bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Negative Emotions in New York City After a Natural Disaster as Seen in Social Media
Authors: Gruebner Oliver , Lowe Sarah R. , Sykora Martin , Shankardass Ketan , Subramanian SV , Galea Sandro
Published: October 2018

Disasters have substantial consequences for population mental health. We used Twitter to (1) extract negative emotions indicating discomfort in New York City (NYC) before, during, and after Superstorm Sandy in 2012. We further aimed to (2) identify whether pre- or peri-disaster discomfort were associated with peri- or post-disaster discomfort, respectively, and to (3) assess geographic variation in discomfort across NYC census tracts over time. Our sample consisted of 1,018,140 geo-located tweets that were analyzed with an advanced sentiment analysis called ”Extracting the Meaning Of Terse Information in a Visualization of Emotion” (EMOTIVE). We calculated discomfort rates for 2137 NYC census tracts, applied spatial regimes regression to find associations of discomfort, and used Moran’s I for spatial cluster detection across NYC boroughs over time. We found increased discomfort, that is, bundled negative emotions after the storm as compared to during the storm. Furthermore, pre- and peri-disaster discomfort was positively associated with post-disaster discomfort; however, this association was different across boroughs, with significant associations only in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. In addition, rates were most prominently spatially clustered in Staten Island lasting pre- to post-disaster. This is the first study that determined significant associations of negative emotional responses found in social media posts over space and time in the context of a natural disaster, which may guide us in identifying those areas and populations mostly in need for care.
Environmental and Individual Predictors of Healthy Dietary Behaviors in a Sample of Middle Aged Hispanic and Caucasian Women
Authors: Bowen Deborah J. , Jabson Jennifer M. , Barrington Wendy E. , Littman Alyson J. , Patrick Donald L. , Moudon Anne Vernez , Albano Denise , Beresford Shirley A. A.
Published: October 2018

The objective of this effort is to gather data to tailor interventions appropriately. Greater understanding of the correlates of socioeconomic status and obesogenic dietary behaviors was the focus of this manuscript. Using multistage sampling, women with varied education levels completed a baseline assessment in a longitudinal study of women aged 30 to 50 years. This study was conducted in low-SES areas of South King County, Washington State. This study included 530 Caucasian and 510 Hispanic women. Fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated and soft drink consumption inversely associated with the level of education in Caucasian women. In contrast, percentage calories from fat was positively associated with the level of education in Hispanic women. In Hispanic women, level of education interacted significantly with food security in relation to percentage calories from fat, and with eating norms in relation to soft drink consumption. Neighborhood presence of ethnic food stores was associated with outcomes for Hispanic women, but for Caucasians, presence of fast food restaurants was important. Education was consistently associated with two of the three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied among Caucasian women. Education played a moderating role in the associations of food security and eating norms, independent of area level food availability, in two of three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied. However, these patterns differed for Hispanic women, indicating the need for more research into important variables to support change in Hispanic women. Women of differing ethnic groups did not respond similarly to environmental conditions and policy-relevant surroundings. These data have meaning for considering urban policy that impacts obesity levels in the population.
Associations of Physical Behaviours and Behavioural Reallocations with Markers of Metabolic Health: A Compositional Data Analysis
Authors: Biddle Gregory J. H. , Edwardson Charlotte L. , Henson Joseph , Davies Melanie J. , Khunti Kamlesh , Rowlands Alex V. , Yates Thomas
Published: October 2018

Standard statistical modelling has shown that the reallocation of sitting time to either standing or stepping may be beneficial for metabolic health. However, this overlooks the inherent dependency of time spent in all behaviours. The aim is to examine the associations between physical behaviours and markers of metabolic health (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-h glucose, 2-h insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity (HOMA-IS), Matsuda Insulin Sensitivity Index (Matsuda-ISI) while quantifying the associations of reallocating time from one physical behaviour to another using compositional analysis. Objectively measured physical behaviour data were analysed (n = 435) using compositional analysis and compositional isotemporal substitutions to estimate the association of reallocating time from one behaviour to another in a population at high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Stepping time was associated with all markers of metabolic health relative to all other behaviours. Reallocating 30 min from sleep, sitting, or standing to stepping was associated with 5–6 fold lower 2-h glucose, 15–17 fold lower 2-h insulin, and higher insulin sensitivity (10–11 fold via HOMA-IS, 12–15 fold via Matsuda-ISI). Associations of reallocating time from any behaviour to stepping were maintained for 2-h glucose, 2-h insulin, and Matsuda-ISI after further adjusting for body mass index (BMI). Relocating time from stepping into sleep, sitting, or standing was associated with lower insulin sensitivity. Stepping time may be the most important behavioural composition when promoting improved metabolic health in adults at risk of T2DM.
Comparison between Online and Offline Price of Tobacco Products Using Novel Datasets
Authors: Opazo Breton Magdalena , Britton John , Huang Yue , Bogdanovica Ilze
Published: October 2018

