bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coordination tracking of multi‐agent dynamical systems with general linear node dynamics
Authors: Wen Guanghui , Zhang Hai‐Tao , Yu Wenwu , Zuo Zhiqiang , Zhao Yu
Published: January 2017

Distributed coordinated tracking problems are investigated in this paper for a class of multi‐agent dynamical systems with general linear node dynamics under a directed fixing interaction topology. First, a kind of class of distributed information communication protocols based on only the relative output measurements of neighboring agents is proposed and employed to realize containment tracking in multi‐leader multi‐agent linear systems. With the assumptions that the intrinsic linear dynamics of each agent are stabilizable and detectable, and each follower can be directly or indirectly affected by at least one leader, it is proven that containment tracking in the closed‐loop multi‐leader multi‐agent systems will be guaranteed if the coupling strength between neighboring agents and the gain matrices of the information communication protocols are suitably chosen. The decay rate for containment tracking errors of the considered multi‐leader multi‐agent system is also discussed. Then, consensus tracking and formation control problems of single‐leader multi‐agent systems with general linear node dynamics are respectively addressed. At last, node‐to‐node consensus tracking for multi‐agent systems with multiple coupling leaders is discussed. Simulation examples and experiment results are performed to validate the obtained results. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Architecture for Human‐Guided Autonomy: Team TROOPER at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals
Authors: Gray Steven , Chevalier Robert , Kotfis David , Caimano Benjamin , Chaney Kenneth , Rubin Aron , Fregene Kingsley , Danko Todd
Published: January 2017

Recent robotics efforts have automated simple, repetitive tasks to increase execution speed and lessen an operator's cognitive load, allowing them to focus on higher‐level objectives. However, an autonomous system will eventually encounter something unexpected, and if this exceeds the tolerance of automated solutions, there must be a way to fall back to teleoperation. Our solution is a largely autonomous system with the ability to determine when it is necessary to ask a human operator for guidance. We call this approach human‐guided autonomy. Our design emphasizes human‐on‐the‐loop control where an operator expresses a desired high‐level goal for which the reasoning component assembles an appropriate chain of subtasks. We introduce our work in the context of the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) Finals. We describe the software architecture Team TROOPER developed and used to control an Atlas humanoid robot. We employ perception, planning, and control automation for execution of subtasks. If subtasks fail, or if changing environmental conditions invalidate the planned subtasks, the system automatically generates a new task chain. The operator is able to intervene at any stage of execution, to provide input and adjustment to any control layer, enabling operator involvement to increase as confidence in automation decreases. We present our performance at the DRC Finals and a discussion about lessons learned.
Understanding the Evolution of Sustainable Consumption Research
Authors: Liu Yue , Qu Ying , Lei Zhen , Jia Han
Published: January 2017

In recent years, the problem triad of population, environment and development has been joined by the added element of consumption, with a consequent boom in studies on sustainable consumption. This study provides a holistic and quantitative overview of these studies, aiming to track the evolution of research on sustainable consumption, and identify the key authors and co‐authorship network. Using the bibliometric method and network analysis, this study traces the development of the research themes at hand, and the research network concerned with them, through the analysis of core literature and journals dated 1995–2014. The findings highlight that the research on sustainable consumption can be divided into two periods. These findings clearly illustrate that sustainable consumption has evolved from being a single practice‐oriented research topic into diverse topics studied in a systematized manner, involving the key factors of sustainability, consumption behavior, energy utilization and environmental impact. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Surface and grain boundary segregation in 16MND5 steel
Authors: Morvan Tanguy , Ganster Patrick , Barnier Vincent , Wolski Krzysztof
Published: January 2017

An adequate model of quantification when there are many segregating elements is required for industry and research. Hence, for the first time, surface segregation kinetics on industrial 16MND5 steel was studied by XPS spectroscopy at temperatures ranging from 500 to 600 oC. From measurements that highlight the competitive segregation of P, S, Sn, Sb, As, and Cu impurities at the surface, a quantification model was developed and successfully used to deduce the surface concentrations during segregation kinetics as well as derive the corresponding diffusion coefficients. We observed that phosphorus and sulfur are the first elements covering the surface, then they are supplanted by others' impurities. This result may reflect impurities segregation behavior at the grain boundaries that impacts mechanical behavior of the material. Indeed, to further the research, 16MND5 samples were aged in the same range of temperatures. Then, Auger spectroscopy measurements at grain boundaries were conducted on broken samples exhibiting intergranular cracking. Results show that phosphorus is the only segregating element present at grain boundaries after 2 months of aging. Importantly, it appears that phosphorus grain boundary segregation kinetics is significantly lower than at surface. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of interface electrostatic interaction based on acid–base theory on friction behavior
Authors: Qiang Li , Cao Zhongyue , Shi Jing , Zhou Yan , Liang Aimin , Zhang Junyan
Published: January 2017

