bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schelling. Potenties of nature and speculative physics
Authors: Lukic Aleksandar
Published: October 2016

Through a critical approach towards Fichte?s learning, Schelling opposed
determination of nature as a limitation that ?I? sets to itself so that it
could know thyself. In his works on philosophy of nature, he determined
nature as a developing dynamic system. In this work we strive to demonstrate
that potenties of nature are one of the key notions of his speculative
physics. Even though Schelling himself in that context does not mention
Aristotle, our hypothesis is that Schelling?s speculative physics was greatly
influenced by Aristotle?s insights from his so-called theoretical second
philosophy.
Gradable adjectives and disagreement about personal taste
Authors: Vuletic Milos
Published: October 2016

Contextualism and Relativism offer competing semantic accounts of personal
taste predicates. I argue in this paper that Michael Glanzberg?s defense of
contextualism from one relativist argument-the Lost Disagreement Argument-is
not successful. I show that Glanzberg?s scalar analysis of the adjectives
from which personal taste predicates are built fails to capture the
characteristic subjectivity of these predicates. I propose an alternative
analysis according to whicheach personal taste adjective denotes multiple
functions from a set of objects to an ordered scale of measurement of the
appropriate dimensional property. This analysis succeeds where Glanzberg?s
fails and it favors a relativist treatment of personal taste predicates.
The Ramsey test
Authors: Djordjevic Vladan
Published: October 2016

Chalmers and H?jek showed that one of the common interpretations of the
Ramzey test leads to absurd consequences. Leitgeb proposed a solution. I will
try to formulate a better solution, which is compatible with Leitgeb?s, but
which I think is more clear and more general.
Liberal eugenics: moral justification of practice
Authors: Micic Stefan
Published: October 2016

This paper considers the question of justification of liberal eugenics as a
mean to change human nature that is formed by evolution. The paper present an
idea of liberal eugenics, and position of its proponent Nicholas Agar and its
opponent Francis Fukuyama. The question of moral justification of liberal
eugenics will be predominantly examined from the perspective of autonomy. It
will be argued that the respect for human nature, formed by evolution, is
secondary to the question of moral obligation to respect human dignity and as
such, the practice of liberal eugenics can be morally justified.
Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to the consumption of frozen beefburgers received from a food bank and originating from Poland: northern France, December 2014 to April 2015
Authors: Jones Gabrielle , Pihier Nathalie , Vanbockstael Caroline , Le Hello Simon , Cadel Six Sabrina , Fournet Nelly , Jourdan-da Silva Nathalie
Published: October 2016

A prolonged outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis occurred in northern France between December 2014 and April 2015. Epidemiological investigations following the initial notification on 30 December 2014 of five cases of salmonellosis (two confirmed S. Enteritidis) in young children residing in the Somme department revealed that all cases frequented the same food bank A. Further epidemiological, microbiological and food trace-back investigations indicated frozen beefburgers as the source of the outbreak and the suspected lot originating from Poland was recalled on 22 January 2015. On 2 March 2015 a second notification of S. Enteritidis cases in the Somme reinitiated investigations that confirmed a link with food bank A and with consumption of frozen beefburgers from the same Polish producer. In the face of a possible persistent source of contamination, all frozen beefburgers distributed by food bank A and from the same origin were blocked on 3 March 2015. Microbiological analyses confirmed contamination by S. Enteritidis of frozen beefburgers from a second lot remaining in cases’ homes. A second recall was initiated on 6 March 2015 and all frozen beefburgers from the Polish producer remain blocked after analyses identified additional contaminated lots over several months of production.
The social surplus of broadband initiatives in compulsory education
Authors: Parsons David Peter
Published: October 2016

In 2010, the New Zealand government embarked upon an ambitious programme of broadband infrastructure investment, a process that will continue until at least 2019. Part of this investment is specifically targeted at compulsory education, with initiatives that include bringing fibre connections to the school gate, supporting on-site network upgrades (including wireless) and providing teaching, learning and support services delivered through these networks. Such investments are not made without some projections of the likely rate of return, but calculating return on investment (ROI) in educational broadband is complex, as it encompasses a range of factors. This article reports on an interview-based study engaging a range of stakeholders in educational broadband provision. The study utilises a research model that considers the various elements of social surplus, namely; producer surplus (savings), producer surplus (profit) and consumer surplus (perceived value over and above cost), to explore the elements of social surplus that have been used to define educational broadband ROI calculations and justify the scale of investment. The results indicate that all three components of social surplus are relevant, though the concept of profit can only be seen in the broader context of long term contributions to the economy. A note of caution is that projections of ROI based only on positive returns fail to acknowledge the potential for some innovations to actually increase costs. Further, purely quantitative models do not properly take into account qualitative components of consumer surplus.
System code improvements for modelling passive safety systems and their validation
Authors: Buchholz S. , von der Cron D. , Schaffrath A.
Published: October 2016

