bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physicochemical Properties and Oxidative Storage Stability of Milled Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Seeds
Authors: Juhari Nurul , Petersen Mikael
Published: February 2018

Milled Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seeds of the UMKL cultivar were analyzed for proximate composition, water and oil absorption capacity, and the influence of storage conditions on storage stability. The storage stability was determined under four types of conditions: light/oxygen (air) (LO), light/nitrogen (LN), darkness/oxygen (air) (DO), and darkness/nitrogen (DN) while monitoring for seven consecutive months. During the storage period, the formation of volatiles was determined using dynamic headspace sampling and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. In total, 85 volatiles were identified, mainly aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, furans, and acids indicating lipid oxidation. It is recommended that milled Roselle seeds should be flushed with nitrogen and stored in darkness. Under these conditions, the seeds can be stored for at least three months without changes in volatile profile. This is important to ensure the good quality of milled Roselle seeds for further commercialization.
Proteinaceous Regulators and Inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
Authors: Hendriks Wiljan , Bourgonje Annika , Leenders William , Pulido Rafael
Published: February 2018

Proper control of the phosphotyrosine content in signal transduction proteins is essential for normal cell behavior and is lost in many pathologies. Attempts to normalize aberrant tyrosine phosphorylation levels in disease states currently involve either the application of small compounds that inhibit tyrosine kinases (TKs) or the addition of growth factors or their mimetics to boost receptor-type TK activity. Therapies that target the TK enzymatic counterparts, the multi-enzyme family of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), are still lacking despite their undisputed involvement in human diseases. Efforts to pharmacologically modulate PTP activity have been frustrated by the conserved structure of the PTP catalytic core, providing a daunting problem with respect to target specificity. Over the years, however, many different protein interaction-based regulatory mechanisms that control PTP activity have been uncovered, providing alternative possibilities to control PTPs individually. Here, we review these regulatory principles, discuss existing biologics and proteinaceous compounds that affect PTP activity, and mention future opportunities to drug PTPs via these regulatory concepts.
Graphene Modified TiO2 Composite Photocatalysts: Mechanism, Progress and Perspective
Authors: Tang Bo , Chen Haiqun , Peng Haoping , Wang Zhengwei , Huang Weiqiu
Published: February 2018

Graphene modified TiO2 composite photocatalysts have drawn increasing attention because of their high performance. Some significant advancements have been achieved with the continuous research, such as the corresponding photocatalytic mechanism that has been revealed. Specific influencing factors have been discovered and potential optimizing methods are proposed. The latest developments in graphene assisted TiO2 composite photocatalysts are abstracted and discussed. Based on the primary reasons behind the observed phenomena of these composite photocatalysts, probable development directions and further optimizing strategies are presented. Moreover, several novel detective technologies—beyond the decomposition test—which can be used to judge the photocatalytic performances of the resulting photocatalysts are listed and analyzed. Although some objectives have been achieved, new challenges still exist and hinder the widespread application of graphene-TiO2 composite photocatalysts, which deserves further study.
Standardized Parenteral Nutrition for the Transition Phase in Preterm Infants: A Bag That Fits
Authors: Brennan Ann-Marie , Kiely Mairead , Fenton Sarah , Murphy Brendan
Published: February 2018

The optimal composition of standardized parenteral nutrition (SPN) is not yet known, contributing to nutrient deficit accrual and growth failure, with the period of parenteral nutrition weaning, i.e., transition (TN) phase, being identified as particularly vulnerable. We created a comprehensive nutrition database, representative of the nutritional course of a diverse range of preterm infants (n = 59, birth weight ≤ 1500 g, gestation < 34 weeks) by collecting hourly macronutrient intake data as part of a prospective, observational study over 19 months. Using a nutrient modeling technique for the TN phase, various amino acid (AA) concentrations of SPN were tested within the database, whilst acknowledging the nutritional contribution from enteral feeds until target AA intakes were consistently achieved. From the modeling, the AA composition of SPN was determined at 3.5 g/100 mL, which was the maximum to avoid exceeding target intakes at any point in the TN phase. However, in order to consistently achieve target AA intakes, additional nutritional strategies were required, which included increasing the exclusion of enteral feeds in fluid and nutrient calculations from <20 mL/kg/day to <40 mL/kg/day, and earlier fortification of breastmilk at 80 mL/kg/day. This data-driven nutrient modeling process supported the development of an improved SPN regimen for our preterm population in the TN phase.
The Effect of Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin on Faecal Bacterial Counts and Microbiota-Associated Characteristics in Celiac Disease Children Following a Gluten-Free Diet: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Drabińska Natalia , Jarocka-Cyrta Elżbieta , Markiewicz Lidia , Krupa-Kozak Urszula
Published: February 2018

