bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards tangible benefits of corporate failure prediction with business sector: A comparative study
Authors: Chen Ning , Chen An , Ribeiro Bernardete
Published: September 2016

It is well known that bankruptcy patterns are different across the industries, and consequently most studies focused on a given business sector or sub-sector. However, in some real world applications the bankruptcy patterns are likely constructed based on the companies of various business sectors (e.g. construction, real estate, education, retail, transportation) due to the lack of default samples. This paper presents a comparative study using different classifiers and performance metrics to examine the role of the business sector in corporate failure prediction based on the data from multiple business sectors. The experiments use a real-world French database of corporate companies diversified in different industries. The bankruptcy of companies is forecasted using 10 prediction models and evaluated by 8 performance metrics. The experimental results are analyzed by means of multidimensional scaling, which transforms the high dimensional metric data into a 2D space through a pairwise distance preserving projection. Through the interpretation of the results, we can find that the business sector used as a predictor significantly enhances the exploratory power of prediction models. Moreover, by analyzing the results there is evidence that not only tangible benefits are attained with business sector information but also the advanced ensemble approaches yield good to excellent improvements in this financial setting.
Prognostic Factors for Outcomes of In-Flight Sudden Cardiac Arrest on Commercial Airlines
Authors: Alves Paulo M. , DeJohn Charles A. , Ricaurte Eduard M. , Mills William D.
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND: In-flight cardiac arrest (IFCA) is a relatively rare but challenging event. Outcomes and prognostic factors are not entirely understood for victims of IFCAs in commercial aviation.METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of airline passengers who
experienced IFCA. Demographic and operational variables were studied to identify association in a multivariate logistic regression model with the outcome of survival-to-hospital. In-flight medical emergencies were processed by a ground-based medical center. Subsequent comparisons were made
between reported shockable-rhythm (RSR) and reported non-shockable-rhythm (RNSR) groups. Logistic regression was also used to identify predictors for shock advised and flight diversions using a case control study design. Significant predictors for survival-to-hospital were RSR and remaining
flight time to destination.RESULTS: The percentage of RSR cases was 24.6%. The survival to hospital admission was 22.7% (22/97) for passengers in RSR compared with 2.4% (7/297) in the RNSR group. The adjusted odds ratio for survival-to-hospital for the RSR group compared to the
RNSR group was 13.6 (5.5–33.5). The model showed odds for survival to hospital decreased with longer scheduled remaining flight duration with adjusted OR = 0.701 (0.535–0.920) per hour increase. No correlation between diversions and survival for RSR cases was found.CONCLUSIONS:
Survival-to-hospital from IFCAs is best when an RSR is present. The percentage of RSR cases was lower than in other out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) settings, which suggests delayed discovery. Flight diversions did not significantly affect resuscitation outcome. We emphasize good quality
cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation as key factors for IFCA survival.Alves PM, DeJohn CA, Ricaurte EM, Mills WD. Prognostic factors for outcomes of in-flight sudden cardiac arrest on commercial airlines. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(10):862–868.
Pitch-Plane Angular Displacement Perception During Helicopter Flight and Gondola Centrifugation
Authors: Tribukait Arne , Bergsten Eddie , Eiken Ola
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND: During hovering with a helicopter, an involuntary change in attitude (during brownout) results in reduced lifting force and a horizontal acceleration component. This movement pattern is difficult to perceive via the otolith organs. If the angular displacement occurs
rapidly, it will, however, activate the semicircular canals. The major aim of this study was to establish to what extent pitch-plane angular displacements can be perceived based on canal information when there is no tilt stimulus to the otoliths.METHODS: In a helicopter, 9 nonpilots
(N) and 8 helicopter pilots (P) underwent 5–6 pitch-forward displacements (magnitude 14–33°, angular velocity 2–7° · s−1). In a swing-out gondola centrifuge, 9 N and 3 P were exposed to a similar canal-otolith conflict (acceleration, seated
centripetally) with four displacements of 25° and two of 60°. The visually perceived eye level (VPEL) was continuously recorded using an adjustable luminous dot in darkness. For each helicopter dive and centrifuge run the gain was calculated as the ratio (VPEL deflection)/(displacement
of helicopter or gondola).RESULTS: In the helicopter there was no difference between N (0.28 ± 0.13) and P (0.36 ± 0.22). In the centrifuge the gains were 0.34 ± 0.18° (25° displacements) and 0.30 ± 0.16° (60° displacements). Values obtained
in the helicopter did not differ significantly from those in the centrifuge. There was a correlation between data obtained during the 25° and 60° displacements in the centrifuge.CONCLUSION: There was a pronounced underestimation of pitch angular displacements in a helicopter.
The interindividual variability was considerable. Gains for perceived displacement were similar in helicopter and centrifuge.Tribukait A, Bergsten E, Eiken O. Pitch-plane angular displacement perception during helicopter flight and gondola centrifugation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform.
2016; 87(10):852–861.
Soil Tillage Systems and Wheat Yield under Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Servadio Pieranna , Bergonzoli Simone , Beni Claudio
Published: September 2016

