bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Getting the Institutions Right: Designing the Public Sector to Promote Clean Innovation
Authors: Haley Brendan
Published: November 2016

This paper discusses the need for a Canadian clean innovation policy agenda to focus on organizational and institutional innovations within the public sector. The paper provides an introduction to innovation policy and how innovation can be directed to promote environmental sustainability. It then discusses the pitfalls that can lead to government failure in attempts to promote technological change. It then lists key institutional design principles to produce effective public-sector organizations capable of fruitfully engaging with the private sector to promote sustainability while avoiding the pitfalls discussed earlier. The article concludes by calling for further case-study research on how good institutional designs are achieved and what institutional designs best fit the Canadian context.
Synthesis and properties evaluation of β-SiAlON prepared by mechanical alloying followed by different sintering technique
Authors: Nekouee Khan Ali , Khosroshahi Rasoul Azari
Published: November 2016

In this study, sintering was investigated for making SiAlON by utilizing low cost Si3N4, Al2O3 and AlN powder precursors. These materials were mixed by mechanical ball milling, then processed by pressureless sintering or spark plasma sintering methods and the properties compared. XRD spectroscopy showed nano-scale and amorphous phases, which were produced after longer milling time. Investigation of the bulks after sintering revealed that increasing the pressureless sintering temperature resulted in an increase in density and mechanical properties of the specimens, as did changing the sintering technique from pressureless to spark plasma sintering. Furthermore, the wear mechanisms of adhesive or micro-abrasion of the rubbed surfaces were confirmed.
Metallographic Preparation of Hard Coatings for EBSD Analysis
Authors: Ramos-Moore E.
Published: November 2016

Metallographic preparation is an art, especially when relevant information hidden at the micro- or nano-scale has to be unraveled. In particular, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) is a technique that provides valuable information of the microstructure of bulk and coatings. Indeed, information regarding evolution of the morphology, size and orientation of grains is very relevant for the design and fabrication of new commercial coatings. Metallographic preparation for EBSD analysis of hard coatings consisting of Al2O3 and TiCN layers is presented in this work. In particular, preparation timing during grinding and polishing is discussed. EBSD data is presented and correlated with the metallographic preparation parameters. The main conclusions of this work highlight the importance of systematic preparation of all the successive metallographic procedures and the understanding of the quality parameters associated with the EBSD scans and data processing.
Characteristic and performance analysis of SRM with actual B-H curve of electrical steel
Authors: Song Shoujun , Chen Shuo , Lin Yali , Zhang Man , Liu Weiguo
Published: November 2016

For practical applications, the B-H curve, namely the magnetization characteristic, of the electrical steel is essential for the performance evaluation of the electrical machine. The curve is significantly affected by the manufacturing process of the electrical steel and the electrical machine. In this paper, a new method to determine the actual B-H curve of the electrical steel used in switched reluctance machine (SRM) is proposed based on magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC), where the magnetic path of the machine is divided into five segments. With the flux-linkage characteristic of the SRM at the aligned rotor position, the magnetic flux density and magnetic field intensity of the stator pole are calculated based on Ampere's law and linear interpolation, and then the B-H curve of the electrical steel is obtained. The accuracy of the proposed method is evaluated by simulation with finite element method(FEM), and the method is also applied to determine the B-H curve of the electrical steel used in a 3-phase 12/8-pole SRM prototype. The simulation results from FEM and Matlab are compared with those from the experiments in detail, which verify the validity of the proposed method.
On the geometric and magnetic properties of the monomer, dimer and trimer of NiFe2O4
Authors: Burgos José , Seijas Luis , Contreras Pedro , Almeida Rafael
Published: November 2016

In this work, by employing Density Functional Theory, we compute and discuss some geometric and magnetic properties of the monomer, dimer and trimer of NiFe2O4. The calculations are performed at the UDFT/ B3LYP level of calculation, by employing the LANL2DZ effective pseudo potential. The results of the Mulliken spin densities and the spin polarization will be presented. Finally the outcome of the system density of states is considered.
Influence of Induced Magnetic Field on Free Convection of Nanofluid Considering Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) Correlation
Authors: Sheikholeslami M. , Zia Q. M. Zaigham , Ellahi R.
Published: November 2016

In this paper, the influence of induced magnetic field on free convection of Al2O3-water nanofluid on permeable plate by means of Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) model is reported. Impact of Brownian motion, along with the properties of nanofluid, are also taken into account. The resulting equations are solved utilizing Runge-Kutta integration method. Obtained results are examined for innumerable energetic parameters, namely Al2O3 volume fraction, suction parameter, and Hartmann and magnetic Prandtl numbers. Results indicate that the velocity profile reduces with rise of the suction parameter and magnetic Prandtl and Hartmann numbers but it increases with addition of nanoparticles. Shear stress enhances with rise of suction parameter, magnetic Prandtl and Hartmann numbers. Temperature gradient improves with augment of suction parameter.
Polyamide Microparticles Containing Vitamin C by Interfacial Polymerization: An Approach by Design of Experimentation
Authors: Ripoll Lionel , Clement Yohann
Published: November 2016

