bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Mentorship from the Perspective of Physiotherapy Mentors in Canada
Authors: Yoon Lucia , Campbell Taylor , Bellemore Wesley , Ghawi Nadine , Lai Pauline , Desveaux Laura , Quesnel Martine , Brooks Dina
Published: September 2016

Purpose: This study explored the factors that influence mentors in the profession of physiotherapy (PT) in Canada when engaging in a mentorship relationship. Methods: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional, Web-based survey. The target population consisted of Canadian physiotherapists who had experience as mentors. We used a modified Dillman approach to disseminate an online questionnaire to members of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and its divisions using their respective e-blasts. We collected data on the nature and extent, facilitators, barriers, and benefits of mentorship and then analyzed them using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 302 respondents were included in this study. They reported being a mentor to fellow PT colleagues (91%), undergraduate students (85%), graduate students (64%), and inter-professional colleagues (64%). We found that although many factors facilitated the respondents' ability to mentor, barriers to mentorship had minimal impact. Responses also reflected many perceived benefits of mentorship. Conclusions: This study provides novel evidence relating to the experience of mentorship from the perspective of mentors in the profession of PT. It reinforces the literature by highlighting the positive aspects of mentorship, and it underscores the continued need for support from professional associations, institutions, and physiotherapists to improve current mentorship experiences in PT.
Numerical Study of Transition of an Annular Lift Fan Aircraft
Authors: Jiang Yun , Zhang Bo
Published: September 2016

The present study aimed at studying the transition of annular lift fan aircraft through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The oscillations of lift and drag, the optimization for the figure of merit, and the characteristics of drag, yawing, rolling and pitching moments in transition are studied. The results show that a two-stage upper and lower fan lift system can generate oscillations of lift and drag in transition, while a single-stage inner and outer fan lift system can eliminate the oscillations. The characteristics of momentum drag of the single-stage fans in transition are similar to that of the two-stage fans, but with the peak of drag lowered from 0.63 to 0.4 of the aircraft weight. The strategy to start transition from a negative angle of attack −21° further reduces the peak of drag to 0.29 of the weight. The strategy also reduces the peak of pitching torque, which needs upward extra thrusts of 0.39 of the weight to eliminate. The peak of rolling moment in transition needs differential upward thrusts of 0.04 of the weight to eliminate. The requirements for extra thrusts in transition lead to a total thrust–weight ratio of 0.7, which makes the aircraft more efficient for high speed cruise flight (higher than 0.7 Ma).
Immunomodulators as Therapeutic Agents in Mitigating the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Grimmig Bethany , Morganti Josh , Nash Kevin , Bickford Paula
Published: September 2016

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that primarily afflicts the elderly. It is characterized by motor dysfunction due to extensive neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. There are multiple biological processes that are negatively impacted during the pathogenesis of PD, and are implicated in the cell death in this region. Neuroinflammation is evidently involved in PD pathology and mitigating the inflammatory cascade has been a therapeutic strategy. Age is the number one risk factor for PD and thus needs to be considered in the context of disease pathology. Here, we discuss the role of neuroinflammation within the context of aging as it applies to the development of PD, and the potential for two representative compounds, fractalkine and astaxanthin, to attenuate the pathophysiology that modulates neurodegeneration that occurs in Parkinson’s disease.
A High Laser Damage Threshold and a Good Second-Harmonic Generation Response in a New Infrared NLO Material: LiSm3SiS7
Authors: Zhen Ni , Nian Leyan , Li Guangmao , Wu Kui , Pan Shilie
Published: September 2016

A series of new infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) materials, LiRe3MS7 (Re = Sm, Gd; M = Si, Ge), have been successfully synthesized in vacuum-sealed silica tubes via a high-temperature solid-state method. All of them crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space group P63 of the hexagonal system. In their structures, LiS6 octahedra connect with each other by sharing common faces to form infinite isolated one-dimensional ∞[LiS3]n chains along the 63 axis. ReS8 polyhedra share edges and corners to construct a three-dimensional tunnel structure with ∞[LiS3]n chains located inside. Remarkably, LiSm3SiS7 shows promising potential as one new IR NLO candidate, including a wide IR transparent region (0.44–21 μm), a high laser damage threshold (LDT) (3.7 × benchmark AgGaS2), and a good NLO response (1.5 × AgGaS2) at a particle size between 88 μm and 105 μm. Dipole-moment calculation was also used to analyze the origin of NLO responses for title compounds.
Numerical and Experimental Study of Optoelectronic Trapping on Iron-Doped Lithium Niobate Substrate
Authors: Gazzetto Michela , Nava Giovanni , Zaltron Annamaria , Cristiani Ilaria , Sada Cinzia , Minzioni Paolo
Published: September 2016

