bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Impact of Theft and Vandalism in Relation to the Sustainability of Renewable Energy Development Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ikejemba Eugene C.X. , Schuur Peter C.
Published: March 2018

Theft and vandalism impede the sustainability of renewable energy (RE) development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, it is essential to explore where these crimes originate from, how they propagate and how they can be counteracted. In our study, we analyze the impact of these disturbances on implemented projects. We utilize a consumer clinic approach to generate data that represents the situation. We define our instigators practically (Government Inequality, Crime to Survive, Sabotage) and demarcate the actions of the offenders into 4 types: (1) vandalization of small RE projects (SPv); (2) theft of RE infrastructures from small RE projects (SPt); (3) vandalization of large RE projects (LPv); and (4) theft of RE infrastructures from large RE projects (LPt). To counteract these actions we define three types of security interference: human, societal and technical. We model the career of an RE criminal as a multi-stage Markov model. In every stage the offender can commit any of the offences SPv, SPt, LPv, LPt, or go to rest. Transition probabilities are our means to reflect offender maturity. Crucial to our model is that they are affected by the level of interference installed at the project site. Calibrated on a dialogue with 144 respondents, our Markov model directs us to adequate interferences per project. Specifically, for large projects technical and human security are the most effective, whereas, for small projects we recommend societal security. The paper introduces a mathematical model of the career of a RE-offender including the influence of security interference and calibrates the parameters through an ethnographic approach.
Evaluating Synergies and Trade-Offs among Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Explorative Analyses of Development Paths in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Mainali Brijesh , Luukkanen Jyrki , Silveira Semida , Kaivo-oja Jari
Published: March 2018

Understanding the linkages between multiple targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) may help to integrate different sectoral programmes and develop coherent cross-sectoral policy to explore synergies. Synergy is interaction among two or more actions, which will lead to an impact greater or less than the sum of individual effects. Therefore, synergy can be positive or negative (trade-off). This paper aims at developing an analytical framework to evaluate sectoral linkages and examine potential synergies and trade-offs among various SDGs’ goals and targets. Synergies and trade-offs related to energy access (SDG7), clean water and sanitation access (SDG6), food security and sustainable agriculture (SDG2) and poverty alleviation (SDG1) have been evaluated from the perspective of developing countries using examples from South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Ethiopia and Rwanda), and historical data for the period between 1990 and 2012. The analytical framework includes both qualitative and quantitative methods. Network analysis technique has been used for exploring the conceptual linkage among different indicators, and capturing the targets associated with SDGs. Advanced Sustainability Analysis (ASA) developed under the European framework programme has been used for quantifying the synergies and trade-offs among sustainability indicators. The analysis showed strong synergy among various SDG targets. Interestingly, the potential synergy differs from country to country and over time. Ghana and Sri Lanka had relatively higher potential synergy, whereas Rwanda and Nepal had relatively lower potential synergy among the various targets. Higher synergy values were evidenced in those cases where the policy have recognized and emphasized on linkages among cross-sectoral targets.
A Hybrid Online Forecasting Model for Ultrashort-Term Photovoltaic Power Generation
Authors: Mei Fei , Pan Yi , Zhu Kedong , Zheng Jianyong
Published: March 2018

A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) forecasting model is proposed for the ultrashort-term prediction of PV output. The model contains two parts: offline modeling and online forecasting. The offline module uses historical monitoring data to establish a weather type classification model and PV output regression submodels. The online module uses real-time monitoring data for weather type identification on target days and the forecasting of irradiation intensity and temperature time series. The appropriate regression submodel can be selected based on the subsequent results, and the ultrashort-term real-time forecasting of PV output can be performed over a short time scale. The model incorporates power generation and historical meteorological data from the PV station and is suitable for practical engineering applications. In addition to the irradiation intensity and temperature, other factors related to photovoltaic output are evaluated; however, they are excluded from the model for simplicity and efficiency. The performance of the model is verified by practical modeling analysis.
The Influence of the Built Environment of Neighborhoods on Residents’ Low-Carbon Travel Mode
Authors: Qian Caiyun , Zhou Yang , Ji Ze , Feng Qing
Published: March 2018

Motor vehicle travel is one of the causes of aggravation of CO2 emission, environmental issues and urban problems. The advocation of low-carbon travel is necessary for the achievement of low-carbon city construction and sustainable development in the future. Many studies have shown that built environment tends to influence residents’ travel behavior, and most studies are demonstrated from the macro level of metropolis. However, from the perspective of neighborhoods, much less attention has been paid, especially in developing countries including China. This study chooses 15 neighborhoods in the main districts of Nanjing in China, taking the location of neighborhoods and residents’ socio-economic attributes into consideration, to examine the effects of residential built environment on residents’ mode choice of different travel types, and to propose the recommended values for the most significant variables. The residential built environment attributes are from three dimensions of land use, road network system and transit facilities. The method of this study is three-step and successive. Primarily, a correlation analysis model is applied to initially examine the role that residents’ socio-economic attributes and residential built environment attributes play on residents’ low-carbon travel of three different travel types respectively. Primary significant attributes from these two aspects are preliminarily screened out for the re-screening in the next step. In addition, the study uses multivariate logit regression modeling approach, with significant socio-economic attributes as concomitant variables, to further re-screen out the key variables of built environment. Furthermore, a unary linear regression model is applied to propose the recommended values for the key built environment variables.
Impact of the Surrounding Built Environment on Energy Consumption in Mixed-Use Building
Authors: Woo Young-Eun , Cho Gi-Hyoug
Published: March 2018

