bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Queue Length at Signalized Intersections from Red-Time Formula and the Highway Capacity Manual Compared with Field Data
Authors: Liu Xueying , Benekohal Rahim (Ray) F. , Shaik Mohammed Abdul Rawoof
Published: September 2017

This study compared the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010) procedure (the procedure in HCM 2016 is the same) and the red-time formula (RTF) estimations of the back-of-queue with field data results. The comparisons were made for the 50th and 95th percentile field queue lengths at four signalized intersections along a corridor in one off-peak period and a.m., noon, and p.m. peak periods. For the 50th percentile queue length, the HCM estimates had significant differences from the field data in 52% of the cases (major and minor street cases combined); in 93% of which the HCM overestimated the queue length and in 7% it underestimated the queue length. For the major street, in 28% of the cases the HCM significantly overestimated the queue length on average by 66%, and in 4% of the cases the HCM significantly underestimated on average by 42%. For minor streets, in 70% of the cases the HCM significantly overestimated the queue length on average by 44%, and in 5% of the cases it significantly underestimated on average by 20%. To lower the number of cases with significant discrepancy and to balance the frequency of overestimation and underestimation, a multiplicative correction factor of 0.93 for the major street and 0.78 for the minor streets could be applied to the HCM estimates. For the 95th percentile queue length comparison, in general the HCM presented a better estimation than the RTF. And for minor streets, the RTF tends to overestimate the queue length at higher-volume approaches, while it underestimates at lower-volume approaches. But on a major street with heavier traffic than the minor, such a trend is not clear.
Development of Microsatellite Loci Exhibiting Reverse Ascertainment Bias and a Sexing Marker for use in Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica)
Authors: Gravley Meg C. , Sage George K. , Schmutz Joel A. , Talbot Sandra L.
Published: September 2017

The Alaskan population of Emperor Geese ( Chen canagica) nests on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta in western Alaska. Numbers of Emperor Geese in Alaska declined from the 1960s to the mid-1980s and since then, their numbers have slowly increased. Low statistical power of microsatellite loci developed in other waterfowl species and used in previous studies of Emperor Geese are unable to confidently assign individual identity. Microsatellite loci for Emperor Goose were therefore developed using shotgun amplification and next-generation sequencing technology. Forty-one microsatellite loci were screened and 14 were found to be polymorphic in Emperor Geese. Only six markers – a combination of four novel loci and two loci developed in other waterfowl species – are needed to identify an individual from among the Alaskan Emperor Goose population. Genetic markers for identifying sex in Emperor Geese were also developed. The 14 novel variable loci and 15 monomorphic loci were screened for polymorphism in four other Arctic-nesting goose species, Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans), Greater White-fronted ( Anser albifrons), Canada ( B. canadensis) and Cackling ( B. hutchinsii) Goose. Emperor Goose exhibited the smallest average number of alleles (3.3) and the lowest expected heterozygosity (0.467). Greater White-fronted Geese exhibited the highest average number of alleles (4.7) and Cackling Geese the highest expected heterozygosity (0.599). Six of the monomorphic loci were variable and able to be characterised in the other goose species assayed, a predicted outcome of reverse ascertainment bias. These findings fail to support the hypothesis of ascertainment bias due to selection of microsatellite markers.
Top Boy : Cultural Verisimilitude and the Allure of Black Criminality for UK Public Service Broadcasting Drama
Authors: Malik Sarita , James Nwonka Clive
Published: September 2017

In the early 2000s, a new form of multicultural television drama began to emerge in the UK, exploring contemporary gang life within Britain's black communities. A notable example of this ‘black urban crime’ genre is Top Boy, screened by the UK's leading multicultural public service broadcaster, Channel 4, in 2011 and 2013. This article produces an analysis, drawing on sociological and media studies perspectives, and through historicisation and contextualisation, that seeks to understand the fascination of the black urban crime genre for programme-makers, broadcasters and audiences in the contemporary British mediascape. It locates Top Boy at the intersection of complex media relations and modes of production that are themselves intertwined with political, legislative and cultural agendas tied to post-multiculturalist and neoliberal tendencies within public service broadcasting frameworks. The article suggests that black urban crime narratives do not advance understandings of the organisational structure of urban gangs or drug-related crime that are so central to these texts, nor do they offer a progressive contribution to contemporary debates or the representation of black criminality.
After Dark: Channel 4's Innovation in Television Talk
Authors: Lee David , Corner John
Published: September 2017

This article explores the significance of the late-night British discussion programme After Dark (Channel 4, 1987–97) in terms of the production contexts of the time and its distinctive form and structure as television. After Dark emerged during a period of significant transition in the political economy of British broadcasting, with a major factor being the creation of Channel 4. As part of its extension of the possibilities of television as a cultural form, Channel 4 attempted to break the prevailing temporal frame of television output. This was most evident in the open-ended nature of After Dark's transmission, with the programme running into the early hours of the morning with no fixed end-point. Critical attention to it serves among other things to place in sharper perspective the variety of alignments possible between the discourses television produces and those in play more broadly across the different spaces of the political and social. In particular, it highlights the distinctive forms of speech and deliberation (and therefore the distinctive modes of viewing and listening) informing the programme's design.
A Model of Triadic Post-Tonality for a Neoconservative Postmodern String Quartet by Sky Macklay
Authors: Gillespie Zane
Published: September 2017

This article proposes a non-plural perspective on the analysis of triadic music, offering Sky Macklay’s Many Many Cadences as a case study. Part one is a discussion of the work’s harmony-voice leading nexus, followed by a discussion of the five conditions of correspondence as implied by this string quartet that articulate a single tonal identity. Part three focuses on a strictly kinematic analysis of the work’s harmonic progressions that evinces this identity and establishes its general applicability. In the final section, the data generated by this analysis conveys the inherent possibility of a single, all-encompassing kinematic, thereby pointing beyond the particularities of Many Many Cadences while informing my formal interpretation of the work.
Prescriptive Methodology as a Generative Tool: A Case Study Conducted at Introductory Interior Design Studio Level in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Ahmad Lina
Published: September 2017

In the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates), interior design education is often misunderstood as interior decoration, wherein the former is a more comprehensive design approach to spaces formed by structural boundaries and curation of human interaction. The conducted case study addressed a small number of students enrolled in Interior Design Studio I at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi campus. In addition to traditional teaching methods compromised of individual desk critique sessions, group pin-ups and presentations, three innovative methods were implemented as a means of guiding students through the process: direct sequential instruction executed within an assigned time frame, reflection on the surfaced result and use of flat photography or panoramas as means of space communication. Throughout the three implemented stages of the project, and through utilizing the above-described generative methodology, students achieved complex representation and revealed higher spatial order related to human occupation and space inhabitation. This methodology allowed students to channel their work through complex sets of interconnected information and derived an outcome from an accumulative multi-layered resolution. The article presents the process and analyses the achieved outcomes.
Raman Computational and Experimental Studies of Dopamine Detection
Authors: Ciubuc John , Bennet Kevin , Qiu Chao , Alonzo Matthew , Durrer William , Manciu Felicia
Published: September 2017

A combined theoretical and experimental analysis of dopamine (DA) is presented in this work with the objective of achieving more accurate detection and monitoring of this neurotransmitter at very low concentrations, specific to physiological levels. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy on silver nanoparticles was employed for recording DA concentrations as low as 10−11 molar. Quantum chemical density functional calculations were carried out using Gaussian-09 analytical suite software. Relatively good agreement between the simulated and experimentally determined results indicates the presence of different DA molecular forms, such as uncharged DA±, anionic DA−, and dopaminequinone. Disappearance of the strongest bands of dopamine around 750 cm−1 and 790 cm−1, which suggests its adsorption onto the metallic surface, is not only consistent with all of these DA configurations, but also provides additional information about the analyte’s redox process and voltammetric detection. On the other hand, occurrence of the abovementioned Raman lines could indicate the formation of multilayers of DA or its presence in a cationic DA+ form. Thus, through coordinated experiment and theory, valuable insights into changes observed in the vibrational signatures of this important neurotransmitter can be achieved for a better understanding of its detection at physiological levels, which is crucial if further optovoltammetric medical device development is envisioned.
Platelet Integrins in Tumor Metastasis: Do They Represent a Therapeutic Target?
Authors: Lavergne Marion , Janus-Bell Emily , Schaff Mathieu , Gachet Christian , Mangin Pierre
Published: September 2017

Platelets are small anucleated cell fragments that ensure the arrest of bleeding after a vessel wall injury. They are also involved in non-hemostatic function such as development, immunity, inflammation, and in the hematogeneous phase of metastasis. While the role of platelets in tumor metastasis has been recognized for 60 years, the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains largely unclear. Platelets physically and functionally interact with various tumor cells through surface receptors including integrins. Platelets express five integrins at their surface, namely α2β1, α5β1, α6β1, αvβ3, and αIIbβ3, which bind preferentially to collagen, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and fibrinogen, respectively. The main role of platelet integrins is to ensure platelet adhesion and aggregation at sites of vascular injury. Two of these, α6β1 and αIIbβ3, were proposed to participate in platelet–tumor cell interaction and in tumor metastasis. It has also been reported that pharmacological agents targeting both integrins efficiently reduce experimental metastasis, suggesting that platelet integrins may represent new anti-metastatic targets. This review focuses on the role of platelet integrins in tumor metastasis and discusses whether these receptors may represent new potential targets for novel anti-metastatic approaches.
Study of 8 Types of Glutathione Peroxidase Mimics Based on β-Cyclodextrin
Authors: Wang Liwu , Qu Xiaonan , Xie Ying , Lv Shaowu
Published: September 2017

Glutathione peroxidase is key for the removal of H2O2 and other hydroperoxides and therefore, it has an important role in the maintenance of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic balance in vivo. The native enzymes of the glutathione peroxidase family (GPx) have many defects, such as instability in vitro and poor availability. GPx mimetics has become a topic of considerable interest in artificial enzyme research. Many forms of GPx mimics have been synthesized, by including selenium and tellurium (double-bridged and single-bridged, 2-substituted and 6-substituted) in a mother molecule but differences the GPx mimics enzymatic activity have rarely been compared. We designed and synthesized eight cyclodextrin derivatives and used two types of enzyme assays to determine their activities. The results show that: (a) tellurium-containing GPx mimics have higher activity than that of selenium-containing GPx mimics; (b) dual-bridged mimics have higher activity than bis-bridged mimics; and (c) 2-position modified cyclodextrin has higher activity than 6-position modified cyclodextrin.
Measuring and Comparing Student Performance: A New Technique for Assessing Directional Associations
Authors: Chen Lingzhi , Zitikis Ričardas
Published: September 2017

Measuring and comparing student performance have been topics of much interest for educators and psychologists. Particular attention has traditionally been paid to the design of experimental studies and careful analyses of observational data. Classical statistical techniques, such as fitting regression lines, have traditionally been utilized and far-reaching policy guidelines offered. In the present paper, we argue in favour of a novel technique, which is mathematical in nature, and whose main idea relies on measuring distance of the actual bivariate data from the class of all monotonic (increasing in the context of this paper) patterns. The technique sharply contrasts the classical approach of fitting least-squares regression lines to actual data, which usually follow non-linear and even non-monotonic patterns, and then assessing and comparing their slopes based on the Pearson correlation coefficient, whose use is justifiable only when patterns are (approximately) linear. We describe the herein suggested distance-based technique in detail, show its benefits, and provide a step-by-step implementation guide. Detailed graphical and numerical illustrations elucidate our theoretical considerations throughout the paper. The index of increase, upon which the technique is based, can also be used as a summary index for the LOESS and other fitted regression curves.
Bi-Directional Coordination of Plug-In Electric Vehicles with Economic Model Predictive Control
Authors: Sha’aban Yusuf , Ikpehai Augustine , Adebisi Bamidele , Rabie Khaled
Published: September 2017

The emergence of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is unveiling new opportunities to de-carbonise the vehicle parcs and promote sustainability in different parts of the globe. As battery technologies and PEV efficiency continue to improve, the use of electric cars as distributed energy resources is fast becoming a reality. While the distribution network operators (DNOs) strive to ensure grid balancing and reliability, the PEV owners primarily aim at maximising their economic benefits. However, given that the PEV batteries have limited capacities and the distribution network is constrained, smart techniques are required to coordinate the charging/discharging of the PEVs. Using the economic model predictive control (EMPC) technique, this paper proposes a decentralised optimisation algorithm for PEVs during the grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operations. To capture the operational dynamics of the batteries, it considers the state-of-charge (SoC) at a given time as a discrete state space and investigates PEVs performance in V2G and G2V operations. In particular, this study exploits the variability in the energy tariff across different periods of the day to schedule V2G/G2V cycles using real data from the university’s PEV infrastructure. The results show that by charging/discharging the vehicles during optimal time partitions, prosumers can take advantage of the price elasticity of supply to achieve net savings of about 63%.
Development and Experimental Validation of a TRNSYS Dynamic Tool for Design and Energy Optimization of Ground Source Heat Pump Systems
Authors: Ruiz-Calvo Félix , Montagud Carla , Cazorla-Marín Antonio , Corberán José M.
Published: September 2017

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems stand for an efficient technology for renewable heating and cooling in buildings. To optimize not only the design but also the operation of the system, a complete dynamic model becomes a highly useful tool, since it allows testing any design modifications and different optimization strategies without actually implementing them at the experimental facility. Usually, this type of systems presents strong dynamic operating conditions. Therefore, the model should be able to predict not only the steady-state behavior of the system but also the short-term response. This paper presents a complete GSHP system model based on an experimental facility, located at Universitat Politècnica de València. The installation was constructed in the framework of a European collaborative project with title GeoCool. The model, developed in TRNSYS, has been validated against experimental data, and it accurately predicts both the short- and long-term behavior of the system.
Biological Treatment by Active Sludge with High Biomass Concentration at Laboratory Scale for Mixed Inflow of Sunflower Oil and Saccharose
Authors: Cisterna Pedro
Published: September 2017

We studied and quantified the elimination of sunflower oil from a wastewater influent using a biological treatment by activated sludge. Estimation of the biodegraded material was obtained doing a mass balance, and we conducted a follow-up of the different operational parameters and design. We delivered information about the operation of a system for treatment by activated sludge fed with an influent with sunflower oil and saccharose. The influent was previously agitated before entering the effluent sludge in a lab-scale plant. The working range for oil concentration was 100 to 850 mg/L in the influent. Biodegradation was in the range of 60% to 51%. The process works better with a high initial concentration of biomass (7500 mg/L) in order to absorb the impacts caused by the oil on the microorganisms. The lowest total suspended solids concentration was 4500 mg/L. The elimination of sunflower oil in biodegradation and flotation was on the order of 90%.
Buying Time: Preliminary Assessment of Biocontrol in the Recovery of Native Forest Vegetation in the Aftermath of the Invasive Emerald Ash Borer
Authors: Margulies Elan , Bauer Leah , Ibáñez Inés
Published: September 2017

Introduced forest pests have become one of the major threats to forests, and biological control is one of the few environmentally acceptable management practices. Assessing the impacts of a biocontrol program includes evaluating the establishment of biocontrol agents, the control of target pest, the impact on the affected organism, and the indirect impacts that the biocontrol agent may have on the whole community. We assessed the recovery of forest vegetation following the mortality of ash trees caused by the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) pest in forest stands where biocontrol agents were released or not. We used a multilevel framework to evaluate potential indirect effects of the biocontrol agents on native forest seedlings. Our results showed a higher number of ash saplings where increasing numbers of the dominant EAB biocontrol agent were released, while the number of invasive and weedy saplings was negatively associated with the number of ash saplings, and the density of native seedlings was negatively associated with invasive and weedy saplings. The protection of ash saplings by the biocontrol agent may help native recruitment during forest transition by supporting the growth of native hardwood seedlings over invasive and weedy species. These results show that research on the efficacy of EAB biocontrol should include all ash size classes and the community dynamics of co-occurring species.
Assessing Alternative Silvicultural Prescriptions for Mid-Rotation, Unthinned, Spruce-Fir Stands in Maine
Authors: Hiesl Patrick , Crandall Mindy , Weiskittel Aaron , Kizha Anil
Published: September 2017

Determining the optimal timing and type of entry in mid-rotation, unthinned stands can be complicated by a variety of economic and biological factors. In this analysis, long-term data from the Commercial Thinning Research Network was used to project spruce-fir (Picea spp.—Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stand growth on six different sites across Maine following six alternative thinning treatments (33% and 50% relative density removal paired with low, crown, and dominant thinning methods). Results showed that the low-thinning treatment performed best in terms of maximum net present value, stand age at time of maximum net present value, and average merchantable stem size. Although the low-thinning resulted in a 10% mean reduction in maximum net present value when compared to the control, the average merchantable stem size more than doubled. Overall, results of this analysis indicate that it may be financially responsible to commercially thin these stands using a low-thinning method and a light removal intensity, as the average merchantable stems size was increased and a mid-rotation financial return provided.
Spontaneous Food Fermentations and Potential Risks for Human Health
Authors: Capozzi Vittorio , Fragasso Mariagiovanna , Romaniello Rossana , Berbegal Carmen , Russo Pasquale , Spano Giuseppe
Published: September 2017

Fermented foods and beverages are a heterogeneous class of products with a relevant worldwide significance for human economy, nutrition and health for millennia. A huge diversity of microorganisms is associated with the enormous variety in terms of raw materials, fermentative behavior and obtained products. In this wide microbiodiversity it is possible that the presence of microbial pathogens and toxic by-products of microbial origin, including mycotoxins, ethyl carbamate and biogenic amines, are aspects liable to reduce the safety of the consumed product. Together with other approaches (e.g., use of preservatives, respect of specific physico-chemical parameters), starter cultures technology has been conceived to successfully dominate indigenous microflora and to drive fermentation to foresee the desired attributes of the matrix, assuring quality and safety. Recent trends indicate a general return to spontaneous food fermentation. In this review, we point out the potential risks for human health associated with uncontrolled (uninoculated) food fermentation and we discuss biotechnological approaches susceptible to conciliate fermented food safety, with instances of an enhanced contribution of microbes associated to spontaneous fermentation.
Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices in an African Informal Traditional Medicines Market
Authors: Wright Caradee , Reddy Tarylee , Mathee Angela , Street Renée
Published: September 2017

Informal workers in African market trade have little formal protection against sun exposure. We aimed to examine sun exposure, sun-related symptoms, and sun protection practices in an informal occupational setting. Trained fieldworkers asked 236 workers in the Warwick Junction market about their workplace, skin and eye sensitivity and skin colour, symptoms faced at work during the summer due to heat, and preventive measures. Data were analyzed using univariate logistic regression to assess the effect of gender and the risk of experiencing symptoms to sun exposure in relation to pre-existing diseases and perception of sun exposure as a hazard. Of the 236 participants, 234 were Black African and 141 (59.7%) were female. Portable shade was the most commonly used form of sun protection (69.9%). Glare from the sun (59.7%) and excessive sweating (57.6%) were commonly reported sun-related health symptoms. The use of protective clothing was more prevalent among those who perceived sun exposure as a hazard (p = 0.003). In an informal occupational setting, sun exposure was high. Protective clothing and portable shade to eliminate heat and bright light were self-implemented. Action by local authorities to protect informal workers should consider sun exposure to support workers in their efforts to cope in hot weather.
Effect Modification by Environmental Quality on the Association between Heatwaves and Mortality in Alabama, United States
Authors: Jian Yun , Wu Connor , Gohlke Julia
Published: September 2017

Background: Previous studies have shown that heatwaves are associated with increased mortality. However, it remains unclear whether the associations between heatwaves and mortality are modified by the environmental quality. Methods: We used the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Index (EQI) and its five domain indices (air, water, land, built, and sociodemographic) to represent the cumulative environmental quality. We applied a time-stratified case-crossover design to analyze the disparities in the association between heatwaves and non-accidental deaths (NAD) among counties with different environmental qualities, in metropolitan areas in Alabama (AL), United States. Results: We found significant associations between heatwaves and NAD and a significant effect modification of this relationship by EQI. There were higher odds ratios in counties with the worst cumulative environmental qualities compared to counties with the best cumulative environmental qualities. For example, the percent change in odds ratio (mean and (95% CI)) between heatwave days and non-heatwave days was −10.3% (−26.6, 9.6) in counties with an overall EQI of 1 (the best overall environment) and 13.2% (4.9, 22.2) in counties with an overall EQI of 3 (the worst overall environment). Among the five domains, air quality had the strongest effect modification on the association. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that the associations between heatwaves and NAD vary among areas with different environmental qualities. These findings suggest that integration of air quality and heatwave warning systems may provide greater protection to public health.
Clinical Effects of Cigarette Smoking: Epidemiologic Impact and Review of Pharmacotherapy Options
Authors: Onor IfeanyiChukwu O. , Stirling Daniel L. , Williams Shandrika R. , Bediako Daniel , Borghol Amne , Harris Martha B. , Darensburg Tiernisha B. , Clay Sharde D. , Okpechi Samuel C. , Sarpong Daniel F.
Published: September 2017

Cigarette smoking—a crucial modifiable risk factor for organ system diseases and cancer—remains prevalent in the United States and globally. In this literature review, we aim to summarize the epidemiology of cigarette smoking and tobacco use in the United States, pharmacology of nicotine—the active constituent of tobacco, and health consequence of cigarette smoking. This article also reviews behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for cigarette smokers and provides cost estimates for approved pharmacologic interventions in the United States. A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, EBSCOhost, ClinicalKey, and PubMed databases using the following headings in combination or separately: cigarette smoking, tobacco smoking, epidemiology in the United States, health consequences of cigarette smoking, pharmacologic therapy for cigarette smoking, and non-pharmacologic therapy for cigarette smoking. This review found that efficacious non-pharmacologic interventions and pharmacologic therapy are available for cessation of cigarette smoking. Given the availability of efficacious interventions for cigarette smoking cessation, concerted efforts should be made by healthcare providers and public health professionals to promote smoking cessation as a valuable approach for reducing non-smokers’ exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
Challenges for Super-Resolution Localization Microscopy and Biomolecular Fluorescent Nano-Probing in Cancer Research
Authors: Hausmann Michael , Ilić Nataša , Pilarczyk Götz , Lee Jin-Ho , Logeswaran Abiramy , Borroni Aurora , Krufczik Matthias , Theda Franziska , Waltrich Nadine , Bestvater Felix , Hildenbrand Georg , Cremer Christoph , Blank Michael
Published: September 2017

Understanding molecular interactions and regulatory mechanisms in tumor initiation, progression, and treatment response are key requirements towards advanced cancer diagnosis and novel treatment procedures in personalized medicine. Beyond decoding the gene expression, malfunctioning and cancer-related epigenetic pathways, investigations of the spatial receptor arrangements in membranes and genome organization in cell nuclei, on the nano-scale, contribute to elucidating complex molecular mechanisms in cells and tissues. By these means, the correlation between cell function and spatial organization of molecules or molecular complexes can be studied, with respect to carcinogenesis, tumor sensitivity or tumor resistance to anticancer therapies, like radiation or antibody treatment. Here, we present several new applications for bio-molecular nano-probes and super-resolution, laser fluorescence localization microscopy and their potential in life sciences, especially in biomedical and cancer research. By means of a tool-box of fluorescent antibodies, green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagging, or specific oligonucleotides, we present tumor relevant re-arrangements of Erb-receptors in membranes, spatial organization of Smad specific ubiquitin protein ligase 2 (Smurf2) in the cytosol, tumor cell characteristic heterochromatin organization, and molecular re-arrangements induced by radiation or antibody treatment. The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate how nano-scaled distance measurements between bio-molecules, tagged by appropriate nano-probes, can be applied to elucidate structures and conformations of molecular complexes which are characteristic of tumorigenesis and treatment responses. These applications open new avenues towards a better interpretation of the spatial organization and treatment responses of functionally relevant molecules, at the single cell level, in normal and cancer cells, offering new potentials for individualized medicine.
Lipidomics Unravels the Role of Leaf Lipids in Thyme Plant Response to Drought Stress
Authors: Moradi Parviz , Mahdavi Atiyeh , Khoshkam Maryam , Iriti Marcello
Published: September 2017

Thymus is one of the best known genera within the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family, with more than 200 species and many medicinal and culinary uses. The effects of prolonged drought on lipid profile were investigated in tolerant and sensitive thyme plants (Thymus serpyllum L. and Thymus vulgaris L., respectively). Non-targeted non-polar metabolite profiling was carried out using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry with one-month-old plants exposed to drought stress, and their morpho-physiological parameters were also evaluated. Tolerant and sensitive plants exhibited clearly different responses at a physiological level. In addition, different trends for a number of non-polar metabolites were observed when comparing stressed and control samples, for both sensitive and tolerant plants. Sensitive plants showed the highest decrease (55%) in main lipid components such as galactolipids and phospholipids. In tolerant plants, the level of lipids involved in signaling increased, while intensities of those induced by stress (e.g., oxylipins) dramatically decreased (50–60%), in particular with respect to metabolites with m/z values of 519.3331, 521.3488, and 581.3709. Partial least square discriminant analysis separated all the samples into four groups: tolerant watered, tolerant stressed, sensitive watered and sensitive stressed. The combination of lipid profiling and physiological parameters represented a promising tool for investigating the mechanisms of plant response to drought stress at non-polar metabolome level.
An Important Factor—Impact
Authors: Fingerhut Ralph
Published: September 2017

“Third time is a charm”—with this adage, we introduced the International Journal of Neonatal Screening (IJNS) nearly 3 years ago [...]
Novel Aluminum Oxide-Impregnated Carbon Nanotube Membrane for the Removal of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ihsanullah  , Patel Faheemuddin , Khraisheh Majeda , Atieh Muataz , Laoui Tahar
Published: September 2017

An aluminum oxide-impregnated carbon nanotube (CNT-Al2O3) membrane was developed via a novel approach and used in the removal of toxic metal cadmium ions, Cd(II). The membrane did not require any binder to hold the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) together. Instead, the Al2O3 particles impregnated on the surface of the CNTs were sintered together during heating at 1400 °C. Impregnated CNTs were characterized using XRD, while the CNT-Al2O3 membrane was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water flux, contact angle, and porosity measurements were performed on the membrane prior to the Cd(II) ion removal experiment, which was conducted in a specially devised continuous filtration system. The results demonstrated the extreme hydrophilic behavior of the developed membrane, which yielded a high water flux through the membrane. The filtration system removed 84% of the Cd(II) ions at pH 7 using CNT membrane with 10% Al2O3 loading. A maximum adsorption capacity of 54 mg/g was predicted by the Langmuir isotherm model for the CNT membrane with 10% Al2O3 loading. This high adsorption capacity indicated that adsorption was the main mechanism involved in the removal of Cd(II) ions.
Damping Characteristics of Inherent and Intrinsic Internal Friction of Cu-Zn-Al Shape Memory Alloys
Authors: Wu Shyi-Kaan , Chan Wei-Jyun , Chang Shih-Hang
Published: September 2017

Damping properties of the inherent and intrinsic internal friction peaks (IFPT + IFI) of Cu-xZn-11Al (x = 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 wt. %) shape memory alloys (SMAs) were investigated by using dynamic mechanical analysis. The Cu-7.5Zn-11Al, Cu-8.0Zn-11Al, and Cu-8.5Zn-11Al SMAs with ( IF PT + IF I ) β 3 ( L 2 1 ) → γ 3 ′ ( 2 H ) peaks exhibit higher damping capacity than the Cu-7.0Zn-11Al SMA with a ( IF PT + IF I ) β 3 ( L 2 1 ) → γ 3 ′ ( 2 H ) peak, because the γ 3 ′ martensite phase possesses a 2H type structure with abundant movable twin boundaries, while the β 3 ′ phase possesses an 18R structure with stacking faults. The Cu-9.0Zn-11Al SMA also possesses a ( IF PT + IF I ) β 3 ( L 2 1 ) → γ 3 ′ ( 2 H ) peak but exhibits low damping capacity because the formation of γ phase precipitates inhibits martensitic transformation. The Cu-8.0Zn-11Al SMA was found to be a promising candidate for practical high-damping applications because of its high (IFPT + IFI) peak with tan δ > 0.05 around room temperature.
Real Time Monitoring of Children, and Adults with Mental Disabilities Using a Low-Cost Non-Invasive Electronic Device
Authors: Polanco Carlos , Vazquez Ignacio , Martinez-Rivas Adrian , Arias-Estrada Miguel , Buhse Thomas , Calva Juan , Aguilar Salinas Carlos , Pimentel Hernández Claudia , Uversky Vladimir
Published: September 2017

There are a growing number of small children—as well as adults—with mental disabilities (including elderly citizens with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of age-related dementia) that are getting lost in rural and urban areas for various reasons. Establishing their location within the first 72 h is crucial because lost people are exposed to all kinds of adverse conditions and in the case of the elderly, this is further aggravated if prescribed medication is needed. Herein we describe a non-invasive, low-cost electronic device that operates constantly, keeping track of time, the geographical location and the identification of the subject using it. The prototype was made using commercial low-cost electronic components. This electronic device shows high connectivity in open and closed areas and identifies the geographical location of a lost subject. We freely provide the software and technical diagrams of the prototypes.
Design, Synthesis, and Antitumor Activity of Novel Quinazoline Derivatives
Authors: Wang Liuchang , Li Pengna , Li Baolin , Wang Yawen , Li Jiangtao , Song Limei
Published: September 2017

In an attempt to explore a new class of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors, novel 4-stilbenylamino quinazoline derivatives were synthesized through a Dimorth rearrangement reaction and characterized via IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and HRMS. Methoxyl, methyl, halogen, and trifluoromethyl groups on stilbeneamino were detected. These synthesized compounds were evaluated for antitumor activity in vitro against eight human tumor cell lines with an MTS assay. Most synthesized compounds exhibited more potent activity (IC50 = ~2.0 μM) than gefitinib (IC50 > 10.0 μM) against the A431, A549, and BGC-823 cell lines. Docking methodology of compound 6c and 6i binding into the ATP site of EGFR was carried out. The results showed that fluorine and trifluoromethyl played an important role in efficient cell activity.
Anticarcinogenic Effect of Spices Due to Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds—In Vitro Evaluation on Prostate Cells
Authors: Lackova Zuzana , Buchtelova Hana , Buchtova Zaneta , Klejdus Borivoj , Heger Zbynek , Brtnicky Martin , Kynicky Jindrich , Zitka Ondrej , Adam Vojtech
Published: September 2017

This study shows the effects of spices, and their phenolic and flavonoid compounds, on prostate cell lines (PNT1A, 22RV1 and PC3). The results of an MTT assay on extracts from eight spices revealed the strongest inhibitory effects were from black pepper and caraway seed extracts. The strongest inhibitory effect on prostatic cells was observed after the application of extracts of spices in concentration of 12.5 mg·mL−1. An LC/MS analysis identified that the most abundant phenolic and flavonoid compounds in black pepper are 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and naringenin chalcone, while the most abundant phenolic and flavonoid compounds in caraway seeds are neochlorogenic acid and apigenin. Using an MTT assay for the phenolic and flavonoid compounds from spices, we identified the IC50 value of ~1 mmol·L−1 PNT1A. The scratch test demonstrated that the most potent inhibitory effect on PNT1A, 22RV1 and PC3 cells is from the naringenin chalcone contained in black pepper. From the spectrum of compounds assessed, the naringenin chalcone contained in black pepper was identified as the most potent inhibitor of the growth of prostate cells.
Investigation of the N-Terminus Amino Function of Arg10-Teixobactin
Authors: Monaim Shimaa A. H. Abdel , Noki Sikabwe , Ramchuran Estelle J. , El-Faham Ayman , Albericio Fernando , Torre Beatriz G. de la
Published: September 2017

Teixobactin is a recently described antimicrobial peptide that shows high activity against gram-positive bacteria as well as mycobacterium tuberculosis. Due to both its structure as a head-to-side chain cyclodepsipeptide and its activity, it has attracted the attention of several research groups. In this regard, a large number of analogs with substitutions in both the cycle and the tail has been described. Here, we report the contribution of the N-terminus residue, N-Me-d-Phe, to the activity of Arg10-teixobactin. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that the N-terminus accepts minimum changes but not the presence of long alkyl chains. The presence of a positive charge is a requirement for the activity of the peptide. Furthermore, acylation of the N-terminus leads to total loss of activity.
Synthesis of Polystyrene–Polyphenylsiloxane Janus Particles through Colloidal Assembly with Unexpected High Selectivity: Mechanistic Insights and Their Application in the Design of Polystyrene Particles with Multiple Polyphenylsiloxane Patches
Authors: Mann Daniel , Voogt Stefanie , Keul Helmut , Möller Martin , Verheijen Marcel , Buskens Pascal
Published: September 2017

Janus particles are of great research interest because of their reduced symmetry, which provides them with unique physical and chemical properties. Such particles can be prepared from spherical structures through colloidal assembly. Whilst colloidal assembly has the potential to be a low cost and scalable process, it typically lacks selectivity. As a consequence, it results in a complex mixture of particles of different architectures, which is tedious to purify. Very recently, we reported the colloidal synthesis of Au semishells, making use of polystyrene–polyphenylsiloxane Janus particles as an intermediate product (Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 3898–3901). Here, we demonstrate that these Janus particles are realized through colloidal assembly of spherical glucose-functionalized polystyrene particles and an emulsion of phenyltrimethoxysilane in aqueous ammonia, followed by interfacial polycondensation to form the polyphenylsiloxane patch. Both the polystyrene spheres and the emulsion of Ph-TMS in aqueous ammonia are stabilized by a surfmer—a reactive surfactant. The colloidal assembly reported in this manuscript proceeds with an unexpected high selectivity, which makes this process exceptionally interesting for the synthesis of Janus particles. Furthermore, we report insights into the details of the mechanism of formation of these Janus particles, and apply those to adapt the synthesis conditions to produce polystyrene particles selectively decorated with multiple polyphenylsiloxane patches, e.g., raspberry particles.
Television Dramas, Disability, and Religious Knowledge: Considering Call the Midwife and Grey’s Anatomy as Religiously Significant Texts
Authors: Wilder Courtney
Published: September 2017

Images and narratives of people with disabilities in popular culture shape the perceptions of people with and without disabilities. When these narratives raise philosophical and religious questions emerging from the lives of people with disabilities, and depict meaningful engagements between people with disabilities and religious practices, an underexamined body of knowledge emerges. The television series Call the Midwife and Grey’s Anatomy both have episodes that depict families responding to a disability diagnosis in a newborn infant, and each offers a potentially significant account of what it means to be a person born with a disability. While popular culture depictions of disability often reinscribe stigmatizing stereotypes, they can also disrupt those stereotypes and identify people with disabilities as authoritative, underrecognized sources of knowledge and experience, including religious understanding.
Correction: Anderson, H.B. et al. Using Ordinary Digital Cameras in Place of Near-Infrared Sensors to Derive Vegetation Indices for Phenology Studies of High Arctic Vegetation. Remote Sens. 2016, 8, 847
Authors: Anderson Helen , Nilsen Lennart , Tømmervik Hans , Karlsen Stein , Nagai Shin , Cooper Elisabeth
Published: September 2017

After the publication of the research paper by Anderson et al. [1], a reanalysis of the data showed that mistakes had been introduced in the calculation of the greenness indices and the filtering for outliers prior to the statistical analysis.[...]
An Acoustic Signal Enhancement Method Based on Independent Vector Analysis for Moving Target Classification in the Wild
Authors: Zhao Qin , Guo Feng , Zu Xingshui , Chang Yuchao , Li Baoqing , Yuan Xiaobing
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we study how to improve the performance of moving target classification by using an acoustic signal enhancement method based on independent vector analysis (IVA) in the unattended ground sensor (UGS) system. Inspired by the IVA algorithm, we propose an improved IVA method based on a microphone array for acoustic signal enhancement in the wild, which adopts a particular multivariate generalized Gaussian distribution as the source prior, an adaptive variable step strategy for the learning algorithm and discrete cosine transform (DCT) to convert the time domain observed signals to the frequency domain. We term the proposed method as DCT-G-IVA. Moreover, we design a target classification system using the improved IVA method for signal enhancement in the UGS system. Different experiments are conducted to evaluate the proposed method for acoustic signal enhancement by comparing with the baseline methods in our classification system under different wild environments. The experimental results validate the superiority of the DCT-G-IVA enhancement method in the classification system for moving targets in the presence of dynamic wind noise.
A Clustering-Oriented Closeness Measure Based on Neighborhood Chain and Its Application in the Clustering Ensemble Framework Based on the Fusion of Different Closeness Measures
Authors: Liang Shaoyi , Han Deqiang
Published: September 2017

Closeness measures are crucial to clustering methods. In most traditional clustering methods, the closeness between data points or clusters is measured by the geometric distance alone. These metrics quantify the closeness only based on the concerned data points’ positions in the feature space, and they might cause problems when dealing with clustering tasks having arbitrary clusters shapes and different clusters densities. In this paper, we first propose a novel Closeness Measure between data points based on the Neighborhood Chain (CMNC). Instead of using geometric distances alone, CMNC measures the closeness between data points by quantifying the difficulty for one data point to reach another through a chain of neighbors. Furthermore, based on CMNC, we also propose a clustering ensemble framework that combines CMNC and geometric-distance-based closeness measures together in order to utilize both of their advantages. In this framework, the “bad data points” that are hard to cluster correctly are identified; then different closeness measures are applied to different types of data points to get the unified clustering results. With the fusion of different closeness measures, the framework can get not only better clustering results in complicated clustering tasks, but also higher efficiency.
Analytical Modeling Tool for Design of Hydrocarbon Sensitive Optical Fibers
Authors: Al Handawi Khalil , Vahdati Nader , Shiryayev Oleg , Lawand Lydia
Published: September 2017

Pipelines are the main transportation means for oil and gas products across large distances. Due to the severe conditions they operate in, they are regularly inspected using conventional Pipeline Inspection Gages (PIGs) for corrosion damage. The motivation for researching a real-time distributed monitoring solution arose to mitigate costs and provide a proactive indication of potential failures. Fiber optic sensors with polymer claddings provide a means of detecting contact with hydrocarbons. By coating the fibers with a layer of metal similar in composition to that of the parent pipeline, corrosion of this coating may be detected when the polymer cladding underneath is exposed to the surrounding hydrocarbons contained within the pipeline. A Refractive Index (RI) change occurs in the polymer cladding causing a loss in intensity of a traveling light pulse due to a reduction in the fiber’s modal capacity. Intensity losses may be detected using Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) while pinpointing the spatial location of the contact via time delay calculations of the back-scattered pulses. This work presents a theoretical model for the above sensing solution to provide a design tool for the fiber optic cable in the context of hydrocarbon sensing following corrosion of an external metal coating. Results are verified against the experimental data published in the literature.