bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Lead–Lag Relationship between Oil Futures and Spot Prices—A Literature Review
Authors: Zavadska Miroslava , Morales Lucía , Coughlan Joseph
Published: October 2018

Crude oil is the dominant energy resource worldwide. The focus of this paper is on its historical behaviour and subsequent implications for the global economy with an emphasis on the lead–lag relationship between spot and future prices. The paper examines the behaviour of oil spot and future prices and their determinants during periods of market uncertainty, particularly in the context of economic and financial crises. The analysis highlights a key controversy within the extant literature, as to whether spot or futures prices are the main crude oil price indicator. The literature review indicates that the lead–lag relationship is a dynamic one, especially during periods of sustained uncertainty, which leads to significant disagreements and incongruities among researchers regarding the price that plays a dominant role.
Method for Mapping Rice Fields in Complex Landscape Areas Based on Pre-Trained Convolutional Neural Network from HJ-1 A/B Data
Authors: Jiang Tian , Liu Xiangnan , Wu Ling
Published: October 2018

Accurate and timely information about rice planting areas is essential for crop yield estimation, global climate change and agricultural resource management. In this study, we present a novel pixel-level classification approach that uses convolutional neural network (CNN) model to extract the features of enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series curve for classification. The goal is to explore the practicability of deep learning techniques for rice recognition in complex landscape regions, where rice is easily confused with the surroundings, by using mid-resolution remote sensing images. A transfer learning strategy is utilized to fine tune a pre-trained CNN model and obtain the temporal features of the EVI curve. Support vector machine (SVM), a traditional machine learning approach, is also implemented in the experiment. Finally, we evaluate the accuracy of the two models. Results show that our model performs better than SVM, with the overall accuracies being 93.60% and 91.05%, respectively. Therefore, this technique is appropriate for estimating rice planting areas in southern China on the basis of a pre-trained CNN model by using time series data. And more opportunity and potential can be found for crop classification by remote sensing and deep learning technique in the future study.
A Full Level-of-Detail Specification for 3D Building Models Combining Indoor and Outdoor Scenes
Authors: Tang Lei , Li Lin , Ying Shen , Lei Yuan
Published: October 2018

The level of detail (LoD) concept in CityGML (City Geography Markup Language), which indicates how closely the model mirrors its real-world counterpart, has been accepted and applied widely in various applications, including the 3D modeling of buildings. However, with an increasing number of human activities occurring in the indoor environment, the standardized LoD definition appears to be insufficient because of its narrow classifications for interior features, which can be presented only in LoD4. In view of this drawback, an extended indoor LoD (ILoD) specification is proposed, particularly for indoor spaces, allowing the existing LoD to become a more precise outdoor LoD (OLoD) by exploiting the advantages of two other international standards: Industry foundation classes (IFC) and IndoorGML. In this paper, the interior space is divided into distinct systems of three semantic aspects (structure, connectivity, and volume); the approach can be considered the guiding ideology to define the detailed indoor levels following a concrete theoretical realization based on extending the UML diagram of CityGML’s building model. Moreover, a continuous and seamless full LoD (FLoD) set obtained by combining various OLoDs and ILoDs is subsequently listed to realize the full specification for 3D building models. Furthermore, to demonstrate the proposed specification and prove the applicability of the building model at different LoDs, a practical experiment is conducted.
Street Centralities and Land Use Intensities Based on Points of Interest (POI) in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Wang Shuai , Xu Gang , Guo Qingsheng
Published: October 2018

Urban land use and transportation are closely associated. Previous studies have investigated the spatial interrelationship between street centralities and land use intensities using land cover data, thus neglecting the social functions of urban land. Taking the city of Shenzhen, China, as a case study, we used reclassified points of interest (POI) data to represent commercial, public service, and residential land, and then investigated the varying interrelationships between the street centralities and different types of urban land use intensities. We calculated three global centralities (“closeness”, “betweenness”, and “straightness”) as well as local centralities (1-km, 2-km, 3-km, and 5-km searching radiuses), which were transformed into raster frameworks using kernel density estimation (KDE) for correlation analysis. Global closeness and straightness are high in the urban core area, and roads with high global betweenness outline the skeleton of the street network. The spatial patterns of the local centralities are distinguished from the global centralities, reflecting local location advantages. High intensities of commercial and public service land are concentrated in the urban core, while residential land is relatively scattered. The bivariate correlation analysis implies that commercial and public service land are more dependent on centralities than residential land. Closeness and straightness have stronger abilities in measuring the location advantages than betweenness. The centralities and intensities are more positively correlated on a larger scale (census block). These findings of the spatial patterns and interrelationships of the centralities and intensities have major implications for urban land use and transportation planning.
Pulse Oximetry Values in Newborns with Critical Congenital Heart Disease upon ICU Admission at Altitude
Authors: Kim John , Ariefdjohan Merlin , Sontag Marci , Rausch Christopher
Published: October 2018

Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) has been recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The objectives of this study are to describe saturation data, and to evaluate the effectiveness of AAP-recommended pulse oximetry screening guidelines applied retrospectively to a cohort of newborns with known CCHD at moderate altitude (5557 feet, Aurora, Colorado). Data related to seven critical congenital heart disease diagnoses were extracted from electronic health records (pulse oximetry, prostaglandin administration, and oxygen supplementation). Descriptive epidemiologic data were calculated. 158 subjects were included in this analysis; the AAP pulse oximetry screening protocol was applied to 149 subjects. Mean pre-ductal and post-ductal pulse oximetry values of the infants known to have CCHD at 24 h of life were 87.1% ± 7.2 and 87.8% ± 6.3, respectively. Infants treated with prostaglandins and oxygen had lower oximetry readings. The screening algorithm would have identified 80.5% of infants with known CCHDs (120/149 subjects). Additionally, sequential pulse oximetry screening based on the AAP-recommended protocol was able to identify a true positive screen capture rate of 80.5% at moderate altitude.
Shared Features of Endothelial Dysfunction between Sepsis and Its Preceding Risk Factors (Aging and Chronic Disease)
Authors: Bermejo-Martin Jesus F. , Martín-Fernandez Marta , López-Mestanza Cristina , Duque Patricia , Almansa Raquel
Published: October 2018

Acute vascular endothelial dysfunction is a central event in the pathogenesis of sepsis, increasing vascular permeability, promoting activation of the coagulation cascade, tissue edema and compromising perfusion of vital organs. Aging and chronic diseases (hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, liver disease, or cancer) are recognized risk factors for sepsis. In this article we review the features of endothelial dysfunction shared by sepsis, aging and the chronic conditions preceding this disease. Clinical studies and review articles on endothelial dysfunction in sepsis, aging and chronic diseases available in PubMed were considered. The main features of endothelial dysfunction shared by sepsis, aging and chronic diseases were: (1) increased oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, (2) glycocalyx degradation and shedding, (3) disassembly of intercellular junctions, endothelial cell death, blood-tissue barrier disruption, (4) enhanced leukocyte adhesion and extravasation, (5) induction of a pro-coagulant and anti-fibrinolytic state. In addition, chronic diseases impair the mechanisms of endothelial reparation. In conclusion, sepsis, aging and chronic diseases induce similar features of endothelial dysfunction. The potential contribution of pre-existent endothelial dysfunction to sepsis pathogenesis deserves to be further investigated.
Physical Frailty and Cognitive Functioning in Korea Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Yoon Dong Hyun , Hwang Su Seung , Lee Dong Won , Lee Chung Gun , Song Wook
Published: October 2018

Cognitive frailty is a heterogeneous clinical manifestation characterized by the simultaneous presence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between physical frailty and cognitive function in rural community-dwelling older Korean adults, taking four cognitive domains into account. We carried out a cross-sectional population-based study which enrolled 104 community-dwelling elderly. Physical frailty phenotype, as well as its individual criteria, were used. Cognitive functioning was examined in the four domains of memory, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Demographic data, lipid profile, muscle strength, physical function, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration collected from questionnaire interviews and assessments were included. Of the 104 older adults (77% female), 24.3% were classified as robust, 49.6% as prefrail, and 16.5% as frail. Linear regression analyses showed that the severity of frailty index was associated with four cognitive domains Muscle strength (i.e., Grip strength, Knee extensor and flexor), physical function (i.e., SPPB and Gait speed), and 25[OH]D were associated with poorer cognitive function. Within our population of Korean rural community-dwelling older adults, physical frailty status, muscle strength, physical functions, and biochemical measurements were associated with poorer cognitive function. Synchronicity of physical frailty and cognitive dysfunction may contribute to the negative health-related effects associated with aging.
Anti-Stress and Anti-Depressive Effects of Spinach Extracts on a Chronic Stress-Induced Depression Mouse Model through Lowering Blood Corticosterone and Increasing Brain Glutamate and Glutamine Levels
Authors: Son Hyeonwi , Jung Soonwoong , Shin Jung , Kang Min , Kim Hyun
Published: October 2018

Spinach is one of the most widely consumed vegetables, and is known as for both physical and mental health maintenance. However, there is little information about how spinach protects one from stress. In the present study, we created three extracts from Spinach oleracea L., (frozen powder (FP), water extract (WE), and ethanol extract (EE)), and examined their anti-stress and anti-depressive effects on mouse using a chronic immobilization stress (CIS) regimen. FP, WE, and EE showed different free amino acid constituents. Calorie-balanced diets derived from each extract were tested for their ability to reduce blood corticosterone (CORT) levels in naïve mice. Diets supplemented with FP or EE induced lower blood CORT levels than a normal diet, but the WE diet did not. Mobility duration and sucrose preference were increased by FP and EE supplementation in the CIS-induced depression animal models. Moreover, FP and EE increased glutamate and glutamine levels in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared with CIS-induced depressed group. These results suggest that spinach has anti-stress and anti-depressive properties by lowering CORT and increasing glutamate and glutamine levels in the mPFC.
Improving Tomographic Reconstruction from Limited Data Using Mixed-Scale Dense Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Pelt Daniël M. , Batenburg Kees Joost , Sethian James A.
Published: October 2018

