bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Community Readiness to Reduce Childhood Diarrheal Disease and Improve Food Security in Dioro, Mali
Authors: Borresen Erica , Stone Cordelia , Boré Abdoulaye , Cissoko Alima , Maiga Ababacar , Koita Ousmane , Ryan Elizabeth
Published: June 2016

Diarrhea and malnutrition represent leading causes of death for children in Mali. Understanding a community’s needs and ideas are critical to ensure the success of prevention and treatment interventions for diarrheal disease, as well as to improve food security to help reduce malnutrition. The objective of this study was to incorporate the Community Readiness Model (CRM) for the issues of childhood diarrheal disease and food security in Mali to measure baseline community readiness prior to any program implementation. Thirteen key respondents residing in Dioro, Mali were selected based on varied social roles and demographics and completed two questionnaires on these public health issues. The overall readiness score to reduce childhood diarrheal disease was 5.75 ± 1.0 standard deviation (preparation stage). The overall readiness score to improve food security was 5.5 ± 0.5 standard deviation (preparation stage). The preparation stage indicates that at least some of the community have basic knowledge regarding these issues, and want to act locally to reduce childhood diarrhea and improve food security and nutrition. Proposed activities to increase community readiness on these issues are provided and are broad enough to allow opportunities to implement community- and culturally-specific activities by the Dioro community.
The Diet of Preschool Children in the Mediterranean Countries of the European Union: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pereira-da-Silva Luís , Rêgo Carla , Pietrobelli Angelo
Published: June 2016

This systematic review discusses data on the dietary intake of preschool children living in the Mediterranean countries of the European Union, including the comparison with a Mediterranean-like diet and the association with nutritional status. Specifically, data from the multinational European Identification and Prevention on Dietary and life style induced health effects in children and infants (IDEFICS) study and national studies, such as the Estudo do Padrão Alimentar e de Crescimento Infantil (EPACI) study and Geração XXI cohort in Portugal, ALimentando la SAlud del MAñana (ALSALMA) study in Spain, Étude des Déterminants pré-et postnatals précoces du développement et de la santé de l’ENfant (EDEN) cohort in France, Nutrintake 636 study in Italy, and Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study in preSchoolers (GENESIS) cohort in Greece, were analyzed. In the majority of countries, young children consumed fruit and vegetables quite frequently, but also consumed sugared beverages and snacks. High energy and high protein intakes mainly from dairy products were found in the majority of countries. The majority of children also consumed excessive sodium intake. Early high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, and both early consumption of energy-dense foods and overweight seemed to track across toddler and preschool ages. Most children living in the analyzed countries showed low adherence to a Mediterranean-like diet, which in turn was associated with being overweight/obese. Unhealthier diets were associated with lower maternal educational level and parental unemployment. Programs promoting adherence of young children to the traditional Mediterranean diet should be part of a multi-intervention strategy for the prevention and treatment of pediatric overweight and obesity.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Stride from Research to Clinical Practice
Authors: Chung Ill-Min , Ketharnathan Sarada , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Rajakumar Govindasamy
Published: June 2016

Over 70 different genetic variants with a significant association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been discovered. Anti-citrullination protein antibodies (ACPA)-positive RA variants are more well-defined than their ACPA-negative counterparts. The human leukocyte antigen, HLA-DRB1 locus remains the prime suspect in anti-citrullination protein antibodies (ACPA)—positive RA. Different HLA-DRB1 alleles are linked to RA susceptibility across different ethnicities. With evolving techniques, like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, more non-HLA susceptibility loci have been identified for both types of RA. However, the functional significance of only a handful of these variants is known. Their roles include increasing susceptibility to RA or in determining the speed at which the disease progresses. Additionally, a couple of variations are associated with protection from RA. Defining such clear-cut biological functions can aid in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RA. Recent research has focused on the implication of microRNAs, with miR-146a widely studied. In addition to disease susceptibility, genetic variations that influence the efficacy and toxicity of anti-RA agents have also been identified. Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene influence the effectiveness of methotrexate, the first line of therapy in RA. Larger studies are, however, needed to identify potential biomarkers for early disease identification and monitoring disease progression.
The Effects of Magnesium Ions on the Enzymatic Synthesis of Ligand-Bearing Artificial DNA by Template-Independent Polymerase
Authors: Takezawa Yusuke , Kobayashi Teruki , Shionoya Mitsuhiko
Published: June 2016

