bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metric for Estimating Congruity between Quantum Images
Authors: Iliyasu Abdullah , Yan Fei , Hirota Kaoru
Published: October 2016

An enhanced quantum-based image fidelity metric, the QIFM metric, is proposed as a tool to assess the “congruity” between two or more quantum images. The often confounding contrariety that distinguishes between classical and quantum information processing makes the widely accepted peak-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) ill-suited for use in the quantum computing framework, whereas the prohibitive cost of the probability-based similarity score makes it imprudent for use as an effective image quality metric. Unlike the aforementioned image quality measures, the proposed QIFM metric is calibrated as a pixel difference-based image quality measure that is sensitive to the intricacies inherent to quantum image processing (QIP). As proposed, the QIFM is configured with in-built non-destructive measurement units that preserve the coherence necessary for quantum computation. This design moderates the cost of executing the QIFM in order to estimate congruity between two or more quantum images. A statistical analysis also shows that our proposed QIFM metric has a better correlation with digital expectation of likeness between images than other available quantum image quality measures. Therefore, the QIFM offers a competent substitute for the PSNR as an image quality measure in the quantum computing framework thereby providing a tool to effectively assess fidelity between images in quantum watermarking, quantum movie aggregation and other applications in QIP.
Measures of Difference and Significance in the Era of Computer Simulations, Meta-Analysis, and Big Data
Authors: Heijungs Reinout , Henriksson Patrik , Guinée Jeroen
Published: October 2016

In traditional research, repeated measurements lead to a sample of results, and inferential statistics can be used to not only estimate parameters, but also to test statistical hypotheses concerning these parameters. In many cases, the standard error of the estimates decreases (asymptotically) with the square root of the sample size, which provides a stimulus to probe large samples. In simulation models, the situation is entirely different. When probability distribution functions for model features are specified, the probability distribution function of the model output can be approached using numerical techniques, such as bootstrapping or Monte Carlo sampling. Given the computational power of most PCs today, the sample size can be increased almost without bounds. The result is that standard errors of parameters are vanishingly small, and that almost all significance tests will lead to a rejected null hypothesis. Clearly, another approach to statistical significance is needed. This paper analyzes the situation and connects the discussion to other domains in which the null hypothesis significance test (NHST) paradigm is challenged. In particular, the notions of effect size and Cohen’s d provide promising alternatives for the establishment of a new indicator of statistical significance. This indicator attempts to cover significance (precision) and effect size (relevance) in one measure. Although in the end more fundamental changes are called for, our approach has the attractiveness of requiring only a minimal change to the practice of statistics. The analysis is not only relevant for artificial samples, but also for present-day huge samples, associated with the availability of big data.
Adaptive TrimTree: Green Data Center Networks through Resource Consolidation, Selective Connectedness and Energy Proportional Computing
Authors: Zafar Saima , Chaudhry Shafique , Kiran Sara
Published: October 2016

A data center is a facility with a group of networked servers used by an organization for storage, management and dissemination of its data. The increase in data center energy consumption over the past several years is staggering, therefore efforts are being initiated to achieve energy efficiency of various components of data centers. One of the main reasons data centers have high energy inefficiency is largely due to the fact that most organizations run their data centers at full capacity 24/7. This results into a number of servers and switches being underutilized or even unutilized, yet working and consuming electricity around the clock. In this paper, we present Adaptive TrimTree; a mechanism that employs a combination of resource consolidation, selective connectedness and energy proportional computing for optimizing energy consumption in a Data Center Network (DCN). Adaptive TrimTree adopts a simple traffic-and-topology-based heuristic to find a minimum power network subset called ‘active network subset’ that satisfies the existing network traffic conditions while switching off the residual unused network components. A ‘passive network subset’ is also identified for redundancy which consists of links and switches that can be required in future and this subset is toggled to sleep state. An energy proportional computing technique is applied to the active network subset for adapting link data rates to workload thus maximizing energy optimization. We have compared our proposed mechanism with fat-tree topology and ElasticTree; a scheme based on resource consolidation. Our simulation results show that our mechanism saves 50%–70% more energy as compared to fat-tree and 19.6% as compared to ElasticTree, with minimal impact on packet loss percentage and delay. Additionally, our mechanism copes better with traffic anomalies and surges due to passive network provision.
Is ‘Bio-Based’ Activity a Panacea for Sustainable Competitive Growth?
Authors: Philippidis George , M’barek Robert , Ferrari Emanuele
Published: October 2016

Taking a European Union focus, this paper explicitly models competing uses of biomass to quantify its contribution toward a sustainable low carbon model of economic growth. To this end, a state-of-the-art multisector multiregion modelling tool is combined with a specially developed bio-based variant of a well-known global database. Employing a decomposition method of the market drivers and classifying alternative future pathways, the aim is to understand how public policies can influence the apparent trade-off between the goals of lower carbon economic growth, environmental preservation and sustainable biomass usage. Results reveal that in targeting specific societal goals public policy can be effective, although this can lead to broader economic issues of resource inefficiency and even direct policy conflicts.
Sapflow-Based Stand Transpiration in a Semiarid Natural Oak Forest on China’s Loess Plateau
Authors: Yan Mei-Jie , Zhang Jian-Guo , He Qiu-Yue , Shi Wei-Yu , Otsuki Kyoichi , Yamanaka Norikazu , Du Sheng
Published: October 2016

