bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vrijmaking (1944) in oorlogstijd
Authors: Langevelde Ab van
Published: September 2019

In 1944, the most difficult year of the war for the Netherlands, a conflict in the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands resulted in a split, the Vrijmaking. Often people have wondered – to say the least – why the Reformed were busy with their internal struggles in a time when national suffering and conflict required all hands to be on deck? A common explanation refers to innere Emigration: focusing on ecclesial issues was a kind of escape from national distress. In church they were like under a glass bell. The participants were aware of the incongruency of the situation, but proceeded with the Vrijmaking nonetheless. Van Langevelde proposes to replace the image of the glass bell by a bee hive, a more porous distinction between church and nation.
Investigation of the challenges facing public-private partnership projects in Australia
Authors: Mwakabole Godfrey Charles , Gurmu Argaw Tarekegn , Tivendale Linda
Published: September 2019

The practice of implementing infrastructure projects through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement is widely employed around the world with successful outcomes. However, this practice is not without challenges related to cost, time and quality variations, which the public is forced to bear. This study aims to explore factors influencing the termination of the East West Link project in Melbourne and present time and cost variation challenges facing the Sydney Light Rail project. This paper utilizes literature, investigating the critical success factors (CSF) for PPP infrastructure projects in an international context, and other readily available data sources such as Australian government publications, the case projects’ reports, news articles, and websites as the sources of data. The data gathered from these sources was then analysed to understand the project challenges and to investigate the relationship between CSF and the challenges. Four challenges were identified, including insufficiency of the business case, political interference, non-independence of implementing organizations and insufficient risk profile identification. The findings can assist to cover the loopholes that might cause similar failures in project planning, risk management, and policy and guideline frameworks. However, efforts should be made in improving the existing policies to accommodate political interests as part of risk measures under the national PPP guidelines.
Autism and online recruiting methods: A comparison of Mechanical Turk and discussion forums
Authors: Anderson Amelia , Everhart Nancy , Woods Juliann
Published: September 2019

In a study by a team at the intersection of information and communication sciences and disorders, researchers worked to design an interactive, online professional development system for academic librarians to better serve students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In creating this program, it was imperative to have stakeholder input and support; recruiting members of this population, students with ASD, was critical. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and online discussion forums, including Reddit, were used for recruitment for an online survey. While there was some overlap in results, there were also marked differences in responses based on online sampling frame. This paper details the online methods used for recruiting members of this community, and compares and contrasts success rates, challenges, and numbers associated with each method.
Evolution of bot and human behavior during elections
Authors: Luceri Luca , Deb Ashok , Giordano Silvia , Ferrara Emilio
Published: September 2019

Online social media have become one of the main communication platforms for political discussion. The online ecosystem, however, does not only include human users but has given a space to an increasing number of automated accounts, referred to as bots, extensively used to spread messages and manipulate the narratives others are exposed to. Although social media service providers put increasing efforts to protect their platforms, malicious bot accounts continuously evolve to escape detection. In this work, we monitored the activity of almost 245K accounts engaged in the Twitter political discussion during the last two U.S. voting events. We identified approximately 31K bots and characterized their activity in contrast with humans. We show that, in the 2018 midterms, bots changed the volume and the temporal dynamics of their online activity to better mimic humans and avoid detection. Our findings highlight the mutable nature of bots and illustrate the challenges to forecast their evolution.
ERGM approach to press freedom, regime type, and Internet connectedness
Authors: Seo Hyunjin , Thorson Stuart J.
Published: September 2019

We investigate homophily in the tie structure of the global Internet by estimating Exponential Random Graph (ERG) models. Specifically, we analyze the extent to which different variables including Gross National Income, geographic proximity, political regime type, and press freedom rating account for the pattern of direct country-to-country Internet connections. Results show that for 2011–2014, but not before, press freedom homophily is significantly predictive of the presence (or absence) of country-to-country Internet connections even when controlling for geographic proximity, bandwidth, and whether or not a country is democratic. The regime type variable was a significant predictor in 2002–2004 but not after. The findings provide insights into changes in press freedom around the world and the global Internet structure. The ERG approach used in this study should be useful for future research in related areas.
Topic polarization and push notifications
Authors: Sanfilippo Madelyn Rose , Lev-Aretz Yafit
Published: September 2019

In the fake news era, a combination of politics, big technology, and fear and animosity are blamed for the media mistrust and filter bubbles that are entrenching fragmentation in the public sphere. A partisan divide in the media and extreme political disagreements are nothing new, but new technology, such as social media and mobile push notifications, influences these years-old phenomena and plays an important role in current concerns. This paper explores how stories are represented differently by topic and across platforms, examining representation, polarization, and objectivity. Specifically, this paper looks at those issues from a novel perspective: through sentiment analysis of push notifications generated and archived from the Breaking News App on disasters, gun violence, and terrorism. Results indicate that partisan news organizations (1) emphasize different stories; (2) label the same events as categorically different; (3) hyperbolize and emotionalize different types of stories; and, (4) represent different categories of breaking news stories to different degrees of subjectivity.
‘The new Middle East’: Jewish-Israeli exclusion of Palestinians in Facebook advertising
Authors: Mor Yifat , Maoz Ifat
Published: September 2019

