bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges Facing the Detection of Colonic Polyps: What Can Deep Learning Do?
Authors: Azer Samy A
Published: August 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality in the world. The incidence is related to increases with age and western dietary habits. Early detection through screening by colonoscopy has been proven to effectively reduce disease-related mortality. Currently, it is generally accepted that most colorectal cancers originate from adenomas. This is known as the “adenoma–carcinoma sequence”, and several studies have shown that early detection and removal of adenomas can effectively prevent the development of colorectal cancer. The other two pathways for CRC development are the Lynch syndrome pathway and the sessile serrated pathway. The adenoma detection rate is an established indicator of a colonoscopy’s quality. A 1% increase in the adenoma detection rate has been associated with a 3% decrease in interval CRC incidence. However, several factors may affect the adenoma detection rate during a colonoscopy, and techniques to address these factors have been thoroughly discussed in the literature. Interestingly, despite the use of these techniques in colonoscopy training programs and the introduction of quality measures in colonoscopy, the adenoma detection rate varies widely. Considering these limitations, initiatives that use deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to detect cancerous lesions and colonic polyps have been introduced. The CNN architecture seems to offer several advantages in this field, including polyp classification, detection, and segmentation, polyp tracking, and an increase in the rate of accurate diagnosis. Given the challenges in the detection of colon cancer affecting the ascending (proximal) colon, which is more common in women aged over 65 years old and is responsible for the higher mortality of these patients, one of the questions that remains to be answered is whether CNNs can help to maximize the CRC detection rate in proximal versus distal colon in relation to a gender distribution. This review discusses the current challenges facing CRC screening and training programs, quality measures in colonoscopy, and the role of CNNs in increasing the detection rate of colonic polyps and early cancerous lesions.
Adjuvant Strategies for More Effective Tuberculosis Vaccine Immunity
Authors: Stewart Erica , Triccas James A , Petrovsky Nikolai
Published: August 2019

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection is responsible for the most deaths by a single infectious agent worldwide, with 1.6 million deaths in 2017 alone. The World Health Organization, through its “End TB” strategy, aims to reduce TB deaths by 95% by 2035. In order to reach this goal, a more effective vaccine than the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine currently in use is needed. Subunit TB vaccines are ideal candidates, because they can be used as booster vaccinations for individuals who have already received BCG and would also be safer for use in immunocompromised individuals in whom BCG is contraindicated. However, subunit TB vaccines will almost certainly require formulation with a potent adjuvant. As the correlates of vaccine protection against TB are currently unclear, there are a variety of adjuvants currently being used in TB vaccines in preclinical and clinical development. This review describes the various adjuvants in use in TB vaccines, their effectiveness, and their proposed mechanisms of action. Notably, adjuvants with less inflammatory and reactogenic profiles that can be administered safely via mucosal routes, may have the biggest impact on future directions in TB vaccine design.
Characterization of Phenolic Compounds and Antiproliferative Effects of Salvia pomifera and Salvia fruticosa Extracts
Authors: Koutsoulas Antonios , Čarnecká Martina , Slanina Jiří , Tóth Jaroslav , Slaninová Iva
Published: August 2019

The phenolic compounds of methanolic extracts of Salvia pomifera and Salvia fruticosa were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Carnosic acid and its metabolite carnosol were the most abundant terpene phenolic compounds of S. fruticosa, while they were completely absent in S. pomifera. The main terpene phenolic constituent of S. pomifera was 12-O-methylcarnosic acid and its mass/mass fragmentation pathway was explained. The detailed mechanism of carnosic acid oxidation to carnosol was suggested. The effects of Salvia extracts and/or carnosic acid, the main diterpene phenolic component of S. fruticosa, on the proliferation and cell cycle of two melanoma cell lines (A375, Mel JuSo) and human fibroblast cell line (HFF) were investigated by MTT assay, PI-exclusion assay and flow cytometry cell cycle analysis. Extract of S. fruticosa more efficiently than S. pomifera extract reduced the proliferation of the human melanoma cells. Carnosic acid showed the most significant effect. The first evidence that carnosic acid affects microtubule dynamics and arrests the cell cycle in the G2/M phase was provided. Collectively, our results demonstrate that these two Salvia species are plants of medicinal interest with perspective for further investigation. Carnosic acid could be the compound responsible for the biological activities of S. fruticosa extracts.
Extraction, Purification, and Biological Activities of Polysaccharides from Branches and Leaves of Taxus cuspidata S. et Z.
Authors: Jiang Ping , Zhang Qian , Zhao Yajie , Xiong Jia , Wang Fei , Zhang Ting , Zhang Chenmeng
Published: August 2019

