bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Brief Note on the Nix–Gao Strain Gradient Plasticity Theory
Authors: Borokinni A. S. , Liu Dabiao
Published: September 2018

The mathematical nature of the flow rule for the strain gradient plasticity theory proposed by Nix and Gao (W.D. Nix and H. Gao, J Mech Phys Solids 46(3), 411(1998)) is discussed based on the paradigm developed by Gurtin and Anand (M.E. Gurtin and L. Anand, J Mech Phys Solids 57 (3), 405 (2009)). It is shown that, when investigated on the basis of Gurtin–Anand theory, the Nix–Gao flow rule is a combination of constitutive equations for microstresses, balance law, and a constraint. As an accessory, we demonstrate that the strain gradient term introduced in the model is energetic. The results are obtained by combining a virtual-power principle of Fleck and Hutchinson, and the free-energy imbalance under isothermal conditions.
The Saint-Honoré Carbonatite REE Zone, Québec, Canada: Combined Magmatic and Hydrothermal Processes
Authors: Néron Alexandre , Bédard Léo Paul , Gaboury Damien
Published: September 2018

The Saint-Honoré carbonatite complex hosts a rare earth element (REE) deposit traditionally interpreted as being produced by late-stage hydrothermal fluids that leached REE from apatite or dolomite found in the early units and concentrated the REE in the late-stage units. New evidence from deeper units suggest that the Fe-carbonatite was mineralized by a combination of both magmatic and hydrothermal crystallization of rare earth minerals. The upper Fe-carbonatite has characteristics typical of hydrothermal mineralization—polycrystalline clusters hosting bastnäsite-(Ce), which crystallized radially from carbonate or barite crystals, as well as the presence of halite and silicification within strongly brecciated units. However, bastnäsite-(Ce) inclusions in primary magmatic barite crystals have also been identified deeper in the Fe-carbonatite (below 1000 m), suggesting that primary crystallization of rare earth minerals occurred prior to hydrothermal leaching. Based on the intensity of hydrothermal brecciation, Cl depletion at depth and greater abundance of secondary fluid inclusions in carbonates in the upper levels, it is interpreted that hydrothermal activity was weaker in this deepest portion, thereby preserving the original magmatic textures. This early magmatic crystallization of rare earth minerals could be a significant factor in generating high-volume REE deposits. Crystallization of primary barite could be an important guide for REE exploration.
Prediction Methods of Herbal Compounds in Chinese Medicinal Herbs
Authors: Han Ke , Zhang Lei , Wang Miao , Zhang Rui , Wang Chunyu , Zhang Chengzhi
Published: September 2018

Chinese herbal medicine has recently gained worldwide attention. The curative mechanism of Chinese herbal medicine is compared with that of western medicine at the molecular level. The treatment mechanism of most Chinese herbal medicines is still not clear. How do we integrate Chinese herbal medicine compounds with modern medicine? Chinese herbal medicine drug-like prediction method is particularly important. A growing number of Chinese herbal source compounds are now widely used as drug-like compound candidates. An important way for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs is to discover potentially active compounds from related herbs in Chinese herbs. The methods for predicting the drug-like properties of Chinese herbal compounds include the virtual screening method, pharmacophore model method and machine learning method. In this paper, we focus on the prediction methods for the medicinal properties of Chinese herbal medicines. We analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the above three methods, and then introduce the specific steps of the virtual screening method. Finally, we present the prospect of the joint application of various methods.
Quality Evaluation of Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex by Fingerprint–Chemical Pattern Recognition
Authors: Cao Xuexiao , Sun Lili , Li Di , You Guangjiao , Wang Meng , Ren Xiaoliang
Published: September 2018

Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (PCC) and Phellodendri Amurensis Cortex (PAC) are increasingly being used as traditional herbal medicines, but they are often mistaken for each other. In this study, the fingerprints of PCC from six different geographical sources were obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography, and multivariate chemometric methods were used for comprehensive analysis. Two unsupervised pattern recognition models (principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis) and a supervised pattern recognition model (partial least squares discriminant analysis) were established on the basis of the chemical composition and physical traits of PCC and PAC. PCC and PAC were found to be distinguishable by these methods. The PCC category was divisible into two categories, one with more crude cork and a maximum thickness of ~1.5 mm, and the other with less net crude cork and a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm. According to the model established by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), the important chemical marker berberine hydrochloride was obtained and analyzed quantitatively. From these results combined with chemometric and content analyses, the preliminary classification standards for phellodendron were established as three grades: superior, first-order and mixed. Compared with the traditional identification methods of thin layer chromatography identification and microscopic identification, our method for quality evaluation is relatively simple. It provides a basis and reference for identification of PCC and enables establishment of grade standards. It also could be applied in quality control for compound preparations containing PCC.
Application of Ionic Liquid-Based Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Bamboo Leaves
Authors: Wang Liling , Bai Minge , Qin Yuchuan , Liu Bentong , Wang Yanbin , Zhou Yifeng
Published: September 2018

