bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-Targeted Secondary Metabolite Profile Study for Deciphering the Cosmeceutical Potential of Red Marine Macro Alga Jania rubens—An LCMS-Based Approach
Authors: Dixit Dhara , Reddy C. R. K.
Published: October 2017

This study aims to unveil the cosmeceutical traits of Jania rubens by highlighting its mineral composition, antioxidant potential, and presence of bioactive molecules using non-targeted metabolite profiling. This study showed that among minerals, (macro), Ca (14790.33 + 1.46 mg/100 g dry weight (DW)) and in (micro) Fe (84.93 + 0.89 mg/100 g DW) was the highest. A total of 23 putative metabolites in the +ESI (Electrospray Ionization) mode of LCMS-TOF (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry-Time of Flight) were detected. Two anthocyanins—malonylshisonin and 4′′′-demalonylsalvianin (m/z 825.19; anti-aging, antioxidant, anticancer properties) were detected. Two flavonoids, viz, medicocarpin and agecorynin C, 4′-O-methylglucoliquiritigenin—a flavonoid-7-O-glycoside, and 5,6,7,8,3′,4′,5′-heptamethoxyflavone, a polymethoxygenated flavone (m/z 415.15), were detected. Maclurin 3-C-(2″,3″,6″-trigalloylglucoside) (m/z 863.15) (antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer traits) and theaflavonin (m/z 919.18), belonging to the class of theaflavins (whitening and anti-wrinkle agent), were obtained. Pharmacologically active metabolites like berberrubin (m/z 305.1; antitumor activity), icaceine (m/z 358.24; anticonvulsant properties), agnuside (m/z 449.15; constituent for treatment of premenstrual syndrome), γ-coniceine (m/z 108.12; formulations to treat breast cancer), eremopetasitenin B2, and eremosulphoxinolide A (m/z 447.18; therapeutic effect of allergy and asthma) were observed. 6-O-Methylarmillaridin (m/z 445.18) (antimicrobial and antifungal) and simmondsin 2-ferulate, (m/z 534.21) (insecticidal, antifungal and antifeedant) were detected. Aromatic lignans, viz, 8-Acetoxy-4′-methoxypinoresinol, sesartemin, and cubebinone (m/z 413.16), in addition to an aromatic terpene glycoside, tsangane L3 glucoside (m/z 357.23), were detected. Zizybeoside I, benzyl gentiobioside, and trichocarposide were also detected. The determination of antioxidant potential was performed through assays such as like DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Power), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)), and total antioxidants. Therefore, this study progresses the probability for the inclusion of J. rubens as an ingredient in modern day cosmetic formulations.
Leveraging Distributions in Physical Unclonable Functions
Authors: Che Wenjie , Kajuluri Venkata , Saqib Fareena , Plusquellic Jim
Published: October 2017

A special class of Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) referred to as strong PUFs can be used in novel hardware-based authentication protocols. Strong PUFs are required for authentication because the bit strings and helper data are transmitted openly by the token to the verifier, and therefore are revealed to the adversary. This enables the adversary to carry out attacks against the token by systematically applying challenges and obtaining responses in an attempt to machine learn, and later predict, the token’s response to an arbitrary challenge. Therefore, strong PUFs must both provide an exponentially large challenge space and be resistant to machine-learning attacks in order to be considered secure. We investigate a transformation called temperature–voltage compensation (TVCOMP), which is used within the Hardware-Embedded Delay PUF (HELP) bit string generation algorithm. TVCOMP increases the diversity and unpredictability of the challenge–response space, and therefore increases resistance to model-building attacks. HELP leverages within-die variations in path delays as a source of random information. TVCOMP is a linear transformation designed specifically for dealing with changes in delay introduced by adverse temperature–voltage (environmental) variations. In this paper, we show that TVCOMP also increases entropy and expands the challenge–response space dramatically.
High-Throughput Small-Molecule Crystallography at the ‘Belok’ Beamline of the Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source: Transition Metal Complexes with Azomethine Ligands as a Case Study
Authors: Lazarenko Vladimir , Dorovatovskii Pavel , Zubavichus Yan , Burlov Anatolii , Koshchienko Yurii , Vlasenko Valery , Khrustalev Victor
Published: October 2017

This paper concisely describes capabilities of the ‘Belok’ beamline at the Kurchatov synchrotron radiation source, related to high-throughput small-molecule X-ray crystallography. As case examples, a series of four novel transition metal complexes with azomethine ligands were selected. The complexes demonstrate somewhat unexpected changes in the coordination geometry and nuclearity in response to the introduction of substituents in the ligand’s periphery.
Meth Mouth—A Growing Epidemic in Dentistry?
Authors: Pabst Andreas , Castillo-Duque Juan , Mayer Axel , Klinghuber Marcus , Werkmeister Richard
Published: October 2017

