bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic Predictors of the Development and Recurrence of Graves' Disease
Authors: VEJRAZKOVA D. , VCELAK J. , VACLAVIKOVA E. , VANKOVA M. , ZAJICKOVA K. , DUSKOVA M. , VRBIKOVA J. , BENDLOVA B.
Published: November 2019

Graves' disease affects approximately 3 % of women and 0.5 % of men. The first-choice therapy is based on the administration of thyrostatic drugs. However, approximately half of patients relapse within two years of discontinuation. These patients must then decide whether to re-initiate thyrostatics, which may have serious side effects, or to undergo surgery or radioiodine treatment. Familial forms of Graves' disease indicate a significant genetic component, with twin studies demonstrating a contribution of genetic factors up to 70-80 %. The autoimmune nature of the disease involves the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex, which has a decisive impact on each individual's immune response. Within HLA, some variants of the DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 genes appear to be possible predictors of the development and recurrence of Graves' disease. Outside the HLA region, many variants of immunocompetent genes have also been identified as potential Graves' disease predictors. Apart from the immune system, some thyroid-specific genes have been described in relation to the disease. Here, we present current knowledge regarding the genetic components involved in the development and recurrence of Graves' disease. Further, we present original pilot results from a cohort of Czech Graves' disease patients regarding the HLA variants.
Links Between the Circadian Rhythm, Obesity and the Microbiome
Authors: RÁCZ B. , DUŠKOVÁ M. , STÁRKA L. , HAINER V. , KUNEŠOVÁ M.
Published: November 2019

Obesity is linked to a wide range of serious illnesses. In addition to the important impact on the health of the individual, obesity also has a substantial impact on the economy. Disruption of physiological day-night cycles could contribute to the increased incidence of obesity. According to the American National Sleep Federation, the percentage of the people who reported a sleep duration of six hours or less increased from 12 to 37 % over ten years. Insufficient sleep leads not only to an increase of the total calorie intake but changes the meal preference in favor of palatable foods and meals with high carbohydrate content. A decrease of leptin and increase of ghrelin levels caused by sleep deficiency can also play a role. In addition to the higher caloric intake, the timing of food consumption should be taken into account. The same meal eaten during the night versus the day is associated with increased postprandial glucose and triglyceride levels. The gut microbiome has also been recently understood as an endocrine system, with links between the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm changes possibly influencing increased obesity.
Phytoestrogens and the Intestinal Microbiome
Authors: KOLÁTOROVÁ L. , LAPČÍK O. , STÁRKA L.
Published: November 2019

The microflora of the digestive tract is composed of a unique set of bacteria, yeasts, viruses and other microorganisms, generally known as the microbiome. The microbiome exhibits considerable inter-individual variability, with up to two-thirds of the microflora differing between individuals. Because of this, the variable intestinal microflora is responsible for many differences in metabolic, hormonal and immunological processes in humans and animals. Significant differences have been observed in the metabolism of phytoestrogens, naturally occurring substances that possess estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. These substances occur predominately in legumes, especially in soy and many soy products. Because of their effects, phytoestrogens are used as an alternative therapy for menopausal disorders and benign prostate hyperplasia. In connection with the worldwide expansion of soy products as part of healthy lifestyles including vegetarianism and veganism, phytoestrogens have become a regular part of everyday life. The activity of phytoestrogens is strongly dependent on the microbiome. Their metabolites have stronger estrogenic activity than the natural substances themselves, and because of the variability in microbiomes, there are large differences in the effects of phytoestrogens among individuals.
Osteoporosis Complicating Some Inborn or Acquired Diseases
Authors: ZOFKOVA I. , NEMCIKOVA P.
Published: November 2019

Osteoporosis in chronic diseases is very frequent and pathogenetically varied. It complicates the course of the underlying disease by the occurrence of fractures, which aggravate the quality of life and increase the mortality of patients from the underlying disease. The secondary deterioration of bone quality in chronic diseases, such as diabetes of type 1 and type 2 and/or other endocrine and metabolic disorders, as well as inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis – are mostly associated with structural changes to collagen, altered bone turnover, increased cortical porosity and damage to the trabecular and cortical microarchitecture. Mechanisms of development of osteoporosis in some inborn or acquired disorders are discussed.
Ghostly Gloves, Haunted Hands: The Material Trace in Sarah Waters'sAffinityandFingersmith
Authors: Dove Danielle Mariann
Published: November 2019

Drawing on existing work on the theoretical notion of the trace in neo-Victorian fiction, this article foregrounds the material trace as an appropriate framework for examining neo-Victorian gloves. Considering the ways in which gloves take on a ghostly life and agency of their own in neo-Victorianism, this article seeks to interrogate the material and spectral traces that they leave behind in Sarah Waters's Affinity (1999) and Fingersmith (2002). It aims to show the significance of sartorial matters in these contemporary re-imaginings of the Victorian period, and to examine neo-Victorian fiction's relationship with the traces and fingerprints of the past. Locating the glove as entrenched within cultural memory as an explicitly Victorian item, this article suggests that it acts as both a marker of Victorian situatedness and a palpable entity capable of transgressing the temporal, spatial, and sexual boundaries that exist between the past and present.
Painted Traces: Art and Ekphrasis in Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves
Authors: Mitchell Kate
Published: November 2019