Optoelectronic tweezers (OET) are a promising technique for the realization of reconfigurable systems suitable to trap and manipulate microparticles. In particular, dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces produced by OET represent a valid alternative to micro-fabricated metal electrodes, as strong and spatially reconfigurable electrical fields can be induced in a photoconductive layer by means of light-driven phenomena. In this paper we report, and compare with the experimental data, the results obtained by analyzing the spatial configurations of the DEP-forces produced by a 532 nm laser beam, with Gaussian intensity distribution, impinging on a Fe-doped Lithium Niobate substrate. Furthermore, we also present a promising preliminary result for water-droplets trapping, which could open the way to the application of this technique to biological samples manipulation.
A Novel Operational Matrix of Caputo Fractional Derivatives of Fibonacci Polynomials: Spectral Solutions of Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Abd-Elhameed Waleed , Youssri Youssri
Published: September 2016

Herein, two numerical algorithms for solving some linear and nonlinear fractional-order differential equations are presented and analyzed. For this purpose, a novel operational matrix of fractional-order derivatives of Fibonacci polynomials was constructed and employed along with the application of the tau and collocation spectral methods. The convergence and error analysis of the suggested Fibonacci expansion were carefully investigated. Some numerical examples with comparisons are presented to ensure the efficiency, applicability and high accuracy of the proposed algorithms. Two accurate semi-analytic polynomial solutions for linear and nonlinear fractional differential equations are the result.
On Optimal Cell Flashing for Reducing Delay and Saving Energy in Wireless Networks
Authors: Jeong Jaeik , Kim Hongseok
Published: September 2016

To save energy from cellular networks or to increase user-perceived performance, studying base station (BS) switching on–off is actively ongoing. However, many studies focus on the tradeoff between energy efficiency and user-perceived performance. In this paper, we propose a simple technique called cell flashing. Cell flashing means that base stations are turned on and off periodically and rapidly so that, when one base station is turned on, the adjacent base stations which make interferences are always off. Thus, both energy efficiency and cell edge user performances can be improved. In general, switching off base stations to save energy can lead to longer file download time (or delay) to customers. Using flow-level dynamics, we analyze average delay and energy consumption of cellular networks when cell flashing is used. We show that both of total energy consumption and average flow-level delay decrease in the case of small cells. Extensive simulations confirm that cell flashing can significantly save the energy of the base stations, e.g., by up to 25% and, at the same time, reduce the average delay by up to 75%.
Stator Current Harmonic Reduction in a Novel Half Quasi-Z-Source Wind Power Generation System
Authors: Huang Shoudao , Zhang Yang , Hu Sijia
Published: September 2016

The generator stator current gets distorted with unacceptable levels of total harmonic distortion (THD) because impedance-source wind power generation systems use three-phase diode rectifiers. The stator current harmonics will cause increasing losses and torque ripple, which reduce the efficiency and stability of the system. This paper proposes a novel half quasi-Z-source inverter (H-qZSI) for grid-connected wind power generation systems, which can reduce the generator stator current harmonics a great deal. When H-qZSI operates in the shoot-through zero state, the derivative of the generator stator current is only determined by the instantaneous value of the generator stator voltage, so the nonlinear relationship between generator stator current and stator voltage is improved compared with the traditional impedance-source inverter. Theoretically, it is indicated that the stator current harmonics can be reduced effectively by means of the proposed H-qZSI. Finally, simulation and experimental results are given to verify the theoretical analysis.
Making Sense of the Tangle: Insights into Chromatin Folding and Gene Regulation
Authors: Chung Ill-Min , Ketharnathan Sarada , Kim Seung-Hyun , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Rani Mari , Rajakumar Govindasamy
Published: September 2016

Proximity ligation assays such as circularized chromosome conformation capture and high-throughput chromosome capture assays have shed light on the structural organization of the interphase genome. Functional topologically associating domains (TADs) that constitute the building blocks of genomic organization are disrupted and reconstructed during the cell cycle. Epigenetic memory, as well as the sequence of chromosomes, regulate TAD reconstitution. Sub-TAD domains that are invariant across cell types have been identified, and contacts between these domains, rather than looping, are speculated to drive chromatin folding. Replication domains are established simultaneously with TADs during the cell cycle and the two correlate well in terms of characteristic features, such as lamin association and histone modifications. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin cooperate across different cell types to regulate genes and genome organization. CTCF elements that demarcate TAD boundaries are commonly disrupted in cancer and promote oncogene activation. Chromatin looping facilitates interactions between distant promoters and enhancers, and the resulting enhanceosome complex promotes gene expression. Deciphering the chromatin tangle requires comprehensive integrative analyses of DNA- and protein-dependent factors that regulate genomic organization.
Estimation of the Disease Burden Attributable to 11 Risk Factors in Hubei Province, China: A Comparative Risk Assessment
Authors: Cui Fangfang , Zhang Lan , Yu Chuanhua , Hu Songbo , Zhang Yunquan
Published: September 2016

