bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Validity of Animal-Based Indicators of Sheep Health and Welfare: Do Observers Agree?
Authors: Phythian Clare J. , Michalopoulou Eleni , Duncan Jennifer S.
Published: April 2019

Sixteen animal-based indicators of sheep welfare, previously selected by a stakeholder panel, and based on the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) Five Freedoms, were assessed in terms of the level of inter-observer agreement achieved during on-farm testing. Eight observers independently tested the 16 indicators on 1158 sheep from 38 farms in England and Wales. Overall inter-observer agreement was evaluated by Fleiss’s kappa (κ), and the pair-wise agreement of each observer was compared to a ‘test standard’ observer (TSO). Inter-observer assessments of the welfare indicators; dental abnormality, cleanliness score (ventral abdomen), mastitis, tail length, skin lesions, body condition scoring and lameness produced ‘fair to good’ levels of agreement (0.40 < κ < 0.75) and joint swellings had ‘excellent’ levels of agreement (κ ≥ 0.75). The very low apparent prevalence (<0.8%) of sheep with specific outcomes such as pruritis, wool loss, myiasis, thin body condition, diffuse or severe skin lesions limited kappa analysis for these indicators. Overall, findings suggest that observers of differing experience, training and occupation were reliable in assessing key animal-based indicators of sheep health and welfare.
Changes in Root Anatomy of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Different Durations of Early Season Drought
Authors: Thangthong Nuengsap , Jogloy Sanun , Punjansing Tasanai , Kvien Craig K. , Kesmala Thawan , Vorasoot Nimitr
Published: April 2019

Changes in the anatomical structure of peanut roots due to early season drought will likely affect the water acquiring capacity of the root system. Yet, as important as these changes are likely to be in conferring drought resistance, they have not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different durations of drought on the root anatomy of peanut in response to early season drought. Plants of peanut genotype ICGV 98305 were grown in rhizoboxes with an internal dimension of 50 cm in width, 10 cm in thickness and 120 cm in height. Fourteen days after emergence, water was withheld for periods of 0, 7, 14 or 21 days. After these drought periods, the first and second order roots from 0–20 cm below soil surface were sampled for anatomical observation. The mean xylem vessel diameter of first- order lateral roots was higher than that of second- order lateral roots. Under early season drought stress root anatomy changes were more pronounced in the longer drought period treatments. Twenty-one days after imposing water stress, the drought treatment and irrigated treatment were clearly different in diameter, number and area of xylem vessels of first- and second-order lateral roots. Plants under drought conditions had a smaller diameter and area of xylem vessels than did the plants under irrigated control. The ability of plants to change root anatomy likely improves water uptake and transport and this may be an important mechanism for drought tolerance. The information will be useful for the selection of drought durations for evaluation of root anatomy related to drought resistance and the selection of key traits for drought resistance.
A Survey of Italian Dairy Farmers’ Propensity for Precision Livestock Farming Tools
Authors: Abeni Fabio , Petrera Francesca , Galli Andrea
Published: April 2019

A targeted survey was designed with the aim of describing the diffusion of precision livestock farming (PLF) tools in one of the most intensive dairy farming provinces in Italy. Technicians at the Provincial Breeder Association of Cremona interviewed 490 dairy farmers and obtained data regarding the role and age of the respondents; the land owned by the farmers; their herd sizes (HS, lactating plus dry cows; small HS < 101, medium HS 101–200, large HS > 200 cows/herd); their average 305 day milk yield (low MY < 9501, medium MY 9501–10,500, high MY > 10,500 kg/head); the cow to employed worker ratio (low CW < 33, medium CW 33–47, high CW > 47 cows/worker); the use of PLF tools to monitor production, reproduction, and health; and the criteria and motivations for investing in PLF tools. The use of automated MY recording and estrus detection systems was primarily associated with HS (more present in larger farms), followed by MY (more present in more productive farms), and then CW (more present with a high cow: worker ratio). Concern about the time required to manage data was the most common subjective issue identified as negatively affecting the purchase of these tools. The future of PLF use in this region will depend upon the availability of an effective selection of tools on the market.
Beyond the Benefits of Assistance Dogs: Exploring Challenges Experienced by First-Time Handlers
Authors: Gravrok Jennifer , Bendrups Dan , Howell Tiffani , Bennett Pauleen
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to explore first time handlers’ experiences when working with an assistance dog (AD). Interviewees included seven first time AD handlers and 14 other individuals close to these handlers, including family members, carers and AD instructors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted six months and one year after each handler received their AD. Interview questions were informed by the Thriving Through Relationships theory of social support and previous interviews with the participants. Inductive content analysis corroborated previous findings regarding the benefits that ADs provide. In addition, four factors were revealed to substantially influence the challenges handlers experienced when learning to utilize their dog. These included the handlers’ medical conditions, cognitive ability and social environment, and dog-related factors. Organizations would benefit from considering these factors in their operational processes.
Measuring Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in Acute Hospitals: Development of a National Audit Tool Through a Delphi Consensus
Authors: Hood Graeme , Hand Kieran , Cramp Emma , Howard Philip , Hopkins Susan , Ashiru-Oredope Diane
Published: April 2019