Vitamin C is widely use in cosmetics and pharmaceutics products for its active properties. However ascorbic acid shows unfavourable chemical instability such as oxidation leading to formulation problems. Therefore, carriers, such as micro- and nanoparticles, have been widely investigated as delivery systems for vitamin C to improve its beneficial effects in skin treatment. However, none of the previous studies have been able to produce microparticles with a high encapsulation entrapment of vitamin C. The aim of the present study is to use an experimental design to optimize the synthesis of polyamide microparticles for the delivery of ascorbic acid. The effect of four formulation parameters on microparticles properties (size and morphology, encapsulation efficiency and yield, release kinetics) were investigated using a surface response design. Finally, we were able to obtain stable microparticles containing more than 65% of vitamin C. This result confirms the effectiveness of using design of experiments for the optimisation of microparticle formulation and supports the proposal of using them as candidate for the delivery of vitamin C in skin treatment.
Panel Cointegration Testing in the Presence of Linear Time Trends
Authors: Hassler Uwe , Hosseinkouchack Mehdi
Published: November 2016

We consider a class of panel tests of the null hypothesis of no cointegration and cointegration. All tests under investigation rely on single-equations estimated by least squares, and they may be residual-based or not. We focus on test statistics computed from regressions with intercept only (i.e., without detrending) and with at least one of the regressors (integrated of order 1) being dominated by a linear time trend. In such a setting, often encountered in practice, the limiting distributions and critical values provided for and applied with the situation “with intercept only” are not correct. It is demonstrated that their usage results in size distortions growing with the panel size N. Moreover, we show which are the appropriate distributions, and how correct critical values can be obtained from the literature.
Assessment of Fecal Contamination in Oklahoma Water Systems through the Use of Sterol Fingerprints
Authors: Lu Yueming , Philp R. , Biache Coralie
Published: November 2016

Fecal contamination is a major concern for water quality management, since the fecal materials are associated with pathogens that can cause illness wherever water is used for recreational, drinking and aquaculture purposes. In order to monitor source(s) of fecal contamination in Oklahoma water systems, sterol profiles were previously examined in rural and urban samples collected from the Illinois River Basin and the Norman Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), respectively. Two distinctive, qualitatively and quantitatively, sterol fingerprints were recognized. Despite the effective removal of organic material by the Norman WWTP, human-derived sterol fingerprints, characterized by a predominance of fecal stanols such as coprostanol, were still significant in the output from the plant. The source of fecal material in the Illinois River samples (rural) was defined as being characteristic of corn-feed chicken manure originating from surrounding feedlots through the principal component analysis (PCA) of the sterol distributions and carbon compound specific isotope analysis of selected sterols (CSIA, δ13C). Thiosteranes, formed during sludge treatments, were also shown to be useful tracers for monitoring sludge application in agriculture fields. The results obtained were used to provide water management authorities with qualitative insights into the source of fecal material inputs into the environment.
The Impacts of Air Temperature on Accidental Casualties in Beijing, China
Authors: Ma Pan , Wang Shigong , Fan Xingang , Li Tanshi
Published: November 2016

Emergency room (ER) visits for accidental casualties, according to the International Classification of Deceases 10th Revision Chapters 19 and 20, include injury, poisoning, and external causes (IPEC). Annual distribution of 187,008 ER visits that took place between 2009 and 2011 in Beijing, China displayed regularity rather than random characteristics. The annual cycle from the Fourier series fitting of the number of ER visits was found to explain 63.2% of its total variance. In this study, the possible effect and regulation of meteorological conditions on these ER visits are investigated through the use of correlation analysis, as well as statistical modeling by using the Distributed Lag Non-linear Model and Generalized Additive Model. Correlation analysis indicated that meteorological variables that positively correlated with temperature have a positive relationship with the number of ER visits, and vice versa. The temperature metrics of maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures were found to have similar overall impacts, including both the direct impact on human mental/physical conditions and indirect impact on human behavior. The lag analysis indicated that the overall impacts of temperatures higher than the 50th percentile on ER visits occur immediately, whereas low temperatures show protective effects in the first few days. Accidental casualties happen more frequently on warm days when the mean temperature is higher than 14 °C than on cold days. Mean temperatures of around 26 °C result in the greatest possibility of ER visits for accidental casualties. In addition, males were found to face a higher risk of accidental casualties than females at high temperatures. Therefore, the IPEC-classified ER visits are not pure accidents; instead, they are associated closely with meteorological conditions, especially temperature.
MMP-3 Deficiency Alleviates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Inflammation in the Posterior Eye Segment
Authors: Van Hove Inge , Lefevere Evy , De Groef Lies , Sergeys Jurgen , Salinas-Navarro Manuel , Libert Claude , Vandenbroucke Roosmarijn , Moons Lieve
Published: November 2016

