bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Potential Moderators Associated with All-Cause Mortality in a Representative Sample of Spanish Older Adults
Authors: Olaya Beatriz , Essau Cecilia A. , Moneta Maria Victoria , Lara Elvira , Miret Marta , Martín-María Natalia , Moreno-Agostino Darío , Ayuso-Mateos José Luis , Abduljabbar Adel S. , Haro Josep Maria
Published: August 2019

This study sought to determine the association between levels of fruit and vegetable consumption and time to death, and to explore potential moderators. We analyzed a nationally-representative sample of 1699 older adults aged 65+ who were followed up for a period of 6 years. Participants were classified into low (≤3 servings day), medium (4), or high (≥5) consumption using tertiles. Unadjusted and adjusted cox proportional hazard regression models (by age, gender, cohabiting, education, multimorbidity, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and obesity) were calculated. The majority of participants (65.7%) did not meet the recommendation of five servings per day. High fruit and vegetable intake increased by 27% the probability of surviving among older adults with two chronic conditions, compared to those who consumed ≤3 servings per day (HR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.21–0.69). However, this beneficial effect was not found for people with none, one chronic condition or three or more, indicating that this protective effect might not be sufficient for more severe cases of multimorbidity. Given a common co-occurrence of two non-communicable diseases in the elderly and the low frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in this population, interventions to promote consuming five or more servings per day could have a significant positive impact on reducing mortality.
Everolimus Nanoformulation in Biological Nanoparticles Increases Drug Responsiveness in Resistant and Low-Responsive Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Bonizzi Arianna , Truffi Marta , Sevieri Marta , Allevi Raffaele , Sitia Leopoldo , Ottria Roberta , Sorrentino Luca , Sottani Cristina , Negri Sara , Grignani Elena , Mazzucchelli Serena , Corsi Fabio
Published: August 2019

Everolimus (Eve) is an FDA approved drug that inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). It is employed in breast cancer treatment even if its responsiveness is controversial. In an attempt to increase Eve effectiveness, we have developed a novel Eve nanoformulation exploiting H-ferritin nanocages (HEve) to improve its subcellular delivery. We took advantage of the natural tumor targeting of H-Ferritin, which is mediated by the transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1). Breast cancer cells overexpressing TfR-1 were successfully recognized by H-Ferritin, displaying quick nanocage internalization. HEve has been tested and compared to Eve for in vitro efficacy in sensitive and resistant breast cancer cells. Nanoformulated Eve induced remarkable antiproliferative activity in vitro, making even resistant cell lines sensitive to Eve. Moreover, the antiproliferative activity of HEve is fully in accordance with cytotoxicity observed by cell death assay. Furthermore, the significant increase in anticancer efficacy displayed in HEve-treated samples is due to the improved drug accumulation, as demonstrated by UHPLC-MS/MS quantifications. Our findings suggest that optimizing Eve subcellular delivery, thanks to nanoformulation, determines its improved antitumor activity in a panel of Eve-sensitive or resistant breast cancer cell lines.
Comparative Study on the Thermal-Aging Characteristics of Cellulose Insulation Polymer Immersed in New Three-Element Mixed Oil and Mineral Oil
Authors: Feng Dawei , Hao Jian , Liao Ruijin , Chen Xin , Cheng Lin , Liu Mengna
Published: August 2019

Cellulose paper, whose main component is cellulose polymer, has been widely used in oil-immersed power transformer that gradually deteriorates during transformer operation. Thermal aging is the main degradation form for cellulose paper immersed in insulation oil (oil–paper insulation) in a transformer. One of the most challenging issues in oil–paper insulation is inhibiting the aging of cellulose paper and extending its life. In this work, a comparative study was conducted on the thermal-aging characteristics of cellulose paper immersed in a novel three-element mixed insulation oil and mineral oil at 130 °C for 150 days. The key parameters of cellulose paper were analysed, including the degree of polymerization (DP), thermal-aging rate, surface colour, and AC breakdown voltage. The furfural content and acidity of the oil, as well as the AC breakdown voltage of the insulation oil were also analysed. The results show that the cellulose paper immersed in novel three-element mixed insulation oil had much higher DP values than that immersed in mineral oil after the same thermal-aging time. The mixed insulation oil could significantly inhibit the thermal aging of cellulose paper and prolong its life. The thermal-aging rate of the cellulose insulation polymer immersed in mixed insulation oil is significantly lower than that immersed in mineral oil, whether in the process of oil–paper insulation continuous aging or in the process of aging after oil replacement with unused insulation oil. The furfural generated by cellulose degradation in the novel three-element mixed insulation oil was also less than that in the mineral oil. The mixed insulation oil had a higher acidity value during the thermal-aging process, which was mainly due to the natural esters in the components of the mixed insulation oil. However, the AC breakdown voltage of the mixed insulation oil was always higher than that of the mineral oil. This study offers a new perspective in inhibiting the thermal aging of cellulose polymer in insulation oil.
Molecular Morphology and Viscoelasticity of ASP Solution under the Action of a Different Medium Injection Tool
Authors: Huang Bin , Hu Xinyu , Fu Cheng , Cheng Haoran , Wang Xin , Wang Li
Published: August 2019

