bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Filler Characteristics in Upgrading Cold Bituminous Emulsion Mixtures
Authors: Al-Busaltan Shakir
Published: May 2015

Cold Bituminous Emulsion Mixtures (CBEMs) could offer significant advantages in contrast to traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). These advantages are redaction of energy consumption, reduction of emission of pollutants, and reduction of total costs. To date, researchers have attempted, intensively, to upgrade CBEMs’ engineering characteristics to gain their whole advantages. Adding active filler materials such as Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) develop these characteristics. In this paper, selected waste or by-product materials are investigated as alternatives to OPC. Although OPC alone or with activator has proven successful in improving curing time and mechanical properties, the successful use of waste or by-product alternatives could represent a unique environmental and economic achievement. Thus, for the first time, waste or by-product materials (PFA, PSA, GGBFS, APC, and BFA) were investigated individually and not as Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) for improving the curing and strength of CBEM. However, some of these filler showed significant improvement in CBEMs characteristics.
Application of Skeleton Method in Interconnection of Cae Programs Used in Vehicle Design
Authors: Bucha Jozef , Gavačová Jana , Milesich Tomáš
Published: May 2015

This paper deals with the application of the skeleton method as the main element of interconnection of CAE programs involved in the process of vehicle design. This article focuses on the utilization of the skeleton method for mutual connection of CATIA V5 and ADAMS/CAR. Both programs can be used simultaneously during various stages of vehicle design.
Modeling of Semi-Active Vehicle Suspension with Magnetorhological Damper
Authors: Hasa Richard , Danko Ján , Milesich Tomáš , Magdolen Ľuboš
Published: May 2015

Modeling of suspension is a current topic. Vehicle users require both greater driving comfort and safety. There is a space to invent new technologies like magnetorheological dampers and their control systems to increase these conflicting requirements. Magnetorheological dampers are reliably mathematically described by parametric and nonparametric models. Therefore they are able to reliably simulate the driving mode of the vehicle. These simulations are important for automotive engineers to increase vehicle safety and passenger comfort.
Abrasion Resistance of as-Cast High-Chromium Cast Iron
Authors: Pokusová Marcela , Berta Igor , Šooš Ľubomír
Published: May 2015

High chromium cast irons are widely used as abrasion resistant materials. Their properties and wear resistance depend on carbides and on the nature of the matrix supporting these carbides. The paper presents test results of irons which contain (in wt.%) 18-22 Cr and 2-5 C, and is alloyed by 1.7 Mo + 5 Ni + 2 Mn to improve the toughness. Tests showed as-cast irons with mostly austenitic matrix achieved hardness 36-53 HRC but their relative abrasion-resistance was higher than the tool steel STN 19436 heat treated on hardness 60 HRC.
Kristeva: The Individual, the Symbolic and Feminist Readings of the Biblical Text
Authors: Roe Joshua
Published: May 2015

The aim of this study is to develop from Kristeva’s account of time and semiotics the conditions of possibility for a new approach to interpreting the Bible. This will be set against the background of feminist biblical criticism, beginning from Esther Fuchs’s assessment of deception. She bases her comparison on the concept of deceptiveness but I will argue, using Lacan, that the aporia of desire undermines this comparison. Through Kristeva’s framework of the phases of feminism it will be shown that Fuchs’s argument weakness lies in her presupposition of the determinate identities of men and women. By examining passages in Genesis it will be shown that such determined identities are also not easily found in the Hebrew Bible. Then by considering another feminist scholar, Alice Bach, it will be shown that overcoming identity requires a more nuanced approach. In the first version of “Women’s Time” Kristeva suggests that identities could be overcome through moving towards the individual but this also operates in the same structure of identity. In fact Kristeva appears to recognize this problem as when she republishes the essay she considers a different way forward. It will be instead suggested that a type of feminism that recognizes its own weakness is needed. This will be used to interpret Proverbs 31 but in doing so it will become evident that this alone lacks the potency to overcome the diffuse nature of the symbolic.
A Cypriot Story about Love and Hatred
Authors: Dąbrowska Małgorzata
Published: May 2015

The Middle Ages have their great love stories. We owe one of them to Peter I Lusignan, King of Cyprus. Married to Eleanor of Aragon, who bore him a son and a successor, he had a mistress pregnant with his child. The queen decided to eliminate this rival by inducing a premature delivery. The incident was recorded by Leontios Makhairas, a Cypriot chronicler, who described the cruelty of Eleanor and mourned the fate of the baby. But it is not his account which keeps this tragedy alive in Cyprus even today. There is a folk song about beautiful Arodaphnousa, who suffered because of the bad queen. The song is deprived of historical context, but it is a historical source nevertheless. Its remote counterpart is the Catalan story of Eleanor, who was expelled from Cyprus and lived in Aragon for a long time. This story creates an image of a benign, calm lady who was venerated after death by her subjects. The clash between these images makes one think about the black and white PR created in every epoch. But this is not the point of this story. The point is the fate of an innocent child, both the flower and the victim of love. This is a rare motif in medieval literature; children are seldom present on the pages of its manuscripts. The emotion connected with this story deserves the reader’s attention.
The history of architecture and art and how it is seen by tourists
Authors: Kaczmarek Sylwia
Published: May 2015

