bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examination of Clusters for Better Understanding Commuter Cyclists’ Travel Behavior: Insights from a Longitudinal Panel Survey
Authors: Ahmed Farhana , Rose Geoff , Jakob Christian , Hoque Md. Rashedul
Published: August 2017

This study examined commuter cyclists’ travel behavior, particularly in response to changes in weather conditions and situational factors. The motivators, deterrents, and preferences of commuter cycling were also examined. To reach greater understanding of commuter cyclists’ decision making, cyclists were clustered. Disaggregated travel data were collected from a longitudinal panel survey (sample size: 355) and analyzed to identify the influence of weather conditions and situational factors on commuters’ day-to-day cycling decisions. The baseline survey (a one-off survey) provided information about the work characteristics, travel characteristics, motivational factors, and sociodemographics of the participants. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the responses between groups on the day-to-day influences of weather conditions and situational factors. Binary logistic regression was used to predict commuters’ cycling decisions (whether or not to cycle). Commuter cyclists’ average decision (over the longitudinal survey period) was modeled with work characteristics, travel characteristics, motivational factors, and sociodemographics as explanatory variables. The results indicate that parameter estimates vary significantly between groups. Part-time commuter cyclists and commuter cyclists who do not plan their travel behavior in advance were more affected by adverse weather conditions than were the comparison groups. Situational factors were larger deterrents for part-time commuter cyclists and cyclists who traveled longer distances to work. However, off-road paths encouraged long-distance commuters to cycle more often. The paper includes a discussion on how the implications of these results can influence government policies and strategies in an effort to increase commuter cycling.
Homelessness vis-à-vis Transportation-Induced Social Exclusion: An Econometric Investigation of Travel Behavior of Homeless Individuals in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Hui Vivian , Habib Khandker Nurul
Published: August 2017

The intersection of homelessness and transportation is an overlooked component of transport-related exclusion research, yet mobility is recognized as playing a significant role in anyone’s well-being. The lack of research in this field is concurrent with the lack of understanding of homeless individuals’ mobility needs and travel behavior. As a result, there is little that can guide the policy-making process for the travel needs of homeless individuals. In 2015, as a response to this research gap, an interview was designed and then conducted with 159 homeless individuals across eight shelters and drop-in agencies in the city of Toronto, Canada. The interview included stated adaptation experiments to reveal how transportation affected or hindered homeless individuals’ activity participation processes. Decision choice models were estimated with econometric modeling methods, which indicated the influence of variables such as age, income, and duration of homelessness on the decision to reject or accept employment opportunities. The results also showed that a person’s accustomed mode choice and daily number of trips had an effect on the decision to travel for social activity purposes.
Day Pattern Generation System for Jointly Modeling Tours and Stops: Bi-Level Multiple Discrete Continuous Probit Model
Authors: Enam Annesha , Konduri Karthik C.
Published: August 2017

The primary objective of this study was to contribute to the literature on activity pattern generation. In this paper, a new framework is proposed for simultaneously modeling the following tour and stop-making decisions: the number and purpose of tours conducted in a day, time allocated to different tours, number and purpose of stops conducted within each tour, and time allocated to different stops. The framework represents time as a continuous entity and explicitly considers the time constraints within which an individual operates when generating tours and stops. In addition, the framework is capable of accounting for the interrelationships across different tour- and stop-level decisions. The model formulation that operationalizes the proposed framework imitates a bi-level structure in which the participation (whether to pursue) and time allocation (how much time) decisions for daily tours are modeled at the upper level. Within each tour, participation and time allocation decisions for different stops are modeled at the lower level. The model formulation for the bi-level structure builds on the utility theoretic multiple discrete continuous probit modeling approach. The proposed framework and model formulation are demonstrated with an empirical case study using data from the 2008–2009 National Household Travel Survey. Replication and forecasting results are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the proposed framework and model formulation. The results provide evidence in support of the bi-level structure and its ability to capture the various constraints and interrelationships across tour- and stop-level participation and time allocation decisions.
Ex Ante and Ex Post Evaluation of Smart Commute Strategies in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area of Canada: Comparison of Aggregate and Disaggregate Approaches
Authors: Rashedi Zohreh , Hasnine Md. Sami , Mendonca Meaghan , Habib Khandker Nurul
Published: August 2017

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Smart Commute program, a well-established travel demand management (TDM) program in the greater Toronto and Hamilton area of Canada. The study exploited a data fusion technique to combine data collected through cross-sectional ex ante and ex post surveys at the workplace of each Smart Commute member. Two types of approaches were used: aggregate statistical analysis and disaggregate choice modeling with the fused-combined data set. The results clarify that aggregate investigation may not always uncover many behavioral details. Aggregate comparisons of the survey data showed that the performance of the Smart Commute program varied by sociodemographic attributes of the employees, including age, employment status, employment shift, and regional municipality of employment. The aggregate investigation also showed that the stated willingness to consider bike, walk, and telework options was not reliable in evaluating the effectiveness of any TDM policy. Complementary to the aggregate investigation, the study used an advanced mixed logit model framework to explore the effects of Smart Commute on commuters’ perceptions about travel attributes. The results of the empirical model revealed more variation in the perceptions of commuters about travel attributes after implementation of TDM interventions. In addition, the perceptions of travel times became more negative after TDM implementation.
Optic neuropathy after anterior communicating artery aneurysm clipping: 3 cases and techniques to address a correctable pitfall
Authors: Linzey Joseph R. , Chen Kevin S. , Savastano Luis , Thompson B. Gregory , Pandey Aditya S.
Published: August 2017

