bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED: Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Urban Forest Basal Area under China’s Rapid Urban Expansion and Greening: Implications for Urban Green Infrastructure Management
Authors: Ren Zhibin , He Xingyuan , Zheng Haifeng , Wei Hongxu
Published: May 2018

Urban forest (UF) basal area is an important parameter of UF structures, which can influence the functions of the UF ecosystem. However, the spatio-temporal pattern of the basal area in a given UF in regions under rapid urbanization and greening is still not well documented. Our study explores the potential of estimating spatio-temporal UF basal area by using Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery. In our study, the predicting model was established to produce spatiotemporal maps of the urban forest basal area index in Changchun, China for the years 1984, 1995, 2005, and 2014. Our results showed that urban forests became more and more fragmented due to rapid urbanization from 1984 to 1995. Along with rapid urban greening after 1995, urban forest patches became larger and larger, creating a more homogeneous landscape. Urban forest and its basal area in the whole study area increased gradually from 1984 to 2014, especially in the outer belts of the city with urban sprawl. UF basal area was 27.3 × 103 m2, 41.3 × 103 m2, 45.8 × 103 m2, and 65.1 × 103 m2 of the entire study area for the year 1984, 1995, 2005, and 2014, respectively. The class distribution of the UF basal area index was skewed toward low values across all four years. In contrast, the frequency of a higher UF basal area index increased gradually from 1984 to 2014. Besides, the UF basal area index showed a decreasing trend along the gradient from suburban areas to urban center areas. Our results demonstrate the capability of TM remote sensing for understanding spatio-temporal changing patterns of UF basal area under China’s rapid urban expansion and greening.
Biophysical Factors Affecting Forest Cover Changes in Community Forestry: A Country Scale Analysis in Cambodia
Authors: Lonn Pichdara , Mizoue Nobuya , Ota Tetsuji , Kajisa Tsuyoshi , Yoshida Shigejiro
Published: May 2018

Community forestry (CF) is increasingly used in developing countries to achieve both the socioeconomic outcome of poverty reduction and an ecological outcome. There have been many single case studies in a specific region to identify the factors affecting the success or failure of CF. Other studies have used large-N data collected from multiple countries. However, there is a dearth of large-N studies within a single country. In this study, we used a country scale dataset of 197 CF projects, established between 1994 and 2005 across Cambodia, to identify the biophysical factors that affected forest cover changes from 2005 to 2016. A mixed-effects logistic regression model was used for a total of 71,252 randomly sampled data pixels nested in the 197 CF. Results showed that deforestation in CF was likely to increase with increasing size of CF area at lower elevations and on gentler slopes. Deforestation also increased if CF was located close to villages, markets and CF boundaries, but further away from main roads. These findings on biophysical factors can help the government to decide on priority locations for further conservation interventions or for the establishment of new CF projects.
Predicting Growing Stock Volume of Scots Pine Stands Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery and Airborne Image-Derived Point Clouds
Authors: Hawryło Paweł , Wężyk Piotr
Published: May 2018

Estimation of forest stand parameters using remotely sensed data has considerable significance for sustainable forest management. Wide and free access to the collection of medium-resolution optical multispectral Sentinel-2 satellite images is very important for the practical application of remote sensing technology in forestry. This study assessed the accuracy of Sentinel-2-based growing stock volume predictive models of single canopy layer Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands. We also investigated whether the inclusion of Sentinel-2 data improved the accuracy of models based on airborne image-derived point cloud data (IPC). A multiple linear regression (LM) and random forest (RF) methods were tested for generating predictive models. The measurements from 94 circular field plots (400 m2) were used as reference data. In general, the LM method provided more accurate models than the RF method. Models created using only Sentinel-2A images had low prediction accuracy and were characterized by a high root mean square error (RMSE%) of 35.14% and a low coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.24. Fusion of IPC data with Sentinel-2 reflectance values provided the most accurate model: RMSE% = 16.95% and R2 = 0.82. However, comparable accuracy was obtained using the IPC-based model: RMSE% = 17.26% and R2 = 0.81. The results showed that for single canopy layer Scots pine dominated stands the incorporation of Sentinel-2 satellite images into IPC-based growing stock volume predictive models did not significantly improve the model accuracy. From an operational point of view, the additional utilization of Sentinel-2 data is not justified in this context.
Statistical Analysis of Bathing Water Quality in Puglia Region (Italy)
Authors: Malcangio Daniela , Donvito Claudio , Ungaro Nicola
Published: May 2018

Geostatistic analysis was applied to the dataset from multi-year monitoring, in the Apulian marine-coastal zone (Mediterranean Sea, Italy), on the presence and abundance of intestinal Enterococci and Escherichia coli, microbiological indicators of faecal contamination at the sea. The same faecal contamination can be considered as the main cause of pollution phenomenon under current Italian and European regulations for the bathing waters (Italian Government Decree 116/2008, European Directive 2006/7/CE). The main objective of the study is to verify, taking into the account the anthropic pressures acting on the coastal zone, the efficiency of the Apulian regional monitoring plan currently in force for the assessment of bathing waters quality, with a view to a hypothetical reduction of sample collection points.
Protein Carbamylation: A Marker Reflecting Increased Age-Related Cell Oxidation
Authors: Carracedo Julia , Ramírez-Carracedo Rafael , Martínez de Toda Irene , Vida Carmen , Alique Matilde , De la Fuente Mónica , Ramírez-Chamond Rafael
Published: May 2018