In the past two decades, the synthetic style and fashion drug “crystal meth” (“crystal”, “meth”), chemically representing the crystalline form of the methamphetamine hydrochloride, has become more and more popular in the United States, in Eastern Europe, and just recently in Central and Western Europe. “Meth” is cheap, easy to synthesize and to market, and has an extremely high potential for abuse and dependence. As a strong sympathomimetic, “meth” has the potency to switch off hunger, fatigue and, pain while simultaneously increasing physical and mental performance. The most relevant side effects are heart and circulatory complaints, severe psychotic attacks, personality changes, and progressive neurodegeneration. Another effect is “meth mouth”, defined as serious tooth and oral health damage after long-standing “meth” abuse; this condition may become increasingly relevant in dentistry and oral- and maxillofacial surgery. There might be an association between general methamphetamine abuse and the development of osteonecrosis, similar to the medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Several case reports concerning “meth” patients after tooth extractions or oral surgery have presented clinical pictures similar to MRONJ. This overview summarizes the most relevant aspect concerning “crystal meth” abuse and “meth mouth”.
Real-Time Robust Voice Activity Detection Using the Upper Envelope Weighted Entropy Measure and the Dual-Rate Adaptive Nonlinear Filter
Authors: Ong Wei , Tan Alan , Vengadasalam V. , Tan Cheah , Ooi Thean
Published: October 2017

Voice activity detection (VAD) is a vital process in voice communication systems to avoid unnecessary coding and transmission of noise. Most of the existing VAD algorithms continue to suffer high false alarm rates and low sensitivity when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is low, at 0 dB and below. Others are developed to operate in offline mode or are impractical for implementation in actual devices due to high computational complexity. This paper proposes the upper envelope weighted entropy (UEWE) measure as a means to enable high separation of speech and non-speech segments in voice communication. The asymmetric nonlinear filter (ANF) is employed in UEWE to extract the adaptive weight factor that is subsequently used to compensate the noise effect. In addition, this paper also introduces a dual-rate adaptive nonlinear filter (DANF) with high adaptivity to rapid time-varying noise for computation of the decision threshold. Performance comparison with standard and recent VADs shows that the proposed algorithm is superior especially in real-time practical applications.
Gravitational Contribution to the Heat Flux in a Simple Dilute Fluid: An Approach Based on General Relativistic Kinetic Theory to First Order in the Gradients
Authors: Brun-Battistini Dominique , Sandoval-Villalbazo Alfredo , Garcia-Perciante Ana
Published: October 2017

Richard C. Tolman analyzed the relation between a temperature gradient and a gravitational field in an equilibrium situation. In 2012, Tolman’s law was generalized to a non-equilibrium situation for a simple dilute relativistic fluid. The result in that scenario, obtained by introducing the gravitational force through the molecular acceleration, couples the heat flux with the metric coefficients and the gradients of the state variables. In the present paper it is shown, by explicitly describing the single particle orbits as geodesics in Boltzmann’s equation, that a gravitational field drives a heat flux in this type of system. The calculation is devoted solely to the gravitational field contribution to this heat flux in which a Newtonian limit to the Schwarzschild metric is assumed. The corresponding transport coefficient, which is obtained within a relaxation approximation, corresponds to the dilute fluid in a weak gravitational field. The effect is negligible in the non-relativistic regime, as evidenced by the direct evaluation of the corresponding limit.
Thermodynamic Modelling of Supersonic Gas Ejector with Droplets
Authors: Croquer Sergio , Poncet Sébastien , Aidoun Zine
Published: October 2017

This study presents a thermodynamic model for determining the entrainment ratio and double choke limiting pressure of supersonic ejectors within the context of heat driven refrigeration cycles, with and without droplet injection, at the constant area section of the device. Input data include the inlet operating conditions and key geometry parameters (primary throat, mixing section and diffuser outlet diameter), whereas output information includes the ejector entrainment ratio, maximum double choke compression ratio, ejector efficiency, exergy efficiency and exergy destruction index. In single-phase operation, the ejector entrainment ratio and double choke limiting pressure are determined with a mean accuracy of 18 % and 2.5 % , respectively. In two-phase operation, the choked mass flow rate across convergent-divergent nozzles is estimated with a deviation of 10 % . An analysis on the effect of droplet injection confirms the hypothesis that droplet injection reduces by 8 % the pressure and Mach number jumps associated with shock waves occuring at the end of the constant area section. Nonetheless, other factors such as the mixing of the droplets with the main flow are introduced, resulting in an overall reduction by 11 % of the ejector efficiency and by 15 % of the exergy efficiency.
Analyzing the Tourism–Energy–Growth Nexus for the Top 10 Most-Visited Countries
Authors: Işik Cem , Doğan Eyüp , Ongan Serdar
Published: October 2017

