bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Behavior of a Long-Span Partially Earth-Anchored Cable-Stayed Bridge during Installation of a Key Segment by Thermal Prestressing
Authors: Kim Sang-Hyo , Won Jeong-Hun
Published: August 2016

This study investigated structural behavior of long-span partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridges with a main span length of 810 m that use a new key segment closing method based on a thermal prestressing technique. A detailed construction sequence analysis matched with the free cantilever method (FCM) was performed using a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of a partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridge. The new method offers an effective way of connecting key segments by avoiding large movements resulting from the removal of the longitudinal restraint owing to the asymmetry of axial forces in the girders near the pylons. The new method develops new member forces through the process of heating the cantilever system before installing the key segment and cooling the system continuously after installing key segments. The resulting forces developed by the thermal process enhance the structural behavior of partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridges owing to decreased axial forces in the girders.
An Improved Iterative Fitting Method to Estimate Nocturnal Residual Layer Height
Authors: Wang Wei , Gong Wei , Mao Feiyue , Pan Zengxin
Published: August 2016

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) is an atmospheric region near the Earth’s surface. It is significant for weather forecasting and for the study of air quality and climate. In this study, the top of nocturnal residual layers—which are what remain of the daytime mixing layer—are estimated by an elastic backscatter Lidar in Wuhan (30.5°N, 114.4°E), a city in Central China. The ideal profile fitting method is widely applied to determine the nocturnal residual layer height (RLH) from Lidar data. However, the method is seriously affected by an optical thick layer. Thus, we propose an improved iterative fitting method to eliminate the optical thick layer effect on RLH detection using Lidar. Two typical case studies observed by elastic Lidar are presented to demonstrate the theory and advantage of the proposed method. Results of case analysis indicate that the improved method is more practical and precise than profile-fitting, gradient, and wavelet covariance transform method in terms of nocturnal RLH evaluation under low cloud conditions. Long-term observations of RLH performed with ideal profile fitting and improved methods were carried out in Wuhan from 28 May 2011 to 17 June 2016. Comparisons of Lidar-derived RLHs with the two types of methods verify that the improved solution is practical. Statistical analysis of a six-year Lidar signal was conducted to reveal the monthly average values of nocturnal RLH in Wuhan. A clear RLH monthly cycle with a maximum mean height of about 1.8 km above ground level was observed in August, and a minimum height of about 0.7 km was observed in January. The variation in monthly mean RLH displays an obvious quarterly dependence, which coincides with the annual variation in local surface temperature.
Is Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz’s Concept of a Real Definition Still Important?
Authors: Kublikowski Robert
Published: August 2016

The concept of a real definition worked out by Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz is still important in the theory of definition and can be developed by applying Hilary Putnam’s theory of reference of natural kind terms and Karl Popper’s fallibilism. On the one hand, the definiendum of a real definition refers to a natural kind of things and, on the other hand, the definiens of such a definition expresses actual, empirical, fallible knowledge which can be revised and changed.
Assessing the Play Provisions for Children in Urban Neighborhoods of India: Case Study Nagpur, Maharashtra
Authors: Bhonsle Kirti , Adane Vinayak
Published: August 2016

The creation of satisfying urban environments calls for the planners, designers and policy makers to understand the structures that cause residents to feel satisfied with their environments. The paper focuses on qualitative aspects of the childrens play spaces in the urban neighborhoods of Nagpur which were analysed with the background of their daily activity schedule survey, their assement of the existing play provisions and their aspirations from their neighborhood environment quality. Apart from these studies, the childrens and their parents perceptions of the quality of urban residential environments was also studied. The literature review gave an extract of relevant attributes of environmental quality (EQ) which became the theoritical basis for the work. The research generates an approach to assessing the child friendliness of our urban neighborhoods, which in certain ways is not even catering to the most fundamental right of the child to play; it also generates a matrix of children’s needs and parameters relevant to Indian context. A theoretical model of the residents satisfaction is also generated which forms the base for the qualitative questionnaire analysis in SPSS 20 with a set of dependent and independent variables which shows the correlation of the resident’s satisfaction with child friendliness of neighborhoods in the Indian context. The regression model and mathematical equation as an outcome of the qualitative analysis was also validated upon two other urban neighborhoods of the city of Nagpur. The research with all its tools used and the approach adopted can help in undertaking such child-centered researches in other cities of India which have their own unique issues and characteristics of urban growth.
Distributed Energy Storage Control for Dynamic Load Impact Mitigation
Authors: Zangs Maximilian , Adams Peter , Yunusov Timur , Holderbaum William , Potter Ben
Published: August 2016

