bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Study on the Ultimate Deformation of RC Structural Walls with Confined Boundary Regions
Authors: Taleb Rafik , Watanabe Hidekazu , Kono Susumu
Published: July 2017

For accurate assessment of performance levels in reinforced concrete (RC) members, it is important to well define deformation limits at particular damage states. For RC walled building, investigation of the deformation limits of RC structural walls is required to define limit states and corresponding limiting values. Numerical investigations were carried out on barbell shape and rectangular RC walls with confined boundaries to evaluate response curves and ultimate deformations. A nonlinear 2D and 3D finite elements (FE) models were built in order to simulate the load-deformation relations under monotonic loading as well as cracking and damage patterns of previously tested walls. The FE models were able to simulate the backbone curves with good accuracy as well as the ability of boundary columns in reducing damage level. The 3D FE model simulated very well the ultimate deformation compared to 2D models. A sectional fibre model combined with plastic hinge length and shear deformation component is proposed in order to simulate the backbone curves and the ultimate deformation with less computational cost compared to 3D FE analysis. The model was able to provide relatively accurate backbone curves with very good estimation of ultimate drift.
Dynamic Hippocampal and Prefrontal Contributions to Memory Processes and Representations Blur the Boundaries of Traditional Cognitive Domains
Authors: Rubin Rachael , Schwarb Hillary , Lucas Heather , Dulas Michael , Cohen Neal
Published: July 2017

The hippocampus has long been known to be a critical component of the memory system involved in the formation and use of long-term declarative memory. However, recent findings have revealed that the reach of hippocampal contributions extends to a variety of domains and tasks that require the flexible use of cognitive and social behavior, including domains traditionally linked to prefrontal cortex (PFC), such as decision-making. In addition, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has gained traction as a necessary part of the memory system. These findings challenge the conventional characterizations of hippocampus and PFC as being circumscribed to traditional cognitive domains. Here, we emphasize that the ability to parsimoniously account for the breadth of hippocampal and PFC contributions to behavior, in terms of memory function and beyond, requires theoretical advances in our understanding of their characteristic processing features and mental representations. Notably, several literatures exist that touch upon this issue, but have remained disjointed because of methodological differences that necessarily limit the scope of inquiry, as well as the somewhat artificial boundaries that have been historically imposed between domains of cognition. In particular, this article focuses on the contribution of relational memory theory as an example of a framework that describes both the representations and processes supported by the hippocampus, and further elucidates the role of the hippocampal–PFC network to a variety of behaviors.
Some Remarks on Classical and Classical-Quantum Sphere Packing Bounds: Rényi vs. Kullback–Leibler
Authors: Dalai Marco
Published: July 2017

We review the use of binary hypothesis testing for the derivation of the sphere packing bound in channel coding, pointing out a key difference between the classical and the classical-quantum setting. In the first case, two ways of using the binary hypothesis testing are known, which lead to the same bound written in different analytical expressions. The first method historically compares output distributions induced by the codewords with an auxiliary fixed output distribution, and naturally leads to an expression using the Renyi divergence. The second method compares the given channel with an auxiliary one and leads to an expression using the Kullback–Leibler divergence. In the classical-quantum case, due to a fundamental difference in the quantum binary hypothesis testing, these two approaches lead to two different bounds, the first being the “right” one. We discuss the details of this phenomenon, which suggests the question of whether auxiliary channels are used in the optimal way in the second approach and whether recent results on the exact strong-converse exponent in classical-quantum channel coding might play a role in the considered problem.
Validating a Wave-to-Wire Model for a Wave Energy Converter—Part I: The Hydraulic Transmission System
Authors: Penalba Markel , Sell Nathan , Hillis Andy , Ringwood John
Published: July 2017

Considering the full dynamics of the different conversion stages from ocean waves to the electricity grid is essential to evaluate the realistic power flow in the drive train and design accurate model-based control formulations. The power take-off system for wave energy converters (WECs) is one of the essential parts of wave-to-wire (W2W) models, for which hydraulic transmissions are a robust solution and offer the flexibility to design specific drive-trains for specific energy absorption requirements of different WECs. The potential hydraulic drive train topologies can be classified into two main configuration groups (constant-pressure and variable-pressure configurations), each of which uses specific components and has a particular impact on the preceding and following stages of the drive train. The present paper describes the models for both configurations, including the main nonlinear dynamics, losses and constraints. Results from the mathematical model simulations are compared against experimental results obtained from two independent test rigs, which represent the two main configurations, and high-fidelity software. Special attention is paid to the impact of friction in the hydraulic cylinder and flow and torque losses in the hydraulic motor. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the models in reproducing experimental results, capturing friction effects and showing similar losses.
Rev-Changes in Primary Energy Use and CO2 Emissions—An Impact Assessment for a Building with Focus on the Swedish Proposal for Nearly Zero Energy Buildings
Authors: Gustafsson Mattias , Thygesen Richard , Karlsson Björn , Ödlund Louise
Published: July 2017

