bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences between Motile and Nonmotile Cells of Haematococcus pluvialis in the Production of Astaxanthin at Different Light Intensities
Authors: Li Feng , Cai Minggang , Lin Mingwei , Huang Xianghu , Wang Jun , Ke Hongwei , Zheng Xuehong , Chen Ding , Wang Chunhui , Wu Shaoting , An Yu
Published: January 2019

Haematococcus pluvialis, as the best natural resource of astaxanthin, is widely used in nutraceuticals, aquaculture, and cosmetic industries. The purpose of this work was to compare the differences in astaxanthin accumulation between motile and nonmotile cells of H. pluvialis and to determine the relationship between the two cells and astaxanthin production. The experiment design was achieved by two different types of H. pluvialis cell and three different light intensities for an eight day induction period. The astaxanthin concentrations in nonmotile cell cultures were significantly increased compared to motile cell cultures. The increase of astaxanthin was closely associated with the enlargement of cell size, and the nonmotile cells were more conducive to the formation of large astaxanthin-rich cysts than motile cells. The cyst enlargement and astaxanthin accumulation of H. pluvialis were both affected by light intensity, and a general trend was that the higher the light intensity, the larger the cysts formed, and the larger the quantity of astaxanthin accumulated. In addition, the relatively low cell mortality rate in the nonmotile cell cultures indicated that the nonmotile cells have a stronger tolerance to photooxidative stress. We suggest that applying nonmotile cells as the major cell type of H. pluvialis to the induction period may help to enhance the content of astaxanthin and the stability of astaxanthin production.
Inhibitor of DNA-Binding/Differentiation Proteins and Environmental Toxicants: Genomic Impact on the Onset of Depressive Dysfunction
Authors: Avecilla Vincent , Avecilla Andrea
Published: January 2019

The ongoing growth of the international occurrence of depression and its ability to co-occur with other serious medical disorders, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease, is a current public health problem. Inhibitor of DNA-Binding/Differentiation (ID) proteins are part of a group of transcriptional factors that have shown involvement in neurocognitive disorders and, therefore, may have influence on depressive disorders. Previously, it has been established that exposure to environmental estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and bisphenol A (BPA), have played an important role in the modulation of depressive disorders. Hence, based on many studies, we consider the impact of these environmental pollutants on the group of ID proteins and how they impact depressive outcomes. Improved knowledge of how ID proteins interact with depressive disorders, through EED exposure, will contribute essential evidence that can further benefit our public health community with innovative knowledge to prevent these types of mental illnesses.
Preparation and Properties of Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Alginate/Tranexamic Acid Composite Films
Authors: Zhong Qing-Kun , Wu Ze-Yin , Qin Ya-Qi , Hu Zhang , Li Si-Dong , Yang Zi-Ming , Li Pu-Wang
Published: January 2019

In this study, the porous composite films of carboxymethyl chitosan/alginate/tranexamic acid were fabricated, with calcium chloride as the crosslinking agent and glycerin as a plasticizer. The composite films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The properties of the composite films, including water absorption, air permeability, and cumulative release rate, were tested. In addition, their hemostatic performance was evaluated. The results showed that the appearance of the films with good adhesion was smooth and porous. FTIR showed that chemical crosslinking between carboxymethyl chitosan and sodium alginate was successful. The excellent cumulative release of tranexamic acid in the composite films (60–80%) gives the films a significant procoagulant effect. This has good prospects for the development of medical hemostasis materials.
Numerical Simulation of Three-Dimensional Mesoscopic Grain Evolution: Model Development, Validation, and Application to Nickel-Based Superalloys
Authors: Guo Zhao , Zhou Jianxin , Yin Yajun , Shen Xu , Ji Xiaoyuan
Published: January 2019

The mesoscopic grain model is a multiscale model which takes into account both the dendrite growth mechanism and the vast numerical computation of the actual castings. Due to the pursuit of efficient computation, the mesoscopic grain calculation accuracy is lower than that of dendrite growth model. Improving the accuracy of mesoscopic grain model is a problem to be solved urgently. In this study, referring to the calculation method of solid fraction in microscopic dendrite growth model, a cellular automata model of 3D mesoscopic grain evolution for solid fraction calculated quantitatively at the scale of cell is developed. The developed model and algorithm validation for grain growth simulation is made by comparing the numerical results with the benchmark experimental data and the analytical predictions. The results show that the 3D grain envelopes simulated by the developed model and algorithm are coincident with the shape predicted by the analytical model to a certain extent. Then, the developed model is applied to the numerical simulation of solidification process of nickel-based superalloys, including equiaxed and columnar dendritic grain growth. Our results show good agreement with the related literature.
Diffraction Line Profile Analysis of 3D Wedge Samples of Ti-6Al-4V Fabricated Using Four Different Additive Manufacturing Processes
Authors: Cottam Ryan , Palanisamy Suresh , Avdeev Maxim , Jarvis Tom , Henry Chad , Cuiuri Dominic , Balogh Levente , Abdul Rahman Rashid Rizwan
Published: January 2019

