bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sumerian Pottery Technology Studied Through Neutron Diffraction and Chemometrics at Abu Tbeirah (Iraq)
Authors: Festa Giulia , Andreani Carla , D’Agostino Franco , Forte Vanessa , Nardini Matteo , Scherillo Antonella , Scatigno Claudia , Senesi Roberto , Romano Licia
Published: February 2019

Pottery is the most common material found in archaeological excavations and is used as the main tool for chronological dating. Due to the geopolitical instability of the Middle East during the latter part of the last century until recent years, Sumerian pottery studies and analyses are limited. The resumption of archaeological excavations in Iraq during the last ten years allows the acquisition of new information and the study of archaeological material excavated through modern stratigraphic methodologies. This paper presents the results of the non-destructive analyses of Abu Tbeirah Sumerian pottery (Iraq) from the 3rd millennium BC and is aimed at analysing the crystallographic composition of ceramic material, therefore contributing to fill a gap in the knowledge of early Southern Mesopotamian pottery production, shedding new light on details of ancient technology and manufacturing techniques. Among the wide range of analytical techniques available, neutron-based ones have been chosen, obtaining detailed analyses in a non-destructive manner. Non-destructive and non-invasive neutron diffraction (ND) was applied in combination with chemometrics such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA). ND confirms a general uniformity of the raw materials and a local Mesopotamian provenance through a comparison with modern local clay. Moreover, secondary minerals and their marker-temperature formation imply two different ranges of firing temperature that never exceeded 1000 °C, a temperature easily reachable through pit-firing techniques.
How Effective Are Dietitians in Weight Management? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Williams Lauren , Barnes Katelyn , Ball Lauren , Ross Lynda , Sladdin Ishtar , Mitchell Lana
Published: February 2019

Effective, evidence-based strategies to prevent and treat obesity are urgently required. Dietitians have provided individualized weight management counselling for decades, yet evidence of the effectiveness of this intervention has never been synthesized. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of individualized nutrition care for weight management provided by dietitians to adults in comparison to minimal or no intervention. Databases (Cochrane, CINAHL plus, MedLine ovid, ProQuest family health, PubMed, Scopus) were searched for terms analogous with patient, dietetics and consultation with no date restrictions. The search yielded 5796 unique articles, with 14 randomized controlled trials meeting inclusion criteria. The risk of bias for the included studies ranged from unclear to high. Six studies found a significant intervention effect for the dietitian consultation, and a further four found significant positive change for both the intervention and control groups. Data were synthesized through random effects meta-analysis from five studies (n = 1598) with weight loss as the outcome, and from four studies (n = 1224) with Body Mass Index (BMI) decrease as the outcome. Groups receiving the dietitian intervention lost an additional 1.03 kg (95% CI:−1.40; −0.66, p < 0.0001) of weight and 0.43 kg/m2 (95% CI:−0.59, −0.26; p < 0.0001) of BMI than those receiving usual care. Heterogeneity was low for both weight loss and BMI, with the pooled means varying from 1.26 to −0.93 kg and −0.4 kg/m2 for weight and BMI, respectively, with the removal of single studies. This study is the first to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of individualized nutrition care delivered by a dietitian. Well-controlled studies that include cost-effectiveness measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base.
Timing of a Short-Term Reduction in Temperature and Irradiance Affects Growth and Flowering of Four Annual Bedding Plants
Authors: Boldt Jennifer , Altland James
Published: February 2019

Heating and supplemental lighting are often provided during spring greenhouse production of bedding plants, but energy inputs are a major production cost. Different energy-savings strategies can be utilized, but effects on plant growth and flowering must be considered. We evaluated the impact and timing of a two-week low-energy (reduced temperature and irradiance) interval on flowering and growth of impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f. ‘Accent Orange’), pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Gams. ‘Delta Premium Blue Blotch’), petunia (Petunia × hybrida Hort. Vilm.-Andr. ‘Dreams Pink’), and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L. ‘Montego Violet’). Flowering was delayed 7 to 10 days when the low-energy exposure occurred before flowering. Flower number was reduced 40–61% in impatiens, 33–35% in petunia (low-energy weeks 5–6 and weeks 7–8, respectively), and 35% in pansy (weeks 5–6). Petunia and impatiens dry mass gradually decreased as the low-energy exposure occurred later in production; petunias were 26% (weeks 5–6) and 33% (weeks 7–8) smaller, and impatiens were 20% to 31% smaller than ambient plants. Estimated energy savings were 14% to 16% for the eight-week period, but only up to 7% from transplant to flowering. Growers can consider including a two-week reduction in temperature and irradiance to reduce energy, provided an additional week of production is scheduled.
The Efficacy of the “Dat-e Adolescence” Prevention Program in the Reduction of Dating Violence and Bullying
Authors: Muñoz-Fernández Noelia , Ortega-Rivera Javier , Nocentini Annalaura , Menesini Ersilia , Sánchez-Jiménez Virginia
Published: February 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the school-based “Dat-e Adolescence” prevention program in the reduction of dating aggression and victimization and bullying in adolescents. Method: a RCT design with three waves (pre-test, post-test and follow-up six months apart) and two groups (an experimental group and a control group) were used. One thousand four hundred and twenty three (1423) adolescents, mean age 14.98 (557 in the experimental group) participated in the study. Results: Efficacy evaluation was analyzed using Multiple-group latent growth models and showed that the Dat-e Adolescence program was effective in reducing sexual and severe physical dating violence and bullying victimization. Conclusions: The results suggest that dating violence prevention programs could be an effective approach for tackling different behavioral problems in adolescence given the protective and risk factors shared between dating violence and bullying.
Disability and Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Cameroon: A Mediation Analysis of the Role of Socioeconomic Factors
Authors: DeBeaudrap Pierre , Mouté Charles , Pasquier Estelle , Mac-Seing Muriel , Mukangwije Pulchérie U. , Beninguisse Gervais
Published: February 2019

