bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress of Dialysis Nurses—Analyzing the Buffering Role of Influence at Work and Feedback
Authors: Kersten Maren , Vincent-Höper Sylvie , Nienhaus Albert
Published: January 2020

Dialysis nurses face complex and demanding working conditions. Due to demographic changes, the number of dialysis patients has increased, while the number of skilled personnel is expected to decrease, leading to tremendous increases in quantitative demands in the near future. Against the background of increasing workload, focusing on the provision of job resources is considered a promising approach because resources can buffer the negative effects of job demands. The aim of this study is to investigate whether different job resources—in particular influence at work and feedback—play a buffering role in the relationship between job demands and employee well-being. The study used a cross-sectional paper–pencil survey design. Data were collected from 951 dialysis nurses working in dialysis facilities in Germany between October 2010 and March 2012 using validated measures of quantitative job demands, job-related resources (influence at work and feedback), and cognitive stress symptoms. To test the moderating role of resources, we applied hierarchical regression analyses. The findings indicate that feedback buffers the relationship between quantitative demands and well-being; that is, the positive relationship between quantitative demands and cognitive stress symptoms was weaker when feedback was high. However, we found no buffering role of influence at work. The results suggest that feedback is a promising resource that may buffer the negative impact of quantitative demands on well-being of dialysis nurses. The findings offer new approaches for training nurses and implementing a feedback culture.
Grit as Perseverance in Physical Activity Participation
Authors: Rutberg Stina , Nyberg Lars , Castelli Darla , Lindqvist Anna-Karin
Published: January 2020

Childhood is a critical period for the acquisition of healthy behaviors, and the promotion of sustainable healthy behavior among children is greatly important. Therefore, an increased understanding of the relationship between grit and physical activity in a school context is needed. The purpose of this study is to describe and develop an understanding of students’ and teachers’ awareness and experiences concerning grit as a health-promoting factor. Fifty-five students and three teachers participated in the study. Data were collected through the Short Grit Scale and focus group interviews. There were weak to non-significant correlations between the three teachers’ ratings of their students’ grit and the children’s own ratings. The qualitative results show that children and teachers understood the construct of grit but had slightly different perceptions of it and that grit is not considered to be set in stone. The participants made an association between grit, motivation, meaningfulness, and setting goals. The findings indicate that grit might be an ideal target for making physical activity interventions sustainable.
Barriers and Enablers of Health Service Utilisation for Childhood Skin Infections in Remote Aboriginal Communities of Western Australia
Authors: Hendrickx David , Amgarth-Duff Ingrid , C Bowen Asha , R Carapetis Jonathan , Chibawe Robby , Samson Margaret , Walker Roz
Published: January 2020

In Australia, children living in remote Aboriginal communities experience high rates of skin infections and associated complications. Prompt presentation to primary care health services is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. We performed a qualitative study in four remote Aboriginal communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to explore factors that affected health service utilisation for childhood skin infections in this setting. The study consisted of semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with parents and carers (n = 16), healthcare practitioners (n = 15) and other community service providers (n = 25). We used Andersen’s health service utilisation model as an analytical framework. Our analysis captured a wide range of barriers that may undermine timely use of health services for childhood skin infections. These included general factors that illustrate the importance of cultural competency amongst healthcare providers, patient-centred care and community engagement. Relating specifically to health service utilisation for childhood skin infections, we identified their apparent normalisation and the common use of painful benzathine penicillin G injections for their treatment as important barriers. Health service utilisation in this setting may be enhanced by improving general awareness of the significance of childhood skin infections, actively engaging parents and carers in consultation and treatment processes and strengthening community involvement in health service activities.
Impact of Varied Factors on Iron, Nickel, Molybdenum and Vanadium Concentrations in the Knee Joint
Authors: Kot Karolina , Kosik-Bogacka Danuta , Ziętek Paweł , Karaczun Maciej , Ciosek Żaneta , Łanocha-Arendarczyk Natalia
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of iron, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium in the knee joint. We also examined the relationships between the concentrations of these metals in the knee joint and the influence of varied factors on the concentration of Fe, Ni, Mo, and V. The study of these trace elements is important, because these elements are used alone and in combination in diet supplements, and they are components of biomaterials implanted in medicine. The study materials, consisting of the spongy bone, cartilage, meniscus, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and infrapatellar fat pad, were obtained from 34 women and 12 men from northwestern Poland. The concentrations of Ni, Fe, Mo, and V were determined using spectrophotometric atomic absorption in inductively coupled argon plasma (ICP-AES). We found significantly higher Mo concentrations in the ACL of women than men. There was a significant difference in the Mo concentration in the spongy bone between patients from cities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants and patients from cities with more than 100,000 residents. Iron concentrations in the spongy bone were higher in non-smoking patients and those who did not consume alcohol. Vanadium concentrations were higher in the infrapatellar fat pads in abstainers. In patients who had not undergone arthroscopy surgery, V concentration was lower in cartilage. The concentrations of V in the cartilage and infrapatellar fat pad were higher in osteoporotic patients than in non-osteoporotic patients. There were significant differences in Fe concentrations in the meniscus, with the lowest in osteoporotic patients. We noted lower Mo concentrations in the spongy bone of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, we noted some new interactions among metals in the studied structures of the knee joint. The results reported in this study show the influence of gender, place of residence, smoking, consumption of alcohol, arthroscopy surgery, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis on the Fe, Ni, Mo, and V concentrations in the studied structures of the knee joint.
Potential Effect of Porosity Evolution of Cemented Paste Backfill on Selective Solidification of Heavy Metal Ions
Authors: Yang Yixuan , Zhao Tongqian , Jiao Huazhe , Wang Yunfei , Li Haiyan
Published: January 2020

