bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Separation of Rhenium from Lead-Rich Molybdenite Concentrate via Hydrochloric Acid Leaching Followed by Oxidative Roasting
Authors: Li Guanghui , You Zhixiong , Sun Hu , Sun Rong , Peng Zhiwei , Zhang Yuanbo , Jiang Tao
Published: November 2016

Lead-rich molybdenite is a typical rhenium-bearing molybdenum resource in China, which has not been efficiently utilized due to its high contents of lead and gangue minerals. In this study, hydrochloric acid was used for preliminarily removing lead and calcite from a lead-rich molybdenite concentrate. Oxidative roasting-ammonia leaching was then carried out for separation of rhenium and extraction of molybdenum. The hydrochloric acid leaching experiments revealed that 93.6% Pb and 97.4% Ca were removed when the leaching was performed at 95 °C for 10 min with HCl concentration of 8 wt. % and liquid-solid ratio of 5 (mL/g). The results of direct oxidative roasting indicated that 89.3% rhenium was volatilized from the raw concentrate after roasting at 600 °C for 120 min in air. In contrast, the rhenium volatilization was enhanced distinctly to 98.0% after the acid-leached concentrate (leaching residue) was roasted at 550 °C for 100 min. By the subsequent ammonia leaching, 91.5% molybdenum was leached out from the calcine produced from oxidative roasting of the acid-leached concentrate, while only 79.3% Mo was leached from the calcine produced by roasting molybdenite concentrate without pretreatment.
A Green Approach for Allylations of Aldehydes and Ketones: Combining Allylborate, Mechanochemistry and Lanthanide Catalyst
Authors: De Souza Viviane , Oliveira Cristiane , De Souza Thiago , Menezes Paulo , Alves Severino , Longo Ricardo , Malvestiti Ivani
Published: November 2016

Secondary and tertiary alcohols synthesized via allylation of aldehydes and ketones are important compounds in bioactive natural products and industry, including pharmaceuticals. Development of a mechanochemical method using potassium allyltrifluoroborate salt and water, to successfully perform the allylation of aromatic and aliphatic carbonyl compounds is reported for the first time. By controlling the grinding parameters, the methodology can be selective, namely, very efficient for aldehydes and ineffective for ketones, but by employing lanthanide catalysts, the reactions with ketones can become practically quantitative. The catalyzed reactions can also be performed under mild aqueous stirring conditions. Considering the allylation agent and its by-products, aqueous media, energy efficiency and use of catalyst, the methodology meets most of the green chemistry principles.
Photo Racemization and Polymerization of (R)-1,1′-Bi(2-naphthol)
Authors: Zhang Zhaoming , Wang Yue , Nakano Tamaki
Published: November 2016

(R)-1,1’-Bi(2-naphthol) ((R)-BINOL) in an acetonitrile solution lost optical activity upon irradiation with an Hg–Xe lamp. HPLC resolution of the product indicated that (R)-BINOL was racemized upon irradiation, and SEC analysis suggested that a polymeric product was formed in the course of racemization. It is proposed that polymerization of BINOL can occur before it is racemized and that a unit in a polymer derived from BINOL may lose its optical activity afterwards due to in-chain racemization and/or reduction. The polymeric products seem to consist not only of BINOL residues but also of residues derived from acetonitrile as well as those derived through reduction of BINOL.
Unfolding/Refolding Study on Collagen from Sea Cucumber Based on 2D Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Qin Lei , Bi Jing-Ran , Li Dong-Mei , Dong Meng , Zhao Zi-Yuan , Dong Xiu-Ping , Zhou Da-Yong , Zhu Bei-Wei
Published: November 2016

We aimed to explore the differences of thermal behaviors between insoluble collagen fibrils (ICFs) and pepsin-solubilized collagens (PSCs) from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus. The unfolding/refolding sequences of secondary structures of ICFs and PSCs during the heating and cooling cycle (5 → 70 → 5 °C) were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry combined with curve-fitting and 2D correlation techniques. ICFs showed a higher proportion of α-helical structures and higher thermostability than PSCs, and thus had more-stable triple helical structures. The sequences of changes affecting the secondary structures during heating were essentially the same between ICFs and PSCs. In all cases, α-helix structure was the most important conformation and it disappeared to form a β-sheet structure. In the cooling cycle, ICFs showed a partially refolding ability, and the proportion of β-sheet structure rose before the increasing proportion of α-helix structure. PSCs did not obviously refold during the cooling stage.
Photoelectrochemical Performance Observed in Mn-Doped BiFeO3 Heterostructured Thin Films
Authors: Xu Hao-Min , Wang Huanchun , Shi Ji , Lin Yuanhua , Nan Cewen
Published: November 2016