There is growing evidence showing that people with disabilities face more frequently socioeconomic inequities than their non-disabled peers. This study aims to examine to what extent socioeconomic consequences of disability contribute to poorer access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for Cameroonian with disabilities and how these outcomes vary with disabilities characteristics and gender. It uses data from a population-based survey conducted in 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon. Mediation analysis was performed to determine how much of the total association between disability and the use, satisfaction and difficulties to access SRH services was mediated by education level, material wellbeing lifetime work participation and availability of social support. Overall, disability was associated with deprivation for all socioeconomic factors assessed though significant variation with the nature and severity of the functional limitations was observed. Lower education level and restricted lifetime work mediated a large part of the association between disability and lower use of HIV testing and of family planning. By contrast, while people with disabilities reported more difficulties to use a SRH service, no mediating was identified. In conclusion, Cameroonians with disabilities since childhood have restricted access to SRH services resulting from socioeconomic factors occurring early during the life-course.
How Industrial Transfer Processes Impact on Haze Pollution in China: An Analysis from the Perspective of Spatial Effects
Authors: Liu Yajie , Dong Feng
Published: February 2019

Industrial transfer from advanced regions is a good way to foment economic development in less advanced regions. Nevertheless, does industrial transfer intensify or alleviate haze pollution? To answer this question, this study employed the shift-share method and spatial panel models to explore how industrial transfer processes impact haze pollution in the case of China. The main results are as follows: (1) With the advances made in industrial transfer and upgrading, China has entered the stage of decoupling between the economic development level and haze pollution. (2) Industrial transfer could effectively alleviate the degree of haze pollution in the transferred-out areas, but it would have a significant accelerating effect on haze pollution in the transferred-in areas. Compared with non-polluting industries, polluting industries would be responsible for a large deterioration in the local air quality. (3) Environmental regulations, as the main factor mitigating environmental pollution, do not achieve the desired effects and significantly reduce the regional pollution levels that led to haze. Therefore, the effects of industrial transfer should also be comprehensively considered in government of undertake regions. There would likely be great economic costs if the old path of “pollution first and treatment later” is followed. This study not only advances the existing literature, but also is of considerable interest to policy makers.
Active and Passive Use of Green Space, Health, and Well-Being amongst University Students
Authors: Holt Elizabeth W. , Lombard Quinn K. , Best Noelle , Smiley-Smith Sara , Quinn John E.
Published: February 2019

Frequent exposure to green space has been linked to positive health and well-being in varying populations. Yet, there is still limited research exploring the restorative benefits associated with differing types of green space use among students living in the university setting. To address this gap, we explored green space use amongst a population of undergraduate students (n = 207) attending a university with abundant opportunities to access the restorative properties of nature. The purpose of this study was to examine the type and frequency of green space interactions that are most strongly associated with indicators of health and well-being, and investigate student characteristics associated with frequent use of green space. Results revealed that students who frequently engage with green spaces in active ways report higher quality of life, better overall mood, and lower perceived stress. Passive green space interactions were not strongly associated with indicators of health and well-being. Having had daily interactions with green space in childhood was associated with frequent green space use as a university student, and identified barriers to green space use included “not enough time,” and “not aware of opportunities” These results could assist in the tailoring of “green exercise” interventions conducted in the university setting.
Determinants of Erythrocyte Lead Levels in 454 Adults in Florence, Italy
Authors: Caini Saverio , Bendinelli Benedetta , Masala Giovanna , Saieva Calogero , Assedi Melania , Querci Andrea , Lundh Thomas , Kyrtopoulos Soterios A. , Palli Domenico
Published: February 2019

