bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Underwater Radioactivity and Acoustic Sensors into an Open Sea Near Real-Time Multi-Parametric Observation System
Authors: Pensieri Sara , Patiris Dionisis , Alexakis Stylianos , Anagnostou Marios N. , Prospathopoulos Aristides , Tsabaris Christos , Bozzano Roberto
Published: August 2018

This work deals with the installation of two smart in-situ sensors (for underwater radioactivity and underwater sound monitoring) on the Western 1-Mediterranean Moored Multisensor Array (W1-M3A) ocean observing system that is equipped with all appropriate modules for continuous, long-term and real-time operation. All necessary tasks for their integration are described such as, the upgrade of the sensors for interoperable and power-efficient operation, the conversion of data in homogeneous and standard format, the automated pre-process of the raw data, the real-time integration of data and metadata (related to data processing and calibration procedure) into the controller of the observing system, the test and debugging of the developed algorithms in the laboratory, and the obtained quality-controlled data. The integration allowed the transmission of the acquired data in near-real time along with a complete set of typical ocean and atmospheric parameters. Preliminary analysis of the data is presented, providing qualitative information during rainfall periods, and combine gamma-ray detection rates with passive acoustic data. The analysis exhibits a satisfactory identification of rainfall events by both sensors according to the estimates obtained by the rain gauge operating on the observatory and the remote observations collected by meteorological radars.
EEG-Based Emotion Recognition Using Quadratic Time-Frequency Distribution
Authors: Alazrai Rami , Homoud Rasha , Alwanni Hisham , Daoud Mohammad I.
Published: August 2018

Accurate recognition and understating of human emotions is an essential skill that can improve the collaboration between humans and machines. In this vein, electroencephalogram (EEG)-based emotion recognition is considered an active research field with challenging issues regarding the analyses of the nonstationary EEG signals and the extraction of salient features that can be used to achieve accurate emotion recognition. In this paper, an EEG-based emotion recognition approach with a novel time-frequency feature extraction technique is presented. In particular, a quadratic time-frequency distribution (QTFD) is employed to construct a high resolution time-frequency representation of the EEG signals and capture the spectral variations of the EEG signals over time. To reduce the dimensionality of the constructed QTFD-based representation, a set of 13 time- and frequency-domain features is extended to the joint time-frequency-domain and employed to quantify the QTFD-based time-frequency representation of the EEG signals. Moreover, to describe different emotion classes, we have utilized the 2D arousal-valence plane to develop four emotion labeling schemes of the EEG signals, such that each emotion labeling scheme defines a set of emotion classes. The extracted time-frequency features are used to construct a set of subject-specific support vector machine classifiers to classify the EEG signals of each subject into the different emotion classes that are defined using each of the four emotion labeling schemes. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated using a publicly available EEG dataset, namely the DEAPdataset. Moreover, we design three performance evaluation analyses, namely the channel-based analysis, feature-based analysis and neutral class exclusion analysis, to quantify the effects of utilizing different groups of EEG channels that cover various regions in the brain, reducing the dimensionality of the extracted time-frequency features and excluding the EEG signals that correspond to the neutral class, on the capability of the proposed approach to discriminate between different emotion classes. The results reported in the current study demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed QTFD-based approach in recognizing different emotion classes. In particular, the average classification accuracies obtained in differentiating between the various emotion classes defined using each of the four emotion labeling schemes are within the range of 73.8 % – 86.2 % . Moreover, the emotion classification accuracies achieved by our proposed approach are higher than the results reported in several existing state-of-the-art EEG-based emotion recognition studies.
Device Management and Data Transport in IoT Networks Based on Visible Light Communication
Authors: Kim Cheol-Min , Koh Seok-Joo
Published: August 2018

LED-based Visible Light Communication (VLC) has been proposed as the IEEE 802.15.7 standard and is regarded as a new wireless access medium in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) environment. With this trend, many works have already been made to improve the performance of VLC. However, the effectively integration of VLC services into IoT networks has not yet been sufficiently studied. In this paper, we propose a scheme for device management and data transport in IoT networks using VLC. Specifically, we discuss how to manage VLC transmitters and receivers, and to support VLC data transmission in IoT networks. The proposed scheme considers uni-directional VLC transmissions from transmitter to receivers for delivery of location-based VLC data. The backward transmission from VLC receivers will be made by using platform server and aggregation agents in the network. For validation and performance analysis, we implemented the proposed scheme with VLC-capable LED lights and open sources of oneM2M. From the experimental results for virtual museum services, we see that the VLC data packets can be exchanged within 590 ms, and the handover between VLC transmitters can be completed within 210 ms in the testbed network.
FACTORS AFFECTING RETURN ON DEPOSIT (ROD) OF SHARIA BANKS IN INDONESIA
Authors: Wahyudi Sugeng , Nofendi Deki , Robiyanto Robiyanto , Hersugondo Hersugondo
Published: August 2018

This study examines the effect of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), board of directors’ size (BOARD), sharia supervisory board (DPS), bank size (SIZE), and interest rate (INT) and sharia bank ownership status (DFOR) to Return on Deposit (ROD). The sample used in this research is 11 sharia banks operating in Indonesia. By using multiple regression analysis technique, it was found that CAR and SIZE have a significant negative effect on ROD) of sharia banks in Indonesia. While the FDR, BOARD and INT have a significant positive effect on ROD of sharia banks in Indonesia. Meanwhile, DPS and DFOR have no significant effect on ROD of sharia bank in Indonesia.
Corynebacterium striatum: an emerging respiratory pathogen
Authors: Shariff Malini , Aditi Aditi , Beri Kiran
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Corynebacterium spp. are primarily considered normal flora and dismissed when isolated from clinical specimens. In recent years, Corynebacterium striatum has emerged as a multi-drug resistant human pathogen which can cause nosocomial outbreaks. The organism has infrequently been noted to cause respiratory infections. A retrospective study was conducted to identify the clinical and microbiological features of respiratory infection by Corynebacterium striatum.

