bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Gliocentric Brain
Authors: Robertson James M.
Published: October 2018

The Neuron Doctrine, the cornerstone of research on normal and abnormal brain functions for over a century, has failed to discern the basis of complex cognitive functions. The location and mechanisms of memory storage and recall, consciousness, and learning, remain enigmatic. The purpose of this article is to critically review the Neuron Doctrine in light of empirical data over the past three decades. Similarly, the central role of the synapse and associated neural networks, as well as ancillary hypotheses, such as gamma synchrony and cortical minicolumns, are critically examined. It is concluded that each is fundamentally flawed and that, over the past three decades, the study of non-neuronal cells, particularly astrocytes, has shown that virtually all functions ascribed to neurons are largely the result of direct or indirect actions of glia continuously interacting with neurons and neural networks. Recognition of non-neural cells in higher brain functions is extremely important. The strict adherence of purely neurocentric ideas, deeply ingrained in the great majority of neuroscientists, remains a detriment to understanding normal and abnormal brain functions. By broadening brain information processing beyond neurons, progress in understanding higher level brain functions, as well as neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, will progress beyond the impasse that has been evident for decades.
Prostaglandin D2 Induces Ca2+ Sensitization of Contraction without Affecting Cytosolic Ca2+ Level in Bronchial Smooth Muscle
Authors: Suto Wataru , Ando Yusuke , Hirabayashi Takahiro , Takenoya Fumiko , Shioda Seiji , Kamei Junzo , Sakai Hiroyasu , Chiba Yoshihiko
Published: October 2018

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is one of the key lipid mediators of allergic airway inflammation, including bronchial asthma. However, the role of PGD2 in the pathogenesis of asthma is not fully understood. In the present study, the effect of PGD2 on smooth muscle contractility of the airways was determined to elucidate its role in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). In isolated bronchial smooth muscles (BSMs) of naive mice, application of PGD2 (10−9–10−5 M) had no effect on the baseline tension. However, when the tissues were precontracted partially with 30 mM K+ (in the presence of 10−6 M atropine), PGD2 markedly augmented the contraction induced by the high K+ depolarization. The PGD2-induced augmentation of contraction was significantly inhibited both by 10−6 M laropiprant (a selective DP1 antagonist) and 10−7 M Y-27632 (a Rho-kinase inhibitor), indicating that a DP1 receptor-mediated activation of Rho-kinase is involved in the PGD2-induced BSM hyperresponsiveness. Indeed, the GTP-RhoA pull-down assay revealed an increase in active form of RhoA in the PGD2-treated mouse BSMs. On the other hand, in the high K+-depolarized cultured human BSM cells, PGD2 caused no further increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. These findings suggest that PGD2 causes RhoA/Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitization of BSM contraction to augment its contractility. Increased PGD2 level in the airways might be a cause of the AHR in asthma.
Knockdown of LXRα Inhibits Goat Intramuscular Preadipocyte Differentiation
Authors: Xiong Yan , Xu Qing , Lin Sen , Wang Yong , Lin Yaqiu , Zhu Jiangjiang
Published: October 2018

Goat intramuscular fat (IMF) content is mainly determined by the processes of intramuscular preadipocytes adipogenic differentiation and mature adipocyte lipid accumulation. However, the underlying regulators of these biological processes remain largely unknown. Here, we report that the expression of Liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) reaches a peak at early stage and then gradually decreases during goat intramuscular adipogenesis. Knockdown of LXRα mediated by two independent siRNAs significantly inhibits intramuscular adipocytes lipid accumulation and upregulates preadipocytes marker- preadipocyte factor 1 (pref1) expression. Consistently, siRNA treatments robustly decrease mRNA level of adipogenic related genes, including CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (Cebpα), Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (Pparg), Sterol regulatory element binding protein isoform 1c (Srebp1c), Fatty acids binding protein (aP2) and Lipoprotein lipase (Lpl). Next, adenovirus overexpression of LXRα does not affect intramuscular adipocytes adipogenesis manifested by Oil Red O signal measurement and adipogenic specific genes detection. Mechanically, we found that both CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta (Cebpβ) and Kruppel like factor 8 (Klf8) are potential targets of LXRα, indicated by having putative binding sites of LXRα at the promoter of these genes and similar expression pattern during adipogenesis comparing to LXRα. Importantly, mRNA levels of Cebpβ and Klf8 are downregulated significantly in goat LXRα knockdown intramuscular adipocyte. These results demonstrate that loss function of LXRα inhibits intramuscular adipogenesis possibly through down-regulation of Cebpβ and Klf8. Our research will provide new insights into mechanical regulation of goat IMF deposition.
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity and Mode of Action of Magainin 2 against Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Kim Min , Kang Na , Ko Su , Park Jonggwan , Park Eunji , Shin Dong , Kim Seo , Lee Seung , Lee Ji , Lee Seung , Ha Eun , Jeon Seung , Park Yoonkyung
Published: October 2018

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising therapeutic agents for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Previous studies showed that magainin 2 (isolated from African clawed fogs Xenopus laevis) has antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The present study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of magainin 2 against Acinetobacter baumannii. Magainin 2 showed excellent antibacterial activity against A. baumannii strains and high stability at physiological salt concentrations. This peptide was not cytotoxic towards HaCaT cells and showed no hemolytic activity. Biofilm inhibition and elimination were significantly induced in all A. baumannii strains exposed to magainin 2. We confirmed the mechanism of magainin 2 on the bacterial outer and inner membranes. Collectively, these results suggest that magainin 2 is an effective antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent against A. baumannii strains.
Synthesis and Characterization of the New Dicyanamide LiCs2[N(CN)2]3
Authors: Mann Markus , Reckeweg Olaf , Dronskowski Richard
Published: October 2018