Pure BiFeO3 and heterostructured BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 (5% Mn-doped BiFeO3) thin films have been prepared by a chemical deposition method. The band structures and photosensitive properties of these films have been investigated elaborately. Pure BiFeO3 films showed stable and strong response to photo illumination (open circuit potential kept −0.18 V, short circuit photocurrent density was −0.023 mA·cm−2). By Mn doping, the energy band positions shifted, resulting in a smaller band gap of BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 layer and an internal field being built in the BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 interface. BiFeO3/BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 and BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 thin films demonstrated poor photo activity compared with pure BiFeO3 films, which can be explained by the fact that Mn doping brought in a large amount of defects in the BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 layers, causing higher carrier combination and correspondingly suppressing the photo response, and this negative influence was more considerable than the positive effects provided by the band modulation.
Causes, Consequences and Public Health Implications of Low B-Vitamin Status in Ageing
Authors: Porter Kirsty , Hoey Leane , Hughes Catherine , Ward Mary , McNulty Helene
Published: November 2016

The potential protective roles of folate and the metabolically related B-vitamins (vitamins B12, B6 and riboflavin) in diseases of ageing are of increasing research interest. The most common cause of folate and riboflavin deficiencies in older people is low dietary intake, whereas low B12 status is primarily associated with food-bound malabsorption, while sub-optimal vitamin B6 status is attributed to increased requirements in ageing. Observational evidence links low status of folate and the related B-vitamins (and/or elevated concentrations of homocysteine) with a higher risk of degenerative diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), cognitive dysfunction and osteoporosis. Deficient or low status of these B-vitamins alone or in combination with genetic polymorphisms, including the common MTHFR 677 C → T polymorphism, could contribute to greater disease risk in ageing by causing perturbations in one carbon metabolism. Moreover, interventions with the relevant B-vitamins to optimise status may have beneficial effects in preventing degenerative diseases. The precise mechanisms are unknown but many have been proposed involving the role of folate and the related B-vitamins as co-factors for one-carbon transfer reactions, which are fundamental for DNA and RNA biosynthesis and the maintenance of methylation reactions. This review will examine the evidence linking folate and related B-vitamins with health and disease in ageing, associated mechanisms and public health implications.
Parenchymal and Stromal Cells Contribute to Pro-Inflammatory Myocardial Environment at Early Stages of Diabetes: Protective Role of Resveratrol
Authors: Savi Monia , Bocchi Leonardo , Sala Roberto , Frati Caterina , Lagrasta Costanza , Madeddu Denise , Falco Angela , Pollino Serena , Bresciani Letizia , Miragoli Michele , Zaniboni Massimiliano , Quaini Federico , Del Rio Daniele , Stilli Donatella
Published: November 2016

Background: Little information is currently available concerning the relative contribution of cardiac parenchymal and stromal cells in the activation of the pro-inflammatory signal cascade, at the initial stages of diabetes. Similarly, the effects of early resveratrol (RSV) treatment on the negative impact of diabetes on the different myocardial cell compartments remain to be defined. Methods: In vitro challenge of neonatal cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts to high glucose and in vivo/ex vivo experiments on a rat model of Streptozotocin-induced diabetes were used to specifically address these issues. Results: In vitro data indicated that, besides cardiomyocytes, neonatal fibroblasts contribute to generating initial changes in the myocardial environment, in terms of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. These findings were mostly confirmed at the myocardial tissue level in diabetic rats, after three weeks of hyperglycemia. Specifically, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and Fractalkine were up-regulated and initial abnormalities in cardiomyocyte contractility occurred. At later stages of diabetes, a selective enhancement of pro-inflammatory macrophage M1 phenotype and a parallel reduction of anti-inflammatory macrophage M2 phenotype were associated with a marked disorganization of cardiomyocyte ultrastructural properties. RSV treatment inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine production, leading to a recovery of cardiomyocyte contractile efficiency and a reduced inflammatory cell recruitment. Conclusion: Early RSV administration could inhibit the pro-inflammatory diabetic milieu sustained by different cardiac cell types.
Investigation on Mining Subsidence Based on Multi-Temporal InSAR and Time-Series Analysis of the Small Baseline Subset—Case Study of Working Faces 22201-1/2 in Bu’ertai Mine, Shendong Coalfield, China
Authors: Ma Chao , Cheng Xiaoqian , Yang Yali , Zhang Xiaoke , Guo Zengzhang , Zou Youfeng
Published: November 2016

