bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Friction Torque Behavior as a Function of Actual Contact Angle in Four-point-contact Ball Bearing
Authors: Long Chen , Xintao Xia , Haotian Zheng , Ming Qiu
Published: May 2016

The friction is a key factor of rolling bearing performance, especially for those precision transmission fields. All the top rolling bearing manufactures provide their calculating models on friction torque. However, there is great difference between the calculation result and measured value. Two calculation methods on friction torque of four-point-contact ball bearing, considered different factors involving the calculation, are compared and researched for discovering the key influence factor. A specific test is development to verify the theoretical analysis and a precision control method on friction torque with lower cost in production is proposed.
Applications of the min-max symbols of multimodal maps
Authors: Amigó José M. , Giménez Ángel
Published: May 2016

The min-max symbols generalize the kneading symbols in that they contain also information about the minimum or maximum character of the critical values and their iterates. Interestingly enough, this additional information can be obtained from the kneading symbols without further computation. In this paper we review some interesting applications of the min-max symbols. The applications chosen concern new expressions for the topological entropy of multimodal maps, as well as a numerical algorithm to compute it.
Degree-based indices computation for special chemical molecular structures using edge dividing method
Authors: Gao Wei , Farahani Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2016

In computational chemistry, the molecular structures are modelled as graphs which are called the molecular graphs. In these graphs, each vertex represents an atom and each edge denotes covalent bound between atoms. It is shown that the topological indices defined on the molecular graphs can reflect the chemical characteristics of chemical compounds and drugs. In this paper, we report several degree based indices of some widely used chemical molecular structures by means of edge dividing technology.
Multiple solutions of the Kirchhoff-type problem in RN
Authors: Jin Jiahua
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we concern with a class of quasilinear Kirchhoff-type problem. By using the Ekeland’s Variational Principle and Mountain Pass Theorem, the existence of multiple solutions is obtained. Besides, we also take this problem as an example to give the main frame of using critical point theory to find the weak solutions of nonlinear partial differential equation.
Family-Focused Preventive Interventions With Cancer Cosurvivors: A Call to Action
Authors: Niemelä Mika , Marshall Catherine A. , Kroll Thilo , Curran Melissa , Koerner Susan Silverberg , Räsänen Sami , García Francisco
Published: May 2016

Health promotion and preventive action in the context of public health interventions for highly prevalent, long-term conditions such as cancer are rarely geared toward the family as a whole. Yet family members, as cancer cosurvivors, must manage their own substantial stress and multiple caregiving responsibilities and often constitute a critical nexus between individual patients and clinicians. We drew on 2 examples of cancer cosurvivorship from 2 different health service contexts, the United States and Finland. A systemic approach in public health is needed to support family members who not only have to confront the meaning of long-term conditions such as cancer but also may have to manage concurrent social life challenges and stressors such as economic hardship.
Firearm Ownership and Suicide Rates Among US Men and Women, 1981–2013
Authors: Siegel Michael , Rothman Emily F.
Published: May 2016

Objectives. To examine the relationship between state-level firearm ownership rates and gender-specific, age-adjusted firearm and total suicide rates across all 50 US states from 1981 to 2013.

Methods. We used panel data for all 50 states that included annual overall and gender-specific suicide and firearm suicide rates and a proxy for state-level household firearm ownership. We analyzed data by using linear regression and generalized estimating equations to account for clustering.

Results. State-level firearm ownership was associated with an increase in both male and female firearm-related suicide rates and with a decrease in nonfirearm-related suicide rates. Higher gun ownership was associated with higher suicide rates by any means among male, but not among female, persons.

Conclusions. We found a strong relationship between state-level firearm ownership and firearm suicide rates among both genders, and a relationship between firearm ownership and suicides by any means among male, but not female, individuals.

Policy implications. For male persons, policies that reduce firearm ownership will likely reduce suicides by all means and by firearms. For female persons, such policies will likely reduce suicides by firearms.
A Methodological Analysis of the Mechanisms Associated With Steam/Solvent Coinjection Processes Using Dynamic Gridding
Authors: Perez-Perez A.. , Mujica M.. , Bogdanov I.. , Hy-Billiot J..
Published: May 2016

Hybrid steam-solvent processes have gained importance as a thermal-recovery process for heavy oils in recent years. Numerous pilot projects during the last decade indicate the increasing interest in this technology. The steam/solvent coinjection process aims to accelerate oil production, increase ultimate oil recovery, reduce energy and water-disposal requirements, and diminish the volume of emitted greenhouse gases compared with the steam-assisted-gravity-drainage (SAGD) process. Among the identified physical mechanisms that play a role during the hybrid steam/solvent processes are the heat-transfer phenomena, the gravity drainage and viscous flow, the solvent mass transfer, and the mass diffusion/dispersion phenomena. The major consequence of this complex interplay is the improvement of oil-phase mobility that is controlled by the reduction in the oil-phase viscosity at the edge of the steam chamber. It follows that a detailed representation of this narrow zone is necessary to capture the involved physical phenomena.

