bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An improved machine to produce nature-identical snow in the laboratory
Authors: Schleef Stefan , Jaggi Matthias , Löwe Henning , Schneebeli Martin
Published: December 2013

We present an improved machine to produce nature-identical snow in a cold laboratory for reproducible experiments. The machine is based on the common supersaturation principle of blowing cold air over a heated water basin. The moist airstream is directed into a chamber, where it cools and the nucleation of ice crystals is promoted on stretched nylon wires. Snow crystals grow on the wires and are harvested regularly by a new automatic brush rack. Depending on the settings, different snow crystals can be produced, which are shown to be consistent with the Nakaya diagram. The main snow types are dendrites and needles. We prepared specimens from the snow produced by the snowmaker and analyzed them using microcomputer tomography. For dendrites we show that there are natural snow samples that have the same crystal shape and similar microstructural parameters, namely density and specific surface area. The machine can produce suitable amounts of snow for laboratory experiments in an efficient way. As an advantage over previous designs, uniform and reproducible snow samples can be generated under well-defined conditions.
Dependence of ice-core relative trace-element concentration on acidification
Authors: Koffman Bess G. , Handley Michael J. , Osterberg Erich C. , Wells Mark L. , Kreutz Karl J.
Published: December 2013

To assess the role of methodological differences on measured trace-element concentrations in ice cores, we developed an experiment to test the effects of acidification strength and time on dust dissolution using snow samples collected in West Antarctica and Alaska. We leached Antarctic samples for 3 months at room temperature using nitric acid at concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0% (v/v). At selected intervals (20 min, 24 hours, 5 days, 14 days, 28 days, 56 days, 91 days) we analyzed 23 trace elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Concentrations of lithogenic elements scaled with acid strength and increased by 100–1380% in 3 months. Incongruent elemental dissolution caused significant variability in calculated crustal enrichment factors through time (factor of 1.3 (Pb) to 8.0 (Cs)). Using snow samples collected in Alaska and acidified at 1% (v/v) for 383 days, we found that the increase in lithogenic element concentration with time depends strongly on initial concentration, and varies by element (e.g. Fe linear regression slope = 1.66; r = 0.98). Our results demonstrate that relative trace-element concentrations measured in ice cores depend on the acidification method used.
Towards Effective Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces Dedicated to Gait Rehabilitation Systems
Authors: Castermans Thierry , Duvinage Matthieu , Cheron Guy , Dutoit Thierry
Published: December 2013

In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the field of walk rehabilitation. Motor cortex signals in bipedal monkeys have been interpreted to predict walk kinematics. Epidural electrical stimulation in rats and in one young paraplegic has been realized to partially restore motor control after spinal cord injury. However, these experimental trials are far from being applicable to all patients suffering from motor impairments. Therefore, it is thought that more simple rehabilitation systems are desirable in the meanwhile. The goal of this review is to describe and summarize the progress made in the development of non-invasive brain-computer interfaces dedicated to motor rehabilitation systems. In the first part, the main principles of human locomotion control are presented. The paper then focuses on the mechanisms of supra-spinal centers active during gait, including results from electroencephalography, functional brain imaging technologies [near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron-emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT)] and invasive studies. The first brain-computer interface (BCI) applications to gait rehabilitation are then presented, with a discussion about the different strategies developed in the field. The challenges to raise for future systems are identified and discussed. Finally, we present some proposals to address these challenges, in order to contribute to the improvement of BCI for gait rehabilitation.
Nanomechanical Properties and Deformation Behaviors of Multi-Component (AlCrTaTiZr)NxSiy High-Entropy Coatings
Authors: Lin Shao-Yi , Chang Shou-Yi , Chang Chia-Jung , Huang Yi-Chung
Published: December 2013

In this study multi-component (AlCrTaTiZr)NxSiy high-entropy coatings were developed by co-sputtering of AlCrTaTiZr alloy and Si in an Ar/N2 mixed atmosphere with the application of different substrate biases and Si-target powers. Their nanomechanical properties and deformation behaviors were characterized by nanoindentation tests. Because of the effect of high mixing entropies, all the deposited multi-component (AlCrTaTiZr)NxSiy high-entropy coatings exhibited a simple face-centered cubic solid-solution structure. With an increased substrate bias and Si-target power, their microstructures changed from large columns with a [111] preferred orientation to a nanocomposite form with ultrafine grains. The hardness, H/E ratio and H3/E2 ratio of (AlCrTaTiZr)N1.07Si0.15 coating reached 30.2 GPa, 0.12 and 0.41 GPa, respectively, suggesting markedly suppressed dislocation activities and a very high resistance to wear and plastic deformation, attributable to grain refinements and film densification by the application of substrate bias, a nanocomposite structure by the introduction of silicon nitrides, and a strengthening effect induced by severe lattice distortions. In the deformed regions under indents, stacking faults or partial dislocations were formed, while in the stress-released regions, near-perfect lattices recovered.
Energy-Regenerative Braking Control of Electric Vehicles Using Three-Phase Brushless Direct-Current Motors
Authors: Long Bo , Lim Shin , Ryu Ji , Chong Kil
Published: December 2013

