bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time, Kinship, and the Nation
Authors: Grosby Steven
Published: April 2018

There remains both a great deal of confusion over the nature of kinship and an inappropriate resistance to understanding the nation as one form of kinship, specifically, territorial kinship. Although one finds the relatively early and occasional analysis of the nation in terms of kinship, for example, by Lloyd Fallers, anthropologists, including paradoxically Ernest Gellner, have avoided understanding nationality in this way. Despite Anthony Smith’s attention to ethnie, those associated with nationalism studies have also generally avoided analyzing the nation in terms of kinship, as can be seen by the ill-informed hostility to the category “primoridal”. This article rectifies this mistake by re-examining the category of kinship, along both its vertical, temporal axis and horizontal, geographical axis, with attention to nationality in general and, in particular, in antiquity.
Exercise Early and Often: Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Women’s Bone Health
Authors: Troy Karen L. , Mancuso Megan E. , Butler Tiffiny A. , Johnson Joshua E.
Published: April 2018

In 2011 over 1.7 million people were hospitalized because of a fragility fracture, and direct costs associated with osteoporosis treatment exceeded 70 billion dollars in the United States. Failure to reach and maintain optimal peak bone mass during adulthood is a critical factor in determining fragility fracture risk later in life. Physical activity is a widely accessible, low cost, and highly modifiable contributor to bone health. Exercise is especially effective during adolescence, a time period when nearly 50% of peak adult bone mass is gained. Here, we review the evidence linking exercise and physical activity to bone health in women. Bone structure and quality will be discussed, especially in the context of clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis. We review the mechanisms governing bone metabolism in the context of physical activity and exercise. Questions such as, when during life is exercise most effective, and what specific types of exercises improve bone health, are addressed. Finally, we discuss some emerging areas of research on this topic, and summarize areas of need and opportunity.
Employee Perceptions of Workplace Health Promotion Programs: Comparison of a Tailored, Semi-Tailored, and Standardized Approach
Authors: Street Tamara D. , Lacey Sarah J.
Published: April 2018

In the design of workplace health promotion programs (WHPPs), employee perceptions represent an integral variable which is predicted to translate into rate of user engagement (i.e., participation) and program loyalty. This study evaluated employee perceptions of three workplace health programs promoting nutritional consumption and physical activity. Programs included: (1) an individually tailored consultation with an exercise physiologist and dietitian; (2) a semi-tailored 12-week SMS health message program; and (3) a standardized group workshop delivered by an expert. Participating employees from a transport company completed program evaluation surveys rating the overall program, affect, and utility of: consultations (n = 19); SMS program (n = 234); and workshops (n = 86). Overall, participants’ affect and utility evaluations were positive for all programs, with the greatest satisfaction being reported in the tailored individual consultation and standardized group workshop conditions. Furthermore, mode of delivery and the physical presence of an expert health practitioner was more influential than the degree to which the information was tailored to the individual. Thus, the synergy in ratings between individually tailored consultations and standardized group workshops indicates that low-cost delivery health programs may be as appealing to employees as tailored, and comparatively high-cost, program options.
Lifestyle Interventions for People with, and at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Polynesian Communities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ndwiga Dorothy W. , MacMillan Freya , McBride Kate A. , Simmons David
Published: April 2018

There is evidence that lifestyle intervention among Polynesian people can reduce diabetes incidence and complications, but this evidence has not been systematically reviewed. The aim of this study was to systematically review the efficacy of lifestyle interventions, targeting the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes among Polynesian people. MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched to find randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and pre-post studies. Eight studies (four RCTs and four pre-post studies) with 1590 participants met the inclusion criteria. The data on health outcomes that was reported in these studies included blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, weight, and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). The meta-analyses showed that the interventions had resulted in statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP) across four of the studies (WMD, −9.93 mmHg; 95% Cl, −10.77 to −9.09; and p < 0.00001). However, the effects on weight across five of the studies (WMD, −1.15 kg; 95% Cl, −2.80 to 0.51; p = 0.18) and the HbA1c levels across two of the studies (WMD, −0.38%; 95% Cl, −1.15 to 0.39; and p = 0.33) were not statistically significant. This review provides evidence that lifestyle interventions may be effective in achieving modest reductions in SBP in Polynesian people. Further research is needed to fully assess the effectiveness of these interventions in this population long-term.
Health Seeking Behavior among Rural Left-Behind Children: Evidence from Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces in China
Authors: Guan Hongyu , Wang Huan , Huang Juerong , Du Kang , Zhao Jin , Boswell Matthew , Shi Yaojiang , Iyer Mony , Rozelle Scott
Published: April 2018

More than 60 million children in rural China are “left-behind”—both parents live and work far from their rural homes and leave their children behind. This paper explores differences in how left-behind and non-left-behind children seek health remediation in China’s vast but understudied rural areas. This study examines this question in the context of a program to provide vision health care to myopic rural students. The data come from a randomized controlled trial of 13,100 students in Gansu and Shaanxi provinces in China. The results show that without a subsidy, uptake of health care services is low, even if individuals are provided with evidence of a potential problem (an eyeglasses prescription). Uptake rises two to three times when this information is paired with a subsidy voucher redeemable for a free pair of prescription eyeglasses. In fact, left-behind children who receive an eyeglasses voucher are not only more likely to redeem it, but also more likely to use the eyeglasses both in the short term and long term. In other words, in terms of uptake of care and compliance with treatment, the voucher program benefitted left-behind students more than non-left-behind students. The results provide a scientific understanding of differential impacts for guiding effective implementation of health policy to all groups in need in developing countries.
Risk Analysis of Earth-Rock Dam Failures Based on Fuzzy Event Tree Method
Authors: Fu Xiao , Gu Chong-Shi , Su Huai-Zhi , Qin Xiang-Nan
Published: April 2018

Earth-rock dams make up a large proportion of the dams in China, and their failures can induce great risks. In this paper, the risks associated with earth-rock dam failure are analyzed from two aspects: the probability of a dam failure and the resulting life loss. An event tree analysis method based on fuzzy set theory is proposed to calculate the dam failure probability. The life loss associated with dam failure is summarized and refined to be suitable for Chinese dams from previous studies. The proposed method and model are applied to one reservoir dam in Jiangxi province. Both engineering and non-engineering measures are proposed to reduce the risk. The risk analysis of the dam failure has essential significance for reducing dam failure probability and improving dam risk management level.
A Pooled Data Analysis to Determine the Relationship between Selected Metals and Arsenic Bioavailability in Soil
Authors: Yan Kaihong , Naidu Ravi , Liu Yanju , Wijayawardena Ayanka , Duan Luchun , Dong Zhaomin
Published: April 2018

Chronic exposure to arsenic (As) is a global concern due to worldwide exposure and adverse effects, and the importance of incorporating bioavailability in the exposure assessment and risk assessment of As is increasing acknowledged. The bioavailability of As is impacted by a number of soil properties, such as pH, clay and metal concentrations. By retrieving 485 data from 32 publications, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between selected metals (Fe and Al) and As bioavailability. In present study, the bioaccessibility (BAC) data measured by in vitro approaches were converted into bioavailability data based on the previously determined relationship between BAC and bioavailability. The As relative bioavailability (RBA) was summarized to be 24.36 ± 18.49%, which is in the range previously reported. A significant association between Fe concentration and the bioavailability of As was observed while this association varied for different types of RBA data. This disparity may suggest a non-reliable association between Fe and As bioavailability. The correlations between logarithmically transformed total content of Fe + Al and As bioavailability is then outlined: RBA = (−8.40 ± 1.02) × Ln(Fe + Al) + (58.25 ± 4.09), R2 = 0.25, p < 0.001, n = 212. Jackknife resampling was also applied to validate the relation between total content of (Fe + Al) and As bioavailability, which suggested that the relation is robust. This is the first pooled study to address the relations between selected metal concentrations and As bioavailability, which may provide some implications to establish soil properties-based RBA prediction for As.
DNA Methyltransferases, DNA Methylation, and Age-Associated Cognitive Function
Authors: Cui Di , Xu Xiangru
Published: April 2018

Ageing, a leading cause of the decline/deficits in human learning, memory, and cognitive abilities, is a major risk factor for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Emerging evidence suggests that epigenetics, an inheritable but reversible biochemical process, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of age-related neurological disorders. DNA methylation, the best-known epigenetic mark, has attracted most attention in this regard. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are key enzymes in mediating the DNA methylation process, by which a methyl group is transferred, faithfully or anew, to genomic DNA sequences. Biologically, DNMTs are important for gene imprinting. Accumulating evidence suggests that DNMTs not only play critical roles, including gene imprinting and transcription regulation, in early development stages of the central nervous system (CNS), but also are indispensable in adult learning, memory, and cognition. Therefore, the impact of DNMTs and DNA methylation on age-associated cognitive functions and neurodegenerative diseases has emerged as a pivotal topic in the field. In this review, the effects of each DNMT on CNS development and healthy and pathological ageing are discussed.
Transcriptional Profiling of Host Cell Responses to Virulent Haemophilus parasuis: New Insights into Pathogenesis
Authors: Fu Shulin , Guo Jing , Li Ruizhi , Qiu Yinsheng , Ye Chun , Liu Yu , Wu Zhongyuan , Guo Ling , Hou Yongqing , Hu Chien-An Andy
Published: April 2018

Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glässer’s disease in pigs. H. parasuis can cause vascular damage, although the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the host cell responses involved in the molecular pathway interactions in porcine aortic vascular endothelial cells (PAVECs) induced by H. parasuis using RNA-Seq. The transcriptome results showed that when PAVECs were infected with H. parasuis for 24 h, 281 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified; of which, 236 were upregulated and 45 downregulated. The 281 DEGs were involved in 136 KEGG signaling pathways that were organismal systems, environmental information processing, metabolism, cellular processes, and genetic information processing. The main pathways were the Rap1, FoxO, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, and the overexpressed genes were determined and verified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 252 genes were clustered into biological processes, molecular processes, and cellular components. Our study provides new insights for understanding the interaction between bacterial and host cells, and analyzed, in detail, the possible mechanisms that lead to vascular damage induced by H. parasuis. This may lead to development of novel therapeutic targets to control H. parasuis infection.
Comparison of the Hepatoprotective Effects of Four Endemic Cirsium Species Extracts from Taiwan on CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Damage in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Zhao Zi-Wei , Chang Jen-Chih , Lin Li-Wei , Tsai Fan-Hsuan , Chang Hung-Chi , Wu Chi-Rei
Published: April 2018

Species of Cirsium (Asteraceae family) have been used in folk hepatoprotective medicine in Taiwan. We collected four Cirsium species—including the aerial part of Cirsium arisanense (CAH), the aerial part of Cirsium kawakamii (CKH), the flower part of Cirsium japonicum DC. var. australe (CJF), and Cirsii Herba (CH)—and then made extractions from them with 70% methanol. We compared the antioxidant contents and activities of these four Cirsium species extracts by a spectrophotometric method and high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD). We further evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of these extracts on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in C57BL/6 mice. The present study found CAH possesses the highest antioxidant activity among the four Cirsium species, and these antioxidant activities are closely related to phenylpropanoid glycoside (PPG) contents. The extracts decreased serum ALT and AST levels elevated by injection with 0.2% CCl4. However, only CJF and CH decreased hepatic necrosis. Silibinin decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and hepatic necrosis caused by CCl4. CJF and CH restored the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes and decreased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. CJF further restored the expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) proteins. HPLC chromatogram indicated that CKH, CJF, and CH contained silibinin diastereomers (α and β). Only CJF contained diosmetin. Hence, the hepatoprotective mechanism of CJF against CCl4-induced acute liver damage might be involved in restoring the activities and protein expression of the hepatic antioxidant defense system and inhibiting hepatic inflammation, and these hepatoprotective effects are related to the contents of silibinin diastereomers and diosmetin.
Pulse Oximetry Screening in Germany—Historical Aspects and Future Perspectives
Authors: Riede Frank-Thomas , Paech Christian , Orlikowsky Thorsten
Published: April 2018

In January 2017, pulse oximetry screening was legally implemented in routine neonatal care in Germany. The preceding developments, which were the prerequisite for this step, are described in the specific context of Germany’s health care system. Continued evaluation of the method is imperative and may lead to modifications in the screening protocol, ideally in accordance with the efforts in other countries.
Poly-L-lactic Acid (PLLA)-Chitosan-Collagen Electrospun Tube for Vascular Graft Application
Authors: Fiqrianti Iffa A. , Widiyanti Prihartini , Manaf Muhammad A. , Savira Claudia Y. , Cahyani Nadia R. , Bella Fitria R.
Published: April 2018

Poly-L-Lactic acid (PLLA) blended with chitosan and collagen was used to fabricate a conduit for blood vessel engineering through an electrospinning process. Various concentrations of chitosan were used in the blend in order to study its effect on the morphology, chemical bond, tensile strength, burst pressure, hemocompatibility, and cell viability (cytotoxicity) of the tube.In vitro assessments indicated that addition of chitosan-collagen could improve cell viability and hemocompatibility. Best results were demonstrated by the conduit with 10% PLLA, 0.5% chitosan, and 1% collagen. Tensile strength reached 2.13 MPa and burst pressure reached 2593 mmHg, both values that are within the range value of native blood vessel. A hemolysis percentage of 1.04% and a cell viability of 86.2% were obtained, meeting the standards of high hemocompatibility and low cytotoxicity for vascular graft material. The results are promising for further development toward vascular graft application.
Tricolor Technique for Visualization of Spatial Variations of Polydisperse Dust in Gas-Dust Flows
Authors: Korolev Vitaly V. , Bezborodov Mikhail A. , Kovalenko Ilya G. , Zankovich Andrey M. , Eremin Mikhail A.
Published: April 2018

The aim of this work is to construct an algorithm for visualizing a polydisperse phase of solid particles (dust) in an inhomogeneous flow of a two-phase gas-dust mixture that would allow us to see, within one plot, the degree of polydispersity of the dust phase and the difference in the spatial distributions of individual fractions of dust particles in the computational domain. The developed technique allows us to reproduce concentrations from one to three fractions of dust particles in each cell in the computational domain. Each of the three fractions of dust particles is mapped to one of the main channels of the RGB palette. The intensity of the color shade is set to be proportional to the relative concentration of dust particles in this fraction. The final image for a polydisperse mixture is obtained by adding images in each of the three color channels. To visualize the degree of polydispersity, we propose depicting the spatial distribution of the entropy of the dust mixture. The definition of the entropy of a mixture is generalized to take into account the states of a mixture with zero number of particles in the mixture. They correspond to dust-free sections of the computational domain (voids). The proposed method for visualizing the polydispersity of a mixture of particles is demonstrated using the example of dynamic numerical modeling of the spatial features of dust structures formed in turbulent gas-dust flows and in flows with shock waves.
Applicability of Precision Medicine Approaches to Managing Hypertension in Rural Populations
Authors: Halladay Jacqueline , Lenhart Kaitlin , Robasky Kimberly , Jones Wendell , Homan Wayne , Cummings Doyle , Cené Crystal , Hinderliter Alan , Miller Cassandra , Donahue Katrina , Garcia Beverly , Keyserling Thomas , Ammerman Alice , Patterson Cam , DeWalt Darren , Johnston Larry , Willis Monte , Schisler Jonathan
Published: April 2018

As part of the Heart Healthy Lenoir Project, we developed a practice level intervention to improve blood pressure control. The goal of this study was: (i) to determine if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that associate with blood pressure variation, identified in large studies, are applicable to blood pressure control in subjects from a rural population; (ii) to measure the association of these SNPs with subjects’ responsiveness to the hypertension intervention; and (iii) to identify other SNPs that may help understand patient-specific responses to an intervention. We used a combination of candidate SNPs and genome-wide analyses to test associations with either baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) or change in systolic blood pressure one year after the intervention in two genetically defined ancestral groups: African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CAU). Of the 48 candidate SNPs, 13 SNPs associated with baseline SBP in our study; however, one candidate SNP, rs592582, also associated with a change in SBP after one year. Using our study data, we identified 4 and 15 additional loci that associated with a change in SBP in the AA and CAU groups, respectively. Our analysis of gene-age interactions identified genotypes associated with SBP improvement within different age groups of our populations. Moreover, our integrative analysis identified AQP4-AS1 and PADI2 as genes whose expression levels may contribute to the pleiotropy of complex traits involved in cardiovascular health and blood pressure regulation in response to an intervention targeting hypertension. In conclusion, the identification of SNPs associated with the success of a hypertension treatment intervention suggests that genetic factors in combination with age may contribute to an individual’s success in lowering SBP. If these findings prove to be applicable to other populations, the use of this genetic variation in making patient-specific interventions may help providers with making decisions to improve patient outcomes. Further investigation is required to determine the role of this genetic variance with respect to the management of hypertension such that more precise treatment recommendations may be made in the future as part of personalized medicine.
Different Effects of NSF and PCE Superplasticizer on Adsorption, Dynamic Yield Stress and Thixotropy of Cement Pastes
Authors: Qian Ye , De Schutter Geert
Published: April 2018

This study compares the differences and similarities of two types of superplasticizers—NSF (Naphthalene Sulfonate Formaldehyde) and PCE (PolyCarboxylate Ester)—in fresh cement paste systems, in terms of adsorption, dynamic yield stress, and thixotropic index. Results show that with either NSF or PCE addition, the more superplasticizer is added, the more it is adsorbed and the more it remains in the interstitial pore solution. The dynamic yield stress and thixotropic index also decrease with increasing addition the amount of either superplasticizer. However, NSF is less efficient in decreasing the dynamic yield stress than PCE. More importantly, the decreasing patterns of dynamic yield stress and thixotropic index are different with NSF and PCE additions; this is tied to the adsorption and dispersing mechanisms of these two types of superplasticizers.
A Study of the Stability Mechanism of the Dispersed Particle Gel Three-Phase Foam Using the Interfacial Dilational Rheology Method
Authors: Yao Xue , Yi Ping , Zhao Guang , Sun Xin , Dai Caili
Published: April 2018

The dispersed particle gel (DPG) three-phase foam is a novel profile control and flooding system. The stability mechanism of the DPG three-phase foam was studied using an interfacial dilational rheology method. The results show that the elastic modulus of the DPG three-phase foam is up to 14 mN/m, which is much higher than the traditional foam. The increase in interface elasticity produces significantly positive effects on foam stability. Emphasis is given to the influences of frequency, temperature, pressure, and concentration on the viscoelasticity and interfacial adsorption of DPG particles, which change the modules of the foam interface and have a significant effect on foam stability. In addition, the microstructure of the DPG three-phase foam was observed. A viscoelastic shell is formed by the aggregation of the DPG particles on the interface. The irreversible adsorption gives the interface high elasticity and mechanical strength. The electrostatic repulsion between particles increases the spacing between bubbles. The combined effects of these factors give the interface higher mechanical strength, slow down the film drainage, effectively prevent gas permeation, and significantly improve the foam stability.
Effect of Temperature and Growth Time on Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanorods by Simplified Hydrothermal Technique for Photoelectrochemical Cells
Authors: Mohd Fudzi Laimy , Zainal Zulkarnain , Lim Hong Ngee , Chang Sook-Keng , Holi Araa Mebdir , Sarif@Mohd Ali Mahanim
Published: April 2018

Despite its large band gap, ZnO has wide applicability in many fields ranging from gas sensors to solar cells. ZnO was chosen over other materials because of its large exciton binding energy (60 meV) and its stability to high-energy radiation. In this study, ZnO nanorods were deposited on ITO glass via a simple dip coating followed by a hydrothermal growth. The morphological, structural and compositional characteristics of the prepared films were analyzed using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Photoelectrochemical conversion efficiencies were evaluated via photocurrent measurements under calibrated halogen lamp illumination. Thin film prepared at 120 °C for 4 h of hydrothermal treatment possessed a hexagonal wurtzite structure with the crystallite size of 19.2 nm. The average diameter of the ZnO nanorods was 37.7 nm and the thickness was found to be 2680.2 nm. According to FESEM images, as the hydrothermal growth temperature increases, the nanorod diameter become smaller. Moreover, the thickness of the nanorods increase with the growth time. Therefore, the sample prepared at 120 °C for 4 h displayed an impressive photoresponse by achieving high current density of 0.1944 mA/cm2.
NC-Cross Entropy Based MADM Strategy in Neutrosophic Cubic Set Environment
Authors: Pramanik Surapati , Dalapati Shyamal , Alam Shariful , Smarandache Florentin , Roy Tapan Kumar
Published: April 2018

The objective of the paper is to introduce a new cross entropy measure in a neutrosophic cubic set (NCS) environment, which we call NC-cross entropy measure. We prove its basic properties. We also propose weighted NC-cross entropy and investigate its basic properties. We develop a novel multi attribute decision-making (MADM) strategy based on a weighted NC-cross entropy measure. To show the feasibility and applicability of the proposed multi attribute decision-making strategy, we solve an illustrative example of the multi attribute decision-making problem.
Natural Product Potential of the Genus Nocardiopsis
Authors: Ibrahim Alyaa Hatem , Desoukey Samar Yehia , Fouad Mostafa A. , Kamel Mohamed Salah , Gulder Tobias A. M. , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan
Published: April 2018

Actinomycetes are a relevant source of novel bioactive compounds. One of the pharmaceutically and biotechnologically important genera that attract natural products research is the genus Nocardiopsis, mainly for its ability to produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites accounting for its wide range of biological activities. This review covers the literature from January 2015 until February 2018 making a complete survey of all the compounds that were isolated from the genus Nocardiopsis, their biological activities, and natural sources, whenever applicable.
A Review of the Diamond Retention Capacity of Metal Bond Matrices
Authors: Zhao Xiaojun , Duan Longchen
Published: April 2018

This article presents a review of the current research into the diamond retention capacity of metal matrices, which largely determines the service life and working performance of diamond tools. The constitution of diamond retention capacity, including physical adsorption force, mechanical inlaying force, and chemical bonding force, are described. Improved techniques are summarized as three major types: (1) surface treatment of the diamond: metallization and roughening of the diamond surface; (2) modification of metal matrix: the addition of strong carbide forming elements, rare earth elements and some non-metallic elements, and pre-alloying or refining of matrix powders; (3) change in preparation technology: the adjustment of the sintering process and the application of new technologies. Additionally, the methods used in the evaluation of diamond retention strength are introduced, including three categories: (1) instrument detection methods: scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, energy dispersive spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy; (2) mechanical test methods: bending strength analytical method, tension ring test method, and other test methods for chemical bonding strength; (3) mechanical calculation methods: theoretical calculation and numerical computation. Finally, future research directions are discussed.
Performance Analysis and Numerical Evaluation of Mixing in 3-D T-Shape Passive Micromixers
Authors: Okuducu Mahmut Burak , Aral Mustafa M.
Published: April 2018

In micromixer devices, laminar characteristics of the flow domain and small diffusion constants of the fluid samples that are mixed characterize the mixing process. The advection dominant flow and transport processes that develop in these devices not only create significant challenges for numerical solution of the problem, but they are also the source of numerical errors which may lead to confusing performance evaluations that are reported in the literature. In this study, the finite volume method (FVM) and finite element method (FEM) are used to characterize these errors and critical issues in numerical performance evaluations are highlighted. In this study, we used numerical methods to evaluate the mixing characteristics of a typical T-shape passive micromixer for several flow and transport parameters using both FEM and FVM, although the numerical procedures described are also equally applicable to other geometric designs as well. The outcome of the study shows that the type of stabilization technique used in FEM is very important and should be documented and reported. Otherwise, erroneous mixing performance may be reported since the added artificial diffusion may significantly affect the mixing performance in the device. Similarly, when FVM methods are used, numerical diffusion errors may become important for certain unstructured discretization techniques that are used in the idealization of the solution domain. This point needs to be also analyzed and reported when FVM is used in performance evaluation of micromixer devices. The focus of this study is not on improving the mixing performance of micromixers. Instead, we highlight the bench scale characteristics of the solutions and the mixing evaluation procedures used when FVM and FEM are employed.
Liquid-Assisted Femtosecond Laser Precision-Machining of Silica
Authors: Cao Xiao-Wen , Chen Qi-Dai , Fan Hua , Zhang Lei , Juodkazis Saulius , Sun Hong-Bo
Published: April 2018

We report a systematical study on the liquid assisted femtosecond laser machining of quartz plate in water and under different etching solutions. The ablation features in liquid showed a better structuring quality and improved resolution with 1/3~1/2 smaller features as compared with those made in air. It has been demonstrated that laser induced periodic structures are present to a lesser extent when laser processed in water solutions. The redistribution of oxygen revealed a strong surface modification, which is related to the etching selectivity of laser irradiated regions. Laser ablation in KOH and HF solution showed very different morphology, which relates to the evolution of laser induced plasma on the formation of micro/nano-features in liquid. This work extends laser precision fabrication of hard materials. The mechanism of strong absorption in the regions with permittivity (epsilon) near zero is discussed.
Au-Decorated Dragonfly Wing Bioscaffold Arrays as Flexible Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Substrate for Simultaneous Determination of Pesticide Residues
Authors: Wang Mingli , Shi Guochao , Zhu Yanying , Wang Yuhong , Ma Wanli
Published: April 2018

Rapid sampling and multicomponent analysis are vital in pesticide residue detection. In this work, we proposed a SERS platform to detect three kinds of pesticides on apple peels simultaneously by a straightforward “press and peel off” method. The flexible Au/dragonfly wing (Au/DW) substrate was obtained from sputtering Au nanoislands on DW bioscaffold arrays by a simple direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering system. The high-performance substrate exhibited a low limit of detection (LOD) to 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) (10−9 M), outstanding reproducibility (less than 12.15%), good stability and suitability in multifold pesticide residues detection. Considering its excellent sample collection efficiency, the Au/DW substrate was employed to solve critical pesticide residue problems for detection of acephate (APT), cypermethrin (CPT), tsumacide (MTMC) and their multiple components on apple peels. The results show that the LOD was 10−3 ng/cm2 for APT obtained on the apple surface with a calculation equation of y = 0.26x + 6.68 and a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.970. Additionally, the LOD values for CPT and MTMC were 10−3 ng/cm2 and 10−4 ng/cm2, respectively. The finding in this work may provide a promising biomimetic SERS platform for on-spot detection of other organic pollutants in the food industry and inenvironmental protection.
The Food-Specific Serum IgG Reactivity in Major Depressive Disorder Patients, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients and Healthy Controls
Authors: Karakula-Juchnowicz Hanna , Gałęcka Mirosława , Rog Joanna , Bartnicka Anna , Łukaszewicz Zuzanna , Krukow Pawel , Morylowska-Topolska Justyna , Skonieczna-Zydecka Karolina , Krajka Tomasz , Jonak Kamil , Juchnowicz Dariusz
Published: April 2018

There is an increasing amount of evidence which links the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with food IgG hyperreactivity. Some authors have suggested that food IgG hyperreactivity could be also involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to compare levels of serum IgG against 39 selected food antigens between three groups of participants: patients with MDD (MDD group), patients with IBS (IBS group) and healthy controls (HC group). The study included 65 participants (22 in the MDD group, 22 in the IBS group and 21 in the HC group). Serum IgG levels were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Medical records, clinical data and laboratory results were collected for the analysis. IgG food hyperreactivity (interpreted as an average of levels of IgG antibodies above 7.5 µg/mL) was detected in 28 (43%) participants, including 14 (64%) from the MDD group, ten (46%) from the IBS group and four (19%) from the HC group. We found differences between extreme IgG levels in MDD versus HC groups and in IBS versus HC groups. Patients with MDD had significantly higher serum levels of total IgG antibodies and IgG against celery, garlic and gluten compared with healthy controls. The MDD group also had higher serum IgG levels against gluten compared with the IBS group. Our results suggest dissimilarity in immune responses against food proteins between the examined groups, with the highest immunoreactivity in the MDD group. Further studies are needed to repeat and confirm these results in bigger cohorts and also examine clinical utility of IgG-based elimination diet in patients with MDD and IBS.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Protein Glycation Sites in Long-Term Controlled Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Their Prognostic Potential for Early Diagnosis
Authors: Spiller Sandro , Li Yichao , Blüher Matthias , Welch Lonnie , Hoffmann Ralf
Published: April 2018

Current screening tests for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) identify less than 50% of undiagnosed T2DM patients and provide no information about how the disease will develop in prediabetic patients. Here, twenty-nine protein glycation sites were quantified after tryptic digestion of plasma samples at the peptide level using tandem mass spectrometry and isotope-labelled peptides as internal standard. The glycation degrees were determined in three groups, i.e., 48 patients with a duration of T2DM exceeding ten years, 48 non-diabetic individuals matched for gender, BMI, and age, and 20 prediabetic men. In long-term controlled diabetic patients, 27 glycated peptides were detected at significantly higher levels, providing moderate diagnostic accuracies (ACCs) from 61 to 79%, allowing a subgrouping of patients in three distinct clusters. Moreover, a feature set of one glycated peptides and six established clinical parameters provided an ACC of 95%. The same number of clusters was identified in prediabetic males (ACC of 95%) using a set of eight glycation sites (mostly from serum albumin). All patients present in one cluster showed progression of prediabetic state or advanced towards diabetes in the following five years. Overall, the studied glycation sites appear to be promising biomarkers for subgrouping prediabetic patients to estimate their risk for the development of T2DM.
‘The Altars Are Holding the Nation in Captivity’: Zambian Pentecostalism, Nationality, and African Religio-Political Heritage
Authors: Kaunda Chammah J.
Published: April 2018

The study draws on ontocracy political theory to investigate Zambian Pentecostal interpretations of politics as a sacred realm of contestations between forces of good and evil. It argues that Zambian Pentecostal theology of nationality is a continuation of traditional African religio-cultural ethnonational heritage. It demonstrates how Zambian Pentecostal theology of nationality is based on socio-historically constructed conceptions that drew their foundation from traditional myths, symbols and cultures. It concludes that Zambian Pentecostalism has failed to make distinctions among various types of human authorities, thereby promoting a theology of nationality that mystifies the source of the political authority of the presidents of the nation, who are perceived as absorbing both secular and spiritual responsibilities.
Motion Investigation of a Snake Robot with Different Scale Geometry and Coefficient of Friction
Authors: Huq Naim Md Lutful , Khan Md Raisuddin , Shafie Amir Akramin , Billah Md Masum , Ahmmad Syed Masrur
Published: April 2018

Most snakes in nature have scales at their ventral sides. The anisotropic frictional coefficient of the ventral side of the snakes, as well as snake robots, is considered to be responsible for their serpentine kind of locomotion. However, little work has been done on snake scales so far to make any guidelines for designing snake robots. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effects of artificial scale geometry on the motion of snake robots that move in a serpentine manner. The motion of a snake robot equipped with artificial scales with different geometries was recorded using a Kinect camera under different speeds of the actuating motors attached to the links of the robot. The results of the investigation showed that the portion of the scales along the central line of the robot did not contributed to the locomotion of the robot, rather, it is the parts of the scales along the lateral edges of the robot that contributed to the motion. It was also found that the lower frictional ratio at low slithering speeds made the snake robot motion unpredictable. The scales with ridges along the direction of the snake body gave better and more stable motion. However, to get the peg effect, the scales needed to have a very high lateral to forward friction ratio, otherwise, significant side slipping occurred, resulting in unpredictable motion.
Small Magnitude Co-Seismic Deformation of the 2017 Mw 6.4 Nyingchi Earthquake Revealed by InSAR Measurements with Atmospheric Correction
Authors: Yu Chen , Li Zhenhong , Chen Jiajun , Hu Jyr-Ching
Published: April 2018

The Nyingchi Mw 6.4 earthquake on 17 November 2017 is the first large event since 1950 at the southeast end of the Jiali fault. This event was captured by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) measurements from the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-1A radar satellite, which provide the potential to determine the fault plane, as well as the co-seismic slip distribution, and understand future seismic hazards. However, due to the limited magnitude of surface displacements and the strong topography variations, InSAR-derived co-seismic signals are contaminated by strong tropospheric effects which makes it difficult (if not impossible) to determine the source parameters and co-seismic slip distribution. In this paper, we employ the Generic Atmospheric Correction Online Service for InSAR (GACOS) to generate correction maps for the co-seismic interferograms, and successfully extract co-seismic surface displacements for this large event. The phase standard deviation after correction for a seriously-contaminated interferogram reaches 0.8 cm, significantly improved from the traditional phase correlation analysis (1.13 cm) or bilinear interpolation (1.28 cm) methods. Our best model suggests that the seismogenic fault is a NW–SE striking back-thrust fault with a right-lateral strike slip component. This reflects the strain partitioning of NE shortening and eastward movement of the Eastern Tibetan plateau due to the oblique convergence between the Indian and Eurasian plates.
Hyperspectral Imagery Classification Based on Semi-Supervised Broad Learning System
Authors: Kong Yi , Wang Xuesong , Cheng Yuhu , Chen C. L. Philip
Published: April 2018

Recently, deep learning-based methods have drawn increasing attention in hyperspectral imagery (HSI) classification, due to their strong nonlinear mapping capability. However, these methods suffer from a time-consuming training process because of many network parameters. In this paper, the concept of broad learning is introduced into HSI classification. Firstly, to make full use of abundant spectral and spatial information of hyperspectral imagery, hierarchical guidance filtering is performing on the original HSI to get its spectral-spatial representation. Then, the class-probability structure is incorporated into the broad learning model to obtain a semi-supervised broad learning version, so that limited labeled samples and many unlabeled samples can be utilized simultaneously. Finally, the connecting weights of broad structure can be easily computed through the ridge regression approximation. Experimental results on three popular hyperspectral imagery datasets demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve better performance than deep learning-based methods and conventional classifiers.
Integration of 24 Feature Types to Accurately Detect and Predict Seizures Using Scalp EEG Signals
Authors: Zhang Yinda , Yang Shuhan , Liu Yang , Zhang Yexian , Han Bingfeng , Zhou Fengfeng
Published: April 2018

The neurological disorder epilepsy causes substantial problems to the patients with uncontrolled seizures or even sudden deaths. Accurate detection and prediction of epileptic seizures will significantly improve the life quality of epileptic patients. Various feature extraction algorithms were proposed to describe the EEG signals in frequency or time domains. Both invasive intracranial and non-invasive scalp EEG signals have been screened for the epileptic seizure patterns. This study extracted a comprehensive list of 24 feature types from the scalp EEG signals and found 170 out of the 2794 features for an accurate classification of epileptic seizures. An accuracy (Acc) of 99.40% was optimized for detecting epileptic seizures from the scalp EEG signals. A balanced accuracy (bAcc) was calculated as the average of sensitivity and specificity and our seizure detection model achieved 99.61% in bAcc. The same experimental procedure was applied to predict epileptic seizures in advance, and the model achieved Acc = 99.17% for predicting epileptic seizures 10 s before happening.
Flight State Identification of a Self-Sensing Wing via an Improved Feature Selection Method and Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Chen Xi , Kopsaftopoulos Fotis , Wu Qi , Ren He , Chang Fu-Kuo
Published: April 2018

In this work, a data-driven approach for identifying the flight state of a self-sensing wing structure with an embedded multi-functional sensing network is proposed. The flight state is characterized by the structural vibration signals recorded from a series of wind tunnel experiments under varying angles of attack and airspeeds. A large feature pool is created by extracting potential features from the signals covering the time domain, the frequency domain as well as the information domain. Special emphasis is given to feature selection in which a novel filter method is developed based on the combination of a modified distance evaluation algorithm and a variance inflation factor. Machine learning algorithms are then employed to establish the mapping relationship from the feature space to the practical state space. Results from two case studies demonstrate the high identification accuracy and the effectiveness of the model complexity reduction via the proposed method, thus providing new perspectives of self-awareness towards the next generation of intelligent air vehicles.
Optimization of Deep Neural Networks Using SoCs with OpenCL
Authors: Gadea-Gironés Rafael , Colom-Palero Ricardo , Herrero-Bosch Vicente
Published: April 2018

In the optimization of deep neural networks (DNNs) via evolutionary algorithms (EAs) and the implementation of the training necessary for the creation of the objective function, there is often a trade-off between efficiency and flexibility. Pure software solutions implemented on general-purpose processors tend to be slow because they do not take advantage of the inherent parallelism of these devices, whereas hardware realizations based on heterogeneous platforms (combining central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs) and/or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)) are designed based on different solutions using methodologies supported by different languages and using very different implementation criteria. This paper first presents a study that demonstrates the need for a heterogeneous (CPU-GPU-FPGA) platform to accelerate the optimization of artificial neural networks (ANNs) using genetic algorithms. Second, the paper presents implementations of the calculations related to the individuals evaluated in such an algorithm on different (CPU- and FPGA-based) platforms, but with the same source files written in OpenCL. The implementation of individuals on remote, low-cost FPGA systems on a chip (SoCs) is found to enable the achievement of good efficiency in terms of performance per watt.