Previous studies have pointed to practices of disconnectivity and disengagement on Facebook, both generally (Stroud, 2010; Sunstein, 2009) and in the specific context of the Israeli society as a divided society in conflict (John and Dvir-Gvirsman, 2015; John and Gal, 2017; Gal, 2019). Our study aims to expand on these previous findings by examining practices of disconnectivity and disengagement in a different setting: among a professional group of Jewish Israeli advertisers who discuss their attempts to exclude Arab-named profiles from responding to their Facebook campaigns. The analysis focuses on a major Facebook group of social media marketing experts in Israel. This group is an open group consisting of 15,789 members, most of them Jewish-Israelis. We examined posts that were published in this group between 2013–2017 and dealt with Israeli-Arab audiences. Our findings emphasize the moral and ethical aspects of practices of disengagement and disconnectivity that — in the case studied here — help normalize and justify exclusion.
Efficiency of Working Capital Management and Firm Value: Evidence From Chinese Listed Firms
Authors: Vijayakumaran Ratnam
Published: September 2019

This paper examines the relationship between the efficiency of working capital management (WCM) and the firm value, focusing on a large panel of Chinese listed companies. WCM which involves a trade-off between profitability and risk is a very important element of the financial management of the firm. The net trade cycle (NTC) and its components are used to measure efficiency of WCM, while the firm value is measured by the Tobin’s Q ratio. The study makes use of the panel data methodology to estimate the regression models. This study reports that the net trade cycle is negatively associated with firm value. More specially, the study finds that firm value is adversely affected by the number of days accounts receivable and inventories, indicating that working capital provides a real opportunity for financial executives to release cash and improve firms’ value. The findings of this study are consistent with the idea that managers can enhance firm value by efficiently managing the investment in working capital.
Near-source strong ground motions observed in the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
Authors: Bradley Brendon A. , Cubrinovski Misko
Published: September 2019

This manuscript provides a critical examination of the ground motions recorded in the near-source region resulting from the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Particular attention is given to reconciling the observed spatial distribution of ground motions in terms of physical phenomena related to source, path and site effects. The large number of near-source observed strong ground motions show clear evidence of: forward-directivity, basin generated surface waves, liquefaction and other significant nonlinear site response. The pseudo-acceleration response spectra (SA) amplitudes and significant duration of strong motions agree well with empirical prediction models, except at long vibration periods where the influence of basin-generated surface waves and nonlinear site response are significant and not adequately accounted for in empirical SA models. Pseudo-acceleration response spectra are also compared with those observed in the 4 September 2010 Darfield earthquake and routine design response spectra used in order to emphasise the amplitude of ground shaking and elucidate the importance of local geotechnical characteristics on surface ground motions. The characteristics of the observed vertical component accelerations are shown to be strongly dependent on source-to-site distance and are comparable with those from the 4 September 2010 Darfield earthquake, implying the large amplitudes observed are simply a result of many observations at close distances rather than a peculiar source effect.
Dynamic site characterization of Christchurch strong motion stations
Authors: Wood Clinton M. , Cox Brady R. , Wotherspoon Liam M. , Green Russell A.
Published: September 2019

This paper details efforts to characterize the small-strain dynamic properties of 13 strong motion station (SMS) sites in the greater Christchurch, New Zealand area. These SMS recorded a unique set of ground motions (GM) from the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquakes. Currently, little information about the subsurface layering and dynamic characteristics at these 13 SMS is available. Information provided by GeoNet consists only of generalised layering based on regional geological characteristics and nearby well logs, with no information on dynamic properties. Consequently, the seismic site classifications of these sites were largely based on assumptions. To better define the site classifications, we performed active- and passive-source surface wave testing to obtain shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles at each site. The Vs profiles were used to calculate the average Vs over the top 30 m of the subsurface and to estimate the natural period of vibration (Tn). Additionally, estimates of Tn were obtained by computing the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios from recorded GM at each SMS. Based on this new information, we have updated the site classifications at the 13 SMS sites tested; 10 of which ended up with a slightly different site classification than the original assumption (often one site class lower).
Performance of ceilings in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
Authors: Dhakal Rajesh P. , MacRae Greg A. , Hogg Keith
Published: September 2019

