bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyst Reduction in a Polycystic Kidney Disease Drosophila Model Using Smac Mimics
Authors: Millet-Boureima Cassandra , Chingle Ramesh , Lubell William , Gamberi Chiara
Published: October 2019

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited malady affecting 12.5 million people worldwide. Therapeutic options to treat PKD are limited, due in part to lack of precise knowledge of underlying pathological mechanisms. Mimics of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (Smac) have exhibited activity as antineoplastic agents and reported recently to ameliorate cysts in a murine ADPKD model, possibly by differentially targeting cystic cells and sparing the surrounding tissue. A first-in-kind Drosophila PKD model has now been employed to probe further the activity of novel Smac mimics. Substantial reduction of cystic defects was observed in the Malpighian (renal) tubules of treated flies, underscoring mechanistic conservation of the cystic pathways and potential for efficient testing of drug prototypes in this PKD model. Moreover, the observed differential rescue of the anterior and posterior tubules overall, and within their physiologically diverse intermediate and terminal regions implied a nuanced response in distinct tubular regions contingent upon the structure of the Smac mimic. Knowledge gained from studying Smac mimics reveals the capacity for the Drosophila model to precisely probe PKD pharmacology highlighting the value for such critical evaluation of factors implicated in renal function and pathology.
Development of Mixed Flow Fans with Bio-Inspired Grooves
Authors: Wang Jinxin , Nakata Toshiyuki , Liu Hao
Published: October 2019

Mixed flow fan is a kind of widely used turbomachine, which has faced problems of further performance improvement in traditional design methods in recent decades. Inspired by the microgrooves such as riblets and denticles on bird feathers and shark skins, we here propose biomimetic designs of various blades with the bio-inspired grooves, aiming at the improvement of the aeroacoustic performance. Based on a systematic study with computational fluid dynamic analyses, we found that these designs had the potential in noise suppression even with macroscopic grooves. Our best design can suppress turbulence kinetic energy by approximately 38% at the blade leading edge with aerodynamic efficiency loss of only 0.3 percentage points. This improvement is achieved by passive flow control. The vortical structures are changed in a favorable way at the leading edge due to the grooves. We believe that these biomimetic designs could provide a promising future of enhancing the performance of mixed flow fans by making grooves of ideal flow passages on the suction faces of blades in accord with the theory of pump design.
Short-Term Prediction of Energy Consumption in Demand Response for Blocks of Buildings: DR-BoB Approach
Authors: Dawood Nashwan
Published: October 2019

Load forecasting plays a major role in determining the prices of the energy supplied to end customers. An accurate prediction is vital for the energy companies, especially when it comes to the baseline calculations that are used to predict the energy load. In this paper, an accurate short-term prediction using the Exponentially Weighted Extended Recursive Least Square (EWE-RLS) algorithm based upon a standard Kalman filter is implemented to predict the energy load for blocks of buildings in a large-scale for four different European pilot sites. A new software tool, namely Local Energy Manager (LEM), is developed to implement the RLS algorithm and predict the forecast for energy demand a day ahead with a regular meter frequency of a quarter of an hour. The EWE-RLS algorithm is used to develop the LEM in demand response for blocks of buildings (DR-BOB), this is part of a large-scale H2020 EU project with the aim to generate the energy baselines during and after running demand response (DR) events. This is achieved in order to evaluate and measure the energy reduction as compared with historical data to demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of DR. The energy baselines are generated based on different market scenarios, different temperature, and energy meter files with three different levels of asset, building, and a whole pilot site level. The prediction results obtained from the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) offer a 5.1% high degree of accuracy and stability at a UK pilot site level compared to the asset and whole building scenarios, where it shows a very acceptable prediction accuracy of 10.7% and 19.6% respectively.
Histone Deacetylase Expressions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Functional Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on Liver Cancer Cells In Vitro
Authors: Freese Kim , Seitz Tatjana , Dietrich Peter , Lee Serene M.L. , Thasler Wolfgang E. , Bosserhoff Anja , Hellerbrand Claus
Published: October 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause for deaths worldwide. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition (HDACi) is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, most pharmacological HDACi unselectively block different HDAC classes and their molecular mechanisms of action are only incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to systematically analyze expressions of different HDAC classes in HCC cells and tissues and to functionally analyze the effect of the HDACi suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) and trichostatin A (TSA) on the tumorigenicity of HCC cells. The gene expression of all HDAC classes was significantly increased in human HCC cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC, HuH7) compared to primary human hepatocytes (PHH). The analysis of HCC patient data showed the increased expression of several HDACs in HCC tissues compared to non-tumorous liver. However, there was no unified picture of regulation in three different HCC patient datasets and we observed a strong variation in the gene expression of different HDACs in tumorous as well as non-tumorous liver. Still, there was a strong correlation in the expression of HDAC class IIa (HDAC4, 5, 7, 9) as well as HDAC2 and 8 (class I) and HDAC10 (class IIb) and HDAC11 (class IV) in HCC tissues of individual patients. This might indicate a common mechanism of the regulation of these HDACs in HCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset analysis revealed that HDAC4, HDAC7 and HDAC9 as well as HDAC class I members HDAC1 and HDAC2 is significantly correlated with patient survival. Furthermore, we observed that SAHA and TSA reduced the proliferation, clonogenicity and migratory potential of HCC cells. SAHA but not TSA induced features of senescence in HCC cells. Additionally, HDACi enhanced the efficacy of sorafenib in killing sorafenib-susceptible cells. Moreover, HDACi reestablished sorafenib sensitivity in resistant HCC cells. In summary, HDACs are significantly but differently increased in HCC, which may be exploited to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches. HDACi affect different facets of the tumorigenicity of HCC cells and appears to be a promising therapeutic approach alone or in combination with sorafenib.
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Update on the Mechanisms of Leukemogenesis, Resistance and on Innovative Treatment Strategies
Authors: Noguera N. , Catalano G. , Banella C. , Divona M. , Faraoni I. , Ottone T. , Arcese W. , Voso M.
Published: October 2019

