bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Separation of 44Sc from Natural Calcium Carbonate Targets for Synthesis of 44Sc-DOTATATE
Authors: Kilian Krzysztof , Cheda Łukasz , Sitarz Mateusz , Szkliniarz Katarzyna , Choiński Jarosław , Stolarz Anna
Published: July 2018

The rapid increase in applications of scandium isotopes in nuclear medicine requires new efficient production routes for these radioisotopes. Recently, irradiations of calcium in cyclotrons by α, deuteron, and proton beams have been used. Therefore, effective post-irradiation separation and preconcentration of the radioactive scandium from the calcium matrix are important to obtain the pure final product in a relatively small volume. Nobias resin was used as a sorbent for effective separation of 44Sc from calcium targets. Separation was performed at pH 3 using a column containing 10 mg of resin. Scandium was eluted with 100 μL of 2 mol L−1 HCl. Particular attention was paid to the reduction of calcium concentration, presence of metallic impurities, robustness and simple automation. 44Sc was separated with 94.9 ± 2.8% yield, with results in the range of 91.7–99.0%. Purity of the eluate was confirmed with ICP-OES determination of metallic impurities and >99% chelation efficiency with DOTATATE, followed by >36 h radiochemical stability of the complex. A wide range of optimal conditions and robustness to target variability and suspended matter facilitates the proposed method in automatic systems for scandium isotope separation and synthesis of scandium-labeled radiopharmaceuticals.
Targeted Molecular Imaging Using Aptamers in Cancer
Authors: Yoon Sorah , Rossi John J.
Published: July 2018

Imaging is not only seeing, but also believing. For targeted imaging modalities, nucleic acid aptamers have features such as superior recognition of structural epitopes and quick uptake in target cells. This explains the emergence of an evolved new class of aptamers into a wide spectrum of imaging applications over the last decade. Genetically encoded biosensors tagged with fluorescent RNA aptamers have been developed as intracellular imaging tools to understand cellular signaling and physiology in live cells. Cancer-specific aptamers labeled with fluorescence have been used for assessment of clinical tissue specimens. Aptamers conjugated with gold nanoparticles have been employed to develop innovative mass spectrometry tissue imaging. Also, use of chemically conjugated cancer-specific aptamers as probes for non-invasive and high-resolution imaging has been transformative for in vivo imaging in multiple cancers.
Cellular Uptake Behaviors of Rigidity-Tunable Dendrimers
Authors: Liu Hui , Wang Jingjing , Li Wenchao , Hu Jie , Wang Min , Kang Yuejun
Published: July 2018

Understanding of the interaction between cells and nanoparticles (NPs) is critical. Despite numerous attempts to understand the effect of several parameters of NPs on their cellular uptake behaviors, such as size, shape, surface chemistry, etc., limited information is available regarding NP rigidity. Herein, we investigate the effect of rigidity on cellular uptake behaviors of NPs, using generation 5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimer as a model. By harnessing the abundant inner cavity, their rigidity could be effectively regulated by forming size-tunable gold NPs. The NPs thus formed were well characterized and displayed similar hydrodynamic size, surface potential, fluorescence intensity, and distinct rigidity (owing to differences in the size of the Au core). Flow cytometry analysis revealed a positive correlation between NP rigidity and cellular uptake of NPs. Confocal microscopic evaluation revealed that the entrapped gold NPs may affect the intracellular localization of the internalized dendrimers. The present findings can potentially guide the preparation of suitable NPs for biomedical applications.
Considerations and Framework for Foveated Imaging Systems †
Authors: Narayanan Ram M. , Kane Timothy J. , Rice Terence F. , Tauber Michael J.
Published: July 2018

Foveated sight as observed in some raptor eyes is a motivation for artificial imaging systems requiring both wide fields of view as well as specific embedded regions of higher resolution. These foveated optical imaging systems are applicable to many acquisition and tracking tasks and as such are often required to be relatively portable and operate in real-time. Two approaches to achieve foveation have been explored in the past: optical system design and back-end data processing. In this paper, these previous works are compiled and used to build a framework for analyzing and designing practical foveated imaging systems. While each approach (physical control of optical distortion within the lens design process, and post-processing image re-sampling) has its own pros and cons, it is concluded that a combination of both techniques will further spur the development of more versatile, flexible, and adaptable foveated imaging systems in the future.
Surface Functionalization by Stimuli-Sensitive Microgels for Effective Enzyme Uptake and Rational Design of Biosensor Setups
Authors: Sigolaeva Larisa V. , Pergushov Dmitry V. , Oelmann Marina , Schwarz Simona , Brugnoni Monia , Kurochkin Ilya N. , Plamper Felix A. , Fery Andreas , Richtering Walter
Published: July 2018

