bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inorganic Salt Hydrate for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Xie Ning , Huang Zhaowen , Luo Zigeng , Gao Xuenong , Fang Yutang , Zhang Zhengguo
Published: December 2017

Using phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage has always been a hot topic within the research community due to their excellent performance on energy conservation such as energy efficiency in buildings, solar domestic hot water systems, textile industry, biomedical and food agroindustry. Several literatures have reported phase change materials concerning various aspects. Among these materials, salt hydrates are worthy of exploring due to their high-energy storage density, rational price, multiple sources and relatively good thermal conductivity. This paper reviews the present state of salt hydrates PCMs targeting classification, properties, defects, possible solutions as well as their idiographic features which are suitable for applications. In addition, new trends of future research are also indicated.
Playing for a Virtual Audience: The Impact of a Social Factor on Gestures, Sounds and Expressive Intents
Authors: Schaerlaeken Simon , Grandjean Didier , Glowinski Donald
Published: December 2017

Can we measure the impact of the presence of an audience on musicians’ performances? By exploring both acoustic and motion features for performances in Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs), this study highlights the impact of the presence of a virtual audience on both the performance and the perception of authenticity and emotional intensity by listeners. Gestures and sounds produced were impacted differently when musicians performed at different expressive intents. The social factor made features converge towards values related to a habitual way of playing regardless of the expressive intent. This could be due to musicians’ habits to perform in a certain way in front of a crowd. On the listeners’ side, when comparing different expressive conditions, only one congruent condition (projected expressive intent in front of an audience) boosted the participants’ ratings for both authenticity and emotional intensity. At different values for kinetic energy and metrical centroid, stimuli recorded with an audience showed a different distribution of ratings, challenging the ecological validity of artificially created expressive intents. Finally, this study highlights the use of IVEs as a research tool and a training assistant for musicians who are eager to learn how to cope with their anxiety in front of an audience.
Fog over Virtualized IoT: New Opportunity for Context-Aware Networked Applications and a Case Study
Authors: Naranjo Paola , Pooranian Zahra , Shamshirband Shahaboddin , Abawajy Jemal , Conti Mauro
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we discuss the most significant application opportunities and outline the challenges in real-time and energy-efficient management of the distributed resources available in mobile devices and at the Internet-to-Data Center. We also present an energy-efficient adaptive scheduler for Vehicular Fog Computing (VFC) that operates at the edge of a vehicular network, connected to the served Vehicular Clients (VCs) through an Infrastructure-to-Vehicular (I2V) over multiple Foglets (Fls). The scheduler optimizes the energy by leveraging the heterogeneity of Fls, where the Fl provider shapes the system workload by maximizing the task admission rate over data transfer and computation. The presented scheduling algorithm demonstrates that the resulting adaptive scheduler allows scalable and distributed implementation.
Diagnosis of the Tropical Moisture Exports to the Mid-Latitudes and the Role of Atmospheric Steering in the Extreme Precipitation
Authors: Lu Mengqian , Hao Xiaotian
Published: December 2017

Three river basins, i.e., the Yangtze river, the Mississippi river and the Loire river, were presented as case studies to explore the association among atmospheric circulations, moisture exports and extreme precipitations in the mid-latitudes. The major moisture source regions in the tropics for the three river basins are first identified using the Tropical Moisture Exports (TMEs) dataset. The space-time characteristics of their respective moisture sources are presented. Then, the trajectory curve clustering analysis is applied to the TMEs tracks originating from the identified source regions during each basin’s peak TMEs activity and flood seasons. Our results show that the moisture tracks for each basin can be categorized into 3 or 4 clusters with distinct spatial trajectory features. Our further analysis on these clustered trajectories reveals that the contributions of moisture release from different clusters are associated with their trajectory features and travel speeds. In order to understand the role of associated atmospheric steering, daily composites of the geopotential heights anomalies and the vertical integral of moisture flux anomalies from 7 days ahead to the extreme precipitation days (top 5%) are examined. The evolutions of the atmospheric circulation patterns and the moisture fluxes are both consistent with the TMEs tracks that contribute more moisture releases to the study regions. The findings imply that atmospheric steering plays an important role in the moisture transport and release, especially for the extreme precipitations. We also find that the association between TMEs moisture release and precipitation is nonlinear. The extreme precipitation is associated with high TMEs moisture release for all of the three study regions.
Analysis of Volatile Components of Varietal English Wines Using Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Caven-Quantrill Darren , Buglass Alan
Published: December 2017