While a mixture of residential and non-residential uses in urban development has advantages in reducing transportation energy consumption and improving efficiency of land utilization, the patterns of energy consumption in mixed-use buildings are largely unknown. To understand associations between the built environment and energy consumption and to find effective strategies for energy saving, this study aims to examine how the gas and electricity energy consumption of mixed-use properties is influenced by the characteristics of the immediate surroundings of the building as well as by the building’s attributes. The sample for this study is 22,109 mixed-use buildings in Seoul, Korea and the main source of outcome is electricity and gas energy consumption data retrieved from the open system of building data in 2015 and 2016. The regression results showed that a higher proportion of non-residential uses in mixed-use buildings was positively associated with higher electricity consumption overall but that it reduced gas energy use during the winter. In particular, increased restaurant and service use significantly influenced electricity consumption in the buildings. With regard to surrounding built environment, higher impervious surfaces and dense development near the buildings increased the electricity consumption of the buildings but it reduced gas energy consumption. Our results imply that, through the mediating effects of UHIs, the built environment characteristics of immediate surroundings may have indirect effects on energy consumption in mixed-use buildings.
Construction of Fullerenes and Pogorelov Polytopes with 5-, 6- and one 7-Gonal Face
Authors: Erokhovets Nikolai
Published: March 2018

A Pogorelov polytope is a combinatorial simple 3-polytope realizable in the Lobachevsky (hyperbolic) space as a bounded right-angled polytope. These polytopes are exactly simple 3-polytopes with cyclically 5-edge connected graphs. A Pogorelov polytope has no 3- and 4-gons and may have any prescribed numbers of k-gons, k ≥ 7 . Any simple polytope with only 5-, 6- and at most one 7-gon is Pogorelov. For any other prescribed numbers of k-gons, k ≥ 7 , we give an explicit construction of a Pogorelov and a non-Pogorelov polytope. Any Pogorelov polytope different from k-barrels (also known as Löbel polytopes, whose graphs are biladders on 2 k vertices) can be constructed from the 5- or the 6-barrel by cutting off pairs of adjacent edges and connected sums with the 5-barrel along a 5-gon with the intermediate polytopes being Pogorelov. For fullerenes, there is a stronger result. Any fullerene different from the 5-barrel and the ( 5 , 0 ) -nanotubes can be constructed by only cutting off adjacent edges from the 6-barrel with all the intermediate polytopes having 5-, 6- and at most one additional 7-gon adjacent to a 5-gon. This result cannot be literally extended to the latter class of polytopes. We prove that it becomes valid if we additionally allow connected sums with the 5-barrel and 3 new operations, which are compositions of cutting off adjacent edges. We generalize this result to the case when the 7-gon may be isolated from 5-gons.
Warming Affects Growth Rates and Microcystin Production in Tropical Bloom-Forming Microcystis Strains
Authors: Bui Trung , Dao Thanh-Son , Vo Truong-Giang , Lürling Miquel
Published: March 2018

Warming climate is predicted to promote cyanobacterial blooms but the toxicity of cyanobacteria under global warming is less well studied. We tested the hypothesis that raising temperature may lead to increased growth rates but to decreased microcystin (MC) production in tropical Microcystis strains. To this end, six Microcystis strains were isolated from different water bodies in Southern Vietnam. They were grown in triplicate at 27 °C (low), 31 °C (medium), 35 °C (high) and 37 °C (extreme). Chlorophyll-a-, particle- and MC concentrations as well as dry-weights were determined. All strains yielded higher biomass in terms of chlorophyll-a concentration and dry-weight at 31 °C compared to 27 °C and then either stabilised, slightly increased or declined with higher temperature. Five strains easily grew at 37 °C but one could not survive at 37 °C. When temperature was increased from 27 °C to 37 °C total MC concentration decreased by 35% in strains with MC-LR as the dominant variant and by 94% in strains with MC-RR. MC quota expressed per particle, per unit chlorophyll-a and per unit dry-weight significantly declined with higher temperatures. This study shows that warming can prompt the growth of some tropical Microcystis strains but that these strains become less toxic.
Urban Chickens as a Pathway for Human Illness: An Examination of Knowledge, Behavior and Risk
Authors: Capoccia Stella , Masters Michael , Risser Scott
Published: March 2018

This research investigates the relationships between human knowledge, behavior and risk as they relate to urban chicken husbandry in the United States. Concern over zoonotic diseases has been on the rise, especially with increasing contact between birds and humans. In particular, avian influenza—or bird flu—and Salmonella enterica (Salmonella) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) can all cross species lines between people and poultry. This study analyzed knowledge and practices in urban chicken husbandry to assess how they relate to risk of disease acquisition, hypothesizing that certain practices associated with a lower knowledge base may heighten the risk. This study used a survey distributed via social media to examine the self-reported knowledge base of individuals involved in chicken husbandry as they relate to beliefs and behaviors associated with the care of these animals. These results identify key factors that may heighten the risk of disease transmission and demonstrate that an increased knowledge base could act to lessen this risk.
Molecular Diagnosis of Felis catus Gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) Infection in Cats of Known Retrovirus Status with and without Lymphoma
Authors: McLuckie Alicia , Barrs Vanessa , Lindsay Scott , Aghazadeh Mahdis , Sangster Cheryl , Beatty Julia
Published: March 2018

