bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellulose Nanomaterials—Binding Properties and Applications: A Review
Authors: Tayeb Ali , Amini Ezatollah , Ghasemi Shokoofeh , Tajvidi Mehdi
Published: October 2018

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) are of increasing interest due to their appealing inherent properties such as bio-degradability, high surface area, light weight, chirality and the ability to form effective hydrogen bonds across the cellulose chains or within other polymeric matrices. Extending CN self-assembly into multiphase polymer structures has led to useful end-results in a wide spectrum of products and countless innovative applications, for example, as reinforcing agent, emulsion stabilizer, barrier membrane and binder. In the current contribution, after a brief description of salient nanocellulose chemical structure features, its types and production methods, we move to recent advances in CN utilization as an ecofriendly binder in several disparate areas, namely formaldehyde-free hybrid composites and wood-based panels, papermaking/coating processes, and energy storage devices, as well as their potential applications in biomedical fields as a cost-effective and tissue-friendly binder for cartilage regeneration, wound healing and dental repair. The prospects of a wide range of hybrid materials that may be produced via nanocellulose is introduced in light of the unique behavior of cellulose once in nano dimensions. Furthermore, we implement some principles of colloidal and interfacial science to discuss the critical role of cellulose binding in the aforesaid fields. Even though the CN facets covered in this study by no means encompass the great amount of literature available, they may be regarded as the basis for future developments in the binder applications of these highly desirable materials.
Characterization of Red Wine Proanthocyanidins Using a Putative Proanthocyanidin Database, Amide Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC), and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Frost Scott , Lerno Larry A. , Zweigenbaum Jerry , Heymann Hildegarde , Ebeler Susan E.
Published: October 2018

Proanthocyanidins are complex polymers of flavan-3-ol monomers and play a key sensory and health role in foods and beverages. We describe here a novel method for characterizing wine proanthocyanidins using a theoretical database comprised of the chemical formula and exact mass of 996 compounds. The database was constructed using the four primary grape and wine proanthocyanidin monomers: (epi)catechin, (epi)catechin-3-O-gallate, (epi)gallocatechin, and (epi)gallocatechin-3-O-gallate, each combined in all possible combinations up to a polymerization of 10. The database was queried against spectra collected using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHLPC) with a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column and coupled to a high-resolution accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF MS). Two wine samples produced with different post fermentation maceration were analyzed using the presented method to demonstrate application for analysis of diverse proanthocyanidins. The first sample was pressed immediately at the end of fermentation when all sugar had been utilized and the second received eight weeks of post fermentation maceration. The HILIC column combined with high resolution tandem mass spectrometry and database matching provided tentative identification of 89 compounds with excellent resolution and without the need for two-dimensional separations. The identified compounds were visualized with Kendrick mass analysis, a simple technique allowing for rapid visualization of which compounds are present in a given sample.
Abnormal Anionic Porphyrin Sensing Effect for HER2 Gene Related DNA Detection via Impedance Difference between MWCNTs and Single-Stranded DNA or Double-Stranded DNA
Authors: Ning Jingheng , Liu Long , Luo Xin , Wang Min , Liu Donglin , Hou Rong , Chen Donger , Wang Jianhui
Published: October 2018

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a key tumor marker for several common and deadly cancers. It is of great importance to develop efficient detection methods for its over-expression. In this work, an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method adjustable by anionic porphyrin for HER2 gene detection has been proposed, based on the impedance difference between multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and DNA. The interesting finding herein is that with the addition of anionic porphyrin, i.e., meso-tetra(4-sulfophenyl)-porphyrin (TSPP), the impedance value obtained at a glass carbon electrode (GCE) modified with MWCNTs and a single stranded DNA (ssDNA), the probe DNA that might be assembled tightly onto MWCNTs through π-π stacking interaction, gets a slight decrease; however, the impedance value from a GCE modified with MWCNTs and a double stranded DNA (dsDNA), the hybrid of the probe DNA with a target DNA, which might be assembled loosely onto MWCNTs for the screening effect of phosphate backbones in dsDNA, gets an obvious decrease. The reason may be that on the one hand, being rich in negative sulfonate groups, TSPP will try to push DNA far away from CNTs surface due to its strong electrostatic repulsion towards DNA; on the other hand, rich in planar phenyl or pyrrole rings, TSPP will compete with DNA for the surface of CNTs since it can also be assembled onto CNTs through conjugative interactions. In this way, the “loosely assembled” dsDNA will be repelled by this anionic porphyrin and released off CNTs surface much more than the “tightly assembled” ssDNA, leading to a bigger difference in the impedance value between dsDNA and ssDNA. Thus, through the amplification effect of TSPP on the impedance difference, the perfectly matched target DNA could be easily determined by EIS without any label. Under the optimized experimental conditions, this electrochemical sensor shows an excellent linear response to target DNA in a concentration range of 2.0 × 10−11–2.0 × 10−6 M with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.34 × 10−11 M (S/N = 3). This abnormally sensitive electrochemical sensing performance resulting from anionic porphyrin for DNA sequences specific to HER2 gene will offer considerable promise for tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Validity and Reliability of a Short Diet Questionnaire to Estimate Dietary Intake in Older Adults in a Subsample of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Gilsing Anne , Mayhew Alexandra J. , Payette Hélène , Shatenstein Bryna , Kirkpatrick Sharon I. , Amog Krystle , Wolfson Christina , Kirkland Susan , Griffith Lauren E. , Raina Parminder
Published: October 2018

