bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
URGENSI BAGIAN LAYANAN ANAK DAN REMAJA DI PUSAT PERPUSTAKAAN DAN PENYEBARAN TEKNOLOGI PERTANIAN
Authors: Sumanti Dinda Ayu
Published: January 2019

Indonesian Center for Agricultural Library and Technology Dissemination (ICALTD) as a special library of the government institutions under the Ministry of Agriculture has a vision, mission, duty, and special functions to support the activities of its mother-institutions. However, ICALTD has developed its organization by presenting library services for children and young-adult since 2013. The purposes of this research is to describe the conditions, activities, and programs on library services for children and young-adult. This research used qualitative approaches with descriptive methods. The results showed, although ICALTD has already taken a good inovation with its addition of services for children, the services has not been optimal. Some adjustments and policy should be make for the better services in the future.
An Indoor Room Classification System for Social Robots via Integration of CNN and ECOC
Authors: Othman Kamal M. , Rad Ahmad B.
Published: January 2019

The ability to classify rooms in a home is one of many attributes that are desired for social robots. In this paper, we address the problem of indoor room classification via several convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures, i.e., VGG16, VGG19, & Inception V3. The main objective is to recognize five indoor classes (bathroom, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and living room) from a Places dataset. We considered 11600 images per class and subsequently fine-tuned the networks. The simulation studies suggest that cleaning the disparate data produced much better results in all the examined CNN architectures. We report that VGG16 & VGG19 fine-tuned models with training on all layers produced the best validation accuracy, with 93.29% and 93.61% on clean data, respectively. We also propose and examine a combination model of CNN and a multi-binary classifier referred to as error correcting output code (ECOC) with the clean data. The highest validation accuracy of 15 binary classifiers reached up to 98.5%, where the average of all classifiers was 95.37%. CNN and CNN-ECOC, and an alternative form called CNN-ECOC Regression, were evaluated in real-time implementation on a NAO humanoid robot. The results show the superiority of the combination model of CNN and ECOC over the conventional CNN. The implications and the challenges of real-time experiments are also discussed in the paper.
Effect of Impregnation with Maltodextrin and 1,3-Dimethylol-4,5-Dihydroxyethyleneurea on the Conventional Drying Characteristics of Poplar Wood
Authors: Cai Mingzhen , Fu Zongying , Cai Yingchun , Zhang Yue , Cai Jun , Xu Cong
Published: January 2019

The drying characteristics of poplar wood (Populus adenopoda Maxim) under three treatments were investigated with the aim of improving the drying quality of the impregnated wood. Untreated materials, impregnated materials with 10% initial moisture content (MC), and impregnated materials with 20% initial MC—denoted as T1, T2, and T3, respectively—were examined during conventional drying. Relative to that of T1, the average drying rate of T2 was reduced by 46%, and that of T3 was reduced by 37%. The anti-swelling efficiency of T2 sharply increased, whereas that of T3 only slightly increased in width and thickness. The drying defects of T2 were markedly less than those of T1 and T3, attributed to the reduced residual stress and fixation of the modifier. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that large amounts of modifiers were deposited inside the cell cavity of T2, whereas small amounts of modifiers were deposited in the cell cavity of T3. The impregnation treatment generally reduced the average drying rate and MC uniformity and delayed the decrease in residual stress; however, it reduced the number of defects in the wood and considerably improved the dimensional stability of the wood. Meanwhile, impregnation treatment with increased initial MC could potentially lead to more drying defects and increase production cost.
Heat Shock Protein 27 Phosphorylation Regulates Tumor Cell Migration under Shear Stress
Authors: Zhang Baohong , Xie Fei , Aziz Aziz ur Rehman , Shao Shuai , Li Wang , Deng Sha , Liao Xiaoling , Liu Bo
Published: January 2019

Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is a multifunctional protein that undergoes significant changes in its expression and phosphorylation in response to shear stress stimuli, suggesting that it may be involved in mechanotransduction. However, the mechanism of HSP27 affecting tumor cell migration under shear stress is still not clear. In this study, HSP27-enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) and HSP27-Ypet plasmids are constructed to visualize the self-polymerization of HSP27 in living cells based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology. The results show that shear stress induces polar distribution of HSP27 to regulate the dynamic structure at the cell leading edge. Shear stress also promotes HSP27 depolymerization to small molecules and then regulates polar actin accumulation and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) polar activation, which further promotes tumor cell migration. This study suggests that HSP27 plays an important role in the regulation of shear stress-induced HeLa cell migration, and it also provides a theoretical basis for HSP27 as a potential drug target for metastasis.
Seismic Performance of High-Rise Condominium Building during the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Malla Suraj , Karanjit Sudip , Dangol Purushottam , Gautam Dipendra
Published: January 2019

