bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Cancer-Derived Exosomes in Tumorigenicity & Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Blackwell Robert , Foreman Kimberly , Gupta Gopal
Published: August 2017

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which epithelial cells lose their basement membrane interaction and acquire a more migratory, mesenchymal phenotype. EMT has been implicated in cancer cell progression, as cells transform and increase motility and invasiveness, induce angiogenesis, and metastasize. Exosomes are 30–100 nm membrane-bound vesicles that are formed and excreted by all cell types and released into the extracellular environment. Exosomal contents include DNA, mRNA, miRNA, as well as transmembrane- and membrane-bound proteins derived from their host cell contents. Exosomes are involved in intercellular signaling, both by membrane fusion to recipient cells with deposition of exosomal contents into the cytoplasm and by the binding of recipient cell membrane receptors. Recent work has implicated cancer-derived exosomes as an important mediator of intercellular signaling and EMT, with resultant transformation of cancer cells to a more aggressive phenotype, as well as the tropism of metastatic disease in specific cancer types with the establishment of the pre-metastatic niche.
Development of YSZ Thermal Barrier Coatings Using Axial Suspension Plasma Spraying
Authors: Zhou Dapeng , Guillon Olivier , Vaßen Robert
Published: August 2017

The axial injection of the suspension in the atmospheric plasma spraying process (here called axial suspension plasma spraying) is an attractive and advanced thermal spraying technology especially for the deposition of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). It enables the growth of columnar-like structures and, hence, combines advantages of electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) technology with the considerably cheaper atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). In the first part of this study, the effects of spraying conditions on the microstructure of yttria partially-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) top coats and the deposition efficiency were investigated. YSZ coatings deposited on as-sprayed bond coats with 5 wt % solid content suspension appeared to have nicely-developed columnar structures. Based on the preliminary results, the nicely developed columnar coatings with variations of the stand-off distances and yttria content were subjected to thermal cycling tests in a gas burner rig. In these tests, all columnar structured TBCs showed relatively short lifetimes compared with porous APS coatings. Indentation measurements for Young’s modulus and fracture toughness on the columns of the SPS coatings indicated a correlation between mechanical properties and lifetime for the SPS samples. A simplified model is presented which correlates mechanical properties and lifetime of SPS coatings.
Safety and Efficacy of Dextran-Rosmarinic Acid Conjugates as Innovative Polymeric Antioxidants in Skin Whitening: What Is the Evidence?
Authors: Parisi Ortensia , Malivindi Rocco , Amone Fabio , Ruffo Mariarosa , Malanchin Rosella , Carlomagno Federica , Piangiolino Cristiana , Nobile Vincenzo , Pezzi Vincenzo , Scrivano Luca , Puoci Francesco
Published: August 2017

Background: Melanins are high molecular weight pigments responsible for the mammalian skin and hair colour and play a key role in skin protection from UV radiation; however, their overproduction and excessive accumulation lead to pigmentation problems including melasma, freckles, uneven colouring, and age spots. Therefore, the modulation of melanin synthesis represents a critical issue in medicine and cosmetology. In the present study, an innovative polymeric antioxidant to be used as skin whitening agent is developed by the conjugation of dextran with rosmarinic acid. Methods: Dextran-rosmarinic acid conjugates (DEX-RA) were synthesized in a one-pot method starting from Origanum vulgare aqueous leaf extract and dextran. The total polyphenol content and the antioxidant activity were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteau assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and bleaching tests, respectively. The efficacy of DEX-RA was evaluated by inhibition of tyrosinase activity, in vitro diffusion and stability studies and in vivo studies. The biocompatibility of the conjugates was investigated by 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiaoly]-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and EPISKIN™ model. Results: Efficacy and safety studies confirmed the antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities and the biocompatibility of the synthesized conjugates. Conclusion: The polymeric conjugates, comparing to the free antioxidant, show a long-lasting efficacy combined to an enhanced stability resulting in an improved performance of the cosmetic formulations prepared using this innovative whitening agent as a bioactive ingredient.
Induced Mesocrystal-Formation, Hydrothermal Growth and Magnetic Properties of α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles in Salt-Rich Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Brok Erik , Larsen Jacob , Varón Miriam , Hansen Thomas , Frandsen Cathrine
Published: August 2017