The article presents the relation between the presence of works of art (buildings, sculptures, paintings) at different locations in the world, and tourism. The main theoretical and practical questions include the following: How important is knowledge of the history of art for seeing works of art? What other factors make modern travellers visit places where they can find these works of art?
Folk culture resources as a component of tourism space
Authors: Mokras-Grabowska Justyna
Published: May 2015

The paper concerns folk tourism – describes the mutual relations between folk culture and tourism and the main mechanisms of the commercialization of cultural heritage. Moreover it locates folk culture resources in tourism space and includes hospitality.
The phenomenology of tourism space
Authors: Kowalczyk Andrzej
Published: May 2015

Although it is among the most frequently used notions in the study of tourism, the concept of tourism space is understood in a variety of ways. Similar to the term ‘geographical space’, it is often used intuitively, often in quite dissimilar contexts. This paper provides an analysis of the concept of ‘tourism space’ from the perspective of geography, based on a phenomenological approach.
Tourism space: an attempt at a fresh look
Authors: Więckowski Marek
Published: May 2015

In this article, the author is trying to answer the fundamental question: what is present-day tourism space like at a time of highly increasing flows of people or even a shift from the space of a ‘place’ to the space of a ‘flow’? The article puts special stress on how to define the current unique multi-functional space. The author attempts to define tourism space as a new entity, founded on poly-functionality (i.e. different functions and use of the same space both at the same time and in different seasons), multi-scale (overlapping of tourism spaces depending on the scale concerned), multi-layer, as well as the multi-motivation of its creators and users, or even multi-relativity.
Accessibility of tourism space from a geographical perspective
Authors: Zajadacz Alina
Published: May 2015

The accessibility of tourism space is becoming an increasingly significant issue in geographical research due to, amongst other things, demographic changes (an ageing population, growing numbers of people with disabilities) alongside guaranteeing a universal right of access to tourism. The nature of geographical research (physical, socio-economic) allows this issue to be viewed systemically. Drawing on the fields of geography and accessible tourism, this article presents the assumptions of a model which makes a systemic analysis of the factors conditioning the accessibility of tourism space possible. It also highlights the need for further research into the optimal level of detail in universal design principles which can be applied in tourism.
Development of tourism in a coastal gmina in terms of objective data and the inhabitants’ opinions: the example of the Gmina of Krokowa
Authors: Sokołowski Dariusz
Published: May 2015

Tourism is often seen as an important factor in local development. The good or relatively good financial standing of tourist gminas and their inhabitants is usually emphasised while the positive impact of tourism on the development of infrastructure and other effects generally seen as favourable. What is less often emphasised are the problems associated with the development of tourism. The purpose of this article is to recognise the consequences of tourism development in a gmina of high tourism and recreation value and set them against the opinions of its inhabitants.
Outbound tourism by the physically disabled inhabitants of Kraków: current situation and future needs
Authors: Furmanek Mirosław
Published: May 2015

The article is an analysis of outbound tourism by those with locomotor disabilities living in Kraków. Two aspects were compared: their tourism activity before and after the occurrence of the disability. The article describes seasonality, length of stay and destinations, limitations encountered, preferred forms of tourism, organisation of travel, preferred accommodation, means of transport and expenditure. It also presents motivations, expectations and the impact of their experience on future travel behaviour.
Conditions and prospects for the development of ornithological tourism in Poland
Authors: Kordowska Monika , Kulczyk Sylwia
Published: May 2015

The article describes the present condition and the development trends of ornithological tourism in Poland. A questionnaire survey, participant observation and interviews have produced a description of Polish bird-watchers and ornithological tourism organizers. A partial distribution of bird-watching sites and needs for development have also been described. Polish ornithological tourism is at an early development stage, however, as in other countries, a dynamic growth of interest in this activity is found.
A Green Corridor Balanced Scorecard
Authors: Prause Gunnar
Published: May 2015

Green transport corridors represent trans-shipment routes with a concentration of freight traffic between major hubs and long distances of transport marked by reduced environmental and climate impact. Important characteristics of green corridors are their network structures, their transnational character and their high involvement of public and private stakeholders, including political level requiring new governance models. Network-oriented controlling of green transport corridors require new concepts and instruments concentrating on multi-dimensional evaluation of collective strategies and processes in an international environment with a focus on cross-company aspects.