Taxus cuspidata S. et Z. is an excellent natural source of bioactive polysaccharides and has various biological activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of antidiabetic and antitumor activities of polysaccharides from Taxus cuspidata branches and leaves (TCBL) and to determine the optimum extraction technology of TCBL using a low-temperature and high-efficiency enzyme and ultrasound-assisted coupled extraction (EUCE) method. Optimal technology parameters were determined as follows: an extraction temperature of 51 °C, an extraction time of 33 min, a ratio of material to liquid of 1:19 (g:mL), and an enzyme concentration of 0.10 mg·mL−1. Under the optimized conditions, the polysaccharide yield from TCBL obtained by EUCE was 4.78% ± 0.18%. The four purified polysaccharides (Pe1, Pe2, Pe3, Pe4) from TCBL are mainly composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, a small amount of xylose, and mannose. This composition was assessed by HPIC analysis. The antidiabetic activity and antitumor activity of polysaccharides from TCBL were assayed in vitro. Among the four purified polysaccharides from TCBL, purified Pe4 had the highest inhibitory capacity against α-glucosidase, and its IC50 value was 123.0 µg·mL−1. Pe1 had the highest antitumor capacity against MCF7 cells and HepG2 cells, with IC50 values of 169.0 and 132.0 µg·mL−1. Pe4 had the highest antitumor effect on human cervical cancer cells (Hela), and its IC50 value was 89.9 µg·mL−1. Pe4 polysaccharide demonstrated a good α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and antitumor capacity against Hela cells. Therefore, Pe4 polysaccharide from TCBL is a beneficial source of potential inhibitors of type II diabetes and human cervical cancer activity.
Night Blindness in Cystic Fibrosis: The Key Role of Vitamin A in the Digestive System
Authors: Norsa Lorenzo , Zazzeron Laura , Cuomo Marialaura , Claut Laura , Bulfamante Anna Marta Clotilde , Biffi Arianna , Colombo Carla
Published: August 2019

Vitamin A is a fundamental micronutrient that regulates various cellular patterns. Vitamin A deficiency (VAT) is a worldwide problem and the primary cause of nocturnal blindness especially in low income countries. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a known risk factor of VAD because of liposoluble vitamin malabsorption due to pancreatic insufficiency. We describe a case of a 9-year-old girl who experienced recurrent episodes of nocturnal blindness due to profound VAD. This little girl is paradigmatic for the explanation of the key role of the gut–liver axis in vitamin A metabolism. She presents with meconium ileus at birth, requiring intestinal resection that led to a transient intestinal failure with parenteral nutrition need. In addition, she suffered from cholestatic liver disease due to CF and intestinal failure-associated liver disease. The interaction of pancreatic function, intestinal absorption and liver storage is fundamental for the correct metabolism of vitamin A.
Surface Engineering of Fluoropolymer Films via the Attachment of Crown Ether Derivatives Based on the Combination of Radiation-Induced Graft Polymerization and the Kabachnik–Fields Reaction
Authors: Omichi Masaaki , Yamashita Shuhei , Okura Yamato , Ikutomo Ryuta , Ueki Yuji , Seko Noriaki , Kakuchi Ryohei
Published: August 2019

In this manuscript, we present the successful attachment of crown ether moieties onto fluoropolymer surfaces, via the combination of radiation-induced graft polymerization and a subsequent surface Kabachnik–Fields three-component reaction. The obtained crown ether-tethered fluoropolymer films exhibited an ammonium cation capturing ability, owing to the host–guest interactions (i.e., hydrogen bonding) between the surface-anchored crown ethers and the guest ammonium cations.
Synthesis of Highly Thermally Stable Daidzein-Based Main-Chain-Type Benzoxazine Resins
Authors: Han Mengchao , You Sijia , Wang Yuting , Zhang Kan , Yang Shengfu
Published: August 2019

In recent years, main-chain-type benzoxazine resins have been extensively investigated due to their excellent comprehensive properties for many potential applications. In this work, two new types of main-chain benzoxazine polymers were synthesized from daidzein, aromatic/aliphatic diamine, and paraformaldehyde. Unlike the approaches used synthesizing traditional main-chain-type benzoxazine polymers, the precursors derived from daidzein can undergo a further cross-linking polymerization in addition to the ring-opening polymerization of the oxazine ring. The structures of the new polymers were then studied by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the molecular weights were determined by using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). We also monitored the polymerization process by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and in situ FT-IR. In addition, the thermal stability and flame-retardant properties of the resulting polybenzoxazines were investigated using TGA and microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC). The polybenzoxazines obtained in this study exhibited a very high thermal stability and low flammability, with a Tg value greater than 400 °C, and a heat release capacity (HRC) value lower than 30 J/(g K).
A Bayesian Hydrometeor Classification Algorithm for C-Band Polarimetric Radar
Authors: Yang Ji , Zhao Kun , Zhang Guifu , Chen Gang , Huang Hao , Chen Haonan
Published: August 2019

A hydrometeor classification algorithm is developed by applying Bayes’ theorem to C-band polarimetric weather radar measurements. The Bayesian hydrometeor classification algorithm (BHCA) includes eight hydrometeor types: hail, rain, graupel, dry snow, wet snow, crystal, biological scatterers (BS) and ground clutter (GC). The conditional likelihood probability distribution functions (PDFs) for each hydrometeor type are constructed with training data from radar observations. The prior PDFs include not only temperature information but also background information about occurrence frequency of hydrometeor types at each altitude, which is incorporated by a hydrometeor classification algorithm for the first time. The BHCA is evaluated by comparing with the Marzano-Bayesian hydrometeor classification algorithm (MBHC) and NCAR fuzzy logic classifier (NFLC). Results show that wet snow is largely missed in MBHC, while crystals are not adequately identified by NFLC. This may be due to the inappropriate conditional likelihood PDFs or membership functions. The prior PDFs in the MBHC may cause unexpected hail due to unreasonable variation above 0 °C. In addition, the prior PDFs of graupel and dry snow in the MBHC appear below −52 °C, which is not realistic. The BHCA proposed in this study overcomes these shortcomings in the prior PDFs and produces an overall reasonable classification product over the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin (YHRB), Eastern China.
Erratum: Kiselev, I., et al. On the Temporal Stability of Analyte Recognition with an E-Nose Based on a Metal Oxide Sensor Array in Practical Applications. Sensors 2018, 18, 550
Authors: Kiselev Ilia , Sysoev Victor , Kaikov Igor , Koronczi Ilona , Adil Akai Tegin Ruslan , Smanalieva Jamila , Sommer Martin , Ilicali Coskan , Hauptmannl Michael
Published: August 2019

