bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Al-Muwathanah Concept for non Muslims in Islamic majority Countries Siyasah Fikih Perspective
Authors: Arake Lukman
Published: August 2019

The Islamic priests do not use the word of minority (akalliyah) in the literature of classical Islamic jurisprudence when they talk about the existence of non-Muslims in Islamic countries, but they use the term of ahluzzimmah. Their reason not to use that term is because Islam itself does not distinguish the rights and obligations between Muslims or non-Muslims who live in a country, except those closely related to religious issues. This was caused by the actualization concept from one of religion rule "lahum maa lana wa alaihim ma alaina" which means: they have rights and obligations as Moeslems. Despite our scholars do not use the term of minority in their own intellectual tradition, the term has become popular especially in a concept of writing process that cause the using of these terms is valid.
ANALISIS NET PROFIT MARGIN TERHADAP DIVIDEND PAYOUT RATIO (Studi kasus pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk)
Authors: Munawar Andri Helmi , Yuningsih Yuningsih
Published: August 2019

ABSTRAK

Penelitian  ini  bertujuan  untuk  mengetahui  dan  menganalisis  pengaruh Net Profit  Margin terhadap Dividend Payout Ratio dengan studi kasus objek kajian pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk.  Penelitian  ini  menggunakan  variabel independen yaitu Net Profit  Margin dan variabel dependen yaitu Dividend Payout Ratio.  Penelitian  ini  menggunakan  pendekatan  kuantitatif  dengan  jenis penelitian  eksplanatori. Pada penelitian ini penulis menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dengan data sekunder dengan analisis time series pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk periode 2007-2016. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan penulis yaitu  analisis  data  deskriptif,  uji  asumsi klasik dengan teknik statistik menggunakan regresi  linier  sederhana. Berdasarkan hasil analisis variabel Net Profit Margin dan Dividend payout ratio pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk periode 2007-2016 cenderung fluktuatif. Hasil uji koefisien korelasi sebesar 0,335 artinya hubungan antara variabel berada dalam kategori rendah, besarnya koefisien determinasi atau pengaruh Net Profit Margin terhadap Dividend Payout Ratio pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk periode 2007-2016 adalah 11,2%. Hasil uji hipotesis menyatakan bahwa tidak terdapat pengaruh signifikan antara Net Profit Margin terhadap Dividend Payout Ratio pada PT Gudang Garam Tbk periode 2007-2016.

Kata Kunci: Net Profit  Margin, Dividend Payout Ratio.
Compaction of Church Numerals
Authors: Furuya Isamu , Kida Takuya
Published: August 2019

In this study, we address the problem of compaction of Church numerals. Church numerals are unary representations of natural numbers on the scheme of lambda terms. We propose a novel decomposition scheme from a given natural number into an arithmetic expression using tetration, which enables us to obtain a compact representation of lambda terms that leads to the Church numeral of the natural number. For natural number n, we prove that the size of the lambda term obtained by the proposed method is O ( ( slog 2 n ) ( log n / log log n ) ) . Moreover, we experimentally confirmed that the proposed method outperforms binary representation of Church numerals on average, when n is less than approximately 10,000.
Impact Performance of Helmholtz Self-Excited Oscillation Waterjets Used for Underground Mining
Authors: Fang Zhenlong , Gao Xiang , Tao Xia , Li Deng , Zhang Mengda , Xiong Ting , Jiang Pan
Published: August 2019

Pulsed waterjets are widely used in exploitation of fossil fuels for their high efficiency. With the aim to further clarify the impact performance of Helmholtz self-excited oscillation waterjets (HSEOW), numerical and experimental studies were conducted. The morphological characteristics of the erosion surfaces between conical and HSEOW nozzles were compared and the cavitation evolution was obtained. Results show that the cavitation damage caused by the HSEOW nozzle on the specimen was mainly caused by the jet cavitation cloud under submerged conditions. The cavitation effect produced by the HSEOW nozzle had a much greater destructive effect than that of a conical nozzle. The mass loss caused by HSEOW nozzles increased first with the increase of standoff distance, then decreased rapidly after reaching the maximum value. Moreover, the density of holes and the damage intensity weakened with the increase of radial distance. A dimensionless cavity length of 2 and a dimensionless cavity diameter of 8 was the optimal structure that led to maximum mass loss. These results provide a further understanding of cavitation mechanism which leads to the impact performance of pulsed water jets and optimal working parameters in the field of energy exploitation.
Health Monitoring on the Spacecraft Bearings in High-Speed Rotating Systems by Using the Clustering Fusion of Normal Acoustic Parameters
Authors: Wu Dengyun , Wang Hong , Liu Hongxing , He Tian , Xie Tao
Published: August 2019