The future uptake of electric vehicles (EV) in low-voltage distribution networks can cause increased voltage violations and thermal overloading of network assets, especially in networks with limited headroom at times of high or peak demand. To address this problem, this paper proposes a distributed battery energy storage solution, controlled using an additive increase multiplicative decrease (AIMD) algorithm. The improved algorithm (AIMD+) uses local bus voltage measurements and a reference voltage threshold to determine the additive increase parameter and to control the charging, as well as discharging rate of the battery. The used voltage threshold is dependent on the network topology and is calculated using power flow analysis tools, with peak demand equally allocated amongst all loads. Simulations were performed on the IEEE LV European Test feeder and a number of real U.K. suburban power distribution network models, together with European demand data and a realistic electric vehicle charging model. The performance of the standard AIMD algorithm with a fixed voltage threshold and the proposed AIMD+ algorithm with the reference voltage profile are compared. Results show that, compared to the standard AIMD case, the proposed AIMD+ algorithm further improves the network’s voltage profiles, reduces thermal overload occurrences and ensures a more equal battery utilisation.
Structure Optimization of Stand-Alone Renewable Power Systems Based on Multi Object Function
Authors: Cho Jae-Hoon , Chun Myung-Geun , Hong Won-Pyo
Published: August 2016

This paper presents a methodology for the size optimization of a stand-alone hybrid PV/wind/diesel/battery system while considering the following factors: total annual cost (TAC), loss of power supply probability (LPSP), and the fuel cost of the diesel generator required by the user. A new optimization algorithm and an object function (including a penalty method) are also proposed; these assist with designing the best structure for a hybrid system satisfying the constraints. In hybrid energy system sources such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, diesel, and energy storage devices are connected as an electrical load supply. Because the power produced by PV and wind turbine sources is dependent on the variation of the resources (sun and wind) and the load demand fluctuates, such a hybrid system must be able to satisfy the load requirements at any time and store the excess energy for use in deficit conditions. Therefore, reliability and cost are the two main criteria when designing a stand-alone hybrid system. Moreover, the operation of a diesel generator is important to achieve greater reliability. In this paper, TAC, LPSP, and the fuel cost of the diesel generator are considered as the objective variables and a hybrid teaching–learning-based optimization algorithm is proposed and used to choose the best structure of a stand-alone hybrid PV/wind/diesel/battery system. Simulation results from MATLAB support the effectiveness of the proposed method and confirm that it is more efficient than conventional methods.
A Price-Based Demand Response Scheme for Discrete Manufacturing in Smart Grids
Authors: Luo Zhe , Hong Seung-Ho , Kim Jong-Beom
Published: August 2016

Demand response (DR) is a key technique in smart grid (SG) technologies for reducing energy costs and maintaining the stability of electrical grids. Since manufacturing is one of the major consumers of electrical energy, implementing DR in factory energy management systems (FEMSs) provides an effective way to manage energy in manufacturing processes. Although previous studies have investigated DR applications in process manufacturing, they were not conducted for discrete manufacturing. In this study, the state-task network (STN) model is implemented to represent a discrete manufacturing system. On this basis, a DR scheme with a specific DR algorithm is applied to a typical discrete manufacturing—automobile manufacturing—and operational scenarios are established for the stamping process of the automobile production line. The DR scheme determines the optimal operating points for the stamping process using mixed integer linear programming (MILP). The results show that parts of the electricity demand can be shifted from peak to off-peak periods, reducing a significant overall energy costs without degrading production processes.
Accessible Home Environments for People with Functional Limitations: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cho Hea , MacLachlan Malcolm , Clarke Michael , Mannan Hasheem
Published: August 2016

The aim of this review is to evaluate the health and social effects of accessible home environments for people with functional limitations, in order to provide evidence to promote well-informed decision making for policy guideline development and choices about public health interventions. MEDLINE and nine other electronic databases were searched between December 2014 and January 2015, for articles published since 2004. All study types were included in this review. Two reviewers independently screened 12,544 record titles or titles and abstracts based on our pre-defined eligibility criteria. We identified 94 articles as potentially eligible; and assessed their full text. Included studies were critically appraised using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool, version 2011. Fourteen studies were included in the review. We did not identify any meta-analysis or systematic review directly relevant to the question for this systematic review. A narrative approach was used to synthesise the findings of the included studies due to methodological and statistical heterogeneity. Results suggest that certain interventions to enhance the accessibility of homes can have positive health and social effects. Home environments that lack accessibility modifications appropriate to the needs of their users are likely to result in people with physical impairments becoming disabled at home.
Characterisation and Antioxidant Activity of Crude Extract and Polyphenolic Rich Fractions from C. incanus Leaves
Authors: Gori Antonella , Ferrini Francesco , Marzano Maria , Tattini Massimiliano , Centritto Mauro , Baratto Maria , Pogni Rebecca , Brunetti Cecilia
Published: August 2016

