bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercise-Induced Alterations in Skeletal Muscle, Heart, Liver, and Serum Metabolome Identified by Non-Targeted Metabolomics Analysis
Authors: Starnes Joseph , Parry Traci , O’Neal Sara , Bain James , Muehlbauer Michael , Honcoop Aubree , Ilaiwy Amro , Christopher Peter , Patterson Cam , Willis Monte
Published: August 2017

Background: The metabolic and physiologic responses to exercise are increasingly interesting, given that regular physical activity enhances antioxidant capacity, improves cardiac function, and protects against type 2 diabetes. The metabolic interactions between tissues and the heart illustrate a critical cross-talk we know little about. Methods: To better understand the metabolic changes induced by exercise, we investigated skeletal muscle (plantaris, soleus), liver, serum, and heart from exercise trained (or sedentary control) animals in an established rat model of exercise-induced aerobic training via non-targeted GC-MS metabolomics. Results: Exercise-induced alterations in metabolites varied across tissues, with the soleus and serum affected the least. The alterations in the plantaris muscle and liver were most alike, with two metabolites increased in each (citric acid/isocitric acid and linoleic acid). Exercise training additionally altered nine other metabolites in the plantaris (C13 hydrocarbon, inosine/adenosine, fructose-6-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, 2-aminoadipic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and oleic acid). In the serum, we identified significantly decreased alpha-tocopherol levels, paralleling the increases identified in plantaris muscle. Eleven unique metabolites were increased in the heart, which were not affected in the other compartments (malic acid, serine, aspartic acid, myoinositol, glutamine, gluconic acid-6-phosphate, glutamic acid, pyrophosphate, campesterol, phosphoric acid, creatinine). These findings complement prior studies using targeted metabolomics approaches to determine the metabolic changes in exercise-trained human skeletal muscle. Specifically, exercise trained vastus lateralus biopsies had significantly increased linoleic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid compared to the inactive groups, which were significantly increased in plantaris muscle in the present study. Conclusions: While increases in alpha-tocopherol have not been identified in muscle after exercise to our knowledge, the benefits of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation in attenuating exercise-induced muscle damage has been studied extensively. Skeletal muscle, liver, and the heart have primarily different metabolic changes, with few similar alterations and rare complementary alterations (alpha-tocopherol), which may illustrate the complexity of understanding exercise at the organismal level.
Time- and NADPH-Dependent Inhibition on CYP3A by Gomisin A and the Pharmacokinetic Interactions between Gomisin A and Cyclophosphamide in Rats
Authors: Zhai Jianxiu , Zhang Feng , Gao Shouhong , Chen Li , Feng Ge , Yin Jun , Chen Wansheng
Published: August 2017

The traditional Chinese medicine Schisandra chinensis has remarkable protective effects against chemical-induced toxicity. Cyclophosphamide (CTX), in spite advances in chemotherapy and immunosuppressive regimes, is prone to cause severe toxicity due to its chloroacetaldehyde (CAA) metabolite produced by CYP3A. Our previous study identified that S. chinensis extract (SCE) co-administration potently decreased CAA production and attenuated liver, kidney and brain injuries in CTX-treated rats. Gomisin A (Gom A) is proved to be one of the most abundant bioactive lignans in S. chinensis with a significant CYP3A inhibitory effect. To find out whether and how Gom A participated in the chemoprevention of SCE against CTX toxicity, the Gom A-caused CYP3A inhibition in vitro as well as the pharmacokinetic interactions between Gom A and CTX in vivo were examined in this study. Using human liver microsomes, a reversible inhibition assay revealed that Gom A was a competitive inhibitor with a KI value of 1.10 µM, and the time- and NADPH-dependent CYP3A inhibition of Gom A was observed in a time-dependent inhibition assay (KI = 0.35 µM, kinact = 1.96 min−1). Hepatic CYP3A mRNA expression experienced a significant increase in our rat model with Gom A administration. This explained why CAA production decreased in the 0.5 h- and 6 h-pretreatment rat groups while it increased in the 24 h- and 72 h-pretreatment groups, indicating a bidirectional effect of Gom A on CYP3A-mediated CTX metabolism. The present study suggested that Gom A participates like SCE in the pharmacokinetic intervention of CTX by blocking CYP3A-mediated metabolism and reducing CAA production, and thus plays an important role in the chemopreventive activity of S. chinensis against CTX toxicity, in addition to the previously recognized protective effects. Also, the combined use of S. chinensis preparation or other drugs containing Gom A as the main component with CTX needed to be addressed for better clinical intervention.
Carbohydrate-Based Host-Guest Complexation of Hydrophobic Antibiotics for the Enhancement of Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Jeong Daham , Joo Sang-Woo , Shinde Vijay , Cho Eunae , Jung Seunho
Published: August 2017