Crystals of LiCs2[N(CN)2]3 were obtained from the reaction of stoichiometric amounts of aqueous solutions of LiCl and CsBr with Ag[N(CN)2]. X-ray single-crystal structure analysis showed that LiCs2[N(CN)2]3 crystallizes isotypically to NaCs2[N(CN)2]3 and adopts the hexagonal space group P63/m (No. 176), with a = 6.8480(8), c = 14.1665(17) Å, and Z = 2. The IR and Raman spectra of the title compound exhibit modes typical for the dicyanamide anion.
Degassing Rhythms and Fluctuations of Geogenic Gases in A Red Wood-Ant Nest and in Soil in The Neuwied Basin (East Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany)
Authors: Berberich Gabriele M. , Berberich Martin B. , Ellison Aaron M. , Wöhler Christian
Published: October 2018

Geochemical tracers of crustal fluids (CO2, He, Rn) provide a useful tool for the identification of buried fault structures. We acquired geochemical data during 7-months of continual sampling to identify causal processes underlying correlations between ambient air and degassing patterns of three gases (CO2, He, Rn) in a nest of red wood ants (Formica polyctena; “RWA”) and the soil at Goloring in the Neuwied Basin, a part of the East Eifel Volcanic Field (EEVF). We explored whether temporal relations and degassing rhythms in soil and nest gas concentrations could be indicators of hidden faults through which the gases migrate to the surface from depth. In nest gas, the coupled system of CO2-He and He concentrations exceeding atmospheric standards 2-3 fold suggested that RWA nests may be biological indicators of hidden degassing faults and fractures at small scales. Equivalently periodic degassing infradian rhythms in the RWA nest, soil, and three nearby minerals springs suggested NW-SE and NE-SW tectonic linkages. Because volcanic activity in the EEVF is dormant, more detailed information on the EEVF’s tectonic, magmatic, and degassing systems and its active tectonic fault zones are needed. Such data could provide additional insights into earthquake processes that are related to magmatic processes at the lower crust.
Impact of Rehabilitation on Outcomes after TAVI: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Butter Christian , Groß Jessica , Haase-Fielitz Anja , Sims Helen , Deutsch Cornelia , Bramlage Peter , Neuss Michael
Published: October 2018

The benefit of rehabilitation in elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for treatment of severe aortic stenosis is unknown. The impact of declining rehabilitation programs on mortality has also not been described. In a longitudinal cohort study of 1056 patients undergoing elective TAVI between 2008 and 2016, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between treatment modality and outcome according to whether or not patients participated in a three-week rehabilitation program after TAVI. Subgroup analyses included patient outcome separated according to cardiac, geriatric, or no rehabilitation. A total of 1017 patients survived until hospital discharge (96.3%) and were offered rehabilitation, 366 patients (36.0%) declined to undergo rehabilitation, with the remaining patients undergoing either cardiac (n = 435; 42.8%) or geriatric rehabilitation (n = 216; 21.2%). Mortality at six months was lower for patients receiving rehabilitation compared with those who had not (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.49; 95% confidence interval (confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–0.94; p = 0.032). Sub-analysis showed the benefit of cardiac (adjusted OR: 0.31; 95% CI 0.14–0.71, p = 0.006), but not geriatric rehabilitation (adjusted OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.37–1.85, p = 0.65). A program of rehabilitation after TAVI has the potential to reduce mortality. Future studies should focus on health-orientated behavior and identifying risk factors for declining rehabilitation programs.
An Analytical Expression for Magnet Shape Optimization in Surface-Mounted Permanent Magnet Machines
Authors: Jabbari Ali
Published: October 2018

Surface-mounted permanent magnet machines are widely used in low and medium speed applications. Pulsating torque components is the most crucial challenge, especially in low-speed applications. Magnet pole shape optimization can be used to mitigate these components. In this research, an analytical model is proposed to calculate the magnetic vector potential in surface-mounted permanent magnet machines. A mathematical expression is also derived for optimal the magnet shape to reduce the cogging torque and electromagnetic torque components. The presented model is based on the resolution of the Laplace’s and Poisson’s equations in polar coordinates by using the subdomain method and applying hyperbolic functions. The proposed method is applied to the performance computation of a surface-mounted permanent magnet machine, i.e., a 3-phase 12S-10P motor. The analytical results are validated through the finite element analysis (FEA) method.
A Tool for Predicting the Effect of the Plunger Motion Profile on the Static Properties of Aluminium High Pressure Die Cast Components
Authors: Fiorese Elena , Bonollo Franco , Battaglia Eleonora
Published: October 2018

The availability of tools for predicting quality in high pressure die casting is a challenging issue since a large amount of defects is detected in components with a consequent worsening of the mechanical behavior. In this paper, a tool for predicting the effect of the plunger motion on the properties of high pressure die cast aluminum alloys is explained and applied, by demonstrating its effectiveness. A comparison between two experiments executed through different cold chamber machines and the same geometry of the die and slightly different chemical compositions of the alloy is described. The effectiveness of the model is proved by showing the agreement between the prediction bounds and the measured data. The prediction model proposed is a general methodology independent of the machine and accounts for the effects of geometry and alloy through its coefficients.
An Exact Solution for Power-Law Fluids in a Slit Microchannel with Different Zeta Potentials under Electroosmotic Forces
Authors: Choi Du-Soon , Yun Sungchan , Choi WooSeok
Published: October 2018

