bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Protective Effect of Apigenin on Myocardial Injury in Diabetic Rats mediating Activation of the PPAR-γ Pathway
Authors: Mahajan Umesh , Chandrayan Govind , Patil Chandragouda , Arya Dharamvir , Suchal Kapil , Agrawal Yogeeta , Ojha Shreesh , Goyal Sameer
Published: April 2017

We substantiated the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) activation in the protective effect of apigenin against the myocardial infarction (MI) in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). The study groups included diabetic rats receiving vehicle, apigenin (75 mg/kg/day, orally), GW9662 (1 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), and a combination of apigenin and GW9662 for 14 days. The MI was induced in all the study groups except the diabetic control group by subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg/day of isoproterenol on the two terminal days. The diabetes and isoproterenol-induced MI was evident as a reduction in the maximal positive and negative rate of developed left ventricular pressure and an increase in the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The activities of creatine kinase on myocardial bundle (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also reduced. Apigenin treatment prevented the hemodynamic perturbations, restored the left ventricular function and reinstated a balanced redox status. It protected rats against an MI by attenuating myonecrosis, edema, cell death, and oxidative stress. GW9662, a PPAR-γ antagonist reversed the myocardial protection conferred by apigenin. Further, an increase in the PPAR-γ expression in the myocardium of the rats receiving apigenin reinforces the role of PPAR-γ pathway activation in the cardioprotective effects of apigenin.
Expression of the Antioxidative Enzyme Peroxiredoxin 2 in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions in Relation to Inflammation
Authors: Voigt David , Scheidt Uta , Derfuss Tobias , Brück Wolfgang , Junker Andreas
Published: April 2017

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, characterized by demyelination and axonal damage as well as neuronal degeneration. Since oxygen-derived free radicals are an important factor leading to tissue damage in inflammatory multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, research on antioxidative systems is essential to identify endogenous factors which can possibly counteract oxidative damage. As an important scavenging enzyme family, peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) play a crucial role in preventing oxidative damage; however little is known about their expression and function in MS lesions. In the present study we examined the expression of PRDX2 in white matter lesions of MS patients with long-standing, chronic disease. PRDX2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry in the context of oxidative stress and inflammation (determined by microglia/macrophage and T cell infiltration) in ten MS autopsy cases as well as seven control autopsy cases. PRDX2 was found to be upregulated in white matter MS lesions mainly in astrocytes, and its expression level was positively correlated with the degree of inflammation and oxidative stress. Our data suggest that PRDX2 expression contributes to the resistance of astrocytes against oxidative damage.
Visualization of Alternative Functional Configurations of Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Facilitates Rapid Selection of Complementing Vaccines in Emergency Situations
Authors: Metwally Ashraf , Yousif Ausama
Published: April 2017

Successful immunization against avian influenza virus (AIV) requires eliciting an adequate polyclonal response to AIV hemagglutinin (HA) subunit 1 (HA1) epitopes. Outbreaks of highly-pathogenic (HP) AIV subtype H5N1 can occur in vaccinated flocks in many endemic areas. Protection against emerging AIV is partly hindered by the limitations of vaccine production and transport, the use of leaky vaccines, and the use of multiple, and often antigenically-diverse, vaccines. It was hypothesized that the majority of alternative functional configurations (AFC) within the AIV HA1 can be represented by the pool of vaccine seed viruses currently in production because only a finite number of AFC are possible within each substructure of the molecule. Therefore, combinations of commercial vaccines containing complementing structural units (CSU) to each HA1 substructure can elicit responses to the totality of a given emerging AIV HA1 substructure isoforms. Analysis of homology-based 3D models of vaccine seed and emerging viruses facilitated the definition of HA1 AFC isoforms. CSU-based plots were used to predict which commercial vaccine combinations could have been used to cover nine selected AFC isoforms on recent Egyptian HP AIV H5N1 outbreak viruses. It is projected that expansion of the vaccine HA1 3D model database will improve international emergency responses to AIV.
Serum Metabolomic Profiles for Human Pancreatic Cancer Discrimination
Authors: Itoi Takao , Sugimoto Masahiro , Umeda Junko , Sofuni Atsushi , Tsuchiya Takayoshi , Tsuji Shujiro , Tanaka Reina , Tonozuka Ryosuke , Honjo Mitsuyoshi , Moriyasu Fuminori , Kasuya Kazuhiko , Nagakawa Yuichi , Abe Yuta , Takano Kimihiro , Kawachi Shigeyuki , Shimazu Motohide , Soga Tomoyoshi , Tomita Masaru , Sunamura Makoto
Published: April 2017

