bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for high yield potential
Authors: Noor F , Hossain F , Ara U
Published: March 2015

Eleven genotypes of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were screened to select a suitable one which could provide optimum yield of fresh pod, dry seed and biochemical parameters. The maximum seed yield in french bean was found in case of genotype BB-9 (2.96 t/ha) and BARI bush bean -1 (2.95 t/ha), while that of minimum was found in BB-11(1.64 t/ha). However, maximum fresh pod yield (14.25 t/ha) was found for BARI bush bean -1, followed by BARI bush bean -2 (13.23t/ha). BARI bush bean -1 required the minimum time of 88.33 days while BB-3 the maximum of 110.00 days to attain 90% pods maturity. The highest number of diseased plants were observed in BB- 5 (30.33%) and the lowest were in BARI bush bean -1 (7.33%). No significant difference (P< 0.05) in maximum protein content among the studied genotypes was observed, for example BB-15 (21.60%) and BARI bush bean -1 (21.57%). Maximum crude fiber (5.53%) was obtained from BARI bush bean -1, followed by BB-6 (5.50%), BB-20 (5.50%) and BB-5 (5.47%), which all were statistically similar. Among all the genotypes, BARI bush bean -1 showed highest yield and superior quality of french bean. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i4.22625 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(4), 227-232, 2014
Characterization of tannery wastewater and its treatment by aquatic macrophytes and algae
Authors: Jahan MAA , Akhtar N , Khan NMS , Roy CK , Islam R , Nurunnabi M
Published: March 2015

Tannery wastewater contains large amount of chemical compounds including toxic substances. So an attempt was made to characterize physiochemical parameters of tannery wastewater and investigate the efficacy, and applicability of the biological treatment utilizing aquatic plants macrophytes and algae. Total suspended solids TSS and total Dissolved solid in the original wastewater were found 1250 mg/l and 21300 mg/l respectively. The pH and temperature were 8.3 and 29°C. Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were 2.72 mg/l, 4464 mg/l and 12840 mg/l respectively. Electrical conductivity (EC) was 42500 ?S/cm anions PO43- and Cl- were 17.1 mg/l and 13.8 mg/l respectively. Heavy metals were also analysed. Fe, Na, Zn, Cr, Pb and Ca were found 14.675 mg/l, 12006 mg/l, 1.5241 mg/l, 10.348 mg/l, 0.1818 mg/l and 0.4112 mg/l respectively. Biological treatment with aquatic plants, algae and their combination treatments were found to be effective for the reduction of some physiochemical parameters. Treatment conducted with Eichhornia crassipes was found most effective in reducing COD, EC, TDS and TSS. Mixed treatment resulted reduction of pH from 8.3 to 6.21. Both macrophytes and algae exhibited good heavy metal uptake tendency, but Eichhornia crassips was identified as most effective for the removal of heavy metals in the wastewater because of its extensive root system which provides to help the uptake of pollutants from the wastewater. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i4.22626 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(4), 233-242, 2014
Trace metal concentration in atmospheric aerosols in some city areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Mondol MN , Khaled M , Chamon AS , Ullah SM
Published: March 2015

Aerosol particulate matter and trace gases were sampled at five locations in the city areas of Bangladesh. The sampling sites were selected in the city areas near motor vehicles run with heavy traffic. The average concentrations of total suspended particulate matter in city ambient air were 413.02, 292.63, 671.65, 184.09 and 301.13 ?g m-³ in Dhaka, Noakhali, Chittagong, Faridpur and Kustia, respectively, which were higher than the daily average value, given by WHO and US EPA standard. The highest SPM concentration is in Chittagong (671.65 ?g m-³) and the lowest in Faridpur (184.09 ?g m-³). The city areas studied fall in the Unhealthy to Extremely Unhealthy class according to the Air Quality Index, 2003. Trace metal concentrations of total suspended particulate matter in city ambient air were analyzed. The reported previous Pb concentration in farmgate, Dhaka was 1238 ng m-3 by Biswas et al., (2003) and now shows a decreasing tendency, presumably due to the ban on the use of leaded fuel. The average results of trace metals have been compared to national and international standards. The Cu and Zn concentration of current study is found very high in comparison with other previously reported results. The air of Chittagong city is highly polluted. Motor vehicles, especially two stroke engine vehicles are increasingly major sources of air pollution in Chittagong. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i4.22630 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(4), 263-270, 2014
Fuzzy logics and medical diagnosis of nursing assessment
Authors: Dev U , Sultana A , Mitra NK
Published: March 2015

This paper argues that fuzzy representations are appropriate in applications where there are major sources of imprecision and / or uncertainty. Case studies of fuzzy approaches to specific problems of medical diagnosis and classification are described in support of this argument. The solutions use a variety of fuzzy methods including clustering, fuzzy set aggregation and type- 2 fuzzy set and Type-2 fuzzy relation modeling of linguistic approximations. It is concluded that the fuzzy approach to the development of artificial intelligence in application systems is beneficial in these contexts because of the need to focus on uncertainty as a main issue. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i4.22631 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(4), 271-274, 2014
Comparative analysis of antioxidative potentials of extracts of defatted unfermented and fermented locust beans
Authors: Daramola B
Published: March 2015

