bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in dual water systems
Authors: Rogers Peter D. , Grigg Neil S.
Published: June 2015

Concerns about aging infrastructure, pressure on water supplies, and increasingly stringent wastewater discharge regulations have led water providers to consider new and innovative approaches. One such approach involves the distribution of reclaimed water through a dual distribution system in which the piping is separated into two separate and independent networks. One network is used exclusively for potable water, the other for non-potable water. This paper summarizes the results of a recently completed study sponsored by the Water Research Foundation in which a retrospective assessment of the performance of existing dual water systems was performed. Criteria for the performance assessment were established through an extensive literature review, the development of 37 case studies, site visits, feedback from workshop participants, and the creation of a classification framework that enables comparisons among similar dual systems. The study concluded that the primary motivators in using dual systems are to extend water supplies and provide more options for wastewater management. While dual systems can provide benefits such as extending the lives of existing potable water systems and deducing risk from drought, there are many issues such as storage for non-potable supplies, rate-setting, and true costs accounting that remain to be resolved.
Energy evaluation and treatment efficiency of vacuum membrane distillation for brackish water desalination
Authors: Ramezanianpour Mohammad , Sivakumar Muttucumaru
Published: June 2015

Strict environmental regulations have led to the rapid development of membrane separation technologies for the production of potable water, for industrial water supply, and for the reuse and discharge of treated wastewater. Promotion of water recycling and the provision of potable water from brackish water prevent significant negative effects on the environment and drinking water supplies. This study is intended to describe and compare a sustainable technology for brackish water treatment. Among the four configurations of the membrane distillation process, vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) produces higher flux and results in a low fouling rate. It comprises evaporation and condensation that mimics what occurs in nature. Mathematical models proposed for the VMD transport mechanisms are incorporated to predict the actual experimental flux. The response of the flux rate to various process operating parameters is demonstrated. Variation of effective parameters is investigated in terms of energy consumption. The data indicate that the permeate flux is highly responsive to the variation of pressure and temperature. VMD enables the removal of 99.9% of total dissolved solids from natural and contaminated water sources. The findings are that the quality of the permeate water from all sources was at acceptable standards for potable use.
Anaerobic membrane bioreactor for high-strength wastewater treatment: batch and continuous operation comparison
Authors: Hufnagel D. , Chang S. , Hong Y. , Wu P. , Zytner R. G.
Published: June 2015

The anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) is a recent development in high-rate anaerobic bioreactors. This study assessed the treatment of high-strength wastewater by an AnMBR using batch and continuous feeding operation. The results showed that the AnMBR could establish a biomass concentration of 6–8 g/L in approximately 20 days due to retention of micro-organisms by the membrane, resulting in 86% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency in the treatment of high-strength brewery wastewater. Batch operation was proven to be effective for an organic loading rate (OLR) up to 2 gCOD/L/day and was beneficial to the membrane filtration. However, the treatment capacity of the AnMBR with batch feeding was limited by the high instantaneous OLR during the feeding period. Compared to batch operation, continuous feeding can achieve improved stability and better effluent quality, but prolonged continuous permeation may make the membrane more susceptible to fouling. Although a critical flux of 22 L/m2/h was determined for the membrane filtration in the AnMBR tested, a decrease in the membrane permeability was still observed in the long-term filtration at a flux of approximately 10 L/m2/h.
Results From a European Multicenter Randomized Trial of Physical Activity and/or Healthy Eating to Reduce the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: The DALI Lifestyle Pilot
Authors: Simmons David , Jelsma Judith G.M. , Galjaard Sander , Devlieger Roland , van Assche Andre , Jans Goele , Corcoy Rosa , Adelantado Juan M. , Dunne Fidelma , Desoye Gernot , Harreiter Jürgen , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Damm Peter , Mathiesen Elisabeth R. , Jensen Dorte M. , Andersen Lise Lotte , Lapolla Annunziata , Dalfra Maria , Bertolotto Alessandra , Wender-Ozegowska Ewa , Zawiejska Agnieszka , Hill David , Rebollo Pablo , Snoek Frank J. , van Poppel Mireille N.M.
Published: June 2015

OBJECTIVE

Ways to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain unproven. We compared the impact of three lifestyle interventions (healthy eating [HE], physical activity [PA], and both HE and PA [HE+PA]) on GDM risk in a pilot multicenter randomized trial.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Pregnant women at risk for GDM (BMI ≥29 kg/m2) from nine European countries were invited to undertake a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test before 20 weeks' gestation. Those without GDM were randomized to HE, PA, or HE+PA. Women received five face-to-face and four optional telephone coaching sessions, based on the principles of motivational interviewing. A gestational weight gain (GWG) <5 kg was targeted. Coaches received standardized training and an intervention toolkit. Primary outcome measures were GWG, fasting glucose, and insulin sensitivity (HOMA) at 35–37 weeks.

