bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Przedsiębiorczość małych firm. Studia przypadków w inżynierskich pracach dyplomowych studentów AHE w Łodzi
Authors: Janczewski Jerzy
Published: June 2017

Artykuł zawiera prezentacje przypadków przedsiębiorczości mikro i małych firm, które posłużyły jako wzory badawcze absolwentom realizującym pod kierunkiem autora inżynierskie prace dyplomowe w Akademii Humanistyczno-Ekonomicznej. Stanowi on przykład, że dane empiryczne zebrane i przygotowane w ramach prac dyplomowych przez studentów mogą być cennym materiałem badawczym nie tylko przy realizacji projektów inżynierskich ale także inspirować zachowania przedsiębiorcze przyszłych inżynierów oraz być wzorem dla kolejnych studentów aspirujących do zawodu inżyniera transportu a później do zakładania i rozwijania własnej firmy. Wyboru przypadków z ukończonych prac dyplomowych dokonano z punktu widzenia kryterium identyfikacji aktywności przedsiębiorczej małej firmy i jej właściciela/menedżera funkcjonujących w branży transportowej lub w zapleczu technicznym transportu. W większości prezentowanych firm absolwenci są pracownikami tych firm i jednocześnie ich właścicielami lub współwłaścicielami.
Nieprawidłowości w relacjach z obywatelami w zakresie sporządzania czynności notarialnych w kontekście wymogów etycznych dotyczących notariusza
Authors: Solarz Piotr , Jabłońska-Kempny Sylwia
Published: June 2017

Artykuł poświęcono nieprawidłowościom w relacjach z obywatelami w zakresie czynności notarialnych w kontekście wymogów etycznych dotyczących notariusza. Nadrzędnym celem artykułu jest próba odpowiedzi na pytanie: czy notariusz jako osoba wykonująca „klasyczny” zawód prawniczy powinna funkcjonować w granicach ogólnych norm moralnych, poczucia przyzwoitości, kultury moralnej oraz wychowania obywatelskiego. Wskazane w artykule kwestie powinny zainicjować zmiany w funkcjonowaniu samej korporacji notarialnej, która nie powinna przejmować typowych dla związków zawodowych funkcji, ale stać na straży etyki zawodowej i godnego, z punktu widzenia obywatela i państwa, przestrzegania przepisów prawa, a nie wykorzystywania ich dla celów finansowych.
Cellulose Nanocrystals: Surface Modification, Applications and Opportunities at Interfaces
Authors: Natterodt Jens C. , Petri-Fink Alke , Weder Christoph , Zoppe Justin O.
Published: June 2017

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rod-like nano-scale particles that are widely available in nature and have recently gained great interest in both research and industry, due to their high strength, high crystallinity, high surface area, low density, biodegradability and low toxicity.
CNCs can be easily extracted from natural cellulose sources and are broadly useful, for example in polymer reinforcement, paper manufacturing, and rheology modification. The high density of functional groups on the surface of CNCs allows various chemical surface modifications, which permit
tuning the properties of CNCs over a wide range. This review gives a brief overview of surface chemical modification of CNCs, focusing especially on those often utilized for our own research, which focuses on some of the most prominent areas of interests of CNCs, notably polymer reinforcement, healable polymers, stimuli-responsive nanohybrids, Pickering emulsion stabilizers, viral inhibitors, and cholesteric liquid crystal assemblies.
The benefit of radiosurgery for ARUBA-eligible arteriovenous malformations: a practical analysis over an appropriate follow-up period
Authors: Tonetti Daniel A. , Gross Bradley A. , Atcheson Kyle M. , Jankowitz Brian T. , Kano Hideyuki , Monaco Edward A. , Niranjan Ajay , Flickinger John C. , Lunsford L. Dade
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE

The authors of this study found that, given the latency period required for arteriovenous malformation (AVM) obliteration after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a study with limited follow-up cannot assess the benefit of SRS for unruptured AVMs.

METHODS

The authors reviewed their institutional experience with “ARUBA (A Randomized Trial of Unruptured Brain Arteriovenous Malformations)–eligible” AVMs treated with SRS between 1987 and 2016, with the primary outcome defined as stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or death (AVM related or AVM unrelated). Patients with at least 3 years of follow-up in addition to those who experienced stroke or died during the latency period were included. Secondary outcome measures included obliteration rates, patients with new seizure disorders, and those with new focal deficits without stroke.

RESULTS

Of 233 patients included in this study, 32 had a stroke or died after SRS over the mean 8.4-year follow-up (14%). Utilizing the 10% stroke or death rate at a mean 2.8-year follow-up for untreated AVMs in ARUBA, the rate in the authors’ study is significantly lower than that anticipated at the 8.4-year follow-up for an untreated cohort (14% vs 30%, p = 0.0003). Notwithstanding obliteration, in this study, annualized rates of hemorrhage and stroke or death after 3 years following SRS were 0.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The overall obliteration rate was 72%; new seizure disorders, temporary new focal deficits without stroke, and permanent new focal deficits without stroke occurred in 2% of patients each.