Celiac disease (CD) is associated with intestinal microbiota alterations. The administration of prebiotics could be a promising method of restoring gut homeostasis in CD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prolonged oligofructose-enriched inulin (Synergy 1) administration on the characteristics and metabolism of intestinal microbiota in CD children following a gluten-free diet (GFD). Thirty-four paediatric CD patients (mean age 10 years; 62% females) on a GFD were randomized into two experimental groups receiving Synergy 1 (10 g/day) or placebo (maltodextrin; 7 g/day) for 3 months. The quantitative gut microbiota characteristics and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration were analysed. In addition, side effects were monitored. Generally, the administration of Synergy 1 in a GFD did not cause any side effects. After the intervention period, Bifidobacterium count increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the Synergy 1 group. Moreover, an increase in faecal acetate and butyrate levels was observed in the prebiotic group. Consequently, total SCFA levels were 31% higher than at the baseline. The presented trial shows that Synergy 1 applied as a supplement of a GFD had a moderate effect on the qualitative characteristics of faecal microbiota, whereas it stimulated the bacterial metabolite production in CD children.
Application of Nanoparticle Technology to Reduce the Anti-Microbial Resistance through β-Lactam Antibiotic-Polymer Inclusion Nano-Complex
Authors: Salamanca Constain , Yarce Cristhian , Roman Yony , Davalos Andrés , Rivera Gustavo
Published: February 2018

Biocompatible polymeric materials with potential to form functional structures in association with different therapeutic molecules have a high potential for biological, medical and pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the capability of the inclusion of nano-Complex formed between the sodium salt of poly(maleic acid-alt-octadecene) and a β-lactam drug (ampicillin trihydrate) to avoid the chemical and enzymatic degradation and enhance the biological activity were evaluated. PAM-18Na was produced and characterized, as reported previously. The formation of polymeric hydrophobic aggregates in aqueous solution was determined, using pyrene as a fluorescent probe. Furthermore, the formation of polymer-drug nano-complexes was characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry-DSC, viscometric, ultrafiltration/centrifugation assays, zeta potential and size measurements were determined by dynamic light scattering-DLS. The PAM-18Na capacity to avoid the chemical degradation was studied through stress stability tests. The enzymatic degradation was evaluated from a pure β-lactamase, while the biological degradation was determined by different β-lactamase producing Staphylococcus aureus strains. When ampicillin was associated with PAM-18Na, the half-life time in acidic conditions increased, whereas both the enzymatic degradation and the minimum inhibitory concentration decreased to a 90 and 75%, respectively. These results suggest a promissory capability of this polymer to protect the β-lactam drugs against chemical, enzymatic and biological degradation.
Biocompatible Porous Polyester-Ether Hydrogel Scaffolds with Cross-Linker Mediated Biodegradation and Mechanical Properties for Tissue Augmentation
Authors: Ozcelik Berkay , Palmer Jason , Ladewig Katharina , Facal Marina Paula , Stevens Geoffrey , Abberton Keren , Morrison Wayne , Blencowe Anton , Qiao Greg
Published: February 2018

Porous polyester-ether hydrogel scaffolds (PEHs) were fabricated using acid chloride/alcohol chemistry and a salt templating approach. The PEHs were produced from readily available and cheap commercial reagents via the reaction of hydroxyl terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives with sebacoyl, succinyl, or trimesoyl chloride to afford ester cross-links between the PEG chains. Through variation of the acid chloride cross-linkers used in the synthesis and the incorporation of a hydrophobic modifier (poly(caprolactone) (PCL)), it was possible to tune the degradation rates and mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels. Several of the hydrogel formulations displayed exceptional mechanical properties, remaining elastic without fracture at compressive strains of up to 80%, whilst still displaying degradation over a period of weeks to months. A subcutaneous rat model was used to study the scaffolds in vivo and revealed that the PEHs were infiltrated with well vascularised tissue within two weeks and had undergone significant degradation in 16 weeks without any signs of toxicity. Histological evaluation for immune responses revealed that the PEHs incite only a minor inflammatory response that is reduced over 16 weeks with no evidence of adverse effects.
A Throughput Management System for Semiconductor Wafer Fabrication Facilities: Design, Systems and Implementation
Authors: Hsieh Liam , Hsieh Tsung-Ju
Published: February 2018

Equipment throughput is one of the most critical parameters for production planning and scheduling, which is often derived by optimization techniques to achieve business goals. However, in semiconductor manufacturing, up-to-date and reliable equipment throughput is not easy to estimate and maintain because of the high complexity and extreme amount of data in the production systems. This article concerns the development and implementation of a throughput management system tailored for a semiconductor wafer fabrication plant (Fab). A brief overview of the semiconductor manufacturing and an introduction of the case Fab are presented first. Then, we focus on the system architecture and some concepts of crucial modules. This study also describes the project timescales and difficulties and discusses both tangible and intangible benefits from this project.
Predicting the Operating States of Grinding Circuits by Use of Recurrence Texture Analysis of Time Series Data
Authors: Bardinas Jason , Aldrich Chris , Napier Lara
Published: February 2018