Background: Lead exposure, even at low levels, is associated with adverse health effects in humans. We investigated the determinants of individual lead levels in a general population-based sample of adults from Florence, Italy. Methods: Erythrocyte lead levels were measured (using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) in 454 subjects enrolled in the Florence cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study in 1992–1998. Multiple linear regression models were used to study the association between demographics, education and working history, lifestyle, dietary habits, anthropometry, residential history, and (among women) menstrual and reproductive history and use of exogenous sex hormones, and erythrocyte lead levels. Results: Median lead levels were 86.1 μg/L (inter-quartile range 65.5–111.9 μg/L). Male gender, older age, cigarette smoking and number of pack-years, alcohol intake, and residing in urban areas were positively associated with higher erythrocyte lead levels, while performing professional/managerial or administrative work or being retired was inversely associated with lead levels. Among women, lead levels were higher for those already in menopause, and lower among those who ever used hormone replacement therapy. Conclusions: Avoidable risk factors contribute to the lead body burden among adults, which could therefore be lowered through targeted public health measures.
School Green Space and Its Impact on Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Browning Matthew H. E. M. , Rigolon Alessandro
Published: February 2019

Background: Scholars and policymakers have criticized public education in developed countries for perpetuating health and income disparities. Several studies have examined the ties between green space and academic performance, hypothesizing that green space can foster performance, and, over time, help reduce such disparities. Although numerous reviews have analyzed the link between nature and child health, none have focused on academic achievement. Methods: We identified 13 peer-reviewed articles that examined associations between academic outcomes, types of green spaces, and distances in which green spaces were measured around schools. Results: Of the 122 findings reported in the 13 articles, 64% were non-significant, 8% were significant and negative, and 28% were significant and positive. Positive findings were limited to greenness, tree cover, and green land cover at distances up to 2000 m around schools. End-of-semester grades and college preparatory exams showed greater shares of positive associations than math or reading test scores. Most findings regarding writing test scores were non-significant, and moderation effects of socioeconomic status, gender, and urbanization showed mixed results. Conclusions: The extant literature on green space and academic performance is small, shows mixed results, and mostly includes articles using observational, school-level research designs. Regardless, there is sufficient evidence to warrant further research on this topic, including effect moderation and mechanistic pathways.
Evaluation of the Influence of Disturbances on Forest Vegetation Using the Time Series of Landsat Data: A Comparison Study of the Low Tatras and Sumava National Parks
Authors: Stych Premysl , Lastovicka Josef , Hladky Radovan , Paluba Daniel
Published: February 2019

This study focused on the evaluation of forest vegetation changes from 1992 to 2015 in the Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT) in Slovakia and the Sumava National Park in Czechia using a time series (TS) of Landsat images. The study area was damaged by wind and bark beetle calamities, which strongly influenced the health state of the forest vegetation at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century. The analysis of the time series was based on the ten selected vegetation indices in different types of localities selected according to the type of forest disturbances. The Landsat data CDR (Climate Data Record/Level 2) was normalized using the PIF (Pseudo-Invariant Features) method and the results of the Time Series were validated by in-situ data. The results confirmed the high relevance of the vegetation indices based on the SWIR bands (e.g., NDMI) for the purpose of evaluating the individual stages of the disturbance (especially the bark beetle calamity). Usage of the normalized Landsat data Climate Data Record (CDR/Level 2) in the research of long-term forest vegetation changes has a high relevance and perspective due to the free availability of the corrected data.
Characterization and Scaled-Up Production of Azido-Functionalized Silk Fiber Produced by Transgenic Silkworms with an Expanded Genetic Code
Authors: Teramoto Hidetoshi , Iga Masatoshi , Tsuboi Hiromi , Nakajima Kenichi
Published: February 2019

The creation of functional materials from renewable resources has attracted much interest. We previously reported on the genetic code expansion of the domesticated silkworm Bombyx mori to functionalize silk fiber with synthetic amino acids such as 4-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzPhe). The azido groups act as selective handles for biorthogonal chemical reactions. Here we report the characterization and scaled-up production of azido-functionalized silk fiber for textile, healthcare, and medical applications. To increase the productivity of azido-functionalized silk fiber, the original transgenic line was hybridized with a high silk-producing strain. The F1 hybrid produced circa 1.5 times more silk fibroin than the original transgenic line. The incorporation efficiency of AzPhe into silk fibroin was retained after hybridization. The tensile properties of the azido-functionalized silk fiber were equal to those of normal silk fiber. Scaled-up production of the azido-functionalized silk fiber was demonstrated by rearing circa 1000 transgenic silkworms. Differently-colored fluorescent silk fibers were successfully prepared by click chemistry reactions, demonstrating the utility of the azido-functionalized silk fiber for developing silk-based materials with desired functions.
The Role of Fibrinolytic Regulators in Vascular Dysfunction of Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Kanno Yosuke
Published: February 2019