Aroma is an important property of wine and it can be influenced significantly by enological practices. The aim of this work was, by use of stir bar sorptive extraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SBSE/GC-MS), to compare semi-quantitative concentrations of the volatile constituents of stainless steel tank-fermented/matured Huxelrebe, Ortega, Schönburger and Siegerrebe varietal wines from a commercial English vineyard, with corresponding wines produced by oak cask (‘barrel’) fermentation/maturation. Aroma profiles of tank and barrel wines were different, with more volatiles detected and net concentrations being higher in barrel wines. Long chain ethyl carboxylate esters were generally more abundant in barrel wines, whereas acetate esters were generally more prominent in tank wines. By conducting a short (~7 month) maturation period in secondhand (third or fourth fill) casks, it was possible to make wines with more complex aromas, but without obvious oak aroma.
Point-of-Care Diagnostics: Recent Advances and Trends
Authors: Vashist Sandeep
Published: December 2017

Recent years have witnessed tremendous advances in point-of-care diagnostics (POCD), which are a result of continuous developments in biosensors, microfluidic, bioanalytical platforms, assay formats, lab-on-a-chip technologies, and complementary technologies. This special issue targets the critical advances in POCD and provides guided insights and directions for future research.
Investigating Methodological Differences in the Assessment of Dendritic Morphology of Basolateral Amygdala Principal Neurons—A Comparison of Golgi–Cox and Neurobiotin Electroporation Techniques
Authors: Klenowski Paul , Wright Sophie , Mu Erica , Noakes Peter , Lavidis Nickolas , Bartlett Selena , Bellingham Mark , Fogarty Matthew
Published: December 2017

Quantitative assessments of neuronal subtypes in numerous brain regions show large variations in dendritic arbor size. A critical experimental factor is the method used to visualize neurons. We chose to investigate quantitative differences in basolateral amygdala (BLA) principal neuron morphology using two of the most common visualization methods: Golgi–Cox staining and neurobiotin (NB) filling. We show in 8-week-old Wistar rats that NB-filling reveals significantly larger dendritic arbors and different spine densities, compared to Golgi–Cox-stained BLA neurons. Our results demonstrate important differences and provide methodological insights into quantitative disparities of BLA principal neuron morphology reported in the literature.
Regulation of EMT in Colorectal Cancer: A Culprit in Metastasis
Authors: Vu Trung , Datta Pran
Published: December 2017

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process during which cells lose their epithelial characteristics, for instance cell polarity and cell–cell contact, and gain mesenchymal properties, such as increased motility. In colorectal cancer (CRC), EMT is associated with an invasive or metastatic phenotype. In this review, we discuss recent studies exploring novel regulation mechanisms of EMT in CRC, including the identification of new CRC EMT regulators. Upregulation of inducers can promote EMT, leading to increased invasiveness and metastasis in CRC. These inducers can downregulate E-cadherin and upregulate N-cadherin and vimentin (VIM) through modulating EMT-related signaling pathways, for instance WNT/β-catenin and TGF-β, and EMT transcription factors, such as zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and ZEB2. In addition, several microRNAs (miRNAs), including members of the miR-34 and miR-200 families, are found to target mRNAs of EMT-transcription factors, for example ZEB1, ZEB2, or SNAIL. Downregulation of these miRNAs is associated with distant metastasis and advanced stage tumors. Furthermore, the role of EMT in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is also discussed. Mesenchymal markers on the surface of EMT CTCs were found to be associated with metastasis and could serve as potential biomarkers for metastasis. Altogether, these studies indicate that EMT is orchestrated by a complicated network, involving regulators of different signaling pathways. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms underlying EMT in CRC.
Luminescent Metal Nanoclusters for Potential Chemosensor Applications
Authors: Shellaiah Muthaiah , Sun Kien
Published: December 2017

Studies of metal nanocluster (M-NCs)-based sensors for specific analyte detection have achieved significant progress in recent decades. Ultra-small-size (<2 nm) M-NCs consist of several to a few hundred metal atoms and exhibit extraordinary physical and chemical properties. Similar to organic molecules, M-NCs display absorption and emission properties via electronic transitions between energy levels upon interaction with light. As such, researchers tend to apply M-NCs in diverse fields, such as in chemosensors, biological imaging, catalysis, and environmental and electronic devices. Chemo- and bio-sensory uses have been extensively explored with luminescent NCs of Au, Ag, Cu, and Pt as potential sensory materials. Luminescent bi-metallic NCs, such as Au-Ag, Au-Cu, Au-Pd, and Au-Pt have also been used as probes in chemosensory investigations. Both metallic and bi-metallic NCs have been utilized to detect various analytes, such as metal ions, anions, biomolecules, proteins, acidity or alkalinity of a solution (pH), and nucleic acids, at diverse detection ranges and limits. In this review, we have summarized the chemosensory applications of luminescent M-NCs and bi-metallic NCs.
Stability of Aqueous Polymeric Dispersions for Ultra-Thin Coating of Bi-Axially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate Films
Authors: Smolka Petr , Musilová Lenka , Mráček Aleš , Sedláček Tomáš
Published: December 2017

