bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Milling Atmosphere on the Controlled Formation of Ultrafine Dispersoids in Al-Based MMCs
Authors: Caballero Eduardo , Cintas Jesús , Cuevas Francisco , Montes Juan , Ternero Fátima
Published: September 2016

Properties of compacts made from aluminium powder, milled under different atmospheres, were evaluated. The duration of all the milling processes was 10 h, although different atmospheres were tested: vacuum, confined ammonia, and vacuum combined with a short-time ammonia gas flow (5 min). Milled powders were consolidated by cold uniaxial pressing and vacuum sintering.
Antidiarrheal Thymol Derivatives from Ageratina glabrata. Structure and Absolute Configuration of 10-Benzoyloxy-8,9-epoxy-6-hydroxythymol Isobutyrate
Authors: Bustos-Brito Celia , Vázquez-Heredia Valeria , Calzada Fernando , Yépez-Mulia Lilian , Calderón José , Hernández-Ortega Simón , Esquivel Baldomero , García-Hernández Normand , Quijano Leovigildo
Published: September 2016

Chemical investigation of the leaves from Ageratina glabrata yielded four new thymol derivatives, namely: 10-benzoyloxy-8,9-dehydro-6-hydroxythymol isobutyrate (4), 10-benzoyloxy-8,9-dehydrothymol (5), 10-benzoyloxythymol (6) and 10-benzoyloxy-6,8-dihydroxy-9-isobutyryl-oxythymol (7). In addition, (8S)-10-benzoyloxy-8,9-epoxy-6-hydroxythymol isobutyrate (1), together with other two already known thymol derivatives identified as 10-benzoyloxy-8,9-epoxy-6-methoxythymol isobutyrate (2) and 10-benzoyloxy-8,9-epoxythymol isobutyrate (3) were also obtained. In this paper, we report the structures and complete assignments of the 1H and 13C-NMR data of compounds 1–7, and the absolute configuration for compound 1, unambiguously established by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and evaluation of the Flack parameter. The in vitro antiprotozoal assay showed that compound 1 and its derivative 1a were the most potent antiamoebic and antigiardial compounds. Both compounds showed selectivity and good antiamoebic activity comparable to emetine and metronidazole, respectively, two antiprotozoal drugs used as positive controls. In relation to anti-propulsive effect, compound 1 and 1a showed inhibitory activity, with activities comparable to quercetin and compound 9, two natural antipropulsive compounds used as positive controls. These data suggest that compound 1 may play an important role in antidiarrheal properties of Ageratina glabrata.
Novel Enantiopure Sigma Receptor Modulators: Quick (Semi-)Preparative Chiral Resolution via HPLC and Absolute Configuration Assignment
Authors: Rui Marta , Marra Annamaria , Pace Vittorio , Juza Markus , Rossi Daniela , Collina Simona
Published: September 2016

The identification of novel pan-sigma receptor (SR) modulators, potentially useful in cancer treatment, represents a new goal of our research. Here, we report on the preparation of novel chiral compounds characterized by a 3-C alkyl chain bridging an aromatic portion to a 4-benzyl-piperidine moiety. All of the studied compounds have been prepared both in racemic and enantiomerically-pure form, with the final aim to address the role of chirality in the SR interaction. To isolate and characterize enantiomeric compounds, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures were set up. A systematic analytical screening, involving several combinations of chiral stationary and mobile phases, allowed us to optimize the analytical resolution and to set up the (semi-)preparative chromatographic conditions. Applying the optimized procedure, the enantiomeric resolution of the studied compounds was successfully achieved, obtaining all of the compounds with an enantiomeric excess higher than 95%. Lastly, the absolute configuration has been empirically assigned to enantiopure compounds, combining the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) technique to the elution order study.
Flavones as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Identified by a Newly Optimized Screening Platform Using Chromobacterium violaceum as Reporter Bacteria
Authors: Skogman Malena , Kanerva Sonja , Manner Suvi , Vuorela Pia , Fallarero Adyary
Published: September 2016

Quorum sensing (QS) is the process by which bacteria produce and detect signal molecules to coordinate their collective behavior. This intercellular communication is a relevant target for anti-biofilm therapies. Here we have optimized a screening-applicable assay to search for new quorum sensing inhibitors from natural compound libraries. In this system, QS is correlated with the production of violacein, which is directly controlled by the LuxI/LuxR system in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 31532. The parallel use of C. violaceum Tn5-mutant CV026, which depends on auto-inducer addition, allows simultaneous discrimination of compounds that act as quenchers of the AHL signal (quorum quenchers). The incorporation of a redox stain into the platform allowed further distinction between QS inhibitors, quorum quenchers and antibacterial compounds. A pilot screening was performed with 465 natural and synthetic flavonoids. All the most active compounds were flavones and they displayed potencies (IC50) in the range of 3.69 to 23.35 μM. These leads were particularly promising as they inhibited the transition from microcolonies into mature biofilms from Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. This approach can be very effective in identifying new antimicrobials posing lesser risks of resistance.
Synergistic Antipseudomonal Effects of Synthetic Peptide AMP38 and Carbapenems
Authors: Rudilla Héctor , Fusté Ester , Cajal Yolanda , Rabanal Francesc , Vinuesa Teresa , Viñas Miguel
Published: September 2016

