bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solidarity, Translation and Postcolonial Literature in Polish (Abstract)
Authors: Goluch Dorota
Published: July 2018

The goal of the paper is twofold: I first theorize ‘solidarity’ in relation to translation, suggesting that both are about bridging differences and perhaps salvaging similarities. Then I illustrate the ideas with an example from a study of the Polish reception of translated postcolonial literature, seeing reception as an act of selective salvage and subsequent reconfiguration of meaning.

The term solidarity punctuates seminal texts on translation and politics, power and identity (Spivak 2004, Tymoczko 2007, Cronin 2006) and yet it has not been systematically theorized in translation and interpreting studies (cf. Baker 2015). I argue that examining diverse definitions and discussions of solidarity from neighbouring disciplines will allow us to employ the term with greater precision and thus make the most of its visionary appeal but also its analytical and critical potential. For instance, solidarity is conceived of as a guarantee of local intra-group cohesion founded upon perceived sameness, and as a mechanism for forging inter-group relations globally or transnationally by bridging differences of country, class and creed, and by salvaging or constructing similarities. On a conceptual level, therefore, solidarity operates in a way not dissimilar to translation itself – negotiating local and global identities with both inclusive and discriminatory effects – while on a more practical level solidarities attempted across linguistic barriers are helped, or hindered, by interlingual translation and interpreting.

To illustrate some of the ideas, I analyse the Polish reception of translated postcolonial literature in the 1980s and 1990s. Using an extensive corpus of book reviews, I demonstrate that translated postcolonial narratives resonated for some reviewers with Polish history, going against the grain of a long tradition of othering attitudes to postcolonial non-Europeans and marking a new sense of transnational similarity. I then ask if this re-negotiation of similarity and difference, enabled by literary translation, may pave a way to Polish-postcolonial solidarity.
Silver Camphor Imine Complexes: Novel Antibacterial Compounds from Old Medicines
Authors: Leitão Jorge H. , Sousa Silvia A. , Leite Silvestre A. , Carvalho Maria Fernanda N. N.
Published: July 2018

The emergence of bacterial resistance to available antimicrobials has prompted the search for novel antibacterial compounds to overcome this public health problem. Metal-based complexes have been much less explored than organic compounds as antimicrobials, leading to investigations of the antimicrobial properties of selected complexes in which silver may occupy the frontline due to its use as medicine since ancient times. Like silver, camphor has also long been used for medicinal purposes. However, in both cases, limited information exists concerning the mechanisms of their antimicrobial action. This work reviews the present knowledge of the antimicrobial properties of camphor-derived silver complexes, focusing on recent research on the synthesis and antimicrobial properties of complexes based on silver and camphor imines. Selected examples of the structure and antimicrobial activity relationships of ligands studied so far are presented, showing the potential of silver camphorimine complexes as novel antimicrobials.
Multidimensional Analysis of Time-Resolved Charged Particle Imaging Experiments
Authors: Loriot Vincent , Bañares Luis , De Nalda Rebeca
Published: July 2018

We present a tutorial to realize a multidimensional fitting procedure capable of extracting all the relevant information contained in a sequence of charged particle images acquired as a function of time in femtosecond pump–probe experiments. The images are reproduced using a 3D fitting method, which provides the velocity (or center-of-mass kinetic energy) and angular distributions contained in the images and their time evolution. A detailed example of the method is shown through the analysis of the time-resolved predissociation dynamics of CH3I on the B-band origin (Gitzinger et al., J. Chem. Phys.2010, 133, 234313). We show that the multidimensional approach is essential for the analysis of complex images that contain several overlapping contributions where reduced dimensionality analyses cannot provide a reliable description of the features present in the image sequence. This methodology can be generalized to many types of multidimensional data analysis.
Experimental Study on an Optimized-Section Precast Slab with Structural Aesthetics
Authors: Ju Hyunjin , Han Sun-Jin , Choi Il Sup , Choi Seokdong , Park Min-Kook , Kim Kang Su
Published: July 2018

The optimized-section precast slab with structural aesthetics (OPS) is a half precast concrete slab with multi-ribs that optimizes the cross-section by eliminating the unnecessary bottom flanges at mid-span and has good structural performance by utilizing prestressing strands and truss-type shear reinforcements. In addition, it is a member that is designed to highlight the structural aesthetics through the curved shape of a variable cross-section at the bottom of the flange which is created from a natural shape that is formed in the section optimization process. In this study, experimental research was carried out to examine the structural performance of the OPS, which includes flexure and shear tests on the precast concrete unit members for resisting construction loads, the composite members with cast-in-place concrete, and the continuous end section. The experiment results confirm that, in accordance with the current design code, the flexural performance of OPS is on the safe side regardless of the member type, whereas the shear performance of the precast concrete unit member differs slightly from that of the composite member due to the differences in the contributions of the shear reinforcement as the effective depth varies.
Siloxane Precursor-Based Protective Coatings for High Modulus Carbon Fibers in Ceramic Matrix Composites
Authors: Jiménez Miguel , Samie Armaghan , Gadow Rainer , Kern Frank , Bill Joachim
Published: July 2018