The rolling bearings in moment wheel assemblies (MWAs) or control moment gyros (CMGs) are not only the core components in spacecrafts but also prone to failure. Therefore, a high reliability is the critical characteristic for spacecraft bearings, and long-life testing on the ground is one of the main means for bearing reliability assessment. In practical applications, a convenient and reliable method is required for monitoring the health status of abnormal bearings in MWAs during the long-life test. In this paper, a monitoring method based on the clustering fusion of normal operation acoustic parameters is proposed for the identification of abnormal bearings. Firstly, the characteristics of MWA’s acoustic signal and its feasibility as a monitoring medium are clarified based on tests and modal analysis. Then statistical parameters and sound quality parameters are introduced to characterize the changes caused by bearing faults, and the root mean square (RMS), kurtosis, and sharpness parameters are selected to construct the feature vectors. The K-medoids clustering technology is used to fuse the characteristic parameters, and the safety distance for normal bearing operation can be obtained by a suitable method. Finally, the abnormal index is presented based on the excess rate and excess distance to judge the abnormal states of several types of bearings through tests. The research results indicate that the presented monitoring method based on the clustering of the normal operation acoustic parameters can not only identify various faults of the spacecraft bearing (ball defects, outer ring defects, cage instability, etc.) effectively but also give a quantitative evaluation of the severity of the abnormality.
Wedge-Splitting Test on Carbon-Containing Refractories at High Temperatures
Authors: Stückelschweiger Martin , Gruber Dietmar , Jin Shengli , Harmuth Harald
Published: August 2019

The mode I fracture behavior of ordinary refractory materials is usually tested with the wedge-splitting test. At elevated temperatures, the optical displacement measurement is difficult because of the convection in the furnace and possible reactions of refractory components with the ambient atmosphere. The present paper introduces a newly developed testing device, which is able to perform such experiments up to 1500 °C. For the testing of carbon-containing refractories a gas purging, for example, with argon, is possible. Laser speckle extensometers are applied for the displacement measurement. A carbon-containing magnesia refractory (MgO–C) was selected for a case study. Based on the results obtained from tests, fracture mechanical parameters such as the specific fracture energy and the nominal notch tensile strength were calculated. An inverse simulation procedure applying the finite element method yields tensile strength, the total specific fracture energy, and the strain-softening behavior. Additionally, the creep behavior was also considered for the evaluation.
Appropriateness of Potential Evapotranspiration Models for Climate Change Impact Analysis in Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, China
Authors: Pan Suli , Xu Yue-Ping , Xuan Weidong , Gu Haiting , Bai Zhixu
Published: August 2019

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important element in the water and energy cycle. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is an important measurement of ET. Its accuracy has significant influence on agricultural water management, irrigation planning, and hydrological modelling. However, whether current PET models are applicable under climate change or not, is still a question. In this study, five frequently used PET models were chosen, including one combination model (the FAO Penman-Monteith model, FAO-PM), two temperature-based models (the Blaney-Criddle and the Hargreaves models) and two radiation-based models (the Makkink and the Priestley-Taylor models), to estimate their appropriateness in the historical and future periods under climate change impact on the Yarlung Zangbo river basin, China. Bias correction methods were not only applied to the temperature output of Global Climate Models (GCMs), but also for radiation, humidity, and wind speed. It was demonstrated that the results from the Blaney-Criddle and Makkink models provided better agreement with the PET obtained by the FAO-PM model in the historical period. In the future period, monthly PET estimated by all five models show positive trends. The changes of PET under RCP8.5 are much higher than under RCP2.6. The radiation-based models show better appropriateness than the temperature-based models in the future, as the root mean square error (RMSE) value of the former models is almost half of the latter models. The radiation-based models are recommended for use to estimate PET under climate change in the Yarlung Zangbo river basin.
Novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate with Anti-CD26 Humanized Monoclonal Antibody and Transcription Factor IIH (TFIIH) Inhibitor, Triptolide, Inhibits Tumor Growth via Impairing mRNA Synthesis
Authors: Hayashi Mutsumi , Madokoro Hiroko , Yamada Koji , Nishida Hiroko , Morimoto Chikao , Sakamoto Michiie , Yanagawa Hiroshi , Yamada Taketo
Published: August 2019

Here, we report a novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC) with the humanized anti-CD26 monoclonal antibody YS110 and triptolide (TR-1). YS110 has an inhibitory activity against the CD26-positive tumor growth via the immunological and direct pathway, such as intra-nuclear transportation of CD26 and YS110, and suppressed transcription of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) subunit POLR2A. The ADC conjugated with YS110 and an antitumor compound triptolide (TR-1), which is an inhibitor for TFIIH, one of the general transcription factors for Pol II was developed. YS110 and triptolide were crosslinked by the heterobifunctional linker succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) and designated Y-TR1. Antitumor efficacy of Y-TR1 against malignant mesothelioma and leukemia cell lines were assessed by the in vitro cell viability assay and in vivo assay using xenografted mouse models. Y-TR1 showed significant cytotoxicity against CD26-positive cell lines but not CD26-negative counterparts in a dose-dependent manner via suppression of mRNA synthesis by impairment of the Pol II activity. The tumors in xenografted mice administered Y-TR1 was smaller than that of the unconjugated YS110 treated mice without severe toxicity. In conclusion, the novel compound Y-TR1 showed antitumor properties against CD26-positive cancer cell lines both in vitro and in vivo without toxicity. The Y-TR1 is a unique antitumor ADC and functions against Pol II.
Exosomes and Their Noncoding RNA Cargo Are Emerging as New Modulators for Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Chang Wenguang , Wang Jianxun
Published: August 2019