CONCLUSIONS

After a sensible follow-up period exceeding the latency period, there is a lower rate of stroke/death for patients with treated, unruptured AVMs with SRS than for patients with untreated AVMs.
Prophylactic use of intraoperative vancomycin powder and postoperative infection: an analysis of microbiological patterns in 1200 consecutive surgical cases
Authors: Adogwa Owoicho , Elsamadicy Aladine A. , Sergesketter Amanda , Vuong Victoria D. , Mehta Ankit I. , Vasquez Raul A. , Cheng Joseph , Bagley Carlos A. , Karikari Isaac O.
Published: June 2017

OBJECTIVE

Wound infections following spinal surgery for deformity place a high toll on patients, providers, and the health care system. The prophylactic application of intraoperative vancomycin powder has been shown to lower the infection risk after thoracolumbar decompression and fusion for deformity correction. The purpose of this study was to assess the microbiological patterns of postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) after prophylactic use of vancomycin powder in adult patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery.

METHODS

All cases involving adult patients who underwent spinal deformity reconstruction at Duke University Medical Center between 2011 and 2013 with a minimum of 3 months of clinical follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. In all cases included in the study, crystalline vancomycin powder was applied to the surgical bed for infection prophylaxis. Baseline characteristics, operative details, rates of wound infection, and microbiological data for each case were gathered by direct medical record review.

RESULTS

A total of 1200 consecutive spine operations were performed for deformity between 2011 and 2013. Review of the associated records demonstrated 34 cases of SSI, yielding an SSI rate of 2.83%. The patients’ mean age (± SD) was 62.08 ± 14.76 years. The patients’ mean body mass index was 30.86 ± 7.15 kg/m2, and 29.41% had a history of diabetes. The average dose of vancomycin powder was 1.41 ± 2.77 g (range 1–7 g). Subfascial drains were placed in 88% of patients. All SSIs occurred within 30 days of surgery, with deep wound infections accounting for 50%. In 74% of the SSIs cultures were positive, with about half the organisms being gram negative, such as Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Morganella morgani, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There were no adverse clinical outcomes related to the local application of vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that in the setting of prophylactic vancomycin powder use, the preponderance of SSIs are caused by gram-negative organisms or are polymicrobial. Further randomized control trials of prophylactic adjunctive measures are warranted to help guide the choice of empirical antibiotic therapy while awaiting culture data.
Rosetta Stone for Amyloid Fibrils: The Key Role of Ring-Like Oligomers in Amyloidogenesis
Authors: Galzitskaya Oxana V. , Selivanova Olga M.
Published: June 2017

Deeper understanding of processes of protein misfolding, aggregation, formation of oligomers, protofibrils, and fibrils is crucial for the development of future medicine in treatment of amyloid-related diseases. While numerous reports illuminate the field, the above processes are extremely complex, as they depend on many varying parameters, such as the peptide concentration, temperature, pH, presence of metal ions, lipids, and organic solvents. Different mechanisms of amyloid fibril formation have been proposed, but the process of the oligomer−to−fibril transition is the least agreed upon. Our studies of a number of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides (insulin, Aβ peptides, the Bgl2 protein from the yeast cell wall), as well as their amyloidogenic fragments, have allowed us to propose a model of the fibril structure generation. We have found that the main building block of fibrils of any morphology is a ring-like oligomer. The varying models of interaction of ring oligomers with each other revealed in our studies make it possible to explain their polymorphism. Crucially, the amino acid sequence determines the oligomer structure for the given protein/peptide.
Everything Finds Itself
Authors: Nancy Jean-Luc
Published: June 2017

‘Matter is the name of the impenetrable. Spirit is the name of penetration. At the extremity of a penetration there is always an impenetrable that defines the point from which there is nothing left to penetrate. Not an extraordinarily hard, thick and resistant consistency, but rather the disappearance of all consistency and therefore of all resistance. Or else more accurately the conjoined extremity of consistency and inconsistency. Of resistance and desistance. Something like the coincidence of a particle and a wave, a point and its flight, a hard nucleus and its fission. It is the point of equivalence between something and nothing. The res, the thing itself and its “that there is”. The real.’
A Genetic Algorithm Using Triplet Nucleotide Encoding and DNA Reproduction Operations for Unconstrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Zang Wenke , Zhang Weining , Zhang Wenqian , Liu Xiyu
Published: June 2017