A metal-mediated base pair, composed of two ligand-bearing nucleotides and a bridging metal ion, is one of the most promising components for developing DNA-based functional molecules. We have recently reported an enzymatic method to synthesize hydroxypyridone (H)-type ligand-bearing artificial DNA strands. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), a template-independent DNA polymerase, was found to oligomerize H nucleotides to afford ligand-bearing DNAs, which were subsequently hybridized through copper-mediated base pairing (H–CuII–H). In this study, we investigated the effects of a metal cofactor, MgII ion, on the TdT-catalyzed polymerization of H nucleotides. At a high MgII concentration (10 mM), the reaction was halted after several H nucleotides were appended. In contrast, at lower MgII concentrations, H nucleotides were further appended to the H-tailed product to afford longer ligand-bearing DNA strands. An electrophoresis mobility shift assay revealed that the binding affinity of TdT to the H-tailed DNAs depends on the MgII concentration. In the presence of excess MgII ions, TdT did not bind to the H-tailed strands; thus, further elongation was impeded. This is possibly because the interaction with MgII ions caused folding of the H-tailed strands into unfavorable secondary structures. This finding provides an insight into the enzymatic synthesis of longer ligand-bearing DNA strands.
Microstructural and Chemical Characterization of the Tribolayer Formation in Highly Loaded Cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearings
Authors: Gachot Carsten , Hsu ChiaJui , Suárez Sebastián , Grützmacher Philipp , Rosenkranz Andreas , Stratmann Andreas , Jacobs Georg
Published: June 2016

Zinc dithiophosphates (ZDDP) have been widely applied in automobile industry for over 70 years as a lubricant additive for wear protection. Tribolayers have been described as blue- and brown-colored layers on surfaces observed by microscopical observation or even bare eye presumably as a consequence of layer thickness or chemical composition. However, the reaction pathways of ZDDP tribolayers are still not yet fully understood. In the present study, the difference between the blue- and brown-colored tribolayers has been revealed by high resolution methods in cylindrical roller thrust bearings at relatively high contact pressures of around 1.92 GPa. After running a FE8 standard bearing test with a normal load of 80 kN and a temperature of 60 °C, said tribolayers could be identified on the bearing surfaces. By using Raman spectroscopy, it could be shown that the blue-colored layers are enriched by FeS and ZnS whereas the brown-colored layers show a significant amount of Fe3O4. This is an interesting finding as it clearly shows a correlation between the color appearance of the films and the chemical composition besides potential film thickness variations. Finally, transmission electron microscopy verified the amorphous nature of the formed tribolayer which is in a good agreement with literature.
Heat Transfer Performance of Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelet Aqueous Nanofluids
Authors: Agromayor Roberto , Cabaleiro David , Pardinas Angel , Vallejo Javier , Fernandez-Seara Jose , Lugo Luis
Published: June 2016

The low thermal conductivity of fluids used in many industrial applications is one of the primary limitations in the development of more efficient heat transfer systems. A promising solution to this problem is the suspension of nanoparticles with high thermal conductivities in a base fluid. These suspensions, known as nanofluids, have great potential for enhancing heat transfer. The heat transfer enhancement of sulfonic acid-functionalized graphene nanoplatelet water-based nanofluids is addressed in this work. A new experimental setup was designed for this purpose. Convection coefficients, pressure drops, and thermophysical properties of various nanofluids at different concentrations were measured for several operational conditions and the results are compared with those of pure water. Enhancements in thermal conductivity and in convection heat transfer coefficient reach 12% (1 wt %) and 32% (0.5 wt %), respectively. New correlations capable of predicting the Nusselt number and the friction factor of this kind of nanofluid as a function of other dimensionless quantities are developed. In addition, thermal performance factors are obtained from the experimental convection coefficient and pressure drop data in order to assess the convenience of replacing the base fluid with designed nanofluids.
Evaluation of Solid Supports for Slide- and Well-Based Recombinant Antibody Microarrays
Authors: Gerdtsson Anna , Dexlin-Mellby Linda , Delfani Payam , Berglund Erica , Borrebaeck Carl , Wingren Christer
Published: June 2016

Antibody microarrays have emerged as an important tool within proteomics, enabling multiplexed protein expression profiling in both health and disease. The design and performance of antibody microarrays and how they are processed are dependent on several factors, of which the interplay between the antibodies and the solid surfaces plays a central role. In this study, we have taken on the first comprehensive view and evaluated the overall impact of solid surfaces on the recombinant antibody microarray design. The results clearly demonstrated the importance of the surface-antibody interaction and showed the effect of the solid supports on the printing process, the array format of planar arrays (slide- and well-based), the assay performance (spot features, reproducibility, specificity and sensitivity) and assay processing (degree of automation). In the end, two high-end recombinant antibody microarray technology platforms were designed, based on slide-based (black polymer) and well-based (clear polymer) arrays, paving the way for future large-scale protein expression profiling efforts.
Anticoagulant Activity and Structural Characterization of Polysaccharide from Abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) Gonad
Authors: Zhao Jun , Yang Jingfeng , Song Shuang , Zhou Dayong , Qiao Weizhou , Zhu Ce , Liu Shuyin , Zhu Beiwei
Published: June 2016