Carbamylation is a post-translational modification of proteins that may partake in the oxidative stress-associated cell damage, and its increment has been recently proposed as a “hallmark of aging”. The molecular mechanisms associated with aging are related to an increased release of free radicals. We have studied whether carbamylated proteins from the peripheral blood of healthy subjects are related to oxidative damage and aging, taking into account the gender and the immune profile of the subjects. The study was performed in healthy human volunteers. The detection of protein carbamylation and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was evaluated using commercial kits. The immune profile was calculated using parameters of immune cell function. The results show that the individuals from the elderly group (60–79 years old) have increased carbamylated protein and MDA levels. When considered by gender, only men between 60 and 79 years old showed significantly increased carbamylated proteins and MDA levels. When those subjects were classified by their immune profile, the carbamylated protein levels were higher in those with an older immune profile. In conclusion, the carbamylation of proteins in peripheral blood is related to age-associated oxidative damage and to an aging functional immunological signature. Our results suggest that carbamylated proteins may play an important role at the cellular level in the aging process.
Insurance Coverage Policies for Pharmacogenomic and Multi-Gene Testing for Cancer
Authors: Lu Christine , Loomer Stephanie , Ceccarelli Rachel , Mazor Kathleen , Sabin James , Clayton Ellen , Ginsburg Geoffrey , Wu Ann
Published: May 2018

Insurance coverage policies are a major determinant of patient access to genomic tests. The objective of this study was to examine differences in coverage policies for guideline-recommended pharmacogenomic tests that inform cancer treatment. We analyzed coverage policies from eight Medicare contractors and 10 private payers for 23 biomarkers (e.g., HER2 and EGFR) and multi-gene tests. We extracted policy coverage and criteria, prior authorization requirements, and an evidence basis for coverage. We reviewed professional society guidelines and their recommendations for use of pharmacogenomic tests. Coverage for KRAS, EGFR, and BRAF tests were common across Medicare contractors and private payers, but few policies covered PML/RARA, CD25, or G6PD. Twelve payers cover at least one multi-gene test for nonsmall cell lung cancer, citing emerging clinical recommendations. Coverage policies for single and multi-gene tests for cancer treatments are relatively consistent among Medicare contractors despite the lack of national coverage determinations. In contrast, coverage for these tests varied across private payers. Patient access to tests is governed by prior authorization among eight private payers. Substantial variations in how payers address guideline-recommended pharmacogenomic tests and the common use of prior authorization underscore the need for additional studies of the effects of coverage variation on cancer care and patient outcomes.
Enhanced Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Rice Straw Pretreated by Oxidants Assisted with Photocatalysis Technology
Authors: Chang Ken-Lin , Wang Xiao-Qin , Han Ye-Ju , Deng Hao , Liu Jing-yong , Lin Yuan-Chung
Published: May 2018

This work evaluated the effectiveness of rice straw pretreatment using a TiO2/UV system in the presence of oxidants. The effects of TiO2 concentrations, pH and photocatalysis time were investigated. Inorganic oxidants including H2O2, K2S2O8, and KIO4 were added to further enhance the effect on enzymatic hydrolysis of rice straw. The TiO2/UV/ H2O2 pretreatment showed a higher amount of released reducing sugar (8.88 ± 0.10 mg/mL, compared to 5.47 ± 0.03 mg/mL in untreated sample). Composition analyses of rice straw after the TiO2/UV/H2O2 pretreatment showed partial lignin and hemicellulose removal. Moreover, structural features of untreated and pretreated rice straw were analyzed through FE-SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. This work suggests that H2O2 is an efficient addition for photocatalysis pretreatment of rice straw.
Fast and Cost-Effective Synthesis of High-Quality Graphene on Copper Foils Using High-Current Arc Evaporation
Authors: Lux Helge , Edling Matthias , Siemroth Peter , Schrader Sigurd
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we present an innovative and ultra-fast process for the deposition of high-quality graphene on different metal foils and thin metal films. The graphene layer can be homogeneously deposited in only 30 s process time. Due to the weak adhesion to the substrate material, the monolayer graphene is easy to transfer using the established processes. For the production, we use magnetic filtered high-current arc evaporation (Φ-HCA) with a solid, graphitic carbon source. This ultra-fast growth process can pave the way towards a cost-effective graphene synthesis for the mass production e.g., in a roll-to-roll process, avoiding time consuming established processes.
Electrochemical and Electronic Charge Transport Properties of Ni-Doped LiMn2O4 Spinel Obtained from Polyol-Mediated Synthesis
Authors: Yang Shuo , Schmidt Dirk Oliver , Khetan Abhishek , Schrader Felix , Jakobi Simon , Homberger Melanie , Noyong Michael , Paulus Anja , Kungl Hans , Eichel Rüdiger-Albert , Pitsch Heinz , Simon Ulrich
Published: May 2018

LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) spinel has been extensively investigated as one of the most promising high-voltage cathode candidates for lithium-ion batteries. The electrochemical performance of LNMO, especially its rate performance, seems to be governed by its crystallographic structure, which is strongly influenced by the preparation methods. Conventionally, LNMO materials are prepared via solid-state reactions, which typically lead to microscaled particles with only limited control over the particle size and morphology. In this work, we prepared Ni-doped LiMn2O4 (LMO) spinel via the polyol method. The cycling stability and rate capability of the synthesized material are found to be comparable to the ones reported in literature. Furthermore, its electronic charge transport properties were investigated by local electrical transport measurements on individual particles by means of a nanorobotics setup in a scanning electron microscope, as well as by performing DFT calculations. We found that the scarcity of Mn3+ in the LNMO leads to a significant decrease in electronic conductivity as compared to undoped LMO, which had no obvious effect on the rate capability of the two materials. Our results suggest that the rate capability of LNMO and LMO materials is not limited by the electronic conductivity of the fully lithiated materials.
Debinding and Sintering of an Injection-Moulded Hypereutectic Al–Si Alloy
Authors: Ni Jiaqi , Yu Muhuo , Han Keqing
Published: May 2018

Hypereutectic Al–Si (20 wt.%) alloy parts were fabricated by employing a powder injection moulding (PIM) technique with a developed multi-component binder system composed of high-density polyethylene (35 wt.%), carnauba wax (62 wt.%) and stearic acid (3 wt.%). The feedstocks contained 83 wt.% metal powders. The debinding process was carried out by a combination of solvent extraction and thermal decomposition. The effects of solvent debinding variables such as kind of solvents, debinding temperatures and time, and the bulk surface area to volume ratios on the debinding process were investigated. Thermal debinding and the subsequent sintering process were carried out in a heating sequence under a nitrogen atmosphere. The influences of sintering temperature and sintering time on the mechanical properties and structure were considered. Under the optimal sintering condition, sintering at 550 °C for 3 h, the final sintering parts were free of distortion and exhibited good mechanical properties. Relative sintered density, Brinell hardness, and tensile strength were ~95.5%, 58 HBW and ~154, respectively.
Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Hollowed-Out Pyramid Surface Based on Self-Assembly
Authors: Luo Weipeng , Yu Bin , Xiao Dingbang , Zhang Meng , Wu Xuezhong , Li Guoxi
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we present a periodic hollowed-out pyramid microstructure with excellent superhydrophobicity. In our approach, T-topping pillars and capillary-induced self-assembly methods were combined with the photolithography process to fabricate a hollowed-out pyramid structure. First, a wideband ultraviolet source without a filter was used to fabricate the T-topping pillars during the exposure process; then, the evaporation-induced assembly collapsed the pillars and formed the hollowed-out pyramid structure. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the microstructures of the prepared surface. The contact angle of the surface was 154°. The surface showed excellent high temperature and ultraviolet irradiation tolerance, and the contact angle of the surface barely changed when the temperature dropped. This excellent environmental durability of our superhydrophobic surface has potential applications for self-cleaning and friction drag reduction under water.
An Alternative Lifetime Model for White Light Emitting Diodes under Thermal–Electrical Stresses
Authors: Yang Xi , Sun Bo , Wang Zili , Qian Cheng , Ren Yi , Yang Dezhen , Feng Qiang
Published: May 2018

The lifetime prediction using accelerated degradation test (ADT) method has become a main issue for white light emitting diodes applications. This paper proposes a novel lifetime model for light emitting diodes (LEDs) under thermal and electrical stresses, where the junction temperature and driving current are deemed the input parameters for lifetime prediction. The features of LEDs’ lifetime and the law of lumen depreciation under dual stresses are combined to build the lifetime model. The adoption of thermal and electrical stresses overcomes the limitation of single stress, and junction temperature in accelerated degradation test as thermal stress is more reliable than ambient temperature in conventional ADT. Furthermore, verifying applications and cases studies are discussed to prove the practicability and generality of the proposed lifetime model. In addition, the lifetime model reveals that electrical stress is equally significant to the thermal stress in the degradation of LEDs, and therefore should not be ignored in the investigation on lumen decay of LEDs products.
Preparation and Thermal Properties of Molecular-Bridged Expanded Graphite/Polyethylene Glycol Composite Phase Change Materials for Building Energy Conservation
Authors: Zhang Dong , Chen Meizhu , Liu Quantao , Wan Jiuming , Hu Jinxuan
Published: May 2018

Using phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes became a reliable method to improve indoor comfort and reduce buildings’ energy consumption. This research developed molecular-bridged expanded graphite (EG)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite PCMs (m-EPs) to conserve energy in buildings. The m-EPs were prepared through a vacuum absorption technique, and a titanate coupling agent was used to build a molecular bridge between EG and PEG. SEM, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), the leakage test, microcalorimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were conducted to characterize the morphology, pore structure, absorbability, and modifying effects of the m-EPs. The phase change temperature, latent heat, thermal stability, and thermal conductivity of the m-EPs were determined by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), TGA, and a thermal constants analyzer. Results showed that the maximum mass ratio of PEG to EG without leakage was 1:7, and a stable connection was established in the m-EPs after modification. Compared with the unmodified EPs, the supercooling degree of the m-EPs reduced by about 3 °C, but the latent heats and initial decomposition temperatures increased by approximately 10% and 20 °C, respectively, which indicated an improvement in the thermal energy storage efficiency. The thermal conductivities of the m-EPs were 10 times higher than those of the pristine PEGs, which ensured a rapid responding to building temperature fluctuations.
Dietary Polysaccharide from Enteromorpha Clathrata Modulates Gut Microbiota and Promotes the Growth of Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.
Authors: Shang Qingsen , Wang Ya , Pan Lin , Niu Qingfeng , Li Chao , Jiang Hao , Cai Chao , Hao Jiejie , Li Guoyun , Yu Guangli
Published: May 2018

Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that Enteromorpha clathrata polysaccharide (ECP) could contribute to the treatment of diseases. However, as a promising candidate for marine drug development, although ECP has been extensively studied, less consideration has been given to exploring its effect on gut microbiota. In this light, given the critical role of gut microbiota in health and disease, we investigated here the effect of ECP on gut microbiota using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. As revealed by bioinformatic analyses, ECP considerably changed the structure of the gut microbiota and significantly promoted the growth of probiotic bacteria in C57BL/6J mice. However, interestingly, ECP exerted different effects on male and female microbiota. In females, ECP increased the abundances of Bifidobacterium spp. and Akkermansia muciniphila, a next-generation probiotic bacterium, whereas in males, ECP increased the population of Lactobacillus spp. Moreover, by shaping a more balanced structure of the microbiota, ECP remarkably reduced the antigen load from the gut in females. Altogether, our study demonstrates for the first time a prebiotic effect of ECP on gut microbiota and forms the basis for the development of ECP as a novel gut microbiota modulator for health promotion and disease management.
Phenolic Compositions and Antioxidant Activities Differ Significantly among Sorghum Grains with Different Applications
Authors: Shen Shuyu , Huang Rui , Li Charlie , Wu Wenyan , Chen Honglin , Shi John , Chen Shiguo , Ye Xingqian
Published: May 2018

Sorghum grains with different applications had different phenolic profiles, which were corresponded to various antioxidant capacities. In this study, total phenolic, proanthocyanidins and flavonoids contents, as well as contents of individual phenolic compounds from sorghum grains with various applications were determined, and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated. Total phenolic contents (TPC) and total proanthocyanidins contents (TPAC) showed strong correlation with antioxidant activities (r > 0.95, p < 0.01). Hongyingzi (S-1), one of the brewing sorghums, showed the highest level of TPC and TPAC, while white grain sorghum (S-8) had the lowest. Except for black grain sorghum (S-7), that contained the highest contents of ferulic acid, brewing sorghum grains contained the higher contents of the most individual phenolic compounds, especially the variety S-1. The correlation among individual phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities indicated that the free forms of protocatechuic acid (r = 0.982 of FRAPassay, p < 0.01) and taxifolin (r = 0.826 of FRAP assay, p < 0.01) may be the main functional compounds. These results indicate that brewing sorghum grains can also be utilized as effective materials for functional foods.
Effective NiMn Nanoparticles-Functionalized Carbon Felt as an Effective Anode for Direct Urea Fuel Cells
Authors: Barakat Nasser A. M. , Alajami Mohannad , Ghouri Zafar Khan , Al-Meer Saeed
Published: May 2018

The internal resistances of fuel cells strongly affect the generated power. Basically, in the fuel cell, the anode can be prepared by deposition of a film from the functional electrocatalyst on a proper gas diffusion layer. Accordingly, an interfacial resistance for the electron transport is created between the two layers. Electrocatalyst-functionalized gas diffusion layer (GDL) can distinctly reduce the interfacial resistance between the catalyst layer and the GDL. In this study, NiMn nanoparticles-decorated carbon felt is introduced as functionalized GDL to be exploited as a ready-made anode in a direct urea fuel cell. The proposed treated GDL was prepared by calcination of nickel acetate/manganese acetate-loaded carbon felt under an argon atmosphere at 850 °C. The physiochemical characterizations confirmed complete reduction for the utilized precursors and deposition of pristine NiMn nanoparticles on the carbon felt fiber. In passive direct urea fuel cells, investigation the performance of the functionalized GDLs indicated that the composition of the metal nanoparticles has to be optimized as the GDL obtained from 40 wt % manganese acetate reveals the maximum generated power density; 36 mW/m2 at room temperature and 0.5 M urea solution. Moreover, the electrochemical measurements proved that low urea solution concentration is preferred as utilizing 0.5 M solution resulted into generating higher power compared to 1.0 and 2.0 M solution. Overall, this study opens a new avenue toward functionalization of the GDL as a novel strategy to overcome the interfacial resistance between the electrocatalyst and the GDL.
Pilot Study Examining the Influence of Potassium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Nitrogen Balance and Whole-Body Ammonia and Urea Turnover Following Short-Term Energy Restriction in Older Men
Authors: Margolis Lee M. , Ceglia Lisa , Rivas Donato A. , Dawson-Hughes Bess , Fielding Roger A.
Published: May 2018