As one of the evolutionary heuristics methods, genetic algorithms (GAs) have shown a promising ability to solve complex optimization problems. However, existing GAs still have difficulties in finding the global optimum and avoiding premature convergence. To further improve the search efficiency and convergence rate of evolution algorithms, inspired by the mechanism of biological DNA genetic information and evolution, we present a new genetic algorithm, called GA-TNE+DRO, which uses a novel triplet nucleotide coding scheme to encode potential solutions and a set of new genetic operators to search for globally optimal solutions. The coding scheme represents potential solutions as a sequence of triplet nucleotides and the DNA reproduction operations mimic the DNA reproduction process more vividly than existing DNA-GAs. We compared our algorithm with several existing GA and DNA-based GA algorithms using a benchmark of eight unconstrained optimization functions. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can converge to solutions much closer to the global optimal solutions in a much lower number of iterations than the existing algorithms. A complexity analysis also shows that our algorithm is computationally more efficient than the existing algorithms.
Numerical Predictions of Early Stage Turbulence in Oscillatory Flow across Parallel-Plate Heat Exchangers of a Thermoacoustic System
Authors: Mohd Saat Fatimah , Jaworski Artur
Published: June 2017

This work focuses on the predictions of turbulent transition in oscillatory flow subjected to temperature gradients, which often occurs within heat exchangers of thermoacoustic devices. A two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed in ANSYS FLUENT and validated using the earlier experimental data. Four drive ratios (defined as maximum pressure amplitude to mean pressure) were investigated: 0.30%, 0.45%, 0.65% and 0.83%. It has been found that the introduction of the turbulence model at a drive ratio as low as 0.45% improves the predictions of flow structure compared to experiments, which indicates that turbulent transition may occur at much smaller flow amplitudes than previously thought. In the current investigation, the critical Reynolds number based on the thickness of Stokes’ layer falls in the range between 70 and 100. The models tested included four variants of the RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes) equations: k-ε, k-ω, shear-stress-transport (SST)-k-ω and transition-SST, the laminar model being used as a reference. Discussions are based on velocity profiles, vorticity plots, viscous dissipation and the resulting heat transfer and their comparison with experimental results. The SST-k-ω turbulence model and, in some cases, transition-SST provide the best fit of the velocity profile between numerical and experimental data (the value of the introduced metric measuring the deviation of the CFD velocity profiles from experiment is up to 43% lower than for the laminar model) and also give the best match in terms of calculated heat flux. The viscous dissipation also increases with an increase of the drive ratio. The results suggest that turbulence should be considered when designing thermoacoustic devices even in low-amplitude regimes in order to improve the performance predictions of thermoacoustic systems.
Specific Depletion of Leukemic Stem Cells: Can MicroRNAs Make the Difference?
Authors: Martiáñez Canales Tania , De Leeuw David , Vermue Eline , Ossenkoppele Gert , Smit Linda
Published: June 2017

For over 40 years the standard treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients has been a combination of chemotherapy consisting of cytarabine and an anthracycline such as daunorubicin. This standard treatment results in complete remission (CR) in the majority of AML patients. However, despite these high CR rates, only 30–40% (<60 years) and 10–20% (>60 years) of patients survive five years after diagnosis. The main cause of this treatment failure is insufficient eradication of a subpopulation of chemotherapy resistant leukemic cells with stem cell-like properties, often referred to as “leukemic stem cells” (LSCs). LSCs co-exist in the bone marrow of the AML patient with residual healthy hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are needed to reconstitute the blood after therapy. To prevent relapse, development of additional therapies targeting LSCs, while sparing HSCs, is essential. As LSCs are rare, heterogeneous and dynamic, these cells are extremely difficult to target by single gene therapies. Modulation of miRNAs and consequently the regulation of hundreds of their targets may be the key to successful elimination of resistant LSCs, either by inducing apoptosis or by sensitizing them for chemotherapy. To address the need for specific targeting of LSCs, miRNA expression patterns in highly enriched HSCs, LSCs, and leukemic progenitors, all derived from the same patients’ bone marrow, were determined and differentially expressed miRNAs between LSCs and HSCs and between LSCs and leukemic progenitors were identified. Several of these miRNAs are specifically expressed in LSCs and/or HSCs and associated with AML prognosis and treatment outcome. In this review, we will focus on the expression and function of miRNAs expressed in normal and leukemic stem cells that are residing within the AML bone marrow. Moreover, we will review their possible prospective as specific targets for anti-LSC therapy.
Sleep Apnea and Hypoventilation in Patients with Down Syndrome: Analysis of 144 Polysomnogram Studies
Authors: Fan Zheng , Ahn Mihye , Roth Heidi , Li Leping , Vaughn Bradley
Published: June 2017

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk for both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA); however, it is unclear how these components evolve as patients age and whether patients are also at risk for hypoventilation. A retrospective review of 144 diagnostic polysomnograms (PSG) in a tertiary care facility over 10 years was conducted. Descriptive data and exploratory correlation analyses were performed. Sleep disordered breathing was common (seen in 78% of patients) with an average apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) = 10. The relative amount of obstructive apnea was positively correlated with age and body mass index (BMI). The relative amount of central sleep apnea was associated with younger age in the very youngest group (0–3 years). Hypoventilation was common occurring in more than 22% of patients and there was a positive correlation between the maximum CO2 and BMI. Sleep disordered breathing, including hypoventilation, was common in patients with DS. The obstructive component increased significantly with age and BMI, while the central component occurred most in the very young age group. Due to the high risk of hypoventilation, which has not been previously highlighted, it may be helpful to consider therapies to target both apnea and hypoventilation in this population.
Invalid Microstate Densities for Model Systems Lead to Apparent Violation of Thermodynamic Law
Authors: Michaelian Karo , Santamaría-Holek Ivan
Published: June 2017