This review highlights new findings that have deepened our understanding of the mechanisms of leukemogenesis, therapy and resistance in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor α (PML-RARa) sets the cellular landscape of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by repressing the transcription of RARa target genes and disrupting PML-NBs. The RAR receptors control the homeostasis of tissue growth, modeling and regeneration, and PML-NBs are involved in self-renewal of normal and cancer stem cells, DNA damage response, senescence and stress response. The additional somatic mutations in APL mainly involve FLT3, WT1, NRAS, KRAS, ARID1B and ARID1A genes. The treatment outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed APL improved dramatically since the advent of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO). ATRA activates the transcription of blocked genes and degrades PML-RARα, while ATO degrades PML-RARa by promoting apoptosis and has a pro-oxidant effect. The resistance to ATRA and ATO may derive from the mutations in the RARa ligand binding domain (LBD) and in the PML-B2 domain of PML-RARa, but such mutations cannot explain the majority of resistances experienced in the clinic, globally accounting for 5–10% of cases. Several studies are ongoing to unravel clonal evolution and resistance, suggesting the therapeutic potential of new retinoid molecules and combinatorial treatments of ATRA or ATO with different drugs acting through alternative mechanisms of action, which may lead to synergistic effects on growth control or the induction of apoptosis in APL cells.
Mössbauer Spectroscopy of Triphylite (LiFePO4) at Low Temperatures
Authors: Kmječ Tomáš , Kohout Jaroslav , Dopita Milan , Veverka Miroslav , Kuriplach Jan
Published: October 2019

Low temperature magnetic ordering in the LiFePO 4 compound is investigated experimentally using Mössbauer spectroscopy and theoretically via first principles calculations. The evaluation of experiment carried out on a powder sample is compatible with an antiferromagnetic order of Fe ion magnetic moments. When an external magnetic field is applied, Fe magnetic moments start to deviate slightly from the [010] easy magnetization direction. These findings are confirmed by means of first principles calculations, which also suggest the magnitude of single ion magnetic anisotropy and orbital and spin-dipolar contributions to the magnetic hyperfine field, which is eventually in a good agreement with the experiment. Diffraction and magnetic measurements complement the study.
Pleurochrysis carterae Hot-Water Extract Inhibits Melanogenesis in Murine Melanoma Cells
Authors: Sato Kazuomi , Yamaguchi Yuji , Sakaki Setsuko , Takenaka Hiroyuki
Published: October 2019

In this study, we examined the effect of a hot-water extract of coccolithophore Pleurochrysis carterae on melanogenesis in B16F1 and B16F10 melanoma cells. P. carterae extract inhibited the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-enhanced melanin synthesis in B16F1 melanoma cells. P. carterae also inhibited unstimulated melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Western blotting showed that the P. carterae extract inhibited tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in a dose-dependent manner. The reporter assay also revealed a decline in the tyrosinase promoter activity in the presence of P. carterae extract. Furthermore, quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that P. carterae extract downregulated the mRNA levels of tyrosinase and MITF. Finally, our study demonstrated that the hot-water extract of P. carterae inhibits melanin synthesis via the down-regulation of MITF mRNA level. Our findings indicate that P. carterae extract could be a possible cosmetic ingredient.
Communication Enhancement through Quantum Coherent Control of N Channels in an Indefinite Causal-Order Scenario
Authors: Procopio Lorenzo M. , Delgado Francisco , Enríquez Marco , Belabas Nadia , Levenson Juan Ariel
Published: October 2019