In many applications of tomography, the acquired data are limited in one or more ways due to unavoidable experimental constraints. In such cases, popular direct reconstruction algorithms tend to produce inaccurate images, and more accurate iterative algorithms often have prohibitively high computational costs. Using machine learning to improve the image quality of direct algorithms is a recently proposed alternative, for which promising results have been shown. However, previous attempts have focused on using encoder–decoder networks, which have several disadvantages when applied to large tomographic images, preventing wide application in practice. Here, we propose the use of the Mixed-Scale Dense convolutional neural network architecture, which was specifically designed to avoid these disadvantages, to improve tomographic reconstruction from limited data. Results are shown for various types of data limitations and object types, for both simulated data and large-scale real-world experimental data. The results are compared with popular tomographic reconstruction algorithms and machine learning algorithms, showing that Mixed-Scale Dense networks are able to significantly improve reconstruction quality even with severely limited data, and produce more accurate results than existing algorithms.
DIRT: The Dacus Image Recognition Toolkit
Authors: Kalamatianos Romanos , Karydis Ioannis , Doukakis Dimitris , Avlonitis Markos
Published: October 2018

Modern agriculture is facing unique challenges in building a sustainable future for food production, in which the reliable detection of plantation threats is of critical importance. The breadth of existing information sources, and their equivalent sensors, can provide a wealth of data which, to be useful, must be transformed into actionable knowledge. Approaches based on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) have been shown to be able to help farmers and related stakeholders make decisions on problems by examining large volumes of data while assessing multiple criteria. In this paper, we address the automated identification (and count the instances) of the major threat of olive trees and their fruit, the Bactrocera Oleae (a.k.a. Dacus) based on images of the commonly used McPhail trap’s contents. Accordingly, we introduce the “Dacus Image Recognition Toolkit” (DIRT), a collection of publicly available data, programming code samples and web-services focused at supporting research aiming at the management the Dacus as well as extensive experimentation on the capability of the proposed dataset in identifying Dacuses using Deep Learning methods. Experimental results indicated performance accuracy (mAP) of 91.52% in identifying Dacuses in trap images featuring various pests. Moreover, the results also indicated a trade-off between image attributes affecting detail, file size and complexity of approaches and mAP performance that can be selectively used to better tackle the needs of each usage scenario.
Flame-Assisted Spray Pyrolysis Using an Annular Flame Nozzle with Decoupled Velocity Control
Authors: Rukosuyev Maxym , Baqar Syed , Nam Jungsoo , Yun Huitaek , Jun Martin Byung-Guk
Published: October 2018

Flame spray pyrolysis, widely used in chemical industries, is a technology to synthesize nanoparticles. While the flame spray pyrolysis uses fuels as a solution liquid, the flame-assisted spray pyrolysis method uses aqueous solutions. Since process parameters such as concentration of precursor, size of droplets, and ratio of the air–gas mixture affect the size of nanoparticles, developing a flexible system to control these parameters is required. This paper proposes a new type of nozzle system to produce nanoparticles using flame-assisted spray pyrolysis. The annular nozzle design allows flexible control of particle flow and temperature, and an ultrasonic nebulizer was used to produce droplets with different size. Experiments were conducted to analyze the relationship between nanoparticle size and process parameters, concentration of precursor, frequency of the atomizer, and flame temperature. A precursor solution consisting of silver nitrate (AgNO3) mixed in deionized water is used. The effects of the process parameters are discussed, and analysis of the nanoparticles shows that silver nanoparticles are deposited with an average size of 25~115 nm.
Spatio-Temporal Variations in Foredune Dynamics Determined with Mobile Laser Scanning
Authors: Donker Jasper , Van Maarseveen Marcel , Ruessink Gerben
Published: October 2018