By using the Emirmahmutoglu–Kose bootstrap Granger non-causality method, this study explores the directions of causality among tourist arrivals, tourism receipts, energy consumption and economic growth for the top 10 most-visited countries (France, the USA, Spain, China, Italy, Turkey, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Mexico) in the world. This study finds a variety of causal directions between the pair of analyzed variables for each country and the panel. Since cross-sectional dependence exists across the top countries for the analyzed variables, the bootstrap Granger causality test that accounts for the mentioned issue in the estimation process presumably produces reliable and accurate outputs. Further results and policy implications are discussed in this empirical study.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Mainstream Industrial Processes
Authors: Allwood Gary , Wild Graham , Hinckley Steven
Published: October 2017

This paper reviews fiber Bragg grating sensing technology with respect to its use in mainstream industrial process applications. A review of the various types of sensors that have been developed for industries such as power generation, water treatment and services, mining, and the oil and gas sector has been performed. A market overview is reported as well as a discussion of some of the factors limiting their penetration into these markets. Furthermore, the author’s make recommendations for future work that would potentially provide significant opportunity for the advancement of fiber Bragg grating sensor networks in these mainstream industries.
μRTZVisor: A Secure and Safe Real-Time Hypervisor
Authors: Martins José , Alves João , Cabral Jorge , Tavares Adriano , Pinto Sandro
Published: October 2017

Virtualization has been deployed as a key enabling technology for coping with the ever growing complexity and heterogeneity of modern computing systems. However, on its own, classical virtualization is a poor match for modern endpoint embedded system requirements such as safety, security and real-time, which are our main target. Microkernel-based approaches to virtualization have been shown to bridge the gap between traditional and embedded virtualization. This notwithstanding, existent microkernel-based solutions follow a highly para-virtualized approach, which inherently requires a significant software engineering effort to adapt guest operating systems (OSes) to run as userland components. In this paper, we present μ RTZVisor as a new TrustZone-assisted hypervisor that distinguishes itself from state-of-the-art TrustZone solutions by implementing a microkernel-like architecture while following an object-oriented approach. Contrarily to existing microkernel-based solutions, μ RTZVisor is able to run nearly unmodified guest OSes, while, contrarily to existing TrustZone-assisted solutions, it provides a high degree of functionality and configurability, placing strong emphasis on the real-time support. Our hypervisor was deployed and evaluated on a Xilinx Zynq-based platform. Experiments demonstrate that the hypervisor presents a small trusted computing base size (approximately 60KB), and a performance overhead of less than 2% for a 10 ms guest-switching rate.
A New Approach of Minimizing Commutation Torque Ripple for BLDCM
Authors: Tan Bo , Hua Zhiguang , Zhang Lu , Fang Chun
Published: October 2017

The properties of brushless DC motor (BLDCM) are similar to the fractional, slot-concentrated winding of permanent-magnet synchronous machines, and they fit well for electric vehicle application. However, BLDCM still suffers from the high commutation torque ripple in the case of the traditional square-wave current control (SWC) method, where the current vector rotates asynchronously with back-EMF. A current optimizing control (COC) method for BLDCM is proposed in the paper to minimize the commutation torque ripple. The trajectories of the three phase currents are planned by the given torque and the optimized result of the copper loss and motor torque equations. The properties of COC are analyzed and compared with that of SWC in the stationary reference frame. The results show that the way of making the current vector rotate synchronously with back-EMF (back-Electromotive Force) can minimize the modulus and velocity of the current vector in the commutation region, and reduce the torque ripple. Experimental tests obtained from an 82 W BLDCM are done to confirm the theoretical findings.
A Human-Machine-Cooperative-Driving Controller Based on AFS and DYC for Vehicle Dynamic Stability
Authors: Wu Jian , Cheng Shuo , Liu Binhao , Liu Congzhi
Published: October 2017

It is a difficult and important project to coordinate active front steering (AFS) and direct yaw moment control (DYC), which has great potential to improve vehicle dynamic stability. Moreover, the balance between driver’s operation and advanced technologies’ intervention is a critical problem. This paper proposes a human-machine-cooperative-driving controller (HMCDC) with a hierarchical structure for vehicle dynamic stability and it consists of a supervisor, an upper coordination layer, and two lower layers (AFS and DYC). The range of AFS additional angle is constrained, with consideration of the influence of AFS on drivers’ feeling. First, in the supervisor, a nonlinear vehicle model was utilized to predict vehicle states, and the reference yaw rate, and side slip angle values were calculated. Then, the upper coordination layer decides the control object and control mode. At last, DYC and AFS calculate brake pressures and the range of active steering angle, respectively. The proposed HMCDC is evaluated by co-simulation of CarSim and MATLAB. Results show that the proposed controller could improve vehicle dynamic stability effectively for the premise of ensuring the driver’s intention.
Approximate Analysis of Multi-State Weighted k-Out-of-n Systems Applied to Transmission Lines
Authors: Song Xiaogang , Zhai Zhengjun , Guo Yangming , Zhu Peican , Han Jie
Published: October 2017