RESULTS

Among the 150 trial participants, 32% developed GDM by 35–37 weeks and 20% achieved GWG <5 kg. HE women had less GWG (−2.6 kg [95% CI −4.9, −0.2]; P = 0.03) and lower fasting glucose (−0.3 mmol/L [−0.4, −0.1]; P = 0.01) than those in the PA group at 24–28 weeks. HOMA was comparable. No significant differences between HE+PA and the other groups were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

An antenatal HE intervention is associated with less GWG and lower fasting glucose compared with PA alone. These findings require a larger trial for confirmation but support the use of early HE interventions in obese pregnant women.
Five-year institutional bibliometric profiles for 103 US neurosurgical residency programs
Authors: Taylor Douglas R. , Venable Garrett T. , Jones G. Morgan , Lepard Jacob R. , Roberts Mallory L. , Saleh Nabil , Sidiqi Said K. , Moore Andrew , Khan Nickalus , Selden Nathan R. , Michael L. Madison , Klimo Paul
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

Various bibliometric indices based on the citations accumulated by scholarly articles, including the h-index, g-index, e-index, and Google’s i10-index, may be used to evaluate academic productivity in neurological surgery. The present article provides a comprehensive assessment of recent academic publishing output from 103 US neurosurgical residency programs and investigates intradepartmental publishing equality among faculty members.

METHODS

Each institution was considered a single entity, with the 5-year academic yield of every neurosurgical faculty member compiled to compute the following indices: ih(5), cumulative h, ig(5), ie(5), and i10(5) (based on publications and citations from 2009 through 2013). Intradepartmental comparison of productivity among faculty members yielded Gini coefficients for publications and citations. National and regional comparisons, institutional rankings, and intradepartmental publishing equality measures are presented.

RESULTS

The median numbers of departmental faculty, total publications and citations, ih(5), summed h, ig(5), ie(5), i10(5), and Gini coefficients for publications and citations were 13, 82, 716, 12, 144, 23, 16, 17, 0.57, and 0.71, respectively. The top 5 most academically productive neurosurgical programs based on ih(5)-index were University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Pittsburgh, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Johns Hopkins University. The Western US region was most academically productive and displayed greater intradepartmental publishing equality (median ih[5]-index = 18, median Ginipub = 0.56). In all regions, large departments with relative intradepartmental publishing equality tend to be the most academically productive. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified the ih(5)-index as the only independent predictor of intradepartmental publishing equality (Ginipub ≤ 0.5 [OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.20–1.40, p = 0.03]).

CONCLUSIONS

The ih(5)-index is a novel, simple, and intuitive metric capable of accurately comparing the recent scholarly efforts of neurosurgical programs and accurately predicting intradepartmental publication equality. The ih(5)-index is relatively insensitive to factors such as isolated highly productive and/or no longer academically active senior faculty, which tend to distort other bibliometric indices and mask the accurate identification of currently productive academic environments. Institutional ranking by ih(5)-index may provide information of use to faculty and trainee applicants, research funding institutions, program leaders, and other stakeholders.
Kinetic evaluation of low-grade gliomas in adults before and after treatment with CCNU alone
Authors: Kaloshi Gentian , Roci Ermir , Rroji Arben , Ducray Francois , Petrela Mentor
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of CCNU chemotherapy alone on low-grade glioma (LGG) growth dynamics.

METHODS

The authors measured the evolution of the mean tumor diameter (MTD) in adult patients with LGG before (n = 28 patients) and after (n = 38 patients) CCNU administration.

RESULTS

Natural (spontaneous) growth of LGG in the present study was 4.3 mm/year (range 2.1–6.6 mm/year). The median MTD decrease after CCNU was 5.1 mm/year (range 1–8.9 mm/year). MTD decrease was noted in 30 patients (late decrease in 4 patients, and ongoing decrease in 24 patients with oligodendroglial tumors and 2 with astrocytic tumors). The median duration it took for the MTD to decrease after initiation of CCNU treatment was 619 days (1038 days for oligodendroglial tumors vs 377 days for astrocytic tumors; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that CCNU as a single agent has a significant impact on LGG tumor growth. The impact of CCNU seems to be comparable to the previously reported impact of temozolomide therapy and of combined procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine chemotherapy.
Hemorrhagic intramedullary solitary fibrous tumor of the conus medullaris: case report
Authors: Walker Corey T. , Amene Chiazo S. , Pannell Jeffrey S. , Santiago-Dieppa David R. , Rennert Robert C. , Hansen Lawrence A. , Khalessi Alexander A.
Published: June 2015

The differential diagnosis of spinal tumors is guided by anatomical location and imaging characteristics. Diagnosis of rare tumors is made challenging by abnormal features. The authors present the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with progressive subacute right lower-extremity weakness and numbness of the right thigh. Physical examination further revealed an extensor response to plantar reflex on the right and hyporeflexia of the right Achilles and patellar reflexes. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated an 8-mm intramedullary exophytic nodule protruding into a hematoma within the conus medullaris. Spinal angiography was performed to rule out an arteriovenous malformation, and resection with hematoma evacuation was completed. Pathological examination of the resected mass demonstrated a spindle cell neoplasm with dense bundles of collagen. Special immunostaining was performed and a diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) was made. SFTs are mesenchymally derived pleural neoplasms, which rarely present at other locations of the body, but have been increasingly described to occur as primary neoplasms of the spine and CNS. The authors believe that this case is unique in its rare location at the level of the conus, and also that this is the first report of a hemorrhagic SFT in the spine. Therefore, with this report the authors add to the literature the fact that this variant of an increasingly understood but heterogeneous tumor can occur, and therefore should be considered in the differential of clinically similar tumors.
Minimally invasive resection of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach: review of 13 cases
Authors: Sukkarieh Hamdi G. , Hitchon Patrick W. , Awe Olatilewa , Noeller Jennifer
Published: June 2015