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) is a common environmentally friendly mining approach. However, it remains undetermined whether CPB pollutes underground mine water. Tank leaching analysis of a CPB mass in distilled water was performed for 120 d, and water quality was tested in situ for a long-term pollution assessment. Computerized tomography was also used to determine the CPB micro-pore structure and ion-leaching mechanism. The dissolved Zn2+, Pb2+ and As5+ concentrations in the leachate peaked at 0.56, 0.11 and 0.066 mg/L, respectively, whereas the Co2+ and Cd2+ concentrations were lower than the detection limit. The CPB porosity decreased from 46.07% to 40.88% by soaking, and 80% of the pore diameters were less than 13.81 μm. The permeability decreased from 0.8 to 0.5 cm/s, and the quantity, length, and diameter of the permeate channels decreased with soaking. An in-situ survey showed novel selective solidification. The Zn2+ concentration in the mine water was 10–20 times that of the background water, and the Pb2+ concentration was 2–4 times the regulated value. Although the Pb2+ content decreased significantly with mining depth, there remains a serious environmental risk. Mine water pollution can be reduced by adding a solidifying agent for Pb2+ and Zn2+, during CPB preparation.
Atmospheric Pollution Mapping of the Yangtze River Basin: An AQI-Based Weighted Co-Word Analysis
Authors: Song Yu , Liu Bingrui , Chen Xiaohong , Liu Jia
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics and human effects of atmospheric pollution in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB). An AQI(Air Quality Index)-based weighted co-word method is applied to explore the characteristics of keywords taken from the data, using authoritative media sources and government reports. Hierarchical clustering techniques are utilized to classify and visualize the keywords and display the different types of incidents. The results reveal the following four main clusters: enterprise pollution, coal-burning pollution, traffic pollution, and air pollutants. Cluster 1 is divided into 7 sub-clusters to offer powerful insight into the structural characteristics of industrial activities. This study is one of the first attempts to use a bibliometric approach to visualize the underlying and interconnected sub-clusters from grey data. It also provides an atmospheric pollution mapping for formulating government policies by understanding the human effects of air pollution incidents.
Tight Junction Proteins and the Biology of Hepatobiliary Disease
Authors: Roehlen Natascha , Roca Suarez Armando Andres , El Saghire Houssein , Saviano Antonio , Schuster Catherine , Lupberger Joachim , Baumert Thomas F.
Published: January 2020

Tight junctions (TJ) are intercellular adhesion complexes on epithelial cells and composed of integral membrane proteins as well as cytosolic adaptor proteins. Tight junction proteins have been recognized to play a key role in health and disease. In the liver, TJ proteins have several functions: they contribute as gatekeepers for paracellular diffusion between adherent hepatocytes or cholangiocytes to shape the blood-biliary barrier (BBIB) and maintain tissue homeostasis. At non-junctional localizations, TJ proteins are involved in key regulatory cell functions such as differentiation, proliferation, and migration by recruiting signaling proteins in response to extracellular stimuli. Moreover, TJ proteins are hepatocyte entry factors for the hepatitis C virus (HCV)—a major cause of liver disease and cancer worldwide. Perturbation of TJ protein expression has been reported in chronic HCV infection, cholestatic liver diseases as well as hepatobiliary carcinoma. Here we review the physiological function of TJ proteins in the liver and their implications in hepatobiliary diseases.
Practical Guidance in Genome-Wide RNA:DNA Triple Helix Prediction
Authors: Matveishina Elena , Antonov Ivan , Medvedeva Yulia A.
Published: January 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in many cellular processes including chromatin regulation. To modify chromatin, lncRNAs often interact with DNA in a sequence-specific manner forming RNA:DNA triple helices. Computational tools for triple helix search do not always provide genome-wide predictions of sufficient quality. Here, we used four human lncRNAs (MEG3, DACOR1, TERC and HOTAIR) and their experimentally determined binding regions for evaluating triplex parameters that provide the highest prediction accuracy. Additionally, we combined triplex prediction with the lncRNA secondary structure and demonstrated that considering only single-stranded fragments of lncRNA can further improve DNA-RNA triplexes prediction.
Modeling Anomalous Moisture Transport in Cement-Based Materials with Kinetic Permeability
Authors: Zhang Zhidong , Angst Ueli
Published: January 2020