This study developed a patient-level audit tool to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in acute National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the UK. A modified Delphi process was used to evaluate variables identified from published literature that could be used to support an assessment of appropriateness of antibiotic use. At a national workshop, 22 infection experts reached a consensus to define appropriate prescribing and agree upon an initial draft audit tool. Following this, a national multidisciplinary panel of 19 infection experts, of whom only one was part of the workshop, was convened to evaluate and validate variables using questionnaires to confirm the relevance of each variable in assessing appropriate prescribing. The initial evidence synthesis of published literature identified 25 variables that could be used to support an assessment of appropriateness of antibiotic use. All the panel members reviewed the variables for the first round of the Delphi; the panel accepted 23 out of 25 variables. Following review by the project team, one of the two rejected variables was rephrased, and the second neutral variable was re-scored. The panel accepted both these variables in round two with a 68% response rate. Accepted variables were used to develop an audit tool to determine the extent of appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing at the individual patient level in acute NHS hospitals through infection expert consensus based on the results of a Delphi process.
A Sample-Encoding Generalization of the Kohonen Associative Memory and Application to Knee Kinematic Data Representation and Pathology Classification
Authors: Ben Nouma Badreddine , Mitiche Amar , Mezghani Neila
Published: April 2019

Knee kinematic data consist of a small sample of high-dimensional vectors recording repeated measurements of the temporal variation of each of the three fundamental angles of knee three-dimensional rotation during a walking cycle. In applications such as knee pathology classification, the notorious problems of high-dimensionality (the curse of dimensionality), high intra-class variability, and inter-class similarity make this data generally difficult to interpret. In the face of these difficulties, the purpose of this study is to investigate knee kinematic data classification by a Kohonen neural network generalized to encode samples of multidimensional data vectors rather than single such vectors as in the standard network. The network training algorithm and its ensuing classification function both use the Hotelling T 2 statistic to evaluate the underlying sample similarity, thus affording efficient use of training data for network development and robust classification of observed data. Applied to knee osteoarthritis pathology discrimination, namely the femoro-rotulian (FR) and femoro-tibial (FT) categories, the scheme improves on the state-of-the-art methods.
Recent Lipid Membrane-Based Biosensing Platforms
Authors: Nikoleli Georgia-Paraskevi , Siontorou Christina G. , Nikolelis Marianna-Thalia , Bratakou Spyridoula , Bendos Dimitrios K.
Published: April 2019

The investigation of lipid films for the construction of biosensors has recently given the opportunity to manufacture devices to selectively detect a wide range of food toxicants, environmental pollutants, and compounds of clinical interest. Biosensor miniaturization using nanotechnological tools has provided novel routes to immobilize various “receptors” within the lipid film. This chapter reviews and exploits platforms in biosensors based on lipid membrane technology that are used in food, environmental, and clinical chemistry to detect various toxicants. Examples of applications are described with an emphasis on novel systems, new sensing techniques, and nanotechnology-based transduction schemes. The compounds that can be monitored are insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, metals, toxins, antibiotics, microorganisms, hormones, dioxins, etc.
Charging Schedule for Load Peak Minimization on Large-Scale Electric Bus Depots
Authors: Jahic Amra , Eskander Mina , Schulz Detlef
Published: April 2019

The city of Hamburg has decided to electrify its bus fleets. The two public transportation companies in this city expect to operate up to 1500 buses by 2030. In order to accomplish this ambitious goal, both companies need to build an appropriate charging infrastructure. They have both decided to implement the centralized depot charging concept. Buses can therefore charge only at the depot and do not have the possibility for opportunity charging at intermediate stations. The load profile of such a bus depot is highly dependent on the charging schedule of buses. Without an intelligent scheduling system, the buses charge on demand as soon as they arrive to the depot. This can lead to an unevenly distributed load profile with high load peaks, which is problematic for the local grid as well as for the equipment dimensioning at the depot. Charging scheduling on large-scale bus depots is a relatively new and poorly researched topic. This paper addresses the issue and proposes two algorithms for charging scheduling on large-scale bus depots with the goal to minimize the peak load. The schedules created with the proposed algorithms were both tested and validated in the Bus Depot Simulator, a cosimulation platform used for bus depot simulations.
New Parameters for Seedling Vigor Developed via Phenomics
Authors: Kim Song Lim , Chung Yong Suk , Ji Hyeonso , Lee Hongseok , Choi Inchan , Kim Nyunhee , Lee Eungyeong , Oh Jun , Kang Do-Yu , BAEK JeongHo , Lee Gang-Seob , Kwon Taek-Ryoun , Kim Kyung-Hwan
Published: April 2019

