bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VARIATIVNOY COMPONENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OF BACHELORS AND MASTERS: PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECT
Authors: Kupriy Tetyana
Published: November 2017

The article deals with the problem of introducing the variable part of educational qualification BA and MA programs in higher educational institutions of Ukraine. Analyzes the philosophical and social aspects of university education as a subject of research attention due to the increasing demands for quality training, the weight of scientific potential, which is the basis for economic development in the community. During the research proved that the flexibility and effectiveness of training programs demonstrate not normative and selective discipline. The conservation of structural logic teaching sample subjects defined as the weight of individual choice for Ukrainian students. A procedure for enactment of lists with the list of training programs for bachelors, masters and doctors in various specialties, including the name and a brief description of subjects, and a list of subjects required for graduation a certain educational level. It is proved that the introduction of individual program / curriculum based on training, range of interests and choice of training distsipliin student is promising to create an innovative approach to the educational process. The analysis of the process of obtaining a certificate of additional student enrolled courses that automatically increases its konkuretospromozhnist the labor market. Determine the process of mastering the necessary professional competencies among them is the ability to communicate in their native and foreign languages, the use of mathematical skills and techniques and information technology and self expression, skill building correct behavior in relationships obtained in the study sample of interdisciplinary courses that provides a reliable foundation for occupational mobility.
Comportamiento de los frutos de noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) a diferentes temperaturas de almacenamiento poscosecha
Authors: López-Vázquez Tito , González-Cortés Nicolás , Jiménez-Vera Román , Guzmán-Ceferino Juan , May-Gutiérrez Martha Esther
Published: November 2017

El noni es un fruto tropical climatérico con vida poscosecha muy reducida. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el comportamiento de los frutos de noni, almacenados a 0, 5, 15 y 28 + 2 °C (testigo). Para el experimento se utilizaron frutos libres de plagas y enfermedades, sin defectos físicos, grado de madurez 2 (GM2) (frutos con el 50 % del área de color verde), peso promedio de 122 g, pH de 4.82 y °Brix 7.0. Los resultados indicaron que los frutos almacenados a 0 y 5 °C sufrieron daños severos por frío. Mientras que a 15 °C, se incrementó la vida poscosecha hasta 12 días; y los frutos presentaron los siguientes cambios: 13.40 % de pérdida de peso, pH 5.19, °Brix 10.0 y GM3 (frutos con más del 50 % del área de color perla). En comparación con los frutos almacenados a temperatura ambiente (28 + 2 °C), al tercer día después el experimento, los frutos presentaron las siguientes características: 2.73 % de pérdida de peso (0.23), pH 8.13, °Brix 10 y GM4 (frutos totalmente maduros color pardo oscuro). Se concluye que al almacenar los frutos a una temperatura moderada (15 °C), se mantienen hasta 12 días en buenas condiciones fisicoquímicas, incrementándose la vida poscosecha, para ofrecer frutos frescos en buenas condiciones organolépticas para mercados exigentes y distantes, reduciendo las pérdidas de comercialización.
Decision Support System For Election Of Members Unit Patients Pamong Praja
Authors: Haswan Febri
Published: November 2017

Civil Service Police Unit (municipal police) is part of the area in the enforcement of legislation and arrangements for public order and public tranquility . Decision Support System or DSS ( Decision Support System ) is a computer -based information systems whose main goal is to help decision -making utilize data and models to solve the problems that are unstructured and semi- structured . In accepting prospective members of the previous municipal police PSDM section sorting and selecting applicants one by one entering the data so that the data obtained is not clear didapt results of each participant. By using Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Decision Making (FMADM) is used to find an alternative from a number of alternatives to optimize certain criteria , while the Simple Additive Weighting method (SAW). SAW method is often also known term weighted summation method . The basic concept is to find a method SAW weighted summation of the performance ratings of all the attributes of each alternative.
Understanding the Promise: A Typology of State and Local College Promise Programs
Authors: Perna Laura W. , Leigh Elaine W.
Published: November 2017

Over the past decade, but especially in the past few years, programs with a promise label have been advanced at the local, state, and federal levels. To advance understanding of the design, implementation, and impact of the many different versions of emerging programs, policymakers, practitioners, and researchers need an organizing framework. To address this knowledge need, this study uses descriptive and cluster analyses of 289 programs that meet the following criteria: have a primary goal of increasing higher education attainment, promise a financial award to eligible students, have some “place” requirement, and focus on the traditional college-age population. Results suggest that state- versus non-state sponsorship, financial award structure (e.g., first/last dollar), type of postsecondary educational institutions at which the award may be used, and eligibility criteria (universal vs. merit or need) are important differentiators among programs. The results provide a foundation for future research on college promise programs.
Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the microstructure evolution and crystallographic texture in magnesium
Authors: Hassan Syed Fida , Ogunlakin Nasirudeen Olalekan , Al-Aqeeli Nasser
Published: November 2017