The durability of reinforced concrete structures is closely related to moisture state in cement-based materials. Therefore, it is crucial to develop moisture models that can accurately predict moisture state in the materials. However, many studies reported anomalous moisture transport in cement-based materials that cannot be well simulated by the conventional models. Several reasons have been investigated in the literature, such as the complex pore structure, chemical reactions with water, dimensional changes of the tested specimen, etc. Nevertheless, only a few models are able to capture the anomaly of moisture transport. This study viewed the main moisture transport coefficient—permeability—as a kinetic variable that depends on both the degree of moisture saturation and the contact time. The time-dependence was formulated by the decay (for drying) or growth (for wetting) functions. The saturation-dependence was calculated by the van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) model. These functions were then implemented into a moisture transport model that was developed in previous studies. The proposed model was validated by experimental data and showed a good agreement for cement pastes that were dried or wetted in the hygroscopic range. Numerical simulation results were also compared with the simplified solutions to a fractional derivative model (FDM) of anomalous diffusion and the empirical Weibull function. We found that the solutions to the FDM cannot provide appropriate results. Weibull function performs as well as the proposed model, but the empirical function lacks physical meanings.
Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Human STIM2 and ORAI1 in Neurons Exhibit Changes in Behavior and Calcium Homeostasis but Show No Signs of Neurodegeneration
Authors: Majewski Lukasz , Maciąg Filip , Boguszewski Pawel M. , Kuznicki Jacek
Published: January 2020

The maintenance of proper cytosolic Ca2+ level is crucial for neuronal survival, and dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis is found in a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. According to the “Ca2+ hypothesis of aging”, Ca2+ disturbances precede the onset of AD symptoms and lead to neurodegeneration. STIM and ORAI proteins are involved in neuronal physiological and pathological processes as essential components of the store-operated Ca2+ entry. Our previous data suggested that overexpression of STIM2 and ORAI1 might increase basal neuronal cytosolic Ca2+ level. We generated double transgenic mice overexpressing these two genes in neurons, expecting that the increased basal Ca2+ concentration will lead to premature neurodegeneration. We observed changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and electrophysiological properties in acute brain slices of STIM2/ORAI1 neurons. However, we did not observe any augmentation of neurodegenerative processes, as tested by Fluoro-Jade® C staining and assessment of amyloidogenesis. The battery of behavioral tests did not show any signs of accelerated aging. We conclude that changes of calcium homeostasis induced by overexpression of STIM2 and ORAI1 had no substantial adverse effects on neurons and did not lead to early neurodegeneration.
Environmental Enrichment: Disentangling the Influence of Novelty, Social, and Physical Activity on Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in a Transgenic Mouse Model
Authors: Robison Lisa S. , Francis Nikita , Popescu Dominique L. , Anderson Maria E. , Hatfield Joshua , Xu Feng , Anderson Brenda J. , Van Nostrand William E. , Robinson John K.
Published: January 2020

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is the deposition of amyloid protein in the cerebral vasculature, a common feature in both aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the effects of environmental factors, particularly cognitive stimulation, social stimulation, and physical activity, on CAA pathology are poorly understood. These factors, delivered in the form of the environmental enrichment (EE) paradigm in rodents, have been shown to have beneficial effects on the brain and behavior in healthy aging and AD models. However, the relative importance of these subcomponents on CAA pathology has not been investigated. Therefore, we assessed the effects of EE, social enrichment (SOC), and cognitive enrichment (COG) compared to a control group that was single housed without enrichment (SIN) from 4 to 8 months of age in wild-type mice (WT) and Tg-SwDI mice, a transgenic mouse model of CAA that exhibits cognitive/behavioral deficits. The results show that individual facets of enrichment can affect an animal model of CAA, though the SOC and combined EE conditions are generally the most effective at producing physiological, cognitive/behavioral, and neuropathological changes, adding to a growing literature supporting the benefits of lifestyle interventions.
Comparison of Ilizarov Bifocal, Acute Shortening and Relengthening with Bone Transport in the Treatment of Infected, Segmental Defects of the Tibia
Authors: Sigmund Irene K. , Ferguson Jamie , Govaert Geertje A.M. , Stubbs David , McNally Martin A.
Published: January 2020