Iron oxide nanoparticles are widely prevalent in our aqueous environment (e.g., streams, seawater, hydrothermal vents). Their aggregation and crystal growth depend on their chemical surroundings, for instance just a change in pH or salt concentration can greatly affect this. In turn this influences their properties, mobility, fate, and environmental impact. We studied the growth of α-Fe2O3 (hematite), starting from 8 nm hematite particles in weakly acidic (HNO3) aqueous suspension with different states of particle aggregation, using salt (NaCl and NaH2PO4) to control their initial aggregation state. The samples were then subject to hydrothermal treatment at 100–140 °C. We followed the development in aggregation state and particle size by dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, small angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and the magnetic properties by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The addition of NaCl and NaH2PO4 both led to aggregation, but NaCl led to linear chains of hematite nanoparticles (oriented parallel to their hexagonal c-axis), such that the crystalline lattice planes of neighboring hematite particles were aligned. However, despite this oriented alignment, the particles did not merge and coalesce. Rather they remained stable as mesocrystals until heat-treated. In turn, the addition of NaCl significantly increases the rate of growth during hydrothermal treatment, probably because the nanoparticles, due to the chain formation, are already aligned and in close proximity. With hydrothermal treatment, the magnetic properties of the particles transform from those characteristic of small (aggregated) hematite nanoparticles to those of particles with more bulk-like properties such as Morin transition and suppression of superparamagnetic relaxation, in correspondence with the growth of particle size.
Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals
Authors: Yu Chia-Pin , Lin Chia-Min , Tsai Ming-Jer , Tsai Yu-Chieh , Chen Chun-Yu
Published: August 2017

The present study investigated changes in autonomic nervous system activity and emotions after a short (2 h) forest bathing program in the Xitou Nature Education Area (XNEA), Taiwan. One hundred and twenty-eight (60.0 ± 7.44 years) middle-aged and elderly participants were recruited. Physiological responses, pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), and psychological indices were measured before and after the program. We observed that pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower after the program, which indicated physiological benefits from stress recovery. The Profile of Mood States negative mood subscale scores of “tension-anxiety”, “anger-hostility”, “fatigue-inertia”, “depression-dejection”, and “confusion-bewilderment” were significantly lower, whereas the positive mood subscale score of “vigor-activity” was higher. Furthermore, participants exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. However, changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity were nonsignificant. Our study determined that the short forest bathing program is a promising therapeutic method for enhancing heart rate and blood pressure functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.
Epidemiology of Fall Injury in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Wadhwaniya Shirin , Alonge Olakunle , Ul Baset Md. , Chowdhury Salim , Bhuiyan Al-Amin , Hyder Adnan
Published: August 2017

Globally, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, with 80% occurring in low-and middle-income countries. The overall objective of this study is to describe the burden and risk factors of falls in rural Bangladesh. In 2013, a large household survey covering a population of 1,169,593 was conducted in seven rural sub-districts of Bangladesh to assess the burden of all injuries, including falls. The recall periods for non-fatal and fatal injuries were six and 12 months, respectively. Descriptive, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. The rates of non-fatal and fatal falls were 36.3 per 1000 and 5 per 100,000 population, respectively. The rates of both fatal and non-fatal falls were highest among the elderly. The risk of non-fatal falls was higher at extremes of age. Lower limb and waist injuries were frequent following a fall. Head injuries were frequent among infants (35%), while lower limb and waist injuries were frequent among the elderly (>65 years old). Injuries to all body parts (except the waist) were most frequent among men. More than half of all non-fatal falls occurred in a home environment. The injury patterns and risk factors of non-fatal falls differ by sociodemographic factors.
Markers of T Cell Senescence in Humans
Authors: Xu Weili , Larbi Anis
Published: August 2017

Many countries are facing the aging of their population, and many more will face a similar obstacle in the near future, which could be a burden to many healthcare systems. Increased susceptibility to infections, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease, cancer as well as reduced efficacy of vaccination are important matters for researchers in the field of aging. As older adults show higher prevalence for a variety of diseases, this also implies higher risk of complications, including nosocomial infections, slower recovery and sequels that may reduce the autonomy and overall quality of life of older adults. The age-related effects on the immune system termed as “immunosenescence” can be exemplified by the reported hypo-responsiveness to influenza vaccination of the elderly. T cells, which belong to the adaptive arm of the immune system, have been extensively studied and the knowledge gathered enables a better understanding of how the immune system may be affected after acute/chronic infections and how this matters in the long run. In this review, we will focus on T cells and discuss the surface and molecular markers that are associated with T cell senescence. We will also look at the implications that senescent T cells could have on human health and diseases. Finally, we will discuss the benefits of having these markers for investigators and the future work that is needed to advance the field of T cell senescence markers.
A Content-Based Image Retrieval Scheme Using an Encrypted Difference Histogram in Cloud Computing
Authors: Liu Dandan , Shen Jian , Xia Zhihua , Sun Xingming
Published: August 2017

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) has been widely used in many applications. Large storage and computation overheads have made the outsourcing of CBIR services attractive. However, the privacy issues brought by outsourcing have become a big problem. In this paper, a secure CBIR scheme based on an encrypted difference histogram (EDH-CBIR) is proposed. Firstly, the image owner calculates the order or disorder difference matrices of RGB components and encrypts them by value replacement and position scrambling. The encrypted images are then uploaded to the cloud server who extracts encrypted difference histograms as image feature vectors. To search similar images, the query image is encrypted by the image users as the image owner does, and the query feature vector is extracted by the cloud server. The Euclidean distance between query feature vector and image feature vector is calculated to measure the similarity. The security analysis and experiments demonstrate the usability of the proposed scheme.
Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, to Insecticide Dusts
Authors: Agnew John , Romero Alvaro
Published: August 2017