In the present study, commercially pure micrometer-sized magnesium powder was reinforced with different volume percentages of TiO2 nanoparticles using powder metallurgy process followed by hot extrusion. The powder metallurgy processing of the materials includes blending the powders together followed by compaction and high temperature sintering in inert atmospheric condition. Microstructural analysis of the extruded reinforced magnesium has revealed that the TiO2 nanoparticles enhanced the recrystallization process in the magnesium matrix and also significantly refined the grain morphology. Analysis of X-ray diffraction spectrum of the extruded powder processed magnesium has revealed significant pyramidal plane texturing parallel to the extrusion direction due to the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles. Texture coefficient calculated from the X-ray diffraction spectrum using Harris texture index formula revealed that the presence of increasing volume percentage of TiO2 nanoparticles reinforcement gradually relaxed the strong alignment of basal plane and enhanced the pyramidal plane texturing parallel to the extrusion direction.
Design, Synthesis and Antibacterial Evaluation of Novel 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives Incorporating 3′-Deoxythymidine
Authors: Mao Long-Fei , Xu Gui-Qing , Sun Bin , Jiang Yu-Qin , Dong Wen-Pei , Zhang Shu-Ting , Shen Jia-Xuan , He Xing
Published: November 2017

A series of novel 1,2,3-triazole derivatives incorporating 3′-deoxythymidine were designed, synthesised and characterised. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated for all of the synthesised compounds and compared against standard antibiotic drugs, streptomycin sulfate and doxycycline, as controls. Some compounds showed potential antibacterial activity towards E. coli, and the best minimum inhibitory concentration was 0.14 mM. Preliminary structure-activity relationships and computational simulations were also studied.
High Loaded Synthetic Hazardous Wastewater Treatment Using Lab-Scale Submerged Ceramic Membrane Bioreactor
Authors: Rezakazemi Mashallah , Maghami Mohsen , Mohammadi Toraj
Published: November 2017

Submerged ceramic membrane bioreactors (SCMBRs) are more efficient combinations of traditional activated hazardous sludge and new membrane separation processes in wastewater treatment. Suspended solids are separated from hazardous effluent using microfilter ceramic membranes in SCMBRs. A high loaded wastewater was treated using an SCMBR employing a homemade tubular ceramic membrane in laboratory scale. Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) was 32 h and COD range was varied from 2000 to 5000 mg/l. COD removal was evaluated to be more than 90% after a week and the lab scale SCMBR showed desired performance for the wastewater treatment. Mixed Liquor Suspended Solid (MLSS) was increased from 2000 to 4000 mg/L during the SCMBR operation time.
The Obscure World of Integrative and Mobilizable Elements, Highly Widespread Elements that Pirate Bacterial Conjugative Systems
Authors: Guédon Gérard , Libante Virginie , Coluzzi Charles , Payot Sophie , Leblond-Bourget Nathalie
Published: November 2017

Conjugation is a key mechanism of bacterial evolution that involves mobile genetic elements. Recent findings indicated that the main actors of conjugative transfer are not the well-known conjugative or mobilizable plasmids but are the integrated elements. This paper reviews current knowledge on “integrative and mobilizable elements” (IMEs) that have recently been shown to be highly diverse and highly widespread but are still rarely described. IMEs encode their own excision and integration and use the conjugation machinery of unrelated co-resident conjugative element for their own transfer. Recent studies revealed a much more complex and much more diverse lifecycle than initially thought. Besides their main transmission as integrated elements, IMEs probably use plasmid-like strategies to ensure their maintenance after excision. Their interaction with conjugative elements reveals not only harmless hitchhikers but also hunters that use conjugative elements as target for their integration or harmful parasites that subvert the conjugative apparatus of incoming elements to invade cells that harbor them. IMEs carry genes conferring various functions, such as resistance to antibiotics, that can enhance the fitness of their hosts and that contribute to their maintenance in bacterial populations. Taken as a whole, IMEs are probably major contributors to bacterial evolution.
Connections between Transcription Downstream of Genes and cis-SAGe Chimeric RNA
Authors: Chwalenia Katarzyna , Qin Fujun , Singh Sandeep , Tangtrongstittikul Panjapon , Li Hui
Published: November 2017

cis-Splicing between adjacent genes (cis-SAGe) is being recognized as one way to produce chimeric fusion RNAs. However, its detail mechanism is not clear. Recent study revealed induction of transcriptions downstream of genes (DoGs) under osmotic stress. Here, we investigated the influence of osmotic stress on cis-SAGe chimeric RNAs and their connection to DoGs. We found, the absence of induction of at least some cis-SAGe fusions and/or their corresponding DoGs at early time point(s). In fact, these DoGs and their cis-SAGe fusions are inversely correlated. This negative correlation was changed to positive at a later time point. These results suggest a direct competition between the two categories of transcripts when total pool of readthrough transcripts is limited at an early time point. At a later time point, DoGs and corresponding cis-SAGe fusions are both induced, indicating that total readthrough transcripts become more abundant. Finally, we observed overall enhancement of cis-SAGe chimeric RNAs in KCl-treated samples by RNA-Seq analysis.
Antibody-Based Protective Immunity against Helminth Infections: Antibody Phage Display Derived Antibodies against BmR1 Antigen
Authors: Rahumatullah Anizah , Abdul Karim Izzati , Noordin Rahmah , Lim Theam
Published: November 2017