In this study, the effects of three different main preparatory tillage operations: ploughing at 0.4 m (P40) and 0.20 m (P20) depth and harrowing at 0.20 m depth (MT) were investigated. The tillage operations were carried out at two different times, as the soil water content increased over time from rainfall: (low, 58% (LH) and high, 80% (HH) of field capacity). Results obtained from the soil monitoring carried out before and after tillage showed high values of soil strength in terms of Penetration resistance and shear strength particularly in deeper soil layers at lower water content. During tillage, fossil-fuel energy requirements for P40 LH and P20 LH were 25% and 35% higher, respectively, with respect to the HH treatments and tractor slip was very high (P40 LH = 32.4%) with respect to the P40 HH treatment (16%). Soil water content significantly influenced tractor performance during soil ploughing at 0.40 m depth but no effect was observed for the MT treatment. The highly significant linear relations between grain yield and soil penetration resistance highlight how soil strength may be good indicator of soil productivity. We conclude that ploughing soil to a 0.20 m depth or harrowing soil to a 0.20 m depth is suitable for this type of soil under climate change scenarios.
A Colorimetric Method for the Determination of the Exhaustion Level of Granular Activated Carbons Used in Rum Production
Authors: Crespo Sariol Harold , Vanreppelen Kenny , Yperman Jan , Brito Sauvanell Ángel , Carleer Robert , Navarro Campa José
Published: September 2016

Spectrophotometric measurement applied on saturated granular activated carbon (GAC) is not yet explored. A colorimetric method in the visible range has been developed in order to determine the exhaustion level of GAC used in rum production. Aqueous ammonia solution has been used as an indicative agent to determine the extraction rate of taste compounds within the rum production process and the exhaustion degree of the GAC. The colorimetric results showed excellent correlation with the iodine number and the contact pH. The proposed colorimetric method opens possibilities for rum producers to improve the management and economical use of the activated carbon at the industrial scale.
Preparation of Fe3O4/TiO2/C Nanocomposites and Their Application in Fenton-Like Catalysis for Dye Decoloration
Authors: Liu Xiaoyang , Zhang Qian , Yu Baowei , Wu Ruihan , Mai Jinxia , Wang Ruijue , Chen Lingyun , Yang Sheng-Tao
Published: September 2016

Fe2+-H2O2 Fenton system is widely applied in water treatment nowadays, but the acidification and sludge generation are crucial problems to be solved. Herein, we report that Fe3O4/TiO2/C nanocomposites (FTCNCs) were able to catalyze the decomposition of H2O2 at neutral pH and can be applied in dye decoloration. FTCNCs were prepared by precipitating TiO2 on Fe3O4 cores via the hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate followed by the hydrothermal dehydrogenization of glucose to deposit carbon on Fe3O4/TiO2. The decoloration of methylene blue (MB) in the FTCNC-H2O2 Fenton-like system was monitored to reflect the catalytic activity of FTCNC. The radical generation capability was analyzed by electron spin resonance. Our results indicated that FTCNC-H2O2 Fenton-like system was efficient in decolorizing MB, and the radicals led to the near complete oxidation of MB. The FTCNC-H2O2 Fenton-like system could be used in a wide pH range of 4–9. A greater catalyst amount, a higher H2O2 concentration, and a higher temperature accelerated the decoloration kinetics. FTCNCs showed good activity after the regeneration of 8 cycles. The implication to the practical applications of FTCNCs in water treatment is discussed.
Low Delay Video Streaming on the Internet of Things Using Raspberry Pi
Authors: Jennehag Ulf , Forsstrom Stefan , Fiordigigli Federico
Published: September 2016

The Internet of Things is predicted to consist of over 50 billion devices aiming to solve problems in most areas of our digital society. A large part of the data communicated is expected to consist of various multimedia contents, such as live audio and video. This article presents a solution for the communication of high definition video in low-delay scenarios (<200 ms) under the constraints of devices with limited hardware resources, such as the Raspberry Pi. We verify that it is possible to enable low delay video streaming between Raspberry Pi devices using a distributed Internet of Things system called the SensibleThings platform. Specifically, our implementation transfers a 6 Mbps H.264 video stream of 1280 × 720 pixels at 25 frames per second between devices with a total delay of 181 ms on the public Internet, of which the overhead of the distributed Internet of Things communication platform only accounts for 18 ms of this delay. We have found that the most significant bottleneck of video transfer on limited Internet of Things devices is the video coding and not the distributed communication platform, since the video coding accounts for 90% of the total delay.
A Flow Rate Control Approach on Off-Design Analysis of an Organic Rankine Cycle System
Authors: Fu Ben-Ran
Published: September 2016