Nineteenth-century writers like Jane Austen, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and Oscar Wilde were fascinated with the power of art. In their novels, the portrait could reveal secrets and capture the essence, or truth, of its subject. But how might painting be understood as a trace not of character so much as history? What power does the artwork have to connect us to past lives and histories today, continuing their activity into the present? Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves (2010) explores these questions by depicting artwork as talismanic, providing (a fantasy of) access to a past that is at once irretrievably lost and, potentially, available to imaginative reconstruction. As vestigial remains, the novel suggests, paintings manifest a past that is at once absent and present. The artwork it depicts exists within a complex set of relationships, including the narrative in which the paintings are embedded and which can only tell, and not show, the painting's power; the artist who paints and the viewer who beholds it, for whom the line between enchantment and enthrallment is easily blurred; and the past, whose relationship to the present the artwork both manifests and constructs. This article explores the use of art in this novel to reflect on the availability of the past in the present, as well as on neo-Victorianism itself, with its power to critique and rework the past and also to fascinate in the present. Ultimately, the novel captures not the power of art to access past lives, but a disconcerting vision of ourselves, caught in the act of (obsessive) re-representation.
Factor Analysis on Measles after The 2017 Measles Rubella Vaccine Campaign in Magetan District
Authors: Herlina Tutiek , Purwanto Triana Septianti
Published: November 2019

Measles is an infectious disease, infecting many children and becomes a major cause of child mortality in Indonesia. This disease is highly contagious, transmitted by viruses through droplets. Undeveloped immunity and low immunization coverage make it potentially epidemic. According to the 2016 Health Profile of Magetan Regency, measles cases were ranked first. Indonesia is committed to achieve the elimination of measles in 2020, with strategies such as the Measles Rubella vaccine campaign for children between 9 months-15 years. The research purpose was to analyze the factor of measles after the 2017 measles rubella vaccine campaign in Magetan Regency. This research used retrospective case control research design, the case sample was all the measles patients after the MR vaccine campaign until July 2018, as many as 16. The control sample was a part of the Magetan Regency population who did not suffer measles, as many as 64, determined with a ratio of 1:4. The research variables were immunization status, gender, exclusive breastfeeding, patient contact history, and knowledge of measles. The results showed that there is an effect of immunization status on the incidence of measles. The probability of someone who was not immunized is 81% for measles infection compared to those who are immunized. There is no influence of gender, exclusive breastfeeding, patient contact history, and knowledge of measles on the incidence of measles. Conclusion: immunization factor is the dominant factor that influence the incidence of measles. Suggestion: to reduce morbidity and mortality rates due to measles, Health Center (Puskesmas) is expected to increase the coverage of measles immunization, supported by highest quality of vaccine and techniques.

Keywords: measles, campaign, rubella measles vaccine
PERAN PEMERINTAH DALAM UPAYA PENGAMBILALIHAN FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) SINGAPURA ATAS WILAYAH UDARA KEPULAUAN RIAU
Authors: Husna Lenny , Riyanto Agus
Published: November 2019

Indonesia telah menjadi negara pihak pada konvensi  Chicago sejak tahun 1950. konvensi ini pada prinsipnya sangat menjunjung tinggi kedaulatan negara atas wilayah ruang udaranya. Akan tetapi menyadari resiko yang besar dari transportasi udara dan untuk kepentingan bersama masyarakat internasional, dalam beberapa hal konvensi membatasi kebebasan negara dalam mengatur lalu lintas transportasi udara. Negara harus patuh pada jalur-jalur penerbangan yang diatur dalam enroute charts International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) serta siapa yang diberi kewenangan untuk mengawasi dan mengatur lalu lintas penerbangan disuatu kawasan melalui penetapan  Flight Information Region  (FIR). Hampir setara dengan usia kemerdekaan Indonesia, ruang udara Indonesia di  wilayah Kepulauan Riau dikuasai dan dikendalikan Singapura,hal ini di karenakan kita dinilai belum mampu mengelola FIR sendiri untuk ruang udara diatas Kepulauan Riau. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk  menganalisis  implikasi perjanjian internasional mengenai pendelegasian  FIR  penerbangan diatas  wilayah udara Kepulauan Riau  kepada Singapura. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kualitatif, pengambilan data dilakukan dengan  cara wawancara mendalam, teknik analisis data dilakukan dengan reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa Pendelegasian tersebut tentu menimbulkan beberapa kerugian-kerugian terhadap negara Indonesia yaitu Dibidang Keamanan masyarakat Kepualauan Riau dan dibidang ekonomi, Perdagangan dan investasi. Karena itu perlu adanya “political will”dari pemerintah untuk mengupayakan pengambilan kembali FIR Kepulauan Riau yang didelegasikan kepada Singapura
The Diagnosis of Communication and Trust in Aviation Maintenance (DiCTAM) Model
Authors: Chatzi Anna V.
Published: November 2019