Host-guest complexation with various hydrophobic drugs has been used to enhance the solubility, permeability, and stability of guest drugs. Physical changes in hydrophobic drugs by complexation have been related to corresponding increases in the bioavailability of these drugs. Carbohydrates, including various derivatives of cyclodextrins, cyclosophoraoses, and some linear oligosaccharides, are generally used as host complexation agents in drug delivery systems. Many antibiotics with low bioavailability have some limitations to their clinical use due to their intrinsically poor aqueous solubility. Bioavailability enhancement is therefore an important step to achieve the desired concentration of antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections. Antibiotics encapsulated in a complexation-based drug delivery system will display improved antibacterial activity making it possible to reduce dosages and overcome the serious global problem of antibiotic resistance. Here, we review the present research trends in carbohydrate-based host-guest complexation of various hydrophobic antibiotics as an efficient delivery system to improve solubility, permeability, stability, and controlled release.
Antitumoural Sulphur and Selenium Heteroaryl Compounds: Thermal Characterization and Stability Evaluation
Authors: Alcolea Verónica , Garnica Pablo , Palop Juan , Sanmartín Carmen , González-Peñas Elena , Durán Adrián , Lizarraga Elena
Published: August 2017

The physicochemical properties of a compound play a crucial role in the cancer development process. In this context, polymorphism can become an important obstacle for the pharmaceutical industry because it frequently leads to the loss of therapeutic effectiveness of some drugs. Stability under manufacturing conditions is also critical to ensure no undesired degradations or transformations occur. In this study, the thermal behaviour of 40 derivatives of a series of sulphur and selenium heteroaryl compounds with potential antitumoural activity were studied. In addition, the most promising cytotoxic derivatives were analysed by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric techniques in order to investigate their polymorphism and thermal stability. Moreover, stability under acid, alkaline and oxidative media was tested. Degradation under stress conditions as well as the presence of polymorphism was found for the compounds VA6E and VA7J, which might present a hurdle to carrying on with formulation. On the contrary, these obstacles were not found for derivative VA4J.
The Inhibitory Effects of Purple Sweet Potato Color on Hepatic Inflammation Is Associated with Restoration of NAD+ Levels and Attenuation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in High-Fat-Diet-Treated Mice
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhang Zi-Feng , Zheng Gui-Hong , Wang Ai-Min , Sun Chun-Hui , Qin Su-Ping , Zhuang Juan , Lu Jun , Ma Dai-Fu , Zheng Yuan-Lin
Published: August 2017

Purple sweet potato color (PSPC), a class of naturally occurring anthocyanins, exhibits beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome. Sustained inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Here we explored the effects of PSPC on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic inflammation and the mechanisms underlying these effects. Mice were divided into four groups: Control group, HFD group, HFD + PSPC group, and PSPC group. PSPC was administered by daily oral gavage at doses of 700 mg/kg/day for 20 weeks. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) was used to increase NAD+ levels. Our results showed that PSPC effectively ameliorated obesity and liver injuries in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, PSPC notably blocked hepatic oxidative stress in HFD-treated mice. Furthermore, PSPC dramatically restored NAD+ level to abate endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in HFD-treated mouse livers, which was confirmed by NR treatment. Consequently, PSPC remarkably suppressed the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 nuclear translocation and nucleotide oligomerization domain protein1/2 (NOD1/2) signaling in HFD-treated mouse livers. Thereby, PSPC markedly diminished the NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, ultimately lowering the expressions of inflammation-related genes in HFD-treated mouse livers. In summary, PSPC protected against HFD-induced hepatic inflammation by boosting NAD+ level to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 for the Alleviative Effect on Lead Toxicity
Authors: Li Bailiang , Jin Da , Yu Shangfu , Etareri Evivie Smith , Muhammad Zafarullah , Huo Guicheng , Liu Fei
Published: August 2017

Lead (Pb) is a toxic contaminating heavy metal that can cause a variety of hazardous effects to both humans and animals. In the present study, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 (L. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207), which has a remarkable Pb binding capacity and Pb tolerance, was selected for further study. It was observed that the thermodynamic and kinetic model of L. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 Pb binding respectively fit with the Langmuir–Freundlich model and the pseudo second-order kinetic model. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis disclosed that the cell surfaces were covered with Pb and that carbon and oxygen elements were chiefly involved in Pb binding. Combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, it was revealed that the carboxyl, phosphoryl, hydroxyl, amino and amide groups were the main functional groups involved in the Pb adsorption. The protective effects of L. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 against acute Pb toxicity in mice was evaluated by prevention and therapy groups, the results in vivo showed that L. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 treatment could reduce mortality rates, effectively increase Pb levels in the feces, alleviate tissue Pb enrichment, improve the antioxidant index in the liver and kidney, and relieve renal pathological damage. Our findings show that L. bulgaricus KLDS1.0207 can be used as a potential probiotic against acute Pb toxicity.
Gluten-Free Diet Indications, Safety, Quality, Labels, and Challenges
Authors: Rostami Kamran , Bold Justine , Parr Alison , Johnson Matt
Published: August 2017