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) is one of the most important techniques in a microfluidic system. Many microfluidic devices are made from a combination of different materials, and thus asymmetric electrochemical boundary conditions should be applied for the reasonable analysis of the EOF. In this study, the EOF of power-law fluids in a slit microchannel with different zeta potentials at the top and bottom walls are studied analytically. The flow is assumed to be steady, fully developed, and unidirectional with no applied pressure. The continuity equation, the Cauchy momentum equation, and the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation are solved for the velocity field. The exact solutions of the velocity distribution are obtained in terms of the Appell’s first hypergeometric functions. The velocity distributions are investigated and discussed as a function of the fluid behavior index, Debye length, and the difference in the zeta potential between the top and bottom.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Ligustrazine Derivatives as Multi-Targeted Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wu Wenhao , Liang Xintong , Xie Guoquan , Chen Langdi , Liu Weixiong , Luo Guolin , Zhang Peiquan , Yu Lihong , Zheng Xuehua , Ji Hong , Zhang Chao , Yi Wei
Published: October 2018

A series of novel ligustrazine derivatives 8a–r were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as multi-targeted inhibitors for anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug discovery. The results showed that most of them exhibited a potent ability to inhibit both ChEs, with a high selectivity towards AChE. In particular, compounds 8q and 8r had the greatest inhibitory abilities for AChE, with IC50 values of 1.39 and 0.25 nM, respectively, and the highest selectivity towards AChE (for 8q, IC50 BuChE/IC50 AChE = 2.91 × 106; for 8r, IC50 BuChE/IC50 AChE = 1.32 × 107). Of note, 8q and 8r also presented potent inhibitory activities against Aβ aggregation, with IC50 values of 17.36 µM and 49.14 µM, respectively. Further cellular experiments demonstrated that the potent compounds 8q and 8r had no obvious cytotoxicity in either HepG2 cells or SH-SY5Y cells, even at a high concentration of 500 μM. Besides, a combined Lineweaver-Burk plot and molecular docking study revealed that these compounds might act as mixed-type inhibitors to exhibit such effects via selectively targeting both the catalytic active site (CAS) and the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChEs. Taken together, these results suggested that further development of these compounds should be of great interest.
Chemical Constituents from the Stems of Tinospora sinensis and Their Bioactivity
Authors: Lam Sio-Hong , Chen Po-Hsun , Hung Hsin-Yi , Hwang Tsong-Long , Chiang Chih-Chao , Thang Tran Dinh , Kuo Ping-Chung , Wu Tian-Shung
Published: October 2018

Fifty-seven compounds were purified from the stems of Tinospora sinensis, including three new compounds characterized as a lignan (1), a pyrrole alkaloid (11), and a benzenoid (17), respectively. Their structures were elucidated and established by various spectroscopic and spectrometric analytical methods. Among the isolates, fifteen compounds were examined for their anti-inflammatory potential in vitro. The results showed that several compounds displayed moderate inhibition of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release.
Effect of Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) on Colony Formation of Common Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Authors: Williams Myra D. , Falkinham Joseph O.
Published: October 2018

Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) is widely used to decontaminate water samples for the cultivation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The rationale for using CPC is that it kills more non mycobacteria than NTM and thereby prevents the outgrowth and detection of mycobacterial colonies on solid media. The few CPC-susceptibility measurements that have been published, suggest that CPC-decontamination does kill significant numbers of NTM. We confirm that observation here and further demonstrate that CPC-susceptibility varied significantly by one log between representative NTM species and between strains of the same species. CPC-susceptibility was the same for cells collected from cultures or water-acclimated (P = 0.6485, T-test) and CPC-susceptibility was relatively similar over the range of commonly employed CPC dosages. We conclude that use of CPC as decontaminating agent may lead to failure to recover an NTM isolate and considerable underestimates of NTM numbers.
Castor Oil-Based Polyurethane Resin for Low-Density Composites with Bamboo Charcoal
Authors: Chen Yi-Chun , Tai Wei
Published: October 2018

Polyurethane (PU) foam adhesives were prepared from castor oil as a polyol with isocyanate poly(4,4’-methylene diphenyl isocyanate) (PMDI) using a solvent-free process. The NCO/OH molar ratio used for the preparation of PU foams was 1.5. Water, organosiloxane and dibutyltin dilaurate were used as the blowing agent, surfactant and catalyst, respectively. The ratio of blowing agent and catalyst were adjusted to optimize the properties. The results show that PU foam prepared with 4 wt % of castor oil catalyst and blowing agent has minimal water absorption and maximal volume expansion in the PU foams. FT-IR analysis shows that a urethane bond was formed by the hydroxyl group of castor oil and the –NCO group of isocyanate PMDI. More blowing agent and catalyst could improve the volume expansion ratio and reduce water retention of PU foams. It was found that Moso bamboo charcoal (Phyllostachys pubescens) and China fir wood particle (Cunninghamia lanceolate) composites with setting densities of 500 and 600 kg/m3 can be prepared from optimized castor oil-based PU foam adhesive at 100 °C for 5 min under a pressure of 1.5 MPa. Increasing the amount of bamboo charcoal decreases the equilibrium moisture content, water absorption and internal bonding strength of the composite. Notably, bamboo charcoal composite exhibits excellent dimensional stability. The optimized density and bamboo charcoal percentages of the composite were 500 kg/m3 and 50–100%, respectively. The castor oil-based PU composites containing bamboo charcoal fulfilled the CNS 2215 standards for particleboard. This dimensionally stable, low-density bamboo charcoal composite has high potential to replace current indoor building materials.
Remarkable Improvement in the Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites Achieved by a Small Amount of Modified Helical Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Kadhim Nabil , Mei Yuan , Wang Ying , Li Ying , Meng Fanbin , Jiang Man , Zhou Zuowan
Published: October 2018

Helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) were functionalized to fabricate HCNT/epoxy composites. Acid oxidation and a silane coupling agent, glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH560), were used to modify the HCNTs. Remarkably, the flexural strength and the flexural strain were enhanced by 72.0% and 325.0%, respectively, compared to pure epoxy after adding a small amount of the KH560 modified HCNTs (K-HCNTs). Simultaneously, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of K-HCNTs/epoxy composites were 51.3% and 270.9% higher than those of pure epoxy. It is found that the presence of silane molecules improved the dispersion of HCNTs in epoxy and the interfacial interaction. Moreover, it has been found that the mechanically interlocking effect from the helical shape of HCNTs also contributes to the improved mechanical properties of epoxy composites, compared to their straight multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) counterparts. This work provides a low-cost and efficient approach to strengthen and toughen epoxy composites.
Design of an Aluminum/Polymer Plasmonic 2D Crystal for Label-Free Optical Biosensing
Authors: Tramarin Luca , Angulo Barrios Carlos
Published: October 2018

A design study of a nanostructured two-dimensional plasmonic crystal based on aluminum and polymeric material for label-free optical biosensing is presented. The structure is formed of Al nanohole and nanodisk array layers physically separated by a polymeric film. The photonic configuration was analyzed through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The calculated spectral reflectance of the device exhibits a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance feature sensitive to the presence of a modeled biolayer adhered onto the metal surfaces. Simulations also reveal that the Al disks suppress an undesired SPP resonance, improving the device performance in terms of resolution as compared to that of a similar configuration without Al disks. On the basis of manufacturability issues, nanohole diameter and depth were considered as design parameters, and a multi-objective optimization process was employed to determine the optimum dimensional values from both performance and fabrication points of view. The effect of Al oxidation, which is expected to occur in an actual device, was also studied.
Winter Tourism in Croatia: Is It Possible?
Authors: Krstinić Nižić Marinela , Šverko Grdić Zvonimira
Published: October 2018

Tourism in Croatia primarily relies on the “sun and sea” product as the main asset of its offering. The current lack of adequate infrastructure, an underdeveloped winter tourism offering and the lack of stakeholders’ interest in developing winter tourism products are only some of the problems facing winter tourism development in Croatia. Winter tourism development does not include only snow-related activities but all outdoor activities, where weather and climate play a significant role. This paper analyzes the relationship between average monthly climate indicators in summer and winter periods and the number of overnight stays in Croatia from 1977 to 2014. In the regression analysis, we used a multivariate model with first difference specification and ordinary least square (OLS) estimation, in which past period of the dependent variable was also included. Seasonality was controlled by using quarterly dummy variable. The analyses for coastal and continental Croatia were made separately. Using regression and correlation analyses, we prove that Croatian tourism in the coastal part is strongly related to climate parameters while that influence in the continental part is less significant. The main hypothesis of the paper is that, with the increase in temperature, the tourism season will be prolonged in both the coastal and continental part of the Republic of Croatia. However, other interventions in tourism (such as raising the quality, expanding the offering etc.) can also increase tourism results since climate parameters do not have the same effect on the continental and coastal part of the Republic of Croatia. The impending climate change will cause climate indicators to change, thus unlocking the potential for winter tourism development in areas not related to the sea, but also requiring the development of various forms of special-interest tourism. Winter tourism in Croatia represents a big potential not only because climate change will potentially make winters in Croatia milder but also because, with the right policies, there is a huge potential to develop the undeveloped region of continental Croatia with products that would diversify the Croatian tourism offerings.
Impact of Collisional Matter on the Late-Time Dynamics of f(R,T) Gravity
Authors: Zubair M. , Zeeshan Muhammad , Hasan Syed Sibet , Oikonomou V. K.
Published: October 2018

We study the cosmic evolution of non-minimally coupled f ( R , T ) gravity in the presence of matter fluids consisting of collisional self-interacting dark matter and radiation. We study the cosmic evolution in the presence of collisional matter, and we compare the results with those corresponding to non-collisional matter and the Λ -cold-dark-matter ( Λ CDM) model. Particularly, for a flat Friedmann–Lema i ^ tre–Robertson–Walker Universe, we study two non-minimally coupled f ( R , T ) gravity models and we focus our study on the late-time dynamical evolution of the model. Our study is focused on the late-time behavior of the effective equation of the state parameter ω e f f and of the deceleration parameter q as functions of the redshift for a Universe containing collisional and non-collisional dark matter fluids, and we compare both models with the Λ CDM model. As we demonstrate, the resulting picture is well accommodated to the latest observational data on the basis of physical parameters.
Sur un terme plombifère du groupe pyrochlore-microlite
Authors: Safiannikoff A. , Van Wambeke L.
Published: October 2018

Un terme plombifère de la microlite a été trouvé dans des alluvions du Kivu au Congo. Le minéral est associé à de la cassitérite, à de la manganotantalite, à de la microlite et à de la simpsonite. Il se présente en masses cristallines de couleur jaune à orange, et, plus rarement, en octaèdres.