Early seedling establishment in rice (Oryza sativa L.), which is measured by primary/secondary tiller, shoot length, biomass, root-related traits, and leaf area index, is an important trait because it helps to compete for light, air, and water for better tolerating various abiotic stresses. Consequently, it can affect the yield. However, there are not many research studies on this subject. Furthermore, previous studies have only measured the target traits once. However, this does not reflect the variation of growth rate during the seedling stage. Thus, two data points, two weeks and four weeks after planting, were used in the current study. As a result, two QTL regions were detected for the growth differences via plant height and green area (reflecting tillering). We expect that these results can be utilized by breeders to evaluate and select vigorous seedlings for their breeding programs.
Grid Deformation Real-Time Measurement System of Ion Thruster Based on Videometrics
Authors: Yuan Jiehong , Dai Peng , Liang Dong , Zhou Shiming , Xiao Shijie , Liang Xiuqiang
Published: April 2019

In order to conduct high-precision measurement of the LIPS-300 ion thruster grid deformation in a vacuum, high-temperature, and plasma environment, a noncontact videometrics system using a telemicroscope was designed. Based on the captured image, the interactive partitioning edge detection method (IPEDM) was used to obtain stable and clear edges of multiple circular cooperative targets. Meanwhile, magnification factor calibration, rotation angle correction, and subpixel-level grid deformation measurement were performed with cooperative targets. The measurement results show that under the power of 750 W in the discharge chamber, the maximum thermal deformation of the screen grid is 1120 μm, and the gap between the screen grid and the accelerator grid is reduced by 420 μm. An accuracy assessment of the system shows that the grid deformation measurement accuracy is better than 12 μm, and the system satisfies the requirement of high-precision real-time measurements of the grid thermal deformation of the ion thruster under the discharge-chamber-running condition and the plasma-beam-extraction condition.
Single-Crystalline Si1−xGex (x = 0.5~1) Thin Films on Si (001) with Low Threading Dislocation Density Prepared by Low Temperature Molecular Beam Epitaxy
Authors: Gu Yu , Zhao Yunlei , Ye Jiajia , Deng Yu , Lu Hong
Published: April 2019

Single-crystalline Si1−xGex thin films on Si (100) with low threading dislocation density (TDD) are highly desired for semiconductor industrials. It is challenging to suppress the TDD since there is a large mismatch (4.2%) between Ge and Si—it typically needs 106–107/cm2 TDD for strain relaxation, which could, however, cause device leakage under high voltage. Here, we grew Si1−xGex (x = 0.5–1) films on Si (001) by low temperature molecular beam epitaxy (LT-MBE) at 200 °C, which is much lower than the typical temperature of 450–600 °C. Encouragingly, the Si1−xGex thin films grown by LT-MBE have shown a dramatically reduced TDD down to the 103–104/cm2 level. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with atomic resolution, we discovered a non-typical strain relaxation mechanism for epitaxial films grown by LT-MBE. There are multiple-layered structures being introduced along out-of-plane-direction during film growth, effectively relaxing the large strain through local shearing and subsequently leading to an order of magnitude lower TDD. We presented a model for the non-typical strain relaxation mechanism for Si1−xGex films grown on Si (001) by LT-MBE.
Improvement in EMI Shielding Properties of Silicone Rubber/POE Blends Containing ILs Modified with Carbon Black and MWCNTs
Authors: Liu Chao , Yu Chuyang , Sang Guolong , Xu Pei , Ding Yunsheng
Published: April 2019

Silicone rubber (SR)/polyolefin elastomer (POE) blends containing ionic liquids modified with carbon blacks (CB-IL) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT-IL) were prepared by melt-blending and hot pressing. SR/POE/CB-IL and SR/POE/CB-CNT-IL composites showed co-continuous structural morphologies. The cation–π interactions between ILs and CNTs were stronger than those between ILs and CBs due to the large length and high surface area of CNTs, which promoted better dispersion of carbon fillers. SR/POE/CB-CNT-IL composites showed higher EMI SE than SR/POE/CB-IL composites containing identical filler contents because the CNTs with larger aspect ratios helped form more electrically-conductive networks.
Gasochromic WO3 Nanostructures for the Detection of Hydrogen Gas: An Overview
Authors: Mirzaei Ali , Kim Jae-Hun , Kim Hyoun Woo , Kim Sang Sub
Published: April 2019

Hydrogen is one of the most important gases that can potentially replace fossil fuels in the future. Nevertheless, it is highly explosive, and its leakage should be detected by reliable gas sensors for safe operation during storage and usage. Most hydrogen gas sensors operate at high temperatures, which introduces the risk of hydrogen explosion. Gasochromic WO3 sensors work based on changes in their optical properties and color variation when exposed to hydrogen gas. They can work at low or room temperatures and, therefore, are good candidates for the detection of hydrogen leakage with low risk of explosion. Once their morphology and chemical composition are carefully designed, they can be used for the realization of sensitive, selective, low-cost, and flexible hydrogen sensors. In this review, for the first time, we discuss different aspects of gasochromic WO3 gas sensor-based hydrogen detection. Pristine, heterojunction, and noble metal-decorated WO3 nanostructures are discussed for the detection of hydrogen gas in terms of changes in their optical properties or visible color. This review is expected to provide a good background for research work in the field of gas sensors.
Determination of Influencing Factors on Interface Strength of Additively Manufactured Multi-Material Parts by Material Extrusion
Authors: Freund Raphael , Watschke Hagen , Heubach Julius , Vietor Thomas
Published: April 2019