Price of tobacco products has traditionally been relevant both for the industry, to respond to policy changes, and for governments, as an effective tobacco control measure. However, monitoring prices across a wide range of brands and brand variants requires access to expensive commercial sales databases. This study aims to investigate the comparability of average tobacco prices from two commercial sources and an in-house monitoring database which provides daily data in real time at minimal cost. We used descriptive and regression analysis to compare the monthly average numbers of brands, brand variants, products and prices of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco using commercial data from Nielsen Scantrack and Kantar Worldpanel, and an online price database (OPD) created in Nottingham, for the period from May 2013 to February 2017. There were marked differences in the number of products tracked in the three data sources. Nielsen was the most comprehensive and Kantar Worldpanel the least. Though average prices were very similar between the three datasets, Nottingham OPD prices were the highest and Kantar Worldpanel the lowest. However, regression analysis demonstrated that after adjustment for differences in product range, price differences between the datasets were very small. After allowing for differences in product range these data sources offer representative prices for application in price research. Online price tracking offers an inexpensive and near real-time alternative to the commercial datasets.
Does Hospital Competition Harm Inpatient Quality? Empirical Evidence from Shanxi, China
Authors: Lin Xiaojun , Cai Miao , Fu Qiang , He Kevin , Jiang Tianyu , Lu Wei , Ni Ziling , Tao Hongbing
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to determine whether hospital competition is associated with improved in-hospital mortality in Shanxi, China. We included a total of 46,959 hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 44,063 hospitalizations for pneumonia from 2015 to 2017. Hospital competition was measured as Herfindahl–Hirschman Index based on the patient predicted flow approach. Two-level random-intercept logistic models were applied to explore the effects of hospital competition on quality for both AMI and pneumonia diagnoses. Hospital competition exerts negative or negligible effects on inpatient quality of care, and the pattern of competition effects on quality varies by specific diseases. While hospital competition is insignificantly correlated with lower AMI in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR): 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77–1.11), high hospital competition was, in fact, associated with higher in-hospital mortality for pneumonia patients (OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.51–2.64). Our study suggests that simply encouraging hospital competition may not provide effective channels to improve inpatient quality of health care in China’s current health care system.
Epidemiological Surveillance System on Foodborne Diseases in Brazil after 10-Years of Its Implementation: Completeness Evaluation
Authors: Draeger Cainara Lins , Akutsu Rita de Cassia Coelho de Almeida , Araújo Wilma Maria Coelho , Da Silva Izabel Cristina Rodrigues , Botelho Raquel Braz Assunção , Zandonadi Renata Puppin
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the data quality of the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance System on Foodborne Diseases (VE-DTA) through the evaluation of the completeness of the record after 10-years of its implementation. The study evaluated the measurement of completeness by quantifying ignored, incomplete or blank responses of the data items filled. The evaluation used the percentage of completion of these items regarding the total number of notifications registered in the system. We organized the results according to the general Category of completeness of the database, by year of notification and region of occurrence. We also evaluated the overall completeness percentages of the database and the completeness levels according to the degree of recommendation of completion of each variable (mandatory, essential, and complementary) by the VE-DTA manual. The system presented 7037 outbreaks of foodborne diseases. According to the completeness classification, the database presented general classification as Category 1 since it has 82.1% (n = 5.777) of variables with the level of completion up to 75.1%. We observed that 8.6% of the database was classified as category 2; 9.2% as category 3 and 0.1% as category 4. The improvement on database quality regarding completeness can positively impact on public health and public policies, reducing the number of FBDs deaths.
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Vorselaars Veronique M. M. , Hosman Anna E. , Westermann Cornelis J. J. , Snijder Repke J. , Mager Johannes J. , Goumans Marie-Jose , Post Marco C.
Published: October 2018

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterised by multisystemic vascular dysplasia. Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (HPAH) is a rare but severe complication of HHT. Both diseases can be the result of genetic mutations in ACVLR1 and ENG encoding for proteins involved in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, a signalling pathway that is essential for angiogenesis. Changes within this pathway can lead to both the proliferative vasculopathy of HPAH and arteriovenous malformations seen in HHT. Clinical signs of the disease combination may not be specific but early diagnosis is important for appropriate treatment. This review describes the molecular mechanism and management of HPAH and HHT.
Heat Shock Proteins as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: What We Know so Far
Authors: Skórzyńska-Dziduszko Katarzyna E. , Kimber-Trojnar Żaneta , Patro-Małysza Jolanta , Stenzel-Bembenek Agnieszka , Oleszczuk Jan , Leszczyńska-Gorzelak Bożena
Published: October 2018