This study explored effects of off-design heat source temperature (TW,in) or flow rate (mW) on heat transfer characteristics and performance of an organic Rankine cycle system by controlling the flow rate of working fluid R245fa (i.e., the operation flow rate of R245fa was controlled to ensure that R245fa reached saturation liquid and vapor states at the outlets of the preheater and evaporator, respectively). The results showed that the operation flow rate of R245fa increased with TW,in or mW; higher TW,in or mW yielded better heat transfer performance of the designed preheater and required higher heat capacity of the evaporator; heat transfer characteristics of preheater and evaporator differed for off-design TW,in and mW; and net power output increased with TW,in or mW. The results further indicated that the control strategy should be different for various off-design conditions. Regarding maximum net power output, the flow rate control approach is optimal when TW,in or mW exceeds the design point, but the pressure control approach is better when TW,in or mW is lower than the design point.
Sourdough-Based Biotechnologies for the Production of Gluten-Free Foods
Authors: Nionelli Luana , Rizzello Carlo
Published: September 2016

Sourdough fermentation, a traditional biotechnology for making leavened baked goods, was almost completely replaced by the use of baker’s yeast and chemical leavening agents in the last century. Recently, it has been rediscovered by the scientific community, consumers, and producers, thanks to several effects on organoleptic, technological, nutritional, and functional features of cereal-based products. Acidification, proteolysis, and activation of endogenous enzymes cause several changes during sourdough fermentation, carried out by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, which positively affect the overall quality of the baked goods. In particular, the hydrolysis of native proteins of the cereal flours may improve the functional features of baked goods. The wheat flour processed with fungal proteases and selected lactic acid bacteria was demonstrated to be safe for coeliac patients. This review article focuses on the biotechnologies that use selected sourdough lactic acid bacteria to potentially counteract the adverse reactions to gluten, and the risk of gluten contamination.
The Role of Health Co-Benefits in the Development of Australian Climate Change Mitigation Policies
Authors: Workman Annabelle , Blashki Grant , Karoly David , Wiseman John
Published: September 2016

Reducing domestic carbon dioxide and other associated emissions can lead to short-term, localized health benefits. Quantifying and incorporating these health co-benefits into the development of national climate change mitigation policies may facilitate the adoption of stronger policies. There is, however, a dearth of research exploring the role of health co-benefits on the development of such policies. To address this knowledge gap, research was conducted in Australia involving the analysis of several data sources, including interviews carried out with Australian federal government employees directly involved in the development of mitigation policies. The resulting case study determined that, in Australia, health co-benefits play a minimal role in the development of climate change mitigation policies. Several factors influence the extent to which health co-benefits inform the development of mitigation policies. Understanding these factors may help to increase the political utility of future health co-benefits studies.
Metabolomics Analysis of the Larval Head of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Li Yi , Wang Xin , Chen Quanmei , Hou Yong , Xia Qingyou , Zhao Ping
Published: September 2016

The head, which performs many biological functions, is the most complicated structure of an insect. Development, locomotor behavior, food intake, environmental sensing, and signal transduction are all controlled by the insect’s head. As a well-studied insect in Lepidoptera, the silkworm head has an additional function of spinning silk fibers. To understand which molecules are involved in these physiological activities, we performed a metabolomics analysis of silkworm heads. By integrating GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, 90 metabolites were identified in the larval heads of silkworms. These were classified into 13 categories, including amino acids, sugars, organic acids, nucleotides, alcohols, and fatty acids. Informatics analysis revealed that these metabolites are involved in cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, human diseases, metabolism, organismal systems, and other pathways. The identified metabolites and pathways are involved in biological processes such as signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, endocrine activities, and sensory activities; reflecting the functions of various organs in silkworm heads. Thus, our findings provide references which elucidate the potential functions of the silkworm head and will be of great value for the metabolomics research of silkworms and other insects.
Effect of Thyrotropin on Osteopontin, Integrin αvβ3, and VCAM-1 in the Endothelium via Activation of Akt
Authors: Yan Yumeng , Jiang Fengwei , Lai Yaxin , Wang Haoyu , Liu Aihua , Wang Chuyuan , Zhang Yuanyuan , Teng Weiping , Shan Zhongyan
Published: September 2016

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) can impair endothelial function and cause dyslipidemia. Studies have evaluated the effects of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on endothelial cells, but the mechanism underlying the proatherosclerotic effect of increased TSH levels remains unclear. In the present study, SCH rat models were established in thyroidectomized Wistar rats that were given ʟ-T4 daily. The results showed that in vivo, the expression of osteopontin (OPN) vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), and levels of integrin αvβ3 in the aortic tissue in SCH and Hypothyroidism (CH) groups was higher than in the control group. However, the effect in the SCH group was higher than in the CH group. In vitro, results showed that different concentration and time gradients of TSH stimulation could increase the expression of OPN, VCAM-1, and integrin αvβ3, and this was accompanied by extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and Akt activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). TSH induced elevation of these proatherosclerotic factors was partially suppressed by a specific Akt inhibitor but not by a specific Erk inhibitor. Findings suggested that the endothelial dysfunction caused by SCH was related to increased proatherosclerotic factors induced by TSH via Akt activation.
Alliin Attenuated RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species through Inhibiting Nox1
Authors: Chen Yueqi , Sun Jingjing , Dou Ce , Li Nan , Kang Fei , Wang Yuan , Cao Zhen , Yang Xiaochao , Dong Shiwu
Published: September 2016