The pathogenicity of Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1), a common infection of domestic cats, is unknown. To explore an association between FcaGHV1 detection and feline lymphoma, a retrospective, cross-sectional, disease-association study was conducted. The infection status of all cats for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus was determined. Neither a molecular diagnosis of FcaGHV1 nor whole-blood FcaGHV1 load was related to outcome in 122 lymphoma cases compared with 71 controls matched for age and sex. Molecular analysis of lymphoma-derived DNA paired with autologous uninvolved tissue did not suggest restriction of FcaGHV1 DNA to tumour tissue. FcaGHV1 DNA detection was associated with significantly shorter survival in lymphoma cases, an observation that could not be adequately explained by treatment differences. In addition, regressive feline leukaemia virus infection was identified as a risk factor for lymphoma. A history of fighting or roaming was identified as a novel epidemiological risk factor for FcaGHV1 detection, lending support to intercat aggression as a potential route of transmission. Studies investigating the cellular location and expression of FcaGHV1 are indicated to assist in ruling out a lymphomagenic role for this virus. Prospective investigation of FcaGHV1 DNA detection as a prognostic marker in feline lymphoma is warranted.
Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus NSs Protein Supports Infection and Systemic Movement of a Potyvirus and Is a Symptom Determinant
Authors: Garcia-Ruiz Hernan , Gabriel Peralta Sergio , Harte-Maxwell Patricia
Published: March 2018

Plant viruses are inducers and targets of antiviral RNA silencing. To condition susceptibility, most plant viruses encode silencing suppressor proteins that interfere with antiviral RNA silencing. The NSs protein is an RNA silencing suppressor in orthotospoviruses, such as the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The mechanism of RNA silencing suppression by NSs and its role in virus infection and movement are poorly understood. Here, we cloned and tagged TSWV NSs and expressed it from a GFP-tagged turnip mosaic virus (TuMV-GFP) carrying either a wild-type or suppressor-deficient (AS9) helper component proteinase (HC-Pro). When expressed in cis, NSs restored pathogenicity and promoted systemic infection of suppressor-deficient TuMV-AS9-GFP in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. Inactivating mutations were introduced in NSs RNA-binding domain one. A genetic analysis with active and suppressor-deficient NSs, in combination with wild-type and mutant plants lacking essential components of the RNA silencing machinery, showed that the NSs insert is stable when expressed from a potyvirus. NSs can functionally replace potyviral HC-Pro, condition virus susceptibility, and promote systemic infection and symptom development by suppressing antiviral RNA silencing through a mechanism that partially overlaps that of potyviral HC-Pro. The results presented provide new insight into the mechanism of silencing suppression by NSs and its effect on virus infection.
Intermolecular RNA Recombination Occurs at Different Frequencies in Alternate Forms of Brome Mosaic Virus RNA Replication Compartments
Authors: Garcia-Ruiz Hernan , Diaz Arturo , Ahlquist Paul
Published: March 2018

Positive-strand RNA viruses replicate their genomes in membrane-bound replication compartments. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) replicates in vesicular invaginations of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. BMV has served as a productive model system to study processes like virus-host interactions, RNA replication and recombination. Here we present multiple lines of evidence showing that the structure of the viral RNA replication compartments plays a fundamental role and that recruitment of parental RNAs to a common replication compartment is a limiting step in intermolecular RNA recombination. We show that a previously defined requirement for an RNA recruitment element on both parental RNAs is not to function as a preferred crossover site, but in order for individual RNAs to be recruited into the replication compartments. Moreover, modulating the form of the replication compartments from spherular vesicles (spherules) to more expansive membrane layers increased intermolecular RNA recombination frequency by 200- to 1000-fold. We propose that intermolecular RNA recombination requires parental RNAs to be recruited into replication compartments as monomers, and that recruitment of multiple RNAs into a contiguous space is much more common for layers than for spherules. These results could explain differences in recombination frequencies between viruses that replicate in association with smaller spherules versus larger double-membrane vesicles and convoluted membranes.
High Mobility Group Box 1 Influences HSV1716 Spread and Acts as an Adjuvant to Chemotherapy
Authors: Sprague Leslee , Lee Joel , Hutzen Brian , Wang Pin-Yi , Chen Chun-Yu , Conner Joe , Braidwood Lynne , Cassady Kevin , Cripe Timothy
Published: March 2018

