bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptability and Forage Characterization of Finger Millet Accessions in U.S. Southern Great Plains
Authors: Baath Gurjinder S. , Northup Brian K. , Gowda Prasanna H. , Rocateli Alexandre C. , Turner Kenneth E.
Published: September 2018

Low forage quality of available perennial warm-season grasses during mid-summer through late summer affects the production of stocker cattle in the U.S. Southern Great Plains (SGP). Finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn L.), which is a drought tolerant annual grass, could be a promising forage for the SGP. This field study assessed the adaptability and forage characteristics of 11 finger millet accessions originally sourced (1964–1981) from different parts of the world. Results of this study suggested that finger millet can generate forage yields ranging from 5.0 to 12.3 Mg ha−1 165 days after planting. Finger millet forage contained 105 to 156 g kg−1 crude protein, 598 to 734 g kg−1 neutral detergent fiber, 268 to 382 g kg−1 acid detergent fiber, 597 to 730 g kg−1 in vitro true digestibility, and 387 to 552 g kg−1 neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Ten of the 11 accessions flowered and produced grains with yields varying from 60 to 1636 kg ha−1. Overall, finger millet has the potential to serve as an alternative crop for the production of forage and possibly grain in the SGP. Further research needs to be focused on developing strategies for agronomic management and evaluating the capacity of finger millet under different grazing and hay production settings in the SGP.
Varietal Identification of Open-Pollinated Onion Cultivars Using a Nanofluidic Array of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Markers
Authors: Lee Ji-Hee , Robin Arif Hasan Khan , Natarajan Sathishkumar , Jung Hee-Jeong , Nou Ill-Sup
Published: September 2018

Onions (Allium cepa L.) are a medicinally and economically important vegetable species rich in sulphur compounds, polyphenols, and antioxidants. In Korea, most of the onion cultivars are of the open-pollinated, heterozygous, short duration, and early spring type, which are generally harvested in April. Precise varietal identification is crucially important to warrant the authenticity of supreme onion genotypes, which aid in affirming the genetic identity of breeding materials at both the breeders and farmers levels. A set of markers identified from the double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) database of Allium cepa L. and involving single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were deployed for genotyping deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples extracted from seven genetically diverse onion cultivars collected in Korea and Japan. The validation process led us to designating 43 SNPs out of 48 that unequivocally identified all seven genotypes with high statistical validity (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic relationships and varietal identity among the cultivars were ascertained by Bayesian clustering and ordination analyses. Two genotypes, Singsingball and Taegeukhwang of Korean origin, showed a greater genetic distance from the five other onion cultivars. The SNP markers deployed in this study effectively authenticated the DNA fingerprints of the early spring onion cultivars utilizing a high-throughput genotyping protocol. The method exploited in this study provides an efficient pathway of verifying genetic identity of onion genotypes for their quality control. The markers developed are highly useful in the management and conservation of elite onion breeding materials at the farmers’ level.
Micromechanism of the Dispersion Behavior of Polymer-Modified Rejuvenators in Aged Asphalt Material
Authors: Zhao Mingyu , Shen Fan , Ding Qingjun
Published: September 2018

Polymer-modified rejuvenator has a different composition and dispersion behavior to traditional rejuvenators. The objective of this study was to investigate the micromechanism of polymer-modified rejuvenators on the behavior of aged asphalt binder. Firstly, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis was conducted to determine the dispersion effectiveness. Secondly, the dispersal behavior of polymer-modified rejuvenators was studied by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rheological, toughness-tenacity, and force–ductility analyses of the rejuvenated asphalt binder were additionally performed. The results indicate that the contacted asphaltenic micelles in aged asphalt binder were dispersed by dispersion agent in the polymer-modified rejuvenator, and that the dispersion ability of the polymer-modified rejuvenator was promoted to the commercial rejuvenator level. Additionally, the polymer-modified rejuvenator was found to improve the rejuvenated asphalt binder’s resistance to deformation, through the formation of polymeric network structures in the asphalt binder. The results may be used to improve the performance of rejuvenated asphalt binder in recycled-pavement engineering.
Decision Support System for Medical Diagnosis Utilizing Imbalanced Clinical Data
Authors: Han Huirui , Huang Mengxing , Zhang Yu , Liu Jing
Published: September 2018