This study evaluated the clinical use of serum metabolomics to discriminate malignant cancers including pancreatic cancer (PC) from malignant diseases, such as biliary tract cancer (BTC), intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (IPMC), and various benign pancreaticobiliary diseases. Capillary electrophoresismass spectrometry was used to analyze charged metabolites. We repeatedly analyzed serum samples (n = 41) of different storage durations to identify metabolites showing high quantitative reproducibility, and subsequently analyzed all samples (n = 140). Overall, 189 metabolites were quantified and 66 metabolites had a 20% coefficient of variation and, of these, 24 metabolites showed significant differences among control, benign, and malignant groups (p < 0.05; Steel–Dwass test). Four multiple logistic regression models (MLR) were developed and one MLR model clearly discriminated all disease patients from healthy controls with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.970 (95% confidential interval (CI), 0.946–0.994, p < 0.0001). Another model to discriminate PC from BTC and IPMC yielded AUC = 0.831 (95% CI, 0.650–1.01, p = 0.0020) with higher accuracy compared with tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), pancreatic cancer-associated antigen (DUPAN2) and s-pancreas-1 antigen (SPAN1). Changes in metabolomic profiles might be used to screen for malignant cancers as well as to differentiate between PC and other malignant diseases.
Impact of Lower Screening TSH Cutoff Level on the Increasing Prevalence of Congenital Hypothyroidism
Authors: Anastasovska Violeta , Kocova Mirjana
Published: April 2017

Lower cutoff levels in screening programs have led to an increase in the proportion of detected cases of transient hypothyroidism, leading to an increase in the overall prevalence of primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in several countries. We have performed a retrospective evaluation on the data from 251,008 (96.72%) neonates screened for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in dried blood spot specimens taken 48 h after birth, between 2002 and 2015, using the DELFIA method. A TSH value of 15 mIU/L whole blood was used as the cutoff point until 2010 and 10 mIU/L thereafter. Primary CH was detected in 127 newborns (1/1976) of which 81.1% had permanent and 18.9% had transient CH. The prevalence of primary CH increased from 1/2489 before 2010 to 1/1585 thereafter (p = 0.131). However, the prevalence of permanent CH increased only slightly (p = 0.922), while the transient CH prevalence showed an 8-fold increase after lowering the TSH cutoff level (p < 0.001). In cases of permanent CH, we observed a lower prevalence of thyroid dysgenesis (82.7% vs. 66.7%) and a higher prevalence of a normal in situ thyroid gland (17.3% vs. 33.3%), for the period with a lower TSH cutoff value. Our findings support the impact of a lower TSH cutoff on the increasing prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism.
Emerging Metabolic Therapies in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Harvey Lloyd , Chan Stephen
Published: April 2017

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an enigmatic vascular disorder characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance, ultimately resulting in pressure overload, dysfunction, and failure of the right ventricle. Current medications for PH do not reverse or prevent disease progression, and current diagnostic strategies are suboptimal for detecting early-stage disease. Thus, there is a substantial need to develop new diagnostics and therapies that target the molecular origins of PH. Emerging investigations have defined metabolic aberrations as fundamental and early components of disease manifestation in both pulmonary vasculature and the right ventricle. As such, the elucidation of metabolic dysregulation in pulmonary hypertension allows for greater therapeutic insight into preventing, halting, or even reversing disease progression. This review will aim to discuss (1) the reprogramming and dysregulation of metabolic pathways in pulmonary hypertension; (2) the emerging therapeutic interventions targeting these metabolic pathways; and (3) further innovation needed to overcome barriers in the treatment of this devastating disease.
A Life Prediction Model of Multilayered PTH Based on Fatigue Mechanism
Authors: Li Yaqiu , Hu Weiwei , Sun Yufeng , Wang Zili , Mosleh Ali
Published: April 2017

Plated through hole (PTH) plays a critical role in printed circuit board (PCB) reliability. Thermal fatigue deformation of the PTH material is regarded as the primary factor affecting the lifetime of electrical devices. Numerous research efforts have focused on the failure mechanism model of PTH. However, most of the existing models were based on the one-dimensional structure hypothesis without taking the multilayered structure and external pad into consideration. In this paper, the constitutive relation of multilayered PTH is developed to establish the stress equation, and finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to locate the maximum stress and simulate the influence of the material properties. Finally, thermal cycle tests are conducted to verify the accuracy of the life prediction results. This model could be used in fatigue failure portable diagnosis and for life prediction of multilayered PCB.
Integrated Condition Monitoring and Prognosis Method for Incipient Defect Detection and Remaining Life Prediction of Low Speed Slew Bearings
Authors: Caesarendra Wahyu , Tjahjowidodo Tegoeh , Kosasih Buyung , Tieu Anh Kiet
Published: April 2017

This paper presents an application of multivariate state estimation technique (MSET), sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) and kernel regression for low speed slew bearing condition monitoring and prognosis. The method is applied in two steps. Step (1) is the detection of the incipient slew bearing defect. In this step, combined MSET and SPRT is used with circular-domain kurtosis, time-domain kurtosis, wavelet decomposition (WD) kurtosis, empirical mode decomposition (EMD) kurtosis and the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) feature. Step (2) is the prediction of the selected features’ trends and the estimation of the remaining useful life (RUL) of the slew bearing. In this step, kernel regression is used with time-domain kurtosis, WD kurtosis and the LLE feature. The application of the method is demonstrated with laboratory slew bearing acceleration data.
Helical Piezoelectric Energy Harvester and Its Application to Energy Harvesting Garments
Authors: Kim Minsung , Yun Kwang-Seok
Published: April 2017