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Long-Term Spatiotemporal Variations in Soil Moisture in North East China Based on 1-km Resolution Downscaled Passive Microwave Soil Moisture Products
Authors: Meng Xiangjin , Mao Kebiao , Meng Fei , Shen Xinyi , Xu Tongren , Cao Mengmeng
Published: August 2019

It is very important to analyze and monitor agricultural drought to obtain high temporal-spatial resolution soil moisture products. To overcome the deficiencies of passive microwave soil moisture products with low resolution, we construct a spatial fusion downscaling model (SFDM) using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. To eliminate the inconsistencies in soil depth and time among different microwave soil moisture products (Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer on the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) and its successor (AMSR2) and the Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS)), a time series reconstruction of the difference decomposition (TSRDD) method is developed to create long-term multisensor soil moisture datasets. Overall, the downscaled soil moisture (SM) products were consistent with the in situ measurements (R > 0.78) and exhibited a low root mean square error (RMSE < 0.10 m3/m3), which indicates good accuracy throughout the time series. The downscaled SM data at a 1-km spatial resolution were used to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and monitor abnormal conditions in the soil water content across North East China (NEC) between 2002 and 2018. The results showed that droughts frequently appeared in western North East China and southwest of the Greater Khingan Range, while drought centers appeared in central North East China. Waterlogging commonly appeared in low-terrain areas, such as the Songnen Plain. Seasonal precipitation and temperature exhibited distinct interdecadal characteristics that were closely related to the occurrence of extreme climatic events. Abnormal SM levels were often accompanied by large meteorological and natural disasters (e.g., the droughts of 2008, 2015, and 2018 and the flooding events of 2003 and 2013). The spatial distribution of drought in this region during the growing season shows that the drought-affected area is larger in the west than in the east and that the semiarid boundary extends eastward and southward.
A G-Fresnel Optical Device and Image Processing Based Miniature Spectrometer for Mechanoluminescence Sensor Applications
Authors: Min Kyung-Pyo , Kim Jaehwan , Song Kyo D. , Kim Gi-Woo
Published: August 2019

This paper presents a miniature spectrometer fabricated based on a G-Fresnel optical device (i.e., diffraction grating and Fresnel lens) and operated by an image-processing algorithm, with an emphasis on the color space conversion in the range of visible light. The miniature spectrometer will be cost-effective and consists of a compact G-Fresnel optical device, which diffuses mixed visible light into the spectral image and a μ-processor platform embedded with an image-processing algorithm. The RGB color space commonly used in the image signal from a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)-type image sensor is converted into the HSV color space, which is one of the most common methods to express color as a numeric value using hue (H), saturation (S), and value (V) via the color space conversion algorithm. Because the HSV color space has the advantages of expressing not only the three primary colors of light as the H but also its intensity as the V, it was possible to obtain both the wavelength and intensity information of the visible light from its spectral image. This miniature spectrometer yielded nonlinear sensitivity of hue in terms of wavelength. In this study, we introduce the potential of the G-Fresnel optical device, which is a miniature spectrometer, and demonstrated by measurement of the mechanoluminescence (ML) spectrum as a proof of concept.
Improved Machine Learning Approach for Wavefront Sensing
Authors: Guo Hongyang , Xu Yangjie , Li Qing , Du Shengping , He Dong , Wang Qiang , Huang Yongmei
Published: August 2019

In the adaptive optics (AO) system, to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of wavefront sensing-less technology, a phase-based sensing approach using machine learning is proposed. In contrast to the traditional gradient-based optimization methods, the model we designed is based on an improved convolutional neural network. Specifically, the deconvolution layer, which reconstructs unknown input by measuring output, is introduced to represent the phase maps of the point spread functions at the in focus and defocus planes. The improved convolutional neural network is utilized to establish the nonlinear mapping between the input point spread functions and the corresponding phase maps of the optical system. Once well trained, the model can directly output the aberration map of the optical system with good precision. Adequate simulations and experiments are introduced to demonstrate the accuracy and real-time performance of the proposed method. The simulations show that even when atmospheric conditions D/r0 = 20, the detection root-mean-square of wavefront error of the proposed method is 0.1307 λ, which has a better accuracy than existing neural networks. When D/r0 = 15 and 10, the root-mean-square error is respectively 0.0909 λ and 0.0718 λ. It has certain applicative value in the case of medium and weak turbulence. The root-mean-square error of experiment results with D/r0 = 20 is 0.1304 λ, proving the correctness of simulations. Moreover, this method only needs 12 ms to accomplish the calculation and it has broad prospects for real-time wavefront sensing.
Revising the Environmental Kuznets Curve for Deforestation: An Empirical Study for Bulgaria
Authors: Tsiantikoudis Stavros , Zafeiriou Eleni , Kyriakopoulos Grigorios , Arabatzis Garyfallos
Published: August 2019