The clinical decision support system provides an automatic diagnosis of human diseases using machine learning techniques to analyze features of patients and classify patients according to different diseases. An analysis of real-world electronic health record (EHR) data has revealed that a patient could be diagnosed as having more than one disease simultaneously. Therefore, to suggest a list of possible diseases, the task of classifying patients is transferred into a multi-label learning task. For most multi-label learning techniques, the class imbalance that exists in EHR data may bring about performance degradation. Cross-Coupling Aggregation (COCOA) is a typical multi-label learning approach that is aimed at leveraging label correlation and exploring class imbalance. For each label, COCOA aggregates the predictive result of a binary-class imbalance classifier corresponding to this label as well as the predictive results of some multi-class imbalance classifiers corresponding to the pairs of this label and other labels. However, class imbalance may still affect a multi-class imbalance learner when the number of a coupling label is too small. To improve the performance of COCOA, a regularized ensemble approach integrated into a multi-class classification process of COCOA named as COCOA-RE is presented in this paper. To provide disease diagnosis, COCOA-RE learns from the available laboratory test reports and essential information of patients and produces a multi-label predictive model. Experiments were performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed multi-label learning approach, and the proposed approach was implemented in a developed system prototype.
Lamb Wave Local Wavenumber Approach for Characterizing Flat Bottom Defects in an Isotropic Thin Plate
Authors: Fan Guopeng , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Hui , Zhu Wenfa , Chai Xiaodong
Published: September 2018

This paper aims to use the Lamb wave local wavenumber approach to characterize flat bottom defects (including circular flat bottom holes and a rectangular groove) in an isotropic thin plate. An air-coupled transducer (ACT) with a special incidence angle is used to actuate the fundamental anti-symmetric mode (A0). A laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) is employed to measure the out-of-plane velocity over a target area. These signals are processed by the wavenumber domain filtering technique in order to remove any modes other than the A0 mode. The filtered signals are transformed back into the time-space domain. The space-frequency-wavenumber spectrum is then obtained by using three-dimensional fast Fourier transform (3D FFT) and a short space transform, which can retain the spatial information and reduce the magnitude of side lobes in the wavenumber domain. The average wavenumber is calculated, as a real signal usually contains a certain bandwidth instead of the singular frequency component. Both simulation results and experimental results demonstrate that the average wavenumber can be used not only to identify shape, location, and size of the damage, but also quantify the depth of the damage. In addition, the direction of an inclined rectangular groove is obtained by calculating the image moments under grayscale. This hybrid and non-contact system based on the local wavenumber approach can be provided with a high resolution.
NZEB Renovation Definition in a Heating Dominated Climate: Case Study of Poland
Authors: Firląg Szymon , Piasecki Michał
Published: September 2018

The main objective of this article is to propose possible requirements for NZEB (nearly zero-energy buildings) renovation definition in heating dominated climate. A survey was carried out on potential approaches and indicators that could be used for the NZEB definition of existing single-family houses in Poland. The process of determining requirements for the NZEB renovation definition was divided into two stages. The cost-optimal U-values of the building’s envelope were initially calculated and, based on them, the energy demand for heating (QH) and the reduction of non-renewable primary energy demand (QP) were estimated. The calculations were made for different energy prices, locations, and two building models. Based on them the requirements for cost-optimal renovation (QH ≤ 60 kWh/(m² year), QP reduction ≥ 75%) and NZEB renovation (QH ≤ 40 kWh/(m² year), QP reduction ≥ 80%) were proposed. In contrast to definitions using only a maximum level of QP, two indicators were used. Such a solution is appropriate for existing buildings because it prevents the situation in which only renewable energy sources (RES) (with a low primary energy factor) will be applied in order to decrease the primary, non-renewable energy demand.
Characterizations of the Total Space (Indefinite Trans-Sasakian Manifolds) Admitting a Semi-Symmetric Metric Connection
Authors: Jin Dae Ho , Lee Jae Won
Published: September 2018

We investigate recurrent, Lie-recurrent, and Hopf lightlike hypersurfaces of an indefinite trans-Sasakian manifold with a semi-symmetric metric connection. In these hypersurfaces, we obtain several new results. Moreover, we characterize that the total space (an indefinite generalized Sasakian space form) with a semi-symmetric metric connection is an indefinite Kenmotsu space form under various lightlike hypersurfaces.
Impedance Characterization of an LCO-NMC/Graphite Cell: Ohmic Conduction, SEI Transport and Charge-Transfer Phenomenon
Authors: Ovejas Victoria , Cuadras Angel
Published: September 2018

Currently, Li-ion cells are the preferred candidates as energy sources for existing portable applications and for those being developed. Thus, a proper characterization of Li-ion cells is required to optimize their use and their manufacturing process. In this study, the transport phenomena and electrochemical processes taking place in LiCoO2-Li(NiMnCo)O2/graphite (LCO-NMC/graphite) cells are identified from half-cell measurements by means of impedance spectroscopy. The results are calculated from current densities, instead of absolute values, for the future comparison of this data with other cells. In particular, impedance spectra are fitted to simple electrical models composed of an inductive part, serial resistance, and various RQ networks—the parallel combination of a resistor and a constant phase element—depending on the cell. Thus, the evolution of resistances, capacitances, and the characteristic frequencies of the various effects are tracked with the state-of-charge (SoC) at two aging levels. Concretely, two effects are identified at the impedance spectrum; one is clearly caused by the charge transfer at the positive electrode, whereas the other one is presumably caused by the transport of lithium ions across the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Moreover, as the cells age, the characteristic frequency of the charge transfer is drastically reduced by a factor of around 70%.
The Biology of Glial Cells and Their Complex Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease: New Opportunities in Therapy
Authors: Nirzhor Saif Shahriar Rahman , Khan Rubayat Islam , Neelotpol Sharmind
Published: September 2018