Wedge-shaped samples were manufactured by four different Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes, namely selective laser melting (SLM), electron beam melting (EBM), direct metal deposition (DMD), and wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), using Ti-6Al-4V as the feed material. A high-resolution powder diffractometer was used to measure the diffraction patterns of the samples whilst rotated about two axes to collect detected neutrons from all possible lattice planes. The diffraction pattern of a LaB6 standard powder sample was also measured to characterize the instrumental broadening and peak shapes necessary for the Diffraction Line Profile Analysis. The line profile analysis was conducted using the extended Convolution Multiple Whole Profile (eCMWP) procedure. Once analyzed, it was found that there was significant variation in the dislocation densities between the SLMed and the EBMed samples, although having a similar manufacturing technique. While the samples fabricated via WAAM and the DMD processes showed almost similar dislocation densities, they were, however, different in comparison to the other two AM processes, as expected. The hexagonal (HCP) crystal structure of the predominant α-Ti phase allowed a breakdown of the percentage of the Burgers’ vectors possible for this crystal structure. All four techniques exhibited different combinations of the three possible Burgers’ vectors, and these differences were attributed to the variation in the cooling rates experienced by the parts fabricated using these AM processes.
Alteration of Metabolic Pathways in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Zhai Guangju
Published: January 2019

Sir Archibald Edward Garrod, who pioneered the field of inborn errors of metabolism and first elucidated the biochemical basis of alkaptonuria over 100 years ago, suggested that inborn errors of metabolism were “merely extreme examples of variations of chemical behavior which are probably everywhere present in minor degrees, just as no two individuals of a species are absolutely identical in bodily structure neither are their chemical processes carried out on exactly the same lines”, and that this “chemical individuality [confers] predisposition to and immunities from various mishaps which are spoken of as diseases”. Indeed, with advances in analytical biochemistry, especially the development of metabolomics in the post-genomic era, emerging data have been demonstrating that the levels of many metabolites do show substantial interindividual variation, and some of which are likely to be associated with common diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Much work has been reported in the literature on the metabolomics of OA in recent years. In this narrative review, we provided an overview of the identified alteration of metabolic pathways in OA and discussed the role of those identified metabolites and related pathways in OA diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Wireless Electrochemical Detection on a Microfluidic Compact Disc (CD) and Evaluation of Redox-Amplification during Flow
Authors: Bauer Maria , Bartoli Jaume , Martinez-Chapa Sergio , Madou Marc
Published: January 2019

Novel biomarkers and lower limits of detection enable improved diagnostics. In this paper we analyze the influence of flow on the lower limit of electrochemical detection on a microfluidic Compact Disc (CD). Implementing wireless transfer of data reduces noise during measurements and allows for real time sensing, demonstrated with the ferri-ferroyanide redox-couple in single and dual mode cyclic voltammetry. The impact of flow on redox-amplification and electrode integration for the lowest limit of detection are discussed.
Exploitation of Three Non-Conventional Yeast Species in the Brewing Process
Authors: Canonico Laura , Galli Edoardo , Ciani Enrico , Comitini Francesca , Ciani Maurizio
Published: January 2019

Consumers require high-quality beers with specific enhanced flavor profiles and non-conventional yeasts could represent a large source of bioflavoring diversity to obtain new beer styles. In this work, we investigated the use of three different non-conventional yeasts belonging to Lachancea thermotolerans, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, and Zygotorulaspora florentina species in pure and mixed fermentation with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae commercial starter US-05. All three non-conventional yeasts were competitive in co-cultures with the S. cerevisiae, and they dominated fermentations with 1:20 ratio (S. cerevisiae/non-conventional yeasts ratios). Pure non-conventional yeasts and co-cultures affected significantly the beer aroma. A general reduction in acetaldehyde content in all mixed fermentations was found. L. thermotolerans and Z. florentina in mixed and W. anomalus in pure cultures increased higher alcohols. L. thermotolerans led to a large reduction in pH value, producing, in pure culture, a large amount of lactic acid (1.83 g/L) while showing an enhancement of ethyl butyrate and ethyl acetate in all pure and mixed fermentations. W. anomalus decreased the main aroma compounds in comparison with the S. cerevisiae but showed a significant increase in ethyl butyrate and ethyl acetate. Beers produced with Z. florentina were characterized by an increase in the isoamyl acetate and α-terpineol content.
Crystallization Behaviour of Iron-Hydroxide Sulphates by Aging under Ambient Temperature Conditions
Authors: Jiménez Amalia , Hernández Ana , Prieto Manuel
Published: January 2019