Densité ............... 6,5 à 7,2

Dureté ............... 6

Pouvoir réflecteur ...... 18,2%

L'analyse chimique donne, après déduction des impuretés : Ta₂O₃ : 53,84, Nb₂O₅ : n,85,TiO₂ : 0,23, ZrO₂ : 0,06, PbO : 27,78, Sb₂O₃ : 0,85, Bi₂O₅ : 0,04, Na₂O : 0,67, Cs₂O : 1,71, CaO ; 1,07, BaO : 0,22, FeO : 0,36, MnO : 0,02, H₂O⁺ : 1,29, F : 0,01.

Formule chimique :

(Pb₀,₇₄Na₀,₁₃Ca₀,₁₁Cs₀,₀₇Sb₀,₀₃Fe₀,₀₃Ba₀,₀₁) (Ta₁,₄₅Nb₀,₅₃Ti₀,₀₂)O₆,₀₄(H₂O)₀,₄₂.

Le minéral possède une structure type pyrochlore-microlite avec un paramètre a = 10,56 ± 0,01 Â ; groupe spatial : Fd₃m.
Diagrammes de Patterson théoriques tridimensionnels des structures contenant deux atomes par unité asymétrique. (Systèmes triclinique et monoclinique)
Authors: Rérat B. , Rérat C.
Published: October 2018

On a représenté les diagrammes de Patterson théoriques des structures de l'espace à trois dimensions contenant deux atomes par unité asymétrique. Les coordonnées atomiques étant données, on envisage successivement les groupes de symétrie tricliniques et monocliniques. Intérêt de l'utilisation de ces diagrammes au cours de l'interprétation des diagrammes expérimentaux.
T. E. M. investigation of chromites from New-Caledonia
Authors: Doukhan Nicole , Doukhan Jean-Claude , Nicolas Adolphe
Published: October 2018

A T.E.M. investigation on chromite from New-Caledonian ophiolites has been undertaken in an effort to elucidate the origin of structures in chromite ore bodies. These bodies have a podiform shape and internally the chromite ore and its olivine matrix are strongly deformed. It is a question with important economical bearings to decide whether these structures were directly obtained in a magma chamber during the course of a turbulent magmatic sedimentation of chromite and olivine or if they result from plastic deformation postdating the magmatic event. This plastic deformation is registered in the surrounding peridotites and in the olivine matrix of the chromite ore. It occurred around 1200° C for stresses lower than a few hundred bars.

Chromites consist in large grains with a very low density of free dislocations and well organized sub-grain boundaries. Stereographic analysis of some of these subgrain boundaries indicate that a large amount of climb occurred because in most cases, the constitutive dislocations no more lie in the usual glide planes of the spinel structure. These features are characteristic of a temperature well above 1/2 TMj that is probably higher than the 1200° C estimated for plastic flow conditions.

Optical observations of thin sections show that during this plastic flow chromite grains have accommodated strain by brittle fracture andT.E.M. observations at the tip of the cracks show that the zone which has been plastically deformed at the front crack does not exceed some microns. These remarks are in agreement with the mechanical properties of other spinels which begin to be correctly known. All seem to have a very high elastic limit, even at 1/2 TM.

These observations suggest that the dislocation structure in this chromite has not been produced by the plastic deformation observed in surrounding olivine bearing rocks but is possibly due to its magmatic history.
Experimental deformation of an «anhydrous » synthetic dunite
Authors: Zeuch David H. , Green Harry W.
Published: October 2018

Une série d'expériences à vitesse de déformation constante a été conduite sur une dunite synthétique pour des températures de 1100° à 1300° C et à 15 kbar de pression hydrostatique. Les échantillons sont ici plus résistants que ceux de toutes les expériences antérieures, sauf celles de Post. Cependant, l'un de nos échantillons, soigneusement desséché avant expérience, donne des résultats approximativement comparables à ceux de Post. L'examen de ces échantillons en microscopie électronique à transmission montre que leur sous-structure de dislocations est très proche de celle de l'olivine naturellement déformée : elle est dominée par des sous-joints de flexion (100), mais les sous-joints de flexion (001) et de torsion (010) sont aussi présents. Les dislocations libres ont surtout une orientation vis, et les dislocations vis avec b = [001] sont remarquablement rectilignes, ce qui suggère qu'elles sont dissociées. Parmi les dislocations libres, la prédominance des vis sur les coins semble contredire les théories du fluage contrôlé par la montée. Les courbes reliant les densités de dislocations et les dimensions des néoblastes avec la contrainte sont conformes aux résultats déjà publiés par d'autres auteurs.
A new record of Avrainvillea cf. erecta (Berkeley) A. Gepp & E. S. Gepp (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) from urbanized estuaries in the Hawaiian Islands
Authors: Wade Rachael , Spalding Heather , Peyton Kimberly , Foster Kevin , Sauvage Thomas , Ross Matthew , Sherwood Alison
Published: October 2018

A second species in the siphonous green algal genusAvrainvilleawas recently discovered off the island of O‘ahu in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Specimens were collected from Honolulu Harbor, including its entrance channel, and near Ke‘ehi Harbor. These locations are both in Mālama Bay on O‘ahu’s south shore in or adjacent to urbanized estuaries, respectively.In situobservations, morphological and molecular assessments were conducted to examine the alga’s habit and distribution, as well as to assess its putative species identification.