On 25 April 2015, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck central Nepal including the capital city, Kathmandu. Several powerful aftershocks of magnitude 6.7, 6.9 and 7.3 together with hundreds of aftershocks of local magnitude greater than 4 hit the same area until May 2015. This earthquake sequence resulted in considerable damage to the reinforced concrete buildings apart from brick and stone masonry constructions. High-rise buildings in Nepal are mainly confined in Kathmandu valley and their performance was found to be in the life safety to collapse prevention level during the Gorkha earthquake sequence. In this paper, seismic performance assessment of a reinforced concrete apartment building with brick infill masonry walls that sustained life safety performance level is presented. Rapid visual assessment performed after the 12 May aftershock (MW 7.3) highlighted the need for detailed assessment, thus, we carried out nonlinear time history analysis using the recorded accelerograms. The building was first simulated for the recorded acceleration time history (PGA = 0.16 g) and the PGA was scaled up to 0.36 g to assess the behaviour of building in the case of the maximum considered earthquake occurrence. The sum of results and observations highlighted that the building sustained minor damage due to low PGA occurrence during the Gorkha earthquake and considerable damage would have occurred in the case of 0.36 g PGA.
High-Throughput Screening Identified Compounds Sensitizing Tumor Cells to Glucose Starvation in Culture and VEGF Inhibitors In Vivo
Authors: Marciano Ran , Prasad Manu , Ievy Tal , Tzadok Sapir , Leprivier Gabriel , Elkabets Moshe , Rotblat Barak
Published: January 2019

Tumor cells utilize glucose to fuel their anabolic needs, including rapid proliferation. However, due to defective vasculature and increased glucose uptake, tumor cells must overcome glucose deprivation. Accordingly, tumor cells depend on cellular pathways promoting survival under such conditions. Targeting these survival mechanisms can thus serve as a new therapeutic strategy in oncology. As such, we sought to identify small-molecule inhibitors which sensitize tumor cells to glucose starvation by high-throughput drug screening in vitro. Specifically, we searched for inhibitors that selectively killed tumor cells growing in glucose-free but not in normal medium. This phenotypic drug screen of 7000 agents with MCF7 cells led to the identification of 67 potential candidates, 31 of which were validated individually. Among the identified compounds, we found a high number of compounds known to target mitochondria. The efficacies of two of the identified compounds, QNZ (EVP4593) and papaverine, were validated in four different tumor cell lines. We found that these agents inhibited the mTOR(Mechamistic\Mammilian Target of Rapamycin) pathway in tumor cells growing under glucose starvation, but not under normal conditions. The results were validated and confirmed in vivo, with QNZ and papaverine exhibiting superior antitumor activity in a tumor xenograft model when combined with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab (avastin). Administering these drug combinations (i.e., avastin and papaverine, and avastin and QNZ) led to significant reductions in proliferation and mTOR activity of the aggressive DLD1 colon cell line in mice. Given our findings, we propose that compounds targeting metabolically challenged tumors, such as inhibitors of mitochondrial activity, be considered as a therapeutic strategy in cancer.
Preparation of Crosslinked Enzyme Aggregates of a Thermostable Cyclodextrin Glucosyltransferase from Thermoanaerobacter sp. Critical Effect of the Crosslinking Agent
Authors: Rojas Mayerlenis Jimenez , Amaral-Fonseca Murilo , Zanin Gisella Maria , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto , Giordano Raquel de Lima Camargo , Tardioli Paulo Waldir
Published: January 2019

Crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of a thermostable cyclodextrin glucosyltransferase (CGTase) from Thermoanaerobacter sp. have been prepared for the production of cyclodextrins (CDs). Different parameters in the precipitation (nature and concentration of precipitant) and crosslinking steps (time of reaction with cross-linker, nature and concentration of the crosslinker) were evaluated on the production of CLEAs of CGTase. Among the seven studied precipitants, acetone with a 75% (v/v) concentration produced the aggregates of CGTase with higher activity, which retained 97% of the initial activity. Concerning the cross-linker (glutaraldehyde, starch–aldehyde, and pectin–aldehyde), starch–aldehyde produced the most active CLEAs. The use of bovine serum albumin as co-feeder decreased the expressed activity. Addition of polyethylenimine at the end of cross-linking step prevented the leakage of the enzyme and the subsequent Schiff’s bases reduction with sodium borohydride permitted to maintain 24% of the initial activity even with the large dextrin as substrate. The optimal conditions for the immobilization process required were defined as 75% (v/v) acetone as precipitation reagent for 1 h at 20 °C, 20 mM starch–aldehyde as crosslinking reagent for 2 h at 20 °C, treatment with 1 mg/mL of polyethylenimine for 5 min, reduction with 1 mg/mL of sodium borohydride. The CLEAs of CGTase were active catalyst (similarly to the free enzyme) in the production of cyclodextrins at 50 °C and pH 6.0 for 6 h reaction, maintaining intact their structures. Besides this, after five cycles of 3 h the total cyclodextrin yield was 80% of the initial value (first batch, with around 45% CD yield).
Nanosheet MFI Zeolites for Gas Phase Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein
Authors: Shan Jianfeng , Li Zhikai , Zhu Shanhui , Liu Huan , Li Junfen , Wang Jianguo , Fan Weibin
Published: January 2019