GRS has been developing the system code ATHLET over many years. Because ATHLET, among other codes, is widely used in nuclear licensing and supervisory procedures, it has to represent the current state of science and technology. New reactor concepts such as Generation III+ and IV reactors and SMR are using passive safety systems intensively. The simulation of passive safety systems with the GRS system code ATHLET is still a big challenge, because of non-defined operation points and self-setting operation conditions. Additionally, the driving forces of passive safety systems are smaller and uncertainties of parameters have a larger impact than for active systems. This paper addresses the code validation and qualification work of ATHLET on the example of slightly inclined horizontal heat exchangers, which are e. g. used as emergency condensers (e. g. in the KERENA and the CAREM) or as heat exchanger in the passive auxiliary feed water systems (PAFS) of the APR+.
A reverse method for the determination of the radiological inventory of irradiated graphite at reactor scale
Authors: Nicaise G. , Poncet B.
Published: October 2016

Irradiated graphite waste will be produced from the decommissioning of the six gas-cooled nuclear reactors operated by Electricité De France (EDF). Determining the radionuclide content of this waste is an important legal commitment for both safety reasons and in order to determine the best suited management strategy. As evidenced by numerous studies nuclear graphite is a very pure material, however, it cannot be considered from an analytical viewpoint as a usual homogeneous material. Because of graphite high purity, radionuclide measurements in irradiated graphite exhibit very high discrepancies especially when corresponding to precursors at trace level. Therefore the assessment of a radionuclide inventory only based on few number of radiochemical measurements leads in most of cases to a gross over or under-estimation that can be detrimental to graphite waste management. A reverse method using an identification calculation–measurement process is proposed in order to assess the radionuclide inventory as precisely as possible.
ETSON views on R&D priorities for implementation of the 2014 Euratom Directive on safety of nuclear installations
Authors: Van Dorsselaere J.P. , Mustoe J. , Power S. , Adorni M. , Schaffrath A. , Nieminen A.
Published: October 2016

Following the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in 2011, the Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom has reinforced the previous 2009 Directive that had established a Community framework for the safety of nuclear installations. In particular, one new article introduces a high-level EU-wide safety objective of preventing accidents through defence-in-depth and avoiding radioactive releases outside a nuclear installation. For achieving this objective, the research necessary outcomes are mainly a better knowledge of the involved physical phenomena and its capitalization in methodologies and tools such as simulation codes. ETSON, the European Technical Safety Organisation Network, had already identified in its Position Paper in 2011 the main R&D priorities. The present paper underlines that most of these priorities, with a few updates due to progress of knowledge, remain consistent with the objectives of this new Directive. And it illustrates the ETSON involvement through examples of on-going or planned R&D national and international projects.
Evaluation of Level-of-Service Measures for Two-Lane Highways with a Simulation Model
Authors: Ghods Amir H. , Saccomanno Frank F.
Published: October 2016

Most highway capacity guidelines use two main traffic measures to establish the level of service for two-lane highways: average travel speed (ATS) and percentage of time spent following (PTSF). In the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), directional ATS is related to volume by using a linear expression with a single coefficient for volume in both directions (travel and opposing), whereas in other capacity guides such as those in Germany, Finland, and Brazil, a nonlinear form of expression is used; some of these expressions use different coefficients for travel and opposing volumes. In the HCM, directional PTSF is related to volume by using an exponential expression. Other models use a slightly different exponential form of model with different coefficients. The purpose of this research is to use a newly developed and calibrated two-lane microsimulation model to investigate the relationship between traffic volume and directional ATS and PTSF. New expressions are suggested and subsequently compared with those of the HCM and of a number of existing European and South American models. The simulation results show that, unlike the HCM expression, ATS versus volume has a nonlinear convex shape especially at low volume in the travel direction. This finding is in accordance with German, Finnish, and Brazilian models. A new nonlinear exponential expression is suggested to replace the current linear expression for ATS versus volume in the HCM. The HCM PTSF model structure, however, was found to be in accordance with simulation results. Hence, model coefficients were updated for PTSF only.
Right-Turn-on-Red Flow Profile Impacts on Urban Street Capacity Analysis
Authors: Hale David K. , Ma Jiaqi , Kondyli Alexandra , Hu Jia , Huang Zhitong , Su Peng
Published: October 2016

The Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010) contains computational procedures for evaluating traffic operational efficiency of urban street segments. These procedures have been implemented within several commercial software packages and are likely used by thousands of engineers and planners across the United States. The procedures for urban street capacity analysis contain no logic for handling right turns on red (RTORs) or for handling special cases of RTORs such as shielded and free right turns. A new proposed RTOR modeling framework is described for urban streets in the HCM 2010. When significant upstream RTOR flows exist, the proposed logic is designed to generate more realistic flow profiles. Three types of experimental results are presented: they demonstrate the improved modeling accuracy of the proposed logic. First, it is shown that macroscopic flow profile shapes are now more visually sensible because they now illustrate RTOR flows moving at the appropriate times. Second, macroscopic flow profile shapes are now more consistent with microscopic vehicle trajectories. Third, a statistical analysis shows that when the proposed logic is used, HCM 2010 performance measures become more consistent with the performance measures generated by microsimulation. Finally, case study results show that when the proposed RTOR logic is not used, control delays are sometimes be inaccurate by more than 30%. Given the experimental evidence presented, it is urgent that the proposed improvements be adopted and implemented so that RTOR corridors can be accurately analyzed by the HCM 2010 procedures.
Time Headway Modeling and Capacity Analysis of Pedestrian Facilities Involving Individuals with Disabilities
Authors: Sharifi Mohammad Sadra , Stuart Daniel , Christensen Keith , Chen Anthony
Published: October 2016

