bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Features of the avant-garde directions of European modernism during 1900–1910 in the Ukrainian avant-garde
Authors: Puzyrkova A.
Published: April 2019

During 1900–1910, there was a process of intensive cooperation and mutual enrichment between artists in Western European artistic centers and representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian avant-garde. At the same time, the avant-garde, both in Europe and in the territory of the Russian Empire, forms its own face and features that are reflected in the specificity of the artistic expression of specific groups and trends. The art of the 1900–1910 became a turning point in the history of avant-garde in Europe and in the Ukrainian lands, finally affirming the irreversibility of the phenomenon of avant-gardism. The avant-garde movements evolved rapidly during the period from 1900 to 1930, however, despite certain differences in manifestations, the revolutionary gains of cubism, expressionism and futurism became the foundation of the entire Ukrainian avant-garde. The publication, using examples of cubism, futurism and expressionism, which, deriving from European centers, laid the foundation for the artistic expression of the Ukrainian, as well as Russian avant-garde – cubofuturism, suprematism, constructivism, scrutinizes the features of the avant-garde on Ukrainian territories in the European context. For the first time, it is focused on the differences between the manifestations of Cubism, Futurism, and expressionism in the Ukrainian and European avant-garde. There is a lack of formed groups and program documents of cubism, futurism, and expressionism in the Ukrainian fine art of the 1900-1910, with absolute domination of these areas of artistic expression and formulation. It focuses on the specific manifestations of the Ukrainian and Russian avant-garde that emerged on their base, as well as on the specific manifestation of the Ukrainian avant-garde, the neoprimitivism, which includes the school of Mykhailo Boichuk. The publication emphasizes the importance of suprematism in the Ukrainian avant-garde as a classical avant-garde movement, which had such distinct features as breaking with tradition and well-formed ideological principles outlined in the program documents, which was generally not typical for the Ukrainian avant-garde in the fine arts. As it is known, even the ideological foundations of cubofuturism were not clearly formed by its representatives, Oleksandr Bohomazov and Oleksandra Ekster. It is possible to speak of a formed and declared platform only with respect to the Ukrainian literary avant-garde, where it were the futurists who most clearly positioned themselves.
Mosaic Panel «Scythian Ukraine – Steppe Hellas» of Mykola Storozhenko. Architectonics of the Plastic Space
Authors: Solovei O.
Published: April 2019

This article shows architectonical features of the plastic space in the mosaic panel of Mykola A. Storozhenko «Scythian Ukraine – Steppe Hellas» (1987–1992) and analyzes the composition structure of this work in the context of interrelationships of the multi-faceted imagery and symbolic formation. Nowadays a wide range of such completely concrete formal artistic aspects as composition structure features and architectonics of the plastic space in monumental works of Mykola Storozhenko, in particular his mosaic panels, are still understudied. By making a compositional and constructive analysis the author has revealed interrelationships forming between plastic space elements of the work in the course of the internal imagery interaction and has drawn associative conceptual parallels. The author considers the complex imagery panel system in the context of visual perception focused on symbolic and information as well as national and historical plans of the composition idea. As exemplified by the mosaic panel «Scythian Ukraine – Steppe Hellas» it has been shown that all means of artistic expression aim to establish a stable and architectonically complex plastic system. As a result of research the author of this article proves that the integrity of the imagery is guaranteed by each of the above formal and conceptual composition elements; each of them has its function and creates an irreplaceable and unique constructive imagery fragment in the plastic space of the mosaic panel. On the other hand, the emphasis is made on the fact that only the total effect of interaction of all vectors leads to the powerful multi-layer imagery and symbolic formation which depth the architectonical vertical of archetype and moment of perception comes through and unfolds to the outside. Materials of this analytical research are quite important when solving a question of the theoretical and practical application directly in the creative process in order to improve education programs for composition and as a methodological auxiliary material for students of creative specialties and art expert students.
Figurative oil painting in China: from Mao to Nu
Authors: Ke S.
Published: April 2019

The range of problems of the influence of realistic art on the genre diversity in Chinese painting is revealed in the article. The processes caused by the cultural revolution and the following historical events in China are shown by the example of the formation of figurative painting during the twentieth century. A variant of the typology of Chinese figurative painting of the studied period is proposed based on the analysis of the most typical paintings.
Regeneration in urban meaning
Authors: Kushnarova K.
Published: April 2019