This study assessed test-retest reliability and relative validity of the Short Diet Questionnaire (SDQ) and usability of an online 24 h recall among 232 participants (62 years ± 9.1; 49.6% female) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Participants were asked to complete four 24 h dietary recalls (24HRs) using the Automated Self-Administered 24-h Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24-Canada-2014), two SDQ administrations (prior to recalls one and four), and the System Usability Scale (SUS) for ASA24. For the SDQ administrations, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients ranged from 0.49 to 0.57 for nutrients and 0.35 to 0.72 for food groups. Mean intakes estimated from the SDQ were lower compared than those from the 24HRs. For nutrients, correlation coefficients were highest for fiber, calcium, and vitamin D (45–64 years: 0.59, 0.50, 0.51; >65 years: 0.29, 0.38, 0.49, p < 0.01); Kappas ranged from 0.14 to 0.37 in those 45–64 years and 0.17 to 0.32 in participants >65 years. Among the 70% who completed all recalls independently, the SUS indicated poor usability, though the majority reported feeling confident using ASA24. Overall, the SDQ captures intake with varying test-retest reliability and accuracy by nutrient and age. Further research is needed to inform use of a more comprehensive dietary measure in the CLSA.
Plasma 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D is not Associated with Acne Vulgaris
Authors: Al-Taiar Abdullah , AlKhabbaz Mona , Rahman Abdur , Al-Sabah Reem , Shaban Lemia , Akhtar Saeed
Published: October 2018

Few studies have investigated the association between Acne vulgaris (AV) and vitamin D level. In this study we aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VitD) level and AV in a country with plenty of sunshine. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 714 adolescents who were randomly selected from public schools using multistage cluster random sampling with probability proportional to size. 25-OH-VitD levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to assess the severity of AV. Data on potential confounders were collected from the parents through a self-administered questionnaire, and from the adolescents using a face-to-face interview. Of 714 participants, 351 (41.16%) were males. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was 12.28 (0.81) years. AV was observed in 479 (67.1%) adolescents. There was no significant association between 25-OH-VitD level and clinically assessed AV before or after adjusting for potential confounders. This was consistent whether 25-OH-VitD was fitted as a continuous variable or categorized using acceptable cutoff points or tertiles. In this study vitamin D status was not associated with AV, therefore our data do not support vitamin D supplementation either to treat or to prevent AV.
Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over the Life Course
Authors: Maggini Silvia , Pierre Adeline , Calder Philip C.
Published: October 2018

As humans age, the risk and severity of infections vary in line with immune competence according to how the immune system develops, matures, and declines. Several factors influence the immune system and its competence, including nutrition. A bidirectional relationship among nutrition, infection and immunity exists: changes in one component affect the others. For example, distinct immune features present during each life stage may affect the type, prevalence, and severity of infections, while poor nutrition can compromise immune function and increase infection risk. Various micronutrients are essential for immunocompetence, particularly vitamins A, C, D, E, B2, B6, and B12, folic acid, iron, selenium, and zinc. Micronutrient deficiencies are a recognized global public health issue, and poor nutritional status predisposes to certain infections. Immune function may be improved by restoring deficient micronutrients to recommended levels, thereby increasing resistance to infection and supporting faster recovery when infected. Diet alone may be insufficient and tailored micronutrient supplementation based on specific age-related needs necessary. This review looks at immune considerations specific to each life stage, the consequent risk of infection, micronutrient requirements and deficiencies exhibited over the life course, and the available evidence regarding the effects of micronutrient supplementation on immune function and infection.
Molecular Disorder of Bicalutamide—Amorphous Solid Dispersions Obtained by Solvent Methods
Authors: Szafraniec Joanna , Antosik Agata , Knapik-Kowalczuk Justyna , Gawlak Karolina , Kurek Mateusz , Szlęk Jakub , Jamróz Witold , Paluch Marian , Jachowicz Renata
Published: October 2018