Until now the scientific discussion focusses on different sets of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for monitoring and management of green corridors, which mainly cover sustainable aspects of green corridor development by neglecting a network-oriented controlling approach so that a general concept for green corridor controlling is still missing. The current KPI approaches emphasize the operational aspects of the corridor performance so that a strategic management control system is needed to safeguard an efficient, innovative, safe and environmental friendly long-term development.

The paper will present and discuss a management control system for green supply chains based on the balanced scorecard concept and link the ongoing scientific discussion to recent research results about green corridor management. The presented green corridor balanced scorecard tries to solve the strategic weakness of the existing green corridor controlling approaches by integrating cooperative and network-oriented concepts from supply chain management.
Participation of Society in Civil Protection Operations: Review of a 10 Years European Experience
Authors: Chamaret Philippe , Řeháček Jakub
Published: May 2015

There are still deficiencies and future possibilities for improvement in the civil protection operations. There is also other side to the incident command system. In recent years it is more and more clear that an participatory and inclusive approaches are needed to the efficiencing of the current system to ensure acceptable level of safety. It is all the more important if the approach from institutional responsibility is beeing put in contrast to the individual responsibility. This article aims to review current approaches and trends in the participatory field in the civil protection operations. It focus mainly on the possibilities and implications of volunteer work within this framework. Volunteers has different status and possibilities to participate and thus enhance their role in the civil society in the different countries in the EU. Their role differes in two states. One is their solely presence for technical activities and help and second is their participation in decisionmaking, defining a political action. This is a matter for further investigation and also for improvemenet.
First Record of the Bush-Cricket Isophya Harzi (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) Outside its Locus Typicus
Authors: Iorgu Ionuţ Ştefan , Tatu Alexandru Ioan , Iorgu Elena Iulia
Published: May 2015

During the period 2008-2012, the bush-cricket Isophya harzi Kis, 1960 has been the subject of several collecting trips in Cozia Mountains, where it was believed to be endemic, in order to study its acoustic behaviour. However, on a recent trip to Piatra Craiului Mountains, to study its Orthoptera fauna, I. harzi was surprisingly found in clearings and mountain steppe slopes covered with tall subalpine vegetation from Northern and Western areas. Bioacoustic analysis and some ecological notes are presented in the paper.
How Well Aligned Are Textbooks to the Common Core Standards in Mathematics?
Authors: Polikoff Morgan S.
Published: May 2015

Research has identified a number of problems limiting the implementation of content standards in the classroom. Curriculum materials may be among the most important influences on teachers’ instruction. As new standards roll out, there is skepticism about the alignment of “Common Core–aligned” curriculum materials to the standards. This analysis is the first to investigate claims of alignment in the context of fourth-grade mathematics using the only widely used alignment tool capable of estimating the alignment of curriculum materials with the standards. The results indicate substantial areas of misalignment; in particular, the textbooks studied systematically overemphasize procedures and memorization relative to the standards, among other weaknesses. The findings challenge publishers’ alignment claims and motivate further research on curriculum alignment.
Within- and Cross-Language Relations Between Oral Language Proficiency and School Outcomes in Bilingual Children With an Immigrant Background
Authors: Prevoo Mariëlle J. L. , Malda Maike , Mesman Judi , van IJzendoorn Marinus H.
Published: May 2015

Sixteen meta-analyses were conducted to examine relations of typically developing bilingual immigrant-background children’s oral language proficiency in their first and second language with the school outcomes of early literacy ( k = 41), reading ( k = 61), spelling ( k = 9), mathematics ( k = 9), and academic achievement ( k = 9). Moderate to strong within-language relations were found for all school outcomes (.22 < r < .43), and cross-language relations for early literacy and reading (.12 < r < .22). Within-language relations were stronger than cross-language relations (.14 < d < .35). Only 6 out of 96 moderator effects tested were significant. Based on our findings, we propose a task-dependent bidirectional transfer hypothesis: The strength of cross-language transfer depends on the type of language proficiency task and the type of school outcome. Stimulating oral language proficiency in both languages can be a key factor in improving school outcomes of bilingual immigrant background children.
Pediatric palliative care in the community
Authors: Kaye Erica C. , Rubenstein Jared , Levine Deena , Baker Justin N. , Dabbs Devon , Friebert Sarah E.
Published: May 2015