The current state of the urban environment is not limited by the temporal dimension of the last decades, but is the result of centuries of processes of human existence, reflects cultural and artistic trends, the development of science and technology. It includes buildings from different periods of history, which have a harmony placement in a specific area. Regeneration is a new term for urbanism; it becomes in use by the end of the 20th century, however have long been known methods of improving the relevance of the urban environment. The basis for the creation of concepts of regeneration is the natural process of improving the city or “ring development”, social trends, economic expediency, cataclysms. Urban regeneration is the way to reverse the declining life of historical areas by improving the physical structure and function to stimulate social and economic regeneration. The special points of regeneration are the maximum preservation of the authenticity of an area or object and enrichment with a new architecture and functional solutions. Regeneration is a natural process of urban development, it also viewed as a societal phenomenon, and this requires a broader conceptual framework often with a transnational scope. Cities are the focal point for the reflexive processes of society. Successful regeneration of cities depends on social activity and their needs. The regeneration of historical cities in a traditional to an aria but modern manner can save the sense of place and create the new value for all of the citizens. Due to regeneration, we can adapt the historical environment to an abundance of changes and developments, which make our modern urban world more useful for nowadays and improve the quality of life of the people.
Deficit Drip Irrigation in Processing Tomato Production in the Mediterranean Basin. A Data Analysis for Italy
Authors: Francaviglia Rosa , Di Bene Claudia
Published: April 2019

In this study, the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) on crop yields and irrigation water utilization efficiency (IWUE) of processing tomato are contrasting. This study aimed at analyzing a set of field experiments with drip irrigation available for Mediterranean Italy in terms of marketable yields and IWUE under DI. Both yields and IWUE were compared with the control treatment under full irrigation, receiving the maximum water restoration (MWR) in each experiment. The study also aimed at testing the effect of climate (aridity index) and soil parameters (texture). Main results indicated that yields would marginally decrease at 70–80% of MWR and variable irrigation regimes during the crop cycle resulted in higher crop yields. However, results were quite variable and site-dependent. In fact, DI proved more effective in fine textured soils and semiarid climates. We recommend that further research should address variable irrigation regimes and soil and climate conditions that proved more unfavorable in terms of crop response to DI.
Towards Predictive Modeling of Sorghum Biomass Yields Using Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation Derived from Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery and Supervised Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Habyarimana Ephrem , Piccard Isabelle , Catellani Marcello , De Franceschi Paolo , Dall’Agata Michela
Published: April 2019

Sorghum crop is grown under tropical and temperate latitudes for several purposes including production of health promoting food from the kernel and forage and biofuels from aboveground biomass. One of the concerns of policy-makers and sorghum growers is to cost-effectively predict biomass yields early during the cropping season to improve biomass and biofuel management. The objective of this study was to investigate if Sentinel-2 satellite images could be used to predict within-season biomass sorghum yields in the Mediterranean region. Thirteen machine learning algorithms were tested on fortnightly Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B estimates of the fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR) in combination with in situ aboveground biomass yields from demonstrative fields in Italy. A gradient boosting algorithm implementing the xgbtree method was the best predictive model as it was satisfactorily implemented anywhere from May to July. The best prediction time was the month of May followed by May–June and May–July. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first time Sentinel-2-derived fAPAR is used in sorghum biomass predictive modeling. The results from this study will help farmers improve their sorghum biomass business operations and policy-makers and extension services improve energy planning and avoid energy-related crises.
The Effects of Diet Formulation on the Yield, Proximate Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Prepupae Intended for Animal Feed
Authors: Danieli Pier Paolo , Lussiana Carola , Gasco Laura , Amici Andrea , Ronchi Bruno
Published: April 2019

The black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens L.) is a very promising insect species due to the ability to convert low-value substrates in highly nutrient feed. This work aimed to study the effect of three nominally isoenergetic diets containing plant ingredients such as barley, alfalfa, and wheat byproducts, formulated to be higher in nonfiber carbohydrates (TMD1), fibers (TMD2), and protein (TMD3) in comparison to an extensively genetic modified cereal (cornmeal)-based diet (C), on the growth, yield, and nutritive traits of BSF prepupae (BSFPs). Three growing trials with four biological replicates were carried out. Proximate and fatty acid analyses were performed on the diets and BSFPs. Feed conversion ratios (FCR), dry matter and nutrient yields, and apparent concentration factors (aBCF) for fatty acids (FAs) were calculated. Diet formulation had a substantial effect on the survival, development rate, and larval yield, but the FCR was unaffected. The BSFPs fed TMD3 did not result in a higher crude protein content in comparison to the C or TMD2 diets. Despite the leveled fat content of the diets, BSFPs reared on TMD1 were highest in fat, saturated FA, and fat yield. An apparent bioconcentration factor (aBCF) value lower than unity that was found for the unsaturated FA suggests that the BSFPs inefficiently absorb them from the diet or possibly turn them into saturated FA. However, the unsaturated FA accumulation in BSFPs depended on the levels that were found in the diet, which suggested some possibilities for the FA profile modulation. Overall, the TMD2 performed well despite the low-value of its main ingredients and high fiber content and can be considered to be a feasible option for the mass rearing of BSFPs that are intended for animal feed.
Effects of Long-Term Dietary Protein Restriction on Intestinal Morphology, Digestive Enzymes, Gut Hormones, and Colonic Microbiota in Pigs
Authors: Yu Defu , Zhu Weiyun , Hang Suqin
Published: April 2019