Methodology: C. striatum isolates from clinical and surveillance samples were tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials and typed by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Clinical data was obtained through a retrospective review of records.

Results: 15 isolates from clinical and surveillance samples of 11 hospitalised patients were included. The patients suffered from either an exacerbation of COPD (n = 9) or pneumonia (n = 2). The isolates were all multi-drug resistant. RAPD typing found no evidence of an outbreak/ transmission between patients.

Conclusions: Corynebacterium spp. must be considered potential pathogens. Suspicious isolates should be identified to the species level since Corynebacterium striatum is often multi-drug resistant.
Tibial Interference Screw Positioning Relative to the Bone Plug in ACL Reconstruction: A Biomechanical Comparison of Cortical Versus Cancellous-Sided Placement
Authors: Marsh Nathan A. , Antosh Ivan J. , O'Conor Daniel K. , Ortega Raymond J. , Paneral Nicholas S. , Cameron Kenneth L. , Posner Matthew
Published: August 2018

The biomechanical strength of a bone–patellar tendon–bone graft in the tibia may vary depending on whether the interference screw abuts the cancellous vs the cortical surface of the bone plug. In a porcine model, 10×20-mm bone–patellar tendon–bone grafts were prepared and fixed in a 10-mm diameter tibial tunnel using a 9×25-mm titanium interference screw. The screw was positioned on the cancellous surface of the graft in group A (n=13) vs the cortical side of the graft in group B (n=14). Specimens underwent precycling, cyclic loading, and load-to-failure testing. The mean ultimate failure load was 493±245 N for group A vs 304±145 N for group B (
P
=.008). Sixty-nine percent of specimens in group A survived 1000 cycles of load testing compared with 21% of specimens in group B. Forty-three percent of specimens in group B sustained intratendinous failure adjacent to the bone plug compared with 15% of specimens in group A. Orientation of the tibial interference screw along the cancellous vs the cortical side of the graft results in superior cyclic loading and ultimate failure load characteristics. Additionally, screw placement along the cortical side may weaken the tendon interface and lead to tendon failure under load. This study indicates that placement of the tibial interference screw along the cancellous side of the graft is biomechanically favorable. However, the clinical ramifications of these findings are not clear. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(6):337–342.]
Effects of Nano Particles Attached onto a Heat Transfer Surface in the Thermal-Hydraulic System
Authors: Mun Ji Eun , Kim Woo Joong , Kong Jeung Ri , Kim Nam Jin
Published: August 2018

This work experimentally explored the influence of nano-fouling, and it was also compared and analyzed CHF, flow boiling heat transfer coefficient, contact angle, and surface roughness. The working fluids in this study were used as purewater and a 0.01 vol% oxidized MWCNT nanofluid. The flow velocity conditions are established at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m/s. Also, the nanoparticles of oxidized graphene were deposited on a heat transfer surface, and artificial spray coating times for nano-fouling are established at 0, 120, 180, and 240 sec. As the results, it was found that the superheated temperature to the CHF extremely increased in case of nano-fouling, it is caused by physical damage of heat transfer system. The flow boiling heat transfer coefficient in an oxidized graphene nanofluid increased up to 24.29% without any treatment on the heat transfer surface, but the coefficient in case of nano-fouling decreased down to 16.26% more than in the purewater.
Characterization of the Mechanical Integrity of Cu Nanowire-Based Transparent Conducting Electrode
Authors: Orgen Salvacion B. , Balela Mary Donnabelle L.
Published: August 2018

Smooth Cu nanowires were synthesized in a dual surfactant hydrothermal process using oleylamine and oleic acid. The Cu nanowires have a mean diameter of 82.3 nm and lengths >300 μm. Cu nanowire based transparent conducting electrodes were successfully fabricated with a decreased sheet resistance of 3.479 to 1.04 kΩ/sq in an increasing nanowire density with a transmittance from 94-80 %. The fabricated transparent electrode exhibits good mechanical stability with high flexibility even after 50 bending cycles. This indicates strong adhesion of the Cu nanowires on the substrate.
The Changed of Behaviour of MR Fluid in MR Damper after a Long-Term Operation
Authors: Utami Dewi , Mazlan Saiful Amri , Ubaidillah  , Bahiuddin Irfan , Imaduddin Fitrian , Nordin Nur Azmah
Published: August 2018

Magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices are now applied in various applications. Although a lot of studies have been discussed in long-term implementation of MR devices, only few studies have concerned on MR fluid application in valve operation mode, such as at MR valve. The experiments were conducted on a dynamic test machine in a custom MR damper with meandering MR valve. The experiment test was applied at continuous-load in long term-operation with parameters of 20 mm length of stroke, 0.4 Hz of frequency, 0.5 A of applied current and 175,000 cycles. The rheological properties of MR fluid were characterized using rotational and oscillatory shear rheometer. The result showed that the rheological properties of MR fluid changed after applied in long-term operation. The changed of MR fluid also investigated through morphological characteristics using SEM and EDX.
Magnetic Materials Used in the Magnetic Core Manufacture of Electrical Machines and Transformers
Authors: Paltanea Gheorghe , Manescu Paltanea Veronica , Gavrila Horia , Gavrila Doina Elena
Published: August 2018

Two types of silicon iron steels, M400-65A non-oriented and MOH grain-oriented alloys were characterized using an industrial Brockhaus Single Strip Tester at two peak magnetic polarizations of 500 mT and 1000 mT in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 100 Hz. The samples were cut parallel to the rolling direction trough different cutting technologies, which are the classical mechanical-, then the non-conventional laser-, water-jet-and traveling wire electro-erosion methods. The loss separation concept was applied and the total energy losses, determined experimentally, for each sample were decomposed into hysteresis, classical (Foucault) and excess (anomalous) energy losses. A detailed analysis of each type of losses as a function of the frequency was made and the influence of the cutting technology was analyzed.
Comparison between Carbon Nanotube-Based, Graphite-Based, and Rice Hull Carbon-Based Electrodes with Rice Hull Silica as Catalyst for Electrochemical Detection of Copper
Authors: Apostol Leandre Emile D. , Sacueza Jose Victor O. , Visaya John Paul Klien Zeus S. , Manalo Franz Kevin B. , Florido Emmanuel A.
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to determine the copper ion-sensing ability of a carbon nanotube (CNT)-based sensor with carbonized rice hull (CRH) as catalyst. The 50:50 CNT-CRH electrode was compared to 100% graphite, 100% CRH, 100% CNT, 50:50 graphite-CRH, and 70:30 graphite-CRH electrodes. Copper chloride (CuCl2) concentrations of 0.01M, 0.02M, 0.03M, 0.04M, 0.04M, 0.05M, 0.06, 0.07M, 0.08M, 0.09M, and 0.1M were used to test the response of the electrodes. Five trials were done for each concentration. The 50:50 CNT-CRH electrode exhibited good sensor characteristics such as high sensitivity, low resolution, and high correlation in concentration-voltage relationship. Electrical characterization using three-electrode system showed a linear relationship between the concentrations and voltage response. The 50:50 CNT-CRH electrode exhibited a sensitivity of 0.0619 V/0.01M or 9.7 mV/100ppm and a resolution of 10 ppm/1mV. The electrode also exhibited a high correlation R2 value of 0.933.
Coating of Polyaniline Molecules on Cotton Fabric via Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) Technique
Authors: Barrios John Raphael D. , Herrera Marvin U.
Published: August 2018

Cotton fabric was coated with polyaniline molecules using Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) technique. This method provides layer by layer deposition of polyaniline molecules. Infrared spectrum showed the vibrational peaks attributed with the presence of polyaniline molecules on the samples. Four-point probe measurements were done to obtain the surface conductivity of the samples. Upon increasing the dipping cycles, the conductivity of cotton fabric significantly increases. The optimum number of dipping cycle is found to be at 130. Beyond the optimum dipping cycle, the conductivity starts to decrease.
Oil Extraction Residue from End-of-Life Tire Recycling as Carbon Black Substitute in Motorcycle Tires
Authors: Manuzon Maria Janine D. , Bornillo Kristal Aubrey S. , Diaz Leslie Joy L.
Published: August 2018

Recovery of useful products from spent rubber materials can potentially turn waste into an immense and continuous source of valuable carbon black (CB). In this study, recovered residue from oil extraction (OER) was used as a CB filler substitute after subjecting the untreated samples to different material characterization techniques. These include SEM imaging, XRD and BET Analysis, as well as thermogravimetry. Using a specific tire formulation with target threshold tensile strength, the OER was then substituted for the standard commercial CB in increasing ratios. The effects of size, structure, purity and morphology of OER on rubber compound processability and mechanical properties were then investigated. Static and dynamic mechanical tests that involve the use of universal testing machine, Mooney Viscometer and Rubber Process Analyzer were performed to determine the most effective filler amount of OER as a commercial CB substitute.
Research on the Mechanical Properties and Segregation Behavior of Pb-Al Alloys
Authors: Lu Zhi Cheng , Liu Zhen Lin , Wu Dan , Li Yong Liang , Shen Wei , Wang Fu Ming
Published: August 2018

In this paper, the effect of Al content on the recrystallization behavior and mechanical properties of Pb-Al alloys were studied. The segregation behavior of Al in Pb-Al alloy was investigated. Moreover, the microstructures and precipitates of the alloys were also studied. The results show that the addition of Al can affect the recrystallization behavior of lead and improve its tensile strength. The recrystallization grains are effectively refined with the addition of 0.05%Al and the tensile strength increases obviously. However, the Al-rich phase grows significantly and its refinement effect is reduced with further increasing the Al content, thus, the tensile strength decreases. The mechanical stirring can effectively decrease the segregation degree of Al in Pb-Al alloys, but the yield of Al reduces. After the mechanical stirring, the sizes of Al phases decrease and theirs distribution is more uniform.
Coconut Shell Powder and Electrical Tree Inhibition of Solid Insulator
Authors: Saithanu Thanyakon , Suksri Amnart
Published: August 2018