In this research paper a new conceptual model is introduced—the Diagnosis of Communication and Trust in Aviation Maintenance (DiCTAM) model. The purpose of this model is to recognise, measure and predict the relationship between communication and trust in the aviation maintenance field. This model was formed by combining a conceptual cyclical process and two established survey tools, adapted and incorporated in a single question set. The implementation of each phase of the DiCTAM model is performed with the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods. This includes the use of content analyses of accident/incident investigation reports and training material, a survey and a hypothetical case study. The predictive functionality of the DiCTAM model has been investigated through the hypothetical case study. The obtained results indicate a positive relationship between communication and trust according to the aviation maintenance employees’ perception and accidents/incidents reports, even though basic training includes communication without direct mention of trust.
Evaluation of Organic Substrates and Microorganisms as Bio-Fertilisation Tool in Container Crop Production
Authors: Ruiz Jose Luis , Salas Maria del Carmen
Published: November 2019

Microorganisms are only effective when adequate conditions for their survival and development are provided. Among the factors that influence its effectiveness includes the type of soil or culture substrate, which works as an energy source reserve. Therefore, a tomato and a melon crop were established in different cycles to assess the effect of the physicochemical properties of organic substrates based on coconut fibre and vermicompost in three proportions, 0:100, 40:60 and 60:40 (% v:v), on the microbial activity in the rhizosphere when the bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, Bacillus megaterium and Frateuria aurantia were applied. Concentrations of NO3−, H2PO4−, K+ and Ca2+ in the petiole cellular extract (PCE) were quantified at 60, 90 and 120 days after transplantation (DAT) for tomato and 45 and 65 DAT for melon. We analysed dehydrogenase activity (DHA), acid phosphatase activity (FTA) and β-glucosidase activity (β-GLU). In order to maintain optimal volumetric moisture for the survival of microorganisms, automatic control was used to manage the irrigation frequency between 22%–28%. The results showed that physicochemical substrate properties, by incorporating 40% vermicompost into the coconut fibre mixture, increased enzymatic activity. Plants that were inoculated with Azotobacter vinelandii and Frateuria aurantia showed an improvement in NO3− and K+ assimilation achieving highest yields.
Domestication of Perennial Flax Using an Ideotype Approach for Oilseed, Cut Flower, and Garden Performance
Authors: Tork David G. , Anderson Neil O. , Wyse Donald L. , Betts Kevin J.
Published: November 2019

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) has recently grown in popularity as a health food due to its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Many undomesticated Linum species possess a similar oil profile, in addition to perenniality, and could, therefore, provide similar products in addition to ecosystem services such as soil retention, improvements in water quality, and pollinator services. Many Linum species also possess ornamental qualities, e.g., blue flowers, which could provide added value as a new cut flower crop or garden herbaceous perennial. A perennial flax breeding program will be initiated by screening of Linum accessions for key agronomic and horticultural traits. Herein, we outline an ideotype approach which will enable identification of top herbaceous perennial candidates for domestication based on qualities relevant to oilseed, cut flower, and garden herbaceous perennial crop uses. In this review, we summarize the concept of ideotype breeding as it relates to perennial crop domestication and outline considerations for ideotype design. The tools outlined herein should prove useful to other breeders and especially for undomesticated crops. Whether the ideotype concept is applied as a framework for selection or simply as a means of generating hypotheses, applying this approach can provide structure to breeding programs with complex objectives.
Artificial Grass as an Alternative Laneway Surface for Dairy Cows Walking to Pasture
Authors: Buijs Stephanie , Scoley Gillian , McConnell Deborah
Published: November 2019

Softer surfaces can alleviate pressure on the claw during claw–surface contact, which is especially important for cows with painful claws. The benefits of softer barn floors are well known, but as cows often walk long distances twice daily between pasture and parlour, laneway surfaces are also important. In trial 1, we evaluated the gait of 69 cows on a standard (stone dust-over-gravel) laneway and an artificial grass laneway. Greater speed and longer strides were interpreted as indicators of a more suitable surface. Walking speed was greater on artificial grass than on the standard laneway (p = 0.001, median artificial grass: 1.46 m/s [interquartile range (IQR): 1.39–1.54], standard 1.40 m/s [IQR: 1.30–1.48]). No significant stride length increase was detected (p > 0.10, 158 cm [IQR:151–166] versus 155 cm [IQR:149–164]). In trial 2, we evaluated cow preference by giving 66 pairs of cows four consecutive choices between the standard laneway and artificial grass. Artificial grass was preferred overall (median stretches of artificial grass used out of a maximum of 4: 3 [IQR:2–4], p < 0.001). This preference was significantly (p = 0.001) stronger in lame cows (median: 3 [IQR:3–4]), than in sound ones (median: 2 [IQR:2–3]). Preference was also affected by the side of the laneway covered with artificial grass. Our results suggest that artificial grass improves the welfare of dairy cows walking to and from pasture, with lame cows benefiting to a greater extent.
The Reliability and Accuracy of Palpation, Radiography, and Sonography for the Detection of Keel Bone Damage
Authors: Tracy Linnea M. , Temple S. Mieko , Bennett Darin C. , Sprayberry Kim A. , Makagon Maja M. , Blatchford Richard A.
Published: November 2019

