bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Undernutrition and Overnutrition Burden for Diseases in Developing Countries: The Role of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers to Assess Disease Risk and Interventional Strategies
Authors: Mastorci Francesca , Vassalle Cristina , Chatzianagnostou Kyriazoula , Marabotti Claudio , Siddiqui Khawer , Eba Ahmed , Mhamed Soueid , Bandopadhyay Arun , Nazzaro Marco , Passera Mirko , Pingitore Alessandro
Published: June 2017

The increased life expectancy, urbanization, and unhealthy lifestyle characterized by a shift towards a sedentary lifestyle and decreased energy expenditure are considered the main drivers of epidemiological transition. In particular, developing countries are facing a double burden caused by coexisting under- and over-nutrition, which causes a change in the disease profile from infectious diseases to a chronic degenerative pattern. This review discusses the under- and over-nutrition context in Mauritania and India, two countries that are experiencing a nutritional transition, and where we began a collaboration with local medical staff to integrate interventional and diagnostic guidelines. If many studies about diet and its relationship to non-communicable diseases are available for India, very few nutrition and cardiovascular risk studies have been conducted in Mauritania. Presently, with the exponential increase of nutrition-related diseases, targeted approaches are needed to provide balanced diets in parallel with the development of national preventive health systems and screening programs adapted to local needs. In this context, the measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers could be promising as an additive tool to assess cardiovascular (CV) risk in general population, and ameliorating prevention in patients at CV risk or with overt CV disease. Moreover, the possibility of improving the outcome by the direct employment of antioxidant remains plausible. Moreover, studies on the content of antioxidant in different foods may be helpful to develop a balanced diet, and achieve the maximal nutritional and functional properties of cultivars with benefits for human health.
IoT-Based Information System for Healthcare Application: Design Methodology Approach
Authors: Dziak Damian , Jachimczyk Bartosz , Kulesza Wlodek
Published: June 2017

Over the last few decades, life expectancy has increased significantly. However, elderly people who live on their own often need assistance due to mobility difficulties, symptoms of dementia or other health problems. In such cases, an autonomous supporting system may be helpful. This paper proposes the Internet of Things (IoT)-based information system for indoor and outdoor use. Since the conducted survey of related works indicated a lack of methodological approaches to the design process, therefore a Design Methodology (DM), which approaches the design target from the perspective of the stakeholders, contracting authorities and potential users, is introduced. The implemented solution applies the three-axial accelerometer and magnetometer, Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR), thresholding and the decision trees algorithm. Such an architecture enables the localization of a monitored person within four room-zones with accuracy; furthermore, it identifies falls and the activities of lying, standing, sitting and walking. Based on the identified activities, the system classifies current activities as normal, suspicious or dangerous, which is used to notify the healthcare staff about possible problems. The real-life scenarios validated the high robustness of the proposed solution. Moreover, the test results satisfied both stakeholders and future users and ensured further cooperation with the project.
Optimal Energy Management of Combined Cooling, Heat and Power in Different Demand Type Buildings Considering Seasonal Demand Variations
Authors: Hussain Akhtar , Bui Van-Hai , Kim Hak-Man , Im Yong-Hoon , Lee Jae-Yong
Published: June 2017

In this paper, an optimal energy management strategy for a cooperative multi-microgrid system with combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) is proposed and has been verified for a test case of building microgrids (BMGs). Three different demand types of buildings are considered and the BMGs are assumed to be equipped with their own combined heat and power (CHP) generators. In addition, the BMGs are also connected to an external energy network (EEN), which contains a large CHP, an adsorption chiller (ADC), a thermal storage tank, and an electric heat pump (EHP). By trading the excess electricity and heat energy with the utility grid and EEN, each BMG can fulfill its energy demands. Seasonal energy demand variations have been evaluated by selecting a representative day for the two extreme seasons (summer and winter) of the year, among the real profiles of year-round data on electricity, heating, and cooling usage of all the three selected buildings. Especially, the thermal energy management aspect is emphasized where, bi-lateral heat trading between the energy supplier and the consumers, so-called energy prosumer concept, has been realized. An optimization model based on mixed integer linear programming has been developed for minimizing the daily operation cost of the EEN while fulfilling the energy demands of the BMGs. Simulation results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
RF EMF Risk Perception Revisited: Is the Focus on Concern Sufficient for Risk Perception Studies?
Authors: Wiedemann Peter , Freudenstein Frederik , Böhmert Christoph , Wiart Joe , Croft Rodney
Published: June 2017