The stability of polyacrylate and polyester based aqueous dispersions designed for ultrathin coating of extruded plastic films, especially bi-axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET), was studied. Also, the effect of the gemini surfactant based defoaming/wetting agent on the properties of the dispersions was examined. The addition of the defoaming/wetting agent resulted in reducing the surface free tension of the polyacrylate and polyester dispersion by 15% and 20%, respectively and the initial foam height by 60% and 15%, respectively. At the same time, the agent addition did not compromise the temperature and pH stability of the dispersions. Such modified dispersion can be utilized for ultrathin coating of plastic film used for packaging, to improve their processability, printability, and metallization.
Effect of the Addition of Molybdenum on the Structure and Corrosion Resistance of Zinc–Iron Plating
Authors: Kosugi Daichi , Hagio Takeshi , Kamimoto Yuki , Ichino Ryoichi
Published: December 2017

Zn–Ni plating is indispensable in various industries because of its high corrosion resistance. However, Ni has been reported to trigger allergies; thus, an alternative Ni-free plating is desired. Zn–Fe plating is considered to be a promising candidate, albeit its corrosion resistance still needs to be improved. The corrosion resistance of Zn–Fe plating is expected to increase by the addition of Mo as the third alloying element as it is more noble than Zn and Fe. In this study, Zn–Fe–Mo plating with a corrosion resistance nearly equivalent to that of the Zn–Ni plating was fabricated. Zn–Fe–Mo plating was electrically deposited from continuously-agitated plating baths prepared by mixing ZnSO4, FeSO4, Na2MoO4, Na3C6H5O7, and Na2SO4 using Fe or Ni plates as the substrate. The surface morphology, composition, crystal phase, and electronic state of Mo of the platings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The anti-corrosion performance was evaluated by Tafel extrapolation method. Formation of plating comprising a Mo containing alloy phase was found to be crucial for improving corrosion resistance. The Zn–Fe–Mo plating demonstrates promise for replacing anti-corrosion Zn–Ni platings.
Optimized Culture Conditions for the Detection of Selected Strains of Bacillus in Eye Creams
Authors: Yossa Nadine , Arce Gabriela , Smiley James , Huang Mei-Chiung , Yin Lanlan , Bell Rebecca , Tallent Sandra , Brown Eric , Hammack Thomas
Published: December 2017

Although eye area cosmetics contain preservatives, contamination can still occur during or after manufacture or through use. Understanding the likelihood of bacterial survival in eye creams begins with sensitive and accurate methods for the detection of bacterial contamination; therefore, we investigated optimal culture conditions, including neutralizers, dilution broths, and selective media for the detection of Bacillus in eye cream. Samples of three different brands of eye creams were first mixed with Tween 80, Tween 20, or a blend of Tween 60 and Span 80, then neutralized and non-neutralized samples were individually inoculated with B. cereus strains, B. mycoides, a mislabeled B. megaterium, B. subtilis or B. thuringiensis at a final concentration of 5 log CFU/g. The inoculated samples, with and without neutralizers, were spiral-plated and incubated at 30 °C for 24 h to 48 h. Presumptive colonies of Bacillus were enumerated on U. S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA-BAM) referenced agars Bacillus cereus rapid agar (BACARA) and mannitol-egg yolk-polymixin agar (MYP). Our results show significant differences among the neutralizers, plates, and products. The combination of Tryptone- Azolectin-Tween and Tween 80 (TAT and T80) produced higher levels of Bacillus, estimated at 4.18 log CFU/g compared to growth on Modified letheen broth and Tween 80, which produced 3.97 log CFU/g (P < 0.05). Colony counts of B. cereus cells on MYP agar were significantly higher, than those on BACARA agar, showing an average of 4.25 log CFU/g versus 3.84 log CFU/g, respectively (P < 0.05). The growth of the strain mislabeled B. megaterium ATCC 6458 on B. cereus selective agars BACARA and MYP agar led us to further investigations. We identified bi-pyramidal crystals among colonies of the strain, and subsequent PCR identified the cry 1 gene, indicating that strain was actually B. thuringiensis subps. kurstaki.
Having a Child Diagnosed with Cancer: Raising the Challenges Encountered by the Caregivers at the Pediatric Oncology Ward in Egypt
Authors: El Malla Hanan
Published: December 2017

