bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participatory Market Chain Approach in Quality Fish Seeds Dissemination Process in Nepal
Authors: Gurung Shailesh , Pokharel Vishwa C. , Devkota Chandra Kanta
Published: September 2016

Quality fish seeds production and dissemination is found quite lacking part in boosting up the production of aquaculture in Nepal since long decades. Commercialization in fish farming cannot jumped ahead in absence of available inputs and fish seeds are realized a great factor for subsistence to commercialization of fish farming activities. Participatory Market Chain Approach is found to be a key tool for the social and economic upliftment of farmers and different market actors in a common platform with a dynamic solution in a jointly supply chain modality. Limited and monopoly market of inputs supplier hinders the resilience of fishery sector both qualitatively and quantitatively in Nepal. It is extremely realized that the pocket level fish thematic group concept would be very fruitful in ensuring a milestone by representating village and cluster level problem solving arena among different actors, stakeholders and lead farmers for accession of quality inputs by mutual trust building environment covering wider area in a participatory way which will ensure supply chain of quality products, livelihood and income as well.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(3): 391-396
Practicable Backup Arrangements for Small Organisations and Individuals
Authors: Clarke Roger
Published: September 2016

The last thirty years of computing has resulted in many people being heavily dependent on digital data. Meanwhile, there has been a significant change in the patterns of data storage and of processing. Despite the many risks involved in data management, there is a dearth of guidance and support for individuals and small organisations. A generic risk assessment is presented, resulting in practicable backup plans that are applicable to the needs of those categories of IT user.
Effectiveness of Exercise on Functional Mobility in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lawrence Hillary , Hills Sara , Kline Nicole , Weems Kyra , Doty Antonette
Published: September 2016

Purpose: We identified evidence evaluating the effect of exercise on functional mobility in adults (aged 18 y or older) with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: An exhaustive search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from the earliest available evidence (1975) to the present (January 2016) for studies whose participants were ambulatory adults with CP receiving conservative treatment to address functional mobility limitations. Two independent reviewers agreed on the eligibility, inclusion, and level of evidence of each study. The Maastricht-Amsterdam List (MAL) was used to assess evidence quality. Results: Five of the six studies included were randomized controlled trials, and one was a pre–post case series. Interventions included whole-body vibration, treadmill training without body-weight support, rhythmic auditory stimulation, dynamic balance and gait activities, progressive resistance training, and interactive serious gaming for balance. All studies were considered high quality, as indicated by their MAL scores. Four studies showed no statistical difference and trivial effect sizes between the intervention and the control group. Rhythmic auditory stimulation and interactive serious gaming were found to be statistically significant in benefiting adults with CP. Conclusions: Evidence of the effect of exercise on functional mobility for ambulatory adults with CP is lacking. A need exists for quality research to determine the best interventions for adults with CP to maximize functional mobility.
Effects of rotor slot number on monitoring signals in submersible motor under eccentricity fault
Authors: Bao Xiaohua , Wang Hanfeng , Di Chong
Published: September 2016

Eccentricity is a common fault during the operation of electrical machines due to manufacturing error and effect of rotor deflection. Therefore, eccentricity fault has been a research hotspot in recent decades for the reliable running of machines. The monitoring signals for detecting eccentricity have been proposed in many published papers. However, the effects of rotor slot number on the magnitudes of characteristic signals are seldom investigated. Thus, this paper presents the relationship between the number of rotor slots and the monitoring signals under static, dynamic and mixed eccentricity on the basis of the previous papers. The theoretical analysis shows that not all electrical machines generate the principal slot harmonics in the stator current. But these harmonics in the air-gap magnetic field are easily detected for all machines when the machines are under static or dynamic eccentricity. Moreover, the effect of rotor slot number on the low-frequency components under mixed eccentricity is also predicted. Detailed simulations are presented for a high voltage submersible motor with 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 rotor slots under various conditions. And these results well verify the theoretical predictions.
Assistive Technology for Cognition and Health-related Quality of Life in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: van Walsem Marleen R. , Howe Emilie I. , Frich Jan C. , Andelic Nada
Published: September 2016

Background: Assistive technology for cognition (ATC) can be defined as external devices aimed at supporting cognitive function. Studies in neurological populations suggest that use of ATC is a promising strategy to ameliorate negative effects of cognitive impairment and improve Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL). There is a lack of studies on the effects of ATC in HD.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the use of ATC in patients with HD, and to investigate the association between ATC and HRQoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study, including eighty-four patients with a clinical HD diagnosis (stages I–V). Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, including information regarding various aspects of ATC use and an evaluation of cognitive impairment was performed. The Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Functional Capacity scale (TFC) and the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale were used to evaluate functional ability and HRQoL. Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe ATC use and regression analyses to investigate associations between ATC and HRQoL.

Results: Thirty-seven percent of the patients had ATC, and ATC was used most frequently in stages I-III. Information about ATC, needs evaluation and training was provided to 44%, 32.1% and 20.2% respectively. The regression analysis showed a significant association between TFC and HRQoL (β value = –0.564, p = 0.001), but there was no association between ATC and HRQoL.