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complex condition that involves a variety of pathological mechanisms, including pancreatic β-cell failure, insulin resistance, and inflammation. There is an increasing body of literature suggesting that these interrelated phenomena may arise from the common mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Both obesity-associated nutrient excess and hyperglycemia disturb ER function in protein folding and transport. This results in the accumulation of polypeptides in the ER lumen and impairs insulin secretion and signaling. Exercise elicits metabolic adaptive responses, which may help to restore normal chaperone expression in insulin-resistant tissues. Pharmacological induction of chaperones, mimicking the metabolic effect of exercise, is a promising therapeutic tool for preventing GDM by maintaining the body’s natural stress response. Metformin, a commonly used diabetes medication, has recently been identified as a modulator of ER-stress-associated inflammation. The results of recent studies suggest the potential use of chemical ER chaperones and antioxidant vitamins as therapeutic interventions that can prevent glucose-induced ER stress in GDM placentas. In this review, we discuss whether chaperones may significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of GDM, as well as whether they can be a potential therapeutic target in GDM treatment.
Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Exocytosis in the Salivary Glands
Authors: Suzuki Akiko , Iwata Junichi
Published: October 2018

Every day, salivary glands produce about 0.5 to 1.5 L of saliva, which contains salivary proteins that are essential for oral health. The contents of saliva, 0.3% proteins (1.5 to 4.5 g) in fluid, help prevent oral infections, provide lubrication, aid digestion, and maintain oral health. Acinar cells in the lobular salivary glands secrete prepackaged secretory granules that contain salivary components such as amylase, mucins, and immunoglobulins. Despite the important physiological functions of salivary proteins, we know very little about the regulatory mechanisms of their secretion via exocytosis, which is a process essential for the secretion of functional proteins, not only in salivary glands, but also in other secretory organs, including lacrimal and mammary glands, the pancreas, and prostate. In this review, we discuss recent findings that elucidate exocytosis by exocrine glands, especially focusing on the salivary glands, in physiological and pathological conditions.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Increase Pigmentation through the p-ERK/p-p38 Pathway in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Kim Yu-Mi , Lim Han-Moi , Ro Hyang-Seon , Ki Ga-Eun , Seo Young-Kwon
Published: October 2018

Melanogenesis is a biological process resulting in the production of melanin pigment, which plays an important role in the prevention of sun-induced skin injury, and determines hair and skin color. So, a wide variety of approaches have been proposed to increase the synthesis of melanin. This study evaluated the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on the pigmentation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in vivo. We stimulated pigmentation in zebrafish by using specific frequencies and intensities of PEMFs. This study focuses on pigmentation using PEMFs, and finds that PEMFs, at an optimal intensity and frequency, upregulate pigmentation by the stimulated expression of tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP1), dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) through extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) phosphorylation, and p38 phosphorylation signaling pathways in zebrafish. These results suggest that PEMFs, at an optimal intensity and frequency, are a useful tool in treating gray hair, with reduced melanin synthesis in the hair shaft or hypopigmentation-related skin disorders.
Ether-Oxygen Containing Electrospun Microfibrous and Sub-Microfibrous Scaffolds Based on Poly(butylene 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) for Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering
Authors: Bloise Nora , Berardi Emanuele , Gualandi Chiara , Zaghi Elisa , Gigli Matteo , Duelen Robin , Ceccarelli Gabriele , Cortesi Emanuela Elsa , Costamagna Domiziana , Bruni Giovanna , Lotti Nadia , Focarete Maria Letizia , Visai Livia , Sampaolesi Maurilio
Published: October 2018

We report the study of novel biodegradable electrospun scaffolds from poly(butylene 1,4-cyclohexandicarboxylate-co-triethylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (P(BCE-co-TECE)) as support for in vitro and in vivo muscle tissue regeneration. We demonstrate that chemical composition, i.e., the amount of TECE co-units (constituted of polyethylene glycol-like moieties), and fibre morphology, i.e., aligned microfibrous or sub-microfibrous scaffolds, are crucial in determining the material biocompatibility. Indeed, the presence of ether linkages influences surface wettability, mechanical properties, hydrolytic degradation rate, and density of cell anchoring points of the studied materials. On the other hand, electrospun scaffolds improve cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation by favouring cell alignment along fibre direction (fibre morphology), also allowing for better cell infiltration and oxygen and nutrient diffusion (fibre size). Overall, C2C12 myogenic cells highly differentiated into mature myotubes when cultured on microfibres realised with the copolymer richest in TECE co-units (micro-P73 mat). Lastly, when transplanted in the tibialis anterior muscles of healthy, injured, or dystrophic mice, micro-P73 mat appeared highly vascularised, colonised by murine cells and perfectly integrated with host muscles, thus confirming the suitability of P(BCE-co-TECE) scaffolds as substrates for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.
Quiescin Sulfhydryl Oxidase 1 (QSOX1) Secreted by Lung Cancer Cells Promotes Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Sung Hye-Jin , Ahn Jung-Mo , Yoon Yeon-Hee , Na Sang-Su , Choi Young-Jin , Kim Yong-In , Lee Soo-Youn , Lee Eung-Bae , Cho Sukki , Cho Je-Yoel
Published: October 2018