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Early integration of pediatric palliative care (PPC) for children with life‐threatening conditions and their families enhances the provision of holistic care, addressing psychological, social, spiritual, and physical concerns, without precluding treatment with the goal of cure. PPC involvement ideally extends throughout the illness trajectory to improve continuity of care for patients and families. Although current PPC models focus primarily on the hospital setting, community‐based PPC (CBPPC) programs are increasingly integral to the coordination, continuity, and provision of quality care. In this review, the authors examine the purpose, design, and infrastructure of CBPPC in the United States, highlighting eligibility criteria, optimal referral models to enhance early involvement, and fundamental tenets of CBPPC. This article also appraises the role of CBPPC in promoting family‐centered care. This model strives to enhance shared decision making, facilitate seamless handoffs of care, maintain desired locations of care, and ease the end of life for children who die at home. The effect of legislation on the advent and evolution of CBPPC also is discussed, as is an assessment of the current status of state‐specific CBPPC programs and barriers to implementation of CBPPC. Finally, strategies and resources for designing, implementing, and maintaining quality standards in CBPPC programs are reviewed. CA Cancer J Clin 2015;65:315–333. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Mothers / care givers health seeking behaviour during childhood illness in an urban slum of Dhaka city
Authors: Mahejabin F , Parveen S , Ibrahim M
Published: May 2015

Objectives: To determine the health seeking behaviour of mothers / care givers of children under 5 years of age during their illnesses.Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 439 mothers/ care givers of under 5 year old children in an urban slum area of Dhaka city from September 2013 to February 2014. Data were collected through face-to-face interview by using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. All analyzed data were presented in the form of percentages. Chi-square test was applied wherever applicable.Results: Out of 439 mothers / care givers, most (90%) of them sought health care services during their childrens illness. [A statistically significant association was found between mothers /care givers education and sought health care services during illness of children (p=0.055). In the study, 200 (50%) of the respondents consulted drug sellers of medicine shops during their childrens illness. Others went to medical college hospital (34.6%), Government hospitals (13.5%), consulted a private practitioners (11%) and NGO facilities (6.3%). Forty (9.1%) respondents did not seek any health care with multiple reasons or responses. Majority (27, 67.5%) waited for self recovery, 21 (52.5%) had lack of money, 5 (12.5%) did not receive any advice to receive treatment. Four (10%) respondents said that the health care facility was too far to receive treatment and 3 (7.5%) respondents did not feel that treatment was necessary. [Health seeking behaviour of the mothers / care givers was statistically highly significant in educated person. They took the child to Govt. hospital (p=0.001) during illness. The relationship between health seeking behaviour and monthly family income of the respondents was statistically significant. The respondents took their child to medical college hospital (p=0.040) and also consulted drug sellers (p=0.038) during illness of the child.]Conclusion: Health education and behaviour change communication activities can be undertaken in the slum for mothers / care givers about early recognition of childhood illness and on the importance of seeking early treatment.Pulse Vol.7 January-December 2014 p.5-15
Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after cesarean section: case report
Authors: Parvin Afroza , Begum Monowara , Huda Atiya
Published: May 2015

Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) occurs rarely and can develop after various gynecologic or obstetric procedures. The delayed diagnosis of this disease often results in life-threatening hemorrhage. Here is described a case of UAP after cesarean section. The patient visited gynecology outpatient department of AHD 60 days after cesarean section done outside AHD because of abnormal per vaginal bleeding. After her cesarean section she had undergone laparotomy outside AHD for post partum haemorrhage but those papers were not available. From there she was sent to our radiology department for color Doppler TVS examination and here she was diagnosed as a case of UAP using color Doppler ultrasonography. The most frequent cause of UAP is cesarean section, which accounted for 47.4% of all cases. Previous studies show that the definitive diagnosis was made at angiography (41.2%), computed tomography (29.4%), or color doppler ultrasonography (29.4%). Almost all cases (94.1%) were conservatively treated with transcatheter uterine artery embolization. Consideration of UAP in the differential diagnosis is crucial for proper treatment before rupture and to preserve fertility.Pulse Vol.7 January-December 2014 p.56-60
Understanding the Health Behaviors of Survivors of Childhood and Young-Adult Cancer: Preliminary Analysis and Model Development
Authors: Vuotto Stefanie , Procidano Mary , Annunziato Rachel
Published: May 2015

The current study presents preliminary correlational data used to develop a model depicting the psychosocial pathways that lead to the health behaviors of survivors of childhood and young-adult cancer. Data collected from a sample of 18- to 30-year-old cancer survivors (n = 125) was used to examine the relations among interpersonal support and nonsupport, personal agency, avoidance, depressive symptoms and self-efficacy as they related to health behaviors. The outcome measures examined included tobacco and alcohol use, diet, exercise, sunscreen use, medication compliance and follow-up/screening practices. Correlational analyses revealed a number of significant associations among variables. Results are used to inform the development of a health behavior model. Implications for health promotion and survivorship programming are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
Three-Stage Quantum Cryptography Protocol under Collective-Rotation Noise
Authors: Wu Linsen , Chen Yuhua
Published: May 2015