The effect of solvent removal techniques on phase transition, physical stability and dissolution of bicalutamide from solid dispersions containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a carrier was investigated. A spray dryer and a rotavapor were applied to obtain binary systems containing either 50% or 66% of the drug. Applied techniques led to the formation of amorphous solid dispersions as confirmed by X-ray powder diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. Moreover, solid–solid transition from polymorphic form I to form II was observed for bicalutamide spray dried without a carrier. The presence of intermolecular interactions between the drug and polymer molecules, which provides the stabilization of molecularly disordered bicalutamide, was analyzed using infrared spectroscopy. Spectral changes within the region characteristic for amide vibrations suggested that the amide form of crystalline bicalutamide was replaced by a less stable imidic one, characteristic of an amorphous drug. Applied processes also resulted in changes of particle geometry and size as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction measurements, however they did not affect the dissolution significantly as confirmed by intrinsic dissolution study. The enhancement of apparent solubility and dissolution were assigned mostly to the loss of molecular arrangement by drug molecules. Performed statistical analysis indicated that the presence of PVP reduces the mean dissolution time and improve the dissolution efficiency. Although the dissolution was equally affected by both applied methods of solid dispersion manufacturing, spray drying provides better control of particle size and morphology as well as a lower tendency for recrystallization of amorphous solid dispersions.
Anionic Polymer Brushes for Biomimetic Calcium Phosphate Mineralization—A Surface with Application Potential in Biomaterials
Authors: Mai Tobias , Wolski Karol , Puciul-Malinowska Agnieszka , Kopyshev Alexey , Gräf Ralph , Bruns Michael , Zapotoczny Szczepan , Taubert Andreas
Published: October 2018

This article describes the synthesis of anionic polymer brushes and their mineralization with calcium phosphate. The brushes are based on poly(3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt) providing a highly charged polymer brush surface. Homogeneous brushes with reproducible thicknesses are obtained via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. Mineralization with doubly concentrated simulated body fluid yields polymer/inorganic hybrid films containing AB-Type carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAP), a material resembling the inorganic component of bone. Moreover, growth experiments using Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae demonstrate that the mineral-free and the mineral-containing polymer brushes have a good biocompatibility suggesting their use as biocompatible surfaces in implantology or related fields.
Interactive Tool for Frequency Domain Tuning of PID Controllers
Authors: Garrido Juan , Ruz Mario L. , Morilla Fernando , Vázquez Francisco
Published: October 2018

This paper presents an interactive tool focused on the study of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. Nowadays, PID control loops are extensively used in industrial applications. However, it is reported that many of them are badly tuned. From an educational point of view, it is essential for undergraduate students in control engineering to understand the importance of tuning a control loop correctly. For this reason, the tool provides different PID tuning methods in the frequency domain for stable open-loop time-delay-free processes. The different designs can be compared interactively by the user, allowing them to understand concepts about stability, robustness, and performance in PID control loops. A survey and a comparative study were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed tool.
Approximating Nonlinear Relationships for Optimal Operation of Natural Gas Transport Networks
Authors: Kazda Kody , Li Xiang
Published: October 2018

The compressor fuel cost minimization problem (FCMP) for natural gas pipelines is a relevant problem because of the substantial energy consumption of compressor stations transporting the large global demand for natural gas. The common method for modeling the FCMP is to assume key modeling parameters such as the friction factor, compressibility factor, isentropic exponent, and compressor efficiency to be constants, and their nonlinear relationships to the system operating conditions are ignored. Previous work has avoided the complexity associated with the nonlinear relationships inherent in the FCMP to avoid unreasonably long solution times for practical transportation systems. In this paper, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) based method is introduced to generate piecewise-linear functions that approximate the previously ignored nonlinear relationships. The MILP determines the optimal break-points and orientation of the linear segments so that approximation error is minimized. A novel FCMP model that includes the piecewise-linear approximations is applied in a case study on three simple gas networks. The case study shows that the novel FCMP model captures the nonlinear relationships with a high degree of accuracy and only marginally increases solution time compared to the common simplified FCMP model. The common simplified model is found to produce solutions with high error and infeasibility when applied on a rigorous simulation.
Boundary-Breaking Disposition against Post-Truth: Five Big Questions for Religious Education
Authors: Lee Song-Chong
Published: October 2018

This paper articulates how religious education can broaden our perspective on post-truth from simply an issue of critical reading to a philosophical challenge involving larger issues such as our sense of self, perception of others, and grounding of justice. Pointing out that the root cause of post-truth is our parochial, defensive sense of self and community, which premises a boundary-drawing/building mindset, the author suggests the feeling of transcendence as an intellectual, psychological, and spiritual ground to cultivate a counterforce, which is the boundary-breaking disposition. This rationale is developed particularly by the discussion of the Five Big Questions that the author has been using for his Introduction to Religion course: Ultimate Meaning, Transcendence, Personal Identity, Vocation, and Service.
Visual Object Tracking Using Structured Sparse PCA-Based Appearance Representation and Online Learning
Authors: Yoon Gang-Joon , Hwang Hyeong Jae , Yoon Sang Min
Published: October 2018

