bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs
Authors: Saastamoinen Markku , Herzon Iryna , Särkijärvi Susanna , Schreurs Catherine , Myllymäki Marianna
Published: October 2017

In several regions in Europe, the horse is becoming a common grazer on semi-natural and cultivated grasslands, though the pasturing benefits for animals and biodiversity alike are not universally appreciated. The composition of ground vegetation on pastures determines the value of both the forage for grazing animals as well as the biodiversity values for species associated with the pastoral ecosystems. We studied three pastures, each representing one of the management types in southern Finland (latitudes 60–61): semi-natural, permanent and cultivated grassland. All have been grazed exclusively by horses for several decades. We aimed to evaluate feeding values and horses’ welfare, on the one hand, and impacts of horses on biodiversity in boreal conditions, on the other. Though there were differences among the pastures, the nutritional value of the vegetation in all three pastures met the energy and protein needs of most horse categories through the whole grazing season. Some mineral concentrations were low compared to the requirements, and supplementation of Cu, Zn and Na is needed to balance the mineral intake. Only minor injuries or health problems were observed. All metrics of biological values, as well as number of species eaten by horses, were particularly high in a semi-natural pasture compared to other pasture types. The highest ratio of species cover preferred by horses to the total cover was found in the permanent pasture, while at the regularly re-seeded pasture, there was a particularly high cover of species, indicating low biodiversity values on grassland. There was, therefore, a trade-off between the quantity of forage and biological values in pastures, but not in quality. The results provide clear indication both for the suitability of the studied pasture types to horses and for grazing of horses for biodiversity management. In each pasture type, specific management is needed to simultaneously achieve objectives of adequate pasturing and biodiversity. The short duration (only one grazing season) must be considered when applying the results.
Transition of Emission Colours as a Consequence of Heat-Treatment of Carbon Coated Ce3+-Doped YAG Phosphors
Authors: Yin Liang-Jun , Dierre Benjamin , Sekiguchi Takashi , Van Ommen J. , Hintzen Hubertus , Cho Yujin
Published: October 2017

To modify the luminescence properties of Ce3+-doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) phosphors, they have been coated with a carbon layer by chemical vapor deposition and subsequently heat-treated at high temperature under N2 atmosphere. Luminescence of the carbon coated YAG:Ce3+ phosphors has been investigated as a function of heat-treatment at 1500 and 1650 °C. The 540 nm emission intensity of C@YAG:Ce3+ is the highest when heated at 1650 °C, while a blue emission at 400–420 nm is observed when heated at 1500 °C but not at 1650 °C. It is verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) that the intriguing luminescence changes are induced by the formation of new phases in C@YAG:Ce3+-1500 °C, which disappear in C@YAG:Ce3+-1650 °C. In order to understand the mechanisms responsible for the enhancement of YAG:Ce3+ emission and the presence of the blue emission observed for C@YAG:Ce3+-1500 °C, the samples have been investigated by a combination of several electron microscopy techniques, such as HRTEM, SEM-CL, and SEM-EDS. This local and cross-sectional analysis clearly reveals a gradual transformation of phase and morphology in heated C@YAG:Ce3+ phosphors, which is related to a reaction between C and YAG:Ce3+ in N2 atmosphere. Through reaction between the carbon layer and YAG host materials, the emission colour of the phosphors can be modified from yellow, white, and then back to yellow under UV excitation as a function of heat-treatment in N2 atmosphere.
Euclidean Submanifolds via Tangential Components of Their Position Vector Fields
Authors: Chen Bang-Yen
Published: October 2017

The position vector field is the most elementary and natural geometric object on a Euclidean submanifold. The position vector field plays important roles in physics, in particular in mechanics. For instance, in any equation of motion, the position vector x (t) is usually the most sought-after quantity because the position vector field defines the motion of a particle (i.e., a point mass): its location relative to a given coordinate system at some time variable t. This article is a survey article. The purpose of this article is to survey recent results of Euclidean submanifolds associated with the tangential components of their position vector fields. In the last section, we present some interactions between torqued vector fields and Ricci solitons.
Identification of (Z)-2,3-Diphenylacrylonitrile as Anti-Cancer Molecule in Persian Gulf Sea Cucumber Holothuria parva
Authors: Amidi Salimeh , Hashemi Zahra , Motallebi Abbasali , Nazemi Melika , Farrokhpayam Hoda , Seydi Enayatollah , Pourahmad Jalal
Published: October 2017