Information security is increasingly important as society migrates to the information age. Classical cryptography widely used nowadays is based on computational complexity, which means that it assumes that solving some particular mathematical problems is hard on a classical computer. With the development of supercomputers and, potentially, quantum computers, classical cryptography has more and more potential risks. Quantum cryptography provides a solution which is based on the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and no-cloning theorem. While BB84-based quantum protocols are only secure when a single photon is used in communication, the three-stage quantum protocol is multi-photon tolerant. However, existing analyses assume perfect noiseless channels. In this paper, a multi-photon analysis is performed for the three-stage quantum protocol under the collective-rotation noise model. The analysis provides insights into the impact of the noise level on a three-stage quantum cryptography system.
Effect of Melatonin on the Extracellular-Regulated Kinase Signal Pathway Activation and Human Osteoblastic Cell Line hFOB 1.19 Proliferation
Authors: Xiong Xiao-Chuan , Zhu Yue , Ge Rui , Liu Li-Feng , Yuan Wei
Published: May 2015

It has been shown that melatonin may affect bone metabolism. However, it is controversial whether melatonin could promote osteoblast proliferation, and the precise molecular mechanism of melatonin on osteoblast proliferation is still obscure. In this study, the results of the CCK-8 assay showed that melatonin significantly promoted human osteoblastic cell line hFOB 1.19 cell proliferation at 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 µM concentrations for 24 h, but there were no significant differences among the groups. Western blot demonstrated that 10 µM melatonin significantly promoted ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, we also detected the phosphorylation of c-Raf, MEK1/2, p90RSK and MSK1, and all of them increased with 10 µM melatonin. U0126 (a selective inhibitor of MEK that disrupts downstream activation of ERK1/2) downregulated the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p90RSK and MSK1. U0126 also attenuated the proliferation of osteoblasts stimulated by melatonin. In conclusion, this study for the first time indicates that melatonin (10 nM–100 µM) promotes the proliferation of a human osteoblastic cell line hFOB 1.19 through activation of c-Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, p90RSK and MSK1.
4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid (DIDS) Ameliorates Ischemia-Hypoxia-Induced White Matter Damage in Neonatal Rats through Inhibition of the Voltage-Gated Chloride Channel ClC-2
Authors: Zhao Baixiong , Quan Hongyu , Ma Teng , Tian Yanping , Cai Qiyan , Li Hongli
Published: May 2015

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is believed to cause white matter lesions (WMLs), leading to cognitive impairment. Previous studies have shown that inflammation and apoptosis of oligodendrocytes (OLs) are involved in the pathogenesis of WMLs, but effective treatments have not been studied. In this study, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), a chloride (Cl−) channel blocker, was injected into chronic cerebral ischemia-hypoxia rat models at different time points. Our results showed that DIDS significantly reduced the elevated mRNA levels and protein expression of chloride channel 2 (ClC-2) in neonatal rats induced by ischemia-hypoxia. Meanwhile, DIDS application significantly decreased the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS); and the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-α in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic damage. Myelin staining was weaker in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic damage compared to normal controls in corpus callosum and other white matter, which was ameliorated by DIDS. Furthermore, the elevated number of caspase-3 and neural/glial antigen 2 (NG-2) double-labeled positive cells was attenuated by DIDS after ischemia anoxic injury. Administration of DIDS soon after injury alleviated damage to OLs much more effectively in white matter. In conclusion, our study suggests that early application of DIDS after ischemia-hypoxia injury may partially protect developing OLs.
Regulative Effect of Mir-205 on Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs): Possible Role of SATB2/Runx2 and ERK/MAPK Pathway
Authors: Hu Nan , Feng Chunzhen , Jiang Yi , Miao Qing , Liu Hongchen
Published: May 2015

Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have multiple potentials to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes, and methods to enhance their osteogenic differentiation are gaining increasing attention. MicroRNAs are critical regulation factors during the process of the osteogenic induction in BMSCs, and mir-205 has been substantiated to be involved in the osteogenic process, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of this article is to investigate the role of mir-205 in the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. We found that mir-205 expression was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner during BMSC osteo-induction. Inhibition of mir-205 enhanced osteogenic abilities by up-regulating bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteopontin (OPN) protein levels and increasing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin secretion. Furthermore, we found that mir-205 could regulate protein expression of special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB2) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and over-expression of SATB2 activated Runx2 and reversed the negative effects of mir-205 on osteoblastic differentiation. Furthermore, we examined the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathways during osteogenic induction and our data indicates that mir-205 might exert negative functions on the osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs at least partly via altering phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK. These results shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of microRNAs in governing differentiation of BMSCs.
Prediction of Wear in Crosslinked Polyethylene Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Netter Jonathan , Hermida Juan , Flores-Hernandez Cesar , Steklov Nikolai , Kester Mark , D'Lima Darryl
Published: May 2015

Wear-related complications remain a major issue after unicompartmental arthroplasty. We used a computational model to predict knee wear generated in vitro under diverse conditions. Inverse finite element analysis of 2 different total knee arthroplasty designs was used to determine wear factors of standard and highly crosslinked polyethylene by matching predicted wear rates to measured wear rates. The computed wear factor was used to predict wear in unicompartmental components. The articular surface design and kinematic conditions of the unicompartmental and tricompartmental designs were different. Predicted wear rate (1.77 mg/million cycles) was very close to experimental wear rate (1.84 mg/million cycles) after testing in an AMTI knee wear simulator. Finite element analysis can predict experimental wear and may reduce the cost and time of preclinical testing.
Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis Prevents Oxidative Stress on Human Endothelial Cells without Toxicity
Authors: Régnier Philippe , Bastias Jorge , Rodriguez-Ruiz Violeta , Caballero-Casero Noelia , Caballo Carmen , Sicilia Dolores , Fuentes Axelle , Maire Murielle , Crepin Michel , Letourneur Didier , Gueguen Virginie , Rubio Soledad , Pavon-Djavid Graciela
Published: May 2015

Astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant, is a good candidate for the prevention of intracellular oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to compare the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin present in two natural extracts from Haematococcus pluvialis, a microalgae strain, with that of synthetic astaxanthin. Natural extracts were obtained either by solvent or supercritical extraction methods. UV, HPLC-DAD and (HPLC-(atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI)+)/ion trap-MS) characterizations of both natural extracts showed similar compositions of carotenoids, but different percentages in free astaxanthin and its ester derivatives. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed that natural extracts containing esters displayed stronger antioxidant activities than free astaxanthin. Their antioxidant capacities to inhibit intracellular oxidative stress were then evaluated on HUVEC cells. The intracellular antioxidant activity in natural extracts was approximately 90-times higher than synthetic astaxanthin (5 µM). No modification, neither in the morphology nor in the viability, of vascular human cells was observed by in vitro biocompatibility study up to 10 µM astaxanthin concentrations. Therefore, these results revealed the therapeutic potential of the natural extracts in vascular human cell protection against oxidative stress without toxicity, which could be exploited in prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Optimizing Polymer Lab-on-Chip Platforms for Ultrasonic Manipulation: Influence of the Substrate
Authors: González Itziar , Tijero María , Martin Alain , Acosta Victor , Berganzo Javier , Castillejo Adela , Bouali Mounir , Soto Jose
Published: May 2015

The choice of substrate material in a chip that combines ultrasound with microfluidics for handling biological and synthetic microparticles can have a profound effect on the performance of the device. This is due to the high surface-to-volume ratio that exists within such small structures and acquires particular relevance in polymer-based resonators with 3D standing waves. This paper presents three chips developed to perform particle flow-through separation by ultrasound based on a polymeric SU-8 layer containing channelization over three different substrates: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); Pyrex; and a cracked PMMA composite-like structure. Through direct observations of polystyrene microbeads inside the channel, the three checked chips exhibit their potential as disposable continuous concentration devices with different spatial pressure patterns at frequencies of resonance close to 1 Mhz. Chips with Pyrex and cracked PMMA substrates show restrictions on the number of pressure nodes established in the channel associated with the inhibition of 3D modes in the solid structure. The glass-substrate chip presents some advantages associated with lower energy requirements to collect particles. According to the results, the use of polymer-based chips with rigid substrates can be advantageous for applications that require short treatment times (clinical tests handling human samples) and low-cost fabrication.
Antiproliferative Activity of Hinokitiol, a Tropolone Derivative, Is Mediated via the Inductions of p-JNK and p-PLCγ1 Signaling in PDGF-BB-Stimulated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Yang Po-Sheng , Wang Meng-Jiy , Jayakumar Thanasekaran , Chou Duen-Suey , Ko Ching-Ya , Hsu Ming-Jen , Hsieh Cheng-Ying
Published: May 2015

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is important in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Hinokitiol, a tropolone derivative found in Chamacyparis taiwanensis, has been found to exhibit anticancer activity in a variety of cancers through inhibition of cell proliferation. In the present study, the possible anti-proliferative effect of hinokitiol was investigated on VSMCs. Our results showed that hinokitiol significantly attenuated the PDGF-BB-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs without cytotoxicity. Hinokitiol suppressed the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a maker for cell cycle arrest, and caused G0/G1 phase arrest in cell cycle progression. To investigate the mechanism underlying the anti-proliferative effect of hinokitiol, we examined the effects of hinokitiol on phosphorylations of Akt, ERK1/2, p38 and JNK1/2. Phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1 phosphorylation, its phosphorylated substrates and p27kip1 expression was also analyzed. Pre-treatment of VSMCs with hinikitiol was found to significantly inhibit the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylations of JNK1/2 and PLC-γ1, however no effects on Akt, ERK1/2, and p38. The up-regulation of p27kip1 was also observed in hinokitiol-treated VSMCs. Taken together, our results suggest that hinokitiol inhibits PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs by inducing cell cycle arrest, suppressing JNK1/2 phosphorylation and PLC-γ1, and stimulating p27kip1 expression. These findings suggest that hinokitiol may be beneficial for the treatment of vascular-related disorders and diseases.
A Facile and Mild Synthesis of Trisubstituted Allylic Sulfones from Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates
Authors: Jiang Lin , Li Yong-Gen , Zhou Jiang-Feng , Chuan Yong-Ming , Li Hong-Li , Yuan Ming-Long
Published: May 2015

An efficient and catalyst-free synthesis of trisubstituted allylic sulfones through an allylic sulfonylation reaction of Morita-Baylis-Hillman (MBH) carbonates with sodium sulfinates has been developed. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a series of trisubstituted allylic sulfones were rapidly prepared in good to excellent yields (71%–99%) with good to high selectivity (Z/E from 79:21 to >99:1). Compared with known synthetic methods, the current protocol features mild reaction temperature, high efficiency and easily available reagents.
Krill Products: An Overview of Animal Studies
Authors: Burri Lena , Johnsen Line
Published: May 2015

Many animal studies have been performed with krill oil (KO) and this review aims to summarize their findings and give insight into the mechanism of action of KO. Animal models that have been used in studies with KO include obesity, depression, myocardial infarction, chronic low-grade and ulcerative inflammation and are described in detail. Moreover, studies with KO in the form of krill powder (KP) and krill protein concentrate (KPC) as a mix of lipids and proteins are mentioned and compared to the effects of KO. In addition, differences in tissue uptake of the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), when delivered in either phospholipid or triglyceride form, are addressed and the differential impact the delivery form has on gene expression profiles is explained. In our outlook, we try to highlight the potential of KO and KP supplementation in clinical settings and discuss health segments that have a high potential of showing krill product specific health benefits and warrant further clinical investigations.
POIS, a Low Cost Tilt and Position Sensor: Design and First Tests
Authors: Artese Giuseppe , Perrelli Michele , Artese Serena , Meduri Sebastiano , Brogno Natale
Published: May 2015

An integrated sensor for the measurement and monitoring of position and inclination, characterized by low cost, small size and low weight, has been designed, realized and calibrated at the Geomatics Lab of the University of Calabria. The design of the prototype, devoted to the monitoring of landslides and structures, was aiming at realizing a fully automated monitoring instrument, able to send the data acquired periodically or upon request by a control center through a bidirectional transmission protocol. The sensor can be released with different accuracy and range of measurement, by choosing bubble vials with different characteristics. The instrument is provided with a computer, which can be programmed so as to independently perform the processing of the data collected by a single sensor or a by a sensor network, and to transmit, consequently, alert signals if the thresholds determined by the monitoring center are exceeded. The bidirectional transmission also allows the users to vary the set of the monitoring parameters (time of acquisition, duration of satellite acquisitions, thresholds for the observed data). In the paper, hardware and software of the sensor are described, along with the calibration, the results of laboratory tests and of the first in field acquisitions.
Quaternion-Based Unscented Kalman Filter for Accurate Indoor Heading Estimation Using Wearable Multi-Sensor System
Authors: Yuan Xuebing , Yu Shuai , Zhang Shengzhi , Wang Guoping , Liu Sheng
Published: May 2015

Inertial navigation based on micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement units (IMUs) has attracted numerous researchers due to its high reliability and independence. The heading estimation, as one of the most important parts of inertial navigation, has been a research focus in this field. Heading estimation using magnetometers is perturbed by magnetic disturbances, such as indoor concrete structures and electronic equipment. The MEMS gyroscope is also used for heading estimation. However, the accuracy of gyroscope is unreliable with time. In this paper, a wearable multi-sensor system has been designed to obtain the high-accuracy indoor heading estimation, according to a quaternion-based unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithm. The proposed multi-sensor system including one three-axis accelerometer, three single-axis gyroscopes, one three-axis magnetometer and one microprocessor minimizes the size and cost. The wearable multi-sensor system was fixed on waist of pedestrian and the quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for heading estimation experiments in our college building. The results show that the mean heading estimation errors are less 10° and 5° to multi-sensor system fixed on waist of pedestrian and the quadrotor UAV, respectively, compared to the reference path.
Changing Patterns of Global Agri-Food Trade and the Economic Efficiency of Virtual Water Flows
Authors: Schwarz Jana , Mathijs Erik , Maertens Miet
Published: May 2015

