bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Real-Time Imaging Algorithm Based on Sub-Aperture CS-Dechirp for GF3-SAR Data
Authors: Sun Guang-Cai , Liu Yanbin , Xing Mengdao , Wang Shiyu , Guo Liang , Yang Jun
Published: August 2018

Conventional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging algorithms usually require a period of time to process data that is longer than the time it takes to record one synthetic aperture or that corresponding to an adequate azimuth resolution. That is to say, the real-time processing system is idle during the long data recording time and the utilization of computational resources is low. To deal with this problem, a real-time imaging algorithm based on sub-aperture chirp scaling dechirp (CS-dechirp) is proposed in this paper. With CS-dechirp, the sub-aperture data could be processed to form an image with relatively low resolution. Subsequently, a few low-resolution images are generated as longer azimuth data are recorded. At the stage of full-resolution image generation, a coherent combination method for the low-resolution complex-value images is developed. As the low-resolution complex-value images are coherently combined one by one, the resolution is gradually improved and the full-resolution image is finally obtained. The results of a simulation and real data from the GF3-SAR validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Bayesian Compressive Sensing Based Optimized Node Selection Scheme in Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Ruisong , Liu Gongliang , Kang Wenjing , Li Bo , Ma Ruofei , Zhu Chunsheng
Published: August 2018

Information acquisition in underwater sensor networks is usually limited by energy and bandwidth. Fortunately, the received signal can be represented sparsely on some basis. Therefore, a compressed sensing method can be used to collect the information by selecting a subset of the total sensor nodes. The conventional compressed sensing scheme is to select some sensor nodes randomly. The network lifetime and the correlation of sensor nodes are not considered. Therefore, it is significant to adjust the sensor node selection scheme according to these factors for the superior performance. In this paper, an optimized sensor node selection scheme is given based on Bayesian estimation theory. The advantage of Bayesian estimation is to give the closed-form expression of posterior density function and error covariance matrix. The proposed optimization problem first aims at minimizing the mean square error (MSE) of Bayesian estimation based on a given error covariance matrix. Then, the non-convex optimization problem is transformed as a convex semidefinite programming problem by relaxing the constraints. Finally, the residual energy of each sensor node is taken into account as a constraint in the optimization problem. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has better performance than a conventional compressed sensing scheme.
Handshape Recognition Using Skeletal Data
Authors: Kapuscinski Tomasz , Organisciak Patryk
Published: August 2018

In this paper, a method of handshapes recognition based on skeletal data is described. A new feature vector is proposed. It encodes the relative differences between vectors associated with the pointing directions of the particular fingers and the palm normal. Different classifiers are tested on the demanding dataset, containing 48 handshapes performed 500 times by five users. Two different sensor configurations and significant variation in the hand rotation are considered. The late fusion at the decision level of individual models, as well as a comparative study carried out on a publicly available dataset, are also included.
The Impact of Tropospheric Anomalies on Sea-Based JPALS Integrity
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Zhipeng
Published: August 2018

The Joint Precision Approach Landing System (JPALS) addresses tropospheric errors through double-difference and tropospheric model correction. Large residuals occur with two types of tropospheric anomalies: the vertical duct and horizontal non-nominal troposphere. Through analyzing 8 years of meteorological data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), we find that the two types of anomalies can occur simultaneously. In addition, the existing vertical protection level (VPL) calculation method under tropospheric anomalies is based on the least squares method, which is not applicable to Sea-Based JPALS using the Kalman filter. Therefore, we start by calculating the zenith duct error by numerical integration. The maximum error observed is 45.64 mm, and the error seasonal characteristic is analyzed. For the non-nominal troposphere, the worst meteorological conditions in the Chinese surrounding sea areas are used to calculate the non-nominal errors, which are fitted to a satellite-elevation-dependent model. Then, a VPL calculation method based on the Kalman filter under tropospheric anomalies is proposed. Finally, a multiple approach simulation is conducted. The results show that the average VPL increments introduced by the duct and non-nominal troposphere anomalies are 0.082 m and 0.211 m, respectively, with growth percentages of 12.903% and 30.857%, respectively. The increment under simultaneous anomalies is 0.272 m with a growth of 40.427%. Furthermore, the average availability under normal conditions is 100%. Considering the duct and the non-nominal troposphere anomalies, the availability loss is 0.017% and 3.674%, respectively. Under simultaneous anomalies, this loss is 4.743%.
Infrared Image Super Resolution by Combining Compressive Sensing and Deep Learning
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Li Chunlai , Meng Qingpeng , Liu Shijie , Zhang Yue , Wang Jianyu
Published: August 2018

Super resolution methods alleviate the high cost and high difficulty in applying high resolution infrared image sensors. In this paper we present a novel single image super resolution method for infrared images by combining compressive sensing theory and deep learning. Low resolution images can be regarded as the compressed sampling results of the high resolution ones in compressive sensing. With sparsity in this theory, higher resolution images can be reconstructed. However, because of diverse level of sparsity for different images, the output contains noise and loss of high frequency information. Deep convolutional neural network provides a solution to relieve the noise and supplement some missing high frequency information. By concatenating two methods, we manage to produce better results in super resolution tasks for infrared images than SRCNN and ScSR. PSNR and SSIM values are used to quantify the performance. Applying our method to open datasets and actual infrared imaging experiments, we also find better visual results are preserved.
Use of Magnetic Field for Mitigating Gyroscope Errors for Indoor Pedestrian Positioning
Authors: Ma Ming , Song Qian , Gu Yang , Zhou Zhimin
Published: August 2018