OBJECT

The authors sought to determine patient-related outcomes after minimally invasive surgical (MIS) lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst excision via a tubular working channel and a contralateral facet-sparing approach.

METHODS

All the patients with a symptomatic lumbar intraspinal synovial cyst who underwent surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with an MIS excision via a contralateral approach were treated between July 2010 and August 2014. There was a total of 13 cases. Each patient was evaluated with preoperative neurological examinations, lumbar spine radiography, MRI, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores. The patients were evaluated postoperatively with neurological examinations and VAS and Macnab scores. The primary outcomes were improvement in VAS and Macnab scores. Secondary outcomes were average blood loss, hospital stay duration, and operative times.

RESULTS

There were 5 males and 8 females. The mean age was 66 years, and the mean body mass index was 28.5 kg/m2. Sixty-nine percent (9 of 13) of the cysts were at L4–5. Most patients had low-back pain and radicular pain, and one-third of them had Grade 1 spondylolisthesis. The mean (± SD) follow-up duration was 20.8 ± 16.9 months. The mean Macnab score was 3.4 ± 1.0, and the VAS score decreased from 7.8 preoperatively to 2.9 postoperatively. The mean operative time was 123 ± 30 minutes, with a mean estimated blood loss of 44 ± 29 ml. Hospital stay averaged 1.5 ± 0.7 days. There were no complications noted in this series.

CONCLUSIONS

The MIS excision of lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts via a contralateral approach offers excellent exposure to the cyst and spares the facet joint at the involved level, thus minimizing risk of instability, blood loss, operative time, and hospital stay. Prospective randomized trials with longer follow-up times and larger cohorts are needed to conclusively determine the superiority of the contralateral MIS approach over others, including open or ipsilateral minimally invasive surgery.
Improving CLOPE’s Profit Value and Stability with an Optimized Agglomerative Approach
Authors: Li Yefeng , Le Jiajin , Wang Mei
Published: June 2015

CLOPE (Clustering with sLOPE) is a simple and fast histogram-based clustering algorithm for categorical data. However, given the same data set with the same input parameter, the clustering results by this algorithm would possibly be different if the transactions are input in a different sequence. In this paper, a hierarchical clustering framework is proposed as an extension of CLOPE to generate stable and satisfactory clustering results based on an optimized agglomerative merge process. The new clustering profit is defined as the merge criteria and the cluster graph structure is proposed to optimize the merge iteration process. The experiments conducted on two datasets both demonstrate that the agglomerative approach achieves stable clustering results with a better profit value, but costs much more time due to the worse complexity.
Bacterial Sigma Factors and Anti-Sigma Factors: Structure, Function and Distribution
Authors: Paget Mark
Published: June 2015

Sigma factors are multi-domain subunits of bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) that play critical roles in transcription initiation, including the recognition and opening of promoters as well as the initial steps in RNA synthesis. This review focuses on the structure and function of the major sigma-70 class that includes the housekeeping sigma factor (Group 1) that directs the bulk of transcription during active growth, and structurally-related alternative sigma factors (Groups 2–4) that control a wide variety of adaptive responses such as morphological development and the management of stress. A recurring theme in sigma factor control is their sequestration by anti-sigma factors that occlude their RNAP-binding determinants. Sigma factors are then released through a wide variety of mechanisms, often involving branched signal transduction pathways that allow the integration of distinct signals. Three major strategies for sigma release are discussed: regulated proteolysis, partner-switching, and direct sensing by the anti-sigma factor.
NF-kappaB Signaling in Chronic Inflammatory Airway Disease
Authors: Schuliga Michael
Published: June 2015

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are obstructive airway disorders which differ in their underlying causes and phenotypes but overlap in patterns of pharmacological treatments. In both asthma and COPD, oxidative stress contributes to airway inflammation by inducing inflammatory gene expression. The redox-sensitive transcription factor, nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB (NF-κB), is an important participant in a broad spectrum of inflammatory networks that regulate cytokine activity in airway pathology. The anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids (GCs), a mainstay treatment for asthma, involve inhibition of NF-κB induced gene transcription. Ligand bound GC receptors (GRs) bind NF-κB to suppress the transcription of NF-κB responsive genes (i.e., transrepression). However, in severe asthma and COPD, the transrepression of NF-κB by GCs is negated as a consequence of post-translational changes to GR and histones involved in chromatin remodeling. Therapeutics which target NF-κB activation, including inhibitors of IκB kinases (IKKs) are potential treatments for asthma and COPD. Furthermore, reversing GR/histone acetylation shows promise as a strategy to treat steroid refractory airway disease by augmenting NF-κB transrepression. This review examines NF-κB signaling in airway inflammation and its potential as target for treatment of asthma and COPD.
Use of Time-Resolved Fluorescence to Monitor Bioactive Compounds in Plant Based Foodstuffs
Authors: Lemos M. , Sárniková Katarína , Bot Francesca , Anese Monica , Hungerford Graham
Published: June 2015