Using protein-restriction diets becomes a potential strategy to save the dietary protein resources. However, the mechanism of low-protein diets influencing pigs’ growth performance is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of protein-restriction diets on gastrointestinal physiology and gut microbiota in pigs. Eighteen weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three groups with different dietary protein levels. After a 16-week trial, the results showed that feeding a low-protein diet to pigs impaired the epithelial morphology of duodenum and jejunum (p < 0.05) and reduced the concentration of many plasma hormones (p < 0.05), such as ghrelin, somatostatin, glucose-dependent insulin-tropic polypeptide, leptin, and gastrin. The relative abundance of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus in colon and microbiota metabolites was also decreased by extreme protein-restriction diets (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that long-term ingestion of a protein-restricted diet could impair intestinal morphology, suppress gut hormone secretion, and change the microbial community and fermentation metabolites in pigs, while the moderately low-protein diet had a minimal effect on gut function and did not impair growth performance.
Antioxidants Special Issue: Peroxiredoxin 6 as a Unique Member of the Peroxiredoxin Family
Authors: Fisher Aron B.
Published: April 2019

The peroxiredoxins, first discovered about 30 years ago, are the most recently described family of ubiquitously expressed antioxidant enzymes [...]
Tribological Capabilities of Graphene and Titanium Dioxide Nano Additives in Solid and Liquid Base Lubricants
Authors: Patel Jankhan , Kiani Amirkianoosh
Published: April 2019

In this study, the tribological behavior of both liquid (oil) and semi-liquid (grease) lubricants enhanced by multilayer graphene nano platelets and titanium dioxide nano powder was evaluated using ball-on-disk and shaft-on-plate tribo-meters. Oil samples for both 2D graphene nano platelets (GNP) and titanium nanopowders (TiNP) were prepared at three concentrations of 0.01 %w/w, 0.05 %w/w and 0.1 %w/w. In addition, 0.05% w/w mixtures of GNP and TiNP were prepared with three different ratios to analyze collective effects of both nano additives on friction and wear properties. For semi-liquid lubricants, 0.5% w/w concentrations were prepared for both nano additives for shaft-on-plate tests. Viscosity and oxidation stability tests were conducted on the liquid-base lubricants. Nano powders of both additive and substrate were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, Raman spectroscopy was conducted to characterize the graphene and titanium dioxide. The study shows that adding graphene and titanium dioxide individually sacrifices either the wear or friction of lubricants. However, use of both additives together can enhance friction resistance and wear preventive properties of a liquid lubricant significantly. For a semi-liquid lubricant, the use of both additives together and individually reduces friction compared to base grease.
Subsidy and Pricing Model of Electric Vehicle Sharing Based on Two-Stage Stackelberg Game – A Case Study in China
Authors: Yang Jun , Lin Yangjia , Wu Fuzhang , Chen Lei
Published: April 2019

Electric vehicle sharing provides an effective way to improve the traffic situation and relieve environmental pressure. The government subsidy policy and the car-sharing operator’s pricing strategy are the key factors that affect the large-scale application of electric vehicle sharing. To address this issue, a subsidy and pricing model for electric vehicle sharing based on the two-stage Stackelberg game is proposed in this paper according to the current situation in China. First, an electric vehicle sharing operation mode under government participation is constructed. Then, a two-stage Stackelberg game model involving the government, the car-sharing operator and the consumers is proposed to determine the subsidy rates and pricing strategies. The improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to obtain the Nash equilibrium of the model. Also, the influence of private car cost and shared travel comfort on subsidy rates and pricing strategies is analyzed. Finally, the simulation of electric vehicle sharing in a town of China is carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed subsidy and price model. The simulation results show that the model rationally formulates subsidy policies and pricing strategies of the electric vehicle sharing to balance the interests of the three participants, mobilizing users’ enthusiasm while guaranteeing the benefits of the government and operator, making the overall benefit optimal.
A Review on Ultrasonic Neuromodulation of the Peripheral Nervous System: Enhanced or Suppressed Activities?
Authors: Feng Bin , Chen Longtu , Ilham Sheikh J.
Published: April 2019

Ultrasonic (US) neuromodulation has emerged as a promising therapeutic means by delivering focused energy deep into the nervous tissue. Low-intensity ultrasound (US) directly activates and/or inhibits neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). US neuromodulation of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is less developed and rarely used clinically. The literature on the neuromodulatory effects of US on the PNS is controversial, with some studies documenting enhanced neural activities, some showing suppressed activities, and others reporting mixed effects. US, with different ranges of intensity and strength, is likely to generate distinct physical effects in the stimulated neuronal tissues, which underlies different experimental outcomes in the literature. In this review, we summarize all the major reports that document the effects of US on peripheral nerve endings, axons, and/or somata in the dorsal root ganglion. In particular, we thoroughly discuss the potential impacts of the following key parameters on the study outcomes of PNS neuromodulation by US: frequency, pulse repetition frequency, duty cycle, intensity, metrics for peripheral neural activities, and type of biological preparations used in the studies. Potential mechanisms of peripheral US neuromodulation are summarized to provide a plausible interpretation of the seemly contradictory effects of enhanced and suppressed neural activities of US neuromodulation.
Cyclic p-y Curves of Monopiles in Dense Dry Sand Using Centrifuge Model Tests
Authors: Lee Myungjae , Bae Kyung-Tae , Lee Il-Wha , Yoo Mintaek
Published: April 2019