Fluorine‐containing amorphous carbon films [fluoring‐containing diamond‐like carbon (F‐DLC)] were fabricated on Si wafer by direct current plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (dc‐PECVD) technique using CF4 and Ar as gas sources, confirmed by XPS and Raman analyses. The friction tests were carried out on a rotating ball‐on‐disk apparatus in high vacuum atmosphere (≤5.0 × 10−4 Pa) at the load of 0.5 N selecting glass (mainly containing silicon–oxygen tetrahedron structure) and Al2O3 with the same hardness and surface roughness as the counterpart balls. The results indicate that glass/F‐DLC results in lower friction coefficient of 0.14 than that of the Al2O3/F‐DLC (0.20). At the same time, no wear was occurred, and the transfer layer was not formed on the counterpart ball for glass/F‐DLC, while the wear of Al2O3/F‐DLC is slightly larger than that of glass/F‐DLC. However, just like the glass ball, there is no formation of transfer layer on the Al2O3 ball surface. Furthermore, the chemical state of fluorine in the film after friction, which mainly existed in the form of the C–CF and C–F bonds, did not change compared with the F‐DLC film, while the fluorine content has changed significantly. As a result, it is assumed that interface electrostatic interaction based on acid–base theory plays an extremely important role in the process of friction. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlated gamma‐based hidden Markov model for the smart asthma management based on rescue inhaler usage
Authors: Son Junbo , Brennan Patricia Flatley , Zhou Shiyu
Published: January 2017

Asthma is a very common chronic disease that affects a large portion of population in many nations. Driven by the fast development in sensor and mobile communication technology, a smart asthma management system has become available to continuously monitor the key health indicators of asthma patients. Such data provides opportunities for healthcare practitioners to examine patients not only in the clinic (on‐site) but also outside of the clinic (off‐site) in their daily life. In this paper, taking advantage from this data availability, we propose a correlated gamma‐based hidden Markov model framework, which can reveal and highlight useful information from the rescue inhaler‐usage profiles of individual patients for practitioners. The proposed method can provide diagnostic information about the asthma control status of individual patients and can help practitioners to make more informed therapeutic decisions accordingly. The proposed method is validated through both numerical study and case study based on real world data. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two‐sample binary phase 2 trials with low type I error and low sample size
Authors: Litwin Samuel , Basickes Stanley , Ross Eric A.
Published: January 2017

We address design of two‐stage clinical trials comparing experimental and control patients. Our end point is success or failure, however measured, with null hypothesis that the chance of success in both arms is p0 and alternative that it is p0 among controls and p1 > p0 among experimental patients. Standard rules will have the null hypothesis rejected when the number of successes in the (E)xperimental arm, E, sufficiently exceeds C, that among (C)ontrols. Here, we combine one‐sample rejection decision rules,
, with two‐sample rules of the form E − C > r to achieve two‐sample tests with low sample number and low type I error. We find designs with sample numbers not far from the minimum possible using standard two‐sample rules, but with type I error of 5% rather than 15% or 20% associated with them, and of equal power. This level of type I error is achieved locally, near the stated null, and increases to 15% or 20% when the null is significantly higher than specified. We increase the attractiveness of these designs to patients by using 2:1 randomization. Examples of the application of this new design covering both high and low success rates under the null hypothesis are provided. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aerobic Water–based Oxidation of 2,3,6‐Trimethylphenol to Trimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone over Copper(II) Nitrate Catalyst
Authors: Hu M. S. Liangning , Yu Jianqiang , Xin Hongchuan , An Zengjian , Sun Wenshou
Published: January 2017

A catalytic method for aerobic water‐based oxidation of 2,3,6‐trimethylphenol to trimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone catalysed by copper(II) nitrate was achieved under mild conditions using dioxygen as an oxidant and water as a solvent. The catalyst shows high activity and selectivity in the direct oxidation of 2,3,6‐trimethylphenol into trimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. Since components used in the present system are cheap and available, our method offers a safe system in the synthesis of trimethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone under halogen ions‐free conditions.
Copper‐Catalyzed Recyclable Synthesis of (Z)‐3‐Alkylideneisoindolinones by Cycloisomerization of 2‐Alkynylbenzamides in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Mancuso Raffaella , Pomelli Christian S. , Raut Dnyaneshwar S. , Marino Nadia , Giofrè Salvatore V. , Romeo Roberto , Sartini Stefania , Chiappe Cinzia , Gabriele Bartolo
Published: January 2017

The cycloisomerization of readily available 2‐alkynylbenzamides has been conveniently carried out with CuCl2 as catalyst under basic conditions in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (EmimEtSO4) as an unconventional solvent. The process leads to (Z)‐3‐alkylideneisoindolin‐1‐ones in a chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselective manner. The catalyst/solvent/base system could be recycled several times without appreciable loss of activity. The structures of representative products, that are, (Z)‐3‐benzylidene‐2‐phenylisoindolin‐1‐one and (Z)‐3‐pentylidene‐2‐phenylisoindolin‐1‐one, have been confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis, and DFT (density functional theory) calculations have been carried out to clarify the roles exerted by the base and CuCl2 in favoring the reaction course leading to (Z)‐3‐alkylideneisoindolinones.
Copper(II)‐Bioinspired Models for Copper Amine Oxidases: Oxidative Half‐Reaction in Water
Authors: Muthuramalingam Sethuraman , Subramaniyan Shanmugam , Khamrang Themmila , Velusamy Marappan , Mayilmurugan Ramasamy
Published: January 2017