A gluten-free diet (GFD) is the safest treatment modality in patient with coeliac disease (CD) and other gluten-related disorders. Contamination and diet compliance are important factors behind persistent symptoms in patients with gluten related-disorders, in particular CD. How much gluten can be tolerated, how safe are the current gluten-free (GF) products, what are the benefits and side effects of GFD? Recent studies published in Nutrients on gluten-free products’ quality, availability, safety, as well as challenges related to a GFD are discussed.
Political Correctness: Implosion of Politics
Authors: Dirakis Alexis
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this article is to develop a critical understanding of political correctness as regressive process of incrimination based on a utopia of non-differentiation. According to our hypothesis, this utopia represents the ideological product of a double process of identity dissolution under the impact of abstract universalism and contemporary individualism which leads to the implosion of politics.
Enhanced Cartilaginous Tissue Formation with a Cell Aggregate-Fibrin-Polymer Scaffold Complex
Authors: Lee Soojin , Lee Kangwon , Kim Soo , Jung Youngmee
Published: August 2017

Cell density is one of the factors required in the preparation of engineered cartilage from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Additionally, it is well known for having a significant role in chemical and physical stimulations when stem cells undergo chondrogenic differentiation. Here, we developed an engineered cartilage with a cell aggregate-hydrogel-polymer scaffold complex capable of inducing the effective regeneration of cartilage tissue similar to natural cartilage while retaining a high mechanical strength, flexibility, and morphology. Cell aggregates were generated by the hanging drop method with rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and poly (lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) scaffolds were fabricated with 78.3 ± 5.3% porosity and a 300–500 μm pore size with a gel-pressing method. We prepared the cell aggregate-fibrin-poly (lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) scaffold complex, in which the cell aggregates were evenly dispersed in the fibrin, and they were immobilized onto the surface of the polymer scaffold while filling up the pores. To examine the chondrogenic differentiation of seeded BMSCs and the formation of chondral extracellular matrix onto the complexes, they were cultured in vitro or subcutaneously implanted into nude mice for up to eight weeks. The results of the in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that the accumulation of the chondral extracellular matrices was increased on the cell aggregate-fibrin-PLCL scaffold complexes (CAPs) compared to the single cell-fibrin-PLCL scaffold complexes (SCPs). Additionally, we examined whether the mature and well-developed cartilaginous tissues and lacunae structures typical of mature cartilage were evenly distributed in the CAPs. Consequently, the cell aggregates in the hybrid scaffolds of fibrin gels and elastic PLCL scaffolds can induce themselves to differentiate into chondrocytes, maintain their phenotypes, enhance glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production, and improve the quality of cartilaginous tissue formed in vitro and in vivo.
Ring Polymers: Threadings, Knot Electrophoresis and Topological Glasses
Authors: Michieletto Davide , Marenduzzo Davide , Orlandini Enzo , Turner Matthew
Published: August 2017

Elucidating the physics of a concentrated suspension of ring polymers, or of an ensemble of ring polymers in a complex environment, is an important outstanding question in polymer physics. Many of the characteristic features of these systems arise due to topological interactions between polymers, or between the polymers and the environment, and it is often challenging to describe this quantitatively. Here we review recent research which suggests that a key role is played by inter-ring threadings (or penetrations), which become more abundant as the ring size increases. As we discuss, the physical consequences of such threadings are far-reaching: for instance, they lead to a topologically-driven glassy behaviour of ring polymer melts under pinning perturbations, while they can also account for the shape of experimentally observed patterns in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of DNA knots.
Assessing the Utility of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors over a 12-Week Period in the Cuyama Valley of California
Authors: Mukherjee Anondo , Stanton Levi , Graham Ashley , Roberts Paul
Published: August 2017

The use of low-cost air quality sensors has proliferated among non-profits and citizen scientists, due to their portability, affordability, and ease of use. Researchers are examining the sensors for their potential use in a wide range of applications, including the examination of the spatial and temporal variability of particulate matter (PM). However, few studies have quantified the performance (e.g., accuracy, precision, and reliability) of the sensors under real-world conditions. This study examined the performance of two models of PM sensors, the AirBeam and the Alphasense Optical Particle Counter (OPC-N2), over a 12-week period in the Cuyama Valley of California, where PM concentrations are impacted by wind-blown dust events and regional transport. The sensor measurements were compared with observations from two well-characterized instruments: the GRIMM 11-R optical particle counter, and the Met One beta attenuation monitor (BAM). Both sensor models demonstrated a high degree of collocated precision (R2 = 0.8–0.99), and a moderate degree of correlation against the reference instruments (R2 = 0.6–0.76). Sensor measurements were influenced by the meteorological environment and the aerosol size distribution. Quantifying the performance of sensors in real-world conditions is a requisite step to ensuring that sensors will be used in ways commensurate with their data quality.
A Semi-Analytical Solution for the Thickness-Vibration of Centrally Partially-Electroded Circular AT-Cut Quartz Resonators
Authors: Wang Bin , Dai Xiaoyun , Zhao Xintao , Qian Zhenghua
Published: August 2017