In the field of indoor pedestrian positioning, the improved Quasi-Static magnetic Field (iQSF) method has been proposed to estimate gyroscope biases in magnetically perturbed environments. However, this method is only effective when a person walks along straight-line paths. For other curved or more complex path patterns, the iQSF method would fail to detect the quasi-static magnetic field. To address this issue, a novel approach is developed for quasi-static magnetic field detection in foot-mounted Inertial Navigation System. The proposed method detects the quasi-static magnetic field using the rate of change in differences between the magnetically derived heading and the heading derived from gyroscope. In addition, to eliminate the distortions caused by system platforms and shoes, a magnetometer calibration method is developed and the calibration is transformed from three-dimensional to two-dimensional coordinate according to the motion model of a pedestrian. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can provide superior performance in suppressing the heading errors with the comparison to iQSF method.
The G1000 Firework Dialogue as a Social Learning System: A Community of Practice Approach
Authors: Eckardt Franziska , Benneworth Paul
Published: August 2018

New public governance studies have increasingly sought to highlight the importance of citizen engagement in local decision-making processes as a way to identify suitable approaches to matters of public concern. There is a particular absence of good theoretical development building upon empirical work exploring citizen participatory processes as potential sites for social learning. In this paper, we asked the overall research question of the extent to which a new citizen participation process can be designed as a social learning system to facilitate the integration of citizen types of interests and knowledge in local decision-making. To answer this question, the study’s results provided deeper insights into the internal social learning dynamics within one particular deliberately designed collective local decision-making process, the G1000 firework dialogue in Enschede, The Netherlands. Using Wenger’s concept of “communities of practice” (CoP) as a baseline for analysis, the results of this study indicated that the G1000 firework dialogue process encouraged the creation of activities that may be considered to correspond to the different structural dimensions of CoP and that new design-based models of citizen participation would benefit from adopting a more explicit incorporation of and orientation towards social learning practices and theories. Consequently, we argue that local governance should invest more in citizen participation processes that encourage and enable learning among different societal stakeholders with different interests through constructive dialogues over political matters.
What Does the Sustainability-Risk Interaction Look Like? Exploring Nuanced Relationships in Emerging Economy Sustainability Initiatives
Authors: Göçer Aysu , Fawcett Stanley E. , Tuna Okan
Published: August 2018

To be viable long-term, sustainability programs must be profitable. Unfortunately, current sustainability practices increase risk, increasing costs and threatening revenues. Higher costs and lower revenues negatively impact profitability and, thus, the viability of sustainability. To understand how sustainability-induced risks affect food production systems, sustainability-induced risks in food production systems are identified and classified. It is also explored how sustainability risks interact, making it especially costly and difficult to eradicate them. An inductive, interview-based method was employed, which relies on 41 semi-structured interviews, with managers at 32 companies. The study documents the interaction between sustainability and risk in five risk categories—behavioral, opportunism, organizational routines, safety and traceability routines and systems design. The negative impact of intensive interactions among these risk categories threatens food production systems’ sustainability initiatives. Behavioral risks are particularly pervasive and harmful as they either induce or exacerbate other risk clusters. Elaborating the interaction between sustainability and risk, as well as documenting risk types and interactions, provides a more holistic view of sustainability implementation. This nuanced view will lead to a more accurate and insightful costing of sustainability programs. Lamentably, the most pervasive risk category—i.e., behavioral risks—are often overlooked in the supply chain management literature. However, this research shows a clear need to delve more deeply into the behavioral dimension to improve risk management and to increase the viability of sustainability. This study identifies and categorizes sustainability-induced risk factors in food production systems, and shows how they interrelate, providing the foundation for better planning and execution of viable sustainability programs.
The Effects of Material’s Transport on Various Steps of Production System on Energetic Efficiency of Biodiesel Production
Authors: Orynycz Olga , Świć Antoni
Published: August 2018

Rapeseed plantation biodiesel production systems require the transportation of goods, like raw materials, machines and tools, and products between various conversion stages of agricultural as well as industrial subsystems. Each transportation step requires the consumption of some energy. This consumption decreases the net amount of energy delivered out of the biofuel production system, and consequently decreases the energetic efficiency of the system. The majority of studies on biofuel sustainability are done by means of the LCA method with the use of a data average for some region and period of time. Such analyses do not reveal the possible causes of the conclusions determined. The present work deals with computer modelling of the influence of the energy consumed on those transport routes on the energetic efficiency of the production system. The model enables determination of the effects caused by changes introduced to technological parameters. The effects caused by variation of fuel consumption, the load capacity of transportation means, size of plantation, distribution and sizes of individual fields, distances between fields, plantation yield, and finally the distance between the plantation and the industrial facility are studied using the numerical model developed earlier. This approach is aimed towards identifying the reasons for the behavior of a system controlled by many somewhat coupled variables.
The Optimization of Emergency Evacuation from Nuclear Accidents in China
Authors: Zou Yang , Zou Shuliang , Niu Changming
Published: August 2018

