bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Divergent Role of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate in Liver Health and Disease
Authors: Kleuser Burkhard
Published: March 2018

Two decades ago, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) was discovered as a novel bioactive molecule that regulates a variety of cellular functions. The plethora of S1P-mediated effects is due to the fact that the sphingolipid not only modulates intracellular functions but also acts as a ligand of G protein-coupled receptors after secretion into the extracellular environment. In the plasma, S1P is found in high concentrations, modulating immune cell trafficking and vascular endothelial integrity. The liver is engaged in modulating the plasma S1P content, as it produces apolipoprotein M, which is a chaperone for the S1P transport. Moreover, the liver plays a substantial role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. A dysfunction of glucose and lipid metabolism is connected with the development of liver diseases such as hepatic insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or liver fibrosis. Recent studies indicate that S1P is involved in liver pathophysiology and contributes to the development of liver diseases. In this review, the current state of knowledge about S1P and its signaling in the liver is summarized with a specific focus on the dysregulation of S1P signaling in obesity-mediated liver diseases. Thus, the modulation of S1P signaling can be considered as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of hepatic diseases.
Inhibition of Late and Early Phases of Cancer Metastasis by the NF-κB Inhibitor DHMEQ Derived from Microbial Bioactive Metabolite Epoxyquinomicin: A Review
Authors: Lin Yinzhi , Ukaji Tamami , Koide Naoki , Umezawa Kazuo
Published: March 2018

We previously designed and synthesized dehydroxyepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) as an inhibitor of NF-κB based on the structure of microbial secondary metabolite epoxyquinomicin C. DHMEQ showed anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity in various in vivo disease models without toxicity. On the other hand, the process of cancer metastasis consists of cell detachment from the primary tumor, invasion, transportation by blood or lymphatic vessels, invasion, attachment, and formation of secondary tumor. Cell detachment from the primary tumor and subsequent invasion are considered to be early phases of metastasis, while tumor cell attachment to the tissue and secondary tumor formation the late phases. The assay system for the latter phase was set up with intra-portal-vein injection of pancreatic cancer cells. Intraperitoneal administration of DHMEQ was found to inhibit liver metastasis possibly by decreasing the expression of MMP-9 and IL-8. Also, when the pancreatic cancer cells treated with DHMEQ were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of mice, the metastatic foci formation was inhibited. These results indicate that DHMEQ is likely to inhibit the late phase of metastasis. Meanwhile, we have recently employed three-dimensional (3D) culture of breast cancer cells for the model of early phase metastasis, since the 3D invasion just includes cell detachment and invasion into the matrix. DHMEQ inhibited the 3D invasion of breast cancer cells at 3D-nontoxic concentrations. In this way, DHMEQ was shown to inhibit the late and early phases of metastasis. Thus, DHMEQ is likely to be useful for the suppression of cancer metastasis.
A Novel Approach for Group Decision-Making from Intuitionistic Fuzzy Preference Relations and Intuitionistic Multiplicative Preference Relations
Authors: Wang Rui , Li Yan-Lai
Published: March 2018

During the decision-making process, evaluation information may be given in different formats based on the decision makers’ research fields or personal customs. To address the situation that alternatives are evaluated by both intuitionistic fuzzy preference relations (IFPRs) and intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations (IMPRs), a new priority approach based on a net flow score function is proposed. First, the two preference relations above are transformed into the corresponding interval-valued fuzzy preference relations (IVFPRs) and interval-valued multiplicative preference relations (IVMPRs), respectively. Second, the net flow score functions of individual IFPRs and IMPRs are obtained. Third, according to information theory, a mean deviation maximization model is constructed to compute the weights of decision-makers objectively. Finally, the collective net flow score of each alternative is obtained to determine the ranking result. The proposed method is certified to be simple, valid, and practical with three examples.
Multi-Scale Modeling for Predicting the Stiffness and Strength of Hollow-Structured Metal Foams with Structural Hierarchy
Authors: Yi Yong , Zheng Xiaoyang , Fu Zhibing , Wang Chaoyang , Xu Xibin , Tan Xiulan
Published: March 2018

This work was inspired by previous experiments which managed to establish an optimal template-dealloying route to prepare ultralow density metal foams. In this study, we propose a new analytical–numerical model of hollow-structured metal foams with structural hierarchy to predict its stiffness and strength. The two-level model comprises a main backbone and a secondary nanoporous structure. The main backbone is composed of hollow sphere-packing architecture, while the secondary one is constructed of a bicontinuous nanoporous network proposed to describe the nanoscale interactions in the shell. Firstly, two nanoporous models with different geometries are generated by Voronoi tessellation, then the scaling laws of the mechanical properties are determined as a function of relative density by finite volume simulation. Furthermore, the scaling laws are applied to identify the uniaxial compression behavior of metal foams. It is shown that the thickness and relative density highly influence the Young’s modulus and yield strength, and vacancy defect determines the foams being self-supported. The present study provides not only new insights into the mechanical behaviors of both nanoporous metals and metal foams, but also a practical guide for their fabrication and application.
Oligo-Porphyran Ameliorates Neurobehavioral Deficits in Parkinsonian Mice by Regulating the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 Pathway
Authors: Liu Yingjuan , Geng Lihua , Zhang Jingjing , Wang Jing , Zhang Qi , Duan Delin , Zhang Quanbin
Published: March 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that is caused by a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. Current PD treatments provide symptomatic relief but do not prevent or decelerate disease progression. Previous studies have suggested that acetylated and phosphorylated porphyran, derived from Porphyra, produces a neuroprotective effect against 6-OHDA-induced damage. Due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective potential, this study evaluates whether oligo-porphyran (OP) could be beneficial in an experimental model of PD in mice. The drug 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was intraperitoneally injected (20 mg/kg body weight) for seven days to simulate PD, followed by OP administration. We found that the behavioral deficits in spontaneous motor activity, latency to descend in a pole test, and suspension in a traction test were ameliorated, and excessive dopamine (DA) metabolism was suppressed after OP treatment. Additionally, we found that OP protected dopaminergic neurons by preventing MPTP-induced decreases in dopaminergic transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels. We speculated whether OP regulates a signaling pathway that affects the behavioral changes seen in PD mice. In this study, the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 pathway was detected. Our results demonstrate that OP increased the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β and inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, with changes in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These results showed that OP might promote DA neuron survival in vivo by regulating the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 pathway, thereby ameliorating the neurobehavioral deficits in a PD mouse model and suggesting OP as a neuroprotective treatment for PD.
Hydrolytic Degradation and Mechanical Stability of Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes as Scaffolds for In Vitro Neural Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Sánchez-González Sandra , Diban Nazely , Urtiaga Ane
Published: March 2018

The present work studies the functional behavior of novel poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes functionalized with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoplatelets under simulated in vitro culture conditions (phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at 37 °C) during 1 year, in order to elucidate their applicability as scaffolds for in vitro neural regeneration. The morphological, chemical, and DSC results demonstrated that high internal porosity of the membranes facilitated water permeation and procured an accelerated hydrolytic degradation throughout the bulk pathway. Therefore, similar molecular weight reduction, from 80 kDa to 33 kDa for the control PCL, and to 27 kDa for PCL/rGO membranes, at the end of the study, was observed. After 1 year of hydrolytic degradation, though monomers coming from the hydrolytic cleavage of PCL diffused towards the PBS medium, the pH was barely affected, and the rGO nanoplatelets mainly remained in the membranes which envisaged low cytotoxic effect. On the other hand, the presence of rGO nanomaterials accelerated the loss of mechanical stability of the membranes. However, it is envisioned that the gradual degradation of the PCL/rGO membranes could facilitate cells infiltration, interconnectivity, and tissue formation.
Modeling and Closed Loop Flight Testing of a Fixed Wing Micro Air Vehicle
Authors: Kandath Harikumar , Pushpangathan Jinraj , Bera Titas , Dhall Sidhant , Bhat M.
Published: March 2018

This paper presents the nonlinear six degrees of freedom dynamic modeling of a fixed wing micro air vehicle. The static derivatives of the micro air vehicle are obtained through the wind tunnel testing. The propeller effects on the lift, drag, pitching moment and side force are quantified through wind tunnel testing. The dynamic derivatives are obtained through empirical relations available in the literature. The trim conditions are computed for a straight and constant altitude flight condition. The linearized longitudinal and lateral state space models are obtained about trim conditions. The variations in short period mode, phugoid mode, Dutch roll mode, roll subsidence mode and spiral mode with respect to different trim operating conditions is presented. A stabilizing static output feedback controller is designed using the obtained model. Successful closed loop flight trials are conducted with the static output feedback controller.
Reflectance Spectral Features and Significant Minerals in Kaishantun Ophiolite Suite, Jilin Province, NE China
Authors: Shi Chenglong , Ding Xiaozhong , Liu Yanxue , Zhou Xiaodong
Published: March 2018

This study used spectrometry to determine the spectral absorption of five types of mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Kaishantun ophiolite suite in Northeast China. Absorption peak wavelengths were determined for peridotite, diabase, basalt, pyroxenite, and gabbro. Glaucophane, actinolite, zoisite, and epidote absorption peaks were also measured, and these were used to distinguish such minerals from other associated minerals in ophiolite suite samples. Combined with their chemical compositions, the blueschist facies (glaucophane + epidote + chlorite) and greenschist facies (actinolite + epidote + chlorite) mineral assemblage was distinct based on its spectral signature. Based on the regional tectonic setting, the Kaishantun ophiolite suite probably experienced the blueschist facies metamorphic peak during subduction and greenschist facies retrograde metamorphism during later slab rollback.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Lupinalbin A Isolated from Apios americana on Lipopolysaccharide-Treated RAW264.7 Cells
Authors: Kim Hyo-Young , Kim Jang , So YangKang , Kang Si-Yong , Jeong Hye , Jin Chang
Published: March 2018

Apios americana, a leguminous plant, is used as food in some countries. Although the biological activities of Apios extract have been reported, there have been no reports about the anti-inflammatory mechanism of lupinalbin A on the RAW264.7 cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of A. americana lupinalbin A on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells. Lupinalbin A significantly inhibited nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. The expression of cytokines, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and chemokine of monocyte chemoattractant protein, was reduced under lupinalbin A exposure in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, lupinalbin A significantly decreased LPS-induced interferon (IFN)-β production and STAT1 protein levels in RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that A. americana lupinalbin A exerts anti-inflammatory effects via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and blocking of IFN-β/STAT1 pathway activation.
Characterization of Condensed Tannins from Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea Vent.) Conserved as either Freeze-Dried Forage, Sun-Cured Hay or Silage
Authors: Peng Kai , Huang Qianqian , Xu Zhongjun , McAllister Tim , Acharya Surya , Mueller-Harvey Irene , Drake Christopher , Cao Junming , Huang Yanhua , Sun Yuping , Wang Shunxi , Wang Yuxi
Published: March 2018

Conservation methods have been shown to affect forage nutrient composition and value, but little information is available about the effect of forage conservation on plant condensed tannins (CT). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of conservation method on the concentration, chemical composition and biological activity of CT. Whole-plant purple prairie clover (PPC, Dalea purpurea Vent.) was harvested at full flower and conserved as freeze-dried forage (FD), hay (HAY) or silage (SIL). Concentration of CT in conserved PPC was determined by the butanol-HCl-acetone method. Structural composition, protein-precipitation capacity and anti-bacterial activity of CT isolated from conserved forage were determined by in situ thiolytic degradation followed by HPLC-MS analysis, a protein precipitation assay using bovine serum albumin and ribulose 1,5-disphosphate carboxylase as model proteins and by an Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth test, respectively. Conservation method had no effect on concentration of total CT, but ensiling decreased (p < 0.001) extractable CT and increased (p < 0.001) protein- and fiber-bound CT. In contrast, hay-making only increased (p < 0.01) protein-bound CT. Regardless of conservation method, epigallocatechin (EGC), catechin (C) and epicatechin (EC) were the major flavan-3-ol units, and gallocatechin (GC) was absent from both terminal and extension units of PPC CT. The SIL CT had the lowest (p < 0.001) EGC, but the highest (p < 0.01) EC in the extension units. Similarly, SIL CT exhibited a lower (p < 0.001) mean degree of polymerization (mDP), but higher (p < 0.001) procyanidins (PC) than FD or HAY CT. The protein-precipitating capacity of CT in conserved PPC ranked (p < 0.001) as FD > HAY > SIL. E. coli growth n M9 medium was inhibited by 25–100 µg/mL of CT isolated from FD, HAY and SIL (p < 0.05), but preservation method had no effect on the ability of CT to inhibit bacterial growth. The results demonstrated that ensiling decreased the extractability and protein-precipitating capacity of CT by increasing the proportions of PC. Purple prairie clover conserved as hay retained more biologically active CT than if it was conserved as silage.
Modifiable “Predictors” of Zinc Status in Toddlers
Authors: Daniels Lisa , Williams Sheila , Gibson Rosalind , Taylor Rachael , Samman Samir , Heath Anne-Louise
Published: March 2018

Suboptimal zinc status is common in very young children and likely associated with increased risk of infection and detrimental effects on growth. No studies have determined potentially modifiable “predictors” of zinc status in toddlers from high-income countries. This cross-sectional analysis of 115 toddlers from the Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) study used weighed diet records (three non-consecutive days) to assess dietary intake, and a venous blood sample (trace-element free techniques) to assess plasma zinc, at 12 months of age. “Predictors” of plasma zinc were determined by univariate analysis and multiple regression. Mean (SD) plasma zinc was 9.7 (1.5) μmol/L, 60% were below the IZiNCG reference limit of <9.9 μmol/L. Median (25th, 75th percentiles) intake of zinc was 4.4 (3.7, 5.4) mg/day. Red meat intake (p = 0.004), consumption of zinc-fortified infant formula (3–6 mg zinc/100 g) (p = 0.026), and food fussiness (p = 0.028) were statistically significant “predictors” of plasma zinc at 12 months. Although higher intakes of red meat, and consumption of infant formula, are potentially achievable, it is important to consider possible barriers, particularly impact on breastfeeding, cost, and the challenges of behavior modification. Of interest is the association with food fussiness—further research should investigate the direction of this association.
Main Sources, Socio-Demographic and Anthropometric Correlates of Salt Intake in Austria
Authors: Hasenegger Verena , Rust Petra , König Jürgen , Purtscher Anna , Erler Judith , Ekmekcioglu Cem
Published: March 2018

Excessive salt intake is known to increase blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, salt intake exceeds the recommendations in most countries. To face this problem, it is important to identify high consumers as well as the main contributors of salt intake. Overall, data of 2018 adults between 18 and 64 years were analysed to determine the main sources, socio-demographic and anthropometric correlates of salt intake. Dietary intake was assessed from 24-h-recalls, information on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained using a questionnaire and anthropometric data were measured. Salt intake was significantly higher in males than in females. There was a significant positive association between salt intake and body mass index. No significant differences in salt intake were observed for other variables including affluence, educational level, smoking status and physical activity. The main contributor to salt intake were condiments including table salt (32.6%), followed by cereals and cereal products (27.0%), meat and meat products (16.1%) and dairy products (14.0%). These results highlight that specific population groups need to be targeted by public health initiatives and that a reduction in salt intake can only be achieved in tandem with the food producers by the reduction of salt in processed foods.
Polar Constituents of Salvia willeana (Holmboe) Hedge, Growing Wild in Cyprus
Authors: Mailis Theofilos , Skaltsa Helen
Published: March 2018

Twenty compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia willeana (Holmboe) Hedge, growing wild in Cyprus. These compounds comprise one new and one known acetophenone, one megastigmane glucoside, five phenolic derivatives, two caffeic acid oligomers, three flavonoids, two lignans, two triterpene acids, one monoterpene glucoside, and two fatty acids. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of NMR [(Rotating-frame OverhauserEffect SpectroscopY) (1H-1H-COSY (COrrelation SpectroscopΥ), 1H-13C-HSQC (Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation), HMBC (Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation), NOESY (Nuclear Overhauser Effect SpectroscopY), ROESY (Rotating-frame Overhauser Effect SpectroscopY)] and MS spectral analyses. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of 4-hydroxy-acetophenone 4-O-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside. A chemical review on the non-volatile secondary metabolites has been carried out. Based on the literature data, the analysis revealed that the chemical profile of S. willeana is close to that of S. officinalis L.
Chitosan and Its Derivatives for Application in Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: M. Ways Twana , Lau Wing , Khutoryanskiy Vitaliy
Published: March 2018

Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems are desirable as they can increase the residence time of drugs at the site of absorption/action, provide sustained drug release and minimize the degradation of drugs in various body sites. Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide that exhibits mucoadhesive properties and it has been widely used in the design of mucoadhesive dosage forms. However, its limited mucoadhesive strength and limited water-solubility at neutral and basic pHs are considered as two major drawbacks of its use. Chemical modification of chitosan has been exploited to tackle these two issues. In this review, we highlight the up-to-date studies involving the synthetic approaches and description of mucoadhesive properties of chitosan and chitosan derivatives. These derivatives include trimethyl chitosan, carboxymethyl chitosan, thiolated chitosan, chitosan-enzyme inhibitors, chitosan-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (chitosan-EDTA), half-acetylated chitosan, acrylated chitosan, glycol chitosan, chitosan-catechol, methyl pyrrolidinone-chitosan, cyclodextrin-chitosan and oleoyl-quaternised chitosan. We have particularly focused on the effect of chemical derivatization on the mucoadhesive properties of chitosan. Additionally, other important properties including water-solubility, stability, controlled release, permeation enhancing effect, and in vivo performance are also described.
ECM Decorated Electrospun Nanofiber for Improving Bone Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Fu Yong , Liu Lili , Cheng Ruoyu , Cui Wenguo
Published: March 2018

Optimization of nanofiber surface properties can lead to enhanced tissue regeneration outcomes in the context of bone tissue engineering. Herein, we developed a facile strategy to decorate elctrospun nanofibers using extracellular matrix (ECM) in order to improve their performance for bone tissue engineering. Electrospun PLLA nanofibers (PLLA NF) were seeded with MC3T3-E1 cells and allowed to grow for two weeks in order to harvest a layer of ECM on nanofiber surface. After decellularization, we found that ECM was successfully preserved on nanofiber surface while maintaining the nanostructure of electrospun fibers. ECM decorated on PLLA NF is biologically active, as evidenced by its ability to enhance mouse bone marrow stromal cells (mBMSCs) adhesion, support cell proliferation and promote early stage osteogenic differentiation of mBMSCs. Compared to PLLA NF without ECM, mBMSCs grown on ECM/PLLA NF exhibited a healthier morphology, faster proliferation profile, and more robust osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, our study suggests that ECM decoration on electrospun nanofibers could serve as an efficient approach to improving their performance for bone tissue engineering.
The Anomalies of Hyaluronan Structures in Presence of Surface Active Phospholipids—Molecular Mass Dependence
Authors: Bełdowski Piotr , Andrysiak Tomasz , Mreła Aleksandra , Pawlak Zenon , Augé Wayne , Gadomski Adam
Published: March 2018

Interactions between hyaluronan (A-) and phospholipids play a key role in many systems in the human body. One example is the articular cartilage system, where the synergistic effect of such interactions supports nanoscale lubrication. A molecular dynamics simulation has been performed to understand the process of formation of hydrogen bonds inside the hyaluronan network, both in the presence and absence of phospholipids. Additionally, the effect of the molecular mass of (A-) was analyzed. The main finding of this work is a robust demonstration of the optimal parameters (H-bond energy, molecular mass) influencing the facilitated lubrication mechanism of the articular cartilage system. Simulation results show that the presence of phospholipids has the greatest influence on hyaluronan at low molecular mass. We also show the specific sites of H-bonding between chains. Simulation results can help to understand how hyaluronan and phospholipids interact at several levels of articular cartilage system functioning.
Why Are Suicides So Widespread in Catholic Lithuania?
Authors: Gailienė Danutė
Published: March 2018

Religion as a protective factor against suicide was introduced in Durkheim’s theory of suicide and analysed from various perspectives in multiple studies. The Lithuanian case is intriguing because before WWII, along with Catholic Poland, it showed much lower suicide rates than its Protestant neighbours Latvia and Estonia. However, today Lithuania is among the leading countries in terms of the prevalence of suicide. Interestingly, not much has changed in Lithuania in terms of religious denomination—about 80% of population call themselves Catholic. The aim of this article was to explore which factors might have affected religions’ protective function against suicide during radical historical processes. The method of study consists of an analysis of historical sources, and of recent studies in suicidology and sociology of religion about suicide and religion in Lithuania. The results of this analysis show that two factors seem to be most important—heroicizing resistance suicides and experiencing long-term politics of atheisation.
A Generalized Measure for the Optimal Portfolio Selection Problem and its Explicit Solution
Authors: Landsman Zinoviy , Makov Udi , Shushi Tomer
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we offer a novel class of utility functions applied to optimal portfolio selection. This class incorporates as special cases important measures such as the mean-variance, Sharpe ratio, mean-standard deviation and others. We provide an explicit solution to the problem of optimal portfolio selection based on this class. Furthermore, we show that each measure in this class generally reduces to the efficient frontier that coincides or belongs to the classical mean-variance efficient frontier. In addition, a condition is provided for the existence of the a one-to-one correspondence between the parameter of this class of utility functions and the trade-off parameter

λ

in the mean-variance utility function. This correspondence essentially provides insight into the choice of this parameter. We illustrate our results by taking a portfolio of stocks from National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ).
Improving the Quality of Satellite Imagery Based on Ground-Truth Data from Rain Gauge Stations
Authors: Militino Ana , Ugarte M. , Pérez-Goya Unai
Published: March 2018

Multitemporal imagery is by and large geometrically and radiometrically accurate, but the residual noise arising from removal clouds and other atmospheric and electronic effects can produce outliers that must be mitigated to properly exploit the remote sensing information. In this study, we show how ground-truth data from rain gauge stations can improve the quality of satellite imagery. To this end, a simulation study is conducted wherein different sizes of outlier outbreaks are spread and randomly introduced in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the day and night land surface temperature (LST) of composite images from Navarre (Spain) between 2011 and 2015. To remove outliers, a new method called thin-plate splines with covariates (TpsWc) is proposed. This method consists of smoothing the median anomalies with a thin-plate spline model, whereby transformed ground-truth data are the external covariates of the model. The performance of the proposed method is measured with the square root of the mean square error (RMSE), calculated as the root of the pixel-by-pixel mean square differences between the original data and the predicted data with the TpsWc model and with a state-space model with and without covariates. The study shows that the use of ground-truth data reduces the RMSE in both the TpsWc model and the state-space model used for comparison purposes. The new method successfully removes the abnormal data while preserving the phenology of the raw data. The RMSE reduction percentage varies according to the derived variables (NDVI or LST), but reductions of up to 20% are achieved with the new proposal.
Deep Salient Feature Based Anti-Noise Transfer Network for Scene Classification of Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Gong Xi , Xie Zhong , Liu Yuanyuan , Shi Xuguo , Zheng Zhuo
Published: March 2018

Remote sensing (RS) scene classification is important for RS imagery semantic interpretation. Although tremendous strides have been made in RS scene classification, one of the remaining open challenges is recognizing RS scenes in low quality variance (e.g., various scales and noises). This paper proposes a deep salient feature based anti-noise transfer network (DSFATN) method that effectively enhances and explores the high-level features for RS scene classification in different scales and noise conditions. In DSFATN, a novel discriminative deep salient feature (DSF) is introduced by saliency-guided DSF extraction, which conducts a patch-based visual saliency (PBVS) algorithm using “visual attention” mechanisms to guide pre-trained CNNs for producing the discriminative high-level features. Then, an anti-noise network is proposed to learn and enhance the robust and anti-noise structure information of RS scene by directly propagating the label information to fully-connected layers. A joint loss is used to minimize the anti-noise network by integrating anti-noise constraint and a softmax classification loss. The proposed network architecture can be easily trained with a limited amount of training data. The experiments conducted on three different scale RS scene datasets show that the DSFATN method has achieved excellent performance and great robustness in different scales and noise conditions. It obtains classification accuracy of 98.25%, 98.46%, and 98.80%, respectively, on the UC Merced Land Use Dataset (UCM), the Google image dataset of SIRI-WHU, and the SAT-6 dataset, advancing the state-of-the-art substantially.
Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Sensing of Malathion Pesticide in Tomato and Apple Samples Based on Gold Nanoparticles-Chitosan-Ionic Liquid Hybrid Nanocomposite
Authors: Bolat Gulcin , Abaci Serdar
Published: March 2018

Malathion (MLT) is an organophosphorous type pesticide and having seriously high toxicity and electrochemical platforms for rapid, simple, inexpensive and sensitive determination of pesticides is still a special concern. This paper describes a simple preparation of a composite film consisting of ionic liquid (IL), chitosan (CS) and electrochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on single use pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs). The microscopic and electrochemical characterization of AuNP-CS-IL/PGE was studied using scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This fabricated surface was then explored for the first time as a sensing matrix for the non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of malathion by cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry measurements. The proposed AuNP-CS-IL/PGE showed excellent characteristics and possessed remarkable affinity for malathion. The voltammetric current response exhibited two linear dynamic ranges, 0.89–5.94 nM and 5.94–44.6 nM reflecting two binding sites, with a detection limit of 0.68 nM. The method was applied in real sample analysis of apple and tomato. The results demonstrate the feasibility of AuNP-CS-IL-modified electrodes for simple, fast, ultrasensitive and inexpensive detection of MLT.
Development of a Novel Guided Wave Generation System Using a Giant Magnetostrictive Actuator for Nondestructive Evaluation
Authors: Luo Mingzhang , Li Weijie , Wang Junming , Wang Ning , Chen Xuemin , Song Gangbing
Published: March 2018

As a common approach to nondestructive testing and evaluation, guided wave-based methods have attracted much attention because of their wide detection range and high detection efficiency. It is highly desirable to develop a portable guided wave testing system with high actuating energy and variable frequency. In this paper, a novel giant magnetostrictive actuator with high actuation power is designed and implemented, based on the giant magnetostrictive (GMS) effect. The novel GMS actuator design involves a conical energy-focusing head that can focus the amplified mechanical energy generated by the GMS actuator. This design enables the generation of stress waves with high energy, and the focusing of the generated stress waves on the test object. The guided wave generation system enables two kinds of output modes: the coded pulse signal and the sweep signal. The functionality and the advantages of the developed system are validated through laboratory testing in the quality assessment of rock bolt-reinforced structures. In addition, the developed GMS actuator and the supporting system are successfully implemented and applied in field tests. The device can also be used in other nondestructive testing and evaluation applications that require high-power stress wave generation.
Research of Planetary Gear Fault Diagnosis Based on Permutation Entropy of CEEMDAN and ANFIS
Authors: Kuai Moshen , Cheng Gang , Pang Yusong , Li Yong
Published: March 2018

For planetary gear has the characteristics of small volume, light weight and large transmission ratio, it is widely used in high speed and high power mechanical system. Poor working conditions result in frequent failures of planetary gear. A method is proposed for diagnosing faults in planetary gear based on permutation entropy of Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) in this paper. The original signal is decomposed into 6 intrinsic mode functions (IMF) and residual components by CEEMDAN. Since the IMF contains the main characteristic information of planetary gear faults, time complexity of IMFs are reflected by permutation entropies to quantify the fault features. The permutation entropies of each IMF component are defined as the input of ANFIS, and its parameters and membership functions are adaptively adjusted according to training samples. Finally, the fuzzy inference rules are determined, and the optimal ANFIS is obtained. The overall recognition rate of the test sample used for ANFIS is 90%, and the recognition rate of gear with one missing tooth is relatively high. The recognition rates of different fault gears based on the method can also achieve better results. Therefore, the proposed method can be applied to planetary gear fault diagnosis effectively.
Coupling p+n Field-Effect Transistor Circuits for Low Concentration Methane Gas Detection
Authors: Zhou Xinyuan , Yang Liping , Bian Yuzhi , Ma Xiang , Han Ning , Chen Yunfa
Published: March 2018

Nowadays, the detection of low concentration combustible methane gas has attracted great concern. In this paper, a coupling p+n field effect transistor (FET) amplification circuit is designed to detect methane gas. By optimizing the load resistance (RL), the response to methane of the commercial MP-4 sensor can be magnified ~15 times using this coupling circuit. At the same time, it decreases the limit of detection (LOD) from several hundred ppm to ~10 ppm methane, with the apparent response of 7.0 ± 0.2 and voltage signal of 1.1 ± 0.1 V. This is promising for the detection of trace concentrations of methane gas to avoid an accidental explosion because its lower explosion limit (LEL) is ~5%. The mechanism of this coupling circuit is that the n-type FET firstly generates an output voltage (VOUT) amplification process caused by the gate voltage-induced resistance change of the FET. Then, the p-type FET continues to amplify the signal based on the previous VOUT amplification process.
Climate Chamber Experiment-Based Thermal Analysis and Design Improvement of Traditional Huizhou Masonry Walls
Authors: Dong Ling , Zhou Hailong , Li Hongxian , Liu Fei , Zhang Hong , Al-Hussein Mohamed
Published: March 2018

Supported by thousands of years of history, traditional Huizhou buildings have played a vital role, both functionally and culturally, as residential buildings in China. Masonry walls are one of the key building components of a Huizhou building; however, the traditional Huizhou masonry wall structure, predominantly a hollow brick structure, cannot meet the local building energy code requirements, and thus needs to be improved. Within this context, the present research measures the actual thermal performance of traditional Huizhou masonry walls for historical buildings and new-built buildings, which results in mean thermal transmittances of 1.892 W/m2·K and 2.821 W/m2·K, respectively, while the local building energy code requires a minimum thermal transmittance of 1.500 W/m2·K. In order to improve the thermal performance of traditional Huizhou masonry walls, four design scenarios for wall insulation are proposed and tested in a climate chamber: (1) hollow brick wall with inorganic interior insulation mortar, (2) solid brick wall with inorganic interior insulation mortar, (3) hollow brick wall with foamed concrete, and (4) hollow brick wall with foamed concrete plus inorganic interior insulation mortar. The experiment results indicate that, among the four proposed design scenarios, only scenario 4 can significantly improve the thermal performance of Huizhou masonry walls and meet the building energy code requirements, with a mean thermal transmittance of 1.175 W/m2·K. This research lays the foundation for improving the thermal performance of Huizhou masonry walls with new insulation and construction technology, thereby helping to improve the quality of life of Huizhou residents while respecting the cultural significance of the traditional Huizhou building.
Brand Awareness in the Context of Mistrust: The Case Study of an Employment Agency
Authors: Ročkutė Kristina , Minelgaitė Inga , Zailskaitė-Jakštė Ligita , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: March 2018

Brand awareness is important for a good market performance of a company. However, research on the contextual preconditions needed for the improvement of brand awareness is limited, particularly in specific service sectors such as employment agencies. We present the research results of the preconditions for the improvement of awareness (which is one of the dimensions of brand equity) in an employment agency. We also analyze the effects of the perceived trust of customers on the improvement of brand awareness in the employment sector. As a case study, we present an example of an employment agency in Lithuania. This research is particularly timely in the Lithuanian context, where high levels of emigration are having a considerable negative impact on companies and their major internal operations—human resource management, marketing, and strategic planning—challenging the aims of long-term socially sustainable development. This research paper has a high relevance for other high-emigration economies.
Effect of Puccinia silphii on Yield Components and Leaf Physiology in Silphium integrifolium: Lessons for the Domestication of a Perennial Oilseed Crop
Authors: Turner M. , Ravetta Damian , Van Tassel David
Published: March 2018

New crops with greater capacity for delivering ecosystem services are needed to increase agricultural sustainability. However, even in these crops, seed yield is usually the main criteria for grain domestication. This focus on yield can cause unintended structural and functional changes. Leaves of selected plants tend to be more vulnerable to infection, which can reduce performance, assimilates, and ultimately yield. Our objectives were to determine the impact of rust (caused by Puccinia silphii) on yield and leaf function in selected Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae) plants. We tested the effect of a fungicide treatment on rust severity and yield, compared the rust infection of individuals in a population selected for yield, and related this to chemical changes at the leaf level. We also estimated heritability for rust resistance. We found that productivity indicators (head number and weight, leaf weight) and leaf processes (photosynthetic capacity, water use efficiency) were reduced when silphium leaves and stems were more heavily infected by P. silphii. Leaf resin content increased when susceptible plants were infected. Fungicide treatments were effective at reducing rust infection severity, but were ineffective at preventing yield losses. We propose that disease resistance should be included early in the selection process of new perennial crops.
A Model Approach for Yield-Zone-Specific Cost Estimation of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation by Nitrogen Fertilizer Reduction
Authors: Karatay Yusuf , Meyer-Aurich Andreas
Published: March 2018

Nitrogen use in agriculture has been intensified to feed the growing world population, which led to concerns on environmental harms, including greenhouse gas emissions. A reduction in nitrogen fertilization can abate greenhouse gas emissions, however, it may result in crop yield penalties and, accordingly, income loss. Assessment tools are necessary to understand the dynamics of nitrogen management issues both in environmental and economic aspects and both at low and high aggregation levels. Our study presents a model approach, estimating yield-zone-specific costs of greenhouse gas mitigation by moderate reduction of mineral nitrogen fertilizer application. Comparative advantages of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by nitrogen fertilizer reduction were simulated for five yield-zones with different soil fertility in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. The results suggest that differences in yield response to nitrogen fertilizer lead to considerable differences in greenhouse gas mitigation costs. Overall cost-efficiency of a regional greenhouse gas mitigation by nitrogen fertilizer reduction can be substantially improved, if crop and yield-zone-specific yield responses are taken into account. The output of this study shall help to design cost-efficient agro-environmental policies targeting with specific crop yield response functions at different sites.
Deciphering the Human Virome with Single-Virus Genomics and Metagenomics
Authors: De la Cruz Peña Maria , Martinez-Hernandez Francisco , Garcia-Heredia Inmaculada , Lluesma Gomez Mónica , Fornas Òscar , Martinez-Garcia Manuel
Published: March 2018

Single-cell genomics has unveiled the metabolic potential of dominant microbes inhabiting different environments, including the human body. The lack of genomic information for predominant microbes of the human body, such as bacteriophages, hinders our ability to answer fundamental questions about our viral communities. Here, we applied single-virus genomics (SVGs) to natural human salivary samples in combination with viral metagenomics to gain some insights into the viral community structure of the oral cavity. Saliva samples were processed for viral metagenomics (n = 15) and SVGs (n = 3). A total of 1328 uncultured single viruses were sorted by fluorescence-activated virus sorting followed by whole genome amplification. Sequencing of 24 viral single amplified genomes (vSAGs) showed that half of the vSAGs contained viral hallmark genes. Among those bona fide viruses, the uncultured single virus 92-C13 putatively infecting oral Streptococcus-like species was within the top ≈10 most abundant viruses in the oral virome. Viral gene network and viral metagenomics analyses of 439 oral viruses from cultures, metagenomics, and SVGs revealed that salivary viruses were tentatively structured into ≈200 major viral clusters, corresponding to approximately genus-level groupings. Data showed that none of the publicly available viral isolates, excepting an Actinomyces phage, were significantly abundant in the oral viromes. In addition, none of the obtained viral contigs and vSAGs from this study were present in all viromes. Overall, the data demonstrates that most viral isolates are not naturally abundant in saliva, and furthermore, the predominant viruses in the oral cavity are yet uncharacterized. Results suggest a variable, complex, and interpersonal viral profile. Finally, we demonstrated the power of SVGs in combination with viral metagenomics to unveil the genetic information of the uncultured viruses of the human virome.
Atoyac River Pollution in the Metropolitan Area of Puebla, México
Authors: Pérez Castresana Gabriela , Tamariz Flores Víctor , López Reyes Lucía , Hernández Aldana Fernando , Castelán Vega Rosalía , Morán Perales José , García Suastegui Wendy , Díaz Fonseca Alfonso , Handal Silva Anabella
Published: March 2018

The Atoyac River crosses the metropolitan area of Puebla-Tlaxcala in Mexico and presents a state of pollution that has been scarcely studied. In 2016, the water quality of the river was evaluated based on physicochemical and bacteriological parameters, under the guidelines established for the Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) for Aquatic Life Protection (ALP) and Agricultural Irrigation (AI). The sampling sites were the Covadonga Dam, the Echeverría Dam, and an irrigation canal. Water from wells and a spring in the Emilio Portes Gil (EPG) population that uses Atoyac water for agricultural irrigation was also analyzed. The data obtained from the river were compared with the 2011 data published in the declaration of classification of Atoyac and Xochiac or Hueyapan and its tributaries. There was a notable increase in hemical oxygen demand (COD) (49%) and in heavy metals with varying percentages. The anoxic condition of the river (mean 1.47 mg of O2/L) with large populations of coliform bacteria was demonstrated, 11 pathogenic members of the Enterobacteriaceae were found, and high organic pollution concentrations were shown, particularly during droughts. Irrigation and well water was contaminated with fecal bacteria (104–549 NMP/100 mL), which included pathogens.
Still Waters Run Deep: Comparing Assertive and Suggestive Language in Water Conservation Campaigns
Authors: Katz David , Kronrod Ann , Grinstein Amir , Nisan Udi
Published: March 2018

The current work focuses on non-price policies to achieve residential water conservation, specifically on water conservation campaigns. The authors report the results of a large-scale longitudinal field experiment encouraging residential water conservation among 1500 households. The effectiveness of two commonly-used message phrasings is compared: an assertive and a suggestive message. Assertive messages employ a commanding tone, such as “You must conserve water”, whereas suggestive messages employ a more gentle approach, as in “Please consider conserving water”. Despite the ubiquitous use of assertive phrasing in pro-social messages, and previous research that suggests that, in some cases, assertive language can increase message compliance, the authors show here that the suggestive, gentler, message language can make a more accentuated change in residential water conservation behavior. This may stem from the status of water as a basic needs resource, which may reduce the appropriateness of freedom restricting language, such as an assertive tone.
L'armée et la politique : le cas de l'Iran
Authors: Djalili Mohammad-Reza
Published: March 2018

Durant la période monarchique de Reza Chah, l'omniprésence de l'armée dans la plupart des activités sociales, son implication dans les affaires internes, sa fonction essentielle d'instrument de renforcement du pouvoir étatique ainsi que ses privilèges exorbitants créent un ressentiment au sein de la population qui a du mal à la percevoir comme une véritable structure d'intégration et d'édification nationale. Son successeur exerce un contrôle serré sur l'institution militaire, en la Élisant étroitement surveiller par la Savak, en jouant les factions les unes contre les autres, en réduisant les communications horizontales entre le personnel militaire au point de rendre en même temps impossible le développement d'un «esprit de corps». Depuis la révolution de 1979 semble se poser la question de savoir de quelle armée on parle. Les pasdaran ainsi que les bassidji constitueraient une sorte d'armée parallèle, «une force para-militaire», une milice disposant d'un matériel aussi sophistiqué que l'armée qui conserve un silence énigmatique.