bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Protein Intake Is Associated with Frailty in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Coelho-Júnior Hélio José , Rodrigues Bruno , Uchida Marco , Marzetti Emanuele
Published: September 2018

(1) Background: Several factors have been suggested to be associated with the physiopathology of frailty in older adults, and nutrition (especially protein intake) has been attributed fundamental importance in this context. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between protein intake and frailty status in older adults. (2) Methods: A search of scientific studies was conducted in the main databases (Medline, Scopus, Cochrane library), and in the reference lists of selected articles. The search terms included synonyms and Medical Subject Headings and involved the use of Boolean operators which allowed the combination of words and search terms. Observational studies—cross-sectional and longitudinal—that met the eligibility criteria were included in the review. Article selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Meta-analyses with random effects were performed. Publication bias was measured using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology instrument. (3) Results: In the final sample, 10 articles, seven cross-sectional and three longitudinal, were included in the present study. Overall, studies investigated a total of 50,284 older adults from three different continents between 2006 and 2018. Four cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analyses. The results demonstrated that a high protein intake was negatively associated with frailty status in older adults (odds ratio: 0.67, confidence interval = 0.56 to 0.82, p = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a high consumption of dietary protein is inversely associated with frailty in older adults.
Self-Assembly DBS Nanofibrils on Solution-Blown Nanofibers as Hierarchical Ion-Conducting Pathway for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
Authors: Wang Hang , Li Xiangxiang , Li Xiaojie , Feng Xi , Kang Weimin , Xu Xianlin , Zhuang Xupin , Cheng Bowen
Published: September 2018

In this work, we reported a novel proton exchange membrane (PEM) with an ion-conducting pathway. The hierarchical nanofiber structure was prepared via in situ self-assembling 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-d-sorbitol (DBS) supramolecular fibrils on solution-blown, sulfonated poly (ether sulfone) (SPES) nanofiber, after which the composite PEM was prepared by incorporating hierarchical nanofiber into the chitosan polymer matrix. Then, the effects of incorporating the hierarchical nanofiber structure on the thermal stability, water uptake, dimensional stability, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of the composite membranes were investigated. The results show that incorporation of hierarchical nanofiber improves the water uptake, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability of the membranes. Furthermore, the composite membrane with 50% hierarchical nanofibers exhibited the highest proton conductivity of 0.115 S cm−1 (80 °C), which was 69.12% higher than the values of pure chitosan membrane. The self-assembly allows us to generate hierarchical nanofiber among the interfiber voids, and this structure can provide potential benefits for the preparation of high-performance PEMs.
Efficient Adsorption on Benzoyl and Stearoyl Cellulose to Remove Phenanthrene and Pyrene from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Kim Yohan , Jeong Daham , Park Kyeong Hui , Yu Jae-Hyuk , Jung Seunho
Published: September 2018

Benzoyl and stearoyl acid grafted cellulose were synthesized by a simple chemical grafting method. Using these as chemical adsorbents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), like pyrene and phenanthrene, were effectively removed from aqueous solution. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized adsorbents were determined through X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), FE-SEM, and NMR analyses. Through this method, it was confirmed that benzoyl and stearoyl acid were successfully grafted onto the surface of cellulose. The 5 mg of stearoyl grafted cellulose (St–Cell) remove 96.94% pyrene and 97.61% phenanthrene as compared to unmodified cellulose, which adsorbed 1.46% pyrene and 2.99% phenanthrene from 0.08 ppm pyrene and 0.8 ppm phenanthrene aqueous solution, suggesting that those results show a very efficient adsorption performance as compared to the unmodified cellulose.
The Effect of Palm Oil-Based Hybrid Oils as Green Multifunctional Oils on the Properties of Elastomer Composites
Authors: Song Sung Ho
Published: September 2018

Hybrid oils in an elastomer matrix provide superior physical and chemical properties over conventional elastomer composites. In this study, we investigated the possibility of utilizing palm-based hybrid oil as a processing oil, with various other added oils such as methylester, palm monoglyceride and dammar, and their effects on the curing characteristics, mechanical, abrasion resistance and heat build-up properties of elastomer composites. The elastomer composites with the hybrid oils exhibit remarkable improvements in mechanical properties such as modulus, tensile strength, elongation and toughness, which were ascribed to the enhanced dispersion of the fillers in the elastomer matrix. Also, the hybrid oils in the elastomer matrix showed outstanding heat build-up, abrasion and rebound resilience properties at low loadings. The synergistic effects in the elastomer matrix achieved by the hybridization of palm oil and other oils represent a significant contribution to advanced, stronger elastomer composites in various applications.
Understanding Farmers’ Perceptions and Behaviors towards Farmland Quality Change in Northeast China: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach
Authors: Liu Hongbin , Luo Xiaojuan
Published: September 2018

