bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Limits of Conditionality
Authors: Cavlak Hakan , Işık Hayriye
Published: March 2016

Conditionality is mostly defined as the EU policy engendered for candidate countries. However, the mere use of conditionality by the EU does not essentially explain transferring of policies and EU rules towards the candidate countries. EU conditionality may be considered as a comprising approach but in certain policy areas or countries it might not be as successful as it was on other ones. The EU conditionality basically defined as a bargaining policy of affecting through reward, under which the EU provides inducements to candidate or neighbor countries to aligning with the conditions of the EU. In this study the explanatory power of conditionality would be questioned; so the main question will be “to what extent does the EU have influence on policy convergence in a candidate country that does not have a clear membership perspective? Taxation chapter in accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU has been chosen as the case of this research as providing to have an answer on this question. The main objective of this paper is ‘analyzing the extent of EU conditionality on Turkish taxation policy.’ Furthermore, it is argued in this study that “without a concrete incentive, European Union’s impact on a candidate country would be limited.”
Foot and Ankle Function at Maturity After Ilizarov Treatment for Atrophic-Type Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia
Authors: Seo Sang Gyo , Lee Dong Yeon , Kim Yeon Soo , Yoo Won Joon , Cho Tae-Joon , Choi In Ho
Published: March 2016

Background:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and the biomechanical function of the foot and ankle at skeletal maturity of patients treated for atrophic-type congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) compared with healthy young adult controls.

Methods:

Twenty-four patients (mean age of 19.1 years) who had undergone Ilizarov treatment for unilateral atrophic-type CPT were compared with twenty-four controls (mean age of 19.6 years). All participants were evaluated using validated outcome questionnaires, radiographs, physical examination, instrumented motion analysis including a multisegmental foot model, and pedobarographic measurement.

Results:

Within the CPT group, the mean score of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale was 89.9 (range, 76 to 100), and the mean score of the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OAFQ) was 42.8 (range, 15 to 60). Motion analysis and pedobarographic measurement showed differences in biomechanical function of the foot and ankle on the side affected by CPT: a slower walking speed due to the short stride length; decreased dorsiflexion in hallux motion; increased hindfoot pronation in the presence of forefoot supination; diminished ankle push-off power; delayed time to heel-rise; and decreased forefoot pressure relative to hindfoot pressure. However, sagittal motion of the hindfoot and forefoot on the affected side was relatively well preserved. Subgroup analysis demonstrated no significant differences in terms of clinical outcome scores and most biomechanical parameters between the tibiofibular synostosis group and the intact-fibula group.

Conclusions:

Children with atrophic-type CPT can obtain satisfactory foot and ankle function at maturity after successful Ilizarov treatment. Early stabilization of the ankle mortise by fibular stabilization and preservation of ankle mobility during and after treatment is thought to be crucial to maintaining function of the ankle in patients with CPT.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The marine environment and ballast water management law
Authors: Ndlovu F. P.
Published: March 2016

This article contains a study of international and national measures dealing with the potential threat of pollution and the introduction of alien species that may come from the discharge of improperly treated ballast water. Ballast water management policy, law and coastal biosecurity strategies are considered. There are challenges to achieving the ideals of ballast water laws, as correctly pointed out by President Denholm of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), such as the cost of achieving these measures in today's economic climate; however, this article emphasizes the long-term effects of ignoring proper ballast water management. This article encourages a sustained commitment to strategies aimed at dealing with pollution and the harm that may be caused by marine invasive species that often find their way around the world as a result of ballast water discharges. With the imminent implementation of international law on ballast water and a federal court of appeals in the United States ordering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rewrite a portion of its ballast water dumping rules, ballast water policy justly deserves unrelenting global attention.
Understanding India-Pakistan water politics since the signing of the Indus Water Treaty
Authors: Jamir Opangmeren
Published: March 2016

On 19 September 1960, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed between India and Pakistan, presumably resolving the conflict of Indus water sharing. Nevertheless, over the years the conflict has re-appeared, dragging both the riparian states into confrontation. This paper explores the reasons that lead to conflict despite the Indus water sharing having already been resolved by the IWT. Analysis of the documentation shows that increasing construction of hydropower projects by India instigates conflict between the riparian states. The paper also analyzes two variables that will actualize the possibility of further conflict if correct steps are not taken. The paper concludes in ascertaining the credibility of the IWT to precisely address the challenges vis-à-vis issues that have resurfaced in Indus water sharing.
Features of impulse sprinkling technology
Authors: Angold Ye. V. , Zharkov V. A. , Kalashnikov A. A. , Balgabayev N. N.
Published: March 2016