Walking infrastructure should be designed to be effective for the needs of all pedestrian groups. Unfortunately, individuals with disabilities are often ignored in pedestrian facility analysis and design because of the lack of data on their walking behavior. A large-scale controlled walking experiment involving individuals with disabilities was conducted at Utah State University to observe individual pedestrian walking behavior on various walking facilities, including a passageway and a bottleneck. The purpose of this study was twofold: to model the time headway between individual types by using a mixed distribution model and to estimate passageway and bottleneck capacities and identify the impact of involving individuals with disabilities on capacity estimation. Analysis revealed that visually impaired individuals and individuals using nonmotorized wheelchairs and walkers caused the minimum capacity reduction on passageways and bottlenecks, whereas individuals using motorized wheelchairs caused the maximum capacity reduction in these areas. The findings are expected to improve the estimation of the facility capacity required to meet a preferred level of service for heterogeneous populations.
Calculating Approach Capacity of Diverging Diamond Interchanges with Consideration of Internal Queue Effects
Authors: Pang Bo , Liu Hongchao , Xu Hao
Published: October 2016

The diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is an innovative alternative to the conventional diamond interchange. Its operational efficiency has proved promising because its unique geometric design allows the operation of flexible signal phasing schemes. Of all DDI phasing schemes, two-phase operations can best highlight the merit of the DDI design by using overlaps. An internal queue is allowed with different types of two-phase operations. Therefore, conventional capacity calculation methods may not be appropriate for the DDI if the effects of the internal queue need to be considered. To fill this gap, a method was developed to calculate the approach capacity of the DDI by using an analytical model that would consider the impacts of the internal queue on the traffic progression of either arterial roads or freeway ramps. The proposed model was fully calibrated with microscopic traffic simulation in Vissim; comparison of the results indicates that the model has promising accuracy and stability. One of the proposed model’s most important functions is the calculation of lost green time of traffic movements of the DDI. A similar method documented in the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010), Chapter 22, was also designed to calculate the lost green time of signalized interchanges due to the impact of an internal queue. A comparison of the two methods found that the HCM 2010 method is not appropriate for DDIs because the movements feeding into the internal space of a DDI are significantly different from the movements of a conventional signalized interchange.
Exploratory Study on Correlation Between Twitter Concentration and Traffic Surges
Authors: Zhang Zhenhua , Ni Ming , He Qing , Gao Jing , Gou Jizhan , Li Xiaoling
Published: October 2016

Social media receive increasing attention as a crowdsourced information resource in traffic operations and management. Tweets, which are blogged and shared by great masses of people, may be associated with some major social activities. In this study these tweets are called “Twitter concentrations.” The public activities behind Twitter concentrations potentially pose more pressure on the traffic network and cause traffic surges within a specified time and location. However, it is still unknown how closely the Twitter concentrations and traffic surges are correlated. This study fuses a set of tweets and traffic data collected during 2014 in Northern Virginia and investigates the correlation between Twitter concentrations and traffic surges in July. The results show the promise and effectiveness of the proposed methods and even provide insights into the causality of nonrecurrent traffic surges.
Conceptual Approach for Estimating Dynamic Passenger Car Units on Urban Arterial Roads by Using Simultaneous Equations
Authors: Dhamaniya Ashish , Chandra Satish
Published: October 2016

This study demonstrates that passenger car unit (PCU) values for a vehicle are not static and vary with traffic volume and composition. Data collected at eight urban arterial roads in India were analyzed to explain the dynamic nature of the PCU factor. All vehicles in the traffic stream were divided into five categories, and simultaneous equations were developed to determine the speed of a vehicle type from information on traffic volume and composition. These equations were used to show the variation in PCU values with traffic volume and composition on a road. The change in PCU values was explained on the basis of the relative interaction of vehicle type in the traffic stream at different volume levels. A proposed range of PCU values for big vehicles was from 1.47 to 1.65 for big cars and for heavy vehicles from 5.51 to 6.54, respectively, when their proportions in the mix remained within an observed range in the field. Similarly, a range of PCU values for motorized three-wheelers of 0.99 to 1.01 and a set of PCU values for motorized two-wheelers of 0.20 to 0.23 were obtained. Accuracy of the PCU values estimated through simultaneous equations was checked by comparing the estimated values with those calculated directly from the field data. Statistical testing showed that there was no significant difference between field-estimated and model-predicted PCU values. Further, the speed–volume relationships developed by using two sets of PCU factors yielded the capacity values with a difference of less than 2%; this result indicates the correctness of the methodology in this study.
Investigation of Peak-Hour Factor at Freeway Segments: Urban and Suburban Vicinities
Authors: Dehman Amjad , Drakopoulos Alexander
Published: October 2016