Having a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and undergoing a severe treatment regimen, is a massive challenge for many caregivers, not the least of who are those with low socioeconomic status and living in a society where deeply rooted cultural and societal misconceptions are immensely noticeable. The aim of the study is to raise the great concerns experienced by the caregivers at the pediatric oncology ward in Egypt. The study is comprised of 24 caregivers of children with cancer undergoing treatment at the inpatient ward. Semi-structured interviews and participant observations were used as a means of data collection. Numerous concerns are addressed in this study which are all related to fear of the illness and guilty feelings of having caused the child this illness. The fears and concerns addressed in this paper seem to obstruct the caregivers’ overall psychosocial wellbeing, which is known to have multiple effects on the child’s overall wellbeing. Thus, it is very important to take into consideration caregivers in the child’s cancer treatment.
Accuracy of Digitally Fabricated Wax Denture Bases and Conventional Completed Complete Dentures
Authors: Stawarczyk Bogna , Lümkemann Nina , Eichberger Marlis , Wimmer Timea
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the accuracy of digitally fabricated wax trial dentures and conventionally finalized complete dentures in comparison to a surface tessellation language (STL)-dataset. A generated data set for the denture bases and the tooth sockets was used, converted into STL-format, and saved as reference. Five mandibular and 5 maxillary denture bases were milled from wax blanks and denture teeth were waxed into their tooth sockets. Each complete denture was checked on fit, waxed onto the dental cast, and digitized using an optical laboratory scanning device. The complete dentures were completed conventionally using the injection method, finished, and scanned. The resulting STL-datasets were exported into the three-dimensional (3D) software GOM Inspect. Each of the 5 mandibular and 5 maxillary complete dentures was aligned with the STL- and the wax trial denture dataset. Alignment was performed based on a best-fit algorithm. A three-dimensional analysis of the spatial divergences in x-, y- and z-axes was performed by the 3D software and visualized in a color-coded illustration. The mean positive and negative deviations between the datasets were calculated automatically. In a direct comparison between maxillary wax trial dentures and complete dentures, complete dentures showed higher deviations from the STL-dataset than the wax trial dentures. The deviations occurred in the area of the teeth as well as in the distal area of the denture bases. In contrast, the highest deviations in both the mandibular wax trial dentures and the mandibular complete dentures were observed in the distal area. The complete dentures showed higher deviations on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth compared to the wax dentures. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-fabricated wax dentures exhibited fewer deviations from the STL-reference than the complete dentures. The deviations were significantly greater in the vicinity of the denture teeth area and the bases. The conventional transfer of CAD/CAM-fabricated wax dentures into acrylic resin leads to the highest deviations from the STL-reference.
Permutation Entropy: Too Complex a Measure for EEG Time Series?
Authors: Berger Sebastian , Schneider Gerhard , Kochs Eberhard , Jordan Denis
Published: December 2017

Permutation entropy (PeEn) is a complexity measure that originated from dynamical systems theory. Specifically engineered to be robustly applicable to real-world data, the quantity has since been utilised for a multitude of time series analysis tasks. In electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis, value changes of PeEn correlate with clinical observations, among them the onset of epileptic seizures or the loss of consciousness induced by anaesthetic agents. Regarding this field of application, the present work suggests a relation between PeEn-based complexity estimation and spectral methods of EEG analysis: for ordinal patterns of three consecutive samples, the PeEn of an epoch of EEG appears to approximate the centroid of its weighted power spectrum. To substantiate this proposition, a systematic approach based on redundancy reduction is introduced and applied to sleep and epileptic seizure EEG. The interrelation demonstrated may aid the interpretation of PeEn in EEG, and may increase its comparability with other techniques of EEG analysis.
Academic Advising Systems: A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Evidence
Authors: Iatrellis Omiros , Kameas Achilles , Fitsilis Panos
Published: December 2017

This paper aims to provide the reader with a comprehensive background for understanding current knowledge on Academic Advising Systems (AAS) and its impact on learning. It constitutes an overview of empirical evidence behind key objectives of the potential adoption of AAS in generic educational strategic planning. The researchers examined the literature on experimental case studies conducted in the domain during the past ten years (2008–2017). Search terms identified 98 mature pieces of research work, but inclusion criteria limited the key studies to 43. The authors analyzed the research questions, methodology, and findings of these published papers and categorized them accordingly. The results have highlighted three distinct major directions of the AAS empirical research. This paper discusses the emerged added value of AAS research and highlights the significance of further implications. Finally, the authors set their thoughts on possible uncharted key questions to investigate both from pedagogical and technical considerations.
Renewable Energy Potential by the Application of a Building Integrated Photovoltaic and Wind Turbine System in Global Urban Areas
Authors: Lee Jaewook , Park Jeongsu , Jung Hyung-Jo , Park Jiyoung
Published: December 2017

