bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Texture-Cognition-Based 3D Building Model Generalization
Authors: Liu Po , Li Chengming , Li Fei
Published: August 2017

Three-dimensional (3D) building models have been widely used in the fields of urban planning, navigation and virtual geographic environments. These models incorporate many details to address the complexities of urban environments. Level-of-detail (LOD) technology is commonly used to model progressive transmission and visualization. These detailed groups of models can be replaced by a single model using generalization. In this paper, the texture features are first introduced into the generalization process, and a self-organizing mapping (SOM)-based algorithm is used for texture classification. In addition, a new cognition-based hierarchical algorithm is proposed for model-group clustering. First, a constrained Delaunay triangulation (CDT) is constructed using the footprints of building models that are segmented by a road network, and a preliminary proximity graph is extracted from the CDT by visibility analysis. Second, the graph is further segmented by the texture–feature and landmark models. Third, a minimum support tree (MST) is created from the segmented graph, and the final groups are obtained by linear detection and discrete-model conflation. Finally, these groups are conflated using small-triangle removal while preserving the original textures. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm.
A Molecular Modeling Study of the Hydroxyflutamide Resistance Mechanism Induced by Androgen Receptor Mutations
Authors: Liu Hong-Li , Zhong Hai-Yang , Song Tian-Qing , Li Jia-Zhong
Published: August 2017

Hydroxyflutamide (HF), an active metabolite of the first generation antiandrogen flutamide, was used in clinic to treat prostate cancer targeting androgen receptor (AR). However, a drug resistance problem appears after about one year’s treatment. AR T877A is the first mutation that was found to cause a resistance problem. Then W741C_T877A and F876L_T877A mutations were also reported to cause resistance to HF, while W741C and F876L single mutations cannot. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with the molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) method have been carried out to analyze the interaction mechanism between HF and wild-type (WT)/mutant ARs. The obtained results indicate that AR helix 12 (H12) plays a pivotal role in the resistance of HF. It can affect the coactivator binding site at the activation function 2 domain (AF2, surrounded by H3, H4, and H12). When H12 closes to the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) like a lid, the coactivator binding site can be formed to promote transcription. However, once H12 is opened to expose LBD, the coactivator binding site will be distorted, leading to invalid transcription. Moreover, per-residue free energy decomposition analyses indicate that N705, T877, and M895 are vital residues in the agonist/antagonist mechanism of HF.
Fabrication of Innovative Silk/Alginate Microcarriers for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Delivery and Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Perteghella Sara , Martella Elisa , De Girolamo Laura , Perucca Orfei Carlotta , Pierini Michela , Fumagalli Valentina , Pintacuda Domenica , Chlapanidas Theodora , Viganò Marco , Faragò Silvio , Torre Maria , Lucarelli Enrico
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study was to exploit silk fibroin’s properties to develop innovative composite microcarriers for mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) adhesion and proliferation. Alginate microcarriers were prepared, added to silk fibroin solution, and then treated with ethanol to induce silk conformational transition. Microcarriers were characterized for size distribution, coating stability and homogeneity. Finally, in vitro cytocompatibility and suitability as delivery systems for MSCs were investigated. Results indicated that our manufacturing process is consistent and reproducible: silk/alginate microcarriers were stable, with spherical geometry, about 400 μm in average diameter, and fibroin homogeneously coated the surface. MSCs were able to adhere rapidly onto the microcarrier surface and to cover the surface of the microcarrier within three days of culture; moreover, on this innovative 3D culture system, stem cells preserved their metabolic activity and their multi-lineage differentiation potential. In conclusion, silk/alginate microcarriers represent a suitable support for MSCs culture and expansion. Since it is able to preserve MSCs multipotency, the developed 3D system can be intended for cell delivery, for advanced therapy and regenerative medicine applications.
miR-145-5p Suppresses Tumor Cell Migration, Invasion and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition by Regulating the Sp1/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Mei Li-Li , Wang Wen-Jun , Qiu Yun-Tan , Xie Xiu-Feng , Bai Jie , Shi Zhi-Zhou
Published: August 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the progression of human cancer. Although previous reports have shown that miR-145-5p is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the roles and mechanisms of down-regulation of miR-145-5p in ESCC are still largely unknown. Using microRNA microarray and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, we confirmed that miR-145-5p was down-regulated in ESCC tissues. In vitro assays revealed that ectopic miR-145-5p expression repressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). miR-145-5p also reduced the expressions of cell cycle genes including cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin D1 (CCND1) and cyclin E1 (CCNE1), the EMT-associated transcription factor Slug, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including MMP2, MMP7 and MMP13. Furthermore, miR-145-5p mimics reduced candidate target gene specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB) (p65) both in mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of Sp1 phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p overexpression on cell cycle regulators, EMT and the expression of NF-κB (p65). Importantly, inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway or knockdown of NF-κB (p65) phenocopied the effects of miR-145-5p on the migration, invasion and EMT of ESCC cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that miR-145-5p plays tumor-suppressive roles by inhibiting esophageal cancer cell migration, invasion and EMT through regulating the Sp1/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Induction Heating Validation of Dieless Single-Point Incremental Forming of AHSS
Authors: Al-Obaidi Amar , Kräusel Verena , Landgrebe Dirk
Published: August 2017

Advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) is subject to a high deformation in geometry due to spring-back and high forces during forming. Therefore, dieless single-point incremental forming supported by induction heating was introduced. When a HCT980C steel part was studied, it was observed that the geometrical accuracy increased by forming using a 15 kW induction power, whereas a high deviation in profile geometry was observed by forming using a 5 kW induction power. The forming forces decreased by 66.63% compared with those resulting from forming at room temperature. At the same time, the HCT980C steel part cracked and failed to reach its designed depth when forming at room temperature. Regulating the tensile strength and hardness of the formed part and preventing their reduction was achieved by increasing the feed rate continuously as a function of the formed part’s growing depth. Moreover, the distribution of the induction heating temperature was reduced by introducing the new forming strategy. A cone wall angle of 70° was flexibly formed from a HCT980C steel sheet when the new strategy was applied.
An Analysis of Ship-Source Marine Pollution in Nigeria Seaports
Authors: Onwuegbuchunam D. , Ebe T. , Okoroji L. , Essien A.
Published: August 2017

Existing studies indicate that marine pollution control in the ports of developing economies is marred by a lack of administrative control and inadequate provision of waste reception facilities. In Nigeria ports, ship generated waste control services and provision of waste reception facilities are outsourced to private companies with no requirement for an activity audit. Apart from the port authority, other government agencies are also involved in pollution monitoring and control. Hence, functions are duplicated and effective regulation is arguably weakened by conflicts of interest. A scientific based integrated model is therefore proposed to address the managerial problem posed in the control of marine pollution in Nigerian ports. In this paper, we conduct a physico-chemical and microbiological analysis of samples of ships’ wastewater to determine the status of marine pollution in the port environment. The samples were collected from randomly selected ships at berths in seaport locations. The outputs from the analysis are then integrated as inputs into an administrative framework model. The integrated model developed is proposed as an alternative administrative tool for monitoring and controlling pollution in seaports. The policy implications of the developed model are discussed.
In Vitro Effectiveness of Microspheres Based on Silk Sericin and Chlorella vulgaris or Arthrospira platensis for Wound Healing Applications
Authors: Bari Elia , Arciola Carla , Vigani Barbara , Crivelli Barbara , Moro Paola , Marrubini Giorgio , Sorrenti Milena , Catenacci Laura , Bruni Giovanna , Chlapanidas Theodora , Lucarelli Enrico , Perteghella Sara , Torre Maria
Published: August 2017

Some natural compounds have recently been widely employed in wound healing applications due to their biological properties. One such compound is sericin, which is produced by Bombix mori, while active polyphenols, polysaccharides and proteins are synthetized by Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis microalgae. Our hypothesis was that sericin, as an optimal bioactive polymeric carrier for microencapsulation process, could also improve the regenerative effect of the microalgae. A solvent-free extraction method and spray drying technique were combined to obtain five formulations, based on algal extracts (C. vulgaris and A. platensis, Chl and Art, respectively) or silk sericin (Ser) or their mixtures (Chl-Ser and Art-Ser). The spray drying was a suitable method to produce microspheres with similar dimensions, characterized by collapsed morphology with a rough surface. Art and Art-Ser showed higher antioxidant properties than other formulations. All microspheres resulted in cytocompatibility on fibroblasts until 1.25 mg/mL and promoted cell migration and the complete wound closure; this positive effect was further highlighted after treatment with Art and Art-Ser. To our surprize the combination of sericin to Art did not improve the microalgae extract efficacy, at least in our experimental conditions.
Influence of Alkali Treatment on Anodized Titanium Alloys in Wollastonite Suspension
Authors: Kazek-Kęsik Alicja , Leśniak Katarzyna , Zhidkov Ivan , Korotin Danila , Kukharenko Andrey , Cholakh Seif , Kalemba-Rec Izabela , Suchanek Katarzyna , Kurmaev Ernst , Simka Wojciech
Published: August 2017

The surface modification of titanium alloys is an effective method to improve their biocompatibility and tailor the material to the desired profile of implant functionality. In this work, technologically-advanced titanium alloys—Ti-15Mo, Ti-13Nb-13Zr and Ti-6Al-7Nb—were anodized in suspensions, followed by treatment in alkali solutions, with wollastonite deposition from the powder phase suspended in solution. The anodized samples were immersed in NaOH or KOH solution with various concentrations with a different set of temperatures and exposure times. Based on their morphologies (observed by scanning electron microscope), the selected samples were investigated by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Titaniate compounds were formed on the previously anodized titanium surfaces. The surface wettability significantly decreased, mainly on the modified Ti-15Mo alloy surface. Titanium alloy compounds had an influence on the results of the titanium alloys’ surface modification, which caused the surfaces to exhibit differential physical properties. In this paper, we present the influence of the anodization procedure on alkali treatment effects and the properties of obtained hybrid coatings.
Transcriptional Analysis Allows Genome Reannotation and Reveals that Cryptococcus gattii VGII Undergoes Nutrient Restriction during Infection
Authors: Ferrareze Patrícia Aline Gröhs , Streit Rodrigo Silva Araujo , Santos Patricia Ribeiro dos , Santos Francine Melise dos , Almeida Rita Maria Cunha de , Schrank Augusto , Kmetzsch Livia , Vainstein Marilene Henning , Staats Charley Christian
Published: August 2017

Cryptococcus gattii is a human and animal pathogen that infects healthy hosts and caused the Pacific Northwest outbreak of cryptococcosis. The inhalation of infectious propagules can lead to internalization of cryptococcal cells by alveolar macrophages, a niche in which C. gattii cells can survive and proliferate. Although the nutrient composition of macrophages is relatively unknown, the high induction of amino acid transporter genes inside the phagosome indicates a preference for amino acid uptake instead of synthesis. However, the presence of countable errors in the R265 genome annotation indicates significant inhibition of transcriptomic analysis in this hypervirulent strain. Thus, we analyzed RNA-Seq data from in vivo and in vitro cultures of C. gattii R265 to perform the reannotation of the genome. In addition, based on in vivo transcriptomic data, we identified highly expressed genes and pathways of amino acid metabolism that would enable C. gattii to survive and proliferate in vivo. Importantly, we identified high expression in three APC amino acid transporters as well as the GABA permease. The use of amino acids as carbon and nitrogen sources, releasing ammonium and generating carbohydrate metabolism intermediaries, also explains the high expression of components of several degradative pathways, since glucose starvation is an important host defense mechanism.
Determination of Coenzyme A and Acetyl-Coenzyme A in Biological Samples Using HPLC with UV Detection
Authors: Shurubor Yevgeniya , D’Aurelio Marilena , Clark-Matott Joanne , Isakova Elena , Deryabina Yulia , Beal M. , Cooper Arthur , Krasnikov Boris
Published: August 2017

Coenzyme A (CoA) and acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) play essential roles in cell energy metabolism. Dysregulation of the biosynthesis and functioning of both compounds may contribute to various pathological conditions. We describe here a simple and sensitive HPLC-UV based method for simultaneous determination of CoA and acetyl-CoA in a variety of biological samples, including cells in culture, mouse cortex, and rat plasma, liver, kidney, and brain tissues. The limits of detection for CoA and acetyl-CoA are >10-fold lower than those obtained by previously described HPLC procedures, with coefficients of variation <1% for standard solutions, and 1–3% for deproteinized biological samples. Recovery is 95–97% for liver extracts spiked with Co-A and acetyl-CoA. Many factors may influence the tissue concentrations of CoA and acetyl-CoA (e.g., age, fed, or fasted state). Nevertheless, the values obtained by the present HPLC method for the concentration of CoA and acetyl-CoA in selected rodent tissues are in reasonable agreement with literature values. The concentrations of CoA and acetyl-CoA were found to be very low in rat plasma, but easily measurable by the present HPLC method. The method should be useful for studying cellular energy metabolism under normal and pathological conditions, and during targeted drug therapy treatment.
Determination and Visualization of Peimine and Peiminine Content in Fritillaria thunbergii Bulbi Treated by Sulfur Fumigation Using Hyperspectral Imaging with Chemometrics
Authors: He Juan , He Yong , Zhang and Chu
Published: August 2017

Rapid, non-destructive, and accurate quantitative determination of the effective components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is required by industries, planters, and regulators. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging was applied for determining the peimine and peiminine content in Fritillaria thunbergii bulbi under sulfur fumigation. Spectral data were extracted from the hyperspectral images. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted to determine the reference peimine and peiminine content. The successive projection algorithm (SPA), weighted regression coefficient (Bw), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), and random frog (RF) were used to select optimal wavelengths, while the partial least squares (PLS), least-square support vector machine (LS–SVM) and extreme learning machine (ELM) were used to build regression models. Regression models using the full spectra and optimal wavelengths obtained satisfactory results with the correlation coefficient of calibration (rc), cross-validation (rcv) and prediction (rp) of most models being over 0.8. Prediction maps of peimine and peiminine content in Fritillaria thunbergii bulbi were formed by applying regression models to the hyperspectral images. The overall results indicated that hyperspectral imaging combined with regression models and optimal wavelength selection methods were effective in determining peimine and peiminine content in Fritillaria thunbergii bulbi, which will help in the development of an online detection system for real-world quality control of Fritillaria thunbergii bulbi under sulfur fumigation.
Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells via Interface Engineering with a Nanostructured ITR-GO/PFN Bilayer Cathode Interlayer
Authors: Zheng Ding , Zhao Lili , Fan Pu , Ji Ran , Yu Junsheng
Published: August 2017

An innovative bilayer cathode interlayer (CIL) with a nanostructure consisting of in situ thermal reduced graphene oxide (ITR-GO) and poly[(9,9-bis(3′-(N,N-dimethylamion)propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctyl) fluorene] (PFN) has been fabricated for inverted organic solar cells (OSCs). An approach to prepare a CIL of high electronic quality by using ITR-GO as a template to modulate the morphology of the interface between the active layer and electrode and to further reduce the work function of the electrode has also been realized. This bilayer ITR-GO/PFN CIL is processed by a spray-coating method with facile in situ thermal reduction. Meanwhile, the CIL shows a good charge transport efficiency and less charge recombination, which leads to a significant enhancement of the power conversion efficiency from 6.47% to 8.34% for Poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl} (PTB7):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM)-based OSCs. In addition, the long-term stability of the OSC is improved by using the ITR-GO/PFN CIL when compared with the pristine device. These results indicate that the bilayer ITR-GO/PFN CIL is a promising way to realize high-efficiency and stable OSCs by using water-soluble conjugated polymer electrolytes such as PFN.
Preparation and Structural Analysis of Nano-Silver Loaded Poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) Core-Shell Nanospheres with Defined Shape and Composition
Authors: Zhang Jin , Zhao Xiaoyu , Wang Yanfei , Zhu Liang , Yang Libin , Li Gang , Sha Zuoliang
Published: August 2017

A systematic study for the preparation and structural analysis of poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) composite nanospheres (PSA) and silver nanoparticles loaded poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) composite nanospheres (nAg@PSA) is reported. Poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) nanospheres were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization of styrene (St) and acrylic acid (AA) in water. Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were well-dispersed on the surfaces of poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) composite nanospheres by in situ chemical reduction of AgNO3 using NaBH4 as a reducing agent in water. The particle size of PSA nanospheres was uniform. The surfaces of PSA nanospheres were distributed by highly uniform half-sphere arrays. Those half-sphere protruded more with the increase of the feeding amount of AA or the feed ratios of AA and St. The carboxyl groups content of nanospheres was directly proportional to the nanosphere surface area. This relationship and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy images of the PSA nanospheres indicate that the acrylic acid was mainly distributed on the surface of the polystyrene spheres with unnegligible thickness. The number of Ag-NPs depends on immobilized carboxyl groups on the surface of PSA, according to thermogravimetry, ultraviolet-visible, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results.
Avocado Consumption Increases Macular Pigment Density in Older Adults: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Scott Tammy , Rasmussen Helen , Chen Oliver , Johnson Elizabeth
Published: August 2017

Lutein is selectively incorporated into the macula and brain. Lutein levels in the macula (macular pigment; MP) and the brain are related to better cognition. MP density (MPD) is a biomarker of brain lutein. Avocados are a bioavailable source of lutein. This study tests the effects of the intake of avocado on cognition. This was a six-month, randomized, controlled trial. Healthy subjects consumed one avocado (n = 20, 0.5 mg/day lutein, AV) vs. one potato or one cup of chickpeas (n = 20, 0 mg/day lutein, C). Serum lutein, MPD, and cognition were assessed at zero, three, and six months. Primary analyses were conducted according to intent-to-treat principles, with repeated-measures analysis. At six months, AV increased serum lutein levels by 25% from baseline (p = 0.001). C increased by 15% (p = 0.030). At six months, there was an increase in MPD from baseline in AV (p = 0.001) and no increase in C. For both groups, there was an improvement in memory and spatial working memory (p = 0.001; p = 0.032, respectively). For AV only there was improved sustained attention (p = 0.033), and the MPD increase was related to improved working memory and efficiency in approaching a problem (p = 0.036). Dietary recommendations including avocados may be an effective strategy for cognitive health.
Therapeutic Potential of Amino Acids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Liu Yulan , Wang Xiuying , Hu Chien-An
Published: August 2017

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, and is difficult to treat. The pathophysiology of IBD is multifactorial and not completely understood, but genetic components, dysregulated immune responses, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mediators are known to be involved. Animal models of IBD can be chemically induced, and are used to study etiology and to evaluate potential treatments of IBD. Currently available IBD treatments can decrease the duration of active disease but because of their adverse effects, the search for novel therapeutic strategies that can restore intestinal homeostasis continues. This review summarizes and discusses what is currently known of the effects of amino acids on the reduction of inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in the gut when IBD is present. Recent studies in animal models have identified dietary amino acids that improve IBD, but amino acid supplementation may not be adequate to replace conventional therapy. The animal models used in dietary amino acid research in IBD are described.
Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Vinegar’s Aqueous Extract Stimulates Insulin Secretion and Exerts Hepatoprotective Effect on STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Yusoff Nor , Lim Vuanghao , Al-Hindi Bassel , Abdul Razak Khairul , Widyawati Tri , Anggraini Dwi , Ahmad Mariam , Asmawi Mohd
Published: August 2017

Background: An aqueous extract (AE) of vinegar made from Nypa fruticans Wurmb. can improve postprandial glucose levels in normoglycaemic rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate its antihyperglycaemic activity further using in vivo and in vitro approaches. Methods: AE was administered to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats twice daily at three doses (1000, 500, and 250 mg/kg b.w.) for 12 days p.o. Several biochemical analyses and a histological study of the pancreas and liver were performed, accompanied by a cell culture assay. Results: As compared to diabetic control (DC), AE at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. caused significant reduction (p < 0.05) of blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, with positive improvement of serum insulin levels. Interestingly, immunohistochemical staining of the pancreas suggested no β-cell regeneration, despite significant increase in insulin production. AE-treated groups, however, showed overall restoration of the hepatic histoarchitecture of STZ-induced liver damage, suggesting a possible hepatoprotective effect. The pancreatic effect of AE was further studied through RIN-5F cell culture, which revealed a positive stimulatory effect on insulin release at a basal glucose concentration (1.1 mM). Conclusion: Nypa fruticans Wurmb. vinegar’s aqueous extract exerts its antihyperglycaemic activity, at least in part, through insulin stimulatory and hepatoprotective effects.
Swarm Intelligence via the Internet of Things and the Phenomenological Turn
Authors: Vallverdú Jordi , Talanov Max , Khasianov Airat
Published: August 2017

Considering the current advancements in biometric sensors and other related technologies, as well as the use of bio-inspired models for AI improvements, we can infer that the swarm intelligence paradigm can be implemented in human daily spheres through the connectivity between user gadgets connected to the Internet of Things. This is a first step towards a real Ambient Intelligence, but also of a Global Intelligence. This unconscious (by the user) connectivity may alter the way by which we feel the world. Besides, with the arrival of new augmented ways of capturing and providing information or radical new ways of expanding our bodies (through synthetic biology or artificial prosthesis like brain–computer connections), we can be very close to a change which may radically affect our experience of ourselves and of the feeling of collectivity. We call it the techno-phenomenological turn. We show social implications, present challenges, and and open questions for the new kind of swarm intelligence-enhanced society, and provide the taxonomy of the field of study. We will also explore the possible roadmaps of this next possible situation.
Use of Bacterial Cellulose and Crosslinked Cellulose Nanofibers Membranes for Removal of Oil from Oil-in-Water Emulsions
Authors: Hassan Enas , Hassan Mohammad , Abou-zeid Ragab , Berglund Linn , Oksman Kristiina
Published: August 2017

Abstract: Never-dried bacterial cellulose (BC) and crosslinked cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were used for the removal of oil from stabilized and non-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions with droplet sizes less than 1 µm. The CNF membranes were exchanged with isopropyl alcohol before drying. The microscopic structure of the prepared membranes was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the water flux and the rejection of oil were evaluated using a dead-end filtration cell. BC harvested after different incubation time periods (2 to 10 days) did not show a change in the width of the nanofibers, but only the thickness of the membranes was increased. Pure water flux was not affected as a result of increasing thicknesses of BC membranes harvested after 4–10 days while BC harvested after two days had significantly higher water flux than the others. BC showed a higher flux and efficiency in removing oil from oil emulsions than CNF membranes. Removal of oil by the different membranes from the non-stabilized oil emulsion was more efficient than from the stabilized one.
Synthesis and Nanoprecipitation of HEMA-CLn Based Polymers for the Production of Biodegradable Nanoparticles
Authors: Gatti Simone , Agostini Azzurra , Ferrari Raffaele , Moscatelli Davide
Published: August 2017

The control over the size distribution and stability of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial in many of their applications, especially in the biomedical field. These characteristics are typically influenced by the production method and the nature of the starting material. To investigate these aspects, the controlled radical polymerization of functionalized methacrylates constituted by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) functionalized with a controlled number of ε-caprolactone (CL) units (HEMA-CLn), was carried out via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) in solution. The living reaction allows for good control over the molar mass of the final polymer with a low molar mass dispersity. The obtained polymer solutions were nanoprecipitated in order to produce NPs suitable for drug delivery applications with narrow particle size distribution and a wide size range (from 60 to 250 nm). The NP synthesis has been performed using a mixing device, in order to control the parameters involved in the nanoprecipitation process. As already seen for similar systems, the size of the produced NPs is a function of the polymer concentration during the nanoprecipitation process. Nevertheless, when the polymer concentration is kept constant, the NP size is influenced by the chemical structure of the polymer used, in terms of the presence of PEG (poly(ethylene glycol)), the degree of RAFT polymerization, and the length of the caprolactone side chain. These characteristics were also found to influence the stability and degradation properties of the produced NPs.
The Combined Use of Remote Sensing and Social Sensing Data in Fine-Grained Urban Land Use Mapping: A Case Study in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Li Qiangzi , Huang Huiping , Wu Wei , Du Xin , Wang Hongyan
Published: August 2017

In light of the need for fine-grained, accurate, and timely urban land use information, a per-field classification approach was proposed in this paper to automatically map fine-grained urban land use in a study area within Haidian District, Beijing, China, in 2016. High-resolution remote sensing imagery and multi-source social sensing data were used to provide both physical and socioeconomic information. Four categories of attributes were derived from both data sources for urban land use parcels segmented by the OpenStreetMap road network, including spectral/texture attributes, landscape metrics, Baidu Point-Of-Interest (POI) attributes, and Weibo attributes. The random forests technique was adopted to conduct the classification. The importance of each attribute, attribute category, and data source was evaluated for the classification as a whole and the classification of individual land use types. The results showed that a testing accuracy of 77.83% can be achieved. The approach is relatively good at classifying open space and residential parcels, and poor at classifying institutional parcels. While using solely remote sensing data or social sensing data can achieve equally high overall accuracy, their importance varies in terms of the classification of individual classes. Landscape metrics are the most important for open space parcels. Spectral/texture attributes are more important in identifying institutional and residential parcels. The classification of business parcels relies more on landscape metrics and social sensing data, and less on spectral/texture attributes. The classification accuracy can be potentially improved upon the acquisition of purer parcels and the addition of new attributes. It is expected that the proposed approach will be useful for the routine update of urban land use information and large-scale urban land use mapping.
Cross-Reactive Plasmonic Aptasensors for Controlled Substance Identification
Authors: Yoho Joshua , Geier Brian , Grigsby Claude , Hagen Joshua , Chávez Jorge , Kelley-Loughnane Nancy
Published: August 2017

In this work, we developed an assay to determine if an arbitrary white powder is a controlled substance, given the plasmonic response of aptamer-gold nanoparticle conjugates (Apt-AuNPs). Toward this end, we designed Apt-AuNPs with specific a response to common controlled substances without cross reactivity to chemicals typically used as fillers in street formulations. Plasmonic sensor variation was shown to produce unique data fingerprints for each chemical analyzed, supporting the application of multivariate statistical techniques to annotate unknown samples by chemical similarity. Importantly, the assay takes less than fifteen minutes to run, and requires only a few micrograms of the material, making the proposed assay easily deployable in field operations.
EEG-Based Brain-Computer Interface for Decoding Motor Imagery Tasks within the Same Hand Using Choi-Williams Time-Frequency Distribution
Authors: Alazrai Rami , Alwanni Hisham , Baslan Yara , Alnuman Nasim , Daoud Mohammad
Published: August 2017

This paper presents an EEG-based brain-computer interface system for classifying eleven motor imagery (MI) tasks within the same hand. The proposed system utilizes the Choi-Williams time-frequency distribution (CWD) to construct a time-frequency representation (TFR) of the EEG signals. The constructed TFR is used to extract five categories of time-frequency features (TFFs). The TFFs are processed using a hierarchical classification model to identify the MI task encapsulated within the EEG signals. To evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, EEG data were recorded for eighteen intact subjects and four amputated subjects while imagining to perform each of the eleven hand MI tasks. Two performance evaluation analyses, namely channel- and TFF-based analyses, are conducted to identify the best subset of EEG channels and the TFFs category, respectively, that enable the highest classification accuracy between the MI tasks. In each evaluation analysis, the hierarchical classification model is trained using two training procedures, namely subject-dependent and subject-independent procedures. These two training procedures quantify the capability of the proposed approach to capture both intra- and inter-personal variations in the EEG signals for different MI tasks within the same hand. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach for classifying the MI tasks within the same hand. In particular, the classification accuracies obtained for the intact and amputated subjects are as high as 88 . 8 % and 90 . 2 % , respectively, for the subject-dependent training procedure, and 80 . 8 % and 87 . 8 % , respectively, for the subject-independent training procedure. These results suggest the feasibility of applying the proposed approach to control dexterous prosthetic hands, which can be of great benefit for individuals suffering from hand amputations.
Basic Simulation Environment for Highly Customized Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Kinematic Scenarios
Authors: Chai Linguo , Cai Baigen , ShangGuan Wei , Wang Jian , Wang Huashen
Published: August 2017

To enhance the reality of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) kinematic simulation scenarios and to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of the verification, a four-layer CAVs kinematic simulation framework, which is composed with road network layer, vehicle operating layer, uncertainties modelling layer and demonstrating layer, is proposed in this paper. Properties of the intersections are defined to describe the road network. A target position based vehicle position updating method is designed to simulate such vehicle behaviors as lane changing and turning. Vehicle kinematic models are implemented to maintain the status of the vehicles when they are moving towards the target position. Priorities for individual vehicle control are authorized for different layers. Operation mechanisms of CAVs uncertainties, which are defined as position error and communication delay in this paper, are implemented in the simulation to enhance the reality of the simulation. A simulation platform is developed based on the proposed methodology. A comparison of simulated and theoretical vehicle delay has been analyzed to prove the validity and the creditability of the platform. The scenario of rear-end collision avoidance is conducted to verify the uncertainties operating mechanisms, and a slot-based intersections (SIs) control strategy is realized and verified in the simulation platform to show the supports of the platform to CAVs kinematic simulation and verification.
A Biosensor-CMOS Platform and Integrated Readout Circuit in 0.18-μm CMOS Technology for Cancer Biomarker Detection
Authors: Alhoshany Abdulaziz , Sivashankar Shilpa , Mashraei Yousof , Omran Hesham , Salama Khaled N.
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a biosensor-CMOS platform for measuring the capacitive coupling of biorecognition elements. The biosensor is designed, fabricated, and tested for the detection and quantification of a protein that reveals the presence of early-stage cancer. For the first time, the spermidine/spermine N1 acetyltransferase (SSAT) enzyme has been screened and quantified on the surface of a capacitive sensor. The sensor surface is treated to immobilize antibodies, and the baseline capacitance of the biosensor is reduced by connecting an array of capacitors in series for fixed exposure area to the analyte. A large sensing area with small baseline capacitance is implemented to achieve a high sensitivity to SSAT enzyme concentrations. The sensed capacitance value is digitized by using a 12-bit highly digital successive-approximation capacitance-to-digital converter that is implemented in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology. The readout circuit operates in the near-subthreshold regime and provides power and area efficient operation. The capacitance range is 16.137 pF with a 4.5 fF absolute resolution, which adequately covers the concentrations of 10 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 2.5 mg/L, and 1.25 mg/L of the SSAT enzyme. The concentrations were selected as a pilot study, and the platform was shown to demonstrate high sensitivity for SSAT enzymes on the surface of the capacitive sensor. The tested prototype demonstrated 42.5 μS of measurement time and a total power consumption of 2.1 μW.
A Bamboo Treatment Procedure: Effects on the Durability and Mechanical Performance
Authors: Bui Quoc-Bao , Grillet Anne-Cécile , Tran Hoang-Duy
Published: August 2017

Bamboo is a natural material having a fast reproduction and high mechanical strengths. However, when a bio-based material in general, and bamboo in particular are expected to be a construction material, their sensitivity to moisture and their durability are usually questionable. Indeed, it is well known that these materials do not possess the same performance in the long-term, when compared to industrial materials. Sustainable solutions for the bamboo treatment still need to be investigated. The present study explores the oil-heated treatment with different types of oils, like flax or sunflower oils. The present investigation concentrates on mechanical properties and durability of treated bamboos to assess the effectiveness of these kinds of treatment. First, bamboo specimens were treated to decrease their sensitivity to moisture and improve their durability. Different conditions of treatment were tested: treatment at 100 °C or 180 °C; with flax oil, sunflower oil, or without oil; treatment durations of 1 h, 2 h, or 3 h; and, different cooling methods and cooling durations. Then, mechanical and durability tests were carried out on untreated and treated bamboos: uniaxial compression tests, 3 points bending tests, water immersion tests, and humidity tests. The results showed that some tested treatment methods could increase both the durability and the compressive strength of treated specimens, compared to untreated bamboo. The best results were observed on specimens treated at 180 °C during 1 h or 2 h without oil, and then cooled in 20 °C sunflower oil.
A Project Management Plan to Reach Sustainable Competitive Advantage for a Photovoltaic (PV) Manufacturer
Authors: Chen Hsing , Kang He-Yau , Lee Amy
Published: August 2017

Because the skills, knowledge and management required for exploitation and exploration are contradictory, firms still struggle to utilize useful methods to keep exploitative and exploratory activities balanced. Thus, a mathematical model is proposed to challenge the above vacancy. First, in order to allocate limited resources flexibly when implementing projects, a computer-mediated social groupware with Delphi technique is developed to manage conflicts. However, these operations may result in path dependence or lock-in technologies in the long run. Then, second, in order to adjust unbalanced exploitation and exploration after a period of time, a fuzzy analytic network process with fuzzy goal programming is proposed to facilitate the selection of projects in exogenous and endogenous environments. After investigating a real case of a photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer, the paper concludes that a balanced exploration and exploitation can be achieved, and sustainable competitive advantages can subsequently be reached.
A Parameter Selection Framework for Sustainability Assessment
Authors: Iacovidou Eleni , Busch Jonathan , Hahladakis John , Baxter Helen , Ng Kok , Herbert Ben
Published: August 2017

Sustainability assessment of resource recovery from waste is an important prerequisite for informed and sound decision-making. Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) has been developed to support this process, yet its use is still constrained by the difficulty of identifying the most relevant impact parameters. This paper, seeks to inform LCSA for resource recovery from waste based on a parameter identification approach that uses the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal (PESTEL) analysis. The novelty of this approach lies in the structured conceptualisation of the resource recovery system and the context within which decisions are made. The anaerobic digestion of source-separated food waste in the UK is used as a case study to trial and demonstrate the approach. Findings suggest that a conceptual, qualitative analysis, although limited in its scope due to the lack of quantitative components, is suitable in integrating different parameters, allowing for a holistic conceptualisation of the system and capturing important issues that could be easily overlooked. This type of analysis can summarise the key interdependencies, contrast the trade-offs and provide a wider understanding of the political and legal context within which the system operates, all important in extending the implementation of LCSA towards the right direction.
Sustainability Matter and Financial Performance of Companies
Authors: Lassala Carlos , Apetrei Andreea , Sapena Juan
Published: August 2017

The relationship between social and environmental performance and financial performance in companies has been a subject widely debated in the literature but the results obtained to date are not conclusive. This research employs the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and offers new evidence on the relationship between both types of performance in a sample of companies listed in the Spanish capital market. Financial performance is measured by the return on equity (ROE) ratio, variable that is widely used in Finance and Accounting related research. The corporate performance of the company is measured by its inclusion or not in the sustainability index used as reference for the Spanish capital market, the FTSEGood4 IBEX. The model also incorporates other business variables that might affect the relationships between both types of performance, such as return on assets (ROA) ratio, company size, debt ratio, and industry. The results suggest that, for specific industries, return on assets is a necessary condition for companies with leverage to reduce the cost of debt due to their sustainability profile and consequently boost their ROE.
Accelerated Urban Expansion in Lhasa City and the Implications for Sustainable Development in a Plateau City
Authors: Tang Wei , Zhou Tiancai , Sun Jian , Li Yurui , Li Weipeng
Published: August 2017

Urbanization challenges regional sustainable development, but a slight expansion mechanism was revealed in a plateau city. We have integrated the urban expansion process and analyzed its determinants in Lhasa (Tibet), and we provide insightful suggestions for urban management and planning for Lhasa. The full continuum of the urban expansion process has been captured using time-series of high-resolution remote sensing data (1990–2015). Four categories of potential determinants involved in economic, demographic, social, and government policy factors were selected, and redundancy analysis was employed to define the contribution rates of these determinants. The results illustrate that considerable urban expansion occurred from 1990 to 2015 in Lhasa, with the area of construction land and transportation land increasing at rates of 117.2% and 564.7%, respectively. The urban expansion in the center of Lhasa can be characterized as temperate sprawl from 1990 through 2008, primarily explained by governmental policies and investment, economic development, tourist growth, and increased governmental investment resulting in faster urban expansion from 2008 to 2015, mainly occurring in the east, south, and west of Lhasa. In contrast with other cities of China, central government investment and “pairing-up support” projects have played an important role in infrastructure construction in Lhasa. The miraculous development of the tourism industry had prominent effects on this economic development and urbanization after 2006, due to the running of the Tibetan Railway. An integrative and proactive policy framework, the “Lhasa development model”, having important theoretical, methodological, and management implications for urban planning and development, has been proposed.
An Agent-Based Co-Evolutionary Multi-Objective Algorithm for Portfolio Optimization
Authors: Dreżewski Rafał , Doroz Krzysztof
Published: August 2017

Algorithms based on the process of natural evolution are widely used to solve multi-objective optimization problems. In this paper we propose the agent-based co-evolutionary algorithm for multi-objective portfolio optimization. The proposed technique is compared experimentally to the genetic algorithm, co-evolutionary algorithm and a more classical approach—the trend-following algorithm. During the experiments historical data from the Warsaw Stock Exchange is used in order to assess the performance of the compared algorithms. Finally, we draw some conclusions from these experiments, showing the strong and weak points of all the techniques.
Genetic Divergence and Chemotype Diversity in the Fusarium Head Blight Pathogen Fusarium poae
Authors: Vanheule Adriaan , De Boevre Marthe , Moretti Antonio , Scauflaire Jonathan , Munaut Françoise , De Saeger Sarah , Bekaert Boris , Haesaert Geert , Waalwijk Cees , Van der Lee Theo , Audenaert Kris
Published: August 2017

Fusarium head blight is a disease caused by a complex of Fusarium species. F. poae is omnipresent throughout Europe in spite of its low virulence. In this study, we assessed a geographically diverse collection of F. poae isolates for its genetic diversity using AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism). Furthermore, studying the mating type locus and chromosomal insertions, we identified hallmarks of both sexual recombination and clonal spread of successful genotypes in the population. Despite the large genetic variation found, all F. poae isolates possess the nivalenol chemotype based on Tri7 sequence analysis. Nevertheless, Tri gene clusters showed two layers of genetic variability. Firstly, the Tri1 locus was highly variable with mostly synonymous mutations and mutations in introns pointing to a strong purifying selection pressure. Secondly, in a subset of isolates, the main trichothecene gene cluster was invaded by a transposable element between Tri5 and Tri6. To investigate the impact of these variations on the phenotypic chemotype, mycotoxin production was assessed on artificial medium. Complex blends of type A and type B trichothecenes were produced but neither genetic variability in the Tri genes nor variability in the genome or geography accounted for the divergence in trichothecene production. In view of its complex chemotype, it will be of utmost interest to uncover the role of trichothecenes in virulence, spread and survival of F. poae.