Brain shifts following microsurgical clip ligation of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms can lead to mechanical compression of the optic nerve by the clip. Recognition of this condition and early repositioning of clips can lead to reversal of vision loss.

The authors identified 3 patients with an afferent pupillary defect following microsurgical clipping of ACoA aneurysms. Different treatment options were used for each patient. All patients underwent reexploration, and the aneurysm clips were repositioned to prevent clip-related compression of the optic nerve. Near-complete restoration of vision was achieved at the last clinic follow-up visit in all 3 patients.

Clip ligation of ACoA aneurysms has the potential to cause clip-related compression of the optic nerve. Postoperative visual examination is of utmost importance, and if any changes are discovered, reexploration should be considered as repositioning of the clips may lead to resolution of visual deterioration.
Endoscopic extradural supraorbital approach to the temporal pole and adjacent area: technical note
Authors: Komatsu Fuminari , Imai Masaaki , Shigematsu Hideaki , Aoki Rie , Oda Shinri , Shimoda Masami , Matsumae Mitsunori
Published: August 2017

The authors’ initial experience with the endoscopic extradural supraorbital approach to the temporal pole and adjacent area is reported. Fully endoscopic surgery using the extradural space via a supraorbital keyhole was performed for tumors in or around the temporal pole, including temporal pole cavernous angioma, sphenoid ridge meningioma, and cavernous sinus pituitary adenoma, mainly using 4-mm, 0° and 30° endoscopes and single-shaft instruments. After making a supraorbital keyhole, a 4-mm, 30° endoscope was advanced into the extradural space of the anterior cranial fossa during lifting of the dura mater. Following identification of the sphenoid ridge, orbital roof, and anterior clinoid process, the bone lateral to the orbital roof was drilled off until the dura mater of the anterior aspect of the temporal lobe was exposed. The dura mater of the temporal lobe was incised and opened, exposing the temporal pole under a 4-mm, 0° endoscope. Tumors in or around the temporal pole were safely removed under a superb view through the extradural corridor. The endoscopic extradural supraorbital approach was technically feasible and safe. The anterior trajectory to the temporal pole using the extradural space under endoscopy provided excellent visibility, allowing minimally invasive surgery. Further surgical experience and development of specialized instruments would promote this approach as an alternative surgical option.
Cost of coils for intracranial aneurysms: clinical decision analysis for implementation of a capitation model
Authors: Gandhoke Gurpreet S. , Pandya Yash K. , Jadhav Ashutosh P. , Jovin Tudor , Friedlander Robert M. , Smith Kenneth J. , Jankowitz Brian T.
Published: August 2017

OBJECTIVE

The price of coils used for intracranial aneurysm embolization has continued to rise despite an increase in competition in the marketplace. Coils on the US market range in list price from $500 to $3000. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential cost savings with the use of a price capitation model.

METHODS

The authors built a clinical decision analytical tree and compared their institution’s current expenditure on endovascular coils to the costs if a capped-price model were implemented. They retrospectively reviewed coil and cost data for 148 patients who underwent coil embolization from January 2015 through September 2016. Data on the length and number of coils used in all patients were collected and analyzed. The probabilities of a treated aneurysm being ≤/> 10 mm in maximum dimension, the total number of coils used for a case being ≤/> 5, and the total length of coils used for a case being ≤/> 50 cm were calculated, as was the mean cost of the currently used coils for all possible combinations of events with these probabilities. Using the same probabilities, the authors calculated the expected value of the capped-price strategy in comparison with the current one. They also conducted multiple 1-way sensitivity analyses by applying plausible ranges to the probabilities and cost variables. The robustness of the results was confirmed by applying individual distributions to all studied variables and conducting probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Ninety-five (64%) of 148 patients presented with a rupture, and 53 (36%) were treated on an elective basis. The mean aneurysm size was 6.7 mm. A total of 1061 coils were used from a total of 4 different providers. Companies A (72%) and B (16%) accounted for the major share of coil consumption. The mean number of coils per case was 7.3. The mean cost per case (for all coils) was $10,434. The median total length of coils used, for all coils, was 42 cm. The calculated probability of treating an aneurysm less than 10 mm in maximum dimension was 0.83, for using 5 coils or fewer per case it was 0.42, and for coil length of 50 cm or less it was 0.89. The expected cost per case with the capped policy was calculated to be $4000, a cost savings of $6564 in comparison with using the price of Company A. Multiple 1-way sensitivity analyses revealed that the capped policy was cost saving if its cost was less than $10,500. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, the lowest cost difference between current and capped policies was $2750.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison with the cost of coils from the authors’ current provider, their decision model and probabilistic sensitivity analysis predicted a minimum $407,000 to a maximum $1,799,976 cost savings in 148 cases by adapting the capped-price policy for coils.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury following PDA ligation in a preterm neonate
Authors: LaGrandeur R.G. , Tran M. , Merchant C. , Uy C.
Published: August 2017

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening complication of blood product transfusion characterized by sudden onset hypoxemic respiratory failure with bilateral lung infiltrates and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema developing within 6 hours of transfusion. It is believed to be under-recognized, particularly among preterm neonates in whom co-existing developmental lung disease adds diagnostic complexity. Here we report the case of a preterm neonate who developed TRALI during a blood transfusion following PDA ligation.
Hemorrhagic cystitis in pregnancy: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Stella P. , Miranda A. , Lopez S. , Morosetti G. , Piccione E. , Angioli R. , Capriglione S.
Published: August 2017

Hemorrhagic cystitis is generally a benign self-limited disorder, however there are some severe cases which are associated to a significant blood loss. The etiology may be either bacterial, viral or chemical in origin; though the cause is not identified in most of the cases. Immunocompromised patients or patients who have undergone chemotherapy or radiation constitute the highest risk group. There are only a few articles about hemorrhagic cystitis in pregnancy, frequently associated with preterm labor. We describe, for the first time in literature, one patient with a clinical status of hematuria in two consequent pregnancies, without any identified cause and a medical history negative for recurrent or hemorrhagic cystitis and we report an overview of literature concerning this topic.
Mind-Body Medicine in Pediatrics
Authors: McClafferty Hilary
Published: August 2017

The primary goals of this Special Issue are to encourage readers to become more familiar with the range of mind-body therapies and to explore their application in the pediatric clinical setting. The Special Issue includes a deliberate mix of case studies and practical clinical guidance, with the dual goals of piquing curiosity and providing resources for clinicians interested in pursuing further training
Synthesis, Characterization and DFT Calculations of 4,5,12- and 1,8,12-trichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-12-carbonitriles
Authors: Sultan Mujeeb , Karama Usama , Almansour Abdulrahman , Soliman Saied , Ghabbour Hazem , Mabkhot Yahia
Published: August 2017

The chlorinated ethanoanthracenes: 4,5,12- and 1,8,12-(trichloro-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-12-carbonitriles) (1 and 2), which are regioisomers, were synthesized and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 13C-NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic techniques. The structure of isomer 1 was further confirmed using a single-crystal X-ray technique. The relative stabilities of the title compounds were calculated using the density functional theory (DFT) method on the basis of their total energies and thermodynamic parameters. Isomer 1 is thermodynamically more stable than isomer 2 in the gas phase and in solution. The calculated molecular geometry of isomer 1 agreed well with the experimental X-ray structure. The atomic charge distribution at the different atomic sites was calculated using natural bond orbital analysis. Isomer 2 was predicted to be more polar than isomer 1.
A Chain, a Bath, a Sink, and a Wall
Authors: Iubini Stefano , Lepri Stefano , Livi Roberto , Oppo Gian-Luca , Politi Antonio
Published: August 2017

We numerically investigate out-of-equilibrium stationary processes emerging in a Discrete Nonlinear Schrödinger chain in contact with a heat reservoir (a bath) at temperature T L and a pure dissipator (a sink) acting on opposite edges. Long-time molecular-dynamics simulations are performed by evolving the equations of motion within a symplectic integration scheme. Mass and energy are steadily transported through the chain from the heat bath to the sink. We observe two different regimes. For small heat-bath temperatures T L and chemical-potentials, temperature profiles across the chain display a non-monotonous shape, remain remarkably smooth and even enter the region of negative absolute temperatures. For larger temperatures T L , the transport of energy is strongly inhibited by the spontaneous emergence of discrete breathers, which act as a thermal wall. A strongly intermittent energy flux is also observed, due to the irregular birth and death of breathers. The corresponding statistics exhibit the typical signature of rare events of processes with large deviations. In particular, the breather lifetime is found to be ruled by a stretched-exponential law.
Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Residues Coupling Steam Explosion and Organosolv Treatments Using Green Solvent γ-Valerolactone
Authors: Gelosia Mattia , Ingles David , Pompili Enrico , D’Antonio Silvia , Cavalaglio Gianluca , Petrozzi Alessandro , Coccia Valentina
Published: August 2017

A two-step fractionation of lignocellulosic residues of Phragmites australis in its main components (cellulose-pulp, soluble hemicellulose sugars, and lignin) is described, based on the biomass-derived solvent γ-valerolactone (GVL). The solvent used is an excellent substitute for traditional organic solvents as it is not toxic, it is renewable, and it can be recycled after the extraction process. Prior the GVL-organosolv extraction process, a steam explosion pretreatment was performed in order to break up the tight lignocellulosic structure and partially depolymerise hemicellulose into soluble sugars, making lignin easier to be solubilised. Three common extraction techniques were compared: soxhlet, closed vessel microwave-assisted, and open vessel on a hotplate stirrer. The two-step approach resulted in a cellulose-rich solid, water-soluble hemicellulose sugars and lignin-rich GVL liquor which was further purified for lignin isolation. The two best resulting pulps presented a high cellulose content (75.47% and 78.68%) starting from 38.13% and a content of lignin down to 11.96% and 13.09% starting from 23.02%. Almost all hemicellulose was removed with a final content of 0.72% and 2.20% starting from 20.5%.
Auxin Response Factor Genes Repertoire in Mulberry: Identification, and Structural, Functional and Evolutionary Analyses
Authors: Baranwal Vinay , Negi Nisha , Khurana Paramjit
Published: August 2017

Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) are at the core of the regulation mechanism for auxin-mediated responses, along with AUX/IAA proteins.They are critical in the auxin-mediated control of various biological responses including development and stress. A wild mulberry species genome has been sequenced and offers an opportunity to investigate this important gene family. A total of 17 ARFs have been identified from mulberry (Morus notabilis) which show a wide range of expression patterns. Of these 17 ARFs, 15 have strong acidic isoelectric point (pI) values and a molecular mass ranging from 52 kDa to 101 kDa. The putative promoters of these ARFs harbour cis motifs related to light-dependent responses, various stress responses and hormone regulations suggestive of their multifactorial regulation. The gene ontology terms for ARFs indicate their role in flower development, stress, root morphology and other such development and stress mitigation related activities. Conserved motif analysis showed the presence of all typical domains in all but four members that lack the PB1 domain and thus represent truncated ARFs. Expression analysis of these ARFs suggests their preferential expression in tissues ranging from leaf, root, winter bud, bark and male flowers. These ARFs showed differential expression in the leaf tissue of M. notabilis, Morus laevigata and Morus serrata. Insights gained from this analysis have implications in mulberry improvement programs.
Use of Tencent Street View Imagery for Visual Perception of Streets
Authors: Cheng Liang , Chu Sensen , Zong Wenwen , Li Shuyi , Wu Jie , Li Manchun
Published: August 2017

The visual perception of streets plays an important role in urban planning, and contributes to the quality of residents’ lives. However, evaluation of the visual perception of streetscapes has been restricted by inadequate techniques and the availability of data sources. The emergence of street view services (Google Street View, Tencent Street View, etc.) has provided an enormous number of new images at street level, thus shattering the restrictions imposed by the limited availability of data sources for evaluating streetscapes. This study explored the possibility of analyzing the visual perception of an urban street based on Tencent Street View images, and led to the proposal of four indices for characterizing the visual perception of streets: salient region saturation, visual entropy, a green view index, and a sky-openness index. We selected the Jianye District of Nanjing City, China, as the study area, where Tencent Street View is available. The results of this experiment indicated that the four indices proposed in this work can effectively reflect the visual attributes of streets. Thus, the proposed indices could facilitate the assessment of urban landscapes based on visual perception. In summary, this study suggests a new type of data for landscape study, and provides a technique for automatic information acquisition to determine the visual perception of streets.
Extract of Sheng-Mai-San Ameliorates Myocardial Ischemia-Induced Heart Failure by Modulating Ca2+-Calcineurin-Mediated Drp1 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Yang Ye , Tian Yushan , Hu Siyao , Bi Suxia , Li Suxia , Hu Yuanjia , Kou Junping , Qi Jin , Yu Boyang
Published: August 2017

Sheng-Mai-San (SMS) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) complex prescription used to treat heart failure (HF) and angina in clinic. However, its potential therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. The present study evaluated the cardioprotection of extract of SMS (ESMS) on myocardial ischemia (MI)-induced HF, and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results demonstrated that ESMS (728.0 mg/kg) significantly attenuated MI injury-induced HF by improving cardiac function and pathological changes, decreasing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) activities, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels; increasing ATPase activity; and reducing intracellular Ca2+ levels in MI-induced HF mice model. It also significantly decreased the apoptotic index. In vitro, ESMS (400 μg/mL) inhibited mitochondrial-dependent myocardial apoptosis by modulating the expression of caspase-3 and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and improved mitochondrial function through increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and cellular ATP content. ESMS restored intracellular Ca2+ and downregulated the expression of Calcineurin A (CnA), thus inhibiting phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) at Ser616 and increasing phosphorylation of Drp1 at Ser637 to prevent cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fission. Above-mentioned results demonstrated ESMS suppressed mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes. These findings suggested that ESMS attenuated MI-induced HF by regulating Ca2+ homeostasis and suppressing mitochondrial mediated apoptosis through the modulation of Ca2+-calcineurin-mediated Drp1 signaling pathways. Our results provide insight into the mechanism and clinical applications of SMS and suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for HF.
Negative Correlation between the Diffusion Coefficient and Transcriptional Activity of the Glucocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Mikuni Shintaro , Yamamoto Johtaro , Horio Takashi , Kinjo Masataka
Published: August 2017

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a transcription factor, which interacts with DNA and other cofactors to regulate gene transcription. Binding to other partners in the cell nucleus alters the diffusion properties of GR. Raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) was applied to quantitatively characterize the diffusion properties of EGFP labeled human GR (EGFP-hGR) and its mutants in the cell nucleus. RICS is an image correlation technique that evaluates the spatial distribution of the diffusion coefficient as a diffusion map. Interestingly, we observed that the averaged diffusion coefficient of EGFP-hGR strongly and negatively correlated with its transcriptional activities in comparison to that of EGFP-hGR wild type and mutants with various transcriptional activities. This result suggests that the decreasing of the diffusion coefficient of hGR was reflected in the high-affinity binding to DNA. Moreover, the hyper-phosphorylation of hGR can enhance the transcriptional activity by reduction of the interaction between the hGR and the nuclear corepressors.
Growth Description for Vessel Wall Adaptation: A Thick-Walled Mixture Model of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Evolution
Authors: Grytsan Andrii , Eriksson Thomas , Watton Paul , Gasser T.
Published: August 2017

(1) Background: Vascular tissue seems to adapt towards stable homeostatic mechanical conditions, however, failure of reaching homeostasis may result in pathologies. Current vascular tissue adaptation models use many ad hoc assumptions, the implications of which are far from being fully understood; (2) Methods: The present study investigates the plausibility of different growth kinematics in modeling Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) evolution in time. A structurally motivated constitutive description for the vessel wall is coupled to multi-constituent tissue growth descriptions; Constituent deposition preserved either the constituent’s density or its volume, and Isotropic Volume Growth (IVG), in-Plane Volume Growth (PVG), in-Thickness Volume Growth (TVG) and No Volume Growth (NVG) describe the kinematics of the growing vessel wall. The sensitivity of key modeling parameters is explored, and predictions are assessed for their plausibility; (3) Results: AAA development based on TVG and NVG kinematics provided not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively different results compared to IVG and PVG kinematics. Specifically, for IVG and PVG kinematics, increasing collagen mass production accelerated AAA expansion which seems counterintuitive. In addition, TVG and NVG kinematics showed less sensitivity to the initial constituent volume fractions, than predictions based on IVG and PVG; (4) Conclusions: The choice of tissue growth kinematics is of crucial importance when modeling AAA growth. Much more interdisciplinary experimental work is required to develop and validate vascular tissue adaption models, before such models can be of any practical use.
Synthesis of Hollow Sphere and 1D Structural Materials by Sol-Gel Process
Authors: Li Fa-Liang , Zhang Hai-Jun
Published: August 2017

The sol-gel method is a simple and facile wet chemical process for fabricating advanced materials with high homogeneity, high purity, and excellent chemical reactivity at a relatively low temperature. By adjusting the processing parameters, the sol-gel technique can be used to prepare hollow sphere and 1D structural materials that exhibit a wide application in the fields of catalyst, drug or gene carriers, photoactive, sensors and Li-ion batteries. This feature article reviewed the development of the preparation of hollow sphere and 1D structural materials using the sol-gel method. The effects of calcination temperature, soaking time, pH value, surfactant, etc., on the preparation of hollow sphere and 1D structural materials were summarized, and their formation mechanisms were generalized. Finally, possible future research directions of the sol-gel technique were outlined.
The Red Algae Compound 3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde Protects Human Keratinocytes on Oxidative Stress-Related Molecules and Pathways Activated by UVB Irradiation
Authors: Piao Mei , Kang Kyoung , Ryu Yea , Shilnikova Kristina , Park Jeong , Hyun Yu , Zhen Ao , Kang Hee , Koh Young , Ahn Mee , Hyun Jin
Published: August 2017

Skin exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS cause aging of the skin via basement membrane/extracellular matrix degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We recently demonstrated that 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB), a natural compound of red algae, had a photo-protective effect against UVB-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes. The present study focused on the effect of BDB on UVB-irradiated photo-aging in HaCaT keratinocytes and the underlying mechanism. BDB significantly impeded MMP-1 activation and expression, and abrogated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and intracellular Ca2+ level in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Moreover, BDB decreased the expression levels of c-Fos and phospho-c-Jun and the binding of activator protein-1 to the MMP-1 promoter induced by UVB irradiation. These results offer evidence that BDB is potentially useful for the prevention of UVB-irradiated skin damage.
Experimental Analysis on the Molten-Phase Dewetting Characteristics of AuPd Alloy Films on Topographically-Structured Substrates
Authors: Ruffino Francesco
Published: August 2017

AuPd nanoparticles are formed on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) by a nanosecond laser irradiation-induced dewetting process of deposited AuPd films. In particular, we analyze the effect of the surface topography of the substrate on the dewetting process and, so, on the final mean size of the formed nanoparticles. In fact, we used two supporting FTO substrates differing in the surface topography: we used a FTO layer which is un-intentionally patterned since it is formed by FTO pyramids randomly distributed on the glass slide as result of the deposition process of the same FTO layer, namely substrate A. We used, also, a further FTO substrate, namely substrate B, presenting, as a result of a chemical etching process, a higher roughness and higher mean distance between nearest-neighbor pyramids with respect to substrate A. The results concerning the size of the obtained AuPd NPs by the laser irradiations with the laser fluence fixed shows that the substrate topography impacts on the dewetting process. In particular, we found that below a critical thickness of the deposited AuPd film, the NPs formed on substrates A and B have similar size and a similar trend for the evolution of their size versus the film thickness (i.e., the dewetting process is not influenced by the substrate topography since the film does not interact with the substrate topography). On the other hand, however, above a critical thickness of the deposited AuPd film, the AuPd NPs show a higher mean size (versus the film thickness) on substrate B than on substrate A, indicating that the AuPd film interacts with the substrate topography during the dewetting process. These results are quantified and discussed by the description of the substrate topography effect on the excess of chemical potential driving the dewetting process.
Processing Map of NiTiNb Shape Memory Alloy Subjected to Plastic Deformation at High Temperatures
Authors: Wang Yu , Jiang Shuyong , Zhang Yanqiu
Published: August 2017

The processing map of Ni47Ti44Nb9 (at %) shape memory alloy (SMA), which possesses B2 austenite phases and β-Nb phases at room temperature, is established in order to optimize the hot working parameters. Based on true stress-strain curves of NiTiNb SMA during uniaxial compression deformation at the temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 °C and at the strain rates ranging from 0.0005 to 0.5 s−1, according to dynamic material model (DMM) principle, the processing map of NiTiNb SMA is obtained on the basis of power dissipation map and instability map. The instability region of NiTiNb SMA increases with increasing the true strain and it mainly focuses on the region with high strain rate. The workability of NiTiNb SMA becomes worse and worse with increasing plastic strain, as well as decreasing deformation temperature. There exist two stability zones which are suitable for hot working of NiTiNb SMA. In one stability region, the deformation temperature ranges from 750 to 840 °C and the strain rate ranges from 0.0003 to 0.001 s−1. In the other stability region, the deformation temperature ranges from 930 to 1000 °C and the strain rate ranges from 0.016 to 0.1 s−1. The severe microstructure defects, such as coarsening grains, band microstructure, and intercrystalline overfiring appear in the microstructures of NiTiNb SMA which is subjected to plastic deformation in the instability zone.
Bacterial Contaminants of Poultry Meat: Sources, Species, and Dynamics
Authors: Rouger Amélie , Tresse Odile , Zagorec Monique
Published: August 2017

With the constant increase in poultry meat consumption worldwide and the large variety of poultry meat products and consumer demand, ensuring the microbial safety of poultry carcasses and cuts is essential. In the present review, we address the bacterial contamination of poultry meat from the slaughtering steps to the use-by-date of the products. The different contamination sources are identified. The contaminants occurring in poultry meat cuts and their behavior toward sanitizing treatments or various storage conditions are discussed. A list of the main pathogenic bacteria of concern for the consumer and those responsible for spoilage and waste of poultry meat is established.
Optical Observations and Geochemical Data in Deep-Sea Hexa- and Octo-Coralla Specimens
Authors: Rollion-Bard Claire , Cuif Jean-Pierre , Blamart Dominique
Published: August 2017

Coral skeletons are built by Ca-carbonate (calcite or aragonite) crystals that exhibit distinct morphological patterns and specific spatial arrangements that constitute skeletal microstructures. Additionally, the long-standing recognition that distinct coral species growing in similar conditions are able to record environmental changes with species-specific responses provides convincing evidence that, beyond the thermodynamic rules for chemical precipitation, a biological influence is at work during the crystallization process. Through several series of comparative structural and geochemical (elemental and isotopic) data, this paper aims to firmly establish the specific properties of the distinct major taxonomic units that are commonly gathered as deep-water “corals” in current literature. Moreover, taking advantage of recent micrometric and infra-micrometric observations, attention is drawn to the remarkable similarity of the calcareous material observed at the nanoscale. These observations suggest a common biomineralization model in which mineralogical criteria are not the leading factors for the interpretation of the geochemical measurements.
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles on Orthodontic Elastomeric Modules: Evaluation of Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Hernández-Gómora Alma , Lara-Carrillo Edith , Robles-Navarro Julio , Scougall-Vilchis Rogelio , Hernández-López Susana , Medina-Solís Carlo , Morales-Luckie Raúl
Published: August 2017

In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized in situ on orthodontic elastomeric modules (OEM) using silver nitrate salts as metal-ion precursors and extract of the plant Hetheroteca inuloides (H. inuloides) as bioreductant via a simple and eco-friendly method. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy; scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface plasmon resonance peak found at 472 nm confirmed the formation of AgNPs. SEM and TEM images reveal that the particles are quasi-spherical. The EDS analysis of the AgNPs confirmed the presence of elemental silver. The antibacterial properties of OEM with AgNPs were evaluated against the clinical isolates Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using agar diffusion tests. The physical properties were evaluated by a universal testing machine. OEM with AgNPs had shown inhibition halos for all microorganisms in comparison with OEM control. Physical properties increased with respect to the control group. The results suggest the potential of the material to combat dental biofilm and in turn decrease the incidence of demineralization in dental enamel, ensuring their performance in patients with orthodontic treatment.
Dihydrochalcones and Diterpenoids from Pteris ensiformis and Their Bioactivities
Authors: Shi Yu-Sheng , Zhang Yan , Hu Wen-Zhong , Zhang Xiu-Fu , Fu Xin , Lv Xia
Published: August 2017

Two new dihydrochalcone enantiomers (+)-1 and (−)-1, along with eight known compounds 3–10, were obtained from Pteris ensiformis. The planar structures were determined on the basis of extensive 1D and 2DNMR and HRESIMS. The resolution of (+)-1 and (−)-1 was achieved by chiral HPLC analysis. The absolute configurations of (+)-1 and (−)-1 were established by the bulkiness rule using Rh2(O2CCF3)4-induced circular dichroism (ICD) method. Compounds (+)-1, (−)-1, 8, 9 and 10 exhibited the inhibitory assay of NO production in mouse macrophages stimulated by LPS, with IC50 values of 2.0, 2.5, 8.0, 9.5 and 5.6 μM, respectively. Otherwise, compound 10 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, HepG-2 and BGC-823 cell lines with IC50 values of 3.0, 10.5 and 6.3 μM, respectively.
Reducing the Effect of the Endmembers’ Spectral Variability by Selecting the Optimal Spectral Bands
Authors: Ghaffari Omid , Zoej Mohammad Javad Valadan , Mokhtarzade Mehdi
Published: August 2017

Variable environmental conditions cause different spectral responses of scene endmembers. Ignoring these variations affects the accuracy of fractional abundances obtained from linear spectral unmixing. On the other hand, the correlation between the bands of hyperspectral data is not considered by conventional methods developed for dealing with spectral variability. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to simultaneously mitigate spectral variability and reduce correlation among different endmembers in hyperspectral datasets. The idea of the proposed method is to utilize the angular discrepancy of bands in the Prototype Space (PS), which is constructed using the endmembers of the image. Using the concepts of PS, in which each band is treated as a space point, we proposed a method to identify independent bands according to their angles. The proposed method comprised two main steps. In the first step, which aims to alleviate the spectral variability issue, image bands are prioritized based on their standard deviations computed over some sets of endmembers. Independent bands are then recognized in the prototype space, employing the angles between the prioritized bands. Finally, the unmixing process is done using the selected bands. In addition, the paper presents a technique to form a spectral library of endmembers’ variability (sets of endmembers). The proposed method extracts endmembers sets directly from the image data via a modified version of unsupervised spatial–spectral preprocessing. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated by five simulated images and three real hyperspectral datasets. The experiments show that the proposed method—using both groups of spectral variability reduction methods and independent band selection methods—produces better results compared to the conventional methods of each group. The improvement in the performance of the proposed method is observed in terms of more appropriate bands being selected and more accurate fractional abundance values being estimated.
Comparing Fuzzy Sets and Random Sets to Model the Uncertainty of Fuzzy Shorelines
Authors: Dewi Ratna Sari , Bijker Wietske , Stein Alfred
Published: August 2017

This paper addresses uncertainty modelling of shorelines by comparing fuzzy sets and random sets. Both methods quantify extensional uncertainty of shorelines extracted from remote sensing images. Two datasets were tested: pan-sharpened Pleiades with four bands (Pleiades) and pan-sharpened Pleiades stacked with elevation data as the fifth band (Pleiades + DTM). Both fuzzy sets and random sets model the spatial extent of shoreline including its uncertainty. Fuzzy sets represent shorelines as a margin determined by upper and lower thresholds and their uncertainty as confusion indices. They do not consider randomness. Random sets fit the mixed Gaussian model to the image histogram. It represents shorelines as a transition zone between water and non-water. Their extensional uncertainty is assessed by the covering function. The results show that fuzzy sets and random sets resulted in shorelines that were closely similar. Kappa (κ) values were slightly different and McNemar’s test showed high p-values indicating a similar accuracy. Inclusion of the DTM (digital terrain model) improved the classification results, especially for roofs, inundated houses and inundated land. The shoreline model using Pleiades + DTM performed better than that of using Pleiades only, when using either fuzzy sets or random sets. It achieved κ values above 80%.
An Improved Tomography Approach Based on Adaptive Smoothing and Ground Meteorological Observations
Authors: Zhang Bao , Fan Qingbiao , Yao Yibin , Xu Caijun , Li Xingxing
Published: August 2017

Using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to sense three-dimensional water vapor (WV) has been intensively investigated. However, this technique still heavily relies on the a priori information. In this study, we propose an improved tomography approach based on adaptive Laplacian smoothing (ALS) and ground meteorological observations. By using the proposed approach, the troposphere tomography is less dependent on a priori information and the ALS constraints match better with the actual situation than the constant constraints. Tomography experiments in Hong Kong during a heavy rainy period and a rainless period show that the ALS method gets superior results compared with the constant Laplacian smoothing (CLS) method. By validation with radiosonde and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data, we found that the introduction of ground meteorological observations into tomography can solve the perennial problem of resolving the wet refractivity in the lower troposphere and thus significantly improve the tomography results. However, bad data quality and incompatibility of the ground meteorological observations may introduce errors into tomography results.
Validation of a High Sampling Rate Inertial Measurement Unit for Acceleration During Running
Authors: Provot Thomas , Chiementin Xavier , Oudin Emeric , Bolaers Fabrice , Murer Sébastien
Published: August 2017

The musculo-skeletal response of athletes to various activities during training exercises has become a critical issue in order to optimize their performance and minimize injuries. However, dynamic and kinematic measures of an athlete’s activity are generally limited by constraints in data collection and technology. Thus, the choice of reliable and accurate sensors is crucial for gathering data in indoor and outdoor conditions. The aim of this study is to validate the use of the accelerometer of a high sampling rate ( 1344 Hz ) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in the frame of running activities. To this end, two validation protocols are imposed: a classical one on a shaker, followed by another one during running, the IMU being attached to a test subject. For each protocol, the response of the IMU Accelerometer (IMUA) is compared to a calibrated industrial accelerometer, considered as the gold standard for dynamic and kinematic data collection. The repeatability, impact of signal frequency and amplitude (on shaker) as well as the influence of speed (while running) are investigated. Results reveal that the IMUA exhibits good repeatability. Coefficient of Variation CV is 1 % 8.58 ± 0.06 m / s 2 on the shaker and 3 % 26.65 ± 0.69 m / s 2 while running. However, the shaker test shows that the IMUA is affected by the signal frequency (error exceeds 10 % beyond 80 Hz ), an observation confirmed by the running test. Nevertheless, the IMUA provides a reliable measure in the range 0–100 Hz, i.e., the most relevant part in the energy spectrum over the range 0–150 Hz during running. In our view, these findings emphasize the validity of IMUs for the measurement of acceleration during running.
Review of CMOS Integrated Circuit Technologies for High-Speed Photo-Detection
Authors: Jeong Gyu-Seob , Bae Woorham , Jeong Deog-Kyoon
Published: August 2017

The bandwidth requirement of wireline communications has increased exponentially because of the ever-increasing demand for data centers and high-performance computing systems. However, it becomes difficult to satisfy the requirement with legacy electrical links which suffer from frequency-dependent losses due to skin effects, dielectric losses, channel reflections, and crosstalk, resulting in a severe bandwidth limitation. In order to overcome this challenge, it is necessary to introduce optical communication technology, which has been mainly used for long-reach communications, such as long-haul networks and metropolitan area networks, to the medium- and short-reach communication systems. However, there still remain important issues to be resolved to facilitate the adoption of the optical technologies. The most critical challenges are the energy efficiency and the cost competitiveness as compared to the legacy copper-based electrical communications. One possible solution is silicon photonics which has long been investigated by a number of research groups. Despite inherent incompatibility of silicon with the photonic world, silicon photonics is promising and is the only solution that can leverage the mature complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technologies. Silicon photonics can be utilized in not only wireline communications but also countless sensor applications. This paper introduces a brief review of silicon photonics first and subsequently describes the history, overview, and categorization of the CMOS IC technology for high-speed photo-detection without enumerating the complex circuital expressions and terminologies.
Slot Antenna Integrated Re-Entrant Resonator Based Wireless Pressure Sensor for High-Temperature Applications
Authors: Su Shujing , Lu Fei , Wu Guozhu , Wu Dezhi , Tan Qiulin , Dong Helei , Xiong Jijun
Published: August 2017

The highly sensitive pressure sensor presented in this paper aims at wireless passive sensing in a high temperature environment by using microwave backscattering technology. The structure of the re-entrant resonator was analyzed and optimized using theoretical calculation, software simulation, and its equivalent lump circuit model was first modified by us. Micro-machining and high-temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) process technologies were applied to fabricate the sensor, solving the common problem of cavity sealing during the air pressure loading test. In addition, to prevent the response signal from being immersed in the strong background clutter of the hermetic metal chamber, which makes its detection difficult, we proposed two key techniques to improve the signal to noise ratio: the suppression of strong background clutter and the detection of the weak backscattered signal of the sensor. The pressure sensor demonstrated in this paper works well for gas pressure loading between 40 and 120 kPa in a temperature range of 24 °C to 800 °C. The experimental results show that the sensor resonant frequency lies at 2.1065 GHz, with a maximum pressure sensitivity of 73.125 kHz/kPa.