Multi-state weighted k-out-of-n systems are widely applied in various scenarios, such as multiple line (power/oil transmission line) transmission systems where the capability of fault tolerance is desirable. However, the complex operating environment and the dynamic features of load demands influence the evaluation of system reliability. In this paper, a stochastic multiple-valued (SMV) approach is proposed to efficiently predict the reliability of two models of systems with non-repairable components and dynamically repairable components. The weights/performances and reliabilities of multi-state components (MSCs) are represented by stochastic sequences consisting of a fixed number of multi-state values with the positions being randomly permutated. Using stochastic sequences with L multiple values, linear computational complexities with parameters n and L are required by the SMV approach to compute the reliability of different multi-state k-out-of-n systems at a reasonable accuracy, compared to the complexities of universal generating functions (UGF) and fuzzy universal generating functions (FUGF) that increase exponentially with the value of n. The analysis of two benchmarks shows that the proposed SMV approach is more efficient than the analysis using UGF or FUGF.
Evaluation of Comfort Level and Harvested Energy in the Vehicle Using Controlled Damping
Authors: Bucinskas Vytautas , Mitrouchev Peter , Sutinys Ernestas , Sesok Nikolaj , Iljin Igor , Morkvenaite-Vilkonciene Inga
Published: October 2017

Shock absorbers allow the damping of suspension vibrations, by dissipating kinetic energy. This energy theoretically can be harvested; however, practical solutions are not easily obtainable. This paper is dedicated to analyzing and evaluating the vibration energy in a vehicle’s suspension that is generated by road excitations. Also, it estimates the possible amount of harvested energy required to diminish accelerations of the vehicle body, the driver, or the passenger center of mass. The control of damper is realized by optimizing the best damping coefficient for different road roughness. Analytical results, obtained from the proposed dynamic model of the car, were compared with experimental data, showing a good coherence between them. These results allow us to evaluate the amount of energy circulating within shock absorbers and give information about the amount of the possible harvested energy. There is a very good relationship between energy needed for control and gained energy.
Advanced Wind Speed Prediction Model Based on a Combination of Weibull Distribution and an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Kadhem Athraa Ali , Wahab Noor , Aris Ishak , Jasni Jasronita , Abdalla Ahmed
Published: October 2017

One of the most crucial prerequisites for effective wind power planning and operation in power systems is precise wind speed forecasting. Highly random fluctuations of wind influenced by the conditions of the atmosphere, weather and terrain result in difficulties of forecasting regardless of whether it is short-term or long-term. The current study has developed a method to model wind speed data predictions with dependence on seasonal wind variations over a particular time frame, usually a year, in the form of a Weibull distribution model with an artificial neural network (ANN). As a result, the essential dependencies between the wind speed and seasonal weather variation are exploited. The proposed model utilizes the ANN to predict the wind speed data, which has similar chronological and seasonal characteristics to the actual wind data. This model was applied to wind speed databases from selected sites in Malaysia, namely Mersing, Kudat, and Kuala Terengganu, to validate the proposed model. The results indicate that the proposed hybrid artificial neural network (HANN) model is capable of depicting the fluctuating wind speed during different seasons of the year at different locations.
Genetic Variation, Heritability and Genotype × Environment Interactions of Resin Yield, Growth Traits and Morphologic Traits for Pinus elliottii at Three Progeny Trials
Authors: Lai Meng , Dong Leiming , Yi Min , Sun Shiwu , Zhang Yingying , Fu Li , Xu Zhenghua , Lei Lei , Leng Chunhui , Zhang Lu
Published: October 2017

To better understand the genetic control of resin yield, growth traits and morphologic traits for Pinus elliottii families, genetic relationships among these traits were examined in three 27-year-old progeny trials located in Jingdezhen, Jian and Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China. In total, 3695 trees from 112 families were assessed at the three sites. Significant site, family and family × site effects were found for resin yield, growth traits and morphologic traits. Resin yield and growth traits were found to be under moderate genetic control for the three sites combined, with family heritability and individual narrow-sense heritability ranging from 0.41 to 0.55 and 0.11 to 0.27, respectively. The coefficient of genotypic variation (CVG) of stem volume (SV) and crown surface area (CSA) were higher than those of other traits at each site. Genetic correlation estimates indicated that selection for growth traits might lead to a large increment in resin yield (RY), and most morphologic traits had moderate to strong correlations with growth traits at each individual site. One possible strategy in tree breeding would be to maximize resin production through selection for growth traits.
Deterministic Models of Growth and Mortality for Jack Pine in Boreal Forests of Western Canada
Authors: Strimbu Vlad , Bokalo Mike , Comeau Philip
Published: October 2017

We developed individual tree deterministic growth and mortality models for jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) using data from permanent sample plots in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. Height and diameter increment equations were fitted using nonlinear mixed effects models. Logistic mixed models were used to estimate jack pine survival probability based on tree and stand characteristics. The resulting models showed that (1) jack pine growth is significantly influenced by competition; (2) competitive effects differ between species groups; and (3) survival probability is affected by tree size and growth, stand composition, and stand density. The estimated coefficients of selected growth and mortality functions were implemented into the Mixedwood Growth Model (MGM) and the simulated predictions were evaluated against independently measured data. The validation showed that the MGM can effectively model jack pine trees and stands, providing support for its use in management planning.
Dispersal Patterns of Pine Wilt Disease in the Early Stage of Its Invasion in South Korea
Authors: Choi Won Il , Song Hye Jung , Kim Dong Soo , Lee Dae-Sung , Lee Cha-Young , Nam Youngwoo , Kim Joon-Bum , Park Young-Seuk
Published: October 2017