In order to improve the oil displacement effect of alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) solution in low-permeability oil layers, Daqing Oilfield has proposed a separate injection technology. The objective of separate injection technology is to reduce the viscosity of ASP solution through a different medium injection tool and increase the injection amount of ASP solution in low permeability oil layer, thus improving the oil displacement effect. In order to study the effect of the different medium injection tool on ASP solution, SEM is used to observe the changes in molecular micromorphology before and after the ASP solution flows through the tool. Then, the influence of the tool on viscosity and the first normal stress difference of the solution are studied through static shear experiments. Finally, the storage and loss modulus of the solution are measured through dynamic mechanical experiments and the relaxation time and zero shear viscosity of the solution are verified and compared. The results show that molecular chains are obviously broken and the grid structure is destroyed after the ASP solution is acted on by the different medium injection tool. The viscosity and elasticity of ASP solution decrease, and the influence degree of the different medium injection tool on viscosity is greater than elasticity. The results of the steady shear experiment and dynamic mechanics experiment are consistent. Therefore, the different medium injection tool can achieve the purpose of use, which is conducive to the injection of displacement fluid into low-permeability oil layers and enhance the recovery ratio.
Role of Counterions and Nature of Spacer on Foaming Properties of Novel Polyoxyethylene Cationic Gemini Surfactants
Authors: Kalam Shams , Kamal Muhammad Shahzad , Patil Shirish , Hussain S. M. Shakil
Published: August 2019

Application of foam in various upstream operations, such as in enhanced oil recovery, has gained significant attention in recent years. A good foaming agent should generate a stable foam, must be thermally stable (>90 °C, typical reservoir temperature), must have a high tolerance to salinity, and should have low adsorption on the reservoir rock. In view of this, four thermally stable and salt-tolerant polyoxyethylene cationic gemini surfactants were synthesized with different spacers (mono phenyl and biphenyl) and different counterions (Br− and Cl−). Foaming properties were evaluated using initial foam generation, foam volume stability at a given time, bubble count, and average foam bubble radius. The effect of counterions and nature of spacers, with and without the presence of salts, on foaming properties was evaluated. It was found that number of phenyl rings (mono phenyl and biphenyl) had no significant effect on foamability and foam stability in the presence or absence of salts. However, the effect of counterions was prominent in deionized water. In deionized water, foam generated by gemini surfactants with bromide as a counterion was more stable compared to the foam generated using the surfactant containing chloride as the counterion. In saline solution, the type of counterion had no effect on the foamability or foam stability of the foam generated using synthesized cationic gemini surfactants. The foam volume stability decreased by the addition of salts; however, a further increase in salt concentration enhanced the foam volume stability. The synthesized surfactants showed good thermal stability, salt tolerance, and foaming properties and can be an attractive choice for upstream applications.
The Influence of Nitrogen Absorption on Microstructure, Properties and Cytotoxicity Assessment of 316L Stainless Steel Alloy Reinforced with Boron and Niobium
Authors: Ali Sadaqat , Abdul Rani Ahmad Majdi , Mufti Riaz Ahmad , Azam Farooq I. , Hastuty Sri , Baig Zeeshan , Hussain Murid , Shehzad Nasir
Published: August 2019

In the past, 316L stainless steel (SS) has been the material of choice for implant manufacturing. However, the leaching of nickel ions from the SS matrix limits its usefulness as an implant material. In this study, an efficient approach for controlling the leaching of ions and improving its properties is presented. The composition of SS was modified with the addition of boron and niobium, which was followed by sintering in nitrogen atmosphere for 8 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the formation of strong nitrides, indicating the diffusion of nitrogen into the SS matrix. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that a nitride layer was deposited on the sample surface, thereby helping to control the leaching of metal ions. The corrosion resistance of the alloy systems in artificial saliva solution indicated minimal weight loss, indicating improved corrosion resistance. The cytotoxicity assessment of the alloy system showed that the developed modified stainless steel alloys are compatible with living cells and can be used as implant materials.
Potential Densities for Taxed Spectrally Negative Lévy Risk Processes
Authors: Wang Wenyuan , Zhou Xiaowen
Published: August 2019

This paper revisits the spectrally negative Lévy risk process embedded with the general tax structure introduced in Kyprianou and Zhou (2009). A joint Laplace transform is found concerning the first down-crossing time below level 0. The potential density is also obtained for the taxed Lévy risk process killed upon leaving [ 0 , b ] . The results are expressed using scale functions.
Early Detection of Invasive Exotic Trees Using UAV and Manned Aircraft Multispectral and LiDAR Data
Authors: Dash Jonathan P. , Watt Michael S. , Paul Thomas S. H. , Morgenroth Justin , Pearse Grant D.
Published: August 2019

Exotic conifers can provide significant ecosystem services, but in some environments, they have become invasive and threaten indigenous ecosystems. In New Zealand, this phenomenon is of considerable concern as the area occupied by invasive exotic trees is large and increasing rapidly. Remote sensing methods offer a potential means of identifying and monitoring land infested by these trees, enabling managers to efficiently allocate resources for their control. In this study, we sought to develop methods for remote detection of exotic invasive trees, namely Pinus sylvestris and P. ponderosa. Critically, the study aimed to detect these species prior to the onset of maturity and coning as this is important for preventing further spread. In the study environment in New Zealand’s South Island, these species reach maturity and begin bearing cones at a young age. As such, detection of these smaller individuals requires specialist methods and very high-resolution remote sensing data. We examined the efficacy of classifiers developed using two machine learning algorithms with multispectral and laser scanning data collected from two platforms—manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The study focused on a localized conifer invasion originating from a multi-species pine shelter belt in a grassland environment. This environment provided a useful means of defining the detection thresholds of the methods and technologies employed. An extensive field dataset including over 17,000 trees (height range = 1 cm to 476 cm) was used as an independent validation dataset for the detection methods developed. We found that data from both platforms and using both logistic regression and random forests for classification provided highly accurate (kappa < 0.996 ) detection of invasive conifers. Our analysis showed that the data from both UAV and manned aircraft was useful for detecting trees down to 1 m in height and therefore shorter than 99.3% of the coning individuals in the study dataset. We also explored the relative contribution of both multispectral and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data in the detection of invasive trees through fitting classification models with different combinations of predictors and found that the most useful models included data from both sensors. However, the combination of ALS and multispectral data did not significantly improve classification accuracy. We believe that this was due to the simplistic vegetation and terrain structure in the study site that resulted in uncomplicated separability of invasive conifers from other vegetation. This study provides valuable new knowledge of the efficacy of detecting invasive conifers prior to the onset of coning using high-resolution data from UAV and manned aircraft. This will be an important tool in managing the spread of these important invasive plants.
Review on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Smart Homes
Authors: Guo Xiao , Shen Zhenjiang , Zhang Yajing , Wu Teng
Published: August 2019

Smart home and artificial intelligence technologies are developing rapidly, and various smart home products associated with artificial intelligence (AI) improved the quality of living for occupants. Although some studies discussed the application of artificial intelligence in smart homes, few publications fully considered the integration of literature and products. In this paper, we aim to answer the research questions of “what is the trend of smart home technology and products” and “what is the relationship between literature and products in smart homes with AI”. Literature reviews and product reviews are given to define the functions and roles of artificial intelligence in smart homes. We determined the application status of artificial intelligence in smart home products and how it is utilized in our house so that we could understand how artificial intelligence is used to make smart homes. Furthermore, our results revealed that there is a delay between literature and products, and smart home intelligent interactions will become more and more popular.
Agriculture Sprawl Assessment Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Images and Its Environmental Impact; Al-Jouf, KSA
Authors: Youssef Ahmed M. , Abu Abdullah Mazen M. , Pradhan Biswajeet , Gaber Ahmed F. D.
Published: August 2019

In this paper, multispectral and multi-temporal satellite data were used to assess the spatial and temporal evolution of the agriculture activities in the Al-Jouf region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In the current study, an attempt was made to map the agriculture sprawl from 1987 to 2017 using temporal Landsat images in a geographic information system (GIS) environment for better decision-making and sustainable agriculture expansion. Our findings indicated that the agriculture activities developed through two crucial stages: high and low rise stages. Low rise stages occurred during three sub-stages from April 1987 to April 1988, from September 1993 to August 1998, and from April 2008 to May 2015, with overall change rates of 37.9, 44.4, and 30.5 km2/year, respectively. High rise stages occurred during three sub-stages from April 1988 to February 1993, from September 2000 to March 2006, and from April 2016 to August 2017, with overall change rates of 132.4, 159.1, and 119.5 km2/year, respectively. Different environmental problems due to uncontrolled agriculture activities were observed in the area, including substantial depletion of the groundwater table. Another environmental impact observed was the appearance of sinkholes that occurred suddenly with no warning signs. These environmental impacts will increase in the future if no regulated restrictions are implemented by decision-makers.
The Value of El Niño-Southern Oscillation Forecasts to China’s Agriculture
Authors: Li Yaling , Yi Fujin , Wang Yanjun , Gudaj Richard
Published: August 2019

This study aims to estimate the value of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecasting to China’s agricultural sector. This study applies the Weibull distribution to model crop yields under different ENSO phases. Under the framework of Bayesian decision theory, this research pioneers the application of China’s Agricultural Sector Model to translate the yield effects resulting from ENSO variations into economic effects. Results show that ENSO exerts noticeable and heterogeneous effects on crop yields over selected crops across different regions. In addition, ENSO forecasting is useful for farmers’ cropping decisions and positively impacts economic surplus. The findings present that the value of this information is generally positive and rises with improved forecast accuracy, with the value of perfect forecasting estimated to be as substantial as CNY 3168 million. However, the value of ENSO forecasting is relatively small in the context of China’s tremendous agricultural output. This study is the first to evaluate the value of ENSO forecasting to China’s agriculture sector and has critical implications for the promotion of a Chinese ENSO forecast system.
Study on the Sustainable Development of Human Settlement Space Environment in Traditional Villages
Authors: Wang Hai-fan , Chiou Shang-chia
Published: August 2019