As lung cancer shows the highest mortality in cancer-related death, serum biomarkers are demanded for lung cancer diagnosis and its treatment. To discover lung cancer protein biomarkers, secreted proteins from primary cultured lung cancer and adjacent normal tissues from patients were subjected to LC/MS–MS proteomic analysis. Quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase (QSOX1) was selected as a biomarker candidate from the enriched proteins in the secretion of lung cancer cells. QSOX1 levels were higher in 82% (51 of 62 tissues) of lung cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Importantly, QSOX1 serum levels were significantly higher in cancer patients (p < 0.05, Area Under curve (AUC) = 0.89) when measured by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Higher levels of QSOX1 were also uniquely detected in lung cancer tissues, among several other solid cancers, by immunohistochemistry. QSOX1-knock-downed Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells were less viable from oxidative stress and reduced migration and invasion. In addition, LLC mouse models with QSOX1 knock-down also proved that QSOX1 functions in promoting cancer metastasis. In conclusion, QSOX1 might be a lung cancer tissue-derived biomarker and be involved in the promotion of lung cancers, and thus can be a therapeutic target for lung cancers.
Auditory–Visual Speech Integration in Bipolar Disorder: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Yordamlı Arzu , Erdener Doğu
Published: October 2018

This study aimed to investigate how individuals with bipolar disorder integrate auditory and visual speech information compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, we wanted to see whether there were any differences between manic and depressive episode bipolar disorder patients with respect to auditory and visual speech integration. It was hypothesized that the bipolar group’s auditory–visual speech integration would be weaker than that of the control group. Further, it was predicted that those in the manic phase of bipolar disorder would integrate visual speech information more robustly than their depressive phase counterparts. To examine these predictions, a McGurk effect paradigm with an identification task was used with typical auditory–visual (AV) speech stimuli. Additionally, auditory-only (AO) and visual-only (VO, lip-reading) speech perceptions were also tested. The dependent variable for the AV stimuli was the amount of visual speech influence. The dependent variables for AO and VO stimuli were accurate modality-based responses. Results showed that the disordered and control groups did not differ in AV speech integration and AO speech perception. However, there was a striking difference in favour of the healthy group with respect to the VO stimuli. The results suggest the need for further research whereby both behavioural and physiological data are collected simultaneously. This will help us understand the full dynamics of how auditory and visual speech information are integrated in people with bipolar disorder.
Strain Engineered Band Gaps and Electronic Properties in PbPdO2 and PbPd0.75Co0.25O2 Slabs
Authors: Yang Yanmin , Zhong Kehua , Xu Guigui , Zhang Jian-Min , Huang Zhigao
Published: October 2018

Electronic structure and corresponding electrical properties of PbPdO2 and PbPd0.75Co0.25O2 ultrathin slabs with (002) preferred orientation were systematically investigated using first-principles calculations. The calculated results revealed the strain induced evidently the changes of band structure and carrier concentration in both slabs. It was also found that PbPdO2 and PbPd0.75Co0.25O2 ultrathin slabs exhibited evident differences in the external strain dependence of the band gap and charge carrier concentration, which was strongly dependent on bond angle and bond length induced by in-plane anisotropy strain. Interestingly, the carrier concentration of the PbPd0.75Co0.25O2 slab could increase up to 5–6 orders of magnitude with the help of external strain, which could explain the potential mechanism behind the observed colossal strain-induced electrical behaviors. This work demonstrated that the influence of the doping effect in the case of PbPdO2 could be a potentially fruitful approach for the development of promising piezoresistive materials.
Physical and Morphological Changes of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) after Using Non-Thermal Plasma-Treatments
Authors: López-García Jorge , Cupessala Florence , Humpolíček Petr , Lehocký Marian
Published: October 2018

A commercial formulation of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) sheets were surface modified by using non-thermal air at 40 kHz frequency (DC) and 13.56 MHz radiofrequency (RF) at different durations and powers. In order to assess possible changes of PTFE surface properties, zeta potential (ζ), isoelectric points (IEPs) determinations, contact angle measurements as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) imaging were carried out throughout the experimentation. The overall outcome indicated that ζ-potential and surface energy progressively changed after each treatment, the IEP shifting to lower pH values and the implicit differences, which are produced after each distinct treatment, giving new surface topographies and chemistry. The present approach might serve as a feasible and promising method to alter the surface properties of poly(tetrafluoroethylene).
Intramolecular Spin State Locking in Iron(II) 2,6-Di(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine Complexes by Phenyl Groups: An Experimental Study
Authors: Nelyubina Yulia , Polezhaev Alexander , Pavlov Alexander , Aleshin Dmitrii , Savkina Svetlana , Efimov Nikolay , Aliev Teimur , Novikov Valentin
Published: October 2018

Here we report a series of 1-phenyl-5-substituted 2,6-di(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine complexes with iron(II) ion found in a high spin state in solids (according to magnetochemistry) and in solution (according to NMR spectroscopy), providing experimental evidence for it being an intramolecular effect induced by the phenyl groups. According to X-ray diffraction, the high spin locking of the metal ion is a result of its highly distorted coordination environment (with a very low ‘twist’ angle atypical of 2,6-di(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine complexes), which remains this way in complexes with different substituents and counterions, in a diamagnetic zinc(II) analogue and in their solutions. Three possible reasons behind it, including additional coordination with the phenyl group, energy penalty incurred by its rotation or intramolecular stacking interactions, are addressed experimentally.
For a Correct Application of the CD Exciton Chirality Method: The Case of Laucysteinamide A
Authors: Pescitelli Gennaro
Published: October 2018