Carbon fibers are outstanding reinforcements for ceramic components due to their excellent creep and long-term thermochemical and thermomechanical stability. Nevertheless, these properties are dramatically downgraded if the unprotected fibers are exposed to an oxidative or corrosive environment. Thin ceramic coatings can improve the corrosion resistance and tailor the fiber/matrix interface in order to achieve optimized stress transfer and damage tolerance. The continuous liquid phase coating (CLPC) technique with subsequent pyrolysis is a promising alternative to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. The possibility to deposit homogenous thin flaw-free coating layers on every filament of high tenacity carbon fiber bundles has been successfully proven in previous studies. In this work, high modulus carbon fibers were coated with different polysiloxane-based resins, and the obtained rovings were implemented in SiOC matrices by the precursor impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) route. Thermogravimetric analysis shows an increased oxidation resistance of the coated fibers compared with reference samples. Enhanced fiber/matrix interface strength further improved the mechanical performance of the fabricated composites.
Super-Twisting Extended State Observer and Sliding Mode Controller for Quadrotor UAV Attitude System in Presence of Wind Gust and Actuator Faults
Authors: Shi Di , Wu Zhong , Chou Wusheng
Published: July 2018

This article addresses the problem of high precision attitude control for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle in presence of wind gust and actuator faults. We consider the effect of those factors as lumped disturbances, and in order to realize the quickly and accurately estimation of the disturbances, we propose a control strategy based on the online disturbance uncertainty estimation and attenuation method. Firstly, an enhanced extended state observer (ESO) is constructed based on the super-twisting (ST) algorithm to estimate and attenuate the impact of wind gust and actuator faults in finite time. And the convergence analysis and parameter selection rule of STESO are given following. Secondly, in order to guarantee the asymptotic convergence of desired attitude timely, a sliding mode control law is derived based on the super-twisting algorithm. And a comprehensive stability analysis for the entire system is presented based on the Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed solution, numerical simulations and real time experiments are carried out in presences of wind disturbance and actuator faults.
Baltic Power Systems’ Integration into the EU Market Coupling under Different Desynchronization Schemes: A Comparative Market Analysis
Authors: Bompard Ettore , Zalzar Shaghayegh , Huang Tao , Purvins Arturs , Masera Marcelo
Published: July 2018

Currently, the power transmission system of the Baltic states is synchronized with the Integrated/Unified Power System (IPS/UPS), which includes the Russian grid, and the IPS/UPS provides frequency regulation and system security within the Baltic states. Since joining the European Union (EU) in 2004, the Baltic states have been following the EU’s energy policy targets. The Baltics are presently participating in a European electricity market, i.e., the NordPool market, while they are expected to join the pan-European electricity market—the European target model for power market integration. Moreover, from a power grid perspective, EU energy policies intend to desynchronize the power grid of the Baltic states from the IPS/UPS over the coming years. This paper evaluates these policy trends through market impacts, and it complements existing studies on Baltic-IPS/UPS desynchronization in terms of wholesale electricity prices, generation surpluses, primary reserve adequacy, and redispatch costs. Participation of the Baltic states in the integrated pan-European day-ahead electricity market with zonal pricing was modeled for 2030, followed by a national redispatch, with detailed power grid modeling of Baltic states to solve potential intrazonal congestion. The simulation results imply the superiority of the Baltics’ synchronization to continental Europe, compared to the other schemes.
Relationship between Sleep Disorders and Health Related Quality of Life—Results from the Georgia SOMNUS Study
Authors: Darchia Nato , Oniani Nikoloz , Sakhelashvili Irine , Supatashvili Mariam , Basishvili Tamar , Eliozishvili Marine , Maisuradze Lia , Cervena Katerina
Published: July 2018

The extent to which sleep disorders are associated with impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is poorly described in the developing world. We investigated the prevalence and severity of various sleep disorders and their associations with HRQoL in an urban Georgian population. 395 volunteers (20–60 years) completed Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, STOP-Bang questionnaire, Insomnia Severity Index, Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form, and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Socio-demographic data and body mass index (BMI) were obtained. The prevalence of sleep disorders and their association with HRQoL was considerable. All SF-12 components and physical and mental component summaries (PCS, MCS) were significantly lower in poor sleepers, subjects with daytime sleepiness, apnea risk, or insomnia. Insomnia and apnea severity were also associated with lower scores on most SF-12 dimensions. The effect of insomnia severity was more pronounced on MCS, while apnea severity—on PCS. Hierarchical analyses showed that after controlling for potential confounding factors (demographics, depression, BMI), sleep quality significantly increased model’s predictive power with an R2 change (ΔR2) by 3.5% for PCS (adjusted R2 = 0.27) and by 2.9% for MCS (adjusted R2 = 0.48); for the other SF-12 components ΔR2 ranged between 1.4% and 4.6%. ESS, STOP-Bang, ISI scores, all exerted clear effects on PCS and MCS in an individual regression models. Our results confirm and extend the findings of studies from Western societies and strongly support the importance of sleep for HRQoL. Elaboration of intervention programs designed to strengthen sleep-related health care and thereof HRQoL is especially important in the developing world.
Generation-Common and -Specific Factors in Intention to Leave among Female Hospital Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Large Japanese Sample
Authors: Tei-Tominaga Maki , Asakura Kyoko , Asakura Takashi
Published: July 2018

An understanding of the conditions that determine the factors affecting nurses’ intention to leave is important for countries suffering from nurse shortage. Aim: to examine factors influencing intention to leave among female hospital nurses in a large Japanese sample, classified into four generations by age and considering economic conditions. Methods: a cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all nurses in 30 hospitals. To assess intention to leave, basic attributes, life conditions, work characteristics, and factors of psychosocial work environment were addressed. After classifying data into four generations based on age cohorts, we conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis using the completed data (N = 5074, mean age = 36.24 years). Results: regardless of the generational characteristics influenced by economic conditions, effort and monetary reward were generation-common factors. Over-commitment, social support, and the presence of a role model were generation-common factors in three generations. While having children increased intention to leave in the generation born in 1965–1979, having family members in need of caregiving other than children decreased the risk in the generation born in the 1980s. Conclusion: generational countermeasures considering factors of psychosocial work environment and life conditions are needed to avert female nurse turnover.
Real-Time Imaging Reveals Augmentation of Glutamate-Induced Ca2+ Transients by the NO-cGMP Pathway in Cerebellar Granule Neurons
Authors: Paolillo Michael , Peters Stefanie , Schramm Andrea , Schlossmann Jens , Feil Robert
Published: July 2018

Dysfunctions of NO-cGMP signaling have been implicated in various neurological disorders. We have studied the potential crosstalk of cGMP and Ca2+ signaling in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) by simultaneous real-time imaging of these second messengers in living cells. The NO donor DEA/NO evoked cGMP signals in the granule cell layer of acute cerebellar slices from transgenic mice expressing a cGMP sensor protein. cGMP and Ca2+ dynamics were visualized in individual CGNs in primary cultures prepared from 7-day-old cGMP sensor mice. DEA/NO increased the intracellular cGMP concentration and augmented glutamate-induced Ca2+ transients. These effects of DEA/NO were absent in CGNs isolated from knockout mice lacking NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase. Furthermore, application of the cGMP analogues 8-Br-cGMP and 8-pCPT-cGMP, which activate cGMP effector proteins such as cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels and cGMP-dependent protein kinases (cGKs), also potentiated glutamate-induced Ca2+ transients. Western blot analysis failed to detect cGK type I or II in our primary CGNs. The addition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors during cGMP imaging showed that CGNs degrade cGMP mainly via Zaprinast-sensitive PDEs, most likely PDE5 and/or PDE10, but not via PDE1, 2, or 3. In sum, these data delineate a cGK-independent NO-cGMP signaling cascade that increases glutamate-induced Ca2+ signaling in CGNs. This cGMP–Ca2+ crosstalk likely affects neurotransmitter-stimulated functions of CGNs.
A Framework for More Effective Dark Web Marketplace Investigations
Authors: Hayes Darren , Cappa Francesco , Cardon James
Published: July 2018

The success of the Silk Road has prompted the growth of many Dark Web marketplaces. This exponential growth has provided criminal enterprises with new outlets to sell illicit items. Thus, the Dark Web has generated great interest from academics and governments who have sought to unveil the identities of participants in these highly lucrative, yet illegal, marketplaces. Traditional Web scraping methodologies and investigative techniques have proven to be inept at unmasking these marketplace participants. This research provides an analytical framework for automating Dark Web scraping and analysis with free tools found on the World Wide Web. Using a case study marketplace, we successfully tested a Web crawler, developed using AppleScript, to retrieve the account information for thousands of vendors and their respective marketplace listings. This paper clearly details why AppleScript was the most viable and efficient method for scraping Dark Web marketplaces. The results from our case study validate the efficacy of our proposed analytical framework, which has relevance for academics studying this growing phenomenon and for investigators examining criminal activity on the Dark Web.
Behavioral Response of Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae) to Stimuli Based on Colors and its Aggregation Pheromone
Authors: Franco-Archundia Sandra Lisbeth , Gonzaga-Segura Agustín Jesús , Jiménez-Pérez Alfredo , Castrejón-Gómez Víctor Rogelio
Published: July 2018