The sustainability of the human settlement space environment is an eternal subject of human exploration. There hides the idea of human settlement space in an externally displayed material environment. This paper takes Dai villages in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan as the research object. Dai villages are the place where the ancestors of Dai people live, produce, and collectively construct human settlement, production, and spirit. Taking field investigation data and maps of Dai settlement areas as data sources, this paper explores Dai people’s view of human settlement space, analyzes the spatial cultural connotation of Dai villages, and the concept of sustainable human settlements ecology through the analysis of the factors of the villages’ spatial form. The survey results are as follows: (1) the villages are usually located at river valleys and basin areas, which are characteristic of facing the sun and near the water, embodying the persevering ecological concept of “adapting to local conditions and coexisting with nature”. (2) Dai people are one of the earliest “rice-growing nationalities”. Dai people’s settlements have formed a sustainable human settlement ecological space and the spatial pattern of “water-forest-field-village” is an organic whole. (3) The combination of Dai’s primitive religious ecology and Southern Buddhist culture has formed the characteristic of “advocating nature and Buddhism” and a unique concept of settlement space.
Challenges in the Conservation of an Over-Harvested Plant Species with High Socioeconomic Values
Authors: Chen Yan , Liu Hong , Heinen Joel
Published: August 2019

Overexploitation to meet commercial demands has threatened the existence of many species. In theory, one can adopt a portfolio of policies and measures from both the supply (i.e., encourage cultivation while punishing poaching) and demand (i.e., education of consumers) sides to achieve sustainable use. Here we examine the effects of governmental policies and measures towards the utilization of Aquilaria sinensis, a threatened species with high cultural and economic values. We found that, despite national protected status and a suite of government initiatives and granted projects to implement cultivation of the species, poaching persisted and even intensified. From the consumer side, current cultural education related to the species was not coupled with equally strong conservation education, which might have inadvertently reinforced the notion that wild-sourced materials are better, and facilitated a luxury goods-like market for wild products. It appeared that the current government portfolio of initiatives was highly skewed towards utilization, and therefore not effective for promoting the long term ecological persistence of the species. This finding is likely not unique to A. sinensis, nor limited to China. A more balanced portfolio of government initiatives to include stronger and more direct conservation measures towards highly exploited species is needed to achieve sustainable use of this species and related species.
Rapid Retrofit of Reinforced Concrete Frames after Progressive Collapse to Increase Sustainability
Authors: Li Shuang , Shan Sidi , Zhang Haiyu , Li Yi
Published: August 2019

A structural progressive collapse is usually a local failure, in which the damage is concentrated at beams that bridge the removal column and the column itself. In many cases, retrofitting the damaged structure is more economical and more sustainable than reconstructing the entire structure. A progressive collapse test of a 1/3 scale, four-bay by two-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame was conducted, after which the structure was retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) wraps and retested. The center column in the first story was removed and the frame was pushed down quasistatically under displacement control to investigate the progressive collapse performances of the retrofitted RC frame. The test results were represented systematically at different areas in terms of the resistance forces, crack developments, and local and global failure modes. Numerical models were built to verify the test frame before and after the retrofitting. A design method was proposed to retrofit an RC frame using CFRP wraps after a progressive collapse. The test frame was redesigned to improve the retrofitting and used as an example to demonstrate the rationality of the proposed retrofit design method. The results indicated that the proposed retrofitting technology rapidly restored the frame structure to its original capacity before the progressive collapse occurred, whilst consistently satisfying the priorities of being economical and sustainable.
Extended Convergence Analysis of the Newton–Hermitian and Skew–Hermitian Splitting Method
Authors: Argyros Ioannis K , George Santhosh , Godavarma Chandhini , Magreñán Alberto A
Published: August 2019

Many problems in diverse disciplines such as applied mathematics, mathematical biology, chemistry, economics, and engineering, to mention a few, reduce to solving a nonlinear equation or a system of nonlinear equations. Then various iterative methods are considered to generate a sequence of approximations converging to a solution of such problems. The goal of this article is two-fold: On the one hand, we present a correct convergence criterion for Newton–Hermitian splitting (NHSS) method under the Kantorovich theory, since the criterion given in Numer. Linear Algebra Appl., 2011, 18, 299–315 is not correct. Indeed, the radius of convergence cannot be defined under the given criterion, since the discriminant of the quadratic polynomial from which this radius is derived is negative (See Remark 1 and the conclusions of the present article for more details). On the other hand, we have extended the corrected convergence criterion using our idea of recurrent functions. Numerical examples involving convection–diffusion equations further validate the theoretical results.
Recombinant BCG Expressing HTI Prime and Recombinant ChAdOx1 Boost Is Safe and Elicits HIV-1-Specific T-Cell Responses in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Kilpeläinen Athina , Saubi Narcís , Guitart Núria , Olvera Alex , Hanke Tomáš , Brander Christian , Joseph Joan
Published: August 2019