Preliminary investigation on antioxidative potentials of defatted fermented locust bean extract in comparison to defatted non-fermented locust bean was conducted. Qualitative antioxidative assessment on the extract was accomplished by screening the phytochemical endowment, and similar bioactive components. Also some antioxidative indices: relative reducing power (mg ascorbic acid reducing activity equivalent per mg sample), radical scavenging activity(%) and free amino acids (mg glycine activity equivalent per mg sample), were quantitatively evaluated. Phytochemical screening results showed that the defatted fermented samples were characterized with high strength presence of bioactive compounds notably phenolic compounds, saponins, peptides, amino acid and reductones. However, alkaloids and flavonoids were not detected. UV-Spectral characteristics of the extracts corroborated same. Similarly, quantitative antioxidative markers evaluated showed that the antioxidative capacity in terms of relative reducing power (23.40-29.50), and radical scavenging activity (82-89) on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) of defatted fermented locust bean extracts were high in comparison to the low antioxidative capacity in terms of relative reducing power 10.00-13.30) and radical scavenging activity (53-57) of the corresponding defatted unfermented locust bean extract. In addition the free amino acid of the defatted fermented locust bean extracts were high (1.66-3.30) in comparison to the low (0.215-0.3) free amino acid of the defatted unfermented locust bean extract. The result of total phenolic content was variable. Also, the antioxidant activity rate content, and EC50 of the extract were evaluated. This study demonstrated high antioxidant endowment of fermented locust beans in comparison to non-fermented locust beans. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v49i4.22632 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 49(4), 275-280, 2014
Effect of Ozone Treatment on Inactivation of Escherichia coli and Listeria sp. on Spinach
Authors: Wani Shreya , Maker Jagpreet , Thompson Joseph , Barnes Jeremy , Singleton Ian
Published: March 2015

The efficacy of “gaseous” ozone in reducing numbers and re-growth of food-borne pathogens, (Escherichia coli and Listeria spp.), on leafy salads was investigated using spinach. A preliminary in vivo study showed 1-log reduction in six strains of E. coli and two species of Listeria spp. on spinach exposed to 1 ppm ozone for 10 min. A range of ozone treatments were explored to deliver optimal bacterial inactivation while maintaining the visual appearance (color) of produce. Exposure to a higher ozone concentration for a shorter duration (10 ppm for 2 min) significantly reduced E. coli and Listeria spp. viable counts by 1-log and the pathogens did not re-grow following treatment (over a nine-day storage period). Impacts of 1 and 10 ppm ozone treatments were not significantly different. Approximately 10% of the pathogen population was resistant to ozone treatment. We hypothesized that cell age may be one of several factors responsible for variation in ozone resistance. E. coli cells from older colonies demonstrated higher ozone resistance in subsequent experiments. Overall, we speculate that gaseous ozone treatment constitutes the basis for an alternative customer-friendly method to reduce food pathogen contamination of leafy produce and is worth exploring on a pilot-scale in an industrial setting.
Deactivation and Regeneration of Commercial Type Fischer-Tropsch Co-Catalysts—A Mini-Review
Authors: Rytter Erling , Holmen Anders
Published: March 2015

Deactivation of commercially relevant cobalt catalysts for Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch (LTFT) synthesis is discussed with a focus on the two main long-term deactivation mechanisms proposed: Carbon deposits covering the catalytic surface and re-oxidation of the cobalt metal. There is a great variety in commercial, demonstration or pilot LTFT operations in terms of reactor systems employed, catalyst formulations and process conditions. Lack of sufficient data makes it difficult to correlate the deactivation mechanism with the actual process and catalyst design. It is well known that long term catalyst deactivation is sensitive to the conditions the actual catalyst experiences in the reactor. Therefore, great care should be taken during start-up, shutdown and upsets to monitor and control process variables such as reactant concentrations, pressure and temperature which greatly affect deactivation mechanism and rate. Nevertheless, evidence so far shows that carbon deposition is the main long-term deactivation mechanism for most LTFT operations. It is intriguing that some reports indicate a low deactivation rate for multi-channel micro-reactors. In situ rejuvenation and regeneration of Co catalysts are economically necessary for extending their life to several years. The review covers information from open sources, but with a particular focus on patent literature.
Climate Change Induced Precipitation Effects on Water Resources in the Peace Region of British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Saha Gopal
Published: March 2015