This paper describes the performance of (or damage to) ceilings in buildings during the 22nd February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks. In buildings that suffered severe structural damage, ceilings and other non-structural components (rather expectedly) failed, but even in buildings with little damage to their structural systems, ceilings were found to be severely damaged. The extent of ceiling damage, where the ceilings were subject to severe shaking, depended on the type of the ceiling system, the size and weight of the ceilings and the interaction of ceilings with other elements. The varieties and extent of observed ceiling damage are discussed in this paper with the help of photographs taken after the earthquake.
Lifelines performance and management following the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, New Zealand
Authors: Giovinazzi Sonia , Wilson Thomas , Davis Craig , Bristow Daniel , Gallagher Max , Schofield Alistair , Villemure Marlene , Eidinger John , Tang Alex
Published: September 2019

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the city of Christchurch at 12:51pm on Tuesday 22 February 2011. The earthquake caused 182 fatalities, a large number of injuries, and resulted in widespread damage to the built environment, including significant disruption to the lifelines. The event created the largest lifeline disruption in a New Zealand city in 80 years, with much of the damage resulting from extensive and severe liquefaction in the Christchurch urban area. The Christchurch earthquake occurred when the Canterbury region and its lifelines systems were at the early stage of recovering from the 4 September 2010 Darfield (Canterbury) magnitude 7.1 earthquake. This paper describes the impact of the Christchurch earthquake on lifelines by briefly summarising the physical damage to the networks, the system performance and the operational response during the emergency management and the recovery phase. Special focus is given to the performance and management of the gas, electric and road networks and to the liquefaction ejecta clean-up operations that contributed to the rapid reinstatement of the functionality of many of the lifelines. The water and wastewater system performances are also summarized. Elements of resilience that contributed to good network performance or to efficient emergency and recovery management are highlighted in the paper.
Impact of the Christchurch earthquakes on the electrical power system infrastructure
Authors: Massie Andrew , Watson Neville R.
Published: September 2019

This paper gives a brief summary of the performance of the electrical infrastructure in the earthquakes that struck Christchurch and surrounding regions in 2011, with particular reference to the 22 February 2011 earthquake which was the most devastating.
Development of improved inelastic displacement prediction equations for the seismic design of hybrid systems
Authors: Ceballos C. J.L. , Sullivan T.J.
Published: September 2019

The use of hybrid joints to provide pre-cast concrete and timber structures with ductile response and self-centering capability is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, as is evident by the increasing number of building solutions that incorporate the technology as well as the design provisions for hybrid systems currently included in the New Zealand Concrete standard. This paper raises some issues with the current code approach to estimate the inelastic seismic displacement demand on hybrid systems. The work then presents the results of a series of non-linear time history analyses of single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems characterised by the flag-shaped hysteretic rule, in order to identify a general, improved expression for the equivalent viscous damping of hybrid systems. The new equivalent viscous damping expression is expected to provide more reliable control of inelastic displacement demands for hybrid systems design used Displacement-Based Design (DBD) procedures. In addition, the last part of the paper also discusses how the findings in the paper could be utilised to provide improved control of displacement demands when hybrid systems are designed using force-based procedures.
Viscous and hysteretic damping
Authors: Labise Chloe C. , Rodgers Geoffrey W. , MacRae Gregory A. , Chase J. Geoffrey
Published: September 2019

Capacity design, while protecting a structure against undesirable energy dissipations, has major implications on member sizes and overall cost. Furthermore, in some situations where protected elements possess some inelastic deformation capacity, it may be unwarranted. One of these situations is when the forces applied to the protected elements result from viscous dampers. This is because when viscous forces cause yielding in an element, the element deforms, so no deformation in the viscous damper is required. If no deformation is required, the velocity is zero, so there is no force. This implies that very little inelastic yielding is likely to occur in protected elements.

In order to investigate whether or not this is so, a single storey structure was designed and fitted with braces to reduce its response. Both hysteretic and viscous braces were used to obtain the same peak displacement response. The column strength was decreased by a fixed percentage and inelastic dynamic time history analysis was conducted. The amount of energy dissipated in the columns was then compared to determine whether hysteretic braces or viscous braces caused more column yielding so that appropriate over strength values could be developed for different brace types. It was found that the amount of energy absorbed by the column depends on the period but also on the brace design ductility. However, irrespective of the period or design ductility, the column hysteretic energy dissipated by a viscous brace was lower than that dissipated by a hysteretic brace. It follows that column yielding may be significantly less critical for viscous, rather than for hysteresis, braced structures.
Simplified expressions for modelling rigid rocking structures on two-spring foundations
Authors: Ma Quincy T. , Butterworth John W.
Published: September 2019

This paper presents a new technique for modelling the dynamic response of uplifting rigid structures subjected to base excitation. The proposed technique exploits the use of a two spring foundation, and subsequently an equivalent single-degree-of-freedom procedure is established to model the dynamics of the system. A set of simplified closed-form expressions have been developed to estimate the system’s restoring force-displacement characteristics. The simplified expressions only require details of the system geometry and are shown to predict the nonlinear force-displacement characteristics of a rocking structure as closely as those determined from a complicated pushover analysis. This paper presents two additional numerical examples to demonstrate the use of the proposed technique to simulate the displacement time-histories of a prototype structure under free-vibration-decay or when subjected to earthquake excitations.
Evaluating Marketing Strategies in Organ Donation and Transplantation
Authors: Dimo Peter Masibinyane
Published: September 2019

