bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Conversation on Data Mining Strategies in LC-MS Untargeted Metabolomics: Pre-Processing and Pre-Treatment Steps
Authors: Tugizimana Fidele , Steenkamp Paul , Piater Lizelle , Dubery Ian
Published: November 2016

Untargeted metabolomic studies generate information-rich, high-dimensional, and complex datasets that remain challenging to handle and fully exploit. Despite the remarkable progress in the development of tools and algorithms, the “exhaustive” extraction of information from these metabolomic datasets is still a non-trivial undertaking. A conversation on data mining strategies for a maximal information extraction from metabolomic data is needed. Using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based untargeted metabolomic dataset, this study explored the influence of collection parameters in the data pre-processing step, scaling and data transformation on the statistical models generated, and feature selection, thereafter. Data obtained in positive mode generated from a LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomic study (sorghum plants responding dynamically to infection by a fungal pathogen) were used. Raw data were pre-processed with MarkerLynxTM software (Waters Corporation, Manchester, UK). Here, two parameters were varied: the intensity threshold (50–100 counts) and the mass tolerance (0.005–0.01 Da). After the pre-processing, the datasets were imported into SIMCA (Umetrics, Umea, Sweden) for more data cleaning and statistical modeling. In addition, different scaling (unit variance, Pareto, etc.) and data transformation (log and power) methods were explored. The results showed that the pre-processing parameters (or algorithms) influence the output dataset with regard to the number of defined features. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the pre-treatment of data prior to statistical modeling affects the subspace approximation outcome: e.g., the amount of variation in X-data that the model can explain and predict. The pre-processing and pre-treatment steps subsequently influence the number of statistically significant extracted/selected features (variables). Thus, as informed by the results, to maximize the value of untargeted metabolomic data, understanding of the data structures and exploration of different algorithms and methods (at different steps of the data analysis pipeline) might be the best trade-off, currently, and possibly an epistemological imperative.
Iron Recovery from Discarded Copper Slag in a RHF Direct Reduction and Subsequent Grinding/Magnetic Separation Process
Authors: Cao Zhicheng , Sun Tichang , Xue Xun , Liu Zhanhua
Published: November 2016

Studies on the direct reduction of carbon-bearing pellets made from discarded copper slag have been conducted in this paper. They include the influences of reduction coal content, limestone content, industrial sodium carbonate content, reduction temperature, reduction time and layers of carbon-bearing pellets on reduction effect. Finally, the optimum conditions have been obtained. The pilot scale experiment results show that the optimum conditions are the mass proportion of discarded copper slag, reduction coal, limestone and industrial sodium carbonate of 100:25:10:3, the reduction temperature of 1280 °C for the reduction time of 35 min, three layers (approximately 42 mm) of carbon-bearing pellets—this was the basis on which the pilot tests in a rotary hearth furnace (RHF) were conducted. The iron products obtained from the pilot tests under such conditions have an iron grade of 90.35% with an iron recovery rate of 89.70%. The mechanism research based on the analysis results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicates that fayalite (2FeO·SiO2) and magnetite (Fe3O4) in the copper slag are reduced into metallic Fe in the direct reduction (DR) process, and the mass and heat transfer become stronger from the bottom to the top layer of the pellets, resulting in a rising iron recovery rate.
Understanding the Structural Evolution of Single Conjugated Polymer Chain Conformers
Authors: Wise Adam , Grey John
Published: November 2016

Single molecule photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of conjugated polymers has shed new light on the complex structure–function relationships of these materials. Although extensive work has been carried out using polarization and excitation intensity modulated experiments to elucidate conformation-dependent photophysics, surprisingly little attention has been given to information contained in the PL spectral line shapes. We investigate single molecule PL spectra of the prototypical conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) which exists in at least two emissive conformers and can only be observed at dilute levels. Using a model based on the well-known “Missing Mode Effect” (MIME), we show that vibronic progression intervals for MEH-PPV conformers can be explained by relative contributions from particular skeletal vibrational modes. Here, observed progression intervals do not match any ground state Raman active vibrational frequency and instead represent a coalescence of multiple modes in the frequency domain. For example, the higher energy emitting “blue” MEH-PPV form exhibits PL maxima at ~18,200 cm−1 with characteristic MIME progression intervals of ~1200–1350 cm−1, whereas the lower energy emitting “red” form peaks at ~17,100 cm−1 with intervals in the range of ~1350–1450 cm−1. The main differences in blue and red MEH-PPV chromophores lie in the intra-chain order, or, planarity of monomers within a chromophore segment. We demonstrate that the Raman-active out-of-plane C–H wag of the MEH-PPV vinylene group (~966 cm−1) has the greatest influence in determining the observed vibronic progression MIME interval. Namely, larger displacements (intensities)—indicating lower intra-chain order—lower the effective MIME interval. This simple model provides useful insights into the conformational characteristics of the heterogeneous chromophore landscape without requiring costly and time-consuming low temperature or single molecule Raman capabilities.
Monitoring Bedfast Ice and Ice Phenology in Lakes of the Lena River Delta Using TerraSAR-X Backscatter and Coherence Time Series
Authors: Antonova Sofia , Duguay Claude , Kääb Andreas , Heim Birgit , Langer Moritz , Westermann Sebastian , Boike Julia
Published: November 2016

