bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landuse Changes Refer to Spatial Planning Regulations at Kelara Watershed Area: An Analysis Using Geospatial Information Technology
Authors: Ramlan Andi , Neswati Risma , Baja Sumbangan , Nathan Muhammad
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze land use changes in the Kelara watershed and to assess the suitability of current land use changes with the spatial planning regulation of Jeneponto within Kelara basin. This study integrates various survey techniques, remote sensing, and geographic information system technology analysis. Geospatial information used in this study consists of Landsat ETM 7+ satellite imagery (2009) and Landsat 8 (2014) as well as a number of spatial data based on vector data which is compiled by the Jeneponto Government. Remote sensing data using two time series (2009 and 2014) are analyzed by means of supervised classification and visual classification.  The analysis indicated that land use type for the paddy fields and forests (including mangroves) converted become a current land use which is inconsistent with the spatial planning regulation of Jeneponto.The use of land for settlement tends to increase through conversion of wetlands (rice fields). These conditions provide an insight that this condition will occur in the future, so that providing the direction of land use change can be better prepared and anticipated earlier.
Using 3D-Var Data Assimilation for Improving the Accuracy of Initial Condition of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model in Java Region (Case Study : 23 January 2015)
Authors: Sagita Novvria , Hidayati Rini , Hidayat Rahmat , Gustari Indra , Fatkhuroyan Fatkhuroyan
Published: January 2017

Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) is a numerical weather prediction model developed by various parties due to its open source, but the WRF has the disadvantage of low accuracy in weather prediction. One reason of low accuracy  of model is inaccuracy initial condition model to the actual atmospheric conditions. Techniques to improve the initial condition model is the observation data assimilation. In this study, we used three-dimensional variational (3D-Var) to perform data assimilation of some observation data. Observational data used in data assimilation are observation data from basic stations, non-basic stations, radiosonde data, and The Binary Universal Form for the Representation of meteorological data (BUFR) data from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) , and aggregate observation data from all stations. The aim of this study compares the effect of data assimilation with different data observation on January 23, 2015 at 00.00 UTC for Java island region. The results showed that changes root mean square error (RMSE) of surface temperature from 2° C to 1.7° C - 2.4° C, dew point from 2.1o C to 1.9o  C - 1.4o C, relative humidity from 16.1% to 3.5% - 14.5% after the data assimilation.
Fluvial morphology and sediment transport of the Malekhu Khola, Central Nepal Lesser Himalaya
Authors: Tamang Niraj Bal , Tamrakar Naresh Kazi , Magar Milan , Raut Mahesh
Published: January 2017

Areas near the rivers and streams have been widely used for settlement, development works and agriculture due to availability of the resources such as water, aggregates and comparatively easier terrain. It is very important to understand prevailing fluvial conditions for sustainable output. The fluvial conditions of the Malekhu Watershed including the river characteristics, sediment transport and sediment dynamics were studied. Ten river transects and the corresponding segments of the Malekhu Khola were surveyed for cross-sections and longitudinal profiles. Samples were collected in each of the transects and were analysed for suspended sediment concentration. The riverbed sampling was made using Wolman’s pebble count for establishing grain size distribution. Manning’s roughness coefficients were determined to estimate discharge. The study shows that the Malekhu Khola is a sixth order stream. It has been classified into A4-, B4- and C4-type streams. The hypsometric analysis of the Malekhu Watershed shows that it is in mature stage of erosion. Sediment grain size slightly increases downstream but sorting remains extremely poor to moderately poor. The Malekhu Khola shows eroding tendency at 1.2 km, 16.6 km and 20 km from the origin and brings larger particles only during high flow period at the remaining transects. Mean Suspended Sediment Concentrations (SSC) for the Malekhu Khola was 72.14 mg/L, and it increases with increasing discharge and increasing watershed area and is related to velocity of the river, mining activities and local tributaries.Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 18, 2015, pp. 35-48
An Analysis on the Use of Google AdWords to Increase E-Commerce Sales
Authors: Za Saida Zainurossalamia , Tricahyadinata Irsan
Published: January 2017

The development of information and communication technology affected many aspects of life, including economical state. E-commerce is an activity of selling or buying goods and services through the internet by using electronic media. The optimization of e-commerce could be carried out by advertising. Google AdWords is one of online advertising technologies that provides benefits in the business of e-commerce. This research was aimed to analyze and describe the improvement of the e-commerce sales by using Google AdWords. The research design was qualitative research design by utilizing secondary data from Google, Inc. Based on the result of the research, the e-commerce sites received increasing visits to the websites, increasing numbers of the new customers, increasing sales, and even business expansion. It could be concluded that Google AdWords was highly useful to enhance e-commerce. The researcher suggested to utilize Google AdWords online-advertising system in the e-commerce activities. Future researchers are suggested to use the revealed data as the basis of further research in relevant field.Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-1: 60-67
Unplagiarized Writing- Understanding, Protecting and Staying Original for Students & Academia
Authors: Shrivastava Sanjay
Published: January 2017