In the European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the energy efficiency goal for buildings is set in terms of primary energy use. In the proposal from the National Board of Housing, Building, and Planning, for nearly zero energy buildings in Sweden, the use of primary energy is expressed as a primary energy number calculated with given primary energy factors. In this article, a multi-dwelling building is simulated and the difference in the primary energy number is investigated when the building uses heat from district heating systems or from heat pumps, alone or combined with solar thermal or solar photovoltaic systems. It is also investigated how the global CO2 emissions are influenced by the different energy system combinations and with different fuels used. It is concluded that the calculated primary energy number is lower for heat pump systems, but the global CO2 emissions are lowest when district heating uses mostly biofuels and is combined with solar PV systems. The difference is up to 140 tonnes/year. If the aim with the Swedish building code is to decrease the global CO2 emissions then the ratio between the primary energy factors for electricity and heat should be larger than three and considerably higher than today.
Exergy Replacement Cost of Fossil Fuels: Closing the Carbon Cycle
Authors: Whiting Kai , Carmona Luis , Carrasco Angeles , Sousa Tânia
Published: July 2017

The Exergy Replacement Cost (ERC) is an indicator that is used to ascertain the sustainability of non-renewable resource depletion. Specifically, it measures the amount of exergy society would have to expend if it were forced to re-capture and re-concentrate dispersed minerals back into a manmade usable deposit. Due to an assumption regarding the non-substitutability of fossil fuels, the original method failed to properly account for them. In fact, it sub-estimated their exergy replacement cost forty-seven-fold, on average, when considering solar radiation to fuel, and by approximately fivefold when going from crop to fuel. This new method, via the cumulative exergy consumption (CExC), calculates the exergy replacement cost of photosynthesis and bio-energy production, as together they form the best available technology when it comes to closing the carbon cycle. This approach ties together the “cradle to grave” to the “grave to cradle”, standardises the ERC calculations and enables comparisons between fuel and non-fuel mineral consumption. It also opens a discussion as to the role of the ERC in sustainability debates and whether resource depletion should be a matter of geological patrimony or material/energy services.
A Quantification Index for Power Systems Transient Stability
Authors: Chen Shengen , Onwuachumba Amamihe , Musavi Mohamad , Lerley Paul
Published: July 2017

In order to assess the reliability of power systems, transient stability simulations must be conducted in addition to steady state study. The transient stability component of reliability studies usually involves extensive simulations generating large amounts of data to be analyzed. Conventional stability analysis relies on a visual examination of selected simulation data plots to classify the severity of disturbances. This conventional examination, which aims to compare the simulations results to established performance criteria, is not comprehensive, is time consuming and prone to subjective interpretation. This paper presents a quantification method for power system performance evaluation. It applies a range of criteria such as rotor angle separation, loss of source, damping, and voltage sag directly to the simulation data files to achieve a more efficient and objective stability assessment. By using stability modules, the proposed method evaluates the performance of every fault location, numerically, by providing a local stability index, as well as an overall global stability index. The method also provides an evaluation of dispatches and their impacts on system stability. The IEEE 39-bus test system and the Northeast Interconnection Power System were used to show the results of this method. This method will free engineers from tedious, time-consuming and error-susceptible offline visual analysis and yield significantly quantified results.
EYS Mutations Causing Autosomal Recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa: Changes of Retinal Structure and Function with Disease Progression
Authors: McGuigan David , Heon Elise , Cideciyan Artur , Ratnapriya Rinki , Lu Monica , Sumaroka Alexander , Roman Alejandro , Batmanabane Vaishnavi , Garafalo Alexandra , Stone Edwin , Swaroop Anand , Jacobson Samuel
Published: July 2017

Mutations in the EYS (eyes shut homolog) gene are a common cause of autosomal recessive (ar) retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Without a mammalian model of human EYS disease, there is limited understanding of details of disease expression and rates of progression of the retinal degeneration. We studied clinically and with chromatic static perimetry, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), and en face autofluoresence imaging, a cohort of 15 patients (ages 12–51 at first visit), some of whom had longitudinal data of function and structure. Rod sensitivity was able to be measured by chromatic perimetry in most patients at their earliest visits and some patients retained patchy rod function into the fifth decade of life. As expected from RP, cone sensitivity persisted after rod function was no longer measurable. The photoreceptor nuclear layer of the central retina was abnormal except at the fovea in most patients at first visit. Perifoveal disease measured over a period of years indicated that photoreceptor structural loss was followed by dysmorphology of the inner retina and loss of retinal pigment epithelial integrity. Although there could be variability in severity, preliminary analyses of the rates of vision loss suggested that EYS is a more rapidly progressive disease than other ciliopathies causing arRP, such as USH2A and MAK.
The Impact of Biofilms upon Surfaces Relevant to an Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Geological Disposal Facility under Simulated Near-Field Conditions
Authors: Charles Christopher , Rout Simon , Laws Andrew , Jackson Brian , Boxall Sally , Humphreys Paul
Published: July 2017