An emergency evacuation route is an important component of emergency rescue of for nuclear accidents. A reasonable evacuation route can reduce evacuation times and protect people’s life. The evacuation route of the nuclear power plant is abstracted into a network diagram and a mathematical model of evacuation optimization route based on the graph theory and the parity of spot diagram method in this paper. Road traffic capacity and other external factors that may affect emergency evacuation are considered in the time weight factor for each road. Finally, an example is given to verify the feasibility of the model.
A Cradle to Handover Life Cycle Assessment of External Walls: Choice of Materials and Prognosis of Elements
Authors: Gámez-García Diana Carolina , Gómez-Soberón José Manuel , Corral-Higuera Ramón , Saldaña-Márquez Héctor , Gómez-Soberón María Consolación , Arredondo-Rea Susana Paola
Published: August 2018

This research focuses on a comparison of 20 external wall systems that are conventionally used in Spanish residential buildings, from a perspective based on the product and construction process stages of the life cycle assessment. The primary objective is to provide data that allow knowing the environmental behavior of walls built with materials and practices conventionally. This type of analysis will enable promoting the creation of regulations that encourage the use of combinations of materials that generate the most environmentally suitable result, and in turn, contribute to the strengthening of the embodied stages study of buildings and their elements. The results indicate that the greatest impact arises in the product stage (90.9%), followed by the transport stage (8.9%) and the construction process stage (<1%). Strategies (such as the use of large-format pieces and the controlled increase in thickness of the thermal insulation) can contribute to reducing the environmental impact; on the contrary, practices such as the use of small-format pieces and laminated plasterboard can increase the environmental burden. The prediction of the environmental behavior (simulation equation) allows these possible impacts to be studied in a fast and simplified way.
Urban Growth and Demographic Dynamics in Southern Europe: Toward a New Statistical Approach to Regional Science
Authors: Ciommi Mariateresa , Chelli Francesco M. , Carlucci Margherita , Salvati Luca
Published: August 2018

Metropolitan growth in Europe has resulted in drastic changes of urban forms, socio-spatial structures and land-use patterns due to sequential processes of urbanization, suburbanization and re-urbanization. To assess latent shifts from mono-centric models towards more disarticulated and decentralized settlement configurations, the present study evaluates spatio-temporal patterns of growth between the 1920s and the 2010s in three Mediterranean cities with different structure and functions (Barcelona: compact and moderately polycentric; Rome: dispersed, medium-density; Athens: mono-centric, hyper-compact). To identify and characterize long-term urban transformations, an original approach was illustrated in this study, based on a multivariate analysis of 13 indicators resulting from descriptive statistics and linear regression modeling the relationship between population density and distance from inner cities. The empirical results of this study indicate that Barcelona, Rome and Athens have experienced different urbanization cycles, characterized by a (more or less) concentrated distribution of population along urban gradients. Despite similarities in demographic dynamics and planning practices, these processes have determined (i) a mostly centralized growth in Barcelona, (ii) a relatively dispersed and discontinuous spatial structure in Rome, and (iii) a steep decline of population density with the distance from downtown Athens. Compact urban expansion, population decline and urban de-concentration were finally assessed using the analytical approach proposed in this study.
Detectability Improved Tamper Detection Scheme for Absolute Moment Block Truncation Coding Compressed Images
Authors: Hong Wien , Zhou Xiaoyu , Lou Der-Chyuan , Huang Xiaoqin , Peng Cancan
Published: August 2018

Since digital media is gaining popularity nowadays, people are more concerned about its integrity protection and authentication since tampered media may result in unexpected problems. Considering a better media protection technique, this paper proposes an efficient tamper detection scheme for absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC) compressed images. In AMBTC, each image block is represented by two quantization levels (QLs) and a bitmap. Requiring insignificant computation cost, it attracts not only a wide range of application developers, but also a variety of studies to investigate the authentication of its codes. While the existing methods protect the AMBTC codes to a large extent, the leakage of some unprotected codes may be insensitive to intentional tampering. The proposed method fully protects the AMBTC codes by embedding authentication codes (ACs) into QLs. Meanwhile, the most significant bits of QLs are symmetrically perturbed to generate the candidates of ACs. The ACs that cause the minimum distortion are embedded into the least significant bits of QLs to minimize the distortion. When compared with prior works, the experimental results reveal that the proposed method offers a significant sensitivity-of-tamper property while providing a comparable image quality.
CRCM: A New Combined Data Gathering and Energy Charging Model for WRSN
Authors: Wang Yuhou , Dong Ying , Li Shiyuan , Wu Hao , Cui Mengyao
Published: August 2018