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease of autoimmune origin characterized by vascular dysfunction and extensive fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Vascular dysfunction is caused by endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis, defective angiogenesis, defective vasculogenesis, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), and coagulation abnormalities, and exacerbates the disease. Fibrinolytic regulators, such as plasminogen (Plg), plasmin, α2-antiplasmin (α2AP), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and angiostatin, are considered to play an important role in the maintenance of endothelial homeostasis, and are associated with the endothelial dysfunction of SSc. This review considers the roles of fibrinolytic factors in vascular dysfunction of SSc.
Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Analogs from the Scorpion Peptide Stigmurin
Authors: Amorim-Carmo Bruno , Daniele-Silva Alessandra , Parente Adriana M. S. , Furtado Allanny A. , Carvalho Eneas , Oliveira Johny W. F. , Santos Elizabeth C. G. , Silva Marcelo S. , Silva Sérgio R. B. , Silva-Júnior Arnóbio A. , Monteiro Norberto K. , Fernandes-Pedrosa Matheus F.
Published: February 2019

Scorpion venom constitutes a rich source of biologically active compounds with high potential for therapeutic and biotechnological applications that can be used as prototypes for the design of new drugs. The aim of this study was to characterize the structural conformation, evaluate the antimicrobial activity, and gain insight into the possible action mechanism underlying it, for two new analog peptides of the scorpion peptide Stigmurin, named StigA25 and StigA31. The amino acid substitutions in the native sequence for lysine residues resulted in peptides with higher positive net charge and hydrophobicity, with an increase in the theoretical helical content. StigA25 and StigA31 showed the capacity to modify their structural conformation according to the environment, and were stable to pH and temperature variation—results similar to the native peptide. Both analog peptides demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in vitro, showing an effect superior to that of the native peptide, being non-hemolytic at the biologically active concentrations. Therefore, this study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of the analog peptides from Stigmurin and the promising approach of rational drug design based on scorpion venom peptide to obtain new anti-infective agents.
Diuretic Effects of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Their Influence on the Renin-Angiotensin System
Authors: Ansary Tuba M. , Nakano Daisuke , Nishiyama Akira
Published: February 2019

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in regulating body fluids and blood pressure. However, inappropriate activation of the RAS contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal diseases. Recently, sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been used as anti-diabetic agents. SGLT2 inhibitors induce glycosuria and improve hyperglycemia by inhibiting urinary reabsorption of glucose. However, in the early stages of treatment, these inhibitors frequently cause polyuria and natriuresis, which potentially activate the RAS. Nevertheless, the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on RAS activity are not straightforward. Available data indicate that treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors transiently activates the systemic RAS in type 2 diabetic patients, but not the intrarenal RAS. In this review article, we summarize current evidence of the diuretic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and their influence on RAS activity.
Sulforaphane Protect Against Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Damage in mouse Leydigs Cells by Activating Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway
Authors: Yang Shu-Hua , Li Peng , Yu Li-Hui , Li Lin , Long Miao , Liu Ming-Da , He Jian-Bin
Published: February 2019

Cadmium (Cd) is harmful for humans and animals, especially for the reproductive system. However, the mechanism of its toxicity has not been elucidated, and how to alleviate its toxicity is very important. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of action of sulforaphane (SFN) in protecting mouse Leydigs (TM3) cells from cadmium (Cd)-induced damage. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Cd and the safe doses of SFN were determined using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The testosterone secretion from TM3 cells was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The intracellular oxidative stress was evaluated using corresponding kits. The cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of genes associated with NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling was detected using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, including Nrf2, heme oxygenase I (HO-1), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS). The protein expression of Nrf2, GSH-Px, HO-1, γ-GCS, and NQO1 was detected using Western blot analysis. The results showed that the IC50 of Cd to TM3 cells was 51.4 µmol/L. SFN reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase from Cd-exposed cells. Cd + SFN 2.5 treatment significantly elevated testosterone concentration compared with the Cd group (p < 0.05). SFN significantly increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and GSH-Px activity and GSH content in Cd-treated cells (p < 0.05; p < 0.01), inhibited the production of malondialdehyde or reactive oxygen species caused by Cd (p < 0.05; p < 0.01), and reduced the apoptotic rate of Cd-induced TM3 cells (p < 0.01). SFN upregulated the mRNA expression of Nrf2, GSH-Px, HO-1, NQO1, and γ-GCS in Cd-treated cells, indicating the protective effect of SFN against Cd-induced oxidative stress or cell apoptosis by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.
YAP and TAZ Heterogeneity in Primary Liver Cancer: An Analysis of Its Prognostic and Diagnostic Role
Authors: Van Haele Matthias , Moya Iván M. , Karaman Ruçhan , Rens Guy , Snoeck Janne , Govaere Olivier , Nevens Frederik , Verslype Chris , Topal Baki , Monbaliu Diethard , Halder Georg , Roskams Tania
Published: February 2019