Ionic liquids (ILs), known as environmentally benign “green” solvents, were developed as an optimal solvent for the green extraction and separation field. In this paper, an ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction (IL-UAE) of flavonoids (FVs) from bamboo leaves of Phyllostachys heterocycla was developed for the first time. First, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Bmim] Br), with the best extraction efficiency, was selected from fifteen ionic liquids with diverse structure, like carbon chains or anions. Then, the influencing parameters of ionic liquid (IL) concentration, liquid-solid ratio, ultrasonic time, and ultrasonic power, were investigated by single factor tests, and further optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). In the optimization experiment, the best conditions were 1.5 mol/L [BMIM]Br aqueous solution, liquid-solid ratio 41 mL/g, ultrasonic time 90 min, and ultrasonic power 300 W. Furthermore, the microstructures of bamboo leaves and the recovery of FVs and [BMIM]Br were also studied. Therefore, this simple, green and effective IL-UAE method has potentiality for the extraction of FVs from bamboo leaves for the large-scale operations.
Structural and Stress Properties of AlGaN Epilayers Grown on AlN-Nanopatterned Sapphire Templates by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy
Authors: Tasi Chi-Tsung , Wang Wei-Kai , Ou Sin-Liang , Huang Shih-Yung , Horng Ray-Hua , Wuu Dong-Sing
Published: September 2018

In this paper, we report the epitaxial growth and material characteristics of AlGaN (Al mole fraction of 10%) on an AlN/nanopatterned sapphire substrate (NPSS) template by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The crystalline quality, surface morphology, microstructure, and stress state of the AlGaN/AlN/NPSS epilayers were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the crystal quality of the AlGaN film could be improved when grown on the AlN/NPSS template. The screw threading dislocation (TD) density was reduced to 1.4 × 109 cm−2 for the AlGaN epilayer grown on the AlN/NPSS template, which was lower than that of the sample grown on a flat c-plane sapphire substrate (6.3 × 109 cm−2). As examined by XRD measurements, the biaxial tensile stress of the AlGaN film was significantly reduced from 1,187 MPa (on AlN/NPSS) to 38.41 MPa (on flat c-plane sapphire). In particular, an increase of the Al content in the overgrown AlGaN layer was confirmed by the TEM observation. This could be due to the relaxation of the in-plane stress through the AlGaN and AlN/NPSS template interface.
Magnetic Targeting of Growth Factors Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Marcus Michal , Smith Alexandra , Maswadeh Ahmad , Shemesh Ziv , Zak Idan , Motiei Menachem , Schori Hadas , Margel Shlomo , Sharoni Amos , Shefi Orit
Published: September 2018

Growth factors play an important role in nerve regeneration and repair. An attractive drug delivery strategy, termed “magnetic targeting”, aims to enhance therapeutic efficiency by directing magnetic drug carriers specifically to selected cell populations that are suitable for the nervous tissues. Here, we covalently conjugated nerve growth factor to iron oxide nanoparticles (NGF-MNPs) and used controlled magnetic fields to deliver the NGF–MNP complexes to target sites. In order to actuate the magnetic fields a modular magnetic device was designed and fabricated. PC12 cells that were plated homogenously in culture were differentiated selectively only in targeted sites out of the entire dish, restricted to areas above the magnetic “hot spots”. To examine the ability to guide the NGF-MNPs towards specific targets in vivo, we examined two model systems. First, we injected and directed magnetic carriers within the sciatic nerve. Second, we injected the MNPs intravenously and showed a significant accumulation of MNPs in mouse retina while using an external magnet that was placed next to one of the eyes. We propose a novel approach to deliver drugs selectively to injured sites, thus, to promote an effective repair with minimal systemic side effects, overcoming current challenges in regenerative therapeutics.
A Magnetic Adsorbent for the Removal of Cationic Dyes from Wastewater
Authors: Ji Yumei , Ma Chenguang , Li Jie , Zhao Haiyan , Chen Qianqian , Li Mingxue , Liu Hongling
Published: September 2018

In this article, a study was presented on the adsorption activity of a new nanocomposite particle Fe3O4@1, which was synthesized by combining [Cu(HL)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23]·10H2O (1) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine semicarbazone) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that Fe3O4@1 possessed high crystallinity with an average particle size of 19.1 nm. The adsorption activity of the as-prepared Fe3O4@1 was investigated by photometrically monitoring the removal of methylene blue, rhodamine B, safranine T, gentian violet, fuchsin basic, and methyl orange from aqueous solutions. Significantly, we could easily separate Fe3O4@1 from the reaction media by applying an external magnet. Furthermore, the recycling performance was observed using methylene blue, revealing the recyclability and high stability of Fe3O4@1. It was shown that Fe3O4@1 is a promising candidate material for adsorbing cationic dyes in aqueous media.
The Dirt on Clean Eating: A Cross Sectional Analysis of Dietary Intake, Restrained Eating and Opinions about Clean Eating among Women
Authors: Allen Michelle , Dickinson Kacie M. , Prichard Ivanka
Published: September 2018

