus spp. forests, while comprising a very small portion of China’s forested area, have very high carbon density; (4) By region, the overall arboreal forest carbon storage is highest in the southwest part of China, and lowest in the northwest. However, because of differences in land use and forest coverage ratios, regions with arboreal forests of high carbon density are not necessarily the same regions that have high overall carbon storage; (5) By province, Heilongjiang, Yunnan, Tibet, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin have rather high carbon storage. The arboreal forests in Tibet, Jilin, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Hainan have a rather high carbon density. This paper’s evaluation of carbon storage in China’s arboreal forests is a valuable reference for interpreting the role and function of Chinese ecosystems in coping with global climate change.
Combining Airborne and Terrestrial Laser Scanning Technologies to Measure Forest Understorey Volume
Authors: Liu Luxia , Pang Yong , Li Zengyuan , Si Lin , Liao Shengxi
Published: April 2017

A critical component of the forest ecosystem, the understorey supports the vast majority of wildlife habitat and total ecosystem floristic diversity. Remote sensing data have been developed to provide information at different scales for surveys of forest ecosystems, but obtaining information about the understorey remains a challenge. As rapid and efficient tools for forest structure attribute estimation, Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) have attracted much attention. We examine the relationship between ALS and TLS data and detect changes in the forest understorey caused by forest-tending events in the study area. We conducted trials in five plots within a young Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gord.) plantation in Yunnan province, China, before and after forest tending. We collected bi-temporal ALS data in this area and TLS data from 10 scanning stations. Canopy height profiles were retrieved from ALS and TLS data, and understorey material volume retrieved from filled TLS voxels volume agreed well with the understorey point clouds percentile distribution (PD) obtained from ALS data. The PD value for the understorey from ALS multiplied by the percentage of ALS return points in the overstorey had a stronger correlation (R2 = 0.90) with the TLS-derived understorey material volume than did the ALS PD value for the understorey only (R2 = 0.71). Taking the effect of the overstorey into consideration will improve evaluations of forest understorey parameters from ALS data. This study confirmed the potential of TLS as a validation tool to assess the accuracy of forest understorey material volume estimation at large scales using ALS data.
Resolution and Energy Dissipation Characteristics of Implicit LES and Explicit Filtering Models for Compressible Turbulence
Authors: Maulik Romit , San Omer
Published: April 2017

Solving two-dimensional compressible turbulence problems up to a resolution of 16, 3842, this paper investigates the characteristics of two promising computational approaches: (i) an implicit or numerical large eddy simulation (ILES) framework using an upwind-biased fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction algorithm equipped with several Riemann solvers, and (ii) a central sixth-order reconstruction framework combined with various linear and nonlinear explicit low-pass spatial filtering processes. Our primary aim is to quantify the dissipative behavior, resolution characteristics, shock capturing ability and computational expenditure for each approach utilizing a systematic analysis with respect to its modeling parameters or parameterizations. The relative advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are addressed for solving a stratified Kelvin-Helmholtz instability shear layer problem as well as a canonical Riemann problem with the interaction of four shocks. The comparisons are both qualitative and quantitative, using visualizations of the spatial structure of the flow and energy spectra, respectively. We observe that the central scheme, with relaxation filtering, offers a competitive approach to ILES and is much more computationally efficient than WENO-based schemes.
Evolutionary Optimization of Colebrook’s Turbulent Flow Friction Approximations
Authors: Brkić Dejan , Ćojbašić Žarko
Published: April 2017

