bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Model of Micro Climate Assessment and Recommendation of Mitigation In Semarang City With Remote Sensing Technology
Authors: Sasmito B , Suprayogi A , Awaluddin M , Darlina S P , Andani N D , Kalinda I O P
Published: August 2019

The city of Semarang is one of the 10 major cities in Indonesia that are developing towards the metropolis. Urban infrastructure develops, resulting in the use of vegetation land to be converted into build up land. The increasingly hot climate of the city will disrupt the comfort of residents. Urban design and planning should consider land use change. Good planning will have a very good effect on the city’s climate system. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of micro-climate change in the city with the algorithm of the Temperature Heat Index (Leisure Index). The assessment starts from the Land Surface Temperature algorithm, from here model of Urban Heat Island (UHI) can be done. The distribution of UHI phenomena is derived from Land Surface Temperature. The UHI mitigation recommendation for Semarang City is based on land cover. The method used is the Remote Sensing approach through some spatial data extraction from satellite imagery. Data processing is done by using multi-temporal data of Landsat 8 satellite imagery. The result is presented in thematic map of LST, UHI, and Mitigation model map. Mitigation that can be done is the physical modification of the building, like the use of material with high albedo, the application of green wall, green roof, greening parking lots, and the addition of vegetation around the building and along the road. Besides, it is also necessary to monitor the change of land function and its suitability with the Urban Land use Plan of Semarang City.
THE Effect of Azido-Starch as Filler on Tensile and Tear Properties of Natural Rubber Latex Films
Authors: Daud S , Azura A R , Yhaya M F
Published: August 2019

The azido starch/Natural Rubber (azo-starch/NR) latex films were prepared with control (0), 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 phr of azido-starch loadings. The azido starch functional groups were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra- Red (FTIR) analysis to observe the presence of significant peaks of azide (N3).The control and azido starch-filled NR films were subjected to tensile test and tear test in order to investigate the effect of the addition of azido-starch on the mechanical properties of azo-starch/NR latex films. The tensile strength of azo-starch/NR latex films was increased with increasing azido-starch loading and slightly decreased after 1.0 phr loading. The optimum tensile strength of azo-starch/NR latex films is obtained at 1.0 phr loading. The moduli (M100 and M300) and tear strength also increased with increasing azido-starch loading. However, the elongation at break (EB) was almost similar with increasing azido-starch loading. The swelling test was done to determine the swelling index, crosslink density and rubber-filler interaction of azo-starch/NR films. The swelling index was decreased but the crosslink density increased with increasing azido-starch loading indicating the formation of crosslinks between azido-starch and rubber macromolecules.
Migration of N-nitrosamines from rubber gloves for handling food - Effect of extraction media
Authors: Pinprayoon O , Mae W
Published: August 2019

Rubber gloves are used daily in variety applications including for food handling purposes. In order to assess possible exposure of the wearers to N-nitrosamines as well as possible release of N-nitrosamines to foods being contacted to these gloves, effects of extraction media are investigated. Artificial sweats (both alkaline and acid solutions), artificial saliva, and some food simulants are used for the extractions and twelve N-nitrosamines including NDMA, NDEA, NDPA, NDiBA, NDBA, NPIP, NPYR, NMOR, NEPhA, NMPhA, NDiNA, and NDBzA are analysed using GC-TEA. By using different extraction media, the levels of the released N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances are different leading to the differences in the judgement for the EU Directive compliance. By comparing with data of daily intake of N-nitrosamines from foods, the intake of N-nitrosamines migrated from gloves used for food handling under the most unfavourable circumstances could lead to an exceeding of dietary intake. Therefore possible risks associated with the use of rubber gloves for food handling are considered high.
Modeling and Forecasting of Volatility using ARMA-GARCH: Case Study on Malaysia Natural Rubber Prices
Authors: Ghani I M Md , Rahim H A
Published: August 2019

Malaysia is one of the largest producers of natural rubber in the world. Among the various types of natural rubber which contribute to the country’s agricultural sector is the Standard Malaysian Rubber Grade 20 (S.M.R 20). Since 2008, the rubber price has received attention of investors and Malaysia Rubber Board due to price fluctuation. The price of rubber is characterized by the existence of heavy tails and volatility clustering. These properties play a significant impact on parameter estimation and forecasting performance resulting from S.M.R 20 rubber price data. The approach used in modeling S.M.R 20 rubber price data, is Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model. The aims of this paper are to find the best ARMA-GARCH model by using different specifications structures and to forecast the daily price for 20 days ahead. There are 20 models produced from different specifications in ARMA(R,M) dan GARCH(p,q) models. In this study, 1953 daily price data of S.M.R 20 are taken into consideration. The validity comparison of diagnostic checking and forecasting performance are based on AIC, AICC, SBC, HQC, MSE, RMSE and MAPE. The results reveals that ARMA(1,0)-GARCH(1,2) model is the best volatility modeling in S.M.R 20 rubber price. Based on the implications of the results, the scope of the future research directions has been widen.
A Method of Remote Support Jamming Based on the Chaff Clouds Scattering
Authors: Qiu Shidai , Yao Dengkai , Zhao Guhao
Published: August 2019