As we have advanced in technology, plagiarism has also emerged as an enormous problem. It is constantly threatening the purity and piousness of academics either for faculty researchers or for students.  It is troubling academic world by its uncontrolled amplification in academics. The massive use of electronic gadgets has certainly triggered the cause. The easy accessibility has simplified copying for students than ever before making plagiarizing easy. This paper attempts to explore the issue of plagiarism from various dimensions especially students and academics. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-1: 1-4
Effect of altitudinal variation on the soil characteristics in sal (Shorea robusta gaertn.) forests of eastern Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai Krishna Prasad , Mandal Tej Narayan
Published: January 2017

Physico-chemical properties of forest soil depends on a variety of natural factors, the most important are variation in altitude, vegetation cover and microbial activities. The present study was conducted to understand the effect of variation in altitude in the soil characteristics in Tarai Sal forest (TSF) and Hill Sal forest (HSF), of eastern Nepal. Soil samples were collected from thirty plots randomly in each forest from 0- 15cm and 15-30cm depths in May 2012. Both forests had sandy loam type of soil texture. However, the percentage composition of soil particles varies within the forest sites. Soil moisture was higher in TSF. It was maximum in the rainy season in both forests. Water holding capacity was slightly higher in TSF. Bulk density was higher in TSF and it increased with soil depth in both forests. The pH value was slightly higher in HSF than TSF however, the value increased in lower soil depth in both forest stands. In the upper soil layer (0-15cm) soil organic carbon (SOC) was higher in HSF (2.09%) than TSF (1.6%). Similarly, total nitrogen (TN) was also higher in HSF (0.173%) than in TSF (0.129%) while total phosphorus (TP) was more or less same in both forest stands. The potassium (K) a soil extractable nutrient also showed higher value in HSF (312.13 µg g-1) than TSF (238.47 µg g-1). The values of SOC, TN, TP and K decreased in lower depth (15-30cm) in both forest stands. In conclusion, variation in altitude causes difference in the microclimatic condition which resulted into the alternation in soil characteristics. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Cycloartenyl Ferulate downregulates lipopolysaccharide stimulated iNOS mRNA via NF-kB suppression in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Islam Md Shafiqul , Ushio Hideki , Hori Masatoshi , Ozaki Hiroshi
Published: January 2017

Cycloartenyl ferulate (CAF) is a major bioactive phytosteryl ferulate purified from rice bran ?- oryzanol. Previously we reported that CAF ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of CAF on LPS (lipopolysaccharide) stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophages. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that LPS (10ng/mL) treatment exhibited nuclear translocation of NF-?B-p65 in RAW macrophages, which was markedly inhibited CAF (30?M). LPS (10ng/mL) stimulation for 1-4 hours significantly upregulated iNOS and COX-2 mRNA in RAW 264.7 macrophages, but COX-2 mRNA was faster than that of iNOS mRNA. Macrophages pretreated with CAF greatly inhibited the LPS stimulated iNOS mRNA in a dose dependent manner (1-30?M), but CAF weakly inhibited COX-2 mRNA. Interestingly, CAY 10404 (COX-2 inhibitor) inhibited LPS stimulated iNOS mRNA, but not COX-2. In addition, PGE2 (1?M) upregulated iNOS mRNA but did not show any remarkable effects on NF-?B-p65 nuclear translocation in RAW macrophages. PD98059 (p44/42 MAP kinase inhibitor) inhibited iNOS mRNA, but not COX-2. On the other hand, PD169316 (p38 MAP kinase inhibitor) neither inhibited iNOS mRNA nor COX-2. Our results suggest that iNOS mRNA expression by LPS is mediated via p44/42 MAP kinase pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages, which depends on the preceding expression of COX-2 expression. CAF downregulates iNOS mRNA via an inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-?B with different mode of action on COX-2 gene expression.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 523-531
Epidemiological investigation and phylogenetic analyses of contagious ecthyma virus from goat in Bangladesh
Authors: Azad Md Thoufic Anam , Saha Sukumar , Alam Md Shahin , Monoura Papia , Giasuddin Md , Islam Shake Mohammed Shariful , Taimur Mahbub Jang Fatey Ali , Alam Jahangir
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study was to know the epidemiologic characteristics of contagious ecthyma and molecular characterization of the contagious ecthyma virus or ORF virus (ORFV). Sixty four households having 293 goats in Chuadanga district of Bangladesh were surveyed and 30 scab materials were collected from ORF affected goat. Virus detection by PCR was attempted. Sequencing was done for characterization. Goats (n=70) in 15 out of 64 (23.44%) households were found to be infected with ORF. The overall morbidity, mortality and case fatality was 23.89 (70/293), 1.02 (3/293) and 4.29% (3/70), respectively. A proliferative lesion in mouth, lips and gum was found in 100.00% affected goats. Besides, proliferative lesions were also found in legs (19.00%), body (13.00%), and ears (10.00%) of goats. Highest morbidity (29.00%) was found in goats of 7 months-1years aged group and lowest (2.05%) in goats of 2-3 years or more. About 79.00% goats were affected during January-March, 2011 and 21.00% during OctoberDecember, 2010. About 93.33% (28/30) scab samples were found positive by PCR. For molecular characterization PCR amplified viral interlukin-10 (vIL10) gene of 5 different ORFV were sequenced. One virus obtained from sheep and four from goat. Goat isolates were found very closely related (97.20-98.60%) to each other while sheep virus has 95.20-97.20% homology with goat viruses and clustered separately. Our isolates were closely related to Norwegian sheep isolates. It is concluded that ORFV is circulating in Bangladesh with high morbidity but low mortality and all age group of goats are susceptible to this disease. Circulating viruses are closely related to each other.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 555-561
Sodium exclusion by different maize genotypes under salinity in conferring salt resistance
Authors: Khanoom Mahrufa , Mojumder Shawon , Uddin Md Nesar , Ashrafuzzaman Md , Fakir Md Solaiman Ali
Published: January 2017