Climate change would significantly affect the temporal pattern and amount of annual precipitation at the regional level, which in turn would affect the regional water resources and future water availability. The Peace Region is a critical region for northern British Columbia’s social, environmental, and economic development, due to its potential in various land use activities. This study investigated the impacts of future climate change induced precipitation on water resources under the A2 and B1 greenhouse gas emission scenarios for 2020–2040 in a study area along the main river of the Kiskatinaw River watershed in the Peace Region as a case study using the Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA) modeling system. The simulation results showed that climate change induced precipitation changes significantly affect monthly, seasonal and annual stream flows. With respect to the mean annual stream flow of the reference period (2000–2011), the mean annual stream flow from 2020 to 2040 under the A2 and B1 scenarios is expected to increase by 15.5% and 12.1%, respectively, due to the increased precipitation (on average 5.5% in the A2 and 3.5% in the B1 scenarios) and temperature (on average 0.76 °C in the A2 and 0.57 °C in the B1 scenarios) predicted, with respect to that under the reference period. From the seasonal point of view, the mean seasonal stream flow during winter, spring, summer and fall from 2020 to 2040 under the A2 scenario is expected to increase by 10%, 16%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. On the other hand, under the B1 scenario these numbers are 6%, 15%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. Increased precipitation also resulted in increased groundwater discharge and surface runoff. The obtained results from this study will provide valuable information for the study area in the long-term period for seasonal and annual water extractions from the river and allocation to the stakeholders for future water supply, and help develop a regional water resources management plan for climate change induced precipitation changes.
Evolutionary Voluntary Prisoner’s Dilemma Game under Deterministic and Stochastic Dynamics
Authors: Yu Qian , Chen Ran , Wen Xiaoyan
Published: March 2015

The voluntary prisoner’s dilemma (VPD) game has sparked interest from various fields since it was proposed as an effective mechanism to incentivize cooperative behavior. Current studies show that the inherent cyclic dominance of the strategies of the VPD game results in periodic oscillations in population. This paper investigated the influence of the level of individual rationality and the size of a population on the evolutionary dynamics of the VPD game. Different deterministic dynamics, such as the replicator dynamic, the Smith dynamic, the Brown-von Neumann-Nash (BNN) dynamic and the best response (BR) dynamic, for the evolutionary VPD game were modeled and simulated. The stochastic evolutionary dynamics based on quasi birth and death (QBD) process was proposed for the evolutionary VPD game and compared with deterministic dynamics. The results indicated that with the increase of the loners’ fixed payoff, the loner is more likely to remain in the stable state of a VPD game under any of the dynamics mentioned above. However, the different speeds of motion under the dynamics in the cycle dominance proved to be diverse under different evolutionary dynamics and also highly sensitive to the rationality of individuals in a population. Furthermore, in QBD stochastic dynamics, the size of the population has a remarkable effect on the possibility distribution. When the population size increases, the limited distribution of the QBD process will be in accordance with the results in the deterministic dynamics.
Data-Throughput Enhancement Using Data Mining-Informed Cognitive Radio
Authors: Kotobi Khashayar , Mainwaring Philip , Tucker Conrad , Bilén Sven
Published: March 2015

We propose the data mining-informed cognitive radio, which uses non-traditional data sources and data-mining techniques for decision making and improving the performance of a wireless network. To date, the application of information other than wireless channel data in cognitive radios has not been significantly studied. We use a novel dataset (Twitter traffic) as an indicator of network load in a wireless channel. Using this dataset, we present and test a series of predictive algorithms that show an improvement in wireless channel utilization over traditional collision-detection algorithms. Our results demonstrate the viability of using these novel datasets to inform and create more efficient cognitive radio networks.
Spatial Downscaling of 2-Meter Air Temperature Using Operational Forecast Data
Authors: Huld Thomas , Pascua Irene
Published: March 2015

We present a method for enhancing the spatial resolution of 2 m temperature (T2m) estimates. The method is based on operational forecast data supplied by the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast. From the hourly and monthly average 2-meter temperatures a vertical gradient is determined by linear fitting to the temperature data in larger areas of 1º x 1º or 2° x 2° . Validation against data from more than 8000 meteorological stations worldwide shows that the estimates of annual average temperature at these points becomes significantly more accurate when applying the vertical gradients to correct the local temperature estimates to the elevation of the stations. When the elevation difference between forecast and station is larger than 300 m, the overall mean absolute deviation of the individual stations bias values decreases from 3.44 to 1.02 º C and the root mean square deviation decreases from 4.11 to 1.42 ºC. The gradients have also been applied to the ERA-Interim reanalysis data and the validation results are similar. The vertical temperature gradients will be useful for studies in many fields, including renewable energy and the study of energy performance of buildings.
An Improved Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm and Its Application to Multi-Objective Optimal Power Flow
Authors: He Xuanhu , Wang Wei , Jiang Jiuchun , Xu Lijie
Published: March 2015

