bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Keap1/Nrf2-ARE Pathway as a Pharmacological Target for Chalcones
Authors: De Freitas Silva Matheus , Pruccoli Letizia , Morroni Fabiana , Sita Giulia , Seghetti Francesca , Viegas Jr Claudio , Tarozzi Andrea
Published: July 2018

Chalcones have shown a broad spectrum of biological activities with clinical potential against various diseases. The biological activities are mainly attributed to the presence in the chalcones of the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system, perceived as a potential Michael acceptor. Chalcones could activate the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway through a Michael addition reaction with the cysteines of Keap1, which acts as a redox sensor and negative regulator of Nrf2. This modification allows the dissociation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasmic complex with Keap1 and its nuclear translocation. At this level, Nrf2 binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) and activates the expression of several detoxification, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory genes as well as genes involved in the clearance of damaged proteins. In this regard, the Keap1/Nrf2–ARE pathway is a new potential pharmacological target for the treatment of many chronic diseases. In this review we summarize the current progress in the study of Keap1/Nrf2–ARE pathway activation by natural and synthetic chalcones and their potential pharmacological applications. Among the pharmacological activities highlighted, anti-inflammatory activity was more evident than others, suggesting a multi-target Michael acceptor mechanism for the chalcones involving key regulators of the Nrf2 and nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB) pathways.
Development of a Nanostructured Platform for Identifying HER2-Heterogeneity of Breast Cancer Cells by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Téllez-Plancarte Alexandro , Haro-Poniatowski Emmanuel , Picquart Michel , Morales-Méndez José Guadalupe , Lara-Cruz Carlos , Jiménez-Salazar Javier Esteban , Damián-Matsumura Pablo , Escobar-Alarcón Luis , Batina Nikola
Published: July 2018

Biosensor technology has great potential for the detection of cancer through tumor-associated molecular biomarkers. In this work, we describe the immobilization of the recombinant humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) on a silver nanostructured plate made by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), over a thin film of Au(111). Immobilization was performed via 4-mercapto benzoic acid self-assembled monolayers (4-MBA SAMs) that were activated with coupling reagents. A combination of immunofluorescence images and z-stack analysis by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) allowed us to detect HER2 presence and distribution in the cell membranes. Four different HER2-expressing breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3 +++, MCF-7 +/−, T47D +/−, MDA-MB-231 −) were incubated during 24 h on functionalized silver nanostructured plates (FSNP) and also on Au(111) thin films. The cells were fixed by means of an ethanol dehydration train, then characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS results showed the same tendency as CLSM findings (SKBR3 > MCF-7 > T47D > MDA-MB-231), especially when the Raman peak associated with phenylalanine amino acid (1002 cm−1) was monitored. Given the high selectivity and high sensitivity of SERS with a functionalized silver nanostructured plate (FSNP), we propose this method for identifying the presence of HER2 and consequently, of breast cancer cells.
Towards Tunable Protein-Carrier Wound Dressings Based on Nanocellulose Hydrogels Crosslinked with Calcium Ions
Authors: Basu Alex , Strømme Maria , Ferraz Natalia
Published: July 2018

A Ca2+-crosslinked wood-based nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) hydrogel was investigated to build knowledge toward the use of nanocellulose for topical drug delivery applications in a chronic wound healing context. Proteins of varying size and isoelectric point were loaded into the hydrogel in a simple soaking procedure. The release of the proteins from the hydrogel was monitored and kinetics determining parameters of the release processes were assessed. The integrity of the hydrogel and proteins were also studied. The results showed that electrostatic interactions between the proteins and the negatively-charged NFC hydrogel structure played a central role in the loading process. The release of the proteins were governed by Fickian diffusion. An increased protein size, as well as a positive protein charge facilitated a slower and more sustained release process from the hydrogel matrix. At the same time, the positively-charged protein was shown to increase the post-loading hydrogel strength. Released proteins maintained structural stability and activity, thus indicating that the Ca2+-crosslinked NFC hydrogel could function as a carrier of therapeutic proteins without compromising protein function. It is foreseen that, by utilizing tunable charge properties of the NFC hydrogel, release profiles can be tailored to meet very specific treatment needs.
Nanostructured Hydrogels by Blend Electrospinning of Polycaprolactone/Gelatin Nanofibers
Authors: Daelemans Lode , Steyaert Iline , Schoolaert Ella , Goudenhooft Camille , Rahier Hubert , De Clerck Karen
Published: July 2018