In this paper, we propose a helical piezoelectric energy harvester, examine its application to clothes in the form of an energy harvesting garment, and analyze its design and characteristics. The helical harvester is composed of an elastic core and a polymer piezoelectric strap twining the core. The fabricated harvester is highly elastic and can be stretched up to 158% of its initial length. Following the experiments using three different designs, the maximum output power is measured as 1.42 mW at a 3 MΩ load resistance and 1 Hz motional frequency. The proposed helical harvesters are applied at four positions of stretchable tight-fitting sportswear, namely shoulder, arm joint, knee, and hip. The maximum output voltage is measured as more than 20 V from the harvester at the knee position during intended body motions. In addition, electric power is also generated from this energy harvesting garment during daily human motions, which is about 3.9 V at the elbow, 3.1 V at the knee, and 4.4 V at the knee during push-up, walking, and squatting motions, respectively.
Mechanisms of Iron Uptake from Ferric Phosphate Nanoparticles in Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells
Authors: Perfecto Antonio , Elgy Christine , Valsami-Jones Eugenia , Sharp Paul , Hilty Florentine , Fairweather-Tait Susan
Published: April 2017

Food fortification programs to reduce iron deficiency anemia require bioavailable forms of iron that do not cause adverse organoleptic effects. Rodent studies show that nano-sized ferric phosphate (NP-FePO4) is as bioavailable as ferrous sulfate, but there is controversy over the mechanism of absorption. We undertook in vitro studies to examine this using a Caco-2 cell model and simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. Supernatant iron concentrations increased inversely with pH, and iron uptake into Caco-2 cells was 2–3 fold higher when NP-FePO4 was digested at pH 1 compared to pH 2. The size and distribution of NP-FePO4 particles during GI digestion was examined using transmission electron microscopy. The d50 of the particle distribution was 413 nm. Using disc centrifugal sedimentation, a high degree of agglomeration in NP-FePO4 following simulated GI digestion was observed, with only 20% of the particles ≤1000 nm. In Caco-2 cells, divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) and endocytosis inhibitors demonstrated that NP-FePO4 was mainly absorbed via DMT1. Small particles may be absorbed by clathrin-mediated endocytosis and micropinocytosis. These findings should be considered when assessing the potential of iron nanoparticles for food fortification.
Spenser’s Blatant Beast: The Thousand Tongues of Elizabethan Religious Polemic
Authors: Hill Christopher
Published: April 2017

This article addresses the final two books of the 1596 edition of Spenser’s Faerie Queene, in which there arises a formidable adversary: the Blatant Beast. This monster, whose presence dominates the end of Book Five and a substantial portion of Book Six, represents the worst excesses of caustic and satirical rhetoric as manifest in the theological and ecclesiastical pamphlet disputes that erupted after Fields and Wilcox’s 1572 Admonition to Parliament. That these disputes were about serious and far-reaching matters is undeniable; it is also undeniable that the means by which these disputes were waged, especially in notorious cases like those of Martin Marprelate, caused significant intellectual, rhetorical, and religious anxiety among combatants and observers alike. Spenser’s heavily allegorized presentation of polemic and pamphleteering in the figure of the Blatant Beast—and the travails of the Knights of Justice and of Courtesy in bringing the beast to heel—can illustrate for students the full extent of that anxiety in Reformation England, as well as articulate Spenser’s call for the timely application of “well guided speech” as the solution to these reckless disputes.
A Novel Statistical Approach for Ocean Colour Estimation of Inherent Optical Properties and Cyanobacteria Abundance in Optically Complex Waters
Authors: Soja-Woźniak Monika , Craig Susanne , Kratzer Susanne , Wojtasiewicz Bożena , Darecki Miroslaw , Jones Chris
Published: April 2017

Eutrophication is an increasing problem in coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. Moreover, algal blooms, which occur every summer in the Gulf of Gdansk can deleteriously impact human health, the aquatic environment, and economically important fisheries, tourism, and recreation industries. Traditional laboratory-based techniques for water monitoring are expensive and time consuming, which usually results in limited numbers of observations and discontinuity in space and time. The use of hyperspectral radiometers for coastal water observation provides the potential for more detailed remote optical monitoring. A statistical approach to develop local models for the estimation of optically significant components from in situ measured hyperspectral remote sensing reflectance in case 2 waters is presented in this study. The models, which are based on empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and stepwise multilinear regression, allow for the estimation of parameters strongly correlated with phytoplankton (pigment concentration, absorption coefficient) and coloured detrital matter abundance (absorption coefficient) directly from reflectance spectra measured in situ. Chlorophyll a concentration, which is commonly used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, was retrieved with low error (median percent difference, MPD = 17%, root mean square error RMSE = 0.14 in log10 space) and showed a high correlation with chlorophyll a measured in situ (R = 0.84). Furthermore, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, both characteristic pigments for cyanobacteria species, were also retrieved reliably from reflectance with MPD = 23%, RMSE = 0.23, R2 = 0.77 and MPD = 24%, RMSE = 0.15, R2 = 0.74, respectively. The EOF technique proved to be accurate in the derivation of the absorption spectra of phytoplankton and coloured detrital matter (CDM), with R2 (λ) above 0.83 and RMSE around 0.10. The approach was also applied to satellite multispectral remote sensing reflectance data, thus allowing for improved temporal and spatial resolution compared with the in situ measurements. The EOF method tested on simulated Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) or Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) data resulted in RMSE = 0.16 for chl-a and RMSE = 0.29 for phycocyanin. The presented methods, applied to both in situ and satellite data, provide a powerful tool for coastal monitoring and management.
Crosstalk Effect in SNPP VIIRS
Authors: Sun Junqiang , Wang Menghua
Published: April 2017

An investigation has been carried out to examine the crosstalk contamination in the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) spacecraft. Prior to this study, the cause of the pronounced striping in Earth View (EV) images and obvious discontinuity in the EV brightness temperature (BT) of the thermal emissive bands (TEB) during black body (BB) warm-up cool-down (WUCD) calibration observed since launch has not been identified. Meanwhile, it has been recently demonstrated in the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) long-wave infrared (LWIR) photovoltaic (PV) bands that the crosstalk effect induces the same erroneous features. In this investigation, it is shown that the established lunar imagery analysis indeed verifies the existence of crosstalk contamination in SNPP VIIRS TEB. The crosstalk effect is quantitatively characterized by deriving the crosstalk coefficients from the scheduled lunar observations. The magnitude of the effect is comparatively smaller than that in MODIS LWIR PV bands, but is of a large enough magnitude to induce the aforementioned artificial features. Among all SNPP VIIRS TEB, Band M14 has the largest crosstalk contamination from Band M15, while Bands M13, M15, M16, and I5 have pronounced crosstalk effects as well. One new detail of the crosstalk effect specific to SNPP VIIRS, differing from the MODIS result, is the distinctive two-group pattern of odd and even detectors for each affected band due to the arrangement of the detector on the focal plane assembly (FPA). This is fully consistent with the earlier finding that this odd-even detector arrangement contributes to striping in the sea surface temperature (SST) products. Our analyses additionally suggest an explanation of the large temperature anomalies appearing during the WUCD time periods. The parallel effort examining the potential crosstalk contamination in SNPP VIIRS reflective solar bands, however, reveals no observable effect.
Underwater Robot Task Planning Using Multi-Objective Meta-Heuristics
Authors: Landa-Torres Itziar , Manjarres Diana , Bilbao Sonia , Del Ser Javier
Published: April 2017

Robotics deployed in the underwater medium are subject to stringent operational conditions that impose a high degree of criticality on the allocation of resources and the schedule of operations in mission planning. In this context the so-called cost of a mission must be considered as an additional criterion when designing optimal task schedules within the mission at hand. Such a cost can be conceived as the impact of the mission on the robotic resources themselves, which range from the consumption of battery to other negative effects such as mechanic erosion. This manuscript focuses on this issue by devising three heuristic solvers aimed at efficiently scheduling tasks in robotic swarms, which collaborate together to accomplish a mission, and by presenting experimental results obtained over realistic scenarios in the underwater environment. The heuristic techniques resort to a Random-Keys encoding strategy to represent the allocation of robots to tasks and the relative execution order of such tasks within the schedule of certain robots. The obtained results reveal interesting differences in terms of Pareto optimality and spread between the algorithms considered in the benchmark, which are insightful for the selection of a proper task scheduler in real underwater campaigns.
Elimination of Harmonic Force and Torque in Active Magnetic Bearing Systems with Repetitive Control and Notch Filters
Authors: Xu Xiangbo , Chen Shao , Liu Jinhao
Published: April 2017

Harmonic force and torque, which are caused by rotor imbalance and sensor runout, are the dominant disturbances in active magnetic bearing (AMB) systems. To eliminate the harmonic force and torque, a novel control method based on repetitive control and notch filters is proposed. Firstly, the dynamics of a four radial degrees of freedom AMB system is described, and the AMB model can be described in terms of the translational and rotational motions, respectively. Next, a closed-loop generalized notch filter is utilized to identify the synchronous displacement resulting from the rotor imbalance, and a feed-forward compensation of the synchronous force and torque related to the AMB displacement stiffness is formulated by using the identified synchronous displacement. Then, a plug-in repetitive controller is designed to track the synchronous feed-forward compensation adaptively and to suppress the harmonic vibrations due to the sensor runout. Finally, the proposed control method is verified by simulations and experiments. The control algorithm is insensitive to the parameter variations of the power amplifiers and can precisely suppress the harmonic force and torque. Its practicality stems from its low computational load.
A New Method for Land Vehicle Gravimetry Using SINS/VEL
Authors: Yu Ruihang , Wu Meiping , Zhang Kaidong , Cai Shaokun , Cao Juliang , Wang Minghao , Wang Lin
Published: April 2017

The use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data for land vehicle gravimetry tests is challenged by complicated environments. A new approach for land vehicle gravimetry using a Strapdown Inertial Navigation System and velometer-integrated navigation computation (SINS/VEL) without using GNSS information has been put forward. Aided by the velometer with continuous longitudinal velocity output instead of GNSS signals, a SGA-WZ02 strapdown gravimeter that used the SINS/VEL method was tested in 2015. Four repeated lines were measured along a south-north direction highway in Eastern Changsha to verify the new method’s feasibility and performance. The gravity disturbance results showed an internal accuracy in scalar gravimetry about 1.17 mGal and 1.91 mGal for external accuracy assessment, with a spatial resolution of 1.7 km. Comparing this new method with the traditional SINS/GNSS gravimetry approach, it appeared that the results using SINS/VEL showed comparable internal and external accuracy. Theoretical analysis and practical test results showed that the new method was feasible for gravity determination by land dynamic vehicle.
GHG Emissions from the Production of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles in China
Authors: Hao Han , Mu Zhexuan , Jiang Shuhua , Liu Zongwei , Zhao Fuquan
Published: April 2017

With the mass market penetration of electric vehicles, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with lithium-ion battery production has become a major concern. In this study, by establishing a life cycle assessment framework, GHG emissions from the production of lithium-ion batteries in China are estimated. The results show that for the three types of most commonly used lithium-ion batteries, the (LFP) battery, the (NMC) battery and the (LMO) battery, the GHG emissions from the production of a 28 kWh battery are 3061 kgCO2-eq, 2912 kgCO2-eq and 2705 kgCO2-eq, respectively. This implies around a 30% increase in GHG emissions from vehicle production compared with conventional vehicles. The productions of cathode materials and wrought aluminum are the dominating contributors of GHG emissions, together accounting for around three quarters of total emissions. From the perspective of process energy use, around 40% of total emissions are associated with electricity use, for which the GHG emissions in China are over two times higher than the level in the United States. According to our analysis, it is recommended that great efforts are needed to reduce the GHG emissions from battery production in China, with improving the production of cathodes as the essential measure.
Organic vs. Non-Organic Food Products: Credence and Price Competition
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhu Zhanguo , Chu Feng
Published: April 2017

We analyze the organic and non-organic production choices of two firms by considering customers’ trust in organic food products. In the context of customers’ possible willingness to pay a premium price and their mistrust in organic food products, two firms first make choices on offering organic and non-organic food products. If offering organic products, a firm can further invest in the credence system to increase customers’ trust in their organic products. At the final stage, two firms determine prices. We provide serval insights. First, we characterize the market conditions in which only one firm, both firms or neither firm will choose to offer organic food products. We find that the higher the production costs or credence investment costs for organic food products are, the more likely firms are to choose to produce non-organic food products. Second, if it is expensive enough to invest in organic credence, offering organic food products may still be uncompetitive, even if organic production cost appears to have no disadvantage compared to non-organic food products. Third, we highlight how the prices of organic food products in equilibrium are affected by market parameters. We show that when only one firm offers organic food products, this firm tends to offer a relatively low price if organic credence investment is expensive. Fourth, we highlight how one firm’s credence investment decision in equilibrium can be affected by the product type choice of the other firm. We find that the investment in organic credence is lower when both firms offer organic food products compared with the case when only one firm offers organic food products.
Sustainable Ecosystem Services Framework for Tropical Catchment Management: A Review
Authors: Zafirah N. , Nurin N. A. , Samsurijan M. S. , Zuknik M. H. , Rafatullah M. , Syakir M. I.
Published: April 2017

The monsoon season is a natural phenomenon that occurs over the Asian continent, bringing extra precipitation which causes significant impact on most tropical watersheds. The tropical region’s countries are rich with natural rainforests and the economies of the countries situated within the region are mainly driven by the agricultural industry. In order to fulfill the agricultural demand, land clearing has worsened the situation by degrading the land surface areas. Rampant land use activities have led to land degradation and soil erosion, resulting in implications on water quality and sedimentation of the river networks. This affects the ecosystem services, especially the hydrological cycles. Intensification of the sedimentation process has resulted in shallower river systems, thus increasing their vulnerability to natural hazards (i.e., climate change, floods). Tropical forests which are essential in servicing their benefits have been depleted due to the increase in human exploitation. This paper provides an overview of the impact of land erosion caused by land use activities within tropical rainforest catchments, which lead to massive sedimentation in tropical rivers, as well as the effects of monsoon on fragile watersheds which can result in catastrophic floods. Forest ecosystems are very important in giving services to regional biogeochemical processes. Balanced ecosystems therefore, play a significant role in servicing humanity and ultimately, may create a new way of environmental management in a cost-effective manner. Essentially, such an understanding will help stakeholders to come up with better strategies in restoring the ecosystem services of tropical watersheds.
Description de six nouvelles espèce de Lesticus Dejean (Coleoptera, Pterostichidae, Trigonotomi)
Authors: Dubault Gérard , Lassalle Bernard , Roux Philippe
Published: April 2017

Description de six espèces nouvelles de Lesticus.
Le puits de la Logère à Anse (Rhône) - Un exemple de biodiversité antique et ses implications paléoenvironementale et paléoclimatigue
Authors: Argant Thierry , Djerbi Hatem , Guérin Bernard , Jeannet Marcel , Latour Catherine
Published: April 2017

Le tamisage du sédiment du fond d'un puits du IIe siècle de notre ère mis au jour à La Logère à Anse (Rhône) a permis la récupération d'une abondante collection de restes organiques très bien conservés. L'étude de ces différentes faunes et flores permet d'aborder l'environnement du site à la période antique et d'apprécier en outre les conditions climatiques du début de l'ère chrétienne et les modifications de l'environnement survenues depuis cette époque. Elle met également en évidence l'importance de l'exploitation agricole du coteau d'Anse dès l'Antiquité.
Les bryophytes de la Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours : intégration des communautés bryophytiques au sein des habitats naturels
Authors: Chavoutier Leica
Published: April 2017

The bryophytes of the Lavours marsh : integration the bryophytic communities in the natural habitats. - Results of all the bryophytic prospections in the Lavours marsh are grouped and analyzed. Bryophytic communities are integrated into habitats of vascular plants. The taxon Scorpidium scorpioides is a remarkable species for the Reserve of Lavours.
Le marais de Lavours : une zone humide majeure pour la faune des diptères
Authors: Withers Philippe
Published: April 2017

The Lavours marsh, a major wetland for dipteran fauna. -The dipteran fauna of the marais de Lavours was studied over a period of four years. A variety of trapping methods was used in areas representing the major habitat-types. Over 1 300 species of fly are documented as occurring in the reserve. Remarks on selected species are given.
Les papillons du genre Maculinea : 20 ans d'études menées en biologie de la conservation dans la Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours
Authors: Rozier Yves , Guérin Cécile
Published: April 2017

Le marais de Lavours est l'un des derniers marais français à abriter les trois espèces de Maculinea inféodées aux zones humides. Deux d'entre elles, M. teleius (Bergstrasser, 1779) et M. nausithous (Bergstrasser, 1779), sont inscrites aux annexes II et IV de la Directive Habitats Faune-Flore et à l'annexe II de la convention de Berne. Elles sont, avec M. alcon ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775), strictement protégées en France. Différentes études ont été entreprises, depuis une vingtaine d'années, pour améliorer nos connaissances sur la biologie et le mode de vie particulièrement complexe de ces espèces myrmécophiles et dépendantes de plantes-hôtes spécifiques. L'objectif est de dégager des méthodes de gestion adaptées visant le maintien et le bon état de conservation des différents éléments du cycle : papillons, plantes et fourmis.
Bilan de quatorze années de baguage des passereaux paludicoles (1998-2011) dans la Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours
Authors: Goy Daniel , Darinot Fabrice
Published: April 2017

Assessment of fourteen years of reedbed passerines ringing (1998-2011) in the Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours. - The monitoring of reedbed passerines at Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours, from 1998 to 2011, has provided 30264 capture data with 28811 birds ringed, 1433 recaptures and 20 recoveries. Overall, 76 species have been ringed but 3 prevail : the reed buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus), the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) and the reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus). Relative abundances (i.e. the number of birds captures) fluctuate more between breeding seasons that between periods of post-nuptial migration, with no effect of the local meteorology on the breeding species. Reed bunting long-distance recaptures allow us to identify some migratory ways.
Les chauves-souris du marais de Lavours
Authors: Letscher Robin
Published: April 2017

Alors que la création de la Réserve naturelle nationale du Marais de Lavours date de 1984, l'inventaire des Chiroptères n'a été initié qu'en 2000. Une synthèse des travaux menés sur cet ordre de mammifères jusqu'en 2012 fait état de 19 espèces connues, toutes étant recensées en phase d'activité nocturne (détection acoustique, captures avec des filets). Parmi elles, six revêtent un intérêt européen. Les espèces ayant de fortes affinités forestières sont bien présentes (murin de Bechstein, murin d'Alcathoe, murin de Natterer, barbastelle d'Europe, petit rhinolophe,...). En 2011 et 2012, un suivi acoustique dans les deux principaux habitats forestiers (chênaie, aulnaie) permet une première approche comparative sur leur fréquentation par différents groupes d'espèces : la chênaie accueille un cortège caractéristique d'espèces forestières, démontrant une bonne qualité de cet habitat. Une femelle gestante de murin de Bechstein ainsi qu'un mâle de barbastelle ont été équipés d'un émetteur radio afin d'identifier leurs gîtes arboricoles.
Evolution sur le long terme des peuplements de Crustacés du Rhône
Authors: Dessaix Jeanne , Fruget Jean-François
Published: April 2017

-80% des espèces de Crustacés rencontrées depuis 1985 sur le Rhône en aval de Lyon dans le secteur de Péage-de-Roussillon sont exotiques. Les effectifs de Crustacés sont globalement supérieurs sur la retenue, secteur artificialisé, que dans le Rhône court-circuité, secteur plus naturel. Les effectifs des deux espèces introduites, Dikerogammarus villosus et Gammarus tigrinus, s'accroissent notablement depuis 2003. On assiste de façon concomitante à la raréfaction, voire à la disparition, du secteur des deux espèces de gammares indigènes du fleuve (G fossarum et G. pulex).
Une décennie de rêve
Authors: Tachet Henri
Published: April 2017

Durant la dernière décennie (entre 2001-2010), plusieurs genres nouveaux de macroinvertébrés d'eau douce ont été «redécouverts» en France après avoir «disparu» pendant plusieurs décennies ; plus extraordinaire, deux familles d'Éphéméroptères et une famille de Trichoptères ont été découvertes pour la première fois en France. Une brève discussion permet d'avancer quelques explications sur ce qui reste, pour un naturaliste, un rêve : découvrir un genre ou une famille nouvelle.
Émergences de Carabidés en milieux agricoles : intérêt des habitats, diversité et exigences spécifiques (Coleoptera Carabidae)
Authors: Chapelin-Viscardi Jean-David , Maillet-mézeray Julie , Tosser Véronique , Wartelle Régis
Published: April 2017

En 2010 et 2011, une campagne de piégeage de Coléoptères Carabidés a été réalisée sur des parcelles agricoles des régions Picardie et Centre/Ile-de-France. Il s'agissait d'étudier, par l'intermédiaire de pièges à émergence, la densité et la diversité présentes dans les agrosystèmes. La capture d'adultes émergents témoigne de l'activité larvaire des Carabidés. Il est alors possible d'estimer la «productivité» de différents habitats. Les résultats indiquent que, durant la période de piégeage, les effectifs émergents sont élevés (20 200 à 24 600 individus par semaine par hectare en Centre/Ile-de-France et entre 91 900 et 132 900 individus par semaine par hectare en Picardie). De manière générale, nous avons relevé plus d'individus et d'espèces émergents dans les aménagements extraparcellaires (haies, bandes enherbées,. . .) que dans les parcelles. Une partie des espèces semble se développer aussi bien dans les parcelles que dans les aménagements. Cependant, certains Carabidés présentent une certaine exigence quant au milieu propice à leur développement et n'ont été mis en évidence que dans des habitats particuliers.
Première mention en Italie de Plinthisus heteroclitus Matocq & Pluot-Sigwalt, 2013 et description de la femelle (Heteroptera, Rhyparochromidae, Plinthisinae)
Authors: Pluot-Sigwalt Dominique , Matocq Armand , Carapezza Attilio
Published: April 2017

La femelle de Plinthisus heteroclitus Matocq & Pluot-Sigwalt, 2013, jusqu'ici inconnue, est décrite d'Italie (Alpes liguriennes) sur deux individus brachyptères. L'habitus est pratiquement semblable à celui du mâle ; il en diffère par des protibias faiblement courbés et dépourvus de spicule, et par l'absence de tubercule conique métapleural. La spermathèque est figurée mais n'apporte pas d'indication supplémentaire sur l'appartenance de l'espèce à l'un ou l'autre des sous-genres. L'espèce reste donc non placée.
Recombinant DNA technology and click chemistry: a powerful combination for generating a hybrid elastin-like-statherin hydrogel to control calcium phosphate mineralization
Authors: Misbah Mohamed Hamed , Santos Mercedes , Quintanilla Luis , Günter Christina , Alonso Matilde , Taubert Andreas , Rodríguez-Cabello José Carlos
Published: April 2017

Understanding the mechanisms responsible for generating different phases and morphologies of calcium phosphate by elastin-like recombinamers is supreme for bioengineering of advanced multifunctional materials. The generation of such multifunctional hybrid materials depends on the properties of their counterparts and the way in which they are assembled. The success of this assembly depends on the different approaches used, such as recombinant DNA technology and click chemistry. In the present work, an elastin-like recombinamer bearing lysine amino acids distributed along the recombinamer chain has been cross-linked via Huisgen [2 + 3] cycloaddition. The recombinamer contains the SNA15 peptide domains inspired by salivary statherin, a peptide epitope known to specifically bind to and nucleate calcium phosphate. The benefit of using click chemistry is that the hybrid elastin-like-statherin recombinamers cross-link without losing their fibrillar structure. Mineralization of the resulting hybrid elastin-like-statherin recombinamer hydrogels with calcium phosphate is described. Thus, two different hydroxyapatite morphologies (cauliflower- and plate-like) have been formed. Overall, this study shows that crosslinking elastin-like recombinamers leads to interesting matrix materials for the generation of calcium phosphate composites with potential applications as biomaterials.
Sulfamide chemistry applied to the functionalization of self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces
Authors: Pantaine Loïc , Humblot Vincent , Coeffard Vincent , Vallée Anne
Published: April 2017

Aniline-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces have successfully reacted with ArSO2NHOSO2Ar (Ar = 4-MeC6H4 or 4-FC6H4) resulting in monolayers with sulfamide moieties and different end groups. Moreover, the sulfamide groups on the SAMs can be hydrolyzed showing the partial regeneration of the aniline surface. SAMs were characterized by water contact angle (WCA) measurements, Fourier-transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Análise sobre um sistema modular de informação para manutenções corretivas: um estudo de caso em uma empresa de confecção industrial
Authors: Callefi Mario Henrique Bueno Moreira , Pomini Rafael Ribeiro , Gerônimo Bruna Maria , Aragão Franciely Velozo , Barbosa Willyan Prado
Published: April 2017

Conforme a atual situação do mercado de trabalho, a demonstração de interesse por parte das empresas sobre a adaptação de seus processos com fins de reduzir seus custos de produção, atendo-se às exigências e necessidades dos clientes, vem crescendo. As empresas têm buscado informatizar seus processos de forma a possibilitar o aumento da própria capacidade de controle gerencial, visando facilitar e auxiliar a tomada de decisões; bem como, passaram a dar maior atenção às suas políticas de manutenção. Assim, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar a implantação de um sistema para o gerenciamento de Chamadas de Mecânico na empresa do ramo têxtil a partir da satisfação dos usuários, utilizando um questionário para a coleta dos dados. Após a análise dos dados coletados, foi possível concluir que o sistema implantado se apresentou coerente para o processo em questão, mediante a aprovação pelos funcionários. A utilização do sistema permitiu à empresa, gerenciar os recursos, fornecedores, tempo e problemas com maior veracidade.
USABILIDADE DAS TECNOLOGIAS DE INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO NO SISTEMA BRT-DF – UMA ANÁLISE CONSTRUTIVISTA DA PERCEPÇÃO DO USUÁRIO
Authors: LIMA FERNANDA SANTOS , CAVALCANTE RODRIGUES EVALDO CESAR , SILVA ROBERTO BERNARDO DA , PEÑA CARLOS ROSANO
Published: April 2017