The crystallization behaviour of jarosite and schwertmannite has been studied by precipitation-aging experiments performed using different parent-solution concentrations at acidic conditions and ambient temperature. Schwertmannite exhibits low crystallinity and is the only mineral identified during low-concentration (LC) experiments. However, in high-concentration (HC) experiments, a relatively rapid Ostwald ripening process leads to the transformation of schwertmannite into natrojarosite. The presence of sodium modifies the morphology and stability of the obtained phases. TEM observations reveal that schwertmannite particles consist of disoriented nanodomains (~6 nm) spread in an amorphous mass. In contrast, natrojarosite particles exhibit a single-domain, highly crystalline core, with the crystallinity decreasing from core to rim. The thermal behaviour of these phases depends on both their composition and their degree of crystallinity. TG and DTG analyses show that, below 500 °C, the amount of structural water is clearly higher in schwertmannite than in natrojarosite. The present results highlight the role of the ripening processes in epigenetic conditions and could be important in interpreting the formation of jarosite in Earth and Martian surface environments.
A Software Architecture to Mimic a Ventricular Tachycardia in Intact Murine Hearts by Means of an All-Optical Platform
Authors: Giardini Francesco , Biasci Valentina , Scardigli Marina , Pavone Francesco S. , Bub Gil , Sacconi Leonardo
Published: January 2019

Optogenetics is an emerging method that uses light to manipulate electrical activity in excitable cells exploiting the interaction between light and light-sensitive depolarizing ion channels, such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). Initially used in the neuroscience, it has been adopted in cardiac research where the expression of ChR2 in cardiac preparations allows optical pacing, resynchronization and defibrillation. Recently, optogenetics has been leveraged to manipulate cardiac electrical activity in the intact heart in real-time. This new approach was applied to simulate a re-entrant circuit across the ventricle. In this technical note, we describe the development and the implementation of a new software package for real-time optogenetic intervention. The package consists of a single LabVIEW program that simultaneously captures images at very high frame rates and delivers precisely timed optogenetic stimuli based on the content of the images. The software implementation guarantees closed-loop optical manipulation at high temporal resolution by processing the raw data in workstation memory. We demonstrate that this strategy allows the simulation of a ventricular tachycardia with high stability and with a negligible loss of data with a temporal resolution of up to 1 ms.
Living and Working in a Multisensory World: From Basic Neuroscience to the Hospital
Authors: Burdick Kendall , Courtney Madison , Wallace Mark , Baum Miller Sarah , Schlesinger Joseph
Published: January 2019

The intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital is an environment subjected to ceaseless noise. Patient alarms contribute to the saturated auditory environment and often overwhelm healthcare providers with constant and false alarms. This may lead to alarm fatigue and prevent optimum patient care. In response, a multisensory alarm system developed with consideration for human neuroscience and basic music theory is proposed as a potential solution. The integration of auditory, visual, and other sensory output within an alarm system can be used to convey more meaningful clinical information about patient vital signs in the ICU and operating room to ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Significant Enhancement of the Visible Light Photocatalytic Properties in 3D BiFeO3/Graphene Composites
Authors: Li Jiquan , Wang Youyan , Ling Huan , Qiu Ye , Lou Jia , Hou Xu , Bag Sankar Parsad , Wang Jie , Wu Huaping , Chai Guozhong
Published: January 2019

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) submicron cubes and 3D BFO/graphene composite materials were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process. The crystallization processes of the 3D BFO/graphene composites with different graphene oxide (GO) concentrations were studied for their visible light photocatalytic properties. Compared to the single BFO submicron cubes, 3D BFO/graphene composites have greatly improved photocatalytic activity. A high photocatalytic performance is obtained at a GO concentration of 3 mg/mL, with the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) dye reaching up to 92% in 140 min. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the large specific surface area and 3D architecture of 3D composites, which provide more transport paths to effectively improve the separation rate of photo-generated electrons and holes. Therefore, 3D BFO/graphene composites have a broad prospect of application in the field of photocatalysis.
Nanocrystalline Cr-Ni Alloying Layer Induced by High-Current Pulsed Electron Beam
Authors: Zhang Lingyan , Peng Ching-Tun , Guan Jintong , Lv Peng , Guan Qingfeng , Lu Ruifeng
Published: January 2019

In this investigation, chromium (Cr) was adopted as an alloying element on a nickel substrate, and the alloying process was materialized via high-current pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also conducted for microstructure characterization. The results showed that after HCPEB irradiation a nanocrystalline Cr-Ni alloying layer was formed and numerous dislocations were generated, resulting in a great deal of diffusion paths for Cr elements. Moreover, properties including hardness, wear and electrochemical performance were significantly improved after HCPEB irradiation, which was mainly due to the formation of the nanocrystalline Cr–Ni alloying layer. In addition, each strengthening mechanism that contributed to the hardness of the HCPEB-irradiated sample was mathematically analyzed, and solid solution strengthening was found to be of great importance.
Antitumor Effect of Various Phytochemicals on Diverse Types of Thyroid Cancers
Authors: Shin Hye-Ji , Hwang Kyung-A , Choi Kyung-Chul
Published: January 2019