Diabetes belongs to a group of metabolic disorders characterized by long term high blood glucose levels due to either inadequate production of insulin (Type 1 diabetes, T1DM) or poor response of the recipient cell to insulin (Type 2 diabetes, T2DM). Organ dysfunctions are the main causes of morbidity and mortality due to high glucose levels. Understanding the mechanisms of organ crosstalk may help us improve our basic knowledge and find novel strategies to better treat the disease. Exosomes are part of a newly emerged research area and have attracted a great deal of attention for their capacity to regulate communications between cells. In conditions of diabetes, exosomes play important roles in the pathological processes in both T1DM and T2DM, such as connecting the immune cell response to pancreatic tissue injury, as well as adipocyte stimulation to insulin resistance of skeletal muscle or liver. Furthermore, in recent years, nucleic acids containing exosomes—especially microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)—have been shown to mainly regulate communications between organs in pathological processes of diabetes, including influencing metabolic signals and insulin signals in target tissues, affecting cell viability, and modulating inflammatory pancreatic cells. Moreover, exosome miRNAs show promise in their use as biomarkers or in treatments for diabetes and diabetic complications. Thus, this paper summarizes the recent work on exosomes related to diabetes as well as the roles of exosomal miRNAs and lncRNAs in diabetic pathology and diagnosis in order to help us better understand the exact roles of exosomes in diabetes development.
Computational Assessment of Bacterial Protein Structures Indicates a Selection Against Aggregation
Authors: Carija Anita , Pinheiro Francisca , Iglesias Valentin , Ventura Salvador
Published: August 2019

The aggregation of proteins compromises cell fitness, either because it titrates functional proteins into non-productive inclusions or because it results in the formation of toxic assemblies. Accordingly, computational proteome-wide analyses suggest that prevention of aggregation upon misfolding plays a key role in sequence evolution. Most proteins spend their lifetimes in a folded state; therefore, it is conceivable that, in addition to sequences, protein structures would have also evolved to minimize the risk of aggregation in their natural environments. By exploiting the AGGRESCAN3D structure-based approach to predict the aggregation propensity of >600 Escherichia coli proteins, we show that the structural aggregation propensity of globular proteins is connected with their abundance, length, essentiality, subcellular location and quaternary structure. These data suggest that the avoidance of protein aggregation has contributed to shape the structural properties of proteins in bacterial cells.
Stimulating Nitrogen Biokinetics with the Addition of Hydrogen Peroxide to Secondary Effluent Biofiltration
Authors: Friedman Liron , Mamane Hadas , Chandran Kartik , Jekel Martin , Cikurel Haim , Hübner Uwe , Elgart Michael , Dagan Shlomi , Santo-Domingo Jorge , Avisar Dror
Published: August 2019

Tertiary wastewater treatment could provide a reliable source of water for reuse. Amongst these types of wastewater treatment, deep-bed filtration of secondary effluents can effectively remove particles and organic matter; however, NH4+ and NO2− are not easily removed. This study examined the feasibility of stimulating microbial activity using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a bio-specific and clean oxygen source that leaves no residuals in the water and is advantageous upon aeration due to the solubility limitations of the oxygen. The performance of a pilot bio-filtration system at a filtration velocity of 5–6 m/h, was enhanced by the addition of H2O2 for particle, organic matter, NH4+, and NO2− removal. Hydrogen peroxide provided the oxygen demand for full nitrification. As a result, influent concentrations of 4.2 ± 2.5 mg/L N-NH4+ and 0.65 ± 0.4 mg/L N-NO2 were removed during the short hydraulic residence time (HRT). In comparison, filtration without H2O2 addition only removed up to 0.6 mg/L N-NH4+ and almost no N-NO2−. A DNA metagenome analysis of the functional genes of the media biomass reflected a significant potential for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification activity. It is hypothesized that the low biodegradability of the organic carbon and H2O2 addition stimulated oxygen utilization in favor of nitrification, followed by the enhancement of anoxic activity.
Comparison of Procalcitonin Assays on KRYPTOR and LIAISON® XL Analyzers
Authors: Dipalo Mariella , Gnocchi Cecilia , Avanzini Paola , Musa Roberta , Di Pietro Martina , Aloe Rosalia
Published: August 2019