The study of compounds that exhibit antioxidant activity has recently received much interest in the food industry because of their potential health benefits. Most of these compounds are plant based, such as polyphenolics and carotenoids, and there is a need to monitor them from the field through processing and into the body. Ideally, a monitoring technique should be non-invasive with the potential for remote capabilities. The application of the phenomenon of fluorescence has proved to be well suited, as many plant associated compounds exhibit fluorescence. The photophysical behaviour of fluorescent molecules is also highly dependent on their microenvironment, making them suitable probes to monitor changes in pH, viscosity and polarity, for example. Time-resolved fluorescence techniques have recently come to the fore, as they offer the ability to obtain more information, coupled with the fact that the fluorescence lifetime is an absolute measure, while steady state just provides relative and average information. In this work, we will present illustrative time-resolved measurements, rather than a comprehensive review, to show the potential of time-resolved fluorescence applied to the study of bioactive substances. The aim is to help assess if any changes occur in their form, going from extraction via storage and cooking to the interaction with serum albumin, a principal blood transport protein.
Uremic Toxins Induce ET-1 Release by Human Proximal Tubule Cells, which Regulates Organic Cation Uptake Time-Dependently
Authors: Schophuizen Carolien , Hoenderop Joost , Masereeuw Rosalinde , Heuvel Lambert
Published: June 2015

In renal failure, the systemic accumulation of uremic waste products is strongly associated with the development of a chronic inflammatory state. Here, the effect of cationic uremic toxins on the release of inflammatory cytokines and endothelin-1 (ET-1) was investigated in conditionally immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cells (ciPTEC). Additionally, we examined the effects of ET-1 on the cellular uptake mediated by organic cation transporters (OCTs). Exposure of ciPTEC to cationic uremic toxins initiated production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (117 ± 3%, p < 0.001), IL-8 (122 ± 3%, p < 0.001), and ET-1 (134 ± 5%, p < 0.001). This was accompanied by a down-regulation of OCT mediated 4-(4-(dimethylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium-iodide (ASP+) uptake in ciPTEC at 30 min (23 ± 4%, p < 0.001), which restored within 60 min of incubation. Exposure to ET-1 for 24 h increased the ASP+ uptake significantly (20 ± 5%, p < 0.001). These effects could be blocked by BQ-788, indicating activation of an ET-B-receptor-mediated signaling pathway. Downstream the receptor, iNOS inhibition by (N(G)‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine) l-NMMA acetate or aminoguanidine, as well as protein kinase C activation, ameliorated the short-term effects. These results indicate that uremia results in the release of cytokines and ET-1 from human proximal tubule cells, in vitro. Furthermore, ET-1 exposure was found to regulate proximal tubular OCT transport activity in a differential, time-dependent, fashion.
In Vivo Phenotyping of Tumor Metabolism in a Canine Cancer Patient with Simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET and Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (hyperPET): Mismatch Demonstrates that FDG may not Always Reflect the Warburg Effect
Authors: Gutte Henrik , Hansen Adam , Larsen Majbrit , Rahbek Sofie , Johannesen Helle , Ardenkjaer-Larsen Jan , Kristensen Annemarie , Højgaard Liselotte , Kjaer Andreas
Published: June 2015

In this communication the mismatch between simultaneous 18F-FDG-PET and a 13C-lactate imaging (hyperPET) in a biopsy verified squamous cell carcinoma in the right tonsil of a canine cancer patient is shown. The results demonstrate that 18F-FDG-PET may not always reflect the Warburg effect in all tumors.
Reliability Analysis Based on a Jump Diffusion Model with Two Wiener Processes for Cloud Computing with Big Data
Authors: Tamura Yoshinobu , Yamada Shigeru
Published: June 2015

At present, many cloud services are managed by using open source software, such as OpenStack and Eucalyptus, because of the unification management of data, cost reduction, quick delivery and work savings. The operation phase of cloud computing has a unique feature, such as the provisioning processes, the network-based operation and the diversity of data, because the operation phase of cloud computing changes depending on many external factors. We propose a jump diffusion model with two-dimensional Wiener processes in order to consider the interesting aspects of the network traffic and big data on cloud computing. In particular, we assess the stability of cloud software by using the sample paths obtained from the jump diffusion model with two-dimensional Wiener processes. Moreover, we discuss the optimal maintenance problem based on the proposed jump diffusion model. Furthermore, we analyze actual data to show numerical examples of dependability optimization based on the software maintenance cost considering big data on cloud computing.
Noiseless Linear Amplifiers in Entanglement-Based Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution
Authors: Zhang Yichen , Li Zhengyu , Weedbrook Christian , Marshall Kevin , Pirandola Stefano , Yu Song , Guo Hong
Published: June 2015

