bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adenylate Cyclases of Trypanosoma brucei, Environmental Sensors and Controllers of Host Innate Immune Response
Authors: Salmon Didier
Published: April 2018

Trypanosoma brucei, etiological agent of Sleeping Sickness in Africa, is the prototype of African trypanosomes, protozoan extracellular flagellate parasites transmitted by saliva (Salivaria). In these parasites the molecular controls of the cell cycle and environmental sensing are elaborate and concentrated at the flagellum. Genomic analyses suggest that these parasites appear to differ considerably from the host in signaling mechanisms, with the exception of receptor-type adenylate cyclases (AC) that are topologically similar to receptor-type guanylate cyclase (GC) of higher eukaryotes but control a new class of cAMP targets of unknown function, the cAMP response proteins (CARPs), rather than the classical protein kinase A cAMP effector (PKA). T. brucei possesses a large polymorphic family of ACs, mainly associated with the flagellar membrane, and these are involved in inhibition of the innate immune response of the host prior to the massive release of immunomodulatory factors at the first peak of parasitemia. Recent evidence suggests that in T. brucei several insect-specific AC isoforms are involved in social motility, whereas only a few AC isoforms are involved in cytokinesis control of bloodstream forms, attesting that a complex signaling pathway is required for environmental sensing. In this review, after a general update on cAMP signaling pathway and the multiple roles of cAMP, I summarize the existing knowledge of the mechanisms by which pathogenic microorganisms modulate cAMP levels to escape immune defense.
Post-Secularism in a World-Historical Light: The Axial Age Thesis as an Alternative to Secularization
Authors: Schewel Benjamin
Published: April 2018

The secularization thesis claims that religion will lose its public influence as the forces of modernity advance. This hypothesis has long functioned as a paradigm within the humanities and social sciences. However, due to the apparent “resurgence” of publicly influential religion throughout the world in recent years, scholars have recognized that a “straightforward narrative of progress from the religious to the secular” is no longer viable. I describe the current state of narrative perplexity regarding the changing place of religion in the modern world as the “post-secular problematic.” The aim of this article is to examine the contours of one specific post-secular narrative of religious change—the one that has crystallized around the concept of the axial age—and consider how it can be used to reconceptualize the public role of religion in the modern world.
Scenario Modelling of the “Green” Economy in an Economic Space
Authors: Rudneva Larisa , Pchelintseva Irina , Gureva Maria
Published: April 2018

The article utilizes the main elements of system analysis and the bases of cognitive science to analyze the concept of the “ecological and economic system”. The characteristics of the conceptual elements of the “green” economy dynamic model used in the application of cognitive analysis are given and their mutual influence is considered. A dynamic model of the “green” economy is developed, a general extended map and a reduced-parametric cognitive map of the development of the “green” economy in the economic space of the region are constructed. Scenario modelling of the development of the region’s “green” economy based on the intensification of the influence of one of the cognitive vertices of the model on the curve of the development of the “green” economy is carried out and described. Scenario modelling and development of cognitive maps are carried out using the software package Vensim Personal Learning Edition (PLE), which is widely applied in system analysis.
Estimating and Forecasting Conditional Risk Measures with Extreme Value Theory: A Review
Authors: Bee Marco , Trapin Luca
Published: April 2018

One of the key components of financial risk management is risk measurement. This typically requires modeling, estimating and forecasting tail-related quantities of the asset returns’ conditional distribution. Recent advances in the financial econometrics literature have developed several models based on Extreme Value Theory (EVT) to carry out these tasks. The purpose of this paper is to review these methods.
Optimizing Window Length for Turbulent Heat Flux Calculations from Airborne Eddy Covariance Measurements under Near Neutral to Unstable Atmospheric Stability Conditions
Authors: Sun Yibo , Jia Li , Chen Qiting , Zheng Chaolei
Published: April 2018

Airborne eddy covariance (EC) is one of the most effective ways to directly measure turbulent flux at a regional scale. This study aims to find the optimum spatial window length for turbulent heat fluxes calculation from airborne eddy covariance measurements under near neutral to unstable atmospheric stability conditions, to reduce the negative influences from mesoscale turbulence, and to estimate local meaningful turbulent heat fluxes accurately. The airborne flux measurements collected in 2008 in the Netherlands were used in this study. Firstly, the raw data was preprocessed, including de-spike, segmentation, and stationarity test. The atmospheric stability conditions were classified as near neutral, moderately unstable, or very unstable; the stable condition was excluded. Secondly, Ogive analysis for turbulent heat fluxes from all available segmentations of the airborne measurements was used to determine the possible window length range. After that, the optimum window length for turbulent heat flux calculations was defined based on the analysis of all possible window lengths and their uncertainties. The results show that the choice of the optimum window length strongly depends on the atmospheric stability conditions. Under near neutral conditions, local turbulence is mixed insufficiently and vulnerable to heterogeneous turbulence. A relatively short window length is needed to exclude the influence of mesoscale turbulence, and we found the optimum window length ranges from 2000 m to 2500 m. Under moderately unstable conditions, the typical scale of local turbulence is relative large, and the influence of mesoscale turbulence is relatively small. We found the optimum window length ranges from 3900 m to 5000 m. Under very unstable conditions, large convective eddies dominate the transmission of energy so that the window length needs to cover the large eddies with large energy transmission. We found the optimum window length ranges from 4500 m to 5000 m. This study gives a comprehensive methodology to determine the optimizing window length in order to compromise a balance between the accuracy and the surface representativeness of turbulent heat fluxes from airborne EC measurements.
Stand-Off Detection of Alcohol Vapors Exhaled by Humans
Authors: Mlynczak Jaroslaw , Kubicki Jan , Kopczynski Krzysztof
Published: April 2018