Patients suffering from end-stage diseases wait in expectation of life-saving organs that could improve their quality of life. However, there is widening gap between organ supply an demand. The intention of this study is to explore and evaluate marketing strategies in organ donation and transplantation. In an attempt to achieve the purpose of this study, a qualitative approach was employed. Phenomenology was used as the study’s research design. The study used social marketing and the theory of social constructivism as the theoretical frameworks and data was collected through in-depths interviews. Qualitative data was analysed through thematic content analysis. Purposive sampling was used to select 30 organ donation coordinators. The study established that public education is the main vehicle through which organ donation and transplantation are promoted. Educational talks, distribution of information, media, social media, expos, awareness events, and corporate and educational talks are amongst the strategies used to promote organ donation. The study recommends that the Department of Education include the issue organ donation in school curricula, and that religious organisations, regular worksite campaigns, regular television advertisements should be used as vehicles through which to promote organ donation and transplantation. Furthermore, it is recommended that additional public awareness campaigns be held in black communities. It is respectfully recommended that the Organ Donor Foundation consider opening satellite offices in all nine South African provinces.
Efeitos dos pulsos de inundação na vegetação do alto Rio Paraná entre 1989 e 1990
Authors: Souza Renata Mariane de , Tomadon Leonardo da Silva , Couto Edivando Vitor do , Ferreira José Hilário Delconte
Published: September 2019

O avanço da tecnologia permitiu que estudos em áreas pudessem ocorrer remotamente, como em planícies de inundação, pois este ambiente é de difícil acesso. A planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná é um ambiente diverso em vegetação possuindo mais de 360 espécies, as quais são controladas pelos pulsos de inundação e devido a sua importância ecológica estudos relacionados a influência da inundação sobre a vegetação, faz-se necessário. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho é estudar a influência que a inundação da planície do Alto Rio Paraná, causa sobre a vegetação para o pulso do ano de 1989/1990. Utilizando-se de imagens de satélite e índices de vegetação foi realizado a classificação do uso do solo antes e após o pulso com as classes de água, solo exposto, vegetações higrófilas, herbáceas e arbóreas. Verificou-se que, após a inundação as vegetações higrófilas, arbóreas e solo exposto diminuíram. No entanto, as áreas de vegetação herbácea e água aumentaram, e isto ocorre devido às classes que foram reduzidas preferirem ambientes com sedimentos; referindo-se às que aumentaram, foi devido à baixa capacidade de infiltração do solo. Dessa forma, conclui-se que a inundação da planície afetou na dinâmica da vegetação reduzindo ou ampliando a área de ocorrência dos tipos vegetacionais.
A problemática das aves no Aeroporto Bartolomeu Lisandro: risco aviário
Authors: Silva Layra de Oliveira , Neto Cícero Ferreira
Published: September 2019

Nos últimos anos, o número de acidentes e incidentes envolvendo aves e aeronaves aumentou. Muitos aeródromos são construídos nas proximidades de áreas urbanas ou outras áreas que funcionam como atrativos para aves, e muitas dessas aves, não residentes do local, são atraídas por fatores naturais ou antrópicos, como a busca de uma área para descanso, reprodução, busca de alimentos que geralmente são os próprios resíduos descartados incorretamente pela população que vive ao redor desses aeródromos. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar as principais causas de colisões de aves com aeronaves, os impactos que são gerados e as medidas que devem ser tomadas a fim de minimizar o problema, visando o aeroporto Bartolomeu Lisandro, localizado na cidade de Campos dos Goytacazes. A pesquisa foi feita em base bibliográfica, com consultas a artigos, livros, documentos disponibilizados na internet, e, também, foram realizadas entrevistas aos funcionários do aeroporto. Os resultados apontaram que os principais fatores de atração são os resíduos descartados pela população no entorno desse aeródromo e o antigo vazadouro a céu aberto, que funcionava a aproximadamente 4 quilômetros de distância, que mesmo depois de seu fechamento pela prefeitura, continuou funcionando como local de despejo de resíduos pela população. É necessário que os aeródromos utilizem técnicas para afastar essas aves, utilizando medidas preventivas como técnicas de afugentação, modificação de habitats e exclusão, ou remoção. A prefeitura da cidade deveria realizar um trabalho de educação ambiental com a população que vive ao redor do aeroporto para que ela tomasse conhecimento do problema evitando o descarte de resíduos e além disso, outras organizações externas deveriam participar do gerenciamento do risco aviário, assim haveria controle interno e das áreas ao redor do aeroporto.
Perícia ambiental em crimes ambientais: pesca ilegal no município de Rio Grande (RS)
Authors: Walerko Vandressa Siqueira , Cunha Amanda Garcia da , Gadotti Gizele Ingrid , Corrêa Luciara Bilhalva , Andreazza Robson
Published: September 2019