This prospective study compared bifocal acute shortening and relengthening (ASR) with bone transport (BT) in a consecutive series of complex tibial infected non-unions and osteomyelitis, for the reconstruction of segmental defects created at the surgical resection of the infection. Patients with an infected tibial segmental defect (>2 cm) were eligible for inclusion. Patients were allocated to ASR or BT, using a standardized protocol, depending on defect size, the condition of soft tissues and the state of the fibula (intact or divided). We recorded the Weber–Cech classification, previous operations, external fixation time, external fixation index (EFI), follow-up duration, time to union, ASAMI bone and functional scores and complications. A total of 47 patients (ASR: 20 patients, BT: 27 patients) with a median follow-up of 37.9 months (range 16–128) were included. In the ASR group, the mean bone defect size measured 4.0 cm, and the mean frame time was 8.8 months. In the BT group, the mean bone defect size measured 5.9cm, and the mean frame time was 10.3 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the EFI between ASR and BT (2.0 and 1.8 months/cm, respectively) (p = 0.223). A total of 3/20 patients of the ASR and 15/27 of the BT group needed further unplanned surgery during Ilizarov treatment (p = 0.006). Docking site surgery was significantly more frequent in BT; 66.7%, versus ASL; 5.0% (p < 0.0001). The infection eradication rate was 100% in both groups at final follow-up. Final ASAMI functional rating scores and bone scores were similar in both groups. Segmental resection with the Ilizarov method is effective and safe for reconstruction of infected tibial defects, allowing the eradication of infection and high union rates. However, BT demonstrated a higher rate of unplanned surgeries, especially docking site revisions. Acute shortening and relengthening does not reduce the fixator index. Both techniques deliver good functional outcome after completion of treatment.
Craniofacial Analysis May Indicate Co-Occurrence of Skeletal Malocclusions and Associated Risks in Development of Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Liberton Denise K. , Verma Payal , Almpani Konstantinia , Fung Peter W. , Mishra Rashmi , Oberoi Snehlata , Şenel Figen Ç. , Mah James K. , Huang John , Padwa Bonnie L. , Lee Janice S.
Published: January 2020

Non-syndromic orofacial clefts encompass a range of morphological changes affecting the oral cavity and the craniofacial skeleton, of which the genetic and epigenetic etiologic factors remain largely unknown. The objective of this study is to explore the contribution of underlying dentofacial deformities (also known as skeletal malocclusions) in the craniofacial morphology of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate patients (nsCLP). For that purpose, geometric morphometric analysis was performed using full skull cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients with nsCLP (n = 30), normocephalic controls (n = 60), as well as to sex- and ethnicity- matched patients with an equivalent dentofacial deformity (n = 30). Our outcome measures were shape differences among the groups quantified via principal component analysis and associated principal component loadings, as well as mean shape differences quantified via a Procrustes distance among groups. According to our results, despite the shape differences among all three groups, the nsCLP group shares many morphological similarities in the maxilla and mandible with the dentofacial deformity group. Therefore, the dentoskeletal phenotype in nsCLP could be the result of the cleft and the coexisting dentofacial deformity and not simply the impact of the cleft.
The Effects of Post Heat Treatment on the Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of an Additive-Manufactured Porous Titanium Alloy
Authors: Yu Guisheng , Li Zhibin , Hua Youlu , Liu Hui , Zhao Xueyang , Li Wei , Wang Xiaojian
Published: January 2020

In this work, Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) porous structures were prepared by selective laser melting (SLM), and the effects of post heat treatment on its microstructural and mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that as SLM samples were mainly composed of needle-like α′ martensite. Heat treatment at 750 °C caused α′ phase to decompose, forming a lamellar α+β mixed microstructure. As the heat treatment temperature increased to 950 °C, the width of lamellar α phase gradually increased to 3.1 μm. Heat treatment also reduced the compressive strength of the samples; however, it significantly improved the ductility of the porous Ti64. Moreover, heat treatment improved the energy absorption efficiency of the porous Ti64. The samples heat-treated at 750 °C had the highest energy absorption of 233.6 ± 1.5 MJ/m3 at ε = 50%.
New Spectral Markers for Broken Bars Diagnostics in Induction Motors
Authors: Baranov Georgii D. , Nepomuceno Erivelton G. , Vaganov Michail A. , Ostrovskii Valerii Y. , Butusov Denis N.
Published: January 2020

The paper discusses the spectral markers of fault rotor bars in induction motor current signature analysis (MCSA). The results of the simulation of the deterioration process for a single rotor bar, as well as the results of research for various mutual bracing of two broken bars, are reported. We proposed a simple empiric technique allowing one to obtain frequencies for spectrum markers of damaged rotor bars based on simulation analysis. The set of frequencies obtained in the experimental part of the study was compared with simulation results and the results of real-life measurements. The theoretical results were verified through the experiment with the real induction motor under load. Analysis of experimental results proved that the given algorithm for spectrum analysis is suitable for early detection of fault rotor bars in induction motors.
The Influence of Alloy Composition and Liquid Phase on Foaming of Al–Si–Mg Alloys
Authors: García-Moreno Francisco , Radtke Laurenz Alexander , Neu Tillmann Robert , Kamm Paul Hans , Klaus Manuela , Schlepütz Christian Matthias , Banhart John
Published: January 2020