Helminth parasite infections are significantly impacting global health, with more than two billion infections worldwide with a high morbidity rate. The complex life cycle of the nematodes has made host immune response studies against these parasites extremely difficult. In this study, we utilized two phage antibody libraries; the immune and naïve library were used to identify single chain fragment variable (scFv) clones against a specific filarial antigen (BmR1). The V-gene analysis of isolated scFv clones will help shed light on preferential VDJ gene segment usage against the filarial BmR1 antigen in healthy and infected states. The immune library showed the usage of both lambda and kappa light chains. However, the naïve library showed preferential use of the lambda family with different amino acid distributions. The binding characteristics of the scFv clones identified from this work were analyzed by immunoassay and immunoaffinity pull down of BmR1. The work highlights the antibody gene usage pattern of a naïve and immune antibody library against the same antigen as well as the robust nature of the enriched antibodies for downstream applications.
Fast Detection of a BRCA2 Large Genomic Duplication by Next Generation Sequencing as a Single Procedure: A Case Report
Authors: Nunziato Marcella , Starnone Flavio , Lombardo Barbara , Pensabene Matilde , Condello Caterina , Verdesca Francesco , Carlomagno Chiara , De Placido Sabino , Pastore Lucio , Salvatore Francesco , D’Argenio Valeria
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study was to verify the reliability of a next generation sequencing (NGS)-based method as a strategy to detect all possible BRCA mutations, including large genomic rearrangements. Genomic DNA was obtained from a peripheral blood sample provided by a patient from Southern Italy with early onset breast cancer and a family history of diverse cancers. BRCA molecular analysis was performed by NGS, and sequence data were analyzed using two software packages. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array was used as confirmatory method. A novel large duplication, involving exons 4–26, of BRCA2 was directly detected in the patient by NGS workflow including quantitative analysis of copy number variants. The duplication observed was also found by CGH array, thus confirming its extent. Large genomic rearrangements can affect the BRCA1/2 genes, and thus contribute to germline predisposition to familial breast and ovarian cancers. The frequency of these mutations could be underestimated because of technical limitations of several routinely used molecular analysis, while their evaluation should be included also in these molecular testing. The NGS-based strategy described herein is an effective procedure to screen for all kinds of BRCA mutations.
Extracellular Vesicles Released by Oxidatively Injured or Intact C2C12 Myotubes Promote Distinct Responses Converging toward Myogenesis
Authors: Guescini Michele , Maggio Serena , Ceccaroli Paola , Battistelli Michela , Annibalini Giosuè , Piccoli Giovanni , Sestili Piero , Stocchi Vilberto
Published: November 2017

Myogenic differentiation is triggered, among other situations, in response to muscle damage for regenerative purposes. It has been shown that during myogenic differentiation, myotubes release extracellular vesicles (EVs) which participate in the signalling pattern of the microenvironment. Here we investigated whether EVs released by myotubes exposed or not to mild oxidative stress modulate the behaviour of targeted differentiating myoblasts and macrophages to promote myogenesis. We found that EVs released by oxidatively challenged myotubes (H2O2-EVs) are characterized by an increased loading of nucleic acids, mainly DNA. In addition, incubation of myoblasts with H2O2-EVs resulted in a significant decrease of myotube diameter, myogenin mRNA levels and myosin heavy chain expression along with an upregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen: these effects collectively lead to an increase of recipient myoblast proliferation. Notably, the EVs from untreated myotubes induced an opposite trend in myoblasts, that is, a slight pro-differentiation effect. Finally, H2O2-EVs were capable of eliciting an increased interleukin 6 mRNA expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. Notably, this is the first demonstration that myotubes communicate with surrounding macrophages via EV release. Collectively, the data reported herein suggest that myotubes, depending on their conditions, release EVs carrying differential signals which could contribute to finely and coherently orchestrate the muscle regeneration process.
Quercetin Mitigates Inflammatory Responses Induced by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Mouse Retinal Photoreceptor Cells through Suppression of Nuclear Factor Kappa B
Authors: Lee Minsup , Yun Seohyeon , Lee Hyesook , Yang Jaewook
Published: November 2017

Retinal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) increased by neovascularization is well known as a pathogenic factor in ocular neovascular diseases. However, it is still unclear how retinal neurons are damaged by VEGF. The aims of this study are to demonstrate the inflammatory protein expression regulated by VEGF using mouse photoreceptor-derived cells and the protective effect of quercetin against VEGF-induced inflammatory response. Expression and phosphorylation of protein and expression of mRNA were detected by immunoblot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. VEGF-induced degradation of limiting membrane and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were analyzed by immunocytochemistry. VEGF treatment activated angiogenic signaling pathway in photoreceptor cells. In addition, adhesion molecules and matrix metalloproteinases were increased in VEGF-treated photoreceptor cells. All these events were reversed by quercetin. Zona occludins-1 and β-catenin decreased by VEGF were recovered by quercetin. NF-κB signaling pathway regulated by VEGF through phosphorylations of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase B (Akt) was suppressed by quercetin. These results suggest that quercetin suppressed VEGF-induced excessive inflammatory response in retinal photoreceptor cells by inactivation of NF-κB signals through inhibition of MAPKs and Akt. These data may provide a basic information for development of pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals for treatment of retinal diseases caused by excessive VEGF.
Four New Glycosides from the Rhizoma of Anemarrhena asphodeloides
Authors: Yang Bing-You , Bi Xue-Yan , Liu Yan , Li Guo-Yu , Yin Xin , Kuang Hai-Xue
Published: November 2017