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), also named cancerous hepatoma, is the most common type of malignant neoplasia of the liver. In this research, we screened the Persian Gulf sea cucumber Holothuria parva (H. parva) methanolic sub-fractions for the possible existence of selective toxicity on liver mitochondria isolated from an animal model of HCC. Next, we purified the most active fraction. Thus the structure of the active molecule was identified. HCC was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) protocol. Rat liver mitochondria for evaluation of the selective cytotoxic effects of sub-fractions of H. parva were isolated and then mitochondrial parameters were determined. Our results showed that C1 sub-fraction of methanolic extract of H. parva considerably increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), swelling in mitochondria and cytochrome c release only on HCC liver mitochondria. Furthermore, the methanolic extract of H. parva was investigated furthermore and the active fraction was extracted. In this fraction, (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile molecule, which is also known as α-cyanostilbene, was identified by mass analysis. This molecule increased ROS generation, collapse of MMP, swelling in mitochondria and finally cytochrome c release only on HCC liver mitochondria. The derivatives of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile in other natural products were also reported as an anti-cancer agent. These results suggest the eligibility of the (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile as a complementary therapeutic agent for patients with HCC.
A Fluidic Interface with High Flow Uniformity for Reusable Large Area Resonant Biosensors
Authors: Azzopardi Charles-Louis , Lacour Vivien , Manceau Jean-François , Barthès Magali , Bonnet Dimitri , Chollet Franck , Leblois Thérèse
Published: October 2017

Resonant biosensors are known for their high accuracy and high level of miniaturization. However, their fabrication costs prevent them from being used as disposable sensors and their effective commercial success will depend on their ability to be reused repeatedly. Accordingly, all the parts of the sensor in contact with the fluid need to tolerate the regenerative process which uses different chemicals (H3PO4, H2SO4 based baths) without degrading the characteristics of the sensor. In this paper, we propose a fluidic interface that can meet these requirements, and control the liquid flow uniformity at the surface of the vibrating area. We study different inlet and outlet channel configurations, estimating their performance using numerical simulations based on finite element method (FEM). The interfaces were fabricated using wet chemical etching on Si, which has all the desirable characteristics for a reusable biosensor circuit. Using a glass cover, we could observe the circulation of liquid near the active surface, and by using micro-particle image velocimetry (μPIV) on large surface area we could verify experimentally the effectiveness of the different designs and compare with simulation results.
Dislocation Dynamics-Based Modeling and Simulations of Subsurface Damages Microstructure of Orthogonal Cutting of Titanium Alloy
Authors: Bai Jinxuan , Bai Qingshun , Tong Zhen
Published: October 2017

In this work, a novel method is put forward to quantitatively simulate the subsurface damages microstructural alteration of titanium alloy components subjected to microscale cutting. A trans-scale numerical framework is conducted with the purpose of revealing the underlying influence mechanism of tool structure parameters on subsurface dislocation configurations using a dislocation dynamics-based model, which considers both dislocation structural transformation and grain refining. Results showed that the developed framework not only captured the essential features of workpiece microstructure, but also predicted the subsurface damages layer states and their modifications. A series of defects were found in the material subsurface during the orthogonal cutting of titanium alloy, such as edge and screw dislocations, junctions, parallel slip lines, intersection dislocation bands, vacancy defects, and refinement grains. Particularly, in the process of micro-cutting, the depth of subsurface damages layer increased significantly with cutting length at the beginning, and then remained unchanged in the stable removal phase. Moreover, smaller edge radius and larger rake angle can greatly weaken the squeezing action and heat diffusion effect between the tool tip and workpiece, which further prevents the formation of subsurface defects and enhances finished surface quality. In addition, although increasing tool clearance angle could drastically lighten the thickness of subsurface damages layer, it is noteworthy that its performance would be decreased significantly when the clearance angle was greater than or equal to 5°. The micro-end-milling experiment was performed to validate the existing simulation results, and the results show very good agreement.
Coupling Mechanism Analysis and Fabrication of Triaxial Gyroscopes in Monolithic MIMU
Authors: Xia Dunzhu , Xu Lei
Published: October 2017

A novel fully decoupled micro inertial measurement unit (MIMU) is presented in this paper. The proposed MIMU structure, mostly focusing on the gyroscope unit, is highly symmetrical and can be limited to an area of 10,000 μm × 10,000 μm. Both the tri-axis gyroscope and tri-axis accelerometer structures are fabricated on the same single silicon chip, which can differentially detect three axes’ angular velocities and linear accelerated velocities at the same time. By elaborately arranging different decoupling beams, anchors and sensing frames, the drive and sense modes of the tri-axis gyroscope are fully decoupled from each other. Several dynamic models, including decoupling beams with fabrication imperfections, are established for theoretical analysis. The numerical simulation made by MATLAB shows the structural decoupling of three sense modes, and indicates that the key decoupling beams, which affect the quadrature error, can be improved in design. The whole fabrication process, including silicon on glass (SOG) process, dry/wet etching as well as the methods for improving the fabrication quality, is then shown. Experiments for mode frequency and quality factors of four modes (drive, yaw, pitch and roll) have been performed, and are found to be 455 (6950.2 Hz), 66 (7054.4 Hz), 109 (7034.2 Hz) and 107 (7040.5 Hz) respectively. The analysis and experiment both prove that this novel MIMU has the potential value of further intensive investigation.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Structure Pattern of Indigofera Pseudotinctoria in Karst Habitats of the Wushan Mountains Using AFLP Markers
Authors: Fan Yan , Zhang Chenglin , Wu Wendan , He Wei , Zhang Li , Ma Xiao
Published: October 2017

