bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface Activation of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) with Atmospheric Pressure Ar + H2O Plasma
Authors: Abdel–Fattah Essam
Published: April 2019

The atmospheric pressure of Ar + H 2 O plasma jet has been analyzed and its effects on the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) surface has been investigated. The PMMA surface treatment was performed at a fixed gas flow-rate discharge voltage, while varying the plasma treatment time. The Ar + H 2 O plasma was studied with optical emission spectroscopy (OES). Optimum plasma conditions for PMMA surface treatment were determined from relative intensities of Argon, hydroxyl radical (OH), oxygen (O) I emission spectra. The rotational temperature T rot of Ar + H 2 O plasma was determined from OH emission band. The PMMA surfaces before and after plasma treatment were characterized by contact angle and surface free energy measurements, X-ray photoelectrons spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-spectroscopy. The contact angle decreased and surface free energy increased with plasma treatment time. XPS results revealed the oxygen to carbon ratio (O/C) on plasma-treated PMMA surfaces remarkably increased for short treatment time ≤60 s, beyond which it has weakly dependent on treatment time. The carbon C 1s peak deconvoluted into four components: C–C, C–C=O, C–O–C and O–C=O bonds and their percentage ratio vary in accordance with plasma treatment time. AFM showed the PMMA surface roughness increases with plasma treatment time. UV-visible measurements revealed that plasma treatment has no considerable effect on the transparency of PMMA samples.
Iron Gall Ink Revisited: Natural Formulation for Black Hair-Dyeing
Authors: Han Sang Yeong , Hong Seok-Pyo , Kang Eunhye K. , Kim Beom Jin , Lee Hojae , Kim Won Il , Choi Insung S.
Published: April 2019

Inspired by the iron gall ink that has been used since the Middle Ages, we formulated a hair-dyeing solution for blackening hair. The ingredients in the formulation have been approved as cosmetic ingredients, including tannic acid, gallic acid, and Fe(d-gluconate)2. The formulation does not require any harmful oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide—the Fe(II) cations bound to tannins are oxidized spontaneously upon exposure to air and form the blackish Fe(III)-tannin nanocomplex that coats hair firmly. In our study, we show that the dyed color did not fade under sunlight exposure for at least three months and after shampooing. This natural formulation for black hair-dyeing can have great impact in the hair cosmetic industry.
Analysis of Error Structure for Additive Biomass Equations on the Use of Multivariate Likelihood Function
Authors: Cao Lei , Li Haikui
Published: April 2019

Research Highlights: this study developed additive biomass equations respectively from nonlinear regression (NLR) on original data and linear regression (LR) on a log-transformed scale by nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR). To choose appropriate regression form, the error structures (additive vs. multiplicative) of compatible biomass equations were determined on the use of the multivariate likelihood function which extended the method of likelihood analysis to the general occasion of a contemporaneously correlated set of equations. Background and Objectives: both NLR and LR could yield the expected predictions for allometric scaling relationship. In recent studies, there are vigorous debates on which regression (NLR or LR) should apply. The main aim of this paper is to analyze the error structure of a compatible system of biomass equations to choose more appropriate regression. Materials and Methods: based on biomass data of 270 trees for three tree species, additive biomass equations were developed respectively for NLR and LR by NSUR. Multivariate likelihood functions were computed to determine the error structure based on the multivariate probability density function. The anti-log correction factor which kept the additive property was obtained separately using the arithmetic and weighted average of basic correction factors from each equation to assess two model specifications on the comparably original scale. Results: the assumption of additive error structure was well favored for an additive system of three species based on the joint likelihood function. However, the error structure of each component equation calculated from the conditional likelihood function for compatible equations might be different. The performance of additive equations corrected by a weighted average of basic correction factor from each component equation performed better than that of the arithmetic average and held good property of compatibility after corrected. Conclusions: NLR provided a better fit for additive biomass equations of three tree species. Additive equations which confirmed the responding assumption of error structure performed better. The joint likelihood function on the use of the multivariate likelihood function could be used to analyze the error structure of the additive system which was a result of a tradeoff for each component equation. Based on the average of correction factors from each component equation to correct the bias of additive equations was feasible for the hold of additive property, which might lead to a poor correction effect for some component equation.
Changes in the Soil Bacterial Community in a Chronosequence of Temperate Walnut-Based Intercropping Systems
Authors: Gao Pengxiang , Zheng Xiaofeng , Wang Lai , Liu Bin , Zhang Shuoxin
Published: April 2019