Grinding circuits typically contribute disproportionately to the overall cost of ore beneficiation and their optimal operation is therefore of critical importance in the cost-effective operation of mineral processing plants. This can be challenging, as these circuits can also exhibit complex, nonlinear behavior that can be difficult to model. In this paper, it is shown that key time series variables of grinding circuits can be recast into sets of descriptor variables that can be used in advanced modelling and control of the mill. Two real-world case studies are considered. In the first, it is shown that the controller states of an autogenous mill can be identified from the load measurements of the mill by using a support vector machine and the abovementioned descriptor variables as predictors. In the second case study, it is shown that power and temperature measurements in a horizontally stirred mill can be used for online estimation of the particle size of the mill product.
Fast, Feast and Feminism: Teaching Food and Gender in Italian Religious Women’s Writings
Authors: Callegari Danielle
Published: February 2018

In the wake of Caroline Walker Bynum’s essential studies on the crucial role food played in the lives of medieval religious women, significant attention has been given to the connection between premodern women’s spiritual practices and eating practices. However, the relationship between religious women and food is not limited to body manipulation, inedia or eucharistic frenzy. Indeed, recent critical work has provided accessible translations and critical apparatus necessary for an exploration of food and women’s religiosity that builds on Bynum’s rich foundation and examines the many ways in which women expressed themselves through food, both material and metaphoric. This approach not only allows students to engage with women’s writing through the familiarity and universality of food, but moreover reminds them of the real, living, breathing women behind the texts, thus opening the door to a feminist rereading of texts—not as proto-feminist themselves, but rather in the re-valuing of the substantial contributions of their female authors, who had subtle social awareness, public professional pursuits, and complex and varied relationships with God.
Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection via Background Estimation and Adaptive Weighted Sparse Representation
Authors: Zhu Lingxiao , Wen Gongjian
Published: February 2018

Anomaly detection is an important task in hyperspectral imagery (HSI) processing. It provides a new way to find targets that have significant spectral differences from the majority of the dataset. Recently, the representation-based methods have been proposed for detecting anomaly targets in HSIs. It is essential for this type of method to construct a valid background dictionary to distinguish anomaly and background accurately. In this paper, a novel hyperspectral anomaly detection method based on background estimation and adaptive weighted sparse representation has been proposed. Firstly, to obtain the effective background dictionary without anomaly information, a new background dictionary construction strategy is designed. Secondly, the sparse representation based on the constructed background dictionary is utilized on the dataset. Anomalies and background are distinguished through the response of the residual matrix. Thirdly, the residual matrix is weighted adaptively from global and local domains, which makes anomalies and background more discriminative. An important advantage of the proposed method is that it considers the properties of anomalies in both spectral and spatial domains. Experiments on three HSI datasets reveal that our proposed method achieves an outstanding detection performance compared with the other anomaly detection algorithms.
A Semi-Empirical SNR Model for Soil Moisture Retrieval Using GNSS SNR Data
Authors: Han Mutian , Zhu Yunlong , Yang Dongkai , Hong Xuebao , Song Shuhui
Published: February 2018

The Global Navigation Satellite System-Interferometry and Reflectometry (GNSS-IR) technique on soil moisture remote sensing was studied. A semi-empirical Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) model was proposed as a curve-fitting model for SNR data routinely collected by a GNSS receiver. This model aims at reconstructing the direct and reflected signal from SNR data and at the same time extracting frequency and phase information that is affected by soil moisture as proposed by K. M. Larson et al. This is achieved empirically through approximating the direct and reflected signal by a second-order and fourth-order polynomial, respectively, based on the well-established SNR model. Compared with other models (K. M. Larson et al., T. Yang et al.), this model can improve the Quality of Fit (QoF) with little prior knowledge needed and can allow soil permittivity to be estimated from the reconstructed signals. In developing this model, we showed how noise affects the receiver SNR estimation and thus the model performance through simulations under the bare soil assumption. Results showed that the reconstructed signals with a grazing angle of 5°–15° were better for soil moisture retrieval. The QoF was improved by around 45%, which resulted in better estimation of the frequency and phase information. However, we found that the improvement on phase estimation could be neglected. Experimental data collected at Lamasquère, France, were also used to validate the proposed model. The results were compared with the simulation and previous works. It was found that the model could ensure good fitting quality even in the case of irregular SNR variation. Additionally, the soil moisture calculated from the reconstructed signals was about 15% closer in relation to the ground truth measurements. A deeper insight into the Larson model and the proposed model was given at this stage, which formed a possible explanation of this fact. Furthermore, frequency and phase information extracted using this model were also studied for their capability to monitor soil moisture variation. Finally, phenomena such as retrieval ambiguity and error sensitivity were stated and discussed.
Multiscale Geoscene Segmentation for Extracting Urban Functional Zones from VHR Satellite Images
Authors: Zhang Xiuyuan , Du Shihong , Wang Qiao , Zhou Weiqi
Published: February 2018