With the development of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the problem about how to increase the lifecycle of the WSNs is always a hot discussion point, and some researchers have devoted to the ‘energy saving’ to decrease the energy consumption of the sensor nodes by different algorithms. However, the fundamental technique is ‘energy acquiring’ for the battery which can solve the limited capacity problem. In this paper, we study the data gathering and energy charging by a mobile charger (MC) at the same time that most energy consumption can be saved by short communication distance. We have named this as the recharging model-combined recharging and collecting data model on-demand (CRCM). Firstly, the hexagon-based (HB) algorithm is proposed to sort all sensor nodes in the region to make data collecting and energy charging work at the same time. Then we consider both residual energy and geographic position (REGP) of the sensor node to calculate the priority of each cluster. Thirdly, the dynamic mobile charger (DMC) algorithm is proposed to calculate the number of MCs to make sure no sensor node will die in each charging queue. Finally, the simulations show that our REGP algorithm is better than Earliest Deadline First (EDF) and Nearest-Job-Next with Preemption (NJNP), and the DMC plays well when the number of sensor nodes increase.
On the Multiplicative Degree-Based Topological Indices of Silicon-Carbon Si2C3-I[p,q] and Si2C3-II[p,q]
Authors: Kwun Young Chel , Virk Abaid ur Rehman , Nazeer Waqas , Rehman M. A. , Kang Shin Min
Published: August 2018

The application of graph theory in chemical and molecular structure research has far exceeded people’s expectations, and it has recently grown exponentially. In the molecular graph, atoms are represented by vertices and bonds by edges. Topological indices help us to predict many physico-chemical properties of the concerned molecular compound. In this article, we compute Generalized first and multiplicative Zagreb indices, the multiplicative version of the atomic bond connectivity index, and the Generalized multiplicative Geometric Arithmetic index for silicon-carbon Si2C3−I[p,q] and Si2C3−II[p,q] second.
A Historical Perspective of the Theory of Isotopisms
Authors: Falcón Raúl M. , Falcón Óscar J. , Núñez Juan
Published: August 2018

In the middle of the twentieth century, Albert and Bruck introduced the theory of isotopisms of non-associative algebras and quasigroups as a generalization of the classical theory of isomorphisms in order to study and classify such structures according to more general symmetries. Since then, a wide range of applications have arisen in the literature concerning the classification and enumeration of different algebraic and combinatorial structures according to their isotopism classes. In spite of that, there does not exist any contribution dealing with the origin and development of such a theory. This paper is a first approach in this regard.
Health Impacts and Biomarkers of Prenatal Exposure to Methylmercury: Lessons from Minamata, Japan
Authors: Sakamoto Mineshi , Tatsuta Nozomi , Izumo Kimiko , Phan Phuong Thanh , Vu Loi Duc , Yamamoto Megumi , Nakamura Masaaki , Nakai Kunihiko , Murata Katsuyuki
Published: August 2018

The main chemical forms of mercury are elemental mercury, inorganic divalent mercury, and methylmercury, which are metabolized in different ways and have differing toxic effects in humans. Among the various chemical forms of mercury, methylmercury is known to be particularly neurotoxic, and was identified as the cause of Minamata disease. It bioaccumulates in fish and shellfish via aquatic food webs, and fish and sea mammals at high trophic levels exhibit high mercury concentrations. Most human methylmercury exposure occurs through seafood consumption. Methylmercury easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and so can affect the nervous system. Fetuses are known to be at particularly high risk of methylmercury exposure. In this review, we summarize the health effects and exposure assessment of methylmercury as follows: (1) methylmercury toxicity, (2) history and background of Minamata disease, (3) methylmercury pollution in the Minamata area according to analyses of preserved umbilical cords, (4) changes in the sex ratio in Minamata area, (5) neuropathology in fetuses, (6) kinetics of methylmercury in fetuses, (7) exposure assessment in fetuses.
The Human Cytomegalovirus, from Oncomodulation to Oncogenesis
Authors: Herbein Georges
Published: August 2018

Besides its well-described impact in immunosuppressed patients, the role of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in the pathogenesis of cancer has been more recently investigated. In cancer, HCMV could favor the progression and the spread of the tumor, a paradigm named oncomodulation. Although oncomodulation could account for part of the protumoral effect of HCMV, it might not explain the whole impact of HCMV infection on the tumor and the tumoral microenvironment. On the contrary cases have been reported where HCMV infection slows down the progression and the spread of the tumor. In addition, HCMV proteins have oncogenic properties per se, HCMV activates pro-oncogenic pathways in infected cells, and recently the direct transformation of cells following HCMV infection has been described, which gave rise to tumors when injected in mice. Thus, beyond the oncomodulation model, this review will assess the direct transforming role of HMCV-infected cells and the potential classification of HCMV as an oncovirus.
Countermeasure Analysis on Promoting Drinking Water Safety in Shanshan County, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China
Authors: Shao Weiwei , Liu Jiahong , Zhang Haixing , Yan Dianyi , Li Weijia
Published: August 2018