Bed bugs have reemerged recently as a serious and growing problem not only in North America but in many parts of the world. These insects have become the most challenging pest to control in urban environments. Residual insecticides are the most common methods used for bed bug control; however, insecticide resistance limits the efficacy of treatments. Desiccant dusts have emerged as a good option to provide a better residual effect for bed bug control. Several studies have focused on determining the efficacy of dust-based insecticides against bed bugs. However, behavioral responses of bed bugs to insecticide dusts could influence their efficacy. The behavioral responses of bed bugs to six insecticide dusts commonly used in the United States were evaluated with an advanced video tracking technique (Ethovision). Bed bugs took longer to make first contact with areas treated with the diatomaceous earth (DE)-based products MotherEarth D and Alpine than pyrethroid, pyrethrins or silica gel based products, DeltaDust, Tempo 1% Dust and CimeXa, respectively. Lower visitation rates of bed bugs were recorded for areas treated with MotherEarth D, Alpine and CimeXa than that of DeltaDust, Tempo 1% Dust, and Tri-Die Silica + Pyrethrum Dust. Bed bugs spent less time in areas treated with Tri-Die Dust, CimeXa, Alpine, and MotherEarth D than DeltaDust and Tempo 1% Dust, and they exhibited a reduction in locomotor parameters when crawling on areas treated with CimeXa and Alpine. The implications of these responses to bed bug control are discussed.
Energy Transfer Efficiency from ZnO-Nanocrystals to Eu3+ Ions Embedded in SiO2 Film for Emission at 614 nm
Authors: Mangalam Vivek , Pita Kantisara
Published: August 2017

In this work, we study the energy transfer mechanism from ZnO nanocrystals (ZnO-nc) to Eu3+ ions by fabricating thin-film samples of ZnO-nc and Eu3+ ions embedded in a SiO2 matrix using the low-cost sol-gel technique. The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements from the samples were analyzed to understand the contribution of energy transfer from the various ZnO-nc emission centers to Eu3+ ions. The decay time obtained from the TRPL measurements was used to calculate the energy transfer efficiencies from the ZnO-nc emission centers, and these results were compared with the energy transfer efficiencies calculated from steady-state photoluminescence emission results. The results in this work show that high transfer efficiencies from the excitonic and Zn defect emission centers is mostly due to the energy transfer from ZnO-nc to Eu3+ ions which results in the radiative emission from the Eu3+ ions at 614 nm, while the energy transfer from the oxygen defect emissions is most probably due to the energy transfer from ZnO-nc to the new defects created due to the incorporation of the Eu3+ ions.
Longitudinal Mechano-Sorptive Creep Behavior of Chinese Fir in Tension during Moisture Adsorption Processes
Authors: Peng Hui , Lu Jianxiong , Jiang Jiali , Cao Jinzhen
Published: August 2017

To provide comprehensive data on creep behaviors at relative humidity (RH) isohume conditions and find the basic characteristics of mechano-sorptive (MS) creep (MSC), the tensile creep behaviors, “viscoelastic creep (VEC)” at equilibrium moisture content and MSC during adsorption process, were performed on Chinese fir in the longitudinal direction under 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% RH (25 °C) and at 1, 1.3, and 1.6 MPa, respectively. The free swelling behavior was also measured, where the climate conditions corresponded with MSC tests. Based on the databases of free swelling, VEC, and MSC, the existence of MS effect was examined, and the application of the rheological model under the assumption of partitioned strain was investigated. The results revealed that both VEC and MSC increased with magnitude of applied stress, and the increasing RH level. Under all RH isohume conditions, the total strain of MSC was greater than that of VEC. The influence of RH level on VEC was attributed to the water plasticization effect, whereas that on MSC was presumed to be the effect of water plasticization and unstable state in the wood cell wall. In addition, the RH level promoted the relaxation behavior in MSC, while it slightly affected the relaxation behavior in VEC. In the future, the rheological model could consider the link between load configuration and the anatomic structural feature of wood.
Saccharomonopyrones A–C, New α-Pyrones from a Marine Sediment-Derived Bacterium Saccharomonospora sp. CNQ-490
Authors: Yim Chae-Yoon , Le Tu , Lee Tae , Yang Inho , Choi Hansol , Lee Jusung , Kang Kyung-Yun , Lee Jin , Lim Kyung-Min , Yee Sung-Tae , Kang Heonjoong , Nam Sang-Jip , Fenical William
Published: August 2017