The principle of non-stop water supply to plants and soil in accordance with their water intake is progressive. Drip irrigation and impulse sprinkling correspond to this principle. Drip irrigation provides optimal water and nutrient regimes directly to the root system of plants. However, this irrigation is not effective enough under conditions of high temperature (over 25–35 °C) as growth processes are known to slow down and photosynthesis to cease, consequently affecting the yielding capacity. Impulse sprinkling provides optimal moisture level in the given layer, improved microclimate in the plant environment and water regime of plants within the whole vegetation period and is most effective within daytime. Through improvement of microclimate and plants' water regime within periods of high temperature and low air humidity under the conditions of South Kazakhstan, the technology of impulse sprinkling enabled increasing productivity of a clonal rootstock mother plantation for the 3 years of research on average by 19.4% compared to regular sprinkling. The applied technology provided optimization of layers' growth and development conditions upon decrease of the moistening of the soil layer of mother plantation bushes for derogation of their water regime after hilling the grown root layers.
Impact of application of zinc oxide nanoparticles on callus induction, plant regeneration, element content and antioxidant enzyme activity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) under salt stress
Authors: Alharby Hesham , Metwali Ehab , Fuller Michael , Aldhebiani Amal
Published: March 2016

The properties of nanomaterials and their potential applications have been
given considerable attention by researchers in various fields, especially
agricultural biotechnology. However, not much has been done to evaluate the
role or effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) in regulating
physiological and biochemical processes in response to salt-induced stress.
For this purpose, some callus growth traits, plant regeneration rate, mineral
element (sodium, potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen) contents and changes in
the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)
in tissues of five tomato cultivars were investigated in a callus culture
exposed to elevated concentrations of salt (3.0 and 6.0 g L-1NaCl), and in
the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (15 and 30 mg L-1). The relative
callus growth rate was inhibited by 3.0 g L-1 NaCl; this was increased
dramatically at 6.0 g L-1. Increasing exposure to NaCl was associated with a
significantly higher sodium content and SOD and GPX activities. Zinc oxide
nanoparticles mitigated the effects of NaCl, and in this application of lower
concentrations (15 mg L-1) was more effective than a higher concentration (30
mg L-1). This finding indicates that zinc oxide nanoparticles should be
investigated further as a potential anti-stress agent in crop production.
Different tomato cultivars showed different degrees of tolerance to salinity
in the presence of ZnO-NP. The cultivars Edkawy, followed by Sandpoint, were
less affected by salt stress than the cultivar Anna Aasa.
Effect of diisodecyl adipate concentration in hybrid films applied to tinplate
Authors: Kunst Sandra , Beltrami Lilian , Longhy Marielen , Cardoso Henrique , Menezes Tiago , Célia de
Published: March 2016

Siloxane hybrid films are fragile and have low mechanical strength due to their vitreous material properties. Hence, a new formulation incorporating a plasticizer agent was developed in order to increase the layer thickness of a uniform and homogeneous hybrid film on tinplate, and to provide flexibility to the polymeric matrix. Tinplate sheets were coated with a hybrid film obtained from a sol-gel process, constituted by t+he addition of the following alkoxide precursors: 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate and tetraethoxysilane with 0.01 mol L-1 cerium nitrate addition. The influence of the diisodecyl adipate plasticizer con-centration was evaluated. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, profilometry, open circuit potential monitoring, polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that all films with diisodecyl adipate had higher electrochemical performance compared to uncoated tinplate. However, the film with the 2% plasticizer concentrations had the best performance in the electrochemical tests, although it had thinner layer.
Architecture as landscape: Kengo Kuma, Jean Nouvel, and the ambivalence of material experience
Authors: Vignjevic Ana
Published: March 2016

This paper examines the contemporary conceptual, perceptive and aesthetic
potential of architecture to transform into landscape by means of
materialization. Contrary to the former, modernistic principles of
transparency, which eliminated the wall between the internal and external
space on a literal, visual level, contemporary social and visual context
create the prerequisites for establishing a new, ambivalent treatment of
(de)materialization of the border between architecture and the landscape.
Such transformation was interpreted in the paper as a consequence of the
general change related to determination of architectural form, as well as
change in the sphere of theory of perception. The ambivalent relation on the
line subject-architecture-landscape relies in the paper on the phenomenology
of perception of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Juhani Pallasmaa, whereas the
architectural actualization of the given concept was analysed on the example
of two different authors? views - Kengo Kuma and Jean Nouvel. The emphasis on
architectural experience, rather than on the architectural image, places the
material in the domain of the main framework of this concept, whether based
on its tactile (Kuma) or imaginary value (Nouvel). Finally, in order to make
architectural materiality a part of the natural environment, both design
methods paradoxically shift the materials from their natural context (truth
to materials), whereby, consequently, except for materiality, the perceptive
experience of the place itself is relativized.
Arrangement of outdoor space at preschool institutions in the city of Nis
Authors: Spasic-Djordjevic Sanja , Stankovic Danica
Published: March 2016