High-intensity coal mining (large mining height, shallow mining depth, and rapid advancing) frequently causes large-scale ground damage within a short period of time. Understanding mining subsidence under high-intensity mining can provide a basis for mining-induced damage assessment, land remediation in a subsidence area, and ecological reconstruction in vulnerable ecological regions in Western China. In this study, the mining subsidence status of Shendong Coalfield was investigated and analyzed using two-pass differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (DInSAR) technology based on high-resolution synthetic aperture radar data (RADARSAT-2 precise orbit, multilook fine, 5 m) collected from 20 January 2012 to June 2013. Surface damages in Shendong Coalfield over a period of 504 days under open-pit mining and underground mining were observed. Ground deformation of the high-intensity mining working faces 22201-1/2 in Bu’ertai Mine, Shendong Coalfield was monitored using small baseline subset (SBAS) InSAR technology. (1) DInSAR detected and located 85 ground deformation areas (including ground deformations associated with past-mining activity). The extent of subsidence in Shendong Coalfield presented a progressive increase at an average monthly rate of 13.09 km2 from the initial 54.98 km2 to 225.20 km2, approximately, which accounted for 7% of the total area of Shendong Coalfield; (2) SBAS-InSAR reported that the maximum cumulative subsidence area reached 5.58 km2 above the working faces 22201-1/2. The advance speed of ground destruction (7.9 m/day) was nearly equal to that of underground mining (8.1 m/day).
3D Scene Reconstruction Using Omnidirectional Vision and LiDAR: A Hybrid Approach
Authors: Vlaminck Michiel , Luong Hiep , Goeman Werner , Philips Wilfried
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to obtain accurate 3D reconstructions of large-scale environments by means of a mobile acquisition platform. The system incorporates a Velodyne LiDAR scanner, as well as a Point Grey Ladybug panoramic camera system. It was designed with genericity in mind, and hence, it does not make any assumption about the scene or about the sensor set-up. The main novelty of this work is that the proposed LiDAR mapping approach deals explicitly with the inhomogeneous density of point clouds produced by LiDAR scanners. To this end, we keep track of a global 3D map of the environment, which is continuously improved and refined by means of a surface reconstruction technique. Moreover, we perform surface analysis on consecutive generated point clouds in order to assure a perfect alignment with the global 3D map. In order to cope with drift, the system incorporates loop closure by determining the pose error and propagating it back in the pose graph. Our algorithm was exhaustively tested on data captured at a conference building, a university campus and an industrial site of a chemical company. Experiments demonstrate that it is capable of generating highly accurate 3D maps in very challenging environments. We can state that the average distance of corresponding point pairs between the ground truth and estimated point cloud approximates one centimeter for an area covering approximately 4000 m 2 . To prove the genericity of the system, it was tested on the well-known Kitti vision benchmark. The results show that our approach competes with state of the art methods without making any additional assumptions.
Geometric Distribution-Based Readers Scheduling Optimization Algorithm Using Artificial Immune System
Authors: Duan Litian , Wang Zizhong , Duan Fu
Published: November 2016

In the multiple-reader environment (MRE) of radio frequency identification (RFID) system, multiple readers are often scheduled to interrogate the randomized tags via operating at different time slots or frequency channels to decrease the signal interferences. Based on this, a Geometric Distribution-based Multiple-reader Scheduling Optimization Algorithm using Artificial Immune System (GD-MRSOA-AIS) is proposed to fairly and optimally schedule the readers operating from the viewpoint of resource allocations. GD-MRSOA-AIS is composed of two parts, where a geometric distribution function combined with the fairness consideration is first introduced to generate the feasible scheduling schemes for reader operation. After that, artificial immune system (including immune clone, immune mutation and immune suppression) quickly optimize these feasible ones as the optimal scheduling scheme to ensure that readers are fairly operating with larger effective interrogation range and lower interferences. Compared with the state-of-the-art algorithm, the simulation results indicate that GD-MRSOA-AIS could efficiently schedules the multiple readers operating with a fairer resource allocation scheme, performing in larger effective interrogation range.
Evaluation of the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Biomass Feedstock Electricity Generation Systems
Authors: Kadiyala Akhil , Kommalapati Raghava , Huque Ziaul
Published: November 2016

This paper evaluates life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of different biomass feedstock categories (agriculture residues, dedicated energy crops, forestry, industry, parks and gardens, wastes) independently on biomass-only (biomass as a standalone fuel) and cofiring (biomass used in combination with coal) electricity generation systems. The statistical evaluation of the life cycle GHG emissions (expressed in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt hour, gCO2e/kWh) for biomass electricity generation systems was based on the review of 19 life cycle assessment studies (representing 66 biomass cases). The mean life cycle GHG emissions resulting from the use of agriculture residues (N = 4), dedicated energy crops (N = 19), forestry (N = 6), industry (N = 4), and wastes (N = 2) in biomass-only electricity generation systems are 291.25 gCO2e/kWh, 208.41 gCO2e/kWh, 43 gCO2e/kWh, 45.93 gCO2e/kWh, and 1731.36 gCO2e/kWh, respectively. The mean life cycle GHG emissions for cofiring electricity generation systems using agriculture residues (N = 10), dedicated energy crops (N = 9), forestry (N = 9), industry (N = 2), and parks and gardens (N = 1) are 1039.92 gCO2e/kWh, 1001.38 gCO2e/kWh, 961.45 gCO2e/kWh, 926.1 gCO2e/kWh, and 1065.92 gCO2e/kWh, respectively. Forestry and industry (avoiding the impacts of biomass production and emissions from waste management) contribute the least amount of GHGs, irrespective of the biomass electricity generation system.
Hair Microelement Profile as a Prognostic Tool in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Stefano Ferraro , Cinzia Nasuti , Marco Piangerelli , Marco Guidi , Rita Giovannetti , Augusto Ferri , Rosita Gabbianelli
Published: November 2016