Intensive study of the organic extract of the marine-derived bacterium Saccharomonospora sp. CNQ-490 has yielded three new α-pyrones, saccharomonopyrones A–C (1–3). The chemical structures of these compounds were assigned from the interpretation of 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry data. Saccharomonopyrone A (1) is the first α-pyrone microbial natural product bearing the ethyl-butyl ether chain in the molecule, while saccharomonopyrones B and C possess unusual 3-methyl and a 6-alkyl side-chain within a 3,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted α-pyrone moiety. Saccharomonopyrone A exhibited weak antioxidant activity using a cation radical scavenging activity assay with an IC50 value of 140 μM.
The Effect of the Pore Entrance on Particle Motion in Slit Pores: Implications for Ultrathin Membranes
Authors: Delavari Armin , Baltus Ruth
Published: August 2017

Membrane rejection models generally neglect the effect of the pore entrance on intrapore particle transport. However, entrance effects are expected to be particularly important with ultrathin membranes, where membrane thickness is typically comparable to pore size. In this work, a 2D model was developed to simulate particle motion for spherical particles moving at small Re and infinite Pe from the reservoir outside the pore into a slit pore. Using a finite element method, particles were tracked as they accelerated across the pore entrance until they reached a steady velocity in the pore. The axial position in the pore where particle motion becomes steady is defined as the particle entrance length (PEL). PELs were found to be comparable to the fluid entrance length, larger than the pore size and larger than the thickness typical of many ultrathin membranes. Results also show that, in the absence of particle diffusion, hydrodynamic particle–membrane interactions at the pore mouth result in particle “funneling” in the pore, yielding cross-pore particle concentration profiles focused at the pore centerline. The implications of these phenomena on rejection from ultrathin membranes are examined.
Physicochemical and Additive Controls on the Multistep Precipitation Pathway of Gypsum
Authors: Ossorio Mercedes , Stawski Tomasz , Rodríguez-Blanco Juan , Sleutel Mike , García-Ruiz Juan , Benning Liane , Van Driessche Alexander
Published: August 2017

Synchrotron-based small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) was used to examine in situ the precipitation of gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) from solution. We determined the role of (I) supersaturation, (II) temperature and (III) additives (Mg2+ and citric acid) on the precipitation mechanism and rate of gypsum. Detailed analysis of the SAXS data showed that for all tested supersaturations and temperatures the same nucleation pathway was maintained, i.e., formation of primary particles that aggregate and transform/re-organize into gypsum. In the presence of Mg2+ more primary particle are formed compared to the pure experiment, but the onset of their transformation/reorganization was slowed down. Citrate reduces the formation of primary particles resulting in a longer induction time of gypsum formation. Based on the WAXS data we determined that the precipitation rate of gypsum increased 5-fold from 4 to 40 °C, which results in an effective activation energy of ~30 kJ·mol−1. Mg2+ reduces the precipitation rate of gypsum by more than half, most likely by blocking the attachment sites of the growth units, while citric acid only weakly hampers the growth of gypsum by lowering the effective supersaturation. In short, our results show that the nucleation mechanism is independent of the solution conditions and that Mg2+ and citric acid influence differently the nucleation pathway and growth kinetics of gypsum. These insights are key for further improving our ability to control the crystallization process of calcium sulphate.
Development of HA/Ag-NPs Composite Coating from Green Process for Hip Applications
Authors: Lozoya-Rodríguez Denisse , De Lima Renata , Fraceto Leonardo , Ledezma Pérez Antonio , Bazaldua Domínguez Mercedes , Gómez Batres Roberto , Reyes Rojas Armando , Orozco Carmona Víctor
Published: August 2017

In the present study, biological hydroxyapatite (HA) was obtained from bovine bones through a thermal process. A total of 0% and 1% of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from Opuntia ficus (nopal) were added to the biological hydroxyapatite coatings using an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) on a Ti6Al4V substrate. Following this, its antimicrobial efficiency was evaluated against the following bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This was conducted according to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z2801:2000 “Antimicrobial Product-Test for Antimicrobial Activity and Efficacy”. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were evenly distributed on the coating surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) shows that apatite deposition occurs on a daily basis, maintaining a Ca/P rate between 2.12 and 1.45. Biocompatibility properties were evaluated with osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1) by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and Tali image cytometry.
Computational Studies on Acetylcholinesterases
Authors: Xu Yechun , Cheng Shanmei , Sussman Joel , Silman Israel , Jiang Hualiang
Published: August 2017

Functions of biomolecules, in particular enzymes, are usually modulated by structural fluctuations. This is especially the case in a gated diffusion-controlled reaction catalyzed by an enzyme such as acetylcholinesterase. The catalytic triad of acetylcholinesterase is located at the bottom of a long and narrow gorge, but it catalyzes the extremely rapid hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, with a reaction rate close to the diffusion-controlled limit. Computational modeling and simulation have produced considerable advances in exploring the dynamical and conformational properties of biomolecules, not only aiding in interpreting the experimental data, but also providing insights into the internal motions of the biomolecule at the atomic level. Given the remarkably high catalytic efficiency and the importance of acetylcholinesterase in drug development, great efforts have been made to understand the dynamics associated with its functions by use of various computational methods. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of recent computational studies on acetylcholinesterase, expanding our views of the enzyme from a microstate of a single structure to conformational ensembles, strengthening our understanding of the integration of structure, dynamics and function associated with the enzyme, and promoting the structure-based and/or mechanism-based design of new inhibitors for it.
Preparation and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles Supported on Amorphous SiO2
Authors: Chen Ying , Ding Hao , Sun Sijia
Published: August 2017