Open spaces within the preschools should be thoroughly planned during the
design of the facilities. To children who use the services of preschools,
these spaces make their stay interesting, and for that reason facilities in
courtyards and green spaces should be carefully planned. These parameters of
urbanism were taken into account when we looked at the open spaces in
preschools on the territory of Nis. This paper includes analyses of all 20
preschools in the city of Nis, with the aim to draw attention to the
situation in the region and the problems they face.
Functional rehabilitation criteria required for a safe return to active duty in military personnel following a musculoskeletal injury: a scoping review
Authors: Houghton Nadine , Maynard Jared , Aiken Alice B.
Published: March 2016

Introduction: The objective of this article is to assess the types of musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries commonly affecting military personnel and the outcome measures that may be used to predict a safe return to active duty post-injury. Methods: A scoping review method was used. The key word-driven electronic search identified 190 articles initially. Thirty-one articles remained following application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The United States published 27 of the 31 studies, most of which were retrospective reviews, case series, prospective cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials. Results: Based on inclusion frequency, MSK injuries of the shoulder, back, knee, ankle, and foot are the most prevalent in military populations. Physical therapy interventions varied significantly even among similar injury types with return-to-duty rates varying from 2 to 100 per cent over three to 20.9 months, depending on intervention and injury type. Many varied outcome measures were used between studies to evaluate subjects. Discussion: No concrete criteria currently exist to evaluate readiness for a safe return to duty following an MSK injury. More widespread use of standardized protocols for specific injuries and taking into consideration the physical requirements for each military occupational specialty will assist in determining the readiness of recovering soldiers to return to their full duties in the future.
Power losses analysis of the gasoline direct injector within different driven strategies
Authors: Cheng Qiang , Zhang Zhendong , Xie Nailiu
Published: March 2016

Power losses are the most significant factors that influence the power efficiency and comprehensive performances of the ultra-high speed solenoid injector, and can also be used to evaluate the rationality of the magnetic circuit structure and driven strategies. In order to investigate the power losses of the gasoline direct injector (GDI), a driver within four different driven strategies has been designed, the power losses and dynamic response have been analyzed by finite element method (FEM) simulation and experimental methods. The transient electromagnetic simulation was used to calculate late the power losses and dynamic response. The total loss distribution and the change trends of the current and five kind losses were analyzed. The simulation results show that, there were large differences to the power losses of the GDI injector driven by different strategies, eventually impact on the temperature rising, dynamic responses and flow rate of the injector. Because the power losses cannot be measured directly, the temperature rising, current and dynamic responses were analyzed to validate the accuracy of the simulation. The results indicated that, the power losses can be used to predict the comprehensive performances of GDI injector and also can be used to evaluate the driven strategies.
Experimental investigation of diverging stepped magnetic fluid seals with large sealing gap
Authors: Yang Xiao Long , Li De Cai
Published: March 2016

To improve the pressure capacity of the magnetic fluid seal with a large sealing gap, a new type of stepped magnetic fluid seals was firstly proposed based on magnetic fluid seal with multiple magnetic sources or stepped labyrinth seals. A universal magnetic fluid seal with two permanent magnets and a diverging stepped magnetic fluid seal have been investigated by experimental methods. The experimental results of the both sealing structures have been compared and analyzed. The results indicate that the diverging stepped magnetic fluid seal shows good performance compared to the universal magnetic fluid seal without stepping structure and it is an effective method to improve magnetic fluid sealing capacity with a large gap.
A method to calculate the reactive power of iced transmission line based on Poynting vector and FDFD
Authors: Cheng Peng , Yang Fan , Luo Hanwu , Guo Haibo , Ran Wei , Yang Yongming , Ullah Irfan
Published: March 2016