In quantum Shannon theory, transmission of information is enhanced by quantum features. Up to very recently, the trajectories of transmission remained fully classical. Recently, a new paradigm was proposed by playing quantum tricks on two completely depolarizing quantum channels i.e., using coherent control in space or time of the two quantum channels. We extend here this control to the transmission of information through a network of an arbitrary number N of channels with arbitrary individual capacity i.e., information preservation characteristics in the case of indefinite causal order. We propose a formalism to assess information transmission in the most general case of N channels in an indefinite causal order scenario yielding the output of such transmission. Then, we explicitly derive the quantum switch output and the associated Holevo limit of the information transmission for N = 2 , N = 3 as a function of all involved parameters. We find in the case N = 3 that the transmission of information for three channels is twice that of transmission of the two-channel case when a full superposition of all possible causal orders is used.
Phantom: Towards Vendor-Agnostic Resource Consolidation in Cloud Environments
Authors: Abbasi Aaqif Afzaal , Al-qaness Mohammed A. A. , Elaziz Mohamed Abd , Hawbani Ammar , Ewees Ahmed A. , Javed Sameen , Kim Sunghwan
Published: October 2019

Mobile-oriented internet technologies such as mobile cloud computing are gaining wider popularity in the IT industry. These technologies are aimed at improving the user internet usage experience by employing state-of-the-art technologies or their combination. One of the most important parts of modern mobile-oriented future internet is cloud computing. Modern mobile devices use cloud computing technology to host, share and store data on the network. This helps mobile users to avail different internet services in a simple, cost-effective and easy way. In this paper, we shall discuss the issues in mobile cloud resource management followed by a vendor-agnostic resource consolidation approach named Phantom, to improve the resource allocation challenges in mobile cloud environments. The proposed scheme exploits software-defined networks (SDNs) to introduce vendor-agnostic concept and utilizes a graph-theoretic approach to achieve its objectives. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed approach in improving application service response time.
Control Strategies for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine: Challenges and Trends
Authors: Salic Tom , Charpentier Jean Frédéric , Benbouzid Mohamed , Le Boulluec Marc
Published: October 2019

The offshore wind resource has huge energy potential. However, wind turbine floating structures have to withstand harsh conditions. Strong wind and wave effects combine to generate vibrations, fatigue, and heavy loads on the structure and other elements of the wind turbine. These structural problems increase maintenance requirements and risk of failure, while reducing availability and energy production. Another challenge for wind energy is to reduce production costs in order to be competitive with other alternatives. From the control point of view, the objective of lowering costs can be achieved by operating the turbine close to its optimum point of operation under partial load, guaranteeing reliability by reducing structural loads and regulating the power generated in strong wind regimes. In this typical and challenging context, this paper proposes a critical state-of-the-art review, discussing challenges and trends on floating offshore wind turbines control.
Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer to Supercritical Water in Vertical Tube under Semicircular Heating Condition
Authors: Wang Zhenchuan , Qi Guoli , Li Meijun
Published: October 2019

In-depth understanding and analysis of turbulent convection heat transfer of supercritical water under semicircular heating conditions play a major role in system design and security. The inaccurate numerical results on simulating the buoyancy effect under deterioration heat transfer cases are partly attributed to the invalidity of the turbulent model. An improved turbulence model, which is validated suitable to three-dimensional model, is adopted in the present paper to numerical simulated flow and heat transfer in a vertical tube under semicircular heating condition. Heat transfer deterioration phenomenon occurs under semicircular heating condition, while the degree of deterioration is weakened due to the influence of variable physical properties and buoyancy effect. The velocity profile is distorted into “M-shape” in the heating side and present parabolic distribution in the adiabatic side, leading to different deterioration mechanisms under semicircular heating condition compared with uniform heating. The larger density difference between the heating side and the adiabatic side increases the shear stress production of turbulent kinetic energy; turbulent development is much faster recovery than the phenomenon in uniform heating condition. The results show that the semicircular heating condition can effectively alleviate the degree of heat transfer deterioration in a vertical tube.
State of Charge Estimation Algorithm for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Power-Type Lithium Battery Packs Based on the Extended Kalman Filter
Authors: Zhang Haitao , Zhou Ming , Lan Xudong
Published: October 2019

The lack of endurance is an important reason restricting further development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Accurately estimating the state of charge (SOC) of the Li-Po battery can maximize the battery energy utilization and improve the endurance of UAVs. In this paper, the main current methods for estimating the SOC of vehicles were explored and discussed to unveil their advantages and disadvantages. In addition, the extended Kalman filter algorithm based on an equivalent circuit model was used to estimate SOC of power-type Li-Po batteries at different temperatures. The result showed that the closed-loop control method can effectively improve the battery life of small-sized electric UAVs.
Optimising Convolutional Neural Networks to Predict the Hygrothermal Performance of Building Components
Authors: Tijskens Astrid , Janssen Hans , Roels Staf
Published: October 2019