Material composition complexity offered by material extrusion additive manufacturing offers new opportunities for function-driven part design. Nevertheless, since influencing factors on the interface strength between different materials are not well understood, this complexity is only used infrequently, in part, in design thereby restraining innovation. This paper proposes a systematical approach for identification and quantification of relevant adhesion phenomena that influence interface strength. For this reason, suited test specimen, which utilize the geometric freedom offered by additive manufacturing, are developed for roll peeling tests and peeling resistance of several combinations of rigid and flexible materials is determined. The results show that material choice especially regarding polarity as well as mechanical interlocking in regards to surface roughness and design features have high influence on the interface strength of multi-material parts manufactured by material extrusion. These results are explained through the relevant adhesion mechanisms that determine the interface strength in additively manufactured parts. Finally, criteria that predominantly affect interface strength are deduced and design recommendations for creating functional parts with ill-fitting material combinations are formulated.
Idealisations of Dynamic Modelling for Railway Ballast in Flood Conditions
Authors: Kaewunruen Sakdirat , Tang Tao
Published: April 2019

As the main component of a ballasted railway system, railway ballast is frequently used by the railway industry to enhance constructability and practicality. Numerous studies into train–track interactions focused on ballast modelling and idealisation in completely dry environments, but recent studies have found that, in extreme weather such as floods, water can clog natural ballast beds and change the initial state of their properties. Ballast models used in multi-body simulations have been mostly developed based on the instrumented impact hammering method considering the ballast as a spring/dashpot. The single degree of freedom (SDOF) idealization for ballast enables a non-destructive field testing technique for monitoring of railway components in practice. In this study, the suitability of the idealization of ballast for dynamic characteristics has been evaluated. A series of experiments have been performed with a variety of ballast conditions in flooding levels from 0 to 40 cm, with a frequency range of 0–500 Hz. The results clearly show that the increase in the flood level will result in increasing dynamic damping of more than 50% of dry natural ballast whilst reducing its stiffness and natural frequency. The novel insights are of great significance for exploring the non-linear dynamic traits of ballast in extreme environments, which can be integrated into the coupled train–track analysis that can better express more realistically the dynamic train–track interaction and load transfer mechanism of flooded railway tracks.
Evaluation and Improvement of Lidar Performance Based on Temporal and Spatial Variance Calculation
Authors: Gao Fei , Xu Xinxin , Zhu Qingsong , Wang Li , He Tingyao , Wang Longlong , Stanič Samo , Hua Dengxin
Published: April 2019

Poisson distributions have the characteristic of equality between their variance and mean values. By constructing a calculation model of the temporal variance and spatial variance, the relationship between the variance and mean values of lidar analog data and photon-counting data can be analyzed. The calculation results show that the photon-counting data from far field have the distribution property of equality between the variances and the corresponding mean values, while the analog data for the whole probing traces do not. In this paper, by analyzing the distribution properties of the spatial variance and temporal variance of lidar data, the dead time of photon-counting data was estimated, and the threshold voltage of the photon-counting system and the linear working range of photomultiplier tube were evaluated. The results show that the linear working range of the high voltage for the photomultiplier tube in the ultraviolet elastic scanning lidar is between −500 V and −1000 V, and the dead time and threshold voltage of the photon-counting system in the Licel transient recorder are 3.488 ns and 1.20 mV, respectively. Meanwhile, a novel gluing method between analog data and photon-counting data is presented, based on the calculation results of the variance distribution of lidar data. The linear transfer coefficients were determined by minimizing the differences between the variance and mean of the transformed photon-counting data in the near filed with high signal to noise ratio. The glued data were distributed to express the atmospheric conditions uniformly.
Assessing Blockchain Consensus and Security Mechanisms against the 51% Attack
Authors: Sayeed Sarwar , Marco-Gisbert Hector
Published: April 2019

The 51% attack is a technique which intends to fork a blockchain in order to conduct double-spending. Adversaries controlling more than half of the total hashing power of a network can perform this attack. In a similar way, n confirmation and selfish mining are two attack techniques that comprise a similar strategy to the 51% attack. Due to the immense attacking cost to perform the 51% attack, it was considered very unlikely for a long period. However, in recent times, the attack has befallen at a frequent pace, costing millions of dollars to various cryptocurrencies. The 51% attack strategy varies based upon the adopted consensus mechanism by a particular cryptocurrency, and it enables attackers to double-spend the same crypto-coin, restrict transactions, cancel blocks, and even have full control over the price of a cryptocurrency. A crypto-coin with a low hashing power is always jeopardized by the 51% attack due to the easily attainable hashing. In this paper, we analyze the real impact of the 51% attack, revealing serious weaknesses in consensus protocols that made this attack possible. We discuss the five most advanced protection techniques to prevent this attack and their main limitations. We conclude that in most cases, security techniques fail to provide real protection against the 51% attack because the weaknesses are inherited from the consensus protocols.
Automated Generation of Daily Evacuation Paths in 4D BIM
Authors: Kim Kyungki , Lee Yong-Cheol
Published: April 2019