Primary liver cancer comprises a diverse group of liver tumors. The heterogeneity of these tumors is seen as one of the obstacles to finding an effective therapy. The Hippo pathway, with its downstream transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), has a decisive role in the carcinogenesis of primary liver cancer. Therefore, we examined the expression pattern of YAP and TAZ in 141 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma keratin 19 positive (HCC K19+), hepatocellular carcinoma keratin 19 negative (HCC K19−), combined hepatocellular–cholangiocarcinoma carcinoma (cHCC-CCA), or cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). All cHCC-CCA and CCA patients showed high expression levels for YAP and TAZ, while only some patients of the HCC group were positive. Notably, we found that a histoscore of both markers is useful in the challenging diagnosis of cHCC-CCA. In addition, positivity for YAP and TAZ was observed in the hepatocellular and cholangiocellular components of cHCC-CCA, which suggests a single cell origin in cHCC-CCA. Within the K19− HCC group, our results demonstrate that the expression of YAP is a statistically significant predictor of poor prognosis when observed in the cytoplasm. Nuclear expression of TAZ is an even more specific and independent predictor of poor disease-free survival and overall survival of K19− HCC patients. Our results thus identify different levels of YAP/TAZ expression in various liver cancers that can be used for diagnostics.
Neuropilins in the Context of Tumor Vasculature
Authors: Niland Stephan , Eble Johannes A.
Published: February 2019

Neuropilin-1 and Neuropilin-2 form a small family of plasma membrane spanning receptors originally identified by the binding of semaphorin and vascular endothelial growth factor. Having no cytosolic protein kinase domain, they function predominantly as co-receptors of other receptors for various ligands. As such, they critically modulate the signaling of various receptor tyrosine kinases, integrins, and other molecules involved in the regulation of physiological and pathological angiogenic processes. This review highlights the diverse neuropilin ligands and interacting partners on endothelial cells, which are relevant in the context of the tumor vasculature and the tumor microenvironment. In addition to tumor cells, the latter contains cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells. Based on the prevalent neuropilin-mediated interactions, the suitability of various neuropilin-targeted substances for influencing tumor angiogenesis as a possible building block of a tumor therapy is discussed.
Origanum majorana Essential Oil Inhalation during Neurofeedback Training Reduces Saliva Myeloperoxidase Activity at Session-1 in Bruxistic Patients
Authors: Merino José Joaquín , Parmigiani-Izquierdo José María , López-Oliva María Elvira , Cabaña-Muñoz María Eugenia
Published: February 2019

Introduction: Bruxism affects teeth and provokes sleep alterations. We evaluated whether saliva Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity could be reduced after 21 neurofeedback training (NO) sessions in Origanum majorana (AE) bruxistic-treated patients (n = 12 patients, 120 saliva samples). The term divergence evaluates cerebral activity, which was compared between bruxistic patients with/without this essential oil exposure during 21 NO training sessions (n = 12, n = 120 saliva samples). The nasal filter used allow us to vehiculizate this Origanum majorana essential oil in patients. MPO activity was measured in six training NO sessions (Session S1, 6, 12, 18, 21). We included a total of 104 patients and 500 saliva samples. Results: there was a fast reduction in MPO activity after NO session-1 in bruxistic patients; divergence (an index of NO training brain efficacy) is the difference in cerebral activity found between pre-training and post-training levels. Thus, Divergence can fluctuate during NO training before reaching a final calm state after many sessions (21). Repeated NO training lead to habituation in so far as cerebral activity as well as MPO activity after 21 training sessions. Origanum majorana essential oil modulates cerebral activity at certain training sessions in bruxistic patients. Stress levels were reduced on the perceived stress scores (PSS: Cohen Scale) after 21 NO sessions than for those bruxistic without NO training sessions. Conclusions: MPO activity could predict stress level in bruxistic patients and repeated NO reduced their stress level; Origanum majorana essential oil enhanced these anxiolytic effects.
Fecal Microbiota Analysis in Patients Going through a Depressive Episode during Treatment in a Psychiatric Hospital Setting
Authors: Liśkiewicz Paweł , Pełka-Wysiecka Justyna , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Łoniewski Igor , Wroński Michał , Bąba-Kubiś Agata , Skonieczna-Żydecka Karolina , Marlicz Wojciech , Misiak Błażej , Samochowiec Jerzy
Published: February 2019