Globally, maintaining equilibrium between energy supply and demand is critical in urban areas facing increasing energy consumption and high-speed economic development. As an alternative, the large-scale application of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, might be a long-term solution in an urban context. This study assessed the overall utilization potential of a building-integrated photovoltaic and wind turbine (BIPvWt) system, which can be applied to a building skin in global urban areas. The first step of this study was to reorganize the large volume of global annual climate data. The data were analyzed by computational fluid dynamic analysis and an energy simulation applicable to the BIPvWt system, which can generate a Pmax 300 Wp/module with a 15% conversion efficiency from a photovoltaic (PV) system and a 0.149 power coefficient/module from wind turbines in categorized urban contexts and office buildings in specific cities; it was constructed to evaluate and optimize the ratio that can cover the current energy consumption. A diagram of the distribution of the solar and wind energy potential and design guidelines for a building skin were developed. The perspective of balancing the increasing energy consumption using renewable energy in urban areas can be visualized positively in the near future.
A Kriging Model Based Optimization of Active Distribution Networks Considering Loss Reduction and Voltage Profile Improvement
Authors: Wang Dan , Hu Qing’e , Tang Jia , Jia Hongjie , Li Yun , Gao Shuang , Fan Menghua
Published: December 2017

Optimal operation of the active distribution networks (ADN) is essential to keep its safety, reliability and economy. With the integration of multiple controllable resources, the distribution networks are facing more challenges in which the optimization strategy is the key. This paper establishes the optimal operation model of the ADN considering a diversity of controllable resources including energy storage devices, distributed generators, voltage regulators and switchable capacitor banks. The objective functions contain reducing the power losses and improving the voltage profiles. To solve the optimization problem, the Kriging model based Improved Surrogate Optimization-Mixed-Integer (ISO-MI) algorithm is proposed in this paper. The Kriging model is applied to approximate the complicated distribution networks, which speeds up the solving process. Finally, the accuracy of the Kriging model is validated and the efficiency among the proposed method, genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is compared in an unbalanced IEEE-123 nodes test feeder. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has better performance than GA and PSO.
Hydro Power Reservoir Aggregation via Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Löschenbrand Markus , Korpås Magnus
Published: December 2017

Electrical power systems with a high share of hydro power in their generation portfolio tend to display distinct behavior. Low generation cost and the possibility of peak shaving create a high amount of flexibility. However, stochastic influences such as precipitation and external market effects create uncertainty and thus establish a wide range of potential outcomes. Therefore, optimal generation scheduling is a key factor to successful operation of hydro power dominated systems. This paper aims to bridge the gap between scheduling on large-scale (e.g., national) and small scale (e.g., a single river basin) levels, by applying a multi-objective master/sub-problem framework supported by genetic algorithms. A real-life case study from southern Norway is used to assess the validity of the method and give a proof of concept. The introduced method can be applied to efficiently integrate complex stochastic sub-models into Virtual Power Plants and thus reduce the computational complexity of large-scale models whilst minimizing the loss of information.
Analysis of the Influence of Compensation Capacitance Errors of a Wireless Power Transfer System with SS Topology
Authors: Wang Yi , Lin Fei , Yang Zhongping , Liu Zhiyuan
Published: December 2017

In this study, in order to determine the reasonable accuracy of the compensation capacitances satisfying the requirements on the output characteristics for a wireless power transfer (WPT) system, taking the series-series (SS) compensation structure as an example, the calculation formulas of the output characteristics, such as the power factor, output power, coil transfer efficiency, and capacitors’ voltage stress, are given under the condition of incomplete compensation according to circuit theory. The influence of compensation capacitance errors on the output characteristics of the system is then analyzed. The Taylor expansions of the theoretical formulas are carried out to simplify the formulas. The influence degrees of compensation capacitance errors on the output characteristics are calculated according to the simplified formulas. The reasonable error ranges of the compensation capacitances are then determined according to the requirements of the output characteristics of the system in the system design. Finally, the validity of the theoretical analysis and the simplified processing is verified through experiments. The proposed method has a certain guiding role for practical engineering design, especially in mass production.
Hybrid Chaotic Quantum Bat Algorithm with SVR in Electric Load Forecasting
Authors: Li Ming-Wei , Geng Jing , Wang Shumei , Hong Wei-Chiang
Published: December 2017

Hybridizing evolutionary algorithms with a support vector regression (SVR) model to conduct the electric load forecasting has demonstrated the superiorities in forecasting accuracy improvements. The recently proposed bat algorithm (BA), compared with classical GA and PSO algorithm, has greater potential in forecasting accuracy improvements. However, the original BA still suffers from the embedded drawbacks, including trapping in local optima and premature convergence. Hence, to continue exploring possible improvements of the original BA and to receive more appropriate parameters of an SVR model, this paper applies quantum computing mechanism to empower each bat to possess quantum behavior, then, employs the chaotic mapping function to execute the global chaotic disturbance process, to enlarge bat’s search space and to make the bat jump out from the local optima when population is over accumulation. This paper presents a novel load forecasting approach, namely SVRCQBA model, by hybridizing the SVR model with the quantum computing mechanism, chaotic mapping function, and BA, to receive higher forecasting accuracy. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed SVRCQBA model is superior to other alternative models in terms of forecasting accuracy.
Effects of Pretreatments on Yields, Selectivity and Properties of Products from Pyrolysis of Phragmites australis (Common Reeds)
Authors: Garrido Rene , Reckamp Joseph , Satrio Justinus
Published: December 2017

