bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Handling data skew in joins based on cluster cost partitioning for MapReduce
Authors: Wang Yang , Zhong Yong , Ma Qingshan , Yang Guanci
Published: April 2018

Data skew in parallel joins results in poor load balancing which can lead to significantly varying execution times for the reducers in MapReduce. The performance of join operation is severely degraded in the presence of heavy skew in the datasets to be joined. Previous work mainly focuses on either input or output load imbalance among reducers, which is ineffective for load balancing. In this paper, we present a new data skew handling method based on Cluster Cost Partitioning (CCP) for optimizing parallel joins in MapReduce. A new cost model which considers the properties of both input and output is defined to estimate the cost of the parallel join. CCP employs clusters instead of join keys from input relations to create join matrix. Using the cost model, CCP identifies and splits heavy cells in the cluster join matrix. Then CCP assigns a set of non-heavy cells to reducers for join load-balancing. For different applications, the input and output weight values in the cost model could be dynamically adjusted to depict the join costs more precisely. The experimental results demonstrate that CCP achieves a more accurate load balancing result among reducers.
A comprehensive prediction and evaluation method of pilot workload
Authors: Feng Chuanyan , Wanyan Xiaoru , Yang Kun , Zhuang Damin , Wu Xu
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

The prediction and evaluation of pilot workload is a key problem in human factor airworthiness of cockpit.

OBJECTIVE:

A pilot traffic pattern task was designed in a flight simulation environment in order to carry out the pilot workload prediction and improve the evaluation method.

METHODS:

The prediction of typical flight subtasks and dynamic workloads (cruise, approach, and landing) were built up based on multiple resource theory, and a favorable validity was achieved by the correlation analysis verification between sensitive physiological data and the predicted value.

RESULTS:

Statistical analysis indicated that eye movement indices (fixation frequency, mean fixation time, saccade frequency, mean saccade time, and mean pupil diameter), Electrocardiogram indices (mean normal-to-normal interval and the ratio between low frequency and sum of low frequency and high frequency), and Electrodermal Activity indices (mean tonic and mean phasic) were all sensitive to typical workloads of subjects.

CONCLUSION:

A multinominal logistic regression model based on combination of physiological indices (fixation frequency, mean normal-to-normal interval, the ratio between low frequency and sum of low frequency and high frequency, and mean tonic) was constructed, and the discriminate accuracy was comparatively ideal with a rate of 84.85%.
Multi-task fused sparse learning for mild cognitive impairment identification
Authors: Yang Peng , Ni Dong , Chen Siping , Wang Tianfu , Wu Donghui , Lei Baiying
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND:

Brain functional connectivity network (BFCN) has been widely applied to identify biomarkers for the brain function understanding and brain diseases analysis.

OBJECTIVE:

Building a biologically meaningful brain network is a crucial work in these applications. For this task, sparse learning has been widely applied for the network construction. If multiple time-point data is added to the brain imaging application, the disease progression pattern in the longitudinal analysis can be better revealed.

METHODS:

A novel longitudinal analysis for MCI classification is devised based on resting-state functional magnetic resonating imaging (rs-fMRI). Specifically, this paper proposes a novel multi-task learning method to integrate fused penalty by regularization. In addition, a novel objective function is developed for fused sparse learning via smoothness constraint.

RESULTS:

The proposed method achieves the best classification performance with an accuracy of 95.74% for baseline and 93.64% for year 1 data.

CONCLUSIONS:

The experimental results show that our proposed method achieves quite promising classification performance.
Radical Politics in Practice: The Self-organising and Self-managing Kurdish Confederalism
Authors: Aryal Yubraj
Published: April 2018

Today, looking at the Middle East, through and beyond the dust and smoke of war, it is apparent that new forms of politics and democracy are being shaped in social practices and by social experimentation. We are referring to the people's councils that have been established in various places in the Kurdistan region, and through which people are taking greater responsibility for and control of their daily lives and the places where they live. Those involved refer to these councils in the context of ‘democratic autonomy’ and ‘democratic confederalism’, which indicates that they are not simply to be considered as just local initiatives, but also contribute to a larger project or idea and way of thinking about and doing politics. We may not fully comprehend this form of politics, yet this should challenge academics and those interested in developing new forms of democracy to take a closer look.
Development of ent-kaurene Oxidase-Based Conserved Intron Spanning Primers for Species Identification in the Genus Poa (Poaceae; Bluegrass)
Authors: LaMantia Jonathan M. , Chandra Ambika , Huff David R.
Published: April 2018

Interspecific hybridization has been attempted to combine the heat and drought of Poa arachnifera Torr. with the turf quality characteristics of several Poa species. Confirmation of an F1 hybrid through morphological analysis of vegetative and flowering characteristics is often time consuming and ambiguous. Ent-kaurene oxidase (KO) has been sequenced in rice, barley, and wheat. In rice, each of the five copies of KO gene has unique lengths for the first intron. Conserved intron spanning primers (CISP) can be used as a DNA marker to exploit variations of intron lengths that flank conserved gene sequences. In the present study, we developed CISP to sequence partial genomic fragments of the KO gene from seven Poa species. Through sequence analysis, species-specific primers were also developed to produce co-dominant markers that can be used to identify interspecific hybrids between Texas bluegrass and six other Poa species used in the present study.
The GABAA Receptor α2 Subunit Activates a Neuronal TLR4 Signal in the Ventral Tegmental Area that Regulates Alcohol and Nicotine Abuse
Authors: Balan Irina , Warnock Kaitlin T. , Puche Adam , Gondre-Lewis Marjorie C. , June Harry , Aurelian Laure
Published: April 2018

Alcoholism initiates with episodes of excessive alcohol drinking, known as binge drinking, which is one form of excessive drinking (NIAAA Newsletter, 2004) that is related to impulsivity and anxiety (Ducci et al., 2007; Edenberg et al., 2004) and is also predictive of smoking status. The predisposition of non-alcohol exposed subjects to initiate binge drinking is controlled by neuroimmune signaling that includes an innately activated neuronal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal. This signal also regulates cognitive impulsivity, a heritable trait that defines drug abuse initiation. However, the mechanism of signal activation, its function in dopaminergic (TH+) neurons within the reward circuitry implicated in drug-seeking behavior [viz. the ventral tegmental area (VTA)], and its contribution to nicotine co-abuse are still poorly understood. We report that the γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor (GABAAR) α2 subunit activates the TLR4 signal in neurons, culminating in the activation (phosphorylation/nuclear translocation) of cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) but not NF-kB transcription factors and the upregulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The signal is activated through α2/TLR4 interaction, as evidenced by co-immunoprecipitation, and it is present in the VTA from drug-untreated alcohol-preferring P rats. VTA infusion of neurotropic herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors for α2 (pHSVsiLA2) or TLR4 (pHSVsiTLR4) but not scrambled (pHSVsiNC) siRNA inhibits signal activation and both binge alcohol drinking and nicotine sensitization, suggesting that the α2-activated TLR4 signal contributes to the regulation of both alcohol and nicotine abuse.
Anti-Icing Performance of Hydrophobic Silicone–Acrylate Resin Coatings on Wind Blades
Authors: Xu Ke , Hu Jianlin , Jiang Xingliang , Meng Wei , Lan Binhuan , Shu Lichun
Published: April 2018

The icing of wind blades poses a serious threat to the operation of wind turbines. The application of superhydrophobic coatings on wind blades can serve as a potential anti-icing method. This study presents the findings of simulations of the icing environment of wind blades coated with hydrophobic silicone–acrylate resin in an artificial climate chamber. Artificial icing tests were performed on NACA7715 wind blades with four different silicone–acrylate resin coatings and on uncoated wind blades, with test performed at five different wind speeds and three different angles of attack. Results show that wind blade surfaces with higher hydrophobicity yield better anti-icing performance, and that the ice mass of the wind blades decreases with increasing wind speeds and angles of attack. In addition, variations in ice mass, shape, and distribution on different wind blades indicate that increased hydrophobicity can help limit the areas that are subject to freezing. Hydrophobicity can affect the air cavities of the ice deposited on the wind blades, and surfaces with increased hydrophobicity can lead to lower ice mass and less ice adhesion. In brief, surfaces with higher hydrophobicity demonstrate better anti-icing performance and benefit from active de-icing.
Information Decomposition of Target Effects from Multi-Source Interactions: Perspectives on Previous, Current and Future Work
Authors: Lizier Joseph , Bertschinger Nils , Jost Jürgen , Wibral Michael
Published: April 2018

The formulation of the Partial Information Decomposition (PID) framework by Williams and Beer in 2010 attracted a significant amount of attention to the problem of defining redundant (or shared), unique and synergistic (or complementary) components of mutual information that a set of source variables provides about a target. This attention resulted in a number of measures proposed to capture these concepts, theoretical investigations into such measures, and applications to empirical data (in particular to datasets from neuroscience). In this Special Issue on “Information Decomposition of Target Effects from Multi-Source Interactions” at Entropy, we have gathered current work on such information decomposition approaches from many of the leading research groups in the field. We begin our editorial by providing the reader with a review of previous information decomposition research, including an overview of the variety of measures proposed, how they have been interpreted and applied to empirical investigations. We then introduce the articles included in the special issue one by one, providing a similar categorisation of these articles into: i. proposals of new measures; ii. theoretical investigations into properties and interpretations of such approaches, and iii. applications of these measures in empirical studies. We finish by providing an outlook on the future of the field.
A Proportional Resonant Controller for Suppressing Resonance in Grid Tied Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Oruganti Hemakesavulu , Dash Subranshu , Nallaperumal Chellammal , Ramasamy Sridhar
Published: April 2018

Photovoltaic (PV) resources are connected to power grid through voltage source inverters. The quality of power output from PV inverter should be in grid compliance of IEEE standard. In this regard, the deployment of appropriate low pass filters such as inductor (L), capacitor (C) or inductor capacitor inductor (LCL) is critical as they aid in minimizing the harmonics being injected into the grid. LCL filters are well entrenched but they bring in stability issue due to resonance and therefore a damping controller with suitable control logic is needed. In this work, to suppress resonance, a Proportional Resonant-Derivative (PR-D) controller has been designed, proposed, and compared with existing counterparts, i.e., two-degree of freedom controller (2DOF) and feedback current controller. The results exhibits that PR-D controller admits meliorate resonance damping and constancy when compared with the two other schemes. The whole system has been simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment and a prototype has also been made to ensure the performance.
Recent Progress and New Perspectives on Metal Amide and Imide Systems for Solid-State Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Garroni Sebastiano , Santoru Antonio , Cao Hujun , Dornheim Martin , Klassen Thomas , Milanese Chiara , Gennari Fabiana , Pistidda Claudio
Published: April 2018

Hydrogen storage in the solid state represents one of the most attractive and challenging ways to supply hydrogen to a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Although in the last 15 years a large variety of material systems have been identified as possible candidates for storing hydrogen, further efforts have to be made in the development of systems which meet the strict targets of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Recent projections indicate that a system possessing: (i) an ideal enthalpy in the range of 20–50 kJ/mol H2, to use the heat produced by PEM fuel cell for providing the energy necessary for desorption; (ii) a gravimetric hydrogen density of 5 wt. % H2 and (iii) fast sorption kinetics below 110 °C is strongly recommended. Among the known hydrogen storage materials, amide and imide-based mixtures represent the most promising class of compounds for on-board applications; however, some barriers still have to be overcome before considering this class of material mature for real applications. In this review, the most relevant progresses made in the recent years as well as the kinetic and thermodynamic properties, experimentally measured for the most promising systems, are reported and properly discussed.
The Impact of Green Space Layouts on Microclimate and Air Quality in Residential Districts of Nanjing, China
Authors: Rui Liyan , Buccolieri Riccardo , Gao Zhi , Ding Wowo , Shen Jialei
Published: April 2018

This study numerically investigates the influence of different vegetation types and layouts on microclimate and air quality in residential districts based on the morphology and green layout of Nanjing, China. Simulations were performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics and the microclimate model ENVI-met. Four green indices, i.e., the green cover ratio, the grass and shrub cover ratio, the ecological landscaping plot ratio and the landscaping isolation index, were combined to evaluate thermal and wind fields, as well as air quality in district models. Results show that under the same green cover ratio (i.e., the same quantity of all types of vegetation), the reduction of grass and shrub cover ratio (i.e., the quantity of grass and shrubs), replaced by trees, has an impact, even though small, on thermal comfort, wind speed and air pollution, and increases the leisure space for occupants. When trees are present, a low ecological landscaping plot ratio (which expresses the weight of carbon dioxide absorption and is larger in the presence of trees) is preferable due to a lower blocking effect on wind and pollutant dispersion. In conjunction with a low landscaping plot ratio, a high landscaping isolation index (which means a distributed structure of vegetation) enhances the capability of local cooling and the general thermal comfort, decreasing the average temperature up to about 0.5 °C and the average predicted mean vote (PMV) up to about 20% compared with the non-green scenario. This paper shows that the relationship vegetation-microclimate-air quality should be analyzed taking into account not only the total area covered by vegetation but also its layout and degree of aggregation.
Online Gambling among Treatment-Seeking Patients in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Melvyn , Yang Yi , Guo Song , Cheok Chris , Wong Kim Eng , Kandasami Gomathinayagam
Published: April 2018

Given that technology has greatly facilitated easier access to gambling in previous years, it is timely to look in-depth into online gambling activities and behaviors. There have been several studies that examined online gambling. However, most of the current studies to date have focused on determining the prevalence and the epidemiology of problem gambling arising from online gambling in Western cohorts. There remains a paucity of research looking at the problem of online gambling among Asian individuals. The objectives of the current study are to elucidate the characteristics of online gambling among an Asian cohort and to explore the harm associated with online gambling and the potential mechanisms by which harm associated with online gambling could be minimized. It is hoped that the findings of the current paper will bridge the existing gaps in the research literature. A cross-sectional study design was utilized to recruit 100 participants who were attending outpatient services at the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) from March 2014 to October 2015. The majority of the participants were male, of Chinese ethnicity and under the age of 30 years old (48%). Mobile phones and smartphones were the most commonly utilized platforms for gambling online. The median largest ever debt incurred as a result of online gambling ($20,000) was significantly more than that due to offline gambling ($500) (Z = −4.17, p < 0.001). As for the biggest ever loss, participants had incurred a significantly larger median loss from online gambling ($7000) (Z = −2.73, p < 0.01) compared to offline gambling ($2000). A total of 18.4% of participants had waited between 1 to 2 years from their first online gambling experience to seek treatment and 17.3% had waited for more than 10 years. This is perhaps one of the first Asian studies to investigate the serious harm involved in online gambling. The findings from our study are intended to guide further interventions in the treatment of online gambling related disorders; and would be of interest to governmental organizations in their planning of regulations for online gambling.
Memory Function in Feeding Habit Transformation of Mandarin Fish (Siniperca chuatsi)
Authors: Dou Yaqi , He Shan , Liang Xu-Fang , Cai Wenjing , Wang Jie , Shi Linjie , Li Jiao
Published: April 2018

Mandarin fish refuse dead prey fish or artificial diets and can be trained to transform their inborn feeding habit. To investigate the effect of memory on feeding habit transformation, we compared the reaction time to dead prey fish and the success rate of feeding habit transformation to dead prey fish with training of mandarin fish in the 1st experimental group (trained once) and the 2nd experimental group (trained twice). The mandarin fish in the 2nd group had higher success rate of feeding habit transformation (100%) than those in the 1st group (67%), and shorter reaction time to dead prey fish (<1 s) than those in the 1st group (>1 s). Gene expression of cAMP responsive element binding protein I (Creb I), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), CCAAT enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPD), fos-related antigen 2 (Fra2), and proto-oncogenes c-fos (c-fos) involved in long-term memory formation were significantly increased in the 2nd group after repeated training, and taste 1 receptor member 1 (T1R1), involved in feeding habit formation, was significantly increased in brains of the 2nd group after repeated training. DNA methylation levels at five candidate CpG (cytosine–guanine) sites contained in the predicted CpG island in the 5′-flanking region of T1R1 were significantly decreased in brains of the 2nd group compared with that of the 1st group. These results indicated that the repeated training can improve the feeding habit transformation through the memory formation of accepting dead prey fish. DNA methylation of the T1R1 might be a regulatory factor for feeding habit transformation from live prey fish to dead prey fish in mandarin fish.
Mecasermin in Insulin Receptor-Related Severe Insulin Resistance Syndromes: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Plamper Michaela , Gohlke Bettina , Schreiner Felix , Woelfle Joachim
Published: April 2018

Mutations in the insulin receptor (INSR) gene underlie rare severe INSR-related insulin resistance syndromes (SIR), including insulin resistance type A, Rabson–Mendenhall syndrome and Donohue syndrome (DS), with DS representing the most severe form of insulin resistance. Treatment of these cases is challenging, with the majority of DS patients dying within the first two years of life. rhIGF-I (mecasermin) has been reported to improve metabolic control and increase lifespan in DS patients. A case report and literature review were completed. We present a case involving a male patient with DS, harbouring a homozygous mutation in the INSR gene (c.591delC). Initial rhIGF-I application via BID (twice daily) injection was unsatisfactory, but continuous subcutaneous rhIGF-I infusion via an insulin pump improved weight development and diabetes control (HbA1c decreased from 10 to 7.6%). However, our patient died at 22 months of age during the course of a respiratory infection in in Libya. Currently available data in the literature comprising more than 30 treated patients worldwide seem to support a trial of rhIGF-I in SIR. rhIGF-I represents a treatment option for challenging SIR cases, but careful consideration of the therapeutic benefits and the burden of the disease is warranted. Continuous application via pump might be advantageous compared to single injections.
Ischemic Heart Disease: A Comprehensive Evaluation Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Lapinskas Tomas
Published: April 2018

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance is becoming an important imaging modality in clinical cardiology. As an exceptionally accurate and comprehensive diagnostic tool, cardiovascular magnetic resonance is becoming the first-choice modality for imaging the heart and great vessels. Stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging enables the detection of hemodynamically significant coronary artery lesions and the choice of treatment strategy when stenosis is intermediate. Viability assessment is very important as it allows differentiating between dysfunctional but still viable myocardium and predicts the recovery of ventricular function after successful revascularization. However, the availability and costs of cardiovascular magnetic resonance remain the major obstacle and makes the investigation unachievable to many patients.
A Study on the Zener-Holloman Parameter and Fracture Toughness of an Nb-Particles-Toughened TiAl-Nb Alloy
Authors: Li Jianbo , Liu Bin , Wang Yan , Tang Shan , Liu Yong , Lu Xiaofang
Published: April 2018

Hot compressive deformation behaviors of a powder metallurgy Ti-45Al-5Nb-0.4W/2Nb (at. %) were investigated at strain rates from 0.001 s−1 to 1 s−1 and temperatures from 1050 °C to 1200 °C. The Zener-Hollomon (Z) parameter can affect the hot deformation mechanism significantly. At a high Z condition, Nb particles played an important role in coordinating the deformation. At a low Z condition, deformation of Nb particles accompanied by dynamic recrystallization (DRX) can act as a dominant softening mechanism. The as-forged pancake exhibits a short rod-like particle-toughened equiaxed matrix. For notched three-point bending (3PB) tests, the fracture toughness of an Nb-particles-toughened high-Nb-containing duplex phase γ-TiAl alloy was hardly affected by the loading rate, presenting a peak fracture toughness of about 12.9 MPa·m1/2. The toughness of the present alloy can be improved by ductile Nb particles. A model based on the Griffith-Orowan-Irwin relation was constructed, which is quite accurate to predict the facture toughness of the present specimen using tensile properties.
Lipidomic Profiling of Murine Macrophages Treated with Fatty Acids of Varying Chain Length and Saturation Status
Authors: Huynh Kevin , Pernes Gerard , Mellett Natalie A. , Meikle Peter J. , Murphy Andrew J. , Lancaster Graeme I.
Published: April 2018

Macrophages are abundant within adipose tissue depots where they are exposed to fatty acids, leading to lipid accumulation. Herein, we have determined the effects of various fatty acids on the macrophage lipidome. Using targeted mass-spectrometry, we were able to detect 641 individual lipid species in primary murine macrophages treated with a variety of saturated fatty acids and an un-saturated fatty acid, either alone or in combination. The most pronounced effects were observed for the long-chain saturated fatty acid palmitate, which increased the total abundance of numerous classes of lipids. While other medium- and long-chain saturated fatty acids, as well as the long-chain unsaturated fatty acid, had less pronounced effects on the total abundance of specific lipid classes, all fatty acids induced marked alterations in the abundance of numerous lipid species within given lipid classes. Fatty acid treatment markedly altered overall phospholipid saturation status; these effects were most pronounced for phosphatidylcholine and ether-phosphatidylcholine lipid species. Finally, treatment of macrophages with either palmitate or stearate in combination with oleate prevented many of the changes that were observed in macrophages treated with palmitate or stearate alone. Collectively, our results reveal substantial and specific remodelling of the macrophage lipidome following treatment with fatty acids.
Effect of Sodium Sulfite on Floatability of Chalcopyrite and Molybdenite
Authors: Miki Hajime , Hirajima Tsuyoshi , Muta Yukihiro , Suyantara Gde Pandhe Wisnu , Sasaki Keiko
Published: April 2018

Sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS) is commonly used as a copper depressant in the selective flotation of copper and molybdenum ores. However, the process is facing health and safety issues because NaHS readily yields toxic hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) under acidic conditions. In this study, Na2SO3 was proposed as an alternative copper depressant. The effect of Na2SO3 on the surface wettability and floatability of chalcopyrite and molybdenite—typical copper and molybdenum minerals, respectively—was intensively studied using contact angle measurements and flotation tests. Contact angle readings show that the chalcopyrite surface became hydrophilic after the Na2SO3 treatment. Meanwhile, the molybdenite surface was relatively more hydrophobic compared with that of chalcopyrite after the treatment. Flotation tests using pure minerals of chalcopyrite and molybdenite demonstrate that the floatability of chalcopyrite decreased with increasing concentration of Na2SO3. On the other hand, the floatability of molybdenite gradually increased under similar conditions, suggesting that Na2SO3 might have the potential to be used for selective flotation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite. A possible mechanism is proposed in this study to explain the phenomenon using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.
The Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicines on the Quorum Sensing-Regulated Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Chong Yee Meng , How Kah Yan , Yin Wai Fong , Chan Kok Gan
Published: April 2018

The quorum sensing (QS) system has been used by many opportunistic pathogenic bacteria to coordinate their virulence determinants in relation to cell-population density. As antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise, interference with QS has been regarded as a novel way to control bacterial infections. As such, many plant-based natural products have been widely explored for their therapeutic roles. These natural products may contain anti-QS compounds that could block QS signals generation or transmission to combat QS pathogens. In this study, we report the anti-QS activities of four different Chinese herbal plant extracts: Poria cum Radix pini, Angelica dahurica, Rhizoma cibotii and Schizonepeta tenuifolia, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. All the plants extracted using hexane, chloroform and methanol were tested and found to impair swarming motility and pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa PAO1, particularly by Poria cum Radix pini. In addition, all the plant extracts also inhibited violacein production in C. violaceum CV026 up to 50% while bioluminescence activities were reduced in lux-based E. coli biosensors, pSB401 and pSB1075, up to about 57%. These anti-QS properties of the four medicinal plants are the first documentation that demonstrates a potential approach to attenuate pathogens’ virulence determinants.
Sulforaphane Modulates Joint Inflammation in a Murine Model of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Mono-Arthritis
Authors: Silva Rodrigues João , Santos Silva e Silva Figueiredo Cristiane , França Muniz Thayanne , Silva de Aquino Alana , Neuza da Silva Nina Larissa , Fialho Sousa Nagila , Nascimento da Silva Luis , De Souza Breno , Da Penha-Silva Tatiane , Abreu-Silva Ana , De Sá Joicy , Soares Fernandes Elizabeth , Grisotto Marcos
Published: April 2018

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation of one or more joints, and affects ~1% of the adult population worldwide. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a natural compound that has been suggested as an antioxidant. Here, SFN’s effects were evaluated in a murine mono-arthritis model. Mono-arthritis was induced in mice by a single intra-articular injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA-10 µg/joint, in 10 µL) into the ipsilateral joint. The contralateral joint received an equal volume of PBS. On the 4th day post-joint inflammation induction, animals received either SFN (10 mg/kg) or vehicle (3% DMSO in saline), intraperitoneally (i.p.), twice a day for 3 days. Joint swelling and secondary mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia were evaluated over 7 days post-CFA. After this period, animals were culled and their blood and synovial fluid samples were collected for analysis of cell populations, cytokine release and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity. Knee joint samples were also collected for histology. SFN reduced joint swelling and damage whilst increasing the recruitment of Ly6C+ and Ly6G+ cells to CFA-injected joints. SFN-treated animals presented down-regulation of CD11b and CD62L on synovial fluid Ly6G+ cells. Synovial fluid samples obtained from CFA-injected joints and plasma samples of SFN-treated mice presented higher levels of IL-6 and increased activity of TrxR, in comparison with controls. These results indicate that SFN reduces knee joint damage by modulating cell activation/migration to the joints, cytokine production and increasing the activity of TrxR, and therefore, may represent an alternative treatment to joint inflammation.
Synthesis and Guest Recognition of Switchable Pt-Salphen Based Molecular Tweezers
Authors: Benda Lorien , Doistau Benjamin , Hasenknopf Bernold , Vives Guillaume
Published: April 2018

Molecular tweezers are artificial receptors that have an open cavity generated by two recognition units pre-organized by a spacer. Switchable molecular tweezers, using a stimuli-responsive spacer, are particularly appealing as prototypes of the molecular machines that combine mechanical motion and allosteric recognition properties. In this present study, the synthesis of switchable molecular tweezers composed of a central terpyridine unit substituted in 4,4″ positions by two Pt(II)-salphen complexes is reported. The terpyridine ligand can be reversibly converted upon Zn(II) coordination from a free ‘U’-shaped closed form to a coordinated ‘W’ open form. This new substitution pattern enables a reverse control of the mechanical motion compared to the previously reported 6,6″ substituted terpyridine-based tweezers. Guest binding studies with aromatic guests showed an intercalation of coronene in the cavity created by the Pt-salphen moieties in the closed conformation. The formation of 1:1 host-guest complex was investigated by a combination of NMR studies and DFT calculations.
Electrodes Based on Carbon Aerogels Partially Graphitized by Doping with Transition Metals for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Abdelwahab Abdalla , Castelo-Quibén Jesica , Vivo-Vilches José F. , Pérez-Cadenas María , Maldonado-Hódar Francisco J. , Carrasco-Marín Francisco , Pérez-Cadenas Agustín F.
Published: April 2018

A series of carbon aerogels doped with iron, cobalt and nickel have been prepared. Metal nanoparticles very well dispersed into the carbon matrix catalyze the formation of graphitic clusters around them. Samples with different Ni content are obtained to test the influence of the metal loading. All aerogels have been characterized to analyze their textural properties, surface chemistry and crystal structures. These metal-doped aerogels have a very well-developed porosity, making their mesoporosity remarkable. Ni-doped aerogels are the ones with the largest surface area and the smallest graphitization. They also present larger mesopore volumes than Co- and Fe-doped aerogels. These materials are tested as electro-catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Results show a clear and strong influence of the carbonaceous structure on the whole electro-catalytic behavior of the aerogels. Regarding the type of metal doping, aerogel doped with Co is the most active one, followed by Ni- and Fe-doped aerogels, respectively. As the Ni content is larger, the kinetic current densities increase. Comparatively, among the different doping metals, the results obtained with Ni are especially remarkable.
Stability of Antiradical Activity of Protein Extracts and Hydrolysates from Dry-Cured Pork Loins with Probiotic Strains of LAB
Authors: Kęska Paulina , Stadnik Joanna
Published: April 2018

The application of starter cultures to improve quality and safety has become a very common practice in the meat industry. Probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can also bring health benefits by releasing bioactive peptides. The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of antiradical activity of protein extracts from LAB-inoculated dry-cured pork loins during long-term aging and evaluate their hydrolysates after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Analyses of hydrolysates by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were strengthened with in silico analysis. The highest antiradical activity of the protein extracts was observed after 180 days of aging. The influence of the strain used (LOCK, BAUER, or BB12) on the inactivation ability of ABTS radicals varied during long-term aging. The IC50 values indicated the higher antiradical properties of salt-soluble (SSF) compared to water-soluble fraction (WSF) of proteins. The peptides generated by in vitro digestion have MW between 700 and 4232 Da and their length ranged from 5 to 47 amino acids in a sequence where Leu, Pro, Lys, Glu, and His had the largest share. This study demonstrates that the degradation of pork muscle proteins during gastrointestinal digestion may give rise to a wide variety of peptides with antiradical properties.
Astaxanthin in Skin Health, Repair, and Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Davinelli Sergio , Nielsen Michael E. , Scapagnini Giovanni
Published: April 2018

Astaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid, is a secondary metabolite naturally synthesized by a number of bacteria, microalgae, and yeasts. The commercial production of this pigment has traditionally been performed by chemical synthesis, but the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis appears to be the most promising source for its industrial biological production. Due to its collective diverse functions in skin biology, there is mounting evidence that astaxanthin possesses various health benefits and important nutraceutical applications in the field of dermatology. Although still debated, a range of potential mechanisms through which astaxanthin might exert its benefits on skin homeostasis have been proposed, including photoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review summarizes the available data on the functional role of astaxanthin in skin physiology, outlines potential mechanisms involved in the response to astaxanthin, and highlights the potential clinical implications associated with its consumption.
Adherence to National Dietary Guidelines in Association with Oral Health Impact on Quality of Life
Authors: Andreeva Valentina A. , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Galan Pilar , Feron Gilles , Hercberg Serge , Hennequin Martine , Sulmont-Rossé Claire
Published: April 2018

We aimed to assess the association between oral health, in terms of its impact on quality of life, and diet quality expressed as adherence to dietary guidelines. We analyzed cross-sectional data from the French NutriNet-Santé general population-based e-cohort (N = 18,263 adults; mean age = 56.5 ± 13.8 years). The main independent variable, oral health-related quality of life, was assessed in 2016 with the GOHAI instrument (maximum score = 60). The main dependent variable, diet’s nutritional quality, was assessed with the mPNNS-GS score (maximum score = 13.5) measuring adherence to French dietary guidelines and computed on the basis of repeated 24-h dietary records. Multivariable linear regression models were fit. Mean GOHAI score was 54.5 ± 4.3 and mean mPNNS-GS score was 7.7 ± 1.6. Among participants aged 18–64 years, those scoring ≤50 on GOHAI (poor oral health with a detrimental impact on quality of life) were less likely to adhere to dietary guidelines than participants scoring 57–60 points (good oral health) (beta = −0.18, 95% CI: −0.26, −0.09; p < 0.0001). Among participants aged 65+ years, those scoring 51–56 points on GOHAI (average oral health with some negative impact on quality of life) were less likely to adhere to dietary guidelines than were participants scoring in the range 57–60 (beta = −0.23, 95% CI: −0.33, −0.13; p < 0.0001). The findings suggested modest age-dependent associations between oral health-related quality of life and diet quality. Confirmation is needed longitudinally with representative samples and accounting for diet quality evolution.
Biomedical Applications of Chitosan and Its Derivative Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhao Dongying , Yu Shuang , Sun Beini , Gao Shuang , Guo Sihan , Zhao Kai
Published: April 2018

Chitosan is a biodegradable natural polymer with many advantages such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. It can be applied in many fields, especially in medicine. As a delivery carrier, it has great potential and cannot be compared with other polymers. Chitosan is extremely difficult to solubilize in water, but it can be solubilized in acidic solution. Its insolubility in water is a major limitation for its use in medical applications. Chitosan derivatives can be obtained by chemical modification using such techniques as acylation, alkylation, sulfation, hydroxylation, quaternization, esterification, graft copolymerization, and etherification. Modified chitosan has chemical properties superior to unmodified chitosan. For example, nanoparticles produced from chitosan derivatives can be used to deliver drugs due to their stability and biocompatibility. This review mainly focuses on the properties of chitosan, chitosan derivatives, and the origin of chitosan-based nanoparticles. In addition, applications of chitosan-based nanoparticles in drug delivery, vaccine delivery, antimicrobial applications, and callus and tissue regeneration are also presented. In summary, nanoparticles based on chitosan have great potential for research and development of new nano vaccines and nano drugs in the future.
Global MODIS Fraction of Green Vegetation Cover for Monitoring Abrupt and Gradual Vegetation Changes
Authors: Filipponi Federico , Valentini Emiliana , Nguyen Xuan Alessandra , Guerra Carlos A. , Wolf Florian , Andrzejak Martin , Taramelli Andrea
Published: April 2018

The presence and distribution of green vegetation cover in the biosphere are of paramount importance in investigating cause-effect phenomena at the land/atmosphere interface, estimating primary production rates as part of global carbon and water cycle assessments and evaluating soil protection and land use change over time. The fraction of green vegetation cover (FCover) as estimated from satellite observations has already been demonstrated to be an extraordinarily useful product for understanding vegetation cover changes, for supporting ecosystem service assessments over areas with variable extents and for processes spanning a variable period of time (abrupt events or long-term processes). This study describes a methodology implemented to estimate global FCover (from 2001 to 2015) by applying a linear spectral mixture analysis with global endmembers to an entire temporal series of MODIS satellite observations and gap-filling missing FCover observations in temporal series using the DINEOF algorithm. The resulting global MODV1 FCover product was validated with two global validation datasets and showed an overall good thematic absolute accuracy (RMSE = 0.146) consistent with the validation performance of other FCover global products. Basic statistics performed on the product show changes in average and trend values and allow for the quantification of gross vegetation loss and gain over different temporal scales. To demonstrate the capacity of this global product to monitor specific dynamics, a multitemporal analysis was performed on selected sites and vegetation responses (i.e., cover changes), and specific dynamics resulting from cause-effect phenomena are briefly discussed. The product is intended to be used for monitoring vegetation dynamics, but it also has the potential to be integrated in other modeling frameworks (e.g., the carbon cycle, primary production, and soil erosion) in conjunction with other spatial datasets such as those on climate and soil type.
Detecting Inspection Objects of Power Line from Cable Inspection Robot LiDAR Data
Authors: Qin Xinyan , Wu Gongping , Lei Jin , Fan Fei , Ye Xuhui
Published: April 2018

Power lines are extending to complex environments (e.g., lakes and forests), and the distribution of power lines in a tower is becoming complicated (e.g., multi-loop and multi-bundle). Additionally, power line inspection is becoming heavier and more difficult. Advanced LiDAR technology is increasingly being used to solve these difficulties. Based on precise cable inspection robot (CIR) LiDAR data and the distinctive position and orientation system (POS) data, we propose a novel methodology to detect inspection objects surrounding power lines. The proposed method mainly includes four steps: firstly, the original point cloud is divided into single-span data as a processing unit; secondly, the optimal elevation threshold is constructed to remove ground points without the existing filtering algorithm, improving data processing efficiency and extraction accuracy; thirdly, a single power line and its surrounding data can be respectively extracted by a structured partition based on a POS data (SPPD) algorithm from “layer” to “block” according to power line distribution; finally, a partition recognition method is proposed based on the distribution characteristics of inspection objects, highlighting the feature information and improving the recognition effect. The local neighborhood statistics and the 3D region growing method are used to recognize different inspection objects surrounding power lines in a partition. Three datasets were collected by two CIR LIDAR systems in our study. The experimental results demonstrate that an average 90.6% accuracy and average 98.2% precision at the point cloud level can be achieved. The successful extraction indicates that the proposed method is feasible and promising. Our study can be used to obtain precise dimensions of fittings for modeling, as well as automatic detection and location of security risks, so as to improve the intelligence level of power line inspection.
Classification and Discrimination of Different Fungal Diseases of Three Infection Levels on Peaches Using Hyperspectral Reflectance Imaging Analysis
Authors: Sun Ye , Wei Kangli , Liu Qiang , Pan Leiqing , Tu Kang
Published: April 2018

Peaches are susceptible to infection from several postharvest diseases. In order to control disease and avoid potential health risks, it is important to identify suitable treatments for each disease type. In this study, the spectral and imaging information from hyperspectral reflectance (400~1000 nm) was used to evaluate and classify three kinds of common peach disease. To reduce the large dimensionality of the hyperspectral imaging, principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to analyse each wavelength image as a whole, and the first principal component was selected to extract the imaging features. A total of 54 parameters were extracted as imaging features for one sample. Three decayed stages (slight, moderate and severe decayed peaches) were considered for classification by deep belief network (DBN) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) in this study. The results showed that the DBN model has better classification results than the classification accuracy of the PLSDA model. The DBN model based on integrated information (494 features) showed the highest classification results for the three diseases, with accuracies of 82.5%, 92.5%, and 100% for slightly-decayed, moderately-decayed and severely-decayed samples, respectively. The successive projections algorithm (SPA) was used to select the optimal features from the integrated information; then, six optimal features were selected from a total of 494 features to establish the simple model. The SPA-PLSDA model showed better results which were more feasible for industrial application. The results showed that the hyperspectral reflectance imaging technique is feasible for detecting different kinds of diseased peaches, especially at the moderately- and severely-decayed levels.
A Review of the Piezoelectric Electromechanical Impedance Based Structural Health Monitoring Technique for Engineering Structures
Authors: Na Wongi S. , Baek Jongdae
Published: April 2018

The birth of smart materials such as piezoelectric (PZT) transducers has aided in revolutionizing the field of structural health monitoring (SHM) based on non-destructive testing (NDT) methods. While a relatively new NDT method known as the electromechanical (EMI) technique has been investigated for more than two decades, there are still various problems that must be solved before it is applied to real structures. The technique, which has a significant potential to contribute to the creation of one of the most effective SHM systems, involves the use of a single PZT for exciting and sensing of the host structure. In this paper, studies applied for the past decade related to the EMI technique have been reviewed to understand its trend. In addition, new concepts and ideas proposed by various authors are also surveyed, and the paper concludes with a discussion of the potential directions for future works.
Entrepreneurial Factors Affecting the Sustainable Growth and Success of a South African Construction Company
Authors: Windapo Abimbola
Published: April 2018

The study examines a case of how the South African construction industry nurtured an entrepreneur and a large successful entrepreneurial construction company, even though the founder had no formal education and the company was founded during the Apartheid era. The question of whether entrepreneurs are born or are made is based on the age-old question of nurture or nature. The paper presents the narratives of the successful entrepreneur Mr. Sam Lubbe and the business strategy he used in growing a sustainable business. The information presented is collected through a case study research approach. The data collected suggests that although Sam does not have any formal education, he succeeded based on the nurturing given to him when he had the opportunity to work for a large South African construction company, his innate characteristics of self-confidence, task–result orientation, and originality, as well as his planning for the future and the use of a unique business model which helped him access international construction work opportunities. The study of this particular individual and his unique company is significant because it further validates previous research undertaken in other contexts and sectors on the traits of entrepreneurs and the success of companies.