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is known to mediate neuroinflammatory processes by activating microglia, disrupting blood–central nervous system barriers and supporting neutrophil influx into the brain. In addition, the posterior part of the eye, more specifically the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the blood–retinal barrier, is affected upon neuroinflammation, but a role for MMP-3 during ocular inflammation remains elusive. We investigated whether MMP-3 contributes to acute inflammation in the eye using the endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) model. Systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide induced an increase in MMP-3 mRNA and protein expression level in the posterior part of the eye. MMP-3 deficiency or knockdown suppressed retinal leukocyte adhesion and leukocyte infiltration into the vitreous cavity in mice subjected to EIU. Moreover, retinal and RPE mRNA levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (Icam1), interleukin 6 (Il6), cytokine-inducible nitrogen oxide synthase (Nos2) and tumor necrosis factor α (Tnfα), which are key molecules involved in EIU, were clearly reduced in MMP-3 deficient mice. In addition, loss of MMP-3 repressed the upregulation of the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1). These findings suggest a contribution of MMP-3 during EIU, and its potential use as a therapeutic drug target in reducing ocular inflammation.
Interferon α Induces the Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer HeLa Cells by Activating both the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Pathway
Authors: Shi Wei-Ye , Cao Cheng , Liu Li
Published: November 2016

The interferon α (IFN-α) has been often used as a sensitizing agent for the treatment of various malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and renal cell cancer by promoting the apoptosis of thesetumor cell types. However, the effect of IFN-α on cervical cancer remains unknown. In this study, HeLa cells were used as a testing model for the treatment of IFN-α on cervical cancer. The results indicate that IFN-α markedly inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of HeLa cells. The activation of caspase 3, the up-regulation of both Bim and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1, the down-regulation of Bcl-xL, as well as the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria were significantly induced upon IFN-α treatment, indicating that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway could be activated by IFN-α treatment. In addition, caspase 4—which is involved in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis—was activated in response to IFN-α treatment. Knocking down caspase 4 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) markedly reduced the IFN-α-mediated cell apoptosis. However, no significant changes in the expressions of caspases 8 and 10 were observed upon IFN-α treatment, indicating that the apoptosis caused by IFN-α might be independent of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. These findings suggest that IFN-α may possess anti-cervical cancer capacity by activating cell apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway and caspase-4-related ER stress-induced pathway.
An 8-Channel Wavelength MMI Demultiplexer in Slot Waveguide Structures
Authors: Ben Zaken Bar , Zanzury Tal , Malka Dror
Published: November 2016

We propose a novel 8-channel wavelength multimode interference (MMI) demultiplexer in slot waveguide structures that operate at 1530 nm, 1535 nm, 1540 nm, 1545 nm, 1550 nm, 1555 nm, 1560 nm, and 1565 nm. Gallium nitride (GaN) surrounded by silicon (Si) was found to be a suitable material for the slot-waveguide structures. The proposed device was designed by seven 1 × 2 MMI couplers, fourteen S-bands, and one input taper. Numerical investigations were carried out on the geometrical parameters using a full vectorial-beam propagation method (FV-BPM). Simulation results show that the proposed device can transmit 8-channel that works in the whole C-band (1530–1565 nm) with low crosstalk (−19.97–−13.77 dB) and bandwidth (1.8–3.6 nm). Thus, the device can be very useful in optical networking systems that work on dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology.
Do Dental Resin Composites Accumulate More Oral Biofilms and Plaque than Amalgam and Glass Ionomer Materials?
Authors: Zhang Ning , Melo Mary , Weir Michael , Reynolds Mark , Bai Yuxing , Xu Hockin
Published: November 2016

A long-time drawback of dental composites is that they accumulate more biofilms and plaques than amalgam and glass ionomer restorative materials. It would be highly desirable to develop a new composite with reduced biofilm growth, while avoiding the non-esthetics of amalgam and low strength of glass ionomer. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a protein-repellent composite with reduced biofilms matching amalgam and glass ionomer for the first time; and (2) investigate their protein adsorption, biofilms, and mechanical properties. Five materials were tested: A new composite containing 3% of protein-repellent 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC); the composite with 0% MPC as control; commercial composite control; dental amalgam; resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI). A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model with human saliva as inoculum was used to investigate metabolic activity, colony-forming units (CFU), and lactic acid production. Composite with 3% MPC had flexural strength similar to those with 0% MPC and commercial composite control (p > 0.1), and much greater than RMGI (p < 0.05). Composite with 3% MPC had protein adsorption that was only 1/10 that of control composites (p < 0.05). Composite with 3% MPC had biofilm CFU and lactic acid much lower than control composites (p < 0.05). Biofilm growth, metabolic activity and lactic acid on the new composite with 3% MPC were reduced to the low level of amalgam and RMGI (p > 0.1). In conclusion, a new protein-repellent dental resin composite reduced oral biofilm growth and acid production to the low levels of non-esthetic amalgam and RMGI for the first time. The long-held conclusion that dental composites accumulate more biofilms than amalgam and glass ionomer is no longer true. The novel composite is promising to finally overcome the major biofilm-accumulation drawback of dental composites in order to reduce biofilm acids and secondary caries.
A Natural Bacterium-Produced Membrane-Bound Nanocarrier for Drug Combination Therapy
Authors: Long Ruimin , Liu Yuangang , Dai Qinglei , Wang Shibin , Deng Qiongjia , Zhou Xia
Published: November 2016