The reactive power compensation is of crucial importance for the safe and stable operation of ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission system. The icing and sag can lead to variation of circuit parameters of transmission line, but it is difficult to calculate the reactive power of transmission line with sag or icing by using circuit method. This paper presents a 3-D power transmission model of transmission line based on Poynting vector and finite difference frequency domain (FDFD) method to solve this problem. The method is applied to evaluate the reactive power of the 1000 kV transmission lines with sag and icing, and the influences caused by icing and sag are discussed. The proposed method for the reactive power calculation of transmission line would provide important reference for the reactive power compensation in the snow-hit areas.
Analysis and calculation of electromagnetic and temperature field in a hybrid excitation synchronous generator
Authors: Ning Yinhang , Liu Chuang
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a hybrid excitation synchronous machine (HESM). As a new type of machine, the HESM is expected to have the advantage of high power density, high efficiency, and controllable magnetic field. It is essential to give full considerations of the HESM in the design stage. Hence, the electromagnetic and the thermal analysis are paid special attention in this paper. At first, no-load characteristic is introduced, as well as the structure and operating principle of the HESM. The calculated and experimental results agree well. As the heat source of thermal analysis, it is important to predict loss accurately. In the next step, the iron loss is analyzed by finite element method, including the loss distribution feature and the influence of field current on the iron loss. Considering overheating may result in the irreversible demagnetization of the permanent magnet and insulation failure of coil, a 3-D computational model is created to conduct the thermal analysis using the predicted loss as heat source, based on the theory of heat transfer. The permanent magnet and the field winding, locating in the rotor, are analyzed emphatically due to its weak cooling condition. The calculated temperature by the numerical method is compared with the experimental result. This study can provide some design references for this type of HESM.
Multi-objective optimization of an in-wheel electric vehicle motor
Authors: Mansouri Ali , Smairi Nadia , Trabelsi Hafedh
Published: March 2016

The present work deals with the optimization of an in-wheel surface mounted permanent magnet motor (SMPM) with outer rotor and concentrated windings. The main objective of the optimization procedure is to find the optimum design geometry by maximizing the machine efficiency and minimizing its weight. To reach this goal, two objective functions are used. The first leads to a design with high output torque capability and then high efficiency. The second is a requirement imposed by the fact that the machine is directly integrated inside the vehicle wheel, and therefore a light weight is requested. In order to carry out this study, five multi-objective optimization algorithms were applied: the Genetic Algorithm (GA), the fast elitist multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II), the Adapting Scatter Search for Multi-objective Optimization algorithm (AbYSS), the improved PSO- based Multi-Objective Optimization and a new PSO-based Metaheuristic for Multi-objective Optimization. The reason of testing several intelligence artificial techniques is to find a fast and efficient technique for electrical machines optimization. Based on the objective functions design and the machine constraints, the results obtained by the five algorithms are compared and analyzed. In order to carry out this study, an analytical model describing the geometric, the magnetic and the electric properties of the studied design was firstly developed. Moreover, an optimized machine is chosen and studied by means of finite element analysis (FEA) tool. Then FEA results are compared with those obtained by the optimization procedure. Based on this comparison, a good concordance between the two results is shown.
Prediction of dynamic characteristics of permanent magnet motor using numerical analysis coupled with motion equation
Authors: Lee Sung-Ho , Kim Yong-Jae , Lee Kyu-Seok , Kim Sung-Jin
Published: March 2016

In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of a motor which is usually examined through experiments after manufacturing the prototype was analyzed using the non-linear finite element method (FEM) based on 2-D numerical analysis in combination with the mechanical motion equation. First of all, a 300 W surface permanent magnet (SPM) motor was designed and the static characteristics were analyzed using the sinusoidal current source. In addition, based on the phase voltage and the direct current (DC) link voltage obtained from the static characteristics analysis results, no-load speed analysis and the dynamic characteristics of loading conditions were carried out. Through these analyses, it was possible to predict the dynamic characteristics of a motor at the design process and to verify the reliability of design.
Characteristics of Excitable Dog Behavior Based on Owners’ Report from a Self-Selected Study
Authors: Shabelansky Anastasia , Dowling-Guyer Seana
Published: March 2016

Past research has found that excitable dog behavior is prevalent among sheltered and owned dogs and many times is a reason for canine relinquishment. In spite of its prevalence in the canine population, excitable behavior is relatively unstudied in the scientific literature. The intent of this research was to understand the experience of owners of excitable dogs through the analysis of self-administered online questionnaires completed by owners as part of another study. We found that certain daily scenarios tended to prompt excitable behavior, with excitability most common when the owner or other people came to the dog’s home. All owners experienced some level of frustration with their dog’s excitable behavior, with the majority being very frustrated. Many dogs in the sample had other behavior problems, with disobedient, destructive, chasing and barking behaviors being the most commonly reported. Other characteristics of excitable dogs also are discussed. Although the ability to generalize from these results is likely limited, due to targeted recruitment and selection of owners of more excitable dogs, this research provides valuable insights into the owner’s experience of excitable behavior. We hope this study prompts more research into canine excitable behavior which would expand our understanding of this behavior and help behaviorists, veterinarians, and shelters develop tools for managing it, as well as provide better education to owners of excitable dogs.
Correlation of Plastic Strain Energy and Acoustic Emission Energy in Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Sagasta Francisco , Benavent-Climent Amadeo , Roldán Andrés , Gallego Antolino
Published: March 2016