The leaf-footed bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Coreidae) is an important pest in the Americas. However, no preference of colors, sexual behavior nor aggregation pheromone has been reported, which can be used for detection, monitoring, and control purposes. In the laboratory we tested the attractiveness of white, violet, blue, green, yellow, and orange color to nymphs and adults (mated and unmated) and found that most adults and nymphs were attracted to and remained longer on blue and green colored cards than the other colors tested. We found that couples may remain in copula ≈185 min and mate ≈20 times in a 60 d period with a similar number of matings during the scotophase and the photophase. Sexual behavior consists of six patterns: grooming, abdomen movement, antenna movement, antennation, mounting, and mating. In a Y-tube olfactometer, 80 and 62.5% of the adults tested were attracted to a hexane-extract of the volatiles released by 40 males and 40 females, respectively. This is the first report of the biological evidence of an aggregation pheromone in this bug.
Seasonal Variability of the Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Fucus spiralis at Two Azorean Islands
Authors: Paiva Lisete , Lima Elisabete , Neto Ana Isabel , Baptista José
Published: July 2018

This study evaluates, for the first time, the seasonal (winter and summer) and geographical (São Miguel–SMG and Santa Maria–SMA Islands) variability of Fucus spiralis (Fs) biochemical composition (dry weight basis) and antioxidant properties. Protein and carbohydrates presented higher values in Fs-SMGwinter, lipids, total dietary fiber, and energy value in Fs-SMAsummer, and ash and soluble dietary fiber/insoluble dietary fiber ratio in Fs-SMAwinter. The fatty acid (FA) profiles showed a lower SFA in Fs-SMGsummer, whereas MUFA and PUFA presented higher values in Fs-SMGsummer and Fs-SMGwinter, respectively. Excellent dietary ratios of n6/n3 PUFA and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic FA were found, with lower values in Fs-SMAwinter and higher in Fs-SMGsummer, respectively. The highest total phenolics was found in Fs-SMAsummer acetone:water extract and total flavonoids showed the higher value in Fs-SMGwinter methanol extract. The best free radical-scavenging activity was observed in the Fs-SMAwinter methanol (EC50 = 0.045 mg/mL) and acetone:water (EC50 = 0.059 mg/mL) extracts. The ferric-reducing antioxidant power showed the best results in Fs-SMAwinter methanol extract (EC50 = 0.016 mg/mL) and Fs-SMAsummer acetone:water extract (EC50 = 0.017 mg/mL). The best ferrous ion-chelating activity was found in Fs-SMGwinter acetone:water extract. Overall, results revealed that F. spiralis nutritional and functional bioactivity values have geographical and seasonal variations and that its regular consumption may add benefits to human health.
Effect of pH on Stress Corrosion Cracking of 6082 Al Alloy
Authors: Panagopoulos C. N. , Georgiou Emmanuel , Giannakopoulos K. I. , Orfanos P. G.
Published: July 2018

In this work, the effect of pH (3, 7 and 10) on the stress corrosion cracking behavior of 6082 aluminum alloy, in a 0.3 M sodium chloride (NaCl) aqueous based solution was investigated. The stress corrosion cracking behavior was studied with slow strain rate testing, whereas failure analysis of the fractured surfaces was used to identify the dominant degradation mechanisms. The experimental results clearly indicated that stress corrosion cracking behavior of this aluminum alloy strongly depends on the pH of the solution. In particular, the highest drop in ultimate tensile strength and ductility was observed for the alkaline pH, followed by the acidic, whereas the lowest susceptibility was observed in the neutral pH environment. This observation is attributed to a change in the dominant stress corrosion cracking mechanisms.
Modeling and Simulation of the Static Recrystallization of 5754 Aluminium Alloy by Cellular Automaton
Authors: Huang Changqing , Jia Xiaodong , Zhang Zhiwu
Published: July 2018

To study the factors that affect the mechanical properties of materials, double-pass hot compression tests were performed under different deformation parameters using a Gleeble-3500 thermo-simulation machine. The static softening behavior of 5754 aluminium alloy during testing was analyzed by the 0.2% offset-stress method. The results show that the static softening fraction was greatly influenced by deformation parameters and rapidly increased with increasing delay time, strain rate and deformation temperature. In addition, a mesoscopic cellular automaton (CA) model was employed to simulate the microstructural evolution of the static recrystallization (SRX) during the double-pass hot compression test of the 5754 aluminium alloy. The results show that the SRX nuclei first formed along the grain boundaries, where the energy was sufficient, and deformation parameters had a significant influence on the SRX of the 5754 aluminium alloy. The recrystallized volume fraction increased with increasing temperature, strain rate, and delay time among deformation stages. The mean recrystallized grain size increased with increasing deformation temperature and delay time. However, the mean grain size was slightly reduced with an increase in the strain rate from 0.1 s−1 to 1 s−1 at constant temperature and delay time.
Selective Flotation of Cassiterite from Calcite with Salicylhydroxamic Acid Collector and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Depressant
Authors: Tian Mengjie , Gao Zhiyong , Ji Bin , Fan Ruiying , Liu Runqing , Chen Pan , Sun Wei , Hu Yuehua
Published: July 2018

Cassiterite is the most common and important tin-bearing mineral, and calcite, a primary gangue mineral is generally found in tin deposit. The flotation separation of cassiterite from calcite remains a challenge due to their similar response to traditional reagents. In cassiterite flotation, sodium oleate (NaOL) and sodium silicate (SS) have been widely used as a collector and a depressant, respectively. However, the low selectivity of NaOL and the large amount of SS required (which leads to serious problems in wastewater treatment) remain a difficult issue. In this study, a novel reagent scheme using lead nitrate as the activator, salicylhydroxamic acid (SHA) as the collector and carboxymethyl cellulose as the depressant was employed to improve the separation selectivity of cassiterite from calcite. Results of the flotation experiment using this new reagent scheme showed that compared with the previously reported scheme using benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) as the collector, the separation of cassiterite from calcite exhibited a higher selectivity and selectivity index (SI). The mechanism of the selective separation was investigated by zeta potential measurements, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.
Mapping Surface Quartz Content in Sand Dunes Covered by Biological Soil Crusts Using Airborne Hyperspectral Images in the Longwave Infrared Region
Authors: Weksler Shahar , Rozenstein Offer , Ben-Dor Eyal
Published: July 2018

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), composed of cyanobacteria, algae, mosses, lichens, and fungi, are important ecosystem engineers that stabilize the quartz-rich dunes in the Nitzana study area near the Israel–Egypt border. The longwave infrared (LWIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum is very useful for quartz identification since quartz reflectance in the visible, near infrared, and shortwave infrared (VIS-NIR-SWIR, 0.4–2.5 µm) spectral regions lacks identifying features, whereas in the LWIR region, the quartz emissivity spectrum presents a strong doublet feature. This emissivity feature can be used as a diagnostic tool for BSCs development in desert environments, because BSCs attenuate the quartz feature as a function of their successional development. A pair of day and night airborne hyperspectral images were acquired using the Specim AisaOWL LWIR sensor (7.7–12 µm) and processed using an innovative algorithm to reduce the atmospheric interference in this spectral domain. The resulting day and night apparent emissivity products were used to produce a surface quartz content map of the study area. The significant reduction in atmospheric interference resulted in a high correlation (R2 = 0.88) between quartz content in field samples determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis and emissivity estimations from the airborne images. This, in turn, served as the ground truth to our quartz content map of the surface, and by proxy to the BSC.
A Promising Copper(II) Complex as Antifungal and Antibiofilm Drug against Yeast Infection
Authors: Gomes da Silva Dantas Fabiana , Araújo de Almeida-Apolonio Adriana , Pires de Araújo Renata , Regiane Vizolli Favarin Lis , Fukuda de Castilho Pamella , De Oliveira Galvão Fernanda , Inez Estivalet Svidzinski Terezinha , Antônio Casagrande Gleison , Mari Pires de Oliveira Kelly
Published: July 2018

The high mortality rate of candidemia and the limited option for the treatment of Candida spp. infection have been driving the search for new molecules with antifungal property. In this context, coordination complexes of metal ions and ligands appear to be important. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize two new copper(II) complexes with 2-thiouracil and 6-methyl-2-thiouracil ligands and to evaluate their mutagenic potential and antifungal activity against Candida. The complexes were synthesized and characterized by infrared vibrational spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis, UV-Vis experiments and ESI-HRMS spectrometry studies. The antifungal activity was evaluated by broth microdilution against 21 clinical isolates of Candida species. The mutagenic potential was evaluated by the Ames test. The complexes were Cu(Bipy)Cl2(thiouracil) (Complex 1) and Cu(Bipy)Cl2(6-methylthiouracil) (Complex 2). Complex 1 showed fungicidal and fungistatic activities against all isolates. Furthermore, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) from 31 to 125 µg/mL and inhibition percentage of 9.9% against the biofilms of C. krusei and C. glabrata were demonstrated. At the concentrations tested, complex 1 exhibited no mutagenic potential. Complex 2 and the free ligands exhibited no antifungal activity at the concentrations evaluated. Since complex 1 presented antifungal activity against all the tested isolates and no mutagenic potential, it could be proposed as a potential new drug for anti-Candida therapy.
Design and Synthesis of New Benzophenone Derivatives with In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity through Dual Inhibition of Edema and Neutrophil Recruitment
Authors: Januario Jaqueline P. , De Souza Thiago B. , Lavorato Stefânia N. , Maiolini Tatiane C. S. , Domingos Olívia S. , Baldim João L. , Folquitto Laís R. S. , Soares Marisi G. , Chagas-Paula Daniela A. , Dias Danielle F. , Dos Santos Marcelo H.
Published: July 2018

A series of novel benzophenone derivatives containing a thiazole heterocyclic nucleus were designed by molecular hybridization. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated the inhibitory potential of the designed compounds against cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes. These compounds were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties by the croton oil-induced ear edema assay to examine their effect on both prostaglandin (PG) production and neutrophils recruitment. The thiazole derivatives displayed a potent effect in terms of reducing ear edema. The analysis suggested that the presence of 4-phenyl-2-hydrazinothiazole and the absence of C4′-OCH3 on the benzophenone derivative structure are strongly related to the inhibition of PG production. In addition, the derivatives 2e, 3a and 3c concomitantly inhibit PG production and neutrophil recruitment, which may be a mechanism of action better than of common NSAIDs due to their inability to inhibit the neutrophil recruitment. Thus, these compounds can be considered as potential lead compounds toward the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs with an innovating mechanism of action.
Electric Field Intensity Effects on the Microstructural Characteristics Evolution of Methyl Vinyl Silicone Rubber via Molecular Simulation
Authors: Liang Ying , Gao Ting , Wang Xiangnian , Sun Mengting , Gao Lijuan
Published: July 2018

During ultra high voltage (UHV) transmission, the discharge caused by high intensity electric fields aggravates the aging process of external insulation materials used for composite insulators. The microstructural characteristics of its base material polymer—methyl vinyl silicone rubber—are the key basis for the performance of insulation materials under electric field exposure. Based on molecular dynamics simulations, a molecular model of methyl vinyl silicone rubber was established. Mechanisms influencing the microstructure evolution under electric fields had been studied at the atomic level. The results showed that the initial reaction characteristics of silicone rubber molecules involve the violent vibrated of all the methyl and vinyl atoms, and shortening of the chemical bonds. The neighboring groups were close to each other and generated different amounts of -Si-Si- bonds. This promoted the helical shrinkage of the molecule, and protrusion of the middle of the molecule which presented an inverted U shape. The high electric field greatly reduced the total energy of molecules, and the potential energy in particular was more severely destroyed, resulting in degradation of its structure. Besides, as the electric field intensity increased, the elastic modulus of the molecule gradually increased. It was shown that high electric fields would make the stiffness of silicone rubber become larger, and the brittleness to become stronger, which reduced the mechanical properties of materials, accelerating its aging. The results provide a theoretical basis for establishing the connection between the micro appearance and macro characteristics of materials, as well as reference values for the optimization of base materials used for making composite insulators.
Catalytic Dehydration of Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in Low-Boiling Solvent Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)
Authors: Tschirner Sarah , Weingart Eric , Teevs Linda , Prüße Ulf
Published: July 2018

A mixture of hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and water was used as a new and unknown monophasic reaction solvent for fructose dehydration in order to produce HMF. HFIP is a low-boiling fluorous alcohol (b.p. 58 °C). Hence, HFIP can be recovered cost efficiently by distillation. Different ion-exchange resins were screened for the HFIP/water system in batch experiments. The best results were obtained for acidic macroporous ion-exchange resins, and high HMF yields up to 70% were achieved. The effects of various reaction conditions like initial fructose concentration, catalyst concentration, water content in HFIP, temperature and influence of the catalyst particle size were evaluated. Up to 76% HMF yield was attained at optimized reaction conditions for high initial fructose concentration of 0.5 M (90 g/L). The ion-exchange resin can simply be recovered by filtration and reused several times. This reaction system with HFIP/water as solvent and the ion-exchange resin Lewatit K2420 as catalyst shows excellent performance for HMF synthesis.
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Physical Activity, Self-Concept and Sociodemographic Factors in University Student
Authors: Zurita-Ortega Félix , San Román-Mata Silvia , Chacón-Cuberos Ramón , Castro-Sánchez Manuel , Muros José Joaquín
Published: July 2018

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and to examine the relationship between MD adherence, physical activity, self-concept, and other sociodemographic factors; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study (N = 597; 18.99 ± 0.64 years) was conducted in a sample of university students from Ceuta, Melilla, and Granada (Spain). Religious beliefs and place of residence were directly reported, while physical activity and adherence to the MD were self-reported using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) respectively. Self-concept was evaluated using the Five-Factor Self-Concept Scale; (3) Results: Of those students reporting high levels of habitual physical activity, 82.3% also reported high adherence to the MD, with 17.7% reporting a medium adherence. Of students reporting no physical activity, 25.7% also reported medium adherence to the MD. No significant associations were found between the MD and religious beliefs. It was observed that the university campus was associated with the level of adherence to the MD (p = 0.030), with adherence being lowest in Ceuta and Melilla. Finally, the MD was associated with academic (p = 0.001) and physical self-concept (p = 0.005); 4) Conclusions: The MD should be promoted to university students, particularly those studying at Ceuta and Melilla, given the present findings of lower MD adherence. In addition, as higher MD adherence was also highlighted with more positive self-concept, its promotion would be beneficial in wider educational contexts.
Clopidogrel Pharmacokinetics in Malaysian Population Groups: The Impact of Inter-Ethnic Variability
Authors: Zakaria Zaril H. , Fong Alan Y. Y. , Badhan Raj K. S.
Published: July 2018

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic society whereby the impact of pharmacogenetic differences between ethnic groups may contribute significantly to variability in clinical therapy. One of the leading causes of mortality in Malaysia is cardiovascular disease (CVD), which accounts for up to 26% of all hospital deaths annually. Clopidogrel is used as an adjunct treatment in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. CYP2C19 plays an integral part in the metabolism of clopidogrel to the active metabolite clopi-H4. However, CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism, prominent in Malaysians, could influence target clopi-H4 plasma concentrations for clinical efficacy. This study addresses how inter-ethnicity variability within the Malaysian population impacts the attainment of clopi-H4 target plasma concentration under different CYP2C19 polymorphisms through pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling. We illustrated a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in the clopi-H4 Cmax between the extensive metabolisers (EM) and poor metabolisers (PM) phenotypes with either Malay or Malaysian Chinese population groups. Furthermore, the number of PM individuals with peak clopi-H4 concentrations below the minimum therapeutic level was partially recovered using a high-dose strategy (600 mg loading dose followed by a 150 mg maintenance dose), which resulted in an approximate 50% increase in subjects attaining the minimum clopi-H4 plasma concentration for a therapeutic effect.
Allogenic Fc Domain-Facilitated Uptake of IgG in Nasal Lamina Propria: Friend or Foe for Intranasal CNS Delivery?
Authors: Ladel Simone , Flamm Johannes , Zadeh Arghavan Soleimani , Filzwieser Dorothea , Walter Julia-Christina , Schlossbauer Patrick , Kinscherf Ralf , Lischka Katharina , Luksch Harald , Schindowski Katharina
Published: July 2018

Background: The use of therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of neurological diseases is of increasing interest. Nose-to-brain drug delivery is one strategy to bypass the blood brain barrier. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) plays an important role in transepithelial transcytosis of immunoglobulin G (IgG). Recently, the presence of the FcRn was observed in nasal respiratory mucosa. The aim of the present study was to determine the presence of functional FcRn in olfactory mucosa and to evaluate its role in drug delivery. Methods: Immunoreactivity and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of FcRn was determined in ex vivo porcine olfactory mucosa. Uptake of IgG was performed in a side-by-side cell and analysed by immunofluorescence. Results: FcRn was found in epithelial and basal cells of the olfactory epithelium as well as in glands, cavernous bodies and blood vessels. Allogenic porcine IgGs were found time-dependently in the lamina propria and along axonal bundles, while only small amounts of xenogenic human IgGs were detected. Interestingly, lymphoid follicles were spared from allogenic IgGs. Conclusion: Fc-mediated transport of IgG across the nasal epithelial barrier may have significant potential for intranasal delivery, but the relevance of immune interaction in lymphoid follicles must be clarified to avoid immunogenicity.
Branched Polyurethanes Based on Synthetic Polyhydroxybutyrate with Tunable Structure and Properties
Authors: Brzeska Joanna , Elert Anna Maria , Morawska Magda , Sikorska Wanda , Kowalczuk Marek , Rutkowska Maria
Published: July 2018

Branched, aliphatic polyurethanes (PURs) were synthesized and compared to linear analogues. The influence of polycaprolactonetriol and synthetic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) (R,S-PHB) in soft segments on structure, thermal and sorptive properties of PURs was determined. Using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies it was found that increasing the R,S-PHB amount in the structure of branched PURs reduced a tendency of urethane groups to hydrogen bonding. Melting enthalpies (on DSC thermograms) of both soft and hard segments of linear PURs were higher than branched PURs, suggesting that linear PURs were more crystalline. Oil sorption by samples of linear and branched PURs, containing only polycaprolactone chains in soft segments, was higher than in the case of samples with R,S-PHB in their structure. Branched PUR without R,S-PHB absorbed the highest amount of oil. Introducing R,S-PHB into the PUR structure increased water sorption. Thus, by operating the number of branching and the amount of poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) in soft segments thermal and sorptive properties of aliphatic PURs could be controlled.
High-Spatial Resolution Monitoring of Phycocyanin and Chlorophyll-a Using Airborne Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Pyo Jong Cheol , Ligaray Mayzonee , Kwon Yong Sung , Ahn Myoung-Hwan , Kim Kyunghyun , Lee Hyuk , Kang Taegu , Cho Seong Been , Park Yongeun , Cho Kyung Hwa
Published: July 2018

Hyperspectral imagery (HSI) provides substantial information on optical features of water bodies that is usually applicable to water quality monitoring. However, it generates considerable uncertainties in assessments of spatial and temporal variation in water quality. Thus, this study explored the influence of different optical methods on the spatial distribution and concentration of phycocyanin (PC), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and total suspended solids (TSSs) and evaluated the dependence of algal distribution on flow velocity. Four ground-based and airborne monitoring campaigns were conducted to measure water surface reflectance. The actual concentrations of PC, Chl-a, and TSSs were also determined, while four bio-optical algorithms were calibrated to estimate the PC and Chl-a concentrations. Artificial neural network atmospheric correction achieved Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of 0.80 and 0.76 for the training and validation steps, respectively. Moderate resolution atmospheric transmission 6 (MODTRAN 6) showed an NSE value >0.8; whereas, atmospheric and topographic correction 4 (ATCOR 4) yielded a negative NSE value. The MODTRAN 6 correction led to the highest R2 values and lowest root mean square error values for all algorithms in terms of PC and Chl-a. The PC:Chl-a distribution generated using HSI proved to be negatively dependent on flow velocity (p-value = 0.003) and successfully indicated cyanobacteria risk regions in the study area.
Detection of Frozen Soil Using Sentinel-1 SAR Data
Authors: Baghdadi Nicolas , Bazzi Hassan , El Hajj Mohammad , Zribi Mehrez
Published: July 2018