Regenerative braking provides an effective way of extending the driving range of battery powered electric vehicles (EVs). This paper analyzes the equivalent power circuit and operation principles of an EV using regenerative braking control technology. During the braking period, the switching sequence of the power converter is controlled to inverse the output torque of the three-phase brushless direct-current (DC) motor, so that the braking energy can be returned to the battery. Compared with the presented methods, this technology can achieve several goals: energy recovery, electric braking, ultra-quiet braking and extending the driving range. Merits and drawbacks of different braking control strategy are further elaborated. State-space model of the EVs under energy-regenerative braking operation is established, considering that parameter variations are unavoidable due to temperature change, measured error, un-modeled dynamics, external disturbance and time-varying system parameters, a sliding mode robust controller (SMRC) is designed and implemented. Phase current and DC-link voltage are selected as the state variables, respectively. The corresponding control law is also provided. The proposed control scheme is compared with a conventional proportional-integral (PI) controller. A laboratory EV for experiment is setup to verify the proposed scheme. Experimental results show that the drive range of EVs can be improved about 17% using the proposed controller with energy-regeneration control.
Large-Scale Regeneration Patterns of Pinus nigra Subsp. salzmannii: Poor Evidence of Increasing Facilitation Across a Drought Gradient
Authors: Tíscar Pedro , Linares Juan
Published: December 2013

Tree recruitment is a key process underlying stand dynamics and sustainability in managed forests. Woody plant cover is known to affect the regeneration success of Pinus nigra, suggesting the existence of facilitative plant-plant interactions. The regeneration patterns of this Mediterranean pine were analyzed across its distribution area, using data from 3226 plots of the Spanish National Forest Inventory. We aimed to test the hypothesis that seedlings establishment occurs under higher values of either canopy or shrub cover in the driest populations, as predicted by the stress-gradient hypothesis. Data were analyzed by means of Generalized Linear Models and multivariate methods. Results revealed that regeneration failure occurs on a regional scale, and that regeneration is facilitated by tree canopy cover of 55%–80%. A non-linear pattern of interaction along an aridity gradient was identified, with competition at the wettest site, high facilitation at the mid-dry sites, and low facilitation at the driest site. Evidence suggests that some shrub species may facilitate recruitment in the harsher areas. Collectively, our results reduce the possibilities of adapting forest management to drying climates by the application of alternative silvicultural prescriptions involving canopy cover.
A Comparison of the Nutritional Quality of Food Products Advertised in Grocery Store Circulars of High- versus Low-Income New York City Zip Codes
Authors: Ethan Danna , Basch Corey , Rajan Sonali , Samuel Lalitha , Hammond Rodney
Published: December 2013

Grocery stores can be an important resource for health and nutrition with the variety and economic value of foods offered. Weekly circulars are a means of promoting foods at a sale price. To date, little is known about the extent that nutritious foods are advertised and prominently placed in circulars. This study’s aim was to compare the nutritional quality of products advertised on the front page of online circulars from grocery stores in high- versus low-income neighborhoods in New York City (NYC). Circulars from grocery stores in the five highest and five lowest median household income NYC zip codes were analyzed. Nutrition information for food products was collected over a two-month period with a total of 805 products coded. The study found no significant difference between the nutritional quality of products advertised on the front page of online circulars from grocery stores in high- versus low-income neighborhoods in New York City (NYC). In both groups, almost two-thirds of the products advertised were processed, one-quarter were high in carbohydrates, and few to no products were low-sodium, high-fiber, or reduced-, low- or zero fat. Through innovative partnerships with health professionals, grocery stores are increasingly implementing in-store and online health promotion strategies. Weekly circulars can be used as a means to regularly advertise and prominently place more healthful and seasonal foods at an affordable price, particularly for populations at higher risk for nutrition-related chronic disease.
Exploring the Mechanisms of Ecological Land Change Based on the Spatial Autoregressive Model: A Case Study of the Poyang Lake Eco-Economic Zone, China
Authors: Xie Hualin , Liu Zhifei , Wang Peng , Liu Guiying , Lu Fucai
Published: December 2013

Ecological land is one of the key resources and conditions for the survival of humans because it can provide ecosystem services and is particularly important to public health and safety. It is extremely valuable for effective ecological management to explore the evolution mechanisms of ecological land. Based on spatial statistical analyses, we explored the spatial disparities and primary potential drivers of ecological land change in the Poyang Lake Eco-economic Zone of China. The results demonstrated that the global Moran’s I value is 0.1646 during the 1990 to 2005 time period and indicated signiﬁcant positive spatial correlation (p < 0.05). The results also imply that the clustering trend of ecological land changes weakened in the study area. Some potential driving forces were identified by applying the spatial autoregressive model in this study. The results demonstrated that the higher economic development level and industrialization rate were the main drivers for the faster change of ecological land in the study area. This study also tested the superiority of the spatial autoregressive model to study the mechanisms of ecological land change by comparing it with the traditional linear regressive model.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Siberian apricot (Prunus sibirica L.) in China
Authors: Li Ming , Zhao Zhong , Miao Xingjun , Zhou Jingjing
Published: December 2013