This paper presents evolutionary optimization of explicit approximations of the empirical Colebrook’s equation that is used for the calculation of the turbulent friction factor (λ), i.e., for the calculation of turbulent hydraulic resistance in hydraulically smooth and rough pipes including the transient zone between them. The empirical Colebrook’s equation relates the unknown flow friction factor (λ) with the known Reynolds number (R) and the known relative roughness of the inner pipe surface (ε/D). It is implicit in the unknown friction factor (λ). The implicit Colebrook’s equation cannot be rearranged to derive the friction factor (λ) directly, and therefore, it can be solved only iteratively [λ = f(λ, R, ε/D)] or using its explicit approximations [λ ≈ f(R, ε/D)], which introduce certain error compared with the iterative solution. The optimization of explicit approximations of Colebrook’s equation is performed with the aim to improve their accuracy, and the proposed optimization strategy is demonstrated on a large number of explicit approximations published up to date where numerical values of the parameters in various existing approximations are changed (optimized) using genetic algorithms to reduce maximal relative error. After that improvement, the computational burden stays unchanged while the accuracy of approximations increases in some of the cases very significantly.
Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency
Authors: Choi Jungil , Chang Ju , Hong Jeana , Shin Sue , Park Jeong , Oh Sohee
Published: April 2017

Even low levels of toxic metal exposure (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in infancy might be harmful to children’s development. This study investigated toxic metal exposure on healthy weaning-age infants and its relationship with growth, diet, and iron/anemia status. The weight, height, head circumference, whole blood levels of four toxic metals, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin of healthy infants was measured. Among 210 infants with a median age of 11.4 months (interquartile range: 10.5–12.0), the median levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were 1.2 μg/L, 0.05 μg/L, 0.8 μg/L, and 0.83 μg/dL, respectively. In adjusted linear regression models, post-birth weight gain (Pb) and current head circumference (As, Pb) were negatively associated with toxic metal levels. In multiple linear regression or logistic regression analysis, the duration of breastfeeding (all four metals), perceived adequacy of rice-based food intake (As), regular fish intake (As, Hg), and iron deficiency with/without anemia (Cd, Pb) were associated with increased toxic metal levels. Although levels of toxic metals may not usually be high in this population, individual exposure risk may need to be assessed after considering the type of feeding or intake of complementary foods and the iron/anemia status while evaluating growth status during late infancy.
Increased Regenerative Capacity of the Olfactory Epithelium in Niemann–Pick Disease Type C1
Authors: Meyer Anja , Wree Andreas , Günther René , Holzmann Carsten , Schmitt Oliver , Rolfs Arndt , Witt Martin
Published: April 2017

Niemann–Pick disease type C1 (NPC1) is a fatal neurovisceral lysosomal lipid storage disorder. The mutation of the NPC1 protein affects the homeostasis and transport of cholesterol and glycosphingolipids from late endosomes/lysosomes to the endoplasmic reticulum resulting in progressive neurodegeneration. Since olfactory impairment is one of the earliest symptoms in many neurodegenerative disorders, we focused on alterations of the olfactory epithelium in an NPC1 mouse model. Previous findings revealed severe morphological and immunohistochemical alterations in the olfactory system of NPC1−/− mutant mice compared with healthy controls (NPC1+/+). Based on immunohistochemical evaluation of the olfactory epithelium, we analyzed the impact of neurodegeneration in the olfactory epithelium of NPC1−/− mice and observed considerable loss of mature olfactory receptor neurons as well as an increased number of proliferating and apoptotic cells. Additionally, after administration of two different therapy approaches using either a combination of miglustat, 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and allopregnanolone or a monotherapy with HPβCD, we recorded a remarkable reduction of morphological damages in NPC1−/− mice and an up to four-fold increase of proliferating cells within the olfactory epithelium. Numbers of mature olfactory receptor neurons doubled after both therapy approaches. Interestingly, we also observed therapy-induced alterations in treated NPC1+/+ controls. Thus, olfactory testing may provide useful information to monitor pharmacologic treatment approaches in human NPC1.
Bioactivity of NANOZR Induced by Alkali Treatment
Authors: Nishizaki Mariko , Komasa Satoshi , Taguchi Yoichiro , Nishizaki Hiroshi , Okazaki Joji
Published: April 2017

