bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Planning of Sustainable Buildings: Integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization in a Decision Support System (DSS)
Authors: Magrassi Fabio , Del Borghi Adriana , Gallo Michela , Strazza Carlo , Robba Michela
Published: June 2016

Energy efficiency measures in buildings can provide for a significant reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A sustainable design and planning of technologies for energy production should be based on economic and environmental criteria. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to quantify the environmental impacts over the whole cycle of life of production plants. Optimization models can support decisions that minimize costs and negative impacts. In this work, a multi-objective decision problem is formalized that takes into account LCA calculations and that minimizes costs and GHG emissions for general buildings. A decision support system (DSS) is applied to a real case study in the Northern Italy, highlighting the advantage provided by the installation of renewable energy. Moreover, a comparison among different optimal and non optimal solution was carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DSS.
Determination of Volatiles by Odor Activity Value and Phenolics of cv. Ayvalik Early-Harvest Olive Oil
Authors: Guclu Gamze , Sevindik Onur , Kelebek Hasim , Selli Serkan
Published: June 2016

Ayvalik is an important olive cultivar producing high quality oils in Turkey. In the present study, volatile and phenolic compositions of early-harvest extra virgin olive oil (cv. Ayvalik) were determined. The solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) technique was used for the extraction of volatile components. The aromatic extract obtained by SAFE was representative of the olive oil odor. A total of 32 aroma compounds, including alcohols, aldehydes, terpenes, esters, and an acid, were identified in the olive oil. Aldehydes and alcohols were qualitatively and quantitatively the most dominant volatiles in the oil sample. Of these, six volatile components presented odor activity values (OAVs) greater than one, with (Z)-3-hexenal (green), hexanal (green-sweet) and nonanal (fatty-pungent) being those with the highest OAVs in olive oil. A total of 14 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography combined with a diode array detector and ion spray mass spectrometry. The major phenolic compounds were found as 3,4-DHPEA-EDA, 3,4-DHPEA-EA and p-HPEA-EDA.
Respiratory Health in Waste Collection and Disposal Workers
Authors: Vimercati Luigi , Baldassarre Antonio , Gatti Maria , De Maria Luigi , Caputi Antonio , Dirodi Angelica , Cuccaro Francesco , Bellino Raffaello
Published: June 2016

Waste management, namely, collection, transport, sorting and processing, and disposal, is an issue of social concern owing to its environmental impact and effects on public health. In fact, waste management activities are carried out according to procedures that can have various negative effects on the environment and, potentially, on human health. The aim of our study was to assess the potential effects on respiratory health of this exposure in workers in the waste management and disposal field, as compared with a group of workers with no occupational exposure to outdoor pollutants. The sample consisted of a total of 124 subjects, 63 waste collectors, and 61 office clerks. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects before inclusion in the study. The entire study population underwent pulmonary function assessments with spirometry and completed two validated questionnaires for the diagnosis of rhinitis and chronic bronchitis. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 13. Spirometry showed a statistically significant reduction in the mean Tiffenau Index values in the exposed workers, as compared with the controls, after adjusting for the confounding factors of age, BMI, and smoking habit. Similarly, the mean FEV1 values were lower in the exposed workers than in the controls, this difference being again statistically significant. The FVC differences measured in the two groups were not found to be statistically significant. We ran a cross-sectional study to investigate the respiratory health of a group of workers in the solid waste collection and disposal field as compared with a group of office workers. In agreement with most of the data in the literature, our findings support the existence of a prevalence of respiratory deficits in waste disposal workers. Our data suggest the importance of adopting preventive measures, such as wearing specific individual protection devices, to protect this particular category of workers from adverse effects on respiratory health.
Determination of Systemically Important Companies with Cross-Shareholding Network Analysis: A Case Study from an Emerging Market
Authors: Dastkhan Hossein , Shams Gharneh Naser
Published: June 2016

Systemic risk events constitute an important issue in current financial systems. A leading course of action used to mitigate such events is identification of systemically important agents in order to implement the prudential policies in a financial system. In this paper, a bi-level cross-shareholding network of the stock market is considered according to direct and integrated ownership structure. Furthermore, different systemic risk indices are applied to identify systemically important companies in an early warning system. Results of application of these indices on cross-shareholding data from Tehran Stock Exchange show that integrated network indices produce more reliable results. Moreover, results of statistical analysis of the networks indicated the existence of scale-free characteristics in the TSE cross-shareholding network.
The Role of Genetic Polymorphisms as Related to One-Carbon Metabolism, Vitamin B6, and Gene–Nutrient Interactions in Maintaining Genomic Stability and Cell Viability in Chinese Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Wu Xiayu , Xu Weijiang , Zhou Tao , Cao Neng , Ni Juan , Zou Tianning , Liang Ziqing , Wang Xu , Fenech Michael
Published: June 2016

Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (FMOCM) is linked to DNA synthesis, methylation, and cell proliferation. Vitamin B6 (B6) is a cofactor, and genetic polymorphisms of related key enzymes, such as serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT), methionine synthase reductase (MTRR), and methionine synthase (MS), in FMOCM may govern the bioavailability of metabolites and play important roles in the maintenance of genomic stability and cell viability (GSACV). To evaluate the influences of B6, genetic polymorphisms of these enzymes, and gene–nutrient interactions on GSACV, we utilized the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques in the lymphocytes from female breast cancer cases and controls. GSACV showed a significantly positive correlation with B6 concentration, and 48 nmol/L of B6 was the most suitable concentration for maintaining GSACV in vitro. The GSACV indexes showed significantly different sensitivity to B6 deficiency between cases and controls; the B6 effect on the GSACV variance contribution of each index was significantly higher than that of genetic polymorphisms and the sample state (tumor state). SHMT C1420T mutations may reduce breast cancer susceptibility, whereas MTRR A66G and MS A2756G mutations may increase breast cancer susceptibility. The role of SHMT, MS, and MTRR genotype polymorphisms in GSACV is reduced compared with that of B6. The results appear to suggest that the long-term lack of B6 under these conditions may increase genetic damage and cell injury and that individuals with various genotypes have different sensitivities to B6 deficiency. FMOCM metabolic enzyme gene polymorphism may be related to breast cancer susceptibility to a certain extent due to the effect of other factors such as stress, hormones, cancer therapies, psychological conditions, and diet. Adequate B6 intake may be good for maintaining genome health and preventing breast cancer.
Genome-Wide Identification, Evolutionary Analysis, and Stress Responses of the GRAS Gene Family in Castor Beans
Authors: Xu Wei , Chen Zexi , Ahmed Naeem , Han Bing , Cui Qinghua , Liu Aizhong
Published: June 2016

Plant-specific GRAS transcription factors play important roles in regulating growth, development, and stress responses. Castor beans (Ricinus communis) are important non-edible oilseed plants, cultivated worldwide for its seed oils and its adaptability to growth conditions. In this study, we identified and characterized a total of 48 GRAS genes based on the castor bean genome. Combined with phylogenetic analysis, the castor bean GRAS members were divided into 13 distinct groups. Functional divergence analysis revealed the presence of mostly Type-I functional divergence. The gene structures and conserved motifs, both within and outside the GRAS domain, were characterized. Gene expression analysis, performed in various tissues and under a range of abiotic stress conditions, uncovered the potential functions of GRAS members in regulating plant growth development and stress responses. The results obtained from this study provide valuable information toward understanding the potential molecular mechanisms of GRAS proteins in castor beans. These findings also serve as a resource for identifying the genes that allow castor beans to grow in stressful conditions and to enable further breeding and genetic improvements in agriculture.
Echinacoside Inhibits Glutamate Release by Suppressing Voltage-Dependent Ca2+ Entry and Protein Kinase C in Rat Cerebrocortical Nerve Terminals
Authors: Lu Cheng , Lin Tzu , Huang Shu , Wang Su
Published: June 2016

The glutamatergic system may be involved in the effects of neuroprotectant therapies. Echinacoside, a phenylethanoid glycoside extracted from the medicinal Chinese herb Herba Cistanche, has neuroprotective effects. This study investigated the effects of echinacoside on 4-aminopyridine-evoked glutamate release in rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Echinacoside inhibited Ca2+-dependent, but not Ca2+-independent, 4-aminopyridine-evoked glutamate release in a concentration-dependent manner. Echinacoside also reduced the 4-aminopyridine-evoked increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration but did not alter the synaptosomal membrane potential. The inhibitory effect of echinacoside on 4-aminopyridine-evoked glutamate release was prevented by ω-conotoxin MVIIC, a wide-spectrum blocker of Cav2.2 (N-type) and Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) channels, but was insensitive to the intracellular Ca2+ release-inhibitors dantrolene and 7-chloro-5-(2-chloropheny)-1,5-dihydro-4,1-benzothiazepin-2(3H)-one (CGP37157). Furthermore, echinacoside decreased the 4-aminopyridine-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase C, and protein kinase C inhibitors abolished the effect of echinacoside on glutamate release. According to these results, we suggest that the inhibitory effect of echinacoside on evoked glutamate release is associated with reduced voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry and subsequent suppression of protein kinase C activity.
Management of Chinese Rose Beetle (Adoretus sinicus) Adults Feeding on Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Using Insecticides
Authors: Spafford Helen , Ching Alexander , Manley Megan , Hardin Chelsea , Bittenbender Harry
Published: June 2016

The Chinese rose beetle (Adoretus sinicus Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)) is an introduced, widely-established pest in Hawai’i. The adult beetles feed on the leaves of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), which can lead to defoliation and even death of young trees. We evaluated the impact of five commercially available products with different active ingredients (imidacloprid, azadirachtin, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill., kaolin clay, and pyrethrin) and the presence or absence of weed mat cover in reducing adult beetle feeding on sapling cacao in the field. The use of weed mat cover reduced feeding damage compared to the untreated control, as did foliar application of imidacloprid, azadirachtin, and B. bassiana. In the laboratory, field-collected adult beetles were presented cacao leaf samples dipped in one of the five products and compared to a control. Beetles exposed to pyrethrin died rapidly. Among the other treatments, only exposure to imidacloprid significantly reduced survival relative to the control. Beetles fed very little on leaf samples with azadirachtin but their longevity was not significantly reduced. Imidacloprid, azadirachtin, and weed mat application had the most promise for reducing adult Chinese rose beetle feeding damage in young cacao and deserve further investigation for successful management of this significant pest.
The Quiet Rise of Medium-Scale Farms in Malawi
Authors: Anseeuw Ward , Jayne Thomas , Kachule Richard , Kotsopoulos John
Published: June 2016