Urban functional zones, such as commercial, residential, and industrial zones, are basic units of urban planning, and play an important role in monitoring urbanization. However, historical functional-zone maps are rarely available for cities in developing countries, as traditional urban investigations focus on geographic objects rather than functional zones. Recent studies have sought to extract functional zones automatically from very-high-resolution (VHR) satellite images, and they mainly concentrate on classification techniques, but ignore zone segmentation which delineates functional-zone boundaries and is fundamental to functional-zone analysis. To resolve the issue, this study presents a novel segmentation method, geoscene segmentation, which can identify functional zones at multiple scales by aggregating diverse urban objects considering their features and spatial patterns. In experiments, we applied this method to three Chinese cities—Beijing, Putian, and Zhuhai—and generated detailed functional-zone maps with diverse functional categories. These experimental results indicate our method effectively delineates urban functional zones with VHR imagery; different categories of functional zones extracted by using different scale parameters; and spatial patterns that are more important than the features of individual objects in extracting functional zones. Accordingly, the presented multiscale geoscene segmentation method is important for urban-functional-zone analysis, and can provide valuable data for city planners.
Efficient Deployment of Key Nodes for Optimal Coverage of Industrial Mobile Wireless Networks
Authors: Li Xiaomin , Li Di , Dong Zhijie , Hu Yage , Liu Chengliang
Published: February 2018

In recent years, industrial wireless networks (IWNs) have been transformed by the introduction of mobile nodes, and they now offer increased extensibility, mobility, and flexibility. Nevertheless, mobile nodes pose efficiency and reliability challenges. Efficient node deployment and management of channel interference directly affect network system performance, particularly for key node placement in clustered wireless networks. This study analyzes this system model, considering both industrial properties of wireless networks and their mobility. Then, static and mobile node coverage problems are unified and simplified to target coverage problems. We propose a novel strategy for the deployment of clustered heads in grouped industrial mobile wireless networks (IMWNs) based on the improved maximal clique model and the iterative computation of new candidate cluster head positions. The maximal cliques are obtained via a double-layer Tabu search. Each cluster head updates its new position via an improved virtual force while moving with full coverage to find the minimal inter-cluster interference. Finally, we develop a simulation environment. The simulation results, based on a performance comparison, show the efficacy of the proposed strategies and their superiority over current approaches.
Comparison among Detailed and Simplified Calculation Methods for Thermal and Energy Assessment of the Building Envelope and the Shadings of a New Wooden nZEB House
Authors: Carletti Cristina , Pierangioli Leone , Sciurpi Fabio , Salvietti Andrea
Published: February 2018

This paper deals with research carried out by the University of Florence on the thermal and energy performances of a recently built nZEB in Mediterranean Italian area. Heterogeneous component and thermal bridges performances have been analysed and critically evaluated with different calculation methods, and the results in terms of energy consumptions for heating and cooling have been compared. Some solar shading devices have been evaluated to reduce the building energy need for cooling. Main results of the research are presented for the components and thermal bridges properties and for the energy balance of the building implemented with different solar shadings.
Integration of a Multilevel Transport System Model into Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning
Authors: Okraszewska Romanika , Romanowska Aleksandra , Wołek Marcin , Oskarbski Jacek , Birr Krystian , Jamroz Kazimierz
Published: February 2018

When planning their transport policy, cities usually focus on developing sustainable transport systems and reducing the negative consequences of transport. One way to deliver transport policies is to use the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), a strategic document designed to meet the demand for mobility whilst ensuring adequate quality of life for the residents. The process of Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP process) can be supported by using a transport model. The objective of this article is to analyse the efficacy of the Multilevel Model of Transport Systems—referred to by its acronym, MST—for the SUMP process. With its ability to represent the transport system’s behaviour depending on the level of detail, the MST can significantly benefit the SUMP process. The proposed concept of integration of the MST into the SUMP process has already been tested and applied in delivering Gdynia’s (Poland) SUMP. The paper suggests ways to use the MST at different levels of planning and modelling and describes the outcomes. Using the multilevel structure helps to fully realise the transport model’s potential to improve the effectiveness of urban mobility planning. The conclusions show that the methods proposed in the article are worthwhile and cities should consider them when planning the SUMP process.
Energy-Independent Architectural Models for Residential Complex Plans through Solar Energy in Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea
Authors: Kim Sung-Yul , Choi Ho-Soon , Eum Jeong-Hee
Published: February 2018