We propose a method to improve the performance of two entanglement-based continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocols using noiseless linear amplifiers. The two entanglement-based schemes consist of an entanglement distribution protocol with an untrusted source and an entanglement swapping protocol with an untrusted relay. Simulation results show that the noiseless linear amplifiers can improve the performance of these two protocols, in terms of maximal transmission distances, when we consider small amounts of entanglement, as typical in realistic setups.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Turbulence Transport in a Wind Farm
Authors: Jha Pankaj , Duque Earl , Bashioum Jessica , Schmitz Sven
Published: June 2015

A true physical understanding of the mysteries involved in the recovery process of the wake momentum deficit, downstream of utility-scale wind turbines in the atmosphere, has not been obtained to date. Field data are not acquired at sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions to dissect some of the mysteries of wake turbulence. It is here that the actuator line method has evolved to become the technology standard in the wind energy community. This work presents the actuator line method embedded into an Open source Field Operation and Manipulation (OpenFOAM) large-eddy simulation solver and applies it to two small wind farms, the first one consisting of an array of two National Renewable Energy Laboratory 5 Megawatt (NREL 5-MW) turbines separated by seven rotor diameters in neutral and unstable atmospheric boundary-layer flow and the second one consisting of five NREL 5-MW wind turbines in unstable atmospheric conditions arranged in two staggered arrays of two and three turbines, respectively. Detailed statistics involving power spectral density (PSD) of turbine power along with standard deviations reveal the effects of atmospheric turbulence and its space and time scales. High-resolution surface data extracts provide new insight into the complex recovery process of the wake momentum deficit governed by turbulence transport phenomena.
Accessible Transportation, Geographic Elevation, and Masticatory Ability Among Elderly Residents of a Rural Area
Authors: Hamano Tsuyoshi , Tominaga Kazumichi , Takeda Miwako , Sundquist Kristina , Nabika Toru
Published: June 2015

Given that public transportation networks are often worse in rural areas than in urban areas, rural residents who do not drive can find it difficult to access health-promoting goods, services, and resources related to masticatory ability. Moreover, geographical location, assessed by elevation, could modify this association. The aim of this study was to test whether the association between access to transportation and masticatory ability varied by elevation. Data were collected from a cross-sectional study conducted in Mizuho and Iwami counties, Japan. Objective masticatory ability was evaluated using a test gummy jelly and elevation was estimated by the geographic information systems according to the participant’s address. After excluding subjects with missing data, 672 subjects (Mizuho = 401 and Iwami = 271) were analyzed. After adjustment for potential confounders, being a driver was not significantly associated with masticatory ability among elderly people living at low elevation (≤313 m) in Mizuho county. However, after the same adjustment, being a driver remained significantly associated with increased masticatory ability among elderly at high elevations. Similar findings were observed in Iwami county. Accessible transportation was significantly associated with increased mastication ability in elderly people living at high elevations, but not in those living at low elevations.
Accessibility of Catering Service Venues and Adolescent Drinking in Beijing, China
Authors: Lu Shijun , Du Songming , Ren Zhoupeng , Zhao Jing , Chambers Christina , Wang Jinfeng , Ma Guansheng
Published: June 2015

This study assessed the association between accessibility of catering service venues and adolescents’ alcohol use over the previous 30 days. The data were collected from cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2014, 2223 students at 27 high schools in Chaoyang and Xicheng districts, Beijing using self-administered questionnaires to collect the adolescents information on socio-demographic characteristics and recent alcohol experiences. The accessibility of, and proximity to, catering service venues were summarized by weights, which were calculated by multiplication of the type-weight and the distance-weight. All sampled schools were categorized into three subgroups (low, middle, and high geographic density) based on the tertile of nearby catering service venues, and a multi-level logistic regression analysis was performed to explore variance between the school levels. Considering the setting characteristics, the catering service venues weighted value was found to account for 8.6% of the school level variance of adolescent alcohol use. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of drinking over the past 30-days among adolescents with medium and high accessibility of catering service venues were 1.17 (0.86, 1.57) and 1.47 (1.06, 2.02), respectively (p < 0.001 for trend test). This study addressed a gap in the adolescent drinking influence by the catering service venues around schools in China. Results suggest that the greater accessibility of catering service venues around schools is associated with a growing risk of recent drinking.
The Construction and Validation of the Heat Vulnerability Index, a Review
Authors: Bao Junzhe , Li Xudong , Yu Chuanhua
Published: June 2015