Clean eating is understood in broad terms to be an approach to eating which promotes the exclusion of processed foods. Social media and websites which promote clean eating are becoming increasingly popular as sources of nutrition information. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge regarding women’s opinions about clean eating sites and their influence on eating behaviour. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in dietary intake, dietary restraint and opinions about clean eating between women who had, and women who had never adhered to dietary advice from clean eating sites. Using a cross-sectional survey design, women (n = 762) ranging in age from 17–55 completed a self-report questionnaire on eating behaviour and beliefs about clean eating. Findings showed that 25.5% of the sample adhered to dietary advice from a clean eating site sometimes, often or very often. A significantly higher proportion of women who had adhered to dietary advice from clean eating sites met dietary guidelines for the consumption of fruit, meats and alternatives compared to women who had seldom or never adhered. Adherers also had significantly higher levels of restrained eating and were more positive about clean eating in general in comparison to those who seldom or never adhered. Results provide new information about exposure to clean eating sites and how they may influence women’s eating practices. These preliminary findings suggest additional studies are required to better understand the influence of clean eating sites, particularly with regard to whether the information on such sites are from reputable sources and to what degree their recommendations may be problematic for individuals with eating concerns.
Dietary Cholesterol Contained in Whole Eggs Is Not Well Absorbed and Does Not Acutely Affect Plasma Total Cholesterol Concentration in Men and Women: Results from 2 Randomized Controlled Crossover Studies
Authors: Kim Jung Eun , Campbell Wayne W.
Published: September 2018

Whole egg is a food source of dietary cholesterol and inconsistent research findings exist about the effect of dietary cholesterol from whole egg on blood cholesterol concentration. We assessed the effect of co-consuming cooked whole egg (CWE) on dietary cholesterol absorption from two randomized-crossover studies. For study 1, 16 men consumed raw vegetables with no egg, 75 g CWE, or 150 g CWE. For study 2, 17 women consumed cooked vegetables with no egg or 100 g CWE. Triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein fractions (TRL) were isolated from collected blood. In study 1, total-cholesterol areas under the curve (AUC)0–10h in TRL were not different but triacylglycerol AUC0–10h in TRL was greater for 150 g CWE vs. 75 g CWE and no egg. Similarly, in study 2, total-cholesterol AUC0–10h in TRL was not different but triacylglycerol AUC0–10h in TRL was greater for 100 g CWE vs. no egg. In both studies, whole egg consumption did not affect plasma total-cholesterol AUC0–10h, while triacylglycerol AUC0–10h was increased. These results suggest that the dietary cholesterol in whole egg was not well absorbed, which may provide mechanistic insight for why it does not acutely influence plasma total-cholesterol concentration and is not associated with longer-term plasma cholesterol control.
The Possibility of Applying the Vitamin D Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire as a Tool for a Country with No Vitamin D Data in Food Composition Tables
Authors: Głąbska Dominika , Uroić Valentina , Guzek Dominika , Pavić Eva , Bival Sandra , Jaworska Kamila , Giljević Zlatko , Lange Ewa
Published: September 2018

Although the role of vitamin D is well known, the possibility of assessing its intake may be constricted in countries with no vitamin D data in food composition tables, as in the case of Croatia. The aim of the presented study was to adjust the VIDEO-FFQ (Vitamin D Estimation Only—Food Frequency Questionnaire), previously validated in Poland, to the Croatian population and to assess the validity and reproducibility of the adjusted Cro-VIDEO-FFQ (Croatian—VIDEO-FFQ). The study involved a group of Croatian women aged 20–30 and the Polish questionnaire was adjusted for a population due to similarities of the nutritional habits between countries. 106 individuals were recruited and 63 completed all the stages of the study. Participants conducted a 3-day dietary record and filled out the Cro-VIDEO-FFQ1 (first stage), as well as the same questionnaire (Cro-VIDEO-FFQ2) 6 weeks after (second stage). The following vitamin D intakes were observed in the studied group: 1.9 µg (0.2–8.0 µg) for 3-day dietary record, 3.3 µg (1.1–10.6 µg) for Cro-VIDEO-FFQ1, 3.6 µg (1.4–7.8 µg) for Cro-VIDEO-FFQ2. The Bland-Altman indexes in assessment of validity and reproducibility were 4.8% and 6.3%, respectively, with mean differences of 0.55 µg and 0.12 µg, as well as limits of agreement −0.91–2.01 µg and −0.44–0.69 µg. The kappa coefficient indicated a fair agreement for validity (0.21) and substantial for reproducibility (0.62), while correlations were significant (p = 0.0027, r = 0.37 for validity; p < 0.0001, r = 0.80 for reproducibility). It was observed that VIDEO-FFQ may be adjusted as a simple tool to assess vitamin D intake in a population with no vitamin D data in food composition tables, while Cro-VIDEO-FFQ may be a valid tool for nutritional assessment in Croatia.
A Pseudopeptide Polymer Micelle Used for Asymmetric Catalysis of the Aldol Reaction in Water
Authors: Liu Keyuan , Ye Long , Wang Yao , Du Ganhong , Jiang Liming
Published: September 2018