O sistema de transportes urbano é considerado um serviço de caráter elementar para a população, pois garante ao usuário o acesso a mobilidade. O sistema Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) tem se mostrado uma alternativa mais vantajosa, frente a outros sistemas de transporte, devido à menor complexidade e custo de implantação. As Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), nesse sentido, desempenham um papel de destaque para que, não apenas o BRT, mas qualquer sistema de transportes alcance maiores níveis de eficiência na prestação de serviço. Desse modo, este estudo buscou analisar a percepção dos usuários em relação às TIC utilizadas no sistema BRT Sul – que atende as regiões administrativas de Santa Maria, Gama e Park Way – a partir da análise multicritério, na qual se pretendeu verificar a influência dessas para a compreensão da usabilidade/qualidade do serviço prestado. Como resultado, verificou-se que os usuários consideram sua utilização de relevância para a qualidade do serviço, de modo que o critério conforto foi considerado o principal elemento de impacto para usabilidade do serviço enquanto que, aprendizado e interface obtiveram desempenhos inferiores.
TOMADA DE DECISÃO RELACIONADA À SELEÇÃO DE FORNECEDORES INTERNACIONAIS: ESTUDO EM UMA INDÚSTRIA FARMACÊUTICA
Authors: Silva Julia Soares , Guarnieri Patricia
Published: April 2017

Atualmente, mais de 50% do setor farmacêutico brasileiro é dominado por medicamentos fabricados por indústrias nacionais, no entanto, mais de 90% dos fármacos utilizados para essa produção são provenientes de fornecedores internacionais, localizados, sobretudo na China e na Índia. Dada a importância dos fornecedores na adequação da matéria-prima aos parâmetros de qualidade e segurança previstos nas regulamentações sanitárias, a presente pesquisa teve por objetivo mapear o processo decisório da seleção de fornecedores internacionais de uma fábrica de medicamentos localizada no Pólo Agroindustrial de Anápolis, Goiás. Para alcançar esse objetivo, foi realizada uma pesquisa aplicada, exploratório-descritiva, de caráter qualitativo, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de um estudo de caso viabilizado pela realização de entrevista semiestruturada e análise documental. De acordo com os resultados obtidos tornou-se possível identificar as particularidades do processo de seleção de fornecedores internacionais da empresa estudada e  percebeu-se que,  apesar deste processo de seguir as macroetapas do modelo genérico sugerido pela literatura, fica evidente a influência que as regulamentações sanitárias da Agência Brasileira tem na modelagem do processo.
Positive effects of neurofeedback intervention on radiation oncology physicians’ workload during go/no-go performance test
Authors: Mazur Lukasz M. , Campbell Alana , Comitz Elizabeth , Planting David , Lowen Steven B. , Mosaly Prithima Reddy , Belger A. , Chera Bhisham , Marks L. B.
Published: April 2017

Le but de cette étude était de mesurer subjectivement et objectivement la charge de travail et le niveau de performance parmi des radiooncologues réalisant une tache informatisée, avant et après l’administration d’une session de neurofeedback. Huit participants ont été recrutés pour cette étude pilote. La charge de travail était évaluée subjectivement en utilisant le questionnaire NASA Task-Load-Index (NASA-TLX), et objectivement en utilisant l’analyse de données par électroencéphalographie. Les performances ont été évaluées subjectivement en utilisant un questionnaire d’état de « flow », et objectivement en se basant sur le temps de complétion du test et la performance basée sur les erreurs. Les différences statistiques entre les scores de la période pré- et post-intervention du i) NASA-TLX, du temps de complétion du test et de la performance basée sur les erreurs ont été évalué en utilisant des test t pour des échantillons appariés ; ii) la performance perçue telle que quantifiée par le questionnaire d’état de flow a été évaluée en utilisant le test de rangs signés de Wilcoxon ; iii) et les changements EEG pré- et post-intervention dans les lobes temporaux, acquis tout au long de la réalisation de la tâche, ont été mesurés par l’analyse de variance (ANOVA). Les analyses ont indiqué une réduction significative dans le NASA-TLX (p=0.01) ; un accroissement significatif de la puissance spectrale Theta (p<0.01), et une réduction dans la bande de puissance high-Alpha/low-Beta (p<0.01), suggérant une amélioration de la performance de traitement d’information ; et des améliorations significatives de la performance subjective (questionnaire d’état de flow : valeur de p<0.001). Aucune différence significative n’a été trouvée pour les mesures objectives de performance continues (temps de complétion de la tâche, performance basée sur les erreurs ; p>0.05). Une future recherche est nécessaire pour quantifier davantage l’impact du neurofeedback sur la charge de travail et la performance des radiooncologues.