bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small Molecule Optoacoustic Contrast Agents: An Unexplored Avenue for Enhancing In Vivo Imaging
Authors: Laramie Matt D. , Smith Mary K. , Marmarchi Fahad , McNally Lacey R. , Henary Maged
Published: October 2018

Almost every variety of medical imaging technique relies heavily on exogenous contrast agents to generate high-resolution images of biological structures. Organic small molecule contrast agents, in particular, are well suited for biomedical imaging applications due to their favorable biocompatibility and amenability to structural modification. PET/SPECT, MRI, and fluorescence imaging all have a large host of small molecule contrast agents developed for them, and there exists an academic understanding of how these compounds can be developed. Optoacoustic imaging is a relatively newer imaging technique and, as such, lacks well-established small molecule contrast agents; many of the contrast agents used are the same ones which have found use in fluorescence imaging applications. Many commonly-used fluorescent dyes have found successful application in optoacoustic imaging, but others generate no detectable signal. Moreover, the structural features that either enable a molecule to generate a detectable optoacoustic signal or prevent it from doing so are poorly understood, so design of new contrast agents lacks direction. This review aims to compile the small molecule optoacoustic contrast agents that have been successfully employed in the literature to bridge the information gap between molecular design and optoacoustic signal generation. The information contained within will help to provide direction for the future synthesis of optoacoustic contrast agents.
Microbial Sterolomics as a Chemical Biology Tool
Authors: Haubrich Brad A.
Published: October 2018

Metabolomics has become a powerful tool in chemical biology. Profiling the human sterolome has resulted in the discovery of noncanonical sterols, including oxysterols and meiosis-activating sterols. They are important to immune responses and development, and have been reviewed extensively. The triterpenoid metabolite fusidic acid has developed clinical relevance, and many steroidal metabolites from microbial sources possess varying bioactivities. Beyond the prospect of pharmacognostical agents, the profiling of minor metabolites can provide insight into an organism’s biosynthesis and phylogeny, as well as inform drug discovery about infectious diseases. This review aims to highlight recent discoveries from detailed sterolomic profiling in microorganisms and their phylogenic and pharmacological implications.
Selective Double Addition Reaction of an E‒H Bond (E = Si, B) to a C≡N Triple Bond of Organonitriles
Authors: Itazaki Masumi , Nakazawa Hiroshi
Published: October 2018

The catalytic double hydrometalation such as hydrosilylation and hydroborylation of organonitriles has attracted considerable attention because the obtained products are widely used in organic synthesis and it is thought to be one of the effective methods for reduction of organonitriles. However, the examples of these reactions are quite limited to date. This paper summarizes the development of selective double hydrosilylation, double hydroborylation, and dihydroborylsilylation of organonitriles, including their reaction mechanisms and the role of the metal species in the catalytic cycle.
The Impact of O-Glycosylation on Cyanidin Interaction with POPC Membranes: Structure-Activity Relationship
Authors: Cyboran-Mikołajczyk Sylwia , Jurkiewicz Piotr , Hof Martin , Kleszczyńska Halina
Published: October 2018

Cyanidin and its O-glycosides have many important physiological functions in plants and beneficial effects on human health. Their biological activity is not entirely clear and depends on the structure of the molecule, in particular, on the number and type of sugar substituents. Therefore, in this study the detailed structure-activity relationship (SARs) of the anthocyanins/anthocyanidins in relation to their interactions with lipid bilayer was determined. On the basis of their antioxidant activity and the changes induced by them in size and Zeta potential of lipid vesicles, and mobility and order of lipid acyl chains, the impact of the number and type of sugar substituents on the biological activity of the compounds was evaluated. The obtained results have shown, that 3-O-glycosylation changes the interaction of cyanidin with lipid bilayer entirely. The 3-O-glycosides containing a monosaccharide induces greater changes in physical properties of the lipid membrane than those containing disaccharides. The presence of additional sugar significantly reduces glycoside interaction with model lipid membrane. Furthermore, O-glycosylation alters the ability of cyanidin to scavenge free radicals. This alteration depends on the type of free radicals and the sensitivity of the method used for their determination.
Ferrocene-Containing Sterically Hindered Phosphonium Salts
Authors: Ermolaev Vadim , Gerasimova Tatiana , Kadyrgulova Liliya , Shekurov Ruslan , Dolengovski Egor , Kononov Aleksandr , Miluykov Vasily , Sinyashin Oleg , Katsyuba Sergei , Budnikova Yulia , Khrizanforov Mikhail
Published: October 2018

