bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fomes fomentarius Ethanol Extract Exerts Inhibition of Cell Growth and Motility Induction of Apoptosis via Targeting AKT in Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells
Authors: Lee Seon-OK , Lee Min-Ho , Lee Kyung-Ran , Lee Eun-Ok , Lee Hyo-Jeong
Published: March 2019

Fomes fomentarius, an edible mushroom, is known to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetes effects. However, the underlying anti-cancer mechanism of F. fomentarius is unknown. To determine the molecular mechanism of the anti-cancer effects of F. fomentarius, various methods were used including fluorescence-activated cell sorting, Western blotting, migration, and crystal violet assays. F. fomentarius ethanol extract (FFE) decreased cell viability in six cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, A549, H460, DU145, and PC-3). FFE decreased the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells without causing cell toxicity. Furthermore, FFE attenuated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and phosphorylation of Akt as well as increased E-cadherin in MDA-MB-231 cells. FFE arrested the S and G2/M populations by inhibiting the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins such as cyclin-dependent kinase 2, cyclin A/E, and S-phase kinase-associated protein 2. FFE increased the sub-G1 population and expression of cleaved caspase-9, -3, and cleaved poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP-ribose) polymerase at 72 h and suppressed B-cell lymphoma 2. Interestingly, FFE and AKT inhibitors showed similar effects in MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, FFE contained betulin which inhibited p-AKT in MDA-MB-231 cells. Our findings demonstrate that FFE inhibits cell motility and growth and induces apoptosis by inhibiting the phsphoinositide 3- kinase /AKT pathway and caspase activation.
Efficient Genome Editing Using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Chicory
Authors: Bernard Guillaume , Gagneul David , Alves Dos Santos Harmony Alves Dos , Etienne Audrey , Hilbert Jean-Louis , Rambaud Caroline
Published: March 2019

CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated with protein CAS9) is a genome-editing tool that has been extensively used in the last five years because of its novelty, affordability, and feasibility. This technology has been developed in many plant species for gene function analysis and crop improvement but has never been used in chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). In this study, we successfully applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis to chicory using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation and protoplast transfection methods. A U6 promoter (CiU6-1p) among eight predicted U6 promoters in chicory was selected to drive sgRNA expression. A binary vector designed to induce targeted mutations in the fifth exon of the chicory phytoene desaturase gene (CiPDS) was then constructed and used to transform chicory. The mutation frequency was 4.5% with the protoplast transient expression system and 31.25% with A. rhizogenes-mediated stable transformation. Biallelic mutations were detected in all the mutant plants. The use of A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation seems preferable as the regeneration of plants is faster and the mutation frequency was shown to be higher. With both transformation methods, foreign DNA was integrated in the plant genome. Hence, selection of vector (transgene)-free segregants is required. Our results showed that genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 system can be efficiently used with chicory, which should facilitate and accelerate genetic improvement and functional biology.
A Heuristic Elastic Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Robot Path Planning
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Zhou Zhiyu
Published: March 2019

Path planning, as the core of navigation control for mobile robots, has become the focus of research in the field of mobile robots. Various path planning algorithms have been recently proposed. In this paper, in view of the advantages and disadvantages of different path planning algorithms, a heuristic elastic particle swarm algorithm is proposed. Using the path planned by the A* algorithm in a large-scale grid for global guidance, the elastic particle swarm optimization algorithm uses a shrinking operation to determine the globally optimal path formed by locally optimal nodes so that the particles can converge to it rapidly. Furthermore, in the iterative process, the diversity of the particles is ensured by a rebound operation. Computer simulation and real experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only overcomes the shortcomings of the A* algorithm, which cannot yield the shortest path, but also avoids the problem of failure to converge to the globally optimal path, owing to a lack of heuristic information. Additionally, the proposed algorithm maintains the simplicity and high efficiency of both the algorithms.
Effectiveness of the Botulinum Toxin for Treating Sialorrhea in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ruiz-Roca Juan Antonio , Pons-Fuster Eduardo , Lopez-Jornet Pia
Published: March 2019

The main objective was to assess the efficacy of botulinum toxin-based treatment for sialorrhea in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease. The search was performed by using the Medline-PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases from January 2000–December 2017, in English/Spanish in patients with Parkinson’s disease and sialorrhea. The methodological quality of trials was carried out by following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Finally, a total of 21 articles were identified as fulfilling the inclusion criteria. There is no consensus regarding the site of injection of the toxin (single or multiple points), toxin dose or follow-up period. In all cases there was a reduction of sialorrhea. Treatment safety increases with the use of ultrasonography. Effects approximately occur at one week post-injection and for 3–5 months. Botulinum toxin is an effective therapeutic strategy or option in treating sialorrhea in adult patients with Parkinson’s disease. More studies with a better design, larger samples and a longer follow-up period are required to confirm these data.
Metformin Affects Serum Lactate Levels in Predicting Mortality of Patients with Sepsis and Bacteremia
Authors: Chen Fu-Cheng , Kung Chia-Te , Cheng Hsien-Hung , Cheng Chi-Yung , Tsai Tsung-Cheng , Hsiao Sheng-Yuan , Wu Chien-Hung , Su Chih-Min
Published: March 2019