It is often incorrectly assumed that the number of microstates Ω ( E , V , N , . . . ) available to an isolated system can have arbitrary dependence on the extensive variables E , V , N , ... However, this is not the case for systems which can, in principle, reach thermodynamic equilibrium since restrictions arise from the underlying equilibrium statistical mechanic axioms of independence and a priori equal probability of microstates. Here we derive a concise criterion specifying the condition on Ω which must be met in order for a system to be able, in principle, to reach thermodynamic equilibrium. Natural quantum systems obey this criterion and therefore can, in principle, reach thermodynamic equilibrium. However, models which do not respect this criterion will present inconsistencies when treated under equilibrium thermodynamic formalism. This has relevance to a number of recent models in which negative heat capacity and other violations of fundamental thermodynamic law have been reported.
An Entropic Approach for Pair Trading
Authors: Yoshikawa Daisuke
Published: June 2017

In this paper, we derive the optimal boundary for pair trading. This boundary defines the points of entry into or exit from the market for a given stock pair. However, if the assumed model contains uncertainty, the resulting boundary could result in large losses. To avoid this, we develop a more robust strategy by accounting for the model uncertainty. To incorporate the model uncertainty, we use the relative entropy as a penalty function in the expected profit from pair trading.
Synthesis, Structure, and Sodium Mobility of Sodium Vanadium Nitridophosphate: A Zero-Strain and Safe High Voltage Cathode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Huang , Buchholz Daniel , Passerini Stefano
Published: June 2017

Herein, the nitridophosphate Na3V(PO3)3N is synthesized by solid state method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement confirm the cubic symmetry with P213 space group. The material exhibits very good thermal stability and high operating voltage of 4.0 V vs. Na/Na+ due to V3+/V4+ redox couple. In situ X-ray diffraction studies confirm the two-phase (de-)sodiation process to occur with very low volume changes. The refinement of the sodium occupancies reveal the low accessibility of sodium cations in the Na2 and Na3 sites as the main origin for the lower experimental capacity (0.38 eq. Na+, 28 mAh g−1) versus the theoretical one (1.0 eq. Na+, 74 mAh g−1). These observations provide valuable information for the further optimization of this materials class in order to access their theoretical electrochemical performance as a potentially interesting zero-strain and safe high-voltage cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.
An Overview of Resonant Circuits for Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Jiang Chaoqiang , Chau K. T. , Liu Chunhua , Lee Christopher H. T.
Published: June 2017

With ever-increasing concerns for the safety and convenience of the power supply, there is a fast growing interest in wireless power transfer (WPT) for industrial devices, consumer electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs). As the resonant circuit is one of the cores of both the near-field and far-field WPT systems, it is a pressing need for researchers to develop a high-efficiency high-frequency resonant circuit, especially for the mid-range near-field WPT system. In this paper, an overview of resonant circuits for the near-field WPT system is presented, with emphasis on the non-resonant converters with a resonant tank and resonant inverters with a resonant tank as well as compensation networks and selective resonant circuits. Moreover, some key issues including the zero-voltage switching, zero-voltage derivative switching and total harmonic distortion are addressed. With the increasing usage of wireless charging for EVs, bidirectional resonant inverters for WPT based vehicle-to-grid systems are elaborated.
Distribution and Characterization of Armillaria Complex in Atlantic Forest Ecosystems of Spain
Authors: Mesanza Nebai , Patten Cheryl L. , Iturritxa Eugenia
Published: June 2017

Armillaria root disease is a significant forest health concern in the Atlantic forest ecosystems in Spain. The damage occurs in conifers and hardwoods, causing especially high mortality in young trees in both native forests and plantations. In the present study, the distribution of Armillaria root disease in the forests and plantations of the Basque Country is reported. Armillaria spp. were more frequently isolated from stands with slopes of 20–30% and west orientation, acid soils with high permeability, deciduous hosts, and a rainfall average above 1800 mm. In a large-scale survey, 35% of the stands presented Armillaria structures and showed disease symptoms. Of the isolated Armillaria samples, 60% were identified using molecular methods as A. ostoyae, 24% as A. mellea, 14% as A. gallica, 1% as A. tabescens, and 1% as A. cepistipes. In a small scale sampling, population diversity was defined by somatic compatibility tests and Universally Primed-PCR technique. Finally, the pathogenicity of A. mellea, the species with the broadest host range, was determined on different tree species present in the Atlantic area of Spain in order to determine their resistance levels to Armillaria disease. A significant difference in disease severity was observed among tree species (p < 0.001), with Pinus radiata being the most susceptible tree species and Cryptomeria japonica the most resistant to A. mellea.
Phenols Removal from Hemicelluloses Pre-Hydrolysate by Laccase to Improve Butanol Production
Authors: Allard-Massicotte Rosalie , Chadjaa Hassan , Marinova Mariya
Published: June 2017