The synthesis and physical properties of the series of the ferrocenyl-containing sterically hindered phosphonium salts based on di(tert-butyl)ferrocenylphosphine is reported. Analysis of voltamogramms of the obtained compounds revealed some correlations between their structures and electrochemical properties. The elongation of the alkyl chain at the P atom as well as replacement of the Br− anion by [BF4]− shifts the ferrocene/ferrocenium transition of the resulting salts into the positive region. DFT results shows that in the former case, the Br− anion destabilizes the corresponding ion pair, making its oxidation easier due to increased highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy. Increased HOMO energy for ion pairs with the Br− ion compared to BF4− are caused by contribution of bromide atomic orbitals to the HOMO. The observed correlations can be used for fine-tuning the properties of the salts making them attractive for applications in multicomponent batteries and capacitors.
Screening of a Novel Polysaccharide Lyase Family 10 Pectate Lyase from Paenibacillus polymyxa KF-1: Cloning, Expression and Characterization
Authors: Zhao Yan , Yuan Ye , Zhang Xinyu , Li Yumei , Li Qiang , Zhou Yifa , Gao Juan
Published: October 2018

Pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) catalyzes the cleavage of α-1,4-glycosidic bonds of pectin polymers, and it has potential uses in the textile industry. In this study, a novel pectate lyase belonging to polysaccharide lyase family 10 was screened from the secreted enzyme extract of Paenibacillus polymyxa KF-1 and identified by liquid chromatography-MS/MS. The gene was cloned from P. polymyxa KF-1 genomic DNA and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme PpPel10a had a predicted Mr of 45.2 kDa and pI of 9.41. Using polygalacturonic acid (PGA) as substrate, the optimal conditions for PpPel10a reaction were determined to be 50 °C and pH 9.0, respectively. The Km, vmax and kcat values of PpPel10a with PGA as substrate were 0.12 g/L, 289 μmol/min/mg, and 202.3 s−1, respectively. Recombinant PpPel10a degraded citrus pectin, producing unsaturated mono- and oligogalacturonic acids. PpPel10a reduced the viscosity of PGA, and weight loss of ramie (Boehmeria nivea) fibers was observed after treatment with the enzyme alone (22.5%) or the enzyme in combination with alkali (26.3%). This enzyme has potential for use in plant fiber processing.
Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Pentaherbs formula and Its Influence on Gut Microbiota in Allergic Asthma
Authors: Tsang Miranda Sin-Man , Cheng Sau-Wan , Zhu Jing , Atli Karam , Chan Ben Chung-Lap , Liu Dehua , Chan Helen Yau-Tsz , Sun Xiaoyu , Chu Ida Miu-Ting , Hon Kam-Lun , Lam Christopher Wai-Kei , Shaw Pang-Chui , Leung Ping-Chung , Wong Chun-Kwok
Published: October 2018

Allergic asthma is a highly prevalent airway inflammatory disease, which involves the interaction between the immune system, environmental and genetic factors. Co-relation between allergic asthma and gut microbiota upon the change of diet have been widely reported, implicating that oral intake of alternative medicines possess a potential in the management of allergic asthma. Previous clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies have shown that the Pentaherbs formula (PHF) comprising five traditional Chinese herbal medicines Lonicerae Flos, Menthae Herba, Phellodendri Cortex, Moutan Cortex, and Atractylodis Rhizoma possesses an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential through suppressing various immune effector cells. In the present study, to further investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF in allergic asthma, intragastrical administration of PHF was found to reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, airway wall remodeling and goblet cells hyperplasia in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma mice model. PHF also significantly suppressed pulmonary eosinophilia and asthma-related cytokines IL-4 and IL-33 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. In addition, PHF modulated the splenic regulatory T cells population, up-regulated regulatory interleukin (IL)-10 in serum, altered the microbial community structure and the short chain fatty acids content in the gut of the asthmatic mice. This study sheds light on the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF on allergic asthma. It also provides novel in vivo evidence that herbal medicines can ameliorate symptoms of allergic diseases may potentially prevent the development of subsequent atopic disorder such as allergic asthma through the influence of the gut microbiota.
Partial Purification, Identification, and Quantitation of Antioxidants from Wild Rice (Zizania latifolia)
Authors: Chu Mei-Jun , Liu Xin-Min , Yan Ning , Wang Feng-Zhong , Du Yong-Mei , Zhang Zhong-Feng
Published: October 2018