Visual object tracking is a fundamental research area in the field of computer vision and pattern recognition because it can be utilized by various intelligent systems. However, visual object tracking faces various challenging issues because tracking is influenced by illumination change, pose change, partial occlusion and background clutter. Sparse representation-based appearance modeling and dictionary learning that optimize tracking history have been proposed as one possible solution to overcome the problems of visual object tracking. However, there are limitations in representing high dimensional descriptors using the standard sparse representation approach. Therefore, this study proposes a structured sparse principal component analysis to represent the complex appearance descriptors of the target object effectively with a linear combination of a small number of elementary atoms chosen from an over-complete dictionary. Using an online dictionary for learning and updating by selecting similar dictionaries that have high probability makes it possible to track the target object in a variety of environments. Qualitative and quantitative experimental results, including comparison to the current state of the art visual object tracking algorithms, validate that the proposed tracking algorithm performs favorably with changes in the target object and environment for benchmark video sequences.
Efficient Privacy-Preserving Access Control Scheme in Electronic Health Records System
Authors: Ming Yang , Zhang Tingting
Published: October 2018

The sharing of electronic health records (EHR) in cloud servers is an increasingly important development that can improve the efficiency of medical systems. However, there are several concerns focusing on the issues of security and privacy in EHR system. The EHR data contains the EHR owner’s sensitive personal information, if these data are obtained by a malicious user, it will not only cause the leakage of patient’s privacy, but also affect the doctor’s diagnosis. It is a very challenging problem for the EHR owner fully controls over own EHR data as well as preserves the privacy of himself. In this paper, we propose a new privacy-preserving access control (PPAC) scheme for EHR. To achieve fine-grained access control of the EHR data, we utilize the attribute-based signcryption (ABSC) mechanism to signcrypt data based on the access policy for the linear secret sharing schemes. Employing the cuckoo filter to hide the access policy, it could protect the EHR owner’s privacy information. In addition, the security analysis shows that the proposed scheme is provably secure under the decisional bilinear Diffie-Hellman exponent assumption and the computational Diffie-Hellman exponent assumption in the standard model. Furthermore, the performance analysis indicates that the proposed scheme achieves low costs of communication and computation compared with the related schemes, meanwhile preserves the EHR owner’s privacy. Therefore, the proposed scheme is better suited to EHR system.
A Multimodal Feature Fusion-Based Deep Learning Method for Online Fault Diagnosis of Rotating Machinery
Authors: Zhou Funa , Hu Po , Yang Shuai , Wen Chenglin
Published: October 2018

Rotating machinery usually suffers from a type of fault, where the fault feature extracted in the frequency domain is significant, while the fault feature extracted in the time domain is insignificant. For this type of fault, a deep learning-based fault diagnosis method developed in the frequency domain can reach high accuracy performance without real-time performance, whereas a deep learning-based fault diagnosis method developed in the time domain obtains real-time diagnosis with lower diagnosis accuracy. In this paper, a multimodal feature fusion-based deep learning method for accurate and real-time online diagnosis of rotating machinery is proposed. The proposed method can directly extract the potential frequency of abnormal features involved in the time domain data. Firstly, multimodal features corresponding to the original data, the slope data, and the curvature data are firstly extracted by three separate deep neural networks. Then, a multimodal feature fusion is developed to obtain a new fused feature that can characterize the potential frequency feature involved in the time domain data. Lastly, the fused new feature is used as the input of the Softmax classifier to achieve a real-time online diagnosis result from the frequency-type fault data. A simulation experiment and a case study of the bearing fault diagnosis confirm the high efficiency of the method proposed in this paper.
A Self-Managed System for Automated Assessment of UPDRS Upper Limb Tasks in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Ferraris Claudia , Nerino Roberto , Chimienti Antonio , Pettiti Giuseppe , Cau Nicola , Cimolin Veronica , Azzaro Corrado , Albani Giovanni , Priano Lorenzo , Mauro Alessandro
Published: October 2018