Even though Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is of significant interest to the scientific community, its pathogenesis is very complicated and not well-understood. A great deal of progress has been made in AD research recently and with the advent of these new insights more therapeutic benefits may be identified that could help patients around the world. Much of the research in AD thus far has been very neuron-oriented; however, recent studies suggest that glial cells, i.e., microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (NG2 glia), are linked to the pathogenesis of AD and may offer several potential therapeutic targets against AD. In addition to a number of other functions, glial cells are responsible for maintaining homeostasis (i.e., concentration of ions, neurotransmitters, etc.) within the central nervous system (CNS) and are crucial to the structural integrity of neurons. This review explores the: (i) role of glial cells in AD pathogenesis; (ii) complex functionalities of the components involved; and (iii) potential therapeutic targets that could eventually lead to a better quality of life for AD patients.
Melatonin Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Chemotherapy Through Long Non-Coding RNA RAD51-AS1-Mediated Suppression of DNA Repair
Authors: Chen Chin-Chuan , Chen Chi-Yuan , Wang Shu-Huei , Yeh Chau-Ting , Su Shih-Chi , Ueng Shir-Hwa , Chuang Wen-Yu , Hsueh Chuen , Wang Tong-Hong
Published: September 2018

DNA repair systems are abnormally active in most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells due to accumulated mutations, resulting in elevated DNA repair capacity and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, targeting DNA repair mechanisms is a common treatment approach in HCC to sensitize cancer cells to DNA damage. In this study, we examined the anti-HCC effects of melatonin and elucidated the regulatory mechanisms. The results of functional assays showed that in addition to inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HCC cells, melatonin suppressed their DNA repair capacity, thereby promoting the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Whole-transcriptome and gain- and loss-of-function analyses revealed that melatonin induces expression of the long noncoding RNA RAD51-AS1, which binds to RAD51 mRNA to inhibit its translation, effectively decreasing the DNA repair capacity of HCC cells and increasing their sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Animal models further demonstrated that a combination of melatonin and the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide (VP16) can significantly enhance tumor growth inhibition compared with monotherapy. Our results show that melatonin is a potential adjuvant treatment for chemotherapy and radiotherapy in HCC.
miR-9-5p in Nephrectomy Specimens is a Potential Predictor of Primary Resistance to First-Line Treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ralla Bernhard , Busch Jonas , Flörcken Anne , Westermann Jörg , Zhao Zhongwei , Kilic Ergin , Weickmann Sabine , Jung Monika , Fendler Annika , Jung Klaus
Published: September 2018

Approximately 20–30% of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in first-line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) do not respond due to primary resistance to this drug. At present, suitable robust biomarkers for prediction of a response are not available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate a panel of microRNAs (miRNAs) in nephrectomy specimens for use as predictive biomarkers for TKI resistance. Archived formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded nephrectomy samples from 60 mRCC patients treated with first-line TKIs (sunitinib, n = 51; pazopanib, n = 6; sorafenib, n = 3) were categorized into responders and non-responders. Using the standard Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, patients with progressive disease within 3 months after the start of treatment with TKI were considered as non-responders and those patients with stable disease and complete or partial response under the TKI treatment for at least 6 months as responders. Based on a miRNA microarray expression profile in the two stratified groups of patients, seven differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using droplet digital reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays in the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and binary logistic regression of response prediction were performed. MiR-9-5p and miR-489-3p were able to discriminate between the two groups. MiR-9-5p, as the most significant miRNA, improved the correct prediction of primary resistance against TKIs in comparison to that of conventional clinicopathological variables. The results of the decision curve analyses, Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox regression analyses confirmed the potential of miR-9-5p in the prediction of response to TKIs and the prediction of progression-free survival after the initiation of TKI treatment.
Immobilized Biocatalysts
Authors: Grunwald Peter
Published: September 2018

n/a
Capturing the Competing Influence of Thermal and Mechanical Loads on the Strain of Turbine Blade Coatings via High Energy X-rays
Authors: Manero Albert , Knipe Kevin , Wischek Janine , Meid Carla , Okasinski John , Almer Jonathan , Karlsson Anette , Bartsch Marion , Raghavan Seetha
Published: September 2018