Changes in the homeostasis of metals and microelements have been demonstrated in Parkinson’s disease, whose etiology includes both a genetic and environmental basis. We studied the difference of microelements in the hair of Parkinson’s disease subjects (n = 46) compared with healthy controls (n = 24). Hair was chosen as a representative matrix to measure microelements, since it is a vehicle of substance excretion from the human body and it allows for long-term evaluation of metal exposure. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis of hair collected from 24 Parkinson’s patients compared with their healthy relatives used as controls shows a significant decrease in Ca (U = 166, p = 0.012),), Mg (U = 187, p = 0.037), and Sr (U = 183, p = 0.030). Cd and Ca/Mg were decreased, and Cu was increased, in patients with respect to their healthy related controls at the limit of significance (p = 0.0501). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of these microelements in hair shows a clustering into two groups according to gender, disease severity according to the Hoehn–Yahr scale, and pharmacological therapy. This pilot study represents a starting point for future investigations where a larger group of subjects will be involved to define other microelements useful when screening for early biomarkers of Parkinson’s disease.
Human Recombinant Antithrombin (ATryn®) Administration Improves Survival and Prevents Intravascular Coagulation after Intraportal Islet Transplantation in a Piglet Model
Authors: Gmyr Valery , Bonner Caroline , Moerman Ericka , Tournoys Antoine , Delalleau Nathalie , Quenon Audrey , Thevenet Julien , Chetboun Mikael , Kerr-Conte Julie , Pattou François , Hubert Thomas , Jourdain Merce
Published: November 2016

Human islet transplantation is a viable treatment option for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, pancreatic islet inflammation after transplantation induced by innate immune responses is likely to hinder graft function. This is mediated by incompatibility between islets and the blood interface, known as instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR). Herein we hypothesized that portal venous administration of islet cells with human recombinant antithrombin (ATryn®), a serine protease inhibitor (serpin), which plays a central role in the physiological regulation of coagulation and exerts indirect anti-inflammatory activities, may offset coagulation abnormalities such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and IBMIR. The current prospective, randomized experiment was conducted using an established preclinical pig model. Three groups were constituted for digested pancreatic tissue transplantation (0.15 ml/kg): control, NaCl 0.9% ( n = 7); gold standard, heparin (25 UI/kg) ( n = 7); and human recombinant ATryn® (500 UI/kg) ( n = 7). Blood samples were collected over time (T0 to 24 h), and biochemical, coagulation, and inflammatory parameters were evaluated. In both the control and heparin groups, one animal died after a portal thrombosis, while no deaths occurred in the ATryn®-treated group. As expected, islet transplantation was associated with an increase in plasma IL-6 or TNF-α levels in all three groups. However, DIC was only observed in the control group, an effect that was suppressed after ATryn® administration. ATryn® administration increased antithrombin activity by 800%, which remained at 200% for the remaining period of the study, without any hemorrhagic complications. These studies suggest that coadministration of ATryn® and pancreatic islets via intraportal transplantation may be a valuable therapeutic approach for DIC without risk for islets and subjects.
Novel Advances in Understanding of Molecular Pathogenesis of Hepatoblastoma: A Wnt/β-Catenin Perspective
Authors: Bell Danielle , Ranganathan Sarangarajan , Tao Junyan , Monga Satdarshan P.
Published: November 2016

Hepatoblastoma is the most common pediatric liver malignancy, typically striking children within the first 3 years of their young lives. While advances in chemotherapy and newer surgical techniques have improved survival in patients with localized disease, unfortunately, for the 25%
of patients with metastasis, the overall survival remains poor. These tumors, which are thought to arise from hepatic progenitors or hepatoblasts, hence the name hepatoblastoma, can be categorized by histological subtyping based on their level of cell differentiation. Genomic and histological
analysis of human tumor samples has shown exon-3 deletions or missense mutations in gene coding for β-catenin, a downstream effector of the Wnt signaling pathway, in up to 90% of hepatoblastoma cases. The current article will review key aberrations in molecular pathways that are implicated
in various subtypes of hepatoblastoma with an emphasis on Wnt signaling. It will also discuss cooperation among components of pathways such as β-catenin and Yes-associated protein in cancer development. Understanding the complex network of molecular signaling in oncogenesis will undoubtedly aid in the discovery of new therapeutics to help combat hepatoblastoma.
Surface-enhanced infrared absorption studies towards a new optical biosensor
Authors: Leidner Lothar , Stäb Julia , Adam Jennifer T , Gauglitz Günter
Published: November 2016

Reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS), which is well-established in the visual regime, measures the optical thickness change of a sensitive layer caused, e.g., by binding an analyte. When operated in the mid-infrared range the sensor provides additional information via weak absorption spectra (fingerprints). The originally poor spectra are magnified by surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). This is demonstrated using the broad complex fluid water band at 3300 cm−1, which is caused by superposition of symmetric, antisymmetric stretching vibration, and the first overtone of the bending vibration under the influence of H-bonds and Fermi resonance effect. The results are compared with a similar experiment performed with an ATR (attenuated total reflectance) set-up.
Selective and eco-friendly procedures for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives. The role of the Er(OTf)3 catalyst in the reaction selectivity
Authors: Herrera Cano Natividad , Uranga Jorge G , Nardi Mónica , Procopio Antonio , Wunderlin Daniel A , Santiago Ana N
Published: November 2016

An improved and greener protocol for the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives, starting from o-phenylenediamine, with different aldehydes is reported. Double-condensation products were selectively obtained when Er(OTf)3 was used as the catalyst in the presence of electron-rich aldehydes. Conversely, the formation of mono-condensation products was the preferred path in absence of this catalyst. One of the major advantages of these reactions was the formation of a single product, avoiding extensive isolation and purification of products, which is frequently associated with these reactions.