This study determined if the use of metformin affected the prognostic value of hyperlactatemia in predicting 28-day mortality among patients with sepsis and bacteremia. We enrolled adult diabetic patients with sepsis and bacteremia. Of 590 patients, 162 and 162 metformin users and nonusers, respectively, were selected in propensity matching. The mean serum lactate levels in metformin users were higher than those in nonusers (4.7 vs. 3.9 mmol/L, p = 0.044). We divided the patients into four groups based on quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scores. No significant difference was found among nonusers with qSOFA score <2, nonusers with qSOFA score ≥2, and metformin users with qSOFA score <2. The lactate levels in metformin users with qSOFA score ≥2 were higher than those in other groups, and significant differences were found in both nonsurvivors (8.9 vs. 4.6 mmol/L, p = 0.027) and survivors (6.4 vs. 3.8 mmol/L, p = 0.049) compared with metformin users with qSOFA score <2. The best cut-off point to predict 28-day mortality in metformin users (5.9 mmol/L; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.77) was higher than that in nonusers (3.6 mmol/L; AUROC 0.63; 95% CI, 0.56–0.70). Metformin users had higher lactate levels than nonusers in increasing sepsis severity. Serum lactate levels could be useful in predicting mortality in patients using metformin, but higher levels are required to obtain more precise results.
The Role of Bainite in Wear and Friction Behavior of Austempered Ductile Iron
Authors: Wen Fulin , Zhao Jianhua , Zheng Dengzhi , He Ke , Ye Wei , Qu Shen , Shangguan Jingjing
Published: March 2019

The austempered ductile iron was austenitized at 900 °C for 1 h and quenched in an isothermal quenching furnace at 380 °C and 280 °C, respectively. This paper aims to investigate the effects of bainite on wear resistance of austempered ductile iron (ADI) at different loads conditions. The micro-structure and phase composition of ADI was characterized and analyzed by metallographic microscope (OM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the volume fraction of retained austenite in ADI is reduced with the increase of austenitizing temperature. Meanwhile, the two kinds of ADI samples showed varied wear resistance when they were worn at different loads conditions. For wearing at a load of 25 N, the wear resistance of ADI mainly depends on matrix micro-hardness. Thus, ADI with lower bainite structure has higher hardness and leads to better wear resistance. When wearing at a load of 100 N, the increase of micro-hardness of upper bainite was significant. As a consequence, upper bainite showed superior friction and wear behavior. It was also found that the form of wear behavior of ADI changed from abrasive wear to fatigue delamination as the wear load increased from 25 N to 100 N according to the observation on worn surface.
Transient Liquid Phase Bonding of Ti-6Al-4V and Mg-AZ31 Alloys Using Zn Coatings
Authors: AlHazaa Abdulaziz , Alhoweml Ibrahim , Shar Muhammad Ali , Hezam Mahmoud , Abdo Hany Sayed , AlBrithen Hamad
Published: March 2019

Ti-6Al-4V and Mg-AZ31 were bonded together using the Transient Liquid Phase Bonding Process (TLP) after coating both surfaces with zinc. The zinc coatings were applied using the screen printing process of zinc paste. Successful bonds were obtained in a vacuum furnace at 500 °C and under a uniaxial pressure of 1 MPa using high frequency induction heat sintering furnace (HFIHS). Various bonding times were selected and all gave solid joints. The bonds were successfully achieved at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) line scan confirmed the diffusion of Zn in both sides but with more diffusion in the Mg side. Diffusion of Mg into the joint region was detected with significant amounts at bonds made for 20 min and above, which indicate that the isothermal solidification was achieved. In addition, Ti and Al from the base alloys were diffused into the joint region. Based on microstructural analysis, the joint mechanism was attributed to the formation of solidified mixture of Mg and Zn at the joint region with a presence of diffused Ti and Al. This conclusion was also supported by structural analysis of the fractured surfaces as well as the analysis across the joint region. The fractured surfaces were analyzed and it was concluded that the fractures occurred within the joint region where ductile fractures were observed. The strength of the joint was evaluated by shear test and found that the maximum shear strength achieved was 30.5 MPa for the bond made at 20 min.
Polymer-to-Carbon Conversion: From Nature to Technology
Authors: Sharma Swati
Published: March 2019