Farmland protection is the most important land science research issue in developing countries, especially in China, due to serious land degradation. This paper aimed to reveal the causal chain among driving factors, farmers’ land protection perceptions, behavioral responses, and land quality change by applying a structural equation model (SEM), based on a cross-sectional dataset of 238 households surveyed, and matched plot soil sample results in the Sujiatun District, in Liaoning province, China. The results show that, compared to internal factors, external factors play more important roles in shaping farmers’ land protection awareness which subsequently transfer into land protection behaviors. Various land use behaviors lead to different impacts on land quality, in which the crop planting structure and land input density have dominant effects on changes in the soil nutrient content. The results imply that a stable and reasonable price mechanism for agricultural inputs and outputs is meaningful to land protection. Moderate land circulation would help reduce land fragmentation, develop agricultural modernization, improve production efficiency, and achieve economies of scale. In addition, knowledge, training and environmental policy information on farmland protection play key roles in land conservation activities. These main results have important implications for policymakers with regard to promoting land protection activities, alleviating land resource and environmental pressures, and thus achieving the goal of sustainable land use.
Optimizing Daily Service Scheduling for Medical Diagnostic Equipment Considering Patient Satisfaction and Hospital Revenue
Authors: Du Gang , Li Xinyue , Hu Hui , Ouyang Xiaoling
Published: September 2018

Under the background of the unbalanced supply and demand of medical diagnostic equipment and rising health care costs, this study aims to optimize the service scheduling for medical diagnostic equipment so as to improve patient satisfaction by ensuring the equipment utilization rate and hospital revenue. The finite horizon Markov Decision Process (MDP) was adopted to solve this problem. On the basis of field research, we divided patients into four categories: emergency patients, inpatients, appointed outpatients, and the randomly arrived outpatients according to the severity of illness and appointment situations. In the construction of the MDP model, we considered the possibility of cancellation (no-show patients) in scheduling optimization. Combined with the benefits and costs related to patient satisfaction, based on the value iteration algorithm, we took patient satisfaction and hospital revenue as the objective functions. Results indicated that, compared with the current scheduling strategy, the integrated strategy proposed in this study has a better performance, which could maintain the sustainable usage rate of large medical resources and patient satisfaction.
Variations in FINN Emissions of Particulate Matters and Associated Carbonaceous Aerosols from Remote Sensing of Open Biomass Burning over Northeast China during 2002–2016
Authors: Ma Guoxu , Zhao Tianliang , Kong Shaofei , Bao Yansong , Chen Chao , Gong Sunling , Guo Jianping , Yu Chao , Wu Ming , Chang Jiacheng , You Yingchang
Published: September 2018

Various particulate matters (PM) and associated carbonaceous aerosols released from open biomass burning (including open straw burning, grass and forest fires) are major sources of atmospheric pollutants. Northeast China is a central region with high forest and grass coverage, as well as an intensive agricultural area. In this study, the FINN (Fire INventory from Ncar) emission data was used to analyze the spatiotemporal variations of PM and associated carbonaceous aerosol component (PM2.5, PM10, OC and BC) emissions from open biomass burning in Northeast China from 2002 to 2016. The results show that the total amount of annual PM2.5, PM10, OC and BC emissions was estimated to be 59.0, 70.6, 31.5, and 4.3 kilotons, respectively, from open biomass burning over Northeast China, averaged from 2002 to 2016, with significant inter-annual variations in amplitudes from 28.0 to 122.3, 33.7 to 144.1, 15.0 to 65.0, and 2.1 to 8.6 kilotons. The regional PM2.5, PM10, OC and BC emissions showed significant seasonal variations with highest emissions in spring (with a seasonal peak in April), followed by autumn (with a seasonal peak in October), summer, and winter in Northeast China; high emissions were concentrated in the forests and grasslands with natural fires, as well as over agricultural areas with crop straw burning from human activities. The PM2.5, PM10, OC and BC emissions over forest areas presented decreasing trends, while the emissions over farmlands showed increasing trends in Northeast China during 2002–2016; this reflects on the dominance of biomass burning that shifted from forestland with natural fires to farmlands with increasing human activities. Three key meteorological drivers—strong near-surface wind speed, high air temperature and low relative humidity—were identified as having significant positive impacts on the inter-annual variations of PM2.5, PM10, OC and BC emissions from open biomass burning in Northeast China.
Intrasession Reliability of the Tests to Determine Lateral Asymmetry and Performance in Volleyball Players
Authors: Iglesias-Caamaño Mario , Carballo-López Javier , Álvarez-Yates Tania , Cuba-Dorado Alba , García-García Oscar
Published: September 2018