This paper presents findings of synchrotron diffraction measurements on tubular specimens with a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system applied by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD), having a thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer due to aging in hot air. The diffraction measurements were in situ while applying a thermal cycle with high temperature holds at 1000 °C and varying internal air cooling mass flow and mechanical load. It was observed that, during high temperature holds at 1000 °C, the TGO strain approached zero if no mechanical load or internal cooling was applied. When applying a mechanical load, the TGO in-plane strain (e22) changed to tensile and the out of plane TGO strain (e11) became compressive. The addition of internal cooling induced a thermal gradient, yielding a competing effect, driving the e22 strain to compressive and e11 strain to tensile. Quantifying TGO strain variations in response to competing factors will provide a path to controlling the TGO strain, and further improving the lifetime assessment and durability design strategies for TBC systems.
Reflections on a Three-Year-Long Teacher-Centered, Participatory Action Research Experience on Teaching Chemical Bonding in a Swiss Vocational School
Authors: Laudonia Ivano , Eilks Ingo
Published: September 2018

Chemistry is considered to be a difficult subject and chemistry education courses are not very popular among many students. Innovations in the curriculum and pedagogy may help to overcome difficulties in learning as well as motivational problems. Participatory action research (PAR) seems to be a suitable approach for developing such an innovation for the chemistry classroom. This paper reflects on the adoption of a PAR model to teacher-centered action research. A project is discussed aiming at iteratively improving lessons on chemical bonding in a Swiss vocational school. The lesson was focusing on self-determined, autonomous learning in small groups in a multimedia-supported learning environment to foster student motivation for learning. The project is based on the cooperation of a chemistry teacher and a PAR expert group of chemistry teachers operating far away from the school. The cooperation was implemented by synchronous and asynchronous digital communication. The lessons have been cyclically developed over three consecutive years of teaching. The findings from the current study indicate that the implemented practice of action research helped to both improve the teacher’s pedagogical repertoire for his chemistry lessons and contributed to the teacher’s continuing professional development in terms of better understanding how student-centered his lessons should be.
Cost-Effective eHealth System Based on a Multi-Sensor System-on-Chip Platform and Data Fusion in Cloud for Sport Activity Monitoring
Authors: Segura-Garcia Jaume , Garcia-Pineda Miguel , Tamarit-Tronch Marta , Cibrian Rosa M. , Salvador-Palmer Rosario
Published: September 2018

eHealth systems provide medical support to users and contribute to the development of mobile and quality health care. They also provide results on the prevention and follow-up of diseases by monitoring health-status indicators and methodical data gathering in patients. Telematic management of health services by means of the Internet of Things provides immediate support and it is cheaper than conventional physical presence methods. Currently, wireless communications and sensor networks allow a person or group to be monitored remotely. The aim of this paper is to develop and assess a system for monitoring physiological parameters to be applied in different scenarios, such as health or sports. This system is based on a distributed architecture, where physiological data of a person are collected by several sensors; next, a Raspberry Pi joins the information and makes a standardization process; then, these data are sent to the Cloud to be processed. Our Cloud system stores the received data and makes a data fusion process in order to indicate the athlete’s fatigue status at every moment. This system has been tested in collaboration with a small group of voluntary tri-athletes. A network simulation has been performed to plan a monitoring network for a bigger group of athletes. Finally, we have found that this system is useful for medium-term monitoring of the sports activities.
A Methodology Improving Off-Chip, Lumped RF Impedance Matching Network Response Accuracy
Authors: Vasjanov Aleksandr , Barzdenas Vaidotas
Published: September 2018

Impedance matching is concurrent with any radio frequency (RF) circuit design and is essential for maximizing the gain and efficiency while minimizing the noise of high-frequency amplifiers as well as some mixer topologies. The main impedance matching network components are capacitors, inductors, and RF transformers all of which contain parasitic parameters that influence the matching response S11 curve. After calculating matching network component values using classical matching techniques, the measured and simulated response curves differ depending on the target frequency. This results in multiple calculations and measurement cycles in order to precisely match the source and load at the desired frequency. This article proposes an algorithm and methodology of estimating component parasitic parameters and taking them into account when calculating the main component parameters (capacitance and inductance). The proposed algorithm has been implemented as a toolbox in Cadence Virtuoso and verified through simulation and measurements. Measurement results show, that at 500 MHz 10% tolerance components with parasitics included and values based on classical theory provide a 3.2–9.8% offset from the target frequency. In the same conditions, matching networks with compensated (according to the proposed algorithm) values provide 0.1–8.8% target frequency offset. At 1500 MHz 10% components provided 4–12.3% (non-compensated) and 1–8.7% (compensated) target frequency offset ranges. At 3000 MHz. The frequency offset range of using compensated matching network component values is reduced from 5.5–15.1% to 1.3–8.1%.
Subwatershed-Level Lodgepole Pine Attributes Associated with a Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak
Authors: Williams Howard , Hood Sharon M. , Keyes Christopher R. , Egan Joel M. , Negrón José
Published: September 2018

Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins; MPB) is an aggressive bark beetle that attacks numerous Pinus spp. and causes extensive mortality in lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon; LPP) forests in the western United States and Canada. We used pre-outbreak LPP attributes, cumulative MPB attack severity, and areal extent of mortality data to identify subwatershed-scale forest attributes associated with severe MPB-caused tree mortality that occurred across the Northern Rockies, USA from 1999–2014. We upscaled stand-level data to the subwatershed scale to allow identification of large LPP areas vulnerable to MPB. The highest mortality occurred in subwatersheds where LPP mean basal area was greater than 11.5 m2 ha−1 and LPP quadratic mean diameter was greater than or equal to 18 cm. A coarse assessment of federally-owned LPP-dominated forestland in the analysis area indicated about 42% could potentially be silviculturally treated. Silvicultural management may be a suitable option for many LPP forests, and our hazard model can be used to identify subwatersheds with LPP attributes associated with high susceptibility to MPB across landscape spatial scales. Identifying highly susceptible subwatersheds can help prioritize general areas for potential treatments, especially where spatially extensive areas of contiguous, highly susceptible LPP occur.
Identification, Prioritization and Mapping of Ecosystem Services in the Panchase Mountain Ecological Region of Western Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Shankar , Baral Himlal , Nitschke Craig
Published: September 2018

Ecosystem services (ES) are critical to human well-being, especially in developing countries. Improved understanding of the status of ES is required to help people improve their quality of life. The status of ES is largely unknown in many regions of Nepal. This study was carried out in one of Nepal’s biodiversity hotspots, the Panchase Mountain Ecological region (PMER), to identify, prioritize and map the major ES in the region. Primary data for the study were collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, a transect walk, and field observations. Similarly, secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished reports and satellite images of the study area. The data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Thirty-seven ES were identified from the study landscape. Among them, nine were provisioning services, thirteen regulating services, nine cultural services, and six supporting services. Interestingly, the prioritization of ES among stakeholders differed on the basis of their background, particular features of their landscape, professional engagement, and individual interests. For instance, forest users prioritized provisioning services for their daily needs whereas forest managers prioritized regulating and cultural services for overall ecosystem management and aesthetic values. Mapping of the ES from the landscape for 1995 and 2015 identified that forest area and associated ES have likely increased, especially in the upland regions, while agricultural land and their associated ES have decreased. The study can be used as a reference by planners and policy makers in managing ES in the PMER to increase synergies and reduce trade-off among various services.
Generalized Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Individual Tree Crown Ratio Models for Norway Spruce and European Beech
Authors: Sharma Ram P. , Vacek Zdeněk , Vacek Stanislav
Published: September 2018

Tree crowns are commonly measured to understand tree growth and stand dynamics. Crown ratio (CR—crown depth-to-total height ratio) is significantly affected by a number of tree- and stand-level characteristics and other factors as well. Generalized mixed-effects CR models were developed using a large dataset (measurements from 14,669 trees of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica (L.)) acquired from permanent research plots in various parts of the Czech Republic. Among several tree- and stand-level variables evaluated, diameter at breast height, height to crown base, dominant height, basal area of trees larger in diameter than a focal tree, relative spacing index, and variables describing the effects of species mixture and canopy height differentiation significantly contributed to CR variation. We included sample-plot-level variations caused by randomness in the data and other stochastic factors into the CR models using the mixed-effects modeling approach. The logistic function, which predicts the values between 0 and 1, was chosen to develop the generalized CR mixed-effects model. A large proportion of the CR variation (R2adj ≈ 0.63 (Norway spruce); 0.72 (European beech)) was described by generalized mixed-effects model without significant residual trends. Testing the CR model against a part of the model fitting dataset confirmed its high prediction precision. Our CR model can be useful for growth simulation using inventory databases that lack crown measures. Other potential implications of our CR models in forest management are mentioned in the article.
Oenological Impact of the Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera Yeast Genus on Wines—A Review
Authors: Martin Valentina , Valera Maria Jose , Medina Karina , Boido Eduardo , Carrau Francisco
Published: September 2018

Apiculate yeasts of the genus Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera are the main species present on mature grapes and play a significant role at the beginning of fermentation, producing enzymes and aroma compounds that expand the diversity of wine color and flavor. Ten species of the genus Hanseniaspora have been recovered from grapes and are associated in two groups: H. valbyensis, H. guilliermondii, H. uvarum, H. opuntiae, H. thailandica, H. meyeri, and H. clermontiae; and H. vineae, H. osmophila, and H. occidentalis. This review focuses on the application of some strains belonging to this genus in co-fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae that demonstrates their positive contribution to winemaking. Some consistent results have shown more intense flavors and complex, full-bodied wines, compared with wines produced by the use of S. cerevisiae alone. Recent genetic and physiologic studies have improved the knowledge of the Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera species. Significant increases in acetyl esters, benzenoids, and sesquiterpene flavor compounds, and relative decreases in alcohols and acids have been reported, due to different fermentation pathways compared to conventional wine yeasts.
Molecular Characterization of Near Full-Length Genomes of Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Predominantly HIV Infected Individuals in Botswana
Authors: Anderson Motswedi , Choga Wonderful Tatenda , Moyo Sikhulile , Bell Trevor Graham , Mbangiwa Tshepiso , Phinius Bonolo Bonita , Bhebhe Lynnette , Sebunya Theresa Kibirige , Lockman Shahin , Marlink Richard , Kramvis Anna , Essex Max , Musonda Rosemary Mubanga , Blackard Jason Tory , Gaseitsiwe Simani
Published: September 2018