In order to estimate the health losses caused by common risk factors in the Hubei province, China, we calculated the deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to 11 risk factors. We estimated the exposure distributions of risk factors in Hubei Province in 2013 from the monitoring system on chronic disease and related risk factors, combined with relative risk (RR) in order to calculate the population attributable fraction. Deaths and DALYs attributed to the selected risk factors were then estimated together with cause-specific deaths and DALYs. In total, 53.39% of the total deaths and 36.23% of the total DALYs in Hubei were a result of the 11 selected risk factors. The top five risk factors were high blood pressure, smoking, high body mass index, diet low in fruits and alcohol use, accounting for 14.68%, 12.57%, 6.03%, 3.90% and 3.19% of total deaths, respectively, and 9.41%, 7.22%, 4.42%, 2.51% and 2.44% of total DALYs, respectively. These risk factors, especially high blood pressure, smoking and high body mass index, significantly influenced quality of life, causing a large number of deaths and DALYs. The burden of chronic disease could be substantially reduced if these risk factors were effectively controlled, which would allow people to enjoy healthier lives.
Relationship between Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Exposure and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study among Petrol Station Attendants in Southern China
Authors: Yang Jianping , Wei Qinzhi , Peng Xiaochun , Peng Xiaowu , Yuan Jianhui , Hu Dalin
Published: September 2016

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)—A well known gasoline additive substituting for lead alkyls—causes lipid disorders and liver dysfunctions in animal models. However, whether MTBE exposure is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains uncertain. We evaluate the possible relationship between MTBE exposure and the prevalence of NAFLD among 71 petrol station attendants in southern China. The personal exposure concentrations of MTBE were analyzed by Head Space Solid Phase Microextraction GC/MS. NAFLD was diagnosed by using abdominal ultrasonography according to the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD suggested by the Chinese Hepatology Association. Demographic and clinical characteristics potentially associated with NAFLD were investigated. Mutivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to measure odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The result showed that the total prevalence of NAFLD was 15.49% (11/71) among the study subjects. The average exposure concentrations of MTBE were 292.98 ± 154.90 μg/m3 and 286.64 ± 122.28 μg/m3 in NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between them (p > 0.05). After adjusting for age, gender, physical exercise, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cell (WBC), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the odds ratios were 1.31 (95% CI: 0.85–1.54; p > 0.05), 1.14 (95% CI: 0.81–1.32; p > 0.05), 1.52 (95% CI: 0.93–1.61; p > 0.05) in the groups (including men and women) with exposure concentrations of MTBE of 100–200 μg/m3, 200–300 μg/m3, and ≥300 μg/m3, respectively, as compared to the group (including men and women) ≤100 μg/m3. Our investigation indicates that exposure to MTBE does not seem to be a significant risk factor for the prevalence of NAFLD among petrol station attendants in southern China.
PlGF and VEGF-A Regulate Growth of High-Risk MYCN-Single Copy Neuroblastoma Xenografts via Different Mechanisms
Authors: Zins Karin , Kovatchki Daniel , Lucas Trevor , Abraham Dietmar
Published: September 2016

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and is a rapidly growing, highly-vascularized cancer. NBs frequently express angiogenic factors and high tumor angiogenesis has been associated with poor outcomes. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic protein belonging to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and is up-regulated mainly in pathologic conditions. Recently, PlGF was identified as a member of a gene expression signature characterizing highly malignant NB stem cells drawing attention as a potential therapeutic target in NB. In the present study, we sought to investigate the expression of PlGF in NB patients and the effect of PlGF inhibition on high-risk MYCN-non-amplified SK-N-AS NB xenografts. Human SK-N-AS cells, which are poorly differentiated and express PlGF and VEGF-A, were implanted subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. Treatment was done by intratumoral injection of replication-incompetent adenoviruses (Ad) expressing PlGF- or VEGF-specific short hairpin (sh)RNA, or soluble (s)VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The effect on tumor growth and angiogenesis was analyzed. High PlGF expression levels were observed in human advanced-stage NBs. Down-regulating PlGF significantly reduced NB growth in established NB xenografts by reducing cancer cell proliferation but did not suppress angiogenesis. In contrast, blocking VEGF by administration of Ad(sh)VEGF and Ad(s)VEGFR2 reduced tumor growth associated with decreased tumor vasculature. These findings suggest that PlGF and VEGF-A modulate MYCN-non-amplified NB tumors by different mechanisms and support a role for PlGF in NB biology.
Long Noncoding RNA lncCAMTA1 Promotes Proliferation and Cancer Stem Cell-Like Properties of Liver Cancer by Inhibiting CAMTA1
Authors: Ding Li-Juan , Li Yan , Wang Shu-Dong , Wang Xin-Sen , Fang Fang , Wang Wei-Yao , Lv Peng , Zhao Dong-Hai , Wei Feng , Qi Ling
Published: September 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of liver malignancy, and it is characterized by poor prognosis because of cancer stem cell (CSC)-mediated high postsurgical recurrence rates. Thus, targeting CSCs, or HCC cells with CSC-like properties, is an effective strategy for HCC therapy. Here, using long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) microarray analysis, we identified a novel lncRNA termed lncCAMTA1 that is increased in both liver CSCs and HCC. High lncCAMTA1 expression in HCC indicates poor clinical outcome. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments showed that overexpression of lncCAMTA1 promotes HCC cell proliferation, CSC-like properties, and tumorigenesis. Conversely, depletion of lncCAMTA1 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, CSC-like properties, and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that lncCAMTA1 physically associates with the calmodulin binding transcription activator 1 (CAMTA1) promoter, induces a repressive chromatin structure, and inhibits CAMTA1 transcription. Furthermore, CAMTA1 is required for the effects of lncCAMTA1 on HCC cell proliferation and CSC-like properties, and the expression of lncCAMTA1 and CAMTA1 is significantly negatively correlated in HCC tissues. Collectively, our study revealed the important roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of lncCAMTA1 on HCC, and suggested that lncCAMTA1 could be an effective prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor Gefitinib Reduces but Does Not Prevent Tumorigenesis in Chemical and Hormonal Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis Rat Models
Authors: Ribback Silvia , Sailer Verena , Böhning Enrico , Günther Julia , Merz Jaqueline , Steinmüller Frauke , Utpatel Kirsten , Cigliano Antonio , Peters Kristin , Pilo Maria , Evert Matthias , Calvisi Diego , Dombrowski Frank
Published: September 2016