Optimal power flow (OPF) objective functions involve minimization of the total fuel costs of generating units, minimization of atmospheric pollutant emissions, minimization of active power losses and minimization of voltage deviations. In this paper, a fuzzy multi-objective OPF model is established by the fuzzy membership functions and the fuzzy satisfaction-maximizing method. The improved artificial bee colony (IABC) algorithm is applied to solve the model. In the IABC algorithm, the mutation and crossover operations of a differential evolution algorithm are utilized to generate new solutions to improve exploitation capacity; tent chaos mapping is utilized to generate initial swarms, reference mutation solutions and the reference dimensions of crossover operations to improve swarm diversity. The proposed method is applied to multi-objective OPF problems in IEEE 30-bus, IEEE 57-bus and IEEE 300-bus test systems. The results are compared with those obtained by other algorithms, which demonstrates the effectiveness and superiority of the IABC algorithm, and how the optimal scheme obtained by the proposed model can make systems more economical and stable.
Tumour Cell Membrane Poration and Ablation by Pulsed Low-Intensity Electric Field with Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Wang Lijun , Liu Dun , Zhou Ru , Wang Zhigang , Cuschieri Alfred
Published: March 2015

Electroporation is a physical method to increase permeabilization of cell membrane by electrical pulses. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can potentially act like “lighting rods” or exhibit direct physical force on cell membrane under alternating electromagnetic fields thus reducing the required field strength. A cell poration/ablation system was built for exploring these effects of CNTs in which two-electrode sets were constructed and two perpendicular electric fields could be generated sequentially. By applying this system to breast cancer cells in the presence of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs), the effective pulse amplitude was reduced to 50 V/cm (main field)/15 V/cm (alignment field) at the optimized pulse frequency (5 Hz) of 500 pulses. Under these conditions instant cell membrane permeabilization was increased to 38.62%, 2.77-fold higher than that without CNTs. Moreover, we also observed irreversible electroporation occurred under these conditions, such that only 39.23% of the cells were viable 24 h post treatment, in contrast to 87.01% cell viability without presence of CNTs. These results indicate that CNT-enhanced electroporation has the potential for tumour cell ablation by significantly lower electric fields than that in conventional electroporation therapy thus avoiding potential risks associated with the use of high intensity electric pulses.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Streptochlorin via TRIF-Dependent Signaling Pathways in Cellular and Mouse Models
Authors: Shim Do-Wan , Shin Hee , Han Ji-Won , Shin Woo-Young , Sun Xiao , Shim Eun-Jeong , Kim Tack-Joong , Kang Tae-Bong , Lee Kwang-Ho
Published: March 2015

Streptochlorin, a small compound derived from marine actinomycete, has been shown to have anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor, and anti-allergic activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms have not yet been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of streptochlorin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Streptochlorin attenuated the production of proinflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells through inhibition of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, streptochlorin suppressed the infiltration of immune cells such as neutrophils into the lung and proinflammatory cytokine production such as IL-6 and TNF-α in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. Streptochlorin has potent anti-inflammatory effects through regulating TRIF-dependent signaling pathways, suggesting that streptochlorin may provide a valuable therapeutic strategy in treating various inflammatory diseases.
Multi-Layer Electrospun Membrane Mimicking Tendon Sheath for Prevention of Tendon Adhesions
Authors: Jiang Shichao , Yan Hede , Fan Dapeng , Song Jialin , Fan Cunyi
Published: March 2015

Defect of the tendon sheath after tendon injury is a main reason for tendon adhesions, but it is a daunting challenge for the biomimetic substitute of the tendon sheath after injury due to its multi-layer membrane-like structure and complex biologic functions. In this study, a multi-layer membrane with celecoxib-loaded poly(l-lactic acid)-polyethylene glycol (PELA) electrospun fibrous membrane as the outer layer, hyaluronic acid (HA) gel as middle layer, and PELA electrospun fibrous membrane as the inner layer was designed. The anti-adhesion efficacy of this multi-layer membrane was compared with a single-layer use in rabbit flexor digitorum profundus tendon model. The surface morphology showed that both PELA fibers and celecoxib-loaded PELA fibers in multi-layer membrane were uniform in size, randomly arrayed, very porous, and smooth without beads. Multi-layer membrane group had fewer peritendinous adhesions and better gliding than the PELA membrane group and control group in gross and histological observation. The similar mechanical characteristic and collagen expression of tendon repair site in the three groups indicated that the multi-layer membrane did not impair tendon healing. Taken together, our results demonstrated that such a biomimetic multi-layer sheath could be used as a potential strategy in clinics for promoting tendon gliding and preventing adhesion without poor tendon healing.
Bending Elasticity Modulus of Giant Vesicles Composed of Aeropyrum Pernix K1 Archaeal Lipid
Authors: Genova Julia , Ulrih Nataša , Kralj-Iglič Veronika , Iglič Aleš , Bivas Isak
Published: March 2015