The quinone cofactor is generated at the oxidative half‐reaction of copper amine oxidases (CAO) activity, which is key biogenesis step in biology. The copper(II) complexes [Cu(L1)SO3CF3]SO3CF3, 1; [Cu(L1)ClO4]ClO4, 2 [L1=1,4‐bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl‐methyl)]‐1,4‐diazepane]; [Cu(L2)SO3CF3]SO3CF3, 3 and [Cu(L2)ClO4]ClO4, 4 [L2=1, 4‐bis[2‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethyl]‐1,4‐diazepane] were synthesized as models for copper amine oxidases. The molecular structure of complexes was determined by single crystal X‐ray studies and shows distorted square pyramidal geometry (τ, 0.064 ‐ 0.285). The average Cu‐N(2.0 Å) bond distances of model complexes are similar to the Cu‐NHis bond distances in native CAOs enzyme (Cu‐NHis‐456, 2.0‐2.1 Å, Cu‐NHis‐458, 1.9‐2.2 Å and Cu‐NHis‐624,1.9 −2.1 Å).Only one Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couple (‐0.296 to −0.343 V) was noted in acetonitrile for 1–4 but a well‐defined redox couple around −0.349 to −0.404 V with an additional anodic peak around −0.056 to −0.128 V appeared in the water. The electronic spectra of 1–4 at pH ∼ 6.0 in water, shows ligand‐based absorption band around 260 −264 nm with a shoulder around 290 nm and the d‐d transition appeared around 593–640 nm. Also, an unusual low‐energy transition is centered at 965 nm due to axial field splitting of the eg orbital sets. Interestingly, on raising of the pH solution to ∼7 ‐ 10 instigates a transition of square pyramidal coordination geometry into trigonal bipyramidal for 1–4. This geometrical interconversion is further supported by appearance of two Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox couples around −0.313 to −0.390 V and −0.056 to −0.309 V at pH ranges of ∼7 ‐ 10. All the complexes exhibits almost similar solution EPR parameter (g||, 2.21 ‐ 2.45; A||, 174 ‐ 193 × 10−4 cm−1) to CAO (g||, 2.32; A||, 153×10−4cm−1)5 at 70 K. The model complexes convert substrate 2‐aminophenol into o‐quinone simultaneously using molecular oxygen via oxidative deamination pathway and this formation accomplished by new absorption band at 430 nm with rate of 0.53 ‐ 11.2 ×10−3 s−1 in water. The asymmetric Cu‐Npy bonds and higher distortion in the square pyramidal geometry of 1 and 2 presumed to facilitate geometrical change via decoordination of one the pyridine arms and leads faster dioxygenation reaction than 3 and 4. This decoordinated pyridine arm act as like an acid‐base catalyst to accept and donate protons as in CAO catalysis by amino acid residues at secondary coordination sphere.
Transient Catalytic Activity of a Triazole‐based Gelator Regulated by Molecular Gel Assembly/Disassembly
Authors: Araújo Marco , Escuder Beatriu
Published: January 2017

An amphiphilic molecular gelator functionalized with a triazole fragment that exhibits a transient self‐assembly behavior in the presence of copper is presented. This dynamic dissipative system composed by a triazole‐based molecular gel coordinating copper(I) is able to catalyze the model ‘click’ reaction, achieving 71 % conversion in the first three hours. This high catalytic activity is derived from the assembly/disassembly cycles of the gelator, promoted by the model “click” reaction between benzylazide and phenylacetylene. The consumption of these reactants was found to regulate the dynamic behavior of the gelator, influencing the properties and catalytic performance of the copper(I) coordination gel. The creation of a hydrophobic environment promotes the disassembly and migration of the metallogel to solution, resulting in an increased catalytic efficiency. The newly synthesized metallogel catalyst could be re‐used for three consecutive runs without any loss of its catalytic performance and without the need of being isolated between each catalytic cycle.
Synthesis of Isosorbide Esters from Sorbitol with Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Fraile José M. , Saavedra Carlos J.
Published: January 2017

Sulfonic solids of different nature (alkyl, aryl and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic) are able to catalyze the dehydration of sorbitol under solvent free conditions at moderate temperature (130 °C) under vacuum and the esterification of isosorbide with carboxylic acids, either acetic or octanoic acids. Yields around 80 % of isosorbide can be obtained from sorbitol with only 1 mol% catalyst after 24 h. Yields of dicarboxylates from isosorbide were in the range of 70–80 % for diacetate and up to 97 % for dioctanoate. The two‐step one‐pot process from sorbitol is highly efficient for isosorbide diacetate (up to 71 % yield), whereas the esterification with octanoic acid is more sensitive to the presence of by‐products (up to 57 % yield).
Synthesis of a Safranin T ‐ p‐Sulfonatocalix[4]arene Complex by Means of Supramolecular Complexation
Authors: Ashwin Bosco Christin Maria Arputham , Vinothini Arumugam , Stalin Thambusamy , Muthu Mareeswaran Paulpandian
Published: January 2017