Spatial movements of workers and equipment should be carefully planned according to project plans. In particular, it is crucial for workers’ safety to prepare emergency evacuation paths according to changing construction site configurations and construction progress. However, creating evacuation paths for all crews for each day can be an extremely labor-intensive task if it is done manually. Consequently, in most construction projects, evacuation plans are not provided to managers and crews throughout the entire construction. Even state-of-the-art technologies do not suggest ways to generate evacuation paths according to changing progresses presented in 4-Dimensional Building Information Model (4D BIM). This research proposes a framework to automatically analyze, generate, and visualize the evacuation paths of multiple crews in 4D BIM, considering construction activities and site conditions at the specific project schedule. This research develops a prototype that enables users to define parameters for pathfinding, such as workspaces, material storage areas, and temporary structures to automatically identify the accessible evacuation paths. This prototype shows the secured evacuation paths in the 4D BIM environment and allows the users to organize the automatically generated evacuation paths. A case study using the BIM model of a real construction project involved in this paper demonstrates the potential of the proposed method.
Enhancement of Methane Production in Thermophilic Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Exhausted Sugar Beet Pulp and Pig Manure
Authors: Gómez-Quiroga Xiomara , Aboudi Kaoutar , Álvarez-Gallego Carlos José , Romero-García Luis Isidoro
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the viability of thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of exhausted sugar beet pulp (ESBP) and pig manure (PM) was evaluated. The effect of the proportion of ESBP on biogas production was investigated by using a series of lab-scale batch assays, in duplicates. The following five ESBP:PM mixture ratios were studied: 0:100, 10:90, 25:75, 50:50, and 100:0. The highest cumulative methane production (212.4 mL CH4/g VSadded) was reached for the mixture 25:75. The experimental results showed that the increase in the proportion of ESBP in the mixture led to the distortion of the process, due to acidification by the volatile fatty acids generated. Acetic acid was the predominant acid in all the cases, representing more than 78% of the total acidity. Moreover, the results obtained by operating at thermophilic temperatures have been compared with those obtained in a previous study conducted at mesophilic temperatures. The results have shown that in the individual digestion of ESBP, the activity of acetoclastic methanogens was affected in both temperatures, but especially in thermophilic conditions. Thus, the methane produced in the individual thermophilic digestion of ESBP came almost entirely from the activity of hydrogen-utilizing methanogenic archaea.
Deterministic and Probabilistic Wind Power Forecasting Based on Bi-Level Convolutional Neural Network and Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Yang Xiyun , Zhang Yanfeng , Yang Yuwei , Lv Wei
Published: April 2019

The intermittency and uncertainty of wind power result in challenges for large-scale wind power integration. Accurate wind power prediction is becoming increasingly important for power system planning and operation. In this paper, a probabilistic interval prediction method for wind power based on deep learning and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed. Variational mode decomposition (VMD) and phase space reconstruction are used to pre-process the original wind power data to obtain additional details and uncover hidden information in the data. Subsequently, a bi-level convolutional neural network is used to learn nonlinear features in the pre-processed wind power data for wind power forecasting. PSO is used to determine the uncertainty of the point-based wind power prediction and to obtain the probabilistic prediction interval of the wind power. Wind power data from a Chinese wind farm and modeled wind power data provided by the United States Renewable Energy Laboratory are used to conduct extensive tests of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method has competitive advantages for the point-based and probabilistic interval prediction of wind power.
Looking into the “Anime Global Popular” and the “Manga Media”: Reflections on the Scholarship of a Transnational and Transmedia Industry
Authors: Hernández-Pérez Manuel
Published: April 2019

This article introduces the special issue dedicated to global industries around anime, its theoretical commentary and its cross-cultural consumption. The concepts “anime” and “anime studies” are evaluated critically, involving current debates such as those presented in this volume. This discussion will employ the concepts of “manga media” as well as the “popular global”, giving an account of the transmedia and transcultural character of these creative industries. The conclusion critiques the irregular presence of Cultural Studies in the study of Japanese visual culture and advocates for constructing an updated dialogue with this tradition in order to readdress the study of these media as a form of global popular culture.
Pollution Characteristics and Policy Actions on Fine Particulate Matter in a Growing Asian Economy: The Case of Bangkok Metropolitan Region
Authors: Narita Daiju , Oanh Nguyen , Sato Keiichi , Huo Mingqun , Permadi Didin , Chi Nguyen , Ratanajaratroj Tanatat , Pawarmart Ittipol
Published: April 2019