In this study, we aimed at characterizing the structure and the anticoagulant activity of a polysaccharide fraction (AGP33) isolated from the gonads of Haliotis discus hannai Ino. AGP33 was extracted by enzymatic hydrolysis and purified by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The backbone fraction of AGP33 (BAGP33), which appeared to contain of mannose, glucose and galactose, was prepared by partial acid hydrolysis. According to methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the backbone of AGP33 was identified as mainly consisting of 1→3-linked, 1→4-linked, and 1→6-linked monosaccharides. AGP33 is a sulfated polysaccharide with sulfates occur at 3-O- and 4-O-positions. It prolonged thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and prothrombin time (PT) compared to a saline control solution in a dosage-dependent manner. AGP33 exhibited an extension (p < 0.01) of APTT compared to the saline group at concentrations higher than 5 μg/mL. AGP33 exhibited higher anticoagulant activity than its desulfated product (AGP33-des) and BAGP33. The results showed that polysaccharide with higher molecular weight and sulfate content demonstrated greater anticoagulant activity.
Optimization of Preparation Conditions for Lysozyme Nanoliposomes Using Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Their Stability
Authors: Wu Zhipan , Guan Rongfa , Lyu Fei , Liu Mingqi , Gao Jianguo , Cao Guozou
Published: June 2016

The main purpose of this study was to optimize the preparation of lysozyme nanoliposomes using response surface methodology and measure their stability. The stabilities of lysozyme nanoliposomes in simulated gastrointestinal fluid (SGF), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), as well as pH, temperature and sonication treatment time were evaluated. Reverse-phase evaporation method is an easy, speedy, and beneficial approach for nanoliposomes’ preparation and optimization. The optimal preparative conditions were as follows: phosphatidylcholine-to-cholesterol ratio of 3.86, lysozyme concentration of 1.96 mg/mL, magnetic stirring time of 40.61 min, and ultrasound time of 14.15 min. At the optimal point, encapsulation efficiency and particle size were found to be 75.36% ± 3.20% and 245.6 nm ± 5.2 nm, respectively. The lysozyme nanoliposomes demonstrated certain stability in SGF and SIF at a temperature of 37 °C for 4 h, and short sonication handling times were required to attain nano-scaled liposomes. Under conditions of high temperature, acidity and alkalinity, lysozyme nanoliposomes are unstable.
Synthesis of C2-Symmetric Benzimidazolium Salts and Their Application in Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intramolecular α-Arylation of Amides
Authors: He Weiping , Zhao Wei , Zhou Bihui , Liu Haifeng , Li Xiangrong , Li Linlin , Li Jie , Shi Jianyou
Published: June 2016

A series of C2-symmetric chiral benzimidazolium salts, the precursor of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, were designed and synthesized from 1,2-dibromobenzene. In situ prepared corresponding carbenes were tested in the asymmetric palladium-catalyzed intramolecular α-arylation of amides, affording chiral diarylmethanols with high yields and moderate enantioselectivities.
Antimicrobial Activity and Modulatory Effect of Essential Oil from the Leaf of Rhaphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart) Schauer on Some Antimicrobial Drugs
Authors: Duarte Antonia , De Menezes Irwin , Bezerra Morais Braga Maria , Leite Nadghia , Barros Luiz , Waczuk Emily , Pessoa da Silva Maria , Boligon Aline , Teixeira Rocha João , Souza Diogo , Kamdem Jean , Melo Coutinho Henrique , Escobar Burger Marilise
Published: June 2016

Background: Rhaphiodon echinus is a weed plant used in the Brazilian folk medicinal for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, the essential oil of R. echinus leaf was investigated for its antimicrobial properties. Methods: The chemical constituents of the essential oil were characterized by GC-MS. The antimicrobial properties were determined by studying by the microdilution method the effect of the oil alone, and in combination with antifungal or antibiotic drugs against the fungi Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis and the microbes Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. In addition, the iron (II) chelation potential of the oil was determined. Results: The results showed the presence of β-caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene in major compounds, and revealed a low antifungal and antibacterial activity of the essential oil, but a strong modulatory effect on antimicrobial drugs when associated with the oil. The essential oil showed iron (II) chelation activity. Conclusions: The GC-MS characterization revealed the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the essential oil and metal chelation potential, which may be responsible in part for the modulatory effect of the oil. These findings suggest that essential oil of R. echinus is a natural product capable of enhancing the antibacterial and antifungal activity of antimicrobial drugs.
Special Issue: Coinage Metal (Copper, Silver, and Gold) Catalysis
Authors: Carabineiro Sónia
Published: June 2016

The subject of catalysis by coinage metals (copper, silver, and gold) comes up increasingly day-by-day. This Special Issue aims to cover the numerous aspects of the use of these metals as catalysts for several reactions. It deals with synthesis and characterization of copper, silver and gold based catalysis, their characterization and use, both for heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, and some of their potential applications.
Stabilization of Candida antarctica Lipase B (CALB) Immobilized on Octyl Agarose by Treatment with Polyethyleneimine (PEI)
Authors: Peirce Sara , Tacias-Pascacio Veymar , Russo Maria , Marzocchella Antonio , Virgen-Ortíz José , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto
Published: June 2016

Lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB) was immobilized on octyl agarose (OC) and physically modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) in order to confer a strong ion exchange character to the enzyme and thus enable the immobilization of other enzymes on its surface. The enzyme activity was fully maintained during the coating and the thermal stability was marginally improved. The enzyme release from the support by incubation in the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 was more difficult after the PEI-coating, suggesting that some intermolecular physical crosslinking had occurred, making this desorption more difficult. Thermal stability was marginally improved, but the stability of the OCCALB-PEI was significantly better than that of OCCALB during inactivation in mixtures of aqueous buffer and organic cosolvents. SDS-PAGE analysis of the inactivated biocatalyst showed the OCCALB released some enzyme to the medium during inactivation, and this was partially prevented by coating with PEI. This effect was obtained without preventing the possibility of reuse of the support by incubation in 2% ionic detergents. That way, this modified CALB not only has a strong anion exchange nature, while maintaining the activity, but it also shows improved stability under diverse reaction conditions without affecting the reversibility of the immobilization.
Temporal Change of the Content of 10 Oligosaccharides in the Milk of Chinese Urban Mothers
Authors: Austin Sean , De Castro Carlos , Bénet Thierry , Hou Yangfeng , Sun Henan , Thakkar Sagar , Vinyes-Pares Gerard , Zhang Yumei , Wang Peiyu
Published: June 2016

Breastfed infants tend to be less prone to infections and may have improved cognitive benefits compared to formula-fed infants. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are the third most abundant component of human milk, but are absent from formulae. They may be partially responsible for the benefits of breastfeeding. In this cross-sectional observational study, the HMO composition of milk from Chinese mothers was studied to determine the impact of stage of lactation, mode of delivery and geographical location. The content of 10 HMO was measured by HPLC in 446 milk samples from mothers living in three different cities in China. Around 21% of the samples contained levels of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) below the limit of quantification, which is similar to the frequency of fucosyltransferase-2 non-secretors in other populations, but 2′-FL was detected in all samples. Levels of most of the HMO studied decreased during the course of lactation, but the level of 3-fucosyllactose increased. Levels of 2′-FL and 3-fucosyllactose seem to be strongly correlated, suggesting some sort of mechanism for co-regulation. Levels of 6′-sialyllactose were higher than those of 3′-sialyllactose at early stages of lactation, but beyond 2–4 months, 3′-sialyllactose was predominant. Neither mode of delivery nor geographical location had any impact on HMO composition.
The Effect of a Dairy-Based Recovery Beverage on Post-Exercise Appetite and Energy Intake in Active Females
Authors: Brown Meghan , Green Benjamin , James Lewis , Stevenson Emma , Rumbold Penny
Published: June 2016

This study was designed to assess the effect of a dairy-based recovery beverage on post-exercise appetite and energy intake in active females. Thirteen active females completed three trials in a crossover design. Participants completed 60 min of cycling at 65% V̇O2peak, before a 120 min recovery period. On completion of cycling, participants consumed a commercially available dairy-based beverage (DBB), a commercially available carbohydrate beverage (CHO), or a water control (H2O). Non-esterified fatty acids, glucose, and appetite-related peptides alongside measures of subjective appetite were sampled at baseline and at 30 min intervals during recovery. At 120 min, energy intake was assessed in the laboratory by ad libitum assessment, and in the free-living environment by weighed food record for the remainder of the study day. Energy intake at the ad libitum lunch was lower after DBB compared to H2O (4.43 ± 0.20, 5.58 ± 0.41 MJ, respectively; p = 0.046; (95% CI: −2.28, −0.20 MJ)), but was not different to CHO (5.21 ± 0.46 MJ), with no difference between trials thereafter. Insulin and GLP-17-36 were higher following DBB compared to H2O (p = 0.015 and p = 0.001, respectively) but not to CHO (p = 1.00 and p = 0.146, respectively). In addition, glucagon was higher following DBB compared to CHO (p = 0.008) but not to H2O (p = 0.074). The results demonstrate that where DBB consumption may manifest in accelerated recovery, this may be possible without significantly affecting total energy intake and subsequent appetite-related responses relative to a CHO beverage.
Protein Consumption and the Elderly: What Is the Optimal Level of Intake?
Authors: Baum Jamie , Kim Il-Young , Wolfe Robert
Published: June 2016

Maintaining independence, quality of life, and health is crucial for elderly adults. One of the major threats to living independently is the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function that progressively occurs with aging, known as sarcopenia. Several studies have identified protein (especially the essential amino acids) as a key nutrient for muscle health in elderly adults. Elderly adults are less responsive to the anabolic stimulus of low doses of amino acid intake compared to younger individuals. However, this lack of responsiveness in elderly adults can be overcome with higher levels of protein (or essential amino acid) consumption. The requirement for a larger dose of protein to generate responses in elderly adults similar to the responses in younger adults provides the support for a beneficial effect of increased protein in older populations. The purpose of this review is to present the current evidence related to dietary protein intake and muscle health in elderly adults.
A Phase Field Technique for Modeling and Predicting Flow Induced Crystallization Morphology of Semi-Crystalline Polymers
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Ouyang Jie , Zhou Wen , Liu Zhijun
Published: June 2016