The ability of biofilms to form on a range of materials (cementious backfill (Nirex Reference Vault Backfill (NRVB)), graphite, and stainless steel) relevant to potential UK intermediate level radioactive waste (ILW) disposal concepts was investigated by exposing these surfaces to alkaliphilic flocs generated by mature biofilm communities. Flocs are aggregates of biofilm material that are able to act as a transport vector for the propagation of biofilms. In systems where biofilm formation was observed there was also a decrease in the sorption of isosaccharinic acids to the NRVB. The biofilms were composed of cells, extracellular DNA (eDNA), proteins, and lipids with a smaller polysaccharide fraction, which was biased towards mannopyranosyl linked carbohydrates. The same trend was seen with the graphite and stainless steel surfaces at these pH values, but in this case the biofilms associated with the stainless steel surfaces had a distinct eDNA basal layer that anchored the biofilm to the surface. At pH 13, no structured biofilm was observed, rather all the surfaces accumulated an indistinct organic layer composed of biofilm materials. This was particularly the case for the stainless steel coupons which accumulated relatively large quantities of eDNA. The results demonstrate that there is the potential for biofilm formation in an ILW-GDF provided an initiation source for the microbial biofilm is present. They also suggest that even when conditions are too harsh for biofilm formation, exposed surfaces may accumulate organic material such as eDNA.
Cervical Fractures: Does Injury Level Impact the Incidence of Dysphagia in Elderly Patients?
Authors: Pattison Jill , Kincaid MIchelle , Pandya Urmil
Published: July 2017

Dysphagia is common in the elderly with significant consequences such as aspiration and malnutrition. This study seeks to investigate oropharyngeal dysphagia in elderly patients with cervical fractures and determine whether the level of cervical fracture impacts the incidence of swallowing dysfunction. Records of trauma patients ≥65 admitted with cervical fractures over a 76-month period to a level 1 trauma center were reviewed. History of dysphagia, stroke, tracheostomy or spinal cord injury were excluded criteria, leaving 161 patients for analysis. Evaluation of swallowing function was performed to identify dysphagia and variables were analyzed. A total of 161 patients met inclusion criteria and 42 (26.1%) had dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia were older (84.1 ± 8.93 vs. 79.9 ± 8.48, p = 0.006), had higher hospital length of stay (9.0 ± 4.48 vs 4.6 ± 3.30, p = <0.0001), and were more likely to have intensive care unit days (52.4% vs 21.8%, p = 0.0002). Non-operatively-managed patients with C1 fractures were more likely to have dysphagia than patients without C1 fractures (29.2% vs 7.1%, p = 0.0008). After regression analysis, C1 fracture increased the likelihood of dysphagia by four times (OR = 4.0; 95% CI 1.2–13.0). Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in elderly patients with cervical fracture. Non-operatively-managed patients with C1 fractures are at increased risk and may benefit from more vigorous surveillance.
Impact of First Aid on Treatment Outcomes for Non-Fatal Injuries in Rural Bangladesh: Findings from an Injury and Demographic Census
Authors: Hoque Dewan , Islam Md , Sharmin Salam Shumona , Rahman Qazi , Agrawal Priyanka , Rahman Aminur , Rahman Fazlur , El-Arifeen Shams , Hyder Adnan , Alonge Olakunle
Published: July 2017

Non-fatal injuries have a significant impact on disability, productivity, and economic cost, and first-aid can play an important role in improving non-fatal injury outcomes. Data collected from a census conducted as part of a drowning prevention project in Bangladesh was used to quantify the impact of first-aid provided by trained and untrained providers on non-fatal injuries. The census covered approximately 1.2 million people from 7 sub-districts of Bangladesh. Around 10% individuals reported an injury event in the six-month recall period. The most common injuries were falls (39%) and cuts injuries (23.4%). Overall, 81.7% of those with non-fatal injuries received first aid from a provider of whom 79.9% were non-medically trained. Individuals who received first-aid from a medically trained provider had more severe injuries and were 1.28 times more likely to show improvement or recover compared to those who received first-aid from an untrained provider. In Bangladesh, first-aid for non-fatal injuries are primarily provided by untrained providers. Given the large number of untrained providers and the known benefits of first aid to overcome morbidities associated with non-fatal injuries, public health interventions should be designed and implemented to train and improve skills of untrained providers.
Modeling Nitrogen Dynamics in a Waste Stabilization Pond System Using Flexible Modeling Environment with MCMC
Authors: Mukhtar Hussnain , Lin Yu-Pin , Shipin Oleg , Petway Joy
Published: July 2017

