bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normalizing of estrous cycle in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) induced rats with Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers.
Authors: Thakor Akanksha P. , Patel Anuradha J.
Published: April 2018

This study evaluates the potentiality of an herbal plant Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers. in the treatment of Letrozole induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using female Albino wistar rats. Seed powder of T. purpurea at concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight with milk as a carrier vehicle 3ml/kg body weight, given for at least 3 consecutive estrous cycles. Vaginal smear, FSH, LH, Testosterone, and Estrogen were analyzed to determine the fluctuations in sex steroid level in PCOS induced rats. The plasma testosterone and estrogen levelwere found to be significantly increased in rats with PCOS whereas Follicle stimulating hormone and Leutinizing hormone did not show any changes. When compared with control the PCOS induced rats showed characteristic ovary with high incidence of ovarian cyst. All the parameters assessed were significantly improved after the treatment with T. purpurea and achieved level close to 80% normalcy. Effect of T. purpurea significantly reduced histopathological changes in ovary and endocrinological and biochemical changes induced by hyperandrogenism. Further to check ovulation and fertility female rats were mated and pregnancy was confirmed. Thus potential of T. purpurea in the treatment of PCOS using an animal model suggested being a good alternative therapy in the treatment of PCOS.
Effect of native Trichoderma viride and Pseudomonas fluorescens on the development of Cuscuta campestris on chickpea, Cicer arietinum
Authors: Kannan C. , Kumar B. , Aditi P. , Gharde Y.
Published: April 2018

Cuscuta campestris Yuncker is a serious parasite on several leguminous crops including chickpea in India. Chickpea is an important pulse crop in India and severe incidence of Cuscuta may result in yield loss of about 85.7%. Management of Cuscuta is very difficult because of their intricate relationship with the host, wide host range and lack of resistant genes in the host. Thus induced systemic resistance (ISR) by plant growth promoting microbes (microbial elicitors) may be an effective alternative method for the management of Cuscuta. In the current study, to induce systemic resistance, native isolates of Trichoderma viride Pers. and Pseudomonas fluorescens Flügge were used as seed treatments and foliar spray on chickpea and then infested with C. campestris. Salicylic acid and thiobenzamidazole (synthetic elicitors) were used as standard inducing agents for comparison. Results indicated that fresh seeds of C. campestris germinated rapidly even without scarification and that the germination was not influenced by the proximity of the seeds to the host. Seed treatment followed by foliar sprays with the bioagents and synthetic elicitors induced at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS) induced increased production of defense enzymes in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and thus delayed the development (1.8-5 days) and flowering (2.4-4.2 days) of C. campestris. Treatment with both the elicitors also resulted in the enhanced activities of scavengers of enzymes related reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus the above work would help in the integration of the application of bioagents for effective management of Cuscuta in chickpea.
A review on weeds as source of novel plant growth promoting microbes for crop improvement
Authors: Sarathambal C. , Ilamurugu K. , Priya L. Srimathi , Barman K. K.
Published: April 2018

In the context of increasing international concern for food security and environmental quality, the use of bioinoculants like diazotrophs and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture is a potentially important issue. The improvement in agricultural sustainability requires optimal use and management of soil fertility and soil physical properties, where both rely on soil biological processes and soil biodiversity. Biological nitrogen fixation by plant-associated bacteria is eco-friendly and has been effectively exploited for crop plants including legumes. Although associations of rhizobacteria with non-leguminous plants such as grasses have been known for decades, they have been poorly - studied. Weedy grass species normally thrive in adverse conditions and act as potential habitats for the diverse groups of elite bacteria with multiple beneficial characters remains unexplored. A more complete understanding of the diversity and functioning of rhizobacterial microorganisms, especially those that have symbiotic relationships with grass species is of great value for agricultural research and application.
Estimation of Minimum Miscibility Pressure for 〖CO〗_2 Flood Based on EOS
Authors: Hamd-allah Sameera , Lazim Samaher A. , Hameed Ali A.
Published: March 2018

CO2 Gas is considered one of the unfavorable gases and it causes great air pollution. It’s possible to decrease this pollution by injecting  gas in the oil reservoirs to provide a good miscibility and to increase the oil recovery factor. MMP was estimated by Peng Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS). South Rumila-63 (SULIAY) is involved for which the miscible displacement by  is achievable based on the standard criteria for success EOR processes. A PVT report was available for the reservoir under study. It contains deferential liberation (DL) and constant composition expansion (CCE) tests.  PVTi software is one of the (Eclipse V.2010) software’s packages, it has been used to achieve the goal.  Many trials have been done to match the data of DL test by tuning some of the PR-EOS parameters through the regression analysis process, but no acceptable match was obtained especially for saturation pressure. However; splitting the mole fraction of (C6+) to many pseudo components was carried out, and then a regression analysis process was made again to improve the matching by tuning some of the PR-EOS parameters. A good estimate of saturation pressure and a good match of PVT properties was noted. Ternary diagram has been constructed to represent the phase behavior of -Oil and to calculate MMP for the South Rumila-63 (SULIAY) oil well.
Effect of Knowledge Management Practices on the Performance of Nepalese Financial Institutions
Authors: Khanal Lekhanath , Paudyal Santosh Raj
Published: March 2018

