bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fault Detection for Vibration Signals on Rolling Bearings Based on the Symplectic Entropy Method
Authors: Lei Min , Meng Guang , Dong Guangming
Published: November 2017

Bearing vibration response studies are crucial for the condition monitoring of bearings and the quality inspection of rotating machinery systems. However, it is still very difficult to diagnose bearing faults, especially rolling element faults, due to the complex, high-dimensional and nonlinear characteristics of vibration signals as well as the strong background noise. A novel nonlinear analysis method—the symplectic entropy (SymEn) measure—is proposed to analyze the measured signals for fault monitoring of rolling bearings. The core technique of the SymEn approach is the entropy analysis based on the symplectic principal components. The dynamical characteristics of the rolling bearing data are analyzed using the SymEn method. Unlike other techniques consisting of high-dimensional features in the time-domain, frequency-domain and the empirical mode decomposition (EMD)/wavelet-domain, the SymEn approach constructs low-dimensional (i.e., two-dimensional) features based on the SymEn estimate. The vibration signals from our experiments and the Case Western Reserve University Bearing Data Center are applied to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Meanwhile, it is found that faulty bearings have a great influence on the other normal bearings. To sum up, the results indicate that the proposed method can be used to detect rolling bearing faults.
Re-Evaluating Electromyogram–Force Relation in Healthy Biceps Brachii Muscles Using Complexity Measures
Authors: Zhu Xiaofei , Zhang Xu , Tang Xiao , Gao Xiaoping , Chen Xiang
Published: November 2017

The objective of this study is to re-evaluate the relation between surface electromyogram (EMG) and muscle contraction torque in biceps brachii (BB) muscles of healthy subjects using two different complexity measures. Ten healthy subjects were recruited and asked to complete a series of elbow flexion tasks following different isometric muscle contraction levels ranging from 10% to 80% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) with each increment of 10%. Meanwhile, both the elbow flexion torque and surface EMG data from the muscle were recorded. The root mean square (RMS), sample entropy (SampEn) and fuzzy entropy (FuzzyEn) of corresponding EMG data were analyzed for each contraction level, and the relation between EMG and muscle torque was accordingly quantified. The experimental results showed a nonlinear relation between the traditional RMS amplitude of EMG and the muscle torque. By contrast, the FuzzyEn of EMG exhibited an improved linear correlation with the muscle torque than the RMS amplitude of EMG, which indicates its great value in estimating BB muscle strength in a simple and straightforward manner. In addition, the SampEn of EMG was found to be insensitive to the varying muscle torques, almost presenting a flat trend with the increment of muscle force. Such a character of the SampEn implied its potential application as a promising surface EMG biomarker for examining neuromuscular changes while overcoming interference from muscle strength.
An Investigation of (Non-) Inclusive Growth in Nigeria’s Sub-Nationals: Evidence from Elasticity Approach
Authors: Udoh Enobong , Ayara Ndem
Published: November 2017

This paper aims to estimate and rank the performance of sub-nationals in terms of their quality of growth using an index of inequality elasticity of poverty. The study puts forward a scenario matrix to hypothesize the four qualities of growth according to its interactions with inequality and poverty. This model is useful for developing countries that lack GDP data at the sub-national level, provided growth (at the national level) has been positive for the period under review. The study found that for Nigeria’s sub-nationals, the null hypothesis of non-inclusive growth was rejected for the different poverty measures.
A Review of Power Distribution Test Feeders in the United States and the Need for Synthetic Representative Networks
Authors: Postigo Marcos Fernando , Mateo Domingo Carlos , Gómez San Román Tomás , Palmintier Bryan , Hodge Bri-Mathias , Krishnan Venkat , De Cuadra García Fernando , Mather Barry
Published: November 2017

Under the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources and new smart network technologies, distribution utilities face new challenges and opportunities to ensure reliable operations, manage service quality, and reduce operational and investment costs. Simultaneously, the research community is developing algorithms for advanced controls and distribution automation that can help to address some of these challenges. However, there is a shortage of realistic test systems that are publically available for development, testing, and evaluation of such new algorithms. Concerns around revealing critical infrastructure details and customer privacy have severely limited the number of actual networks published and that are available for testing. In recent decades, several distribution test feeders and US-featured representative networks have been published, but the scale, complexity, and control data vary widely. This paper presents a first-of-a-kind structured literature review of published distribution test networks with a special emphasis on classifying their main characteristics and identifying the types of studies for which they have been used. This both aids researchers in choosing suitable test networks for their needs and highlights the opportunities and directions for further test system development. In particular, we highlight the need for building large-scale synthetic networks to overcome the identified drawbacks of current distribution test feeders.
Fault Ride-through Capability Enhancement of Voltage Source Converter-High Voltage Direct Current Systems with Bridge Type Fault Current Limiters
Authors: Shafiul Alam Md , Abido Mohammad
Published: November 2017

This paper proposes the use of bridge type fault current limiters (BFCLs) as a potential solution to reduce the impact of fault disturbance on voltage source converter-based high voltage DC (VSC-HVDC) systems. Since VSC-HVDC systems are vulnerable to faults, it is essential to enhance the fault ride-through (FRT) capability with auxiliary control devices like BFCLs. BFCL controllers have been developed to limit the fault current during the inception of system disturbances. Real and reactive power controllers for the VSC-HVDC have been developed based on current control mode. DC link voltage control has been achieved by a feedback mechanism such that net power exchange with DC link capacitor is zero. A grid-connected VSC-HVDC system and a wind farm integrated VSC-HVDC system along with the proposed BFCL and associated controllers have been implemented in a real time digital simulator (RTDS). Symmetrical three phase as well as different types of unsymmetrical faults have been applied in the systems in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed BFCL solution. DC link voltage fluctuation, machine speed and active power oscillation have been greatly suppressed with the proposed BFCL. Another significant feature of this work is that the performance of the proposed BFCL in VSC-HVDC systems is compared to that of series dynamic braking resistor (SDBR). Comparative results show that the proposed BFCL is superior over SDBR in limiting fault current as well as improving system fault ride through (FRT) capability.
An Intelligent Optimization Method for Vortex-Induced Vibration Reducing and Performance Improving in a Large Francis Turbine
Authors: Peng Xuanlin , Zhou Jianzhong , Zhang Chu , Li Ruhai , Xu Yanhe , Chen Diyi
Published: November 2017

In this paper, a new methodology is proposed to reduce the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) and improve the performance of the stay vane in a 200-MW Francis turbine. The process can be divided into two parts. Firstly, a diagnosis method for stay vane vibration based on field experiments and a finite element method (FEM) is presented. It is found that the resonance between the Kármán vortex and the stay vane is the main cause for the undesired vibration. Then, we focus on establishing an intelligent optimization model of the stay vane’s trailing edge profile. To this end, an approach combining factorial experiments, extreme learning machine (ELM) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is implemented. Three kinds of improved profiles of the stay vane are proposed and compared. Finally, the profile with a Donaldson trailing edge is adopted as the best solution for the stay vane, and verifications such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, structural analysis and fatigue analysis are performed to validate the optimized geometry.
LNG–Air Mixture as a Supplementary Energy Injection into a Biogas Distribution Network
Authors: Zhou Yang , Peng Shini , Huang Xiaomei , Wu Chang , Zhang Jing
Published: November 2017

Biogas production efficiency fluctuates with climate variations and agricultural arrangements, which pose a limiting factor upon its single supply to end users via a regional exclusive network, especially in peak demand. In this paper, an appropriate methodology to address the contradiction between biogas supply and demand is proposed. Methane conditioned by the addition of air is described, and can be a supplementary energy injected into a biogas distribution network. To accomplish the mixing process and also inject the exhaust mixture into the distribution system, a mixer–ejector was introduced and integrated into the biogas grid. Finally, the fundamental combustion behaviors of mixed gases were estimated through the analysis of flame appearance, contamination emissions, and the flame stability region. The results showed that the methane/air mixture with a mixing ratio ranging from 49/51 to 53/47 could interchange biogas commendably, and good combustion behavior was obtained on a typical biogas-burning appliance.
Neural Adaptive Sliding-Mode Control of a Vehicle Platoon Using Output Feedback
Authors: Yan Maode , Song Jiacheng , Zuo Lei , Yang Panpan
Published: November 2017

This paper investigates the output feedback control problem of a vehicle platoon with a constant time headway (CTH) policy, where each vehicle can communicate with its consecutive vehicles. Firstly, based on the integrated-sliding-mode (ISM) technique, a neural adaptive sliding-mode control algorithm is developed to ensure that the vehicle platoon is moving with the CTH policy and full state measurement. Then, to further decrease the measurement complexity and reduce the communication load, an output feedback control protocol is proposed with only position information, in which a higher order sliding-mode observer is designed to estimate the other required information (velocities and accelerations). In order to avoid collisions among the vehicles, the string stability of the whole vehicle platoon is proven through the stability theorem. Finally, numerical simulation results are provided to verify its effectiveness and advantages over the traditional sliding-mode control method in vehicle platoons.
Investigation of the Effect of Physical and Optical Factors on the Optical Performance of a Parabolic Trough Collector
Authors: Islam Majedul , Miller Sarah , Yarlagadda Prasad , Karim Azharul
Published: November 2017

The overall thermal performance of a Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) depends on its optical performance, particularly the uniformity of the irradiance distribution and the resultant optical efficiency of the collector. Local Concentration Ratio (LCR), optical efficiency and average light concentration are three fundamental parameters of the optical performance of a PTC. These parameters are affected by various optical and physical factors. The effects of these individual factors on the performance parameters were investigated in this study using a verified Monte Carlo ray tracing optical simulation model. The investigation revealed that all three performance parameters are directly related to the optical properties of the collector components. The values decreased gradually with the increase of focal length of the mirror. Uniformity of the LCR profile was observed to decrease with increasing rim angle and geometric concentration. Defocus dislocation of the receiver was found to improve the uniformity of the LCR distribution by decreasing its peak concentrations, Cmax. Off-focus dislocation of the receiver, and inward angular deviation of the mirror profile were observed to increase the Cmax and decrease the uniformity of the LCR distribition. Out-focus dislocation of the receiver and solar tracking error distort the bi-symmetry of a normal LCR profile.
Influence of Different Types of Obstacles on the Propagation of Premixed Methane-Air Flames in a Half-Open Tube
Authors: Wang Quan , Liu Shanghao , Shu Chi-min , Ding Yibin , Li Zhimin
Published: November 2017

To understand the propagation characteristics of methane-air deflagration flames and in an obstacle-filled tube, a high-speed color video camera, photoelectric sensors, and pressure transducers were used to test the deflagration flame propagating parameters. The tests were run in a 1500 mm long plexiglass tube with a 100 × 100 mm square cross-section. The obstacles included four types of repeated baffles and five forms of solid structure obstacles. The results showed that: (1) the flame front was constantly distorted, stretched, and deformed by different types of obstacles and, consequently, the flame propagating parameters increased; (2) plates and triple prisms increased the speed of the flame and overpressure to the highest extent, whereas cuboids and quadrangulars exerted an intermediate effect. However, the effect of cylindrical obstacles was comparatively limited. It was suggested that the obstacle’s surface edge mutation or curvature changes were the main factors stimulating the flame acceleration; (3) the peak pressure of deflagration was relatively low near the ignition end, increased gradually until it reached the maximum at the middle of the tube, and decreased rapidly near the open end; and (4) the fixed obstacles in front of the flame exhibited a blocking effect on flame propagation during the initial stages; the flame speed and overpressure increased when the flame came into contact with the obstacles. This study is of significance because it explains the methane-air propagation mechanism induced by different types of obstacles. The findings have value for preventing or controlling gas explosion disasters.
Failure Prognosis of High Voltage Circuit Breakers with Temporal Latent Dirichlet Allocation
Authors: Li Gaoyang , Wang Xiaohua , Yang Aijun , Rong Mingzhe , Yang Kang
Published: November 2017

The continual accumulation of power grid failure logs provides a valuable but rarely used source for data mining. Sequential analysis, aiming at exploiting the temporal evolution and exploring the future trend in power grid failures, is an increasingly promising alternative for predictive scheduling and decision-making. In this paper, a temporal Latent Dirichlet Allocation (TLDA) framework is proposed to proactively reduce the cardinality of the event categories and estimate the future failure distributions by automatically uncovering the hidden patterns. The aim was to model the failure sequence as a mixture of several failure patterns, each of which was characterized by an infinite mixture of failures with certain probabilities. This state space dependency was captured by a hierarchical Bayesian framework. The model was temporally extended by establishing the long-term dependency with new co-occurrence patterns. Evaluation of the high voltage circuit breakers (HVCBs) demonstrated that the TLDA model had higher fidelities of 51.13%, 73.86%, and 92.93% in the Top-1, Top-5, and Top-10 failure prediction tasks over the baselines, respectively. In addition to the quantitative results, we showed that the TLDA can be successfully used for extracting the time-varying failure patterns and capture the failure association with a cluster coalition method.
Ammonia Oxidizing Archaea and Bacteria in East Asian Paddy Soils—A Mini Review
Authors: Mukhtar Hussnain , Lin Yu-Pin , Anthony Johnathen
Published: November 2017

Ammonia oxidation is crucial in nitrogen removal and global nitrogen dynamics since it is the first step of the nitrification process. In this review, we focus on the distribution and community structure of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in East Asian paddy soils with variable soil properties. The available East Asian paddy soil data shows that the ammonium concentration and pH ranges from 0.4 to 370 mg/kg and 5.1 to 8.2, respectively. Our meta-analysis suggest that AOA specific gene sequences are generally more abundant than those of AOB in both acidic and alkaline paddy soils, where Nitrosophaera and Nitrosospira amoA clusters mainly dominate the microbial community, respectively. In addition, the contribution of ammonia oxidizers to the nitrification process has been demonstrated using DNA-SIP (DNA-based stable-isotope probing); the results of these studies indicate that pH is the most important factor in niche separation of AOA and AOB under a variety of edaphic conditions. Finally, we discuss a number of other environmental variables that affect the abundance, distribution, and activity of AOA and AOB in East Asian paddy soils.
Incidence of Trailer Frame Structure on Driver’s Safety during Log Transportation
Authors: Manzone Marco , Calvo Angela
Published: November 2017

The frame structure of the trailer may influence both the traction and the tractor-trailer stability, especially along sloped paths. The aim of this research was to analyze a trailer overturning and the strains on the connected tractors (wheeled, or crawled) during log transportation (loose or tied) along a hillside. Two two-axle trailers were used: tandem and turntable steering. Three types of measurements were carried out during the field tests: (i) the detachment from the ground of the rear upstream wheels (or crawler); (ii) the transversal and longitudinal strains occurring when the trailer overturned (and released the hooking system of the tractor); (iii) the lateral deviation of the rear wheels (or crawler) of the tractor. The study highlighted that the two-axle trailer with turntable steering combined with the crawl tractor gave better results in terms of safety during trailer overturning. In addition, independent of the type of trailer, a tied load was found to be more dangerous than a load restrained only by steel struts, because when overturning, the load forms a single unit with the trailer mass which increases the strains.
Fractal Simulation of Flocculation Processes Using a Diffusion-Limited Aggregation Model
Authors: Liu Dongjing , Zhou Weiguo , Song Xu , Qiu Zumin
Published: November 2017

In flocculation processes, particulates randomly collide and coagulate with each other, leading to the formation and sedimention of aggregates exhibiting fractal characteristics. The diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) model is extensively employed to describe and study flocculation processes. To more accurately simulate flocculation processes with the DLA model, the effects of particle number (denoting flocculation time), motion step length (denoting water temperature), launch radius (representing initial particulate concentration), and finite motion step (representing the motion energy of the particles) on the morphology and structure of the two-dimensional (2D) as well as three-dimensional (3D) DLA aggregates are studied. The results show that the 2D DLA aggregates possess conspicuous fractal features when the particle number is above 1000, motion step length is 1.5–3.5, launch radius is 1–10, and finite motion step is more than 3000; the 3D DLA aggregates present clear fractal characteristics when the particle number is above 500, the motion step length is 1.5–3.5, the launch radius is 1–10, and the finite motion step exceeds 200. The fractal dimensions of 3D DLA aggregates are appreciably higher than those of 2D DLA aggregates.
A Continuing Mission to Optimize the Care of Older Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Cheung Kwok-Leung
Published: November 2017

The majority of cases of breast cancer occur in the older population who are often un-represented in clinical trials. Given the growing ageing population globally, it becomes urgent and important to identify an optimal approach so that older women with breast cancer are neither under- or over-treated. An inter-disciplinary research program is ongoing to investigate differing tumor biology according to age, and the potential use of a geriatric assessment tool, aiming to help select older women with primary breast cancer for a personalized and optimal treatment. Full considerations of the biology of the patient’s cancer and the geriatric domains of the patient must be taken into account when making treatment decisions.
Patient–Provider Communication and Counseling about Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Experiences of Latinas Pregnant with their First Child
Authors: Lindsay Ana , Wallington Sherrie , Greaney Mary , Tavares Machado Marcia , De Andrade Gabriela
Published: November 2017

Latina women in the United States (U.S.) are disproportionately affected by obesity and are more likely to begin pregnancy overweight and gain excessive weight during pregnancy. The prenatal care period represents a window of opportunity for women to access the healthcare system and receive preventive services, education, nutritional support, and other social services to improve pregnancy outcomes. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) has numerous negative short- and long-term consequences for both the mother and newborn. We explored nulliparous Latina women’s perceptions about their experiences communicating with their primary healthcare provider about GWG and physical activity (PA) to identify possible intervention targets using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Bilingual, trained research staff conducted 23 interviews with first-time pregnant Latinas between 22 and 36 weeks of gestation. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Salient text passages were extracted, shortened, coded, and grouped into categories. Women, including those who self-identified as being overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, reported receiving limited or no advice from their healthcare providers about GWG or PA. Additionally, analysis revealed that although participants value information received from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program counselors, they would like to receive more information from their primary healthcare providers about adequate GWG. Furthermore, study findings indicate that some participants received conflicting information regarding PA during pregnancy. Study findings suggest the need for increased integration of communication and counseling about GWG and PA into prenatal care services to promote healthy weight gain and PA among low-income Latina women.
Knowledge and Practices of Toxoplasmosis among Clinical Laboratory Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study in Durango, Mexico
Authors: Alvarado-Esquivel Cosme , Sánchez-Anguiano Luis , Berumen-Segovia Luis , Hernández-Tinoco Jesús , Rico-Almochantaf Yazmin , Cisneros-Camacho Alfredo , Cisneros-Martínez Jorge
Published: November 2017

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and practices about toxoplasmosis in a sample of clinical laboratory professionals in Mexico. Methods: 192 clinical laboratory professionals were surveyed. They were asked about (1) Toxoplasma gondii; (2) clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of toxoplasmosis; and (3) their practices with respect to toxoplasmosis. Results: The range of animals infected by T. gondii was known by 44.8% of participants. Clinical aspects of toxoplasmosis were known by up to 44.3% of subjects. Correct answers about the interpretation of serological markers of T. gondii infection were provided by up to 32.8% of participants. A minority (32.2%) of participants knew about a high number of false positive results of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody tests. Most participants (90.1%) did not know what the anti-T. gondii IgG avidity test was. Up to 55.7% of participants provided incorrect answers about the interpretation of serology tests for the treatment of pregnant women. Common routes of T. gondii infection were known by <15% of participants. Most (84.4%) participants had not performed tests for detection T. gondii infection. Conclusions: Results indicate incomplete knowledge of T. gondii infection and toxoplasmosis and a limited practice of laboratory tests among the professionals surveyed.
Acute Toxicity and Ecological Risk Assessment of Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and Benzophenone-4 (BP-4) in Ultraviolet (UV)-Filters
Authors: Du Yang , Wang Wen-Qian , Pei Zhou-Tao , Ahmad Fahmi , Xu Rou-Rou , Zhang Yi-Min , Sun Li-Wei
Published: November 2017

Ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing chemicals (UV filters) are used in personal care products for the protection of human skin and hair from damage by UV radiation. Although these substances are released into the environment in the production and consumption processes, little is known about their ecotoxicology effects. The acute toxicity and potential ecological risk of UV filters benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and benzophenone-4 (BP-4) on Chlorella vulgaris, Daphnia magna, and Brachydanio rerio were analyzed in the present study. The EC50 values (96 h) of BP-3 and BP-4 on C. vulgaris were 2.98 and 201.00 mg/L, respectively. The 48 h-LC50 of BP-3 and BP-4 on D. magna were 1.09 and 47.47 mg/L, respectively. The 96 h-LC50 of BP-3 and BP-4 on B. rerio were 3.89 and 633.00 mg/L, respectively. The toxicity of a mixture of BP-3 and BP-4 on C. vulgaris, D. magna, and B. rerio all showed antagonistic effects. The induced predicted no-effect concentrations of BP-3 and BP-4 by the assessment factor method were 1.80 × 10−3 and 0.47 mg/L, respectively, by assessment factor (AF) method, which were both lower than the concentrations detected in the environment at present, verifying that BP-3 and BP-4 remain low-risk chemicals to the aquatic ecosystem.
Is School Type Associated with Objectively Measured Physical Activity in 15-Year-Olds?
Authors: Štefan Lovro , Sorić Maroje , Devrnja Antonela , Podnar Hrvoje , Mišigoj-Duraković Marjeta
Published: November 2017

The main aims of this study were: (1) to determine the objectively assessed physical activity (PA) patterns in urban 15-year-old male and female adolescents according to school type and (2) to assess the differences in PA between school days and weekend days. In this cross-sectional study, participants were 187 secondary-school male and female adolescents (61.4% females) attending grammar and vocational schools. Patterns of PA were objectively evaluated using a multi-sensor body monitor for 5 consecutive days. Confounders assessed included biological age, socio-economic status, sum of 4 skinfolds, maximal temperature and the amount of rainfall. Males and females from grammar schools achieved higher total daily energy expenditure (TEE) and active energy expenditure (AEE) compared to their peers from vocational schools (TEE: 50 ± 12 kcal/kg/day vs. 47 ± 12 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.02; AEE: 23 ± 5 kcal/kg/day vs. vocational = 21 ± 6 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.04). No differences in time spent in light (LPA), moderate (MPA) or vigorous (VPA) physical activity were noted between the two groups (p = 0.16–0.43). Next, a significant decline in TEE and MPA between school days and weekends was observed (p< 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively), while VPA remained the same throughout the week (p = 0.76). Weekly patterns of PA did not show differences by school type or gender (p for interactions = 0.21–0.50). In addition, significantly lower amount of MPA was accumulated during weekends compared to school days, resulting in lower TEE, regardless of school type or gender. Policies and strategies on PA in adolescents should focus vocational schools and weekend days.
Value Investing in the Stock Market of Thailand
Authors: Alfonso Perez Gerardo “Gerry”
Published: November 2017

Value investment and growth investment have attracted a large amount of research in recent decades, but most of this research focuses on the U.S. and Europe. This article covers the Thai stock market which has very different characteristics compared to western markets and even South East Asian countries such as Indonesia or Malaysia. Among South East Asian countries, Thailand has one of the most dynamic capital markets. In order to see if some well-known trends in other markets exist in Thailand the performance of value and growth stocks in the Thai market were analyzed for a period of 17 years using existing style indexes (MSCI) as well as creating portfolios using individual stocks. For this entire period, when using the indexes, returns are statistically significant superior for value stocks compared to growth stocks. However, when analyzing the performance of the market in any given calendar year from 1999 to 2016, the results are much more mixed with in fact growth stocks outperforming in several of those years. Interestingly, when building portfolios using criteria such as low P/E or low P/B the results are not statistically different. Suggesting perhaps that the classification into value or growth stocks is more complex than it would appear. One of the common assumptions of value investing is that those stocks outperform over long periods of time. It might well be that in the Thai case one year is not a long enough period for value stocks to outperform. While there have been some clear efforts over recent years to modernize the stock market of Thailand, it remains relatively underdeveloped, particularly when compared to markets such as the U.S. Hence, its behavior regarding value versus growth investment might be rather different.
A Representation Method for Complex Road Networks in Virtual Geographic Environments
Authors: Zheng Peibei , Tao Hong , Yue Songshan , Wu Mingguang , Lv Guonian , Zhou Chuanlong
Published: November 2017

Road networks are important for modelling the urban geographic environment. It is necessary to determine the spatial relationships of road intersections when using maps to help researchers conduct virtual urban geographic experiments (because a road intersection might occur as a connected cross or as an unconnected bridge overpass). Based on the concept of using different map layers to organize the render order of each road segment, three methods (manual, semi-automatic and mask-based automatic) are available to help map designers arrange the rendering order. However, significant efforts are still needed, and rendering efficiency remains problematic with these methods. This paper considers the Discrete, Crossing, Overpass, Underpass, Conjunction, Up-overlap and Down-overlap spatial relationships of road intersections. An automatic method is proposed to represent these spatial relationships when drawing road networks on a map. The data-layer organization method (reflecting road grade and elevation-level information) and the symbol-layer decomposition method (reflecting road covering order in the vertical direction) are designed to determine the rendering order of each road element when rendering a map. In addition, an “auxiliary-drawing-action” (for drawing road segments belonging to different grades and elevations) is proposed to adjust the rendering sequences automatically. Two experiments are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the method, and the results demonstrate that it can effectively handle spatial relationships of road networks in map representations. Using the proposed method, the difficulty of rendering complex road networks can be reduced.
Inclusion Complexes of Copaiba (Copaifera multijuga Hayne) Oleoresin and Cyclodextrins: Physicochemical Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Pinheiro Jonas , Tavares Emanuella , Silva Sofia , Félix Silva Juliana , Carvalho Yasmim , Ferreira Magda , Araújo Adriano , Barbosa Euzébio , Fernandes Pedrosa Matheus , Soares Luiz , Azevedo Eduardo , Veiga Júnior Valdir , Lima Ádley
Published: November 2017

Complexation with cyclodextrins (CDs) is a technique that has been extensively used to increase the aqueous solubility of oils and improve their stability. In addition, this technique has been used to convert oils into solid materials. This work aims to develop inclusion complexes of Copaifera multijuga oleoresin (CMO), which presents anti-inflammatory activity, with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) by kneading (KND) and slurry (SL) methods. Physicochemical characterization was performed to verify the occurrence of interactions between CMO and the cyclodextrins. Carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in mice was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of CMO alone as well as complexed with CDs. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the formation of inclusion complex of CMO with both β-CD and HP-β-CD by KND and SL methods. Carrageenan-induced paw edema test showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of CMO was maintained after complexation with β-CD and HP-β-CD, where they were able to decrease the levels of nitrite and myeloperoxidase. In conclusion, this study showed that it is possible to produce inclusion complexes of CMO with CDs by KND and SL methods without any change in CMO’s anti-inflammatory activity.
Genome-Wide Development of MicroRNA-Based SSR Markers in Medicago truncatula with Their Transferability Analysis and Utilization in Related Legume Species
Authors: Min Xueyang , Zhang Zhengshe , Liu Yisong , Wei Xingyi , Liu Zhipeng , Wang Yanrong , Liu Wenxian
Published: November 2017

Microsatellite (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) marker is one of the most widely used markers in marker-assisted breeding. As one type of functional markers, MicroRNA-based SSR (miRNA-SSR) markers have been exploited mainly in animals, but the development and characterization of miRNA-SSR markers in plants are still limited. In the present study, miRNA-SSR markers for Medicago truncatula (M. truncatula) were developed and their cross-species transferability in six leguminous species was evaluated. A total of 169 primer pairs were successfully designed from 130 M. truncatula miRNA genes, the majority of which were mononucleotide repeats (70.41%), followed by dinucleotide repeats (14.20%), compound repeats (11.24%) and trinucleotide repeats (4.14%). Functional classification of SSR-containing miRNA genes showed that all targets could be grouped into three Gene Ontology (GO) categories: 17 in biological process, 11 in molecular function, and 14 in cellular component. The miRNA-SSR markers showed high transferability in other six leguminous species, ranged from 74.56% to 90.53%. Furthermore, 25 Mt-miRNA-SSR markers were used to evaluate polymorphisms in 20 alfalfa accessions, and the polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.39 to 0.89 with an average of 0.71, the allele number per marker varied from 3 to 18 with an average of 7.88, indicating a high level of informativeness. The present study is the first time developed and characterized of M. truncatula miRNA-SSRs and demonstrated their utility in transferability, these novel markers will be valuable for genetic diversity analysis, marker-assisted selection and genotyping in leguminous species.
Can Youthful Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Wharton’s Jelly Bring a Breath of Fresh Air for COPD?
Authors: Janczewski Andrzej , Wojtkiewicz Joanna , Malinowska Ewa , Doboszyńska Anna
Published: November 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality, projected to become the 3rd cause of disease mortality worldwide by 2020. COPD is characterized by persistent and not fully reversible airflow limitation that is usually progressive and is associated with an abnormal chronic inflammatory response of the lung to noxious agents including cigarette smoke. Currently available therapeutic strategies aim to ease COPD symptoms but cannot prevent its progress or regenerate physiological lung structure or function. The urgently needed new approaches for the treatment of COPD include stem cell therapies among which transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly (WJ-MSCs) emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy because of the unique properties of these cells. The present review discusses the main biological properties of WJ-MSCs pertinent to their potential application for the treatment of COPD in the context of COPD pathomechanisms with emphasis on chronic immune inflammatory processes that play key roles in the development and progression of COPD.
New Insights into the Microbiota of Moth Pests
Authors: Mereghetti Valeria , Chouaia Bessem , Montagna Matteo
Published: November 2017

In recent years, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have helped to improve our understanding of the bacterial communities associated with insects, shedding light on their wide taxonomic and functional diversity. To date, little is known about the microbiota of lepidopterans, which includes some of the most damaging agricultural and forest pests worldwide. Studying their microbiota could help us better understand their ecology and offer insights into developing new pest control strategies. In this paper, we review the literature pertaining to the microbiota of lepidopterans with a focus on pests, and highlight potential recurrent patterns regarding microbiota structure and composition.
In-Depth Glyco-Peptidomics Approach Reveals Unexpected Diversity of Glycosylated Peptides and Atypical Post-Translational Modifications in Dendroaspis angusticeps Snake Venom
Authors: Degueldre Michel , Echterbille Julien , Smargiasso Nicolas , Damblon Christian , Gouin Charlotte , Mourier Gilles , Gilles Nicolas , De Pauw Edwin , Quinton Loïc
Published: November 2017

Animal venoms represent a valuable source of bioactive peptides that can be derived into useful pharmacological tools, or even innovative drugs. In this way, the venom of Dendroaspis angusticeps (DA), the Eastern Green Mamba, has been intensively studied during recent years. It mainly contains hundreds of large toxins from 6 to 9 kDa, each displaying several disulfide bridges. These toxins are the main target of venom-based studies due to their valuable activities obtained by selectively targeting membrane receptors, such as ion channels or G-protein coupled receptors. This study aims to demonstrate that the knowledge of venom composition is still limited and that animal venoms contain unexpected diversity and surprises. A previous study has shown that Dendroaspis angusticeps venom contains not only a cocktail of classical toxins, but also small glycosylated peptides. Following this work, a deep exploration of DA glycopeptidome by a dual nano liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoLC-ESI-MS) and Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analyses was initiated. This study reveals unsuspected structural diversity of compounds such as 221 glycopeptides, displaying different glycan structures. Sequence alignments underline structural similarities with natriuretic peptides already characterized in Elapidae venoms. Finally, the presence of an S-cysteinylation and hydroxylation of proline on four glycopeptides, never described to date in snake venoms, is also revealed by proteomics and affined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments.
Identification of Physiological Substrates and Binding Partners of the Plant Mitochondrial Protease FTSH4 by the Trapping Approach
Authors: Opalińska Magdalena , Parys Katarzyna , Jańska Hanna
Published: November 2017

Maintenance of functional mitochondria is vital for optimal cell performance and survival. This is accomplished by distinct mechanisms, of which preservation of mitochondrial protein homeostasis fulfills a pivotal role. In plants, inner membrane-embedded i-AAA protease, FTSH4, contributes to the mitochondrial proteome surveillance. Owing to the limited knowledge of FTSH4’s in vivo substrates, very little is known about the pathways and mechanisms directly controlled by this protease. Here, we applied substrate trapping coupled with mass spectrometry-based peptide identification in order to extend the list of FTSH4’s physiological substrates and interaction partners. Our analyses revealed, among several putative targets of FTSH4, novel (mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 4 (MPC4) and Pam18-2) and known (Tim17-2) substrates of this protease. Furthermore, we demonstrate that FTSH4 degrades oxidatively damaged proteins in mitochondria. Our report provides new insights into the function of FTSH4 in the maintenance of plant mitochondrial proteome.
cGAS/STING Pathway in Cancer: Jekyll and Hyde Story of Cancer Immune Response
Authors: Bose Debojit
Published: November 2017

The last two decades have witnessed enormous growth in the field of cancer immunity. Mechanistic insights of cancer immunoediting have not only enhanced our understanding but also paved the way to target and/or harness the innate immune system to combat cancer, called cancer immunotherapy. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/Stimulator of interferon genes(STING) pathway has recently emerged as nodal player in cancer immunity and is currently being explored as potential therapeutic target. Although therapeutic activation of this pathway has shown promising anti-tumor effects in vivo, evidence also indicates the role of this pathway in inflammation mediated carcinogenesis. This review highlights our current understanding of cGAS/STING pathway in cancer, its therapeutic targeting and potential alternate approaches to target this pathway. Optimal therapeutic targeting and artificial tunability of this pathway still demand in depth understanding of cGAS/STING pathway regulation and homeostasis.
Activation of TREK-1, but Not TREK-2, Channel by Mood Stabilizers
Authors: Kim Eun-Jin , Lee Dong , Hong Seong-Geun , Han Jaehee , Kang Dawon
Published: November 2017

Earlier studies have demonstrated that the tandem pore domain weak inward rectifying K+ channel (TWIK)-related K+ (TREK)-1 channel is inhibited by antidepressants and is associated with major depression. However, little is known about the effect of mood stabilizers that are commonly used for treatment of bipolar disorder on TREK channels, members of the two-pore domain K+ (K2P) channel family. This study sought to investigate the effect of mood stabilizers on TREK-1 and TREK-2 channels. HEK-293A cells were transfected with human TREK-1 or TREK-2 DNA. The effect of mood stabilizers on TREK-1 and TREK-2 was studied using the patch clamp technique. Changes in TREK protein expression by mood stabilizers were studied in the HT-22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells using western blot analysis. Lithium chloride (LiCl, 1 mM), gabapentin (100 μM), valproate (100 μM), and carbamazepine (100 μM) increased TREK-1 currents by 31 ± 14%, 25 ± 11%, 28 ± 12%, and 72 ± 12%, respectively, whereas they had no effect on TREK-2 channel activity. In addition, western blot analysis showed LiCl and carbamazepine slightly upregulated TREK-1 expression, but not TREK-2 in the HT-22 cells. These results suggest that TREK-1 could be a potential therapeutic target for treatment of bipolar disorders as well as depression, while TREK-2 is a target well suited for treatment of major depression.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Fibronectin Domains in Insulin Receptor-Related Receptor
Authors: Deyev Igor , Chachina Natalia , Zhevlenev Egor , Petrenko Alexander
Published: November 2017

The orphan insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR), in contrast to its close homologs, the insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) can be activated by mildly alkaline extracellular medium. We have previously demonstrated that IRR activation is defined by its extracellular region, involves multiple domains, and shows positive cooperativity with two synergistic sites. By the analyses of point mutants and chimeras of IRR with IR in, we now address the role of the fibronectin type III (FnIII) repeats in the IRR pH-sensing. The first activation site includes the intrinsically disordered subdomain ID (646–716) within the FnIII-2 domain at the C-terminus of IRR alpha subunit together with closely located residues L135, G188, R244, H318, and K319 of L1 and C domains of the second subunit. The second site involves residue T582 of FnIII-1 domain at the top of IRR lambda-shape pyramid together with M406, V407, and D408 from L2 domain within the second subunit. A possible importance of the IRR carbohydrate moiety for its activation was also assessed. IRR is normally less glycosylated than IR and IGF-IR. Swapping both FnIII-2 and FnIII-3 IRR domains with those of IR shifted beta-subunit mass from 68 kDa for IRR to about 100 kDa due to increased glycosylation and abolished the IRR pH response. However, mutations of four asparagine residues, potential glycosylation sites in chimera IRR with swapped FnIII-2/3 domains of IR, decreased the chimera glycosylation and resulted in a partial restoration of IRR pH-sensing activity, suggesting that the extensive glycosylation of FnIII-2/3 provides steric hindrance for the alkali-induced rearrangement of the IRR ectodomain.
The Role of Glyoxalase-I (Glo-I), Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs), and Their Receptor (RAGE) in Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
Authors: Hollenbach Marcus
Published: November 2017

Glyoxalase-I (Glo-I) and glyoxalase-II (Glo-II) comprise the glyoxalase system and are responsible for the detoxification of methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO is formed non-enzymatically as a by-product, mainly in glycolysis, and leads to the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). AGEs bind to their receptor, RAGE, and activate intracellular transcription factors, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review will focus on the implication of the Glo-I/AGE/RAGE system in liver injury and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AGEs and RAGE are upregulated in liver fibrosis, and the silencing of RAGE reduced collagen deposition and the tumor growth of HCC. Nevertheless, data relating to Glo-I in fibrosis and cirrhosis are preliminary. Glo-I expression was found to be reduced in early and advanced cirrhosis with a subsequent increase of MGO-levels. On the other hand, pharmacological modulation of Glo-I resulted in the reduced activation of hepatic stellate cells and therefore reduced fibrosis in the CCl4-model of cirrhosis. Thus, current research highlighted the Glo-I/AGE/RAGE system as an interesting therapeutic target in chronic liver diseases. These findings need further elucidation in preclinical and clinical studies.
Roles of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Epidermal and Hair Follicle Development, Homeostasis, and Cancer
Authors: Abe Yoshinori , Tanaka Nobuyuki
Published: November 2017

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and provides a protective barrier against environmental insults. It is a rapidly-renewing tissue undergoing constant regeneration, maintained by several types of stem cells. The Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is one of the fundamental signaling pathways that contributes to epidermal development, homeostasis, and repair, as well as to hair follicle development and follicle bulge stem cell maintenance. The HH pathway interacts with other signal transduction pathways, including those activated by Wnt, bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-derived growth factor, Notch, and ectodysplasin. Furthermore, aberrant activation of HH signaling is associated with various tumors, including basal cell carcinoma. Therefore, an understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of the HH signaling pathway is important for elucidating fundamental mechanisms underlying both organogenesis and carcinogenesis. In this review, we discuss the role of the HH signaling pathway in the development and homeostasis epidermis and hair follicles, and in basal cell carcinoma formation, providing an update of current knowledge in this field.