In order to reduce the primary particle size of zinc oxide (ZnO) and eliminate the agglomeration phenomenon to form a monodisperse state, Zn2+ was loaded on the surface of amorphous silica (SiO2) by the hydrogen bond association between hydroxyl groups in the hydrothermal process. After calcining the precursors, dehydration condensation among hydroxyl groups occurred and ZnO nanoparticles supported on amorphous SiO2 (ZnO–SiO2) were prepared. Furthermore, the SEM and TEM observations showed that ZnO nanoparticles with a particle size of 3–8 nm were uniformly and dispersedly loaded on the surface of amorphous SiO2. Compared with pure ZnO, ZnO–SiO2 showed a much better antibacterial performance in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test and the antibacterial properties of the paint adding ZnO–SiO2 composite.
Personalised Interventions—A Precision Approach for the Next Generation of Dietary Intervention Studies
Authors: De Roos Baukje , Brennan Lorraine
Published: August 2017

Diet is a key modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. However, we currently are not benefitting from the full potential of its protective effects. This is due to a number of reasons, including high individual variability in response to certain diets. It is now well acknowledged that in order to gain the full benefit of dietary regimes it is essential to take into account individual responses. With this in mind, the present review examines the concept of precision nutrition and the performance of n-of-1 studies, and discusses the development of certain approaches that will be critical for development of the concepts.
Correction: Grieger, J.A.; et al.: Comparing the Nutritional Impact of Dietary Strategies to Reduce Discretionary Choice Intake in the Australian Adult Population: A Simulation Modelling Study. Nutrients 2017, 9, 442
Authors: Grieger Jessica , Johnson Brittany , Wycherley Thomas , Golley Rebecca
Published: August 2017

We would like to submit the following correction to our recently published paper [1] because there was an error in the median intake ratio calculation used in the substitution strategies.[...]
Reply: “Comment on: Chocolate Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies, Nutrients 2017, 9, 688”
Authors: Yuan Sheng , Lu Jinping
Published: August 2017

To the editor, We would like to thank Dr. Hurtado-Torres for his valuable comments on our article entitled “Chocolate Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies”, which was published in Nutrients in July 2017 [1]. [...]
Complexes of Oligoribonucleotides with D-Mannitol Inhibit Hemagglutinin–Glycan Interaction and Suppress Influenza A Virus H1N1 (A/FM/1/47) Infectivity In Vitro
Authors: Melnichuk Nataliia , Semernikova Larisa , Tkachuk Zenoviy
Published: August 2017

The influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) mediates both receptor (glycan) binding and membrane fusion for cell entry and has been the basis for subtyping influenza viruses. The oligoribonucleotides-d-mannitol (ORNs-d-M) complexes possess an anti-influenza activity in vitro and in vivo. In the present studies, we have found that ORNs-d-M interferes with hemagglutinin (HA)–glycan interaction and suppress viral infection in host cells. HA–glycan interactions were evaluated to indirectly quantify the amount of influenza virus titer by an agglutination assay. Influenza virus infectivity was determined by TCID50 assay. The direct virucidal action of the complexes was evaluated by both cytopathic effects (CPE) reduction assay and cell MTT assay. We found that ORNs-d-M hinders interaction between HA and glycan. These complexes decreased the infectivity of influenza virus and had a direct virucidal action. ORNs-d-M reduces influenza virus infectivity, affecting the HA–glycan interaction in vitro. By suppressing the influenza viral infection, the ORNs-d-M can have direct virucidal action.
Atmospheric Correction of Multi-Spectral Littoral Images Using a PHOTONS/AERONET-Based Regional Aerosol Model
Authors: Bru Driss , Lubac Bertrand , Normandin Cassandra , Robinet Arthur , Leconte Michel , Hagolle Olivier , Martiny Nadège , Jamet Cédric
Published: August 2017