Thermokarst lakes and ponds are major elements of permafrost landscapes, occupying up to 40% of the land area in some Arctic regions. Shallow lakes freeze to the bed, thus preventing permafrost thaw underneath them and limiting the length of the period with greenhouse gas production in the unfrozen lake sediments. Radar remote sensing permits to distinguish lakes with bedfast ice due to the difference in backscatter intensities from bedfast and floating ice. This study investigates the potential of a unique time series of three-year repeat-pass TerraSAR-X (TSX) imagery with high temporal (11 days) and spatial (10 m) resolution for monitoring bedfast ice as well as ice phenology of lakes in the zone of continuous permafrost in the Lena River Delta, Siberia. TSX backscatter intensity is shown to be an excellent tool for monitoring floating versus bedfast lake ice as well as ice phenology. TSX-derived timing of ice grounding and the ice growth model CLIMo are used to retrieve the ice thicknesses of the bedfast ice at points where in situ ice thickness measurements were available. Comparison shows good agreement in the year of field measurements. Additionally, for the first time, an 11-day sequential interferometric coherence time series is analyzed as a supplementary approach for the bedfast ice monitoring. The coherence time series detects most of the ice grounding as well as spring snow/ice melt onset. Overall, the results show the great value of TSX time series for monitoring Arctic lake ice and provide a basis for various applications: for instance, derivation of shallow lakes bathymetry, evaluation of winter water resources and locating fish winter habitat as well as estimation of taliks extent in permafrost.
Radiological Assessment on Interest Areas on the Sellafield Nuclear Site via Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Martin Peter , Moore James , Fardoulis John , Payton Oliver , Scott Thomas
Published: November 2016

The Sellafield nuclear plant is a 3 km2 site in north-west Cumbria, England, with a long and distinguished history of nuclear power generation, reprocessing and waste storage—with a current working emphasis on decommissioning and clean-up. Important to this safe, efficient and complete remediation of the site, routine monitoring is essential in a wide range of on-site environments and structures to attain: (i) accurately map the evolving distribution of radiation with the best possible accuracy (sensitivity and spatial resolution); in addition to (ii) the contributing radionuclide species and therefore the radiological and chemo-toxicity risk. This work presents the trial deployment of an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a lightweight radiation detection system as a novel tool for the assessment of radioactivity at a number of test-sites on the nuclear licenced site. Through the use of this system, it was possible to determine the existence of anthropogenically present radiation at selected facilities. Such a system has been proven to be highly accurate (spatially) and precise (attribution of contamination species observed) within the challenging site environments, capable of measuring and mapping contamination over both high and low dose-rate areas.
Spatial Correlation of Satellite-Derived PM2.5 with Hospital Admissions for Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Liu Ching-Ju , Liu Chian-Yi , Mong Ngoc , Chou Charles
Published: November 2016

Respiratory diseases, particularly allergic rhinitis, are spatially and temporally correlated with the ground PM2.5 level. A study of the correlation between the two factors should therefore account for spatiotemporal variations. Satellite observation has the advantage of wide spatial coverage over pin-point style ground-based in situ monitoring stations. Therefore, the current study used both ground measurement and satellite data sets to investigate the spatial and temporal correlation of satellite-derived PM2.5 with respiratory diseases. This study used 4-year satellite data and PM2.5 levels of the period at eight stations in Taiwan to obtain the spatial and temporal relationship between aerosol optical depth (AOD) and PM2.5. The AOD-PM2.5 model was further examined using the cross-validation (CV) technique and was found to have high reliability compared with similar models. The model was used to obtain satellite-derived PM2.5 levels and to analyze the hospital admissions for allergic rhinitis in 2008. The results suggest that adults (18–65 years) and children (3–18 years) are the most vulnerable groups to the effect of PM2.5 compared with infants and elderly people. This result may be because the two affected age groups spend longer time outdoors. This result may also be attributed to the long-range PM2.5 transport from upper stream locations and the atmospheric circulation patterns, which are significant in spring and fall. The results of the current study suggest that additional environmental factors that might be associated with respiratory diseases should be considered in future studies.
Crop Mapping Using PROBA-V Time Series Data at the Yucheng and Hongxing Farm in China
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhang Miao , Zheng Yang , Wu Bingfang
Published: November 2016

