bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NoCGuard: A Reliable Network-on-Chip Router Architecture
Authors: Shafique Muhammad Akmal , Baloch Naveed Khan , Baig Muhammad Iram , Hussain Fawad , Zikria Yousaf Bin , Kim Sung Won
Published: February 2020

Aggressive scaling in deep nanometer technology enables chip multiprocessor design facilitated by the communication-centric architecture provided by Network-on-Chip (NoC). At the same time, it brings considerable challenges in reliability because a fault in the network architecture severely impacts the performance of a system. To deal with these reliability challenges, this research proposed NoCGuard, a reconfigurable architecture designed to tolerate multiple permanent faults in each pipeline stage of the generic router. NoCGuard router architecture uses four highly reliable and low-cost fault-tolerant strategies. We exploited resource borrowing and double routing strategy for the routing computation stage, default winner strategy for the virtual channel allocation stage, runtime arbiter selection and default winner strategy for the switch allocation stage and multiple secondary bypass paths strategy for the crossbar stage. Unlike existing reliable router architectures, our architecture features less redundancy, more fault tolerance, and high reliability. Reliability comparison using Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) metric shows 5.53-time improvement in a lifetime and using Silicon Protection Factor (SPF), 22-time improvement, which is better than state-of-the-art reliable router architectures. Synthesis results using 15 nm and 45 nm technology library show that additional circuitry incurs an area overhead of 28.7% and 28% respectively. Latency analysis using synthetic, PARSEC and SPLASH-2 traffic shows minor increase in performance by 3.41%, 12% and 15% respectively while providing high reliability.
Effects of Cutting, Pruning, and Grafting on the Expression of Age-Related Genes in Larix kaempferi
Authors: Zhang Yao , Zang Qiao-Lu , Qi Li-Wang , Han Su-Ying , Li Wan-Feng
Published: February 2020

Grafting, cutting, and pruning are important horticultural techniques widely used in the establishment of clonal forestry. After the application of these techniques, some properties of the plants change, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In our previous study, 27 age-related transcripts were found to be expressed differentially between the juvenile vegetative (1- and 2-year-old) and adult reproductive (25- and 50-year-old) phases of Larix kaempferi. Here, we re-analyzed the 27 age-related transcripts, cloned their full-length cDNA sequences, and measured their responses to grafting, cutting, and pruning. After sequence analysis and cloning, 20 transcription factors were obtained and annotated, most of which were associated with reproductive development, and six (LaAGL2-1, LaAGL2-2, LaAGL2-3, LaSOC1-1, LaAGL11, and LaAP2-2) showed regular expression patterns with L. kaempferi aging. Based on the expression patterns of these transcription factors in L. kaempferi trees subjected to grafting, cutting, and pruning, we concluded that (1) cutting and pruning rejuvenate the plants and change their expression, and the effects of cutting on gene expression are detectable within 14 years, although the cutting seedlings are still maturing during these years; (2) within three months after grafting, the rootstock is more sensitive to grafting than the scion and readily becomes mature with the effect of the scion, while the scion is not readily rejuvenated by the effect of the rootstock; and (3) LaAGL2-2 and LaAGL2-3 are more sensitive to grafting, while LaAP2-2 is impervious to it. These findings not only provide potential molecular markers to assess the state of plants but also aid in studies of the molecular mechanisms of rejuvenation.
Dwarf Mistletoe Infection Interacts with Tree Growth Rate to Produce Opposing Direct and Indirect Effects on Resin Duct Defenses in Lodgepole Pine
Authors: Ferrenberg Scott
Published: February 2020

Research Highlights: I sought to disentangle the influences of tree age, growth rate, and dwarf mistletoe infection on resin duct defenses in lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon, revealing the presence of direct positive and indirect negative effects of mistletoe on defenses. Background and Objectives: For protection against natural enemies, pines produce and store oleoresin (resin) in ‘resin ducts’ that occur throughout the tree. Dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium americanum Nutt. ex Engelm. (hereafter “mistletoe”), is a widespread parasitic plant affecting the pines of western North America. Infection by mistletoe can suppress pine growth and increase the probability of insect attack—possibly due to a reduction in resin duct defenses or in the potency of chemical defenses at higher levels of mistletoe infection, as reported in Pinus banksiana Lamb. However, the influence of mistletoe infection on defenses in other pine species remains unclear. I hypothesized that mistletoe infection would induce greater resin duct defenses in P. contorta while simultaneously suppressing annual growth, which was expected to reduce defenses. Materials and Methods: Using increment cores from P. contorta trees occurring in a subalpine forest of Colorado, USA, I quantified tree age, annual growth, annual resin duct production (#/annual ring), and cross-sectional area (mm2 of resin ducts/annual ring). Results: Mistletoe infection increased with tree age and had a direct positive relationship with resin duct defenses. However, mistletoe infection also had an indirect negative influence on defenses via the suppression of annual growth. Conclusions: Through the combined direct and indirect effects, mistletoe infection had a net positive impact on resin duct production but a net negative impact on the total resin duct area. This finding highlights the complexity of pine defense responses to natural enemies and that future work is needed to understand how these responses influence overall levels of resistance and the risk of mortality.
Horizontal and Vertical Distributions of Heartwood for Teak Plantation
Authors: Yang Baoguo , Jia Hongyan , Zhao Zhigang , Pang Shengjiang , Cai Daoxiong
Published: February 2020