Palpation is the most popular method of measuring keel bone damage on live birds, although it has been criticized for being subjective and inaccurate. The goals of this study were to examine intra- and inter-rater reliability when trained with feedback of accuracy, as well as determine the accuracy of portable radiography and sonography. Four evaluators palpated 50 103-week old Lohmann LSL-lite hens immediately following euthanasia. Of those birds, 34 were then radiographed, sonographed, and all 50 were re-palpated. Lastly, the keels were dissected and scored. The presence of deviations (DEV), fractures (FR), and tip fractures (TFR) was scored for each method. Reliability of palpation was analyzed using Cronbach’s Alpha (intra) and Fleiss’ Kappa (inter) tests. Radiography and Sonography scores were further compared with dissection scores to determine sensitivity and specificity. Initial inter-observer reliability was 0.39 DEV, 0.53 FR, and 0.12 TFR, with similar scores for the second round of palpation. Scores for intra-observer reliability ranged from 0.58–0.79 DEV, 0.66–0.90 FR, and 0.37–0.87 TFR. A high prevalence of TFR, but low assessor agreement, warrants the development of specialized training for the palpation of this area. Both radiography and sonography showed relatively high sensitivity for FR and TFR, but low for DEV. On the other hand, specificity was generally high across all damage types. Even with feedback, palpation reliability was poor. However, portable radiography and sonography show promise for detecting keel fractures.
Tracing Worldwide Turkey Genetic Diversity Using D-loop Sequence Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
Authors: Canales Vergara Amado Manuel , Landi Vincenzo , Delgado Bermejo Juan Vicente , Martínez Amparo , Cervantes Acosta Patricia , Pons Barro Águeda , Bigi Daniele , Sponenberg Phillip , Helal Mostafa , Hossein Banabazi Mohammad , Camacho Vallejo María Esperanza
Published: November 2019

According to recent archeological evidence, turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) domestication may have occurred in Mexico around 2000 years ago. However, little is known about the phylogenetic and genealogical background underlying domestic turkey populations. This study aimed to further understand the domestication process and identify inter- or intraspecific connections between turkey populations to determine their origins, trace their global expansion, and define the species’ genetic value. Ninety-three domestic turkeys (local breeds) were sampled from populations in Brazil, Mexico, USA, Spain, Italy, Iran, and Egypt. Publicly available sequences from previous studies were also included. Standard mitochondrial DNA, genetic diversity, and haplotype network analyses were performed. Seventy-six polymorphic sites were identified. Turkeys from Mexico showed the greatest number of polymorphic sites (40), while turkeys from Italy and Brazil reported only one site each. Nucleotide diversity was also highest in Mexico and the USA (π = 0.0175 and 0.0102, respectively) and lowest in Brazil and Italy. Of the six major haplogroups defined, the Mexican and USA populations appeared to have remained more stable and diverse than the other populations. This may be due to conservative husbandry policies in the rural areas of other populations, which have prevented the introduction of commercial turkey lines.
Exploring Smart Glasses for Augmented Reality: A Valuable and Integrative Tool in Precision Livestock Farming
Authors: Caria Maria , Sara Gabriele , Todde Giuseppe , Polese Marco , Pazzona Antonio
Published: November 2019

The growing interest in Augmented Reality (AR) systems is becoming increasingly evident in all production sectors. However, to the authors’ knowledge, a literature gap has been found with regard to the application of smart glasses for AR in the agriculture and livestock sector. In fact, this technology allows farmers to manage animal husbandry in line with precision agriculture principles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of an AR head-wearable device as a valuable and integrative tool in precision livestock farming. In this study, the GlassUp F4 Smart Glasses (F4SG) for AR were explored. Laboratory and farm tests were performed to evaluate the implementation of this new technology in livestock farms. The results highlighted several advantages of F4SG applications in farm activities. The clear and fast readability of the information related to a single issue, combined with the large number of readings that SG performed, allowed F4SG adoption even in large farms. In addition, the 7 h of battery life and the good quality of audio-video features highlighted their valuable attitude in remote assistance, supporting farmers on the field. Nevertheless, other studies are required to provide more findings for future development of software applications specifically designed for agricultural purposes.
Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Commercialization Challenges for the Renewable Aviation Fuel Industry
Authors: Stanton Brian J. , Gustafson Richard R.
Published: November 2019