An implicit assumption of risk perception studies is that concerns expressed in questionnaires reflect concerns in everyday life. The aim of the present study is to check this assumption, i.e., the extrapolability of risk perceptions expressed in a survey, to risk perceptions in everyday life. To that end, risk perceptions were measured by a multidimensional approach. In addition to the traditional focus on measuring the magnitude of risk perceptions, the thematic relevance (how often people think about a risk issue) and the discursive relevance (how often people think about or discuss a risk issue) of risk perceptions were also collected. Taking into account this extended view of risk perception, an online survey was conducted in six European countries with 2454 respondents, referring to radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) risk potentials from base stations, and access points, such as WiFi routers and cell phones. The findings reveal that the present study’s multidimensional approach to measuring risk perception provides a more differentiated understanding of RF EMF risk perception. High levels of concerns expressed in questionnaires do not automatically imply that these concerns are thematically relevant in everyday life. We use thematic relevance to distinguish between enduringly concerned (high concern according to both questionnaire and thematic relevance) and not enduringly concerned participants (high concern according to questionnaire but no thematic relevance). Furthermore, we provide data for the empirical value of this distinction: Compared to other participants, enduringly concerned subjects consider radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure to a greater extent as a moral and affective issue. They also see themselves as highly exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. However, despite these differences, subjects with high levels of thematic relevance are nevertheless sensitive to exposure reduction as a means for improving the acceptance of base stations in their neighborhood. This underlines the value of exposure reduction for the acceptance of radio frequency electromagnetic field communication technologies.
Comparing Proteolytic Fingerprints of Antigen-Presenting Cells during Allergen Processing
Authors: Hofer Heidi , Weidinger Tamara , Briza Peter , Asam Claudia , Wolf Martin , Twaroch Teresa , Stolz Frank , Neubauer Angela , Dall Elfriede , Hammerl Peter , Jacquet Alain , Wallner Michael
Published: June 2017

Endolysosomal processing has a critical influence on immunogenicity as well as immune polarization of protein antigens. In industrialized countries, allergies affect around 25% of the population. For the rational design of protein-based allergy therapeutics for immunotherapy, a good knowledge of T cell-reactive regions on allergens is required. Thus, we sought to analyze endolysosomal degradation patterns of inhalant allergens. Four major allergens from ragweed, birch, as well as house dust mites were produced as recombinant proteins. Endolysosomal proteases were purified by differential centrifugation from dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells, and combined with allergens for proteolytic processing. Thereafter, endolysosomal proteolysis was monitored by protein gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. We found that the overall proteolytic activity of specific endolysosomal fractions differed substantially, whereas the degradation patterns of the four model allergens obtained with the different proteases were extremely similar. Moreover, previously identified T cell epitopes were assigned to endolysosomal peptides and indeed showed a good overlap with known T cell epitopes for all four candidate allergens. Thus, we propose that the degradome assay can be used as a predictor to determine antigenic peptides as potential T cell epitopes, which will help in the rational design of protein-based allergy vaccine candidates.
BrWRKY65, a WRKY Transcription Factor, Is Involved in Regulating Three Leaf Senescence-Associated Genes in Chinese Flowering Cabbage
Authors: Fan Zhong-Qi , Tan Xiao-Li , Shan Wei , Kuang Jian-Fei , Lu Wang-Jin , Chen Jian-Ye
Published: June 2017

Plant-specific WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated to function as regulators of leaf senescence, but their association with postharvest leaf senescence of economically important leafy vegetables, is poorly understood. In this work, the characterization of a Group IIe WRKY TF, BrWRKY65, from Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) is reported. The expression of BrWRKY65 was up-regulated following leaf chlorophyll degradation and yellowing during postharvest senescence. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activation assays showed that BrWRKY65 was localized in the nucleus and exhibited trans-activation ability. Further electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and transient expression analysis clearly revealed that BrWRKY65 directly bound to the W-box motifs in the promoters of three senescence-associated genes (SAGs) such as BrNYC1 and BrSGR1 associated with chlorophyll degradation, and BrDIN1, and subsequently activated their expressions. These findings demonstrate that BrWRKY65 may be positively associated with postharvest leaf senescence, at least partially, by the direct activation of SAGs. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of postharvest leaf senescence in Chinese flowering cabbage.
The Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide in Perfluorooctanoic Acid-Induced Developmental Cardiotoxicity and l-Carnitine Mediated Protection
Authors: Zhao Meng , Jiang Qixiao , Wang Wencheng , Geng Min , Wang Meng , Han Yantao , Wang Chunbo
Published: June 2017

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an environmental contaminant that could induce developmental cardiotoxicity in a chicken embryo, which may be alleviated by l-carnitine. To explore the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in such changes and the potential effects of l-carnitine, fertile chicken eggs were exposed to PFOA via an air cell injection, with or without l-carnitine co-treatment. The ROS and NO levels in chicken embryo hearts were determined with electron spin resonance (ESR), and the protein levels of the nuclear factor κ-light chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) p65 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in chicken embryo hearts were assessed with western blotting. The results of ESR indicated that PFOA exposure induced an elevation in the ROS levels in ED19 chicken embryo hearts and hatchling chicken hearts, while l-carnitine could alleviate such changes. Meanwhile, increased NO levels were observed in ED19 embryo hearts and hatchling hearts following PFOA exposure, while l-carnitine co-treatment exerted modulatory effects. Western blotting revealed that p65 translocation in ED19 embryo hearts and hatchling hearts was enhanced by PFOA, while l-carnitine co-treatment alleviated such changes. iNOS expression levels in ED19 embryo hearts followed the same pattern as NO levels, while a suppression of expression was observed in hatchling hearts exposed to PFOA. ROS/NF-κB p65 and iNOS/NO seem to be involved in the late stage (ED19 and post hatch) of PFOA-induced developmental cardiotoxicity in a chicken embryo. l-carnitine could exert anti-oxidant and NO modulatory effects in the developing chicken embryo hearts, which likely contribute to its cardioprotective effects.
Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Chitosan-Caffeic Acid Conjugate against Antibiotic-Resistant Acne-Related Bacteria
Authors: Kim Ji-Hoon , Yu Daeung , Eom Sung-Hwan , Kim Song-Hee , Oh Junghwan , Jung Won‐Kyo , Kim Young-Mog
Published: June 2017

The object of this study was to discover an alternative therapeutic agent with fewer side effects against acne vulgaris, one of the most common skin diseases. Acne vulgaris is often associated with acne-related bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some of these bacteria exhibit a resistance against commercial antibiotics that have been used in the treatment of acne vulgaris (tetracycline, erythromycin, and lincomycin). In the current study, we tested in vitro antibacterial effect of chitosan-phytochemical conjugates on acne-related bacteria. Three chitosan-phytochemical conjugates used in this study exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than that of chitosan (unmodified control). Chitosan-caffeic acid conjugate (CCA) showed the highest antibacterial effect on acne-related bacteria along with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; 8 to 256 μg/mL). Additionally, the MIC values of antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant P. acnes and P. aeruginosa strains were dramatically reduced in combination with CCA, suggesting that CCA would restore the antibacterial activity of the antibiotics. The analysis of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices clearly revealed a synergistic antibacterial effect of CCA with antibiotics. Thus, the median sum of FIC (∑FIC) values against the antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains ranged from 0.375 to 0.533 in the combination mode of CCA and antibiotics. The results of the present study suggested a potential possibility of chitosan-phytochemical conjugates in the control of infections related to acne vulgaris.
Higher Anti-Liver Fibrosis Effect of Cordyceps militaris-Fermented Product Cultured with Deep Ocean Water via Inhibiting Proinflammatory Factors and Fibrosis-Related Factors Expressions
Authors: Hung Yu-Ping , Lee Chun-Lin
Published: June 2017

Deep ocean water (DOW) has been shown to enhance the functional components of fungi, resulting in increased health benefits. Therefore, using DOW for culturing fungi can enhance the cordycepin and adenosine of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and its protective effects on the liver. In this study, the antiliver fibrosis effects and mechanisms of ultrapure water-cultured CM (UCM), DOW-cultured CM (DCM), synthetic water-cultured CM, DOW, cordycepin, and adenosine were compared in the liver fibrosis mice induced by intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (TAA). The results indicated that DCM exhibited superior performance in reducing liver collagen accumulation, mitigating liver injuries, inhibiting proinflammatory factors and fibrosis-related factor (TGF-β1, Smad2/3, α-SMA, COL1A1) expression compared with UCM. DOW, cordycepin, and adenosine also performed antiliver fibrosis effect. Therefore, because DCM is rich in DOW and functional components, it can achieve anti-liver fibrosis effects through multiple pathways. These ameliorative effects are considerably superior to those of UCM.
Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Liver Protection of Alisol F and 25-Anhydroalisol F through the Inhibition of MAPK, STAT3, and NF-κB Activation In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Bi Xiaoxu , Wang Pu , Ma Qingjuan , Han Li , Wang Xingbo , Mu Yu , Guan Peipei , Qu Xiaodan , Wang Zhanyou , Huang Xueshi
Published: June 2017

Alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F isolated from Alisma orientale, were proved to exhibit anti-inflammatory potential in our previous work. In the current study, the anti-inflammatory effects and action mechanisms of alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F were investigated in vitro. Moreover, the pharmacological effects of alisol F in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (d-gal)-induced acute liver-injured mice were evaluated. The results demonstrated that alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F could suppress LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as inhibit the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, we investigated the role of alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F in mediating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), signal transducers, and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathways involved in the inflammation process of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and STAT3, and the NF-κB signaling pathway, were obviously suppressed in alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F treated cells. Results obtained from in vitro experiments suggested alisol F obviously improved liver pathological injury by inhibiting the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and significantly decreasing the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in LPS/d-gal-induced mice. Furthermore, the reduction of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, as well as suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway, were also observed in liver tissues of the alisol F-treated mice model. Alisol F and 25-anhydroalisol F may serve as potential leads for development of anti-inflammatory agents for acute liver failure treatment.
Lipophilicity Studies on Thiosemicarbazide Derivatives
Authors: Paneth Agata , Hawrył Anna , Plech Tomasz , Hawrył Mirosław , Świeboda Ryszard , Janowska Dominika , Wujec Monika , Paneth Piotr
Published: June 2017

The lipophilicity of two series of thiosemicarbazide derivatives was assessed by the RP-HPLC method with the RP-18 chromatographic column and the methanol–water mixture as the mobile phase. Distribution coefficients logPHPLC were compared to calculated values generated by commonly used AClogP software and quantum chemical calculations. The reliability of the predictions was evaluated using the correlation matrix and PCA. For 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazides, a high correlation between theoretical and experimental logP parameters was obtained using the XlogP3 algorithm, while for 4-aryl/(cyclohexyl)thiosemicarbazides, the XlogP2 parameter was strongly correlated with the experimentally obtained logP.
Atom Efficient Preparation of Zinc Selenates for the Synthesis of Selenol Esters under “On Water” Conditions
Authors: Sancineto Luca , Pinto Vargas Jaqueline , Monti Bonifacio , Arca Massimiliano , Lippolis Vito , Perin Gelson , Lenardao Eder , Santi Claudio
Published: June 2017

We describe here an atom efficient procedure to prepare selenol esters in good to excellent yields by reacting [(PhSe)2Zn] or [(PhSe)2Zn]TMEDA with acyl chlorides under “on water” conditions. The method is applicable to a series of aromatic and aliphatic acyl chlorides and tolerates the presence of other functionalities in the starting material.
From Intermolecular Interactions to Texture in Polycrystalline Surfaces of 1,ω-alkanediols (ω = 10–13)
Authors: Luis-Raya Gilgamesh , Ramírez-Cardona Màrius , Luna-Bárcenas Gabriel , Hernández-Landaverde Martín , Jiménez-Nieto Adair , García-Rivas Jose , España-Sánchez Beatriz , Sanchez Isaac
Published: June 2017

Differences on herringbone molecular arrangement in two forms of long-chain 1,ω-alkanediols (CnH2n+2O2 with n = 10, 11, 12, 13) are explained from the analysis of O-H···O hydrogen-bond sequences in infinite chains and the role of a C-H···O intramolecular hydrogen-bond in stabilization of a gauche defect, as well as the inter-grooving effectiveness on molecular packing. GIXD (Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction) experiments were conducted on polycrystalline monophasic samples. Diffracted intensities were treated with the multi-axial March-Dollase method to correlate energetic and geometrical features of molecular interactions with the crystalline morphology and textural pattern of samples. The monoclinic (P21/c, Z = 2) crystals of the even-numbered members (n = 10, 12; DEDOL and DODOL, respectively) are diametrical prisms with combined form {104}/{-104}/{001} and present a two-fold platelet-like preferred orientation, whereas orthorhombic (P212121, Z = 4) odd-numbered members (n = 11, 13; UNDOL and TRDOL, respectively) present a dominant needle-like orientation on direction [101] (fiber texture). We show that crystalline structures of medium complexity and their microstructures can be determined from rapid GIXD experiments from standard radiation, combined with molecular replacement procedure using crystal structures of compounds with higher chain lengths as reference data.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of [R4W4K]-Levofloxacin and [R4W4K]-Levofloxacin-Q Conjugates
Authors: Riahifard Neda , Tavakoli Kathy , Yamaki Jason , Parang Keykavous , Tiwari Rakesh
Published: June 2017

The development of a new class of antibiotics to fight bacterial resistance is a time-consuming effort associated with high-cost and commercial risks. Thus, modification, conjugation or combination of existing antibiotics to enhance their efficacy is a suitable strategy. We have previously reported that the amphiphilic cyclic peptide [R4W4] had antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.97 µg/mL against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Herein, we hypothesized that conjugation or combination of the amphiphilic cyclic peptide [R4W4] with levofloxacin or levofloxacin-Q could improve the antibacterial activity of levofloxacin and levofloxacin-Q. Fmoc/tBu solid-phase chemistry was employed to synthesize conjugates of [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q and [R4W4K]-levofloxacin. The carboxylic acid group of levofloxacin or levofloxacin-Q was conjugated with the amino group of β-alanine attached to lysine in the presence of 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexaﬂuorophosphate (HBTU) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) for 3 h to afford the products. Antibacterial assays were conducted to determine the potency of conjugates [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q and [R4W4K]-levofloxacin against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Although levofloxacin-Q was inactive even at a concentration of 128 µg/mL, [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q conjugate and the corresponding physical mixture showed MIC values of 8 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumonia, respectively, possibly due to the activity of the peptide. On the other hand, [R4W4K]-levofloxacin conjugate (MIC = 32 µg/mL and MIC = 128 µg/mL) and the physical mixture (MIC = 8 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL) was less active than levofloxacin (MIC = 2 µg/mL and 4 = µg/mL) against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. The data showed that the conjugation of levofloxacin with [R4W4K] significantly reduced the antibacterial activity compared to the parent analogs, while [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q conjugate was more significantly potent than levofloxacin-Q alone.
Ovicidal and Insecticidal Activities of Pyriproxyfen Derivatives with an Oxime Ester Group
Authors: Sun Guo-Shao , Xu Xin , Jin Shu-Hui , Lin Le , Zhang Jian-Jun
Published: June 2017

Based on the structural framework of a pyriproxyfen metabolite, nineteen oxime ester derivatives were synthesized via reaction of the carboxylic acids with 4-(2-(2-pyridinyloxy)ethoxy)benzaldehyde oxime. The corresponding structures were comprehensively characterized by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, and electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS). All of the compounds were screened for their insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella and Myzus persicae, and for their ovicidal activities against Helicoverpa armigera eggs. The results obtained show that most of the oxime ester derivatives displayed moderate to high insecticidal activities and ovicidal activities at a concentration of 600 ug/mL. In particular, the ovicidal activity of compounds 5j, 5o, 5p, 5q, and 5s was determined to be 100%. Importantly, some of the compounds presented even higher biological activities than the reference compound pyriproxyfen. For example, compound 5j displayed an insecticidal activity value of 87.5% against Myzus persicae, whereas the activity value of pyriproxyfen was 68.3% at a concentration of 600 ug/mL. Among the synthesized compounds 5j and 5s exhibited broad biological activity spectra.
Review of SERS Substrates for Chemical Sensing
Authors: Mosier-Boss Pamela
Published: June 2017

The SERS effect was initially discovered in the 1970s. Early research focused on understanding the phenomenon and increasing enhancement to achieve single molecule detection. From the mid-1980s to early 1990s, research started to move away from obtaining a fundamental understanding of the phenomenon to the exploration of analytical applications. At the same time, significant developments occurred in the field of photonics that led to the advent of inexpensive, robust, compact, field-deployable Raman systems. The 1990s also saw rapid development in nanoscience. This convergence of technologies (photonics and nanoscience) has led to accelerated development of SERS substrates to detect a wide range of chemical and biological analytes. It would be a monumental task to discuss all the different kinds of SERS substrates that have been explored. Likewise, it would be impossible to discuss the use of SERS for both chemical and biological detection. Instead, a review of the most common metallic (Ag, Cu, and Au) SERS substrates for chemical detection only is discussed, as well as SERS substrates that are commercially available. Other issues with SERS for chemical detection have been selectivity, reversibility, and reusability of the substrates. How these issues have been addressed is also discussed in this review.
Estimating Time Series Soil Moisture by Applying Recurrent Nonlinear Autoregressive Neural Networks to Passive Microwave Data over the Heihe River Basin, China
Authors: Lu Zheng , Chai Linna , Liu Shaomin , Cui Huizhen , Zhang Yanghua , Jiang Lingmei , Jin Rui , Xu Ziwei
Published: June 2017

A method using a nonlinear auto-regressive neural network with exogenous input (NARXnn) to retrieve time series soil moisture (SM) that is spatially and temporally continuous and high quality over the Heihe River Basin (HRB) in China was investigated in this study. The input training data consisted of the X-band dual polarization brightness temperature (TB) and the Ka-band V polarization TB from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer II (AMSR2), Global Land Satellite product (GLASS) Leaf Area Index (LAI), precipitation from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), and a global 30 arc-second elevation (GTOPO-30). The output training data were generated from fused SM products of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Land Surface Parameter Model (LPRM). The reprocessed fused SM from two years (2013 and 2014) was inputted into the NARXnn for training; subsequently, SM during a third year (2015) was estimated. Direct and indirect validations were then performed during the period 2015 by comparing with in situ measurements, SM from JAXA, LPRM and the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), as well as precipitation data from TRMM and GPM. The results showed that the SM predictions from NARXnn performed best, as indicated by their higher correlation coefficients (R ≥ 0.85 for the whole year of 2015), lower Bias values (absolute value of Bias ≤ 0.02) and root mean square error values (RMSE ≤ 0.06), and their improved response to precipitation. This method is being used to produce the NARXnn SM product over the HRB in China.
Automatic Artifact Removal in EEG of Normal and Demented Individuals Using ICA–WT during Working Memory Tasks
Authors: Al-Qazzaz Noor , Hamid Bin Mohd Ali Sawal , Ahmad Siti , Islam Mohd , Escudero Javier
Published: June 2017

Characterizing dementia is a global challenge in supporting personalized health care. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a promising tool to support the diagnosis and evaluation of abnormalities in the human brain. The EEG sensors record the brain activity directly with excellent time resolution. In this study, EEG sensor with 19 electrodes were used to test the background activities of the brains of five vascular dementia (VaD), 15 stroke-related patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 15 healthy subjects during a working memory (WM) task. The objective of this study is twofold. First, it aims to enhance the recorded EEG signals using a novel technique that combines automatic independent component analysis (AICA) and wavelet transform (WT), that is, the AICA–WT technique; second, it aims to extract and investigate the spectral features that characterize the post-stroke dementia patients compared to the control subjects. The proposed AICA–WT technique is a four-stage approach. In the first stage, the independent components (ICs) were estimated. In the second stage, three-step artifact identification metrics were applied to detect the artifactual components. The components identified as artifacts were marked as critical and denoised through DWT in the third stage. In the fourth stage, the corrected ICs were reconstructed to obtain artifact-free EEG signals. The performance of the proposed AICA–WT technique was compared with those of two other techniques based on AICA and WT denoising methods using cross-correlation X C o r r and peak signal to noise ratio ( P S N R ) (ANOVA, p ˂ 0.05). The AICA–WT technique exhibited the best artifact removal performance. The assumption that there would be a deceleration of EEG dominant frequencies in VaD and MCI patients compared with control subjects was assessed with AICA–WT (ANOVA, p ˂ 0.05). Therefore, this study may provide information on post-stroke dementia particularly VaD and stroke-related MCI patients through spectral analysis of EEG background activities that can help to provide useful diagnostic indexes by using EEG signal processing.
Data Acquisition Based on Stable Matching of Bipartite Graph in Cooperative Vehicle–Infrastructure Systems
Authors: Tang Xiaolan , Hong Donghui , Chen Wenlong
Published: June 2017

Existing studies on data acquisition in vehicular networks often take the mobile vehicular nodes as data carriers. However, their autonomous movements, limited resources and security risks impact the quality of services. In this article, we propose a data acquisition model using stable matching of bipartite graph in cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems, namely, DAS. Contents are distributed to roadside units, while vehicular nodes support supplementary storage. The original distribution problem is formulated as a stable matching problem of bipartite graph, where the data and the storage cells compose two sides of vertices. Regarding the factors relevant with the access ratio and delay, the preference rankings for contents and roadside units are calculated, respectively. With a multi-replica preprocessing algorithm to handle the potential one-to-many mapping, the matching problem is addressed in polynomial time. In addition, vehicular nodes carry and forward assistant contents to deliver the failed packets because of bandwidth competition. Furthermore, an incentive strategy is put forward to boost the vehicle cooperation and to achieve a fair bandwidth allocation at roadside units. Experiments show that DAS achieves a high access ratio and a small storage cost with an acceptable delay.
Maritime Data Transfer Protocol (MDTP): A Proposal for a Data Transmission Protocol in Resource-Constrained Underwater Environments Involving Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Rodríguez-Molina Jesús , Martínez Belén , Bilbao Sonia , Martín-Wanton Tamara
Published: June 2017

The utilization of autonomous maritime vehicles is becoming widespread in operations that are deemed too hazardous for humans to be directly involved in them. One of the ways to increase the productivity of the tools used during missions is the deployment of several vehicles with the same objective regarding data collection and transfer, both for the benefit of human staff and policy makers. However, the interchange of data in such an environment poses major challenges, such as a low bandwidth and the unreliability of the environment where transmissions take place. Furthermore, the relevant information that must be sent, as well as the exact size that will allow understanding it, is usually not clearly established, as standardization works are scarce in this domain. Under these conditions, establishing a way to interchange information at the data level among autonomous maritime vehicles becomes of critical importance since the needed information, along with the size of the transferred data, will have to be defined. This manuscript puts forward the Maritime Data Transfer Protocol, (MDTP) a way to interchange standardized pieces of information at the data level for maritime autonomous maritime vehicles, as well as the procedures that are required for information interchange.
Image Processing of Porous Silicon Microarray in Refractive Index Change Detection
Authors: Guo Zhiqing , Jia Zhenhong , Yang Jie , Kasabov Nikola , Li Chuanxi
Published: June 2017

A new method for extracting the dots is proposed by the reflected light image of porous silicon (PSi) microarray utilization in this paper. The method consists of three parts: pretreatment, tilt correction and spot segmentation. First, based on the characteristics of different components in HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) space, a special pretreatment is proposed for the reflected light image to obtain the contour edges of the array cells in the image. Second, through the geometric relationship of the target object between the initial external rectangle and the minimum bounding rectangle (MBR), a new tilt correction algorithm based on the MBR is proposed to adjust the image. Third, based on the specific requirements of the reflected light image segmentation, the array cells are segmented into dots as large as possible and the distance between the dots is equal in the corrected image. Experimental results show that the pretreatment part of this method can effectively avoid the influence of complex background and complete the binarization processing of the image. The tilt correction algorithm has a shorter computation time, which makes it highly suitable for tilt correction of reflected light images. The segmentation algorithm makes the dots in a regular arrangement, excludes the edges and the bright spots. This method could be utilized in the fast, accurate and automatic dots extraction of the PSi microarray reflected light image.
A Novel Protocol to Monitor Trace Levels of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Environmental Water Using Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction Followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Detection
Authors: Saini Shivender , Kabir Abuzar , Rao Avasarala , Malik Ashok , Furton Kenneth
Published: June 2017

Fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) combines the advanced material properties of sol–gel derived microextraction sorbents and the flexibility and permeability of fabric to create a robust, simple and green sample preparation device. It simultaneously improves the extraction sensitivity and the speed of the extraction by incorporating high volumes of sponge-like, porous sol–gel hybrid inorganic–organic sorbents into permeable fabric substrates that are capable of extracting target analytes directly from both simple and complex aqueous sample matrices. For the first time, this technique was applied to the trace-level determination of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental water samples using a non-polar sol–gel C18 coated FPSE media. Several extraction parameters were optimized to improve the extraction efficiency and to achieve a high detection sensitivity. Validation tests of spiked samples showed good linearity for four selected PAHs (R2 = 0.9983–0.9997) over a wide range of concentrations (0.010–10 ng/mL). Limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were measured at pg/mL levels; 0.1–1 pg/mL and 0.3–3 pg/mL, respectively. Inter- and intra-day precision tests showed variations of 1.1%–4.1% for four selected PAHs. Average absolute recovery values were in the range of 88.1%–90.5% with relative standard deviations below 5%, surpassing the values predicted by the recovery prediction model. Finally, the developed FPSE-HPLC-FLD protocol was applied to analyze 8 environmental water samples. Out of four selected PAHs, fluoranthene (Flu) and phenanthrene (Phen) were the most frequently detected in four samples, at concentrations of 5.6–7.7 ng/mL and 4.1–11 ng/mL, respectively, followed by anthracene (Anth) and pyrene (Pyr) in two samples. The newly developed FPSE-HPLC-FLD protocol is simple, green, fast and economical, with adequate sensitivity for trace levels of four selected PAHs and seems to be promising for routine monitoring of water quality and safety.
An Improved Routing Optimization Algorithm Based on Travelling Salesman Problem for Social Networks
Authors: Xiong Naixue , Wu Wenliang , Wu Chunxue
Published: June 2017

A social network is a social structure, which is organized by the relationships or interactions between individuals or groups. Humans link the physical network with social network, and the services in the social world are based on data and analysis, which directly influence decision making in the physical network. In this paper, we focus on a routing optimization algorithm, which solves a well-known and popular problem. Ant colony algorithm is proposed to solve this problem effectively, but random selection strategy of the traditional algorithm causes evolution speed to be slow. Meanwhile, positive feedback and distributed computing model make the algorithm quickly converge. Therefore, how to improve convergence speed and search ability of algorithm is the focus of the current research. The paper proposes the improved scheme. Considering the difficulty about searching for next better city, new parameters are introduced to improve probability of selection, and delay convergence speed of algorithm. To avoid the shortest path being submerged, and improve sensitive speed of finding the shortest path, it updates pheromone regulation formula. The results show that the improved algorithm can effectively improve convergence speed and search ability for achieving higher accuracy and optimal results.
Agroecological and Social Transformations for Coexistence with Semi-Aridity in Brazil
Authors: Pérez-Marin Aldrin M. , Rogé Paul , Altieri Miguel A. , Forer Luis F. Ulloa , Silveira Luciano , Oliveira Victor M. , Domingues-Leiva Barbara E.
Published: June 2017

This article explores whether a shift in development paradigm resulted in coexistence with semi-aridity for residents of the Semi-Arid region of Brazil (SAB). If so, which strategies contributed and which conditions facilitated it? We conducted a comparative analysis of the transformations that occurred in 10 territories of the SAB during two time periods: PI (1973–2001) when “development” policies almost exclusively aimed to “combat drought and its effects”; and PII (2002–2016) when a concept of coexistence with semi-aridity informed policy making. Our study from the 10 territories of the SAB show significant changes between PI and PII. On average, there was a substantial improvement in Access to Water Infrastructure (+33%∆), Diversification of Production Systems (Animals +36%∆; Crops +61%∆), Management of Common Pool Resources (+45%∆), Involvement in Spaces of Political Organizing (+24%∆), and Access to Public Programs (+29%∆). As such, “coexistence” went from concept to action as a consequence of structural, agroecological, social, and management transformations in combination with a strengthening of mechanisms for community reciprocity. These were characterized by (a) the creation of resource reserves for use during times of drought; (b) the efficient use of available natural resources; and (c) enhanced articulation between diverse actors.
Recent Advances in Whale-Watching Research: 2016–2017
Authors: Parsons E. C. M. , Brown D. M.
Published: June 2017

Whale-watching research encompasses a wide variety of disciplines and fields of study, from monitoring the biological impacts of whale-watching activities on cetaceans and assessments of the effectiveness of whale-watching management and regulations, to the sociological and economic
aspects of whale watching. This article is the latest in a series of annual digests, which describes the variety and findings of whale-watching studies published over the past year (June 2016–May 2017).
UNCERTAINTY AND DESIGN PRACTICE IN CHINA. THE “APPARATUS” OF SHANGHAI EXPERIMENTAL ARCHITECTURE
Authors: SANTI Ettore
Published: June 2017

Professional architects and scholars in China have pointed out the issue of uncertainty in the everyday realm of the design practice. Experimental architecture firms, the Chinese-born ateliers committed to seeking the “Chinese Identity” of architecture, have accepted uncertainty as a constitutive category of the process of city making and claimed they are learning from it. Yet, the cultural and political genealogy of uncertainty in China’s design process has not been significantly investigated. Building on the Foucauldian notion of apparatus, this paper unpacks the condition of uncertainty in Shanghai’s experimental architecture design practice and examines the formal and informal negotiations of power emerging among the diverse actors taking part in this process. Those include conflicts between governments at different levels, the contingency of the market demands, overlapping roles of design consultants, dynamics of cultural capital within the academic institutions. Based on methods of participant observation of experimental architecture ateliers in Shanghai, this analysis conveys that the Chinese Identity of architecture, the center of experimental architect’s design research, emerges as a consequence of the dynamics of the apparatus rather than from an a-priori formal determinism.
Le Corbusier : architecture et politique
Authors: Labbé Mickaël
Published: June 2017