Micelles assembled from amphiphilic molecules have proved to be ideal scaffolds to construct artificial catalysts mimicking enzymatic catalytic behavior. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) derivatives with l-prolinamide units in the side chain and their application in asymmetric aldol reactions. Upon dissolution in water, the pseudopeptide polymers self-assembled into particles with different sizes, relying on the copolymer composition and distribution of hydrophilic/hydrophobic segments in the polymer chain. A preliminary study has demonstrated that the catalytic activity of these polymeric organocatalysts are strongly dependent on the aggregated architecture. The micelle-type assemblies can act as nanoreactors to efficiently promote the direct aldolisation of cyclohexanone with aromatic aldehydes in aqueous media, affording anti-aldol products in excellent yields (88–99%) and higher stereoselectivities (90/10 dr, 86% ee) compared to their nonmicellar systems under identical conditions.
Conformational Transitions of Polymer Chains in Solutions Characterized by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
Authors: Qin Linlin , Li Linling , Sha Ye , Wang Ziyu , Zhou Dongshan , Chen Wei , Xue Gi
Published: September 2018

The critical overlap concentration C* is an important concept in polymer solutions and is defined as the boundary between dilute and semidilute regimes. In this study, the chain conformational changes of polystyrene (PS) with both high (Mn = 200,000 Da) and low (Mn = 13,000 Da) molecular weights in cis-decalin were compared by intrachain fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The random labeling of donor and acceptor chromophores strategy was employed for long PS chains, whereas chain-end labeling was used for short PS chains. By monitoring the spectroscopic intensity ratio between acceptor and donor, the concentration dependence on chain conformation from dilute to semidilute solutions was determined. Both long and short chains exhibit a conformational transition concentration, above which the polymer chains begin to collapse with concentration significantly. Interestingly, for randomly labeled polymer long chains, such concentration is consistent with C* determined from the viscosity result, below which only slight conformational change of polymer chain takes place. However, for the chain-end labeled short chain, the conformational transition concentration takes place earlier than C*, below which no significant polymer conformation change is observed.
Recycling and Reuse Technology: Waste to Wealth Initiative in a Private Tertiary Institution, Nigeria
Authors: Olukanni David O. , Aipoh Anne O. , Kalabo Inibraniye H.
Published: September 2018

The practice of collecting, treating, and managing solid waste prior to disposal has become a necessity in developing and modern societies. However, over the years, most waste has become regarded as having second-rate value and could be recovered and reused for valuable goods. However, the construction costs for conventional Material Recovery Facility(s) (MRFs) have been a major barrier for its implementation, and these technologies also require considerable technical expertise, which is not often available in developing nations for the successful operation of the MRFs. Covenant University, a private mission institution undertaking a waste-to-wealth scheme, is focused on managing and processing used materials to create reusable products. Such materials included PET bottles, paper waste, food waste from cafeterias, plastic food packs, nylon, tin cans, and others. Specific areas from the university which were chosen for the survey included the residential areas for staff and students and the two cafeterias. The waste generated was characterized so as to quantify the amount of recyclable waste generated, and also to find out which was most-occurring. The survey involved the use of structured questionnaires, on-site observations, and measurements. The study revealed that the average amount of recyclable waste generated per day in the institution were 55.56% food waste, 13.46% PET bottles, 12.64% other plastic, 9.63% nylon, 4.68% tin cans, and 4.03% paper. The study establishes that adequate waste characterization is a requirement for effective integrated solid waste management, which would boost resource recovery, reuse, and recycling.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Variability of the Eastern Coastal Zone of the Gulf of California
Authors: Robles-Tamayo Carlos Manuel , Valdez-Holguín José Eduardo , García-Morales Ricardo , Figueroa-Preciado Gudelia , Herrera-Cervantes Hugo , López-Martínez Juana , Enríquez-Ocaña Luis Fernando
Published: September 2018

The coastal zones are areas with a high flow of energy and materials where diverse ecosystems are developed. The study of coastal oceanography is important to understand the variability of these ecosystems and determine their role in biogeochemical cycles and climate change. Sea surface temperature (SST) analysis is indispensable for the characterization of physical and biological processes, and it is affected by processes at diverse timescales. The purpose of this work is to analyze the oceanographic variability of the Eastern Coastal Zone of the Gulf of California through the study of the SST from time series analysis of monthly data obtained from remote sensors (AVHRR-Pathfinder Version 5.1 and Version 5 resolution of 4 km, MODIS-Aqua, resolution of 4 km) for the period 1981 to 2016. The descriptive analysis of SST series showed that the values decrease from south to north, as well as the amplitude of the warm period decrease from south to north (cold period increase from south to north). The minimum values occurred during January and February, and ranged between 18 and 20 °C; and maximum values, of about 32 °C, arose in August and September. Cluster analysis allowed to group the data in four regions (south, center, midriff islands and north), the spectral analysis in each region showed frequencies of variation in scales: Annual (the main), seasonal, semiannual, and interannual. The latter is associated with the El Niño and La Niña climatological phenomena.
Development of Raman Lidar for Remote Sensing of CO2 Leakage at an Artificial Carbon Capture and Storage Site
Authors: Kim Daewon , Kang Hyeongwoo , Ryu Jea-Yong , Jun Seong-Chun , Yun Seong-Taek , Choi SungChul , Park SunHo , Yoon MoonSang , Lee Hanlim
Published: September 2018