To minimize the non-specific toxicity of drug combination during cancer therapy, we prepared a new system synthesized from bacteria to deliver the anticancer drugs cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and daunorubicin (DNR). In this study, we selected genipin (GP) and poly-l-glutamic acid (PLGA) as dual crosslinkers. Herewith, we demonstrated the preparation, characterization and in vitro antitumor effects of Ara-C and DNR loaded GP-PLGA-modified bacterial magnetosomes (BMs) (ADBMs-P). The results show that this new system is stable and exhibits optimal drug-loading properties. The average diameters of BMs and ADBMs-P were 42.0 ± 8.6 nm and 65.5 ± 8.9 nm, respectively, and the zeta potential of ADBMs-P (−42.0 ± 6.4 mV) was significantly less than that of BMs (−28.6 ± 7.6 mV). The optimal encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of Ara-C were 68.4% ± 9.4% and 32.4% ± 2.9%, respectively, and those of DNR were 36.1% ± 2.5% and 17.9% ± 1.6%. Interestingly, this system also exhibits long-term release behaviour sequentially, without an initial burst release. The Ara-C drug continued to release about 85% within 40 days, while DNR release lasted only for 13 days. Moreover, similar to free drugs, ADBMs-Ps are strongly cytotoxic to cancer cells in vitro (HL-60 cells), with the inhibition rate approximately 96%. This study reveals that this new system has a potential for drug delivery application in the future, especially for combination therapy.
Structural Characterization and Antimicrobial Activities of 7H-Benzo[h]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 14H-Benzo[h]chromeno[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c] pyrimidine Derivatives
Authors: Okasha Rawda , Albalawi Fawzia , Afifi Tarek , Fouda Ahmed , Al-Dies Al-Anood , El-Agrody Ahmed
Published: November 2016

Three new series of chromene molecules have been synthesized in order to explore their antimicrobial activity. The series encompass 2-substituted 14-(4-halophenyl)-12-methoxy-14H-benzo[h]chromeno[3,2-e][1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines 7a–o, 9-benzylideneamino-7-(4-halo-phenyl)-5-methoxy-8-imino-7H-benzo-[h]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidines 8a–b and 3-ethoxycarbonyl-14-(4-halophenyl)-12-methoxy-14H-benzo-[h]chromeno[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-one derivatives 12a–b. The structure of these novel compounds were confirmed using IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR as well as MS spectroscopy. The new compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antimicrobial activity and it was demonstrated that 7H-benzochromenopyrimidine and derivatives of 14H-benzochromenotriazolopyrimidine exhibited the most promising antibacterial activities compared to the reference antimicrobial agents. The structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of the target compounds agreed with the in vitro essays and confirmed higher potent antimicrobial activity against some of the tested microorganisms.
Chemical Constituents of Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia (Kunth) Meisn (Polygonaceae) and Its In Vitro α-Amilase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Torres-Naranjo María , Suárez Alirica , Gilardoni Gianluca , Cartuche Luis , Flores Paola , Morocho Vladimir
Published: November 2016

The phytochemical investigation of Muehlenbeckia tamnifolia, collected in Loja-Ecuador, led to the isolation of nine known compounds identified as: lupeol acetate (1); cis-p-coumaric acid (2); lupeol (3); β-sitosterol (4) trans-p-coumaric acid (5); linoleic acid (6) (+)-catechin (7); afzelin (8) and quercitrin (9). The structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on analysis of NMR and MS data, as well as comparison with the literature. The hypoglycemic activity of crude extracts and isolated compounds was assessed by the ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The hexane extract showed weak inhibitory activity on α-amylase, with an IC50 value of 625 µg·mL−1, while the other extracts and isolated compounds were inactive at the maximum dose tested. The results on α-glucosidase showed more favorable effects; the hexanic and methanolic extracts exhibited a strong inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 48.22 µg·mL−1 and 19.22 µg·mL−1, respectively. Four of the nine isolated compounds exhibited strong inhibitory activity with IC50 values below 8 µM, much higher than acarbose (377 uM). Linoleic acid was the most potent compound (IC50 = 0.42 µM) followed by afzelin, (+)-catechin and quercitrin.
Novel Selective and Potent EGFR Inhibitor that Overcomes T790M-Mediated Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Yanxia , Song Zhendong , Jin Yue , Tang Zeyao , Kang Jian , Ma Xiaodong
Published: November 2016

