bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Walk Score, Transportation Mode Choice, and Walking Among French Adults: A GPS, Accelerometer, and Mobility Survey Study
Authors: Duncan Dustin , Méline Julie , Kestens Yan , Day Kristen , Elbel Brian , Trasande Leonardo , Chaix Basile
Published: June 2016

Background: Few studies have used GPS data to analyze the relationship between Walk Score, transportation choice and walking. Additionally, the influence of Walk Score is understudied using trips rather than individuals as statistical units. The purpose of this study is to examine associations at the trip level between Walk Score, transportation mode choice, and walking among Paris adults who were tracked with GPS receivers and accelerometers in the RECORD GPS Study. Methods: In the RECORD GPS Study, 227 participants were tracked during seven days with GPS receivers and accelerometers. Participants were also surveyed with a GPS-based web mapping application on their activities and transportation modes for all trips (6969 trips). Walk Score, which calculates neighborhood walkability, was assessed for each origin and destination of every trip. Multilevel logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate associations between Walk Score and walking in the trip or accelerometry-assessed number of steps for each trip, after adjustment for individual/neighborhood characteristics. Results: The mean overall Walk Scores for trip origins were 87.1 (SD = 14.4) and for trip destinations 87.1 (SD = 14.5). In adjusted trip-level associations between Walk Score and walking only in the trip, we found that a walkable neighborhood in the trip origin and trip destination was associated with increased odds of walking in the trip assessed in the survey. The odds of only walking in the trip were 3.48 (95% CI: 2.73 to 4.44) times higher when the Walk Score for the trip origin was “Walker’s Paradise” compared to less walkable neighborhoods (Very/Car-Dependent or Somewhat Walkable), with an identical independent effect of trip destination Walk Score on walking. The number of steps per 10 min (as assessed with accelerometry) was cumulatively higher for trips both originating and ending in walkable neighborhoods (i.e., “Very Walkable”). Conclusions: Walkable neighborhoods were associated with increases in walking among adults in Paris, as documented at the trip level. Creating walkable neighborhoods (through neighborhood design increased commercial activity) may increase walking trips and, therefore, could be a relevant health promotion strategy to increase physical activity.
Controlling Indoor Air Pollution from Moxibustion
Authors: Lu Chung-Yen , Kang Sy-Yuan , Liu Shu-Hui , Mai Cheng-Wei , Tseng Chao-Heng
Published: June 2016

Indoor air quality (IAQ) control of hospitals plays a critical role in protecting both hospital staffs and patients, particularly those who are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of indoor noxious hazards. However, moxibustion in outpatient departments (OPDs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be a source of indoor air pollution in hospitals. Some studies have investigated indoor air pollution during moxibustion in Chinese medicine clinics (CMCs) and moxibustion rooms, demonstrating elevated air pollutants that pose a threat to the health of medical staff and patients. Our study investigated the indoor air pollutants of indoor carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), airborne particulate matter with a diameter of ≤10 µm (PM10) and ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) during moxibustion in an acupuncture and moxibustion room of the OPD in a hospital in Taipei. To evaluate the different control strategies for indoor air pollution from moxibution, a comparison of air pollutants during moxibution among the methods of using alternative old moxa wools, local exhaust ventilation and an air cleaner was conducted. In this study, burning alternative old moxa wools for moxibustion obviously reduced all gaseous pollutants except for aerosols comparing burning fresh moxa wools. Using local exhaust ventilation reduced most of the aerosols after burning moxa. We also found that using an air cleaner was inefficient for controlling indoor air pollutants, particularly gaseous pollutants. Therefore, combining replacing alternative old moxa wools and local exhaust ventilation could be a suitable design for controlling indoor air pollution during moxibustion therapy.
TSPO Ligand-Methotrexate Prodrug Conjugates: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Laquintana Valentino , Denora Nunzio , Cutrignelli Annalisa , Perrone Mara , Iacobazzi Rosa , Annese Cosimo , Lopalco Antonio , Lopedota Angela , Franco Massimo
Published: June 2016

The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is a potential mitochondrial target for drug delivery to tumors overexpressing TSPO, including brain cancers, and selective TSPO ligands have been successfully used to selectively deliver drugs into the target. Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer drug of choice for the treatment of several cancers, but its permeability through the blood brain barrier (BBB) is poor, making it unsuitable for the treatment of brain tumors. Therefore, in this study, MTX was selected to achieve two TSPO ligand-MTX conjugates (TSPO ligand α-MTX and TSPO ligand γ-MTX), potentially useful for the treatment of TSPO-rich cancers, including brain tumors. In this work, we have presented the synthesis, the physicochemical characterizations, as well as the in vitro stabilities of the new TSPO ligand-MTX conjugates. The binding affinity for TSPO and the selectivity versus central-type benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) was also investigated. The cytotoxicity of prepared conjugates was evaluated on MTX-sensitive human and rat glioma cell lines overexpressing TSPO. The estimated coefficients of lipophilicity and the stability studies of the conjugates confirm that the synthesized molecules are stable enough in buffer solution at pH 7.4, as well in physiological medium, and show an increased lipophilicity compared to the MTX, compatible with a likely ability to cross the blood brain barrier. The latter feature of two TSPO ligand-MTX conjugates was also confirmed by in vitro permeability studies conducted on Madin-Darby canine kidney cells transfected with the human MDR1 gene (MDCK-MDR1) monolayers. TSPO ligand-MTX conjugates have shown to possess a high binding affinity for TSPO, with IC50 values ranging from 7.2 to 40.3 nM, and exhibited marked toxicity against glioma cells overexpressing TSPO, in comparison with the parent drug MTX.
Mobilization of Intracellular Copper by Gossypol and Apogossypolone Leads to Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cell Death: Putative Anticancer Mechanism
Authors: Zubair Haseeb , Azim Shafquat , Khan Husain , Ullah Mohammad , Wu Daocheng , Singh Ajay , Hadi Sheikh , Ahmad Aamir
Published: June 2016

