bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on Intra- and Intercellular Trafficking of Hedgehog for Tissue Patterning
Authors: Simon Eléanor , Aguirre-Tamaral Adrián , Aguilar Gustavo , Guerrero Isabel
Published: December 2016

Intercellular communication is a fundamental process for correct tissue development. The mechanism of this process involves, among other things, the production and secretion of signaling molecules by specialized cell types and the capability of these signals to reach the target cells in order to trigger specific responses. Hedgehog (Hh) is one of the best-studied signaling pathways because of its importance during morphogenesis in many organisms. The Hh protein acts as a morphogen, activating its targets at a distance in a concentration-dependent manner. Post-translational modifications of Hh lead to a molecule covalently bond to two lipid moieties. These lipid modifications confer Hh high affinity to lipidic membranes, and intense studies have been carried out to explain its release into the extracellular matrix. This work reviews Hh molecule maturation, the intracellular recycling needed for its secretion and the proposed carriers to explain Hh transportation to the receiving cells. Special focus is placed on the role of specialized filopodia, also named cytonemes, in morphogen transport and gradient formation.
In Situ Soft X-ray Spectromicroscopy of Early Tricalcium Silicate Hydration
Authors: Bae Sungchul , Kanematsu Manabu , Hernández-Cruz Daniel , Moon Juhyuk , Kilcoyne David , Monteiro Paulo
Published: December 2016

The understanding and control of early hydration of tricalcium silicate (C3S) is of great importance to cement science and concrete technology. However, traditional characterization methods are incapable of providing morphological and spectroscopic information about in situ hydration at the nanoscale. Using soft X-ray spectromicroscopy, we report the changes in morphology and molecular structure of C3S at an early stage of hydration. In situ C3S hydration in a wet cell, beginning with induction (~1 h) and acceleration (~4 h) periods of up to ~8 h, was studied and compared with ex situ measurements in the deceleration period after 15 h of curing. Analysis of the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure showed that the Ca binding energy and energy splitting of C3S changed rapidly in the early age of hydration and exhibited values similar to calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). The formation of C–S–H nanoseeds in the C3S solution and the development of a fibrillar C–S–H morphology on the C3S surface were visualized. Following this, silicate polymerization accompanied by C–S–H precipitation produced chemical shifts in the peaks of the main Si K edge and in multiple scattering. However, the silicate polymerization process did not significantly affect the Ca binding energy of C–S–H.
Mass Transport through Nanostructured Membranes: Towards a Predictive Tool
Authors: Darvishmanesh Siavash , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: December 2016

This study proposes a new mechanism to understand the transport of solvents through nanostructured membranes from a fundamental point of view. The findings are used to develop readily applicable mathematical models to predict solvent fluxes and solute rejections through solvent resistant membranes used for nanofiltration. The new model was developed based on a pore-flow type of transport. New parameters found to be of fundamental importance were introduced to the equation, i.e., the affinity of the solute and the solvent for the membrane expressed as the hydrogen-bonding contribution of the solubility parameter for the solute, solvent and membrane. A graphical map was constructed to predict the solute rejection based on the hydrogen-bonding contribution of the solubility parameter. The model was evaluated with performance data from the literature. Both the solvent flux and the solute rejection calculated with the new approach were similar to values reported in the literature.
Ductility of Nanostructured Bainite
Authors: Morales-Rivas Lucia , Garcia-Mateo Carlos , Sourmail Thomas , Kuntz Matthias , Rementeria Rosalia , Caballero Francisca
Published: December 2016

Nanostructured bainite is a novel ultra-high-strength steel-concept under intensive current research, in which the optimization of its mechanical properties can only come from a clear understanding of the parameters that control its ductility. This work reviews first the nature of this composite-like material as a product of heat treatment conditions. Subsequently, the premises of ductility behavior are presented, taking as a reference related microstructures: conventional bainitic steels, and TRIP-aided steels. The ductility of nanostructured bainite is then discussed in terms of work-hardening and fracture mechanisms, leading to an analysis of the three-fold correlation between ductility, mechanically-induced martensitic transformation, and mechanical partitioning between the phases. Results suggest that a highly stable/hard retained austenite, with mechanical properties close to the matrix of bainitic ferrite, is advantageous in order to enhance ductility.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Possible Chalcopyrite Dissolution Mechanism in Sulfuric Acidic Aqueous Solution
Authors: Lu Diankun , Wang Wei , Chang Yongfeng , Xie Feng , Jiang Kaixi
Published: December 2016

The dissolution routes of chalcopyrite in acidic sulfate aqueous solution have been discussed by thermodynamic calculation under different aqueous species concentrations, such as Cu2+, Fe2+ and H2S. The results show that for both oxidative dissolution and non-oxidative dissolution of chalcopyrite, the dissolution process undergoes several intermediate steps before completely decomposing to Cu2+, Fe2+ and elemental sulfur, in which bornite and covellite are the most likely intermediates. The dissolution routes of the secondary intermediates have also been discussed and covellite is the most likely final intermediate. Based on these results, some frequently reported phenomena, such as the existence of an optima redox potential range, the promotive action of the addition of Cu2+ and Fe2+ , as well as the preferential release of Fe2+ in the chalcopyrite leaching process, have been explained and elucidated.
Hot Deformation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution Characteristics of Ti-44Al-5V-1Cr Alloy Containing (γ + α2 + B2) Phases
Authors: Liu Hongwu , Rong Rong , Gao Fan , Li Zhenxi , Liu Yanguo , Wang Qingfeng
Published: December 2016

