bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Issues and Problems in Conducting Sensitive Research: A Case of HIV/AIDS in Nepal
Authors: Poudel Ak Narayan , Newlands David , Simkhada Padam
Published: October 2016

The main aim of this paper is to explore the issues and problems along with possible solutions to conduct sensitive research, specifically research related to HIV/AIDS in Nepal. This paper is based on observation, information and experience obtained during research entitled, “The Economic Burden of HIV/AIDS upon Households in Nepal’ and literature reviews. There are many issues and problems in conducting sensitive research. Major issues and problems are- adherence to research ethics, use of research design and sampling, and recruitment of respondents in research. The paper concluded that research on sensitive topics like HIV/AIDS is very challenging and researchers need to strictly follow ethical procedures. Maintenance of anonymity and confidentiality are the key factors for encouraging participants to become involved in such sensitive research. Similarly, a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods help to understand the complex situations encountered during sensitive research. A non-probability sampling method is preferred over other methods of sampling in such research because there is often a problem of establishing a sampling frame in populations. Similarly, support from staff from government hospitals and NGOs is crucial if people living with HIV/AIDS are to be involved in the research. The issue of incentives is a highly discussed topic in sensitive research. But, it has been concluded that incentives especially in the monetary form should not be provided in order to avoid response bias and ethical conflicts.
Safety Effects of Portable End-of-Queue Warning System Deployments at Texas Work Zones
Authors: Ullman Gerald L. , Iragavarapu Vichika , Brydia Robert E.
Published: October 2016

The reduction of upstream end-of-queue (EOQ) crashes at work zone lane closures has been a focus of the Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, for several years. An ongoing widening effort on Interstate 35 through central Texas prompted officials to examine and implement technologies to mitigate the impacts of EOQ warning crashes. An EOQ warning system was established, which consisted of a highly portable work zone intelligent transportation system of easily deployable radar speed sensors linked to one or more portable changeable message signs and highly portable transverse rumble strips. The EOQ system was deployed upstream of nighttime lane closures, where queues were expected to develop. Although the sample sizes were relatively small, the trends did suggest that the systems were having a positive effect to reduce crashes. Overall, the EOQ warning system was estimated to have reduced crashes 44% from what they otherwise would have been if the system had not been used. The crashes that did occur were less severe, which was most likely because fewer of them were of the high-speed, rear-end-collision variety. With traditional societal crash cost values updated to 2014 dollars, the use of the EOQ warning system at nighttime lane closures reduced crash costs by $1.36 million over the analysis period. This figure equated to $6,313 in crash cost savings per night of deployment. Compared with the approximate costs of procurement and deployment of these systems, a break-even point was achieved after 95 to 190 nights of use.
Impact of Advisory Signs on Vehicle Speeds in Highway Nighttime Paving Project Work Zones
Authors: Gambatese John , Zhang Fan
Published: October 2016

Pavement preservation projects typically require construction workers to conduct their work in close proximity to ongoing traffic. During paving operations, workers are located within a protected work zone. Some are situated nearby or engaged with the equipment, while others may be a long distance from the equipment and on foot. The study reported here was conducted to investigate how temporary advisory speed signs located periodically in a work zone affected vehicle speeds within highway paving project work zones. The study used an experimental approach that involved a multilane paving project on a high-speed roadway in Oregon. The posted regulatory speed on the roadway was 65 mph, which was reduced temporarily to 50 mph in the work zone. During construction, 35 mph advisory signs were posted along with other traffic control devices (e.g., “Speed 50” signs with radar speed display and portable changeable message signs on rollers), and the impact they had on vehicle speed and speed variability was evaluated. The research findings indicated that use of the 35 mph signs led to lower vehicle speeds within the work zone. The reduction in speed was greater by passenger cars than by trucks. The use of 35 mph advisory signs in work zones is recommended to help reduce vehicle speeds through the entire work zone and to minimize safety risks, especially to workers on foot and situated away from major equipment.
Updated Model for Advance Placement of Turn and Curve Warning Signs
Authors: Hawkins H. Gene , Brimley Bradford K. , Carlson Paul J.
Published: October 2016

Warning signs are used to warn road users of potential hazards located in or near a roadway. A properly placed warning sign provides the road user with adequate time to select and execute the proper response. Table 2C-4 in the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices presents recommended advance placement distances for warning signs on the basis of the approach speed and the appropriate speed at which to negotiate through the hazard. These placement distances are determined through use of the AASHTO stopping distance equation with assumptions for reaction, deceleration, and sign legibility distances. A recent NCHRP study measured continuous driver deceleration on the approach to and through a change in horizontal alignment. The findings from that research were combined with more appropriate selections of response time and legibility distances to develop improved recommendations for the advance placement of warning signs on the approach to a change in horizontal alignment. With the use of these new assumptions, a new table was created on advance placement distances for warning signs placed in advance of changes in horizontal alignment. The table indicates that the advance placement is similar to the current values when speeds are 50 mph and lower. For higher speeds, the warning signs should be placed up to 75 ft farther from the start of the alignment change than when the advisory speed is low. The signs can be placed up to 100 ft closer to the start of the alignment change when the advisory speed is within 20 mph of the approach speed.
Crash Modification Functions for Installation of Left-Turn Lanes at Signalized Intersection Approaches
Authors: Osama Ahmed , Sayed Tarek , Sacchi Emanuele
Published: October 2016

This paper presents the results of a study that developed crash modification (CM) functions for installing left-turn lanes at signalized intersection approaches. CM functions were obtained from a longitudinal before–after safety study that accounted for treatment location characteristics (heterogeneity). This approach for developing CM functions has several advantages over the commonly used cross-sectional evaluations, which have several statistical shortcomings. The developed CM functions incorporate a time variable to acknowledge that the safety treatment effects do not occur instantaneously but are spread over future time; this result was achieved with a nonlinear intervention model with the full Bayes method. Twelve treatment sites were selected for the evaluation, along with 67 comparison sites. The treatment included the addition of one or more LT lanes for each intersection. The analysis showed significant safety improvements for fatal-plus-injury and total collisions but statistically nonsignificant reductions for property-damage-only collisions. The significant covariates included in the CM functions were the time trend, total entering volumes, and category of the new left-turn lanes installation.
Conflict-Based Safety Performance Functions for Predicting Traffic Collisions by Type
Authors: Sacchi Emanuele , Sayed Tarek
Published: October 2016

In road safety analysis, safety performance functions (SPFs) are used to predict the average number of collisions per year at a road site. SPFs are a function of various amounts of exposure and, in some cases, site-specific characteristics. Exposure is a measure of opportunities for collisions to occur. The circulating traffic volume is commonly adopted for this purpose. However, not all vehicles interact unsafely at a road site. Alternatively, traffic conflicts may provide a more appropriate exposure measure for collisions because they represent only unsafe interactions between vehicles. There has been some research on this topic, mainly based on aggregated data including all conflict types. In this study a stratified analysis was conducted by type of conflict. Hence, the main objectives of this research were to establish a relationship between predicted collisions and predicted conflicts by using an SPF with traffic conflicts as an exposure measure and to predict the number of specific types of conflicts and collisions at signalized intersections. The methodological framework used was a two-phase nested modeling process in which a Poisson–gamma SPF that uses traffic volume as exposure was used to predict conflicts, which were then used in another Poisson–gamma SPF to predict collisions. The proposed approach was applied to a data set of collision frequency and average hourly conflicts for 49 signalized intersections throughout British Columbia, Canada. The results demonstrate the proportional relationship between conflicts and collisions and the importance of carrying out stratified analyses when types of conflicts are combined.
Transferability Analysis of Heterogeneous Overdispersion Parameter Negative Binomial Crash Models
Authors: Venkataraman Narayan , Shankar Venky , Blum Jeremy , Hariharan Barad , Hong Jungyeol
Published: October 2016

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the temporal transferability of heterogeneous overdispersion parameter negative binomial models for crash severity types in California. The Furnival–Wilson leaps and bounds algorithm was used to identify optimal safety performance function specifications. The overdispersion parameter was allowed to vary across roadway segments as a function of roadway geometrics. Sixty models were developed for five major severity outcomes for homogeneous roadway segments for each of the periods 2005 to 2010, 2011 to 2012, and 2005 to 2012. Model transferability tests were conducted with likelihood ratio tests, and it was determined that temporal transferability rates (from the 2005–2010 period to the 2011–2012 period) were poor. The findings indicate the potential time instability of safety performance function parameters. The analysis found a higher rate of transferability for rural safety performance functions compared with urban safety performance functions. The rate of transferability was highest for severe injury and fatal injury. This result shows that the role of the overdispersion parameter in the transferability of safety performance functions must be considered. The absence of information on changes in economic, environmental, vehicle fleet, and driver population data limits the specification of the overdispersion parameter to roadway geometrics. Although it is an improvement over the current practice of the use of a constant overdispersion parameter, economic, environmental, and vehicle–driver population data might be useful for improving model transferability over time. The implications are that safety analysis methods such as crash modification factors, network screening, and excess crash estimations must take into account parameter variability over time.
Analysis of Rear-End Events on Congested Freeways by Using Video-Recorded Shock Waves
Authors: Chatterjee Indrajit , Davis Gary A.
Published: October 2016

Rear-end crashes on congested freeways are among the most frequently occurring capacity-reducing incidents. Empirical evidence suggests that freeway rear-end crashes tend to occur when stopping shock waves form on freeways. To understand the occurrence of such incidents, this study determined conditions by which a stopping wave results in a rear-end crash. Reviewing the existing literature on rear-end crash mechanisms, the study first established a sufficient condition for a shock wave to produce a rear-end crash and then verified it by using video recordings of 41 shock waves, including five resulting in rear-end crashes, on Interstate I-94 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For each shock wave, key kinematic features of the involved drivers, including initial speeds, following headway, average decelerations, and reaction times, were estimated. The proposed crash condition successfully distinguished between successful brake-to-stop events and rear-end crashes. Detailed analysis of two rear-end crashes illustrated how drivers with reaction times longer than their following headways played a key role in determining the crash outcome of a shock wave. These findings suggest that interventions focusing on the relationship between reaction time and following headway could reduce the frequency of rear-end crashes.
Reliability-Based Design Procedure for Fatigue Cracking in Asphalt Pavements
Authors: Dinegdae Yared H. , Birgisson Björn
Published: October 2016

The need to account for the effect of design input variabilities on predicted performance has led to many design procedures that address reliability for pavement applications. The Florida cracking model uses empirically derived reliability for fatigue cracking design of asphalt pavements. A reliability approach, which is based on probabilistic uncertainty quantification, is necessary to account properly and effectively for the contribution of the variability in each parameter to the overall variance. This paper presents a load and resistance factor design (LRFD) procedure for the Florida cracking model. By delivering designs of uniform reliability, LRFD provides the basis for developing quality control and quality assurance standards. A first-order reliability method that incorporates a surrogate model based on central composite design was used to compute the reliability and formulate the partial safety factors. The reliability calibration was based on field pavement sections that had a wide range of design inputs and target reliability. Illustrative designs based on the developed LRFD procedure show the effectiveness of the partial safety factors and further confirm the credibility of the reliability analysis methodology.
Vibration character analysis of magnetic pipe for electronic anti-fouling system
Authors: Han Yong , Li Liqing , Guo Hulun , Wang Deyu
Published: October 2016

The anti-fouling mechanism of electronic anti-fouling(EAF) system using on the magnetic pipe is still not all clear as yet because of the electromagnetic shielding function of the pipe. In the present study the vibration of the magnetic pipe caused by alternating electromagnetic field was investigated as the anti-fouling force from EAF system using on the magnetic pipe. The relation between the vibration frequency of the pipe and excitation signal frequency was studied by experimental method. The vibration frequency of the pipe was detected by a three-dimensional laser scanning vibrometer. The experiment results supposed that the vibration frequency of the pipe was double the excitation signal frequency, and this conclusion meets with magnetostriction theory. Furthermore, another experiment was carried out to verify that the resonant frequency of the magnetic pipe can be controlled by the excitation signal frequency. This method is useful to the vibration performance optimization for EAF system.
An efficient approach based on MLCBD algorithm for analysis of electromagnetic problems
Authors: Jiang Zhaoneng , Wan Ting
Published: October 2016

In this paper, an efficient hybrid algorithm is proposed to analyze the large-scale electromagnetic scattering and radiation problems. It utilizes the adaptive cross approximation (ACA) algorithm to form the impedance matrix for interactions inside a subdomain, while the impedance matrix for interactions belongs to different subdomains is calculated by multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM). The direct solver based on multilevel compressed block decomposition (MLCBD) is utilized to solve the matrix equation for each subdomain which is called as the inner iteration. Due to its negligible extra cost for the new excitation, the proposed hybrid algorithm is especially efficient for analyzing electromagnetic scattering problems with multiple incident fields(monostatic scattering computations). Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate its validity and efficiency.
A harmonic current injection method for electromagnetic torque ripple suppression in permanent-magnet synchronous machines
Authors: Chen Zhenfei , Li Zhixin , Ma Hongzhong
Published: October 2016

Electromagnetic torque model is built in this paper for permanent-magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) with non-sinusoidal back electromotive force (back-EMF) and current. Electromagnetic torque is divided into four parts depending on the different combinations of fundamental and harmonic component. Effects of current harmonic order, amplitude and initial angle on average torque and torque ripple are investigated based on the mathematic model. Desired harmonic parameters are obtained from the analysis, in order to suppress the torque ripple as much as possible. Further, a method for reducing the 5th and 7th harmonic components of torque ripple is proposed, according to the characteristics of back-EMF harmonic distribution. The proposed method is greatly simplified and more feasible by only injecting 5th and 7th harmonic currents. The theoretical analysis validity has been proved by finite element (FE) simulation, and the FE results show that torque ripple would be more effectively reduced by injecting proper harmonic current than weakening it merely.
Modified LMS algorithm applied to maglev flywheel's vibration compensation problem
Authors: Gao Hui , Song Le
Published: October 2016

For the high-speed rotation characteristics of maglev flywheel, in order to reduce the vibration impact of shared frequency sinusoidal signal with the flywheel, an improved variable step size least mean square (LMS) algorithm is proposed through analyzing the application deficiency in maglev flywheel system of the standard LMS algorithm and original variable step size LMS algorithm. The filtering compensation effect is compared of the proposed LMS algorithm with the original algorithm. Simulation results show that the modified algorithm having better convergence and follow the desired signal ability to time-varying small amplitude signals. The study can offer help to improve the control stability and compensation real-time performance for maglev flywheel system.
Automated X-ray image analysis for cargo security: Critical review and future promise
Authors: Rogers Thomas W. , Jaccard Nicolas , Morton Edward J. , Griffin Lewis D.
Published: October 2016

We review the relatively immature field of automated image analysis for X-ray cargo imagery. There is increasing demand for automated analysis methods that can assist in the inspection and selection of containers, due to the ever-growing volumes of traded cargo and the increasing concerns that customs- and security-related threats are being smuggled across borders by organised crime and terrorist networks. We split the field into the classical pipeline of image preprocessing and image understanding. Preprocessing includes: image manipulation; quality improvement; Threat Image Projection (TIP); and material discrimination and segmentation. Image understanding includes: Automated Threat Detection (ATD); and Automated Contents Verification (ACV). We identify several gaps in the literature that need to be addressed and propose ideas for future research. Where the current literature is sparse we borrow from the single-view, multi-view, and CT X-ray baggage domains, which have some characteristics in common with X-ray cargo.
Measuring and correcting wobble in large-scale transmission radiography
Authors: Rogers Thomas W. , Ollier James , Morton Edward J. , Griffin Lewis D.
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND: Large-scale transmission radiography scanners are used to image vehicles and cargo containers. Acquired images are inspected for threats by a human operator or a computer algorithm. To make accurate detections, it is important that image values are precise. However, due to the scale (∼5 m tall) of such systems, they can be mechanically unstable, causing the imaging array to wobble during a scan. This leads to an effective loss of precision in the captured image.

OBJECTIVE: We consider the measurement of wobble and amelioration of the consequent loss of image precision.

METHODS: Following our previous work, we use Beam Position Detectors (BPDs) to measure the cross-sectional profile of the X-ray beam, allowing for estimation, and thus correction, of wobble. We propose: (i) a model of image formation with a wobbling detector array; (ii) a method of wobble correction derived from this model; (iii) methods for calibrating sensor sensitivities and relative offsets; (iv) a Random Regression Forest based method for instantaneous estimation of detector wobble; and (v) using these estimates to apply corrections to captured images of difficult scenes.

RESULTS: We show that these methods are able to correct for 87% of image error due wobble, and when applied to difficult images, a significant visible improvement in the intensity-windowed image quality is observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The method improves the precision of wobble affected images, which should help improve detection of threats and the identification of different materials in the image.
Morphometry analysis of basal ganglia structures in children with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Lv Jian , Shi Lin , Zhao Lei , Weng Jian , Mok Vincent C.T. , Chu Winnie C.W. , Wang Defeng
Published: October 2016

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects both adults and children, likely mediated by the deficits of various brain regions. The association between structural alterations in the brain and OSA syndrome have been reported in adult patients, but the corresponding evidence for OSA children is still limited.

OBJECTIVE: The proposed study aimed to investigate the structural alterations in the brain of children with OSA, with focus on basal ganglia structures.

METHODS: We recruited 25 OSA children (aged 10.3±1.5 years) and 30 healthy children (aged 10.1±1.8 years) with T1-weighted brain MRI and performed automatic segmentation of their brains. The shape alterations of the basal ganglia structures for OSA syndrome was determined by comparison of the OSA group and control group with surface-based shape analysis.

RESULTS: Differences in the morphometry of the left thalamus and the left pallidum were found between the OSA group and control group. Compared to the control group, the OSA group presented significant atrophy in the ventral posterior nucleus and the medial dorsal nucleus of the left thalamus, while regional dilation was found in both the internal and external segments of the left pallidum.

CONCLUSION: These findings identified the association between the structural deficits of the thalamus and OSA syndrome in children, which was consistent with the existing findings in OSA adults. In addition, the present study provided new insights to the distinctive pattern of structural changes of the pallidum in pediatric OSA when compared to adult OSA.
Wear Characteristics of Metallic Counterparts under Elliptical-Locus Ultrasonic Vibration
Authors: Zhang Yanhu , Qu Jianjun , Wang Hongxiang
Published: October 2016

Wear behavior is influential to improve friction drive and wear lifespan of actuators or motors, which work at an elliptical locus vibration. Sliding wear tests of metallic friction pairs are conducted by a laboratory rig of ultrasonic vibration. Surfaces of the different metallic sliders are characterized using surface roughness, Abbott curves and fractal dimension. Results show that surface roughness is reduced to varying degrees in the metallic sliders due to ultrasonic polishing and/or micro-rolling effect. Variations in the fractal dimensions of contact surfaces are consistent with that of surface roughness. Wear traces demonstrate that plastic deformation and cracking are the primary failure modes. Where the driving tip on the slider is in intermittent contact followed by impact effects, ripples of 3~5 μm traces suggest the occurrence of fretting in duralumin sliders. Nodular cast iron showed a favorable performance during running of ultrasonic motor, exhibiting a stable output performance and durable wear life.
Kinetics of Antibody Binding to Membranes of Living Bacteria Measured by a Photonic Crystal-Based Biosensor
Authors: Rostova Ekaterina , Ben Adiba Carine , Dietler Giovanni , Sekatskii Sergey
Published: October 2016

Optical biosensors based on photonic crystal surface waves (PC SWs) offer a possibility to study binding interactions with living cells, overcoming the limitation of rather small evanescent field penetration depth into a sample medium that is characteristic for typical optical biosensors. Besides this, simultaneous excitation of s- and p-polarized surface waves with different penetration depths is realized here, permitting unambiguous separation of surface and volume contributions to the measured signal. PC-based biosensors do not require a bulk signal correction, compared to widely used surface plasmon resonance-based devices. We developed a chitosan-based protocol of PC chip functionalization for bacterial attachment and performed experiments on antibody binding to living bacteria measured in real time by the PCSW-based biosensor. Data analysis reveals specific binding and gives the value of the dissociation constant for monoclonal antibodies (IgG2b) against bacterial lipopolysaccharides equal to KD = 6.2 ± 3.4 nM. To our knowledge, this is a first demonstration of antibody-binding kinetics to living bacteria by a label-free optical biosensor.
Polarization Vector Rotations: Real, Spurious, Hidden and Imaginary
Authors: Larionov Valeri , Jorstad Svetlana , Marscher Alan , Smith Paul
Published: October 2016

Large and variable polarization is an inherent property of a majority of blazars. Systematic rotations of the polarization vector have been claimed for several blazars. In some cases, however, the reality of these rotations may be questionable. We suggest an additional method for the verification of the reality of polarization position angle rotations based on the correlation of the normalized Stokes parameters.
Exercise Performance Measurement with Smartphone Embedded Sensor for Well-Being Management
Authors: Liu Chung-Tse , Chan Chia-Tai
Published: October 2016

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many diseases and improves physical and mental health. However, physical inactivity is widespread globally. Improving physical activity levels is a global concern in well-being management. Exercise performance measurement systems have the potential to improve physical activity by providing feedback and motivation to users. We propose an exercise performance measurement system for well-being management that is based on the accumulated activity effective index (AAEI) and incorporates a smartphone-embedded sensor. The proposed system generates a numeric index that is based on users’ exercise performance: their level of physical activity and number of days spent exercising. The AAEI presents a clear number that can serve as a useful feedback and goal-setting tool. We implemented the exercise performance measurement system by using a smartphone and conducted experiments to assess the feasibility of the system and investigated the user experience. We recruited 17 participants for validating the feasibility of the measurement system and a total of 35 participants for investigating the user experience. The exercise performance measurement system showed an overall precision of 88% in activity level estimation. Users provided positive feedback about their experience with the exercise performance measurement system. The proposed system is feasible and has a positive effective on well-being management.
Location Optimization Using a Hierarchical Location-Allocation Model for Trauma Centers in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Zhu Yishu , Du Qingyun , Tian Fei , Ren Fu , Liang Shi , Chen Yan
Published: October 2016

Trauma is considered a “modern civilized sickness”, and its occurrence substantially affects all of society, as well as individuals. The implementation of trauma emergency systems in cities with young, prosperous, and highly mobile populations is necessary and significant. A complete trauma emergency system includes both low-level trauma centers that offer basic emergency services and high-level trauma centers that offer comprehensive services. GIS and operational research methods were used to solve the location problem associated with these centers. This study analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics of trauma demands and the candidate locations of trauma centers based on a spatial analysis and presented a hierarchical location-allocation model for low- and high-level trauma centers in Shenzhen. The response, coverage, treatment and cost capacities of the trauma center locations were considered, and an ant colony optimization was used to calculate the optimal solution. The objectives of this study were to optimize trauma center locations, improve the allocation of medical trauma resources and reduce the rate of deaths and disabilities due to trauma.
Potential Susceptibility Mutations in C Gene for Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Identified by a Two-Stage Study in Qidong, China
Authors: Qu Lishuai , Zhang Haifeng , Liu Jinxia , Liu Taotao , Shen Xizhong , Chen Taoyang , Ni Zhengpin , Lu Cuihua
Published: October 2016

A two stage study was conducted to explore new potential mutations in the full genome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Qidong, China. In stage 1, full genomes of HBV were compared between 30 HCC cases and 30 controls. In stage 2, an independent case–control study including 100 HCC cases and 100 controls was enrolled to verify the relationship between hot-spot mutations and HCC development. Furthermore, a longitudinal study was conducted on 11 HCC cases with serial serum samples available before HCC diagnosis. A total of 10 mutations (including pre-S2 start codon mutation and pre-S deletion in pre-S gene, G1613A, C1653T, A1762T, and G1764A mutations in X gene, A2159G, A2189Y, G2203W, and C2288R mutations in C gene) showed an increased risk of HCC. In the validation study, pre-S deletion, C1653T, A1762T/G1764A, A2159G, A2189Y, G2203W, and C2288R mutations were associated with increased HCC risk in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis indicated that pre-S deletion, A1762T/G1764A, A2159G, and A2189Y mutations were independently related with HCC development. Moreover, a significant biological gradient of HCC risk by number of mutations in the C gene was observed. Longitudinal observation demonstrated a gradual combination of the above mutations accumulated during the progression of HCC.
Synthesis and Antifungal Activity against Fusarium oxysporum of Some Brassinin Analogs Derived from l-tryptophan: A DFT/B3LYP Study on the Reaction Mechanism
Authors: Quiroga Diego , Becerra Lili , Sadat-Bernal John , Vargas Nathalia , Coy-Barrera Ericsson
Published: October 2016

An efficient methodology to obtain novel antifungal analogs of brassinin 1 is described. Starting from l-tryptophan 2, N,N′-dialkylthiourea 4, 4-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylene]-2-sulfanylidene-1,3-thiazolidin-5-one 5 and alkyl (2S)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-{[(alkylsulfanyl)carbonothioyl]amino}propanoate 6 type compounds were obtained as main products in different ratios depending on the reaction conditions via a tandem dithiocarbamate formation and Michael addition reaction. In order to understand the dependence of the reaction conditions on the mechanism pathway, a DFT/B3LYP study was performed. The results suggested the existence of competitive mechanistic routes which involve the presence of an ionic dithiocarbamate intermediate 9. Antifungal activities of all products were then evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum through mycelial growth inhibition using a microscale amended-medium assay. IC50 values were thus determined for each compound. These results showed that 6-related compounds can be considered as promissory antifungal agents.
Natural Dietary and Herbal Products in Anti-Obesity Treatment
Authors: Sun Nan-Nong , Wu Tsung-Yen , Chau Chi-Fai
Published: October 2016

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is on the rise around the world. Common comorbidities associated with obesity, particularly diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease have an impact on social and financial systems. Appropriate lifestyle and behavior interventions are still the crucial cornerstone to weight loss success, but maintaining such a healthy lifestyle is extremely challenging. Abundant natural materials have been explored for their obesity treatment potential and widely used to promote the development of anti-obesity products. The weight loss segment is one of the major contributors to the overall revenue of the dietary supplements market. In this review, the anti-obesity effects of different dietary or herbal products, and their active ingredients and mechanisms of action against obesity will be discussed.
The Association between Dietary Vitamin A and Carotenes and the Risk of Primary Liver Cancer: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Lan Qiu-Ye , Zhang Yao-Jun , Liao Gong-Cheng , Zhou Rui-Fen , Zhou Zhong-Guo , Chen Yu-Ming , Zhu Hui-Lian
Published: October 2016

Dietary intake of vitamin A (VA) and carotenes has shown beneficial effects for decreasing the risk of some types of cancer, but findings on the risk of primary liver cancer (PLC) are inconsistent. This case–control study explored the associations between the dietary intake of VA and carotenes and the risk of PLC. We recruited 644 incident PLC patients (diagnosed within one month of each other) and 644 age- and gender-matched controls in Guangzhou, China. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess habitual dietary intake. Logistic regression analyses found that higher intakes of VA and carotenes were independently associated with decreased PLC risk (all P-trend < 0.001). The multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CI) of PLC for the highest (vs. lowest) quartile were 0.34 (0.24–0.48) for vitamin A and 0.35 (0.25–0.49) for carotenes. The associations were not significantly modified by smoking, alcohol, or tea drinking (P-interactions: 0.062–0.912). Dose–response analysis showed a U-shaped VA–PLC relationship, with sharply decreased risks at the intakes of about 1000 μg retinol equivalent (RE)/day, and then slowly went down toward the flat-bottomed risks with the lowest risk at 2300 μg RE/day. Our findings suggest that greater intake of retinol, carotenes, and total VA may decrease PLC risk among the Chinese population at an intake of 1000 μg RE/day or greater from food sources.
Characteristics of Beverage Consumption Habits among a Large Sample of French Adults: Associations with Total Water and Energy Intakes
Authors: Szabo de Edelenyi Fabien , Druesne-Pecollo Nathalie , Arnault Nathalie , González Rebeca , Buscail Camille , Galan Pilar
Published: October 2016

Background: Adequate hydration is a key factor for correct functioning of both cognitive and physical processes. In France, public health recommendations about adequate total water intake (TWI) only state that fluid intake should be sufficient, with particular attention paid to hydration for seniors, especially during heatwave periods. The objective of this study was to calculate the total amount of water coming from food and beverages and to analyse characteristics of consumption in participants from a large French national cohort. Methods: TWI, as well as contribution of food and beverages to TWI was assessed among 94,939 adult participants in the Nutrinet-Santé cohort (78% women, mean age 42.9 (SE 0.04)) using three 24-h dietary records at baseline. Statistical differences in water intakes across age groups, seasons and day of the week were assessed. Results: The mean TWI was 2.3 L (Standard Error SE 4.7) for men and 2.1 L (SE 2.4) for women. A majority of the sample did comply with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adequate intake recommendation, especially women. Mean total energy intake (EI) was 1884 kcal/day (SE 1.5) (2250 kcal/day (SE 3.6) for men and 1783 kcal/day (SE 1.5) for women). The contribution to the total EI from beverages was 8.3%. Water was the most consumed beverage, followed by hot beverages. The variety score, defined as the number of different categories of beverages consumed during the three 24-h records out of a maximum of 8, was positively correlated with TWI (r = 0.4); and with EI (r = 0.2), suggesting that beverage variety is an indicator of higher consumption of food and drinks. We found differences in beverage consumptions and water intakes according to age and seasonality. Conclusions: The present study gives an overview of the water intake characteristics in a large population of French adults. TWI was found to be globally in line with public health recommendations.
Flash Flood Monitoring with an Inclined Lidar Installed at a River Bank: Proof of Concept
Authors: Tamari Serge , Guerrero-Meza Vicente
Published: October 2016

Flash floods need to be monitored from a safe place, ideally with noncontact instruments installed at a riverbank and oriented so that they look obliquely at the water surface. The “inclined Lidar” technique could be useful for this purpose. It works based on the fact that a near-infrared Lidar mounted with a large incidence angle can detect suspended particles slightly below the surface, provided that the water is very turbid, something which is likely during flash floods. To check this hypothesis, an inexpensive “time of flight” (TOF) Lidar was installed during a rainy season at the Amacuzac River (Mexico), which was usually found to be extremely turbid (Secchi depth < 0.5 m). Under these circumstances, the Lidar had no difficulty detecting the water (sub) surface. Converting the measured distances into stage estimates through a simple (one point) calibration resulted in reasonable agreement with reference data (within ±0.08 m (p = 0.95) and always <0.5 m), especially during the passing of a flash flood. This is the first evidence that an inclined (TOF) Lidar can be used to monitor the stage during a flash flood. Indirectly, it also shows that a (Doppler) Lidar could be used to monitor water velocity during this type of event.
Rubber Plantation Expansion Related Land Use Change along the Laos-China Border Region
Authors: Liu Xiaona , Jiang Luguang , Feng Zhiming , Li Peng
Published: October 2016

Spatial-temporal changes of land use and land cover in Luang Namtha Province in northern part of Laos was analyzed using Landsat TM (Thematic Mapper)/ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper) images from 1990 to 2010 since the opening of the Boten border adjacent to China. The results showed that: (1) “forest land—cultivated land—grassland” was the primary landscape structure. Woodland was the major land cover type, while paddy field was the dominant land use type replaced by rubber plantation in 2010; (2) since the opening of the border crossings in 1994, the rate and intensity of land use change were accelerated and enhanced gradually, especially in the recent decade. Woodland decreased significantly, while shrubland, rubber plantation and swidden land increased obviously. Rubber plantation and swidden land showed the fastest growth derived from woodland and shrubland, indicating continuous human activities and slash-and-burn farming; and (3) during 1990–2010, swidden land was mainly located in northern mountainous areas with frequently increased changing spatial distribution in the recent decade. Rubber plantation was mainly distributed in the border region of China and Laos with the expansion from the border region into the non-frontier of Laos with Luang Namtha City as the center. Woodland reduction was so obvious along the Kunming-Bangkok highway.
Testing Lorentz and CPT Invariance with Neutrinos
Authors: Díaz Jorge
Published: October 2016

Neutrino experiments can be considered sensitive tools to test Lorentz and CPT invariance. Taking advantage of the great variety of neutrino experiments, including neutrino oscillations, weak decays, and astrophysical neutrinos, the generic experimental signatures of the breakdown of these fundamental symmetries in the neutrino sector are presented.
Investigating Alternative Climate Data Sources for Hydrological Simulations in the Upstream of the Amu Darya River
Authors: Sidike Ayetiguli , Chen Xi , Liu Tie , Durdiev Khaydar , Huang Yue
Published: October 2016

The main objective of this study is to investigate alternative climate data sources for long-term hydrological modeling. To accomplish this goal, one weather station data set (WSD) and three grid-based data sets including three types of precipitation data and two types of temperature data were selected according to their spatial and temporal details. An accuracy assessment of the grid-based data sets was performed using WSD. Then, the performances of corrected data combination and non-corrected grid-based precipitation and temperature data combinations from multiple sources on simulating river flow in the upstream portion of the Amu Darya River Basin (ADRB) were analyzed using a Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The results of the accuracy assessments indicated that all the grid-based data sets underestimated precipitation. The Asian Precipitation Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards the Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) precipitation data provided the highest accuracy (correlation coefficients (CF) > 0.89, root mean square error (RMSE) < 41.6 mm), followed by the CRUNCEP reanalysis data (a combination of the CRU TS.3.2 data and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data) (CF > 0.5, RMSE < 58.1 mm) and Princeton’s Global Meteorological Forcing Dataset (PGMFD) precipitation data (CF > 0.46, RMSE < 62.8 mm). The PGMFD temperature data exhibited a higher accuracy (CF > 0.98, RMSE < 7.1 °C) than the CRUNCEP temperature data (CF > 0.97, RMSE < 4.9 °C). In terms of the simulation performance, the corrected APHRODITE precipitation and PGMFD temperature data provided the best performance. The CF and Nash-Sutcliffe (NSE) coefficients in the calibration and validation periods were 0.96 and 0.92 and 0.93 and 0.83, respectively. In addition, the combinations of PGMFD temperature data and APHRODITE, PGMFD and CRUNCEP precipitation data produced good results, with NSE ≥ 0.70 and CF ≥ 0.89. The combination of CRUNCEP temperature data and APHRODITE precipitation produced a satisfactory result, with NSE = 0.58 and CF = 0.82. The combinations of CRUNCEP temperature data and PGMFD and CRUNCEP precipitation data produced poor results.
Analysis of ASR Clogging Investigations at Three Australian ASR Sites in a Bayesian Context
Authors: Dillon Peter , Vanderzalm Joanne , Page Declan , Barry Karen , Gonzalez Dennis , Muthukaruppan Muthu , Hudson Matthew
Published: October 2016

When evaluating uncertainties in developing an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system, under normal budgetary constraints, a systematic approach is needed to prioritise investigations. Three case studies where field trials have been undertaken, and clogging evaluated, reveal the changing perceptions of viability of ASR from a clogging perspective as a result of the progress of investigations. Two stormwater and one recycled water ASR investigations in siliceous aquifers are described that involved different strategies to evaluate the potential for clogging. This paper reviews these sites, as well as earlier case studies and information relating water quality, to clogging in column studies. Two novel theoretical concepts are introduced in the paper. Bayesian analysis is applied to demonstrate the increase in expected net benefit in developing a new ASR operation by undertaking clogging experiments (that have an assumed known reliability for predicting viability) for the injectant treatment options and aquifer material from the site. Results for an example situation demonstrate benefit cost ratios of experiments ranging from 1.5 to 6 and apply if decisions are based on experimental results whether success or failure are predicted. Additionally, a theoretical assessment of clogging rates characterised as acute and chronic is given, to explore their combined impact, for two operating parameters that define the onset of purging for recovery of reversible clogging and the onset of occasional advanced bore rehabilitation to address recovery of chronic clogging. These allow the assessment of net recharge and the proportion of water purged or redeveloped. Both analyses could inform economic decisions and help motivate an improved investigation methodology. It is expected that aquifer heterogeneity will result in differing injection rates among wells, so operational experience will ultimately be valuable in differentiating clogging behaviour under different aquifer conditions for the same water type. This paper was originally presented at ISMAR9, Mexico City 20–24 June 2016.
Chypre, de la multiplicité des royaumes à l’unité de la province lagide : transition et adaptation
Authors: Hatzopoulos Miltiade
Published: October 2016

It is generally thought that Macedonian ascendancy on Cyprus signified a radical break between a “ before”, characterised by the multiplicity of autonomous kingdoms, the use of the Cypriot syllabary --noting both the Greek dialect of the island and the indigenous language of Amathous--and the presence of despotic regimes ignoring civic institutions, and an “ after”, the main features of which are political unification under the Ptolemies and later the Romans, the triumph of the koine and alphabetic writing, and the emergence of municipal structures. Naturally, there is no question of denying either the generalisation of the koine, the offshoot of which is the modern dialect, or the reality of the constitution of the Ptolemaic province, or the epigraphic evidence attesting the multiplication of organs of civic government. My more modest aim is, using an example taken in the sphere of civic institutions, but relevant also to political history and to language and writing, to show that the break is less clear and less absolute, and that, instead of “ break” and “ continuity”, we should rather speak of “ transition” and “ adaptation”.
Nicocréon, le dernier roi de Salamine de Chypre. Discours idéologique et pouvoir politique
Authors: Christodoulou Panos
Published: October 2016

In the present study my aim is to analyse the text preserved on this priceless inscription (IG IV, 583) as the discourse of a king trying to put in place a policy allowing him to play an important role in the new order imposed by the Macedonians. The epigram reveals the genius of Nicocreon who was able to create an ideological discourse and follow a pragmatic policy that allowed him to place himself in a continuity, attaching him to the remarkable past of his kingdom and inscribing him, beforehand, in the future. The last of the Teucrides is not a melancholic witness to the end of the Cypriot kingdoms ; on the contrary, he is a major actor in the era following the rise of the Macedonians, an era marked by the events that changed the Hellenic world’s destiny.