The healthy skeleton requires a perfect coordination of the formation and degradation of bone. Metabolic bone disease like osteoporosis is resulted from the imbalance of bone formation and/or bone resorption. Osteoporosis also reflects lower level of bone matrix, which is contributed by up-regulated osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. It is reported that monocytes/macrophage progenitor cells or either hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) gave rise to multinucleated osteoclasts. Thus, inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption generally seems to be a predominant therapy for treating osteoporosis. Recently, more and more natural compounds have been discovered, which have the ability of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and fusion. Alliin (S-allyl-l-cysteine sulfoxides, SACSO) is the major component of aged garlic extract (AGE), bearing broad-spectrum natural antioxidant properties. However, its effects on bone health have not yet been explored. Hence, we designed the current study to explore its effects and role in receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast fusion and differentiation. It was revealed that alliin had an inhibitory effect in osteoclasteogenesis with a dose-dependent manner via blocking the c-Fos-NFATc1 signaling pathway. In addition, alliin decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and down-regulated the expression of NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1). The overall results revealed that alliin could be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Advanced Therapeutic Strategies for Chronic Lung Disease Using Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
Authors: Yhee Ji , Im Jintaek , Nho Richard
Published: September 2016

Chronic lung diseases include a variety of obstinate and fatal diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and lung cancers. Pharmacotherapy is important for the treatment of chronic lung diseases, and current progress in nanoparticles offers great potential as an advanced strategy for drug delivery. Based on their biophysical properties, nanoparticles have shown improved pharmacokinetics of therapeutics and controlled drug delivery, gaining great attention. Herein, we will review the nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for the treatment of chronic lung diseases. Various types of nanoparticles will be introduced, and recent innovative efforts to utilize the nanoparticles as novel drug carriers for the effective treatment of chronic lung diseases will also be discussed.
Deformation Behavior of Recycled Concrete Aggregate during Cyclic and Dynamic Loading Laboratory Tests
Authors: Sas Wojciech , Głuchowski Andrzej , Gabryś Katarzyna , Soból Emil , Szymański Alojzy
Published: September 2016

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is a relatively new construction material, whose applications can replace natural aggregates. To do so, extensive studies on its mechanical behavior and deformation characteristics are still necessary. RCA is currently used as a subbase material in the construction of roads, which are subject to high settlements due to traffic loading. The deformation characteristics of RCA must, therefore, be established to find the possible fatigue and damage behavior for this new material. In this article, a series of triaxial cyclic loading and resonant column tests is used to characterize fatigue in RCA as a function of applied deviator stress after long-term cyclic loading. A description of the shakedown phenomenon occurring in the RCA and calculations of its resilient modulus (Mr) as a function of fatigue are also presented. Test result analysis with the stress-life method on the Wohler S-N diagram shows the RCA behavior in accordance with the Basquin law.
Simple Synthesis of Molybdenum Disulfide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Hollow Microspheres as Supercapacitor Electrode Material
Authors: Xiao Wei , Zhou Wenjie , Feng Tong , Zhang Yanhua , Liu Hongdong , Tian Liangliang
Published: September 2016

MoS2/RGO composite hollow microspheres were hydrothermally synthesized by using SiO2/GO microspheres as a template, which were obtained via the sonication-assisted interfacial self-assembly of tiny GO sheets on positively charged SiO2 microspheres. The structure, morphology, phase, and chemical composition of MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres were systematically investigated by a series of techniques such as FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, BET, and Raman characterizations, meanwhile, their electrochemical properties were carefully evaluated by CV, GCD, and EIS measurements. It was found that MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres possessed unique porous hollow architecture with high-level hierarchy and large specific surface area up to 63.7 m2·g−1. When used as supercapacitor electrode material, MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres delivered a maximum specific capacitance of 218.1 F·g−1 at the current density of 1 A·g−1, which was much higher than that of contrastive bare MoS2 microspheres developed in the present work and most of other reported MoS2-based materials. The enhancement of supercapacitive behaviors of MoS2/RGO hollow microspheres was likely due to the improved conductivity together with their distinct structure and morphology, which not only promoted the charge transport but also facilitated the electrolyte diffusion. Moreover, MoS2/RGO hollow microsphere electrode displayed satisfactory long-term stability with 91.8% retention of the initial capacitance after 1000 charge/discharge cycles at the current density of 3 A·g−1, showing excellent application potential.
Essential Oils’ Chemical Characterization and Investigation of Some Biological Activities: A Critical Review
Authors: Dhifi Wissal , Bellili Sana , Jazi Sabrine , Bahloul Nada , Mnif Wissem
Published: September 2016