The synthesis of water insoluble supramolecular complex is achieved from highly water soluble p‐sulfonatocalix[4]arene (p‐SC4) and Safranin T (ST). The analysis of the complex reveals the cavity packing of ST with p‐SC4. The solution state studies also confirms the binding efficiency at lower concentrations. Electrochemical behavior of ST and p‐SC4 explains the variation in redox potential upon binding. The ROESY and NOESY techniques reveals the spatial interaction of protons of p‐SC4 with ST in solution and solid state respectively.
Rapid Redox Processes of c‐Type Cytochromes in A Living Cell Suspension of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1
Authors: Liu Tongxu , Wu Yundang , Li Fangbai , Li Xiaomin , Luo Xiaobo
Published: January 2017

Although in vitro studies with purified proteins have demonstrated that extracellular electron transfer (EET) mediated by cell membrane‐associated c‐type cytochromes (c‐Cyts) occurs very fast, in vivo evidence for the transient redox transformation of c‐Cyts is still lacking. By employing a UV/Vis optical‐fibre spectrometer with an integrated‐sphere detector, rapid spectral changes in 5‐hydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (5‐HNQ) and c‐Cyts in living Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 were collected on a second and even 10 ms scale. The reaction kinetics were analysed in four stages: (i) oxidized c‐Cyts (c‐Cytox) was transformed into reduced c‐Cyts (c‐Cytred) via intracellular electron transfer from the oxidation of formate (0.763 μM s−1), (ii) c‐Cytred was rapidly oxidized by 5‐HNQ (‐35.3 μM s−1), (iii) c‐Cytox was slowly reduced to c‐Cytred (0.003 μM s−1) and simultaneously most of the 5‐HNQ was reduced (‐0.999 μM s−1), and (iv) c‐Cytred was regenerated (0.044 μM s−1) after most of the 5‐HNQ was reduced. A standard redox potential of −6.2 mV for c‐Cyts was obtained based on the kinetic data and Nernst equations, and then the redox potentials of 5‐HNQ and c‐Cyts during the entire reaction period were calculated. This study provides a direct molecular level observation of the in vivo rapid EET processes under non‐invasive physiological conditions.
Intermolecular Stetter Reactions on Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman Adducts: an Approach to Highly Functionalized 1,4‐Dicarbonyl Compounds
Authors: Gomes Ralph C. , Barcelos Rosimeire C. , Rodrigues Manoel T. , Santos Hugo , Coelho Fernando
Published: January 2017

We reported herein an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐mediated intermolecular Stetter reaction between oxidized Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman (MBH) adducts and a variety of aldehydes. This protocol allows the synthesis of highly functionalized 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds. The reaction is an alternative approach to these compounds using commercially available starting materials. This metal‐free process exhibits a wide substrate scope, excellent atom economy, compatibility with functionalized substrates and mild reaction conditions. The 1,4‐dicarbonyl compounds were prepared in two steps via MBH reactions with overall yields up to 99 %. This protocol is easily scalable. The synthetic usefulness of this method was demonstrated in a high yield synthesis of a tri‐substituted pyrrole used as an advanced intermediate in the total synthesis of kinase inhibitors as well as in the synthesis of another heterocycles.
The Synthesis of 3‐Arylquinolines from o‐Nitrobenzaldehydes and β‐Nitrostyrenes via an Iron‐Promoted Reductive Cyclization
Authors: Li Deng‐Kui , Cai Qun , Zhou Rong‐Rong , Wu Yan‐Dong , Wu An‐Xin
Published: January 2017

An iron‐mediated one‐pot synthesis of 3‐arylquinolines from o‐nitrobenzaldehydes and β‐nitrostyrenes has been developed. Iron acted as dual roles to trigger the reduction of o‐nitrobenzaldehydes and reduction hydrolysis of β‐nitrostyrenes, which subsequently integrated to quinoline derivatives.
Reengineering red blood cells for cellular therapeutics and diagnostics
Authors: Pierigè Francesca , Bigini Noemi , Rossi Luigia , Magnani Mauro
Published: January 2017

Recently optimized technologies that permit the reversible opening of nanopores across the red blood cell membrane, give the extraordinary opportunity for reengineering human erythrocytes to be used in different biomedical applications, both for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Engineered erythrocytes have been exploited as a system for the controlled release of drugs in circulation upon encapsulation of prodrugs or small molecules; as bioreactors when they are endowed of recombinant enzymes able to catalyze the conversion of toxic metabolite into inert products; as drug targeting system for the delivery of compounds to the reticuloendothelial system inducing proper senescent signals on the drug‐loaded erythrocyte membrane; as carrier of contrasting agents for diagnostic procedures. Preclinical development of these different applications has taken advantage from the use of proper animal models whose erythrocytes can be reengineered as the human ones or the encapsulation procedures can be adapted on the basis of their specific erythrocyte biological features. Successful results, obtained bothin vitroand in preclinical studies, have prompted several clinicians to start pilot clinical investigations in different conditions and some new companies to start the industrialization of selected loading technologies and to initiate clinical development programs. This short review summarizes the key features that, to the best of our knowledge, have been crucial to advance the products toward regulatory clinical approval making reengineering of erythrocytes a modality to treat patients with limited or absent therapeutic options.WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2017, 9:e1454. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1454

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Economic Policy in Britain
Authors: Grant Wyn
Published: January 2017