The genetic diversity and population genetic structure of 252 accessions from 21 Prunus sibirica L. populations were investigated using 10 ISSR, SSR, and SRAP markers. The results suggest that the entire population has a relatively high level of genetic diversity, with populations HR and MY showing very high diversity. A low level of inter-population genetic differentiation and a high level of intra-population genetic differentiation was found, which is supported by a moderate level of gene flow, and largely attributable to the cross-pollination and self-incompatibility reproductive system. A STRUCTURE (model-based program) analysis revealed that the 21 populations can be divided into two main groups, mainly based on geographic differences and genetic exchanges. The entire wild Siberia apricot population in China could be divided into two subgroups, including 107 accessions in subgroup (SG) 1 and 147 accessions in SG 2. A Mantel test revealed a significant positive correlation between genetic and geographic distance matrices, and there was a very significant positive correlation among three marker datasets. Overall, we recommend a combination of conservation measures, with ex situ and in situ conservation that includes the construction of a core germplasm repository and the implement of in situ conservation for populations HR, MY, and ZY.
RETRACTED: miR-126 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Osteosarcoma by Targeting Sox2
Authors: Yang Chenglin , Hou Chunying , Zhang Hepeng , Wang Dewei , Ma Yan , Zhang Yunqi , Xu Xiaoyan , Bi Zhenggang , Geng Shuo
Published: December 2013

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and young adults, the early symptoms and signs of which are non-specific. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) provides a new avenue for the early diagnosis and treatment of OS. miR-126 has been reported to be highly expressed in vascularized tissues, and is recently widely studied in cancers. Herein, we explored the expression and significance of miR-126 in OS. Using TaqMan RT-PCR analysis, we analyzed the expression of miR-126 in 32 paired OS tumor tissues and 4 OS cell lines and found that miR-126 was consistently under-expressed in OS tissues and cell lines compared with normal bone tissues and normal osteoblast cells (NHOst), respectively. As miR-126 is significantly decreased in OS tissues and cell lines, we sought to compensate for its loss through exogenous transfection into MG-63 cells with a miR-126 mimic. Ectopic expression of miR-126 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis of MG-63 cells. Moreover, bioinformatic prediction suggested that the sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) is a target gene of miR-126. Using mRNA and protein expression analysis, luciferase assays and rescue assays, we demonstrate that restored expression of Sox2 dampened miR-126-mediated suppression of tumor progression, which suggests the important role of miR-126/Sox2 interaction in tumor progression. Taken together, our data indicate that miR-126 functions as a tumor suppressor in OS, which exerts its activity by suppressing the expression of Sox2.
Effect of Olfactory Stimulus on the Flight Course of a Honeybee, Apis mellifera, in a Wind Tunnel
Authors: Ikeno Hidetoshi , Akamatsu Tadaaki , Hasegawa Yuji , Ai Hiroyuki
Published: December 2013

It is known that the honeybee, Apis mellifera, uses olfactory stimulus as important information for orienting to food sources. Several studies on olfactory-induced orientation flight have been conducted in wind tunnels and in the field. From these studies, optical sensing is used as the main information with the addition of olfactory signals and the navigational course followed by these sensory information. However, it is not clear how olfactory information is reflected in the navigation of flight. In this study, we analyzed the detailed properties of flight when oriented to an odor source in a wind tunnel. We recorded flying bees with a video camera to analyze the flight area, speed, angular velocity and trajectory. After bees were trained to be attracted to a feeder, the flight trajectories with or without the olfactory stimulus located upwind of the feeder were compared. The results showed that honeybees flew back and forth in the proximity of the odor source, and the search range corresponded approximately to the odor spread area. It was also shown that the angular velocity was different inside and outside the odor spread area, and trajectories tended to be bent or curved just outside the area.
Lu2O3:Pr,Hf Storage Phosphor: Compositional and Technological Issues
Authors: Wiatrowska Aneta , Zych Eugeniusz
Published: December 2013

Lu2O3:Pr,Hf ceramics were investigated using mainly thermoluminescence (TL) technique. Their ability to efficiently store energy acquired upon irradiation with X-rays was proven. The best TL performance was achieved for compositions containing 0.025%–0.05% of Pr and about 0.1% of Hf. Further enhancement of TL efficiency was attained by increasing the temperature of sintering of the ceramics up to 1700 °C and applying reducing atmosphere of forming gas. It was also proven that fast cooling after the sintering at 1700 °C significantly enhanced the storage phosphor performance. TL glow curve contained three components peaking around 130, 250 and 350 °C. Among them, the one at 250 °C contributed the most to the total TL.
Fluorescence Sensing of the Interaction between Biomembranes with Different Lipid Composition and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Authors: Nakane Yuko , Kubo Izumi
Published: December 2013