High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) is a multifunctional protein that plays various roles in the processes of inflammation, cancer, and other diseases. Many reports document abundant HMGB1 release following infection with oncolytic viruses (OVs). Further, other groups including previous reports from our laboratory highlight the synergistic effects of OVs with chemotherapy drugs. Here, we show that virus-free supernatants have varying cytotoxic potential, and HMGB1 is actively secreted by two established fibroblast cell lines (NIH 3T3 and 3T6-Swiss albino) following HSV1716 infection in vitro. Further, pharmacologic inhibition or genetic knock-down of HMGB1 reveals a role for HMGB1 in viral restriction, the ability to modulate bystander cell proliferation, and drug sensitivity in 3T6 cells. These data further support the multifactorial role of HMGB1, and suggest it could be a target for modulating the efficacy of oncolytic virus therapies alone or in combination with other frontline cancer treatments.
Spatial Patterns and Temporal Stability of Throughfall in a Mature Douglas-fir Forest
Authors: Cisneros Vaca César , Ghimire Chandra , Van der Tol Christiaan
Published: March 2018

Forest plays a key role in spatial distribution of rainfall and nutrients at fine spatial scales. Areas of localized rainfall and nutrient input at the soil surface may have a large effect on several hydrological and biogeochemical processes. In this paper, a Douglas-fir stand was revisited to evaluate the changes in the throughfall spatial distribution and its temporal stability due to forest growth and thinning. We used 32 funnel-type collectors distributed in a random stratified array within a 0.2 ha plot to measure throughfall amounts from February to November 2015. The throughfall variability was much lower as compared to the values reported ~25 years ago in the same site. We further assessed the spatial patterns of throughfall in spring and summer. We detected a spatial correlation length of 12 m and 8 m for spring and summer, respectively, which are higher than the values reported for other mature Douglas-fir forests in similar climatic conditions. Temporal stability plots confirmed that detected spatial patterns were stable in time.
Improving the Computational Performance of an Operational Two-Dimensional Real-Time Flooding Forecasting System by Active-Cell and Multi-Grid Methods in Taichung City, Taiwan
Authors: Chang Che-Hao , Chung Ming-Ko , Yang Song-Yue , Hsu Chih-Tsung , Wu Shiang-Jen
Published: March 2018

An operational two-dimensional real-time flood forecasting system has been developed in Taiwan to prevent urban inundation. This system takes an hour to come up with forecasts for the next three hours, and the resolution of the forecasts is 40 × 40 m. This study used a large urban area of 126 km2 in downtown Taichung City for the case study and adopted the active-cell and multi-grid methods to meet the target by computing from data of a 12-h rainfall within one hour at 20 m × 20 m spatial resolution to provide faster forecasting and more hours for flood preparation. With the active-cell method, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) time was reduced by 65.04% from 659 m 29 s to 230 m 33 s under the 200-year return period storm. Further, with multi-grid methods, the CUP time was reduced by 73.98% from 230 m 33 s to 60 m 0 s. In general, the computing time of this model has been reduced 11-fold. The error validation coefficients of inundation areas were between 89.39~97.45% with an average error of depth between 1.06~3.22 cm.
Household Water Demand in Andorra: Impact of Individual Metering and Seasonality
Authors: Reynaud Arnaud , Pons Marc , Pesado Cristina
Published: March 2018

Despite the large literature focused on residential water use, our knowledge of the impact of individual metering on household water consumption remains limited. Our work aims to fill this gap by providing the first estimate of the residential water demand function in the Principality of Andorra, where collective and individual metering coexists. Using a panel dataset covering the years 2006 to 2015, we propose estimating a domestic water demand function for the municipality of Andorra La Vella (the capital of Andorra). Our estimates reveal a price elasticity of the residential water demand equal to –0.7. Facing a price increase of 10 percent, households will react in the short run by reducing their water consumption by 7 percent. Interestingly, the price elasticity is found to be significantly different in single-family units compared to multi-family units. This may suggest a significant impact of individual metering on domestic water consumption in Andorra.
Treatability of a Highly-Impaired, Saline Surface Water for Potential Urban Water Use
Authors: Pontius Frederick
Published: March 2018

As freshwater sources of drinking water become limited, cities and urban areas must consider higher-salinity waters as potential sources of drinking water. The Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley of California has a very high salinity (43 ppt), total dissolved solids (70,000 mg/L), and color (1440 CU). Future wetlands and habitat restoration will have significant ecological benefits, but salinity levels will remain elevated. High salinity eutrophic waters, such as the Salton Sea, are difficult to treat, yet more desirable sources of drinking water are limited. The treatability of Salton Sea water for potential urban water use was evaluated here. Coagulation-sedimentation using aluminum chlorohydrate, ferric chloride, and alum proved to be relatively ineffective for lowering turbidity, with no clear optimum dose for any of the coagulants tested. Alum was most effective for color removal (28 percent) at a dose of 40 mg/L. Turbidity was removed effectively with 0.45 μm and 0.1 μm microfiltration. Bench tests of Salton Sea water using sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) achieved initial contaminant rejections of 99 percent salinity, 97.7 percent conductivity, 98.6 percent total dissolved solids, 98.7 percent chloride, 65 percent sulfate, and 99.3 percent turbidity.
Statistically-Based Comparison of the Removal Efficiencies and Resilience Capacities between Conventional and Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems: A Peak Load Scenario
Authors: Ho Long , Van Echelpoel Wout , Charalambous Panayiotis , Gordillo Ana , Thas Olivier , Goethals Peter
Published: March 2018