An experiment was carried out in the pot-house of botanical garden of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, during June to November, 2014 to investigate the effect of NaCl on growth, Na+ accumulation and K+: Na+ ratio in maize. Four maize genotypes namely BARI Maize 5, BARI Maize 7, Plain maize line and Mosaic maize line were tested against control, without providing any NaCl and salt stress, with NaCl to reach the soil salinity of 10 dS m-1. The experiment was laid out following CRD with four replicates. Under salt stress, relative reduction in shoot fresh masses were 22 and 77% in BARI Maize 5 and BARI Maize 7, whereas the magnitude of reduction was 136 and 155% in Mosaic maize line and Plain maize line, respectively. Seven days exposure to moderate salinity (10 dS m-1) seemed to have significantly reduced total fresh masses with the concomitant increase in Na+ concentrations but decrease in K+ concentrations and K+: Na+ ratios in both young and old shoots of BARI Maize 5, Plain maize line and Mosaic maize line. In contrast, BARI Maize 7 showed significant reduction in shoot fresh mass under salinity with the concomitant increase in shoot Na+ content but no significant changes in K+ concentrations and K+: Na+ ratios were observed under salinity. It seemed that young leaf of BARI maize 7 showed unaffected growth despite of higher accumulation of Na+. It may likely that BARI maize 7 sequestered incoming excess Na+ ions in the vacuole from the cytosol to combat deleterious effect of this ion to the cytoplasmic enzymes.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 562-566
Study of prevalence and associated risk factors of anaplasmosis and theileriasis in cattle
Authors: Kispotta Sandip , Islam Md Faruk , Hoque Md Fazlul , Rahman Md Shajedur , Borman Adil , Haque Md Anowarul , Rahman Md Rezaur
Published: January 2017

A detailed cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of theileriosis and anaplasmosis in cattle of Dinajpur district over a period of six months from January to June 2014. A total of 200 samples were randomly collected from the cattle. A pretested questionnaire was implemented to collect data on different risk factors. Blood smears were prepared and examined under microscope (100 xs) with Giemsas stain. The study revealed proportional prevalence was 10% for theileriasis and 18.5% for anaplasmosis. The percentages of theileriasis and anaplasmosis 12.61% and 22.52% were higher in female than in male animal 6.74% and 13.48% respectively. In both cases, female showed higher positivity in compare with male. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed cattle with a herd size >10 (OR=4.3), temperature (? 103ºF) (OR=3.27), presence of tick in the body surface (OR=3.09) and record of Ivermectin treatment (OR=4.47) were found significantly associated with theileriasis prevalence (p<0.05) and irregular bathing history was found significantly associated in the case of anaplasmosis prevalence (OR=0.23). However, in multivariate analysis, temperature (? 103ºF) (OR=2.89), presence of tick in the body surface (OR=2.80) and animal with a record of Ivermectin treatment (OR=4.24) showed significant association with theileriasis and herd size >10, deep brown; white colour and bathing history were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the anaplasmosis. Good husbandry practice and adoption of hygienic measures are needed among the high risk group or individuals to minimize the spread of the disease.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 567-576
Isolation, molecular identification and antibiogram profiles of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from diarrhoeic cattle reared in selected areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Sohidullah M , Khan Md Shahidur Rahman , Islam Md Shafiqul , Islam Md Mehedul , Rahman Saifur , Begum Ferdousi
Published: January 2017