Treating patients suffering from EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKI) provides excellent response rates. However, approximately 60% of all patients ultimately develop drug resistance due to a second T790M EGFR TKI mutation. In this study, we report the novel molecule N-(3-((5-chloro-2-(4-((1-morpholino)methyl)phenylamino)-4-pyrimidinyl)amino)phenyl)acrylamide (DY3002) to preferentially inhibit the EGFR T790M mutant (EGFRT790M) (IC50 = 0.71 nM) over wild-type EGFR (IC50 = 448.7 nM) in kinase assays. Compared to rociletinib (SI = 21.4) and osimertinib (SI = 40.9), it significantly increased selectivity (SI = 632.0) against EGFRT790M over wild-type EGFR. Furthermore, in cell-based tests, DY3002, with an IC50 value of 0.037 μM, exhibited enhanced inhibitory potency against H1975 cells. Moreover, AO/EB and DAPI staining assays as well as flow cytometer analyses indicated that DY3002 possesses superior biological properties compared to alternatives. In addition, a rat oral glucose tolerance test revealed that treatment with high drug doses (50 mg/kg) of DY3002 did not result in hyperglycemia, suggesting a reduction of side effects in NSCLC patients will be achievable relative to established EGFR inhibitors. In summary, our findings indicate DY3002 as a promising preclinical candidate for effective treatment of patients with EGFRT790M-mutated NSCLC.
LC-MS/MS Validation Analysis of Trastuzumab Using dSIL Approach for Evaluating Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Budhraja Rohit , Shah Milin , Suthar Mahendra , Yadav Arun , Shah Sahil , Kale Prashant , Asvadi Parisa , Valan Arasu Mariadhas , Al-Dhabi Naif , Park Chun , Kim Young-Ock , Kim Hak , Agrawal Y. , Krovidi Ravi.
Published: November 2016

Quantitative targeted proteomics based approaches deploy state-of-the-art Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS technologies and are evolving as a complementary technique to standard ligand-binding based assays. Advancements in MS technology, which have augmented the specificity, selectivity and sensitivity limits of detection and freedom from antibody generation, have made it amicable towards various clinical applications. In our current work, a surrogate peptide based quantitative proteomics assessment is performed by selecting specific signature peptides from the complementary determining region CDR region of trastuzumab (Herclon®, Roche products in India). We developed a double Stable Isotope Label (dSIL) approach by using two different surrogate peptides to evaluate the proteolytic digestion efficiency and accurate quantification of the target analyte peptide of Herclon® in human serum. Method validation experiments were meticulously performed as per bioanalytical method validation guidelines. The dSIL approach, using an LC-MS/MS based quantification assay demonstrated good linearity over a range of 5–500 µg/mL of Herclon®, and validation experimental data is in compliance with bioanalytical regulatory guidelines.
Early Life Fructose Exposure and Its Implications for Long-Term Cardiometabolic Health in Offspring
Authors: Zheng Jia , Feng Qianyun , Zhang Qian , Wang Tong , Xiao Xinhua
Published: November 2016

It has become increasingly clear that maternal nutrition can strongly influence the susceptibility of adult offspring to cardiometabolic disease. For decades, it has been thought that excessive intake of fructose, such as sugar-sweetened beverages and foods, has been linked to increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in various populations. These deleterious effects of excess fructose consumption in adults are well researched, but limited data are available on the long-term effects of high fructose exposure during gestation, lactation, and infancy. This review aims to examine the evidence linking early life fructose exposure during critical periods of development and its implications for long-term cardiometabolic health in offspring.
Using a Kalman Filter to Assimilate TRMM-Based Real-Time Satellite Precipitation Estimates over Jinghe Basin, China
Authors: Chen Jiaqi , Yong Bin , Ren Liliang , Wang Weiguang , Chen Bo , Lin Jianan , Yu Zhongbo , Li Ning
Published: November 2016

In this study, efforts are focused on the comparison and validation of standard Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) products—Version-7 3B42RT estimates before and after assimilation by using a Kalman filter with independent rain gauge networks located within the Jinghe basin of China. Generally, the direct comparison of TMPA precipitation estimates to 200 collocated rain gauges from 2006 to 2008 demonstrate that the spatial and temporal rainfall characteristics over the region are well captured by the assimilation estimates. Especially, results also show that using Kalman filter to assimilate TRMM-based multi-satellite real-time precipitation estimates tends to perform well over regions, where gauge network is rather sparse. Last, this study highlights that accurate detection and estimation of precipitation in the summer season by Kalman filter, particularly for nonlinear convective precipitation events, is still a challenging task for the future development of assimilation technique for improving the satellite-based precipitation accuracy.
Crowdsourcing In-Situ Data on Land Cover and Land Use Using Gamification and Mobile Technology
Authors: Laso Bayas Juan , See Linda , Fritz Steffen , Sturn Tobias , Perger Christoph , Dürauer Martina , Karner Mathias , Moorthy Inian , Schepaschenko Dmitry , Domian Dahlia , McCallum Ian
Published: November 2016