Electrical tree phenomenon commonly occurred in solid insulator material resulting from the inconsistency of stresses during the manufacturing process. The treeing phenomenon will degrade the characteristic of insulator and may lead to breakdown. The use of filler in the manufacturing process in order to enhancing the insulation property is a popular approach. This paper presents the use of coconut shell powder (CSP) filler in epoxy resin for inhibition of electrical tree growth. The particle sizes of CSP varied from 62, 75 and 125 µm. The CSP is filled with the ratio of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0% by weight. We aim to observe the effects of varying the combination of CSP particle sizes and the ratio of epoxy resin for an inhibition of electrical tree growth. The electrical tree was tested by applying AC voltage of 15kV to the test sample and conducted for 360 minutes in this experiment. When the epoxy resin using CSP filler of 1% by weight is fixed for the particle size of 62, 75 and 125 µm, electrical tree length is at 1.24mm, 1.382 mm and 1.78 mm respectively. Whereas, when the particle size of CSP at 62 µm is fixed, a tree length is 1.98 mm and 1.24 mm for the ratio of 0.1 and 1% by weight respectively. Our study demonstrates that the epoxy resin using CSP filler at a ratio of 0.1% by weight can shorten length of electrical tree when compared with a ratio of 1.0% by weight. The electrical tree length was affected through the changes of permittivity by addition of CSP compound.
Democratisation of local government planning in Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Shuvra
Published: August 2018

This article explores the participatory planning and participatory budgeting processes of Bangladesh. These processes, seen as ‘social accountability measures’, were introduced by the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009. This study used a qualitative case-study methodology, backed by secondary documentary analysis, to assess how the processes were working in six union parishads (the lowest tier of government in Bangladesh). On the basis of both primary and secondary data, the study found that involvement of non-governmental organisations was an effective method of enhancing the capacity of union parishad functionaries to implement participatory planning and participatory budgeting. Positive outcomes observed included increased people’s participation, identification of socio-economic concerns, increased trust in elected representatives, increased transparency, changes in patterns of service delivery and improved viability of direct fund transfers to local government institutions. However, challenges to local planning and budgeting were also identified: failure to link policy, planning and budgeting due to a lack of capacity among local elected and government officers, structural mismatches between local planning and budgeting and corresponding processes at regional and national level, resource constraints, and local political interference.
Corpus-based Evaluation on Instrumental Texts in Textbook
Authors: Zhang Mengqi , Zhu Wenzhong , Wan Muchun
Published: August 2018

Instrumental texts, as an important part of the textbooks, play an important role in organizing the teaching content and the teaching activities, facilitating the communication of the teacher, students and textbooks. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to study and evaluate the instrumental texts of the textbooks. The instrumental texts in Market Leader is adopted as the research object. Content analysis and corpus analysis are applied in this paper. By retrieving their salient lexical and semantic patterns which are further associated with some modern concepts in ESP education, the book is evaluated from the perspective of cognitive strategy, learning styles, the relationship between teaching materials and learners and contextualized language instructions. The results of this study are as following: 1) Teaching notions can be reflected from the instrumental texts. 2) Cooperative learning and learners-centered approach are well shown in this book. Cognitive thinking and situation creation are relatively weak in this book.
Optimal Procurement of Distributed Energy Resources
Authors: Brown David P. , Sappington David E.M.
Published: August 2018

We analyze the optimal design of policies to motivate electricity distribution companies to adopt efficient distributed energy resources (DER) and manage associated project costs. The optimal policy often entails a bias against new DER projects and implements cost sharing when DER projects are undertaken in order to foster cost containment while limiting excessive profit for the utility. Failure to adequately tailor the degree of cost sharing to the prevailing environment can raise procurement costs substantially. The distribution company may optimally be awarded more than the cost saving it achieves.
Religious audit in the Islamic perspective – selected issues
Authors: Adamek Jacek , Kogut Joanna
Published: August 2018

The purpose of the article is to identify the specific characteristics of religious audit performed in Muslim financial institutions. The thesis put forward in the study is that cultural (religious) identity, determining the space in which the functions assigned to audit processes are realized, determines their content and scope. The layout of the article and the applied research methods, including the subject literature studies and also the descriptive and comparative analysis were focused on obtaining the defined research purpose and verifying the specified thesis. The article, apart from the introduction and conclusion, is divided into three parts devoted to the following problems: a/the nature of religious audit performed by Muslim financial institutions, b/the profile of the auditor carrying out the audit and c/the challenges faced by religious audit due to current determinants and dynamics of Muslim finance development. As a result of the conducted research the above presented thesis was positively verified by observing that Islam, regard-
ed as a factor influencing the institutional, cultural and socio-economic space in which Muslim financial institutions are functioning, determines the nature, functions and scope of the audit they perform. The value of the publication is its focus on the question rarely discussed in the national literature of the subject, i.e. religious audit performed in Islamic space.
Whiteness and Ambiguous Canadianization: The Boy Scouts Association and the Canadian Cadet Organization
Authors: Woodger Kevin
Published: August 2018