This review covers literature data summarizing, on one hand, the chemistry of essential oils and, on the other hand, their most important activities. Essential oils, which are complex mixtures of volatile compounds particularly abundant in aromatic plants, are mainly composed of terpenes biogenerated by the mevalonate pathway. These volatile molecules include monoterpenes (hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpens), and also sesquiterpenes (hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpens). Furthermore, they contain phenolic compounds, which are derived via the shikimate pathway. Thanks to their chemical composition, essential oils possess numerous biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc…) of great interest in food and cosmetic industries, as well as in the human health field.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytotoxicity of a Novel Gold(III) Complex with O,O′-Diethyl Ester of Ethylenediamine-N,N′-Di-2-(4-Methyl)Pentanoic Acid
Authors: Pantelić Nebojša , Zmejkovski Bojana , Marković Dragana , Vujić Jelena , Stanojković Tatjana , Sabo Tibor , Kaluđerović Goran
Published: September 2016

A novel gold(III) complex, [AuCl2{(S,S)-Et2eddl}]PF6, ((S,S)-Et2eddl = O,O′-diethyl ester of ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-2-(4-methyl)pentanoic acid) was synthesized and characterized by IR, 1D (1H and 13C), and 2D (H,H-COSY and H,H-NOESY) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that (R,R)-N,N′ diastereoisomer was energetically the most stable isomer. In vitro antitumor action of ligand precursor [(S,S)-H2Et2eddl]Cl2 and corresponding gold(III) complex was determined against tumor cell lines: human adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human colon carcinoma (LS174), human breast cancer (MCF7), non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line (A549), and non-cancerous cell line human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) using microculture tetrazolium test (MTT) assay. The results indicate that both ligand precursor and gold(III) complex have showed very good to moderate cytotoxic activity against all tested malignant cell lines. The highest activity was expressed by [AuCl2{(S,S)-Et2eddl}]PF6 against the LS174 cells, with IC50 value of 7.4 ± 1.2 µM.
Silver Nanocomposite Biosynthesis: Antibacterial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Silva Santos Klebson , Barbosa Andriele , Pereira da Costa Luiz , Pinheiro Malone , Oliveira Maria , Ferreira Padilha Francine
Published: September 2016

Bacterial resistance is an emerging public health issue that is disseminated worldwide. Silver nanocomposite can be an alternative strategy to avoid Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria growth, including multidrug-resistant strains. In the present study a silver nanocomposite was synthesized, using a new green chemistry process, by the addition of silver nitrate (1.10−3 mol·L−1) into a fermentative medium of Xanthomonas spp. to produce a xanthan gum polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the shape and size of the silver nanoparticles obtained. The silver ions in the nanocomposite were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The antibacterial activity of the nanomaterial against Escherichia coli (ATCC 22652), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29282), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) was carried out using 500 mg of silver nanocomposite. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii multidrug-resistant strains, isolated from hospitalized patients were also included in the study. The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite showed spherical nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 10 nm; 1 g of nanocomposite contained 49.24 µg of silver. Multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, and the other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested, were sensitive to the silver nanocomposite (10–12.9 mm of inhibition zone). The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite seems to be a promising antibacterial agent for different applications, namely biomedical devices or topical wound coatings.
The Use of Fish Oil with Warfarin Does Not Significantly Affect either the International Normalised Ratio or Incidence of Adverse Events in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Pryce Rebecca , Bernaitis Nijole , Davey Andrew , Badrick Tony , Anoopkumar-Dukie Shailendra
Published: September 2016

Background: Warfarin is a leading anticoagulant in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Drug interactions influence the safety of warfarin use and while extensive literature exists regarding the effect on warfarin control and bleeding incidence with many medicines, there is little evidence on the influence of complementary medicines. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fish and krill oil supplementation on warfarin control and bleeding incidence in AF and DVT patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted utilising patient information from a large private pathology clinic. AF and DVT patients receiving long-term warfarin therapy (>30 days) at the clinic and taking fish and krill oil supplements were eligible for study inclusion. Results: Of the 2081 patients assessed, a total of 573 warfarin users met the inclusion criteria with 145 patients in the fish and krill oil group (supplement group) and 428 patients in the control group. Overall, it was found that fish and krill oils did not significantly alter warfarin time in therapeutic range (TTR) or bleeding incidence, even when compared by gender. Conclusion: Omega-3 supplementation with fish and krill oil does not significantly affect long-term warfarin control and bleeding and thromboembolic events when consumed concurrently in patients managed at an anticoagulation clinic.
Laws of Media, Their Environments and Their Users: The Flip of the Artifact, Its Ground and Its Users
Authors: Iseri Zeynep , Logan Robert
Published: September 2016