Phenolic compounds are important inhibitors of the microorganisms used in the Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The degradation of phenolic compounds in a wood pre-hydrolysate, a potential substrate for the production of ABE, was studied in this article. First, physicochemical methods for detoxification such as nanofiltration and flocculation were applied and the best combination was selected. With a flocculated sample, the concentration of phenolic compounds decreases from 1.20 to 0.28 g/L with the addition of a solid laccase at optimum conditions, which is below the phenolic compounds limit of inhibition. This results in an increase in butanol production, more than double, compared to a pre-hydrolysate non-treated with laccase enzymes.
Treatment of Intrusive Suicidal Imagery Using Eye Movements
Authors: Bentum Jaël , Sijbrandij Marit , Huibers Marcus , Huisman Annemiek , Arntz Arnoud , Holmes Emily , Kerkhof Ad
Published: June 2017

Suicide and suicidal behavior are major public health concerns, and affect 3–9% of the population worldwide. Despite increased efforts for national suicide prevention strategies, there are still few effective interventions available for reducing suicide risk. In this article, we describe various theoretical approaches for suicide ideation and behavior, and propose to examine the possible effectiveness of a new and innovative preventive strategy. A model of suicidal intrusion (mental imagery related to suicide, also referred to as suicidal flash-forwards) is presented describing one of the assumed mechanisms in the etiology of suicide and the mechanism of therapeutic change. We provide a brief rationale for an Eye Movement Dual Task (EMDT) treatment for suicidal intrusions, describing techniques that can be used to target these suicidal mental images and thoughts to reduce overall behavior. Based on the available empirical evidence for the mechanisms of suicidal intrusions, this approach appears to be a promising new treatment to prevent suicidal behavior as it potentially targets one of the linking pins between suicidal ideation and suicidal actions.
GC-MS Fingerprinting Combined with Chemometric Methods Reveals Key Bioactive Components in Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma
Authors: Liu Wenbin , Zhang Bingyang , Xin Zhongquan , Ren Dabing , Yi Lunzhao
Published: June 2017

This present study aims to identify the key bioactive components in acorus tatarinowii rhizoma (ATR), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with various bioactivities. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was employed to describe the relationship between the radical scavenging activity and the volatile components. The PLSR model was improved by outlier elimination and variable selection and was evaluated by 10-fold cross-validation and external validation in this study. Based on the PLSR model, eleven chemical components were identified as the key bioactive components by variable importance in projection. The final PLS regression model with these components has good predictive ability. The Q2 was 0.8284, and the root mean square error for prediction was 2.9641. The results indicated that the eleven components could be a pattern to predict the radical scavenging activity of ATR. In addition, we did not find any specific relationship between the radical scavenging ability and the habitat of the ATRs. This study proposed an efficient strategy to predict bioactive components using the combination of quantitative chromatography fingerprints and PLS regression, and has potential perspective for screening bioactive components in complex analytical systems, such as TCM.
Comparative Proteomic Profiling Reveals Molecular Characteristics Associated with Oogenesis and Oocyte Maturation during Ovarian Development of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)
Authors: Wei Dong , Li Ran , Zhang Meng-Yi , Liu Yu-Wei , Zhang Zheng , Smagghe Guy , Wang Jin-Jun
Published: June 2017

Time-dependent expression of proteins in ovary is important to understand oogenesis in insects. Here, we profiled the proteomes of developing ovaries from Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) to obtain information about ovarian development with particular emphasis on differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) involved in oogenesis. A total of 4838 proteins were identified with an average peptide number of 8.15 and sequence coverage of 20.79%. Quantitative proteomic analysis showed that a total of 612 and 196 proteins were differentially expressed in developing and mature ovaries, respectively. Furthermore, 153, 196 and 59 potential target proteins were highly expressed in early, vitellogenic and mature ovaries and most tested DEPs had the similar trends consistent with the respective transcriptional profiles. These proteins were abundantly expressed in pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic stages, including tropomyosin, vitellogenin, eukaryotic translation initiation factor, heat shock protein, importin protein, vitelline membrane protein, and chorion protein. Several hormone and signal pathway related proteins were also identified during ovarian development including piRNA, notch, insulin, juvenile, and ecdysone hormone signal pathways. This is the first report of a global ovary proteome of a tephritid fruit fly, and may contribute to understanding the complicate processes of ovarian development and exploring the potentially novel pest control targets.
Histone Lysine Methylation and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hoon , Lee Jang , Lee Im-Soon , Lee Sung , Cho Kyoung
Published: June 2017