The evolution of human societies along with efforts to enhance economic welfare may well lead to the deterioration of the environment. Deforestation is a usual process throughout evolution that poses pressing and potentially irreversible environmental risks, despite the ecological and modernization processes that aim to limit those risks. The economic growth–environmental degradation relationship—namely, the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis—is studied in alignment with the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. The novelty of the study is attributed to the use of the carbon emissions equivalent derived by deforestation as an index for environmental degradation in Bulgaria as a new entrant into the European Union (EU). In addition, we use the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as a proxy for income, being determined as an independent variable. Research findings cannot validate the inverted U-shape of the EKC hypothesis; instead, an inverted N pattern is confirmed. The implementation of appropriate policies aiming at the protection of the environment through the diversification of economic activities is related to the use of forest land and other resources, or related sectors (agroforestry, ecotourism activities, and scientific research), rather than only the direct utilization of forested areas; the limitation of afforestation processes and their negative impacts on citizens’ welfare are also addressed.
Cryosphere Services and Human Well-Being
Authors: Su Bo , Xiao Cunde , Chen Deliang , Qin Dahe , Ding Yongjian
Published: August 2019

Cryosphere services (CSs) refer to various benefits that humans directly or indirectly obtain from the cryosphere, which makes significant contributions to human well-being (HWB). To facilitate such research, we first present a classification system for conceptualizing, monitoring and assessing CSs based on the current process-based understanding of their nature and sustainability. Specifically, the CSs are grouped into five major categories (provisioning, regulating, cultural, bearing and supporting services) and 18 sub-categories. Then we provide a detailed overview on formation, current status and anticipated future changes of the identified types of the services, and their impact on HWB. Finally, the spatio-temporal scales, the links of the services with HWB and climate-dependence are further discussed. The research of CSs adopt interdisciplinary approach to address the formation mechanisms of CSs and their dynamic relationships with HWB, which is poised to provide a better understanding of the cryosphere’s role in human society and help enhance socio-ecological sustainability and HWB over cryosphere-affected areas. Notably, most CSs have been deteriorating under global warming and cryosphere shrinkage, further leading to negative impacts on associated HWB. Therefore, great attention should be paid to the changes in CSs and their cascading risks.
Sustainable Development of Resources and the Environment: Mining-Induced Eco-Geological Environmental Damage and Mitigation Measures—A Case Study in the Henan Coal Mining Area, China
Authors: Guo Wenbing , Guo Mingjie , Tan Yi , Bai Erhu , Zhao Gaobo
Published: August 2019

Coal is an important resource that has supported China’s economic development. This situation is expected to continue in the immediate future. However, coal mining has also led to serious environmental disasters in some mining areas. Henan Province is one of the 14 large-scale coal bases that are planned by the Chinese state. It is located in the transitional zone between the second and third terrain ladders of China and spans two tectonic units. The geological features and ecological environmental characteristics display wide spatial variations throughout this district, which is an ecologically fragile region of stepped transition type. However, large-scale, extremely intense coal mining activities will inevitably lead to further deterioration of the already fragile ecological and geological (eco-geological) environment, which makes recovery increasingly difficult. Based on the condition of the eco-geological environment and the coal mining industry in the Henan mining area, the mechanisms by which mining-induced damage can occur were analyzed. The characteristics and status of the destruction of ground structures, land resources, water resources, the atmospheric environment, and natural ecology are discussed in this paper. Appropriate mitigation measures are proposed based on the findings. This mainly includes: management practices to prevent and mitigate damage throughout all stages of mining; adoption of mining techniques that will control damage at the source; and, the adoption of appropriate post-mining recovery technologies. The analysis of mining-induced eco-geological environmental damage and mitigation measures is of importance for the prevention of eco-geological disasters, and the promotion of efficient and environmentally sustainable exploitation of coal resources.
The Influence of the Circular Economy: Exploring the Knowledge Base
Authors: Mas-Tur Alicia , Guijarro Maria , Carrilero Agustín
Published: August 2019

The objective of this study is to analyze the main factors influencing research on the concept of ‘circular economy’ (CE) by focusing on authors, institutions, and countries and emphasizing the documents that deal both with CE and SMEs. The Web of Science (WoS) includes 1711 documents related to CE, with the first publication dated 2006. The graphical analyses use the WoS Core Collection database and visualization of similarities (VOS) viewer software. We also employ several bibliometric techniques including co-citation and bibliographic coupling. The results of the analysis indicate that the field of CE research has broad readership and includes internationally authored papers although China seems to be the leader in this research area.
Industry 5.0—A Human-Centric Solution
Authors: Nahavandi Saeid
Published: August 2019