In recent years, China has paid an increasing amount of attention to improving urban and rural drinking water safety, an important aspect of building a healthy and stable society. This study analyzed countermeasures to promote drinking water safety in Turpan City of Shanshan County, in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. First, we considered the current state of drinking water safety in Shanshan, including issues such as pollution, outdated water treatment technologies, leakage in the water supply pipe network, insufficient emergency management capability in urban areas, and low water supply guarantee rates in rural areas due to poor construction standards. Second, the quantity of guaranteed water resources was estimated; on this basis, an ideal distribution of regional water plants and water supply network needs for the optimal allocation of water resources is suggested. Third, a water purification program was developed to solve untreated water quality problems, including centralized and decentralized water quality treatments alongside intelligent water flow control processes. Water resource conservation and risk control measures are also proposed in order to promote the security of drinking water; equipment updates, and the establishment of an intelligent water management platform are also suggested.
Distribution-Based Calibration of a Stormwater Quality Model
Authors: Leutnant Dominik , Muschalla Dirk , Uhl Mathias
Published: August 2018

Stormwater quality models are usually calibrated using observed pollutographs. As current models still rely on simplified model concepts for pollutant accumulation and wash-off, calibration results for continuous pollutant concentrations are highly uncertain. In this paper, we introduce an innovative calibration approach based on total suspended solids (TSS) event load distribution. The approach is applied on stormwater quality models for a flat roof and a parking lot for which reliable distributions are available. Exponential functions are employed for both TSS buildup and wash-off. Model parameters are calibrated by means of an evolutionary algorithm to minimize the distance between a parameterized lognormal distribution function and the cumulated distribution of simulated TSS event loads. Since TSS event load characteristics are probabilistically considered, the approach especially respects the stochasticity of TSS buildup and wash-off and, therefore, improves conventional stormwater quality calibration concepts. The results show that both experimental models were calibrated with high goodness-of-fit (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test statistic: 0.05). However, it is shown that events with high TSS event loads (>0.8 percentile) are generally underestimated. While this leads to a relative deviation of −28% of total TSS loads for the parking lot, the error is compensated for the flat roof (+5%). Calibrated model parameters generally tend to generate wash-off proportional to runoff, which is indicated by mass-volume curves. The approach itself is, in general, applicable and creates a new opportunity to calibrate stormwater quality models especially when calibration data is limited.
Coordination-driven self-assembly vs dynamic covalent chemistry: versatile methods for the synthesis of molecular metallarectangles
Authors: Ma Li-Li , Han Jia-Qin , Jia Wei-Guo , Han Ying-Feng
Published: August 2018

Supramolecular coordination assemblies have a range of potential applications in chemical and biological sciences. Herein, simple modular methods for the synthesis of metallarectangles are described. The desired tetranuclear metallarectangles were synthesized by using coordination-driven self-assembly of half-sandwich rhodium-based organometallic clip units and organic ligands. The reaction of such an organometallic clip with 4-formylpyridine provided a dinuclear molecular tweezer with pendant aldehyde groups, and subsequent [4 + 4] condensation reactions with diamines provides another route to the target metallarectangles in good yields. The same assemblies can also be easily isolated in one-pot procedures by mixing the organometallic clip, diamines and 4-formylpyridine.
Objective Lagrangian Vortex Detection in the Solar Photosphere
Authors: Silva Suzana de Souza e Almeida , Rempel Erico Luiz , Gomes Tiago Francisco Pinheiro , Requerey Iker S. , Chian Abrahamm C.-L.
Published: August 2018

Vortices in the solar photosphere can be linked to a wide range of events, such as small-scale solar eruptions, wave excitation, and heating of the upper part of the solar atmosphere. Despite their importance in solar physics, most of the current studies on photospheric vortices are based on methods that are not invariant under time-dependent translations and rotations of the reference frame and are Eulerian; i.e., they are based on single snapshots of a velocity field and, therefore, do not convey information on the true long-term motion of fluid particles on a time-varying field. Another issue with methods for vortex detection is that typically they provide false identifications in highly compressible flows. This Letter presents a novel criterion that effectively removes wrong detections based on the geometry of the streamlines of the displacement vector of fluid elements and can be readily applied to other astrophysical flows. The new criterion is applied to the Lagrangian-averaged vorticity deviation (LAVD), which is a recently developed frame invariant vortex detection method. The advantage of LAVD is that it delimits the vortices’ outer boundaries precisely by following up the trajectories of fluid elements in space and time. The proposed method is compared with two other techniques using horizontal velocity fields extracted from Hinode satellite data.
Three new species of Aleurodiscus s.l. (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from southern China
Authors: Tian Yan , Ghobad-Nejhad Masoomeh , He Shuang-Hui , Dai Yu-Cheng
Published: August 2018

Three new species of Aleurodiscus s.l. with corticioid basidiomata are described and illustrated from southern China based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and nrLSU sequence data. Aleurodiscusbambusinus was collected from Jiangxi Province on bamboo and is distinct by having a compact texture, simple-septate generative hyphae, abundant acanthophyses, basidia with acanthophysoid appendages and smooth basidiospores. Aleurodiscusisabellinus was collected from Yunnan Province on both angiosperm wood and bamboo and is distinct by having soft basidiomata with yellow to yellowish-brown hymenophore, yellow acanthophyses, simple-septate generative hyphae and smooth basidiospores. Aleurodiscussubroseus was collected from Guangxi Autonomous Region and Guizhou Province on angiosperm wood and is distinct by having pinkish basidiomata when fresh, clamped generative hyphae, clavate acanthophyses and echinulate basidiospores. In the phylogenetic tree, A.bambusinus and A.isabellinus were nested within the A.cerussatus group, whilst A.subroseus was clustered with A.wakefieldiae. An identification key to 26 species of Aleurodiscus s.l. in China is provided.
The legitimacy gaps of the European Semester: who decides, what and how
Authors: Coman Ramona
Published: August 2018