Tectona grandis is a valuable timber species with heartwood that is used worldwide. Most of the previous studies on its heartwood and sapwood have focused on dominant or mean trees, while trees with different social status might show different vertical and horizontal distributions of heartwood and sapwood. Studies on their heartwood and sapwood properties could be conducive to increasing heartwood yield at stand level. In 31-year-old plantations of T. grandis in southwest Guangxi, China, the trees were divided into three groups including dominant, mean and suppressed trees. Stem analysis was conducted for sampled trees in each of these groups to explore the differences in the horizontal and vertical distribution of their heartwood and sapwood. The results indicated that the heartwood radius, heartwood and sapwood areas of T. grandis showed significant differences in horizontal and vertical directions among trees of different social status. Heartwood began to form when xylem radius was 2–3 cm, and the heartwood radius ratio tended to be stable when the xylem radius reached about 8 cm. Heartwood radius and area, sapwood area and section heartwood volume all decreased with increasing tree height. The ratios of heartwood radius and area were relatively stable for sections under 50% of tree height. The sapwood width did not vary largely in horizontal and vertical directions among the three social status tree groups, which mainly fluctuated in the range of 1–4 cm. The heartwood volume proportions for dominant, mean and suppressed trees were 60%, 55% and 51%, respectively. There was a significant exponential relationship between heartwood volume and diameter at breast height (DBH) regardless of social status. The model HV = 0.000011 × DBH2.9787 (R2 = 0.8601) could accurately estimate heartwood volume for all T. grandis with different social statuses at this age. These findings could provide evidence for stand management and high-quality and large-sized timber production of T. grandis.
Temperature-Dominated Driving Mechanisms of the Plant Diversity in Temperate Forests, Northeast China
Authors: Gu Yue , Han Shijie , Zhang Junhui , Chen Zhijie , Wang Wenjie , Feng Yue , Jiang Yangao , Geng Shicong
Published: February 2020

Climate, topography, and tree structure have different effects on plant diversity that vary with spatial scale. In this study, we assessed the contribution of these drivers and how they affect the vascular plant richness of different functional groups in a temperate forest ecosystem in Northeast China. We investigated about 0.986 million plants from 3160 sites to quantify the impact of annual mean temperature, sunshine duration, annual precipitation, standard deviation of diameter at breast height, and forest type on richness of vascular plants (total species, tree, treelet, shrub, and herb, separately) using the gradient boosting model. The results show that annual mean temperature had the strongest impact on plant richness. The tree richness peaked at intermediate annual mean temperature and sunshine duration and increased with annual precipitation. The Shannon diversity index and Simpson dominance index increased with annual precipitation and standard deviation of diameter at breast height, decreased with sunshine duration, and peaked at intermediate annual mean temperature and forest type. The total richness and understory richness increased with annual mean temperature and standard deviation of diameter at breast height and peaked at intermediate sunshine duration and annual precipitation. A comprehensive mechanism was found to regulate the plant diversity in forest ecosystems. The relationship between tree richness and annual mean temperature with latitudinal effect could be affected by the differences in number and size of tree individuals, indicating that plant diversity varies with the utilization of energy. The force driving plant richness varied with the functional group due to the different environmental resource requirements and the life history strategies of plants layers.
Development of a Thulium Fiber Laser for an Atomic Spectroscopy Experiment
Authors: Currey Ronnie , Khademian Ali , Shiner David
Published: February 2020

A convenient thulium fiber laser source is described with 3 W of output power operating at a wavelength of 2059 nm with a slope efficiency of 49% with respect to input pump power and 60% with respect to absorbed pump power. The laser was applied in an atomic helium spectroscopy experiment to quench 3He (2058.63 nm) and 4He (2058.69 nm) meta-stable singlets (21S0), allowing for further investigation of the helium fine structure. The customized laser effectively eliminates the singlet counts to well below a background level (1%). A simplified analysis describes the basic laser performance with fitted constants in reasonable agreement with previous work.
Development and Multiscale Characterization of 3D Warp Interlock Flax Fabrics with Different Woven Architectures for Composite Applications
Authors: Lansiaux Henri , Soulat Damien , Boussu François , Labanieh Ahmad Rashed
Published: February 2020

Multiscale characterization of the textile preform made of natural fibers is an indispensable way to understand and assess the mechanical properties and behavior of composite. In this study, a multiscale experimental characterization is performed on three-dimensional (3D) warp interlock woven fabrics made of flax fiber on the fiber (micro), roving (meso), and fabric (macro) scales. The mechanical tensile properties of the flax fiber were determined by using the impregnated fiber bundle test. The effect of the twist was considered in the back-calculation of the fiber stiffness to reveal the calculation limits of the rule of mixture. Tensile tests on dry rovings were carried out while considering different twist levels to determine the optimal amount of twist required to weave the flax roving into a 3D warp interlock. Finally, at fabric-scale, six different 3D warp interlock architectures were woven to understand the role of the architecture of binding rovings on the mechanical properties of the dry 3D fabric. The results reveal the importance of considering the properties of the fiber and roving at these scales to determine the more adequate raw material for weaving. Further, the characterization of the 3D woven structures shows the preponderant role of the binding roving on their structural and mechanical properties.
The Bayesian Approach to Capital Allocation at Operational Risk: A Combination of Statistical Data and Expert Opinion
Authors: Habachi Mohamed , Benbachir Saâd
Published: February 2020