Coastal foredunes are highly dynamic landforms because of rapid erosion by waves and currents during storm surges in combination with gradual accretion by aeolian transport during more quiescent conditions. While our knowledge into the mechanisms behind foredune erosion have reached considerable maturity, this is not the case for foredune growth. High resolution spatio-temporal data sets of beach and foredune topography, which are needed to increase our understanding of mechanisms behind aeolian transport in coastal environments and to develop predictive dune-accretion models, are scarce. Here we aim to illustrate that repeated Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) surveys provide an accurate and robust method to study detailed changes in dune volume on the timescales of months to years. An MLS system attached to an inertial navigation system with RTK-GPS (INS-GPS) was used to carry out 13 surveys along a 3.5-km Dutch beach over a 2.5-year period. The height observations were post-processed and averaged into 1 × 1 m Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Comparison with airborne LiDAR and RTK-GPS data revealed that the obtained DEMs were accurate and robust up to a height of 15 m in the foredune above which dense vegetation hampers the MLS to see the sand surface. Estimates of dune volume change of the lower 13 m of the foredune have an uncertainty of about 0.25 m 3 /m. Time series of dune volume change show that at our study site the foredune accretes throughout the year at similar rates (10 m 3 /m/year), while marine erosion is obviously confined to storm surges. Foredune accretion and erosion vary spatially, which can, in part, be related to variations in beach width.
Estimating Annual Onshore Aeolian Sand Supply from the Intertidal Beach Using an Aggregated-Scale Transport Formula
Authors: Duarte-Campos Leonardo , Wijnberg Kathelijne M. , Hulscher Suzanne J. M. H.
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we explore an approach for annual-scale transport prediction from the intertidal beach, in which we aggregate the surface conditions of the intertidal beach, in particular moisture content and roughness, and use hourly monitoring data of wind speed and wind direction. For our case study area (Egmond Beach, The Netherlands), we include Argus video imagery in our analysis to assess the occurrence of aeolian sand transport. With the approach described to determine a characteristic moisture content value for aeolian transport, we obtained surface moisture values of 1.2% to 3.2% for wind average and wind gust respectively, implying that we need a quite dry beach. This indicates that the main area for aeolian transport corresponds to the upper part of the intertidal source, most likely the region between mean high tide line and spring high tide line.
An Update on the Roles of Non-albicans Candida Species in Vulvovaginitis
Authors: Makanjuola Olufunmilola , Bongomin Felix , Fayemiwo Samuel
Published: October 2018

Candida species are one of the commonest causes of vaginitis in healthy women of reproductive age. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is characterized by vulvovaginal itching, redness and discharge. Candida albicans, which is a common genito-urinary tract commensal, has been the prominent species and remains the most common fungal agent isolated from clinical samples of patients diagnosed with VVC. In recent times, however, there has been a notable shift in the etiology of candidiasis with non-albicans Candida (NAC) species gaining prominence. The NAC species now account for approximately 10% to as high as 45% of VVC cases in some studies. This is associated with treatment challenges and a slightly different clinical picture. NAC species vaginitis is milder in presentation, often occur in patients with underlying chronic medical conditions and symptoms tend to be more recurrent or chronic compared with C. albicans vaginitis. C. glabrata is the most common cause of NAC-VVC. C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. guilliermondii are the other commonly implicated species. Treatment failure is common in NAC-VVC, since some of these species are intrinsically resistant or show low susceptibilities to commonly used antifungal agents. This article reviews the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of NAC vulvovaginitis.
Toward Experimental Evolution with Giant Vesicles
Authors: Sugiyama Hironori , Toyota Taro
Published: October 2018

Experimental evolution in chemical models of cells could reveal the fundamental mechanisms of cells today. Various chemical cell models, water-in-oil emulsions, oil-on-water droplets, and vesicles have been constructed in order to conduct research on experimental evolution. In this review, firstly, recent studies with these candidate models are introduced and discussed with regards to the two hierarchical directions of experimental evolution (chemical evolution and evolution of a molecular self-assembly). Secondly, we suggest giant vesicles (GVs), which have diameters larger than 1 µm, as promising chemical cell models for studying experimental evolution. Thirdly, since technical difficulties still exist in conventional GV experiments, recent developments of microfluidic devices to deal with GVs are reviewed with regards to the realization of open-ended evolution in GVs. Finally, as a future perspective, we link the concept of messy chemistry to the promising, unexplored direction of experimental evolution in GVs.
(E)-3-[3-(4-Morpholinophenyl)acryloyl]-2H-chromen-2-one
Authors: Suwito Hery , Hardiyanti Helda , Ul Haq Kautsar , Kristanti Alfinda , Khasanah Miratul
Published: October 2018

A new compound (E)-3-[3-(4-morpholinophenyl)acryloyl]-2H-chromen-2-one, a coumarin based chalcone derivative, has been successfully synthesized employing a molecular hybridization method through the reaction between 3-acetylcoumarin and 4-morpholinobenzaldehyde using a Claisen–Schmidt reaction using pTSA as a catalyst. The structure of the title compound was established using spectroscopic data FTIR, HRESI-MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The anticancer activity against breast cancer cells line T47D and cervix cancer cells line HeLa was determined using an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.
Enhancing the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Poly(Vinyl Chloride)-Based Conductive Nanocomposites by Zinc Oxide Nanorods
Authors: Qiu Feng , He Guangjian , Hao Mingyang , Zhang Guizhen
Published: October 2018