To provide further insights into the potential health-promoting antioxidants from wild rice (Zizania latifolia), which is an abundant but underutilized whole grain resource in East Asia, a partial purification based on D101 macroporous resin was carried out for the purification and enrichment of the antioxidants from the bioactive ethanol extracts of wild rice. On that basis, 34 phenolic compounds in the antioxidant fractions were identified by a high-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MSn). The results suggested that phenolic acids could be enriched in the 10% ethanol-eluted fraction whereas flavonoids (including procyanidins and flavonoid glycosides) could be enriched in 20–30% ethanol-eluted fractions. A quantitative analysis determined by the multiple reaction monitoring mode of the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) revealed a high content of procyanidins in wild rice. Compared with phenolic acids, flavonoids may contribute more to the potent antioxidant activity of wild rice. This is the first study on the antioxidants from wild rice Z. latifolia. These findings provide novel information on the functional components of wild rice, and will be of value to further research and development on Z. latifolia.
A Survey to Understand Emotional Situations on the Road and What They Mean for Affective Automotive UIs
Authors: Braun Michael , Pfleging Bastian , Alt Florian
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we present the results of an online survey (N = 170) on emotional situations on the road. In particular, we asked potential early adopters to remember a situation where they felt either an intense positive or negative emotion while driving. Our research is motivated by imminent disruptions in the automotive sector due to automated driving and the accompanying switch to selling driving experiences over horsepower. This creates a need to focus on the driver’s emotion when designing in-car interfaces. As a result of our research, we present a set of propositions for affective car interfaces based on real-life experiences. With our work we aim to support the design of affective car interfaces and give designers a foundation to build upon. We find respondents often connect positive emotions with enjoying their independence, while negative experiences are associated mostly with traffic behavior. Participants who experienced negative situations wished for better information management and a higher degree of automation. Drivers with positive emotions generally wanted to experience the situation more genuinely, for example, by switching to a “back-to-basic” mode. We explore these statements and discuss recommendations for the design of affective interfaces in future cars.
First-Principles Study on the Stabilities, Electronic and Optical Properties of GexSn1-xSe Alloys
Authors: Qian Qi , Peng Lei , Cui Yu , Sun Liping , Du Jinyan , Huang Yucheng
Published: October 2018

We systematically study, by using first-principles calculations, stabilities, electronic properties, and optical properties of GexSn1-xSe alloy made of SnSe and GeSe monolayers with different Ge concentrations x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0. Our results show that the critical solubility temperature of the alloy is around 580 K. With the increase of Ge concentration, band gap of the alloy increases nonlinearly and ranges from 0.92 to 1.13 eV at the PBE level and 1.39 to 1.59 eV at the HSE06 level. When the Ge concentration x is more than 0.5, the alloy changes into a direct bandgap semiconductor; the band gap ranges from 1.06 to 1.13 eV at the PBE level and 1.50 to 1.59 eV at the HSE06 level, which falls within the range of the optimum band gap for solar cells. Further optical calculations verify that, through alloying, the optical properties can be improved by subtle controlling the compositions. Since GexSn1-xSe alloys with different compositions have been successfully fabricated in experiments, we hope these insights will contribute to the future application in optoelectronics.
Cataract Preventive Role of Isolated Phytoconstituents: Findings from a Decade of Research
Authors: Lim Vuanghao , Schneider Edward , Wu Hongli , Pang Iok-Hou
Published: October 2018

Cataract is an eye disease with clouding of the eye lens leading to disrupted vision, which often develops slowly and causes blurriness of the eyesight. Although the restoration of the vision in people with cataract is conducted through surgery, the costs and risks remain an issue. Botanical drugs have been evaluated for their potential efficacies in reducing cataract formation decades ago and major active phytoconstituents were isolated from the plant extracts. The aim of this review is to find effective phytoconstituents in cataract treatments in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. A literature search was synthesized from the databases of Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus using different combinations of keywords. Selection of all manuscripts were based on inclusion and exclusion criteria together with analysis of publication year, plant species, isolated phytoconstituents, and evaluated cataract activities. Scientists have focused their attention not only for anti-cataract activity in vitro, but also in ex vivo and in vivo from the review of active phytoconstituents in medicinal plants. In our present review, we identified 58 active phytoconstituents with strong anti-cataract effects at in vitro and ex vivo with lack of in vivo studies. Considering the benefits of anti-cataract activities require critical evaluation, more in vivo and clinical trials need to be conducted to increase our understanding on the possible mechanisms of action and the therapeutic effects.
Armillaria Root-Rot Pathogens: Species Boundaries and Global Distribution
Authors: Coetzee Martin , Wingfield Brenda , Wingfield Michael
Published: October 2018

This review considers current knowledge surrounding species boundaries of the Armillaria root-rot pathogens and their distribution. In addition, a phylogenetic tree using translation elongation factor subunit 1-alpha (tef-1α) from isolates across the globe are used to present a global phylogenetic framework for the genus. Defining species boundaries based on DNA sequence-inferred phylogenies has been a central focus of contemporary mycology. The results of such studies have in many cases resolved the biogeographic history of species, mechanisms involved in dispersal, the taxonomy of species and how certain phenotypic characteristics have evolved throughout lineage diversification. Such advances have also occurred in the case of Armillaria spp. that include important causal agents of tree root rots. This commenced with the first phylogeny for Armillaria that was based on IGS-1 (intergenic spacer region one) DNA sequence data, published in 1992. Since then phylogenies were produced using alternative loci, either as single gene phylogenies or based on concatenated data. Collectively these phylogenies revealed species clusters in Armillaria linked to their geographic distributions and importantly species complexes that warrant further research.
The Effectiveness of Nonprescription Drug Labels in the United States: Insights from Recent Research and Opportunities for the Future
Authors: Catlin Jesse R. , Brass Eric P.
Published: October 2018