In this work, a study of sensitivity to grid size was carried out to define the appropriate grid necessary to represent the near-edge zone of the steam/solvent chamber. Our results for the steam/solvent coinjection process in a homogeneous synthetic reservoir indicate that a decimetric scale is required to represent with a good precision the heat and mass-transfer processes taking place at the edge of the steam chamber. In addition, we present some numerical results of the adaptive dynamic gridding application. Comparison was performed between the SAGD process and steam/solvent coinjection after the characterization and analysis of the mechanisms that govern oil production under typical Athabasca oil-sand conditions. Finally, in the framework of the proposed numerical methodology, the effect of solvent type and injection conditions on the oil-recovery efficiency is quantitatively illustrated. Published data for similar applications are also discussed.

It is expected that this work will provide some insight for the simulation community about methodological aspects to be taken into account when hybrid steam/solvent processes would be modeled.
Effect of Water-Soluble Drag-Reducing Polymer on Flow Patterns and Pressure Gradients of Oil/Water Flow in Horizontal and Upward-Inclined Pipes
Authors: Abubakar A.. , Al-Wahaibi Y.. , Al-Wahaibi T.. , Al-Hashmi A.. , Al-Ajmi A.. , Eshrati M..
Published: May 2016

Experimental investigations of flow patterns and pressure gradients of oil/water flow with and without drag-reducing polymer (DRP) were carried out in horizontal and upward-inclined acrylic pipe of 30.6-mm inner diameter (ID). The oil/water flow conditions of 0.1- to 1.6-m/s mixture velocities and 0.05–0.9 input oil-volume fractions were used, and 2,000 ppm master solution of the water-soluble DRP was prepared and injected at controlled flow rates to provide 40 ppm of the DRP in the water phase at the test section. The flow patterns at the water-continuous flows were affected by the DRP, whereas there were no tangible effects of the DRP at the oil-continuous flow regions. The upward inclinations shifted the boundaries between stratified flows and dual continuous flows, and the boundaries between dual continuous flows and water-continuous flows to lower mixture velocities. This means that the inclinations increased the rate of dispersions. The frictional pressure gradients for both with and without DRP slightly decreased with inclinations especially at low mixture velocities, whereas the significant increases in the total pressure gradients with the inclinations were more pronounced at low mixture velocities. The inclinations did not have a major effect on the drag reductions by the DRP at the high mixture velocities and low-input oil-volume fractions where the highest drag reductions recorded were 64% at 0° inclination and 62% at both + 5° and +10° inclinations. However, the inclinations increased the drag reductions as the input oil-volume fractions were increased before phase-inversion points.
Subsurface Drip Irrigation and Fertigation of Broccoli
Authors: Thompson Thomas L. , Doerge Thomas A. , Godin Ronald E.
Published: May 2016

Subsurface drip irrigation offers potential for increased water and N fertilizer use efficiency, and decreased groundwater NO3pollution. Replicated factorial experiments consisting of four rates of N fertilizer application (60–500 kg ha−1) and three target soil water tensions (SWT) (low, medium, and high) were conducted on subsurface drip‐irrigated broccoli (Brassica olearaceaL.Italica) during three winter growing seasons in southern Arizona. Objectives were to (i) determine effects and interactions of irrigation water and N inputs on net economic return, residual soil NO3‐N, and unaccounted fertilizer N, and (ii) use abstract spatial analysis techniques to simultaneously evaluate agronomic, economic, and environmental production functions during three growing seasons. Spatial analysis was used to identify overlap of acceptable zones of marketable yield, net return, and unaccounted fertilizer N. Acceptable yields and net return were defined as ≥95% of maximum predicted response within the range of the treatments, and acceptable unaccounted fertilizer N was defined as ≤40 kg ha−1During this study, >95% of maximum net return encompassed N rates of 300 to 500 kg ha−1, and SWTs of 7 to 25 kPa. There was little accumulation of NO3in the top 0.9 m of soil when ≤350 kg N ha−1were applied. Unaccounted N increased with excessive N and water inputs, and accounted for as much as 46% of N applied. Overlap of acceptable zones of agronomic, economic, and environmental production criteria was achieved in each year. Areas of overlap were bounded by 300 to 325 kg N ha−1and 8.5 to 12 kPa in 1993–1994, 350 to 500 kg N ha−1and 11 to 14 kPa in 1994–1995, and 340 to 410 kg N ha−1and 11 to 24 kPa in 1995–1996.
Principal Component Analysis Approach for Modeling Sulfur K‐XANES Spectra of Humic Acids
Authors: Beauchemin Suzanne , Hesterberg Dean , Beauchemin Mario
Published: May 2016