The foaming behaviour of aluminium alloys processed by the powder compaction technique depends crucially on the exact alloy composition. The AlSi8Mg4 alloy has been in use for a decade now, and it has been claimed that this composition lies in an “island of good foaming”. We investigated the reasons for this by systematically studying alloys around this composition by varying the Mg and Si content by a few percent. We applied in situ X-ray 2D and 3D imaging experiments combined with a quantitative nucleation number and expansion analysis, X-ray tomography of solid foams to assess the pore structure and pore size distribution, and in situ diffraction experiments to quantify the melt fraction at any moment. We found a correlation between melt fraction and expansion height and verified that the “island of good foaming” actually exists, and foams outside a preferred range for the liquid fraction—just above TS and between 40–60%—show a poorer expansion performance than the reference alloy AlSi8Mg4. A very slight increase of Si and decrease of Mg content might further improve this foam.
Complete Genome Sequence Reveals Evolutionary and Comparative Genomic Features of Xanthomonas albilineans Causing Sugarcane Leaf Scald
Authors: Zhang Hui-Li , Ntambo Mbuya Sylvain , Rott Philippe C. , Chen Gongyou , Chen Li-Lan , Huang Mei-Ting , Gao San-Ji
Published: January 2020

Leaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans) is an important bacterial disease affecting sugarcane in most sugarcane growing countries, including China. High genetic diversity exists among strains of X. albilineans from diverse geographic regions. To highlight the genomic features associated with X. albilineans from China, we sequenced the complete genome of a representative strain (Xa-FJ1) of this pathogen using the PacBio and Illumina platforms. The complete genome of strain Xa-FJ1 consists of a circular chromosome of 3,724,581 bp and a plasmid of 31,536 bp. Average nucleotide identity analysis revealed that Xa-FJ1 was closest to five strains from the French West Indies and the USA, particularly to the strain GPE PC73 from Guadeloupe. Comparative genomic analysis between Xa-FJ1 and GPE PC73 revealed prophage integration, homologous recombination, transposable elements, and a clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system that were linked with 16 insertions/deletions (InDels). Ten and 82 specific genes were found in Xa-FJ1 and GPE PC73, respectively, and some of these genes were subjected to phage-related proteins, zona occludens toxin, and DNA methyltransferases. Our findings highlight intra-species genetic variability of the leaf scald pathogen and provide additional genomic resources to investigate its fitness and virulence.
Effects of Life Stage, Site, and Species on the Dragonfly Gut Microbiome
Authors: Nobles Sarah , Jackson Colin R.
Published: January 2020

Insects that undergo metamorphosis from juveniles to adults provide an intriguing opportunity to examine the effects of life stage, species, and the environment on their gut microbiome. In this study, we surveyed the gut microbiomes of 13 species of dragonfly collected from five different locations subject to different levels of human impact. Juveniles were collected as nymphs from aquatic habitats while airborne adults were caught at the same locations. The gut microbiome was characterized by next generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Life stage was an important factor, with the gut microbiomes of dragonfly nymphs differing from those of adult dragonflies. Gut microbiomes of nymphs were influenced by sample site and, to a lesser extent, host species. Neither sample location nor host species had a strong effect on the gut microbiome of dragonfly adults. Regardless of life stage, gut microbiomes were dominated by members of the Proteobacteria, with members of the Bacteroidetes (especially in adults), Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria (especially in nymphs) also being proportionally abundant. These results demonstrate that different life stages of metamorphosing insects can harbor very different gut microbiomes and differ in how this microbiome is influenced by the surrounding environment.
Revealing Tropical Technosols as an Alternative for Mine Reclamation and Waste Management
Authors: Ruiz Francisco , Perlatti Fabio , Oliveira Daniel P. , Ferreira Tiago O.
Published: January 2020

This study was based on the premise that Technosols constructed under tropical conditions are a valuable tool for inexpensive mine reclamation programs. These anthropogenic soils are still poorly studied in Brazil and are not recognized by the Brazilian Soil Classification System. Given the importance of mining to the Brazilian economy (the sector accounts for 20% of all products exported and 5% of the gross domestic product), there is an urgency to properly manage the large amount of waste produced. For this purpose, we suggest the use of Technosols as a strategy to overcome both land degradation and waste production by presenting a successful case of mine rehabilitation combining limestone wastes and tropical grasses. We show that Technosols constructed from the mine spoils can develop into soils suitable for agriculture in a few years, promoting land reclamation and producing food and energy. These soils are also valuable resources that can provide important ecosystem services, such as organic carbon storage.
Insight into the Influence of Surface Roughness on the Wettability of Apatite and Dolomite
Authors: Wang Xianchen , Zhang Qin
Published: January 2020