Glassy carbon is derived from synthetic organic polymers that undergo the process of coking during their pyrolysis. Polymer-to-carbon conversion (hereafter referred to as PolyCar) also takes place in nature, and is indeed responsible for the formation of various naturally occurring carbon allotropes. In the last few decades the PolyCar concept has been utilized in technological applications, i.e., specific polymers are patterned into the desired shapes and intentionally converted into carbon by a controlled heat-treatment. Device fabrication using glassy carbon is an excellent example of the use of the PolyCar process in technology, which has rapidly progressed from conventional to micro- and nanomanufacturing. While the technique itself is simple, one must have a good understanding of the carbonization mechanism of the polymer, which in turn determines whether or not the resulting material will be glassy carbon. Publications that comprise this special issue shed light on several aspects of the formation, properties and performance of glassy carbon in the cutting-edge technological applications. The results of detailed material characterization pertaining to two important research areas, namely neural electrodes and precision glass molding, are presented as examples. I hope that the readers will enjoy as well as benefit from this collection.
Aggregates Obtained by Alkali Activation of Fly Ash: The Effect of Granulation, Pelletization Methods and Curing Regimes
Authors: Rudić Ognjen , Ducman Vilma , Malešev Mirjana , Radonjanin Vlastimir , Draganić Suzana , Šupić Slobodan , Radeka Miroslava
Published: March 2019

This paper presents results regarding the phase composition, microstructure and textural properties of two types of aggregates, which were prepared via crushing or pelletization of alkali-activated Class F fly ash and cured under different conditions. The alkali activator was the same for aggregate products, containing an alkaline solution consisting of 8 M NaOH and Na-silicate (8 M NaOH/Na-silicate = 1:2.5 mass ratio). The aforementioned properties were influenced by two different preparation procedures combined with varying curing regimes (under normal conditions at 20 °C, RH 40–60% for 28 and 120 days and under an accelerated regime, at 65 °C for 5 days). Aggregates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), back scattered electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer (BSE-EDS) analyses and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The results showed noteworthy structural and textural diversities between the two types of aggregate. The method of preparation and curing regime affected the formation of the N-A-S-H structure and the texture of the alkali-activated fly ash product, with the crushing method giving an advantage.
Correlation between Fatty Acid Profile and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Common Australian Seafood by-Products
Authors: Ahmad Tarek B. , Rudd David , Kotiw Michael , Liu Lei , Benkendorff Kirsten
Published: March 2019

Marine organisms are a rich source of biologically active lipids with anti-inflammatory activities. These lipids may be enriched in visceral organs that are waste products from common seafood. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analyses were performed to compare the fatty acid compositions of lipid extracts from some common seafood organisms, including octopus (Octopus tetricus), squid (Sepioteuthis australis), Australian sardine (Sardinops sagax), salmon (Salmo salar) and school prawns (Penaeus plebejus). The lipid extracts were tested for anti-inflammatory activity by assessing their inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse cells. The lipid extract from both the flesh and waste tissue all contained high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and significantly inhibited NO and TNFα production. Lipid extracts from the cephalopod mollusks S. australis and O. tetricus demonstrated the highest total PUFA content, the highest level of omega 3 (ω-3) PUFAs, and the highest anti-inflammatory activity. However, multivariate analysis indicates the complex mixture of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids may all influence the anti-inflammatory activity of marine lipid extracts. This study confirms that discarded parts of commonly consumed seafood species provide promising sources for the development of new potential anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals.
Wettability and Infiltration of Liquid Silicon on Graphite Substrates
Authors: Casado Almudena , Torralba Jose Manuel , Milenkovic Srdjan
Published: March 2019

The energy crisis has stimulated a rapid growth of developments in the photovoltaic industry in recent years. To reduce the high cost and the toxicity of classical metallurgical routes, new methods, such as vacuum refining of silicon, have been developed. Moreover, at the industry level, parameters such as the porosity in crucibles and dies are not controlled, so wettability, infiltration, and reaction between silicon and graphite are the key factors in the purification process. In this work, the behavior of several refractory substrates against melted silicon was studied by the classic sessile drop method. The most important phenomena, i.e., wettability and infiltration, were compared with the properties of the substrates. According to the results, for the carbonaceous materials, the reaction of triple line silicon-graphite manages these phenomena, whereas for alumina, a passive layer is formed due to the presence of oxygen, which is subsequently eliminated by the chemical reactions, delaying the process. Regarding the contact angle and infiltration behavior, alumina showed the best results, but due to its reactivity, it contaminates Si, so that this material is not recommended for solar silicon application. However, composite 2 is compatible with the application, as it shows good results in comparison with the other materials.
Ozone and Wounding Stresses Differently Alter the Temporal Variation in Formylated Phloroglucinols in Eucalyptus globulus Leaves
Authors: Liu Bin , Marques dos Santos Bruna , Kanagendran Arooran , Neilson Elizabeth H. Jakobsen , Niinemets Ülo
Published: March 2019