Indigofera pseudotinctoria Mats is an agronomically and economically important perennial legume shrub with a high forage yield, protein content and strong adaptability, which is subject to natural habitat fragmentation and serious human disturbance. Until now, our knowledge of the genetic relationships and intraspecific genetic diversity for its wild collections is still poor, especially at small spatial scales. Here amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technology was employed for analysis of genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of 364 genotypes of I. pseudotinctoria from 15 natural locations in Wushan Montain, a highly structured mountain with typical karst landforms in Southwest China. We also tested whether eco-climate factors has affected genetic structure by correlating genetic diversity with habitat features. A total of 515 distinctly scoreable bands were generated, and 324 of them were polymorphic. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.694 to 0.890 with an average of 0.789 per primer pair. On species level, Nei’s gene diversity (Hj), the Bayesian genetic diversity index (HB) and the Shannon information index (I) were 0.2465, 0.2363 and 0.3772, respectively. The high differentiation among all sampling sites was detected (FST = 0.2217, GST = 0.1746, G’ST = 0.2060, θB = 0.1844), and instead, gene flow among accessions (Nm = 1.1819) was restricted. The population genetic structure resolved by the UPGMA tree, principal coordinate analysis, and Bayesian-based cluster analyses irrefutably grouped all accessions into two distinct clusters, i.e., lowland and highland groups. The population genetic structure resolved by the UPGMA tree, principal coordinate analysis, and Bayesian-based cluster analyses irrefutably grouped all accessions into two distinct clusters, i.e., lowland and highland groups. This structure pattern may indicate joint effects by the neutral evolution and natural selection. Restricted Nm was observed across all accessions, and genetic barriers were detected between adjacent accessions due to specifically geographical landform.
Special Issue: Improvements for Resveratrol Efficacy
Authors: Vervandier-Fasseur Dominique , Vang Ole , Latruffe Norbert
Published: October 2017

Resveratrol is a well-known phenolic stilbene because of its presence in several edible plants and its proposed properties that are beneficial to human health [...]
Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Intake among Children and Adolescents in Urban Peru
Authors: Rodriguez Carly , Smith Emily , Villamor Eduardo , Zavaleta Nelly , Respicio-Torres Graciela , Contreras Carmen , Perea Sara , Jimenez Judith , Tintaya Karen , Lecca Leonid , Murray Megan , Franke Molly
Published: October 2017

Tools to assess intake among children in Latin America are limited. We developed and assessed the reproducibility and validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered to children, adolescents, and their caregivers in Lima, Peru. We conducted 24-h diet recalls (DRs) and focus groups to develop a locally-tailored FFQ prototype for children aged 0–14 years. To validate the FFQ, we administered two FFQs and three DRs to children and/or their caregivers (N = 120) over six months. We examined FFQ reproducibility by quartile agreement and Pearson correlation coefficients, and validity by quartile agreement and correlation with DRs. For reproducibility, quartile agreement ranged from 60–77% with correlations highest for vitamins A and C (0.31). Age-adjusted correlations for the mean DR and the second-administered FFQ were highest in the 0–7 age group, in which the majority of caregivers completed the FFQ on behalf of the child (total fat; 0.67) and in the 8–14 age group, in which both the child and caregiver completed the FFQ together (calcium, niacin; 0.54); correlations were <0.10 for most nutrients in the 8–14 age group in which the caregiver completed the FFQ on the child’s behalf. The FFQ was reproducible and the first developed and validated to assess various nutrients in children and adolescents in Peru.
Chinese Olive (Canarium album L.) Fruit Extract Attenuates Metabolic Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Yeh Yu-Te , Chiang An-Na , Hsieh Shu-Chen
Published: October 2017

Hyperglycemia and dysregulation of lipid metabolism play a crucial role in metabolic dysfunction. The aims of present study were to evaluate the ameliorative effect of the ethyl acetate fraction of Chinese olive fruit extract (CO-EtOAc) on high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. CO-EtOAc, rich in gallic acid and ellagic acid, could markedly decreased the body weight and epididymal adipose mass. In addition, CO-EtOAc increased serum HDL-C levels, hepatic GSH levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities; lowered blood glucose, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), bile acid, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα); and reduced TC and TG in liver. We further demonstrated that CO-EtOAc mildly suppressed hepatic levels of phosphorylated IRS-1, TNF-α, and IL-6, but enhanced Akt phosphorylation. The possible mechanisms of cholesterol metabolism were assessed by determining the expression of genes involved in cholesterol transportation, biosynthesis, and degradation. It was found that CO-EtOAc not only inhibited mRNA levels of SREBP-2, HMG-CoAR, SR-B1, and CYP7A1 but also increased the expression of genes, such as ABCA1 and LDLR that governed cholesterol efflux and cholesterol uptake. Moreover, the protein expressions of ABCA1 and LDLR were also significantly increased in the liver of rats supplemented with CO-EtOAc. We suggest that Chinese olive fruit may ameliorate metabolic dysfunction in diabetic rats under HFD challenge.
Gut Microbiota and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Insights on Mechanisms and Therapy
Authors: Ma Junli , Zhou Qihang , Li Houkai
Published: October 2017

The gut microbiota plays critical roles in development of obese-related metabolic diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes(T2D), and insulin resistance(IR), highlighting the potential of gut microbiota-targeted therapies in these diseases. There are various ways that gut microbiota can be manipulated, including through use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and some active components from herbal medicines. In this review, we review the main roles of gut microbiota in mediating the development of NAFLD, and the advances in gut microbiota-targeted therapies for NAFLD in both the experimental and clinical studies, as well as the conclusions on the prospect of gut microbiota-targeted therapies in the future.
Serum Magnesium Levels in Preterm Infants Are Higher Than Adult Levels: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rigo Jacques , Pieltain Catherine , Christmann Viola , Bonsante Francesco , Moltu Sissel , Iacobelli Silvia , Marret Stéphane
Published: October 2017

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral in the body, impacting the synthesis of biomacromolecules, bone matrix development, energy production, as well as heart, nerve, and muscle function. Although the importance of Mg is evident, reference values for serum Mg (sMg) in pediatric patients (more specifically, in neonates) are not well established. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis (using 47 eligible studies) aims to quantify normal and tolerable ranges of sMg concentrations during the neonatal period and to highlight the factors influencing Mg levels and the importance of regulating sMg levels during pregnancy and birth. In newborns without Mg supplementation during pregnancy, magnesium levels at birth (0.76 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.99) mmol/L) were similar to that of mothers during pregnancy (0.74 (95% CI: 0.43, 1.04) mmol/L), but increased during the first week of life (0.91 (95% CI: 0.55, 1.26) mmol/L) before returning to adult levels. This pattern was also seen in newborns with Mg supplementation during pregnancy, where the average was 1.29 (95% CI: 0.50, 2.08) mmol/L at birth and 1.44 (95% CI: 0.61, 2.27) mmol/L during the first week of life. Factors influencing these levels include prenatal Mg supplementation, gestational age, birth weight, renal maturity/function, and postnatal Mg intake. Elevated Mg levels (>2.5 mmol/L) have been associated with an increased risk of mortality, admission into intensive care, hypotonia, hypotension, and respiratory depression but sMg concentrations up to 2.0 mmol/L appear to be well tolerated in neonates, requiring adequate survey and minimal intervention.
Nutritional Needs and Support for Children with Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Yang Christine , Perumpail Brandon , Yoo Eric , Ahmed Aijaz , Kerner Jr. John
Published: October 2017

Malnutrition has become a dangerously common problem in children with chronic liver disease, negatively impacting neurocognitive development and growth. Furthermore, many children with chronic liver disease will eventually require liver transplantation. Thus, this association between malnourishment and chronic liver disease in children becomes increasingly alarming as malnutrition is a predictor of poorer outcomes in liver transplantation and is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Malnutrition requires aggressive and appropriate management to correct nutritional deficiencies. A comprehensive review of the literature has found that infants with chronic liver disease (CLD) are particularly susceptible to malnutrition given their low reserves. Children with CLD would benefit from early intervention by a multi-disciplinary team, to try to achieve nutritional rehabilitation as well as to optimize outcomes for liver transplant. This review explains the multifactorial nature of malnutrition in children with chronic liver disease, defines the nutritional needs of these children, and discusses ways to optimize their nutritional.
Molecular Docking and 3D-Pharmacophore Modeling to Study the Interactions of Chalcone Derivatives with Estrogen Receptor Alpha
Authors: Muchtaridi Muchtaridi , Syahidah Hasna , Subarnas Anas , Yusuf Muhammad , Bryant Sharon , Langer Thierry
Published: October 2017

Tamoxifen is the most frequently used anti-estrogen adjuvant treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. However, it is associated with an increased risk of several serious side–effects, such as uterine cancer, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. The 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3,5-dimethylchalcone (ChalcEA) from plant leaves of Eugenia aquea, has been found to inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 74.5 μg/mL (250 μM). The aim of this work was to study the molecular interactions of new ChalcEA derivatives formed with the Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) using computer aided drug design approaches. Molecular docking using Autodock 4.2 was employed to explore the modes of binding of ChalcEA derivatives with ERα. The 3D structure-based pharmacophore model was derived using LigandScout 4.1 Advanced to investigate the important chemical interactions of the ERα-tamoxifen complex structure. The binding energy and the tamoxifen-pharmacophore fit score of the best ChalcEA derivative (HNS10) were −12.33 kcal/mol and 67.07 kcal/mol, respectively. The HNS10 interacted with Leu346, Thr347, Leu349, Ala350, Glu353, Leu387, Met388, Leu391, Arg394, Met421, and Leu525. These results suggest that the new ChalcEA derivatives could serve as the lead compound for potent ERα inhibitor in the fight against breast cancer.
Integrating Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services Provided by Community Pharmacists into a Community-Based Accountable Care Organization (ACO)
Authors: Isetts Brian
Published: October 2017

(1) Background: As the U.S. healthcare system evolves from fee-for-service financing to global population-based payments designed to be accountable for both quality and total cost of care, the effective and safe use of medications is gaining increased importance. The purpose of this project was to determine the feasibility of integrating medication therapy management (MTM) services provided by community pharmacists into the clinical care teams and the health information technology (HIT) infrastructure for Minnesota Medicaid recipients of a 12-county community-based accountable care organization (ACO). (2) Methods: The continuous quality improvement evaluation methodology employed in this project was the context + mechanism = outcome (CMO) model to account for the fact that programs only work insofar as they introduce promising ideas, solutions and opportunities in the appropriate social and cultural contexts. Collaborations between a 12-county ACO and 15 community pharmacies in Southwest Minnesota served as the social context for this feasibility study of MTM referrals to community pharmacists. (3) Results: All 15 community pharmacy sites were integrated into the HIT infrastructure through Direct Secure Messaging, and there were 32 recipients who received MTM services subsequent to referrals from the ACO at 5 of the 15 community pharmacies over a 1-year implementation phase. (4) Conclusion: At the conclusion of this project, an effective electronic communication and MTM referral system was activated, and consideration was given to community pharmacists providing MTM in future ACO shared savings agreements.
Synthesis and Electrochromism of Highly Organosoluble Polyamides and Polyimides with Bulky Trityl-Substituted Triphenylamine Units
Authors: Hsiao Sheng-Huei , Liao Wei-Kai , Liou Guey-Sheng
Published: October 2017

Two series of polyamides and polyimides containing bulky trityl-substituted triphenylamine units were synthesized from condensation reactions of 4,4′-diamino-4′′-trityltriphenylamine with various dicarboxylic acids and tetracarboxylic dianhydrides, respectively. The polymers showed good solubility and film-forming ability. Flexible or robust films could be readily obtained via solution-casting. The use of aliphatic diacid or dianhydride reduces interchain charge transfer complexing and leads to colorless polyamide and polyimide films. These polymers showed glass-transition temperatures in the range of 206–336 °C. Cyclic voltammograms of the polyamide and polyimide films displayed reversible electrochemical oxidation processes in the range of 0–1.0 or 0–1.3 V. Upon oxidation, the color of polymer films changes from colorless to blue-green or blue. As compared to the polyimide counterparts, the polyamides showed lower oxidation potentials and thus a higher electrochromic stability and coloration efficiency. Simple electrochromic devices were also fabricated as a preliminary investigation for electrochromic applications of the prepared polymers.
MERLIN: A French-German Space Lidar Mission Dedicated to Atmospheric Methane
Authors: Ehret Gerhard , Bousquet Philippe , Pierangelo Clémence , Alpers Matthias , Millet Bruno , Abshire James , Bovensmann Heinrich , Burrows John , Chevallier Frédéric , Ciais Philippe , Crevoisier Cyril , Fix Andreas , Flamant Pierre , Frankenberg Christian , Gibert Fabien , Heim Birgit , Heimann Martin , Houweling Sander , Hubberten Hans , Jöckel Patrick , Law Kathy , Löw Alexander , Marshall Julia , Agusti-Panareda Anna , Payan Sebastien , Prigent Catherine , Rairoux Patrick , Sachs Torsten , Scholze Marko , Wirth Martin
Published: October 2017

The MEthane Remote sensing Lidar missioN (MERLIN) aims at demonstrating the spaceborne active measurement of atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas, based on an Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) nadir-viewing LIght Detecting and Ranging (Lidar) instrument. MERLIN is a joint French and German space mission, with a launch currently scheduled for the timeframe 2021/22. The German Space Agency (DLR) is responsible for the payload, while the platform (MYRIADE Evolutions product line) is developed by the French Space Agency (CNES). The main scientific objective of MERLIN is the delivery of weighted atmospheric columns of methane dry-air mole fractions for all latitudes throughout the year with systematic errors small enough (<3.7 ppb) to significantly improve our knowledge of methane sources from global to regional scales, with emphasis on poorly accessible regions in the tropics and at high latitudes. This paper presents the MERLIN objectives, describes the methodology and the main characteristics of the payload and of the platform, and proposes a first assessment of the error budget and its translation into expected uncertainty reduction of methane surface emissions.
Model-Based Real-Time Non-Rigid Tracking
Authors: Bronte Sebastián , Bergasa Luis , Pizarro Daniel , Barea Rafael
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a sequential non-rigid reconstruction method that recovers the 3D shape and the camera pose of a deforming object from a video sequence and a previous shape model of the object. We take PTAM (Parallel Mapping and Tracking), a state-of-the-art sequential real-time SfM (Structure-from-Motion) engine, and we upgrade it to solve non-rigid reconstruction. Our method provides a good trade-off between processing time and reconstruction error without the need for specific processing hardware, such as GPUs. We improve the original PTAM matching by using descriptor-based features, as well as smoothness priors to better constrain the 3D error. This paper works with perspective projection and deals with outliers and missing data. We evaluate the tracking algorithm performance through different tests over several datasets of non-rigid deforming objects. Our method achieves state-of-the-art accuracy and can be used as a real-time method suitable for being embedded in portable devices.
Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques
Authors: Corwin Dennis , Yemoto Kevin , Clary Wes , Banuelos Gary , Skaggs Todd , Lesch Scott , Scudiero Elia
Published: October 2017