Fluorescence sensing of the interaction between biomembranes with different lipid composition and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) was carried out by using a liposome-encapsulating fluorescence dye (carboxyfluorescein (CF)-liposome). We detected a significant increase in fluorescence intensity in CF-liposome solutions due to the leakage of fluorescence caused by the interaction of EDCs with the biomembranes of liposomes. The temporal increases in fluorescent were significantly different among the lipid compositions of CF-liposome and the EDCs. Results were considered by summarizing the interactions in radar charts and by showing the pattern of interaction of each EDC. Each chart showed a dissimilar pattern reflecting the complexity of the biomembrane-EDC interaction. The results indicate that this fluorescence sensing could be useful to evaluate the interaction.
A New Chemical Approach to Human ABO Histo-Blood Group Type 2 Antigens
Authors: Hara Atsushi , Imamura Akihiro , Ando Hiromune , Ishida Hideharu , Kiso Makoto
Published: December 2013

A new chemical approach to synthesizing human ABO histo-blood type 2 antigenic determinants was developed. N-Phthaloyl-protected lactosaminyl thioglycoside derived from lactulose via the Heyns rearrangement was employed to obtain a type 2 core disaccharide. Use of this scheme lowered the overall number of reaction steps. Stereoselective construction of the α-galactosaminide/galactoside found in A- and B-antigens, respectively, was achieved by using a unique di-tert-butylsilylene-directed α-glycosylation method. The proposed synthetic scheme provides an alternative to existing procedures for preparing ABO blood group antigens.
NMR Structural Study of the Prototropic Equilibrium in Solution of Schiff Bases as Model Compounds
Authors: Ortegón-Reyna David , Garcías-Morales Cesar , Padilla-Martínez Itzia , García-Báez Efren , Aríza-Castolo Armando , Peraza-Campos Ana , Martínez-Martínez Francisco
Published: December 2013

An NMR titration method has been used to simultaneously measure the acid dissociation constant (pKa) and the intramolecular NHO prototropic constant ΔKNHO on a set of Schiff bases. The model compounds were synthesized from benzylamine and substituted ortho-hydroxyaldehydes, appropriately substituted with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups to modulate the acidity of the intramolecular NHO hydrogen bond. The structure in solution was established by 1H-, 13C- and 15N-NMR spectroscopy. The physicochemical parameters of the intramolecular NHO hydrogen bond (pKa, ΔKNHO and ΔΔG°) were obtained from 1H-NMR titration data and pH measurements. The Henderson–Hasselbalch data analysis indicated that the systems are weakly acidic, and the predominant NHO equilibrium was established using Polster–Lachmann δ-diagram analysis and Perrin model data linearization.
Effects of Vitamin A Supplementation on Iron Status Indices and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Al-Mekhlafi Hesham , Al-Zabedi Ebtesam , Al-Maktari Mohamed , Atroosh Wahib , Al-Delaimy Ahmed , Moktar Norhayati , Sallam Atiya , Abdullah Wan , Jani Rohana , Surin Johari
Published: December 2013

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world including developed and developing countries. Despite intensive efforts to improve the quality of life of rural and aboriginal communities in Malaysia, anaemia and IDA are still major public health problems in these communities particularly among children. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 250 Orang Asli (aboriginal) schoolchildren in Malaysia to investigate the effects of a single high-dose of vitamin A supplementation (200,000 IU) on iron status indices, anaemia and IDA status. The effect of the supplement was assessed after 3 months of receiving the supplements; after a complete 3-day deworming course of 400 mg/day of albendazole tablets. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be high: 48.5% (95% CI = 42.3, 54.8). Moreover, 34% (95% CI = 28.3, 40.2) of the children had IDA, which accounted for 70.1% of the anaemic cases. The findings showed that the reduction in serum ferritin level and the increments in haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin saturation were found to be significant among children allocated to the vitamin A group compared to those allocated to the placebo group (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant reduction in the prevalence of IDA by almost 22% than prevalence at baseline was reported among children in the vitamin A group compared with only 2.3% reduction among children in the placebo group. In conclusion, vitamin A supplementation showed a significant impact on iron status indices and IDA among Orang Asli children. Hence, providing vitamin A supplementation and imparting the knowledge related to nutritious food should be considered in the efforts to improve the nutritional and health status of these children as a part of efforts to improve the quality of life in rural and aboriginal communities.
Epoxy Enhanced by Recycled Milled Carbon Fibres in Adhesively-Bonded CFRP for Structural Strengthening
Authors: Wu Chao , Feng Peng , Bai Yu , Lu Ye
Published: December 2013