Despite the availability of anti-retroviral therapy, HIV-1 infection remains a massive burden on healthcare systems. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis, confers protection against meningitis and miliary tuberculosis in infants. Recombinant BCG has been used as a vaccine vehicle to express both HIV-1 and Simian Immunodeficiemcy Virus (SIV) immunogens. In this study, we constructed an integrative E. coli-mycobacterial shuttle plasmid, p2auxo.HTI.int, expressing the HIVACAT T-cell immunogen (HTI). The plasmid was transformed into a lysine auxotrophic Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain (BCGΔLys) to generate the vaccine BCG.HTI2auxo.int. The DNA sequence coding for the HTI immunogen and HTI protein expression were confirmed, and working vaccine stocks were genetically and phenotypically characterized. We demonstrated that the vaccine was stable in vitro for 35 bacterial generations, and that when delivered in combination with chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAd)Ox1.HTI in adult BALB/c mice, it was well tolerated and induced HIV-1-specific T-cell responses. Specifically, priming with BCG.HTI2auxo.int doubled the magnitude of the T-cell response in comparison with ChAdOx1.HTI alone while maintaining its breadth. The use of integrative expression vectors and novel HIV-1 immunogens can aid in improving mycobacterial vaccine stability as well as specific immunogenicity. This vaccine candidate may be a useful tool in the development of an effective vaccine platform for priming protective responses against HIV-1/TB and other prevalent pediatric pathogens.
Immunogenicity and Efficacy Evaluation of Subunit Astrovirus Vaccines
Authors: Bidokhti Mehdi R.M. , Ullman Karin , Hammer Anne Sofie , Jensen Trine Hammer , Chriél Mariann , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Baule Claudia
Published: August 2019

A full understanding of the immune response to astrovirus (AstV) infection is required to treat and control AstV-induced gastroenteritis. Relative contributions of each arm of the immune system in restricting AstV infection remain unknown. In this study, two novel subunit AstV vaccines derived from capsid protein (CP) of mink AstV (MAstV) such as CPΔN (spanning amino acids 161–775) and CPΔC (spanning amino acids 1–621) were evaluated. Their immunogenicity and cytokine production in mice, as well as protective efficacy in mink litters via maternal immunization, were studied. Truncated CPs induced higher levels of serum anti-CP antibodies than CP, with the highest level for CPΔN. No seronegativity was detected after booster immunization with either AstV CP truncates in both mice and mink. All mink moms stayed seropositive during the entire 104-day study. Furthermore, lymphoproliferation responses and Th1/Th2 cytokine induction of mice splenocytes ex vivo re-stimulated by truncated CPs were significantly higher than those by CP, with the highest level for CPΔN. Immunization of mink moms with truncated CPs could suppress virus shedding and clinical signs in their litters during a 51-day study after challenge with a heterogeneous MAstV strain. Collectively, AstV truncated CPs exhibit better parameters for protection than full-length CP.
Proteomic Analysis of Antigen 60 Complex of M. bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Reveals Presence of Extracellular Vesicle Proteins and Predicted Functional Interactions
Authors: Mohd Hanafiah Khayriyyah , Arifin Norsyahida , Sanders Paul R. , Othman Nurulhasanah , Garcia Mary L. , Anderson David A.
Published: August 2019

Tuberculosis (TB) is ranked among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. New biomarker-based serodiagnostics and vaccines are unmet needs stalling disease control. Antigen 60 (A60) is a thermostable mycobacterial complex typically purified from Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. A60 was historically evaluated for TB serodiagnostic and vaccine potential with variable findings. Despite containing immunogenic proteins, A60 has yet to be proteomically characterized. Here, commercial A60 was (1) trypsin-digested in-solution, analyzed by LC-MS/MS, searched against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M.bovis BCG Uniprot databases; (2) analyzed using STRING to predict protein–protein interactions; and (3) probed with anti-TB monoclonal antibodies and patient immunoglobulin G (IgG) on Western blot to evaluate antigenicity. We detected 778 proteins in two A60 samples (440 proteins shared), including DnaK, LprG, LpqH, and GroEL1/2, reportedly present in mycobacterial extracellular vesicles (EV). Of these, 107 were also reported in EVs of M. tuberculosis, and 27 key proteins had significant protein–protein interaction, with clustering for chaperonins, ribosomal proteins, and proteins for ligand transport (LpqH and LprG). On Western blot, 7/8 TB and 1/8 non-TB sera samples had reactivity against 37–50 kDa proteins, while LpqH, GroEL2, and PstS1 were strongly detected. In conclusion, A60 comprises numerous proteins, including EV proteins, with predicted biological interactions, which may have implications on biomarker and vaccine development.
Hotel Water Demand: The Impact of Changing from Linear to Increasing Block Rates
Authors: Deyà-Tortella Bartolomé , Garcia Celso , Nilsson William , Tirado Dolores
Published: August 2019