A bioenergy summit was organized by Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest (AHB) to debate the barriers to the commercialization of a hybrid poplar biofuels industry for the alternative jet fuels market from the perspective of five years of AHB research and development and two recent surveys of the North American cellulosic biofuels industry. The summit showed that: (1) Growing and converting poplar feedstock to aviation fuels is technically sound, (2) an adequate land base encompassing 6.03 and 12.86 million respective hectares of croplands and rangelands is potentially available for poplar feedstock production, (3) biofuel production is accompanied by a global warming potential that meets the threshold 60% reduction mandated for advanced renewable fuels but (4) the main obstruction to achieving a workable poplar aviation fuels market is making the price competitive with conventional jet fuels. Returns on investment into biomass farms and biorefineries are therefore insufficient to attract private-sector capital the fact notwithstanding that the demand for a reliable and sustainable supply of environmentally well-graded biofuels for civilian and military aviation is clear. Eleven key findings and recommendations are presented as a guide to a strategic plan for a renewed pathway to poplar alternative jet fuels production based upon co-products, refinery co-location with existing industries, monetization of ecosystem services, public-private financing, and researching more efficient and lower-costs conversion methods such as consolidated bioprocessing.
Expectation vs. Reality: Attitudes Towards a Socially Assistive Robot in Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Casas Jonathan A. , Céspedes Nathalia , Cifuentes Carlos A. , Gutierrez Luisa F. , Rincón-Roncancio Mónica , Múnera Marcela
Published: November 2019

Currently, Social Assistive Robotics (SAR) is widely explored in different areas and scenarios. In cardiac rehabilitation, SAR has been recently implemented as a tool to improve the quality of the procedures and support patients to boost their performance. As cardiac rehabilitation comprises numerous sessions, such systems must guarantee to be effective in the long term. Therefore, to achieve this goal, it is important to understand how users, namely patients and clinicians who mostly know the needs and the therapy environment, perceive this technology. In this context, this paper presents the assessment of the attitudes towards a social robot in order to evaluate the expectation of potential new users, and perception of users who interacted with the social robot during a period of 18 weeks performing cardiac rehabilitation. A total of 43 participants (28 patients and 15 clinicians) were included in the study, and acceptance and perception factors were evaluated through a modified UTAUT questionnaire model and open discussion sessions. Results show that 75% of patients have positive thoughts regarding the usefulness, utility, safety, and trust perceived of a social robot, and 80% of clinicians consider that the robot is a useful tool for cardiac rehabilitation. Similarly, a more positive perception was noticed after the users interacted with the robot. Furthermore, this perception study allows the enhancement of the social model of interaction in the future, aiming to provide a more natural interaction trough personalized features, increasing social abilities and engagement of the users during the therapy.
The Effects of Augmented Reality Interaction Techniques on Egocentric Distance Estimation Accuracy
Authors: Lin Chiuhsiang Joe , Caesaron Dino , Woldegiorgis Bereket Haile
Published: November 2019

Recent developments in virtual environment applications allow users to interact with three-dimensional (3D) objects in virtual environments. As interaction with 3D objects in virtual environments becomes more established, it is important to investigate user performance with such interaction techniques within a specific task. This study investigated two interaction modes, direct and indirect, depending on how the users interacted with the 3D objects, by measuring the accuracy of egocentric distance estimation in a stereoscopic environment. Fourteen participants were recruited to perform an acquisition task with both direct pointing and indirect cursor techniques at three egocentric distances and three task difficulty levels. The accuracy of the egocentric distance estimation, throughput, and task completion time were analyzed for each interaction technique. The indirect cursor technique was found to be more accurate than the direct pointing one. On the other hand, a higher throughput was observed with the direct pointing technique than with the indirect cursor technique. However, there were no significant differences in task completion time between the two interaction techniques. The results also showed accuracy to be higher at the greatest distance (150 cm from the participant) than at the closer distances of 90 cm and 120 cm. Furthermore, the difficulty of the task also significantly affected the accuracy, with accuracy lower in the highest difficulty condition than in the medium and low difficulty conditions. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of user-interaction techniques in a stereoscopic environment. Furthermore, developers of virtual environments may refer to these findings in designing effective user interactions, especially those in which performance relies on accuracy.
Helping the Visually Impaired See via Image Multi-labeling Based on SqueezeNet CNN
Authors: Alhichri Haikel , Bazi Yakoub , Alajlan Naif , Bin Jdira Bilel
Published: November 2019