Thyroid cancers developed from the tissues of the thyroid gland are classified into papillary (PTC), follicular (FTC), medullary (MTC), and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Although thyroid cancers have been generally known as mild forms of cancer, undifferentiated MTC and ATC have a more unfavorable prognosis than differentiated PTC and FTC because they are more aggressive and early metastatic. A variety of therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been currently used to treat thyroid cancer, but they still have limitations including drug resistance or unfavorable side effects. Phytochemicals are plant-derived chemicals having various physiological activities that are expected to be effective in cancer treatment. In this review, anticancer efficacy of phytochemicals, such as resveratrol, genistein, curcumin, and other substances in each type of thyroid cancer was introduced with their chemopreventive mechanisms. English articles related with thyroid cancer and anti-thyroid cancer of phytochemicals were searched from PubMed and Google Scholar. This article mainly focused on in vitro or animal studies on phytochemicals with anti-thyroid cancer activity. These various phytochemicals have been shown to induce apoptosis in all types of thyroid cancer cells, inhibit cell proliferation and invasion, and to be helpful in enhancing the effect of radioiodine therapy that is a typical therapy to thyroid cancer. These results suggest that thyroid cancer can be more effectively treated by the combinations of phytochemicals and the existing therapies or substances.
Process Optimization and Upscaling of Spray-Dried Drug-Amino acid Co-Amorphous Formulations
Authors: Kasten Georgia , Duarte Íris , Paisana Maria , Löbmann Korbinian , Rades Thomas , Grohganz Holger
Published: January 2019

The feasibility of upscaling the formulation of co-amorphous indomethacin-lysine from lab-scale to pilot-scale spray drying was investigated. A 22 full factorial design of experiments (DoE) was employed at lab scale. The atomization gas flow rate (Fatom, from 0.5 to 1.4 kg/h) and outlet temperature (Tout, from 55 to 75 °C) were chosen as the critical process parameters. The obtained amorphization, glass transition temperature, bulk density, yield, and particle size distribution were chosen as the critical quality attributes. In general, the model showed low Fatom and high Tout to be beneficial for the desired product characteristics (a co-amorphous formulation with a low bulk density, high yield, and small particle size). In addition, only a low Fatom and high Tout led to the desired complete co-amorphization, while a minor residual crystallinity was observed with the other combinations of Fatom and Tout. Finally, upscaling to a pilot scale spray dryer was carried out based on the DoE results; however, the drying gas flow rate and the feed flow rate were adjusted to account for the different drying chamber geometries. An increased likelihood to achieve complete amorphization, because of the extended drying chamber, and hence an increased residence time of the droplets in the drying gas, was found in the pilot scale, confirming the feasibility of upscaling spray drying as a production technique for co-amorphous systems.
Computational Analysis of Nonuniform Expansion in Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Niedziela D. , Ireka I. E. , Steiner K.
Published: January 2019

This paper computationally investigates heterogeneity in the distribution of foam fraction in chemically expanding blown polyurethane foam. The experimentally observed disparity in the volumes of expanded foam when an equal mass of the foaming mixture was injected into tubes of different dimensions motivated this study. To understand this phenomenon, attributed to local variations in the thermal and rheological properties of the expanding system, we explore available data from free-rise foam-expansion experiments in different geometries. Inspired by the mathematical framework for the microstructure modelling of bubble growth in viscous liquids, we study the reacting mixture as a continuum and formulate appropriate mathematical models that account for spatial inhomogeneity in the foam-expansion process. The nonlinear coupled system of partial differential equations governing flow was numerically solved using finite-volume techniques, and the associated results are presented and discussed with graphical illustrations. The proximity of the foaming-mixture core to the external environment and the thickness of a thermal-diffusion layer formed near the bounding geometry was seen to influence the distribution of the foam fraction. Our simulations showed an average spatial variation of about 1.1% in the distribution of solid foam fraction from the walls to the core, as verified with data from μ CT scan analysis of the expanded foam. This also reflects the distribution of void fraction in the foam matrix. The models were validated with experimental data, and our results favourably compared with the experiment observations.
Extrusion Foaming of Lightweight Polystyrene Composite Foams with Controllable Cellular Structure for Sound Absorption Application
Authors: Fei Yanpei , Fang Wei , Zhong Mingqiang , Jin Jiangming , Fan Ping , Yang Jintao , Fei Zhengdong , Xu Lixin , Chen Feng
Published: January 2019

Polymer foams are promising for sound absorption applications. In order to process an industrial product, a series of polystyrene (PS) composite foams were prepared by continuous extrusion foaming assisted by supercritical CO2. Because the cell size and cell density were the key to determine the sound absorption coefficient at normal incidence, the bio-resource lignin was employed for the first time to control the cellular structure on basis of hetero-nucleation effect. The sound absorption range of the PS/lignin composite foams was corresponding to the cellular structure and lignin content. As a result, the maximum sound absorption coefficient at normal incidence was higher than 0.90. For a comparison, multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and micro graphite (mGr) particles were also used as the nucleation agent during the foaming process, respectively, which were more effective on the hetero-nucleation effect. The mechanical property and thermal stability of various foams were measured as well. Lignin showed a fire retardant effect in PS composite foam.
Recent Progress in Thermoelectric Materials Based on Conjugated Polymers
Authors: Yao Chang-Jiang , Zhang Hao-Li , Zhang Qichun
Published: January 2019