Between the 1920s and late 1960s, the Boy Scouts Association of Canada and the Canadian Cadet Movement proved to be ambiguous institutions for the Canadianization of certain ethnic minorities. While nationally, as agents of Anglo-conformity and settler colonialism, these movements remained rooted in a British Canadian identity, at the local level they gradually became more accommodating of particular white ethnic identities. However, this did not extend to non-white cadets and scouts, especially Aboriginal boys, who were targets for assimilation into the larger Anglo-Canadian mainstream. As such, this is in part a study of Anglo-Canadian whiteness and the ways in which shifting definitions of whiteness and national identity can be viewed through the local accommodations made by two Anglo-Canadian youth movements Aboriginal youth were subject to assimilationist programs within cadet and scout units, but, at the local level, both national movements provided greater cultural accommodation to white ethnic and religious minorities, primarily through the intervention of ethnic and religious institutions that sponsored their own Cadet or Scout units. This began during the interwar years with two of the largest white linguistic and religious minority groups, French Canadian Catholics and Jewish-Canadians, spreading to white ethnic Eastern Europeans during the postwar period.
Por uma esperança responsável: interpelações éticas e teológicas para uma Nova Práxis
Authors: Kuzma Cesar
Published: August 2018

O trabalho de pesquisa que apresentamos tem a proposta de uma esperança responsável. Esta esperança pode ser compreendida na sua dimensão humana, naquilo que podemos esperar e que está ao nosso alcance, o que implica uma ação direta do ser humano na história, em vista de um futuro que se pode construir. No entanto, esta esperança também pode ser percebida teologicamente, sendo entendida como dom e como horizonte de resposta, o que possibilita ao ser humano um novo modo de agir e de se perceber diante de um futuro que o convida a algo novo, fazendo-o interagir com o contexto onde vive, em vista de um futuro que foi prometido e que alimenta esta esperança na história, transformando-a em força e ação. Entendemos que há um caráter performativo que sustenta esta esperança em nível escatológico, o que resulta em uma atitude de responsabilidade para com o tempo presente, no exercício da solidariedade e no compromisso com o novo que se revela. Para atender a estes objetivos, este trabalho de pesquisa está dividido em três partes, partindo de uma discussão sobre o lugar da esperança, entendendo o conteúdo que a esperança cristã apresenta e o espaço que ela dispõe, hoje. Na sequência, o nosso enfoque estará nos fundamentos e nos desdobramentos que o tema propõe. E, por fim, a relação entre esperança e responsabilidade, na perspectiva de uma práxis que incida em uma nova postura ética e teológica.
Instructor-led versus Video-led Exercise: A Comparison of Intensity in Obese Youth
Authors: Gier Amanda , Edwards Nicholas M. , Khoury Philip R. , Kirk Shelley , Kist Christopher , Siegel Robert
Published: August 2018

Background: Exercise is a key component in treating childhood obesity. Group exercise sessions with a trained instructor are ideal, but most treatment programs cannot offer these often enough to meet physical activity guidelines. At-home options that provide a similar-intensity workout are needed. Objective: To determine if exercise videos are a feasible at-home option for obese youth to meet recommended physical activity guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous exercise. Methods: Obese youth attended a summer camp focused on weight management. Subjects wore accelerometers to assess physical activity levels at camp. During camp, all subjects completed four exercise activities: three separate exercise sessions led by exercise physiologists (EP), as well as an exercise video (EV). Each exercise session utilized a different format: high intensity interval training (HIIT), group games (GG) and yoga. The EV, created by the same EP, included aerobic exercise and yoga. Data was analyzed to determine intensity associated with each exercise session. Results: Data was obtained from 16 (50%) accelerometers (9 girls, 7 boys). There was no difference in sedentary (SED) minutes per hour between activities. HIIT and GG had more moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than yoga (p<0.0001 and p=0.01) and EV (p<0.0001 and p=0.01). There was no difference in MVPA between HIIT and GG. Conclusions: Obese children exercised at higher intensities during instructor-led HIIT and GG exercise sessions than yoga or EV sessions.
Effects of Point of Aim on the Accuracy and Eye Movement Behavior in Bowling: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lim Jongil , Ho Chang Seung , Cris Tomimbang Adriane
Published: August 2018

Background: A common research question in far-target aiming has been the importance and significance of the final visual fixation before movement initiation. In rolling tasks, such as 10-pin bowling, location of point of aim needs not be at the final target, the pins, but may be located at any point along the trajectory of the ball. Objective: Specific interest in the present experiment has focused on the relationship between visual point of aim and performance accuracy, and the relationship of visual control strategies utilized by expert performers. Methods: Skilled bowlers (N=7) performed 20 trials per condition concentrating on visual targets in different distances along the bowling lane (20, 40, 60 feet, and self-selected). Ball trajectory was tracked using a video based system and eye movement was measured using an eye tracking system. Results: Deviation of the ball from the visual target increased with visual target distance, while deviation of the ball from the pins was the lowest in the self-selected visual targets, followed by aiming at the pins. The final fixation duration before movement initiation was not associated with ball accuracy regardless of visual target locations. However, results demonstrated the association between final fixation duration task difficulty, that is, longer final fixation duration with increased visual target distance. Conclusion: The results indicate that visual fixations before movement initiation are uncharacteristically long while visual fixations just before the completion of the movement are relatively short.
One‐Pot Enzymatic Synthesis of Cyclic Vicinal Diols from Aliphatic Dialdehydes via Intramolecular C−C Bond Formation and Carbonyl Reduction Using Pyruvate Decarboxylases and Alcohol Dehydrogenases
Authors: Zhang Yan , Yao Peiyuan , Cui Yunfeng , Wu Qiaqing , Zhu Dunming
Published: August 2018