Formylated phloroglucinol compounds (FPCs) are a class of plant specialized metabolite present in the Myrtaceae family, especially in the genus Eucalyptus. FPCs are widely investigated due to their herbivore deterrence properties and various bioactivities of pharmaceutical relevance. Despite the increasing number of studies elucidating new FPCs structures and bioactivity, little is known about the role of those compounds in planta, and the effects of environmental stresses on FPC concentration. Ozone (O3) and wounding are key stress factors regularly confronted by plants. In this study, we investigated how O3, wounding, and their combination affected individual and total FPC foliar concentration of the economically important species Eucalyptus globulus. Six individual FPCs, including five macrocarpals and one sideroxylonal, showed different response patterns to the single and combined stresses. Total macrocarpals only increased under single O3 treatment, whereas total sideroxylonals only increased in response to wounding treatment, suggesting different physiological roles played by the two groups of FPCs predominantly existing in E. globulus foliage. Total FPCs increased significantly under individual wounding and O3 treatments but not under the combined treatment. A principal component analysis indicated that all different treatments had unique FPC fingerprints. Total phenolic contents increased in all O3 and wounding treatments, and a marginally positive correlation was found between total FPCs and total phenolic contents. We suggest that, depending on the concentration and composition, FPCs play multiple physiological roles in planta, including serving as antioxidants to scavenge the reactive oxygen species brought about by O3 and wounding stresses.
First-Principles Study of AlPO4-H3, a Hydrated Aluminophosphate Zeotype Containing Two Different Types of Adsorbed Water Molecules
Authors: Fischer Michael
Published: March 2019

Porous aluminophosphate zeotypes (AlPOs) are promising materials for heat transformation applications using water as a working fluid. Two “types” of adsorbed water molecules can be distinguished in hydrated AlPOs: Water molecules adsorbed in the direct proximity of framework aluminium atoms form bonds to these Al atoms, with the coordination number of Al increasing from four to five or six. The remaining water molecules that are adsorbed in other parts of the accessible pore space are not strongly bonded to any framework atom, they interact with their environment exclusively through hydrogen bonds. The APC-type small-pore aluminophosphate AlPO4-H3 contains both types of H2O molecules. In the present work, this prototypical hydrated AlPO is studied using dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) calculations. After validating the computations against experimental crystal structure and Raman spectroscopy data, three interrelated aspects are addressed: First, calculations for various partially hydrated models are used to establish that such partially hydrated phases are not thermodynamically stable, as the interaction with the adsorbed water molecules is distinctly weaker than in fully hydrated AlPO4-H3. Second, IR and Raman spectra are computed and compared to those of the dehydrated analogue AlPO4-C, leading to the identification of a few “fingerprint” modes that could be used as indicators for the presence of Al-coordinated water molecules. Finally, DFT-based molecular dynamics calculations are employed to study the dynamics of the adsorbed water molecules. All in all, this in-depth computational study of AlPO4-H3 contributes to the fundamental understanding of hydrated AlPOs, and should therefore provide valuable information for future computational and experimental studies of these systems.
Confined Crystallization of Pigment Red 146 in Emulsion Droplets and Its Mechanism
Authors: Meng Xianze , Wang Yongli , Li Xin , Chen Xue , Lv Dongjun , Xie Chuang , Yin Qiuxiang , Zhang Xuling , Hao Hongxun
Published: March 2019

In this work, the effect of confined space on crystallization processes of pigments was investigated by using C.I. Pigment Red 146 (PR 146) as a model compound. The colloidal system (i.e., emulsion droplets) was used as a nanoreactor to prepare nanoscale PR 146 for the inkjet printer. The effects of the space confinement were investigated by comparing the products of PR 146 prepared from bulk solution, macroemulsion, and miniemulsion. The results showed that PR 146 crystallized in mini-emulsion had the narrowest particle size distribution and the average particle size can be as small as 172.5 nm, one order of magnitude smaller than the one obtained from the bulk solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data revealed that PR 146 crystallized in all three solutions where the crystalline state and had similar crystallite sizes. The process mechanism of crystallization confined in the miniemulsion droplets was proposed and explained. The function mechanism of the co-stabilizer during the crystallization of PR 146 in emulsion was also explained. It was found that sodium chloride could counteract the pressure difference as an osmotic pressure agent and prevent the migrating of water from small droplets into big droplets. The influences of dosages of emulsifiers and co-stabilizers on droplet size and the size of the obtained PR 146 particles were evaluated and the optimal conditions were determined. Furthermore, the disparity of PR 146 products prepared by different methods was investigated by UV–Vis spectra. The aqueous dispersion of PR 146 crystallized in miniemulsion had the highest absorbance and darkest color.
Sterilization Procedure for Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogels Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles for Clinical Applications
Authors: Rafael Diana , Andrade Fernanda , Martinez-Trucharte Francesc , Basas Jana , Seras-Franzoso Joaquín , Palau Marta , Gomis Xavier , Pérez-Burgos Marc , Blanco Alberto , López-Fernández Alba , Vélez Roberto , Abasolo Ibane , Aguirre Màrius , Gavaldà Joan , Schwartz Simó
Published: March 2019