Performing numerous simulations of a building component, for example to assess its hygrothermal performance with consideration of multiple uncertain input parameters, can easily become computationally inhibitive. To solve this issue, the hygrothermal model can be replaced by a metamodel, a much simpler mathematical model which mimics the original model with a strongly reduced calculation time. In this paper, convolutional neural networks predicting the hygrothermal time series (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, moisture content) are used to that aim. A strategy is presented to optimise the networks’ hyper-parameters, using the Grey-Wolf Optimiser algorithm. Based on this optimisation, some hyper-parameters were found to have a significant impact on the prediction performance, whereas others were less important. In this paper, this approach is applied to the hygrothermal response of a massive masonry wall, for which the prediction performance and the training time were evaluated. The outcomes show that, with well-tuned hyper-parameter settings, convolutional neural networks are able to capture the complex patterns of the hygrothermal response accurately and are thus well-suited to replace time-consuming standard hygrothermal models.
Colorimetric Method for Detection of Hydrazine Decomposition in Chemical Decontamination Process
Authors: Park Jungsoon , Eun Hee-Chul , Kim Seonbyeong , Roh Changhyun , Park So-Jin
Published: October 2019

The aim of nuclear facility decommissioning is to make local settlements safe, sustainable and professedly acceptable. The challenges are the clean-up of the nuclear site and waste management. This means a definite promise in terms of safety and security, taking into account social and environmental accountability. There is an essential need to develop safe and efficient methods for nuclear decommissioning. Thus, chemical decontamination technology is of great significance to the decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities. In particular, chemical decontamination technology is applicable to the pipelines and internal loop. The iron-rich oxides, such as Fe3O4 or NiOFe2O3, of a nuclear power plant should have sound decontamination follow-through and should put through a very small amount of secondary waste. It is important to be able to detect and quantify hydrazine in decontamination situations with high sensitivity and selectivity. A colorimetric assay is a technique used to determine the concentration of colored compounds in a solution. However, detecting targeted species rapidly and easily, and with high sensitivity and specificity, is still challenging. Here, the catalytic reaction of oxidants in the p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and hydrazine reaction is elucidated. Oxidants can catalyze the reaction of hydrazine and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde to form an azine complex such as p-dimethylaminobenzaldazine, with high selectivity and sensitivity within 30 min at ambient temperatures. In the absence of an oxidant such as iron or hydrogen peroxide no detectable colorimetric change was observed by the reaction of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and hydrazine unless an external oxidant was present in the system. In this study, we demonstrated a colorimetric method for the sensitive detection of hydrazine decomposition in the chemical decontamination process. Furthermore, the colorimetric response was easy to monitor with the unaided eye, without any sophisticated instrumentation. This method is thus suitable for on-site detection of contamination in a nuclear facility. In addition, this colorimetric method is convenient, non-invasive, free of complex equipment, and low-cost, making it possible to analyze hydrazine in industrial nuclear facilities. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of hydrazine decomposition in the nuclear decontamination process.
Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Forestry Wood Waste for Bio-Energy Recovery Using Nano-Catalysts
Authors: Li Cheng , Yue Xiaochen , Yang Jun , Yang Yafeng , Gu Haiping , Peng Wanxi
Published: October 2019

Fast pyrolysis is envisioned as a promising technology for the utilization of forestry wood waste (e.g., widely available from tree logging) as resources. In this study, the potential of an innovative approach was explored to convert forestry wood waste of Vernicia fordii (VF) into energy products based on fast pyrolysis combined with nano-catalysts. The results from fast pyrolysis using three types of nano-catalysts showed that the distribution and composition of the pyrolytic product were affected greatly by the type of nano-catalyst employed. The use of nano-Fe2O3 and nano-NiO resulted in yields of light hydrocarbons (alkanes and olefins) as 38.7% and 33.2%, respectively. Compared to the VF sample, the use of VF-NiO and VF-Fe2O3 led to significant increases in the formation of alkanes (e.g., from 14% to 26% and 31%, respectively). In addition, the use of nano-NiO and nano-Fe2O3 catalysts was found to promote the formation of acid, aromatics, and phenols that can be used as chemical feedstocks. The NiO catalyst affected the bio-oil composition by promoting lignin decomposition for the formation of aromatics and phenolics, which were increased from 9.52% to 14.40% and from 1.65% to 4.02%, respectively. Accordingly, the combined use of nano-catalysts and fast pyrolysis can be a promising technique for bio-energy applications to allow efficient recovery of fuel products from forestry wood waste.
Nitrogen Doped Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers for Green Hydrogen Production: Similarities in the Nature of Nitrogen Species, Metal–Nitrogen Interaction, and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Podyacheva Olga , Lisitsyn Alexander , Kibis Lidiya , Boronin Andrei , Stonkus Olga , Zaikovskii Vladimir , Suboch Arina , Sobolev Vladimir , Parmon Valentin
Published: October 2019