The World Health Organization plans to eliminate hepatitis B and C Infections by 2030. Therefore, there is a need to study and understand hepatitis B virus (HBV) epidemiology and viral evolution further, including evaluating occult (HBsAg-negative) HBV infection (OBI), given that such infections are frequently undiagnosed and rarely treated. We aimed to molecularly characterize HBV genomes from 108 individuals co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or OBI identified from previous HIV studies conducted in Botswana from 2009 to 2012. Full-length (3.2 kb) and nearly full-length (~3 kb) genomes were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequences from OBI participants were compared to sequences from CHB participants and GenBank references to identify OBI-unique mutations. HBV genomes from 50 (25 CHB and 25 OBI) individuals were successfully genotyped. Among OBI participants, subgenotype A1 was identified in 12 (48%), D3 in 12 (48%), and E in 1 (4%). A similar genotype distribution was observed in CHB participants. Whole HBV genome sequences from Botswana, representing OBI and CHB, were compared for the first time. There were 43 OBI-unique mutations, of which 26 were novel. Future studies using larger sample sizes and functional analysis of OBI-unique mutations are warranted.
Evaluation of a Novel Classification of Heat-Related Illnesses: A Multicentre Observational Study (Heat Stroke STUDY 2012)
Authors: Yamamoto Takahiro , Fujita Motoki , Oda Yasutaka , Todani Masaki , Hifumi Toru , Kondo Yutaka , Shimazaki Junya , Shiraishi Shinichiro , Hayashida Kei , Yokobori Shoji , Takauji Shuhei , Wakasugi Masahiro , Nakamura Shunsuke , Kanda Jun , Yagi Masaharu , Moriya Takashi , Kawahara Takashi , Tonouchi Michihiko , Yokota Hiroyuki , Miyake Yasufumi , Shimizu Keiki , Tsuruta Ryosuke
Published: September 2018

The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Committee recently proposed a novel classification system for the severity of heat-related illnesses. The illnesses are simply classified into three stages based on symptoms and management or treatment. Stages I, II, and III broadly correspond to heat cramp and syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, respectively. Our objective was to examine whether this novel severity classification is useful in the diagnosis by healthcare professionals of patients with severe heat-related illness and organ failure. A nationwide surveillance study of heat-related illnesses was conducted between 1 June and 30 September 2012, at emergency departments in Japan. Among the 2130 patients who attended 102 emergency departments, the severity of their heat-related illness was recorded for 1799 patients, who were included in this study. In the patients with heat cramp and syncope or heat exhaustion (but not heat stroke), the blood test data (alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and platelet counts) for those classified as Stage III were significantly higher than those of patients classified as Stage I or II. There were no deaths among the patients classified as Stage I. This novel classification may avoid underestimating the severity of heat-related illness.
Disability and Its Influencing Factors among the Elderly in a County, Guangxi Province, China
Authors: Chen Shiyi , Qin Jian , Li You , Wei Yi , Long Bingshuang , Cai Jiansheng , Tang Jiexia , Xu Xia , Yu Guoqi , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: September 2018

Objectives: This study aims to understand the disability status of the elderly residents of a County (Guangxi Province, China) and explore its influencing factors. Methods: Respondents consisted of 2300 elderly people aged 60 and above from three townships in the county we studied. The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale was used to assess the disability of the elderly sample. Chi-square test was applied to compare the disability rate among the elderly with different demographic characteristics. The graph showed the disability rates of ADL, six items of Physical Activities of Daily Living (PADL) and eight items of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) at different ages. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of disability rate among the elderly. Results: The disability rates of ADL, PADL, and IADL in the elderly were 43.4%, 11.6%, and 42.4%, respectively. As with the increase in age, the disability rates of ADL, IADL, PADL, and their 14 items gradually increased (p < 0.05), with walking, using the telephone, and using public vehicles having higher disability rates than other items. The influencing factors of ADL disability were gender (OR = 0.579, 95%CI = 0.441–0.759), age (OR = 2.270, 95%CI = 1.867–2.759; OR = 4.719, 95%CI = 2.998–7.429; OR = 6.249, 95%CI = 3.667–10.648), educational level (OR = 2.844, 95%CI = 2.076–3.897; OR = 1.677, 95%CI = 1.246–2.230), and having metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR = 1.298, 95%CI = 1.044–1.613). Compared with ADL, the influencing factor of PADL disability was gender, whereas that of IADL disability was whether someone had MetS. Conclusions: With age, the possibility of ADL, PADL, and IADL damage in the elderly is higher. Gender, age, educational level, the number of chronic diseases, and whether someone has MetS might be the influencing factors of disability. Interventions should be taken from a variety of sources specific to the content of each entry.
Ionizing Radiation and Human Health: Reviewing Models of Exposure and Mechanisms of Cellular Damage. An Epigenetic Perspective
Authors: Burgio Ernesto , Piscitelli Prisco , Migliore Lucia
Published: September 2018