To overcome the rapid deactivation of conventional ZSM-5, novel nanosheet MFI zeolites, with different Si/Al molar ratios were well fabricated. It was found that Si/Al molar ratios, do not just affect acid properties, but also determine the morphologies of nanosheet MFI zeolites by changing a-c plane areas of zeolite nanosheets. In reaction of gas phase glycerol dehydration to acrolein, the nanosheet MFI zeolites were much more active and stable than conventional ZSM-5 catalysts, owing to their suitable acidity and unique nanosheet structure. For nanosheet MFI zeolite, with Si/Al = 50 (NMZ-50), the conversion of glycerol is higher than 99% in the initial 12 h, with an acrolein selectivity of 86.6%, better than most previous reports. This superior stability of NMZ-50 can be ascribed to its low coke deposition rate and improved coke tolerance capacity. Additionally, it is interesting to find that Al contents do not just simply affect acid properties, but also determine morphologies of nanosheet MFI zeolites, and thus influence catalytic performance.
Preparation of Electrosprayed Poly(caprolactone) Microparticles Based on Green Solvents and Related Investigations on the Effects of Solution Properties as Well as Operating Parameters
Authors: Zhang Shengchang , Campagne Christine , Salaün Fabien
Published: January 2019

Electrosprayed poly(caprolactone) (PCL) microparticles were produced using five solvents (ethyl acetate, acetone, anisole, glacial acetic acid and chloroform) under different PCL concentrations and operating parameters. Not only green and appropriate solvent for PCL electrospraying was pointed out, but also the effects of solution properties (surface tension, electrical conductivity, viscosity and vapor pressure) and operating parameters (flow rate, working distance and applied voltage) on the formation of electrosprayed particles were clarified. The formation and shape of Taylor cone during electrospraying was observed by high-speed images captured with a camera, and the size and morphology of electrosprayed particles were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopies. It can conclude that the cone–jet range of applied voltage mainly depended on electrical conductivity, and an ideal Taylor cone was easier to form under high viscosity and low surface tension. Although high electrical conductivity was a contributor to fabricate tiny particles, it was easier to fabricate mono-dispersed microparticles under low electrical conductivity. The poly-dispersed distribution obtained with a high electrical conductivity converted into mono-dispersed distribution with the increasing of viscosity. Furthermore, the size of electrosprayed particles also correlated with the surface tension and vapor pressure of the solvent used. Ethyl acetate, due to mild electrical conductivity and surface tension, moderate viscosity and vapor pressure, is a green and suitable solvent for PCL electrospraying. Single pore PCL microparticles with smooth cherry-like morphology can be prepared from ethyl acetate. Finally, long working distance not only stabilizes the break-up of charged jet, but also promotes the evaporation of solvent.
Colloidal Stability of Positively Charged Dispersions of Styrene and Acrylic Copolymers in the Presence of TiO2 and CaCO3
Authors: Wojciechowski Kamil , Gutarowicz Małgorzata , Janke Kamil , Jurek Ilona , Kaczorowski Marcin , Mierzejewska Jolanta , Parzuchowski Paweł
Published: January 2019

Increasing antibiotic resistance of several pathogenic microorganisms calls for alternative approaches to prevent spreading of bacterial diseases. We propose to employ for this purpose coatings obtained from positively charged latex dispersions. In this contribution we characterize aqueous mixed dispersions containing TiO2 or CaCO3 and methyl methacrylate-ethyl acrylate or styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymers synthesized using a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as an emulsifier. Particle size, electrokinetic (ζ) potential of the mixed dispersions and the resulting thin films, as well as antimicrobial properties of the latter are described. The TiO2 and CaCO3 dispersions were stabilised with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and optimum pH for the mixed dispersions were chosen on the basis of ζ-potential measurements. For TiO2, the maximum ζ = +35 mV was found at pH 7.5, and for CaCO3, pH was set at 8.2 (ζ = +38 mV), to prevent its dissolution. In most 1:1 mixtures of TiO2 or CaCO3 with the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-stabilised latex dispersions, two distinct particles populations were observed, corresponding to the bare latex and bare TiO2 or CaCO3 fractions. Films made of the mixed dispersions remained positively charged and showed antimicrobial activity similar or reduced with respect to the bare polymer films.
Influence of Technological Innovations on Industrial Production: A Motif Analysis on the Multilayer Network
Authors: Formichini Martina , Cimini Giulio , Pugliese Emanuele , Gabrielli Andrea
Published: January 2019

In this work we aim at identifying combinations of technological advancements that reveal the presence of local capabilities for a given industrial production. To this end, we generated a multilayer network using country-level patent and trade data, and performed motif-based analysis on this network using a statistical-validation approach derived from maximum-entropy arguments. We show that in many cases the signal far exceeds the noise, providing robust evidence of synergies between different technologies that can lead to a competitive advantage in specific markets. Our results can be highly useful for policymakers to inform industrial and innovation policies.
Characterizing Complex Networks Using Entropy-Degree Diagrams: Unveiling Changes in Functional Brain Connectivity Induced by Ayahuasca
Authors: Viol Aline , Palhano-Fontes Fernanda , Onias Heloisa , de Araujo Draulio B. , Hövel Philipp , Viswanathan Gandhi M.
Published: January 2019