PROBA-V is a new global vegetation monitoring satellite launched in the second quarter of 2013 that provides data with a 100 m to 1 km spatial resolution and a daily to 10-day temporal resolution in the visible and near infrared (VNIR) bands. A major mission of the PROBA-V satellite is global agriculture monitoring, in which the accuracy of crop mapping plays a key role. In countries such as China, crop fields are typically small, in assorted shapes and with various management approaches, which deem traditional methods of crop identification ineffective, and accuracy is highly dependent on image resolution and acquisition time. The five-day temporal and 100 m spatial resolution PROBA-V data make it possible to automatically identify crops using time series phenological information. This paper takes advantage of the improved spatial and temporal resolution of the PROBA-V data, to map crops at the Yucheng site in Shandong Province and the Hongxing farm in Heilongjiang province of China. First, the Swets filter algorithm was employed to eliminate noisy pixels and fill in data gaps on time series data during the growing season. Then, the crops are classified based on the Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique (ISODATA) clustering, the maximum likelihood method (MLC) and similarity analysis. The mapping results were validated using field-collected crop type polygons and high resolution crop maps based on GaoFen-1 satellite (GF-1) data in 16 m resolution. Our study showed that, for the Yucheng site, the cropping system is simple, mainly dominated by winter wheat–maize rotation. The overall accuracy of crop identification was 73.39% which was slightly better than the result derived from MODIS data. For the Hongxing farm, the cropping system is more complex (i.e., more than three types of crops were planted). The overall accuracy of the crop mapping by PROBA-V was 73.29% which was significantly higher than the MODIS product (46.81%). This study demonstrates that time series PROBA-V data can serve as a useful source for reliable crop identification and area estimation. The high revisiting frequency and global coverage of the PROBA-V data show good potential for future global crop mapping and agricultural monitoring.
Towards Autonomous Modular UAV Missions: The Detection, Geo-Location and Landing Paradigm
Authors: Kyristsis Sarantis , Antonopoulos Angelos , Chanialakis Theofilos , Stefanakis Emmanouel , Linardos Christos , Tripolitsiotis Achilles , Partsinevelos Panagiotis
Published: November 2016

Nowadays, various unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications become increasingly demanding since they require real-time, autonomous and intelligent functions. Towards this end, in the present study, a fully autonomous UAV scenario is implemented, including the tasks of area scanning, target recognition, geo-location, monitoring, following and finally landing on a high speed moving platform. The underlying methodology includes AprilTag target identification through Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) parallelized processing, image processing and several optimized locations and approach algorithms employing gimbal movement, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) readings and UAV navigation. For the experimentation, a commercial and a custom made quad-copter prototype were used, portraying a high and a low-computational embedded platform alternative. Among the successful targeting and follow procedures, it is shown that the landing approach can be successfully performed even under high platform speeds.
RSS Fingerprint Based Indoor Localization Using Sparse Representation with Spatio-Temporal Constraint
Authors: Piao Xinglin , Zhang Yong , Li Tingshu , Hu Yongli , Liu Hao , Zhang Ke , Ge Yun
Published: November 2016

The Received Signal Strength (RSS) fingerprint-based indoor localization is an important research topic in wireless network communications. Most current RSS fingerprint-based indoor localization methods do not explore and utilize the spatial or temporal correlation existing in fingerprint data and measurement data, which is helpful for improving localization accuracy. In this paper, we propose an RSS fingerprint-based indoor localization method by integrating the spatio-temporal constraints into the sparse representation model. The proposed model utilizes the inherent spatial correlation of fingerprint data in the fingerprint matching and uses the temporal continuity of the RSS measurement data in the localization phase. Experiments on the simulated data and the localization tests in the real scenes show that the proposed method improves the localization accuracy and stability effectively compared with state-of-the-art indoor localization methods.
An Effective Massive Sensor Network Data Access Scheme Based on Topology Control for the Internet of Things
Authors: Yi Meng , Chen Qingkui , Xiong Neal
Published: November 2016

This paper considers the distributed access and control problem of massive wireless sensor networks’ data access center for the Internet of Things, which is an extension of wireless sensor networks and an element of its topology structure. In the context of the arrival of massive service access requests at a virtual data center, this paper designs a massive sensing data access and control mechanism to improve the access efficiency of service requests and makes full use of the available resources at the data access center for the Internet of things. Firstly, this paper proposes a synergistically distributed buffer access model, which separates the information of resource and location. Secondly, the paper divides the service access requests into multiple virtual groups based on their characteristics and locations using an optimized self-organizing feature map neural network. Furthermore, this paper designs an optimal scheduling algorithm of group migration based on the combination scheme between the artificial bee colony algorithm and chaos searching theory. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that this mechanism outperforms the existing schemes in terms of enhancing the accessibility of service requests effectively, reducing network delay, and has higher load balancing capacity and higher resource utility rate.
A Wideband Circularly Polarized Antenna with a Multiple-Circular-Sector Dielectric Resonator
Authors: Trinh-Van Son , Yang Youngoo , Lee Kang-Yoon , Hwang Keum
Published: November 2016

This paper presents the design of a wideband circularly polarized antenna using a multiple-circular-sector dielectric resonator (DR). The DR is composed of twelve circular-sector DRs with identical central angles of 30 ∘ but with different radii. A genetic algorithm is utilized to optimize the radii of the twelve circular-sector DRs to realize wideband circular polarization. The proposed antenna is excited using an aperture-coupled feeding technique through a narrow rectangular slot etched onto the ground plane. An antenna prototype is experimentally verified. The measured −10 dB reflection and 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths are 31.39% (1.88–2.58 GHz) and 19.30% (2.06–2.50 GHz), respectively, covering the operating bands of the following systems: UMTS-2100 (2.145 GHz), WiMAX (2.3 GHz), and Wi-Fi (2.445 GHz). A measured peak gain of 7.65 dBic at 2.225 GHz and gain variation of less than 2.70 dBic within the measured 3 dB AR bandwidth are achieved. In addition, the radiation patterns of the proposed antenna are presented and discussed.
Urban Scale Application of Solar PV to Improve Sustainability in the Building and the Energy Sectors of KSA
Authors: Asif Muhammad
Published: November 2016