Nanofibrous membranes based on polycaprolactone (PCL) have a large potential for use in biomedical applications but are limited by the hydrophobicity of PCL. Blend electrospinning of PCL with other biomedical suited materials, such as gelatin (Gt) allows for the design of better and new materials. This study investigates the possibility of blend electrospinning PCL/Gt nanofibrous membranes which can be used to design a range of novel materials better suited for biomedical applications. The electrospinnability and stability of PCL/Gt blend nanofibers from a non-toxic acid solvent system are investigated. The solvent system developed in this work allows good electrospinnable emulsions for the whole PCL/Gt composition range. Uniform bead-free nanofibers can easily be produced, and the resulting fiber diameter can be tuned by altering the total polymer concentration. Addition of small amounts of water stabilizes the electrospinning emulsions, allowing the electrospinning of large and homogeneous nanofibrous structures over a prolonged period. The resulting blend nanofibrous membranes are analyzed for their composition, morphology, and homogeneity. Cold-gelling experiments on these novel membranes show the possibility of obtaining water-stable PCL/Gt nanofibrous membranes, as well as nanostructured hydrogels reinforced with nanofibers. Both material classes provide a high potential for designing new material applications.
Dietary Determinants of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Status in a High Fish-Eating Cohort during Pregnancy
Authors: Conway Marie C. , Mulhern Maria S. , McSorley Emeir M. , Van Wijngaarden Edwin , Strain J. J. , Myers Gary J. , Davidson Philip W. , Shamlaye Conrad F. , Yeates Alison J.
Published: July 2018

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for neurodevelopment and the developing foetus depends on an optimal maternal status. Fish is a rich source of PUFA. The current study investigated dietary patterns, and associations with PUFA status in a high-fish consuming cohort of pregnant women in the Seychelles. At 28 weeks’ gestation, pregnant women provided a blood sample, from which serum total PUFA concentrations were measured, A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Fish Use Questionnaire (FUQ) were also completed. Principal component analysis (PCA) of dietary information identified four patterns. Regression analyses found dietary pattern 2, containing foods traditionally eaten in the Seychelles e.g., fish, fruit and vegetables was positively associated with serum docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (β = 0.134; CI = 0.001, 0.022), and serum total n-3 PUFA (β = 0.139; CI = 0.001, 0.023) concentrations. Dietary pattern 1, high in processed foods, snacks, white meat and eggs, was not significantly associated with any of the serum PUFA concentrations. The FUQ indicated that fatty fish was associated with EPA status (β = 0.180; CI = 0.001, 0.005) in high consumers. The second dietary pattern, consisting of higher consumption of fish and fruit, was positively associated with n-3 PUFA status during pregnancy.
Dietary Protein and Muscle in Aging People: The Potential Role of the Gut Microbiome
Authors: Ni Lochlainn Mary , Bowyer Ruth C. E. , Steves Claire J.
Published: July 2018

Muscle mass, strength, and physical function are known to decline with age. This is associated with the development of geriatric syndromes including sarcopenia and frailty. Dietary protein is essential for skeletal muscle function. Resistance exercise appears to be the most beneficial form of physical activity for preserving skeletal muscle and a synergistic effect has been noted when this is combined with dietary protein. However, older adults have shown evidence of anabolic resistance, where greater amounts of protein are required to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, and response is variable. Thus, the recommended daily amount of protein is greater for older people. The aetiologies and mechanisms responsible for anabolic resistance are not fully understood. The gut microbiota is implicated in many of the postulated mechanisms for anabolic resistance, either directly or indirectly. The gut microbiota change with age, and are influenced by dietary protein. Research also implies a role for the gut microbiome in skeletal muscle function. This leads to the hypothesis that the gut microbiome might modulate individual response to protein in the diet. We summarise the existing evidence for the role of the gut microbiota in anabolic resistance and skeletal muscle in aging people, and introduce the metabolome as a tool to probe this relationship in the future.
Supplementation-Dependent Effects of Vegetable Oils with Varying Fatty Acid Compositions on Anthropometric and Biochemical Parameters in Obese Women
Authors: Oliveira-de-Lira Luciene , Santos Eduila Maria Couto , De Souza Raphael Fabrício , Matos Rhowena Jane Barbosa , Silva Matilde Cesiana da , Oliveira Lisiane dos Santos , Nascimento Taís Galdêncio do , Schemly Paulo Artur de Lara Schinda , Souza Sandra Lopes de
Published: July 2018

Fatty acid (FA) composition is a determinant of the physiological effects of dietary oils. This study investigated the effects of vegetable oil supplementation with different FA compositions on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in obese women on a hypocaloric diet with lifestyle modifications. Seventy-five women (body mass index, BMI, 30–39.9kg/m2) were randomized based on 8-week oil supplementation into four experimental groups: the coconut oil group (CoG, n = 18), the safflower oil group (SafG, n = 19), the chia oil group (ChG, n = 19), and the soybean oil placebo group (PG, n = 19). Pre- and post-supplementation weight, anthropometric parameters, and body fat (%BF), and lean mass percentages (%LM) were evaluated, along with biochemical parameters related to lipid and glycidemic profiles. In the anthropometric evaluation, the CoG showed greater weight loss (Δ% = −8.54 ± 2.38), and reduced BMI (absolute variation, Δabs = −2.86 ± 0.79), waist circumference (Δabs = −6.61 ± 0.85), waist-to-height ratio (Δabs = −0.041 ± 0.006), conicity index (Δabs = −0.03 ± 0.016), and %BF (Δabs = −2.78 ± 0.46), but increased %LM (Δabs = 2.61 ± 1.40) (p < 0.001). Moreover, the CoG showed a higher reduction in biochemical parameters of glycemia (Δabs = −24.71 ± 8.13) and glycated hemoglobin (Δabs = −0.86 ± 0.28) (p < 0.001). The ChG showed a higher reduction in cholesterol (Δabs = −45.36 ± 0.94), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc; Δabs = −42.53 ± 22.65), and triglycerides (Δabs = −49.74 ± 26.3), but an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc; abs = 3.73 ± 1.24, p = 0.007). Coconut oil had a more pronounced effect on abdominal adiposity and glycidic profile, whereas chia oil had a higher effect on improving the lipid profile. Indeed, supplementation with different fatty acid compositions resulted in specific responses.
Lupinus mutabilis Extract Exerts an Anti-Diabetic Effect by Improving Insulin Release in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats
Authors: Zambrana Silvia , Lundqvist Lena C. E. , Mamani Orlando , Catrina Sergiu-Bogdan , Gonzales Eduardo , Östenson Claes-Göran
Published: July 2018