Knowledge Management (KM) is considered as a recent phenomenon prevailing in the management circle. Despite its growing concern, there are relatively few literatures showing clear linkage between knowledge management and organizational performance (OP) in financial sector. The main objective of this study is to measure the effect of knowledge management practices on the performance of financial institutions in Nepal. In this study, samples of 385 respondents were selected randomly from four different types of financial institutions of Kathmandu, Nepal. The statistical analysis was done to draw the conclusion. The results clearly showed that components of KM process (KM obtaining, KM organizing & KM applying) are positively correlated with the organizational performance measured in terms of Financial and Market Results, Organizational Effectiveness, Employee Satisfaction and Customer Satisfaction. Finally, this paper concludes that performance of any financial institution is significantly affected by various KM processes and practices adopted by these organizations.
Effectiveness of Ecotourism: A case of Chitwan National Park
Authors: Bhatt Damodar Prasad , Dhakal Tek Nath
Published: March 2018

Ecotourism is the fast growing industry in the world. In Nepal also it is growing consistently since late 1980s.Various ecotourism programs have been initiated in different natural destinations in the country since then. But the research studies to find out the effectiveness of these programs have been rarely conducted. Very few studies have been conducted to know whether these programs are yielding desired results or not. This study aims to conduct one such research to find out the impact of a ecotourism program. The study is to be conducted in Chitwan National Park. The focus of the study is the buffer zone program of Chitwan National Park .Where the study aims to assess the impacts of community development activities of the buffer zone program. For that proposed conceptual frame work of the study is also presented below.
Impact of Intimate Partner violence on ever married women and utilization of antenatal care services in Tanzania
Authors: Arafat S M Yasir
Published: March 2018

Background and Objectives: Sub Saharan Africa region is considered as one of the deprived regions of this world and women from this part of the world are suffering from intimate partner violence. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of intimate partner violence on utilization of antenatal care services among the ever married women.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study design. The data used in this research was extracted from the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey 2015-16. A total of 13, 266 women were interviewed.

Results: The mean age of the respondents is 28.69 years. About 74% women visited antenatal care services more than 4 times. Logistic regression results indicate that the middle-aged adult women (35-49 years age group) were identified having lower odds (Odds ratio: 0.807, 95% CI: 0.693-0.940, P<0.001) than women in younger age group. Women who did not complete their secondary education were less likelihood to experience IPV (Odds ratio: 0.705, 95% CI: 0.540-0.922, P<0.010).

Conclusion: IPV is one main challenge to women’s health and wellbeing during pregnancy period. Proper implementation and community based interventions to support pregnant women to seek antenatal care services and to raise awareness regarding intimate partner violence are advocated.
Pathology in Undergraduate Training Program
Authors: K.C. Shiva Raj
Published: April 2018

Pathology is a study of disease which deals with etiology, pathogenesis and morphological features and the associated clinical features. Pathology acts as a bridge that fills the gap between basic sciences and clinical medicine. With proper understanding of pathological processes, one can understand the disease process. In Nepal, since the beginning of medical school teaching, Pathology as a basic science discipline and is a component of the preclinical medical school curriculum.Pathology teaching in 19th century was vague, disorganized and very little, though precious. The lectures used to be conducted by surgeons. At Barts, surgeon Sir James Paget had taught surgical pathology. The real revolution in pathology teaching began in the early 1900s when, spurred on by increasing understanding of disease mechanisms, pathology began to be accepted as a specialty in its own right.During the early and mid of 20th century, pathology teaching was a part of clinical teaching with daily, autopsy demonstration. By the late 1980s, significant change had taken place. In many medical schools, debate started regarding relevance of vigorous preclinical teaching. Then system-based approach was incorporated and traditional preclinical course had been abandoned. With this pathology teaching also began to change with pathologists being involved in teaching histology, often alongside pathology to highlight its clinical relevance. In medical schools the pathology teaching time was cut. Autopsy demonstrations, which had been so popular with generations of medical students, were becoming irregular and less well attended.Though teaching of pathology in blocks to ‘avoid fragmentation’ has disappeared in western countries; it is still practice in Nepal. In western countries there was traditional practice of teaching general pathology in the first two years and systemic pathology in the clinical years. Now pathology teaching is integrated throughout the course. A consequence of this is that in many medical schools ‘pathology’ is no longer a recognised subject. In Nepal, pathology is taught in first two years of undergraduate teaching.Despite all these, Pathology is vital and will remain so, to the proper understanding the disease process. If various clinical subjects are the branches of medicine, pathology is the main stem of it. As Sir William Osler says “As is your Pathology, so is your Medicine.” His words are as true today as they were in his time. Pathology teaching may also include multidisciplinary team meeting as one of the key method of teaching. It not only actively involves Pathologists in teaching learning process, but also an important way of exposing interested students to pathology and, in the author’s experience, provides a strong stimulus for eventual choice of pathology as a career.1
Efficacy and safety of neem seed extract compared with clotrimazole in tinea corporis/ cruris: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Poudel Isha , Tianco Elizabeth Amelia V. , Villafuerte Lillian L.
Published: March 2018