Early detection of humans under the influence of alcohol in public places (workplace, public gathering) is particularly important for safety reasons. In this article, the theoretical analysis of stand-off detection of alcohol in the air exhaled by humans as well as experimental results of the developed experimental setup is presented. The concept of differential absorption of two laser beams at different wavelengths was used. The idea of using standard deviation of the relative difference of the amplitudes of two signals to detect the alcohol was applied for the first time. The idea was verified by the experiments and it was shown that a reliable device can be developed that can efficiently detect alcohol concentration in the exhaled air at the level of 0.3 mg/L (0.63‰). Moreover, the concept of such device examining humans entering a specific area was proposed. The results of this article may be useful to scientists or engineers working on alcohol detection in human blood.
Textile Retrieval Based on Image Content from CDC and Webcam Cameras in Indoor Environments
Authors: García-Olalla Oscar , Alegre Enrique , Fernández-Robles Laura , Fidalgo Eduardo , Saikia Surajit
Published: April 2018

Textile based image retrieval for indoor environments can be used to retrieve images that contain the same textile, which may indicate that scenes are related. This makes up a useful approach for law enforcement agencies who want to find evidence based on matching between textiles. In this paper, we propose a novel pipeline that allows searching and retrieving textiles that appear in pictures of real scenes. Our approach is based on first obtaining regions containing textiles by using MSER on high pass filtered images of the RGB, HSV and Hue channels of the original photo. To describe the textile regions, we demonstrated that the combination of HOG and HCLOSIB is the best option for our proposal when using the correlation distance to match the query textile patch with the candidate regions. Furthermore, we introduce a new dataset, TextilTube, which comprises a total of 1913 textile regions labelled within 67 classes. We yielded 84.94% of success in the 40 nearest coincidences and 37.44% of precision taking into account just the first coincidence, which outperforms the current deep learning methods evaluated. Experimental results show that this pipeline can be used to set up an effective textile based image retrieval system in indoor environments.
Directional Change Mediates the Physiological Response to High-Intensity Shuttle Running in Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Tang Remy , Murtagh Conall , Warrington Giles , Cable Tim , Morgan Oliver , O’Boyle Andrew , Burgess Darren , Morgans Ryland , Drust Barry
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence that different frequencies of deceleration and acceleration actions had on the physiological demands in professional soccer players. Thirteen players were monitored via microelectromechanical devices during shuttle running protocols which involved one, three, or seven 180 degree directional changes. Heart rate exertion (HRE) (1.1 ± 0.7) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (5 ± 1) were significantly higher for the protocol which included seven directional changes when compared to the protocols which included one (HRE 0.5 ± 0.3, ES = 1.1, RPE 3 ± 0, ES = 2.7) or three (HRE 0.5 ± 0.2, ES = 1.1, RPE 3 ± 1, ES = 1.9) directional changes (p < 0.05). The gravitational force (g-force) as measured through accelerometry (ACC) also showed a similar trend when comparing the seven (8628.2 ± 1630.4 g) to the one (5888.6 ± 1159.1 g, ES = 1.9) or three (6526.9 ± 1257.6 g, ES = 1.4) directional change protocols (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that increasing the frequency of decelerations and accelerations at a high intensity running (HIR) speed alters the movement demands and elevates the physiological responses in professional players. This data has implications for the monitoring of physical performance and implementation of training drills.
Assessing Nature-Based Coastal Protection against Disasters Derived from Extreme Hydrometeorological Events in Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Maqueo Octavio , Martínez M. Luisa , Sánchez-Barradas Flor C. , Kolb Melanie
Published: April 2018