The effect of nitrogen doped bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (N–CNTs) on the properties of supported platinum (0.2 and 1 wt %) catalysts in formic acid decomposition for hydrogen production was studied. It was shown that both impregnation and homogeneous precipitation routes led to the formation of electron-deficient platinum stabilized by pyridinic nitrogen sites of the N–CNTs. The electron-deficient platinum species strongly enhanced the activity and selectivity of the Pt/N–CNTs catalysts when compared to the catalysts containing mainly metallic platinum nanoparticles. A comparison of bamboo-like N–CNTs and herring-bone nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers (N–CNFs) as the catalyst support allowed us to conclude that the catalytic properties of supported platinum are determined by its locally one-type interaction with pyridinic nitrogen sites of the N–CNTs or N–CNFs irrespective of substantial structural differences between nanotubes and nanofibers.
Non-Coding RNA Sequencing of Equine Endometrium During Maternal Recognition of Pregnancy
Authors: Klohonatz Kristin M. , Coleman Stephen J. , Cameron Ashley D. , Hess Ann M. , Reed Kailee J. , Canovas Angela , Medrano Juan F. , Islas-Trejo Alma D. , Kalbfleisch Ted , Bouma Gerrit J. , Bruemmer Jason E.
Published: October 2019

Maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in the mare is not well defined. In a non-pregnant mare, prostaglandin F2α (PGF) is released on day 14 post-ovulation (PO) to cause luteal regression, resulting in loss of progesterone production. Equine MRP occurs prior to day 14 to halt PGF production. Studies have failed to identify a gene candidate for MRP, so attention has turned to small, non-coding RNAs. The objective of this study was to evaluate small RNA (<200 nucleotides) content in endometrium during MRP. Mares were used in a cross-over design with each having a pregnant and non-mated cycle. Each mare was randomly assigned to collection day 11 or 13 PO (n = 3/day) and endometrial biopsies were obtained. Total RNA was isolated and sequencing libraries were prepared using a small RNA library preparation kit and sequenced on a HiSeq 2000. EquCab3 was used as the reference genome and DESeq2 was used for statistical analysis. On day 11, 419 ncRNAs, representing miRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, scaRNA, and vaultRNA, were different between pregnancy statuses, but none on day 13. Equine endometrial ncRNAs with unknown structure and function were also identified. This study is the first to describe ncRNA transcriptome in equine endometrium. Identifying targets of these ncRNAs could lead to determining MRP.
PT Achievement in Public Hospitals and Its Effect on Outcomes
Authors: Morton Jessica S. , Tang Alex , Moses Michael J. , Hamilton Dustin , Crick Neville , Schwarzkopf Ran
Published: October 2019

The demand for TKA continues to rise within the United States, while increasing quality measures and cost containment became the basis of reimbursement for hospital systems. Length of stay is a major driver in the cost of TKA. Early mobilization with physical therapy has been shown to increase range of motion and decrease complications, but with mixed results in regards to length of stay. We postulate that initiating physical therapy on post-operative day zero will decrease length of stay in an urban public hospital. Retrospective chart review was performed at a large, urban, public academic medical center to identify patients who have had a primary TKA over the course of a 3-year period. Groups who underwent post-operative day zero therapy were compared with those who initiated physical therapy on post-operative day one. Length of stay was the primary outcome. Patient demographic characteristics and discharge disposition were also collected. There were 98 patients in the post-operative day-one physical therapy cohort and 58 in the post-operative day zero physical therapy group. Hospital length of stay was significantly decreased in the post-operative day zero physical therapy group. (p < 0.01) There was no difference in discharge disposition between the two groups.
Radiotherapy for the Palliation of Advanced Sarcomas—The Effectiveness of Radiotherapy in Providing Symptomatic Improvement for Advanced Sarcomas in a Single Centre Cohort
Authors: Tween Hannah , Peake David , Spooner David , Sherriff Jenny
Published: October 2019