Conclusions: One-third of all patients used ATC, mainly those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (stage I –III). No association between ATC and HRQoL was found. More research is needed to investigate effects of ATC in HD.
A ‘New’ Old Course? An Assessment of the Effects of Alterations to the Old Course at St. Andrews on the 2015 Open Championship
Authors: Gaudet Charles E.
Published: September 2016

The Old Course at St. Andrews Links is one of the world’s most revered golf courses and the Open Championship is the oldest major championship in professional golf. In 2015 the Old Course hosted the Open Championship. Beforehand, several of the course’s holes were altered in an attempt to maintain its difficulty and counteract the rapid advances in professional golfers’ skills and equipment. This study assessed the effects of the alterations to the Old Course in two ways. The aggregate performance statistics for the 2005, 2010, and 2015 Open Championship tournaments, all hosted at the Old Course, were compared. Scoring on the altered holes was compared across the 2010 and 2015 tournaments, as were the differences between the altered and unaltered holes. The analyses took into account the weather conditions. Players’ overall scores improved between the 2010 and 2015 tournaments, but not between the 2005 and 2010 tournaments. Players’ scores only differed between the 2010 and 2015 tournaments for two of the altered holes, indicating that the changes had a negligible overall effect. Strategic factors that might account for the observed differences and the implications of the analysis for efforts to alter courses to maintain difficulty are discussed.
Investigation of the absorption of CO2 in ionic liquid
Authors: Dhar Kalyan , Fahim Syed
Published: September 2016

Due to environmental concerns, current interest is the development of technologies that may be able to remove CO2 efficiently from exhaust gases and thus avoid its dispersion in the atmosphere. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the modern continuum solvation model (IEFPCM-SMD) was used to study the mechanism of CO2 absorption in room temperature ionic liquid such as, [EMIM][BF4] (1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate). We determine the minimum energy structures and to determine the possible binding sites for CO2 absorption process in [EMIM][BF4]; by comparing the relative minimum energy of [EMIM][BF4] in the presence and absence of CO2.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 29(1): 41-46, June-2016
In vitro evaluation of fungicides and some plant extracts against rice sheath rot pathogen Sarocladium oryzae
Authors: Shamsi Shamim , Chowdhury Pranami
Published: September 2016

Sarocladium oryzae (Sawada) W. Gams & D. Hawksworth, the causal agent of sheath rot of rice was isolated from sheath rot infected rice sheaths and grains. Among ten tested fungicides Tall 25 EC completely inhibited radial growth of the fungus even at the lowest concentration 100 ppm. Similarly ethanol leaf extract of ten plants, namely Allium sativum, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Asparagus racemosus, Azadirachta indica, Citrus medica, Datura metel, Mangifera indica, Nerium indicum, Senna alata and Tagetes erecta at 5, 10 and 20% concentrations were screened for their fungicidal activity against the test fungus. All the plant extracts completely inhibited the radial growth of the test fungus at 20% concentration except Asparagus racemosus and C. medica. Ethanol extract of Tagetes erecta and Mangifera indica also completely inhibited the radial growth of the test fungus at 10% concentration.Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 29(1): 47-54, June-2016
Influence of Medium Component on In vitro Propagation of Thais Endangered Orchid: Bulbophyllum nipondhii Seidenf.
Authors: Pakum Wittaya , Watthana Santi , Srimuang Kanok orn , Kongbangkerd Anupan
Published: September 2016

In vitro propagation of a rare orchid, Bulbophyllum nipondhii was carried out. Five different media were tested to find the suitable medium for seed germination and seedling development. The tangible results were obtained on VW medium. To assess the effect of pollination types on seed germination and seedlings development, seeds derived from different self?, cross? and open?pollination were examined. Open?pollinated seeds produced the best germination and the highest seedling development, followed by cross? and self? pollination. VW medium was supplemented with 0, 25, 50 or 75 g/l potato extract (PE) and 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 ml/l coconut water (CW) to identify their most suitable concentration. PE (75 g/l) with 100 ml/l CW was found to be best combination.Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 26(1): 37-46, 2016 (June)
Novel Luminescent Multilayer Films Containing π-Conjugated Anionic Polymer with Electronic Microenvironment
Authors: Wang Tianlei , Liu Meitang , Ma Hongwen
Published: September 2016

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), luminescent π-conjugated anionic polymer and montmorillonite (MMT) were orderly assembled into luminescent multilayer films via layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The electronic microenvironment (EME), the structure of which is like a traditional capacitor, can be constructed by exfoliated LDHs or MMT nanosheets. In addition, the rigid inorganic laminated configuration can offer stable surroundings between the interlayers. As a result, we conclude that EME can extend the luminescent lifespans of multilayer films substantially, due to affecting relaxation times of π-conjugated anionic polymer. Consequently, because of the remarkable impact on better photoemission behaviors of luminescent π-conjugated anionic polymer, EME assembled by LDHs or MMT nanosheets have had high hopes attached to them. They are expected to have the potential for designing, constructing, and investigating novel light-emitting thin films.
A New Power Quality Instrument Based on Raspberry-Pi
Authors: Leccese Fabio , Cagnetti Marco , Di Pasquale Stefano , Giarnetti Sabino , Caciotta Maurizio
Published: September 2016

