bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Status, distribution, and nomenclature of Northern Quillwort, Isoetes septentrionalis (Isoetaceae) in Canada
Authors: Brunton Daniel F. , McNeill John
Published: January 2017

The lycophyte Northern Quillwort (Isoetes septentrionalis D. F. Brunton, sp. nov.) is the northern component of the Riverbank Quillwort (I. riparia) complex. It is locally abundant in southeastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec and is also widely distributed in the northeastern United States. In Canada, it is largely confined to river and lake shores along post-glacial drainage outlets within the limits of the post-glacial Champlain Sea. It is frequently found in association with other Isoetes, especially Dodge’s Quillwort (I. × dodgei A. A. Eaton), its sterile hybrid with Spiny-spored Quillwort (I. echinospora Durieu). The Canadian population of I. septentrionalis appears to be stable. Although first proposed at species level over a century ago, the nomenclature of this taxon has remained unresolved. It is clarified in the present study, in which I. canadensis var. robbinsii is lectotypified.
Are American Pikas (Ochotona princeps) in the Canadian Rockies vulnerable to climate change?
Authors: Shank Christopher C.
Published: January 2017

The American Pika (Ochotona princeps) is vulnerable to climate change as a result of its dependence on cool, moist conditions. Most research on climatic determinants of American Pika distribution has been done in the United States where conditions are different from those in the higher-latitude pika ranges of the Canadian Rockies. I examined recent (1980–2009) and future (2050s and 2080s) average and maximum mean summer temperatures for 114 current American Pika locations in Alberta to assess whether future conditions are likely to place these animals at risk. At all current sites, mean summer temperatures (MSTs) in the 2050s are expected to be below that chosen by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a threshold for at-risk status of O. princeps. By the 2050s, most current American Pika locations have sufficient elevation within 5 km to allow individuals to migrate vertically to reach habitat with MST similar to that of their current location. Even in the 2080s, almost all current sites have sufficient elevation within 5 km to maintain extreme single-year and average MSTs lower than the highest values recorded at those sites in the recent past (13.9°C and 12.5°C respectively). However, by the 2080s under an extreme greenhouse gas emissions scenario, only 34% of current pika sites will allow for such migration. Although considerable uncertainty remains, particularly with respect to availability of habitat, these results suggest that American Pika populations in Alberta will likely be capable of persisting throughout this century, although their survival will depend increasingly on successful vertical migration.
The cost of a prickly diet: incidents of porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) quills embedded in Wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Authors: Kukka Piia M. , Jung Thomas S.
Published: January 2017

The occurrence of North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) quills embedded in wild carnivores and domestic dogs is not rare; however, the prevalence of this occurrence and its consequences in wildlife are largely unknown. We examined 569 trapper-submitted Wolverine (Gulo gulo) carcasses for embedded porcupine quills. We observed quills in 4.6% of the wolverines, including all sex and age classes. We found quills throughout the body, and, in most cases, injury was not apparent. Observed complications, however, included bone proliferation and tissue damage to internal organs. Our data show that the occurrence of porcupine quills in Wolverine is not rare and demonstrate that, in a few cases, serious injuries may result from migrating quills.
Observations of the use of buildings by free-ranging Elk, Cervus canadensis, in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan
Authors: Brook Ryan K.
Published: January 2017

Elk (Cervus canadensis) are habituated to humans and associated buildings in many national parks in North America. During the summers of 2012–2014, observations were made of Elk standing on the decks of cabins and entering campground cook shelters in and around the town of Waskesiu in east-central Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan. These appear to be the first documented observations of Elk entering buildings intentionally. The reason for this behaviour is likely a combination of the animals seeking areas safe from wolves, thermal cover, and relief from biting insects.
Diet and feeding behaviour of Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Authors: Moldowan Patrick D. , Keevil Matthew G. , Mills Peter B. , Brooks Ronald J. , Litzgus Jacqueline D.
Published: January 2017

We compare diet and feeding behaviour of Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. We observed young Chelydra and Chrysemys turtles feeding on insect and amphibian larvae in ephemeral ponds, adult Chrysemys terrestrially foraging on odonate larvae, and adult Chelydra consuming aquatic vegetation and seeds. These and other observations highlight the importance of seasonally available habitat and food for juvenile turtles. We also discuss the evidence for, and importance of, turtles as seed-dispersal agents for aquatic vegetation. Illustrative video recordings accompany our dietary observations.
Remnant Freshwater Mussel Diversity in Rondeau Bay, Lake Erie
Authors: Reid Scott M. , Kopf Victoria , LeBaron Anita , Morris Todd J.
Published: January 2017