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in terms of population, geographic area, economy, and construction and utility infrastructure. The rapid growth of the building sector in general and residential buildings in particular is creating huge energy and environmental challenges for the country. To address these problems and reduce its reliance on an oil-based energy infrastructure, the country aims to install 9.5 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Traditionally the emphasis has been on large-scale renewable projects. Globally, the recent success of solar energy has been significantly contributed by the application of photovoltaics (PV) in buildings. This is an area that has been overlooked in KSA. This study investigates the prospects of application of PV in buildings to improve the sustainability standards in the building and energy sectors of the country by considering the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) as a case study. PVsyst and RetScreen software programs have been used to model the application of PV on building rooftops in KFUPM. The study also discusses the concerned policy. It is found that the rooftop application of PV can annually produce 37,746 MWh of electricity, meeting over 16% of the KFUPM’s total energy requirements.
Presence or Absence of mlr Genes and Nutrient Concentrations Co-Determine the Microcystin Biodegradation Efficiency of a Natural Bacterial Community
Authors: Lezcano María , Morón-López Jesús , Agha Ramsy , López-Heras Isabel , Nozal Leonor , Quesada Antonio , El-Shehawy Rehab
Published: November 2016

The microcystin biodegradation potential of a natural bacterial community coexisting with a toxic cyanobacterial bloom was investigated in a water reservoir from central Spain. The biodegradation capacity was confirmed in all samples during the bloom and an increase of mlrA gene copies was found with increasing microcystin concentrations. Among the 24 microcystin degrading strains isolated from the bacterial community, only 28% showed presence of mlrA gene, strongly supporting the existence and abundance of alternative microcystin degradation pathways in nature. In vitro degradation assays with both mlr+ and mlr− bacterial genotypes (with presence and absence of the complete mlr gene cluster, respectively) were performed with four isolated strains (Sphingopyxis sp. IM-1, IM-2 and IM-3; Paucibacter toxinivorans IM-4) and two bacterial degraders from the culture collection (Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans Y2; Paucibacter toxinivorans 2C20). Differences in microcystin degradation efficiencies between genotypes were found under different total organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations. While mlr+ strains significantly improved microcystin degradation rates when exposed to other carbon and nitrogen sources, mlr− strains showed lower degradation efficiencies. This suggests that the presence of alternative carbon and nitrogen sources possibly competes with microcystins and impairs putative non-mlr microcystin degradation pathways. Considering the abundance of the mlr− bacterial population and the increasing frequency of eutrophic conditions in aquatic systems, further research on the diversity of this population and the characterization and conditions affecting non-mlr degradation pathways deserves special attention.
Cedratvirus, a Double-Cork Structured Giant Virus, is a Distant Relative of Pithoviruses
Authors: Andreani Julien , Aherfi Sarah , Bou Khalil Jacques , Di Pinto Fabrizio , Bitam Idir , Raoult Didier , Colson Philippe , La Scola Bernard
Published: November 2016

Most viruses are known for the ability to cause symptomatic diseases in humans and other animals. The discovery of Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus and other giant amoebal viruses revealed a considerable and previously unknown area of uncharacterized viral particles. Giant viruses have been isolated from various environmental samples collected from very distant geographic places, revealing a ubiquitous distribution. Their morphological and genomic features are fundamental elements for classifying them. Herein, we report the isolation and draft genome of Cedratvirus, a new amoebal giant virus isolated in Acanthamoeba castellanii, from an Algerian environmental sample. The viral particles are ovoid-shaped, resembling Pithovirus sibericum, but differing notably in the presence of two corks at each extremity of the virion. The draft genome of Cedratvirus—589,068 base pairs in length—is a close relative of the two previously described pithoviruses, sharing 104 and 113 genes with P. sibericum and Pithovirus massiliensis genomes, respectively. Interestingly, analysis of these viruses’ core genome reveals that only 21% of Cedratvirus genes are involved in best reciprocal hits with the two pithoviruses. Phylogeny reconstructions and comparative genomics indicate that Cedratvirus is most closely related to pithoviruses, and questions their membership in an enlarged putative Pithoviridae family.
The Role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) in Cancer Progression
Authors: Umansky Viktor , Blattner Carolin , Gebhardt Christoffer , Utikal Jochen
Published: November 2016

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment represents not only one of the key factors stimulating tumor progression but also a strong obstacle for efficient tumor immunotherapy. Immunosuppression was found to be associated with chronic inflammatory mediators including cytokines, chemokines and growth factors produced by cancer and stroma cells. Long-term intensive production of these factors induces the formation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) representing one of the most important players mediating immunosuppression. Moreover, MDSCs could not only inhibit anti-tumor immune reactions but also directly stimulate tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of their generation, expansion, recruitment and activation is required for the development of novel strategies for tumor immunotherapy.
Combined Effects of Mulch and Tillage on Soil Hydrothermal Conditions under Drip Irrigation in Hetao Irrigation District, China
Authors: Qi Zhijuan , Zhang Tibin , Zhou Lifeng , Feng Hao , Zhao Ying , Si Bingcheng
Published: November 2016

Soil hydrothermal condition is one of the most important factors affecting crop growth in arid regions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of mulching and tillage on moisture and temperature variations in soil under drip irrigation in the arid Hetao Irrigation District, northwest China. Four treatments were included: (1) alternating ridges (40 cm wide and 20 cm high) and furrows (40 cm wide) with plots fully mulched with plastic film (RFM); (2) alternating ridges (40 cm wide and 20 cm high) and furrows (40 cm wide) with partial film mulch (only the plant rows mulched) (RPM); (3) flat tillage with plots fully mulched with plastic film (FFM); and (4) flat tillage with partial film mulch (only the plant rows mulched) (FPM). The ridge tillage and plastic film increased soil temperature and significantly conserved soil water, and thus increased the maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE). The RFM treatment had a greater effect than the RPM, FFM, and FPM treatments on the soil moisture and water storage over 0–70 cm in depth during the entire growing period in 2014 and 2015, indicating that full transparent plastic film mulch increased soil water status and promoted deep water percolation, and ridge tillage further enhanced water redistribution to deep soils. Furthermore, RFM proportionally increased soil temperature by 0.36 °C, 1.49 °C, and 1.27 °C above the temperatures under RPM, FPM, and FFM, respectively, in 2014 and by 1.19 °C, 1.62 °C, and 0.35 °C, respectively, in 2015. During the drought year of 2014, tillage influenced temperature more than mulching; however, mulching played a more important role in preserving thermal conditions than tillage during the humid year of 2015. Consequently, RFM increased the maize yield and WUE significantly. We conclude that a combined system of full plastic film mulch and ridge tillage creates beneficial soil hydrothermal conditions under drip irrigation and thus promotes the growth and performance of field crops.
Assessment of Non-Point Source Total Phosphorus Pollution from Different Land Use and Soil Types in a Mid-High Latitude Region of China
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Yang Shengtian , Zhao Changsen , Bai Juan , Lou Hezhen , Chen Ke , Wu Linna , Dong Guotao , Zhou Qiuwen
Published: November 2016

The transport characteristics of phosphorus in soil and the assessment of its environmental risk have become hot topics in the environmental and agricultural fields. The Sanjiang Plain is an important grain production base in China, and it is characterised by serious land use change caused by large-scale agricultural exploitation. Agricultural inputs and tillage management have destroyed the soil nutrient balance formed over long-term conditions. There are few studies on non-point source phosphorus pollution in the Sanjiang Plain, which is the largest swampy low plain in a mid-high-latitude region in China. Most studies have focused on the water quality of rivers in marsh areas, or the export mechanism of phosphorus from specific land uses. They were conducted using experimental methods or empirical models, and need further development towards mechanism models and the macro-scale. The question is how to find a way to couple processes in phosphorus cycling and a distributed hydrological model considering local hydrological features. In this study, we report an attempt to use a distributed phosphorus transport model to analyse non-point source total phosphorus pollution from different land uses and soil types on the Sanjiang Plain. The total phosphorus concentration generally shows an annually increasing trend in the study area. The total phosphorus load intensity is heterogeneous in different land use types and different soil types. The average total phosphorus load intensity of different land use types can be ranked in descending order from paddy field, dry land, wetlands, grassland, and forestland. The average total phosphorus load intensity of different soil types can be ranked in descending order: paddy soil, bog soil, planosol, meadow soil, black soil, and dark brown earth. The dry land and paddy fields account for the majority of total phosphorus load in the study area. This is mainly caused by extensive use of phosphate fertilizer on the cultivated land. This has important implications for future agricultural management and non-point source control in this agricultural area of the mid-high latitude region.
A RADIAL AGE GRADIENT IN THE GEOMETRICALLY THICK DISK OF THE MILKY WAY
Authors: Martig Marie , Minchev Ivan , Ness Melissa , Fouesneau Morgan , Rix Hans-Walter
Published: November 2016

In the Milky Way, the thick disk can be defined using individual stellar abundances, kinematics, or age, or geometrically, as stars high above the midplane. In nearby galaxies, where only a geometric definition can be used, thick disks appear to have large radial scale lengths, and their red colors suggest that they are uniformly old. The Milky Way’s geometrically thick disk is also radially extended, but it is far from chemically uniform: α-enhanced stars are confined within the inner Galaxy. In simulated galaxies, where old stars are centrally concentrated, geometrically thick disks are radially extended, too. Younger stellar populations flare in the simulated disks’ outer regions, bringing those stars high above the midplane. The resulting geometrically thick disks therefore show a radial age gradient, from old in their central regions to younger in their outskirts. Based on our age estimates for a large sample of giant stars in the APOGEE survey, we can now test this scenario for the Milky Way. We find that the geometrically defined thick disk in the Milky Way has indeed a strong radial age gradient: the median age for red clump stars goes from ∼9 Gyr in the inner disk to 5 Gyr in the outer disk. We propose that at least some nearby galaxies could also have thick disks that are not uniformly old, and that geometrically thick disks might be complex structures resulting from different formation mechanisms in their inner and outer parts.
OBSERVATIONS OF ROTATING RADIO TRANSIENTS WITH THE FIRST STATION OF THE LONG WAVELENGTH ARRAY
Authors: Taylor G. B. , Stovall K. , McCrackan M. , McLaughlin M. A. , Miller R. , Karako-Argaman C. , Dowell J. , Schinzel F. K.
Published: November 2016