Spatial resolution is the main instrumental requirement for the multi-spectral optical space missions that address the scientific issues of marine coastal systems. This spatial resolution should be at least decametric. Aquatic color data processing associated with these environments requires specific atmospheric corrections (AC) suitable for the spectral characteristics of high spatial resolution sensors (HRS) as well as the high range of atmospheric and marine optical properties. The objective of the present study is to develop and demonstrate the potential of a ground-based AC approach adaptable to any HRS for regional monitoring and security of littoral systems. The in Situ-based Atmospheric CORrection (SACOR) algorithm is based on simulations provided by a Successive Order of Scattering code (SOS), which is constrained by a simple regional aerosol particle model (RAM). This RAM is defined from the mixture of a standard tropospheric and maritime aerosol type. The RAM is derived from the following two processes. The first process involved the analysis of a 6-year data set composed of aerosol optical and microphysical properties acquired through the ground-based PHOTONS/AERONET network located at Arcachon (France). The second process was related to aerosol climatology using the NOAA hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Results show that aerosols have a bimodal particle size distribution regardless of the season and are mainly represented by a mixed coastal continental type. Furthermore, the results indicate that aerosols originate from both the Atlantic Ocean (53.6%) and Continental Europe (46.4%). Based on these results, absorbing biomass burning, urban-industrial and desert dust particles have not been considered although they represent on average 19% of the occurrences. This represents the main current limitation of the RAM. An assessment of the performances of SACOR is then performed by inter-comparing the water-leaving reflectance ( ρ w ) retrievals with three different AC methods (ACOLITE, MACCS and 6SV using three different standard aerosol types) using match-ups (N = 8) composed of Landsat-8/Operational Land Imager (OLI) scenes and field radiometric measurements. Results indicate consistency with the SWIR-based ACOLITE method, which shows the best performance, except in the green channel where SACOR matches well with the in-situ data (relative error of 7%). In conclusion, the study demonstrates the high potential of the SACOR approach for the retrieval of ρ w . In the future, the method could be improved by using an adaptive aerosol model, which may select the most relevant local aerosol model following the origin of the atmospheric air mass, and could be applied to the latest HRS (Sentinel-2/MSI, SPOT6-7, Pleiades 1A-1B).
Water Optics and Water Colour Remote Sensing
Authors: Zhang Yunlin , Giardino Claudia , Li Linhai
Published: August 2017

The editorial paper aims to highlight the main topics investigated in the Special Issue (SI) “Water Optics and Water Colour Remote Sensing”. The outcomes of the 21 papers published in the SI are presented, along with a bibliometric analysis in the same field, namely, water optics and water colour remote sensing. This editorial summarises how the research articles of the SI approach the study of bio-optical properties of aquatic systems, the development of remote sensing algorithms, and the application of time-series satellite data for assessing long-term and temporal-spatial dynamics in inland, coastal, and oceanic waters. The SI shows the progress with a focus on: (1) bio-optical properties (three papers); (2) atmospheric correction and data uncertainties (five papers); (3) remote sensing estimation of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) (eight papers); (4) remote sensing estimation of suspended matter and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) (four papers); and (5) water quality and water ecology remote sensing (four papers). Overall, the SI presents a variety of applications at the global scale (with case studies in Europe, Asia, South and North America, and the Antarctic), achieved with different remote sensing instruments, such as hyperspectral field and airborne sensors, ocean colour radiometry, geostationary platforms, and the multispectral Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellites. The bibliometric analysis, carried out to include research articles published from 1900 to 2016, indicates that “chlorophyll-a”, “ocean colour”, “phytoplankton”, “SeaWiFS” (Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor), and “chromophoric dissolved organic matter” were the five most frequently used keywords in the field. The SI contents, along with the bibliometric analysis, clearly suggest that remote sensing of Chl-a is one of the topmost investigated subjects in the field.
Estimation of Fugacity of Carbon Dioxide in the East Sea Using In Situ Measurements and Geostationary Ocean Color Imager Satellite Data
Authors: Jang Eunna , Im Jungho , Park Geun-Ha , Park Young-Gyu
Published: August 2017

The ocean is closely related to global warming and on-going climate change by regulating amounts of carbon dioxide through its interaction with the atmosphere. The monitoring of ocean carbon dioxide is important for a better understanding of the role of the ocean as a carbon sink, and regional and global carbon cycles. This study estimated the fugacity of carbon dioxide (ƒCO2) over the East Sea located between Korea and Japan. In situ measurements, satellite data and products from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) and the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) reanalysis data were used through stepwise multi-variate nonlinear regression (MNR) and two machine learning approaches (i.e., support vector regression (SVR) and random forest (RF)). We used five ocean parameters—colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM; <0.3 m−1), chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a; <21 mg/m3), mixed layer depth (MLD; <160 m), sea surface salinity (SSS; 32–35), and sea surface temperature (SST; 8–28 °C)—and four band reflectance (Rrs) data (400 nm–565 nm) and their ratios as input parameters to estimate surface seawater ƒCO2 (270–430 μatm). Results show that RF generally performed better than stepwise MNR and SVR. The root mean square error (RMSE) of validation results by RF was 5.49 μatm (1.7%), while those of stepwise MNR and SVR were 10.59 μatm (3.2%) and 6.82 μatm (2.1%), respectively. Ocean parameters (i.e., sea surface salinity (SSS), sea surface temperature (SST), and mixed layer depth (MLD)) appeared to contribute more than the individual bands or band ratios from the satellite data. Spatial and seasonal distributions of monthly ƒCO2 produced from the RF model and sea-air CO2 flux were also examined.
A Novel Cross-Layer Routing Protocol Based on Network Coding for Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Shilian , Bu Renfei , Zhang Eryang
Published: August 2017

Underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years because of their numerous applications in ocean monitoring, resource discovery and tactical surveillance. However, the design of reliable and efficient transmission and routing protocols is a challenge due to the low acoustic propagation speed and complex channel environment in UWSNs. In this paper, we propose a novel cross-layer routing protocol based on network coding (NCRP) for UWSNs, which utilizes network coding and cross-layer design to greedily forward data packets to sink nodes efficiently. The proposed NCRP takes full advantages of multicast transmission and decode packets jointly with encoded packets received from multiple potential nodes in the entire network. The transmission power is optimized in our design to extend the life cycle of the network. Moreover, we design a real-time routing maintenance protocol to update the route when detecting inefficient relay nodes. Substantial simulations in underwater environment by Network Simulator 3 (NS-3) show that NCRP significantly improves the network performance in terms of energy consumption, end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio compared with other routing protocols for UWSNs.
Achieve Location Privacy-Preserving Range Query in Vehicular Sensing
Authors: Kong Qinglei , Lu Rongxing , Ma Maode , Bao Haiyong
Published: August 2017

Modern vehicles are equipped with a plethora of on-board sensors and large on-board storage, which enables them to gather and store various local-relevant data. However, the wide application of vehicular sensing has its own challenges, among which location-privacy preservation and data query accuracy are two critical problems. In this paper, we propose a novel range query scheme, which helps the data requester to accurately retrieve the sensed data from the distributive on-board storage in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) with location privacy preservation. The proposed scheme exploits structured scalars to denote the locations of data requesters and vehicles, and achieves the privacy-preserving location matching with the homomorphic Paillier cryptosystem technique. Detailed security analysis shows that the proposed range query scheme can successfully preserve the location privacy of the involved data requesters and vehicles, and protect the confidentiality of the sensed data. In addition, performance evaluations are conducted to show the efficiency of the proposed scheme, in terms of computation delay and communication overhead. Specifically, the computation delay and communication overhead are not dependent on the length of the scalar, and they are only proportional to the number of vehicles.
Determination of Zinc, Cadmium, Lead, Copper and Silver Using a Carbon Paste Electrode and a Screen Printed Electrode Modified with Chromium(III) Oxide
Authors: Koudelkova Zuzana , Syrovy Tomas , Ambrozova Pavlina , Moravec Zdenek , Kubac Lubomir , Hynek David , Richtera Lukas , Adam Vojtech
Published: August 2017

In this study, the preparation and electrochemical application of a chromium(III) oxide modified carbon paste electrode (Cr-CPE) and a screen printed electrode (SPE), made from the same material and optimized for the simple, cheap and sensitive simultaneous determination of zinc, cadmium, lead, copper and the detection of silver ions, is described. The limits of detection and quantification were 25 and 80 µg·L−1 for Zn(II), 3 and 10 µg·L−1 for Cd(II), 3 and 10 µg·L−1 for Pb(II), 3 and 10 µg·L−1 for Cu(II), and 3 and 10 µg·L−1 for Ag(I), respectively. Furthermore, this promising modification was transferred to the screen-printed electrode. The limits of detection for the simultaneous determination of zinc, cadmium, copper and lead on the screen printed electrodes were found to be 350 µg·L−1 for Zn(II), 25 µg·L−1 for Cd(II), 3 µg·L−1 for Pb(II) and 3 µg·L−1 for Cu(II). Practical usability for the simultaneous detection of these heavy metal ions by the Cr-CPE was also demonstrated in the analyses of wastewaters.
Real-Time External Respiratory Motion Measuring Technique Using an RGB-D Camera and Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Wijenayake Udaya , Park Soon-Yong
Published: August 2017

Accurate tracking and modeling of internal and external respiratory motion in the thoracic and abdominal regions of a human body is a highly discussed topic in external beam radiotherapy treatment. Errors in target/normal tissue delineation and dose calculation and the increment of the healthy tissues being exposed to high radiation doses are some of the unsolicited problems caused due to inaccurate tracking of the respiratory motion. Many related works have been introduced for respiratory motion modeling, but a majority of them highly depend on radiography/fluoroscopy imaging, wearable markers or surgical node implanting techniques. We, in this article, propose a new respiratory motion tracking approach by exploiting the advantages of an RGB-D camera. First, we create a patient-specific respiratory motion model using principal component analysis (PCA) removing the spatial and temporal noise of the input depth data. Then, this model is utilized for real-time external respiratory motion measurement with high accuracy. Additionally, we introduce a marker-based depth frame registration technique to limit the measuring area into an anatomically consistent region that helps to handle the patient movements during the treatment. We achieved a 0.97 correlation comparing to a spirometer and 0.53 mm average error considering a laser line scanning result as the ground truth. As future work, we will use this accurate measurement of external respiratory motion to generate a correlated motion model that describes the movements of internal tumors.
A Heterogeneous Sensing System-Based Method for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Indoor Positioning
Authors: Wang Can , Li Kang , Liang Guoyuan , Chen Haoyao , Huang Sheng , Wu Xinyu
Published: August 2017