The aim was to explore the antimicrobial activity of a synthetic peptide (AMP38) and its synergy with imipenem against imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The main mechanism of imipenem resistance is the loss or alteration of protein OprD. Time-kill and minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) determinations were carried out by using clinical imipenem-resistant strains. AMP38 was markedly synergistic with imipenem when determined in imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. MBEC obtained for the combination of AMP38 and imipenem was of 62.5 μg/mL, whereas the MBEC of each antimicrobial separately was 500 μg/mL. AMP38 should be regarded as a promising antimicrobial to fight MDR P. aeruginosa infections. Moreover, killing effect and antibiofilm activity of AMP38 plus imipenem was much higher than that of colistin plus imipenem.
Relationship between Vitamin D Status and Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Authors: Burt Morton , Mangelsdorf Brenda , Stranks Stephen , Mangoni Arduino
Published: September 2016

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased arterial stiffness. However, the mechanisms underlying this association have not been clarified. The aim was to investigate whether changes in autonomic nervous system activity could underlie an association between 25 hydroxy vitamin D and arterial stiffness. A total of 49 subjects (age = 60 ± 8 years, body mass index = 26.7 ± 4.6 kg/m2, 25 hydroxy vitamin D = 69 ± 22 nmol/L) underwent measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx), spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, plasma metanephrines and 25 hydroxy vitamin D. Subjects with 25 hydroxy vitamin D ≤ 50 nmol/L were restudied after 200,000 International Units 25 hydroxy vitamin D. Plasma metanephrine was positively associated with AIx (p = 0.02) independent of age, sex, smoking and cholesterol and negatively associated with 25 hydroxy vitamin D (p = 0.002) independent of age, sex and season. In contrast, there was no association between baroreflex sensitivity and 25 hydroxy vitamin D (p = 0.54). Treatment with vitamin D increased 25 hydroxy vitamin D from 43 ± 5 to 96 ± 24 nmol/L (p < 0.0001) but there was no significant change in plasma metanephrine (115 ± 25 vs. 99 ± 39 pmol/L, p = 0.12). We conclude that as plasma metanephrine was negatively associated with 25 hydroxy vitamin D and positively with AIx, it could mediate an association between these two variables. This hypothesis should be tested in larger interventional studies.
Preparation of a Novel Chitosan Based Biopolymer Dye and Application in Wood Dyeing
Authors: Wang Xiaoqian , Tang Ruilin , Zhang Yang , Yu Zhiming , Qi Chusheng
Published: September 2016

A novel chitosan-based biopolymer dye possessing antibacterial properties was synthesized by reaction of O-carboxymethyl chitosan and Acid Red GR. The synthesized materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), degree of substitution (DS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), water solubility test, antibacterial property test, and dyeing performance, including dye uptake, color difference, and fastness. Results showed that the synthesized dye was combined by –NH3+ of O-carboxymethyl chitosan and the sulfonic group of Acid Red GR. According to the comprehensive analysis of XRD and water solubility, the introduction of the carboxymethyl group and acid dye molecule changed the structure of the chitosan from compact to loose, which improved the synthesized dye’s water solubility. However, the thermal stability of the synthesized dye was decreased. The antibacterial property of the poplar wood dyed with the synthesized dye was enhanced and its antibacterial rate, specifically against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, also increased to a rate of more than 99%. However, the dye uptake of the synthesized dye was lower than that of the original dye. Despite this, though, the dyeing effect of the synthesized dye demonstrated better water-fastness, and light-fastness than the original dye. Therefore, the novel chitosan-based biopolymer dye can be a promising product for wood dyeing.
“Omics”-Informed Drug and Biomarker Discovery: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Perspectives
Authors: Matthews Holly , Hanison James , Nirmalan Niroshini
Published: September 2016

The pharmaceutical industry faces unsustainable program failure despite significant increases in investment. Dwindling discovery pipelines, rapidly expanding R&D budgets and increasing regulatory control, predict significant gaps in the future drug markets. The cumulative duration of discovery from concept to commercialisation is unacceptably lengthy, and adds to the deepening crisis. Existing animal models predicting clinical translations are simplistic, highly reductionist and, therefore, not fit for purpose. The catastrophic consequences of ever-increasing attrition rates are most likely to be felt in the developing world, where resistance acquisition by killer diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV have paced far ahead of new drug discovery. The coming of age of Omics-based applications makes available a formidable technological resource to further expand our knowledge of the complexities of human disease. The standardisation, analysis and comprehensive collation of the “data-heavy” outputs of these sciences are indeed challenging. A renewed focus on increasing reproducibility by understanding inherent biological, methodological, technical and analytical variables is crucial if reliable and useful inferences with potential for translation are to be achieved. The individual Omics sciences—genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics—have the singular advantage of being complimentary for cross validation, and together could potentially enable a much-needed systems biology perspective of the perturbations underlying disease processes. If current adverse trends are to be reversed, it is imperative that a shift in the R&D focus from speed to quality is achieved. In this review, we discuss the potential implications of recent Omics-based advances for the drug development process.
Online Learners’ Reading Ability Detection Based on Eye-Tracking Sensors
Authors: Zhan Zehui , Zhang Lei , Mei Hu , Fong Patrick
Published: September 2016