With the aim of further advancing the understanding of the human brain’s functional connectivity, we propose a network metric which we term the geodesic entropy. This metric quantifies the Shannon entropy of the distance distribution to a specific node from all other nodes. It allows to characterize the influence exerted on a specific node considering statistics of the overall network structure. The measurement and characterization of this structural information has the potential to greatly improve our understanding of sustained activity and other emergent behaviors in networks. We apply this method to study how the psychedelic infusion Ayahuasca affects the functional connectivity of the human brain in resting state. We show that the geodesic entropy is able to differentiate functional networks of the human brain associated with two different states of consciousness in the awaking resting state: (i) the ordinary state and (ii) a state altered by ingestion of the Ayahuasca. The functional brain networks from subjects in the altered state have, on average, a larger geodesic entropy compared to the ordinary state. Finally, we discuss why the geodesic entropy may bring even further valuable insights into the study of the human brain and other empirical networks.
Entropy 2018 Best Paper Award
Authors:   Entropy Editorial Office
Published: January 2019

On behalf of the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Kevin H. Knuth, we are pleased to announce the Entropy Best Paper Award for 2018 [...]
Uncertainty in the Physical Testing of Floating Wind Energy Platforms’ Accuracy versus Precision
Authors: Desmond Cian J. , Hinrichs Jan-Christoph , Murphy Jimmy
Published: January 2019

This paper examines the impact on experimental uncertainty of introducing aerodynamic and rotor gyroscopic loading on a model multirotor floating wind energy platform during physical testing. In addition, a methodology and a metric are presented for the assessment of the uncertainty across the full time series for the response of a floating wind energy platform during wave basin testing. It is shown that there is a significant cost incurred in terms of experimental uncertainty through the addition of rotor thrust in the laboratory environment for the considered platform. A slight reduction in experimental uncertainty is observed through the introduction of gyroscopic rotor loading for most platform responses.
Control Design, Stability Analysis and Experimental Validation of New Application of an Interleaved Converter Operating as a Power Interface in Hybrid Microgrids
Authors: Tricarico Thiago , Gontijo Gustavo , Neves Marcello , Soares Matheus , Aredes Mauricio , Guerrero Josep M.
Published: January 2019

This paper presents a new and specific use of a bidirectional interleaved converter to perform a power interface in hybrid microgrids. The converter is responsible for regulating the power flow between the direct-current (DC) microgrid and the rest of the hybrid microgrid by controlling the DC microgrid voltage. The authors present a detailed modeling of the mentioned system in order to develop the system control design and a stability analysis. In addition, the authors propose a new control design strategy aiming at improving the voltage control disturbance rejection characteristic, while maintaining a good dynamic behavior regarding the reference tracking functionality. In this hybrid microgrid topology, a back-to-back converter connects the main grid to the AC microgrid. The main objective of this converter is to provide a high-power-quality voltage to critical and sensitive loads connected to the microgrid. The interleaved converter adjusts the DC microgrid voltage according to the operational voltage of the back-to-back converter DC link. In the DC microgrid case, the variation of load and generation connection could lead to serious voltage sag and oscillations that could be harmful to the sensitive loads. The voltage controller must be capable of rejecting these disturbances in order to maintain a high-power-quality voltage. Furthermore, experimental results are provided in order to validate this specific application of the interleaved converter and the presented control design strategy.
Thermodynamic Performance and Optimization Analysis of a Modified Organic Flash Cycle for the Recovery of Low-Grade Heat
Authors: Kim Kyoung Hoon
Published: January 2019

The recently proposed organic flash cycle (OFC) has the potential for the efficient recovery of low-grade heat, mainly due to the reduction of irreversibilities in the heat input unit. In the present study, a modified OFC (OFCM) employing a two-phase expander (TPE) and regeneration is proposed and thermodynamic and optimization analysis on this cycle is conducted compared with the basic OFC (OFCB). Six substances are considered as the working fluids. Influences of flash temperature, source temperature, and working fluid are systemically investigated on the system performance. Results showed that OFCM is superior to OFCB in the aspects of power production, thermal, and second-law efficiencies.
Egg Deposition of Micromelalopha sieversi (Staudinger) on Clones of Populus from Section Aigeiros Induces Resistance in Neighboring Plants
Authors: Guo Li , Liu Fu , Zhang Sufang , Kong Xiangbo , Zhang Zhen
Published: January 2019