We developed a Raman lidar system that can remotely detect CO2 leakage and its volume mixing ratio (VMR). The system consists of a laser, a telescope, an optical receiver, and detectors. Indoor CO2 cell measurements show that the accuracy of the Raman lidar is 99.89%. Field measurements were carried out over a four-day period in November 2017 at the Eumsong Environmental Impact Evaluation Test Facility (EIT), Korea, where a CO2 leak was located 0.2 km from the Raman lidar. The results show good agreement between CO2 VMR measured by the Raman lidar system (CO2 VMRRaman LIDAR) and that measured by in situ instruments (CO2 VMRIn-situ). The correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and percentage difference between CO2 VMRIn-situ and CO2 VMRRaman LIDAR are 0.81, 0.27%, 0.37%, and 4.92%, respectively. The results indicate that Raman lidar is an effective tool in detecting CO2 leakage and in measuring CO2 VMR remotely.
Remote Sensing of Antarctic Glacier and Ice-Shelf Front Dynamics—A Review
Authors: Baumhoer Celia A. , Dietz Andreas J. , Dech Stefan , Kuenzer Claudia
Published: September 2018

The contribution of Antarctica’s ice sheet to global sea-level rise depends on the very dynamic behavior of glaciers and ice shelves. One important parameter of ice-sheet dynamics is the location of glacier and ice-shelf fronts. Numerous remote sensing studies on Antarctic glacier and ice-shelf front positions exist, but no long-term record on circum-Antarctic front dynamics has been established so far. The article outlines the potential of remote sensing to map, extract, and measure calving front dynamics. Furthermore, this review provides an overview of the spatial and temporal availability of Antarctic calving front observations for the first time. Single measurements are compiled to a circum-Antarctic record of glacier and ice shelf retreat/advance. We find sufficient frontal records for the Antarctic Peninsula and Victoria Land, whereas on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), measurements only concentrate on specific glaciers and ice sheets. Frontal records for the East Antarctic Ice Sheet exist since the 1970s. Studies agree on the general retreat of calving fronts along the Antarctic Peninsula. East Antarctic calving fronts also showed retreating tendencies between 1970s until the early 1990s, but have advanced since the 2000s. Exceptions of this general trend are Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, and the northernmost Dronning Maud Land. For the WAIS, no clear trend in long-term front fluctuations could be identified, as observations of different studies vary in space and time, and fronts highly fluctuate. For further calving front analysis, regular mapping intervals as well as glacier morphology should be included. We propose to exploit current and future developments in Earth observations to create frequent standardized measurements for circum-Antarctic assessments of glacier and ice-shelf front dynamics in regard to ice-sheet mass balance and climate forcing.
Welfare Chauvinism, Economic Insecurity and the Asylum Seeker “Crisis”
Authors: Heizmann Boris , Jedinger Alexander , Perry Anja
Published: September 2018

Immigration has been a major trend in the last decades in Europe. However, immigrant access to the social security systems has remained a contentious issue having gained additional salience in light of the recent asylum-seeking developments. We focus on welfare chauvinism, the idea that immigrants should not participate in welfare resources, as an attitudinal dimension. We seek to answer two primary questions: To what extent are different types of objective and subjective material deprivation related to welfare chauvinism? What is the role of the recent asylum seeker influx? Using European Social Survey data and employing binary and generalized ordered logit models with country fixed effects, we find perceptions of deprivation to be more meaningful than objective factors related to potential job loss, and some relationships depend on the specific type of deprivation. On the country level, in line with the deservingness of asylum seekers as a group, higher levels of asylum seeking are related to lower levels of welfare chauvinism, while GDP per capita is not associated with welfare chauvinism. Finally, the generalized ordered logit model shows that some relationships vary according to the strictness of welfare chauvinism, which would not be visible in a conventional ordered logit model.
Financial Imbalances in Regional Disaster Recovery Following Earthquakes—Case Study Concerning Housing-Cost Expenditures in Japan
Authors: Nakashima Tadayoshi , Okada Shigeyuki
Published: September 2018

In the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, a large-scale effort towards reconstruction of houses damaged by the quake was required. This led to increased mortgage, thereby financially plaguing a number of earthquake victims and inhibiting their long-term sustainability and self-supported recovery. The current framework of housing reconstruction assistance provided by the Japanese government does not account for regional disparities in cost and other socioeconomic factors. This study proposes a technique for estimating the cost of reconstructing household units damaged in an earthquake by considering the effects of construction methods influenced by regional climatic zones. The financial constraints on rebuilding resources have been estimated by considering the annual regional income and household savings, as determined by social factors and employment opportunities. The susceptibility of regions to the occurrence of earthquakes has also been factored in the calculation of recovery costs. Together, these factors are used to provide a more complete picture of economic costs associated with earthquake recovery in different regions of Japan, thereby revealing large disparities in the difficulty and financial burden involved in the reconstruction of household units. Results of this study could be used to develop a robust system for earthquake-recovery assistance that accounts for differences in recovery costs between different regions, thereby improving the speed and quality of post-earthquake recovery.
Agricultural Transition and Technical Efficiency: An Empirical Analysis of Wheat-Cultivating Farms in Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan
Authors: Sherzod Babakholov , Kim Kyung-Ryang , Lee Sang Hyeon
Published: September 2018