Harmonizar o desenvolvimento econômico com a preservação ambiental é um dos grandes desafios, atualmente. Para que o desenvolvimento econômico e a qualidade ambiental sejam cada vez mais compatíveis, o poder público assume um papel de grande importância para a sociedade, pois está incumbido de fiscalizar, vigiar, minimizar e controlar todas as atividades que possam causar danos ao meio ambiente. No intuito de proteger e solucionar esses conflitos, sejam eles sociais, ambientais ou criminais, existem ferramentas que auxiliam a esfera judicial. Dentre elas, a perícia, que ganha destaque por exercer a função esclarecedora de questões, levantando a veracidade de fatos e circunstâncias. Diante do exposto, este estudo objetiva diagnosticar a incidência dos autos de constatação realizados pela Patram do município de Rio Grande (RS), advindos da pesca ilegal, bem como levantar as principais características que compõe esse crime na região através da metodologia de laudos periciais. O método utilizado é baseado em pesquisa exploratória, e para este fim, foram realizadas buscas científicas, e em dados de autos de constatação dos anos de 2016 e 2017 da Patrulha Ambiental do município de Rio Grande (RS) e em entrevista estruturada. Por fim, cabe ressaltar que conhecimento e compromisso com as atividades pesqueiras são características essenciais para a conservação das espécies e do estoque pesqueiro, promovendo a valorização da pesca tradicional e que a técnica, a vistoria, a avaliação. O arbitramento seria ideal para este tipo de caso.
Curiosity as Brazilian tourist motivation in visiting Europe
Authors: Ciasullo Maria Vincenza , Tommasetti Roberto , Troisi Orlando , Vesci Massimiliano
Published: September 2019

Although the theme of push and pull motivations has received increasing attention in tourist behavior literature, little attention has been devoted to the investigation of the interaction between single push motivations and visitor loyalty and other relevant variables influencing tourist behavior. Given its undoubtable relevance in motivating human behavior, we propose curiosity as a single push motive by examining its causal relationships with destination attributes (evaluated in holistic way), attitude toward destination, and loyalty. In particular, we tested a new research model on a sample of 273 potential Brazilian travelers to Europe by using a structural equation modeling approach. Sample size is in line with the state-of-the-art in literature (Ciasullo et al., 2017). The data moderately well fitted the “curiosity model” and the findings highlighted that curiosity plays a crucial role in shaping attitude and pull motivation, and in influencing tourist loyalty. Consequently, destination managers or European Union institutions should magnify the role of curiosity, attitude towards destination, and pull motivations in terms of marketing policies.
The art of surgery
Authors: Sterpetti A V
Published: September 2019

The Polittico della Misericordia (Piero della Francesca, 1444–1462; fresco; Museo Civico di Sansepolcro, Sansepolcro, Italy). The painting includes a self-portrait of the artist in which a thyroglossal cyst is evident. According to Vasari, Piero della Francesca was a calm and wise man, who lived for more than 80 years, supporting the diagnosis of a benign condition. Published online in Wiley Online Library (www.bjs.co.uk). DOI:  10.1002/bjs.11107 Piero della Francesca (1417–1492), an Italian artist of the Renaissance period, did not receive the credit he deserved during his lifetime. He painted several frescos in his home town of Sansepolcro, Italy, after the local government and monastery tried to make the town as attractive as possible, in support of a bid to Rome to be an Episcopal seat. Piero della Francesca painted the fresco Polittico della Misericordia for the altar of the Church of the Confraternita della Misericordia. One of those praying is a self-portrait of the artist. The painter's subjects are arranged symmetrically, which gives a feeling of action, based on careful mathematical and geometrical studies. The importance of Piero della Francesca in the history of art was discovered by English tourists in the mid-19th century, and above all by Austen Henry Layard (1817–1894), one of the most influential archaeologists of the 19th century. During World War II, the commander of the British soldiers received the order to bomb Sansepolcro, which was occupied by the German army. The commander was interested in archaeology and had visited Sansepolcro several times before the war. He therefore decided not to bomb Sansepolcro immediately to avoid destroying the fresco. A couple of weeks later the German soldiers left Sansepolcro, and so the frescos of Piero della Francesca were saved. Read more about the fascinating events surrounding this painting in an essay  online.
Avoiding, diagnosing and treating well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic surgery
Authors: Gill M , Fligelstone L , Keating J , Jayne D G , Renton S , Shearman C P , Carlson G L
Published: September 2019

Background

Patients undergoing prolonged pelvic surgery may develop compartment syndrome of one or both lower limbs in the absence of direct trauma or pre-existing vascular disease (well leg compartment syndrome). This condition may have devastating consequences for postoperative recovery, including loss of life or limb, and irreversible disability.