Phragmites australis (PHA) is a grass-type biomass, commonly known as reed grass, which has the potential to be a valuable energy and chemical feedstock due to its high yield (4.5–7 kg biomass m−2 year−1). It is demonstrated that the physicochemical properties and composition of phragmites can be altered by subjecting the feedstock to a combined acid hydrolysis at various level of acid concentrations and torrefaction pre-treatment processes. In this paper, we conducted fast pyrolysis on pretreated PHA, resulting in bio-oil with significantly higher selectivity towards levoglucosenone and appreciably reduced amounts of ketones and aldehydes being produced. The experiments demonstrated that 4% H3PO4 acid hydrolysis and 220 °C torrefaction combined pretreatments prior to fast pyrolysis resulted in 17 times increase of relative selectivity to levoglucosenone in the bio-oil portion along with a reduction of ketones and aldehydes relative concentrations from 23% to 13%. Pyrolysis of pretreated PHA produced higher amount of biochar. The phosphorus-enriched biochar offers a potential usage for soil amendment or sorbent material. This study presents an opportunity to convert this underutilized feedstock into valuable bio-based products. Additional in-depth investigation is essential to gather more data for assessing the economic and sustainability features of the proposed process.
Electromagnetic Casimir Effect in AdS Spacetime
Authors: Kotanjyan Anna , Saharian Aram , Saharyan Astghik
Published: December 2017

We investigate the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the energy-momentum tensor for the electromagnetic field in anti-de Sitter (AdS) spacetime in the presence of a boundary parallel to the AdS horizon. On the boundary, the field obeys the generalized perfect conductor boundary condition. The VEV of the energy-momentum tensor is decomposed into the boundary-free and boundary-induced contributions. In this way, for points away from the boundary, the renormalization is reduced to that for AdS spacetime without the boundary. The boundary-induced energy density is negative everywhere, and the normal stress is positive in the region between the boundary and the AdS boundary and is negative in the region between the boundary and the AdS horizon. Near both the AdS boundary and horizon, the boundary-induced VEV decays exponentially as a function of the corresponding proper distance. Applications are given for even and odd vector fields in Randall–Sundrum model with a single brane.
Deciphering the Relationship between Obesity and Various Diseases from a Network Perspective
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhang Yu-Hang , Li JiaRui , Wang ShaoPeng , Zhang YunHua , Huang Tao , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: December 2017

The number of obesity cases is rapidly increasing in developed and developing countries, thereby causing significant health problems worldwide. The pathologic factors of obesity at the molecular level are not fully characterized, although the imbalance between energy intake and consumption is widely recognized as the main reason for fat accumulation. Previous studies reported that obesity can be caused by the dysfunction of genes associated with other diseases, such as myocardial infarction, hence providing new insights into dissecting the pathogenesis of obesity by investigating its associations with other diseases. In this study, we investigated the relationship between obesity and diseases from Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases on the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The obesity genes and genes of one OMIM disease were mapped onto the network, and the interaction scores between the two gene sets were investigated on the basis of the PPI of individual gene pairs, thereby inferring the relationship between obesity and this disease. Results suggested that diseases related to nutrition and endocrine are the top two diseases that are closely associated with obesity. This finding is consistent with our general knowledge and indicates the reliability of our obtained results. Moreover, we inferred that diseases related to psychiatric factors and bone may also be highly related to obesity because the two diseases followed the diseases related to nutrition and endocrine according to our results. Numerous obesity–disease associations were identified in the literature to confirm the relationships between obesity and the aforementioned four diseases. These new results may help understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of obesity–disease co-occurrence and provide useful insights for disease prevention and intervention.
Study of mcr-1 Gene-Mediated Colistin Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Humans and Animals in Different Countries
Authors: Hadjadj Linda , Riziki Toilhata , Zhu Yan , Li Jian , Diene Seydina , Rolain Jean-Marc
Published: December 2017

In this study, we aim to characterize the genetic environment of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1 in 25 Escherichia coli and seven Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from different countries and continents. Multilocus sequence typing, conjugation experiments, plasmid typing, and the presence and location of the insertion sequence ISApl1 were investigated. Whole genome sequencing of four E. coli was performed to analyse the genetic environment of the mcr-1 gene. Colistin minimum inhibitory concentration of mcr-1 strains varied from 3 to 32 µg/mL. Six E. coli sequence types were detected: ST 4015, ST 3997, ST 10, ST 93, ST 48, and ST 648. IncHI2, IncI2, and IncP plasmid types were predominant and were unrelated to a specific country of origin. ISApl1 was found in 69% of analysed plasmids that were mainly around the mcr-1 gene. Analysis of four closed mcr-1 plasmids revealed the integration of mcr-1 into hotspots. We found that the spread of mcr-1 gene was due to the diffusion of a composite transposon and not to the diffusion of a specific plasmid or a specific bacterial clone. The ease with which the mcr-1 gene integrates into various regions facilitates its dissemination among bacteria and explains its large diffusion all over the world, both in animals and in humans.
The Mitochondrial Basis of Aging and Age-Related Disorders
Authors: Srivastava Sarika
Published: December 2017