Cistus incanus (Cistaceae) is a Mediterranean evergreen shrub. Cistus incanus herbal teas have been used as a general remedy in traditional medicine since ancient times. Recent studies on the antioxidant properties of its aqueous extracts have indicated polyphenols to be the most active compounds. However, a whole chemical characterisation of polyphenolic compounds in leaves of Cistus incanus (C. incanus) is still lacking. Moreover, limited data is available on the contribution of different polyphenolic compounds towards the total antioxidant capacity of its extracts. The purpose of this study was to characterise the major polyphenolic compounds present in a crude ethanolic leaf extract (CEE) of C. incanus and develop a method for their fractionation. Superoxide anion, hydroxyl and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assays were also performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the obtained fractions. Three different polyphenolic enriched extracts, namely EAC (Ethyl Acetate Fraction), AF1 and AF2 (Aqueos Fractions), were obtained from CEE. Our results indicated that the EAC, enriched in flavonols, exhibited a higher antiradical activity compared to the tannin enriched fractions (AF1 and AF2). These findings provide new perspectives for the use of the EAC as a source of antioxidant compounds with potential uses in pharmaceutical preparations.
Theophylline-Based KMUP-1 Improves Steatohepatitis via MMP-9/IL-10 and Lipolysis via HSL/p-HSL in Obese Mice
Authors: Wu Bin-Nan , Kuo Kung-Kai , Chen Yu-Hsun , Chang Chain-Ting , Huang Hung-Tu , Chai Chee-Yin , Dai Zen-Kong , Chen Ing-Jun
Published: August 2016

KMUP-1 (7-[2-[4-(2-chlorobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine) has been reported to cause hepatic fat loss. However, the action mechanisms of KMUP-1 in obesity-induced steatohepatitis remains unclear. This study elucidated the steatohepatitis via matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and related lipolysis via hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) by KMUP-1. KMUP-1 on steatohepatitis-associated HSL/p-HSL/ATGL/MMP-9/TNFα/interleukin-10 (IL-10) and infiltration of M1/M2 macrophages in obese mice were examined. KMUP-1 was administered by oral gavage from weeks 1–14 in high-fat diet (HFD)-supplemented C57BL/6J male mice (protection group) and from weeks 8–14, for 6 weeks, in HFD-induced obese mice (treatment group). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of tissues, oil globules number and size, infiltration and switching of M1/M2 macrophages were measured to determine the effects on livers. IL-10 and MMP-9 proteins were explored to determine the effects of KMUP-1 on M1/M2 macrophage polarization in HFD-induced steatohepatitis. Long-term administration of KMUP-1 reversed HFD-fed mice increased in body weight, sGOT/sGPT, triglyceride (TG) and glucose. Additionally, KMUP-1 decreased MMP-9 and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased HSL/p-HSL and IL-10 in HFD mice livers. In conclusion, KMUP-1, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDEI), was shown to reduce lipid accumulation in liver tissues, suggesting that it could be able to prevent or treat steatohepatitis induced by HFD.
An Experimental Comparison of Radio Transceiver and Transceiver-Free Localization Methods
Authors: Zhao Yang , Patwari Neal
Published: August 2016

This paper presents an experimental performance assessment for localization systems using received signal strength (RSS) measurements from a wireless sensor network. In this experimental study, we compare two types of model-based localization methods: transceiver-based localization, which locates objects using RSS from transmitters to receivers at known locations; and transceiver-free localization, which estimates location by using RSS changes on known-location nodes caused by objects. We evaluate their performance using three sets of experiments with different environmental conditions. Our performance analysis shows that transceiver-free localization methods are generally more accurate than transceiver-based localization methods for a wireless sensor network with high node density.
1,3-Butanediol Dibenzoate
Authors: Hakamata Wataru , Goto Kaho , Ishiwata Sakiko , Ouki Rieka , Sakai Riku , Iizuka Arisa , Yano Shuta , Hirano Takako , Nishio Toshiyuki
Published: August 2016

Environmentally friendly and straightforward methods for creating biofuels are required to promote biofuel use. Therefore, we present here a convenient and environmentally friendly direct self-aldol reaction of acetaldehyde in 100 mM borate buffer (pH 10) affording the dimer of 3-hydroxybutanal with a good yield. The product can be easily converted into 1,3-butanediol and its benzoate; therefore, our results will have a positive impact in the field of biochemical production from ethanol.
Identification of Specific Hydroxyapatite {001} Binding Heptapeptide by Phage Display and Its Nucleation Effect
Authors: Mao Jing , Shi Xin , Wu Ya-Bo , Gong Shi-Qiang
Published: August 2016

With recent developments of molecular biomimetics that combine genetic engineering and nanotechnology, peptides can be genetically engineered to bind specifically to inorganic components and execute the task of collagen matrix proteins. In this study, using biogenous tooth enamel as binding substrate, we identified a new heptapeptide (enamel high-affinity binding peptide, EHBP) from linear 7-mer peptide phage display library. Through the output/input affinity test, it was found that EHBP has the highest affinity to enamel with an output/input ratio of 14.814 × 10−7, while a random peptide (RP) displayed much lower output/input ratio of 0.00035 × 10−7. This binding affinity was also verified by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis. It was found that EHBP absorbing onto the enamel surface exhibits highest normalized fluorescence intensity (5.6 ± 1.2), comparing to the intensity of EHBP to enamel longitudinal section (1.5 ± 0.9) (p < 0.05) as well as to the intensity of a low-affinity binding peptide (ELBP) to enamel (1.5 ± 0.5) (p < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Attenuated total Reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) studies further confirmed that crystallized hydroxyapatite were precipitated in the mineralization solution containing EHBP. To better understand the nucleation effect of EHBP, EHBP was further investigated on its interaction with calcium phosphate clusters through in vitro mineralization model. The calcium and phosphate ion consumption as well as zeta potential survey revealed that EHBP might previously adsorb to phosphate (PO43−) groups and then initiate the precipitation of calcium and phosphate groups. This study not only proved the electrostatic interaction of phosphate group and the genetically engineering solid-binding peptide, but also provided a novel nucleation motif for potential applications in guided hard tissue biomineralization and regeneration.
Effect of Creep Aging Process on Microstructures and Properties of the Retrogressed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy
Authors: Xu Yongqian , Zhan Lihua
Published: August 2016

The creep aging behaviors of retrogressed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy were studied by uniaxial tensile creep tests at 140 °C. The effects of creep aging time and applied stress on microstructures and properties of the studied alloy were investigated by using transmission electron microscope (TEM), hardness, and corrosion resistance tests. Results show that the effects of the creep aging process on microstructures and properties are significant. The size of matrix precipitate (MPt), distance between MPts, width of precipitate-free zone (PFZ), and distance between grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) increase with the increase of creep aging time and applied stress. With the increase of creep aging time and applied stress, the corrosion resistance of the studied alloy improved. After creep aging for 20 h, the electrical conductivity varied with different applied stress from 35.99% to 37.24% International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), and the exfoliation corrosion (EXCO) resistance increased to the corrosion rating of “EB”, which express slight surface corrosion. Compared with the traditional retrogression and re-aging process (RRA), the retrogression and creep aging process (RCA) can increase the MPt size, widen the precipitates distribution, narrow the PFZ width, and enhance the corrosion resistance while offering the hardness comparable to that of the RRA process.
Serration Behavior in Pd77.5Cu6Si16.5 Alloy
Authors: Wang Zhong , Li Jiaojiao , Yuan Bo , Wu Rongfeng , Fan Jing , Wang Baocheng
Published: August 2016

The strain-rate-dependent plasticity under uniaxial compression at the strain rates of 2 × 10−3, 2 × 10−4 and 2 × 10−5 s−1 in a Pd77.5Cu6Si16.5 alloy is investigated. At different strain rates, the serration events exhibit different amplitudes and time scales. The intersection effects take place obviously, and the loading time is much longer than the relaxation time in the serration event at three strain rates. However, the time intervals between two neighboring serrations lack any time scale, and the elastic energy density displays a power-law distribution at the strain rate of 2 × 10−3 s−1, which means that the self-organized critical (SOC) behavior emerges with increasing strain rates.
Monoacylglycerol Analysis Using MS/MSALL Quadruple Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gao Fei , McDaniel Justice , Chen Emily , Rockwell Hannah , Lynes Matthew , Tseng Yu-Hua , Sarangarajan Rangaprasad , Narain Niven , Kiebish Michael
Published: August 2016

Monoacylglycerols (MAGs) are structural and bioactive metabolites critical for biological function. Development of facile tools for measuring MAG are essential to understand its role in different diseases and various pathways. A data-independent acquisition method, MS/MSALL, using electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (MS), was utilized for the structural identification and quantitative analysis of individual MAG molecular species. Compared with other acylglycerols, diacylglycerols (DAG) and triacylglycerols (TAG), MAG characteristically presented as a dominant protonated ion, [M + H]+, and under low collision energy as fatty acid-like fragments due to the neutral loss of the glycerol head group. At low concentrations (<10 pmol/µL), where lipid-lipid interactions are rare, there was a strong linear correlation between ion abundance and MAG concentration. Moreover, using the MS/MSALL method the major MAG species from human plasma and mouse brown and white adipose tissues were quantified in less than 6 min. Collectively, these results demonstrate that MS/MSALL analysis of MAG is an enabling strategy for the direct identification and quantitative analysis of low level MAG species from biological samples with high throughput and sensitivity.
Design, Analysis, and Verification of Ka-Band Pattern Reconfigurable Patch Antenna Using RF MEMS Switches
Authors: Deng Zhongliang , Guo Xubing , Wei Hao , Gan Jun , Wang Yucheng
Published: August 2016

This paper proposes a radiating pattern reconfigurable antenna by employing RF Micro-electromechanical Systems (RF MEMS) switches. The antenna has a low profile and small size of 4 mm × 5 mm × 0.4 mm, and mainly consists of one main patch, two assistant patches, and two RF MEMS switches. By changing the RF MEMS switches operating modes, the proposed antenna can switch among three radiating patterns (with main lobe directions of approximately −17.0°, 0° and +17.0°) at 35 GHz. The far-field vector addition model is applied to analyse the pattern. Comparing the measured results with analytical and simulated results, good agreements are obtained.
Steroidal Saponins from the Rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Authors: Yang Bing-You , Zhang Jing , Liu Yan , Kuang Hai-Xue
Published: August 2016

Four new steroid saponins 1–4 were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Asparagaceae), as well as four known saponins: anemarsaponin B (5) timosaponin D (6), timosaponin E1 (7) anemarsaponin B II (8). Their structures were established through UV and NMR as well as MS data. All the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HepG2 and SGC7901 human cancer lines. Compounds 3 and 7 displayed medium antiproliferative activities on HepG2 and SGC7901 cells, with IC50 values of 43.90 and 57.90 μM, respectively.
The Salivary IgA Flow Rate Is Increased by High Concentrations of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in the Cecum of Rats Ingesting Fructooligosaccharides
Authors: Yamamoto Yuko , Takahahi Toru , To Masahiro , Nakagawa Yusuke , Hayashi Takashi , Shimizu Tomoko , Kamata Yohei , Saruta Juri , Tsukinoki Keiichi
Published: August 2016

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) serves as a major effector in mucosal immunity by preventing submucosal invasion of pathogens. However, the mechanism by which consumption of fermentable fibers increases IgA in saliva was not fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) intake and time after feeding on IgA levels in the saliva and cecal digesta and on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the cecum in rats. Five-week-old rats were fed a fiber-free diet or a diet with 50 g/kg FOS for zero, one, four, and eight weeks. Ingestion of FOS at one and eight weeks led to a higher IgA flow rate of saliva per weight of submandibular gland tissue (p < 0.05), which positively correlated with the concentration of SCFA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.86, p = 0.0006, n = 12), but showed no correlation with the concentration of IgA in the cecal digesta (rs = 0.15, p = 0.3, n = 48). These results suggested that ingestion of FOS increased salivary IgA secretion through high levels of SCFA in the large intestine, which was produced by fermentation of FOS. Thus, continuously ingesting FOS for more than one week could increase secretion of salivary IgA.
Temporal Changes of Protein Composition in Breast Milk of Chinese Urban Mothers and Impact of Caesarean Section Delivery
Authors: Affolter Michael , Garcia-Rodenas Clara , Vinyes-Pares Gerard , Jenni Rosemarie , Roggero Iris , Avanti-Nigro Ornella , De Castro Carlos , Zhao Ai , Zhang Yumei , Wang Peiyu , Thakkar Sagar , Favre Laurent
Published: August 2016

Human breast milk (BM) protein composition may be impacted by lactation stage or factors related to geographical location. The present study aimed at assessing the temporal changes of BM major proteins over lactation stages and the impact of mode of delivery on immune factors, in a large cohort of urban mothers in China. 450 BM samples, collected in three Chinese cities, covering 8 months of lactation were analyzed for α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, serum albumin, total caseins, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM and IgG) and transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and β2 content by microfluidic chip- or ELISA-based quantitative methods. Concentrations and changes over lactation were aligned with previous reports. α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, IgA, IgM and TGF-β1 contents followed similar variations characterized by highest concentrations in early lactation that rapidly decreased before remaining stable up to end of lactation. TGF-β2 content displayed same early dynamics before increasing again. Total caseins followed a different pattern, showing initial increase before decreasing back to starting values. Serum albumin and IgG levels appeared stable throughout lactation. In conclusion, BM content in major proteins of urban mothers in China was comparable with previous studies carried out in other parts of the world and C-section delivery had only very limited impact on BM immune factors.
TRP Channels as Therapeutic Targets in Diabetes and Obesity
Authors: Zsombok Andrea , Derbenev Andrei
Published: August 2016

During the last three to four decades the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus has greatly increased worldwide, including in the United States. Both the short- and long-term forecasts predict serious consequences for the near future, and encourage the development of solutions for the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes mellitus. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels were identified in tissues and organs important for the control of whole body metabolism. A variety of TRP channels has been shown to play a role in the regulation of hormone release, energy expenditure, pancreatic function, and neurotransmitter release in control, obese and/or diabetic conditions. Moreover, dietary supplementation of natural ligands of TRP channels has been shown to have potential beneficial effects in obese and diabetic conditions. These findings raised the interest and likelihood for potential drug development. In this mini-review, we discuss possibilities for better management of obesity and diabetes mellitus based on TRP-dependent mechanisms.
Design and Prototype of an Automated Column-Switching HPLC System for Radiometabolite Analysis
Authors: Vasdev Neil , Collier Thomas
Published: August 2016

Column-switching high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is extensively used for the critical analysis of radiolabeled ligands and their metabolites in plasma. However, the lack of streamlined apparatus and consequently varying protocols remain as a challenge among positron emission tomography laboratories. We report here the prototype apparatus and implementation of a fully automated and simplified column-switching procedure to allow for the easy and automated determination of radioligands and their metabolites in up to 5 mL of plasma. The system has been used with conventional UV and coincidence radiation detectors, as well as with a single quadrupole mass spectrometer.
Preface: Remote Sensing in Coastal Environments
Authors: Mishra Deepak , Gould Richard
Published: August 2016

The Special Issue (SI) on “Remote Sensing in Coastal Environments” presents a wide range of articles focusing on a variety of remote sensing models and techniques to address coastal issues and processes ranging for wetlands and water quality to coral reefs and kelp habitats. The SI is comprised of twenty-one papers, covering a broad range of research topics that employ remote sensing imagery, models, and techniques to monitor water quality, vegetation, habitat suitability, and geomorphology in the coastal zone. This preface provides a brief summary of each article published in the SI.
High-Resolution Time-Frequency Spectrum-Based Lung Function Test from a Smartphone Microphone
Authors: Thap Tharoeun , Chung Heewon , Jeong Changwon , Hwang Ki-Eun , Kim Hak-Ryul , Yoon Kwon-Ha , Lee Jinseok
Published: August 2016

In this paper, a smartphone-based lung function test, developed to estimate lung function parameters using a high-resolution time-frequency spectrum from a smartphone built-in microphone is presented. A method of estimation of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s divided by forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) based on the variable frequency complex demodulation method (VFCDM) is first proposed. We evaluated our proposed method on 26 subjects, including 13 healthy subjects and 13 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, by comparing with the parameters clinically obtained from pulmonary function tests (PFTs). For the healthy subjects, we found that an absolute error (AE) and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of the FEV1/FVC ratio were 4.49% ± 3.38% and 5.54%, respectively. For the COPD patients, we found that AE and RMSE from COPD patients were 10.30% ± 10.59% and 14.48%, respectively. For both groups, we compared the results using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and short-time Fourier transform (STFT), and found that VFCDM was superior to CWT and STFT. Further, to estimate other parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF), regression analysis was conducted to establish a linear transformation. However, the parameters FVC, FEV1, and PEF had correlation factor r values of 0.323, 0.275, and −0.257, respectively, while FEV1/FVC had an r value of 0.814. The results obtained suggest that only the FEV1/FVC ratio can be accurately estimated from a smartphone built-in microphone. The other parameters, including FVC, FEV1, and PEF, were subjective and dependent on the subject’s familiarization with the test and performance of forced exhalation toward the microphone.
Mining IP to Domain Name Interactions to Detect DNS Flood Attacks on Recursive DNS Servers
Authors: Alonso Roberto , Monroy Raúl , Trejo Luis
Published: August 2016

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical infrastructure of any network, and, not surprisingly a common target of cybercrime. There are numerous works that analyse higher level DNS traffic to detect anomalies in the DNS or any other network service. By contrast, few efforts have been made to study and protect the recursive DNS level. In this paper, we introduce a novel abstraction of the recursive DNS traffic to detect a flooding attack, a kind of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). The crux of our abstraction lies on a simple observation: Recursive DNS queries, from IP addresses to domain names, form social groups; hence, a DDoS attack should result in drastic changes on DNS social structure. We have built an anomaly-based detection mechanism, which, given a time window of DNS usage, makes use of features that attempt to capture the DNS social structure, including a heuristic that estimates group composition. Our detection mechanism has been successfully validated (in a simulated and controlled setting) and with it the suitability of our abstraction to detect flooding attacks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that work is successful in using this abstraction to detect these kinds of attacks at the recursive level. Before concluding the paper, we motivate further research directions considering this new abstraction, so we have designed and tested two additional experiments which exhibit promising results to detect other types of anomalies in recursive DNS servers.
New Foci of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae Including Rickettsia honei in Western Australia
Authors: Raby Edward , Pearn Toby , Marangou Andreas , Merritt Adam , Murray Ronan , Dyer John , Graves Stephen
Published: August 2016

We describe the first reported case of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Western Australia, and two cases of probable Rickettsia honei from a new geographic focus. These findings highlight the need to raise awareness of ricksettsial infection among local clinicians as well as those treating visitors to this region, important for outdoor recreation.
Development of a Component-Based Modeling Framework for Agricultural Water-Resource Management
Authors: Kang Moon-Seong , Srivastava Puneet , Song Jung-Hun , Park Jihoon , Her Younggu , Kim Sang , Song Inhong
Published: August 2016

Because hydrologic responses of an agricultural watershed are influenced by many natural and man-made factors including pond/reservoir, management practices, and/or irrigation/drainage, strategies of hydrological modeling for the watershed must be case-dependent and thus carefully designed to effectively reflect their roles as critical hydrologic components in simulation processes. In this study, we propose a component-based modeling framework that accommodates a flexible modeling approach to consider a variety of hydrologic processes and management practices, especially irrigation-reservoir operation and paddy-farming practices, in watershed-scale modeling. The objectives of this study are twofold: to develop a COmponent-based Modeling Framework for Agricultural water-Resources Management (COMFARM) using an object-oriented programming technique, and to evaluate its applicability as a modeling tool to predict the responses of an agricultural watershed characterized with diverse land uses in a case study. COMFARM facilitates quick and easy development of watershed-specific hydrologic models by providing multiple interchangeable simulation routines for each hydrologic component considered. COMFARM is developed with the JAVA programming language, using Eclipse software. The framework developed in this study is applied to simulating hydrologic processes of the Seon-Am irrigation-district watershed consisting primarily of reservoir-irrigated rice paddies in South Korea. The application study clearly demonstrates the applicability of the framework as a convenient method to build models for hydrologic simulation of an agricultural watershed. The newly developed modeling framework, COMFARM is expected to serve as a useful tool in watershed management planning by allowing quick development of case-oriented analysis tools and evaluation of management scenarios customized to a specific watershed.
The Effect of Signal-to-Noise Ratio on Linguistic Processing in a Semantic Judgment Task: An Aging Study
Authors: Stanley Nicholas , Davis Tara , Estis Julie
Published: August 2016

Background:Aging effects on speech understanding in noise have primarily been assessed through speech recognition tasks. Recognition tasks, which focus on bottom-up, perceptual aspects of speech understanding, intentionally limit linguistic and cognitive factors by asking participants
to only repeat what they have heard. On the other hand, linguistic processing tasks require bottom-up and top-down (linguistic, cognitive) processing skills and are, therefore, more reflective of speech understanding abilities used in everyday communication. The effect of signal-to-noise ratio
(SNR) on linguistic processing ability is relatively unknown for either young (YAs) or older adults (OAs).Purpose:To determine if reduced SNRs would be more deleterious to the linguistic processing of OAs than YAs, as measured by accuracy and reaction time in a semantic judgment task
in competing speech.Research Design:In the semantic judgment task, participants indicated via button press whether word pairs were a semantic Match or No Match. This task was performed in quiet, as well as, +3, 0, −3, and −6 dB SNR with two-talker speech competition.Study
Sample:Seventeen YAs (20‐30 yr) with normal hearing sensitivity and 17 OAs (60‐68 yr) with normal hearing sensitivity or mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss within age-appropriate norms.Data Collection and Analysis:Accuracy, reaction time, and false alarm rate
were measured and analyzed using a mixed design analysis of variance.Results:A decrease in SNR level significantly reduced accuracy and increased reaction time in both YAs and OAs. However, poor SNRs affected accuracy and reaction time of Match and No Match word pairs differently. Accuracy
for Match pairs declined at a steeper rate than No Match pairs in both groups as SNR decreased. In addition, reaction time for No Match pairs increased at a greater rate than Match pairs in more difficult SNRs, particularly at −3 and −6 dB SNR. False-alarm rates indicated that
participants had a response bias to No Match pairs as the SNR decreased. Age-related differences were limited to No Match pair accuracies at −6 dB SNR.Conclusions:The ability to correctly identify semantically matched word pairs was more susceptible to disruption by a poor SNR
than semantically unrelated words in both YAs and OAs. The effect of SNR on this semantic judgment task implies that speech competition differentially affected the facilitation of semantically related words and the inhibition of semantically incompatible words, although processing speed, as
measured by reaction time, remained faster for semantically matched pairs. Overall, the semantic judgment task in competing speech elucidated the effect of a poor listening environment on the higher order processing of words.
A NuSTAR OBSERVATION OF THE REFLECTION SPECTRUM OF THE LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARY 4U 1728-34
Authors: Sleator Clio C. , Tomsick John A. , King Ashley L. , Miller Jon M. , Boggs Steven E. , Bachetti Matteo , Barret Didier , Chenevez Jérôme , Christensen Finn E. , Craig William W. , Hailey Charles J. , Harrison Fiona A. , Rahoui Farid , Stern Daniel K. , Walton Dominic J. , Zhang William W.
Published: August 2016

We report on a simultaneous NuSTAR and Swift observation of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1728-34. We identified and removed four Type I X-ray bursts during the observation in order to study the persistent emission. The continuum spectrum is hard and described well by a blackbody with kT = 1.5 keV and a cutoff power law with Γ = 1.5, and a cutoff temperature of 25 keV. Residuals between 6 and 8 keV provide strong evidence of a broad Fe Kα line. By modeling the spectrum with a relativistically blurred reflection model, we find an upper limit for the inner disk radius of

. Consequently, we find that R
NS ≤ 23 km, assuming M = 1.4 M
⊙ and a = 0.15. We also find an upper limit on the magnetic field of B ≤ 2 × 108 G.
INFRARED OBSERVATIONS OF THE QUINTUPLET PROPER MEMBERS USING SOFIA/FORCAST AND GEMINI/TReCS
Authors: Hankins M. J. , Lau R. M. , Morris M. R. , Sanchez-Bermudez J. , Pott J. U. , Adams J. D. , Herter T. L.
Published: August 2016

Since their discovery, the Quintuplet proper members (QPMs) have been somewhat mysterious in nature. Originally dubbed the “cocoon stars” due to their cool featureless spectra, high-resolution near-infrared imaging observations have shown that at least two of the objects exhibit “pinwheel” nebulae consistent with binary systems with a carbon-rich Wolf–Rayet star and O/B companion. In this paper, we present 19.7, 25.2, 31.5, and 37.1 μm observations of the QPMs (with an angular resolution of 3.2″–3.8″) taken with the Faint Object Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) in conjunction with high-resolution (∼0.1″–0.2″) images at 8.8 and 11.7 μm from the Thermal-Region Camera Spectrograph (TReCS). DUSTY models of the thermal dust emission of two of the four detected QPMs, Q2 and Q3, are fitted by radial density profiles that are consistent with constant mass-loss rates (

). For the two remaining sources, Q1 and Q9, extended structures (∼1″) are detected around these objects in high-resolution imaging data. Based on the fitted dust masses, Q9 has an unusually large dust reservoir (

) compared to typical dusty Wolf–Rayet stars, which suggests that it may have recently undergone an episode of enhanced mass loss.
Le « tripartisme de légitimation politique » ou la face (post-) démocratique des « capitalismes dépendants » : les cas de la Bulgarie et de la Roumanie
Authors: Delteil Violaine
Published: August 2016

Le tripartisme a fait l’objet d’un engouement de la première heure dans les pays d’Europe centrale et orientale. Si en Europe centrale cette institutionnalisation est restée souvent formelle, dans les Balkans, orientaux comme occidentaux, le dialogue social au sommet a fait l’objet d’une mobilisation et d’une instrumentalisation marquée et continue de la part des gouvernements. Prenant appui sur une comparaison entre la Bulgarie et la Roumanie, le présent article propose d’expliciter les traits inhérents aux deux expériences de tripartisme, depuis le début de la transition jusqu’à la dernière crise. L’identification d’un « tripartisme de légitimation politique », qui rejoint et complète la thèse du « corporatisme illusoire » de David Ost (2000), est reliée à deux questionnements qui traversent aujourd’hui la recherche : le premier renvoie au rôle décisif joué par les facteurs externes sur le jeu sociopolitique domestique, pour ces deux pays qui exemplifient le modèle de « capitalisme dépendant » ; le second renvoie aux modalités et aux canaux de l’européanisation sociale dans l’Union européenne élargie, ici appliquée au dialogue social.
Two-Level Classifier Ensembles for Coffee Rust Estimation in Colombian Crops
Authors: Corrales David Camilo , Casas Apolinar Figueroa , Ledezma Agapito , Corrales Juan Carlos
Published: August 2016

Rust is a disease that leads to considerable losses in the worldwide coffee industry. There are many contributing factors to the onset of coffee rust e.g. Crop management decisions and the prevailing weather. In Colombia the coffee production has been considerably reduced by 31% on average during the epidemic years compared with 2007. Recent research efforts focus on detection of disease incidence using simple classifiers. Authors in the computer field propose alternatives for improve the outcomes, making use of techniques that combine classifiers named ensemble methods. Therefore they proposed two-level classifier ensembles for coffee rust estimation in Colombian crops using Back Propagation Neural Networks, Regression Tree M5 and Support Vector Regression. Their ensemble approach outperformed the classical approaches as simple classifiers and ensemble methods in terms of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, Mean Absolute Error and Root Mean Squared Error.
Exploration of Web Page Structural Patterns Based on Request Dependency Graph Decomposition
Authors: Fang Cheng , Liu Bo Ya
Published: August 2016

This article first proposed a Bipartite Request Dependency Graph (BRDG) that describes the object-level interrelationships between user click requests and embedded web object requests. These two kinds of requests are classified from HTTP data by an identification algorithm. The interrelationships between user click requests and embedded web object reflect the web page structural, which contain latent web information. Exploring structural patterns is crucial for many aspects like web security analysis and web information visualization. Accordingly, the article also proposed a novel graph decomposition method called orthogonal nonnegative matrix tri-factorization (tNMF) to the BRDG. Compared to traditional web graph analysis focus on statistical and structural properties of the whole graph, the proposed method is dedicated to mine latent web structural patterns. Decomposition results demonstrate that several interesting structures exist in the BRDG. The article aims at classifying these subgraphs as several structural patterns and shedding light on the causes of these patterns.
Political Participation and Engagement via Different Online and Offline Channels
Authors: Papagiannidis Savvas , Manika Danae
Published: August 2016

This paper explores how political participation and engagement via social media may affect political participation and engagement offline and via other online channels, drawing from the exchange concept in marketing theory. Social media political participation and engagement is distinguished from other online activities, as the latter is restricted to users already involved in politics, as opposed to social media, which even allow users not involved in politics to be exposed to political messages. This study takes place within the context of Greece, characterised by the financial crisis. An exploratory quantitative methodology, employing a self-administered questionnaire (N=215 online users) was adopted. Results suggest that users who engage in politics, whether this is through social media or other online or offline activities, are more likely to participate politically in more than one form of political engagement. Social media usage intensity was positively associated with social media political participation, while favourable perceptions about politicians who use social media was associated with higher online participation activities among users. Gender was a significant factor for other online political engagement, while age was a significant factor for offline political engagement. Interestingly, the high perceived stress resulting from the financial crisis was not associated with any form of political engagement.