The development of lateral asymmetries in athletes could have an influence on performance or injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the within-day reliability of the symmetry tests and the performance tests, and explore the relationship between them. Eighteen male volleyball players (18.1 ± 2.1 years) participated in this study. Seven lateral symmetry assessments were used, namely: lateral symmetry through tensiomyography (LS), active knee extension (AKE), Y-balance test (YBT), muscular electrical activity in attack jump (MEA-AJ), single-leg squat jump (SLSJ), triple hop test for distance (THTD), and bilateral maximum repetition in leg press (1RMSL); and three volleyball performance tests, namely: the T-test, counter-movement jump (CMJ), and attack jump (AJ). Three in-day measurements were taken from each volleyball player after the recovery was completed. The reliability was calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient and the coefficient of variation, and the relationship was calculated through Pearson’s bivariate correlation coefficient (p < 0.05). The results indicate that AKE, YBT, and LS are the symmetry tests with increased reproducibility. THTD correlates positively with the AKE test and 1RMSL test, and a greater symmetry in the YBT correlates with a greater performance in the CMJ and AJ performance tests. In conclusion, AKE, LS, and YBT are the best tests to determine, with reliability, the asymmetries in volleyball players, and a greater symmetry in the YBT seems to influence the height of bilateral vertical jump.
Probabilistic Single-Valued (Interval) Neutrosophic Hesitant Fuzzy Set and Its Application in Multi-Attribute Decision Making
Authors: Shao Songtao , Zhang Xiaohong , Li Yu , Bo Chunxin
Published: September 2018

The uncertainty and concurrence of randomness are considered when many practical problems are dealt with. To describe the aleatory uncertainty and imprecision in a neutrosophic environment and prevent the obliteration of more data, the concept of the probabilistic single-valued (interval) neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy set is introduced. By definition, we know that the probabilistic single-valued neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy set (PSVNHFS) is a special case of the probabilistic interval neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy set (PINHFS). PSVNHFSs can satisfy all the properties of PINHFSs. An example is given to illustrate that PINHFS compared to PSVNHFS is more general. Then, PINHFS is the main research object. The basic operational relations of PINHFS are studied, and the comparison method of probabilistic interval neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy numbers (PINHFNs) is proposed. Then, the probabilistic interval neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy weighted averaging (PINHFWA) and the probability interval neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy weighted geometric (PINHFWG) operators are presented. Some basic properties are investigated. Next, based on the PINHFWA and PINHFWG operators, a decision-making method under a probabilistic interval neutrosophic hesitant fuzzy circumstance is established. Finally, we apply this method to the issue of investment options. The validity and application of the new approach is demonstrated.
Urban Heritage as a Generator of Landscapes: Building New Geographies from Post-Urban Decline in Detroit
Authors: Locke Ryan , Mehaffy Michael , Haas Tigran , Olsson Krister
Published: September 2018

At this historical moment, the urban planning and design professions are confronted with the twin challenges of unprecedented rapid urbanization on the one hand, and declining post-industrial regions on the other. In this environment, there are many different and often conflicting ideas about urban heritage and its relevance for contemporary urban planning and design. In this paper, we look for commonalities and a way forward from among a range of competing urban design models. We examine the illustrative case study of the geography and landscape of Detroit, USA. We consider seven contemporary urban planning and design ideals that dominate the contemporary planning and design discourse and their different views of the past and urban heritage in relation to the approaches in Detroit. From these, we draw a synthesis approach, making several recommendations and observations with a focus on the capacities of so-called “placemaking” approaches. In this paper, urban heritage is understood and examined as contributing a pattern of infrastructure that provides a helpful supportive framework, and (importantly) a set of structural limitations (e.g., historic plot boundaries), that can serve as a generative resource for new urban planning and design. We conclude that the necessary framework for democratic participation and opportunity within urban space can be provided most directly by leveraging the assets of urban heritage.
Robust Innate Immunity of Young Rabbits Mediates Resistance to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Caused by Lagovirus Europaeus GI.1 But Not GI.2
Authors: Neave Matthew J. , Hall Robyn N. , Huang Nina , McColl Kenneth A. , Kerr Peter , Hoehn Marion , Taylor Jennifer , Strive Tanja
Published: September 2018

The rabbit caliciviruses Lagovirus europaeus GI.1 and GI.2 both cause acute necrotizing hepatitis in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Whilst GI.2 is highly virulent in both young and adult rabbits, rabbits younger than eight weeks of age are highly resistant to disease caused by GI.1, although they are still permissive to infection and viral replication. To investigate the underlying mechanism(s) of this age related resistance to GI.1, we compared liver transcriptomes of young rabbits infected with GI.1 to those of adult rabbits infected with GI.1 and young rabbits infected with GI.2. Our data suggest that kittens have constitutively heightened innate immune responses compared to adult rabbits, particularly associated with increased expression of major histocompatibility class II molecules and activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and cholangiocytes. This enables them to respond more rapidly to GI.1 infection than adult rabbits and thus limit virus-induced pathology. In contrast, these responses were not fully developed during GI.2 infection. We speculate that the observed downregulation of multiple genes associated with innate immunity in kittens during GI.2 infection may be due to virally-mediated immunomodulation, permitting fatal disease to develop. Our study provides insight into the fundamental host–pathogen interactions responsible for the differences in age-related susceptibility, which likely plays a critical role in defining the success of GI.2 in outcompeting GI.1 in the field.
Interval Multi-Attribute Decision of Watershed Ecological Compensation Schemes Based on Projection Pursuit Cluster
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhou Jinghong , Zhou Runjuan
Published: September 2018

The ecological compensation scheme of water pollution in the basin is a result of the interplay between upstream and downstream cities, which is of great significance to the guidance of regional economic development. The purpose of this paper is to propose a multi-attribute scheme decision algorithm, which is expressed in the form of interval number, to reduce the uncertainty of decision results and improve the reliability of decision results. This method first uses the Monte Carlo simulation technique to produce a large number of random samples in the various attributes of the decision matrix to construct the random decision-making matrix (DMM). Then, according to the overall dispersion and local concentration of the random DMM, the clustering method of the projection pursuit is adopted. By accelerating the genetic algorithm, the weight and the best projection eigenvalues of each scheme are optimized, and the sorting results of the decision-making cases are obtained based on the projected eigenvalues. The results of the case study show that the uncertainty of the decision results is greater when the number of random simulations is very low; as the number of random simulations increases, the result of the decision becomes more and more stable and clear, and the uncertainty decreases. The results of the Duncan test show that, scheme 2, which is composed of financial compensation and remote development, is better than other schemes, and the decision making is more reasonable. The result of this decision has certain values for the ecological compensation scheme in Suzhou and Jiaxing cities, and the proposed method can be applied in similar range multi-attribute scheme decision-making issues.
Irrigation Canal System Delivery Scheduling Based on a Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Liu Ye , Yang Ting , Zhao Rong-Heng , Li Yi-Bo , Zhao Wen-Ju , Ma Xiao-Yi
Published: September 2018

Reasonable planning of water delivery schedules for canal systems can reduce losses caused by water seepage and improve the utilization efficiency of irrigation water. Empirical methods of water delivery scheduling for canal systems usually cause problems such as insufficient discharge, excessively delayed water delivery, and large losses under given water requirements. In this study, a canal water delivery scheduling model was set up, and a customized algorithm based on particle swarm optimization was proposed. Typical heuristic algorithms often become trapped in local optima and often search inefficiently under numerous constraints; however, the proposed algorithm can overcome these typical problems. The proposed method was evaluated for two typical canal irrigation systems, and the results showed that the algorithm is robust and efficient and can quickly meet the water delivery optimization schedules for canal irrigation systems. Compared with empirical methods, the algorithm reduced the leakage loss of delivered water from 7.29% to 5.40%, and 8.97% to 7.46% for the two tested canal systems. The discharge of the main canal is relatively stable, which can reduce the difficulty of head gate adjustment. The proposed optimization algorithm can provide practical and efficient water delivery schedules for irrigation canal systems.
Thermal and Hydrodynamic Changes under a Warmer Climate in a Variably Stratified Hypereutrophic Reservoir
Authors: Lee Raymond Mark , Biggs Trent Wade , Fang Xing
Published: September 2018

We quantified effects of future climate warming on temperature and stability in a variably stratified, hypereutrophic reservoir with large fluctuations in water level by calibrating a 2-D model (CE-QUAL-W2, version 3.7.1, Portland State University, Portland, USA) of reservoir hydrodynamics using a time series (1992 to 2011) of inflow and air and water temperature. The model was then forced with increased air temperature projected by an ensemble of climate models that accounted for complex local topography and seasonality, with greater warming in summer. Warming increased annual evaporation rates by 2.6 to 7.9%. Water temperature increased by 0.44 (whole-reservoir; p < 0.05), 0.47 (epilimnion; p < 0.01), and 0.30 °C (hypolimnion; p < 0.05) per 1 °C increase in air temperature. Thickness of the epilimnion and hypolimnion diminished, with expansion of the metalimnion. Schmidt stability correlated with mean water depth over a wide range of depths (3.9 to 8.1 m; Adj. R2 = 0.91 to 0.93; p < 0.001). Increased air temperature increased mean annual stability by 6.1 to 23.6 J m−2 when depth was large and the reservoir stratified, but when depth was low (due to combined low inflow and, in preceding years, high withdrawals), inhibiting stratification, then water temperatures increased evenly (and more) throughout the vertical profile so change in mean annual stability was near zero (−0.1 to 1.1 J m−2). Combined effects of reservoir management (volume, timing, and elevation of water withdrawal) and climate warming (temperature of air and benthic sediment) can impact the hydrodynamic regime differently under variably stratified conditions with implications for release of phosphorus from sediment and vertical transport of phosphorus to the euphotic zone.
Subretinally Transplanted Embryonic Stem Cells Rescue Photoreceptor Cells from Degeneration in the RCS Rats
Authors: Schraermeyer Ulrich , Thumann Gabriele , Luther Thomas , Kociok Norbert , Arnhold Stefan , Kruttwig Klaus , Andressen Christian , Addicks Klaus , Bartz-Schmidt Karl Ulrich
Published: September 2018

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is an animal model for retinal degeneration such as the age-related macular degeneration. The RCS rat undergoes a progressive retinal degeneration during the early postnatal period. A potential treatment to prevent this retinal degeneration is the transplantation into the subretinal space of cells that would replace functions of the degenerating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells or may form neurotrophic factors. In this study we have investigated the potential of subretinally transplanted embryonic stem cells to prevent the genetically determined photoreceptor cell degeneration in the RCS rat. Embryonic stem cells from the inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst were allowed to differentiate to neural precursor cells in vitro and were then transplanted into the subretinal space of 20-day-old RCS rats. Transplanted and sham-operated rats were sacrificed 2 months following cell transplantation. The eyes were enucleated and photoreceptor degeneration was quantified by analyzing and determining the thickness of the outer nuclear layer by light and electron microscopy. In the eyes transplanted with embryonic cells up to 8 rows of photoreceptor cell nuclei were observed, whereas in nontreated control eyes the outer nuclear layer had degenerated completely. Transplantation of embryonic stem cells appears to delay photoreceptor cell degeneration in RCS rats.
How Experiences With Cultural Attractions Affect Destination Image and Destination Loyalty
Authors: Suhartanto Dwi , Clemes Michael D. , Wibisono Nono
Published: September 2018

The components and consequences of cultural attraction experiences have received little attention in the extant literature. This research is designed to close this gap by empirically analyzing the effect of the cultural attraction experience on tourist satisfaction, destination image, and loyalty toward the destination. Data were gathered from 331 tourists at four traditional cultural attractions in Indonesia. The percipients were selected using purposive sampling. This research specifies that the experience quality of cultural attraction consists of four dimensions: staff service, uniqueness and learning, peace of mind, and escapism. The results of the SEM-PLS analysis demonstrate that, among the dimensions, uniqueness and learning and the escapism factors are important determinants of overall experience quality. Further, experience quality is a significant driver of tourist satisfaction, the image of the destination, and tourist loyalty towards the destination. The research model and the findings provide practitioners and academics with an improved understanding of the cultural attraction experience and its consequences.
Low-luminosity AGN and X-Ray Binary Populations in COSMOS Star-forming Galaxies
Authors: Fornasini Francesca M. , Civano Francesca , Fabbiano Giuseppina , Elvis Martin , Marchesi Stefano , Miyaji Takamitsu , Zezas Andreas
Published: September 2018

We present an X-ray stacking analysis of ∼75,000 star-forming galaxies between 0.1 < z < 5.0 using the Chandra COSMOS-Legacy survey to study the X-ray emission of low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGN) and its connection to host galaxy properties. The stacks at z < 0.9 have luminosity limits as low as 1040–1041 erg s−1, a regime in which X-ray binaries (XRBs) can dominate the X-ray emission. Comparing the measured luminosities to established XRB scaling relations, we find that the redshift evolution of the luminosity per star formation rate (SFR) of XRBs depends sensitively on the assumed obscuration and may be weaker than previously found. The XRB scaling relation based on stacks from the Chandra Deep Field South overestimates the XRB contribution to the COSMOS high specific SFR stacks, possibly due to a bias affecting the CDF-S stacks because of their small galaxy samples. After subtracting the estimated XRB contribution from the stacks, we find that most stacks at z > 1.3 exhibit a significant X-ray excess indicating nuclear emission. The AGN emission is strongly correlated with stellar mass but does not exhibit an additional correlation with SFR. The hardness ratios of the high-redshift stacks indicate that the AGN are substantially obscured (N
H ∼ 1023 cm−2). These obscured AGN are not identified by IRAC color selection and have L
X ∼ 1041–1043 erg s−1, consistent with accretion at an Eddington rate of ∼10−3 onto 107–108
M
⊙ black holes. Combining our results with other X-ray studies suggests that AGN obscuration depends on stellar mass and an additional variable, possibly the Eddington rate.
Fermi-LAT Observations of the 2017 September 10 Solar Flare
Authors: Omodei Nicola , Pesce-Rollins Melissa , Longo Francesco , Allafort Alice , Krucker Säm
Published: September 2018

The Fermi-Large Area Telescope detection of the X8.2 GOES class solar flare of 2017 September 10 provides for the first time observations of a long-duration high-energy gamma-ray flare associated with a ground-level enhancement (GLE). The >100 MeV emission from this flare lasted for more than 12 hr covering both the impulsive and extended phases. We present the localization of the gamma-ray emission and find that it is consistent with the active region from which the flare occurred over a period lasting more than 6 hr. The temporal variation of the gamma-ray flux and of the proton index inferred from the gamma-ray data seems to suggest three phases in acceleration of the proton population. Based on timing arguments we interpret the last phase to be tied to the acceleration mechanism powering the powering the production of the GLE particles.
VVV Survey Microlensing: The Galactic Longitude Dependence
Authors: Navarro María Gabriela , Minniti Dante , Contreras-Ramos Rodrigo
Published: September 2018

We completed the search for microlensing events in the zero latitude area of the Galactic bulge using the VVV Survey near-infrared (near-IR) data obtained between 2010 and 2015. We have now a total sample of N = 630 events Using the near-IR color–magnitude diagram we selected the red clump (RC) sources to analyze the longitude dependence of microlensing across the central region of the Galactic plane. The events show a homogeneous distribution, smoothly increasing in numbers toward the Galactic center, as predicted by different models. We find a slight asymmetry, with a larger number of events toward negative longitudes than positive longitudes. This asymmetry is seen both in the complete sample and the subsample of RC giant sources, and it is possibly related with the inclination of the bar along the line of sight. The timescale distribution is fairly symmetric with a peak in 17.4 ± 1.0 days for the complete sample (N = 630 events), and 20.7 ± 1.0 days for the RC stars (N = 291 events), in agreement with previous results.
Limited thermal acclimation capacity in cave beetles
Authors: Pallarés Susana , Ribera Ignacio , Montes Aitor , Millán Andrés , Rizzo Valeria , Comas Jordi , Sánchez-Fernández David
Published: September 2018

Thermal tolerance is a key vulnerability factor for species that cannot cope with changing conditions by behavioural adjustments or dispersal, such as subterranean species. Previous studies of thermal tolerance in cave beetles suggest that these species may have lost some of the thermoregulatory mechanisms common in temperate insects, and appear to have a very limited thermal acclimation ability. However, it might be expected that both thermal tolerance and acclimation ability should be related with the degree of specialization to deep subterranean environments, being more limited in highly specialized species. To test this hypothesis, we use an experimental approach to determine the acclimation capacity of cave beetles within the tribe Leptodirini (family Leiodidae) with different degrees of specialization to the deep subterranean environment. For this, we acclimate groups of individuals at

a temperature close to their upper thermal limit (20ºC) or

a control temperature (approximately that of the cave in which they were found) for 2 or 10 days (short- vs. long-term acclimation).

a temperature close to their upper thermal limit (20ºC) or

a control temperature (approximately that of the cave in which they were found) for 2 or 10 days (short- vs. long-term acclimation).

Upper thermal limits (heat coma temperature, HC) are then measured for each individual using a ramping protocol (rate of increase of 1ºC/min) combined with infrared thermography and video recording. Preliminary results in a deep subterranean species (Speonomidius crotchi, with an intermediate degree of specialization) showed no significant effect of acclimation temperature in HC at any of the exposure times. Such reduced thermal plasticity could be also expected for other highly specialized subterranean species. The potential implications of these findings for subterranean biodiversity in a climate change context are discussed.
Comparative phylogeography of two cavernicolous springtails (Collembola) codistributed across a geologically complex karst landscape
Authors: Katz Aron , Taylor Steven , Davis Mark
Published: September 2018

Genetic isolation and biological diversification in caves is generally attributed to physical barriers to gene flow, but few studies have evaluated the influence ecology has on patterns of divergence and molecular variation in cave organisms. Collembola (springtails)—a class of tiny, insect-like arthropods—constitute an under-utilized and information-rich source of data for inferring evolutionary processes in cave environments. They are among the most abundant and diverse animals in caves with species that are often codistributed and have varying levels of ecological specificity to, or dependence upon, cave habitats—differences that may affect dispersal capacity and genetic connectivity. This is the first study to characterize and compare patterns of molecular diversity and genetic structure among ecologically distinct and codistributed species of cavernicolous springtails. Twenty-five caves were sampled throughout the Salem Plateau in Illinois and Missouri—a once continuous karst region, now bisected by the Mississippi River Valley. Multilocus datasets generated for morphospecies in the genera Pygmarrhopalites and Pogonognathellus were used to delimit species, identify genetic barriers, and evaluate and compare phylogeographical patterns between troglobiotic and eutroglophilic species to assess whether two codistributed cave-dwelling species have congruent phylogeographical patterns across a complex geological landscape, despite having distinct ecologies. Populations of troglobiotic Pygmarrhopalites sp. were strongly structured among karst areas and across the Mississippi River valley, but these patterns were not recovered for eutroglophilic Pogonognathellus sp., which displayed little to no genetic structure, except among caves. Results indicate that cave-dependence is associated with deep phylogeographic divisions across geographical barriers—supporting the hypothesis that ecological specialization to cave habitats is correlated with low dispersal capacity. The recovery of highly divergent and cryptic lineages, genetically isolated at fine geographic scales (microendemism), also highlights how little we understand microarthropod diversity in caves and presents major concerns for cave conservation biology.
Ecological and Evolutionary Classification of Subterranean Organisms
Authors: Culver David C , Pipan Tanja
Published: September 2018

Evolutionary processes, including natural selection, neutral mutation, and habitat filtering, act upon morphology and other aspects of their biology, as well as species composition itself, to produce the observed patterns or community structure and morphology. The context for these evolutionary processes (the ecological theater in G.E. Hutchinson’s phrase) are the subterranean habitats. We have a relatively rich vocabulary to describe habitats (e.g., MSS, epikarst, hypotelminorheic) and to describe the closeness of association of a particular species or population with these habitats (e.g. trogloxene, troglophile, and troglobiont). Trajano provides a bridging principle between the ecological theater and the evolutionary play with the concept of source and sink populations. What has been given much less attention is the morphological side, coined by Christiansen, that is the results of the evolutionary play. The word we have available is “troglomorphy”, which has been taken to mean

loss of eyes and pigment,

loss of eyes and pigment as well as increases in extra-optic sensory structures,

any convergent change in any subterranean population.

loss of eyes and pigment,

loss of eyes and pigment as well as increases in extra-optic sensory structures,

any convergent change in any subterranean population.

Only regressive changes are included in the first meaning; both regressive and progressive changes are included in the second; and the third includes autamorphy as well as homoplasy. Typically, it is used for the suite of characters involved, rather than an individual character. We suggest that the term “troglomorphy” be restricted to convergent changes (in the sense of [2] above) in subterranean habitats, and that the phrase “cave-dependent”, also used by Christiansen, be used when considering only caves, and perhaps be joined by phrases such as “MSS-dependent”. Additionally, the phrases ‘cave-dependent”, “MSS-dependent”, etc. be used for individual characters.
La formation des cadres des médias africains par le e-learning
Authors: Caudron Fabrice , Grecos Myrto , Jeafar Ibtisseme
Published: September 2018

L’article présente une étude de cas portant sur la formation de cadres des médias africains par le e-learning. La place des médias dans les pays africains a longtemps été limitée à une fonction de relais du discours du pouvoir en place. Les années 1990 et 2000 ont été marquées par l’émergence de processus de transition qui ont abouti à une libéralisation du paysage médiatique avec la création de nouveaux médias. L’Afrique a donc vu émerger des groupes privés dont les besoins en encadrement intermédiaire se font croissant. Notre objectif est ici de mieux comprendre les dimensions organisationnelles d’une formation e-learning dans l’enseignement supérieur à travers la problématique suivante : comment et en quoi le développement d’une stratégie partenariale e-learning apporte-t-elle une réponse au besoin de formation de cadres intermédiaires et dirigeants des médias africains ? Notre méthodologie repose sur une recherche-action, mobilise des sources qualitatives variées et prend ici la forme d’une étude de cas. Le e-learning constitue ici un instrument de coopération Nord/Sud pertinent à la condition d’une prise en compte de la spécificité du secteur d’activité (les médias), du contexte culturel (l’Afrique) et du caractère particulier d’une formation à destination d’un public professionnel, c’est-à-dire l’accompagnement personnalisé.
Hommage aux gens « de rien »
Authors: Clément Nicolas , Taïbi Nadia
Published: September 2018

« En interpellant la société, en honorant ces morts, nous agissons aussi pour les vivants », Nicolas Clément aime rappeler le mot d’ordre du Collectif des Morts de la Rue dont il assure la présidence. Il rappelle qu’honorer les morts est une question de dignité : celle que les vivants se doivent d’abord mutuellement.
Ne plus être né
Authors: Taïbi Nadia
Published: September 2018

Le crime parfait doit conduire à l’effacement de la vie que l’on assassine. Un tel effacement est aussi caractéristique de la peine de mort civile : la sanction pénale dont on admet qu’elle fût la plus radicale. Elle rappelle que l’on peut non pas seulement disparaître mais ne pas même apparu et rend ainsi vertigineuse la force du souverain…
Le Rien, la mort et l’Idéal
Authors: Diet Emmanuel
Published: September 2018

La société hypermoderne se trouve aujourd’hui affaiblie par la violence nihiliste du terrorisme djihadiste. Ces nouveaux « martyrs » s’assurent de l’emprise et leur violence et fantasment sur la destruction de la civilisation. Est-ce donc le règne du Rien qu’ils travaillent à faire venir ?
Réduire les inégalités de santé : Lor’IS, une grille d’accompagnement pour les acteurs de terrain en promotion de la santé
Authors: Gaudefroy Marie , Osbery Aline , Christophe Émilie
Published: September 2018

Introduction : La question des inégalités de santé est complexe et peut sembler éloignée des acteurs de terrain. Cet article présente Lor’IS, une grille d’accompagnement des porteurs de projets ayant pour objectif de leur permettre de questionner leurs actions à travers des critères contribuant à la réduction des inégalités sociales et territoriales de santé. Méthodes : Une analyse de la littérature et un recueil des besoins des acteurs ont abouti à sa création. Fruit d’une démarche portée par un groupe de travail plurisectoriel, elle a été testée par les futurs utilisateurs et améliorée. Résultats : Lor’IS légitime la place des acteurs de tous champs, institutionnel ou associatif, à lutter contre les inégalités de santé. Accessible, cet outil vise à faciliter la mise en place de projets en promotion de la santé, reconnue comme contribuant à la réduction de ces dernières, en s’appuyant sur 51 items. Discussion : Cette démarche doit être poursuivie auprès d’acteurs tels que les professionnels du soin, du logement, de l’emploi, du milieu rural, maillons essentiels de la réduction des inégalités mais pourtant encore éloignés de cet enjeu. Enfin, un travail de plaidoyer doit être mené pour que la question des inégalités de santé soit intégrée au sein de toutes les politiques publiques.
Progress and Changes in Gerontological Nursing Research in the Midwest: A Review
Authors: Lach Helen W. , Gaspar Phyllis
Published: September 2018