Emerging global threats, such as climate change, urbanization and water depletion, are driving forces for finding a feasible substitute for low cost-effective conventional activated sludge (AS) technology. On the other hand, given their low cost and easy operation, nature-based systems such as constructed wetlands (CWs) and waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) appear to be viable options. To examine these systems, a 210-day experiment with 31 days of peak load scenario was performed. Particularly, we conducted a deliberate strategy of experimentation, which includes applying a preliminary study, preliminary models, hypothetical tests and power analysis to compare their removal efficiencies and resilience capacities. In contrast to comparable high removal efficiencies of organic matter—around 90%—both natural systems showed moderate nutrient removal efficiencies, which inferred the necessity for further treatment to ensure their compliance with environmental standards. During the peak period, the pond treatment systems appeared to be the most robust as they indicated a higher strength to withstanding the organic matter and nitrogen shock load and were able to recover within a short period. However, high demand of land—2.5 times larger than that of AS—is a major concern of the applicability of WSPs despite their lower operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. It is also worth noting that initial efforts on systematic experimentation appeared to have an essential impact on ensuring statistically and practically meaningful results in this comparison study.
DNA Damage Response Regulates Initiation of Liver Regeneration Following Acetaminophen Overdose
Authors: Borude Prachi , Bhushan Bharat , Apte Udayan
Published: March 2018

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF) with limited treatment options. It is known that liver regeneration following APAP-induced ALF is a deciding factor in the final outcome. Previous studies from our laboratory using an incremental dose model
involving a regenerating (300 mg/kg, APAP300) and a nonregenerating (600 mg/kg, APAP600) dose of APAP in mice have revealed several proregenerative pathways that regulate regeneration after APAP overdose. Here we report that DNA damage and repair mechanisms regulate initiation of liver regeneration
following APAP overdose. Mice treated with nonregenerating APAP600 dose showed prolonged expression of pH2AX, a marker of the DNA double-strand break (DSB), compared with APAP300. In regenerating APAP300 dose-treated mice, H2AX was rapidly dephosphorylated at Tyr142, indicating timely DNA
repair. Expression of several DNA repair proteins was substantially lower with APAP600. Poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP) activation, involved in DNA repair, was significantly higher in the APAP300 group compared to the APAP600 group. Activation of p53, the major cell cycle checkpoint protein,
was significantly higher with APAP600 as demonstrated by substantially higher expression of its target genes. Taken together, these data show that massive DNA DSB occurs in high-dose APAP toxicity, and lack of prompt DSB repair after APAP overdose leads to prolonged growth arrest and proliferative senescence, resulting in inhibited liver regeneration.
Synthesis of a sucrose-based macrocycle with unsymmetrical monosaccharides "arms"
Authors: Tiara Karolina , Potopnyk Mykhaylo A , Jarosz Sławomir
Published: March 2018

An efficient methodology for the selective substitution of both terminal positions (C6 and C6’) in 1’,2,3,3’,4,4’-hexa-O-benzylsucrose with different unsaturated monosaccharide units is presented. Such a highly functionalized intermediate was cyclized under RCM conditions to afford a macrocyclic derivative containing a 31-membered ring in 26% yield.
Selection in Early Generations to Shift Allele Frequency for Seminal Root Angle in Wheat
Authors: Richard Cecile , Christopher Jack , Chenu Karine , Borrell Andrew , Christopher Mandy , Hickey Lee
Published: March 2018

A current challenge for plant breeders is the limited ability to phenotype and select for root characteristics to enhance crop productivity. The development of a high‐throughput phenotyping method has recently offered new opportunities for the selection of root characteristics in breeding programs. Here, we investigated prospects for phenotypic and molecular selection for seminal root angle (SRA), a key trait associated with mature root system architecture in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We first investigated genetic diversity for this trait in a panel of 22 wheat lines adapted to Australian environments. The angle between the first pair of seminal roots ranged from 72 to 106°. We then evaluated selection gain via direct phenotypic selection in early generations by comparing the resulting shift in population distribution in tail populations selected for “narrow” and “wide” root angle. Overall, two rounds of selection significantly shifted the mean root angle as much as 10°. Furthermore, comparison of allele frequencies in the tail populations revealed genomic regions under selection, for which marker‐assisted selection appeared to be successful. By combining efficient phenotyping and rapid generation advance, lines enriched with alleles for either narrow or wide SRA were developed within only 18 mo. These results suggest that there is a valuable source of allelic variation for SRA that can be harnessed and rapidly introgressed into elite wheat lines.
The Density Profile and Kinematics of the Milky Way with RR Lyrae Stars
Authors: Ablimit Iminhaji , Zhao Gang
Published: March 2018

Most of the known RR Lyraes are type ab RR Lyraes (RRLab), and they are an excellent tool to map the Milky Way and its substructures. We find that 1148 RRLab stars determined by Drake et al. have been observed by spectroscopic surveys of SDSS and LAMOST. We derived the radial velocity dispersion, circular velocity, and mass profile from 860 halo tracers in Paper I. Here we present the stellar densities and radial velocity distributions of the thick disk and halo of the Milky Way. The 288 RRLab stars located in the thick disk have the mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.02. Three thick disk tracers have a radial velocity lower than 215 km s−1. With 860 halo tracers, which have a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.33, we find a double power law of n(r) ∝ r
−2.8 and n(r) ∝ r
−4.8 with a break distance of 21 kpc to express the halo stellar density profile. The radial velocity dispersion at 50 kpc is around 78 km s−1.
The Structure and Dynamics of the Subparsec Jet in M87 Based on 50 VLBA Observations over 17 Years at 43 GHz
Authors: Walker R. Craig , Hardee Philip E. , Davies Frederick B. , Ly Chun , Junor William
Published: March 2018

