bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Use of Music as an Environmental Intervention and Quality of Care in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Case Study in Norway
Authors: Batt-Rawden Kari Bjerke , Storlien Marit Helene Sund
Published: January 2019

Background: The systematic use of music as an environmental intervention in nursing homes shows beneficial effects on patients’ health, safety, and quality of life in a care-related perspective. A county in Norway and a Nursing Education Department in a region of Norway collaborated on the project “systematic use of music as environmental intervention and quality of care in nursing homes” for nursing students. Methods: This study from Norway (2017) had a qualitative and explorative approach. The sample (n = 33) was strategically and conveniently selected. Seven different focus group interviews consisted of nursing students, practice counselors, teachers, and project leaders, representing three nursing homes and healthcare centers. Passive observation lasting two days in each of the six departments was executed in order to observe environmental treatment in practice. Results: The beneficial aspects of using music as an environmental intervention in nursing homes increased among the students, and contributed to improved interaction, communication, and development of care with the patients. Students who participated actively in musical interaction such as improvisation, singing, and music listening with the patients were committed and motivated. The staff and management showed varied enthusiasm for the project. Conclusions: If the systematic use of music as environmental therapy and quality of care in elderly care is to be successful, it seems vital to include this theme early in nursing education. By creating early involvement among nurses, it might influence, inspire, and encourage involvement among employees and management.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Membranes in 2018
Authors:   Membranes Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Minerals in 2018
Authors:   Minerals Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Experimental Investigation of Perceptual Characteristics of Functional Cemented Backfilling Materials in Coal Mines
Authors: Liu Hengfeng , Zhang Jixiong , Zhang Weiqing , Gao Feng , Yan Hao , An Tailong
Published: January 2019

For investigating perceptual stress characteristics of Functional Cemented Backfilling Materials (FCBM) in coal mines, we prepared functional specimens based on Cemented Backfilling Materials (CBM) with the perceptual stress ability, and clarified their conductive mechanism, perceptual mechanism, and possible engineering applications. Using mechanical tests and the network parallel dynamic method, the mechanical and electrical properties of the prepared materials and the perceptual characteristics under mechanical–electric coupling conditions were analyzed in depth. The test results demonstrate that the deformation of FCBMs obey standard stress–strain rules, while the conductive phase addition can deteriorate their mechanical properties and simultaneously enhance the electrical conductivity of materials. Through fitting, the percolation threshold was determined to be 9.85%. Before the failure, the spatial distribution of the apparent resistivity in the materials was shown to follow the X-shaped radial pattern; after the failure, the material apparent resistivity obeys different distribution rules at various stages. The apparent resistivity of FCBM is negatively correlated with the strain value at the elastic and plastic stages and positively correlated with it at the failure stage. When the graphite content exceeds the percolation threshold, the materials exhibit a favorable perceptual functionality at the elastic stage.
Active Compounds Derived from Fuzheng Huayu Formula Protect Hepatic Parenchymal Cells from Apoptosis Based on Network Pharmacology and Transcriptomic Analysis
Authors: Wu Rong , Dong Shu , Cai Fei-Fei , Chen Xiao-Le , Yang Meng-Die , Liu Ping , Su Shi-Bing
Published: January 2019

Fuzheng huayu formula (FZHY), an antifibrotic traditional Chinese medicine, is frequently used for the treatment of liver fibrosis. In this study, network analysis, transcriptomic analysis, assays of cell apoptosis, viability and protein expression were used for investigating the effects and mechanisms of compounds derived from FZHY on hepatic parenchymal cell (HPC) protection and hepatic stellate cell activation. Network pharmacology analysis found that 6 major compounds and 39 potential targets were important network nodes. Our analysis predicted that the active compounds of FZHY, including hederagenin, luteolin and tanshinone IIA inhibited cell apoptosis (p < 0.05), increased PI3K expression and reduced cleaved caspase 3 expression and the Bax/Bcl-w ratio (p < 0.05) in L02 cells that had apoptosis induced by TNF-α. Few significant changes caused by FZHY, hederagenin, luteolin and tanshinone IIA were observed in hepatic stellate Lx2 cells upon TGF-β1 induction. These data suggest that FZHY is active against liver fibrosis, protects hepatic parenchymal cells from apoptosis, and recovers liver function, possibly through the effects of its active compounds hederagenin, luteolin and tanshinone IIA and is involved in the inhibition of apoptosis in HPCs, possibly through regulating the PI3K, ERK, cleaved caspase 3 and Bax/Bcl-w levels.
Plant-Derived Oleanolic Acid (OA) Ameliorates Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases in a Diet-Induced Pre-Diabetic Rat Model: Effects on Selected Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Gamede Mlindeli , Mabuza Lindokuhle , Ngubane Phikelelani , Khathi Andile
Published: January 2019

The pathogenesis of prediabetes is associated with risk factors such as chronic consumption of an unhealthy diet. Recent studies have reported that diet-induced pre-diabetes is also associated with risk factors of cardiovascular complications, hence this study was aimed at evaluating the effects of oleanolic acid (OA) on pre-diabetes rats. Pre-diabetes was induced by chronic exposure of Sprague Dawley rats (SD) to high-fat high-carbohydrate diet (20 weeks), whereas the non-pre-diabetes control (NC) was given standard rat chow. Pre-diabetes animals were grouped into five groups namely prediabetes control (PC), metformin treated (Met), metformin with diet intervention (Met + DI), oleanolic acid treated (OA), and oleanolic acid with diet intervention (OA + DI) then treated for 12 weeks. At the end of treatment, all animals were sacrificed where organs and tissues were harvested for biochemical analysis and histological studies. The results showed that PC had a significantly higher triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), C-reactive protein (CRP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and hearts weights in comparison to NC (p < 0.05). However, the administration of OA, in both the presence and absence of dietary intervention showed a significant decrease in TGs, LDL-C, IL-6, TNFα, CRP, MAP, hearts weights (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of OA was able to lower the risks of developing CVDs in pre-diabetes rat model through ameliorating dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress, hypertension, and low-grade inflammation. Therefore OA has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment to prevent the onset of CVDs during pre-diabetes stage even in the absence of dietary and lifestyle intervention.
UV Photoprotection, Cytotoxicity and Immunology Capacity of Red Algae Extracts
Authors: Álvarez-Gómez Félix , Korbee Nathalie , Casas-Arrojo Virginia , Abdala-Díaz Roberto T. , Figueroa Félix L.
Published: January 2019

This study was designed to evaluate the potential use of algal extracts in cosmeceuticals, including factors related to biosecurity. The aqueous crude extracts of Hydropuntia cornea and Gracilariopsis longissima showed a good photoprotective capacity (Sun Protection Factor, SPF) due to, among other reasons, the presence of five types of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) detected by high pressure liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) (Palythine, Asterina-330, Shinorine, Porphyra-334, and Palythinol). The toxicity of the extracts was evaluated by the MTT assay, which is based on the metabolic reduction of MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] by the action of the mitochondrial enzyme succinate dehydrogenase. This assay was carried out in vitro in three cell lines: one related to the immune system (murine macrophages of the immune system: RAW264.7) and two human cell lines related to the skin (gingival fibroblasts: HGF, and immortalized human keratinocytes: HaCaT). Both extracts showed no cytotoxic activity in both types of human cells, whereas they showed cytotoxicity in murine tumor cells of the immune system (macrophages: RAW264.7). On the other hand, the immunological activity in the murine macrophage RAW264.7 was studied at a concentration lower than 100 μg mL−1 and lower than the EC50, and evaluated by the production of pro-inflammatory compounds through an immunosorbent assay linked to enzymes such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or anti-inflammatory/proinflammatory enzymes such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). Both algae extracts induced the biosynthesis of TNF-α and IL-6. The production of TNF-α was much higher than that observed in the control (at a concentration of the aqueous extract higher than 5 μg mL−1). These results support the theory that the extracts of H. cornea and G. longissima actively induce the production of cytokines. In summary, the extracts of these species did not show cytotoxicity in human cells, and they present with immunomodulatory and photoprotection capacity.
Multi-Layer Application of Self-Etch and Universal Adhesives and the Effect on Dentin Bond Strength
Authors: Zecin-Deren Anna , Sokolowski Jerzy , Szczesio-Wlodarczyk Agata , Piwonski Ireneusz , Lukomska-Szymanska Monika , Lapinska Barbara
Published: January 2019

Contemporary self-etch and multi-mode adhesives were introduced to ensure a fast and reliable bonding procedure. Yet, in terms of bond strength and stability they failed to perform as well as two-bottle, etch-and-rinse adhesives, which remain the gold standard in terms of durability. The purpose of this study was to assess the shear bond strength (SBS) of dental adhesives to dentin with different application protocols. Two self-etch (Adper Easy One and Xeno V) and two multi-mode adhesives (Single Bond Universal and Prime&Bond One Select) were used in the study. The highest SBS was obtained for Single Bond Universal applied in three layers, while the lowest, for Xeno V applied in one layer. Other tested adhesives obtained the highest SBS when applied in three layers. For all tested adhesives, multi-layer application resulted in an increase in adhesive layer thickness, as observed in SEM. The increased thickness of the adhesive layer produced by triple application of unfilled adhesives corresponded with higher SBS values. The present study showed that using triple adhesive layers with simplified adhesive systems can be recommended to improve their performance. Due to differences in the composition of self-etch and universal adhesives, the exact application protocol is product dependent.
Peptides for Skin Protection and Healing in Amphibians
Authors: Demori Ilaria , El Rashed Zeinab , Corradino Viola , Catalano Annamaria , Rovegno Leila , Queirolo Linda , Salvidio Sebastiano , Biggi Emanuele , Zanotti-Russo Matteo , Canesi Laura , Catenazzi Alessandro , Grasselli Elena
Published: January 2019

Amphibian skin is not to be considered a mere tegument; it has a multitude of functions related to respiration, osmoregulation, and thermoregulation, thus allowing the individuals to survive and thrive in the terrestrial environment. Moreover, amphibian skin secretions are enriched with several peptides, which defend the skin from environmental and pathogenic insults and exert many other biological effects. In this work, the beneficial effects of amphibian skin peptides are reviewed, in particular their role in speeding up wound healing and in protection from oxidative stress and UV irradiation. A better understanding of why some species seem to resist several environmental insults can help to limit the ongoing amphibian decline through the development of appropriate strategies, particularly against pathologies such as viral and fungal infections.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Nanomaterials in 2018
Authors:   Nanomaterials Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Bio-Preparation and Regulation of Pyrrole Structure Nano-Pigment Based on Biomimetic Membrane
Authors: Gong Jixian , Liu Jiayin , Tan Xueqiang , Li Zheng , Li Qiujin , Zhang Jianfei
Published: January 2019

Microbial pigments, regarded as the most potential biomass pigments, have lately attracted increasing attention in textile dyeing due to their sustainability and cleaner production. The pyrrole structure microbial pigment, called prodigiosin, recently have become a research hotspot for its bright colors and antibacterial function. However, in most case the extraction and preparation are time-consuming and expensive processes since these kinds of microbial pigments are intracellular metabolites. In order to promote the application of microbial pigments in textile dyeing, a novel idea of preparing dye liquid of pyrrole structure pigments based on fermentation broth was put forward via increasing the proportion of extracellular pigments. A model membrane platform was established with a planar lipid bilayer to investigate transmembrane transport of microbial pigments and permeability barrier of cell membrane. The nano-dispersion of pigments was produced as the dye liquor owing to high-throughput transmembrane transfer of intracellular pigments and the increase of extracellular pigments proportion. The results indicated that the size and surface electrical properties of the pigments had contributed much to the mass transfer. It is also showed that transmembrane transmission of the intracellular pigments could be regulated by physical and chemical methods. With the improvement of transmembrane transfer efficiency of microbial pigments and the proportion of extracellular pigments, the complicated biological separation process could be avoided and the application of microbial pigments in textile dyeing can be promoted.
Factors Regulating microRNA Expression and Function in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Misiewicz-Krzeminska Irena , Krzeminski Patryk , Corchete Luis A. , Quwaider Dalia , Rojas Elizabeta A. , Herrero Ana Belén , Gutiérrez Norma C.
Published: January 2019

Intensive research has been undertaken during the last decade to identify the implication of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). The expression profiling of miRNAs in MM has provided relevant information, demonstrating different patterns of miRNA expression depending on the genetic abnormalities of MM and a key role of some miRNAs regulating critical genes associated with MM pathogenesis. However, the underlying causes of abnormal expression of miRNAs in myeloma cells remain mainly elusive. The final expression of the mature miRNAs is subject to multiple regulation mechanisms, such as copy number alterations, CpG methylation or transcription factors, together with impairment in miRNA biogenesis and differences in availability of the mRNA target sequence. In this review, we summarize the available knowledge about the factors involved in the regulation of miRNA expression and functionality in MM.
The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Hepcidin, Iron Status, and Inflammation in Pregnant Women in the United Kingdom
Authors: Braithwaite Vickie , Crozier Sarah , D’Angelo Stefania , Prentice Ann , Cooper Cyrus , Harvey Nicholas , Jones Kerry ,   the MAVIDOS Trial Group
Published: January 2019

Iron and vitamin D deficiencies are common during pregnancy. Our aim was to identify whether antenatal vitamin D3 supplementation affects iron status (via hepcidin suppression) and/or inflammation. Using a subset of the UK multicenter Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study (MAVIDOS)—a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ISRCTN82927713; EudraCT2007-001716-23)—we performed a secondary laboratory analysis. Women with blood samples from early and late pregnancy (vitamin D3 (1000 IU/day from ~14 weeks gestation n = 93; placebo n = 102) who gave birth in the springtime (March–May) were selected as we anticipated seeing the greatest treatment group difference in change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration. Outcomes were hepcidin, ferritin, C-reactive protein, and α1-acid glycoprotein concentration in late pregnancy (25OHD concentration was measured previously). By late pregnancy, 25OHD concentration increased by 17 nmol/L in the vitamin D3 group and decreased by 11 nmol/L in the placebo group; hepcidin, ferritin, and inflammatory markers decreased but no treatment group differences were seen. In late pregnancy, positive relationships between 25OHD and hepcidin and 25OHD and ferritin in the placebo group were observed but not in the treatment group (group × 25OHD interaction, p < 0.02). Vitamin D3 supplementation had no effect on hepcidin, ferritin, or inflammatory status suggesting no adjunctive value of vitamin D3 in reducing rates of antenatal iron deficiency.
Biofortified Maize Can Improve Quality Protein Intakes among Young Children in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gunaratna Nilupa S. , Moges Debebe , De Groote Hugo
Published: January 2019

Quality protein maize (QPM) varieties are biofortified, or nutritionally improved, to have higher lysine and tryptophan levels to increase quality protein intakes particularly among young children. This study assesses adequacy of children’s protein intakes in Ethiopia, where QPM is being promoted, accounting for protein quality and seasonal dietary changes, and estimates potential increases in intakes if QPM replaced conventional maize in diets. Diets of randomly sampled children aged 12–36 months in rural southern Ethiopia (n = 218) were assessed after harvest during relative food security and 3–4 months later during relative food insecurity using 24-h weighed food records. Diets were analyzed for protein adequacy, accounting for protein quality using the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) method, and potential improvements from QPM substitution were estimated. Stunting was prevalent (38%) at the first assessment. Across seasons, 95–96% of children consumed maize, which provided 59–61% of energy and 51–55% of total protein in 24 h. Dietary intakes decreased in the food insecure season, though children were older. Among children no longer breastfeeding, QPM was estimated to reduce inadequacy of utilizable protein intakes from 17% to 13% in the food secure season and from 34% to 19% in the food insecure season. However, breastfed children had only 4–6% inadequate intakes of utilizable protein, limiting QPM’s potential impact. Due to small farm sizes, maize stores from home production lasted a median of three months. Young Ethiopian children are at risk of inadequate quality protein intakes, particularly after breastfeeding has ceased and during food insecurity. QPM could reduce this risk; however, reliance on access through home production may result in only short-term benefits given the limited quantities of maize produced and stored.
Spirulina Liquid Extract Protects against Fibrosis Related to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Increases Ursodeoxycholic Acid
Authors: Coué Marine , Tesse Angela , Falewée Juliette , Aguesse Audrey , Croyal Mikaël , Fizanne Lionel , Chaigneau Julien , Boursier Jérôme , Ouguerram Khadija
Published: January 2019

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by an excess of lipids and oxidative stress in the liver. Spirulina was reported to possess hypolipemic and antioxidative effects and might counteract NASH development. C57Bl/6J mice were fed a western diet (WD) during 25 weeks with or without spirulina liquid extract (SLE) at 2 different doses (WDS1 and WDS2 groups) in drinking water. Liver histology, inflammation, and oxidative stress were assessed as well as glucose tolerance status, lipid metabolism, and gallbladder bile acid profile. WDS2 gained significantly less weight than WD. Liver weight-to-body weight ratio and plasma alanine aminotransferase were significantly lower in WDS2 mice. A reduced liver fibrosis and NFκBp65 protein expression were measured in the supplemented group as a lower accumulation of superoxide anion, nitric oxide, and thiobarbituric reactive substances. WDS2 mice showed also a preserved glucose tolerance, a strong decrease of plasma cholesterol, and a significant increase of gallbladder ursodeoxycholic acid and β-muricholic acid. Our findings demonstrate a protective effect of SLE against WD induced NASH that is related to less inflammation and oxidative stress, a preserved glucose tolerance, and less hepatotoxic bile acid profile.
Polarization-Sensitive Electro-Optic Sampling of Elliptically-Polarized Terahertz Pulses: Theoretical Description and Experimental Demonstration
Authors: Oguchi Kenichi , Okano Makoto , Watanabe Shinichi
Published: January 2019

We review our recent works on polarization-sensitive electro-optic (PS-EO) sampling, which is a method that allows us to measure elliptically-polarized terahertz time-domain waveforms without using wire-grid polarizers. Because of the phase mismatch between the employed probe pulse and the elliptically-polarized terahertz pulse that is to be analyzed, the probe pulse senses different terahertz electric-field (E-field) vectors during the propagation inside the EO crystal. To interpret the complex condition inside the EO crystal, we expressed the expected EO signal by “frequency-domain description” instead of relying on the conventional Pockels effect description. Using this approach, we derived two important conclusions: (i) the polarization state of each frequency component can be accurately measured, irrespective of the choice of the EO crystal because the relative amplitude and phase of the E-field of two mutually orthogonal directions are not affected by the phase mismatch; and, (ii) the time-domain waveform of the elliptically-polarized E-field vector can be retrieved by considering the phase mismatch, absorption, and the effect of the probe pulse width. We experimentally confirm the above two conclusions by using different EO crystals that are used for detection. This clarifies the validity of our theoretical analysis based on the frequency-domain description and the usefulness of PS-EO sampling.
Simultaneous Quantitation of a Novel α1/β1-Blocker TJ0711 and Its Two Metabolites in Dog Plasma Using LC-MS/MS and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study after Intravenous Infusion
Authors: Zhu Wenwen , Liu Wanyu , Li Haojv , Xu Guojia , Li Qian , Huang Jiangeng , Li Gao , Si Luqin
Published: January 2019

TJ0711∙HCl, which is a novel α1/β1 adrenoceptor blocking agent with a ratio of 1:1 for α1/β1, is designed to treat and prevent perioperative hypertension. M1 and M3 were identified as important metabolites in vitro for either antihypertension activity or the major metabolite production. In order to obtain a pharmacokinetic profile of both TJ0711 and its metabolites, a rapid, selective, and reliable LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of TJ0711 and two metabolites in beagle dog plasma via efficiently separating two interferential metabolites M16 and M4 from M1 and M3, respectively. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters CORTECS C18+ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 2.7 μm). The mass spectrometric detection was carried out in positive ion MRM mode with ESI+ source. Protein precipitation was used in sample preparation and provided good recovery without a matrix effect. Good linearity was observed at the ranges of 0.5–100 ng/mL for TJ0711 and M3, 0.1–20 ng/mL for M1. Additional validation results were within the acceptance limits followed U.S. FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation. This method was successfully applied to an intravenous infusion pharmacokinetic study of TJ0711 at dosing rates of 3, 6, and 12 µg/kg/min in anesthetized beagle dogs for the first time. TJ0711 and its two metabolites exhibited effective proportionality in the dosage of 3 to 12 µg/kg/min. Neither TJ0711 nor its metabolites showed significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters such as t1/2, CL, and Vss among three dose groups.
Recent Advances in Organic Thermoelectric Materials: Principle Mechanisms and Emerging Carbon-Based Green Energy Materials
Authors: Zhang Yinhang , Heo Young-Jung , Park Mira , Park Soo-Jin
Published: January 2019

Thermoelectric devices have recently attracted considerable interest owing to their unique ability of converting heat to electrical energy in an environmentally efficient manner. These devices are promising as alternative power generators for harvesting electrical energy compared to conventional batteries. Inorganic crystalline semiconductors have dominated the thermoelectric material fields; however, their application has been restricted by their intrinsic high toxicity, fragility, and high cost. In contrast, organic thermoelectric materials with low cost, low thermal conductivity, easy processing, and good flexibility are more suitable for fabricating thermoelectric devices. In this review, we briefly introduce the parameters affecting the thermoelectric performance and summarize the most recently developed carbon-material-based organic thermoelectric composites along with their preparation technologies, thermoelectric performance, and future applications. In addition, the p- and n-type carbon nanotube conversion and existing challenges are discussed. This review can help researchers in elucidating the recent studies on carbon-based organic thermoelectric materials, thus inspiring them to develop more efficient thermoelectric devices.
Religious Pluralism and Religion-State Relations in Turkey
Authors: Albayrak H. Şule
Published: January 2019

In this article, I examine religion-state relations and religious pluralism in Turkey in terms of recent changes in the religious landscape. I propose that there is a growing trend in the religious sphere that has resulted in a proliferation of religions, sects and spiritual approaches in Turkey. I argue that although the religious market model might not be applicable to the Turkish religious sphere during the republican era until the 2000s due to the restrictions applied by the state’s authoritarian secularist policies, it is compatible with today’s changing society. Different religious groups as well as spiritual movements have used the democratization process of the 2000s in Turkey as an opportunity to proselytize various faiths and understandings of Islam, with both traditional and modernist forms. In this period, new religious movements have also appeared. Thus, the Turkish religious landscape has recently become much more complicated than it was two decades earlier. I plan for this descriptive work firstly to provide an insight into the history of religious pluralism and state policies in Turkey. Secondly, I will discuss the religious policies of the republican period and, thirdly, I will evaluate recent developments such as the increasing number of approaches in the religious sphere within the scope of the religious market model.
Muhammad, the Jews, and the Composition of the Qur’an: Sacred History and Counter-History
Authors: Firestone Reuven
Published: January 2019

According to Islamic religious teachings, some Jews confirmed the authenticity of Muhammad’s prophethood and joined him. Most Jews, however, are condemned for both rejecting the Prophet and failing to live up to their own religious imperatives. Medieval polemics tended to be harsh and belligerent, but while Muslims and Christians produced polemics under the protection and encouragement of their own religious and political authorities, Jews lived everywhere as minority communities and therefore lacked such protection. In order to maintain their own sense of dignity Jews polemicized as well, but they had to be subtle in argument. One form of polemic produced by Jews and other subalterns is “counter-history,” which retells well-known narratives in a manner that questions or undermines their message. One such counter-history is an ancient Jewish re-telling of the traditional Muslim narrative of divine revelation.
Decline in Transparency of Lake Hongze from Long-Term MODIS Observations: Possible Causes and Potential Significance
Authors: Li Na , Shi Kun , Zhang Yunlin , Gong Zhijun , Peng Kai , Zhang Yibo , Zha Yong
Published: January 2019

Transparency is an important indicator of water quality and the underwater light environment and is widely measured in water quality monitoring. Decreasing transparency occurs throughout the world and has become the primary water quality issue for many freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems due to eutrophication and other human activities. Lake Hongze is the fourth largest freshwater lake in China, providing water for surrounding cities and farms but experiencing significant water quality changes. However, there are very few studies about Lake Hongze’s transparency due to the lack of long-term monitoring data for the lake. To understand long-term trends, possible causes and potential significance of the transparency in Lake Hongze, an empirical model for estimating transparency (using Secchi disk depth: SDD) based on the moderate resolution image spectroradiometer (MODIS) 645-nm data was validated using an in situ dataset. Model mean absolute percentage and root mean square errors for the validation dataset were 27.7% and RMSE = 0.082 m, respectively, which indicates that the model performs well for SDD estimation in Lake Hongze without any adjustment of model parameters. Subsequently, 1785 cloud-free images were selected for use by the validated model to estimate SDDs of Lake Hongze in 2003–2017. The long-term change of SDD of Lake Hongze showed a decreasing trend from 2007 to 2017, with an average of 0.49 m, ranging from 0.57 m in 2007 to 0.42 m in 2016 (a decrease of 26.3%), which indicates that Lake Hongze experienced increased turbidity in the past 11 years. The loss of aquatic vegetation in the northern bays may be mainly affected by decreases of SDD. Increasing total suspended matter (TSM) concentration resulting from sand mining activities may be responsible for the decreasing trend of SDD.
Filling the Gaps of Missing Data in the Merged VIIRS SNPP/NOAA-20 Ocean Color Product Using the DINEOF Method
Authors: Liu Xiaoming , Wang Menghua
Published: January 2019

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-20 has been providing a large amount of global ocean color data, which are critical for monitoring and understanding of ocean optical, biological, and ecological processes and phenomena. However, VIIRS-derived daily ocean color images on either SNPP or NOAA-20 have some limitations in ocean coverage due to its swath width, high sensor-zenith angle, high sun glint, and cloud, etc. Merging VIIRS ocean color products derived from the SNPP and NOAA-20 significantly increases the spatial coverage of daily images. The two VIIRS sensors on the SNPP and NOAA-20 have similar sensor characteristics, and global ocean color products are generated using the same Multi-Sensor Level-1 to Level-2 (MSL12) ocean color data processing system. Therefore, the merged VIIRS ocean color data from the two sensors have high data quality with consistent statistical property and accuracy globally. Merging VIIRS SNPP and NOAA-20 ocean color data almost removes the gaps of missing pixels due to high sensor-zenith angles and high sun glint contamination, and also significantly reduces the gaps due to cloud cover. However, there are still gaps of missing pixels in the merged ocean color data. In this study, the Data Interpolating Empirical Orthogonal Functions (DINEOF) are applied on the merged VIIRS SNPP/NOAA-20 global Level-3 ocean color data to completely reconstruct the missing pixels. Specifically, DINEOF is applied to 30 days of daily merged global Level-3 chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) data of 9-km spatial resolution from 19 June to 18 July 2018. To quantitatively evaluate the accuracy of the DINEOF reconstructed data, a set of valid pixels are intentionally treated as “missing pixels”, so that reconstructed data can be compared with the original data. Results show that mean ratios of the reconstructed/original are 1.012, 1.012, 1.015, and 0.997 for global ocean, oligotrophic waters, deep waters, and coastal and inland waters, respectively. The corresponding standard deviation (SD) of the ratios are 0.200, 0.164, 0.182, and 0.287, respectively. Gap-filled daily Chl-a images reveal many large-scale and meso-scale ocean features that are invisible in the original SNPP or NOAA-20 Chl-a images. It is also demonstrated that the gap-filled data based on the merged products show more details in the dynamic ocean features than those based on SNPP or NOAA-20 alone.
Spatial Patterns of Land Surface Temperature and Their Influencing Factors: A Case Study in Suzhou, China
Authors: Feng Yongjiu , Gao Chen , Tong Xiaohua , Chen Shurui , Lei Zhenkun , Wang Jiafeng
Published: January 2019

Land surface temperature (LST) is a fundamental Earth parameter, on both regional and global scales. We used seven Landsat images to derive LST at Suzhou City, in spring and summer 1996, 2004, and 2016, and examined the spatial factors that influence the LST patterns. Candidate spatial factors include (1) land coverage indices, such as the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and the normalized difference water index (NDWI), (2) proximity factors such as the distances to the city center, town centers, and major roads, and (3) the LST location. Our results showed that the intensity of the surface urban heat island (SUHI) has continuously increased, over time, and the spatial distribution of SUHI was different between the two seasons. The SUHIs in Suzhou were mainly distributed in the city center, in 1996, but expanded to near suburban, in 2004 and 2016, with a substantial expansion at the highest level of SUHIs. Our buffer-zone-based gradient analysis showed that the LST decays logarithmically, or decreases linearly, with the distance to the Suzhou city center. As inferred by the generalized additive models (GAMs), strong relationships exist between the LST and the candidate factors, where the dominant factor was NDBI, followed by NDWI and NDVI. While the land coverage indices were the LST dominant factors, the spatial proximity and location also substantially influenced the LST and the SUHIs. This work improved our understanding of the SUHIs and their impacts in Suzhou, and should be helpful for policymakers to formulate counter-measures for mitigating SUHI effects.
Optical Classification of the Remote Sensing Reflectance and Its Application in Deriving the Specific Phytoplankton Absorption in Optically Complex Lakes
Authors: Xue Kun , Ma Ronghua , Wang Dian , Shen Ming
Published: January 2019

Optical water types (OWTs) were identified from remote sensing reflectance (Rrs(λ)) values in a field-measured dataset of several large lakes in the lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huai River (LYHR) Basin. Four OWTs were determined from normalized remote sensing reflectance spectra (NRrs(λ)) using the k-means clustering approach, and were identified in the Sentinel 3A OLCI (Ocean Land Color Instrument) image data over lakes in the LYHR Basin. The results showed that 1) Each OWT is associated with different bio-optical properties, such as the concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chla), suspended particulate matter (SPM), proportion of suspended particulate inorganic matter (SPIM), and absorption coefficient of each component. One optical water type showed an obvious characteristic with a high contribution of mineral particles, while one type was mostly determined by a high content of phytoplankton. The other types belonged to the optically mixed water types. 2) Class-specific Chla inversion algorithms performed better for all water types, except type 4, compared to the overall dataset. In addition, class-specific inversion algorithms for estimating the Chla-specific absorption coefficient of phytoplankton at 443 nm (a*ph(443)) were developed based on the relationship between a*ph(443) and Chla of each OWT. The spatial variations in the class-specific model-derived a*ph(443) values were illustrated for 2 March 2017, and 24 October 2017. 3) The dominant water type and the Shannon index (H) were used to characterize the optical variability or similarity of the lakes in the LYHR Basin using cloud-free OLCI images in 2017. A high optical variation was located in the western and southern parts of Lake Taihu, the southern part of Lake Hongze, Lake Chaohu, and several small lakes near the Yangtze River, while the northern part of Lake Hongze had a low optical diversity. This work demonstrates the potential and necessity of optical classification in estimating bio-optical parameters using class-specific inversion algorithms and monitoring of the optical variations in optically complex and dynamic lake waters.
An Adaptive End-to-End Classification Approach for Mobile Laser Scanning Point Clouds Based on Knowledge in Urban Scenes
Authors: Zheng Mingxue , Wu Huayi , Li Yong
Published: January 2019

It is fundamental for 3D city maps to efficiently classify objects of point clouds in urban scenes. However, it is still a large challenge to obtain massive training samples for point clouds and to sustain the huge training burden. To overcome it, a knowledge-based approach is proposed. The knowledge-based approach can explore discriminating features of objects based on people’s understanding of the surrounding environment, which exactly replaces the role of training samples. To implement the approach, a two-step segmentation procedure is carried out in this paper. In particular, Fourier Fitting is applied for second adaptive segmentation to separate points of multiple objects lying within a single group of the first segmentation. Then height difference and three geometrical eigen-features are extracted. In comparison to common classification methods, which need massive training samples, only basic knowledge of objects in urban scenes is needed to build an end-to-end match between objects and extracted features in the proposed approach. In addition, the proposed approach has high computational efficiency because of no heavy training process. Qualitative and quantificational experimental results show the proposed approach has promising performance for object classification in various urban scenes.
Heat Flux Sources Analysis to the Ross Ice Shelf Polynya Ice Production Time Series and the Impact of Wind Forcing
Authors: Cheng Zian , Pang Xiaoping , Zhao Xi , Stein Alfred
Published: January 2019

The variation of Ross Ice Shelf Polynya (RISP) ice production is a synergistic result of several factors. This study aims to analyze the 2003–2017 RISP ice production time series with respect to the impact of wind forcing on heat flux sources. RISP ice production was estimated from passive microwave sea ice concentration images and reanalysis meteorological data using a thermodynamic model. The total ice production was divided into four components according to the amount of ice produced by different heat fluxes: solar radiation component (Vs), longwave radiation component (Vl), sensible heat flux component (Vfs), and latent heat flux component (Vfe). The results show that Vfs made the largest contribution, followed by Vl and Vfe, while Vs had a negative contribution. Our study reveals that total ice production and Vl, Vfs, and Vfe highly correlated with the RISP area size, whereas Vs negatively correlated with the RISP area size in October, and had a weak influence from April to September. Since total ice production strongly correlates with the polynya area and this significantly correlates with the wind speed of the previous day, strong wind events lead to sharply increased ice production most of the time. Strong wind events, however, may only lead to mildly increasing ice production in October, when enlarged Vs reduces the ice production. Wind speed influences ice production by two mechanisms: impact on polynya area, and impact on heat exchange and phase transformation of ice. Vfs and Vfe are influenced by both mechanisms, while Vs and Vl are only influenced by impact on polynya area. These two mechanisms show different degrees of influence on ice production during different periods. Persistent offshore winds were responsible for the large RISP area and high ice production in October 2005 and June 2007.
Signature Inspired Home Environments Monitoring System Using IR-UWB Technology
Authors: Rana Soumya Prakash , Dey Maitreyee , Ghavami Mohammad , Dudley Sandra
Published: January 2019

Home monitoring and remote care systems aim to ultimately provide independent living care scenarios through non-intrusive, privacy-protecting means. Their main aim is to provide care through appreciating normal habits, remotely recognizing changes and acting upon those changes either through informing the person themselves, care providers, family members, medical practitioners, or emergency services, depending on need. Care giving can be required at any age, encompassing young to the globally growing aging population. A non-wearable and unobtrusive architecture has been developed and tested here to provide a fruitful health and wellbeing-monitoring framework without interfering in a user’s regular daily habits and maintaining privacy. This work focuses on tracking locations in an unobtrusive way, recognizing daily activities, which are part of maintaining a healthy/regular lifestyle. This study shows an intelligent and locally based edge care system (ECS) solution to identify the location of an occupant’s movement from daily activities using impulse radio-ultra wide band (IR-UWB) radar. A new method is proposed calculating the azimuth angle of a movement from the received pulse and employing radar principles to determine the range of that movement. Moreover, short-term fourier transform (STFT) has been performed to determine the frequency distribution of the occupant’s action. Therefore, STFT, azimuth angle, and range calculation together provide the information to understand how occupants engage with their environment. An experiment has been carried out for an occupant at different times of the day during daily household activities and recorded with time and room position. Subsequently, these time-frequency outcomes, along with the range and azimuth information, have been employed to train a support vector machine (SVM) learning algorithm for recognizing indoor locations when the person is moving around the house, where little or no movement indicates the occurrence of abnormalities. The implemented framework is connected with a cloud server architecture, which enables to act against any abnormality remotely. The proposed methodology shows very promising results through statistical validation and achieved over 90% testing accuracy in a real-time scenario.
A Wearable Combined Wrist Pulse Measurement System Using Airbags for Pressurization
Authors: Jin Chenling , Xia Chunming , Zhang Shiyu , Wang Liren , Wang Yiqin , Yan Haixia
Published: January 2019

The pulse measurement instrument is based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is used to collect the pulse of patients to assist in diagnosis and treatment. In the existing pulse measurement system, desktop devices have large volumes, complex pressure adjusting operations, and unstable pressurization. Wearable devices tend to have no pressurization function or the function to pressurize three channels separately, which are not consistent with the diagnostic method in TCM. This study constructs a wearable pulse measurement system using airbags for pressurization. This system uses guide plates, guide grooves, and positioning screws to adjust the relative position of the wristband and locate Cun, Guan and Chi regions. The pulse signal measured by the sensor is collected and sent to a computer by microcontroller unit. In experiments, this system successfully obtains the best pulse-taking pressure, its pulse waveform under continuous decompression, and the pulse waveform of three regions under light, medium, and heavy pressure. Compared with the existing technology, the system has the advantages of supporting single-region and three-region pulse acquisition, independent pressure adjustment, and position adjustment. It meets the needs of home, medical, and experimental research, and it is convenient and comfortable to wear and easy to carry.
Non-Covalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes for Electrochemical Biosensor Development
Authors: Zhou Yan , Fang Yi , Ramasamy Ramaraja
Published: January 2019

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely studied and used for the construction of electrochemical biosensors owing to their small size, cylindrical shape, large surface-to-volume ratio, high conductivity and good biocompatibility. In electrochemical biosensors, CNTs serve a dual purpose: they act as immobilization support for biomolecules as well as provide the necessary electrical conductivity for electrochemical transduction. The ability of a recognition molecule to detect the analyte is highly dependent on the type of immobilization used for the attachment of the biomolecule to the CNT surface, a process also known as biofunctionalization. A variety of biofunctionalization methods have been studied and reported including physical adsorption, covalent cross-linking, polymer encapsulation etc. Each method carries its own advantages and limitations. In this review we provide a comprehensive review of non-covalent functionalization of carbon nanotubes with a variety of biomolecules for the development of electrochemical biosensors. This method of immobilization is increasingly being used in bioelectrode development using enzymes for biosensor and biofuel cell applications.
Chain Modeling of Molecular Communications for Body Area Network
Authors: He Peng , Han Xiaojuan , Liu Hanyong
Published: January 2019

Molecular communications provide an attractive opportunity to precisely regulate biological signaling in nano-medicine applications of body area networks. In this paper, we utilize molecular communication tools to interpret how neural signals are generated in response to external stimuli. First, we propose a chain model of molecular communication system by considering three types of biological signaling through different communication media. Second, communication models of hormonal signaling, Ca 2 + signaling and neural signaling are developed based on existing knowledge. Third, an amplify-and-forward relaying mechanism is proposed to connect different types of signaling. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed communication system facilitates the information exchange between the neural system and nano-machines, and suggests that proper adjustment can optimize the communication system performance.