Rationale: There is a worldwide prevalence of generalized anxiety and major depressive disorders (MDD). Gut–brain axis dysfunction, antibacterial activity, and modulatory effects of antidepressants toward intestinal bacteria have been shown both in vitro and in vivo. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hospital stay, including escitalopram administration, on gut microbiota in patients with depressive episodes. Methods: After admission to the hospital and 7-days washout from all medications the composition of fecal microbiota samples was evaluated at baseline (W0) and after 6 weeks (W6), using 16S rRNA sequencing. The study was conducted on 17 inpatients (52.9% females), who followed the same daily hospital routine, including a standard diet and received 5–20 mg daily doses of escitalopram. Results: At the end of treatment (W6), no change was observed in the Chao1 index. However, Shannon (median (Q1–Q3): W0 2.78 (2.67–3.02) vs. W6 3.11 (2.80–3.30)), and inverse Simpson (median (Q1–Q3): W0 9.26 (7.26–13.76) vs. W6 12.13 (9.17–15.73)) indices increased significantly compared to baseline values (False Discovery Rate p (q) = 0.031 and q = 0.011, respectively). We also found that between-subject W0 Bray–Curtis dissimilarities were significantly higher than W0–W6 within-subject dissimilarities (median (Q1–Q3): 0.68 (0.56–0.77) vs. 0.38 (0.35–0.52), two sided Mann–Whitney test p < 0.00001. The within-subject dissimilarities did not depend on sex, age, BMI, illness duration and a daily dose of escitalopram. No significant differences between taxa levels, at the studied time points, were observed when adjusted for multiple hypotheses testing procedures. Conclusions: We conclude that a six-week treatment in a psychiatric hospital setting resulted in increased alpha biodiversity in fecal microbiota, however its causal relationship with patients’ mental health was not proved. We have also found that individual microbiome stability was not affected by hospitalization.
Etiology and Measurement of Peri-Implant Crestal Bone Loss (CBL)
Authors: Naveau Adrien , Shinmyouzu Kouhei , Moore Colman , Avivi-Arber Limor , Jokerst Jesse , Koka Sreenivas
Published: February 2019

The etiology of peri-implant crestal bone loss is today better understood and certain factors proposed in the past have turned out to not be of concern. Regardless, the incidence of crestal bone loss remains higher than necessary and this paper reviews current theory on the etiology with a special emphasis on traditional and innovative methods to assess the level of crestal bone around dental implants that will enable greater sensitivity and specificity and significantly reduce variability in bone loss measurement.
Understanding Implementation Challenges to Genetic Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the United States
Authors: Hendricks-Sturrup Rachele M. , Lu Christine Y.
Published: February 2019

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (US), with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being a major inherited and genetic risk factor for premature CVD and atherosclerosis. Genetic testing has helped patients and providers confirm the presence of known pathogenic and likely pathogenic variations in FH-associated genes. Key organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Heart Association (AHA), FH Foundation, and National Lipid Association (NLA), have recognized the clinical utility of FH genetic testing. However, FH genetic testing is underutilized in clinical practice in the US for reasons that are underexplored through the lens of implementation science. In this commentary, we discuss seven key implementation challenges that must be overcome to strengthen the clinical adoption of FH genetic testing in the US. These implementation challenges center on evidence of cost-effectiveness, navigating patient and provider preferences and concerns, gender and ethnic diversity and representation in genetic testing, and establishing clinical consensus around FH genetic testing based on the latest and most relevant research findings. Overcoming these implementation challenges is imperative to the mission of reducing CVD risk in the US.
Does the Misery Index Influence a U.S. President’s Political Re-Election Prospects?
Authors: Adrangi Bahram , Macri Joseph
Published: February 2019

We seek to determine whether a United States President’s job approval rating is influenced by the Misery Index. This hypothesis is examined in two ways. First, we employ a nonlinear model that includes several macroeconomic variables: the current account deficit, exchange rate, unemployment, inflation, and mortgage rates. Second, we employ probit and logit regression models to calculate the probabilities of U.S. Presidents’ approval ratings to the Misery Index. The results suggest that Layton’s model does not perform well when adopted for the United States. Conversely, the probit and logit regression analysis suggests that the Misery Index significantly impacts the probability of the approval of U.S. Presidents’ performances.
Field-Testing Code-Switching Constraints: A Report on a Strategic Languages Project
Authors: Lipski John M.
Published: February 2019

The present article provides an overview of ongoing field-based research that deploys a variety of interactive experimental procedures in three strategically chosen bilingual contact environments, whose language dyads facilitate a partial separation of morphosyntactic factors in order to test the extent to which proposed grammatical constraints on intra-sentential code-switching are independent of language-specific factors. For purposes of illustration, the possibility of language switches between subject pronouns and verbs is compared for the three bilingual groups. The first scenario includes Ecuadoran Quichua and Media Lengua (entirely Quichua syntax and system morphology, all lexical roots replaced by Spanish items; both are null-subject languages). The second juxtaposes Spanish and the Afro-Colombian creole language Palenquero; the languages share highly cognate lexicons but differ substantially in grammatical structures (including null subjects in Spanish, only overt subjects in Palenquero). Spanish and Portuguese in north-eastern Argentina along the Brazilian border form the third focus: lexically and grammatically highly cognate languages that are nonetheless kept distinct by speakers (both null-subject languages, albeit with different usage patterns). Results from the three communities reveal a residual resistance against pronoun + verb switches irrespective of the subject-verb configuration, thereby motivating the application of similar techniques to other proposed grammatical constraints.
Effects of the Particle Size of BaTiO3 Fillers on Fabrication and Dielectric Properties of BaTiO3/Polymer/Al Films for Capacitor Energy-Storage Application
Authors: Gu Lulu , Li Tao , Xu Yongjun , Sun Chenghua , Yang Zhenyu , Zhu Deliang , Chen Deliang
Published: February 2019

