bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Climate Variability and Human Activity on Poopó Lake Droughts between 1990 and 2015 Assessed Using Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Satgé Frédéric , Espinoza Raúl , Zolá Ramiro , Roig Henrique , Timouk Franck , Molina Jorge , Garnier Jérémie , Calmant Stéphane , Seyler Frédérique , Bonnet Marie-Paule
Published: February 2017

In 2015, an emergency state was declared in Bolivia when Poopó Lake dried up. Climate variability and the increasing need for water are potential factors responsible for this situation. Because field data are missing over the region, no statements are possible about the influence of mentioned factors. This study is a preliminary step toward the understanding of Poopó Lake drought using remote sensing data. First, atmospheric corrections for Landsat (FLAASH and L8SR), seven satellite derived indexes for extracting water bodies, MOD16 evapotranspiration, PERSIANN-CDR and MSWEP rainfall products potentiality were assessed. Then, the fluctuations of Poopó Lake extent over the last 26 years are presented for the first time jointly, with the mean regional annual rainfall. Three main droughts are highlighted between 1990 and 2015: two are associated with negative annual rainfall anomalies in 1994 and 1995 and one associated with positive annual rainfall anomaly in 2015. This suggests that other factors than rainfall influenced the recent disappearance of the lake. The regional evapotranspiration increased by 12.8% between 2000 and 2014. Evapotranspiration increase is not homogeneous over the watershed but limited over the main agriculture regions. Agriculture activity is one of the major factors contributing to the regional desertification and recent disappearance of Poopó Lake.
Wearable Device-Based Gait Recognition Using Angle Embedded Gait Dynamic Images and a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhao Yongjia , Zhou Suiping
Published: February 2017

The widespread installation of inertial sensors in smartphones and other wearable devices provides a valuable opportunity to identify people by analyzing their gait patterns, for either cooperative or non-cooperative circumstances. However, it is still a challenging task to reliably extract discriminative features for gait recognition with noisy and complex data sequences collected from casually worn wearable devices like smartphones. To cope with this problem, we propose a novel image-based gait recognition approach using the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) without the need to manually extract discriminative features. The CNN’s input image, which is encoded straightforwardly from the inertial sensor data sequences, is called Angle Embedded Gait Dynamic Image (AE-GDI). AE-GDI is a new two-dimensional representation of gait dynamics, which is invariant to rotation and translation. The performance of the proposed approach in gait authentication and gait labeling is evaluated using two datasets: (1) the McGill University dataset, which is collected under realistic conditions; and (2) the Osaka University dataset with the largest number of subjects. Experimental results show that the proposed approach achieves competitive recognition accuracy over existing approaches and provides an effective parametric solution for identification among a large number of subjects by gait patterns.
Rapid and Sensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay Method for Procalcitonin (PCT) Based on Time-Resolved Immunochromatography
Authors: Shao Xiang-Yang , Wang Cong-Rong , Xie Chun-Mei , Wang Xian-Guo , Liang Rong-Liang , Xu Wei-Wen
Published: February 2017

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a current, frequently-used marker for severe bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effective detection kit for rapid quantitative and on-site detection of PCT. To develop the new PCT quantitative detecting kit, a double-antibody sandwich immunofluorescent assay was employed based on time-resolved immunofluorescent assay (TRFIA) combined with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). The performance of the new developed kit was evaluated in the aspects of linearity, precision, accuracy, and specificity. Two-hundred thirty-four serum samples were enrolled to carry out the comparison test. The new PCT quantitative detecting kit exhibited a higher sensitivity (0.08 ng/mL). The inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) and the intra-assay CV were 5.4%–7.7% and 5.7%–13.4%, respectively. The recovery rates ranged from 93% to 105%. Furthermore, a high correlation (n = 234, r = 0.977, p < 0.0001) and consistency (Kappa = 0.875) were obtained when compared with the PCT kit from Roche Elecsys BRAHMS. Thus, the new quantitative method for detecting PCT has been successfully established. The results indicated that the newly-developed system based on TRFIA combined with LFIA was suitable for rapid and on-site detection for PCT, which might be a useful platform for other biomarkers in point-of-care tests.
The Theoretical Highest Frame Rate of Silicon Image Sensors
Authors: Etoh Takeharu , Nguyen Anh , Kamakura Yoshinari , Shimonomura Kazuhiro , Le Thi , Mori Nobuya
Published: February 2017

The frame rate of the digital high-speed video camera was 2000 frames per second (fps) in 1989, and has been exponentially increasing. A simulation study showed that a silicon image sensor made with a 130 nm process technology can achieve about 1010 fps. The frame rate seems to approach the upper bound. Rayleigh proposed an expression on the theoretical spatial resolution limit when the resolution of lenses approached the limit. In this paper, the temporal resolution limit of silicon image sensors was theoretically analyzed. It is revealed that the limit is mainly governed by mixing of charges with different travel times caused by the distribution of penetration depth of light. The derived expression of the limit is extremely simple, yet accurate. For example, the limit for green light of 550 nm incident to silicon image sensors at 300 K is 11.1 picoseconds. Therefore, the theoretical highest frame rate is 90.1 Gfps (about 1011 fps)
Advanced Monitoring and Management Systems for Improving Sustainability in Precision Irrigation
Authors: Adeyemi Olutobi , Grove Ivan , Peets Sven , Norton Tomas
Published: February 2017