Flow induced crystallization of semi-crystalline polymers is an important issue in polymer science and engineering because the changes in morphology strongly affect the properties of polymer materials. In this study, a phase field technique considering polymer characteristics was established for modeling and predicting the resulting morphologies. The considered crystallization process can be divided into two stages, which are nucleation upon the flow induced structures and subsequent crystal growth after the cessation of flow. Accordingly, the proposed technique consists of two parts which are a flow induced nucleation model based on the calculated information of molecular orientation and stretch, and a phase field crystal growth model upon the oriented nuclei. Two-dimensional simulations are carried out to predict the crystallization morphology of isotactic polystyrene under an injection molding process. The results of these simulations demonstrate that flow affects crystallization morphology mainly by producing oriented nuclei. Specifically, the typical skin-core structures along the thickness direction can be successfully predicted. More importantly, the results reveal that flow plays a dominant part in generating oriented crystal morphologies compared to other parameters, such as anisotropy strength, crystallization temperature, and physical noise.
Effects of Spatial Sampling Interval on Roughness Parameters and Microwave Backscatter over Agricultural Soil Surfaces
Authors: Barber Matías , Grings Francisco , Álvarez-Mozos Jesús , Piscitelli Marcela , Perna Pablo , Karszenbaum Haydee
Published: June 2016

The spatial sampling interval, as related to the ability to digitize a soil profile with a certain number of features per unit length, depends on the profiling technique itself. From a variety of profiling techniques, roughness parameters are estimated at different sampling intervals. Since soil profiles have continuous spectral components, it is clear that roughness parameters are influenced by the sampling interval of the measurement device employed. In this work, we contributed to answer which sampling interval the profiles needed to be measured at to accurately account for the microwave response of agricultural surfaces. For this purpose, a 2-D laser profiler was built and used to measure surface soil roughness at field scale over agricultural sites in Argentina. Sampling intervals ranged from large (50 mm) to small ones (1 mm), with several intermediate values. Large- and intermediate-sampling-interval profiles were synthetically derived from nominal, 1 mm ones. With these data, the effect of sampling-interval-dependent roughness parameters on backscatter response was assessed using the theoretical backscatter model IEM2M. Simulations demonstrated that variations of roughness parameters depended on the working wavelength and was less important at L-band than at C- or X-band. In any case, an underestimation of the backscattering coefficient of about 1-4 dB was observed at larger sampling intervals. As a general rule a sampling interval of 15 mm can be recommended for L-band and 5 mm for C-band.
Automatic Detection of the Ice Edge in SAR Imagery Using Curvelet Transform and Active Contour
Authors: Liu Jiange , Scott K. , Gawish Ahmed , Fieguth Paul
Published: June 2016

A novel method based on the curvelet transform and active contour method to automatically detect the ice edge in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery is proposed. The method utilizes the location of high curvelet coefficients to determine regions in the image likely to contain the ice edge. Using an ice edge from passive microwave sea ice concentration for initialization, these regions are then joined using the active contour method to obtain the final ice edge. The method is evaluated on four dual polarization SAR scenes of the Labrador sea. Through comparison of the ice edge with that from image analysis charts, it is demonstrated that the proposed method can detect the ice edge effectively in SAR images. This is particularly relevant when the marginal ice zone is diffuse or the ice is thin, and using the definition of ice edge from the passive microwave ice concentration would underestimate the ice edge location. It is expected that the method may be useful for operations in marginal ice zones, such as offshore drilling, where a high resolution estimate of the ice edge location is required. It could also be useful as a first guess for an ice analyst, or for the assimilation of SAR data.
Change Detection in Synthetic Aperture Radar Images Using a Multiscale-Driven Approach
Authors: Ajadi Olaniyi , Meyer Franz , Webley Peter
Published: June 2016

Despite the significant progress that was achieved throughout the recent years, to this day, automatic change detection and classification from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images remains a difficult task. This is, in large part, due to (a) the high level of speckle noise that is inherent to SAR data; (b) the complex scattering response of SAR even for rather homogeneous targets; (c) the low temporal sampling that is often achieved with SAR systems, since sequential images do not always have the same radar geometry (incident angle, orbit path, etc.); and (d) the typically limited performance of SAR in delineating the exact boundary of changed regions. With this paper we present a promising change detection method that utilizes SAR images and provides solutions for these previously mentioned difficulties. We will show that the presented approach enables automatic and high-performance change detection across a wide range of spatial scales (resolution levels). The developed method follows a three-step approach of (i) initial pre-processing; (ii) data enhancement/filtering; and (iii) wavelet-based, multi-scale change detection. The stand-alone property of our approach is the high flexibility in applying the change detection approach to a wide range of change detection problems. The performance of the developed approach is demonstrated using synthetic data as well as a real-data application to wildfire progression near Fairbanks, Alaska.
An Assessment of HIRS Surface Air Temperature with USCRN Data
Authors: Stegall Steve , Shi Lei
Published: June 2016