Research Highlights: We demonstrated that the resistance mechanisms of plants could be used to combat damage caused by pests in forestry plantations. Background and Objectives: Poplar is the main tree species used in plantations in northern China, with Micromelalopha sieversi (Staudinger) representing a major pest species causing defoliation. Here, we investigated whether two poplar clones could resist this pest species and the physiological mechanisms involved. Materials and Methods: Two clones of Populus from section Aigeiros were used, with ‘108’ (P. × euramericana ‘Guariento’) being more attractive to M. sieversi than ‘111’ (P. × euramericana ‘Bellotto’). Three treatments were set up (oviposited plants, neighboring plants, and control plants) to determine whether resistance was induced in plants neighboring oviposited plants. Results: Significantly fewer eggs were oviposited on neighboring plants compared to control plants for both clones, with more eggs being laid on oviposited and control plants of ‘108’ compared to ‘111’. β-Pinene was detected in oviposited and neighboring plants, but not control plants for either clone. Significantly higher concentrations of 3-carene was present in oviposited and neighboring plants of ‘108’ and ‘111’ compared to control plants at 24, 48, and 72 h after oviposition. Males, females, and mated females primarily responded to electroantennogram (EAG), methyl palmitate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate at 50 ng/μL, and to 3-carene and β-pinene at 5 ng/μL, and to styrene at 10 ng/μL in EAG assays. When using these concentrations on plant leaves, 3-carene, β-pinene, and styrene significantly reduced the number of eggs laid on ‘108’, while 3-carene and β-pinene were effective for ‘111’. Conclusions: Plants neighboring oviposited plants exhibited defense responses; 3-carene and β-pinene were used to transmit chemical signals (volatile cues) from oviposited plants to neighboring plants; which induced neighboring plants released volatiles as a defense mechanism to prevent egg laying.
Some Factors Involved in the Success of Side Veneer Grafting of Pinus engelmannii Carr.
Authors: Pérez-Luna Alberto , Prieto-Ruíz José Ángel , López-Upton Javier , Carrillo-Parra Artemio , Wehenkel Christian , Chávez-Simental Jorge Armando , Hernández-Díaz José Ciro
Published: January 2019

The establishment of clonal seed orchards is a viable option for the continuous production of improved seed of desired genotypes. Grafting is the main technique used to establish clonal seed orchards. The objective of this study was to examine how the geographic location and the age class of the donor trees of buds, the phenological status of the buds, and the anatomical characteristics of the scions and the rootstocks affect the survival and growth of Pinus engelmannii Carr. grafts. Scions were collected from two trees in each of three age classes (young, middle-aged, and old). Grafting was performed with buds in two physiological states (end of dormancy and beginning of sprouting). Cross-sections of the grafted organs were obtained for anatomical analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the effects of the variables that were considered. The age class of the scion donor trees, the total area of the cut surface of the scion, and the density of resin channels in the scions significantly affected (p < 0.05) survival of the grafts. By contrast, the physiological state of the buds and the other anatomical characteristics of the grafted organs did not significantly affect graft survival. In P. engelmannii, grafting was most effective when scions from middle-aged trees were used. Graft survival was enhanced by a small total area of the cut surface of the scion and low density of resin channels in the scions. The area of the cambium of the scions directly influenced growth of the grafts.
Eukaryotic 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA Methyltransferases: Mechanisms, Cellular Functions, and Links to Disease
Authors: Bohnsack Katherine E. , Höbartner Claudia , Bohnsack Markus T.
Published: January 2019

5-methylcytosine (m5C) is an abundant RNA modification that’s presence is reported in a wide variety of RNA species, including cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and transfer RNAs (tRNAs), as well as messenger RNAs (mRNAs), enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) and a number of non-coding RNAs. In eukaryotes, C5 methylation of RNA cytosines is catalyzed by enzymes of the NOL1/NOP2/SUN domain (NSUN) family, as well as the DNA methyltransferase homologue DNMT2. In recent years, substrate RNAs and modification target nucleotides for each of these methyltransferases have been identified, and structural and biochemical analyses have provided the first insights into how each of these enzymes achieves target specificity. Functional characterizations of these proteins and the modifications they install have revealed important roles in diverse aspects of both mitochondrial and nuclear gene expression. Importantly, this knowledge has enabled a better understanding of the molecular basis of a number of diseases caused by mutations in the genes encoding m5C methyltransferases or changes in the expression level of these enzymes.
For Whom Is Anti-Bullying Intervention Most Effective? The Role of Temperament
Authors: Nocentini Annalaura , Palladino Benedetta Emanuela , Menesini Ersilia
Published: January 2019

Studying moderators of the effects of anti-bullying universal interventions is essential to elucidate what works for whom and to tailor more intensive, selective, and indicated programs which meet the needs of non-responders. The present study investigated whether early adolescents’ temperament—effortful control (EC), negative emotionality (NE), and positive emotionality (PE)—moderates the effects of the KiVa anti-bullying program. The sample consisted of 13 schools, with 1051 sixth-grade early adolescents (mean age = 10.93; SD = 0.501), randomly assigned to the KiVa intervention (seven schools; n = 536) or to the control condition (six schools; n = 516). Adolescents reported bullying and victimization before the intervention (pre-test) and after (post-test). Temperament was assessed by a self-report pre-test. Findings showed that EC and NE moderated intervention effects on bullying, indicating that subgroups with high levels of EC, and with low and medium levels of NE were those who benefited most from the intervention. The low-EC subgroup showed a lower increase compared to the control condition, with a considerable effect size. Conversely, the high-NE subgroup did not show any positive effects compared to the control group. Regarding victimization, findings showed that early adolescents with high and medium levels of PE were the subgroups who benefited the most from the intervention, whereas the low-PE subgroup was the most resistant. The present study confirms the relevance of considering temperament as a moderator of intervention effects, since interventions tailored to early adolescents with specific traits might yield larger effects.
Outdoor Fitness Equipment Usage Behaviors in Natural Settings
Authors: Chow Hsueh-wen , Wu Dai-Rong
Published: January 2019

Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) areas have become a popular form of built environment infrastructure in public open spaces as a means to improve public health through increased physical activity. However, the benefits of using OFE are not consistent, and several OFE accidents have been reported. In this study, we videotaped how OFE users operate OFE in parks and selected four types of popular OFE (the waist twister, air walker, ski machine, and waist/back massager) for video content analysis. Furthermore, we established coding schemes and compared results with the instructions provided by OFE manufacturers. The results revealed various usage behaviors for the same OFE types. In addition, we observed that a significant portion of user behaviors did not follow manufacturers’ instructions, which might pose potential risks or actually cause injuries. Children are especially prone to act improperly. This study provides empirical evidence indicating the existence of potential safety risks due to inappropriate usage behaviors that might lead to accidents and injuries while using OFE. This study provides crucial information that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of OFE and to develop future park or open space initiatives.
The Colonoscopy Satisfaction and Safety Questionnaire (CSSQP) for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Development and Validation Study
Authors: Brotons Alicia , Guilabert Mercedes , Lacueva Francisco Javier , Mira José Joaquín , Lumbreras Blanca , Picó María Dolores , Vitaller Julián , García-Sepulcre Mariana Fe , Belda Germán , Sola-Vera Javier
Published: January 2019

Colonoscopy services working in colorectal cancer screening programs must perform periodic controls to improve the quality based on patients’ experiences. However, there are no validated instruments in this setting that include the two core dimensions for optimal care: satisfaction and safety. The aim of this study was to design and validate a specific questionnaire for patients undergoing screening colonoscopy after a positive fecal occult blood test, the Colonoscopy Satisfaction and Safety Questionnaire based on patients’ experience (CSSQP). The design included a review of available evidence and used focus groups to identify the relevant dimensions to produce the instrument (content validity). Face validity was analyzed involving 15 patients. Reliability and construct and empirical validity were calculated. Validation involved patients from the colorectal cancer screening program at two referral hospitals in Spain. The CSSQP version 1 consisted of 15 items. The principal components analysis of the satisfaction items isolated three factors with saturation of elements above 0.52 and with high internal consistency and split-half readability: Information, Care, and Service and Facilities features. The analysis of the safety items isolated two factors with element saturations above 0.58: Information Gaps and Safety Incidents. The CSSQP is a new valid and reliable tool for measuring patient’ experiences, including satisfaction and safety perception, after a colorectal cancer screening colonoscopy.
Localization of Vehicle Back-Up Alarms by Users of Level-Dependent Hearing Protectors under Industrial Noise Conditions Generated at a Forge
Authors: Mlynski Rafal , Kozlowski Emil
Published: January 2019

The use of hearing protectors in various noisy workplaces is often necessary. For safety reasons, auditory information may be required to correctly localize the direction of an auditory danger signal. The purpose of this study was to verify if the selection of a specific level-dependent hearing protector may be important for the ability to localize a vehicle back-up alarm signal. The laboratory conditions reflected industrial conditions, under which an impulse noise was emitted against a background of continuous noise. A passive mode and a level-dependent mode (maximum and incomplete amplification) were considered. Four different models of level-dependent earmuffs and one model of level-dependent earplugs were included in the tests. The tests enabled differentiation between the individual hearing protectors. The use of earplugs in level-dependent mode did not significantly affect the ability to correctly localize the back-up alarm signal. For the earmuffs, the global assessment of the impact of a mode change revealed that, depending on the model of the earmuffs, the impact may be insignificant, but may also result in considerable impairment of the ability to localize the back-up alarm signal.
Do Crash Barriers and Fences Have an Impact on Wildlife–Vehicle Collisions?—An Artificial Intelligence and GIS-Based Analysis
Authors: Pagany Raphaela , Dorner Wolfgang
Published: January 2019

Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) cause significant road mortality of wildlife and have led to the installation of protective measures along streets. Until now, it has been difficult to determine the impact of roadside infrastructure that might act as a barrier for animals. The main deficits are the lack of geodata for roadside infrastructure and georeferenced accidents recorded for a larger area. We analyzed 113 km of road network of the district Freyung-Grafenau, Germany, and 1571 WVCs, examining correlations between the appearance of WVCs, the presence or absence of roadside infrastructure, particularly crash barriers and fences, and the relevance of the blocking effect for individual species. To receive infrastructure data on a larger scale, we analyzed 5596 road inspection images with a neural network for barrier recognition and a GIS for a complete spatial inventory. This data was combined with the data of WVCs in GIS to evaluate the infrastructure’s impact on accidents. The results show that crash barriers have an effect on WVCs, as collisions are lower on roads with crash barriers. In particular, smaller animals have a lower collision share. The risk reduction at fenced sections could not be proven as fenced sections are only available at 3% of the analyzed roads. Thus, especially the fence dataset must be validated by a larger sample number. However, these preliminary results indicate that the combination of artificial intelligence and GIS may be used to analyze and better allocate protective barriers or to apply it in alternative measures, such as dynamic WVC risk-warning.
Impact of Mechanical Load on the Expression Profile of Synovial Fibroblasts from Patients with and without Osteoarthritis
Authors: Schröder Agnes , Nazet Ute , Muschter Dominique , Grässel Susanne , Proff Peter , Kirschneck Christian
Published: January 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects the integrity of the entire joint including the synovium. The most abundant cells in the synovium are fibroblasts (SF). Excessive mechanical loading might contribute to OA pathogenesis. Here, we investigate the effects of mechanical loading on SF derived from non-OA (N-SF) and OA patients (OA-SF). We treated N-SF and OA-SF with or without mechanical loading for 48h after 24h of preincubation. Then we assessed gene and protein expression of proinflammatory factors (TNFα, COX-2, PG-E2, IL-6), extracellular matrix (ECM) components (COL1, FN1) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) via RT-qPCR, ELISA, DMMB assay and HPLC. Mechanical loading significantly increased TNFα and PG-E2 secretion by N-SF and OA-SF, whereas in OA-SF IL-6 secretion was reduced. COL1 and FN1 secretion were downregulated in N-SF during loading. OA-SF secreted less COL1 compared to N-SF under control conditions. In contrast, OA-SF in general expressed more FN1. GAG synthesis was upregulated in N-SF, but not in OA-SF during loading with OA-SF displaying a higher charge density than N-SF. Mechanical loading enhanced proinflammatory factor expression and GAG synthesis and decreased secretion of ECM components in N-SFs, indicating a contributing role of SF to OA development.
Challenges and Contradictions of Metal Nano-Particle Applications for Radio-Sensitivity Enhancement in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Pagáčová Eva , Štefančíková Lenka , Schmidt-Kaler Franz , Hildenbrand Georg , Vičar Tomáš , Depeš Daniel , Lee Jin-Ho , Bestvater Felix , Lacombe Sandrine , Porcel Erika , Roux Stéphane , Wenz Frederik , Kopečná Olga , Falková Iva , Hausmann Michael , Falk Martin
Published: January 2019

From the very beginnings of radiotherapy, a crucial question persists with how to target the radiation effectiveness into the tumor while preserving surrounding tissues as undamaged as possible. One promising approach is to selectively pre-sensitize tumor cells by metallic nanoparticles. However, though the “physics” behind nanoparticle-mediated radio-interaction has been well elaborated, practical applications in medicine remain challenging and often disappointing because of limited knowledge on biological mechanisms leading to cell damage enhancement and eventually cell death. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of different nanoparticle materials (platinum (Pt), and gold (Au)), cancer cell types (HeLa, U87, and SKBr3), and doses (up to 4 Gy) of low-Linear Energy Transfer (LET) ionizing radiation (γ- and X-rays) on the extent, complexity and reparability of radiation-induced γH2AX + 53BP1 foci, the markers of double stand breaks (DSBs). Firstly, we sensitively compared the focus presence in nuclei during a long period of time post-irradiation (24 h) in spatially (three-dimensionally, 3D) fixed cells incubated and non-incubated with Pt nanoparticles by means of high-resolution immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. The data were compared with our preliminary results obtained for Au nanoparticles and recently published results for gadolinium (Gd) nanoparticles of approximately the same size (2–3 nm). Next, we introduced a novel super-resolution approach—single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM)—to study the internal structure of the repair foci. In these experiments, 10 nm Au nanoparticles were used that could be also visualized by SMLM. Altogether, the data show that different nanoparticles may or may not enhance radiation damage to DNA, so multi-parameter effects have to be considered to better interpret the radiosensitization. Based on these findings, we discussed on conclusions and contradictions related to the effectiveness and presumptive mechanisms of the cell radiosensitization by nanoparticles. We also demonstrate that SMLM offers new perspectives to study internal structures of repair foci with the goal to better evaluate potential differences in DNA damage patterns.
Dasatinib/HP-β-CD Inclusion Complex Based Aqueous Formulation as a Promising Tool for the Treatment of Paediatric Neuromuscular Disorders
Authors: Cutrignelli Annalisa , Sanarica Francesca , Lopalco Antonio , Lopedota Angela , Laquintana Valentino , Franco Massimo , Boccanegra Brigida , Mantuano Paola , De Luca Annamaria , Denora Nunzio
Published: January 2019

New scientific findings have recently shown that dasatinib (DAS), the first-choice oral drug in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for adult patients who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib, is also potentially useful in the paediatric age. Moreover, recent preclinical evidences suggest that this drug could be useful for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, since it targets cSrc tyrosin kinase. Based on these considerations, the purpose of this work was to use the strategy of complexation with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) in order to obtain an aqueous preparation of DAS, which is characterized by a low water solubility (6.49 × 10−4 mg/mL). Complexation studies demonstrated that HP-β-CD is able to form a stable host-guest inclusion complex with DAS with a 1:1 apparent formation constant of 922.13 M−1, as also demonstrated by the Job’s plot, with an increase in DAS aqueous solubility of about 21 times in the presence of 6% w/v of HP-β-CD (0.014 mg/mL). The inclusion complex has been prepared in the solid state by lyophilization and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) techniques, and its dissolution profile was studied at different pH values. Moreover, in view of potential use of DAS for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the cytotoxic effect of the inclusion complex has been assessed on C2C12 cells, a murine muscle satellite cell line. In parallel, a one-week oral treatment was performed in wild type C57Bl/6J mice to test both palatability and the exposure levels of the new oral formulation of the compound. In conclusion, this new inclusion complex could allow the development of a liquid and solvent free formulation to be administered both orally and parenterally, especially in the case of an administration in paediatric age.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Cancer: Mechanisms and Molecular Targets
Authors: Ballester Beatriz , Milara Javier , Cortijo Julio
Published: January 2019