This study presents an approach for obtaining realization sets of parameters for nitrogen removal in a pilot-scale waste stabilization pond (WSP) system. The proposed approach was designed for optimal parameterization, local sensitivity analysis, and global uncertainty analysis of a dynamic simulation model for the WSP by using the R software package Flexible Modeling Environment (R-FME) with the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. Additionally, generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) was integrated into the FME to evaluate the major parameters that affect the simulation outputs in the study WSP. Comprehensive modeling analysis was used to simulate and assess nine parameters and concentrations of ON-N, NH3-N and NO3-N. Results indicate that the integrated FME-GLUE-based model, with good Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients (0.53–0.69) and correlation coefficients (0.76–0.83), successfully simulates the concentrations of ON-N, NH3-N and NO3-N. Moreover, the Arrhenius constant was the only parameter sensitive to model performances of ON-N and NH3-N simulations. However, Nitrosomonas growth rate, the denitrification constant, and the maximum growth rate at 20 °C were sensitive to ON-N and NO3-N simulation, which was measured using global sensitivity.
Entrainment of Breast Cell Lines Results in Rhythmic Fluctuations of MicroRNAs
Authors: Chacolla-Huaringa Rafael , Moreno-Cuevas Jorge , Trevino Victor , Scott Sean-Patrick
Published: July 2017

Circadian rhythms are essential for temporal (~24 h) regulation of molecular processes in diverse species. Dysregulation of circadian gene expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various disorders, including hypertension, diabetes, depression, and cancer. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as critical modulators of gene expression post-transcriptionally, and perhaps involved in circadian clock architecture or their output functions. The aim of the present study is to explore the temporal expression of miRNAs among entrained breast cell lines. For this purpose, we evaluated the temporal (28 h) expression of 2006 miRNAs in MCF-10A, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells using microarrays after serum shock entrainment. We noted hundreds of miRNAs that exhibit rhythmic fluctuations in each breast cell line, and some of them across two or three cell lines. Afterwards, we validated the rhythmic profiles exhibited by miR-141-5p, miR-1225-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-222-5p, miR-769-3p, and miR-548ay-3p in the above cell lines, as well as in ZR-7530 and HCC-1954 using RT-qPCR. Our results show that serum shock entrainment in breast cells lines induces rhythmic fluctuations of distinct sets of miRNAs, which have the potential to be related to endogenous circadian clock, but extensive investigation is required to elucidate that connection.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction Mediated by Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 Activation Contributes to Hippocampal Neuronal Damage Following Status Epilepticus
Authors: Lai Yi-Chen , Baker J. , Donti Taraka , Graham Brett , Craigen William , Anderson Anne
Published: July 2017

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the neuropathology associated with status epilepticus (SE) and is implicated in the development of epilepsy. While excitotoxic mechanisms are well-known mediators affecting mitochondrial health following SE, whether hyperactivation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) also contributes to SE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction remains to be examined. Here we first evaluated the temporal evolution of poly-ADP-ribosylated protein levels in hippocampus following kainic acid-induced SE as a marker for PARP-1 activity, and found that PARP-1 was hyperactive at 24 h following SE. We evaluated oxidative metabolism and found decreased NAD+ levels by enzymatic cycling, and impaired NAD+-dependent mitochondrial respiration as measured by polarography at 24 h following SE. Stereological estimation showed significant cell loss in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 subregions 72 h following SE. PARP-1 inhibition using N-(6-Oxo-5,6-dihydro-phenanthridin-2-yl)- N,N-dimethylacetamide (PJ-34) in vivo administration was associated with preserved NAD+ levels and NAD+-dependent mitochondrial respiration, and improved CA1 neuronal survival. These findings suggest that PARP-1 hyperactivation contributes to SE-associated mitochondrial dysfunction and CA1 hippocampal damage. The deleterious effects of PARP-1 hyperactivation on mitochondrial respiration are in part mediated through intracellular NAD+ depletion. Therefore, modulating PARP-1 activity may represent a potential therapeutic target to preserve intracellular energetics and mitochondrial function following SE.
Functioning of Fluorescent Proteins in Aggregates in Anthozoa Species and in Recombinant Artificial Models
Authors: Povarova Natalia , Petri Natalia , Blokhina Anna , Bogdanov Alexey , Gurskaya Nadya , Lukyanov Konstantin
Published: July 2017

Despite great advances in practical applications of fluorescent proteins (FPs), their natural function is poorly understood. FPs display complex spatio-temporal expression patterns in living Anthozoa coral polyps. Here we applied confocal microscopy, specifically, the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique to analyze intracellular localization and mobility of endogenous FPs in live tissues. We observed three distinct types of protein distributions in living tissues. One type of distribution, characteristic for Anemonia, Discosoma and Zoanthus, is free, highly mobile cytoplasmic localization. Another pattern is seen in FPs localized to numerous intracellular vesicles, observed in Clavularia. The third most intriguing type of intracellular localization is with respect to the spindle-shaped aggregates and lozenge crystals several micrometers in size observed in Zoanthus samples. No protein mobility within those structures was detected by FRAP. This finding encouraged us to develop artificial aggregating FPs. We constructed “trio-FPs” consisting of three tandem copies of tetrameric FPs and demonstrated that they form multiple bright foci upon expression in mammalian cells. High brightness of the aggregates is advantageous for early detection of weak promoter activities. Simultaneously, larger aggregates can induce significant cytostatic and cytotoxic effects and thus such tags are not suitable for long-term and high-level expression.
Variability in DNA Repair Capacity Levels among Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Shows Lowest Repair
Authors: Matta Jaime , Ortiz Carmen , Encarnación Jarline , Dutil Julie , Suárez Erick
Published: July 2017

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease which many studies have classified in at least four molecular subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-Enriched, and Basal-like (including triple-negative breast cancer, TNBC). These subtypes provide information to stratify patients for better prognostic predictions and treatment selection. Individuals vary in their sensitivities to carcinogens due to differences in their DNA repair capacity (DRC) levels. Although our previous case-control study established low DRC (in terms of NER pathway) as a BC risk factor, we aim to study this effect among the molecular subtypes. Therefore, the objectives of this study include investigating whether DRC varies among molecular subtypes and testing any association regarding DRC. This study comprised 267 recently diagnosed women with BC (cases) and 682 without BC (controls). Our results show a substantial variability in DRC among the molecular subtypes, with TNBC cases (n = 47) having the lowest DRC (p-value < 0.05). Almost 80 percent of BC cases had a DRC below the median (4.3%). Low DRC was strongly associated with the TNBC subtype (OR 7.2; 95% CI 3.3, 15.7). In conclusion, our study provides the first report on the variability among the molecular subtypes and provides a hypothesis based on DRC levels for the poor prognosis of TNBC.
Rapid and Direct VHH and Target Identification by Staphylococcal Surface Display Libraries
Authors: Cavallari Marco
Published: July 2017

Unbiased and simultaneous identification of a specific antibody and its target antigen has been difficult without prior knowledge of at least one interaction partner. Immunization with complex mixtures of antigens such as whole organisms and tissue extracts including tumoral ones evokes a highly diverse immune response. During such a response, antibodies are generated against a variety of epitopes in the mixture. Here, we propose a surface display design that is suited to simultaneously identify camelid single domain antibodies and their targets. Immune libraries of single-domain antigen recognition fragments from camelid heavy chain-only antibodies (VHH) were attached to the peptidoglycan of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus employing its endogenous housekeeping sortase enzyme. The sortase transpeptidation reaction covalently attached the VHH to the bacterial peptidoglycan. The reversible nature of the reaction allowed the recovery of the VHH from the bacterial surface and the use of the VHH in downstream applications. These staphylococcal surface display libraries were used to rapidly identify VHH as well as their targets by immunoprecipitation (IP). Our novel bacterial surface display platform was stable under harsh screening conditions, allowed fast target identification, and readily permitted the recovery of the displayed VHH for downstream analysis.
Visual Exploration of Large Multidimensional Data Using Parallel Coordinates on Big Data Infrastructure
Authors: Sansen Joris , Richer Gaëlle , Jourde Timothée , Lalanne Frédéric , Auber David , Bourqui Romain
Published: July 2017

The increase of data collection in various domains calls for an adaptation of methods of visualization to tackle magnitudes exceeding the number of available pixels on screens and challenging interactivity. This growth of datasets size has been supported by the advent of accessible and scalable storage and computing infrastructure. Similarly, visualization systems need perceptual and interactive scalability. We present a complete system, complying with the constraints of aforesaid environment, for visual exploration of large multidimensional data with parallel coordinates. Perceptual scalability is addressed with data abstraction while interactions rely on server-side data-intensive computation and hardware-accelerated rendering on the client-side. The system employs a hybrid computing method to accommodate pre-computing time or space constraints and achieves responsiveness for main parallel coordinates plot interaction tools on billions of records.
Numerical Modeling of Marine Circulation, Pollution Assessment and Optimal Ship Routes
Authors: Zalesny Vladimir , Agoshkov Valeriy , Aps Robert , Shutyaev Victor , Zayachkovskiy Anton , Goerlandt Floris , Kujala Pentti
Published: July 2017

Methods and technology have been developed to solve a wide range of problems in the dynamics of sea currents and to assess their “impact” on objects in the marine environment. Technology can be used for monitoring and forecasting sea currents, for solving the problems of minimizing risks and analyzing marine disasters associated with the choice of the optimal course of the ship, and assessing the pollution of coastal zones, etc. The technology includes a numerical model of marine circulation with improved resolution of coastal zones, a method for solving the inverse problem of contamination of the sea with a passive impurity, and a variational algorithm for constructing the optimal trajectory of the vessel. The methods and technology are illustrated by solving problems of Baltic Sea dynamics. The model of sea dynamics is governed by primitive equations that are solved on a grid with an improved resolution of the selected coastal zone—in this case, the Gulf of Finland. The equations of the model are formulated in a bipolar orthogonal coordinate system with an arbitrary arrangement of poles and the sigma coordinate in the vertical direction. An increase in the horizontal resolution of the allocated zone is achieved due to the displacement of the north pole in the vicinity of the city of St. Petersburg. A class of dangerous technogenic situations and natural phenomena (sea accidents, which can be investigated with the help of the proposed methodology), includes tanker accidents in the case of a possible collision with a stationary object (with “dynamic danger”) or a moving object (including another ship), accidents on oil-producing platforms and oil pipelines, and coastal pollution.
Code-Switching by Phase
Authors: López Luis , Alexiadou Artemis , Veenstra Tonjes
Published: July 2017

We show that the theoretical construct “phase” underlies a number of restrictions on code-switching, in particular those formalized under the Principle of Functional Restriction (González-Vilbazo 2005) and the Phonetic Form Interface Condition (MacSwan and Colina 2014). The fundamental hypothesis that code-switching should be studied using the same tools that we use for monolingual phenomena is reinforced.
An Intelligent Gear Fault Diagnosis Methodology Using a Complex Wavelet Enhanced Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Sun Weifang , Yao Bin , Zeng Nianyin , Chen Binqiang , He Yuchao , Cao Xincheng , He Wangpeng
Published: July 2017

As a typical example of large and complex mechanical systems, rotating machinery is prone to diversified sorts of mechanical faults. Among these faults, one of the prominent causes of malfunction is generated in gear transmission chains. Although they can be collected via vibration signals, the fault signatures are always submerged in overwhelming interfering contents. Therefore, identifying the critical fault’s characteristic signal is far from an easy task. In order to improve the recognition accuracy of a fault’s characteristic signal, a novel intelligent fault diagnosis method is presented. In this method, a dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DTCWT) is employed to acquire the multiscale signal’s features. In addition, a convolutional neural network (CNN) approach is utilized to automatically recognise a fault feature from the multiscale signal features. The experiment results of the recognition for gear faults show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, especially in the gear’s weak fault features.
Large-Area and High-Throughput PDMS Microfluidic Chip Fabrication Assisted by Vacuum Airbag Laminator
Authors: Xie Shuting , Wu Jun , Tang Biao , Zhou Guofu , Jin Mingliang , Shui Lingling
Published: July 2017

One of the key fabrication steps of large-area microfluidic devices is the flexible-to-hard sheet alignment and pre-bonding. In this work, the vacuum airbag laminator (VAL) which is commonly used for liquid crystal display (LCD) production has been applied for large-area microfluidic device fabrication. A straightforward, efficient, and low-cost method has been achieved for 400 × 500 mm2 microfluidic device fabrication. VAL provides the advantages of precise alignment and lamination without bubbles. Thermal treatment has been applied to achieve strong PDMS–glass and PDMS–PDMS bonding with maximum breakup pressure of 739 kPa, which is comparable to interference-assisted thermal bonding method. The fabricated 152 × 152 mm2 microfluidic chip has been successfully applied for droplet generation and splitting.
A New N-methoxypyridone from the Co-Cultivation of Hawaiian Endophytic Fungi Camporesia sambuci FT1061 and Epicoccum sorghinum FT1062
Authors: Li Chunshun , Sarotti Ariel , Yang Baojun , Turkson James , Cao Shugeng
Published: July 2017

A new N-methoxypyridone analog (1), together with four known compounds, was isolated from the co-culture of Hawaiian endophytic fungi Camporesia sambuci FT1061 and Epicoccum sorghinum FT1062. The structure of the new compound was elucidated as 11S-hydroxy-1-methoxyfusaricide (1) by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the literature. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by comparison with the experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The absolute configuration of compound 3 was investigated and renamed as (+)-epipyridone by comparison of the optical rotation and CD spectrum with those of 1. The other known compounds were identified as epicoccarine B (2), D8646-2-6 (4), and iso-D8646-2-6 (5). Compounds 4 and 5 showed modest inhibitory activity towards pathogenic fungi. Epicoccarine B (2) inhibited A2780 and TK-10 with an IC50 value of 22 μM.
Alterations in Circulating Amino Acid Metabolite Ratio Associated with Arginase Activity Are Potential Indicators of Metabolic Syndrome: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study
Authors: Moon Jiyoung , Kim Oh , Jo Garam , Shin Min-Jeong
Published: July 2017

Upregulated arginase activity, which competes with nitric oxide synthase (NOS), impairs nitric oxide production and has been implicated in various metabolic disorders. This study examined whether circulating amino acid metabolite ratios are associated with arginase and NOS activities and whether arginine bioavailability is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Data related to arginase and NOS activities were collected from non-diabetic Koreans without cardiovascular disease (n = 1998) in the Ansan–Ansung cohorts (2005–2006). Subsequently, correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. With the increase in the number of MetS risk factors, ratios of circulating amino acid metabolites, such as those of ornithine/citrulline, proline/citrulline, and ornithine/arginine, also significantly increased, whereas arginine bioavailability significantly decreased. These metabolite ratios and arginase bioavailability were also significantly correlated with MetS risk-related parameters, which remained significant after adjusting for covariates. In addition, logistic regression analysis revealed that high ratios of circulating metabolites and low arginine bioavailability, which indicated increased arginase activity, were significantly associated with a high MetS risk. This study demonstrated that altered ratios of circulating amino acid metabolites indicates increased arginase activity and decreased arginine bioavailability, both of which can be potential markers for MetS risk.
Sodium Reduction in Processed Foods in Brazil: Analysis of Food Categories and Voluntary Targets from 2011 to 2017
Authors: Nilson Eduardo , Spaniol Ana , Gonçalves Vivian , Moura Iracema , Silva Sara , L’Abbé Mary , Jaime Patricia
Published: July 2017

Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, are responsible for over 70% of deaths in Brazil. Currently, over 25% of Brazilian adults are diagnosed as hypertensive; overall, current dietary sodium intake in Brazil (4700 mg/person) is over twice the international recommendations, and 70–90% of adolescents and adults consume excessive sodium. National sodium reduction strategies consider the main dietary sources of sodium to be added salt to foods, foods consumed outside of the household, and sodium in processed foods. The national voluntary strategy for sodium reduction in priority food categories has been continuously monitored over a 6-year period (2011–2017) and there was a significant 8–34% reduction in the average sodium content of over half food categories. Different food categories have undergone differing reductions in sodium over time, aiding gradual biannual targets to allow industries to develop new technologies and consumers to adapt to foods with less salt. By 2017, most products of all food categories had met the regional targets proposed by the Pan American Health Organization, showing that voluntary sodium reduction strategies can potentially contribute to food reformulation. Nevertheless, regulatory approaches may still be necessary in the future in order to reach all food producers and to allow stronger enforcement to meet more stringent regional targets.
Sugar Metabolism in Hummingbirds and Nectar Bats
Authors: Suarez Raul , Welch Kenneth
Published: July 2017

Hummingbirds and nectar bats coevolved with the plants they visit to feed on floral nectars rich in sugars. The extremely high metabolic costs imposed by small size and hovering flight in combination with reliance upon sugars as their main source of dietary calories resulted in convergent evolution of a suite of structural and functional traits. These allow high rates of aerobic energy metabolism in the flight muscles, fueled almost entirely by the oxidation of dietary sugars, during flight. High intestinal sucrase activities enable high rates of sucrose hydrolysis. Intestinal absorption of glucose and fructose occurs mainly through a paracellular pathway. In the fasted state, energy metabolism during flight relies on the oxidation of fat synthesized from previously-ingested sugar. During repeated bouts of hover-feeding, the enhanced digestive capacities, in combination with high capacities for sugar transport and oxidation in the flight muscles, allow the operation of the “sugar oxidation cascade”, the pathway by which dietary sugars are directly oxidized by flight muscles during exercise. It is suggested that the potentially harmful effects of nectar diets are prevented by locomotory exercise, just as in human hunter-gatherers who consume large quantities of honey.
A Method to Improve High-Resolution Sea Ice Drift Retrievals in the Presence of Deformation Zones
Authors: Griebel Jakob , Dierking Wolfgang
Published: July 2017

Retrievals of sea ice drift from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images at high spatial resolution are valuable for understanding kinematic behavior and deformation processes of the ice at different spatial scales. Ice deformation causes temporal changes in patterns observed in sequences of SAR images; which makes it difficult to retrieve ice displacement with algorithms based on correlation and feature identification techniques. Here, we propose two extensions to a pattern matching algorithm, with the objective to improve the reliability of the retrieved sea ice drift field at spatial resolutions of a few hundred meters. Firstly, we extended a reliability assessment proposed in an earlier study, which is based on analyzing texture and correlation parameters of SAR image pairs, with the aim to reject unreliable pattern matches. The second step is specifically adapted to the presence of deformation features to avoid the erasing of discontinuities in the drift field. We suggest an adapted detection scheme that identifies linear deformation features (LDFs) in the drift vector field, and detects and replaces outliers after considering the presence of such LDFs in their neighborhood. We validate the improvement of our pattern matching algorithm by comparing the automatically retrieved drift to manually derived reference data for three SAR scenes acquired over different sea ice covered regions.
A Synergy Cropland of China by Fusing Multiple Existing Maps and Statistics
Authors: Lu Miao , Wu Wenbin , You Liangzhi , Chen Di , Zhang Li , Yang Peng , Tang Huajun
Published: July 2017

Accurate information on cropland extent is critical for scientific research and resource management. Several cropland products from remotely sensed datasets are available. Nevertheless, significant inconsistency exists among these products and the cropland areas estimated from these products differ considerably from statistics. In this study, we propose a hierarchical optimization synergy approach (HOSA) to develop a hybrid cropland map of China, circa 2010, by fusing five existing cropland products, i.e., GlobeLand30, Climate Change Initiative Land Cover (CCI-LC), GlobCover 2009, MODIS Collection 5 (MODIS C5), and MODIS Cropland, and sub-national statistics of cropland area. HOSA simplifies the widely used method of score assignment into two steps, including determination of optimal agreement level and identification of the best product combination. The accuracy assessment indicates that the synergy map has higher accuracy of spatial locations and better consistency with statistics than the five existing datasets individually. This suggests that the synergy approach can improve the accuracy of cropland mapping and enhance consistency with statistics.
Sea Ice Detection Based on Differential Delay-Doppler Maps from UK TechDemoSat-1
Authors: Zhu Yongchao , Yu Kegen , Zou Jingui , Wickert Jens
Published: July 2017

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals can be exploited to remotely sense atmosphere and land and ocean surface to retrieve a range of geophysical parameters. This paper proposes two new methods, termed as power-summation of differential Delay-Doppler Maps (PS-D) and pixel-number of differential Delay-Doppler Maps (PN-D), to distinguish between sea ice and sea water using differential Delay-Doppler Maps (dDDMs). PS-D and PN-D make use of power-summation and pixel-number of dDDMs, respectively, to measure the degree of difference between two DDMs so as to determine the transition state (water-water, water-ice, ice-ice and ice-water) and hence ice and water are detected. Moreover, an adaptive incoherent averaging of DDMs is employed to improve the computational efficiency. A large number of DDMs recorded by UK TechDemoSat-1 (TDS-1) over the Arctic region are used to test the proposed sea ice detection methods. Through evaluating against ground-truth measurements from the Ocean Sea Ice SAF, the proposed PS-D and PN-D methods achieve a probability of detection of 99.72% and 99.69% respectively, while the probability of false detection is 0.28% and 0.31% respectively.
How Incentives Affect the Adoption of Anaerobic Digesters in the United States
Authors: Sam Anh , Bi Xiang , Farnsworth Derek
Published: July 2017

Various government incentives support the adoption of anaerobic digester systems to manage farm waste and serve as a source of renewable energy in the United States. We examine the effectiveness of US state-level incentives promoting the adoption of anaerobic digester systems. We find that performance-based incentives and adoption of renewable portfolio standards best promote anaerobic digester system adoption.
Multimorbidity, disadvantage, and patient engagement within a specialist homeless health service in the UK: an in-depth study of general practice data
Authors: Queen Anton B , Lowrie Richard , Richardson Janice , Williamson Andrea E
Published: July 2017

Background

There is a paucity of current health data regarding users of a specialist homeless health service in the UK.

Aim

To describe the health of users of a specialist homeless health service by assessing levels of multimorbidity, social exclusion — by measuring severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) — and patient engagement with health care.

Design & setting

Analysis of patient-level data from computerised records of patients registered with a specialist homeless health service in Glasgow, Scotland.

Method

Data for 133 patients were extracted using a data extraction form. Multimorbidity and SMD were described using categorisation adapted from previous literature in this field. Stepwise regression analysis was carried out to assess the relationship between domains of SMD experienced and the number of long-term conditions (LTCs) a patient had.

Results

The average age of patients in the cohort was 42.8 years, however levels of multimorbidity were comparable to those aged ≥85 years in the general population. The average number of LTCs was 2.8 per patient, with 60.9% of patients having both mental and physical comorbidity. SMD was categorised into three domains: homelessness; substance misuse; and previous imprisonment. More than 90.0% of patients experienced ≥2 domains of SMD, and SMD experiences were associated with multimorbidity: as domains of SMD experiences increased, so did the number of LTCs a patient was recorded as having.

Conclusion

This cohort of patients has a complex burden of health and social care needs, which may act as barriers in the provision of effective health care.
Support of Local Residents for the 2016 Olympic Games
Authors: Rocha Claudio M. , Barbanti Valdir J. , Chelladurai Packianathan
Published: July 2017

Drawing on social exchange theory, this research explores and describes the structural relationships among (a) expectations of multidimensional positive legacy, (b) evaluations of the government work in preparation for staging, and (c) support of local residents for the 2016 Olympic
Games in Rio de Janeiro. We proposed and tested a direct-effects model against an alternative partially mediated model, based on the data provided by a multistage (neighborhoods, residences, residents) stratified random sample of Rio de Janeiro's residents (n = 900). Results showed
that the expectations of positive legacies can work either as a mediator between evaluations of government work and residents' support or as a factor that directly affects intentions to support, with no antecedents being necessary. At the moment of the research, Rio residents seemed a little
skeptical of the government work and positive legacies for the country and, consequently, only moderately support the 2016 Olympic Games in the city. Lower income residents offer less support than higher income ones. Higher expectations are placed on tourism legacy, while lower expectations
are on environmental legacy.