This work presents a deep learning method for scene description. (1) Background: This method is part of a larger system, called BlindSys, that assists the visually impaired in an indoor environment. The method detects the presence of certain objects, regardless of their position in the scene. This problem is also known as image multi-labeling. (2) Methods: Our proposed deep learning solution is based on a light-weight pre-trained CNN called SqueezeNet. We improved the SqueezeNet architecture by resetting the last convolutional layer to free weights, replacing its activation function from a rectified linear unit (ReLU) to a LeakyReLU, and adding a BatchNormalization layer thereafter. We also replaced the activation functions at the output layer from softmax to linear functions. These adjustments make up the main contributions in this work. (3) Results: The proposed solution is tested on four image multi-labeling datasets representing different indoor environments. It has achieved results better than state-of-the-art solutions both in terms of accuracy and processing time. (4) Conclusions: The proposed deep CNN is an effective solution for predicting the presence of objects in a scene and can be successfully used as a module within BlindSys.
Fragility Assessment of a Container Crane under Seismic Excitation Considering Uplift and Derailment Behavior
Authors: Tran Quang Huy , Huh Jungwon , Doan Nhu Son , Mac Van Ha , Ahn Jin-Hee
Published: November 2019

While the container crane is an important part of daily port operations, it has received little attention in comparison with other infrastructures such as buildings and bridges. Crane collapses owing to earthquakes affect the operation of the port and indirectly impact the economy. This study proposes fragility analyses for various damage levels of a container crane, thus enabling the port owner and partners to better understand the seismic vulnerability presented by container cranes. A large number of nonlinear time-history analyses were applied for a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model to quantify the vulnerability of a Korean case-study container crane considering the uplift and derailment behavior. The uncertainty of the demand and capacity of the crane structures were also considered through random variables, i.e., the elastic modulus of members, ground motion profile, and intensity. The results analyzed in the case of the Korean container crane indicated the probability of exceeding the first uplift with or without derailment before the crane reached the structure’s limit states. This implies that under low seismic excitation, the crane may be derailed without any structural damage. However, when the crane reaches the minor damage state, this condition is always coupled with a certain probability of uplift with or without derailment. Furthermore, this study proposes fragility curves developed for different structural periods to enable port stakeholders to assess the risk of their container crane.
An Intelligent Course Decision Assistant by Mining and Filtering Learners’ Personality Patterns
Authors: Su Ja-Hwung , Liao Yi-Wen , Chen Liang-Ni
Published: November 2019

For a student, determining how to choose from a set of courses is an important issue prior to learning. An appropriate learning guide can direct students toward an area of interest. The learning results produced by the student in this case are superior due to their strong interest in the subject matter. Although a number of methods have been proposed to address this issue, the effectiveness remains unsatisfactory. To this end, we created an effective system, called the personality-driven course decision assistant, to help students determine the courses they should select by mining and filtering learners’ personality patterns. For learner pattern mining, the relationships between the students’ learning results and the referred personalities are discovered to provide the learners with valuable information before learning. For filtering learner personality patterns, students with similar personality patterns are filtered to predict the potential learning results. Through the actual system, a number of subjective and objective evaluations were conducted, and the evaluation results reveal that the proposed system is highly effective and reliable.
Best Proximity Points for Monotone Relatively Nonexpansive Mappings in Ordered Banach Spaces
Authors: Chaira Karim , Kabil Mustapha , Kamouss Abdessamad , Lazaiz Samih
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we give sufficient conditions to ensure the existence of the best proximity point of monotone relatively nonexpansive mappings defined on partially ordered Banach spaces. An example is given to illustrate our results.
Emerging Technologies Based on Artificial Intelligence to Assess the Quality and Consumer Preference of Beverages
Authors: Gonzalez Viejo Claudia , Torrico Damir D. , Dunshea Frank R. , Fuentes Sigfredo
Published: November 2019

Beverages is a broad and important category within the food industry, which is comprised of a wide range of sub-categories and types of drinks with different levels of complexity for their manufacturing and quality assessment. Traditional methods to evaluate the quality traits of beverages consist of tedious, time-consuming, and costly techniques, which do not allow researchers to procure results in real-time. Therefore, there is a need to test and implement emerging technologies in order to automate and facilitate those analyses within this industry. This paper aimed to present the most recent publications and trends regarding the use of low-cost, reliable, and accurate, remote or non-contact techniques using robotics, machine learning, computer vision, biometrics and the application of artificial intelligence, as well as to identify the research gaps within the beverage industry. It was found that there is a wide opportunity in the development and use of robotics and biometrics for all types of beverages, but especially for hot and non-alcoholic drinks. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge and clarity within the industry, and research about the concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as that concerning the correct design and interpretation of modeling related to the lack of inclusion of relevant data, additional to presenting over- or under-fitted models.
Quality Green Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Clones Marked through Novel Traits
Authors: Patel Pradeep Kumar , Zhang Dapeng , Borthakur Devajit , Hazarika Monpi , Boruah Pulakesh , Barooah Raj , Sabhapondit Santanu , Neog Naba Jyoti , Gogoi Romen Chandra
Published: November 2019