There is compelling evidence that serum, tissue and intracellular levels of copper are elevated in all types of cancer. Copper has been suggested as an important co-factor for angiogenesis. It is also a major metal ion present inside the nucleus, bound to DNA bases, particularly guanine. We have earlier proposed that the interaction of phenolic-antioxidants with intracellular copper leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that ultimately serve as DNA cleaving agents. To further validate our hypothesis we show here that the antioxidant gossypol and its semi-synthetic derivative apogossypolone induce copper-mediated apoptosis in breast MDA-MB-231, prostate PC3 and pancreatic BxPC-3 cancer cells, through the generation of ROS. MCF10A breast epithelial cells refractory to the cytotoxic property of these compounds become sensitized to treatment against gossypol, as well as apogossypolone, when pre-incubated with copper. Our present results confirm our earlier findings and strengthen our hypothesis that plant-derived antioxidants mobilize intracellular copper instigating ROS-mediated cellular DNA breakage. As cancer cells exist under significant oxidative stress, this increase in ROS-stress to cytotoxic levels could be a successful anticancer approach.
Synthesis and Anti-Influenza A Virus Activity of 6′-amino-6′-deoxy-glucoglycerolipids Analogs
Authors: Ren Li , Zhang Jun , Ma Haizhen , Sun Linlin , Zhang Xiaoshuang , Yu Guangli , Guan Huashi , Wang Wei , Li Chunxia
Published: June 2016

A series of aminoglucoglycerolipids derivatives had been synthesized, including 6′-acylamido-glucoglycerolipids 1a–1f and corresponding 2′-acylamido-glucoglycerolipids 2a–2c bearing different fatty acids, glucosyl diglycerides 3a–3e bearing different functional groups at C-6′ and ether-linked glucoglycerolipids 4a–4c with double-tailed alkyl alcohol. The anti-influenza A virus (IAV) activity was evaluated by the cytopathic effects (CPE) inhibition assay. The results indicated that the integral structure of the aminoglycoglycerolipid was essential for the inhibition of IAV in MDCK cells. Furthermore, oral administration of compound 1d was able to significantly improve survival and decrease pulmonary viral titers in IAV-infected mice, which suggested that compound 1d merited further investigation as a novel anti-IAV candidate in the future.
Emulsification Characteristics Using a Dynamic Woven Metal Microscreen Membrane
Authors: Sabouni Rana , Gomaa Hassan , Liu Jiangshan , Zhu Jesse
Published: June 2016

An oscillatory emulsification system for the production of oil in water emulsions using a commercially available low-cost woven metal microscreen (WMMS) is investigated. The system allows for independent control of both the oscillation frequencies and amplitudes such that it provides two degrees of freedom for controlling the emulsion properties. The investigations included the production of both surfactant and particle-stabilized emulsions. The average droplet size was found to decrease when both the oscillation frequency and amplitude was increased. For surfactant-stabilized emulsions, using bi-surfactants in both the continuous and dispersed phases resulted in a smaller droplet size due to lower interfacial tension. For particle-stabilized emulsions, both the hydrodynamics of the system and the hydrophobic and hydrophilic nature of the stabilizing particles influenced the interfacial properties at the oil–water interface, which in turn affected the final droplet size and distribution with potential droplet breakage. In absence of the latter, a simple torque balance model can be used to reasonably predict the average emulsion droplet size.
Fabrication of Dish-Shaped Micro Parts by Laser Indirect Shocking Compound Process
Authors: Liu Huixia , Sha Chaofei , Shen Zongbao , Li Liyin , Gao Shuai , Li Cong , Sun Xianqing , Wang Xiao
Published: June 2016

Compound process technology has been investigated for many years on a macro scale, but only a few studies can be found on a micro scale due to the difficulties in tool manufacturing, parts transporting and punch-die alignment. In this paper, a novel technology of combining the laser shock wave and soft punch was introduced to fabricate the dish-shaped micro-parts on copper to solve these difficulties. This compound process includes deep drawing, punching and blanking and these processes can be completed almost at the same time because the duration time of laser is quite short, so the precision of the micro-parts can be ensured. A reasonable laser energy of 1550 mJ made the morphology, depth of deformation, dimensional accuracy and surface roughness achieve their best results when the thickness of the soft punches was 200 μm. In addition, thicker soft punches may hinder the compound process due to the action of unloading waves based on the elastic wave theory. So, the greatest thickness of the soft punches was 200 μm.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Agrimoniin-Enriched Fractions of Potentilla erecta
Authors: Hoffmann Julia , Casetti Federica , Bullerkotte Ute , Haarhaus Birgit , Vagedes Jan , Schempp Christoph , Wölfle Ute
Published: June 2016