We highlight microgel/enzyme thin films that were deposited onto solid interfaces via two sequential steps, the adsorption of temperature- and pH-sensitive microgels, followed by their complexation with the enzyme choline oxidase, ChO. Two kinds of functional (ionic) microgels were compared in this work in regard to their adsorptive behavior and interaction with ChO, that is, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide), P(NIPAM-co-APMA), bearing primary amino groups, and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]methacrylamide), P(NIPAM-co-DMAPMA), bearing tertiary amino groups. The stimuli-sensitive properties of the microgels in the solution were characterized by potentiometric titration, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and laser microelectrophoresis. The peculiarities of the adsorptive behavior of both the microgels and the specific character of their interaction with ChO were revealed by a combination of surface characterization techniques. The surface charge was characterized by electrokinetic analysis (EKA) for the initial graphite surface and the same one after the subsequent deposition of the microgels and the enzyme under different adsorption regimes. The masses of wet microgel and microgel/enzyme films were determined by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) upon the subsequent deposition of the components under the same adsorption conditions, on a surface of gold-coated quartz crystals. Finally, the enzymatic responses of the microgel/enzyme films deposited on graphite electrodes to choline were tested amperometrically. The presence of functional primary amino groups in the P(NIPAM-co-APMA) microgel enables a covalent enzyme-to-microgel coupling via glutar aldehyde cross-linking, thereby resulting in a considerable improvement of the biosensor operational stability.
Polysiloxane-Based Side Chain Liquid Crystal Polymers: From Synthesis to Structure–Phase Transition Behavior Relationships
Authors: Zhang Lanying , Yao Wenhuan , Gao Yanzi , Zhang Cuihong , Yang Huai
Published: July 2018

Organosilicon polymer materials play an important role in certain applications due to characteristics of much lower glass transition temperatures (Tg), viscosities, surface energy, as well as good mechanical, thermal stabilities, and insulation performance stemming from the higher bond energy and the larger bond angles of the adjacent silicon-oxygen bond. This critical review highlights developments in the synthesis, structure, and phase transition behaviors of polysiloxane-based side chain liquid crystal polymers (PSCLCPs) of linear and cyclic polysiloxanes containing homopolymers and copolymers. Detailed synthetic strategies are elaborated, and the relationship between molecular structures and liquid crystalline phase transition behaviors is systematically discussed, providing theoretical guidance on the molecular design of the materials.
Variations in Remotely-Sensed Phytoplankton Size Structure of a Cyclonic Eddy in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Authors: Lamont Tarron , Barlow Raymond G. , Brewin Robert J. W.
Published: July 2018

Phytoplankton size classes were derived from weekly-averaged MODIS Aqua chlorophyll a data over the southwest Indian Ocean in order to assess changes in surface phytoplankton community structure within a cyclonic eddy as it propagated across the Mozambique Basin in 2013. Satellite altimetry was used to identify and track the southwesterly movement of the eddy from its origin off Madagascar in mid-June until mid-October, when it eventually merged with the Agulhas Current along the east coast of South Africa. Nano- and picophytoplankton comprised most of the community in the early phase of the eddy development in June, but nanophytoplankton then dominated in austral winter (July and August). Microphytoplankton was entrained into the eddy by horizontal advection from the southern Madagascar shelf, increasing the proportion of microphytoplankton to 23% when the chlorophyll a levels reached a peak of 0.36 mg·m−3 in the third week of July. Chlorophyll a levels declined to <0.2 mg·m−3 in austral spring (September and October) as the eddy propagated further to the southwest. Picophytoplankton dominated the community during the spring period, accounting for >50% of the population. As far as is known, this is the first study to investigate temporal changes in chlorophyll a and community structure in a cyclonic eddy propagating across an ocean basin in the southwest Indian Ocean.
Adsorption and Desorption Behaviors of Four Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Soils from the Water-Level Fluctuation Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Authors: Hu Ying , Yang Qingwei , Sun Jiaoxia , Chen Qingkong , Fan Jianxin , Mei Xiaoxing
Published: July 2018

As a special zone of periodic impoundment and flooding in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the water-level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) of TGR acts as a short-term ‘sink’ for hydrophobic endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). This study was conducted on the adsorption/desorption kinetics and equilibriums of four target EDCs (i.e., estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2), and bisphenol A (BPA)) in soil samples (i.e., S1, S2, S3, and S4), which were collected from different elevation gradients of the WLFZ at Qingxi Town of Fulin in TGR. Under the influence of the water-level fluctuation, S1 and S2 from the frequent inundation area had smaller particle sizes with more organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) content, whereas soils S3 and S4 from the long-term exposed area had a higher fraction of sand with lower OM and TN. All four target EDCs could achieve an adsorption equilibrium within 24 h, and the kinetics of the adsorption/desorption fitted the pseudo-second-order model excellently. The adsorption/desorption isotherms of the EDCs were better described by the Freundlich equation. The adsorption capacity decreased, as 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) > 17β-estradiol (E2) > estrone (E1) > bisphenol A (BPA), in each tested soil. S1 and S2 exhibited a greater capacity but a lower degree of nonlinearity to adsorb the target EDCs than S3 and S4. The values of the Gibbs free energy suggested that the EDCs adsorption in the tested soils was dominated by unstable physical adsorption. The desorption hysteresis of E1, E2, and EE2 were stronger in S1 and S2, whereas the BPA exhibited weak or almost no hysteresis in all of the tested soils. The substantial water-level fluctuation imposed on the TGR would have a continuous influence on the EDCs adsorption/desorption by altering the soil properties. Thus, long-term monitoring and further research of EDCs in this region are urgent.
Evolving Obligatory Passage Points to Sustain Service Systems: The Case of Traditional Market Revitalization in Hsinchu City, Taiwan
Authors: Chen Hung-Wei , Lin Fu-Ren
Published: July 2018