Marshall McLuhan’s Laws of Media (LOM), which describe the evolution of artifacts in terms of enhancement, obsolescence, retrieval, and reversal (or flip) are extended to create Laws of Media Environments (LOME) and Laws of Media Users (LOMU). It is shown that the environment or ground in which the figures of the artifacts in the LOM operate and the users of those artifacts undergo, respectively, a similar evolution of enhancement, obsolescence, retrieval, and reversal paralleling McLuhan’s original LOM.
Improved Detection of Human Respiration Using Data Fusion Basedon a Multistatic UWB Radar
Authors: Lv Hao , Qi Fugui , Zhang Yang , Jiao Teng , Liang Fulai , Li Zhao , Wang Jianqi
Published: September 2016

This paper investigated the feasibility for improved detection of human respiration using data fusion based on a multistatic ultra-wideband (UWB) radar. UWB-radar-based respiration detection is an emerging technology that has great promise in practice. It can be applied to remotely sense the presence of a human target for through-wall surveillance, post-earthquake search and rescue, etc. In these applications, a human target’s position and posture are not known a priori. Uncertainty of the two factors results in a body orientation issue of UWB radar, namely the human target’s thorax is not always facing the radar. Thus, the radial component of the thorax motion due to respiration decreases and the respiratory motion response contained in UWB radar echoes is too weak to be detected. To cope with the issue, this paper used multisensory information provided by the multistatic UWB radar, which took the form of impulse radios and comprised one transmitting and four separated receiving antennas. An adaptive Kalman filtering algorithm was then designed to fuse the UWB echo data from all the receiving channels to detect the respiratory-motion response contained in those data. In the experiment, a volunteer’s respiration was correctly detected when he curled upon a camp bed behind a brick wall. Under the same scenario, the volunteer’s respiration was detected based on the radar’s single transmitting-receiving channels without data fusion using conventional algorithm, such as adaptive line enhancer and single-channel Kalman filtering. Moreover, performance of the data fusion algorithm was experimentally investigated with different channel combinations and antenna deployments. The experimental results show that the body orientation issue for human respiration detection via UWB radar can be dealt well with the multistatic UWB radar and the Kalman-filter-based data fusion, which can be applied to improve performance of UWB radar in real applications.
Long-Term Monitoring of the Flooding Regime and Hydroperiod of Doñana Marshes with Landsat Time Series (1974–2014)
Authors: Díaz-Delgado Ricardo , Aragonés David , Afán Isabel , Bustamante Javier
Published: September 2016

This paper presents a semi-automatic procedure to discriminate seasonally flooded areas in the shallow temporary marshes of Doñana National Park (SW Spain) by using a radiommetrically normalized long time series of Landsat MSS, TM, and ETM+ images (1974–2014). Extensive field campaigns for ground truth data retrieval were carried out simultaneous to Landsat overpasses. Ground truth was used as training and testing areas to check the performance of the method. Simple thresholds on TM and ETM band 5 (1.55–1.75 μm) worked significantly better than other empirical modeling techniques and supervised classification methods to delineate flooded areas at Doñana marshes. A classification tree was applied to band 5 reflectance values to classify flooded versus non-flooded pixels for every scene. Inter-scene cross-validation identified the most accurate threshold on band 5 reflectance (ρ < 0.186) to classify flooded areas (Kappa = 0.65). A joint TM-MSS acquisition was used to find the MSS band 4 (0.8 a 1.1 μm) threshold. The TM flooded area was identical to the results from MSS 4 band threshold ρ < 0.10 despite spectral and spatial resolution differences. Band slicing was retrospectively applied to the complete time series of MSS and TM images. About 391 flood masks were used to reconstruct historical spatial and temporal patterns of Doñana marshes flooding, including hydroperiod. Hydroperiod historical trends were used as a baseline to understand Doñana’s flooding regime, test hydrodynamic models, and give an assessment of relevant management and restoration decisions. The historical trends in the hydroperiod of Doñana marshes show two opposite spatial patterns. While the north-western part of the marsh is increasing its hydroperiod, the southwestern part shows a steady decline. Anomalies in each flooding cycle allowed us to assess recent management decisions and monitor their hydrological effects.
Modeling and Implementation of Multi-Position Non-Continuous Rotation Gyroscope North Finder
Authors: Luo Jun , Wang Zhiqian , Shen Chengwu , Kuijper Arjan , Wen Zhuoman , Liu Shaojin
Published: September 2016