Potentilla erecta (PE) is a small herbaceous plant with four yellow petals belonging to the Rosaceae family. The rhizome of PE has traditionally been used as an antidiarrheal, hemostatic and antihemorrhoidal remedy. PE contains up to 20% tannins and 5% ellagitannins, mainly agrimoniin. Agrimoniin is a hydrolyzable tannin that is a potent radical scavenger. In this study we tested the anti-inflammatory effect of four PE fractions with increasing amounts of agrimoniin obtained by Sephadex column separation. First, we analyzed in HaCaT keratinocytes the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induced by ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. As COX-2 catalyzes the metabolism of arachidonic acid to prostanoids such as PGE2, we also measured the PGE2 concentration in cell culture supernatants. PE inhibited UVB-induced COX-2 expression in HaCaT cells and dose-dependently reduced PGE2. The PE fraction with the highest agrimoniin amount (PE4) was the most effective in this experiment, whereas fraction PE1 containing mainly sugars had no effect. PE4 also dose dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which plays a crucial role in UVB-mediated COX-2 upregulation. A placebo-controlled UV-erythema study with increasing concentrations of PE4 demonstrated a dose dependent inhibition of UVB-induced inflammation in vivo. Similarly, PE4 significantly reduced UVB-induced PGE2 production in suction blister fluid in vivo. In summary, PE fractions with a high agrimoniin content display anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo in models of UVB-induced inflammation.
Antioxidative, Antibacterial, and Food Functional Properties of the Half-Fin Anchovy Hydrolysates-Glucose Conjugates Formed via Maillard Reaction
Authors: Song Ru , Yang Peiyu , Wei Rongbian , Ruan Guanqiang
Published: June 2016

The antioxidative, antibacterial, and food functional properties of the half-fin anchovy hydrolysates (HAHp)-glucose conjugates formed by Maillard reaction (MR) were investigated, respectively. Results of sugar and amino acid contents loss rates, browning index, and molecular weight distribution indicated that the initial pH of HAHp played an important role in the process of MR between HAHp and glucose. HAHp-glucose Maillard reaction products (HAHp-G MRPs) demonstrated enhanced antioxidative activities of reducing power and scavenging DPPH radicals compared to control groups. HAHp-G MRPs produced from the condition of pH 9.6 displayed the strongest reducing power. The excellent scavenging activity on DPPH radicals was found for HAHp(5.6)-G MRPs which was produced at pH 5.6. Additionally, HAHp(5.6)-G MRPs showed variable antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, and Sarcina lutea, with the MIC values ranging from 8.3 to 16.7 μg/mL. Result of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on E. coli suggested that HAHp(5.6)-G MRPs exhibited antibacterial activity by destroying the cell integrity through membrane permeabilization. Moreover, HAHp(5.6)-G MRPs had excellent foaming ability and stability at alkaline conditions of pH 8.0, and showed emulsion properties at acidic pH 4.0. These results suggested that specific HAHp-G MRPs should be promising functional ingredients used in foods.
Construction of an Immobilized Thermophilic Esterase on Epoxy Support for Poly(ε-caprolactone) Synthesis
Authors: Ren Hui , Xing Zhen , Yang Jiebing , Jiang Wei , Zhang Gang , Tang Jun , Li Quanshun
Published: June 2016

Developing an efficient immobilized enzyme is of great significance for improving the operational stability of enzymes in poly(ε-caprolactone) synthesis. In this paper, a thermophilic esterase AFEST from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus was successfully immobilized on the epoxy support Sepabeads EC-EP via covalent attachment, and the immobilized enzyme was then employed as a biocatalyst for poly(ε-caprolactone) synthesis. The enzyme loading and recovered activity of immobilized enzyme was measured to be 72 mg/g and 10.4 U/mg using p-nitrophenyl caprylate as the substrate at 80 °C, respectively. Through the optimization of reaction conditions (enzyme concentration, temperature, reaction time and medium), poly(ε-caprolactone) was obtained with 100% monomer conversion and low number-average molecular weight (Mn < 1300 g/mol). Further, the immobilized enzyme exhibited excellent reusability, with monomer conversion values exceeding 75% during 15 batch reactions. Finally, poly(ε-caprolactone) was enzymatically synthesized with an isolated yield of 75% and Mn value of 3005 g/mol in a gram-scale reaction.
Object-Based Greenhouse Mapping Using Very High Resolution Satellite Data and Landsat 8 Time Series
Authors: Aguilar Manuel , Nemmaoui Abderrahim , Novelli Antonio , Aguilar Fernando , García Lorca Andrés
Published: June 2016