Hydrogels (HG) have recognized benefits as drug delivery platforms for biomedical applications. Their high sensitivity to sterilization processes is however one of the greatest challenges regarding their clinical translation. Concerning infection diseases, prevention of post-operatory related infections is crucial to ensure appropriate patient recovery and good clinical outcomes. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown good antimicrobial properties but sustained release at the right place is required. Thus, we produced and characterized thermo-sensitive HG based on Pluronic® F127 loaded with AgNPs (HG-AgNPs) and their integrity and functionality after sterilization by dry-heat and autoclave methods were carefully assessed. The quality attributes of HG-AgNPs were seriously affected by dry-heat methods but not by autoclaving methods, which allowed to ensure the required sterility. Also, direct sterilization of the final HG-AgNPs product proved more effective than of the raw material, allowing simpler production procedures in non-sterile conditions. The mechanical properties were assessed in post mortem rat models and the HG-AgNPs were tested for its antimicrobial properties in vitro using extremely drug-resistant (XDR) clinical strains. The produced HG-AgNPs prove to be versatile, easy produced and cost-effective products, with activity against XDR strains and an adequate gelation time and spreadability features and optimal for in situ biomedical applications.
In-Situ Grown Silver Nanoparticles on Nonwoven Fabrics Based on Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine for Highly Sensitive SERS Carbaryl Pesticides Detection
Authors: Zhang Zhiliang , Si Tiantian , Liu Jun , Zhou Guowei
Published: March 2019

The rapid sampling and efficient collection of target molecules from a real-world surface is fairly crucial for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect trace pesticide residues in the environment and in agriculture fields. In this work, a versatile approach was exploited to fabricate a flexible SERS substrate for highly sensitive detection of carbaryl pesticides, using in-situ grown silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)on non-woven (NW) fabric surfaces based on mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) molecules. The obtained NW@PDA@AgNPs fabrics showed extremely sensitive and reproducible SERS signals toward crystal violet (CV) molecules, and the detection limit was as low as 1.0 × 10−12 M. More importantly, these NW@PDA@AgNPs fabrics could be directly utilized as flexible SERS substrates for the rapid extraction and detection of trace carbaryl pesticides from various fruit surfaces through a simple swabbing approach. It was identified that the detection limits of carbaryl residues from apple, orange, and banana surfaces were approximately decreased to 4.02 × 10−12, 6.04 × 10−12, and 5.03 × 10−12 g, respectively, demonstrating high sensitivity and superior reliability. These flexible substrates could not only drastically increase the collection efficiency from multifarious irregular-shaped matrices, but also greatly enhance analytical sensitivity and reliability for carbaryl pesticides. The fabricated flexible and multifunctional SERS substrates would have great potential to trace pesticide residue detection in the environment and bioscience fields.
Dietary Diversity among Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Poor, Rural, and Ethnic Minority Areas of Central South China
Authors: Bi Jieying , Liu Chengfang , Li Shaoping , He Zhenya , Chen Kevin , Luo Renfu , Wang Zimeiyi , Yu Yanying , Xu Haiquan
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to document the dietary diversity status of preschool children in poor, rural, and ethnic minority areas of Central South China and examine its associated factors both at home and in preschools. A cross-sectional study including 1328 preschool children aged three or five years from two nationally designated poverty counties in Hunan Province was conducted. A dietary diversity score (DDS) was constructed to measure the dietary patterns based on the 24 h recall method. The mean DDS among the sample children was 5.77 (95% confidence interval: 5.70–5.83, range 1 to 9) with a standard deviation of 1.22. Both household characteristics (including the education level of the child’s primary caregiver and the nutritional knowledge of the caregiver) and preschool factors (including the nutritional knowledge of the child’s preschool principal and teachers, nutritional training to children, and the preschool kitchen manager) were positively associated with children’s DDS. The dietary diversity status of children in poor, rural, and ethnic minority areas of Central South China is much lower than that of their peers in other areas. Nutritional education should be provided to caregivers, preschool staff, and children to narrow the gap.
Total, Fresh, Lean, and Fresh Lean Beef Consumption in Relation to Nutrient Intakes and Diet Quality among U.S. Adults, 2005–2016
Authors: An Ruopeng , Nickols-Richardson Sharon , Alston Reginald , Shen Sa , Clarke Caitlin
Published: March 2019

(1) Background: This study assessed the influence of beef consumption on nutrient intakes and diet quality among U.S. adults. (2) Methods: Nationally-representative sample (n = 27,117) from 2005–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was analyzed. First-difference estimator addressed confounding bias from time-invariant unobservables (e.g., eating habits, taste preferences) by using within-individual variations in beef consumption between 2 nonconsecutive 24 h dietary recalls. (3) Results: Approximately 54%, 39%, 12%, and 7% of U.S. adults consumed beef, lean beef, fresh beef, and fresh lean beef, respectively. Overall diet quality measured by the Health Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) score among beef, fresh beef, lean beef, and fresh lean beef consumers was lower than beef non-consumers. Regression analyses found that beef, fresh beef, lean beef, and fresh lean beef consumption was associated with higher daily intakes of total energy, protein, sodium, choline, iron, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, and multiple B vitamins. Beef, fresh beef, and lean beef consumption but not fresh lean beef consumption was associated with higher saturated fat intake. Beef consumption was not found to be associated with overall dietary quality measured by the HEI-2015 score. (4) Conclusions: Beef consumers may increase the intake of fresh and lean beef over total beef consumption to maximize the nutritional gains from beef portions while minimizing the resulting increases in energy, saturated fat, and sodium.
Poly(ethylene-co-vinylalcohol)/Poly(δ-valerolactone)/Aspirin Composite: Model for a New Drug-Carrier System
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulaziz Ali , Saeed Waseem Sharaf , Al-Odayni Abdel-Basit , Alharthi Fahad A. , Semlali Abdelhabib , Aouak Taieb
Published: March 2019