A comprehensive assessment of how economic policy is made in Britain at the start of the 21st century and of how the content of taxation, spending, monetary and regulatory policy has evolved since 1945. All of this is set in the context of the impact of globalization and the European Union on the autonomy of domestic policy and an assessment of the debates about British economic performance and British decline.
Fluoride and Heavy Metal Accumulation by Vegetation in the Fluoride Affected Area of Talupula, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Nagaraju A. , Thejaswi A. , Aitkenhead-Peterson J. A.
Published: January 2017

A detailed survey showed that groundwater fluoride was 6.1ppm in the Talupula area of the Anantapur district in southern India which is higher than is normally observed in groundwater elsewhere in India but not so extreme as that reported in Andhra Pradesh (up to 21 mg L−1). Groundwater is used for irrigating agricultural crops as well as for drinking which may expose its population to higher concentrations of fluoride through their diet. A preliminary study examined the concentrations of fluoride in five agricultural crops in the Talupula area and the soil beneath agricultural crops. The stem and leaves of Heliathusannuas, Arachishypogaea, Morusalba, Lychopersiconesculantum, and Phaseolus vulgaris were examined for fluoride and heavy metal accumulation. Heavy metal (Zn, Cu and Pb) accumulation in the stem and leaves were examined to determine if there was any correlation between their uptake and that of fluoride. In the soil beneath the crops, fluoride concentrations ranged from 6.53±0.44 to 8.23±1.22 ppm and a significant accumulation of fluoride was observed in the stems (13.2±2.0 to 23.9±3.6 ppm; p < 0.001) and leaves (16.4±1.9 to 61.5±4.5 ppm) of the agricultural plants. A significant accumulation of fluoride was observed from the stem to the leaves for all plants (p < 0.03) except Helianthus annuas. Copper also displayed significant accumulation from the soil to the stems in some of the plants tested but there was no significant accumulation of zinc or lead. A significant translocation from the stem and accumulation in the leaves was not observed for Cu or Pb but there was significantly higher zinc in the leaves of Arachishypogaea and Morusalba when compared to their stems. This study demonstrated that agricultural plants grown under field conditions and irrigated with groundwater high in fluoride will accumulate fluoride, but that fluoride is unlikely to have a significant effect on Cu, Zn or Pb accumulation in the stems and leaves of agricultural plants of the area. While drinking water is still the major cause of fluorosis in southern India, consumption of foods with high fluoride concentrations may also increase the risk of fluorosis.
An Insight into Slope Stability Using Strength Reduction Technique
Authors: Maji V. B.
Published: January 2017

In Shear strength reduction (SSR) technique, the factor of safety (FOS) is defined as the ratio of the material’s actual shear strength to the minimum shear strength required to prevent failure. Failure surface is found automatically through the zones within the material, where applied shear stresses cross the shear strength of the material. In this paper, a review of the technique is discussed in reference to FLAC. A brief background of the approach together with detailed procedure is presented. An attempt is made to exhibit the shear strength dependency of the strain. As stability of the slope is a function of the shear strength, the development of failure strain reflects the potential failure zone of slope. The shear strain developed in the slope increases with reduction in the shear strength and is reflected in the analysis. The concept of failure ratio (Rf) is incorporated in shear strength reduction technique and is demonstrated. Relationships between the critical shear strength reduction ratio and the safety factor are examined.
Geological Introduction to Strontium-Rich Sub-soil Brine with Emphasis on the Little Rann of Kutch and Bhavnagar, Gujarat
Authors: Gogda Azaz A. , Patidar Rajesh , Rebary Babulal
Published: January 2017

The methodology for green mining operation, one that extracts minerals from waste brine water for eco-friendly products, is appealing. Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) and the sites near Bhavnagar associated with producing sub soil brine water which contain strontium up to 215 mg/L. This value is significant considering its value in sea water (∼8 mg/L). The high-strontium brines also contain elevated lithium (up to 2.98 mg/L) and uranium (up to 0.1 mg/L). The occurrence of strontium in the India’s brine water is poorly understood and inadequately represented in the literature. The objectives of this report, therefore, are to illustrate where strontium-rich brine waters occur in Gujarat (India). The investigation of strontium, lithium and uranium in sub-soil brine was accomplished by the ICP-OES instrument. We have checked the pH, density, specific gravity and Degree Bowme (DB’) of the all samples. Alkali and alkaline earth metals like Na, K, Mg, Ca and Ba; metalloid B; transition element like Zn, Cr and Fe; heavy metals like Cd, Pb and Ni were also analysed for toxicity evaluation and anion Cl− and SO4−2 were analysed by classical methods. Field wise, there is considerable variation in strontium, lithium and uranium in sub-soil brine water.
Evaluation of a Premixed Insulin Analog Suspension in Japanese People with Type 2 Diabetes and the Clinical Importance of Improved Injection Techniques: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study
Authors: Suzuki Kunihiro , Aoki Chie , Kato Kanako , Shimizu Masanori , Sakurai Shintaro , Yanagi Kazunori , Kuroda Hisamoto , Aso Yoshimasa
Published: January 2017

Introduction

Patients with type 2 diabetes, who live in Asian countries, often use premixed insulin analogs. However, if these solutions are insufficiently mixed prior to use, patients will receive inaccurate doses of intermediate- and/or short-acting insulin, which could affect diabetes control. This study aimed to determine whether insulin users were correctly resuspending premixed insulin analog solutions prior to use.

