bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Related Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression among Tuberculosis Patients in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Devkota Janardan , Devkota Narmada , Lohani Shyam Prasad
Published: January 2017

Background and Objectives: Tuberculosis remains one of the major public health problems in Nepal. This study was carried out to assess the Health related Quality of life and Anxiety- Depression level of Tuberculosis patients in Kathmandu.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Urban Direct Observation Treatment Short Course center using 150 study populations. Questionnaires containing socio-demographic characteristics, Self Reporting Questionnaire, Short Forms Health Survey, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. SPSS 20, SF-36 Scoring Software were used for data management.Results: Majority of respondents (57.3%) were male, age group of 21-25 years. Majority of respondents suffered from Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis, gland TB was in higher prevalence (31.3%). Most of the respondents found to poor HRQoL score where only 1.4% female and 1.7% male’s had above average HRQoL. There was no correlation between anxiety, depression, Mental Component Summary and Physical Component Summary score in pulmonary Tuberculosis patients unlike Extra pulmonary Tuberculosis patients, where there was strong correlation between anxiety and depression (r=0.721, p=0.000). There was negative correlation between PCS and MCS (r= -0.232, p= 0.037). There was no association between gender and PCS score on both types of TB patients. At majority of domain of HRQoL male had higher score than female.Conclusion: Co-morbidities of anxiety and depression in tuberculosis patients impact on health-related quality of life.Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2016) Vol. 4 (1): 13-18
Always there
Authors: Shankar P Ravi , Arya Shrishti
Published: January 2017

Not Availabkle.Janaki Medical College Journal of Medical Sciences (2016) Vol. 4(1): 65-67
Malignant transformation arising in mature cystic teratoma
Authors: Sherpa P , Baral R , Kansakar TK
Published: January 2017

Background: The prognosis of patients with malignant transformation arising within mature cystic teratoma is poor. However, preoperative diagnosis is dif cult due to its rarity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of such malignancies. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross sectional study on a series of cases was performed in the Department of Pathology, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal from April 2011 to March 2016. Data from the histopathology database were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Mature cystic teratoma comprised 230 cases (57.6%) out of total 399 cases of ovarian neoplasms. Malignant transformation was noted in 7 (3%) of the mature cystic teratoma. The mean age at diagnosis of patients with malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma was 47.57 years. The size of the tumors ranged from 7-14cm. The mean diameter of tumor was 10.28cm. There was signi cant difference in age between mature cystic teratoma and malignant transformations arising within mature cystic teratoma. No signi cant association was noted in tumor size. Torsion was noted in a single case. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor seen in 5 cases. The TNM stage distribution was T1aNx for 4 cases, T2aNx for one case and T3aNx for 2 cases. Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy arising in mature cystic teratoma. Advanced age is a signi cant risk factor for malignant transformation in mature cystic teratoma.
Medicalizing Malignancy: The Uneasy Origins of Ontario's Cancer Program, 1929-34
Authors: Hayter Charles R.R.
Published: January 2017

In the late 1920s, cancer was characterized as a public health problem for which urgent government attention was needed. Initially reluctant to become involved in cancer treatment, the government of Ontario was prompted by initiatives in other parts of Canada to establish a Royal Commission on the Use of X-Rays and Radium in 1931. The Commission recommendedthe purchase of radium and the establishment of a network of cancer clinics which became the framework of today's cancer system. This study explores the factors leading to the decision by the Ontario government to become involved in cancer and focuses on the role of the medical profession in shaping official response to the cancer problem. Despite the wish of the government to keep the Commission free from medical domination, the formulation of cancer policy became a struggle between two groups of doctors: specialists who believed in centralization and the organized medical profession which saw the state's involvement in cancer as a threat to its independence. This struggle resulted in a more fragmented and dispersed system than the comprehensive, centrally coordinated cancer system envisaged by the Commission.
Charting the Flow: Water Science and State Hydrography in the Po Watershed, 1872-1917
Authors: Parrinello Giacomo
Published: January 2017

Environmental history literature has acknowledged the role of hydrological knowledge in remaking rivers and water systems. The production of such knowledge, however, has thus far remained in the shadows, along with the human-environment interplay that underpins it. This paper brings these aspects into focus by combining the perspective, methods and questions of environmental history with insights from the history and geography of science. It analyses in particular the environmental history of Po River hydrography, from mid-nineteenth century experiments to the inception of a state hydrological service for the Po River basin after World War I. The paper argues that environmental forces and features of the Po watershed shaped the scientific enterprise of hydrological knowledge production, by stimulating its undertaking and influencing its outcome. From initial experimental measurements of discharge to responding to pressing concerns about flood protection, hydrography evolved into constant basin-wide monitoring to overcome the river system's resistance to prediction. The versatile hydrological knowledge produced via watershed monitoring would prove the key to all kinds of water uses and management projects, making hydrography a crucial articulation of state administrative rule over water resource development in the Po Valley. This paper, therefore, contributes to an environmental history of modern water science and the state, while writing an important chapter on the environmental history of the Po River basin. Furthermore, it highlights the value of exploring the environmental dimensions of scientific knowledge production as a way to better grasp its implications for environmental change and governance.
Josémaria Escriva et Thomas More : L héroïsme au quotidien
Authors: Le Tourneau Dominique
Published: January 2017

Ces deux hommes sont des modéles de fidèlitè à la foi vècue dans la vie courante, professionnelle et familiale. Thomas More l’a incarnèe avec hèroïsme dans les diffèrentes fonctions qu’il a assumèes. Il est un modéle d’èpoux et de pére, d’ami et d’homme intégre, qui sanctifie son travail quotidien. Josèmaria Escriva, lui, fonde l’Opus Dei pour rappeler que Dieu attend de chacun la saintetè dans la vie ordinaire, à partir de son travail et des activitès de chaque jour, elles-mêmes sanctifiables et, grâce à l’amitiè, source de saintetè pour les membres de la famille, les collégues et connaissances.
Not Affirming Things Intended: Reason and Worship in More’s The Confutation of Tyndale’s Answer
Authors: Hardin Richard F.
Published: January 2017

More responds strongly to Tyndale’s insistence that ritual, like Scripture, must be interpreted plainly by the worshiper: the chief purpose of ritual is to bring us closer to God, not to enlighten the intellect. In The Apology he declares that we should meditate on the Bible and the forms of worship (which must be observed as forms) in order to stir the imagination, not to seek out the “things intended” by God, which are beyond our capacity to know. This controversy touches all the major points of English debate on the subject for over a century to come, and some historians now see that it is worth attention in itself.
Nusquama and Natural Law
Authors: Farnell James E.
Published: January 2017

In the context of More’s qualifications for entering into the royal circle through ambassadorial service, the relation of Nusquama presented a society governed both internally and externally by the universal rules of natural law as conceived by jurists. His primary authority would seem to have been Gratian’s Decretum. Natural law was supplemented internally by Roman civil law and Utopus’ legislation, externally by jus gentium and expediency in the conduct of war. More thus demonstrated his mastery of these subjects. The hierarchy of natural and conventional laws is analyzed in terms of their order of presentation in Book II; significant for More’s ranking is the division formed by the heading De servis. His implied evaluation of these legal standards is compared with those of his contemporaries Vitoria, Sepúlveda, and Luther. The transformation of this generally temperate exercise into the more fervent Utopia under the influence of Erasmus is reviewed.
Ruin and Utopia
Authors: Baker David Weil
Published: January 2017

The author examines Utopia in the light of antiquarian exchanges between More and Jerome Busleyden. More visited Busleyden at his home in Mechlin during the weeks when enforced leisure allowed him to write Utopia. More praised Busleyden’s collection of ancient Roman coins in an epigram, and he celebrated the antiquities of the house in a letter to Erasmus. Busleyden in turn alludes to his and More’s shared antiquarian interests in his prefatory letter to Utopia. The two humanists’ ruminations on the ruins of past empires highlight the paradox of Utopia being an antiquity without ruins, and they provide an oblique commentary on the imperial aspirations of sixteenth-century monarchs.
Hungary Overrun: a Source of Fortitude and Comfort (Reading Hungary in A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation)
Authors: Tóta Benedek Péter
Published: January 2017

After approaching A Dialogue of Comfort from the point of view of Utopia, focusing on what is fact and what is fiction, this paper concentrates on More’s knowledge of the facts concerning Hungarian history, with an emphasis on the Battle of Mohacs of 29 August 1526 and its aftermath. Among More’s possible sources, special attention is devoted to the memorials of the Chancellor of Hungary, Bishop István Brodarics, whose historiography written in Latin was published between 18 March and 18 April 1527. A series of extended quotations from this work, made by a Hungarian in Latin and translated out of Latin into French by Martin Fumée, and out of French into English by “R.C.”, serve to illustrate how a chain of events in Hungarian history acts as an objective correlative in order to raise an appropriate intellectual, spiritual and emotional response to a turbulent state of affairs in political and existential matters, which ultimately results in fortitude and comfort.
More and Socrates
Authors: Quarta Cosimo
Published: January 2017

This paper, after mentioning the long tradition linking More with Socrates (from 1535 up to our own time), tackles the problem of why, in one of the earliest documents on the death of More - the Expositio fidelis - there is no trace of any More-Socrates association, even in the presence of other less relevant, or in any case less meaningful connections, such as Plato, Cicero, Ovid and Seneca. We then move on to outline a comparison between the two figures, laying emphasis on certain moments of their existence, such as their prosecution, their imprisonment, and their attitude to death. From the comparison of these aspects clearly emerges More's profound, true humanity, in contrast with the idealized and unreal figure of Socrates as drawn by Plato.
Possibilities of gas-phase synthesis of diamond structures from mixtures of hydrogen and hydrocarbons
Authors: Rebrov A K
Published: January 2017

To date, there is no universally recognized notion of diamond structure formation from the gas phase. The set of fragments determining this process differs for different methods of activation. Information on elementary processes of the interaction of hydrogen and hydrocarbon molecules with a surface for activation and deposition can be found in the literature, but it is scarce. Scientific problems of thermal activation relate not only to carbon structure synthesis; the description of non-equilibrium processes in channel flows with heterogeneous chemical reactions has unquestionable importance. In this review, the modern state of studies on the interaction of hydrogen and methane molecules and their fragments with high-temperature tungsten surfaces and diamond surfaces at temperatures close to 1300 K is considered, and accessible results are presented.
Use of Saliva Biomarkers to Monitor Efficacy of Vitamin C in Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: Evans Levi , Omaye Stanley
Published: January 2017

Saliva is easily obtainable for medical research and requires little effort or training for collection. Because saliva contains a variety of biological compounds, including vitamin C, malondialdehyde, amylase, and proteomes, it has been successfully used as a biospecimen for the reflection of health status. A popular topic of discussion in medical research is the potential association between oxidative stress and negative outcomes. Systemic biomarkers that represent oxidative stress can be found in saliva. It is unclear, however, if saliva is an accurate biospecimen as is blood and/or plasma. Exercise can induce oxidative stress, resulting in a trend of antioxidant supplementation to combat its assumed detriments. Vitamin C is a popular antioxidant supplement in the realm of sports and exercise. One potential avenue for evaluating exercise induced oxidative stress is through assessment of biomarkers like vitamin C and malondialdehyde in saliva. At present, limited research has been done in this area. The current state of research involving exercise-induced oxidative stress, salivary biomarkers, and vitamin C supplementation is reviewed in this article.
Ultrafast Optical Heating Induced Polarization-Dependent Optical Switching in Gold Nanowires
Authors: Wang Yimeng , Zhang Xinping , Fang Xiaohui
Published: January 2017

Excitation using femtosecond laser pulses induced ultrafast heating of discontinuous gold nanowires, resulting in transient thermal expansion of the gold nanostructures that constitute the nanowires. The cross-plasmon resulting from the closely arranged gold nanostructures along the nanowires was modified by the change in the small gaps due to the thermal effect. This led to the spectral shift of the cross-plasmon resonance and laid the photophysical basis for the optical switching. A femtosecond pump-probe scheme was used to investigate the ultrafast optical switching dynamics. The most efficient optical switching effect was observed when the pump and probe laser pulses were polarized perpendicular and parallel to the discontinuous gold nanowires, respectively.
Thermal Stability, Combustion Behavior, and Mechanical Property in a Flame-Retardant Polypropylene System
Authors: Wang Lili , Zhang Milin , Zhou Baibin
Published: January 2017

In order to comprehensively improve the strength, toughness, flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and thermal stability of polypropylene (PP), layered double hydroxide (LDH) Ni0.2Mg2.8Al–LDH was synthesized by a coprecipitation method coupled with the microwave-hydrothermal treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphology, mechanical, thermal, and fire properties for PP composites containing 1 wt %–20 wt % Ni0.2Mg2.8Al–LDH were investigated. The cone calorimeter tests confirm that the peak heat release rate (pk–HRR) of PP–20%LDH was decreased to 500 kW/m2 from the 1057 kW/m2 of PP. The pk–HRR, average mass loss rate (AMLR) and effective heat of combustion (EHC) analysis indicates that the condensed phase fire retardant mechanism of Ni0.2Mg2.8Al–LDH in the composites. The production rate and mean release yield of CO for composites gradually decrease as Ni0.2Mg2.8Al–LDH increases in the PP matrix. Thermal analysis indicates that the decomposition temperature for PP–5%LDH and PP–10%LDH is 34 °C higher than that of the pure PP. The mechanical tests reveal that the tensile strength of PP–1%LDH is 7.9 MPa higher than that of the pure PP. Furthermore, the elongation at break of PP–10%LDH is 361% higher than PP. In this work, the synthetic LDH Ni0.2Mg2.8Al–LDH can be used as a flame retardant, smoke suppressant, thermal stabilizer, reinforcing, and toughening agent of PP products.
Improving Nanofiber Membrane Characteristics and Membrane Distillation Performance of Heat-Pressed Membranes via Annealing Post-Treatment
Authors: Yao Minwei , Woo Yun , Tijing Leonard , Cesarini Cecilia , Shon Ho
Published: January 2017

Electrospun membranes are gaining interest for use in membrane distillation (MD) due to their high porosity and interconnected pore structure; however, they are still susceptible to wetting during MD operation because of their relatively low liquid entry pressure (LEP). In this study, post-treatment had been applied to improve the LEP, as well as its permeation and salt rejection efficiency. The post-treatment included two continuous procedures: heat-pressing and annealing. In this study, annealing was applied on the membranes that had been heat-pressed. It was found that annealing improved the MD performance as the average flux reached 35 L/m2·h or LMH (>10% improvement of the ones without annealing) while still maintaining 99.99% salt rejection. Further tests on LEP, contact angle, and pore size distribution explain the improvement due to annealing well. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses of the membranes showed that there was an increase in the crystallinity of the polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) membrane; also, peaks indicating the α phase of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) became noticeable after annealing, indicating some β and amorphous states of polymer were converted into the α phase. The changes were favorable for membrane distillation as the non-polar α phase of PVDF reduces the dipolar attraction force between the membrane and water molecules, and the increase in crystallinity would result in higher thermal stability. The present results indicate the positive effect of the heat-press followed by an annealing post-treatment on the membrane characteristics and MD performance.
Sex Differences in Neuromuscular Fatigability of the Knee Extensors Post-Stroke
Authors: Kirking Meghan , Berrios Barillas Reivian , Nelson Philip , Hunter Sandra , Hyngstrom Allison
Published: January 2017

Background and Purpose: Despite the implications of optimizing strength training post-stroke, little is known about the differences in fatigability between men and women with chronic stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the sex differences in knee extensor muscle fatigability and potential mechanisms in individuals with stroke. Methods: Eighteen participants (10 men, eight women) with chronic stroke (≥6 months) and 23 (12 men, 11 women) nonstroke controls participated in the study. Participants performed an intermittent isometric contraction task (6 s contraction, 3 s rest) at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque until failure to maintain the target torque. Electromyography was used to determine muscle activation and contractile properties were assessed with electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscles. Results: Individuals with stroke had a briefer task duration (greater fatigability) than nonstroke individuals (24.1 ± 17 min vs. 34.9 ± 16 min). Men were more fatigable than women for both nonstroke controls and individuals with stroke (17.9 ± 9 min vs. 41.6 ± 15 min). Individuals with stroke had less fatigue-related changes in muscle contractile properties and women with stroke differed in their muscle activation strategy during the fatiguing contractions. Conclusions: Men and women fatigue differently post-stroke and this may be due to the way they neurally activate muscle groups.
Assessment of Environmental Performance of TiO2 Nanoparticles Coated Self-Cleaning Float Glass
Authors: Pini Martina , Cedillo González Erika , Neri Paolo , Siligardi Cristina , Ferrari Anna
Published: January 2017

In recent years, superhydrophilic and photocatalytic self-cleaning nanocoatings have been widely used in the easy-to-clean surfaces field. In the building sector, self-cleaning glass was one of the first nanocoating applications. These products are based on the photocatalytic property of a thin layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles deposited on the surface of any kind of common glass. When exposed to UV radiation, TiO2 nanoparticles react with the oxygen and water molecules adsorbed on their surface to produce radicals leading to oxidative species. These species are able to reduce or even eliminate airborne pollutants and organic substances deposited on the material’s surface. To date, TiO2 nanoparticles’ benefits have been substantiated; however, their ecological and human health risks are still under analysis. The present work studies the ecodesign of the industrial scale-up of TiO2 nanoparticles self-cleaning coated float glass production performed by the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and applies new human toxicity indicators to the impact assessment stage. Production, particularly the TiO2 nanoparticle application, is the life cycle phase most contributing to the total damage. According to the ecodesign approach, the production choices carried out have exacerbated environmental burdens.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Dentistry Journal in 2016
Authors:   Dentistry Journal Editorial Office
Published: January 2017

The editors of Dentistry Journal would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2016.[...]
Univariate and Multivariate Generalized Multiscale Entropy to Characterise EEG Signals in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Azami Hamed , Abásolo Daniel , Simons Samantha , Escudero Javier
Published: January 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disorder leading to memory loss and changes in other cognitive abilities. The complexity of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals may help to characterise AD. To this end, we propose an extension of multiscale entropy based on variance (MSEσ2) to multichannel signals, termed multivariate MSEσ2 (mvMSEσ2), to take into account both the spatial and time domains of time series. Then, we investigate the mvMSEσ2 of EEGs at different frequency bands, including the broadband signals filtered between 1 and 40 Hz, θ, α, and β bands, and compare it with the previously-proposed multiscale entropy based on mean (MSEµ), multivariate MSEµ (mvMSEµ), and MSEσ2, to distinguish different kinds of dynamical properties of the spread and the mean in the signals. Results from 11 AD patients and 11 age-matched controls suggest that the presence of broadband activity of EEGs is required for a proper evaluation of complexity. MSEσ2 and mvMSEσ2 results, showing a loss of complexity in AD signals, led to smaller p-values in comparison with MSEµ and mvMSEµ ones, suggesting that the variance-based MSE and mvMSE can characterise changes in EEGs as a result of AD in a more detailed way. The p-values for the slope values of the mvMSE curves were smaller than for MSE at large scale factors, also showing the possible usefulness of multivariate techniques.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Fibers in 2016
Authors:   Editorial Office
Published: January 2017

The editors of Fibers would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2016.[...]
Extraction, Identification and Photo-Physical Characterization of Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) Carotenoids
Authors: Zaghdoudi Khalil , Ngomo Orleans , Vanderesse Régis , Arnoux Philippe , Myrzakhmetov Bauyrzhan , Frochot Céline , Guiavarc’h Yann
Published: January 2017

Carotenoid pigments were extracted and purified from persimmon fruits using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Eleven pigments were isolated and five of them were clearly identified as all-trans-violaxanthine, all-trans-lutein, all-trans-zeaxanthin all-trans-cryptoxanthin and all-trans-β-carotene. Absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded. To evaluate the potential of 1O2 quenching of the purified carotenoids, we used a monocarboxylic porphyrin (P1COOH) as the photosensitizer to produce 1O2. The rate constants of singlet oxygen quenching (Kq) were determined by monitoring the near-infrared (1270 nm) luminescence of 1O2 produced by photosensitizer excitation. The lifetime of singlet oxygen was measured in the presence of increasing concentrations of carotenoids in hexane. Recorded Kq values show that all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-β-carotene, all-trans-lycopene and all-trans-zeaxanthin quench singlet oxygen in hexane efficiently (associated Kq values of 1.6 × 109, 1.3 × 109, 1.1 × 109 and 1.1 × 109 M−1·s−1, respectively). The efficiency of singlet oxygen quenching of β-cryptoxanthin can thus change the consideration that β-carotene and lycopene are the most efficient singlet oxygen quenchers acting as catalysts for deactivation of the harmful 1O2.
Thermoresponsive Gels
Authors: Taylor M. , Tomlins Paul , Sahota Tarsem
Published: January 2017

Thermoresponsive gelling materials constructed from natural and synthetic polymers can be used to provide triggered action and therefore customised products such as drug delivery and regenerative medicine types as well as for other industries. Some materials give Arrhenius-type viscosity changes based on coil to globule transitions. Others produce more counterintuitive responses to temperature change because of agglomeration induced by enthalpic or entropic drivers. Extensive covalent crosslinking superimposes complexity of response and the upper and lower critical solution temperatures can translate to critical volume temperatures for these swellable but insoluble gels. Their structure and volume response confer advantages for actuation though they lack robustness. Dynamic covalent bonding has created an intermediate category where shape moulding and self-healing variants are useful for several platforms. Developing synthesis methodology—for example, Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain Transfer (RAFT) and Atomic Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP)—provides an almost infinite range of materials that can be used for many of these gelling systems. For those that self-assemble into micelle systems that can gel, the upper and lower critical solution temperatures (UCST and LCST) are analogous to those for simpler dispersible polymers. However, the tuned hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance plus the introduction of additional pH-sensitivity and, for instance, thermochromic response, open the potential for coupled mechanisms to create complex drug targeting effects at the cellular level.
Transgenic Tobacco Expressing the TAT-Helicokinin I-CpTI Fusion Protein Show Increased Resistance and Toxicity to Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Zhou Zhou , Li Yongli , Yuan Chunyan , Zhang Yongan , Qu Liangjian
Published: January 2017

Insect kinins were shown to have diuretic activity, inhibit weight gain, and have antifeedant activity in insects. In order to study the potential of the TAT-fusion approach to deliver diuretic peptides per os to pest insects, the HezK I peptide from Helicoverpa zea, as a representative of the kinin family, was selected. The fusion gene TAT-HezK I was designed and was used to transform tobacco plants. As a means to further improve the stability of TAT-HezK I, a fusion protein incorporating HezK I, transactivator of transcription (TAT), and the cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) was also designed. Finally, the toxicity of the different tobacco transgenic strains toward Helicoverpa armigera was compared. The results demonstrated that TAT-HezK I had high toxicity against insects via transgenic expression of the peptide in planta and intake through larval feeding. The toxicity of the fusion TAT-HezK I and CpTI was higher than the CpTI single gene in transgenic tobacco, and the fusion TAT-HezK I and CpTI further enhanced the stability and bioavailability of agents in oral administration. Our research helps in targeting new genes for improving herbivore tolerance in transgenic plant breeding.
Towards a Common Framework for the Identification of Landforms on Terrain Models
Authors: Guilbert Eric , Moulin Bernard
Published: January 2017

A landform is a physical feature of the terrain with its own recognisable shape. Its definition is often qualitative and inherently vague. Hence, landforms are difficult to formalise in a logical model that can be implemented. We propose for that purpose a framework where these qualitative and vague definitions are transformed successively during different phases to yield an implementable data structure. Our main consideration is that landforms are characterised by salient elements as perceived by users. Hence, a common prototype based on an object-oriented approach is defined that shall apply to all landforms. This framework shall facilitate the definition of conceptual models for other landforms and relies on the use of ontology design patterns to express common elements and structures. The model is illustrated on examples from the literature, showing that existing works undertaken separately can be developed under a common framework.
UAV Low Altitude Photogrammetry for Power Line Inspection
Authors: Zhang Yong , Yuan Xiuxiao , Fang Yi , Chen Shiyu
Published: January 2017

When the distance between an obstacle and a power line is less than the discharge distance, a discharge arc can be generated, resulting in the interruption of power supplies. Therefore, regular safety inspections are necessary to ensure the safe operation of power grids. Tall vegetation and buildings are the key factors threatening the safe operation of extra high voltage transmission lines within a power line corridor. Manual or laser intensity direction and ranging (LiDAR) based inspections are time consuming and expensive. To make safety inspections more efficient and flexible, a low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote-sensing platform, equipped with an optical digital camera, was used to inspect power line corridors. We propose a semi-patch matching algorithm based on epipolar constraints, using both the correlation coefficient (CC) and the shape of its curve to extract three dimensional (3D) point clouds for a power line corridor. We use a stereo image pair from inter-strip to improve power line measurement accuracy by transforming the power line direction to an approximately perpendicular to epipolar line. The distance between the power lines and the 3D point cloud is taken as a criterion for locating obstacles within the power line corridor automatically. Experimental results show that our proposed method is a reliable, cost effective, and applicable way for practical power line inspection and can locate obstacles within the power line corridor with accuracy better than ±0.5 m.
Comment on Neiser et al. Assessment of Dextran Antigenicity of Intravenous Iron Preparations with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 1185.
Authors: Strom Claes , Andreasen Hans
Published: January 2017

All IV iron complexes carry a risk of potentially fatal allergic type hypersensitivity reactions. The mechanism(s) behind these reactions is unknown but the limited data available suggests that classic IgE mediated allergy is exceedingly rare, if ever occurring. Iron–carbohydrate molecules are complex nano-particles and trying to reduce the risk of serious hypersensitivity to antibody binding of an artificial antibody seems meaningless. A recently published analysis of safety data from randomized clinical trials confirms the method reported by Neiser to be useless to predict reaction risk. In conclusion, the study by Neiser et al. is biased, contains no new information, and has no clinical relevance. We are concerned that the association of the authors with a commercial entity has caused a conflict of interest that biases not only the results, but the entire experimental setup against competitors. (Comment on Neiser et al. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 1185, doi:10.3390/ijms17071185).
Ribosomal Proteins Control or Bypass p53 during Nucleolar Stress
Authors: Russo Annapina , Russo Giulia
Published: January 2017

The nucleolus is the site of ribosome biogenesis, a complex process that requires the coordinate activity of all three RNA polymerases and hundreds of non-ribosomal factors that participate in the maturation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and assembly of small and large subunits. Nevertheless, emerging studies have highlighted the fundamental role of the nucleolus in sensing a variety of cellular stress stimuli that target ribosome biogenesis. This condition is known as nucleolar stress and triggers several response pathways to maintain cell homeostasis, either p53-dependent or p53-independent. The mouse double minute (MDM2)-p53 stress signaling pathways are activated by multiple signals and are among the most important regulators of cellular homeostasis. In this review, we will focus on the role of ribosomal proteins in p53-dependent and p53-independent response to nucleolar stress considering novel identified regulators of these pathways. We describe, in particular, the role of ribosomal protein uL3 (rpL3) in p53-independent nucleolar stress signaling pathways.
Alt-Splice Gene Predictor Using Multitrack-Clique Analysis: Verification of Statistical Support for Modelling in Genomes of Multicellular Eukaryotes
Authors: Winters-Hilt Stephen , Lewis Andrew
Published: January 2017

One of the main limitations of the typical hidden Markov model (HMM) implementation for gene structure identification is that a single structure is identified on a given sequence of genomic data—i.e., identification of overlapping structure is not directly possible, and certainly not possible within the confines of the optimal Viterbi path evaluation. This is a huge limitation given that we now know that significant portions of eukaryotic genomes, particularly mammalian genomes, are alternatively spliced, and, thus, have overlapping structure in the sense of the mRNA transcripts that result. Using the general meta-state HMM approach developed in prior work, however, more than one ‘track’ of annotation can be accommodated, thereby allowing a direct implementation of an alternative-splice gene-structure identifier. In this paper we examine the representation of alternative splicing annotation in the multi-track context, and show that the proliferation on states is manageable, and has sufficient statistical support on the genomes examined (human, mouse, worm, and fly) that a full alt-splice meta-state HMM gene finder can be implemented with sufficient statistical support. In the process of performing the alternative splicing analysis on alt-splice event counts we expected to see an increase in alternative splicing complexity as the organism becomes more complex, and this is seen with the percentage of genes with alt-splice variants increasing from worm to fly to the mammalian genomes (mouse and human). Of particular note is an increase in alternative splicing variants at the start and end of coding with the more complex organisms studied (mouse and human), indicating rapid new first and last exon recruitment that is possibly spliceosome mediated. This suggests that spliceosome-mediated refinements (acceleration) of gene structure variation and selection, with increasing levels of sophistication, has occurred in eukaryotes and in mammals especially.
Anticancer Applications and Recent Investigations of Metallodrugs Based on Gallium, Tin and Titanium
Authors: Ellahioui Younes , Prashar Sanjiv , Gómez-Ruiz Santiago
Published: January 2017

For more than 100 years metal complexes have been extensively used in therapy and since the discovery of cisplatin the research in this field has expanded exponentially. The scientific community is always in search of new alternatives to platinum compounds and a wide variety of metallodrugs based on other metals have been reported with excellent therapeutic results. This short review focuses on the work that our research group has carried out since 2007 in collaboration with others and centers on the preparation of organogallium(III) compounds, organotin(IV) derivatives, and titanocene(IV) complexes together with the study of their cytotoxic anticancer properties.
P-Fluorous Phosphines as Electron-Poor/Fluorous Hybrid Functional Ligands for Precious Metal Catalysts: Synthesis of Rh(I), Ir(I), Pt(II), and Au(I) Complexes Bearing P-Fluorous Phosphine Ligands
Authors: Kawaguchi Shin-ichi , Saga Yuta , Sato Yuki , Minamida Yoshiaki , Nomoto Akihiro , Ogawa Akiya
Published: January 2017

P-Fluorous phosphine (R2PRf), in which the perfluoroalkyl group is directly bonded to the phosphorus atom, is a promising ligand because it has a hybrid functionality, i.e., electron-poor and fluorous ligands. However, examples of P-fluorous phosphine–metal complexes are still rare, most probably because the P-fluorous group is believed to decrease the coordination ability of the phosphines dramatically. In contrast, however, we have succeeded in synthesizing a series of P-fluorous phosphine–coordinated metal complexes such as rhodium, iridium, platinum, and gold. Furthermore, the electronic properties of R2PnC10F21 are investigated by X-ray analysis of PtCl2(Ph2PnC10F21)2 and the infrared CO stretching frequency of RhCl(CO)(R2PnC10F21)2. IrCl(CO)(Ph2PnC10F21)2- and AuCl(R2PnC10F21)-catalyzed reactions are also demonstrated.
Measurement of the Ecological Integrity of Cerrado Streams Using Biological Metrics and the Index of Habitat Integrity
Authors: Reis Deusiano , Salazar Ayala , Machado Mayana , Couceiro Sheyla , Morais Paula
Published: January 2017

Generally, aquatic communities reflect the effects of anthropogenic changes such as deforestation or organic pollution. The Cerrado stands among the most threatened ecosystems by human activities in Brazil. In order to evaluate the ecological integrity of the streams in a preserved watershed in the Northern Cerrado biome corresponding to a mosaic of ecosystems in transition to the Amazonia biome in Brazil, biological metrics related to diversity, structure, and sensitivity of aquatic macroinvertebrates were calculated. Sampling included collections along stretches of 200 m of nine streams and measurements of abiotic variables (temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, and discharge) and the Index of Habitat Integrity (HII). The values of the abiotic variables and the HII indicated that most of the streams have good ecological integrity, due to high oxygen levels and low concentrations of dissolved solids and electric conductivity. Two streams showed altered HII scores mainly related to small dams for recreational and domestic use, use of Cerrado natural pasture for cattle raising, and spot deforestation in bathing areas. However, this finding is not reflected in the biological metrics that were used. Considering all nine streams, only two showed satisfactory ecological quality (measured by Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP), total richness, and EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) richness), only one of which had a low HII score. These results indicate that punctual measures of abiotic parameters do not reveal the long-term impacts of anthropic activities in these streams, including related fire management of pasture that annually alters the vegetation matrix and may act as a disturbance for the macroinvertebrate communities. Due to this, biomonitoring of low order streams in Cerrado ecosystems of the Northern Central Brazil by different biotic metrics and also physical attributes of the riparian zone such as HII is recommended for the monitoring and control of anthropic impacts on aquatic communities.
Morphological Characteristics of Terminalia of the Wasp-Mimicking Fly, Stomorhina discolor (Fabricius)
Authors: Moophayak Kittikhun , Sanit Sangob , Chaiwong Tarinee , Sukontason Kom , Kurahashi Hiromu , Sukontason Kabkaew , Vogtsberger Roy , Bunchu Nophawan
Published: January 2017

Stomorhina discolor (Fabricius), a species of blow fly that mimics wasps, is distributed worldwide, but detailed information about characteristics of its adult terminalia is incomplete. To help fill this gap in the information, the morphology of adult stages of S. discolor was investigated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Observations using the light microscope revealed unique characteristics of the male genitalia that are markedly different from other blow fly species. More morphological detail, including observation of several sensilla (e.g., sensilla trichoid and sensilla basiconica) along the male terminalia and female ovipositor, was seen under the scanning electron microscope. These details can be taxonomically valuable for identifying males and females of S. discolor and may help address matters concerning copulation in this species.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Materials in 2016
Authors:   Materials Editorial Office
Published: January 2017

The editors of Materials would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2016.[...]
One-Dimensional Constitutive Model for Porous Titanium Alloy at Various Strain Rates and Temperatures
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Ji Feifei , Wang Mingqiang , Zhu Tianyu
Published: January 2017

In this paper, the accurate description of the relationship between flow stress and strain of porous titanium alloys at various strain rates and temperatures were investigated with dynamic and quasistatic uniaxial compression tests for a further study on the processing mechanism of porous titanium material. Changes in their plastic flows were described through the one-dimensional Drucker-Prager (DP) constitutive model. Porous titanium alloys were micromilled in a DP simulation. After all parameters had been obtained in the DP model, the experimental and simulated true stress-strain curves and flow stress levels of two porous titanium alloys were compared to estimate the precision of the model. The findings were as follows. First, porous titanium alloys show deformation patterns characterized by pore collapse-induced deformation and have strong stress-hardening effects, but the patterns did not include noticeable plastic-flow plateaus. Second, porosity strongly affects the mechanical strength, strain-rate sensitivity, and temperature sensitivity of both alloys. Third, the DP model sufficiently describes the mechanical properties of both alloys at 25–300 °C and at strain rates of 1000–3000 s−1, with a deviation of 10% or lower.
Correction: Jessri, M.; et al. Assessing the Nutritional Quality of Diets of Canadian Adults Using the 2014 Health Canada Surveillance Tool Tier System. Nutrients 2015, 7, 5543
Authors: Jessri Mahsa , Nishi Stephanie , L’Abbé Mary
Published: January 2017

Due to a mistake in the publication process, “NS” symbols are missing from Figure 3 from this article [1].[...]
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Publications in 2016
Authors:   Publications Editorial Office
Published: January 2017

The editors of Publications would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2016. [...]
A Distance Detector with a Strip Magnetic MOSFET and Readout Circuit
Authors: Sung Guo-Ming , Lin Wen-Sheng , Wang Hsing-Kuang
Published: January 2017

This paper presents a distance detector composed of two separated metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), a differential polysilicon cross-shaped Hall plate (CSHP), and a readout circuit. The distance detector was fabricated using 0.18 μm 1P6M Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology to sense the magnetic induction perpendicular to the chip surface. The differential polysilicon CSHP enabled the magnetic device to not only increase the magnetosensitivity but also eliminate the offset voltage generated because of device mismatch and Lorentz force. Two MOSFETs generated two drain currents with a quadratic function of the differential Hall voltages at CSHP. A readout circuit—composed of a current-to-voltage converter, a low-pass filter, and a difference amplifier—was designed to amplify the current difference between two drains of MOSFETs. Measurements revealed that the electrostatic discharge (ESD) could be eliminated from the distance sensor by grounding it to earth; however, the sensor could be desensitized by ESD in the absence of grounding. The magnetic influence can be ignored if the magnetic body (human) stays far from the magnetic sensor, and the measuring system is grounded to earth by using the ESD wrist strap (Strap E-GND). Both ‘no grounding’ and ‘grounding to power supply’ conditions were unsuitable for measuring the induced Hall voltage.
A Mechanism for Reliable Mobility Management for Internet of Things Using CoAP
Authors: Chun Seung-Man , Park Jong-Tae
Published: January 2017

Under unreliable constrained wireless networks for Internet of Things (IoT) environments, the loss of the signaling message may frequently occur. Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (MIPv6) and its variants do not consider this situation. Consequently, as a constrained device moves around different wireless networks, its Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity may be frequently disrupted and power can be drained rapidly. This can result in the loss of important sensing data or a large delay for time-critical IoT services such as healthcare monitoring and disaster management. This paper presents a reliable mobility management mechanism in Internet of Things environments with lossy low-power constrained device and network characteristics. The idea is to use the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) retransmission mechanism to achieve both reliability and simplicity for reliable IoT mobility management. Detailed architecture, algorithms, and message extensions for reliable mobility management are presented. Finally, performance is evaluated using both mathematical analysis and simulation.
A Low Power Low Phase Noise Oscillator for MICS Transceivers
Authors: Li Dawei , Liu Dongsheng , Kang Chaojian , Zou Xuecheng
Published: January 2017

A low-power, low-phase-noise quadrature oscillator for Medical Implantable Communications Service (MICS) transceivers is presented. The proposed quadrature oscillator generates 349~689 MHz I/Q (In-phase and Quadrature) signals covering the MICS band. The oscillator is based on a differential pair with positive feedback. Each delay cell consists of a few transistors enabling lower voltage operation. Since the oscillator is very sensitive to disturbances in the supply voltage and ground, a self-bias circuit for isolating the voltage disturbance is proposed to achieve bias voltages which can track the disturbances from the supply and ground. The oscillation frequency, which is controlled by the bias voltages, is less sensitive to the supply and ground noise, and a low phase noise is achieved. The chip is fabricated in the UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation) 0.18 μm CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) process; the core just occupies a 28.5 × 22 μm2 area. The measured phase noise is −108.45 dBc/Hz at a 1 MHz offset with a center frequency of 540 MHz. The gain of the oscillator is 0.309 MHz/mV with a control voltage from 0 V to 1.1 V. The circuit can work with a supply voltage as low as 1.2 V and the power consumption is only 0.46 mW at a 1.8 V supply voltage.