Electronic Jamming is an important means to cover the penetration formation and improve survival probability of penetration aircraft when Air force performs ground penetrating mission. A compound interference method of jamming surface-to-air missile guidance radar by scattering long–range jamming signals though chaff clouds is proposed, which uses jammer to irradiate chaff clouds scattered on the penetration route, and injects jamming energy into the main lobe of surface-to-air missile guidance radar by scattering chaff clouds to make better interference effect.
Climatic Environmental Worthiness Model of the Civil Aircraft Based on the Grey Theory
Authors: Hui Zhang , Jingtao Wu
Published: August 2019

The civil aircraft must have the ability to the global operation. The aircraft may experience the high temperature, the low temperature, the high humidity, ice and other extreme climatic environment. Environmental worthiness plays an important role in the integrated capability of the civil aircraft. Environmental worthiness evaluation is a major part of the civil aircraft engineering. According to the environmental worthiness to diversified environmental factors, we can establish the criteria for environment classification. The environmental worthiness model of the civil aircraft was set up using the grey theory. The rationality and feasibility of the model was validated by the example. The results indicate that the environmental adaptability of the aircraft was ranked “poor” to “better”. The result can supply the reference data for the environment adaptability requirement for thedesign of the civil aircraft.
Uncertainty Analysis of Squeeze-Type Regulation Method for Equal Expulsion of Parallel Tanks
Authors: Yin W J , Lin Z , Wang M J
Published: August 2019

Focused on the problem of unbalanced propellant consumption in parallel tanks of propulsion system, a squeeze-type regulation method based on the gas law method was discussed in the paper. Taking the tank system as the research object, the thermodynamic models under isothermal, adiabatic and other conditions were given and the factors affecting the uncertainty of the model were analysed. The results show that the measurement uncertainty of the model mainly comes from the pressure measurement accuracy and the volume measurement accuracy. The model was applied to different cases and the influence law of different tank parameters on the model uncertainty was studied. It is found that under the premise of the fixed pressure difference of the parallel tanks, the uncertainty of the regulation model is almost linear with the regulation amount. In addition, the relative uncertainty of the model can be reduced effectively by improving the pressure difference of the parallel tanks. The accuracy of the regulation model can reach to 7.7%, which can meet the requirements for on-orbit use.
Research Progress on Requirements Integrated Preprocessing and Mission Planning for Earth Observation Satellites
Authors: Chen Shu-Jian , Li Zhi , Hu Min
Published: August 2019

The scale of Earth observation satellite system continues to expand and its application is becoming more and more extensive, which puts forward higher requirements for satellite mission planning system. This paper summarizes and analyzes some key issues in the mission planning of earth observation satellites. Firstly, the development status and the trend of earth observation satellites are introduced. Secondly, we summarize and analyze complex requirements of observation decomposition method, the priority of requirements determination method, the model construction and solving methods of single-satellite scheduling, multi-satellite integrated scheduling and multi-satellite dynamic scheduling in the process of requirements Integrated Preprocessing and mission planning. Finally, we discuss the problems that still need to be solved and the direction of research.
Research on Optimization of Working Mode of Long-range Early Warning Radar Guided by Space-based Information
Authors: Tong ZHOU , Yasheng ZHANG , Haijun ZHOU , Jingbin HAN
Published: August 2019

The long-range early warning radar is the key equipment in the early defense process of ballistic missile. For the problem of low working efficiency of long-range early warning radar without guidance information, this paper studies the working process of long-range early warning radar with space-based guidance information, and proposed a new long-range warning radar working mode. Firstly, the coordinate system transformation and guidance information extraction of space-based guidance information are given. Then the concept of coherent accumulation of radar signals is introduced and a new radar operation mode is proposed. Finally, the radar signal coherent accumulation process is established. A mathematical model of radar search distance and intercept probability. The typical scene is built and simulated. The results show that the proposed radar working mode will effectively reduce the search airspace of the long-range early warning radar and improve the radar detection range.
A Method of Communication Constellation Resilience Evaluation
Authors: Jingbin Han , Ya-sheng Zhang , Ya-feng Tang , Tong Zhou
Published: August 2019

The resilience of the communication constellation is an important measure of the communication mission assurance capability of the communication constellation. In order to effectively measure the strength and weakness of the communication constellation, the research on the elastic evaluation method of communication constellation is carried out. First, according to the definition of the space system elasticity of the US Air Force Space Command, the definition of the communication constellation elasticity is given. Subsequently, the covering ability and reconstruction energy index are proposed as the objective function of the restored constellation performance recovery, and the damaged constellation performance recovery model based on NSGA-II algorithm is constructed. Finally, a resilience evaluation method for communication constellation with a single communication constellation as the evaluation target is established, and the simulation calculation is carried out by taking the MUOS constellation as an example. It is concluded that the constellation is poor in terms of robustness, and because of the lack of satellite performance, the task guarantee capability is limited.
Solving Velocity Ambiguity for Pulse Doppler Radar Space Target Measurement
Authors: Yuan Zhihua , Chen Defeng , Xue Shan , Fu Tuo
Published: August 2019