The hot deformation behavior and microstructural evolution of Ti-44Al-5V-1Cr alloy were investigated by hot compression tests at temperatures of 1000–1250 °C and strain rates of 0.001–1 s−1. It was indicated that the dependence of peak stress on deformation temperature and strain rate could be accurately described by a hyperbolic sine type equation. The activation energy, Q, was estimated to be 632 kJ/mol. The hot processing map was developed at different strains on the basis of dynamic materials modeling and the Murty criteria. As a result, the instability zones occurred in the regions of low temperature (<1050 °C) and a high strain rate (>0.1 s−1). The flow soft mechanism of the instability regions is stress relaxation caused by localization deformation at lamellar boundaries. Dynamic recrystallization is the mainly refining and spheroidizing mechanism of lamellar microstructures. The optimum hot working condition of as-cast TiAl alloy occurs in the temperature range of 1175–1225 °C and the strain rate range 0.05–0.1 s−1. The large-size TiAl alloy rectangular bars with crack-free appearance were successfully prepared by hot extrusion. After annealing, the fine and uniform microstructure with excellent deformation ability was obtained.
An Enhanced Electroosmotic Micromixer with an Efficient Asymmetric Lateral Structure
Authors: Zhou Teng , Wang Hanlin , Shi Liuyong , Liu Zhenyu , Joo Sang
Published: December 2016

Homogeneous and rapid mixing in microfluidic devices is difficult to accomplish, owing to the low Reynolds number associated with most flows in microfluidic channels. Here, an efficient electroosmotic micromixer based on a carefully designed lateral structure is demonstrated. The electroosmotic flow in this mixer with an asymmetrical structure induces enhanced disturbance in the micro channel, helping the fluid streams’ folding and stretching, thereby enabling appreciable mixing. Quantitative analysis of the mixing efficiency with respect to the potential applied and the flow rate suggests that the electroosmotic microfluidic mixer developed in the present work can achieve efficient mixing with low applied potential.
Optimizing Performance of SABC Comminution Circuit of the Wushan Porphyry Copper Mine—A Practical Approach
Authors: Zhang Wei
Published: December 2016

This research is focused on the Phase I SABC milling circuit of the Wushan porphyry copper mine. Improvements to the existing circuit were targeted without any significant alterations to existing equipment or the SABC circuit. JKSimMet simulations were used to test various operating and design conditions to improve the comminution process. Modifications to the SABC comminution circuit included an increase in the SAG mill ball charge from 8% to 10% v/v; an increase in the mill ball charge from 23% v/v to 27% v/v; an increase in the maximum operating power draw in the ball mill to 5800 kW; the replacement of the HP Series pebble crusher with a TC84 crusher; and the addition of a pebble bin. Following these improvements, an increase in circuit throughput, a reduction in energy consumption, and an increase in profitability were obtained.
A Simple Precursor for Highly Functionalized Fused Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines and Imidazo[4,5-b]-1,8-naphthyridine
Authors: Al-duaij Omar , Zaki Magdi , El Gazzar Abdel-Rhman
Published: December 2016

1-alkyl aryl-5-amino-4-(cyanoformimidoyl)imidazoles 4 were reacted with malononitrile and 2-amino-1,1,3-propenetricarbonitrile under mild experimental conditions, which led to 5-amino-3-(substituted benzyl)-6,7-dicyano-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines 5 and 6,8-diamino-3-(4-substituted benzyl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]-1,8-naphthyridine-7,9-dicarbonitrile 6, respectively, when the reaction was carried out in the absence of a base, or to 5,7-diamino-3-(4-alkyl aryl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-6-carbonitrile 8, and 6,8,9-triamino-3-(4-substitutedbenzyl)-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]-1,8-naphthyridine-7-carbonitrile 10 in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU). Both reactions evolved from an adduct formed by nucleophilic attack of the malononitrile anion or 2-amino-1,1,3-propenetricarbonitrile anion to the carbon of the cyanoformimidoyl substituent. In the case of the malononitrile anion, a 5-amino-1-alkyl aryl-4-(1-amino-2,2-dicyanovinyl)imidazole 7 was isolated when this reaction was carried out in the presence of DBU. The structure of compound 7 was confirmed by spectroscopic methods, and cyclized intramolecularly to 8 by heating in ethanol/triethyl amine.
Phenols and Polyphenols as Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
Authors: Karioti Anastasia , Carta Fabrizio , Supuran Claudiu
Published: December 2016

Phenols are among the largest and most widely distributed groups of secondary metabolites within the plant kingdom. They are implicated in multiple and essential physiological functions. In humans they play an important role as microconstituents of the daily diet, their consumption being considered healthy. The physical and chemical properties of phenolic compounds make these molecules versatile ligands, capable of interacting with a wide range of targets, such as the Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1). CAs reversibly catalyze the fundamental reaction of CO2 hydration to bicarbonate and protons in all living organisms, being actively involved in the regulation of a plethora of patho/physiological processes. This review will discuss the most recent advances in the search of naturally occurring phenols and their synthetic derivatives that inhibit the CAs and their mechanisms of action at molecular level. Plant extracts or mixtures are not considered in the present review.
Multi-Residue Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Crude Pollens by UPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Tong Zhou , Wu Yan-Can , Liu Qiong-Qiong , Shi Yan-Hong , Zhou Li-Jun , Liu Zhen-Yu , Yu Lin-Sheng , Cao Hai-Qun
Published: December 2016

A multi-residue method for the determination of 54 pesticide residues in pollens has been developed and validated. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of 48 crude pollen samples collected from eight provinces of China. The recovery of analytes ranged from 60% to 136% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 30%. Of the 54 targeted compounds, 19 pesticides were detected. The major detection rates of each compound were 77.1% for carbendazim, 58.3% for fenpropathrin, 56.3% for chlorpyrifos, 50.0% for fluvalinate, 31.3% for chlorbenzuron, and 29.2% for triadimefon in crude pollen samples. The maximum values of each pesticide were 4516 ng/g for carbendazim, 162.8 ng/g for fenpropathrin, 176.6 ng/g for chlorpyrifos, 316.2 ng/g for fluvalinate, 437.2 ng/g for chlorbenzuron, 79.00 ng/g for triadimefon, and so on. This study provides basis for the research on the risks to honeybee health.
Synthesis, Antiphospholipase A2, Antiprotease, Antibacterial Evaluation and Molecular Docking Analysis of Certain Novel Hydrazones
Authors: El-Sayed Nahed , Alafeefy Ahmed , Bakht Mohammed , Masand Vijay , Aldalbahi Ali , Chen Nan , Fan Chunhai , Ben Bacha Abir
Published: December 2016

Some novel hydrazone derivatives 6a–o were synthesized from the key intermediate 4-Chloro-N-(2-hydrazinocarbonyl-phenyl)-benzamide 5 and characterized using IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The inhibitory potential against two secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), three protease enzymes and eleven bacterial strains were evaluated. The results revealed that all compounds showed preferential inhibition towards hGIIA isoform of sPLA2 rather than DrG-IB with compounds 6l and 6e being the most active. The tested compounds exhibited excellent antiprotease activity against proteinase K and protease from Bacillus sp. with compound 6l being the most active against both enzymes. Furthermore, the maximum zones of inhibition against bacterial growth were exhibited by compounds; 6a, 6m, and 6o against P. aeruginosa; 6a, 6b, 6d, 6f, 6l, 6m, 6n, and 6o against Serratia; 6k against S. mutans; and compounds 6a, 6d, 6e, 6m, and 6n against E. feacalis. The docking simulations of hydrazones 6a–o with GIIA sPLA2, proteinase K and hydrazones 6a–e with glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase were performed to obtain information regarding the mechanism of action.
Temperature- and Angle-Dependent Magnetic Properties of Ni Nanotube Arrays Fabricated by Electrodeposition in Polycarbonate Templates
Authors: Chen Yonghui , Xu Chen , Zhou Yibo , Maaz Khan , Yao Huijun , Mo Dan , Lyu Shuangbao , Duan Jinglai , Liu Jie
Published: December 2016

Parallel arrays of Ni nanotubes with an external diameter of 150 nm, a wall thickness of 15 nm, and a length of 1.2 ± 0.3 µm were successfully fabricated in ion-track etched polycarbonate (PC) templates by electrochemical deposition. The morphology and crystal structure of the nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Structural analyses indicate that Ni nanotubes have a polycrystalline structure with no preferred orientation. Angle dependent hysteresis studies at room temperature carried out by using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) demonstrate a transition of magnetization between the two different magnetization reversal modes: curling rotation for small angles and coherent rotation for large angles. Furthermore, temperature dependent magnetic analyses performed with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer indicate that magnetization of the nanotubes follows modified Bloch’s law in the range 60–300 K, while the deviation of the experimental curve from this law below 60 K can be attributed to the finite size effects in the nanotubes. Finally, it was found that coercivity measured at different temperatures follows Kneller’s law within the premises of Stoner–Wohlfarth model for ferromagnetic nanostructures.
Compliance with WHO IYCF Indicators and Dietary Intake Adequacy in a Sample of Malaysian Infants Aged 6–23 Months
Authors: Khor Geok , Tan Sue , Tan Kok , Chan Pauline , Amarra Maria
Published: December 2016

Background: The 2010 World Health Organisation (WHO) Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators are useful for monitoring feeding practices. Methods: A total sample of 300 subjects aged 6 to 23 months was recruited from urban suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Compliance with each IYCF indicator was computed according to WHO recommendations. Dietary intake based on two-day weighed food records was obtained from a sub-group (N = 119) of the total sample. The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) value was computed as an overall measure of dietary intake adequacy. Contributions of core IYCF indicators to MAR were determined by multinomial logistic regression. Results: Generally, the subjects showed high compliance for (i) timely introduction of complementary foods at 6 to 8 months (97.9%); (ii) minimum meal frequency among non-breastfed children aged 6 to 23 months (95.2%); (iii) consumption of iron-rich foods at 6 to 23 months (92.3%); and minimum dietary diversity (78.0%). While relatively high proportions achieved the recommended intake levels for protein (87.4%) and iron (71.4%), lower proportions attained the recommendations for calcium (56.3%) and energy (56.3%). The intake of micronutrients was generally poor. The minimum dietary diversity had the greatest contribution to MAR (95% CI: 3.09, 39.87) (p = 0.000) among the core IYCF indicators. Conclusion: Malaysian urban infants and toddlers showed moderate to high compliance with WHO IYCF indicators. The robustness of the analytical approach in this study in quantifying contributions of IYCF indicators to MAR should be further investigated.
Do Health Claims and Front-of-Pack Labels Lead to a Positivity Bias in Unhealthy Foods?
Authors: Talati Zenobia , Pettigrew Simone , Dixon Helen , Neal Bruce , Ball Kylie , Hughes Clare
Published: December 2016

Health claims and front-of-pack labels (FoPLs) may lead consumers to hold more positive attitudes and show a greater willingness to buy food products, regardless of their actual healthiness. A potential negative consequence of this positivity bias is the increased consumption of unhealthy foods. This study investigated whether a positivity bias would occur in unhealthy variations of four products (cookies, corn flakes, pizzas and yoghurts) that featured different health claim conditions (no claim, nutrient claim, general level health claim, and higher level health claim) and FoPL conditions (no FoPL, the Daily Intake Guide (DIG), Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL), and the Health Star Rating (HSR)). Positivity bias was assessed via measures of perceived healthiness, global evaluations (incorporating taste, quality, convenience, etc.) and willingness to buy. On the whole, health claims did not produce a positivity bias, while FoPLs did, with the DIG being the most likely to elicit this bias. The HSR most frequently led to lower ratings of unhealthy foods than the DIG and MTL, suggesting that this FoPL has the lowest risk of creating an inaccurate positivity bias in unhealthy foods.
Hydrogel Layers on the Surface of Polyester-Based Materials for Improvement of Their Biointeractions and Controlled Release of Proteins
Authors: Korzhikov-Vlakh Viktor , Krylova Maria , Sinitsyna Ekaterina , Ivankova Elena , Averianov Ilia , Tennikova Tatiana
Published: December 2016

The modification of bioresorbable polyester surfaces in order to alter their biointeractions presents an important problem in biomedical polymer science. In this study, the covalent modification of the surface of poly(lactic acid)-based (PLA-based) films with poly(acryl amide) and sodium alginate hydrogels was performed to change the non-specific polyester interaction with proteins and cells, as well as to make possible the covalent attachment of low-molecular weight ligands and to control protein release. The effect of such modification on the film surface properties was studied. Parameters such as swelling, water contact angle, surface area, and binding capacity of low-molecular weight substances were evaluated and compared. The comparative study of adsorption of model protein (BSA) on the surface of non-modified and modified films was investigated and the protein release was evaluated. Cell viability on the surface of hydrogel-coated films was also tested. The developed approach could be applied for the modification of PLA-based scaffolds for tissue engineering and will be further studied for molecular-imprinting of biomolecules on the surface of polyester-based materials for control of biointeractions.
New Flexible Flame Retardant Coatings Based on Siloxane Resin and Ethylene-Vinyl Chloride Copolymer
Authors: Wesolek Dorota , Gasiorowski Ryszard , Rojewski Szymon , Walentowska Judyta , Wojcik Rafał
Published: December 2016

This work presents the effectiveness of a phosphorus-containing flame retardant based on siloxane resin and ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer as a back-coating of fabrics. The possibility of improving flame retardant efficiency of this composition by introducing fumed silica, montmorillonite, carbon nanotubes, and graphite was evaluated. The effect of each additive on the efficiency of the composition was examined separately. Flammability tests of flame retardant-coated fabrics (natural and synthetic) were carried out using pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC), cone calorimetry, and limiting oxygen index determination. An assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture containing flame retardant fabric, resistance to washing, antifungal activity, and some of the utility properties of the final newly-developed flame-retardant coating was conducted.
Spiritual Dryness in Non-Ordained Catholic Pastoral Workers
Authors: Büssing Arndt , Frick Eckhard , Jacobs Christoph , Baumann Klaus
Published: December 2016

Background: We wondered whether “spiritual dryness” as a specific phase of “spiritual crisis” or insecurity is mostly a matter only of Catholic priests or can also be found in other pastoral professionals. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, we measured the prevalence of spiritual dryness in non-ordained Catholic pastoral workers, and identified relevant predictors. Results: In a sample of 3.277 pastoral workers, 50% would occasionally experience phases of spiritual dryness, while 13% experience it often or even regularly. There were no significant differences between women and men, professions, or age groups. The best predictors of spiritual dryness were low transcendence perception and a low sense of coherence (both are resources), as well as depressive symptoms and stress perception (both are demands or stressors), which would explain 41% of the variance. Self-efficacy expectation and social support were not among the significant predictors. Conclusion: Both the proportions and the main predictors are similar compared to Catholic priests. It is thus not the underlying profession or vocation and the related life situation or differences in social support, but predominantly specific perceptions, feelings, and attitudes that are related to the phenomenon of spiritual dryness—and these can be found in all pastoral professionals who seriously live their spirituality.
Complete Coverage Path Planning for a Multi-UAV Response System in Post-Earthquake Assessment
Authors: Nedjati Arman , Izbirak Gokhan , Vizvari Bela , Arkat Jamal
Published: December 2016

This paper presents a post-earthquake response system for a rapid damage assessment. In this system, multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are deployed to collect the images from the earthquake site and create a response map for extracting useful information. It is an extension of well-known coverage path problem (CPP) that is based on the grid pattern map decomposition. In addition to some linear strengthening techniques, two mathematic formulations, 4-index and 5-index models, are proposed in the approach and coded in GAMS (Cplex solver). They are tested on a number of problems and the results show that the 5-index model outperforms the 4-index model. Moreover, the proposed system could be significantly improved by the solver-generated cuts, additional constraints, and the variable branching priority extensions.
Flow Routing for Delineating Supraglacial Meltwater Channel Networks
Authors: King Leonora , Hassan Marwan , Yang Kang , Flowers Gwenn
Published: December 2016

Growing interest in supraglacial channels, coupled with the increasing availability of high-resolution remotely sensed imagery of glacier surfaces, motivates the development and testing of new approaches to delineating surface meltwater channels. We utilized a high-resolution (2 m) digital elevation model of parts of the western margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and retention of visually identified sinks (i.e., moulins) to investigate the ability of a standard D8 flow routing algorithm to delineate supraglacial channels. We compared these delineated channels to manually digitized channels and to channels extracted from multispectral imagery. We delineated GrIS supraglacial channel networks in six high-elevation (above 1000 m) and one low-elevation (below 1000 m) catchments during and shortly after peak melt (July and August 2012), and investigated the effect of contributing area threshold on flow routing performance. We found that, although flow routing is sensitive to data quality and moulin identification, it can identify 75% to 99% of channels observed with multispectral analysis, as well as low-order, high-density channels (up to 15.7 km/km2 with a 0.01 km2 contributing area threshold) in greater detail than multispectral methods. Additionally, we found that flow routing can delineate supraglacial channel networks on rough ice surfaces with widespread crevassing. Our results suggest that supraglacial channel density is sufficiently high during peak melt that low contributing area thresholds can be employed with little risk of overestimating the channel network extent.
Integration of Optical and X-Band Radar Data for Pasture Biomass Estimation in an Open Savannah Woodland
Authors: Schmidt Michael , Carter John , Stone Grant , O’Reagain Peter
Published: December 2016

Pasture biomass is an important quantity globally in livestock industries, carbon balances, and bushfire management. Quantitative estimates of pasture biomass or total standing dry matter (TSDM) at the field scale are much desired by land managers for land-resource management, forage budgeting, and conservation purposes. Estimates from optical satellite imagery alone tend to saturate in the cover-to-mass relationship and fail to differentiate standing dry matter from litter. X-band radar imagery was added to complement optical imagery with a structural component to improve TSDM estimates in rangelands. High quality paddock-scale field data from a northeastern Australian cattle grazing trial were used to establish a statistical TSDM model by integrating optical satellite image data from the Landsat sensor with observations from the TerraSAR-X (TSX) radar satellite. Data from the dry season of 2014 and the wet season of 2015 resulted in models with adjusted r2 of 0.81 in the dry season and 0.74 in the wet season. The respective models had a mean standard error of 332 kg/ha and 240 kg/ha. The wet and dry season conditions were different, largely due to changed overstorey vegetation conditions, but not greatly in a pasture ‘growth’ sense. A more robust combined-season model was established with an adjusted r2 of 0.76 and a mean standard error of 358 kg/ha. A clear improvement in the model performance could be demonstrated when integrating HH polarised TSX imagery with optical satellite image products.
Analysis of the Effects of Drought on Vegetation Cover in a Mediterranean Region through the Use of SPOT-VGT and TERRA-MODIS Long Time Series
Authors: Zribi Mehrez , Dridi Ghofrane , Amri Rim , Lili-Chabaane Zohra
Published: December 2016

The analysis of vegetation dynamics and agricultural production is essential in semi-arid regions, in particular as a consequence of the frequent occurrence of periods of drought. In this paper, a multi-temporal series of the Normalized Difference of Vegetation Index (NDVI), derived from SPOT-VEGETATION (between September 1998 and August 2013) and TERRA-MODIS satellite data (between September 2000 and August 2013), was used to analyze the vegetation dynamics over the central region of Tunisia in North Africa, which is characterized by a semi-arid climate. Products derived from these two satellite sensors are generally found to be coherent. Our analysis of land use and NDVI anomalies, based on the Vegetation Anomaly Index (VAI), reveals a strong level of agreement between estimations made with the two satellites, but also some discrepancies related to the spatial resolution of these two products. The vegetation’s behavior is also analyzed during years affected by drought through the use of the Windowed Fourier Transform (WFT). Discussions of the dynamics of annual agricultural areas show that there is a combined effect between climate and farmers’ behavior, leading to an increase in the prevalence of bare soils during dry years.
Trend-Residual Dual Modeling for Detection of Outliers in Low-Cost GPS Trajectories
Authors: Chen Xiaojian , Cui Tingting , Fu Jianhong , Peng Jianwei , Shan Jie
Published: December 2016

Low-cost GPS (receiver) has become a ubiquitous and integral part of our daily life. Despite noticeable advantages such as being cheap, small, light, and easy to use, its limited positioning accuracy devalues and hampers its wide applications for reliable mapping and analysis. Two conventional techniques to remove outliers in a GPS trajectory are thresholding and Kalman-based methods, which are difficult in selecting appropriate thresholds and modeling the trajectories. Moreover, they are insensitive to medium and small outliers, especially for low-sample-rate trajectories. This paper proposes a model-based GPS trajectory cleaner. Rather than examining speed and acceleration or assuming a pre-determined trajectory model, we first use cubic smooth spline to adaptively model the trend of the trajectory. The residuals, i.e., the differences between the trend and GPS measurements, are then further modeled by time series method. Outliers are detected by scoring the residuals at every GPS trajectory point. Comparing to the conventional procedures, the trend-residual dual modeling approach has the following features: (a) it is able to model trajectories and detect outliers adaptively; (b) only one critical value for outlier scores needs to be set; (c) it is able to robustly detect unapparent outliers; and (d) it is effective in cleaning outliers for GPS trajectories with low sample rates. Tests are carried out on three real-world GPS trajectories datasets. The evaluation demonstrates an average of 9.27 times better performance in outlier detection for GPS trajectories than thresholding and Kalman-based techniques.
Dielectrically-Loaded Cylindrical Resonator-Based Wireless Passive High-Temperature Sensor
Authors: Xiong Jijun , Wu Guozhu , Tan Qiulin , Wei Tanyong , Wu Dezhi , Shen Sanmin , Dong Helei , Zhang Wendong
Published: December 2016

The temperature sensor presented in this paper is based on a microwave dielectric resonator, which uses alumina ceramic as a substrate to survive in harsh environments. The resonant frequency of the resonator is determined by the relative permittivity of the alumina ceramic, which monotonically changes with temperature. A rectangular aperture etched on the surface of the resonator works as both an incentive and a coupling device. A broadband slot antenna fed by a coplanar waveguide is utilized as an interrogation antenna to wirelessly detect the sensor signal using a radio-frequency backscattering technique. Theoretical analysis, software simulation, and experiments verified the feasibility of this temperature-sensing system. The sensor was tested in a metal-enclosed environment, which severely interferes with the extraction of the sensor signal. Therefore, frequency-domain compensation was introduced to filter the background noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor signal. The extracted peak frequency was found to monotonically shift from 2.441 to 2.291 GHz when the temperature was varied from 27 to 800 °C, leading to an average absolute sensitivity of 0.19 MHz/°C.
Tunable Multiple-Step Plasmonic Bragg Reflectors with Graphene-Based Modulated Grating
Authors: Qian Qinglu , Liang Youjian , Liang Yue , Shao Hongyan , Zhang Menglai , Xiao Ting , Wang Jicheng
Published: December 2016

We propose a novel plasmonic Bragg reflector (PBR) based on graphene with multiple-step silicon structure. The monolayer graphene bears locally variable optical properties by modulation of electric fields, and the periodical change of effective refractive index on graphene can be obtained by external bias voltage in the mid-infrared region. Through patterning the PBR units into multiple-step structures, we can decrease the insertion loss and suppress the rippling in transmission spectra. By introducing the defect into the multiple-step PBRs, the multiple resonance modes are formed inside the stopband by increasing the step number. This work may pave the ways for the further development of ultra-compact low-cost hyperspectral sensors in the mid-infrared region.
Recent Progress in Electrochemical Biosensors for Glycoproteins
Authors: Akiba Uichi , Anzai Jun-ichi
Published: December 2016

This review provides an overview of recent progress in the development of electrochemical biosensors for glycoproteins. Electrochemical glycoprotein sensors are constructed by combining metal and carbon electrodes with glycoprotein-selective binding elements including antibodies, lectin, phenylboronic acid and molecularly imprinted polymers. A recent trend in the preparation of glycoprotein sensors is the successful use of nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotube, and metal nanoparticles. These nanomaterials are extremely useful for improving the sensitivity of glycoprotein sensors. This review focuses mainly on the protocols for the preparation of glycoprotein sensors and the materials used. Recent improvements in glycoprotein sensors are discussed by grouping the sensors into several categories based on the materials used as recognition elements.
A Brain-Machine Interface Based on ERD/ERS for an Upper-Limb Exoskeleton Control
Authors: Tang Zhichuan , Sun Shouqian , Zhang Sanyuan , Chen Yumiao , Li Chao , Chen Shi
Published: December 2016

To recognize the user’s motion intention, brain-machine interfaces (BMI) usually decode movements from cortical activity to control exoskeletons and neuroprostheses for daily activities. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether self-induced variations of the electroencephalogram (EEG) can be useful as control signals for an upper-limb exoskeleton developed by us. A BMI based on event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) is proposed. In the decoder-training phase, we investigate the offline classification performance of left versus right hand and left hand versus both feet by using motor execution (ME) or motor imagery (MI). The results indicate that the accuracies of ME sessions are higher than those of MI sessions, and left hand versus both feet paradigm achieves a better classification performance, which would be used in the online-control phase. In the online-control phase, the trained decoder is tested in two scenarios (wearing or without wearing the exoskeleton). The MI and ME sessions wearing the exoskeleton achieve mean classification accuracy of 84.29% ± 2.11% and 87.37% ± 3.06%, respectively. The present study demonstrates that the proposed BMI is effective to control the upper-limb exoskeleton, and provides a practical method by non-invasive EEG signal associated with human natural behavior for clinical applications.
Potentiometric Aptasensing of Vibrio alginolyticus Based on DNA Nanostructure-Modified Magnetic Beads
Authors: Zhao Guangtao , Ding Jiawang , Yu Han , Yin Tanji , Qin Wei
Published: December 2016

A potentiometric aptasensing assay that couples the DNA nanostructure-modified magnetic beads with a solid-contact polycation-sensitive membrane electrode for the detection of Vibrio alginolyticus is herein described. The DNA nanostructure-modified magnetic beads are used for amplification of the potential response and elimination of the interfering effect from a complex sample matrix. The solid-contact polycation-sensitive membrane electrode using protamine as an indicator is employed to chronopotentiometrically detect the change in the charge or DNA concentration on the magnetic beads, which is induced by the interaction between Vibrio alginolyticus and the aptamer on the DNA nanostructures. The present potentiometric aptasensing method shows a linear range of 10–100 CFU mL−1 with a detection limit of 10 CFU mL−1, and a good specificity for the detection of Vibrio alginolyticus. This proposed strategy can be used for the detection of other microorganisms by changing the aptamers in the DNA nanostructures.
Minimum Interference Channel Assignment Algorithm for Multicast in a Wireless Mesh Network
Authors: Choi Sangil , Park Jong
Published: December 2016

Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have been considered as one of the key technologies for the configuration of wireless machines since they emerged. In a WMN, wireless routers provide multi-hop wireless connectivity between hosts in the network and also allow them to access the Internet via gateway devices. Wireless routers are typically equipped with multiple radios operating on different channels to increase network throughput. Multicast is a form of communication that delivers data from a source to a set of destinations simultaneously. It is used in a number of applications, such as distributed games, distance education, and video conferencing. In this study, we address a channel assignment problem for multicast in multi-radio multi-channel WMNs. In a multi-radio multi-channel WMN, two nearby nodes will interfere with each other and cause a throughput decrease when they transmit on the same channel. Thus, an important goal for multicast channel assignment is to reduce the interference among networked devices. We have developed a minimum interference channel assignment (MICA) algorithm for multicast that accurately models the interference relationship between pairs of multicast tree nodes using the concept of the interference factor and assigns channels to tree nodes to minimize interference within the multicast tree. Simulation results show that MICA achieves higher throughput and lower end-to-end packet delay compared with an existing channel assignment algorithm named multi-channel multicast (MCM). In addition, MICA achieves much lower throughput variation among the destination nodes than MCM.
Addendum: Šarić-Kundalić, B.; Fialová, S.; Dobeš, C.; Ölzant, S.; Tekeľová, D.; Grančai, D.; Reznicek, G.; Saukel, J. Multivariate Numerical Taxonomy of Mentha Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars. Sci. Pharm. 2009, 77, 851–876
Authors: Šarić-Kundalić Broza , Fialová Silvia , Dobeš Christoph , Ölzant Silvester , Tekeľová Daniela , Grančai Daniel , Reznicek Gottfried , Saukel Johannes
Published: December 2016

In the published paper [1], the following plant species are listed: Mentha longifolia var. lavanduliodora, Mentha spicata and Mentha spicata var. crispa.[...]
A Stackelberg Game Approach in an Integrated Inventory Model with Carbon-Emission and Setup Cost Reduction
Authors: Sarkar Biswajit , Saren Sharmila , Sarkar Mitali , Seo Yong
Published: December 2016

This paper formulates an integrated inventory model that allows Stackelberg game policy for optimizing joint total cost of a vendor and buyer system. After receiving the lot, the buyer commences an inspection process to determine the defective items. All defective items the buyer sends to vendor during the receiving of the next lot. Due to increasing number of shipments fixed and variable transportation, as well as carbon emissions, are considered, which makes the model sustainable integrated model forever. To reduce the setup cost for the vendor, a discrete setup reduction is considered for maximization more profit. The players of the integrated model are with unequal power (as leader and follower) and the Stackelberg game strategy is utilized to solve this model for obtaining global optimum solution over the finite planning horizon. An illustrative numerical example is given to understand this model clearly.
Aquaculture Land-Use Policy: The Case of Clam Farming in Thaibinh Province, Vietnam
Authors: NGO Thi , TRAN Huu , AZADI Hossein , LEBAILLY Philippe
Published: December 2016