Thermally induced shape fluctuations were used to study elastic properties of giant vesicles composed of archaeal lipids C25,25-archetidyl (glucosyl) inositol and C25,25-archetidylinositol isolated from lyophilised Aeropyrum pernix K1 cells. Giant vesicles were created by electroformation in pure water environment. Stroboscopic illumination using a xenon flash lamp was implemented to remove the blur effect due to the finite integration time of the camera and to obtain an instant picture of the fluctuating vesicle shape. The mean weighted value of the bending elasticity modulus kc of the archaeal membrane determined from the measurements meeting the entire set of qualification criteria was (1.89 ± 0.18) × 10−19 J, which is similar to the values obtained for a membrane composed of the eukaryotic phospholipids SOPC (1.88 ± 0.17) × 10−19 J and POPC (2.00 ± 0.21) ´ 10−19 J. We conclude that membranes composed of archaeal lipids isolated from Aeropyrum pernix K1 cells have similar elastic properties as membranes composed of eukaryotic lipids. This fact, together with the importance of the elastic properties for the normal circulation through blood system, provides further evidence in favor of expectations that archaeal lipids could be appropriate for the design of drug delivery systems.
Anti-Inflammatory Screening and Molecular Modeling of Some Novel Coumarin Derivatives
Authors: El-Haggar Radwan , Al-Wabli Reem
Published: March 2015

Coumarin and their derivatives have drawn much attention in the pharmacological and pharmaceutical fields due to their broad range and diverse biological activities. In the present work, starting from the 6-amino-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one, a series of 6-(substituted benzylamino)-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-ones 1–11 was synthesized and assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema method. Compounds 2, 3, 4 and 9 showed significant (p < 0.001) reduction of rat paw edema volume after 1 h from the administration of the carrageenan compared to the reference drug, indomethacin. On the other hand, compounds 4 and 8 showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, surpassing indomethacin after 3 h with 44.05% and 38.10% inhibition, respectively. Additionally, a molecular docking study was performed against the COX enzyme using the MOE 10.2010 software.
Formylation of Electron-Rich Aromatic Rings Mediated by Dichloromethyl Methyl Ether and TiCl4: Scope and Limitations
Authors: Ramos-Tomillero Iván , Paradís-Bas Marta , De Pinho Ribeiro Moreira Ibério , Bofill Josep , Nicolás Ernesto , Albericio Fernando
Published: March 2015

Here the aromatic formylation mediated by TiCl4 and dichloromethyl methyl ether previously described by our group has been explored for a wide range of aromatic rings, including phenols, methoxy- and methylbenzenes, as an excellent way to produce aromatic aldehydes. Here we determine that the regioselectivity of this process is highly promoted by the coordination between the atoms present in the aromatic moiety and those in the metal core.
Dereplication of Known Nucleobase and Nucleoside Compounds in Natural Product Extracts by Capillary Electrophoresis-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chen Junhui , Shi Qian , Wang Yanlong , Li Zhaoyong , Wang Shuai
Published: March 2015

Nucleobase and nucleoside compounds exist widely in various organisms. An often occurring problem in the discovery of new bioactive compounds from natural products is reisolation of known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds. To resolve this problem, a capillary electrophoresis-high resolution mass spectrometry (CE-HR-MS) method providing both rapid separation and accurate mass full-scan MS data was developed for the first time to screen and dereplicate known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in crude extracts of natural products. Instrumental parameters were optimized to obtain optimum conditions for CE separation and electrospray ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF/MS) detection. The proposed method was verified to be precise, reproducible, and sensitive. Using this method, known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in different marine medicinal organisms including Syngnathus acus Linnaeus; Hippocampus japonicus Kaup and Anthopleura lanthogrammica Berkly were successfully observed and identified. This work demonstrates that CE-HR-MS combined with an accurate mass database may be used as a powerful tool for dereplicating known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds in different types of natural products. Rapid dereplication of known nucleobase and nucleoside compounds allows researchers to focus on other leads with greater potential to yield new substances.
Correction: Huang, W.-H., et al. Anticancer Activities of Polyynes from the Root Bark of Oplopanax horridus and Their Acetylated Derivatives. Molecules 2014, 19, 6142-6162
Authors: Meng Lan-Zhen , Huang Wei-Hua , Wang Chong-Zhi , Yuan Chun-Su , Li Shao-Ping
Published: March 2015

We wish to make the following changes to the published article [1], agreed upon by all authors: [...]
Detecting Clear-Cuts and Decreases in Forest Vitality Using MODIS NDVI Time Series
Authors: Lambert Jonas , Denux Jean-Philippe , Verbesselt Jan , Balent Gérard , Cheret Véronique
Published: March 2015