In order to solve the problem of severe velocity ambiguity for pulse Doppler radar high-speed space orbital targets measurement, a new velocity ambiguity resolution method based on the short arc orbit determination technique is presented in this paper. By means of a modified orbit determination model, this method can adopt the original radar measurements with the range-Doppler coupling term directly. It uses the numerical integration method to solve the differential equation of the state transition matrix and corrects the range-Doppler coupling term simultaneously, and then the optimal reference orbit is obtained by using the iterative least squares method. Finally, the velocity ambiguity is determined with the accurate reference velocity which can be calculated from the above reference orbit. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method can estimate the reference velocity accurately and satisfies the performance requirement of velocity ambiguity resolution.
Research of High Resolution ISAR Algorithm Based on Coherent Registration and Fusion for Distributed Radar
Authors: Luo Xi , Guo Lixin , Song Dawei , Shang She , Li Xiaojun
Published: August 2019

According to the Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR), this thesis analyses the attributed to the physical restriction that the ISAR image resolution cannot be improved, therefore, a high resolution ISAR algorithm for distributed radar system is proposed. Depended on existing hardware development level, it combines multi-radar echo signals for one target and then utilize data fusion theory for multi-visual angle and multi-frequency band to obtain ultra-wide band and larger coherent accumulation angle, on this account, the much higher resolution 2D-image than the single radar is able to acquired. The main content illustrates the method for high resolution ISAR on target electromagnetic scattering two-exponential sum model, and the simulation is made to demonstrate the analysis is effective and validity.
A Preliminary, Open-Label Study of Naltrexone and Bupropion Combination Therapy for Treating Binge Drinking in Human Subjects
Authors: Walter T Jordan , Navarro Montserrat , Thiele Todd E , Pedersen Cort , Kampov-Polevoy Alexey , Garbutt J C
Published: August 2019

Aims

The combination of bupropion and naltrexone has shown efficacy in reducing binge drinking in animal models. This study assessed the tolerability and potential utility of combined naltrexone and bupropion in reducing binge drinking in human subjects.

Methods

This preliminary study employed an open-label, single-arm, 12-week, prospective design. Twelve men and women who exhibited a minimum of five (men) or three (women) binge drinking episodes per month over the past 3 months were recruited. All subjects received both bupropion-extended release 300 mg/day and naltrexone 50 mg/day and were monitored throughout the 3-month treatment period. Binge drinking was assessed using the timeline follow-back method.

Results

Treatment with combined naltrexone and bupropion reduced the average number of drinks per binge drinking day from 7.8 drinks to 6.4 drinks and reduced the average percentage of binge drinking days per month from 19% (5.7 days/month) to 5% (1.5 days/month). Naltrexone and bupropion were generally well tolerated, with insomnia, headache and nausea/diarrhea being the most common side effects. Six subjects elected to stay on medication after the trial.

Conclusions

This study suggests that combined naltrexone and bupropion therapy should be further investigated for tolerability and efficacy in reducing binge drinking in humans.
Romanticism of Numbers: Hamilton, Jefferson, and the Sublime
Authors: Hewitt Elizabeth
Published: August 2019

This essay analyzes the narrative elements of the partisan dispute concerning Hamilton’s fiscal proposals in the first years of the 1790s. Focusing especially on a sequence of letters from the summer of 1792 between Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, it proposes that we should study Hamilton’s response to his opponents as an aesthetic argument. More specifically, Hamilton crafts the nation’s economic policy by conceiving of the sublimity of capital and finance, and I propose we should read Hamilton’s writing with an eye toward Immanuel Kant’s theory of the sublime. The essay also situates Hamilton in relation to other theorists of the economic sublime, including Fredric Jameson, François Lyotard, and Max Weber.
Adaptive penalization in high-dimensional regression and classification with external covariates using variational Bayes
Authors: Velten Britta , Huber Wolfgang
Published: August 2019

Penalization schemes like Lasso or ridge regression are routinely used to regress a response of interest on a high-dimensional set of potential predictors. Despite being decisive, the question of the relative strength of penalization is often glossed over and only implicitly determined by the scale of individual predictors. At the same time, additional information on the predictors is available in many applications but left unused. Here, we propose to make use of such external covariates to adapt the penalization in a data-driven manner. We present a method that differentially penalizes feature groups defined by the covariates and adapts the relative strength of penalization to the information content of each group. Using techniques from the Bayesian tool-set our procedure combines shrinkage with feature selection and provides a scalable optimization scheme. We demonstrate in simulations that the method accurately recovers the true effect sizes and sparsity patterns per feature group. Furthermore, it leads to an improved prediction performance in situations where the groups have strong differences in dynamic range. In applications to data from high-throughput biology, the method enables re-weighting the importance of feature groups from different assays. Overall, using available covariates extends the range of applications of penalized regression, improves model interpretability and can improve prediction performance.
Phenology of the genetic model Setaria viridis (Poaceae) according to the BBCH-scale of development
Authors: Junqueira Nicia E G , Bezerra Ana C M , Cattem Marcus V O , Medici Leonardo O , Alves-Ferreira Márcio , Macrae Andrew , Ortiz-Silva Bianca , Reinert Fernanda
Published: August 2019