Agroforestry (tree-based intercropping) is regarded as a promising practice in sustainable agricultural management. However, the impacts of converting cropland to an agroforestry system on microbial communities remain poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the soil bacterial communities in conventional wheat monoculture systems and a chronosequence (5–14 years) walnut-wheat agroforestry system through the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to investigate the effect of agroforestry age on soil bacterial communities and the correlation between soil properties and bacterial communities in the agroecosystem. Our results demonstrate that establishing and developing walnut tree-based agroforestry increased soil bacterial diversity and changed bacterial community structure. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria were the dominant soil bacterial phyla and Bacillus was the dominant genus. Crop monoculture systems were characterized by the Bacillus (Firmicutes)-dominated microbial community. The relative abundance of Bacillus decreased with agroforestry age; however, subgroups of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria increased. Of the selected soil physicochemical properties, soil pH and bulk density were significantly correlated with bacterial alpha diversity, and soil pH and organic carbon were the principal drivers in shaping the soil microbial structure as revealed by redundancy analysis (RDA).
Small Roots of Parashorea chinensis Wang Hsie Decompose Slower than Twigs
Authors: Dossa Gbadamassi G. O. , Jin Yan-Qiang , Lü Xiao-Tao , Tang Jian-Wei , Harrison Rhett D.
Published: April 2019

Plants produce above- and below-ground biomass. However, our understanding of both production and decomposition of below-ground biomass is poor, largely because of the difficulties of accessing roots. Below-ground organic matter decomposition studies are scant and especially rare in the tropics. In this study, we used a litter bag experiment to quantify the mass loss and nutrient dynamics of decomposing twigs and small roots from an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associated tree, Parashorea chinensis Wang Hsie, in a tropical rain forest in Southwest China. Overall, twig litter decomposed 1.9 times faster than small roots (decay rate (k) twig = 0.255, root = 0.134). The difference in decomposition rates can be explained by a difference in phosphorus (P) concentration, availability, and use by decomposers or carbon quality. Twigs and small roots showed an increase in nitrogen concentration, with final concentrations still higher than initial levels. This suggests nitrogen transfer from the surrounding environment into decomposing twigs and small roots. Both carbon and nitrogen dynamics were significantly predicted by mass loss and showed a negative and positive relationship, respectively. Our study results imply that small roots carbon and nitrogen increase the resident time in the soil. Therefore, a better understanding of the carbon cycle requires a better understanding of the mechanisms governing below-ground biomass decomposition.
Information Quality or Entities’ Interactivity? Understanding the Determinants of Social Network-Based Brand Community Participation
Authors: Zhao Haichuan
Published: April 2019

The customer’s participation is important to the survival of a brand community. By drawing on flow theory, this research identified the most important factors that motivate the customers’ participation intention than others in a social network-based brand community. Data were collected from the Sina micro-blog. This study adopted two different but complementary methods to analyse the conceptual model: Structure equation model (SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative analysis (fsQCA). Results support most of the research hypothesis. Specifically, the findings obtained from the fsQCA indicate that information quality and platform-interactivity are necessary conditions that encourage the customers’ participation in a brand community.
Meeting the Challenge of Eliminating Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
Authors: Revill Peter A. , Penicaud Capucine , Brechot Christian , Zoulim Fabien
Published: April 2019

Over 257 million people live with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and there is no known cure. The effective preventative vaccine has no impact on existing infection. Despite the existence of drugs which efficiently suppress viral replication, treatment is usually life-long and finite therapies that cure HBV infection are urgently required. However, even if such therapies were available today, it is unlikely they would reach all of those who need it most, due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) being largely undiagnosed across the globe and to the dire need for health systems promoting access to therapy. Considerable challenges to developing and implementing an effective HBV cure remain. Nonetheless, important advances towards a cure are being made, both in the development of a multitude of new therapeutic agents currently undergoing clinical trials, and through the establishment of a new global initiative dedicated to an HBV cure, ICE-HBV, that is working together with existing organisations to fast-track an HBV cure available to all.
Pharmacogenetics in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases and Its Current Progress Regarding Implementation in the Clinical Routine
Authors: Dávila-Fajardo Cristina Lucía , Díaz-Villamarín Xando , Antúnez-Rodríguez Alba , Fernández-Gómez Ana Estefanía , García-Navas Paloma , Martínez-González Luis Javier , Dávila-Fajardo José Augusto , Cabeza Barrera José
Published: April 2019

There is a special interest in the implementation of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice, although there are some barriers that are preventing this integration. A large part of these pharmacogenetic tests are focused on drugs used in oncology and psychiatry fields and for antiviral drugs. However, the scientific evidence is also high for other drugs used in other medical areas, for example, in cardiology. In this article, we discuss the evidence and guidelines currently available on pharmacogenetics for clopidogrel, warfarin, acenocoumarol, and simvastatin and its implementation in daily clinical practice.
Offers of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes Among High School Students: A Population Study from California
Authors: Cole Adam G. , Cummins Sharon E. , Zhu Shu-Hong
Published: April 2019