Organic thermoelectric (TE) materials can directly convert heat to electricity, and they are emerging as new materials for energy harvesting and cooling technologies. The performance of TE materials mainly depends on the properties of materials, including the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability. Traditional TE materials are mostly based on low-bandgap inorganic compounds, such as bismuth chalcogenide, lead telluride, and tin selenide, while organic materials as promising TE materials are attracting more and more attention because of their intrinsic advantages, including cost-effectiveness, easy processing, low density, low thermal conductivity, and high flexibility. However, to meet the requirements of practical applications, the performance of organic TE materials needs much improvement. A variety of efforts have been made to enhance the performance of organic TE materials, including the modification of molecular structure, and chemical or electrochemical doping. In this review, we summarize recent progress in organic TE materials, and discuss the feasible strategies for enhancing the properties of organic TE materials for future energy-harvesting applications.
Modeling/Simulation of the Dividing Wall Column by Using the Rigorous Model
Authors: Zhai Chi , Liu Qinjun , Romagnoli Jose A. , Sun Wei
Published: January 2019

Dividing wall column (DWC) is an atypical distillation column with an internal, vertical WE partition wall that effectively accommodates two conventional distillation columns into one to improve the thermodynamic efficiency. In previous studies, different equivalent models by combining conventional columns are adopted to approximate the DWC modeling, which may not well describe the integration of the DWC; moreover, the computational cost increases when multiple columns are implemented to represent one DWC. In this paper, a rigorous mathematical model is proposed based on the mass balance, the energy and phase equilibrium of the DWC, where decision variables and state variables are equally treated. The model was developed in the general process modeling system (gPROMS). Based on the rigorous model, the influences of liquid split ratio and vapor split ratio are discussed, and it is shown that the heat duty is sensitive to changes on the liquid and vapor split ratio. Inappropriate liquid and vapor split ratio will increase the mixing effects at both ends of the dividing wall, and adversely affect the thermodynamic efficiency. Hence, the degree of mixing is defined to characterize the column efficiency. Furthermore, the middle component split ratio at the top of the pre-fractionator has an optimal point for better energy saving with certain liquid and vapor split ratios, and can be used as an indicator for the energy performance. Finally, the model was tested and validated against literature data by using the ternary benzene–toluene–xylene mixture system as a case study.
Ambient Pressure-Dried Graphene–Composite Carbon Aerogel for Capacitive Deionization
Authors: Zhang Chen , Wang Xiaodong , Wang Hongqiang , Wu Xueling , Shen Jun
Published: January 2019

Capacitive deionization (CDI) technology possessing excellent desalination performance and energy efficiency is currently being widely studied in seawater desalination. In this work, the graphene–composite carbon aerogels (GCCAs) easily prepared by an ambient pressure drying method served as electrodes to remove salt ions in aqueous solution by CDI. The microstructure of the obtained GCCAs was found to depend on the component content in the precursor solution, and could be controlled through varying the mass ratio of resorcinol and formaldehyde to graphene oxide (RF/GO). The surface characteristics and microstructure of GCCAs were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the electrochemical tests and CDI experiments of GCCA electrodes were conducted in NaCl solution. Thanks to the reasonable pore structure and highly conductive network, GCCA-150 achieved the best salt adsorption capacity of 26.9 mg/g and 18.9 mg/g in NaCl solutions with concentrations of 500 mg/L and 250 mg/L, respectively.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Proteomes in 2018
Authors: Proteomes Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Recycling in 2018
Authors: Recycling Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Assessing Correlation of High-Resolution NDVI with Fertilizer Application Level and Yield of Rice and Wheat Crops Using Small UAVs
Authors: Guan Senlin , Fukami Koichiro , Matsunaka Hitoshi , Okami Midori , Tanaka Ryo , Nakano Hiroshi , Sakai Tetsufumi , Nakano Keiko , Ohdan Hideki , Takahashi Kimiyasu
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to use small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for determining high-resolution normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values. Subsequently, these results were used to assess their correlations with fertilizer application levels and the yields of rice and wheat crops. For multispectral sensing, we flew two types of small UAVs (DJI Phantom 4 and DJI Phantom 4 Pro)—each equipped with a compact multispectral sensor (Parrot Sequoia). The information collected was composed of numerous RGB orthomosaic images as well as reflectance maps with spatial resolution greater than a ground sampling distance of 10.5 cm. From 223 UAV flight campaigns over 120 fields with a total area coverage of 77.48 ha, we determined that the highest efficiency for the UAV-based remote sensing measurement was approximately 19.8 ha per 10 min while flying 100 m above ground level. During image processing, we developed and used a batch image alignment algorithm—a program written in Python language–to calculate the NDVI values in experimental plots or fields in a batch of NDVI index maps. The color NDVI distribution maps of wide rice fields identified differences in stages of ripening and lodging-injury areas, which accorded with practical crop growth status from aboveground observation. For direct-seeded rice, variation in the grain yield was most closely related to that in the NDVI at the early reproductive and late ripening stages. For wheat, the NDVI values were highly correlated with the yield ( R 2 = 0.601–0.809) from the middle reproductive to the early ripening stages. Furthermore, using the NDVI values, it was possible to differentiate the levels of fertilizer application for both rice and wheat. These results indicate that the small UAV-derived NDVI values are effective for predicting yield and detecting fertilizer application levels during rice and wheat production.
A Fluorescence Inner-Filter Effect Based Sensing Platform for Turn-On Detection of Glutathione in Human Serum
Authors: Tang Shurong , You Xiuhua , Fang Quanhui , Li Xin , Li Guangwen , Chen Jinghua , Chen Wei
Published: January 2019