The central radio source in M87 provides the best opportunity to study jet formation because it has a large angular size for the gravitational radius of the black hole and has a bright jet that is well resolved by very long baseline interferometry observations. We present intensive monitoring observations from 2007 and 2008, plus roughly annual observations that span 17 years, all made with the the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz with a resolution of about 30 by 60R
S. Our high dynamic range images clearly show the wide opening angle structure and the counterjet. The jet and counterjet are nearly symmetric in the inner 1.5 mas (0.12 pc in projection), with both being edge brightened. Both show deviations from parabolic shape in the form of an initial rapid expansion and subsequent contraction followed by further rapid expansion and, beyond the visible counterjet, subsequent collimation. Proper motions and counterjet/jet intensity ratios both indicate acceleration from apparent speeds of ≲0.5c to ≳2c in the inner ∼2 mas and suggest a helical flow. The jet displays a sideways shift with an approximately 8–10 yr quasi-periodicity. The shift propagates outward nonballistically and significantly more slowly than the flow speed revealed by the fastest-moving components. Polarization data show a systematic structure with magnetic field vectors that suggest a toroidal field close to the core.
A Comprehensive Comparison of Relativistic Particle Integrators
Authors: Ripperda B. , Bacchini F. , Teunissen J. , Xia C. , Porth O. , Sironi L. , Lapenta G. , Keppens R.
Published: March 2018

We compare relativistic particle integrators commonly used in plasma physics, showing several test cases relevant for astrophysics. Three explicit particle pushers are considered, namely, the Boris, Vay, and Higuera–Cary schemes. We also present a new relativistic fully implicit particle integrator that is energy conserving. Furthermore, a method based on the relativistic guiding center approximation is included. The algorithms are described such that they can be readily implemented in magnetohydrodynamics codes or Particle-in-Cell codes. Our comparison focuses on the strengths and key features of the particle integrators. We test the conservation of invariants of motion and the accuracy of particle drift dynamics in highly relativistic, mildly relativistic, and non-relativistic settings. The methods are compared in idealized test cases, i.e., without considering feedback onto the electrodynamic fields, collisions, pair creation, or radiation. The test cases include uniform electric and magnetic fields,

fields, force-free fields, and setups relevant for high-energy astrophysics, e.g., a magnetic mirror, a magnetic dipole, and a magnetic null. These tests have direct relevance for particle acceleration in shocks and in magnetic reconnection.
2004 EW95: A Phyllosilicate-bearing Carbonaceous Asteroid in the Kuiper Belt
Authors: Seccull Tom , Fraser Wesley C. , Puzia Thomas H. , Brown Michael E. , Schönebeck Frederik
Published: March 2018

Models of the Solar System’s dynamical evolution predict the dispersal of primitive planetesimals from their formative regions among the gas-giant planets due to the early phases of planetary migration. Consequently, carbonaceous objects were scattered both into the outer asteroid belt and out to the Kuiper Belt. These models predict that the Kuiper Belt should contain a small fraction of objects with carbonaceous surfaces, though to date, all reported visible reflectance spectra of small Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) are linear and featureless. We report the unusual reflectance spectrum of a small KBO, (120216) 2004 EW95, exhibiting a large drop in its near-UV reflectance and a broad shallow optical absorption feature centered at ∼700 nm, which is detected at greater than 4σ significance. These features, confirmed through multiple epochs of spectral photometry and spectroscopy, have respectively been associated with ferric oxides and phyllosilicates. The spectrum bears striking resemblance to those of some C-type asteroids, suggesting that 2004 EW95 may share a common origin with those objects. 2004 EW95 orbits the Sun in a stable mean motion resonance with Neptune, at relatively high eccentricity and inclination, suggesting it may have been emplaced there by some past dynamical instability. These results appear consistent with the aforementioned model predictions and are the first to show a reliably confirmed detection of silicate material on a small KBO.
The identity of Hypolepis robusta, as a new synonym of Hypolepis alpina (Dennstaedtiaceae), based on morphology and DNA barcoding and the new distribution
Authors: Morigengaowa Morigengaowa , Luo Jun-Jie , Knapp Ralf , Wei Hong-Jin , Liu Bao-Dong , Yan Yue-Hong , Shang Hui
Published: March 2018

Based on field observations and examinations of herbarium specimens (including type material), consulting the original literature and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the rbcL and trnL-F sequences, it is concluded that Hypolepisrobusta is conspecific with Hypolepisalpina and is here formally treated as a synonym of it. Additionally H.alpina is reported with new distribution records in Guangdong, Guangxi and the Hainan Island of China, respectively.
Les rebelles syriens d’Ahrar al-Sham : ressorts contextuels et organisationnels d’une déradicalisation en temps de guerre civile
Authors: Abazeid Ahmad , Pierret Thomas
Published: March 2018