Water is a key aspect for any tourist destination. The pressure of tourism on water resources, and specifically by the hotel sector on islands and coastal areas, threatens the sustainability of the resource and, ultimately, of the destination. Several international organizations propose price policy as an instrument to promote efficiency and penalize excessive water consumption. This study analyzes the short-term effectiveness of a water tariff reform, implemented by the regional government of the Balearic Islands in 2013, on hotel water consumption. The change consists in moving from a linear to an increasing block rate system. The study applies quantile regression with within-artificial blocks transformation on panel data for the period 2011–2015. The results conclude that the reform was not effective as a means to reduce the levels of water consumption. The disproportionate fixed component of the water tariff and the oversized initial block of the sanitation fee can explain the ineffectiveness of the reform.
Groundwater as a Source of Drinking Water in Southeast Asia and the Pacific: A Multi-Country Review of Current Reliance and Resource Concerns
Authors: Carrard Naomi , Foster Tim , Willetts Juliet
Published: August 2019

Groundwater is widely acknowledged to be an important source of drinking water in low-income regions, and it, therefore, plays a critical role in the realization of the human right to water. However, the proportion of households using groundwater compared with other sources is rarely quantified, with national and global datasets more focused on facilities—rather than resources—used. This is a significant gap in knowledge, particularly in light of efforts to expand water services in line with the inclusive and integrated agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding the prevalence of groundwater reliance for drinking is critical for those involved in water services planning and management, so they can better monitor and advocate for management of water resources that supports sustainable services for households. This paper contributes data that can be used to strengthen the integration of resource considerations within water service delivery and inform the work of development partners supporting this area. We approach this issue from two perspectives. Firstly, we collate data on the proportion of households using groundwater as their primary drinking water source for 10 Southeast Asian and Pacific nations, finding an average of 66% (range of 17–93% for individual countries) of households in urban areas and 60% (range of 22–95%) of households in rural areas rely on groundwater for drinking. Together, these constitute 79% of the total population across the case study countries. Secondly, we review current and emerging groundwater resource concerns within each country, using a systems thinking approach to assess how groundwater resource issues influence household water services. Findings support the case for governments and development agencies to strengthen engagement with groundwater resource management as foundational for achieving sustainable water services for all.
The River Chief System and River Pollution Control in China: A Case Study of Foshan
Authors: Liu Hui , Chen Yongqin David , Liu Tao , Lin Lu
Published: August 2019

The river chief system (RCS) has been innovatively implemented in Wuxi, China since 2007 for the eutrophication control of Tai Lake. In 2016, RCS was eventually promoted throughout China to reinforce river and lake protection. The success of this new river management system is generally attributed to collaboration, accountability, and differentiation effects. This research takes Foshan in the Pearl River Delta region as a case study to examine the feasibility and weaknesses in the implementation of the RCS. Prior to the formal adoption of RCS, a coordinating organization for river improvement undertaking was established in Foshan to overcome fragmentation in water management. Compared with this practice, the new RCS can strengthen the collaboration of administrative authorities and establish a considerably sophisticated and effective management structure. Emphasis on evaluation and accountability mechanisms guarantees that management goals can be achieved. However, similar to the previous one, the new system remains a temporary management practice and its outcomes depend partially on the commitment and capability of each river chief. The imperfect evaluation and accountability mechanism also weaken its long-term effectiveness in improving river water quality. Therefore, some corresponding policy instruments are needed to ensure that RCS can be implemented smoothly.
Bonds, Battles and Social Capital: Power and the Mediation of Water Insecurity in Peri-Urban Gurgaon, India
Authors: Narain Vishal , Vij Sumit , Dewan Aman
Published: August 2019

This article describes the role of social capital and power as a significant underlying factor influencing water security in peri-urban Gurgaon. The article shows how differential access to social capital shapes differential access to water. In peri-urban contexts, communities that lack access to water mobilise their social capital to enhance their water security. We use the concepts of power and social capital to explain how the actors interact in peri-urban Gurgaon, paying attention to which social groups are powerful and how the powerless use social capital to adapt to changing resource access and usage. We conclude by drawing theoretical- and policy-relevant insights from the field.
Correction: Wang, X., et al. Effects of Human Activities on Hydrological Components in the Yiluo River Basin in Middle Yellow River. Water, 2019, 11, 689
Authors: Wang Xiujie , Zhang Pengfei , Liu Lüliu , Li Dandan , Wang Yanpeng
Published: August 2019

In the published article [1], the authors noticed some errors in Equation (1), and wish to make the following correction to their paper [1]: Equation (1) should be corrected to S W t = S W 0 + ∑ i = 1 t ( R d a y − Q s u r f − E T − W s e e p − Q g w ) [...]
El significado del paro universitario - caso Universidad Central de Venezuela
Authors: París Lara Luisa Margarita
Published: August 2019

Este trabajo se orientó en abordar el significado del paro universitario como acción por parte de algunos integrantes de la comunidad ucevista, paraalcanzar sus reivindicaciones salariales. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comprender el significado del paro, que tienen integrantes de esta institucióneducativa (profesores, estudiantes, obreros y empleados administrativos). Se utilizaron dos enfoques teóricos: el interaccionismo simbólico y la teoría crítica. El trabajo fue de corte cualitativo. Se aplicaron entrevistas en profundidad a miembros de las Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas y de la Facultad de Humanidades y Educación de la Universidad Central de Venezuela. Para el procesamiento, análisis e interpretación de los datos se utilizó el análisis de contenido. Como resultado los informantes revelaron no estar muy a favor del paro, pero a su vez consideran que este permite logros reivindicativos en lo salarial.
DESIGNING THE SLOVAK MATRIX SENTENCE TEST
Authors: Panocová Renáta , Gregová Renáta
Published: August 2019