Aging is a natural phenomenon characterized by progressive decline in tissue and organ function leading to increased risk of disease and mortality. Among diverse factors that contribute to human aging, the mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as one of the key hallmarks of aging process and is linked to the development of numerous age-related pathologies including metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Mitochondria are central in the regulation of energy and metabolic homeostasis, and harbor a complex quality control system that limits mitochondrial damage to ensure mitochondrial integrity and function. The intricate regulatory network that balances the generation of new and removal of damaged mitochondria forms the basis of aging and longevity. Here, I will review our current understanding on how mitochondrial functional decline contributes to aging, including the role of somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dynamics and quality control pathways. I will further discuss the emerging evidence on how dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related disorders. Strategies aimed to enhance mitochondrial function by targeting mitochondrial dynamics, quality control, and mitohormesis pathways might promote healthy aging, protect against age-related diseases, and mediate longevity.
Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Child Behavior among Mexican Women and Their Children
Authors: Flynn Emily , Chung Esther , Ozer Emily , Fernald Lia
Published: December 2017

Over 50% of mothers in rural Mexico have high depressive symptoms, and their children’s health and development are likely to be negatively affected. A critical question is whether children vary in their vulnerability to the effects of high maternal depressive symptoms according to their indigenous ethnicity, maternal education, or household wealth. Our sample included 4442 mothers and 5503 children from an evaluation of Mexico’s social welfare program. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale, and child behavior was measured using an adapted version of the Behavior Problems Index (BPI). Multiple linear regression models were used to explore the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems, and the heterogeneity of associations by indigenous ethnicity, maternal education, and household assets. We found that having greater maternal depressive symptoms was significantly associated with having a child with more behavior problems (β = 0.114, p < 0.0001, [95% CI 0.101, 0.127]), in adjusted models. In tests of heterogeneity, the association between maternal depressive symptoms and child behavior problems was strongest in households with indigenous ethnicity, low maternal education, or in households with fewer assets. These results strengthen the case for effective mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among the most vulnerable families where mothers and children appear to be at the greatest risk.
Do Clinicians Ask Pregnant Women about Exposures to Tobacco and Cannabis Smoking, Second-Hand-Smoke and E-Cigarettes? An Australian National Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Gould Gillian , Zeev Yael , Tywman Laura , Oldmeadow Christopher , Chiu Simon , Clarke Marilyn , Bonevski Billie
Published: December 2017

Clinicians often ask pregnant women about tobacco smoking, but their practices of asking about other smoking and nicotine exposures are unknown. This study analysed how often clinicians ask pregnant women about their use of e-cigarettes, cannabis, chewing tobacco, and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. Two cross-sectional surveys were undertaken. A random sample of 500 General Practitioner (GP) members were invited from the National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (NFATSIH) to complete an on-line survey, and 5571 GP and Obstetrician (OBS) members of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) were sent a paper survey by mail. Questions on frequency of asking about the exposures used Likert Scales, later dichotomized to “often-always” and “never-sometimes”. Logistic regressions estimated associations between clinician type and asking about cannabis, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and SHS. An adjusted model reduced potential confounders of location, guidelines, gender and population. n = 378 GPs and OBS participated (6.2% response). In total, 13–14% asked “often-always” about e-cigarettes; 58% cannabis; 38% cannabis with tobacco; 27% SHS, and 10% chewing tobacco—compared to 95% of the sample asking about cigarette smoking. After adjustment, the odds of RANZCOG GPs (OR 0.34) and OBS (OR 0.63) asking about cannabis were lower compared to NFATSIH GPs. Clinician type was non-significant for asking about e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and SHS. Surveyed Australian GPs and obstetricians asked less frequently about e-cigarettes, chewing, SHS exposure, and cannabis, potentially missing important exposures for mother and child.
Associations of Older Taiwanese Adults’ Personal Attributes and Perceptions of the Neighborhood Environment Concerning Walking for Recreation and Transportation
Authors: Liao Yung , Huang Pin-Hsuan , Hsiang Chih-Yu , Huang Jing-Huei , Hsueh Ming-Chun , Park Jong-Hwan
Published: December 2017