Introduction: Tinea corporis and tinea cruris are common superficial fungal infections. Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed extract has shown antifungal properties in vitro, but no clinical studies have been done for superficial dermatophytoses. This study compared the efficacy and safety of 5% neem seed extract in cream base with 1% clotrimazole cream when used twice daily for four weeks, in the treatment of localized tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris.Materials and Methods: This is a randomized, double blind, clinical trial. Patients with localized tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris were evaluated at baseline, week 1, week 2 and week 4. Clinical, mycological and effective cure rates of both treatment groups were determined. The patients’ post treatment overall satisfaction scores and the incidence of adverse effects were also documented.Results: Sixty patients were recruited, and 30 patients were randomized to each treatment arm. There were no significant differences in post treatment scores (p value=0.221). Effective cure, defined as the combination of marked clinical improvement and mycological cure, was seen in 20/30 (66.67%) in the neem seed extract group and 24/30 (80%) in the clotrimazole group (relative risk = 1.67, 95% confidence interval = 0.69 – 4.0). Post treatment overall satisfaction scores were comparable (p value = 0.333). Two patients experienced adverse effects in the neem seed extract group, while there were no adverse effects in the clotrimazole group.Conclusion: Efficacy and safety of 5% neem seed extract in cream base is comparable to 1% clotrimazole cream for the treatment of localized tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris.
Quality of Life in Patients with Acne: A Questionnaire Study
Authors: Parajuli Niraj , Kayastha Bhasker Mohan Meher
Published: March 2018

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is a self-limited disorder of the pilosebaceous unit. It is primarily seen in adolescent age group. Acne can present with pleomorphic lesions consisting of comedones, papules, pustules and nodules. Both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne can produce scarring. It has been found that acne significantly affects self-image and quality of life. Effective treatment results in improvement of quality of life.Objective: The objective of this study was to find the impairment of quality of life in patients with acne.Materials and Methods: A total of 140 randomly selected patients coming to Dermatology OPD of Bir Hospital with complaints of acne were enrolled. A standard Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) questionnaires were used.Results: The average score of DLQI in my study was 9.5±5.6 with a minimum score of 0 and maximum score of 25. Similarly, the mean CADI score was 5.9±2.88 with minimum score of 0 and maximum score of 12. This study found acne to be more common in females as compared to males. Most common age group for acne was 16-20 years. Almost half of the patients (46%) complained of flare-ups during summer season. Similarly, majority (60%) of patients could relate to some aggravating factors. Most common aggravating factors were topical medications, fatty foods and stress.Conclusion: Acne is a common skin condition among the adolescents. This study conducted in Dermatology and Venereology Department of Bir Hospital showed that there is invariably some impairment in quality of life in acne patient.
Unilateral Lichen Planus: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Jha Niharika , Kanish Bimal , Bhatia Anuradha
Published: March 2018

Lichen planus (LP) is a papulosquamous disorder characterized by violaceous, flat topped papules and plaques seen on the volar aspect of the wrists, lumbar region and around the ankles. It can have a varied presentation. Here we describe a rare variant of LP in a female who presented with unilateral eruptions of violaceous papules over the right side of the body.
Scotland, Scottishness, British Integration and the Royal Navy, 1793–1815
Authors: Caputo Sara
Published: April 2018

With few exceptions, existing research in British social and maritime history has never focused on the presence and role of Scotsmen in the Royal Navy of the French Wars era (1793–1815), on their identification and self-presentation within this institution, and on attitudes towards naval warfare in Scotland more generally. Situating the problem within current debates on ‘four nations’ history and the development of British identity, this article aims to fill this gap. It will consider, in turn, the Navy's institutional language and practices, individual experiences, and, chiefly employing as a case study the 1797 victory of Camperdown, achieved by the Scottish Admiral Duncan, public representations in the Scottish press. This will help to illustrate the often ambiguous relationship that Scots in the Navy—and particularly on the quarterdeck—could have with their homeland, and the powerful attraction, reinforced by the naval environment and administrative structures, which Englishness exerted on them. More broadly, it will be shown how the late Hanoverian Navy, as a markedly Anglocentric institution, acted as a key instrument of cultural, social and political assimilation of Scots into Britain, thus offering a valuable case study for an investigation of patterns of British integration.
Translocation of Endosulfan from Soil to Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer)
Authors: Kim Jiyoon , Saravanan Manoharan , Palansooriya Kumuduni , Hur Jang
Published: April 2018