Tea clones and seed varieties released from Tocklai Tea Research Institutes are suitable primarily for manufacturing black tea (CTC/orthodox) while green tea manufactured from these clones are poor in quality. This led to identifying germplasm suitable for manufacturing green tea of high quality. Physiological parameters on net photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, leaf temperature, and carboxylation efficiency of six selected germplasm (DH 1 and 2, DH 3 and 4, DH 5 and 6, DL 13, DL 25, and DL 39) were measured in first flush, second flush, rain flush, and autumn flush. Seasonal Yield, biochemical (L-theanine to total polyphenol ratio), and taster’s score were compared among seasons. Two protocols were used for green tea manufacturing, i.e., roasting and steaming. Significant differences in net photosynthesis (pn), stomatal conductance (gs), carboxylation efficiency (ci/ca), and yield were observed between flushes. Among the six test clones, the L-theanine to total polyphenol ratio found was highest in DH 5 and 6 in the roasting method. Structural and cluster analysis revealed that the DH clones genotypically occupied the same position as that of the popular green tea clone Longjing 43 of China and Yabukita of Japan, indicating suitability of these germplasm to develop new green tea clones. Clones DH 5 and 6 are suitable for green tea manufacturing and they can be released to the industry as new green tea clones. As far as manufacturing protocol is concerned, the roasting method of tea manufacturing was found superior over steaming.
Preparation of Chitosan/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Films Incorporated with Oxidized Carbon Nano-Onions (Multi-Layer Fullerenes) for Tissue-Engineering Applications
Authors: Grande Tovar Carlos , Castro Jorge , Valencia Carlos , Navia Porras Diana , Mina Hernandez José , Valencia Mayra , Velásquez José , Chaur Manuel
Published: November 2019

Recently, tissue engineering became a very important medical alternative in patients who need to regenerate damaged or lost tissues through the use of scaffolds that support cell adhesion and proliferation. Carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, multi-wall fullerenes, and graphene) became a very important alternative to reinforce the mechanical, thermal, and antimicrobial properties of several biopolymers. In this work, five different formulations of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/oxidized carbon nano-onions (CS/PVA/ox-CNO) were used to prepare biodegradable scaffolds with potential biomedical applications. Film characterization consisted of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tension strength, Young’s modulus, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The degradation in a simulated body fluid (FBS) demonstrated that all the formulations lost between 75% and 80% of their weight after 15 days of treatment, but the degradation decreased with the ox-CNO content. In vivo tests after 90 days of subdermal implantation of the nanocomposite films in Wistar rats’ tissue demonstrated good biocompatibility without allergenic reactions or pus formation. There was a good correlation between FBS hydrolytic degradation and degradation in vivo for all the samples, since the ox-CNO content increased the stability of the material. All these results indicate the potential of the CS/PVA/ox-CNO nanocomposite films in tissue engineering, especially for long-term applications.
Attention Modulates Electrophysiological Responses to Simultaneous Music and Language Syntax Processing
Authors: Lee Daniel J. , Jung Harim , Loui Psyche
Published: November 2019

Music and language are hypothesized to engage the same neural resources, particularly at the level of syntax processing. Recent reports suggest that attention modulates the shared processing of music and language, but the time-course of the effects of attention on music and language syntax processing are yet unclear. In this EEG study we vary top-down attention to language and music, while manipulating the syntactic structure of simultaneously presented musical chord progressions and garden-path sentences in a modified rapid serial visual presentation paradigm. The Early Right Anterior Negativity (ERAN) was observed in response to both attended and unattended musical syntax violations. In contrast, an N400 was only observed in response to attended linguistic syntax violations, and a P3/P600 only in response to attended musical syntax violations. Results suggest that early processing of musical syntax, as indexed by the ERAN, is relatively automatic; however, top-down allocation of attention changes the processing of syntax in both music and language at later stages of cognitive processing.
Two-Dimensional Carbon: A Review of Synthesis Methods, and Electronic, Optical, and Vibrational Properties of Single-Layer Graphene
Authors: Armano Angelo , Agnello Simonpietro
Published: November 2019

Graphite has been widely used by humans for a large part of their history. Nevertheless, it has only recently been possible to isolate its basic unit: carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure on a single plane, namely graphene. Since its discovery, many techniques have been developed and improved to properly synthesize graphene and its derivatives which are part of the novel class of two-dimensional materials. These advanced materials have imposed themselves in nanotechnology thanks to some outstanding physical properties due to their reduced dimensions. In the case of graphene, its reduced dimension gives rise to a high electrical mobility, a large thermal conductivity, a high mechanical resistance, and a large optical transparency. Therefore, such aspect is of great scientific interest for both basic and applied research, ranging from theoretical physics to surface chemistry and applied solid state physics. The connection between all these fields is guaranteed by spectroscopy and especially by Raman spectroscopy which provides a lot of information about structural and electronic features of graphene. In this review, the authors present a systematized collection of the most important physical insights on the fundamental electronic and vibrational properties of graphene, their connection with basic optical and Raman spectroscopy, and a brief overview of main synthesis methods.
Recycling Oxacillin Residues from Environmental Waste into Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Soriano Maria Laura , Cárdenas Soledad
Published: November 2019