The present research work was undertaken to find out the passive causes of occurrences of diarrhoea in terms of age, sex, season and location differences through isolation and identification of the E. coli and Salmonella spp. using cultural, biochemical and molecular from the field samples of the diarrhoeic cattle and to study the antibiogram profiles of the isolated bacterial species. Considering above purposes, a total of 57 rectal swab samples were collected from the diarrhoeic cattle of Mymensingh sadar, Trishal, Valuka, Natore sadar and Gomostapur, Chapai Nawabganj. Different types of cultural media like Nutrient agar, MacConkey`s (MC) agar, Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar, Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar, Xylose-Lysine-Deoxycholate (XLD) agar and Blood agar were used to isolate and to study the cultural properties of the E. coli and Salmonella spp. Finally Grams staining and different biochemical tests were performed to identify those two bacterial species. Out of 57 samples, 27 were positive for E. coli and 8 were positive for Salmonella spp. On the basis of information from cattle owners and clinical signs the prevalence of diarrhoea was recorded as 30.99% and the pvalue was calculated as 0.001 (p<0.01) which was noted as highly significant. The prevalence percentages of the E. coli and Salmonella spp. were differed depending on different epidemiological parameters like age, sex, season and location. Moreover, the molecular identifications were further confirmed by means of PCR assay using specific primers for E. coli and Salmonella spp. This was done targeting 16S rRNA gene where they were found to be positive showing amplification of 585 bp for E. coli and 574 bp for Salmonella spp. From the study of the antibiogram profiles, it was revealed that E. coli were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and norfloxacin but resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin and streptomycin whereas Salmonella spp. were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, amoxicillin and streptomycin but resistant to azithromycin, tetracycline and erythromycin. The findings of this research work would certainly help to select the proper antibiotics against diarrhoea in cattle of Bangladesh and to overcome the multi-drug resistant problem of the bacteria.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 587-595
Detection of bacterial species from clinical mastitis in dairy cows at Nilphamari district and their antibiogram studies
Authors: Mia Md Titon , Hossain Md Khaled , Rumi Nazmi Ara , Rahman Md Shajedur , Mahmud Md Shahin , Das Monoranjan
Published: January 2017

The present study was conducted on the rural dairy cows to detect the bacterial species from clinical mastitis in dairy cows with their antibiogram studies during the period from January 2015 to June 2015. For this purpose two upazilla were selected under the Nilphamari district. On the basis of morphology, staining, cultural and biochemical characteristics, the isolated organisms were classified as, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., E. coli, and Bacillus spp. .For this study, a total of 48 samples were collected from affected mastitis cows. Out of 48 milk samples, 17 were positive for Staphylococcus spp. (35.42%), 9 were positive for Streptococcus spp. (18.75%), 7 were positive for E. coli (14.58%), 5 were positive for Bacillus spp.(10.41%),5 were positive for mixed organisms (10.41%) and 5 were unidentified organisms (10.41%). Antibiogram studies revealed that all of the isolates of Staphylococcus spp. were sensitive to gentamicin and were resistant to streptomycin. Gentamicin was sensitive to all of the isolates of Streptococcus spp. and was resistant to streptomycin. The isolates of Bacillus spp. were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and Bacillus spp. was resistant to streptomycin. All of the isolates of E. coli were sensitive to ciprofloxacin the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and amoxicillin. Over all sensitivity revealed that ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin were most efficacious. Thus, it may be recommended that ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin in optimum doses would resolve most cases of clinical mastitis in dairy cows.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 656-663
Screening of tomato varieties against tomato fruit borer and associated plant characters
Authors: Amin MR , Chakma A , Alam MZ , Hossain MM , Ge F
Published: January 2017

Ten tomato varieties were evaluated to find out their level of resistance against tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under field conditions. The abundance of fruit borer larvae and their infestation, plant morphological characters, nitrogen content, yield and seed germination of the varieties were studied. The varieties differed in their leaf thickness, trichome density, rind thickness and nitrogen content. The fruit borer larval abundance and fruit infestation among the varieties varied significantly. Five varieties namely BARI Tomato-1, BARI Tomato-4, BARI Tomato-10, BARI Tomato-11 and BARI Tomato-15 were least infested by fruit borer (3.6 to 10.0%) and had significantly lower abundance of larvae (0.3 to 0.7 plant-1), and the varieties were classified as resistant. The yield reduction and seed germination of these varieties ranged from 3.9 to 7.9% and 76.7 to 90.7%, respectively. Four varieties namely BARI Tomato-2, BARI Tomato-5, BARI Tomato-12 and BARI Tomato-14 were graded as moderately resistant as the varieties showed 12.4 to 16.2% fruit infestation and revealed 1.0 to 1.3 larvae plant-1. The yield reduction and seed germination of these varieties ranged from 9.6 to13.2% and 66.7 to 73.3%, respectively. Only the variety BARI Tomato-7 was categorized as moderately susceptible which had significantly the highest abundance of fruit borer larva (1.7plant-1), fruit infestation (22.2%) and yield loss (15.9%), and lowest germination performance (62.7%). The study indicated that the varieties differed in their levels of resistance and this promising source of resistance may be incorporated in the integrated management of tomato fruit borer.SAARC J. Agri., 14(2): 150-161 (2016)
Fatty acid, amino acid and vitamin composition of indian catfish, magur (Clarias batrachus) and singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis)
Authors: Paul BN , Chanda S , Sridhar N , Saha GS , Giri SS
Published: January 2017