Despite providing a consistent and comprehensible format for over-the-counter (OTC) drug communication, research suggests important limitations in the communication effectiveness of the Drug Facts Label required on OTC drugs in the United States. This literature is reviewed and some of these critical limitations of the Drug Facts Label (DFL) highlighted. These include difficulty communicating complex information that requires integration of multiple pieces of label information and limited adaptability to serve the unique needs of individual populations (e.g., low literacy or older consumers). Potential ways to improve the DFL’s communication effectiveness are identified along with complementary opportunities to improve OTC drug communication by leveraging the role of pharmacists and use of adjunctive technologies.
Ethnobotanical Survey of Dracaena cinnabari and Investigation of the Pharmacognostical Properties, Antifungal and Antioxidant Activity of Its Resin
Authors: Al-Fatimi Mohamed
Published: October 2018

Dracaena cinnabari Balf. f. (Dracaenaceae) is an important plant endemic to Soqotra Island, Yemen. Dragon’s blood (Dam Alakhwin) is the resin that exudes from the plant stem. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out by semi-structured questionnaires and open interviews to document the ethnobotanical data of the plant. According to the collected ethnobotanical data, the resin of D. cinnabari is widely used in the traditional folk medicine in Soqotra for treatment of dermal, dental, eye and gastrointestinal diseases in humans. The resin samples found on the local Yemeni markets were partly or totally substituted by different adulterants. Organoleptic properties, solubility and extractive value were demonstrated as preliminary methods to identify the authentic pure Soqotri resin as well as the adulterants. In addition, the resin extracts and its solution in methanol were investigated for their in vitro antifungal activities against six human pathogenic fungal strains by the agar diffusion method, for antioxidant activities using the DPPH assay and for cytotoxic activity using the neutral red uptake assay. The crude authentic resin dissolves completely in methanol. In comparison with different resin extracts, the methanolic solution of the whole resin showed the strongest biological activities. It showed strong antifungal activity, especially against Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes besides antioxidant activities and toxicity against FL-cells. These findings confirm and explain the traditional uses of the resin for the treatment of skin diseases and mouth fungal infections.
Polyaspartamide Functionalized Catechol-Based Hydrogels Embedded with Silver Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Tan Milène , Choi Youngjin , Kim Jaeyun , Kim Ji-Heung , Fromm Katharina M.
Published: October 2018

In this study, polyaspartamide-based hydrogels were synthesized by boron-catechol coordination followed by incorporation of AgNPs into the materials. Free catechol moieties were exploited to produce AgNPs. TEM analyses displayed AgNPs of less than 20 nm in diameter and with minimum aggregation, attesting the role of hydrogels to act as an efficient template for the production of dispersed particles. XRD analyses confirmed the mean particle size using the Scherrer equation. Release kinetic studies were performed in DMEM medium, showing a slow release over a long time-period. Finally, the MIC and MBC were determined, demonstrating a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli.
Femtosecond Laser Microprinting of a Polymer Optical Fiber Interferometer for High-Sensitivity Temperature Measurement
Authors: Li Chi , Liao Changrui , Wang Jia , Gan Zongsong , Wang Yiping
Published: October 2018

Femtosecond laser induced multi-photon polymerization technique can be applied to fabricate an ultracompact polymer optical fiber interferometer which was embedded in a section of hollow core fiber. The production of the photoresin, used in this work, is described. Such a device has been used for temperature measurement, due to its excellent thermal properties. Transmission spectrum, structural morphology, and temperature response of the polymer optical fiber interferometer are experimentally investigated. A high wavelength sensitivity of 6.5 nm/°C is achieved over a temperature range from 25 °C to 30 °C. The proposed polymer optical fiber interferometer exhibits high temperature sensitivity, excellent mechanical strength, and ultra-high integration. More complex fiber-integrated polymer function micro/nano structures produced by this technique may result in more applications in optical fiber communication and optical fiber sensors.
Addendum: Willard, D.T. and Loferski, J.R. Skateboards as a Sustainable Recyclable Material. Recycling 2018, 3, 20
Authors: Willard Dylan , Loferski Joseph
Published: October 2018

The authors would like to add the following statement to the published article [...]
Error Source Analysis and Correction of GF-3 Polarimetric Data
Authors: Jiang Sha , Qiu Xiaolan , Han Bing , Sun Jili , Ding Chibiao
Published: October 2018

The GaoFen-3 (GF-3) satellite is the first polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) satellite in China. With a designed in-orbit life of 8 years, it will provide large amounts of PolSAR data for ocean monitoring, disaster reduction, and many other applications. The polarimetric data quality is essential for all these applications, so the analysis and calibration of the polarimetric error sources are very important for GF-3. In this study, we established a full-link error model for GF-3 PolSAR system. Based on this model, we comprehensively analyzed the quantitative effects of the main error sources including the composition, figured out characteristics of the phase imbalance introduced by the antenna, and pointed out the error sources which have to be corrected. Furthermore, the polarimetric correction method for GF-3 PolSAR system is proposed. Finally, assisted by several external calibration experiments, polarimetric errors of GF-3 data are efficiently corrected during in-orbit-test phase.
EARS-DM: Efficient Auto Correction Retrieval Scheme for Data Management in Edge Computing
Authors: Fan Kai , Yin Jie , Zhang Kuan , Li Hui , Yang Yintang
Published: October 2018

Edge computing is an extension of cloud computing that enables messages to be acquired and processed at low cost. Many terminal devices are being deployed in the edge network to sense and deal with the massive data. By migrating part of the computing tasks from the original cloud computing model to the edge device, the message is running on computing resources close to the data source. The edge computing model can effectively reduce the pressure on the cloud computing center and lower the network bandwidth consumption. However, the security and privacy issues in edge computing are worth noting. In this paper, we propose an efficient auto-correction retrieval scheme for data management in edge computing, named EARS-DM. With automatic error correction for the query keywords instead of similar words extension, EARS-DM can tolerate spelling mistakes and reduce the complexity of index storage space. By the combination of TF-IDF value of keywords and the syntactic weight of query keywords, keywords who are more important will obtain higher relevance scores. We construct an R-tree index building with the encrypted keywords and the children nodes of which are the encrypted identifier FID and Bloom filter BF of files who contain this keyword. The secure index will be uploaded to the edge computing and the search phrase will be performed by the edge computing which is close to the data source. Then EDs sort the matching encrypted file identifier FID by relevance scores and upload them to the cloud server (CS). Performance analysis with actual data indicated that our scheme is efficient and accurate.
A Distributed Parallel Algorithm Based on Low-Rank and Sparse Representation for Anomaly Detection in Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wu Zebin , Sun Jin , Zhang Yan , Zhu Yaoqin , Liu Jun , Zang Qitao , Plaza Antonio
Published: October 2018

Anomaly detection aims to separate anomalous pixels from the background, and has become an important application of remotely sensed hyperspectral image processing. Anomaly detection methods based on low-rank and sparse representation (LRASR) can accurately detect anomalous pixels. However, with the significant volume increase of hyperspectral image repositories, such techniques consume a significant amount of time (mainly due to the massive amount of matrix computations involved). In this paper, we propose a novel distributed parallel algorithm (DPA) by redesigning key operators of LRASR in terms of MapReduce model to accelerate LRASR on cloud computing architectures. Independent computation operators are explored and executed in parallel on Spark. Specifically, we reconstitute the hyperspectral images in an appropriate format for efficient DPA processing, design the optimized storage strategy, and develop a pre-merge mechanism to reduce data transmission. Besides, a repartitioning policy is also proposed to improve DPA’s efficiency. Our experimental results demonstrate that the newly developed DPA achieves very high speedups when accelerating LRASR, in addition to maintaining similar accuracies. Moreover, our proposed DPA is shown to be scalable with the number of computing nodes and capable of processing big hyperspectral images involving massive amounts of data.
Challenges of an Autonomous Wildfire Geolocation System Based on Synthetic Vision Technology
Authors: Arana-Pulido Victor , Cabrera-Almeida Francisco , Perez-Mato Javier , Dorta-Naranjo B. Pablo , Hernandez-Rodriguez Silvia , Jimenez-Yguacel Eugenio
Published: October 2018

Thermographic imaging has been the preferred technology for the detection and tracking of wildfires for many years. Thermographic cameras provide some very important advantages, such as the ability to remotely detect hotspots which could potentially turn into wildfires if the appropriate conditions are met. Also, they can serve as a key preventive method, especially when the 30-30-30 rule is met, which describes a situation where the ambient temperature is higher than 30 ∘ C, the relative humidity is lower than 30%, and the wind speed is higher than 30 km/h. Under these circumstances, the likelihood of a wildfire outburst is quite high, and its effects can be catastrophic due to the high-speed winds and dry conditions. If this sort of scenario actually occurs, every possible technological advantage shall be used by firefighting teams to enable the rapid and efficient coordination of their response teams and to control the wildfire following a safe and well-planned strategy. However, most of the early detection methods for wildfires, such as the aforementioned thermographic cameras, lack a sufficient level of automation and usually rely on human interaction, imposing high degrees of subjectivity and latency. This is especially critical when a high volume of data is required in real time to correctly support decision-making scenarios during the wildfire suppression tasks. The present paper addresses this situation by analyzing the challenges faced by a fully autonomous wildfire detection and a tracking system containing a fully automated wildfire georeferencing system based on synthetic vision technology. Such a tool would provide firefighting teams with a solution capable of continuously surveilling a particular area and completely autonomously identifying and providing georeferenced information on current or potential wildfires in real time.
Selective Uropathogenic E. coli Detection Using Crossed Surface-Relief Gratings
Authors: Nair Srijit , Gomez-Cruz Juan , Manjarrez-Hernandez Ángel , Ascanio Gabriel , Sabat Ribal Georges , Escobedo Carlos
Published: October 2018

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the major burdens on public healthcare worldwide. One of the primary causes of UTIs is the invasion of the urinary tract by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Improper treatment of bacterial infections like UTIs with broad-spectrum antibiotics has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, necessitating the development of an inexpensive, rapid and accurate detection of UPEC. Here, we present real-time, selective and label-free detection of UPEC using crossed surface-relief gratings (CSRGs) as nanometallic sensors incorporated into an optical sensing platform. CSRGs enable real-time sensing due to their unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based light energy exchange, resulting in detection of a very-narrow-bandwidth SPR signal after the elimination of residual incident light. The platform’s sensing ability is experimentally demonstrated by the detection of bulk refractive index (RI) changes, with a bulk sensitivity of 382.2 nm/RIU and a resolution in the order of 10−6 RIU. We also demonstrate, for the first time, CSRG-based real-time selective capture and detection of UPEC in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution, in clinically relevant concentrations, as opposed to other UTI-causing Gram-negative bacteria. The platform’s detection limit is calculated to be 105 CFU/mL (concentration on par with the clinical threshold for UTI diagnosis), with a dynamic range spanning four orders of magnitude. This work paves the way for the development of inexpensive point-of-care diagnosis devices focusing on effective treatment of UTIs, which are a burden on public healthcare due to the rise in the number of cases and their recurrences in the recent past.
Mutual Capacitive Sensing Touch Screen Controller for Ultrathin Display with Extended Signal Passband Using Negative Capacitance
Authors: Lee Chang-Ju , Park Jong Kang , Piao Canxing , Seo Han-Eol , Choi Jaehyuk , Chun Jung-Hoon
Published: October 2018

Flexible and thin displays for smart devices have a large coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode of the touch screen panel (TSP) and the display electrode. This increased coupling capacitance limits the signal passband to less than 100 kHz, resulting in a significant reduction in the received signal, with a driving frequency of several hundred kilohertz used for noise avoidance. To overcome this problem, we reduced the effective capacitance at the analog front-end by connecting a circuit with a negative capacitance in parallel with the coupling capacitance of the TSP. In addition, the in-phase and quadrature demodulation scheme was used to address the phase fluctuation between the signal and the clock during demodulation. We fabricated a test chip using the 0.35 µm CMOS process and obtained a signal-to-noise ratio of 43.2 dB for a 6 mm diameter metal pillar touch input.
2D Materials for Gas Sensing Applications: A Review on Graphene Oxide, MoS2, WS2 and Phosphorene
Authors: Donarelli Maurizio , Ottaviano Luca
Published: October 2018

After the synthesis of graphene, in the first year of this century, a wide research field on two-dimensional materials opens. 2D materials are characterized by an intrinsic high surface to volume ratio, due to their heights of few atoms, and, differently from graphene, which is a semimetal with zero or near zero bandgap, they usually have a semiconductive nature. These two characteristics make them promising candidate for a new generation of gas sensing devices. Graphene oxide, being an intermediate product of graphene fabrication, has been the first graphene-like material studied and used to detect target gases, followed by MoS2, in the first years of 2010s. Along with MoS2, which is now experiencing a new birth, after its use as a lubricant, other sulfides and selenides (like WS2, WSe2, MoSe2, etc.) have been used for the fabrication of nanoelectronic devices and for gas sensing applications. All these materials show a bandgap, tunable with the number of layers. On the other hand, 2D materials constituted by one atomic species have been synthetized, like phosphorene (one layer of black phosphorous), germanene (one atom thick layer of germanium) and silicone (one atom thick layer of silicon). In this paper, a comprehensive review of 2D materials-based gas sensor is reported, mainly focused on the recent developments of graphene oxide, exfoliated MoS2 and WS2 and phosphorene, for gas detection applications. We will report on their use as sensitive materials for conductometric, capacitive and optical gas sensors, the state of the art and future perspectives.
Efficient Deployment of Multi-UAVs in Massively Crowded Events
Authors: Sawalmeh Ahmad , Othman Noor Shamsiah , Shakhatreh Hazim
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the efficient 3D placement of UAV as an aerial base station in providing wireless coverage for users in a small and large coverage area is investigated. In the case of providing wireless coverage for outdoor and indoor users in a small area, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and K-means with Ternary Search (KTS) algorithms are invoked to find an efficient 3D location of a single UAV with the objective of minimizing its required transmit power. It was observed that a single UAV at the 3D location found using the PSO algorithm requires less transmit power, by a factor of 1/5 compared to that when using the KTS algorithm. In the case of providing wireless coverage for users in three different shapes of a large coverage area, namely square, rectangle and circular regions, the problems of finding an efficient placement of multiple UAVs equipped with a directional antenna are formulated with the objective to maximize the coverage area and coverage density using the Circle Packing Theory (CPT). Then, the UAV efficient altitude placement is formulated with the objective of minimizing its required transmit power. It is observed that the large number of UAVs does not necessarily result in the maximum coverage density. Based on the simulation results, the deployment of 16, 19 and 26 UAVs is capable of providing the maximum coverage density of 78.5%, 82.5% and 80.3% for the case of a square region with the dimensions of 2 km × 2 km, a rectangle region with the dimensions of 6 km × 1.8 km and a circular region with the radius of 1.125 km, respectively. These observations are obtained when the UAVs are located at the optimum altitude, where the required transmit power for each UAV is reasonably small.
Correction: Pullen, E. and Oser, C. Disadvantaged Status and Health Matters Networks among Low-Income African American Women. Soc. Sci. 2017, 6(3), 108
Authors: Pullen Erin , Oser Carrie
Published: October 2018

The authors wish to make the following change to their paper (Pullen and Oser 2017). [...]
Vertical Jump Is Strongly Associated to Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test in Teenage Futsal Male Athletes
Authors: Sales Marcelo Magalhães , Maciel Ana Paula , Aguiar Samuel da Silva , Asano Ricardo Yukio , Motta-Santos Daisy , Moraes José Fernando Vila Nova de , Alves Polissandro Mortoza , Santos Patrick Anderson , Barbosa Lucas Pinheiro , Ernesto Carlos , Sousa Caio Victor
Published: October 2018

As one of the most popular sport modalities in Brazil, and with an exponential growth in Europe, futsal is characterized by intermittent stimulus of anaerobic high intensity sprints. The running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) is one of the most common tests to assess anaerobic power in futsal athletes, however, it presents both time and physical challenges. Therefore, we aimed to correlate RAST with a simpler test, the vertical jump (VJ), in teenage male futsal athletes; Methods: Thirteen volunteers were enrolled and underwent two visits to the laboratory, one for the VJ and the other for the RAST in a randomized order; Results: The association test indicates a strong and significant correlation between VJ and RAST. We conclude that VJ can be used as an alternative to RAST in teenage male futsal athletes.
Player Tracking Data Analytics as a Tool for Physical Performance Management in Football: A Case Study from Chelsea Football Club Academy
Authors: De Silva Varuna , Caine Mike , Skinner James , Dogan Safak , Kondoz Ahmet , Peter Tilson , Axtell Elliott , Birnie Matt , Smith Ben
Published: October 2018

Background: Global positioning system (GPS) based player movement tracking data are widely used by professional football (soccer) clubs and academies to provide insight into activity demands during training and competitive matches. However, the use of movement tracking data to inform the design of training programmes is still an open research question. Objectives: The objective of this study is to analyse player tracking data to understand activity level differences between training and match sessions, with respect to different playing positions. Methods: This study analyses the per-session summary of historical movement data collected through GPS tracking to profile high-speed running activity as well as distance covered during training sessions as a whole and competitive matches. We utilise 20,913 data points collected from 53 football players aged between 18 and 23 at an elite football academy across four full seasons (2014–2018). Through ANOVA analysis and probability distribution analysis, we compare the activity demands, measured by the number of high-speed runs, the amount of high-speed distance, and distance covered by players in key playing positions, such as Central Midfielders, Full Backs, and Centre Forwards. Results and Implications: While there are significant positional differences in physical activity demands during competitive matches, the physical activity levels during training sessions do not show positional variations. In matches, the Centre Forwards face the highest demand for High Speed Runs (HSRs), compared to Central Midfielders and Full Backs. However, on average the Central Midfielders tend to cover more distance than Centre Forwards and Full Backs. An increase in high-speed work demand in matches and training over the past four seasons, also shown by a gradual change in the extreme values of high-speed running activity, was also found. This large-scale, longitudinal study makes an important contribution to the literature, providing novel insights from an elite performance environment about the relationship between player activity levels during training and match play, and how these vary by playing position.
How to Measure Urban Land Use Intensity? A Perspective of Multi-Objective Decision in Wuhan Urban Agglomeration, China
Authors: Yang Jun , Jin Gui , Huang Xianjin , Chen Kun , Meng Hao
Published: October 2018

Urban land intensive use is an important part of regional planning and plays an important role in the sustainable development of cities. However, the research on how to measure urban land use intensity is still controversial. This paper gives a perspective of multi-objective decision to explore the criterion of urban land use intensity in the process of urbanization. The theory of factor substitution was applied to analyze the mechanism of urban land intensive use in different urbanization stage. Additionally, the matching degree model (MDM), curve estimation model, and multi-objective programming model were employed in the case study of Wuhan urban agglomeration to give a multi-objective decision on urban land intensive use. The results show that the level of urban land intensive use lagging behind the level of urbanization development in more than 60% of the counties. When the level of urbanization is less than 30%, 30–70% and greater than 70%, the optimal intensity of urban land use characterized by fixed investments of unit land is 2.6252, 4.6132, and 6.7648 million RMB respectively. Based on optimal intensity, the counties in Wuhan urban agglomeration were divided into key development zone and optimized development zone. Finally, different management strategies were designed for different zones for urban land intensive use.
Cracking, Bond, and Durability Performance of Internally Cured Cementitious Grouts for Prefabricated Bridge Element Connections
Authors: De la Varga Igor , Spragg Robert P. , Muñoz José F. , Helsel Michelle A. , Graybeal Benjamin A.
Published: October 2018

The use of cementitious grouts in prefabricated bridge element (PBE) connections is a common practice in the USA. Given the important role that these connections play within the infrastructure, the grout materials used must provide good flowability, mechanical and durability properties, low shrinkage, and good bond to the precast concrete element. However, this type of grout material has shown serviceability issues in the form of volume instabilities (primarily shrinkage). The inclusion of internal curing (IC) in cementitious grouts with the goal of reducing shrinkage has been successfully demonstrated in a previous study. The research presented in this paper extends upon that prior study and assesses the IC effect on properties relevant to PBE grout connections. The paper uses novel experimental techniques such as the dual ring test, formation factor concepts, and microstructural analysis to evaluate improvements in cracking, bond, and durability performance. The results show that, while the IC grouts did not alter the bond performance, they improved their cracking and durability properties. The inclusion of IC in cementitious grouts is presented here as a strategy to increase the durability and thus sustainability of bridge structures.
The Role of Sustainable Events in the Management of Historic Buildings
Authors: Turner Zoë , Kennell James
Published: October 2018

As the use of historic building as venues for commercial activity grows, events management professionals working in historic buildings are faced with a number of sustainability challenges, including conservation, preservation, social value and financial sustainability, as well as with satisfying their clients. In particular, these professionals are required to maintain the complex balance between the competing priorities of historic value and contemporary relevance. Little research has thus far investigated the role that sustainable events can play in the management of historic buildings, beyond considerations of the trade-off between conservation and income generation. This research analyses the contribution that events can make to the sustainable management of historic buildings, with an emphasis on understanding the perspectives of event managers within these properties, based on qualitative interviews with historic building event managers and stakeholders in London, United Kingdom. A key finding of the research is that event managers within historic buildings have complex views of sustainability that are specific to these properties and which are not captured in the mainstream events management literature. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on sustainable events and also develops earlier research on the role of events and other income-generating activities in historic buildings.
Evaluation of Eco-Driving Training for Fuel Efficiency and Emissions Reduction According to Road Type
Authors: Wang Yang , Boggio-Marzet Alessandra
Published: October 2018

Eco-driving is becoming more widespread as individual car-use behaviour is a cost-effective way of improving vehicle fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. The literature shows a wide range of efficiencies as a result of eco-driving, depending on route selection, traffic characteristic, road slope, and the specific impact evaluation method. This paper follows this line of research and assesses the impact of an eco-driving training programme on fuel savings and reduction of CO2 emissions in a well-designed field trial, focusing on the specific impacts according to road type. The methodology includes a comprehensive trial on different types of road sections under various traffic conditions; a processed dataset using R codes to integrate, clean, and process all the information collected; and a systematic method to evaluate the overall and specific impacts of eco-driving. The final results show a general fuel saving after eco-driving training of up to an average of 6.3% regardless of fuel and road type. Driving performance, as represented by selected parameters (average and maximum RPM, average and maximum speed, aggressive acceleration/deceleration), changed significantly after the training. The highest fuel savings are achieved on major arterial road sections with a certain number of roundabouts and pedestrian crossings. This work contributes to an understanding of the key factors for eco-driving efficiency according to road type under real traffic conditions. It offers greater insights for policymakers in road transport planning and for drivers when applying eco-driving techniques.
Sustainable Development in Geography Education for Middle School in China
Authors: Guo Fengtao , Lane Joseph , Duan Yushan , Stoltman Joseph P. , Khlebosolova Olga , Lei Hao , Zhou Weiguo
Published: October 2018

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) had become a priority in many school systems. Geography has a tradition of investigating human-environment interactions and geography education is vital to make sense of sustainable development (SD). In this paper, the authors aimed to contribute to the implementation of ESD and SD in middle school geography, in The People’s Republic of China. This research employed a series of methods to analyze the content in (SD) in middle school geography standards and textbooks. The research surveyed geography teachers (n = 237) and assessed geography students (n = 246). Results exemplified both positive and negative conclusions from the data. Primarily, the findings suggested that geography education was important to ESD implementation, although the requirements for SD are low in the selected middle schools. The SD content was reflected clearly in the content standards and textbooks, but it was not evenly distributed in geography education. Many geography teachers in China have ample geography and interdisciplinary knowledge and they can use textbooks and other teaching methods to teach SD. The students’ performance, in a sample of four key schools, was considered “OK”, however there was still room for improvement. Most students were familiar with people, resources, environmental problems, and climate change, however, most were unable to grasp the factual knowledge about SD, such as international events and documents, latest predicted data, and research on global warming, as well as the indicators used in the specific SD assessment. Suggestions include providing students with more practical activities and a chance to do hands-on experiments, as well as building student organizations and clubs, improve Teachers’ knowledge, and understanding through teacher training program and build a platform for communicating ideas of SD through modern communication technology. Ideas of SD should be integrated into students’ daily life.