This paper investigates the mechanical performance and electrical resistivity of a structural adhesive epoxy enhanced using milled carbon fibre (MCF) as well as the bond performance of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) and steel adhesively bonded joints using the enhanced epoxy. The epoxy was enhanced using such MCFs with different weight ratios of 1.5%, 3% and 5%. Tensile experiments were performed on the original and enhanced epoxy specimens according to ASTM D638. More ductile process failure was found for the epoxy after modification and significant improvements of E-modulus and tensile strength were evidenced when the MCF weight ratio was larger than 1.5%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the failure mechanism of short MCFs pulled out from the epoxy matrix contributed to the enhancement of the mechanical performance of the epoxy. The electrical resistivity of the epoxy with MCF weight ratio of 5% was reduced by at least four orders of magnitude compared to the original epoxy, due to the conductive network formed by MCFs. Steel/CFRP double strap joints (with either CFRP sheets or CFRP laminates) were prepared using the enhanced epoxy and then tested in tension, however no obvious increase in joint stiffness or strength was observed.
Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Polymer Nanocomposites: Effects of Graphene Nanoplatelets
Authors: Chieng Buong , Ibrahim Nor , Yunus Wan , Hussein Mohd
Published: December 2013

Graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP) were investigated as a novel nano-reinforcement filler in poly(lactic acid)(PLA)/poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) blends by the melt blending method. PLA was first plasticized by PEG in order to improve its flexibility and thereby overcome its problem of brittleness. Then, xGnP was incorporated into the PLA/PEG blend. The prepared nanocomposites exhibited a significant improvement in tensile properties at a low xGnP loading. The tensile properties demonstrated the addition of 0.3 wt% of xGnP led to an increase of up to 32.7%, 69.5% and 21.9% in tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break of the nanocomposites respectively, compared to PLA/PEG blend. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the presence of a peak around 26.5○ in PLA/PEG/xGnP nanocomposites which corresponds to the characteristic peak of xGnP. The nanocomposites also shows enhanced thermal stability compared with PLA/PEG blend in thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The enhancement to some extent of the tensile properties of the PLA/PEG/xGnP nanocomposites can be ascribed to the homogeneous dispersion and orientation of the xGnP nanoplatelets in the polymer matrix and strong interfacial interaction between both components. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of PLA/PEG/0.3 wt% xGnP displays good uniformity and more homogenous morphology. Good uniformity of composites indicates a good degree of dispersion of the xGnp and therefore results in good tensile and thermal properties.
Chinese Doctors Connecting to the English Publishing World: Literature Access, Editorial Services, and Training in Publication Skills
Authors: Li Yongyan
Published: December 2013

In the literature on academic publishing, little attention has been paid to the needs and concerns of non-English-speaking researchers in professional contexts. This paper addresses the gap in that literature by providing insights into the situation with medical doctors in China. Following an overview of the broad picture, I will report a case study, which was conducted at a major hospital in East China and which aimed at exploring how a group of orthopedic surgeons access the English medical literature and to what extent they seek the support of editorial services and training in academic writing/publication skills. The results of the study show that the participant doctors tend to rely on their students or overseas personal connections for access to full-text medical literature, and they have generally had limited experience with language editorial services and academic writing/publication skills seminars. The paper ends by discussing some challenges while proposing recommendations for enhancing Chinese doctors’ access to the full-text medical literature, as well as their understanding of the kind of support that can be provided by editorial services and training in publication skills.
Remote Sensing Techniques in Monitoring Post-Fire Effects and Patterns of Forest Recovery in Boreal Forest Regions: A Review
Authors: Chu Thuan , Guo Xulin
Published: December 2013

The frequency and severity of forest fires, coupled with changes in spatial and temporal precipitation and temperature patterns, are likely to severely affect the characteristics of forest and permafrost patterns in boreal eco-regions. Forest fires, however, are also an ecological factor in how forest ecosystems form and function, as they affect the rate and characteristics of tree recruitment. A better understanding of fire regimes and forest recovery patterns in different environmental and climatic conditions will improve the management of sustainable forests by facilitating the process of forest resilience. Remote sensing has been identified as an effective tool for preventing and monitoring forest fires, as well as being a potential tool for understanding how forest ecosystems respond to them. However, a number of challenges remain before remote sensing practitioners will be able to better understand the effects of forest fires and how vegetation responds afterward. This article attempts to provide a comprehensive review of current research with respect to remotely sensed data and methods used to model post-fire effects and forest recovery patterns in boreal forest regions. The review reveals that remote sensing-based monitoring of post-fire effects and forest recovery patterns in boreal forest regions is not only limited by the gaps in both field data and remotely sensed data, but also the complexity of far-northern fire regimes, climatic conditions and environmental conditions. We expect that the integration of different remotely sensed data coupled with field campaigns can provide an important data source to support the monitoring of post-fire effects and forest recovery patterns. Additionally, the variation and stratification of pre- and post-fire vegetation and environmental conditions should be considered to achieve a reasonable, operational model for monitoring post-fire effects and forest patterns in boreal regions.
Application of InSAR and GIS Techniques to Ground Subsidence Assessment in the Nobi Plain, Central Japan
Authors: Zheng Minxue , Fukuyama Kaoru , Sanga-Ngoie Kazadi
Published: December 2013