Staying at the top is getting tougher and more challenging due to the fast-growing and changing digital technologies and AI-based solutions. The world of technology, mass customization, and advanced manufacturing is experiencing a rapid transformation. Robots are becoming even more important as they can now be coupled with the human mind by means of brain–machine interface and advances in artificial intelligence. A strong necessity to increase productivity while not removing human workers from the manufacturing industry is imposing punishing challenges on the global economy. To counter these challenges, this article introduces the concept of Industry 5.0, where robots are intertwined with the human brain and work as collaborator instead of competitor. This article also outlines a number of key features and concerns that every manufacturer may have about Industry 5.0. In addition, it presents several developments achieved by researchers for use in Industry 5.0 applications and environments. Finally, the impact of Industry 5.0 on the manufacturing industry and overall economy is discussed from an economic and productivity point of view, where it is argued that Industry 5.0 will create more jobs than it will take away.
Overcoming the Myths of Mainstream Economics to Enable a New Wellbeing Economy
Authors: Coscieme Luca , Sutton Paul , Mortensen Lars F. , Kubiszewski Ida , Costanza Robert , Trebeck Katherine , Pulselli Federico M. , Giannetti Biagio F. , Fioramonti Lorenzo
Published: August 2019

Increasingly, empirical evidence refutes many of the theoretical pillars of mainstream economics. These theories have persisted despite the fact that they support unsustainable and undesirable environmental, social, and economic outcomes. Continuing to embrace them puts at risk the possibility of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and overcoming other global challenges. We discuss a selection of paradoxes and delusions surrounding mainstream economic theories related to: (1) efficiency and resource use, (2) wealth and wellbeing, (3) economic growth, and (4) the distribution of wealth within and between rich and poor nations. We describe a wellbeing economy as an alternative for guiding policy development. In 2018, a network of Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo), (supported by, but distinct from, the larger Wellbeing Economy Alliance—WEAll) promoting new forms of governance that diverge from the ones on which the G7 and G20 are based, has been launched and is now a living project. Members of WEGo aim at advancing the three key principles of a wellbeing economy: Live within planetary ecological boundaries, ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunity, and efficiently allocate resources (including environmental and social public goods), bringing wellbeing to the heart of policymaking, and in particular economic policymaking. This network has potential to fundamentally re-shape current global leadership still anchored to old economic paradigms that give primacy to economic growth over environmental and social wealth and wellbeing.
Analysis of Acoustic Emission Characteristics and Damage Constitutive Model of Coal-Rock Combined Body Based on Particle Flow Code
Authors: Liu Wanrong , Yuan Wei , Yan Yatao , Wang Xiao
Published: August 2019

In this manuscript, the numerical coal-rock combined bodies with different height ratios of rock part to coal-rock combined body (HRRC) were established by particle flow code (PFC) firstly, and then the influence of different HRRC on mechanical properties and numerical acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of coal-rock combined bodies were investigated. Finally, the damage constitutive model of the coal-rock combined body was discussed. The research results show that with the increase of the HRRC, the UCS and the elastic modulus (E) of the combined coal-rock bodies increased. The failure of coal-rock combined bodies is mainly focused on the coal body. The evolution law of AE hits of coal-rock combined bodies have three stages, named stable stage, rapid ascending stage, and rapid descending stage. The damage variable curves of coal-rock combined body have two stages, named slowly damage stage and sharply damage stage. The damage constitutive relation based on AE hits can well reflect the stress-strain relationships with a lower HRRC. However, for a higher HRRC, the damage constitutive equation is not accurately and the damage of the rock part in the coal-rock-combined body should be considered.
Change in the Extent of Glaciers and Glacier Runoff in the Chinese Sector of the Ile River Basin between 1962 and 2012
Authors: Kogutenko Larissa , Severskiy Igor , Shahgedanova Maria , Lin Bigzhang
Published: August 2019

Change in glacier area in the Kuksu and Kunes river basins, which are tributaries to the internationally important Ile River, were assessed at two different time steps between 1962/63, 1990/93, and 2010/12. Overall, glaciers lost 191.3 ± 16.8 km2 or 36.9 ± 6.5% of the initial area. Glacier wastage intensified in the latter period: While in 1962/63–1990/93 glaciers were losing 0.5% a−1, in 1990/93–2010/12, they were losing 1.2% a−1. Streamflow of the Ile River and its tributaries do not exhibit statistically significant change during the vegetative period between May and September. Positive trends were observed in the Ile flow in autumn, winter, and early spring. By contrast, the calculation of the total runoff from the glacier surface (including snow and ice melt) using temperature-index method and runoff forming due to melting of multiyear ice estimated from changes in glacier volume at different time steps between the 1960s and 2010s, showed that their absolute values and their contribution to total river runoff declined since the 1980s. This change is attributed to a strong reduction in glacier area.
How Are Various Surrogate Indicators Consistent with Mechanical Reliability of Water Distribution Systems: From a Perspective of Many-Objective Optimization
Authors: Wang Qi , Huang Wen , Wang Libing , Zhan Yongshi , Wang Zhihong , Wang Xu , Zhan Xuyi , Liu Shuming
Published: August 2019