The peak-hour factor (PHF) adjusts for traffic volume variability during the peak hour so that traffic demand can be converted to represent the busiest 15 min of the peak hour. Operational and planning analyses of freeways start by adjusting traffic demand by the PHF. Although the importance of the PHF is widely recognized, few efforts have been dedicated to a comprehensive understanding of this factor. The Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010) recommends the use of a single default freeway PHF value equal to 0.94 when local data are not available. The main aim of this study was to provide a quantitative analysis of the PHF values at freeways and the potential sources of its variability including the peak period (a.m., p.m., and weekend periods), day-to-day variation, traffic volume and level of service, early or late peak-hour onset, day of the week, month, season, and weather. Traffic data were collected at 54 sites along 10 freeway corridors in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, during 2014. A massive data sample including 28,394 PHF records covering different daily, seasonal, and operational conditions was compiled. A wide range of PHF values was observed; they fluctuated considerably from day to day, even at the same site. Traffic volume, level of service, and peak period were found to be major sources of PHF variability; they deserve more attention in practice. Specific conclusions and recommendations for future editions of the HCM are summarized.
Linearized Euler Equations for the Determination of Scattering Matrices for Orifice and Perforated Plate Configurations in the High Mach Number Regime
Authors: Schulze Moritz , Wagner Michael , Sattelmayer Thomas
Published: October 2016

The interaction of a plane acoustic wave and a sheared flow is numerically investigated for simple orifice and perforated plate configurations in an isolated, non-resonant environment for Mach numbers up to choked conditions in the holes. Analytical derivations found in the literature are not valid in this regime due to restrictions to low Mach numbers and incompressible conditions. To allow for a systematic and detailed parameter study, a low-cost hybrid Computational Fluid Dynamic/Computational Aeroacoustic (CFD/CAA) methodology is used. For the CFD simulations, a standard k–ϵ Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) model is employed, while the CAA simulations are based on frequency space transformed linearized Euler equations (LEE), which are discretized in a stabilized Finite Element method. Simulation times in the order of seconds per frequency allow for a detailed parameter study. From the application of the Multi Microphone Method together with the two-source location procedure, acoustic scattering matrices are calculated and compared to experimental findings showing very good agreement. The scattering properties are presented in the form of scattering matrices for a frequency range of 500–1500 Hz.
A Proof-of-Concept Study: Simple and Effective Detection of P and T Waves in Arrhythmic ECG Signals
Authors: Elgendi Mohamed , Meo Marianna , Abbott Derek
Published: October 2016

A robust and numerically-efficient method based on two moving average filters, followed by a dynamic event-related threshold, has been developed to detect P and T waves in electrocardiogram (ECG) signals as a proof-of-concept. Detection of P and T waves is affected by the quality and abnormalities in ECG recordings; the proposed method can detect P and T waves simultaneously through a unique algorithm despite these challenges. The algorithm was tested on arrhythmic ECG signals extracted from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database with 21,702 beats. These signals typically suffer from: (1) non-stationary effects; (2) low signal-to-noise ratio; (3) premature atrial complexes; (4) premature ventricular complexes; (5) left bundle branch blocks; and (6) right bundle branch blocks. Interestingly, our algorithm obtained a sensitivity of 98.05% and a positive predictivity of 97.11% for P waves, and a sensitivity of 99.86% and a positive predictivity of 99.65% for T waves. These results, combined with the simplicity of the method, demonstrate that an efficient and simple algorithm can suit portable, wearable, and battery-operated ECG devices.
Steady-State Anderson Accelerated Coupling of Lattice Boltzmann and Navier–Stokes Solvers
Authors: Atanasov Atanas , Uekermann Benjamin , Pachajoa Mejía Carlos , Bungartz Hans-Joachim , Neumann Philipp
Published: October 2016

We present an Anderson acceleration-based approach to spatially couple three-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann and Navier–Stokes (LBNS) flow simulations. This allows to locally exploit the computational features of both fluid flow solver approaches to the fullest extent and yields enhanced control to match the LB and NS degrees of freedom within the LBNS overlap layer. Designed for parallel Schwarz coupling, the Anderson acceleration allows for the simultaneous execution of both Lattice Boltzmann and Navier–Stokes solver. We detail our coupling methodology, validate it, and study convergence and accuracy of the Anderson accelerated coupling, considering three steady-state scenarios: plane channel flow, flow around a sphere and channel flow across a porous structure. We find that the Anderson accelerated coupling yields a speed-up (in terms of iteration steps) of up to 40% in the considered scenarios, compared to strictly sequential Schwarz coupling.
The Relationship between Residential Electricity Consumption and Income: A Piecewise Linear Model with Panel Data
Authors: Liu Yanan , Gao Yixuan , Hao Yu , Liao Hua
Published: October 2016