Four new compounds, aneglycoside A–C (1–3) and timosaponin U (4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides. Their structures were determined through extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical characteristics, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). All the isolations were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HepG2, Hela, and SGC7901 human cancer lines. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed weak antiproliferative activities on HepG2, Hela, and SGC7901 cells.
Transformation of a Thermostable G-Quadruplex Structure into DNA Duplex Driven by Reverse Gyrase
Authors: Li Dawei , Wang Qiang , Liu Yun , Liu Kun , Zhuge Qiang , Lv Bei
Published: November 2017

Reverse gyrase is a topoisomerase that can introduce positive supercoils to its substrate DNA. It is demonstrated in our studies that a highly thermal stable G-quadruplex structure in a mini-plasmid DNA was transformed into its duplex conformation after a treatment with reverse gyrase. The structural difference of the topoisomers were verified and analyzed by gel electrophoresis, atomic force microscopy examination, and endonuclease digestion assays. All evidence suggested that the overwinding structure of positive supercoil could provide a driven force to disintegrate G-quadruplex and reform duplex. The results of our studies could suggest that hyperthermophiles might use reverse gyrase to manipulate the disintegration of non-B DNA structures and safekeep their genomic information.
WxC-β-SiC Nanocomposite Catalysts Used in Aqueous Phase Hydrogenation of Furfural
Authors: Rogowski Jacek , Andrzejczuk Mariusz , Berlowska Joanna , Binczarski Michal , Kregiel Dorota , Kubiak Andrzej , Modelska Magdalena , Szubiakiewicz Elzbieta , Stanishevsky Andrei , Tomaszewska Jolanta , Witonska Izabela Alina
Published: November 2017

This study investigates the effects of the addition of tungsten on the structure, phase composition, textural properties and activities of β-SiC-based catalysts in the aqueous phase hydrogenation of furfural. Carbothermal reduction of SiO2 in the presence of WO3 at 1550 °C in argon resulted in the formation of WxC-β-SiC nanocomposite powders with significant variations in particle morphology and content of WxC-tipped β-SiC nano-whiskers, as revealed by TEM and SEM-EDS. The specific surface area (SSA) of the nanocomposite strongly depended on the amount of tungsten and had a notable impact on its catalytic properties for the production of furfuryl alcohol (FA) and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA). Nanocomposite WxC-β-SiC catalysts with 10 wt % W in the starting mixture had the highest SSA and the smallest WxC crystallites. Some 10 wt % W nanocomposite catalysts demonstrated up to 90% yield of THFA, in particular in the reduction of furfural derived from biomass, although the reproducible performance of such catalysts has yet to be achieved.
Prevalence of Pre-Diabetes across Ethnicities: A Review of Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) for Classification of Dysglycaemia
Authors: Yip Wilson , Sequeira Ivana , Plank Lindsay , Poppitt Sally
Published: November 2017

Prediabetes can be defined by the presence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) to identify individuals at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The World Health Organization (WHO, 1999) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA, 2003) utilise different cut-off values for IFG (WHO: 6.1–6.9 mmol/L; ADA: 5.6–6.9 mmol/L) but the same cut-off values for IGT (7.8–11.0 mmol/L). This review investigates whether there are differences in prevalence of IFG, IGT, and combined IFG&IGT between ethnicities, in particular Asian Chinese and European Caucasians. In total, we identified 19 studies using the WHO1999 classification, for which the average proportional prevalence for isolated (i)-IFG, i-IGT, and combined IFG&IGT were 43.9%, 41.0%, and 13.5%, respectively, for Caucasian and 29.2%, 49.4%, and 18.2%, respectively, for Asian. For the 14 studies using ADA2003 classification, the average proportional i-IFG, i-IGT, and combined IFG&IGT prevalences were 58.0%, 20.3%, and 19.8%, respectively, for Caucasian; 48.1%, 27.7%, and 20.5%, respectively, for Asian. Whilst not statistically different, there may be clinically relevant differences in the two populations, with our observations for both classifications indicating that prevalence of i-IFG is higher in Caucasian cohorts whilst i-IGT and combined IFG&IGT are both higher in Asian cohorts.
Design of Thermochromic Polynorbornene Bearing Spiropyran Chromophore Moieties: Synthesis, Thermal Behavior and Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Treatment
Authors: Ahmed Saleh , Okasha Rawda , Khairou Khalid , Afifi Tarek , Mohamed Abdel-Aleam , Abd-El-Aziz Alaa
Published: November 2017