The release dynamics of aspirin(ASP), used as a drug model, from the poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol)/poly(δ-valerolactone) (PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL) hydrogel blend was controlled by varying the blend’s degree of swelling through a gradual loading of Pδ-VL (hydrophobic polymer) in this copolymer matrix. To achieve this goal, a series of PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL blends with different ratios was prepared through the solvent casting method, and the miscibility of this polymer blend was evaluated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electronic microscopy methods. The tests of cell adhesion and growth on the PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL specimens were performed using the 3-(4,5-demethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the results obtained were the best performance in terms of cell viability, cell adhesion, and growth of the PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL50 material. The dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared material were also examined by dynamic mechanical analysis; the results obtained showed a material having intermediary mechanical properties between those of the two components. On the basis of these characterizations, the blend showing the best performance, such as the PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL50 system, was chosen as a carrier to study the in vitro control of the release dynamics of ASP from the ASP/PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL drug-carrier system when administered orally, in which the influences of the ASP content and the degree of swelling of the PE-co-VAL/Pδ-VL blend were investigated. Based on the data obtained and the gastrointestinal transit time reported by Beltzer et al., it was possible to estimate the distribution of the in vitro cumulative ASP released in different digestive system organs regardless of the actions of any enzymes and microorganisms and select the best-performing drug-carrier system.
Seeking, Reading, and Use of Scholarly Articles: An International Study of Perceptions and Behavior of Researchers
Authors: Tenopir Carol , Christian Lisa , Kaufman Jordan
Published: March 2019

While journal articles are still considered the most important sources of scholarly reading, libraries may no longer have a monopoly on providing discovery and access. Many other sources of scholarly information are available to readers. This international study examines how researchers discover, read, and use scholarly literature for their work. Respondents in 2018 report an average of almost 20 article readings a month and there are still significant differences found in the reading and use of scholarly literature by discipline and geographical location, consistent with the earlier studies. Researchers show they are willing to change or adopt new strategies to discover and obtain articles.
Time-Series Evolution Patterns of Land Subsidence in the Eastern Beijing Plain, China
Authors: Zuo Junjie , Gong Huili , Chen Beibei , Liu Kaisi , Zhou Chaofan , Ke Yinghai
Published: March 2019

Land subsidence in the Eastern Beijing Plain has a long history and is always serious. In this paper, we consider the time-series evolution patterns of the eastern of Beijing Plain. First, we use the Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSI) technique, with Envisat and Radarsat-2 data, to monitor the deformation of Beijing Plain from 2007 to 2015. Second, we adopt the standard deviation ellipse (SDE) method, combined with hydrogeological data, to analyze the spatial evolution patterns of land subsidence. The results suggest that land subsidence developed mainly in the northwest–southeast direction until 2012 and then expanded in all directions. This process corresponds to the expansion of the groundwater cone of depression range after 2012, although subsidence is restricted by geological conditions. Then, we use the permutation entropy (PE) algorithm to reverse the temporal evolution pattern of land subsidence, and interpret the causes of the phenomenon in combination with groundwater level change data. The results show that the time-series evolution pattern of the land subsidence funnel edge can be divided into three stages. From 2009 to 2010, the land subsidence development was uneven. From 2010 to 2012, the land subsidence development was relatively even. From 2012 to 2013, the development of land subsidence became uneven. However, subsidence within the land subsidence funnel is divided into two stages. From 2009 to 2012, the land subsidence tended to be even, and from 2012 to 2015, the land subsidence was relatively more even. The main reason for the different time-series evolution patterns at these two locations is the annual groundwater level variations. The larger the variation range of groundwater is, the higher the corresponding PE value, which means the development of the land subsidence tends to be uneven.
Assessing Harvested Sites in a Forested Boreal Mountain Catchment through Global Forest Watch
Authors: Rossi Fernando , Breidenbach Johannes , Puliti Stefano , Astrup Rasmus , Talbot Bruce
Published: March 2019