There are many uncertainties and risks in residential electricity consumption associated with economic development. Knowledge of the relationship between residential electricity consumption and its key determinant—income—is important to the sustainable development of the electric power industry. Using panel data from 30 provinces for the 1995–2012 period, this study investigates how residential electricity consumption changes as incomes increase in China. Previous studies typically used linear or quadratic double-logarithmic models imposing ex ante restrictions on the indistinct relationship between residential electricity consumption and income. Contrary to those models, we employed a reduced piecewise linear model that is self-adaptive and highly flexible and circumvents the problem of “prior restrictions”. Robust tests of different segment specifications and regression methods are performed to ensure the validity of the research. The results provide strong evidence that the income elasticity was approximately one, and it remained stable throughout the estimation period. The income threshold at which residential electricity consumption automatically remains stable or slows has not been reached. To ensure the sustainable development of the electric power industry, introducing higher energy efficiency standards for electrical appliances and improving income levels are vital. Government should also emphasize electricity conservation in the industrial sector rather than in residential sector.
Phenolic Proﬁle and Antioxidant Activity of Melon (Cucumis Melo L.) Seeds from Pakistan
Authors: Zeb Alam
Published: October 2016

Phenolic composition of different extracts of honeydew melon seeds and their antioxidant activity was determined for the ﬁrst time. Phenolic compounds were identiﬁed using a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method. Results showed the identiﬁcation of ﬁve phenolic compounds in water extract namely gallic acid and its derivative, hydroxybenzoic acid and catechin derivatives and caffeic acid.There were nine phenolic compounds identiﬁed in methanol–water extract, which are caffeic acid, two vanillic acid derivatives, ellagitanins, quercetin-3-rutinoside, derivatives of syringic acid and ellagic acid. The amounts of gallic acid, caffeic acid and catechin were higher among all phenolic compounds. Total phenolic compounds and radical scavenging activity were higher in water and methanol–water extract than their corresponding methanol extracts. In conclusion, melon seeds are a good source of natural antioxidants with signiﬁcant biological functions and may serve as food ingredients and as fortifying material for maintaining shelf life.
Association between Vitamin D Status and Coronary Heart Disease among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Aljefree Najlaa , Lee Patricia , Alsaqqaf Jamal , Ahmed Faruk
Published: October 2016

Recent evidence has pointed out an association between vitamin D deficiency and coronary heart disease (CHD). Due to the growing epidemic of CHD and vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia, exploring the role of vitamin D in the prevention of CHD is crucial. The aim of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D status and CHD in Saudi Arabian adults. This case-control study included 130 CHD cases and 195 age-sex matched controls. Study subjects were recruited from three hospitals in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Study participants were interviewed face-to-face to collect data on their socio-demographic characteristics and family history of CHD. Fasting blood samples were collected, and serum levels of vitamin D, glucose, and total cholesterol were measured. Body weight, height, and blood pressure measurements were also recorded. Severe vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL) was much more prevalent in CHD cases than in controls (46% and 3%, respectively). The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) was associated with CHD, with an odds ratio of 6.5 (95% CI: 2.7–15, p < 0.001). The current study revealed that vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with CHD, suggesting an important predictor of CHD among Saudi adults.
The Determination of Food Dyes in Vitamins by RP-HPLC
Authors: Šuleková Monika , Hudák Alexander , Smrčová Miroslava
Published: October 2016

Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) for the determination of five synthetic food dyes (Quinoline Yellow E104, Sunset Yellow E110, Ponceau 4R E124, Tartrazine E102 and Carmine E120) in vitamins was used. The dyes were analyzed within 10 min using a column with stationary phase C 18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at 40 °C with isocratic elution, and the mobile phase contained acetonitrile and a mixture of CH3COONa:CH3OH (85:15, v/v) in a ratio of 10:90 (v/v) for yellow-colored capsules and 20:80 (v/v) for red-colored capsules, respectively. A diode-array detector was used to monitor the dyes between 190 and 800 nm. It was established that the analyzed samples contained synthetic dyes in a concentration range from 79.5 ± 0.01 μg/capsule of Ponceau 4R, E124 to 524 ± 0.01 μg/capsule of Tartrazine, E102. The obtained results were compared with existing acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) for individual dyes. This paper provides information about the content of dyes in samples of vitamins. This information is not generally available to consumers.
Coumarin Antifungal Lead Compounds from Millettia thonningii and Their Predicted Mechanism of Action
Authors: Ayine-Tora Daniel , Kingsford-Adaboh Robert , Asomaning William , Harrison Jerry , Mills-Robertson Felix , Bukari Yahaya , Sakyi Patrick , Kaminta Sylvester , Reynisson Jóhannes
Published: October 2016