We reviewed available evidence in medical literature concerning experimental models of exposure to ionizing radiations (IR) and their mechanisms of producing damages on living organisms. The traditional model is based on the theory of “stochastic breakage” of one or both strands of the DNA double helix. According to this model, high doses may cause the breaks, potentially lethal to the cell by damaging both DNA strands, while low doses of IR would cause essentially single strands breaks, easily repairable, resulting in no permanent damages. The available evidence makes this classical model increasingly less acceptable, because the exposure to low doses of IR seems to have carcinogenic effects, even after years or decades, both in the exposed individuals and in subsequent generations. In addition, the cells that survived the exposure to low doses, despite being apparently normal, accumulate damages that become evident in their progeny, such as nonclonal chromosomal aberrations, which can be found even in cells not directly irradiated due to the exchange of molecular signals and complex tissue reactions involving neighboring or distant cells. For all these reasons, a paradigm shift is needed, based on evidence and epigenetics.
Strategic Uses of Facebook in Zika Outbreak Communication: Implications for the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Model
Authors: Lwin May O. , Lu Jiahui , Sheldenkar Anita , Schulz Peter J.
Published: September 2018

While social media has been increasingly used for communication of infectious disease outbreaks, little is known about how social media can improve strategic communication across various stages of the health crisis. The Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Model (Reynolds & Seeger, 2005; CERC) outlines strategies across different crisis phases and can guide crisis communication on social media. This research therefore investigates how social media can be utilized to implement and adapt the CERC model, by examining the strategic uses of Facebook in communicating the recent Zika epidemic by health authorities in Singapore. Zika-related Facebook posts of three main Singapore health agencies published within the one year period from January 2016 to December 2016 were thematically analysed. Results suggest that Facebook was used to communicate the crisis strategically, which supported and added to the CERC model. Novel uses of Facebook for outbreak communication were demonstrated, including promoting public common responsibility for disease prevention and expressing regards to the public for cooperation. Results also suggested that preparedness messages might be the most effective, as they produced a great level of public engagement. The adaptability of the CERC model in social media contexts to improve crisis communication is discussed.
Vital, Sophia, and Co.—The Quest for the Legal Personhood of Robots
Authors: Pagallo Ugo
Published: September 2018

The paper examines today’s debate on the legal status of AI robots, and how often scholars and policy makers confuse the legal agenthood of these artificial agents with the status of legal personhood. By taking into account current trends in the field, the paper suggests a twofold stance. First, policy makers shall seriously mull over the possibility of establishing novel forms of accountability and liability for the activities of AI robots in contracts and business law, e.g., new forms of legal agenthood in cases of complex distributed responsibility. Second, any hypothesis of granting AI robots full legal personhood has to be discarded in the foreseeable future. However, how should we deal with Sophia, which became the first AI application to receive citizenship of any country, namely, Saudi Arabia, in October 2017? Admittedly, granting someone, or something, legal personhood is—as always has been—a highly sensitive political issue that does not simply hinge on rational choices and empirical evidence. Discretion, arbitrariness, and even bizarre decisions play a role in this context. However, the normative reasons why legal systems grant human and artificial entities, such as corporations, their status, help us taking sides in today’s quest for the legal personhood of AI robots. Is citizen Sophia really conscious, or capable of suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous scholars?
Examples of Weak, If Not Absent, Form-Function Relations in the Vertebrate Heart
Authors: Jensen Bjarke , H. Smit Theodoor
Published: September 2018

That form and function are related is a maxim of anatomy and physiology. Yet, form-function relations can be difficult to prove. Human subjects with excessive trabeculated myocardium in the left ventricle, for example, are diagnosed with non-compaction cardiomyopathy, but the extent of trabeculations may be without relation to ejection fraction. Rather than rejecting a relation between form and function, we may ask whether the salient function is assessed. Is there a relation to electrical propagation, mean arterial blood pressure, or propensity to form blood clots? In addition, how should the extent of trabeculated muscle be assessed? While reviewing literature on trabeculated muscle, we applied Tinbergen’s four types of causation—how does it work, why does it work, how is it made, and why did it evolve—to better parse what is meant by form and function. The paper is structured around cases that highlight advantages and pitfalls of applying Tinbergen’s questions. It further uses the evolution of lunglessness in amphibians to argue that lung reduction impacts on chamber septation and it considers the evolution of an arterial outflow in fishes to argue that reductions in energy consumption may drive structural changes with little consequences to function. Concerning trabeculations, we argue they relate to pumping function in the embryo in the few weeks before the onset of coronary circulation. In human fetal and postnatal stages, a spectrum of trabeculated-to-compact myocardium makes no difference to cardiac function and in this period, form and function may appear unrelated.
Correction of Hyponatremia May Be a Treatment Stratification Biomarker: A Two-Stage Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Herrera-Gómez Francisco , Monge-Donaire Diana , Ochoa-Sangrador Carlos , Bustamante-Munguira Juan , Alamartine Eric , Álvarez F.
Published: September 2018