A new class of thermochromic polynorbornene with pendent spiropyran moieties has been synthesized. Functionalization of norbornene monomers with spirobenzopyran moieties has been achieved using Steglich esterification. These new monomeric materials were polymerized via Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP). In spite of their poor solubility, polynorbornenes with spirobenzopyran exhibited thermochromic behavior due to the conversion of their closed spiropyran moieties to the open merocyanine form. Moreover, these polymers displayed bathochromic shifts in their optical response, which was attributed to the J-aggregation of the attached merocyanine moieties that were associated with their high concentration in the polymeric chain. The surface of the obtained polymers was exposed to atmospheric pressure air Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma system, which resulted in the reduction of the surface porosity and converted some surface area into completely non-porous regions. Moreover, the plasma system created some areas with highly ordered J-aggregates of the merocyanine form in thread-like structures. This modification of the polymers’ morphology may alter their applications and allow for these materials to be potential candidates for new applications, such as non-porous membranes for reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or molecular separation in the gas phase.
Comprehensive Study on Chemical and Hot Press-Treated Silver Nanowires for Efficient Polymer Solar Cell Application
Authors: Yu Yang-Yen , Ting Yo-Jen , Chung Chung-Lin , Tsai Tzung-Wei , Chen Chih-Ping
Published: November 2017

In this study, chemical treatment (CT; oxidation–reduction method) and physical treatment (HP; hot-pressing methods) were applied to improve the performance of silver nanowire (AgNW)-derived electrodes on a glass or flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. The four-point probe method, UV-Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to measure the properties of AgNW electrodes and compare them with those of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes for exploring the possibility of using CT- and HP-based AgNW electrodes for polymer solar cell (PSC) applications. Using the CT or HP method, the sheet resistance of electrodes decreased to lower than 40 Ω sq−1 with an average high transmittance of more than 80%. Furthermore, HP reduced the surface roughness of AgNWs, which solved the inter-electrode short circuiting problem for devices. We studied the performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) and zinc oxide-based PSC devices. The power conversion efficiency of HP-AgNW-derived poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-(4-(2-ethylhexyl)-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-)-2-carboxylate-2-6-diyl] (PTB7-Th):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) devices was 7.83%, which was slightly lower than the performance of the device using ITO (8.03%) as a substrate. After a bend test (100 times) at a 2-cm curvature radius, the efficiency of AgNW/PET-derived PSCs was more than 70%. The performance of PSCs made with AgNWs and ITO electrodes is comparable, but the cost of using AgNWs for electrodes is much lower; therefore, HP-derived AgNWs demonstrate great potential for optoelectronic applications.
Polyisoprene-Silica Nanoparticles Synthesized via RAFT Emulsifier-Free Emulsion Polymerization Using Water-Soluble Initiators
Authors: Tumnantong Dusadee , Rempel Garry , Prasassarakich Pattarapan
Published: November 2017

Polyisoprene-silica (PIP-co-RAFT-SiO2) nanoparticles were prepared via reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization using water-soluble initiators, 4,4′-Azobis (4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACP) and 2,2′-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (V50). The particle size of emulsion prepared using ACP initiator was smaller than that using V50 initiator because the V50 initiator was more active toward decomposition than the ACP initiator. A high monomer conversion (84%), grafting efficiency (83%) and small particle size (38 nm) with narrow size distribution were achieved at optimum condition. The PIP-co-RAFT-SiO2 nanoparticles exhibited core–shell morphology with silica encapsulated with polyisoprene (PIP). The new PIP-SiO2 nanoparticles could be applied as effective filler in rubber composites that possess good mechanical and thermal properties.
RadViz Deluxe: An Attribute-Aware Display for Multivariate Data
Authors: Cheng Shenghui , Xu Wei , Mueller Klaus
Published: November 2017

Modern data, such as occurring in chemical engineering, typically entail large collections of samples with numerous dimensional components (or attributes). Visualizing the samples in relation of these components can bring valuable insight. For example, one may be able to see how a certain chemical property is expressed in the samples taken. This could reveal if there are clusters and outliers that have specific distinguishing properties. Current multivariate visualization methods lack the ability to reveal these types of information at a sufficient degree of fidelity since they are not optimized to simultaneously present the relations of the samples as well as the relations of the samples to their attributes. We propose a display that is designed to reveal these multiple relations. Our scheme is based on the concept of RadViz, but enhances the layout with three stages of iterative refinement. These refinements reduce the layout error in terms of three essential relationships—sample to sample, attribute to attribute, and sample to attribute. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method via various real-world domain examples in the domain of chemical process engineering. In addition, we also formally derive the equivalence of RadViz to a popular multivariate interpolation method called generalized barycentric coordinates.
Effect of Heat Wave Conditions on Aerosol Optical Properties Derived from Satellite and Ground-Based Remote Sensing over Poland
Authors: Stachlewska Iwona , Zawadzka Olga , Engelmann Ronny
Published: November 2017