The detection of university online learners’ reading ability is generally problematic and time-consuming. Thus the eye-tracking sensors have been employed in this study, to record temporal and spatial human eye movements. Learners’ pupils, blinks, fixation, saccade, and regression are recognized as primary indicators for detecting reading abilities. A computational model is established according to the empirical eye-tracking data, and applying the multi-feature regularization machine learning mechanism based on a Low-rank Constraint. The model presents good generalization ability with an error of only 4.9% when randomly running 100 times. It has obvious advantages in saving time and improving precision, with only 20 min of testing required for prediction of an individual learner’s reading ability.
Privacy-Enhanced and Multifunctional Health Data Aggregation under Differential Privacy Guarantees
Authors: Ren Hao , Li Hongwei , Liang Xiaohui , He Shibo , Dai Yuanshun , Zhao Lian
Published: September 2016

With the rapid growth of the health data scale, the limited storage and computation resources of wireless body area sensor networks (WBANs) is becoming a barrier to their development. Therefore, outsourcing the encrypted health data to the cloud has been an appealing strategy. However, date aggregation will become difficult. Some recently-proposed schemes try to address this problem. However, there are still some functions and privacy issues that are not discussed. In this paper, we propose a privacy-enhanced and multifunctional health data aggregation scheme (PMHA-DP) under differential privacy. Specifically, we achieve a new aggregation function, weighted average (WAAS), and design a privacy-enhanced aggregation scheme (PAAS) to protect the aggregated data from cloud servers. Besides, a histogram aggregation scheme with high accuracy is proposed. PMHA-DP supports fault tolerance while preserving data privacy. The performance evaluation shows that the proposal leads to less communication overhead than the existing one.
The Simulation of the Recharging Method Based on Solar Radiation for an Implantable Biosensor
Authors: Li Yun , Song Yong , Kong Xianyue , Li Maoyuan , Zhao Yufei , Hao Qun , Gao Tianxin
Published: September 2016

A method of recharging implantable biosensors based on solar radiation is proposed. Firstly, the models of the proposed method are developed. Secondly, the recharging processes based on solar radiation are simulated using Monte Carlo (MC) method and the energy distributions of sunlight within the different layers of human skin have been achieved and discussed. Finally, the simulation results are verified experimentally, which indicates that the proposed method will contribute to achieve a low-cost, convenient and safe method for recharging implantable biosensors.
Improved Bearings-Only Multi-Target Tracking with GM-PHD Filtering
Authors: Zhang Qian , Song Taek
Published: September 2016

In this paper, an improved nonlinear Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density (GM-PHD) filter is proposed to address bearings-only measurements in multi-target tracking. The proposed method, called the Gaussian mixture measurements-probability hypothesis density (GMM-PHD) filter, not only approximates the posterior intensity using a Gaussian mixture, but also models the likelihood function with a Gaussian mixture instead of a single Gaussian distribution. Besides, the target birth model of the GMM-PHD filter is assumed to be partially uniform instead of a Gaussian mixture. Simulation results show that the proposed filter outperforms the GM-PHD filter embedded with the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the unscented Kalman filter (UKF).
Performance Analysis of Amplify-and-Forward Systems with Single Relay Selection in Correlated Environments
Authors: Van Nguyen Binh , Kim Kiseon
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we consider amplify-and-forward (AnF) cooperative systems under correlated fading environments. We first present a brief overview of existing works on the effect of channel correlations on the system performance. We then focus on our main contribution which is analyzing the outage probability of a multi-AnF-relay system with the best relay selection (BRS) scheme under a condition that two channels of each relay, source-relay and relay-destination channels, are correlated. Using lower and upper bounds on the end-to-end received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the destination, we derive corresponding upper and lower bounds on the system outage probability. We prove that the system can achieve a diversity order (DO) equal to the number of relays. In addition, and importantly, we show that the considered correlation form has a constructive effect on the system performance. In other words, the larger the correlation coefficient, the better system performance. Our analytic results are corroborated by extensive Monte-Carlo simulations.
Economic and Social Sustainability through Organic Agriculture: Study of the Restructuring of the Citrus Sector in the “Bajo Andarax” District (Spain)
Authors: Torres Juan , Valera Diego , Belmonte Luis , Herrero-Sánchez Carlos
Published: September 2016