We characterized the dispersal patterns of pine wilt disease (PWD) in the early stage of its invasion in the South Korea, and estimated the influence of environmental factors on the dispersal of PWD. Data were obtained in 10 regions with at least five consecutive years of data for 10 years from 1994 to 2005. The dispersal patterns of PWD were categorized into four types: type 1 is a jumping type of dispersal, forming new patches; type 2 infestations are ones without any expansion of patch size; and types 3 and 4, respectively, show uni-directional or multi-directional dispersal outward from an existing patch. Dispersal patterns changed during different phases of the pathogen’s invasion history: type 1 was the most frequent in the early invasion stage. Annual dispersal distance showed regional variations. Human population density had a positive correlation with the dispersal distance of PWD, indicating that anthropogenic factors can contribute to the dispersal of PWD. Our results suggested that dispersal through jumping from areas occupied by PWD was the main dispersal route in the early stage of invasion and that after this phase, the existing colonies expanded and merged. These results supported the existence of stratified dispersal patterns of PWD.
Decomposition of Leaves and Fine Roots in Three Subtropical Plantations in China Affected by Litter Substrate Quality and Soil Microbial Community
Authors: Luo Da , Cheng Ruimei , Shi Zuomin , Wang Weixia
Published: October 2017

Leaf and root litter decomposition has been a major research focus. However, the possible effects of belowground microbial community structure and diversity on this process are poorly understood. Understanding the biochemical mechanisms controlling aboveground decomposition processes is important to predict the changes of soil carbon and nutrient cycling in response to changes of forest management regimes. Here, we explore the biochemical controls of leaf and fine root decomposition in three subtropical plantations (Ford Erythrophleum (Erythrophleum fordii Oliver), Masson Pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.)), and a mixed plantation containing both species) using the litterbag method, and soil microbial communities were determined using phospholipid fatty acid profiles. Overall, leaves decomposed more rapidly than fine roots, potentially due to the faster degradation of their cellulose component, but not lignin. In addition, leaf and fine root decomposition rates varied among plantations, being higher in E. fordii and lower in P. massoniana. Substrate quality such as N, Ca, lignin concentration, and C/N ratio were responsible for the decomposition rate changes among plantation types. Moreover, we used redundancy analysis to examine the relationships between litter decomposition and soil microbial community composition and diversity. Results revealed that actinobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi community were the key determinants affecting leaf and fine root litter decomposition, respectively. Our work demonstrates that litter decomposition was linked to substrate quality and to the structure of soil microbial communities, and evidences the probable role of E. fordii in increasing soil nutrient availability, especially N, P and Ca. Additional data on phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) or DNA marker groups within the litterbags over time may provide insights into litter decomposition dynamics, which represents potential objectives for future long-term decomposition studies.
The Effect of Cell Immobilization by Calcium Alginate on Bacterially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation
Authors: Seifan Mostafa , Samani Ali Khajeh , Hewitt Shaun , Berenjian Aydin
Published: October 2017

Microbially induced mineral precipitation is recognized as a widespread phenomenon in nature. A diverse range of minerals including carbonate, sulphides, silicates, and phosphates can be produced through biomineralization. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is one of the most common substances used in various industries and is mostly extracted by mining. In recent years, production of CaCO3 by bacteria has drawn much attention because it is an environmentally- and health-friendly pathway. Although CaCO3 can be produced by some genera of bacteria through autotrophic and heterotrophic pathways, the possibility of producing CaCO3 in different environmental conditions has remained a challenge to determine. In this study, calcium alginate was proposed as a protective carrier to increase the bacterial tolerance to extreme environmental conditions. The model showed that the highest concentration of CaCO3 is achieved when the bacterial cells are immobilized in the calcium alginate beads fabricated using 1.38% w/v Na-alginate and 0.13 M CaCl2.
Big Fire; or, Introducing the Pyrocene
Authors: Pyne Stephen
Published: October 2017

I present the case for a fire-centric scholarship, and suggest the transition between burning living landscapes and lithic ones (in the form of fossil fuels) would make a good demonstration of what such scholarship might do and what its value could be.
Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Spreadable Liver Pâtés with Annatto Extract (Bixa orellana L.) and Date Palm Co-Products (Phoenix dactylifera L.)
Authors: Martín-Sánchez Ana María , Ciro-Gómez Gelmy , Vilella-Esplá José , Pérez-Álvarez José Ángel , Sayas-Barberá Estrella
Published: October 2017