Receiving offers of cigarettes or e-cigarettes can contribute to the progression from intention to actual use. However, there is a lack of data about the prevalence or characteristics of youth being offered cigarettes or e-cigarettes. A random sample of 91 high schools in the state of California (with 40,137 students) participated in the 2015–16 California Student Tobacco Survey. Offers of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the last 30 days were assessed. Separate multilevel logistical regression models identified student characteristics associated with being offered cigarettes and e-cigarettes. On average, 11.1% and 16.1% of all students reported being offered cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the last 30 days, respectively. Among those who received offers of cigarettes, 45.5% were never smokers. Among those who received offers of e-cigarettes, 29.6% were never vapers. Male students were more likely to report being offered an e-cigarette than female students (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.13), as were students with friends that used e-cigarettes (AOR 5.14–23.31) and those with high sensation seeking tendencies (AOR 1.33). Similar characteristics were associated with offers of cigarettes. Including measures of offers of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in surveillance systems could help identify those at risk of future cigarette and e-cigarette use.
Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Initiation in Taiwan: Evidence from the First Prospective Study in Asia
Authors: Chien Yu-Ning , Gao Wayne , Sanna Mattia , Chen Ping-Ling , Chen Yi-Hua , Glantz Stanton , Chiou Hung-Yi
Published: April 2019

A growing literature indicates that electronic cigarette use increases the risk of subsequent initiation of conventional smoking among cigarette-naïve adolescents in several Western countries. This research assesses the same relationship in an Asian country, Taiwan. The Taiwan Adolescent to Adult Longitudinal Study is a school-based survey that was carried out in two waves in 2014 (baseline) and in 2016 (follow-up). It employs probability sampling to create nationally representative samples of students in junior high school (mean age 13, 7th grade at baseline) and in senior high school (mean age 16, 10th grade at baseline). Data from this survey were analyzed via logistic regression to estimate the association between ever use of e-cigarettes at baseline and smoking initiation at follow-up, accounting for susceptibility to smoking, socio-demographic profile, depression status, and peer support. Among the 12,954 cigarette-naïve students surveyed, those with e-cigarette experience at baseline exhibited higher odds of smoking initiation at follow-up (Odds Ratio = 2.14, 95% CI (1.66, 2.75), p < 0.001). For the first time, we confirmed, through a longitudinal survey, a prospective association between ever use of e-cigarettes and smoking initiation in an Asian adolescent population. The restrictive policy on e-cigarettes currently in force in Taiwan is justified to prevent both e-cigarette and cigarette use among adolescents.
Bird Satellite Tracking Revealed Critical Protection Gaps in East Asian–Australasian Flyway
Authors: Lei Jialin , Jia Yifei , Zuo Aojie , Zeng Qing , Shi Linlu , Zhou Yan , Zhang Hong , Lu Cai , Lei Guangchun , Wen Li
Published: April 2019

Most migratory birds depend on stopover sites, which are essential for refueling during migration and affect their population dynamics. In the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF), however, the stopover ecology of migratory waterfowl is severely under-studied. The knowledge gaps regarding the timing, intensity and duration of stopover site usages prevent the development of effective and full annual cycle conservation strategies for migratory waterfowl in EAAF. In this study, we obtained a total of 33,493 relocations and visualized 33 completed spring migratory paths of five geese species using satellite tracking devices. We delineated 2,192,823 ha as the key stopover sites along the migration routes and found that croplands were the largest land use type within the stopover sites, followed by wetlands and natural grasslands (62.94%, 17.86% and 15.48% respectively). We further identified the conservation gaps by overlapping the stopover sites with the World Database on Protected Areas (PA). The results showed that only 15.63% (or 342,757 ha) of the stopover sites are covered by the current PA network. Our findings fulfil some key knowledge gaps for the conservation of the migratory waterbirds along the EAAF, thus enabling an integrative conservation strategy for migratory water birds in the flyway.
Body Composition, Physical Fitness, Physical Activity and Nutrition in Polish and Spanish Male Students of Sports Sciences: Differences and Correlations
Authors: López-Sánchez Guillermo , Radzimiński Łukasz , Skalska Maria , Jastrzębska Joanna , Smith Lee , Wakuluk Dorota , Jastrzębski Zbigniew
Published: April 2019