Methods

These guidelines represent the collaboration of a multidisciplinary group of colorectal, vascular and orthopaedic surgeons, acting on behalf of their specialty associations in the UK and Ireland. A systematic analysis of the available peer-reviewed literature was undertaken to provide an evidence base from which these guidelines were developed.

Results

These guidelines encompass the risk factors (both patient- and procedure-related), diagnosis and management of the condition. Key recommendations for the adoption of perioperative strategies to facilitate prevention and effective treatment of well leg compartment syndrome are presented.

Conclusion

All surgeons who carry out abdominopelvic surgical procedures should be aware of well leg compartment syndrome, and instigate policies within their own institution to reduce the risk of this potentially life-changing complication.
The surgeon and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Buskens C J , Bemelman W A
Published: September 2019

Could be involved earlier
Community Curation and Expert Curation of Human Long Noncoding RNAs with LncRNAWiki and LncBook
Authors: Ma Lina , Cao Jiabao , Liu Lin , Li Zhao , Shireen Huma , Pervaiz Nashaiman , Batool Fatima , Raza Rabail Z. , Zou Dong , Bao Yiming , Abbasi Amir A. , Zhang Zhang
Published: September 2019

In recent years, the number of human long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that have been identified has increased exponentially. However, these lncRNAs are poorly annotated compared to protein‐coding genes, posing great challenges for a better understanding of their functional significance and elucidating their complex functioning molecular mechanisms. Here we employ both community and expert curation to yield a comprehensive collection of human lncRNAs and their annotations. Specifically, LncRNAWiki (http://lncrna.big.ac.cn/index.php/Main_Page) uses a wiki‐based community curation model, thus showing great promise in dealing with the flood of biological knowledge, while LncBook (http://bigd.big.ac.cn/lncbook) is an expert curation–based database that provides a complement to LncRNAWiki. LncBook features a comprehensive collection of human lncRNAs and a systematic curation of lncRNAs by multi‐omics data integration, functional annotation, and disease association. These protocols provide step‐by‐step instructions on how to browse and search a specific lncRNA and how to obtain a range of related information including expression, methylation, variation, function, and disease association. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Protein‐Protein Interaction Mapping by 2C‐BioID
Authors: Chojnowski Alexandre , Werner Hendrikje , Cook Matthew , Sobota Radoslaw M. , Burke Brian , Stewart Colin L.
Published: September 2019

Protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) add an essential layer of complexity to the information encoded by the genome. Modulation of such interactions is a key feature of most, if not all, cellular activities and allows cells to respond rapidly to both internal and external signals and stimuli. In this respect, the development of the BioID assay to interrogate PPIs within a cellular context represents an important adjunct to the range of tools currently at researchers' disposal. To address some of its current limitations, we devised 2C‐BioID, in which biotin ligase and the protein of interest remain as separate entities until induced to associate. This is accomplished using the well‐established FKBP‐FRB dimerization system (based on the rapamycin‐induced binding of FK506 binding protein and FKBP12‐rapamycin binding domain.). The design of 2C‐BioID ensures that biotin ligase association with the protein of interest occurs only after addition of the rapamycin analogue AP21967. As such, 2C‐BioID alleviates potential targeting issues and improves the ability to exclude false positives, thereby refining the specificity of BioID‐generated interactomes. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
AT1 receptor antagonism promotes bone loss attenuation in experimental periodontitis, blocks inflammatory mediators, and upregulates antioxidant enzymes and bone formation markers
Authors: Dionísio Thiago J. , Souza Gabriela P. , Colombini‐Ishikiriama Bella L. , Garbieri Thais F. , Parisi Viviane A. , Oliveira Gabriela M. , Cano Isadora P. , Rodini Camila O. , Oliveira Sandra H. P. , Greene Andrew S. , Santos Carlos F.
Published: September 2019

Background

The initiation and progression of periodontitis might involve a local renin‐angiotensin system in periodontal tissue. This study hypothesized that Losartan treatment could promote protection to rats submitted to experimental periodontitis (EP) by attenuating alveolar bone loss due to reduction in inflammatory cytokines, better reactive oxidant species regulation and maintenance of the balance between bone formation and resorption factors.

Methods

One hundred and thirty rats were submitted to EP with a silk suture thread (4.0) placed around the lower right first molar for 1, 3, 7, and 14 consecutive days. The study comprised four groups: G1—control without EP; G2—animals with EP treated with water; G3—Losartan‐treated animals (treatment started at the same day of EP induction), and G4—animals previously treated with Losartan for 30 days followed by induction of EP and continuity of treatment.