This study suggests energy-independent architectural models for residential complexes through the production of solar-energy-based renewable energy. Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea, was selected as the target area for the residential complex. An optimal location in the area was selected to maximize the production of solar-energy-based renewable energy. Then, several architectural design models were developed. Next, after analyzing the energy-use patterns of each design model, economic analyses were conducted considering the profits generated from renewable-energy use. In this way, the optimum residential building model was identified. For this site, optimal solar power generation efficiency was obtained when solar panels were installed at 25° angles. Thus, the sloped roof angles were set to 25°, and the average height of the internal space of the highest floor was set to 1.8 m. Based on this model, analyses were performed regarding energy self-sufficiency improvement and economics. It was verified that connecting solar power generation capacity from a zero-energy perspective considering the consumer’s amount of power consumption was more effective than connecting maximum solar power generation capacity according to building structure. Moreover, it was verified that selecting a subsidizable solar power generation capacity according to the residential solar power facility connection can maximize operational benefits.
Sustainability of Water Withdrawals in the Tiber River Basin (Central Italy)
Authors: Casadei Stefano , Pierleoni Arnaldo , Bellezza Michele
Published: February 2018

Problems in the sustainable exploitation of water resources are mainly due to the spatial distribution of uses and are worsened by uncontrolled withdrawals by different activities. In this context, in order to evaluate and manage the available water resources, a decision support system has been developed to support the decision-making processes. This system was implemented on a web platform, in order to manage spatial data and to analyze information on water resources. The system also integrates a WEB-GIS engine for the elaboration and regionalization of data over the river network. The web architecture also makes these tools widely accessible and easily shareable by all stakeholders. The Web-based application was tested successfully in the Tiber River Basin (Central Italy) and focuses on the building of a hydrological database together with an evaluation model for surface water resources. The results provide synthetic information on the sustainability of water allocation scenarios, with particular regard to the feasibility of allowing new dissipative water withdrawal, such as dissipative water use in agricultural production for precision irrigation. The software technology of this project relies on open source code and can also be applied in other fields for the sustainable management of environmental resources.
Evaluation of LEED for Neighbourhood Development and Envision Rating Frameworks for Their Implementation in Poorer Countries
Authors: Diaz-Sarachaga Jose , Jato-Espino Daniel , Castro-Fresno Daniel
Published: February 2018

The unstoppable world population growth is increasing the concentration of people in urban settlements and the number of megacities, especially in developing countries where urbanization exacerbates social and economic inequalities. Green rating systems have been launched during the last decades to facilitate the assessment of sustainable development in terms of building and infrastructure, including the evaluation of sustainable urban development through the study of communities. This article assesses two of the most renowned sustainable rating systems through the prism of economy, environment and society and the international actions undertaken toward the promotion of sustainable development worldwide, in order to determine their effectiveness to assess urban development in poorer nations. Hence, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development (LEED ND) and Envision, both from the United States, were chosen as representatives of building and infrastructure fields, respectively, so that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (Habitat III) were the benchmarks selected to define the sustainability aspects required to evaluate their potential application in less developed countries. The absence of metrics in the New Urban Agenda led to relate its commitments to the SDGs, which revealed that the prerequisites and credits included in LEED ND and Envision mainly focused on managerial and environmental aspects and disregarded the economic and social dimensions. Consequently, the premises under which LEED ND and Envision were developed must be updated and complemented with the two latest guidelines recently adopted by the United Nations in the field of urban and sustainable development.
Enhanced Matrix Power Function for Cryptographic Primitive Construction
Authors: Sakalauskas Eligijus
Published: February 2018

A new enhanced matrix power function (MPF) is presented for the construction of cryptographic primitives. According to the definition in previously published papers, an MPF is an action of two matrices powering some base matrix on the left and right. The MPF inversion equations, corresponding to the MPF problem, are derived and have some structural similarity with classical multivariate quadratic (MQ) problem equations. Unlike the MQ problem, the MPF problem seems to be more complicated, since its equations are not defined over the field, but are represented as left–right action of two matrices defined over the infinite near-semiring on the matrix defined over the certain infinite, additive, noncommuting semigroup. The main results are the following: (1) the proposition of infinite, nonsymmetric, and noncommuting algebraic structures for the construction of the enhanced MPF, satisfying associativity conditions, which are necessary for cryptographic applications; (2) the proof that MPF inversion is polynomially equivalent to the solution of a certain kind of generalized multivariate quadratic (MQ) problem which can be reckoned as hard; (3) the estimation of the effectiveness of direct MPF value computation; and (4) the presentation of preliminary security analysis, the determination of the security parameter, and specification of its secure value. These results allow us to make a conjecture that enhanced MPF can be a candidate one-way function (OWF), since the effective (polynomial-time) inversion algorithm for it is not yet known. An example of the application of the proposed MPF for the Key Agreement Protocol (KAP) is presented. Since the direct MPF value is computed effectively, the proposed MPF is suitable for the realization of cryptographic protocols in devices with restricted computation resources.
Improving Stochastic Modelling of Daily Rainfall Using the ENSO Index: Model Development and Application in Chile
Authors: Urdiales Diego , Meza Francisco , Gironás Jorge , Gilabert Horacio
Published: February 2018