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway promotes the development of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) and carcinoma (HCC). The selective EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib was found to prevent hepatocarcinogenesis in rat cirrhotic livers. Thus, Gefitinib might reduce progression of pre-neoplastic liver lesions to HCC. In short- and long-term experiments, administration of N-Nitrosomorpholine (NNM) or intrahepatic transplantation of pancreatic islets in diabetic (PTx), thyroid follicles in thyroidectomized (TTx) and ovarian fragments in ovariectomized (OTx) rats was conducted for the induction of foci of altered hepatocytes (FAH). Gefitinib was administered for two weeks (20 mg/kg) or three and nine months (10 mg/kg). In NNM-treated rats, Gefitinib administration decreased the amount of FAH when compared to controls. The amount of HCA and HCC was decreased, but development was not prevented. Upon all transplantation models, proliferative activity of FAH was lower after administration of Gefitinib in short-term experiments. Nevertheless, the burden of HCA and HCC was not changed in later stages. Thus, EGFR inhibition by Gefitinib diminishes chemical and hormonal also induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the initiation stage in the non-cirrhotic liver. However, progression to malignant hepatocellular tumors was not prevented, indicating only a limited relevance of the EGFR signaling cascade in later stages of hepatocarcinogenesis.
Analysis of Dynamics in Multiphysics Modelling of Active Faults
Authors: Alevizos Sotiris , Poulet Thomas , Veveakis Manolis , Regenauer-Lieb Klaus
Published: September 2016

Instabilities in Geomechanics appear on multiple scales involving multiple physical processes. They appear often as planar features of localised deformation (faults), which can be relatively stable creep or display rich dynamics, sometimes culminating in earthquakes. To study those features, we propose a fundamental physics-based approach that overcomes the current limitations of statistical rule-based methods and allows a physical understanding of the nucleation and temporal evolution of such faults. In particular, we formulate the coupling between temperature and pressure evolution in the faults through their multiphysics energetic process(es). We analyse their multiple steady states using numerical continuation methods and characterise their transient dynamics by studying the time-dependent problem near the critical Hopf points. We find that the global system can be characterised by a homoclinic bifurcation that depends on the two main dimensionless groups of the underlying physical system. The Gruntfest number determines the onset of the localisation phenomenon, while the dynamics are mainly controlled by the Lewis number, which is the ratio of energy diffusion over mass diffusion. Here, we show that the Lewis number is the critical parameter for dynamics of the system as it controls the time evolution of the system for a given energy supply (Gruntfest number).
Identification of Metabolites of 6′-Hydroxy-3,4,5,2′,4′-pentamethoxychalcone in Rats by a Combination of Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Linear Ion Trap-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Based on Multiple Data Processing Techniques
Authors: Liu Siyi , Che Yanyun , Wang Fei , Shang Zhanpeng , Lu Jianqiu , Dai Shengyun , Zhang Jiayu , Cai Wei
Published: September 2016

In this study, an efficient strategy was established using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) to profile the in vivo metabolic fate of 6′-hydroxy-3,4,5,2′,4′-pentamethoxychalcone (PTC) in rat urine and feces. The UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap method combines the high trapping capacity and MSn scanning function of the linear ion trap along with accurate mass measurements within 5 ppm and a resolving power of up to 30,000 over a wider dynamic range compared to many other mass spectrometers. In order to reduce the potential interferences of endogenous substances, the post-acquisition processing method including high-resolution extracted ion chromatogram (HREIC) and multiple mass defect filters (MMDF) were developed for metabolite detection. As a result, a total of 60 and 35 metabolites were detected in the urine and feces, respectively. The corresponding in vivo reactions such as methylation, hydroxylation, hydrogenation, decarbonylation, demethylation, dehydration, methylation, demethoxylation, sulfate conjugation, glucuronide conjugation, and their composite reactions were all detected in this study. The result on PTC metabolites significantly expanded the understanding of its pharmacological effects, and could be targets for future studies on the important chemical constituents from herbal medicines.
Theoretical Study on Regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder Reaction between 1,8-Dichloroanthracene and Acrolein
Authors: Sultan Mujeeb , Karama Usama , Almansour Abdulrahman , Soliman Saied
Published: September 2016