In this study, centrifuge model tests were used to examine the lateral behavior of a monopile embedded in dry sand through cyclic lateral loading tests. The soil specimens used in the tests were dry Jumunjin sand with a relative density of 80% and a friction angle of 38°. A static loading test was performed once, and cyclic loading tests were performed four times using four magnitudes of cyclic load (30%, 50%, 80%, and 120% of static lateral capacity). The experimental cyclic p-y curve was obtained through the tests, and the maximum soil resistance points that were found for each load were used to find the cyclic p-y backbone curve for each depth. The two variables which are needed to define the cyclic p-y backbone curve, i.e., the initial modulus of subgrade reaction (kini) and ultimate soil resistance (pu), were suggested as functions of the soil’s physical properties and the pile. The cyclic p-y curve of the first cycle and the 100th cycle were formulated to present the upper limit and lower limit. The suggested cyclic p-y curve had an overestimated soil resistance compared with the existing API (1987) method, but the initial modulus of subgrade reaction was underestimated.
Parameterized Modeling and Planning of Distributed Energy Storage in Active Distribution Networks
Authors: Zhao Tianyu , Yu Hao , Song Guanyu , Sun Chongbo , Li Peng
Published: April 2019

In recent years, distributed energy storage (DES) has experienced rapid growth and has been widely applied in active distribution networks (ADNs). Owing to the close correlation between the characteristics and the application scenarios, DES modeling needs to be parameterized separately for various application demands. In this paper, a parameterized model for optimal DES planning in ADNs is proposed. The typical scenarios for DES planning are generated by the clustering technique, containing the patterns of load demand, wind turbine output and photovoltaic output. Secondly, an optimal planning model of DES considering parameterized characteristics is established, which is essentially a mixed integer non-linear optimization problem. Then, the model is converted to a mixed-integer second-order cone programming model, which can be solved efficiently by available commercial software. Finally, case studies on the modified IEEE 33-node system and IEEE 123-node system verify the efficiency of the proposed method, and the effects of DES planning are validated by two evaluation indexes.
Structural Characteristics of the Yangtze-Huaihe Cold Shear Line over Eastern China in Summer
Authors: Yan Lizhu , Yao Xiuping
Published: April 2019

Based on ERA-Interim data from June to July during 1981–2016 and daily meteorological dataset of China Surface Meteorological Stations (V3.0), 10 typical Yangtze-Huaihe cold shear lines (YCSL) over eastern China (28°~34° N, 110°~122° E) in summer are selected, and the structural characteristics of the YCSL during the evolution process are investigated by the composite analysis. The results indicate that the YCSL is horizontally in a northeast–southwest direction and vertically inclines northward from the lower layer to the upper layer. The vertical extension of the YCSL can reach 750 hPa, and its life time is about 54 h. The evolution process of the YCSL is affected by the comprehensive configuration of the high-level, medium-level, and low-level weather systems. The southward advancement, strengthening, and eastward movement of the north branch low-pressure trough over the Yangtze-Huaihe region at 850 hPa is a key factor for the evolution of the YCSL. Because the structural characteristics of the YCSL have obvious changes in the evolution process, the evolution process can be divided into the development stage, strong stage, and weakening stage. In terms of dynamic structures, the YCSL corresponds well with the axis of the positive vorticity belt, whose center is located at 850 hPa, and reaches the maximum in the strong stage. The YCSL is located in the non-divergence zone, and there are strong convergence centers located on its south side. The YCSL also locates in the ascending motion zone between two secondary circulations on the north and south sides, with the maximum ascending velocity in the strong stage, and its large-value area presents an upright structure. In the development stage, there is an ascending motion along the YCSL, but in the strong and weakening stages there are an ascending motion below 800 hPa and a descending motion above 800 hPa along the YCSL. In terms of thermal structures, the YCSL is located in the low temperature zone of the lower layer, and there is a high temperature zone around 500 hPa. Due to the dominant role of dry and cold airflow from the north, the YCSL locates in the dry and cold air during the development and strong stages, and then the warm and moist airflow from the south invades, resulting in the weakening of the YCSL. There is a convective unstable layer on the south side of the YCSL and a neutral layer on the north side. The water vapor gathers near the YCSL, and there are two water vapor convergence centers on the east and west sides of the YCSL, respectively. The water vapor convergence zone is mainly below 600 hPa in the low troposphere and the convergence center is located at around 900 hPa. The atmospheric baroclinicity is one of the reasons for the northward inclination of the YCSL.
Pre-Earthquake and Coseismic Ionosphere Disturbances of the Mw 6.6 Lushan Earthquake on 20 April 2013 Monitored by CMONOC
Authors: Shi Kunpeng , Liu Xin , Guo Jinyun , Liu Lu , You Xinzhao , Wang Fangjian
Published: April 2019