“City” could be viewed as an integration of various service systems with relocated social, economic, and environmental capitals under urbanization. It was evidential in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, where once the biggest market, Dongmen Market (DMM), declined because the replacement of urban consumption patterns along with the setup of high tech science park bringing new residences. This research took the perspectives of Service-Dominant Logic (S-DL) and Actor Network Theory (ANT) to study the development of new service systems and how they were sustained through the revitalization by a two-year ethnographic study. We explain how stakeholders propose and receive value within and among service systems. A unique actor called obligatory passage point (OPP) was formed in the translation phases of actor networks, delivering the co-created value by stakeholders with different interests. Four identified OPPs indicated that their “evolution process” drove the revitalization of DMM toward a sustainable service system. A framework of open innovation practice was formulated as iterative cycles with four phases: (1) actor interacting; (2) value co-creating; (3) relationship modeling; and (4) OPP transforming, which operationalized the OPP evolution from its destruction to construction. The application of the OPP evolution process to revitalizing urban service systems contributes to practitioners in social innovation to sustain urban service systems in addition to the theoretical formation of OPP evolution.
Designing a Real-World Course for Environmental Studies Students: Entering a Social-Ecological System
Authors: Bolger Douglas T. , Bieluch Karen Hutchins , Krivak-Tetley Flora E. , Maggs-Kölling Gillian , Tjitekulu Joseph
Published: July 2018

There is increasing interest in using “real-world pedagogy” to train students in ways that make them better able to contribute toward a more sustainable society. While there is a robust body of literature on the competencies that students need as sustainability professionals, there is a lack of specific guidance in the literature on how to teach for competency development or on how to structure a program or course to support competency development. Our research addresses this gap in the literature through a description and autoethnographic reflection on the design and early implementation of a “real-world” course. The course is from the Environmental Studies Program at Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH, USA), but it takes place in the environs of the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre in the Namib Desert of Namibia and in nearby Topnaar settlements. Our research objective was to articulate strategies to address the primary pedagogical challenges that we faced during the design and first five iterations of the course. These include: How do we frame this course and communicate it to students in a way that is understandable and works within the particular context and constraints of the course? Can we provide students with a coherent framework that helps them to understand the approach and also provides a platform for thoughtful consideration, acquisition, and retention of appropriate competencies? How do we develop collaborations with our community partners that are ethical and effective? How do we frame these real-world experiences in a way that allows for students to integrate their experience with the theory and broader empiricism they learn on campus? To address these pedagogic challenges, we framed the course as a research-based course, more specifically community-based research (CBR), conducted in a social-ecological system (SES). We developed lower-level strategies for implementing this framing, including preparing students for collaborative research, encouraging student ownership of their learning, linking theory to research, and thoughtfully navigating time constraints. Furthermore, program-level and student-level engagement with community have been critical for avoiding becoming “helicopter researchers.” Drawing on our personal reflections and those of our community partners, we conclude with a discussion of emergent outcomes and the next steps for continual improvement and adaptation.
Flight Stability Analysis of a Symmetrically-Structured Quadcopter Based on Thrust Data Logger Information
Authors: Kuantama Endrowednes , Tarca Ioan , Dzitac Simona , Dzitac Ioan , Tarca Radu
Published: July 2018