Natural ecosystems are expected to reduce the damaging effects of extreme hydrometeorological effects. We tested this prediction for Mexico by performing regression models, with two dependent variables: the occurrence of deaths and economic damages, at a state and municipality levels. For each location, the explanatory variables were the Mexican social vulnerability index (which includes socioeconomic aspects, local capacity to prevent and respond to an emergency, and the perception of risk) and land use cover considering different vegetation types. We used the hydrometeorological events that have affected Mexico from 1970 to 2011. Our findings reveal that: (a) hydrometeorological events affect both coastal and inland states, although damages are greater on the coast; (b) the protective role of natural ecosystems only was clear at a municipality level: the presence of mangroves, tropical dry forest and tropical rainforest was related to a significant reduction in the occurrence of casualties. Social vulnerability was positively correlated with the occurrence of deaths. Natural ecosystems, both typically coastal (mangroves) and terrestrial (tropical forests, which are located on the mountain ranges close to the coast) function for storm protection. Thus, their conservation and restoration are effective and sustainable strategies that will help protect and develop the increasingly urbanized coasts.
Seeking Control in a Precarious Environment: Sustainable Practices as an Adaptive Strategy to Living under Uncertainty
Authors: Broadbent Stefana , Cara Francesco
Published: April 2018

Our societies and our economies are struggling to transform in response to the climate crisis with the speed and intent that the rapidly deteriorating environmental situation requires. Resistance to change is invoked as one of the reasons for the slow adoption of new sustainable practices. In this paper, we argue that the transition to sustainable behaviors is part of a wider adaptation to the new uncertain and precarious conditions of contemporary living and this constitutes a unique opportunity for rapid cultural change. The analysis of a growing innovation space that is at the crossroads of digital transformation and ecological transition shows that the digital culture of sustainability actually goes hand in hand with the changing practices emerging from an increasing economic and professional precariousness. Since the invention of the world wide web, we have seen that digital innovation is an accelerator of cultural change. When applied to the ecological transition, will digital innovation create the conditions for an equally rapid and profound transformation of practices? To start exploring this question, we built a dedicated research tool called If You Want To that collected several thousand digital environmental projects. Our initial findings suggest that this wide landscape of services enables new sustainable forms of exchange, collaboration, consumption, and production, giving rise to alternative social, environmental, and economic models.
Organising Sustainability Competencies through Quality Management: Integration or Specialisation
Authors: Siva Vanajah , Gremyr Ida , Halldórsson Árni
Published: April 2018

A significant step in integrating environmental sustainability into daily operations is through product development. One way to achieve such integration of environmental considerations into product development is by relating sustainability competencies to practices of Quality Management. However, practices seem to vary for how competencies within environmental sustainability are organised in order to make sustainability more actionable. This study explores two ways of organising sustainability competencies in product development: integration and specialisation. The organisation of sustainability competency is illustrated through two cases; one case in which sustainability is integrated with the quality management competency, and the other in which a new competency focusing on sustainability has been added as a separate function in product development. It is suggested that the organisation of sustainability competency influences the extent of environmental impact. Further, trade-offs, such as material source versus weight may not be exploited when sustainability is integrated as one area of responsibility for another specialty competency, suggesting a lack of sufficient competency within environmental sustainability to recognise potential trade-offs between—for example—quality and environmental impact.
A Communication-Supported Comprehensive Protection Strategy for Converter-Interfaced Islanded Microgrids
Authors: Zheng Dehua , Eseye Abinet , Zhang Jianhua
Published: April 2018

The deployment of distributed generators (DGs) gives rise to several challenges for a microgrid or conventional distribution feeder, regarding control and protection issues. The major ones are: bi-directional flow of power, changes in fault current magnitude, and continuous changes in operational configuration due to both the plug-and-play of DGs and loads, and the intermittency of the renewable DGs. This issue is exacerbated when the microgrid contains several converter-interfaced DGs and operates in the islanded mode of operation. Hence, conventional protection strategies and relaying techniques will no longer be sufficient to protect islanded microgrids against network faults and disturbance conditions. This paper proposes a fast and reliable communication-supported protection strategy for ensuring the safe operation of converter-interfaced islanded microgrids. The strategy is implementable using commercially accessible microprocessor based digital relays, and is applicable for the protection of low voltage islanded microgrids. It provides backup protection to handle communication failures and malfunctions of protective devices. The paper also presents the detailed structural layout of the digital relay, which executes the proposed protection strategy. A number of improvements are proposed to find an alternative method for conventional overcurrent relays to reliably detect small-magnitude fault currents and high impedance faults, commonly encountered in converter-interfaced islanded microgrids. A simple and economical bus protection method is also proposed. Several simulations are conducted on a comprehensive model of a realistic operational industrial microgrid (Goldwind Smart Microgrid System) using PSCAD/EMTDC software environment—for different case studies and fault scenarios—to verify the effectiveness of the present strategy and its digital relay.
Rapid Development, Build-Out Ratio and Subsequent Neighborhood Turnover
Authors: Rogers George , Park Yunmi
Published: April 2018