This article describes a new instrument for power quality (PQ) measurements based on the Raspberry-Pi. This is the latest step of a long study started by the Electric and Electronic Measurements Laboratory of “Roma Tre” University 12 years ago. During this time, the Laboratory developed and refined instrumentation for high accuracy power quality measurements. Through its own architecture, the new instrument allows the use of the Raspberry instead of a personal computer (PC). The data acquired and locally processed are then sent to a remote server where they can be shown to users. Imagines of the system and of the data prove the activity of the system.
A Hierarchical Method for Transient Stability Prediction of Power Systems Using the Confidence of a SVM-Based Ensemble Classifier
Authors: Zhou Yanzhen , Wu Junyong , Yu Zhihong , Ji Luyu , Hao Liangliang
Published: September 2016

Machine learning techniques have been widely used in transient stability prediction of power systems. When using the post-fault dynamic responses, it is difficult to draw a definite conclusion about how long the duration of response data used should be in order to balance the accuracy and speed. Besides, previous studies have the problem of lacking consideration for the confidence level. To solve these problems, a hierarchical method for transient stability prediction based on the confidence of ensemble classifier using multiple support vector machines (SVMs) is proposed. Firstly, multiple datasets are generated by bootstrap sampling, then features are randomly picked up to compress the datasets. Secondly, the confidence indices are defined and multiple SVMs are built based on these generated datasets. By synthesizing the probabilistic outputs of multiple SVMs, the prediction results and confidence of the ensemble classifier will be obtained. Finally, different ensemble classifiers with different response times are built to construct different layers of the proposed hierarchical scheme. The simulation results show that the proposed hierarchical method can balance the accuracy and rapidity of the transient stability prediction. Moreover, the hierarchical method can reduce the misjudgments of unstable instances and cooperate with the time domain simulation to insure the security and stability of power systems.
Pyrolysis Recovery of Waste Shipping Oil Using Microwave Heating
Authors: Wan Mahari Wan , Zainuddin Nur , Wan Nik Wan , Chong Cheng , Lam Su
Published: September 2016

This study investigated the use of microwave pyrolysis as a recovery method for waste shipping oil. The influence of different process temperatures on the yield and composition of the pyrolysis products was investigated. The use of microwave heating provided a fast heating rate (40 °C/min) to heat the waste oil at 600 °C. The waste oil was pyrolyzed and decomposed to form products dominated by pyrolysis oil (up to 66 wt. %) and smaller amounts of pyrolysis gases (24 wt. %) and char residue (10 wt. %). The pyrolysis oil contained light C9–C30 hydrocarbons and was detected to have a calorific value of 47–48 MJ/kg which is close to those traditional liquid fuels derived from fossil fuel. The results show that microwave pyrolysis of waste shipping oil generated an oil product that could be used as a potential fuel.
Implementation of a Small Type DC Microgrid Based on Fuzzy Control and Dynamic Programming
Authors: Cheng Chin-Hsing
Published: September 2016

A DC microgrid (DC-MG) is a novel power system that uses DC distribution in order to provide high quality power. The study system is made by a photovoltaic array (PV), a wind generator (WG), a fuel cell (FC), and an energy storage system (ESS) to establish a small type DC microgrid, with the bus being established by DC/DC converters with fuzzy controllers. An overall power dispatch was designed for the proposed system to distribute the power flows among the different energy sources and the storage unit in the system in order to satisfy the load requirements throughout an entire 24-h period. The structure of a power supervisor based on an optimal power dispatch algorithm is here proposed. Optimization was performed using dynamic programming (DP). In this paper, a system configuration of a DC microgrid is analyzed in different scenarios to show the efficacy of the control for all devices for the variable weather conditions with different DC loads. Thus, the voltage level and the power flow of the system are shown for different load conditions.
A Reliability Calculation Method for Web Service Composition Using Fuzzy Reasoning Colored Petri Nets and Its Application on Supercomputing Cloud Platform
Authors: Deng Ziyun , Chen Lei , He Tingqing , Meng Tao
Published: September 2016