This study examines the cross-sectional associations between personal and perceived neighborhood environment attributes regarding walking for recreation and transportation among older Taiwanese adults. Data related to personal factors, perceived environmental factors, and time spent engaging in transportation-related and recreational walking were obtained from 1032 older adults aged 65 years and above. The data were analyzed by carrying out an adjusted binary logistic regression. After adjusting for potential confounders, two commonly perceived environmental factors, the presence of sidewalks (PS) and the presence of a destination (PD), were positively associated with 150 min of walking for recreation. Different personal and perceived environmental factors were associated with walking for recreation and transportation. These findings suggest that policy-makers and physical activity intervention designers should develop both common and individual environmental strategies in order to improve and increase awareness of the neighborhood environment to promote recreational and transportation walking behaviors among older adults.
Gene-by-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Influence Diastolic Blood Pressure in European and African Ancestry Populations: Meta-Analysis of Four Cohort Studies
Authors: Smith Jennifer , Zhao Wei , Yasutake Kalyn , August Carmella , Ratliff Scott , Faul Jessica , Boerwinkle Eric , Chakravarti Aravinda , Diez Roux Ana , Gao Yan , Griswold Michael , Heiss Gerardo , Kardia Sharon , Morrison Alanna , Musani Solomon , Mwasongwe Stanford , North Kari , Rose Kathryn , Sims Mario , Sun Yan , Weir David , Needham Belinda
Published: December 2017

Inter-individual variability in blood pressure (BP) is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors including socioeconomic and psychosocial stressors. A deeper understanding of the gene-by-socioeconomic/psychosocial factor interactions on BP may help to identify individuals that are genetically susceptible to high BP in specific social contexts. In this study, we used a genomic region-based method for longitudinal analysis, Longitudinal Gene-Environment-Wide Interaction Studies (LGEWIS), to evaluate the effects of interactions between known socioeconomic/psychosocial and genetic risk factors on systolic and diastolic BP in four large epidemiologic cohorts of European and/or African ancestry. After correction for multiple testing, two interactions were significantly associated with diastolic BP. In European ancestry participants, outward/trait anger score had a significant interaction with the C10orf107 genomic region (p = 0.0019). In African ancestry participants, depressive symptom score had a significant interaction with the HFE genomic region (p = 0.0048). This study provides a foundation for using genomic region-based longitudinal analysis to identify subgroups of the population that may be at greater risk of elevated BP due to the combined influence of genetic and socioeconomic/psychosocial risk factors.
The Effect of Environmental Regulation on Employment in Resource-Based Areas of China—An Empirical Research Based on the Mediating Effect Model
Authors: Cao Wenbin , Wang Hui , Ying Huihui
Published: December 2017

While environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious, many countries are adopting policies to control pollution. At the same time, the environmental regulation will inevitably affect economic and social development, especially employment growth. The environmental regulation will not only affect the scale of employment directly, but it will also have indirect effects by stimulating upgrades in the industrial structure and in technological innovation. This paper examines the impact of environmental regulation on employment, using a mediating model based on the data from five typical resource-based provinces in China from 2000 to 2015. The estimation is performed based on the system GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) estimator. The results show that the implementation of environmental regulation in resource-based areas has both a direct effect and a mediating effect on employment. These findings provide policy implications for these resource-based areas to promote the coordinating development between the environment and employment.
Comprehensive Performance Evaluation for Hydrological and Nutrients Simulation Using the Hydrological Simulation Program–Fortran in a Mesoscale Monsoon Watershed, China
Authors: Li Zhaofu , Luo Chuan , Jiang Kaixia , Wan Rongrong , Li Hengpeng
Published: December 2017

The Hydrological Simulation Program–Fortran (HSPF) is a hydrological and water quality computer model that was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Comprehensive performance evaluations were carried out for hydrological and nutrient simulation using the HSPF model in the Xitiaoxi watershed in China. Streamflow simulation was calibrated from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2007 and then validated from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 using daily observed data, and nutrient simulation was calibrated and validated using monthly observed data during the period from July 2009 to July 2010. These results of model performance evaluation showed that the streamflows were well simulated over the study period. The determination coefficient (R2) was 0.87, 0.77 and 0.63, and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (Ens) was 0.82, 0.76 and 0.65 for the streamflow simulation in annual, monthly and daily time-steps, respectively. Although limited to monthly observed data, satisfactory performance was still achieved during the quantitative evaluation for nutrients. The R2 was 0.73, 0.82 and 0.92, and the Ens was 0.67, 0.74 and 0.86 for nitrate, ammonium and orthophosphate simulation, respectively. Some issues may affect the application of HSPF were also discussed, such as input data quality, parameter values, etc. Overall, the HSPF model can be successfully used to describe streamflow and nutrients transport in the mesoscale watershed located in the East Asian monsoon climate area. This study is expected to serve as a comprehensive and systematic documentation of understanding the HSPF model for wide application and avoiding possible misuses.