A novel turn-on fluorescence assay was developed for the rapid detection of glutathione (GSH) based on the inner-filter effect (IFE) and redox reaction. Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS2 QDs), which have stable fluorescent properties, were synthesized with hydrothermal method. Manganese dioxide nanosheets (MnO2 NSs) were prepared by exfoliating the bulk δ-MnO2 material in bovine serum albumin (BSA) aqueous solution. The morphology structures of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Studies have shown that the fluorescence of MoS2 QDs could be quenched in the presence of MnO2 NSs as a result of the IFE, and is recovered after the addition of GSH to dissolve the MnO2 NSs. The fluorescence intensity showed a good linear relationship with the GSH concentration in the range 20–2500 μM, the limit of detection was 1.0 μM. The detection method was applied to the analysis of GSH in human serum samples. This simple, rapid, and cost-effective method has great potential in analyzing GSH and in disease diagnosis.
Automatic Extraction of Offshore Platforms in Single SAR Images Based on a Dual-Step-Modified Model
Authors: Zhang Jing , Wang Qi , Su Fenzhen
Published: January 2019

The quantity and location of offshore platforms are of great significance for marine oil spill monitoring and offshore oil-gas development. In the past, multiphase medium- and low-resolution optical or radar images have been used to remove the interference of ship targets based on the static position of a platform to extract the offshore platform, resulting in large demands and high image data costs. According to the difference in shape between offshore platforms (not elongated) and ships (elongated shapes) in SAR (synthetic aperture radar) images, this paper proposes an automatic extraction method for offshore platforms in single SAR images based on a dual-step-modified model. First, the two-parameter CFAR (constant false alarm rate) algorithm was used to detect the possible offshore platform targets; then, the Hough transform was introduced to detect and eliminate ship targets with linear structures. Finally, the final offshore platform was obtained. Experiments were carried out in four study areas in the Beibu Gulf basin and the Pearl River estuary basin in the northern South China Sea. The results show that the method has a good extraction effect in the above research area, and the extraction accuracy rate of offshore platforms is 86.75%. A single SAR image can obtain satisfactory extraction results, which greatly saves on image data cost.
Ultrasonic Flaw Echo Enhancement Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Feng Wei , Zhou Xiaojun , Zeng Xiang , Yang Chenlong
Published: January 2019

The detection of flaw echoes in backscattered signals in ultrasonic nondestructive testing can be challenging due to the existence of backscattering noise and electronic noise. In this article, an empirical mode decomposition (EMD) methodology is proposed for flaw echo enhancement. The backscattered signal was first decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) using EMD or ensemble EMD (EEMD). The sample entropies (SampEn) of all IMFs were used to select the relevant modes. Otsu’s method was used for interval thresholding of the first relevant mode, and a window was used to separate the flaw echoes in the relevant modes. The flaw echo was reconstructed by adding the residue and the separated flaw echoes. The established methodology was successfully employed for simulated signal and experimental signal processing. For the simulated signals, an improvement of 9.42 dB in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and an improvement of 0.0099 in the modified correlation coefficient (MCC) were achieved. For experimental signals obtained from two cracks at different depths, the flaw echoes were also significantly enhanced.
An Ethnographic Study of Deaf Refugees Seeking Asylum in Finland
Authors: Sivunen Nina
Published: January 2019

Deaf asylum seekers are a marginalized group of people in refugee and forced migration studies. The aim of this paper is to explore and highlight the experiences of deaf asylum seekers in the asylum procedure in Finland. The data come from linguistic ethnographic methods, interviews, and ethnographic observation with 10 deaf asylum seekers. While living in the reception centers, the study participants have faced a range of linguistic and social challenges. The findings show that language barriers appeared from day one after the participants’ arrival in Finland. The investment and initiatives of deaf volunteers played a crucial role for deaf asylum seekers in their access to and participation in Finnish society. In addition, receiving formal Finnish sign language instruction had a positive effect on their well-being. Drawing on content analysis of deaf asylum seekers’ experiences, I argue that greater awareness, recognition, and support of deaf asylum seekers are needed in the Finnish asylum system. I conclude this paper with a discussion of and suggestions for a better asylum system for deaf individuals.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Technologies in 2018
Authors:   Technologies Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