Theoretical calculations helped to understand the different reactivity established for these reactions. Thus, we found that the charge density on the oxygen of the carbonyl group has a significant impact on the reaction pathway. For instance, electron-rich aldehydes better coordinate to the catalyst, which favours the addition of the amine group to the carbonyl group, therefore facilitating the formation of double-condensation products.

Reactions with aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes were possible, without using organic solvents and in a one-pot procedure with short reaction time (2–5 min), affording single products in excellent yields (75–99%). This convenient and eco-friendly methodology offers numerous benefits with respect to other protocols reported for similar compounds.
THE HIGHEST-ENERGY COSMIC RAYS CANNOT BE DOMINANTLY PROTONS FROM STEADY SOURCES
Authors: Fang Ke , Kotera Kumiko
Published: November 2016

The bulk of observed ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays could be light or heavier elements and originate from an either steady or transient population of sources. This leaves us with four general categories of sources. Energetic requirements set a lower limit on single-source luminosities, while the distribution of particle arrival directions in the sky sets a lower limit on the source number density. The latter constraint depends on the angular smearing in the skymap due to the magnetic deflections of the charged particles during their propagation from the source to the Earth. We contrast these limits with the luminosity functions from surveys of existing luminous steady objects in the nearby universe and strongly constrain one of the four categories of source models, namely, steady proton sources. The possibility that cosmic rays with energy >8 × 1019 eV are dominantly pure protons coming from steady sources is excluded at 95% confidence level, under the safe assumption that protons experience less than 30° magnetic deflection on flight.
Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C: Correlation between Immunohistochemically-Assessed Virus Load with Steatosis and Cellular Iron Content
Authors: Akl Maha , EL Hindawi Ali , Mosaad Maha , Montasser Ahmed , El Ray Ahmed , Khalil Heba , Anas Amgad , Atta Raffat , Paradis Valerie , Abdel Hadi Ahmed , Hammam Olfat
Published: November 2016

AIM: We aimed study impact of hepatocytic viral load, steatosis, and iron load on fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C and role of VEGF and VEGFR overexpression in cirrhotic cases in evolving HCC.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total of 120 cases were included from TBRI and Beaujon Hospital as chronic hepatitis C (CHC), post-hepatitis C cirrhosis, and HCC. Cases of CHC were stained for Sirius red, Prussian blue and immunohistochemically (IHC) for HCV-NS3/NS4. HCC were stained IHC for VEGF and by FISH.RESULTS: Stage of fibrosis was significantly correlated with inflammation in CHC (P < 0.01). Noticed iron load did not correlate with fibrosis. Steatosis was associated with higher inflammation and fibrosis. The cellular viral load did not correlate with inflammation, steatosis or fibrosis. VEGF by IHC was significantly higher in cases of HCC when compared to cirrhotic group (P < 0.001). Amplification of VEGFR2 was confirmed in 40% of cases of HCC. Scoring of VEGF by IHC was the good indicatorÂ  of VEGFR2 amplification by FISH (P < 0.005).CONCLUSION: Grade of inflammation is the factor affecting fibrosis in CHC. The degree of liver damage is not related to cellular viral load or iron load. Steatosis is associated with higher inflammation and fibrosis. VEGF by IHC is correlated with overexpression of VEGFR2 by FISH.
B Cell Depletion Therapy Normalizes Circulating Follicular Th Cells in Primary Sjögren Syndrome
Authors: Verstappen Gwenny M. , Kroese Frans G.M. , Meiners Petra M. , Corneth Odilia B. , Huitema Minke G. , Haacke Erlin A. , van der Vegt Bert , Arends Suzanne , Vissink Arjan , Bootsma Hendrika , Abdulahad Wayel H.
Published: November 2016

Objective.

To assess the effect of B cell depletion therapy on effector CD4+ T cell homeostasis and its relation to objective measures of disease activity in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS).

Methods.

Twenty-four patients with pSS treated with rituximab (RTX) and 24 healthy controls (HC) were included. Frequencies of circulating effector CD4+ T cell subsets were examined by flow cytometry at baseline and 16, 24, 36, and 48 weeks after the first RTX infusion. Th1, Th2, follicular Th (TFH), and Th17 cells were discerned based on surface marker expression patterns. Additionally, intracellular cytokine staining was performed for interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-21, and IL-17 and serum levels of these cytokines were analyzed.

Results.

In patients with pSS, frequencies of circulating TFH cells and Th17 cells were increased at baseline compared with HC, whereas frequencies of Th1 and Th2 cells were unchanged. B cell depletion therapy resulted in a pronounced decrease in circulating TFH cells, whereas Th17 cells were only slightly lowered. Frequencies of IL-21–producing and IL-17–producing CD4+ T cells and serum levels of IL-21 and IL-17 were also reduced. Importantly, the decrease in circulating TFH cells was associated with lower systemic disease activity over time, as measured by the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren’s Syndrome Disease Activity Index scores and serum IgG levels.

Conclusion.