A simple approach to decorate multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hybrid nanoparticles with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods is developed to improve the electrical and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/MWCNT–RGO composites. The ZnO nanorods act as “joint” in three-dimensional (3D) MWCNT–RGO networks and the hybrid particles strongly interact with PVC chains via p-π stacking, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions, which we confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman analysis. By introducing the ZnO nanorods, the RGO–ZnO–MWCNT hybrid particles increased 160% in capacitance compared with MWCNT–RGO hybrids. Moreover, the addition of RGO–ZnO–MWCNT to PVC resulted in the mechanical properties of PVC being enhanced by 30.8% for tensile strength and 60.9% for Young’s modulus at the loadings of 2.0 weight percent (wt.%) and 1.0 wt.%, respectively. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity of PVC increased by 11 orders of magnitude, from 1 × 10−15 S/m to 1 × 10−4 S/m for MWCNT–ZnO–RGO loading at 5.0 wt.%.
Selective Laser Sintering of Laser Printed Ag Nanoparticle Micropatterns at High Repetition Rates
Authors: Zacharatos Filimon , Theodorakos Ioannis , Karvounis Panagiotis , Tuohy Simon , Braz Nuno , Melamed Semyon , Kabla Ayala , De la Vega Fernando , Andritsos Kostas , Hatziapostolou Antonios , Karnakis Dimitris , Zergioti Ioanna
Published: October 2018

The increasing development of flexible and printed electronics has fueled substantial advancements in selective laser sintering, which has been attracting interest over the past decade. Laser sintering of metal nanoparticle dispersions in particular (from low viscous inks to high viscous pastes) offers significant advantages with respect to more conventional thermal sintering or curing techniques. Apart from the obvious lateral selectivity, the use of short-pulsed and high repetition rate lasers minimizes the heat affected zone and offers unparalleled control over a digital process, enabling the processing of stacked and pre-structured layers on very sensitive polymeric substrates. In this work, the authors have conducted a systematic investigation of the laser sintering of micro-patterns comprising Ag nanoparticle high viscous inks: The effect of laser pulse width within the range of 20–200 nanoseconds (ns), a regime which many commercially available, high repetition rate lasers operate in, has been thoroughly investigated experimentally in order to define the optimal processing parameters for the fabrication of highly conductive Ag patterns on polymeric substrates. The in-depth temperature profiles resulting from the effect of laser pulses of varying pulse widths have been calculated using a numerical model relying on the finite element method, which has been fed with physical parameters extracted from optical and structural characterization. Electrical characterization of the resulting sintered micro-patterns has been benchmarked against the calculated temperature profiles, so that the resistivity can be associated with the maximal temperature value. This quantitative correlation offers the possibility to predict the optimal process window in future laser sintering experiments. The reported computational and experimental findings will foster the wider adoption of laser micro-sintering technology for laboratory and industrial use.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Dynamical Behavior of a Small Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine under Unsteady Conditions: Part I
Authors: Castellani Francesco , Astolfi Davide , Becchetti Matteo , Berno Francesco
Published: October 2018

An efficient and reliable exploitation of small horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWT) is a complex task: these kinds of devices actually modulate strongly variable loads with rotational speeds of the order of hundreds of revolutions per minute. The complex flow conditions to which small HAWTs are subjected in urban environments (sudden wind direction changes, considerable turbulence intensity, gusts) make it very difficult for the wind turbine control system to optimally balance the power and the load. For these reasons, it is important to comprehend and characterize the behavior of small HAWTs under unsteady conditions. On these grounds, this work is devoted to the formulation and realization of controlled unsteady test conditions for small HAWTs in the wind tunnel. The selected test case is a HAWT having 3 kW of maximum power and 2 m of rotor diameter: in this work, this device is subjected to oscillating wind time series, with a custom period. The experimental analysis allows therefore to characterize how unsteadiness is amplified moving from the primary resource (the wind) through the rotor revolutions per minute to final output (the power), in terms of delay and amplitude magnification. This work also includes a numerical characterization of the problem, by means of aeroelastic simulations performed with the FAST software. The comparison between experiments and numerical model supports the fact that the fast transitions are mainly governed by the aerodynamic and mechanical parameters: therefore, the aeroelastic modeling of a small HAWT can be useful in the developing phase to select appropriately the design and the control system set up.
Pinching Theorems for a Vanishing C-Bochner Curvature Tensor
Authors: Lee Jae Won , Lee Chul Woo
Published: October 2018

The main purpose of this article is to construct inequalities between a main intrinsic invariant (the normalized scalar curvature) and an extrinsic invariant (the Casorati curvature) for some submanifolds in a Sasakian manifold with a zero C-Bochner tensor.
Unified Semi-Local Convergence for k—Step Iterative Methods with Flexible and Frozen Linear Operator
Authors: Argyros Ioannis K. , George Santhosh
Published: October 2018