The occurrence of extreme heat and its adverse effects will be exacerbated with the trend of global warming. An increasing number of researchers have been working on aggregating multiple heat-related indicators to create composite indices for heat vulnerability assessments and have visualized the vulnerability through geographic information systems to provide references for reducing the adverse effects of extreme heat more effectively. This review includes 15 studies concerning heat vulnerability assessment. We have studied the indicators utilized and the methods adopted in these studies for the construction of the heat vulnerability index (HVI) and then further reviewed some of the studies that validated the HVI. We concluded that the HVI is useful for targeting the intervention of heat risk, and that heat-related health outcomes could be used to validate and optimize the HVI. In the future, more studies should be conducted to provide references for the selection of heat-related indicators and the determination of weight values of these indicators in the development of the HVI. Studies concerning the application of the HVI are also needed.
Arsenic Accumulation and Translocation in Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum L.) Grown in Arsenic Contaminated Soils
Authors: Wu Gui-Rong , Hong Hua-Long , Yan Chong-Ling
Published: June 2015

Mangrove wetlands serve as both a sink and source for arsenic (As), as mangrove plants are able to uptake and accumulate As. The present study used pot experiments to evaluate As accumulation and translocation in mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum L.) seedlings grown in As contaminated soils. Results indicated that A. corniculatum seedlings grew normally under As stress with minute growth inhibition and biomass reduction at different As treatment concentrations in a range of 0–150 mg·kg−1. As concentrations in roots, stems and leaves were increased with increasing As treatment concentrations, but As accumulated mainly in roots, with accumulation rates of 74.54%–89.26% of the total As accumulation. In particular, relatively high bioconcentration factor (BCF) in root (2.12–1.79), low BCF in stem (0.44–0.14) and leaf (0.06–0.01), and thereby a low translocation factor (TF) in stem/root (0.21–0.08) and leaf/root (0.02–0.008) were observed. These results demonstrated that A. corniculatum is an As excluder with the innate capacity to tolerate As stress and root tissues may be employed as a bio-indicator of As in polluted sediments. Additionally, A. corniculatum is a potential candidate mangrove species for As phytostabilization in tropical and subtropical estuarine wetlands.
Net Interoffice Accounts of Global Banks: The Role of Domestic Funding
Authors: D'Avino Carmela
Published: June 2015

Existing literature has identified domestic restrictive monetary policy and deteriorating funding conditions as the predominant factors explaining the increase in net interoffice accounts of global banks, that is, the net liabilities of parent offices due to their related foreign offices. The purpose of this research is twofold. Firstly, it quantifies the responsiveness of net interoffice accounts to variations in different types of domestic funding. Secondly, the paper assesses whether the relationship between net interoffice accounts and domestic policy-steered rates depends on cross-sectional differences in the funding structure of global banks. Using US banks’ balance sheets data collected by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, the results highlight the importance of domestic repo borrowings in explaining net interoffice accounts, especially for larger banks during the crisis. On the other hand, a negative relationship between policy rates and net interoffice accounts is observed only for those global banks with a relatively higher share of repo borrowings.
Advances in the in Vivo Raman Spectroscopy of Malignant Skin Tumors Using Portable Instrumentation
Authors: Kourkoumelis Nikolaos , Balatsoukas Ioannis , Moulia Violetta , Elka Aspasia , Gaitanis Georgios , Bassukas Ioannis
Published: June 2015

Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a promising tool for real-time clinical diagnosis of malignant skin tumors offering a number of potential advantages: it is non-intrusive, it requires no sample preparation, and it features high chemical specificity with minimal water interference. However, in vivo tissue evaluation and accurate histopathological classification remain a challenging task for the successful transition from laboratory prototypes to clinical devices. In the literature, there are numerous reports on the applications of Raman spectroscopy to biomedical research and cancer diagnostics. Nevertheless, cases where real-time, portable instrumentations have been employed for the in vivo evaluation of skin lesions are scarce, despite their advantages in use as medical devices in the clinical setting. This paper reviews the advances in real-time Raman spectroscopy for the in vivo characterization of common skin lesions. The translational momentum of Raman spectroscopy towards the clinical practice is revealed by (i) assembling the technical specifications of portable systems and (ii) analyzing the spectral characteristics of in vivo measurements.
Integrated Fruit Production and Pest Management in Europe: The Apple Case Study and How Far We Are From the Original Concept?
Authors: Damos Petros , Colomar Lucía-Adriana , Ioriatti Claudio
Published: June 2015

This review focuses on the process of adapting the original concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to the wider conception of the Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) implemented in Europe. Even though most of the pest management strategies still rely on the use of synthetic pesticides, a wide array of innovative and environmentally friendly tools are now available as possible alternative to the pesticides within the modern apple production system. We also highlight how recent pest management strategies and tools have created an opening for research towards IPM improvement, including the use of biorational pesticides, semiochemicals and biological control. Forecasting models, new tree training systems and innovative spray equipment have also been developed to improve treatment coverage, to mitigate pesticide drift and to reduce chemical residues on fruits. The possible threats that jeopardize the effective implementation of IPM and particularly the risks related to the development of the pesticide resistance and the introduction of new invasive pests are also reviewed. With the directive 128/09, the European legislation recognizes IPM as a strategic approach for the sustainable use of pesticides. Within this context, IPM and related guidelines is called to meet different areas of concern in relation to the worker and bystander safety. Beside the traditional economic criteria of the market-oriented agriculture, sustainable agriculture includes the assessment of the environmental impact of the agronomic practices within the societal context where they take place. As a consequence of the raising consumer concerns about environmental impacts generated by the fruit production, IFP certification over product standards, including process aspects, are frequently required by consumers and supermarket chains.
Diabetic Nephropathy and CKD—Analysis of Individual Patient Serum Creatinine Trajectories: A Forgotten Diagnostic Methodology for Diabetic CKD Prognostication and Prediction
Authors: Onuigbo Macaulay , Agbasi Nneoma
Published: June 2015