Two novel ingredients were incorporated into spreadable liver pâtés to study their effect on physicochemical and sensory characteristics and their possible use in the meat industry. Fresh date (Phoenix dactylifera, cv. Confitera) co-products, as a paste (0, 2.5 and 7.5%), and annatto (Bixa orellana) extract (0 and 128 mg/kg), as a colourant, and their combinations were incorporated into liver pâtés to study their effect on the final quality. The six formulations were analysed for chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics (pH, aw, colour, emulsion stability, and texture), and sensory properties. Pâtés tolerated suitable incorporation of date paste, providing emulsifying activity and being able to counteract to some extent the emulsion destabilisation caused by the annatto. All formulations showed an acceptable sensory quality, particularly pâtés with annatto and 7.5% date paste, which was softer, juicier, and presented redness values similar to the control as well as better emulsion stability. The combined use of these novel ingredients could be used as natural ingredients.
DNA Damage Repair System in Plants: A Worldwide Research Update
Authors: Gimenez Estela , Manzano-Agugliaro Francisco
Published: October 2017

Living organisms are usually exposed to various DNA damaging agents so the mechanisms to detect and repair diverse DNA lesions have developed in all organisms with the result of maintaining genome integrity. Defects in DNA repair machinery contribute to cancer, certain diseases, and aging. Therefore, conserving the genomic sequence in organisms is key for the perpetuation of life. The machinery of DNA damage repair (DDR) in prokaryotes and eukaryotes is similar. Plants also share mechanisms for DNA repair with animals, although they differ in other important details. Plants have, surprisingly, been less investigated than other living organisms in this context, despite the fact that numerous lethal mutations in animals are viable in plants. In this manuscript, a worldwide bibliometric analysis of DDR systems and DDR research in plants was made. A comparison between both subjects was accomplished. The bibliometric analyses prove that the first study about DDR systems in plants (1987) was published thirteen years later than that for other living organisms (1975). Despite the increase in the number of papers about DDR mechanisms in plants in recent decades, nowadays the number of articles published each year about DDR systems in plants only represents 10% of the total number of articles about DDR. The DDR research field was done by 74 countries while the number of countries involved in the DDR & Plant field is 44. This indicates the great influence that DDR research in the plant field currently has, worldwide. As expected, the percentage of studies published about DDR systems in plants has increased in the subject area of agricultural and biological sciences and has diminished in medicine with respect to DDR studies in other living organisms. In short, bibliometric results highlight the current interest in DDR research in plants among DDR studies and can open new perspectives in the research field of DNA damage repair.
Development of a Bead-Based Multiplex Assay for the Analysis of the Serological Response against the Six Pathogens HAV, HBV, HCV, CMV, T. gondii, and H. pylori
Authors: Filomena Angela , Pessler Frank , Akmatov Manas , Krause Gérard , Duffy Darragh , Gärtner Barbara , Gerhard Markus , Albert Matthew , Joos Thomas , Schneiderhan-Marra Nicole
Published: October 2017

The spread of infectious diseases and vaccination history are common subjects of epidemiological and immunological research studies. Multiplexed serological assays are useful tools for assessing both current and previous infections as well as vaccination efficacy. We developed a serological multi-pathogen assay for hepatitis A, B and C virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma gondii, and Helicobacter pylori using a bead-based multiplex assay format. The multi-pathogen assay consisting of 15 antigens was utilized for the analysis of the serological response in elderly individuals of an influenza vaccination study (n = 34). The technical assay validation revealed a mean intra-assay precision of coefficient of variation (CV) = 3.2 ± 1.5% and a mean inter-assay precision of CV = 8.2 ± 5.3% across all 15 antigens and all tested samples, indicating a robust test system. Furthermore, the assay shows high sensitivities (ranging between 94% and 100%) and specificities (ranging between 93% and 100%) for the different pathogens. The highest seroprevalence rates in our cohort were observed for hepatitis A virus (HAV; 73.5%), followed by CMV (70.6%), T. gondii (67.6%) and H. pylori (32.4%). Seroprevalences for hepatitis B virus (HBV, 8.8%) and hepatitis C virus (HCV, 0%) were low. The seroprevalences observed in our study were similar to those from other population-based studies in Germany. In summary, we conclude that our multiplex serological assay represents a suitable tool for epidemiological studies.
On Rigorous Drought Assessment Using Daily Time Scale: Non-Stationary Frequency Analyses, Revisited Concepts, and a New Method to Yield Non-Parametric Indices
Authors: Onyutha Charles
Published: October 2017