Quadcopter flight stability is achieved when all of the rotors–propellers generate equal thrust in hover and throttle mode. It requires a control system algorithm for rotor speed adjustment, which is related with the translational vector and rotational angle. Even with an identical propeller and speed, the thrusts generated are not necessarily equal on all rotors–propellers. Therefore, this study focuses on developing a data logger to measure thrust and to assist in flight control on a symmetrically-structured quadcopter. It is developed with a four load cells sensor with two-axis characterizations and is able to perform real-time signal processing. The process includes speed adjustment for each rotor, trim calibration, and a proportional integral derivative (PID) control tuning system. In the data retrieval process, a quadcopter was attached with data logger system in a parallel axis position. Various speeds between 1200 rpm to 4080 rpm in throttle mode were analyzed to determine the stability of the resulting thrust. Adjustment result showed that the thrust differences between the rotors were less than 0.5 N. The data logger showed the consistency of the thrust value and was proved by repeated experiments with 118 s of sampling time for the same quadcopter control condition. Finally, the quadcopter flight stability as the result of tuning process by the thrust data logger was validated by the flight controller data.
Novel T7 Phage Display Library Detects Classifiers for Active Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Talwar Harvinder , Hanoudi Samer Najeeb , Draghici Sorin , Samavati Lobelia
Published: July 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and transmitted through inhalation of aerosolized droplets. Eighty-five percent of new TB cases occur in resource-limited countries in Asia and Africa and fewer than 40% of TB cases are diagnosed due to the lack of accurate and easy-to-use diagnostic assays. Currently, diagnosis relies on the demonstration of the bacterium in clinical specimens by serial sputum smear microscopy and culture. These methods lack sensitivity, are time consuming, expensive, and require trained personnel. An alternative approach is to develop an efficient immunoassay to detect antibodies reactive to MTB antigens in bodily fluids, such as serum. Sarcoidosis and TB have clinical and pathological similarities and sarcoidosis tissue has yielded MTB components. Using sarcoidosis tissue, we developed a T7 phage cDNA library and constructed a microarray platform. We immunoscreened our microarray platform with sera from healthy (n = 45), smear positive TB (n = 24), and sarcoidosis (n = 107) subjects. Using a student t-test, we identified 192 clones significantly differentially expressed between the three groups at a False Discovery Rate (FDR) <0.01. Among those clones, we selected the top ten most significant clones and validated them on independent test set. The area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) for the top 10 significant clones was 1 with a sensitivity of 1 and a specificity of 1. Sequence analyses of informative phage inserts recognized as antigens by active TB sera may identify immunogenic antigens that could be used to develop therapeutic or prophylactic vaccines, as well as identify molecular targets for therapy.
The HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase A62V Mutation Influences Replication Fidelity and Viral Fitness in the Context of Multi-Drug-Resistant Mutations
Authors: Maldonado José O. , Mansky Louis M.
Published: July 2018

Emergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance arises from mutation fixation in the viral genome during antiretroviral therapy. Primary mutations directly confer antiviral drug resistance, while secondary mutations arise that do not confer drug resistance. The A62V amino acid substitution in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was observed to be associated with multi-drug resistance, but is not known to be a resistance-conferring mutation. In particular, A62V was observed in various multi-dideoxynucleoside resistant (MDR) mutation complexes, including the Q151M complex (i.e., A62V, V75I, F77L, F116Y, and Q151M), and the T69SSS insertion complex, which has a serine–serine insertion between amino acid positions 69 and 70 (i.e., M41L, A62V, T69SSS, K70R, and T215Y). However, what selective advantage is conferred to the virus remains unresolved. In this study, we hypothesized that A62V could influence replication fidelity and viral fitness with viruses harboring the Q151M and T69SSS MDR mutation complexes. A single-cycle replication assay and a dual-competition fitness assay were used to assess viral mutant frequency and viral fitness, respectively. A62V was found to increase the observed lower mutant frequency identified with each of the viruses harboring the MDR mutation complexes in the single-cycle assay. Furthermore, A62V was observed to improve viral fitness of replication-competent MDR viruses. Taken together, these observations indicate an adaptive role of A62V in virus replication fidelity and viral fitness, which would likely enhance virus persistence during drug-selective pressure.
Genomic Analysis of 48 Paenibacillus larvae Bacteriophages
Authors: Stamereilers Casey , Fajardo Christopher P. , Walker Jamison K. , Mendez Katterinne N. , Castro-Nallar Eduardo , Grose Julianne H. , Hope Sandra , Tsourkas Philippos K.
Published: July 2018

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB), currently the most destructive bacterial disease in honeybees. Phages that infect P. larvae were isolated as early as the 1950s, but it is only in recent years that P. larvae phage genomes have been sequenced and annotated. In this study we analyze the genomes of all 48 currently sequenced P. larvae phage genomes and classify them into four clusters and a singleton. The majority of P. larvae phage genomes are in the 38–45 kbp range and use the cohesive ends (cos) DNA-packaging strategy, while a minority have genomes in the 50–55 kbp range that use the direct terminal repeat (DTR) DNA-packaging strategy. The DTR phages form a distinct cluster, while the cos phages form three clusters and a singleton. Putative functions were identified for about half of all phage proteins. Structural and assembly proteins are located at the front of the genome and tend to be conserved within clusters, whereas regulatory and replication proteins are located in the middle and rear of the genome and are not conserved, even within clusters. All P. larvae phage genomes contain a conserved N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase that serves as an endolysin.
Evaluating the Erosion Process from a Single-Stripe Laser-Scanned Topography: A Laboratory Case Study
Authors: Wang Yung-Chieh , Lai Chun-Chen
Published: July 2018