The alga occurred in sand as single individuals or in clusters of several individuals at both sites, and near or within seagrass beds (Halophiladecipiens) and algal meadows composed of the green algaHalimedakanaloanaand an unidentifiedUdoteaspecies at the Ke‘ehi Harbor site. All analyses supported both populations as representative of the same taxa, reported until further investigation in the broad Pacific as Avrainvilleacf.erecta based on morphological and molecular analyses. This record of a secondAvrainvilleaspecies in Hawai'i is of particular concern considering that an alga recognized asA.amadelpha, first observed in 1981 from two locales on O‘ahu’s south shore, has become invasive in Hawai‘i’s intertidal to mesophotic environments.
The demand for defense spending in Russia: Economic and strategic determinants
Authors: Kollias Christos , Paleologou Suzanna-Maria , Tzeremes Panayiotis , Tzeremes Nickolaos
Published: October 2018

The allocation of resources to defense and national security is influenced by several factors, both domestic and external. Findings, reported in the relevant empirical literature, suggest that military spending is determined by a cohort of economic, strategic and political factors. This paper estimates a demand function for Russian military expenditure for the period 1992–2015. The results indicate that Russian defense spending is strongly dependent on income from energy exports as well as on the overall performance of the Russian economy. Strategic factors also emerge as significant determinants of such expenditure.
Russian budget structure efficiency: Empirical study
Authors: Kudrin Alexey , Knobel Alexander
Published: October 2018

This paper investigates the economic efficiency of Russian public expenditures in 2002–2016 by estimation of their multiplicative impact on the GDP level and economic growth. We use the empirical methodology based on Corsetti et al. (2012). We estimate a number of fiscal multipliers: on national security, law-enforcement activity, national defense, education, health care and sport and road infrastructure. For assessing the influence of budget structure on long-term economic growth rates, we estimate the SVAR model in which GDP growth is a structural variable. The research shows a positive influence of budgetary resources redistribution from non-productive government expenditures to productive ones on economic development.
Examining interrelation between global and national income inequalities
Authors: Dabrowski Marek
Published: October 2018

The last decade brought increasing attention to income and wealth inequalities in advanced economies because of their increase in several countries and negative social and political implications. However, this debate is often limited to the single-country perspective, disregarding decreasing global income inequalities, i.e. inequalities between individuals in the entire world. This paper focuses mainly on the global dimension of the inequality trends but also tries to update statistics on national inequality trends which, contrary to the dominant narrative, seem to go in various directions depending on a concrete country. Finally, an attempt is made to analyze the potential interrelation and trade-off between decreasing global inequalities and increasing national inequalities and the role of globalization, in its various forms, in such a trade-off.
Code de gouvernance et gestion des résultats comptables : le cas des sociétés françaises cotées
Authors: Elage Adam , Mard Yves
Published: October 2018

Suite aux crises et scandales financiers successifs, les codes de gouvernance, comprenant un ensemble de recommandations volontaires, se sont développés de par le monde. A ce jour, la question de leur efficacité reste largement ouverte et débattue dans le contexte international, et français en particulier. L’objectif de l’article est d’étudier l’influence de la conformité à un code de gouvernance sur les pratiques de gestion des résultats en France. Cette question se pose notamment après la mise en place de la loi DDAC (2008), qui prévoit pour les sociétés cotées françaises la référence à un code de gouvernance selon le principe « appliquer ou expliquer ». Les résultats de l’étude montrent que les sociétés de l’indice SBF120 ont renforcé progressivement leur mise en conformité au code sur la période (2006-2013). Par ailleurs, la conformité au code (et l’évolution de cette conformité) sont associées négativement à la gestion comptable et réelle des résultats. Les dispositions du code relatives au conseil de direction et aux comités spécialisés semblent limiter la gestion des résultats, alors que les dispositions relatives aux dirigeants et à leurs rémunérations sont sans effet sur cette gestion. Ces résultats semblent confirmer l’impact favorable du code de gouvernance sur la qualité des résultats comptables.
« Notre incubateur est aussi une porte d’entrée vers un riche écosystème »
Authors: Lesage Xavier , Caemmerer Barbara
Published: October 2018

Les Ateliers de Paris sont la pierre angulaire du dispositif d’accompagnement de la Ville de Paris pour les métiers d’art, de la mode et du design. Plus qu’un simple incubateur, les Ateliers de Paris constituent un véritable écosystème autour duquel gravitent tous les acteurs du monde de la création. À l’occasion du dixième anniversaire de cette structure singulière, sa directrice, Françoise Seince, en dresse un premier bilan et partage ses convictions en matière d’accompagnement, pour dégager tout ce qui fait la spécificité de ce dispositif, une référence dans le secteur des industries créatives. En particulier, elle revient sur l’émergence de cette structure et sur ce qu’elle représente aujourd’hui. Elle présente les critères et le processus de sélection des candidats, le programme de formation spécifique dispensé et aborde la question épineuse du mode de financement du dispositif. Elle termine sur ce qui explique le succès des Ateliers de Paris, tout en ouvrant sur quelques perspectives d’évolution.
Gouverner la voirie urbaine par l’information de l’automobiliste. Une comparaison Lyon-Paris, des années 1920 à nos jours
Authors: Baldasseroni Louis , Charansonney Luc
Published: October 2018