Issu de la mouvance jihadiste, le groupe rebelle syrien Ahrar al-Sham a opéré depuis sa création en 2011 un mouvement de déradicalisation idéologique. Cette mue, parachevée en 2017 avec l’adoption officielle du drapeau national syrien, s’est traduite par une posture « révisionniste » du groupe qui l’a graduellement éloigné des factions les plus radicales et rapproché du courant dominant révolutionnaire. Cette trajectoire peut être lue à la lumière de facteurs contextuels, en l’occurrence l’influence des États sponsors de l’insurrection syrienne et l’émergence en 2011 d’un projet de révolution populaire opposant une option idéologique crédible au projet jihadiste. Toutefois, la réponse d’Ahrar al-Sham à ces stimuli externes ne peut se comprendre qu’à travers ses ressorts organisationnels, c’est-à-dire un sevrage précoce vis-à-vis des réseaux jihadistes transnationaux et la mise en place d’une structure décisionnelle collégiale qui a permis la consolidation de l’aile réformiste du groupe aux dépens de sa rivale doctrinaire. Cette étude d’un processus de déradicalisation en temps de guerre civile entend enrichir la réflexion sur les dynamiques de modération des groupes islamistes, essentiellement étudiées jusqu’ici dans des contextes de paix ou d’adieux aux armes. Elle contribue également à une prise en compte des mécanismes de transformation idéologique des groupes armés non étatiques, question largement délaissée par les travaux théoriques sur les guerres civiles.
Les tensions de l’ affirmative action dans l’Afrique du Sud post-apartheid. Une analyse de la jurisprudence des tribunaux du travail
Authors: Laplanche-Servigne Soline
Published: March 2018

Depuis 1998, le gouvernement sud-africain a mis en place des mesures radicales destinées non seulement à lutter contre les discriminations mais aussi à corriger les inégalités produites par le régime de l’apartheid. L’une de ces principales mesures est la loi d’équité dans l’emploi ( Employment Equity Act , EEA), votée en 1998. On aurait pu penser que cette loi protègerait fortement les bénéficiaires de l’ affirmative action et qu’il serait difficile pour des Blancs, non membres des « groupes désignés » («  designated groups  »), d’obtenir gain de cause en plaidant la discrimination raciale injuste. Or il s’avère que dans la majorité des litiges où la discrimination est reconnue injuste par le juge, cette reconnaissance se fait en faveur de plaignants blancs. Sur la base de ce paradoxe, nous examinons la nature des arguments échangés dans les tribunaux du travail et ce qui fonde la distinction établie par le juge entre discrimination raciale juste et injuste. Ces litiges permettent d’appréhender sous un jour nouveau la victime de discrimination post-apartheid, figure dont les contours ne suivent plus forcément une stricte ligne d’opposition entre Noirs et Blancs.
Chapitre 1. L’avortement au temps de la mondialisation
Authors: Mancini Susanna
Published: March 2018

L’avortement fait l’objet d’une nouvelle campagne de dénonciation relativement efficace basée sur la défense des droits de la femme autant que celle de l’enfant à naître “love them both”. Ce mouvement né aux États-Unis se développe fortement en Europe et s’étend actuellement à la contraception.
Chapitre 7. L’embryon congelé sous le regard d’un juriste : au delà de la qualification
Authors: Neirinck Claire
Published: March 2018

La qualification juridique de l’embryon ne pose pas de difficultés particulières : cet être humain est une chose corporelle de nature humaine, dépourvue de la personnalité juridique. Cependant la congélation affecte son humanité : il n’est plus qu’une chose fabriquée en laboratoire qui échappe au temps. Conservé dans l’azote liquide, il ne meurt pas c’est pourquoi il faut mettre fin à sa conservation. Tant qu’ils répondent à un projet parental précis, celui pour lequel ils ont été fabriqués et conservés, les embryons congelés sont identifiés par lui. Ils sont uniques et non interchangeables. En revanche, sans projet parental, les embryons congelés qui peuvent être accueillis par n’importe quel couple infécond ou ceux qui sont donnés à la recherche, deviennent des choses de genre interchangeables. Bien qu’êtres humains, ils sont traités comme les éléments et produits du corps humains, choses humaines.
Chapitre 8. L’embryon et le fœtus en droit pénal
Authors: Roujou de Boubée Gabriel
Published: March 2018

L’embryon n’est pas assimilé à une personne par le droit pénal. Il n’est donc pas protégé au titre des infractions relatives aux personnes. Cependant l’embryon bénéficie d’une certaine protection, très relative, et inappliquée par le biais d’infractions spécifiques.
Chapitre 9. L’embryon en droit comparé
Authors: Mastor Wanda
Published: March 2018

Se situant aux confins de la vie, relevant par là-même presque de la métaphysique, divisant encore la science et ne cessant d’animer des débats, une question semble juridiquement insoluble : celle tenant au statut de l’embryon humain. Un regard comparatiste permet de mettre en perspective les diverses postures nationales face à l’embryon pour les confronter, en mettant en évidence les convergences et divergences. Si une approche très globale permet de relever certaines similitudes, une étude plus précise de la question de l’avortement notamment reflète l’évidence de la contextualisation de l’embryon. Il n’est ce qu’il est, sujet ou objet, bénéficiant d’une protection absolue ou très relative, d’un statut simplement législatif ou constitutionnel, qu’au regard des systèmes juridiques, mais également moraux et religieux au sein desquels il s’insère.
Chapitre 11. L’impossible statut de l’embryon ou le désengagement de l’État au profit des intérêts particuliers
Authors: Legros Bérengère
Published: March 2018

Les hésitations sur la qualification juridiques de l’embryon conduisent au constat doctrinal qu’il a une certitude sur son statut voire qu’il n’en a pas ce qui permet au créateur de la norme de le réifier. L’accès aux revendications basées sur des intérêts particuliers semble au cœur de la justification des nouvelles règles juridiques touchant l’embryon, même si parfois l’intérêt général semble sous-jacent. Face à ce désengagement de l’Etat au profit de ces intérêts, l’embryon ne bénéficie au regards du droit français que d’une protection « limitée » tendant à décliner.
Les entreprises sociales : pionnières de l’économie de demain ou simple tendance ?
Authors: Giguère Isabelle
Published: March 2018

De plus en plus conscientisés aux enjeux mondiaux économiques, environnementaux, politiques ou sociaux, nombreux sont ceux qui remettent en question les modèles établis. C’est dans ce contexte de prise de conscience et de recherche de nouvelles initiatives qu’a grandi le concept d’entreprises sociales.
On a lu pour vous – Les nouvelles youth cultures , de Wided Batat
Authors: Jézéquel Myriam
Published: March 2018

Les jeunes ont un fort pouvoir de consommation. Ce qu’on connaît moins, ce sont leurs compétences de consommation et leurs façons de s’approprier les marques. Ce savoir est pourtant essentiel pour créer un « marketing expérientiel » qui cible les « cultures jeunes ». Découvertes et conseils de la professeure-chercheure en marketing Wided Batat.
Ces employés venus de loin
Authors: Venne Jean-François
Published: March 2018

Le plein emploi et le vieillissement de la population créent un vide considérable en matière de main-d’œuvre au Québec. Pourtant, les travailleurs issus de l’immigration ne trouvent pas toujours leur place dans nos entreprises. Quels défis leur recrutement et leur intégration posent-ils ?
Pour le succès des entrepreneurs : faites place aux facilitateurs
Authors: Filion Louis Jacques
Published: March 2018

Les entreprises dont la croissance est forte et rapide ont généralement des dirigeants qui savent bien s’entourer. En fait, ces leaders ont souvent recours à des facilitateurs. Ces personnes jouent un rôle crucial et complémentaire à celui des créateurs d’entreprise en rendant possible ce qui, à première vue, semblait impossible.
L’enseignement pris à partie : étude d’un phénomène de déludicisation
Authors: Potier Victor
Published: March 2018

Dans la salle de classe, des «  learning games  » sont utilisés pour transmettre de manière plaisante le savoir aux apprenants. Mais, en travaillant sur le cas d’un jeu sérieux utilisé pour l’apprentissage du génie mécanique, cette étude vise à interroger les individus qui, dans leur activité de travail, doivent prescrire le jeu aux élèves : les enseignants eux-mêmes. En élargissant l’étude des rapports du jeu au travail depuis le joueur vers une analyse de l’activité de l’enseignant, des contextes sociopolitiques et des impératifs organisationnels de l’apprentissage, la notion de déludicisation servira à analyser le travail d’organisation des travailleurs au prisme des arbitrages réalisés entre activité de jeu et activité de travail.
Jouer à travailler dans un parc d’attraction
Authors: Corbillé Sophie
Published: March 2018

L’article traite, dans une approche à la croisée de l’anthropologie et des sciences de l’information et de la communication, de la manière dont un parc d’attraction mondialisé, KidZania, articule le jouer et le travailler au cœur même de son dispositif. À travers une centaine de jeux de rôle qui se déroulent dans une ville à échelle des enfants, ces derniers sont en effet amenés à travailler, à gagner de l’argent et à consommer auprès de vraies entreprises et institutions. Sur la base d’une enquête ethnographique (observations in situ dans le parc de Santiago du Chili, entretiens avec des enfants et leur parent et analyses des discours de l’entreprise), l’article vise à rendre compte des relations complexes, dans ce lieu de loisir, entre le jeu (à la fois play et game ) et le travail, entre jouer et travailler. Nous verrons que d’un côté le travail (dominé par le travail salarié) est au centre du game et transforme le jeu en une activité sérieuse ; de l’autre, le jeu et le jouer participent à idéaliser et à ludifier le travail, notamment au moyen de la fabrication d’un hors-jeu et de la dénégation des rapports sociaux souvent à l’œuvre dans le monde du travail.
Le jeu de téléréalité comme fabrique du consentement aux principes du travail néolibéral
Authors: Jehel Sophie
Published: March 2018

Nous analysons dans cet article la manière dont le jouer et le travailler ( working et labouring ) sont noués dans deux émissions de téléréalité diffusées en 2017 : un jeu de survie, Koh Lanta (TF1), un concours de talent, Top Chef (M6). Elles constituent un divertissement dans lequel les participants se soumettent à des expériences et à une compétition. Nous montrons à partir d’une analyse de contenu comment les activités de jeu et de travail s’y imbriquent et combien la mise en abyme du jouer et du travailler est efficace pour mettre en scène les modalités du travail néolibéral.