An enzymatic cascade reaction was developed for one‐pot enantioselective conversion of aliphatic dialdehydes to chiral vicinal diols using pyruvate decarboxylases (PDCs) and alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs). The PDCs showed promiscuity in catalysing the cyclization of aliphatic dialdehydes through intramolecular stereoselective carbon‐carbon bond formation. Consequently, 1,2‐cyclopentanediols in three different stereoisomeric forms and 1,2‐cyclohexanediols in two different stereoisomeric forms could be prepared with high conversion and stereoisomeric ratio from the respective initial substrates, glutaraldehyde and adipaldehyde. These cascade reactions represent a promising approach to the biocatalytic synthesis of important chiral vicinal diols.

magnified image
Techniques to Remove Traces of Oxygen by Catalytic Conversion from Gas Mixtures
Authors: Wiesmann Thomas , Hamel Christian , Kaluza Stefan
Published: August 2018

This review presents the technical possibilities of removing traces of oxygen in process gases. The processes are divided into physical and chemical processes. The focus is on the catalytic removal of oxygen traces in gas streams. The descriptions present catalyst systems based on precious metals and non‐precious metals. In most studies, methane, which is present in excess, is converted with small amounts of oxygen (< 1 vol %). The reaction‐inhibiting gases examined were carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Pd‐Catalyzed Difluoromethylthiolation of Aryl Chlorides, Bromides and Triflates
Authors: Wu Jiang , Lu Changhui , Lu Long , Shen Qilong
Published: August 2018

A highly efficient Pd‐catalyzed difluoromethylthiolation of aryl chlorides, bromides and triflates is described. A variety of aryl halides with common functional groups were difluoromethylthiolated in moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, several natural, drug and material molecules containing an aryl chloride, bromide, and phenol unit were successfully difluoromethylthiolated, thus providing medicinal chemists a general method for late‐stage difluoromethylthiolation of leading compounds.
Brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). III. The unusual locus coeruleus complex
Authors: Imam Aminu , Bhagwandin Adhil , Ajao Moyosore S. , Ihunwo Amadi O. , Fuxe Kjell , Manger Paul R.
Published: August 2018

Here, we used a range of immunohistochemical stains, focussing on tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase, to show that within the pons of tree pangolins clusters of noradrenergic neurons are present. No noradrenergic neurons were observed in the pontine periventricular gray matter (A6 and A4 groups missing), with all noradrenergic neurons being found within the pontine tegmentum (A7 and A5 groups). The tree pangolin is unique in lacking the locus coeruleus (A6) cell group observed in all vertebrates previously studied; however, noradrenergic axons and terminal networks were found throughout the cerebral cortex. We propose this is achieved through a unique structural reorganization of this system. First, the number of noradrenergic neurons in the compact portion of the subcoeruleus (A7sc) of the tree pangolin is increased, providing a total number of noradrenergic neurons in the pontine tegmentum (A7diffuse, A7sc, A5) that is equivalent to the entire locus coeruleus complex in related species of similar brain mass. Second, the most medially located noradrenergic neurons of the A7sc have dendrites that extend into the ventrolateral periventricular gray matter, in the location where the A6 neurons should have been located, forming a “pseudo A6” region. Third, the topological relationships of this “pseudo A6” region to other neurochemical systems that interact with the A6 neurons, such as the orexinergic, cholinergic, and serotonergic systems, appear to be maintained. Thus, a unique structural plasticity of this region appears to maintain the standard functions of the locus coeruleus complex in this unusual mammalian species.
Blood monoamines as potential biomarkers for conditioned pain modulation efficacy: An exploratory study in paediatrics
Authors: Ferland Catherine E. , Teles Alisson R. , Ingelmo Pablo , Saran Neil , Marchand Serge , Ouellet Jean A.
Published: August 2018

Background

Monoaminergic pathways are involved in the process of pain inhibition and facilitation. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of blood monoamines as biomarkers of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) efficacy.

Methods

One hundred and five paediatric patients with chronic back pain were enrolled in this observational study. The protocol involved dosage of plasma monoamines (dopamine, DOPA; serotonin, 5‐HT; epinephrine, Epi; norepinephrine, NE; metanephrine, ME; and normetanephrine, NME) and clinical assessment (CPM, functional disability, pain, sleep quality, anxiety and depression).