Vibration frequencies and modes for the thickness-shear vibrations of infinite partially-electroded circular AT-cut quartz plates are obtained by solving the two-dimensional (2D) scalar differential equation derived by Tiersten and Smythe. The Mathieu and modified Mathieu equations are derived from the governing equation using the coordinate transform and the collocation method is used to deal with the boundary conditions. Solutions of the resonant frequencies and trapped modes are validated by those results obtained from COMSOL software. The current study provides a theoretical way for figuring out the vibration analysis of circular quartz resonators.
Stairs and Doors Recognition as Natural Landmarks Based on Clouds of 3D Edge-Points from RGB-D Sensors for Mobile Robot Localization
Authors: Souto Leonardo , Castro André , Gonçalves Luiz , Nascimento Tiago
Published: August 2017

Natural landmarks are the main features in the next step of the research in localization of mobile robot platforms. The identification and recognition of these landmarks are crucial to better localize a robot. To help solving this problem, this work proposes an approach for the identification and recognition of natural marks included in the environment using images from RGB-D (Red, Green, Blue, Depth) sensors. In the identification step, a structural analysis of the natural landmarks that are present in the environment is performed. The extraction of edge points of these landmarks is done using the 3D point cloud obtained from the RGB-D sensor. These edge points are smoothed through the S l 0 algorithm, which minimizes the standard deviation of the normals at each point. Then, the second step of the proposed algorithm begins, which is the proper recognition of the natural landmarks. This recognition step is done as a real-time algorithm that extracts the points referring to the filtered edges and determines to which structure they belong to in the current scenario: stairs or doors. Finally, the geometrical characteristics that are intrinsic to the doors and stairs are identified. The approach proposed here has been validated with real robot experiments. The performed tests verify the efficacy of our proposed approach.
Influence of the Spatial Dimensions of Ultrasonic Transducers on the Frequency Spectrum of Guided Waves
Authors: Samaitis Vykintas , Mažeika Liudas
Published: August 2017

Ultrasonic guided wave (UGW)-based condition monitoring has shown great promise in detecting, localizing, and characterizing damage in complex systems. However, the application of guided waves for damage detection is challenging due to the existence of multiple modes and dispersion. This results in distorted wave packets with limited resolution and the interference of multiple reflected modes. To develop reliable inspection systems, either the transducers have to be optimized to generate a desired single mode of guided waves with known dispersive properties, or the frequency responses of all modes present in the structure must be known to predict wave interaction. Currently, there is a lack of methods to predict the response spectrum of guided wave modes, especially in cases when multiple modes are being excited simultaneously. Such methods are of vital importance for further understanding wave propagation within the structures as well as wave-damage interaction. In this study, a novel method to predict the response spectrum of guided wave modes was proposed based on Fourier analysis of the particle velocity distribution on the excitation area. The method proposed in this study estimates an excitability function based on the spatial dimensions of the transducer, type of vibration, and dispersive properties of the medium. As a result, the response amplitude as a function of frequency for each guided wave mode present in the structure can be separately obtained. The method was validated with numerical simulations on the aluminum and glass fiber composite samples. The key findings showed that it can be applied to estimate the response spectrum of a guided wave mode on any type of material (either isotropic structures, or multi layered anisotropic composites) and under any type of excitation if the phase velocity dispersion curve and the particle velocity distribution of the wave source was known initially. Thus, the proposed method may be a beneficial tool to explain and predict the response spectrum of guided waves throughout the development of any structural health monitoring system.
Detecting Unknown Artificial Urban Surface Materials Based on Spectral Dissimilarity Analysis
Authors: Jilge Marianne , Heiden Uta , Habermeyer Martin , Mende André , Juergens Carsten
Published: August 2017