Cet article analyse la manière dont les institutions européennes ont tenté de résoudre les problèmes de légitimité du Semestre européen depuis sa première itération. L’article montre que depuis 2010 le Semestre a connu plusieurs adaptations tant de iure (suite à l’adoption du Two et Six Pack) que de facto, à travers des interactions et accords interinstitutionnels. L’article est organisé en trois temps : la première section présente le Semestre européen, mettant en exergue ses caractéristiques et les acteurs impliqués. La deuxième section passe en revue les problèmes de légitimité, alors que la troisième et dernière partie se penche sur l’évolution institutionnelle du Semestre comme résultat de l’évolution de sa base légale et des processus d’apprentissage, de négociation et de compromis entre les institutions européennes.
The Fiscal Architecture of the United States - Lessons to be Learned?
Authors: Dold Matthias
Published: August 2018

L’architecture fiscale des États-Unis mérite une attention toute particulière de la part des Européens, dans la mesure où elle constitue une vaste union monétaire, comparable à la zone euro sur le plan géographique et économique. Le système fiscal américain se caractérise par un degré élevé d’autonomie fiscale des États fédéraux. Les transferts entre les différents niveaux de gouvernement sont un élément essentiel de son système, assurant ainsi son bon fonctionnement. En cas d’insolvabilité, les États fédéraux en faillite ne sont pas renfloués par le gouvernement fédéral ou d’autres États ; les exemples sont nombreux pour en attester. Des stabilisateurs automatiques sous forme de dépenses (prestations sociales) et de recettes (impôts) existent et répartissent l’impact des chocs asymétriques au sein de l’union monétaire. L’UE, en revanche, a par le passé renfloué les États membres insolvables, suscitant un risque moral, alors qu’elle ne dispose pas de stabilisateurs automatiques pour répartir les effets du cycle économique. Non seulement ses règles budgétaires sont procycliques, mais elles demeurent inappliquées. La cohérence de la réaction des États-Unis face aux chocs macroéconomiques asymétriques et aux insolvabilités des États reste son principal atout. Elle représente une leçon à tirer pour la zone euro, qui doit trouver une réglementation claire en matière de faillite, voire appliquer des règles budgétaires plus efficaces ainsi que des stabilisateurs automatiques pour préserver sa prospérité et cohérence
Promotion de la santé par l’activité physique sur les lieux de travail : expérimentation participative dans une entreprise privée
Authors: Planchard Jo-Hanna , Bailly Laurent , Tifratène Karim , Morales Valérie , Massiera Bernard , Garbarino Jean-Marie , Pradier Christian
Published: August 2018

Introduction : L’objectif de ce travail était d’identifier les processus collaboratifs opérant autour d’un projet de promotion de l’activité physique en entreprise, mené par approche participative dans le cadre d’un partenariat intersectoriel, et d’en estimer les premiers effets sur les salariés en termes de santé. Méthodes : Une recherche-action a été menée dans une entreprise industrielle de 240 salariés durant deux ans. La recherche a porté sur quatre critères : une description du réseau d’acteurs, les opportunités et les freins du projet, la mise en place d’activités physiques, la participation des salariés aux activités proposées, les impacts observés (après trois mois d’activités) sur les paramètres physiques et la qualité de vie. Résultats : Six réunions du groupe de travail ont permis de sélectionner deux d’activités : renforcement musculaire et Tai-chi. Nous avons évalué l’activité de renforcement musculaire. Le taux de participation à l’activité était de 16 %. Un âge plus élevé, le sexe féminin et le fait d’être cadre ou employé plutôt qu’ouvrier étaient associés significativement à la participation. On observe une tendance à l’augmentation des scores physique et mental du SF12. Nous avons fait émerger deux freins majeurs qui étaient de nature logistique et communicationnelle. Conclusion : L’approche participative, basée sur un partenariat intersectoriel, s’avère l’élément déterminant de la réussite du projet mené dans un contexte d’opportunités locales. Pour pérenniser cette dynamique et améliorer le dispositif deux leviers peuvent être identifiés : une rationalisation de la structuration de l’offre de service et le renforcement des moyens, notamment financiers.
Icare-Pro Rebound Tonometer Versus Hand-held Applanation Tonometer for Pediatric Screening
Authors: Arribas-Pardo Paula , Mendez-Hernández Carmen , Valls-Ferran Isabel , Puertas-Bordallo Diego
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements obtained using the new rebound tonometer Icare-Pro (Icare, Tiolat Oy, Helsinki, Finland) and the hand-held version of the Goldmann applanation tonometer (Perkins; Clement Clarke, Haag-Streit, Harlow, United Kingdom) in healthy children during clinical practice.

Methods:

In this prospective study, three IOP measurements were made using each tonometer in a single session, starting with the Icare-Pro. Participants were 173 non-anesthetized patients aged 1 to 16 years. Measurements were made in both eyes but only data for the right eye were entered in the analysis. Central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and axial length were also measured in each patient. Data were compared by determining interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for each tonometer and representing the differences detected as Bland–Altman plots.

Results:

Good linear correlation was observed between IOP readings obtained using the Perkins and Icare-Pro tonometers (
r
= 0.87,
P
< .001), although the Icare-Pro readings were slightly higher (mean IOP difference: 0.26 ± 1.58 mm Hg,
P
= .037). The 95% limits of agreement between the two methods were 2.8 to −3.4 mm Hg. The ICC was 0.857 (95% confidence interval: 0.810 to 0.893), indicating good agreement. For both tonometers, a low but significant correlation was detected between IOP and central corneal thickness or age. However, no correlation of IOP was found with axial length or anterior chamber depth.

Conclusions:

Pediatric IOP measurements determined using the new Icare-Pro rebound tonometer showed good correlation with those obtained using the hand-held Perkins applanation tonometer in a routine clinical examination with no need for general anesthesia.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2018;55(6):382–386.]
Guillain–Barré syndrome in the United Arab Emirates: A sixteen-year experience of a single center
Authors: Yaghi Salim , Beshyah Waleed , Beshyah Anas , Lokhandwala Aliasgar , Beshyah Salem
Published: August 2018

Background: Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis. We describe clinical characteristics and outcomes of GBS in a region where data are hitherto limited. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. All GBS patients identified between 2000 and 2015 were documented and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty-three patients were identified. GBS was 3.1 fold more common in men; median age was 33 (range: 16–79). 47.2% of the patients were previously healthy. Upper respiratory tract infections occurred in 37.7% and gastroenteritis in 18.9%. The most common clinical presentation was bilateral upper and lower limb weakness (47.2%). Vital capacity was low in 63.16% of patients. Classical albuminocytologic dissociation was seen in 19.5% of patients who had a lumbar puncture done. Nerve conduction studies were carried out in 56.6% of cases, and the most commonly observed abnormality was mixed axonal neuropathy. Nearly 60.38% of patients had adverse outcomes. Eight patients (25%) required admission to the intensive care of whom six required mechanical ventilated. Twenty-Four patients (75%) were discharged with residual motor weakness, and five of whom required further rehabilitation. Poor respiratory status on arrival significantly predicted poor outcome. Conclusions: Our results are generally similar to international trends in GBS. Respiratory dysfunction and decreased vital capacity were the only poor prognostic factors identified. Nerve conduction findings were not associated with clinical or prognostic values.
Bartonella rochalimae Detection by a Sensitive and Specific PCR Platform
Authors: Chan Dennis , Geiger Joseph Andrew , Vasconcelos Elton José Rosas , Oakley Brian , Diniz Pedro Paulo Vissotto de Paiva
Published: August 2018

Bartonella rochalimae is an emerging zoonotic pathogen present in the United States, South America, and Europe. The molecular detection of B. rochalimae frequently relies on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays that target the genus Bartonella coupled with DNA sequencing for species determination. However, the presence of other Bartonella spp. in the sample being tested may result in false-negative results for B. rochalimae, especially when Sanger sequencing is used. We developed a sensitive and specific quantitative PCR platform for B. rochalimae by targeting the intergenic transcribed spacer, gltA, and rpoB genes, which are recommended for subtyping characterization. This PCR platform achieved the limit of detection between five and 10 genomic equivalents per reaction and did not amplify DNA from other Bartonella species or selected hosts. This PCR platform is a fast and cost-effective option to be used in epidemiological evaluations of reservoirs and vectors and in detecting and quantifying B. rochalimae infection in humans.
BRICKERADOBE: PROPOSTA METODOLÓGICA PARA APLICAÇÃO EM ÁREAS RURAIS E INDÍGENAS
Authors: De Medeiros Santana Pedrosa Brenna , Josué Barros Xavier Thássio , Apolinário Francisco Renato , Furtado Nogueira Jairo
Published: August 2018

Combinando técnicas milenares, preferência por materiais locais e baixo impacto ambiental, a bioconstrução é uma solução adotada em várias regiões do mundo, sendo principalmente usada em áreas rurais, remotas e com dificuldade de mobilização de materiais. Essa pesquisa tem por objetivo avaliar o comportamento mecânico de edificações concebidas a partir de técnicas de bioconstrução, em específico o Brickeradobe, técnica essa, que utiliza terra ensacada como modelo estrutural. A avaliação do sistema se deu através da análise do bloco, onde foram realizados os ensaios de compressão axial e absorção d’agua preconizados pela NBR 15270-3 e pela análise global do sistema, onde foi avaliado o comportamento do bloco em si para fins de uso doméstico simulado através de ensaios previstos pela Norma Técnica Brasileira NBR 11.575-4, que determina os requisitos para Sistemas de Vedações Verticais Externas e Internas. Para construção dos blocos utilizou-se solo extraído da Chácara do Professor, sítio de grande referência em obras de bioconstrução, visando à garantia de um controle tecnológico e regularidade na fabricação dos blocos que, posteriormente, foram realizados ensaios e análises no solo em questão. A construção da parede experimental foi realizada em conformidade com a NBR 11675/16, que estabelece o método para verificação da resistência aos impactos das divisórias leves internas moduladas, sendo realizada em uma estrutura vertical em forma de quadro construída em estrutura metálica na qual foi possível avaliar o sistema perante os requisitos de impacto de corpo mole, corpo duro e permeabilidade
CRITÉRIOS PARA O EMPREGO DE PLACAS SOLARES E PROPOSTAS DE INSTALAÇÕES ELÉTRICAS PARA ESCOLAS PÚBLICAS DO DISTRITO FEDERAL
Authors: Lopes de Barros Batista Lucas , Do Nascimento Santos Abighail , Cornils Monteiro Araújo Eugênia
Published: August 2018

O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma análise arquitetônica e ambiental das escolas públicas do Distrito Federal com o intuito de fazer um estudo de viabilidade para aplicação de placas fotovoltaicas, em seguida foi feita medições nas salas para mensurar o desconforto térmico e lumínico. No referencial teórico abordamos conceitos referentes a quantidade mínima de iluminação que uma sala de aula deve conter, medições de temperatura dentro das salas para mensurar o desconforto térmico e padrões nas escolas que possa não torna viável a aplicação das placas fotovoltaicas. Foram realizadas medições em 7 escolas e ficou constatado na matriz de priorização que as 7 sete escolas tem potencial de geração de energia fotovoltaico, porém existe alguns fatores que pode reduzir a produtividade das placas
DESENVOLVIMENTO DE PROJETO DE PARA APROVEITO DE ENERGIA SOLAR NUMA ESCOLA PÚBLICA DE BRASÍLIA
Authors: Heleno Gomes Soares da Silva Nathan , Cornils Monteiro Araújo Eugênia
Published: August 2018

Em meio a realidade do aquecimento global e suas consequências catastróficas à biodiversidade e ao ser humano, se inicia um período de conscientização coletiva, que busca o desenvolvimento de energias sustentáveis e a diminuição da emissão de gases de efeito estufa em curtos prazos. Já foi constatado pelo Painel Intergovernamental de Mudanças Climáticas (IPCC) da ONU que o aumento da temperatura do planeta é fruto das ações humanas pela falta de análises e controle sobre o impacto de alguns tipos de tecnologias que impulsionaram a poluição e degradação do meio ambiente. A indústria a partir da revolução industrial no séc. XVIII floresceu a base da queima de combustíveis fósseis como o carvão e o petróleo, que com a queima liberam grandes volumes de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano, e outros elementos. Grandes quantidades desses gases liberadas em excesso pela interferência do homem causam o chamado “efeito estufa”, aumentando a temperatura do planeta com o passar dos anos, e causando desequilíbrio nos ecossistemas. Em meio a esse contexto econômico e social, este trabalho visa desenvolver a utilização de energia solar em escolas públicas em Brasília, a qual possui grande vantagem por ser uma fonte de energia limpa e renovável, que ainda se encontra em estado de desenvolvimento, e é favorável para instalação e estudos em Brasília devido ao clima do cerrado. Como objetivo da pesquisa, o projeto apresenta soluções para instalação e adaptação de sistemas de energia fotovoltaicos em escolas públicas, levando em conta as condicionantes ambientais e a estrutura do edifício para maior aproveitamento da potência do sistema. Dessa forma são elaborados os projetos elétrico e arquitetônico, e estimada a viabilidade de implantação dessa tecnologia nas escolas públicas de Brasília
FERRAMENTA DE GESTÃO DE EQUIPAMENTOS, SISTEMA OPERACIONAL E REDE APLICADA AO CONTROLE DE PRÁTICAS E AVALIAÇÕES REALIZADAS EM LABORATÓRIOS DE INFORMÁTICA
Authors: Matheus da Rosa Veiga Álvaro , Ferreira dos Santos Eduardo
Published: August 2018

O aumento dos recursos disponíveis em sala de aula, em especial nas aulasrealizadas em laboratório, têm gerado dificuldade em manter os alunos focados nasatividades didáticas em detrimento de Internet e redes sociais. Sem condições decompetir com os diversos tipos de conteúdo e software disponíveis nos laboratórios,a prática torna-se pouco produtiva. Este trabalho apresenta um levantamento dastecnologias de auxílio ao estudo e sua utilização em sala de aula. Apresenta aindauma proposta de ferramenta de auxílio ao professor, de forma a diminuir e controlara distração causada por elementos externos na atividade de laboratório. O objetivo épermitir a execução da atividade de laboratório de maneira sistêmica, controlandopontos de atenção e observando a resposta dos alunos nos momentos desejadospelo professor. A solução apresenta um levantamento das principais tecnologias eferramentas utilizadas, além de apresentar um protótipo para controlar os momentosde atenção do aluno na atividade de laboratório