The circular dichroism (CD) exciton chirality method (ECM) is a very popular approach for assigning the absolute configuration (AC) of natural products, thanks to its immediacy and ease of application. The sign of an exciton couplet (two electronic CD bands with opposite sign and similar intensity) can be directly correlated with the molecular stereochemistry, including the AC. However, a correct application of the ECM necessitates several prerequisites: knowledge of the molecular conformation; knowledge of transition moment direction; and preeminence of the exciton coupling mechanism with respect to other sources of CD signals. In recent years, by using quantum-chemical CD calculations, we have demonstrated that some previous applications of ECM were wrong or based on incorrect assumptions. In a recent publication of this journal (Mar. Drugs, 2017, 15(4), 121), the ECM was employed to assign the AC of a marine metabolite, laucysteinamide A. This is a further case of incorrect application of the method, where none of the aforementioned prerequisites is fully met. Using this example, we will discuss the criteria required for a correct application of the ECM.
Failure of the Anti-Inflammatory Parasitic Worm Product ES-62 to Provide Protection in Mouse Models of Type I Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Doonan James , Thomas David , Wong Michelle H. , Ramage Hazel J. , Al-Riyami Lamyaa , Lumb Felicity E. , Bell Kara S. , Fairlie-Clarke Karen J. , Suckling Colin J. , Michelsen Kathrin S. , Jiang Hui-Rong , Cooke Anne , Harnett Margaret M. , Harnett William
Published: October 2018

Parasitic helminths and their isolated secreted products show promise as novel treatments for allergic and autoimmune conditions in humans. Foremost amongst the secreted products is ES-62, a glycoprotein derived from Acanthocheilonema viteae, a filarial nematode parasite of gerbils, which is anti-inflammatory by virtue of covalently-attached phosphorylcholine (PC) moieties. ES-62 has been found to protect against disease in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and airway hyper-responsiveness. Furthermore, novel PC-based synthetic small molecule analogues (SMAs) of ES-62 have recently been demonstrated to show similar anti-inflammatory properties to the parent molecule. In spite of these successes, we now show that ES-62 and its SMAs are unable to provide protection in mouse models of certain autoimmune conditions where other helminth species or their secreted products can prevent disease development, namely type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. We speculate on the reasons underlying ES-62’s failures in these conditions and how the negative data generated may help us to further understand ES-62’s mechanism of action.
Fluorinated Tetraphosphonate Cavitands
Authors: Pedrini Alessandro , Bertani Federico , Dalcanale Enrico
Published: October 2018

Two synthetic protocols for the introduction of fluorine atoms into resorcinarene-based cavitands, at the lower and upper rim, respectively, are reported. Cavitand 1, bearing four fluorocarbon tails, and cavitand 2, which presents a fluorine atom on the para position of a diester phosphonate phenyl substituent, were synthesized and their complexation abilities toward the model guest sarcosine methyl ester hydrochloride were evaluated via NMR titration experiments. The effect of complexation on the 19F NMR resonance of the probe is evident only in the case of cavitand 2, where the inset of the cation-dipole and H-bonding interactions between the P=O bridges and the guest is reflected in a sizable downfield shift of the fluorine probe.
Renoprotective Effects of Antroquinonol in Rats with Nω-Nitro-l-Arginine Methyl Ester-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Chen Jiun-Rong , Ko Jung , Yeh Wan-Ju , Huang Wen-Chih , Yang Hsin-Yi
Published: October 2018

Endothelial dysfunction leads to elevation of blood pressure and vascular remodeling, which may result in tissue injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and effects of antroquinonol on hypertension and related renal injuries. Rats were fed water containing 25 mg/kg/day Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to induce hypertension, and a diet with or without antroquinonol (20 or 40 mg/kg/day) for a 9-week experiment. During the experimental period, antroquinonol reduced the elevation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. At the end of the study, we found that the antroquinonol groups had lower serum creatinine, renal endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and malondialdehyde levels and arteriole thickening. We found that the 40 mg/kg/day antroquinonol group had lower renal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activities, greater nuclear factor erythroid-2, and heme oxygenase-1 expressions. Moreover, we also found that antroquinonol decreased proinflammatory cytokine concentrations in the kidney by modulating the nuclear factor-κB pathway. These results suggest that antroquinonol may ameliorate hypertension and improve renal function by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in rats with endothelial dysfunction.
Effects of Obesity and Gastric Bypass Surgery on Nutrient Sensors, Endocrine Cells, and Mucosal Innervation of the Mouse Colon
Authors: Peiris Madusha , Aktar Rubina , Raynel Sarah , Hao Zheng , Mumphrey Michael B. , Berthoud Hans-Rudolf , Blackshaw L. Ashley
Published: October 2018