High resolution imaging spectroscopy data have been recognised as a valuable data resource for augmenting detailed material inventories that serve as input for various urban applications. Image-specific urban spectral libraries are successfully used in urban imaging spectroscopy studies. However, the regional- and sensor-specific transferability of such libraries is limited due to the wide range of different surface materials. With the developed methodology, incomplete urban spectral libraries can be utilised by assuming that unknown surface material spectra are dissimilar to the known spectra in a basic spectral library (BSL). The similarity measure SID-SCA (Spectral Information Divergence-Spectral Correlation Angle) is applied to detect image-specific unknown urban surfaces while avoiding spectral mixtures. These detected unknown materials are categorised into distinct and identifiable material classes based on their spectral and spatial metrics. Experimental results demonstrate a successful redetection of material classes that had been previously erased in order to simulate an incomplete BSL. Additionally, completely new materials e.g., solar panels were identified in the data. It is further shown that the level of incompleteness of the BSL and the defined dissimilarity threshold are decisive for the detection of unknown material classes and the degree of spectral intra-class variability. A detailed accuracy assessment of the pre-classification results, aiming to separate natural and artificial materials, demonstrates spectral confusions between spectrally similar materials utilizing SID-SCA. However, most spectral confusions occur between natural or artificial materials which are not affecting the overall aim. The dissimilarity analysis overcomes the limitations of working with incomplete urban spectral libraries and enables the generation of image-specific training databases.
Efficient Segmentation of a Breast in B-Mode Ultrasound Tomography Using Three-Dimensional GrabCut (GC3D)
Authors: Yu Shaode , Wu Shibin , Zhuang Ling , Wei Xinhua , Sak Mark , Neb Duric , Hu Jiani , Xie Yaoqin
Published: August 2017

As an emerging modality for whole breast imaging, ultrasound tomography (UST), has been adopted for diagnostic purposes. Efficient segmentation of an entire breast in UST images plays an important role in quantitative tissue analysis and cancer diagnosis, while major existing methods suffer from considerable time consumption and intensive user interaction. This paper explores three-dimensional GrabCut (GC3D) for breast isolation in thirty reflection (B-mode) UST volumetric images. The algorithm can be conveniently initialized by localizing points to form a polygon, which covers the potential breast region. Moreover, two other variations of GrabCut and an active contour method were compared. Algorithm performance was evaluated from volume overlap ratios ( T O , target overlap; M O , mean overlap; F P , false positive; F N , false negative) and time consumption. Experimental results indicate that GC3D considerably reduced the work load and achieved good performance ( T O = 0.84; M O = 0.91; F P = 0.006; F N = 0.16) within an average of 1.2 min per volume. Furthermore, GC3D is not only user friendly, but also robust to various inputs, suggesting its great potential to facilitate clinical applications during whole-breast UST imaging. In the near future, the implemented GC3D can be easily automated to tackle B-mode UST volumetric images acquired from the updated imaging system.
Entry and Degree Attainment in STEM: The Intersection of Gender and Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Ma Yingyi , Liu Yan
Published: August 2017

This study focused on entry to and attainment of bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, by examining gender and race/ethnicity in an intersectional manner and paying particular attention to STEM subfields. The intersectional analysis extends previous research findings that female students are more likely to persist in college once they are in a STEM field and further reveals that racial minority women share the same tendency of persistence with white women. Women and racial minorities are most under-represented in physical-STEM fields. Our analysis reveals that black men would have had the highest probability to graduate in physical-STEM fields, had they had the family socioeconomic background and academic preparations of Asian males. This highlights the critical importance of family socioeconomic background and academic preparations, which improves the odds for STEM degree attainment for all groups. Out of these groups, black students would have experienced the most drastic progress.
Financing Health Care in Ghana: Are Ghanaians Willing to Pay Higher Taxes for Better Health Care? Findings from Afrobarometer
Authors: Adisah-Atta Isaac
Published: August 2017

Considering the recent struggle in the Ghanaian health sector, Ghanaian policy makers and donor agencies are confronted with rethinking how the health sector can be funded and sustained. In Ghana, where budgetary decisions are heavily contested and politically expensive, one option available to the government may be to raise taxes or user fees to allow for increased spending on public health care. Using Afrobarometer 2014/2015 round six survey data, this study examined whether Ghanaians would support or oppose paying higher taxes or user fees in order to increase government spending on public health care. In this study, Cross tabulation, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to examine whether Ghanaians willingness to pay or not to pay higher tax is correlated with demographic factors, access to health services, perceptions of health care, government performance, and perceived official corruption. Findings from this study indicate that only (35%) of respondents support the payment of higher taxes or user fees even though many Ghanaians have difficulties in accessing better health and medical care. More importantly, findings from the correlation and a multiple linear regression analysis indicate that, Ghanaians support for or opposition to higher taxes/fees are powerfully influenced by perceptions of government’s performance and trustworthiness (President’s performance = 0.136**; MP performance = 0.130**; leaders serving their own interest = 0.085**; trust President = 0.147**; trust Parliament = 0.121**; trust tax department = 0.136**) rather than sociodemographic factors or difficulties in obtaining health care as well as going without medical care. Also, corruption in the Office of the President and among tax officials showed negative association with paying of higher taxes (corruption at the tax department, −0.021; p-value = 0.003 and corruption at the Office of the President, −0.005; p-value = 0.001). Therefore, improving popular access to information about taxes people owe and public spending, while reducing corruption and misuse of public monies, will help encourage voluntary compliance and enhance the government’s revenue generation in Ghana.
Sustaining Immigrant Entrepreneurship in South Africa: The Role of Informal Financial Associations
Authors: Tengeh Robertson , Nkem Linus
Published: August 2017