The aim of this article is to present a unified semi-local convergence analysis for a k-step iterative method containing the inverse of a flexible and frozen linear operator for Banach space valued operators. Special choices of the linear operator reduce the method to the Newton-type, Newton’s, or Stirling’s, or Steffensen’s, or other methods. The analysis is based on center, as well as Lipschitz conditions and our idea of the restricted convergence region. This idea defines an at least as small region containing the iterates as before and consequently also a tighter convergence analysis.
Certain Notions of Neutrosophic Topological K-Algebras
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Gulzar Hina , Smarandache Florentin , Broumi Said
Published: October 2018

The concept of neutrosophic set from philosophical point of view was first considered by Smarandache. A single-valued neutrosophic set is a subclass of the neutrosophic set from a scientific and engineering point of view and an extension of intuitionistic fuzzy sets. In this research article, we apply the notion of single-valued neutrosophic sets to K-algebras. We introduce the notion of single-valued neutrosophic topological K-algebras and investigate some of their properties. Further, we study certain properties, including C 5 -connected, super connected, compact and Hausdorff, of single-valued neutrosophic topological K-algebras. We also investigate the image and pre-image of single-valued neutrosophic topological K-algebras under homomorphism.
Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: Risk Factors for Adverse Clinical Outcome in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Widdrington John D. , Emmerson Ingrid , Cullinan Milo , Narayanan Manjusha , Klejnow Eleanor , Watson Alistair , Ong Edmund L. C. , Schmid Matthias L. , Price D. Ashley , Schwab Ulrich , Duncan Christopher J. A.
Published: October 2018

We aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of pyogenic spondylodiscitis and to identify factors associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome (defined as death, permanent disability, spinal instability or persistent pain). In our tertiary centre, 91 cases were identified prospectively and a retrospective descriptive analysis of clinical records was performed prior to binary regression analysis of factors associated with an unfavourable outcome. A median 26 days elapsed from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis and 51% of patients had neurological impairment at presentation. A microbiological diagnosis was reached in 81%, with Staphylococcus aureus most commonly isolated. Treatment involved prolonged hospitalisation (median stay 40.5 days), long courses of antibiotics (>6 weeks in 98%) and surgery in 42%. While this was successful in eradicating infection, only 32% of patients had a favourable clinical outcome and six patients (7%) died. Diabetes mellitus, clinical evidence of neurological impairment at presentation, a longer duration of symptoms and radiological evidence of spinal cord or cauda equina compression were independent factors associated with an unfavourable outcome. Our data indicate that spondylodiscitis is associated with significant morbidity and suggest that adverse outcomes may be predicted to an extent by factors present at the time of diagnosis.
Exercise Increases Adiponectin and Reduces Leptin Levels in Prediabetic and Diabetic Individuals: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Becic Tarik , Studenik Christian , Hoffmann Georg
Published: October 2018

It is speculated that lifestyle interventions known to improve diabetic metabolic state may exert their effects via adipokines. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the chronic effects of physical exercise on adiponectin and leptin levels in adult prediabetic and diabetic individuals. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO Clinical Trials Registry were searched for randomized controlled trials. Pooled effects of interventions were assessed as mean difference (MD) with random effects model. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to test data robustness and subgroup analysis for study heterogeneity. Twenty-two trials with 2996 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. Physical exercise increased levels of adiponectin (MD: 0.42 µg/mL; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23, 0.60, p < 0.00001, n = 19 trials) and reduced leptin levels (MD: −1.89 ng/mL; 95% CI, −2.64, −1.14, p < 0.00001, n = 14 trials). These results were robust and remained significant after sensitivity analysis. Study heterogeneity was generally high. As for physical exercise modalities, aerobic exercise, but not other modalities, increased adiponectin and reduced leptin levels. In conclusion, physical exercise and, specifically, aerobic exercise, leads to higher adiponectin and lower leptin levels in prediabetic and diabetic adults. However, cautious interpretation of current findings is warranted.
Investigating Association of rs5918 Human Platelets Antigen 1 and rs1800790 Fibrinogen β Chain as Critical Players with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Karami Fatemeh , Askari Maliheh , Modarressi Mohammad Hossein
Published: October 2018

Thrombophilia gene variants have been shown to be associated with higher risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Due to the role of human platelets antigen 1 (HPA-1) and fibrinogen β chain (FGB) as critical players in the coagulation process, their most important variants including rs5918 T > C and rs1800790 G > A were selected to be studied in women affected by RPL. Three milliliters of peripheral blood were drawn from 110 women with history of at least two consecutive spontaneous abortion and 110 healthy women controls. rs5918 T > C and rs1800790 G > A of HPA-1 and FGB genes, respectively, were selected to be analyzed through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR_RFLP) following DNA isolation using QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit. Heterozygote genotype (TC) of HPA-1 gene rs5918 polymorphism was significantly associated with risk of RPL (p-value = 0.02). Although, rs1800790 G > A of FGB gene was not associated with RPL, its combination with rs5918 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of RPL. Owing to the critical roles of FGB and HPA-1 genes in coagulation, and thrombosis and several confinements on the meaningful association between the combination of those polymorphism with risk of RPL, including them in the thrombophilia panel may increase detection rate of hereditary thrombophilia patients. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are required to shed light on the exact role of the studied gene polymorphism, especially rs1800790 G > A of FGB gene variant in pathogenesis of RPL.
Roles of Lanthanum and Cerium in Grain Refinement of Steels during Solidification
Authors: Ji Yunping , Zhang Ming-Xing , Ren Huiping
Published: October 2018