Our laboratory performs procalcitonin (PCT) assays on a Brahms KRYPTOR analyzer with the Brahms PCT sensitive Kryptor kit. In this study, we wanted to compare the assays obtained in this way with the ones performed on the LIAISON® XL. From January to May 2017, 171 samples were analyzed, of which 65 from female patients (age: 22–98 years) and 106 from male patients (age: 16–97 years). The PCT determination was performed using the LIAISON® XL and KRYPTOR analyzers, by chemiluminescence (Chemiluminescence immunoassay—CLIA) (LIAISON® BRAHMS PCT® II GEN) and immunofluorescence (Brahms PCT sensitive Kryptor) assay, respectively. For the LIAISON® BRAHMS PCT® II GEN, 52% of the results were placed between 0.0 and 0.5 ng/mL, 18% between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL, and 30% between 2.0 and 100 ng/mL; the mean was 4.09 ng/mL, the median 0.456 ng/mL, the maximum value 97.2 ng/mL, and the minimum value 0.02 ng/mL. For the Brahms PCT sensitive Kryptor, 55% of the results were positioned between 0.0 and 0.5 ng/mL, 21% between 0.5 and 2.0 ng/mL, and 24% between 2.0 and 100 ng/mL; the mean was 3.72 ng/mL, the median 0.39 ng/mL, the maximum value 103 ng/mL, and the minimum value 0.01 ng/mL. The mean of the results obtained with the two methods showed no significant differences (3.717 for Kryptor and 4.094 for LIAISON®). PCT assay with Brahms reagents, both on the Kryptor and LIAISON®XL platforms, offers excellent performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
The Dual-Coding and Multimedia Learning Theories: Film Subtitles as a Vocabulary Teaching Tool
Authors: Kanellopoulou Catherine , Kermanidis Katia Lida , Giannakoulopoulos Andreas
Published: August 2019

The use of multimedia has often been suggested as a teaching tool in foreign language teaching and learning. In foreign language education, exciting new multimedia applications have appeared over the last years, especially for young learners, but many of these do not seem to produce the desired effect in language development. This article looks into the theories of dual-coding (DCT) and multimedia learning (CTML) as the theoretical basis for the development of more effective digital tools with the use of films and subtitling. Bilingual dual-coding is also presented as a means of indirect access from one language to another and the different types of subtitling are explored regarding their effectiveness, especially in the field of short-term and long-term vocabulary recall and development. Finally, the article looks into some new alternative audiovisual tools that actively engage learners with films and subtitling, tailored towards vocabulary learning.
A Signaling-Free Underwater Code Division Multiple Access Scheme
Authors: Seo Bo-Min , Cho Junho , Cho Ho-Shin
Published: August 2019

In this paper, we propose an underwater code division multiple access system where each sensor node independently evaluates whether a channel is available or not without control message exchanges with a central data-gathering node named a sink. A sensor node is able to estimate how large power is currently received at a sink in the distance based on the overheard power at the node from neighbors. If the estimated power is below a certain threshold level, the sensor node is allowed to transmit data in a p-persistent manner, where the probability p depends on the available capacity. Simulation results show the traffic estimation works well as demonstrated by a success probability of approximately 100%, and the data throughput improves in most of the offered traffic region because of the removal of the control signaling related to channel allocation.
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Residential PV-Storage Model in a Distribution Network
Authors: Xiong Lue , Nour Mutasim
Published: August 2019

The high penetration level of photovoltaic (PV) generation in distribution networks not only brings benefits like carbon savings, but also induces undesirable outcomes, like more harmonic components and voltage fluctuations. Driven by decreasing costs of energy storage, the focus of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of applying energy storage in the grid-connected PV system to mitigate its intermittency. Firstly, to appreciate the functionality of storage, a generic PV-battery-supercapacitor model was simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, and a flat load profile was obtained to enhance predictability from the network management point of view. However, the usage of supercapacitors at the residential level is limited, due to its high startup costs. Secondly, a detailed residential PV-battery model was implemented in the System Advisor Model (SAM) based on local data in Dubai. The optimal sizing of a battery system was determined by assessing two criteria: The number of excursions, and average target power, which are contradictory in optimization process. Statistical indicators show that a properly sized battery system can alleviate network fluctuations. The proposed sizing method can be also applied to other PV-storage systems. Finally, economic studies of PV-battery system demonstrated its competitiveness against standalone PV systems under appropriate tariff incentives.
Ground-Dwelling Arthropod Community Responses to Recent and Repeated Wildfires in Conifer Forests of Northern New Mexico, USA
Authors: Ferrenberg Scott , Wickey Philipp , Coop Jonathan D.
Published: August 2019

The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in semi-arid conifer forests as a result of global change pressures has raised concern over potential impacts on biodiversity. Ground-dwelling arthropod communities represent a substantial portion of diversity in conifer forests, and could be particularly impacted by wildfires. In addition to direct mortality, wildfires can affect ground-dwelling arthropods by altering understory characteristics and associated deterministic community assembly processes (e.g., environmental sorting). Alternatively, disturbances have been reported to increase the importance of stochastic community assembly processes (e.g., probabilistic dispersal and colonization rates). Utilizing pitfall traps to capture ground-dwelling arthropods within forest stands that were burned by one or two wildfires since 1996 in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico, United States (USA), we examined the potential influences of deterministic versus stochastic processes on the assembly of these diverse understory communities. Based on family-level and genera-level arthropod identifications, we found that the multivariate community structures differed among the four fire groups surveyed, and were significantly influenced by the quantities of duff, litter, and coarse woody debris, in addition to tree basal area and graminoid cover. Taxon diversity was positively related to duff quantities, while taxon turnover was positively linked to exposed-rock cover and the number of logs on the ground. Despite the significant effects of these understory properties on the arthropod community structure, a combination of null modeling and metacommunity analysis revealed that both deterministic and stochastic processes shape the ground-dwelling arthropod communities in this system. However, the relative influence of these processes as a function of time since the wildfires or the number of recent wildfires was not generalizable across the fire groups. Given that different assembly processes shaped arthropod communities among locations that had experienced similar disturbances over time, increased efforts to understand the processes governing arthropod community assembly following disturbance is required in this wildfire-prone landscape.
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) Fruit Extract Alleviates Oxidative Stress, Insulin Resistance, and Inflammation in Hypertrophied 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Activated RAW 264.7 Macrophages
Authors: Zielińska-Wasielica Joanna , Olejnik Anna , Kowalska Katarzyna , Olkowicz Mariola , Dembczyński Radosław
Published: August 2019