In order to study the coupling relationship between large earthquakes and the ionosphere, the techniques of ionosphere data acquisition were refined by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) to detect the pre-earthquake ionospheric abnormal and coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CID) of the Mw 6.6 Lushan earthquake on 20 April 2013. Based on the regional ionosphere maps (RIMs) derived from the Global Positioning System (GPS) observations of CMONOC, the ionospheric local effects near the epicenter of the Lushan earthquake one month prior to the shock were analyzed. The results show that the total electron content (TEC) anomalies appeared 12–14 (6–8 April), 19 (1 April), and 25–27 (24–26 March) days prior to the Lushan earthquake, which are defined as periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Multi-indices including the ring current index (Dst), geomagnetic planetary (Kp) index, wind plasma speed (Vsw) index, F10.7, and solar flares were utilized to represent the solar–terrestrial environment in different scales and eliminate the effects of solar and geomagnetic activities on the ionosphere. After the interference of solar–terrestrial activity and the diurnal variation in the lower thermosphere were excluded, the TEC variations with obvious equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) in period-1 were considered to be related to the Lushan earthquake. We further retrieved precise slant TECs (STECs) near the epicenter to study the coseismic ionospheric disturbance (CID). The results show that there was clear STEC disturbance occurring within half an hour after the Lushan earthquake, and the CID propagation distance was less than the impact radius of the Lushan earthquake (689 km). The shell models with different altitudes were adopted to analyze the propagation speed of the CID. It is found that at the F2-layer with the altitude of 277 km, which had a CID horizontal propagation velocity of 0.84 ± 0.03 km/s, was in accordance with the acoustic wave propagation velocity. The calculated velocity acoustic wave from the epicenter to the ionospheric pierce points of this shell model was about 0.53 ± 0.03 km/s, which was also consistent with its actual velocity within the altitude of 0–277 km. Affected by the geomagnetic field, the CID mainly propagated along the southeast direction at the azimuth of 190°, which was almost parallel to the local magnetic line.
The Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Inhibitor LSN 2105786 Promotes Zebrafish Fin Regeneration
Authors: Sarmah Swapnalee , Curtis Courtney , Mahin Jennifer , Farrell Mark , Engler Thomas A. , Sanchez-Felix Manuel V. , Sato Masahiko , Ma Yanfai Linda , Chu Shaoyou , Marrs James A.
Published: April 2019

The Wnt pathway has been shown to regulate bone homeostasis and to influence some bone disease states. We utilized a zebrafish model system to study the effects of a synthetic, orally bioavailable glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) inhibitor LSN 2105786, which activates Wnt signaling during bone healing and embryogenesis. GSK3β inhibitor treatment was used to phenocopy GSK3β morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) knockdown in zebrafish embryos. Human and zebrafish synthetic mRNA injection were similarly effective at rescue of GSK3β MO knockdown. During caudal fin regeneration, bony rays are the first structure to differentiate in zebrafish fins, providing a useful model to study bone healing. Caudal fin regeneration experiments were conducted using various concentrations of a GSK3β inhibitor, examining duration and concentration dependence on regenerative outgrowth. Experiments revealed continuous low concentration (4–5 nM) treatment to be more effective at increasing regeneration than intermittent dosing. Higher concentrations inhibited fin growth, perhaps by excessive stimulation of differentiation programs. Increased Wnt responsive gene expression and differentiation were observed in response to GSK3b inhibitor treatment. Activating Wnt signaling also increased cell proliferation and osteoblast differentiation in fin regenerates. Together, these data indicate that bone healing in zebrafish fin regeneration was improved by activating Wnt signaling using GSK3b inhibitor treatment. In addition, caudal fin regeneration is useful to evaluate dose-dependent pharmacological efficacy in bone healing, various dosing regimens and possible toxicological effects of compounds.
Women’s Health: Contemporary Management of MS in Pregnancy and Post-Partum
Authors: Tisovic Kelly , Amezcua Lilyana
Published: April 2019

Multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily affects women in childbearing age and is associated with an increased risk of adverse post-partum outcomes. Relapses and now fetal exposure to disease modifying treatments in the early phase of pregnancy and thereafter are of concern. Safe and effective contraception is required for women who wish to delay or avoid pregnancy while on disease-modifying treatments. Counseling and planning is essential to assess the risk of both fetal and maternal complications, particularly now in the era of highly efficient and riskier therapies. The purpose of this review is to provide a practical framework using the available data surrounding pregnancy in MS with the goal of optimizing outcomes during this phase in MS.
Research on Non-Contact Monitoring System for Human Physiological Signal and Body Movement
Authors: Liang Qiancheng , Xu Lisheng , Bao Nan , Qi Lin , Shi Jingjing , Yang Yicheng , Yao Yudong
Published: April 2019