Rigorous peer-review is the corner-stone of high-quality academic publishing [...]
Characterization of Fading Statistics of mmWave (28 GHz and 38 GHz) Outdoor and Indoor Radio Propagation Channels
Authors: Gulfam Sardar Muhammad , Nawaz Syed Junaid , Baltzis Konstantinos B. , Ahmed Abrar , Khan and Noor M.
Published: January 2019

Extension of usable frequency spectrum from microwave to millimeter-wave (mmWave) is one of the key research directions in addressing the capacity demands of emerging 5th-generation communication networks. This paper presents a thorough analysis on the azimuthal multipath shape factors and second-order fading statistics (SOFS) of outdoor and indoor mmWave radio propagation channels. The well-established analytical relationship of plain angular statistics of a radio propagation channel with the channel’s fading statistics is used to study the channel’s fading characteristics. The plain angle-of-arrival measurement results available in the open literature for four different outdoor radio propagation scenarios at 38 GHz, as well as nine different indoor radio propagation scenarios at 28 GHz and 38 GHz bands, are extracted by using different graphical data interpretation techniques. The considered quantifiers for energy dispersion in angular domain and SOFS are true standard-deviation, angular spread, angular constriction, and direction of maximum fading; and spatial coherence distance, spatial auto-covariance, average fade duration, and level-crossing-rate; respectively. This study focuses on the angular spread analysis only in the azimuth plane. The conducted analysis on angular spread and SOFS is of high significance in designing modulation schemes, equalization schemes, antenna-beams, channel estimation, error-correction techniques, and interleaving algorithms; for mmWave outdoor and indoor radio propagation environments.
Highlight Talk from Super-Kamiokande
Authors: Nakano Yuuki , On behalf of the Super-Kamiokande Collaboration
Published: January 2019

Super-Kamiokande (SK), a 50 kton water Cherenkov detector in Japan, is observing both atmospheric and solar neutrinos. It is also searching for supernova (relic) neutrinos, proton decays and dark matter-like particles. A three-flavor oscillation analysis was conducted with the atmospheric neutrino data to study the mass hierarchy, the leptonic CP violation term, and other oscillation parameters. In addition, the observation of solar neutrinos gives precise measurements of the energy spectrum and oscillation parameters. In this proceedings, we given an overview of the latest results from SK and the prospect toward the future project of SK-Gd.
Bats and Coronaviruses
Authors: Banerjee Arinjay , Kulcsar Kirsten , Misra Vikram , Frieman Matthew , Mossman Karen
Published: January 2019

Bats are speculated to be reservoirs of several emerging viruses including coronaviruses (CoVs) that cause serious disease in humans and agricultural animals. These include CoVs that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) and severe acute diarrhea syndrome (SADS). Bats that are naturally infected or experimentally infected do not demonstrate clinical signs of disease. These observations have allowed researchers to speculate that bats are the likely reservoirs or ancestral hosts for several CoVs. In this review, we follow the CoV outbreaks that are speculated to have originated in bats. We review studies that have allowed researchers to identify unique adaptation in bats that may allow them to harbor CoVs without severe disease. We speculate about future studies that are critical to identify how bats can harbor multiple strains of CoVs and factors that enable these viruses to “jump” from bats to other mammals. We hope that this review will enable readers to identify gaps in knowledge that currently exist and initiate a dialogue amongst bat researchers to share resources to overcome present limitations.
Deregulation of VEGFR-2 and PDGFR Expression and Microvascular Density in a Triple-Negative Model of Canine Malignant Mammary Tumors with Lymph Node or Lung Metastasis
Authors: Dos Anjos Denner Santos , Vital Aline Fernandes , Lainetti Patrícia de Faria , Leis-Filho Antonio Fernando , Dalmolin Fabiola , Elias Fabiana , Calazans Sabryna Gouveia , Fonseca-Alves Carlos Eduardo
Published: January 2019

Canine mammary tumors (CMT) represent the most common cancer in noncastrated female dogs. Interestingly, triple-negative tumors are the most common molecular subtype in female dogs. In this study, we proposed to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and microvascular density (MVD) in a group of metastatic and nonmetastatic triple-negative CMT and compare the expression based on clinical parameters. Twenty-six female dogs with triple-negative mammary tumors were divided into three groups: nonmetastatic tumors (NMT) (n = 11), tumors with lymph node metastasis (LNM) (n = 10), and tumors with lung metastasis (LM) (n = 5). We observed increased VEGFR-2 expression in LNM compared with NMT and a positive correlation between tumor grade and VEGFR-2 expression. A positive correlation was noted between VEGFR-2 and PDGFR expression. Regarding microvascular density (MVD), we identified a higher number of vessels in primary tumors with lymph node metastasis and lung metastasis compared with tumors with no metastasis. The primary tumors with lung metastasis exhibited an increased MVD compared with carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. Overall, our results suggest a deregulation of VEGFR-2 and PDGFR and high MVD in metastatic tumors, indicating a role for angiogenesis in tumor progression.
Spatio-Temporality and Tribal Water Quality Governance in the United States
Authors: Cavazos Cohn Teresa , Berry Kate , Powys Whyte Kyle , Norman Emma
Published: January 2019