Results

5‐HT and DOPA were positively correlated among each other and were both negatively correlated with Epi, ME, NE and NME. CPM presented a positive correlation with DOPA and 5‐HT. On the other hand, Epi, ME, NE and NME correlated negatively with CPM. Different correlation coefficients were observed between genders, with stronger coefficients being observed in the male subpopulation. Stepwise regression controlling for age and gender indicated that ME (B = −0.987, SE(B) = 0.299, p = 0.002) was the only significant predictor for CPM efficacy. Higher blood ME was associated with poorer CPM efficacy. ME explained 53% of variation of CPM in males (R2 = 0.536, p < 0.0001) and 7% in females (R2 = 0.074, p = 0.014). In males, blood ME >15 pg/ml predicted inefficient CPM with 88.9% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that ME can be a potential biomarker for CPM efficacy in paediatrics. Future studies are needed to assess the efficacy of tailored treatments for pain according to blood ME.

Significance

We were able to demonstrate an association between CPM and circulating monoamines. In the clinical setting, sampling ME could provide the clinician an idea of the individual's pain modulation potential. This may be particularly important for children with cognitive impairment, for whose CPM paradigm cannot be used.
Clonal heterogeneity influences drug responsiveness in renal cancer assessed by ex vivo drug testing of multiple patient‐derived cancer cells
Authors: Saeed Khalid , Ojamies Poojitha , Pellinen Teijo , Eldfors Samuli , Turkki Riku , Lundin Johan , Järvinen Petrus , Nisen Harry , Taari Kimmo , af Hällström Taija M. , Rannikko Antti , Mirtti Tuomas , Kallioniemi Olli , Östling Päivi
Published: August 2018

Renal cell cancer (RCC) has become a prototype example of the extensive intratumor heterogeneity and clonal evolution of human cancers. However, there is little direct evidence on how the genetic heterogeneity impacts on drug response profiles of the cancer cells. Our goal was to determine how genomic clonal evolution impacts drug responses. Finding from our study could help to define the challenge that clonal evolution poses on cancer therapy. We established multiple patient‐derived cells (PDCs) from different tumor regions of four RCC patients, verified their clonal relationship to each other and to the uncultured tumor tissue by genome sequencing. Furthermore, comprehensive drug‐sensitivity testing with 460 oncological drugs was performed on all PDC clones. The PDCs retained many cancer‐specific copy number alterations and mutations in driver genes such as VHL, PBRM1, PIK3C2A, KMD5C and TSC2 genes. The drug testing highlighted vulnerability in the PDCs toward approved RCC drugs, such as the mTOR‐inhibitor temsirolimus, but also novel sensitivities were uncovered. The individual PDC clones from different tumor regions in a patient showed distinct drug–response profiles, suggesting that genomic heterogeneity contributes to the variability in drug responses. Studies of multiple PDCs from a patient with cancer are informative for elucidating cancer heterogeneity and for the determination on how the genomic evolution is manifested in cancer drug responsiveness. This approach could facilitate tailoring of drugs and drug combinations to individual patients.
Low expression of ENC1 predicts a favorable prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Fan Shaohua , Wang Yanyan , Sheng Ning , Xie Ying , Lu Jun , Zhang Zifeng , Shan Qun , Wu Dongmei , Sun Chunhui , Li Mengqiu , Hu Bin , Zheng Yuanlin
Published: August 2018

Ectodermal‐neural cortex 1 (ENC1) belongs to a member of the kelch family of genes. It is an actin‐binding protein and plays a pivotal role in neuronal and adipocyte differentiation. Here, we found that lower expression of ENC1 in the ovarian cancer patients was associated with favorable prognosis. In addition, ENC1 was heterogeneously expressed in various ovarian cancer cells. The messenger RNA and protein expression levels of ENC1 in HO‐8910PM and NIH:OVCAR‐3 cells were obviously higher than that in the other types of ovarian cancer cells. Knockdown of ENC1 in HO‐8910PM or NIH:OVCAR‐3 cells could significantly increase the reactive oxygen species levels, resulting in inhibition of in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our findings suggest that decreasing expression of ENC1 may be a new approach that can be used for ovarian cancer treatment.
Global bimodal precipitation seasonality: A systematic overview
Authors: Knoben Wouter J. M. , Woods Ross A. , Freer Jim E.
Published: August 2018

Global precipitation patterns lead to differences in seasonal distributions of rainfall between locations in the form of alternating dry and wet seasons. Many locations experience a single wet and dry season per year, but some studies report the occurrence of two wet and dry seasons per year. This bimodal rainfall pattern is commonly associated with locations within the tropics but is reported outside the tropics as well. However, this information is fragmented, and studies of bimodality are mainly restricted to monthly rainfall totals. Here, we use a gridded global data set and simple harmonic analysis to provide a systematic overview of global bimodal rainfall and rain‐day frequency. We find good agreement between the various regional studies concerning bimodal precipitation and our global overview, showing that bimodal rainfall occurs on approximately 7% of the global land surface. In the tropics, regions of bimodal rainfall totals (P) and regions of bimodal rain‐day frequency (N) tend to overlap due to the presence of dry seasons that have zero precipitation. Outside the tropics, P and N are more independent, which leads to complex within‐year patterns of precipitation intensity. A secondary outcome of our results is an improved low‐dimensional global parameterization of monthly rainfall regimes. Our results provide the first gridded global overview of bimodal rainfall patterns and show the usefulness of simple mathematical approaches for detecting patterns in large data sets.
Influence of Thermal and Photochemical Treatments on Structure and Optical Properties of Single‐Layer Carbon Nitride
Authors: Stroyuk Oleksandr , Panasiuk Yaroslav , Raevskaya Alexandra , Kuchmiy Stepan
Published: August 2018