With the rapid increase in the development of miniaturized sensors and embedded devices for vital signs monitoring, personal physiological signal monitoring devices are becoming popular. However, physiological monitoring devices which are worn on the body normally affect the daily activities of people. This problem can be avoided by using a non-contact measuring device like the Doppler radar system, which is more convenient, is private compared to video monitoring, infrared monitoring and other non-contact methods. Additionally real-time physiological monitoring with the Doppler radar system can also obtain signal changes caused by motion changes. As a result, the Doppler radar system not only obtains the information of respiratory and cardiac signals, but also obtains information about body movement. The relevant RF technology could eliminate some interference from body motion with a small amplitude. However, the motion recognition method can also be used to classify related body motion signals. In this paper, a vital sign and body movement monitoring system worked at 2.4 GHz was proposed. It can measure various physiological signs of the human body in a non-contact manner. The accuracy of the non-contact physiological signal monitoring system was analyzed. First, the working distance of the system was tested. Then, the algorithm of mining collective motion signal was classified, and the accuracy was 88%, which could be further improved in the system. In addition, the mean absolute error values of heart rate and respiratory rate were 0.8 beats/min and 3.5 beats/min, respectively, and the reliability of the system was verified by comparing the respiratory waveforms with the contact equipment at different distances.
Optimization of the Navigated TMS Mapping Algorithm for Accurate Estimation of Cortical Muscle Representation Characteristics
Authors: Sinitsyn Dmitry O. , Chernyavskiy Andrey Yu. , Poydasheva Alexandra G. , Bakulin Ilya S. , Suponeva Natalia A. , Piradov Michael A.
Published: April 2019

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) mapping of cortical muscle representations allows noninvasive assessment of the state of a healthy or diseased motor system, and monitoring changes over time. These applications are hampered by the heterogeneity of existing mapping algorithms and the lack of detailed information about their accuracy. We aimed to find an optimal motor evoked potential (MEP) sampling scheme in the grid-based mapping algorithm in terms of the accuracy of muscle representation parameters. The abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles of eight healthy subjects were mapped three times on consecutive days using a seven-by-seven grid with ten stimuli per cell. The effect of the MEP variability on the parameter accuracy was assessed using bootstrapping. The accuracy of representation parameters increased with the number of stimuli without saturation up to at least ten stimuli per cell. The detailed sampling showed that the between-session representation area changes in the absence of interventions were significantly larger than the within-session fluctuations and thus could not be explained solely by the trial-to-trial variability of MEPs. The results demonstrate that the number of stimuli has no universally optimal value and must be chosen by balancing the accuracy requirements with the mapping time constraints in a given problem.
Multiscale Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Retrofit of Existing Masonry Buildings
Authors: Ferreira Tiago Miguel , Mendes Nuno , Silva Rui
Published: April 2019

The growing concern about the protection of built heritage and the sustainability of urban areas has driven the reoccupation of existing masonry buildings, which, in the great majority of the cases, were not designed or constructed to withstand significant seismic forces. This fact, associated with territorial occupation often concentrated in areas with high seismic hazard, makes it essential to look at these buildings from the point of view of the assessment of their seismic vulnerability and retrofitting needs. However, to be effective and efficient, such an assessment must be founded on a solid knowledge of the existing methods and tools, as well as on the criteria that should underlie the selection of the most appropriate to use in each context and situation. Aimed at contributing to systematise that knowledge, this paper presents a comprehensive review of the most relevant vulnerability assessment methods applicable at different scales, as well as the most significant traditional and innovative seismic retrofitting solutions for existing masonry buildings.
Quantifying the Generality and Adaptability of Building Layouts Using Weighted Graphs: The SAGA Method
Authors: Herthogs Pieter , Debacker Wim , Tunçer Bige , De Weerdt Yves , De Temmerman Niels
Published: April 2019

This paper presents an assessment method that uses weighted graphs to quantify a building’s capacity to support changes. The method is called Spatial Assessment of Generality and Adaptability (SAGA), and evaluates the generality (passive support for change) and adaptability (active support for change) of a building’s spatial configuration. We put forward that the generality and adaptability of a floor plan can be expressed in terms of graph permeability, and introduce a set of five quantitative indicators. To illustrate the method, we evaluate six representative plan layouts, and discuss how their generality and adaptability scores relate to their spatial configuration. We are developing the SAGA method for two areas of application. First, SAGA’s global graph indicators can be used to analyse and compare large sets of plan graphs, for example to map or plan adaptable capacity throughout a building or city. Second, the SAGA method can serve as a tool to inform design, allowing architects to improve the generality and adaptability of their plan layouts. While we conclude that the method has significant strengths and promising applications, the paper ends by discussing ways to make the assessment more robust and extend it beyond measuring spatial configuration.
Thermal Performance Evaluation of Common Exterior Residential Wall Types in Egypt
Authors: Tarabieh Khaled , Aboulmagd Ahmed
Published: April 2019