Background: Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous tumours with a large proportion of patients requiring palliative intervention. They are regarded as relatively radioresistant and therefore achieving good palliation with radiation may require larger doses than for more common solid tumour types. Limited data is available regarding appropriate palliative radiotherapy dose fractionation. This case series aims to assess the effectiveness of radiotherapy in providing symptomatic improvement for advanced sarcomas. Method: Data was retrospectively collected for patients treated with palliative radiotherapy between July 2010 and April 2019 at one institution. The primary outcome was documented symptomatic improvement following radiotherapy. Secondary outcome was overall survival. Results: One hundred and five patients had a total of 137 sites treated using 25 different dose fractionation schedules. The median patient age was 54 (range 8–90) years. Treated sites included 114 soft tissue and 23 bone sarcomas. Data on symptomatic improvement was available in 56% and 67% of cases respectively. A total of 70% of soft tissue and 55% of bone sarcoma patients reported symptomatic improvement. Symptomatic response rates appeared to increase to a biological effective dose (BED) of 50Grey4 (Gy4) (alpha beta ratio (α/β) = 4 for tumour) but did not continue to improve with further rises in dose beyond this. Conclusion: Palliative radiotherapy offers symptomatic improvement for sarcoma patients with two-thirds of patients reporting reduction in symptoms. These results are limited by the heterogeneous study population including different sarcoma subtypes each with a probable different radio-sensitivity, treated with different radiotherapy schedules. Further prospective data collection is needed considering sarcoma subtype radio-sensitivity, to determine appropriate palliative dose fractionation schedules.
Patient Satisfaction with Rural Medical Services: A Cross-Sectional Survey in 11 Western Provinces in China
Authors: Liu Jinlin , Mao Ying
Published: October 2019

Rural medical services play an important role in protecting and promoting the health of the rural population; however, patient satisfaction with rural medical services has been understudied in China. A better understanding of the actual situation and the determinants involved will provide evidence for health-related policy makers and hospital managers to further improve rural medical services. A total of 9811 patients (5208 outpatients and 4603 inpatients) were included in this study from a cross-sectional survey conducted in rural hospitals from 11 western provinces in China. Three in five patients (including outpatients and inpatients) were satisfied with rural medical services. The mean overall satisfaction scores were 3.61 ± 0.857 and 3.80 ± 0.829 (out of a maximum of 5) for rural outpatients and inpatients, respectively. The most satisfying domains for outpatients and inpatients were medical service attitude and illness explanation, and waiting time and medical expenses were the domains that outpatients and inpatients were least satisfied with. Satisfaction with medical technology (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.57–1.92) and satisfaction with trust in physicians (OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.85–2.28) were identified as the strongest predictors of outpatients’ and inpatients’ overall satisfaction with rural medical services, respectively. This study might shed light on rural medical services management in China.
Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Hypochlorite Aging on Properties and Performance of Polyethersulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: Li Kai , Li Shu , Su Qian , Wen Gang , Huang Tinglin
Published: October 2019

Chemical reaction of main polymer and additive with oxidative cleaning agents plays an important role in aging of polymeric membrane for water and wastewater treatment. As a green and powerful oxidant, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can achieve good cleaning efficacy under alkaline condition, but its influence on membrane aging was poorly understood. In this study, degradation of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane due to H2O2 exposure under alkaline condition (pH 9 and 11) was holistically investigated by humic acid (HA) filtration experiments and multiple membrane characterization techniques, with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) aging examined as a comparison. Membrane permeability and HA retention rate was hardly changed by H2O2 aging at an exposure dose of 500 g·h/L, whereas NaClO aging led to substantial increase of membrane permeability and significant decrease of retention ability. Meanwhile, H2O2 aging slightly increased fouling propensity with HA filtration, while NaClO aging resulted in more serious fouling. ATR-FTIR and XPS analysis revealed much less degradation of PES and hydrophilic additive by H2O2 than that by NaClO, and membrane morphology and surface properties were characterized to explain the variation of filtration performance. Overall, compared with cleaning with NaClO, membrane degradation can be minimized by cleaning with H2O2.
Perception and Attitude about Child Sexual Abuse among Vietnamese School-Age Children
Authors: Do Ha Ngoc , Nguyen Hoa Quynh Thi , Nguyen Linh Thuy Thi , Nguyen Hiep Duy , Bui Thanh Phuong , Phan Nguyet Thanh , Do Hang Thu Thi , Ha Giang Hai , Phan Hai Thanh , Nguyen Trang Huyen Thi , Ngo Anh Toan , Pham Kiet Tuan Huy , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: October 2019

Child sexual abuse has become a significant public health concern in Vietnam in recent years, and the likelihood of being abused could be prevented by increasing the awareness of sexual abuse and self-protection skills among children. However, little is known about the perception and attitude of schoolchildren toward this issue in Vietnam. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of school-age children toward child sexual abuse and the risk factors affecting their knowledge and attitude. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 Vietnamese students from grades four to nine. Most of the respondents had insufficient knowledge of sexual abuse in children; teachers and strangers would not be perpetrators (57.9% and 74%); and schools and home were safe places (55.8% and 58.8%). Almost all participants disagreed with touching and non-touching actions, even from acquaintances (94.5% to 99.5%). Being female, older age, not living with family or relatives, and living in an urban setting were found to be positively associated with the right perception and attitude toward child sexual abuse. A sexuality education program should be officially applied at schools for children with the support of their parents to narrow the knowledge gap between different geographical locations and genders.
Past, Present, and Future of Groundwater Remediation Research: A Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Chen Qibin , Fan Guilian , Na Wei , Liu Jiming , Cui Jianguo , Li Hongyan
Published: October 2019

