Latest Articles

Open AccessLetter
Assessment of Anthropogenic Methane Emissions over Large Regions Based on GOSAT Observations and High Resolution Transport Modeling
by , , , and
Remote Sens. 2017, 9(9), 941; doi:10.3390/rs9090941 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Abstract: Methane is an important greenhouse gas due to its high warming potential. While quantifying anthropogenic methane emissions is important for evaluation measures applied for climate change mitigation, large emission uncertainties still exist for many source categories. To evaluate anthropogenic methane emission
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Abstract: Methane is an important greenhouse gas due to its high warming potential. While quantifying anthropogenic methane emissions is important for evaluation measures applied for climate change mitigation, large emission uncertainties still exist for many source categories. To evaluate anthropogenic methane emission inventory in various regions over the globe, we extract emission signatures from column-average methane observations (XCH4) by GOSAT (Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite) satellite using high-resolution atmospheric transport model simulations. XCH4 abundance due to anthropogenic emissions is estimated as the difference between polluted observations from surrounding cleaner observations. Here, reduction of observation error, which is large compared to local abundance, is achieved by binning the observations over large region according to model-simulated enhancements. We found that the local enhancements observed by GOSAT scale linearly with inventory based simulations of XCH4 for the globe, East Asia and North America. Weighted linear regression of observation derived and inventory-based XCH4 anomalies was carried out to find a scale factor by which the inventory agrees with the observations. Over East Asia, the observed enhancements are 30% lower than suggested by emission inventory, implying a potential overestimation in the inventory. On the contrary, in North America, the observations are approximately 28% higher than model predictions, indicating an underestimation in emission inventory. Our results concur with several recent studies using other analysis methodologies, and thus confirm that satellite observations provide an additional tool for bottom-up emission inventory verification. Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Three-Dimensional, Kinematic, Human Behavioral Pattern-Based Features for Multimodal Emotion Recognition
by
Multimodal Technologies Interact. 2017, 1(3), 19; doi:10.3390/mti1030019 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
This paper presents a multimodal emotion recognition method that uses a feature-level combination of three-dimensional (3D) geometric features (coordinates, distance and angle of joints), kinematic features such as velocity and displacement of joints, and features extracted from daily behavioral patterns such as frequency
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This paper presents a multimodal emotion recognition method that uses a feature-level combination of three-dimensional (3D) geometric features (coordinates, distance and angle of joints), kinematic features such as velocity and displacement of joints, and features extracted from daily behavioral patterns such as frequency of head nod, hand wave, and body gestures that represent specific emotions. Head, face, hand, body, and speech data were captured from 15 participants using an infrared sensor (Microsoft Kinect). The 3D geometric and kinematic features were developed using raw feature data from the visual channel. Human emotional behavior-based features were developed using inter-annotator agreement and commonly observed expressions, movements and postures associated to specific emotions. The features from each modality and the behavioral pattern-based features (head shake, arm retraction, body forward movement depicting anger) were combined to train the multimodal classifier for the emotion recognition system. The classifier was trained using 10-fold cross validation and support vector machine (SVM) to predict six basic emotions. The results showed improvement in emotion recognition accuracy (The precision increased by 3.28% and the recall rate by 3.17%) when the 3D geometric, kinematic, and human behavioral pattern-based features were combined for multimodal emotion recognition using supervised classification. Full article
Open AccessReview
Current Insights Regarding Metal-on-Metal Bearings for Hip Arthroplasty
by
Lubricants 2017, 5(3), 37; doi:10.3390/lubricants5030037 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Modern small diameter metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings for total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been developed in the nineteen-eighties to address the problem of polyethylene wear related osteolysis. Subsequently large diameter MoM hip resurfacings (HRA) were designed for young and active patients to preserve bone
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Modern small diameter metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings for total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been developed in the nineteen-eighties to address the problem of polyethylene wear related osteolysis. Subsequently large diameter MoM hip resurfacings (HRA) were designed for young and active patients to preserve bone and avoid dislocation. Large diameter MoM THA were originally meant as an easy femoral component-only revision solution for femoral neck fractures in HRA, but were then advocated for primary THA as well. In the last decade however, increasing numbers of revisions for adverse local tissues reactions (ALTR) to metal debris have been reported. These ALTR are due to excessive wear of the MoM bearings, usually related to malpositioning of the components leading to edge loading, or in rare cases to metal sensitivity. Besides the immunological reactions, metal particles and ions have a potential local and systemic toxicity. Wear and tribocorrosion at the taper-trunnion connections of MoM THA but also THA with polyethylene and ceramic bearings have also been recognized as a cause of ALTR with extensive tissue destruction. Despite the fact that the long-term survivorship and functional results of certain MoM HRA are excellent and better than THA in the young and active patients group, MoM bearings have become very unpopular and are likely to be replaced by bearing couples of other materials. Full article