In order to develop a Supercomputing Cloud Platform (SCP) prototype system using Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Petri nets, we researched some technologies for Web service composition. Specifically, in this paper, we propose a reliability calculation method for Web service compositions, which uses Fuzzy Reasoning Colored Petri Net (FRCPN) to verify the Web service compositions. We put forward a definition of semantic threshold similarity for Web services and a formal definition of FRCPN. We analyzed five kinds of production rules in FRCPN, and applied our method to the SCP prototype. We obtained the reliability value of the end Web service as an indicator of the overall reliability of the FRCPN. The method can test the activity of FRCPN. Experimental results show that the reliability of the Web service composition has a correlation with the number of Web services and the range of reliability transition values.
Association of XPC Gene Polymorphisms with Colorectal Cancer Risk in a Southern Chinese Population: A Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hua Rui-Xi , Zhu Jinhong , Jiang Dan-Hua , Zhang Shao-Dan , Zhang Jiang-Bo , Xue Wen-Qiong , Li Xi-Zhao , Zhang Pei-Fen , He Jing , Jia Wei-Hua
Published: September 2016

Xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) is a key component of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. Dysfunctional XPC protein may impair NER-mediated DNA repair capacity and further lead to genomic instability and carcinogenesis. Two common nonsynonymous polymorphisms in the XPC gene, Lys939Gln (rs2228001 A > C) and Ala499Val (rs2228000 C > T), have been investigated in various types of cancer. We genotyped these two polymorphisms in 1141 cases with histologically confirmed colorectal cancer (CRC) and 1173 healthy controls to explore their causative association with CRC susceptibility. Overall, no association was observed between these two variants and the risk of CRC. Our meta-analysis also confirmed a lack of overall association. Stratified analyses were performed by age, gender, smoking status, pack-year, drinking status, tumor sites, and Duke’s stages. We found that XPC Lys939Gln polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased CRC risk in subjects at 57 years of age or younger (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.004–1.86, p = 0.047) and non-drinkers (adjusted OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.10–2.12, p = 0.011). Our results indicated that XPC Lys939Gln may be a low-penetrance CRC susceptibility polymorphism. Our findings warrant further validation.
Evaluating the Efficiency of Wicking Bed Irrigation Systems for Small-Scale Urban Agriculture
Authors: Semananda Niranjani , Ward James , Myers Baden
Published: September 2016

A wicking bed (WB) is a plant driven system where plants receive water through capillary rise from a self-contained coarse material-filled subsoil reservoir. WBs have been widely promoted as a water-efficient irrigation solution for small-scale and urban food gardens. However, little published research exists to support popular claims about their effectiveness. In this study, the performance of WBs was compared with best-practice, precision surface irrigation in terms of water use efficiency (WUE), fruit yield, fruit quality and labour input, using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as the experimental crop. The influence of WB design variables (reservoir depths and soil bed depths) was tested. Results showed that WBs performed as well or better than precision surface irrigated pots, showing statistically significant improvement in WUE, yield and fruit quality. The results also suggest an optimum design exists for soil depth (where 300 mm outperformed 600 mm) but not reservoir depth (no difference between 150 and 300 mm). The WBs were more labour efficient, requiring significantly less frequent watering to achieve the same or better WUE. WBs are inherently low-tech and scalable and appear well-suited to a variety of urban agriculture settings.
Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococcus Species in Raw Meat Samples Intended for Human Consumption in Benin City, Nigeria: Implications for Public Health
Authors: Igbinosa Etinosa , Beshiru Abeni , Akporehe Lucy , Oviasogie Faith , Igbinosa Owen
Published: September 2016

The present study was designed to characterize methicillin-resistant staphylococci from raw meat. A total of 126 meat samples were obtained from open markets between February and April, 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the disc diffusion method. Molecular profiling was conducted using 16S rRNA, mecA, nuc, and PVL gene signatures were detected by polymerase chain reaction assay. Fifty isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. were detected in 26 (52%) pork, 14 (28%) beef and 10 (20%) chicken samples. The staphylococcal isolates were identified through partial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) nucleotide sequencing, and BLAST analysis of the gene sequence revealed 98%–100% staphylococcal similarity. All isolates from beef and chicken samples amplified the mecA gene, while 100% of the MRSA isolates amplified the PVL gene. The multidrug resistance profile (resistant to ≥1 antimicrobial agent in ≥3 classes of antimicrobial agents) of the staphylococcal isolates showed that 7 isolates were resistant to methicillin, penicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, kanamycin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin, erythromycin, vancomycin, and gentamycin. There was a significant regression effect from the multidrug-resistant profile on the number of isolates (p < 0.05) suggesting a consequence of the dissemination of resistant strains within bacterial populations. The findings of the present study indicate that raw meats in the Benin metropolis were possibly contaminated with pathogenic and multi-drug resistant staphylococci strains and therefore could constitute a risk to public health communities.
A Case Study of Environmental Injustice: The Failure in Flint
Authors: Campbell Carla , Greenberg Rachael , Mankikar Deepa , Ross Ronald
Published: September 2016