Citizens are increasingly becoming involved in data collection, whether for scientific purposes, to carry out micro-tasks, or as part of a gamified, competitive application. In some cases, volunteered data collection overlaps with that of mapping agencies, e.g., the citizen-based mapping of features in OpenStreetMap. LUCAS (Land Use Cover Area frame Sample) is one source of authoritative in-situ data that are collected every three years across EU member countries by trained personnel at a considerable cost to taxpayers. This paper presents a mobile application called FotoQuest Austria, which involves citizens in the crowdsourcing of in-situ land cover and land use data, including at locations of LUCAS sample points in Austria. The results from a campaign run during the summer of 2015 suggest that land cover and land use can be crowdsourced using a simple protocol based on LUCAS. This has implications for remote sensing as this data stream represents a new source of potentially valuable information for the training and validation of land cover maps as well as for area estimation purposes. Although the most detailed and challenging classes were more difficult for untrained citizens to recognize, the agreement between the crowdsourced data and the LUCAS data for basic high level land cover and land use classes in homogeneous areas (ca. 80%) shows clear potential. Recommendations for how to further improve the quality of the crowdsourced data in the context of LUCAS are provided so that this source of data might one day be accurate enough for land cover mapping purposes.
Generic Methodology for Field Calibration of Nacelle-Based Wind Lidars
Authors: Borraccino Antoine , Courtney Michael , Wagner Rozenn
Published: November 2016

Nacelle-based Doppler wind lidars have shown promising capabilities to assess power performance, detect yaw misalignment or perform feed-forward control. The power curve application requires uncertainty assessment. Traceable measurements and uncertainties of nacelle-based wind lidars can be obtained through a methodology applicable to any type of existing and upcoming nacelle lidar technology. The generic methodology consists in calibrating all the inputs of the wind field reconstruction algorithms of a lidar. These inputs are the line-of-sight velocity and the beam position, provided by the geometry of the scanning trajectory and the lidar inclination. The line-of-sight velocity is calibrated in atmospheric conditions by comparing it to a reference quantity based on classic instrumentation such as cup anemometers and wind vanes. The generic methodology was tested on two commercially developed lidars, one continuous wave and one pulsed systems, and provides consistent calibration results: linear regressions show a difference of ∼0.5% between the lidar-measured and reference line-of-sight velocities. A comprehensive uncertainty procedure propagates the reference uncertainty to the lidar measurements. At a coverage factor of two, the estimated line-of-sight velocity uncertainty ranges from 3.2% at 3 m · s − 1 to 1.9% at 16 m · s − 1 . Most of the line-of-sight velocity uncertainty originates from the reference: the cup anemometer uncertainty accounts for ∼90% of the total uncertainty. The propagation of uncertainties to lidar-reconstructed wind characteristics can use analytical methods in simple cases, which we demonstrate through the example of a two-beam system. The newly developed calibration methodology allows robust evaluation of a nacelle lidar’s performance and uncertainties to be established. Calibrated nacelle lidars may consequently be further used for various wind turbine applications in confidence.
The Use of C-/X-Band Time-Gapped SAR Data and Geotechnical Models for the Study of Shanghai’s Ocean-Reclaimed Lands through the SBAS-DInSAR Technique
Authors: Pepe Antonio , Bonano Manuela , Zhao Qing , Yang Tianliang , Wang Hanmei
Published: November 2016

In this work, we investigate the temporal evolution of ground deformation affecting the ocean-reclaimed lands of the Shanghai (China) megacity, from 2007 to 2016, by applying the Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) technique known as the Small BAseline Subset (SBAS) algorithm. For the analysis, we exploited two sets of non-time-overlapped synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, acquired from 2007 to 2010, by the ASAR/ENVISAT (C-band) instrument, and from 2014 to 2016 by the X-band COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) sensors. The long time gap (of about three years) existing between the available C- and X-band datasets made the generation of unique displacement time-series more difficult. Nonetheless, this problem was successfully solved by benefiting from knowledge of time-dependent geotechnical models, which describe the temporal evolution of the expected deformation affecting Shanghai’s ocean-reclaimed platforms. The combined ENVISAT/CSK (vertical) deformation time-series were analyzed to gain insight into the future evolution of displacement signals within the investigated area. As an outcome, we find that ocean-reclaimed lands in Shanghai experienced, between 2007 and 2016, average cumulative (vertical) displacements extending down to 25 centimeters.
3D Buried Utility Location Using A Marching-Cross-Section Algorithm for Multi-Sensor Data Fusion
Authors: Dou Qingxu , Wei Lijun , Magee Derek , Atkins Phil , Chapman David , Curioni Giulio , Goddard Kevin , Hayati Farzad , Jenks Hugo , Metje Nicole , Muggleton Jennifer , Pennock Steve , Rustighi Emiliano , Swingler Steven , Rogers Christopher , Cohn Anthony
Published: November 2016