Open AccessReview
The ABCC6 Transporter: A New Player in Biomineralization
by , , , , , , , , and
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1941; doi:10.3390/ijms18091941 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an inherited metabolic disease with autosomal recessive inheritance caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. Since the first description of the disease in 1896, alleging a disease involving the elastic fibers, the concept evolved with the further discoveries of
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Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an inherited metabolic disease with autosomal recessive inheritance caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. Since the first description of the disease in 1896, alleging a disease involving the elastic fibers, the concept evolved with the further discoveries of the pivotal role of ectopic mineralization that is preponderant in the elastin-rich tissues of the skin, eyes and blood vessel walls. After discovery of the causative gene of the disease in 2000, the function of the ABCC6 protein remains elusive. More than 300 mutations have been now reported and the concept of a dermal disease has progressively evolved toward a metabolic disorder resulting from the remote effects caused by lack of a circulating anti-mineralization factor. Very recently, evidence has accumulated that this anti-mineralizing factor is inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi). This leads to decreased PPi/Pi (inorganic phosphate) ratio that results from the lack of extracellular ATP release by hepatocytes and probably renal cells harboring the mutant ABCC6 protein. However, the mechanism by which ABCC6 dysfunction causes diminished ATP release remains an enigma. Studies of other ABC transporters, such as ABCC7 or ABCC1 could help our understanding of what ABCC6 exact function is. Data and a hypothesis on the possible roles of ABCC6 in acquired metabolic diseases are also discussed. Full article
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Open AccessArticle
Total Body Irradiation Mitigates Inflammation and Extends the Therapeutic Time Window for Anti-Ricin Antibody Treatment against Pulmonary Ricinosis in Mice
by , , , , , and
Toxins 2017, 9(9), 278; doi:10.3390/toxins9090278 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Ricin, a highly toxic plant-derived toxin, is considered a potential weapon in biowarfare and bioterrorism due to its pronounced toxicity, high availability, and ease of preparation. Pulmonary exposure to ricin results in the generation of an acute edematous inflammation followed by respiratory insufficiency
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Ricin, a highly toxic plant-derived toxin, is considered a potential weapon in biowarfare and bioterrorism due to its pronounced toxicity, high availability, and ease of preparation. Pulmonary exposure to ricin results in the generation of an acute edematous inflammation followed by respiratory insufficiency and death. Massive neutrophil recruitment to the lungs may contribute significantly to ricin-mediated morbidity. In this study, total body irradiation (TBI) served as a non-pharmacological tool to decrease the potential neutrophil-induced lung injury. TBI significantly postponed the time to death of intranasally ricin-intoxicated mice, given that leukopenia remained stable following intoxication. This increase in time to death coincided with a significant reduction in pro-inflammatory marker levels, and led to marked extension of the therapeutic time window for anti-ricin antibody treatment. Full article
Open AccessReview
Recent Advances in Experimental Whole Genome Haplotyping Methods
by , and
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1944; doi:10.3390/ijms18091944 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Haplotype plays a vital role in diverse fields; however, the sequencing technologies cannot resolve haplotype directly. Pioneers demonstrated several approaches to resolve haplotype in the early years, which was extensively reviewed. Since then, numerous methods have been developed recently that have significantly improved
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Haplotype plays a vital role in diverse fields; however, the sequencing technologies cannot resolve haplotype directly. Pioneers demonstrated several approaches to resolve haplotype in the early years, which was extensively reviewed. Since then, numerous methods have been developed recently that have significantly improved phasing performance. Here, we review experimental methods that have emerged mainly over the past five years, and categorize them into five classes according to their maximum scale of contiguity: (i) encapsulation, (ii) 3D structure capture and construction, (iii) compartmentalization, (iv) fluorography, (v) long-read sequencing. Several subsections of certain methods are attached to each class as instances. We also discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of different classes and make comparisons among representative methods of each class. Full article
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Open AccessReview
In Search of Unambiguous Evidence of the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov State in Quasi-Low Dimensional Superconductors
by and
Condens. Matter 2017, 2(3), 30; doi:10.3390/condmat2030030 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
In layered conductors with a sufficiently weak interlayer coupling in-plane magnetic field cause only small diamagnetic currents and the orbital depairing is strongly suppressed. Therefore, the Zeeman effect predominantly governs the spin-singlet superconductivity making the formation of the spatially modulated Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase
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In layered conductors with a sufficiently weak interlayer coupling in-plane magnetic field cause only small diamagnetic currents and the orbital depairing is strongly suppressed. Therefore, the Zeeman effect predominantly governs the spin-singlet superconductivity making the formation of the spatially modulated Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase possible in such materials. Despite decades of strenuous effort, this state still remains a profound mystery. In the last several years, however, there have been observed several hints indicating the experimental realization of the FFLO state in organic layered superconductors. The emergence of the FFLO phase has been demonstrated mainly based on thermodynamic quantities or microscopically with spin polarization distribution that exhibit anomalies within the superconducting state in the presence of the in-plane magnetic field. However, the direct observation of superconducting order parameter modulation is so far missing. Recently, there have been proposed theoretically several hallmark signatures for FFLO phase, which are a direct consequence of its main feature, the spatial modulation of the order parameter, and hence can provide incontrovertible evidence of FFLO. In this article, a review of these signatures and the underlying theoretical framework is given with the purpose to summarize the results obtained so far, omitting duplications, and to emphasize the ideas and physics behind them. Full article
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Feasibility of Serial 6-min Walk Tests in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
by , , , , , , , , , and
J. Clin. Med. 2017, 6(9), 84; doi:10.3390/jcm6090084 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Background: Functional status assessment is common in many cardiovascular diseases but it has undergone limited study in the setting of acute heart failure (AHF). Accordingly, we performed a pilot study of the feasibility of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) at the emergency department
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Background: Functional status assessment is common in many cardiovascular diseases but it has undergone limited study in the setting of acute heart failure (AHF). Accordingly, we performed a pilot study of the feasibility of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) at the emergency department (ED) presentation and through the hospitalization in patients with AHF. Methods and Results: From November 2014 to February 2015, we conducted a multicenter, observational study of ED patients, aged 18–85 years, whose primary ED admission diagnosis was AHF. Other criteria for enrollment included a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, systolic blood pressure between 90 and 170 mmHg, and verbal confirmation that the patient was able to walk >30 m at the baseline, prior to ED presentation. Study teams were uniformly trained to administer a 6MWT. Patients underwent a baseline 6MWT within 24 h of ED presentation (Day 1) and follow-up 6MWTs at 24 (Day 2), 48 (Day 3), and 120 h (Day 5). A total of 46 patients (65.2% male, 73.9% African American) had a day one mean walk distance of 137.3 ± 78 m, day 2 of 170.9 ± 100 m, and day 3 of 180.8 ± 98 m. The 6MWT demonstrated good reproducibility, as the distance walked on the first 6MWT on Day 3 was similar to the distance on the repeated 6MWT the same day. Conclusions: Our pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of the 6MWT as a functional status endpoint in AHF patients. A larger study in a more demographically diverse cohort of patients is necessary to confirm its utility and association with 30-day heart failure (HF) events. Full article
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Strategic Behavior of Moralists and Altruists
by and
Games 2017, 8(3), 38; doi:10.3390/g8030038 (registering DOI) -
Abstract
Does altruism and morality lead to socially better outcomes in strategic interactions than selfishness? We shed some light on this complex and non-trivial issue by examining a few canonical strategic interactions played by egoists, altruists and moralists. By altruists, we mean people who
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Does altruism and morality lead to socially better outcomes in strategic interactions than selfishness? We shed some light on this complex and non-trivial issue by examining a few canonical strategic interactions played by egoists, altruists and moralists. By altruists, we mean people who do not only care about their own material payoffs but also about those to others, and, by a moralist, we mean someone who cares about own material payoff and also about what would be his or her material payoff if others were to act like himself or herself. It turns out that both altruism and morality may improve or worsen equilibrium outcomes, depending on the nature of the game. Not surprisingly, both altruism and morality improve the outcomes in standard public goods games. In infinitely repeated games, however, both altruism and morality may diminish the prospects of cooperation, and to different degrees. In coordination games, morality can eliminate socially inefficient equilibria while altruism cannot. Full article
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