Air pollution is becoming a prominent social problem in fast-growing Asian economies. Taking the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) as a case, we conducted an observational study of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and acid deposition, consisting of their continuous monitoring at two sites. To find the major contributing sources of PM2.5, the PM composition data were analyzed by a receptor modeling approach while the pollution load from BMR sources to the air was characterized by an emission inventory. Our data show generally alarming levels of PM2.5 in the region, of which transportation and biomass burning are two major sources. In this paper, we present a general overview of our observational findings, contrast the scientific information with the policy context of air quality management in BMR, and discuss policy implications. In BMR, where a set of conventional regulatory instruments on air quality management are already in place, a solution for the air pollution problem should lie in a combination of air quality regulation and other policies, such as energy and agricultural policies.
Oxygen Persufflation in Liver Transplantation Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gallinat Anja , Hoyer Dieter Paul , Sotiropoulos Georgios , Treckmann Jürgen , Benkoe Tamas , Belker Jennifer , Saner Fuat , Paul Andreas , Minor Thomas
Published: April 2019

Oxygen persufflation has shown experimentally to favorably influence hepatic energy dependent pathways and to improve survival after transplantation. The present trial evaluated oxygen persufflation as adjunct in clinical liver preservation. A total of n = 116 adult patients (age: 54 (23–68) years, M/F: 70/46), were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. Grafts were randomized to either oxygen persufflation for ≥2 h (O2) or mere cold storage (control). Only liver grafts from donors ≥55 years and/or marginal grafts after multiple rejections by other centers were included. Primary endpoint was peak-aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level until post-operative day 3. Standard parameters including graft- and patient survival were analyzed by uni- and multivariate analysis. Both study groups were comparable except for a longer ICU stay (4 versus 3 days) of the donors and a higher recipient age (57 versus 52 years) in the O2-group. Serum levels of TNF alpha were significantly reduced after oxygen persufflation (p < 0.05). Median peak-AST values did not differ between the groups (O2: 580 U/l, control: 699 U/l). Five year graft- and patient survival was similar. Subgroup analysis demonstrated a positive effect of oxygen persufflation concerning the development of early allograft dysfunction (EAD), in donors with a history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and elevated ALT values, and concerning older or macrosteatotic livers. This study favors pre-implantation O2-persufflation in concrete subcategories of less than optimal liver grafts, for which oxygen persufflation can be considered a safe, cheap and easy applicable reconditioning method.
Application of NiTi in Assistive and Rehabilitation Devices: A Review
Authors: Nematollahi Mohammadreza , Baghbaderani Keyvan Safaei , Amerinatanzi Amirhesam , Zamanian Hashem , Elahinia Mohammad
Published: April 2019

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have found widespread applications as biomedical devices. Biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and ductility make these alloys attractive for medical devices such as stents and filters. For these implants, the superelastic property is the primary function of SMAs. Additionally, these alloys, such as NiTi as the prime example, can be used for actuation. Several modes of actuation such as displacement control, force control, and compliance control have been used as harnesses with SMA devices. These two unique properties have opened another application in the form of neurosurgery and robot-assisted surgery devices, as well as controlled assistive and rehabilitation devices. This paper reviews the state of the art of application of SMAs in the latter category where control is applied to harness innovative medical devices. To this end, two major subsets of these devices: prosthesis and orthosis which take the advantage of SMAs in assistive and rehabilitation devices are studied. These devices are further categorized to hand prosthetics, elbow, knee and ankle orthotics. In most of these designs, SMA wires act as artificial muscles to mimic the motion of limbs in the target joints. The evolution of each category is explained, and the specific results of them are reported. The paper also reviews the SMA applications for neurological and neuromuscular rehabilitation. To this end, different categories of rehabilitation devices as a passive and aided exercise for the ankle, knee, and elbow are highlighted. The SMA actuator in these devices can be EMG-controlled to improved patient outcome. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview of the biomedical devices, this paper identifies several possible future directions of SMA related research in the area of assistive and rehabilitation devices.
Maternal Metformin Treatment Improves Developmental and Metabolic Traits of IUGR Fetuses
Authors: Garcia-Contreras Consolación , Vazquez-Gomez Marta , Pesantez-Pacheco José Luis , Torres-Rovira Laura , Heras-Molina Ana , Encinas Teresa , Astiz Susana , Gonzalez-Bulnes Antonio
Published: April 2019

Metformin is an anti-hyperglycemic drug widely used for the treatment of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance and is currently considered for preventing large-for-gestational-age (LGA) offspring in pregnant women affected by obesity or diabetes. Our hypothesis was the opposite—metformin may be used for improving the development of offspring affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preventing the appearance of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates in non-obese and non-diabetic but malnourished pregnancies. The current study, performed in a swine preclinical model of IUGR by undernutrition, showed that fetuses in the treated group showed no significant increases in body-weight, but showed a significantly higher weight of the brain, the total thoracic and abdominal viscera, the liver, the kidneys, the spleen, and the adrenal glands. Maternal metformin treatment was also related to significant increases in the fetal plasma concentration of parameters indicative of glycemic (glucose and fructosamine) and lipid profiles (triglycerides). Overall, these results suggest a protective effect of the treatment on the developmental competence of the fetuses. These findings may be of high value for human medicine in case of maternal malnutrition, since metformin is a cheap drug easily available, but also in case of placental deficiency, since metformin seems to improve placental development and function.
Cell Culture Platforms with Controllable Stiffness for Chick Embryonic Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Durán-Pastén María Luisa , Cortes Daniela , Valencia-Amaya Alan E. , King Santiago , González-Gómez Gertrudis Hortensia , Hautefeuille Mathieu
Published: April 2019