Methods

We investigated whether Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were correctly resuspending their premixed insulin analog solutions by assessing the optical densities (ODs) of the solutions.

Results

Among 476 patients who used premixed insulin analogs, we found that the ODs of residual insulin differed significantly from the control values, particularly for high-mix insulin suspensions.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that patients should be educated about the importance of properly resuspending these insulin analog solutions prior to use.

Trial Registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN No. 000022329).
The rebound of the forgone alternative
Authors: Arens Zachary G. , Hamilton Rebecca W.
Published: January 2017

Fifty years of cognitive dissonance research suggests that when consumers make a difficult choice, the alternative they forgo is devalued for an extended period of time, making it less likely to be chosen in the future. In a series of four studies, we show that completely consuming the chosen alternative moderates this effect. After the chosen alternative has been consumed, creating a sense of consumption closure, the attractiveness of forgone alternative rebounds to its original value.
Nature, Purpose, and Norm: A Program in American Philosophy
Authors: STOVALL PRESTON
Published: January 2017

For over a century there has been a protracted effort in American philosophy to use Darwinian explanatory resources in order to make certain leading ideas in German idealism naturalistically intelligible. I trace some of the nineteenth and twentieth century contours of this effort. In doing so I outline an understanding of ourselves as norm-laden persons in a natural world. As a consequence, philosophical inquiry—understood in C. S. Peirce's sense as the practice of the ‘normative sciences’ of aesthetics, logic, and ethics—can be understood as the self-conscious and rational exercise of natural and socially conditioned capacities to sense, think, and act. This leaves us with a project, by no means completed, to frame categories through which to understand thesociohistorical developmentof the notions of beauty, truth, and goodness as a process continuous with thenatural evolutionof the nervous system in its sensory, central, and motor moments.
Real-time visual feedback during training improves laypersons’ CPR quality: a
randomized controlled manikin study
Authors: Baldi Enrico , Cornara Stefano , Contri Enrico , Epis Francesco , Fina Dario , Zelaschi Beatrice , Dossena Cinzia , Fichtner Ferdinando , Tonani Michela , Di Maggio Marzia , Zambaiti Elisa , Somaschini Alberto
Published: January 2017

Objective

The chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depend on early
and high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Our aim is to verify
whether the use of feedback devices during laypersons’ CPR training improves
chest compression quality.

Methods

Laypersons totalling 450 participating in Basic Life Support and Automated
External Defibrillation (BLS/AED) courses were randomly divided into three
groups: group No Feedback (NF) attended a course without any feedback, group
Short Feedback (SF) a course with 1-minute training with real-time visual
feedback, and group Long Feedback (LF) a course with 10-minute training with
real-time visual feedback. At the end of each course, we recorded 1 minute of
compression-only CPR. The primary end point was the difference in the
percentage of compressions performed with correct depth.

Results

There was a significant improvement in the percentage of compressions with
correct depth in the groups receiving feedback compared to the other (NF v. LF,
p=0.022; NF v. SF,
p=0.005). This improvement was also present in the
percentage of compressions with a complete chest recoil (71.7% in NF, 86.6% in
SF, and 88.8% in LF; p<0.001),
compressions with the correct hand position (93.2% in NF, 98.2% in SF, and
99.3% in LF; p<0.001), and in the Total
CPR Score (79.4% in NF, 90.2% in SF, and 92.5% in LF;
p<0.001). There were no significant
differences for all of the parameters between group SF and group LF.

Conclusions

Real-time visual feedback improves laypersons’ CPR quality, and we suggest
its use in every BLS/AED course for laypersons because it can help achieve the
goals emphasized by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
recommendations.
Entropy continuity for interval maps with holes
Authors: BANDTLOW OSCAR F. , RUGH HANS HENRIK
Published: January 2017

We study the dependence of the topological entropy of piecewise monotonic maps with holes under perturbations, for example sliding a hole of fixed size at uniform speed or expanding a hole at a uniform rate. We show that under suitable conditions the topological entropy varies locally Hölder continuously with the local Hölder exponent depending itself on the value of the topological entropy.
Social Phenomenology, Mass-Society and the Individual in Hegel and Heidegger
Authors: Rukgaber Matthew
Published: January 2017

This article argues that Hegel’s dialectic of wealth and power in the stage of social development called ‘culture’ (Bildung) reveals that even in moments of profound social alienation, Spirit (Geist)—the labour of constructing identity and freedom—remains. This stands in sharp contrast to Heidegger’s theory of alienation and Dasein’s ‘publicity’ (Offentlichkeit), which paints modern social existence as a profound threat to the very ‘Being’ and ‘possibilities’ of human life. The supposed threats of inauthenticity and mass existence are, from a Hegelian perspective, failures of adequate social phenomenology. The desiring, affective subject is not absorbed in the ‘they’ (das Man) but is, instead, the negativity that constantly transforms culture and the structure of social selfhood.
Making Sense of Husserl’s Notion of Teleology: Normativity, Reason, Progress and Phenomenology as ‘Critique from Within’
Authors: Aldea Andreea Smaranda
Published: January 2017