Spatial variation and temporal changes in ground subsidence over the Nobi Plain, Central Japan, are assessed using GIS techniques and ground level measurements data taken over this area since the 1970s. Notwithstanding the general slowing trend observed in ground subsidence over the plains, we have detected ground rise at some locations, more likely due to the ground expansion because of recovering groundwater levels and the tilting of the Nobi land mass. The problem of non-availability of upper-air meteorological information, especially the 3-dimensional water vapor distribution, during the JERS-1 observational period (1992–1998) was solved by applying the AWC (analog weather charts) method onto the high-precision GPV-MSM (Grid Point Value of Meso-Scale Model) water-vapor data to find the latter’s matching meteorological data. From the selected JERS-1 interferometry pair and the matching GPV-MSM meteorological data, the atmospheric path delay generated by water vapor inhomogeneity was then quantitatively evaluated. A highly uniform spatial distribution of the atmospheric delay, with a maximum deviation of approximately 38 mm in its horizontal distribution was found over the Plain. This confirms the effectiveness of using GPV-MSM data for SAR differential interferometric analysis, and sheds thus some new light on the possibility of improving InSAR analysis results for land subsidence applications.
A Novel Encoded Excitation Scheme in a Phased Array for The Improving Data Acquisition Rate
Authors: Gutiérrez-Fernández César , Jiménez Ana , Martín-Arguedas Carlos , Ureña Jesús , Hernández Álvaro
Published: December 2013

One of the challenges of phased array (PA) ultrasonic imaging systems is their limited capability to deal with real-time applications, such as echocardiography and obstetrics. In its most basic outline, these systems require emitting and receiving with the entire array for each image line to be acquired; therefore, with many image lines, a higher acquisition time and a lower frame rate. This constraint requires one to find alternatives to reduce the total number of emissions needed to obtain the whole image. In this work, we propose a new PA scheme based on the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technique, where a different code is assigned to each steering direction, allowing the array to emit in several directions simultaneously. However, the use of encoding techniques produces a reduction of the image contrast because of the interferences between codes. To solve this, a new scheme based on merging several images is proposed, allowing the system to get close to the theoretical maximum frame rate, as well as to limit the loss of contrast, intrinsic to the technique.
A Two-Dimensional Flow Sensor with Integrated Micro Thermal Sensing Elements and a Back Propagation Neural Network
Authors: Que Ruiyi , Zhu Rong
Published: December 2013

This paper demonstrates a novel flow sensor with two-dimensional 360° direction sensitivity achieved with a simple structure and a novel data fusion algorithm. Four sensing elements with roundabout wires distributed in four quadrants of a circle compose the sensor probe, and work in constant temperature difference (CTD) mode as both Joule heaters and temperature detectors. The magnitude and direction of a fluid flow are measured by detecting flow-induced temperature differences among the four elements. The probe is made of Ti/Au thin-film with a diameter of 2 mm, and is fabricated using micromachining techniques. When a flow goes through the sensor, the flow-induced temperature differences are detected by the sensing elements that also serve as the heaters of the sensor. By measuring the temperature differences among the four sensing elements symmetrically distributed in the sensing area, a full 360° direction sensitivity can be obtained. By using a BP neural network to model the relationship between the readouts of the four sensor elements and flow parameters and execute data fusion, the magnitude and direction of the flow can be deduced. Validity of the sensor design was proven through both simulations and experiments. Wind tunnel experimental results show that the measurement accuracy of the airflow speed reaches 0.72 m/s in the range of 3 m/s–30 m/s and the measurement accuracy of flow direction angle reaches 1.9° in the range of 360°.
Identification of Cellular Proteins that Interact with Human Cytomegalovirus Immediate-Early Protein 1 by Protein Array Assay
Authors: Martínez Francisco , Tang Qiyi
Published: December 2013