Operational risk management remains a major concern for financial institutions. Indeed, institutions are bound to manage their own funds to hedge this risk. In this paper, we propose an approach to allocate one’s own funds based on a combination of historical data and expert opinion using the loss distribution approach (LDA) and Bayesian logic. The results show that internal models are of great importance in the process of allocating one’s own funds, and the use of the Delphi method for modelling expert opinion is very useful in ensuring the reliability of estimates.
Getting Beyond the Toy Domain. Meditations on David Deamer’s “Assembling Life”
Authors: Bains William
Published: February 2020

David Deamer has written another book, Assembling Life, on the origin of life. It is unapologetically polemic, presenting Deamer’s view that life originated in fresh water hydrothermal fields on volcanic islands on early Earth, arguing that this provided a unique environment not just for organic chemistry but for the self-assembling structure that drive that chemistry and form the basis of structure in life. It is worth reading, it is an advance in the field, but is it convincing? I argue that the Origin of Life field as a whole is unconvincing, generating results in Toy Domains that cannot be scaled to any real world scenario. I suggest that, by analogy with the history of artificial intelligence and solar astronomy, we need much more scale, and fundamentally new ideas, to take the field forward.
On Differential Equations Associated with Perturbations of Orthogonal Polynomials on the Unit Circle
Authors: Garza Lino G. , Garza Luis E. , Huertas Edmundo J.
Published: February 2020

In this contribution, we propose an algorithm to compute holonomic second-order differential equations satisfied by some families of orthogonal polynomials. Such algorithm is based in three properties that orthogonal polynomials satisfy: a recurrence relation, a structure formula, and a connection formula. This approach is used to obtain second-order differential equations whose solutions are orthogonal polynomials associated with some spectral transformations of a measure on the unit circle, as well as orthogonal polynomials associated with coherent pairs of measures on the unit circle.
Sharp Bounds on the Minimum M-Eigenvalue of Elasticity M-Tensors
Authors: Zhang Ying , Sun Linxuan , Wang Gang
Published: February 2020

The M-eigenvalue of elasticity M-tensors play important roles in nonlinear elastic material analysis. In this paper, we establish an upper bound and two sharp lower bounds for the minimum M-eigenvalue of elasticity M-tensors without irreducible conditions, which improve some existing results. Numerical examples are proposed to verify the efficiency of the obtained results.
Two Approaches to the Construction of Perturbation Bounds for Continuous-Time Markov Chains
Authors: Zeifman Alexander , Korolev Victor , Satin Yacov
Published: February 2020

This paper is largely a review. It considers two main methods used to study stability and to obtain appropriate quantitative estimates of perturbations of (inhomogeneous) Markov chains with continuous time and a finite or countable state space. An approach is described to the construction of perturbation estimates for the main five classes of such chains associated with queuing models. Several specific models are considered for which the limit characteristics and perturbation bounds for admissible “perturbed” processes are calculated.
Bivariate Burr X Generator of Distributions: Properties and Estimation Methods with Applications to Complete and Type-II Censored Samples
Authors: El-Morshedy M. , Alhussain Ziyad Ali , Atta Doaa , Almetwally Ehab M. , Eliwa M. S.
Published: February 2020

Burr proposed twelve different forms of cumulative distribution functions for modeling data. Among those twelve distribution functions is the Burr X distribution. In statistical literature, a flexible family called the Burr X-G (BX-G) family is introduced. In this paper, we propose a bivariate extension of the BX-G family, in the so-called bivariate Burr X-G (BBX-G) family of distributions based on the Marshall–Olkin shock model. Important statistical properties of the BBX-G family are obtained, and a special sub-model of this bivariate family is presented. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods are used for estimating the bivariate family parameters based on complete and Type II censored data. A simulation study was carried out to assess the performance of the family parameters. Finally, two real data sets are analyzed to illustrate the importance and the flexibility of the proposed bivariate distribution, and it is found that the proposed model provides better fit than the competitive bivariate distributions.
Modified Accelerated Bundle-Level Methods and Their Application in Two-Stage Stochastic Programming
Authors: Tang Chunming , He Bo , Wang Zhenzhen
Published: February 2020

The accelerated prox-level (APL) and uniform smoothing level (USL) methods recently proposed by Lan (Math Program, 149: 1–45, 2015) can achieve uniformly optimal complexity when solving black-box convex programming (CP) and structure non-smooth CP problems. In this paper, we propose two modified accelerated bundle-level type methods, namely, the modified APL (MAPL) and modified USL (MUSL) methods. Compared with the original APL and USL methods, the MAPL and MUSL methods reduce the number of subproblems by one in each iteration, thereby improving the efficiency of the algorithms. Conclusions of optimal iteration complexity of the proposed algorithms are established. Furthermore, the modified methods are applied to the two-stage stochastic programming, and numerical experiments are implemented to illustrate the advantages of our methods in terms of efficiency and accuracy.
Self-Similar Inverse Semigroups from Wieler Solenoids
Authors: Yi Inhyeop
Published: February 2020