Surface roughness has an important influence on the wettability of particles. This paper is an innovative exploration to control the surface wettability of apatite and dolomite from the perspective of roughness in the background of phosphate flotation. Roughness characteristics of apatite and dolomite particles and its effects on wettability were investigated with surface roughness, contact angle measurements, and SEM analysis. The relationship between surface energy and wettability of different roughness surfaces was also discussed. The results indicated that the influence of roughness on apatite and dolomite particles showed the same regularity, and wettability increased with the increasing roughness for hydrophilic surfaces, while the wettability decreased for hydrophobic surfaces. The influence of roughness on wettability can be well explained by Wenzel and Cassie models, and the surface energy of different rough surfaces had a strong correlation with their wettability. When sodium oleate was added after acid treatment, the apatite was hydrophilic, while the dolomite was hydrophobic; the difference in wettability between them became greater as surface roughness increased. Thus, it can be predicted that the selective separation of dolomite and apatite under acid reverse flotation conditions can be strengthened by increasing the mineral surface roughness during comminution.
A Simple in Syringe Low Density Solvent-Dispersive Liquid Liquid Microextraction for Enrichment of Some Metal Ions Prior to Their Determination by High Performance Liquid Chromatography in Food Samples
Authors: Laosuwan Melasinee , Mukdasai Siriboon , Srijaranai Supalax
Published: January 2020

A simple and highly sensitive method is developed for the simultaneous determination of Ni2+, Cr2O72−, Co2+, and Hg2+ by using in syringe low density solvent-dispersive liquid liquid microextraction (ISLD-DLLME), followed by high performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector. The four metal ions were derivatized with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDC) based on complexation before their enrichment by ISLD-DLLME in which 1-octanol and methanol were used as the extraction solvent and the dispersive solvent, respectively. The extraction was performed in a commercially available syringe under vortex agitation. Phase separation was achieved without centrifugation, and the extraction phase was easily collected by moving the syringe plunger. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the four metal-PDC complexes were detected within 18 min, and ISLD-DLLME could increase the detection sensitivity in the range of 64–230 times compared to the direct HPLC analysis. The obtained limits of detection (LODs) were found to be in the range of 0.011–2.0 µg L−1. The applicability of the method is demonstrated for freshwater fish, shrimp, and shellfish samples. In addition, the results are in good agreement with those obtained by inductively-coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).
Are Kynurenines Accomplices or Principal Villains in Dementia? Maintenance of Kynurenine Metabolism
Authors: Tanaka Masaru , Bohár Zsuzsanna , Vécsei László
Published: January 2020

Worldwide, 50 million people suffer from dementia, a group of symptoms affecting cognitive and social functions, progressing severely enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) accounts for most of the dementia cases. Pathological and clinical findings have led to proposing several hypotheses of AD pathogenesis, finding a presence of positive feedback loops and additionally observing the disturbance of a branch of tryptophan metabolism, the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. Either causative or resultant of dementia, elevated levels of neurotoxic KYN metabolites are observed, potentially upregulating multiple feedback loops of AD pathogenesis. Memantine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamatergic receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, which belongs to one of only two classes of medications approved for clinical use, but other NMDAR modulators have been explored so far in vain. An endogenous KYN pathway metabolite, kynurenic acid (KYNA), likewise inhibits the excitotoxic NMDAR. Besides its anti-excitotoxicity, KYNA is a multitarget compound that triggers anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Modifying the KYNA level is a potential multitarget strategy to normalize the disturbed KYN pathway and thus to alleviate juxtaposing AD pathogeneses. In this review, the maintenance of KYN metabolism by modifying the level of KYNA is proposed and discussed in search for a novel lead compound against the progression of dementia.
Human Cytomegalovirus Reactivation During Lactation: Impact of Antibody Kinetics and Neutralization in Blood and Breast Milk
Authors: Lazar Katrin , Rabe Tabea , Goelz Rangmar , Hamprecht Klaus
Published: January 2020

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is shed into breast milk in nearly every seropositive woman during lactation. This reactivation shows mostly a self-limited, unimodal course. The dynamics and functional role of HCMV-specific-IgG in breast milk and in plasma during reactivation are unknown. Milk whey viral loads were monitored with real-time PCR in 18 HCMV-seropositive mothers over two months postpartum. HCMV-antibody binding assays (ECLIA) and antigen-specific immunoblotting were performed from plasma and corresponding milk samples. Epithelial-cell-specific neutralization was used to analyze functional antibodies in plasma- and whey-pools. Viral loads in milk whey showed unimodal courses in 15 of 18 mothers with peak viral loads around one month postpartum. HCMV-specific-IgG-antibodies increased significantly in plasma and milk whey during reactivation. The mean levels of plasma IgG were about 275-fold higher than in whey. Only antibodies against tegument protein p150 were continuously expressed in both compartments. Anti-glycoprotein-B1 IgG-antibodies were variably expressed in whey, but continuously in plasma. Neutralization assays showed 40-fold higher NT-50 values in plasma compared to whey at two months postpartum. During reactivation, HCMV-specific-IgG reactivities and neutralizing capacities are much lower in whey than in plasma. Therefore, their specific role in the decrease and discontinuation of virus-shedding in milk remains unclear.
Exogenous Isoprene Confers Physiological Benefits in a Negligible Isoprene Emitter (Acer monspessulanum L.) under Water Deficit
Authors: Ormeño Elena , Viros Justine , Mévy Jean-Philippe , Tonetto Alain , Saunier Amélie , Bousquet-Mélou Anne , Fernandez Catherine
Published: January 2020

Isoprene, the main volatile released by plants, is known to protect the photosynthetic apparatus in isoprene emitters submitted to oxidative pressures caused by environmental constraints. Whether ambient isoprene contributes to protect negligible plant emitters under abiotic stress conditions is less clear, and no study has tested if ambient isoprene is beneficial during drought periods in plant species that naturally release negligible isoprene emissions. This study examines the effect of exogenous isoprene (20 ppbv) on net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and production of H2O2 (a reactive oxygen species: ROS) in leaves of Acer monspessulanum (a negligible isoprene emitter) submitted to three watering treatments (optimal, moderate water stress and severe water stress). Results showed that A. monspessulanum exhibited a net photosynthesis increase (+30%) and a relative leaf H2O2 decrease when saplings were exposed to an enriched isoprene atmosphere compared to isoprene-free conditions under moderate water deficit. Such physiological improvement under isoprene exposure was not observed under optimal watering or severe water stress. These findings suggest that when negligible isoprene emitters are surrounded by a very high concentration of isoprene in the ambient air, some plant protection mechanism occurs under moderate water deficit probably related to protection against ROS damage eventually impeding photosynthesis drop.
Human Health Impacts of Aviation Biofuel Production: Exploring the Application of Different Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) Methods for Biofuel Supply Chains
Authors: Wang Zhizhen , Osseweijer Patricia , Posada John A.
Published: January 2020

The life cycle human health (HH) impacts related to aviation biofuels have been understood in a limited way. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for assessing HH are often associated with a high level of uncertainty and a low level of consensus. As a result, it remains challenging to perform a robust assessment of HH impacts with a suitable LCIA method. This study aims to systematically compare six commonly used LCIA methods for quantifying HH impacts, in order to empirically understand the potential impacts of aviation biofuel production on HH and how the results are affected by the choice of methods. Three aviation biofuel production pathways based on different feedstocks (sugarcane, eucalyptus, and macauba) were analyzed and compared to fossil aviation biofuels, on the basis of a functional unit of 1 MJ aviation fuel. The majority of the LCIA methods suggest that, in respect to midpoint impacts, macauba-based biofuel is associated with the lowest impacts and eucalyptus-based biofuel the highest; whereas at endpoint level, the results are more scattered. The LCIA methods agree that biomass conversion into aviation biofuel, H2 production, and feedstock cultivation are major contributors to life cycle HH impacts. Additionally, we provide a guideline for determining an appropriate method for assessing HH impacts.
Sanctifying Domestic Space and Domesticating Sacred Space: Reading Ziyāra and Taṣliya in Light of the Domestic in the Early Modern Ottoman World
Authors: Allen Jonathan Parkes
Published: January 2020

Shrine-visitation (ziyāra) and devotion to Muḥammad (such as expressed in taṣliya, the uttering of invocations upon the Prophet), both expressed through a range of ritualized practices and material objects, were at the heart of everyday Islam for the vast majority of early modern Ottoman Muslims across the empire. While both bodies of practice had communal and domestic aspects, this article focuses on the important intersections of the domestic with both shrine-visitation and Muḥammad-centered devotion as visible in the early modern Ottoman lands, with a primary emphasis on the eighteenth century. While saints’ shrines were communal and ‘public’ in nature, a range of attitudes and practices associated with them, recoverable through surviving physical evidence, travel literature, and hagiography, reveal their construction as domestic spaces of a different sort, appearing to pious visitors as the ‘home’ of the entombed saint through such routes as wall-writing, gender-mixing, and dream encounters. Devotion to Muḥammad, on the other hand, while having many communal manifestations, was also deeply rooted in the domestic space of the household, in both prescription and practice. Through an examination of commentary literature, hagiography, and imagery and objects of devotion, particularly in the context of the famed manual of devotion Dalā’il al-khayrāt, I demonstrate the transformative effect of such devotion upon domestic space and the ways in which domestic contexts were linked to the wider early modern world, Ottoman, and beyond.
Women in Britain’s First Muslim Mosques: Hidden from History, but Not Without Influence
Authors: Cheruvallil-Contractor Sariya
Published: January 2020

Two of the earliest Muslim communities in Britain evolved around the first mosques in Liverpool and Woking (both—1889). The history of these early British Muslims is being recovered but little is known about the women (usually converts) in these communities. This article will draw upon original findings from archival research, to examine ‘leadership’ that women in these communities undertook and their influence in shaping their nascent British Muslim communities. The practical, theological and philosophical negotiations around gender roles, female leadership, and veiling and the social contexts within which they took place are examined. By uncovering historical responses to issues that remain topical in British Muslim communities, this article provides historical grounding for contemporary debates about female Muslim leadership in British Muslim communities.
Scattering Feature Set Optimization and Polarimetric SAR Classification Using Object-Oriented RF-SFS Algorithm in Coastal Wetlands
Authors: Chen Yuanyuan , He Xiufeng , Xu Jia , Zhang Rongchun , Lu Yanyan
Published: January 2020

The utilization of advanced remote sensing methods to monitor the coastal wetlands is essential for conservation and sustainable development. With multiple polarimetric channels, the polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) is increasingly employed in land cover classification and information extraction, as it has more scattering information than regular SAR images. Polarimetric decomposition is often used to extract scattering information from polarimetric SAR. However, distinguishing all land cover types using only one polarimetric decomposition in complex ecological environments such as coastal wetlands is not easy, and thus integration of multiple decomposition algorithms is an effective means of land cover classification. More than 20 decompositions were used in this research to extract polarimetric scattering features. Furthermore, a new algorithm combining random forest (RF) with sequential forward selection (SFS) was applied, in which the importance values of all polarimetric features can be evaluated quantitatively, and the polarimetric feature set can be optimized. The experiments were conducted in the Jiangsu coastal wetlands, which are located in eastern China. This research demonstrated that the classification accuracies were improved relative to regular decision tree methods, and the process of polarimetric scattering feature set optimization was intuitive. Furthermore, the scattering matrix elements and scattering features derived from H / α , Yamaguchi3, VanZyl3, and Krogager decompositions were determined to be very supportive of land cover identification in the Jiangsu coastal wetlands.
Automatic Mapping of Center Line of Railway Tracks using Global Navigation Satellite System, Inertial Measurement Unit and Laser Scanner
Authors: Shankar Sangeetha , Roth Michael , Schubert Lucas Andreas , Verstegen Judith Anne
Published: January 2020

Up-to-date geodatasets on railway infrastructure are valuable resources for the field of transportation. This paper investigates three methods for mapping the center lines of railway tracks using heterogeneous sensor data: (i) conditional selection of satellite navigation (GNSS) data, (ii) a combination of inertial measurements (IMU data) and GNSS data in a Kalman filtering and smoothing framework and (iii) extraction of center lines from laser scanner data. Several combinations of the methods are compared with a focus on mapping in tree-covered areas. The center lines of the railway tracks are extracted by applying these methods to a test dataset collected by a road-rail vehicle. The guard rails in the test area were also extracted during the center line detection process. The combination of methods (i) and (ii) gave the best result for the track on which the measurement vehicle had moved, mapping almost 100% of the track. The combination of methods (ii) and (iii) and the combination of all three methods gave the best result for the other parallel tracks, mapping between 25% and 80%. The mean perpendicular distance of the mapped center lines from the reference data was 1.49 meters.
Wearable Emotion Recognition Using Heart Rate Data from a Smart Bracelet
Authors: Shu Lin , Yu Yang , Chen Wenzhuo , Hua Haoqiang , Li Qin , Jin Jianxiu , Xu Xiangmin
Published: January 2020

Emotion recognition and monitoring based on commonly used wearable devices can play an important role in psychological health monitoring and human-computer interaction. However, the existing methods cannot rely on the common smart bracelets or watches for emotion monitoring in daily life. To address this issue, our study proposes a method for emotional recognition using heart rate data from a wearable smart bracelet. A ‘neutral + target’ pair emotion stimulation experimental paradigm was presented, and a dataset of heart rate from 25 subjects was established, where neutral plus target emotion (neutral, happy, and sad) stimulation video pairs from China’s standard Emotional Video Stimuli materials (CEVS) were applied to the recruited subjects. Normalized features from the data of target emotions normalized by the baseline data of neutral mood were adopted. Emotion recognition experiment results approved the effectiveness of ‘neutral + target’ video pair simulation experimental paradigm, the baseline setting using neutral mood data, and the normalized features, as well as the classifiers of Adaboost and GBDT on this dataset. This method will promote the development of wearable consumer electronic devices for monitoring human emotional moods.
Internet of Things and Enhanced Living Environments: Measuring and Mapping Air Quality Using Cyber-physical Systems and Mobile Computing Technologies
Authors: Marques Gonçalo , Miranda Nuno , Kumar Bhoi Akash , Garcia-Zapirain Begonya , Hamrioui Sofiane , de la Torre Díez Isabel
Published: January 2020

This paper presents a real-time air quality monitoring system based on Internet of Things. Air quality is particularly relevant for enhanced living environments and well-being. The Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization have acknowledged the material impact of air quality on public health and defined standards and policies to regulate and improve air quality. However, there is a significant need for cost-effective methods to monitor and control air quality which provide modularity, scalability, portability, easy installation and configuration features, and mobile computing technologies integration. The proposed method allows the measuring and mapping of air quality levels considering the spatial-temporal information. This system incorporates a cyber-physical system for data collection and mobile computing software for data consulting. Moreover, this method provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for air quality supervision and can be installed in vehicles to monitor air quality while travelling. The results obtained confirm the implementation of the system and present a relevant contribution to enhanced living environments in smart cities. This supervision solution provides real-time identification of unhealthy behaviours and supports the planning of possible interventions to increase air quality.