Globally, the irrigation of crops is the largest consumptive user of fresh water. Water scarcity is increasing worldwide, resulting in tighter regulation of its use for agriculture. This necessitates the development of irrigation practices that are more efficient in the use of water but do not compromise crop quality and yield. Precision irrigation already achieves this goal, in part. The goal of precision irrigation is to accurately supply the crop water need in a timely manner and as spatially uniformly as possible. However, to maximize the benefits of precision irrigation, additional technologies need to be enabled and incorporated into agriculture. This paper discusses how incorporating adaptive decision support systems into precision irrigation management will enable significant advances in increasing the efficiency of current irrigation approaches. From the literature review, it is found that precision irrigation can be applied in achieving the environmental goals related to sustainability. The demonstrated economic benefits of precision irrigation in field-scale crop production is however minimal. It is argued that a proper combination of soil, plant and weather sensors providing real-time data to an adaptive decision support system provides an innovative platform for improving sustainability in irrigated agriculture. The review also shows that adaptive decision support systems based on model predictive control are able to adequately account for the time-varying nature of the soil–plant–atmosphere system while considering operational limitations and agronomic objectives in arriving at optimal irrigation decisions. It is concluded that significant improvements in crop yield and water savings can be achieved by incorporating model predictive control into precision irrigation decision support tools. Further improvements in water savings can also be realized by including deficit irrigation as part of the overall irrigation management strategy. Nevertheless, future research is needed for identifying crop response to regulated water deficits, developing improved soil moisture and plant sensors, and developing self-learning crop simulation frameworks that can be applied to evaluate adaptive decision support strategies related to irrigation.
Climate, Agroecology and Socio-Economic Determinants of Food Availability from Agriculture in Bangladesh, (1948–2008)
Authors: Rahman Sanzidur
Published: February 2017

The paper examines the impacts of prices, resources, technology, education, public investments, climatic variables and agroecology on Food Availability (FA) from domestic agriculture in Bangladesh using a panel data of 17 regions covering a 61-year period (1948–2008) by utilising a dynamic agricultural supply response framework and Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM) estimator. Results revealed that FA has increased at the rate of 1.32% p.a. with significant regional variations. Significant regional differences exist with respect to climatic variables, resources, Green Revolution (GR) technology and education. Among the output prices, rise in the prices of rice, vegetables and pulses significantly increase FA whereas an increase in spice price significantly reduces FA. Among the input prices, a rise in labour wage significantly increases FA. FA increases significantly with an increase in GR technology expansion, as expected. Among the resources, increases in average farm size and labour stock per farm significantly increase FA, as expected. Among the climatic factors, a rise in annual minimum temperature significantly increases FA. FA is also significantly influenced by agroecological characteristics. FA is significantly higher in Karatoa floodplain and Atrai Basin but significantly lower in Ganges Tidal floodplain. Major disasters/events (i.e., the Liberation War of 1971 and 1988 flood) also significantly reduced FA, as expected. The key conclusion is that, over the past six decades, Food Availability in Bangladesh was significantly shaped by changes in climate, agrocology, output prices, resources and GR technology diffusion.
Performance Evaluation and Field Application of Red Clay Green Roof Vegetation Blocks for Ecological Restoration Projects
Authors: Kim Hwang-Hee , Kim Chun-Su , Jeon Ji-Hong , Lee Seung-Kee , Park Chan-Gi
Published: February 2017

In this study, for restoration of ecological systems in buildings, porous vegetation red clay green roof blocks were designed for performance evaluation. Blast furnace slag (BFS; fine aggregates (agg.)), coarse aggregates, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber (hydrophilic fiber), and red clay (ecofriendly additive material) were applied to the construction of the porous vegetation red clay green roof blocks. A decrease in cement use is one way of reducing carbon emissions. To increase the water retentivity and the efficiency of roof vegetation blocks, blast furnace slag aggregates with excellent water absorptivity and polyvinyl alcohol fiber with a water absorption rate above 20% were added. In particular, the addition of polyvinyl alcohol fiber prevents performance reduction of the green roof vegetation blocks during freezing and melting in winter. Compressive strength, void ratio, and unit-mass tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the roof vegetation blocks. After their application to roof vegetation, the effect of water purification was evaluated. According to the experimental results, the mix that satisfies the target performance of green roof vegetation blocks (compression strength above 8 MPa, void ratio above 20%, unit mass 2.0 kg/cm3 or below) is: cement = 128.95 kg/m3, BFS = 96.75 kg/m3, red clay = 96.75 kg/m3, water = 81.50 kg/m3, BFS agg. = 1450 kg/m3, PVA fiber = 1.26 kg/m3. The green roof vegetation blocks were designed using the mix that satisfied the target performance. To find the amount of attainable water due to rainfall, a rainfall meter was installed after application of the roof vegetation to measure daily rainfall and calculate the amount of attainable water. The results show that, for 1 mm of rainfall, it is possible to attain about 0.53 L of water per 1 m2. In addition, the water quality of effluents after application of roof vegetation was analyzed, and the results satisfied Class 4 of the River-life Environmental Standard for Availability of Agricultural Water.
Sterigmatocystin Occurrence in Paddy and Processed Rice Produced in Italy in the Years 2014–2015 and Distribution in Milled Rice Fractions
Authors: Bertuzzi Terenzio , Romani Marco , Rastelli Silvia , Mulazzi Annalisa , Pietri Amedeo
Published: February 2017

The occurrence of sterigmatocystin (STC) in paddy and processed rice samples produced in Italy was surveyed. After extraction and purification, STC was analysed using HPLC-MS/MS. STC was detected in all paddy rice samples (n = 49), in the range 0.29–15.85 μg·kg−1. As regards processed rice, a widespread contamination was found in brown and parboiled rice. All the brown rice samples were contaminated between 0.12 and 1.32 μg·kg−1; for parboiled rice, the incidence was 90.9% and the maximum level was 1.09 μg·kg−1. The contamination in white rice was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The STC distribution in different rice fractions, obtained by the de-hulling and polishing processes, was evaluated. After de-hulling, the STC percentage remaining in brown rice was in the range 21.2%–30.8%. The polishing process, from brown to white rice, caused another remarkable decrease of contamination; the STC remaining in white rice was 2.2%–8.3% of the amount found in paddy rice.
Evaluating Stream Restoration Projects: What Do We Learn from Monitoring?
Authors: Rubin Zan , Kondolf G. , Rios-Touma Blanca
Published: February 2017

Two decades since calls for stream restoration projects to be scientifically assessed, most projects are still unevaluated, and conducted evaluations yield ambiguous results. Even after these decades of investigation, do we know how to define and measure success? We systematically reviewed 26 studies of stream restoration projects that used macroinvertebrate indicators to assess the success of habitat heterogeneity restoration projects. All 26 studies were previously included in two meta-analyses that sought to assess whether restoration programs were succeeding. By contrast, our review focuses on the evaluations themselves, and asks what exactly we are measuring and learning from these evaluations. All 26 studies used taxonomic diversity, richness, or abundance of invertebrates as biological measures of success, but none presented explicit arguments why those metrics were relevant measures of success for the restoration projects. Although changes in biodiversity may reflect overall ecological condition at the regional or global scale, in the context of reach-scale habitat restoration, more abundance and diversity may not necessarily be better. While all 26 studies sought to evaluate the biotic response to habitat heterogeneity enhancement projects, about half of the studies (46%) explicitly measured habitat alteration, and 31% used visual estimates of grain size or subjectively judged ‘habitat quality’ from protocols ill-suited for the purpose. Although the goal of all 26 projects was to increase habitat heterogeneity, 31% of the studies either sampled only riffles or did not specify the habitats sampled. One-third of the studies (35%) used reference ecosystems to define target conditions. After 20 years of stream restoration evaluation, more work remains for the restoration community to identify appropriate measures of success and to coordinate monitoring so that evaluations are at a scale capable of detecting ecosystem change.
The Effect of Balance Training on Postural Control in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Using a Virtual Rehabilitation System
Authors: Albiol-Pérez Sergio , Gil-Gómez José-Antonio , Muñoz-Tomás Maria-Teresa , Gil-Gómez Hermenegildo , Vial-Escolano Raquel , Lozano-Quilis José-Antonio
Published: February 2017

Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor clinical alterations among others. Postural problems have serious consequences for patients, not only limiting their daily life but also increasing some risks, like the risk of fall. Inadequate postural control and postural instability is a major problem in PD patients. A Virtual Motor Rehabilitation System (VMR) has been tested in patients with PD in the intervention period. Our purpose was to analyze the evolution of the spatial postural control during the intervention period, to see if there are any changes caused precisely by this intervention.

Methods: Ten people with PD carried out 15 virtual rehabilitation sessions. We tested a groundbreaking system based on Virtual Motor Rehabilitation in two periods of time (baseline evaluation and final evaluation). In the training sessions, the participants performed a customizable treatment using a low-cost system, the Active Balance Rehabilitation system (ABAR). We stored the pressure performed by the participants every five hundredths of a second, and we analyzed the patients’ pressure when they maintained their body on the left, on the right, and in the center in sitting position. Our system was able to measure postural control in every patient in each of the virtual rehabilitation sessions.

Results: There are no significant differences in the performance of postural control in any of the positions evaluated throughout the sessions. Moreover, the results show a trend to an improvement in all positions. This improvement is especially remarkable in the left/right positions, which are the most important positions in order to avoid problems such as the risk of fall. With regard to the suitability of the ABAR system, we have found outstanding results in enjoyment, success, clarity, and helpfulness.

Conclusions: Although PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, the results demonstrate that patients with PD maintain or even improve their postural control in all positions. We think that the main factor influencing these results is that patients use more of their available cognitive processing to improve their postural control. The ABAR system allows us to make this assumption because the system requires the continuous attention of patients, promoting cognitive processing.
MicroRNA-373 Promotes Growth and Cellular Invasion in Osteosarcoma Cells by Activation of the PI3K/AKT‐Rac1‐JNK Pathway: The Potential Role in Spinal Osteosarcoma
Authors: Liu Yufeng , Cheng Zhengliang , Pan Feng , Yan Weigang
Published: February 2017

Spinal osteosarcoma (OS) has been proven to be more difficult to treat owing to potently malignant metastasis. The present study aimed to explore the functional role of microRNA (miR)-373 in cell growth and invasion of OS cells, as well as its underlying mechanism. The expression of
miR-373 was analyzed in spinal OS tissues and cell lines. MG-63 cells were transfected with the miR-373 mimic or inhibitor and/or treated with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) (LY294002) inhibitor or Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac) guanosine triphosphate (GTPase) (NSC23766)
inhibitor, and then the impact of miR-373 aberrant expression on cell growth and invasion was measured, along with the impact of overexpressing miR-373 on the expression of p53 and PI3K/AKT pathway-related proteins. We found that miR-373 was specifically upregulated in spinal OS tissues (p < 0.01)
and OS cell lines (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). Moreover, miR-373 expression was significantly associated with TNM stage (p = 0.035) and tumor size (p = 0.002). Overexpression of miR-373 promoted MG-63 cell
viability, migration, invasion, and colony formation (all p < 0.05), while silencing of miR-373 and LY294002 exerted the opposite effects. Additionally, miR-373 overexpression downregulated p53 as well as its downstream targeted genes and orderly activated the PI3K/AKT‐Rac1‐JNK
signaling pathway. In conclusion, miR-373 promotes growth and cellular invasion in OS cells by activating the PI3K/AKT‐Rac1‐JNK pathway. Therefore, miR-373 might be a candidate for molecular targeted therapy of spinal OS.
Upregulation of CD147 Promotes Metastasis of Cholangiocarcinoma by Modulating the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transitional Process
Authors: Dana Paweena , Kariya Ryusho , Vaeteewoottacharn Kulthida , Sawanyawisuth Kanlayanee , Seubwai Wunchana , Matsuda Kouki , Okada Seiji , Wongkham Sopit
Published: February 2017

CD147 is a transmembrane protein that can induce the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Expression of CD147 has been shown to potentiate cell migration, invasion, and metastasis of cancer. In this study, the critical role of CD147 in metastasis was elucidated using CD147-overexpressing cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells in vitro and in vivo. The molecular mechanism, demonstrated herein, supported the hypothesis that metastasis increased in CD147-overexpressing cells. Five CD147-overexpressing clones (Ex-CD147) were established from a low CD147-expressing CCA cell line, KKU-055, using lentivirus containing pReceiver-Lenti-CD147. The metastatic capability was determined using the tail vein injection mouse model and an in vitro 3D invasion assay. Liver colonization was assessed using anti-HLA class I immunohistochemistry. Adhesion abilities, cytoskeletal arrangements, MMP activities, the expressions of adhesion molecules, and epithelialmesenchymal transitional markers were analyzed. All Ex-CD147 clones exhibited a high CD147 expression and high liver colonization in the tail vein-injected mouse model, whereas parental cells lacked this ability. Ex-CD147 clones exhibited metastatic phenotypes (i.e., an increase in F-actin rearrangement) and cell invasion and a decrease in cell adhesion. The molecular mechanisms were shown to be via the induction of MMP-2 activity and enhancement of epithelialmesenchymal transitions. An increase in mesenchymal markers Slug, vimentin, and N-cadherin, and a decrease in epithelial markers E-cadherin and claudin-1, together with suppression of the adhesion molecule ICAM-1, were observed in the Ex-CD147 clones. Moreover, suppression of CD147 expression using siCD147 in two CCA cell lines with high CD147 expression significantly decreased cell migration and invasion of these CCA cells. These findings emphasize the essential role of CD147 in CCA metastasis and suggest CD147 as a promising target for the effective treatment of CCA.
Silencing Transmembrane Protein 45B (TNEM45B) Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, and Tumorigenesis in Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Li Yan , Guo Wei , Liu Shen , Zhang Bin , Yu Bing-Bing , Yang Bo , Kan Shun-Li , Feng Shi-Qing
Published: February 2017

Transmembrane protein 45B (TMEM45B) is a member of the TMEM family of proteins and has been reported to be expressed abnormally in different kinds of human tumors. However, the biological function of TMEM45B in osteosarcoma remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate
the role of TMEM45B in regulating the biological behavior of osteosarcoma cells. Our results demonstrated that the expression of TMEM45B at both the protein and mRNA levels was dramatically upregulated in human osteosarcoma cell lines. Knockdown of TMEM45B significantly suppressed the proliferation,
migration, and invasion of U2OS cells in vitro. Mechanistically, knockdown of TMEM45B sharply downregulated the expression level of β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-Myc in U2OS cells. Finally, knockdown of TMEM45B attenuated tumor growth in transplanted U2OS-derived tumors in nude mice. Taken
together, our results demonstrated that TMEM45B plays an important role in regulating the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and that its effects on proliferation and invasion were mediated partially through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These observations
support our belief that TMEM45B may serve as an oncogene in the development and progression of osteosarcoma.
Mid-infrared Extinction and Fresh Silicate Dust Toward the Galactic Center
Authors: Voshchinnikov Nikolai V. , Henning Thomas , Il’in Vladimir B.
Published: February 2017

We interpret the interstellar extinction observed toward the Galactic center (GC) in the wavelength range λ = 1–20 μm. Its main feature is the flat extinction at 3–8 μm whose explanation is still a problem for cosmic dust models. We search for the structure and chemical composition of dust grains that could explain the observed extinction. In contrast to earlier works, we use laboratory measured optical constants and consider particles of different structures. We show that a mixture of compact grains of aromatic carbon and of some silicate is better suited for reproducing the flat extinction in comparison with essentially porous grains or aliphatic carbon particles. Metallic iron should be located inside the particle, i.e., it cannot form layers on silicate grains as the extinction curves then become very peculiar. We find a model including aromatic carbonaceous particles and three-layered particles with an olivine-type silicate core, a thin, very porous layer and a thin envelope of magnetite that provides a good (but still not perfect) fit to the observational data. We suggest that such silicate dust should be fresh, i.e., recently formed in the atmospheres of late-type stars in the central region of the Galaxy. We assume that this region has a radius of about 1 kpc and produces about half of the observed extinction. The remaining part of extinction is caused by a “foreground” material being practically transparent at

.
The Joker: A Custom Monte Carlo Sampler for Binary-star and Exoplanet Radial Velocity Data
Authors: Price-Whelan Adrian M. , Hogg David W. , Foreman-Mackey Daniel , Rix Hans-Walter
Published: February 2017

Given sparse or low-quality radial velocity measurements of a star, there are often many qualitatively different stellar or exoplanet companion orbit models that are consistent with the data. The consequent multimodality of the likelihood function leads to extremely challenging search, optimization, and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) posterior sampling over the orbital parameters. Here we create a custom Monte Carlo sampler for sparse or noisy radial velocity measurements of two-body systems that can produce posterior samples for orbital parameters even when the likelihood function is poorly behaved. The six standard orbital parameters for a binary system can be split into four nonlinear parameters (period, eccentricity, argument of pericenter, phase) and two linear parameters (velocity amplitude, barycenter velocity). We capitalize on this by building a sampling method in which we densely sample the prior probability density function (pdf) in the nonlinear parameters and perform rejection sampling using a likelihood function marginalized over the linear parameters. With sparse or uninformative data, the sampling obtained by this rejection sampling is generally multimodal and dense. With informative data, the sampling becomes effectively unimodal but too sparse: in these cases we follow the rejection sampling with standard MCMC. The method produces correct samplings in orbital parameters for data that include as few as three epochs. The Joker can therefore be used to produce proper samplings of multimodal pdfs, which are still informative and can be used in hierarchical (population) modeling. We give some examples that show how the posterior pdf depends sensitively on the number and time coverage of the observations and their uncertainties.
The Chandra COSMOS Legacy Survey: Energy Spectrum of the Cosmic X-Ray Background and Constraints on Undetected Populations
Authors: Cappelluti Nico , Li Yanxia , Ricarte Angelo , Agarwal Bhaskar , Allevato Viola , Ananna Tonima Tasnim , Ajello Marco , Civano Francesca , Comastri Andrea , Elvis Martin , Finoguenov Alexis , Gilli Roberto , Hasinger Günther , Marchesi Stefano , Natarajan Priyamvada , Pacucci Fabio , Treister E. , Urry C. Megan
Published: February 2017

Using Chandra observations in the 2.15 deg2 COSMOS-legacy field, we present one of the most accurate measurements of the Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB) spectrum to date in the [0.3–7] keV energy band. The CXB has three distinct components: contributions from two Galactic collisional thermal plasmas at kT ∼ 0.27 and 0.07 keV and an extragalactic power law with a photon spectral index Γ = 1.45 ± 0.02. The 1 keV normalization of the extragalactic component is 10.91 ± 0.16 keV cm−2 s−1 sr−1 keV−1. Removing all X-ray-detected sources, the remaining unresolved CXB is best fit by a power law with normalization 4.18 ± 0.26 keV cm−2 s−1 sr−1 keV−1 and photon spectral index Γ = 1.57 ± 0.10. Removing faint galaxies down to

leaves a hard spectrum with

and a 1 keV normalization of ∼1.37 keV cm−2 s−1 sr−1 keV−1. This means that ∼91% of the observed CXB is resolved into detected X-ray sources and undetected galaxies. Unresolved sources that contribute ∼8%–9% of the total CXB show marginal evidence of being harder and possibly more obscured than resolved sources. Another ∼1% of the CXB can be attributed to still undetected star-forming galaxies and absorbed active galactic nuclei. According to these limits, we investigate a scenario where early black holes totally account for non-source CXB fraction and constrain some of their properties. In order to not exceed the remaining CXB and the

accreted mass density, such a population of black holes must grow in Compton-thick envelopes with

1.6 × 1025 cm−2 and form in extremely low-metallicity environments

.
An Arts-Based Instructional Model for Student Creativity in Engineering Design
Authors: Laduca Brian , Ausdenmoore Adrienne , Katz-Buonincontro Jen , Hallinan Kevin Patrick , Marshall Karlos
Published: February 2017

Over the past twenty years, nearly all job growth in the United States has emerged from new companies and organizations with assumedly innovative products, services, and practices. Yet, the nurturing of student creative thinking and problem solving is infrequent in engineering education. Inherent to developing these creativity skills and attributes is the need to be exposed to difference — in people and environment. Engineering education rarely offers such opportunities. Additionally, engineering students are rarely presented opportunities to develop designs responding to real human problems. This paper puts forth a new instructional model to address these needs by utilizing arts processes and practices as catalysts for both creativity development in students and transdisciplinary collaboration on problems addressing deep human needs. This model is premised on the substantiated role of the arts in developing creativity and growing understanding of the human condition.
This art-based instructional model was piloted as exploratory pedagogical research during the summers of 2015 and 2016 as a partnership between the Arts Nexus (IAN) and the School of Engineering at the University of Dayton. In each year, this program supported twelve student interns from engineering, business, science, the arts, and the humanities to develop innovative technologies and services meeting client needs. Student growth in creative problem-solving and transdisciplinary collaboration, as well as the success of the completed innovation technology prototype were assessed by the project mentors and participating students via survey evaluations and narrative responses. The assessment results revealed substantial student growth in student creativity and transdisciplinary collaboration and a remarkably strong evaluation of the success of the students’ innovations. Also realized for all students was a transformation in their perception of their place in the world as professionals post-graduation.
Evaluation of an Early Three Phase Approach to Electric Circuit Instruction
Authors: Turner Matthew
Published: February 2017

This paper presents a novel approach to the study of electric circuits: utilizing three phase electric power systems to introduce students to the techniques of circuit analysis beyond Kirchhoff’s and Ohm’s Laws. The efficacy of the pedagogy is evaluated by comparison of student performance on DC circuits assessment quiz pre and post intervention and by comparison to circuit analysis methods used by experts. Also discusses is how the curriculum effects students qualitative and quantitative conceptions of the behavior of voltage and current in DC resistive circuits.
Standards-Based Grading in a Thermodynamics Course
Authors: Post Scott L
Published: February 2017

Standards based grading is a formal assessment mechanism that tests for student achievement of specified learning objectives, or standards. Standards-Based-Grading has been gaining in popularity in K-12 education, and also has been seeing increased use in higher education, though it has only recently been used in engineering education. This paper describes how Standards-Based Grading was implemented in a second-semester Thermodynamics course. A total of eleven learning objectives were specified for the course. In this implementation of Standards-Based Grading, all assessments are done on a pass-fail basis. That is to say, there is no partial credit given. Once a student passes an assessment, usually given in the form of a quiz, on a given learning objective, it is assumed the student has mastered that concept and is not tested on it again. Students are allowed to re-test on particular objectives if they do not pass them on the first try. The final exam serves as a last chance for students to pass any objectives they did not complete earlier in the semester. The learning objectives can be mapped to student outcomes such as those required for accreditation without having to generate a separate set of data outside the normal course grading.
Preparing Teachers to Use New Media Visual Communications in Education
Authors: Yarkova Tatyana , Cherkasova Irina , Timofeeva Albina , Cherkasov Vladimir , Yarkov Vladimir
Published: February 2017

In recent years new media visual communications have become predominant in the built environment of today's children. This study sought to examine the pedagogical potential of visual communications and to find out how the traditional technology in children's training and education contradict the influence of new media technologies on the educational process. The opinions and attitudes of school teachers (N=150) towards the problem as well as documents and teaching materials were analyzed. The research demanded use of direct and indirect observations, questionnaires, self-analysis, and observation of the results of activity. A monitoring protocol, profiles, and materials for meaningful evaluation of products for teaching were developed. The obtained results showed that there is a narrowness of understanding of visual communications by teachers; uniformity in visual presentation of educational materials; lack of a system in multimedia application; and repetition in the creation and use of visual content. The results suggest that it is necessary to change not only the content and methods of training prospective teachers, but also their thinking.
Study of Construction of Network English Teaching Platform Based on Multimedia
Authors: Zhang Qian
Published: February 2017

In order to adapt to the needs of the rapid development of social networks, how to effectively improve college students’ English comprehensive application ability, and rapidly improve listening and speaking skills has become an important research goal of college English teaching. This paper describes the main problems to be solved, and makes full use of the network and multimedia technology to build an open, interactive network English teaching platform. The platform provides students with abundant videos, images, voices, texts and other resources, so that the students can get help from teachers and other partners to improve their English ability.
Learning Styles of Students as a Factor Affecting Pedagogical Activities of a University Teacher
Authors: Malcik Martin , Miklosikova Miroslava
Published: February 2017

Social changes demand a continuously increasing level of population erudition, which is to be helped by an increased quality of university education. University graduation poses a demanding study activity for students, which requires self-regulation mechanisms, attention and effective curriculum processing. University teacher can help effective learning by respecting the learning styles of students, which are closely connected to their type of thinking. Some experts [1] assume that study texts should be created in a way to reflect the type of thinking of students; i.e. serial thinking students require a differently structured study text as opposed to holistic thinking students.
In this research, using the eye-tracking technology, we examined whether technically oriented students use serial thinking for acquiring and processing information and for the following problem-solving and whether humane education students use holistic thinking.
Construction and Application of MOOC-based College English Micro Lesson System
Authors: Erwen Zhang , Wenming Zhang
Published: February 2017

this paper aims to introduce the construction and application of MOOC-based micro lesson system in college English teaching. Micro lesson, as a new type of curriculum resource, has injected new vitality into the development of education. College English micro lesson teaching and learning system, based on MOOC concept, multimedia cognition theory and micro lesson pattern, can be constructed to realize the learner-centered multiple interaction and teachers’ unified management of micro lesson video, so as to greatly improve the creativity and effectiveness of college English teaching & learning activity.
Neutrophil Microparticles Deliver Active Myeloperoxidase to Injured Mucosa To Inhibit Epithelial Wound Healing
Authors: Slater Thomas W. , Finkielsztein Ariel , Mascarenhas Lorraine A. , Mehl Lindsey C. , Butin-Israeli Veronika , Sumagin Ronen
Published: February 2017

Neutrophil (PMN) infiltration of the intestinal mucosa often leads to severe epithelial injury; however, how this process occurs is unclear. This article describes a novel mechanism whereby membrane-derived microparticles released by tissue infiltrating PMNs (PMN-MPs) serve as shuttles to protect and deliver active mediators to locally modulate cellular function during inflammation. Specifically, myeloperoxidase (MPO), which is abundantly expressed in PMN azurophilic granules and is used for microbial killing, was found to be mobilized to the PMN surface and subsequently released in association with PMN-MPs upon PMN activation and binding to intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The enzymatic activity of PMN-MP–associated MPO was enhanced compared with soluble protein, leading to potent inhibition of wound closure following PMN-MP binding to IECs. Importantly, localized microinjection of PMN-MPs into wounded colonic mucosa was sufficient to impair epithelial wound healing in vivo. PMN-MP/MPO–dependent inhibition of IEC wound healing was due to impaired IEC migration and proliferation, resulting from impeded actin dynamics, cell spreading, and cell cycle arrest. Thus, our findings provide new insight into mechanisms governing PMN-induced tissue injury and implicate PMN-MPs and MPO as important regulators of cellular function.
Epidemiology and effect of gastrointestinal nematodes on dairy goats in Argentina
Authors: Suarez Victor H. , Martínez Gabriela M. , Viñabal Alberto E. , Alfaro José R.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this work was to study the epidemiology and harmful effects of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) on dairy goats maintained in an intensive system. Two groups of goats were studied: untreated group (UG) (subdivided into UGjun goats that kidded in June, and UGjul goats that kidded in July) and treated group (TG) (with no subgroups, treated with monepantel: 3.75 mg/kg, orally, monthly). Eggs per gram (epg) in faeces were counted, faecal culture was performed to differentiate nematode genera and milk production was measured. Differences between groups were compared using least squares means analysis of variance (milk production and milking period length) and Kruskal–Wallis test (faecal egg counts). Nematode infection was moderate, with Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus being the dominant genera; the faecal egg counts reached the level of 2000 only once throughout the study. Goats that kidded in June had higher egg count after parturition (UGjun = 1564 epg), with significant differences (p < 0.04) from those that still had not kidded (UGjul = 962 epg). Over the entire trial period, the mean total milk production of TG (399.5 L ± 34.0 L) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of UG (281.6 L ± 37.5 L), representing an increase of 41.8% in total milk yield. The results of this study show a post-partum peak in egg count and a negative effect of GINs on milk yield, even with moderate infections.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Measurements Procedure for Vheicle Components--Part 28--Immunity to Radiated Electromagnetic Fields--Reverberation Method (Mode Tuning)
Authors:   Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Standards
Published: February 2017

Vehicle electrical/electronic systems may be affected when immersed in an electromagnetic field generated by sources such as radio and TV broadcast stations, radar and communication sites, mobile transmitters, cellular phones, etc. Reverberation method is used to evaluate the immunity of electronic devices in the frequency range of 400 MHz - 18GHz. Pulse modulation is used for testing above 800 MHz.