During an exceptionally warm September in 2016, unique and stable weather conditions contributed to a heat wave over Poland, allowing for observations of aerosol optical properties, using a variety of ground-based and satellite remote sensors. The data set collected during 11–16 September 2016 was analysed in terms of aerosol transport (HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT)), aerosol load model simulations (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS), Global Environmental Multiscale-Air Quality (GEM-AQ), columnar aerosol load measured at ground level (Aerosol Robotic NETwork (AERONET), Polish Aerosol Research Network (PolandAOD)) and from satellites (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)), as well as with 24/7 PollyXT Raman Lidar observations at the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) site in Warsaw. Analyses revealed a single day of a relatively clean background aerosol related to an Arctic air-mass inflow, surrounded by a few days with a well increased aerosol load of differing origin: pollution transported from Germany and biomass burning from Ukraine. Such conditions proved excellent to test developed-in-house algorithms designed for near real-time aerosol optical depth (AOD) derivation from the SEVIRI sensor. The SEVIRI AOD maps derived over the territory of Poland, with an exceptionally high resolution (every 15 min; 5.5 × 5.5 km2), revealed on an hourly scale, very low aerosol variability due to heat wave conditions. Comparisons of SEVIRI with NAAPS and CAMS AOD maps show strong qualitative similarities; however, NAAPS underestimates AOD and CAMS tends to underestimate it on relatively clean days (<0.2), and overestimate it for a high aerosol load (>0.4). A slight underestimation of the SEVIRI AOD is reported for pixel-to-column comparisons with AODs of several radiometers (AERONET, PolandAOD) and Lidar (EARLINET) with high correlation coefficients (r2 of 0.8–0.91) and low root-mean-square error (RMSE of 0.03–0.05). A heat wave driven increase of the boundary layer height of 10% is accompanied with the AOD increase of 8–12% for an urban site dominated by anthropogenic pollution. Contrary trend, with an AOD decrease of around 4% for a rural site dominated by a long-range transported biomass burning aerosol is reported. There is a positive feedback of heat wave conditions on local and transported pollution and an extenuating effect on transported biomass burning aerosol. The daytime mean SEVIRI PM2.5 converted from the SEVIRI AODs at a pixel representative for Warsaw is in agreement with the daily mean PM2.5 surface measurements, whereby SEVIRI PM2.5 and Lidar-derived Ångström exponent are anti-correlated.
A Phenological Approach to Spectral Differentiation of Low-Arctic Tundra Vegetation Communities, North Slope, Alaska
Authors: Beamish Alison , Coops Nicholas , Chabrillat Sabine , Heim Birgit
Published: November 2017

Arctic tundra ecosystems exhibit small-scale variations in species composition, micro-topography as well as significant spatial and temporal variations in moisture. These attributes result in similar spectral characteristics between distinct vegetation communities. In this study we examine spectral variability at three phenological phases of leaf-out, maximum canopy, and senescence of ground-based spectroscopy, as well as a simulated Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) and simulated Sentinel-2 reflectance spectra, from five dominant low-Arctic tundra vegetation communities in the Toolik Lake Research Area, Alaska, in order to inform spectral differentiation and subsequent vegetation classification at both the ground and satellite scale. We used the InStability Index (ISI), a ratio of between endmember and within endmember variability, to determine the most discriminative phenophase and wavelength regions for identification of each vegetation community. Our results show that the senescent phase was the most discriminative phenophase for the identification of the majority of communities when using both ground-based and simulated EnMAP reflectance spectra. Maximum canopy was the most discriminative phenophase for the majority of simulated Sentinel-2 reflectance data. As with previous ground-based spectral characterization of Alaskan low-Arctic tundra, the blue, red, and red-edge parts of the spectrum were most discriminative for all three reflectance datasets. Differences in vegetation colour driven by pigment dynamics appear to be the optimal areas of the spectrum for differentiation using high spectral resolution field spectroscopy and simulated hyperspectral EnMAP and multispectral Sentinel-2 reflectance spectra. The phenological aspect of this study highlights the potential exploitation of more extreme colour differences in vegetation observed during senescence when hyperspectral data is available. The results provide insight into both the community and seasonal dynamics of spectral variability to better understand and interpret currently used broadband vegetation indices and also for improved spectral unmixing of hyperspectral aerial and satellite data which is useful for a wide range of applications from fine-scale monitoring of shifting vegetation composition to the identification of vegetation vigor.
Development and Validation of an On-Line Water Toxicity Sensor with Immobilized Luminescent Bacteria for On-Line Surface Water Monitoring
Authors: Woutersen Marjolijn , Van der Gaag Bram , Abrafi Boakye Afua , Mink Jan , Marks Robert , Wagenvoort Arco , Ketelaars Henk , Brouwer Bram , Heringa Minne
Published: November 2017

Surface water used for drinking water production is frequently monitored in The Netherlands using whole organism biomonitors, with for example Daphnia magna or Dreissena mussels, which respond to changes in the water quality. However, not all human-relevant toxic compounds can be detected by these biomonitors. Therefore, a new on-line biosensor has been developed, containing immobilized genetically modified bacteria, which respond to genotoxicity in the water by emitting luminescence. The performance of this sensor was tested under laboratory conditions, as well as under field conditions at a monitoring station along the river Meuse in The Netherlands. The sensor was robust and easy to clean, with inert materials, temperature control and nutrient feed for the reporter organisms. The bacteria were immobilized in sol-gel on either an optical fiber or a glass slide and then continuously exposed to water. Since the glass slide was more sensitive and robust, only this setup was used in the field. The sensor responded to spikes of genotoxic compounds in the water with a minimal detectable concentration of 0.01 mg/L mitomycin C in the laboratory and 0.1 mg/L mitomycin C in the field. With further optimization, which should include a reduction in daily maintenance, the sensor has the potential to become a useful addition to the currently available biomonitors.
Pedestrian Detection with Semantic Regions of Interest
Authors: He Miao , Luo Haibo , Chang Zheng , Hui Bin
Published: November 2017