This paper presents a comparison of the acoustic emission (AE) energy and the plastic strain energy released by some reinforced concrete (RC) specimens subjected to cyclic or seismic loadings. AE energy is calculated, after proper filtering procedures, using the signals recorded by several AE low frequency sensors (25–100 kHz) attached on the specimens. Plastic strain energy is obtained by integrating the load displacement curves drawn from the measurements recorded during the test. Presented are the results obtained for: (i) two beams (with and without an artificial notch) and a beam-column connection subjected to several cycles of imposed flexural deformations; (ii) a reinforced concrete slab supported by four steel columns, and a reinforced concrete frame structure, both of the latter are subjected to seismic simulations with a uniaxial shaking table. The main contribution of this paper, which is a review of some papers previously published by the authors, is to highlight that, in all cases, a very good correlation is found between AE energy and plastic strain energy, until the onset of yielding in the reinforcing steel. After yielding, the AE energy is consistently lower than the plastic strain energy. The reason is that the plastic strain energy is the sum of the contribution of concrete and steel, while the AE energy acquired with thresholds higher than 35 dBAE captures only the contribution of the concrete cracking, not the steel plastic deformation. This good correlation between the two energies before the yielding point also lends credibility to the use of AE energy as a parameter for concrete damage evaluation in the context of structural health monitoring.
Modeling Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Infiltration in Low-Income Multifamily Housing before and after Building Energy Retrofits
Authors: Fabian Maria , Lee Sharon , Underhill Lindsay , Vermeer Kimberly , Adamkiewicz Gary , Levy Jonathan
Published: March 2016

Secondhand exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in multifamily housing remains a health concern despite strong recommendations to implement non-smoking policies. Multiple studies have documented exposure to ETS in non-smoking units located in buildings with smoking units. However, characterizing the magnitude of ETS infiltration or measuring the impact of building interventions or resident behavior on ETS is challenging due to the complexities of multifamily buildings, which include variable resident behaviors and complex airflows between numerous shared compartments (e.g., adjacent apartments, common hallways, elevators, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, stack effect). In this study, building simulation models were used to characterize changes in ETS infiltration in a low income, multifamily apartment building in Boston which underwent extensive building renovations targeting energy savings. Results suggest that exterior wall air sealing can lead to increases in ETS infiltration across apartments, while compartmentalization can reduce infiltration. The magnitude and direction of ETS infiltration depends on apartment characteristics, including construction (i.e., level and number of exterior walls), resident behavior (e.g., window opening, operation of localized exhaust fans), and seasonality. Although overall ETS concentrations and infiltration were reduced post energy-related building retrofits, these trends were not generalizable to all building units. Whole building smoke-free policies are the best approach to eliminate exposure to ETS in multifamily housing.
Study of Polydiacetylene-Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Electrospun Fibers Used as Biosensors
Authors: Alam A , Yapor Janet , Reynolds Melissa , Li Yan
Published: March 2016

Polydiacetylene (PDA) is an attractive conjugated material for use in biosensors due to its unique characteristic of undergoing a blue-to-red color change in response to external stimuli. 10,12-Pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) were used in this study to develop fiber composites via an electrospinning method at various mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, solution concentrations, and injection speeds. The PEO-PDA fibers in blue phase were obtained via photo-polymerization upon UV-light irritation. High mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, low polymer concentrations of spinning solution, and low injection speeds promoted fine fibers with small diameters and smooth surfaces. The colorimetric transition of the fibers was investigated when the fibers were heated at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 120 °C. A color switch from blue to red in the fibers was observed when the fibers were heated at temperatures greater than 60 °C. The color transition was more sensitive in the fibers made with a low mass ratio of PEO to PCDA due to high fraction of PDA in the fibers. The large diameter fibers also promoted the color switch due to high reflectance area in the fibers. All of the fibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compared before and after the color change occurred. The colorimetric transitional mechanism is proposed to occur due to conformational changes in the PDA macromolecules.
Skew Continuous Morphisms of Ordered Lattice Ringoids
Authors: Ludkowski Sergey
Published: March 2016

Skew continuous morphisms of ordered lattice semirings and ringoids are studied. Different associative semirings and non-associative ringoids are considered. Theorems about properties of skew morphisms are proved. Examples are given. One of the main similarities between them is related to cones in algebras of non locally compact groups.
Copper Bioleaching in Chile
Authors: Gentina Juan , Acevedo Fernando
Published: March 2016

Chile has a great tradition of producing and exporting copper. Over the last several decades, it has become the first producer on an international level. Its copper reserves are also the most important on the planet. However, after years of mineral exploitation, the ease of extracting copper oxides and ore copper content has diminished. To keep the production level high, the introduction of new technologies has become necessary. One that has been successful is bioleaching. Chile had the first commercial operation in the world exclusively via bioleaching copper sulfides. Nowadays, all bioleaching operations run in the country contribute to an estimated 10% of total copper production. This article presents antecedents that have contributed to the development of copper bioleaching in Chile.
Potential Health Risks Posed by Plant-Derived Cumulative Neurotoxic Bufadienolides in South Africa
Authors: Botha Christo
Published: March 2016