Topographies during the erosion process obtained from the single-stripe laser-scanning method may provide an accurate, but affordable, soil loss estimation based on high-precision digital elevation model (DEM) data. In this study, we used laboratory erosion experiments with a sloping flume, a rainfall simulator, and a stripe laser apparatus to evaluate topographic changes of soil surface and the erosion process. In the experiments, six slope gradients of the flume (5° to 30° with an increment of 5°) were used and the rainfall simulator generated a 30-min rainfall with the kinetic energy equivalent to 80 mm/h on average. The laser-scanned topography and sediment yield were collected every 5 min in each test. The difference between the DEMs from laser scans of different time steps was used to obtain the eroded soil volumes and the corresponding estimates of soil loss in mass. The results suggest that the collected sediment yield and eroded soil volume increased with rainfall duration and slope, and quantified equations are proposed for soil loss prediction using rainfall duration and slope. This study shows the applicability of the stripe laser-scanning method in soil loss prediction and erosion evaluation in a laboratory case study.
Origin of Metals around Galaxies. I. Catalogs of Metal-line Absorption Doublets from High-resolution Quasar Spectra
Authors: Mas-Ribas Lluís , Riemer-Sørensen Signe , Hennawi Joseph F. , Miralda-Escudé Jordi , O’Meara John M. , Pérez-Ràfols Ignasi , Murphy Michael T. , Webb John K.
Published: July 2018

We present the first paper of the series Origin of Metals around Galaxies, which aims to explore the origin of the metals observed in the circumgalactic and intergalactic media. In this work we extract and build catalogs of metal absorbers that will be used in future analyses, and make our results publicly available to the community. We design a fully automatic algorithm to search for absorption metal-line doublets of the species C iv, N v, Si iv, and Mg ii in high-resolution (R ≳ 30,000) quasar spectra without human intervention, and apply it to the high-resolution and signal-to-noise ratio spectra of 690 quasars, observed with the UVES and HIRES instruments. We obtain 5656 C iv doublets, 7919 doublets of Mg ii, 2258 of Si iv, and 239 of N v, constituting the largest high-resolution metal-doublet samples to date, and estimate the dependence of their completeness and purity on various doublet parameters such as equivalent width and redshift, using real and artificial quasar spectra. The catalogs include doublets with rest-frame line-equivalent widths down to a few mÅ, all detected at a significance above 3σ, and covering the redshifts between 1 < z ≲ 5, properties that make them useful for a wide range of chemical evolution studies.
Evolution of Galaxy Types and H i Gas Contents in Galaxy Groups
Authors: Ai Mei , Zhu Ming
Published: July 2018

Using the group crossing time t
c as an age indicator for galaxy groups, we have investigated the correlation between t
c and the group spiral fraction, as well as between t
c and the neutral hydrogen gas fraction of galaxy groups. Our galaxy group sample is selected from the SDSS DR7 catalog, and the group spiral fraction is derived from the Galaxy Zoo morphological data set. We found that the group spiral galaxy fraction is correlated with the group crossing time. We further cross-matched the latest released ALFALFA 70% H i source catalog with the SDSS group catalog and have identified 172 groups from the SDSS survey whose total H i mass can be derived by summing up the H i mass of all the H i sources within the group radius. For the galaxies not detected in ALFALFA, we estimate their H i masses based on the galaxies’ optical colors and magnitudes. Our sample groups contain more than eight member galaxies, they cover a wide range of halo masses and are distributed in different cosmic environments. We derived the group H i mass fraction, which is the ratio of group H i mass to the group virial mass. We found a correlation between the H i mass fraction and the group crossing time. Our results suggest that long timescale mechanisms such as starvation seem to play a more important role than short timescale processes like stripping in depleting H i gas in the SDSS galaxy groups.
Lamperti-type theorems for random fields
Authors: Davydov Yurii Aleksandrovich , Paulauskas Vygantas I
Published: July 2018

Lamperti-type theorems for random fields are presented. Together with known
results, some new results are put forward on $\mathbf{R}^m$-valued self-similar
fields $\{\mathbf{X}(\mathbf{t}), \mathbf{t} \in \mathbf{R}^d \}$, their
domains of attraction, and the so-called Lamperti transformations, expressing
the relation between self-similarity and stationarity. Regularly and slowly
varying functions of several variables are also investigated.
Tone Pavček
Authors: Fock Ignac
Published: July 2018

Tone Pavček
A new Description of Probability Density Distributions of Polar
Mesospheric Clouds (PMC)
Authors: Berger Uwe , Baumgarten Gerd , Fiedler Jens , Lübken Franz-Josef
Published: July 2018