The demand for energy-efficient housing is on the rise in Egypt. The information about the individual materials used in the construction of typical residential wall assemblies are known in the literature. However, data from lab tests to validate the performance for whole composite walls are limited. Three typical wall types were constructed and tested utilizing a standard experimental evaluation procedure based on thermal convection loads. A research framework combining the validated thermal performance data from the experimental test and the simulated data was developed. The experimental tests were performed utilizing a state-of-the-art guarded hotbox apparatus and following the guidelines of the ASTM C1363-11 standard. The solar radiation load was taken into account in the calculations according to the standard, and the error estimation and uncertainty analysis for the experimental tests are reported. The results of the experimental testing are described and a recommendation of the best wall type is noted. The output of this research will help to initiate a material database of the thermal performance of typical residential wall types used in Egypt that have been validated in the lab. This will be useful for the building industry as a whole to understand the performance of the materials in composite assemblies and their impact on energy efficiency.
Performance Indicators of Printed Construction Materials: a Durability-Based Approach
Authors: Lafhaj Zoubeir , Dakhli Zakaria
Published: April 2019

Studying the durability of materials and structures, including 3D-printed structures, is now a key step in better meeting the challenges of sustainable development and integrating technical and economic aspects from the design phase into the execution phase. While digital and robotics technologies have been well developed for construction 3D printing, the material aspect still faces critical issues to meet the evolving requirements for buildings. This research aims to develop performance indicators for 3D-printed materials used in construction regardless of the nature of the material. A general guideline is to be established as a result of this research. Thus, the literature review analyzes traditional durability approaches to construction materials and challenges are identified for potential applications in construction. The results suggest that performance indicators for 3D-printed materials should be checked as printable through an experimental case study. This research could be of interest to researchers, professionals, and start-ups in the construction and materials research fields.
Dual Targeting of Y-Box Binding Protein-1 and Akt Inhibits Proliferation and Enhances the Chemosensitivity of Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Maier Eva , Attenberger Felix , Tiwari Aadhya , Lettau Konstanze , Rebholz Simone , Fehrenbacher Birgit , Schaller Martin , Gani Cihan , Toulany Mahmoud
Published: April 2019

KRAS-mutated colorectal cancers (CRCs) are resistant to cetuximab treatment. The multifunctional Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) is overexpressed in CRC and is associated with chemoresistance. In this study, the effects of oncogenic mutated KRAS(G12V) and KRAS(G13D) on YB-1 phosphorylation were investigated in CRC cells. The effects of the inhibition of p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) on YB-1 phosphorylation, cell proliferation and survival were tested with and without treatment with 5-fluorouracil using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA. YB-1 phosphorylation status and subcellular distribution in CRC patient tissues were determined by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. Endogenous expression of mutated KRAS(G13D) and conditional expression of KRAS(G12V) significantly stimulated YB-1 phosphorylation via RSK and were associated with cetuximab resistance. Inhibition of YB-1 by targeting RSK stimulated the Akt signaling pathway, and this stimulation occurred independently of KRAS mutational status. Akt activation interfered with the antiproliferative effect of the RSK inhibitor. Consequently, dual targeting of RSK and Akt efficiently inhibited cell proliferation in KRAS(G13D)-mutated HCT116 and KRAS wild-type SW48 cells. Treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) significantly enhanced YB-1 phosphorylation in KRAS(G13D)-mutated HCT116 cells but not in KRAS wild-type SW48 cells. Dual targeting of Akt and RSK sensitized HCT116 cells to 5-FU by stimulating 5-FU-induced apoptosis and inhibiting repair of 5-FU-induced DNA damage. YB-1 was highly phosphorylated in CRC patient tumor tissues and was mainly localized in the nucleus. Together, dual targeting of RSK and Akt may be an alternative molecular targeting approach to cetuximab for treating CRC in which YB-1 is highly phosphorylated.
MSC.sTRAIL Has Better Efficacy than MSC.FL-TRAIL and in Combination with AKTi Blocks Pro-Metastatic Cytokine Production in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Mohr Andrea , Chu Tianyuan , Brooke Greg N. , Zwacka Ralf M.
Published: April 2019