Creatinine is produced in muscle metabolism as the end-product of creatine phosphate and is subsequently excreted principally by way of the kidneys, predominantly by glomerular filtration. Blood creatinine assays constitute the most common clinically relevant measure of renal function. The use of individual patient-level real-time serum creatinine trajectories provides a very attractive and tantalizing methodology in nephrology practice. Topics covered in this review include acute kidney injury (AKI) with its multifarious rainbow spectrum of renal outcomes; the stimulating vicissitudes of the diverse patterns of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) progression, including the syndrome of rapid onset end stage renal disease (SORO-ESRD); the syndrome of late onset renal failure from angiotensin blockade (LORFFAB); and post-operative AKI linked with the role of intra-operative hypotension in patients with diabetes mellitus and suspected diabetic nephropathy with CKD. We conclude that the study of individual patient-level serum creatinine trajectories, albeit a neglected and forgotten diagnostic methodology for diabetic CKD prognostication and prediction, is a most useful diagnostic tool, both in the short-term and in the long-term practice of nephrology. The analysis of serum creatinine trajectories, both in real time and retrospectively, indeed provides supplementary superior diagnostic and prognostic insights in the management of the nephrology patient.
Comorbidities and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Prospective Study
Authors: Fu Mei , Axelrod Deborah , Guth Amber , Cleland Charles , Ryan Caitlin , Weaver Kristen , Qiu Jeanna , Kleinman Robin , Scagliola Joan , Palamar Joseph , Melkus Gail
Published: June 2015

Many breast cancer survivors have coexistent chronic diseases or comorbidities at the time of their cancer diagnosis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the association of comorbidities on breast cancer survivors’ quality of life. A prospective design was used to recruit 140 women before cancer surgery, 134 women completed the study. Comorbidities were assessed using self-report and verified by medical record review and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) before and 12-month after cancer surgery. Quality of life was evaluated using Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 v2). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, Fisher’s exact test, and correlations were performed for data analysis. A total of 28 comorbidities were identified. Among the 134 patients, 73.8% had at least one of the comorbidities, 54.7% had 2–4, and only 7.4% had 5–8. Comorbidities did not change at 12 months after surgery. Numbers of comorbidities by patients’ self-report and weighted categorization of comorbidities by CCI had a similar negative correlation with overall quality of life scores as well as domains of general health, physical functioning, bodily pain, and vitality. Comorbidities, specifically hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes, were associated with poorer quality of life in multiple domains among breast cancer survivors. Future research should consider the combined influence of comorbidity and cancer on patients’ quality of life.
Corrosion Inhibition of Cast Iron in Arabian Gulf Seawater by Two Different Ionic Liquids
Authors: Sherif El-Sayed , Abdo Hany , Abedin Sherif
Published: June 2015

In this paper we report on the corrosion inhibition of cast iron in Arabian Gulf seawater by two different ionic liquids namely, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIm]Cl) and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium chloride ([Py1,4]Cl). The inhibiting influence of the employed ionic liquids was investigated by weight loss, open circuit potential electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization. The results show the corrosion inhibition impact of the employed ionic liquids (ILs). Compared with [Py1,4]Cl, [EMIm]Cl shows a higher inhibition efficiency at a short immersion time, for the examined ILs concentrations. However, [Py1,4]Cl exhibits a higher efficiency upon increasing the immersion time indicating the persistence of the inhibiting influence. The corrosion inhibition of the employed ionic liquids is attributed to the adsorption of the cations of the ionic liquids onto the surface of cast iron forming a corrosion barrier.
An Efficient Biometric-Based Algorithm Using Heart Rate Variability for Securing Body Sensor Networks
Authors: Pirbhulal Sandeep , Zhang Heye , Mukhopadhyay Subhas , Li Chunyue , Wang Yumei , Li Guanglin , Wu Wanqing , Zhang Yuan-Ting
Published: June 2015

Body Sensor Network (BSN) is a network of several associated sensor nodes on, inside or around the human body to monitor vital signals, such as, Electroencephalogram (EEG), Photoplethysmography (PPG), Electrocardiogram (ECG), etc. Each sensor node in BSN delivers major information; therefore, it is very significant to provide data confidentiality and security. All existing approaches to secure BSN are based on complex cryptographic key generation procedures, which not only demands high resource utilization and computation time, but also consumes large amount of energy, power and memory during data transmission. However, it is indispensable to put forward energy efficient and computationally less complex authentication technique for BSN. In this paper, a novel biometric-based algorithm is proposed, which utilizes Heart Rate Variability (HRV) for simple key generation process to secure BSN. Our proposed algorithm is compared with three data authentication techniques, namely Physiological Signal based Key Agreement (PSKA), Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA). Simulation is performed in Matlab and results suggest that proposed algorithm is quite efficient in terms of transmission time utilization, average remaining energy and total power consumption.
The Effects of Environmental and Social Dimensions of Sustainability in Response to the Economic Crisis of European Cities
Authors: Nevado-Peña Domingo , López-Ruiz Víctor-Raúl , Alfaro-Navarro José-Luis
Published: June 2015