The surface air temperature retrievals from the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) are evaluated by using observations from the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) for the period of 2006 to 2013. One year of the USCRN data is also used as ground truth in calibrating retrieval biases. The final retrieval results show that mean biases of HIRS retrievals from comparisons to all surface stations for each year are mostly in the range of ±0.2 °C, and the root mean square difference (RMSD) values are 3.2–3.5 °C. Results for biases of individual stations are mostly within ±2 °C. In average, RMSDs are smaller over the eastern U.S. than over the western U.S., smaller at nighttime than at daytime, and smaller at lower elevations. The comparison patterns are consistent from year to year and for different satellites, showing the potential of HIRS data for long-term studies.
Submerged Kelp Detection with Hyperspectral Data
Authors: Uhl Florian , Bartsch Inka , Oppelt Natascha
Published: June 2016

Submerged marine forests of macroalgae known as kelp are one of the key structures for coastal ecosystems worldwide. These communities are responding to climate driven habitat changes and are therefore appropriate indicators of ecosystem status and health. Hyperspectral remote sensing provides a tool for a spatial kelp habitat mapping. The difficulty in optical kelp mapping is the retrieval of a significant kelp signal through the water column. Detecting submerged kelp habitats is challenging, in particular in turbid coastal waters. We developed a fully automated simple feature detection processor to detect the presence of kelp in submerged habitats. We compared the performance of this new approach to a common maximum likelihood classification using hyperspectral AisaEAGLE data from the subtidal zones of Helgoland, Germany. The classification results of 13 flight stripes were validated with transect diving mappings. The feature detection showed a higher accuracy till a depth of 6 m (overall accuracy = 80.18%) than the accuracy of a maximum likelihood classification (overall accuracy = 57.66%). The feature detection processor turned out as a time-effective approach to assess and monitor submerged kelp at the limit of water visibility depth.
A Global Calibration Method for Widely Distributed Cameras Based on Vanishing Features
Authors: Wu Xiaolong , Wu Sentang , Xing Zhihui , Jia Xiang
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a global calibration method for widely distributed vision sensors in ring-topologies. Planar target with two mutually orthogonal groups of parallel lines is needed for each camera. Firstly, the relative pose of each camera and its corresponding target is found from the vanishing points and lines. Next, an auxiliary camera is used to find the relative poses between neighboring pairs of calibration targets. Then the relative pose from each target to the reference target is initialized by the chain of transformations, followed by nonlinear optimization based on the constraint of ring-topologies. Lastly, the relative poses between the cameras are found from the relative poses of calibration targets. Synthetic data, simulation images and real experiments all demonstrate that the proposed method is reliable and accurate. The accumulated error due to multiple coordinate transformations can be adjusted effectively by the proposed method. In real experiment, eight targets are located in an area about 1200 mm × 1200 mm. The accuracy of the proposed method is about 0.465 mm when the times of coordinate transformations reach a maximum. The proposed method is simple and can be applied to different camera configurations.
The Development of a Dual-Warhead Impact System for Dynamic Linearity Measurement of a High-g Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) Accelerometer
Authors: Shi Yunbo , Yang Zhicai , Ma Zongmin , Cao Huiliang , Kou Zhiwei , Zhi Dan , Chen Yanxiang , Feng Hengzhen , Liu Jun
Published: June 2016

Despite its extreme significance, dynamic linearity measurement for high-g accelerometers has not been discussed experimentally in previous research. In this study, we developed a novel method using a dual-warhead Hopkinson bar to measure the dynamic linearity of a high-g acceleration sensor with a laser interference impact experiment. First, we theoretically determined that dynamic linearity is a performance indicator that can be used to assess the quality merits of high-g accelerometers and is the basis of the frequency response. We also found that the dynamic linearity of the dual-warhead Hopkinson bar without an accelerometer is 2.5% experimentally. Further, we verify that dynamic linearity of the accelerometer is 3.88% after calibrating the Hopkinson bar with the accelerometer. The results confirm the reliability and feasibility of measuring dynamic linearity for high-g accelerometers using this method.
Rotation Matrix Method Based on Ambiguity Function for GNSS Attitude Determination
Authors: Yang Yingdong , Mao Xuchu , Tian Weifeng
Published: June 2016

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are well suited for attitude determination. In this study, we use the rotation matrix method to resolve the attitude angle. This method achieves better performance in reducing computational complexity and selecting satellites. The condition of the baseline length is combined with the ambiguity function method (AFM) to search for integer ambiguity, and it is validated in reducing the span of candidates. The noise error is always the key factor to the success rate. It is closely related to the satellite geometry model. In contrast to the AFM, the LAMBDA (Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment) method gets better results in solving the relationship of the geometric model and the noise error. Although the AFM is more flexible, it is lack of analysis on this aspect. In this study, the influence of the satellite geometry model on the success rate is analyzed in detail. The computation error and the noise error are effectively treated. Not only is the flexibility of the AFM inherited, but the success rate is also increased. An experiment is conducted in a selected campus, and the performance is proved to be effective. Our results are based on simulated and real-time GNSS data and are applied on single-frequency processing, which is known as one of the challenging case of GNSS attitude determination.
A Self-Organizing Interaction and Synchronization Method between a Wearable Device and Mobile Robot
Authors: Kim Min , Lee Jae , Kang Soon
Published: June 2016