Exploring the trade-off between cost and system reliability of water distribution systems (WDSs) has been focused for two decades. Due to the intensive computation associated with the reliability analysis, it is popular in the research community to replace this procedure by using surrogate indicators. However, the discussion on the correlation among different types of such indicators is generally lacking, which implies that a deeper understanding of this aspect is needed. This paper proposes a novel methodology of investigating the relationships among many commonly used surrogate indicators for measuring the mechanical reliability of WDSs. In particular, the optimal design of WDSs is formulated as a many-objective optimization problem, using cost and each surrogate indicator as an individual goal. Two benchmark design problems of different scales and complexities are considered for verifying the proposed method. The well-known multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA), namely Borg that is suitable for coping with problems involving many objectives, is used to obtain the best approximation to the Pareto-optimal fronts for both cases. Afterward, the one-pipe burst testing is conducted to quantify the correlation between mechanical reliability and surrogate indicators. Results suggest that investigating the correlation of surrogate indicators from the perspective of many-objective optimization provides a direct and efficient way of distinguishing better indicators from worse ones. Resilience-based surrogate indicators and the Redundancy indicator that only depends on nodal pressures are highly related to the mechanical reliability of WDSs. In contrast, entropy-based indicators exhibit poor performance in reflecting the mechanical reliability. These insights contribute to the selection of more appropriate surrogate indicators for the optimal design of WDSs for researchers and practitioners.
Attention to Sociotechnical Tinkering with Irrigation Infrastructure as a Way to Rethink Water Governance
Authors: Kemerink-Seyoum Jeltsje Sanne , Chitata Tavengwa , Domínguez Guzmán Carolina , Novoa-Sanchez Luis Miguel , Zwarteveen Margreet Z.
Published: August 2019

Inspired by the proposal of political scientists and anthropologists to focus on “practice” as the smallest unit of analysis for understanding politics, as well as the renewed scholarly attention to materiality, this paper sets out to show that detailed ethnographic attention to processes and acts of sociotechnical tinkering provides a useful entry-point for understanding water governance. This is so methodologically, because infrastructural forms of tinkering are very visible, and therefore researchable, manifestations of agency and change in water governance. Attention to sociotechnical tinkering helps shift the basis for understanding water realities from official norms, designs and laws to everyday practices. This in turn allows questioning, rather than assuming, how expertise and agency are exercised and distributed in water governance, thereby also providing useful information for re-thinking water politics. In addition, by explicitly engaging with the contingency and capriciousness of actual water flows, a sociotechnical tinkering approach entails a much-needed re-appreciation of the materiality of water, infrastructure and other matter, a re-appreciation that extends to those who design, construct, operate and use water infrastructure.
Alignment-and-metrological facility for fine adjustment of antenna linear and angular position during spacecraft assembly
Authors: FILINA Marina A. , KOSTIKOVA Nadezhda Yu. , PETROV Vladimir V. , BUZIK Gleb B. , ZUEV Yuriy V. , YUSOV Aleksandr V. , KOZLOV Sergey Anatolyevich , USTINOVA Ekaterina A.
Published: August 2019

The paper discusses issues involved in fine adjustment of the linear and angular position of antenna system reflectors on a spacecraft (SC) during its assembly using an alignment-and-metrology facility that has been developed, which consists of a 6-DOF pointing device and a laser coordinate measurement tracker. Achieving the specified linear and angular positions of antenna system elements in the SC datum reference frame, reducing human effort and time needed to perform this processing operation is an important task when building a spacecraft. To address this problem, a procedure was developed and tried out during an actual SC assembly consisting in the joint use of the 6-DOF pointing device Hexapod PM-mkm-P and the high-precision laser tracker Leica AT 403 for measuring the coordinates. An algorithm was developed for hardware/software interfacing between elements of the alignment-and-metrology facility, which provides iterative linear and angular positioning of the antenna reflectors in a closed loop with a feedback.
The paper discusses sources of errors and the way to minimize their effect on the operation of various types of pointing using continuous monitoring by means of an external measuring system. The developed alignment-and-metrology facility provided high-precision spatial positioning of antenna elements in the SC coordinate system, which made it possible to rule out any errors by operator/installation worker during alignment and significantly reduce the time needed to perform the said operation.
Key words: spacecraft, antenna alignment, 6-DOF hexapod-type platform with parallel kinematics, Gough-Stewart platform, laser coordinate measuring system.
Contexto actual de la enfermedad causada por VRSh y desarrollo de nuevos tratamientos
Authors: Pizarro-Ortega Magdalena , Kalergis Parra Alexis Mikes
Published: August 2019

El virus respiratorio sincicial humano es el principal agente causante de enfermedades respiratorias en infantes, adultos mayores y personas inmunocomprometidas. Este virus se caracteriza por infectar las células del epitelio alveolar e inducir una respuesta inflamatoria tipo alérgica en las vías respiratorias, con el reclutamiento de granulocitos; la secreción de mucus y citoquinas pro-inflamatorias. Adicionalmente, se observa la producción de anticuerpos con baja afinidad y capacidad de neutralización, lo que conlleva a la obstrucción de las vías respiratorias inferiores. Más aún se ha descrito que este virus es capaz de producir constantes reinfecciones a lo largo de la vida, generando un gran impacto socio-económico debido a que produce el colapso de los centros hospitalarios en Chile y el mundo. Actualmente no existen vacunas licenciadas contra este patógeno, sin embargo, existen tratamientos profilácticos que son utilizados en aquellos casos de la infección que podrían conducir a la muerte del paciente, pero con una eficacia bastante cuestionada.
Štefan Steiner – moralni teolog drugega vatikanskega koncila
Authors: Ložar Tadej
Published: August 2019