Over 1000 hectares of citrus fruits crops are grown in the Bajo Andarax district in Almeria (Spain). The withdrawal of EU subsidies for conventional production led to a drastic loss of economic profitability of the holdings and, consequently, the abandonment of most of the conventionally managed farms of the district. In this context, a restructuring of the citrus sector from conventional to organic farming was implemented as a strategic measure to achieve the long-term sustainable development of the holdings. This study examines the citrus sector of the district and performs a comprehensive evaluation of the economic sustainability of this shift from conventional to organic production. In addition, the impact of the restructuring of the sector on the social sustainability both at the farm level and at the municipality level is studied. The results of the study are of interest to other agricultural areas of compromised profitability in which a shift towards organic production can represent a viable alternative for the economic and social sustainability of the holdings.
What Can Rural Communities Do to Be Sustained?
Authors: Chen Rachel
Published: September 2016

Since the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was founded in 1965, various reports have been presented to summarize the progress in terms of economic development, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats among studied communities in the Appalachian region. The purposes of this study were to investigate (1) the condition and usage of facilities and services in the studied communities; (2) what factors contribute to local growth in improving areas; and (3) what barriers deter growth in the studied communities based on the perceptions of study participants. Ten studied counties were categorized based on their topography, demographics, and economics. Each sub-region has two selected counties (non-distressed and distressed) to represent and compare their similar topography and various stages of demographic opportunities and economic development and challenges. Location is recognized as one of the significant factors that affect communities’ development. Counties perform better when they are adjacent to urban areas, own major transportation corridors, and have more supplies of natural resources than those located in more rural areas with fewer resources. This study noted the need to improve communication infrastructure (such as Internet access, broadband, and mobile communications) that impact local development opportunities and public safety.
Mandatory Targets and Environmental Performance: An Analysis Based on Regression Discontinuity Design
Authors: Tang Xiao , Liu Zhengwen , Yi Hongtao
Published: September 2016

It is a critical question for environmental governance to examine whether the administrative award and punishment measures are effective in promoting environmental governance performance. Choosing the implementation of a mandatory target system (MTS) as the subject, this paper employs a fixed-effect panel data model and regression discontinuity design to test whether the MTS has improved the environmental governance performance of local governments in China. The results of this research demonstrate that the MTS has a positive effect on environmental performance, however the regression discontinuity design illustrates that the reward and punishment measures in the MTS have no significant effects on the provincial environmental performance. The results of this research provide a reasonable explanation to the existing gaps among the studies on the effectiveness of the MTS. This study has profound policy implications for the design and implementation of the environmental governance system in China.
Bioactivation and Regioselectivity of Pig Cytochrome P450 3A29 towards Aflatoxin B1
Authors: Wu Jun , Chen Ruohong , Zhang Caihui , Li Kangbai , Xu Weiying , Wang Lijuan , Chen Qingmei , Mu Peiqiang , Jiang Jun , Wen Jikai , Deng Yiqun
Published: September 2016

Due to unavoidable contaminations in feedstuff, pigs are easily exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and suffer from poisoning, thus the poisoned products potentially affect human health. Heretofore, the metabolic process of AFB1 in pigs remains to be clarified, especially the principal cytochrome P450 oxidases responsible for its activation. In this study, we cloned CYP3A29 from pig liver and expressed it in Escherichia coli, and its activity has been confirmed with the typical P450 CO-reduced spectral characteristic and nifedipine-oxidizing activity. The reconstituted membrane incubation proved that the recombinant CYP3A29 was able to oxidize AFB1 to form AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide in vitro. The structural basis for the regioselective epoxidation of AFB1 by CYP3A29 was further addressed. The T309A mutation significantly decreased the production of AFBO, whereas F304A exhibited an enhanced activation towards AFB1. In agreement with the mutagenesis study, the molecular docking simulation suggested that Thr309 played a significant role in stabilization of AFB1 binding in the active center through a hydrogen bond. In addition, the bulk phenyl group of Phe304 potentially imposed steric hindrance on the binding of AFB1. Our study demonstrates the bioactivation of pig CYP3A29 towards AFB1 in vitro, and provides the insight for understanding regioselectivity of CYP3A29 to AFB1.
Testing General Relativity with the Radio Science Experiment of the BepiColombo mission to Mercury
Authors: Schettino Giulia , Tommei Giacomo
Published: September 2016

The relativity experiment is part of the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment (MORE) on-board the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury. Thanks to very precise radio tracking from the Earth and accelerometer, it will be possible to perform an accurate test of General Relativity, by constraining a number of post-Newtonian and related parameters with an unprecedented level of accuracy. The Celestial Mechanics Group of the University of Pisa developed a new dedicated software, ORBIT14, to perform the simulations and to determine simultaneously all the parameters of interest within a global least squares fit. After highlighting some critical issues, we report on the results of a full set of simulations, carried out in the most up-to-date mission scenario. For each parameter we discuss the achievable accuracy, in terms of a formal analysis through the covariance matrix and, furthermore, by the introduction of an alternative, more representative, estimation of the errors. We show that, for example, an accuracy of some parts in 10 − 6 for the Eddington parameter β and of 10 − 5 for the Nordtvedt parameter η can be attained, while accuracies at the level of 5 × 10 − 7 and 1 × 10 − 7 can be achieved for the preferred frames parameters α 1 and α 2 , respectively.
Analysis of the Langat Virus Genome in Persistent Infection of an Ixodes scapularis Cell Line
Authors: Mlera Luwanika , Melik Wessam , Offerdahl Danielle , Dahlstrom Eric , Porcella Stephen , Bloom Marshall
Published: September 2016

Tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFVs) cause a broad spectrum of disease manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to mild febrile illness and life threatening encephalitis. These single-stranded positive-sense (ss(+)) RNA viruses are naturally maintained in a persistent infection of ixodid ticks and small-medium sized mammals. The development of cell lines from the ixodid ticks has provided a valuable surrogate system for studying the biology of TBFVs in vitro. When we infected ISE6 cells, an Ixodes scapularis embryonic cell line, with Langat virus (LGTV) we observed that the infection proceeded directly into persistence without any cytopathic effect. Analysis of the viral genome at selected time points showed that no defective genomes were generated during LGTV persistence by 10 weeks of cell passage. This was in contrast to LGTV persistence in 293T cells in which defective viral genomes are detectable by five weeks of serial cell passage. We identified two synonymous nucleotide changes i.e., 1893A→C (29% of 5978 reads at 12 h post infection (hpi)) and 2284T→A (34% of 4191 reads at 12 hpi) in the region encoding for the viral protein E. These results suggested that the mechanisms supporting LGTV persistence are different between tick and mammalian cells.
Analysis of the Course and Frequency of High Water Stages in Selected Catchments of the Upper Vistula Basin in the South of Poland
Authors: Walega Andrzej , Młyński Dariusz , Bogdał Andrzej , Kowalik Tomasz
Published: September 2016

The paper presents an analysis of the course and frequency of high water stages in selected catchments of the upper Vistula basin in the south of Poland. The following rivers were investigated: the Dunajec–Nowy Targ-Kowaniec cross-section, the Rudawa–Balice cross-section, the Kamienica–Nowy Sącz cross-section, the Wisłok–Tryńcza cross-section and the San–Przemyśl cross-section. Daily flows from the years 1983–2014 were used to determine maximum annual flows and maximum flows per summer and winter half-year. Selected floods were analyzed with reference to the following metrics: POTX (mean size of the flow determined based on high water stages exceeding the assumed threshold value), POT3F (number of high water stages exceeding the threshold value for each hydrological year), WPOT3F (number of high water stages exceeding the threshold value for the winter half-year and), LOPT3F (number of high water stages exceeding the threshold value for the summer half-year). The determined metrics were analyzed for trend (Mann-Kendall test), homogeneity (Kruskal-Wallis test), and heteroscedasticity (Levene test). Additionally, periodograms were used to determine periodicity of time series for maximum annual flows. The resulting computations indicated upward trends in the analyzed flood metrics but they were not significant in any case. Therefore, in the years 1983–2014 no factors were observed that would significantly affect the size and frequency of high water runoff from the investigated catchments.
Quinze millions de ruraux
Authors: Kayser Bernard
Published: September 2016

Une population de 15 millions d'habitants en 1990 peuple la France rurale hors des bourgs et petites villes comptant jusqu'à 10 000 habitants. Vivant dans le « rural profond », des campagnes agricoles vivantes ou des zones périurbaines, cette population est formée en majorité d'ouvriers et d'employés et, quelles que soient les particularités de son cadre d'existence, elle ne se comporte pas très différemment du reste de la population française.
Le Ségala aveyronnais : propos sur un développement agricole
Authors: Lablanquie Michel
Published: September 2016

Le développement agricole du Ségala aveyronnais s'est inscrit dans la durée et présente des constantes dans le temps qui font son originalité. L'analyse des moteurs de ce développement donne la primauté aux hommes et à leur formation. Un rôle essentiel revient également aux institutions, tant horizontales par rapport au territoire que verticales par rapport aux produits. La prise en compte simultanée et harmonieuse de la diversité du territoire et de la diversité des productions a contribué au maintien d'un grand nombre d'actifs agricoles. La réforme de la politique agricole et la mutation du monde rural vont contraindre cette région à poursuivre un effort d'adaptation et à définir de nouveaux objectifs. Avec le risque à terme d'une rupture des solidarités.
Caractères de la population d'agriculteurs informatisés de Midi-Pyrénées
Authors: Bages Robert , Gadéa Charles , Lanneau Gaston , Rieu Annie
Published: September 2016