Global Forest Watch (GFW) provides a global map of annual forest cover loss (FCL) produced from Landsat imagery, offering a potentially powerful tool for monitoring changes in forest cover. In managed forests, FCL primarily provides information on commercial harvesting. A semi-autonomous method for providing data on the location and attributes of harvested sites at a landscape level was developed which could significantly improve the basis for catchment management, including risk mitigation. FCL in combination with aerial images was used for detecting and characterising harvested sites in a 1607 km2 mountainous boreal forest catchment in south-central Norway. Firstly, the forest cover loss map was enhanced (FCLE) by removing small isolated forest cover loss patches that had a high probability of representing commission errors. The FCLE map was then used to locate and assess sites representing annual harvesting activity over a 17-year period. Despite an overall accuracy of >98%, a kappa of 0.66 suggested only a moderate quality for detecting harvested sites. While errors of commission were negligible, errors of omission were more considerable and at least partially attributed to the presence of residual seed trees on the site after harvesting. The systematic analysis of harvested sites against aerial images showed a detection rate of 94%, but the area of the individual harvested site was underestimated by 29% on average. None of the site attributes tested, including slope, area, altitude, or site shape index, had any effect on the accuracy of the area estimate. The annual harvest estimate was 0.6% (standard error 12%) of the productive forest area. On average, 96% of the harvest was carried out on flat to moderately steep terrain (<40% slope), 3% on steep terrain (40% to 60% slope), and 1% on very steep terrain (>60% slope). The mean area of FCLE within each slope category was 1.7 ha, 0.9 ha, and 0.5 ha, respectively. The mean FCLE area increased from 1.0 ha to 3.2 ha on flat to moderate terrain over the studied period, while the frequency of harvesting increased from 249 to 495 sites per year. On the steep terrain, 35% of the harvesting was done with cable yarding, and 62% with harvester-forwarder systems. On the very steep terrain (>60% slope), 88% of the area was harvested using cable yarding technology while harvesters and forwarders were used on 12% of the area. Overall, FCL proved to be a useful dataset for the purpose of assessing harvesting activity under the given conditions.
An Uncertainty Quantified Fundamental Climate Data Record for Microwave Humidity Sounders
Authors: Hans Imke , Burgdorf Martin , Buehler Stefan A. , Prange Marc , Lang Theresa , John Viju O.
Published: March 2019

To date, there is no long-term, stable, and uncertainty-quantified dataset of upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) that can be used for climate research. As intermediate step towards the overall goal of constructing such a climate data record (CDR) of UTH, we produced a new fundamental climate data record (FCDR) on the level of brightness temperature for microwave humidity sounders that will serve as basis for the CDR of UTH. Based on metrological principles, we constructed and implemented the measurement equation and the uncertainty propagation in the processing chain for the microwave humidity sounders. We reprocessed the level 1b data to obtain newly calibrated uncertainty quantified level 1c data in brightness temperature. Three aspects set apart this FCDR from previous attempts: (1) the data come in a ready-to-use NetCDF format; (2) the dataset provides extensive uncertainty information taking into account the different correlation behaviour of the underlying errors; and (3) inter-satellite biases have been understood and reduced by an improved calibration. Providing a detailed uncertainty budget on these data, this new FCDR provides valuable information for a climate scientist and also for the construction of the CDR.
The Influence of Region of Interest Heterogeneity on Classification Accuracy in Wetland Systems
Authors: Berhane Tedros M. , Costa Hugo , Lane Charles R. , Anenkhonov Oleg A. , Chepinoga Victor V. , Autrey Bradley C.
Published: March 2019