Lupinus mutabilis (LM) is a legume part of Bolivian traditional diet that has a nutraceutical property reducing blood glucose levels. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide thus; the search for novel anti-diabetic drugs is needed. Based on its traditional use, we evaluated the anti-diabetic effect of LM in the spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat, a model of type 2 diabetes and in Wistar (W) rats as healthy control. LM seeds hydroethanolic extract, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, is a complex mixture of volatile and non-volatile components. A single oral administration of LM extract (2000 mg/kg b.w.) improved glucose tolerance during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (30–120 min) in GK and W rats (p < 0.0001). The long-term treatment with LM (1000 mg/kg b.w.), for 21 days, improved the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose during OGTT at day 20, in both GK (p < 0.01) and W rats (p < 0.01). The HbA1c (GK rats, p < 0.05 and W rats, p < 0.0001) and the non-fasting glucose (GK rats, p < 0.05) were also reduced. LM increased both serum insulin levels (2.4-fold in GK rats and 2.5-fold W rats), and the glucose-induced (16.7 mM glucose) insulin release in isolated islets from treated animals (6.7-fold in GK rats, and 6.6-fold in W rats). Moreover, LM (10 mg/mL) stimulated in vitro glucose induced (16.7 mM glucose) insulin release in batch incubated GK and W rat islets (p < 0.0001). In perifused GK rat islets, insulin release in 16.7 mM glucose was increased 95.3-fold compared to untreated islets (p < 0.0001), while no significant differences were found in perifused W rat islets. The LM mechanism of action, evaluated using inhibitory compounds of the insulin secretion pathway, showed that LM-dependent insulin secretion was reduced 42% by diazoxide (p < 0.001), 70% by nifedipine (p < 0.001), 86.7% by H89 (p < 0.0001), 70.8% by calphostine-C (p < 0.0001) and 93% by pertussis toxin (p < 0.0001). A similar effect was observed in W rats islets. Our findings provide evidence that LM has an anti-diabetic effect through stimulation of insulin release. The effect is-dependent on L-type calcium channel, protein kinase A and C systems, and G protein-coupled exocytosis and is partially mediated by K-ATP channels.
Dose-Dependent Increase in Unconjugated Cinnamic Acid Concentration in Plasma Following Acute Consumption of Polyphenol Rich Curry in the Polyspice Study
Authors: Haldar Sumanto , Lee Sze Han , Tan Jun Jie , Chia Siok Ching , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar , Chan Eric Chun Yong
Published: July 2018

Spices that are rich in polyphenols are metabolized to a convergent group of phenolic/aromatic acids. We conducted a dose-exposure nutrikinetic study to investigate associations between mixed spices intake and plasma concentrations of selected, unconjugated phenolic/aromatic acids. In a randomized crossover study, 17 Chinese males consumed a curry meal containing 0 g, 6 g, and 12 g of mixed spices. Postprandial blood was drawn up to 7 h at regular intervals and plasma phenolic/aromatic acids were quantified via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Cinnamic acid (CNA, p < 0.0001) and phenylacetic acid (PAA, p < 0.0005) concentrations were significantly increased with mixed spices consumption, although none of the other measured phenolic/aromatic acids differ significantly between treatments. CNA displayed a high dose-exposure association (R2 > 0.8, p < 0.0001). The adjusted mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve until 7 h (AUC0–7 h) for CNA during the 3 increasing doses were 8.4 ± 3.4, 376.1 ± 104.7 and 875.7 ± 291.9 nM.h respectively. Plasma CNA concentration may be used as a biomarker of spice intake.
Dietary Protein, Muscle and Physical Function in the Very Old
Authors: Franzke Bernhard , Neubauer Oliver , Cameron-Smith David , Wagner Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2018