This paper examines the potential of MODIS-NDVI time series for detecting clear-cuts in a coniferous forest stand in the south of France. The proposed approach forms part of a survey monitoring the status of forest health and evaluating the forest decline phenomena observed over the last few decades. One of the prerequisites for this survey was that a rapid and easily reproducible method had to be developed that differentiates between forest clear-cuts and changes in forest health induced by environmental factors such as summer droughts. The proposed approach is based on analysis of the breakpoints detected within NDVI time series, using the “Break for Additive Seasonal and Trend” (BFAST) algorithm. To overcome difficulties detecting small areas on the study site, we chose a probabilistic approach based on the use of a conditional inference tree. For model calibration, clear-cut reference data were produced at MODIS resolution (250 m). According to the magnitude of the detected breakpoints, probability classes for the presence of clear-cuts were defined, from greater than 90% to less than 3% probability of a clear-cut. One of the advantages of the probabilistic model is that it allows end users to choose an acceptable level of uncertainty depending on the application. In addition, the use of BFAST allows events to be dated, thus making it possible to perform a retrospective analysis of decreases in forest vitality in the study area.
Operational Actual Wetland Evapotranspiration Estimation for South Florida Using MODIS Imagery
Authors: Ceron Cristobal , Melesse Assefa , Price René , Dessu Shimelis , Kandel Hari
Published: March 2015

Evapotranspiration is a reliable indicator of wetland health. Wetlands are an important and valuable ecosystem on the South Florida landscape. Accurate wetland Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) data can be used to evaluate the performance of South Florida’s Everglades restoration programs. However, reliable AET measurements rely on scattered point measurements restricting applications over a larger area. The objective of this study was to validate the ability of the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) approach and the Simple Method (also called the Abtew Method) to provide large area AET estimates for wetland recovery efforts. The study used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor spectral data and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) solar radiation data to derive weekly AET values for South Florida. The SSEB-Simple Method approach provided acceptable results with good agreement with observed values during the critical dry season period, when cloud cover was low (rave (n = 59) = 0.700, pave < 0.0005), but requires further refinement to be viable for yearly estimates because of poor performance during wet season months, mainly because of cloud contamination. The approach can be useful for short-term wetland recovery assessment projects that occur during the dry season and/or long term projects that compare site AET rates from dry season to dry season.
A Hidden Markov Models Approach for Crop Classification: Linking Crop Phenology to Time Series of Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Siachalou Sofia , Mallinis Giorgos , Tsakiri-Strati Maria
Published: March 2015

Vegetation monitoring and mapping based on multi-temporal imagery has recently received much attention due to the plethora of medium-high spatial resolution satellites and the improved classification accuracies attained compared to uni-temporal approaches. Efficient image processing strategies are needed to exploit the phenological information present in temporal image sequences and to limit data redundancy and computational complexity. Within this framework, we implement the theory of Hidden Markov Models in crop classification, based on the time-series analysis of phenological states, inferred by a sequence of remote sensing observations. More specifically, we model the dynamics of vegetation over an agricultural area of Greece, characterized by spatio-temporal heterogeneity and small-sized fields, using RapidEye and Landsat ETM+ imagery. In addition, the classification performance of image sequences with variable spatial and temporal characteristics is evaluated and compared. The classification model considering one RapidEye and four pan-sharpened Landsat ETM+ images was found superior, resulting in a conditional kappa from 0.77 to 0.94 per class and an overall accuracy of 89.7%. The results highlight the potential of the method for operational crop mapping in Euro-Mediterranean areas and provide some hints for optimal image acquisition windows regarding major crop types in Greece.
A Noncontact FMCW Radar Sensor for Displacement Measurement in Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Li Cunlong , Chen Weimin , Liu Gang , Yan Rong , Xu Hengyi , Qi Yi
Published: March 2015

This paper investigates the Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar sensor for multi-target displacement measurement in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). The principle of three-dimensional (3-D) displacement measurement of civil infrastructures is analyzed. The requirements of high-accuracy displacement and multi-target identification for the measuring sensors are discussed. The fundamental measuring principle of FMCW radar is presented with rigorous mathematical formulas, and further the multiple-target displacement measurement is analyzed and simulated. In addition, a FMCW radar prototype is designed and fabricated based on an off-the-shelf radar frontend and data acquisition (DAQ) card, and the displacement error induced by phase asynchronism is analyzed. The conducted outdoor experiments verify the feasibility of this sensing method applied to multi-target displacement measurement, and experimental results show that three targets located at different distances can be distinguished simultaneously with millimeter level accuracy.
A Distributed Transmission Rate Adjustment Algorithm in Heterogeneous CSMA/CA Networks
Authors: Xie Shuanglong , Low Kay , Gunawan Erry
Published: March 2015