The paper examines Husserl’s notion of teleology through the lens of necessity and argues that there are two senses of teleology—historical and transcendental—at work in the task of phenomenology, especially as Husserl comes to conceive it in theCrisis. To understand not only how these two senses are related but also how their relationship shapes Husserl’s notions of normativity, reason, and progress, I argue that we must look closely at phenomenology as a distinctive form of critique, namely critique ‘from within’. What emerges is a philosophical stance that is fundamentally ambiguous: at once historical and transcendental-eidetic. This productive notion of ambiguity, I contend, differentiates Husserl’s conceptions of normativity, reason and progress from their Enlightenment guises.
The Power of Words: Bias and Assumptions in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan
Authors: Hogarth Melitta
Published: January 2017

This paper argues that genuine engagement and consultation is required where Indigenous voice is prevalent within the policy development process for true progress to be achieved in the educational attainments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It is important to note that there has been little critical analysis of policy discourses. More specifically, analysis of how language is used to maintain societal constructs. By providing an Indigenous standpoint, it is anticipated that this paper makes explicit to policymakers the bias and taken for granted assumptions held by those who produced it. This paper is derived from a larger project, namely my Masters of Education (Research) thesis (Hogarth, 2015). The major findings that emerged from the data included (a) the homogenous grouping of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, (b) the maintenance of the prevalent dominant ideology of a deficit view within policy and finally (c) the expectation of government of increased engagement and connections with and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in education without consideration of the detrimental effects of past policies and reforms. The potential implications of making explicit how language positions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ educational attainment can inform future policymaking and contribute to the struggle for self-determination.
Numerical Investigation of Slip Effects on Hydromagnetic Flow Due to a Rotating Porous Disk in a Nanofluid with Internal Heat Absorption
Authors: Anjali Devi S. P. , Elakkiya Priya T.
Published: January 2017

In recent days, nanofluids have derived the attention of researchers, scientists and engineers due to their abundant applications in Engineering and technology and specific applications such as Electronics cooling, vehicle cooling, medical applications including cancer therapy and so on. Motivated by these applications of nanofluids, this work is mainly concerned with the convective heat transfer of nanofluids. MHD slip flow of nanofluids with heat absorption over a rotating disk subjected to suction has been analyzed. Two types of nanofluids such as copper-water nanofluid and silver-water nanofluid are considered for the present study. The system of axisymmetric nonlinear partial differential equations governing the hydromagnetic steady flow and heat transfer are reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equations by introducing suitable similarity transformations. The resulting non-linear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically by most efficient Nachtsheim-Swigert shooting iteration technique for satisfaction of asymptotic boundary conditions along with Runge – Kutta Fehlberg Method. The flow field is affected by the presence of physical parameters, such as magnetic interaction parameter, suction parameter, slip parameter and solid volume fraction, whereas the temperature field is addionally affected by magnetic interaction parameter, suction parameter, internal heat absorption parameter and solid volume fraction. With the amplifying effect in magnetic interaction parameter, suction parameter, slip parameter and solid volume fraction, the radial and tangential velocities decline. Axial velocity gets decelerated for increasing magnetic interaction parameter and slip parameter whereas it gets accelerated for growing effect of suction parameter and solid volume fraction. The temperature of the fluid within the boundary layer enhances with the increasing effect of magnetic interaction parameter and solid volume fraction while it reduces for increasing values of the suction parameter and internal heat absorption parameter. Also the values of radial and tangential skin friction coefficients and Nusselt number are obtained numerically and are tabulated.
New evidence and revised interpretations of early agriculture in Highland New Guinea
Authors: Denham Tim , Haberle Simon , Lentfer Carol
Published: January 2017

This review of the evidence for early agriculture in New Guinea supported by new data from Kuk Swamp demonstrates that cultivation had begun there by at least 6950–6440 cal BP and probably much earlier. Contrary to previous ideas, the first farming in New Guinea was not owed to SouthEast Asia, but emerged independently in the Highlands. Indeed plants such as the banana were probably first domesticated in New Guinea and later diffused into the Asian continent.
Short-term, high-fat overfeeding impairs glycaemic control but does not alter gut hormone responses to a mixed meal tolerance test in healthy, normal-weight individuals
Authors: Parry Siôn A. , Smith Jennifer R. , Corbett Talitha R. B. , Woods Rachel M. , Hulston Carl J.
Published: January 2017

Obesity is undoubtedly caused by a chronic positive energy balance. However, the early metabolic and hormonal responses to overeating are poorly described. This study determined glycaemic control and selected gut hormone responses to nutrient intake before and after 7 d of high-fat overfeeding. Nine healthy individuals (five males, four females) performed a mixed meal tolerance test (MTT) before and after consuming a high-fat (65 %), high-energy (+50 %) diet for 7 d. Measurements of plasma glucose, NEFA, acylated ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and serum insulin were taken before (fasting) and at 30-min intervals throughout the 180-min MTT (postprandial). Body mass increased by 0·79 (sem 0·14) kg after high-fat overfeeding (P<0·0001), and BMI increased by 0·27 (sem 0·05) kg/m2 (P=0·002). High-fat overfeeding also resulted in an 11·6 % increase in postprandial glucose AUC (P=0·007) and a 25·9 % increase in postprandial insulin AUC (P=0·005). Acylated ghrelin, GLP-1 and GIP responses to the MTT were all unaffected by the high-fat, high-energy diet. These findings demonstrate that even brief periods of overeating are sufficient to disrupt glycaemic control. However, as the postprandial orexigenic (ghrelin) and anorexigenic/insulintropic (GLP-1 and GIP) hormone responses were unaffected by the diet intervention, it appears that these hormones are resistant to short-term changes in energy balance, and that they do not play a role in the rapid reduction in glycaemic control.
Faith and Reason: A Response to Duncan Pritchard
Authors: Ceglie Roberto di
Published: January 2017