Stochastic weather simulation, or weather generators (WGs), have gained a wide acceptance and been used for a variety of purposes, including climate change studies and the evaluation of climate variability and uncertainty effects. The two major challenges in WGs are improving the estimation of interannual variability and reducing overdispersion in the synthetic series of simulated weather. The objective of this work is to develop a WG model of daily rainfall, incorporating a covariable that accounts for interannual variability, and apply it in three climate regions (arid, Mediterranean, and temperate) of Chile. Precipitation occurrence was modeled using a two-stage, first-order Markov chain, whose parameters are fitted with a generalized lineal model (GLM) using a logistic function. This function considers monthly values of the observed Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies of the Region 3.4 of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO index) as a covariable. Precipitation intensity was simulated with a mixed exponential distribution, fitted using a maximum likelihood approach. The stochastic simulation shows that the application of the approach to Mediterranean and arid climates largely eliminates the overdispersion problem, resulting in a much improved interannual variability in the simulated values.
Assessment of Water Quality and Identification of Pollution Risk Locations in Tiaoxi River (Taihu Watershed), China
Authors: Vadde Kiran , Wang Jianjun , Cao Long , Yuan Tianma , McCarthy Alan , Sekar Raju
Published: February 2018

Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China and serves as a drinking water source for ~30 million residents. Tiaoxi River is one of the main rivers connected to this lake and contributes >60% of the source water. Taihu Lake has been facing various environmental issues; therefore, it is important to study the water quality of its inflow rivers. This study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of Tiaoxi River and to determine the spatial and seasonal variations in the water quality. Water samples were collected from 25 locations across the Tiaoxi River in three seasons in 2014–2015. Fourteen water quality parameters including multiple nutrients and indicator bacteria were assessed, and the data analyzed by multivariate statistical analyses. The physico-chemical analysis showed high levels (>1 mg/L) of total nitrogen (TN) in all locations for all seasons. Total phosphorus (TP), nitrite-N (NO2-N), and ammonium-N (NH4-N) exceeded the acceptable limits in some locations and fecal coliform counts were high (>250 CFU/100 mL) in 15 locations. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the sampling sites could be grouped into three clusters based on water quality, which were categorized as low, moderate, and high pollution areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) applied to the entire dataset identified four principal components which explained 83% of the variation; pH, conductivity, TP, and NO3-N were found to be the key parameters responsible for variations in water quality. The overall results indicated that some of the sampling locations in the Tiaoxi River are heavily contaminated with pollutants from various sources which can be correlated with land use patterns and anthropogenic activities.
Ecological Models to Infer the Quantitative Relationship between Land Use and the Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Community
Authors: Damanik-Ambarita Minar , Everaert Gert , Goethals Peter
Published: February 2018

Land-use changes influence the ecological water quality. In spite of this knowledge, land-use information is often missing in ecological water quality studies. Therefore, in the present research, we selected 39 peer-reviewed model-based scientific papers that study the relationship between land use and aquatic macroinvertebrates. From the selected papers, we found that certain water bodies responded more to local land use, while other water bodies were more likely to be affected by catchment land use. Hence, combined land-use information from both the local scale and the catchment scale will provide a better understanding of the impact of land-use changes on the ecological water quality. To gain this knowledge, efforts need to be taken to acquire land-use information from field observations and remote sensing or a geographic information system (GIS) data source. Furthermore, we concluded on the benefits of using models to better understand the relationship between the ecological water quality and environmental variables. Depending on the aim of the study and the nature of the data, researchers can select the most suitable model to ensure fast analysis.
Soil Media CO2 and N2O Fluxes Dynamics from Sand-Based Roadside Bioretention Systems
Authors: Shrestha Paliza , Hurley Stephanie , Adair E.
Published: February 2018

Green stormwater infrastructure such as bioretention is commonly implemented in urban areas for stormwater quality improvements. Although bioretention systems’ soil media and vegetation have the potential to increase carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage for climate change mitigation, this storage potential has not been rigorously studied, and any analysis of it must consider the question of whether bioretention emits greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. We monitored eight roadside bioretention cells for CO2-C and N2O-N fluxes during two growing seasons (May through October) in Vermont, USA. C and N stocks in the soil media layers, microbes, and aboveground vegetation were also quantified to determine the overall C and N balance. Our bioretention cells contained three different treatments: plant species mix (high diversity versus low diversity), soil media (presence or absence of P-sorbent filter layer), and hydrologic (enhanced rainfall and runoff in some cells). CO2-C and N2O-N fluxes from all cells averaged 194 mg m−2 h−1 (range: 37 to 374 mg m−2 h−1) and 10 µg m−2 h−1 (range: −1100 to 330 µg m−2 h−1), respectively. There were no treatment-induced changes on gas fluxes. CO2-C fluxes were highly significantly correlated with soil temperature (R2 = 0.68, p < 0.0001), while N2O-N fluxes were weakly correlated with temperature (R2 = 0.017, p = 0.04). Bioretention soil media contained the largest pool of total C and N (17,122 g and 1236 g, respectively) when compared with vegetation and microbial pools. Microbial biomass C made up 14% (1936 g) of the total soil C in the upper 30 cm media layer. The total C and N sequestered by bioretention plants were 13,020 g and 320 g, respectively. After accounting for C and N losses via gas fluxes, the bioretention appeared to be a net sink for those nutrients. We also compared our bioretention gas fluxes to those from a variety of natural (i.e., grasslands and forests) and artificial (i.e., fertilized and irrigated or engineered) land-use types. We found bioretention fluxes to be in the mid-range among these land-use types, mostly likely due to organic matter (OM) influences on decomposition being similar to processes in natural systems.
Validation of the Three-Step Strategic Approach for Improving Urban Water Management and Water Resource Quality Improvement
Authors: Galvis Alberto , Van der Steen Peter , Gijzen Hubert
Published: February 2018