Greenhouse mapping through remote sensing has received extensive attention over the last decades. In this article, the innovative goal relies on mapping greenhouses through the combined use of very high resolution satellite data (WorldView-2) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) time series within a context of an object-based image analysis (OBIA) and decision tree classification. Thus, WorldView-2 was mainly used to segment the study area focusing on individual greenhouses. Basic spectral information, spectral and vegetation indices, textural features, seasonal statistics and a spectral metric (Moment Distance Index, MDI) derived from Landsat 8 time series and/or WorldView-2 imagery were computed on previously segmented image objects. In order to test its temporal stability, the same approach was applied for two different years, 2014 and 2015. In both years, MDI was pointed out as the most important feature to detect greenhouses. Moreover, the threshold value of this spectral metric turned to be extremely stable for both Landsat 8 and WorldView-2 imagery. A simple decision tree always using the same threshold values for features from Landsat 8 time series and WorldView-2 was finally proposed. Overall accuracies of 93.0% and 93.3% and kappa coefficients of 0.856 and 0.861 were attained for 2014 and 2015 datasets, respectively.
Mitigating BeiDou Satellite-Induced Code Bias: Taking into Account the Stochastic Model of Corrections
Authors: Guo Fei , Li Xin , Liu Wanke
Published: June 2016

The BeiDou satellite-induced code biases have been confirmed to be orbit type-, frequency-, and elevation-dependent. Such code-phase divergences (code bias variations) severely affect absolute precise applications which use code measurements. To reduce their adverse effects, an improved correction model is proposed in this paper. Different from the model proposed by Wanninger and Beer (2015), more datasets (a time span of almost two years) were used to produce the correction values. More importantly, the stochastic information, i.e., the precision indexes, were given together with correction values in the improved model. However, only correction values were given while the precision indexes were completely missing in the traditional model. With the improved correction model, users may have a better understanding of their corrections, especially the uncertainty of corrections. Thus, it is helpful for refining the stochastic model of code observations. Validation tests in precise point positioning (PPP) reveal that a proper stochastic model is critical. The actual precision of the corrected code observations can be reflected in a more objective manner if the stochastic model of the corrections is taken into account. As a consequence, PPP solutions with the improved model outperforms the traditional one in terms of positioning accuracy, as well as convergence speed. In addition, the Melbourne-Wübbena (MW) combination which serves for ambiguity fixing were verified as well. The uncorrected MW values show strong systematic variations with an amplitude of half a wide-lane cycle, which prevents precise ambiguity determination and successful ambiguity resolution. After application of the code bias correction models, the systematic variations can be greatly removed, and the resulting wide lane ambiguities are more likely to be fixed. Moreover, the code residuals show more reasonable distributions after code bias corrections with either the traditional or the improved model.
Position Accuracy Improvement by Implementing the DGNSS-CP Algorithm in Smartphones
Authors: Yoon Donghwan , Kee Changdon , Seo Jiwon , Park Byungwoon
Published: June 2016

The position accuracy of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) modules is one of the most significant factors in determining the feasibility of new location-based services for smartphones. Considering the structure of current smartphones, it is impossible to apply the ordinary range-domain Differential GNSS (DGNSS) method. Therefore, this paper describes and applies a DGNSS-correction projection method to a commercial smartphone. First, the local line-of-sight unit vector is calculated using the elevation and azimuth angle provided in the position-related output of Android’s LocationManager, and this is transformed to Earth-centered, Earth-fixed coordinates for use. To achieve position-domain correction for satellite systems other than GPS, such as GLONASS and BeiDou, the relevant line-of-sight unit vectors are used to construct an observation matrix suitable for multiple constellations. The results of static and dynamic tests show that the standalone GNSS accuracy is improved by about 30%–60%, thereby reducing the existing error of 3–4 m to just 1 m. The proposed algorithm enables the position error to be directly corrected via software, without the need to alter the hardware and infrastructure of the smartphone. This method of implementation and the subsequent improvement in performance are expected to be highly effective to portability and cost saving.
Accuracy of WAAS-Enabled GPS-RF Warning Signals When Crossing a Terrestrial Geofence
Authors: Grayson Lindsay , Keefe Robert , Tinkham Wade , Eitel Jan , Saralecos Jarred , Smith Alistair , Zimbelman Eloise
Published: June 2016

Geofences are virtual boundaries based on geographic coordinates. When combined with global position system (GPS), or more generally global navigation satellite system (GNSS) transmitters, geofences provide a powerful tool for monitoring the location and movements of objects of interest through proximity alarms. However, the accuracy of geofence alarms in GNSS-radio frequency (GNSS-RF) transmitter receiver systems has not been tested. To achieve these goals, a cart with a GNSS-RF locator was run on a straight path in a balanced factorial experiment with three levels of cart speed, three angles of geofence intersection, three receiver distances from the track, and three replicates. Locator speed, receiver distance and geofence intersection angle all affected geofence alarm accuracy in an analysis of variance (p = 0.013, p = 2.58 × 10−8, and p = 0.0006, respectively), as did all treatment interactions (p < 0.0001). Slower locator speed, acute geofence intersection angle, and closest receiver distance were associated with reduced accuracy of geofence alerts.
A High-Temperature Piezoresistive Pressure Sensor with an Integrated Signal-Conditioning Circuit
Authors: Yao Zong , Liang Ting , Jia Pinggang , Hong Yingping , Qi Lei , Lei Cheng , Zhang Bin , Xiong Jijun
Published: June 2016