We address the problem of accurately locating buried utility segments by fusing data from multiple sensors using a novel Marching-Cross-Section (MCS) algorithm. Five types of sensors are used in this work: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Passive Magnetic Fields (PMF), Magnetic Gradiometer (MG), Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (LFEM) and Vibro-Acoustics (VA). As part of the MCS algorithm, a novel formulation of the extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is proposed for marching existing utility tracks from a scan cross-section (scs) to the next one; novel rules for initializing utilities based on hypothesized detections on the first scs and for associating predicted utility tracks with hypothesized detections in the following scss are introduced. Algorithms are proposed for generating virtual scan lines based on given hypothesized detections when different sensors do not share common scan lines, or when only the coordinates of the hypothesized detections are provided without any information of the actual survey scan lines. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated with both synthetic data and real data. The experimental results in this work demonstrate that the proposed MCS algorithm can locate multiple buried utility segments simultaneously, including both straight and curved utilities, and can separate intersecting segments. By using the probabilities of a hypothesized detection being a pipe or a cable together with its 3D coordinates, the MCS algorithm is able to discriminate a pipe and a cable close to each other. The MCS algorithm can be used for both post- and on-site processing. When it is used on site, the detected tracks on the current scs can help to determine the location and direction of the next scan line. The proposed “multi-utility multi-sensor” system has no limit to the number of buried utilities or the number of sensors, and the more sensor data used, the more buried utility segments can be detected with more accurate location and orientation.
Reconsidering Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood
Authors: Furstenberg Frank
Published: November 2016

This paper looks back at the findings reported in Destinies of the Disadvantaged: The Politics of Teenage Parenthood, a decade after its publication in light of recent research. Increasingly, the most methodologically sophisticated research has minimized the “causal impact” of early childbearing on later life events consistent with the findings of the Baltimore Study. I argue in the paper that we must see early childbearing primarily as a marker rather than a cause of economic disadvantage. As such, reducing early childbearing will have a minimal impact on the lives of highly disadvantaged teens unless those teens use the delay in childbearing to improve their education and labor market prospects.
Peer-Review Writing Workshops in College Courses: Students’ Perspectives about Online and Classroom Based Workshops
Authors: Jensen Erin
Published: November 2016

Peer-review workshops are commonly used in writing courses as a way for students to give their peers feedback as well as help their own writing. Most of the research on peer-review workshops focuses on workshops held in traditional in-person courses, with less research on peer-review workshops held online. Students in a freshman writing course experienced both a classroom based writing workshop and an online workshop and then took a survey about their experiences. The majority of the students preferred the online writing workshop because of the convenience of the workshop and being able to post anonymous reviews. Students whom preferred the traditional in-person writing workshop liked being able to talk with their peers about their papers. This research article focuses on the students’ responses and experiences with traditional and online peer-reviews.
The Role of Public Transport in Society—A Case Study of General Policy Documents in Sweden
Authors: Stjernborg Vanessa , Mattisson Ola
Published: November 2016

The aim of this paper is to study how local governments in Sweden view the role of public transport in society, and to investigate how public transport is used in a strategic capacity. By studying general policy documents, the ambition is to gain a wider understanding of the role of public transport based on the societal context it is situated in. Documents from 15 regions and 27 municipalities have been analysed by a qualitative content analysis. Results show that public transport is regarded as an important factor towards achieving other goals and other public values, particularly those related to economic and environmental issues; and that the social dimension is not as prioritised. Rail-bound public transport is often advocated, as are collaboration between organizations and integrated land-use and transport planning. However, the studied documents showed large overall differences in how counties and municipalities address public transport issues. It should be a priority in Sweden’s main steering documents to treat public transport consistently and give it the same priority as other societal functions—not least because Sweden’s treatment of public transport is a reasonable reflection of its overall society and can influence prioritisations and considerations in counties and municipalities across the country.
Marine Bryozoa of Greece: an annotated checklist
Authors: Gerovasileiou Vasilis , Rosso Antonietta
Published: November 2016

Until today, a complete checklist of Bryozoa of the Greek seas had never been published and species records were scattered in several taxonomic and ecological studies. The aim of this paper is to produce a first checklist of marine bryozoan species of Greece, in the framework of the Greek Taxon Information System (GTIS) initiative of the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure (ESFRI), by reviewing the existing literature and following the recent trends in the taxonomy of this group. ﻿

The marine bryozoan fauna of Greece comprises 237 species, classified in 127 genera, 66 families, 3 orders, and 2 classes. The vast majority belongs to the class Gymnolaemata (177 Cheilostomatida and 21 Ctenostomatida), while the remaining 39 species are Stenolaemata (all Cyclostomatida). Among these species, 12 are considered endemic to the eastern Mediterranean, while another 12 species are non-indigenous.
Porifera of Greece: an updated checklist
Authors: Voultsiadou Eleni , Gerovasileiou Vasilis , Bailly Nicolas
Published: November 2016

The checklist of Porifera of Greece was created in the framework of the Greek Taxon Information System (GTIS), an initiative of the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) that has resumed efforts to compile a complete checklist of species recorded from Greece. An updated checklist of Porifera was created on the basis of a list of the Aegean Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha published one decade ago. All records of species known to occur in Greek waters were taxonomically validated and cross-checked for possible inaccuracies and omissions. Then, all recent publications were reviewed and the species recorded from 2006 to date were added to the list.