A home-based, reliable, objective and automated assessment of motor performance of patients affected by Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is important in disease management, both to monitor therapy efficacy and to reduce costs and discomforts. In this context, we have developed a self-managed system for the automated assessment of the PD upper limb motor tasks as specified by the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The system is built around a Human Computer Interface (HCI) based on an optical RGB-Depth device and a replicable software. The HCI accuracy and reliability of the hand tracking compares favorably against consumer hand tracking devices as verified by an optoelectronic system as reference. The interface allows gestural interactions with visual feedback, providing a system management suitable for motor impaired users. The system software characterizes hand movements by kinematic parameters of their trajectories. The correlation between selected parameters and clinical UPDRS scores of patient performance is used to assess new task instances by a machine learning approach based on supervised classifiers. The classifiers have been trained by an experimental campaign on cohorts of PD patients. Experimental results show that automated assessments of the system replicate clinical ones, demonstrating its effectiveness in home monitoring of PD.
Events and Tourism Development within a Local Community: The Case of Winchester (UK)
Authors: Séraphin Hugues , Platania Marco , Spencer Paul , Modica Giuseppe
Published: October 2018

Tourism as an industry has many kinds of impacts on destinations and their communities. The presence of tourism could create the conditions for an economic development but in the same way produce negative effect (crowding out) and externalities (the Janus-face character). Between the different actors inside the tourist destination, there are the local community which could endure the pressure of tourism. In some cases, this pressure reduces the wellbeing of the residents. The present research paper focuses on how activities like events and tourism impact on community well-being. Winchester (England), a Special Interest Tourism and Event (SITE), is used as a case study. The data are collected using an on-line interview and they are elaborated using multivariate techniques and ordinal regression analysis. The results of the study reveal a close relation between the level of happiness of the local residents and their perception of the tourism industry and event development. Local residents in Winchester are perceiving the tourism industry and events rather positively as they believe it supports their culture and the local economy and job in particular. Our first overall conclusion is that there is a relationship between the residents’ happiness and tourism/event perception. Moreover, our findings support what claimed by several scholars that tourism specialisation improves the residents quality of life (QOL). The present study has not shown the direction of the influence but according to previous research it is the level of happiness of the local residents that determines their perception of the tourism industry and event development and not the other way around. The second finding of the study reveals that SITE destinations have a high potential in terms of contributing to the local residents’ happiness and subsequently visitors. Our third and final conclusion is that, when the benefits of tourism and events are higher than the cost, local residents and are likely to be supportive of the activity.
A Conceptual Framework for Assessing an Organization’s Readiness to Adopt Big Data
Authors: Olszak Celina M. , Mach-Król Maria
Published: October 2018

The main aim of this paper is to provide a theoretically and empirically grounded discussion on big data and to propose a conceptual framework for big data based on a temporal dimension. This study adopts two research methods. The first research method is a critical assessment of the literature that aims to identify the concept of big data in organizations. This method is composed of a search for source materials, the selection of the source materials, and their analysis and synthesis. It has been used to develop a conceptual framework for assessing an organization’s readiness to adopt big data. The purpose of the second research method is to provide an initial verification of the developed framework. This verification consisted of conducting qualitative research with the use of an in-depth interview in 15 selected organizations. The main contribution of this study is the Temporal Big Data Maturity Model (TBDMM) framework, which can help to measure the current state of an organization’s big data assets, and to plan their future development with respect to sustainability issues. The proposed framework has been built over a time dimension as a fundamental internal structure with the goal of providing a complete means for assessing an organization’s readiness to process the temporal data and knowledge that can be found in modern information sources. The proposed framework distinguishes five maturity levels: atemporal, pre-temporal, partly temporal, predominantly temporal, and temporal, which are used to evaluate data/knowledge, information technology (IT) solutions, functionalities offered by IT solutions, and the sustainable development context.
Hybrid Neural Fuzzy Design-Based Rotational Speed Control of a Tidal Stream Generator Plant
Authors: Ghefiri Khaoula , Garrido Izaskun , Bouallègue Soufiene , Haggège Joseph , Garrido Aitor J.
Published: October 2018

Artificial Intelligence techniques have shown outstanding results for solving many tasks in a wide variety of research areas. Its excellent capabilities for the purpose of robust pattern recognition which make them suitable for many complex renewable energy systems. In this context, the Simulation of Tidal Turbine in a Digital Environment seeks to make the tidal turbines competitive by driving up the extracted power associated with an adequate control. An increment in power extraction can only be archived by improved understanding of the behaviors of key components of the turbine power-train (blades, pitch-control, bearings, seals, gearboxes, generators and power-electronics). Whilst many of these components are used in wind turbines, the loading regime for a tidal turbine is quite different. This article presents a novel hybrid Neural Fuzzy design to control turbine power-trains with the objective of accurately deriving and improving the generated power. In addition, the proposed control scheme constitutes a basis for optimizing the turbine control approaches to maximize the output power production. Two study cases based on two realistic tidal sites are presented to test these control strategies. The simulation results prove the effectiveness of the investigated schemes, which present an improved power extraction capability and an effective reference tracking against disturbance.
Why Are Warrant Markets Sustained in Taiwan but Not in China?
Authors: Wong Wing-Keung , Lean Hooi Hooi , McAleer Michael , Tsai Feng-Tse
Published: October 2018