B cell depletion therapy in patients with pSS results in normalization of the elevated levels of circulating TFH cells. This reduction is associated with improved objective clinical disease activity measures. Our observations illustrate the pivotal role of the crosstalk between B cells and TFH cells in the pathogenesis of pSS.
Feeding behavior of dairy cows fed different levels of xiquexique (Pilosocereus gounellei)
Authors: Furtado Rafael Nogueira , Carneiro Maria Socorro de Souza , Pereira Elzânia Sales , Moreira Filho Emilson Costa , Silva Eranildo Brasil da
Published: November 2016

This study evaluated the replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique (0, 12, 24 and 36%) on feeding behavior of lactating dairy cows. To this end, eight cows with average milk production of 15 kg milk day-1 and average body weight of 465.2 ± 39.4 kg were distributed in a double 4x4 Latin square. Each experimental period lasted 16 days, ten for adaptation and six for data collection. The record of behavioral variables was made every five min. for 24 hours. The times spent in feeding, ruminating and total chewing, expressed in hours day-1, as well as feeding (FE) and rumination (RE) efficiencies, expressed in g NDF h-1, the number of cuds and cud chews per day showed a linear decrease according to the levels of xiquexique in the diet. There was a linear increase in time in idleness. Xiquexique levels in the diet for dairy cows did not influence FE and RE, expressed in g DM h-1, number and time spent in chewing per cud. The replacement of Tifton hay with xiquexique in the diet alters the feeding behavior of dairy cows due to the reduction in fiber content.
Reassessment of the suitable range of water pH for culture of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. in eutrophic water
Authors: Rebouças Vanessa Tomaz , Lima Francisco Roberto dos Santos , Cavalcante Davi De Holanda , Sá Marcelo Vinícius do Carmo e
Published: November 2016

The present work aimed at reassessing the suitable range of water pH for culture of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. juveniles in eutrophic water. Two hundred and forty tilapia juveniles (1.37 ± 0.04 g) were stocked in twenty 250-L polyethylene tanks (12 fish per tank) for eight weeks. In the control tanks, the pH of water was not adjusted at any time, varying freely over the entire study. In the slight acidification treatment, the culture water was acidified daily to reach a water pH between 5.5 and 6.5. In the moderate acidification treatment, there were daily applications of HCl solution to reach a water pH between 4.5 and 5.5. In the alkalinization treatment, tanks received daily applications of Na2CO3 and NaOH to achieve a water pH between 8.5 and 9.5. Acidification of water, regardless the degree, i.e., slight or moderate, was not able to significantly affect final body weight, specific growth rate and yield of fish. It can be concluded that the acidification of water up to pH 5.5 has no negative influence on growth of Nile tilapia fingerlings in eutrophic tanks. Accordingly, the suitable range of water pH for rearing Nile tilapia should be set at 5.5 – 9.0.
Effect of phytase on digestibility of corn, sorghum and wheat bran by silver catfish (Rhamdia voulezi)
Authors: Signor Altevir , Lewandowski Vanessa , Da Silva Rodrigo Aguiar , Fries Edionei Maico , Schuller Jean Marcel
Published: November 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the digestibility of plant energetic ingredients, corn, sorghum and wheat bran, with and without phytase supplementation, in silver catfish (Rhamdia voulezi). The experimental design was completely randomized, represented by eight treatments, which consisted of the development of a reference diet and a test diet for each ingredient evaluated (corn, sorghum and wheat bran), with and without supplemental phytase. Diets were formulated so as to contain 70% reference feed and 30% test ingredient. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude protein were significantly influenced only in relation to the evaluated ingredients. Phytase influenced the digestibility coefficients of energy and phosphorus, with interaction between food and the enzyme addition. The interaction between these two factors shows that the phytase efficiency is dependent on the type of vegetable ingredient used in the diet. The results suggest the supplementation of phytase for a higher nutrient digestibility of corn, sorghum and wheat bran by silver catifish (R. voulezi).
Morphogenesis and structure of Tifton 85 cultivated in subtropical climate and fertilized with nitrogen
Authors: Tiecher Diego Daniel , Rocha Marta Gomes da , Pötter Luciana , Salvador Paulo Roberto , Bergoli Tuani Lopes , Milanesi Gabriela Descovi
Published: November 2016

The experiment evaluated the morphogenesis and structure of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) cultivated in subtropical climate and fertilized with nitrogen (N). The experiment was a completely randomized design with four levels of N (Zero; 75; 150 or 225 kg ha-1) in nine replicates per area. The experimental animals were Suffolk female lambs. The grazing method was continuous to maintain the sward height at 15 cm ± 10%. The stem expansion increased by 0.000027 cm degree-days-1 to each kg N applied (linear model). According to nonlinear model, the highest stem expansion (0.0226 cm degree-days-1) was observed with the use 220.1 kg ha-1 N. The leaf lifespan fitted a linear regression model, with increase of 50 degree-days leaf -1, comparing the levels zero and 225 kg ha-1 of N. According to nonlinear regression model, the longest leaf lifespan (407.1 degree-days) was observed with the use 208.8 kg ha-1 N. With the maintenance of sward height at approximately 15 cm, we recommended to use 200 kg ha-1 N in Tifton 85 cultivated in subtropical climate.
Relationship between consumer acquisition efforts and consumer loyalty
Authors: Singh Jagwinder , Saini Shivani
Published: November 2016

Consumer Relationship Management is an integrated approach to manage long-term consumer relationships by implementing the practices of right acquisition and retention efforts. The purpose of study is to examine the key role of consumer acquisition efforts in driving consumer loyalty through direct and indirect approaches. The empirical study has been conducted by taking a sample of 600 consumers from three diverse service categories, i.e. Health, Retail, and Wellness. In order to observe the service category as moderator, the present research aims to implement the multiple-group analysis in CFA and SEM through AMOS17.0. Results suggest that in health and wellness sectors, consumer acquisition efforts are positive enough to create behavioral loyalty only. No direct effect of consumer acquisition efforts on consumer loyalty has been reported across three service sectors. This paper empirically provides a detailed assessment of acquisition drivers that help a firm to build a loyal consumer base.
The Buddhist perspective of continual improvement
Authors: Jayawardane T. , De Alwis A. C.
Published: November 2016

Continual Improvement (CI) is closely linked to Japanese quality management. As the CI concepts were developed in a strong Buddhist culture in the background, a remarkable similarity can be seen between CI and Buddhism. This paper reveals the overlap between various sciences of CI and various Suttas’ in the Sutta Pitaka of Buddhism as the main reference body. Sutta Pitaka is one of the three key branches of Tripitaka which is the oldest and most original text available on the Buddhist philosophy. The similarities that are observed deep inside the tools, techniques and behavioral branches of CI such as cause and effect relations, problem validation, problem solving sequence, problem types, corrective and preventive action, nonconformity, autonomy and knowledge are discussed in detail.
Customer based brand equity for empowering Sri Lanka as a tourism destination: with special reference to tea tourism
Authors: Koththagoda K. C. , Thushara S. C.
Published: November 2016

Tea tourism is one of the alternative forms of tourism which is being operated in the tea growing regions in the world. Sri Lanka also can benefit from adopting and promoting tea tourism. The main purpose of this study is to propose a practical model to empower Sri Lanka as a tea tourism destination. In this study, Keller’s constructs of the pyramid of brand equity, including brand salience, brand performance, brand imagery, brand judgments, brand feelings, and brand resonance, are investigated and their relationships with brand equity, as well as their effects on customer loyalty and satisfaction in Tea tourism in Sri Lanka are determined. The statistical population of the present study is all foreign visitors from tea estates based recreational sites in Sri Lanka. The data were collected by administering questionnaire. The sample consisted with 385 randomly selected individuals. The research hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling and the final model was confirmed. The findings of the study revealed that only the relationships between brand salience and customer loyalty, brand imagery and brand performance towards brand equity were not significant, and all other relationships were significant. Also, fit indices obtained from the conceptual model indicates that model is valid in explaining the relationships among variables to empower Sri Lanka as a Tea Tourism destination. Therefore this proposed model emphasized how marketers should design and implement the effective marketing programs to empower Sri Lanka as a tea tourism destination. In this way, Sri Lanka can be positioned as one of the attractive and more competitive tea tourism destinations in the world which in turn could make a positive impact on foreign exchange, employment oportunities and other economic factors.
Assessment of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid exposure through fish consumption in Italy
Authors: Barbarossa Andrea , Gazzotti Teresa , Farabegoli Federica , Mancini Francesca R. , Zironi Elisa , Busani Luca , Pagliuca Giampiero
Published: November 2016

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are pollutants of anthropic origin with possible side effects on human health. Diet, and in particular fish and seafood, is considered the major intake pathway for humans. The present study investigated the levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination in twenty-five samples of fresh fillet of five widely consumed fish species purchased from large retailers in Italy, to be used for an estimation of the Italian population exposure to these contaminants. PFOS and PFOA were found in all samples, at concentrations up to 1,896 (mean = 627 ng/kg) and 487 ng/kg (mean = 75 ng/kg), respectively, confirming the role of fish as high contributor to human exposure. However, a remarkable inter-species variability was observed, and multiple factors were suggested as potentially responsible for such differences, suggesting that the preferential consumption of certain species could likely increase the intake, and thus the exposure. The exposure estimates for both average and high fish consumers resulted far below the TDIs for PFOS and PFOA in all age groups, confirming the outcomes of EFSA’s scientific report. In particular, the calculated total dietary exposure for the 95th percentile consumers belonging to the toddler age class, the most exposed group, resulted equal to 9.72 ng/kg b.w./day for PFOS and 8.39 ng/kg b.w./day for PFOA.
Constructing the self in later life: The life story of Selaelo Thias Kgatla (1949–)
Authors: Landman Christina
Published: November 2016

On 15 April 2014 the author conducted an interview with Selaelo Thias Kgatla (then 64) by means of a prearranged interview schedule to revaluate a life review. Kgatla’s years of academic and ecclesiastical involvement leading to his ordination as the minister of the Polokwane Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa at the age of 47 were considered. However, the focus was on the last 18 years before his retirement, which was to happen in December 2015. This period commenced with his ordination in 1997 and covered his involvement in church leadership as Assessor and later Moderator of the Northern Synod (since 1999) and as Moderator of the General Synod (since 2005), as well as his appointments as professor at the University of Limpopo in 1997 and at the University of Pretoria in 2010.In freezing this interview into the academic account given here, oral history and methodological sensitivities are considered. The interviewee’s ownership of his life review is acknowledged; his construction of the self as a coherent story of church leadership is respected; and the characteristics of remembering in later life are pointed out reverentially.The life review with Kgatla was expanded with interviews from colleagues and congregants of his choice who confirmed the construction of his life story as one of relationship and resistance. Finally, the author gives a concluding overview of aims achieved in the article in terms of oral methodology and the contents of a life review in which the interviewee constructed his life as a church leader on the interface between resistance and relationship.
Should we use philosophy to teach clinical communication skills?
Authors: Gerber Berna
Published: November 2016

Effective communication between the doctor and patient is crucial for good quality health care. Yet, this form of communication is often problematic, which may lead to several negative consequences for both patients and doctors. Clinical communication skills have become important components of medical training programmes. The traditional approach is to teach students particular communication skills, such as listening to patients and asking open-ended questions. Despite their importance, such training approaches do not seem to be enough to deliver medical practitioners who are able and committed to communicate effectively with patients. This might be due to the pervasive negative influence of the medical profession’s (mistaken) understanding of itself as a natural science on doctor–patient communication. Doctors who have been trained according to a positivist framework may consider their only responsibility to be the physical treatment of physical disorders. They may thus have little regard for the patient’s psychological and social world and by extension for communication with the patient and/or their caregivers. To address this problem, I propose a curriculum, based on the academic field of philosophy, for teaching clinical communication.
A square in drag as concrete universal; or, Hegel as a Sketchpad programmer
Authors: Davis Zain
Published: November 2016

In this article, by way of an analysis of a case of mathematics teacher training, I explore the general idea of pedagogic expectation of an alignment of pedagogic identities and specific realisations of mathematics in pedagogic contexts. The particular case analysed has a constructivist orientation, but the analytic resources brought to bear in the analysis can be used more generally for the description and analysis of pedagogic situations. The analysis is framed chiefly by the philosophical work of Georg Hegel alongside Basil Bernstein’s sociological discussion of evaluation in pedagogic contexts. The argument proceeds in three inter-related parts, the first of which produces an analytic description of the discursive production of the desired pedagogic subject–in this case, a teacher/student of geometry–in which I show how explication and abbreviation are used discursively in an attempt to construct the desired teacher/student–that is, a particular pedagogic identity. The second part of the argument describes the discursive production of mathematics content in a manner intended to align content with the desired teacher/student and introduces the notion of a regulative orientation in order to grasp the differences in the mathematical work of students. The third part is a synthesis of parts one and two, showing how pedagogic identity and mathematics contents are brought together as correlative effects of each other.
STEFLUX, a tool for investigating stratospheric intrusions: application to two WMO/GAW global stations
Authors: Putero Davide , Cristofanelli Paolo , Sprenger Michael , Škerlak Bojan , Tositti Laura , Bonasoni Paolo
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Stratospheric intrusion (SI) events are a topic of ongoing research, especially because of their ability to change the oxidation capacity of the troposphere and their contribution to tropospheric ozone levels. In this work, a novel tool called STEFLUX (Stratosphere-to-Troposphere Exchange Flux) is presented, discussed, and used to provide a first long-term investigation of SI over two global hot-spot regions for climate change and air pollution: the southern Himalayas and the central Mediterranean Basin. The main purpose of STEFLUX is to obtain a fast-computing and reliable identification of the SI events occurring at a specific location and during a specified time window. It relies on a compiled stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange (STE) climatology, which makes use of the ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset from the ECMWF, as well as a refined version of a well-established Lagrangian methodology. STEFLUX results are compared to the SI observations (SIO) at two high-mountain WMO/GAW global stations in these climate hot spots, i.e., the Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid (NCO-P, 5079 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Cimone (2165 m a.s.l.), which are often affected by SI events. Compared to the observational datasets at the two specific measurement sites, STEFLUX is able to detect SI events on a regional scale. Furthermore, it has the advantage of retaining additional information concerning the pathway of stratospheric-affected air masses, such as the location of tropopause crossing and other meteorological parameters along the trajectories. However, STEFLUX neglects mixing and dilution that air masses undergo along their transport within the troposphere. Therefore, the regional-scale STEFLUX events cannot be expected to perfectly reproduce the point measurements at NCO-P and Mt. Cimone, which are also affected by small-scale (orographic) circulations. Still, the seasonal variability in SI events according to SIO and STEFLUX agrees fairly well. By exploiting the fact that the ERA-Interim reanalysis extends back to 1979, the long-term climatology of SI events at NCO-P and Mt. Cimone is also assessed in this work. The analysis of the 35-year record at both stations denies the existence of any significant trend in the SI frequency, except for winter seasons at NCO-P. Furthermore, for the first time, by using the STEFLUX outputs, we investigate the potential impact of specific climate factors (i.e. ENSO, QBO, and solar activity) on SI frequency variability over the Mediterranean Basin and the Himalayas.