There is an ongoing debate as to the optimal protein intake in older adults. An increasing body of experimental studies on skeletal muscle protein metabolism as well as epidemiological data suggest that protein requirements with ageing might be greater than many current dietary recommendations. Importantly, none of the intervention studies in this context specifically investigated very old individuals. Data on the fastest growing age group of the oldest old (aged 85 years and older) is very limited. In this review, we examine the current evidence on protein intake for preserving muscle mass, strength and function in older individuals, with emphasis on data in the very old. Available observational data suggest beneficial effects of a higher protein intake with physical function in the oldest old. Whilst, studies estimating protein requirements in old and very old individuals based on whole-body measurements, show no differences between these sub-populations of elderly. However, small sample sizes preclude drawing firm conclusions. Experimental studies that compared muscle protein synthetic (MPS) responses to protein ingestion in young and old adults suggest that a higher relative protein intake is required to maximally stimulate skeletal muscle MPS in the aged. Although, data on MPS responses to protein ingestion in the oldest old are currently lacking. Collectively, the data reviewed for this article support the concept that there is a close interaction of physical activity, diet, function and ageing. An attractive hypothesis is that regular physical activity may preserve and even enhance the responsiveness of ageing skeletal muscle to protein intake, until very advanced age. More research involving study participants particularly aged ≥85 years is warranted to better investigate and determine protein requirements in this specific growing population group.
Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism, Blood Lipids and Intestinal Sterols in Human Intervention Studies Using Different Sources of Phosphate as Supplements—Pooled Results and Literature Search
Authors: Trautvetter Ulrike , Ditscheid Bianka , Jahreis Gerhard , Glei Michael
Published: July 2018

Phosphates are associated with negative physiological effects. The objectives of this publication were to compare differential effects of supplementation with calcium phosphate or phosphate alone in healthy humans. Four adult human studies were conducted with pentacalcium hydroxy-trisphosphate supplementation (CaP; 90 subjects) and their data were pooled for assessment. For literature search; PubMed and ISI Web of Knowledge were used and 21 items were assigned to three main topics. The pooled study results show that following CaP supplementation, faecal calcium and phosphorus and urinary calcium were increased, blood lipids were positively modulated, and faecal bile acids were increased, as compared with placebo. The literature search reveals that following calcium phosphate supplementation, urinary calcium was increased. Following solely phosphate supplementation, urinary phosphorus was increased and urinary calcium was decreased. Postprandial calcium concentrations were increased following calcium phosphate supplementation. Postprandial phosphate concentrations were increased following solely phosphate supplementation. Calcium phosphate supplementation resulted in rather positively modulated blood lipids and gut-related parameters. The presented results show the relevance to distinguish between calcium phosphate and solely phosphate supplementations, and the importance of a balanced calcium and phosphorus intake.
Interprofessional Pharmacokinetics Simulation: Pharmacy and Nursing Students’ Perceptions
Authors: Cropp Cheryl D. , Beall Jennifer , Buckner Ellen , Wallis Frankie , Barron Amanda
Published: July 2018

Interprofessional practice between pharmacists and nurses can involve pharmacokinetic dosing of medications in a hospital setting. This study describes student perceptions of an interprofessional collaboration pharmacokinetics simulation on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) 2016 Core Competencies. The investigators developed a simulation activity for senior undergraduate nursing and second-year pharmacy students. Nursing and pharmacy students (n = 54, 91 respectively) participated in the simulation using medium-fidelity manikins. Each case represented a pharmacokinetic dosing consult (vancomycin, tobramycin, phenytoin, theophylline, or lidocaine). Nursing students completed head-to-toe assessment and pharmacy students gathered necessary information and calculated empiric and adjusted doses. Students communicated using SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation). Students participated in debrief sessions and completed an IRB-approved online survey. Themes from survey responses revealed meaningful perceptions in all IPEC competencies as well as themes of safety, advocacy, appreciation, and areas for improvement. Students reported learning effectively from the simulation experience. Few studies relate to this type of interprofessional education experience and this study begins to explore student perceptions of interprofessional education (IPE) in a health sciences clinical context through simulation. This real-world application of nursing and pharmacy interprofessional collaboration can positively affect patient-centered outcomes and safety.
Influence of SiO2/TiO2 Nanocomposite on the Optoelectronic Properties of PFO/MEH-PPV-Based OLED Devices
Authors: Al-Asbahi Bandar Ali
Published: July 2018

The influence of SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites on the performance of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on poly(9,9′-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) (PFO) and various amounts of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene) (MEH-PPV) was investigated. Prior to the fabrication of the OLEDs on indium-tin oxide (ITO) substrates, the hybrids of PFO/MEH-PPV, in the presence and absence of the SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites, were prepared via the solution blending technique. Improvement of the performances of the devices in the presence of the SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites was detected. The existence of the SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites led to better charge carrier injection and, thus, a significant reduction in the turn-on voltage of the devices. The enhancement of MEH-PPV electroluminescence peaks in the hybrids in the presence of SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites is not only a result of the Förster resonance energy transfer, but also of hole-electron recombination, which is of greater significance. Moreover, the existence of the SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites led to a shift of the CIE chromaticity coordinates of the devices.
Micro-Structure and Thermomechanical Properties of Crosslinked Epoxy Composite Modified by Nano-SiO2: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Xie Qing , Fu Kexin , Liang Shaodong , Liu Bowen , Lu Lu , Yang Xueming , Huang Zhengyong , Lü Fangcheng
Published: July 2018