Changes in serum sodium concentration ([Na+]serum) can permit evaluation of the treatment effect of vasopressin antagonists (vaptans) in patients with worsening heart failure (HF) or cirrhotic ascites; that is, they may act as a treatment stratification biomarker. A two-stage systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out and contextualized by experts in fluid resuscitation and translational pharmacology (registration ID in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42017051440). Meta-analysis of aggregated dichotomous outcomes was performed. Pooled estimates for correction of hyponatremia (normalization or an increase in [Na+]serum of at least 3–5 mEq/L) under treatment with vaptans (Stage 1) and for clinical outcomes in both worsening HF (rehospitalization and/or death) and cirrhotic ascites (ascites worsening) when correction of hyponatremia is achieved (Stage 2) were calculated. The body of evidence was assessed. Correction of hyponatremia was achieved under vaptans (odds ratio (OR)/95% confidence interval (95% CI)/I2/number of studies (n): 7.48/4.95–11.30/58%/15). Clinical outcomes in both worsening HF and cirrhotic ascites improved when correction of hyponatremia was achieved (OR/95% CI/I2/n: 0.51/0.26–0.99/52%/3). Despite the appropriateness of the study design, however, there are too few trials to consider that correction of hyponatremia is a treatment stratification biomarker. Patients with worsening HF or with cirrhotic ascites needing treatment with vaptans, have better clinical outcomes when correction of hyponatremia is achieved. However, the evidence base needs to be enlarged to propose formally correction of hyponatremia as a new treatment stratification biomarker. Markers for use with drugs are needed to improve outcomes related to the use of medicines.
Metformin Decreases Risk of Tuberculosis Infection in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
Authors: Tseng Chin-Hsiao
Published: September 2018

Background: Metformin may show an antibiotic effect, but whether its use can reduce the risk of tuberculosis infection has rarely been investigated in population-based studies. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort analysis of the Taiwan’s National Health Insurance database. New-onset type 2 diabetes patients, 148,468 ever users and 15,799 never users of metformin, identified during 1999–2005 were followed up until 31 December 2011 for the incidence of tuberculosis infection. Hazard ratios were estimated by Cox regression incorporated with the inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity score. Results: A total of 360 never users and 1976 ever users developed a tuberculosis infection with respective incidence of 510.91 and 282.94 per 100,000 person–years. The overall hazard ratio of presenting a tuberculosis infection among metformin ever users in respect to never users was 0.552 (95% confidence interval: 0.493–0.617). The hazard ratios for the first (<27.10 months), second (27.10–58.27 months), and third (>58.27 months) tertile of cumulative duration of metformin therapy were 1.116 (0.989–1.261), 0.543 (0.478–0.618), and 0.200 (0.171–0.233), respectively; and were 1.037 (0.918–1.173), 0.533 (0.469–0.606), and 0.249 (0.215–0.288), respectively, for the first (<817,000 mg), second (817,000–2,047,180 mg), and third (>2,047,180 mg) tertile of cumulative doses of metformin. The findings were consistent when analyses were restricted to pulmonary tuberculosis. Additionally, regular users of metformin tended to have greater benefit than irregular users. Conclusions: Metformin use is associated with a reduced risk of tuberculosis infection in a dose–response pattern in type 2 diabetes patients.
Fractal Analysis Application Outlook for Improving Process Monitoring and Machine Maintenance in Manufacturing 4.0
Authors: Rimpault Xavier , Balazinski Marek , Chatelain Jean-François
Published: September 2018

Industry 4.0 has been advertised for a decade as the next disruptive evolution for production. It relies on automation growth and particularly on data exchange using numerous sensors in order to develop faster production with tight monitoring. The huge amount of data generated by clouds of sensors during production is often used to feed machine learning systems in order to detect faults, monitor and find possible ways for improvement. However, the artificial intelligence within machine learning requires finding and selecting key features, such as average and root mean square. While current machine learning has already proven its use in diverse applications, its efficiency could be further improved by generating better characteristics such as fractal parameters. In this paper, fractal analysis concept is presented and its current and future applications in machining are discussed. This sensitive and robust technique is already extracting high performance key features that could fill in monitoring and prediction systems. On top of improving features selection and, thus, improving the overall performance of monitoring and predictive systems in machining, this could lead to a more rapid artificial intelligence implementation into manufacturing.