Background: Nutrient-sensing receptors located on enteroendocrine (EEC) cells modulate appetite via detection of luminal contents. Colonic ‘tasting’ of luminal contents may influence changes to appetite observed in obesity and after weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. We assessed the effects of obesity and gastric bypass-induced weight loss on expression of nutrient-sensing G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), EEC and enterochromaffin (EC) cells and mucosal innervation. Methods: qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used to study colonic tissue from (a) chow-fed/lean, (b) high-fat fed/obese, (c) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB), and (d) calorie restriction-induced weight loss mice. Results: Expression of GPR41, GPR43, GPR40, GPR120, GPR84, GPR119, GPR93 and T1R3 was increased in obese mice. Obesity-induced overexpression of GPR41, 40, 84, and 119 further increased after RYGB whereas GPR120 and T1R3 decreased. RYGB increased TGR5 expression. L-cells, but not EC cells, were increased after RYGB. No differences in mucosal innervation by protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and GLP-1R-positive nerve fibers were observed. Stimulation of colonic mucosa with GPR41, GPR40, GPR85, GPR119, and TGR5 agonists increased cell activation marker expression. Conclusions: Several nutrient-sensing receptors induced activation of colonic EEC. Profound adaptive changes to the expression of these receptors occur in response to diet and weight loss induced by RYGB or calorie restriction.
Eight-Week Consumption of High-Sucrose Diet Has a Pro-Oxidant Effect and Alters the Function of the Salivary Glands of Rats
Authors: Maciejczyk Mateusz , Matczuk Jan , Żendzian-Piotrowska Małgorzata , Niklińska Wiesława , Fejfer Katarzyna , Szarmach Izabela , Ładny Jerzy Robert , Zieniewska Izabela , Zalewska Anna
Published: October 2018

A high-sucrose diet (HSD) is widely known for its cariogenic effects and promotion of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. However, the impact of the HSD diet on the salivary gland function as well as the level of salivary oxidative stress is still unknown and requires evaluation. Our study is the first to determine both redox balance and oxidative injury in the parotid and submandibular glands of rats fed the HSD diet compared to the control group. We have demonstrated that uric acid concentration and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase varied significantly in both the submandibular and parotid glands of HSD rats vs. the control group. However, enhanced oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA (increase in advanced glycation end products, advanced oxidation protein products, 4-hydroxynonenal, and 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine) was observed only in the parotid glands of HSD rats. Moreover, the HSD diet also reduced the total protein content and amylase activity in both types of salivary glands and decreased the stimulated salivary flow rate. To sum up, an HSD diet reduces salivary gland function and disturbs the redox balance of the parotid as well as submandibular salivary glands. However, the parotid glands are more vulnerable to both antioxidant disturbances and oxidative damage.
Guidelines for Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Benchmarking of Different Methods
Authors: Mangeruga Marino , Bruno Fabio , Cozza Marco , Agrafiotis Panagiotis , Skarlatos Dimitrios
Published: October 2018

Images obtained in an underwater environment are often affected by colour casting and suffer from poor visibility and lack of contrast. In the literature, there are many enhancement algorithms that improve different aspects of the underwater imagery. Each paper, when presenting a new algorithm or method, usually compares the proposed technique with some alternatives present in the current state of the art. There are no studies on the reliability of benchmarking methods, as the comparisons are based on various subjective and objective metrics. This paper would pave the way towards the definition of an effective methodology for the performance evaluation of the underwater image enhancement techniques. Moreover, this work could orientate the underwater community towards choosing which method can lead to the best results for a given task in different underwater conditions. In particular, we selected five well-known methods from the state of the art and used them to enhance a dataset of images produced in various underwater sites with different conditions of depth, turbidity, and lighting. These enhanced images were evaluated by means of three different approaches: objective metrics often adopted in the related literature, a panel of experts in the underwater field, and an evaluation based on the results of 3D reconstructions.
Bacteria Detection and Differentiation Using Impedance Flow Cytometry
Authors: Clausen Casper Hyttel , Dimaki Maria , Bertelsen Christian Vinther , Skands Gustav Erik , Rodriguez-Trujillo Romen , Thomsen Joachim Dahl , Svendsen Winnie E.
Published: October 2018