Rotating radio transients (RRATs) are a subclass of pulsars first identified in 2006 that are detected only in searches for single pulses and not through their time averaged emission. Here, we present the results of observations of 19 RRATs using the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA1) at frequencies between 30 and 88 MHz. The RRATs observed here were first detected in higher frequency pulsar surveys. Of the 19 RRATs observed, two sources were detected and their dispersion measures, periods, pulse profiles, and flux densities are reported and compared to previous higher frequency measurements. We find a low detection rate (11%), which could be a combination of the lower sensitivity of LWA1 compared to higher frequency telescopes, and the result of scattering by the interstellar medium or a spectral turnover.
FIRST NuSTAR OBSERVATIONS OF THE BL LAC-TYPE BLAZAR PKS 2155-304: CONSTRAINTS ON THE JET CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF RADIATING PARTICLES
Authors: Madejski G. M. , Nalewajko K. , Madsen K. K. , Chiang J. , Baloković M. , Paneque D. , Furniss A. K. , Hayashida M. , Urry C. M. , Sikora M. , Ajello M. , Blandford R. D. , Harrison F. A. , Sanchez D. , Giebels B. , Stern D. , Alexander D. M. , Barret D. , Boggs S. E. , Christensen F. E. , Craig W. W. , Forster K. , Giommi P. , Grefenstette B. , Hailey C. , Hornstrup A. , Kitaguchi T. , Koglin J. E. , Mao P. H. , Miyasaka H. , Mori K. , Perri M. , Pivovaroff M. J. , Puccetti S. , Rana V. , Westergaard N. J. , Zhang W. W. , Zoglauer A.
Published: November 2016

We report the first hard X-ray observations with NuSTAR of the BL Lac-type blazar PKS 2155-304, augmented with soft X-ray data from XMM-Newton and γ-ray data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope, obtained in 2013 April when the source was in a very low flux state. A joint NuSTAR and XMM spectrum, covering the energy range 0.5–60 keV, is best described by a model consisting of a log-parabola component with curvature

and a (local) photon index 3.04 ± 0.15 at photon energy of 2 keV, and a hard power-law tail with photon index 2.2 ± 0.4. The hard X-ray tail can be smoothly joined to the quasi-simultaneous γ-ray spectrum by a synchrotron self-Compton component produced by an electron distribution with index p = 2.2. Assuming that the power-law electron distribution extends down to γ
min = 1 and that there is one proton per electron, an unrealistically high total jet power of L
p ∼ 1047 erg s−1 is inferred. This can be reduced by two orders of magnitude either by considering a significant presence of electron–positron pairs with lepton-to-proton ratio

, or by introducing an additional, low-energy break in the electron energy distribution at the electron Lorentz factor γ
br1 ∼ 100. In either case, the jet composition is expected to be strongly matter-dominated.
PS1-14bj: A HYDROGEN-POOR SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA WITH A LONG RISE AND SLOW DECAY
Authors: Lunnan R. , Chornock R. , Berger E. , Milisavljevic D. , Jones D. O. , Rest A. , Fong W. , Fransson C. , Margutti R. , Drout M. R. , Blanchard P. K. , Challis P. , Cowperthwaite P. S. , Foley R. J. , Kirshner R. P. , Morrell N. , Riess A. G. , Roth K. C. , Scolnic D. , Smartt S. J. , Smith K. W. , Villar V. A. , Chambers K. C. , Draper P. W. , Huber M. E. , Kaiser N. , Kudritzki R.-P. , Magnier E. A. , Metcalfe N. , Waters C.
Published: November 2016

We present photometry and spectroscopy of PS1-14bj, a hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.5215 discovered in the last months of the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. PS1-14bj stands out because of its extremely slow evolution, with an observed rise of

rest-frame days, and exponential decline out to ∼250 days past peak at a measured rate of

, consistent with fully trapped 56Co decay. This is the longest rise time measured in an SLSN to date, and the first SLSN to show a rise time consistent with pair-instability supernova (PISN) models. Compared to other slowly evolving SLSNe, it is spectroscopically similar to the prototype SN 2007bi at maximum light, although lower in luminosity (

) and with a flatter peak than previous events. PS1-14bj shows a number of peculiar properties, including a near-constant color temperature for

days past peak, and strong emission lines from [O iii] λ5007 and [O iii] λ4363 with a velocity width of ∼3400 km s−1 in its late-time spectra. These both suggest there is a sustained source of heating over very long timescales, and are incompatible with a simple 56Ni-powered/PISN interpretation. A modified magnetar model including emission leakage at late times can reproduce the light curve, in which case the blue continuum and [O iii] features are interpreted as material heated and ionized by the inner pulsar wind nebula becoming visible at late times. Alternatively, the late-time heating could be due to interaction with a shell of H-poor circumstellar material.
MODELING DUST EVOLUTION IN GALAXIES WITH A MULTIPHASE, INHOMOGENEOUS ISM
Authors: Zhukovska Svitlana , Dobbs Clare , Jenkins Edward B. , Klessen Ralf S.
Published: November 2016

We develop a model of dust evolution in a multiphase, inhomogeneous interstellar medium (ISM) using hydrodynamical simulations of giant molecular clouds in a Milky Way–like spiral galaxy. We improve the treatment of dust growth by accretion in the ISM to investigate the role of the temperature-dependent sticking coefficient and ion–grain interactions. From detailed observational data on the gas-phase Si abundances

measured in the local Galaxy, we derive a relation between the average

and the local gas density

 that we use as a critical constraint for the models. This relation requires a sticking coefficient that decreases with the gas temperature. The relation predicted by the models reproduces the slope of −0.5 for the observed relation in cold clouds, which is steeper than that for the warm medium and is explained by dust growth. We find that growth occurs in the cold medium for all adopted values of the minimum grain size a
min from 1 to 5 nm. For the classical cutoff of

, the Coulomb repulsion results in slower accretion and higher

than the observed values. For

, the Coulomb interactions enhance the growth rate, steepen the slope of the 

–

relation, and provide a better match to observations. The rates of dust re-formation in the ISM by far exceed the rates of dust production by stellar sources. After the initial 140 Myr, the cycle of matter in and out of dust reaches a steady state, in which the dust growth balances the destruction on a similar timescale of 350 Myr.
Le conformisme en politique, dans l’éducation et en psychanalyse
Authors: de Mijolla-Mellor Sophie
Published: November 2016

Incapable de penser par lui-même, tel se veut le conformiste, et donc, prétend-il incapable de nuire… Cette incapacité lui est payée de retour par le soutien du groupe auquel il aliène sa capacité de penser. Le conformisme constitue donc un danger considérable sous ses dehors apathiques et anodins. Sur le plan éthique, il peut réduire à zéro le sens de la solidarité humaine, faisant de la foule un objet dangereux et incontrôlé parce que manipulable à volonté.
Djihadistes de Daech : entre fanatisme religieux et psychopathologie
Authors: Hamaidia Ali
Published: November 2016

Le djihadisme est un phénomène plus au moins nouveau, lié à la pensée extrémiste et fanatique, et le fanatisme n’est pas nouveau, tant en islam que dans d’autres religions. Mais néanmoins il est omniprésent chez le djihadiste, voire nécessaire pour qu’il puisse adopter la cause djihadiste obscurantiste. Et le fanatisme chez un individu ne surgit pas du néant, il doit y avoir plutôt des ingrédients subjectifs préalables qui favorisent sa vulnérabilité. Ces derniers, conjugués avec des conditions matérielles ou spirituelles favorables, seront bien investis par un groupe terroriste qui utilise l’internet comme moyen de recrutement qui va endoctriner facilement le sujet et le convaincre par le moyen d’un discours fondamentaliste. Dans cet article, nous tenterons de proposer dans un cadre psychanalytique, une explication de ce phénomène d’un point de vue psychopathologique et individuel, loin de son aspect politique très compliqué, en avançant quelques caractéristiques cliniques du djihadiste Daech, et montrer les raisons pour lesquelles on pourrait classés certains parmi eux dans les états limites.
Taking up Three Challenges to Business-IT Alignment Research by the Use of Activity Theory
Authors: Weeger Andy , Haase Ulrich
Published: November 2016

This paper offers a novel view on the business-IT alignment that takes on the three major challenges of prior research: theory, process and applicability. The theoretical deliberations and empirical data of a single in-depth case study shows that taking an activity theoretical lens offers a way to conceptualize the mechanisms, triggers and complexities of business-IT alignment that enhance our understanding of the alignment process and reveal important implications for practice. Building on activity theory and the notion of interrelated activity systems, the authors propose to view business and IT as two distinct, yet related activity systems that co-evolve over time. Moreover, they show that business-IT alignment can be understood as a process of continuous adjustments between the two collective, pragmatic, contested and situated activity systems of business and IT. Examining data spanning six years of transformation processes, the authors systematically increase their understanding of the processes and underlying mechanisms of aligning business and IT. These insights are facilitated via the conceptualization of the alignment as a process aimed to reduce contradictions and tensions within and between the linked activity systems of business and IT. The theoretical deliberations and empirical evidence show that AT provides a strong theoretical foundation and a robust framework that is able to facilitate rigorous process-oriented studies, whose findings can guide endeavors of detecting and approaching misalignments in practice.
Information Technology Governance Adoption
Authors: Luciano Edimara Mezzomo , Wiedenhöft Guilherme Costa , Macadar Marie Anne , Pinheiro dos Santos Fabio
Published: November 2016

IT Governance (ITG) can support the organizational decision-making on its IT initiatives, increasing the alignment IT/business. The goal is to understand how ITG influences the behavior of individuals within organizations. Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) concept was selected to analyze individuals' voluntary commitment within an organization that is not part of their contractual tasks. The premise is that ITG influences organizational citizenship behavior such as job satisfaction and rewards perception. The research was conducted through a focus group made up of the members of an IT State Governance Committee in Brazil and semi structured interviews with IT managers from the state departments. Questions based on OCB were discussed in order to understand the behavioral changes expectations along the ITG mechanisms adoption. The preliminary results showed that citizenship behavior could improve because of the ITG process. Based on the results, a preliminary conceptual model was proposed.
Improving the Quality of the COBIT 5 Goals Cascade as an IT Process Prioritisation Mechanism
Authors: Steuperaert Dirk
Published: November 2016

