bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uterovaginal Packing as Treatment in Primary Postpartum Hemorrhage in Patan Hospital
Authors: Pradhan Binita , RC Laxmi , Sharma P , Singh Alka
Published: December 2016

Aims: To study the effectiveness of uterovaginal packing in the management of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in Patan hospital, Lalitpur from January 2009-2011. Patients included in the study were those with intractable hemorrhage not responding to oxytocics. Exclusion criteria included cases of PPH due to trauma. Packing was done using approximately six inches sterile gauze soaked with povidine iodine packed into the uterus from the uterine fundus up to the vaginal canal. The packing is removed after 48 hours of insertion or earlier in cases of failure to control hemorrhage.Results:  There were 46 cases of  uterovaginal packing for primary PPH. Uterine atony was the commonest cause of packing. Uterovaginal packing was successful in 39(84.7%) cases.Conclusion: Uterovaginal packing is safe, easy and quick procedure to manage primary PPH. It is beneficial in cases of PPH due to atony thereby conserve the uterus.
A Rare Case Report on Thoracoomphalopagus
Authors: Lamichhane Sabina , Banerjee B , Subedi S
Published: December 2016

In the present case study we are reporting a case of thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins. A 24 years old gravida two para 0+1 carrying thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins was diagnosed by ultrasonography at early second trimester with single placenta attached posteriorly and low lying. The mortality and morbidity of conjoined twins are high so making the early diagnosis with ultrasonographic examination provides the parents a chance to elect for pregnancy termination.
The TOC Thinking Process: The viability of change
Authors: Cattaneo Cristiana , Bassani Gaia
Published: December 2016

This research article presents a Full Thinking Process Analysis (FTPA), along with an in-depth comprehension of changes in healthcare, through a reframing of the Three-Cloud Approach. The reframed Three-Cloud Approach provides useful insights into the change implementation process, as it relates to the construction challenge of a new, 1000-bed hospital. Pertinent documents, formal evidence and interviews reveal multiple types of constraints, their dissolution and the implementation of shared answers to observed problems. Through the lens of the Thinking Process-Three-Cloud Approach, the case study shows how the process of identifying the Core Conflict Cloud is fundamental to implementing ongoing strategic and organizational change. The Three-Cloud Approach allows in-depth analyses of resistances to change and other intra-organisational processes, while it highlights the conditions necessary for underpinning and designing effective tactics for successful change implementation.
Novel Phospho-Tau Monoclonal Antibody Generated Using a Liposomal Vaccine, with Enhanced Recognition of a Conformational Tauopathy Epitope
Authors: Theunis Clara , Adolfsson Oskar , Crespo-Biel Natalia , Piorkowska Kasia , Pihlgren Maria , Hickman David T. , Gafner Valérie , Borghgraef Peter , Devijver Herman , Pfeifer Andrea , Van Leuven Fred , Muhs Andreas
Published: December 2016

The microtubule-associated protein Tau is an intrinsically unfolded, very soluble neuronal protein. Under still unknown circumstances, Tau protein forms soluble oligomers and insoluble aggregates that are closely linked to the cause and progression of various brain pathologies, including Alzheimer’s disease. Previously we reported the development of liposome-based vaccines and their efficacy and safety in preclinical mouse models for tauopathy. Here we report the use of a liposomal vaccine for the generation of a monoclonal antibody with particular characteristics that makes it a valuable tool for fundamental studies as well as a candidate antibody for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The specificity and affinity of antibody ACI-5400 were characterized by a panel of methods: (i) measuring the selectivity for a specific phospho-Tau epitope known to be associated with tauopathy, (ii) performing a combination of peptide and protein binding assays, (iii) staining of brain sections from mouse preclinical tauopathy models and from human subjects representing six different tauopathies, and (iv) evaluating the selective binding to pathological epitopes on extracts from tauopathy brains in non-denaturing sandwich assays. We conclude that the ACI-5400 antibody binds to protein Tau phosphorylated at S396 and favors a conformation that is typically present in the brain of tauopathy patients, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Integration of Multilocus Genetic Risk into the Default Mode Network Longitudinal Trajectory during the Alzheimer’s Disease Process
Authors: Su Fan , Shu Hao , Ye Qing , Xie Chunming , Yuan Baoyu , Zhang Zhijun , Bai Feng
Published: December 2016

The aim of the study was to investigate the cognitive significance of the changes in default mode network (DMN) during the process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the genetic basis that drives the alteration. Eighty-seven subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 131 healthy controls (HC) were employed at baseline, and they had the genetic risk scores (GRS) based on the GWAS-validated AD-related top loci. Eleven MCIs who converted to AD (c-MCIs), 32 subjects who remained stable (nc-MCIs), and 56 HCs participated in the follow-up analyses after an average of 35 months. Decreased functional connectivity (FC) within temporal cortex was identified for MCIs at baseline, which was partially determined by the GRS; moreover, compensations may occur within the frontal-parietal brain to maintain relatively intact cognition. During the follow-ups, c-MCIs exhibited more FC declines within the prefrontal-parietal lobes and parahippocampal gyrus/hippocampus than the HCs and nc-MCIs. The GRS did not significantly vary among the three groups, whereas associations were identified at risky alleles and FC declines in all AD spectra. Interestingly, the influence of APOE ɛ4 varied as the disease progressed; APOE ɛ4 was associated with longitudinal FC decreases only for HCs in the single variance-based analyses and deteriorated DMN integration in nc-MCIs by combining the effects of other loci. However, the GRS without APOE ɛ4 predicted FC decline for converters. It is suggested that the integration of multilocus genetic risk predicted the longitudinal trajectory of DMN and may be used as a clinical strategy to track AD progression.
Simplification of Loading Dose of MgSo4 in the Management of Eclampsia
Authors: Nessa Khairun , Dewan Farhana , Parvin Tahmina , Chowdhury Tania Islam , Nahrin Noor E
Published: December 2016

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to simplify the loading dose of MgSo4 in the management of eclampsia.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Eclampsia unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital during the period from April, 2010 to October, 2010. One hundred patients who admitted in the eclampsia ward were the target population for this study.Patients were selected purposively to use either (Group A=50) 10 gm MgSO4, 4 gm IV and 6gm IM or (Group B =50) 8 gm of Nalepsin IV as loading dose. Maintenance dose were given by the same protocol in eclampsia unit of DMCH. Main outcome measures were controlling and recurrence of convulsion.Result: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of recurrent convulsion (p=0.248). There was no significant difference in live birth rate (p=0.564) and birth condition of the baby (p=0.195). But there is a significant difference in NICU transfer of the baby. Twentytwo babies in group A and 30 babies of group B were referred to NICU (p=0.042). Time required to regain consciousness was same in two groups. Maternal conditions during admission were almost same though two patients condition was very poor in group A and those two died. From group A out of 50 patients 22 developed different complications and 8 patients needed referral to ICU and that poor prognostic 2 patients died. In group B 18 patients developed different complications and 6 patients needed referral to ICU and no mother died. There was a significant difference in term of maternal complications (p =0.044) though it is not related to schedule of anticonvulsant.Conclusion: The results of loading dose of 8g of magnesium heptahydrate IV and 10g of MgSO4IV and IM for controlling convulsion in eclampsia is comparable in terms of maternal and foetal outcome. But 8g of magnesium heptahydrate IV as a loading dose is easy to administer and dose not need to dilute the injection. So for convenience of health workers this simple schedule can be introduced for controlling convulsion in eclampsia as it is easy to administer and painful intramuscular injections can be avoided. Moreover, it is more economic and the risk of toxicity is less.Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2015; Vol. 30(2) : 67-73
Endometrioma is a Responsible Factor for Reduced Ovarian Reserve
Authors: Begum Mosammat Rashida , Ehsan Mariya , Ehsan Nazia , Sharmin Farhana , Khan Farzana , Amin Aurin Iftekar
Published: December 2016

Objective (s): The aim of the study was to assess ovarian reserve (OR) of patients with endometrioma and to explore the differences of ovarian reserve in age matched group of infertile patients without endometrioma.Materials and methods: This prospective analytic study was done in Infertility Care and Research Center, between January 2013 and December 2015 to assess the ovarian reserve of patients with endometrioma. During this period 105 patients of endometriosis with endometrioma were selected for study. Selection criteria were: no history of previous surgery, <36 years of age, no history of endocrine problems, no history of recent medical treatment for this condition within 6 months and no history of irregular menstruation. For ovarian reserve testing we assessed serum FSH, E2 and AMH. Patient of same age group who had no emdometrioma, no history of any surgery, no menstrual irregularity, endocrine disorder or any other medical diseases were taken as control to compare the ovarian reserve between these two groups. For control group also we did the same tests. Data was analyzed by SPSS package. One-way ANOVA test was done for test of significance. A p-value of <0.05 was considered as significant.Results: There was no difference in characteristics of patients of both groups regarding age, type of infertility and duration of infertility. Size of the endometriotic cysts were variable and average diameter of cyst was 6.2 ±2.32 cm. Most (58.10%) of the cysts were unilateral. There is a significant difference of FSH and AMH level between the groups. FSH of endometrioma and non-endometrioma group was 7.9 ±1.17 and 7.1 ±1.05 mIU/mL respectively with a p value of 0.029. Similar difference was present in AMH level, which was 2.42 ±.63 and 2.98 ±.88 ng/ mL in endometrioma and non-endometrioma group respectively with a p value of 0.020.Conclusion: This small study shows a reduced ovarian reserve in patients with endometrioma in comparison to patients of same parameters without endometrioma. It suggests that there is an association of presence of ovarian endometrioma and reduced ovarian reserveBangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2015; Vol. 30(2) : 98-104
Molar Pregnancy along with Normal Fetus  A Case Report
Authors: Akhtar Nahreen , Karim Sabina
Published: December 2016

The extremely rare condition of molar pregnancy with a coexisting fetus progressing to a viable infant, is reported. At 32 wks, prenatal diagnosis was made by biochemical and sonographic findings in which elevated free ßhuman chorionic gonadotrophic was noted and ultrasound showed a well defined multicystic snow storm like mass connecting with normal placenta. At 37 weeks cesarean section was done due to gestational hypertension, fetal growth restriction and H/O previous one cesarean section. A 2.3 kg male living boy was delivered. The infant did not show any abnormality.The placenta and the connecting hydatidiform mole were delivered. A normal ß HCG level was noted in subsequent follow up.Bangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2015; Vol. 30(2) : 113-115
Society News Vol.30(2)
Authors: Dewan Farhana
Published: December 2016

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Obstet Gynaecol, 2015; Vol. 30(2) : 122-123
Think Yellow and Keep Green—Role of Sulfanes from Garlic in Agriculture
Authors: Anwar Awais , Gould Emma , Tinson Ryan , Groom Murree , Hamilton Chris
Published: December 2016

Reactive sulfur species from garlic have long been renowned for their health benefits and antimicrobial properties. In agriculture the subject matter is now gathering momentum in the search for new bio-pesticides to addressing emerging environmental concerns and tighter restrictions on the use of many conventional chemical pesticides. Although the precise modes of action of these garlic-derived bioactives is complex, recent research has provided a number of new insights that deepen our understanding of garlic-derived products, such as garlic extracts and oils. Herein, their activity against various crop-damaging pests is reviewed. In many cases, there seems to be a broad range of activity associated with the sulfur-containing compounds derived from Allium species, which manifests itself in diverse insecticidal, antifungal, and nematicidal activities. These activities open a new understanding to develop this natural chemistry as a “green pesticide”.
Retroareolar Carcinomas in Breast Ultrasound: Pearls and Pitfalls
Authors: Ferré Romuald , Paré Martine , Smith Lisa , Thériault Mélanie , Aldis Ann , Kao Ellen , Mesurolle Benoit
Published: December 2016

Breast Ultrasound (US) is an important tool for both screening and diagnostic examinations. Although breast US has benefitted from significant recent technical improvements, its use for the retroareolar region is known to be more challenging than for other locations. The retroareolar location was defined by Giess et al. in 1998 as the region where any lesion is situated at less than two cm from the nipple and/or involves the nipple-areolar complex on mammogram. Understanding of the complex anatomy and physiology of the nipple-areolar region is important to avoid misinterpretation and misdiagnosis. The ability for the breast imager to manage difficulties related to the retroareolar area is paramount by adjusting settings (compounding, frequency, Doppler) and utilizing specific manoeuvers. Cases illustrating difficulties encountered in diagnosis of retroareolar carcinomas are presented.
One-Parameter Fisher–Rényi Complexity: Notion and Hydrogenic Applications
Authors: Toranzo Irene , Sánchez-Moreno Pablo , Rudnicki Łukasz , Dehesa Jesús
Published: December 2016

In this work, the one-parameter Fisher–Rényi measure of complexity for general d-dimensional probability distributions is introduced and its main analytic properties are discussed. Then, this quantity is determined for the hydrogenic systems in terms of the quantum numbers of the quantum states and the nuclear charge.
Fixed-b Inference for Testing Structural Change in a Time Series Regression
Authors: Cho Cheol-Keun , Vogelsang Timothy
Published: December 2016

This paper addresses tests for structural change in a weakly dependent time series regression. The cases of full structural change and partial structural change are considered. Heteroskedasticity-autocorrelation (HAC) robust Wald tests based on nonparametric covariance matrix estimators are explored. Fixed-b theory is developed for the HAC estimators which allows fixed-b approximations for the test statistics. For the case of the break date being known, the fixed-b limits of the statistics depend on the break fraction and the bandwidth tuning parameter as well as on the kernel. When the break date is unknown, supremum, mean and exponential Wald statistics are commonly used for testing the presence of the structural break. Fixed-b limits of these statistics are obtained and critical values are tabulated. A simulation study compares the finite sample properties of existing tests and proposed tests.
A Novel Channel Coding Scheme for RFID Generation-2 Systems
Authors: Goldoni Emanuele , Savazzi Pietro , Vizziello Anna
Published: December 2016

Low complexity and efficient algorithms for Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) are crucial to foster low-cost and energy-saving solutions. With the aim of lowering the complexity of the radio circuitry, and inspired by the superposition codes concept, we propose a novel encoding algorithm for tag-to-reader communication channels of modern RFID systems. We show that the developed scheme—despite the simplicity of its hardware realization—allows a coding gain comparable to the one obtained by the more complex Viterbi decoding of the Miller 4 modulation scheme used in the EPC Generation 2 Class 1 RFID standard. Simulation results prove the effectiveness of the proposed solution for low-cost tags, under different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and interrogation time durations. Although our numerical evaluation mainly focuses on the EPC Generation-2 standard, we believe that the proposed scheme will also be attractive for future Ultra-wideband RFID systems.
Assessment of Acidified Fibrous Immobilization Materials for Improving Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) Fermentation
Authors: Zeng Hong-Sheng , He Chi-Ruei , Yen Andy , Wu Tzong-Ming , Li Si-Yu
Published: December 2016

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum is a process that can be used to produce butanol, which can be utilized as an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Immobilization of the bacteria using three different fibrous materials was studied in order to see how to improve the ABE fermentation process. The results were compared to those of non-immobilized bacteria. Modal and charcoal fibers had OD levels below one at 72 h with the butanol concentration reaching 11.0 ± 0.5 and 10.7 ± 0.6 g/L, respectively, each of which were close to the free cell concentration at 11.1 ± 0.4 g/L. This suggests that bacteria can be efficiently immobilized in these fibrous materials. Although an extended lag phase was found in the fermentation time course, this can be easily solved by pre-treating fibrous materials with 3.5% HCl for 12 h. From comparisons with previous studies, data in this study suggests that a hydrophilic surface facilitates the adsorption of C. acetobutylicum.
Multifrequency Study of the Blazar 3C 454.3
Authors: Villicaña-Pedraza Ilhuiyolitzin , Carreto-Parra Francisco , Carramiñana Alberto , Saucedo-Morales Julio
Published: December 2016

This work is devoted to multi-frequency studying of the blazar 3C 454.3. The study includes spectroscopic and photometric observations in the optical, IR, and gamma-ray bands. We investigate whether a correlation exists in the light curves at different wavelengths. We have carried out observations of the optical spectrum (from 4000 to 7000 Angstroms) between 2007 and 2009, and identified MgII [2800 Angstroms] and FeII emission line features. We have obtained optical magnitudes and color indices of the quasar and performed a correlation between the optical, IR, and gamma-ray light curves. We have found statistically significant correlations between the light curves at different wavelengths.
The Application of Mycorrhizal Fungi and Organic Fertilisers in Horticultural Potting Soils to Improve Water Use Efficiency of Crops
Authors: Eulenstein Frank , Tauschke Marion , Behrendt Axel , Monk Jana , Schindler Uwe , Lana Marcos , Monk Shaun
Published: December 2016

In recent years, the addition of microorganisms such as Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) and mycorrhiza are becoming more popular, both in research as well as in practical use. While inoculants are usually not necessary for plants cultivated outdoors on biologically active soil, they can be useful on sterile substrates, newly created artificial landscapes, and also in soils that have been managed using non-selective sterilization methods, such as fumigation. In a multi-year lysimeter experiment, we investigated the influence of a commercial mycorrhizal inoculum on water use efficiency and biomass production of maize (Zea mays), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), cup-plant (Silphium perfoliatum) and tall wheatgrass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1) when exposed to high or low ground-water levels. Results showed that all plants benefited from the mycorrhizal association. Mycorrhizal-inoculated plants were more successful in terms of dry matter production and water use than the non-mycorrhizal plants. The source of the mycorrhiza—autochthonous or introduced—made no significant difference. The results indicate that inoculation with mycorrhiza and promotion of the naturally abundant mycorrhiza in agricultural production systems can significantly contribute to a sustainable production of crops. Effects depended on plant species, cultivar, soil type, ground-water level and the mycotrophy of the individual crop species.
Trends of Soybean Yields under Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Eulenstein Frank , Lana Marcos , Schlindwein Sandro , Sheudzhen Askhad , Tauschke Marion , Behrend Axel , Guevara Edgardo , Meira Santiago
Published: December 2016

Soybean is a very important crop, cultivated mainly as stock feed for animal production, but also for other uses such as biodiesel. Brazil is the second largest producer of soybeans, and the main exporter. About 10% of total Brazilian production is aimed for biodiesel production. The aim of this work was to assess the impact of climate change scenarios on soybean yield and evaluate two simple adaptation strategies: cultivar and planting date. Tests were done for soil profiles from two important producing regions: Chapecó-Red Oxisol, and Passo Fundo-Rodic Hapludox. Two commercial soybean cultivars (CD202 and CD204) and seven regional circulation models (RCM) were used. All simulations were done with DSSAT. After model calibration, eleven planting dates were run for two periods (2011–2040 and 2071–2100) using the RCM’s. There were no differences between cultivars. For Chapecó, the majority of RCM’s projected yield reductions, with few RCM’s projecting increments, and for only few planting dates (November). The response pattern for both time periods were identical, although the end-of-century period presented a further yield reduction. The main reason was reduced water holding capacity in soil, high temperatures, and changes in rainfall distribution along the cropping season. For Passo Fundo, 2011–2040 yields were distinct, depending on the RCM. Simulated yields tended to follow the actual yield pattern along the different planting dates, besides discrepancies. For 2071–2100, all but one RCM indicated yields equal or lower to actual levels. Regarding planting dates, no significant changes were identified, although reductions were observed for the early planting dates (August–September). The scenarios suggest that soybean yields will be reduced, jeopardizing the viability of this crop and biodiesel production in the studied regions.
Effects of Drying and Blanching on the Retention of Bioactive Compounds in Ginger and Turmeric
Authors: Gan Haozhe , Charters Erin , Driscoll Robert , Srzednicki George
Published: December 2016

Ginger and turmeric, members of the Zingiberaceae family, are widely used for their pungent and aromatic flavour in foods and also for their medicinal properties. Both crops are often grown by smallholders in mountain areas on rich former forest soils with no need for fertilizers and pesticides, fulfilling de facto the conditions of organic agriculture. They are consumed fresh or dried. Drying is often performed without taking into account the content of bioactive compounds in the dried product. Various bioactive compounds have been identified in their rhizomes, and their content affects the price of the dried product. Hence, this study focused on the effects of drying treatments and blanching on the retention of bioactive compounds in the dried products. The bioactive compounds in ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) are gingerols (particularly 6-gingerol). The drying treatments that were applied to fresh ginger included constant and also changing temperature conditions. Due to the short drying time, 60 °C was the optimal drying temperature to retain 6-gingerol. However, the changing temperature conditions significantly improved the retention of 6-gingerol. As for blanching, it had a significant negative effect on 6-gingerol retention. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is known for its bright yellow colour and pharmacological properties due to curcumin, a phenolic compound. Drying was performed under constant conditions at 38 °C, 48 °C, 57 °C and 64 °C and a relative humidity of 20% and 40%. Drying at 57 °C with a lower relative humidity was the best drying treatment, yielding the highest amount of curcumin among non-blanched samples. Blanching for 15 min exhibited the highest curcumin yield while blanching for 5 min and 30 min did not have much effect. The findings of this study will benefit the industry in terms of improved quality control and cost reduction.
Rehydration and Textural Properties of Dried Konjac Noodles: Effect of Alkaline and Some Gelling Agents
Authors: Impaprasert Rarisara , Piyarat Sujika , Sophontanakij Natnicha , Sakulnate Nattiya , Paengkanya Suwit , Borompichaichartkul Chaleeda , Srzednicki George
Published: December 2016

Konjac glucomannan flour, which mainly consists of glucomannan, is an indigestible dietary fiber. Therefore, it has been broadly used as low-calorie food ingredient in various kinds of foods, beverages, and pharmaceutical products. In this study, the production of dried konjac noodles was evaluated by studying the effects of alkalinity using limewater versus calcium hydroxide and the gelling agent sodium alginate on textural properties of konjac noodles. Drying and rehydration conditions were studied to evaluate the optimum conditions for producing dried konjac noodles. By considering the springiness and cohesiveness of the konjac noodles, the results indicated that using 3% konjac glucomannan flour with limewater and an incubation time of 30 min were the most suitable conditions. In addition, hot air drying at 80 °C for 55 min and soaking in hot water for 9 min were the optimum drying and rehydration conditions.
Active Use of Parks in Flanders (Belgium): An Exploratory Observational Study
Authors: Van Hecke Linde , Van Cauwenberg Jelle , Clarys Peter , Van Dyck Delfien , Veitch Jenny , Deforche Benedicte
Published: December 2016

Parks have the potential to increase physical activity at the community level by providing opportunities to be active. In order to inform interventions to promote physical activity in parks, insight is needed concerning park user characteristics, the activity level of park users, the types of activities performed and associations between park areas and temporal variables with observed physical activity levels. Park user characteristics (sex, age, ethnicity and activity level) were recorded within pre-defined park areas in two parks in Ghent (Belgium) using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). Most park users were male, adult, and engaged in vigorous-intensity physical activity (48%). Most popular activities were biking (38%), sitting (23%) and walking (15%); accordingly, trails were used most and had the highest levels of physical activity compared to other park areas. Parks were used least frequently in the morning, during the weekend and by seniors. Therefore, active park use during morning periods, on weekend days and by seniors should be promoted and urban planners should consider that different park areas can possibly elicit varying activity levels among park users.
Evaluating the Impact the Weekday Has on Near-Repeat Victimization: A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Street Robberies in the City of Vienna, Austria
Authors: Glasner Philip , Leitner Michael
Published: December 2016

The near-repeat phenomenon refers to the increased risk of repeat victimization not only at the same location but at nearby locations up to a certain distance and for a certain time period. In recent research, near-repeat victimization has been repeatedly confirmed for different crime types such as burglaries or shootings. In this article the near-repeat phenomenon is analyzed for each day of the week separately. That is, the near-repeat pattern is evaluated for all consecutive Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, etc. included in the dataset. These consecutive weekdays represent the fictive set of consecutive dates to allow for spatial and temporal analysis of crime patterns. Using these principles, it is hypothesized that street robberies cluster in space and time and by the same day of the week. This research analyzes street robberies from 2009 to 2013 in Vienna, Austria. The overall research goal investigates whether near-repeat patterns of robberies exist by weekdays and in an additional step by time of day, and whether these near-repeat patterns differ from each other and from purely spatial patterns. The results of this research confirm the existence of near-repeat patterns by weekday and especially by time of day. Distinctive locations have been identified that differ greatly per weekday and time of day. Based on this information, law enforcement agencies in Austria can optimize strategic planning of police resources in combating robberies.
Aquaporin-Mediated Water and Hydrogen Peroxide Transport Is Involved in Normal Human Spermatozoa Functioning
Authors: Laforenza Umberto , Pellavio Giorgia , Marchetti Anna , Omes Claudia , Todaro Federica , Gastaldi Giulia
Published: December 2016

Different aquaporins (AQPs) are expressed in human sperm cells and with a different localization. Their function has been related to cell volume control in response to the osmotic changes encountered passing from the epididymal fluid to the cervical mucus or involved in the end stage of cytoplasm removal during sperm maturation. Recently, AQPs have also shown hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) permeability properties. Here, we investigate the expression, localization and functioning of AQPs in human sperm cells with particular attention to their role as peroxiporins in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in both normospermic and sub-fertile human subjects. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to confirm and clarify the AQPs expression and localization. Water and H2O2 permeability was tested by stopped flow light scattering method and by the CM-H2DCFDA (5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2′,7′-dichlorodihydro-fluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester) H2O2 fluorescence probe, respectively. AQP3, -7, -8, and -11 proteins were found in human sperm cells and localized in the head (AQP7), in the middle piece (AQP8) and in the tail (AQP3 and -11) in both the plasma membrane and in intracellular structures. Sperm cells showed water and H2O2 permeability which was reversibly inhibited by H2O2, heat stress and the AQP inhibitor HgCl2. Reduced functionality was observed in patients with compromised basal semen parameters. Present findings suggest that AQPs are involved in both volume regulation and ROS elimination. The relationship between sperm number and motility and AQP functioning was also demonstrated.
Brain Vascular Imaging Techniques
Authors: Laviña Bàrbara
Published: December 2016

Recent major improvements in a number of imaging techniques now allow for the study of the brain in ways that could not be considered previously. Researchers today have well-developed tools to specifically examine the dynamic nature of the blood vessels in the brain during development and adulthood; as well as to observe the vascular responses in disease situations in vivo. This review offers a concise summary and brief historical reference of different imaging techniques and how these tools can be applied to study the brain vasculature and the blood-brain barrier integrity in both healthy and disease states. Moreover, it offers an overview on available transgenic animal models to study vascular biology and a description of useful online brain atlases.
Overall Quality of Fruits and Vegetables Products Affected by the Drying Processes with the Assistance of Vacuum-Microwaves
Authors: Figiel Adam , Michalska Anna
Published: December 2016

The seasonality of fruits and vegetables makes it impossible to consume and use them throughout the year, thus numerous processing efforts have been made to offer an alternative to their fresh consumption and application. To prolong their availability on the market, drying has received special attention as currently this method is considered one of the most common ways for obtaining food and pharmaceutical products from natural sources. This paper demonstrates the weakness of common drying methods applied for fruits and vegetables and the possible ways to improve the quality using different drying techniques or their combination with an emphasis on the microwave energy. Particular attention has been drawn to the combined drying with the assistance of vacuum-microwaves. The quality of the dried products was ascribed by chemical properties including the content of polyphenols, antioxidant capacity and volatiles as well as physical parameters such as color, shrinkage, porosity and texture. Both these fields of quality classification were considered taking into account sensory attributes and energy aspects in the perspective of possible industrial applications. In conclusion, the most promising way for improving the quality of dried fruit and vegetable products is hybrid drying consisting of osmotic dehydration in concentrated fruit juices followed by heat pump drying and vacuum-microwave finish drying.
(E)-1-(2-Aminophenyl)-3-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)prop-2-en-1-one
Authors: Abonia Rodrigo , Arteaga Diana , Insuasty Daniel , Quiroga Jairo , Insuasty Braulio , Moreno-Fuquen Rodolfo , Kennedy Alan
Published: December 2016

The title chalcone (E)-1-(2-aminophenyl)-3-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)prop-2-en-1-one was obtained in 76% yield from a NaOH catalyzed Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction between o-aminoacetophenone and piperonal. This product will be used as a key precursor for the development of an alternative route for the total synthesis of the alkaloid Graveoline. Single crystals of the title compound suitable for X-ray diffraction were grown via slow evaporation in ethanol at room temperature. A complete crystallographic study was performed in depth to unequivocally confirm its structure. The crystal structure of the title o-aminochalcone, C16H13NO3, shows two molecules per asymmetric unit (Z = 4) and adopts an E configuration about the C=C double bond. In the title compound, the mean plane of the non-H atoms of the central chalcone fragment C—C(O)—C—C—C is as follow: [root-mean-square (r.m.s.) deviation = 0.0210 Å for A–B and 0.0493 for C–D molecules]. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N–H...O and C–H...O, hydrogen bonds forming S(6), R22(6) and edge-fused R44(24)rings along with C(18) chains running parallel to (110).
Robust Object Tracking in Infrared Video via Adaptive Weighted Patches
Authors: Wang Jiangtao , Zhang Jingai
Published: December 2016

With the quick development of computer and electronic techniques, infrared sensor-based object tracking has become a hot research topic in recent years. However, infrared object tracking is still a challenging task due to low resolution, lack of representing information, and occlusion. In this work, we present an adaptive weighted patch-based infrared object tracking scheme. First, the candidate local region is divided into non-overlapping sub regions, and a set of belief weights is set on these patches. After this, a particle filtering-based infrared object tracking system is realized. In the last, the belief weight of each patch is evaluated based on the linear discriminative analysis (LDA) and particle sampling scheme. Experimental results on challenging infrared sequences show that the proposed algorithm can effectively locate the tracking object.
Phlorotannins: Towards New Pharmacological Interventions for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Authors: Lopes Graciliana , Andrade Paula , Valentão Patrícia
Published: December 2016

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycaemia, and predicted by the World Health Organization as the expected 7th leading cause of death in 2030. Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) comprises the majority of diabetic individuals around the world (90%–95%). Pathophysiologically, this disorder results from a deregulation of glucose homeostasis, worsened by overweight and by a sedentary lifestyle, culminating in life-threatening cardiovascular events. The currently available anti-diabetic drugs are not devoid of undesirable side effects, sometimes responsible for poor therapeutic compliance. This represents a challenge for contemporary medicine, and stimulates research focused on the development of safer and more efficient anti-diabetic therapies. Amongst the most promising sources of new bioactive molecules, seaweeds represent valuable, but still underexploited, biofactories for drug discovery and product development. In this review, the role of phlorotannins, a class of polyphenols exclusively produced by brown seaweeds, in the management of DMT2 will be discussed, focusing on various pharmacologically relevant mechanisms and targets, including pancreatic, hepatic and intestinal enzymes, glucose transport and metabolism, glucose-induced toxicity and β-cell cytoprotection, and considering numerous in vitro and in vivo surveys.
Deep Learning Based Oil Palm Tree Detection and Counting for High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Li Weijia , Fu Haohuan , Yu Le , Cracknell Arthur
Published: December 2016

Oil palm trees are important economic crops in Malaysia and other tropical areas. The number of oil palm trees in a plantation area is important information for predicting the yield of palm oil, monitoring the growing situation of palm trees and maximizing their productivity, etc. In this paper, we propose a deep learning based framework for oil palm tree detection and counting using high-resolution remote sensing images for Malaysia. Unlike previous palm tree detection studies, the trees in our study area are more crowded and their crowns often overlap. We use a number of manually interpreted samples to train and optimize the convolutional neural network (CNN), and predict labels for all the samples in an image dataset collected through the sliding window technique. Then, we merge the predicted palm coordinates corresponding to the same palm tree into one palm coordinate and obtain the final palm tree detection results. Based on our proposed method, more than 96% of the oil palm trees in our study area can be detected correctly when compared with the manually interpreted ground truth, and this is higher than the accuracies of the other three tree detection methods used in this study.
Improving the Downscaling of Diurnal Land Surface Temperatures Using the Annual Cycle Parameters as Disaggregation Kernels
Authors: Sismanidis Panagiotis , Keramitsoglou Iphigenia , Bechtel Benjamin , Kiranoudis Chris
Published: December 2016

The downscaling of geostationary diurnal thermal data can ease the lack of land surface temperature (LST) datasets that combine high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the downscaling of diurnal LST data is more demanding than single scenes. This is because the spatiotemporal interrelationships of the original LST data have to be preserved and accurately reproduced by the downscaled LST (DLST) data. To that end, LST disaggregation kernels/predictors that provide information about the spatial distribution of LST during different times of a day can prove especially useful. Such LST predictors are the LST Annual Cycle Parameters (ACPs). In this work, multitemporal ACPs are employed for downscaling daytime and nighttime ~4 km geostationary LST from SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager) down to 1 km. The overall goal is to assess if the use of the ACPs can improve the estimation of the diurnal range of DLST (daytime DLST minus nighttime DLST). The evaluation is performed by comparing the DLST diurnal range maps with reference data from MODIS (Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer) and also with data retrieved from a modified version of the TsHARP (Thermal Sharpening) algorithm. The results suggest that the ACPs increase the downscaling performance, improve the estimation of diurnal DLST range and produce more accurate spatial patterns.
Integration of Curved D-Type Optical Fiber Sensor with Microfluidic Chip
Authors: Sun Yung-Shin , Li Chang-Jyun , Hsu Jin-Cherng
Published: December 2016

A curved D-type optical fiber sensor (OFS) combined with a microfluidic chip is proposed. This OFS, based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the Kretchmann’s configuration, is applied as a biosensor to measure the concentrations of different bio-liquids such as ethanol, methanol, and glucose solutions. The SPR phenomenon is attained by using the optical fiber to guide the light source to reach the side-polished, gold-coated region. Integrating this OFS with a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based microfluidic chip, the SPR spectra for liquids with different refractive indices are recorded. Experimentally, the sensitivity of the current biosensor was calculated to be in the order of 10−5 RIU. This microfluidic chip-integrated OFS could be valuable for monitoring subtle changes in biological samples such as blood sugar, allergen, and biomolecular interactions.
Novel Visual Sensor Coverage and Deployment in Time Aware PTZ Wireless Visual Sensor Networks
Authors: Yap Florence , Yen Hong-Hsu
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we consider the visual sensor deployment algorithm in Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) Wireless Visual Sensor Networks (WVSNs). With PTZ capability, a sensor’s visual coverage can be extended to reduce the number of visual sensors that need to be deployed. The coverage zone of a visual sensor in PTZ WVSN is composed of two regions, a Direct Coverage Region (DCR) and a PTZ Coverage Region (PTZCR). In the PTZCR, a visual sensor needs a mechanical pan-tilt-zoom operation to cover an object. This mechanical operation can take seconds, so the sensor might not be able to adjust the camera in time to capture the visual data. In this paper, for the first time, we study this PTZ time-aware PTZ WVSN deployment problem. We formulate this PTZ time-aware PTZ WVSN deployment problem as an optimization problem where the objective is to minimize the total visual sensor deployment cost so that each area is either covered in the DCR or in the PTZCR while considering the PTZ time constraint. The proposed Time Aware Coverage Zone (TACZ) model successfully captures the PTZ visual sensor coverage in terms of camera focal range, angle span zone coverage and camera PTZ time. Then a novel heuristic, called Time Aware Deployment with PTZ camera (TADPTZ) algorithm, is proposed to solve the problem. From our computational experiments, we found out that TACZ model outperforms the existing M coverage model under all network scenarios. In addition, as compared to the optimal solutions, the TACZ model is scalable and adaptable to the different PTZ time requirements when deploying large PTZ WVSNs.
A Comparison Study of Classifier Algorithms for Cross-Person Physical Activity Recognition
Authors: Saez Yago , Baldominos Alejandro , Isasi Pedro
Published: December 2016

Physical activity is widely known to be one of the key elements of a healthy life. The many benefits of physical activity described in the medical literature include weight loss and reductions in the risk factors for chronic diseases. With the recent advances in wearable devices, such as smartwatches or physical activity wristbands, motion tracking sensors are becoming pervasive, which has led to an impressive growth in the amount of physical activity data available and an increasing interest in recognizing which specific activity a user is performing. Moreover, big data and machine learning are now cross-fertilizing each other in an approach called “deep learning”, which consists of massive artificial neural networks able to detect complicated patterns from enormous amounts of input data to learn classification models. This work compares various state-of-the-art classification techniques for automatic cross-person activity recognition under different scenarios that vary widely in how much information is available for analysis. We have incorporated deep learning by using Google’s TensorFlow framework. The data used in this study were acquired from PAMAP2 (Physical Activity Monitoring in the Ageing Population), a publicly available dataset containing physical activity data. To perform cross-person prediction, we used the leave-one-subject-out (LOSO) cross-validation technique. When working with large training sets, the best classifiers obtain very high average accuracies (e.g., 96% using extra randomized trees). However, when the data volume is drastically reduced (where available data are only 0.001% of the continuous data), deep neural networks performed the best, achieving 60% in overall prediction accuracy. We found that even when working with only approximately 22.67% of the full dataset, we can statistically obtain the same results as when working with the full dataset. This finding enables the design of more energy-efficient devices and facilitates cold starts and big data processing of physical activity records.
Programmable Low-Power Low-Noise Capacitance to Voltage Converter for MEMS Accelerometers
Authors: Royo Guillermo , Sánchez-Azqueta Carlos , Gimeno Cecilia , Aldea Concepción , Celma Santiago
Published: December 2016

In this work, we present a capacitance-to-voltage converter (CVC) for capacitive accelerometers based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Based on a fully-differential transimpedance amplifier (TIA), it features a 34-dB transimpedance gain control and over one decade programmable bandwidth, from 75 kHz to 1.2 MHz. The TIA is aimed for low-cost low-power capacitive sensor applications. It has been designed in a standard 0.18-μm CMOS technology and its power consumption is only 54 μW. At the maximum transimpedance configuration, the TIA shows an equivalent input noise of 42 fA/ Hz at 50 kHz, which corresponds to 100 μg/ Hz .
Evaluation of Surface Cleaning Procedures in Terms of Gas Sensing Properties of Spray-Deposited CNT Film: Thermal- and O2 Plasma Treatments
Authors: Kim Joon , Song Min-Jung , Kim Ki , Jin Joon-Hyung , Min Nam
Published: December 2016

The effect of cleaning the surface of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks by thermal and the O2 plasma treatments is presented in terms of NH3 gas sensing characteristics. The goal of this work is to determine the relationship between the physicochemical properties of the cleaned surface (including the chemical composition, crystal structure, hydrophilicity, and impurity content) and the sensitivity of the SWNT network films to NH3 gas. The SWNT networks are spray-deposited on pre-patterned Pt electrodes, and are further functionalized by heating on a programmable hot plate or by O2 plasma treatment in a laboratory-prepared plasma chamber. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to semi-quantitatively evaluate each surface state of various plasma-treated SWNT-based electrodes. The results show that O2 plasma treatment can more effectively modify the SWNT network surface than thermal cleaning, and can provide a better conductive network surface due to the larger number of carbonyl/carboxyl groups, enabling a faster electron transfer rate, even though both the thermal cleaning and the O2 plasma cleaning methods can eliminate the organic solvent residues from the network surface. The NH3 sensors based on the O2 plasma-treated SWNT network exhibit higher sensitivity, shorter response time, and better recovery of the initial resistance than those prepared employing the thermally-cleaned SWNT networks.