Methylation of several lysine residues of histones is a crucial mechanism for relatively long-term regulation of genomic activity. Recent molecular biological studies have demonstrated that the function of histone methylation is more diverse and complex than previously thought. Moreover, studies using newly available genomics techniques, such as exome sequencing, have identified an increasing number of histone lysine methylation-related genes as intellectual disability-associated genes, which highlights the importance of accurate control of histone methylation during neurogenesis. However, given the functional diversity and complexity of histone methylation within the cell, the study of the molecular basis of histone methylation-related neurodevelopmental disorders is currently still in its infancy. Here, we review the latest studies that revealed the pathological implications of alterations in histone methylation status in the context of various neurodevelopmental disorders and propose possible therapeutic application of epigenetic compounds regulating histone methylation status for the treatment of these diseases.
Hydrothermal Fabrication of Highly Porous Titanium Bio-Scaffold with a Load-Bearable Property
Authors: Lee Han , Liao Jiunn-Der , Sivashanmugan Kundan , Liu Bernard , Su Yu-Han , Yao Chih-Kai , Juang Yung-Der
Published: June 2017

Porous titanium (P_Ti) is considered as an effective material for bone scaffold to achieve a stiffness reduction. Herein, biomimetic (bio-)scaffolds were made of sintered P_Ti, which used NaCl as the space holder and had it removed via the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction results showed that the subsequent sintering temperature of 1000 °C was the optimized temperature for preparing P_Ti. The compressive strength of P_Ti was measured using a compression test, which revealed an excellent load-bearing ability of above 70 MPa for that with an addition of 50 wt % NaCl (P_Ti_50). The nano-hardness of P_Ti, tested upon their solid surface, was presumably consistent with the density of pores vis-à-vis the addition of NaCl. Overall, a load-bearable P_Ti with a highly porous structure (e.g., P_Ti_50 with a porosity of 43.91% and a pore size around 340 μm) and considerable compressive strength could be obtained through the current process. Cell proliferation (MTS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays showed that all P_Ti samples exhibited high cell affinity and low cell mortality, indicating good biocompatibility. Among them, P_Ti_50 showed relatively good in-cell morphology and viability, and is thus promising as a load-bearable bio-scaffold.
A Parametric Model of the LARCODEMS Heavy Media Separator by Means of Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines
Authors: Álvarez Mario , Sierra Héctor , Lasheras Fernando , Juez Francisco
Published: June 2017

Modeling of a cylindrical heavy media separator has been conducted in order to predict its optimum operating parameters. As far as it is known by the authors, this is the first application in the literature. The aim of the present research is to predict the separation efficiency based on the adjustment of the device’s dimensions and media flow rates. A variety of heavy media separators exist that are extensively used to separate particles by density. There is a growing importance in their application in the recycling sector. The cylindrical variety is reported to be the most suited for processing a large range of particle sizes, but optimizing its operating parameters remains to be documented. The multivariate adaptive regression splines methodology has been applied in order to predict the separation efficiencies using, as inputs, the device dimension and media flow rate variables. The results obtained show that it is possible to predict the device separation efficiency according to laboratory experiments performed and, therefore, forecast results obtainable with different operating conditions.
Salicylate Poisoning Potential of Topical Pain Relief Agents: From Age Old Remedies to Engineered Smart Patches
Authors: Anderson Ashleigh , McConville Aaron , Fanthorpe Laura , Davis James
Published: June 2017

The pain relief capabilities of methyl salicylate are well established and a multitude of over-the-counter products populate pharmacy shelves. Over-application of the topical preparation containing the drug, or its accidental ingestion, invariably result in salicylate poisoning and in severe cases can be fatal. The drug has been a regular feature of the US National Poison Database Survey over the past decade and continues to pose a risk to children and adults alike. The aim of the review has been to cast a spotlight on the drug and assess why its use remains problematic, how technology could offer more efficacious delivery regimes, and minimise the possibility of accidental or intentional misuse.
A Novel Synthesis of the Efficient Anti-Coccidial Drug Halofuginone Hydrobromide
Authors: Zhang Junren , Yao Qizheng , Liu Zuliang
Published: June 2017

Background: Halofuginone hydrobromide (1) is recognized as an effective drug against several species of Eimeria (E.) in poultry. In this paper, we describe a convenient and low cost preparation method for the compound, as well as primary validation of its activity. Methods: First, 7-bromo-6-chloroquinazolin-4(3H)-one (2) was prepared from m-chlorotoluene by a conventional process, and then chloroacetone was creatively introduced in two steps. Finally, halofuginone hydrobromide (1) was obtained from 7-bromo-6-chloro-3-(3-cholroacetonyl) quinazolin-4(3H)-one (4) by a four-step reaction sequence including condensation, cyclization, deprotection and isomerization. The structures of the relative intermediates and target compound were characterized by melting point, IR, MS and 1H-NMR. Besides, the protective effect of compound 1-supplemented chicken diet at doses of 6, 3 and 1.5 mg per 1 kg were evaluated on chickens infected with E. tenella, by reduction in mortality, weight loss, fecal oocyst excretion and gut pathology, respectively. Results: Halofuginone hydrobromide (1) was prepared successfully by and improved and innovative method based on traditional research. Moreover, the synthesized halofuginone hydrobromide significantly exhibited an anti-coccidial property. Conclusions: The fruitful work described in this Communication has resulted in halofuginone hydrobromide, which has a good pharmaceutical development prospects, becoming more available for large-scale production.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Perceptions of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Students towards Pharmacogenomics in Zimbabwe
Authors: Muzoriana Nyasha , Gavi Samuel , Nembaware Victoria , Dhoro Milcah , Matimba Alice
Published: June 2017