Establishing the relationship among the composition, structure and property of the associated materials at the molecular level is of great significance to the rational design of high-performance electrical insulating Epoxy Resin (EP) and its composites. In this paper, the molecular models of pure Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A resin/Methyltetrahydrophthalic Anhydride (DGEBA/MTHPA) and their nanocomposites containing nano-SiO2 with different particle sizes were constructed. The effects of nano-SiO2 dopants and the crosslinked structure on the micro-structure and thermomechanical properties were investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that the increase of crosslinking density enhances the thermal and mechanical properties of pure EP and EP nanocomposites. In addition, doping nano-SiO2 particles into EP can effectively improve the properties, as well, and the effectiveness is closely related to the particle size of nano-SiO2. Moreover, the results indicate that the glass transition temperature (Tg) value increases with the decreasing particle size. Compared with pure EP, the Tg value of the 6.5 Å composite model increases by 6.68%. On the contrary, the variation of the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) in the glassy state demonstrates the opposite trend compared with Tg. The CTE of the 10 Å composite model is the lowest, which is 7.70% less than that of pure EP. The mechanical properties first increase and then decrease with the decreasing particle size. Both the Young’s modulus and shear modulus reach the maximum value at 7.6 Å, with noticeable increases by 12.60% and 8.72%, respectively compared to the pure EP. In addition, the thermal and mechanical properties are closely related to the Fraction of Free Volume (FFV) and Mean Squared Displacement (MSD). The crosslinking process and the nano-SiO2 doping reduce the FFV and MSD value in the model, resulting in better thermal and mechanical properties.
Nonlinear Flow Characteristics of a System of Two Intersecting Fractures with Different Apertures
Authors: Liu Richeng , Jiang Yujing , Jing Hongwen , Yu Liyuan
Published: July 2018

The nonlinear flow regimes of a crossed fracture model consisting of two fractures have been investigated, in which the influences of hydraulic gradient, surface roughness, intersecting angle, and scale effect have been taken into account. However, in these attempts, the aperture of the two crossed fractures is the same and effects of aperture ratio have not been considered. This study aims to extend their works, characterizing nonlinear flow through a system of two intersecting fractures with different apertures. First, three experiment models with two fractures having different apertures were established and flow tests were carried out. Then, numerical simulations by solving the Navier-Stokes equations were performed and the results compared with the experiment results. Finally, the effects of fracture aperture on the critical pressure difference and the ratio of hydraulic aperture to mechanical aperture were systematically analyzed. The results show that the numerical simulation results agree well with those of the fluid flow tests, which indicates that the visualization techniques and the numerical simulation code are reliable. With the increment of flow rate, the pressure difference increases first linearly and then nonlinearly, which can be best fitted using Forchheimer’s law. The two coefficients in Forchheimer’s law decrease with the increasing number of outlets. When increasing fracture aperture from 3 mm to 5 mm, the critical pressure difference increases significantly. However, when continuously increasing fracture aperture from 5 mm to 7 mm, the critical pressure difference changes are negligibly small. The ratio of hydraulic aperture to mechanical aperture decreases more significantly for a fracture that has a larger aperture. Increasing fracture aperture from 5 mm to 7 mm, that has a negligibly small effect on the critical pressure difference will however significantly influence the ratio of hydraulic aperture to mechanical aperture.
Gender Attitudes in Religious Schools: A Comparative Study of Religious and Secular Private Schools in Guatemala
Authors: Mather Darin M.
Published: July 2018

This study assesses the effect that private religious schools have on gender attitudes in students. Using data collected from twenty-one private schools in Guatemala, gender attitudes are assessed using latent class analysis. The results indicate that students’ gender attitudes can be categorized into three distinct profiles. These are non-egalitarian, publicly egalitarian, and generally egalitarian. Subsequent analysis reveals that religious schools and specific religious beliefs are correlated with different gender attitude profiles. For instance, Catholic school students are more likely to be generally egalitarian than students in evangelical or secular schools, and biblical literalists are most likely to be publicly egalitarian. Overall, this research highlights the need to develop new conceptual models to provide more accurate and nuanced descriptions of gender attitudes. It also provides new insight into correlations between religious schools and religious beliefs and gender attitudes formation.
Company Value with Ruin Constraint in Lundberg Models
Authors: Hipp Christian
Published: July 2018

In this note we study the problem of company values with a ruin constraint in classical continuous time Lundberg models. For this, we adapt the methods and results for discrete de Finetti models to time and state continuous Lundberg models. The policy improvement method works also in continuous models, but it is slow and needs discretization. Better results can be obtained faster using the barrier method for discrete models which can be adjusted for Lundberg models. In this method, dividend strategies are considered which are based on barrier sequences. In our continuous state model, optimal barriers can be computed with the Lagrange method leading to a backward recursion scheme. The resulting dividend strategies will not always be optimal: in the case without ruin constraint, there are examples in which band strategies are superior. We also develop equations for optimal control of dynamic reinsurance to maximize the company value under a ruin constraint. These identify the optimal reinsurance strategy in no action regions and allow for an interactive computation of the value function. We apply the methods in a numerical example with exponential claims.
Supervised Classification of Built-Up Areas in Sub-Saharan African Cities Using Landsat Imagery and OpenStreetMap
Authors: Forget Yann , Linard Catherine , Gilbert Marius
Published: July 2018