Adoptée d'abord pour répondre aux besoins de la comptabilité des exploitations agricoles, l'informatique est désormais appliquée à d'autres usages : gestion, rationalisation des processus de décision. Cette technique intéresse une fraction encore restreinte d'agriculteurs, plus jeunes que la moyenne, bien formés, généralement liés aux mouvements professionnels agricoles, responsables d'exploitations agricoles atteignant des chiffres d'affaires élevés et se référant volontiers à la logique d'entreprise. Une enquête sur échantillon permet de vérifier ces hypothèses pour la région Midi-Pyrénées.
THE DATA REDUCTION PIPELINE FOR THE SDSS-IV MaNGA IFU GALAXY SURVEY
Authors: Law David R. , Cherinka Brian , Yan Renbin , Andrews Brett H. , Bershady Matthew A. , Bizyaev Dmitry , Blanc Guillermo A. , Blanton Michael R. , Bolton Adam S. , Brownstein Joel R. , Bundy Kevin , Chen Yanmei , Drory Niv , D’Souza Richard , Fu Hai , Jones Amy , Kauffmann Guinevere , MacDonald Nicholas , Masters Karen L. , Newman Jeffrey A. , Parejko John K. , Sánchez-Gallego José R. , Sánchez Sebastian F. , Schlegel David J. , Thomas Daniel , Wake David A. , Weijmans Anne-Marie , Westfall Kyle B. , Zhang Kai
Published: September 2016

Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) is an optical fiber-bundle integral-field unit (IFU) spectroscopic survey that is one of three core programs in the fourth-generation Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV). With a spectral coverage of 3622–10354 Å and an average footprint of ∼500 arcsec2 per IFU the scientific data products derived from MaNGA will permit exploration of the internal structure of a statistically large sample of 10,000 low-redshift galaxies in unprecedented detail. Comprising 174 individually pluggable science and calibration IFUs with a near-constant data stream, MaNGA is expected to obtain ∼100 million raw-frame spectra and ∼10 million reduced galaxy spectra over the six-year lifetime of the survey. In this contribution, we describe the MaNGA Data Reduction Pipeline algorithms and centralized metadata framework that produce sky-subtracted spectrophotometrically calibrated spectra and rectified three-dimensional data cubes that combine individual dithered observations. For the 1390 galaxy data cubes released in Summer 2016 as part of SDSS-IV Data Release 13, we demonstrate that the MaNGA data have nearly Poisson-limited sky subtraction shortward of ∼8500 Å and reach a typical 10σ limiting continuum surface brightness μ = 23.5 AB arcsec−2 in a five-arcsecond-diameter aperture in the g-band. The wavelength calibration of the MaNGA data is accurate to 5 km s−1 rms, with a median spatial resolution of 2.54 arcsec FWHM (1.8 kpc at the median redshift of 0.037) and a median spectral resolution of σ = 72 km s−1.
ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF THE DEBRIS DISK OF SOLAR ANALOG τ CETI
Authors: MacGregor Meredith A. , Lawler Samantha M. , Wilner David J. , Matthews Brenda C. , Kennedy Grant M. , Booth Mark , Francesco James Di
Published: September 2016

We present 1.3 mm observations of the Sun-like star τ Ceti with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array that probe angular scales of

(4 au). This first interferometric image of the τ Ceti system, which hosts both a debris disk and a possible multiplanet system, shows emission from a nearly face-on belt of cold dust with a position angle of

surrounding an unresolved central source at the stellar position. To characterize this emission structure, we fit parametric models to the millimeter visibilities. The resulting best-fit model yields an inner belt edge of

au, consistent with inferences from lower resolution, far-infrared Herschel observations. While the limited data at sufficiently short baselines preclude us from placing stronger constraints on the belt properties and its relation to the proposed five planet system, the observations do provide a strong lower limit on the fractional width of the belt,

with 99% confidence. This fractional width is more similar to broad disks such as HD 107146 than narrow belts such as the Kuiper Belt and Fomalhaut. The unresolved central source has a higher flux density than the predicted flux of the stellar photosphere at 1.3 mm. Given previous measurements of an excess by a factor of ∼2 at 8.7 mm, this emission is likely due to a hot stellar chromosphere.
Segurança pública e desenvolvimento local: Experiências do Brasil, Colômbia e Japão
Authors: Do Nascimento Decio Estevão , Teixeira Marcos Aurélio Nascimento
Published: September 2016

Uma sociedade para prosperar necessita sentir-se segura em todo o conceito do termo. Certamente, este entendimento passa pela preservação da segurança física e patrimonial. Objetivo deste artigo é relacionar segurança pública com aspectos do desenvolvimento local. A pesquisa pretende discutir uma nova visão de segurança pública que, em certo grau de influência, pode colaborar para o desenvolvimento econômico de uma localidade, de uma região ou até de um país. Em termos metodológicos, a pesquisa utiliza da técnica de pesquisa bibliográfica, com uma análise qualitativa do problema. Como principais resultados a pesquisa aponta para a necessidade da concepção de segurança pública apropriada a um Estado democrático, e que contemple as seguranças econômicas, sociais e culturais; utilizando o mínimo de força possível e o máximo de ampliação das oportunidades e direitos sociais.
The African Crane Database (1978-2014): Records of three threatened crane species (Family: Gruidae) from southern and eastern Africa
Authors: Smith Tanya , Page-Nicholson Samantha , Morrison Kerryn , Gibbons Bradley , Jones M. Genevieve , van Niekerk Mark , Botha Bronwyn , Oliver Kirsten , McCann Kevin , Roxburgh Lizanne
Published: September 2016

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) / Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) African Crane Conservation Programme has recorded 26 403 crane sightings in its database from 1978 to 2014. This sightings collection is currently ongoing and records are continuously added to the database by the EWT field staff, ICF/EWT Partnership staff, various partner organizations and private individuals. The dataset has two peak collection periods: 1994-1996 and 2008-2012. The dataset collection spans five African countries: Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia; 98% of the data were collected in South Africa. Georeferencing of the dataset was verified before publication of the data. The dataset contains data on three African crane species: Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus, Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum and Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus. The Blue and Wattled Cranes are classified by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Vulnerable and the Grey Crowned Crane as Endangered.

This is the single most comprehensive dataset published on African Crane species that adds new information about the distribution of these three threatened species. We hope this will further aid conservation authorities to monitor and protect these species. The dataset continues to grow and especially to expand in geographic coverage into new countries in Africa and new sites within countries. The dataset can be freely accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility data portal.
Interdiction du port de signes religieux par les agents du service public : La combinatoire subtile de l’arrêt Ebrahimian
Authors: Ruet Céline
Published: September 2016

La conventionnalité de la mise en œuvre de la stricte obligation de neutralité religieuse pesant sur les agents du service public résulte d’une combinatoire subtile. La Cour fait ressortir la justification de l’interdiction, qui réside dans la protection de la liberté de conscience et l’égalité de traitement, ainsi que l’équilibre opéré par le principe de « laïcité-neutralité ». Si le caractère strict de l’obligation, non modulable selon la nature des fonctions, est rapporté au « modèle français, qu’il n’appartient pas à la Cour d’apprécier en tant que tel », la proportionnalité de la restriction à la liberté de religion est indissociable de la contextualisation et de la modulation de la sanction.
Development of Innovative User Services
Authors: Xiao Long , Liu Yaqiong
Published: September 2016

Higher education is continuously progressing toward globalization and openness, and models of teaching, scientific research, and learning are rapidly changing. Due to macro-environmental changes, academic libraries must actively adjust their functional positions and explore new methods for user services. To satisfy users' increasingly diversified needs for information, academic libraries are continuously extending user service functions, and gradually evolving from libraries that provide lending services to centers of learning, teaching services, knowledge, and culture on campus. Through functional repositioning, academic libraries are constructing more systematic and diversified user service systems by improving basic services, deepening support services, extending services in teaching assistance, boosting services for cultivating humanistic literacy, developing spatial services, and expanding new technical services. Throughout the above-mentioned development processes, there has been a clear trend of change in terms of the contents, marketing, and cooperation of user services.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Research and Services in Chinese Academic Libraries
Authors: Zhu Suoling , Shi Wen
Published: September 2016

This paper analyzes the years of publication, authors and their institutions, journal titles, and keywords of research papers relevant to academic libraries published in the 18 core journals of library and information science, which were downloaded from the full-text database of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The purpose of this paper is to discover the distribution of the research subjects, hot topics in library and information research, and development trends in the age of big data.
Leadership Development and Career Planning
Authors: Guo Jing , Zhang Hao , Zong Yijun
Published: September 2016

Academic libraries are in an increasingly complex and dynamic social environment. This necessitates an outward development model that focuses on the various ways academic libraries need to adapt to these changes. The trend of development in higher education has led to rapid growth of digital and internet resources, large-scale application of various technologies, and new subject integration or differentiation. These trends constantly change patrons' relationship with information, so academic libraries should be open-minded, far-sighted, and creative, building stronger leadership and development agendas. To accomplish this, librarians must also be equipped to adapt to these changes. This chapter will introduce the trends of development in higher education and academic libraries and will explain the necessity of leadership development in responding to the change. By reforming management philosophy and structure, human resources, teamwork, and capability enhancement, academic libraries can turn passive into active, becoming patron-oriented, innovative, flexible, and far-sighted.
Dietary Fibers and their Role as Functional Food for Human Health
Authors: Meghwal Murlidhar , Kadeppagari Ravi-Kumar
Published: September 2016

This chapter mainly summarizes the sources of dietary fibers and how they act as functional food for benefiting the human health. Dietary fibers could be soluble and insoluble in water and the major sources are fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Dietary fibers play role in the control of various disorders like cardiovascular diseases, digestive disorders, diabetes, obesity and colonic cancer. Dietary fibers benefit the human health by acting through various mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract. According to the WHO recommendations at least 25 g of dietary fiber per day should be consumed. Effect of food processing practices on the physiochemical and functional properties of dietary fibers is also covered in this chapter.
Millets as an Integral Part of Nutritional Diet in India
Authors: Hrideek T. K. , Nampoothiri K. U. K.
Published: September 2016