Prispevek govori o moralnem teologu Štefanu Steinerju, profesorju moralne in pastoralne teologije na ljubljanski Teološki fakulteti. Bil je eden prvih predavateljev na novoustanovljeni enoti Teološke fakultete v Mariboru, katere 50-letnice ustanovitve smo se spominjali lani. Steiner je bil nedvomno teolog drugega vatikanskega koncila, saj je moralni teologiji na Slovenskem pomagal, da se je začela razvijati proč od pretirano pravniškega pogleda na moralne norme in moralne zakone. Istega leta (1968), ko je Steiner začel predavanja na Teološki fakulteti Univerze v Ljubljani, je izšla okrožnica Humanae Vitae. Steiner je nauk okrožnice predstavil širši množici vernikov. V zgodovino moralnoteoloških razprav se je zapisal s t. i. načelom casus perplexus (mejnim primerom), ki se pojavi, ko dveh enakovrednih moralnih norm ni mogoče izpolniti hkrati. Steiner je bil zaradi načela casus perplexus deležen nasprotovanja ter procesa pred Kongregacijo za verski nauk, ki je njegovo stališče potrdila.
Jakob Aleksič – znanilec pomladi biblične znanosti
Authors: Skralovnik Samo
Published: August 2019

V prispevku so kritično ovrednotene razprave, ki jih je dr. Jakob Aleksič objavil v Teološkem zborniku in v Bogoslovnem vestniku. Te niso strogo znanstvene narave, temveč strokovni prikaz, »pregled, ki ima le bolj splošno uvoden značaj« (1955, 144), kakor avtor sam zapiše v sklepu ene svojih bolj dognanih in obsežnih razprav.
Na razprave so močno vplivali takratno dogajanje v Cerkvi in veliki premiki na področju uradnega odnosa Katoliške cerkve do Svetega pisma. Skoraj v vsaki razpravi se sklicuje na pomembne papeške dokumente tistega časa, zlasti Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943), Providentissimus Deus (1895) in Humani generis (1953). Kriterij analiziranih razprav je »zgledna cerkvenost« (Stainer 1980, 497), kar pomeni, da njegove razprave »zvesto sledijo nauku cerkvenega učiteljstva« (497). Vsi ti dokumenti imajo izrazito polemično oz. apologetično naravo in jih lahko razumemo, podobno kot večino Aleksičevih razprav, kot odgovor na izzive časa. V tem kontekstu lahko tudi razumemo Aleksičevo navdušenost nad rezultati pozitivnih znanosti, zlasti arheologije in zgodovine, ki še ne kaže povsem treznega, kritičnega in uravnoteženega premisleka glede njihove končne vloge za razumevanje Svetega pisma.
Spominjajte se in učite svoje sinove!
Authors: Skralovnik Samo
Published: August 2019

Revija Edinost in dialog z bogatim naborom prispevkov, s hvaležnim pogledom v preteklost, s spominjanjem, ki je izhodišče prihodnosti, stopa na
»pot« in se ne le včlenja v »polpreteklo« dogajanje v mariborskem kulturnem prostoru, temveč iz tega vira gradi (svojo) krščansko identiteto.
V Svetem pismu takoj za vrstico, s katero smo začeli to uvodno razmišljanje, sledi drug pomemben imperativ, Učite to svoje sinove! (5 Mz 11,19),
imperativ prenašanja tega spomina na naslednje generacije. Ta je enako
pomemben kot spominjanje in predstavlja le drugi pol iste resničnosti.
Tako nekateri Judje pravijo, da Jud ni toliko tisti, ki je rojen materi Judinji,
kot pa tisti, ki mu uspe po teh načelih nenehno vzgajati sebe in svojega
sina, se pravi, da ima živ odnos z Bogom in da ta zaklad svoje identitete
zmore predati tudi prihodnjemu rodu. Obstaja tudi rek: »Poučevanje otrok
se ne sme opustiti niti zaradi obnavljanja templja.«
Če lahko torej na koncu upamo, da je prva zapoved spominjanja (tudi
s to številko revije) »obkljukana«, pa nam ostaja še druga, ki naslednja
desetletja, morda stoletja, teologijo zavezuje k njeni najodličnejši nalogi:
ohranjanju študija teologije v Mariboru tudi v prihodnosti.
Two-dimensional electrophoresis protein profiles of HL-60 and CCRF-CEM cell lines treated with epigenetic modification drugs
Authors: Sudin Aziee , Mohd Yassim Haiyuni , Mohamed Yusoff Shafini , Shamsuddin Shaharum , Abdul Wahab Ridhwan , Johan Muhammad Farid
Published: August 2019