Fungal pathogens continue to pose challenges to humans and plants despite efforts to control them. Two coumarins, robustic acid and thonningine-C isolated from Millettia thonningii, show promising activity against the fungus Candida albicans with minimum fungicidal concentration of 1.0 and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. Molecular modelling against the putative bio-molecular target, lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), revealed a plausible binding mode for the active compounds, in which the hydroxyl group binds with a methionine backbone carboxylic group blocking access to the iron catalytic site. This binding disrupts the synthesis of several important sterols for the survival of fungi.
Transcriptome Profile Reveals that Pu-Erh Tea Represses the Expression of Vitellogenin Family to Reduce Fat Accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Xiao Ru-Yue , Hao Junjun , Ding Yi-Hong , Che Yan-Yun , Zou Xiao-Ju , Liang Bin
Published: October 2016

Due to misbalanced energy surplus and expenditure, obesity has become a common chronic disorder that is highly associated with many metabolic diseases. Pu-erh tea, a traditional Chinese beverage, has been believed to have numerous health benefits, such as anti-obesity. However, the underlying mechanisms of its anti-obesity effect are yet to be understood. Here, we take the advantages of transcriptional profile by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to view the global gene expression of Pu-erh tea. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans was treated with different concentrations of Pu-erh tea water extract (PTE, 0 g/mL, 0.025 g/mL, and 0.05 g/mL). Compared with the control, PTE indeed decreases lipid droplets size and fat accumulation. The high-throughput RNA-Sequence technique detected 18073 and 18105 genes expressed in 0.025 g/mL and 0.05 g/mL PTE treated groups, respectively. Interestingly, the expression of the vitellogenin family (vit-1, vit-2, vit-3, vit-4 and vit-5) was significantly decreased by PTE, which was validated by qPCR analysis. Furthermore, vit-1(ok2616), vit-3(ok2348) and vit-5(ok3239) mutants are insensitive to PTE triggered fat reduction. In conclusion, our transcriptional profile by RNA-Sequence suggests that Pu-erh tea lowers the fat accumulation primarily through repression of the expression of vit(vitellogenin) family, in addition to our previously reported (sterol regulatory element binding protein) SREBP-SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase) axis.
Molecular Epidemiology and Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of the H3N8 Equine Influenza Virus in South America
Authors: Olguin Perglione Cecilia , Golemba Marcelo , Torres Carolina , Barrandeguy Maria
Published: October 2016

Equine influenza virus (EIV) is considered the most important respiratory pathogen of horses as outbreaks of the disease lead to substantial economic losses. The H3N8 EIV has caused respiratory disease in horses across the world, including South American countries. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences for the complete haemagglutinin gene of the H3N8 EIV detected in South America since 1963 were analyzed. Phylogenetic and Bayesian coalescent analyses were carried out to study the origin, the time of the most recent common ancestors (tMRCA), the demographic and the phylogeographic patterns of the H3N8 EIV. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the H3N8 EIV detected in South America grouped in 5 well-supported monophyletic clades, each associated with strains of different origins. The tMRCA estimated for each group suggested that the virus was circulating in North America at least one year before its effective circulation in the South American population. Phylogenetic and coalescent analyses revealed a polyphyletic behavior of the viruses causing the outbreaks in South America between 1963 and 2012, possibly due to the introduction of at least 4 different EIVs through the international movement of horses. In addition, phylodynamic analysis suggested South America as the starting point of the spread of the H3N8 EIV in 1963 and showed migration links from the United States to South America in the subsequent EIV irruptions. Further, an increase in the relative genetic diversity was observed between 2006 and 2007 and a subsequent decline since 2009, probably due to the co-circulation of different lineages and as a result of the incorporation of the Florida clade 2 strain in vaccines, respectively. The observed data highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance and the implementation of appropriate quarantine procedures to prevent outbreaks of the disease.
Accurate Attitude Estimation Using ARS under Conditions of Vehicle Movement Based on Disturbance Acceleration Adaptive Estimation and Correction
Authors: Xing Li , Hang Yijun , Xiong Zhi , Liu Jianye , Wan Zhong
Published: October 2016

This paper describes a disturbance acceleration adaptive estimate and correction approach for an attitude reference system (ARS) so as to improve the attitude estimate precision under vehicle movement conditions. The proposed approach depends on a Kalman filter, where the attitude error, the gyroscope zero offset error and the disturbance acceleration error are estimated. By switching the filter decay coefficient of the disturbance acceleration model in different acceleration modes, the disturbance acceleration is adaptively estimated and corrected, and then the attitude estimate precision is improved. The filter was tested in three different disturbance acceleration modes (non-acceleration, vibration-acceleration and sustained-acceleration mode, respectively) by digital simulation. Moreover, the proposed approach was tested in a kinematic vehicle experiment as well. Using the designed simulations and kinematic vehicle experiments, it has been shown that the disturbance acceleration of each mode can be accurately estimated and corrected. Moreover, compared with the complementary filter, the experimental results have explicitly demonstrated the proposed approach further improves the attitude estimate precision under vehicle movement conditions.
The Disturbing Effect of the Stray Magnetic Fields on Magnetoimpedance Sensors
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhou Yong , Lei Chong , Zhi Shaotao , Guo Lei , Li Hengyu , Wu Zhizheng , Xie Shaorong , Luo Jun , Pu Huayan
Published: October 2016

The disturbing effect of the stray magnetic fields of Fe-based amorphous ribbons on the giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) sensor has been investigated systematically in this paper. Two simple methods were used for examining the disturbing effect of the stray magnetic fields of ribbons on the GMI sensor. In order to study the influence of the stray magnetic fields on the GMI effect, the square-shaped amorphous ribbons were tested in front, at the back, on the left and on the top of a meander-line GMI sensor made up of soft ferromagnetic films, respectively. Experimental results show that the presence of ribbons in front or at the back of GMI sensor shifts the GMI curve to a lower external magnetic field. On the contrary, the presence of ribbons on the left or on the top of the GMI sensor shifts the GMI curve to a higher external magnetic field, which is related to the coupling effect of the external magnetic field and the stray magnetic fields. The influence of the area and angle of ribbons on GMI was also studied in this work. The GMI sensor exhibits high linearity for detection of the stray magnetic fields, which has made it feasible to construct a sensitive magnetometer for detecting the typical stray magnetic fields of general soft ferromagnetic materials.
Linear Parks along Urban Rivers: Perceptions of Thermal Comfort and Climate Change Adaptation in Cyprus
Authors: Giannakis Elias , Bruggeman Adriana , Poulou Dimitra , Zoumides Christos , Eliades Marinos
Published: October 2016

The development of green space along urban rivers could mitigate urban heat island effects, enhance the physical and mental well-being of city dwellers, and improve flood resilience. A linear park has been recently created along the ephemeral Pedieos River in the urban area of Nicosia, Cyprus. Questionnaire surveys and micrometeorological measurements were conducted to explore people’s perceptions and satisfaction regarding the services of the urban park. People’s main reasons to visit the park were physical activity and exercise (67%), nature (13%), and cooling (4%). The micrometeorological measurements in and near the park revealed a relatively low cooling effect (0.5 °C) of the park. However, the majority of the visitors (84%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the cooling effect of the park. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds of individuals feeling very comfortable under a projected 3 °C future increase in temperature would be 0.34 times lower than the odds of feeling less comfortable. The discrepancies between the observed thermal comfort index and people’s perceptions revealed that people in semi-arid environments are adapted to the hot climatic conditions; 63% of the park visitors did not feel uncomfortable at temperatures between 27 °C and 37 °C. Further research is needed to assess other key ecosystems services of this urban green river corridor, such as flood protection, air quality regulation, and biodiversity conservation, to contribute to integrated climate change adaptation planning.
Toxicity and Growth Assessments of Three Thermophilic Benthic Dinoflagellates (Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Prorocentrum lima and Coolia monotis) Developing in the Southern Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Ben-Gharbia Hela , Yahia Ons , Amzil Zouher , Chomérat Nicolas , Abadie Eric , Masseret Estelle , Sibat Manoella , Zmerli Triki Habiba , Nouri Habiba , Laabir Mohamed
Published: October 2016

Harmful benthic dinoflagellates, usually developing in tropical areas, are expanding to temperate ecosystems facing water warming. Reports on harmful benthic species are particularly scarce in the Southern Mediterranean Sea. For the first time, three thermophilic benthic dinoflagellates (Ostreopsis cf. ovata, Prorocentrum lima and Coolia monotis) were isolated from Bizerte Bay (Tunisia, Mediterranean) and monoclonal cultures established. The ribotyping confirmed the morphological identification of the three species. Maximum growth rates were 0.59 ± 0.08 d−1 for O. cf. ovata, 0.35 ± 0.01 d−1 for C. monotis and 0.33 ± 0.04 d−1 for P. lima. Toxin analyses revealed the presence of ovatoxin-a and ovatoxin-b in O. cf. ovata cells. Okadaic acid and dinophysistoxin-1 were detected in P. lima cultures. For C. monotis, a chromatographic peak at 5.6 min with a mass m/z = 1061.768 was observed, but did not correspond to a mono-sulfated analogue of the yessotoxin. A comparison of the toxicity and growth characteristics of these dinoflagellates, distributed worldwide, is proposed.
Improvement of the Pharmacological Properties of Maize RIP by Cysteine-Specific PEGylation
Authors: Au Ka-Yee , Shi Wei-Wei , Qian Shuai , Zuo Zhong , Shaw Pang-Chui
Published: October 2016