With aging there is a chronic low-grade metabolic-acidosis that may exacerbate negative protein balance during weight loss. The objective of this randomized pilot study was to assess the impact of 90 mmol∙day−1 potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) versus a placebo (PLA) on 24-h urinary net acid excretion (NAE), nitrogen balance (NBAL), and whole-body ammonia and urea turnover following short-term diet-induced weight loss. Sixteen (KHCO3; n = 8, PLA; n = 8) older (64 ± 4 years) overweight (BMI: 28.5 ± 2.1 kg∙day−1) men completed a 35-day controlled feeding study, with a 7-day weight-maintenance phase followed by a 28-day 30% energy-restriction phase. KHCO3 or PLA supplementation began during energy restriction. NAE, NBAL, and whole-body ammonia and urea turnover (15N-glycine) were measured at the end of the weight-maintenance and energy-restriction phases. Following energy restriction, NAE was −9.8 ± 27.8 mmol∙day−1 in KHCO3 and 43.9 ± 27.8 mmol∙day−1 in PLA (p < 0.05). No significant group or time differences were observed in NBAL or ammonia and urea turnover. Ammonia synthesis and breakdown tended (p = 0.09) to be higher in KHCO3 vs. PLA following energy restriction, and NAE was inversely associated (r = −0.522; p < 0.05) with urea synthesis in all subjects. This pilot study suggests some benefit may exist with KHCO3 supplementation following energy restriction as lower NAE indicated higher urea synthesis.
Comparison of Human Milk Immunoglobulin Survival during Gastric Digestion between Preterm and Term Infants
Authors: Demers-Mathieu Veronique , Underwood Mark A. , Beverly Robert L. , Nielsen Søren D. , Dallas David C.
Published: May 2018

Human milk provides immunoglobulins (Igs) that supplement the passive immune system of neonates; however, the extent of survival of these Igs during gastric digestion and whether this differs between preterm and term infants remains unknown. Human milk, and infant gastric samples at 2 h post-ingestion were collected from 15 preterm (23–32 week gestational age (GA)) mother-infant pairs and from 8 term (38–40 week of GA) mother-infant pairs within 7–98 days postnatal age. Samples were analyzed via ELISA for concentration of total IgA (secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA), total secretory component (SC/SIgA/SIgM), total IgM (SIgM/IgM), and IgG as well as peptidomics. Total IgA concentration decreased by 60% from human milk to the preterm infant stomach and decreased by 48% in the term infant stomach. Total IgM and IgG concentrations decreased by 33% and 77%, respectively, from human milk to the term infant stomach but were stable in the preterm infant stomach. Release of peptides from all Ig isotypes in the term infant stomach was higher than in the preterm stomach. Overall, the stability of human milk Igs during gastric digestion is higher in preterm infant than in term infants, which could be beneficial for assisting the preterm infants’ immature immune system.
Longitudinal Effects of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Subsequent Repletion on Blood Parameters and the Rate and Composition of Growth in Pigs
Authors: Knight Laura C. , Dilger Ryan N.
Published: May 2018

Iron deficiency is reported as the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide. Due to rapid growth, infants are at particular risk for developing iron deficiency, which can easily progress to iron deficiency anemia (IDA), if not treated. The aim of this study was to determine the lasting effects of an early-life iron deficiency after a period of dietary iron repletion. Forty-two intact male pigs were fed, ad libitum, either control (CONT, 21.3 mg Fe/L) or iron-deficient (ID 2.72 mg Fe/L) milk replacer from postnatal day (PND) 2 to 32 (phase 1). From PND 33 to 61 (phase 2), all pigs were transitioned onto a series of industry-standard, iron-adequate diets. Blood was collected weekly from PND 7 to 28, and again on PND 35 and 56, and tissues were collected at either PND 32 or PND 61. At the end of phase 1, ID pigs exhibited reduced hematocrit (Hct; p < 0.0001) and hemoglobin (Hb; p < 0.0001) compared with CONT pigs, but neither Hct (p = 0.5968) nor Hb (p = 0.6291) differed between treatment groups after dietary iron repletion at the end of phase 2. Body weight gain was reduced (p < 0.0001) 58% at PND 32 in ID pigs compared with CONT pigs during phase 1, and this effect remained significant at the end of phase 2 (p = 0.0001), with ID pigs weighing 34% less than CONT pigs at PND 61. Analysis of peripheral protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) gene expression biomarkers yielded inconclusive results, as would be expected based on previous biomarker analyses across multiple species. These findings suggest that early-life iron status negatively influences blood parameters and growth performance, with dietary iron repletion allowing for full recovery of hematological outcomes, but not growth performance.
Leucine Supplementation Does Not Attenuate Skeletal Muscle Loss during Leg Immobilization in Healthy, Young Men
Authors: Backx Evelien M.P. , Horstman Astrid M.H. , Marzuca-Nassr Gabriel N. , Van Kranenburg Janneau , Smeets Joey S. , Fuchs Cas J. , Janssen Anniek A.W. , De Groot Lisette C.P.G.M. , Snijders Tim , Verdijk Lex B. , Van Loon Luc J.C.
Published: May 2018

Background: Short successive periods of physical inactivity occur throughout life and contribute considerably to the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass. The maintenance of muscle mass during brief periods of disuse is required to prevent functional decline and maintain metabolic health. Objective: To assess whether daily leucine supplementation during a short period of disuse can attenuate subsequent muscle loss in vivo in humans. Methods: Thirty healthy (22 ± 1 y) young males were exposed to a 7-day unilateral knee immobilization intervention by means of a full leg cast with (LEU, n = 15) or without (CON, n = 15) daily leucine supplementation (2.5 g leucine, three times daily). Prior to and directly after immobilization, quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (computed tomography (CT) scan) and leg strength (one-repetition maximum (1-RM)) were assessed. Furthermore, muscle biopsies were taken in both groups before and after immobilization to assess changes in type I and type II muscle fiber CSA. Results: Quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) declined in the CON and LEU groups (p < 0.01), with no differences between the two groups (from 7712 ± 324 to 7287 ± 305 mm2 and from 7643 ± 317 to 7164 ± 328 mm2; p = 0.61, respectively). Leg muscle strength decreased from 56 ± 4 to 53 ± 4 kg in the CON group and from 63 ± 3 to 55 ± 2 kg in the LEU group (main effect of time p < 0.01), with no differences between the groups (p = 0.052). Type I and II muscle fiber size did not change significantly over time, in both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Free leucine supplementation with each of the three main meals (7.5 g/d) does not attenuate the decline of muscle mass and strength during a 7-day limb immobilization intervention.
Effect of Chemical Disinfection on Chitosan Coated PMMA and PETG Surfaces—An In Vitro Study
Authors: Walczak Katarzyna , Thiele Jessica , Geisler Daniel , Boening Klaus , Wieckiewicz Mieszko
Published: May 2018

In oral sciences, chitosan application is of interest due to its antimicrobial and hemostatic activity. Chitosan coating of dentures and other intraoral devices could be beneficial for treatment of denture stomatitis or in the management of postoperative bleeding. Disinfection of dentures and prosthodontic materials is crucial before their use in patients. This study investigated the influence of chemical disinfectants on chitosan-coated surfaces. A total of 100 specimens were made: 50 of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), and 50 of PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) material and coated with 2% chitosan acetate solution. In each material, 5 groups (10 specimens each) were established and disinfected with Printosept-ID (L1), MD 520 (L2), Silosept (L3), or Dentavon (L4), or stored in distilled water (L0, control group). After disinfection, all specimens underwent abrasion tests (30,000 cycles in a tooth-brushing simulator). Areas without chitosan coating were measured by digital planimetry both before and after the disinfection/abrasion procedure and a damage-score was calculated. Regarding chitosan coating, the statistical analysis showed a significant influence of the disinfectants tested and significant differences between disinfectants (p < 0.05). Chitosan coating was most stable on PMMA and PETG after disinfection with MD 520 (L2). Otherwise, active oxygen containing disinfectants (L3, L4) led to the greatest alterations in the chitosan coating.
Oral Delivery of Curcumin Polymeric Nanoparticles Ameliorates CCl4-Induced Subacute Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats
Authors: Marslin Gregory , Prakash Jose , Qi Shanshan , Franklin Gregory
Published: May 2018

Curcumin is the major bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, an important medicinal plant used in traditional herbal formulations since ancient times. In the present study, we report that curcumin nanoparticles (ηCur) protects Wistar rats against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced subacute hepatotoxicity. Nanoparticles of sizes less than 220 nm with spherical shape were prepared using PLGA and PVA respectively as polymer and stabilizer. Test animals were injected via intraperitoneal route with 1 mL/kg CCl4 (8% in olive oil) twice a week over a period of 8 weeks to induce hepatotoxicity. On the days following the CCl4 injection, test animals were orally administered with either curcumin or its equivalent dose of ηCur. Behavioural observation, biochemical analysis of serum and histopathological examination of liver of the experimental animals indicated that ηCur offer significantly higher hepatoprotection compared to curcumin.
Transcontextual Narratives of Inclusion: Mediating Feminist and Anti-Feminist Rhetoric
Authors: Ehret Verna Marina
Published: May 2018

In seeking a path to mediating feminist and anti-feminist narratives, one must begin with a framework of the method of narrative analysis being used. Using the works of such thinkers as Paul Ricoeur and Richard Kearney, I argue that human self-understanding and therefore sense of identity is narrative dependent. While this idea has its critics, in the framework of the central question of this essay narrative theory is a particularly productive tool. The story that I tell that gives me identity is not only a story about the surface. It is embedded in my being. I do not simply have a story, I am a story and create my world through that story. Narrative is a part of the ontological structure of being human and the ontic experience of being in the world. One narrates one’s life not in the sense of a movie voiceover, but rather as a reflective and reflexive understanding of oneself. Kearney’s work in Anatheism is particularly useful for this discussion. While Kearney’s interest is in the dialectical move from theism to atheism to a synthesis that is an atheist-informed theism, one can see the same trajectory at work in feminism and anti-feminism. If one begins with patriarchy and moves to feminism, the next step becomes anti-feminism informed by feminism. However, there is still room for an additional dialectical move, to regain a feminism that invites in its detractors and reshapes the collective narratives that impact how we interact with each other in community.
Future Perfect: Tolstoy and the Structures of Agrarian-Buddhist Utopianism in Taishō Japan
Authors: Shields James Mark
Published: May 2018