Monitoring of bacteria concentrations is of great importance in drinking water management. Continuous real-time monitoring enables better microbiological control of the water and helps prevent contaminated water from reaching the households. We have developed a microfluidic sensor with the potential to accurately assess bacteria levels in drinking water in real-time. Multi frequency electrical impedance spectroscopy is used to monitor a liquid sample, while it is continuously passed through the sensor. We investigate three aspects of this sensor: First we show that the sensor is able to differentiate Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria from solid particles (polystyrene beads) based on an electrical response in the high frequency phase and individually enumerate the two samples. Next, we demonstrate the sensor’s ability to measure the bacteria concentration by comparing the results to those obtained by the traditional CFU counting method. Last, we show the sensor’s potential to distinguish between different bacteria types by detecting different signatures for S. aureus and E. coli mixed in the same sample. Our investigations show that the sensor has the potential to be extremely effective at detecting sudden bacterial contaminations found in drinking water, and eventually also identify them.
Photoacoustic Signal Enhancement: Towards Utilization of Low Energy Laser Diodes in Real-Time Photoacoustic Imaging
Authors: Manwar Rayyan , Hosseinzadeh Matin , Hariri Ali , Kratkiewicz Karl , Noei Shahryar , N. Avanaki Mohammad
Published: October 2018

In practice, photoacoustic (PA) waves generated with cost-effective and low-energy laser diodes, are weak and almost buried in noise. Reconstruction of an artifact-free PA image from noisy measurements requires an effective denoising technique. Averaging is widely used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of PA signals; however, it is time consuming and in the case of very low SNR signals, hundreds to thousands of data acquisition epochs are needed. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using an adaptive and time-efficient filtering method to improve the SNR of PA signals. Our results show that the proposed method increases the SNR of PA signals more efficiently and with much fewer acquisitions, compared to common averaging techniques. Consequently, PA imaging is conducted considerably faster.
A Secure Transmission Scheme Based on Artificial Fading for Wireless CrowdSensing Networks
Authors: Xu Zhi-Jiang , Chen Fang-Ni , Wu Yuan , Gong Yi
Published: October 2018

For secure transmission of low cost single antenna communication nodes in wireless crowdsensing networks under static channel, a physical layer communication scheme is proposed, where each digital modulated symbol is encrypted by a random key at the transmitter and decrypted with the same key at the receiver. The legal users exploit the synchronized chaotic sequence and the two-stage block interleaver to generate a complex random variable (random key), whereby its envelope obeys the Rayleigh distribution and its phase obeys the uniformly distribution. The modulated symbol is multiplied by the complex random variable (encryption) to imitate the Rayleigh fading of the channel at the transmitting end. The received symbol is divided by the identical complex random variable (decryption) to recover the transmitted message before the digital demodulation at the receiving end. Simulation results show that the bit error ratio (BER) performance of the legitimate users is consistent with the theoretical value of the Rayleigh fading channel, while the corresponding BER of the eavesdropper is too high (about 0.5) to intercept any information.
Thermal Frequency Reconfigurable Electromagnetic Absorber Using Phase Change Material
Authors: Jeong Heijun , Park Jeong-Heum , Moon You-Hwan , Baek Chang-Wook , Lim Sungjoon
Published: October 2018

In this study, we propose a thermal frequency reconfigurable electromagnetic absorber using germanium telluride (GeTe) phase change material. Thermally-induced phase transition of GeTe from an amorphous high-resistive state to a crystalline low-resistive state by heating is used to change the resonant frequency of the absorber. For full-wave simulation, the electromagnetic properties of GeTe at 25 °C and 250 °C are characterized at 10 GHz under normal incidence for electromagnetic waves. The proposed absorber is designed based on the characterized electromagnetic parameters of GeTe. A circular unit cell is designed and GeTe is placed at a gap in the circle to maximize the switching range. The performance of the proposed electromagnetic absorber is numerically and experimentally demonstrated. Measurement results indicate that the absorption frequency changes from 10.23 GHz to 9.6 GHz when the GeTe film is altered from an amorphous state at room temperature to a crystalline state by heating the sample to 250 °C. The absorptivity in these states is determined to be 91% and 92%, respectively.
Constructing Patent Maps Using Text Mining to Sustainably Detect Potential Technological Opportunities
Authors: Wang Hei Chia , Chi Yung Chang , Hsin Ping Lun
Published: October 2018

With the advent of the knowledge economy, firms often compete for intellectual property rights. Being the first to acquire high-potential patents can assist firms in achieving future competitive advantages. To identify patents capable of being developed, firms often search for a focus by using existing patent documents. Because of the rapid development of technology, the number of patent documents is immense. A prominent topic among current firms is how to use this large number of patent documents to discover new business opportunities while avoiding conflicts with existing patents. In the search for technological opportunities, a crucial task is to present results in the form of an easily understood visualization. Currently, natural language processing can help in achieving this goal. In natural language processing, word sense disambiguation (WSD) is the problem of determining which “sense” (meaning) of a word is activated in a given context. Given a word and its possible senses, as defined by a dictionary, we classify the occurrence of a word in context into one or more of its sense classes. The features of the context (such as neighboring words) provide evidence for these classifications. The current method for patent document analysis warrants improvement in areas, such as the analysis of many dimensions and the development of recommendation methods. This study proposes a visualization method that supports semantics, reduces the number of dimensions formed by terms, and can easily be understood by users. Since polysemous words occur frequently in patent documents, we also propose a WSD method to decrease the calculated degrees of distortion between terms. An analysis of outlier distributions is used to construct a patent map capable of distinguishing similar patents. During the development of new strategies, the constructed patent map can assist firms in understanding patent distributions in commercial areas, thereby preventing patent infringement caused by the development of similar technologies. Subsequently, technological opportunities can be recommended according to the patent map, aiding firms in assessing relevant patents in commercial areas early and sustainably achieving future competitive advantages.
Organizational Learning and Green Innovation: Does Environmental Proactivity Matter?
Authors: Zhang Yali , Sun Jun , Yang Zhaojun , Li Shurong
Published: October 2018