The temperature of the synthesis of bulk graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) by the polycondensation of melamine, Tp, is found to affect the structure and spectral properties of colloidal single layer carbon nitride (SLCN) nanosheets produced from the bulk GCN via the liquid‐phase exfoliation. As Tp is elevated the SLCN sheets get decorated with hydroxyl groups and become smaller due to a higher degree of destruction of the original bulk GCN. Both the size decrease and the presence of OH groups in the SLCN contribute to an increase in the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield growing up to 56% for Tp = 700 °C. The illumination of colloidal SLCN in air‐saturated aqueous solutions results in the oxidation of nanosheets with a partial conversion of amino groups into COH groups in reactions with oxygen. The oxidation also results in the fragmentation of SLCN particles into smaller moieties and PL quenching. Oppositely, the illumination in argon‐saturated solutions results in the reduction of SLCN sheets with the formation of CC bonds between the components of adducts of SLCN with the products of a partial polyheptazine hydrolysis as well as between separate SLCN particles accompanied by the elimination of amino and hydroxyl groups.
Radioactive Bimetallic Gold–Silver Nanoparticles Production in a Research Nuclear Reactor
Authors: Toro Maria Camila Garcia , Schlegel Joshua P. , Giraldo Carlos H. C.
Published: August 2018

Synthesis of radioactive, bimetallic nanoparticles was successfully accomplished using the Missouri S&T research nuclear reactor (MSTR). Aqueous solutions of 2 mM gold chloride and 2 mM silver nitrate were prepared and mixed with a solution of 1 mM polyvinylpyrrolidone and 60 mM of 2‐propanol. Four different samples with volume ratios of 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, and 0/100 of Au/Ag were irradiated at a reactor thermal power of 10 kW for 3 min. The morphology, crystal structure, and chemical composition of the resulting nanoparticles were characterized with Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Gatan Microscopy Suite Software and the Java‐based image‐processing program ImageJ. It was found that the structure obtained depended on the composition of the irradiated sample, with production of core‐shell and alloyed nanoparticles obtained at different conditions.
Prenatal echocardiographic assessment of right aortic arch
Authors: Campanale C. M. , Pasquini L. , Santangelo T. P. , Iorio F. S. , Bagolan P. , Sanders S. P. , Toscano A.
Published: August 2018

Objectives

To report our experience with fetal diagnosis of right aortic arch (RAA) variants based on the ductus arteriosus (DA) anatomy and brachiocephalic vessel branching pattern in relation to the trachea, and to establish whether the echocardiographic ‘V‐shaped’ or ‘U‐shaped’ appearance of the junction between the DA and aortic arch (AA) in the fetal upper mediastinal view is sufficiently accurate for assessment of fetal AA anatomy.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal RAA that had postnatal confirmation of AA anatomy, referred to our tertiary center during 2011–2017. Prenatal and postnatal medical records, including echocardiographic and computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan reports, were reviewed, and cardiac and extracardiac abnormalities and the results of genetic testing were recorded.

Results

Of 55 consecutive pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal RAA, six were lost to follow‐up, one was terminated and three were excluded due to lack of postnatal confirmation of AA anatomy. Of the remaining 45 pregnancies, AA anatomy was assessed postnatally by CT in 39, by MRI in one and by direct examination at cardiac surgery in five. A U‐shaped appearance was found in 37/45 (82.2%) patients, all of which had a complete vascular ring (CVR). Of these 37 patients, on postnatal confirmation, 21 (56.8%) had RAA with Kommerell's diverticulum, left posterior ductus arteriosus (LPDA) and aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSA) (RAA/LPDA/ALSA), 11 (29.7%) had a double AA (DAA), four (10.8%) had RAA with Kommerell's diverticulum, LPDA and mirror‐image (MI) branching (RAA/LPDA/MI), and one (2.7%) had RAA with Kommerell's diverticulum, LPDA and aberrant left innominate artery (ALIA) (RAA/LPDA/ALIA). A V‐shaped appearance was found in 3/45 (6.7%) patients, all of which had RAA with right DA not forming a CVR and MI branching. In the 5/45 (11.1%) fetuses with neither U‐ nor V‐shaped appearance, RAA with left anterior DA arising from the left innominate artery and MI branching, not forming a CVR, was found. Twelve (26.7%) fetuses had a congenital heart defect (CHD). RAA forming a CVR (U‐shaped appearance) was associated with a septal defect in 6/37 (16.2%) fetuses, while RAA not forming a CVR (V‐shaped appearance or no U‐ or V‐shaped appearance) was associated with major CHD in 6/8 (75.0%) fetuses.

Conclusions

In fetuses with RAA, V‐shaped appearance of the junction between the DA and AA indicates only that the transverse AA and DA run together on the same side of the thorax (trachea) while a U‐shaped appearance is always a sign of a CVR. Among fetuses with a CVR, RAA/LPDA/MI is more frequent than described previously. Finally, RAA forming a CVR is not usually associated with complex CHD, as opposed to RAA not forming a CVR. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.