bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Economic Problem of Masochism in Education
Authors: Allen Ansgar , Bojesen Emile
Published: September 2018

It is no secret that there is much to learn from masochism. But its lessons have yet to include the thought that educational relations might themselves be structured by a masochistic economy. Given that our claim for the existence of this economy is made from within the academy, care must be taken, unless the educational researchers who comment on it be considered exempt. Educational researchers are not above nor insulated from what they critique. Educational researchers actively participate in masochistic games of love and hate, pleasure and discomfort that define educational relationships. They participate directly as lovers and sufferers of education themselves, or indirectly by providing long, wearing critiques of education that function as so many reasons for disappointment. Everyday educators and educational researchers alike are tied, bound together, with the latter serving to reinforce this economy of pain by furnishing educators with a scholarly framework, an optional supplement, a pile of books, papers and reports within which they can somewhat pleasurably locate their suffering. But this is not all they achieve. In addition to providing lengthy disquisitions explaining what all educators already feel, and have long felt more acutely – namely, transposing into writing a sense of the ‘shitness’ of things – educational research helps sustain what it bemoans. It gives succour to that love of education, the educator’s love of what they do, that finds pleasure still in the discomfort and displeasure that education must necessarily produce. Educational research dignifies education with moral purpose and helps sustain our love for it by endlessly implying education must be worthy of morally informed critique and attention. We urge the reader to keep these discomforting ideas in mind, throughout the essay that follows.
Fluctuations of 1/f Noise in Damaging Structures Analyzed by Acoustic Emission
Authors: Carpinteri Alberto , Lacidogna Giuseppe , Accornero Federico
Published: September 2018

It is well known in literature that frequency fluctuations of different physical quantities clearly show 1/f noise power spectra. In the present work, the authors observe that in some brittle materials, such as concrete, masonry, and mortar, Acoustic Emission (AE) signals, generating from brittle fracture phenomena, exhibit a frequency fluctuation approaching to 1/f. Acoustic Emission data obtained from laboratory tests on concrete samples, and from in-situ monitoring of some important Italian historical buildings are reported in terms of spectral density vs. frequency. It is shown that in structural elements subjected to different load conditions, the frequency fluctuations are 1/f like. The study and interpretation of these phenomena through the use of the AE technique can be therefore very useful for identifying the transition from the critical conditions of a structure to those that involve an incipient collapse.
Endometrial Stem Cells in Farm Animals: Potential Role in Uterine Physiology and Pathology
Authors: Lara Evelyn , Rivera Nathaly , Cabezas Joel , Navarrete Felipe , Saravia Fernando , Rodríguez-Alvarez Lleretny , Castro Fidel
Published: September 2018

The endometrium is an accessible source of mesenchymal stem cells. Most investigations of endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) have been conducted in humans. In animals, particularly in livestock, eMSC research is scarce. Such cells have been described in the bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, and equine endometrium. Here we provide the state of the art of eMSCs in farm animals with a focus on the bovine species. In bovines, eMSCs have been identified during the phases of the estrous cycle, during which their functionality and the presence of eMSC-specific markers has been shown to change. Moreover, postpartum inflammation related to endometritis affects the presence and functionality of eMSCs, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may be the mediator of such changes. We demonstrated that exposure to PGE2 in vitro modifies the transcriptomic profile of eMSCs, showing its potential role in the fate of stem cell activation, migration, and homing during pathological uterine inflammation in endometritis and in healthy puerperal endometrium. Farm animal research on eMSCs can be of great value in translational research for certain uterine pathologies and for immunomodulation of local responses to pathogens, hormones, and other substances. Further research is necessary in areas such as in vivo location of the niches and their immunomodulatory and anti-infective properties.
Lnc-EPB41-Protein Interactions Associated with Congenital Pouch Colon
Authors: Gupta Sonal , Gupta Nidhi , Tiwari Pradeep , Menon Saji , Mathur Praveen , Kothari Shanker Lal , Nallapeta Sivaramaiah , Medicherla Krishna Mohan , Suravajhala Prashanth
Published: September 2018

Congenital Pouch Colon (CPC) is a rare anorectal anomaly common to northwestern India, specifically Rajasthan. Despite efforts to understand the clinical genetic makeup of CPC, no attempt on identifying non-coding RNAs was done. We have earlier reported CPC’s rare variants from whole exome sequencing (WES) across 18 affected samples in a total of 64 subjects. A Smith–Waterman algorithm was used to infer a couple of lncRNAs from WES samples of CPC with predictions from the Noncode database. Further screening and quantification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we ascertained interactions using Micro Scale Thermophoresis (MST). We report the role of lnc-EPB41-1-1 shown to be promiscuously interacting with KIF13A substantiating their role in regulation.
Revisiting Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) in Cancer: Saint or Sinner?
Authors: Bauvois Brigitte , Susin Santos A.
Published: September 2018

Human neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a glycoprotein present in a wide variety of tissues and cell types. NGAL exists as a 25 kDa monomer, a 46 kDa homodimer (the most abundant form in healthy subjects) and a 130 kDa disulfide-linked heterodimer bound to latent matrix metalloproteinase-9. Dysregulated expression of NGAL in human malignancies suggests its value as a clinical marker. A growing body of evidence is highlighting NGAL’s paradoxical (i.e., both beneficial and detrimental) effects on cellular processes associated with tumor development (proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and multidrug resistance). At least two distinct cell surface receptors are identified for NGAL. This review (i) summarizes our current knowledge of NGAL’s expression profiles in solid tumors and leukemias, and (ii) critically evaluates the beneficial and detrimental activities of NGAL having been documented in a diverse range of cancer-derived cell lines. A better understanding of the causal relationships between NGAL dysregulation and tumor development will require a fine analysis of the molecular aspects and biological role(s) of NGAL both in primary tumors and at different stages of disease. Having an accurate picture of NGAL’s contribution to tumor progression is a prerequisite for attempting to modulate this protein as a putative therapeutic target.
Current Immunotherapeutic Approaches in T Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
Authors: Poggio Teresa , Duyster Justus , Illert Anna L.
Published: September 2018

T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (T-NHL) is a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms of the lymphoid system. With the exception of a few relatively indolent entities, T-NHL is typically aggressive, treatment resistant, and associated with poor prognosis. Relatively few options with proven clinical benefit are available for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for the management of patients with hematological malignancies. The identification of tumor antigens has provided a large number of potential targets. Therefore, several monoclonal antibodies (alemtuzumab, SGN-30, brentuximab vedotin, and mogamulizumab), directed against tumor antigens, have been investigated in different subtypes of T-NHL. In addition to targeting antigens involved in cancer cell physiology, antibodies can stimulate immune effector functions or counteract immunosuppressive mechanisms. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells directed against CD30 and immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently being investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the currently available clinical evidence for immunotherapy in T-NHL, focusing on the results of clinical trials using first generation monoclonal antibodies, new immunotherapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T cell therapies.
Anti-aging Effects of Select Botanicals: Scientific Evidence and Current Trends
Authors: Campa Molly , Baron Elma
Published: September 2018

As skin ages, there is a decline in physiologic function. These changes are induced by both intrinsic (chronologic) and extrinsic (predominately UV-induced) factors. Botanicals offer potential benefits to combat some of the signs of aging. Here, we review select botanicals and the scientific evidence behind their anti-aging claims. Botanicals may offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing, UV-protective, and other effects. A multitude of botanicals are listed as ingredients in popular cosmetics and cosmeceuticals, but only a select few are discussed here. These were chosen based on the availability of scientific data, personal interest of the authors, and perceived “popularity” of current cosmetic and cosmeceutical products. The botanicals reviewed here include argan oil, coconut oil, crocin, feverfew, green tea, marigold, pomegranate, and soy.
A New Visual Multi-Secrets Sharing Scheme by Random Grids
Authors: Chang Joy Jo-Yi , Huang Bo-Yuan , Juan Justie Su-Tzu
Published: September 2018

In (2, 2)-visual secret sharing (VSS) schemes, a common type of (k, n)-threshold VSS schemes, secret information can be decoded directly through only two shares by using a human vision system. Several studies have analyzed methods of simplifying the decoding process and refining encoding to pass more secret images through two identical shares. However, limited secret images are retrieved, and the quality of the recovered images is low. This paper proposes an advanced (2, 2)-VSS scheme that can embed N secret images into two rectangular shares. Compared with other related VSS schemes, more secret images can be encrypted and the distortion is adjustable in the proposed scheme, yielding more flexibility in theory and practice.
On the Performance and Security of Multiplication in GF(2N)
Authors: Danger Jean-Luc , El Housni Youssef , Facon Adrien , Gueye Cheikh T. , Guilley Sylvain , Herbel Sylvie , Ndiaye Ousmane , Persichetti Edoardo , Schaub Alexander
Published: September 2018

Multiplications in G F ( 2 N ) can be securely optimized for cryptographic applications when the integer N is small and does not match machine words (i.e., N < 32 ). In this paper, we present a set of optimizations applied to DAGS, a code-based post-quantum cryptographic algorithm and one of the submissions to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standardization call.
Sonar Surveys for Bat Species Richness and Activity in the Southern Kalahari Desert, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
Authors: Adams Rick A. , Kwiecinski Gary
Published: September 2018

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is located in northwestern South Africa and extends northeastward into Botswana. The park lies largely within the southern Kalahari Desert ecosystem where the Auob and Nassob rivers reach their confluence. Although these rivers run only about once every 100 years, or shortly after large thunderstorms, underground flows and seeps provide consistent surface water for the parks sparse vegetation and diverse wildlife. No formal studies on bats have previously occurred at Kgalagadi. We used SM2 + BAT ultrasonic detectors to survey 10 sites along the Auob and Nassob rivers from 5–16 April 2016. The units recorded 3960 call sequences that were analyzed using Kaleidoscope software for South African bats as well as visual determinations based on call structure attributes (low frequency, characteristic frequency, call duration, and bandwidth). We identified 12 species from four families: Rhinolophidae: Rhinolophus fumigatus. Molossidae: Chaerephon pumilus, and Sauromys petrophilus, Tadarida aegyptiaca; Miniopteridae: Miniopteris schreibersi (natalensis), Vespertilionidae: Laephotis botswanae, Myotis tricolor, Neoromicia capensis, N. nana, Pipistrellus hesperidus, Scotophilus dinganii, and S. viridus. The most abundant species during the survey period was N. capensis. We also used paired-site design to test for greater bat activity at water sources compared to dry sites, with dry sites being significantly more active. We conclude that species richness is much higher than previously known from this region and that more species may be present during the warmer months of the year. In addition, activity of bats during the dry season in Kgalagadi would likely be more concentrated around drinking opportunities, thus allowing for better detection of species richness in the area.
Optimized Design of Modular Multilevel DC De-Icer for High Voltage Transmission Lines
Authors: Lu Jiazheng , Huang Qingjun , Mao Xinguo , Tan Yanjun , Zhu Siguo , Zhu Yuan
Published: September 2018

Ice covering on overhead transmission lines would cause damage to transmission system and long-term power outage. Among various de-icing devices, a modular multilevel converter based direct-current (DC)de-icer (MMC-DDI) is recognized as a promising solution due to its excellent technical performance. Its principle feasibility has been well studied, but only a small amount of literature discusses its economy or hardware optimization. To fill this gap, this paper presents a quantitative analysis and calculation on the converter characteristics of MMC-DDI. It reveals that, for a given DC de-icing requirement, the converter rating varies greatly with its alternating-current (AC) -side voltage, and it sometimes far exceeds the melting power. To reduce converter rating and improve its economy, an optimized configuration is proposed in which a proper transformer should be configured on the input AC-side of converter under certain conditions. This configuration is verified in an MMC-DDI for a 500 kV transmission line as a case study. The result shows, in the case of outputting the same de-icing characteristics, the optimized converter is reduced from 151 MVA to 68 MVA, and the total cost of the MMC-DDI system is reduced by 48%. This conclusion is conducive to the design optimization of multilevel DC de-icer and then to its engineering application.
Real-Time Embedded Systems: Present and Future
Authors: Koulamas Christos , Lazarescu Mihai T.
Published: September 2018

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SwarmGrid: Demand-Side Management with Distributed Energy Resources Based on Multifrequency Agent Coordination
Authors: Castillo-Cagigal Manuel , Matallanas Eduardo , Caamaño-Martín Estefanía , Martín Álvaro
Published: September 2018

This paper focuses on a multi-agent coordination for demand-side management in electrical grids with high penetration rates of distributed generation, in particular photovoltaic generation. This coordination is done by the use of swarm intelligence and coupled oscillators, proposing a novel methodology, which is implemented by the so-call SwarmGrid algorithm. SwarmGrid seeks to smooth the aggregated consumption by considering distributed and local generation by the development of a self-organized algorithm based on multifrequency agent coordination. The objective of this algorithm is to increase stability and reduce stress of the electrical grid by the aggregated consumption smoothing based on a frequency domain approach. The algorithm allows not only improvements in the electrical grid, but also increases the penetration of distributed and renewable sources. Contrary to other approaches, this objective is achieved anonymously without the need for information exchange between the users; it only takes into account the aggregated consumption of the whole grid.
Pelleting Vineyard Pruning at Low Cost with a Mobile Technology
Authors: Toscano Giuseppe , Alfano Vincenzo , Scarfone Antonio , Pari Luigi
Published: September 2018

The goal of this work was to test a patented pruning harvester and a mobile pelleting system specifically designed for the vineyard agripellet chain. Biomass was characterized before and after storage and after the pelleting stage. The performance, the fuel consumption, and the work quality of the harvester were assessed together with the productivity and the power consumption of the mobile pelleting system. Production costs of pellet were estimated for the whole logistic chain, considering two scenarios: Storage and pelleting directly at the farm site or at a dedicated location at variable distance from the fields. For comparison, the direct production of chips without pelleting was considered. Results indicate that harvester performance was quite good and comparable with commercial solutions; the chips produced exhibited excellent storage performance, allowing direct pelleting without forced drying; the pellet quality was good comparable with that produced from forestry biomass. From an economic point of view, in-field pelleting was the most cost-effective solution, with a good margin of profit up to 57€ t−1; on the other hand, when transport to an intermediate storage center is necessary, profit margin reduces gradually and fades off at an average 50 km distance from the fields.
Joint Optimal Policy for Subsidy on Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Construction in Highway Network
Authors: Wang Yue , Liu Zhong , Shi Jianmai , Wu Guohua , Wang Rui
Published: September 2018

The promotion of the battery electric vehicle has become a worldwide problem for governments due to its short endurance range and slow charging rate. Besides an appropriate network of charging facilities, a subsidy has proved to be an effective way to increase the market share of battery electric vehicles. In this paper, we investigate the joint optimal policy for a subsidy on electric vehicles and infrastructure construction in a highway network, where the impact of siting and sizing of fast charging stations and the impact of subsidy on the potential electric vehicle flows is considered. A new specified local search (LS)-based algorithm is developed to maximize the overall number of available battery electric vehicles in the network, which can get provide better solutions in most situations when compared with existed algorithms. Moreover, we firstly combined the existing algorithms to establish a multi-stage optimization method, which can obtain better solutions than all existed algorithms. A practical case from the highway network in Hunan, China, is studied to analyze the factors that impact the choice of subsidy and the deployment of charging stations. The results prove that the joint policy for subsidy and infrastructure construction can be effectively improved with the optimization model and the algorithms we developed. The managerial analysis indicates that the improvement on the capacity of charging facility can increase the proportion of construction fees in the total budget, while the improvement in the endurance range of battery electric vehicles is more efficient in expanding battery electric vehicle adoption in the highway network. A more detailed formulation of the battery electric vehicle flow demand and equilibrium situation will be studied in the future.
Kinetic Study on the Pyrolysis of Medium Density Fiberboard: Effects of Secondary Charring Reactions
Authors: Pan Longwei , Jiang Yong , Wang Lei , Xu Wu
Published: September 2018

The reaction models employed in the kinetic studies of biomass pyrolysis generally do not include the secondary charring reactions. The aim of this work is to propose an applicable kinetic model to characterize the pyrolysis mechanism of medium density fiberboard (MDF) and to evaluate the effects of secondary charring reactions on estimated products yields. The kinetic study for pyrolysis of MDF was performed by a thermogravimetric analyzer over a heating rate range from 10 to 40 °C/min in a nitrogen atmosphere. Four stages related to the degradation of resin, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin could be distinguished from the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Based on the four components and multi-component parallel reaction scheme, a kinetic model considering secondary charring reactions was proposed. A comparison model was also provided. An efficient optimization algorithm, differential evolution (DE), was coupled with the two models to determine the kinetic parameters. Comparisons of the results of the two models to experiment showed that the mass fraction (TG) and mass loss rate (DTG) calculated by the model considering secondary charring reactions were in better agreement with the experimental data. Furthermore, higher product yields than the experimental values will be obtained if secondary charring reactions were not considered in the kinetic study of MDF pyrolysis. On the contrary, with the consideration of secondary charring reactions, the estimated product yield had little error with the experimental data.
Using Multiple Fidelity Numerical Models for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Advanced Control Design
Authors: Olondriz Joannes , Yu Wei , Jugo Josu , Lemmer Frank , Elorza Iker , Alonso-Quesada Santiago , Pujana-Arrese Aron
Published: September 2018

This paper summarises the tuning process of the Aerodynamic Platform Stabiliser control loop and its performance with Floating Offshore Wind Turbine model. Simplified Low-Order Wind turbine numerical models have been used for the system identification and control tuning process. Denmark Technical University’s 10 MW wind turbine model mounted on the TripleSpar platform concept was used for this study. Time-domain simulations were carried out in a fully coupled non-linear aero-hydro-elastic simulation tool FAST, in which wind and wave disturbances were modelled. This testing yielded significant improvements in the overall Floating Offshore Wind Turbine performance and load reduction, validating the control technique presented in this work.
The Quality of Tuberculosis Care in Urban Migrant Clinics in China
Authors: Xue Hao , Hager Jennifer , An Qi , Liu Kai , Zhang Jing , Auden Emma , Yang Bingyan , Yang Jie , Liu Hongyan , Nie Jingchun , Wang Aiqin , Zhou Chengchao , Shi Yaojiang , Sylvia Sean
Published: September 2018

Large and increasing numbers of rural-to-urban migrants provided new challenges for tuberculosis control in large cities in China and increased the need for high quality tuberculosis care delivered by clinics in urban migrant communities. Based on a household survey in migrant communities, we selected and separated clinics into those that mainly serve migrants and those that mainly serve local residents. Using standardized patients, this study provided an objective comparison of the quality of tuberculosis care delivered by both types of clinics and examined factors related to quality care. Only 27% (95% confidence interval (CI) 14–46) of cases were correctly managed in migrant clinics, which is significantly worse than it in local clinics (50%, 95% CI 28–72). Clinicians with a base salary were 41 percentage points more likely to demonstrate better case management. Furthermore, clinicians with upper secondary or higher education level charged 20 RMB lower out of pocket fees than less-educated clinicians. In conclusion, the quality of tuberculosis care accessed by migrants was very poor and policies to improve the quality should be prioritized in current health reforms. Providing a base salary was a possible way to improve quality of care and increasing the education attainment of urban community clinicians might reduce the heavy barrier of medical expenses for migrants
The Measure of the Family Caregivers’ Experience
Authors: Guilabert Mercedes , Amil Paloma , González-Mestre Asunción , Gil-Sánchez Esther , Vila Anna , Contel Joan Carles , Ansotegui Juan Carlos , Solas Olga , Bacigalupe Ma Teresa , Fernández-Cano Paloma , Arteagoitia Marisa , Mira José Joaquín
Published: September 2018

Objective: Design and validate a measure of the experience of family caregivers with the integrated care that receive the persons they care for. Methods: The new instrument for measuring the experience of caregivers is based on the Instrument to Evaluate the EXperience of PAtients with Chronic Diseases (acronym in Spanish: IEXPAC) scale instrument. With the qualitative technique of the discussion group, nine professionals and eight caregivers assessed the face validity of the instrument and they advised on issues to explore and the measuring scale to use. The instrument’s items were analyzed individually, as well as its consistency, reliability, and construct and empirical validity. Results: 235 caregivers responded, of which 186 (79%) were women. The average age of the persons under their care was 83.9 years (SD 9.7). The scale’s score when eliminating its items one by one ranged between 38.6 and 41.1. The factorial saturations of the items ranged between 0.53 and 0.82. Cronbach’s alpha (12 elements) was 0.88 and the Kuder-Richardson coefficient was 0.91. The factorial solution explained 64.3% of the total variance and allowed isolating two factors (with 11 items with saturations greater than 0.65): care for the patient, and care for the caregiver. The internal consistency of both factors was greater than 0.80. The scale’s score was 41.1 (SD 9.7). Conclusions: The Caregivers Experience Instrument combines acceptability, ease of comprehension, and perceived usefulness for the caregivers. It has adequate internal consistency, reliability, and construct and empirical validity.
A Cross Sectional Examination of the Relation Between Depression and Frequency of Leisure Time Physical Exercise among the Elderly in Jinan, China
Authors: Wang Shukang , Ma Wei , Wang Shu-Mei , Yi Xiangren
Published: September 2018

Depression has become a major global public health problem. Many studies have shown the positive effects of physical exercise on depression. However, few studies have examined the relationship between frequency of leisure time physical exercise and depression without considering the time and intensity of exercise among middle-aged and elderly people of urban communities in northern China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 1604 participants among urban residents aged 50 years or older in China to evaluate how the frequency of physical exercise was related to depression. Our study showed that the prevalence of depression in the urban community of Jinan is 16.52%. For physical exercise, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 1~2 times per week, 3~4 times per week and ≥5 times per week were 1.137 (0.661, 1.953), 0.516 (0.304, 0.875) and 0.548 (0.392, 0.768) respectively, with adjustment for age, gender, marital status, BMI, hypertension, previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes, triglyceride, total cholesterol, soy food intake, milk food intake, vegetable and fruit intake and meat intake. We concluded that physically exercising three times a week is associated with a low prevalence of depression.
A Bayesian Quantile Modeling for Spatiotemporal Relative Risk: An Application to Adverse Risk Detection of Respiratory Diseases in South Carolina, USA
Authors: Rotejanaprasert Chawarat , Lawson Andrew B.
Published: September 2018

Quantile modeling has been seen as an alternative and useful complement to ordinary regression mainly focusing on the mean. To directly apply quantile modeling to areal data the discrete conditional quantile function of the data can be an issue. Although jittering by adding a small number from a uniform distribution to impose pseudo-continuity has been proposed, the approach can have a great influence on responses with small values. Thus we proposed an alternative to model the quantiles of relative risk for spatiotemporal areal health data within a Bayesian framework using the log-Laplace distribution. A simulation study was conducted to assess the performance of the proposed method and examine whether the model could robustly estimate quantiles of spatiotemporal count data. To perform a test with a real data example, we evaluated the potential application of clustering under the proposed log-Laplace and mean regression. The data were obtained from the total number of emergency room discharges for respiratory conditions, both infectious and non-infectious diseases, in the U.S. state of South Carolina in 2009. From both simulation and case studies, the proposed quantile modeling demonstrated potential for broad applicability in various areas of spatial health studies including anomaly detection.
Passive Smoking Indicators in Italy: Does the Gross Domestic Product Matter?
Authors: La Torre Giuseppe , Sestili Cristina , Cocchiara Rosario Andrea , Cianfanelli Sara , Lia Lorenza , Mannocci Alice
Published: September 2018

Background: The aim of this study is to analyse the correlation between regional values of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and passive smoking in Italy. Methods: The outcome measures were smoking ban respect in public places, workplaces and at home, derived from the PASSI surveillance for the period 2011–2017. The explanatory variable was GDP per capita. The statistical analysis was carried out using bivariate and linear regression analyses, taking into consideration two different periods, Years 2011–2014 and 2014–2017. Results: GDP is showed to be positively correlated with smoking ban respect in public places (r = 0.779 p < 0.001; r = 0.723 p < 0.001 in the two periods, respectively), as well as smoking ban respect in the workplace (r = 0.662 p = 0.001; r = 0.603 p = 0.004) and no smoking at home adherence (r = 0.424 p = 0.056; r = 0.362 p = 0.107). In multiple linear regression GDP is significantly associated to smoking ban respect in public places (adjusted β = 0.730 p < 0.001; β = 0.698 p < 0.001 in the two periods, respectively), smoking ban in workplaces (adjusted β = 0.525 p = 0.020; β = 0.570 p = 0.009) and no smoking at home (adjusted β = 0.332 p = 0.070; β = 0.362 p = 0.052). Conclusions: Smoking ban is more respected in Regions with higher GDP. For a better health promotion, systematic vigilance and sanctions should be maintained and strengthened, particularly in regions with low compliance with smoking bans.
Determining Optimal Video Length for the Estimation of Building Height through Radial Displacement Measurement from Space
Authors: Plowright Andrew , Tortini Riccardo , Coops Nicholas C.
Published: September 2018

We presented a methodology for estimating building heights in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, using a high definition video (HDV) recorded from the International Space Station. We developed an iterative routine based on multiresolution image segmentation to track the radial displacement of building roofs over the course of the HDV, and to predict the building heights using an ordinary least-squares regression model. The linear relationship between the length of the tracking vector and the height of the buildings was excellent (r2 ≤ 0.89, RMSE ≤ 8.85 m, p < 0.01). Notably, the accuracy of the height estimates was not improved considerably beyond 10 s of outline tracking, revealing an optimal video length for estimating the height or elevation of terrestrial features. HDVs are demonstrated to be a viable and effective data source for target tracking and building height prediction when high resolution imagery, spectral information, and/or topographic data from other sources are not available.
Theoretical Study on Zearalenol Compounds Binding with Wild Type Zearalenone Hydrolase and V153H Mutant
Authors: Liu Ye , Wan Youzhong , Zhu Jingxuan , Yu Zhengfei , Tian Xiaopian , Han Jiarui , Zhang Zuoming , Han Weiwei
Published: September 2018

Zearalenone hydrolase (ZHD) is the only reported α/β-hydrolase that can detoxify zearalenone (ZEN). ZHD has demonstrated its potential as a treatment for ZEN contamination that will not result in damage to cereal crops. Recent researches have shown that the V153H mutant ZHD increased the specific activity against α-ZOL, but decreased its specific activity to β-ZOL. To understand whyV153H mutation showed catalytic specificity for α-ZOL, four molecular dynamics simulations combining with protein network analysis for wild type ZHD α-ZOL, ZHD β-ZOL, V153H α-ZOL, and V153H β-ZOL complexes were performed using Gromacs software. Our theoretical results indicated that the V153H mutant could cause a conformational switch at the cap domain (residues Gly161–Thr190) to affect the relative position catalytic residue (H242). Protein network analysis illustrated that the V153H mutation enhanced the communication with the whole protein and residues with high betweenness in the four complexes, which were primarily assembled in the cap domain and residues Met241 to Tyr245 regions. In addition, the existence of α-ZOL binding to V153H mutation enlarged the distance from the OAE atom in α-ZOL to the NE2 atom in His242, which prompted the side chain of H242 to the position with catalytic activity, thereby increasing the activity of V153H on the α-ZOL. Furthermore, α-ZOL could easily form a right attack angle and attack distance in the ZHD and α-ZOL complex to guarantee catalytic reaction. The alanine scanning results indicated that modifications of the residues in the cap domain produced significant changes in the binding affinity for α-ZOL and β-ZOL. Our results may provide useful theoretical evidence for the mechanism underlying the catalytic specificity of ZHD.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Its Role in Plant Biology and Crosstalk with Signalling Networks
Authors: Černý Martin , Habánová Hana , Berka Miroslav , Luklová Markéta , Brzobohatý Břetislav
Published: September 2018

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is steadily gaining more attention in the field of molecular biology research. It is a major REDOX (reduction–oxidation reaction) metabolite and at high concentrations induces oxidative damage to biomolecules, which can culminate in cell death. However, at concentrations in the low nanomolar range, H2O2 acts as a signalling molecule and in many aspects, resembles phytohormones. Though its signalling network in plants is much less well characterized than are those of its counterparts in yeast or mammals, accumulating evidence indicates that the role of H2O2-mediated signalling in plant cells is possibly even more indispensable. In this review, we summarize hydrogen peroxide metabolism in plants, the sources and sinks of this compound and its transport via peroxiporins. We outline H2O2 perception, its direct and indirect effects and known targets in the transcriptional machinery. We focus on the role of H2O2 in plant growth and development and discuss the crosstalk between it and phytohormones. In addition to a literature review, we performed a meta-analysis of available transcriptomics data which provided further evidence for crosstalk between H2O2 and light, nutrient signalling, temperature stress, drought stress and hormonal pathways.
Fault-Tolerant Anomaly Detection Method in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Peng Nengsong , Zhang Weiwei , Ling Hongfei , Zhang Yuzhao , Zheng Lixin
Published: September 2018

A key issue in wireless sensor network applications is how to accurately detect anomalies in an unstable environment and determine whether an event has occurred. This instability includes the harsh environment, node energy insufficiency, hardware and software breakdown, etc. In this paper, a fault-tolerant anomaly detection method (FTAD) is proposed based on the spatial-temporal correlation of sensor networks. This method divides the sensor network into a fault neighborhood, event and fault mixed neighborhood, event boundary neighborhood and other regions for anomaly detection, respectively, to achieve fault tolerance. The results of experiment show that under the condition that 45% of sensor nodes are failing, the hit rate of event detection remains at about 97% and the false negative rate of events is above 92%.
Structural Behavior of the General Archive of the Nation (AGN) Building, Mexico
Authors: Chávez Marcos M. , Peña Fernando , Cruz Claudia , Monroy Gustavo
Published: September 2018

This article presents a study on the structural behavior of the Government Building that is part of the old Lecumberri Palace and which currently houses the Mexican General Archive of the Nation. This building was inaugurated in 1900 and closed in 1976, after serving as a prison for 76 years. It was reopened in 1982 after it had undergone several remodeling works. The construction is made of brick masonry with lime mortar. It is supported by a deposit of overly compressible high-plasticity clays. The main problems of this building are the appearance of cracks in both interior and exterior walls, and moisture in the ground floor, caused by differential settlements. The study entailed a geometric and a damage survey as well as ambient vibration tests in order to determine the dynamic properties of the construction. The data obtained was used for the making of a model that, using the finite element method, was analyzed under different load conditions. This study has focused on the overall response with the assumption of smeared crack damage. According to the results, the building’s safety was deemed as acceptable. It has the capability to withstand seismic actions as established by the Mexican Building Code due to the high density of its walls and the resulting stiffness, which infer that the fundamental vibration period of the building would be distant from the predominant vibration period of the soil. This highlights the idea that the building’s critical condition is constituted by the differential settlements, which cause damage in the construction.
Analysis of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase & Serotonin Gene Polymorphisms among Atrial Septal Defect Subjects with and without Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Jaafar Nur Ilyana , Vasudevan Ramachandran , Ismail Patimah , Abdul Aziz Ahmad Fazli , Mohamad Nur Afiqah , Kandavello Geetha , Raja Adnan Raja Nurzatul Effah , Balasubramaniam Vinod
Published: September 2018

Genetic polymorphisms are variations in DNA sequences which can influence either disease susceptibility, severity, or prognosis. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the complications that occurs in certain patients who have atrial septal defect (ASD). This study seeks to determine the association of gene polymorphisms with the pathogenesis of PAH in ASD patients. This study was conducted on 30 ASD patients with PAH, and 50 ASD patients who were not diagnosed with PAH. All respondents were Malay. Patients were selected based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Molecular analyses were done to detect the genetic polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE I/D), serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) G894T, and eNOS 4b/4a. The genotypes of these genetic polymorphisms were determined using conventional PCR and PCR-RFLP methods. The PCR products were analysed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 22. Clinical characteristics, such as the diameter of ASD, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) differed significantly (p < 0.05). Based on the statistical analysis, ACE I/D, eNOS G894T, and eNOS 4b/4a do not contribute to the progression of PAH amongst ASD patients (p > 0.05). However, the L allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism may have an affect on the development of PAH in ASD patients (p < 0.05).
The Uncontrolled Manifold Concept Reveals That the Structure of Postural Control in Recurve Archery Shooting Is Related to Accuracy
Authors: Serrien Ben , Witterzeel Elout , Baeyens Jean-Pierre
Published: September 2018

In this study, we examine the structure of postural variability in six elite-level recurve archers using the uncontrolled manifold concept. Previous research showed equivocal results for the relationship between postural control and shooting accuracy, but these studies were mainly limited to a descriptive approach to postural variability/stability and did not take the simultaneous movements of the upper limb joints into account. In this study, we show that the goal-equivalent variability which stabilizes the orientation of the arrow in space is significantly larger than that of the non-goal-equivalent variability in arrows of high accuracy (score 9 or 10). Conversely, arrows of lower accuracy (score 6, 7, or 8) failed to reach significant thresholds throughout the majority of the aiming phase. This analysis reveals that it is not necessary (or even possible) for elite archers to minimize the movements of all degrees of freedom during aiming, but rather that the structure of variability of the redundant kinematic chain is exploited so that the relevant performance variable (orientation of the arrow) is stabilized.
Applications of Diamond to Improve Tribological Performance in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Wheeler David W.
Published: September 2018

The use of diamond in tribological applications in the oil and gas industry is reviewed. The high hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance of diamond make it an attractive option for components that are susceptible to degradation by abrasive, erosive, or adhesive wear; such components may also be prone to corrosion owing to the nature of the environments to which they are often exposed. Applications such as drill bits, bearings, and mechanical seals benefit from the use of diamond, while choke valves are the subject of research programs to assess the suitability of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond for these components. Also discussed are some of the conditions experienced by the components and how the properties of diamond enhance their operating lives.
Selective Laser Melting Strategy for Fabrication of Thin Struts Usable in Lattice Structures
Authors: Vrána Radek , Koutný Daniel , Paloušek David , Pantělejev Libor , Jaroš Jan , Zikmund Tomáš , Kaiser Jozef
Published: September 2018

This paper deals with the selective laser melting (SLM) processing strategy for strut-lattice structure production which uses only contour lines and allows the porosity and roughness level to be managed based on combination of the input and linear energy parameters. To evaluate the influence of a laser scanning strategy on material properties and surface roughness a set of experiments was performed. The single welds test was used to find the appropriate processing parameters to achieve continuous welds with known width. Strut samples were used to find a suitable value of weld overlapping and to clarify the influence of input and linear laser energy on the strut porosity and surface roughness. The samples of inclined hollow struts were used to compare the wall thickness with single welds width; the results showed about 25% wider welds in the case of a hollow strut. Using the proposed SLM strategy it is possible to reach a significantly lower porosity and surface roughness of the struts. The best results for struts with an inclination of 35.26° were achieved with 25% track overlapping, input energy in the range from 9 J to 10.5 J and linear energy Elin from 0.25 to 0.4 J/mm; in particular, the relative density of 99.83% and the surface roughness on the side of the strut of Ra 14.6 μm in an as-built state was achieved.
Effect of CO2 Partial Pressure on the Corrosion Behavior of J55 Carbon Steel in 30% Crude Oil/Brine Mixture
Authors: Bai Haitao , Wang Yongqing , Ma Yun , Zhang Qingbo , Zhang Ningsheng
Published: September 2018

The influence of CO2 partial pressure on the corrosion properties, including corrosion rate, morphology, chemical composition, and corrosion depth, of J55 carbon steel in 30% crude oil/brine at 65 °C was investigated. A corrosion mechanism was then proposed based on the understanding of the formation of localized corrosion. Results showed that localized corrosion occurred in 30% crude oil/brine with CO2. The corrosion rate sharply increased as the CO2 partial pressure (P co 2 ) was increased from 0 to 1.5 MPa, decreased from P co 2 = 1.5 MPa to P co 2 = 5.0 MPa, increased again at P co 2 = 5.0 MPa, and then reached a constant value after P co 2 = 9.0 MPa. The system pH initially decreased, rapidly increased, and then stabilized as CO2 partial pressure was increased. In the initial period, the surface of J55 carbon steel in the CO2/30% crude oil/brine mixtures showed intense corrosion. In conclusion, CO2 partial pressure affects the protection performance of FeCO3 by changing the formation of corrosion scale and further affecting the corrosion rate.
On the Interactions and Synergism between Phases of Carbon–Phosphorus–Titanium Composites Synthetized from Cellulose for the Removal of the Orange-G Dye
Authors: Hamad Hesham , Castelo-Quibén Jesica , Morales-Torres Sergio , Carrasco-Marín Francisco , Pérez-Cadenas Agustín , Maldonado-Hódar Francisco
Published: September 2018

Carbon–phosphorus–titanium composites (CPT) were synthesized by Ti-impregnation and carbonization of cellulose. Microcrystalline cellulose used as carbon precursor was initially dissolved by phosphoric acid (H3PO4) to favor the Ti-dispersion and the simultaneous functionalization of the cellulose chains with phosphorus-containing groups, namely phosphates and polyphosphates. These groups interacted with the Ti-precursor during impregnation and determined the interface transformations during carbonization as a function of the Ti-content and carbonization temperature. Amorphous composites with high surface area and mesoporosity were obtained at low Ti-content (Ti:cellulose ratio = 1) and carbonization temperature (500 °C), while in composites with Ti:cellulose ratio = 12 and 800 °C, Ti-particles reacted with the cellulose groups leading to different Ti-crystalline polyphosphates and a marked loss of the porosity. The efficiency of composites in the removal of the Orange G dye in solution by adsorption and photocatalysis was discussed based on their physicochemical properties. These materials were more active than the benchmark TiO2 material (Degussa P25), showing a clear synergism between phases.
Recent Advances in Fluorescent Probes for Lipid Droplets
Authors: Fam Tkhe Kyong , Klymchenko Andrey S. , Collot Mayeul
Published: September 2018

Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles that serve as the storage of intracellular neutral lipids. LDs regulate many physiological processes. They recently attracted attention after extensive studies showed their involvement in metabolic disorders and diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Therefore, it is of the highest importance to have reliable imaging tools. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the development of selective fluorescent probes for LDs. Their photophysical properties are described, and their advantages and drawbacks in fluorescence imaging are discussed. At last, we review the reported applications using these probes including two-photon excitation, in vivo and tissue imaging, as well as LDs tracking.