Emerging economies face the challenge of striking a balance between development and the environment. To adapt to the changes, organizations must develop dynamic capabilities for green innovation and corporate sustainability. Based on a resource-based view integrated with contingency and stakeholder theories, this study examines how strategic contingency makes differences in the transformation between learning and performance resources through innovation efforts. Oriented toward external and internal stakeholders, respectively, learning resources comprise absorptive capacity and transformative capability, innovation efforts include green product innovation and green process innovation, and performance resources contain green image and competitive advantage. Depicting their mediating relationships moderated by environmental proactivity, the research model is supported by survey observations collected from over 300 organizations in China. Environmentally proactive organizations are found to have more balanced dynamic capability development than those that are more reactive. To optimize green innovation, therefore, organizations need to embrace an ecological strategy and engage employees in learning.
Impact of Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure on Economic Growth: An Empirical Assessment for the EU Countries
Authors: Toader Elena , Firtescu Bogdan Narcis , Roman Angela , Anton Sorin Gabriel
Published: October 2018

The accelerated development of information and communication technology (ICT) over the past two decades has encouraged an increasing number of researchers to examine and measure the impact of this technology on economic growth. Our study aims to identify and evaluate the effect of using ICT infrastructure on economic growth in European Union (EU) countries for a period of 18 years (2000–2017). Using panel-data estimation techniques, we investigate empirically how various indicators of ICT infrastructure affect economic growth, proxied in our study by GDP per capita. Within the estimates, we have included some macroeconomic control variables. Our results indicate a positive and strongly effect of using ICT infrastructure on economic growth in the EU member states, but the magnitude of the effect differs depending on the type of technology examined. Regarding the impact of macroeconomic factors, our estimates indicate that inflation rate, unemployment rate, the degree of trade openness, government expenditures, and foreign direct investments would significantly affect GDP per capita at EU level. The findings are broadly similar to the theoretical predictions, but also to the findings of some relevant empirical studies. Our research reveals that ICT infrastructure, along with other macroeconomic factors, is an important driver of economic growth in EU countries.
Synthetic Medical Images Using F&BGAN for Improved Lung Nodules Classification by Multi-Scale VGG16
Authors: Zhao Defang , Zhu Dandan , Lu Jianwei , Luo Ye , Zhang Guokai
Published: October 2018

Lung cancer is one of the highest causes of cancer-related death in both men and women. Therefore, various diagnostic methods for lung nodules classification have been proposed to implement the early detection. Due to the limited amount and diversity of samples, these methods encounter some bottlenecks. In this paper, we intend to develop a method to enlarge the dataset and enhance the performance of pulmonary nodules classification. We propose a data augmentation method based on generative adversarial network (GAN), called Forward and Backward GAN (F&BGAN), which can generate high-quality synthetic medical images. F&BGAN has two stages, Forward GAN (FGAN) generates diverse images, and Backward GAN (BGAN) is used to improve the quality of images. Besides, a hierarchical learning framework, multi-scale VGG16 (M-VGG16) network, is proposed to extract discriminative features from alternating stacked layers. The methodology was evaluated on the Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC-IDRI) dataset, with the best accuracy of 95.24%, sensitivity of 98.67%, specificity of 92.47% and area under ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.980. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of F&BGAN in generating medical images and the effectiveness of M-VGG16 in classifying malignant and benign nodules.
Peer Feedback on Collaborative Learning Activities in Veterinary Education
Authors: Dooley Laura M. , Bamford Nicholas J.
Published: October 2018

Collaborative learning activities are an increasingly prominent feature of veterinary curricula that have been redesigned to achieve competency-based graduate learning outcomes. This evolution challenges the traditional individualistic approach to veterinary education and necessitates revisions to assessment and feedback practices to ensure constructive alignment. Peer feedback has been widely reported in the medical education literature as a teaching intervention in collaborative learning settings, with learning gains reported for students who receive and provide peer feedback. In this setting, peer feedback has been demonstrated to provide valuable formative feedback on professional behaviors and skills. However, there are very few such reports in the veterinary education literature to date. Barriers to the introduction of this approach can include teacher and student perceptions, and concerns around validity and reliability. This review aimed to provide an overview of current evidence regarding peer feedback on collaborative learning activities in higher education, and to explore opportunities and challenges for the introduction of peer feedback in the context of veterinary education. We contend that early and repeated provision of formative peer feedback can provide an opportunity to scaffold the development of crucial core competencies within veterinary education, including the self-regulated learning skills required to work in collaborative teams, and interpret and act on feedback.