Though more costly than petroleum-based fuels and a minor component of overall military fuel sources, biofuels are nonetheless strategically valuable to the military because of intentional reliance on multiple, reliable, secure fuel sources. Significant reduction in oilseed biofuel cost occurs when grown on marginally productive saline-sodic soils plentiful in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The objective is to evaluate the feasibility of oilseed production on marginal soils in the SJV to support a 115 ML yr−1 biofuel conversion facility. The feasibility evaluation involves: (1) development of an Ida Gold mustard oilseed yield model for marginal soils; (2) identification of marginally productive soils; (3) development of a spatial database of edaphic factors influencing oilseed yield and (4) performance of Monte Carlo simulations showing potential biofuel production on marginally productive SJV soils. The model indicates oilseed yield is related to boron, salinity, leaching fraction, and water content at field capacity. Monte Carlo simulations for the entire SJV fit a shifted gamma probability density function: Q = 68.986 + gamma (6.134,5.285), where Q is biofuel production in ML yr−1. The shifted gamma cumulative density function indicates a 0.15–0.17 probability of meeting the target biofuel-production level of 115 ML yr−1, making adequate biofuel production unlikely.
Highly Sensitive and Selective Hydrogen Gas Sensor Using the Mesoporous SnO2 Modified Layers
Authors: Xue Niuzi , Zhang Qinyi , Zhang Shunping , Zong Pan , Yang Feng
Published: October 2017

It is important to improve the sensitivities and selectivities of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors when they are used to monitor the state of hydrogen in aerospace industry and electronic field. In this paper, the ordered mesoporous SnO2 (m-SnO2) powders were prepared by sol-gel method, and the morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The gas sensors were fabricated using m-SnO2 as the modified layers on the surface of commercial SnO2 (c-SnO2) by screen printing technology, and tested for gas sensing towards ethanol, benzene and hydrogen with operating temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 400 °C. Higher sensitivity was achieved by using the modified m-SnO2 layers on the c-SnO2 gas sensor, and it was found that the S(c/m2) sensor exhibited the highest response (Ra/Rg = 22.2) to 1000 ppm hydrogen at 400 °C. In this paper, the mechanism of the sensitivity and selectivity improvement of the gas sensors is also discussed.
Selectivity Enhancement in Electronic Nose Based on an Optimized DQN
Authors: Wang Yu , Xing Jianguo , Qian Shu
Published: October 2017

In order to enhance the selectivity of metal oxide gas sensors, we use a flow modulation method to exploit transient sensor information. The method is based on modulating the flow of the carrier gas that brings the species to be measured into the sensor chamber. We present an active perception strategy by using a DQN which can optimize the flow modulation online. The advantage of DQN is not only that the classification accuracy is higher than traditional methods such as PCA, but also that it has a good adaptability under small samples and labeled data. From observed values of the sensors array and its past experiences, the DQN learns an action policy to change the flow speed dynamically that maximizes the total rewards (or minimizes the classification error). Meanwhile, a CNN is trained to predict sample class and reward according to current actions and observation of sensors. We demonstrate our proposed methods on a gases classification problem in a real time environment. The results show that the DQN learns to modulate flow to classify different gas and the correct rates of gases are: sesame oil 100%, lactic acid 80%, acetaldehyde 80%, acetic acid 80%, and ethyl acetate 100%, the average correct rate is 88%. Compared with the traditional method, the results of PCA are: sesame oil 100%, acetic acid 24%, acetaldehyde 100%, lactic acid 56%, ethyl acetate 68%, the average accuracy rate is 69.6%. DQN uses fewer steps to achieve higher recognition accuracy and improve the recognition speed, and to reduce the training and testing costs.
Water Quality Sensing and Spatio-Temporal Monitoring Structure with Autocorrelation Kernel Methods
Authors: Vizcaíno Iván , Carrera Enrique , Muñoz-Romero Sergio , Cumbal Luis , Rojo-Álvarez José
Published: October 2017

Pollution on water resources is usually analyzed with monitoring campaigns, which consist of programmed sampling, measurement, and recording of the most representative water quality parameters. These campaign measurements yields a non-uniform spatio-temporal sampled data structure to characterize complex dynamics phenomena. In this work, we propose an enhanced statistical interpolation method to provide water quality managers with statistically interpolated representations of spatial-temporal dynamics. Specifically, our proposal makes efficient use of the a priori available information of the quality parameter measurements through Support Vector Regression (SVR) based on Mercer’s kernels. The methods are benchmarked against previously proposed methods in three segments of the Machángara River and one segment of the San Pedro River in Ecuador, and their different dynamics are shown by statistically interpolated spatial-temporal maps. The best interpolation performance in terms of mean absolute error was the SVR with Mercer’s kernel given by either the Mahalanobis spatial-temporal covariance matrix or by the bivariate estimated autocorrelation function. In particular, the autocorrelation kernel provides with significant improvement of the estimation quality, consistently for all the six water quality variables, which points out the relevance of including a priori knowledge of the problem.
Research on the Fusion of Dependent Evidence Based on Rank Correlation Coefficient
Authors: Shi Fengjian , Su Xiaoyan , Qian Hong , Yang Ning , Han Wenhua
Published: October 2017

In order to meet the higher accuracy and system reliability requirements, the information fusion for multi-sensor systems is an increasing concern. Dempster–Shafer evidence theory (D–S theory) has been investigated for many applications in multi-sensor information fusion due to its flexibility in uncertainty modeling. However, classical evidence theory assumes that the evidence is independent of each other, which is often unrealistic. Ignoring the relationship between the evidence may lead to unreasonable fusion results, and even lead to wrong decisions. This assumption severely prevents D–S evidence theory from practical application and further development. In this paper, an innovative evidence fusion model to deal with dependent evidence based on rank correlation coefficient is proposed. The model first uses rank correlation coefficient to measure the dependence degree between different evidence. Then, total discount coefficient is obtained based on the dependence degree, which also considers the impact of the reliability of evidence. Finally, the discount evidence fusion model is presented. An example is illustrated to show the use and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Qatari Women Navigating Gendered Space
Authors: Golkowska Krystyna
Published: October 2017

ADespite growing interest in the lived experience of Muslim women in Arab countries, there is still a dearth of studies on the Gulf region. This article focuses on Qatar, a Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) country, to explore its changing sociocultural landscape and reflect on Qatari women’s agency within the framework of the traditional gendered space model. Applying Grounded Theory methodology to data collected from a variety of scholarly and non-scholarly sources, the author offers a themed overview of factors that facilitate and constrain Qatari women’s mobility. The findings testify to a significant increase in female presence and visibility in the public sphere—specifically in the spaces of education, employment, and sports. They also show that young Qatari women exercise agency through navigating the existing systems rather than question traditional socio-cultural norms. The paper identifies this search for a middle ground between tradition and modernity and its ideological underpinnings as the area of future research that should be led by Qatari women themselves.
Red Spinach Extract Increases Ventilatory Threshold during Graded Exercise Testing
Authors: Moore Angelique , Haun Cody , Kephart Wesley , Holland Angelia , Mobley Christopher , Pascoe David , Roberts Michael , Martin Jeffrey
Published: October 2017

Background: We examined the acute effect of a red spinach extract (RSE) (1000 mg dose; ~90 mg nitrate (NO 3 − )) on performance markers during graded exercise testing (GXT). Methods: For this randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, crossover study, 15 recreationally-active participants (aged 23.1 ± 3.3 years; BMI: 27.2 ± 3.7 kg/m2) reported >2 h post-prandial and performed GXT 65–75 min post-RSE or PBO ingestion. Blood samples were collected at baseline (BL), pre-GXT (65–75 min post-ingestion; PRE), and immediately post-GXT (POST). GXT commenced with continuous analysis of expired gases. Results: Plasma concentrations of NO 3 − increased PRE (+447 ± 294%; p < 0.001) and POST (+378 ± 179%; p < 0.001) GXT with RSE, but not with PBO (+3 ± 26%, −8 ± 24%, respectively; p > 0.05). No effect on circulating nitrite (NO 2 − ) was observed with RSE (+3.3 ± 7.5%, +7.7 ± 11.8% PRE and POST, respectively; p > 0.05) or PBO (−0.5 ± 7.9%, −0.2 ± 8.1% PRE and POST, respectively; p > 0.05). When compared to PBO, there was a moderate effect of RSE on plasma NO 2 − at PRE (g = 0.50 [−0.26, 1.24] and POST g = 0.71 [−0.05, 1.48]). During GXT, VO2 at the ventilatory threshold was significantly higher with RSE compared to PBO (+6.1 ± 7.3%; p < 0.05), though time-to-exhaustion (−4.0 ± 7.7%; p > 0.05) and maximal aerobic power (i.e., VO2 peak; −0.8 ± 5.6%; p > 0.05) were non-significantly lower with RSE. Conclusions: RSE as a nutritional supplement may elicit an ergogenic response by delaying the ventilatory threshold.
Community Resident’s Opinions and Perceptions on the Effectiveness of Waste Management and Recycling Potential in the Umkhanyakude and Zululand District Municipalities in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa
Authors: Dlamini Bonginkosi , Rampedi Isaac , Ifegbesan Ayodeji
Published: October 2017

Despite new environmental laws and regulations in South Africa during the last two decades, especially around municipal solid waste management, there is little emphasis towards waste minimization through recycling. Whereas most waste management research in South Africa has focused on urban municipalities, not much is known regarding the effectiveness of waste management services and recycling challenges in rural areas. This paper reports on the effectiveness of waste management practices from the perspective of community residents in selected rural districts of the KwaZulu-Natal province. A random sample comprised of 333 community residents was selected for questionnaire-administered interviews. Based on the opinions and perceptions of respondents, the provision of waste management services is generally inadequate. Apart from the successful collection of domestic solid wastes (66.7%) from households by municipalities, the collection of recyclable waste materials from illegal waste dumps (75%) and from households (68.7%) are not being adequately provided. Thus, levels of dissatisfaction regarding municipal collection services are very high (97.3%) amongst respondents. Furthermore, systematic recycling initiatives that involve communities are largely non-existent and most (96.7%) respondents lack relevant technical knowledge on waste recycling and how it can be carried out effectively through waste segregation at source and other processes.
Progress and Prospects for Tourism Footprint Research
Authors: Wang Shuxin , Hu Yiyuan , He Hong , Wang Genxu
Published: October 2017

The tourism footprint family comprises the tourism ecological footprint (TEF), the tourism carbon footprint (TCF) and the tourism water footprint (TWF). The tourism footprint represents an important tool for quantitatively assessing the impact of tourism activities on the ecosystem of a tourist destination. This paper systematically reviews the relevant literature on TEF, TCF and TWF, analyses and summarizes the main progress and failures in the analytical frameworks, research methods, measurement results, environmental impacts and reductions in the tourism footprint. This paper also proposes areas for further developing the tourism footprint research, including unifying the analytical frameworks and boundaries of the tourism footprint, distinguishing the geographical scope of the tourism footprint effectively, improving the process of analyzing the environmental impact of the tourism footprint, measuring the tourism footprint scientifically and roundly, performing space-time calculations of the tourism footprint, and expanding the tourism footprint family by introducing new members. Accordingly, this paper is devoted to the continued study of the tourism footprint.
Environmental Impact and Nutritional Improvement of Elevated CO2 Treatment: A Case Study of Spinach Production
Authors: Seo Yuna , Ide Keisuke , Kitahata Nobutaka , Kuchitsu Kazuyuki , Dowaki Kiyoshi
Published: October 2017

The agriculture sector is known to be the one of the major contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, global climate changes have affected the agriculture sector. In order to strengthen the sustainable development of agriculture, it is important to promote environmentally friendly farming and simultaneously increase the economic value. To improve the productivity of agriculture, technical advancements have occurred. Among those, we have focused on CO2 treatment in cultivation. We aimed to clarify the effectiveness of the elevated CO2 treatment of spinach based on GHG emission and the economic value using the eco-efficiency score. We assumed that nutrition could represent the value of the vegetable. We measured weights, vitamin C, and CO2 emissions of elevated CO2 treatment and conventional production. We used life cycle assessment (LCA) to estimate CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions of a 100-g bouquet of spinach were estimated from agricultural inputs, farming, transport, and distribution center processes at a model spinach farm in Japan. CO2 emission of elevated CO2 treatment was 29.0 g-CO2, and was 49.0 g-CO2 for conventional production. The net weight of a bouquet of elevated CO2-treated spinach was 1.69-fold greater than that of conventional production. Vitamin C per 100 g spinach produced via elevated CO2 treatment was 15.1 mg, and that of conventional production was 13.5 mg on average. Finally, based on the above results, we assessed the eco-efficiency scores of the elevated CO2 treatment and conventional production of spinach, enabling integration of the nutritional value and the environmental impact. The score showed that elevated CO2 treatment (0.76) was 2.9-fold more efficient than conventional production (0.26). This study suggested that elevated CO2 treatment could enhance growth and nutritional value of spinach, and further contribute to CO2 reduction.
Task Characteristics and Work Engagement: Exploring Effects of Role Ambiguity and ICT Presenteeism
Authors: Lee Sang-Hoon , Shin Yuhyung , Baek Seung
Published: October 2017

In order to secure organizational sustainability in a rapidly changing environment, it is necessary to implement a decentralized and flexible work environment. In such work environments, normally individuals are provided with autonomy and independence in performing tasks, thus allowing them to further engage in their given work. This study investigated task antecedents of work engagement, and further explored the process of how task characteristics affect work engagement. It focused on examining the mediating effect of role ambiguity on the task characteristics-work engagement relationship and the moderating effect of information and communication technology (ICT) presenteeism on the task characteristics–role ambiguity relationship through multiple regression analyses and a bootstrapping procedure on survey data collected from 202 South Korean employees. It found that task interdependence and autonomy were negatively associated with role ambiguity. Of the two task characteristics, only task interdependence had a negative relationship with role ambiguity, and this relationship was significantly moderated by ICT presenteeism such that the negative association between task interdependence and role ambiguity was more pronounced when ICT presenteeism was high than when it was low.
A General Zero Attraction Proportionate Normalized Maximum Correntropy Criterion Algorithm for Sparse System Identification
Authors: Li Yingsong , Wang Yanyan , Albu Felix , Jiang Jingshan
Published: October 2017

A general zero attraction (GZA) proportionate normalized maximum correntropy criterion (GZA-PNMCC) algorithm is devised and presented on the basis of the proportionate-type adaptive filter techniques and zero attracting theory to highly improve the sparse system estimation behavior of the classical MCC algorithm within the framework of the sparse system identifications. The newly-developed GZA-PNMCC algorithm is carried out by introducing a parameter adjusting function into the cost function of the typical proportionate normalized maximum correntropy criterion (PNMCC) to create a zero attraction term. The developed optimization framework unifies the derivation of the zero attraction-based PNMCC algorithms. The developed GZA-PNMCC algorithm further exploits the impulsive response sparsity in comparison with the proportionate-type-based NMCC algorithm due to the GZA zero attraction. The superior performance of the GZA-PNMCC algorithm for estimating a sparse system in a non-Gaussian noise environment is proven by simulations.