bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fusion Link Prediction Method Based on Limit Theorem
Authors: Wu Yiteng , Yu Hongtao , Huang Ruiyang , Li Yingle , Lin Senjie
Published: December 2017

The theoretical limit of link prediction is a fundamental problem in this field. Taking the network structure as object to research this problem is the mainstream method. This paper proposes a new viewpoint that link prediction methods can be divided into single or combination methods, based on the way they derive the similarity matrix, and investigates whether there a theoretical limit exists for combination methods. We propose and prove necessary and sufficient conditions for the combination method to reach the theoretical limit. The limit theorem reveals the essence of combination method that is to estimate probability density functions of existing links and nonexistent links. Based on limit theorem, a new combination method, theoretical limit fusion (TLF) method, is proposed. Simulations and experiments on real networks demonstrated that TLF method can achieve higher prediction accuracy.
A Real-Time Sound Field Rendering Processor
Authors: Yiyu Tan , Inoguchi Yasushi , Otani Makoto , Iwaya Yukio , Tsuchiya Takao
Published: December 2017

Real-time sound field renderings are computationally intensive and memory-intensive. Traditional rendering systems based on computer simulations suffer from memory bandwidth and arithmetic units. The computation is time-consuming, and the sample rate of the output sound is low because of the long computation time at each time step. In this work, a processor with a hybrid architecture is proposed to speed up computation and improve the sample rate of the output sound, and an interface is developed for system scalability through simply cascading many chips to enlarge the simulated area. To render a three-minute Beethoven wave sound in a small shoe-box room with dimensions of 1.28 m × 1.28 m × 0.64 m, the field programming gate array (FPGA)-based prototype machine with the proposed architecture carries out the sound rendering at run-time while the software simulation with the OpenMP parallelization takes about 12.70 min on a personal computer (PC) with 32 GB random access memory (RAM) and an Intel i7-6800K six-core processor running at 3.4 GHz. The throughput in the software simulation is about 194 M grids/s while it is 51.2 G grids/s in the prototype machine even if the clock frequency of the prototype machine is much lower than that of the PC. The rendering processor with a processing element (PE) and interfaces consumes about 238,515 gates after fabricated by the 0.18 µm processing technology from the ROHM semiconductor Co., Ltd. (Kyoto Japan), and the power consumption is about 143.8 mW.
Dicalcium Phosphate Coated with Graphene Synergistically Increases Osteogenic Differentiation In Vitro
Authors: Lee Jun , Shin Yong , Song Su-Jin , Cha Jae , Hong Suck , Lim Young-Jun , Jeong Seung , Han Dong-Wook , Kim Bongju
Published: December 2017

In recent years, graphene and its derivatives have attracted much interest in various fields, including biomedical applications. In particular, increasing attention has been paid to the effects of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on cellular behaviors. On the other hand, dicalcium phosphate (DCP) has been widely used in dental and pharmaceutical fields. In this study, DCP composites coated with rGO (DCP-rGO composites) were prepared at various concentration ratios (DCP to rGO concentration ratios of 5:2.5, 5:5, and 5:10 μg/mL, respectively), and their physicochemical properties were characterized. In addition, the effects of DCP-rGO hybrid composites on MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts were investigated. It was found that the DCP-rGO composites had an irregular granule-like structure with a diameter in the range order of the micrometer, and were found to be partially covered and interconnected with a network of rGO. The zeta potential analysis showed that although both DCP microparticles and rGO sheets had negative surface charge, the DCP-rGO composites could be successfully formed by the unique structural properties of rGO. In addition, it was demonstrated that the DCP-rGO composites significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular calcium deposition, indicating that the DCP-rGO hybrid composites can accelerate the osteogenic differentiation by the synergistic effects of rGO and DCP. Therefore, in conclusion, it is suggested that the DCP-rGO hybrid composites can be potent factors in accelerating the bone tissue regeneration.
The Impact of Bronchodilator Therapy on Systolic Heart Failure with Concomitant Mild to Moderate COPD
Authors: Kato Mahoto , Komamura Kazuo , Kitakaze Masafumi , Hirayama Atsushi
Published: December 2017

In older adults, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and the high prevalence of this combination suggests that customized treatment is highly necessary in patients with COPD and HFrEF. To investigate whether the treatment of COPD with tiotropium, an anticholinergic bronchodilator, reduces the severity of heart failure in patients with HFrEF complicated by mild to moderate COPD, forty consecutive participants were randomly divided into two groups and enrolled in a crossover design study. Group A inhaled 18 μg tiotropium daily for 28 days and underwent observation for another 28 days. Group B completed the 28-day observation period first and then received tiotropium inhalation therapy for 28 days. Pulmonary and cardiac functions were measured on days 1, 29, and 56. In both groups, 28 days of tiotropium inhalation therapy substantially improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (from 36.3 ± 2.4% to 41.8 ± 5.9%, p < 0.01, in group A; from 35.7 ± 3.8% to 41.6 ± 3.8%, p < 0.01, in group B) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels (from 374 ± 94 to 263 ± 92 pg/mL, p < 0.01, in group A; from 358 ± 110 to 246 ± 101 pg/mL, p < 0.01, in group B). Tiotropium inhalation therapy improves pulmonary function as well as cardiac function, and reduces the severity of heart failure in patients with compensated HFrEF with concomitant mild to moderate COPD.
Battery Dimensioning and Life Cycle Costs Analysis for a Heavy-Duty Truck Considering the Requirements of Long-Haul Transportation
Authors: Mareev Ivan , Becker Jan , Sauer Dirk
Published: December 2017

The use of heavy-duty battery electric trucks for long-haul transportation is challenging because of the required high energy amounts and thus the high capacity of traction batteries. Furthermore a high capacity battery implies high initial costs for the electric vehicle. This study investigates the required battery capacity for battery electric trucks considering the requirements of long-haul transportation in Germany and compares the life cycle costs of battery electric trucks and conventional diesel trucks in different transportation scenarios. The average consumption is simulated for different battery electric truck configurations on the main German highways and transportation scenarios incorporating battery charging during driver rest periods. The results show that in average case the required battery would restrict the payload to only 80% of a usual diesel truck payload that might be acceptable considering the statistical payload use. The life cycle costs in the examined scenarios also considering the charging infrastructure show that battery electric trucks can already perform on the same costs level as diesel trucks in certain scenarios.
A Theoretical-Experimental Comparison of an Improved Ammonia-Water Bubble Absorber by Means of a Helical Static Mixer
Authors: Cerezo Jesús , Best Roberto , Chan Jorge , Romero Rosenberg , Hernandez Jorge , Lara Fernando
Published: December 2017

The heat transfer in double pipe heat exchangers is very poor. This complicates its application in absorption cooling systems, however, the implementation of simple passive techniques should help to increase the heat and mass transfer mainly in the absorber. This paper carried out a simulation and its experimental comparison of a NH3-H2O bubble absorption process using a double tube heat exchanger with a helical screw static mixer in both central and annular sides. The experimental results showed that the absorption heat load per area is 31.61% higher with the helical screw mixer than the smooth tube. The theoretical and experimental comparison showed that the absorption heat load difference values were 28.0 and 21.9% for smooth tube and the helical mixer, respectively. These difference values were caused by the calculation of the log mean temperature difference in equilibrium conditions to avoid the overlap of solution temperatures. Therefore, the theoretical and experimental results should be improved when the absorption heat is included in the heat transfer equation or avoiding the operation condition when output is lower than input solution temperature.
ConGEMs: Condensed Gene Co-Expression Module Discovery Through Rule-Based Clustering and Its Application to Carcinogenesis
Authors: Mallik Saurav , Zhao Zhongming
Published: December 2017

For transcriptomic analysis, there are numerous microarray-based genomic data, especially those generated for cancer research. The typical analysis measures the difference between a cancer sample-group and a matched control group for each transcript or gene. Association rule mining is used to discover interesting item sets through rule-based methodology. Thus, it has advantages to find causal effect relationships between the transcripts. In this work, we introduce two new rule-based similarity measures—weighted rank-based Jaccard and Cosine measures—and then propose a novel computational framework to detect condensed gene co-expression modules (

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s) through the association rule-based learning system and the weighted similarity scores. In practice, the list of evolved condensed markers that consists of both singular and complex markers in nature depends on the corresponding condensed gene sets in either antecedent or consequent of the rules of the resultant modules. In our evaluation, these markers could be supported by literature evidence, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway and Gene Ontology annotations. Specifically, we preliminarily identified differentially expressed genes using an empirical Bayes test. A recently developed algorithm—RANWAR—was then utilized to determine the association rules from these genes. Based on that, we computed the integrated similarity scores of these rule-based similarity measures between each rule-pair, and the resultant scores were used for clustering to identify the co-expressed rule-modules. We applied our method to a gene expression dataset for lung squamous cell carcinoma and a genome methylation dataset for uterine cervical carcinogenesis. Our proposed module discovery method produced better results than the traditional gene-module discovery measures. In summary, our proposed rule-based method is useful for exploring biomarker modules from transcriptomic data.
Roadblocks Hindering the Reuse of Open Geodata in Colombia and Spain: A Data User’s Perspective
Authors: Benitez-Paez Fernando , Degbelo Auriol , Trilles Sergio , Huerta Joaquin
Published: December 2017

Open data initiatives are playing an important role in current city governments. Despite more data being made open, few studies have looked into barriers to open geographic data reuse from a data consumer’s perspective. This article suggests a taxonomy of these barriers for Colombia and Spain, based on a literature review, an online questionnaire, and workshops conducted in four cities of these two countries. The taxonomy highlights that issues such as outdated data, low integration of data producers, published data being difficult to access, misinterpretation and misuse of released data and their terms of use are the most relevant from the data consumer’s point of view. The article ends with some recommendations to open data providers and research as regards steps to make open geographic data more usable in the countries analyzed.
Omentin-A Novel Adipokine in Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Zhou Yan , Zhang Bo , Hao Caixia , Huang Xiaoting , Li Xiaohong , Huang Yanhong , Luo Ziqiang
Published: December 2017

Adipokines, secreted by the adipose tissue, are extensively involved in the regulation and maintenance of various physiological and pathological processes, including insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory activity, neuroendocrine activity, immunity, cancer, homeostasis, angiogenesis, cardiovascular function, breeding and bone metabolism, and all functions of the endocrine-reproductive system axis. Omentin is a recently identified adipokine, which has become a research hotspot due to its pleiotropic effects on various diseases. However, the specific receptor for omentin has not been identified so far. In this study, we report that omentin levels fluctuate in various diseases. In addition, we have focused on the pleiotropic roles of omentin in pulmonary diseases, as it may act as a biomarker for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and is related to disease severity. Omentin may play significant roles in other pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review summarizes the advances in current knowledge and future trends, which may provide a concise and general view on omentin and its effects on pulmonary biology.
Thiopurine Drugs Repositioned as Tyrosinase Inhibitors
Authors: Choi Joonhyeok , Lee You-Mie , Jee Jun-Goo
Published: December 2017

Drug repositioning is the application of the existing drugs to new uses and has the potential to reduce the time and cost required for the typical drug discovery process. In this study, we repositioned thiopurine drugs used for the treatment of acute leukaemia as new tyrosinase inhibitors. Tyrosinase catalyses two successive oxidations in melanin biosynthesis: the conversions of tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and DOPA to dopaquinone. Continuous efforts are underway to discover small molecule inhibitors of tyrosinase for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Structure-based virtual screening predicted inhibitor candidates from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Enzyme assays confirmed the thiopurine leukaemia drug, thioguanine, as a tyrosinase inhibitor with the inhibitory constant of 52 μM. Two other thiopurine drugs, mercaptopurine and azathioprine, were also evaluated for their tyrosinase inhibition; mercaptopurine caused stronger inhibition than thioguanine did, whereas azathioprine was a poor inhibitor. The inhibitory constant of mercaptopurine (16 μM) was comparable to that of the well-known inhibitor kojic acid (13 μM). The cell-based assay using B16F10 melanoma cells confirmed that the compounds inhibit mammalian tyrosinase. Particularly, 50 μM thioguanine reduced the melanin content by 57%, without apparent cytotoxicity. Cheminformatics showed that the thiopurine drugs shared little chemical similarity with the known tyrosinase inhibitors.
In Vitro Selection of a Single-Stranded DNA Molecular Recognition Element against the Pesticide Fipronil and Sensitive Detection in River Water
Authors: Hong Ka , Sooter Letha
Published: December 2017

Fipronil is a commonly used insecticide that has been shown to have environmental and human health risks. The current standard methods of detection for fipronil and its metabolites, such as GC-MS, are time consuming and labor intensive. In this study, a variant of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), was utilized to identify the first single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) molecular recognition element (MRE) that binds to fipronil with high affinity (Kd = 48 ± 8 nM). The selected MRE displayed low cross binding activity on various environmentally relevant, structurally unrelated herbicides and pesticides, in addition to broad-spectrum binding activity on major metabolites of fipronil and a structurally similar pesticide in prepared river samples. Additionally, a proof-of-principle fluorescent detection assay was developed by using the selected ssDNA MRE as a signal-reporting element, with a limit of detection of 105 nM in a prepared river water sample.
The Dark Side of IFN-γ: Its Role in Promoting Cancer Immunoevasion
Authors: Mojic Marija , Takeda Kazuyoshi , Hayakawa Yoshihiro
Published: December 2017

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has long been praised as an important effector molecule of anti-tumor immunity, capable of suppressing tumor growth through various mechanisms. On the contrary to such a bright side of IFN-γ, it has also been involved in promoting an outgrowth of tumor cells with immunoevasive phenotype suggesting an existence of a dark “tumor-promoting” side effect of IFN-γ. In this review, we will summarize this multi-functional role of IFN-γ in tumor context, how it promotes changes in tumor phenotype towards increased fitness for growth in immunocompetent host. Furthermore, we summarize how IFN-γ is involved in homeostatic or cancer-triggered mechanisms to establish an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Reform of the Belgian Justice System: Changes to the Role of Jurisdiction Chief, the Empowerment of Local Managers
Authors: Dupont Emilie , Schoenaers Frédéric
Published: December 2017

The last waves of reform that affected, and continue to affect, the Belgian legal system led to an injunction for increased responsibility on the part of local managers, the jurisdiction chiefs. This tendency was initiated in the 1990s, with the introduction of a managerial logic into the legal sphere, whereby local initiatives took precedence in the absence of any clear and binding direction. The 2014 reform project, through its three constituent pillars, led to the strengthening of this logic, to the point where it became an important subject. The jurisdiction chiefs were therefore confronted with a new type of responsibility in that they became responsible for the dissemination of managerial discourse within their local body, for the implementation of change, and, consequently, for the success of this change, while at the same time, being confronted by a state and by political authorities that preferred to take a back-seat role. By observing, from an exploratory perspective, the developments caused by this transformational dynamic with regard to the role and function of the jurisdiction chiefs, our contribution highlights the wide range of receptions and appropriations of the reform project, and the concepts supporting the founding trio of pillars, based on five emerging, empirically-established subjects.
Study on Zinc Oxide-Based Electrolytes in Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Xia Chen , Qiao Zheng , Feng Chu , Kim Jung-Sik , Wang Baoyuan , Zhu Bin
Published: December 2017

Semiconducting-ionic conductors have been recently described as excellent electrolyte membranes for low-temperature operation solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs). In the present work, two new functional materials based on zinc oxide (ZnO)—a legacy material in semiconductors but exceptionally novel to solid state ionics—are developed as membranes in SOFCs for the first time. The proposed ZnO and ZnO-LCP (La/Pr doped CeO2) electrolytes are respectively sandwiched between two Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05Li-oxide (NCAL) electrodes to construct fuel cell devices. The assembled ZnO fuel cell demonstrates encouraging power outputs of 158–482 mW cm−2 and high open circuit voltages (OCVs) of 1–1.06 V at 450–550 °C, while the ZnO-LCP cell delivers significantly enhanced performance with maximum power density of 864 mW cm−2 and OCV of 1.07 V at 550 °C. The conductive properties of the materials are investigated. As a consequence, the ZnO electrolyte and ZnO-LCP composite exhibit extraordinary ionic conductivities of 0.09 and 0.156 S cm−1 at 550 °C, respectively, and the proton conductive behavior of ZnO is verified. Furthermore, performance enhancement of the ZnO-LCP cell is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which is found to be as a result of the significantly reduced grain boundary and electrode polarization resistances. These findings indicate that ZnO is a highly promising alternative semiconducting-ionic membrane to replace the electrolyte materials for advanced LT-SOFCs, which in turn provides a new strategic pathway for the future development of electrolytes.
Aluminum Matrix Composite (AlSi7Mg2Sr0.03/SiCp) Pistons Obtained by Mechanical Mixing Method
Authors: Dyzia Maciej
Published: December 2017

Metal matrix composites are undoubtedly a group of advanced engineering materials. Compared to unreinforced matrix material, they are characterized by increased strength, greater stiffness, increased wear resistance, better mechanical properties and dimensional stability at elevated temperatures as well as lower density. Due to its very favorable tribological properties for many years research has been conducted on the application of MMC in friction node. The article presents important technological aspects related to the production and properties of composite pistons. Under industrial conditions, a composite suspension (AlSi7Mg2Sr0.03/SiCp 10 vol %) was prepared to allow casting of the semi-finished pistons series. Machining parameters of the working surfaces of the piston were selected on the basis of the turning test made on PCD, PCNM and uncoated carbide tools. The tribological properties of the composite pistons were determined on the basis of the pin-on-disc and the abrasion wear. The scuffing tests carried out under real operating conditions have confirmed the possibility of using composite pistons in air compressors.
Electrochemical Impedance Analysis of a PEDOT:PSS-Based Textile Energy Storage Device
Authors: Nuramdhani Ida , Gokceoren Argun , Odhiambo Sheilla , De Mey Gilbert , Hertleer Carla , Van Langenhove Lieva
Published: December 2017

A textile-based energy storage device with electroactive PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonate)) polymer functioning as a solid-state polyelectrolyte has been developed. The device was fabricated on textile fabric with two plies of stainless-steel electroconductive yarn as the electrodes. In this study, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance analysis were used to investigate ionic and electronic activities in the bulk of PEDOT:PSS and at its interfaces with stainless steel yarn electrodes. The complex behavior of ionic and electronic origins was observed in the interfacial region between the conductive polymer and the electrodes. The migration and diffusion of the ions involved were confirmed by the presence of the Warburg element with a phase shift of 45° (n = 0.5). Two different equivalent circuit models were found by simulating the model with the experimental results: (QR)(QR)(QR) for uncharged and (QR)(QR)(Q(RW)) for charged samples. The analyses also showed that the further the distance between electrodes, the lower the capacitance of the cell. The distribution of polymer on the cell surface also played important role to change the capacitance of the device. The results of this work may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism and how to improve the performance of the device.
Long-Term Tracking of Free-Swimming Paramecium caudatum in Viscous Media Using a Curved Sample Chamber
Authors: Shourav Mohiuddin , Kim Jung
Published: December 2017

It is technically difficult to acquire large-field images under the complexity and cost restrictions of a diagnostic and instant field research purpose. The goal of the introduced large-field imaging system is to achieve a tolerable resolution for detecting microscale particles or objects in the entire image field without the field-curvature effect, while maintaining a cost-effective procedure and simple design. To use a single commercial lens for imaging a large field, the design attempts to fabricate a curved microfluidic chamber. This imaging technique improves the field curvature and distortion at an acceptable level of particle detection. This study examines Paramecium caudatum microswimmers to track their motion dynamics in different viscous media with imaging techniques. In addition, the study found that the average speed for P. caudatum was 60 µm/s, with a standard deviation of ±12 µm/s from microscopic imaging of the original medium of the sample, which leads to a variation of 20% from the average measurement. In contrast, from large-field imaging, the average speeds of P. caudatum were 63 µm/s and 68 µm/s in the flat and curved chambers, respectively, with the same medium viscosity. Furthermore, the standard deviations that were observed were ±7 µm/s and ±4 µm/s and the variations from the average speed were calculated as 11% and 5.8% for the flat and curved chambers, respectively. The proposed methodology can be applied to measure the locomotion of the microswimmer at small scales with high precision.
Analysis of Passive Mixing in a Serpentine Microchannel with Sinusoidal Side Walls
Authors: Javaid Muhammad , Cheema Taqi , Park Cheol
Published: December 2017

Sample mixing is difficult in microfluidic devices because of laminar flow. Micromixers are designed to ensure the optimal use of miniaturized devices. The present study aims to design a chaotic-advection-based passive micromixer with enhanced mixing efficiency. A serpentine-shaped microchannel with sinusoidal side walls was designed, and three cases, with amplitude to wavelength (A/λ) ratios of 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 were investigated. Numerical simulations were conducted using the Navier–Stokes equations, to determine the flow field. The flow was then coupled with the convection–diffusion equation to obtain the species concentration distribution. The mixing performance of sinusoidal walled channels was compared with that of a simple serpentine channel for Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.1 to 50. Secondary flows were observed at high Reynolds numbers that mixed the fluid streams. These flows were dominant in the proposed sinusoidal walled channels, thereby showing better mixing performance than the simple serpentine channel at similar or less mixing cost. Higher mixing efficiency was obtained by increasing the A/λ ratio.
Covalent Organic Frameworks: From Materials Design to Biomedical Application
Authors: Zhao Fuli , Liu Huiming , Mathe Salva , Dong Anjie , Zhang Jianhua
Published: December 2017

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are newly emerged crystalline porous polymers with well-defined skeletons and nanopores mainly consisted of light-weight elements (H, B, C, N and O) linked by dynamic covalent bonds. Compared with conventional materials, COFs possess some unique and attractive features, such as large surface area, pre-designable pore geometry, excellent crystallinity, inherent adaptability and high flexibility in structural and functional design, thus exhibiting great potential for various applications. Especially, their large surface area and tunable porosity and π conjugation with unique photoelectric properties will enable COFs to serve as a promising platform for drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing and theranostic applications. In this review, we trace the evolution of COFs in terms of linkages and highlight the important issues on synthetic method, structural design, morphological control and functionalization. And then we summarize the recent advances of COFs in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors and conclude with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities of COFs for biomedical purposes. Although currently still at its infancy stage, COFs as an innovative source have paved a new way to meet future challenges in human healthcare and disease theranostic.
Neuroprotective Effects and Mechanisms of Curcumin–Cu(II) and –Zn(II) Complexes Systems and Their Pharmacological Implications
Authors: Yan Fa-Shun , Sun Jian-Long , Xie Wen-Hai , Shen Liang , Ji Hong-Fang
Published: December 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the main form of dementia and has a steadily increasing prevalence. As both oxidative stress and metal homeostasis are involved in the pathogenesis of AD, it would be interesting to develop a dual function agent, targeting the two factors. Curcumin, a natural compound isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, is an antioxidant and can also chelate metal ions. Whether the complexes of curcumin with metal ions possess neuroprotective effects has not been evaluated. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of the complexes of curcumin with Cu(II) or Zn(II) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The use of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, a widely used neuronal cell model system, was adopted. It was revealed that curcumin–Cu(II) complexes systems possessed enhanced O2·–-scavenging activities compared to unchelated curcumin. In comparison with unchelated curcumin, the protective effects of curcumin–Cu(II) complexes systems were stronger than curcumin–Zn(II) system. Curcumin–Cu(II) or –Zn(II) complexes systems significantly enhanced the superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and attenuated the increase of malondialdehyde levels and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, in a dose-dependent manner. The curcumin–Cu(II) complex system with a 2:1 ratio exhibited the most significant effect. Further mechanistic study demonstrated that curcumin–Cu(II) or –Zn(II) complexes systems inhibited cell apoptosis via downregulating the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway and upregulating Bcl-2/Bax pathway. In summary, the present study found that curcumin–Cu(II) or –Zn(II) complexes systems, especially the former, possess significant neuroprotective effects, which indicates the potential advantage of curcumin as a promising agent against AD and deserves further study.
Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis of Zebrafish Electrocardiogram with Anomaly Detection
Authors: Lenning Michael , Fortunato Joseph , Le Tai , Clark Isaac , Sherpa Ang , Yi Soyeon , Hofsteen Peter , Thamilarasu Geethapriya , Yang Jingchun , Xu Xiaolei , Han Huy-Dung , Hsiai Tzung , Cao Hung
Published: December 2017

Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. with approximately 610,000 people dying every year. Effective therapies for many cardiac diseases are lacking, largely due to an incomplete understanding of their genetic basis and underlying molecular mechanisms. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an excellent model system for studying heart disease as they enable a forward genetic approach to tackle this unmet medical need. In recent years, our team has been employing electrocardiogram (ECG) as an efficient tool to study the zebrafish heart along with conventional approaches, such as immunohistochemistry, DNA and protein analyses. We have overcome various challenges in the small size and aquatic environment of zebrafish in order to obtain ECG signals with favorable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and high spatial and temporal resolution. In this paper, we highlight our recent efforts in zebrafish ECG acquisition with a cost-effective simplified microelectrode array (MEA) membrane providing multi-channel recording, a novel multi-chamber apparatus for simultaneous screening, and a LabVIEW program to facilitate recording and processing. We also demonstrate the use of machine learning-based programs to recognize specific ECG patterns, yielding promising results with our current limited amount of zebrafish data. Our solutions hold promise to carry out numerous studies of heart diseases, drug screening, stem cell-based therapy validation, and regenerative medicine.
Design and Implementation of a Coastal-Mounted Sensor for Oil Film Detection on Seawater
Authors: Hou Yongchao , Li Ying , Liu Bingxin , Liu Yu , Wang Tong
Published: December 2017

The routine surveillance of oil spills in major ports is important. However, existing techniques and sensors are unable to trace oil and micron-thin oil films on the surface of seawater. Therefore, we designed and studied a coastal-mounted sensor, using ultraviolet-induced fluorescence and fluorescence-filter systems (FFSs), to monitor oil spills and overcome the disadvantages of traditional surveillance systems. Using seawater from the port of Lingshui (Yellow Sea, China) and six oil samples of different types, we found that diesel oil’s relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) was significantly higher than those of heavy fuel and crude oils in the 180–300 nm range—in the 300–400 nm range, the RFI value of diesel is far lower. The heavy fuel and crude oils exhibited an opposite trend in their fluorescence spectra. A photomultiplier tube, employed as the fluorescence detection unit, efficiently monitored different oils on seawater in field experiments. On-site tests indicated that this sensor system could be used as a coastal-mounted early-warning detection system for oil spills.
Optical Microfiber Technology for Current, Temperature, Acceleration, Acoustic, Humidity and Ultraviolet Light Sensing
Authors: Chen George , Lancaster David , Monro Tanya
Published: December 2017

Optical microfibers possess excellent optical and mechanical properties that have been exploited for sensing. We highlight the authors’ recent work in the areas of current, temperature, acceleration, acoustic, humidity and ultraviolet-light sensing based on this exquisite technology, and the advantages and challenges of using optical microfibers are discussed.
A Compound Sensor for Simultaneous Measurement of Packing Density and Moisture Content of Silage
Authors: Meng Delun , Meng Fanjia , Sun Wei , Deng Shuang
Published: December 2017

Packing density and moisture content are important factors in investigating the ensiling quality. Low packing density is a major cause of loss of sugar content. The moisture content also plays a determinant role in biomass degradation. To comprehensively evaluate the ensiling quality, this study focused on developing a compound sensor. In it, moisture electrodes and strain gauges were embedded into an ASABE Standard small cone for the simultaneous measurements of the penetration resistance (PR) and moisture content (MC) of silage. In order to evaluate the performance of the designed sensor and the theoretical analysis being used, relevant calibration and validation tests were conducted. The determination coefficients are 0.996 and 0.992 for PR calibration and 0.934 for MC calibration. The validation indicated that this measurement technique could determine the packing density and moisture content of the silage simultaneously and eliminate the influence of the friction between the penetration shaft and silage. In this study, we not only design a compound sensor but also provide an alternative way to investigate the ensiling quality which would be useful for further silage research.
A Concept of Thermographic Method for Non-Destructive Testing of Polymeric Composite Structures Using Self-Heating Effect
Authors: Katunin Andrzej
Published: December 2017

Traditional techniques of active thermography require an external source of energy used for excitation, usually in the form of high power lamps or ultrasonic devices. In this paper, the author presents an alternative approach based on the self-heating effect observable in polymer-based structures during cyclic loading. The presented approach is based on, firstly, determination of bending resonance frequencies of a tested structure, and then, on excitation of a structure with a multi-harmonic signal constructed from the harmonics with frequencies of determined resonances. Following this, heating-up of a tested structure occurs in the location of stress concentration and mechanical energy dissipation due to the viscoelastic response of a structure. By applying multi-harmonic signal, one ensures coverage of the structure by such heated regions. The concept is verified experimentally on artificially damaged composite specimens. The results demonstrate the presented approach and indicate its potential, especially when traditional methods of excitation with an external structure for thermographic inspection cannot be applied.
Muslim Mobilities and Gender: An Introduction
Authors: Thimm Viola
Published: December 2017

Mobility represents the common imagination that the current world is in a constant flux, based on, for example, technical development, wide arrays of infrastructure and digital communication [...]
Sustainability Formation of Machine Cells in Group Technology Systems Using Modified Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm
Authors: Arunagiri Adinarayanan , Marimuthu Uthayakumar , Gopalakrishnan Prabhakaran , Slota Adam , Zajac Jerzy , Paulraj Maheandera
Published: December 2017

The efficiency and sustainability of a cellular manufacturing system (CMS) in batch type manufacturing is highly valued. This is done using a systematic method of equipment into machine cells, and components into part families, based on the suitable similar criteria. The present work discusses the cell formation problem, with the objective of minimizing the cumulative cell load variation and cumulative intercellular moves. The quantity of parts, operation sequences, processing time, capacity of machines, and workload of machineries were considered as parameters. For the grouping of equipment, the modified artificial bee colony (MABC) algorithm is considered. The computational procedure of this approach is explained by using up to 40 machines and 100 part types. The result obtained from MABC is compared with the findings acquired from the genetic algorithm (GA) and ant colony system (ACS) in the literature.
Tourism as an Approach to Sustainable Rural Development in Post-Socialist Countries: A Comparative Study of Serbia and Slovenia
Authors: Petrović Marko , Vujko Aleksandra , Gajić Tamara , Vuković Darko , Radovanović Milan , Jovanović Jasmina , Vuković Natalia
Published: December 2017

The research deals with the sustainable development of the Serbian and Slovenian countryside, under the influence of tourism progress. The article identifies the main rural tourism competitiveness in Serbia and Slovenia, as one of the essential factors of rural development in both countries, analyzing the main contributions and making a series of proposals to guide the future research agenda. The aim of the paper is to clarify around one obviously defined objective—to point out the competitiveness of sustainable rural tourism in typical post-socialist settings. The data for this study were collected using the Integrated Model of Destination Competitiveness to observe Serbian and Slovenian competitiveness in tourism. Determinants were assessed using a survey evaluating four demanding factors and 20 supporting factors, based upon a five-point Likert Scale. The results indicated that the friendliness of residents towards visitors, easy communication between them, together with quality of infrastructure and health facilities show the highest level of statistical correlation. These are the main propositions to start an initiative for the authorities in local communities to actively participate in sustainable rural development. The findings provide tourism stakeholders with relevant respondents’ perceptions pertaining to the tourism development in non-urban areas.
Exploring the Determinants of Migrant Workers’ Willingness to Buy Houses in Cities: A Case Study in Xi’an, China
Authors: Zhang Xiaoning , Qu Mei , Jin Zhendong
Published: December 2017

Migrant workers’ buying houses in cities can not only help to reduce the number of unsold houses but also improve the efficiency of the use of rural residential lands. A framework is constructed to study how individual resource endowment and the compensation policy of quitting rural residential land act on migrant workers’ willingness to buy houses in cities. The paper adopts the logistic regression model with the data collected from 410 migrant workers in Xi’an. The results can be drawn as follows: firstly, migrant workers’ desire for buying houses in cities has a close relationship with their individual resource endowment; secondly, there is a gap between the existing compensation policy and migrant workers’ actual preference for the compensation policies. Thirdly, the existing compensation policy cannot fully exert its impact. As a result, when migrant workers are allowed to choose their most preferred policies in light of their own conditions, both the policy and resource effect will become more remarked. Thus, the design of compensation policies for quitting rural residential land should take full account of migrant workers’ individual resource endowments in order to provide them with selective compensation mechanisms. The conclusion provides a policy reference for cities where the house prices are close to that of Xi’an (11,000 yuan/square m).
Optimization of a Traffic Control Scheme for a Post-Disaster Urban Road Network
Authors: Shao Zengzhen , Ma Zujun , Liu Shulei , Lv Tongshuang
Published: December 2017

Traffic control of urban road networks during emergency rescues is conducive to rapid rescue in the affected areas. However, excessive control will lead to negative impacts on the normal traffic order. We propose a novel model to optimize the traffic control scheme during the post-disaster emergency rescue period named PD-TCM (post-disaster traffic control model). In this model, the vertex and edge betweenness indexes of urban road networks are introduced to evaluate the controllability of the road sections. The gravity field model is also used to adjust the travel time function of different road sections in the control and diverging domains. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can obtain the optimal traffic control scheme efficiently, which gives it the ability to meet the demand of emergency rescues as well as reducing the disturbances caused by controls.
The children of slaves in early Mesopotamian laws and edicts
Authors: Reid John Nicholas
Published: December 2017

Ces dernières années, les recherches sur l’esclavage se sont de plus en plus intéressées au statut des enfants. Cet article tente de comprendre ce qui constituait le statut social des enfants d’esclaves dans l’ancienne Mésopotamie, essentiellement grâce aux lois et inscriptions. Comme pour la plupart des études sur l’esclavage, la majorité des informations dont nous disposons sur les esclaves dans l’Orient Ancien nous vient des élites. Cette étude cherche à tirer parti du matériel textuel pour percevoir ce qu’était la vie des plus basses classes de la société. Les perspectives ainsi offertes soulignent les risques pour le peuple de connaître une mobilité sociale descendante, de même que les possibilités ascendantes plus limitées, mettant au jour non seulement la vulnérabilité sociale des enfants d’esclaves, mais aussi celle des femmes qui les mettaient au monde.
FROM WASTELAND TO PARKLAND: THE MAKING OF CORKTOWN COMMON
Authors: Solano Laura
Published: December 2017

INTRODUCTION

Density, public health and safety, quality of life, and sustainability are some of the most confounding issues that major cities face today as they expand in population and area. How do we bring urban populations closer together in the public realm, while still providing space for the individual psyche and also increasing the overall sense of positive connection to the natural world and to each other? Robust natural landscapes have sometimes been considered a luxury within a functioning city, but more and more they are being recognized for the vital role they play in making cities livable. The story of Corktown Common relates how a landscape built of necessity was also designed to deliver myriad public benefits, including enhanced urban ecology and sustainability.
PERCEPTIONS OF COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK AMONG RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS IN NORTH CAROLINA: AN EXPLORATORY EVALUATION
Authors: Hughes Evan , Valdes-Vasquez Rodolfo , Elliott Jonathan W.
Published: December 2017

Compressed earth blocks (CEB) retain the environmental benefits of traditional earthen construction while reducing labor costs and project duration. Despite these advantages, CEB remains a niche material in the U.S. This study explored residential contractors' perceptions of CEB as a barrier to adoption. A survey was distributed to residential contractors in the North Carolina Piedmont, a region that possesses ideal soil for earthen buildings. Construction professionals in states where earthen construction has a larger market share (New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) were also queried for comparison. Respondents with no CEB experience provided significantly ( p < 0.05) lower levels of agreement with statements that CEB is cost effective, structurally safe and aesthetically appealing than did respondents with CEB experience. Interviews conducted with an experienced CEB contractor and a manufacturer of CEB production equipment provided additional insight and informed the quantitative results. Findings represent an important step in exploring stakeholder perceptions as an impediment to the adoption of non-conventional materials like CEB in the residential construction sector. Educating the next generation of builders and homeowners is a key component for the implementation of CEB construction. Educational strategies, study limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed.
APPLICATION OF ENSEMBLE ALGORITHM INTEGRATING MULTIPLE CRITERIA FEATURE SELECTION IN CORONARY HEART DISEASE DETECTION
Authors: Qin Cai-Jie , Guan Qiang , Wang Xin-Pei
Published: December 2017

Conventional coronary heart disease (CHD) detection methods are expensive, rely much on doctors’ subjective experience, and some of them have side effects. In order to obtain rapid, high-precision, low-cost, non-invasive detection results, several methods in machine learning were attempted for CHD detection in this paper. The paper adopted multiple evaluation criteria to measure features, combined with heuristic search strategy and seven common classification algorithms to verify the validity and the importance of feature selection (FS) in the Z-Alizadeh Sani CHD dataset. On this basis, a novelty algorithm integrating multiple FS methods into the ensemble algorithm (ensemble algorithm based on multiple feature selection, EA-MFS) was further proposed. The algorithm adopted Bagging approach to increase data diversity, used the aforementioned MFS methods for functional perturbation, employed major voting method to carry out the decision results, and performed selective integration in terms of the difference of base classifiers in the ensemble process. Compared with the single FS method, the EA-MFS algorithm could comprehensively describe the relationship of features, enhance the classification effect, and displayed better robustness. That meant the EA-MFS algorithm could reduce the dependence on dataset and strengthen the stability of the algorithm, all of which were of great significance for the clinical application of machine learning algorithm in coronary heart disease detection.