Hydrosocial spatio-temporalities—aspects of water belonging to space, time, or space-time—are central to water governance, providing a framework upon which overall hydrosocial relations are constructed, and are fundamental to the establishment of values and central to socio-cultural-political relationships. Moreover, spatio-temporal conceptions may differ among diverse governing entities and across scales, creating “variability” through ontological pluralism, as well as power asymmetries embedded in cultural bias. This paper explores spatio-temporal conceptions related to water quality governance, an aspect of water governance often biased toward technical and scientific space-time conceptions. We offer examples of different aspects of spatio-temporality in water quality issues among Tribes in the United States, highlighting several themes, including spatiotemporal cycles, technological mediation, and interrelationship and fluidity. Finally, we suggest that because water is part of a dynamic network of space-times, water quality may be best governed through more holistic practices that recognize tribal sovereignty and hydrosocial variability.
Study of Sludge Particles Formed during Coagulation of Synthetic and Municipal Wastewater for Increasing the Sludge Dewatering Efficiency
Authors: Smoczynski Lech , Kalinowski Slawomir , Cretescu Igor , Smoczynski Michal , Ratnaweera Harsha , Trifescu Mihaela , Kosobucka Marta
Published: January 2019

Municipal wastewater sludge was produced by chemical coagulation of synthetic wastewater (sww) based on Synthene Scarlet P3GL disperse dye and real municipal wastewater (nww), coagulated by commercial coagulants PAX (prepolymerised aluminum coagulant) and PIX (a ferric coagulant based on Fe2(SO4)3). An attempt was made to correlate the sludge’s dewatering capacity (in terms of capillary suction time—CST) with operation parameters for wastewater treatment, size distribution and specific surface area of the sludge particles. It was found that the presence of phosphate ions in the system facilitates the removal efficiency of the above-mentioned dye (L) due to the interaction between the dye molecules and H2PO4− ions. Unlike sww, negatively charged organic substances (sorg) in nww are directly adsorbed on the surface of colloidal particles {Fe(OH)3} and {Al(OH)3} (prtc). It was also discovered that an increase in the dose of a coagulant led to an increase of CST for sww sludge and to a decrease of CST for nww sludge. It has been suggested that flocs composed of spherical {Al(OH)3} units possessed more internal space for water than aggregates consisting of rod-shaped {Fe(OH)3} units and, consequently, it is more difficult to remove water from Al-sww sludge than from Fe-sww. The results obtained showed that smaller particles dominate in sww sludge, while larger particles are prevalent in nww sludge. To explain this distinct difference in the size distribution of particles in sludge obtained with the use of Al3+ and Fe3+, simple models of aggregation and agglomeration-flocculation processes (aaf) of treated wastewater have been proposed. Except for PIX in nww, the analyzed particles of the investigated types of sludge were characterized by similar specific surface area (Sps), regardless of the kind of sludge or the applied coagulant. Slightly larger, negatively-charged sorg bridges, anchored directly on the surface of positive prtc are more effective in closing the structure of nww sludge than small L bridges of the dye molecules anchored on the surface of prtc via H2PO4−. All the discovered aspects could lead to improved performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) by increasing the efficiency of sludge dewatering.
Disputing the ‘National Interest’: The Depoliticization and Repoliticization of the Belo Monte Dam, Brazil
Authors: Atkins Ed
Published: January 2019

The construction of a hydroelectric project transforms the watershed in which it is located, leading to a moment of contestation in which the scheme is challenged by opposition actors. This paper explores the interplay between pro- and anti-dam coalitions contesting the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil by discussing how each group inscribes the project with a particular resonance in policy. Drawing upon the work of Chantal Mouffe on agonism and Tania Murray Li on ‘rendering technical’, the subsequent discussion analyzes semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and primary documents to explore how the storylines advanced by pro- and anti-dam actors contest the political character of Belo Monte. It is argued that within these storylines, Belo Monte’s positioning within the ‘national interest’ represents a key site of the project’s depoliticization and repoliticization—which are understood as the respective denial and illumination of the project’s location within a wider terrain of political antagonism and conflict. Whilst pro-dam actors assert the apolitical character of the project by foregrounding it within depoliticized questions of economic benefits, anti-dam actors reground the project within a context of political corruption and the circumvention of dissent. With this paper providing evidence of how contests over dam construction are linked to the concealing and/or illumination of the project’s political content, it is argued that the repoliticization of a project by a resistance movement can have consequences far beyond the immediate site of construction.