The impact on water resources caused by municipal wastewater discharges has become a critical and ever-growing environmental and public health concern. So far, interventions have been positioned largely ‘at the end of the pipe’, via the introduction of high-tech and innovative wastewater treatment technologies. This approach is incomplete, inefficient and expensive, and will not be able to address the rapidly growing global wastewater challenge. In order to be able to efficiently address this problem, it is important to adopt an integrated approach such as the three-step strategic approach (3-SSA) consisting of (1) minimization and prevention, (2) treatment for reuse and (3) stimulated natural self-purification. In this study, the 3-SSA was validated by applying it to the Upper Cauca river basin, in Colombia and comparing it to a conventional strategy. The pollutant load removed was 64,805 kg/d Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD5 (46%) for the conventional strategy and 69,402 kg/d BOD5 (50%) for the unconventional strategy. Cost benefit analysis results clearly favoured the 3-SSA (unconventional strategy): NPV for the conventional strategy = −276,318 × 103 Euros, and NPV for the unconventional strategy (3-SSA) = +338,266 × 103 Euros. The application of the 3-SSA resulted in avoided costs for initial investments and operation and maintenance (O&M), especially for groundwater wells and associated pumps for sugar cane irrigation. Furthermore, costs were avoided by optimization of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), tariffs and by replacement of fertilizers.
Identification of Groundwater Pollution Sources by a SCE-UA Algorithm-Based Simulation/Optimization Model
Authors: Huang Linxian , Wang Lichun , Zhang Yongyong , Xing Liting , Hao Qichen , Xiao Yong , Yang Lizhi , Zhu Henghua
Published: February 2018

Prevention and remediation strategies for groundwater pollution can be successfully carried out if the location, concentration, and release history of contaminants can be accurately identified. This, however, presents a challenge due to complex groundwater systems. To address this issue, a simulation-optimization (S/O) model by integrating MODFLOW and MT3DMS into a shuffled complex evolution (SCE-UA) optimization algorithm was proposed; this coupled model can identify the unknown groundwater pollution source characteristics. Moreover, the Grids Traversal algorithm was used for automatically searching all possible combinations of pollution source location. The performance of the proposed S/O model was tested by three hypothetical scenarios with various combinations of mixed situations (i.e., single and multiple pollution source locations, known and unknown pollution source locations, steady-state flow and transient flow). The field measurement errors was additionally considered and analyzed. Our results showed that this proposed S/O model performed reasonably well. The identified locations and concentrations of contaminants fairly matched with the imposed inputs with average normalized deviations less than 1% after sufficient generations. We further assessed the impact of generation number on the performance of the S/O model. The performance could be significantly improved by increasing generation number, which yet resulted in a heavy computational burden. Furthermore, the proposed S/O model performed more efficiently and robustly than the traditionally used artificial neural network (ANN)-based model. This is due to the internal linkage of numerical simulation in the S/O model that promotes the data exchange from external files to programming variables. This new model allows for solving the source-identification problems considering complex conditions, and thus for providing a platform for groundwater pollution prevention and management.
The Curve Number Concept as a Driver for Delineating Hydrological Response Units
Authors: Savvidou Eleni , Efstratiadis Andreas , Koussis Antonis , Koukouvinos Antonis , Skarlatos Dimitrios
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a new methodology for delineating Hydrological Response Units (HRUs), based on the Curve Number (CN) concept, is presented. Initially, a semi-automatic procedure in a GIS environment is used to produce basin maps of distributed CN values as the product of the three classified layers, soil permeability, land use/land cover characteristics and drainage capacity. The map of CN values is used in the context of model parameterization, in order to identify the essential number and spatial extent of HRUs and, consequently, the number of control variables of the calibration problem. The new approach aims at reducing the subjectivity introduced by the definition of HRUs and providing parsimonious modelling schemes. In particular, the CN-based parameterization (1) allows the user to assign as many parameters as can be supported by the available hydrological information, (2) associates the model parameters with anticipated basin responses, as quantified in terms of CN classes across HRUs, and (3) reduces the effort for model calibration, simultaneously ensuring good predictive capacity. The advantages of the proposed approach are demonstrated in the hydrological simulation of the Nedontas River Basin, Greece, where parameterizations of different complexities are employed in a recently improved version of the HYDROGEIOS model. A modelling experiment with a varying number of HRUs, where the parameter estimation problem was handled through automatic optimization, showed that the parameterization with three HRUs, i.e., equal to the number of flow records, ensured the optimal performance. Similarly, tests with alternative HRU configurations confirmed that the optimal scores, both in calibration and validation, were achieved by the CN-based approach, also resulting in parameters values across the HRUs that were in agreement with their physical interpretation.
Increased colistin resistance of Acinetobacter species in intensive care unit-acquired infections in a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Karadag Gecgel Sanem , Demir Canan
Published: February 2018