BaTiO3/polymer/Al (BPA) composite films for energy storage were fabricated by way of a roll coating and thermal curing process. The coating slurry consisted of silicon-containing heat-resistant resin (CYN-01) and BaTiO3 particles with various particle sizes obtained from commercial BaTiO3 powders processed at different durations of wet sand grinding in the presence of silane coupling agent (KH550), which not only improves the dielectric performance of the BPA films but also facilitates its production in a large scale. The major influence factors, such as the ratio between BaTiO3 and resin and the size of BaTiO3 particles, were investigated and their related mechanisms were discussed. The results show that modifying BaTiO3 particles (D90 = 0.83 μm) with the silane coupling agent of KH550 enhances the dielectric properties of the BPA films. The typical BPA films obtained exhibit a high dielectric constant of 32, a high break strength of 20.8 V/μm and a low dielectric loss of 0.014. The present work provides a simple and convenient way to prepare high-quality ceramic/polymer composite films for energy-storage application in a large scale.
Surface Modification to Improve Properties of Materials
Authors: Mozetič Miran
Published: February 2019

Surface properties of modern materials are usually inadequate in terms of wettability, adhesion properties, biocompatibility etc., so they should be modified prior to application or any further processing such as coating with functional materials. Both the morphological properties and chemical structure/composition should be modified in order to obtain a desired surface finish. Various treatment procedures have been employed, and many are based on the application of non-equilibrium gaseous media, especially gaseous plasma. Although such treatments have been studied extensively in past decades and actually commercialized, the exact mechanisms of interaction between reactive gaseous species and solid materials is still inadequately understood. This special issue provides recent trends in nanostructuring and functionalization of solid materials with the goal of improving their functional properties.
Damage Detection of Asphalt Concrete Using Piezo-Ultrasonic Wave Technology
Authors: Pan Wen-hao , Sun Xu-dong , Wu Li-mei , Yang Kai-kai , Tang Ning
Published: February 2019

Asphalt concrete has been widely used in road engineering as a surface material. Meanwhile, ultrasonic testing technology has also been developed rapidly. Aiming to evaluate the feasibility of the ultrasonic wave method, the present work reports a laboratory investigation on damage detection of asphalt concrete using piezo-ultrasonic wave technology. The gradation of AC-13 was selected and prepared based on the Marshall’s design. The ultrasonic wave velocities of samples were tested with different environmental conditions firstly. After that, the samples were destroyed into two types, one was drilled and the other was grooved. And the ultrasonic wave velocities of pretreated samples were tested again. Furthermore, the relationship between velocity and damaged process was evaluated based on three point bending test. The test results indicated that piezoelectric ultrasonic wave is a promising technology for damage detection of asphalt concrete with considerable benefits. The ultrasonic velocity decreases with the voidage increases. In a saturated water environment, the measured velocity of ultrasonic wave increased. In a dry environment (50 °C), the velocity the ultrasonic waves increased too. After two freeze-thaw cycles, the voidage increased and the ultrasonic velocity decreased gradually. After factitious damage, the wave must travel through or most likely around the damage, the ultrasonic velocity decreased. During the process of three point bending test, the ultrasonic velocity increased firstly and then decreased slowly until it entered into a steady phase. At last the velocity of ultrasonic wave decreased rapidly. In addition, the errors of the results under different test conditions need to be further studied.
Aging-Resistant Behavior and Room Temperature Electron Spin Resonance of Nd3+ in Singly and Doubly Doped BaTiO3 Ceramics Associated with Preservation History
Authors: Lu Dayong , Ji Lv , Liu Junwei
Published: February 2019

The (Ba0.96Nd0.04)Ti0.99O3 (BN4T) and (Ba0.96Nd0.04)(Ti0.94Ce0.05)O3 (BN4TC5) ceramics were prepared via the mixed oxide route exhibited tetragonal and pseudo-cubic structures, respectively. After they were preserved over a long period of time, a broader electron spin resonance (ESR) signal at g = 2.338 and a narrow ESR signal at g = 2.151 were detected at room temperature (RT) for BN4T and BN4TC5, respectively. They most likely originated from the Nd3+ Kramers ions in BN4T and Nd3+-Ce4+ defect complexes in BN4TC5 ceramics, respectively. The origins of these two ESR signals and the aging-resistant dielectric behavior are further discussed.
Iterative Methods for Computing the Resolvent of Composed Operators in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Yang Yixuan , Tang Yuchao , Zhu Chuanxi
Published: February 2019