The concept of sustainable development, which has emerged over the last few decades, has moved away from the global to the local level. The sustainability measurements at the global level use the triple bottom line, considering environmental, economic and social dimensions; however, the limited data available at the local level has driven what little research there is to use these optics when considering cities sustainability. In this paper, we use a sustainability city index based on the intellectual capital approach, which considers the three dimensions for European cities. Concretely, we use the environmental and social dimensions of this city index to analyze the effect of different levels of development in terms of sustainability over the main economic variables with available information. The results highlight the importance of the social and environmental dimensions of sustainability in cities economic recovery and show that cities with best positions in sustainability have better performance in economic terms.
The Subcellular Localisation of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E7 Protein in Cervical Cancer Cells and Its Perturbation by RNA Aptamers
Authors: Cesur Özlem , Nicol Clare , Groves Helen , Mankouri Jamel , Blair George , Stonehouse Nicola
Published: June 2015

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract, affecting both men and women. High-risk oncogenic types are responsible for almost 90% of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers including cervical cancer. Some of the HPV “early” genes, particularly E6 and E7, are known to act as oncogenes that promote tumour growth and malignant transformation. Most notably, HPV-16 E7 interacts with the tumour suppressor protein pRb, promoting its degradation, leading to cell cycle dysregulation in infected cells. We have previously shown that an RNA aptamer (termed A2) selectively binds to HPV16 E7 and is able to induce apoptosis in HPV16-transformed cervical carcinoma cell lines (SiHa) through reduction of E7 levels. In this study, we investigated the effects of the A2 aptamer on E7 localisation in order to define its effects on E7 activity. We demonstrate for the first time that E7 localised to the plasma membrane. In addition, we show that A2 enhanced E7 localisation in the ER and that the A2-mediated reduction of E7 was not associated with proteasomal degradation. These data suggest that A2 perturbs normal E7 trafficking through promoting E7 ER retention.
Pan-Genome Analysis of Brazilian Lineage A Amoebal Mimiviruses
Authors: Assis Felipe , Bajrai Leena , Abrahao Jonatas , Kroon Erna , Dornas Fabio , Andrade Kétyllen , Boratto Paulo , Pilotto Mariana , Robert Catherine , Benamar Samia , Scola Bernard , Colson Philippe
Published: June 2015

Since the recent discovery of Samba virus, the first representative of the family Mimiviridae from Brazil, prospecting for mimiviruses has been conducted in different environmental conditions in Brazil. Recently, we isolated using Acanthamoeba sp. three new mimiviruses, all of lineage A of amoebal mimiviruses: Kroon virus from urban lake water; Amazonia virus from the Brazilian Amazon river; and Oyster virus from farmed oysters. The aims of this work were to sequence and analyze the genome of these new Brazilian mimiviruses (mimi-BR) and update the analysis of the Samba virus genome. The genomes of Samba virus, Amazonia virus and Oyster virus were 97%–99% similar, whereas Kroon virus had a low similarity (90%–91%) with other mimi-BR. A total of 3877 proteins encoded by mimi-BR were grouped into 974 orthologous clusters. In addition, we identified three new ORFans in the Kroon virus genome. Additional work is needed to expand our knowledge of the diversity of mimiviruses from Brazil, including if and why among amoebal mimiviruses those of lineage A predominate in the Brazilian environment.
Less Grease, Please. Phosphatidylethanolamine Is the Only Lipid Required for Replication of a (+)RNA Virus
Authors: Belov George
Published: June 2015

All positive strand RNA viruses of eukaryotes replicate their genomes in association with membranes. These viruses actively change cellular lipid metabolism to build replication membranes enriched in specific lipids. The ubiquitous use of membranes by positive strand RNA viruses apparently holds major evolutionary advantages; however our understanding of the mechanistic role of membranes, let alone of specific lipid components of the membrane bilayer, in the viral replication cycle is minimal. The replication complexes that can be isolated from infected cells, or reconstituted in vitro from crude cell lysates, do not allow controlled manipulation of the membrane constituents thus limiting their usefulness for understanding how exactly membranes support the replication reaction. Recent work from Peter Nagy group demonstrates that replication of a model positive strand RNA virus can be reconstituted in the in vitro reaction with liposomes of chemically defined composition and reveals an exclusive role of phosphatidylethanolamine in sustaining efficient viral RNA replication. This study opens new possibilities for investigation of membrane contribution in the replication process that may ultimately lead to development of novel broad spectrum antiviral compounds targeting the membrane-dependent elements of the replication cycle conserved among diverse groups of viruses.