Bufadienolide-type cardiac glycosides have a worldwide distribution and are mainly synthesized by plants, but there are also animal sources. In South Africa, members of three genera of the Crassulaceae (Cotyledon, Tylecodon and Kalanchoe) cause a unique chronic form of cardiac glycoside poisoning, predominantly in small stock. This paretic/paralytic condition is referred to as “krimpsiekte”, cotyledonosis or “nenta”. “Krimpsiekte” is a plant poisoning only reported from South Africa and is regarded as the most important plant poisoning of small stock in the semi-arid Little Karoo and southern fringes of the Great Karoo. The toxicosis is caused by cumulative bufadienolides which have neurotoxic properties. Four types of cumulative neurotoxic bufadienolides, namely cotyledoside, and the tyledosides, orbicusides and lanceotoxins, have been isolated. Based on the structure activity relationships and certain toxicokinetic parameters possible reasons for their accumulation are presented. Consumption of edible tissues from animals that have ingested these plants poses a potential risk to humans.
Detection of 12.5% and 25% Salt Reduction in Bread in a Remote Indigenous Australian Community
Authors: McMahon Emma , Clarke Rozlynne , Jaenke Rachael , Brimblecombe Julie
Published: March 2016

Food reformulation is an important strategy to reduce the excess salt intake observed in remote Indigenous Australia. We aimed to examine whether 12.5% and 25% salt reduction in bread is detectable, and, if so, whether acceptability is changed, in a sample of adults living in a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory of Australia. Convenience samples were recruited for testing of reduced-salt (300 and 350 mg Na/100 g) versus Standard (~400 mg Na/100 g) white and wholemeal breads (n = 62 for white; n = 72 for wholemeal). Triangle testing was used to examine whether participants could detect a difference between the breads. Liking of each bread was also measured; standard consumer acceptability questionnaires were modified to maximise cultural appropriateness and understanding. Participants were unable to detect a difference between Standard and reduced-salt breads (all p values > 0.05 when analysed using binomial probability). Further, as expected, liking of the breads was not changed with salt reduction (all p values > 0.05 when analysed using ANOVA). Reducing salt in products commonly purchased in remote Indigenous communities has potential as an equitable, cost-effective and sustainable strategy to reduce population salt intake and reduce risk of chronic disease, without the barriers associated with strategies that require individual behaviour change.
Tomato Sauce Enriched with Olive Oil Exerts Greater Effects on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors than Raw Tomato and Tomato Sauce: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Valderas-Martinez Palmira , Chiva-Blanch Gemma , Casas Rosa , Arranz Sara , Martínez-Huélamo Miriam , Urpi-Sarda Mireia , Torrado Xavier , Corella Dolores , Lamuela-Raventós Rosa , Estruch Ramon
Published: March 2016

Epidemiological studies have observed a negative association between tomato intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease. As tomato sauces are usually cooked with the addition of oil, some studies have pointed out that both processes may increase the bioavailability of the bioactive compounds. However, the effect of consumption of raw tomatoes and tomato sauces on inflammation biomarkers and adhesion molecules related to atherosclerosis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to test the postprandial effects of a single dose of raw tomatoes (RT), tomato sauce (TS) and tomato sauce with refined olive oil (TSOO) on cardiovascular disease risk factors. We performed an open, prospective, randomized, cross-over, controlled feeding trial in 40 healthy subjects who randomly received: 7.0 g of RT/kg of body weight (BW), 3.5 g of TS/kg BW, 3.5 g of TSOO/Kg BW and 0.25 g of sugar solved in water/kg BW on a single occasion on four different days. Biochemical parameters and cellular and circulating inflammatory biomarkers were assessed at baseline and 6 h after each intervention. The results indicate that, compared to control intervention, a single tomato intake in any form decreased plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and several cellular and plasma inflammatory biomarkers, and increased plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol and interleukine (IL) 10 concentrations. However, the changes of plasma IL-6 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) from T-lymphocytes and CD36 from monocytes were significantly greater after TSOO than after RT and TS interventions. We concluded that tomato intake has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, especially cooked and enriched with oil.
Enzymatic Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrophilic Sugar Based Polyesters and Their Modification with Stearic Acid
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Prehm Marko , Njau Andrew , Samiullah Muhammad , Meister Annette , Kressler Jörg
Published: March 2016

Biodegradable and hydrophilic functional polyesters were synthesized enzymatically using xylitol or d-sorbitol together with divinyl adipate and lipase B from Candida antartica (CAL-B). The resulting polyesters had pendant OH-groups from their sugar units which were esterified to different degrees with stearic acid chloride. The structure and the degrees of polymerization of the resulting graft copolymers based on poly(xylitol adipate) and poly(d-sorbitol adipate) were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and SEC. DSC, WAXS and SAXS measurements indicated that a phase separation between polymer backbone and stearoyl side chains occurred in the graft copolymers, and, additionally, the side chains were able to crystallize which resulted in the formation of a lamellar morphology. Additionally, nanoparticles of the graft copolymers in an aqueous environment were studied by DLS and negative stain TEM.
Synthesis, Structures and Luminescence Properties of Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Lithium-Lanthanide and Terephthalate
Authors: Abdelbaky Mohammed , Amghouz Zakariae , García-Granda Santiago , García José
Published: March 2016

Metal-organic frameworks assembled from Ln(III), Li(I) and rigid dicarboxylate ligand, formulated as [LiLn(BDC)2(H2O)·2(H2O)] (MS1-6,7a) and [LiTb(BDC)2] (MS7b) (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Y0.96Eu0.04, Y0.93Tb0.07, and H2BDC = terephthalic acid), were obtained under hydrothermal conditions. The isostructural MS1-6 crystallize in monoclinic P21/c space group. While, in the case of Tb3+ a mixture of at least two phases was obtained, the former one (MS7a) and a new monoclinic C2/c phase (MS7b). All compounds have been studied by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses (TGA), vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). The structures of MS1-6 and MS7a are built up of inorganic-organic hybrid chains. These chains constructed from unusual four-membered rings, are formed by edge- and vertex-shared {LnO8} and {LiO4} polyhedra through oxygen atoms O3 (vertex) and O6-O7 (edge). Each chain is cross-linked to six neighboring chains through six terephthalate bridges. While, the structure of MS7b is constructed from double inorganic chains, and each chain is, in turn, related symmetrically to the adjacent one through the c glide plane. These chains are formed by infinitely alternating {LiO4} and {TbO8} polyhedra through (O2-O3) edges to create Tb–O–Li connectivity along the c-axis. Both MS1-6,7a and MS7b structures possess a 3D framework with 1D trigonal channels running along the a and c axes, containing water molecules and anhydrous, respectively. Topological studies revealed that MS1-6 and MS7a have a new 2-nodal 3,10-c net, while MS7b generates a 3D net with unusual β-Sn topology. The photoluminescence properties Eu- and Tb-doped compounds (MS5-6) are also investigated, exhibiting strong red and green light emissions, respectively, which are attributed to the efficient energy transfer process from the BDC ligand to Eu3+ and Tb3+.
A Heterobimetallic Anionic 3,6-Connected 2D Coordination Polymer Based on Nitranilate as Ligand
Authors: Benmansour Samia , Gómez-García Carlos
Published: March 2016

In order to synthesize new coordination polymers with original architectures and interesting magnetic properties, we used the nitranilate ligand (C6O4(NO2)22− = C6N2O82−), derived from the dianionic ligand dhbq2− (2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone = H2C6O42−). The use of this bis-bidentate bridging ligand led to [(DAMS)2{FeNa(C6N2O8)3}·CH3CN]n (1) (DAMS+ = C16H17N2+ = 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-α-styryl]-1-methylpyridinium), a 2D heterometallic coordination polymer presenting an unprecedented structure for any anilato-based compound. This structural type is a 3,6-connected 2D coordination polymer derived from the well-known honeycomb hexagonal structure, where Fe(III) ions alternate with Na+ dimers (as Na2O12 units) in the vertices of the hexagons and with an additional [Fe(C6N2O8)3]3− anion located in the center of the hexagons connecting the three Na+ dimers. The magnetic properties of compound 1 show the presence of paramagnetic isolated high spin Fe(III) complexes with a zero field splitting, |D| = 8.5 cm−1.
Geodesic Flow Kernel Support Vector Machine for Hyperspectral Image Classification by Unsupervised Subspace Feature Transfer
Authors: Samat Alim , Gamba Paolo , Abuduwaili Jilili , Liu Sicong , Miao Zelang
Published: March 2016

In order to deal with scenarios where the training data, used to deduce a model, and the validation data have different statistical distributions, we study the problem of transformed subspace feature transfer for domain adaptation (DA) in the context of hyperspectral image classification via a geodesic Gaussian flow kernel based support vector machine (GFKSVM). To show the superior performance of the proposed approach, conventional support vector machines (SVMs) and state-of-the-art DA algorithms, including information-theoretical learning of discriminative cluster for domain adaptation (ITLDC), joint distribution adaptation (JDA), and joint transfer matching (JTM), are also considered. Additionally, unsupervised linear and nonlinear subspace feature transfer techniques including principal component analysis (PCA), randomized nonlinear principal component analysis (rPCA), factor analysis (FA) and non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF) are investigated and compared. Experiments on two real hyperspectral images show the cross-image classification performances of the GFKSVM, confirming its effectiveness and suitability when applied to hyperspectral images.
LiDAR-Based Solar Mapping for Distributed Solar Plant Design and Grid Integration in San Antonio, Texas
Authors: Le Tuan , Kholdi Danial , Xie Hongjie , Dong Bing , Vega Rolando
Published: March 2016

This study represents advancements in the state-of-the-art of the solar energy industry by leveraging LiDAR-based building characterization for city-wide, distributed solar photovoltaics, solar maps, highlighting the distribution of solar energy across the city of San Antonio. A methodology is implemented to systematically derive the tilt and azimuth angles of each rooftop and to quantify solar direct, diffuse, and global horizontal irradiance for hundreds of buildings in a LiDAR tile scale, by using already established methodologies that are typically only applied to a single location or building rooftop. The methodology enables the formulation of typical meteorological data, measured or forecasted time series of irradiances over distributed assets. A new concept on the subject of distributed solar plant (DSP) design is also introduced, by using the building rooftop tilt and azimuth angles, to strategically optimize the use and adoption of solar incentives according to the grid age and its vulnerabilities to solar variability in the neighborhoods. The method presented here shows that on an hourly basis DSP design could provide a 5% and 9% of net load capacity support per hour in the afternoon and morning times, respectively. Our results show that standard building rooftop tilt angles in the south Texas region has significant impact on the total amount of the energy over the course of a day, though its impact on the shapes of the daily energy profile is relatively insignificant when compared to the azimuth angle. Building surfaces’ azimuth angle is the most important factor to determine the shape of daily energy profile and its peak location within a day. The methodology developed in this study can be employed to study the potential solar energy in other regions and to match the design of distributed solar plants to the capacity needs on specified distribution grids.
Investigation and Mitigation of the Crosstalk Effect in Terra MODIS Band 30
Authors: Sun Junqiang , Madhavan Sriharsha , Wang Menghua
Published: March 2016

It has been previously reported that thermal emissive bands (TEB) 27–29 in the Terra (T-) MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have been significantly affected by electronic crosstalk. Successful linear theory of the electronic crosstalk effect was formulated, and it successfully characterized the effect via the use of lunar observations as viable inputs. In this paper, we report the successful characterization and mitigation of the electronic crosstalk for T-MODIS band 30 using the same characterization methodology. Though the phenomena of the electronic crosstalk have been well documented in previous works, the novel for band 30 is the need to also apply electronic crosstalk correction to the non-linear term in the calibration coefficient. The lack of this necessity in early works thus demonstrates the distinct difference of band 30, and, yet, in the same instances, the overall correctness of the characterization formulation. For proper result, the crosstalk correction is applied to the band 30 calibration coefficients including the non-linear term, and also to the earth view radiance. We demonstrate that the crosstalk correction achieves a long-term radiometric correction of approximately 1.5 K for desert targets and 1.0 K for ocean scenes. Significant striping removal in the Baja Peninsula earth view imagery is also demonstrated due to the successful amelioration of detector differences caused by the crosstalk effect. Similarly significant improvement in detector difference is shown for the selected ocean and desert targets over the entire mission history. In particular, band 30 detector 8, which has been flagged as “out of family” is restored by the removal of the crosstalk contamination. With the correction achieved, the science applications based on band 30 can be significantly improved. The linear formulation, the characterization methodology, and the crosstalk effect correction coefficients derived using lunar observations are once again demonstrated to work remarkably well.
Correction of Incidence Angle and Distance Effects on TLS Intensity Data Based on Reference Targets
Authors: Tan Kai , Cheng Xiaojun
Published: March 2016

The original intensity value recorded by terrestrial laser scanners is influenced by multiple variables, among which incidence angle and distance play a crucial and dominant role. Further studies on incidence angle and distance effects are required to improve the accuracy of currently available methods and to implement these methods in practical applications. In this study, the effects of incidence angle and distance on intensity data of the Faro Focus3D 120 terrestrial laser scanner are investigated. A new method is proposed to eliminate the incidence angle and distance effects. The proposed method is based on the linear interpolation of the intensity values of reference targets previously scanned at various incidence angles and distances. Compared with existing methods, a significant advantage of the proposed method is that estimating the specific function forms of incidence angle versus intensity and distance versus intensity is no longer necessary; these are canceled out when the scanned and reference targets are measured at the same incidence angle and distance. Results imply that the proposed method has high accuracy and simplicity in eliminating incidence angle and distance effects and can significantly reduce the intensity variations caused by these effects on homogeneous surfaces.