The fatty acid, amino acid and fat soluble vitamin content of magur (Clarias batrachus) and singhi (Heteropneustes fossilis) were assayed from collected samples from different geographical locations. Length and weight of collected samples were (50-235g and 165-300 mm) for magur and (50-210g and 190-255mm) for singhi. The essential amino acid (EAA) and the non-essential amino acid (NEAA) content in magur and singhi did not differ significantly. The Vitamin A and D contents were significantly (P<0.05) higher in magur when compared to singhi. The Vitamin K content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in singhi compared to magur. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content was 38.34±4.62 and 49.69±7.82 in magur and singhi respectively. Among the MUFA, oleic acid was significantly (P<0.05) higher in singhi. Palmitic acid was significantly (P<0.05) higher in magur than singhi. The PUFA content were 25.52±1.40 and 13.86±0.64 in magur and singhi respectively. The eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content were 2.98±1.00 and 3.60±1.11; 2.25±0.86 and 1.60±1.09 respectively in magur and singhi. The ?3:?6 ratio in magur was 0.45:1 and in singhi 0.82:1. Both the catfishes were found to be nutrient rich with amino acid, fatty acid and vitamin.SAARC J. Agri., 14(2): 189-199 (2016)
Minorities and Diversity in Scotland: Evidence from the 2011 Census
Authors: Bond Ross
Published: January 2017

The relatively low proportion of people in ethnic and national minority groups in Scotland has been an obstacle for social research concerning these minorities, especially in characterising and comparing these populations using large scale data. The 2011 census offers an invaluable resource in this regard, especially at a time when minorities are growing to represent a more prominent and significant element in Scotland's population. This paper uses standard aggregate census data and data derived from a 5% sample of census returns to provide an overview and comparison of the six largest minority groups in Scotland, focusing on the origins, identities and socio-economic status of people within these groups. It not only highlights how different minorities contrast with each other and the majority population, but also illuminates the diversity that exists within these groups.
Imperialist Competitive Algorithm with Dynamic Parameter Adaptation Using Fuzzy Logic Applied to the Optimization of Mathematical Functions
Authors: Bernal Emer , Castillo Oscar , Soria José , Valdez Fevrier
Published: January 2017

In this paper we are presenting a method using fuzzy logic for dynamic parameter adaptation in the imperialist competitive algorithm, which is usually known by its acronym ICA. The ICA algorithm was initially studied in its original form to find out how it works and what parameters have more effect upon its results. Based on this study, several designs of fuzzy systems for dynamic adjustment of the ICA parameters are proposed. The experiments were performed on the basis of solving complex optimization problems, particularly applied to benchmark mathematical functions. A comparison of the original imperialist competitive algorithm and our proposed fuzzy imperialist competitive algorithm was performed. In addition, the fuzzy ICA was compared with another metaheuristic using a statistical test to measure the advantage of the proposed fuzzy approach for dynamic parameter adaptation.
Numerical Study on an Airflow Field of a Reticle Stocker with a Moving Crane in a Mini-Environment
Authors: Chu Shao-Shu , Fu Ben-Ran , Hu Shih-Cheng , Jhou Shih-Jie
Published: January 2017

This study numerically investigates the effects of a moving crane and airflow on contaminant removal efficiency of various reticle box coverage sequences in a stocker. The analyzed characteristics of flow patterns are used to protect the reticles from contaminants, without altering their internal component configuration in conjunction with the aim of cost-savings. A finite volume method was applied in a numerical analysis using computational fluid dynamics software, ANSYS Fluent. To simulate actual operating conditions, the effects of inlet velocity of clean air and crane movement speed on contaminant removal efficiency (CRE) are considered, and a particle release technique is analyzed to determine contaminant concentrations in the stocker. The results show that a higher airflow rate leads to a better contaminant removal efficiency in the stocker. For the various arrangements of reticle boxes in the stocker, the symmetric coverage sequence provides the most satisfactory contaminant removal rate. An optimal inlet airflow velocity of 0.12 m/s is obtained based on the CRE distribution. In addition, the airflow distributions indicate that a vortex is induced by the air flow through a solid boundary; thus, a higher inlet airflow velocity results in a small vortex that also benefits the CRE. The results also demonstrate that a high crane movement speed causes a large reverse flow region at the bottom that also induces a long wake behind the crane, into which particles are easily drawn.
Elemental Profiles of Whisk(e)y Allow Differentiation by Type and Region
Authors: Hopfer Helene , Gilleland Greg , Ebeler Susan , Nelson Jenny
Published: January 2017

Elemental fingerprints could provide an analytical approach to product differentiation and authentication, and have been used in the past for various distilled spirits, including brandy, gin, bourbon and tequila. However, a comparison of elemental differences between different whisk(e)y types, such as Bourbon and Scotch, is still missing. In this study we compare the elemental fingerprints of 68 commercial whiskies for differentiation by type (Bourbon, Tennessee, Scotch, Irish, Japanese) and region. Concentrations from sub-μg/L to mid-mg/L of 53 different elements were determined with inductively-coupled plasma—mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and microwave plasma—atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES), and used in subsequent statistical analyses. Significant differences in several elements were found for type, and allowed a classification according to whisk(e)y type. Elemental differences were also found for different production areas within Scotland, thus, providing further evidence that Scotch whiskies could be differentiated by elemental analysis. Major sources of elemental differences seem to be processing equipment (Cu, Fe, Ni, Cd, Sn, Mo, V) and raw materials, such as water (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Sr).
A Genetic-Based Feature Selection Approach in the Identification of Left/Right Hand Motor Imagery for a Brain-Computer Interface
Authors: Yaacoub Charles , Mhanna Georges , Rihana Sandy
Published: January 2017