Neighborhood development is primarily comprised of structural elements that include design elements, nearby amenities and ecological attributes. This paper assumes that the process of development itself also influences the character of the neighborhood—specifically, that the rate of development and build-out ratio influences neighborhood turnover. While the structural components clearly set a framework for development, the process of development expresses the character of the neighborhood in subtle messages conveyed through the market. Neighborhoods in the rapidly growing university town of College Station, Texas are analyzed in terms of neighborhood design, nearby amenities and landscape ecology components. Residential property records are used to characterize each neighborhood in terms of the rate of development and current build-out ratio. The multivariate analysis indicates that the development rate increases subsequent neighborhood turnover rates while the build-out ratio decreases it.
Towards Generalized Noise-Level Dependent Crystallographic Symmetry Classifications of More or Less Periodic Crystal Patterns
Authors: Moeck Peter
Published: April 2018

Geometric Akaike Information Criteria (G-AICs) for generalized noise-level dependent crystallographic symmetry classifications of two-dimensional (2D) images that are more or less periodic in either two or one dimensions as well as Akaike weights for multi-model inferences and predictions are reviewed. Such novel classifications do not refer to a single crystallographic symmetry class exclusively in a qualitative and definitive way. Instead, they are quantitative, spread over a range of crystallographic symmetry classes, and provide opportunities for inferences from all classes (within the range) simultaneously. The novel classifications are based on information theory and depend only on information that has been extracted from the images themselves by means of maximal likelihood approaches so that these classifications are objective. This is in stark contrast to the common practice whereby arbitrarily set thresholds or null hypothesis tests are employed to force crystallographic symmetry classifications into apparently definitive/exclusive states, while the geometric feature extraction results on which they depend are never definitive in the presence of generalized noise, i.e., in all real-world applications. Thus, there is unnecessary subjectivity in the currently practiced ways of making crystallographic symmetry classifications, which can be overcome by the approach outlined in this review.
β-Hemolysis May Not Be a Reliable Indicator of Leukotoxicity of Mannheimia haemolytica Isolates
Authors: Bavananthasivam Jegarubee , Shanthalingam Sudarvili , Kugadas Abirami , Raghavan Bindu , Batra Sai , Srikumaran Subramaniam
Published: April 2018

Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica causes bronchopneumonia in domestic and wild ruminants. Leukotoxin is the critical virulence factor of M. haemolytica. Since β-hemolysis is caused by a large number of leukotoxin-positive M. haemolytica isolates, all β-hemolytic M. haemolytica isolates are considered to be leukotoxic as well. However, conflicting reports exist in literature as to the leukotoxic and hemolytic properties of M. haemolytica. One group of researchers reported their leukotoxin-deletion mutants to be hemolytic while another reported their mutants to be non-hemolytic. The objective of this study was to determine whether β-hemolysis is a reliable indicator of leukotoxicity of M. haemolytica isolates. Ninety-five isolates of M. haemolytica were first confirmed for presence of leukotoxin gene (lktA) by a leukotoxin-specific PCR assay. Culture supernatant fluids from these isolates were then tested for presence of leukotoxin protein by an ELISA, and for leukotoxic activity by a cytotoxicity assay. All isolates were tested for β-hemolysis by culture on blood agar plates. Sixty-two isolates (65%) produced leukotoxin protein while 33 isolates (35%) did not. Surprisingly, 18 of the 33 isolates (55%), that did not produce leukotoxin protein, were hemolytic. Of the 62 isolates that produced leukotoxin, 55 (89%) were leukotoxic while 7 (11%) were not. All except one of the 55 leukotoxic isolates (98%) were also hemolytic. All seven isolates that were not leukotoxic were hemolytic. Taken together, these results suggest that β-hemolysis may not be a reliable indicator of leukotoxicity of M. haemolytica isolates. Furthermore, all M. haemolytica isolates that possess lktA gene may not secrete active leukotoxin.
Botulinum Neurotoxin Injection for the Treatment of Recurrent Temporomandibular Joint Dislocation with and without Neurogenic Muscular Hyperactivity
Authors: Yoshida Kazuya
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to compare treatment outcomes following intramuscular injection of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) in patients with recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation, with and without muscle hyperactivity due to neurological diseases. Thirty-two patients (19 women and 13 men, mean age: 62.3 years) with recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation were divided into two groups: neurogenic (8 women and 12 men) and habitual (11 women and 1 man). The neurogenic group included patients having neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease or oromandibular dystonia, that are accompanied by muscle hyperactivity. BoNT was administered via intraoral injection to the inferior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle. In total, BoNT injection was administered 102 times (mean 3.2 times/patient). The mean follow-up duration was 29.5 months. The neurogenic group was significantly (p < 0.001) younger (47.3 years) than the habitual group (84.8 years) and required significantly (p < 0.01) more injections (4.1 versus 1.7 times) to achieve a positive outcome. No significant immediate or delayed complications occurred. Thus, intramuscular injection of BoNT into the lateral pterygoid muscle is an effective and safe treatment for habitual temporomandibular joint dislocation. More injections are required in cases of neurogenic temporomandibular joint dislocation than in those of habitual dislocation without muscle hyperactivity.
Relative Contribution of Cellular Complement Inhibitors CD59, CD46, and CD55 to Parainfluenza Virus 5 Inhibition of Complement-Mediated Neutralization
Authors: Li Yujia , Parks Griffith D.
Published: April 2018

The complement system is a part of the innate immune system that viruses need to face during infections. Many viruses incorporate cellular regulators of complement activation (RCA) to block complement pathways and our prior work has shown that Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) incorporates CD55 and CD46 to delay complement-mediated neutralization. In this paper, we tested the role of a third individual RCA inhibitor CD59 in PIV5 interactions with complement pathways. Using a cell line engineered to express CD59, we show that small levels of functional CD59 are associated with progeny PIV5, which is capable of blocking assembly of the C5b-C9 membrane attack complex (MAC). PIV5 containing CD59 (PIV5-CD59) showed increased resistance to complement-mediated neutralization in vitro comparing to PIV5 lacking regulators. Infection of A549 cells with PIV5 and RSV upregulated CD59 expression. TGF-beta treatment of PIV5-infected cells also increased cell surface CD59 expression and progeny virions were more resistant to complement-mediated neutralization. A comparison of individual viruses containing only CD55, CD46, or CD59 showed a potency of inhibiting complement-mediated neutralization, which followed a pattern of CD55 > CD46 > CD59.
In Vitro Activity of 30 Essential Oils against Bovine Clinical Isolates of Prototheca zopfii and Prototheca blaschkeae
Authors: Nardoni Simona , Pisseri Francesca , Pistelli Luisa , Najar Basma , Luini Mario , Mancianti Francesca
Published: April 2018

Protothecal mastitis poses an emergent animal health problem in dairy herds, with a high impact on dairy industries, causing heavy economic losses. Current methods of treating protothecal infections are ineffective, and no drug is licensed for use in cattle. The aim of the present study was to check the antialgal activity of 30 chemically defined essential oils (EOs) against Prototheca zopfii and Prototheca blaschkeae isolated from the milk of dairy cows with mastitis. A microdilution test was carried out to estimate the antialgal effectiveness of the selected chemically defined EOs. The microdilution test showed different degrees of inhibition among the examined Prototheca species. The activity of some of the examined EOs seem interesting. In particular, Citrus paradisi yielded the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration values (0.75%) for both algal species. P. zopfii appeared to be more sensitive to EOs in comparison to P. blaschkeae. The present study investigated the in vitro susceptibility of P. zopfii and P. blaschkeae to a wide range of EOs, obtained from different botanical families. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of EO-based formulations intended for the disinfection of both udder and milking products.
Antibiotic Resistance and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Production of Escherichia coli Isolated from Irrigation Waters in Selected Urban Farms in Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Vital Pierangeli G. , Zara Enrico S. , Paraoan Cielo Emar M. , Dimasupil Ma. Angela Z. , Abello Joseth Jermaine M. , Santos Iñigo Teodoro G. , Rivera Windell L.
Published: April 2018

Highly-polluted surface waters are increasingly used for irrigation in different agricultural settings because they have high nutrient content and are readily available. However, studies showed that they are reservoirs for the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. In this study, the resistance of 212 Escherichia coli isolates from irrigation water, soil, and vegetables in selected urban farms in Metro Manila, Philippines was evaluated. Results showed that antibiotic resistance was more prevalent in water (67.3%) compared to soil (56.4%) and vegetable (61.5%) isolates. Resistance to tetracycline was the highest among water (45.6%) and vegetable (42.3%) isolates while ampicillin resistance was the highest among soil isolates (33.3%). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates were also observed and they were more prevalent in water (25.3%) compared to soil (2.8%) and vegetable (8.4%) isolates. Interestingly, there are patterns of antibiotic resistance that were common to isolates from different samples. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production (ESBL) was also investigated and genes were observed to be present in 13 isolates. This provides circumstantial evidence that highly-polluted surface waters harbor antibiotic-resistant and MDR E. coli that may be potentially transferred to primary production environments during their application for irrigation purposes.
Evaluation of the Spatiotemporal Variation of Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources: Case Study from Henan Province (China)
Authors: Jia Yizhen , Shen Juqin , Wang Han , Dong Guanghua , Sun Fuhua
Published: April 2018

The evaluation of the sustainable utilization of water resources is an important factor to measure whether the water resources can support the local coordinated development of population, economy and environment. Our study used Henan Province as the research area, which has a relative shortage of water resources (average water resources per capita, ≤400 m3). The Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) model was used to construct the evaluation index system, utilizing the entropy weight method and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to determine the index weight. The sustainable utilization of water resources in 18 cities of Henan Province from 2006 to 2015 was evaluated using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. The results show a steady upward trend, from worst to general, but there is a great difference between each city. The overall level was still on the low side, and the influence of each subsystem in the comprehensive index of the sustainable utilization of water resources varies. The evaluation results are basically in line with the actual situation of economic and social development in Henan Province, which has a guiding significance for improving the level of sustainable utilization of water resources in the region.
The Impact of Shrubby Floodplain Vegetation Growth on the Discharge Capacity of River Valleys
Authors: Walczak Natalia , Walczak Zbigniew , Kałuża Tomasz , Hämmerling Mateusz , Stachowski Piotr
Published: April 2018