Oxidative stress and inflammation in hypertrophied adipose tissue with excessive fat accumulation play a crucial role in the development of obesity and accompanying metabolic dysfunctions. This study demonstrated the capacity of elderberry fruit (EDB) extract to decrease the elevated production of reactive oxygen species in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment with the EDB extract resulted in modulation of mRNA expression and protein secretion of key adipokines in hypertrophied adipocytes. Expression of leptin and adiponectin was, respectively, down- and up-regulated. Moreover, glucose uptake stimulation was noticed in mature adipocytes, both sensitive to insulin and insulin resistant. This may suggest a positive effect of EDB extract on insulin resistance status. The extract was also found to alleviate the inflammatory response in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages by down-regulating the expression of proinflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, iNOS) and suppressing the enhanced production of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, NO). In vitro experiments showed that the EDB extract could inhibit digestive enzymes, including α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase, leading to reduced intestinal absorption of dietary lipids and carbohydrates. Further in vivo studies could be postulated to support EDB as a functional food component for the prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic-immune comorbidities.
From Traditional to Transnational: The Chung Family History as a Case Example
Authors: Liu Haiming
Published: August 2019

A harmonious family of three generations living under one roof is often an assumed image of a Chinese traditional family. In reality, few Chinese families resemble this image. My article uses the Chung family history to illustrate how a family in rural Guangdong, South China, experienced a fast social ascent or descent in one generation. Its history reveals many aspects of Chinese family tradition, such as filial piety, equal inheritance system among sons, or education as an important family agenda. The rise and fall of this family also helps us understand the competitive social environment of Guangdong that sent hundreds of thousand immigrants overseas in the mid-nineteenth and early twentieth century. When some members of the Chung family migrated overseas, other members followed. The Chung lineage, similar to numerous Cantonese immigrant families in America, became transnational in culture.
Multiplex CRISPR Mutagenesis of the Serine/Arginine-Rich (SR) Gene Family in Rice
Authors: Butt Haroon , Piatek Agnieszka , Li Lixin , S. N. Reddy Anireddy , M. Mahfouz Magdy
Published: August 2019

Plant growth responds to various environmental and developmental cues via signaling cascades that influence gene expression at the level of transcription and pre-mRNA splicing. Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA increases the coding potential of the genome from multiexon genes and regulates gene expression through multiple mechanisms. Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins, a conserved family of splicing factors, are the key players of alternative splicing and regulate pre-mRNA splicing under stress conditions. The rice (Oryza sativa) genome encodes 22 SR proteins categorized into six subfamilies. Three of the subfamilies are plant-specific with no mammalian orthologues, and the functions of these SR proteins are not well known. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system is a genome engineering tool that cleaves the target DNA at specific locations directed by a guide RNA (gRNA). Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated plant genome engineering make it possible to generate single and multiple functional knockout mutants in diverse plant species. In this study, we targeted each rice SR locus and produced single knockouts. To overcome the functional redundancy within each subfamily of SR genes, we utilized a polycistronic tRNA-gRNA multiplex targeting system and targeted all loci of each subfamily. Sanger sequencing results indicated that most of the targeted loci had knockout mutations. This study provides useful resource materials for understanding the molecular role of SR proteins in plant development and biotic and abiotic stress responses.
Proanthocyanidins Limit Adipose Accrual Induced by a Cafeteria Diet, Several Weeks after the End of the Treatment
Authors: Ginés Iris , Gil-Cardoso Katherine , Serrano Joan , Casanova-Marti Àngela , Lobato Maria , Terra Ximena , Blay M Teresa , Ardévol Anna , Pinent Montserrat
Published: August 2019