Setaria viridis, a genetic model for C4 monocots, has potential to provide information of relevance for plant biotechnology, contributing to an understanding of how genetic engineering can affect phenotype and agricultural production. The BBCH growth scale for the A10.1 accession of S. viridis consists of a detailed phenotypic analysis process, based on defined growth stages. Measurements of morphological attributes complementing the scale were also made, supporting the identification of growth and development stages. Phenotypic stages were grouped into three major stages of development: vegetative (BBCH 0 to 4), reproductive (BBCH 5 to 8) and senescence (BBCH 9). Observation and interpretation of the growth and development data of accessions A10.1 and Ast-1 showed that the former presents phenotypic homogeneity, which makes it suitable for the construction of the BBCH-scale and improves our understanding of the phenology of this model plant. This methodological framework facilitates the comparison of genotypes and phenotypes among natural accessions and future mutants and the study of the evolution of tolerance to abiotic stress.
Leaf micromorphology in Poaceae subtribe Olyrinae (Bambusoideae) and its systematic implications
Authors: Lima Jamile Fernandes , Leite Kelly Regina Batista , Clark Lynn G , de Oliveira R Patricia
Published: August 2019

We analysed the leaf epidermal surfaces of 52 species of herbaceous bamboos belonging to all 20 genera of subtribe Olyrinae (Olyreae). We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM) to describe their foliar microcharacters and test the taxonomic utility of these characters in the subtribe. Shape and distribution of silica bodies, presence, type and distribution of papillae on the long cells and subsidiary cells and the presence and distribution of prickles and macrohairs were found to be taxonomically informative, whereas microhairs were not useful in this group. The type of papillae on the abaxial surface had a robust taxonomic value mainly at the generic level, whereas the distribution of these microstructures helped to differentiate some species of Arberella, Cryptochloa, Diandrolyra, Olyra, Piresia and Sucrea. We also confirmed that in some species, papillae associated with the stomata are on the long cells and project over the stomatal complexes, whereas in other species they occur on the subsidiary cells.
Cripto-1 promotes tumor invasion and predicts poor outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Tao , Guo Yi-Zhan , Yue Xiao , Zhang Guo-Pei , Zhang Yi , Kuang Ming , Peng Bao-Gang , Li Shao-Qiang
Published: August 2019

Cripto-1 (CR1), an oncofetal protein, had been implied to reactivate in some cancers. However, the relationship between CR1 expression and patient outcomes and the tumor biological function of CR1 contributing to invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly defined. In this study, we demonstrated that CR1 was expressed in over 80% of HCCs in a training cohort (n = 242) and a validation cohort (n = 159). High CR1 expression was significantly correlated with aggressive HCC phenotypes (i.e. portal vein tumor thrombus, microscopic vascular invasion, multiple tumors and poor tumor differentiation). In both the training and validation cohorts, patients with high CR1 expression had remarkably shorter disease-free survival and overall survival rates than those with low CR1 expression. A series in vitro and in vivo assays showed that CR1 substantially promoted HCC cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CR1 induced HCC cells to undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition through activating the Akt/NFκB/p65 signaling. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that NFκB/p65 enhanced CR1 expression by binding its promoter. Thus, CR1 and NFκB/p65 form a positive feedback loop that sustained the process of migration and invasion of HCC. Therefore, CR1 plays an important role in HCC invasion and metastasis and may be an effective and reliable prognostic biomarker for HCC recurrence after resection. Targeting CR1 may be a promising treatment for HCC.
Routine Screening of Anal Cytology in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and the Impact on Invasive Anal Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Revollo Boris , Videla Sebastián , Llibre Josep M , Paredes Roger , Piñol Marta , García-Cuyàs Francesc , Ornelas Arelly , Puig Jordi , Parés David , Corral Javier , Clotet Bonaventura , Sirera Guillem
Published: August 2019

Background

The efficacy of screening programs to prevent anal cancer in persons with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is unclear.

Methods

To examine the impact of a screening program to detect anal cancer precursors on the incidence of cases of invasive anal squamous-cell carcinoma (IASCC) in persons with HIV-1, we performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of outpatients with HIV-1 attending a reference HIV unit from January 2005 onward. All participants were invited to participate in a continued structured screening program for anal cancer prevention. We estimated the incidence of IASCC and performed a comparative analysis between subjects enrolled in the screening program (screening group) and those who declined to participate (nonscreening group). To reduce any selection bias, a propensity score analysis was applied.