The indoor environment has brought new challenges for micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in terms of their being able to execute tasks with high positioning accuracy. Conventional positioning methods based on GPS are unreliable, although certain circumstances of limited space make it possible to apply new technologies. In this paper, we propose a novel indoor self-positioning system of UAV based on a heterogeneous sensing system, which integrates data from a structured light scanner, ultra-wideband (UWB), and an inertial navigation system (INS). We made the structured light scanner, which is composed of a low-cost structured light and camera, ourselves to improve the positioning accuracy at a specified area. We applied adaptive Kalman filtering to fuse the data from the INS and UWB while the vehicle was moving, as well as Gauss filtering to fuse the data from the UWB and the structured light scanner in a hovering state. The results of our simulations and experiments demonstrate that the proposed strategy significantly improves positioning accuracy in motion and also in the hovering state, as compared to using a single sensor.
Efficient Pedestrian Detection at Nighttime Using a Thermal Camera
Authors: Baek Jeonghyun , Hong Sungjun , Kim Jisu , Kim Euntai
Published: August 2017

Most of the commercial nighttime pedestrian detection (PD) methods reported previously utilized the histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) or the local binary pattern (LBP) as the feature and the support vector machine (SVM) as the classifier using thermal camera images. In this paper, we propose a new feature called the thermal-position-intensity-histogram of oriented gradient (TPIHOG or T π HOG) and developed a new combination of the T π HOG and the additive kernel SVM (AKSVM) for efficient nighttime pedestrian detection. The proposed T π HOG includes detailed information on gradient location; therefore, it has more distinctive power than the HOG. The AKSVM performs better than the linear SVM in terms of detection performance, while it is much faster than other kernel SVMs. The combined T π HOG-AKSVM showed effective nighttime PD performance with fast computational time. The proposed method was experimentally tested with the KAIST pedestrian dataset and showed better performance compared with other conventional methods.
Analysis of the Population Assistance and Returning Home in the Reconstruction Process of the 2009 L’Aquila Earthquake
Authors: Mannella Antonio , Di Ludovico Marco , Sabino Antonio , Prota Andrea , Dolce Mauro , Manfredi Gaetano
Published: August 2017

The 2009 L’Aquila earthquake left approximately 67,000 homeless people. The earthquake severely damaged facilities, structures, and infrastructure of L’Aquila town, the capital of Abruzzo region, as well as 56 other municipalities in the so-called “crater”. The resident population in the crater area at the time of the earthquake included 68,503 inhabitants in the city of L’Aquila and 71,081 in other municipalities of the crater, yielding a total of 139,584 inhabitants. Several solutions were adopted to host homeless people in the immediate emergency phase; then, temporary accommodations were built to host people up to the completion of the reconstruction process. This paper analyzes the timeline by which people who lived in L’Aquila city at the time of earthquake was enabled to return to their houses, either repaired and strengthened or rebuilt. In particular, this analysis covers the first phase of the reconstruction process as well as its second phase, which is currently still ongoing in L’Aquila’s historical centers. The trend of a population returning home discussed herein has been determined based on data collected from different databases given by several institutions engaged in the emergency and reconstruction phases; this allowed an estimation of the number of people returned to their homes over time.
Enhancing Urban Development Quality Based on the Results of Appraising Efficient Performance of Investors—A Case Study in Vietnam
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Nguyen Han-Khanh
Published: August 2017

Economic development and the overpopulation in Vietnam have led to rapid urbanization, which has posed countless difficulties and challenges to its government. In particular, creating adequate accommodation, life activities, and entertainment are extremely urgent issues. The planning and investment in industry zones, urban areas, residential districts, and amusement parks at the right time and right place contribute to social stability and economic development, and are important issues for every government—especially in Vietnam which remains a developing country with regard to rapid industrialization and modernization speed. The population density in many localities is too dense, while in others it is too thin, resulting in a state where inhabitants have no shelter, whereas many of the buildings have been abandoned. To deal with these matters, the authors used this study to assess the investment effectiveness of leading corporations in the field of investment in urban development and infrastructure investment in Vietnam. The study focused on addressing the following issues: assessing the effectiveness of corporations in urban development and infrastructure investment in Vietnam and predicting the business state of the groups. Through business data of corporations from 2013–2016, the authors used a Grey system theory to forecast business situations for the period from 2017–2020. The authors also used data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate the effectiveness of investments of the group from 2013–2020. The results will help corporations in creating suitable investment and business strategies with the changes of the domestic and world economy, and can be considered as a foundation for management units, for local government to create planning projects with feasible content, for long-term vision, and practical efficiency to quickly meet the needs of urban development plans.