For many pedestrian detectors, background vs. foreground errors heavily influence the detection quality. Our main contribution is to design semantic regions of interest that extract the foreground target roughly to reduce the background vs. foreground errors of detectors. First, we generate a pedestrian heat map from the input image with a full convolutional neural network trained on the Caltech Pedestrian Dataset. Next, semantic regions of interest are extracted from the heat map by morphological image processing. Finally, the semantic regions of interest divide the whole image into foreground and background to assist the decision-making of detectors. We test our approach on the Caltech Pedestrian Detection Benchmark. With the help of our semantic regions of interest, the effects of the detectors have varying degrees of improvement. The best one exceeds the state-of-the-art.
Sustainable Soil Management in Ski Areas: Threats and Challenges
Authors: Pintaldi Emanuele , Hudek Csilla , Stanchi Silvia , Spiegelberger Thomas , Rivella Enrico , Freppaz Michele
Published: November 2017

The skiing industry often represent the main contribution to mountain regions’ economy, by providing several economic benefits and the improvement of services and infrastructure. Ski resorts also play a crucial role as an impacting factor, causing severe changes on Alpine landscape and ecosystems. In particular ski runs construction and operation have considerable impacts on alpine soils, influencing their chemical and physical properties which affecting the establishment and development of plant communities. The work provides a description of the changes in soil properties and the related effects on vegetation. It aims furthermore to investigate the recent best practices applied for a successful soil restoration after ski runs construction, which may contribute to a sustainable use of mountain soils and ecosystems. Based on the current regulatory framework, this review gives a global overview on how, in Europe and specifically in Italy, the sustainable use of soils is considered during the construction and management of ski runs. As the framework is still lacking of specific rules regarding soil protection and management on ski runs, the present work wishes to provide recommendations in order to fill this gap, favoring the effective application of best practices for soil protection during ski run construction and maintenance.
Stability of Deep Underground Openings through Large Fault Zones in Argillaceous Rock
Authors: Qian Deyu , Zhang Nong , Pan Dongjiang , Xie Zhengzheng , Shimada Hideki , Wang Yang , Zhang Chenghao , Zhang Nianchao
Published: November 2017

The stability of underground openings is pivotal to sustainable safe mining in underground coal mines. To determine the stability and tunneling safety issues in 800-m-deep underground openings through large fault zones in argillaceous rocks in the Guqiao Coal Mine in East China, the pilot industrial test, laboratory experimentation, and field measurements were used to analyze the large deformations and failure characteristics of the surrounding rock, the influence factors of safe excavation and stability of underground openings, and to study the stability control countermeasures. The main factors influencing the stability and tunneling safety include large fault zones, high in situ stress, poor mechanical properties and engineering performance of the argillaceous rock mass, groundwater inrush and gas outburst. According to the field study, the anchor-ability of cables and the groutability of cement-matrix materials in the argillaceous rock in the large fault zones were extremely poor, and deformations and failure of the surrounding rock were characterized by dramatic initial deformation, high long-term creep rate, obviously asymmetric deformations and failure, rebound of roof displacements, overall loosened deformations of deep surrounding rock on a large scale, and high sensitivity to engineering disturbance and water immersion. Various geo-hazards occurred during the pilot excavation, including roof collapse, groundwater inrush, and debris flow. Control techniques are proposed and should be adopted to ensure tunneling safety and to control the stability of deep underground openings through large fault zones, including regional strata reinforcement technique such as ground surface pre-grouting, primary enhanced control measures, floor grouting reinforcement technique, and secondary enclosed support measures for long-term stability, which are critical for ensuring the sustainable development of the coal mine.
Circuity Characteristics of Urban Travel Based on GPS Data: A Case Study of Guangzhou
Authors: Cao Xiaoshu , Liang Feiwen , Chen Huiling , Liu Yongwei
Published: November 2017

A longer, wider and more complicated change in the travel path is put forward to adapt to the rapidly increasing expansion of metropolises in the field of urban travel. Urban travel requires higher levels of sustainable urban transport. Therefore,this paper explores the circuity characteristics of urban travel and investigates the temporal relationship between time and travel circuity and the spatial relationship between distance and travel circuity to understand the efficiency of urban travel. Based on Guangzhou Taxi-GPS big data, travel circuity is considered in this paper to analyze the circuity spatial distribution and strength characteristics of urban travel in three types of metropolitan regions, including core areas, transition areas and fringe areas. Depending on the different attributes of the three types, the consistency and dissimilar characteristics of travel circuity and influencing factors of travel circuity in metropolises are discussed. The results are shown as follows: (1) by observing the temporal andspatial distribution of travel circuity, it can be found that peaks and troughs change with time, and travel circuity of transition areas is higher than other areas during the peak period. When travelling in these three regions, travel circuity spatial distribution is consistent, which is the core-periphery distribution. When travelling among these three regions, travel circuity spatial distribution is distinct; (2) by analyzing the relationship between time and distance of travel and travel circuity, it can be seen that the shorter the travel time or travel distance, the greater the travel circuity, resulting in a lower travel efficiency; (3) the influence of six factors, including population, road and public transportation, on travel circuity is significant. Whether it is the origin point or destination point, when its location is closer to the city center and the station density of grid is lower, the travel circuity is higher.
Analytical Treatment of Higher-Order Graphs: A Path Ordinal Method for Solving Graphs
Authors: Kamal Hala , Larena Alicia , Bernabeu Eusebio
Published: November 2017