A dose of proanthocyanidins with satiating properties proved to be able to limit body weight increase several weeks after administration under exposure to a cafeteria diet. Here we describe some of the molecular targets and the duration of the effects. We treated rats with 500 mg grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE)/kg BW for ten days. Seven or seventeen weeks after the last GSPE dose, while animals were on a cafeteria diet, we used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the mRNA of the key energy metabolism enzymes from the liver, adipose depots and muscle. We found that a reduction in the expression of adipose Lpl might explain the lower amount of adipose tissue in rats seven weeks after the last GSPE dose. The liver showed increased expression of Cpt1a and Hmgs2 together with a reduction in Fasn and Dgat2. In addition, muscle showed a higher fatty oxidation (Oxct1 and Cpt1b mRNA). However, after seventeen weeks, there was a completely different gene expression pattern. At the conclusion of the study, seven weeks after the last GSPE administration there was a limitation in adipose accrual that might be mediated by an inhibition of the gene expression of the adipose tissue Lpl. Concomitantly there was an increase in fatty acid oxidation in liver and muscle.
Warm Deep Water Variability During the Last Millennium in the CESM–LME: Pre-Industrial Scenario versus Late 20th Century Changes
Authors: Tonelli Marcos , Marcello Fernanda , Ferrero Bruno , Wainer Ilana
Published: August 2019

Water transformation around Antarctica is recognized to significantly impact the climate. It is where the linkage between the upper and lower limbs of the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) takes place by means of dense water formation, which may be affected by rapid climate change. Simulation results from the Community Earth System Model Last Millennium Ensemble (CESM–LME) are used to investigate the Weddell Sea Warm Deep Water (WDW) evolution during the Last Millennium (LM). The WDW is the primary heat source for the Weddell Sea (WS) and accounts for 71% of the Weddell Sea Bottom Water (WSBW), which is the regional variety of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)—one of the densest water masses in the ocean bearing directly on the cold deep limb of the MOC. Earth System Models (ESMs) are known to misrepresent the deep layers of the ocean (below 2000 m), hence we aim at the upper component of the deep meridional overturning cell, i.e., the WDW. Salinity and temperature results from the CESM–LME from a transect crossing the WS are evaluated with the Optimum Multiparameter Analysis (OMP) water masses decomposition scheme. It is shown that, after a long–term cooling over the LM, a warming trend takes place at the surface waters in the WS during the 20th century, which is coherent with a global expression. The subsurface layers and. mainly. the WDW domain are subject to the same long–term cooling trend, which is decelerated after 1850 (instead of becoming warmer like the surface waters), probably due interactions with sea ice–insulated ambient waters. The evolution of this anomalous temperature pattern for the WS is clear throughout the three major LM climatic episodes: the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), Little Ice Age (LIA) and late 20th century warming. Along with the continuous decline of WDW core temperatures, heat content in the water mass also decreases by 18.86%. OMP results indicate shoaling and shrinking of the WDW during the LM, with a ~6% decrease in its cross–sectional area. Although the AABW cannot be directly assessed from CESM–LME results, changes in the WDW structure and WS dynamics have the potential to influence the deep/bottom water formation processes and the global MOC.
Effective Formula for Impact Damping Ratio for Simulation of Earthquake-induced Structural Pounding
Authors: Khatami Seyed , Naderpour Hosein , Barros Rui , Jakubczyk-Gałczyńska Anna , Jankowski Robert
Published: August 2019

Structural pounding during earthquakes may cause substantial damage to colliding structures. The phenomenon is numerically studied using different models of collisions. The aim of the present paper is to propose an effective formula for the impact damping ratio, as a parameter of the impact force model used to study different problems of structural pounding under seismic excitations. Its accuracy has been verified by four various approaches. Firstly, for the case of collisions between two structural elements, the dissipated energy during impact has been compared to the loss of kinetic energy. In the second stage of verifications, the peak impact forces during single collision have been analyzed. Then, the accuracy of different equations have been verified by comparing the impact force time histories for the situation when a concrete ball is dropped on a rigid concrete surface. Finally, pounding between two structures during earthquakes has been studied. The results of the analysis focused on comparison between dissipated and kinetic energy show relatively low errors between calculated and assumed values of the coefficient of restitution when the proposed equation is used. In addition, the results of the comparison between experimentally and numerically determined peak impact forces during single collision confirm the effectiveness of the approach. The same conclusion has been obtained for the whole impact time history for collision between a ball and a rigid surface. Finally, the results of the comparative analysis, conducted for pounding between two structures during an earthquake, confirm the simulation accuracy when the proposed approach is used. The above conclusions indicate that the proposed formula for impact damping ratio, as a parameter of impact force model for simulation of earthquake-induced structural pounding, is very effective and accurate in numerical simulations in the case of different scenarios.
Housing for People with an Acquired Brain or Spinal Injury: Mapping the Australian Funding Landscape
Authors: Wright Courtney J. , Colley Jacinta , Knudsen Kate , Kendall Elizabeth
Published: August 2019