The Landsat archives have been made freely available in 2008, allowing the production of high resolution built-up maps at the regional or global scale. In this context, most of the classification algorithms rely on supervised learning to tackle the heterogeneity of the urban environments. However, at a large scale, the process of collecting training samples becomes a huge project in itself. This leads to a growing interest from the remote sensing community toward Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) projects such as OpenStreetMap (OSM). Despite the spatial heterogeneity of its contribution patterns, OSM provides an increasing amount of information on the earth’s surface. More interestingly, the community has moved beyond street mapping to collect a wider range of spatial data such as building footprints, land use, or points of interest. In this paper, we propose a classification method that makes use of OSM to automatically collect training samples for supervised learning of built-up areas. To take into account a wide range of potential issues, the approach is assessed in ten Sub-Saharan African urban areas from various demographic profiles and climates. The obtained results are compared with: (1) existing high resolution global urban maps such as the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) or the Human Built-up and Settlements Extent (HBASE); and (2) a supervised classification based on manually digitized training samples. The results suggest that automated supervised classifications based on OSM can provide performances similar to manual approaches, provided that OSM training samples are sufficiently available and correctly pre-processed. Moreover, the proposed method could reach better results in the near future, given the increasing amount and variety of information in the OSM database.
Radiation Component Calculation and Energy Budget Analysis for the Korean Peninsula Region
Authors: Kim Bu-Yo , Lee Kyu-Tae
Published: July 2018

In this study, a radiation component calculation algorithm was developed using channel data from the Himawari-8 Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) and meteorological data from the Unified Model (UM) Local Data Assimilation and Prediction System (LDAPS). In addition, the energy budget of the Korean Peninsula region in 2016 was calculated and its regional differences were analyzed. Radiation components derived using the algorithm were calibrated using the broadband radiation component data from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) to improve their accuracy. The calculated radiation components and the CERES data showed an annual mean percent bias of less than 3.5% and a high correlation coefficient of over 0.98. The energy budget of the Korean Peninsula region was −2.4 Wm−2 at the top of the atmosphere (RT), −14.5 Wm−2 at the surface (RS), and 12.1 Wm−2 in the atmosphere (RA), with regional energy budget differences. The Seoul region had a high surface temperature (289.5 K) and a RS of −33.4 Wm−2 (surface emission), whereas the Sokcho region had a low surface temperature (284.7 K) and a RS of 5.0 Wm−2 (surface absorption), for a difference of 38.5 Wm−2. In short, regions with relatively high surface temperatures tended to show energy emission, and regions with relatively low surface temperatures tended to show energy absorption. Such regional energy imbalances can cause weather and climate changes and bring about meteorological disasters, and thus research on detecting energy budget changes must be continued.
Large-Scale Accurate Reconstruction of Buildings Employing Point Clouds Generated from UAV Imagery
Authors: Malihi Shirin , Valadan Zoej Mohammad Javad , Hahn Michael
Published: July 2018

High-density point clouds are valuable and detailed sources of data for different processes related to photogrammetry. We explore the knowledge-based generation of accurate large-scale three-dimensional (3D) models of buildings employing point clouds derived from UAV-based photogrammetry. A new two-level segmentation approach based on efficient RANdom SAmple Consensus (RANSAC) shape detection is developed to segment potential facades and roofs of the buildings and extract their footprints. In the first level, the cylinder primitive is implemented to trim point clouds and split buildings, and the second level of the segmentation produces planar segments. The efficient RANSAC algorithm is enhanced in sizing up the segments via point-based analyses for both levels of segmentation. Then, planar modelling is carried out employing contextual knowledge through a new constrained least squares method. New evaluation criteria are proposed based on conceptual knowledge. They can examine the abilities of the approach in reconstruction of footprints, 3D models, and planar segments in addition to detection of over/under segmentation. Evaluation of the 3D models proves that the geometrical accuracy of LoD3 is achieved, since the average horizontal and vertical accuracy of the reconstructed vertices of roofs and footprints are better than (0.24, 0.23) m, (0.19, 0.17) m for the first dataset, and (0.35, 0.37) m, (0.28, 0.24) m for the second dataset.
Intercomparison of Three Two-Source Energy Balance Models for Partitioning Evaporation and Transpiration in Semiarid Climates
Authors: Yang Yongmin , Qiu Jianxiu , Zhang Renhua , Huang Shifeng , Chen Sheng , Wang Hui , Luo Jiashun , Fan Yue
Published: July 2018

Evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) information is crucial for precise water resources planning and management in arid and semiarid areas. Two-source energy balance (TSEB) methods based on remotely-sensed land surface temperature provide an important modeling approach for estimating evapotranspiration (ET) and its components of E and T. Approaches for accurate decomposition of the component temperature and E/T partitioning from ET based on TSEB requires careful investigation. In this study, three TSEB models are used: (i) the TSEB model with the Priestley-Taylor equation, i.e., TSEB-PT; (ii) the TSEB model using the Penman-Monteith equation, i.e., TSEB-PM, and (iii) the TSEB using component temperatures derived from vegetation fractional cover and land surface temperature (VFC/LST) space, i.e., TSEB-TC-TS. These models are employed to investigate the impact of component temperature decomposition on E/T partitioning accuracy. Validation was conducted in the large-scale campaign of Heihe Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research-Multi-Scale Observation Experiment on Evapotranspiration (HiWATER-MUSOEXE) in the northwest of China, and results showed that root mean square errors (RMSEs) of latent and sensible heat fluxes were respectively lower than 76 W/m2 and 50 W/m2 for all three approaches. Based on the measurements from the stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes system at the Daman superstation, it was found that all three models slightly overestimated the ratio of E/ET. In addition, discrepancies in E/T partitioning among the three models were observed in the kernel experimental area of MUSOEXE. Further intercomparison indicated that different temperature decomposition methods were responsible for the observed discrepancies in E/T partitioning. The iterative procedure adopted by TSEB-PT and TSEB-PM produced higher LEC and lower TC when compared to TSEB-TC-TS. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into understanding the performances of TSEB models with different temperature decomposition mechanisms over semiarid regions.
Aboveground Forest Biomass Estimation Combining L- and P-Band SAR Acquisitions
Authors: Schlund Michael , Davidson Malcolm
Published: July 2018

While considerable research has focused on using either L-band or P-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) on their own for forest biomass retrieval, the use of the two bands simultaneously to improve forest biomass retrieval remains less explored. In this paper, we make use of L- and P-band airborne SAR and in situ data measured in the field together with laser scanning data acquired over one hemi-boreal (Remningstorp) and one boreal (Krycklan) forest study area in Sweden. We fit statistical models to different combinations of topographic-corrected SAR backscatter and forest heights estimated from PolInSAR for the biomass estimation, and evaluate retrieval performance in terms of R2 and using 10-fold cross-validation. The study shows that specific combinations of radar observables from L- and P-band lead to biomass predictions that are more accurate in comparison with single-band retrievals. The correlations and accuracies between the combinations of SAR features and aboveground biomass are consistent across the two study areas, whereas the retrieval performance varied for individual bands. P-band-based retrievals were more accurate than L-band for the hemi-boreal Remningstorp site and less accurate than L-band for the boreal Krycklan site. The aboveground biomass levels as well as the ground topography differ between the two sites. The results suggest that P-band is more sensitive to higher biomass and L-band to lower biomass forests. The forest height from PolInSAR improved the results at L-band in the higher biomass substantially, whereas no improvement was observed at P-band in both study areas. These results are relevant in the context of combining information over boreal forests from future low-frequency SAR missions such as the European Space Agency (ESA) BIOMASS mission, which will operate at P-band, and future L-band missions planned by several space agencies.
Robot Imitation Learning of Social Gestures with Self-Collision Avoidance Using a 3D Sensor
Authors: Zhang Tan , Louie Wing-Yue , Nejat Goldie , Benhabib Beno
Published: July 2018

To effectively interact with people, social robots need to perceive human behaviors and in turn display their own behaviors using social communication modes such as gestures. The modeling of gestures can be difficult due to the high dimensionality of the robot configuration space. Imitation learning can be used to teach a robot to implement multi-jointed arm gestures by directly observing a human teacher’s arm movements (for example, using a non-contact 3D sensor) and then mapping these movements onto the robot arms. In this paper, we present a novel imitation learning system with robot self-collision awareness and avoidance. The proposed method uses a kinematical approach with bounding volumes to detect and avoid collisions with the robot itself while performing gesticulations. We conducted experiments with a dual arm social robot and a 3D sensor to determine the effectiveness of our imitation system in being able to mimic gestures while avoiding self-collisions.
Activities of Daily Living Ontology for Ubiquitous Systems: Development and Evaluation
Authors: Woznowski Przemysław R. , Tonkin Emma L. , Flach Peter A.
Published: July 2018

Ubiquitous eHealth systems based on sensor technologies are seen as key enablers in the effort to reduce the financial impact of an ageing society. At the heart of such systems sit activity recognition algorithms, which need sensor data to reason over, and a ground truth of adequate quality used for training and validation purposes. The large set up costs of such research projects and their complexity limit rapid developments in this area. Therefore, information sharing and reuse, especially in the context of collected datasets, is key in overcoming these barriers. One approach which facilitates this process by reducing ambiguity is the use of ontologies. This article presents a hierarchical ontology for activities of daily living (ADL), together with two use cases of ground truth acquisition in which this ontology has been successfully utilised. Requirements placed on the ontology by ongoing work are discussed.
Improvement of CO2-DIAL Signal-to-Noise Ratio Using Lifting Wavelet Transform
Authors: Xiang Chengzhi , Han Ge , Zheng Yuxin , Ma Xin , Gong Wei
Published: July 2018