Of great concern are the residual antibiotics from dirt that can be found in farm soil and wastewater. This kind of emerging pollutant into engineered nanomaterials is riveting. This work proposes the elimination and transformation of a beta-lactam antibiotic, oxacillin, from environmental waste to graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Two protocols were followed in which the use of ethylenediamine (EDA) in the transformation leads to GQDs with excellent optical properties. Therefore, two types of GQDs were synthesized in a Teflon-lined stainless autoclave by a thermal procedure using oxacillin in the absence and presence of EDA. The ensuing e-GQDs from oxacillin and EDA display a stronger fluorescence emission in comparison to those synthesized without EDA (o-GQDs). The combination of Kaiser test analyses, infrared (IR) and Raman measurements revealed the presence of oxygen-containing groups and primary amines at the edges of the graphitic nanolayer for e-GQDs. This straightforward strategy brings hope and opens a new interest in waste recycling by means of extracting residual contaminants from the environment for their further transformation into adequate non-toxic graphitic nanomaterials with potential applications.
Next-Generation Multimodality of Nanomedicine Therapy: Size and Structure Dependence of Folic Acid Conjugated Copolymers Actively Target Cancer Cells in Disabling Cell Division and Inducing Apoptosis
Authors: Sambi Manpreet , DeCarlo Alexandria , Malardier-Jugroot Cecile , Szewczuk Myron R.
Published: November 2019

Nanomedicine as a multimodality treatment of cancer utilizes the advantages of nanodelivery systems of drugs. They are superior to the clinical administration of different therapeutic agents in several aspects, including simultaneous delivery of drugs to the active site, precise ratio control of the loading drugs and overcoming multidrug resistance. The role of nanopolymer size and structural shape on the internalization process and subsequent intracellular toxicity is limited. Here, the size and shape dependent mechanism of a functionalized copolymer was investigated using folic acid (FA) covalently bonded to the copolymer poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA) on its hydrophilic exterior via a biological linker 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DABA) to target folic acid receptors (FR) overly expressed on cancer cells actively. We recently reported that unloaded FA-DABA-SMA copolymers significantly reduced cancer cell viability, suggesting a secondary therapeutic mechanism of action of the copolymer carrier post-internalization. Here, we investigated the size and shape dependent secondary mechanism of unloaded 350 kDa and 20 kDa FA-DABA-SMA. The 350 kDa and 20 kDa copolymers actively target folic acid receptors (FR) to initialize internationalization, but only the large size and sheet shaped copolymer disables cell division by intracellular disruptions of essential oncogenic proteins including p53, STAT-3 and c-Myc. Furthermore, the 350 kDa FA-DABA-SMA activates early and late apoptotic events in both PANC-1 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. These findings indicate that the large size and structural sheet shape of the 350 kDa FA-DABA-SMA copolymer facilitate multimodal tumor targeting mechanisms together with the ability to internalize hydrophobic chemotherapeutics to disable critical oncogenic proteins controlling cell division and to induce apoptosis. The significance of these novel findings reveals copolymer secondary cellular targets and therapeutic actions that extend beyond the direct delivery of chemotherapeutics. This report offers novel therapeutic insight into the intracellular activity of copolymers critically dependent on the size and structural shape of the nanopolymers.
Enzymatic Characterization of Wild-Type and Mutant Janus Kinase 1
Authors: Liau Nicholas P. D. , Laktyushin Artem , Morris Rhiannon , Sandow Jarrod J. , Nicola Nicos A. , Kershaw Nadia J. , Babon Jeffrey J.
Published: November 2019

Janus kinases (JAKs) are found constitutively associated with cytokine receptors and are present in an inactive state prior to cytokine exposure. Activating mutations of JAKs are causative for a number of leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloproliferative diseases. In particular, the JAK2V617F mutant is found in most human cases of polycythemia vera, a disease characterized by over-production of erythrocytes. The V617F mutation is found in the pseudokinase domain of JAK2 and it leads to cytokine-independent activation of the kinase, as does the orthologous mutation in other JAK-family members. The mechanism whereby this mutation hyperactivates these kinases is not well understood, primarily due to the fact that the full-length JAK proteins are difficult to produce for structural and kinetic studies. Here we have overcome this limitation to perform a series of enzymatic analyses on full-length JAK1 and its constitutively active mutant form (JAK1V658F). Consistent with previous studies, we show that the presence of the pseudokinase domain leads to a dramatic decrease in enzymatic activity with no further decrease from the presence of the FERM or SH2 domains. However, we find that the mutant kinase, in vitro, is indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme in every measurable parameter tested: KM (ATP), KM (substrate), kcat, receptor binding, thermal stability, activation rate, dephosphorylation rate, and inhibitor affinity. These results show that the V658F mutation does not enhance the intrinsic enzymatic activity of JAK. Rather this data is more consistent with a model in which there are cellular processes and interactions that prevent JAK from being activated in the absence of cytokine and it is these constraints that are affected by disease-causing mutations.