In recent years, zirconia has been a recognized implant material in clinical dentistry. In the present study, we investigated the performance of an alkali-modified ceria-stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 polycrystalline ceramic-based nanostructured zirconia/alumina composite (NANOZR) implant by assessing surface morphology and composition, wettability, bovine serum albumin adsorption rate, rat bone marrow (RBM) cell attachment, and capacity for inducing bone differentiation. NANOZR surfaces without and with alkali treatment served as the control and test groups, respectively. RBM cells were seeded in a microplate with the implant and cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium, and their differentiation was evaluated by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin (OCN) production, calcium deposition, and osteogenic gene expression. The alkali-treated NANOZR surface increased ALP activity, OCN production, calcium deposition, and osteogenesis-related gene expression in attached RBM cells. These data suggest that alkali treatment enhances the osteogenesis-inducing capacity of NANOZR implants and may therefore improve their biointegration into alveolar bone.
Socio-Demographic Indicators, Intelligence, and Locus of Control as Predictors of Adult Financial Well-Being
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Cheng Helen
Published: April 2017

The current study investigated a longitudinal data set of 4790 adults examining a set of socio-demographic and psychological factors that influence adult financial well-being. Parental social status (at birth), childhood intelligence and self-esteem (at age 10), locus of control (at age 16), psychological distress (age 30), educational qualifications (age 34), current occupation, weekly net income, house ownership status, and number of rooms (all measured at age 38 years) were examined. Structural Equation Modelling showed that childhood intelligence, locus of control, education and occupation were all independent predictors of adult financial well-being for both men and women. Parental social status and psychological distress were also significant predictors of the outcome variable for men, but not for women. Whereas for women, in comparison to men, the effects of current occupation and childhood intelligence on the outcome variable appeared to be stronger. The strongest predictor of adult financial well-being was current occupational prestige, followed by educational achievement. The gender deferential of financial well-being indicators and its implications are discussed.
Prebiotic Factors Influencing the Activity of a Ligase Ribozyme
Authors: Anella Fabrizio , Danelon Christophe
Published: April 2017

An RNA-lipid origin of life scenario provides a plausible route for compartmentalized replication of an informational polymer and subsequent division of the container. However, a full narrative to form such RNA protocells implies that catalytic RNA molecules, called ribozymes, can operate in the presence of self-assembled vesicles composed of prebiotically relevant constituents, such as fatty acids. Hereby, we subjected a newly engineered truncated variant of the L1 ligase ribozyme, named tL1, to various environmental conditions that may have prevailed on the early Earth with the objective to find a set of control parameters enabling both tL1-catalyzed ligation and formation of stable myristoleic acid (MA) vesicles. The separate and concurrent effects of temperature, concentrations of Mg2+, MA, polyethylene glycol and various solutes were investigated. The most favorable condition tested consists of 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM Mg2+, 5 mM MA, and 4 °C temperature, whereas the addition of Mg2+-chelating solutes, such as citrate, tRNAs, aspartic acid, and nucleoside triphosphates severely inhibits the reaction. These results further solidify the RNA-lipid world hypothesis and stress the importance of using a systems chemistry approach whereby a wide range of prebiotic factors interfacing with ribozymes are considered.
Evo-SETI: A Mathematical Tool for Cladistics, Evolution, and SETI
Authors: Maccone Claudio
Published: April 2017