International agri-food trade has expanded rapidly during the past decades and changed considerably in structure with important implications, especially for developing economies. One of the main environmental concerns regarding international trade is the exploitation and redistribution of water resources. In this paper, we use the virtual water approach for analyzing the relationship between global agri-food trade, its structure and virtual water flows in the period of 1986–2011. Specifically, for five regions and the world, we calculate growth rates of interregional trade values and virtual water volumes, the contribution of different product groups to trade and the economic water efficiency of imports and exports. Our findings show that, over time, trade values have generally increased more rapidly than virtual water volumes. In Africa and Southern America, virtual water outflows have roughly quadrupled since 1986. In all regions, staples and industrial products account for the largest share in virtual water trade. The recent shift towards high-value exports is beneficial for low-income countries from a regional economic water efficiency perspective due to high trade values and low associated virtual water volumes. Economic water efficiency of trade has increased in all regions since 2000 and the return to virtual water outflows is especially high in Europe.
Game-Based Learning for Green Building Education
Authors: Juan Yi-Kai , Chao Tseng-Wei
Published: May 2015

To improve education regarding sustainability and green buildings, we designed a multiplayer (2–4 people) green building strategy game called GBGame to deliver knowledge of and introduce applied technologies for green buildings. To verify the game’s learning effect, we conducted separate measurements using the ARCS motivation model and a paper-based exam among 72 students majoring in architecture. These students were divided into an experimental group (who played the game) and a control group (who underwent lecture-based instruction). Results indicate that (1) game players had stronger learning motivation than those who attended the lectures; (2) players who learned through the game generally exhibited better learning effectiveness than non-players; (3) following cross-validation, we discovered a highly significant correlation between the learning effect and players’ attention, perception of relevance, confidence, and satisfaction during the game; and (4) the game system was found to be attractive to the students, implying that it can be an effective instructional and recreational material to use during green building education.
Changing Food Consumption Patterns and Impact on Water Resources in the Fragile Grassland of Northern China
Authors: Du Bingzhen , Zhen Lin , De Groot Rudolf , Long Xin , Cao Xiaochang , Wu Ruizi , Sun Chuanzhun , Wang Chao
Published: May 2015

A burgeoning population, pressing development needs and increasing household consumption are rapidly accelerating water use in direct and indirect ways. Increasingly, regions around the world face growing pressure on sustainable use of their water resources especially in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Northern China. The aim of this research is to obtain an overview of the cumulative water requirement for direct (domestic) water use and indirect water use for the basic food consumption of the households in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR), in order to reduce the pressure on grassland of Western China by encouraging sustainable water consumption. For indirect water use, we use VWC (virtual water content) analysis theory to analyze the total consumption package of 15 basic food types that were identified and quantified based on the household survey in 2011. In this survey, domestic water consumption data and food consumption data were collected from 209 representative households with spatial variation across three sub-regions (including meadow steppe in Hulun Buir, typical steppe in Xilin Gol, and semi-desert steppe in Ordos) and temporal variation from 1995 to 2010. The results show that the total amounts of food consumption per capita in three sub-regions all show an increasing trend, especially in Hulun Buir and Ordos. Compared to the direct water consumption, the indirect water consumption behind food production made up a major portion of total water consumption, which is affected (1) geographic locations (grassland types); (2) economic development levels and (3) grassland use policy measures. From 1995 to 2010, indirect water consumption displays a decreasing trend in Xilin Gol and Ordos due to the decrease of meat consumption and increase of fruit and vegetable consumption. When considering the amount of land per household, the grassland in Ordos still faces the great threat of high water consumption pressure. Such water consumption may affect water conservation services and productivity of grassland. Therefore, changing diet behavior and reducing the population can be considered options for sustainable use of water.
Reduction by Lie Group Symmetries in Diffeomorphic Image Registration and Deformation Modelling
Authors: Sommer Stefan , Jacobs Henry
Published: May 2015

We survey the role of reduction by symmetry in the large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping framework for registration of a variety of data types (landmarks, curves, surfaces, images and higher-order derivative data). Particle relabelling symmetry allows the equations of motion to be reduced to the Lie algebra allowing the equations to be written purely in terms of the Eulerian velocity field. As a second use of symmetry, the infinite dimensional problem of finding correspondences between objects can be reduced for a range of concrete data types, resulting in compact representations of shape and spatial structure. Using reduction by symmetry, we describe these models in a common theoretical framework that draws on links between the registration problem and geometric mechanics. We outline these constructions and further cases where reduction by symmetry promises new approaches to the registration of complex data types.