Atmospheric CO2 plays an important role in controlling climate change and its effect on the carbon cycle. However, detailed information on the dynamics of CO2 vertical mixing remains lacking, which hinders the accurate understanding of certain key features of the carbon cycle. Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) is a promising technology for CO2 detection due to its characteristics of high precision, high time resolution, and high spatial resolution. Ground-based CO2-DIAL can provide the continuous observations of the vertical profile of CO2 concentration, which can be highly significant to gaining deeper insights into the rectification effect of CO2, the ratio of respiration photosynthesis, and the CO2 dome in urban areas. A set of ground-based CO2-DIAL systems were developed by our team and highly accurate long-term laboratory experiments were conducted. Nonetheless, the performance suffered from low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in field explorations because of decreasing aerosol concentrations with increasing altitude and surrounding interference according to the results of our experiments in Wuhan and Huainan. The concentration of atmospheric CO2 is derived from the difference of signals between on-line and off-line wavelengths; thus, low SNR will cause the superimposition of the final inversion error. In such a situation, an efficient and accurate denoising algorithm is critical for a ground-based CO2-DIAL system, particularly in field experiments. In this study, a method based on lifting wavelet transform (LWT) for CO2-DIAL signal denoising was proposed. This method, which is an improvement of the traditional wavelet transform, can select different predictive and update functions according to the characteristics of lidar signals, thereby making it suitable for the signal denoising of CO2-DIAL. Experiment analyses were conducted to evaluate the denoising effect of LWT. For comparison, ensemble empirical mode decomposition denoising was also performed on the same lidar signal. In addition, this study calculated the coefficient of variation (CV) at the same altitude among multiple original signals within 10 min and then performed the same calculation on the denoised signal. Finally, high-quality signal of ground-based CO2-DIAL was obtained using the LWT denoising method. The differential absorption optical depths of the denoised signals obtained via LWT were calculated, and the profile distribution information of CO2 concentration was acquired during field detection by using our developed CO2-DIAL systems.
Multi-Label Classification of Contributing Causal Factors in Self-Reported Safety Narratives
Authors: Robinson Saul D.
Published: July 2018

Three methods are demonstrated for automated classification of aviation safety narratives within an existing complex taxonomy. Utilizing latent semantic analysis trained against 4497 narratives at the sentence level, primary problem and contributing factor labels were assessed. Results from a sample of 2987 narratives provided a mean unsupervised categorization precision of 0.35% and recall of 0.78% for contributing-factors within the taxonomy. Categorization of the primary problem at the sentence level resulted in a modal accuracy of 0.46%. Overall, the results suggested that the demonstrated approaches were viable in bringing additional tools and insights to safety researchers.
Regional Differences in Women’s Basketball: A Comparison among Continental Championships
Authors: Madarame Haruhiko
Published: July 2018

The aims of this study were (i) to compare basketball game-related statistics in women by region (Africa, America, Asia, Europe), and (ii) to identify characteristics that discriminate performances for each region. A total of 134 games from each continental championship held in 2017 were analyzed. A one-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparison was performed to evaluate differences in each variable between the continents. A discriminant analysis was performed to identify game-related statistics that discriminate among the continents. The Asian and European championships overall showed similar performance profiles: Low numbers of possessions and turnovers, and high numbers of successful field goals and assists. However, the European championship was more closely contested than the Asian championship. The African championship was characterized by high numbers of possessions, free throws, and turnovers. The homogeneity of the American championship was low, and some of the cases have similarities with the African championship, whereas other cases have similarities with the European championship. On average, the American championship was characterized by low numbers of successful field goals and assists, and high numbers of steals and turnovers. It is suggested that women’s basketball games are played in a different manner in each region of the world.
Performance Analyses of Temporary Membrane Structures: Energy Saving and CO2 Reduction through Dynamic Simulations of Textile Envelopes
Authors: De Vita Mariangela , Beccarelli Paolo , Laurini Eleonora , De Berardinis Pierluigi
Published: July 2018

The aim of this research, carried out in collaboration with Maco Technology Inc., was to analyse the energy performance of temporary textile structures that are often used to host itinerant events. This paper illustrates the dynamic simulations carried on the Ducati Pavilion, designed by Maco Technology, which hosted Ducati staff during the different stages of the Superbike World Championship. Specific aspects relating to the structural/constructive system of the project were also analysed. The theme of energy saving and carbon reduction is of great importance in temporary and itinerant structures and environmental sustainability in relation to the materials used, storage, re-use, mode of transport and ability to respond efficiently to the climatic conditions of the installation sites is an important aspect. The Ducati Pavilion was modelled and analysed from an energy point of view using Design Builder software. Ways of improving performance were analysed under summer conditions. The paper focuses on the importance of optimizing the performance of textile envelopes: the methodology proposed allows visible savings in terms of energy consumption and achieves good levels of environmental comfort in temporary buildings with low thermal mass structure.