bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Experience With Single-Stage Transanal Endorectal Pull Through For Rectosigmoid Hirschsprung’s Disease
Authors: Shrestha MK , Sherchan M , Dhoubhadel BK , Basnet RB
Published: April 2015

On 24th August 2015, the spelling of the third author's name was changed from Dhaubhadel TO Dhoubhadel - Editor.Introduction: Recent trends in surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) have been towards earlier operation and fewer surgical stages. A single-stage transanal endorectal pull through (TEPT) is the latest development and minimally invasive technique for HD. This observational prospective study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of single-stage TEPT technique in the management of rectosigmoid HD.Materials and Methods: Infants and children with biopsy-proved aganglionosis and barium enema (BE) documented rectosigmoid HD were included for single stage TEPT. Twenty children aged 22 days to 7 years (17 boys and 3 girls) underwent one stage TEPT over 5 year period. Median follow up was 18 months (range 6-36 months). These patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, intraoperative details, postoperative functional outcome and complications and need for secondary surgical procedure.Results: The operating time was 105-180 minutes (mean 120 minutes). The length of resected bowel was 18-30 cm (mean 25 cm). Intraoperative blood loss was 5-40 ml, less in infants compared to older children. Blood transfusion was needed in none out of 12 infants and 2 out of 8 older children. Transient perianal excoriation occurred in 16 patients. Postoperative enterocolitis occurred in one patient. One patient developed constipation with encopresis following anastomotic stricture. None had adhesive obstruction and prolapse of pulled through colon, one required colostomy for anastomotic leakage and peritonitis while another had retained aganglionic segment and re-do pull through was required.Conclusion: Single-stage TEPT can be performed successfully in all age of children. The technique is safe, easily learned and has good clinical results.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i3.11617  J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(3):188-194
Macrodactyly
Authors: Das D , Shukla S
Published: April 2015

Abstract not required.J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(3):252-253 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i3.11686
Text Book of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition
Authors: Neopane A , Rimal S
Published: April 2015

J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(3):254 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i3.12418
Bacteriological Profile of Neonatal Sepsis in a Tertiary Level Hospital of Nepal
Authors: Khanal R , Manandhar S , Acharya GP
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is one of the most common reasons for admission to neonatal units in developing countries. It is also a major cause of mortality in both developed and developing countries. This study was done to determine the bacterial profile causing neonatal sepsis and to assess their susceptibility pattern to various antimicrobial agents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal among 340 neonates suspected of neonatal sepsis. Blood culture was performed and organisms were identified with Gram staining and conventional biochemical methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: The prevalence rate of neonatal sepsis was 20.3%. Among 340 neonates, 52.17% were males and 47.82% were females. Gram positive cocci were the most predominant isolates (88.40%). Among Gram positive cocci Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common isolates (72.46%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (7.24%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (4.34%) and Enterococcus fecalis (4.34%). Gram negative bacilli were found in 11.60% of the growth positive samples of which E.coli and Klebsiella spp were found in 10.14% and 1.44% respectively. Sensitivity to Amikacin was highest among all types of organisms isolated. Vancomycin and Gentamycin sensitivity was highest for Gram positive and Gram negative organisms respectively. Ampicillin resistance was highest among isolates. Among the 69 isolates 48 were Multiple drug resistant. Conclusion: The predominance of Gram positive cocci particularly Coagulase negative Staphylococci is shown. Empirical antibiotic therapy should be reviewed for Multiple drug resistant strains. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i3.9183 J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(3):175-180
Framing the Field: The Award for Sustainable Architecture
Authors: Owen Ceridwen , Lorrimar-Shanks Jennifer
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we explore the effect that the increasingly powerful discourse of sustainability is having on the field of architecture. The term “field” derives from Bourdieu’s conceptualization of fields as dynamic spaces of social relations tending towards transformation or conservation. While the overlapping fields of sustainability and architecture have historically been characterized by resistance, shifts in environmental discourse towards complexity and systems thinking and the inclusion of cultural, social, political and economic concerns within the broader mandate of sustainability signal a more synergistic ideological terrain. We use methods of narrative analysis to explore these shifts through the localized discourse of the award for sustainable architecture within the Australian context and offer a brief comparative analysis of the sustainable architecture awards discourse in Britain and North America. As arguably the most public elucidations of the profession’s ideology, architecture awards are a productive place in which to explore constructions of “sustainable architecture”. The narrative analysis reveals a trajectory towards assimilation supported by the positioning of sustainability as fundamentally a social, as well as an environmental practice. Contentions surrounding the ultimate disappearance of the award, however, reveal a more perverse relationship between sustainability and architecture.
Ascorbic Acid Rejection Characteristics of Modified Platinum Electrodes: A Shelf Life Investigation
Authors: Wynne Andrea , Finnerty Niall
Published: April 2015

Ascorbic acid (AA) is the principle interferent present in brain extracellular fluid that can inhibit the ability of electrochemical sensors to selectively detect a particular analyte of interest. Considerable efforts have been made in recent times to develop highly selective membrane coatings to counteract the drawbacks associated with AA interference during in vivo monitoring. The primary objective of the work described within was to investigate the long term effect of storing such selective membranes, i.e., Nafion® and Poly-o-phenylenediamine (PPD) under different conditions and how exposing them to repeated calibration protocols compromises the membranes ability to reject AA. Four different modified platinum (Pt) electrodes, Pt-PPD, Pt-Nafion® (5/2), Pt-Nafion® (1/2)-PPD, and Pt-Nafion® (2/1)-PPD, stored at 4 °C demonstrated deterioration of the polymers integrity when exposed to repeated calibrations. On the contrary, exposing the same four electrode types to single calibrations confirmed excellent retention of AA rejection characteristics. Pt-PPD electrodes were then exposed to varying storage conditions and calibrated against AA on day 1, day 56 and day 168. Storing the Pt-PPD electrodes at 4 °C/N2 saturated glass container demonstrated retention of AA rejection characteristics after day 168. These results have clearly elucidated the optimum storage conditions for Pt-Nafion® and Pt-PPD modified electrodes.
Experimental and Thermoeconomic Analysis of Small-Scale Solar Organic Rankine Cycle (SORC) System
Authors: Baral Suresh , Kim Dokyun , Yun Eunkoo , Kim Kyung
Published: April 2015

A small-scale solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising renewable energy-driven power generation technology that can be used in the rural areas of developing countries. A prototype was developed and tested for its performance characteristics under a range of solar source temperatures. The solar ORC system power output was calculated based on the thermal and solar collector efficiency. The maximum solar power output was observed in April. The solar ORC unit power output ranged from 0.4 kW to 1.38 kW during the year. The highest power output was obtained when the expander inlet pressure was 13 bar and the solar source temperature was 120 °C. The area of the collector for the investigation was calculated based on the meteorological conditions of Busan City (South Korea). In the second part, economic and thermoeconomic analyses were carried out to determine the cost of energy per kWh from the solar ORC. The selling price of electricity generation was found to be $0.68/kWh and $0.39/kWh for the prototype and low cost solar ORC, respectively. The sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to find the influencing economic parameters for the change in NPV. Finally, the sustainability index was calculated to assess the sustainable development of the solar ORC system.
Kappa and q Indices: Dependence on the Degrees of Freedom
Authors: Livadiotis George
Published: April 2015

The kappa distributions, or their equivalent, the q-exponential distributions, are the natural generalization of the classical Boltzmann-Maxwell distributions, applied to the study of the particle populations in collisionless space plasmas. A huge step in the development of the theory of kappa distributions and their applications in space plasma physics has been achieved with the discovery that the observed kappa distributions are connected with the solid statistical background of non-extensive statistical mechanics. Now that the statistical framework has been identified, it is straightforward to improve our understanding of the nature of the kappa index (or the entropic q-index) that governs these distributions. One critical topic is the dependence of the kappa index on the degrees of freedom. In this paper, we first show how this specific dependence is naturally emerged, using the formalism of the N-particle kappa distribution of velocities. Then, the result is extended in the presence of potential energies. It is shown that the kappa index is simply related to the kinetic and potential degrees of freedom. In addition, it is shown that various problems of non-extensive statistical mechanics, such as (i) the correlation dependence on the total number of particles; and (ii) the normalization divergence for finite kappa indices, are resolved considering the kappa index dependence on the degrees of freedom.
Target Detection and Ranging through Lossy Media using Chaotic Radar
Authors: Wang Bingjie , Xu Hang , Yang Peng , Liu Li , Li Jingxia
Published: April 2015

A chaotic radar system has been developed for through-wall detection and ranging of targets. The chaotic signal generated by an improved Colpitts oscillator is designed as a probe signal. Ranging to target is achieved by the cross-correlation between the time-delayed reflected return signal and the replica of the transmitted chaotic signal. In this paper, we explore the performance of the chaotic radar system for target detection and ranging through lossy media. Experimental results show that the designed chaotic radar has the advantages of high range resolution, unambiguous correlation profile, and can be used for through wall target detection and sensing.
Aboveground Biomass of Glossy Buckthorn is Similar in Open and Understory Environments but Architectural Strategy Differs
Authors: Hamelin Caroline , Gagnon Daniel , Truax Benoit
Published: April 2015

The exotic shrub glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is a great concern among forest managers because it invades both open and shaded environments. To evaluate if buckthorn grows similarly across light environments, and if adopting different shapes contributes to an efficient use of light, we compared buckthorns growing in an open field and in the understory of a mature hybrid poplar plantation. For a given age, the relationships describing aboveground biomass of buckthorns in the open field and in the plantation were not significantly different. However, we observed a significant difference between the diameter-height relationships in the two environments. These results suggest a change in buckthorn’s architecture, depending on the light environment in which it grows. Buckthorn adopts either an arborescent shape under a tree canopy, or a shrubby shape in an open field, to optimally capture the light available. This architectural plasticity helps explain a similar invasion success for glossy buckthorn growing in both open and shaded environments, at least up to the canopy closure level of the plantation used for this study.
Moving Point Density Estimation Algorithm Based on a Generated Bayesian Prior
Authors: Asahara Akinori , Hayashi Hideki , Kai Takashi
Published: April 2015

To improve decision making, real-time population density must be known. However, calculating the point density of a huge dataset in real time is impractical in terms of processing time. Accordingly, a fast algorithm for estimating the distribution of the density of moving points is proposed. The algorithm, which is based on variational Bayesian estimation, takes a parametric approach to speed up the estimation process. Although the parametric approach has a drawback, that is the processes to be carried out on the server are very slow, the proposed algorithm overcomes the drawback by using the result of an estimation of an adjacent past density distribution.
Serum Selenium and Ceruloplasmin in Nigerians with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Karaye Kamilu , Yahaya Isah , Lindmark Krister , Henein Michael
Published: April 2015

The study aimed to determine if selenium deficiency, serum ceruloplasmin and traditional birth practices are risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), in Kano, Nigeria. This is a case-control study carried out in three hospitals, and PPCM patients were followed up for six months. Critically low serum selenium concentration was defined as <70 µg/L. A total of 39 PPCM patients and 50 controls were consecutively recruited after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Mean serum selenium in patients (61.7 ± 14.9 µg/L) was significantly lower than in controls (118.4 ± 45.6 µg/L) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of serum selenium <70 µg/L was significantly higher among patients (76.9%) than controls (22.0%) (p < 0.001). The mean ceruloplasmin and prevalence of socio-economic indices, multiparity, pregnancy-induced hypertension, obesity and twin pregnancy were not different between the groups (p > 0.05). Logistic regression showed that rural residency significantly increased the odds for serum selenium <70 µg/L by 2.773-fold (p = 0.037). Baseline serum levels of selenium and ceruloplasmin were not associated with six-month mortality. This study has shown that selenium deficiency is a risk factor for PPCM in Kano, Nigeria, and is related to rural residency. However, serum ceruloplasmin, customary birth practices and some other characteristics were not associated with PPCM in the study area.
In Utero Exposure to Low-Dose Alcohol Induces Reprogramming of Mammary Development and Tumor Risk in MMTV-erbB-2 Transgenic Mice
Authors: Ma Zhikun , Blackwelder Amanda , Lee Harry , Zhao Ming , Yang Xiaohe
Published: April 2015

There is increasing evidence that prenatal exposure to environmental factors may modify breast cancer risk later in life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of in utero exposure to low-dose alcohol on mammary development and tumor risk. Pregnant MMTV-erbB-2 mice were exposed to alcohol (6 g/kg/day) between day 13 and day 19 of gestation, and the female offspring were examined for tumor risk. Whole mount analysis indicated that in utero exposure to low-dose alcohol induced significant increases in ductal extension at 10 weeks of age. Molecular analysis showed that in utero alcohol exposure induced upregulation of ERα signaling and activation of Akt and Erk1/2 in pubertal mammary glands. However, enhanced signaling in the EGFR/erbB-2 pathway appeared to be more prominent in 10-week-old glands than did signaling in the other pathways. Interestingly, tumor development in mice with in utero exposure to low-dose alcohol was slightly delayed compared to control mice, but tumor multiplicity was increased. The results indicate that in utero exposure to low-dose alcohol induces the reprogramming of mammary development by mechanisms that include altered signaling in the estrogen receptor (ER) and erbB-2 pathways. The intriguing tumor development pattern might be related to alcohol dose and exposure conditions, and warrants further investigation.
Design of an Osteoinductive Extracellular Fibronectin Matrix Protein for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Lee Sujin , Lee Dong-Sung , Choi Ilsan , Pham Le , Jang Jun-Hyeog
Published: April 2015

Integrin-mediated cell-matrix interactions play an important role in osteogenesis. Here, we constructed a novel osteoinductive fibronectin matrix protein (oFN) for bone tissue engineering, designed to combine the integrin-binding modules from fibronectin (iFN) and a strong osteoinductive growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein-2. Compared with iFN, the purified oFN matrix protein caused a significant increase in cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells (p < 0.05).
Interactive Effects of Dietary Lipid and Phenotypic Feed Efficiency on the Expression of Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genes Involved in the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Eya Jonathan , Ukwuaba Vitalis , Yossa Rodrigue , Gannam Ann
Published: April 2015

A 2 × 3 factorial study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary lipid level on the expression of mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in electron transport chain in all-female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Three practical diets with a fixed crude protein content of 40%, formulated to contain 10% (40/10), 20% (40/20) and 30% (40/30) dietary lipid, were fed to apparent satiety to triplicate groups of either low-feed efficient (F120; 217.66 ± 2.24 g initial average mass) or high-feed efficient (F136; 205.47 ± 1.27 g) full-sib families of fish, twice per day, for 90 days. At the end of the experiment, the results showed that there is an interactive effect of the dietary lipid levels and the phenotypic feed efficiency (growth rate and feed efficiency) on the expression of the mitochondrial genes nd1 (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1), cytb (Cytochrome b), cox1 (Cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1), cox2 (Cytochrome c oxidase subunits 2) and atp6 (ATP synthase subunit 6) and nuclear genes ucp2α (uncoupling proteins 2 alpha), ucp2β (uncoupling proteins 2 beta), pparα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha), pparβ (peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor beta) and ppargc1α (proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha) in fish liver, intestine and muscle, except on ppargc1α in the muscle which was affected by the diet and the family separately. Also, the results revealed that the expression of mitochondrial genes is associated with that of nuclear genes involved in electron transport chain in fish liver, intestine and muscle. Furthermore, this work showed that the expression of mitochondrial genes parallels with the expression of genes encoding uncoupling proteins (UCP) in the liver and the intestine of rainbow trout. This study for the first time presents the molecular basis of the effects of dietary lipid level on mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial electron transport chain in fish.
The Photodynamic Antibacterial Effects of Silicon Phthalocyanine (Pc) 4
Authors: Dimaano Matthew , Rozario Chantal , Nerandzic Michelle , Donskey Curtis , Lam Minh , Baron Elma
Published: April 2015

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains in facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a global health issue. Typically, MRSA strains are found associated with institutions like hospitals but recent data suggest that they are becoming more prevalent in community-acquired infections. It is thought that the incidence and prevalence of bacterial infections will continue to increase as (a) more frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosuppressive medications; (b) increased number of invasive medical procedures; and (c) higher incidence of neutropenia and HIV infections. Therefore, more optimal treatments, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), are warranted. PDT requires the interaction of light, a photosensitizing agent, and molecular oxygen to induce cytotoxic effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and characterized the mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by photodynamic therapy sensitized by silicon phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 on (a) methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (ATCC 25923); (b) community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) (ATCC 43300); and (c) hospital acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) (PFGE type 300). Our data include confocal image analysis, which confirmed that Pc 4 is taken up by all S. aureus strains, and viable cell recovery assay, which showed that concentrations as low as 1.0 μM Pc 4 incubated for 3 h at 37 °C followed by light at 2.0 J/cm2 can reduce cell survival by 2–5 logs. These results are encouraging, but before PDT can be utilized as an alternative treatment for eradicating resistant strains, we must first characterize the mechanism of cell death that Pc 4-based PDT employs in eliminating these pathogens.
Effect of Different Luting Agents on the Retention of Lithium Disilicate Ceramic Crowns
Authors: Mobilio Nicola , Fasiol Alberto , Mollica Francesco , Catapano Santo
Published: April 2015

No studies are available that evaluate the retention of disilicate crowns according to different cementation procedures. The purpose of this study was to measure the retention of lithium disilicate crowns cemented using two different cementation systems. Twenty extracted mandibular premolars were prepared. Anatomic crowns were waxed and hot pressed using lithium disilicate ceramic. Teeth were divided into two groups (n = 10): (1) self-curing luting composite and (2) glass-ionomer cement (GIC). After cementation, the crowns were embedded in acrylic resin block with a screw base. Each specimen was pulled along the path of insertion in Universal Testing Machine. Failure load in Newtons (N) and failure mode were recorded for each specimen. Failure mode was classified as decementation or fracture. Failure load data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Failure modes were compared using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Mean failure load was 306.6(±193.8) N for composite group and 94.7(±48.2) N for GIC group (p = 0.004). Disilicate crown cemented with luting composite most often failed by fracture; otherwise, crown cemented with glass-ionomer cement most often failed by decementation (p = 0.02). Disilicate full crown cemented with luting composite showed higher failure load compared with conventional cementation with glass-ionomer cement.
Effect of Alkali-Acid-Heat Chemical Surface Treatment on Electron Beam Melted Porous Titanium and Its Apatite Forming Ability
Authors: Bsat Suzan , Yavari Saber , Munsch Maximilian , Valstar Edward , Zadpoor Amir
Published: April 2015

Advanced additive manufacturing techniques such as electron beam melting (EBM), can produce highly porous structures that resemble the mechanical properties and structure of native bone. However, for orthopaedic applications, such as joint prostheses or bone substitution, the surface must also be bio-functionalized to promote bone growth. In the current work, EBM porous Ti6Al4V alloy was exposed to an alkali acid heat (AlAcH) treatment to bio-functionalize the surface of the porous structure. Various molar concentrations (3, 5, 10M) and immersion times (6, 24 h) of the alkali treatment were used to determine optimal parameters. The apatite forming ability of the samples was evaluated using simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion testing. The micro-topography and surface chemistry of AlAcH treated samples were evaluated before and after SBF testing using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The AlAcH treatment successfully modified the topographical and chemical characteristics of EBM porous titanium surface creating nano-topographical features ranging from 200–300 nm in size with a titania layer ideal for apatite formation. After 1 and 3 week immersion in SBF, there was no Ca or P present on the surface of as manufactured porous titanium while both elements were present on all AlAcH treated samples except those exposed to 3M, 6 h alkali treatment. An increase in molar concentration and/or immersion time of alkali treatment resulted in an increase in the number of nano-topographical features per unit area as well as the amount of titania on the surface.
Assessment of Effective Seasonal Downscaling of TRMM Precipitation Data in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Mahmud Mohd , Numata Shinya , Matsuyama Hiroshi , Hosaka Tetsuro , Hashim Mazlan
Published: April 2015

Precise spatio-temporal measurements of rainfall during seasonal monsoons are critical for accurate hydrologic analyses in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. The use of satellite precipitation data is technologically sound but requires downscaling to minimize inherent uncertainties. The uncertainties at a local climate regime that are essential to be resolved are rarely reported; consequently, such work needs attention. To address this problem, we validated the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation data using high-resolution areal precipitation (0.125 deg.) at a seasonal scale. This study examined the performance of the monthly rainfall data product (TRMM 3B43) at the seasonal monsoon scale in the local climate region of Peninsular Malaysia. The high-resolution areal precipitation data (0.125 deg.) were derived from a dense rain gauge network ever collected in Peninsular Malaysia (n = 984). Three relevant performance elements were evaluated: (i) the ability to depict temporal rainfall variation (ii) the quantitative error between TRMM and ground rainfall; and (iii) the ability to estimate the actual rainfall amount. We found that the ability of monthly TRMM data to depict rainfall variation and its tendency to propagate large errors varied seasonally. The correlation between TRMM and ground rainfall was good during the wettest period in all local climate regions. The error was related to the northeast monsoon and inter-monsoon 2 (September–October). Meanwhile, the TRMM ratio varied regionally, rather than seasonally. Determining the local-scale uncertainties will facilitate future downscale activities using TRMM satellite data in this region.
Toward the Estimation of Surface Soil Moisture Content Using Geostationary Satellite Data over Sparsely Vegetated Area
Authors: Leng Pei , Song Xiaoning , Li Zhao-Liang , Wang Yawei , Wang Ruixin
Published: April 2015

Based on a novel bare surface soil moisture (SSM) retrieval model developed from the synergistic use of the diurnal cycles of land surface temperature (LST) and net surface shortwave radiation (NSSR) (Leng et al. 2014. “Bare Surface Soil Moisture Retrieval from the Synergistic Use of Optical and Thermal Infrared Data”. International Journal of Remote Sensing 35: 988–1003.), this paper mainly investigated the model’s capability to estimate SSM using geostationary satellite observations over vegetated area. Results from the simulated data primarily indicated that the previous bare SSM retrieval model is capable of estimating SSM in the low vegetation cover condition with fractional vegetation cover (FVC) ranging from 0 to 0.3. In total, the simulated data from the Common Land Model (CoLM) on 151 cloud-free days at three FLUXNET sites that with different climate patterns were used to describe SSM estimates with different underlying surfaces. The results showed a strong correlation between the estimated SSM and the simulated values, with a mean Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.028 m3·m−3 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.869. Moreover, diurnal cycles of LST and NSSR derived from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite data on 59 cloud-free days were utilized to estimate SSM in the REMEDHUS soil moisture network (Spain). In particular, determination of the model coefficients synchronously using satellite observations and SSM measurements was explored in detail in the cases where meteorological data were not available. A preliminary validation was implemented to verify the MSG pixel average SSM in the REMEDHUS area with the average SSM calculated from the site measurements. The results revealed a significant R2 of 0.595 and an RMSE of 0.021 m3·m−3.
Urban Surface Temperature Time Series Estimation at the Local Scale by Spatial-Spectral Unmixing of Satellite Observations
Authors: Mitraka Zina , Chrysoulakis Nektarios , Doxani Georgia , Del Frate Fabio , Berger Michael
Published: April 2015

The study of urban climate requires frequent and accurate monitoring of land surface temperature (LST), at the local scale. Since currently, no space-borne sensor provides frequent thermal infrared imagery at high spatial resolution, the scientific community has focused on synergistic methods for retrieving LST that can be suitable for urban studies. Synergistic methods that combine the spatial structure of visible and near-infrared observations with the more frequent, but low-resolution surface temperature patterns derived by thermal infrared imagery provide excellent means for obtaining frequent LST estimates at the local scale in cities. In this study, a new approach based on spatial-spectral unmixing techniques was developed for improving the spatial resolution of thermal infrared observations and the subsequent LST estimation. The method was applied to an urban area in Crete, Greece, for the time period of one year. The results were evaluated against independent high-resolution LST datasets and found to be very promising, with RMSE less than 2 K in all cases. The developed approach has therefore a high potential to be operationally used in the near future, exploiting the Copernicus Sentinel (2 and 3) observations, to provide high spatio-temporal resolution LST estimates in cities.
Hysteresis Analysis and Positioning Control for a Magnetic Shape Memory Actuator
Authors: Lin Jhih-Hong , Chiang Mao-Hsiung
Published: April 2015

Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSM alloys), a new kind of smart materials, have become a potential candidate in many engineering fields. MSMs have the advantage of bearing a huge strain, much larger than other materials. In addition, they also have fast response. These characteristics make MSM a good choice in micro engineering. However, MSMs display the obvious hysteresis phenomenon of nonlinear behavior. Thus the difficulty in using the MSM element as a positioning actuator is increased due to the hysteresis. In this paper, the hysteresis phenomenon of the MSM actuator is analyzed, and the closed-loop positioning control is also implemented experimentally. For that, a modified fuzzy sliding mode control (MFSMC) is proposed. The MFSMC and the PID control are used to design the controllers for realizing the positioning control. The experimental results are compared under different experimental conditions, such as different frequency, amplitude, and loading. The experimental results show that the precise positioning control of MFSMC can be achieved satisfactorily.
Detection of Steel Fatigue Cracks with Strain Sensing Sheets Based on Large Area Electronics
Authors: Yao Yao , Glisic Branko
Published: April 2015

Reliable early-stage damage detection requires continuous monitoring over large areas of structure, and with sensors of high spatial resolution. Technologies based on Large Area Electronics (LAE) can enable direct sensing and can be scaled to the level required for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of civil structures and infrastructure. Sensing sheets based on LAE contain dense arrangements of thin-film strain sensors, associated electronics and various control circuits deposited and integrated on a flexible polyimide substrate that can cover large areas of structures. This paper presents the development stage of a prototype strain sensing sheet based on LAE for crack detection and localization. Two types of sensing-sheet arrangements with size 6 × 6 inch (152 × 152 mm) were designed and manufactured, one with a very dense arrangement of sensors and the other with a less dense arrangement of sensors. The sensing sheets were bonded to steel plates, which had a notch on the boundary, so the fatigue cracks could be generated under cyclic loading. The sensors within the sensing sheet that were close to the notch tip successfully detected the initialization of fatigue crack and localized the damage on the plate. The sensors that were away from the crack successfully detected the propagation of fatigue cracks based on the time history of the measured strain. The results of the tests have validated the general principles of the proposed sensing sheets for crack detection and identified advantages and challenges of the two tested designs.
Decentralized System Identification Using Stochastic Subspace Identification for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Cho Soojin , Park Jong-Woong , Sim Sung-Han
Published: April 2015

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) facilitate a new paradigm to structural identification and monitoring for civil infrastructure. Conventional structural monitoring systems based on wired sensors and centralized data acquisition systems are costly for installation as well as maintenance. WSNs have emerged as a technology that can overcome such difficulties, making deployment of a dense array of sensors on large civil structures both feasible and economical. However, as opposed to wired sensor networks in which centralized data acquisition and processing is common practice, WSNs require decentralized computing algorithms to reduce data transmission due to the limitation associated with wireless communication. In this paper, the stochastic subspace identification (SSI) technique is selected for system identification, and SSI-based decentralized system identification (SDSI) is proposed to be implemented in a WSN composed of Imote2 wireless sensors that measure acceleration. The SDSI is tightly scheduled in the hierarchical WSN, and its performance is experimentally verified in a laboratory test using a 5-story shear building model.
Light-Addressable Measurement of in Vivo Tissue Oxygenation in an Unanesthetized Zebrafish Embryo via Phase-Based Phosphorescence Lifetime Detection
Authors: Huang Shih-Hao , Yu Chu-Hung , Chien Yi-Lung
Published: April 2015

We have developed a digital light modulation system that utilizes a modified commercial projector equipped with a laser diode as a light source for quantitative measurements of in vivo tissue oxygenation in an unanesthetized zebrafish embryo via phase-based phosphorescence lifetime detection. The oxygen-sensitive phosphorescent probe (Oxyphor G4) was first inoculated into the bloodstream of 48 h post-fertilization (48 hpf) zebrafish embryos via the circulation valley to rapidly disperse probes throughout the embryo. The unanesthetized zebrafish embryo was introduced into the microfluidic device and immobilized on its lateral side by using a pneumatically actuated membrane. By controlling the illumination pattern on the digital micromirror device in the projector, the modulated excitation light can be spatially projected to illuminate arbitrarily-shaped regions of tissue of interest for in vivo oxygen measurements. We have successfully measured in vivo oxygen changes in the cardiac region and cardinal vein of a 48 hpf zebrafish embryo that experience hypoxia and subsequent normoxic conditions. Our proposed platform provides the potential for the real-time investigation of oxygen distribution in tissue microvasculature that relates to physiological stimulation and diseases in a developing organism.
Motion-Blurred Particle Image Restoration for On-Line Wear Monitoring
Authors: Peng Yeping , Wu Tonghai , Wang Shuo , Kwok Ngaiming , Peng Zhongxiao
Published: April 2015

On-line images of wear debris contain important information for real-time condition monitoring, and a dynamic imaging technique can eliminate particle overlaps commonly found in static images, for instance, acquired using ferrography. However, dynamic wear debris images captured in a running machine are unavoidably blurred because the particles in lubricant are in motion. Hence, it is difficult to acquire reliable images of wear debris with an adequate resolution for particle feature extraction. In order to obtain sharp wear particle images, an image processing approach is proposed. Blurred particles were firstly separated from the static background by utilizing a background subtraction method. Second, the point spread function was estimated using power cepstrum to determine the blur direction and length. Then, the Wiener filter algorithm was adopted to perform image restoration to improve the image quality. Finally, experiments were conducted with a large number of dynamic particle images to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method and the performance of the approach was also evaluated. This study provides a new practical approach to acquire clear images for on-line wear monitoring.
Combining Users’ Activity Survey and Simulators to Evaluate Human Activity Recognition Systems
Authors: Azkune Gorka , Almeida Aitor , López-de-Ipiña Diego , Chen Liming
Published: April 2015

Evaluating human activity recognition systems usually implies following expensive and time-consuming methodologies, where experiments with humans are run with the consequent ethical and legal issues. We propose a novel evaluation methodology to overcome the enumerated problems, which is based on surveys for users and a synthetic dataset generator tool. Surveys allow capturing how different users perform activities of daily living, while the synthetic dataset generator is used to create properly labelled activity datasets modelled with the information extracted from surveys. Important aspects, such as sensor noise, varying time lapses and user erratic behaviour, can also be simulated using the tool. The proposed methodology is shown to have very important advantages that allow researchers to carry out their work more efficiently. To evaluate the approach, a synthetic dataset generated following the proposed methodology is compared to a real dataset computing the similarity between sensor occurrence frequencies. It is concluded that the similarity between both datasets is more than significant.
Understanding the Effects of Crime on Women: Fear and Well-Being in the Context of Diverse Relationships
Authors: Hanley Natalia , Ruppanner Leah
Published: April 2015

The risk-fear paradox, whereby people who experience the least criminal victimisation report the greatest fear of crime, has been established in the extant literature. That this paradox is gendered, notably that women report greater fear yet are less likely to experience crime, has also been consistently identified. However, there remains a largely unanswered call to explore further the distinctive experiences of women and men. There are likely to be substantial within-group differences as well as between-group differences in experiences of crime and reported fear of crime. For instance, women may experience fear differently by relationship type. Specifically, women in non-traditional families, notably same-sex couples and single, divorced and widowed women may be more fearful. Therefore, for women, the risk-fear paradox may not function equivalently across relationship types. What is more, the impact of experiencing crime may have broader effects on women’s well-being, with those in families with complex needs shouldering a greater burden. We apply 2012 European Social Survey data to investigate reports of experiencing crime, feeling unsafe and anxious and sleeping restlessly for a sample of European women (n = 28,768). Our results demonstrate that single, separated and divorced women are more likely to experience crime than married women. Divorced and widowed women, as well as those who experience crime, are more likely to report feeling unsafe. Single women, compared to married women, who experience crime are more likely to feel anxious and sleep restlessly. Our results indicate that crime has differential effects on women by relationship type particularly regarding well-being. These findings offer important nuance to the experiences of women.
Sustainable Civil-Society Engagement: Potentials of a Transnational Civil Society in French-German, Polish-German, and Czech-German Border Regions
Authors: Boehnke Klaus , Rippl Susanne , Fuss Daniel
Published: April 2015

Based on representative survey data, the present study examines potentials for the sustainable development of a transnational civil society in French-German, Polish-German, and Czech-German border regions. The theoretical framework is a social capital approach in the tradition of Putnam. Transnational engagement is seen as a key element for the development of a border-crossing civil society. For the analysis, existing forms of social capital were classified according to their bridging and bonding functions and the potentials of local and transnational activities are described. Furthermore, using multilevel analysis, the predictive power of different variables like individual dispositions and specific contexts of the regions on cross-border activities are examined. Descriptively, the expected lower level of local civil-society engagement, in general, and also with regard to the transnational activities was found for post-socialist border regions. It is shown that, first and foremost, existing experience in civil-society engagement in the local context is a high-impact predictor for both transnational activities and an interest in such activities. Other variables like feelings of a historical burden or the economic situation of the region are less important.
In Ovo Delivery of CpG DNA Reduces Avian Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus Induced Mortality and Morbidity
Authors: Thapa Simrika , Cader Mohamed , Murugananthan Kalamathy , Nagy Eva , Sharif Shayan , Czub Markus , Abdul-Careem Mohamed
Published: April 2015

Endosomal toll-like receptor-21 and -9 sense CpG DNA activating production of pro-inflammatory mediators with antimicrobial effects. Here, we investigated the induction of antiviral response of in ovo delivered CpG DNA against infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) infection. We found that in ovo delivered CpG DNA significantly reduces ILTV infection pre-hatch correlating with the expression of IL-1β and increase of macrophages in lungs. As assessed in vitro, CpG DNA stimulated avian macrophages could be a potential source of IL-1β and other pro-inflammatory mediators. Since we also found that in ovo CpG DNA delivery maintains increased macrophages in the lungs post-hatch, we infected the chickens on the day of hatch with ILTV. We found that in ovo delivered CpG DNA significantly reduces mortality and morbidity resulting from ILTV infection encountered post-hatch. Thus, CpG DNA can be a candidate innate immune stimulant worthy of further investigation for the control of ILTV infection in chickens.
Les risques d'inondation sur la Planèze des Cabris à l'île de la Réunion (Flood risks on the Planèze des Cabris, Reunion Island)
Authors: Lorion David
Published: April 2015

Résumé. - L'île de la Réunion est exposée à l'un des risques climatiques majeurs : les cyclones. Les trois derniers (Hyacinthe 1980, Clotilda 1987, Firinga 1989) ont provoqué des dégâts qui ont coûté à la collectivité plusieurs centaines de millions de francs. Ces cyclones provoquent des pluies diluviennes dont les effets sont largement accentués par le relief montagneux de l'île. Les eaux se concentrent rapidement dans les chenaux qui parcourent les planèzes et débordent fréquemment. Or l'une des caractéristiques actuelles de la planèze des Cabris est une extension rapide des zones urbanisées. Après les inondations des années 1980, l'Etat a décidé de mettre en place un programme d'endiguement des ravines (P.P.E.R.) et le dixième plan Etat-Région a étendu le champ d'application du P.P.E.R. à l'ensemble des cours d'eau. La priorité donnée à l'endiguement des ravines ne paraît pas cependant suffisante pour écarter tout danger d'inondation. Beaucoup de digues prévues pour résister à des crues cinquantenales à centenales ont craqué.
Contribution des constats d'endommagement au développement d'une méthodologie d'évaluation de la vulnérabilité appliquée aux phénomènes de mouvements de terrain (Contribution of damaging reports to the development of an appraisal methodology of vulnerability, applied to mass movements)
Authors: Leone Frédéric , Aste J.-P. , Velasquez Elkin
Published: April 2015

Résumé. - Le présent article souligne en quoi les enseignements tirés de l'analyse en retour de catastrophes générées par des mouvements de terrain peuvent contribuer à améliorer la connaissance du thème de la vulnérabilité, élément fondamental de l'appréciation du risque. Mettant à profit ce retour d'expérience, les auteurs structurent et explicitent les concepts et données de base nécessaires au développement d'une méthodologie d'évaluation de la vulnérabilité appliquée aux phénomènes de mouvements de terrain.
Réflexion sur les besoins de communication entre les divers intervenants dans la prévention des risques générés par les mouvements de terrain. Les apports des scenarii de risques (Some thoughts about communication needs between different actors working in the prevention of risks associated with mass movements. The contribution of hazards scenarii)
Authors: Velasquez Elkin , Asté Jean-Pierre , Leone Frédéric
Published: April 2015

Résumé. - Lorsque se révèle un phénomène dangereux, il est difficile d'éviter la génération d'une situation de crise qui peut durer de nombreuses semaines, voire plusieurs années, selon le rythme et la gravité du phénomène. Une bonne partie de la crise naît d'un manque de préparation et d'une difficulté de communication entre les divers intervenants : techniciens, scientifiques, décideurs, journalistes et populations concernées. Chacun a en effet ses préoccupations propres et tous ont une culture et une préparation différente vis-à-vis du danger ou des responsabilités qui les guettent.

Résoudre la crise c'est d'abord essayer de favoriser une perception commune afin que besoins et moyens des uns et des autres soient mieux ressentis. Il faut pour cela des équipes solidaires, expérimentées, capables de tirer des leçons des événements du passé et préparées ensemble à évaluer les enjeux et à les faire percevoir grâce à des scenarii de crise. De tels scenarii, à éventail forcément très large au départ, permettront de mettre en place une conscience et une perception commune.

La mise en œuvre et la validation de tels scenarii permet d'aboutir à une solution consensuelle. De nombreux outils puissants (SGBS, SIG, Hyperdocuments) peuvent largement contribuer à l'élaboration des méthodologies souhaitées.
La cartographie des risques naturels en zone urbanisée. Pourquoi ? Pour qui ? L'exemple de Créteil-Valenton (Val-de- Marne) (Map-making of natural hazards in urbanized areas. Why ? For whom ? The case of Créteil-Valenton, Val-de-Marne)
Authors: Steinberg Jean
Published: April 2015

Résumé. - Une cartographie de la dynamique de l'occupation humaine en zone urbanisée a été réalisée dans un secteur de banlieue parisienne. On y ajoute en surcharge les zones inondables selon l'ampleur des crues. Ce document doit pouvoir orienter les aménageurs dans leur prise de décision.