The potential of pharmacogenomics (PGx) to positively impact health outcomes and quality of healthcare is well-established. However, the application of available evidence into clinical practice is still limited due to limited knowledge among healthcare professionals, including pharmacists. As a start towards building capacity for PGx education, we assessed knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about PGx among practising pharmacists and pharmacy students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacists and undergraduate pharmacy students selected using a convenient sampling method—a 37-question survey instrument was used to obtain information regarding PGx among the participants. Out of a total of 131 participants, 56% of respondents showed fair-to-good PGx knowledge. Respondents’ self-reported assessment indicated that 88% had average and above knowledge scores in PGx. Practising pharmacists in Zimbabwe have positive attitudes towards PGx and would support its application to improve treatments. However, there were concerns about security and discrimination when genomics data is used by those who do not understand its meaning. Participants agreed that they would play a leading role in PGx testing if provided with appropriate training. The interest in PGx is challenged by their limited knowledge and understanding of genetics, suggesting a need to update curricula for pharmacy students and for continuing health education programmes.
Understanding the Impact of Urbanization on Surface Urban Heat Islands—A Longitudinal Analysis of the Oasis Effect in Subtropical Desert Cities
Authors: Fan Chao , Myint Soe , Kaplan Shai , Middel Ariane , Zheng Baojuan , Rahman Atiqur , Huang Huei-Ping , Brazel Anthony , Blumberg Dan
Published: June 2017

We quantified the spatio-temporal patterns of land cover/land use (LCLU) change to document and evaluate the daytime surface urban heat island (SUHI) for five hot subtropical desert cities (Beer Sheva, Israel; Hotan, China; Jodhpur, India; Kharga, Egypt; and Las Vegas, NV, USA). Sequential Landsat images were acquired and classified into the USGS 24-category Land Use Categories using object-based image analysis with an overall accuracy of 80% to 95.5%. We estimated the land surface temperature (LST) of all available Landsat data from June to August for years 1990, 2000, and 2010 and computed the urban-rural difference in the average LST and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for each city. Leveraging non-parametric statistical analysis, we also investigated the impacts of city size and population on the urban-rural difference in the summer daytime LST and NDVI. Urban expansion is observed for all five cities, but the urbanization pattern varies widely from city to city. A negative SUHI effect or an oasis effect exists for all the cities across all three years, and the amplitude of the oasis effect tends to increase as the urban-rural NDVI difference increases. A strong oasis effect is observed for Hotan and Kharga with evidently larger NDVI difference than the other cities. Larger cities tend to have a weaker cooling effect while a negative association is identified between NDVI difference and population. Understanding the daytime oasis effect of desert cities is vital for sustainable urban planning and the design of adaptive management, providing valuable guidelines to foster smart desert cities in an era of climate variability, uncertainty, and change.
GNSS Spoofing Detection and Mitigation Based on Maximum Likelihood Estimation
Authors: Wang Fei , Li Hong , Lu Mingquan
Published: June 2017

Spoofing attacks are threatening the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-based positioning technique is a direct positioning method originally developed for multipath rejection and weak signal processing. We find this method also has a potential ability for GNSS anti-spoofing since a spoofing attack that misleads the positioning and timing result will cause distortion to the MLE cost function. Based on the method, an estimation-cancellation approach is presented to detect spoofing attacks and recover the navigation solution. A statistic is derived for spoofing detection with the principle of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT). Then, the MLE cost function is decomposed to further validate whether the navigation solution obtained by MLE-based positioning is formed by consistent signals. Both formulae and simulations are provided to evaluate the anti-spoofing performance. Experiments with recordings in real GNSS spoofing scenarios are also performed to validate the practicability of the approach. Results show that the method works even when the code phase differences between the spoofing and authentic signals are much less than one code chip, which can improve the availability of GNSS service greatly under spoofing attacks.
Crystal Structure of the Carboxy-Terminal Region of the Bacteriophage T4 Proximal Long Tail Fiber Protein Gp34
Authors: Granell Meritxell , Namura Mikiyoshi , Alvira Sara , Kanamaru Shuji , Van Raaij Mark
Published: June 2017