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common idiopathic interstitial pulmonary disease with a median survival of 2–4 years after diagnosis. A significant number of IPF patients have risk factors, such as a history of smoking or concomitant emphysema, both of which can predispose the patient to lung cancer (LC) (mostly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)). In fact, IPF itself increases the risk of LC development by 7% to 20%. In this regard, there are multiple common genetic, molecular, and cellular processes that connect lung fibrosis with LC, such as myofibroblast/mesenchymal transition, myofibroblast activation and uncontrolled proliferation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, alterations of growth factors expression, oxidative stress, and large genetic and epigenetic variations that can predispose the patient to develop IPF and LC. The current approved IPF therapies, pirfenidone and nintedanib, are also active in LC. In fact, nintedanib is approved as a second line treatment in NSCLC, and pirfenidone has shown anti-neoplastic effects in preclinical studies. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge on the mechanisms implicated in the development of LC in patients with IPF as well as in current IPF and LC-IPF candidate therapies based on novel molecular advances.
Astragaloside IV Alleviates Ammonia-Induced Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells
Authors: Wang Fengge , Zhao Yun , Chen Shuxiong , Chen Lu , Sun Liting , Cao Maosheng , Li Chunjin , Zhou Xu
Published: January 2019

Ammonia is one of the major toxic components of metabolites in blood and tissues of high-producing dairy cows and could affect the health of bovine mammary glands. Bovine mammary epithelial cells are sensitive to oxidative stress induced by intensive cell metabolism. In our previous study, we found that ammonia could induce oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammatory responses in bovine mammary epithelial cells. In the present study, the cytoprotective effects of astragaloside IV against ammonia in vitro were explored. The results demonstrated that pretreatment of MAC-T cells with astragaloside IV could potently suppress the increase in the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the rate of cell apoptosis, inhibit the ammonia-induced inflammatory responses, and rescue the decrease of cell viability. Astragaloside IV prevented ammonia-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress. Astragaloside IV also significantly suppressed the levels of BAX, caspase 3 and p53 phosphorylation in ammonia-induced MAC-T cells. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) was essential for cytoprotective effects of astragaloside IV in MAC-T cells, as knockdown of Nrf2 dramatically abolished the prosurvival effects of astragaloside IV on treated cells. Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK pathways were responsible for the induction of Nrf2 by astragaloside IV. In conclusion, astragaloside IV played a beneficial role against ammonia-induced damage of MAC-T cells. This provides a cue for future study to use astragaloside IV as a protective and curative agent against ammonia exposure of mammary glands in dairy cows.
Serological Number for Characterization of Circulating Antibodies
Authors: Palermo Andrea , Nesterov-Mueller Alexander
Published: January 2019

The dissociation constant of the circulating IgG antibodies is suggested to be proportional to the partial concentrations of these antibodies in blood serum in equilibrium. This coefficient, called serological number, is a dimensionless parameter and may be equal for all antibodies in a serum. Based on the serological number, we derived the equilibrium equation of the humoral immune system which allows estimating the number of different binding motifs in a serum. This equation also allows estimating the number of binding motifs of posttranslational and conformational nature. The feasibility of measuring the serological number via peptide arrays was demonstrated. Fifteen peptides with unique binding motifs were incubated and stained with the blood serum of a healthy adult at different dilutions. From these experiments, the serological number was determined. The serological number may explain the pre-existing antibody response after vaccination.
Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance for Predicting the Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Treatment
Authors: Imai Kenji , Takai Koji , Hanai Tatsunori , Suetsugu Atsushi , Shiraki Makoto , Shimizu Masahito
Published: January 2019

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the disorder of glucose metabolism on the recurrence of HCC after curative treatment. Two hundred and eleven patients with HCC who received curative treatment in our hospital from 2006 to 2017 were enrolled in this study. Recurrence-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the differences between the groups partitioned by the presence or absence of DM and the values of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting immunoreactive insulin (FIRI), and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were evaluated using the log-rank test. There were no significant differences in the recurrence-free survival rate between the patients with and without DM (p = 0.144), higher and lower levels of HbA1c (≥6.5 and <6.5%, respectively; p = 0.509), FPG (≥126 and <126 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.143), and FIRI (≥10 and <10 μU/mL, respectively; p = 0.248). However, the higher HOMA-IR group (≥2.3) had HCC recurrence significantly earlier than the lower HOMA-IR group (<2.3, p = 0.013). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the higher and lower HOMA-IR groups without DM (p = 0.009), and there was no significant difference between those groups with DM (p = 0.759). A higher HOMA-IR level, particularly in non-diabetic patients, was a significant predictor for HCC recurrence after curative treatment.