Although immigrants have been found to be particularly likely to engage in entrepreneurial activities in their host countries, very often their ability to do so is restricted by a range of challenges, including having limited access to finances. As a consequence, proactive immigrant entrepreneurs establish informal financial associations, which are known as stokvels in South Africa, in order to compensate for the general lack of available capital for their business ventures. Accordingly, this paper has sought to ascertain the role, which stokvels play in the startups and the growth of Cameroonian-owned businesses, and also the strategies which they employ. A mixed methods approach was adopted to conduct the study and purposive sampling was employed to obtain a research sample of 123 participants to respond to the survey questionnaire and 10 to take part in one-on-one in-depth interviews. The data was analysed through the use of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, which generated findings in the form of descriptive statistics. The results suggest that most emerging immigrant entrepreneurs struggle to obtain sufficient startup capital. It also emerged from the findings that stokvels played an equally significant role in providing the capital, which was necessary for the growth of their businesses. On the basis of the assumption that widening access to finance would improve both the startups and the growth of immigrant-owned businesses, the authors of this paper advocate for inclusive policy initiatives, which consider the unique characteristics of the immigrant entrepreneur. In addition, it is hoped that this paper will make a valid contribution to the discourse concerning inclusive finance and be of interest to policy makers and academics.
Analysis of Solar Radiation Shading Effects by Trees in the Open Space around Buildings
Authors: Takebayashi Hideki , Kasahara Makiko , Tanabe Shingo , Kouyama Makoto
Published: August 2017

Work and leisure in outdoor spaces influences people’s physiological and psychological, while it can also lead to a reduction of energy consumed via air conditioning and lighting. In this study, the effects of solar radiation shading by trees in the open space around buildings on microclimatic development and pedestrian radiation environment are evaluated through a case study on the redevelopment buildings in front of Central Osaka Station, based on both observation and calculation. In both open space and green garden, direct solar radiation is shielded mainly by the buildings located behind the trees rather than by the trees themselves. Solar radiation shielding by trees is necessary in the range of more than 10 m from the south side of the buildings and more than 6 m from the west or east sides of the buildings.
No Money? No Problem! The Value of Sustainability: Social Capital Drives the Relationship among Customer Identification and Citizenship Behavior in Sharing Economy
Authors: Wang Yu-Bing , Ho Ching-Wei
Published: August 2017

This work provides a novel approach to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) concept and to CSR activities, using social capital as the driver of consumer citizenship behavior in the sharing economy business system. An online consumer questionnaire was carried out in Taiwan to examine seven proposed hypotheses to investigate the factors affecting behavior intention. The sample includes 445 participants and investigated their consumer citizenship behavior in response to companies’ participation in CSR activities and sharing of economic opportunities, in this case, Airbnb Inc. This study uses structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the data. The result explores a new form of entrepreneurship marketing strategy and indicates that CSR has a positive effect on consumer–company (C–C) identification and the perceived value of sustainability. This study also establishes that social capital is the key mediator of the relationship between C–C identification and the perceived value of sustainability in consumer citizenship behavior. This research contributes to the idea that marketers should build well-designed CSR activities and deliver the perceived value of sustainability and consumer identification through social capital accumulation, which has proven to positively increase consumer citizenship behavior in the sharing economy environment. Consequently, the authors can suggest that entrepreneurs/executives should understand that CSR affects the perception of sustainability, consumer–company identification and improve consumer citizenship behavior. Most importantly, CSR activities focusing on sustainability issues and operating with social capital may lower costs and improve efficiencies as well. This finding could be viewed as a pioneering benchmark for further research.
Evaluating Investment Risks of Metallic Mines Using an Extended TOPSIS Method with Linguistic Neutrosophic Numbers
Authors: Liang Weizhang , Zhao Guoyan , Wu Hao
Published: August 2017

The investment in and development of mineral resources play an important role in the national economy. A good mining project investment can improve economic efficiency and increase social wealth. Faced with the complexity and uncertainty of a mine’s circumstances, there is great significance in evaluating investment risk scientifically. In order to solve practical engineering problems, this paper presents an extended TOPSIS method combined with linguistic neutrosophic numbers (LNNs). Firstly, considering that there are several qualitative risk factors of mining investment projects, the paper describes evaluation information by means of LNNs. The advantage of LNNs is that major original information is reserved with linguistic truth, indeterminacy, and false membership degrees. After that, a number of distance measures are defined. Furthermore, a common status is that the decision makers can’t determine the importance degrees of every risk factor directly for a few reasons. With respect to this situation, the paper offers a weight model based on maximizing deviation to obtain the criteria weight vector objectively. Subsequently, a decision-making approach through improving classical TOPSIS with LNNs comes into being. Next, a case study of the proposed method applied in metallic mining projects investment is given. Some comparison analysis is also submitted. At last, the discussions and conclusions are finished.
Spider Neurotoxins, Short Linear Cationic Peptides and Venom Protein Classification Improved by an Automated Competition between Exhaustive Profile HMM Classifiers
Authors: Koua Dominique , Kuhn-Nentwig Lucia
Published: August 2017