Results

G2 rats had greater bone loss volume, increased number, and thickness and decreased separation of trabeculae. On the other hand, G4 animals showed significant improvements in these parameters. Histological analysis revealed that EP favors inflammatory cell infiltration and junctional epithelium, cementum with alveolar bone crest destruction, but animals pretreated with Losartan (G4) did not show these features. Although the G3 animals did not demonstrate the improvements detected in G4, mRNA expression results were similar. In mandibular tissue, EP promoted mRNA increases for ACE, AT1 receptor, and inflammatory mediators as well as decreases for antioxidant enzymes. However, Losartan treatments attenuated these responses in addition to promoting an increase in bone formation markers and transcription factors.

Conclusion

AT1 receptor modulates EP progression.
pseudoQC: A Regression‐Based Simulation Software for Correction and Normalization of Complex Metabolomics and Proteomics Datasets
Authors: Wang Shisheng , Yang Hao
Published: September 2019

Various types of unwanted and uncontrollable signal variations in MS‐based metabolomics and proteomics datasets severely disturb the accuracies of metabolite and protein profiling. Therefore, pooled quality control (QC) samples are often employed in quality management processes, which are indispensable to the success of metabolomics and proteomics experiments, especially in high‐throughput cases and long‐term projects. However, data consistency and QC sample stability are still difficult to guarantee because of the experimental operation complexity and differences between experimenters. To make things worse, numerous proteomics projects do not take QC samples into consideration at the beginning of experimental design. Herein, a powerful and interactive web‐based software, named pseudoQC, is presented to simulate QC sample data for actual metabolomics and proteomics datasets using four different machine learning‐based regression methods. The simulated data are used for correction and normalization of the two published datasets, and the obtained results suggest that nonlinear regression methods perform better than linear ones. Additionally, the above software is available as a web‐based graphical user interface and can be utilized by scientists without a bioinformatics background. pseudoQC is open‐source software and freely available at https://www.omicsolution.org/wukong/pseudoQC/.
How demographic developments determine the management of hydrometeorological hazard risks in rural communities: The linkages between demographic and natural hazards research
Authors: Clar Christoph
Published: September 2019

The management of hydrometeorological hazard risks increasingly builds on the notion that the main constituents—hazard risk and vulnerability—have to be understood as dynamic processes. Natural hazards and their impacts are influenced by changes in land use and impacts of climate change, whereas the vulnerability of communities is, inter alia, determined by changes in their demographic composition. Structurally weak rural regions have to face these challenges, while their capacities to manage hydrometeorological risks are affected by major demographic developments, such as population decline and demographic aging (especially in Europe). Nonetheless, academic research regarding this issue is still in its infancy. Research on the relationship between hydrometeorological hazards and long‐term demographic change often focuses on one side of the coin: impacts of hazards on the demographic composition of communities. The impacts of demographic change onto communities' ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards appear as disregarded link. This article gives an overview over linkages by reviewing literature at the intersection of demographic and hydrological hazard research. The review of more than 90 publications provides insights into how particular demographic factors (socioeconomic status; migration, residency, and mobility; gender and gender relations; education and knowledge; and religion and beliefs) determine the management of hydrometeorological hazard risks. Furthermore, it identifies publications which consider long‐term developments. The overview shows that we lack a thorough connection between demographic change and hydrometeorological hazard risk management, which would be crucial for in‐depth studies as well as a more dynamic understanding of respective linkages.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Water Extremes

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Regulations to protect groundwater resources during unconventional oil and gas extraction using fracking
Authors: Esterhuyse Surina , Vermeulen Danie , Glazewski Jan
Published: September 2019

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction using fracking can damage groundwater resources, a crucial resource in many countries. Protecting groundwater will become more urgent as climate change and population growth increase pressure on water demand, especially in water‐scarce countries. But despite the strategic importance of groundwater, it is often poorly managed during UOG extraction. This review considers three types of regulation (command‐and‐control, market‐based and voluntary) in countries where UOG extraction is allowed, to identify the best suite of regulations to protect groundwater resources during this process. We propose a regulatory framework that includes both “hard” command‐and‐control regulations and “soft” market‐based and voluntary regulations. If regulations are to protect groundwater resources effectively, public disclosure of UOG operations must be required and the information must be stored in publicly accessible databases. This would allow for independent scientific review of data by academia and the private sector, in addition to government scrutiny of the data. These parties can then make recommendations to government, allowing timeous and appropriate adaptive management and the amendment of regulations as necessary. And, most importantly, these regulations must be properly enforced to avoid (in some cases irreversible) damage to groundwater resources.