Abstract. In this paper we present a new description about statistical probability density distributions (pdfs) of Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMC) and noctilucent clouds (NLC). The analysis is based on observations of maximum backscatter, ice mass density, ice particle radius, and number density of ice particles measured by the ALOMAR RMR-lidar for all NLC seasons from 2002 to 2016. From this data set we derive a new class of pdfs that describe the statistics of PMC/NLC events which is different from previously statistical methods using the approach of an exponential distribution commonly named g-distribution. The new analysis describes successfully the probability statistic of ALOMAR lidar data. It turns out that the former g-function description is a special case of our new approach. In general the new statistical function can be applied to many kinds of different PMC parameters, e.g. maximum backscatter, integrated backscatter, ice mass density, ice water content, ice particle radius, ice particle number density or albedo measured by satellites. As a main advantage the new method allows to connect different observational PMC distributions of lidar, and satellite data, and also to compare with distributions from ice model studies. In particular, the statistical distributions of different ice parameters can be compared with each other on the basis of a common assessment that facilitate, for example, trend analysis of PMC/NLC.
Global soil organic carbon removal by water erosion under climate change and land use change during AD 1850–2005
Authors: Naipal Victoria , Ciais Philippe , Wang Yilong , Lauerwald Ronny , Guenet Bertrand , Van Oost Kristof
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Erosion is an Earth system process that transports carbon laterally across
the land surface and is currently accelerated by anthropogenic activities.
Anthropogenic land cover change has accelerated soil erosion rates by
rainfall and runoff substantially, mobilizing vast quantities of soil organic
carbon (SOC) globally. At timescales of decennia to millennia this mobilized
SOC can significantly alter previously estimated carbon emissions from land
use change (LUC). However, a full understanding of the impact of erosion on
land–atmosphere carbon exchange is still missing. The aim of this study is
to better constrain the terrestrial carbon fluxes by developing methods
compatible with land surface models (LSMs) in order to explicitly represent
the links between soil erosion by rainfall and runoff and carbon dynamics.
For this we use an emulator that represents the carbon cycle of a LSM, in
combination with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. We
applied this modeling framework at the global scale to evaluate the effects
of potential soil erosion (soil removal only) in the presence of other
perturbations of the carbon cycle: elevated atmospheric CO2, climate
variability, and LUC. We find that over the period AD 1850–2005
acceleration of soil erosion leads to a total potential SOC removal flux of
74±18 Pg C, of which 79 %–85 % occurs on agricultural land
and grassland. Using our best estimates for soil erosion we find that
including soil erosion in the SOC-dynamics scheme results in an increase of
62 % of the cumulative loss of SOC over 1850–2005 due to the combined
effects of climate variability, increasing atmospheric CO2 and LUC.
This additional erosional loss decreases the cumulative global carbon sink on
land by 2 Pg of carbon for this specific period, with the largest effects
found for the tropics, where deforestation and agricultural expansion
increased soil erosion rates significantly. We conclude that the potential
effect of soil erosion on the global SOC stock is comparable to the effects
of climate or LUC. It is thus necessary to include soil
erosion in assessments of LUC and evaluations of the terrestrial carbon
cycle.
Analysis of Burr Formation in Low Speed Micro-milling of Titanium Alloy (Ti-6Al-4V)
Authors: Rehman Gulfam Ul , Jaffery Syed Husain Imran , Khan Mushtaq , Ali Liaqat , Khan Ashfaq , Ikramullah Butt Shahid
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The use of titanium based alloys in aerospace and biomedical applications
make them an attractive choice for research in micro-machining. In this
research, low speed micro-milling is used to analyze machinability of
Ti-6Al-4V alloy as low speed machining setup is not expensive and it can be
carried out on conventional machine tools already available at most
machining setups. Parameters like feed per tooth, cutting speed and depth of
cut are selected as machining variables and their effect on burr formation
is analyzed through statistical technique analysis of variance to determine
key process variables. Results show that feed per tooth is the most dominant
factor in burr formation (81 % contribution ratio). The effect of depth of
cut was found to be negligible. It was also observed that micro-milling at
optimum process parameters showed minimum burr formation. In terms of burr
formation, as compared to high speed machining setup, better results were
achieved at low speed machining setup by varying machining parameters.
Brief Communication: Updated GAMDAM Glacier Inventory over the High Mountain Asia
Authors: Sakai Akiko
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The first version of the Glacier Area Mapping for Discharge from the Asian Mountains (GAMDAM) glacier inventory was the first methodologically consistent glacier inventory covering High Mountain Asia, and it underestimated glacier area because it did not include steep slopes covered with ice or snow and shadowed areas. During the process of revising the GAMDAM glacier inventory, source Landsat images were carefully selected to find images free of shadows, cloud cover, and seasonal snow cover taken from 1990 to 2010. Then, more than 90 % of the glacier area in the final version of the GAMDAM glacier inventory was delineated based on summer Landsat images. The total glacier area was 100,693±15,103 km2 and included 134,770 glaciers using 453 Landsat image scenes.
The Great War and International Law on War
Authors: Johnson James Turner
Published: July 2018

While much writing on the Great War centers on its destructiveness, less attention has been given to the steps taken over the half-century before that war to limit the destructiveness of warfare by positive international agreement, the early steps in the creation of a body of international law on warfare and armed conflict. Though some, if not all, of these early efforts failed during the Great War, that failure gave rise to renewed efforts in the 1920s and 1930s (before the beginning of World War II) to redefine, expand, and strengthen international agreements both on the resort to war and on the conduct of war. This article examines the story of the first eighty years in the creation of positive international law on war, dividing this story into three periods: before, during, and after the Great War. It concludes by reflecting on the historical and contemporary influences of religion on thinking about armed conflict.
Idealistic Education in the National Socialist Era in Germany: Character and Race Unity
Authors: Karasoy Murad
Published: July 2018