Electroencephalography is a non-invasive measure of the brain electrical activity generated by millions of neurons. Feature extraction in electroencephalography analysis is a core issue that may lead to accurate brain mental state classification. This paper presents a new feature selection method that improves left/right hand movement identification of a motor imagery brain-computer interface, based on genetic algorithms and artificial neural networks used as classifiers. Raw electroencephalography signals are first preprocessed using appropriate filtering. Feature extraction is carried out afterwards, based on spectral and temporal signal components, and thus a feature vector is constructed. As various features might be inaccurate and mislead the classifier, thus degrading the overall system performance, the proposed approach identifies a subset of features from a large feature space, such that the classifier error rate is reduced. Experimental results show that the proposed method is able to reduce the number of features to as low as 0.5% (i.e., the number of ignored features can reach 99.5%) while improving the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision of the classifier.
The Anterior Prefrontal Cortex and the Hippocampus Are Negatively Correlated during False Memories
Authors: Jeye Brittany , Karanian Jessica , Slotnick Scott
Published: January 2017

False memories commonly activate the anterior/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (A/DLPFC) and the hippocampus. These regions are assumed to work in concert during false memories, which would predict a positive correlation between the magnitudes of activity in these regions across participants. However, the A/DLPFC may also inhibit the hippocampus, which would predict a negative correlation between the magnitudes of activity in these regions. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, during encoding, participants viewed abstract shapes in the left or right visual field. During retrieval, participants classified each old shape as previously in the “left” or “right” visual field followed by an “unsure”–“sure”–“very sure” confidence rating. The contrast of left-hits and left-misses produced two activations in the hippocampus and three activations in the left A/DLPFC. For each participant, activity associated with false memories (right–“left”–“very sure” responses) from the two hippocampal regions was plotted as a function of activity in each A/DLPFC region. Across participants, for one region in the left anterior prefrontal cortex, there was a negative correlation between the magnitudes of activity in this region and the hippocampus. This suggests that the anterior prefrontal cortex might inhibit the hippocampus during false memories and that participants engage either the anterior prefrontal cortex or the hippocampus during false memories.
The Use of Palladium on Magnetic Support as Catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reactions
Authors: Sydnes Magne
Published: January 2017

The development of new solid supports for palladium has received a lot of interest lately. These catalysts have been tested in a range of cross-coupling reactions, such as Suzuki–Miyaura, Mizoroki-Heck, and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions, with good outcomes. Attaching the catalyst to a solid support simplifies the operations required in order to isolate and recycle the catalyst after a reaction has completed. Palladium on solid supports made of magnetic materials is particularly interesting since such catalysts can be removed very simply by utilizing an external magnet, which withholds the catalyst in the reaction vessel. This review will showcase some of the latest magnetic solid supports for palladium and highlight these catalysts’ performance in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.
Vimentin Levels and Serine 71 Phosphorylation in the Control of Cell-Matrix Adhesions, Migration Speed, and Shape of Transformed Human Fibroblasts
Authors: Terriac Emmanuel , Coceano Giovanna , Mavajian Zahra , Hageman Tijmen , Christ Andreas , Testa Ilaria , Lautenschläger Franziska , Gad Annica
Published: January 2017

Metastasizing tumor cells show increased expression of the intermediate filament (IF) protein vimentin, which has been used to diagnose invasive tumors for decades. Recent observations indicate that vimentin is not only a passive marker for carcinoma, but may also induce tumor cell invasion. To clarify how vimentin IFs control cell adhesions and migration, we analyzed the nanoscale (30–50 nm) spatial organization of vimentin IFs and cell-matrix adhesions in metastatic fibroblast cells, using three-color stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy. We also studied whether wild-type and phospho-deficient or -mimicking mutants of vimentin changed the size and lifetime of focal adhesions (FAs), cell shape, and cell migration, using live-cell total internal reflection imaging and confocal microscopy. We observed that vimentin exists in fragments of different lengths. Short fragments were mostly the size of a unit-length filament and were mainly localized close to small cell-matrix adhesions. Long vimentin filaments were found in the proximity of large FAs. Vimentin expression in these cells caused a reduction in FAs size and an elongated cell shape, but did not affect FA lifetime, or the speed or directionality of cell migration. Expression of a phospho-mimicking mutant (S71D) of vimentin increased the speed of cell migration. Taken together, our results suggest that in highly migratory, transformed mesenchymal cells, vimentin levels control the cell shape and FA size, but not cell migration, which instead is linked to the phosphorylation status of S71 vimentin. These observations are consistent with the possibility that not only levels, but also the assembly status of vimentin control cell migration.
MHD Flow and Heat Transfer Analysis in the Wire Coating Process Using Elastic-Viscous
Authors: Khan Zeeshan , Shah Rehan , Islam Saeed , Jan Hamid , Jan Bilal , Rasheed Haroon-Ur , Khan Aurangzeeb
Published: January 2017

The most important plastic resins used for wire coating are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon, polysulfone, and low-/high-density polyethylene (LDPE/HDPE). In this article, the coating process is performed using elastic-viscous fluid as a coating material for wire coating in a pressure type coating die. The elastic-viscous fluid is electrically conducted in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The governing non-linear equations are modeled and then solved analytically by utilizing an Adomian decomposition method (ADM). The convergence of the series solution is established. The results are also verified by Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM). The effect of different emerging parameters such as non-Newtonian parameters α and β, magnetic parameter Mand the Brinkman number Br on solutions (velocity and temperature profiles) are discussed through several graphs. Additionally, the current results are compared with published work already available.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and DFT Studies of 1,3-Dimethyl-5-propionylpyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione
Authors: Sharma Anamika , Jad Yahya , Ghabbour Hazem , De la Torre Beatriz , Kruger Hendrik , Albericio Fernando , El-Faham Ayman
Published: January 2017

Novel 1,3-Dimethyl-5-propionylpyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione was synthesized and recrystallized from ethanol. The compound was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR in CDCl3, DMSO-d6 and acetone-d6, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. The NMR data observed that the title compound exists in the enol tautomer rather than keto, and it stabilized by strong H-bond as observed form the NMR data at different temperatures. Theoretical calculations (DFT) were carried out using Gaussian09 program package and B3LYP correlation function. Full geometry optimization of the keto and enol forms were carried out using 6-311G++(d,p) basis set. The structure and energy of the transition state between these two tautomers were calculated. The frontier orbital energy and atomic net atomic charges of the tautomers were presented. The experimental results of the title compound have been compared with the theoretical results and it was found that the experimental data are in a good agreement with the calculated values. The transition state calculations also support the stability of enol form compared to keto form at room temperature.
Known Predators of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster spp.) and Their Role in Mitigating, If Not Preventing, Population Outbreaks
Authors: Cowan Zara-Louise , Pratchett Morgan , Messmer Vanessa , Ling Scott
Published: January 2017

Predatory release has long been considered a potential contributor to population outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS; Acanthaster spp.). This has initiated extensive searches for potentially important predators that can consume large numbers of CoTS at high rates, which are also vulnerable to over-fishing or reef degradation. Herein, we review reported predators of CoTS and assess the potential for these organisms to exert significant mortality, and thereby prevent and/or moderate CoTS outbreaks. In all, 80 species of coral reef organisms (including fishes, and motile and sessile invertebrates) are reported to predate on CoTS gametes (three species), larvae (17 species), juveniles (15 species), adults (18 species) and/or opportunistically feed on injured (10 species) or moribund (42 species) individuals within reef habitats. It is clear however, that predation on early life-history stages has been understudied, and there are likely to be many more species of reef fishes and/or sessile invertebrates that readily consume CoTS gametes and/or larvae. Given the number and diversity of coral reef species that consume Acanthaster spp., most of which (e.g., Arothron pufferfishes) are not explicitly targeted by reef-based fisheries, links between overfishing and CoTS outbreaks remain equivocal. There is also no single species that appears to have a disproportionate role in regulating CoTS populations. Rather, the collective consumption of CoTS by multiple different species and at different life-history stages is likely to suppress the local abundance of CoTS, and thereby mediate the severity of outbreaks. It is possible therefore, that general degradation of reef ecosystems and corresponding declines in biodiversity and productivity, may contribute to increasing incidence or severity of outbreaks of Acanthaster spp. However, it seems unlikely that predatory release in and of itself could account for initial onset of CoTS outbreaks. In conclusion, reducing anthropogenic stressors that reduce the abundance and/or diversity of potential predatory species represents a “no regrets” management strategy, but will need to be used in conjunction with other management strategies to prevent, or reduce the occurrence, of CoTS outbreaks.
Nonlinear q-Generalizations of Quantum Equations: Homogeneous and Nonhomogeneous Cases—An Overview
Authors: Nobre Fernando , Rego-Monteiro Marco , Tsallis Constantino
Published: January 2017

Recent developments on the generalizations of two important equations of quantum physics, namely the Schroedinger and Klein–Gordon equations, are reviewed. These generalizations present nonlinear terms, characterized by exponents depending on an index q, in such a way that the standard linear equations are recovered in the limit q → 1 . Interestingly, these equations present a common, soliton-like, traveling solution, which is written in terms of the q-exponential function that naturally emerges within nonextensive statistical mechanics. In both cases, the corresponding well-known Einstein energy-momentum relations, as well as the Planck and the de Broglie ones, are preserved for arbitrary values of q. In order to deal appropriately with the continuity equation, a classical field theory has been developed, where besides the usual Ψ ( x → , t ) , a new field Φ ( x → , t ) must be introduced; this latter field becomes Ψ * ( x → , t ) only when q → 1 . A class of linear nonhomogeneous Schroedinger equations, characterized by position-dependent masses, for which the extra field Φ ( x → , t ) becomes necessary, is also investigated. In this case, an appropriate transformation connecting Ψ ( x → , t ) and Φ ( x → , t ) is proposed, opening the possibility for finding a connection between these fields in the nonlinear cases. The solutions presented herein are potential candidates for applications to nonlinear excitations in plasma physics, nonlinear optics, in structures, such as those of graphene, as well as in shallow and deep water waves.
Control of a Three-Phase to Single-Phase Back-to-Back Converter for Electrical Resistance Seam Welding Systems
Authors: Kissling Simon , Talon Louokdom Elie , Biya-Motto Frédéric , Essimbi Zobo Bernard , Carpita Mauro
Published: January 2017