Gerontological nursing has a rich research history. The current article reports trends in gerontological nursing research found through review of abstracts of presentations at the Midwest Nursing Research Society annual conference at 10-year increments over the 40-year existence of the organization. Researchers studied a wide range of topics, from quality of life to use of technology, with a variety of older adult populations represented. Designs, theoretical frameworks, and other methods mirrored trends in nursing research from 1977 to 2017. Gerontological nursing researchers had a strong and sustained presence in the Midwest, as evidenced by these abstracts.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(5):231–237.]
Design and Analysis of Rectangular Microstrip Patch Array Antenna on 28 GHz Band for Future of 5G
Authors: Aboshosha Ashraf , El-Mashade Mohamed B. , Hegazy Ehab A.
Published: September 2018

The narrow beam widths generally associated with antennas at higher frequencies has led to the study of using advanced multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and adaptive beam-forming. These antenna technologies are overcoming some of the challenging propagation characteristics of mm waves and could increase the spectrum efficiency, provide higher data rates, and adequate reasonable coverage for mobile broadband services. With the potential for higher 10+GHz frequencies as well as mm waves deployment, most 5G candidates bands in 20 to 50 GHz. The frequency band of 5G is proposed and demonstrated above 24GHz such as 28GHz to 38GHz. In this chapter, the authors present a design of 28GHz for 4 Elements microstrip patch array antenna for future fifth generation (5G) mobile-phone applications. The designed antenna can be implemented using low cost FR-4 substrates, while maintaining good performance in terms of gain and efficiency. In addition, the simulated results show that the antenna has the S11 response less than -10 dB in the frequency range of 22 to 34 GHz.
Network Support for IoT Ecosystems
Authors: Rossi Fabio Diniz , Severo de Souza Paulo Silas , Marques Wagner dos Santos , Calheiros Rodrigo N. , Rodrigues Guilherme da Cunha
Published: September 2018

IoT is a new paradigm that enables cloud environments to capture, interpret, and analyze data at a real time from some sensors distributed in the environment and able to act on the environment based on decision-making algorithms. Communication between the sensors and the cloud is performed via the network. This chapter presents a bibliographic study that aims to map out which network technologies are more adapted to the IoT environments. In this sense, the many characteristics are presented, such as security, distance range, energy consumption, and versions of each illustrated network technology in order to support the choice of better network technology for new IoT projects.
Characterization of Online Social Network
Authors: Dey Paramita
Published: September 2018

The rapid growth of internet with large number of social network sites makes it easy to interconnect people from all over the world on a shared platform. Social network can be represented by a graph, where individual users are represented as nodes/vertices and connections between them are represented as edges of the graph. As social network inherits the properties of graph, its characterization includes centrality and community detection. In this chapter we discuss three centrality measures and its effects for information propagation. We discuss three popular hierarchical community detection measures and make a comparative analysis of them. Moreover we propose a new ego-based community detection algorithm which can be very efficient in terms of time complexity for very large network like online social network. In this chapter, a network is formed based on the data collected from Twitter account using hashtag(#).
Avaliação de habilidades sociais e adesão ao tratamento em adolescentes com Lupus Eritematoso Sistêmico Juvenil
Authors: Sardinha Ana Paula de Andrade , Ferreira Eleonora Arnaud Pereira , Moraes Ana Júlia Pantoja de
Published: September 2018

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil (LESJ) é uma doença crônica, de caráter autoimune caracterizada pela produção de autoanticorpos, formação e deposição de imunocomplexos, inflamação em diversos órgãos e dano tecidual, diagnosticada em jovens até os 17 anos de idade. Dentre os diversos aspectos que servem como indicadores de qualidade de vida em indivíduos com doenças crônicas estão os relacionados a comportamentos classificados como habilidades sociais (HS). No caso de adolescentes com doenças autoimunes como o LESJ, tais habilidades poderiam auxiliar na adesão ao tratamento, haja vista que são consideradas estratégias de promoção da saúde, justificando a realização de estudos nesta temática. Neste sentido, este estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar o repertório comportamental correspondente a HS e o nível de adesão ao tratamento em adolescentes com LESJ atendidos no ambulatório de um hospital da rede pública de Belém, Pará. A amostra foi composta por oito participantes do sexo feminino e um do sexo masculino, com idade entre 12 a 17 anos. Utilizou-se protocolo para análise de prontuário, Inventário de Habilidades Sociais de Adolescentes (IHSA), SLEDAI e Recordatório 24H. Os resultados indicaram que os participantes possuíam déficits em HS e baixos índices de adesão ao tratamento (IAT). Houve correlação positiva entre o IAT e o Fator 5- Abordagem afetiva do IHSA. Notou-se que nem sempre os fatores com menor frequência de comportamento de HS eram os com maior custo de resposta, ou vice-versa. Apesar da pequena amostra, trata-se de um estudo inédito na área. Espera-se que esta pesquisa contribua para enriquecer não apenas o acervo de estudos sobre HS, mas também sobre a possibilidade de sua relação com adesão ao tratamento do LESJ