Classifying and mapping natural systems such as wetlands using remote sensing frequently relies on data derived from regions of interest (ROIs), often acquired during field campaigns. ROIs tend to be heterogeneous in complex systems with a variety of land cover classes. However, traditional supervised image classification is predicated on pure single-class observations to train a classifier. This ultimately encourages end-users to create single-class ROIs, nudging ROIs away from field-based points or gerrymandering the ROI, which may produce ROIs unrepresentative of the landscape and potentially insert error into the classification. In this study, we explored WorldView-2 images and 228 field-based data points to define ROIs of varying heterogeneity levels in terms of class membership to classify and map 22 discrete classes in a large and complex wetland system. The goal was to include rather than avoid ROI heterogeneity and assess its impact on classification accuracy. Parametric and nonparametric classifiers were tested with ROI heterogeneity that varied from 7% to 100%. Heterogeneity was governed by ROI area, which we increased from the field-sampling frame of ~100 m2 nearly 19-fold to ~2124 m2. In general, overall accuracy (OA) tended downwards with increasing heterogeneity but stayed relatively high until extreme heterogeneity levels were reached. Moreover, the differences in OA were not statistically significant across several small-to-large heterogeneity levels. Per-class user’s and producer’s accuracies behaved similarly. Our findings suggest that ROI heterogeneity did not harm classification accuracy unless heterogeneity became extreme, and thus there are substantial practical advantages to accommodating heterogeneous ROIs in image classification. Rather than attempting to avoid ROI heterogeneity by gerrymandering, classification in wetland environments, as well as analyses of other complex environments, should embrace ROI heterogeneity.
Selective Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide and Methane by a Single MOX-Sensor
Authors: Shaposhnik Alexey , Moskalev Pavel , Sizask Elena , Ryabtsev Stanislav , Vasiliev Alexey
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we describe a technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of such gas mixtures as “hydrogen sulfide in air” and “methane in air” using temperature modulation of a single metal oxide sensor. Using regression analysis in the principal components plane (PC1, PC2), we performed a selective determination of analytes on the minimum set of their concentrations in the training set, which is essential for solving practical problems. An important feature of this work is the difference in test gas concentrations from their concentrations in the training set. For the qualitative analysis of gas mixtures in a wide range of concentrations, we have developed an improved method for processing arrays of multidimensional data. For this improvement, we form a Mahalanobis neighborhood for polynomial regression lines constructed from the projection of training samples for each analyte on the (PC1, PC2) plane. Using the temperature modulation mode for the metal oxide sensor allowed us to increase its response when determining hydrogen sulfide by two to four orders of magnitude compared with the constant temperature mode.
A Survey of Internet of Things (IoT) Authentication Schemes
Authors: El-hajj Mohammed , Fadlallah Ahmad , Chamoun Maroun , Serhrouchni Ahmed
Published: March 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the ability to provide everyday devices with a way of identification and another way for communication with each other. The spectrum of IoT application domains is very large including smart homes, smart cities, wearables, e-health, etc. Consequently, tens and even hundreds of billions of devices will be connected. Such devices will have smart capabilities to collect, analyze and even make decisions without any human interaction. Security is a supreme requirement in such circumstances, and in particular authentication is of high interest given the damage that could happen from a malicious unauthenticated device in an IoT system. This paper gives a near complete and up-to-date view of the IoT authentication field. It provides a summary of a large range of authentication protocols proposed in the literature. Using a multi-criteria classification previously introduced in our work, it compares and evaluates the proposed authentication protocols, showing their strengths and weaknesses, which constitutes a fundamental first step for researchers and developers addressing this domain.
A Vision Based Detection Method for Narrow Butt Joints and a Robotic Seam Tracking System
Authors: Xue Boce , Chang Baohua , Peng Guodong , Gao Yanjun , Tian Zhijie , Du Dong , Wang Guoqing
Published: March 2019

Automatic joint detection is of vital importance for the teaching of robots before welding and the seam tracking during welding. For narrow butt joints, the traditional structured light method may be ineffective, and many existing detection methods designed for narrow butt joints can only detect their 2D position. However, for butt joints with narrow gaps and 3D trajectories, their 3D position and orientation of the workpiece surface are required. In this paper, a vision based detection method for narrow butt joints is proposed. A crosshair laser is projected onto the workpiece surface and an auxiliary light source is used to illuminate the workpiece surface continuously. Then, images with an appropriate grayscale distribution are grabbed with the auto exposure function of the camera. The 3D position of the joint and the normal vector of the workpiece surface are calculated by the combination of the 2D and 3D information in the images. In addition, the detection method is applied in a robotic seam tracking system for GTAW (gas tungsten arc welding). Different filtering methods are used to smooth the detection results, and compared with the moving average method, the Kalman filter can reduce the dithering of the robot and improve the tracking accuracy significantly.
An Enhanced Lightweight Dynamic Pseudonym Identity Based Authentication and Key Agreement Scheme Using Wireless Sensor Networks for Agriculture Monitoring
Authors: Chen Meriske , Lee Tian-Fu , Pan Jiann-I
Published: March 2019

Agriculture plays an important role for many countries. It provides raw materials for food and provides large employment opportunities for people in the country, especially for countries with a dense population. To enhance agriculture productivity, modern technology such as wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be utilized to help in monitoring important parameters in thw agricultural field such as temperature, light, soil moisture, etc. During the monitoring process, if security compromises happen, such as interception or modification of the parameters, it may lead to false decisions and bring damage to agriculture productivity. Therefore, it is very important to develop secure authentication and key agreement for the system. Recently, Ali et al. proposed an authentication and key agreement scheme using WSNs for agriculture monitoring. However, it fails to provide user untraceability, user anonymity, and session key security; it suffers from sensor node impersonation attack and perfect forward secrecy attack; and even worse has denial of service as a service. This study discusses these limitations and proposes a new secure and more efficient authentication and key agreement scheme for agriculture monitoring using WSNs. The proposed scheme utilizes dynamic pseudonym identity to guarantee user privacy and eliminates redundant computations to enhance efficiency.
Product-Service System Business Modelling Methodology Using Morphological Analysis
Authors: Kwon Minkyu , Lee Jihwan , Hong Yoo S.
Published: March 2019

This study aims to establish a structured business modelling methodology for successful implementation of Product-service system (PSS). The morphological analysis is applied in investigating the possible patterns of the PSS business model. To systematically collect the business model patterns, we have collected a set of predefined building blocks which can be used in business modelling. These building blocks are collected through investigation of actual PSS business model cases. By mixing and matching various building blocks, various innovative business model alternatives can be designed. To demonstrate our morphological chart, real case example of hair dryer company is illustrated. Moreover, we introduce a web-based system, which supports our business model idea generation procedure using morphological chart.