Results

We included 3111 persons with HIV-1 (1596 men-who-have-sex-with-men [MSM], 888 men-who-have-sex-with-women [MSW], 627 women; mean age, 41 years), with a median follow-up of 4.7 years (14 595 patient-years of follow-up); 1691 (54%) participated in the screening program. Ten patients were diagnosed with IASCC: 2 (MSM) in the screening group and 8 (4 MSM, 2 MSW, and 2 women) in the nonscreening group. The incidence rates of IASCC were 21.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7–70.3) and 107.0 (95% CI, 46.2–202.0) per 100 000 person-years, respectively. After a propensity score adjustment, the difference was significant in favor of the screening group (hazard ratio, 0.17; 95% CI, .03–.86).

Conclusions

The number of cases of IASCC was significantly lower in persons with HIV engaged in an anal cytology screening program. These results should be validated in a randomized clinical trial.
Interstitial fibroblasts in donor kidneys predict late posttransplant anemia
Authors: Mafune Hamada Aki , Yamamoto Izumi , Kawabe Mayuko , Katsumata Haruki , Yamakawa Takafumi , Katsuma Ai , Nakada Yasuyuki , Kobayashi Akimitsu , Koike Yusuke , Miki Jun , Yamada Hiroki , Kimura Takahiro , Tanno Yudo , Ohkido Ichiro , Tsuboi Nobuo , Yamamoto Hiroyasu , Urashima Mitsuyoshi , Yokoo Takashi
Published: August 2019

Background

Posttransplant anemia (PTA) is associated with the progression of kidney disease and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Although the main causes of PTA are recipient factors, donor factors have not been fully investigated. In this study we investigated the association of donor pathological findings with the incidence of PTA in kidney transplant recipients after 3 years of transplantation.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single university hospital. A total of 50 consecutive adult recipients and donors were enrolled. To assess the structure of interstitial lesions, immunohistochemical staining of interstitial fibrosis and fibroblasts were assessed in 0-h biopsies for quantitative analysis.

Results

The incidence of PTA in this cohort was 30%. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.6 ± 0.8 g/dL in patients with PTA and 14.3 ± 1.5 g/dL in patients without PTA. An inverse association was observed in biopsies between interstitial fibrosis area and interstitial fibroblast area (P < 0.01) and each pathological finding was examined for its association with PTA incidence after multivariate adjustment. For the interstitial fibrosis area, the odds ratio (OR) was 1.94 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–2.99; P < 0.01]. For the interstitial fibroblast area, the OR was 0.01 (95% CI 0.00–0.16; P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis indicated that the interstitial fibroblast area had high predictive power for the incidence of PTA.

Conclusions

The presence of interstitial fibroblasts in donor kidneys may play an important role in predicting the incidence of PTA.
Early postnatal overnutrition accelerates aging-associated epigenetic drift in pancreatic islets
Authors: Li Ge , Petkova Tihomira D , Laritsky Eleonora , Kessler Noah , Baker Maria S , Zhu Shaoyu , Waterland Robert A
Published: August 2019

Pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetes patients have altered DNA methylation, contributing to islet dysfunction and the onset of type 2 diabetes. The cause of these epigenetic alterations is largely unknown. We set out to test whether (i) islet DNA methylation would change with aging and (ii) early postnatal overnutrition would persistently alter DNA methylation. We performed genome-scale DNA methylation profiling in islets from postnatally over-nourished (suckled in a small litter) and control male mice at both postnatal day 21 and postnatal day 180. DNA methylation differences were validated using quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing, and associations with expression were assessed by RT-PCR. We discovered that genomic regions that are hypermethylated in exocrine relative to endocrine pancreas tend to gain methylation in islets during aging (R2 = 0.33, P < 0.0001). These methylation differences were inversely correlated with mRNA expression of genes relevant to β cell function [including Rab3b (Ras-related protein Rab-3B), Cacnb3 (voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel subunit 3), Atp2a3 (sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 3) and Ins2 (insulin 2)]. Relative to control, small litter islets showed DNA methylation differences directly after weaning and in adulthood, but few of these were present at both ages. Surprisingly, we found substantial overlap of methylated loci caused by aging and small litter feeding, suggesting that the age-associated gain of DNA methylation happened much earlier in small litter islets than control islets. Our results provide the novel insights that aging-associated DNA methylation increases reflect an epigenetic drift toward the exocrine pancreas epigenome, and that early postnatal overnutrition may accelerate this process.
Fungal plasma membrane domains
Authors: Athanasopoulos Alexandros , André Bruno , Sophianopoulou Vicky , Gournas Christos
Published: August 2019