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gene expression during infection is characterized as a sequential process including immediate-early (IE), early (E), and late (L)-stage gene expression. The most abundantly expressed gene at the IE stage of infection is the major IE (MIE) gene that produces IE1 and IE2. IE1 has been the focus of study because it is an important protein, not only for viral gene expression but also for viral replication. It is believed that IE1 plays important roles in viral gene regulation by interacting with cellular proteins. In the current study, we performed protein array assays and identified 83 cellular proteins that interact with IE1. Among them, seven are RNA-binding proteins that are important in RNA processing; more than half are nuclear proteins that are involved in gene regulations. Tumorigenesis-related proteins are also found to interact with IE1, implying that the role of IE1 in tumorigenesis might need to be reevaluated. Unexpectedly, cytoplasmic proteins, such as Golgi autoantigen and GGA1 (both related to the Golgi trafficking protein), are also found to be associated with IE1. We also employed a coimmunoprecipitation assay to test the interactions of IE1 and some of the proteins identified in the protein array assays and confirmed that the results from the protein array assays are reliable. Many of the proteins identified by the protein array assay have not been previously reported. Therefore, the functions of the IE1-protein interactions need to be further explored in the future.
Food Consumption and Growth Rates of Juvenile Black Carp Fed Natural and Prepared Feeds
Authors: Hodgins Nathaniel C. , Schramm Harold L. , Gerard Patrick D.
Published: December 2013

The introduced mollusciphagic black carp Mylopharyngodon piceus poses a significant threat to native mollusks in temperate waters throughout the northern hemisphere, but consumption rates necessary to estimate the magnitude of impact on mollusks have not been established. We measured food consumption and growth rates for small (77–245 g) and large (466–1,071 g) triploid black carp held individually under laboratory conditions at 20, 25, and 30°C. Daily consumption rates (g food · g wet weight fish−1·d−1·100) of black carp that received prepared feed increased with temperature (small black carp 1.39–1.71; large black carp 1.28–2.10), but temperature-related increases in specific growth rate (100[ln(final weight) - ln(initial weight)]/number of days) only occurred for the large black carp (small black carp −0.02 to 0.19; large black carp 0.16–0.65). Neither daily consumption rates (5.90–6.28) nor specific growth rates (0.05–0.24) differed among temperatures for small black carp fed live snails. The results of these laboratory feeding trials indicate food consumption rates can vary from 289.9 to 349.5 J·g−1·d−1 for 150 g black carp receiving prepared feed, from 268.8 to 441.0 J·g−1·d−1for 800 g black carp receiving prepared feed, and from 84.8 to 90.2 J·g−1·d−1 for 150 g black carp that feed on snails. Applying estimated daily consumption rates to estimated biomass of native mollusks indicates that a relatively low biomass of black carp could eliminate native snails and substantially reduce recruitment of mussels in time periods as short as 180 d.
IP-Based Virtual Private Network Implementations in Future Cellular Networks
Authors: Liyanage Madhusanka , Ylianttila Mika , Gurtov Andrei
Published: December 2013

Virtual Private Network (VPN) services are widely used in the present corporate world to securely interconnect geographically distributed private network segments through unsecure public networks. Among various VPN techniques, Internet Protocol (IP)-based VPN services are dominating due to the ubiquitous use of IP-based provider networks and the Internet. Over last few decades, the usage of cellular/mobile networks has increased enormously due to the rapid increment of the number of mobile subscribers and the evolvement of telecommunication technologies. Furthermore, cellular network-based broadband services are able to provide the same set of network services as wired Internet services. Thus, mobile broadband services are also becoming popular among corporate customers. Hence, the usage of mobile broadband services in corporate networks demands to implement various broadband services on top of mobile networks, including VPN services. On the other hand, the all- IP-based mobile network architecture, which is proposed for beyond-LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks, is fuel to adapt IP-based VPN services in to cellular networks. This chapter is focused on identifying high-level use cases and scenarios where IP-based VPN services can be implemented on top of cellular networks. Furthermore, the authors predict the future involvement of IP-based VPNs in beyond-LTE cellular networks.
A Novel Secure Routing Protocol in MANET
Authors: Sinha Ditipriya , Bhattacharya Uma , Chaki Rituparna
Published: December 2013

This chapter gives an overview of research works on secure routing protocol and also describes a Novel Secure Routing Protocol RSRP proposed by the authors. The routes, which are free from any malicious node and which belong to the set of disjoint routes between a source destination pair, are considered as probable routes. Shamir’s secret sharing principle is applied on those probable routes to obtain secure routes. Finally, the most trustworthy and stable route is selected among those secure routes using some criteria of the nodes present in a route (e.g., battery power, mobility, and trust value). In addition, complexity of key generation is reduced to a large extent by using RSA-CRT instead of RSA. In turn, the routing becomes less expensive and highly secure and robust. Performance of this routing protocol is then compared with non-secure routing protocols (AODV and DSR), secure routing scheme using secret sharing, security routing protocol using ZRP and SEAD, depending on basic characteristics of these protocols. All such comparisons show that RSRP shows better performance in terms of computational cost, end-to-end delay, and packet dropping in presence of malicious nodes in the MANET.
Clustering in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: El-Basioni Basma M. Mohammad , El-Kader Sherine M. Abd , Eissa Hussein S. , Zahra Mohammed M.
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this chapter is the study of the clustering process in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), starting with clarifying why there are different clustering protocols for WSN by stating and briefly describing some of the variate features in their design; these features can represent questions the clustering protocol designer asks before the design, and their brief description can be considered probabilities for these questions’ answers to represent design options for the designer. The designer can choose the best answer to each design question or, in better words, the best design options that will make its protocol different from the others and make the resultant clustered network satisfies some requirements for improving the overall performance of the network. The chapter also mentions some of these requirements. The chapter then gives illustrative examples for these design variations and requirements by studying them on three well-known clustering protocols: Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH), Energy-Efficient Clustering Scheme (EECS), and Hybrid, Energy-Efficient, Distributed clustering approach for ad-hoc sensor networks (HEED).
Performance Improvement of Clustered WSN by Using Multi-Tier Clustering
Authors: Meena Yogesh Kumar , Trivedi Aditya
Published: December 2013