This paper focuses on the design and fabrication of a high-temperature piezoresistive pressure sensor with an integrated signal-conditioning circuit, which consists of an encapsulated pressure-sensitive chip, a temperature compensation circuit and a signal-conditioning circuit. A silicon on insulation (SOI) material and a standard MEMS process are used in the pressure-sensitive chip fabrication, and high-temperature electronic components are adopted in the temperature-compensation and signal-conditioning circuits. The entire pressure sensor achieves a hermetic seal and can be operated long-term in the range of −50 °C to 220 °C. Unlike traditional pressure sensor output voltage ranges (in the dozens to hundreds of millivolts), the output voltage of this sensor is from 0 V to 5 V, which can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio and measurement accuracy in practical applications of long-term transmission based on experimental verification. Furthermore, because this flexible sensor’s output voltage is adjustable, general follow-up pressure transmitter devices for voltage converters need not be used, which greatly reduces the cost of the test system. Thus, the proposed high-temperature piezoresistive pressure sensor with an integrated signal-conditioning circuit is expected to be highly applicable to pressure measurements in harsh environments.
Characterization of a Functional Hydrogel Layer on a Silicon-Based Grating Waveguide for a Biochemical Sensor
Authors: Hong Yoo-Seung , Kim Jongseong , Sung Hyuk-Kee
Published: June 2016

We numerically demonstrated the characteristics of a functional hydrogel layer on a silicon-based grating waveguide for a simple, cost-effective refractive index (RI) biochemical sensor. The RI of the functional hydrogel layer changes when a specific biochemical interaction occurs between the hydrogel-linked receptors and injected ligand molecules. The transmission spectral profile of the grating waveguide shifts depends on the amount of RI change caused by the functional layer. Our characterization includes the effective RI change caused by the thickness, functional volume ratio, and functional strength of the hydrogel layer. The results confirm the feasibility of, and set design rules for, hydrogel-assisted silicon-based grating waveguides.
An Assessment of the Influence of the Industry Distribution Chain on the Oxygen Levels in Commercial Modified Atmosphere Packaged Cheddar Cheese Using Non-Destructive Oxygen Sensor Technology
Authors: O’ Callaghan Karen , Papkovsky Dmitri , Kerry Joseph
Published: June 2016

The establishment and control of oxygen levels in packs of oxygen-sensitive food products such as cheese is imperative in order to maintain product quality over a determined shelf life. Oxygen sensors quantify oxygen concentrations within packaging using a reversible optical measurement process, and this non-destructive nature ensures the entire supply chain can be monitored and can assist in pinpointing negative issues pertaining to product packaging. This study was carried out in a commercial cheese packaging plant and involved the insertion of 768 sensors into 384 flow-wrapped cheese packs (two sensors per pack) that were flushed with 100% carbon dioxide prior to sealing. The cheese blocks were randomly assigned to two different storage groups to assess the effects of package quality, packaging process efficiency, and handling and distribution on package containment. Results demonstrated that oxygen levels increased in both experimental groups examined over the 30-day assessment period. The group subjected to a simulated industrial distribution route and handling procedures of commercial retailed cheese exhibited the highest level of oxygen detected on every day examined and experienced the highest rate of package failure. The study concluded that fluctuating storage conditions, product movement associated with distribution activities, and the possible presence of cheese-derived contaminants such as calcium lactate crystals were chief contributors to package failure.
Angle-of-Arrival Assisted GNSS Collaborative Positioning
Authors: Huang Bin , Yao Zheng , Cui Xiaowei , Lu Mingquan
Published: June 2016

For outdoor and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) challenged scenarios, collaborative positioning algorithms are proposed to fuse information from GNSS satellites and terrestrial wireless systems. This paper derives the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) and algorithms for the angle-of-arrival (AOA)-assisted GNSS collaborative positioning. Based on the CRLB model and collaborative positioning algorithms, theoretical analysis are performed to specify the effects of various factors on the accuracy of collaborative positioning, including the number of users, their distribution and AOA measurements accuracy. Besides, the influences of the relative location of the collaborative users are also discussed in order to choose appropriate neighboring users, which is in favor of reducing computational complexity. Simulations and actual experiment are carried out with several GNSS receivers in different scenarios, and the results are consistent with theoretical analysis.
Residents’ Environmental Conservation Behaviors at Tourist Sites: Broadening the Norm Activation Framework by Adopting Environment Attachment
Authors: Zhang Yuling , Zhang Jie , Ye Yuyao , Wu Qitao , Jin Lixia , Zhang Hongou
Published: June 2016

Understanding the factors that affect residents’ environmental conservation behaviors help in managing the environment of tourist sites. This research provides an integrative understanding of how residents near tourist sites form their environmental conservation behaviors by merging the norm-activation model and cognitive-affective model into one theoretical framework. Results of the structural analysis from a sample of 642 residents showed that this study’s proposed composite model includes a satisfactory level of predictive power for environmental conservation behaviors. The findings identify the following two dimensions of awareness of environmental consequences as having a key role in predicting environmental conservation behaviors: (1) awareness of positive consequences of environmental protection; and (2) awareness of disaster consequences. Results also show that environment attachment and personal norms about environmentalism played a mediating role between awareness of environmental consequences and environmental conservation behaviors, and that personal norms about environmentalism were the most powerful factor in predicting behaviors. Several practical implications were derived from the research findings that can contribute to environment management policy both within and outside the field of tourism, mostly notably: (1) how the effective promotion of these factors can encourage environmental conservation behaviors for residents; and (2) how governments can develop and implement environmental management measures to improve locals’ awareness of positive consequences of environmental protection.
From Food Waste to Donations: The Case of Marketplaces in Northern Spain
Authors: González-Torre Pilar , Coque Jorge
Published: June 2016