Wieler showed that every irreducible Smale space with totally disconnected local stable sets is an inverse limit system, called a Wieler solenoid. We study self-similar inverse semigroups defined by s-resolving factor maps of Wieler solenoids. We show that the groupoids of germs and the tight groupoids of these inverse semigroups are equivalent to the unstable groupoids of Wieler solenoids. We also show that the C ∗ -algebras of the groupoids of germs have a unique tracial state.
Cumulative Sum Chart Modeled under the Presence of Outliers
Authors: Abbas Nasir , Abujiya Mu’azu Ramat , Riaz Muhammad , Mahmood Tahir
Published: February 2020

Cumulative sum control charts that are based on the estimated control limits are extensively used in practice. Such control limits are often characterized by a Phase I estimation error. The presence of these errors can cause a change in the location and/or width of control limits resulting in a deprived performance of the control chart. In this study, we introduce a non-parametric Tukey’s outlier detection model in the design structure of a two-sided cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart with estimated parameters for process monitoring. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we studied the estimation effect on the performance of the CUSUM chart in terms of the average run length and the standard deviation of the run length. We found the new design structure is more stable in the presence of outliers and requires fewer amounts of Phase I observations to stabilize the run-length performance. Finally, a numerical example and practical application of the proposed scheme are demonstrated using a dataset from healthcare surveillance where received signal strength of individuals’ movement is the variable of interest. The implementation of classical CUSUM shows that a shift detection in Phase II that received signal strength data is indeed masked/delayed if there are outliers in Phase I data. On the contrary, the proposed chart omits the Phase I outliers and gives a timely signal in Phase II.
Fucoxanthinol from the Diatom Nitzschia Laevis Ameliorates Neuroinflammatory Responses in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV-2 Microglia
Authors: Li Yuelian , Liu Lu , Sun Peipei , Zhang Yifeng , Wu Tao , Sun Han , Cheng Ka-Wing , Chen Feng
Published: February 2020

In recent years, microalgae have drawn increasing attention as a valuable source of functional food ingredients. Intriguingly, Nitzschia laevis is rich in fucoxanthinol that is seldom found in natural sources. Fucoxanthinol, a marine xanthophyll carotenoid, possesses various beneficial bioactivities. Nevertheless, it’s not clear whether fucoxanthinol could exert anti-neuroinflammatory function. In light of these premises, the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory role of fucoxanthinol purified from Nitzschia laevis in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia. The results showed that pre-treatment of fucoxanthinol remarkably attenuated the expression of LPS-induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE-2), nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction. Modulation mechanism studies revealed that fucoxanthinol hampered nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Akt, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Meanwhile, fucoxanthinol led to the enhancement of nuclear translocation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). Taken together, the results indicated that fucoxanthinol obtained from Nitzschia laevis had great potential as a neuroprotective agent in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders.
Evaluation of the Antibacterial Material Production in the Fermentation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-9 from Whitespotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum)
Authors: Zhang Wenjie , Wei Ling , Xu Rong , Lin Guodong , Xin Huijie , Lv Zhengbing , Qian Hong , Shi Hengbo
Published: February 2020

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens-9 (GBacillus-9), which is isolated from the intestinal tract of the white-spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum), can secrete potential antibacterial materials, such as β-1,3-1,4-glucanase and some antimicrobial peptides. However, the low fermentation production has hindered the development of GBacillus-9 as biological additives. In this study, the Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology were used to optimize the fermentation conditions in a shake flask to obtain a higher yield and antibacterial activity of GBacillus-9. On the basis of the data from medium screening, M9 medium was selected as the basic medium for fermentation. The data from the single-factor experiment showed that sucrose had the highest antibacterial activity among the 10 carbon sources. The Plackett–Burman design identified sucrose, NH4Cl, and MgSO4 as the major variables altering antibacterial activity. The optimal concentrations of these compounds to enhance antibacterial activity were assessed using the central composite design. Data showed that sucrose, NH4Cl, and MgSO4 had the highest antibacterial activities at concentrations of 64.8, 1.84, and 0.08 g L−1, respectively. The data also showed that the optimal fermentation conditions for the antibacterial material production of GBacillus-9 were as follows: Inoculum volume of 5%, initial pH of 7.0, temperature of 36 °C, rotating speed of 180 rpm, and fermentation time of 10 h. The optimal fermentation medium and conditions achieved to improve the yield of antibacterial materials for GBacillus-9 can enhance the process of developing biological additives derived from GBacillus-9.
Impact of Light Intensity on Antioxidant Activity of Tropical Microalgae
Authors: Coulombier Noémie , Nicolau Elodie , Le Déan Loïc , Antheaume Cyril , Jauffrais Thierry , Lebouvier Nicolas
Published: February 2020