It is understood that the education’s being brought under the control of government and educational activities carried out under the name of character and race unity education were tools for the destruction of the individual and masses during the national socialist era in Germany. For this reason, the state’s monopolizing and more or less intervening in moral education can be regarded as a fascist act. The connection of altruism with race and the fact that race consciousness has aspects supporting the idealism have been abused by the fascist education. The fact that the individuals were directed to race by being impregnated with the sense of altruism showed how the two basic principles of national socialist education complemented each other. On the one hand, the individual was taught how to be altruistic, on the other hand, the superiority, holiness and supremacy of race were romanticized, and the infrastructure of the reason for the necessity of being altruistic was instilled on their mind.This study, which was made by reviewing the documents of Hitler (1938), Kubizek (1954), Schirach (1967), Gay (1968), Fest (1970 and 1973), Noakes (1971), Giles (1985), Domarus (1990), Burleigh and Wippermann (1991) and Canetti (2014), not only shows the fact that the character and race unity education that Nazis gave in schools wasn’t compatible with universal principles, but also the fact that the number of children in school age who died during the World War II reached a half million teaches how to act against the negative success of the fascist education that is focused on destruction.
The Use of e-Learning in Vocational Education and Training (VET): Systematization of Existing Theoretical Approaches
Authors: Belaya Vera
Published: July 2018

Vocational education and training (VET) has been facing a lot of challenges lately in the context of geostrategic forces that are shaping our world. Recent technological changes, combined with shifts in global economic power, accelerating urbanization, and demographic changes have put pressure on the VET to become more responsive to the needs of the labour market and society. E-learning has been seen as an effective way of improving the quality of teaching and learning in VET schools due to its various forms. Nevertheless, there has been some disagreement in the litearture on the advantages and disadvantages of the use of of e-learning in VET. Besides, some studies recently reported a decline in enthusiasm about the effects of e-learning in companies. In order to closely examine the effects of e-learning in VET, we conduct a literature review. We then carry out a discussion of the pros and cons with the aim of developing suggestions for the better use of e-learning in VET. The results of the litearture review show that learners and providers of e-learning benefit from it in different ways. In order to minimise the risks involved in using e-learning, a mixture of online and face-to-face events could be used, and adjusted pedagogical concepts should be designed and developed explicitly for e-learning.
Symmetries, asymmetries and cross-border cooperation on the German–Polish border. Towards a new model of (de)bordering
Authors: Jańczak Jarosław
Published: July 2018

The border between Germany and Poland represents one of the most interesting examples of dynamic political, economic and social transformation one can observe in post-Cold War Europe, being a very successful example of close cooperation. Ongoing debordering logics can be noticed there, but their forms and pace also reveal stagnation, or even regress in some sectors. It is claimed that the dynamic intensification of cross-border cooperation there after the collapse of the communist regimes in this part of Europe resulted from a complex set of interactions on the European, national and local levels. The key objectives there were relatively convergent which contributed to rapid debordering. They started, however, to diverge over time, differently on each of the levels. This process was contextualized in the symmetries and asymmetries existing on the border, which in many cases resulted in rebordering tendencies.
Newspaper Wars
Authors: Bedingfield Sid
Published: July 2018

This study examines the role of the black and white press in the cultural and political struggle over civil rights in South Carolina in the mid-twentieth century. In the 1930s, when black newspapers in the Deep South were mostly cautious and conservative, John McCray and his allies at South Carolina’s Lighthouse and Informer challenged their readers to “rebel and fight” for their rights – to reject the “slavery of thought and action” that created “uncle Toms and aunt Jemimas” and become “progressive fighters for the emancipation of the race.” As black activism spread, journalists at the state’s daily newspapers assumed leadership roles in the white resistance movement. They crafted new narratives designed to undermine black activism, but they also engaged directly in the political process to help implement the policy of massive resistance. When that strategy began to fail, the same journalists ignored their profession’s new norms of impartiality and joined the fight to create a new political home for white segregationists in a conservative Republican Party in the South. By moving the press from the periphery to the center of the political action, Newspaper Wars asks readers to reconsider the role of journalists during times of social, cultural, and political change in their communities.
Storytelling in Siberia
Authors: Harris Robin P.
Published: July 2018

Significant historical, global, and political forces of the Soviet period undermined the performance practice of the Sakha olonkho epic in northeastern Siberia, impairing the potential for sustainability of this ancient song-story tradition. This book documents how the Sakha people have leveraged UNESCO’s 2005 proclamation of this genre as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in their attempts to revitalize its performance practice. Foregrounding Sakha narratives, this case study examines the forces leading to the decline of olonkho during the Soviet era and the factors currently playing a role in the genre’s revitalization. In addition, this volume explores the appropriation of the olonkho tradition to express Sakha cultural identity in an increasingly globalized post-Soviet Russia and describes the transformations of olonkho as it adapts to change. Despite vigorous promotion of the revitalization process by the Sakha Ministry of Culture and the academic community, current levels of transmission and creative innovation do not foster adequate resilience for the survival of traditional olonkho as improvisationally performed by master olonkhosuts. In contrast, related genres such as theatrical olonkho and other multi-person olonkho performances enjoy increasing popularity and demonstrate many of the needed resilience markers for a sustainable future.
Who Killed Betty Gail Brown?
Authors: Lawson Robert G.
Published: July 2018