Refinement of as-cast structures is one of the most effective approaches to improve mechanical properties, formability, and surface quality of steel castings and ingots. In the past few decades, addition of rare earths (REs), lanthanum and cerium in particular, has been considered as a practical and effective method to refine the as-cast steels. However, previous reports contained inconsistent, sometime even contradictory, results. This review summaries the major published results on investigation of the roles of lanthanum or/and cerium in various steels, provides reviews on the similarity and difference of previous studies, and clarifies the inconsistent results. The proposed mechanisms of grain refinement by the addition of lanthanum or/and cerium are also reviewed. It is concluded that the grain refinement of steels by RE additions is attributed to either heterogeneous nucleation on the in-situ formed RE inclusions, a solute effect, or the combined effect of both. The models/theories for evaluation of heterogeneous nucleation potency and for solute effect on grain refinement of cast metals are also briefly summarized.
Deformation-Induced Phase Transformations
Authors: Pereloma Elena , Timokhina Ilana
Published: October 2018

Phase transformations are significant phenomena determining the final properties of a wide range of materials. [...]
Behavior of Waste Printed Circuit Board (WPCB) Materials in the Copper Matte Smelting Process
Authors: Wan Xingbang , Fellman Jani , Jokilaakso Ari , Klemettinen Lassi , Marjakoski Miikka
Published: October 2018

The amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in the world has grown rapidly during recent decades, and with the depletion of primary ores, there is urgent need for industries to study new sources for metals. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCB) are a part of WEEE, which have a higher concentration of copper and precious metals when compared to primary ore sources. PCB materials can be processed using pyrometallurgical routes, and some industrial processes, such as copper flash smelting, have utilized this type of waste in limited amounts for years. For the purpose of recycling these materials through smelting processes, this work studied the behavior of WPCB scrap when dropped on top of molten slag. A series of experiments was carried out during this research at a temperature of 1350 °C, in an inert atmosphere with different melting times. The time required for complete melting of the PCB pieces was 2–5 min, after which molten alloy droplets containing Cu, Pb, Sn, Ni, Au, and Ag formed and started descending toward the bottom of the crucible. The ceramic fraction of the PCB material mixed with slag and the polymer fraction was pyrolyzed during the high-temperature experiments. The results give an understanding of PCB melting behavior and their use as a part of the smelting furnace feed mixture. However, more research is needed to fully understand how the different elements affect the process as the amount of PCB in the feed increases. The physical behavior and distribution of PCB materials in fayalite slag during the smelting process are outlined, and the results of this work form a basis for future studies about the chemical reaction behavior and kinetics when PCB materials are introduced into the copper smelting process.
Microstructure and Fatigue Behavior of a Ni-Cu-Sn Alloy
Authors: Bertini Leonardo , Bucchi Francesco , Frendo Francesco , Valentini Renzo
Published: October 2018

In this paper, the static and fatigue properties of a Cu-Ni-Sn alloy are investigated. Tensile tests, hardness tests and microstructural analyses using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed and two sets of fatigue tests, with load ratio (R) R = − 1 and R = 0 , respectively, were carried out. The results showed the capability of the alloy to bear high static stress, thanks to its good strength properties. However, the fatigue tests showed a strong sensitivity of the alloy fatigue properties depending on the raw material batch. The comparison between microstructural analyses and fatigue test results showed a strong correlation; in particular, the specimens having a more inhomogeneous microstructure showed lower durability. In addition, the different microstructure also affected the fracture surface morphology as highlighted by SEM analyses.
Metabolomic Profiling of Bile Acids in an Experimental Model of Prodromal Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Graham Stewart F. , Rey Nolwen L. , Ugur Zafer , Yilmaz Ali , Sherman Eric , Maddens Michael , Bahado-Singh Ray O. , Becker Katelyn , Schulz Emily , Meyerdirk Lindsay K. , Steiner Jennifer A. , Ma Jiyan , Brundin Patrik
Published: October 2018