This article is characterized under:

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water

Human Water > Water Governance

Science of Water > Water Quality
Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 drives the high-fat diet-associated prostate cancer growth
Authors: Kwan Hiu Yee , Liu Bin , Huang Chunhua , Fatima Sarwat , Su Tao , Zhao Xiaoshan , Ho Alan H. M. , Han Quanbin , Hu Xianjing , Gong Rui-Hong , Chen Minting , Wong Hoi Leong Xavier , Bian Zhaoxiang
Published: September 2019

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. PCa progression can be associated with obesity. Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) plays a crucial role in PCa growth. However, whether STAT3 plays a role in high-fat diet (HFD)-associated PCa growth is unknown. Our data show that HFD feeding increases tumor size, STAT3 phosphorylation, and palmitic acid (PA) level in the xenograft tissues of the PCa-bearing xenograft mouse model. In vitro studies show that PA increases STAT3 expression and phosphorylation (STAT3-Y705) in PCa. Computational modeling suggests strong and stable binding between PA and unphosphorylated STAT3 at R593 and N538. The binding changes STAT3 structure and activity. Functional studies show that both STAT3 mutants (R583A and N538A) and STAT3 dominant negative significantly reduce PA-enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation, PA-increased PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In the xenograft mouse models, the HFD-increased tumor growth and STAT3 phosphorylation in tumors are reversed by STAT3 inhibition. Our study not only demonstrates the regulatory role of PA/STAT3 axis in HFD-associated PCa growth but also suggests a novel mechanism of how STAT3 is activated by PA. Our data suggest STAT3 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HFD-associated PCa.
Publisher Correction: Conversion of a soluble protein into a potent chaperone in vivo
Authors: Kwon Soon Bin , Ryu Kisun , Son Ahyun , Jeong Hotcherl , Lim Keo-Heun , Kim Kyun-Hwan , Seong Baik L. , Choi Seong Il
Published: September 2019

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Transcriptome Analysis of Reticulated Platelets Reveals a Prothrombotic Profile
Authors: Bongiovanni Dario , Santamaria Gianluca , Klug Melissa , Santovito Donato , Felicetta Arianna , Hristov Michael , von Scheidt Moritz , Aslani Maria , Cibella Javier , Weber Christian , Moretti Alessandra , Laugwitz Karl-Ludwig , Peano Clelia , Bernlochner Isabell
Published: September 2019

Reticulated platelets (RPs) are larger, hyperreactive platelets that contain significantly more ribonucleic acid (RNA) compared with mature platelets (MPs). High levels of RPs in peripheral blood are predictors of an insufficient response to dual antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular patients and of adverse cardiovascular events. However, the mechanisms underlying these correlations remain widely unknown and the biology of RPs has not been investigated yet. Here, we compared for the first time the transcriptomic profiles of RPs and MPs isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors. Total RNA sequencing revealed 1,744 differentially expressed genes (670 downregulated, 1,074 upregulated) in RPs compared with MPs. In particular, transcripts for the collagen receptor GP6, thromboxane receptor A2 (TBXA2R), thrombin receptor PAR4 (F2RL3), and adenosine triphosphate receptors P2RX1, ORAI2, and STIM1 (both involved in calcium signaling) were significantly upregulated in RPs, whereas several RNA regulators as the ribonuclease PARN, the RISC-component TNRC6A, and the splicing factor LUC7L3 were downregulated in RPs. Gene ontology analysis revealed an enrichment of relevant biological categories in RPs including platelet activation and blood coagulation. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed an overrepresentation of several platelet activation pathways like thrombin, thromboxane, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa signaling in RPs. Small-RNA sequencing reported 9 micro-RNAs significantly downregulated in RPs with targets involved in platelet reactivity. Our data show for the first time an enrichment of several prothrombotic transcripts in RPs providing a first biological explanation for their hyperreactive phenotype.
The Role of Iron and Siderophores in Infection, and the Development of Siderophore Antibiotics
Authors: Page Malcom G P
Published: September 2019

Iron is an essential nutrient for bacterial growth, replication, and metabolism. Humans store iron bound to various proteins such as hemoglobin, haptoglobin, transferrin, ferritin, and lactoferrin, limiting the availability of free iron for pathogenic bacteria. However, bacteria have developed various mechanisms to sequester or scavenge iron from the host environment. Iron can be taken up by means of active transport systems that consist of bacterial small molecule siderophores, outer membrane siderophore receptors, the TonB-ExbBD energy-transducing proteins coupling the outer and the inner membranes, and inner membrane transporters. Some bacteria also express outer membrane receptors for iron-binding proteins of the host and extract iron directly from these for uptake. Ultimately, iron is acquired and transported into the bacterial cytoplasm. The siderophores are small molecules produced and released by nearly all bacterial species and are classified according to the chemical nature of their iron-chelating group (ie, catechol, hydroxamate, α-hydroxyl-carboxylate, or mixed types). Siderophore-conjugated antibiotics that exploit such iron-transport systems are under development for the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria. Despite demonstrating high in vitro potency against pathogenic multidrug-resistant bacteria, further development of several candidates had stopped due to apparent adaptive resistance during exposure, lack of consistent in vivo efficacy, or emergence of side effects in the host. However, cefiderocol, with an optimized structure, has advanced and has been investigated in phase 1 to 3 clinical trials. This article discusses the mechanisms implicated in iron uptake and the challenges associated with the design and utilization of siderophore-mimicking antibiotics.