In this study, we characterize the body of knowledge of groundwater remediation from 1950 to 2018 by employing scientometric techniques and CiteSpace software, based on the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-E) databases. The results indicate that the United States and China contributed 56.4% of the total publications and were the major powers in groundwater remediation research. In addition, the United States, Canada, and China have considerable capabilities and expertise in groundwater remediation research. Groundwater remediation research is a multidisciplinary field, covering water resources, environmental sciences and ecology, environmental sciences, and engineering, among other fields. Journals such as Environmental Science and Technology, Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, and Water Research were the major sources of cited works. The research fronts of groundwater remediation were transitioning from the pump-and-treat method to permeable reactive barriers and nanoscale zero‑valent iron particles. The combination of new persulfate ion‑activation technology and nanotechnology is receiving much attention. Based on the visualized networks, the intelligence base was verified using a variety of metrics. Through landscape portrayal and developmental trajectory identification of groundwater remediation research, this study provides insight into the characteristics of, and global trends in, groundwater remediation, which will facilitate the identification of future research directions.
Water Footprint of Food Consumption by Chinese Residents
Authors: Zhang Yu , Tian Qing , Hu Huan , Yu Miao
Published: October 2019

Water shortages are a worldwide problem. Virtual water and the water footprint link water resources, human beings and agricultural products, and are effective tools to alleviate water-resources stress. The production of agricultural products consumes a large amount of water, and food is the most basic consumer good for human survival, so it is very necessary to study the water footprint of residents’ food consumption, which is also the weak point of current research on virtual water and the water footprint. This paper aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis on the water footprint of food consumption in China from the perspectives of urban and rural residents, per capita water footprint, water footprint structure and food consumption structure. The results revealed that the average water footprint of residents’ food consumption was 605.12 billion m3/year, basically showing an upward trend. Guangdong residents had the highest water footprint for food consumption due to the highest population and higher consumption of water-intensive foodstuffs such as grain and meat in their diet. The water footprint of Xizang residents’ food consumption was the lowest followed by Ningxia and Qinghai due to having the least population. The water footprint of food consumption consumed by urban residents was on the rise while that consumed by rural residents was on the decline in China, which was consistent with the changing trend of population. On the whole, the rural population consumed more virtual water embedded in food than the urban population. From the water footprint structure point, the contribution rate of the green water footprint is the largest, reaching 69.36%. The second is the gray water footprint and then the blue water footprint, accounting for 18.71% and 11.93%, respectively. From the perspective of the food consumption structure, grain and pig, beef and mutton consumption contributed significantly to the total water footprint of residents’ food consumption, contributing 37.5% and 22.56%, respectively. The study is helpful for water management and water allocation in rural and urban areas, improving agricultural technology to reduce the gray water footprint and optimizing food consumption structure, such as reducing the consumption of grain and meat.
Determinants of Continued Breastfeeding at 12 and 24 Months: Results of an Australian Cohort Study
Authors: Scott Jane , Ahwong Ellen , Devenish Gemma , Ha Diep , Do Loc
Published: October 2019

Breastfeeding to 12 months and beyond offers considerable health benefits to both infants and mothers. Despite these recognized benefits, relatively few women in high income countries breastfeed for 12 months, and rarely breastfeed to 24 months. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and determinants of continued breastfeeding to 12 and 24 months amongst a cohort of Australian women participating in the Adelaide-based Study of Mothers’ and Infants’ Life Events affecting oral health (SMILE). Duration of breastfeeding was known for 1450 participants and was derived from feeding related data collected at birth, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between explanatory variables and continued breastfeeding to 12 and 24 months. In total, 31.8% of women breastfed to 12 months and 7.5% to 24 months. Women who were multiparous, university educated, had not returned to work by 12 months and whose partners preferred breastfeeding over bottle feeding were more likely to be breastfeeding at 12 months. While women who had introduced complementary foods before 17 weeks and formula at any age were less likely to be breastfeeding at 12 months. Mothers who were born in Asian countries other than India and China, had not returned to work by 12 months and had not introduced formula were more likely to be breastfeeding at 24 months. The majority of the determinants of continued breastfeeding are either modifiable or could be used to identify women who would benefit from additional breastfeeding support and encouragement.
To Be or Not to Be Vaccinated? The Ethical Aspects of Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Workers
Authors: Van Hooste Wim Leo Celina , Bekaert Micheline
Published: October 2019