L’information des automobilistes est un élément-clé des politiques de gestion des voies urbaines. L’analyse comparée des cas de Lyon et Paris entre les années 1920 et 2010 montre que les dispositifs actuels d’information aux automobilistes résultent de l’empilement de trois strates politiques et techniques. Au cours de la période, Paris et Lyon suivent sensiblement les mêmes orientations politiques. Cependant, Paris ne constitue pas un modèle pour Lyon : l’autonomie locale conduit à des réponses techniques différentes aux problèmes de gestion de la circulation. Des années 1920 aux années 1940, l’automobiliste est vu par le gestionnaire comme un individu qui doit être guidé et discipliné, surtout par des panneaux de signalisation statiques. Par la suite, des années 1950 aux années 1970, les autorités gèrent des flux plus que des individus. Des systèmes centraux, reposant sur des capteurs dans la chaussée, et dédiés aux gestionnaires, sont mis en place en parallèle d’une politique d’infrastructures nouvelles. Suite au choc pétrolier, l’information aux automobilistes devient multimodale. Le conducteur est de nouveau vu comme un individu se déplaçant et en quête d’information. Dans les années 1990, le gestionnaire fournit une information centralisée à l’automobiliste, par le biais des panneaux à message variable et sites internet publics. Parallèlement, les systèmes embarqués permettent à des entreprises privées de collecter des données de trafic et de fournir de l’information directement à leurs clients-automobilistes, sans passer par le gestionnaire. Cela influe sur les rapports public-privé dans la gouvernance du trafic.
L’éditeur de jeux vidéo qui dynamise la création française
Authors: Lagarrigue Cédric
Published: October 2018

Dans le jeu vidéo, Focus s’est construit comme éditeur pour accompagner des studios indépendants, du financement à la distribution et à la promotion du jeu. Si les promesses de la French Touch sont enfin tenues dans ce secteur, le modèle humain et agile de Focus y est pour beaucoup.
Primer registro de Equus neogeus en río Abaucán (Catamarca, Argentina)
Authors: Garcia M. E. , Bonini R. , Alberdi M. T. , Prado J. L.
Published: October 2018

En el presente trabajo se describen restos de caballos del Pleistoceno procedentes de afloramientos en el río Abaucán de la localidad de Tinogasta (Catamarca). El estudio comparativo se realizó con los registros conocidos de este grupo de mamíferos en América del Sur y se identificó comoEquus neogeus. Es el primer registro de esta especie en el Pleistoceno tardío de Catamarca (Argentina). Estos datos representan un nuevo registro de Equidae en América del Sur y aportan nuevas evidencias sobre su cronología y distribución geográfica.Equus neogeus es el caballo más grande y más grácil de los de América del Sur y se encuentra en su zona más oriental. Hasta ahora no se habían registrado fuera de las tierras bajas de Argentina, Uruguay y Brasil. Este es el primer registro en regiones más altas altitudinalmente. Además, el contexto litoestratigráfico permite obtener consideraciones paleoecológicas. Desde el punto de vista cronoestratigráfico los niveles fosilíferos se refieren a la edad Lujaniense.
Influences of genotype and location interactions on oil, fatty acids and agronomical properties of groundnuts
Authors: Yol E. , Uzun B.
Published: October 2018

An enhanced adaptation to specific environmental conditions could provide higher seed quality and quantity from groundnuts. In this investigation, nine groundnut genotypes and two controls were evaluated for morphological and oil traits in two different Mediterranean locations. The traits of shelling percentage and pod yield indicated significant differences among the genotypes. The highest pod yield was observed for ACG 154 from the subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea and ACG 107 from the subsp. fastigiata var. vulgaris in the locations of Adana and Antalya, respectively. The genotype ACG 154 also had about 60 g of 100-seed weight, which is desirable for commercial production as a Runner commercial type. Significant differences were recorded for oil yield, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids in both locations among the genotypes studied. The groundnut genotypes were further evaluated with allele-specific PCR markers for possible SNP mutations in the ahFAD2A and ahFAD2B genes for high-oleic mutants. ACG 14, ACG 154 and ACG 156 had the mutant ahFAD2A allele, while no ahFAD2B allele mutation was found. The statistical model GGE bi-plot was used to identify the ideal and representative location for each genotype according to pod yield performance. The genotypes ACG 107 and ACG 116 presented the highest oil yield and were relatively stable across locations. Therefore, they should be evaluated as candidates for cultivar releases in the two studied climatic areas. In addition, the selected desirable genotypes in this study can be used as parents in hybridization programs to develop populations for future releases.
Tendency of lipid radical formation and volatiles in lose or vacuum-packed Brazil nuts stored at room temperature or under refrigeration
Authors: Sartori A. G. de O. , Sampaio G. R. , Bastos D. H.M. , Spoto M. H.F. , Skibsted L. H. , Regitano d’Arce M. A.B.
Published: October 2018