Long tail fibers of bacteriophage T4 are formed by proteins gp34, gp35, gp36, and gp37, with gp34 located at the phage-proximal end and gp37 at the phage-distal, receptor-binding end. We have solved the structure of the carboxy-terminal region of gp34, consisting of amino acids 894–1289, by single-wavelength anomalous diffraction and extended the structure to amino acids 744–1289 using data collected from crystals containing longer gp34-fragments. The structure reveals three repeats of a mixed α-β fibrous domain in residues 744 to 877. A triple-helical neck connects to an extended triple β-helix domain (amino acids 900–1127) punctuated by two β-prism domains. Next, a β-prism domain decorated with short helices and extended β-helices is present (residues 1146–1238), while the C-terminal end is capped with another short β-helical region and three β-hairpins. The structure provides insight into the stability of the fibrous gp34 protein.
Parallel Import in India
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Singh Gurjinder
Published: June 2017

People often say that the world is not only “Black and White” but there are many other shades which pose difficult question. Parallel import, which is also known as “Grey area” is one of them. Parallel imports are goods produced genuinely under protection of a trademark, patent, or copyright, placed in one market, and then imported into another market without the approval of the Intellectual Property Right holder. Through this chapter, the Author(s) have tried to give an insight on parallel imports by discussing all possible national and international issues related to it. Some principal concepts like exhaustion, regional and global have acquired considerable space in the chapter. A brief contemporary view on parallel import has also been taken by the author(s). The contradictory views; one which favours the Parallel imports by endorsing that it enhances the local competition; and another which condemns parallel imports are covered in the later part of the chapter.
The Economics of Long-Term Care
Authors: Yuen Peter P.
Published: June 2017

This chapter presents key concepts of economics relevant to the financing and delivery of long term care services. It first examines the magnitude of population aging in developed economies, and the associated implications for long term care. Key economic concepts relating to the demand, supply and financing of long term care services are then discussed. Policies, practices and major models of financing of long term care are further explored followed by a presentation of the conceptual framework for reform. It concludes that in view of the magnitude of the problem, incremental changes in the existing systems are unlikely to be adequate. A clear understanding of the economic concepts to underpin major transformation of existing systems and policies that do not align with populations trends is urgently needed.
Moving Towards Universal Health Coverage
Authors: Luk Ching Yuen
Published: June 2017

This study uses a refined version of historical institutionalism to critically examine the complex interplay of forces that shape the health insurance reform trajectory in China since the mid-1980s and identifies problems that impede the government from achieving universal health coverage (UHC). It shows that China's multi-layered social health insurance system has covered more than 95 percent of its population, but failed to provide insured people with access to a range of essential services and make health care affordable. To achieve UHC, the government has to overcome significant hurdles, which include the inherently discriminatory design of the social health insurance system, disorder in the drug distribution system, deficits in the funding of health insurance, and insufficient medical protection for the old people.
Knowledge Management for Health Care and Long-Term Care in the Technology-Organization-Environment Context
Authors: Lo Man Fung , Ng Peggy Mei Lan
Published: June 2017

The objective of this chapter is to propose a framework examining the impacts of technological, organizational and environmental factors on the innovation adoption of knowledge management (KM) in long-term care context. This chapter begins with the definition, rationale and importance of KM. Secondly, KM stories, KM in long-term care, prior frameworks in long-term care and knowledge barriers in health care settings will be reviewed. Furthermore, the KM for long-term care in Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework is discussed and proposed. The technology dimension includes security, complexity and costs. Besides, organizational dimension is composed of top management support, firm size, nursing leadership and the readiness. For environmental dimensions, this chapter will focus on competitive pressure and vendor support. As KM is proven to understand performance in long-term care organizations, the proposed framework provides insight to health care organization leaders on how to enhance the effectiveness of KM system.
An Online Neonatal Intensive-Care Unit Monitoring System for Hospitals in Nigeria
Authors: Idowu Peter Adebayo , Asahiah Franklin Oladiipo , Balogun Jeremiah Ademola , Olusanya Olayinka Olufunmilayo
Published: June 2017

This paper presents an online monitoring system for the storage and retrieval of physiological data from neonates admitted into the Neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. In order to develop this system, the requirements of the proposed system were identified and analyzed as system and user requirements independently and the requirements were designed using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) tools. The system was implemented using Web 2.0 technologies such as, the hypertext markup language (HTML), the cascading styling sheets (CSS), PHP and MySQL. With the system, storage and retrieval of information by the nurses and any authorized users will be easy.
Quantification of Capillary Density and Inter-Capillary Distance in Nailfold Capillary Images Using Scale Space Capillary Detection and Ordinate Clust
Authors: Suma K. V. , Rao Bheemsain
Published: June 2017

The visual analysis of Nailfold Capillary images manually requires trained medical staff and also, the intra-observer variations can be very high. A computer assisted capillary analysis reduces this burden to a great extent. The authors propose an automated system using advanced techniques such as Scale Space construction using Anisotropic Diffusion and Ordinate clustering algorithm. The classification of capillaries is evaluated on the basis of Sensitivity, Specificity and Classification Accuracy. The effectiveness of anisotrpic filtering and Ordinate clustering in eliminating erroneous detection is demonstrated. The capillary density and inter-capillary distance are important capillary parameters which can contribute to the diagnosis of different diseases.