Spider venoms are rich cocktails of bioactive peptides, proteins, and enzymes that are being intensively investigated over the years. In order to provide a better comprehension of that richness, we propose a three-level family classification system for spider venom components. This classification is supported by an exhaustive set of 219 new profile hidden Markov models (HMMs) able to attribute a given peptide to its precise peptide type, family, and group. The proposed classification has the advantages of being totally independent from variable spider taxonomic names and can easily evolve. In addition to the new classifiers, we introduce and demonstrate the efficiency of hmmcompete, a new standalone tool that monitors HMM-based family classification and, after post-processing the result, reports the best classifier when multiple models produce significant scores towards given peptide queries. The combined used of hmmcompete and the new spider venom component-specific classifiers demonstrated 96% sensitivity to properly classify all known spider toxins from the UniProtKB database. These tools are timely regarding the important classification needs caused by the increasing number of peptides and proteins generated by transcriptomic projects.
Characterization of a Novel RNA Virus Discovered in the Autumnal Moth Epirrita autumnata in Sweden
Authors: De Miranda Joachim , Hedman Harald , Onorati Piero , Stephan Jörg , Karlberg Olof , Bylund Helena , Terenius Olle
Published: August 2017

A novel, 10 kb RNA virus—tentatively named ‘Abisko virus’—was discovered in the transcriptome data of a diseased autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata) larva, as part of a search for the possible causes of the cyclical nature and mortality associated with geometrid moth dynamics and outbreaks in northern Fennoscandia. Abisko virus has a genome organization similar to that of the insect-infecting negeviruses, but phylogenetic and compositional bias analyses also reveal strong affiliations with plant-infecting viruses, such that both the primary host origin and taxonomic identity of the virus remain in doubt. In an extensive set of larval, pupal, and adult autumnal moth and winter moth (Operophtera brumata) outbreak samples, the virus was only detected in a few adult E. autumnata moths as well as the single larval transcriptome. The Abisko virus is therefore unlikely to be a factor in the Fennoscandia geometrid population dynamics.
Tourism and aquaTic safeTy: no Lifeguard on duTy—swim aT your own risk
Authors: Wilks Jeff
Published: August 2017

The law requires a tourism operator to undertake due diligence in relation to reasonably foreseeable risks. In the marine environment it is now well established that international tourists are a particular "at risk" group for drowning and near drowning events due to factors such as
poor swimming ability, unfamiliarity with aquatic environments and marine recreational activities, language, possible alcohol and drug use, and general disorientation. The employment of lifeguards is increasingly recognized as an appropriate risk management and quality service response, as
other popular injury prevention initiatives may not be as successful with tourists. This article examines the law and practice relating to the supply of lifeguards in tourist settings, suggesting that quality customer service has moved beyond reliance on static safety signage.
Human Dimensions Of Wreck Diving And Management: Case Studies From Australia And Micronesia
Authors: Edney Joanne
Published: August 2017

Shipwrecks have become popular attractions for recreational scuba divers. This interest has seen increased levels of visitation and has resulted in higher levels of diver impacts at these sites. Understanding the characteristics of the divers' visiting these sites, their motivations,
preferences, and attitudes to management controls can assist managers in developing more effective and sustainable management strategies to mitigate diver impacts. However, until recently little was known about wreck divers. This article compiles and analyzes the findings of two recent studies
of wreck divers in Australia and Micronesia, discusses their implications to shipwreck management, and makes recommendations about application of this information in management strategies aimed at balancing the protection of sites with visitation by divers.
Development of an advanced diagnostic concept for intestinal inflammation: molecular visualisation of nitric oxide in macrophages by functional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres
Authors: Lange Kathleen , Lautenschläger Christian , Wallert Maria , Lorkowski Stefan , Stallmach Andreas , Schiller Alexander
Published: August 2017