This study focuses on the role played by the work of Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) in shaping socialism and agrarian-Buddhist utopianism in Japan. As Japanese translations of Tolstoy’s fiction and philosophy, and accounts of his life became more available at the end of the 19th century, his ideas on the individual, religion, society, and politics had a tremendous impact on the generation coming of age in the 1900s and his popularity grew among young intellectuals. One important legacy of Tolstoy in Japan is his particular concern with the peasantry and agricultural reform. Among those inspired by Tolstoy and the narodniki lifestyle, three individuals, Tokutomi Roka, Eto Tekirei, and Mushakōji Saneatsu illustrate how prominent writers and thinkers adopted the master’s lifestyle and attempted to put his ideas into practice. In the spirit of the New Buddhists of late Meiji, they envisioned a comprehensive lifestyle structure. As Eto Tekirei moved to the village of Takaido with the assistance of Tokutomi Roka, he called his new home Hyakushō Aidōjō (literally, Farmers Love Training Ground). He and his family endeavored to follow a Tolstoyan life, which included labor, philosophy, art, religion, society, and politics, a grand project that he saw as a “non-religious religion.” As such, Tekirei’s utopian vision might be conceived as an experiment in “alter-modernity.”
Play, Game, and Videogame: The Metamorphosis of Play
Authors: Gil-Gimeno Javier , Sánchez-Capdequí Celso , Beriain Josetxo
Published: May 2018

The question, the Fragestellung, which drives this paper is, can football video-games be analyzed from a religious perspective? We can answer positively, at least, provisionally. First, in order to demonstrate our approach, we will take into account the different conceptions on play drawn along sociological theories. Second, we will analyze Francis M. Cornford’s contribution to the already forgotten but essential work by Jane Ellen Harrison, Themis: The Social Origins of the Greek Religion, in which he established an elective affinity between the origin of the Olympic Games and the annual ritual dedicated to the Daimon-God Dionysus, in which he was elected the best Kouros (Young hero-King) of the year. At the very beginning, play, ritual, and competitive games (helped by self-reflexivity as well as collective reflexivity) were united, and that constellation is still there in modern times with the creation of modern sport. Third, in modern advanced societies the football game-sport creates meaning, and succeeded throughout two main processes such as the sportification and progressive rationalization of violence. Fourth, we built an ideal type of two competing strategies, in which created a new type of hero, the sports hero, the modern celebrity. Finally, fifth, we analyze how in our digitalized societies the football videogames are a sort of play on the play of which comes out a religious transcendence associated with it, “Throughout the videogame I become myself in my idol”. We explain this comparing two ideal types, the Dionysian-Messi versus the Apollonian-Ronaldo.
A Modified Spatiotemporal Fusion Algorithm Using Phenological Information for Predicting Reflectance of Paddy Rice in Southern China
Authors: Liu Mengxue , Liu Xiangnan , Wu Ling , Zou Xinyu , Jiang Tian , Zhao Bingyu
Published: May 2018

Satellite data for studying surface dynamics in heterogeneous landscapes are missing due to frequent cloud contamination, low temporal resolution, and technological difficulties in developing satellites. A modified spatiotemporal fusion algorithm for predicting the reflectance of paddy rice is presented in this paper. The algorithm uses phenological information extracted from a moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer enhanced vegetation index time series to improve the enhanced spatial and temporal adaptive reflectance fusion model (ESTARFM). The algorithm is tested with satellite data on Yueyang City, China. The main contribution of the modified algorithm is the selection of similar neighborhood pixels by using phenological information to improve accuracy. Results show that the modified algorithm performs better than ESTARFM in visual inspection and quantitative metrics, especially for paddy rice. This modified algorithm provides not only new ideas for the improvement of spatiotemporal data fusion method, but also technical support for the generation of remote sensing data with high spatial and temporal resolution.
Assessment of Machine Learning Algorithms for Automatic Benthic Cover Monitoring and Mapping Using Towed Underwater Video Camera and High-Resolution Satellite Images
Authors: Mohamed Hassan , Nadaoka Kazuo , Nakamura Takashi
Published: May 2018

Benthic habitat monitoring is essential for many applications involving biodiversity, marine resource management, and the estimation of variations over temporal and spatial scales. Nevertheless, both automatic and semi-automatic analytical methods for deriving ecologically significant information from towed camera images are still limited. This study proposes a methodology that enables a high-resolution towed camera with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to adaptively monitor and map benthic habitats. First, the towed camera finishes a pre-programmed initial survey to collect benthic habitat videos, which can then be converted to geo-located benthic habitat images. Second, an expert labels a number of benthic habitat images to class habitats manually. Third, attributes for categorizing these images are extracted automatically using the Bag of Features (BOF) algorithm. Fourth, benthic cover categories are detected automatically using Weighted Majority Voting (WMV) ensembles for Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN), and Bagging (BAG) classifiers. Fifth, WMV-trained ensembles can be used for categorizing more benthic cover images automatically. Finally, correctly categorized geo-located images can provide ground truth samples for benthic cover mapping using high-resolution satellite imagery. The proposed methodology was tested over Shiraho, Ishigaki Island, Japan, a heterogeneous coastal area. The WMV ensemble exhibited 89% overall accuracy for categorizing corals, sediments, seagrass, and algae species. Furthermore, the same WMV ensemble produced a benthic cover map using a Quickbird satellite image with 92.7% overall accuracy.
Erratum: Nasonova, S. et al. Linking Regional Winter Sea Ice Thickness and Surface Roughness to Spring Melt Pond Fraction on Landfast Arctic Sea Ice. Remote Sens. 2018, 10, 37
Authors: Nasonova Sasha , Scharien Randall K. , Haas Christian , Howell Stephen E. L.
Published: May 2018