The failure by the city of Flint, Michigan to properly treat its municipal water system after a change in the source of water, has resulted in elevated lead levels in the city’s water and an increase in city children’s blood lead levels. Lead exposure in young children can lead to decrements in intelligence, development, behavior, attention and other neurological functions. This lack of ability to provide safe drinking water represents a failure to protect the public’s health at various governmental levels. This article describes how the tragedy happened, how low-income and minority populations are at particularly high risk for lead exposure and environmental injustice, and ways that we can move forward to prevent childhood lead exposure and lead poisoning, as well as prevent future Flint-like exposure events from occurring. Control of the manufacture and use of toxic chemicals to prevent adverse exposure to these substances is also discussed. Environmental injustice occurred throughout the Flint water contamination incident and there are lessons we can all learn from this debacle to move forward in promoting environmental justice.
Empirical Likelihood-Based ANOVA for Trimmed Means
Authors: Velina Mara , Valeinis Janis , Greco Luca , Luta George
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we introduce an alternative to Yuen’s test for the comparison of several population trimmed means. This nonparametric ANOVA type test is based on the empirical likelihood (EL) approach and extends the results for one population trimmed mean from Qin and Tsao (2002). The results of our simulation study indicate that for skewed distributions, with and without variance heterogeneity, Yuen’s test performs better than the new EL ANOVA test for trimmed means with respect to control over the probability of a type I error. This finding is in contrast with our simulation results for the comparison of means, where the EL ANOVA test for means performs better than Welch’s heteroscedastic F test. The analysis of a real data example illustrates the use of Yuen’s test and the new EL ANOVA test for trimmed means for different trimming levels. Based on the results of our study, we recommend the use of Yuen’s test for situations involving the comparison of population trimmed means between groups of interest.
Environmental Noise Annoyance and Mental Health in Adults: Findings from the Cross-Sectional German Health Update (GEDA) Study 2012
Authors: Hammersen Friederike , Niemann Hildegard , Hoebel Jens
Published: September 2016

The health implications of environmental noise, especially cardiovascular effects, have been studied intensively. Research on associations between noise and mental health, however, has shown contradictory results. The present study examined associations between individual levels of noise annoyance due to noise from various sources in the living environment and mental health of adults in Germany. It evaluated whether these associations persisted after adjusting for potential covariates. Data were obtained from the cross-sectional “German Health Update” study 2012 (GEDA 2012), a national health interview survey among adults in Germany conducted by the Robert Koch Institute (n = 19,294). Noise annoyance questions referred to overall noise and that from road traffic, neighbours, and air traffic. Mental health was measured with the five-item Mental Health Inventory. Bivariate analysis showed associations between high levels of noise annoyance and impaired mental health for all noise sources except air traffic. After adjusting for covariates (sociodemographic factors, chronic disease, and social support), both men and women who reported high overall noise annoyance showed more than doubled odds of impaired mental health compared to those who were not annoyed. The odds of impaired mental health in the highest noise annoyance category from road traffic and neighbours were also significantly increased. These findings indicate that high noise annoyance is associated with impaired mental health and that this association can vary with the source of environmental noise. Further research on covariates of this association is necessary. Particularly, longitudinal data are required to establish the direction of associations and to address questions of causality.
Normalized-Mutual-Information-Based Mining Method for Cascading Patterns
Authors: Xue Cunjin , Liu Jingyi , Li Xiaohong , Dong Qing
Published: September 2016

A cascading pattern is a sequential pattern characterized by an item following another item in order. Recent research has investigated a challenge of dealing with cascading patterns, namely, the exponential time dependence of database scanning with respect to the number of items involved. We propose a normalized-mutual-information-based mining method for cascading patterns (M3Cap) to address this challenge. M3Cap embeds mutual information to reduce database-scanning time. First, M3Cap calculates the asymmetrical mutual information between items with one database scan and extracts pair-wise related items according to a user-specified information threshold. Second, a one-level cascading pattern is generated by scanning the database once for each pair-wise related item at the quantitative level. Third, a recursive linking–pruning–generating loop generates an (m + 1)-level-candidate cascading pattern from m-dimensional patterns on the basis of antimonotonicity and non-additivity, repeating this step until no further candidate cascading patterns are generated. Fourth, meaningful cascading patterns are generated according to user-specified minimum evaluation indicators. Finally, experiments with remote sensing image datasets covering the Pacific Ocean demonstrate that the computation time of recursive linking and pruning is significantly less than that of database scanning; thus, M3Cap improves performance by reducing database scanning while increasing intensive computing.
Field Motion Estimation with a Geosensor Network
Authors: Fitzner Daniel , Sester Monika
Published: September 2016

Physical environmental processes, such as the evolution of precipitation or the diffusion of chemical clouds in the atmosphere, can be approximated by numerical models based on the underlying physics, e.g., for the purpose of prediction. As the modeling process is often very complex and resource demanding, such models are sometimes replaced by those that use historic and current data for calibration. For atmospheric (e.g., precipitation) or oceanographic (e.g., sea surface temperature) fields, the data-driven methods often concern the horizontal displacement driven by transport processes (called advection). These methods rely on flow fields estimated from images of the phenomenon by computer vision techniques, such as optical flow (OF). In this work, an algorithm is proposed for estimating the motion of spatio-temporal fields with the nodes of a geosensor network (GSN) deployed in situ when images are not available. The approach adapts a well-known raster-based OF algorithm to the specifics of GSNs, especially to the spatial irregularity of data. In this paper, the previously introduced approach has been further developed by introducing an error model that derives probabilistic error measures based on spatial node configuration. Further, a more generic motion model is provided, as well as comprehensive simulations that illustrate the performance of the algorithm in different conditions (fields, motion behaviors, node densities and deployments) for the two error measures of motion direction and motion speed. Finally, the algorithm is applied to data sampled from weather radar images, and the algorithm performance is compared to that of a state-of-the-art OF algorithm applied to the weather radar images directly, as often done in nowcasting.
Serum 25(OH) Vitamin D Levels in Polish Women during Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertensive Disorders and Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Domaracki Piotr , Sadlecki Pawel , Odrowaz-Sypniewska Grazyna , Dzikowska Ewa , Walentowicz Pawel , Siodmiak Joanna , Grabiec Marek , Walentowicz-Sadlecka Malgorzata
Published: September 2016

Background: An association between the level of vitamin D and the risk of pregnancy-related complications remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D in Polish women with normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Moreover, we analyzed an association between maternal serum 25(OH)D and the risk of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and GDM. Material and Methods: The study included 207 pregnant women, among them 171 with pregnancy-related complications: gestational hypertension (n = 45), preeclampsia (n = 23) or GDM (n = 103). The control group consisted of 36 women with normal pregnancies. Concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were measured at admission to the hospital prior to delivery Results: Patients with hypertension did not differ significantly from the controls in terms of their serum 25(OH)D concentrations (18.20 vs. 22.10 ng/mL, p = 0.15). Highly significant differences were found in 25(OH)D concentrations of women with preeclampsia and the controls (14.75 vs. 22.10 ng/mL, p = 0.0021). GDM was not associated with significant differences in 25(OH)D concentration. A low level of 25(OH)D turned out to be associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy on both univariate and multivariate regression analysis, and was a significant predictor of this condition on ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis (AUC = 0.70, p < 0.01). Conclusions: 25(OH)D deficiency is common among pregnant Polish women. Low concentrations of 25(OH)D may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia. Routine assessment of the 25(OH)D level during pregnancy may be crucial for the identification of women at increased risk of preeclampsia.
The Effects of Syzygium samarangense, Passiflora edulis and Solanum muricatum on Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Zhang Yu-Jie , Zhou Tong , Wang Fang , Zhou Yue , Li Ya , Zhang Jiao-Jiao , Zheng Jie , Xu Dong-Ping , Li Hua-Bin
Published: September 2016

Previous studies have shown that fruits have different effects on alcohol metabolism and alcohol-induced liver injury. The present work selected three fruits and aimed at studying the effects of Syzygium samarangense, Passiflora edulis and Solanum muricatum on alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. The animals were treated daily with alcohol and fruit juices for fifteen days. Chronic treatment with alcohol increased the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased total protein (TP). Histopathological evaluation also showed that ethanol induced extensive fat droplets in hepatocyte cytoplasm. Syzygium samarangense and Passiflora edulis normalized various biochemical parameters. Solanum muricatum increased the level of ALT and induced infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver. These results strongly suggest that treatment with Syzygium samarangense and Passiflora edulis could protect liver from the injury of alcohol, while Solanum muricatum could aggravate the damage.
Potential of LC Coupled to Fluorescence Detection in Food Metabolomics: Determination of Phenolic Compounds in Virgin Olive Oil
Authors: Monasterio Romina , Olmo-García Lucía , Bajoub Aadil , Fernández-Gutiérrez Alberto , Carrasco-Pancorbo Alegría
Published: September 2016

A powerful chromatographic method coupled to a fluorescence detector was developed to determine the phenolic compounds present in virgin olive oil (VOO), with the aim to propose an appropriate alternative to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. An excitation wavelength of 285 nm was selected and four different emission wavelengths (316, 328, 350 and 450 nm) were simultaneously recorded, working therefore on “multi-emission” detection mode. With the use of commercially available standards and other standards obtained by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography, it was possible to identify simple phenols, lignans, several complex phenols, and other phenolic compounds present in the matrix under study. A total of 26 phenolic compounds belonging to different chemical families were identified (23 of them were susceptible of being quantified). The proposed methodology provided detection and quantification limits within the ranges of 0.004–7.143 μg·mL−1 and 0.013–23.810 μg·mL−1, respectively. As far as the repeatability is concerned, the relative standard deviation values were below 0.43% for retention time, and 9.05% for peak area. The developed methodology was applied for the determination of phenolic compounds in ten VOOs, both monovarietals and blends. Secoiridoids were the most abundant fraction in all the samples, followed by simple phenolic alcohols, lignans, flavonoids, and phenolic acids (being the abundance order of the latter chemical classes logically depending on the variety and origin of the VOOs).
New Potential Biomarker for Methasterone Misuse in Human Urine by Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Jianli , Lu Jianghai , Wu Yun , Wang Xiaobing , Xu Youxuan , Zhang Yinong , Wang Yan
Published: September 2016