Willow bush growing in floodplains is a dominant form of vegetation in lowland river valleys due to the availability of water and light. Uncontrolled growth of this plant results in a lower capacity of floodplain areas. Vegetation can narrow the active width of water flow, as well as change water flow velocities at hydrometric verticals falling within the floodplain and the main channel. This paper analyses the impact of long-term growth of willow shrubs on flow resistance coefficient values. Both an increase in the average diameter and the density characterised by the average distance between branches have a significant impact on reducing the flow. The adopted research variants were based on data on the growth rate of the most popular species and forms of willow found in the floodplains of the Warta River above the Jeziorsko reservoir. Two research scenarios were analysed, including data from 12 years, on the development of floodplain vegetation. The first scenario included only the change in diameter (vegetation grew on a cultivation plot), whereas the density remained constant. The second scenario investigated the inverse model—vegetation growing in an uncontrolled manner. The analysis of the tests proved the impact of various bush development scenarios on flow conditions. The results, referred to in the available research papers, indicated the importance of the dynamics of shrub development to the local flow conditions. It was stated that reduction in the flow, depending on the analysed scenario, could reach 45% for scenarios in which the only considered factor was the increase in diameter (at a constant density), and up to 70% in the case of increase in the density of vegetation. Thorough knowledge of this phenomenon may help manage and maintain natural river valleys.
miR-150 Suppresses Tumor Growth in Melanoma Through Downregulation of MYB
Authors: Sun Xiyan , Zhang Chao , Cao Yang , Liu Erbiao
Published: April 2018

miR-150 has been demonstrated to inhibit tumor progression in various human cancers, including colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and thyroid cancer. However, the role of miR-150 in melanoma remains to be determined. In this study, we found that miR-150 was underexpressed in melanoma
tissues and cell lines. Through transfection of miR-150 mimics, we found that miR-150 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells. In mechanism, we found that MYB was a target of miR-150 in melanoma cells. Overexpression of miR-150 significantly inhibited
mRNA and protein levels of MYB in melanoma cells. Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between the expression of miR-150 and MYB in melanoma tissues. We also showed that MYB was upregulated in melanoma tissues and cell lines. Through functional experiments, we found that restoration
of MYB in miR-150-overexpressed melanoma cells rescued the proliferation, migration, and invasion. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that miR-150 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cell by downregulating MYB.
Formation and development of nanometer-sized cybotactic clusters in bent-core nematic liquid crystalline compounds
Authors: Panarin Yuri P , Sreenilayam Sithara P , Vij Jagdish K , Lehmann Anne , Tschierske Carsten
Published: April 2018

Two homologue achiral bent-core liquid crystals (LCs), BCN66 and BCN84, in their nematic phases are studied by dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 10 Hz–10 MHz. In each of these compounds, two relaxation processes are identified and assigned to (i) collective dynamics of molecules in nanometer-sized cybotactic clusters and (ii) individual molecular relaxations, in the ascending order of frequency of the probe field. The temperature and the bias electric field dependence of the dielectric strength and relaxation frequency for these processes are shown to give rise to sharpness in cluster boundaries, increased size and volume fraction in the LC nematic phase. The effect of the bias field on the LC cell is similar to reducing its temperature; both variables increase the cluster size and volume fraction and give rise to sharp cluster boundaries. The findings confirm that dielectric spectroscopy is a powerful and an extremely useful technique to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanism of cybotactic cluster formation in the isotropic liquid and the nematic phase of LCs as a function of temperature and the bias field.
Local energy decomposition analysis of hydrogen-bonded dimers within a domain-based pair natural orbital coupled cluster study
Authors: Altun Ahmet , Neese Frank , Bistoni Giovanni
Published: April 2018

The local energy decomposition (LED) analysis allows for a decomposition of the accurate domain-based local pair natural orbital CCSD(T) [DLPNO-CCSD(T)] energy into physically meaningful contributions including geometric and electronic preparation, electrostatic interaction, interfragment exchange, dynamic charge polarization, and London dispersion terms. Herein, this technique is employed in the study of hydrogen-bonding interactions in a series of conformers of water and hydrogen fluoride dimers. Initially, DLPNO-CCSD(T) dissociation energies for the most stable conformers are computed and compared with available experimental data. Afterwards, the decay of the LED terms with the intermolecular distance (r) is discussed and results are compared with the ones obtained from the popular symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT). It is found that, as expected, electrostatic contributions slowly decay for increasing r and dominate the interaction energies in the long range. London dispersion contributions decay as expected, as r−6. They significantly affect the depths of the potential wells. The interfragment exchange provides a further stabilizing contribution that decays exponentially with the intermolecular distance. This information is used to rationalize the trend of stability of various conformers of the water and hydrogen fluoride dimers.
The Origin of Faint Tidal Features around Galaxies in the RESOLVE Survey
Authors: Hood Callie E. , Kannappan Sheila J. , Stark David V. , Dell’Antonio Ian P. , Moffett Amanda J. , Eckert Kathleen D. , Norris Mark A. , Hendel David
Published: April 2018