Cell therapy is a promising new treatment option for cancer. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential in delivering therapeutic genes in various tumour models and are now on the verge of being tested in the clinic. A number of therapeutic genes have been examined in this context, including the death ligand TRAIL. For cell therapy, it can be used in its natural form as a full-length and membrane-bound protein (FL-TRAIL) or as an engineered version commonly referred to as soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL). As to which is more therapeutically efficacious, contradicting results have been reported. We discovered that MSCs producing sTRAIL have significantly higher apoptosis-inducing activity than cells expressing FL-TRAIL and found that FL-TRAIL, in contrast to sTRAIL, is not secreted. We also demonstrated that TRAIL does induce the expression of pro-metastatic cytokines in prostate cancer cells, but that this effect could be overcome through combination with an AKT inhibitor. Thus, a combination consisting of small-molecule drugs specifically targeting tumour cells in combination with MSC.sTRAIL, not only provides a way of sensitising cancer cells to TRAIL, but also reduces the issue of side-effect-causing cytokine production. This therapeutic strategy therefore represents a novel targeted treatment option for advanced prostate cancer and other difficult to treat tumours.
Prognostic Value of Genetic Alterations in Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Single Institution Experience
Authors: Heiblig Maël , Labussière-Wallet Hélène , Nicolini Franck Emmanuel , Michallet Mauricette , Hayette Sandrine , Sujobert Pierre , Plesa Adriana , Balsat Marie , Paubelle Etienne , Barraco Fiorenza , Tigaud Isabelle , Ducastelle Sophie , Wattel Eric , Salles Gilles , Thomas Xavier
Published: April 2019

Although the outcome in younger adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has improved, the benefit associated with standard intensive chemotherapy in older patients remains debatable. In this study, we investigated the incidence and the prognostic significance of genetic characteristics according to treatment intensity in patients aged 60 years or older. On the 495 patients of our cohort, DNMT3A R882 (25.2%), NPM1 (23.7%) and FLT3-ITD (16.8%) were the most frequent molecular mutations found at diagnosis. In this elderly population, intensive chemotherapy seemed to be a suitable option in terms of early death and survival, except for normal karyotype (NK) NPM1−FLT3-ITD+ patients and those aged over 70 within the adverse cytogenetic/molecular risk group. The FLT3-ITD mutation was systematically associated with an unfavorable outcome, independently of the ratio. NK NPM1+/FLT3-TKD+ genotype tends to confer a good prognosis in patients treated intensively. Regarding minimal residual disease prognostic value, overall survival was significantly better for patients achieving a 4 log NPM1 reduction (median OS: 24.4 vs. 12.8 months, p = 0.013) but did not reach statistical significance for progression free survival. This retrospective study highlights that intensive chemotherapy may not be the most appropriate option for each elderly patient and that molecular markers may help treatment intensity decision-making.
Facet-Dependent Reactivity of Fe2O3/CeO2 Nanocomposites: Effect of Ceria Morphology on CO Oxidation
Authors: Lykaki Maria , Stefa Sofia , Carabineiro Sόnia , Pandis Pavlos , Stathopoulos Vassilis , Konsolakis Michalis
Published: April 2019

Ceria has been widely studied either as catalyst itself or support of various active phases in many catalytic reactions, due to its unique redox and surface properties in conjunction to its lower cost, compared to noble metal-based catalytic systems. The rational design of catalytic materials, through appropriate tailoring of the particles’ shape and size, in order to acquire highly efficient nanocatalysts, is of major significance. Iron is considered to be one of the cheapest transition metals while its interaction with ceria support and their shape-dependent catalytic activity has not been fully investigated. In this work, we report on ceria nanostructures morphological effects (cubes, polyhedra, rods) on the textural, structural, surface, redox properties and, consequently, on the CO oxidation performance of the iron-ceria mixed oxides (Fe2O3/CeO2). A full characterization study involving N2 adsorption at –196 °C, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed. The results clearly revealed the key role of support morphology on the physicochemical properties and the catalytic behavior of the iron-ceria binary system, with the rod-shaped sample exhibiting the highest catalytic performance, both in terms of conversion and specific activity, due to its improved reducibility and oxygen mobility, along with its abundance in Fe2+ species.
Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers as Sustainable Bifunctional Heterogeneous Catalysts and Their Reactivity in Friedel-Crafts Acylation Reactions
Authors: Al-Zeer Mohammad I. M. , MacKenzie Kenneth J. D.
Published: April 2019

This study presents the synthesis, characteristics and catalytic reactivity of sustainable bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts derived from coal fly ash-based geopolymer, particularly those with a high Ca content (C-class) fly ash. The developed catalysts were synthesized at room temperature and pressure in a simple ecologically-benign procedure and their reactivity was evaluated in the Friedel-Crafts acylation of various arenes. These catalysts can be produced with multilevel porous architecture, and a combination of acidic and redox active sites allowing their use as bifunctional catalysts. The acidic sites (Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites) were generated within the catalyst framework by ion-exchange followed by thermal treatment, and redox sites that originated from the catalytically reactive fly ash components. The developed catalysts demonstrated higher reactivity than other commonly used solid catalysts such as Metal-zeolite and Metal-mesoporous silicate, heteropolyacids and zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIF).