bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Nutritional Status of Infants Living in Arsenic-Contaminated Areas in Bangladesh and Its Association with Arsenic Exposure
Authors: Milton Abul , Attia John , Alauddin Mohammad , McEvoy Mark , McElduff Patrick , Hussain Sumaira , Akhter Ayesha , Akter Shahnaz , Islam M. , Ahmed AM , Iyengar Vasu , Islam Md
Published: January 2018

Data is scarce on early life exposure to arsenic and its association with malnutrition during infancy. This study followed the nutritional status of a cohort of 120 infants from birth to 9 months of age in an arsenic contaminated area in Bangladesh. Anthropometric data was collected at 3, 6 and 9 months of the infant’s age for nutritional assessment whereas arsenic exposure level was assessed via tube well drinking water arsenic concentration at the initiation of the study. Weight and height measurements were converted to Z-scores of weight for age (WAZ-underweight), height for age (HAZ-stunting), weight for height (WHZ-wasting) for children by comparing with WHO growth standard. Arsenic exposure levels were categorized as <50 μg/L and ≥50 μg/L. Stunting rates (<−2 SD) were 10% at 3 months and 44% at both 6 and 9 months. Wasting rates (<−2 SD) were 23.3% at 3 months and underweight rates (<−2 SD) were 25% and 10% at 3 and 6 months of age, respectively. There was a significant association of stunting with household drinking water arsenic exposure ≥50 μg/L at age of 9 months (p = 0.009). Except for stunting at 9 months of age, we did not find any significant changes in other nutritional indices over time or with levels of household arsenic exposure in this study. Our study suggests no association between household arsenic exposure and under-nutrition during infancy; with limiting factors being small sample size and short follow-up. Difference in stunting at 9 months by arsenic exposure at ≥50 μg/L might be a statistical incongruity. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish any association.
Analysis of Gambling in the Media Related to Screens: Immersion as a Predictor of Excessive Use?
Authors: Rémond Jean-Jacques , Romo Lucia
Published: January 2018

This study investigates the intricacies between the player interface proposed by the screens, (in particular on smartphone applications or in video games) and gambling. Recent research indicates connections between “immersion” and excessive screen practice. We want to understand the causal-effects between online gambling and the “immersion” variable and understand their relationship and its contingencies. This article empirically investigates whether and how it is possible to observe immersion with its sub-dimensions in gambling on different screens. The objective of this study was to analyze: (1) the costs and benefits associated with gambling practice on screens (2) the link between gambling practice and screen practice (video game, Internet, mobile screen); (3) to observe the propensity to immersion for individuals practicing gambling on screens; and (4) to examine the comorbidities and cognitive factors associated with the practice of gambling on screen. A total of 432 adults (212 men, 220 women), recruited from Ile-de-France (France), responded to a battery of questionnaires. Our study suggests that immersion variables make it possible to understand the cognitive participation of individuals towards screens in general, the practice of gambling on screens and the excessive practice of screens.
The Emerging International Taxation Problems
Authors: Yang James , Metallo Victor
Published: January 2018

The problems of tax evasion and tax avoidance are as old as taxes themselves. Between 2015 and 2016 alone, many U.S. multinational corporations were involved in tax disputes with the European Commission. From a historical perspective, these disputes are unprecedented as they have resulted in tremendous amount of tax penalties. The most notable case was Apple for €13 billion of unpaid tax. This article discusses what tax strategies these corporations used that caused such disputes. It specifically investigates seven corporations: Apple Inc., McDonald’s, Starbucks, Fiat, Amazon, Google, and Ikea, and elaborates on the following tax strategies: high royalties, intercompany transfer pricing, intercompany loans, and source of income in a high-tech industry. This article also discusses the European Commission’s charges of tax evasion and how these corporations defend against them. When multinational corporations are operating abroad, they must observe not only domestic tax law but also international law.
Theaflavin-3,3′-Digallate Enhances the Inhibitory Effect of Cisplatin by Regulating the Copper Transporter 1 and Glutathione in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Pan Haibo , Kim Eunhye , Rankin Gary , Rojanasakul Yon , Tu Youying , Chen Yi
Published: January 2018

Ovarian cancer has the highest fatality rate among the gynecologic cancers. The side effects, high relapse rate, and drug resistance lead to low long-term survival rate (less than 40%) of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Theaflavin-3,3′-digallate (TF3), a black tea polyphenol, showed less cytotoxicity to normal ovarian cells than ovarian cancer cells. We aimed to investigate whether TF3 could potentiate the inhibitory effect of cisplatin against human ovarian cancer cell lines. In the present study, combined treatment with TF3 and cisplatin showed a synergistic cytotoxicity against A2780/CP70 and OVCAR3 cells. Treatment with TF3 could increase the intracellular accumulation of platinum (Pt) and DNA-Pt adducts and enhanced DNA damage induced by cisplatin in both cells. Treatment with TF3 decreased the glutathione (GSH) levels and upregulated the protein levels of the copper transporter 1 (CTR1) in both cells, which led to the enhanced sensitivity of both ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. The results imply that TF3 might be used as an adjuvant to potentiate the inhibitory effect of cisplatin against advanced ovarian cancer.
Metal Ion Effects on Aβ and Tau Aggregation
Authors: Kim Anne Claire , Lim Sungsu , Kim Yun Kyung
Published: January 2018

Amyloid and tau aggregation are implicated in manifold neurodegenerative diseases and serve as two signature pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Though aging is considered as a prominent risk factor for AD pathogenesis, substantial evidence suggests that an imbalance of essential biometal ions in the body and exposure to certain metal ions in the environment can potentially induce alterations to AD pathology. Despite their physiological importance in various intracellular processes, biometal ions, when present in excessive or deficient amounts, can serve as a mediating factor for neurotoxicity. Recent studies have also demonstrated the contribution of metal ions found in the environment on mediating AD pathogenesis. In this regard, the neuropathological features associated with biometal ion dyshomeostasis and environmental metal ion exposure have prompted widespread interest by multiple research groups. In this review, we discuss and elaborate on findings from previous studies detailing the possible role of both endogenous and exogenous metal ions specifically on amyloid and tau pathology in AD.
How Sweet Are Our Gut Beneficial Bacteria? A Focus on Protein Glycosylation in Lactobacillus
Authors: Latousakis Dimitrios , Juge Nathalie
Published: January 2018

Protein glycosylation is emerging as an important feature in bacteria. Protein glycosylation systems have been reported and studied in many pathogenic bacteria, revealing an important diversity of glycan structures and pathways within and between bacterial species. These systems play key roles in virulence and pathogenicity. More recently, a large number of bacterial proteins have been found to be glycosylated in gut commensal bacteria. We present an overview of bacterial protein glycosylation systems (O- and N-glycosylation) in bacteria, with a focus on glycoproteins from gut commensal bacteria, particularly Lactobacilli. These emerging studies underscore the importance of bacterial protein glycosylation in the interaction of the gut microbiota with the host.
Photo-Modulation of Single-Molecule Magnetic Dynamics of a Dysprosium Dinuclear Complex via a Diarylethene Bridge
Authors: Cosquer Goulven , Kamila Mritunjoy , Li Zhao-Yang , Breedlove Brian , Yamashita Masahiro
Published: January 2018

A photo-switchable single molecule-magnet (SMM) with two Dy ions bridged by a bis-bipyridine-dithienylethene ligand was synthesised. Isomerisation effects on the magnetic properties were investigated. Particular attention was paid to the slow relaxation of the magnetisation in order to determine precisely the role played by the ligand. Photo-isomerization of the ligand induced a geometric rearrangement of the complex and an electronic reconfiguration. The changes were studied by solid and solution state magnetic measurements.
Automated Image Analysis of Offshore Infrastructure Marine Biofouling
Authors: Gormley Kate , McLellan Faron , McCabe Christopher , Hinton Claire , Ferris Joseph , Kline David , Scott Beth
Published: January 2018

In the UK, some of the oldest oil and gas installations have been in the water for over 40 years and have considerable colonisation by marine organisms, which may lead to both industry challenges and/or potential biodiversity benefits (e.g., artificial reefs). The project objective was to test the use of an automated image analysis software (CoralNet) on images of marine biofouling from offshore platforms on the UK continental shelf, with the aim of (i) training the software to identify the main marine biofouling organisms on UK platforms; (ii) testing the software performance on 3 platforms under 3 different analysis criteria (methods A–C); (iii) calculating the percentage cover of marine biofouling organisms and (iv) providing recommendations to industry. Following software training with 857 images, and testing of three platforms, results showed that diversity of the three platforms ranged from low (in the central North Sea) to moderate (in the northern North Sea). The two central North Sea platforms were dominated by the plumose anemone Metridium dianthus; and the northern North Sea platform showed less obvious species domination. Three different analysis criteria were created, where the method of selection of points, number of points assessed and confidence level thresholds (CT) varied: (method A) random selection of 20 points with CT 80%, (method B) stratified random of 50 points with CT of 90% and (method C) a grid approach of 100 points with CT of 90%. Performed across the three platforms, the results showed that there were no significant differences across the majority of species and comparison pairs. No significant difference (across all species) was noted between confirmed annotations methods (A, B and C). It was considered that the software performed well for the classification of the main fouling species in the North Sea. Overall, the study showed that the use of automated image analysis software may enable a more efficient and consistent approach to marine biofouling analysis on offshore structures; enabling the collection of environmental data for decommissioning and other operational industries.
Bayesian-Optimization-Based Peak Searching Algorithm for Clustering in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Tianyu , Zhao Qian , Shin Kilho , Nakamoto Yukikazu
Published: January 2018

We propose a new peak searching algorithm (PSA) that uses Bayesian optimization to find probability peaks in a dataset, thereby increasing the speed and accuracy of clustering algorithms. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are becoming increasingly common in a wide variety of applications that analyze and use collected sensing data. Typically, the collected data cannot be directly used in modern data analysis problems that adopt machine learning techniques because such data lacks additional information (such as data labels) specifying its purpose of users. Clustering algorithms that divide the data in a dataset into clusters are often used when additional information is not provided. However, traditional clustering algorithms such as expectation–maximization (EM) and k - m e a n s algorithms require massive numbers of iterations to form clusters. Processing speeds are therefore slow, and clustering results become less accurate because of the way such algorithms form clusters. The PSA addresses these problems, and we adapt it for use with the EM and k - m e a n s algorithms, creating the modified P S E M and P S k - m e a n s algorithms. Our simulation results show that our proposed P S E M and P S k - m e a n s algorithms significantly decrease the required number of clustering iterations (by 1.99 to 6.3 times), and produce clustering that, for a synthetic dataset, is 1.69 to 1.71 times more accurate than it is for traditional EM and enhanced k - m e a n s ( k - m e a n s ++) algorithms. Moreover, in a simulation of WSN applications aimed at detecting outliers, P S E M correctly identified the outliers in a real dataset, decreasing iterations by approximately 1.88 times, and P S E M was 1.29 times more accurate than EM at a maximum.
Hydrogen Bonds and Life in the Universe
Authors: Vladilo Giovanni , Hassanali Ali
Published: January 2018

The scientific community is allocating more and more resources to space missions and astronomical observations dedicated to the search for life beyond Earth. This experimental endeavor needs to be backed by a theoretical framework aimed at defining universal criteria for the existence of life. With this aim in mind, we have explored which chemical and physical properties should be expected for life possibly different from the terrestrial one, but similarly sustained by genetic and catalytic molecules. We show that functional molecules performing genetic and catalytic tasks must feature a hierarchy of chemical interactions operating in distinct energy bands. Of all known chemical bonds and forces, only hydrogen bonds are able to mediate the directional interactions of lower energy that are needed for the operation of genetic and catalytic tasks. For this reason and because of the unique quantum properties of hydrogen bonding, the functional molecules involved in life processes are predicted to have extensive hydrogen-bonding capabilities. A molecular medium generating a hydrogen-bond network is probably essential to support the activity of the functional molecules. These hydrogen-bond requirements constrain the viability of hypothetical biochemistries alternative to the terrestrial one, provide thermal limits to life molecular processes, and offer a conceptual framework to define a transition from a “covalent-bond stage” to a “hydrogen-bond stage” in prebiotic chemistry.
Effect of Surface Texturing on Cast Iron Reciprocating against Steel under Cyclic Loading in Boundary and Mixed Lubrication Conditions
Authors: Meylan Bastian , Saeidi Fatemeh , Wasmer Kilian
Published: January 2018

This study investigates the effect of laser surface texturing on the friction behavior of grey cast iron reciprocating under boundary, mixed lubrication conditions and cyclic loading. Four geometrical parameters of micro-textures (feature depth, feature diameter, area fraction, and sliding direction) were studied using a design of experiments (DoE) approach. The results showed that depending on the geometry, micro-textures can have either a positive or a negative effect on the friction behavior. The DoE analysis revealed that the coefficient of friction is mainly affected by the interaction of the feature depth and its diameter. It was found that this can be related to the aspect ratio of the dimples, and the best results were obtained for an aspect ratio of 0.1 and 0.17.
Tuning the Structure and Properties of Lanthanoid Coordination Polymers with an Asymmetric Anilato Ligand
Authors: Gómez-Claramunt Patricia , Benmansour Samia , Hernández-Paredes Antonio , Cerezo-Navarrete Christian , Rodríguez-Fernández Carlos , Canet-Ferrer Josep , Cantarero Andrés , Gómez-García Carlos
Published: January 2018

Five new anilato-based, Ln(III)-containing, layered compounds have been prepared with the asymmetric ligand chlorocyananilato (C6O4(CN)Cl)2−; different Ln(III) ions Ce(III), Pr(III), Yb(III), and Dy(III); and the three different solvents H2O, dimethylsolfoxide (DMSO), and dimethylformamide (DMF). Compounds [Ce2(C6O4(CN)Cl)3(DMF)6]·2H2O (1), [Pr2(C6O4(CN)Cl)3(DMF)6] (2), [Pr2(C6O4(CN)Cl)3(DMSO)6] (3), [Yb2(C6O4(CN)Cl)3(DMSO)4]·2H2O (4) and [H3O][Dy(C6O4(CN)Cl)2(H2O)]·4H2O (5) show the important role that the Ln(III) size, as well as the size and shape of the solvent may play in the crystal structure of each compound. Compounds 1–4 present (6,3)-2D hexagonal lattices, with important differences in the coordination number and geometry of the Ln(III) ion, as well as in the distortion of the hexagonal cavities, depending on the Ln(III) and solvent size. Compound 5 (the only one prepared with water) presents a (4,4)-2D square lattice, where the Dy(III) ions are surrounded by four chelating anilato ligands. Compounds 2–4 are essentially paramagnetic, confirming the presence of weak (if any) magnetic coupling mediated by the anilato ligands when connecting Ln(III) ions. Compounds 2–4 showed a red shift and a broadening of the emission band of the ligand. Compound 4 also showed a strong emission band attributed to the Yb(III), suggesting an antenna effect of the ligand. An energy transfer diagram is proposed to explain these luminescent properties.
A Note on Hadamard Fractional Differential Equations with Varying Coefficients and Their Applications in Probability
Authors: Garra Roberto , Orsingher Enzo , Polito Federico
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we show several connections between special functions arising from generalized Conway-Maxwell-Poisson (COM-Poisson) type statistical distributions and integro-differential equations with varying coefficients involving Hadamard-type operators. New analytical results are obtained, showing the particular role of Hadamard-type derivatives in connection with a recently introduced generalization of the Le Roy function. We are also able to prove a general connection between fractional hyper-Bessel-type equations involving Hadamard operators and Le Roy functions.
Bromopyrrole Alkaloids with the Inhibitory Effects against the Biofilm Formation of Gram Negative Bacteria
Authors: Sun Jingyuan , Wu Jiru , An Bang , Voogd Nicole , Cheng Wei , Lin Wenhan
Published: January 2018

Anti-biofilm assay guided fractionation of the marine sponge Stylissa massa revealed the butanol soluble fraction that was possessing the inhibitory activity toward the biofilm formation of bacterium E. coli. Chromatographic separation of the bioactive fraction resulted in the isolation of 32 bromopyrrole alkaloids, including six new alkaloids, named stylisines A–F (1–6). The structures of new alkaloids were established by comprehensive analyses of the two-dimensional (2D) NMR (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) and the high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) data, while the absolute configurations were determined by the X-ray diffraction and the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. Bioassay results indicated that phakellin-based alkaloids, including dibromoisophakellin and dibromophakellin, significantly reduced the biofilm formation of the bacterium E. coli. Present work provided a group of new natural scaffolds for the inhibitory effects against the biofilm formation of E. coli.
Antimicrobial Activities of European Propolis Collected from Various Geographic Origins Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics
Authors: AL-Ani Issam , Zimmermann Stefan , Reichling Jürgen , Wink Michael
Published: January 2018

Background: Propolis consists of a complex mixture of resinous substances collected by honeybees from different plant sources. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, biological activities, and synergistic properties with antibiotics of propolis samples collected from various geographic origins (Germany, Ireland, and Czech Republic). Methods: The chemical composition of the propolis was analyzed by Gas Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GLC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated by the standard broth microdilution method, while synergistic interactions were assessed by checkerboard dilution and time-kill curve assays. Results: HPLC and GLC-MS analyses revealed that ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) and water extracts of propolis (WEP) contained more than 100 different phytochemicals. The most abundant compounds were aromatic alcohols, aromatic acids, cinnamic acid and its esters, fatty acids, and flavanone (chrysin). Czech propolis showed the highest phenolic content (129.83 ± 5.9 mg CAE/g) followed by Irish propolis and German propolis. Furthermore, Irish propolis exhibited the highest value of total flavonoid content (2.86 ± 0.2 mg QE/g) and antioxidant activity (IC50 = 26.45 µg/mL). All propolis samples showed moderate antibacterial effect against Gram-positive microorganisms with MIC ranging from 0.08 mg/mL to 2.5 mg/mL. Moreover, EEP exhibited moderate activity against Gram-negative bacteria with MIC between 0.6 mg/mL to 5 mg/mL. In addition, EEP displayed moderate antifungal activity (MIC values between 0.6–2.5 mg/mL). The results obtained from time kill-kinetic assay and checkerboard dilution test of two-drug combinations between EEP and antibiotics such as vancomycin, oxacillin, and levofloxacin indicate mainly synergistic interactions against drug-resistant microbial pathogens including MRSA and VRE. Conclusions: The propolis extract synergistically enhanced the efficacy of antibiotics, especially those acting on cell wall synthesis (vancomycin and oxacillin) against drug-resistant microorganisms.
Metal Recovery from the Mobile Phone Waste by Chemical and Biological Treatments
Authors: Kim Yumi , Seo Hyunhee , Roh Yul
Published: January 2018

Recycling electronic waste is an important subject not only from the point of view of waste treatment, but also regarding the recovery of valuable metals. This research examined the stepwise recovery of metals in mobile phone waste using chemical treatment via pH swing and the biological method using biomineralization. In chemical treatment, the metal fraction attached to the printed circuit board (PCB) and camera parts were separated from the mobile phone waste and were then pulverized into particles with a size less than ~2 mm. The metal fraction was dissolved in aqua regia, and the pH of the solution was increased to 10.5 by adding NH4OH. The first precipitate was iron oxide, produced by raising the pH to 3.1~4.2 with NH4OH. Sequentially, copper chloride and rare earth-metal complex were produced at pH 5.7~7.7 and 8.3~10.5, respectively. In the biological method, the filtrate at pH 7.7 was added to a metal-reducing bacteria growth medium as a precursor. After two weeks of incubation, rhodochrosite and calcite were precipitated as nano-sized minerals. The results indicate that effective metal recovery of mobile phone waste is feasible using chemical and biological treatments, and the recovered metals and rare earth metals can be recycled into raw materials for various industries.
Novel Nutrition Profiling of New Zealanders’ Varied Eating Patterns
Authors: Maclaren Olivia , Mackay Lisa , Schofield Grant , Zinn Caryn
Published: January 2018

There is increasing recognition that the relationship between nutrition and health is influenced by complex eating behaviors. The aims of this study were to develop novel nutrition profiles of New Zealanders and to describe the prevalence of these profiles. Observational, cross-sectional data from the Sovereign Wellbeing Index, 2014 was used to develop the profiles in an a-priori process. Descriptive prevalence for the total data (N = 10,012; 4797 males; 18+ years) and profiles were reported. Nutrition question responses were presented as: Includers (consumed few time a week or more), Avoiders (few time a month) and Limiters (not eaten). Fruit or non-starchy vegetables were Included (fruit: 83.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI: 82.7, 84.1); vegetables: 82.6% (81.8, 83.4)) by the majority of the sample. Also Included were confectionary (48.6% 95% CI (47.6, 49.6)) and full sugar drinks (34.3% (33.4, 35.2)). The derived nutrition profiles were: Junk Food (22.4% 95% CI (21.6, 23.3)), Moderator (43.0% (42.1, 44.0)), High-Carbohydrate (23.0% (22.2, 23.8)), Mediterranean (11.1% (10.5, 11.8)), Flexitarian (8.8% (8.2, 9.4)), and Low-Carbohydrate (5.4% (4.9, 5.8)). This study suggests that New Zealanders follow a number of different healthful eating patterns. Future work should consider how these alternate eating patterns impact on public health.
Solubility, Emulsification and Surface Properties of Maleic Anhydride, Perfluorooctyl and Alkyl Meth-Acrylate Terpolymers
Authors: Szkudlarek Marian , Beginn Uwe , Keul Helmut , Möller Martin
Published: January 2018

The solubility of terpolymers containing alkyl, and perfluoroalkyl side chains as well as succinic acid moieties in the main chain, P[RFMA0.2-co-RHMA0.65-co-MAH0.15] (RH = C4H9- or C12H25-, RF- = C10H4F19-) with ca. 20 mol % fluorinated side chains and 10–22 mol % of succinic anhydride rings was tested in a number of solvents varying from water to non polar mineral oils. The polymers are well soluble in fluorinated solvents like Freon-113® and 1,3-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzene, in semi-polar solvents like chloroform, THF or lower esters and also in hydrocarbons with polymers containing dodecyl methacrylate. In self-emulsification experiments, a stable water emulsion of P[F8H2MA0.2-co-BMA0.65-co-MAH0.15] was obtained. The dispersability and emulsification of these polymers in mixtures of organic solvents and water yielded stable emulsions in the presence of additional surfactant. Thin films coated from organic solutions as well as from emulsions on glass resulted in water and oil-repelling surfaces with contact angles up to 140° against water and 71° against hexadecane. An enhancing effect of annealing was not observed.
Individual-Based Modelling of Invasion in Bioaugmented Sand Filter Communities
Authors: Daly Aisling , Baetens Jan , Vandermaesen Johanna , Boon Nico , Springael Dirk , De Baets Bernard
Published: January 2018

Using experimental data obtained from in vitro bioaugmentation studies of a sand filter community of 13 bacterial species, we develop an individual-based model representing the in silico counterpart of this synthetic microbial community. We assess the inter-species interactions, first by identifying strain identity effects in the data then by synthesizing these effects into a competition structure for our model. Pairwise competition outcomes are determined based on interaction effects in terms of functionality. We also consider non-deterministic competition, where winning probabilities are assigned based on the relative intrinsic competitiveness of each strain. Our model is able to reproduce the key qualitative dynamics observed in in vitro experiments with similar synthetic sand filter communities. Simulation outcomes can be explained based on the underlying competition structures and the resulting spatial dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of community diversity and in particular evenness in stabilizing the community dynamics, allowing us to study the establishment and development of these communities, and thereby illustrate the potential of the individual-based modelling approach for addressing microbial ecological theories related to synthetic communities.
Field Demonstration of Real-Time Wind Turbine Foundation Strain Monitoring
Authors: Rubert Tim , Perry Marcus , Fusiek Grzegorz , McAlorum Jack , Niewczas Pawel , Brotherston Amanda , McCallum David
Published: January 2018

Onshore wind turbine foundations are generally over-engineered as their internal stress states are challenging to directly monitor during operation. While there are industry drivers to shift towards more economical foundation designs, making this transition safely will require new monitoring techniques, so that the uncertainties around structural health can be reduced. This paper presents the initial results of a real-time strain monitoring campaign for an operating wind turbine foundation. Selected reinforcement bars were instrumented with metal packaged optical fibre strain sensors prior to concrete casting. In this paper, we outline the sensors’ design, characterisation and installation, and present 67 days of operational data. During this time, measured foundation strains did not exceed 95 μ ϵ , and showed a strong correlation with both measured tower displacements and the results of a foundation finite element model. The work demonstrates that real-time foundation monitoring is not only achievable, but that it has the potential to help operators and policymakers quantify the conservatism of their existing design codes.
Temporal–Spatial Surface Seasonal Mass Changes and Vertical Crustal Deformation in South China Block from GPS and GRACE Measurements
Authors: He Meilin , Shen Wenbin , Pan Yuanjin , Chen Ruizhi , Ding Hao , Guo Guangyi
Published: January 2018

The solid Earth deforms elastically in response to variations of surface atmosphere, hydrology, and ice/glacier mass loads. Continuous geodetic observations by Global Positioning System (CGPS) stations and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) record such deformations to estimate seasonal and secular mass changes. In this paper, we present the seasonal variation of the surface mass changes and the crustal vertical deformation in the South China Block (SCB) identified by GPS and GRACE observations with records spanning from 1999 to 2016. We used 33 CGPS stations to construct a time series of coordinate changes, which are decomposed by empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) in SCB. The average weighted root-mean-square (WRMS) reduction is 38% when we subtract GRACE-modeled vertical displacements from GPS time series. The first common mode shows clear seasonal changes, indicating seasonal surface mass re-distribution in and around the South China Block. The correlation between GRACE and GPS time series is analyzed which provides a reference for further improvement of the seasonal variation of CGPS time series. The results of the GRACE observations inversion are the surface deformations caused by the surface mass change load at a rate of about −0.4 to −0.8 mm/year, which is used to improve the long-term trend of non-tectonic loads of the GPS vertical velocity field to further explain the crustal tectonic movement in the SCB and surroundings.
Combination of Multi-Agent Systems and Wireless Sensor Networks for the Monitoring of Cattle
Authors: Barriuso Alberto , Villarrubia González Gabriel , De Paz Juan , Lozano Álvaro , Bajo Javier
Published: January 2018

Precision breeding techniques have been widely used to optimize expenses and increase livestock yields. Notwithstanding, the joint use of heterogeneous sensors and artificial intelligence techniques for the simultaneous analysis or detection of different problems that cattle may present has not been addressed. This study arises from the necessity to obtain a technological tool that faces this state of the art limitation. As novelty, this work presents a multi-agent architecture based on virtual organizations which allows to deploy a new embedded agent model in computationally limited autonomous sensors, making use of the Platform for Automatic coNstruction of orGanizations of intElligent Agents (PANGEA). To validate the proposed platform, different studies have been performed, where parameters specific to each animal are studied, such as physical activity, temperature, estrus cycle state and the moment in which the animal goes into labor. In addition, a set of applications that allow farmers to remotely monitor the livestock have been developed.
Underwater Acoustic Target Tracking: A Review
Authors: Luo Junhai , Han Ying , Fan Liying
Published: January 2018

Advances in acoustic technology and instrumentation now make it possible to explore marine resources. As a significant component of ocean exploration, underwater acoustic target tracking has aroused wide attention both in military and civil fields. Due to the complexity of the marine environment, numerous techniques have been proposed to obtain better tracking performance. In this paper, we survey over 100 papers ranging from innovative papers to the state-of-the-art in this field to present underwater tracking technologies. Not only the related knowledge of acoustic tracking instrument and tracking progress is clarified in detail, but also a novel taxonomy method is proposed. In this paper, algorithms for underwater acoustic target tracking are classified based on the methods used as: (1) instrument-assisted methods; (2) mode-based methods; (3) tracking optimization methods. These algorithms are compared and analyzed in the aspect of dimensions, numbers, and maneuvering of the tracking target, which is different from other survey papers. Meanwhile, challenges, countermeasures, and lessons learned are illustrated in this paper.
Diagnosis of Sustainable Business Strategies Implemented by Chilean Construction Companies
Authors: Giannoni Carlos , Alarcón Luis , Vera Sergio
Published: January 2018

Construction companies need to formulate sustainable construction business strategies to create a competitive advantage and remain in the market. This requires that construction firms incorporate sustainability into their business model. However, the current situation of the firm must be known before following the path to be a sustainable construction firm. Therefore, the aim of this research is to identify sustainable business strategies and their level of implementation in Chilean construction companies. A survey was designed and applied to 245 construction firms to provide statistically valid and reliable information, thus supporting both the senior managers’ decision-making process and the companies’ strategic planning. The main results show that the companies do not pursue business strategies that promote profound organizational changes; instead, they focus their short-term efforts on urgent market demands. This is evidenced by the lack of the function of sustainability management as a permanent role in the organization. Also, this study found that only 32% of Chilean construction companies implement business strategies towards sustainability. Construction firms with higher turnover and subjected to stricter regulations, such as construction companies working in the mining sector, incorporate more sustainable business strategies across their organizations. The lack of a sustainability-oriented vision can affect the transformation of strategy into a competitive advantage, a step that is necessary to support both the company’s permanence in the market and its long-term sustainability.
Manufacturing Quality Prediction Using Intelligent Learning Approaches: A Comparative Study
Authors: Bai Yun , Sun Zhenzhong , Deng Jun , Li Lin , Long Jianyu , Li Chuan
Published: January 2018

Under the international background of the transformation and promotion of manufacturing, the Chinese government proposed the “Made in China 2025” strategy, which focused on the improvement of a quality-based innovation ability. Moreover, predicting manufacturing quality is one of the crucial measures for quality management. Accurate prediction is closely related to the feature learning of manufacturing processes. Therefore, two categories of intelligent learning approaches, i.e., shallow learning and deep learning, are investigated and compared for manufacturing quality prediction in this paper. Specifically, the feed forward neural network (FFNN) with one hidden layer and the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) with no hidden layers are selected as the representatives for shallow learning, and the deep restricted Boltzmann machine (DRBM) and the stack autoencoder (SAE) are chosen as the representatives for deep learning. The manufacturing data is collected from a competition about manufacturing quality control in the Tianchi Data Lab of China. The experiments show that the deep framework overwhelms the shallow architecture in terms of mean absolute percentage error, root-mean-square error, and threshold statistics. In addition, the prediction results also indicate that the performances depend on the length of the training data. That is, the bigger the sample size is, the better the performance is.
Destination Personality, Destination Image, and Intent to Recommend: The Role of Gender, Age, Cultural Background, and Prior Experiences
Authors: Kim WooHyuk , Malek Kristin , Kim NamJo , Kim SeungHyun
Published: January 2018

When tourists chose destinations, they usually select locations that satisfy the subjective criteria of their requirements. The purpose of this study was to delineate those criteria by analyzing the interrelationships among destination personality, image, and intent to recommend while examining the effects of gender, age, cultural background, and prior tourist experience. The data were collected from a major tourism destination in South Korea. A total of 316 usable surveys were analyzed using structural analysis. The results show that three of the four factors for destination personality significantly affected destination image. In turn, destination image influenced intent to recommend. Subsequent tests for metric invariances showed differences in the moderating role of cultural background, gender, age, and prior experience.
Secure Cyber Deception Architecture and Decoy Injection to Mitigate the Insider Threat
Authors: Park Kyungmin , Woo Samuel , Moon Daesung , Choi Hoon
Published: January 2018

We propose a novel dynamic host mutation (DHM) architecture based on moving target defense (MTD) that can actively cope with cyberattacks. The goal of the DHM is to break the cyber kill chain, expand the attack surface to increase the attacker’s target analysis cost, and disrupt the attacker’s fingerprinting to disable the server trace. We define the participating entities that share the MTD policy within the enterprise network or the critical infrastructure, and define functional modules of each entity for DHM enforcement. The threat model of this study is an insider threat of a type not considered in previous studies. We define an attack model considering an insider threat and propose a decoy injection mechanism to confuse the attacker. In addition, we analyze the security of the proposed structure and mechanism based on the security requirements and propose a trade-off considering security and availability.
Cytotoxic, Apoptotic and Genotoxic Effects of Lipid-Based and Polymeric Nano Micelles, an In Vitro Evaluation
Authors: Bahadori Fatemeh , Kocyigit Abdurrahim , Onyuksel Hayat , Dag Aydan , Topcu Gulacti
Published: January 2018

Self-assembly systems (SAS) mainly consist of micelles, and liposomes are the classes of Nano Drug Delivery Systems with superior properties compared to traditional therapeutics in targeting cancer tumors. All commercially available nano-formulations of chemotherapeutics currently consist of SAS. According to our knowledge, a specific toxicity comparison based on material differences has not yet been performed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the toxicity of two SAS consisting of Sterically Stabilized Micelles (SSM) made of a lipid-based amphiphilic distearoyl-sn-glycero-phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-2000 and a polymeric micelle (PM) consisting of Y-shape amphiphilic block copolymer, synthesized using poly ε-caprolactone and PEG. The mechanism of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of micelles on L-929 healthy mouse fibroblast cells was assessed using Sulforhodamine-B, WST-1, Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide and alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis assays. Results showed that SSM in conc. of 40 mg/mL shows very low cytotoxicity at the end of 24, 48 and 72 h. The DNA damage caused by SSM was much lower than PM while the latter one showed significant toxicity by causing apoptosis with the ED50 value of 3 mg/mL. While the DNA damage caused by SSM was ignorable, some DNA chain breaks were detected on cells treated with PM.
Suspected and Confirmed Vector-Borne Rickettsioses of North America Associated with Human Diseases
Authors: Hardstone Yoshimizu Melissa , Billeter Sarah
Published: January 2018

The identification of pathogenic rickettsial agents has expanded over the last two decades. In North America, the majority of human cases are caused by tick-borne rickettsioses but rickettsiae transmitted by lice, fleas, mites and other arthropods are also responsible for clinical disease. Symptoms are generally nonspecific or mimic other infectious diseases; therefore, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed. While infection with most rickettsioses is relatively mild, delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. This review will discuss the ecology, epidemiology and public health importance of suspected and confirmed vector-transmitted Rickettsia species of North America associated with human diseases.
Hydrologic and Water Quality Evaluation of a Permeable Pavement and Biofiltration Device in Series
Authors: Braswell Alessandra , Anderson Andrew , Hunt William
Published: January 2018

Two stormwater control measures (SCMs) installed in series were monitored for their individual impact on the hydrology and water quality of stormwater runoff from a 0.08-hectare watershed in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for 22 months. Runoff was first treated by permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP), the underdrain of which discharged into a proprietary box filter (Filterra® biofiltration) which combined high-flow-engineered media with modest biological treatment from a planted tree. Due to a deteriorating contributing drainage area and high ratio of impervious area to permeable pavement area (2.6:1), clogging of the permeable pavement surface caused an estimated 38% of stormwater to bypass as surface runoff. Fifty-six percent of runoff volume infiltrated underlying soils, and the remaining 6% exited the Filterra® as treated effluent; the hydrologic benefit of the Filterra® was minimal, as expected. Primary treatment through the PICP significantly reduced event mean concentrations (EMCs) of total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) but contributed to a significant increase in nitrate/nitrite (NO2,3–N) concentrations. Secondary treatment by the Filterra® further reduced TSS and TP concentrations and supplemented nitrogen removal such that treatment provided by the overall system was as follows: TSS (removal efficiency (RE): 96%), TP (RE: 75%), TN (RE: 42%), and TKN (RE: 51%). EMCs remained unchanged for NO2,3–N. Despite EMC reductions, additional load reduction due to the Filterra® was modest (less than 2%). This was because (1) a majority of pollutant load was removed via PICP exfiltration losses, and (2) nearly all of the export load was from untreated surface runoff, which bypassed the Filterra®, and therefore the manufactured device never had the opportunity to treat it. Cumulative load reductions (based only upon events with samples collected at each sampling location) were 69%, 60%, and 41% for TSS, TP, and TN, respectively. When surface runoff was excluded, load reductions increased to over 96%; lower run-on ratios (which would reduce clogging rate) and/or increased maintenance frequency might have improved pollutant load removal.
Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Extreme Precipitation Regimes in the Eastern Inland River Basin of Inner Mongolian Plateau, China
Authors: Li Wei , Duan Limin , Luo Yanyun , Liu Tingxi , Scharaw Buren
Published: January 2018

In this work, we use the gridded precipitation dataset (with a resolution of 0.5° × 0.5°) of the eastern part of inland river basin of Inner Mongolian Plateau from 1961–2015 as the basis and adopt the methods of climatic diagnosis (e.g., the Modified Mann-Kendall method, principal component analysis, and correlation analysis) to analyze the spatial and temporal variations of six extreme precipitation indices. Furthermore, we analyzed the relationship between El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events and the observed extreme precipitation. The results indicated that the gridded dataset can be used to describe the precipitation distribution in our study area. In recent 55 years, the inter-annual variation trends of extreme precipitation indices are generally dominated by declination except for the maximum precipitation over five days (RX5DAY) and the heavy precipitation (R95P), in particular, the decreasing regions of consecutive dry days (CDD) accounts for 91% of the entire basin, 17.28% of which is showing the significant downward trend. Contrary to CDD, the spatial distribution of the other five indices is gradually decreasing from northeast to southwest, and the precipitation intensity (SDII) ranges from 3.8–5.3 mm·d−1, with relatively small spatial differences. To some extent, CDD and R95P can used to characterize the extreme precipitation regimes. Moreover, the number of days with heavy precipitation (RR10), SDII, and R95P are more susceptible to the ENSO events. In addition, the moderate El Niño event may increase the probability of CDD, while the La Niña events may increase the risk of the heavy rainfall regime in the study area.
Targeted Silencing ofKim-1Inhibits the Growth of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Line 786-0 In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Xu Jianping , Sun Liguo , Sun Wei , Tian Jianhai , Guo Huaiyuan
Published: January 2018

To investigate the effect ofKim-1on 786-0 cells in vivo and in vitro, several experiments such as quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, MTT, colony formation, and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the biological behavior of 786-0 cells treated withKim-1siRNA. Furthermore, the tumor xenograft model was applied to BALB/c nude mice to assess the effect ofKim-1silencing. Lentivirus-mediated RNAi effectively silencedKim-1in 786-0 cells.Kim-1knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation ability of 786-0 cells (p < 0.01). The cell cycle of 786-0 cells was arrested in the G0/G1phase (p < 0.01). Early and late apoptosis were significantly increased in theKim-1siRNA cells (p < 0.01). In addition, growth of 786-0 cells was significantly inhibited in theKim-1-silenced mice. In conclusion, knockdown ofKim-1inhibits the growth of 786-0 cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating thatKim-1could be used as a potential target for clear cell renal cell carcinoma therapy.
Long Noncoding RNA CAT104 Promotes Cell Viability, Migration, and Invasion in Gastric Carcinoma Cells Through Activation of MicroRNA-381-Inhibiting Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1) Expression
Authors: Yuan Gang , Quan Jingzi , Dong Dongfang , Wang Qunying
Published: January 2018

Gastric carcinoma (GC) remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Good biomarkers are of paramount importance for GC therapy. This study aimed to assess the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CAT104 in GC. We found that CAT104 was highly expressed in human
GC NCI-N87, SGC7901, BGC823, BGC803, and AGS cells. Suppression of CAT104 decreased NCI-N87 cell viability, migration, and invasion, but promoted apoptosis. CAT104 knockdown enhanced the expression of microRNA-381 (miR-381) expression in NCI-N87 cells. miR-381 participated in the regulatory
effects of CAT104 on NCI-N87 cell viability, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was identified as a direct target of miR-381. Overexpression of ZEB1 reversed the miR-381 mimic-induced cell viability, migration, and invasion inhibition. Suppression
of ZEB1 reversed the miR-381 inhibitor-induced activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in NCI-N87 cells. In conclusion, CAT104 might function as an oncogenic factor in GC cells via regulating the expression of miR-381 and ZEB1.