Les rapports entretenus par Le Corbusier, architecte le plus emblématique de la modernité, avec le pouvoir politique sont foncièrement ambivalents. Promoteur inlassable du bonheur pour tous à travers l’architecture, Le Corbusier a pourtant frayé avec à peu près tous les pouvoirs, apparemment sans témoigner de préférences politiques, d’une manière qui semble contradictoire avec ses propres objectifs. À travers une série de paradoxes, nous cherchons à montrer que l’attitude politique de Le Corbusier ne doit pas simplement être référée à un ensemble d’arguments factuels et historiques, voire à une forme d’opportunisme consubstantiel à l’architecte en recherche de commandes, mais également à une certaine conception théorique et philosophique de la nature du pouvoir lui-même. Le pouvoir, conçu de manière purement formelle et extrêmement individualiste, n’est jamais pensé autrement que comme simple moyen ou cause efficiente visant à mettre en action la seule révolution valable pour Le Corbusier, à savoir la transformation de la culture par l’architecture. Se dessine ainsi la figure d’une pensée profonde des pouvoirs de l’architecture, en même temps que d’une singulière absence d’intelligence du politique.
La femme d’origine maghrébine en immigration. Dynamiques identitaires, genre et personnalisation
Authors: Qribi Abdelhak
Published: June 2017

L’approche des réalités de la femme d’origine maghrébine en France à travers le prisme du « genre » en tant que perspective constructiviste, et son inscription dans une problématique de socialisation et de personnalisation paraissent représenter une voie pertinente pour appréhender la dynamique identitaire. Partant des données cliniques de deux recherches doctorales, l’une portant sur les pratiques éducatives des parents et l’autre sur la socialisation interculturelle et les orientations identitaires des jeunes adultes, la construction du genre paraît prendre forme dans un travail de restructuration des références culturelles issues des pratiques d’éducation et des expériences de vie. En dépit du décalage temporel dans l’activité d’acculturation concernant les parents et l’activité d’interculturation concernant les jeunes générations, les uns comme les autres paraissent se frayer un chemin entre legs et désir, mémoire et exigences d’adaptation au monde présent. Les apports de l’école semblent représenter toutefois un atout supplémentaire décisif dans le cheminement des plus jeunes. La construction du genre apparaît in fine, comme participer d’une ligne de conduite en adéquation avec une image idéale de soi et s’inscrire dans une dynamique de réalisation personnelle et de projets qui lui confèrent sens et puissance.
Promouvoir l’agriculture dans le projet de territoire pour faciliter la mise à disposition du foncier : le cas de la châtaigneraie ardéchoise
Authors: Demené Camille , Audibert Odile
Published: June 2017

Dans un contexte de rareté croissante du foncier, la question de la mise à disposition de parcelles agricoles est toujours épineuse. Le bail rural, soumis au statut du fermage et hérité des politiques de modernisation de l’agriculture de l’après-guerre, en reste aujourd’hui l’outil essentiel. Conçu pour satisfaire aux exigences de l’activité agricole et de sa modernisation, le bail connait toutefois aujourd’hui une certaine disgrâce aux yeux des propriétaires, qui craignent d’y voir disparaître leurs droits à disposer librement de leur foncier. Dans ce contexte, notre contribution s’interroge sur la légitimité actuelle du bail rural et sur le possible renouvellement des modalités de mise à disposition du foncier. Nous faisons l’hypothèse que celle-ci est facilitée dès lors qu’un projet de mise en valeur agricole est partagé entre les parties – propriétaires et agriculteurs. S’il doit avant tout contribuer à une reconnaissance commune des enjeux et à une meilleure acceptation du bail, ce projet partagé peut également ouvrir la voie à des formes originales, notamment collectives, de mise à disposition du foncier. Nous étayerons notre proposition par l’analyse des actions conduites dans le cadre du programme de reconquête de la châtaigneraie, production agricole emblématique des Monts d’Ardèche. Nous y soulignerons l’importance de l’adhésion, à différentes échelles – du territoire à la parcelle - des acteurs à un projet agricole fédérateur, pour améliorer les conditions de mise à disposition du foncier.
Productions d’inégalités d’accès à la ressource foncière et politiques de préservation du foncier : une approche comparative
Authors: Requier-Desjardins Mélanie , Vianey Gisèle
Published: June 2017

À partir de résultats de travaux de terrain réalisés en France, en Algérie et au Cameroun, cet article analyse comment des actions, des mesures et des normes visant à freiner la dégradation des terres en zones arides et semi-arides et à contrer l’étalement urbain dans des contextes de forte pression foncière génèrent des inégalités et des exclusions sociales. Pour l’étude, des méthodologies et des disciplines différenciées sont mobilisées : une évaluation économique en Algérie, un diagnostic socio-économique au Cameroun et une analyse des pratiques sociales et agricoles sous-tendant les régimes fonciers locaux en France. Les résultats présentent un ensemble de points communs du point de vue de l’histoire de la ressource foncière et montrent que les effets de ces projets et mesures s’opposent aux objectifs attendus.