The semi-arid region of China’s Loess Plateau is characterized by fragile ecosystems and a shortage of water resources. The major natural forest type in this region is the secondary forest with the flora dominated by the Liaodong oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.). To understand its transpiration water use in relation to environmental factors, we applied Granier-type thermal dissipation probes to monitor stem sap flows of 21 sample trees, representing different classes of diameter at breast height in a permanent plot. The stem- and stand-scale transpiration values during the 2008–2010 growing seasons were estimated using measurements of sap flux densities and corresponding sapwood areas. The dominant factors affecting stand-scale transpiration varied with time scales. Daily stand transpiration correlated with daily solar radiation and daytime average vapor pressure deficit. Seasonal and interannual changes in stand transpiration were closely related to leaf area index (LAI) values. No obvious relationship was observed between monthly stand transpiration and soil moisture or precipitation during the period, probably as a result of both the hysteretic effect of precipitation on transpiration, and changes in LAI throughout the growing season. Stand transpiration during the three growing seasons ranged from 75 to 106 mm, representing low to normal values for the semi-arid forest. The proportion of transpiration by oak trees in the stand was stable ranging from 60% to 66% and corresponded to their basal area proportion of approximately 59%. The results suggest that the natural forest consisting mainly of oak trees is in a formal stage of forest development that maintains a normal magnitude of annual water consumption.
Radio-to-γ-Ray, Broadband Variability Study of the Classical BL Lac Object PKS 0735+178
Authors: Goyal Arti , Stawarz Łukasz , Ostrowski Michal , Larionov Valeri
Published: October 2016

The power-law shape of the power spectral density (PSD) of blazar light curves— P ( ν k ) ∝ ν k − β , where ν k is the temporal frequency—indicates that blazar variability is, in general, of the colored-type noise ( β ≃ 1 − 3 ). A precise characterisation of PSD slopes, normalizations, or characteristic timescales (if any) manifesting as distinct features in the power spectra of blazars is important for constraining the physics of the emission and energy dissipation processes in relativistic jets. Here we present the results of the PSD analysis for the BL Lac object PKS 0735+178 at GeV (Fermi-LAT), optical (R-band), and radio (GHz band from UMRAO and OVRO programmes) frequencies, covering a broad range in variability timescales. The novelty of our approach is that in the optical regime, by combining the long-term and densely sampled R-band intra-night light curves, we constructed the PSD for time periods ranging from 23 years down to minutes. Our analysis reveals that: (1) the nature of processes generating flux variability at optical and radio frequencies is different from those operating at GeV photon energies ( β ∼ 2 and 1, respectively); (2) the main driver behind the optical variability is the same on timescales of years, months, days, and hours (a single power-law with β ∼ 2). We discuss our findings in the framework of a model where the overall blazar variability is generated by an underlying single stochastic process (radio and optical frequencies), or a linear superposition of such processes (γ-ray regime).
Supramolecular Self-Assembly of a Model Hydrogelator: Characterization of Fiber Formation and Morphology
Authors: Gao Yuan , Nieuwendaal Ryan , Dimitriadis Emilios , Hammouda Boualem , Douglas Jack , Xu Bing , Horkay Ferenc
Published: October 2016

Hydrogels are of intense recent interest in connection with biomedical applications ranging from 3-D cell cultures and stem cell differentiation to regenerative medicine, controlled drug delivery, and tissue engineering. This prototypical form of soft matter has many emerging material science applications outside the medical field. The physical processes underlying this type of solidification are incompletely understood, and this limits design efforts aimed at optimizing these materials for applications. We address this general problem by applying multiple techniques (e.g., NMR, dynamic light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, rheological measurements) to the case of a peptide derivative hydrogelator (molecule 1, NapFFKYp) over a broad range of concentration and temperature to characterize both the formation of individual nanofibers and the fiber network. We believe that a better understanding of the hierarchical self-assembly process and control over the final morphology of this kind of material should have broad significance for biological and medicinal applications utilizing hydrogels.
Construction of Metabolism Prediction Models for CYP450 3A4, 2D6, and 2C9 Based on Microsomal Metabolic Reaction System
Authors: He Shuai-Bing , Li Man-Man , Zhang Bai-Xia , Ye Xiao-Tong , Du Ran-Feng , Wang Yun , Qiao Yan-Jiang
Published: October 2016

During the past decades, there have been continuous attempts in the prediction of metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) 3A4, 2D6, and 2C9. However, it has indeed remained a huge challenge to accurately predict the metabolism of xenobiotics mediated by these enzymes. To address this issue, microsomal metabolic reaction system (MMRS)—a novel concept, which integrates information about site of metabolism (SOM) and enzyme—was introduced. By incorporating the use of multiple feature selection (FS) techniques (ChiSquared (CHI), InfoGain (IG), GainRatio (GR), Relief) and hybrid classification procedures (Kstar, Bayes (BN), K-nearest neighbours (IBK), C4.5 decision tree (J48), RandomForest (RF), Support vector machines (SVM), AdaBoostM1, Bagging), metabolism prediction models were established based on metabolism data released by Sheridan et al. Four major biotransformations, including aliphatic C-hydroxylation, aromatic C-hydroxylation, N-dealkylation and O-dealkylation, were involved. For validation, the overall accuracies of all four biotransformations exceeded 0.95. For receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, each of these models gave a significant area under curve (AUC) value >0.98. In addition, an external test was performed based on dataset published previously. As a result, 87.7% of the potential SOMs were correctly identified by our four models. In summary, four MMRS-based models were established, which can be used to predict the metabolism mediated by CYP3A4, 2D6, and 2C9 with high accuracy.
Government-Driven Participation and Collective Intelligence: A Case of the Government 3.0 Initiative in Korea
Authors: Nam Taewoo
Published: October 2016

The Park Geun-hye Administration of Korea (2013–2017) aims to increase the level of transparency and citizen trust in government through the Government 3.0 initiative. This new initiative for public sector innovation encourages citizen-government collaboration and collective intelligence, thereby improving the quality of policy-making and implementation and solving public problems in a new way. However, the national initiative that identifies collective intelligence and citizen-government collaboration alike fails to understand what the wisdom of crowds genuinely means. Collective intelligence is not a magic bullet to solve public problems, which are called “wicked problems”. Collective deliberation over public issues often brings pain and patience, rather than fun and joy. It is not so easy that the public finds the best solution for soothing public problems through collective deliberation. The Government 3.0 initiative does not pay much attention to difficulties in gathering scattered wisdom, but rather highlights uncertain opportunities created by collective interactions and communications. This study deeply discusses the weaknesses in the logic of, and approach to, collective intelligence underlying the Government 3.0 initiative in Korea and the overall influence of the national initiative on participatory democracy.
Preparation and Characterization of Modified Soda Lignin with Polyethylene Glycol
Authors: Zhang Fangda , Lin Jian , Zhao Guangjie
Published: October 2016

Soda lignin does not have thermal flowing characteristics and it is impossible for it to be further thermally molded. To achieve the fusibility of soda lignin for fiber preparation by melt-spinning, an effective method for soda lignin modification was conducted by cooking it with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 at various ratios. The higher the ratio of PEG that was used, the more PEG molecular chains were grafted at the alpha carbon of the soda lignin through ether bonds, resulting in lower thermal transition temperatures and more excellent fusibility. The modified soda lignin with a weight ratio of lignin to PEG of 1:4 exhibited a relative thermal stability of molten viscosity at selected temperatures. Thereafter, the resultant fusible soda lignin was successfully melt-spun into filaments with an average diameter of 33 ± 5 μm, which is smaller than that of some industrial lignins. Accordingly, it is possible to utilize soda lignin to produce fibrous carbonaceous materials.
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy: Grain Refinement by Adjusting Pulse Frequency
Authors: Guo Jing , Zhou Yong , Liu Changmeng , Wu Qianru , Chen Xianping , Lu Jiping
Published: October 2016

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) offers a potential approach to fabricate large-scale magnesium alloy components with low cost and high efficiency, although this topic is yet to be reported in literature. In this study, WAAM is preliminarily applied to fabricate AZ31 magnesium. Fully dense AZ31 magnesium alloy components are successfully obtained. Meanwhile, to refine grains and obtain good mechanical properties, the effects of pulse frequency (1, 2, 5, 10, 100, and 500 Hz) on the macrostructure, microstructure and tensile properties are investigated. The results indicate that pulse frequency can result in the change of weld pool oscillations and cooling rate. This further leads to the change of the grain size, grain shape, as well as the tensile properties. Meanwhile, due to the resonance of the weld pool at 5 Hz and 10 Hz, the samples have poor geometry accuracy but contain finer equiaxed grains (21 μm) and exhibit higher ultimate tensile strength (260 MPa) and yield strength (102 MPa), which are similar to those of the forged AZ31 alloy. Moreover, the elongation of all samples is above 23%.
Interval Type 2 Fuzzy Set in Fuzzy Shortest Path Problem
Authors: Dey Arindam , Pal Anita , Pal Tandra
Published: October 2016

The shortest path problem (SPP) is one of the most important combinatorial optimization problems in graph theory due to its various applications. The uncertainty existing in the real world problems makes it difficult to determine the arc lengths exactly. The fuzzy set is one of the popular tools to represent and handle uncertainty in information due to incompleteness or inexactness. In most cases, the SPP in fuzzy graph, called the fuzzy shortest path problem (FSPP) uses type-1 fuzzy set (T1FS) as arc length. Uncertainty in the evaluation of membership degrees due to inexactness of human perception is not considered in T1FS. An interval type-2 fuzzy set (IT2FS) is able to tackle this uncertainty. In this paper, we use IT2FSs to represent the arc lengths of a fuzzy graph for FSPP. We call this problem an interval type-2 fuzzy shortest path problem (IT2FSPP). We describe the utility of IT2FSs as arc lengths and its application in different real world shortest path problems. Here, we propose an algorithm for IT2FSPP. In the proposed algorithm, we incorporate the uncertainty in Dijkstra’s algorithm for SPP using IT2FS as arc length. The path algebra corresponding to the proposed algorithm and the generalized algorithm based on the path algebra are also presented here. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Dihydroisocoumarins from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Penicillium citrinum
Authors: Huang Guo-Lei , Zhou Xue-Ming , Bai Meng , Liu Yu-Xin , Zhao Yan-Lei , Luo You-Ping , Niu Yan-Yan , Zheng Cai-Juan , Chen Guang-Ying
Published: October 2016

Three new dihydroisocoumarin penicimarins G–I (1–3), together with one known dihydroisocoumarin (4) and three known meroterpenoids (5–7), were obtained from a fungus Penicillium citrinum isolated from the mangrove Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala collected in the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by the detailed analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the X-ray diffraction analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configurations of 2 and 3 were determined by comparison of their circular dichroism (CD) spectra with the literature. All compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities and cytotoxic activities.
Oxide-Oxide Thermocompression Direct Bonding Technologies with Capillary Self-Assembly for Multichip-to-Wafer Heterogeneous 3D System Integration
Authors: Fukushima Takafumi , Hashiguchi Hideto , Yonekura Hiroshi , Kino Hisashi , Murugesan Mariappan , Bea Ji-Chel , Lee Kang-Wook , Tanaka Tetsu , Koyanagi Mitsumasa
Published: October 2016

Plasma- and water-assisted oxide-oxide thermocompression direct bonding for a self-assembly based multichip-to-wafer (MCtW) 3D integration approach was demonstrated. The bonding yields and bonding strengths of the self-assembled chips obtained by the MCtW direct bonding technology were evaluated. In this study, chemical mechanical polish (CMP)-treated oxide formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) as a MCtW bonding interface was mainly employed, and in addition, wafer-to-wafer thermocompression direct bonding was also used for comparison. N2 or Ar plasmas were utilized for the surface activation. After plasma activation and the subsequent supplying of water as a self-assembly mediate, the chips with the PE-CVD oxide layer were driven by the liquid surface tension and precisely aligned on the host wafers, and subsequently, they were tightly bonded to the wafers through the MCtW oxide-oxide direct bonding technology. Finally, a mechanism of oxide-oxide direct bonding to support the previous models was discussed using an atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer (APIMS).
Relationship between the Ingestion of a Polyphenol-Rich Drink, Hepcidin Hormone, and Long-Term Training
Authors: Villaño Débora , Vilaplana Cristina , Medina Sonia , Algaba-Chueca Francisco , Cejuela-Anta Roberto , Martínez-Sanz Jose , Ferreres Federico , Gil-Izquierdo Angel
Published: October 2016

The effects of polyphenol-rich foods on the iron status of athletes, as well as the effect of physical training on the hormone hepcidin, implicated in iron metabolism, are not clear. We investigated the influence on iron metabolism of a long-term training intervention of 120 days, measuring the hepcidin concentration in the plasma of 16 elite triathletes, and the effect of the ingestion of 200 mL of either aronia-citrus juice or a placebo drink for 45 days, in a crossover design. The highest plasma hepcidin concentrations were observed at the beginning of the study (116 ± 63 nM) and levels steadily decreased until the end of the intervention (final value 10 ± 7.5 nM). Long-term training might reduce inflammation and, hence, could be responsible for the decrease in hepcidin in triathletes. Polyphenols from aronia-citrus juice did not interfere in iron absorption, as we did not observe significant differences between the intake of the placebo drink or juice with regard to hepcidin levels. Further studies are required to ascertain the time and conditions necessary to restore hepcidin levels, which reflect the iron status of triathletes.
Targeted Delivery of siRNA to Transferrin Receptor Overexpressing Tumor Cells via Peptide Modified Polyethylenimine
Authors: Xie Yuran , Killinger Bryan , Moszczynska Anna , Merkel Olivia
Published: October 2016

The use of small interference RNA (siRNA) to target oncogenes is a promising treatment approach for cancer. However, siRNA cancer therapies are hindered by poor delivery of siRNA to cancer cells. Transferrin receptor (TfR) is overexpressed in many types of tumor cells and therefore is a potential target for the selective delivery of siRNA to cancer cells. Here, we used the TfR binding peptide HAIYPRH (HAI peptide) conjugated to cationic polymer branched polyethylenimine (bPEI), optimized the coupling strategy, and the TfR selective delivery of siRNA was evaluated in cells with high (H1299) and low TfR expression (A549 and H460). The HAI-bPEI conjugate exhibited chemico-physical properties in terms of size, zeta-potential, and siRNA condensation efficiency similar to unmodified bPEI. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry results revealed that HAI-bPEI selectively delivered siRNA to H1299 cells compared with A549 or H460 cells. Moreover, HAI-bPEI achieved more efficient glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene knockdown in H1299 cells compared with bPEI alone. However, despite optimization of the targeting peptide and coupling strategy, HAI-bPEI can only silence reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) at the protein level when chloroquine is present, indicating that further optimization of the conjugate is required. In conclusion, the HAI peptide may be useful to target TfR overexpressing tumors in targeted gene and siRNA delivery approaches.
A High Content Screening Assay to Identify Compounds with Anti-Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Effects from the Chinese Herbal Medicine Tong-Mai-Yang-Xin-Wan
Authors: Liu Ningning , Li Lailai , Zhu Xin , Ling Zhiqiang , Feng Jianguo , Hu Ying , Wang Yi , Mou Lijun , Wang Yi
Published: October 2016

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide health problem with growing prevalence in developing countries. Renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step and key factor in the development of this condition. Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a basic pathological change at the later stages of the disease. Therefore, blocking the development of EMT could be a critical factor in curing CKD. We have established a cell-based high-content screening (HCS) method to identify inhibitors of EMT in human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells by automatic acquisition and processing of dual-fluorescent labeled images. With the aid of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry, we achieved the rapid and reliable screening of active compounds from the Chinese herbal medicine Tong-Mai-Yang-Xin-Wan (TMYX) for treating EMT. Five fractions were found to exert anti-EMT activity and were further identified by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Glycyrrhizic acid, glyasperin A, and licorisoflavan A were found to inhibit EMT. The proposed approach was successfully applied to screen active compounds from TMYX on TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells and may offer a new means for identifying lead compounds for treating EMT from registered Chinese herbal medicines.
Increased Calcium Supplementation Postpartum Is Associated with Breastfeeding among Chinese Mothers: Finding from Two Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Zhao Jian , Zhao Yun , Binns Colin , Lee Andy
Published: October 2016

The calcium supplementation status during the postpartum period among Chinese lactating women is still unclear. The objective of this study is to utilize data from two population-based prospective cohort studies to examine the calcium supplementation status and to identify whether breastfeeding is associated with increased calcium supplementation among Chinese mothers after child birth. Information from 1540 mothers on breastfeeding and calcium supplementation measured at discharge, 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum were extracted to evaluate the association between breastfeeding and calcium supplementation postpartum. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to each study initially to account for the inherent correlation among repeated measurements, adjusting for socio-demographic, obstetric factors and calcium supplementation during pregnancy. In addition, breastfeeding status measured at different follow-up time points was treated as a time dependent variable in the longitudinal analysis. Furthermore, the effect sizes of the two cohort studies were pooled using fixed effect model. Based on the two cohort studies, the pooled likelihood of taking calcium supplementation postpartum among breastfeeding mothers was 4.02 times (95% confidence interval (2.30, 7.03)) higher than that of their non-breastfeeding counterparts. Dietary supplementation intervention programs targeting different subgroups should be promoted in Chinese women, given currently a wide shortage of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation postpartum.
Imagine All the Plants: Evaluation of a Light-Field Camera for On-Site Crop Growth Monitoring
Authors: Schima Robert , Mollenhauer Hannes , Grenzdörffer Görres , Merbach Ines , Lausch Angela , Dietrich Peter , Bumberger Jan
Published: October 2016

The desire to obtain a better understanding of ecosystems and process dynamics in nature accentuates the need for observing these processes in higher temporal and spatial resolutions. Linked to this, the measurement of changes in the external structure and phytomorphology of plants is of particular interest. In the fields of environmental research and agriculture, an inexpensive and field-applicable on-site imaging technique to derive three-dimensional information about plants and vegetation would represent a considerable improvement upon existing monitoring strategies. This is particularly true for the monitoring of plant growth dynamics, due to the often cited lack of morphological information. To this end, an innovative low-cost light-field camera, the Lytro LF (Light-Field), was evaluated in a long-term field experiment. The experiment showed that the camera is suitable for monitoring plant growth dynamics and plant traits while being immune to ambient conditions. This represents a decisive contribution for a variety of monitoring and modeling applications, as well as for the validation of remote sensing data. This strongly confirms and endorses the assumption that the light-field camera presented in this study has the potential to be a light-weight and easy to use measurement tool for on-site environmental monitoring and remote sensing purposes.
Effects of Urbanization and Seasonal Cycle on the Surface Urban Heat Island Patterns in the Coastal Growing Cities: A Case Study of Casablanca, Morocco
Authors: Bahi Hicham , Rhinane Hassan , Bensalmia Ahmed , Fehrenbach Ute , Scherer Dieter
Published: October 2016

The urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is a harmful environmental problem in urban areas affecting both climatic and ecological processes. This paper aims to highlight and monitor the spatial distribution of Surface UHI (SUHI) in the Casablanca region, Morocco, using remote sensing data. To achieve this goal, a time series of Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI-TIRS images was acquired from 1984 to 2016 and analyzed. In addition, nocturnal MODIS images acquired from 2005 to 2015 were used to evaluate the nighttime SUHI. In order to better analyze intense heat produced by urban core, SUHI intensity (SUHII) was computed by quantifying the difference of land surface temperature (LST) between urban and rural areas. The urban core SUHII appears more significant in winter seasons than during summer, while the pattern of SUHII becomes moderate during intermediate seasons. During winter, the average daytime SUHII gradually increased in the residential area of Casablanca and in some small peri-urban cities by more than 1 °C from 1984 to 2015. The industrial areas of the Casablanca region were affected by a significant rise in SUHII exceeding 15 °C in certain industrial localities. In contrast, daytime SUHII shows a reciprocal effect during summer with emergence of a heat island in rural areas and development of cool islands in urban and peri-urban areas. During nighttime, the SUHII remains positive in urban areas year-round with higher values in winter as compared to summer. The results point out that the seasonal cycle of daytime SUHII as observed in the Casablanca region is different from other mid-latitude cities, where the highest values are often observed in summer during the day.
Comparing Road-Kill Datasets from Hunters and Citizen Scientists in a Landscape Context
Authors: Heigl Florian , Stretz Carina , Steiner Wolfgang , Suppan Franz , Bauer Thomas , Laaha Gregor , Zaller Johann
Published: October 2016

Road traffic has severe effects on animals, especially when road-kills are involved. In many countries, official road-kill data are provided by hunters or police; there are also road-kill observations reported by citizen scientists. The aim of the current study was to test whether road-kill reports by hunters stem from similar landscapes than those reported by citizen scientists. We analysed the surrounding landscapes of 712 road-kill reportings of European hares in the province of Lower Austria. Our data showed that road-killed hares reported both by hunters and citizens are predominantly surrounded by arable land. No difference of hedges and solitary trees could be found between the two datasets. However, significant differences in landcover classes and surrounding road networks indicate that hunters’ and citizen scientists’ data are different. Hunters reported hares from landscapes with significantly higher percentages of arable land, and greater lengths of secondary roads. In contrast, citizens reported hares from landscapes with significantly higher percentages of urban or industrial areas and greater lengths of motorways, primary roads, and residential roads. From this we argue that hunters tend to report data mainly from their hunting areas, whereas citizens report data during their daily routine on the way to/from work. We conclude that a citizen science approach is an important source for road-kill data when used in addition to official data with the aim of obtaining an overview of road-kill events on a landscape scale.
A Novel 3D Multilateration Sensor Using Distributed Ultrasonic Beacons for Indoor Navigation
Authors: Kapoor Rohan , Ramasamy Subramanian , Gardi Alessandro , Bieber Chad , Silverberg Larry , Sabatini Roberto
Published: October 2016

Navigation and guidance systems are a critical part of any autonomous vehicle. In this paper, a novel sensor grid using 40 KHz ultrasonic transmitters is presented for adoption in indoor 3D positioning applications. In the proposed technique, a vehicle measures the arrival time of incoming ultrasonic signals and calculates the position without broadcasting to the grid. This system allows for conducting silent or covert operations and can also be used for the simultaneous navigation of a large number of vehicles. The transmitters and receivers employed are first described. Transmission lobe patterns and receiver directionality determine the geometry of transmitter clusters. Range and accuracy of measurements dictate the number of sensors required to navigate in a given volume. Laboratory experiments were performed in which a small array of transmitters was set up and the sensor system was tested for position accuracy. The prototype system is shown to have a 1-sigma position error of about 16 cm, with errors between 7 and 11 cm in the local horizontal coordinates. This research work provides foundations for the future development of ultrasonic navigation sensors for a variety of autonomous vehicle applications.
High Sensitivity Refractive Index Sensor Based on Dual-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber with Hexagonal Lattice
Authors: Wang Haiyang , Yan Xin , Li Shuguang , An Guowen , Zhang Xuenan
Published: October 2016

A refractive index sensor based on dual-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with hexagonal lattice is proposed. The effects of geometrical parameters of the PCF on performances of the sensor are investigated by using the finite element method (FEM). Two fiber cores are separated by two air holes filled with the analyte whose refractive index is in the range of 1.33–1.41. Numerical simulation results show that the highest sensitivity can be up to 22,983 nm/RIU(refractive index unit) when the analyte refractive index is 1.41. The lowest sensitivity can reach to 21,679 nm/RIU when the analyte refractive index is 1.33. The sensor we proposed has significant advantages in the field of biomolecule detection as it provides a wide-range of detection with high sensitivity.
Achieving Passive Localization with Traffic Light Schedules in Urban Road Sensor Networks
Authors: Niu Qiang , Yang Xu , Gao Shouwan , Chen Pengpeng , Chan Shibing
Published: October 2016

Localization is crucial for the monitoring applications of cities, such as road monitoring, environment surveillance, vehicle tracking, etc. In urban road sensor networks, sensors are often sparely deployed due to the hardware cost. Under this sparse deployment, sensors cannot communicate with each other via ranging hardware or one-hop connectivity, rendering the existing localization solutions ineffective. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel Traffic Lights Schedule-based localization algorithm (TLS), which is built on the fact that vehicles move through the intersection with a known traffic light schedule. We can first obtain the law by binary vehicle detection time stamps and describe the law as a matrix, called a detection matrix. At the same time, we can also use the known traffic light information to construct the matrices, which can be formed as a collection called a known matrix collection. The detection matrix is then matched in the known matrix collection for identifying where sensors are located on urban roads. We evaluate our algorithm by extensive simulation. The results show that the localization accuracy of intersection sensors can reach more than 90%. In addition, we compare it with a state-of-the-art algorithm and prove that it has a wider operational region.
PILA: Sub-Meter Localization Using CSI from Commodity Wi-Fi Devices
Authors: Tian Zengshan , Li Ze , Zhou Mu , Jin Yue , Wu Zipeng
Published: October 2016

The aim of this paper is to present a new indoor localization approach by employing the Angle-of-arrival (AOA) and Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements in Wi-Fi network. To achieve this goal, we first collect the Channel State Information (CSI) by using the commodity Wi-Fi devices with our designed three antennas to estimate the AOA of Wi-Fi signal. Second, we propose a direct path identification algorithm to obtain the direct signal path for the sake of reducing the interference of multipath effect on the AOA estimation. Third, we construct a new objective function to solve the localization problem by integrating the AOA and RSS information. Although the localization problem is non-convex, we use the Second-order Cone Programming (SOCP) relaxation approach to transform it into a convex problem. Finally, the effectiveness of our approach is verified based on the prototype implementation by using the commodity Wi-Fi devices. The experimental results show that our approach can achieve the median error 0.7 m in the actual indoor environment.
One Binder to Bind Them All
Authors: Hayden Oliver
Published: October 2016

High quality binders, such as antibodies, are of critical importance for chemical sensing applications. With synthetic alternatives, such as molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), less sensor development time and higher stability of the binder can be achieved. In this feature paper, I will discuss the impact of synthetic binders from an industrial perspective and I will challenge the molecular imprinting community on the next step to leapfrog the current status quo of MIPs for (bio)sensing. Equally important, but often neglected as an effective chemical sensor, is a good match of transducer and MIP coating for a respective application. To demonstrate an application-driven development, a biosensing use case with surface-imprinted layers on piezoacoustic sensors is reported. Depending on the electrode pattern for the transducer, the strong mechanical coupling of the analyte with the MIP layer coated device allows the adoption of the sensitivity from cell mass to cell viability with complete reversibility.
Quantitative Evaluation of Ecosystem Health in a Karst Area of South China
Authors: Chen Shengzi , Zhou Zhongfa , Yan Lihui , Li Bo
Published: October 2016

The purpose of this study is to propose a GIS-based mechanism for diagnosing karst rocky desertification (KRD) ecosystem health. Using the Huajiang Demonstration Area in Guizhou Province as a case study, this research offers a multi-factor indicator system for diagnosing KRD ecosystem health. A set of geologic, environmental, and socio-economic health indicators were developed based on remote sensing images from field-investigation, hydrological, and meteorological monitoring data. With the use of grid GIS technology, this study gives an indicator for diagnosing the spatial expression of desertification at a 5 m × 5 m grid scale. Using spatial overlaying technology based on grid data, the temporal and spatial dynamics of ecosystem health in the Huajiang Demonstration Area were tracked over a 10 year time span. The results of the analysis indicate that ecosystem health in the Huajiang Demonstration Area varies regionally, and has overall improved over time. The proportion of healthy area increased from 3.7% in 2000 to 8.2% in 2010. However, unhealthy and middle-health areas still accounted for 78.7% of the total area by 2010. The most obvious improvement of ecosystem health was in an area where comprehensive control measures for curbing KRD were implemented. These results suggest that comprehensive control of KRD can effectively mitigate ecosystem deterioration and improve ecosystem health in karst regions of South China.
Sustainability, Innovation, and Green Chemistry in the Production and Valorization of Phenolic Extracts from Olea europaea L.
Authors: Romani Annalisa , Pinelli Patrizia , Ieri Francesca , Bernini Roberta
Published: October 2016

This paper describes a circular economy process based on environmentally and economically sustainable procedures which was applied to the sector of olive oil processing on an industrial scale. Olea europaea L. tissues and by-products represent a renewable and low-cost source of polyphenols, in particular hydroxytyrosol (HTyr), a naturally occurring compound well known for its biological properties. Specifically, green leaves (GL), dried leaves (DL), and pitted olive pulp were treated with water in a pneumatic extractor to obtain the corresponding polyphenolic extracts. Three standardized fractions, named Soft Extract Olea GL, Soft Extract Olea DL, and Soft Extract Olea HTyr resulted after the following two steps: a separation process carried out by membrane technology, and a concentration step performed under reduced pressure and low temperature. The polyphenolic fractions showed antiradical activity and have potential industrial applications in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, feed, and agronomic fields. Novel functionalized extracts containing hydroxytyrosol methyl carbonate (HTyr-MC) were obtained from Soft Extract Olea HTyr through an innovative approach based on green chemistry procedures, which appear to be a promising tool to increase the applications of the polyphenolic extracts.
The Impacts of Land Use Change on Residents’ Living Based on Urban Metabolism: A Case Study in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Wang Zhanqi , Chai Ji , Li Bingqing
Published: October 2016

Land use change is one of the fundamental influence factors of human life and well-being. The land use change due to the unprecedented urbanization in China not only causes an increase of resource consumption and threatens food security, but also affects the people’s living standard which deserves our attention. This study aims to reveal the impacts of land use change on residents’ living standard in Yangzhou based on urban metabolism by sensitivity and regression analysis. Results showed that during the period from 1995 to 2014, the flux of emergy increased about 156.56% and the ratio of fuels & electricity emergy flow had increased from 2.86% to 9.20% due to energy demands getting larger, while the built-up land increased by 415.05 km2 and the cultivated land reduced by 417.24 km2. Sensitivity analysis showed that the expansion of built-up land improved residents’ living standards and enriched their material life, while people’s lives were also increasingly dependent on energy consumption and sustainability was being reduced. The regression analysis indicated that people’s lifestyles were transforming to economical and intensive utilization of resources with the built-up area expansion. The results can provide feasible recommendations for land use planning and urban development from the aspect of human life and well-being.
Effects of Milk Yield, Feed Composition, and Feed Contamination with Aflatoxin B1 on the Aflatoxin M1 Concentration in Dairy Cows’ Milk Investigated Using Monte Carlo Simulation Modelling
Authors: Van der Fels-Klerx H. , Camenzuli Louise
Published: October 2016

This study investigated the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AfM1) in dairy cows’ milk, given predefined scenarios for milk production, compound feed (CF) contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AfB1), and inclusion rates of ingredients, using Monte Carlo simulation modelling. The model simulated a typical dairy farm in the Netherlands. Six different scenarios were considered, based on two lactation and three CF composition scenarios. AfB1 contamination of the CF was based on results from the Dutch national monitoring programme for AfB1 in feed materials from 2000 until 2010. Monitoring data from feed materials used in CF production for dairy cattle in the Netherlands were used. Additionally, AfB1 contamination data from an incident in maize in 2013 were used. In each scenario, five different transfer equations of AfB1 from feed to AfM1 in the milk were used, and 1000 iterations were run for each scenario. The results showed that under these six scenarios, the weekly farm concentration of AfM1 in milk was above the EC threshold in less than 1% of the iterations, with all five transfer equations considered. However, this increased substantially in weeks when concentrations from the contaminated maize batch were included, and up to 28.5% of the iterations exceeded the EC threshold. It was also observed that an increase in the milk production had a minimal effect on the exceedance of the AfM1 threshold due to an apparent dilution effect. Feeding regimes, including the composition of CF and feeding roughages of dairy cows, should be carefully considered based on the potential AfM1 contamination of the farm’s milk.
Severe Dengue Fever with Haemolytic Anaemia—A Case Study
Authors: Aye Mra , Cabot Jason , William Lee
Published: October 2016

Dengue fever, the most common arthropod-borne viral infection in South East Asia, is increasing in prevalence due partially to increased awareness and better diagnostic methods. While haematologic complications, such as cytopeniae and bleeding, may occur in severe dengue infection due to a variety of aetiologies, reports of haemolytic anaemia in dengue fever are scant. We report a case of severe dengue fever with haemolytic anaemia following the critical phase of infection.
Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Recharge from Extreme Rainfalls in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Liu Yuyu , Jiang Xin , Zhang Guangxin , Xu Y. , Wang Xihua , Qi Peng
Published: October 2016

Groundwater recharge from rainstorms can be vital for regional water resources. With the expansion of the need for more water in some specific regions under global climate change, groundwater is being pumped at a far greater rate than it can be naturally replenished. Considering that excess rainstorms could be utilized for groundwater recharge to lessen the declining tendency of regional groundwater level in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, we analyzed groundwater changes in the quantity of a regional shallow aquifer in the region following extreme rainfall in 2013. The results show that shallow groundwater table in the north and central Sanjiang Plain increased following the 2013 extreme rainfall. Most of the annual maximal change of groundwater depth (MCGD) was in the range of 1 m to 3 m, occupying 72.1% of the study area. The average MCGD was 1.73 m in 2013, about 0.4 m higher than the mean value during the last five years (1.33 m). Spatially, the overall average groundwater depth showed an increasing trend from the southeast to the midwest and northeast. We estimated a total recharge of approximately 41.14 × 108 m3 from the 2013 extreme rainfall across the north and central Sanjiang Plain. This large quantity of recharge demonstrates the important role that large rainstorms can play in regional shallow groundwater resources.