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance rates among pathogen microorganisms especially colistin resistant rates of Acinetobacter baumannii in intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infections and to determine infection-specific correct treatment strategies.

Methods: The data of adult and newborn infant patients diagnosed with ICU-acquired infection in a tertiary education and research hospital in Bursa in 2014 and 2016 were analyzed, retrospectively.

Results: Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequent pathogen of ICU-acquired infections in 2014 and 2016. There was a significant increase in colistin (CO) resistance rates in A. baumanii (0.0%-6.8%). A significant increase in CO, cefepime (FEP), ciprofloxacin (CIP) resistance rates was established in all gram negative bacteria (0.0%-7.9%, 50.0%-91.9%, 54.7%-74.6%), respectively. A significant increase in the rate of detection of A. baumanii as the pathogen microorganism in respiratory tract infection (RTI) was established (53.9% -79.5%). In addition, the average ventilator-associated pneumonia (VIP) infection rate also increased in 2016 compared to 2014 (VIP rate 2014: 7.12, 2016: 7.45, per 1000 ventilator days). A significant decrease in the rate of detection of all gram negative microorganisms in the surgical site infection (SSI), and a significant increase in the rate of detection of all gram positive microorganisms in the SSI was determined.

Conclusion: Increased antimicrobial resistance, especially increased colistin resistance rates in ICU-acquired infections, necessitates the creation of new strategies in empirical therapy. Detection of antimicrobial resistance profiles of local and infectious pathogen microorganisms in ICUs is a good guide for correct antimicrobial management.
Nocardia Astéroïdes. Importance de cette zoonose dans l’étiologie des mammites chez la vache et en pathologie vétérinaire
Authors: Vaissaire Josée , Martel Jean-Louis , Perreau Pierre , Chenat M. Cl. , Chirol Cl. , Ramisse Jacques , Raverdy J. , Belli Patrick , Catel Jacques , Legardinier J. C. , Montagut G.
Published: February 2018

The authors described the infection for Nocardia astéroïdes particulary in the mastitis of cows in French, but other species may be ill. 55 strains of Nocardia astéroïdes are isolated from 31 outbreaks or infections, during the years 1982-1983. This germ is very antibiotic resistant. They emphasize the possibility of transmission to man and wish systematical research of this germ m the laboratories.
Insémination de la brebis avec du sperme congelé en contre-saison
Authors: Mies-Filho A. , Dutra J. , Endler J. O. , Caldas de Sousa J. A. , Jondet Raymond
Published: February 2018

Trois groupes de brebis sont inséminées artificiellement à l’aide de doses de semence (congelées au printemps) contenant 100 x 106 spermatozoïdes dans un volume de 0,5 ml, après synchronisation de l’oestrus et d'injections de P.M.S.G. Les 28 brebis du 1er groupe (T1) sont inséminées par voie intracervicale profonde (une seule intervention réalisée 55 h après le retrait de l'éponge vaginale). Les 32 brebis du 2e groupe (T2) sont inséminées également par voie intracervicale profonde (2 interventions réalisées respectivement 48 et 60 h après le retrait de l’éponge vaginale). Les 28 brebis du 3e groupe (T3) sont inséminées par voie cervicale superficielle (2 interventions réalisées respectivement 48 et 60 h après le retrait de l’éponge vaginale). Les résultats de non-retour en chaleurs à 21 Jours, fertilité, fécondité et prolificité sont les suivants : T1 (60,7 % ; 60,7 % ; 92,8 % ; 152,9*%) -T2 (56,6 % ; 46,6 % ; 83,3 % ; 178,5 %) -T3 (32,1 % ; 25,0 % ; 25,0 % ; 100,0 %).
Observation d'un cas de pseudo-teigne verruqueuse du cheval
Authors: Guilhon J. F. , Dellmann Horst-Dieter , Sprouse R. F. , Parodi André-Laurent
Published: February 2018

Etude clinique et histologique d'une dermatofibrose du cheval, avec hyperkératose folliculaire, caractérisée par des dépilations sub-circulaires dont quelques-unes ont un aspect verruqueux. D'étiologie indéterminée, elle n’est ni prurigineuse, ni contagieuse et rebelle à tous traitements.