The resolvent is a fundamental concept in studying various operator splitting algorithms. In this paper, we investigate the problem of computing the resolvent of compositions of operators with bounded linear operators. First, we discuss several explicit solutions of this resolvent operator by taking into account additional constraints on the linear operator. Second, we propose a fixed point approach for computing this resolvent operator in a general case. Based on the Krasnoselskii–Mann algorithm for finding fixed points of non-expansive operators, we prove the strong convergence of the sequence generated by the proposed algorithm. As a consequence, we obtain an effective iterative algorithm for solving the scaled proximity operator of a convex function composed by a linear operator, which has wide applications in image restoration and image reconstruction problems. Furthermore, we propose and study iterative algorithms for studying the resolvent operator of a finite sum of maximally monotone operators as well as the proximal operator of a finite sum of proper, lower semi-continuous convex functions.
On the Fredholm Property of the Trace Operators Associated with the Elastic Layer Potentials
Authors: Starita Giulio , Tartaglione Alfonsina
Published: February 2019

We deal with the system of equations of linear elastostatics, governing the equilibrium configurations of a linearly elastic body. We recall the basics of the theory of the elastic layer potentials and we extend the trace operators associated with the layer potentials to suitable sets of singular densities. We prove that the trace operators defined, for example, on W 1 − k − 1 / q , q ( ∂ Ω ) (with k ≥ 2 , q ∈ ( 1 , + ∞ ) and Ω an open connected set of R 3 of class C k ), satisfy the Fredholm property.
Global Asymptotical Stability Analysis for Fractional Neural Networks with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Zhang Zhixin , Zhang Yufeng , Liu Jia-Bao , Wei Jiang
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the global asymptotical stability of Riemann-Liouville fractional-order neural networks with time-varying delays is studied. By combining the Lyapunov functional function and LMI approach, some sufficient criteria that guarantee the global asymptotical stability of such fractional-order neural networks with both discrete time-varying delay and distributed time-varying delay are derived. The stability criteria is suitable for application and easy to be verified by software. Lastly, some numerical examples are presented to check the validity of the obtained results.
An Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Similarity-Based MABAC Approach for Patient-Centered Care
Authors: Hu Junhua , Chen Panpan , Yang Yan
Published: February 2019

Patient-centered care is an essential part of the implementation of integrated medicine, integrating humanistic care into nursing services, enhancing communication between caregivers and patients, and providing personalized service to patients. Based on the similarity of interval type-2 fuzzy numbers (IT2FNs), a novel similarity-based methodology is presented for the selection of the most suitable medical treatment under a patient-centered environment. First, we propose a new similarity based on the geometric properties of interval type-2 fuzzy numbers and present a new property based on the center of gravity. Meanwhile, in order to better highlight the advantages of the proposed similarity, we selected 30 samples for comparative experiments. Second, considering the straightforward logic of the multi-attributive border approximation area comparison (MABAC) method, we extended it based on similarity to make the decision more accurate. Finally, a realistic patient-centered type-2 diabetes treatment selection problem is presented to verify the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. A comparative analysis with existing methods is also described.
Antiviral Activity of a Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) NK-Lysin Peptide by Inhibition of Low-pH Virus-Induced Membrane Fusion
Authors: Falco Alberto , Medina-Gali Regla María , Poveda José Antonio , Bello-Perez Melissa , Novoa Beatriz , Encinar José Antonio
Published: February 2019

Global health is under attack by increasingly-frequent pandemics of viral origin. Antimicrobial peptides are a valuable tool to combat pathogenic microorganisms. Previous studies from our group have shown that the membrane-lytic region of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) NK-lysine short peptide (Nkl71–100) exerts an anti-protozoal activity, probably due to membrane rupture. In addition, NK-lysine protein is highly expressed in zebrafish in response to viral infections. In this work several biophysical methods, such as vesicle aggregation, leakage and fluorescence anisotropy, are employed to investigate the interaction of Nkl71–100 with different glycerophospholipid vesicles. At acidic pH, Nkl71–100 preferably interacts with phosphatidylserine (PS), disrupts PS membranes, and allows the content leakage from vesicles. Furthermore, Nkl71–100 exerts strong antiviral activity against spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) by inhibiting not only the binding of viral particles to host cells, but also the fusion of virus and cell membranes, which requires a low pH context. Such antiviral activity seems to be related to the important role that PS plays in these steps of the replication cycle of SVCV, a feature that is shared by other families of virus-comprising members with health and veterinary relevance. Consequently, Nkl71–100 is shown as a promising broad-spectrum antiviral candidate.