To improve the pharmacological properties of maize ribosome-inactivating protein (maize RIP) for targeting HIV-infected cells, the previously engineered TAT-fused active form of maize RIP (MOD) was further engineered for cysteine-directed PEGylation. In this work, two potential antigenic sites, namely Lys-78 and Lys-264, were identified. They were mutated to cysteine residue and conjugated with PEG5k or PEG20k. The resultant PEG derivatives of MOD variants were examined for ribosome-inactivating activity, circulating half-life and immunogenicity. Our results showed that MOD-PEG conjugates had two- to five-fold lower biological activity compared to the wild-type. Mutation of the two sites respectively did not decrease the anti-MOD IgG and IgE level in mice, but the conjugation of PEG did dramatically reduce the antigenicity. Furthermore, pharmacokinetics studies demonstrated that attachment of PEG20k prolonged the plasma half-life by five-fold for MOD-K78C and 17-fold for MOD-K264C, respectively. The site-specific mutation together with PEGylation therefore generated MOD derivatives with improved pharmacological properties.
Effect of Degradation of Zearalenone-Contaminated Feed by Bacillus licheniformis CK1 on Postweaning Female Piglets
Authors: Fu Guanhua , Ma Junfei , Wang Lihong , Yang Xin , Liu Jeruei , Zhao Xin
Published: October 2016

Zearalenone (ZEA), an estrogenic mycotoxin, is mainly produced by Fusarium fungi. In this study, Bacillus licheniformis CK1 isolated from soil with the capability of degrading ZEA was evaluated for its efficacy in reducing the adverse effects of ZEA in piglets. The gilts were fed one of the following three diets for 14 days: a basic diet for the control group; the basic diet supplemented with ZEA-contaminated basic diet for the treatment 1 (T1) group; and the basic diet supplemented with fermented ZEA-contaminated basic diet by CK1 for the treatment 2 (T2) group. The actual ZEA contents (analyzed) were 0, 1.20 ± 0.11, 0.47 ± 0.22 mg/kg for the control, T1, and T2 diets, respectively. The results showed that the T1 group had significantly increased the size of vulva and the relative weight of reproductive organs compared to the control group at the end of the trial. The T1 group significantly decreased the concentration of the luteinizing hormone (LH) compared with the control and T2 groups. Expression of ERβ was significantly up-regulated in the T2 group compared with the control. In addition, expression of ERβ was not different between the control and the T1 group. In summary, our results suggest that Bacillus licheniformis CK1 could detoxify ZEA in feed and reduce the adverse effects of ZEA in the gilts.
The Development and Aging of the Magnocellular and Parvocellular Visual Pathways as Indicated by VEP Recordings between 5 and 84 Years of Age
Authors: Benedek György , Horváth Gyöngyi , Kéri Szabolcs , Braunitzer Gábor , Janáky Márta
Published: October 2016

It is well known that pattern reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are age-sensitive. Through the use of this technique, it is possible to assess both of the major visual pathways (i.e., the magnocellular and parvocellular ones) in terms of function and development. What developmental path these pathways follow, and if they develop/age in parallel across the human lifespan is a matter of ongoing debate, yet, only a few VEP studies have dealt with this issue. This cross-sectional study examined a sample of 115 healthy volunteers aged 5 to 84 years. Beyond the standard checkerboard pattern reversal stimulation at 97% contrast, we recorded pattern-reversal VEPs at 6% contrast to selectively stimulate the M pathway and isoluminant red and green checkerboard stimulation was also used to selectively stimulate the P pathway. Our results do not support the developmental advantage of any of the pathways. The development of both pathways appear to take a remarkably long time (well into the 30s), and the signs of aging become marked over 50 years of age, especially in the case of the magnocellular pathway.
Le goût pour Chypre. Objets d’art et tissus précieux importés de Chypre en Occident (XIIIe-XVe siècles)
Authors: Trélat Philippe
Published: October 2016

This paper examines the spread in the West of precious fabrics and art objects produced in Cyprus under Latin rule. It is possible to provide a picture reflecting the diversity of Cypriote production based on the church and princely inventories and books of accounts : sheets, liturgical vestments, altar cloths, silk textiles, gold-thread embroideries, chests and caskets, copper candelabra, glass carafe, wooden icons. The trade manuals and the Italian notarial deeds confirm the export of the luxury goods from Famagusta to the main western ports. Pilgrims and Crusaders also provide Cypriote luxury items to the treasures of the cathedrals. The spread of the taste of Cyprus in the West owes a great deal to Anne de Lusignan’s departure to the Court of Savoy and the visit of Peter I, king of Cyprus, to different European capitals.
Les voyageurs de langue française et la domination vénitienne sur le royaume de Chypre (1480-1550)
Authors: Grivaud Gilles
Published: October 2016

Unlike the French travelers of the nineteenth century, those of the years 1480 to 1550 have not considered Cyprus as a country with specific links with the kingdom of France, despite the long period of Lusignan’s domination. In their eyes, the island was a country part of the Christian West, even if the indigenous population had specifics ritual practices ; testimonies expressing resentment from the Frankish elites against Venice are exceptional.
Feynman rules for Weyl spinors with mixed Dirac and Majorana mass terms
Authors: Dūdėnas Vytautas , Gajdosik Thomas
Published: October 2016

We present a basic formalism for using the Weyl spinor notation in Feynman rules. We focus on Weyl spinors with mixed Dirac and Majorana mass terms. To clarify the definitions we derive the Feynman rules from the path integral and present two examples: loop corrections for a fermion propagator and a tree level analysis of a seesaw toy model.