Analytical treatment of the composition of higher-order graphs representing linear relations between variables is developed. A path formalism to deal with problems in graph theory is introduced. It is shown how paths in the composed graph representing individual contributions to variables relation can be enumerated and represented by ordinals. The method allows for one to extract partial information and gives an alternative to classical graph approach.
Pressure for Pattern-Specific Intertypic Recombination between Sabin Polioviruses: Evolutionary Implications
Authors: Korotkova Ekaterina , Laassri Majid , Zagorodnyaya Tatiana , Petrovskaya Svetlana , Rodionova Elvira , Cherkasova Elena , Gmyl Anatoly , Ivanova Olga , Eremeeva Tatyana , Lipskaya Galina , Agol Vadim , Chumakov Konstantin
Published: November 2017

Complete genomic sequences of a non-redundant set of 70 recombinants between three serotypes of attenuated Sabin polioviruses as well as location (based on partial sequencing) of crossover sites of 28 additional recombinants were determined and compared with the previously published data. It is demonstrated that the genomes of Sabin viruses contain distinct strain-specific segments that are eliminated by recombination. The presumed low fitness of these segments could be linked to mutations acquired upon derivation of the vaccine strains and/or may have been present in wild-type parents of Sabin viruses. These “weak” segments contribute to the propensity of these viruses to recombine with each other and with other enteroviruses as well as determine the choice of crossover sites. The knowledge of location of such segments opens additional possibilities for the design of more genetically stable and/or more attenuated variants, i.e., candidates for new oral polio vaccines. The results also suggest that the genome of wild polioviruses, and, by generalization, of other RNA viruses, may harbor hidden low-fitness segments that can be readily eliminated only by recombination.
Human Protoparvoviruses
Authors: Väisänen Elina , Fu Yu , Hedman Klaus , Söderlund-Venermo Maria
Published: November 2017

Next-generation sequencing and metagenomics have revolutionized the discovery of novel viruses. In recent years, three novel protoparvoviruses have been discovered in fecal samples of humans: bufavirus (BuV) in 2012, tusavirus (TuV) in 2014, and cutavirus (CuV) in 2016. BuV has since been studied the most, disclosing three genotypes that also represent serotypes. Besides one nasal sample, BuV DNA has been found exclusively in diarrheal feces, but not in non-diarrheal feces, suggesting a causal relationship. According to both geno- and seroprevalences, BuV appears to be the most common of the three novel protoparvoviruses, whereas TuV DNA has been found in only a single fecal sample, with antibody detection being equally rare. Moreover, the TuV sequence is closer to those of non-human protoparvoviruses, and so the evidence of TuV being a human virus is thus far insufficient. Interestingly, besides in feces, CuV has also been detected in skin biopsies of patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and a patient with melanoma, while all other skin samples have tested PCR negative. Even if preliminary disease associations exist, the full etiological roles of these viruses in human disease are yet to be resolved.
Tidal Synchronization and Differential Rotation of Kepler Eclipsing Binaries
Authors: Lurie John C. , Vyhmeister Karl , Hawley Suzanne L. , Adilia Jamel , Chen Andrea , Davenport James R. A. , Jurić Mario , Puig-Holzman Michael , Weisenburger Kolby L.
Published: November 2017

Few observational constraints exist for the tidal synchronization rate of late-type stars, despite its fundamental role in binary evolution. We visually inspected the light curves of 2278 eclipsing binaries (EBs) from the Kepler Eclipsing Binary Catalog to identify those with starspot modulations, as well as other types of out-of-eclipse variability. We report rotation periods for 816 EBs with starspot modulations, and find that 79% of EBs with orbital periods of less than 10 days are synchronized. However, a population of short-period EBs exists, with rotation periods typically 13% slower than synchronous, which we attribute to the differential rotation of high-latitude starspots. At 10 days, there is a transition from predominantly circular, synchronized EBs to predominantly eccentric, pseudosynchronized EBs. This transition period is in good agreement with the predicted and observed circularization period for Milky Way field binaries. At orbital periods greater than about 30 days, the amount of tidal synchronization decreases. We also report 12 previously unidentified candidate δ Scuti and γ Doradus pulsators, as well as a candidate RS CVn system with an evolved primary that exhibits starspot occultations. For short-period contact binaries, we observe a period–color relation and compare it to previous studies. As a whole, these results represent the largest homogeneous study of tidal synchronization of late-type stars.