Distributed transmission rate tuning is important for a wide variety of IEEE 802.15.4 network applications such as industrial network control systems. Such systems often require each node to sustain certain throughput demand in order to guarantee the system performance. It is thus essential to determine a proper transmission rate that can meet the application requirement and compensate for network imperfections (e.g., packet loss). Such a tuning in a heterogeneous network is difficult due to the lack of modeling techniques that can deal with the heterogeneity of the network as well as the network traffic changes. In this paper, a distributed transmission rate tuning algorithm in a heterogeneous IEEE 802.15.4 CSMA/CA network is proposed. Each node uses the results of clear channel assessment (CCA) to estimate the busy channel probability. Then a mathematical framework is developed to estimate the on-going heterogeneous traffics using the busy channel probability at runtime. Finally a distributed algorithm is derived to tune the transmission rate of each node to accurately meet the throughput requirement. The algorithm does not require modifications on IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer and it has been experimentally implemented and extensively tested using TelosB nodes with the TinyOS protocol stack. The results reveal that the algorithm is accurate and can satisfy the throughput demand. Compared with existing techniques, the algorithm is fully distributed and thus does not require any central coordination. With this property, it is able to adapt to traffic changes and re-adjust the transmission rate to the desired level, which cannot be achieved using the traditional modeling techniques.
A Naked Eye Refractive Index Sensor with a Visible Multiple Peak Metamaterial Absorber
Authors: Ma Heli , Song Kun , Zhou Liang , Zhao Xiaopeng
Published: March 2015

We report a naked eye refractive index sensor with a visible metamaterial absorber. The visible metamaterial absorber consisting of a silver dendritic/dielectric/metal structure shows multiple absorption peaks. By incorporating a gain material (rhodamine B) into the dielectric layer, the maximal magnitude of the absorption peak can be improved by about 30%. As the metamaterial absorber is sensitive to the refractive index of glucose solutions, it can function as a sensor that quickly responds to variations of the refractive index of the liquid. Meanwhile, since the response is presented via color changes, it can be clearly observed by the naked eyes. Further experiments have confirmed that the sensor can be used repeatedly.
A Survey on the Feasibility of Sound Classification on Wireless Sensor Nodes
Authors: Salomons Etto , Havinga Paul
Published: March 2015

Wireless sensor networks are suitable to gain context awareness for indoor environments. As sound waves form a rich source of context information, equipping the nodes with microphones can be of great benefit. The algorithms to extract features from sound waves are often highly computationally intensive. This can be problematic as wireless nodes are usually restricted in resources. In order to be able to make a proper decision about which features to use, we survey how sound is used in the literature for global sound classification, age and gender classification, emotion recognition, person verification and identification and indoor and outdoor environmental sound classification. The results of the surveyed algorithms are compared with respect to accuracy and computational load. The accuracies are taken from the surveyed papers; the computational loads are determined by benchmarking the algorithms on an actual sensor node. We conclude that for indoor context awareness, the low-cost algorithms for feature extraction perform equally well as the more computationally-intensive variants. As the feature extraction still requires a large amount of processing time, we present four possible strategies to deal with this problem.
Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Forest Fuel Reduction Treatments and Their Adaptation to Climate Change
Authors: Prato Tony
Published: March 2015

Applying fuel reduction treatments (FRTs) to forested landscapes can alleviate undesirable changes in wildfire benefits and costs due to climate change. A conceptual framework was developed for determining the preferred FRTs across planning periods, adapting FRTs to future climate change, assessing the sustainability of adaptive responses to climate change, and evaluating the validity of the two premises motivating this issue of Sustainability. The conceptual framework: (1) accounts for uncertainty about future climate change and its effects on management objectives for FRTs; (2) employs biophysical simulation and mental models to estimate the management objectives for FRTs; (3) uses fuzzy TOPSIS to determine the preferred FRTs for climate futures; (4) employs the minimax regret criterion to identify the preferred FRT for each planning period; (5) determines the best strategy for adapting FRTs to future climate change; and (6) assesses landscape sustainability when using the preferred FRTs. The framework is demonstrated with constructed examples for adapting FRTs to climate change for privately- and publicly-owned forested landscapes. Based on the conceptual framework, current knowledge does not allow determining with certainty whether managers’ adaptations of FRTs to future climate change are sustainable or unsustainable due to type I and II decision errors.
Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) Butter Production and Resource Use by Urban and Rural Processors in Northern Ghana
Authors: Jasaw Godfred , Saito Osamu , Takeuchi Kazuhiko
Published: March 2015

This article explores the use of field experimentation in presenting an account of input inventory, material quantities, and the process flow for shea butter production in Ghana. The shea fruit is a non-timber forest product (NTFP) that is indigenous to ecosystems in semi-arid regions of Africa. Current methods and equipment for processing shea kernel into butter impose a dilemma of excessive harvesting of fuel wood for heating and the use of large quantities of water. Thus, the nature of input requirement and production process presents implications for conflict over natural resource use and for sustainability as more processing takes place. Material flow analysis was applied to the data generated from the processing experiments. The outcome was discussed in focus group discussion sessions and individual interviews as a way of data triangulation to validate study parameters. Results from this experiment showed that the quantity of water used in urban processing sites was higher than that used in rural sites. On the other hand, fuel wood use and labor expended were found to be higher in rural sites per unit processing cycle. The nature of the processing equipment, accessibility to input resources, and target market for shea butter were key determinants of the varying resource quantities used in the production process.
Developing Universal Influenza Vaccines: Hitting the Nail, Not Just on the Head
Authors: Wiersma Lidewij , Rimmelzwaan Guus , De Vries Rory
Published: March 2015