Even when the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal is blocked, a rate gyroscope (gyro) north finder is capable of providing the required azimuth reference information to a certain extent. In order to measure the azimuth between the observer and the north direction very accurately, we propose a multi-position non-continuous rotation gyro north finding scheme. Our new generalized mathematical model analyzes the elements that affect the azimuth measurement precision and can thus provide high precision azimuth reference information. Based on the gyro’s principle of detecting a projection of the earth rotation rate on its sensitive axis and the proposed north finding scheme, we are able to deduct an accurate mathematical model of the gyro outputs against azimuth with the gyro and shaft misalignments. Combining the gyro outputs model and the theory of propagation of uncertainty, some approaches to optimize north finding are provided, including reducing the gyro bias error, constraining the gyro random error, increasing the number of rotation points, improving rotation angle measurement precision, decreasing the gyro and the shaft misalignment angles. According them, a north finder setup is built and the azimuth uncertainty of 18” is obtained. This paper provides systematic theory for analyzing the details of the gyro north finder scheme from simulation to implementation. The proposed theory can guide both applied researchers in academia and advanced practitioners in industry for designing high precision robust north finder based on different types of rate gyroscopes.
Research on the Lift-off Effect of Receiving Longitudinal Mode Guided Waves in Pipes Based on the Villari Effect
Authors: Xu Jiang , Sun Yong , Zhou Jinhai
Published: September 2016

The magnetostrictive guided wave technology as a non-contact measurement can generate and receive guided waves with a large lift-off distance up to tens of millimeters. However, the lift-off distance of the receiving coil would affect the coupling efficiency from the elastic energy to the electromagnetic energy. In the existing magnetomechanical models, the change of the magnetic field in the air gap was ignored since the permeability of the rod is much greater than that of air. The lift-off distance of the receiving coil will not affect the receiving signals based on these models. However, the experimental phenomenon is in contradiction with these models. To solve the contradiction, the lift-off effect of receiving the longitudinal mode guided waves in pipes is investigated based on the Villari effect. A finite element model of receiving longitudinal guided waves in pipes is obtained based on the Villari effect, which takes into account the magnetic field in the pipe wall and the air zone at the same time. The relation between the amplitude of the induced signals and the radius (lift-off distance) of the receiving coil is obtained, which is verified by experiment. The coupling efficiency of the receiver is a monotonic decline with the lift-off distance increasing. The decay rate of the low frequency wave is slower than the high frequency wave. Additionally, the results show that the rate of change of the magnetic flux in the air zone and in the pipe wall is the same order of magnitude, but opposite. However, the experimental results show that the error of the model in the large lift-off distance is obvious due to the diffusion of the magnetic field in the air, especially for the high frequency guided waves.
Maximum Correntropy Unscented Kalman Filter for Spacecraft Relative State Estimation
Authors: Liu Xi , Qu Hua , Zhao Jihong , Yue Pengcheng , Wang Meng
Published: September 2016

A new algorithm called maximum correntropy unscented Kalman filter (MCUKF) is proposed and applied to relative state estimation in space communication networks. As is well known, the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) provides an efficient tool to solve the non-linear state estimate problem. However, the UKF usually plays well in Gaussian noises. Its performance may deteriorate substantially in the presence of non-Gaussian noises, especially when the measurements are disturbed by some heavy-tailed impulsive noises. By making use of the maximum correntropy criterion (MCC), the proposed algorithm can enhance the robustness of UKF against impulsive noises. In the MCUKF, the unscented transformation (UT) is applied to obtain a predicted state estimation and covariance matrix, and a nonlinear regression method with the MCC cost is then used to reformulate the measurement information. Finally, the UT is adopted to the measurement equation to obtain the filter state and covariance matrix. Illustrative examples demonstrate the superior performance of the new algorithm.
A Laser Line Auto-Scanning System for Underwater 3D Reconstruction
Authors: Chi Shukai , Xie Zexiao , Chen Wenzhu
Published: September 2016

In this study, a laser line auto-scanning system was designed to perform underwater close-range 3D reconstructions with high accuracy and resolution. The system changes the laser plane direction with a galvanometer to perform automatic scanning and obtain continuous laser strips for underwater 3D reconstruction. The system parameters were calibrated with the homography constraints between the target plane and image plane. A cost function was defined to optimize the galvanometer’s rotating axis equation. Compensation was carried out for the refraction of the incident and emitted light at the interface. The accuracy and the spatial measurement capability of the system were tested and analyzed with standard balls under laboratory underwater conditions, and the 3D surface reconstruction for a sealing cover of an underwater instrument was proved to be satisfactory.
Moving from Adaptive to Transformative Capacity: Building Foundations for Inclusive, Thriving, and Regenerative Urban Settlements
Authors: Ziervogel Gina , Cowen Anna , Ziniades John
Published: September 2016

The commitment to understanding the implications of a 1.5 °C global temperature warming limit has contributed to a growing realisation that transformative adaptation is necessary to avoid catastrophic environmental and social consequences. This is particularly the case in urban settlements where disconnection from the systems that support life is pervasive and injustice and inequality play out daily. This paper argues that in order to transform towards thriving social-ecological systems, transformative capacity needs to be strengthened. The paper builds on the rich literature of adaptive capacity, alongside concepts of transformation that are drawn from resilience theory, organisational change, and developmental psychology. Reconnection to life-support systems, agency, and social cohesion are put forward as three foundational aspects of transformative capacity. A transdisciplinary case study of the FLOW programme in the Bergrivier Municipality, South Africa, is used to explore how transformative capacity has been built in practice. The case study explores an innovative programme that works with unemployed urban youth, alongside the exploration and introduction of a community currency in the informal business sector, and strengthening cross-scalar interaction between the local municipality and youth. The paper suggests that working across sectors and scales in a transdisciplinary manner is a challenging endeavour but necessary for building inclusive, thriving, and regenerative urban settlements.
Cell Culture Models for the Investigation of Hepatitis B and D Virus Infection
Authors: Verrier Eloi , Colpitts Che , Schuster Catherine , Zeisel Mirjam , Baumert Thomas
Published: September 2016

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections are major causes of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Despite the presence of an efficient preventive vaccine, more than 250 million patients are chronically infected with HBV. Current antivirals effectively control but only rarely cure chronic infection. While the molecular biology of the two viruses has been characterized in great detail, the absence of robust cell culture models for HBV and/or HDV infection has limited the investigation of virus-host interactions. Native hepatoma cell lines do not allow viral infection, and the culture of primary hepatocytes, the natural host cell for the viruses, implies a series of constraints restricting the possibilities of analyzing virus-host interactions. Recently, the discovery of the sodium taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP) as a key HBV/HDV cell entry factor has opened the door to a new era of investigation, as NTCP-overexpressing hepatoma cells acquire susceptibility to HBV and HDV infections. In this review, we summarize the major cell culture models for HBV and HDV infection, discuss their advantages and limitations and highlight perspectives for future developments.
An Alternative Approach to Delivering Intensive Dialysis in Pregnancy
Authors: Ross Louise E. , Swift Pauline A. , Newbold Sandra M. , Bramham Kate , Hurley Anne , Gallagher Hugh
Published: September 2016

Pregnancy outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis are improving. Recent literature supports intensive hemodialysis (HD) as the modality of choice during pregnancy in ESRD. We report the successful delivery of a healthy infant at full term in a patient with ESRD by supplementing peritoneal dialysis (PD) with intermittent HD to achieve adequate dialysis intensity.
RADIAL VELOCITY MONITORING OF KEPLER HEARTBEAT STARS*
Authors: Shporer Avi , Fuller Jim , Isaacson Howard , Hambleton Kelly , Thompson Susan E. , Prša Andrej , Kurtz Donald W. , Howard Andrew W. , O’Leary Ryan M.
Published: September 2016

Heartbeat stars (HB stars) are a class of eccentric binary stars with close periastron passages. The characteristic photometric HB signal evident in their light curves is produced by a combination of tidal distortion, heating, and Doppler boosting near orbital periastron. Many HB stars continue to oscillate after periastron and along the entire orbit, indicative of the tidal excitation of oscillation modes within one or both stars. These systems are among the most eccentric binaries known, and they constitute astrophysical laboratories for the study of tidal effects. We have undertaken a radial velocity (RV) monitoring campaign of Kepler HB stars in order to measure their orbits. We present our first results here, including a sample of 22 Kepler HB systems, where for 19 of them we obtained the Keplerian orbit and for 3 other systems we did not detect a statistically significant RV variability. Results presented here are based on 218 spectra obtained with the Keck/HIRES spectrograph during the 2015 Kepler observing season, and they have allowed us to obtain the largest sample of HB stars with orbits measured using a single instrument, which roughly doubles the number of HB stars with an RV measured orbit. The 19 systems measured here have orbital periods from 7 to 90 days and eccentricities from 0.2 to 0.9. We show that HB stars draw the upper envelope of the eccentricity–period distribution. Therefore, HB stars likely represent a population of stars currently undergoing high eccentricity migration via tidal orbital circularization, and they will allow for new tests of high eccentricity migration theories.
Investigação da aprendizagem de conceitos de óptica utilizando ilusões para turmas de pré-vestibular
Authors: Parisoto Mara Fernanda , Hilger Thaís Rafaela
Published: September 2016

Com o intuito de promover a aprendizagem, elaborou-se uma série de sugestões para ensinar óptica, a partir das ilusões, em um curso pré-vestibular popular de Porto Alegre. Esta proposta, desenvolvida a partir da Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa de Ausubel, envolve atividades experimentais, lúdicas e simulações computacionais. Buscaram-se indícios de aprendizagem significativa nos conceitos de Física, especialmente no grupo onde se fez uso desta proposta, denominado grupo experimental, em contraposição ao grupo de controle, onde foram utilizadas aulas expositivas. Foi utilizado pré-teste e pós-teste e, a partir de tais dados, foi realizada análise estatística. Observou-se que ambos os grupos apresentaram indícios de Aprendizagem Significativa no pós-teste, entretanto o grupo experimental apresentou resultados significativamente melhores. Por ser o estudo das ilusões de óptica um conteúdo multidisciplinar, acredita-se que esta proposta pode ser utilizada em outras disciplinas.