We study tidal features around galaxies in the REsolved Spectroscopy Of a Local VolumE (RESOLVE) survey. Our sample consists of 1048 RESOLVE galaxies that overlap with the DECam Legacy Survey, which reaches an r-band 3σ depth of ∼27.9 mag arcsec−2 for a 100 arcsec2 feature. Images were masked, smoothed, and inspected for tidal features such as streams, shells, or tails/arms. We find tidal features in 17±2% of our galaxies, setting a lower limit on the true frequency. The frequency of tidal features in the gas-poor (gas-to-stellar mass ratio <0.1) subsample is lower than in the gas-rich subsample (13±3% versus 19±2%). Within the gas-poor subsample, galaxies with tidal features have higher stellar and halo masses, ∼3× closer distances to nearest neighbors (in the same group), and possibly fewer group members at fixed halo mass than galaxies without tidal features, but similar specific star formation rates. These results suggest tidal features in gas-poor galaxies are typically streams/shells from dry mergers or satellite disruption. In contrast, the presence of tidal features around gas-rich galaxies does not correlate with stellar or halo mass, suggesting these tidal features are often tails/arms from resonant interactions. Similar to tidal features in gas-poor galaxies, tidal features in gas-rich galaxies imply 1.7× closer nearest neighbors in the same group; however, they are associated with diskier morphologies, higher star formation rates, and higher gas content. In addition to interactions with known neighbors, we suggest that tidal features in gas-rich galaxies may arise from accretion of cosmic gas and/or gas-rich satellites below the survey limit.
Modeling the Multiband Afterglows of GRB 060614 and GRB 060908: Further Evidence for a Double Power-law Hard Electron Energy Spectrum
Authors: Zhang Q. , Xiong S. L. , Song L. M.
Published: April 2018

Electrons accelerated in relativistic collisionless shocks are usually assumed to follow a power-law energy distribution with an index of p. Observationally, although most gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have afterglows that are consistent with p > 2, there are still a few GRBs suggestive of a hard (p < 2) electron energy spectrum. Our previous work showed that GRB 091127 gave strong evidence for a double power-law hard electron energy (DPLH) spectrum with 1 < p
1 < 2, p
2 > 2 and an “injection break” assumed as γ
b ∝ γ

q
in the highly relativistic regime, where γ is the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet. In this paper, we show that GRB 060614 and GRB 060908 provide further evidence for such a DPLH spectrum. We interpret the multiband afterglow of GRB 060614 with the DPLH model in a homogeneous interstellar medium by taking into account a continuous energy injection process, while, for GRB 060908, a wind-like circumburst density profile is used. The two bursts, along with GRB 091127, suggest a similar behavior in the evolution of the injection break, with q ∼ 0.5. Whether this represents a universal law of the injection break remains uncertain and more afterglow observations such as these are needed to test this conjecture.
Reconstruire collectivement du sens pour surmonter les effets du changement de dirigeant dans la TPE
Authors: Mouhli Karim
Published: April 2018

La présente étude s’attache à explorer l’entrée en fonction du repreneur dans la très petite entreprise (TPE), dernière étape du processus repreneurial, à travers les interactions entre acteurs. Basés sur une étude de cas multiples (10 cas analysés, 31 entretiens), les résultats mettent en évidence un changement équivoque à l’origine d’un processus de construction de sens. Ce processus destiné à maintenir un système d’actions organisées est appelé reconstruction collective de sens post-reprise. Ils montrent également le rôle fondamental du repreneur dans son émergence et son développement.
L’impact des usages du smartphone sur l’expérience touristique : le cas de la découverte d’une destination
Authors: Lemoine Jean-François , Salvadore Mathieu
Published: April 2018

L’objet de cette recherche est de comprendre comment le touriste utilise son smartphone lors de la découverte d’une destination touristique et quelles sont les conséquences de ces usages sur son expérience touristique. Après avoir identifié, à partir d’une étude qualitative, trois catégories d’usages du smartphone, nous testons, à l’aide d’un modèle d’équations structurelles, leurs impacts sur les dimensions de l’expérience touristique et sur la satisfaction envers les services mobiles.
Proportions of predominant Ergot alkaloids (Claviceps purpurea) detected in Western Canadian grains from 2014 to 2016
Authors: Grusie T. , Cowan V. , Singh J. , McKinnon J. , Blakley B.
Published: April 2018