Medium-scale farms have become a major force in Malawi’s agricultural sector. Malawi’s most recent official agricultural survey indicates that these account for over a quarter of all land under cultivation in Malawi. This study explores the causes and multifaceted consequences of the rising importance of medium-scale farms in Malawi. We identify the characteristics and pathways of entry into farming based on surveys of 300 medium-scale farmers undertaken in 2014 in the districts of Mchinji, Kasungu and Lilongwe. The area of land acquired by medium-scale farmers in these three districts is found to have almost doubled between 2000 and 2015. Just over half of the medium-scale farmers represent cases of successful expansion out of small-scale farming status; the other significant proportion of medium-scale farmers are found to be urban-based professionals, entrepreneurs and/or civil servants who acquired land, some very recently, and started farming in mid-life. We also find that a significant portion of the land acquired by medium-scale farmers was utilized by others prior to acquisition, that most of the acquired land was under customary tenure, and that the current owners were often successful in transferring the ownership structure of the acquired land to a long-term leaseholding with a title deed. The study finds that, instead of just strong endogenous growth of small-scale famers as a route for the emergence of medium-scale farms, significant farm consolidation is occurring through land acquisitions, often by urban-based people. The effects of farmland acquisitions by domestic investors on the country’s primary development goals, such as food security, poverty reduction and employment, are not yet clear, though some trends appear to be emerging. We consider future research questions that may more fully shed light on the implications of policies that would continue to promote land acquisitions by medium-scale farms.
Two Independent Prospectively Planned Blinded Weibull Statistical Analyses of Flexural Strength Data of Zirconia Materials
Authors: Roos Malgorzata , Schatz Christine , Stawarczyk Bogna
Published: June 2016

Zirconia as a restoration dental material are gaining attention because of their high mechanical properties and good biocompatibility. Therefore, investigation of the flexural strength of zirconia is of great interest. For this purpose, Weibull statistics for description of the material reliability are frequently used. The aim of this work was to present a blinded data set to two independent statisticians for two parallel statistical analyses in order to find an optimal statistical approach for analysis of in-vitro measured flexural strength data of zirconia materials. A prospectively planned independent blinded statistical analysis implementing three quality control actions “blinded data set”, “independent statistical analyses” and “parallel manuscript writing” was designed. Statistical analysis paths taken by both biostatisticians differed. They arrived at complementary results. The major difference was caused by two alternative distributional assumptions (Weibull/Normal) and alternative fitting methods (LS/ML). The parallel statistical analysis and manuscript writing approach on a blinded data set greatly supported our choice of statistical methods for analysis of flexural strength results of zirconia materials.
TiO2-Based Photocatalytic Geopolymers for Nitric Oxide Degradation
Authors: Strini Alberto , Roviello Giuseppina , Ricciotti Laura , Ferone Claudio , Messina Francesco , Schiavi Luca , Corsaro Davide , Cioffi Raffaele
Published: June 2016

This study presents an experimental overview for the development of photocatalytic materials based on geopolymer binders as catalyst support matrices. Particularly, geopolymer matrices obtained from different solid precursors (fly ash and metakaolin), composite systems (siloxane-hybrid, foamed hybrid), and curing temperatures (room temperature and 60 °C) were investigated for the same photocatalyst content (i.e., 3% TiO2 by weight of paste). The geopolymer matrices were previously designed for different applications, ranging from insulating (foam) to structural materials. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated as NO degradation in air, and the results were compared with an ordinary Portland cement reference. The studied matrices demonstrated highly variable photocatalytic performance depending on both matrix constituents and the curing temperature, with promising activity revealed by the geopolymers based on fly ash and metakaolin. Furthermore, microstructural features and titania dispersion in the matrices were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analyses. Particularly, EDS analyses of sample sections indicated segregation effects of titania in the surface layer, with consequent enhancement or depletion of the catalyst concentration in the active sample region, suggesting non-negligible transport phenomena during the curing process. The described results demonstrated that geopolymer binders can be interesting catalyst support matrices for the development of photocatalytic materials and indicated a large potential for the exploitation of their peculiar features.
Relationship between Surface Properties and In Vitro Drug Release from a Compressed Matrix Containing an Amphiphilic Polymer Material
Authors: Yarce Cristhian , Pineda Diego , Correa Clara , Salamanca Constain
Published: June 2016

The performance of compressed tablet drug delivery systems made using polymeric materials depend on multiple factors, such as surface properties like contact angle, surface free energy and water absorption rate, besides the release mechanisms driven by the kind of polymer used. Hence, it should be possible to establish a relationship between the surface properties and the drug release kinetics. Compressed tablets with different proportions of poly(maleic acid-alt-octadecene) potassium salt (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) were prepared. Blends of a model drug (ampicillin trihydrate) and the polymer material were analyzed by DSC. The surface properties of the tablets were determined by the sessile drop method, while the surface energy was determined using the semi-empirical Young-Dupre, Neumann and OWRK models. The release profiles were determined simulating in vitro conditions (buffer solutions pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 with ionic strength of 1.5 M at 37 °C (310.15 K)). A kinetic analysis of the dissolution profiles using different models (zero order, first order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas) was realized. The results showed a significant effect of the proportion of polymer in both the surface properties of the tablets and the dissolution release, indicating a relationship between the kinetic and thermodynamic properties.
Upcycling Polymers and Natural Fibers Waste—Properties of a Potential Building Material
Authors: Cestari Sibele , Mendes Luis , Altstädt Volker , Lopes Léa
Published: June 2016

Composites of recycled high-density polyethylene and micro fibres of sugarcane bagasse were studied, in order to create an upcycled material to produce masonry bricks. We ranged the polymer/filler ratio from 100–0 to 60%–40%. The materials were assessed through scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, rheological measurements and compressive strength test. The composites showed a good dispersion and adhesion of the filler into the polymeric matrix. There was no significant variation on the melting and crystallizing temperatures of the materials if compared to those of neat polymer, indicating that there was no relevant change in the average size of the polymeric crystals. We assumed that some transcrystallization has happened, because the degree of crystallinity of the composites increased to all filler contents, while the crystallizing temperature remained the same. There was a rise in the compressive moduli of the composites, ranging from 37% to 63%. The modulus at the crossover point and the complex viscosity also rose due to the fibres ratio. The results show that the combination of these materials led to the reinforcement of the compressive strength of the polymer, and have interesting properties as a potential building material.
A Qualitative Hydro-Geomorphic Prediction of the Destiny of the Mojana Region (Magdalena-Cauca Basin, Colombia), to Inform Large Scale Decision Making
Authors: Nardini Andrea , Franco Idarraga Freddy
Published: June 2016

Colombia is undergoing a period of rapid development. In particular, the Magdalena-Cauca Rivers basin, and the Mojana region within it, is going to experience rapid expansion in infrastructure growth, entailing hydropower development, road and navigability works along hundreds of kilometers of channels, as well as standard flood control measures. This paper argues that unexpected and undesired outcomes are very likely to occur as a consequence of the hydraulic and geomorphological reaction of river systems to such development schemes; namely, we foresee heightened hydro-morphological risks, along with the loss of environmental services and strong increases in maintenance costs. River behavior has been the subject of extensive study by diverse disciplines. As a result, key principles of fluvial dynamics have been elucidated and specific quantitative prediction tools developed. In this paper we do rely on this wealth of knowledge. However, since specific local information and interpretative tools in Colombia are either lacking or unreliable, it is inevitable that, at the moment, any basin scale analysis has to remain qualitative and must incorporate several assumptions, leaving it open to questioning and further refinement. Nonetheless, we argue that advancing such type of speculative conjectures is the “right thing to do”. The undeniably desirable but hard to achieve alternative of waiting for sufficient datasets and tools would entail excessive delay in obtaining relevant answers while large-scale development would continue to occur with potentially damaging results. Therefore, our analysis is conceived along the precautionary principle. This paper is primarily aimed at technical advisors of policy makers as it offers scientifically-based arguments for informing the political debate, hopefully guiding decision makers towards better choices. Rather than advocating specific solutions, the focus is on pointing out the likely adverse consequences of the currently planned course of action.
A Unified Algorithm for the Atmospheric Correction of Satellite Remote Sensing Data over Land and Ocean
Authors: Mao Zhihua , Pan Delu , He Xianqiang , Chen Jianyu , Tao Bangyi , Chen Peng , Hao Zengzhou , Bai Yan , Zhu Qiankun , Huang Haiqing
Published: June 2016

The atmospheric correction of satellite observations is crucial for both land and ocean remote sensing. However, the optimal approach for each area is different due to the large spectra difference in the ground reflectance between land and ocean. A unified atmospheric correction (UAC) approach based on a look-up table (LUT) of in situ measurements is developed to remove this difference. The LUT is used to select one spectrum as the in situ ground reflectance needed to obtain the initial aerosol reflectance, which in turn is used for determining the two closest aerosol models. The aerosol reflectance, obtained from these aerosol models, is then used to deduce the estimated ground reflectance. This UAC model is then used to process the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) data, and its performance is validated with a large number of in situ measurements. The mean bias of the land reflectance for this model is 6.59% with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 19.61%. The mean bias and RMSE of the water-leaving reflectance are 7.59% and 17.10% validated by the in situ measurements using the above-water method, while they are 13.60% and 22.53% using the in-water method. The UAC model provides a useful tool for correcting the satellite-received reflectance without separately having to deal with land and ocean pixels. Further, it can seamlessly expand the satellite ocean color data for terrestrial use and improve quantitative remote sensing over land.
Antarctic Sea-Ice Thickness Retrieval from ICESat: Inter-Comparison of Different Approaches
Authors: Kern Stefan , Ozsoy-Çiçek Burcu , Worby Anthony
Published: June 2016

Accurate circum-Antarctic sea-ice thickness is urgently required to better understand the different sea-ice cover evolution in both polar regions. Satellite radar and laser altimetry are currently the most promising tools for sea-ice thickness retrieval. We present qualitative inter-comparisons of winter and spring circum-Antarctic sea-ice thickness computed with different approaches from Ice Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser altimeter total (sea ice plus snow) freeboard estimates. We find that approach A, which assumes total freeboard equals snow depth, and approach B, which uses empirical linear relationships between freeboard and thickness, provide the lowest sea-ice thickness and the smallest winter-to-spring increase in seasonal average modal and mean sea-ice thickness: A: 0.0 m and 0.04 m, B: 0.17 and 0.16 m, respectively. Approach C uses contemporary snow depth from satellite microwave radiometry, and we derive comparably large sea-ice thickness. Here we observe an unrealistically large winter-to-spring increase in seasonal average modal and mean sea-ice thickness of 0.68 m and 0.65 m, respectively, which we attribute to biases in the snow depth. We present a conceptually new approach D. It assumes that the two-layer system (sea ice, snow) can be represented by one layer. This layer has a modified density, which takes into account the influence of the snow on sea-ice buoyancy. With approach D we obtain thickness values and a winter-to-spring increase in average modal and mean sea-ice thickness of 0.17 m and 0.23 m, respectively, which lay between those of approaches B and C. We discuss retrieval uncertainty, systematic uncertainty sources, and the impact of grid resolution. We find that sea-ice thickness obtained with approaches C and D agrees best with independent sea-ice thickness information—if we take into account the potential bias of in situ and ship-based observations.
Characterizing Urban Fabric Properties and Their Thermal Effect Using QuickBird Image and Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared (TIR) Data: The Case of Downtown Shanghai, China
Authors: Zhang Hao , Jing Xing-Min , Chen Jia-Yu , Li Juan-Juan , Schwegler Ben
Published: June 2016

The combined usage of high-resolution satellite images and thermal infrared (TIR) data helps understanding the thermal effect of urban fabric properties and the mechanism of urban heat island (UHI) formation. In this study, three typical urban functional zones (UFZs) of downtown Shanghai were chosen for quantifying the relationship between fine-scale urban fabric properties and their thermal effect. Nine land surfaces and 146 aggregated land parcels extracted from a QuickBird image (dated 14 April 2014) were used to characterize urban fabric properties. The thermal effect was deduced from land surface temperature (LST), intra-UHI intensity, blackbody flux density (BBFD) and blackbody flux (BBF). The net BBF was retrieved from the Landsat 8 TIR band 10 dated 13 August 2013, and 28 May 2014. The products were resampled to fine resolution using a geospatial sharpening approach and further validated. The results show that: (1) On the UFZ level, there is a significant thermal differential among land surfaces. Water, well-vegetated land, high-rises with light color and high-rises with glass curtain walls exhibited relatively low LST, UHI intensity and BBFD. In contrast, mobile homes with light steel roofs, low buildings with bituminous roofs, asphalt roads and composite material pavements showed inverse trends for LST, UHI intensity, and BBFD; (2) It was found that parcel-based per ha net BBF, which offsets the “size-effect” among parcels, is more reasonable and comparable when quantifying excess surface flux emitted by the parcels; (3) When examining the relationship between parcel-level land surfaces and per ha BBF, a partial least squares (PLS) regression model showed that buildings and asphalt roads are major contributors to parcel-based per ha BBF, followed by other impervious surfaces. In contrast, vegetated land and water contribute with a much lower per ha net BBF to parcel warming.
Behavioral Modeling Based on Probabilistic Finite Automata: An Empirical Study
Authors: Tîrnăucă Cristina , Montaña José , Ontañón Santiago , González Avelino , Pardo Luis
Published: June 2016

Imagine an agent that performs tasks according to different strategies. The goal of Behavioral Recognition (BR) is to identify which of the available strategies is the one being used by the agent, by simply observing the agent’s actions and the environmental conditions during a certain period of time. The goal of Behavioral Cloning (BC) is more ambitious. In this last case, the learner must be able to build a model of the behavior of the agent. In both settings, the only assumption is that the learner has access to a training set that contains instances of observed behavioral traces for each available strategy. This paper studies a machine learning approach based on Probabilistic Finite Automata (PFAs), capable of achieving both the recognition and cloning tasks. We evaluate the performance of PFAs in the context of a simulated learning environment (in this case, a virtual Roomba vacuum cleaner robot), and compare it with a collection of other machine learning approaches.
A Novel Microfluidic Flow Rate Detection Method Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Temperature Imaging
Authors: Deng Shijie , Wang Peng , Liu Shengnan , Zhao Tianze , Xu Shanzhi , Guo Mingjiang , Yu Xinglong
Published: June 2016

A novel microfluidic flow rate detection method based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) temperature imaging is proposed. The measurement is performed by space-resolved SPR imaging of the flow induced temperature variations. Theoretical simulations and analysis were performed to demonstrate a proof of concept using this approach. Experiments were implemented and results showed that water flow rates within a wide range of tens to hundreds of μL/min could be detected. The flow rate sensor is resistant to disturbances and can be easily integrated into microfluidic lab-on-chip systems.
A New Sparse Adaptive Channel Estimation Method Based on Compressive Sensing for FBMC/OQAM Transmission Network
Authors: Wang Han , Du Wencai , Xu Lingwei
Published: June 2016

The conventional channel estimation methods based on a preamble for filter bank multicarrier with offset quadrature amplitude modulation (FBMC/OQAM) systems in mobile-to-mobile sensor networks are inefficient. By utilizing the intrinsicsparsity of wireless channels, channel estimation is researched as a compressive sensing (CS) problem to improve the estimation performance. In this paper, an AdaptiveRegularized Compressive Sampling Matching Pursuit (ARCoSaMP) algorithm is proposed. Unlike anterior greedy algorithms, the new algorithm can achieve the accuracy of reconstruction by choosing the support set adaptively, and exploiting the regularization process, which realizes the second selecting of atoms in the support set although the sparsity of the channel is unknown. Simulation results show that CS-based methods obtain significant channel estimation performance improvement compared to that of conventional preamble-based methods. The proposed ARCoSaMP algorithm outperforms the conventional sparse adaptive matching pursuit (SAMP) algorithm. ARCoSaMP provides even more interesting results than the mostadvanced greedy compressive sampling matching pursuit (CoSaMP) algorithm without a prior sparse knowledge of the channel.
Smart Sensing System for the Prognostic Monitoring of Bone Health
Authors: Afsarimanesh Nasrin , Zia Asif , Mukhopadhyay Subhas , Kruger Marlena , Yu Pak-Lam , Kosel Jurgen , Kovacs Zoltan
Published: June 2016

The objective of this paper is to report a novel non-invasive, real-time, and label-free smart assay technique for the prognostic detection of bone loss by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The proposed system incorporated an antibody-antigen-based sensor functionalization to induce selectivity for the C-terminal telopeptide type one collagen (CTx-I) molecules—a bone loss biomarker. Streptavidin agarose was immobilized on the sensing area of a silicon substrate-based planar sensor, patterned with gold interdigital electrodes, to capture the antibody-antigen complex. Calibration experiments were conducted with various known CTx-I concentrations in a buffer solution to obtain a reference curve that was used to quantify the concentration of an analyte in the unknown serum samples. Multivariate chemometric analyses were done to determine the performance viability of the developed system. The analyses suggested that a frequency of 710 Hz is the most discriminating regarding the system sensitivity. A detection limit of 0.147 ng/mL was achieved for the proposed sensor and the corresponding reference curve was linear in the range of 0.147 ng/mL to 2.669 ng/mL. Two sheep blood samples were tested by the developed technique and the results were validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results from the proposed technique match those from the ELISA.
A Review of the Methods for Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxins
Authors: Wu Shijia , Duan Nuo , Gu Huajie , Hao Liling , Ye Hua , Gong Wenhui , Wang Zhouping
Published: June 2016

Food safety has attracted extensive attention around the world, and food-borne diseases have become one of the major threats to health. Staphylococcus aureus is a major food-borne pathogen worldwide and a frequent contaminant of foodstuffs. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by some S. aureus strains will lead to staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) outbreaks. The most common symptoms caused by ingestion of SEs within food are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Children will suffer SFP by ingesting as little as 100 ng of SEs, and only a few micrograms of SEs are enough to cause SPF in vulnerable populations. Therefore, it is a great challenge and of urgent need to detect and identify SEs rapidly and accurately for governmental and non-governmental agencies, including the military, public health departments, and health care facilities. Herein, an overview of SE detection has been provided through a comprehensive literature survey.
The IL-8/IL-8R Axis: A Double Agent in Tumor Immune Resistance
Authors: David Justin , Dominguez Charli , Hamilton Duane , Palena Claudia
Published: June 2016

Interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8) is a pro-inflammatory chemokine produced by various cell types to recruit leukocytes to sites of infection or tissue injury. Acquisition of IL-8 and/or its receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 are known to be a relatively common occurrence during tumor progression. Emerging research now indicates that paracrine signaling by tumor-derived IL-8 promotes the trafficking of neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) into the tumor microenvironment, which have the ability to dampen anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, recent studies have also shown that IL-8 produced by the tumor mass can induce tumor cells to undergo the transdifferentiation process epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in which tumor cells shed their epithelial characteristics and acquire mesenchymal characteristics. EMT can increase metastatic dissemination, stemness, and intrinsic resistance, including to killing by cytotoxic immune cells. This review highlights the dual potential roles that the inflammatory cytokine IL-8 plays in promoting tumor resistance by enhancing the immunosuppressive microenvironment and activating EMT, and then discusses the potential for targeting the IL-8/IL-8 receptor axis to combat these various resistance mechanisms.
Gritos, cantos, pasajes y versiones de la historia en A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro d’água de Jorge Amado
Authors: Ponce Néstor
Published: June 2016

La publicación de A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro d’água (1961) por Jorge Amado confirma un giro en su propuesta narrativa, iniciada tres años con Gabriela Cravo e canela (1958). El cambio reside en el uso de estrategias narrativas novedosas que se apoyan en el humor y la distancia crítica, pero sin dejar de lado la crítica social, elemento estructurador del conjunto de su producción. En A morte… Amado lleva a cabo varias intersecciones, tanto narrativas como temáticas, que le permiten el pasaje de una voz relatora a otra, creando una polifonía que es a su vez un viaje por el discurso de diferentes clases sociales, en particular la media y la popular. La aparición de la interculturalidad, a la vez, permite la ambigüedad del pasaje de la muerte a la vida y otra vez a la muerte, a través de una historia de marginales que creen haber asistido al renacimiento de un amigo muerto. Estos marginales, por otro lado, realizan un recorrido carnavalesco por la ciudad de Bahía de Todos los Santos, que les permite romper fronteras y concretar travesías y pasajes por la geografía urbana y marítima.
Deux rites de passage dans la « Nouvelle narration argentine » : Romance de la negra rubia de Gabriela Cabezón Cámara et Matate amor de Ariana Harwicz
Authors: Audran Marie
Published: June 2016

Nous nous intéressons dans cet article, à la notion de rite de passage. Le rite de passage est un acte qui marque le passage symbolique vers un nouveau statut à travers une médiation matérielle (par le corps). Nous pouvons lire dans cette définition l’idée condensée par Bourdieu selon laquelle le rite consiste à « agir sur le réel en agissant sur la représentation du réel » (Bourdieu, 1982 : 58). Dans les œuvres étudiées, la représentation de l’inscription sur la peau serait alors une mise en abyme de l’inscription sur le papier. L’écriture, comme intervention sur le réel, peut être perçue comme rite de passage puisqu’en agissant sur les représentations elle agit d’une certaine manière sur le réel social, discursif, personnel, selon les cas.Ainsi nous nous demanderons que disent/représentent les rites de passage de la littérature argentine et de leurs auteures dans deux œuvres de la « Nueva Narrativa Argentina » : Romance de la negra rubia de Gabriela Cabezón Cámara (auteure argentine née à Buenos Aires en 1968) et Matate amor de Ariana Harwicz (auteure argentine née à Buenos Aires en 1978). Dans ces deux romans, les protagonistes que l’on peut considérer comme des doubles de leurs auteures, s’infligent des actes « symboliques » corporels – la protagoniste de Romance de la rubia negra s’immole par le feu au début du roman, puis se fait transplanter le visage de son amante ; celle de Matate amor se mutile en traversant la baie vitrée de sa maison- que nous considérons être des rites de passage en ce qu’ils marquent leur passage d’un statut à un autre et qu’ils inscrivent dans la chair leur devenir « autre » : le devenir d’une société double qui inclut la marge pour l’un, le devenir mère et l’exil pour l’autre. Dans un premier temps nous étudierons la structure de chaque roman en relation avec la structure de rite de passage, puis nous aborderons les différentes significations de ces passages, enfin nous étudierons la question de l’écriture comme rite de passage vers une écriture singulière, vers une écriture engagée, vers une « Nueva narrativa argentina ».
La nouvelle politique panhispanique des Académies de la langue espagnole : une question de « frontières »
Authors: Fortineau-Brémond Chrystelle , Le Tallec-Lloret Gabrielle , Blestel Élodie
Published: June 2016

La devise que s’est choisie la Real Academia Española (RAE) dès 1715, « limpia, fija y da esplendor », manifeste sans équivoque ce qui a été son souci constant pendant ces trois derniers siècles : fixer la norme et promouvoir une certaine langue. Après avoir longtemps privilégié le modèle de l’espagnol cultivé du Nord et du Centre de la Péninsule — au détriment des usages péninsulaires méridionaux et, surtout, américains —, la RAE a choisi, depuis 1999, d’opérer un véritable tournant idéologique, en faisant le choix de s’engager dans un travail collectif qui l’associe aux 21 autres académies de la langue espagnole dans le but de promouvoir une « norme polycentrique », dans le cadre d’une « politique linguistique panhispanique ». Si l'intention semble louable, qu'en est-il de la réalisation de cet objectif ? Les dernières publications, en particulier l’imposante Nueva Gramática de la Lengua Española [NGLE], peuvent-elles être lues comme la mise en application du discours que la RAE ne cesse de marteler dans tous ses prologues ? Après avoir présenté le discours panhispanique, en le resituant dans un contexte plus vaste, nous le confronterons à la réalité des analyses grammaticales proposées dans la NGLE, en privilégiant deux phénomènes particulièrement significatifs, où se manifeste de façon sensible l’écart entre usages américains et usages européens : la « concordance des temps » et les « temps composés », avec l’exemple particulier du plus-que-parfait.
El monstruo como epidemia : avatares de la monstruosidad en Iris, de Edmundo Paz Soldán
Authors: Calderón Sara
Published: June 2016