The plasma membrane (PM) performs a plethora of physiological processes, the coordination of which requires spatial and temporal organization into specialized domains of different sizes, stability, protein/lipid composition and overall architecture. Compartmentalization of the PM has been particularly well studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where five non-overlapping domains have been described: The Membrane Compartments containing the arginine permease Can1 (MCC), the H+-ATPase Pma1 (MCP), the TORC2 kinase (MCT), the sterol transporters Ltc3/4 (MCL), and the cell wall stress mechanosensor Wsc1 (MCW). Additional cortical foci at the fungal PM are the sites where clathrin-dependent endocytosis occurs, the sites where the external pH sensing complex PAL/Rim localizes, and sterol-rich domains found in apically grown regions of fungal membranes. In this review, we summarize knowledge from several fungal species regarding the organization of the lateral PM segregation. We discuss the mechanisms of formation of these domains, and the mechanisms of partitioning of proteins there. Finally, we discuss the physiological roles of the best-known membrane compartments, including the regulation of membrane and cell wall homeostasis, apical growth of fungal cells and the newly emerging role of MCCs as starvation-protective membrane domains.
Microbiological and chemical hazards of commercial attieke (a fermented cassava product) produced in the south of Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Alfred Kouamé Kohi , Jean Paul Bouatenin Koffi Maizan , Théodore Djeni N’dede , Marcellin Dje Koffi
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Information on the distribution and presence of microbiology and chemical hazard of commercial attieke (a fermented cassava product) produced in the south of Côte d’Ivoire were evaluated.

Materials and Methods

Microbiological analyses and chemical were carried out, which included the total viable bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Bacillus spores, heavy metal (pb, Cd, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Cr).

Results and Conclusions

The results revealed that the viable bacteria counts ranged from in all of samples. Staphylococcus aureus counts in the samples were comprised between (1.8 ± 0.4)102 (Jacqueville localitie) and (4.3 ± 1.8)103 (Abidjan localitie). While that of Bacillus cereus was ranged from (1.1 ± 0.9)102 (Adzopé localitie) and (5.1 ± 3.2)102 (Abidjan localitie). Salmonella spp. was not found.

The levels of Pb in all samples were between 2.2 ± 0.1 mg/kg (Grand-lahou localitie) and 4.5 mg/kg ± 0.15 (Abidjan localitie) while the Cd levels of the samples varied between 0.02 ± 0.1 mg/kg (Adzopé localitie) and 0.07± 0.1 mg/kg (Divo localitie). The levels of Cr in the samples were comprised between 0.1 ± 0.03 mg/kg (Adzopé localitie) and 0.95 ± 0.1 mg/kg (Abidjan localitie) while Fe (7.3 ± 1.5 mg/kg) and Cu (1.7 ± 0.2 mg/kg) levels were the highest, respectively in Sikensi and Grand-Lahou localities. Samples from Divo localitie contained high amounts of Mn (1.6 ± 0.1 mg/kg).

The occurrence of some microbiological and chemical hazard that commercial attieke collected in Cote d’Ivoire may act as a reservoir of pathogenic micro-organisms and heavy metal for human.
The safety of esophagojejunostomy via a transorally inserted-anvil method vs extracorporeal anastomosis using a circular stapler during total gastrectomy for Siewert type 2 adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction
Authors: Chen Xin-Hua , Hu Yan-Feng , Luo Jun , Chen Yue-Hong , Liu Hao , Lin Tian , Chen Hao , Li Guo-Xin , Yu Jiang
Published: August 2019

Background

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy via a transorally inserted-anvil method during laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for upper gastric cancer has been demonstrated to be feasible, but the use of this assessment exclusively for Siewert type 2 adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) has not been reported.

Methods

A total of 428 consecutive gastric-cancer patients who underwent LTG in Nanfang Hospital from January 2008 to December 2016 were reviewed. Among these patients, 98 were classified as Siewert type 2 AEG. The patients underwent intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy through either a transorally inserted-anvil method (n = 27) or extracorporeal anastomosis usinga circular stapler (n = 71). After generating propensity scores with covariates that were associated with developing anastomotic leakage, 26 patients who underwent esophagojejunostomy via the transorally inserted-anvil method (transoral group) were 1:1 matched with 26 patients who underwent the procedure via extracorporeal anastomosis using a circular stapler (extracorporeal group). The safety after 30 days post-operatively was compared between the two groups.

Results

The transoral group and extracorporeal group were balanced regarding the baseline variables. The operative time, reconstruction duration, number of dissected lymph nodes, length of the proximal resection margins, estimated blood loss, intra-operative complication rate, and post-operative recovery course were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean anvil-insertion completion time (9.7 ± 3.0 vs 13.4 ± 2.0 minutes, P < 0.001) and the median incision length (5.5 vs 7.0 cm, P < 0.001) in the transoral group were shorter than those in the extracorporeal group. The incidence of post-operative complications (26.9% vs 23.1%, P = 0.749) and the classification of complication severity (P = 0.939) were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy through a transorally inserted-anvil method may be a potentially safe approach to simplify and optimize the procedure during LTG for Siewert type 2 AEG.
Aging Well in the Digital Age: Technology in Processes of Selective Optimization with Compensation
Authors: Nimrod Galit
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Studies show that using information and communication technology (ICT) contributes significantly to elders’ subjective well-being (SWB). Drawing on the Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) model, this study aims at exploring the mechanism by which ICT use helps older adults remain engaged in valued life activities and maintain their SWB.