Policy-making and enforcement remains centralized in Vietnam. Policies have been formulated with less scientific and public justification, thus being largely bureaucratic and infeasible, and in many cases, they have created plagues for people at the grass-roots levels. This article focuses on the implementation of policies related to intertidal land-use and supports for clam farming in the Thaibinh province as a case study to explore the impacts of policies on clam farming and farmers. During the period of 2011–2013, provincial policies on intertidal land allocation and technical and financial supports had boosted clam farming development in the province to a surprising extent. Rapid expansion of the clam farming area has created significant consequences for the farming sector, as well as farmer’s lives. However, for the same provincial policies, but with different enforcement, different farming outcomes for clam farmers in the three study communes have resulted. Where farmers had more of a voice and choice in bidding for the intertidal areas they preferred, they faced fewer problems. It is, thus, suggested that a more decentralized policy-making and enforcement are needed, in which more scientific assessment and farmer participation are required to not only make government policy more successful in supporting farmers and achieving their expected outcomes, but also to provide farmers with more room to make their own farming decisions from which farming and marketing risks could be mitigated.
A New Bayesian Edge-Linking Algorithm Using Single-Target Tracking Techniques
Authors: Yoon Ji
Published: December 2016

This paper proposes novel edge-linking algorithms capable of producing a set of edge segments from a binary edge map generated by a conventional edge-detection algorithm. These proposed algorithms transform the conventional edge-linking problem into a single-target tracking problem, which is a well-known problem in object tracking. The conversion of the problem enables us to apply sophisticated Bayesian inference to connect the edge points. We test our proposed approaches on real images that are corrupted with noise.
Using Convolutional Neural Network Filters to Measure Left-Right Mirror Symmetry in Images
Authors: Brachmann Anselm , Redies Christoph
Published: December 2016

We propose a method for measuring symmetry in images by using filter responses from Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The aim of the method is to model human perception of left/right symmetry as closely as possible. Using the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach has two main advantages: First, CNN filter responses closely match the responses of neurons in the human visual system; they take information on color, edges and texture into account simultaneously. Second, we can measure higher-order symmetry, which relies not only on color, edges and texture, but also on the shapes and objects that are depicted in images. We validated our algorithm on a dataset of 300 music album covers, which were rated according to their symmetry by 20 human observers, and compared results with those from a previously proposed method. With our method, human perception of symmetry can be predicted with high accuracy. Moreover, we demonstrate that the inclusion of features from higher CNN layers, which encode more abstract image content, increases the performance further. In conclusion, we introduce a model of left/right symmetry that closely models human perception of symmetry in CD album covers.
Design of a Sustainable and Efficient Transportation Station (SETS) Based on Renewable Sources and Efficient Electric Drives
Authors: Kim Myungchin , Kim Jeongtae , Bae Sungwoo
Published: December 2016

The need for reduction in power consumption for public facilities has increased after the occurrences of multiple blackout events. In an effort to enable the development of green and smart social infrastructure, this paper introduces a design for a sustainable and efficient transportation system (SETS). For this design, renewable power sources and efficient electric drives are considered to be crucial technologies. Considering the subway station as an illustrative example, a power system design that uses wind and solar energy as major power sources is studied. The adjustable speed electric drive system that uses synchronous reluctance machines for ventilation systems contributes to increasing the overall power consumption efficiency. The effectiveness of the proposed SETS system is verified through a set of various field measurement data and simulation results. While the verification results demonstrate that operation of SETS is enabled by effective integration of renewable sources and efficient ventilation systems, future research directions have also been identified.
Tensile Properties of Al-12Si Fabricated via Selective Laser Melting (SLM) at Different Temperatures
Authors: Gokuldoss Prashanth Konda , Scudino Sergio , Eckert Jürgen
Published: December 2016

Additive manufacturing processes such as selective laser melting (SLM) are attracting increasing attention and are regarded as the manufacturing technology of the future, because of their ability to produce near net shaped components of theoretically any shape with added functionality. Various properties, including mechanical, tribological, welding, and corrosion properties, of Al-12Si alloys fabricated via SLM have been extensively studied. However, all of these studies were carried out at ambient conditions. Nevertheless, under working conditions, these alloys experience service temperatures ranging between 373 and 473 K. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the mechanical properties of SLM-fabricated Al-12Si alloys in this temperature range. For this, Al-12Si alloy specimens were annealed at 573 K, a temperature well beyond the test temperature in order to provide a stable microstructure during tensile testing. The plasticity of these materials increases along with the size of the dimples on the fracture surface with increasing tensile test temperature. Moreover, the annealed Al-12Si alloy exhibits appreciable tensile properties when tested between 373 K and 473 K. The results suggest that Al-12Si samples fabricated via SLM may be ideal candidates for automotive applications such as pistons and cylinder heads.