In a recent essay Duncan Pritchard argues that there is no fundamental epistemological distinction between religious belief and ordinary or non-religious belief. Both of them – so he maintains in the footsteps of Wittgenstein's On certainty – are ultimately grounded on a-rational commitments, namely, commitments unresponsive to rational criteria. I argue that, while this view can be justified theologically, it cannot be advanced philosophically as Pritchard assumes.

I offer an account of Aquinas's reflection on faith and reason to show that the theologian – not the philosopher – is entitled to deal with a-rational commitments, because the truths of faith can be seen as simply intellectual – like the rational statements considered by the philosopher – but also as decisions made by way of divine grace. I also suggest that Pritchard's thesis may be re-proposed on a new basis, if Aquinas's theological stance were reinterpreted so as to point out unexpected connections between theology and philosophy.
Monitoring selective logging with Landsat satellite imagery reveals that protected forests in Western Siberia experience greater harvest than non-protected forests
Authors: SHCHUR ALEXANDER , BRAGINA EUGENIA , SIEBER ANIKA , PIDGEON ANNA M. , RADELOFF VOLKER C.
Published: January 2017

When timber harvesting is an important source of local income and forest resources are declining, even forests that are designated as protected areas may become vulnerable. Therefore, regular monitoring of forest disturbance is necessary to enforce the protection of forest ecosystems. However, mapping forest disturbance with satellite imagery can be complicated if the majority of the harvesting is selective logging and not clearcuts. Our goal was to map both selective logging and clearcuts within and outside of protected areas in Western Siberia, a region with a highly developed timber industry. Combining summer and winter imagery allowed us to accurately estimate not only clearcuts, but also selective logging. Winter Landsat images substantially improved our classification and resulted in a highly accurate forest disturbance map (97.5% overall accuracy and 86% user accuracy for the rarest class, clearcuts). Selective logging and stripcuts were the dominant disturbance types, accounting for 96.3% of all forest disturbances, versus 3.7% for clearcuts. The total annual forest disturbance rate (i.e. disturbance rate for clearcuts, stripcuts and selective logging together) was 0.53%, but total forest disturbance within protected areas was greater than in non-protected forest (0.66% versus 0.50%, respectively), and so was the annual rate of selective logging (i.e. without clearcuts, 0.37% versus 0.25%, respectively). Our results highlight that monitoring only clearcuts without assessing selective logging might result in significant underestimation of forest disturbance. Also, when timber harvesting is important for the local economy and when protected areas have valuable timber resources that have already been depleted elsewhere, then additional protection may be necessary in order to maintain natural forests within protected areas. We suggest that this is the situation in our study area in Western Siberia right now and is likely the situation in many other parts of the globe as well.
Intravitreally-administered dopamine D2-like (and D4), but not D1-like, receptor agonists reduce form-deprivation myopia in tree shrews
Authors: WARD ALEXANDER H. , SIEGWART JOHN T. , FROST MICHAEL R. , NORTON THOMAS T.
Published: January 2017

We examined the effect of intravitreal injections of D1-like and D2-like dopamine receptor agonists and antagonists and D4 receptor drugs on form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in tree shrews, mammals closely related to primates. In eleven groups (n= 7 per group), we measured the amount of FDM produced by monocular form deprivation (FD) over an 11-day treatment period. The untreated fellow eye served as a control. Animals also received daily 5µL intravitreal injections in the FD eye. The reference group received 0.85% NaCl vehicle. Four groups received a higher, or lower, dose of a D1-like receptor agonist (SKF38393) or antagonist (SCH23390). Four groups received a higher, or lower, dose of a D2-like receptor agonist (quinpirole) or antagonist (spiperone). Two groups received the D4 receptor agonist (PD168077) or antagonist (PD168568). Refractions were measured daily; axial component dimensions were measured on day 1 (before treatment) and day 12. We found that in groups receiving the D1-like receptor agonist or antagonist, the development of FDM and altered ocular component dimensions did not differ from the NaCl group. Groups receiving the D2-like receptor agonist or antagonist at the higher dose developed significantly less FDM and had shorter vitreous chambers than the NaCl group. The D4 receptor agonist, but not the antagonist, was nearly as effective as the D2-like agonist in reducing FDM. Thus, using intravitreally-administered agents, we did not find evidence supporting a role for the D1-like receptor pathway in reducing FDM in tree shrews. The reduction of FDM by the dopamine D2-like agonist supported a role for the D2-like receptor pathway in the control of FDM. The reduction of FDM by the D4 receptor agonist, but not the D4 antagonist, suggests an important role for activation of the dopamine D4 receptor in the control of axial elongation and refractive development.