In this study, methasterone urinary metabolic profiles were investigated by liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) in full scan and targeted MS/MS modes with accurate mass measurement. A healthy male volunteer was asked to take the drug and liquid–liquid extraction was employed to process urine samples. Chromatographic peaks for potential metabolites were hunted out with the theoretical [M − H]− as a target ion in a full scan experiment and actual deprotonated ions were studied in targeted MS/MS experiment. Fifteen metabolites including two new sulfates (S1 and S2), three glucuronide conjugates (G2, G6 and G7), and three free metabolites (M2, M4 and M6) were detected for methasterone. Three metabolites involving G4, G5 and M5 were obtained for the first time in human urine samples. Owing to the absence of helpful fragments to elucidate the steroid ring structure of methasterone phase II metabolites, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to obtain structural information of the trimethylsilylated phase I metabolite released after enzymatic hydrolysis and the potential structure was inferred using a combined MS method. Metabolite detection times were also analyzed and G2 (18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl-2α, 17α-dimethyl-androst-13-en-3α-ol-ξ-O-glucuronide) was thought to be new potential biomarker for methasterone misuse which can be detected up to 10 days.
Global Transcriptomic Analysis of Targeted Silencing of Two Paralogous ACC Oxidase Genes in Banana
Authors: Xia Yan , Kuan Chi , Chiu Chien-Hsiang , Chen Xiao-Jing , Do Yi-Yin , Huang Pung-Ling
Published: September 2016

Among 18 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase homologous genes existing in the banana genome there are two genes, Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2, that participate in banana fruit ripening. To better understand the physiological functions of Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2, two hairpin-type siRNA expression vectors targeting both the Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2 were constructed and incorporated into the banana genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The generation of Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2 RNAi transgenic banana plants was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. To gain insights into the functional diversity and complexity between Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2, transcriptome sequencing of banana fruits using the Illumina next-generation sequencer was performed. A total of 32,093,976 reads, assembled into 88,031 unigenes for 123,617 transcripts were obtained. Significantly enriched Gene Oncology (GO) terms and the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with GO annotation were ‘catalytic activity’ (1327, 56.4%), ‘heme binding’ (65, 2.76%), ‘tetrapyrrole binding’ (66, 2.81%), and ‘oxidoreductase activity’ (287, 12.21%). Real-time RT-PCR was further performed with mRNAs from both peel and pulp of banana fruits in Mh-ACO1 and Mh-ACO2 RNAi transgenic plants. The results showed that expression levels of genes related to ethylene signaling in ripening banana fruits were strongly influenced by the expression of genes associated with ethylene biosynthesis.
Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase-2: A Critical Regulator of the DNA Damage Response and the Epigenome
Authors: Kuwano Yuki , Nishida Kensei , Akaike Yoko , Kurokawa Ken , Nishikawa Tatsuya , Masuda Kiyoshi , Rokutan Kazuhito
Published: September 2016

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates and activates the apoptotic program through interaction with diverse downstream targets including tumor suppressor p53. HIPK2 is activated by genotoxic stimuli and modulates cell fate following DNA damage. The DNA damage response (DDR) is triggered by DNA lesions or chromatin alterations. The DDR regulates DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoint activation, and apoptosis to restore genome integrity and cellular homeostasis. Maintenance of the DDR is essential to prevent development of diseases caused by genomic instability, including cancer, defects of development, and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies reveal a novel HIPK2-mediated pathway for DDR through interaction with chromatin remodeling factor homeodomain protein 1γ. In this review, we will highlight the molecular mechanisms of HIPK2 and show its functions as a crucial DDR regulator.
An Inflammatory Nucleus Pulposus Tissue Culture Model to Test Molecular Regenerative Therapies: Validation with Epigallocatechin 3-Gallate
Authors: Krupkova Olga , Hlavna Marian , Amir Tahmasseb Julie , Zvick Joel , Kunz Dominik , Ito Keita , Ferguson Stephen , Wuertz-Kozak Karin
Published: September 2016