A theoretical study of the regioselectivity of the Diels-Alder reaction between 1,8-dichloroanthracene and acrolein is performed using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The FMO analysis, global and local reactivity indices confirmed the reported experimental results. Potential energy surface analysis showed that the cycloadditions (CAs) favor the formation of the anti product. These results are in good agreement with the reported results obtained experimentally where the anti is the major product.
Can Parenting Practices Explain the Differences in Beverage Intake According to Socio-Economic Status: The Toybox-Study
Authors: Pinket An-Sofie , De Craemer Marieke , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Deforche Benedicte , Cardon Greet , Androutsos Odysseas , Koletzko Berthold , Moreno Luis , Socha Piotr , Iotova Violeta , Manios Yannis , Van Lippevelde Wendy
Published: September 2016

Previous research indicated that preschoolers of lower socioeconomic status (SES) consume less healthy beverages than high SES preschoolers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of parenting practices in the relationship between SES and plain water, soft drink and prepacked fruit juice (FJ) consumption in European preschoolers. Parents/caregivers of 3.5 to 5.5 years old (n = 6776) recruited through kindergartens in six European countries within the ToyBox-study completed questionnaires on socio-demographics, parenting practices and a food frequency questionnaire. Availability of sugared beverages and plain water, permissiveness towards sugared beverages and lack of self-efficacy showed a mediating effect on SES-differences in all three beverages. Rewarding with sugared beverages significantly mediated SES-differences for both plain water and prepacked FJ. Encouragement to drink plain water and awareness significantly mediated SES-differences for, respectively, plain water and prepacked FJ consumption. Avoiding negative modelling did not mediate any associations. Overall, lower SES preschoolers were more likely to be confronted with lower levels of favourable and higher levels of unfavourable parenting practices, which may lead to higher sugared beverage and lower plain water consumption. The current study highlights the importance of parenting practices in explaining the relation between SES and both healthy and unhealthy beverage consumption.
A Case Study of Land-Surface-Temperature Impact from Large-Scale Deployment of Wind Farms in China from Guazhou
Authors: Chang Rui , Zhu Rong , Guo Peng
Published: September 2016

The wind industry in China has experienced a rapid expansion of capacity after 2009, especially in northwestern China, where the China’s first 10 GW-level wind power project is located. Based on the analysis from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) data for period of 2005–2012, the potential LST impacts from the large-scale wind farms in northwestern China’s Guazhou are investigated in this paper. It shows the noticeable nighttime warming trends on LST over the wind farm areas relative to the nearby non-wind-farm regions in Guazhou and that the nighttime LST warming is strongest in summer (0.51 °C/8 years), followed by autumn (0.48 °C/8 years) and weakest in winter (0.38 °C/8 years) with no warming trend observed in spring. Meanwhile, the quantitative comparison results firstly indicate that the nighttime LST warming from wind farm areas are less than those from the urban areas in this work.
Mapping Indigenous Settlement Topography in the Caribbean Using Drones
Authors: Sonnemann Till , Ulloa Hung Jorge , Hofman Corinne
Published: September 2016

The archaeology of Amerindian settlements in the Caribbean has mostly been identified through scatters of artefacts; predominantly conglomerations of shells, ceramics and lithics. While archaeological material may not always be visible on the surface, particular settlement patterns may be identifiable by a topography created through cultural action: earthen mounds interchanging with mostly circular flattened areas. In northern Hispaniola, recent foot surveys have identified more than 200 pre-colonial sites of which several have been mapped in high resolution. In addition, three settlements with topographical characteristics have been extensively excavated, confirming that the mounds and flattened areas may have had a cultural connotation in this region. Without the availability of high resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, a photogrammetric approach using UAS (unmanned aircraft system, commonly known as drones) can fill the knowledge gap on a local scale, providing fast and reliable data collection and precise results. After photogrammetric processing, digital clearance of vegetation, and extraction of the georeferenced DEM (digital elevation model) and orthophoto, filters and enhancements provide an opportunity to visualize the results in GIS. The outcome provides an overview of site size, and distribution of mounds and flattened areas. Measurement of the topographic changes in a variety of past settlements defines likely zones of habitat, and provides clues on the actual dimensions and density of living space. Understanding the relation of the mounds and adjacent flat areas within their environment allows a discussion on how, and for what purpose, the settlement was founded at a particular location, and provides clues about its spatial organization.
An Online Gravity Modeling Method Applied for High Precision Free-INS
Authors: Wang Jing , Yang Gongliu , Li Jing , Zhou Xiao
Published: September 2016

For real-time solution of inertial navigation system (INS), the high-degree spherical harmonic gravity model (SHM) is not applicable because of its time and space complexity, in which traditional normal gravity model (NGM) has been the dominant technique for gravity compensation. In this paper, a two-dimensional second-order polynomial model is derived from SHM according to the approximate linear characteristic of regional disturbing potential. Firstly, deflections of vertical (DOVs) on dense grids are calculated with SHM in an external computer. And then, the polynomial coefficients are obtained using these DOVs. To achieve global navigation, the coefficients and applicable region of polynomial model are both updated synchronously in above computer. Compared with high-degree SHM, the polynomial model takes less storage and computational time at the expense of minor precision. Meanwhile, the model is more accurate than NGM. Finally, numerical test and INS experiment show that the proposed method outperforms traditional gravity models applied for high precision free-INS.
A Geographical Heuristic Routing Protocol for VANETs
Authors: Urquiza-Aguiar Luis , Tripp-Barba Carolina , Aguilar Igartua Mónica
Published: September 2016

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) leverage the communication system of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Recently, Delay-Tolerant Network (DTN) routing protocols have increased their popularity among the research community for being used in non-safety VANET applications and services like traffic reporting. Vehicular DTN protocols use geographical and local information to make forwarding decisions. However, current proposals only consider the selection of the best candidate based on a local-search. In this paper, we propose a generic Geographical Heuristic Routing (GHR) protocol that can be applied to any DTN geographical routing protocol that makes forwarding decisions hop by hop. GHR includes in its operation adaptations simulated annealing and Tabu-search meta-heuristics, which have largely been used to improve local-search results in discrete optimization. We include a complete performance evaluation of GHR in a multi-hop VANET simulation scenario for a reporting service. Our study analyzes all of the meaningful configurations of GHR and offers a statistical analysis of our findings by means of MANOVA tests. Our results indicate that the use of a Tabu list contributes to improving the packet delivery ratio by around 5% to 10%. Moreover, if Tabu is used, then the simulated annealing routing strategy gets a better performance than the selection of the best node used with carry and forwarding (default operation).
Sensor Fusion and Smart Sensor in Sports and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Mendes Jr. José , Vieira Mário , Pires Marcelo , Stevan Jr. Sergio
Published: September 2016

The following work presents an overview of smart sensors and sensor fusion targeted at biomedical applications and sports areas. In this work, the integration of these areas is demonstrated, promoting a reflection about techniques and applications to collect, quantify and qualify some physical variables associated with the human body. These techniques are presented in various biomedical and sports applications, which cover areas related to diagnostics, rehabilitation, physical monitoring, and the development of performance in athletes, among others. Although some applications are described in only one of two fields of study (biomedicine and sports), it is very likely that the same application fits in both, with small peculiarities or adaptations. To illustrate the contemporaneity of applications, an analysis of specialized papers published in the last six years has been made. In this context, the main characteristic of this review is to present the largest quantity of relevant examples of sensor fusion and smart sensors focusing on their utilization and proposals, without deeply addressing one specific system or technique, to the detriment of the others.
New furoisocoumarins and isocoumarins from the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 085242
Authors: Xiao Ze’en , Chen Senhua , Cai Runlin , Lin Shao’e , Hong Kui , She Zhigang
Published: September 2016

The chemical investigation of the mangrove endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 085242 afforded eight isocoumarin derivatives 1–8 and one isoquinoline 9. Asperisocoumarins A and B (1 and 2) were new furoisocoumarins, and asperisocoumarins E and F (5 and 6) were new isocoumarins. Their structures were established by analysis of their spectroscopic data and the absolute configuration of compound 2 was unambiguously determined by X-ray structure analysis and ECD calculation. Moreover, the absolute configurations of compounds 3–5 were assigned by comparison of their ECD spectra with isocoumarins described in the literature. Asperisocoumarins C and D (3 and 4) were fully characterized spectroscopically and isolated from a natural source for the first time. Asperisocoumarins A–D (1–4) related to the class of furo[3,2-h]isocoumarins are rarely occurring in natural sources. Compounds 2, 5, and 6 showed moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 of 87.8, 52.3, and 95.6 μM, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 and 3 exhibited weak radical scavenging activity with EC50 values of 125 and 138 μM, respectively.
PLASTIC CAPACITY OF BOLTED RHS FLANGE-PLATE JOINTS UNDER AXIAL TENSION
Authors: Mudrov Andrej , Šaučiuvėnas Gintas , Sapalas Antanas , Talvik Ivar
Published: September 2016

This article considers the calculation of load-bearing capacity of flange-plate joints with bolts along two sides of rectangular hollow sections (RHS) under axial tension. It provides a review and comparison of various calculation methodologies for establishing the load-bearing capacity of RHS flange-plate joints, such as suggested in EN 1993-1-8:2005 and STR 2.05.08:2005 as well as those proposed in different countries and by other authors. Common design principles and derived results for load-bearing capacity of flange-plate joints have been analysed and compared. Following the numerical modelling, which has been done using ANSYS Workbench finite element program, the derived results for load-bearing capacity have been compared with analytical load-bearing capacity results for flange-plate joints of the same structure. The analysis has focused on one type of flange-plate joints with bolts – both preloaded and non-preloaded – along two opposite sides of the tube, with the flange thickness of 15 mm and 25 mm.
A LOW FREQUENCY SURVEY OF GIANT PULSES FROM THE CRAB PULSAR
Authors: Eftekhari T. , Stovall K. , Dowell J. , Schinzel F. K. , Taylor G. B.
Published: September 2016