There is a growing increase in the number of disadvantaged people whose basic needs, such as food, should be covered. In crisis periods, food banks and other entities have a special role to play in that social function. This research focuses on the marketplaces that are great generators of organic food waste due to the fact that almost all of their stalls are dedicated to the sales of fresh food. The work combines both qualitative (interviews with the person responsible for most of the marketplaces in a northern Spain region and with two health inspectors, as well as a participatory workshop with different stakeholders related to food recovery: a regional waste management company, a food bank and several beneficiary entities) and quantitative techniques (a massive survey of the market stalls where the interviews were previously conducted). The results allow us to estimate the volume of organic waste generated by these marketplaces and to propose guidelines that would facilitate a better management of the food surpluses with potential for use, in the first place, as donations to food banks and, secondly, as recoverable bio-waste.
UNMIX Methods Applied to Characterize Sources of Volatile Organic Compounds in Toronto, Ontario
Authors: Porada Eugeniusz , Szyszkowicz Mieczysław
Published: June 2016

UNMIX, a sensor modeling routine from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was used to model volatile organic compound (VOC) receptors in four urban sites in Toronto, Ontario. VOC ambient concentration data acquired in 2000–2009 for 175 VOC species in four air quality monitoring stations were analyzed. UNMIX, by performing multiple modeling attempts upon varying VOC menus—while rejecting the results that were not reliable—allowed for discriminating sources by their most consistent chemical characteristics. The method assessed occurrences of VOCs in sources typical of the urban environment (traffic, evaporative emissions of fuels, banks of fugitive inert gases), industrial point sources (plastic-, polymer-, and metalworking manufactures), and in secondary sources (releases from water, sediments, and contaminated urban soil). The remote sensing and robust modeling used here produces chemical profiles of putative VOC sources that, if combined with known environmental fates of VOCs, can be used to assign physical sources’ shares of VOCs emissions into the atmosphere. This in turn provides a means of assessing the impact of environmental policies on one hand, and industrial activities on the other hand, on VOC air pollution.
VacA’s Induction of VacA-Containing Vacuoles (VCVs) and Their Immunomodulatory Activities on Human T Cells
Authors: Utsch Ciara , Haas Rainer
Published: June 2016

Vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is a secreted pore-forming toxin and one of the major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which actively supports the persistence and survival of the bacteria in the special ecological niche of the human stomach. H. pylori genomes harbor different allelic forms of the vacA gene, which translate into functionally distinct VacA toxin types. VacA internalizes into various cell types via membrane or specific receptor interactions finally forming acidic endocytic VacA-containing vacuoles (VCVs). In this review, we focus on different characteristics of VacA, its interaction with host cells, the formation and protein content of VCVs and their intracellular transport into human T cells, which finally leads to the immunosuppressive phenotype of VacA. Immunomodulatory activities of VacA on human T cells are discussed with a focus on T-cell proliferation and calcium signaling.
Short-Term Grafting of Human Neural Stem Cells: Electrophysiological Properties and Motor Behavioral Amelioration in Experimental Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Martínez-Serrano Alberto , Pereira Marta P. , Avaliani Natalia , Nelke Anna , Kokaia Merab , Ramos-Moreno Tania
Published: June 2016

Cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) still lacks a study addressing the acquisition of electrophysiological properties of human grafted neural stem cells and their relation with the emergence of behavioral recovery after transplantation in the short term. Here we study the electrophysiological and biochemical profiles of two ventral mesencephalic human neural stem cell (NSC) clonal lines (C30-Bcl-XLand C32-Bcl-XL) that express high levels of Bcl-XLto enhance their neurogenic capacity, after grafting in an in vitro parkinsonian model. Electrophysiological recordings show that the majority of the cells derived from the transplants are not mature at 6 weeks after grafting, but 6.7% of the studied cells showed mature electrophysiological profiles. Nevertheless, parallel in vivo behavioral studies showed a significant motor improvement at 7 weeks postgrafting in the animals receiving C30-Bcl-XL, the cell line producing the highest amount of TH+cells. Present results show that, at this postgrafting time point, behavioral amelioration highly correlates with the spatial dispersion of the TH+grafted cells in the caudate putamen. The spatial dispersion, along with a high number of dopaminergic-derived cells, is crucial for behavioral improvements. Our findings have implications for long-term standardization of stem cell-based approaches in Parkinson's disease.
A Method for Assessing Auditory Spatial Analysis in Reverberant Multitalker Environments
Authors: Weller Tobias , Best Virginia , Buchholz Jörg M. , Young Taegan
Published: June 2016