Twelve microalgae species isolated in tropical lagoons of New Caledonia were screened as a new source of antioxidants. Microalgae were cultivated at two light intensities to investigate their influence on antioxidant capacity. To assess antioxidant property of microalgae extracts, four assays with different modes of action were used: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis (3-éthylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonique) (ABTS), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and thiobabituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). This screening was coupled to pigment analysis to link antioxidant activity and carotenoid content. The results showed that none of the microalgae studied can scavenge DPPH and ABTS radicals, but Chaetoceros sp., Nephroselmis sp., and Nitzschia A sp. have the capacity to scavenge peroxyl radical (ORAC) and Tetraselmis sp., Nitzschia A sp., and Nephroselmis sp. can inhibit lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Carotenoid composition is typical of the studied microalgae and highlight the siphonaxanthin, detected in Nephroselmis sp., as a pigment of interest. It was found that xanthophylls were the major contributors to the peroxyl radical scavenging capacity measured with ORAC assay, but there was no link between carotenoids and inhibition of lipid peroxidation measured with TBARS assay. In addition, the results showed that light intensity has a strong influence on antioxidant capacity of microalgae: Overall, antioxidant activities measured with ORAC assay are better in high light intensity whereas antioxidant activities measured with TBARS assay are better in low light intensity. It suggests that different antioxidant compounds production is related to light intensity.
Cortical Bone Trajectory Instrumentation with Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture
Authors: Hsu Wei-Lin , Lin Yu-Hsiang , Chuang Hao-Yu , Lee Han-Chung , Chen Der-Cherng , Chu Yen-Tse , Cho Der-Yang , Chen Chao-Hsuan
Published: February 2020

Background: Osteoporotic spinal fractures commonly occur in elderly patients with low bone mineral density. In these cases, percutaneous vertebroplasty or percutaneous kyphoplasty can provide significant pain relief and improve mobility. However, studies have reported both the recurrence of vertebral compression fractures at the index level after vertebroplasty and the development of new vertebral fractures at the adjacent level that occur without any additional trauma. Pedicle screw fixation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty has been proposed as an effective procedure for addressing osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures. However, in osteoporotic populations, pedicle screws can loosen, pullout, or migrate. Currently, the efficacy of cortical bone trajectory screw fixation for osteoporotic fractures remains unclear. Thus, we assessed the effects of using cortical bone trajectory instrumentation with vertebroplasty on patient outcomes. Method: We retrospectively reviewed data from 12 consecutively sampled osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture patients who underwent cortical bone trajectory instrumentation with vertebroplasty. Patients were enrolled beginning in October 2015 and were followed for >24 months. Result: The average age was 74 years, and the average dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry T-score was −3.6. The average visual analog scale pain scores improved from 8 to 2.5 after surgery. The average blood loss was 36.25 mL. All patients regained ambulation and experienced reduced pain post-surgery. No recurrent fractures or instrument failures were recorded during follow-up. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cortical bone trajectory instrumentation combined with percutaneous vertebroplasty may be a good option for treating osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures, as it can prevent recurrent vertebral fractures or related kyphosis in sagittal alignment.
Creating Supported Plasma Membrane Bilayers Using Acoustic Pressure
Authors: Sezgin Erdinc , Carugo Dario , Levental Ilya , Stride Eleanor , Eggeling Christian
Published: February 2020

Model membrane systems are essential tools for the study of biological processes in a simplified setting to reveal the underlying physicochemical principles. As cell-derived membrane systems, giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) constitute an intermediate model between live cells and fully artificial structures. Certain applications, however, require planar membrane surfaces. Here, we report a new approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs) by bursting cell-derived GPMVs using ultrasound within a microfluidic device. We show that the mobility of outer leaflet molecules is preserved in SPMBs, suggesting that they are accessible on the surface of the bilayers. Such model membrane systems are potentially useful in many applications requiring detailed characterization of plasma membrane dynamics.
Integrated Microfluidic Preconcentration and Nucleic Amplification System for Detection of Influenza A Virus H1N1 in Saliva
Authors: Kim Yonghee , Abafogi Abdurhaman Teyib , Tran Buu Minh , Kim Jaewon , Lee Jinyeop , Chen Zhenzhong , Bae Pan Kee , Park Kyoungsook , Shin Yong-Beom , van Noort Danny , Lee Nae Yoon , Park Sungsu
Published: February 2020

Influenza A viruses are often present in environmental and clinical samples at concentrations below the limit of detection (LOD) of molecular diagnostics. Here we report an integrated microfluidic preconcentration and nucleic amplification system (μFPNAS) which enables both preconcentration of influenza A virus H1N1 (H1N1) and amplification of its viral RNA, thereby lowering LOD for H1N1. H1N1 virus particles were first magnetically preconcentrated using magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with an antibody specific for the virus. Their isolated RNA was amplified to cDNA through thermocycling in a trapezoidal chamber of the μFPNAS. A detection limit as low as 100 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) in saliva can be obtained within 2 hours. These results suggest that the LOD of molecular diagnostics for virus can be lowered by systematically combining immunomagnetic separation and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in one microfluidic device.
Antireflective Transparent Conductive Oxide Film Based on a Tapered Porous Nanostructure
Authors: Choi Kiwoon , Jung Jaehoon , Kim Jongyoung , Lee Joonho , Lee Han Sup , Kang Il-Suk
Published: February 2020