Betty Gail Brown was nineteen years old in 1961. A second-year student at Transylvania University. On the evening of October 26, 1961, she drove to campus to study with friends for an exam. Around midnight, she left the campus, but at some point she returned and parked her car in a driveway near the center of campus. By 3:00 a.m., she was the victim of one of the most sensational killings ever to occur in the Bluegrass. She was found dead in her car, strangled by her own brassiere. Kentuckians from across the state became engrossed in the proceedings, as lead after lead went nowhere. Four years later, the police investigation had stalled.In 1965, a drifter named Alex Arnold confessed to the killing while in jail on other charges in Oregon. Arnold was brought to Lexington and put on trial, where he entered a plea of not guilty. Robert Lawson was a young attorney at a local firm when a senior member asked him to help defend Arnold. In Who Killed Betty Gail Brown?, Lawson meticulously details the police search and Arnold’s trial. Since 1965, new leads have come and gone, and Betty Gail Brown’s murder remains unsolved. A written transcription of the court’s proceedings does not exist, and thus Lawson, drawing upon police and court records, newspaper articles, and his own notes, provides an invaluable record of an important piece of local history about one of Kentucky’s most famous cold cases.
Mill and the Limits of Freedom of Expression
Authors: Go Johann ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: July 2018

The rise of fake news, climate change denial, and the anti-vaccination movement all pose important challenges to contemporary views about freedom of expression. This paper attempts to delineate the limits of freedom of expression, specifically with regard to truth, lies, and harm. My strategy is to offer a critical reading of John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty to demonstrate its enduring relevance to contemporary issues in the freedom of expression. My critical reading of Mill provides guidance on when state interference is justified, the role of education, the nature of harm in the age of mass media and globalisation, and the relevance of truth and lies in the freedom of expression. Ultimately, I demonstrate that the Millian account I present can deal adequately with contemporary issues in the freedom of expression in line with the current social context, relevant empirical facts, and our considered judgements.
Autonomia e controle do ambiente de trabalho por profissionais de enfermagem reduzem índices de exaustão emocional
Authors: Marcelino Carla Fernanda , Alves Daniela Fernanda dos Santos , Guirardello Edinêis de Brito
Published: July 2018

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el ambiente laboral y los niveles de agotamiento emocional entre los profesionales de enfermería y estimar el efecto predictor de dicho ambiente sobre el burnout. Se trata de un estudio transversal con 215 profesionales de enfermería de un hospital escuela del interior del estado de San Pablo. Para la recogida de datos se consideraron el registro de las características personales y profesionales y los instrumentos Nursing Work Index - Revised y el Inventario de Burnout de Maslach. Se realizaron análisis de correlación con el cálculo del coeficiente de correlación de Spearman, y modelos de regresión linear múltiple. Se obtuvieron correlaciones significantes entre las variables del ambiente laboral y el burnout. Las subescalas autonomía y control sobre el ambiente laboral se consideraron predictoras del agotamiento emocional, de la despersonalización y de la disminución de la realización personal. En los ambientes en los cuales los profesionales se sienten con más autonomía y control , los niveles de burnout fueron más bajos. Se llega a la conclusión que la autonomía y el control sobre el ambiente laboral son considerados factores predictores de burnout entre los enfermeros , auxiliares y técnicos de enfermería.
Preparo de acadêmicos de enfermagem para o cuidado a adolescentes grávidas
Authors: Coimbra William da Silva , Ferreira Helen Campos , Feijó Edmar Jorge , Souza Robson Damião de , Coimbra Laiza Lopes de Medeiros
Published: July 2018

Objetivo: identificar la percepción de los estudiantes de grado de enfermería sobre su preparación para atender a adolescentes embarazadas. Método: investigación descriptiva cualitativa tipo estudio de caso, cuyo escenario fue un curso de grado en enfermería en el estado de Rio de Janeiro. Participaron 57 estudiantes de enfermería inscritos en los dos últimos semestres del curso, a través de entrevistas estructuradas durante el segundo semestre de 2016. Los datos producidos fueron tratados por análisis de contenido. Resultados: surgieron tres categorías de análisis: concepción de la adolescencia, que constató que para los alumnos significa una etapa de conflictos y descubrimientos; consulta de enfermería a adolescentes embarazadas, referente a la preparación/no preparación asociada principalmente a cómo reciben la orientación teórica sobre el tema y a la experiencia en la práctica y capacitación para la atención y consulta de enfermería a adolescentes embarazadas, que indicó que el contenido no se ofrece de forma tal como para apoyar la práctica de enfermería a este público. Los alumnos, sin embargo, demostraron inquietud con los aspectos relacionados con el servicio humanizado a esta clientela. Conclusión: se confirma la necesidad de alineamiento e integración entre las asignaturas con miras a estrechar la relación entre la teoría y la práctica y la adquisición de destrezas compatibles con las necesidades de las adolescentes embarazadas.