In 2014 and 2015, 27 sites in Rondeau Bay, Ontario, Canada, were surveyed for freshwater mussels. Rondeau Bay is a large coastal wetland on the north shore of Lake Erie. Twenty-three species were identified from 120 live mussels, 15 fresh whole shells, 329 weathered whole shells, and 1121 weathered valves. Live individuals of the following species were collected: Eastern Pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta; endangered in Canada), Giant Floater (Pyganodon grandis), Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia;endangered in Canada), and Three-ridge (Amblema plicata). Fresh whole shells of the Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula; threatenedin canada) were also found. Most species (78%), including 7 species at risk, were collected only as weathered shells. These results indicate a substantial decline in freshwater mussel diversity since the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) invasion of Lake Erie. Evidence shows that a viable population of only Giant Floater remains.
Silver-white Variants of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, from Eastern Canada
Authors: Ouellet Martin , Moore Jean-David
Published: January 2017

The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is well known for its colour polymorphism, which includes 8 colour phenotypes: the red-backed (striped), lead-backed (unstriped), and erythristic morphs, as well as the iridistic, albino, leucistic, amelanistic, and melanistic anomalies. Among these, the prevalence and geographic distribution of rare morphs have received little attention. In this article, we report 2 occurrences of silver-white variants of the red-backed morph of P. cinereus from Québec, Canada. To our knowledge, these variations in stripe colour on the red-backed phenotype represent the first 2 documented mentions for eastern Canada.
Aberrant Colouration in the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), the Common Murre (Uria aalge), and the Thick-billed Murre (U. lomvia) from Atlantic Canada
Authors: Bond Alexander L , Diamond Antony W
Published: January 2017

The colour of birds’ plumage and bare parts is an important feature in choice of mate, camouflage, thermoregulation, species recognition, and flight mechanics. Abnormalities in colouration occur in a variety of species and can have important consequences for an individual’s survival and fitness. We present 7 new cases of colouration abnormalities in 3 species of auk (Alcidae) and review previous reports to correctly assign the proper form of abnormality to specimens in museums or photographs. Of the 53 reported colouration abnormalities, we reclassified 42, progressive greying being the most common (18 or 19 cases out of 42, 43–45%), followed by brown (10/42 cases, 24%), in addition to 6 cases of melanism, 4 of dilution, 2 of partial leucism, and 1 likely somatic mutation. Properly describing the form of colour abnormality improves our understanding of the frequency, causes, and consequences of aberrant colouration.
Barley grain enrichement with essential elements by agronomic biofortification
Authors: Dragicevic Vesna , Nikolic Bogdan , Radosavljevic Milica , Djuric Nenad , Dodig Dejan , Stoiljkovic Milovan , Kravic Natalija
Published: January 2017

Barley grain is rich in mineral nutrients, but their bioavailability to
humans depends on antinutrients that restrain bioavailability and promoters
that promote bioavailability. The aim of this study was to examine
composition of barley grain, including phytate and phenolics as
antinutrients, carotenoids and glutathione as promoters and mineral elements,
such as Ca, Mg, Fe, Si, Zn and Mn influenced by various non-standard foliar
fertilizers (Zircon, Chitosan, Siliplant, Propikonazole), including some
hormonal growth-stimulators (Epin Extra, Benzyladenine), as potential
biofortification measure. Chitosan increased glutathione concentration in
grain. Unfavorable meteorological conditions were partly mitigated by
application of Benzyladenine and Siliplant, reflected through increased
potential bioavailability of P, Mg, Ca and Fe.
Improvement of physicochemical and rheological properties of kombucha fermented milk products by addition of transglutaminase and whey protein concentrate
Authors: Ilicic Mirela , Milanovic Spasenija , Kanuric Katarina , Vukic Vladimir , Vukic Dajana
Published: January 2017

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of addition of
transglutaminase (TG-0.02%, w/w) and whey protein concentrate (WPC-0.03%,
w/w), on quality of kombucha fermented milk product. Samples were prepared
from pasteurized semi-skim milk (0.9%, w/w fat) and kombucha inoculum (10%,
v/v). The pH values were measured during the fermentation of milk (lasted
until reached 4.5). Syneresis, water holding capacity and the product texture
(firmness and consistency,) were assessed after production. Rheological
properties of kombucha fermented milk samples were measured during ten days
of storage. The sample containing TG had the lowest syneresis (21 ml), the
highest water holding capacity (62%) and the highest textural characteristics
(firmness - 23.99g, consistency - 626.54gs) after production. The addition of
WPC to milk improved the rheological properties, while the addition of TG
improved it even to a significantly greater extent after the production and
during 10 days of the storage.
Determination of phenolic acids in seeds of black cumin, flax, pomegranate and pumpkin and their by-products
Authors: Krimer-Malesevic Vera , Posa Mihalj , Stolic Zuzana , Popovic Ljiljana , Pericin-Starcevic Ivana
Published: January 2017

Ten phenolic acids, contained in the seeds of black cumin (Nigella sativa
L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and
pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and their oil industry by-products, separated
into the free, esterified, and insoluble-bound forms, were quantitatively
analysed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography with
photodiode array detector. The chromatographic data were interpreted using
Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The PCA model with three principal
components (PC1-PC2-PC3) fitted well with 12 examined plant samples, allowing
their division into groups according to their origin. The total phenolic
variables could be represented by two PCs and for the pattern recognition of
the analysed samples, 13 phenolic variables are sufficient, including: free,
esterified and insoluble-bound forms of gallic and syringic acids, free
vanillic, insoluble bound p-coumaric, esterified p-hydroxybenzaldehide, and
free and insoluble-bound forms of p-hydroxybenzoic and trans-synapic acids.
This might have potential application in simplified screening of phenolic
compounds in seeds and their oil industry by-products or in food component
analysis or authenticity detection in such plant materials.
Macro- and micro-element analysis in milk samples by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry
Authors: Petrovic Sanja , Savic Sasa , Petronijevic Zivomir
Published: January 2017