This study was conducted to examine the translocation of highly residual agrochemical in soil, the endosulfan (total), to ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer). The soil with the level of the amount of 5.0 mg kg−1 of endosulfan (total) was prepared in a Wagner pot into which the seedling of ginseng was transplanted and then the specimens of ginseng (root, leaf, and stem) were collected quarterly and analyzed through GC-MS. The level of residual of endosulfan (total) in the soil has decreased from 4.28 mg kg−1 (April 2013) to 1.94 mg kg−1 (December 2014) while the level in the specimens of leaf and stem of ginseng respectively sampled according to its growth phase in June and September from 2013 and 2014 showed an increase from 0.56 mg kg−1 (June 2013) to 2.46 mg kg−1 (September 2013) and decrease from 0.29 mg kg−1 (June 2014) to 0.18 mg kg−1 (September 2014). For the case of the root of ginseng, the level of the amount of 10.77 mg kg−1 of endosulfan (total) was detected in June 2013 and then, the level has decreased to the level of 4.88 mg kg−1 in December 2014. The translocation of residual endosulfan (total) in soil to ginseng with time was identified. The amount of residuals of α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan was also decreased with time however, the ratio of endosulfan-sulfate, the main metabolite, was gradually increasing. The retention of metabolite (endosulfan-sulfate) in soil identified thereby thus suggests the potential of its translocation to plants in the case of the soils containing the residual of endosulfan (total).
Diffusion Maximum Correntropy Criterion Based Robust Spectrum Sensing in Non-Gaussian Noise Environments
Authors: Xu Xiguang , Qu Hua , Zhao Jihong , Yan Feiyu , Wang Weihua
Published: April 2018

Spectrum sensing is the most important task in cognitive radio (CR). In this paper, a new robust distributed spectrum sensing approach, called diffusion maximum correntropy criterion (DMCC)-based robust spectrum sensing, is proposed for CR in the presence of non-Gaussian noise or impulsive noise. The proposed distributed scheme, which does not need any central processing unit, is characterized by an adaptive diffusion model. The maximum correntropy criterion, which is insensitive to impulsive interference, is introduced to deal with the effect of non-Gaussian noise. Simulation results show that the DMCC-based spectrum sensing algorithm has an excellent robust property with respect to non-Gaussian noise. It is also observed that the new method displays a considerably better detection performance than its predecessor (i.e., diffusion least mean square (DLMS)) in impulsive noise. Moreover, the mean and variance convergence analysis of the proposed algorithm are also carried out.
Hedging for the Regime-Switching Price Model Based on Non-Extensive Statistical Mechanics
Authors: Zhao Pan , Pan Jian , Zhou Benda , Wang Jixia , Song Yu
Published: April 2018

To describe the movement of asset prices accurately, we employ the non-extensive statistical mechanics and the semi-Markov process to establish an asset price model. The model can depict the peak and fat tail characteristics of returns and the regime-switching phenomenon of macroeconomic system. Moreover, we use the risk-minimizing method to study the hedging problem of contingent claims and obtain the explicit solutions of the optimal hedging strategies.
Simulation Study on the Application of the Generalized Entropy Concept in Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Gajowniczek Krzysztof , Orłowski Arkadiusz , Ząbkowski Tomasz
Published: April 2018

Artificial neural networks are currently one of the most commonly used classifiers and over the recent years they have been successfully used in many practical applications, including banking and finance, health and medicine, engineering and manufacturing. A large number of error functions have been proposed in the literature to achieve a better predictive power. However, only a few works employ Tsallis statistics, although the method itself has been successfully applied in other machine learning techniques. This paper undertakes the effort to examine the

q

-generalized function based on Tsallis statistics as an alternative error measure in neural networks. In order to validate different performance aspects of the proposed function and to enable identification of its strengths and weaknesses the extensive simulation was prepared based on the artificial benchmarking dataset. The results indicate that Tsallis entropy error function can be successfully introduced in the neural networks yielding satisfactory results and handling with class imbalance, noise in data or use of non-informative predictors.
Enhancing Short-Term Wind Power Forecasting through Multiresolution Analysis and Echo State Networks
Authors: Gouveia Hugo , De Aquino Ronaldo , Ferreira Aida
Published: April 2018

This article suggests the application of multiresolution analysis by Wavelet Transform—WT and Echo State Networks—ESN for the development of tools capable of providing wind speed and power generation forecasting. The models were developed to forecast the hourly mean wind speeds, which are applied to the wind turbine’s power curve to obtain wind power forecasts with horizons ranging from 1 to 24 h ahead, for three different locations of the Brazilian Northeast. The average improvement of Normalized Mean Absolute Error—NMAE for the first six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four hourly power generation forecasts obtained by using the models proposed in this article were 70.87%, 71.99%, 67.77% and 58.52%, respectively. These results of improvements in relation to the Persistence Model—PM are among the best published results to date for wind power forecasting. The adopted methodology was adequate, assuring statistically reliable forecasts. When comparing the performance of fully-connected feedforward Artificial Neural Networks—ANN and ESN, it was observed that both are powerful time series forecasting tools, but the ESN proved to be more suited for wind power forecasting.
Ortet Age and Clonal Effects on Growth and Market Value of Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) Grafts as Christmas Trees
Authors: Hinesley Eric , Frampton John , Deal Buddy , Deal Earl
Published: April 2018

Grafting provides a means to clonally produce Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) Christmas trees that have desirable traits such as faster growth, greater crown density, increased pest resistance, or more desirable foliage attributes than seedling stock. Grafting Fraser fir to disease resistant rootstocks also provides a means to ameliorate the impact of root rot, predominantly caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. The influence of ortet age on growth and market value of grafts has not been studied for Fraser fir Christmas tree production. A field trial was established in 2004 near Independence, Virginia (USA), with the objectives of assessing (1) the effect of ortet age (stock plants = 6 to 8, 10 to 12, and 18 to 20 years) and (2) shearing regimes (fixed leader length versus variable leader length) on growth, quality, and market value of Fraser fir Christmas trees. Commercial height, Christmas tree grade (based on U. S. Dept. of Agric. standards), and net present value (US dollars) were assessed at the time of harvest. Cone damage to quality was rated after 8 years in the field. Scions from Fraser fir Christmas trees 2 m or taller produced grafts that expressed maturation, resulting in lower tree quality, heavier cone damage, and decreased market value compared to seedling stock. In contrast, the quality and market value of grafts was similar to that of seedlings when scions were collected from young Fraser fir Christmas trees. For Christmas tree production, scions should be collected from the upper whorls of trees no older than 2 to 3 years in the field (6 to 8 years from seed). The effect of age on Fraser fir clones varies so that pre-screening might identify some older selections suitable for use as scion donors. Fixed versus variable shearing regimes had little effect on tree value, although some individual clones responded better to one regime or the other.
A Recommender System for Programming Online Judges Using Fuzzy Information Modeling
Authors: Yera Toledo Raciel , Caballero Mota Yailé , Martínez Luis
Published: April 2018

Programming online judges (POJs) are an emerging application scenario in e-learning recommendation areas. Specifically, they are e-learning tools usually used in programming practices for the automatic evaluation of source code developed by students when they are solving programming problems. Usually, they contain a large collection of such problems, to be solved by students at their own personalized pace. The more problems in the POJ the harder the selection of the right problem to solve according to previous users performance, causing information overload and a widespread discouragement. This paper presents a recommendation framework to mitigate this issue by suggesting problems to solve in programming online judges, through the use of fuzzy tools which manage the uncertainty related to this scenario. The evaluation of the proposal uses real data obtained from a programming online judge, and shows that the new approach improves previous recommendation strategies which do not consider uncertainty management in the programming online judge scenarios. Specifically, the best results were obtained for short recommendation lists.
On Angles and Pseudo-Angles in Minkowskian Planes
Authors: Verstraelen Leopold
Published: April 2018

The main purpose of the present paper is to well define Minkowskian angles and pseudo-angles between the two null directions and between a null direction and any non-null direction, respectively. Moreover, in a kind of way that will be tried to be made clear at the end of the paper, these new sorts of angles and pseudo-angles can similarly to the previously known angles be seen as (combinations of) Minkowskian lengths of arcs on a Minkowskian unit circle together with Minkowskian pseudo-lengths of parts of the straight null lines.
Nutrition Labelling Use and Higher Adherence to Mediterranean Diet: Results from the DiSA-UMH Study
Authors: Navarrete-Muñoz Eva , Torres-Collado Laura , Valera-Gran Desirée , Gonzalez-Palacios Sandra , María Compañ-Gabucio Laura , Hernández-Sánchez Sergio , García-de-la-Hera Manuela
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of the nutrition labelling (NL) use and explore its association with the adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) in Spanish health university students. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from 1026 university students aged 17–35 years enrolled in the DiSA-UMH (Dieta, Salud y Antropometría-Universidad Miguel Hernández) cohort study. Students were asked about their NL use by the following question: “Do you usually read the nutrition labelling of packaged foods?” (No, Yes). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the adherence to MD was measured by relative Mediterranean Diet score (rMED). Socio-demographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric variables were also collected. Multiple logistic regression models were applied for the analysis. Fifty-eight percent of the students were NL users and were most likely to be women (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.38; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01–1.89), be older (OR per year: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03–1.13), be physically active/very active (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.17–2.41), and spend less time watching television (OR per hour: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74–0.95). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, our findings suggested that those university students who had higher adherence to MD used NL greatly (OR per 2 points increase: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.18–1.43) and had a larger consumption of fish (OR per 100 g/day: 1.94; 95 CI: 1.38–2.71), vegetables (OR per 100 g/day: 1.15; CI 95%: 1.08–1.12), and fruits (OR per 100 g/day: 1.22; 1.11–1.34) and a smaller intake of meats (OR per 100 g/day: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58–0.99). Our approach contributes to exploring the role of NL use as a suitable tool to make healthier food choices from a different wider perspective based on dietary patterns such as MD, which can also indicate an overall healthy lifestyle. Given the lack of research in Mediterranean areas, further studies focused on exploring the potential role of NL in promoting healthy dietary habits are required.
Investigating the Nutritional and Recovery Habits of Tennis Players
Authors: Fleming James , Naughton Robert , Harper Liam
Published: April 2018

In this study, the nutritional and recovery habits of tennis players pre-, during, and post-match-play were investigated. Seventy tennis players completed a bespoke nutrition and recovery habits questionnaire, with questions related to the following areas: match preparation, intra-match nutritional habits, situation dependent variables, and post-match nutrition and recovery. On match day-1, the consumption of balanced meals consisting of carbohydrate (CHO), fat and protein, with some micronutrient considerations were reported by 51% of players. On match-days, CHOs were prioritised prior to match-play with CHO dominant meals consumed by the majority of players. During matches, all players adopted a nutritional strategy, with water (94%), banana(s) (86%) and sports drinks (50%) commonly used. Carbohydrate rich nutritional aids, including sports drinks (80%) and energy gels (26%) were utilised more readily during long matches (>2 h). The day after match-play, 39% of players reported the consumption of “nothing specific”. Multiple post-match recovery strategies were adopted by 80% of players, with foam rolling (77%), ice baths (40%), protein shake intake (37%) and hot baths (26%) most used. Findings indicate highly variable eating and recovery habits in tennis players pre-, during and post-match-play, with scope for improved practices.
Rotor-Stator Mixers: From Batch to Continuous Mode of Operation—A Review
Authors: Håkansson Andreas
Published: April 2018

Although continuous production processes are often desired, many processing industries still work in batch mode due to technical limitations. Transitioning to continuous production requires an in-depth understanding of how each unit operation is affected by the shift. This contribution reviews the scientific understanding of similarities and differences between emulsification in turbulent rotor-stator mixers (also known as high-speed mixers) operated in batch and continuous mode. Rotor-stator mixers are found in many chemical processing industries, and are considered the standard tool for mixing and emulsification of high viscosity products. Since the same rotor-stator heads are often used in both modes of operation, it is sometimes assumed that transitioning from batch to continuous rotor-stator mixers is straight-forward. However, this is not always the case, as has been shown in comparative experimental studies. This review summarizes and critically compares the current understanding of differences between these two operating modes, focusing on shaft power draw, pumping power, efficiency in producing a narrow region of high intensity turbulence, and implications for product quality differences when transitioning from batch to continuous rotor-stator mixers.
Erratum: Axelsson, A.; et al. Exploring Multispectral ALS Data for Tree Species Classification. Remote Sens. 2018, 10, 183
Authors:   Remote Sensing Editorial Office
Published: April 2018

The Editorial Office of Remote Sensing wish to report an error in the published paper [1]; Tables 6–8were incorrect.[...]
Distributed Optical Fiber Sensors Based on Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry: A review
Authors: Ding Zhenyang , Wang Chenhuan , Liu Kun , Jiang Junfeng , Yang Di , Pan Guanyi , Pu Zelin , Liu Tiegen
Published: April 2018

Distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS) offer unprecedented features, the most unique one of which is the ability of monitoring variations of the physical and chemical parameters with spatial continuity along the fiber. Among all these distributed sensing techniques, optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) has been given tremendous attention because of its high spatial resolution and large dynamic range. In addition, DOFS based on OFDR have been used to sense many parameters. In this review, we will survey the key technologies for improving sensing range, spatial resolution and sensing performance in DOFS based on OFDR. We also introduce the sensing mechanisms and the applications of DOFS based on OFDR including strain, stress, vibration, temperature, 3D shape, flow, refractive index, magnetic field, radiation, gas and so on.
Radio Frequency Detection and Characterization of Water-Ethanol Solution through Spiral-Coupled Passive Micro-Resonator Sensor
Authors: Koirala Gyan , Dhakal Rajendra , Kim Eun-Seong , Yao Zhao , Kim Nam-Young
Published: April 2018

We present a microfabricated spiral-coupled passive resonator sensor realized through integrated passive device (IPD) technology for the sensitive detection and characterization of water-ethanol solutions. In order to validate the performance of the proposed device, we explicitly measured and analyzed the radio frequency (RF) characteristics of various water-ethanol solution compositions. The measured results showed a drift in the resonance frequency from 1.16 GHz for deionized (DI) water to 1.68 GHz for the solution containing 50% ethanol, whereas the rejection level given by the reflection coefficient decreased from −29.74 dB to −14.81 dB. The obtained limit of detection was 3.82% volume composition of ethanol in solution. The derived loaded capacitance was 21.76 pF for DI water, which gradually decreased to 8.70 pF for the 50% ethanol solution, and the corresponding relative permittivity of the solution decreased from 80.14 to 47.79. The dissipation factor increased with the concentration of ethanol in the solution. We demonstrated the reproducibility of the proposed sensor through iterative measures of the samples and the study of surface morphology. Successive measurement of different samples had no overlapping and had very minimum bias between RF characteristics for each measured sample. The surface profile for bare sensors was retained after the sample test, resulting a root mean square (RMS) value of 11.416 nm as compared to 10.902 nm for the bare test. The proposed sensor was shown to be a viable alternative to existing sensors for highly sensitive water-ethanol concentration detection.
Multi-GNSS PPP-RTK: From Large- to Small-Scale Networks
Authors: Nadarajah Nandakumaran , Khodabandeh Amir , Wang Kan , Choudhury Mazher , Teunissen Peter
Published: April 2018

Precise point positioning (PPP) and its integer ambiguity resolution-enabled variant, PPP-RTK (real-time kinematic), can benefit enormously from the integration of multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). In such a multi-GNSS landscape, the positioning convergence time is expected to be reduced considerably as compared to the one obtained by a single-GNSS setup. It is therefore the goal of the present contribution to provide numerical insights into the role taken by the multi-GNSS integration in delivering fast and high-precision positioning solutions (sub-decimeter and centimeter levels) using PPP-RTK. To that end, we employ the Curtin PPP-RTK platform and process data-sets of GPS, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and Galileo in stand-alone and combined forms. The data-sets are collected by various receiver types, ranging from high-end multi-frequency geodetic receivers to low-cost single-frequency mass-market receivers. The corresponding stations form a large-scale (Australia-wide) network as well as a small-scale network with inter-station distances less than 30 km. In case of the Australia-wide GPS-only ambiguity-float setup, 90% of the horizontal positioning errors (kinematic mode) are shown to become less than five centimeters after 103 min. The stated required time is reduced to 66 min for the corresponding GPS + BDS + Galieo setup. The time is further reduced to 15 min by applying single-receiver ambiguity resolution. The outcomes are supported by the positioning results of the small-scale network.
Assessing the Sustainability of Decentralized Renewable Energy Systems: A Comprehensive Framework with Analytical Methods
Authors: Katre Aparna , Tozzi Arianna
Published: April 2018

The number of models of Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) systems, particularly for rural electrification, is growing globally. Most approaches to assess the sustainability of these solutions beyond simple techno-economic considerations are comparative in nature, and only allow us to evaluate performance within a set of other interventions. This leaves a gap in our understanding of the conditions for a specific model to be sustainable and whether its replication is likely to succeed. The approach suggested develops a framework to evaluate the sustainability of specific models for energy access individually and proposes analytical methods to illustrate its use. It combines the multi-dimensional analysis over five sustainability dimensions and the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) to assess technical sustainability, extending MTF’s rigorous scoring methodology to the other dimensions. The scores are based on qualitative and quantitative data collected from key stakeholders, taking into account different perspectives and aims. The framework and analytical methods are exemplified using a subset of data collected in over 40 off-grid DRE systems utilizing a common community ownership and hybrid financial structure. The proposed methodology can be used to understand the sustainability conditions of a given approach to energy access and can therefore be used by practitioners and policy makers to develop strategies and guide policies to roll out effective solutions.
Removal of Sb(III) and Sb(V) by Ferric Chloride Coagulation: Implications of Fe Solubility
Authors: Inam Muhammad , Khan Rizwan , Park Du , Lee Yong-Woo , Yeom Ick
Published: April 2018

Coagulation and precipitation appear to be the most efficient and economical methods for the removal of antimony from aqueous solution. In this study, antimony removal from synthetic water and Fe solubility with ferric chloride (FC) coagulation has been investigated. The effects of pH, FC dosage, initial antimony loading and mixed Sb(III), Sb(V) proportions on Fe solubility and antimony removal were studied. The results showed that the Sb(III) removal efficiency increased with the increase of solution pH particularly due to an increase in Fe precipitation. The Sb(V) removal was influenced by the solution pH due to a change in Fe solubility. However, the Fe solubility was only impaired by the Sb(III) species at optimum pH 7. The removal efficiencies of both Sb species were enhanced with an increase in FC dose. The quantitative analysis of the isotherm study revealed the strong adsorption potential of Sb(III) on Fe precipitates as compared to Sb(V). Furthermore, the removal behavior of antimony was inhibited in mixed proportion with high Sb(V) fraction. In conclusion, this study contributes to better understanding the fate of Sb species, their mobilities, and comparative removal behavior, with implications for Fe solubility using ferric chloride in different aqueous environments.
A Foreground Masking Strategy for [C ii] Intensity Mapping Experiments Using Galaxies Selected by Stellar Mass and Redshift
Authors: Sun G. , Moncelsi L. , Viero M. P. , Silva M. B. , Bock J. , Bradford C. M. , Chang T.-C. , Cheng Y.-T. , Cooray A. R. , Crites A. , Hailey-Dunsheath S. , Uzgil B. , Hunacek J. R. , Zemcov M.
Published: April 2018

Intensity mapping provides a unique means to probe the epoch of reionization (EoR), when the neutral intergalactic medium was ionized by energetic photons emitted from the first galaxies. The [C ii] 158 μm fine-structure line is typically one of the brightest emission lines of star-forming galaxies and thus a promising tracer of the global EoR star formation activity. However, [C ii] intensity maps at 6 ≲ z ≲ 8 are contaminated by interloping CO rotational line emission (3 ≤ J
upp ≤ 6) from lower-redshift galaxies. Here we present a strategy to remove the foreground contamination in upcoming [C ii] intensity mapping experiments, guided by a model of CO emission from foreground galaxies. The model is based on empirical measurements of the mean and scatter of the total infrared luminosities of galaxies at z < 3 and with stellar masses

M

*

>

10

8

M

⊙

selected in the K-band from the COSMOS/UltraVISTA survey, which can be converted to CO line strengths. For a mock field of the Tomographic Ionized-carbon Mapping Experiment, we find that masking out the “voxels” (spectral–spatial elements) containing foreground galaxies identified using an optimized CO flux threshold results in a z-dependent criterion

m

K

AB

≲
22

(or

M

*

≳

10

9

M

⊙

) at z < 1 and makes a [C ii]/COtot power ratio of ≳10 at k = 0.1 h/Mpc achievable, at the cost of a moderate ≲8% loss of total survey volume.
An Anthropometric Study of Cranio-Facial Measurements and Their Correlation with Vertical Dimension of Occlusion among Saudi Arabian Subpopulations
Authors: Majeed Muhammed Irfan , Haralur Satheesh B. , Khan Muhammed Farhan , Al Ahmari Maram Awdah , Al Shahrani Nourah Falah , Shaik Sharaz
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND: Determining and restoring physiological vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) is the critical step during complete mouth rehabilitation. The improper VDO compromises the aesthetics, phonetics and functional efficiency of the prosthesis.  Various methods are suggested to determine the accurate VDO, including the facial measurements in the clinical situations with no pre-extraction records. The generalisation of correlation between the facial measurements to VDO is criticised due to gender dimorphism and racial differences. Hence, it is prudent to verify the hypothesis of facial proportion and correlation of lower third of the face to remaining craniofacial measurements in different ethnic groups. The objective of the study was to evaluate the correlation of craniofacial measurements and OVD in the Saudi-Arabian ethnic group.METHODOLOGY: Total of 228 participants from Saudi-Arabian Ethnic group were randomly recruited in this cross-sectional study. Fifteen craniofacial measurements were recorded with modified digital Vernier callipers, and OVD was recorded at centric occlusion. The obtained data were analysed by using the Spearman’s correlation and linear regression analysis.RESULTS: The Mean OVD in male participants was higher (69.25 ± 5.54) in comparison to female participants (57.41 ± 5.32).  The craniofacial measurement of Exocanthion-right labial commissure and the Mesial wall of the right external auditory canal-orbitale lateral had a strong positive correlation with VDO. The strong correlation was recorded with a trichion-upper border of right eyebrow line and trichion-Nasion only in males. Meanwhile, the length of an auricle recorded the positive correlation in female participants.CONCLUSIONS: Being simple and non-invasive technique, craniofacial measurements and linear equations could be routinely utilised to determine VDO.
Correlation of Immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization for HER-2 Assessment in Breast Cancer Patients: Single Centre Experience
Authors: Bogdanovska-Todorovska Magdalena , Kostadinova-Kunovska Slavica , Jovanovik Rubens , Krsteska Blagica , Kondov Goran , Kondov Borislav , Petrushevska Gordana
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND: Accurate assessment of HER-2 is imperative in selecting patients for targeted therapy. Most commonly used test methods for HER-2 are immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). We evaluated the concordance between FISH and IHC for HER-2 in breast cancer samples using Food and Drug Administration approved tests.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Archived paraffin tissue blocks from 73 breast cancer patients were used. HER-2 immunostaining was performed using Ventana anti–HER-2 monoclonal antibody. The FISH assay was performed using PathVysion™ HER-2 DNA Probe Kit.RESULTS: Of the 73 cases 68.5% were IHC 0/1+, 15.07% were IHC 2+ and 16.44% were IHC 3+. Successful hybridisation was achieved in 72 cases. HER-2 FISH amplification was determined in 16.67% cases. Ten IHC 3+ and two IHC 2+ cases were FISH positive. Two of the IHC 3+ cases were FISH negative. Concordance rate was 100%, 18.18% and 83.33% for IHC 0/1+, 2+ and 3+ group, respectively. Total concordance was 84.72%, kappa 0.598 (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity of IHC in detecting IHC 2+ and IHC 3+ cases was 16.7% and 83.3%, and the specificity was 85% and 96.67%, respectively.CONCLUSION: The consistency between the methods was highest for IHC negative and lowest for IHC equivocal cases. The immunohistochemistry showed high sensitivity for IHC 2+/3+ cases and high specificity for IHC 3+ cases. Our results support the view that false-positive rather than false-negative IHC results are a problem with HER-2/IHC testing, and that IHC should be used as an initial screening test, but IHC 2+/ 3+ results should be confirmed by FISH.