Influenza viruses have a huge impact on public health. Current influenza vaccines need to be updated annually and protect poorly against antigenic drift variants or novel emerging subtypes. Vaccination against influenza can be improved in two important ways, either by inducing more broadly protective immune responses or by decreasing the time of vaccine production, which is relevant especially during a pandemic outbreak. In this review, we outline the current efforts to develop so-called “universal influenza vaccines”, describing antigens that may induce broadly protective immunity and novel vaccine production platforms that facilitate timely availability of vaccines.
Impacts of Urbanization on River Systems in the Taihu Region, China
Authors: Deng Xiaojun , Xu Youpeng , Han Longfei , Song Song , Yang Liu , Li Guang , Wang Yuefeng
Published: March 2015

River systems are valuable to human beings; meanwhile, they are intensively influenced by human activities, especially urbanization. In this study, based on the data derived from topographic maps and remote sensing images, the temporal and spatial change of river system geomorphology in the Taihu Region over the past 50 years was investigated in conjunction with urbanization. Results demonstrated that the number of river systems decreased drastically, that the morphology of river channels changed into wider and straighter and that the structure of river network tended to simplify in the Taihu Region in recent 50 years. Meanwhile, the changes in river density, the water surface ratio, the river development coefficient, the main river area length ratio and the box dimension in the rapid urbanization period were much greater than those in the slow urbanization period, but the decrease of river sinuosity in the slow urbanization period was more intense. Moreover, the spatial differences of the changes in the river development coefficient were the largest, and the changes in the river indicators in the low-urbanized regions were the most intense. In addition, the changes in the water surface ratio had the closest correlation with urbanization, and the relational degrees between population urbanization and the changes in river systems were the largest. The results can provide a reliable basis to determine reasonable management and conservation strategies of river systems in the Taihu Region.
Predicting Multiple Functions of Sustainable Flood Retention Basins under Uncertainty via Multi-Instance Multi-Label Learning
Authors: Yang Qinli , Boehm Christian , Scholz Miklas , Plant Claudia , Shao Junming
Published: March 2015

The ambiguity of diverse functions of sustainable flood retention basins (SFRBs) may lead to conflict and risk in water resources planning and management. How can someone provide an intuitive yet efficient strategy to uncover and distinguish the multiple potential functions of SFRBs under uncertainty? In this study, by exploiting both input and output uncertainties of SFRBs, the authors developed a new data-driven framework to automatically predict the multiple functions of SFRBs by using multi-instance multi-label (MIML) learning. A total of 372 sustainable flood retention basins, characterized by 40 variables associated with confidence levels, were surveyed in Scotland, UK. A Gaussian model with Monte Carlo sampling was used to capture the variability of variables (i.e., input uncertainty), and the MIML-support vector machine (SVM) algorithm was subsequently applied to predict the potential functions of SFRBs that have not yet been assessed, allowing for one basin belonging to different types (i.e., output uncertainty). Experiments demonstrated that the proposed approach enables effective automatic prediction of the potential functions of SFRBs (e.g., accuracy >93%). The findings suggest that the functional uncertainty of SFRBs under investigation can be better assessed in a more comprehensive and cost-effective way, and the proposed data-driven approach provides a promising method of doing so for water resources management.
Extracellular vesicle–depleted fetal bovine and human sera have reduced capacity to support cell growth
Authors: Eitan Erez , Zhang Shi , Witwer Kenneth W. , Mattson Mark P.
Published: March 2015

Background

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the most widely used serum supplement for mammalian cell culture. It supports cell growth by providing nutrients, growth signals, and protection from stress. Attempts to develop serum‐free media that support cell expansion to the same extent as serum‐supplemented media have not yet succeeded, suggesting that FBS contains one or more as‐yet‐undefined growth factors. One potential vehicle for the delivery of growth factors from serum to cultured cells is extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Methods

EV‐depleted FBS and human serum were generated by 120,000g centrifugation, and its cell growth–supporting activity was measured. Isolated EVs from FBS were quantified and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, electron microscopy, and protein assay. EV internalization into cells was quantified using fluorescent plate reader analysis and microscopy.

Results

Most cell types cultured with EV‐depleted FBS showed a reduced growth rate but not an increased sensitivity to the DNA‐damaging agent etoposide and the endoplasmic reticulum stress–inducing chemical tunicamycin. Supplying cells with isolated FBS‐derived EVs enhanced their growth. FBS‐derived EVs were internalized by mouse and human cells wherein 65±26% of them interacted with the lysosomes. EV‐depleted human serum also exhibited reduced cell growth–promoting activity.

Conclusions

EVs play a role in the cell growth and survival‐promoting effects of FBS and human serum. Thus, it is important to take the effect of EV depletion under consideration when planning EV extraction experiments and while attempting to develop serum‐free media that support rapid cell expansion. In addition, these findings suggest roles for circulating EVs in supporting cell growth and survival in vivo.