Some of the problems in drought assessments are that: analyses tend to focus on coarse temporal scales, many of the methods yield skewed indices, a few terminologies are ambiguously used, and analyses comprise an implicit assumption that the observations come from a stationary process. To solve these problems, this paper introduces non-stationary frequency analyses of quantiles. How to use non-parametric rescaling to obtain robust indices that are not (or minimally) skewed is also introduced. To avoid ambiguity, some concepts on, e.g., incidence, extremity, etc., were revisited through shift from monthly to daily time scale. Demonstrations on the introduced methods were made using daily flow and precipitation insufficiency (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration) from the Blue Nile basin in Africa. Results show that, when a significant trend exists in extreme events, stationarity-based quantiles can be far different from those when non-stationarity is considered. The introduced non-parametric indices were found to closely agree with the well-known standardized precipitation evapotranspiration indices in many aspects but skewness. Apart from revisiting some concepts, the advantages of the use of fine instead of coarse time scales in drought assessment were given. The links for obtaining freely downloadable tools on how to implement the introduced methods were provided.
Diet Quality and Satisfaction with Life, Family Life, and Food-Related Life across Families: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study with Mother-Father-Adolescent Triads
Authors: Schnettler Berta , Lobos Germán , Miranda-Zapata Edgardo , Denegri Marianela , Ares Gastón , Hueche Clementina
Published: October 2017

Family is a major determinant of children’s and adolescents’ eating behavior. The objectives of the present study were to assess diet quality, eating habits, satisfaction with life, family life, and food-related life in mother–father–adolescent triads, and to identify profiles of families according to family members’ diet quality. Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 300 two-parent families with one child over the age of 10 in the city of Temuco (Chile), including the Adapted Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction with Food-related Life (SWFoL) scale, Satisfaction with Family Life (SWFaL) scales, and questions relating to their eating habits. Positive relationships were found between the diet quality of the family members, particularly between mothers and adolescents. Three family profiles with different diet qualities were identified: “families with an unhealthy diet” (39.3%), “families in which mothers and adolescents have healthy diets, but the fathers’ diets require changes” (14.3%), and “families that require changes in their diet” (46.4%). These findings stress the key role of mothers in determining family diet quality and suggest a positive relationship between diet quality and satisfaction with life.
Executive Function Capacities, Negative Driving Behavior and Crashes in Young Drivers
Authors: Walshe Elizabeth , Ward McIntosh Chelsea , Romer Daniel , Winston Flaura
Published: October 2017

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury and death in adolescents, with teen drivers three times more likely to be in a fatal crash when compared to adults. One potential contributing risk factor is the ongoing development of executive functioning with maturation of the frontal lobe through adolescence and into early adulthood. Atypical development resulting in poor or impaired executive functioning (as in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) has been associated with risky driving and crash outcomes. However, executive function broadly encompasses a number of capacities and domains (e.g., working memory, inhibition, set-shifting). In this review, we examine the role of various executive function sub-processes in adolescent driver behavior and crash rates. We summarize the state of methods for measuring executive control and driving outcomes and highlight the great heterogeneity in tools with seemingly contradictory findings. Lastly, we offer some suggestions for improved methods and practical ways to compensate for the effects of poor executive function (such as in-vehicle assisted driving devices). Given the key role that executive function plays in safe driving, this review points to an urgent need for systematic research to inform development of more effective training and interventions for safe driving among adolescents.
Who Participates in Running Events? Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Psychosocial Factors and Barriers as Correlates of Non-Participation—A Pilot Study in Belgium
Authors: Van Dyck Delfien , Cardon Greet , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , De Ridder Lisa , Willem Annick
Published: October 2017

In Western countries, the popularity of running events has increased exponentially during the last three decades. However, little is known about the profile of non-participants. This knowledge is crucial to tailor promotional actions towards people who are currently not participating. Therefore, this study aimed: (1) to examine which socio-ecological factors are related to participation in running events, (2) to give an overview of the barriers towards participation, and (3) to examine differences in barriers depending on gender, age and educational level. Flemish adults (n = 308) completed an online questionnaire about their socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics, physical activity levels, participation in running events and barriers towards participation. Results showed that motivation, family social support, knowledge about running events and physical activity levels were associated with participation in running events. Among non-participants, the main barriers were bad physical condition, lack of time and lack of interest. In participants, lack of time, distance to the event and financial barriers were most prevalent. With some exceptions, barriers were relatively similar across socio-demographic subgroups. This study confirmed a democratization among participants of running events and provided evidence about which barriers should be tackled to increase participation among population subgroups that are currently underrepresented in such events.
Maternal Mental Health Disorders and Reports to Child Protective Services: A Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Hammond Ivy , Eastman Andrea , Leventhal John , Putnam-Hornstein Emily
Published: October 2017