Quantitative application of x‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to soils and other geochemical systems requires a determination of the proportions of multiple chemical species that contribute to the measured spectrum. Two common approaches to fitting XANES spectra are spectral deconvolution and least‐squares linear combination fitting (LCF). The objective of this research was to evaluate principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with target transformation to model S K‐XANES spectra of humic acid samples, and to compare the results with least‐squares LCF. Principal component analysis provided a statistical basis for choosing the number of standard species to include in the fitting model. Target transformation identified which standards were statistically more likely to explain the spectra of the humic acid samples. The selected standards and the scaling coefficients obtained by the PCA approach deviated by ≤6 mol% from results obtained by performing LCF using a large number of binary, ternary, and quaternary combinations of seven S standards. Because no energy shift is allowed in the PCA approach, fitting may be refined, when appropriate, by using afterwards a least‐squares method that includes energy offset parameters. Statistical ranking of the most likely standard spectra contributing to the unknown spectra enhanced LCF by reducing the analysis to a smaller set of standard spectra. The PCA approach is a valuable complement to other spectral fitting techniques as it provides statistical criteria that improve insight to the data, and lead to a more objective approach to fitting.
Design and technologies for implementing a smart educational building: Case study
Authors: Cardei Ionut , Furht Borko , Bradley Luis
Published: May 2016

In this paper we describe the design of an educational smart building and the
innovative technologies that were implemented. In January of 2011, Florida
Atlantic University opened its new LEED Platinum-Certified ?Engineering East?
building. The building was designed as both a model of how new technologies
can drastically decrease the energy requirements of a large university
building and for providing a ?living laboratory? so that students and faculty
may actually see how these systems work and interrelate. Engineering faculty
was involved in providing inputs to the builder in creating state-of-the-art
engineering laboratories.
Swarm intelligence based reliable and energy balance routing algorithm for wireless sensor network
Authors: Elfouly Fatma , Ramadan Rabie , Mahmoud Mohamed , Dessouky Moawad
Published: May 2016

Energy is an extremely crucial resource for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs).
Many routing techniques have been proposed for finding the minimum energy
routing paths with a view to extend the network lifetime. However, this might
lead to unbalanced distribution of energy among sensor nodes resulting in,
energy hole problem. Therefore, designing energy-balanced routing technique
is a challenge area of research in WSN. Moreover, dynamic and harsh
environments pose great challenges in the reliability of WSN. To achieve
reliable wireless communication within WSN, it is essential to have reliable
routing protocol. Furthermore, due to the limited memory resources of sensor
nodes, full utilization of such resources with less buffer overflow remains
as a one of main consideration when designing a routing protocol for WSN.
Consequently, this paper proposes a routing scheme that uses SWARM
intelligence to achieve both minimum energy consumption and balanced energy
consumption among sensor nodes for WSN lifetime extension. In addition, data
reliability is considered in our model where, the sensed data can reach the
sink node in a more reliable way. Finally, buffer space is considered to
reduce the packet loss and energy consumption due to the retransmission of
the same packets. Through simulation, the performance of proposed algorithm
is compared with the previous work such as EBRP, ACO, TADR, SEB, and
CLR-Routing.
A platform for a smart learning environment
Authors: Simic Konstantin , Despotovic-Zrakic Marijana , Bojovic Zivko , Jovanic Branislav , Knezevic Djordje
Published: May 2016

In this paper, a modular platform which provides student services for smart
educational environment is described. The platform represents a point of
mutual integration of various services, such as hosting platform for
students? projects, platform for integrating SMS service with students? web
applications, Internet of Things platform which enables acquiring data from
sensors distributed within the University building and controlling various
actuators. Platform is deployed as a part of Smart Learning environment. It
is integrated with single sign on service and it uses CAS and Oauth2. REST
API is also provided. PHP Symfony framework, relational and non-relational
databases are used for deploying the platform. The platform was evaluated and
tested.
Defens in gene expression in some plant sources of Taif
Authors: El-Shehawi Ahmed , Al-Otaibi Saad , Azab Ehab
Published: May 2016

Plant defensins are promising future strategy as antimicrobial agents;
however the number of characterized plant defensins is very low. We isolated
and studied the expression of plant defensins in six plants from Taif
region. Using RT-PCR and two pairs of common as well as three pairs of
specific primers, the defensin gene expression was analyzed. Plants showed
differences in defensin gene expression in floral buds and leaves, though
floral buds represented higher gene expression. The amino acid sequence of
the six isolated cDNA sequences showed high similarity with other defensin
accessions from the nucleotide database, especially in the cysteine rich
motif. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolated sequences share the
common features of plant defensins, especially the 8 conserved cysteines.
The results of this study help to detect some valuable Saudi plant sources
for the development of natural peptides as a replacement for chemical
antibiotics.
Diallel analysis for estimation of genetic parameters in oriental tobacco genotypes
Authors: Seyyed-Nazari Reyhaneh , Ghadimzadeh Mortaza , Darvishzadeh Reza , Alavi Seyyed
Published: May 2016

Oriental tobacco is one of the main types of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.),
which consists eight percent of the total world production in the world. The
objective of this research was to estimate genetic parameters using diallel
cross analysis to identify suitable parents used in Oriental tobacco breeding
programs. Fifteen F1 progenies along with their six parents were planted in
randomized complete block design with three replications in two separate
experiments at Urmia Tobacco Research Centre, Iran in 2012. Combined analysis
of variance for seven investigated traits consisting of fresh weight of leaf
(FWL), dry weight of leaf (DWL), number of leaves (NL), length of leaf (LL),
width of leaf (WL), length of stem (LS), and diameter of stem (DS), using
Griffing?s method 2, Model 1 showed significant mean squares of GCA and SCA
for all traits except length of leaf indicating the importance of both
additive and non-additive genetic effects for these traits. Baker ratios
indicated that additive genetic effect were more important for investigated
traits except number of leaves in which equal importance of both components
was indicated. Good and poor general combiners were determined among parents
for each investigated traits and finally a set of hybrids appeared to be
significant SCA which could be used in Oriental tobacco improvement.
Genetic diversity analysis of tropical sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties in Bangladesh using RAPD markers
Authors: Saclain Saidin , Latif Abdul , Bala Babul , Mallik Mithun , Islam Shahidul
Published: May 2016

Knowledge on intra-specific genetic variation of an organism is important for
its genetic improvement and conservation. In order to estimate genetic
variation and relatedness in eleven tropical Sugar beet varieties we used
randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The RAPD analysis was
performed using six decamer random primers, which amplified a total of 63 DNA
fragments of which 43 (68.25%) were found polymorphic. The average
polymorphic bands per primer was 7.17 and the overall gene diversity was
0.24. Among the 43 polymorphic loci studied, 2 were specific for 2K 310, 1
for Shubraha, 1 for Natura and 1 for HI-0473 varieties. Pair wise genetic
distance and similarity indices were ranged from 0.12-0.51 and 66.73-92.91,
respectively. Cauvery and 2K 310 were found to be the most distantly related
with a higher genetic distance value (GD = 0.51) and lower similarity index
(SI = 66.73), while Aranka and Serenada were the most closely related with
their lower GD (0.12) and higher SI(92.91) values. In an unweighted pair
group method of arithmetic mean dendrogram constructed on the basis of
genetic distances, the eleven varieties grouped into two main clusters: 2K
310 alone was in one cluster whereas 10 other varieties grouped into a major
cluster. This indicates that 2K 310 was distantly related with each of the
other varieties. Distantly related varieties based on estimated genetic
variation could be selected for future breeding program that could result in
improvement of this crop.
Prosystemin identification in Amaranthus cruentus and A. hypochondriacus x hybridus based on data mining and sequence alignment
Authors: Ziarovska Jana , Zahorsky Michal , Hricova Andrea
Published: May 2016

Bioinformatic tool have became an inevitable part of molecular genetic
research in many applications. In the present study, an in silico based
approach was used to find conservative region of currently known prosystemin
gene sequences and its PCR identification was performed in Amaranthus
cruentus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus x hybridus. Identification results
were veryfied by direct sequencing of obtained amplicons. For both of
analysed species, the prosystemin sequence specifity was confirmed by
sequencing. For a hybrid A. hypochondriacus x hybridus no differences were
returned in bioinformatic alighment for known prosystemin sequence. For A.
cruentus, two bases were found as to be different in the DNA sequence of
prosystemin.
Polymer-graphene composites by photocuring of a system containing benzophenone macromer
Authors: Jitaru Florentina , Chibac Andreea , Epurescu George , Ion Ioana , Buruiana Tinca
Published: May 2016

Formulations incorporating benzophenone oligodimethacrylate (BP-DMA) and
graphene structures (graphene oxide/GO, reduced graphene oxide/RGO) were
exposed to UV/vis irradiation or femtosecond laser beam to achieve hybrid
composites. All structures were characterized through various methods
including 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, optical microscopy, TEM, SEM/EDAX
analysis, and DSC/XRD techniques. The photopolymerization of BP-DMA in
monomer compositions with and without GO or RGO was investigated by photo-DSC
and FTIR methods for determining the polymerization kinetic parameters. The
photopolymerization experiments revealed a good photoreactivity of the
monomers (degree of conversion: 65-77%) after 1 minute exposure to UV/vis
irradiation and the addition of graphene (up to 0.5%), whereas the
polymerization rate varied between 0.14 and 0.1 s-1. Moreover, two-photon
photopolymerization of the formulations in presence/absence of GO or RGO
nanosheets (0.1 wt.%) generated 2D microstructures by direct laser writing
procedure. Also, the morphology and the properties of composites materials
were analyzed.
Determination of reference values of acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase activities in Serbian healthy population
Authors: Zlatkovic Milica , Krstic Nadezda , Subota Vesna , Boskovic Bogdan , Vucinic Slavica
Published: May 2016

Background/Aim. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) are important biomarkers of exposure to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides. Since the estimation of the level of cholinesterase inhibition depends on the normal values which may vary in different populations, it is important to determine them in our population, which so far has not been done. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the reference values for AChE and BuChE in a healthy population of adults in the Republic of Serbia. Methods. The AChE activity was measured by spectrophotometry (? = 412 nm), using a modified Ellman?s method. BuChE activity was determined by the integrated chemical system (Dimension RxLMax) with ready-made reagent cartridge for analysis. The examinees were healthy voluntary blood donors from the Institute of Transfusiology and Hemobiology, Military Medical Academy in Belgrade, Serbia. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program was used for data processing. Results. In the group of 851 persons, there were 728 males and 123 females. The mean age was 39.1 ? 11.6 years. For all of them, erythrocyte AChE activity was done while BuChE was determined in 205 persons (169 males and 36 females). Their mean value of acetylcholinesterase activity was 8,090.6 ? 1,976.7 IU/L, and of butyrylcholinesterase activity was 14,556.6 ? 4,078.1 U/L. Due to lack of normal data distribution in male group (both enzymes), reference ranges were estimated as 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles. Conclusion. The results of this pilot study on cholinesterase in healthy population in the Republic of Serbia which has now been done for the first time, indicate the need for considering their wider ranges of when estimating the severity of poisoning. However, further study for BuChE with the inclusion of a larger number of females and data for body weight of the examinees, in order to get more precise reference limits, is suggested.
Joint-Specific Play Controller for Upper Extremity Therapy: Feasibility Study in Children With Wrist Impairment
Authors: Wilcox Bethany J. , Wilkins Megan M. , Basseches Benjamin , Schwartz Joel B. , Kerman Karen , Trask Christine , Brideau Holly , Crisco Joseph J.
Published: May 2016

Background

Challenges with any therapeutic program for children include the level of the child's engagement or adherence. Capitalizing on one of the primary learning avenues of children, play, the approach described in this article is to develop therapeutic toy and game controllers that require specific and repetitive joint movements to trigger toy/game activation.

Objective

The goal of this study was to evaluate a specially designed wrist flexion and extension play controller in a cohort of children with upper extremity motor impairments (UEMIs). The aim was to understand the relationship among controller play activity, measures of wrist and forearm range of motion (ROM) and spasticity, and ratings of fun and difficulty.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study of 21 children (12 male, 9 female; 4–12 years of age) with UEMIs.

Methods

All children participated in a structured in-clinic play session during which measurements of spasticity and ROM were collected. The children were fitted with the controller and played with 2 toys and 2 computer games for 5 minutes each. Wrist flexion and extension motion during play was recorded and analyzed. In addition, children rated the fun and difficulty of play.

Results

Flexion and extension goal movements were repeatedly achieved by children during the play session at an average frequency of 0.27 Hz. At this frequency, 15 minutes of play per day would result in approximately 1,700 targeted joint motions per week. Play activity was associated with ROM measures, specifically supination, but toy perception ratings of enjoyment and difficulty were not correlated with clinical measures.

Limitations

The reported results may not be representative of children with more severe UEMIs.

Conclusions

These outcomes indicate that the therapeutic controllers elicited repetitive goal movements and were adaptable, enjoyable, and challenging for children of varying ages and UEMIs.
Law and development: Forty years after ‘Scholars in Self-Estrangement’
Authors: Trubek David M
Published: May 2016

‘Scholars in Self-Estrangement’ was a major milestone in the field of law and development. In a paper delivered in 2014 at the University of Toronto on the Fortieth Anniversary of its publication, the author looked back over four decades. He observed that the field was created in the 1960s as an adjunct of development assistance but soon sought to become an independent academic endeavour: seeking to make the field more academic, the article critiqued early efforts as too policy dependent and ethnocentric. But shortly after the article was published, law and development slowed down: it had lost support of development agencies before it could establish a secure place in the academy. Then, by the 1990s, it had revived, and today there is a proliferation of research, much of which has avoided the errors pointed to in ‘Scholars.’ However, the field has now split into a number of subdisciplines that do not always communicate with one another, despite the interdependence of different facets of development. To the challenge created by this fragmentation are added two other main concerns: new theories of development that stress experimentation and local variation, and the irreducible local embeddedness of legal systems. These suggest a need for greater emphasis on context for the definition of reform strategies and raise questions about the viability of general laws about the relation between law and development. Thus, the author notes here that the field now confronts the twin challenges of interdependence and context. Recognizing that there is no easy formula to meet these challenges, he concludes that building capacity in the Global South for interdisciplinary- and policy-oriented work is a necessary first step.
Altitude Decompression Sickness Risk and Physical Activity During Exposure
Authors: Webb James T. , Morgan Thomas R. , Sarsfield Sean D.
Published: May 2016

INTRODUCTION: Earlier research described a linear relationship between the highest 1 min of oxygen consumption (Vo2) during a recurring physical activity and incidence of decompression sickness (DCS) during research chamber exposures to high altitude. The current effort
was designed to determine if that relationship holds true at a lower altitude.METHODS: Male subjects (20) were exposed without prebreathe to 22,500 ft (6858 m; 314 mmHg; 6.1 psi) for 4 h while seated, nonambulatory the entire time, with echo-imaging at 16-min intervals (Non-Amb
Echo), breathing 100% oxygen. Average highest 1 min of Vo2 and level of activity was determined. Results during Non-Amb Echo were compared with earlier research data acquired under identical conditions except for higher levels of activity.RESULTS: No DCS was reported
or observed and no venous gas emboli were observed. Combined with earlier data, a strong linear relationship (r > 0.99) was observed between DCS incidence and level of activity.DISCUSSION: These results suggest physiological envelopes might be expanded or prebreathe time reduced
for some high-altitude aircraft operations that involve very low levels of physical activity. They may also help to explain the higher DCS risk for inside observers vs. trainees during altitude chamber training. The data imply potential for update of altitude DCS risk prediction models by
adjustment with quantified level of activity during exposure.Webb JT, Morgan TR, Sarsfield SD. Altitude decompression sickness risk and physical activity during exposure. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(6):516–520.
Domain-Specific Interference Tests on Navigational Working Memory in Military Pilots
Authors: Verde Paola , Boccia Maddalena , Colangeli Stefano , Barbetti Sonia , Nori Raffaella , Ferlazzo Fabio , Piccolo Francesco , Vitalone Roberto , Lucertini Elena , Piccardi Laura
Published: May 2016

INTRODUCTION: Human navigation is a very complex ability that encompasses all four stages of human information processing (sensory input, perception/cognition, selection, and execution of an action), involving both cognitive and physical requirements. During flight, the pilot
uses all of these stages and one of the most critical aspect is interference. In fact, spatial tasks competing for the same cognitive resource cause greater distraction from a concurrent task than another task that uses different resource modalities.METHODS: Here we compared and
contrasted the performance of pilots and nonpilots of both genders performing increasingly complex navigational memory tasks while exposed to various forms of interference. We investigated the effects of four different sources of interference: motor, spatial motor, verbal, and spatial environment,
focusing on gender differences.RESULTS: We found that flight experts perform better than controls (Pilots: 6.50 ± 1.29; Nonpilots: 5.45 ± 1.41). Furthermore, in the general population, navigational working memory is compromised only by spatial environmental
interference (Nonpilots: 4.52 ± 1.50); female nonpilots were less able than male nonpilots. Also, the flight expert group showed the same interference, even if reduced (Pilots: 5.24 ± 0.92); moreover, we highlighted a complete absence of gender-related effects.DISCUSSION:
Spatial environmental interference is the only interference producing a decrease in performance. Nevertheless, pilots are less affected than the general population. This is probably a consequence of the need to commit substantial cognitive resources to process spatial information during flight.Verde
P, Boccia M, Colangeli S, Barbetti S, Nori R, Ferlazzo F, Piccolo F, Vitalone R, Lucertini E, Piccardi L. Domain-specific interference tests on navigational working memory in military pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(6):528–533.
We All Live in Fabletown: Bill Willingham’s Fables—A Fairy-Tale Epic for the 21st Century
Authors: Harris Jason
Published: May 2016

Bill Willingham’s Fables comic book series and its spin-offs have spanned fourteen years and reinforce that fairy-tale characters are culturally meaningful, adaptable, subversive, and pervasive. Willingham uses fairy-tale pastiche and syncreticism based on the ethos of comic book crossovers in his redeployment of previous approaches to fairy-tale characters. Fables characters are richer for every perspective that Willingham deploys, from the Brothers Grimm to Disneyesque aesthetics and more erotic, violent, and horrific incarnations. Willingham’s approach to these fairy-tale narratives is synthetic, idiosyncratic, and libertarian. This tension between Willingham’s subordination of fairy-tale characters to his overarching libertarian ideological narrative and the traditional folkloric identities drives the storytelling momentum of the Fables universe. Willingham’s portrayal of Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf turned private eye), Snow White (“Fairest of Them All”, Director of Operations of Fabletown, and avenger against pedophilic dwarves), Rose Red (Snow’s divergent, wild, and jealous sister), and Jack (narcissistic trickster) challenges contemporary assumptions about gender, heroism, narrative genres, and the very conception of a fairy tale. Emerging from negotiations with tradition and innovation are fairy-tale characters who defy constraints of folk and storybook narrative, mythology, and metafiction.
Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Behavioral Development in Children
Authors: Quaak Ilona , De Cock Marijke , De Boer Michiel , Lamoree Marja , Leonards Pim , Van de Bor Margot
Published: May 2016

Background: In recent years, prevalence rates of behavioral disorders in children have increased. One factor possibly implied in the etiology of behavioral disorders is exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). The use of PFASs is highly integrated into everyday life, and exposure is ubiquitous. Exposure to PFASs during early life may be particularly harmful, as it represents a critical time window for brain development. However, research in the area is limited, especially among preschool children. The objective of the current study was to explore the relationship between prenatal exposure to several PFASs and behavioral development at the age of 18 months. Methods: Data from the Dutch cohort LINC (Linking Maternal Nutrition to Child Health) were used. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were measured in cord plasma. The total exposure of PFASs was also calculated (ΣPFASs). Behavioral development was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5–5 (CBCL 1.5–5). The CBCL scales “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD) and “Externalizing problems” were used for further analysis. Separate regression models were composed for each combination, in which exposure levels were classified in tertiles. Both whole population and sex-stratified analyses were performed. A family history of ADHD, the educational level, smoking or using alcohol or illicit drugs during pregnancy were considered as confounders. In total, data from 76 mother-child pairs was included. Results: No significant associations were found between prenatal PFAS exposure and ADHD scores in the whole population and in the sex-stratified analyses. With regard to externalizing behavior, a significant negative association was found between the highest levels of ΣPFAS exposure and externalizing problem behavior in the whole population, but only in the crude model. After stratifying for sex, boys in the second and third tertile of exposure to PFOA presented significantly lower scores on the Externalizing Problem Scale than boys with the lowest exposure levels in the adjusted model. Girls exposed to higher levels of ΣPFAS exposure (T2) showed significantly lower scores on the Externalizing Problem Scale, in both crude and adjusted models. No significant associations with PFOS were found. Conclusions: Results from the current study show that prenatal exposure to PFOA was negatively related to externalizing behavior in boys. Results were different for boys and girls, emphasizing that mechanisms at work might be sex-dependent. However, results should be interpreted with caution as the sample size was small.
Susceptibility of Chinese Perch Brain (CPB) Cell and Mandarin Fish to Red-Spotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (RGNNV) Infection
Authors: Tu Jiagang , Chen Wenjie , Fu Xiaozhe , Lin Qiang , Chang Ouqin , Zhao Lijuan , Lan Jiangfeng , Li Ningqiu , Lin Li
Published: May 2016

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is the causative agent of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), a neurological disease responsible for high mortality of fish species worldwide. Taking advantage of our established Chinese perch brain (CPB) cell line derived from brain tissues of Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), the susceptibility of CPB cell to Red-Spotted Grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) was evaluated. The results showed that RGNNV replicated well in CPB cells, resulting in cellular apoptosis. Moreover, the susceptibility of Mandarin fish to RGNNV was also evaluated. Abnormal swimming was observed in RGNNV-infected Mandarin fish. In addition, the cellular vacuolation and viral particles were also observed in brain tissues of RGNNV-infected Mandarin fish by Hematoxylin-eosin staining or electronic microscopy. The established RGNNV susceptible brain cell line from freshwater fish will pave a new way for the study of the pathogenicity and replication of NNV in the future.
Ruthenium Complexes Induce HepG2 Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibit Cell Migration and Invasion through Regulation of the Nrf2 Pathway
Authors: Lu Yiyu , Shen Ting , Yang Hua , Gu Weiguang
Published: May 2016

Ruthenium (Ru) complexes are currently the focus of substantial interest because of their potential application as chemotherapeutic agents with broad anticancer activities. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities and mechanisms of two Ru complexes—2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-Octaethyl-21H,23H-porphine Ru(II) carbonyl (Ru1) and 5,10,15,20-Tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine Ru(II) carbonyl (Ru2)—against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. These Ru complexes effectively inhibited the cellular growth of three human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, with IC50 values ranging from 2.7–7.3 μM. In contrast, the complexes exhibited lower toxicity towards L02 human liver normal cells with IC50 values of 20.4 and 24.8 μM, respectively. Moreover, Ru2 significantly inhibited HepG2 cell migration and invasion, and these effects were dose-dependent. The mechanistic studies demonstrated that Ru2 induced HCC cell apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation, which was predominately triggered via caspase family member activation. Furthermore, HCC cell treatment significantly decreased the expression levels of Nrf2 and its downstream effectors, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO1). Ru2 also exhibited potent in vivo anticancer efficacy in a tumor-bearing nude mouse model, as demonstrated by a time- and dose-dependent inhibition on tumor growth. The results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Ru complexes against HCC via Nrf2 pathway regulation.
Nutrient-Deprived Retinal Progenitors Proliferate in Response to Hypoxia: Interaction of the HIF-1 and mTOR Pathway
Authors: Khaliullina Helena , Love Nicola , Harris William
Published: May 2016

At a cellular level, nutrients are sensed by the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR). The response of cells to hypoxia is regulated via action of the oxygen sensor Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 (HIF-1). During development, injury and disease, tissues might face conditions of both low nutrient supply and low oxygen, yet it is not clear how cells adapt to both nutrient restriction and hypoxia, or how mTOR and HIF-1 interact in such conditions. Here we explore this question in vivo with respect to cell proliferation using the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) of Xenopus. We found that both nutrient-deprivation and hypoxia cause retinal progenitors to decrease their proliferation, yet when nutrient-deprived progenitors are exposed to hypoxia there is an unexpected rise in cell proliferation. This increase, mediated by HIF-1 signalling, is dependent on glutaminolysis and reactivation of the mTOR pathway. We discuss how these findings in non-transformed tissue may also shed light on the ability of cancer cells in poorly vascularised solid tumours to proliferate.
Pleural Lubrication
Authors: Porta Cristina , Sironi Chiara , Bodega Francesca , Agostoni Emilio
Published: May 2016

During breathing, the pleural surfaces slide against each other continuously without damage. Pleural liquid and lubricating molecules should provide the lubrication of the sliding surfaces, thus protecting the mesothelium from shear-induced abrasion. D’Angelo et al. (Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 2004) measured the coefficient of kinetic friction (μ) of rabbit parietal pleura sliding against visceral pleura in vitro at physiological velocities and under physiological loads; it was ~0.02 and did not change with sliding velocity, consistent with boundary lubrication. μ in boundary lubrication can be influenced by surface molecules like hyaluronan, sialomucin or surface active phospholipidis. Hyaluronan or sialomucin is able to restore good boundary lubrication in damaged mesothelium. Nevertheless, hyaluronidase and neuraminidase treatment of the mesothelium does not increase μ, though neuraminidase cleaves sialic acid from the mesothelium. Short pronase or phospholipase treatment, so as to affect only the mesothelial glycocalyx, increases μ, and this increase is removed by hyaluronan or sialomucin. On the other hand, addition of phospholipids after phospholipase treatment produces a small effect relative to that of hyaluronan or sialomucin, and this effect is similar with unsaturated or saturated phospholipids. In damaged mesothelium, the lubrication regimen becomes mixed, but addition of hyaluronan or sialomucin restores boundary lubrication.
Novel Cage-Like Hexanuclear Nickel(II) Silsesquioxane. Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity in Oxidations with Peroxides
Authors: Bilyachenko Alexey , Yalymov Alexey , Shul’pina Lidia , Mandelli Dalmo , Korlyukov Alexander , Vologzhanina Anna , Es’kova Marina , Shubina Elena , Levitsky Mikhail , Shul’pin Georgiy
Published: May 2016

New hexanuclear nickel(II) silsesquioxane [(PhSiO1.5)12(NiO)6(NaCl)] (1) was synthesized as its dioxane-benzonitrile-water complex (PhSiO1,5)12(NiO)6(NaCl)(C4H8O2)13(PhCN)2(H2O)2 and studied by X-ray and topological analysis. The compound exhibits cylinder-like type of molecular architecture and represents very rare case of polyhedral complexation of metallasilsesquioxane with benzonitrile. Complex 1 exhibited catalytic activity in activation of such small molecules as light alkanes and alcohols. Namely, oxidation of alcohols with tert-butylhydroperoxide and alkanes with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The oxidation of methylcyclohexane gave rise to the isomeric ketones and unusual distribution of alcohol isomers.
Automatic Registration Method for Optical Remote Sensing Images with Large Background Variations Using Line Segments
Authors: Shi Xiaolong , Jiang Jie
Published: May 2016

Image registration is an essential step in the process of image fusion, environment surveillance and change detection. Finding correct feature matches during the registration process proves to be difficult, especially for remote sensing images with large background variations (e.g., images taken pre and post an earthquake or flood). Traditional registration methods based on local intensity probably cannot maintain steady performances, as differences are significant in the same area of the corresponding images, and ground control points are not always available in many disaster images. In this paper, an automatic image registration method based on the line segments on the main shape contours (e.g., coastal lines, long roads and mountain ridges) is proposed for remote sensing images with large background variations because the main shape contours can hold relatively more invariant information. First, a line segment detector called EDLines (Edge Drawing Lines), which was proposed by Akinlar et al. in 2011, is used to extract line segments from two corresponding images, and a line validation step is performed to remove meaningless and fragmented line segments. Then, a novel line segment descriptor with a new histogram binning strategy, which is robust to global geometrical distortions, is generated for each line segment based on the geometrical relationships,including both the locations and orientations of theremaining line segments relative to it. As a result of the invariance of the main shape contours, correct line segment matches will have similar descriptors and can be obtained by cross-matching among the descriptors. Finally, a spatial consistency measure is used to remove incorrect matches, and transformation parameters between the reference and sensed images can be figured out. Experiments with images from different types of satellite datasets, such as Landsat7, QuickBird, WorldView, and so on, demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is automatic, fast (4 ms faster than the second fastest method, i.e., the rotation- and scale-invariant shape context) and can achieve a recall of 79.7%, a precision of 89.1% and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.0 pixels on average for remote sensing images with large background variations.
A Novel Attitude Estimation Algorithm Based on the Non-Orthogonal Magnetic Sensors
Authors: Zhu Jianliang , Wu Panlong , Bo Yuming
Published: May 2016

Because the existing extremum ratio method for projectile attitude measurement is vulnerable to random disturbance, a novel integral ratio method is proposed to calculate the projectile attitude. First, the non-orthogonal measurement theory of the magnetic sensors is analyzed. It is found that the projectile rotating velocity is constant in one spinning circle and the attitude error is actually the pitch error. Next, by investigating the model of the extremum ratio method, an integral ratio mathematical model is established to improve the anti-disturbance performance. Finally, by combining the preprocessed magnetic sensor data based on the least-square method and the rotating extremum features in one cycle, the analytical expression of the proposed integral ratio algorithm is derived with respect to the pitch angle. The simulation results show that the proposed integral ratio method gives more accurate attitude calculations than does the extremum ratio method, and that the attitude error variance can decrease by more than 90%. Compared to the extremum ratio method (which collects only a single data point in one rotation cycle), the proposed integral ratio method can utilize all of the data collected in the high spin environment, which is a clearly superior calculation approach, and can be applied to the actual projectile environment disturbance.