We here describe a new approach to visualise nitric oxide (NO) in living macrophages by fluorescent NO-sensitive microspheres based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). PLGA microspheres loaded with NO550 dye were prepared through a modified solvent-evaporation method. Microparticles were characterized by a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 3000 nm, zeta potential of −26.000 ± 0.351 mV and a PDI of 0.828 ± 0.298. Under abiotic conditions, NO release was triggered through UV radiation (254 nm) of 10 mM sodium nitroprusside dehydrate (SNP). After incubation, AZO550 microspheres exhibited an about 8-fold increased emission at 550 nm compared to NO550 particles. For biotic NO release, RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella typhimurium. After treatment with NO550 microparticles, only activated cells caused a green particle fluorescence and could be detected by laser scanning microscopy. NO release was confirmed indirectly with Griess reaction. Our functional NO550 particles enable a simple and early evaluation of inflammatory and immunological processes. Furthermore, our results on particle-based NO sensing and previous studies in targeting intestinal inflammation via (PLGA)-based microspheres demonstrate that an advanced concept for visualizing intestinal inflammation is tangible.
A novel approach to oxoisoaporphine alkaloids via regioselective metalation of alkoxy isoquinolines
Authors: Melzer Benedikt C , Bracher Franz
Published: August 2017

Oxoisoaporphine alkaloids are conveniently prepared via direct ring metalation of alkoxy-substituted isoquinolines at C-1, followed by reaction with iodine. Subsequent Suzuki cross-coupling of the resulting 1-iodoisoquinolines to methyl 2-(isoquinolin-1-yl)benzoates and intramolecular acylation of the corresponding carboxylic acids with Eaton’s reagent afforded five alkaloids of the oxoisoaporphine type. The yield of the cyclization step strongly depends on the electrophilic properties of ring B. An alternative cyclization protocol via directed remote metalation of ester and amide intermediates was investigated thoroughly, but found to be not feasible. Two of the alkaloids showed strong cytotoxicity against the HL-60 tumor cell line.
Differences between Subjective Balanced Occlusion and Measurements Reported With T-Scan III
Authors: Lila-Krasniqi Zana , Shala Kujtim , Krasniqi Teuta Pustina , Bicaj Teuta , Ahmedi Enis , Dula Linda , Dragusha Arlinda Tmava , Guguvcevski Ljuben
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of Temporomandibular disorder is multifactorial, and numerous studies have addressed that occlusion may be of great importance in the pathogenesis of Temporomandibular disorder.AIM: The aim of this study is to determine if any direct relationship exists between balanced occlusion and Temporomandibular disorder and to evaluate the differences between subjective balanced occlusion and measurements reported with T-scan III electronic system.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 subjects were divided into three groups, selection based on anamnesis-responded to a Fonseca questionnaire and clinical measurements analysed with electronic system T-scan III. In the I study group were participants with fixed dentures with prosthetic ceramic restorations. In the II study group were symptomatic participants with TMD. In the third control group were healthy participants with full arch dentition that completed a subjective questionnaire that documented the absence of jaw pain, joint noise, locking and subjects without a history of TMD. The occlusal balance was reported subjectively through Fonseca questionnaire and compared with occlusion analysed with electronic system T-scan III.RESULTS: For attributive data were used percentage of the structure. Differences in P < 0.05 were considered significant. After distributing attributive data of occlusal balance subjectively reported and compared with measurements analysed with electronic system T-scan III were found significant difference P < 0.001 in all three groups.CONCLUSION: In our study, it was concluded that there were statistically significant differences of balanced occlusion in all three groups. Also it was concluded that subjective data are not exact with measurements reported with electronic device T-scan III.
Beyond
p
< .05: Toward a Nightingalean Perspective on Statistical Significance for Nursing Education Researchers
Authors: Spurlock Darrell
Published: August 2017

During the past decade, substantial concern has developed among scholars from a variety of disciplines about the common use and interpretation of
p
-values, used to indicate the statistical significance of inferential statistical analyses reported in quantitative studies. These debates have highlighted a widespread misunderstanding of
p
-values and the more limited role they should take in informing study conclusions and policy decisions. In this month's “Methodology Corner,” I provide an overview of this debate, describe the limitations of statistical significance testing, and suggest that the nursing education research enterprise would benefit from following a more Nightingalean approach to statistical analysis, where the practical importance—the meaningfulness—of study findings is emphasized. [
J Nurs Educ
. 2017;56(8):453–455.]
Art and Advanced Practice Nursing: Evidence Supporting Its Relevance in Graduate Education
Authors: Mokel Melissa J.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Nurses spend more time with health care consumers than any other health care professional and are the largest, most trusted group of health care providers in the U.S. health care system. At the same time, an increasingly diverse and complex society requires that nurses possess a unique capacity to care for consumers using culturally congruent and ethical approaches to care. This challenges nurse educators to provide learning experiences that teach emotional and affective forms of learning that complement the clinical skills acquired through the student's educational experience.

Method:

This article describes an educational innovation using art pedagogy in a course on ethical issues in advanced practice nursing.

Results:

Learners were able to use art to articulate their ideas about feminism, women's health, and race relations in a nonthreatening and creative venue.

Conclusion:

The findings demonstrate the relevance of this educational innovation in achieving learning outcomes for an underreported group—the graduate-level nurse. [
J Nurs Educ.
2017;56(8):501–504.]