This paper presents partial results of a larger-scale project of designing the matrix sentence test for Slovak. The main aim is presentation and detailed discussion of linguistic aspects of Slovak matrix sentence test. First, morphosyntactic criteria are outlined. These are followed by description of problematic issues and the solutions proposed. Second, phonological criteria are given and discussed. In the next step, the matrix test will be optimized and evaluated in order to measure speech intelligibility function and to establish the correct reference data for listeners with normal hearing.
Use of Herbal Preparations in Dry Cow Management against Sub Clinical Mastitis - An Alternative Approach
Authors: Bhakat Champak
Published: August 2019

Sub clinical mastitis is the most prevalent disease in the dairy cows due to managemental problem whichcauses huge economic losses to the farmers. Animals are susceptible to new intramammary infections bothat the beginning and end of dry period. Dry cow management is an important tool to control sub clinicalmastitis. Managing dry cows by use of an antibiotics causes a detrimental effect on both human and animalhealth. So, at present herbs are gaining importance for treating the cow against mastitis. Use of herbalpreparations by intramammary route, teat sealants either internally or externally or combination therapycan help in the reduction of new intramammary infections as well as cure existing infection from the udderof cow. Hence, use of herbal preparations to control sub clinical mastitis in dairy cow can be an innovativeand alternative approach in cattle health care practices.
Filtering Sinyal Menggunakan Band Pass Filter
Authors: Novira Ayu
Published: August 2019

Sound is a signal or wave that propagates with a certain frequency and amplitude through intermediary media that are delivered such as water, air and solid objects. Humans can communicate with other humans with sound. But the sound that is released by humans, musical instruments, or other objects does not always sound clear and good, some of the recorded sound has a lot of noise which makes the sound quality is disturbed and not good. The solution for making sound in an object better and cleaner is filtering. [2]. Filters can be interpreted as a circuit that passes a certain frequency band desired and dampens other frequency bands. Filters are divided into two types, namely analog filters and digital filters. According to the impulse response the digital filter is divided into two, namely the Infinite Impulse Filter (IIR) filter and the Finite Impulse Filter (FIR) filter. In this study a filtering process will be carried out on the sound of the guitar. The filter used is the Band Pass Filter, a filter that can be used to isolate or filter certain frequencies in a particular band or frequency range.
KETAHANAN PANGAN TINGKAT RUMAH TANGGA, ASUPAN PROTEIN DAN KEJADIAN STUNTING PADA ANAK BALITA DI DESA PLANJAN KECAMATAN SAPTOSARI GUNUNG KIDUL
Authors: Septriana Delima Citra Dewi Gunawan,
Published: August 2019

Latar Belakang : Stunting merupakan kondisi kronis yang menggambarkan terhambatnya  pertumbuhan karena malnutrisi jangka panjang. Berdasarkan Riset Kesehatan Dasar tahun 2010, prevalensi stunting di Indonesia tahun  2010 sebesar 35,6%, sebagian besar terjadi pada anak usia 2 - 3 tahun yaitu 41,4%. Secara umum penyebab utama stunting adalah asupan gizi yang tidak mencukupi, dan penyakit infeksi. Ketahanan pangan tingkat rumah tangga diduga secara tidak langsung mempengaruhi kejadian stunting. Tujuan :.Mengetahui hubungan antara ketahanan pangan tingkat rumah tangga dan asupan protein terhadap kejadian stunting pada anak balita di Desa Planjan Kecamatan Saptosari Gunung Kidul. Metode Penelitian : Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian observasional dengan  rancangan cross sectional. Penelitian dilakukan di Desa Planjan Kecamatan Saptosari Gunungkidul pada bulan Juni-September 2017. Sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 73 balita. Hasil : Karakteristik responden dibagi menjadi jenis kelamin dan usia balita. Jenis kelamin laki-laki sebanyak 41% sedangkan perempuan 59%. Usia balita mayoritas diatas 25 bulan yaitu sebesar 57%. Jumlah balita stunting yaitu 27,4% pada laki-laki, dan38,3% pada perempuan. Keluarga yang memiliki kategori tahan pangan hanya 13,7% selebihnya berada dalam kategori ketidaktahanan pangan tingkat ringan hingga berat. Asupan protein 54,8% berada dalam kategori kurang. Hubungan ketahanan pangan dengan kejadian stunting memiliki p-value sebesar 0,258, sedangkan hubungan antara asupan protein dengan kejadian stunting memiliki p-value sebesar 0,009.Kesimpulan : Tidak ada hubungan antara ketahanan pangan tingkat rumah tangga terhadap kejadian stuting pada balita. Ada hubungan antara asupan protein terhadap kejadian stunting pada balita.Kata Kunci : ketahanan pangan, asupan protein, balita stunting
Perbandingan Uji Efektivitas Infusa Rebusan Akar Bayam Duri (Amaranthus spinosus L) Dan Uji Efektivitas Infusa Akar Kecapi (Sandoricum koetjape) Terhadap Mencit Jantan (Mus Mucsulus) Sebagai Obat Anti Diare
Authors: Hamdan Dian Furqani
Published: August 2019

