bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Permalloy-Based Thin Film Structures: Magnetic Properties and the Giant Magnetoimpedance Effect in the Temperature Range Important for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Chlenova Anna A. , Moiseev Alexey A. , Derevyanko Mikhail S. , Semirov Aleksandr V. , Lepalovsky Vladimir N. , Kurlyandskaya Galina V.
Published: August 2017

Permalloy-based thin film structures are excellent materials for sensor applications. Temperature dependencies of the magnetic properties and giant magneto-impedance (GMI) were studied for Fe19Ni81-based multilayered structures obtained by the ion-plasma sputtering technique. Selected temperature interval of 25 °C to 50 °C corresponds to the temperature range of functionality of many devices, including magnetic biosensors. A (Cu/FeNi)5/Cu/(Cu/FeNi)5 multilayered structure with well-defined traverse magnetic anisotropy showed an increase in the GMI ratio for the total impedance and its real part with temperature increased. The maximum of the GMI of the total impedance ratio ΔZ/Z = 56% was observed at a frequency of 80 MHz, with a sensitivity of 18%/Oe, and the maximum GMI of the real part ΔR/R = 170% at a frequency of 10 MHz, with a sensitivity of 46%/Oe. As the magnetization and direct current electrical resistance vary very little with the temperature, the most probable mechanism of the unexpected increase of the GMI sensitivity is the stress relaxation mechanism associated with magnetoelastic anisotropy.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Molecular Junctions
Authors: Iwane Madoka , Fujii Shintaro , Kiguchi Manabu
Published: August 2017

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopy that allows Raman spectroscopy on a single molecular scale. Here, we present a review of SERS from molecular junctions, in which a single molecule or molecules are made to have contact from the top to the bottom of metal surfaces. The molecular junctions are nice platforms for SERS as well as transport measurement. Electronic characterization based on the transport measurements of molecular junctions has been extensively studied for the development of miniaturized electronic devices. Simultaneous SERS and transport measurement of the molecular junctions allow both structural (geometrical) and electronic information on the single molecule scale. The improvement of SERS measurement on molecular junctions open the door toward new nanoscience and nanotechnology in molecular electronics.
Tree Alignment Based on Needleman-Wunsch Algorithm for Sensor Selection in Smart Homes
Authors: Chua Sook-Ling , Foo Lee
Published: August 2017

Activity recognition in smart homes aims to infer the particular activities of the inhabitant, the aim being to monitor their activities and identify any abnormalities, especially for those living alone. In order for a smart home to support its inhabitant, the recognition system needs to learn from observations acquired through sensors. One question that often arises is which sensors are useful and how many sensors are required to accurately recognise the inhabitant’s activities? Many wrapper methods have been proposed and remain one of the popular evaluators for sensor selection due to its superior accuracy performance. However, they are prohibitively slow during the evaluation process and may run into the risk of overfitting due to the extent of the search. Motivated by this characteristic, this paper attempts to reduce the cost of the evaluation process and overfitting through tree alignment. The performance of our method is evaluated on two public datasets obtained in two distinct smart home environments.
Dynamic Fuzzy-Logic Based Path Planning for Mobility-Assisted Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Alomari Abdullah , Phillips William , Aslam Nauman , Comeau Frank
Published: August 2017

Mobile anchor path planning techniques have provided as an alternative option for node localization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In such context, path planning is a movement pattern where a mobile anchor node’s movement is designed in order to achieve a maximum localization ratio possible with a minimum error rate. Typically, the mobility path planning is designed in advance, which is applicable when the mobile anchor has sufficient sources of energy and time. However, when the mobility movement is restricted or limited, a dynamic path planning design is needed. This paper proposes a novel distributed range-free movement mechanism for mobility-assisted localization in WSNs when the mobile anchor’s movement is limited. The designed movement is formed in real-time pattern using a fuzzy-logic approach based on the information received from the network and the nodes’ deployment. Our proposed model, Fuzzy-Logic based Path Planning for mobile anchor-assisted Localization in WSNs (FLPPL), offers superior results in several metrics including both localization accuracy and localization ratio in comparison to other similar works.
Energy Efficiency Maximization for WSNs with Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer
Authors: Yu Hongyan , Zhang Yongqiang , Guo Songtao , Yang Yuanyuan , Ji Luyue
Published: August 2017

Recently, the simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) technique has been regarded as a promising approach to enhance performance of wireless sensor networks with limited energy supply. However, from a green communication perspective, energy efficiency optimization for SWIPT system design has not been investigated in Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks (WRSNs). In this paper, we consider the tradeoffs between energy efficiency and three factors including spectral efficiency, the transmit power and outage target rate for two different modes, i.e., power splitting (PS) and time switching modes (TS), at the receiver. Moreover, we formulate the energy efficiency maximization problem subject to the constraints of minimum Quality of Service (QoS), minimum harvested energy and maximum transmission power as non-convex optimization problem. In particular, we focus on optimizing power control and power allocation policy in PS and TS modes to maximize energy efficiency of data transmission. For PS and TS modes, we propose the corresponding algorithm to characterize a non-convex optimization problem that takes into account the circuit power consumption and the harvested energy. By exploiting nonlinear fractional programming and Lagrangian dual decomposition, we propose suboptimal iterative algorithms to obtain the solutions of non-convex optimization problems. Furthermore, we derive the outage probability and effective throughput from the scenarios that the transmitter does not or partially know the channel state information (CSI) of the receiver. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed optimal iterative algorithm can achieve optimal solutions within a small number of iterations and various tradeoffs between energy efficiency and spectral efficiency, transmit power and outage target rate, respectively.
A DFT Calculation of Fluoride-Doped TiO2 Nanotubes for Detecting SF6 Decomposition Components
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxing , Zhang Jun , Dong Xingchen , Cui Hao
Published: August 2017

Gas insulated switchgear (GIS) plays an important role in the transmission and distribution of electric energy. Detecting and analyzing the decomposed components of SF6 is one of the important methods to realize the on-line monitoring of GIS equipment. In this paper, considering the performance limits of intrinsic TiO2 nanotube gas sensor, the adsorption process of H2S, SO2, SOF2 and SO2F2 on fluoride-doped TiO2 crystal plane was simulated by the first-principle method. The adsorption mechanism of these SF6 decomposition components on fluorine-doped TiO2 crystal plane was analyzed from a micro perspective. Calculation results indicate that the order of adsorption effect of four SF6 decomposition components on fluoride-doped TiO2 crystal plane is H2S > SO2 > SOF2 > SO2F2. Compared with the adsorption results of intrinsic anatase TiO2 (101) perfect crystal plane, fluorine doping can obviously enhance the adsorption ability of TiO2 (101) crystal plane. Fluorine-doped TiO2 can effectively distinguish and detect the SF6 decomposition components based on theoretical analysis.
A Novel Partial Discharge Localization Method in Substation Based on a Wireless UHF Sensor Array
Authors: Li Zhen , Luo Lingen , Zhou Nan , Sheng Gehao , Jiang Xiuchen
Published: August 2017

Effective Partial Discharge (PD) localization can detect the insulation problems of the power equipment in a substation and improve the reliability of power systems. Typical Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) PD localization methods are mainly based on time difference information, which need a high sampling rate system. This paper proposes a novel PD localization method based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) fingerprint to quickly locate the power equipment with potential insulation defects. The proposed method consists of two stages. In the offline stage, the RSSI fingerprint data of the detection area is measured by a wireless UHF sensor array and processed by a clustering algorithm to reduce the PD interference and abnormal RSSI values. In the online stage, when PD happens, the RSSI fingerprint of PD is measured via the input of pattern recognition for PD localization. To achieve an accurate localization, the pattern recognition process is divided into two steps: a preliminary localization is implemented by cluster recognition to reduce the localization region, and the compressed sensing algorithm is used for accurate PD localization. A field test in a substation indicates that the mean localization error of the proposed method is 1.25 m, and 89.6% localization errors are less than 3 m.
Carbon Nanomaterial Based Biosensors for Non-Invasive Detection of Cancer and Disease Biomarkers for Clinical Diagnosis
Authors: Pasinszki Tibor , Krebsz Melinda , Tung Thanh Tran , Losic Dusan
Published: August 2017

The early diagnosis of diseases, e.g., Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and various types of cancer, and monitoring the response of patients to the therapy plays a critical role in clinical treatment; therefore, there is an intensive research for the determination of many clinical analytes. In order to achieve point-of-care sensing in clinical practice, sensitive, selective, cost-effective, simple, reliable, and rapid analytical methods are required. Biosensors have become essential tools in biomarker sensing, in which electrode material and architecture play critical roles in achieving sensitive and stable detection. Carbon nanomaterials in the form of particle/dots, tube/wires, and sheets have recently become indispensable elements of biosensor platforms due to their excellent mechanical, electronic, and optical properties. This review summarizes developments in this lucrative field by presenting major biosensor types and variability of sensor platforms in biomedical applications.
An Extended Kalman Filter-Based Attitude Tracking Algorithm for Star Sensors
Authors: Li Jian , Wei Xinguo , Zhang Guangjun
Published: August 2017

Efficiency and reliability are key issues when a star sensor operates in tracking mode. In the case of high attitude dynamics, the performance of existing attitude tracking algorithms degenerates rapidly. In this paper an extended Kalman filtering-based attitude tracking algorithm is presented. The star sensor is modeled as a nonlinear stochastic system with the state estimate providing the three degree-of-freedom attitude quaternion and angular velocity. The star positions in the star image are predicted and measured to estimate the optimal attitude. Furthermore, all the cataloged stars observed in the sensor field-of-view according the predicted image motion are accessed using a catalog partition table to speed up the tracking, called star mapping. Software simulation and night-sky experiment are performed to validate the efficiency and reliability of the proposed method.
Crack Monitoring of Operational Wind Turbine Foundations
Authors: Perry Marcus , McAlorum Jack , Fusiek Grzegorz , Niewczas Pawel , McKeeman Iain , Rubert Tim
Published: August 2017

The degradation of onshore, reinforced-concrete wind turbine foundations is usually assessed via above-ground inspections, or through lengthy excavation campaigns that suspend wind power generation. Foundation cracks can and do occur below ground level, and while sustained measurements of crack behaviour could be used to quantify the risk of water ingress and reinforcement corrosion, these cracks have not yet been monitored during turbine operation. Here, we outline the design, fabrication and field installation of subterranean fibre-optic sensors for monitoring the opening and lateral displacements of foundation cracks during wind turbine operation. We detail methods for in situ sensor characterisation, verify sensor responses against theoretical tower strains derived from wind speed data, and then show that measured crack displacements correlate with monitored tower strains. Our results show that foundation crack opening displacements respond linearly to tower strain and do not change by more than ±5 μ m. Lateral crack displacements were found to be negligible. We anticipate that the work outlined here will provide a starting point for real-time, long-term and dynamic analyses of crack displacements in future. Our findings could furthermore inform the development of cost-effective monitoring systems for ageing wind turbine foundations.
Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Oral Toxicity Induced by Ethanolic Extract of Marsdenia tenacissima Leaves in Experimental Rats
Authors: Porwal Mayur , Khan Najam , Maheshwari Kamal
Published: August 2017

The objective of this study is to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of the ethanolic extract of Marsdenia tenacissima (MTE) leaves (family: Asclepiadaceae) in albino rats. The acute toxicity was performed where the limit dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight used. Observations were made and recorded for 24 h, and once daily further for a period of 14 days. The rats were weighed and various observations, like mortality, behavior, injury, or any signs of illness were conducted once daily during the period. For subacute study, four groups of 10 animals (female rats) received 10% Tween 20 in distilled water (control), and 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of freshly-prepared extracts, respectively, every 24 h orally for 28 days. At the end of each study, hematological analysis and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Histopathological examination of vital organs of the animals were taken for gross findings, compared to controls. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) observed in the relative organs, body weights, hematological, biochemical parameters, and gross abnormalities, compared to the control. No mortality was recorded. Therefore, analysis of results may lead to the conclusion that the medium-term oral administration of the MTE leaves for 28 days does not cause toxicity.
Overview of Wind Power in China: Status and Future
Authors: Yang Jianbo , Liu Qunyi , Li Xin , Cui Xiandan
Published: August 2017

Due to the rapid economic development in China, the conflict between the increasing traditional energy consumption and the severe environmental threats is more and more serious. To ease the situation, greater use of wind energy in China could be the solution for energy conservation and sustainable environment in the long run. This paper describes the presentation of wind power in China, which covers distribution, bases, installed capacity, power generation from the spatial perspective and the environmental benefit. In addition, grey model (GM(1,1) ) and scenario analysis are employed to forecast the installed capacity in China from 2017 to 2025, then the evaluation of two methods is presented. By this research, the results are shown as the following: (1) the North region has great wind energy with 2500–3000 giga watt (GW) and the offshore wind energy in the Southeast is abundant; (2) the Inner Mongolia base located in North China makes a great contribution to wind power as well as having great potential for wind power development with the potential of 1300 GW; (3) the growth rate of installed capacity and wind power generation in China is declining with 100% in 2006 to 30% in 2015, 107% in 2009 to 17% in 2015, respectively; (4) the “three North” region has made a great contribution to current installed capacity and wind power generation with 74% and 71%, respectively; (5) wind power has significant environmental benefits with coal reduction of 23,887 × 104 tce, CO2 reduction of 66,854 × 104 tons and SO2 reduction of 173 × 104 tons in total from 2008 to 2015; (6) the installed capacity in China from 2017 to 2025 is predicted utilizing a GM(1,1) model with 38,311.1810 × 103 GW in 2025, while, with a scenario analysis, the installed capacity will reach up to 40,000 × 103 GW in 2025 under the high GDP growth rate and 29,000 × 103 GW in 2025 under the low GDP growth rate, respectively. Finally, it can be concluded that China has a solid foundation for the wind power development due to its abundant wind resources and great potential for wind power. Furthermore, the sustainable development can be guaranteed, and reduction in energy usage as well as emissions can be achieved by promoting wind power widely and effectively.
Strategic Approaches to Sustainable Urban Renewal in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China
Authors: Yi Zhiyong , Liu Guiwen , Lang Wei , Shrestha Asheem , Martek Igor
Published: August 2017

Successful urban renewal requires a multifaceted strategic approach incorporating both local and regional regulations, developed through multi-sector and multi-agency partnerships. In practice, developments in China unfold as discrete projects without a broader consideration for city planning or long-term sustainability. Critically, no strategic manifesto has yet emerged to direct sustainable urban renewal (SUR) as a whole in Chinese cities. To improve understanding of existing practices and their applicability to current issues facing urban renewal programs, this study performs a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of urban renewal within Shenzhen City, China. Data identifying specific strategies are collected from a literature review, relevant urban renewal regulations, government documents, interviews with experts and focus group meetings. Findings identify six potential strategies able to uphold SUR development in Shenzhen, with further transferability to other Chinese cities.
Grain Yield, Dry Weight and Phosphorus Accumulation and Translocation in Two Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties as Affected by Salt-Alkali and Phosphorus
Authors: Tian Zhijie , Li Jingpeng , He Xinhua , Jia Xueying , Yang Fu , Wang Zhichun
Published: August 2017

Salt-alkali is the main threat to global crop production. The functioning of phosphorus (P) in alleviating damage to crops from saline-alkaline stress may be dependent on the variety of crop but there is little published research on the topic. This pot experiment was conducted to study if P has any effect on rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield, dry matter and P accumulation and translocation in salt-alkaline soils. Plant dry weight and P content at heading and harvest stages of two contrasting saline-alkaline tolerant (Dongdao-4) and sensitive (Tongyu-315) rice varieties were examined under two saline-alkaline (light versus severe) soils and five P supplements (P0, P50, P100, P150 and P200 kg ha−1). The results were: in light saline-alkaline soil, the optimal P levels were found for P150 for Dongdao-4 and for P100 for Tongyu-315 with the greatest grain dry weight and P content. Two rice varieties obtained relatively higher dry weight and P accumulation and translocation in P0. In severe saline-alkaline soil, however, dry weight and P accumulation and translocation, 1000-grain weight, seed-setting rate and grain yield significantly decreased, but effectively increased with P application for Dongdao-4. Tongyu-315 showed lower sensitivity to P nutrition. Thus, a more tolerant variety could have a stronger capacity to absorb and translocate P for grain filling, especially in severe salt-alkaline soils. This should be helpful for consideration in rice breeding and deciding a reasonable P application in saline-alkaline soil.
Energy and Sustainable Strategies in the Renovation of Existing Buildings: An Italian Case Study
Authors: De Berardinis Pierluigi , Rotilio Marianna , Capannolo Luisa
Published: August 2017

The re-use of historical buildings, in some cases those that have been abandoned for years, is currently generating a lot of interest, and brings into discussion topics such as land recycling and the use of new resources. Our project on the rehabilitation of the former San Salvatore hospital in L’Aquila is an example of this re-use, and illustrates how best-practice strategies can be implemented in the rehabilitation of an existing building. There were two themes of evaluation: firstly, the adaptive re-use of a historical building of great impact in a strategic position within the urban core; secondly, the implementation of sustainable strategies when upgrading both the building envelope and building systems.
Tillage Effects on Soil Quality after Three Years of Irrigation in Northern Spain
Authors: Apesteguía Marcos , Virto Iñigo , Orcaray Luis , Bescansa Paloma , Enrique Alberto , Imaz María , Karlen Douglas
Published: August 2017

Irrigation is being initiated on large areas of traditionally rainfed land to meet increasing global demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel. However, the consequences of this transition on soil quality (SQ) have scarcely been studied. Therefore, after previously identifying the most tillage-sensitive SQ indicators under long-term rainfed conditions, conversion of a research site on a Haplic Calcisol in Navarre, in northeast Spain provided an ideal location to reevaluate those SQ indicators after three years of irrigated management. The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was used to test our hypothesis that adopting irrigation could change the sensitivity and importance of non-irrigated SQ indicators. Several soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators along with crop yields were used to evaluate SQ three years after initiating irrigation on a long-term conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) study where either barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was being grown. The results confirmed our hypothesis that irrigation would change the relative importance of various SQ indicators and suggested that some SMAF algorithms, such as those used to assess bulk density, needed to be recalibrated for these Mediterranean soils.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Sustainable Development Ability and Pathway for Major Cities in China
Authors: Yu Shih-Heng , Gao Yu , Shiue Yih-Chearng
Published: August 2017

Sustainability consists of economic, environmental, and societal aspects. Concomitant with China’s rapid growth, the evaluation of China’s ability for sustainable development (SD) has become a topic of interest. Unlike previous studies that are based on provincial regions and focus on economic and/or environmental evaluations, we have evaluated the comprehensive SD ability of 34 major cities in China using the context-dependent data envelopment analysis (CD-DEA) and proposed benchmark-learning pathways. The results indicate that the SD ability of China’s major cities may be classified and ordered from low tiers to high tiers: high energy consumption and polluting industries—intensive industries—fixed asset investments and service industries—innovation, quality of life and societal services industries. As a whole, cities along the coast have a higher ability for SD than inland cities, and southern cities also rate higher than northern cities. Cities that are prioritized by government policies and funding also have higher SD abilities than other cities. We recommend that cities with lower abilities (i.e., cities in the second, third, and fourth tiers) should adopt the following points in their developmental pathways (in this order): the control of energy consumption and environmental pollution, industry upgrading and redevelopment of the city, and the development of an environment that encourages innovation and provides ample employment. This study finds that GDP is no longer an issue that restricts the SD ability of China’s major cities, as compared to other factors. As China progresses towards the sustainable cities, focus should be placed on the development of a knowledge-intensive economy, balanced development, and pollution prevention.
Polisye Kont Moustik: A Culturally Competent Approach to Larval Source Reduction in the Context of Lymphatic Filariasis and Malaria Elimination in Haiti
Authors: Bardosh Kevin , Jean Lorence , Beau De Rochars Valery , Lemoine Jean , Okech Bernard , Ryan Sadie , Welburn Sue , Morris J.
Published: August 2017

Community engagement has become an increasingly important focus of global health programs. Arbovirus emergence in the Americas (Zika and chikungunya virues), and global goals for malaria and lymphatic filariasis elimination, mean that community-based mosquito control has taken on a new salience. But how should mosquito control initiatives be designed and implemented in ways that best engage local people? What are the challenges and trade-offs of different strategies, not only for effectiveness but also for scale-up? In this paper, we describe the social and political dynamics of a pilot study in a small town in northern Haiti. With the aim of developing a culturally-competent approach to larval source management (LSM), our pilot project combined larval surveillance with environmental management, social engagement, community education, and larvicide application. Orientated around a network of ‘Mosquito Police’ (Polisye Kont Moustik, in Haitian Creole), our approach integrated elements of formative research, social learning, and community participation. Here, we reflect on the challenges we encountered in the field, from larval mapping, staff management, education and behavior change, engagement with formal and informal leaders, and community-based environmental cleanup. We discuss how these programmatic efforts were influenced and shaped by a complex range of social, cultural, political, and economic realities, and conclude by discussing the implications of our community-based approach for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and malaria, and other vector-borne diseases, in Haiti.
Progress towards Bait Station Integration into Oral Rabies Vaccination Programs in the United States: Field Trials in Massachusetts and Florida
Authors: Bjorklund Brian , Haley Betsy , Bevilacqua Ryan , Chandler Monte , Duffiney Anthony , Von Hone Karl , Slate Dennis , Chipman Richard , Martin Ashlee , Algeo Timothy
Published: August 2017

Bait stations for distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits are designed for rabies management in highly-developed areas where traditional distribution of oral rabies vaccine baits may be difficult. As part of national efforts to contain and eliminate the raccoon (Procyon lotor) variant of the rabies virus (raccoon rabies) in the eastern United States, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services program, distributed vaccine baits by bait stations experimentally and operationally in Massachusetts during 2006-present, and in Florida during 2009–2015. In Massachusetts, a rabies virus-neutralizing antibody (RVNA) response of 42.1% for raccoons captured in areas baited with high density bait stations during 2011–2015 was achieved, compared with 46.2% in areas baited by hand, suggesting the continuation of this as a strategy for the oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program there, and for similar locations. Non-target competition for vaccine baits is problematic, regardless of distribution method. In Massachusetts, bait station visitation rates for targeted raccoons and non-target opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were similar (1.18:1) during 2006–2009 (p > 0.05). Bait station modifications for reducing non-target uptake were tested, and in Massachusetts, reduced non-target bait access was achieved with two design alternatives (p < 0.001). However, no difference was noted between the control and these two alternative designs in Florida. Due to ongoing trials of new vaccines and baits, the bait station performance of an adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine bait, ONRAB® bait (Artemis Technologies, Guelph, ON, Canada) and a vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine bait, RABORAL V-RG®bait (Merial Limited, Athens, GA, USA), was compared. While uptake of the ONRAB bait was greater in Massachusetts (p < 0.001) in this limited trial, both types performed equally well in Florida. Since bait station tampering or theft as well as potential human bait contacts has been problematic, performance of camouflaged versus unpainted white bait stations was analyzed in terms of internal temperatures and maintaining a stable bait storage environment. In Massachusetts, camouflaged bait station interiors did not reach higher average temperatures than plain white bait stations in partially- or fully-shaded locations, while in Florida, camouflaged bait stations were significantly warmer in light exposure categories (p < 0.05). As ORV operations expand into more heavily-urbanized areas, bait stations will be increasingly important for vaccine bait distribution, and continued refinements in the strategy will be key to that success.
Associations of Noise and Socioeconomic and -Demographic Status on Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases on Borough Level in a Large German City State
Authors: Krefis Anne , Albrecht Myriam , Kis Anne , Jagodzinski Annika , Augustin Matthias , Augustin Jobst
Published: August 2017

Worldwide, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are increasing. Environmental noise and the socioeconomic and sociodemographic situation are important factors for the diseases. Using borough health claims data from 2011 in the city of Hamburg, ecological analyses with principal component analyses were conducted to describe the relationship of road traffic noise Lden (day, evening, and night) > 65 dB(A), physician density, and social deprivation with regional prevalence rates of heart failure and hypertension (n = 67 boroughs). Additionally, associations between the considered factors with borough prevalence rates of acute bronchitis and asthma in children up to 14 years old were analyzed. The multivariate regression analyses (ANCOVA) indicated that the socioeconomic and sociodemographic borough background might be associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, showing the strongest association among hypertensive female patients with 9.90 percent (p < 0.0001) in the highest social deprivation category, when compared to the group of low social deprivation. However, associations between noise, physician density, and the respective health outcomes were negligible. Results will serve as a basis for further investigations. By using data from two surveys, future studies will focus on individual level data to assess the validity of our model, and to develop strategies to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Human Papillomavirus and the DNA Damage Response: Exploiting Host Repair Pathways for Viral Replication
Authors: Spriggs Chelsey , Laimins Laimonis
Published: August 2017

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the causative agents of cervical and other genital cancers. In addition, HPV infections are associated with the development of many oropharyngeal cancers. HPVs activate and repress a number of host cellular pathways to promote their viral life cycles, including those of the DNA damage response. High-risk HPVs activate the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) DNA damage repair pathways, which are essential for viral replication (particularly differentiation-dependent genome amplification). These DNA repair pathways are critical in maintaining host genomic integrity and stability and are often dysregulated or mutated in human cancers. Understanding how these pathways contribute to HPV replication and transformation may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of existing HPV infections.
An Adenovirus-Vectored Influenza Vaccine Induces Durable Cross-Protective Hemagglutinin Stalk Antibody Responses in Mice
Authors: Kim Eun , Han Gye-Yeong , Nguyen Huan
Published: August 2017

Currently licensed vaccines against the influenza A virus (IAV) need to be updated annually to match the constantly evolving antigenicity of the influenza virus glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA), and neuramidiase (NA). Attempts to develop universal vaccines that provide broad protection have resulted in some success. Herein, we have shown that a replication-deficient adenovirus expressing H5/M2e induced significant humoral immunity against the conserved HA stalk. Compared to the humoral responses induced by an inactivated influenza vaccine, the humoral responses induced by the adenovirus-vectored vaccine against the conserved stalk domain mediated cross-protection against heterosubtypic influenza viruses. Importantly, virus inactivation by formaldehyde significantly reduced the binding of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the conserved nucleoprotein (NP), M2e, and HA stalk. These results suggest that inactivation by formaldehyde significantly alters the antigenicity of the HA stalk, and suggest that the conformation of the intact HA stalk provided by vector-based vaccines is important for induction of HA stalk-binding Abs. Our study provides insight into the mechanism by which a vector-based vaccine induces broad protection by stimulation of cross-protective Abs targeting conserved domains of viral proteins. The findings support further strategies to develop a vectored vaccine as a universal influenza vaccine for the control of influenza epidemics and unpredicted pandemics.
Different Irrigation Water Requirements of Seed Corn and Field Corn in the Heihe River Basin
Authors: Tan Minghong , Zheng Luqian
Published: August 2017

The Heihe River is the second largest river in arid areas of China, and the irrigation water of oasis agriculture in its middle reaches accounts for almost 80% of the water resources in the whole watershed. Corn is the most important crop in the middle reaches of the Heihe River, and its water consumption is about 50% of the total agriculture water consumption of the middle reaches. Therefore, in order to effectively use the water resources in the watershed, it is crucial to improve the efficiency of corn irrigation. In this paper, using the Ganzhou District in the middle reaches of the Heihe River as the study region, we carried out a field survey to obtain characteristics of seed and field corn. Based on our results, we conducted parameter calibration using the CROPWAT model and calculated the irrigation water requirements (IWR) of these two corn types. The irrigation water requirements of seed and field corn in the growing seasons were 470.1 and 488.5 mm, respectively. However, we observed big differences in the water consumption sequences of these two corn types. Prior to mid-July, evapotranspiration and IWR of seed corn were 14.3% and 20.1% higher, respectively, than those of field corn. In September, IWR of the two corn types started to decrease, with a value of 82.3 mm for seed corn, which was 32.1% lower than the IWR of field corn (108.7 mm) during the same period. However, there were no significant differences in the irrigation time and single irrigation amount for seed and field corn in the study area. Since corn is widely cultivated in the Zhangye Region, there is a considerable water-saving potential in agriculture if the irrigation water consumption can be adjusted according to the IWR of the two corn types.
Fluorination of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes: from CF4 plasma chemistry to surface functionalization
Authors: Struzzi Claudia , Scardamaglia Mattia , Colomer Jean-François , Verdini Alberto , Floreano Luca , Snyders Rony , Bittencourt Carla
Published: August 2017

The surface chemistry of plasma fluorinated vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (vCNT) is correlated to the CF4 plasma chemical composition. The results obtained via FTIR and mass spectrometry are combined with the XPS and Raman analysis of the sample surface showing the dependence on different plasma parameters (power, time and distance from the plasma region) on the resulting fluorination. Photoemission and absorption spectroscopies are used to investigate the evolution of the electronic properties as a function of the fluorine content at the vCNT surface. The samples suffer a limited ageing effect, with a small loss of fluorine functionalities after two weeks in ambient conditions.
An efficient Pd–NHC catalyst system in situ generated from Na2PdCl4 and PEG-functionalized imidazolium salts for Mizoroki–Heck reactions in water
Authors: Sun Nan , Chen Meng , Jin Liqun , Zhao Wei , Hu Baoxiang , Shen Zhenlu , Hu Xinquan
Published: August 2017

Three PEG-functionalized imidazolium salts L1–L3 were designed and prepared from commercially available materials via a simple method. Their corresponding water soluble Pd–NHC catalysts, in situ generated from the imidazolium salts L1–L3 and Na2PdCl4 in water, showed impressive catalytic activity for aqueous Mizoroki–Heck reactions. The kinetic study revealed that the Pd catalyst derived from the imidazolium salt L1, bearing a pyridine-2-methyl substituent at the N3 atom of the imidazole ring, showed the best catalytic activity. Under the optimal conditions, a wide range of substituted alkenes were achieved in good to excellent yields from various aryl bromides and alkenes with the catalyst TON of up to 10,000.
Amsterdam Residents and Their Attitude Towards Tourists and Tourism
Authors: Gerritsma Roos , Vork Jacques
Published: August 2017

In Amsterdam, the phenomenon of overcrowding is increasing, and tourism is one of the causes. Both the public debate and the municipal authorities are pointing to an increasing need for more expertise and knowledge regarding ways of achieving a healthy balance for various stakeholders. This article focuses on the stakeholder role of city residents and discusses their attitudes to tourists and tourism-related developments in their own neighbourhood and in the rest of the city. The term “attitude” can be divided into three components: feeling, behaviour and thinking. The results of this study are based on both quantitative and qualitative fieldwork (surveys and semi-structured interviews) and on desk research. It can be concluded that, for the most part, residents have a positive attitude to tourists and tourism. Differences in attitude are mostly determined by the city district where respondents live and by personal feelings and thinking. Follow-up research in the coming years will examine the complexity of the issue of overcrowding in more depth.
Iglesia, en Belfort
Authors: Lods Marcel
Published: August 2017

La iglesia de Santa Juana de Arco, en Belfort, responde a las necesidades de un centro parroquial, formando una unidad la iglesia, las clases y la casa del párroco, pero diferenciándose cada una de ellas por su distinta función y escala.
Capilla en Costillares
Authors: Casinello Fernando
Published: August 2017

Dignidad formal y sencillez constructiva presidieron la concepción de esta capilla, en Costillares, dedicada a su Santo Patrón, Juan de Ortega.
The Influence of the Machining Parameters on the Quality of the Holes Made by μEDM in Electrically Conductive Alumina-Oxide
Authors: Farkas Balázs Zsolt , Csorba László , Szalay Tibor , Kuzin Valery V. , Fedorov Sergei Yu.
Published: August 2017

The micro electrical discharge machining is a novel technology applicable for the production of geometries which cannot be made by any other technologies assuming the material is electrically conductive. The machining of electrically conductive ceramics becomes possible by this way. Hole machining into these materials has high importance, however the machining parameters for the efficient and acceptable quality manufacturing are still not well discovered. In this paper authors introduce the experiments focused on learning some most important relationship between the composition of the ceramics and the machining efficiency.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Nano-Grinding with Multiple Abrasive Grains
Authors: Karkalos Nikolaos E. , Markopoulos Angelos P.
Published: August 2017

During grinding a large number of micrometer or sub-micrometer grains remove material from the surface of a workpiece, acting as cutting tools. As the grains perform the material removal process, the alterations on the workpiece surface are correlated to the grain characteristics, as well as process parameters. In the case of nano-grinding, only several atomic layers are removed and surface quality of nanometer level is attained. For this process, simulations can be carried out with Molecular Dynamics method, with a view to determine its characteristics. In the present study, the case of peripheral nano-grinding of a copper substrate with multiple abrasive grains is investigated for various depths of cut (namely 0.35, 0.54 and 0.72 nm) and results concerning grinding forces, temperature and workpiece deformation are presented and discussed. Cutting forces, temperature and workpiece deformation was observed to increase between the cases with 0.54 and 0.72 nm depth of cut to a greater extent than between the cases with 0.35 and 0.54 nm depth of cut.
Evaluation of Relationship between Cutting Parameters and Torque in Hole Making of Titanium Alloy
Authors: Maňková Ildikó , Vrabel' Marek , Kottfer Daniel , Franková Mária , Paľo Miroslav
Published: August 2017

In terms of machinability are titanium alloys classified in the group of difficult to cut materials. The main factors determining this status are limited tool life, high generated cutting forces (torque) and temperature in cutting zone caused by low thermal conductivity as well as chemical reactivity with cutting tool. Solid carbide drills still remain as preferred choice in hole making process when machining Ti6Al4V alloy. Besides cutting conditions, tool and cutting edge geometry significantly affect the value of torque. Reduction of process energy requirements can be achieved by appropriate optimization of these parameters. Mathematical model describing influence of cutting speed, feed rate, clearance angle and cutting edge radius on investigated variable with high reliability coefficient (R2=96.72%) was found. Drilling experiments were designed and carried out using Taguchi orthogonal array L16.
Application of New Abrasives and their Quality Parameters
Authors: Holešovsky Frantisek , Bartos Martin , Dian Milan , Řehoř Jan
Published: August 2017

Recent years have highly been productive in terms of development of both conventional machining technology, but in workpiece surfaces finishing, as well. The overall trend is heading towards increasing accuracy and quality of the manufactured components for machinery and equipment. In a range of finishing abrasive technologies there has been known the introduction of microcrystalline corundum, modification of tools with these abrasive grains, including sintered tools. This development continues and the latest trend is the development of pyramidal grain the Cubitron II. How individual grains behave during operation and how we can use their properties in comparison to classic white corundum still remains complicated matter. The behaviour of selected abrasives has been described in the submitted article.
An Intelligent Grinding Wheel Wear Monitoring System Based on Acoustic Emission
Authors: Ding Ning , Zhao Chang Long , Luo Xi Chun , Shi Jian
Published: August 2017

Acoustic emission (AE) signals can provide tool condition that is critical to effective process control. However, how to process the data and extract useful information are challenging tasks. This paper presented an intelligent grinding wheel wear monitoring system which was embedded in a surface grinding machine. An AE sensor was used to collect the grinding signals. The grinding wheel wear condition features were extracted by a proposed novel method based on statistics analysis of the average wavelet decomposition coefficient. The detailed signal characteristics during different wear condition are described. A BP neural network was used to classify the conditions of the grinding wheel wear. The inputs of the neural network were the three extracted features, and the outputs were three different states of grinding wheel condition, namely primary wear, intermediate wear and serious wear. The intelligent monitoring system was evaluated through grinding experiments. The results indicate that the effectiveness of the proposed method for extracting features of AE signals and developed intelligent grinding wheel wear monitoring system are satisfied.
Types of Tool Wear of AlTiN Coated Cutting Insert after Machining of Weld Overlay
Authors: Kottfer Daniel , Maňková Ildikó , Vrabel' Marek , Kianicová Marta , Rehák František , Franková Mária
Published: August 2017

Authors of the paper present different types of tool wear after machining of weld overlay with AlTiN cutting insert. Welded layer was created on roller made from S355J0 steel by Open Arc (OA) method also referred as Metal One Gas (MOG). Various forms of tool wear were documented by optical microscope. Microchipping of cutting edge, built up edge (BUE) and flank wear were identified on examined round insert in rough turning of hard cladding.
Comparative Analysis between Conventional and Dry Turning
Authors: Botsaris Pantelis N. , Kyritsi Chaido , Iliadis Dimitris
Published: August 2017

In this paper, there is an attempt to monitor and evaluate machining parameters when turning 34CrNiMo6 material under different cooling and lubrication conditions. The machining parameters concerned are temperature of the cutting tool and the workpiece, level of vibrations of the cutting tool, surface roughness of the workpiece, noise levels of the turning process and current drawn by the main spindle motor. Four different experimental machining scenarios were completed, specifically: conventional wet turning process, dry cutting and two additional modes employing cooling by cold air. Experimental data were acquired and recorded by an optimally designed network of sensors. Experimental data were statistically analyzed in order to reach conclusions. According to the research that has been done, although, overall, minimum cutting tool and workpiece temperatures were observed under wet machining, cold air cooling is capable of achieving comparable cooling results to wet machining. The lowest values of surface roughness were achieved by wet machining, whereas the lowest level of cutting tool vibrations were observed under cold air cooling.
The Analysis of the Machining Influence of the Surface Layer on Durability
Authors: Lattner Michal , Holešovsky Frantisek
Published: August 2017

The paper deals with the influence of the properties surface layer of notched components. This material is widely used in the automotive industry. This material is subject to different kinds of processing, and therefore present a different quality of the surface layer. For many manufactured components, we find diverse types of notches, such as slots, recesses and holes. They are the place where is stress concentrated, so called the macroscopic stress concentrator. When we focus more on the surface profile, we find the diversity of technologies in the surface, which creates different sizes and shapes of microscopic notches. In these places, there is a higher risk of the destruction of the components. Many designers prescribe unnecessarily high surface quality. It is important to maintain adequate quality of the surface to achieved high durability.