Method

Involving teams from seven countries (Canada, Colombia, Israel, Italy, Peru, Romania, Spain), 27 focus groups were conducted with a total of 184 grandmothers aged 65 years and older who use ICT.

Results

Analysis led to identification of a series of strategies related to ICT use that may be described in SOC terms. “Intentional limited use” and “Selective timing,”, for example, are clearly associated with selection. In addition, numerous optimizing strategies were found to be applied in “Instrumental” and “Leisure” activities, whereas some ICT uses offered compensation for “Aging-related” and “General” challenging circumstances.

Discussion

The study suggests that ICT is used in all three SOC processes and that its effective application facilitates adjustment and enhances SWB. It should therefore be regarded as a resource that supports existing personal and social resources and life management strategies, and even as a Quality of Life Technology that maintains or enhances functioning in older adulthood.
Psychological Resilience in the Context of Disability: A Study With Turkish and Moroccan Young-Old Immigrants Living in the Netherlands
Authors: Szabó Ágnes , Klokgieters Silvia S , Kok Almar A L , van Tilburg Theo G , Huisman Martijn
Published: August 2019

Background and Objectives

The disability paradox postulates that some individuals with severe functional limitations demonstrate psychological resilience, that is, good mental health and quality of life. Resilience to disabilities has been linked to psychological (e.g., mastery) and social factors (e.g., social provisions). It is, however, less clear whether cultural factors can provide additional resources for resilience building in older immigrants. We investigated the extent to which sociodemographic, psychosocial, and cultural factors contributed to psychological resilience to disabilities among immigrants of Turkish and Moroccan descent in the Netherlands.

Research Design and Method

The sample included 478 older immigrants aged 55–65 years. Data were analyzed using latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regressions.

Results

Five categories were identified: (a) High physical and emotional functioning; (b) High physical but poor emotional functioning; (c) Low physical but high emotional functioning (resilient); (d) Low physical and emotional functioning; and (e) Low physical and very low emotional functioning. Resilient functioning (reference category) was associated with poorer Dutch language proficiency, lower levels of loneliness, greater mastery, and more religious coping.

Discussion and Implications

Findings provide support for the disability paradox and highlight social provisions, mastery, and religiosity/spirituality as important resources for psychological resilience in older labor migrants. Poor Dutch language proficiency is discussed as a potential factor contributing to severe functional limitations in the resilient category.
A framework for petrophysically and geologically guided geophysical inversion using a dynamic Gaussian mixture model prior
Authors: Astic Thibaut , Oldenburg Douglas W
Published: August 2019

We propose a new framework for incorporating petrophysical and geological information into voxel-based geophysical inversion. By developing the geophysical inverse problem from a probabilistic perspective, we redesign the objective function and the iteration steps as a suite of cyclic optimization problems in which three separate MAP optimization problems are solved using geophysical, petrophysical and geological data, respectively. By quantitatively linking these data into a single framework, we recover a final inverted model that reproduces the observed, or desired, petrophysical and geological features while fitting the geophysical data. To achieve our goal we replace the Gaussian prior, used in the Tikhonov inversion approach, by a Gaussian mixture model. After each geophysical model update, the mixture parameters (means, variances and proportions) are determined by the geophysical model and the expected characteristics of the lithologies through another optimization process using the expectation–maximization algorithm. We then classify the model cells into rock units according to the petrophysical and geological information. These two additional steps over the petrophysical and geological data result in a dynamic update of the reference model and associated weights and guide the inversion towards reproducing the expected petrophysical and geological characteristics. The resulting geophysical objective function does not require extra terms to include the additional petrophysical and geological information; this is an important distinction between our work and previous frameworks that carry out joint geophysical and petrophysical data inversion. We highlight different capabilities of our methodology by inverting magnetotelluric and direct-current resistivity data in 1-D and 2-D, respectively. Finally, we apply our framework to inverting airborne frequency domain data, acquired in Australia, for the detection and characterization of saline contamination of freshwater.
Bilingual Dictionary Synonyms for Paraphrasing: A Solution or a Problem?
Authors: Thienthong Atikhom
Published: August 2019

This article presents the results of an empirical study which examined Thai EFL learners’ use of paper bilingual dictionaries to select synonyms for summary writing and paraphrasing. Seventy-one summary pieces were analysed for the appropriate substitutions of synonyms. The analyses revealed that the bilingual dictionaries consulted by the students contributed to many erroneous choices of synonyms, partly due to the ambiguous treatment of synonymy and also inadequate lexical information. Linking adverbials were the only category where there were more accurate than inaccurate substitutions for synonyms, but the opposite was true of adjectives, nouns, and verbs. The incorrect uses of synonyms were in terms of lexical sense, register, syntax, and collocation. These results suggest that a bilingual dictionary should not treat multiple synonyms offered for a polysemous word as having a single sense, but they should instead be allocated to their specific senses and supplemented with sufficient co-textual and contextual information.
Comparative effects of dietary supplementations with sodium butyrate, medium-chain fatty acids, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in late pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive performance of sows and growth performance of suckling piglets
Authors: Chen Jinchao , Xu Qingqing , Li Yunxia , Tang Zhiru , Sun Weizhong , Zhang Xiangxin , Sun Jiajing , Sun Zhihong
Published: August 2019

This study was conducted to compare the effects of adding sodium butyrate (SB), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) to the diet of sows during late gestation and lactation on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance and intestinal health of suckling piglets. Twenty-four sows (Landrace × Large-White hybrid; third parity; 200 ± 15 kg) were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 diets: basal diet (control group), basal diet + 1 g SB/kg (SB group), basal diet + 7.75 g MCFA/kg (MCFA group), or basal diet + 68.2 g n-3 PUFA/kg (n-3 PUFA group). The experiment began on day 85 of gestation and ended day 22 of lactation. Colostrum samples were collected from each sow. After the experiment, blood and tissue samples were collected from 1 randomly selected piglet. The results showed that the weaning-to-estrus interval of sows in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups was shorter than that of sows in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of diarrhea in suckling piglets in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups was lower than that of piglets in the control group (P < 0.05). The fat, protein, IgA, IgG, and IgM concentration in colostrum from sows increased following dietary supplementation with SB, MCFA, or n-3 PUFA (P < 0.05). Comparison with the control group, the mRNA expression of claudin-1, zona occludens 1, and interleukin-10 increased in the jejunum mucosa of suckling piglets in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups, while that of TLR4 decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Chao1 and ACE indexes of microbial flora in the colon contents of piglets in the SB, MCFA, and MCFA groups increased (P < 0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Synergistetes decreased at the phylum level (P < 0.05). In conclusion, during late pregnancy and lactation, dietary SB supplementation had a greater effect on intestinal health and caused a greater decrease in preweaning mortality of suckling piglets than did dietary MCFA or n-3 PUFA supplementation; dietary MCFA supplementation shortened the weaning-to-estrus interval of sows to a greater extent than did dietary SB or n-3 PUFA supplementation; and dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation increased the fat and protein content in the colostrum to the greatest extent.
Patients’ Experiences and Priorities for Accessing Gastroenterology Care
Authors: Telford Jennifer J , Rosenfeld Gregory , Thakkar Swati , Bansback Nick
Published: August 2019

Background

Wait times for gastroenterology care in Canada exceed recommended benchmarks set by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology wait-time consensus. Patient-centered prioritization tools may help improve efficiency.

Methods

We conducted a survey on gastroenterology outpatients assessing their experience with accessing care, global health status and health care service utilization while waiting for a gastroenterology appointment. Thematic analysis of survey results informed the questions for a discrete choice experiment (DCE). Three attributes included were the following: clinical indication, functional status and time already waiting, which the study patients considered when prioritizing hypothetical patients. The DCE was analyzed using a conditional logit model.

Results

One hundred seventy-three patients completed all questions and were included in the final analysis. Over 80% reported good or excellent physical and mental health with 11% utilizing health care resources while waiting; 14% had waited more than 25 weeks for their appointment. Seventy-seven per cent of the patients were satisfied or better with their experience. Eighty-one per cent of the patients agreed with a prioritization system. Patients would prioritize a patient with a potentially more severe diagnosis or functional impairment over a patient with a less severe diagnosis clinical or functional impairment who had been waiting longer. The most severe clinical attributes were prioritized over the most severe functional attributes.

Conclusion

Patients support a prioritization tool for access to gastroenterology care. DCE indicated that patients are willing to wait longer in order for those with more severe clinical or functional attributes to be seen earlier. The relative times patients are willing to wait could be used to create a prioritization model for outpatients referred to gastroenterology.
Behavioral Inhibition of the House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) When Exposed to Commercial Equine Fly Repellents
Authors: Tuorinsky Elizabeth V , Machtinger Erika T
Published: August 2019

House flies can have negative consequences on the welfare of horses and other equids. Fly repellents in the form of on-animal sprays, wipes, or spot-ons are the most commonly used fly control method for horses. Many products are available, but repellent efficacy and duration of effectiveness may influence repellent choice by horse owners. A better understanding of the efficacy of common fly repellent products will help guide repellent selection to reduce fly pressure on horses. To evaluate commercially available repellents, house fly behavioral inhibition after application of three products marketed as natural (Ecovet, Equiderma, and Outsmart) and four with synthetic pyrethroids as active ingredients (Bronco, Endure, UltraShield, and Optiforce) was compared at 100, 50, and 25% concentration and at 15, 30, 60, 240, 1,440, and 2,880 min. Time and product were significant at all tested concentrations. The natural products performed as well as or better than the synthetic products at all dilutions and times. Ecovet in particular retained over 75% inhibition of flies for >1 d at the 100 and 50% concentrations. Differences were seen among products with pyrethroids, suggesting that formulation differences significantly affect efficacy. Cost and application suggestions are discussed, and these results will aid horse owners in selecting fly repellents to meet their individual needs.