Telah dilakukan penelitian mengenai Perbandingan Uji Efektivitas Infusa Rebusan Akar Bayam Duri (Amaranthus spinosus L) dan Uji Efektivitas Infusa Akar Kecapi (Sandoricum koetjape) Terhadap Mencit Jantan (Mus mucsulus Sebagai Obat Anti Diare. Penggunaan obat tradisional dengan ekstrak tumbuhan sebagai obat penanganan pertama terhadap penyakit diare telah lama digunakan oleh leluhur kita, dengan kemajuan teknologi, ilmu semakin berkembang dan manusia mulai memikirkan dapak jangka panjang dari mengkonsumsi obat, sehingga penelitian ini bertujuan membuktikan secara ilmiah penggunaan obat tradisonal seperti akar bayam duri dan akar kecapi terbukti efektif sebagai obat anti diare yang dapat digunakan masayarakat bila sewaktu-waktu mengalami penyakit diare, dimana alat dan bahannya sangat murah dan mudah ditemukan dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk tingkat efektifitas dari keua bahan ini ternyata tidak terlalu menampakkan perbedaan yang signifikan.
Stellar Flybys Interrupting Planet–Planet Scattering Generates Oort Planets
Authors: Bailey Nora , Fabrycky Daniel
Published: August 2019

Wide-orbit exoplanets are starting to be detected, and planetary formation models are under development to understand their properties. We propose a population of “Oort” planets around other stars, forming by means of a mechanism analogous to how the solar system’s Oort cloud of comets was populated. Gravitational scattering among planets is inferred from the eccentricity distribution of gas giant exoplanets measured by the Doppler technique. This scattering is thought to commence while the protoplanetary disk is dissipating, 106–107 yr after formation of the star, or perhaps soon thereafter, when the majority of stars are expected to be part of a natal cluster. Previous calculations of planet–planet scattering around isolated stars have one or more planets spending 104–107 yr at distances >100 au before ultimately being ejected. During that time, a close flyby of another star in the cluster may dynamically lift the periastron of the planet, ending further scattering with the inner planets. We present numerical simulations demonstrating this mechanism as well as an analysis of the efficiency. We estimate an occurrence of planets between 100 and 5000 au by this mechanism to be <1% for gas giants and up to a few percent for Neptunes and super-Earths.
Machine-learning Regression of Stellar Effective Temperatures in the Second Gaia Data Release
Authors: Bai Yu , Liu JiFeng , Bai ZhongRui , Wang Song , Fan DongWei
Published: August 2019

This paper reports on the application of the supervised machine-learning algorithm to the stellar effective temperature regression for the second Gaia data release, based on the combination of the stars in four spectroscopic surveys: the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration, the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment, and the Radial Velocity Extension. This combination, of about four million stars, enables us to construct one of the largest training samples for the regression and further predict reliable stellar temperatures with a rms error of 191 K. This result is more precise than that given by the Gaia second data release that is based on about sixty thousands stars. After a series of data cleaning processes, the input features that feed the regressor are carefully selected from the Gaia parameters, including the colors, the 3D position, and the proper motion. These Gaia parameters are used to predict effective temperatures for 132,739,323 valid stars in the second Gaia data release. We also present a new method for blind tests and a test for external regression without additional data. The machine-learning algorithm fed with the parameters only in one catalog provides us with an effective approach to maximize the sample size for prediction, and this methodology has a wide application prospect in future studies of astrophysics.
Sous le signe de Pasteur : Édouard Fuster, ou la démocratie selon la science
Authors: Murard Lion , Zylberman Patrick
Published: August 2019

Réhabiliter le faubourg ouvrier, ce “milieu anti-biologique”, tel fut l’un des problèmes brûlants qui ont occupé la carrière d’Édouard Fuster. Ni socialiste ni même véritablement libérale, son approche à lui était toute entière déterminée par la science pasteurienne mais aussi par un profond souci spirituel, un christianisme pratique, véritable fil conducteur de sa philosophie sociale, bien dans la ligne de l’École leplaysienne. Nommé secrétaire général de l’Alliance d’hygiène sociale en 1903, il donne ses impulsions décisives à la mutualité française. C’est là qu’il scrute l’habitat et l’alimentation populaires, la vie des femmes du peuple et singulièrement des mères, les ravages de la tuberculose. Comparée à la protection sanitaire des quartiers ouvriers de New York, comparée surtout à l’hygiène sociale allemande, la France fait mauvaise figure. La famille populaire française est à réinventer, mais à réinventer par le médecin. Rééduquer, prévenir, c’est ce que Fuster s’efforcera de réaliser à Plaisance, Paris, dans le cadre de l’Institut Lannelongue de Vanves.