Background:Deficits in spatial hearing can have a negative impact on listeners’ ability to orient in their environment and follow conversations in noisy backgrounds and may exacerbate the experience of hearing loss as a handicap. However, there are no good tools available
for reliably capturing the spatial hearing abilities of listeners in complex acoustic environments containing multiple sounds of interest.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to explore a new method to measure auditory spatial analysis in a reverberant multitalker scenario.Research
Design:This study was a descriptive case control study.Study Sample:Ten listeners with normal hearing (NH) aged 20‐31 yr and 16 listeners with hearing impairment (HI) aged 52‐85 yr participated in the study. The latter group had symmetrical sensorineural hearing losses
with a four-frequency average hearing loss of 29.7 dB HL.Data Collection and Analysis:A large reverberant room was simulated using a loudspeaker array in an anechoic chamber. In this simulated room, 96 scenes comprising between one and six concurrent talkers at different locations were
generated. Listeners were presented with 45-sec samples of each scene, and were required to count, locate, and identify the gender of all talkers, using a graphical user interface on an iPad. Performance was evaluated in terms of correctly counting the sources and accuracy in localizing their
direction.Results:Listeners with NH were able to reliably analyze scenes with up to four simultaneous talkers, while most listeners with hearing loss demonstrated errors even with two talkers at a time. Localization performance decreased in both groups with increasing number of talkers
and was significantly poorer in listeners with HI. Overall performance was significantly correlated with hearing loss.Conclusions:This new method appears to be useful for estimating spatial abilities in realistic multitalker scenes. The method is sensitive to the number of sources in
the scene, and to effects of sensorineural hearing loss. Further work will be needed to compare this method to more traditional single-source localization tests.
MOJAVE. XIII. PARSEC-SCALE AGN JET KINEMATICS ANALYSIS BASED ON 19 YEARS OF VLBA OBSERVATIONS AT 15 GHz
Authors: Lister M. L. , Aller M. F. , Aller H. D. , Homan D. C. , Kellermann K. I. , Kovalev Y. Y. , Pushkarev A. B. , Richards J. L. , Ros E. , Savolainen T.
Published: June 2016

We present 1625 new 15 GHz (2 cm) VLBA images of 295 jets associated with active galactic nuclei (AGNs) from the MOJAVE and 2 cm VLBA surveys, spanning observations between 1994 August 31 and 2013 August 20. For 274 AGNs with at least 5 VLBA epochs, we have analyzed the kinematics of 961 individual bright features in their parsec-scale jets. A total of 122 of these jets have not been previously analyzed by the MOJAVE program. In the case of 451 jet features that had at least 10 epochs, we also examined their kinematics for possible accelerations. At least half of the well-sampled features have non-radial and/or accelerating trajectories, indicating that non-ballistic motion is common in AGN jets. Since it is impossible to extrapolate any accelerations that occurred before our monitoring period, we could only determine reliable ejection dates for

of those features that had significant proper motions. The distribution of maximum apparent jet speeds in all 295 AGNs measured by our program to date is peaked below

, with very few jets with apparent speeds above

. The fastest speed in our survey is

, measured in the jet of the quasar PKS 0805−07, and is indicative of a maximum jet Lorentz factor of ∼50 in the parent population. An envelope in the maximum jet speed versus redshift distribution of our sample provides additional evidence of this upper limit to the speeds of radio-emitting regions in parsec-scale AGN jets. The Fermi-LAT-detected gamma-ray AGNs in our sample have, on average, higher jet speeds than non-LAT-detected AGNs, indicating a strong correlation between parsec-scale jet speed and the gamma-ray Doppler boosting factor. We have identified 11 moderate-redshift (

) AGNs with fast apparent speeds (

) that are strong candidates for future TeV gamma-ray detection. Of the five gamma-ray loud narrow-lined Seyfert I AGNs in our sample, three show highly superluminal jet motions, while the others have sub-luminal speeds. This indicates that some narrow-lined Seyfert I AGNs possess powerful jets with Lorentz factors in excess of 10, and viewing angles less than

, consistent with those of typical BL Lac objects and flat-spectrum radio quasars.
THE MUSCLES TREASURY SURVEY. II. INTRINSIC LYα AND EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA OF K AND M DWARFS WITH EXOPLANETS*
Authors: Youngblood Allison , France Kevin , Loyd R. O. Parke , Linsky Jeffrey L. , Redfield Seth , Schneider P. Christian , Wood Brian E. , Brown Alexander , Froning Cynthia , Miguel Yamila , Rugheimer Sarah , Walkowicz Lucianne
Published: June 2016

The ultraviolet (UV) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of low-mass (K- and M-type) stars play a critical role in the heating and chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres, but are not observationally well-constrained. Direct observations of the intrinsic flux of the Lyα line (the dominant source of UV photons from low-mass stars) are challenging, as interstellar H i absorbs the entire line core for even the closest stars. To address the existing gap in empirical constraints on the UV flux of K and M dwarfs, the MUSCLES Hubble Space Telescope Treasury Survey has obtained UV observations of 11 nearby M and K dwarfs hosting exoplanets. This paper presents the Lyα and extreme-UV spectral reconstructions for the MUSCLES targets. Most targets are optically inactive, but all exhibit significant UV activity. We use a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique to correct the observed Lyα profiles for interstellar absorption, and we employ empirical relations to compute the extreme-UV SED from the intrinsic Lyα flux in ∼100 Å bins from 100–1170 Å. The reconstructed Lyα profiles have 300 km s−1 broad cores, while >1% of the total intrinsic Lyα flux is measured in extended wings between 300 and 1200 km s−1. The Lyα surface flux positively correlates with the Mg ii surface flux and negatively correlates with the stellar rotation period. Stars with larger Lyα surface flux also tend to have larger surface flux in ions formed at higher temperatures, but these correlations remain statistically insignificant in our sample of 11 stars. We also present H i column density measurements for 10 new sightlines through the local interstellar medium.
ANGULAR MOMENTUM REGULATES ATOMIC GAS FRACTIONS OF GALACTIC DISKS
Authors: Obreschkow D. , Glazebrook K. , Kilborn V. , Lutz K.
Published: June 2016