It is important to study differences in body composition, physical fitness and lifestyle behaviours between university students from different countries to develop country-specific recommendations on health promotion to provide to students when transitioning to university. The present study aimed to analyse differences in body composition, physical fitness and lifestyle behaviours between Polish and Spanish students of Sports Sciences. One-hundred-and-eighty-six male students participated (81 from Poland and 105 from Spain). Polish males were on average 21.5 ± 1.9 yrs old and Spanish males 21.5 ± 2.5. The body composition variables measured were body weight (kg), fat-free mass (FFM, kg and %), fat mass (FM, kg and %), total body water (TBW, kg and %), basal metabolic rate (BMR, kcal), body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2) and fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2). The physical fitness variables measured were squat jump (SJ, height in cm, power in watts and w/kg), countermovement jump (CMJ, height in cm, power in watts and w/kg), running speed (10, 20 and 30 m (time in s)), and progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run (PACER, stage, final speed in km/h, distance in m, VO2max in mL/kg/min). Lifestyle variables measured were vigorous physical activity (VPA, days/week, min/week), moderate physical activity (MPA, days/week, min/week), walking (days/week, min/week), sitting (min/week), meals/day, vegetables/day, fruits/day, seafood/week, dairy products/week, sweets, chips, fast food/week, litres of liquid/day, litres of sugary drinks/day, alcohol/week and cigarettes/day. In comparison to Spanish students, Polish students had greater FFM (kg), greater TBW (kg), higher BMR, greater power in SJ, greater height and power in CMJ, lower times in running speed tests (10 and 20 m) and greater consumption of vegetables and liquids. In comparison to Polish students, Spanish students participated in more physical activity, and consumed more seafood, more dairy products, less sugary drinks, less alcohol and less tobacco. VPA and consumption of vegetables and liquids had positive influences on body composition and physical fitness. According to these results, universities should promote a healthy lifestyle in order to improve body composition and physical fitness in male students studying sport science. In the cases of Spain and Poland, special attention should be paid to the weak points detected in this study. This would be useful for avoiding future risk of diseases such as obesity or diabetes.
Evaluating the Spatial Accessibility and Distribution Balance of Multi-Level Medical Service Facilities
Authors: Jin Meihan , Liu Lu , Tong De , Gong Yongxi , Liu Yu
Published: April 2019

Public medical service facilities are among the most basic needs of the public and are directly related to residents’ health. The balanced development of medical service facilities is of great significance. Public medical service facilities can be divided into different levels according to their medical equipment, service catchment, and medical quality, which is very important but has been ignored for a long time in accessibility evaluations. In this research, based on the hospital and population datasets of Shenzhen, we propose a hierarchical two-step floating catchment area (H2SFCA) method to evaluate the spatial accessibility of public medical resources considering the factors at different levels of medical resources. In the proposed method, the spatial accessibility of each level of public medical service facilities are evaluated using different distance attenuation functions according to the medical service’s scope. In addition, a measurement is proposed to evaluate the equity of medical service facilities based on accessibility and population density distributions. To synthesize the general spatial accessibility and the distribution balance of public medical service facilities, we standardize the spatial accessibility of public medical service facilities at each level and then calculate the weighted sums of the accessibility of each level. The general spatial equity of public medical service facilities is also evaluated. The results show that the accessibility and distribution balance of medical resources performs dissimilarly at the three levels and can be discriminated within different regions of the city. The accessibility of citywide medical facilities in Shenzhen decreases from the city center to the suburban area in a radial pattern and the accessibility and distribution balance in the suburban areas needs improvement.
Survival of Microorganisms on Nonwovens Used for the Construction of Filtering Facepiece Respirators
Authors: Majchrzycka Katarzyna , Okrasa Małgorzata , Szulc Justyna , Jachowicz Anita , Gutarowska Beata
Published: April 2019

Filtering nonwovens that constitute the base material for filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) used for the protection of the respiratory system against bioaerosols may, in favourable conditions, promote the development of harmful microorganisms. There are no studies looking at the impact that different types of filtering nonwovens have on microorganism survival, which is an important issue for FFR producers and users. Five commercial filtering nonwovens manufactured using diverse textile technologies (i.e., needle-punching, melt-blown, spun-bonding) with different structural parameters and raw material compositions were used within our research. The survival of microorganisms on filtering nonwovens was determined for E. coli, S. aureus, B. subtilis bacteria; C. albicans yeast and A. niger mould. Samples of nonwovens were collected immediately after inoculum application (at 0 h) and after 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of incubation. The tests were carried out in accordance with the AATCC 100-1998 method. Survival depended strongly on microorganism species. E. coli and S. aureus bacteria grew the most on all nonwovens tested. The structural parameters of the nonwovens tested (mass per unit area and thickness) and contact angle did not significantly affect microorganism survival.
A Study of Physical Activity Determinants among High-Risk Hypertensive Filipino and Korean Americans
Authors: Bhimla Aisha , Gadegbeku Crystal A. , Tan Yin , Zhu Lin , Aczon Ferdinand , Ma Grace X.
Published: April 2019

Physical activity (PA) serves a critical role in maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases, though its influence on high-risk Asian American populations is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine PA levels among Filipino and Korean Americans at high risk of hypertension and to identify sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with PA levels in these populations. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 137 participants in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Data was collected on PA levels, sociodemographic factors, and health factors. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to determine predictors associated with low, moderate, and high PA and predictive probabilities were calculated for interaction terms, incorporating ethnicity and blood pressure variables. Overall, 42.33% of participants belonged to the moderately active PA group and 21.90% belonged to the highly active group. In the final multinomial regression model, it was found that having gone to college increased the odds of being in the moderately active PA group (coef. = 1.96, p = 0.034), while having high blood pressure reduced the odds of being in the moderately active PA group (coef. = −2.21, p = 0.022). Lastly, being Korean versus Filipino reduced the odds of being in the highly active category (coef. = −2.89, p = 0.035). Based on predictive probabilities, Koreans and Filipinos with high blood pressure were more likely to belong in the low active PA category (52.31% and 46.33%). These findings highlight the need for culturally relevant PA interventions for promoting and increasing PA levels to prevent and manage hypertension among these populations.
Effects of Early Frequent Nephrology Care on Emergency Department Visits among Patients with End-stage Renal Disease
Authors: Chen Yun-Yi , Chen Likwang , Huang Jenq-Wen , Yang Ju-Yeh
Published: April 2019

In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the association between predialysis nephrology care status and emergency department (ED) events among patients with end-stage renal disease. Data pertaining to 76,702 patients who began dialysis treatment between 1999 and 2010 were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan (NHIRD). The patients were divided into three groups based on the timing of the first nephrology care visit prior to the initiation of maintenance dialysis, and the frequency of nephrologist visits (i.e., early referral/frequent consultation, early referral/infrequent consultation, late referral). At 1-year post-dialysis initiation, a large number of the patients had experienced at least one all-cause ED visit (58%), infection-related ED visit (17%), or potentially avoidable ED visit (7%). Cox proportional hazard models revealed that patients who received early frequent care faced an 8% lower risk of all-cause ED visit (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90–0.94), a 24% lower risk of infection-related ED visit (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.73–0.79), and a 24% lower risk of avoidable ED visit (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.71–0.81), compared with patients in the late referral group. With regard to the patients undergoing early infrequent consultations, the only marginally significant association was for infection-related ED visits. Recurrent event analysis revealed generally consistent results. Overall, these findings indicate that continuous nephrology care from early in the predialysis period could reduce the risk of ED utilization in the first year of dialysis treatment.
PM2.5 Pollution and Inhibitory Effects on Industry Development: A Bidirectional Correlation Effect Mechanism
Authors: Chen Jibo , Chen Keyao , Wang Guizhi , Wu Lingyan , Liu Xiaodong , Wei Guo
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a vector autoregression (VAR) model has been constructed in order to analyze a two-way mechanism between PM2.5 pollution and industry development in Beijing via the combination of an impulse response function and variance decomposition. According to the results, long-term equilibrium interconnection was found between PM2.5 pollution and the development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. One-way Granger causalities were found in the three types of industries shown to contribute to PM2.5 pollution, though the three industries showed different scales of influences on the PM2.5 pollution that varied for about 1–2 years. The development of the primary and secondary industries increased the emission of PM2.5, but the tertiary industry had an inhibitory effect. In addition, PM2.5 pollution had a certain inhibitory effect on the development of the primary and secondary industries, but the inhibition of the tertiary industry was not significant. Therefore, the development of the tertiary industry can contribute the most to the reduction of PM2.5 pollution. Based on these findings, policy-making recommendations can be proposed regarding upcoming pollution prevention strategies.
Cross-Regional Comparative Study on Environmental–Economic Efficiency and Driving Forces behind Efficiency Improvement in China: A Multistage Perspective
Authors: Qin Xionghe , Sun Yanming
Published: April 2019

Environmental–economic efficiency assessment is an effective way to evaluate the degree of coordination between an economy and the environment. Previous studies on environmental–economic efficiency have primarily investigated the efficiency of economic production and have often overlooked the efficiency of pollution treatment in overall economic activities. We applied a network data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the environmental–economic efficiency of a multistage process with undesirable outputs in 30 Chinese provinces during 2001–2017. The multistage process consisted of two sequential stages: economic production and pollution treatment. The results show that the average environmental–economic efficiency across all provinces was generally low but demonstrated a gradual upward trend during the study period. The spatial pattern for the 30 provinces showed that provinces with medium or high environmental–economic efficiency are mainly located in the eastern regions in China. Finally, few provinces exhibited economic activities with high economic production and pollution treatment efficiency, with most provinces generally having low economic production and pollution treatment efficiency. Hence, provinces with different economic production and pollution treatment efficiency modes should implement targeted improvement strategies according to their characteristics.
COPE.er Method: Combating Digital Addiction via Online Peer Support Groups
Authors: Alrobai Amen , Algashami Abdullah , Dogan Huseyin , Corner Tessa , Phalp Keith , Ali Raian
Published: April 2019

Digital addiction (hereafter DA) denotes a problematic relationship with technology described by being compulsive, obsessive, impulsive and hasty. New research has identified cases where users’ digital behaviour shows symptoms meeting the clinical criteria of behavioural addiction. The online peer groups approach is one of the strategies to combat addictive behaviours. Unlike other behaviours, intervention and addictive usage can be on the same medium; the online space. This shared medium empowers influence techniques found in peer groups, such as self-monitoring, social surveillance, and personalised feedback, with a higher degree of interactivity, continuity and real-time communication. Social media platforms in general and online peer groups, in particular, have received little guidance as to how software design should take it into account. Careful theoretical understanding of the unique attributes and dynamics of such platforms and their intersection with gamification and persuasive techniques is needed as the ad-hoc design may cause unexpected harm. In this paper, we investigate how to facilitate the design process to ensure a systematic development of this technology. We conducted several qualitative studies including user studies and observational investigations. The primary contribution of this research is twofold: (i) a reference model for designing interactive online platforms to host peer groups and combat DA, (ii) a process model, COPE.er, inspired by the participatory design approach to building Customisable Online Persuasive Ecology by Engineering Rehabilitation strategies for different groups.
Contemporary Trends and Habits in the Consumption of Sugar and Sweeteners—A Questionnaire Survey among Poles
Authors: Pielak Marlena , Czarniecka-Skubina Ewa , Trafiałek Joanna , Głuchowski Artur
Published: April 2019

The purpose of the paper was a cross sectional study to evaluate the use of sugars and selected sweeteners by Polish consumers in their diet. The survey was conducted using the direct interview method on the group of 2000 adults declaring the consumption of sugar or sweeteners. The ANOVA test and multi-dimensional cluster analysis was used to the data interpretation (p < 0.05). It was stated that the consumption of sugar among consumers remained at a high level. Respondents declared taking up the activities towards reducing sugar intake in their diet mostly due to health-related reasons. It was emphasized in particular by women taking part in the survey. The most frequent way to limit the amount of sugar in the diet consisted in choosing sweeteners, mainly stevia and xylitol. However, the knowledge concerning steviol glycosides among the consumers was not extensive. Results are the source of up-to-date information concerning the consumption of sugar and sweeteners. Consumers to whom nutrition campaigns on the necessity to limit the content of sugar in the diet are worth addressing were identified. A hypothesis, that consumers are currently more aware of the negative influence of increased sugar consumption on their health and they aim at limiting the content of added sugar in their diet, was confirmed.
The Influence of Top Managers on Environmental Information Disclosure: The Moderating Effect of Company’s Environmental Performance
Authors: Ma Yuan , Zhang Qiang , Yin Qiyue , Wang Bingcheng
Published: April 2019

Abundant extant literature emphasizes the impact of board members attributes’ influence on environmental information disclosure. Considering the voluntary nature of environmental information disclosure, executives have strong managerial discretion when they make such decisions, so this article focuses on top managers’ influence on environmental information disclosure. We hypothesize that top managers’ educational background and age will affect companies’ environmental decision. The hypotheses are verified with the data from Chinese listed manufacturing companies. As the results show, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) educational background and average age of top managers positively affect environmental information disclosure, while the impact of legal educational background is negative. The company’s environmental performance plays a U-shaped moderating effect on the relationship between MBA educational background and environmental information disclosure.
Gendered Working Environments as a Determinant of Mental Health Inequalities: A Protocol for a Systematic Review
Authors: Milner Allison , Scovelle Anna J. , King Tania L. , Marck Claudia H. , McAllister Ashley , Kavanagh Anne M. , Shields Marissa , Török Eszter , O’Neil Adrienne
Published: April 2019

Both gender and employment are critical and intersecting social determinants of mental and physical health. This paper describes the protocol used to conduct a systematic literature review of the relationship between “gendered working environments” and mental health. Gendered working environments (GWE) are conceptualised as involving: (1) differences in selection into work, and more specifically, occupations; (2) variation in employment arrangements and working hours; (3) disparities in psychosocial exposures at work, and; (4) differences in selection out of work. Methods/design: The review will adhere to a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search procedure. Key words will be identified that are specific to each of the four domains of GWE. The databases used for the search will be Scopus, Pubmed, Proquest, and Web of Science. Keywords will be adapted for the specific requirements of each electronic database. Inclusion criteria are: Using a validated scale to measure mental health (outcome); including exposures related to the four domains of GWE; reporting estimates for both men and women; and use of a cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional design. Studies will be excluded if they were published more than 10 years ago, are not in English or do not present extractable data on the relationship between GWE and mental health. Discussion: The proposed review will provide evidence about the numerous and complex ways in which employment and gender intersect (and are reinforced) to influence mental health over the life course.
Ion Channels Involved in Substance P-Mediated Nociception and Antinociception
Authors: Chang Chu-Ting , Jiang Bo-Yang , Chen Chih-Cheng
Published: April 2019

Substance P (SP), an 11-amino-acid neuropeptide, has long been considered an effector of pain. However, accumulating studies have proposed a paradoxical role of SP in anti-nociception. Here, we review studies of SP-mediated nociception and anti-nociception in terms of peptide features, SP-modulated ion channels, and differential effector systems underlying neurokinin 1 receptors (NK1Rs) in differential cell types to elucidate the effect of SP and further our understanding of SP in anti-nociception. Most importantly, understanding the anti-nociceptive SP-NK1R pathway would provide new insights for analgesic drug development.
Assessment of the Efficacy and Mode of Action of Benzo(1,2,3)-Thiadiazole-7-Carbothioic Acid S-Methyl Ester (BTH) and Its Derivatives in Plant Protection Against Viral Disease
Authors: Frąckowiak Patryk , Pospieszny Henryk , Smiglak Marcin , Obrępalska-Stęplowska Aleksandra
Published: April 2019

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) induction is one of the primary defence mechanisms of plants against a broad range of pathogens. It can be induced by infectious agents or by synthetic molecules, such as benzo(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH). SAR induction is associated with increases in salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and expression of defence marker genes (e.g., phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), the pathogenesis-related (PR) protein family, and non-expressor of PR genes (NPR1)). Various types of pathogens and pests induce plant responses by activating signalling pathways associated with SA, jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). This work presents an analysis of the influence of BTH and its derivatives as resistance inducers in healthy and virus-infected plants by determining the expression levels of selected resistance markers associated with the SA, JA, and ET pathways. The phytotoxic effects of these compounds and their influence on the course of viral infection were also studied. Based on the results obtained, the best-performing BTH derivatives and their optimal concentration for plant performance were selected, and their mode of action was suggested. It was shown that application of BTH and its derivatives induces increased expression of marker genes of both the SA- and JA-mediated pathways.
Apoptosis Induction byHistone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Cancer Cells: Role of Ku70
Authors: Gong Ping , Wang Yuetong , Jing Yongkui
Published: April 2019

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a group of enzymes that regulate gene transcription by controlling deacetylation of histones and non-histone proteins. Overexpression of HDACs is found in some types of tumors and predicts poor prognosis. Five HDAC inhibitors are approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Treatment with HDAC inhibitors regulates gene expression with increased acetylated histones with unconfirmed connection with therapy. Apoptosis is a key mechanism by which HDAC inhibitors selectively kill cancer cells, probably due to acetylation of non-histone proteins. Ku70 is a protein that repairs DNA breaks and stabilizes anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP and proapoptotic protein Bax, which is regulated by acetylation. HDAC inhibitors induce Ku70 acetylation with repressed c-FLIP and activated Bax in cancer cells. Current studies indicate that Ku70 is a potential target of HDAC inhibitors and plays an important role during the induction of apoptosis.
Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorptive Performances of a Composite Material Based on Carbon and Iron Oxide Particles
Authors: Mînzatu Vasile , Davidescu Corneliu-Mircea , Negrea Petru , Ciopec Mihaela , Muntean Cornelia , Hulka Iosif , Paul Cristina , Negrea Adina , Duțeanu Narcis
Published: April 2019

The aim of this paper was to produce a new composite material based on carbon and iron oxides, starting from soluble starch and ferric chloride. The composite material was synthesized by simple thermal decomposition of a reaction mass obtained from starch and iron chloride, in an inert atmosphere. Starch used as a carbon source also efficiently stabilizes the iron oxides particles obtained during the thermal decomposition. The reaction mass used for the thermal decomposition was obtained by simultaneously mixing the carbon and iron oxide precursors, without addition of any precipitation agent. The proper composite material can be obtained by rigorously adhering to the stirring time, temperature, and water quantity used during the preparation of the reaction mass, as well as the thermal regime and the controlled atmosphere used during the thermal decomposition. Synthesized materials were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR). The performances of the obtained material were highlighted by studying their adsorbent properties and by determining the maximum adsorption capacity for arsenic removal from aqueous solutions.
Identification of Candidate Genes and Pathways in Dexmedetomidine-Induced Cardioprotection in the Rat Heart by Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Yoshikawa Yusuke , Hirata Naoyuki , Terada Hirofumi , Sawashita Yasuaki , Yamakage Michiaki
Published: April 2019

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a highly selective alpha2 adrenergic receptor agonist, directly protects hearts against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the detailed mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We studied differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs after DEX administration in rat hearts by comprehensive analysis. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis was applied to explore candidate genes and pathways that might play important roles in DEX-induced cardioprotection. The results of microarray analysis showed that 165 mRNAs and 6 miRNAs were differentially expressed after DEX administration. Through bioinformatics analysis using differentially expressed mRNAs, gene ontology (GO) terms including MAP kinase tyrosine/serine/threonine phosphatase activity and pathways including the p53 pathway were significantly enriched in the down-regulated mRNAs. Dusp1 and Atm were associated with the GO term of MAP kinase tyrosine/serine/threonine phosphatase activity and the p53 pathway, respectively. On the other hand, no significant pathway was found in the target mRNAs of deregulated miRNAs. The results indicated some possible key genes and pathways that seem to be of significance in DEX-induced cardioprotection, although miRNAs seem to be unlikely to contribute to cardioprotection induced by DEX.
Cytological and Proteomic Analysis of Wheat Pollen Abortion Induced by Chemical Hybridization Agent
Authors: Wang Shuping , Zhang Yingxin , Fang Zhengwu , Zhang Yamin , Song Qilu , Hou Zehao , Sun Kunkun , Song Yulong , Li Ying , Ma Dongfang , Liu Yike , Zhu Zhanwang , Niu Na , Wang Junwei , Ma Shoucai , Zhang Gaisheng
Published: April 2019

In plants, pollen grain transfers the haploid male genetic material from anther to stigma, both between flowers (cross-pollination) and within the same flower (self-pollination). In order to better understand chemical hybridizing agent (CHA) SQ-1-induced pollen abortion in wheat, comparative cytological and proteomic analyses were conducted. Results indicated that pollen grains underwent serious structural injury, including cell division abnormality, nutritional deficiencies, pollen wall defect and pollen grain malformations in the CHA-SQ-1-treated plants, resulting in pollen abortion and male sterility. A total of 61 proteins showed statistically significant differences in abundance, among which 18 proteins were highly abundant and 43 proteins were less abundant in CHA-SQ-1 treated plants. 60 proteins were successfully identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. These proteins were found to be involved in pollen maturation and showed a change in the abundance of a battery of proteins involved in multiple biological processes, including pollen development, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, stress response, protein metabolism. Interactions between these proteins were predicted using bioinformatics analysis. Gene ontology and pathway analyses revealed that the majority of the identified proteins were involved in carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Accordingly, a protein-protein interaction network involving in pollen abortion was proposed. These results provide information for the molecular events underlying CHA-SQ-1-induced pollen abortion and may serve as an additional guide for practical hybrid breeding.
Mechanism of Action for HDAC Inhibitors—Insights from Omics Approaches
Authors: Li Wenbo , Sun Zheng
Published: April 2019

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) are a class of prominent epigenetic drugs that are currently being tested in hundreds of clinical trials against a variety of diseases. A few compounds have already been approved for treating lymphoma or myeloma. HDIs bind to the zinc-containing catalytic domain of the histone deacetylase (HDACs) and they repress the deacetylase enzymatic activity. The broad therapeutic effect of HDIs with seemingly low toxicity is somewhat puzzling when considering that most HDIs lack strict specificity toward any individual HDAC and, even if they do, each individual HDAC has diverse functions under different physiology scenarios. Here, we review recent mechanistic studies using omics approaches, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and chemoproteomics, methods. These omics studies provide non-biased insights into the mechanism of action for HDIs.
Rosiglitazone Enhances Browning Adipocytes in Association with MAPK and PI3-K Pathways During the Differentiation of Telomerase-Transformed Mesenchymal Stromal Cells into Adipocytes
Authors: Fayyad Abeer Maher , Khan Amir Ali , Abdallah Sallam Hasan , Alomran Sara Sultan , Bajou Khalid , Khattak Muhammad Nasir Khan
Published: April 2019

Obesity is a major risk for diabetes. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) mediates production of heat while white adipose tissue (WAT) function in the storage of fat. Roles of BAT in the treatment of obesity and related disorders warrants more investigation. Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is the master regulator of both BAT and WAT adipogenesis and has roles in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Adipose tissue is the major expression site for PPAR-γ. In this study, the effects of rosiglitazone on the brown adipogenesis and the association of MAPK and PI3K pathways was investigated during the in vitro adipogenic differentiation of telomerase transformed mesenchymal stromal cells (iMSCs). Our data indicate that 2 µM rosiglitazone enhanced adipogenesis by over-expression of PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α. More specifically, brown adipogenesis was enhanced by the upregulation of EBF2 and UCP-1 and evidenced by multilocular fatty droplets morphology of the differentiated adipocytes. We also found that rosiglitazone significantly activated MAPK and PI3K pathways at the maturation stage of differentiation. Overall, the results indicate that rosiglitazone induced overexpression of PPAR-γ that in turn enhanced adipogenesis, particularly browning adipogenesis. This study reports the browning effects of rosiglitazone during the differentiation of iMSCs into adipocytes in association with the activation of MAPK and PI3K signaling pathways.