In the near future, we can expect to see robots naturally following or going ahead of humans, similar to pet behavior. We call this type of robots “Pet-Bot”. To implement this function in a robot, in this paper we introduce a self-organizing interaction and synchronization method between wearable devices and Pet-Bots. First, the Pet-Bot opportunistically identifies its owner without any human intervention, which means that the robot self-identifies the owner’s approach on its own. Second, Pet-Bot’s activity is synchronized with the owner’s behavior. Lastly, the robot frequently encounters uncertain situations (e.g., when the robot goes ahead of the owner but meets a situation where it cannot make a decision, or the owner wants to stop the Pet-Bot synchronization mode to relax). In this case, we have adopted a gesture recognition function that uses a 3-D accelerometer in the wearable device. In order to achieve the interaction and synchronization in real-time, we use two wireless communication protocols: 125 kHz low-frequency (LF) and 2.4 GHz Bluetooth low energy (BLE). We conducted experiments using a prototype Pet-Bot and wearable devices to verify their motion recognition of and synchronization with humans in real-time. The results showed a guaranteed level of accuracy of at least 94%. A trajectory test was also performed to demonstrate the robot’s control performance when following or leading a human in real-time.
Eddy Current Pulsed Thermography with Different Excitation Configurations for Metallic Material and Defect Characterization
Authors: Tian Gui , Gao Yunlai , Li Kongjing , Wang Yizhe , Gao Bin , He Yunze
Published: June 2016

This paper reviews recent developments of eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) for material characterization and nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Due to the fact that line-coil-based ECPT, with the limitation of non-uniform heating and a restricted view, is not suitable for complex geometry structures evaluation, Helmholtz coils and ferrite-yoke-based excitation configurations of ECPT are proposed and compared. Simulations and experiments of new ECPT configurations considering the multi-physical-phenomenon of hysteresis losses, stray losses, and eddy current heating in conjunction with uniform induction magnetic field have been conducted and implemented for ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials. These configurations of ECPT for metallic material and defect characterization are discussed and compared with conventional line-coil configuration. The results indicate that the proposed ECPT excitation configurations can be applied for different shapes of samples such as turbine blade edges and rail tracks.
Backward Secondary-Wave Coherence Errors in Photonic Bandgap Fiber Optic Gyroscopes
Authors: Xu Xiaobin , Song Ningfang , Zhang Zuchen , Jin Jing
Published: June 2016

Photonic bandgap fiber optic gyroscope (PBFOG) is a novel fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) with excellent environment adaptability performance compared to a conventional FOG. In this work we find and investigate the backward secondary-wave coherence (BSC) error, which is a bias error unique to the PBFOG and caused by the interference between back-reflection-induced and backscatter-induced secondary waves. Our theoretical and experimental results show a maximum BSC error of ~4.7°/h for a 300-m PBF coil with a diameter of 10 cm. The BSC error is an important error source contributing to bias instability in the PBFOG and has to be addressed before practical applications of the PBFOG can be implemented.
Sustainable Development of Slow Fashion Businesses: Customer Value Approach
Authors: Jung Sojin , Jin Byoungho
Published: June 2016

As an alternative to the prevalent fast fashion model, slow fashion has emerged as a way of enhancing sustainability in the fashion industry, yet how slow fashion can enhance profitability is still largely unknown. Based on a customer value creation framework, this study empirically tested a structural model that specified the slow fashion attributes that contribute to creating perceived customer value, which subsequently increases a consumer’s intention to buy and pay a price premium for slow fashion products. An analysis of 221 U.S. consumer data revealed that delivering exclusive product value is significantly critical in creating customer value for slow fashion, and customer value, in turn, positively affects consumers’ purchase intentions. Further analysis also revealed that different slow fashion attributes distinctively affect customer value. This provides potential strategies on which slow fashion businesses can focus to secure an economically sustainable business model, thereby continuously improving environmental and social sustainability with the slow fashion ideal.
Performance Evaluation of a Floating Treatment Wetland in an Urban Catchment
Authors: Nichols Peter , Lucke Terry , Drapper Darren , Walker Chris
Published: June 2016

Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW) systems are purpose-built devices designed to replicate the water treatment processes that occur in and around naturally occurring floating vegetated islands. FTWs can be used to improve the water quality of water storage ponds by contributing to water treatment processes through adhesion, filtration, nutrient uptake (direct use by plants), and sequestration. This paper presents the results of a twelve-month investigation into the pollution removal performance of a FTW receiving stormwater runoff from a 7.46 ha urban residential catchment. As anticipated, there was a high degree of variation in FTW treatment performance between individual rainfall events. Overall pollution removal performance was calculated to be 80% for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 53% for Total Phosphorous (TP), and 17% for Total Nitrogen (TN) for a FTW footprint of 0.14% of the contributing catchment. TSS and TP concentrations were found to be significantly reduced after FTW treatment. The minimum FTW footprint to catchment size ratio required to achieve regulated nutrient removal rates was calculated to be 0.37%. Sum of loads calculations based on flow resulted in pollution load reductions of TSS 76%, TP 55%, and TN 17%. Pollution treatment performance (particularly for TN) was found to be affected by low influent concentrations, and highly-variable inflow concentrations. The study demonstrated that FTWs are an effective treatment solution for the removal of pollution from urban stormwater runoff.
Reorientation of single-wall carbon nanotubes in negative anisotropy liquid crystals by an electric field
Authors: García-García Amanda , Vergaz Ricardo , Algorri José F , Zito Gianluigi , Cacace Teresa , Marino Antigone , Otón José M , Geday Morten A
Published: June 2016

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are anisotropic nanoparticles that can cause modifications in the electrical and electro-optical properties of liquid crystals. The control of the SWCNT concentration, distribution and reorientation in such self-organized fluids allows for the possibility of tuning the liquid crystal properties. The alignment and reorientation of CNTs are studied in a system where the liquid crystal orientation effect has been isolated. Complementary studies including Raman spectroscopy, microscopic inspection and impedance studies were carried out. The results reveal an ordered reorientation of the CNTs induced by an electric field, which does not alter the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. Moreover, impedance spectroscopy suggests a nonnegligible anchoring force between the CNTs and the liquid crystal molecules.
Synthesis of 2-oxindoles via 'transition-metal-free' intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling (IDC) of sp2 C–H and sp3 C–H bonds
Authors: Kumar Nivesh , Ghosh Santanu , Bhunia Subhajit , Bisai Alakesh
Published: June 2016

The synthesis of a variety of 2-oxindoles bearing an all-carbon quaternary center at the pseudo benzylic position has been achieved via a ‘transition-metal-free’ intramolecular dehydrogenative coupling (IDC). The construction of 2-oxindole moieties was carried out through formation of carbon–carbon bonds using KOt-Bu-catalyzed one pot C-alkylation of β-N-arylamido esters with alkyl halides followed by a dehydrogenative coupling. Experimental evidences indicated toward a radical-mediated path for this reaction.
ANALYSIS OF THE DEGRADATION CONDITION OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS. CASE STUDY: PAVILIONS AND PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS
Authors: BARRELAS Joana , DE BRITO Jorge , CORREIA João Ramôa
Published: June 2016

This paper presents the analysis of the degradation condition of secondary schools built between 1970 and 1990, in Portugal. The analysis is based on 15 case studies, mainly composed of several independent pavilions and typo­logically defined as “pavilion schools”. The analysis of the data on the constructive defects, identified in detailed surveys of the case studies and registered in technical reports, involves the implementation of a suitable methodology. The meth­odology is based on the creation of a database where the contents of the survey reports can be gathered and organized. The system allows obtaining statistical results on the degradation condition of the case studies. The statistical analysis shows that the pathological condition of the buildings is a matter of great concern, considering the significant number of defects diagnosed. The highest level of severity mainly concerns defects on the buildings envelope, where concrete ele­ments are the most affected ones. The degradation conditions of the case studies are mostly a consequence of the poor construction quality resulting from decisions made during design and construction. The economic constraints and the tight schedule concerning the expansion of secondary school facilities are also essential to understand the pathological condition of the buildings. The study presented in this paper contributes to the evolution of the methods and systems developed to support buildings’ rehabilitation. The study presents innovative features related to the typology of the case studies (large secondary schools) and to the buildings’ degradation condition.
ANT COLONY OPTIMIZATION (ACO) IN SCHEDULING OVERLAPPING ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ACTIVITIES
Authors: WANG Chen , ABDUL-RAHMAN Hamzah , CH’NG Wei See
Published: June 2016

The increasing complexity of architectural design works refers to the need for high quality design solu­tions for overlapping activities through a shorter time period. Conventional network analysis techniques such as CPM could only represent sequential processes yet it is unable to handle a process which contains iterations so that it leads to the occurrence of unwanted omission of logic or information links between design activities. Ant Colony Optimiza­tion emerged as an efficient metaheuristic technique for solving computational problems in finding good paths through graphs. This research aims to develop an ACO based Design Activity Scheduling model (ACO-DAS) for the scheduling of overlapping architectural design activities and to test the workability of ACO-DAS through a hypothetical run. From the computational results of both CPM and ACO methods, the determination of critical path using ACO-DAS model resulted in a design duration at 50 while that for CPM was as long as 78. The durations of architectural design activi­ties have been significantly shortened by ACO-DAS. ACO-DAS results in shorter design completion time thus it deems more advanced than CPM.