This paper uses moment analysis, capital asset pricing model (CAPM) statistics, stochastic dominance (SD) test, and volume analysis to investigating why the market for Taiwan warrants can be sustained but not in China. Our moment analysis shows that buying in China warrants has a higher likelihood of losses. Our CAPM analysis shows that both the Sharpe ratio and Jensen index for warrants from the Chinese market are too negative. The Treynor index shows that Chinese warrants are highly volatile. Our SD analysis shows that risk averters prefer to invest in Chinese warrants compared to Taiwanese warrants, implying that the warrant issuers prefer to issue Taiwanese warrants than Chinese warrants. Using volume analysis, the Chinese warrant market is much more active, implying more speculative activities in China than in Taiwan. All the above could lead to China’s decision to close its warrant market. The findings in the paper are useful for academics, investors, and policy makers.
How Should National Museums Create Competitive Advantage Following Changes in the Global Economic Environment?
Authors: Tsai Pei-Hsuan , Lin Chin-Tsai
Published: October 2018

Management strategies play an important role in enhancing the competitive advantage and sustainable development of national museums. The purpose of this study is to focus on evaluating the management strategies of national museums to reduce the gaps in visitor satisfaction that are caused by the interdependence and feedback problems of the so-called BOCR dimensions (namely, benefits, opportunity, costs, and risks) and 24 criteria. This study creates a hybrid competitive advantage multiple-criteria decision-making model for national museums by integrating the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-based analytic network process and modified VIKOR (VlšeKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje) techniques to solve the problems. We consider five different types of national museums to illustrate how the proposed new evaluation model enhances the competitive advantage of national museums. Our results provide national museum curators with the knowledge and understanding to create promotional and marketing strategies that reduce the gaps in dimensions and criteria to satisfy visitors’ needs and to enhance their competitive advantage.
Ultrastructural Analysis of Chikungunya Virus Dissemination from the Midgut of the Yellow Fever Mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Authors: Kantor Asher M. , Grant DeAna G. , Balaraman Velmurugan , White Tommi A. , Franz Alexander W. E.
Published: October 2018

The transmission cycle of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) requires that mosquito vectors get persistently infected with the virus, following its oral acqsuisition from a vertebrate host. The mosquito midgut is the initial organ that gets infected with orally acquired CHIKV. Following its replication in the midgut epithelium, the virus exits the midgut and infects secondary tissues including the salivary glands before being transmitted to another host. Here, we investigate the pattern of CHIKV dissemination from the midgut of Aedes aegypti at the ultrastructural level. Bloodmeal ingestion caused overstretching of the midgut basal lamina (BL), which was disrupted in areas adjacent to muscles surrounding the midgut as shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to analyze midgut preparations, mature chikungunya (CHIK) virions were found accumulating at the BL and within strands of the BL at 24–32 h post-infectious bloodmeal (pibm). From 48 h pibm onwards, virions no longer congregated at the BL and became dispersed throughout the basal labyrinth of the epithelial cells. Ingestion of a subsequent, non-infectious bloodmeal caused mature virions to congregate again at the midgut BL. Our study suggests that CHIKV needs a single replication cycle in the midgut epithelium before mature virions directly traverse the midgut BL during a relatively narrow time window, within 48 h pibm.
A Vibrometer Based on Magnetorheological Optical Resonators
Authors: Rubino Edoardo , Ioppolo Tindaro
Published: October 2018

This paper addresses the feasibility of an optical vibrometer that is based on the shift of the optical modes, also known as whispering gallery modes (WGMs), of a magnetorheological optical resonator. The optical resonator that is used in this study is fabricated by mixing polyvinyl chloride plastisol with magnetically polarizable particles. When a permanent magnet that is located nearby the optical resonator is moved, it induces a perturbation of the morphology of the resonator, due to the magnetostrictive effect. This change in the morphology induces a shift in the optical modes of the resonator. The shift of the optical modes can be related to the displacement of the permanent magnet. The proposed sensor concept is based on monitoring the displacement of a tiny magnet that is attached to a moving surface. The optical quality factor of the resonator used in these studies was of the order of 106. The experimental results show a sensitivity of 0.32 pm/μm and a resolution that is less than 300 nm.
Spatiotemporal Variation of Snowfall to Precipitation Ratio and Its Implication on Water Resources by a Regional Climate Model over Xinjiang, China
Authors: Li Qian , Yang Tao , Qi Zhiming , Li Lanhai
Published: October 2018