We present a large survey of giant pulses from the Crab Pulsar as observed with the first station of the Long Wavelength Array. Automated methods for detecting giant pulses at low frequencies where scattering becomes prevalent are also explored. More than 1400 pulses were detected across four frequency bands between 20 and 84 MHz over a seven-month period beginning in 2013, with additional followup observations in late 2014 and early 2015. A handful of these pulses were detected simultaneously across all four frequency bands. We examine pulse characteristics, including pulse broadening and power law indices for amplitude distributions. We find that the flux density increases toward shorter wavelengths, consistent with a spectral turnover at 100 MHz. Our observations uniquely span multiple scattering epochs, manifesting as a notable trend in the number of detections per observation. These results are characteristic of the variable interface between the synchrotron nebula and the surrounding interstellar medium.
RADIATION AND POLARIZATION SIGNATURES OF THE 3D MULTIZONE TIME-DEPENDENT HADRONIC BLAZAR MODEL
Authors: Zhang Haocheng , Diltz Chris , Böttcher Markus
Published: September 2016

We present a newly developed time-dependent three-dimensional multizone hadronic blazar emission model. By coupling a Fokker–Planck-based lepto-hadronic particle evolution code, 3DHad, with a polarization-dependent radiation transfer code, 3DPol, we are able to study the time-dependent radiation and polarization signatures of a hadronic blazar model for the first time. Our current code is limited to parameter regimes in which the hadronic γ-ray output is dominated by proton synchrotron emission, neglecting pion production. Our results demonstrate that the time-dependent flux and polarization signatures are generally dominated by the relation between the synchrotron cooling and the light-crossing timescale, which is largely independent of the exact model parameters. We find that unlike the low-energy polarization signatures, which can vary rapidly in time, the high-energy polarization signatures appear stable. As a result, future high-energy polarimeters may be able to distinguish such signatures from the lower and more rapidly variable polarization signatures expected in leptonic models.
A SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF BLUE SUPERGIANT STARS IN THE SCULPTOR GALAXY NGC 55: CHEMICAL EVOLUTION AND DISTANCE
Authors: Kudritzki R. P. , Castro N. , Urbaneja M. A. , Ho I.-T. , Bresolin F. , Gieren W. , Pietrzyński G. , Przybilla N.
Published: September 2016

Low-resolution (4.5–5 Å) spectra of 58 blue supergiant stars distributed over the disk of the Magellanic spiral galaxy NGC 55 in the Sculptor group are analyzed by means of non-LTE techniques to determine stellar temperatures, gravities, and metallicities (from iron peak and α-elements). A metallicity gradient of −0.22 ± 0.06 dex/R
25 is detected. The central metallicity on a logarithmic scale relative to the Sun is [Z] = −0.37 ± 0.03. A chemical evolution model using the observed distribution of column densities of the stellar and interstellar medium gas mass reproduces the observed metallicity distribution well and reveals a recent history of strong galactic mass accretion and wind outflows with accretion and mass-loss rates of the order of the star formation rate. There is an indication of spatial inhomogeneity in metallicity. In addition, the relatively high central metallicity of the disk confirms that two extraplanar metal-poor H ii regions detected in previous work 1.13 to 2.22 kpc above the galactic plane are ionized by massive stars formed in situ outside the disk. For a subsample of supergiants, for which Hubble Space Telescope photometry is available, the flux-weighted gravity–luminosity relationship is used to determine a distance modulus of 26.85 ± 0.10 mag.
THE QUEST FOR THE LARGEST DEPLETED GALAXY CORE: SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE BINARIES AND STALLED INFALLING SATELLITES
Authors: Bonfini Paolo , Graham Alister W.
Published: September 2016

Partially depleted cores are practically ubiquitous in luminous early-type galaxies (M

B
 ≲ −20.5 mag) and are typically smaller than 1 kpc. In one popular scenario, supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries—established during dry (i.e., gas-poor) galaxy mergers—kick out the stars from a galaxy’s central region via three-body interactions. Here, this “binary black hole scouring scenario” is probed at its extremes by investigating the two galaxies reported to have the largest partially depleted cores found to date: 2MASX J09194427+5622012 and 2MASX J17222717+3207571 (the brightest galaxy in Abell 2261). We have fit these galaxy’s two-dimensional light distribution using the core-Sérsic model and found that the former galaxy has a core-Sérsic break radius

, which is three times smaller than the published value. We use this galaxy to caution that other reportedly large break radii may too have been overestimated if they were derived using the “sharp-transition” (inner core)-to-(outer Sérsic) model. In the case of 2MASX J17222717+3207571, we obtain R

b,cS = 3.6 kpc. While we confirm that this is the biggest known partially depleted core of any galaxy, we stress that it is larger than expected from the evolution of SMBH binaries—unless one invokes substantial gravitational-wave-induced (black hole-)recoil events. Given the presence of multiple nuclei located (in projection) within the core radius of this galaxy, we explored and found support for the alternative “stalled infalling perturber” core-formation scenario, in which this galaxy’s core could have been excavated by the action of an infalling massive perturber.
EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF WHISTLER WAVE DISPERSION RELATION IN THE SOLAR WIND
Authors: Stansby D. , Horbury T. S. , Chen C. H. K. , Matteini L.
Published: September 2016