The Brazil nut is an important product from the Amazonian region and its productive chain is an income source for local communities. The effect of combinations of packaging atmospheres (loose or vacuum-packed) and storage temperatures (4±1 °C or 24±2 °C) on the tendency of lipid radical formation and on volatiles was investigated for the first time in shelled Brazil nut kernels. It was observed that refrigeration, whether combined with lose packing or vacuum packing, was effective to reduce the tendency for lipid radical formation, as detected by spin-trapping electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, as well as peroxides, conjugated dienes and 3-octen-2-one. However, the combination of refrigeration with vacuum packing, even using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches with a high oxygen transmission rate (OTR), also reduced the formation of hexanal, which is a major off-flavor volatile, and thus should be recommended for the storage of Brazil nut kernels for the studied period.
Efectos del secado al aire y solar sobre la calidad nutricional del aceite, las semillas y pieles de las uvas Muscat Hamburg
Authors: Tașeri L. , Gülcü M. , Palabiyik I. , Seçkin G. U. , Aktas T. , Gecgel U.
Published: October 2018

El orujo de uva es un subproducto agroindustrial de la producción de mosto (jugo de uva) al prensar las uvas enteras. Para poder evaluar las semillas y las pieles del orujo de uva, primero debe secarse y luego separarse mediante una máquina de tamizado. El secado del orujo es un proceso importante y necesario para una separación óptima de las semillas. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue determinar el proceso de secado óptimo para obtener aceites de semillas de uva de alta calidad. En este trabajo, los métodos de secado al aire libre y la energía solar de los residuos de uva prensados se compararon en términos de actividad de agua, recuento total de bacterias y moho, así como la composición de ácidos grasos. Los contenidos de ácido oleico y linoleico variaron entre 16,56-16,96% y 71,45-71,96%, respectivamente. Las actividades antioxidantes variaron entre 2,33-2,80 μmol trolox/g. Los resultados mostraron que los métodos de secado no disminuyeron la calidad nutricional de los residuos de la uva y evitaron el crecimiento microbiano al disminuir la actividad del agua por debajo de 0,60.
From NIR spectra to singular wavelengths for the estimation of the oil and water contents in olive fruits
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez N. , Gómez-del-Campo M.
Published: October 2018

Knowledge about the oil and water contents in olive fruits is required to determine orchard management, harvest time, and the oil extraction process. The simplification of procedures and of equipment based on NIR Spectroscopy is of major interest. Estimation models for oil and water contents on a fresh matter basis were developed by partial least square regression with NIR spectral data (700 wavelengths). For raw absorbance data the r2 for the test set reached 0.9 and 0.92 for oil and water contents; and RPIQt was 4.9 and 4.3, respectively. The identification of a useful relation of the relative absorbance at 1724 nm and 1760 nm to the oil content allowed for restricting the wavelengths to three. For oil content the r2 showed 0.88 with ad RPIQt of 4.4. For water content the r2 value was 0.84 and the RPIQt was 3.1. Estimation performance with only three wavelengths was comparable to that obtained with PLSR with 700 variables.
Dockers, métallos, ménagères : Mouvements sociaux et cultures militantes au Havre (1912-1923)
Authors: Barzman John
Published: October 2018

Guerres européennes, âpres luttes sociales, grandes usines et communisme, c’était la naissance du vingtième siècle. Aujourd'hui, les guerres sont brèves et plus lointaines, la concertation est de mise dans les relations sociales, la grande usine se fait rare et le communisme paraît avoir perdu de sa force. Le temps de l'analyse est arrivé.

En 1919, Clémenceau s'adressait à une fraction de la population française et l'appelait “ classe ouvrière ”, comme si elle avait une identité collective et des projets communs. Avait-il tort ? En tout cas, il est clair qu’il existait une culture qui se définissait comme “ ouvrière ”, et que celle-ci a profondément marqué tout le siècle. Comment s’est construit cette identité collective, aujourd'hui concurrencée par les communautarismes et battue en brèche par l'individualisme du consommateur et du chercheur d’emploi ? C’est la première question posée ici.

La deuxième concerne le communisme. Certains historiens soulignent la force de l’influence russe. D’autres font valoir la division durable entre révolutionnaires et réformistes qui fut le produit des grandes luttes sociales de 1917 à 1922, en France même. Que nous apprend une étude rapprochée de cette période formative ?

John Barzman s’est efforcé de répondre à ces questions dans son analyse du petit peuple havrais au cours de cette période mouvementée.
L’Estuaire de la Seine
Authors: Lecoquierre Bruno
Published: October 2018

L'histoire semble parfois s’accélérer. En cette fin de siècle, l’estuaire de la Seine est, de toute évidence, soumis à cette multiplication des projets qui engagent l’avenir. En l’espace de dix ans, trois chantiers majeurs y ont ainsi trouvé leur aboutissement : le pont de Normandie, la réserve naturelle de l’estuaire et le projet « Port 2000 ». Ces projets, parfois concurrents, interviennent tous au sein d’un même espace. Ils ouvrent ainsi la voie à des conflits d’intérêt que l’Etat et les acteurs locaux s’emploient à résoudre, tout en essayant de jeter les bases d’un développement équilibré et durable.

Ces projets sont cependant le résultat de dynamiques ancrées dans une histoire déjà ancienne ; celles-ci ont fait de l’estuaire un espace en perpétuelle mutation. Le pont de Normandie représente ainsi l’aboutissement d’un long processus ; on a toujours cherché, depuis plus d’un siècle, à franchir l’estuaire le plus loin possible vers l’aval...