A new architecture for antireflection (AR) has been developed to break the trade-off between the optical transmittance and the electrical conduction impeding the performance of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films. The tapered porous nanostructure with a complex continuous refractive index effectively eliminates reflections from the interfaces between air and the TCO and TCO and the substrate. Compared to the conventional TCO film, the AR TCO film exhibited the same electrical conduction, with an average transmittance of 88.7% in the 400–800 nm range, a 10.3% increase. The new AR TCO film is expected to improve the performance of various optoelectronic devices.
In Vitro Zika Virus Infection of Human Neural Progenitor Cells: Meta-Analysis of RNA-Seq Assays
Authors: Gratton Rossella , Tricarico Paola Maura , Agrelli Almerinda , Colaço da Silva Heverton Valentim , Coêlho Bernardo Lucas , Crovella Sergio , Campos Coelho Antonio Victor , Rodrigues de Moura Ronald , Cavalcanti Brandão Lucas André
Published: February 2020

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emergent arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) responsible for congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and a range of other congenital malformations. Evidence shows that ZIKV infects human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) in the fetal brain, prompting inflammation and tissue damage/loss. Despite recent advances, little is known about the pathways involved in CZS pathogenesis. We performed a meta-analysis, gene ontology (GO), and pathway analysis of whole transcriptome studies with the aim of clarifying the genes and pathways potentially altered during hNPCs infection with ZIKV. We selected three studies (17 samples of infected hPNCs compared to hPNCs uninfected controls) through a systematic search of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The raw reads were trimmed, counted, and normalized. Next, we performed a rank product meta-analysis to detect consistently differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in these independent experiments. We detected 13 statistically significant DEGs. GO ontology and reactome analysis showed an enrichment of interferon, pro-inflammatory, and chemokines signaling and apoptosis pathways in ZIKV-infected cells. Moreover, we detected three possible new candidate genes involved in hNPCs infection: APOL6, XAF1, and TNFRSF1. Our results confirm that interferon (IFN) signaling dominates the ZIKV response, and that a crucial contribution is given by apoptotic pathways, which might elicit the CZS phenotype.
Determination of Metal Concentration in Road-Side Trees from an Industrial Area Using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kim Jee Young , Park Jaeseon , Choi Jongwoo , Kim Jinwook
Published: February 2020

Historical pollution can be elucidated with variations of elements’ concentration in tree rings by using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). However, the capacity of chemical elements’ absorption significantly depends on the tree species and element types. Metal concentrations in the rings for five species (Platanus occidentalis, Salix koreensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Pinus densiflora, Ginkgo biloba) were investigated in light of metal pollution history in ambient air of D industrial site located in Daejeon, Korea. The calibration for LA-ICP-MS was performed using cellulose-matrix matched standards with 13C normalization. Tree ring series except for Ginkgo sp. showed that the accumulation rates of Pb and Cd were higher between 1992 and 1999. Other elements, such as Fe, Cr, Mn, Cd, Zn, and Sr, showed a variation in the rings, likely due to the different physiological processes of element uptake and radial mobility. Concentrations of Pb and Cd in the annual rings of Pinus sp. corresponded to the metal monitoring data for the ambient air with the correlation coefficients of 0.879 and 0.579, respectively. Moreover, Cd in Platanus sp. and Pb in Salix sp. showed a positive correlation to ambient metal concentration compared to Chamaecyparis sp. and Ginkgo sp. Therefore, caution should be taken to select candidate elements as well as tree species to reconstruct the ambient air metal pollution history by measuring the concentration of metal in the tree ring.
Atendimento à população masculina na Atenção Primária de Maracanaú-CE: estudo documental
Authors: Magalhães Monalisa Chaves , Souza Elza Maria da Conceição , Bezerra Sara Taciana Firmino , Cabral Riksberg Leite , Miranda Karla Corrêa Lima , Coelho Manuela de Mendonça Figueirêdo
Published: February 2020

Com o objetivo de analisar os atendimentos de enfermagem destinados aos homens na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), confrontando-os com as diretrizes propostas na Política Nacional de Atenção Integral a Saúde do Homem. Estudo descritivo exploratório, do tipo análise documental, de caráter retrospectivo, realizado em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde da Família em Maracanaú-CE. Os dados foram colhidos das fichas de produção ambulatorial diária dos enfermeiros referente ao período de janeiro a dezembro de 2011, que observou-se que não existe nenhum dia específico para o atendimento à população masculina, bem como a predominância de procura pelo atendimento prevalece na perspectiva curativa. Os atendimentos de enfermagem aos homens ainda distancia-se do preconizado pelo Política Nacional de Atenção Integral a Saúde do Homem (PNAISH). Repensar questões que permeiam a saúde do homem pode ser propulsor de mudanças necessárias ao desencadeamento de outras ações junto aos homens, estimulando nestes o pertencimento ao espaço de promoção, proteção e recuperação de saúde, efetivando, assim, o proposto pelo PNAISH.
Educação interprofissional no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde: relato de experiência
Authors: Salomão Ana Flávia de Seixas , Cunha Ana Caroline Muzi , Silva Jefferson Cláudio Nascimento , Correia Hianka Patrícia Cardoso , Yogui Jomara Oliveira dos Santos , Camargos Carmelita do Carmo Ribeiro Leite , Vieira Renata Alvarenga , Piccinini Clarissa Rocha Panconi , Paiva Sabrina Pereira
Published: February 2020