This document provides the component design and test engineers with a test procedure and the performance requirements necessary to evaluate the immunity of electronic devices to radiated electromagnetic fields early in the design stage as well as pilot and production stages. Ensuring electromagnetic compatibility early in the development stage will minimize costly changes later in the program and will prevent excessive component level hardening during full-vehicle level testing.

The reverberation test method performs a dual function:
The primary function of the method is to provide a bench test procedure correlatable to vehicle-level radiated immunity testing in the anechoic chamber and at mobile transmitter sites.
The method can be used to evaluate the relative performance of different designs of the same device.
Test Component Specification
Authors:   Truck and Bus Foundation Brake Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice contains the reference information for SAE J1802
Network Layer
Authors:   Truck Bus Control and Communications Network Committee
Published: February 2017

This series of SAE Recommended Practices was developed to provide an
open interconnect system for on-board electronic systems. It is the
intention of these documents to allow electronic devices to communicate
with each other by providing a standard architecture. This particular
document describes the Network Layer which defines the requirements and
services needed for the electronic devices (Network Interconnection
ECUs) providing intercommunications between different segments of the
SAE J1939 Vehicle Network. It also defines the various types of Network
Interconnection ECUs and the functions they provide. The information in
this document applies only to ECUs that are intended to provide
networking services. It is not necessary for an ECU to provide any of
these services in order to be compliant with the SAE J1939 protocol.
Recommended Practice for Pass-Thru Vehicle Programming
Authors:   Vehicle E E System Diagnostic Standards Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice provides the framework to allow reprogramming software applications from all vehicle manufacturers the flexibility to work with multiple vehicle data link interface tools from multiple tool suppliers. This system enables each vehicle manufacturer to control the programming sequence for electronic control units (ECUs) in their vehicles, but allows a single set of programming hardware and vehicle interface to be used to program modules for all vehicle manufacturers.

This document does not limit the hardware possibilities for the connection between the PC used for the software application and the tool (e.g., RS-232, RS-485, USB, Ethernet…). Tool suppliers are free to choose the hardware interface appropriate for their tool. The goal of this document is to ensure that reprogramming software from any vehicle manufacturer is compatible with hardware supplied by any tool manufacturer.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB) "OBD service information" regulations include requirements for reprogramming emission-related control modules in vehicles for all manufacturers by the aftermarket repair industry. This document is intended to conform to those regulations for 2004 and later model year vehicles. For some vehicles, this interface can also be used to reprogram emission-related control modules in vehicles prior to the 2004 model year, and for non-emission related control modules. For other vehicles, this usage may require additional manufacturer specific capabilities to be added to a fully compliant interface. A second part to this document, SAE J2534-2, is planned to include expanded capabilities that tool suppliers can optionally include in an interface to allow programming of these additional non-mandated vehicle applications. In addition to reprogramming capability, this interface is planned for use in OBD compliance testing as defined in SAE J1699-3. SAE J2534-1 includes some capabilities that are not required for Pass-Thru Programming, but which enable use of this interface for those other purposes without placing a significant burden on the interface manufacturers.

Additional requirements for future model years may require revision of this document, most notably the inclusion of SAE J1939 for some heavy-duty vehicles. This document will be reviewed for possible revision after those regulations are finalized and requirements are better understood. Possible revisions include SAE J1939 specific software and an alternate vehicle connector, but the basic hardware of an SAE J2534 interface device is expected to remain unchanged.
Recommended Practice for Developing Specifications for Automotive Thermoplastic Materials
Authors:   Plastics Committee
Published: February 2017

This SAE Recommended Practice is intended to establish uniform procedures for developing specifications for automotive thermoplastics. It is intended for use by automotive companies and their suppliers of molded and/ or fabricated parts from thermoplastic materials.
Performance Levels and Methods of Measurement of Magnetic and Electric Field Strength from Electric Vehicles, Broadband,9 kHz To 30 MHz
Authors:   Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Standards
Published: February 2017

The test procedures and performance levels in this SAE Recommended Practice cover the
measurement of magnetic and electric field strengths over the frequency range 9 kHz to 30
MHz and conducted emissions over the frequency range of 450 kHz to 30 MHz .
Conducted emission measurements in this document are applicable only to battery-charging
systems which utilize a switching frequency above 9 KHz, are mounted on the vehicle, and
whose power is transferred by metallic conductors. Conducted emission requirements apply
only during charging of the batteries from AC power lines.
Conducted and radiated emissions measurements of battery-charging systems that use an
induction power coupling device are not covered by this document.
The measurement of electromagnetic disturbances for frequencies from 30 MHz to 1000 MHz and
narrowband electromagnetic disturbances for frequencies from 150 KHz to 30 MHz are covered
in SAE J551-2.