The origins and properties of large-amplitude whistler wavepackets in the solar wind are still unclear. In this Letter, we utilize single spacecraft electric and magnetic field waveform measurements from the ARTEMIS mission to calculate the plasma frame frequency and wavevector of individual wavepackets over multiple intervals. This allows direct comparison of experimental measurements with theoretical dispersion relations to identify the observed waves as whistler waves. The whistlers are right-hand circularly polarized, travel anti-sunward, and are aligned with the background magnetic field. Their dispersion is strongly affected by the local electron parallel beta in agreement with linear theory. The properties measured are consistent with the electron heat flux instability acting in the solar wind to generate these waves.
CALET UPPER LIMITS ON X-RAY AND GAMMA-RAY COUNTERPARTS OF GW151226
Authors: Adriani O. , Akaike Y. , Asano K. , Asaoka Y. , Bagliesi M. G. , Bigongiari G. , Binns W. R. , Bonechi S. , Bongi M. , Brogi P. , Buckley J. H. , Cannady N. , Castellini G. , Checchia C. , Cherry M. L. , Collazuol G. , Felice V. Di , Ebisawa K. , Fuke H. , Guzik T. G. , Hams T. , Hareyama M. , Hasebe N. , Hibino K. , Ichimura M. , Ioka K. , Ishizaki W. , Israel M. H. , Javaid A. , Kasahara K. , Kataoka J. , Kataoka R. , Katayose Y. , Kato C. , Kawanaka N. , Kawakubo Y. , Kitamura H. , Krawczynski H. S. , Krizmanic J. F. , Kuramata S. , Lomtadze T. , Maestro P. , Marrocchesi P. S. , Messineo A. M. , Mitchell J. W. , Miyake S. , Mizutani K. , Moiseev A. A. , Mori K. , Mori M. , Mori N. , Motz H. M. , Munakata K. , Murakami H. , Nakagawa Y. E. , Nakahira S. , Nishimura J. , Okuno S. , Ormes J. F. , Ozawa S. , Pacini L. , Palma F. , Papini P. , Penacchioni A. V. , Rauch B. F. , Ricciarini S. , Sakai K. , Sakamoto T. , Sasaki M. , Shimizu Y. , Shiomi A. , Sparvoli R. , Spillantini P. , Stolzi F. , Takahashi I. , Takayanagi M. , Takita M. , Tamura T. , Tateyama N. , Terasawa T. , Tomida H. , Torii S. , Tsunesada Y. , Uchihori Y. , Ueno S. , Vannuccini E. , Wefel J. P. , Yamaoka K. , Yanagita S. , Yoshida A. , Yoshida K. , Yuda T.
Published: September 2016

We present upper limits in the hard X-ray and gamma-ray bands at the time of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) gravitational-wave event GW151226 derived from the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) observation. The main instrument of CALET, CALorimeter (CAL), observes gamma-rays from ∼1 GeV up to 10 TeV with a field of view of ∼2 sr. The CALET gamma-ray burst monitor (CGBM) views ∼3 sr and ∼2π sr of the sky in the 7 keV–1 MeV and the 40 keV–20 MeV bands, respectively, by using two different scintillator-based instruments. The CGBM covered 32.5% and 49.1% of the GW151226 sky localization probability in the 7 keV–1 MeV and 40 keV–20 MeV bands respectively. We place a 90% upper limit of 2 × 10−7 erg cm−2 s−1 in the 1–100 GeV band where CAL reaches 15% of the integrated LIGO probability (∼1.1 sr). The CGBM 7σ upper limits are 1.0 × 10−6 erg cm−2 s−1 (7–500 keV) and 1.8 × 10−6 erg cm−2 s−1 (50–1000 keV) for a 1 s exposure. Those upper limits correspond to the luminosity of 3–5 × 1049 erg s−1, which is significantly lower than typical short GRBs.
A MAGNETAR-LIKE OUTBURST FROM A HIGH-B RADIO PULSAR
Authors: Archibald R. F. , Kaspi V. M. , Tendulkar S. P. , Scholz P.
Published: September 2016

Radio pulsars are believed to have their emission powered by the loss of rotational kinetic energy. By contrast, magnetars show intense X-ray and γ-ray radiation whose luminosity greatly exceeds that due to spin down and magnetar luminosity is believed to be powered by intense internal magnetic fields. A basic prediction of this picture is that radio pulsars of high magnetic field should show magnetar-like emission. Here we report on a magnetar-like X-ray outburst from the radio pulsar PSR J1119–6127, heralded by two short bright X-ray bursts on 2016 July 27 and 28. Using target of opportunity data from the Swift X-ray Telescope and NuSTAR, we show that this pulsar’s flux has brightened by a factor of

in the 0.5–10 keV band, and that its previously soft X-ray spectrum has undergone a strong hardening with strong pulsations appearing for the first time above 2.5 keV, with phase-averaged emission detectable up to 25 keV. By comparing Swift-XRT and NuSTAR timing data with a pre-outburst ephemeris derived from Fermi Large Area Telescope data, we find that the source has contemporaneously undergone a large spin-up glitch of amplitude

. The collection of phenomena observed thus far in this outburst strongly mirrors those in most magnetar outbursts and provides an unambiguous connection between the radio pulsar and magnetar populations.