For several years, cell culture techniques have been physiologically relevant to understand living organisms both structurally and functionally, aiming at preserving as carefully as possible the in vivo integrity and function of the cells. However, when studying cardiac cells, glass or plastic Petri dishes and culture-coated plates lack important cues that do not allow to maintain the desired phenotype, especially for primary cell culture. In this work, we show that microscaffolds made with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) enable modulating the stiffness of the surface of the culture substrate and this originates different patterns of adhesion, self-organization, and synchronized or propagated activity in the culture of chick embryonic cardiomyocytes. Thanks to the calcium imaging technique, we found that the substrate stiffness affected cardiomyocyte adhesion, as well as the calcium signal propagation in the formed tissue. The patterns of activity shown by the calcium fluorescence variations are reliable clues of the functional organization achieved by the cell layers. We found that PDMS substrates with a stiffness of 25 kPa did not allow the formation of cell layers and therefore the optimal propagation of the intracellular calcium signals, while softer PDMS substrates with Young’s modulus within the physiological in vivo reported range did permit synchronized and coordinated contractility and intracellular calcium activity. This type of methodology allows us to study phenomena such as arrhythmias. For example, the occurrence of synchronized activity or rotors that can initiate or maintain cardiac arrhythmias can be reproduced on different substrates for study, so that replacement tissues or patches can be better designed.
Repurposing the Electron Transfer Reactant Phenazine Methosulfate (PMS) for the Apoptotic Elimination of Malignant Melanoma Cells through Induction of Lethal Oxidative and Mitochondriotoxic Stress
Authors: Hua Anh B. , Justiniano Rebecca , Perer Jessica , Park Sophia L. , Li Hui , Cabello Christopher M. , Wondrak Georg T.
Published: April 2019

Redox-directed pharmacophores have shown potential for the apoptotic elimination of cancer cells through chemotherapeutic induction of oxidative stress. Phenazine methosulfate (PMS), a N-alkylphenazinium cation-based redox cycler, is used widely as an electron transfer reactant coupling NAD(P)H generation to the reduction of tetrazolium salts in biochemical cell viability assays. Here, we have explored feasibility of repurposing the redox cycler PMS as a superoxide generating chemotherapeutic for the pro-oxidant induction of cancer cell apoptosis. In a panel of malignant human melanoma cells (A375, G361, LOX), low micromolar concentrations of PMS (1–10 μM, 24 h) displayed pronounced apoptogenicity as detected by annexin V-ITC/propidium iodide flow cytometry, and PMS-induced cell death was suppressed by antioxidant (NAC) or pan-caspase inhibitor (zVAD-fmk) cotreatment. Gene expression array analysis in A375 melanoma cells (PMS, 10 µM; 6 h) revealed transcriptional upregulation of heat shock (HSPA6, HSPA1A), oxidative (HMOX1) and genotoxic (EGR1, GADD45A) stress responses, confirmed by immunoblot detection demonstrating upregulation of redox regulators (NRF2, HO-1, HSP70) and modulation of pro- (BAX, PUMA) and anti-apoptotic factors (Bcl-2, Mcl-1). PMS-induced oxidative stress and glutathione depletion preceded induction of apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the mitochondrial origin of PMS-induced superoxide production was substantiated by MitoSOX-Red live cell fluorescence imaging, and PMS-induced mitochondriotoxicity (as evidenced by diminished transmembrane potential and oxygen consumption rate) was observable at early time points. After demonstrating NADPH-driven (SOD-suppressible) superoxide radical anion generation by PMS employing a chemical NBT reduction assay, PMS-induction of oxidative genotoxic stress was substantiated by quantitative Comet analysis that confirmed the introduction of formamido-pyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg)-sensitive oxidative DNA lesions in A375 melanoma cells. Taken together, these data suggest feasibility of repurposing the biochemical reactant PMS as an experimental pro-oxidant targeting mitochondrial integrity and redox homeostasis for the apoptotic elimination of malignant melanoma cells.
Pinocembrin Protects from AGE-Induced Cytotoxicity and Inhibits Non-Enzymatic Glycation in Human Insulin
Authors: Borriello Margherita , Iannuzzi Clara , Sirangelo Ivana
Published: April 2019

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are the end products of the glycation reaction and have a great importance in clinical science for their association with oxidative stress and inflammation, which play a major role in most chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. Their pathogenic effects are generally induced by the interaction between AGEs and the receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) on the cell surface, which triggers reactive oxygen species production, nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) activation, and inflammation. Pinocembrin, the most abundant flavonoid in propolis, has been recently proven to interfere with RAGE activation in Aβ–RAGE-induced toxicity. In the present study, we investigated the ability of pinocembrin to interfere with RAGE signaling pathways activated by AGEs. Interestingly, pinocembrin was able to inhibit oxidative stress and NF-kB activation in cells exposed to AGEs. In addition, it was able to block caspase 3/7 and 9 activation, thus suggesting an active role of this molecule in counteracting AGE–RAGE-induced toxicity mediated by NF-kB signaling pathways. The ability of pinocembrin to affect the glycation reaction has been also tested. Our data suggest that pinocembrin might be a promising molecule in protecting from AGE-mediated pathogenesis.
Telomere Gene Therapy: Polarizing Therapeutic Goals for Treatment of Various Diseases
Authors: Hong JinWoo , Yun Chae-Ok
Published: April 2019