The updated checklist of Porifera of Greece comprises 215 species, classified to 111 genera, 65 families, 24 orders, and 4 classes. In total, 34 new additions were made to the previous species list (8 Calcarea, 17 Demospongiae, 1 Hexactinellida, and 6 Homoscleromorpha) with Calcarea being listed for the first time from the area. The demosponge orders Poecilosclerida, Dictyoceratida, Tetractinellida, Haplosclerida, and Suberitida have the highest number of species covering 62% of the known Greek sponge species richness. It is worth mentioning that 8 species have been first described from Greek waters, 7 of which are considered endemic to this area. Our bibliographic overview also revealed knowledge gaps with regard to specific habitats typically rich in sponge diversity, and marine sectors of Greece.
Ascidiacea (Chordata: Tunicata) of Greece: an updated checklist
Authors: Antoniadou Chryssanthi , Gerovasileiou Vasilis , Bailly Nicolas
Published: November 2016

The checklist of the ascidian fauna (Tunicata: Ascidiacea) of Greece was compiled within the framework of the Greek Taxon Information System (GTIS), an application of the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure (ESFRI) aiming to produce a complete checklist of species recorded from Greece. This checklist was constructed by updating an existing one with the inclusion of recently published records. All the reported species from Greek waters were taxonomically revised and cross-checked with the Ascidiacea World Database.

The updated checklist of the class Ascidiacea of Greece comprises 75 species, classified in 33 genera, 12 families, and 3 orders. In total, 8 species have been added to the previous species list (4 Aplousobranchia, 2 Phlebobranchia, and 2 Stolidobranchia). Aplousobranchia was the most speciose order, followed by Stolidobranchia. Most species belonged to the families Didemnidae, Polyclinidae, Pyuridae, Ascidiidae, and Styelidae; these 4 families comprise 76% of the Greek ascidian species richness. The present effort revealed the limited taxonomic research effort devoted to the ascidian fauna of Greece, which is attributed to the lack of experts and low sampling effort. Therefore, major knowledge gaps on the ascidian diversity of Greece occur and further research in this field is needed.
Subclinical Synovitis Assessed by Ultrasound Predicts Flare and Progressive Bone Erosion in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Clinical Remission: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis
Authors: Han Jingjing , Geng Yan , Deng Xuerong , Zhang Zhuoli
Published: November 2016

Objective.

Subclinical synovitis can be detected by ultrasound in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are in clinical remission. We aimed to confirm its predictive value for flare and progressive bone erosion.

Methods.

A systematic literature search was performed in Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library on September 7, 2014. Baseline clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics were collected. Methodological quality was assessed. Pooled OR were calculated using Mantel-Haenszel model. We explored the source of heterogeneity through subgroup analysis and completed a cumulative metaanalysis.

Results.

Thirteen articles were included (8 with flare, 4 with bone erosion, 1 with both flare and bone erosion). Metaanalysis revealed an association between power Doppler (PD) positivity and the risk of flare (OR 4.52, 95% CI 2.61–7.84, p < 0.00001, I2 = 21%), the risk of progressive bone erosion on patient level (OR 12.80, 95% CI 1.29–126.81, p = 0.03, I2 = 52%) and the risk of progressive bone erosion on joint level (OR 11.85, 95% CI 5.01–28.03, p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%). Further subgroup analysis showed a higher risk of flare in patients with a study period < 1 year (OR 19.98 vs 3.41). No significant differences were observed in the subgroup analysis in duration of remission, disease duration, and medications. Moreover, cumulative metaanalysis indicated the validation and an increasing accuracy of PD positivity in predicting flare since 2012.

Conclusion.

Ultrasound-detected subclinical synovitis can predict the risk of flare and progressive bone erosion in RA patients with clinical remission. Additionally, the flare of RA tends to occur within a followup of 1 year.
Physical Function and Spinal Mobility Remain Stable Despite Radiographic Spinal Progression in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with TNF-α Inhibitors for Up to 10 Years
Authors: Poddubnyy Denis , Fedorova Aleksandra , Listing Joachim , Haibel Hildrun , Baraliakos Xenofon , Braun Jürgen , Sieper Joachim
Published: November 2016

Objective.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of radiographic spinal progression and disease activity on function and spinal mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors for up to 10 years.

Methods.

Patients with AS who participated in 2 longterm open-label extensions of clinical trials with TNF-α inhibitors (43 receiving infliximab and 17 receiving etanercept) were included in this analysis based on the availability of spinal radiographs performed at baseline and at a later timepoint (yr 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) during followup. Spinal radiographs were scored according to the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Function was assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), spinal mobility by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), and disease activity by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI).

Results.

After the initial improvement, BASFI and BASMI remained remarkably stable at low levels over up to 10 years despite radiographic spinal progression. In the generalized mixed effects model analysis, no association between the mSASSS and the BASFI change (β = 0.0, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.03) was found, while there was some effect of mSASSS changes on BASMI changes over time (β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.01–0.09). BASDAI showed a strong association with function (β = 0.64, 95% CI 0.54–0.73) and to a lesser extent, with spinal mobility (β = 0.14, 95% CI 0.01–0.26).

Conclusion.

Functional status and spinal mobility of patients with established AS remained stable during longterm anti-TNF-α therapy despite radiographic progression. This indicates that reduction and continuous control of inflammation might be able to outweigh the functional effect of structural damage progression in AS.