This research aimed to synthesize housing supports funded by 20 major insurance-based schemes for Australians with an acquired brain injury (ABI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). Publicly available grey literature (i.e., primary information from respective scheme websites) was systematically reviewed and compared. There were notable differences between the different scheme types (disability vs. workers compensation schemes) and across different States. Collectively, scheme funding was more likely to be focused on housing infrastructure and service delivery, than on tenancy support. Australians who are least likely to benefit from the current funding context are those whose home cannot be reasonably modified, are wanting to build or purchase a new home, do not have suitable, alternative short- or long-term housing options if their current home is not feasible, require support to maintain occupancy of their home or financial assistance to move into a new home, may benefit from case management services, family supports, and assistance animals, and/or cannot afford their rent or home loan repayments. Several interactions, inconsistencies, contradictions, and gaps that warrant further attention were also revealed. This review has highlighted the need for policy makers to provide transparent information about housing entitlements for individuals with ABI or SCI, and their families. A unified, evidence-based framework to guide the funding of housing and housing support services may increase the consistency of interventions available to people with ABI or SCI and, therefore, improve outcomes.
Association of Environmental Features and the Risk of Alzheimer’s Dementia in Older Adults: A Nationwide Longitudinal Case-Control Study
Authors: Liu Chih-Ching , Li Chung-Yi , Kung Shiann-Far , Kuo Hsien-Wen , Huang Nuan-Ching , Sun Yu , Hu Susan C.
Published: August 2019

Little is known about the association between environmental features and the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). This study aims to investigate the association of physical and social environments with the incidence of AD. We identified 12,401 newly diagnosed AD cases aged ≥65 years in 2010, with the same no. of matched controls from National Health Insurance claims in Taiwan. Environmental data were collected from government statistics including three physical environments and three social environments. Multilevel logistic regression was conducted to calculate the odds ratios (OR) of AD in association with environmental features at the township level. Results showed that living in the areas with higher availability of playgrounds and sport venues was associated with a 3% decreased odds of AD (95% CI = 0.96–0.99), while higher density of elderly living alone was associated with a 5% increased odds of AD (95% CI = 1.01–1.11), after controlling for individual and other environmental factors. In further examination by urbanization level, the above relationships were found only in rural areas but not in urban areas. This study provides evidence that specific physical and social environmental features have different impacts on the risk of AD.
Frail Older Persons’ Experiences of Information and Participation in Hospital Care
Authors: Forsman Berit , Svensson Ann
Published: August 2019

The aim of this paper is to describe frail older persons’ experiences of hospital care of information and participation when being an inpatient at a hospital. A qualitative method was used. Data were collected at the hospital from 20 interviews with frail older patients, together with observations in the environment at the hospital ward. A content analysis was performed. Patients experienced not receiving information about their care and rehabilitation, or receiving such information in noisy surroundings. They experienced situations of misunderstanding related to their medication, which indicates the need for appropriate discharge calls for frail older patients. They expressed feelings of distress concerning the future, caused by hasty admissions or relatives’ problems to handle the situation. The results highlight the need to receive appropriate information and to participate in decision-making. The level of health literacy should be taken notice of when giving information, using peaceful and quiet environments when informing frail older persons. Person-centered care should be recognized to a greater extent in order for healthcare professionals to give information to frail older people in a health literacy-friendly way. This might make it easier for frail older persons to participate in a partnership in care.
Factors Associated with Access of Marital Migrants and Migrant Workers to Healthcare in Taiwan: A Questionnaire Survey with Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Chu Feng-Yuan , Chang Hsiao-Ting , Shih Chung-Liang , Jeng Cherng-Jye , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Lee Wui-Chiang
Published: August 2019

In Taiwan, migrants come mostly for marriage and work. Several researchers have conducted health-related studies of marital migrants and migrant workers, but the access of the two groups to healthcare has not been studied. Therefore, our study investigated the factors associated with migrants’ access to healthcare, with the main foci being marital migrants and migrant workers in Taiwan. A structured and cross-sectional questionnaire was anonymously self-administered by migrants recruited to participate in this survey on a voluntary basis from 11 medical centers and 11 migrant-helping associations in Taiwan between May 1st and September 21st, 2018. A total of 753 questionnaires were analyzed. The majority of marital migrants (n = 243) and migrant workers (n = 449) surveyed were enrolled in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance system (92.7 vs. 93.5%, p = 0.68). More of the migrant workers (n = 205) than the marital migrants (n = 42) encountered language barriers while seeking medical services (48.0 vs. 17.1%, p < 0.001). A professional interpreter at the point of care was considered important by more of the migrant workers (n = 316) than the marital migrants (n = 89) (70.2 vs. 39.6%, p < 0.001). Although more than 90% of the surveyed migrants were enrolled in the health insurance system in Taiwan, many, especially among the migrant workers, still faced language barriers while seeking medical services.
Daily Bicycle and Pedestrian Activity as an Indicator of Disaster Recovery: A Hurricane Harvey Case Study
Authors: Doubleday Annie , Choe Youngjun , Miles Scott , Errett Nicole A.
Published: August 2019

Changes in levels and patterns of physical activity might be a mechanism to assess and inform disaster recovery through the lens of wellbeing. However, few studies have examined disaster impacts on physical activity or the potential for physical activity to serve as an indicator of disaster recovery. In this exploratory study, we examined daily bicycle and pedestrian counts from four public bicycle/pedestrian trails in Houston, before and after Hurricane Harvey landfall, to assess if physical activity returned to pre-Harvey levels. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine the immediate impact of Harvey landfall on physical activity; t-tests were performed to assess if trail usage returned to pre-Harvey levels. Hurricane Harvey was found to have a significant negative impact on daily pedestrian and bicycle counts for three of the four trails. Daily pedestrian and bicycle counts were found to return to pre-Harvey or higher levels at 6 weeks post-landfall at all locations studied. We discuss the potential for further research to examine the trends, feasibility, validity, and limitations of using bicycle and pedestrian use levels as a proxy for disaster recovery and wellbeing among affected populations.
Does the Level of Motivation of Physical Education Teachers Matter in Terms of Job Satisfaction and Emotional Exhaustion? A Person-Centered Examination Based on Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Abós Ángel , Haerens Leen , Sevil-Serrano Javier , Morbée Sofie , Julián José Antonio , García-González Luis
Published: August 2019

Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), prior research has demonstrated that physical education (PE) teachers may have different reasons to engage in teaching. Although some person-centered studies have identified varied motivational profiles in PE teachers, none of these studies have included the three forms of motivation (i.e., autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and amotivation). This study aims to identify teachers’ motivational profiles, using the three forms of motivation. Moreover, differences between the obtained profiles in terms of job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion were examined. A sample of 107 primary school PE teachers participated. Four distinct motivational profiles were identified: “relatively amotivated”, “somewhat motivated”, “autonomous-controlled motivated”, and “relatively autonomously motivated”. Results showed that the predominantly autonomously motivated PE teachers reported the most adaptive pattern of outcomes. Although PE teachers from the “relatively autonomously motivated” group did not differ in terms of job satisfaction when compared to those in the “autonomous-controlled motivated” group, the former displayed lower values of emotional exhaustion. These findings support SDT in that more motivation is not necessarily better if this additional motivation comes from controlled reasons. These results could raise awareness among school stakeholders about the importance of increasing PE teachers’ autonomous motivation.
Analysis of IFITM-IFITM Interactions by a Flow Cytometry-Based FRET Assay
Authors: Winkler Michael , Wrensch Florian , Bosch Pascale , Knoth Maike , Schindler Michael , Gärtner Sabine , Pöhlmann Stefan
Published: August 2019

The interferon-induced transmembrane proteins 1–3 (IFITM1–3) inhibit host cell entry of several viruses. However, it is incompletely understood how IFITM1–3 exert antiviral activity. Two phenylalanine residues, F75 and F78, within the intramembrane domain 1 (IM1) were previously shown to be required for IFITM3/IFITM3 interactions and for inhibition of viral entry, suggesting that IFITM/IFITM interactions might be pivotal to antiviral activity. Here, we employed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay to analyze IFITM/IFITM interactions. For assay calibration, we equipped two cytosolic, non-interacting proteins, super yellow fluorescent protein (SYFP) and super cyan fluorescent protein (SCFP), with signals that target proteins to membrane rafts and also analyzed a SCFP-SYFP fusion protein. This strategy allowed us to discriminate background signals resulting from colocalization of proteins at membrane subdomains from signals elicited by protein–protein interactions. Coexpression of IFITM1–3 and IFITM5 fused to fluorescent proteins elicited strong FRET signals, and mutation of F75 and F78 in IFITM3 (mutant IFITM3-FF) abrogated antiviral activity, as expected, but did not alter cellular localization and FRET signals. Moreover, IFITM3-FF co-immunoprecipitated efficiently with wild type (wt) IFITM3, lending further support to the finding that lack of antiviral activity of IFITM3-FF was not due to altered membrane targeting or abrogated IFITM3-IFITM3 interactions. Collectively, we report an assay that allows quantifying IFITM/IFITM interactions. Moreover, we confirm residues F75 and F78 as critical for antiviral activity but also show that these residues are dispensable for IFITM3 membrane localization and IFITM3/IFITM3 interactions.
A New Approach for Spontaneous Silver Ions Immobilization onto Casein
Authors: Pryshchepa Oleksandra , Sagandykova Gulyaim N. , Pomastowski Paweł , Railean-Plugaru Viorica , Król Anna , Rogowska Agnieszka , Rodzik Agnieszka , Sprynskyy Myroslav , Buszewski Bogusław
Published: August 2019

The work presents the kinetic and isotherm studies of silver binding on casein, which was carried out using batch sorption technique. Moreover, the influence of light irradiation on the process was shown. In order to investigate the mechanism of metal ions sorption by casein the zero, pseudo-first order kinetics and Weber-Morris intra-particle diffusion as well as Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used. Furthermore, to specify more precisely, the possible binding mechanism, the spectroscopic (FT-IR—Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman), spectrometric (MALDI-TOF MS—Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry), microscopic (SEM—Scanning Electron Microscope, TEM/EDX—Transmission Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray detector) and thermal (TGA—Thermogravimetric Analysis, DTG—Derivative Thermogravimetry) analysis were performed. Kinetic study indicates that silver binding onto casein is a heterogeneous process with two main stages: initial rapid stage related to surface adsorption onto casein with immediate creation of silver nanoparticles and slower second stage of intraglobular diffusion with silver binding in chelated form (metalloproteins) or ion-exchange form. Spectroscopic techniques confirmed the binding process and MALDI-TOF MS analysis show the dominant contribution of the α-casein in the process. Moreover, the treatment of silver-casein complex by artificial physiological fluids was performed.