Modulation of telomerase maintenance by gene therapy must meet two polarizing requirements to achieve different therapeutic outcomes: Anti-aging/regenerative applications require upregulation, while anticancer applications necessitate suppression of various genes integral to telomere maintenance (e.g., telomerase, telomerase RNA components, and shelterin complex). Patients suffering from aging-associated illnesses often exhibit telomere attrition, which promotes chromosomal instability and cellular senescence, thus requiring the transfer of telomere maintenance-related genes to improve patient outcomes. However, reactivation and overexpression of telomerase are observed in 85% of cancer patients; this process is integral to cancer immortality. Thus, telomere-associated genes in the scope of cancer gene therapy must be inactivated or inhibited to induce anticancer effects. These contradicting requirements for achieving different therapeutic outcomes mean that any vector-mediated upregulation of telomere-associated genes must be accompanied by rigorous evaluation of potential oncogenesis. Thus, this review aims to discuss how telomere-associated genes are being targeted or utilized in various gene therapy applications and provides some insight into currently available safety hazard assessments.
Optical Detection of Bromide Ions Using Pt(II)-5,10,15,20-Tetra-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-porphyrin
Authors: Lascu Anca , Plesu Nicoleta , Anghel Diana , Birdeanu Mihaela , Vlascici Dana , Fagadar-Cosma Eugenia
Published: April 2019

Bromide ions are present in many environments, such as sedative drugs, methyl-bromide-treated vegetables and seawater. Excess bromide in humans interferes with iodide metabolism and is considered toxic. The need for fast and inexpensive methods for bromide detection is of interest. Spectrophotometric detection methods provide accurate and sensitive results. The well-known ability of metalloporphyrins to bind anionic ligands to the central metal ion has been exploited. The changes in the optical properties of Pt(II) 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-methoxy-phenyl)-porphyrin (PtTMeOPP) under the influence of bromide ions allowed us to achieve a fast, simple and reliable UV-vis spectrophotometric method of detection with a detection limit of 2.5 × 10−8 M and a good confidence coefficient: 99.05%. The potential interfering ions, such as Cl−, I−, NO2−, NO3−, SCN−, SO32−, SO42− and PO43− of 100-fold higher and Cl− and R-S− of 1000-fold higher concentrations in the mixture as compared to the determined concentration of bromide ions (c = 10−5 M), were tested and did not influence the results. The behavior of the sensitive porphyrin in various pH media was investigated in order to determine their influence upon the bromide detection capacity.
Low Molecular Weight Fluorescent Probes (LMFPs) to Detect the Group 12 Metal Triad
Authors: Johnson Ashley D. , Curtis Rose M. , Wallace Karl J.
Published: April 2019

Fluorescence sensing, of d-block elements such as Cu2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, and Zn2+ has significantly increased since the beginning of the 21st century. These particular metal ions play essential roles in biological, industrial, and environmental applications, therefore, there has been a drive to measure, detect, and remediate these metal ions. We have chosen to highlight the low molecular weight fluorescent probes (LMFPs) that undergo an optical response upon coordination with the group 12 triad (Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+), as these metals have similar chemical characteristics but behave differently in the environment.
Ammonium-Induced Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles with Excellent Aqueous Colloidal Stability for Secure Information Storage
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Tong Kun , Fang Yajun , Wang Jintao , Liu Yang , Tan Junjun
Published: April 2019

In this paper, uniform hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles, with excellent aqueous colloidal stability and high fluorescence, have been successfully synthesized via a citrate-assisted hydrothermal method. The effect of the molar ratio of ammonium phosphate in phosphate (RAMP) and hydrothermal time on the resultant products was characterized in terms of crystalline structure, morphology, colloidal stability, and fluorescence behavior. When the RAMP is 50% and the hydrothermal time is 4 h, the product consists of a pure hexagonal HA phase and a uniform rod-like morphology, with 120- to 150-nm length and approximately 20-nm diameter. The corresponding dispersion is colloidally stable, and transparent for at least one week, and has an intense bright blue emission (centered at 440 nm, 11.6-ns lifetime, and 73.80% quantum efficiency) when excited by 340-nm UV light. Although prolonging the hydrothermal time and increasing the RAMP had no appreciable effect on the aqueous colloidal stability of HA nanoparticles, the fluorescence intensity was enhanced. The cause of HA fluorescence are more biased towards carbon dots (which are mainly polymer clusters and/or molecular fluorophores constituents) trapped in the hydroxyapatite crystal structure. Owing to these properties, a highly fluorescent HA colloidal dispersion could find applications in secure information storage.