After publication of the research paper [1], the authors wish to make the following correction[...]
SAR Target Recognition in Large Scene Images via Region-Based Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Cui Zongyong , Dang Sihang , Cao Zongjie , Wang Sifei , Liu Nengyuan
Published: May 2018

In this paper, a new Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (RCNN) method is proposed for target recognition in large scene synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. To locate and recognize the targets in SAR images, there are three steps in the traditional procedure: detection, discrimination, classification and recognition. Each step is supposed to provide optimal processing results for the next step, but this is difficult to implement in real-life applications because of speckle noise and inefficient connection among these procedures. To solve this problem, the RCNN is applied to large scene SAR target recognition, which can detect the objects while recognizing their classes based on its regression method and the sharing network structure. However, size of the input images to RCNN is limited so that the classification could be accomplished, which leads to a problem that RCNN is not able to handle the large scene SAR images directly. Thus, before the RCNN, a fast sliding method is proposed to segment the scene image into sub-images with suitable size and avoid dividing targets into different sub-images. After the RCNN, candidate regions on different slices are predicted. To locate targets on large scene SAR images from these candidate regions on small slices, the Non-maximum Suppression between Regions (NMSR) is proposed, which could find the most proper candidate region among all the overlapped regions. Experiments on 1476 × 1784 simulated MSTAR images of simple scenes and complex scenes show that the proposed method can recognize all targets with the best accuracy and fastest speed, and outperform the other methods, such as constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector + support vector machine (SVM), Visual Attention+SVM, and Sliding-RCNN.
Characterizing Tropical Forest Cover Loss Using Dense Sentinel-1 Data and Active Fire Alerts
Authors: Reiche Johannes , Verhoeven Rob , Verbesselt Jan , Hamunyela Eliakim , Wielaard Niels , Herold Martin
Published: May 2018

Fire use for land management is widespread in natural tropical and plantation forests, causing major environmental and economic damage. Recent studies combining active fire alerts with annual forest-cover loss information identified fire-related forest-cover loss areas well, but do not provide detailed understanding on how fires and forest-cover loss are temporally related. Here, we combine Sentinel-1-based, near real-time forest cover information with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) active fire alerts, and for the first time, characterize the temporal relationship between fires and tropical forest-cover loss at high temporal detail and medium spatial scale. We quantify fire-related forest-cover loss and separate fires that predate, coincide with, and postdate forest-cover loss. For the Province of Riau, Indonesia, dense Sentinel-1 C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data with guaranteed observations of at least every 12 days allowed for confident and timely forest-cover-loss detection in natural and plantation forest with user’s and producer’s accuracy above 95%. Forest-cover loss was detected and confirmed within 22 days in natural forest and within 15 days in plantation forest. This difference can primarily be related to different change processes and dynamics in natural and plantation forest. For the period between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2017, fire-related forest-cover loss accounted for about one third of the natural forest-cover loss, while in plantation forest, less than ten percent of the forest-cover loss was fire-related. We found clear spatial patterns of fires predating, coinciding with, or postdating forest-cover loss. Only the minority of fires in natural and plantation forest temporally coincided with forest-cover loss (13% and 16%) and can thus be confidently attributed as direct cause of forest-cover loss. The majority of the fires predated (64% and 58%) or postdated forest-cover loss (23% and 26%), and should be attributed to other key land management practices. Detailed and timely information on how fires and forest cover loss are temporally related can support tropical forest management, policy development, and law enforcement to reduce unsustainable and illegal fire use in the tropics.
Assessing Texture Features to Classify Coastal Wetland Vegetation from High Spatial Resolution Imagery Using Completed Local Binary Patterns (CLBP)
Authors: Wang Minye , Fei Xianyun , Zhang Yuanzhi , Chen Zhou , Wang Xiaoxue , Tsou Jin Yeu , Liu Dawei , Lu Xia
Published: May 2018

Coastal wetland vegetation is a vital component that plays an important role in environmental protection and the maintenance of the ecological balance. As such, the efficient classification of coastal wetland vegetation types is key to the preservation of wetlands. Based on its detailed spatial information, high spatial resolution imagery constitutes an important tool for extracting suitable texture features for improving the accuracy of classification. In this paper, a texture feature, Completed Local Binary Patterns (CLBP), which is highly suitable for face recognition, is presented and applied to vegetation classification using high spatial resolution Pléiades satellite imagery in the central zone of Yancheng National Natural Reservation (YNNR) in Jiangsu, China. To demonstrate the potential of CLBP texture features, Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture features were used to compare the classification. Using spectral data alone and spectral data combined with texture features, the image was classified using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on vegetation types. The results show that CLBP and GLCM texture features yielded an accuracy 6.50% higher than that gained when using only spectral information for vegetation classification. However, CLBP showed greater improvement in terms of classification accuracy than GLCM for Spartina alterniflora. Furthermore, for the CLBP features, CLBP_magnitude (CLBP_m) was more effective than CLBP_sign (CLBP_s), CLBP_center (CLBP_c), and CLBP_s/m or CLBP_s/m/c. These findings suggest that the CLBP approach offers potential for vegetation classification in high spatial resolution images.