Influenza is a highly contagious airborne disease with a significant morbidity and mortality burden. Seasonal influenza (SI) vaccination has been recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) for many years. Despite many efforts to encourage HCWs to be immunized against influenza, vaccination uptake remains suboptimal. Sometimes there is a significant sign of improvement, only if numerous measures are taken. Is ‘the evidence’ and ‘rationale’ sufficient enough to support mandatory influenza vaccination policies? Most voluntary policies to increase vaccination rates among HCWs have not been very effective. How to close the gap between desired and current vaccination rates? Whether (semi)mandatory policies are justified is an ethical issue. By means of a MEDLINE search, we synthesized the most relevant publications to try to answer these questions. Neither the ‘clinical’ Hippocratic ethics (the Georgetown Mantra: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice), nor the ‘public health’ ethics frameworks resolve the question completely. Therefore, recently the ‘components of justice’ framework was added to the ethical debate. Most options to increase the uptake arouse little ethical controversy, except mandatory policies. The success of vaccination will largely depend upon the way the ethical challenges like professional duty and ethics (deontology), self-determination, vaccine hesitance, and refusal (‘conscientious objector’) are dealt with.
Women in Refugee Camps: Which Coping Resources Help Them to Adapt?
Authors: Braun-Lewensohn Orna , Abu-Kaf Sarah , Al-Said Khaled
Published: October 2019

The present study aimed to explore the coping resources and mental health of women who have fled Syria to a neighboring European country. To that end, we examined the roles of sociodemographic factors, situational factors, and personal and community sense of coherence (SOC and ComSOC, respectively) in mental-health outcomes. One hundred and eleven refugee women aged 19–70 filled out self-reported questionnaires during August 2018 in a refugee camp in Greece. The questionnaires asked the participants for demographic information (i.e., age, level of education level, and time spent in the camp) and also addressed the situational factors of having received aid from various organizations, appraisal of danger during the war in Syria, and exposure to war experiences, as well as the coping resources of SOC and ComSOC. The results show that time spent in the camp, appraisal of danger, SOC, and ComSOC all play significant roles in predicting the variance of various mental-health outcomes. Together, those factors predict 56% of anxiety, 53% of depression, and 58% of somatization. SOC was also found to mediate the relationships between time spent in the camp and outcome variables, as well as the relationships between the appraisal of danger and the outcome variables. This indicates that SOC is crucial for good adaptation. These results will be discussed in light of the salutogenic theory.
Influence of Neighborhood Environment on Korean Adult Obesity Using a Bayesian Spatial Multilevel Model
Authors: Lee Eun Young , Lee Sugie , Choi Bo Youl , Choi Jungsoon
Published: October 2019

Previous studies using spatial statistical modeling that account for spatial associations between geographic areas are scarce. Therefore, this study examines the association between neighborhood environment and obesity using a Bayesian spatial multilevel model. Data from 78,014 adults living in Gyeonggi province in Korea were drawn from the 2013–2014 Korean Community Health Survey. Korean government databases and ArcGIS software (version 10.1, ESRI, Redlands, CA) were used to measure the neighborhood environment for 546 administrative districts of Gyeonggi province. A Bayesian spatial multilevel model was implemented across gender and age groups. The findings indicate that women aged 19–39 years who lived in neighborhoods farthest away from parks were more likely to be obese. Men aged 40–59 years who lived in neighborhoods farther from public physical activity facilities and with lower population density were more likely to be obese. Obesity for women aged 19–39 years was the most spatially dependent, while obesity for women aged 40–59 years was the least spatially dependent. The results suggest that neighborhood environments that provide more opportunities for physical activity are negatively related to obesity. Therefore, the creation of physical activity in favorable neighborhood environments, considering gender and age, may be a valuable strategy to reduce obesity.
Associations between Witnessing and Perpetrating Online Hate in Eight Countries: The Buffering Effects of Problem-Focused Coping
Authors: Wachs Sebastian , Wright Michelle F. , Sittichai Ruthaychonnee , Singh Ritu , Biswal Ramakrishna , Kim Eun-mee , Yang Soeun , Gámez-Guadix Manuel , Almendros Carmen , Flora Katerina , Daskalou Vassiliki , Maziridou Evdoxia
Published: October 2019

Online hate is a topic that has received considerable interest lately, as online hate represents a risk to self-determination and peaceful coexistence in societies around the globe. However, not much is known about the explanations for adolescents posting or forwarding hateful online material or how adolescents cope with this newly emerging online risk. Thus, we sought to better understand the relationship between a bystander to and perpetrator of online hate, and the moderating effects of problem-focused coping strategies (e.g., assertive, technical coping) within this relationship. Self-report questionnaires on witnessing and committing online hate and assertive and technical coping were completed by 6829 adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age from eight countries. The results showed that increases in witnessing online hate were positively related to being a perpetrator of online hate. Assertive and technical coping strategies were negatively related with perpetrating online hate. Bystanders of online hate reported fewer instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported higher levels of assertive and technical coping strategies, and more frequent instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported lower levels of assertive and technical coping strategies. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, if effective, prevention and intervention programs that target online hate should consider educating young people about problem-focused coping strategies, self-assertiveness, and media skills. Implications for future research are discussed.