Ergot alkaloids, produced by the fungusClaviceps purpurea, are contaminants of cereal crops. Depending on various factors, the relative composition of individual ergot alkaloids can differ among samples. The objective was to determine if the percentage of individual ergot alkaloids were similar across different cereal grains (barley n=39, rye n=7, triticale n=9, wheat n=94) collected in Western Canada over different years. Ergocristine was the predominant alkaloid accounting for half of the total alkaloids in all grain types. This study documented that barley, rye, triticale and wheat collected across Western Canada had similar percentages of ergocornine (6±1%,P=0.201), ergocristine (48±2%,P=0.939), ergocryptine (17±2%,P=0.302) and ergosine (5±0.5%,P=0.239). There were differences between grain types for ergometrine (P=0.027) and ergotamine (P=0.011), which ranged between 6 to 13% and 11 to 24%, respectively, of the total alkaloid content in different cereals. Both barley and wheat alkaloid percentages were similar between 2015 and 2016; ergocornine (7±1%,P=0.969), ergocristine (47±2%,P=0.680), ergocryptine (18±2%,P=0.572), ergometrine (8±1%,P=0.080), ergosine (15±1%,P=0.119) and ergotamine (P=0.189). The ergocornine percentage was higher in wheat (P=0.017) as compared to barley for 2015/2016 samples. Ergometrine was higher in barley (P=0.002) as compared to wheat for 2015/2016 samples. While two of the alkaloid proportions varied statistically, overall proportions of the six ergot alkaloids were comparable among the four grain types collected across Western Canada. If proportions of ergot alkaloids are similar across a region, then it may be deemed acceptable to recommend a maximum total ergot alkaloid concentration for that region. However, areas that exhibit variation among the ergot alkaloid proportions, individual ergot alkaloid guidelines based on a toxic equivalence factor, may be more appropriate. In contrast, since major differences were not seen between years or grain type, from a producer perspective there may be limited biological/toxicological significance for individual alkaloid guidelines.
Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Sierra Nevada Red Fox in the Oregon Cascades
Authors: Quinn Cate B. , Akins Jocelyn R. , Hiller Tim L. , Sacks Benjamin N.
Published: April 2018

The Sierra Nevada red fox Vulpes vulpes necator is a native subspecies associated with subalpine regions in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges of California and Oregon. In the past century, the Sierra Nevada red fox experienced a major range contraction and decline in California. However, the number, size, and connectivity of populations extant in Oregon remain unclear. This knowledge gap impedes efficient monitoring and hinders development of a cohesive conservation strategy for the subspecies. The historical range is large and includes rugged terrain with low accessibility; therefore, a predictive model is needed to facilitate more comprehensive and systematic surveys in the future. We initiated a multiagency collaborative effort to survey portions of the range in the Oregon Cascades during 2011–2016 (verified genetic and photographic detections) and to assemble existing sighting reports dating back to 1985 (unverified), which we used to create Maxent models to predict the potential distribution of Sierra Nevada red fox within Oregon. To identify optimal levels of model complexity, we compared cross-validation accuracy of models that varied in levels of protection against overfitting (regularization). The highest-performing models utilized intermediate regularization, and included minimum January temperature and land-cover type. Regardless of regularization or data set (verified detections, all putative detections), all models agreed in predictions of a high-probability region covering approximately 3,470 km2 or 6% of the Cascade region, corresponding to the high-elevation portion of the crest. With the exception of a gap between Mount Hood and Mt. Jefferson, this core area of predicted presence was continuous along the north–south extent of the crest, suggesting a capacity for high connectivity among observed clusters of occurrence. Use of modeled potential distributions in future survey design will improve efficiency of field data collection, facilitating more precise evaluations of the distribution, abundance, and genetic integrity and connectivity of Sierra Nevada red fox in Oregon.
Framing of National Image in a Climate of Socio-Political Uncertainty
Authors: Lindström Nataliya Berbyuk , Cordeiro Cheryl Marie
Published: April 2018

The climate ripple of socio-political relations between countries can be seen to directly influence trading and international business relations. Discourse within the socio-political realms reflects in discourse within the economic realms. A common channel through which such perspectives are mediated between the political realms, corporate relations, and public opinion is the news media, both traditional and new, such as social media and Internet publishing. This chapter examines and compares how major business newspapers in Sweden, Dagens Industry (DI), and two business newspapers in Russia, Kommersant (Ъ-Газета - Коммерсантъ) and RBC (РБК) represent Sweden's national image between 2014-2015, a period of uncertain socio-political relations between Russia and the Nordic Eurasian states, in particular, Sweden, in the process of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014.
A History of the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga
Authors: Branch John
Published: April 2018

The dissolution of the U.S.S.R. created a kind of higher education vacuum, especially in the disciplines of economics and business. The result was the development of a wide range of new educational initiatives by government, not-for-profit organizations, and foreign institutions. In 1994, the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) opened a foreign branch campus in Riga, Latvia, the aim of which was to rehabilitate higher education in the Baltic countries, in the disciplines of economics and business. This chapter chronicles the history of the SSE in Riga. It begins with a brief introduction to the Stockholm School of Economics. It then traces the transnationalization of the SSE, with an emphasis on its foreign branch campus in Riga, Latvia.