We show that the mass fraction

f

atm

=
1.35

M

H

I

/

M

of neutral atomic gas (H i and He) in isolated local disk galaxies of baryonic mass

M

is well described by a straightforward stability model for flat exponential disks. In the outer disk parts, where gas at the characteristic dispersion of the warm neutral medium is stable in the sense of Toomre, the disk consists of neutral atomic gas; conversely, the inner part where this medium would be Toomre-unstable, is dominated by stars and molecules. Within this model,

f

atm

only depends on a global stability parameter

q
≡
j
σ

/

(
GM
)

, where j is the baryonic specific angular momentum of the disk and σ the velocity dispersion of the atomic gas. The analytically derived first-order solution

f

atm

=
min
{
1
,
2.5

q

1.12

}

provides a good fit to all plausible rotation curves. This model, with no free parameters, agrees remarkably well (±0.2 dex) with measurements of

f

atm

in isolated local disk galaxies, even with galaxies that are extremely H i-rich or H i-poor for their mass. The finding that

f

atm

increasing monotonically with q for pure stability reasons offers a powerful intuitive explanation for the mean variation of

f

atm

with

M

: in a cold dark matter universe, galaxies are expected to follow

j
∝

M

2

/

3

, which implies the average scaling

q
∝

M

−
1

/

3

and hence

f

atm

∝

M

−
0.37

, in agreement with the observations.
Utilization of Scenarios for the Operational Concepts Development
Authors: Marša Jan , Kubeša Milan
Published: June 2016

The paper deals with the issue of the purpose, creation and practical use of scenarios during operational concepts development. The scenar- ios reflect the fundamental characteristics of the environment in which the military missions will be conducted in the next 15-20 years. The paper defines the type of scenarios useful for creation of operational concepts and requirements that must be met for a successful process of scenarios development. Further, it describes the process of scenarios development, the main risks associated with this process while suggesting the possibility of reducing the rate of those risks.
Agua fresca para Avita y joyas de inmortalidad para Isis (CIL II 3386)
Authors: Alvar Ezquerra Jaime
Published: June 2016

Résumé En 2012 les Presses universitaires de Franche-Comté publièrent mon livre Los cultos egipcios en Hispania , où dans le commentaire correspondant au numéro 168 du catalogue, j’avais présenté une interprétation hypothétique d’une base de qualité extraordinaire. Dans cet article j’explore plus profondément la suggestion initiale avec des parallèles iconographiques et des appuis textuels pour soutenir l’idée d’une connaissance assez vaste de la théologie isiaque dans quelques-unes des cités privilégiées des provinces romaines d’ Hispania .
Le livre d’Esther et la face cachée de Dieu, Hester Panim . Une lumière sur la Shoah
Authors: Weill Marie-David
Published: June 2016

Dans la réflexion théologique sur la Shoah, la référence au livre d’Esther n’est pas fréquente. Pourtant, le thème de la « face cachée » de Dieu, Hester Panim , qui consonne avec le Dieu caché d’ Esther et les masques sous lesquels les Juifs dissimulent leur face lors de la fête de Pourim , donne une lumière nouvelle sur l’insupportable silence de Dieu dans la tragédie orchestrée par les nazis.
Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Agitation and Depressive Mood in Individuals With Dementia
Authors: Yang Ya-Ping , Wang Chi-Jane , Wang Jing-Jy
Published: June 2016

The current study examined the effects of aromatherapy massage on alleviating agitation and depressive mood in individuals with dementia. A randomized controlled trial and repeated measures design was conducted. A total of 59 participants were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received aromatherapy massage once per week for 8 weeks. Results indicated no significant changes over time in overall agitation for either group, but agitation decreased from Week 1 to Week 5 for the intervention group. In addition, the overall depressive symptoms decreased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the control group (
p
< 0.001). However, changes in agitation within 24 hours following aromatherapy massage showed some significant changes in Weeks 5 and 9. Aromatherapy massage can be an effective and safe intervention to alleviate specific agitated behaviors and depressive mood in individuals with dementia. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42
(9), 38–46.]
Nurse–Physician Communication in Long-Term Care: Literature Review
Authors: Renz Susan M. , Carrington Jane M.
Published: June 2016

Over-hospitalization of institutionalized older adults remains a serious concern in the health care industry. Communication failures between nurses and medical providers have been linked to numerous errors, including unnecessary hospitalizations for conditions that could be safely managed in the long-term care setting. Suboptimal communication, especially between nurses and physicians, concerning unstable nursing home residents has been identified as a causative factor for reduced nurse and medical provider satisfaction. Despite the known negative effects of communication failures, little research exists in the nursing home setting that describes the etiology of communication problems or interventions to improve nurse–physician communication. The purpose of the current article is to explore the recent literature as it relates to communication between nurses and medical providers in the long-term care setting. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42
(9), 30–37.]