In the last few decades, the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) paradigm has received huge interest from the industry and academia. Wireless sensor networking is used in various fields like weather monitoring, wildfire detection/monitoring, battlefield surveillance, security systems, military applications, etc. Moreover, various networking and technical issues still need to be addressed for successful deployment of WSN, especially power management. In this chapter, the various methods of saving energy in sensor nodes and a method by which energy can be saved are discussed with emphasis on various energy saving protocols and techniques, and the improvement in the Performance of Clustered WSN by using Multi-tier Clustering. By using a two-tier architecture in the clustering and operation of sensor nodes, an increase in the network lifetime of the WSN is gained. Since this clustering approach has better results in term of energy savings and organizing the network, the main objective of this chapter is to describe power management techniques, two-tier architecture, clustering approaches, and network models to save the energy of a sensor network.
Hybrid MAC Layer Design for MPEG-4 Video Transmission in WSN
Authors: Ismail Nor-Syahidatul N. , Ariffin Sharifah H. S. , Latiff N. M. Abdul , Yunus Farizah , Fisal Norshiela
Published: December 2013

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been attracting increasing interest lately from the research community and industry. The main reason for such interest is the fact that WSNs are considered a promising means of low power and low cost communication that can be easily deployed. Nowadays, the advanced protocol design in WSNs has enhanced their capability to transfer video in the wireless medium. In this chapter, a comprehensive study of Medium Access Control (MAC) and MPEG-4 video transmission is presented. Various classifications of MAC protocols are explained such as random access, schedule access, and hybrid access. In addition, a hybrid MAC layer protocol design is proposed, which combines Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) and unsynchronized Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocols using a token approach protocol. The main objective of this chapters is to present the design of a MAC layer that can support video transfer between nodes at low power consumption and achieve the level of quality of service (QoS) required by video applications.
Graph Intersection-Based Benchmarking Algorithm for Maximum Stability Data Gathering Trees in Wireless Mobile Sensor Networks
Authors: Meghanathan Natarajan , Mumford Philip
Published: December 2013

The authors propose a graph intersection-based benchmarking algorithm to determine the sequence of longest-living stable data gathering trees for wireless mobile sensor networks whose topology changes dynamically with time due to the random movement of the sensor nodes. Referred to as the Maximum Stability-based Data Gathering (Max.Stable-DG) algorithm, the algorithm assumes the availability of complete knowledge of future topology changes and is based on the following greedy principle coupled with the idea of graph intersections: Whenever a new data gathering tree is required at time instant t corresponding to a round of data aggregation, choose the longest-living data gathering tree from time t. The above strategy is repeated for subsequent rounds over the lifetime of the sensor network to obtain the sequence of longest-living stable data gathering trees spanning all the live sensor nodes in the network such that the number of tree discoveries is the global minimum. In addition to theoretically proving the correctness of the Max.Stable-DG algorithm (that it yields the lower bound for the number of discoveries for any network-wide communication topology like spanning trees), the authors also conduct exhaustive simulations to evaluate the performance of the Max.Stable-DG trees and compare to that of the minimum-distance spanning tree-based data gathering trees with respect to metrics such as tree lifetime, delay per round, node lifetime and network lifetime, under both sufficient-energy and energy-constrained scenarios.
Metamaterial-Based Wearable Microstrip Patch Antennas
Authors: Joshi J. G. , Pattnaik Shyam S.
Published: December 2013

This chapter presents metamaterial-based wearable, that is, textile-based, antennas for Wi-Fi, WLAN, ISM, BAN and public safety band applications, which have been designed, fabricated, and tested. Textile substrates like polyester and polypropylene are used to design and fabricate these antennas. The metamaterial inclusions are directly used to load the different microstrip patch antennas on the same substrate, which significantly enhances the gain and bandwidth with considerable size reduction. The microstrip patch antenna generates sub-wavelength resonances under loading condition due to the modifications of its resonant modes. The DNG and SNG metamaterials are used to load the microstrip patch antennas for size reduction by generating the sub-wavelength resonances. The simulated and measured results are found to be in good agreement for all the presented wearable antennas. The bending effect on antenna performance due to human body movements is also presented in this chapter.