The paper describes the determination of Ag, Al, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr,
Cu, Fe, Ga, In, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, Tl and Zn, as well as total
fat content of milk samples, originated from different sources. The analyzed
milk samples were: human milk, fresh cow milk, pasteurized cow milk from a
local market, and reconstituted powder milk. The milk samples were obtained
from Jablanica District (Serbia) territory. Preparation of samples for macro-
and micro-analyses was done by wet digestion. Concentrations of the elements
after digestion were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical
emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Total fat content of milk samples was
determinate by the Weibull and Stoldt method. The results showed that
potassium and calcium concentrations were the highest in all samples: 1840.64
- 2993.26 mg/L and 456.05 - 1318.08 mg/L, respectively. Of all heavy metals
from the examined milk samples (copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, cadmium, and
lead), the most common were zinc and copper, with approximately similar
content in the range of 5 - 12 mg/l, while cadmium nickel and manganese were
not detected at all. Samples of fresh cow milk and human milk showed the
highest fat content of 3.6 and 4.2 %, respectively. Results for total fat and
macro- and micro-analyses showed that fresh cow milk has the highest contents
of fat and calcium, making it the most nutritious.
Determination of optimal parameters of basil supercritical fluid extraction by response surface methodology
Authors: Filip Snezana , Vidovic Senka , Pavlic Branimir , Zekovic Zoran
Published: January 2017

The supercritical fluid extraction of aroma compounds from basil (Ocimum
basilicum L.) was studied. Response surface methodology was used to optimize
the parameters of the process. Full factorial design was applied to evaluate
the effects of two independent variables (pressure and temperature) on the
extraction yield and linalool yield. From the response surface plots,
pressure and temperature exhibited independent and interactive effect on the
extraction yield. The optimal conditions to obtain the highest extraction
yield (1.91%) of O. basilicum were the pressure of 29.7 MPa and temperature
of 59.2oC, whereas the highest yield of linalool (1.998 g?kg-1) was obtained
at the pressure of 20 MPa and temperature of 40oC. The experimental values
agreed with the predicted ones, indicating suitability of the response
surface methodology for optimizing the extraction process.
Homology modelling and docking analysis of L-lactate dehydrogenase from Streptococcus thermopilus
Authors: Vukic Vladimir , Milanovic Spasenija , Ilicic Mirela , Kanuric Katarina , Vukic Dajana
Published: January 2017

The aim of this research was to create a three-dimensional model of L-lactate
dehydrogenase from the main yoghurt starter culture - Streptococcus
thermopilus, to analyse its structural features and investigate substrate
binding in the active site. NCBI BlastP was used against the Protein Data
Bank database in order to identify the template for construction of homology
models. Multiple sequence alignment was performed using the program MUSCULE
within the UGENE 1.11.3 program. Homology models were constructed using the
program Modeller v. 9.17. The obtained 3D model was verified by Ramachandran
plots. Molecular docking simulations were performed using the program
Surflex-Dock. The highest sequence similarity was observed with L-lactate
dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, with 69% identity.
Therefore, its structure (PDB ID: 2ZQY:A) was selected as a modelling
template for homology modelling. Active residues are by sequence similarity
predicted: S. thermophilus - HIS181 and S. aureus - HIS179. Binding energy of
pyruvate to L-lactate dehydrogenase of S. thermopilus was - 7.874 kcal/mol.
Pyruvate in L-lactate dehydrogenase of S. thermopilus makes H bonds with
catalytic HIS181 (1.9 ?), as well as with THR235 (3.6 ?). Although our
results indicate similar position of substrates between L-lactate
dehydrogenase of S. thermopilus and S. aureus, differences in substrate
distances and binding energy values could influence the reaction rate. Based
on these results, the L-lactate dehydrogenase model proposed here could be
used as a guide for further research, such as transition states of the
reaction through molecular dynamics.
Retraction: Identification of aflatoxigenic fungi polymerase chain reaction-based assay. APTEFF, 45 (2014) 259-269. DOI: 10.2298/APT1445259S
Authors: Editorial E
Published: January 2017

On the proposition of the authors, and with the consent of the Editorial
Board, the paper entitled: IDENTIFICATION OF AFLATOXIGENIC FUNGI POLYMERASE
CHAIN REACTION-BASED ASSAY, by Vladislava M. Soso, Marija M. Skrinjar,
Nevena T. Blagojev, Slavica M. Veskovic Moracanin, which was published in
2014 (Vol. 45, pp. 259-269, DOI: 10.2298/APT1445259S), is retracted. The
Editorial Board has found that the paper in question is to a lower extent a
plagiarism (mild plagiarism), and put a proposition to the authors to make
an appropriate correction that was to be published. However, the authors did
not accept this proposition, requesting from the Editorial Board to retract
the paper, to which the Editorial Board consented.

 Link to the retracted article 10.2298/APT1445259S
Hijacking the Moral Imperative: How Financial Incentives Can Discourage Whistleblower Reporting
Authors: Berger Leslie , Perreault Stephen , Wainberg James
Published: January 2017

Recently, policy makers have focused significant attention on the use of financial rewards as a means of encouraging whistleblower reporting, e.g., the Dodd-Frank Act (U.S. House of Representatives 2010). While such incentives are meant to increase the likelihood that fraud will be reported in a timely manner, the psychological theory of motivational crowding calls this proposition into question. Motivational crowding warns that the application of financial rewards (an extrinsic motivator) can unintentionally hijack a person's moral motivation to “do the right thing” (an intrinsic motivator). Applying this theory, we conducted an experiment and found that, in certain contexts, incentive programs can inhibit whistleblower reporting to a greater extent than had no incentives been offered at all. We discuss the implications of our results for auditors, audit committees, regulators, and others charged with corporate governance.

Data Availability: Available from the authors upon request.
Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbid Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Longitudinal Associations With Mortality Risk
Authors: Naicker Kiyuri , Johnson Jeffrey A. , Skogen Jens C. , Manuel Douglas , Øverland Simon , Sivertsen Børge , Colman Ian
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

Depression is strongly linked to increased mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Despite high rates of co-occurring anxiety and depression, the risk of death associated with comorbid anxiety in individuals with type 2 diabetes is poorly understood. This study documented the excess mortality risk associated with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety comorbid with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Using data for 64,177 Norwegian adults from the second wave of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT2), with linkage to the Norwegian Causes of Death Registry, we assessed all-cause mortality from survey participation in 1995 through to 2013. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine mortality risk over 18 years associated with type 2 diabetes status and the presence of comorbid affective symptoms at baseline.

RESULTS

Three clear patterns emerged from our findings. First, mortality risk in individuals with diabetes increased in the presence of depression or anxiety, or both. Second, mortality risk was lowest for symptoms of anxiety, higher for comorbid depression-anxiety, and highest for depression. Lastly, excess mortality risk associated with depression and anxiety was observed in men with diabetes but not in women. The highest risk of death was observed in men with diabetes and symptoms of depression only (hazard ratio 3.47, 95% CI 1.96, 6.14).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that symptoms of anxiety affect mortality risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes independently of symptoms of depression, in addition to attenuating the relationship between depressive symptoms and mortality in these individuals.
Systems Biology–Derived Biomarkers to Predict Progression of Renal Function Decline in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Mayer Gert , Heerspink Hiddo J.L. , Aschauer Constantin , Heinzel Andreas , Heinze Georg , Kainz Alexander , Sunzenauer Judith , Perco Paul , de Zeeuw Dick , Rossing Peter , Pena Michelle , Oberbauer Rainer
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetes has a complex molecular and likely multifaceted pathophysiology. We aimed to validate a panel of biomarkers identified using a systems biology approach to predict the individual decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large group of patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD at various stages.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used publicly available “omics” data to develop a molecular process model of CKD in diabetes and identified a representative parsimonious set of nine molecular biomarkers: chitinase 3-like protein 1, growth hormone 1, hepatocyte growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP7, MMP8, MMP13, tyrosine kinase, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-1. These biomarkers were measured in baseline serum samples from 1,765 patients recruited into two large clinical trials. eGFR decline was predicted based on molecular markers, clinical risk factors (including baseline eGFR and albuminuria), and both combined, and these predictions were evaluated using mixed linear regression models for longitudinal data.

RESULTS

The variability of annual eGFR loss explained by the biomarkers, indicated by the adjusted R2 value, was 15% and 34% for patients with eGFR ≥60 and <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; variability explained by clinical predictors was 20% and 31%, respectively. A combination of molecular and clinical predictors increased the adjusted R2 to 35% and 64%, respectively. Calibration analysis of marker models showed significant (all P < 0.0001) but largely irrelevant deviations from optimal calibration (calibration-in-the-large: −1.125 and 0.95; calibration slopes: 1.07 and 1.13 in the two groups, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A small set of serum protein biomarkers identified using a systems biology approach, combined with clinical variables, enhances the prediction of renal function loss over a wide range of baseline eGFR values in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD.
Genetic characterisation of novel, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N6 viruses isolated in birds, South Korea, November 2016
Authors: Si Young-Jae , Lee In Won , Kim Eun-Ha , Kim Young-Il , Kwon Hyeok-Il , Park Su-Jin , Nguyen Hiep Dinh , Kim Se Mi , Kwon Jin-Jung , Choi Won-Suk , Beak Yun Hee , Song Min-Suk , Kim Chul-Joong , Webby Richard J. , Choi Young-Ki
Published: January 2017

A novel genotype of H5N6 influenza viruses was isolated from migratory birds in South Korea during November 2016. Domestic outbreaks of this virus were associated with die-offs of wild birds near reported poultry cases in Chungbuk province, central South Korea. Genetic analysis and animal studies demonstrated that the Korean H5N6 viruses are highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses and that these viruses are novel reassortants of at least three different subtypes (H5N6, H4N2 and H1N1).
Clinical and Etiological Profile of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF): Analysis and implications
Authors: Mandal Ram Narayan , Mishra Ajay Kumar , Mandal Elena Leonidovna
Published: January 2017

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequently encountered cardiac arrhythmia which may be either symptomatic or asymptomatic. So, this study was conducted to know clinical presentation and to find out possible clinical and etiological profile of patients with AF.Material and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Osh Regional Integrated Clinical Hospital, Osh Territorial City Clinical Hospital, The Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with Janaki Medical College Teaching Hospital, Janakpurdham, Nepal. Sixty consecutive patients with AF were taken. Presenting complaints, past history, personal history was recorded. A thorough clinical examination was done, electrocardiogram, chest X-Ray posterio-anterior view, echocardiogram, thyroid function test and relevant test were done and analyzed.Results: Forty percent of the patients complained palpitation. Systemic thrombo-embolism was found in 15% of the patients. Other presenting complaints were cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, swelling of the legs, tremors. Eighteen percent of patients presented with features of congestive cardiac failure and 30% of the patients gave history of rheumatic heart disease, 16.6% and 11.6% hypertension and ischemic heart disease respectively. Etiology-wise, rheumatic heart disease was the most common (46.6%) followed by hypertension (21.6%), ischemic heart disease (11.6%), dilated cardiomyopathy (6.6%), hyperthyroidism (5%), pneumonia (5%).Conclusion: Rheumatic heart disease, especially mitral stenosis is the most common cause of AF in this study. Systemic hypertension was next common etiology of AF, followed by ischaemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, thyroid disease. Heart failure, Systemic thromboembolism, decreased exercise tolerance are a major determinants for development of significant morbidity and mortality.Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2016) Vol. 4 (1): 5-12
Numerical predictions and experimental investigation of the temperature distribution of friction stir welded AA 5059 aluminium alloy joints
Authors: Babu Narayanasamy , Karunakaran Narayanan , Balasubramanian Viswalingam
Published: January 2017

AA 5059 aluminium alloy is a material well suited for military applications because of its high strength to weight ratio and high toughness. Due to the high magnesium content, this material is frequently used in ship hull structure building because of its good corrosion resistance and good strength characteristics. Friction stir welding is a solid state welding process and it is a suitable method for joining non-ferrous materials such as aluminium alloys. The objective of this work is to predict the temperature distribution in butt welding of AA 5059 aluminium alloy of 4 mm thick plates during friction stir welding. Numerical simulations were developed as a three dimensional, non-linear finite element model using COMSOL multi-physics to predict the complete thermal history of the welded specimens. Experimental work has also been carried out to explore the thermal history of a workpiece. The temperatures predicted numerically are compared to the experimental values in order to evaluate the joint performance and the weld zone characteristics. These results indicate that the values are in good agreement with each other.
Moral-Material Ontologies of Nature Conservation: Exploring the Discord between Ecological Restoration and Novel Ecosystems
Authors: Lennon Mick
Published: January 2017

Recent years have witnessed growing concerns about how we should conduct conservation activities in a world of human-altered biophysical conditions. The ‘novel ecosystems’ perspective has emerged as a way to meet this challenge. Yet its focus on accepting ‘new natures’ as the ‘new normal’ has drawn much criticism from those wedded to conventional forms of conservation, such as ‘ecological restoration’. This paper: 1) provides a much needed review of this dispute; 2) formulates and deploys an original analytical framework, which draws on Thomas Kuhn's ‘theoretical history’ of science and Charles Taylor's moral philosophy to extricate the entangled moral and material ontologies of nature which conflate facts with values in the world-building activities of disputants; and 3) identifies and examines the processes underlying these world-building activities. The paper closes by offering an initial suggestion on how to explore options for resolving this highly contentious debate.
Environmental Aesthetics and Rewilding
Authors: Prior Jonathan , Brady Emily
Published: January 2017

This paper explores the practice of rewilding and its implications for environmental aesthetic values, qualities and experiences. First, we consider the temporal dimensions of rewilding in regard to the emergence of particular aesthetic qualities over time, and our aesthetic appreciation of these. Second, we discuss how rewilding potentially brings about difficult aesthetic experiences, such as the unscenic and the ugly. Finally, we make progress in critically understanding how rewilding may be understood as a distinctive form of ecological restoration, while resisting the assimilation of rewilding into wilderness discourses.
Imagined Forestry: The History of the Scientific Management of Ghana's High Forest Zone
Authors: Hansen Christian Pilegaard , Lund Jens Friis
Published: January 2017

This paper examines efforts at forest conservation and management since colonial times in the 'High Forest Zone'; the southern part of present day Ghana. It provides a detailed historiology of attempts to apply scientific forestry principles and depicts how these ideals have crumbled in the face of material, financial and politico-economic constraints that have largely determined how control and management have unfolded in practice. Thus, the paper illustrates how principles of scientific forestry have come to follow, rather than precede and guide, practices of forest exploitation, and how investments in forest management and silvicultural practices aimed at nurturing the long-term productive value of the forests have been few and far between and rendered ineffective by weaknesses in their theoretical basis and a lack of forest ecological data. Our account of the history of scientific forestry in Ghana is relevant to scholars of empire forestry through its attention to what notions of scientific forestry meant in practice, but also to today's policy makers and practitioners in areas such as timber legality verification, forest certification and decentralised forest management where the challenges discussed in this paper live on.
Engineering Edens on This 'Rivered Earth'? A Review Article on Water Management and Hydro-Resilience in the British Empire, 1860-1940s
Authors: Beattie James , Morgan Ruth
Published: January 2017

This article presents an overview of the management of fresh water in the British Empire from the 1860s to the 1940s. We argue that imperial water management shaped and responded to the imperatives of diverse ecologies and topographies, contrasting political and economic agendas and, not least, different colonial societies, technologies and lay expertise. Building on existing studies, we consider the broader ecological and social effects of water management on irrigated agriculture and cities as well as water supply and drainage, with a particular focus on India and Australasia. Although imperial ideologies of improvement impelled settlement, drove resource extraction and transformed environments, we argue that at times they also diminished the availability, quality and distribution of water. Engineering projects also benefited some groups but not others. We show that normative Anglo assumptions of productive lands and watered environments were often ill-matched with colonial ecologies and water availability, in some cases prompting anxieties about the quality and quantity of water. While these anxieties encouraged further hydrological interventions, we show that they often had unexpected and undesired consequences. We introduce the concept of 'hydro-resilience' to demonstrate how interventions in water management diminished the quality and quantity of water in ways that impacted unevenly on peoples and ecologies across the British Empire.
The Sink as a Source: Safeguarding the Raw Water Source of Gothenburg, Sweden, 1860-1980
Authors: Rönnbäck Klas
Published: January 2017

The paper studies the case of water pollution in Sweden, and how the city of Gothenburg had to struggle with this issue in order to secure a source of fresh water to satisfy its demand for drinking water. It is argued in the paper that the city employed a wide variety of strategies, ranging from water treatment to acquiring property rights over the watershed that provides its water. Most importantly, the city was interested in reducing the levels of pollution in the river, and consequently became a key stakeholder in the enforcement and implementation of effective environmental legislation.
A Sudden Fancy for Tree-Planting? Forest Conservation and the Demise of New Zealand's Provinces
Authors: Brett André
Published: January 2017

New Zealand provides a valuable case study of the relationship between colonial statecraft and forest conservation. This article explores the connections between Premier Julius Vogel's Forests Act of 1874 and the abolition of New Zealand's provinces in 1876, locating conservation within the broader context of popular discontent with provincialism. It argues that previous perspectives have either downplayed or exaggerated the significance of conservation to provincial abolition, and that the relationship between the two was complex and uneven. Abolition profoundly affected conservation, but the stimulus for abolition had been gathering elsewhere even as conservation shaped its timing.
L’énigme du pont d’Amaurote
Authors: Araújo Joaquim Machado de , Araújo Alberto Filipe
Published: January 2017

Une fois terminée l’Utopie, Thomas More l’envoya à Pierre Gilles pour qu’il la lise et qu’il l’avertisse de ce qui aurait pu lui échapper. L’éventualité d’une erreur de la part de More, narrateur et auditeur du discours de Raphaël, a été interprétée comme un détail, parmi d’autres, qui laisse entendre que l’île existe réellement. Les auteurs envisagent donc le problème du pont d’Amaurote comme une énigme, et au fur et à mesure de leur découverte, ils saisissent une des significations de l’affabulation utopique.
2D printing technologies using graphene-based materials
Authors: Antonova I V
Published: January 2017

This paper reviews major research into the use of graphene and other monolayer materials in 2D printing technologies for fabricating modern electronics and photonics devices. The paper discusses methods for preparing suspensions, properties of printed layers, examples and parameters of specific printed devices, and major trends in the field. Special emphasis is placed on the conceptual change in graphene suspension preparation from using organic liquids to utilizing water-based solutions for delaminating graphite and fabricating liquid ink. The paper also considers the trend towards the use of increasing graphene-rich ink, an approach whereby highly conductive printed layers can be obtained. The expansion of the range of materials employed is also discussed.
Third-generation Cu-In-Ga-(S, Se)-based solar inverters
Authors: Novikov G F , Gapanovich M V
Published: January 2017

This paper reviews literature data on thin-film solar cells with absorber layers based on quaternary copper compounds Cu-In-Ga-(S, Se) (CIGS). The paper considers methods of preparation of CIGS layers and discusses the chemical composition, design features, and operating principles of CIGS-based solar cells. The bulk of the recent literature reveals how research in the field is starting to change: important results are being obtained by numerically simulating processes in thin-film solar cells; element concentration gradients in the CIGS structure, spatially nonuniform bandgap energy distribution, and layer grain boundaries are receiving increasing research attention for their respective roles, and the number of kinetic studies is increasing.
Coupled Least Squares Identification Algorithms for Multivariate Output-Error Systems
Authors: Huang Wu , Ding Feng
Published: January 2017

This paper focuses on the recursive identification problems for a multivariate output-error system. By decomposing the system into several subsystems and by forming a coupled relationship between the parameter estimation vectors of the subsystems, two coupled auxiliary model based recursive least squares (RLS) algorithms are presented. Moreover, in contrast to the auxiliary model based recursive least squares algorithm, the proposed algorithms provide a reference to improve the identification accuracy of the multivariate output-error system. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
A Study on the Control Performance of Electronic Differential System for Four-Wheel Drive Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yin Dejun , Shan Danfeng , Hu Jia-Sheng
Published: January 2017

The electronic differential system (EDS) is an important issue for four-wheel drive electric vehicles. This paper delineates an advanced EDS steering strategy and carries out a careful study of its control performance by numerical simulations that comply with the requirements of ISO4238:2012. The results demonstrate that the EDS feedback gain plays an important role to its control performance, particularly to its steering characteristics. Moreover, the analysis and discussion disclose the mechanism of the relationship between the feedback gain and the steering characteristics, which will contribute to further research and EDS development.
Application of Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging to Detect Sulfur Dioxide Residual in the Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbus Treated by Sulfur Fumigation
Authors: He Juan , Zhang Chu , He Yong
Published: January 2017

Sulfur-fumigated Chinese medicine is a common issue in the process of Chinese medicines. Detection of sulfur dioxide (SO2) residual content in Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbus is important to evaluate the degree of sulfur fumigation and its harms. It helps to control the use of sulfur fumigation in Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbus. Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) was explored as a rapid, non-destructive, and accurate technique to detect SO2 residual contents in Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbus. An HSI system covering the spectral range of 874–1734 nm was used. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was applied to build calibration models for SO2 residual content detection. Successive projections algorithm (SPA), weighted regression coefficients (Bw), random frog (RF), and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were used to select optimal wavelengths. PLSR models using the full spectrum and the selected optimal wavelengths obtained good performance. The Bw-PLSR model was applied on a hyperspectral image to form a prediction map, and the results were satisfactory. The overall results in this study indicated that HSI could be used as a promising technique for on-line visualization and monitoring of SO2 residual content in Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbus. Detection and visualization of Chinese medicine quality by HSI provided a new rapid and visual method for Chinese medicine monitoring, showing great potential for real-world application.
Molecular Dynamics Study on the Resonance Properties of a Nano Resonator Based on a Graphene Sheet with Two Types of Vacancy Defects
Authors: Tian Wenchao , Li Wenhua , Liu Xiaohan , Wang Yongkun
Published: January 2017

Due to the excellent electronic, optical, thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties of graphene, it has been applied in microdevices and nanodevices. However, there are some structural defects in graphene limiting its application in micro electromechanical systems (MEMS). These structural defects are inevitable during processing, and it is difficult to assess their effect on the micro/nano devices. Therefore, this communication used molecular dynamics to study the resonance properties of a nanoelectromechanical systems (NMES) resonator based on a graphene sheet with a single vacancy defect and edge defects. This communication focuses on three factors: vacancy types, external force, and temperature. The resonance frequencies of both types of graphene increased with external stress loading, and the resonance frequency of the graphene showed a clear step-shaped variation. Nonlinear deformation of the sheet occurred between resonant processes. When the external force was less than 15.91 nN, the resonance frequencies of the two types of graphene showed a consistent trend. The maximum frequency was up to 132.90 GHz. When the external force was less than 90 nN, the resonance frequencies of graphene with edge defects were greater and changed more rapidly. Temperature did not have a huge influence on the resonance frequencies of either type of graphene structure. The resonance frequencies of graphene with two different vacancy defects showed a consistent trend.
Predicting PM2.5 Concentrations at a Regional Background Station Using Second Order Self-Organizing Fuzzy Neural Network
Authors: Qiao Junfei , Cai Jie , Han Honggui , Cai Jianxian
Published: January 2017

This study aims to develop a second order self-organizing fuzzy neural network (SOFNN) to predict the hourly concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for the next 24 h at a regional background station called Shangdianzi (SDZ) in China from 14 to 23 January 2010. The structure of the SOFNN was automatically adjusted according to the sensitivity analysis (SA) of model output and the parameter-learning phase was performed applying a second order gradient (SOG) algorithm. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to select the dominating factors for PM2.5 concentrations as the input variables for the SOFNN. It was found that the dominating variables (relative humidity (RH), pressure (Pre), aerosol optical depth (AOD), wind speed (WS) and wind direction (WD)) extracted by PCA agreed well with the characteristics of PM2.5 at SDZ where the PM2.5 concentrations were heavily affected by meteorological parameters and were closely related to AOD. The forecasting results showed that the proposed SOG-SASOFNN performed better than other models with higher coefficient of determination (R2) during both training phase and test phase (0.89 and 0.84, respectively) in predicting PM2.5 concentrations at SDZ. In conclusion, the developed SOG-SASOFNN provided satisfying results for modeling the hourly distribution of PM2.5 at SDZ during the studied period.
Cobalt-Doped Carbon Gels as Electro-Catalysts for the Reduction of CO2 to Hydrocarbons
Authors: Abdelwahab Abdalla , Castelo-Quibén Jesica , Pérez-Cadenas María , Elmouwahidi Abdelhakim , Maldonado-Hódar Francisco , Carrasco-Marín Francisco , Pérez-Cadenas Agustín
Published: January 2017

Two original series of carbon gels doped with different cobalt loadings and well-developed mesoporosity, aerogels and xerogels, have been prepared, exhaustively characterized, and tested as cathodes for the electro-catalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbons at atmospheric pressure. Commercial cobalt and graphite sheets have also been tested as cathodes for comparison. All of the doped carbon gels catalyzed the formation of hydrocarbons, at least from type C1 to C4. The catalytic activity depends mainly on the metal loading, nevertheless, the adsorption of a part of the products in the porous structure of the carbon gel cannot be ruled out. Apparent faradaic efficiencies calculated with these developed materials were better that those obtained with a commercial cobalt sheet as a cathode, especially considering the much lower amount of cobalt contained in the Co-doped carbon gels. The cobalt-carbon phases formed in these types of doped carbon gels improve the selectivity to C3-C4 hydrocarbons formation, obtaining even more C3 hydrocarbons than CH4 in some cases.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, DFT Study of m-Methoxy-N′-(3-Methoxybenzoyl)-N-Phenylbenzohydrazide
Authors: Arshad Ifzan , Yameen Javeria , Saeed Aamer , White Jonathan , Albericio Fernando
Published: January 2017

The crystal structure of m-methoxy-N′-(m-anisoyl)-N-phenylbenzohydrazide has been determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 21/c with unit cell parameters: a = 8.7338(1), b = 24.5602(3), c = 9.6929(1) Å, β = 113.186(2)°, V = 1911.23(4) Å3, Z = 4. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the central benzene ring and two terminal aromatic rings are 72.44(4)° and 89.90(4)°, respectively. The two methoxyphenyl rings are orthogonal with a dihedral angle of 89.74(4)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by a combination of N–H…O intermolecular hydrogen bonding and weak intermolecular C–H…O interactions. The X-ray structure was compared with the optimized counterpart calculated by the B3LYP/6-311G basis set and the results showed that the optimized geometry can reproduce the crystal structure parameters well.
Synthesizing Iron Oxide Nanostructures: The Polyethylenenemine (PEI) Role
Authors: Lentijo Mozo Sergio , Zuddas Efisio , Casu Alberto , Falqui Andrea
Published: January 2017

Controlled synthesis of anisotropic iron oxide nanoparticles is a challenge in the field of nanomaterial research that requires an extreme attention to detail. In particular, following up a previous work showcasing the synthesis of magnetite nanorods (NRs) using a two-step approach that made use of polyethylenenemine (PEI) as a capping ligand to synthesize intermediate β-FeOOH NRs, we studied the effect and influence of the capping ligand on the formation of β-FeOOH NRs. By comparing the results reported in the literature with those we obtained from syntheses performed (1) in the absence of PEI or (2) by using PEIs with different molecular weight, we showed how the choice of different PEIs determines the aspect ratio and the structural stability of the β-FeOOH NRs and how this affects the final products. For this purpose, a combination of XRD, HRTEM, and direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC SQUID) magnetometry was used to identify the phases formed in the final products and study their morphostructural features and related magnetic behavior.
Modeling and Vulnerability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Power Systems Considering Network Topology and Power Flow Properties
Authors: Guo Jia , Han Yuqi , Guo Chuangxin , Lou Fengdan , Wang Yanbo
Published: January 2017

Conventional power systems are developing into cyber-physical power systems (CPPS) with wide applications of communication, computer and control technologies. However, multiple practical cases show that the failure of cyber layers is a major factor leading to blackouts. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the cascading failure process considering cyber layer failures and analyze the vulnerability of CPPS. In this paper, a CPPS model, which consists of cyber layer, physical layer and cyber-physical interface, is presented using complex network theory. Considering power flow properties, the impacts of cyber node failures on the cascading failure propagation process are studied. Moreover, two vulnerability indices are established from the perspective of both network structure and power flow properties. A vulnerability analysis method is proposed, and the CPPS performance before and after cascading failures is analyzed by the proposed method to calculate vulnerability indices. In the case study, three typical scenarios are analyzed to illustrate the method, and vulnerabilities under different interface strategies and attack strategies are compared. Two thresholds are proposed to value the CPPS vulnerability roughly. The results show that CPPS is more vulnerable under malicious attacks and cyber nodes with high indices are vulnerable points which should be reinforced.