The discovery of new exoplanets makes us wonder where each new exoplanet stands along its way to develop life as we know it on Earth. Our Evo-SETI Theory is a mathematical way to face this problem. We describe cladistics and evolution by virtue of a few statistical equations based on lognormal probability density functions (pdf) in the time. We call b-lognormal a lognormal pdf starting at instant b (birth). Then, the lifetime of any living being becomes a suitable b-lognormal in the time. Next, our “Peak-Locus Theorem” translates cladistics: each species created by evolution is a b-lognormal whose peak lies on the exponentially growing number of living species. This exponential is the mean value of a stochastic process called “Geometric Brownian Motion” (GBM). Past mass extinctions were all-lows of this GBM. In addition, the Shannon Entropy (with a reversed sign) of each b-lognormal is the measure of how evolved that species is, and we call it EvoEntropy. The “molecular clock” is re-interpreted as the EvoEntropy straight line in the time whenever the mean value is exactly the GBM exponential. We were also able to extend the Peak-Locus Theorem to any mean value other than the exponential. For example, we derive in this paper for the first time the EvoEntropy corresponding to the Markov-Korotayev (2007) “cubic” evolution: a curve of logarithmic increase.
A Shell Model for Free Vibration Analysis of Carbon Nanoscroll
Authors: Taraghi Osguei Amin , Ahmadian Mohamad , Asghari Mohsen , Pugno Nicola
Published: April 2017

Carbon nanoscroll (CNS) is a graphene sheet rolled into a spiral structure with great potential for different applications in nanotechnology. In this paper, an equivalent open shell model is presented to study the vibration behavior of a CNS with arbitrary boundary conditions. The equivalent parameters used for modeling the carbon nanotubes are implemented to simulate the CNS. The interactions between the layers of CNS due to van der Waals forces are included in the model. The uniformly distributed translational and torsional springs along the boundaries are considered to achieve a unified solution for different boundary conditions. To study the vibration characteristics of CNS, total energy including strain energy, kinetic energy, and van der Waals energy are minimized using the Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The first-order shear deformation theory has been utilized to model the shell. Chebyshev polynomials of first kind are used to obtain the eigenvalue matrices. The natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes of CNS in different boundary conditions are evaluated. The effect of electric field in axial direction on the natural frequencies and mode shapes of CNS is investigated. The results indicate that, as the electric field increases, the natural frequencies decrease.
Lindane Bioremediation Capability of Bacteria Associated with the Demosponge Hymeniacidon perlevis
Authors: Loredana Stabili , Graziano Pizzolante , Antonio Morgante , Carlotta Nonnis , Caterina Longo , Maria Aresta , Carlo Zambonin , Giuseppe Corriero , Pietro Alifano
Published: April 2017

Lindane is an organochlorine pesticide belonging to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that has been widely used to treat agricultural pests. It is of particular concern because of its toxicity, persistence and tendency to bioaccumulate in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In this context, we assessed the role of bacteria associated with the sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis in lindane degradation. Seven bacteria isolates were characterized and identified. These isolates showed a remarkable capacity to utilize lindane as a sole carbon source leading to a percentage of residual lindane ranging from 3% to 13% after 12 days of incubation with the pesticide. The lindane metabolite, 1,3–6-pentachloro-cyclohexene, was identified as result of lindane degradation and determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The bacteria capable of lindane degradation were identified on the basis of the phenotypic characterization by morphological, biochemical and cultural tests, completed with 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and assigned to Mameliella phaeodactyli, Pseudovibrio ascidiaceicola, Oceanicaulis stylophorae, Ruegeria atlantica and to three new uncharacterized species. The results obtained are a prelude to the development of future strategies for the in situ bioremediation of lindane.
An Unusual Diterpene—Enhygromic Acid and Deoxyenhygrolides from a Marine Myxobacterium, Enhygromyxa sp.
Authors: Tomura Tomohiko , Nagashima Shiori , Yamazaki Satoshi , Iizuka Takashi , Fudou Ryosuke , Ojika Makoto
Published: April 2017

Three new compounds, enhygromic acid (1) and deoxyenhygrolides A (2) and B (3), were isolated from a marine myxobacterium, Enhygromyxa sp. Compound 1 was found to be an acrylic acid derivative with a rare polycyclic carbon skeleton, decahydroacenaphthylene, by spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 2 and 3 were deoxy analogs of the known γ-alkylidenebutenolides, enhygrolides. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against B16 melanoma cells and anti-bacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, and enhanced the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells.