bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporation of Fibrin Matrix into Electrospun Membranes for Periodontal Wound Healing
Authors: Wong Choyi , Yoganarasimha Suyog , Carrico Caroline , Madurantakam Parthasarathy
Published: July 2019

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) aims to regenerate the lost attachment apparatus caused by periodontal disease through the use of a membrane. The goal of this study is to create and characterize a novel hybrid membrane that contains biologically active fibrin matrix within a synthetic polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun membrane. Three-dimensional fibrin matrices and fibrin-incorporated electrospun membrane were created from fresh frozen plasma by centrifugation in glass vials under three different conditions: 400 g for 12 min, 1450 g for 15 min and 3000 g for 60 min. Half the membranes were crosslinked with 1% genipin. Degradation against trypsin indicated biologic stability while uniaxial tensile testing characterized mechanical properties. Continuous data was analyzed by ANOVA to detect differences between groups (p = 0.05). Fibrin-incorporated electrospun membranes showed statistically significant increase in mechanical properties (elastic modulus, strain at break and energy to break) compared to fibrin matrices. While crosslinking had marginal effects on mechanical properties, it did significantly increase biologic stability against trypsin (p < 0.0001). Lastly, membranes generated at 400 g and 1450 g were superior in mechanical properties and biologic stability compared to those generated at 3000 g. Fibrin-incorporated, crosslinked electrospun PCL membranes generated at lower centrifugation forces offers a novel strategy to generate a potentially superior membrane for GTR procedures.
Comparative Evaluation of Endotoxin Activity Level and Various Biomarkers for Infection and Outcome of ICU-Admitted Patients
Authors: Ikeda Toshiaki , Kamohara Hidenobu , Suda Shingo , Nagura Takeo , Tomino Mikiko , Sugi Masatoshi , Wajima Zen’ichiro
Published: July 2019

Here, we concurrently measured the endotoxin activity (EA) level and levels of multiple biomarkers in patient blood obtained within 24 h after being admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) and analyzed whether there were links between these markers and their associations with patient conditions and outcomes. The EA levels highly correlated with disease severity and patient survival, and showed a significant positive association with levels of lactate, procalcitonin, presepsin, and interleukin-6. Notably, the EA level was the marker that most highly correlated with the results of blood culture, and the presepsin level was the marker most highly correlated with the survival outcome at 28 days. Thus, the optimal biomarker should be selected based on whether it will be used to discriminate the presence of an infection or to predict survival.
Plasmonic Detection of Glucose in Serum Based on Biocatalytic Shape-Altering of Gold Nanostars
Authors: Phiri Masauso Moses , Mulder Danielle Wingrove , Vorster Barend Christiaan
Published: July 2019

Nanoparticles have been used as signal transducers for optical readouts in biosensors. Optical approaches are cost-effective with easy readout formats for clinical diagnosis. We present a glucose biosensor based on the biocatalytic shape-altering of gold nanostars via silver deposition. Improved sensitivity was observed due to the nanostars clustering after being functionalised with glucose oxidase (GOx). The biosensor quantified glucose in the serum samples with a 1:1000 dilution factor, and colorimetrically distinguished between the concentrations. The assay demonstrated good specificity and sensitivity. The fabricated glucose biosensor is a rapid kinetic assay using a basic entry level laboratory spectrophotometric microplate reader. Such a biosensor could be very useful in resource-constrained regions without state-of-the-art laboratory equipment. Furthermore, naked eye detection of glucose makes this a suitable biosensor for technology transfer to other point-of-care devices.
The Real Happy Study: Protocol for a Prospective Assessment of the Real-World Effectiveness of the HAPIFED Program—a Healthy APproach to weIght management and Food in Eating Disorders
Authors: Pattinson Andrea L. , Nassar Natasha , da Luz Felipe Q. , Hay Phillipa , Touyz Stephen , Sainsbury Amanda
Published: July 2019

The prevalence of obesity with comorbid binge eating behaviour is growing at a faster rate than that seen for either obesity or eating disorders as separate conditions. Approximately 6% of the population are affected and they potentially face a lifetime of poor physical and mental health outcomes and an inability to sustain long-term weight loss. Current treatment options are inadequate in that they typically address either obesity or eating disorders exclusively, not the combination of both conditions. By treating one condition without treating the other, relapse is common, and patients are often left disappointed with their lack of weight loss. An integrated approach to treating these individuals is needed to prevent a worsening of the comorbidities associated with excess body weight and eating disorders. A new therapy has recently been developed, named HAPIFED, which addresses both overweight/obesity and comorbid binge eating behaviour with the combination of behavioural weight loss therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy-enhanced (CBT-E). The aim of this paper is to document the protocol for the Real Happy Study, which will evaluate the effectiveness of the HAPIFED program in treating overweight or obesity with comorbid binge-eating behaviour in a real-world setting.
Inhibition of Protein Phosphatase 1 Stimulates Noncanonical ER Stress eIF2α Activation to Enhance Fisetin-induced Chemosensitivity in HDAC Inhibitor-resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Liu Yi-Sheng , Chang Yu-Chun , Kuo Wei-Wen , Chen Ming-Cheng , Hsu Hsi-Hsien , Tu Chuan-Chou , Yeh Yu-Lan , Viswanadha Vijaya Padma , Liao Po-Hsiang , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: July 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common fatal type of malignant tumor that has highly metastatic and recurrent properties. Fisetin is a natural flavonoid found in various vegetables and fruits which exhibits anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as other effects. Thus, we hypothesized that fisetin can act as an adjuvant therapy in cancer or drug-resistant cancer cells, and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of drug-resistance in HCC cells. We found that fisetin effectively inhibited the cell viability of not only parental cells but also histone deacetylase inhibitors-resistant (HDACis-R) cells and enhanced the chemosensitivity of HCC cells. Interestingly, fisetin did not induce cell apoptosis through the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor of protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, but rather through the non-canonical pathway of the protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-mediated suppression of eIF2α phosphorylation. Moreover, fisetin-induced cell apoptosis was reversed by treatment with PP1 activator or eIF2α siRNA in HCC cells. Based on these observations, we suggest that PP1-eIF2α pathways are significantly involved in the effect of fisetin on HCC apoptosis. Thus, fisetin may act as a novel anticancer drug and new chemotherapy adjuvant which can improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and diminish their side-effects.
Extracapsular Lymph Node Involvement in Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Heublein Sabine , Schulz Heiko , Marmé Frederik , Angele Martin , Czogalla Bastian , Burges Alexander , Mahner Sven , Mayr Doris , Jeschke Udo , Schmoeckel Elisa
Published: July 2019

Ovarian cancer (OC) spread to retro-peritoneal lymph nodes is detected in about one out of two patients at primary diagnosis. Whether the histologic pattern of lymph node involvement i.e., intra-(ICG) or extracapsular (ECG) cancer growth may affect patients’ prognosis remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to analyze the prevalence of ECG and ICG in lymph node positive ovarian cancer. We further investigated whether ECG may be related to patients’ prognosis and whether biomarkers expressed in the primary tumor may predict the pattern of lymph node involvement. Lymph node samples stemming from 143 OC patients were examined for presence of ECG. Capsular extravasation was tested for statistical association with clinico-pathological variables. We further tested 27 biomarkers that had been determined in primary tumor tissue for their potential to predict ECG in metastatic lymph nodes. ECG was detected in 35 (24.5%) of 143 lymph node positive patients. High grade (p = 0.043), histologic subtype (p = 0.006) and high lymph node ratio (LNR) (p < 0.001) were positively correlated with presence of ECG. Both ECG (p = 0.024) and high LNR (p = 0.008) were predictive for shortened overall survival. A four-protein signature determined from the primary tumor tissue was associated with presence of concomitant extracapsular spread in lymph nodes of the respective patient. This work found extracapsular spread of lymph node metastasis to be a common feature of lymph node positive ovarian cancer. Since ECG was positively associated with grade, LNR and shortened overall survival, we hypothesize that the presence of ECG may be interpreted as an indicator of tumor aggressiveness.
IVAN: An Interactive Herlofson’s Nomogram Visualizer for Local Weather Forecast
Authors: Angelini Marco , Catarci Tiziana , Santucci Giuseppe
Published: July 2019

In 1947, N. Herlofson proposed a modification to the 1884 Heinrich Hertz’s Emagram with the goal of getting more precise hand-made weather forecasts providing larger angles between isotherms and adiabats. Since then, the Herlofson’s nomogram has been used every day to visualize the results of about 800 radiosonde balloons that, twice a day, are globally released, sounding the atmosphere and reading pressure, altitude, temperature, dew point, and wind velocity. Relevant weather forecasts use such pieces of information to predict fog, cloud height, rain, thunderstorms, etc. However, despite its diffusion, non-technical people (e.g., private gliding pilots) do not use the Herlofson’s nomogram because they often consider it hard to interpret and confusing. This paper copes with this problem presenting a visualization based environment that presents the Herlofson’s nomogram in an easier to interpret way, allowing the selection of the right level of detail and at the same time inspection of the sounding row data and the plotted diagram. Our visual environment was compared with the classic way of representing the Herlofson’s nomogram in a formal user study, demonstrating the higher efficacy and better comprehensibility of the proposed solution.
Establishing Clinical Utility for Diagnostic Tests Using a Randomized Controlled, Virtual Patient Trial Design
Authors: Peabody John , Tran Mary , Paculdo David , Valdenor Czarlota , Burgon Trever , Jeter Elaine
Published: July 2019

Demonstrating clinical utility for diagnostic tests and securing coverage and reimbursement requires high quality and, ideally, randomized controlled trial (RCT) data. Traditional RCTs are often too costly, slow, and cumbersome for diagnostic firms. Alternative data options are needed. We evaluated four RCTs using virtual patients to demonstrate clinical utility. Each study used a similar pre-post intervention, two round design to facilitate comparison. Representative samples of physicians were recruited and randomized into control and intervention arms. All physicians were asked to care for their virtual patients during two assessment rounds, separated by a multi-week time interval. Between rounds, intervention physicians reviewed educational materials on the diagnostic test. All physician responses were scored against evidence-based care criteria. RCTs using virtual patients can demonstrate clinical utility for a variety of diagnostic test types, including: (1) an advanced multi-biomarker blood test, (2) a chromosomal microarray, (3) a proteomic assay analysis, and (4) a multiplex immunofluorescence imaging platform. In two studies, utility was demonstrated for all targeted patient populations, while in the other two studies, utility was only demonstrated for a select sub-segment of the intended patient population. Of these four tests, two received positive coverage decisions from Palmetto, one utilized the study results to support commercial payer adjudications, and the fourth company went out of business. RCTs using virtual patients are a cost-effective approach to demonstrate the presence or absence of clinical utility.
Context Based Predictive Information
Authors: Shalev Yuval , Ben-Gal Irad
Published: July 2019

We propose a new algorithm called the context-based predictive information (CBPI) for estimating the predictive information (PI) between time series, by utilizing a lossy compression algorithm. The advantage of this approach over existing methods resides in the case of sparse predictive information (SPI) conditions, where the ratio between the number of informative sequences to uninformative sequences is small. It is shown that the CBPI achieves a better PI estimation than benchmark methods by ignoring uninformative sequences while improving explainability by identifying the informative sequences. We also provide an implementation of the CBPI algorithm on a real dataset of large banks’ stock prices in the U.S. In the last part of this paper, we show how the CBPI algorithm is related to the well-known information bottleneck in its deterministic version.
A Unified Framework for Head Pose, Age and Gender Classification through End-to-End Face Segmentation
Authors: Khan Khalil , Attique Muhammad , Syed Ikram , Sarwar Ghulam , Irfan Muhammad Abeer , Khan Rehan Ullah
Published: July 2019

Accurate face segmentation strongly benefits the human face image analysis problem. In this paper we propose a unified framework for face image analysis through end-to-end semantic face segmentation. The proposed framework contains a set of stack components for face understanding, which includes head pose estimation, age classification, and gender recognition. A manually labeled face data-set is used for training the Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) based segmentation model. A multi-class face segmentation framework developed through CRFs segments a facial image into six parts. The probabilistic classification strategy is used, and probability maps are generated for each class. The probability maps are used as features descriptors and a Random Decision Forest (RDF) classifier is modeled for each task (head pose, age, and gender). We assess the performance of the proposed framework on several data-sets and report better results as compared to the previously reported results.
Multi-Process-Based Maximum Entropy Bootstrapping Estimator: Application for Net Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN
Authors: Romyen Arisara , Chaiboonsri Chukiat , Wannapan Satawat , Sriboonchitta Songsak
Published: July 2019

Due to a broad consensus in the engaging of global economic integrations, host countries encounter a number of challenges, especially in international capital mobility. Foreign direct investment (FDI) becomes a pillar for economic development. This study explores which Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-6 countries are good representatives to inform the directions of FDI. For computational modelling, the AR-GARCH model was created using the maximum entropy bootstrap estimation. Nonparametric techniques consisting of the maximum entropy bootstrap method and cross-entropy algorithm were applied. The results show that Indonesia has the nearest cross-entropy (CE) value compared to the whole entropy value, followed by Thailand and Singapore. Furthermore, it is consistent with the first- and second-order stochastic dominance analyses. Additionally, the structural dependence of capital movements is displayed to deeply investigate the capital flow relation among the countries. Consequently, the performances of FDI in Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore can significantly convey the scenario of FDI across ASEAN.
Decoupling Capacitors Placement at Board Level Adopting a Nature-Inspired Algorithm
Authors: Piersanti Stefano , Cecchetti Riccardo , Olivieri Carlo , de Paulis Francesco , Orlandi Antonio , Buecker Markus
Published: July 2019

Decoupling capacitors are fundamental keys for the reduction of transient noise in power delivery networks; their arrangement and values are crucial for reaching this goal. This work deals with the optimization of the decoupling capacitors of a power delivery network by using a nature-inspired algorithm. In particular, the capacitance value and the location of three decoupling capacitors are optimized in order to obtain an input impedance below a specific mask, by using a nature-inspired algorithm, the genetic one, in combination with two electromagnetic solvers used to compute the objective function. An experimental board is designed and manufactured; measurements are performed to validate the numerical results.
Limitations of Harmonics Control in Power Converters
Authors: Sušin Denis , Nemec Mitja , Ambrožič Vanja , Nedeljković David
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we analyze the constraints of harmonics control in power electronic systems. Based on an equivalent circuit of a typical power converter application and its parameters, we have derived an analytical expression for calculating the maximal amplitude of controlled harmonic current. This expression has been successfully verified on an experimental setup, designed around a single-phase grid-connected bidirectional inverter. The pulse width modulated (PWM) driven inverter has been controlled by multiple resonant controllers, each of them providing individual control of a selected harmonic current. By using the derived expression and taking into account the parameters of converter application, power electronics designers could quickly determine the limitations of harmonics control.
Advancing Building Fault Diagnosis Using the Concept of Contextual and Heterogeneous Test
Authors: Singh Mahendra , Kien Nguyen Trung , Najeh Houda , Ploix Stéphane , Caucheteux Antoine
Published: July 2019

Fault diagnosis and maintenance of a whole-building system is a complex task to perform. A wide range of available building fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) tools are only capable of performing fault detection using behavioral constraints analysis. However, the validity of the detected symptom is always questionable. In this work, we introduce the concept of the contextual test with validity constraints, in the context of building fault diagnostics. Thanks to a common formalization of the proposed heterogeneous tests, rule-, range-, and model-based tests can be combined in the same diagnostic analysis that reduces the whole-building modeling effort. The proposed methodology comprises the minimum diagnostic explanation feature that can significantly improve the knowledge of the building facility manager. A bridge diagnosis approach is used to describe the multiple fault scenarios. The proposed methodology is validated on an experimental building called the center for studies and design of prototypes (CECP) building located in Angers, France.
Deformation Field Evolution and Failure Mechanisms of Coal–Rock Combination Based on the Digital Speckle Correlation Method
Authors: Xie Zhengzheng , Zhang Nong , Meng Fanfei , Han Changliang , An Yanpei , Zhu Ruojun
Published: July 2019

The stability of a deep composite roof is a powerful guarantee for the safe and efficient production of a coal mine. The coal–rock combination, the single rock or coal bodies have different bearing capacity; thus, we can accurately obtain the deformation field evolution and failure mechanisms of the combination, which is useful in the deformation control of a composite roof. In this study, based on the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM), a uniaxial compression test was applied to coal–rock combinations with different height ratios. The results revealed that the compressive strength, elastic modulus, and secant modulus of the combination gradually decreased, while the decreasing amplitude weakened with the increase of coal height. Additionally, the strain field map of the combination had different characteristics in different stages. As the height of the coal body continuously increased, the gradient of the strain cloud and the area of local strain increase moved upwards. Moreover, the cracks caused by the failure of the coal body in the combination triggered the failure of the rock body. According to the test results, two principles are proposed for the deformation control of the composite roof, and are expected to be useful in applications for the similar geological conditions.
Static Voltage Sharing Design of a Sextuple-Break 363 kV Vacuum Circuit Breaker
Authors: Yu Xiao , Yang Fan , Li Xing , Ai Shaogui , Huang Yongning , Fan Yiping , Du Wei
Published: July 2019

A balanced voltage distribution for each break is required for normal operation of a multi-break vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) This paper presented a novel 363 kV/5000 A/63 kA sextuple-break VCB with a series-parallel structure. To determine the static voltage distribution of each break, a 3D finite element method (FEM) model was established to calculate the voltage distribution and the electric field of each break at the fully open state. Our results showed that the applied voltage was unevenly distributed at each break, and that the first break shared the most voltage, about 86.3%. The maximum electric field of the first break was 18.9 kV/mm, which contributed to the reduction of the breaking capacity. The distributed and stray capacitance parameters of the proposed structure were calculated based on the FEM model. According to the distributed capacitance parameters, the equivalent circuit simulation model of the static voltage distribution of this 363 kV VCB was established in PSCAD. Subsequently, the influence of the grading capacitor on the voltage distribution of each break was investigated, and the best value of the grading capacitors for the 363 kV sextuple-break VCB was confirmed to be 10 nF. Finally, the breaking tests of a single-phase unit was conducted both in a minor loop and a major loop. The 363 kV VCB prototype broke both the 63 kA and the 80 kA short circuit currents successfully, which confirmed the validity of the voltage sharing design.
Energy Storage Analysis of UIO-66 and Water Mixed Nanofluids: An Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Zhou Yingjie , Li Qibin , Wang Qiang
Published: July 2019

The thermal energy storage properties of a working fluid can be modified by the exothermic and endothermic adsorption and desorption of fluid molecules in the micro/nanoporous materials. In this study, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis experiments and molecular simulations (molecular dynamics, MD, and grand canonical Monte Carlo, GCMC) were employed to examine the thermal energy storage properties of the UIO-66 metal organic framework material, UIO-66/H2O nanofluids and pure water. Our results showed that the molecular simulation calculations were, in principle, consistent with the obtained experimental data. The thermal energy storage performance of UIO-66/H2O nanofluids was enhanced with the increase in the UIO-66 mass fraction. In addition, the differences between the simulation calculations and experimental results could be mainly ascribed to the different structures of UIO-66 and the evaporation of fluid samples. Furthermore, this work indicated that molecular simulations contributed to developing novel working pairs of metal organic heat carriers (MOHCs).
A State of Health Estimation Framework for Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Transfer Components Analysis
Authors: Jia Bowen , Guan Yong , Wu Lifeng
Published: July 2019

As different types of lithium batteries are increasingly employed in various devices, it is crucial to predict the state of health (SOH) of lithium batteries. There are plenty of methods for SOH estimation of a lithium-ion battery. However, existing technologies often have computational complexity. Furthermore, it is difficult to use least the previous 30% of data of the battery degradation process to predict the SOH variation of the entire degradation process. To address this problem, in this paper, the SOH of the target battery is estimated based on the transfer of different battery data sets. Firstly, according to importance sampling (IS), valid features are extracted from cycles of charging voltage in both the source and target battery. Secondly, transfer component analysis (TCA) is used to map the source data set to the target data set. Moreover, an extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm is employed to train a single hidden layer feed forward neural network (SLFN) for its fast training speed and facile to set up. Finally, validation experiments and the comparisons on the results are conducted. The results showed that the proposed framework has a good capability of predicting the SOH of lithium batteries.
Optimization of Batch Dark Fermentation of Chlorella sp. Using Mixed-Cultures for Simultaneous Hydrogen and Butyric Acid Production
Authors: Usmanbaha Nikannapas , Jariyaboon Rattana , Reungsang Alissara , Kongjan Prawit , Chu Chen-Yeon
Published: July 2019

This paper reports on the optimum conditions for simultaneous hydrogen and butyric acid production from microalgae (Chlorella sp.) using enriched anaerobic mixed cultures as inoculum. The fermentation was objectively carried out under acidogenic conditions to achieve butyric acid for further ABE fermentation in solventogenesis stage. The main effects of initial pH (5 and 7), temperature (35 °C and 55 °C), and substrate concentration (40, 60, 80, and 100 g-VS/L) for hydrogen and butyric acid production were evaluated by using batch fermentation experiment. The major effects on hydrogen and butyric acid production are pH and temperature. The highest production of hydrogen and butyric acid was observed at pH 7 and temperature 35 °C. Using initial Chlorella sp. concentration of 80 g-VS/L or 100 g-VS/L at pH 7 and temperature 35 °C could produce hydrogen with an average yield of 22 mL-H2/g-VS along with high butyric acid production yield of 0.05 g/g-VS, suggesting that microalgae (Chlorella sp.) has potential to be converted directly to butyric acid by using acidogenesis under above optimum conditions.
Modeling and Simulation of Carbon Emission-Related Issues
Authors: Tsai Wen-Hsien
Published: July 2019

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report in 2013 (IPCC, 2013) [...]
Impacts of Photovoltaic Farms on the Environment in the Romanian Plain
Authors: Vrînceanu Alexandra , Grigorescu Ines , Dumitrașcu Monica , Mocanu Irena , Dumitrică Cristina , Micu Dana , Kucsicsa Gheorghe , Mitrică Bianca
Published: July 2019

Under the European Union (EU) energy efficiency targets that Romania has assumed, increasing the share of solar energy has been one of the main points to be considered. The most important solar energy resources are found in the lowlands and low hills in southern and south-eastern parts of the country. The current paper is focused on the Romanian Plain, which has the best environmental conditions to support the development of photovoltaic (PV) farms. One hundred and ten PV farms have been identified and mapped which cover a total area of 1393 hectares. Although it provides a clean and sustainable energy source, the related environmental implications of PV farms could be either positive or negative. In this study, some of the main categories of impacts have been selected for identification and analysis of their environmental consequences. Several indicators have been computed: the share of PV farms from the main land use/cover categories and main soil types, and the distance of PV farms to forests, water bodies, or protected areas. The overall results of the study reveal the current and potential impacts of PV farms in order to understand the interactions between the environment and the use of renewable energy sources and further support science-based solutions for sustainable development.
On the Use of Infrared Thermography and Acousto—Ultrasonics NDT Techniques for Ceramic-Coated Sandwich Structures
Authors: Duan Yuxia , Zhang Hai , Sfarra Stefano , Avdelidis Nicolas P. , Loutas Theodoros H. , Sotiriadis George , Kostopoulos Vassilis , Fernandes Henrique , Petrescu Florian Ion , Ibarra-Castanedo Clemente , Maldague Xavier P.V.
Published: July 2019

Ceramic-coated materials used in different engineering sectors are the focus of world-wide interest and have generated a need for inspection techniques that detect very small structural anomalies. Non-destructive testing is increasingly being used to evaluate coating thickness and to test for coating flaws. The main pros of non-destructive testing is that the tested object remains intact and available for continued use afterward. This paper reports on an integrated, non-destructive testing approach that combines infrared thermography and acousto-ultrasonics to evaluate advanced aerospace sandwich structure materials with the aim of exploring any potential for detecting defects of more than one type. Combined, these two techniques successfully detected fabrication defects, including inclusions and material loss.
Recurrent Neural Networks Based Photovoltaic Power Forecasting Approach
Authors: Li Gangqiang , Wang Huaizhi , Zhang Shengli , Xin Jiantao , Liu Huichuan
Published: July 2019

The intermittency of solar energy resources has brought a big challenge for the optimization and planning of a future smart grid. To reduce the intermittency, an accurate prediction of photovoltaic (PV) power generation is very important. Therefore, this paper proposes a new forecasting method based on the recurrent neural network (RNN). At first, the entire solar power time series data is divided into inter-day data and intra-day data. Then, we apply RNN to discover the nonlinear features and invariant structures exhibited in the adjacent days and intra-day data. After that, a new point prediction model is proposed, only by taking the previous PV power data as input without weather information. The forecasting horizons are set from 15 to 90 min. The proposed forecasting method is tested by using real solar power in Flanders, Belgium. The classical persistence method (Persistence), back propagation neural network (BPNN), radial basis function (RBF) neural network and support vector machine (SVM), and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks are adopted as benchmarks. Extensive results show that the proposed forecasting method exhibits a good forecasting quality on very short-term forecasting, which demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed forecasting model.
The Effect of Non-Native Black Pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) Plantations on Environmental Conditions and Undergrowth Diversity
Authors: Mikulová Katarína , Jarolímek Ivan , Bacigál Tomáš , Hegedüšová Katarína , Májeková Jana , Medvecká Jana , Slabejová Denisa , Šibík Jozef , Škodová Iveta , Zaliberová Mária , Šibíková Mária
Published: July 2019

The cover of introduced tree species in Europe has recently increased, due to several factors. Attempts to understand the impact of non-native edificator trees on the environmental conditions and diversity of undergrowth have so far been limited to a few studies. In this paper, we analyse the effect of one of the most commonly planted non-native tree species–black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) in the Carpathian-Pannonian region, north of the border of its native occurrence. The objectives of our study were to determine the following: (i) How does black pine, as a non-native edificator, change the forest structure and environmental conditions in comparison to those of native communities? (ii) How does black pine change the species composition of undergrowth in comparison to that of native communities? (iii) Which factors are associated with the impact of black pine on diversity? To answer these questions, we used the twin plot method, sampling two neighbouring plots with the same environmental conditions in which one plot of the pair is in a forest with native tree species composition and the second plot is in a planted non-native Pinus nigra plantation. We found that in forests dominated by the non-native black pine, (a) the tree canopy is significantly more open; (b) the cover of the shrub layer is significantly higher; (c) the needles of black pine form a significantly thicker litter layer and (d) the cover of the herb layer is significantly lower than that in the native forest. (e) Black pine plays a vital role in modifying local climate by altering air temperature and humidity; (f) there were no significant differences in the soil pH between black pine plantations and native forests; (g) the plantations of black pine cause changes in diversity at both the species and the community level and (h) the dissimilarity between black pine plantations and neighbouring native forests decreases at higher altitudes.
Thermal Effects of Magmatism on Surrounding Sediments and Petroleum Systems in the Northern Offshore Taranaki Basin, New Zealand
Authors: Kutovaya Anna , Kroeger Karsten F. , Seebeck Hannu , Back Stefan , Littke Ralf
Published: July 2019

In the past two decades, numerical forward modeling of petroleum systems has been extensively used in exploration geology. However, modeling of petroleum systems influenced by magmatic activity has not been a common practice, because it is often associated with additional uncertainties and thus is a high risk associated with exploration. Subsurface processes associated with volcanic activity extensively influence all the elements of petroleum systems and may have positive and negative effects on hydrocarbon formation and accumulation. This study integrates 3D seismic data, geochemical and well data to build detailed 1D and 3D models of the Kora Volcano—a buried Miocene arc volcano in the northern Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. It examines the impact of magmatism on the source rock maturation and burial history in the northern Taranaki Basin. The Kora field contains a sub-commercial oil accumulation in volcanoclastic rocks that has been encountered by a well drilled on the flank of the volcano. By comparing the results of distinct models, we concluded that magmatic activity had a local effect on the thermal regime in the study area and resulted in rapid thermal maturation of the surrounding organic matter-rich sediments. Scenarios of the magmatic activity age (18, 11 and 8 Ma) show that the re-equilibration of the temperature after intrusion takes longer (up to 5 Ma) in the scenarios with a younger emplacement age (8 Ma) due to an added insulation effect of the thicker overburden. Results of the modeling also suggest that most hydrocarbons expelled from the source rock during this magmatic event escaped to the surface due to the absence of a proper seal rock at that time.
To Meet, to Matter, and to Have Fun: The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Intervention to Fulfil the Social Needs of Older People
Authors: ten Bruggencate Tina , Luijkx Katrien G. , Sturm Janienke
Published: July 2019

Interventions for older people are often not evaluated and, if evaluated, are not proven successful. Based on a systematic literature review and two qualitative studies about the social needs of older people, an intervention has been developed, implemented, and evaluated. Important social needs that emerged from these studies are connectedness, meaningfulness, and independence. Samsam, the developed intervention, aims to fulfil these needs. Samsam is a place where older (native Dutch speaking) people teach the Dutch language to expats, refugees, and immigrants. Two group interviews and one interview with a total of seven older participants were held to find out what the experiences are with this intervention to fulfil the social needs of older people. After analysis, three themes emerged: (1) The general experience of Samsam, (2) connectedness, and (3) meaningfulness and status. Results indicate that the volunteers are content with the conditions of the intervention, although it is sometimes hard work. The older participants indicated that helping other people and contributing to society is important for them. The intervention also has a strong social and fun element which contributes to their feeling of connectedness. The intervention fulfils various social needs, such as connectedness, meaningfulness, and status. When participating in Samsam, participants feel connected to each other, to the students, and to society. The older participants want to have meaningful lives and use their skills and talents. Samsam offers possibilities for them to do so. We further found that participants have some common characteristics such as an openness to others and to other cultures. An openness towards others and to society helps older people to connect. Most interventions focus on stimulating contact between older people, primarily on their need for affection. We conclude that meaningfulness and status are important social needs. Successful interventions for older people should focus more on fulfilling these needs—for example, by engaging in purposeful activities. It becomes easier to connect when a person feels useful.
Perceptions of Nature and Access to Green Space in Four Urban Neighborhoods
Authors: Sefcik Justine S. , Kondo Michelle C. , Klusaritz Heather , Sarantschin Elisa , Solomon Sara , Roepke Abbey , South Eugenia C. , Jacoby Sara F.
Published: July 2019

Health benefits have been linked to spending time outdoors in nature and green space. However, there is some evidence of inequities to accessing safe outdoor space, particularly in low-resource communities. The primary aim of this study is to assess attitudes towards nature and use of green space in urban areas. A secondary aim is to describe perceptions of physician-initiated nature prescriptions that target local pediatric populations. We conducted six focus group interviews with 42 residents who were guardians or caretakers of children living in low-resource neighborhoods in Philadelphia, PA. We analyzed interview data using a conventional content analysis approach. Three major themes emerged: (1) perceived benefits of being in nature (physical and mental health benefits), (2) barriers to time spent in nature (unsafe and undesirable conditions of local parks), and (3) desired features of outdoor green spaces (amenities that would increase park use). Additionally, we describe participants’ reactions to the idea of a pediatrician-delivered prescription for outdoor green space exposure for a child in their care. Adherence to nature prescriptions programs may hinge on local green space resources, as well as experiential and perceptual barriers and facilitators to nature and park accessibility among caregivers tasked with fulfilling a nature prescription for a child in their care.
Identification of the Differential Effect of City-Level on the Gini Coefficient of Health Service Delivery in Online Health Community
Authors: Yu Hai-Yan , Chen Jing-Jing , Wang Jying-Nan , Chiu Ya-Ling , Qiu Hang , Wang Li-Ya
Published: July 2019

Inequality of health services for different specialty categories not only occurs in different areas in the world, but also happens in the online service platform. In the online health community (OHC), health services often display inequality for different specialty categories, including both online views and medical consultations for offline registered services. Moreover, how the city-level factors impact the inequality of health services in OHC is still unknown. We designed a causal inference study with data on distributions of serviced patients and online views in over 100 distinct specialty categories on one of the largest OHCs in China. To derive the causal effect of the city-levels (two levels inducing 1 and 0) on the Gini coefficient, we matched the focus cases in cities with rich healthcare resources with the potential control cities. For each of the specialty categories, we first estimated the average treatment effect of the specialty category’s Gini coefficient (SCGini) with the balanced covariates. For the Gini coefficient of online views, the average treatment effect of level-1 cities is 0.573, which is 0.016 higher than that of the matched group. Similarly, for the Gini coefficient of serviced patients, the average treatment effect of level-1 cities is 0.470, which is 0.029 higher than that of the matched group. The results support the argument that the total Gini coefficient of the doctors in OHCs shows that the inequality in health services is still very serious. This study contributes to the development of a theoretically grounded understanding of the causal effect of city-level factors on the inequality of health services in an online to offline health service setting. In the future, heterogeneous results should be considered for distinct groups of doctors who provide different combinations of online contributions and online attendance.
Inhibitory Risks Affecting the Maintenance of Healthy Lifestyle Habits—A Study Based on Demographic Factors and Personality Traits
Authors: Cui Wenzhu , Katayama Akane , Shimizu Hiroki , Taniguchi Mamoru
Published: July 2019

People with different personal attributes, both intrinsic (personality traits) and extrinsic (demographic factors), perceive different inhibitions in the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. This study examines the correlation between inhabitants’ personal attributes, internal and external, and their perception of risk factors in the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. Results show that (1) residents prone to ‘challenge’ and ‘commitment’ are more sensitive to the inhibitory risks. (2) Inhabitants under 65 years old with ‘challenge’ in their personality are more likely to report ‘time’ as a constraining factor. (3) Regarding walking habits, residents are not only impacted by the living environment but also restricted by the demographic factors of economics and time.
Protective Effects of Salidroside against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)-Induced Liver Injury by Initiating Mitochondria to Resist Oxidative Stress in Mice
Authors: Lin Shi-Yu , Xu Dan , Du Xia-Xia , Ran Chong-Lin , Xu Lu , Ren Shao-Jun , Tang Zi-Ting , Yin Li-Zi , He Chang-Liang , Yuan Zhi-Xiang , Fu Hua-Lin , Zhao Xiao-Ling , Shu Gang
Published: July 2019

The antioxidant effect of salidroside has been proven, but its role in liver injury is poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the protective effects and mechanism of salidroside on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in vivo. Mice were pretreated with salidroside (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneally injected, i.p.) once per day for 14 consecutive days and then administered with CCl4 (15.95 g/kg, i.p.) for 24 h to produce a liver injury model. Salidroside attenuated hepatic transaminase elevation in serum and ameliorated liver steatosis and necrosis, thereby suggesting its protective effect on the liver. Salidroside antagonized CCl4-induced toxicity by equilibrating antioxidation system, thereby inhibiting reactive oxygen species accumulation, and restoring mitochondrial structure and function. Salidroside exerts antioxidant and liver-protective effects by selectively inhibiting the activation of genes, including growth arrest and DNA -damage-inducible 45 α (Gadd45a), mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (Mapk7), and related RAS viral oncogene homolog 2 (Rras2), which induce oxidative stress in the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. These results revealed that salidroside can protect the liver from CCl4-induced injury by resisting oxidative stress and protecting mitochondrial function.
Glucan and Mannan—Two Peas in a Pod
Authors: Korolenko Tatiana A. , Bgatova Nataliya P. , Vetvicka Vaclav
Published: July 2019

In recent decades, various polysaccharides isolated from algae, mushrooms, yeast, and higher plants have attracted serious attention in the area of nutrition and medicine. The reasons include their low toxicity, rare negative side effects, relatively low price, and broad spectrum of therapeutic actions. The two most and best-studied polysaccharides are mannan and glucan. This review focused on their biological properties.
Carbodiimide Conjugation of Latent Transforming Growth Factor β1 to Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Remote Activation
Authors: Azie Obiora , Greenberg Zachary F. , Batich Christopher D. , Dobson Jon P.
Published: July 2019

Conjugation of latent growth factors to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) is potentially useful for magnetically triggered release of bioactive macromolecules. Thus, the goal of this work was to trigger the release of active Transforming Growth-Factor Beta (TGF-β) via magnetic hyperthermia by binding SPIONs to the latent form of TGF-β, since heat has been shown to induce release of TGF-β from the latent complex. Commercially available SPIONS with high specific absorption rates (SAR) were hydrolyzed in 70% ethanol to create surface carboxylic acid conjugation sites for carbodiimide chemistry. Fourier-Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis verified the conversion of maleic anhydride to maleic acid. 1-Ethyl-2-(3-dimethyulaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (Sulfo-NHS) were used to bind to the open conjugation sites of the SPION in order to graft latent TGF-β onto the particles. The resulting conjugated particles were imaged with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the complexed particles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the thermally triggered release of active TGF-β from the latent complex, demonstrating that conjugation did not interfere with release. Results showed that latent TGF-β was successfully conjugated to the iron oxide nanoparticles, and magnetically triggered release of active TGF-β was achieved.
Derived Polymorphic Amplified Cleaved Sequence (dPACS): A Novel PCR-RFLP Procedure for Detecting Known Single Nucleotide and Deletion–Insertion Polymorphisms
Authors: Kaundun Shiv Shankhar , Marchegiani Elisabetta , Hutchings Sarah-Jane , Baker Ken
Published: July 2019

Most methods developed for detecting known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and deletion–insertion polymorphisms (DIP) are dependent on sequence conservation around the SNP/DIP and are therefore not suitable for application to heterogeneous organisms. Here we describe a novel, versatile and simple PCR-RFLP procedure baptised ‘derived Polymorphic Amplified Cleaved Sequence’ (dPACS) for genotyping individual samples. The notable advantage of the method is that it employs a pair of primers that cover the entire fragment to be amplified except for one or few diagnostic bases around the SNP/DIP being investigated. As such, it provides greater opportunities to introduce mismatches in one or both of the 35–55 bp primers for creating a restriction site that unambiguously differentiates wild from mutant sequences following PCR-RFLP and horizontal MetaPhorTM gel electrophoresis. Selection of effective restriction enzymes and primers is aided by the newly developed dPACS 1.0 software. The highly transferable dPACS procedure is exemplified here with the positive detection (in up to 24 grass and broadleaf species tested) of wild type proline106 of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase and its serine, threonine and alanine variants that confer resistance to glyphosate, and serine264 and isoleucine2041 which are key target-site determinants for weed sensitivities to some photosystem II and acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibiting herbicides, respectively.