Organ cultures are practical tools to investigate regenerative strategies for the intervertebral disc. However, most existing organ culture systems induce severe tissue degradation with only limited representation of the in vivo processes. The objective of this study was to develop a space- and cost-efficient tissue culture model, which represents degenerative processes of the nucleus pulposus (NP). Intact bovine NPs were cultured in a previously developed system using Dyneema jackets. Degenerative changes in the NP tissue were induced either by the direct injection of chondroitinase ABC (1–20 U/mL) or by the diffusion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (both 100 ng/mL) from the culture media. Extracellular matrix composition (collagens, proteoglycans, water, and DNA) and the expression of inflammatory and catabolic genes were analyzed. The anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic compound epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG, 10 µM) was employed to assess the relevance of the degenerative NP model. Although a single injection of chondroitinase ABC reduced the proteoglycan content in the NPs, it did not activate cellular responses. On the other hand, IL-1β and TNF-α significantly increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators IL-6, IL-8, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13). The cytokine-induced gene expression in the NPs was ameliorated with EGCG. This study provides a proof of concept that inflammatory NP cultures, with appropriate containment, can be useful for the discovery and evaluation of molecular therapeutic strategies against early degenerative disc disease.
Mapping Tropical Forest Biomass by Combining ALOS-2, Landsat 8, and Field Plots Data
Authors: Viet Nguyen Luong , Tateishi Ryutaro , Kondoh Akihiko , Sharma Ram , Thanh Nguyen Hoan , Trong To Tu , Ho Tong Minh Dinh
Published: September 2016

This research was carried out in a dense tropical forest region with the objective of improving the biomass estimates by a combination of ALOS-2 SAR, Landsat 8 optical, and field plots data. Using forest inventory based biomass data, the performance of different parameters from the two sensors was evaluated. The regression analysis with the biomass data showed that the backscatter from forest object (σ°forest) obtained from the SAR data was more sensitive to the biomass than HV polarization, SAR textures, and maximum NDVI parameters. However, the combination of the maximum NDVI from optical data, SAR textures from HV polarization, and σ°forest improved estimates of the biomass. The best model derived by the combination of multiple parameters from ALOS-2 SAR and Landsat 8 data was validated with inventory data. Then, the best validated model was used to produce an up-to-date biomass map for 2015 in Yok Don National Park, which is an important conservation area in Vietnam. The validation results showed that 74% of the variation of in biomass could be explained by our model.
The Structural, Photocatalytic Property Characterization and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities of Novel Photocatalysts Bi2GaSbO7 and Bi2InSbO7 during Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Luan Jingfei , Shen Yue , Li Yanyan , Paz Yaron
Published: September 2016

In order to develop original and efficient visible light response photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants in wastewater, new photocatalysts Bi2GaSbO7 and Bi2InSbO7 were firstly synthesized by a solid-state reaction method and their chemical, physical and structural properties were characterized. Bi2GaSbO7 and Bi2InSbO7 were crystallized with a pyrochlore-type structure and the lattice parameter of Bi2GaSbO7 or Bi2InSbO7 was 10.356497 Å or 10.666031 Å. The band gap of Bi2GaSbO7 or Bi2InSbO7 was estimated to be 2.59 eV or 2.54 eV. Compared with nitrogen doped TiO2, Bi2GaSbO7 and Bi2InSbO7, both showed excellent photocatalytic activities for degrading methylene blue during visible light irradiation due to their narrower band gaps and higher crystallization perfection. Bi2GaSbO7 showed higher catalytic activity compared with Bi2InSbO7. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue followed by the first-order reaction kinetics and the first-order rate constant was 0.01470 min−1, 0.00967 min−1 or 0.00259 min−1 with Bi2GaSbO7, Bi2InSbO7 or nitrogen doped TiO2 as a catalyst. The evolution of CO2 and the removal of total organic carbon were successfully measured and these results indicated continuous mineralization of methylene blue during the photocatalytic process. The possible degradation scheme and pathway of methylene blue was also analyzed. Bi2GaSbO7 and Bi2InSbO7 photocatalysts both had great potential to purify textile industry wastewater.
Room Temperature Electroluminescence from Tensile-Strained Si0.13Ge0.87/Ge Multiple Quantum Wells on a Ge Virtual Substrate
Authors: Lin Guangyang , Chen Ningli , Zhang Lu , Huang Zhiwei , Huang Wei , Wang Jianyuan , Xu Jianfang , Chen Songyan , Li Cheng
Published: September 2016

Direct band electroluminescence (EL) from tensile-strained Si0.13Ge0.87/Ge multiple quantum wells (MQWs) on a Ge virtual substrate (VS) at room temperature is reported herein. Due to the competitive result of quantum confinement Stark effect and bandgap narrowing induced by tensile strain in Ge wells, electroluminescence from Γ1-HH1 transition in 12-nm Ge wells was observed at around 1550 nm. As injection current density increases, additional emission shoulders from Γ2-HH2 transition in Ge wells and Ge VS appeared at around 1300–1400 nm and 1600–1700 nm, respectively. The peak energy of EL shifted to the lower energy side superquadratically with an increase of injection current density as a result of the Joule heating effect. During the elevation of environmental temperature, EL intensity increased due to a reduction of energy between L and Γ valleys of Ge. Empirical fitting of the relationship between the integrated intensity of EL (L) and injection current density (J) with L~Jm shows that the m factor increased with injection current density, suggesting higher light emitting efficiency of the diode at larger injection current densities, which can be attributed to larger carrier occupations in the Γ valley and the heavy hole (HH) valance band at higher temperatures.