COBIT 5 is a commonly used IT Governance Framework. Its first principle is that all IT related activities should support generating value for the enterprise. This principle is put in practice through the COBIT 5 Goals Cascade. In this paper the author has researched this principle's main claimed benefit, i.e. that it allows to prioritise IT related processes based on overall enterprise priorities. The quality of the goals cascade was researched by looking at the accuracy of the published mapping tables, the dependencies between goals in the same goal set and the sensitivity of the Goals Cascade towards input variations. The author concludes that the current Goals Cascade isn't very useable as a prioritisation mechanism for IT processes. The author finally proposes an improvement to the current Goals Cascade, consisting of an additional, limited set of ‘Enterprise Strategies' that map directly to IT related processes. A prototype solution has been tested, showing promising improvements.
Therapeutic Targeting of the G-CSF Receptor Reduces Neutrophil Trafficking and Joint Inflammation in Antibody-Mediated Inflammatory Arthritis
Authors: Campbell Ian K. , Leong David , Edwards Kirsten M. , Rayzman Veronika , Ng Milica , Goldberg Gabrielle L. , Wilson Nicholas J. , Scalzo-Inguanti Karen , Mackenzie-Kludas Charley , Lawlor Kate E. , Wicks Ian P. , Brown Lorena E. , Baz Morelli Adriana , Panousis Con , Wilson Michael J. , Nash Andrew D. , McKenzie Brent S. , Andrews Arna E.
Published: November 2016

G-CSF is a hemopoietic growth factor that has a role in steady state granulopoiesis, as well as in mature neutrophil activation and function. G-CSF– and G-CSF receptor–deficient mice are profoundly protected in several models of rheumatoid arthritis, and Ab blockade of G-CSF also protects against disease. To further investigate the actions of blocking G-CSF/G-CSF receptor signaling in inflammatory disease, and as a prelude to human studies of the same approach, we developed a neutralizing mAb to the murine G-CSF receptor, which potently antagonizes binding of murine G-CSF and thereby inhibits STAT3 phosphorylation and G-CSF receptor signaling. Anti–G-CSF receptor rapidly halted the progression of established disease in collagen Ab-induced arthritis in mice. Neutrophil accumulation in joints was inhibited, without rendering animals neutropenic, suggesting an effect of G-CSF receptor blockade on neutrophil homing to inflammatory sites. Consistent with this, neutrophils in the blood and arthritic joints of anti–G-CSF receptor–treated mice showed alterations in cell adhesion receptors, with reduced CXCR2 and increased CD62L expression. Furthermore, blocking neutrophil trafficking with anti–G-CSF receptor suppressed local production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) and chemokines (KC, MCP-1) known to drive tissue damage. Differential gene expression analysis of joint neutrophils showed a switch away from an inflammatory phenotype following anti–G-CSF receptor therapy in collagen Ab-induced arthritis. Importantly, G-CSF receptor blockade did not adversely affect viral clearance during influenza infection in mice. To our knowledge, we describe for the first time the effect of G-CSF receptor blockade in a therapeutic model of inflammatory joint disease and provide support for pursuing this therapeutic approach in treating neutrophil-associated inflammatory diseases.
Mast Cells Limit the Exacerbation of Chronic Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Response to Repeated Allergen Exposure
Authors: Gimenez-Rivera Vladimir-Andrey , Siebenhaar Frank , Zimmermann Carolin , Siiskonen Hanna , Metz Martin , Maurer Marcus
Published: November 2016

Allergic contact dermatitis is a chronic T cell–driven inflammatory skin disease that is caused by repeated exposure to contact allergens. Based on murine studies of acute contact hypersensitivity, mast cells (MCs) are believed to play a role in its pathogenesis. The role of MCs in chronic allergic contact dermatitis has not been investigated, in part because of the lack of murine models for chronic contact hypersensitivity. We developed and used a chronic contact hypersensitivity model in wild-type and MC-deficient mice and assessed skin inflammatory responses to identify and characterize the role of MCs in chronic allergic contact dermatitis. Ear swelling chronic contact hypersensitivity responses increased markedly, up to 4-fold, in MC-deficient KitW-sh/W-sh (Sash) and MCPT5-Cre+iDTR+ mice compared with wild-type mice. Local engraftment with MCs protected Sash mice from exacerbated ear swelling after repeated oxazolone challenge. Chronic contact hypersensitivity skin of Sash mice exhibited elevated levels of IFN-γ, IL-17α, and IL-23, as well as increased accumulation of Ag-specific IFN-γ–producing CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells. The CD8+ T cell mitogen IL-15, which was increased in oxazolone-challenged skin of Sash mice during the accumulation of cutaneous TRM cells, was efficiently degraded by MCs in vitro. MCs protect from the exacerbated allergic skin inflammation induced by repeated allergen challenge, at least in part, via effects on CD8+ TRM cells. MCs may notably influence the course of chronic allergic contact dermatitis. A better understanding of their role and the underlying mechanisms may lead to better approaches for the treatment of this common, disabling, and costly condition.