Millets are small grained cereals belonging to the family Gramineae and they include major millets and minor millets. Millets are quite important from the point of food and nutritional security at regional and house hold level. In India's dry lands, they play a significant role in meeting food and fodder requirements of farming communities. Millets are found to have high nutritive value comparable and even superior to major cereals with respect to protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. They are also rich sources of phytochemicals and micronutrients. Since millet is gluten-free, it is an excellent option for the people who are suffering from atherosclerosis, diabetics and heart disease. In the face of increasing population and stagnant wheat and rice production, millets can be a promising alternative in solving the problem of food insecurity and malnutrition, because of their sustainability in adverse agro-climatic conditions. These crops have substantive potential in broadening the genetic diversity of the food basket and ensuring improved food and nutrition security.
Expanded Cultural Heritage Representation
Authors: Meschini Alessandra , Rossi Daniele , Petrucci Enrica , Sicuranza Filippo
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate some of the opportunities offered by technological innovations, in particular referring the specific application areas of Augmented Reality and Augmented Virtuality. The contribution presents a series of applications based on effective tests of innovative communication, which are characterized by different levels of interactivity and immersion. The general subject of interest is the city of Ascoli Piceno considering both the city as a whole and particular places/buildings of value (case studies). The central aim is to construct an informational/educational approach to real objects in innovative terms, experimenting each time with the most useful ‘container' (communicational product) to enable the best knowledge of a determined heritage.
Professional Vision Narrative Review
Authors: Mangione Giuseppina Rita , Pettenati Maria Chiara , Rosa Alessia
Published: September 2016

Using a Narrative-based Review approach in this chapter we aim to provide a system perspective on the use of videos in supporting teachers' professional development, with specific regard to professional vision. We first look at the ‘affordances' of video: the capacities that it adds to the toolkits of teacher educators. We then look specifically at evidence for the development of specific abilities related to the professional vision through video: capacity for reflection, noticing and other potential benefits. Later, we focus on how to analyse video so as to develop reflective practice in teachers by presenting meaningful experiences and studies. Lastly, we propose an in-depth view of the possibilities related to collaborative analysis for professional vision development paying specific attention to the more widely used and validated methodologies such as lesson-study, teaching video club, and the dialogic video cycle.
Videos as Tools of Expertise-Based Training (XBT) for the Professional Development of Teachers
Authors: Sancar-Tokmak Hatice
Published: September 2016

Teachers are the main foundations of the education system, and their professional development during their working life is vital in ensuring the success of any attempts to change that system. It is for this reason that in-service training is high on the agenda of most countries, although previous studies have shown that teachers are unable to transfer the knowledge they gain through in-service training to in-class activities, as more long-lasting help is required. One way in which teachers can be provided help in this regard is through the use of technology in line with a strong instructional design theory. This chapter aims to address this issue by showing how videos can be used in the professional development of teachers as part of an expertise-based training (XBT) program. The chapter is compiled in seven main parts: 1) Introduction 2) Background 3) Main Focus of the Chapter 5) Solutions and Recommendations 6) Future Research Directions, and finally, 7) Conclusions.
Video as a Means to an End
Authors: Ray Beverly B. , Powell Angiline
Published: September 2016

Having teachers who can demonstrate and document teaching effectiveness, ethical behavior, professional obligations, and willingness to embrace continuous learning is important to for the well-being of the field. Video serves as a viable means of addressing these concerns. In particular, use of video in teacher training promotes a disposition for reflection on and documentation of emerging practice. It also serves to document transfer of classroom based knowledge into teaching even as it provides a tool for the documentation of growth across time. The chapter provides an outline of best practices in the use of video in teacher training, focusing on problems and techniques of video production that support quality recording and production of videos in class and in the field. Various categories of video appropriate for use in Teacher Training programs are addressed and examples of use are provided. Directions for getting started are provided along with a process for implementation using both hard and soft scaffolding.
Developing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Index
Authors: Shen Yongjun , Hermans Elke
Published: September 2016

Sustainability is a multi-dimensional concept that can be assessed by means of constructing a composite indicator or index. In doing so, a scientifically sound and appropriate index methodology is required. The research proposed in this chapter aims to provide a guideline for developing a sustainability index that is able to assess the impact of mobility on the urban quality of life. By studying the index development process in other domains critically and taking the specific sustainable urban mobility context into account, this study investigates the different methodological steps that are essential in the construction of a sustainable urban mobility index. The main challenges and potential options when developing such an index are discussed.
Composite Indices in Technology Management
Authors: Jovanovic Milica , Rakicevic Jovana , Jaksic Maja Levi , Petkovic Jasna , Marinkovic Sanja
Published: September 2016

This chapter focuses on composite indices used in Technology Management (TM). It provides a critical comparative analysis of 5 indices, summarizes their structure, weighting process and emphasizes technology related components of indices as well as their advantages and disadvantages. The second part of the chapter examines the ranks of OECD and BRICS countries for Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), Global Innovativeness Index (GII) and Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI), and further, we analyzed the correlations of GCI and GII pillars and clusters with the final ranks of countries. The research proved the presence and the importance of TM in the construction of the selected indices, but also identified that there is a lack of composite indicators used exclusively for TM performance which are measured globally by official institutions.