DC link back-to-back converters are widely used in industrial applications. This interest comes from their power factor unity capability on the utility grid and to maintain regulated output parameters, thanks to the decoupling between the grid and the load side. In this paper, a 150 KVA prototype of DC link back-to-back converter for electrical resistance seam welding applications is described. The focus of the paper is on the control strategy developed to absorb constant power from the three-phase utility grid. The key idea is to allow the voltage on the DC bus to vary in order to avoid the propagation at the input side of the pulsed power required by the load. An estimation procedure of the load parameters is presented too. The effectiveness of this control scheme has been proved by simulations and tests.
State of Charge and State of Health Estimation of AGM VRLA Batteries by Employing a Dual Extended Kalman Filter and an ARX Model for Online Parameter Estimation
Authors: Tran Ngoc-Tham , Khan Abdul , Choi Woojin
Published: January 2017

State of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) are key issues for the application of batteries, especially the absorbent glass mat valve regulated lead-acid (AGM VRLA) type batteries used in the idle stop start systems (ISSs) that are popularly integrated into conventional engine-based vehicles. This is due to the fact that SOC and SOH estimation accuracy is crucial for optimizing battery energy utilization, ensuring safety and extending battery life cycles. The dual extended Kalman filter (DEKF), which provides an elegant and powerful solution, is widely applied in SOC and SOH estimation based on a battery parameter model. However, the battery parameters are strongly dependent on operation conditions such as the SOC, current rate and temperature. In addition, battery parameters change significantly over the life cycle of a battery. As a result, many experimental pretests investigating the effects of the internal and external conditions of a battery on its parameters are required, since the accuracy of state estimation depends on the quality of the information regarding battery parameter changes. In this paper, a novel method for SOC and SOH estimation that combines a DEKF algorithm, which considers hysteresis and diffusion effects, and an auto regressive exogenous (ARX) model for online parameters estimation is proposed. The DEKF provides precise information concerning the battery open circuit voltage (OCV) to the ARX model. Meanwhile, the ARX model continues monitoring parameter variations and supplies information on them to the DEKF. In this way, the estimation accuracy can be maintained despite the changing parameters of a battery. Moreover, online parameter estimation from the ARX model can save the time and effort used for parameter pretests. The validation of the proposed algorithm is given by simulation and experimental results.
An Experimental Facility to Validate Ground Source Heat Pump Optimisation Models for the Australian Climate
Authors: Lu Yuanshen , Hooman Kamel , Atrens Aleks , Russell Hugh
Published: January 2017

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are one of the most widespread forms of geothermal energy technology. They utilise the near-constant temperature of the ground below the frost line to achieve energy-efficiencies two or three times that of conventional air-conditioners, consequently allowing a significant offset in electricity demand for space heating and cooling. Relatively mature GSHP markets are established in Europe and North America. GSHP implementation in Australia, however, is limited, due to high capital price, uncertainties regarding optimum designs for the Australian climate, and limited consumer confidence in the technology. Existing GSHP design standards developed in the Northern Hemisphere are likely to lead to suboptimal performance in Australia where demand might be much more cooling-dominated. There is an urgent need to develop Australia’s own GSHP system optimisation principles on top of the industry standards to provide confidence to bring the GSHP market out of its infancy. To assist in this, the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has commissioned a fully instrumented GSHP experimental facility in Gatton, Australia, as a publically-accessible demonstration of the technology and a platform for systematic studies of GSHPs, including optimisation of design and operations. This paper presents a brief review on current GSHP use in Australia, the technical details of the Gatton GSHP facility, and an analysis on the observed cooling performance of this facility to date.
Bidding Strategy for Aggregators of Electric Vehicles in Day-Ahead Electricity Markets
Authors: Guo Yunpeng , Liu Weijia , Wen Fushuan , Salam Abdus , Mao Jianwei , Li Liang
Published: January 2017

To make full use of the flexible charging and discharging capabilities of the growing number of electric vehicles (EVs), a bidding strategy for EV aggregators to participate in a day-ahead electricity energy market is proposed in this work. The proposed bidding strategy is able to reduce the operating cost of the EV aggregators and to handle the uncertainties of day-ahead market prices properly at the same time. Agreements between the EV owners and the aggregators are discussed, and a hierarchical market structure is proposed. While assuming the aggregators as economic rational entities, the bidding strategy is established based on the market prices, extra battery charging/discharging costs and the expected profits. The bidding clearing system will display the current/temporal market clearance results of the day-ahead market before the final clearance, and hence the market participants can revise their bids and mitigate the risks, to some extent, of forecasted market price forecast errors. Numerical results with a modified IEEE 30-bus system have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed strategy.