Introdução: A formação em saúde envolve hoje a construção e fomento de um labor colaborativo entre as profissões. O presente relato objetiva descrever e analisar as ações do projeto de extensão “Há diversidade na Unidade”, desenvolvidas durante o ano de 2016. Tal projeto teve como finalidade: propiciar o desenvolvimento de competências para o trabalho interprofissional em estudantes dos períodos iniciais dos cursos de Enfermagem, Fisioterapia, Medicina e Serviço Social; inserir os estudantes em contextos reais de aprendizagem, por meio de ações em uma Unidade de Atenção Primária à Saúde de Juiz de Fora/MG; promover a integração ensino-serviço através de ações em saúde pensadas na perspectiva interprofissional, centradas nos usuários. Desenvolvimento: Para atingir esses objetivos, a metodologia do grupo foi desenvolver semanalmente atividades de reconhecimento da dinâmica do território e da equipe de profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Além disso, iniciar um grupo de educação em saúde, voltado para crianças, com ações planejadas de forma interprofissional. A experiência no território permitiu: ampliar a vivência dos discentes na Atenção Primária à Saúde, possibilitando a observação e reflexão sobre o trabalho em equipe nesse cenário; sensibilizar os acadêmicos para as necessidades em saúde da população; dialogar com essas necessidades a partir do método da educação em saúde, desenvolvendo habilidades para o trabalho interprofissional. Conclusão: percebe-se que os projetos de extensão podem ser uma ferramenta importante na construção da formação interprofissional em saúde, inserindo precocemente os estudantes no contexto do Sistema Único de Saúde.
Amorosidade como princípio das práticas de saúde orientadas pela Educação Popular: um estudo bibliográfico
Authors: Cruz Pedro , Carvalho Lucas Emmanuel , Araújo Renan Soares
Published: February 2020

A amorosidade tem se expressado historicamente como um dos princípios constituintes das práticas de saúde orientadas pela perspectiva teórico-metodológica da Educação Popular (EP), figurando inclusive como um dos princípios da Política Nacional de Educação Popular em Saúde no Sistema Único de Saúde (PNEP-SUS). No entanto, existem ainda poucas sistematizações de experiências e aprofundamentos teóricos sobre esse princípio, seus caminhos, obstáculos e expressão na prática. Nesse contexto, o presente artigo se dedicou à explicitação de elementos constituintes da amorosidade. Para tanto, procedeu-se com um estudo bibliográfico com levantamento qualitativo da ocorrência das expressões amor e amorosidade em produções organizadas por coletivos nacionais de EP em Saúde e pelo Ministério da Saúde. Os resultados identificaram uma crescente utilização da amorosidade nessas publicações, particularmente no período após a aprovação da PNEP-SUS. A amorosidade fundamenta (do ponto de vista ético), delineia (do ponto de vista estético) e refina (do ponto de vista metodológico) a constituição de um agir crítico, compromissado e humanizador no trabalho em saúde, o qual é inspirado e mobilizado pelo amor. É capaz de contribuir para a superação de limites do fazer profissional, particularmente aqueles impostos pelo olhar tecnicista. Nas práticas à luz da amorosidade, desenvolve-se um espaço que tanto é terapêutico como de promoção de bem estar, por meio de abordagens caracterizadas pelo encontro intersubjetivo, pelo diálogo entre sujeitos, pela presença acolhedora, pela escuta autentica e por um processo de cuidado centrado no humano e suas complexidades. Chama-se atenção para a necessidade de novos estudos e para um aprofundamentos a respeito desse princípio nas práticas de saúde, dada sua relevância qualitativa no processo de compreensão e de construção de estratégias de promoção da saúde e de cuidado integral.
Reflexões sobre a implantação de novas estratégias de educação popular em uma ESF de um município do leste de Minas Gerais
Authors: Lima Marina Corrêa , Andrade Kléber Proietti , Nunes Lélia Cápua , Alves Waneska Alexandra , De Menezes Maria Socorro , Pinto Thiago Lorentz
Published: February 2020

Considerando a persistente iniquidade nas práticas preventivas, surge a Educação Popular em Saúde (EPS), construída a partir de metodologias pedagógicas dialógicas, democráticas e inclusivas, dentre as quais se destaca a de Paulo Freire. Este trabalho relata a experiência de discentes do curso de Medicina em uma intervenção do PET-Saúde/GraduaSUS numa Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF), que teve dois focos: um voltado aos profissionais da ESF, introduzindo-os à metodologia de Freire, e outro direcionado aos usuários da ESF, orientando-os por meio de grupos de autocuidado acerca de temas em saúde. Todas as ações foram realizadas nos moldes dos Círculos de Cultura. Houve boa aceitação por parte de profissionais e comunidade. As potencialidades da intervenção incluíram, principalmente, a imersão da ESF e da comunidade num novo modelo de EPS e o aprendizado teórico-prático dos discentes de medicina sobre ações de educação em saúde. Para a ESF, essas atividades propiciaram maior proximidade entre a equipe e a comunidade, além de melhor interação entre os profissionais e, para os usuários, a experiência de participação em grupos de autocuidado. Aos acadêmicos, a possibilidade de vivenciar a integração ensino-serviço-comunidade permitiu uma nova visão sobre a participação do médico na atenção básica.
Conhecendo o Sistema Único de Saúde: um olhar da população
Authors: Hamada Rafael Kenji Fonseca , Almeida Vânia Olívia Coelho de , Brasil Isabelle Caroline Fróis , Souza Sabrina Gesteira , Luzia Roane Adriane Barcelos , Campos Estela Márcia Saraiva , Leite Isabel Cristina Gonçalves
Published: February 2020

O Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) amplia o conceito de saúde e orienta a organização do Sistema em princípios doutrinários e operacionais. O desconhecimento da população sobre o acesso democrático e o funcionamento do SUS pode dificultar a resolução dos problemas de saúde. Dessa forma, foi avaliado o nível de conhecimento da população residente em Juiz de Fora – MG sobre o sistema, através de um estudo transversal realizado na Região Sanitária 9 (RS9), que possui três Unidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde (UAPS). Foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado, que buscou identificar o conhecimento sobre os aspectos e o funcionamento do SUS a uma amostra de 457 indivíduos, com representação das populações vinculadas às três UAPS, durante agosto de 2014 a julho de 2015. Dentre os resultados, evidenciou-se que 70% dos entrevistados nunca receberam informação relacionada ao funcionamento do SUS, além de existir uma relação inversa entre renda e grau de informação sobre o sistema. Algumas variáveis apresentaram associação estatística significante, como o desconhecimento do caráter público e universal do SUS e o fato de a UAPS e o pronto-socorro ou emergência terem sido as unidades de saúde mais apontadas como primeira escolha quando precisam de atendimento de saúde. Logo, conclui-se que existe uma falha na disseminação do conhecimento acerca dos serviços oferecidos.
Religiosidade madura e personalidade: uma revisão do conceito de religiosidade intrínseca em Allport
Authors: Taussig Soares Roger , Oliveira Alminhana Letícia
Published: February 2020

A escala de orientação religiosa, desenvolvida por Allport, explorou originalmente a ideia de que a religiosidade intrínseca poderia estar inversamente relacionada com comportamentos de preconceito e que a religiosidade extrínseca estaria diretamente relacionada com discriminação racial. Religiosidade intrínseca seria uma expressão de uma personalidade madura, menos propensa a atitudes discriminatórias. Nessa revisão investigamos a origem teórica da escala I/E no livro The individual and his religion, publicado por Allport. Identificamos que a Escala I/E não foi capaz de operacionalizar os conceitos originais do autor, o que resultou em afastamento da ideia de correlação entre desenvolvimento da personalidade e religiosidade. Os autores recuperam a noção de religiosidade como função autônoma integradora do comportamento desenvolvida na dependência do amadurecimento pessoal. Propõem o estudo metódico da interface personalidade-religiosidade com base no conceito de Allport como meio para investigar de que forma a orientação religiosa se relaciona com indicadores de maturidade e saúde mental.
Intervenção de saúde positiva em graduação de medicina
Authors: Machado Leonardo , Santana Camila
Published: February 2020

Introdução: A prevalência de transtornos mentais em estudantes de medicina é globalmente alta e esse grupo tende a ter estratégias de enfrentamento mais perigosas. Revisões sistemáticas trouxeram suporte científico para a realização de intervenções que visam melhorar o bem-estar e a saúde mental dos estudantes de medicina. O presente artigo traz a análise dos relatos fornecidos pelos estudantes de medicina da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco que participaram de um treinamento emocional baseado na psicologia positiva, uma área da psicologia fundada na década de noventa que visa estudar o bem-estar e as potencialidades humanas, afim de ampliar a avaliação da intervenção. Relato da experiência: Inicialmente, os alunos se apresentaram surpresos em relação à abordagem nova. A surpresa se deveu à dinâmica em si, mas também ao fato de desconhecerem a psiquiatria positiva e a psicologia positiva, abordagens que visam o estudo e a promoção da saúde mental positiva por meio de fatores vinculados ao bem-estar. Antes da intervenção, cerca de 32,3% dos estudantes tinham escore de risco para transtornos mentais comuns, conforme aferição realizada pela escala Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). E, apesar da estranheza inicial, tanto os que estavam com alguma condição psiquiátrica, quanto os que não estavam, sentiram benefício direto da intervenção que focou na saúde mental positiva. Conclusão: A análise dos relatos dos estudantes de medicina da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco que receberam uma intervenção focada em estimular aspectos da saúde mental positiva por meio da psicologia positiva complementa o entendimento dos resultados quantitativos encontrados em publicação prévia. Tanto os alunos que estavam com alguma condição psiquiátrica no momento da intervenção, quanto os que não estavam, sentiram benefício direto da intervenção que focou na saúde mental positiva. Houve também percepção de que a intervenção influenciou positivamente a formação médica deles e não somente a saúde mental.