Leukemia is classified as a malignant disease of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that fails in cell differentiation but preserve their self-renewal. It is caused by genetic alterations and epigenetic modifications resulting in the activation or inactivation of particular genes for transcription. Epigenetic causes changes in gene expression without any alteration in the DNA sequence. The most common epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation and histone acetylation. 5-Azacitidine (5-Aza) is a DNA methytransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) that inhibits DNA methyltransferase enzymes resulting in hypomethylation. Trichostatin A (TSA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor which inhibits deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins resulting in chromatin relaxation. This present study focused on the alteration of proteome profile on 2D gel electrophoresis (2-DE) induced by 5-Aza and TSA in HL-60 and CCRF-CEM cell lines as in vitro model to represent acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), respectively. Total proteins of untreated and 5-Aza/TSA-treated HL-60 and CCRF-CEM cell lines were extracted using urea/thiourea buffer and stained with Coomassie Blue. Comparative analysis of untreated and 5-Aza/TSA-treated HL-60 and CCRF-CEM was performed by PDQuest software. Qualitative analysis identified 190-659 protein spots detected in untreated, 5-Aza and TSA-treated HL-60 and CCRF-CEM. Quantitative comparison analysis was analyzed by over 2-fold change in 5-Aza/TSA-treated cells compared to untreated. One and eight upregulated proteins were detected in 5-Aza and TSA-treated HL-60, respectively. While five and one upregulated proteins were detected in 5-Aza and TSA-treated CCRF-CEM, respectively. These preliminary results suggested that 5-Aza and TSA induced proteome profiles alterations due to their inhibition effects in HL-60 and CCRF-CEM cell lines.
Application of compost in mixed media improved oil palm nursery’s secondary root structure thereby reducing the fertilizer requirement for growth
Authors: Salamat Siti Suliza , Hassan Mohd Ali , Shirai Yoshihito , Mohd Hanif Ahmad Husni , Arifin Izwanizam , Norizan Mohamad Shahkhirat
Published: August 2019

Although conventional inorganic fertilizers increased plant growth and productivity, their excessive use leads to wastage, run-offs and environmental pollution. In order to promote nutrient recycling and zero emission strategy in the palm oil industry, compost was produced from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) anaerobic sludge. The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of compost in the mixed media on the growth and inorganic fertilizer requirement in the oil palm nursery. 100% soil as media with 100% inorganic fertilizer as control was compared with mixed media containing 50% compost in soil with inorganic fertilizer at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% compositions and tested for plant growth and root structure. The results showed that the treatments with compost addition improved plant growth, compared to the control with 100% inorganic fertilizer which did not contain compost in the mixed medium. The improved plant growth corresponded directly to the enhanced secondary root structure, which probably resulted in more efficient absorption and uptake of nutrients by the plants. Furthermore, the plant growth and the secondary root structure in the mixed media with 50% inorganic fertilizer composition was not significantly different to the media with 75% and 100% inorganic fertilizer. Therefore it is suggested that the application of 50% compost in the mixed media enhanced the secondary root structure, resulting in reduced inorganic fertilizer requirement in the oil palm main nursery, without affecting the plant growth.
An update on the detection methods of Parachlamydia acanthamoebae, an atypical agent of pneumonia
Authors: Rames Avinash
Published: August 2019

Parachlamydia acanthamoebae (P. acanthamoebae) has been recognized as an emerging agent of pneumonia as it has been identified in human samples via culture-based, molecular and serological techniques. Additionally, studies on animal models have shown that it fulfills the third and fourth Koch postulates to be assigned a pathogenic role. Due to the threat posed by it, multiple tools have been employed in the search for P. acanthamoebae. The methods utilized for its detection would be cell culture based approaches which involve both animal and amoebal cell culture and also molecular techniques that encompasses polymerase chain reaction (PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Additionally, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serology based techniques such as direct and indirect immunofluorescence are also employed with the usage of Western blotting or immunoblotting as confirmatory procedures. This review attempts to describe the variety of techniques that are present in literature for the isolation and identification of P. acanthamoebae.
Comparison of maximum likelihood estimators and regression models for burn severity mapping in Mediterranean forests using Landsat TM and ETM+ data
Authors: Ariza Alexander , Salas Rey Javier , Merino de Miguel Silvia
Published: August 2019

Durante la última década, ha habido un número creciente de trabajos publicados sobre la gravedad de los incendios forestales utilizando datos de teledetección para fines de gestión de recursos naturales y de investigación. Muchos de estos estudios cuantifican los cambios entre las condiciones de vegetación antes y después del incendio a partir de imágenes satelitales utilizando índices espectrales; sin embargo, hay una discusión activa sobre cuál de los índices más comúnmente usados es más adecuado para estimar la severidad de la quemadura, y qué metodología es la mejor para la estimación de los niveles de severidad. Este estudio propone y evalúa un algoritmo de aprendizaje automático de Estimación de Máxima Verosimilitud (EMV) para mapear la severidad de las quemaduras como una alternativa a los modelos de regresión.Desarrollamos ambos métodos usando datos de campo de GeoCBI (Índice Compuesto de Quema Geométricamente Estructurado, siglas en inglés) y seis índices espectrales diferentes (derivados de imágenes Landsat TM y ETM+) para dos incendios forestales en el centro de España. Comparamos la capacidad para discriminar la severidad de la quemadura de estos índices a través de un índice de separabilidad espectral (M), y evaluamos su concordancia con datos de campo basados en GeoCBI usando el coeficiente de determinación (R2). Posteriormente, el índice seleccionado se utilizó para los modelos de regresión y la EMV para estimar los niveles de severidad de quema (sin quemar, bajo, moderado y alto), y se validó con datos de campo. El índice RBR mostró una mejor separabilidad espectral (promedio entre dos fuegos M= 2.00) que el dNBR (M= 1.82) y RdNBR (M= 1.80). Además, GeoCBI tuvo un mayor ajuste con RBR (R2= 0.73) que con RdNBR (R2= 0.72) y dNBR (R2= 0.71).Finalmente, la EMV mostró la mayor precisión de clasificación general (Kappa=0,65) y la mejor precisión para cada clase individual.