Snow contributes one of the main water sources to runoff in the arid region of China. A clear understanding of the spatiotemporal variation of snowfall is not only required for climate change assessment, but also plays a critical role in water resources management. However, in-situ observations or gridded datasets hardly meet the requirement and cannot provide precise spatiotemporal details on snowfall across the region. This study attempted to apply the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to clarify the spatiotemporal variation of snowfall and the ratio of snowfall to total precipitation over Xinjiang in China during the 1979–2015 period. The results showed that the snowfall increased in the southern edge of the Tarim Basin, the Ili Valley, and the Altay Mountains, but decreased in the Tianshan Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. The snowfall/precipitation (S/P) ratio revealed the opposite trends in low-elevation regions and mountains in the study area. The S/P ratio rose in the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin, but declined in the Altay Mountains, the Tianshan Mountains, and the west edge of the Junggar Basin. The study area comprises two major rivers in the middle of the Tianshan Mountains. Both the runoff magnitude increase and earlier occurrence of snowmelt recharge in runoff identified for the 1980s were compared with the 2000s level in decreasing S/P ratio regions.
Effects of Brimonidine on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells and Müller Cells Exposed to Amyloid-Beta 1–42 Peptide In Vitro
Authors: Tsao Sean W. , Gabriel Rami , Thaker Kunal , Kuppermann Baruch D. , Kenney M. Cristina
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether brimonidine can prevent cytotoxicity in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) and Müller (MIO) cells after exposure to amyloid-beta 1–42 (Aβ42).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An in vitro model of geographic atrophy (GA), which is an end-stage complication of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), simulated with the application of Aβ42 in cell culture. RPE and MIO cells were pretreated with brimonidine for 6 hours, then exposed to 10μM Aβ42 for 24 hours. Several concentrations (one time [1×], two times [2×], and five times [5×]) of brimonidine were used to assess for a dose-related effect. Assays were immediately run following the treatment period. 2′,7′-Dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to assess reactive oxygen species production, the MTT assay was used to assess cell viability, and the JC-1 dye assay was used to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. The main outcome measures were reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) of RPE and MIO cells following the treatment phase.

RESULTS:

High-dose (5×) brimonidine was capable of reducing ROS production in RPE and MIO cells with exposure to Aβ42. The application of Aβ42 alone did not trigger a rise in ROS production. Brimonidine was unable to rescue cell viability and ΔΨm after exposure to Aβ42 in both cell cultures. Instead, high-dose (5×) brimonidine appeared to increase the toxicity to cell viability and ΔΨm in cultures exposed to Aβ42. However, this was not due to medication toxicity alone, because high-dose (5×) brimonidine without exposure to Aβ42 did not affect the cell viability in both cell types.

CONCLUSION:

Brimonidine may have a role in preventing oxidative cellular injury in AMD. However, this role does not appear to translate into protection against some of the cytotoxic effects observed from this in vitro model of GA. In this cellular model of GA, brimonidine is able to reduce oxidative stress but is unable to rescue cell viability or prevent mitochondrial dysfunction.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:S23–S28.]
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in Non-Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Orellana-Rios Jorge , Yokoyama Sho , Agee Julia M. , Challa Nayanika , Freund K. Bailey , Yannuzzi Lawrence A. , Smith R. Theodore
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To use quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) to analyze different stages of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In this cohort study, 38 pseudophakic patients and 36 age-matched controls participated. We performed near-infrared, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and qAF imaging on 31 pseudophakic eyes and controls of participants older than 60 years with non-neovascular AMD phenotypes using the Spectralis HRA + OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).

RESULTS:

The patients included in this study had a mean age of 83.9 years, and 35.7% patients were men. Mean qAF was higher in control participants than in all patients with AMD (
P
< .001). According to non-neovascular AMD phenotype, mean qAF levels were significantly lower in eyes with subretinal drusenoid deposits than in control eyes (
P
< .05). The lowest mean qAF was in patients with geographic atrophy.

CONCLUSION:

Quantitative fundus autofluorescence of non-neovascular AMD decreases from normal to early to late AMD, suggesting that loss of lipofuscin fluorophores, not increase, signifies AMD progression.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2018;49:S34–S42.]
Ottoman Spatial Organization of the pre-modern City of Medina
Authors: Alshehri Atef
Published: October 2018

This paper investigates the pre-modern urban development of Medina during the Ottoman reign within the framework of the Ottoman administration of the Arab provinces. Specifically, the spatial organization of Medina is investigated based on multiple visual, cadastral and historical sources. Although Medina was remote from the center of political power, it maintained an articulated significance for the Ottoman state structure, as much as the major provincial cities. This is evident in the continuous Ottoman role in staging its own image in Medina by introducing typical Ottoman hallmarks of urbanization. However, the spiritual significance of Medina, in turn, molded the applied methods of spatial organization, which had to be attuned to the religious sanctions and sensitive loci of worship. By the end of the Ottoman presence in Arabia, the resulting urban character and texture of the city reflected a fusion of spatial innovations with deep-rooted tradition, which shaped a lasting historical image of Medina.
Critical Post-Functionalism in the Architecture of Late Soviet Central Asia
Authors: Demchenko Igor
Published: October 2018

Relying on all but forgotten texts of architectural criticism from late Soviet Central Asia, the article explores the discursive strategies employed by architects, critics, and historians to justify the shift away from the rigid functionalism of the 1960s to the regionally sensitive architecture of the 1970s and the 1980s. Soviet architects and critics, alert to the Soviet government’s insistence on the primordial continuity of regional and ethnic architectural traditions, and to the need to incorporate them into the new socialist style of Central Asian architecture, used the ideological quest for national forms as a means of expressing their growing distrust of prefabricated functionalism and their opposition to a Central Asian version of the Stalinist style. This architectural criticism essentially shielded late Soviet architecture from ideological dogma, allowing for its impressive formal flexibility. By critically exploring two scholastic distinctions, first between the national form and the socialist content (or essence), and second between the national and the international in socialist architecture, this article reconstructs the unique intellectual conditions governing the architectural profession in the USSR where architects operated in a context characterized by the impossibility of private commissions, the quest for aesthetic objectivity, the rise of historic preservation, and the gradual transformation of controlled socialist nation-building into the violent nationalism of the 1990s.
Los estudios sobre migraciones y la formación de investigadores en Argentina
Authors: Masseroni Susana
Published: October 2018

Cet article fait une brève référence à la situation générale de la recherche sur les migrations, dans des moments où ces dernières ont augmenté en intensité et où ont été générés de nouveaux questionnements. Il mentionne les changements que les sciences étudiant ces processus devraient produire pour générer un large éventail de connaissances. Il mentionne également la nécessité d’appliquer différentes approches théoriques, lesquelles renvoient à des études à différents niveaux d’analyse et à des modèles méthodologiques appropriés. Il se concentre ensuite sur l’étude des migrations en Argentine et sur l’offre d’enseignement en vue de former des chercheurs sur ce sujet dans le pays. L’hypothèse est que le contenu de la formation et les méthodes utilisées ont un impact sur les enquêtes réalisées.

The article makes a brief reference to the general situation of research on migrations at times when they have increased their intensity and new questions are generated. Mentioned with the changes that the sciences that study these processes to produce a broad knowledge and the need to take me to other techniques that refer to studies at various levels of analysis and methodological designs.
It focuses on migration studies in Argentina and the teaching landscape for the examination of the subject in the country. The assumption is that the content of the training and the methods used have an impact on the investigations they carry out.

El artículo hace una breve referencia a la situación general de la investigación sobre migraciones en momentos en que han aumentado su intensidad y se generan nuevos interrogantes, mencionando los cambios que las ciencias que estudian estos procesos debieran producir para generar un conocimiento amplio y la necesidad de aplicar distintas miradas teóricas que remitan a estudios en distintos niveles de análisis y diseños metodológicos apropiados se focaliza en los estudios migratorios en Argentina y el panorama de la enseñanza para formar investigadores sobre la temática en el país. El supuesto es que el contenido de la formación y las modalidades empleadas repercuten en las investigaciones que realizan.
An Australian Longitudinal Study Into Remnant Data Recovered From Second-Hand Memory Cards
Authors: Szewczyk Patryk , Sansurooah Krishnun , Williams Patricia A. H.
Published: October 2018

Consumers demand fast, high capacity, upgradeable memory cards for portable electronic devices, with secure digital (SD) and microSD the most popular. Despite this demand, secure erasure of data is still not a composite part of disposure practices. To investigate the extent of this problem, second-hand memory cards were procured from the Australian eBay site between 2011 and 2015. Digital forensic tools were used to acquire and analyze each memory card to determine the type and quantity of remnant data. This paper presents the results of the 2014 and 2015 studies and compares these findings to the 2011–2013 research studies. The longitudinal comparison indicates resold memory cards are disposed insecurely, with personal, confidential and business data undeleted or easily recoverable. The impact of such discoveries, where information is placed in the public domain, has the potential to cause embarrassment and financial loss to individuals, business, and government organizations.
Managing Corporate Relations
Authors: Clevenger Morgan R. , MacGregor Cynthia J.
Published: October 2018

Managing corporate and foundation relations is a challenging and dynamic responsibility in higher education as well as inside companies. The role of corporate and foundation relations development officers (CFRs) is to orchestrate and navigate a complex resource development portfolio by finding, negotiating, acquiring, and managing inter-organizational relationships with businesses and corporations. CFRs must be intimately familiar with their own institution, organizational priorities, and key leaders to be able to create and leverage touch-points, engagement and volunteer opportunities, and mutually beneficial partnerships.