La novela Iris, de Edmundo Paz Soldán, retrata los recorridos vitales de cinco personajes en un planeta ficticio dominado por la violencia que emana de las influencias conjuntas de una situación colonial y de una antigua religión politeísta. Analizando la manera en que la monstruosidad irradia y se comunica de la divinidad a las mentes, los cuerpos y el lenguaje reflexionaremos sobre las posibilidades renovadas para lo fantástico y la ciencia ficción de plasmar los aspectos más indecibles de lo real.
Les enjeux du passage d’une langue-culture à l’autreen Amérique latine : du traducteur au polyglotte
Authors: Lagarde Christian
Published: June 2016

La traduction, en tant que forme de passage, s’inscrit au cœur de l’histoire des rapports entre l’Europe et l’Amérique latine, comme confrontation de langues et de cultures. Si la période coloniale présente des échanges croisés et inégaux entre colonisateurs espagnols et colonisés amérindiens, celle des Indépendances met les hispanophones du Nouveau Monde, qui tournent le dos aux cultures aborigènes, dans une situation de dépendance, non plus vis-à-vis de la métropole mais de l’Europe, singulièrement de la langue et de la culture françaises et de Paris. Par la suite, au XXe siècle, les expressions amérindiennes, un temps remises en honneur par les auteurs indigénistes, seront ignorées par les auteurs du boom, qui en s’imposant à l’échelle planétaire, font à nouveau de l’espagnol, longtemps après le Siècle d’Or, une langue source. Plus près de nous encore, les littératures de la postmodernité, rompant les codes depuis les marges, jouent du mélange multiforme, tandis que les cultures minorées en viennent à exprimer leur désir de survie dans leurs langues, plus ou moins nécessairement traduites en espagnol pour atteindre quelque notoriété au-delà de leurs communautés d’origine.
La culture populaire péruvienne à l’intérieur de la tradition artistique européenne. Passage et métissage dans la peinture d’Herman Braun-Vega
Authors: Cárdenas Moreno Mónica
Published: June 2016

A partir de trois tableaux du peintre franco-péruvien Herman Braun-Vega (Lima, 1933), peints à différentes périodes de sa carrière, mais avec un procédé similaire, notre objectif est de montrer le métissage culturel dont parle l’artiste à partir de la relation établie entre les grands maîtres de la peinture européenne (Velázquez, Picasso, Matisse) et les différents éléments de la culture populaire péruvienne. Nous allons développer notre réflexion en deux parties : d’abord, nous nous intéresserons au dialogue avec le passé à travers le processus de citation d’une œuvre d’art et de l’incorporation des éléments de l’histoire et de la culture péruvienne. Deuxièmement, à travers une perspective intertextuelle, nous nous rapprocherons de la notion de métissage dans l’imaginaire artistique péruvien et de son utilisation en tant qu’outil de compréhension de phénomènes sociétaux plus universels.
Arturo Ripstein : un passeur postmoderne. Zoom sur La perdición de los hombres (2000)
Authors: Fortin Maria
Published: June 2016

Le cinéaste Arturo Ripstein peut à bien des égards être considéré comme un passeur. En tant qu’artiste postmoderne, il a su au long de sa carrière prolifique revisiter la tradition cinématographique mexicaine, en proposant de nouvelles versions de grands classiques, ou en subvertissant les codes du mélodrame, le genre qui connut à l’époque de l’Äge d’or un succès à la fois national et international. Ses films font donc souvent office de passerelles entre passé et présent, et permettent donc d’apprécier les évolutions des représentations cinématographiques, culturelles, et sociales. Ripstein est également passeur dans le sens où l’entendait Serge Gruzinski, puisqu’il peut être envisagé comme un artiste « intermédiaire », qui conjugue dans ses films les multiples influences dont il s’est nourri, et qui proviennent aussi bien de la culture judéo-chrétienne, mexicaine (contemporaine et précolombienne), européenne, ou encore anglo-saxonne. Tous ces aspects sont présents dans La perdición de los hombres (The Ruination of Men), un film qui n’a suscité d’intérêt ni de la part du public ni du milieu académique, et que nous souhaitons mettre en lumière.
Análise da renovação das águas do Sistema Estuarino de Santos usando modelagem computacional
Authors: Roversi Fernando , Rosman Paulo Cesar Colonna , Harari Joseph
Published: June 2016

A investigação de processos inerentes a um sistema estuarino permite inferir de forma mais precisa sua complexa dinâmica, possibilitando o balizamento de estratégias de ação em planos de gestão e projetos ambientais em regiões costeiras. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo da hidrodinâmica do Sistema Estuarino de Santos (SP), com enfoque na análise da renovação de suas águas, pelo efeito da maré e pelas vazões fluviais afluentes. Por meio do SisBaHiA® (Sistema Base de Hidrodinâmica Ambiental) foi implementado um modelo hidrodinâmico computacional para a reprodução dos padrões de circulação do sistema. A partir de simulações com o Modelo de Transporte Euleriano, foram então calculadas as taxas de renovação de suas águas, para os períodos representativos de verão e de inverno. Os resultados, apresentados na forma de mapas e na forma de séries temporais de renovação, indicaram que após 30 dias todo o sistema apresenta uma renovação total maior que 95%. Diferenças sazonais puderam ser verificadas apenas em regiões mais internas do estuário, e.g., no Canal de Piaçaguera.