Wheat and wheat products are an important part of the daily diet of Uzbek people, and thus, are under strategic consideration in terms of food security in Uzbekistan since the beginning of independence. In this study, wheat production during agricultural transition is reviewed and determinants of technical efficiency of wheat-cultivating farms in the Samarkand region are analyzed. Analyses are accomplished in two steps. In the initial step, technical efficiency of wheat farms is estimated using data envelopment analyses (DEA) and determenants of inefficiencies are analyzed by the Tobit model in the second step. Data for this study were collected from 124 randomly sampled private farms engaged in wheat production in the Samarkand region. The mean value of technical efficiency scores of wheat-growing farmers were found to be 0.79 and 0.82 under constant return to scale (CRS) and variable return to scale (VRS) assumptions. Empirical results suggest that there is a considerable scope for increasing production through reallocation of existing resources or that private farmers can reduce their input costs by 21 and 18 percent while holding the same production levels. The age of farmers, farmers’ education on agriculture, soil fertility, and the quality of seeds were found as the main determinants of technical efficiency in the study area.
A New Model for Determining Weight Coefficients of Criteria in MCDM Models: Full Consistency Method (FUCOM)
Authors: Pamučar Dragan , Stević Željko , Sremac Siniša
Published: September 2018

In this paper, a new multi-criteria problem solving method—the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM)—is proposed. The model implies the definition of two groups of constraints that need to satisfy the optimal values of weight coefficients. The first group of constraints is the condition that the relations of the weight coefficients of criteria should be equal to the comparative priorities of the criteria. The second group of constraints is defined on the basis of the conditions of mathematical transitivity. After defining the constraints and solving the model, in addition to optimal weight values, a deviation from full consistency (DFC) is obtained. The degree of DFC is the deviation value of the obtained weight coefficients from the estimated comparative priorities of the criteria. In addition, DFC is also the reliability confirmation of the obtained weights of criteria. In order to illustrate the proposed model and evaluate its performance, FUCOM was tested on several numerical examples from the literature. The model validation was performed by comparing it with the other subjective models (the Best Worst Method (BWM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)), based on the pairwise comparisons of the criteria and the validation of the results by using DFC. The results show that FUCOM provides better results than the BWM and AHP methods, when the relation between consistency and the required number of the comparisons of the criteria are taken into consideration. The main advantages of FUCOM in relation to the existing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are as follows: (1) a significantly smaller number of pairwise comparisons (only n − 1), (2) a consistent pairwise comparison of criteria, and (3) the calculation of the reliable values of criteria weight coefficients, which contribute to rational judgment.
The Immunoprotective Effect of Sertoli Cells Coencapsulated with Islet Xenografts is Not Dependent upon Fas Ligand Expression
Authors: Yang Hua , Al-Jazaeri Ayman , Wright James R.
Published: September 2018

Coencapsulation with Sertoli-enriched testicular cell fractions prolongs islet graft survival time compared with islet encapsulation alone in a highly discordant tilapia (fish)-to-mouse xenotransplantation model. Here we investigate whether Fas ligand (Fas-L) expression by testicular Sertoli cells is responsible for this additional protective effect. Sertoli-enriched testicular cell fractions (7 × 106 cells) harvested from either Fas-L-defective (group I) or Fas-L-positive (group II) mice were coencapsulated in alginate gel spheres with fish islets and then transplanted into streptozotocin-diabetic Balb/c recipients. Group III mice received encapsulated islets without coencapsulated Sertoli cells. After transplantation, blood glucose levels were monitored three times per week. Mean graft survival times for the three groups were: group I = 35.6 ± 10.2 days (n = 9), group II = 31.3 ± 9.4 days (n = 7), and group III = 23.3 ± 2.2 days (n = 6) (ANOVA, p = 0.043). Coencapsulation, regardless of the Fas-L status of the Sertoli cell donors, modestly prolonged graft survival. There was no significant difference between Fas-L-deficient and Fas-L-positive donors. Our results suggest that Fas/Fas-L interaction is not responsible for the additional protection afforded to encapsulated discordant islet xenografts by coencapsulation with Sertoli cells.
Development of a Novel Cytomedical Treatment that can Protect Entrapped Cells from Host Humoral Immunity
Authors: Suzuki Ryo , Yoshioka Yasuo , Kitano Etsuko , Yoshioka Tatsunobu , Oka Hiroaki , Okamoto Takayuki , Okada Naoki , Tsutsumi Yasuo , Nakagawa Shinsaku , Miyazaki Jun-Ichi , Kitamura Hajime , Mayumi Tadanori
Published: September 2018

Cell therapy is expected to relieve the shortage of donors needed for organ transplantation. When patients are treated with allogeneic or xenogeneic cells, it is necessary to develop a means by which to isolate administered cells from an immune attack by the host. We have developed “cytomedicine, ” which consists of functional cells entrapped in semipermeable polymer, and previously reported that alginate-poly-l-lysine-alginate microcapsules and agarose microbeads could protect the entrapped cells from injury by cellular immunity. However, their ability to isolate from humoral immunity was insufficient. It is well known that the complement system plays an essential role in rejection of transplanted cells by host humoral immunity. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop a novel cytomedical device containing a polymer capable of inactivating complement. In the screening of various polymers, polyvinyl sulfate (PVS) exhibited high anticomplement activity and low cytotoxicity. Murine pancreatic β-cell line (MIN6 cell) entrapped in agarose microbeads containing PVS maintained viability and physiological insulin secretion, replying in response to glucose concentration, and resisted rabbit antisera in vitro. PVS inhibited hemolysis of sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EAs) and rabbit erythrocytes by the complement system. This result suggests that PVS inhibits both the classical and alternative complement pathways of the complement system. Next, the manner in which PVS exerts its effects on complement components was examined. PVS was found to inhibit generation of C4a and Ba generation in activation of the classical and alternative pathways, respectively. Moreover, when the EAC1 cells, which were carrying C1 on the EAs, treated with PVS were exposed to C1-deficient serum, hemolysis decreased in a PVS dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that PVS inhibits C1 in the classical pathway and C3 convertase formation in the alternative pathway. Therefore, PVS may be a useful polymer for developing an anticomplement device for cytomedical therapy.
Neural Stem Cells, Neural Progenitors, and Neurotrophic Factors
Authors: Hsu Yi-Chao , Lee Don-Ching , Chiu Ing-Ming
Published: September 2018

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have been proposed as a promising cellular source for the treatment of diseases in nervous systems. NSCs can self-renew and generate major cell types of the mammalian central nervous system throughout adulthood. NSCs exist not only in the embryo, but also in the adult brain neurogenic region: the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle. Embryonic stem (ES) cells acquire NSC identity with a default mechanism. Under the regulations of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and fibroblast growth factors, the NSCs then become neural progenitors. Neurotrophic and differentiation factors that regulate gene expression for controlling neural cell fate and function determine the differentiation of neural progenitors in the developing mammalian brain. For clinical application of NSCs in neurodegenerative disorders and damaged neurons, there are several critical problems that remain to be resolved: 1) how to obtain enough NSCs from reliable sources for autologous transplantation; 2) how to regulate neural plasticity of different adult stem cells; 3) how to control differentiation of NSCs in the adult nervous system. In order to understand the mechanisms that control NSC differentiation and behavior, we review the ontogeny of NSCs and other stem cell plasticity of neuronal differentiation. The role of NSCs and their regulation by neurotrophic factors in CNS development are also reviewed.
Contrasting In Vivo Effects of Two Peptide-Based Amyloid-β Protein Aggregation Inhibitors in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Amyloid Deposition
Authors: Li Qingyou , Gordon Marcia , Etienne Marcus A. , Hammer Robert P. , Morgan Dave
Published: September 2018

Previous studies have shown that 17,19,21-tri-N-methyl-Aβ16-22 peptide (Aβ16-22m), and a peptide analogue containing α,α-disubsituted amino acids (ααAA) in the hydrophobic core domain of Aβ, termed AMY-1, effectively inhibited full-length Aβ aggregation in vitro. To investigate the amyloid-modifying effects of these agents in vivo, we injected these compounds into the hippocampus of 13-month-old amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice, a model of amyloid deposition. After 7 days, brain tissues were stained for immunohistochemistry to detect total Aβ and thioflavine-S (THIO-S) to measure Aβ compact plaques. Both diffuse Aβ deposits and compact amyloid plaques were significantly increased when injecting 0.3 nmol Aβ16-22m compared to the PBS vehicle. The amyloid aggregation-modifying peptide AMY-1 showed a slight reduction of Aβ deposition in the injection area at a dose of 0.3 nmol, but neuronal toxicity, measured by Fluoro-Jade and Nissl stains, appeared when higher doses (3 nmol) were tested. Our data indicate that, unlike observations reported in vitro, the Aβ16-22m increased deposition of Aβ in the brain of APP transgenic mice in vivo. Possible explanations for this outcome include unique influences of the brain environment and/or modification of Aβ production or clearance by the administered agent. The AMY-1 peptide showed a trend for reducing Aβ deposits, but led to toxicity at higher doses. These data emphasize the need for evaluating potential Aβ aggregation inhibitors with in vivo models of amyloid deposition before assuming they will have benefit in treating Alzheimer's disease patients.
Sustained Analgesic Peptide Secretion and Cell Labeling Using a Novel Genetic Modification
Authors: Gajavelli Shyam , Castellanos Daniel A. , Furmanski Orion , Schiller Paul C. , Sagen Jacqueline
Published: September 2018

Cell-based therapy for neuropathic pain could provide analgesics to local pain modulatory regions in a sustained, renewable fashion. In order to provide enhanced analgesic efficacy, transplantable cells may be engineered to produce complementary or increased levels of analgesic peptides. In addition, genetic labeling of modified cells is desirable for identification and tracking, but it should be retained intracellularly as desired analgesic peptides are secreted. Usually constructs encode proteins destined for either extra- or intracellular compartments, as these pathways do not cross. However, interactions between intracellular destinations provide a window of opportunity to overcome this limitation. In this report, we have explored this approach using a potential supplementary analgesic peptide, [Ser1]-histogranin (SHG), the stable synthetic derivative of a naturally occurring peptide with N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonistic properties. A synthetic SHG gene was combined with (i) nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) amino-terminal signal peptide to enable secretion, and (ii) a fluorescent cellular label (mRFP) with intervening cathepsin L cleavage site, and subcloned into a lentiviral vector. In addition, an endoplasmic retention signal, KDEL, was added to enable retrieval of mRFP. Using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopic profile analysis, cells transduced by such lentiviruses were shown to synthesize a single SHG-mRFP polypeptide that was processed, targeted to expected subcellular destinations in several cell types. Dot blot and Western analysis revealed stable transduction and long-term secretion of SHG from PC12 cells in vitro. Transplantation of such cells provided modest analgesia in a rodent pain model consistent with low levels of SHG peptide in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). These results suggest that it is possible to deliver proteins with different final destinations from a single construct, such as pharmacologically active peptide for secretion and intracellular label for identifying transplantable cells.
Cell Contact Accelerates Replicative Senescence of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Independent of Telomere Shortening and p53 Activation: Roles of Ras and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Ho Jennifer H. , Chen Yu-Fan , Ma Wei-Hsien , Tseng Tzu-Ching , Chen Ming-Hsiang , Lee Oscar K.
Published: September 2018

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of great therapeutic potentials due to their multilineage differentiation capabilities. Before transplantation, in vitro culture expansion of MSCs is necessary to get desired cell number. We observed that cell contact accelerated replicative senescence during such process. To confirm the finding as well as to investigate the underlying mechanisms, we cultured both human bone marrow- and umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs under noncontact culture (subculture performed at 60–70% of confluence), or contact culture (cell passage performed at 100% of confluence). It was found that MSCs reached cellular senescence earlier in contact culture, and the doubling time was significantly prolonged. Marked increase of senescence-associated β-galactosidase-positive staining was also observed as a result of cell contact. Cell cycle analysis revealed increased frequency of cell cycle arrest after contact culture. It was noted, however, that the telomere length was not altered during contact-induced acceleration of senescence. Moreover, cell cycle checkpoint regulator P53 expression was not affected by cell contact. Marked increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a concomitant decrease in the activities of antioxidative enzymes were also observed during contact-induced senescence. Importantly, increased p16INK4a following Ras upregulation was found after contact culture. Taken together, cell contact induced accelerated senescence of MSCs, which is telomere shortening and p53 independent. ROS accumulation due to defective ROS clearance function together with Ras and p16INK4a upregulation play an important role in contact-induced senescence of MSCs. Overconfluence should therefore be avoided during in vitro culture expansion of MSCs in order to maintain their qualities for clinical application purposes. The contact-induced senescence model reported in this study will serve as a useful model system that allows further study of the molecular mechanisms of senescence in MSCs.
Regenerative Cells for Transplantation in Hepatic Failure
Authors: Ishikawa Tetsuya , Banas Agnieszka , Teratani Takumi , Iwaguro Hideki , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: September 2018

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have an enormous potential; however, their potential clinical application is being arrested due to various limitations such as teratoma formation followed by tumorigenesis, emergent usage, and the quality control of cells, as well as safety issues regarding long-term culture are also delaying their clinical application. In addition, human ES cells have two crucial issues: immunogenicity and ethical issues associated with their clinical application. The efficient generation of human iPS cells requires gene transfer, yet the mechanism underlying pluripotent stem cell induction has not yet been fully elucidated. Otherwise, although human adult regenerative cells including mesenchymal stem cells have a limited capacity for differentiation, they are nevertheless promising candidates for tissue regeneration in a clinical setting. This review highlights the use of regenerative cells for transplantation in hepatic failure.
SERVICE QUALITY ANALYSIS OF TWO OF THE LARGEST RETAIL CHAINS WITH MINIMART CONCEPT IN INDONESIA
Authors: Tannady Hendy , Nurprihatin Filscha , Hartono Hendy
Published: September 2018

Service quality is important because it makes prices more affordable, and also fulfils customer satisfaction. This bolsters trust for customers, and thereby encourages them to keep buying products at retail stores. This research uses Quality Service Analysis method to understand the gap between customers’ expectations regarding service attributes and their perceived satisfaction level. This study also uses the method of Importance and Performance Analysis to determine an attribute’s category. Therefore, it can determine which priorities should be reinforced to improve customer satisfaction. Through SERVQUAL analysis, there are 10 known attributes of each retailer that has the highest gap score. Through IPA analysis, we know that Alfamart has 7 attributes which warrant serious attention from management. This is due to the high expectations of customers on the indicator, and the fact that the management has not managed well. Meanwhile, Indomaret has 9 attributes that warrant serious attention from management.