For people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), considered the most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s disease, accurate diagnosis is dependent on many factors; however, misdiagnosis is extremely common in the prodromal phases of the disease, when treatment is thought to be most effective. Currently, there are no robust biomarkers that aid in the early diagnosis of PD. Following previously reported work by our group, we accurately measured the concentrations of 18 bile acids in the serum of a prodromal mouse model of PD. We identified three bile acids at significantly different concentrations (p < 0.05) when mice representing a prodromal PD model were compared with controls. These include ω-murichoclic acid (MCAo), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). All were down-regulated in prodromal PD mice with TUDCA and UDCA at significantly lower levels (17-fold and 14-fold decrease, respectively). Using the concentration of three bile acids combined with logistic regression, we can discriminate between prodromal PD mice from control mice with high accuracy (AUC (95% CI) = 0.906 (0.777–1.000)) following cross validation. Our study highlights the need to investigate bile acids as potential biomarkers that predict PD and possibly reflect the progression of manifest PD.
Microbiota and Metabolite Profiling of Spoiled Spanish-Style Green Table Olives
Authors: De Castro Antonio , Sánchez Antonio Higinio , López-López Antonio , Cortés-Delgado Amparo , Medina Eduardo , Montaño Alfredo
Published: October 2018

The aim of the present study was to assess the malodorous spoilages of Spanish-style green table olives through microbial and metabolite composition using current measuring techniques (e.g., high-throughput DNA sequencing, headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Under different alkaline and washing conditions, the spoilage fermentations were reproduced with Gordal and Manzanilla olive cultivars using a low salt concentration (71 g L−1 NaCl) in the initial brine. The degradation of lactic acid and significant increases in volatile fatty acids and phenols were found in all the spoiled samples in comparison with the unspoiled control samples. According to high-throughput DNA sequencing, Cardiobacteriaceae and Ruminococcus were the dominant bacteria in the spoiled samples. PLS regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficient analyses revealed positive and negative correlations among microbial communities, metabolites, and sensory spoilage descriptors. Notably, the “zapatera” descriptor was significantly associated with Propionibacterium, which was positively correlated with acetic acid, propionic acid, succinic acid, and methyl propanoate; while the “butyric” descriptor exhibited a significant positive relationship with the genus Ruminococcus, which gave an almost significant correlation with propionic and butyric acids.
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Quantification of Metabolites in Stool Using 13C Labelled Compounds
Authors: Gould Oliver , De Lacy Costello Ben , Smart Amy , Jones Peter , Macmaster Angus , Ransley Karen , Ratcliffe Norman
Published: October 2018

It has become increasingly important to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the volatile metabolites in a range of bodily fluids for use in monitoring health. There has been relatively little work on the quantitative analysis of compounds, particularly with respect to the effects of ethnicity or geographic location. A novel method for the quantification of compounds in stool using 13C labelled compounds as internal standards is presented. Using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry, stool samples from 38 healthy volunteers were analysed. The 13C labelled compounds, acetone, ethyl butanoate, ethanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and indole, were added as internal standards. This process mimics the solubility characteristics of the compounds and thus the method was able to quantify the compounds within the solid stool. In total, 15 compounds were quantified: Dimethyl sulphide (26–25,626 ng/g), acetone (442–3006 ng/g), ethyl butanoate (39–2468 ng/g), ethyl 2-methylbutanoate (0.3–180 ng/g), dimethyl disulphide (35–1303 ng/g), 1-octen-3-one (12 ng/g), dimethyl trisulphide (10–410 ng/g), 1-octen-3-ol (0.4–58 ng/g), ethanoic acid (672–12,963 ng/g), butanoic acid (2493–11,553 ng/g), 3-methylbutanoic acid (64–8262 ng/g), pentanoic acid (88–21,886 ng/g), indole (290–5477 ng/g), and 3-methyl indole (37–3483 ng/g). Moreover, by altering the pH of the stool to pH 13 in conjunction with the addition of 13C trimethylamine, the method was successful in detecting and quantifying trimethylamine for the first time in stool samples (range 40–5312 ng/g). Statistical analysis revealed that samples from U.K. origin had five significantly different compounds (ethyl butanoate, 1-octen-3-ol, ethanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and indole) from those of South American origin. However, there were no significant differences between vegetarian and omnivore samples. These findings are supported by pre-existing literature evidence. Moreover, we have tentatively identified 12 compounds previously not reported as having been found in stool.
Recent Advances in Tunable and Reconfigurable Metamaterials
Authors: Bang Sanghun , Kim Jeonghyun , Yoon Gwanho , Tanaka Takuo , Rho Junsuk
Published: October 2018

Metamaterials are composed of nanostructures, called artificial atoms, which can give metamaterials extraordinary properties that cannot be found in natural materials. The nanostructures themselves and their arrangements determine the metamaterials’ properties. However, a conventional metamaterial has fixed properties in general, which limit their use. Thus, real-world applications of metamaterials require the development of tunability. This paper reviews studies that realized tunable and reconfigurable metamaterials that are categorized by the mechanisms that cause the change: inducing temperature changes, illuminating light, inducing mechanical deformation, and applying electromagnetic fields. We then provide the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism and explain the results or effects of tuning. We also introduce studies that overcome the disadvantages or strengthen the advantages of each classified tunable metamaterial.