Background. Existing literature has documented a strong relationship between parental mental illness and child maltreatment, but little is known about the prevalence of mental illness among childbearing women. In the present study, linked administrative records were used to identify the prevalence of maternal mental health (MH) disorders documented at birth and determine the associated likelihood of maltreatment reports during infancy. Materials and Methods. Vital records for California’s 2006 birth cohort were linked to hospital discharge and Child Protective Services (CPS) records. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) billing codes from the mother’s delivery hospitalization were used to determine diagnosed maternal MH disorders for 551,232 infants born in 2006, and reports of alleged maltreatment were documented from CPS records. Vital birth records were used to control for sociodemographic factors. Finally, the associated risk of reported maltreatment during the first year of life was examined using generalized linear models. Results. Among infants in this statewide birth cohort, 2.8% were born to a mother with a documented MH disorder, of which 41.3% had documented maternal substance abuse issues versus less than 0.5% of infants born to mothers without a diagnosed MH disorder. Further, 34.6% of infants born to mothers with a MH disorder were reported to CPS within one year, and a majority of those reports were made within the first month of life (77.2%). In contrast, among children born to mothers without a MH disorder, 4.4% were reported to CPS during infancy. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, the rate of CPS reports during infancy for infants born to mothers with a MH disorder but no substance use disorder was 2.6 times that of infants born to mothers without a MH disorder (95% CI = 2.47, 2.73). Among infants born to mothers with MH and substance use disorders, the rate of CPS reports during infancy was 5.69 times that of infants born to mothers without a MH disorder (95% CI = 5.51, 5.87). Conclusions. Administrative records provide a method for identifying infants born to mothers with MH disorders, enabling researchers to track rates over time and generate population-level data to inform policy development and improve service delivery.
Spatiotemporal Changes in Fine Particulate Matter Pollution and the Associated Mortality Burden in China between 2015 and 2016
Authors: Feng Luwei , Ye Bo , Feng Huan , Ren Fu , Huang Shichun , Zhang Xiaotong , Zhang Yunquan , Du Qingyun , Ma Lu
Published: October 2017

In recent years, research on the spatiotemporal distribution and health effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been conducted in China. However, the limitations of different research scopes and methods have led to low comparability between regions regarding the mortality burden of PM2.5. A kriging model was used to simulate the distribution of PM2.5 in 2015 and 2016. Relative risk (RR) at a specified PM2.5 exposure concentration was estimated with an integrated exposure–response (IER) model for different causes of mortality: lung cancer (LC), ischaemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The population attributable fraction (PAF) was adopted to estimate deaths attributed to PM2.5. 72.02% of cities experienced decreases in PM2.5 from 2015 to 2016. Due to the overall decrease in the PM2.5 concentration, the total number of deaths decreased by approximately 10,658 per million in 336 cities, including a decrease of 1400, 1836, 6312 and 1110 caused by LC, IHD, stroke and COPD, respectively. Our results suggest that the overall PM2.5 concentration and PM2.5-related deaths exhibited decreasing trends in China, although air quality in local areas has deteriorated. To improve air pollution control strategies, regional PM2.5 concentrations and trends should be fully considered.
Association between Eating Out and Socio-Demographic Factors of University Students in Chongqing, China
Authors: Hu Ping , Wu Tingting , Zhang Fan , Zhang Yan , Lu Lu , Zeng Huan , Shi Zu-min , Sharma Manoj , Xun Lei , Zhao Yong
Published: October 2017

(1) Objective: We aimed to explore the current situation of eating out and the association with socio-demographic factors of university students in Chongqing, China. (2) Methods: We used self-administered questionnaires to collect information. There are 14 universities in Chongqing; four (Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing University, Chongqing Normal University, and Chongqing University of Science & Technology) were randomly selected. In each selected university, two disciplines were randomly selected. (3) Results: 4595 university students participated in the study. The frequency of eating out was relatively high. The frequency of eating out among females was higher than that among males during weekdays. The two main reasons for eating out were having an opportunity to meet friends (56.0%) and improving diet (39.6%). Bistros (61.7%) and hot-pot restaurants (41.1%) were the favorite places for eating out. Only 36.0% of the participants said they considered nutrition and food safety when selecting restaurants. The majority of the participants demonstrated a high demand for nutrition and food safety knowledge when eating out (77.7%). (4) Conclusions: The higher the monthly living expenses were, the higher the frequency of eating out was. An intervention strategy to reduce the frequency or change the behavior of eating out should be formulated by considering the students’ perspectives.
“Voting with Their Feet”: Delineating the Sphere of Influence Using Social Media Data
Authors: Wong David , Huang Qunying
Published: October 2017

Delineating regional boundaries for places has a long tradition in geography, urban analysis and regional planning. Its theoretical basis may be traced back to the central place theory. The normative approach, using spatial interaction models, has been used, and the empirical approach, using commuting data, is also popular. While gathering commuting data using traditional methodologies (e.g., surveys) is costly, data capturing people’s locations and their thoughts, are widely available through social media platforms. This article demonstrates that Twitter data can be used to delineate boundaries among competing places. A generic approach based on the density of place names mentioned in geo-tagged tweets was proposed to reflect the sphere of influence or dominance of places. Locations with the same levels of influence from competing places constitute the boundaries delineating the regions dominated by the respective places. The method was tested to determine the boundaries between two metropolitan regions, two local cities, and two neighborhoods or communities. Results from these simple case studies demonstrated the validity of the general approach for evaluating existing place boundaries and determining boundaries if they have not been delineated. The method is applicable to different levels of the place hierarchy and has practical values for planning of places of different sizes.