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar “SAR” data (C-band) for monitoring agricultural frozen soils. First, investigations were conducted from simulated radar signal data using a SAR backscattering model combined with a dielectric mixing model. Then, Sentinel-1 images acquired at a study site near Paris, France were analyzed using temperature data to investigate the potential of the new Sentinel-1 SAR sensor for frozen soil mapping. The results show that the SAR backscattering coefficient decreases when the soil temperature drops below 0 °C. This decrease in signal is the most important for temperatures that ranges between 0 and −5 °C. A difference of at least 2 dB is observed between unfrozen soils and frozen soils. This difference increases under freezing condition when the temperature at the image acquisition date decreases. In addition, results show that the potential of the C-band radar signal for the discrimination of frozen soils slightly decreases when the soil moisture decreases (simulated data were used with soil moisture contents of 20 and 30 vol%). The difference between the backscattering coefficient of unfrozen soil and the backscattering coefficient of frozen soil decreases by approximately 1 dB when the soil moisture decreases from 30 to 20 vol%). Finally, the results show that both VV and VH allow a good detection of frozen soils but the sensitivity of VH is higher by approximately 1.5 dB. In conclusion, this study shows that the difference between a reference image acquired without freezing and an image acquired under freezing conditions is a good tool for detecting frozen soils.
Optimal Sensor Placement Based on Eigenvalues Analysis for Sensing Deformation of Wing Frame Using iFEM
Authors: Zhao Yong , Du Jingli , Bao Hong , Xu Qian
Published: July 2018

For real time monitoring of the wing state, in this paper, the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) is applied, which describes the displacement field of beam according to the Timoshenko theory, to sense the wing frame deformation. In order to maintain the accuracy and stability of frame deformation sensing with iFEM, an optimal placement model of strain sensors based on eigenvalue analysis is constructed. Through the model solution with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, two different optimal placement schemes of sensors are obtained. Finally, a simulation is performed on a simple cantilever beam and a static load experiment is conducted on an aluminum alloy wing frame. The results demonstrate that the iFEM is able to accurately sense the deformation of the wing frame, when the two optimal placement schemes of sensors are used.
Multi-Camera Imaging System for UAV Photogrammetry
Authors: Wierzbicki Damian
Published: July 2018

In the last few years, it has been possible to observe a considerable increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with compact digital cameras for environment mapping. The next stage in the development of photogrammetry from low altitudes was the development of the imagery data from UAV oblique images. Imagery data was obtained from side-facing directions. As in professional photogrammetric systems, it is possible to record footprints of tree crowns and other forms of the natural environment. The use of a multi-camera system will significantly reduce one of the main UAV photogrammetry limitations (especially in the case of multirotor UAV) which is a reduction of the ground coverage area, while increasing the number of images, increasing the number of flight lines, and reducing the surface imaged during one flight. The approach proposed in this paper is based on using several head cameras to enhance the imaging geometry during one flight of UAV for mapping. As part of the research work, a multi-camera system consisting of several cameras was designed to increase the total Field of View (FOV). Thanks to this, it will be possible to increase the ground coverage area and to acquire image data effectively. The acquired images will be mosaicked in order to limit the total number of images for the mapped area. As part of the research, a set of cameras was calibrated to determine the interior orientation parameters (IOPs). Next, the method of image alignment using the feature image matching algorithms was presented. In the proposed approach, the images are combined in such a way that the final image has a joint centre of projections of component images. The experimental results showed that the proposed solution was reliable and accurate for the mapping purpose. The paper also presents the effectiveness of existing transformation models for images with a large coverage subjected to initial geometric correction due to the influence of distortion.
Quantitative Contact-Less Estimation of Energy Expenditure from Video and 3D Imagery
Authors: Koporec Gregor , Vučković Goran , Milić Radoje , Perš Janez
Published: July 2018

Measurement of energy expenditure is an important tool in sport science and medicine, especially when trying to estimate the extent and intensity of physical activity. However, most approaches still rely on sensors or markers, placed directly on the body. In this paper, we present a novel approach using a fully contact-less, fully automatic method, that relies on computer vision algorithms and widely available and inexpensive imaging sensors. We rely on the estimation of the optical and scene flow to calculate Histograms of Oriented Optical Flow (HOOF) descriptors, which we subsequently augment with the Histograms of Absolute Flow Amplitude (HAFA). Descriptors are fed into regression model, which allows us to estimate energy consumption, and to a lesser extent, the heart rate. Our method has been tested both in lab environment and in realistic conditions of a sport match. Results confirm that these energy expenditures could be derived from purely contact-less observations. The proposed method can be used with different modalities, including near infrared imagery, which extends its future potential.