bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Approach to Uncertainty Reduction with a Probabilistic and Multi-Objective History Matching
Authors: Mesquita F.B. , Davolio A. , Schiozer D.J.
Published: March 2015

The petroleum industry has a high demand for production forecasting under uncertainties, which is performed through probabilistic approaches. Although these approaches have been used very often in recent years, one of the challenges to their application is the development of a methodology with multiple scenarios that honor the dynamic data available (history matching procedures). Many works, which propose different probabilistic history matching approaches have been published in the literature but are based on methods that demand a very high number of reservoir simulation runs. Thus, to make this type of application feasible, these methods rely on the application of proxy models, which, however, are not able to capture the full physical behavior of the model. Different from those methods, this work proposes a methodology for uncertainties reduction of reservoir properties integrated with an assisted history matching procedure, in a multi-objective approach that does not employ proxies.

The methodology proposed is an extension of a procedure previously published by our group, which has shown to be an efficient way to perform probabilistic history matching. At each iteration of the process, the model uncertainties are combined through a robust sampling technique, which originates a set of model realizations that are then simulated. The results are evaluated for all Objective Functions (OF), namely, the quadratic deviations of all well rates and pressures. This work proposes the use of quantitative tools to perform the matching: (1) indexes that quantify the matching quality for each OF and allow prioritizing the worst OF to be matched and (2) a bi-dimensional matrix that supports the identification of sources to the highest deviations and gradual model properties updating. At the end of the procedure, good models (which must present satisfactory matching for all OF) are filtered and further employed in production forecasting under uncertainties.

The methodology is applied to a synthetic model (UNISIM-I-H) based on the Namorado field in Brazil. The results show not only the gradual improvement of all OF during the matching procedure but also and, more importantly, how the reservoir uncertainties are updated based on the tools proposed here.

The proposed indicators make the application systematic and can be used for automatizing the process. The methodology is able to deal with complex cases, especially those involving several wells and uncertainties with non-linear interaction among them. The developments provide robustness to the application, resulting in a more reliable production forecast and management of the field.
Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions using micro zero-valent iron supported by bentonite layer
Authors: Daoud Waseem , Ebadi Taghi , Fahimifar Ahmad
Published: March 2015

Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is of particular environmental concern due to its toxicity, mobility, and challenging removal from industrial wastewater. It is a strong oxidizing agent that is carcinogenic and mutagenic and diffuses quickly through soil and aquatic environments. Moreover, it does not form insoluble compounds in aqueous solutions; therefore, separation by precipitation is not feasible. While Cr(VI) oxyanions are very mobile and toxic in the environment, trivalent Cr(III) cations are the opposite and, like many metal cations, Cr(III) forms insoluble precipitates. Thus, reducing Cr(VI)–Cr(III) simplifies its removal from effluent and also reduces its toxicity and mobility. Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) with zero-valent iron (ZVI) have been used to remediate contaminated groundwater with metals, but using ZVI in remediation of contaminated groundwater or wastewater is limited due to its lack of stability, easy aggregation, and difficulty in separation of iron from the treated solution. Thus, the technology used in the present study is developed to address these problems by placing a layer of bentonite after the PRB layer to remove iron from the treated water. The removal rates of Cr(VI) under different values of pH were investigated, and the results indicated the highest adsorption capacity at low pH.
Effect of sensor location on controller performance in a wastewater treatment plant
Authors: Rehman U. , Vesvikar M. , Maere T. , Guo L. , Vanrolleghem P. A. , Nopens I.
Published: March 2015

Complete mixing is hard to achieve in large bioreactors in wastewater treatment plants. This often leads to a non-uniform distribution of components such as dissolved oxygen and, hence, the process rates depend on them. Furthermore, when these components are used as input for a controller, the location of the sensor can potentially affect the control action. In this contribution, the effect of sensor location and the choice of setpoint on the controller performance were examined for a non-homogeneously mixed pilot bioreactor described by a compartmental model. The impacts on effluent quality and aeration cost were evaluated. It was shown that a dissolved oxygen controller with a fixed setpoint performs differently as a function of the location of the sensor. When placed in a poorly mixed location, the controller increases the aeration intensity to its maximum capacity leading to higher aeration costs. When placed just above the aerated zone, the controller decreases the aeration rate resulting in lower dissolved oxygen concentrations in the remainder of the system, compromising effluent quality. In addition to the location of the sensor, the selection of an appropriate setpoint also impacts controller behavior. This suggests that mixing behavior of bioreactors should be better quantified for proper sensor location and controller design.
Using hydrological simulation to detect human-disturbed epoch in runoff series
Authors: Wang G. Q. , Zhang J. Y. , Pagano T. C. , Liu Y. L. , Liu C. S. , Bao Z. X. , Jin J. L. , He R. M.
Published: March 2015

Runoff in major rivers in China has been decreasing in recent decades, mainly due to climate change and human activity. River basin managers have a critical interest in detecting and diagnosing non-stationaries in runoff time series. Here we use a rainfall runoff model-based approach to identify the human-disturbed periods of the record. The method is applied to the Kuye River catchment, located in the Loess Plateau, China. The SimHyd model performs well for simulation of monthly natural discharges, and the method suggests that discernable human influence began in 1980. Anthropogenic effects were detectable several years earlier at the downstream stations than the upstream stations, consistent with pace and timing of soil and water conservation measures implemented across the Kuye River catchment.
ATAD control goals through the analysis of process variables and evaluation of quality, production and cost
Authors: Nájera S. , Gil-Martínez M. , Zambrano J. A.
Published: March 2015

The aim of this paper is to establish and quantify different operational goals and control strategies in autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD). This technology appears as an alternative to conventional sludge digestion systems. During the batch-mode reaction, high temperatures promote sludge stabilization and pasteurization. The digester temperature is usually the only online, robust, measurable variable. The average temperature can be regulated by manipulating both the air injection and the sludge retention time. An improved performance of diverse biochemical variables can be achieved through proper manipulation of these inputs. However, a better quality of treated sludge usually implies major operating costs or a lower production rate. Thus, quality, production and cost indices are defined to quantify the outcomes of the treatment. Based on these, tradeoff control strategies are proposed and illustrated through some examples. This paper's results are relevant to guide plant operators, to design automatic control systems and to compare or evaluate the control performance on ATAD systems.
Pretreatment of piggery wastewater by a stable constructed microbial consortium for improving the methane production
Authors: Cai Jian , Mo Xiwei , Cheng Guojun , Du Dongyun
Published: March 2015

A stable aerobic microbial consortium, established by successive subcultivation, was employed to solubilize the solid organic fraction in swine wastewater. In the 30 days' successive biological pretreatments, 30–38% of volatile solids and 19–28% total solids in raw slurry were solubilized after 10 hours at 37 °C. Meanwhile, soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile fatty acid increased by 48%–56% and 600%–750%, respectively. Furthermore, the molecular microbial profile of the consortium in successive pretreatment was conducted by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results indicated that bacterial species of the consortium rapidly overgrew the indigenous microbial community of raw water, and showed a stable predominance at the long-term treatment. As a consequence of biological pretreatment, pretreatment shortened digestion time by 50% and increased biogas production by 45% compared to raw water in the anaerobic process. The microbial consortium constructed herein is a potential candidate consortium for biological pretreatment of swine wastewater to enhance biogas production.
Nitrogen removal efficiency and microbial community analysis of ANAMMOX biofilter at ambient temperature
Authors: Taotao Zeng , Dong Li , Huiping Zeng , Shuibo Xie , Wenxin Qiu , Yingjiu Liu , Jie Zhang
Published: March 2015

An upflow anaerobic biofilter (AF) was developed to investigate anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (ANAMMOX) efficiency in treating low-strength wastewater at ambient temperature (15.3–23.2 °C). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to investigate treatment effects on the microbial community. Stepwise decreases in influent ammonia concentration could help ANAMMOX bacteria selectively acclimate to low-ammonia conditions. With an influent ammonia concentration of 46.5 mg/L, the AF reactor obtained an average nitrogen removal rate of 2.26 kg/(m3 day), and a removal efficiency of 75.9%. polymerase chain reaction-DGGE results showed that microbial diversity in the low matrix was greater than in the high matrix. Microbial community structures changed when the influent ammonia concentration decreased. The genus of functional ANAMMOX bacteria was Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis, which remained stationary across study phases. Visual observation revealed that the relative proportions of ANAMMOX bacteria decreased from 41.6 to 36.3% across three study phases. The AF bioreactor successfully maintained high activity due to the ANAMMOX bacteria adaptation to low temperature and substrate conditions.
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone-degrading bacteria from activated sludge
Authors: Křížek Karel , Růžička Jan , Julinová Markéta , Husárová Lucie , Houser Josef , Dvořáčková Marie , Jančová Petra
Published: March 2015

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a widely used solvent for many organic compounds and a component found in a vast array of chemical preparations. For this research paper, NMP degrading bacteria were isolated from two samples of activated sludge. They pertained to both Gram-negative and Gram-positive members, and belong to the Pseudomonas, Paracoccus, Acinetobacter and Rhodococcus genera. All the strains utilized 300 mg/L of NMP as the only source of carbon, energy and nitrogen over several days, and they were shown to additionally be able to degrade N-acetylphenylalanine (NAP). The growth of all the isolated strains was recorded at different NMP concentrations, to a maximum of 20 g/L.
Simultaneous pollutant removal and electricity generation in denitrifying microbial fuel cell with boric acid-borate buffer solution
Authors: Chen Gang , Zhang Shaohui , Li Meng , Wei Yan
Published: March 2015

A double-chamber denitrifying microbial fuel cell (MFC), using boric acid-borate buffer solution as an alternative to phosphate buffer solution, was set up to investigate the influence of buffer solution concentration, temperature and external resistance on electricity generation and pollutant removal efficiency. The result revealed that the denitrifying MFC with boric acid-borate buffer solution was successfully started up in 51 days, with a stable cell voltage of 205.1 ± 1.96 mV at an external resistance of 50 Ω. Higher concentration of buffer solution favored nitrogen removal and electricity generation. The maximum power density of 8.27 W/m3 net cathodic chamber was obtained at a buffer solution concentration of 100 mmol/L. An increase in temperature benefitted electricity generation and nitrogen removal. A suitable temperature for this denitrifying MFC was suggested to be 25 °C. Decreasing the external resistance favored nitrogen removal and organic matter consumption by exoelectrogens.
Ammonia sanitization of blackwater for safe use as fertilizer
Authors: Fidjeland Jörgen , Svensson Sven-Erik , Vinnerås Björn
Published: March 2015

Source-separated blackwater from low-flush toilets contains plant-available nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact on pathogen inactivation when treating blackwater with urea and/or lime. Blackwater was spiked with Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157, Enterococcus faecalis, and Ascaris suum eggs, and treated with urea and/or lime in concentrations up to 0.1% w/w. The bottles were kept in a storage facility (manure slurry tank) for 102 days while monitoring the pathogen concentrations. The treatment time needed to meet the requirement for Salmonella and E. coli reduction could be reduced at least six-fold. The enterococci were more persistent, and only the highest treatment doses had a significantly higher inactivation than the controls. The Ascaris egg viability was only reduced by around 50%, so higher urea/lime doses and/or longer treatment times are required to fulfill the treatment requirements of 3 log10 reductions of parasite eggs.
The Effect of “Toggling” on the Pullout Strength of Bone Screws in
Normal and Osteoporotic Bone Models
Authors: Patel P.S.D. , Hukins D.W.L. , Shepherd D.E.T.
Published: March 2015

This study tests the hypothesis that screw toggling will reduce the pullout strength of bone screws. Pullout
strength of cortical (cylindrical) and cancellous (tapered by 4°) bone screws were measured without and after toggling
(movement caused by a force perpendicular to the screw axis) by ± 1 mm in polyurethane foam intended to mimic normal
(density 0.32 g.cm-3) and osteoporotic (density 0.16 g.cm-3) bone. Toggling had no significant effect in decreasing the
strength of fixation of cortical or cancellous screws inserted in the normal and osteoporotic bone models. Analysis of the
screws that had been toggled showed that there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the pullout strength of
cancellous and cortical screws (when pulled out from the same material). The results provide insights into some
mechanical aspects of the pullout strength of bone screws and will aid understanding of the mechanism of screw toggling
in vivo.
Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Associated Risk Factors Among 1557 Nursing Students in a Context of Low Endemicity
Authors: Lamberti Monica , Uccello Rossella , Monaco Maria Grazia Lourdes , Muoio Mariarosaria , Sannolo Nicola , Arena Paola , Mazzarella Gennaro , Arnese Antonio , La Cerra Giuseppe
Published: March 2015

Introduction:

The risk of tuberculosis (TBC) in nurses is related to its incidence in the general population. Nursing students involved in clinical training could be exposed to occupational risks similar to those of healthcare workers (HCWs). To better understand the epidemiology of nosocomial TBC among nurses in a context of low endemicity, we recruited a cohort of young nursing trainees at the Second University of Naples.

Methods:

A screening programme for LTBI in nursing students was conducted between January 2012 and December 2013, at the Second University of Naples, with clinical evaluations, tuberculin skin test (TST) and, in positive TST student, the interferon-g release assays (IGRA). Putative risk factors for LTBI were assessed by a standardized questionnaire.

Results:

1577 nursing students attending the Second University of Naples have been submitted to screening programme for TBC. 1575 have performed TST as first level test and 2 Quantiferon test (QFT). 19 students were TST positive and continued the diagnostic workup practicing QFT, that was positive in 1 student. Of the 2 subjects that have practiced QFT as first level test only 1 was positive. In 2 students positive to QFT test we formulated the diagnosis of LTBI by clinical and radiographic results.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of LTBI among nursing students in our study resulted very low. In countries with a low incidence of TBC, the screening programs of healthcare students can be useful for the early identification and treatment of the sporadic cases of LTBI.
Research on PDC bit Drilling Rate Equation in Daqing Medium-Deep
Well Based on Rock Breaking Experiments by PDC Bit
Authors: Wei Li , Tie Yan , Xinghua Xu , Siqi Li
Published: March 2015

PDC bit drilling rate equation is one measuring criterion of PDC bit work efficiency. The reasonable PDC bit
drilling rate equation could predict the penetration rate and provide guidance for field operation. This paper studied the influences
of the parameters on PDC bit drilling rate, such as rock drillability, cutting teeth diameter, specific weight on bit
and rotate speed, and regressed the relation equations between the above parameters and drilling rate for cement rock,
white sandstone, yellow sandstone, red sandstone and granite based on the laboratory rock breaking experiments. The results
showed that the regression equation between specific weight on bit and drilling rate is quadratic polynomial for the
soft and intermediate hardness rock, such as cement rock, yellow sandstone and white sandstone. The regression equation
is quartic polynomial, the regression equation between rotate speed and drilling rate is quadratic polynomial for the intermediate
hardness rock, such as red sandstone. The field data verification results of Daqing Oilfield medium-deep well
showed the fractional error in actual drilling speed and forecast drilling speed between 3.03% and 9.23% and the average
error is 6.397%. This explained that the modified PDC bit drilling rate equation could describe the drilling law preferably.
Implementation and Outcomes of a Collaborative Multi-Center Network Aimed at Web-Based Cognitive Training – COGWEB Network
Authors: Tedim Cruz Vítor , Pais Joana , Ruano Luis , Mateus Cátia , Colunas Márcio , Alves Ivânia , Barreto Rui , Conde Eduardo , Sousa Andreia , Araújo Isabel , Bento Virgílio , Coutinho Paula , Rocha Nelson ,   COGWEB Network Collaborators
Published: March 2015

Background

Cognitive care for the most prevalent neurologic and psychiatric conditions will only improve through the implementation of new sustainable approaches. Innovative cognitive training methodologies and collaborative professional networks are necessary evolutions in the mental health sector.

Objective

The objective of the study was to describe the implementation process and early outcomes of a nationwide multi-organizational network supported on a Web-based cognitive training system (COGWEB).

Methods

The setting for network implementation was the Portuguese mental health system and the hospital-, academic-, community-based institutions and professionals providing cognitive training. The network started in August 2012, with 16 centers, and was monitored until September 2013 (inclusions were open). After onsite training, all were allowed to use COGWEB in their clinical or research activities. For supervision and maintenance were implemented newsletters, questionnaires, visits and webinars. The following outcomes were prospectively measured: (1) number, (2) type, (3) time to start, and (4) activity state of centers; age, gender, level of education, and medical diagnosis of patients enrolled.

Results

The network included 68 professionals from 41 centers, (33/41) 80% clinical, (8/41) 19% nonclinical. A total of 298 patients received cognitive training; 45.3% (n=135) female, mean age 54.4 years (SD 18.7), mean educational level 9.8 years (SD 4.8). The number enrolled each month increased significantly (r=0.6; P=.031). At 12 months, 205 remained on treatment. The major causes of cognitive impairment were: (1) neurodegenerative (115/298, 38.6%), (2) structural brain lesions (63/298, 21.1%), (3) autoimmune (40/298, 13.4%), (4) schizophrenia (30/298, 10.1%), and (5) others (50/298, 16.8%). The comparison of the patient profiles, promoter versus all other clinical centers, showed significant increases in the diversity of causes and spectrums of ages and education.

Conclusions

Over its first year, there was a major increase in the number of new centers and professionals, as well as of the clinical diversity of patients treated. The consolidation of such a national collaborative network represents an innovative step in mental health care evolution. Furthermore, it may contribute to translational processes in the field of cognitive training and reduce disease burden.
Protective effect of naringenin on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in cultured hippocampal cells
Authors: Xu Xiao-Hui , Ma Cong-Min , Han Yue-Zhen , Li Yans , Liu Chao , Duan Zhi-Hui , Wang Hui-Lin , Liu De-Quan , Liu Rui-Hua
Published: March 2015

Monosodium glutamate induces excitotoxicity in the central nervous system
through hyperactivation of both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate
receptors, which leads to neuronal cell death. In this study, we investigated
the neuroprotective effects of naringenin on excitotoxicity induced by
glutamate in primary hippocampal neurons of neonatal mice. The expression
levels of apoptosis-inducing proteins and as well as ischemic factors were
observed by Western blot analysis. Immunocytochemistry and morphometric
analysis of hippocampal cells with or without glutamate and naringenin
treatment were performed. We observed that naringenin regulated Erk1/2 and
Akt phosphorylation and reduced the demise of dendrites due to glutamate
exposure in cultured hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, naringenin induced the
brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neuroprotective cytokines, and
markedly improved the survival rates of the neurons 24 h following glutamate
exposure. The observed results suggest that the naturally occurring
bioflavonoid (naringenin) exerts neuroprotective effects via highly specific
molecular targets in neurons.
Cytotoxicity of glass ionomer cement on human exfoliated deciduous teeth stem cells correlates with released fluoride, strontium and aluminum ion concentrations
Authors: Kanjevac Tatjana , Milovanovic Marija , Milosevic-Djordjevic Olivera , Tesic Zivoslav , Ivanovic Mirjana , Lukic Aleksandra
Published: March 2015

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) can be used as a
cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine and in immunomodulation. Pulp
from human deciduous teeth can be stored as a source of SHED. Glass ionomer
cements (GICs) are commonly used in restorative dentistry and in cavity
lining. GICs have lower biocompatibility and are cytotoxic for dental pulp
cells. In this study, seven commonly used GICs were tested for their
cytotoxic effects on SHED, for their potential to arrest mitosis in cells and
induce chromosome aberrations, and were compared with the effects of
composite. Fuji II, Fuji VIII, Fuji IX, Fuji plus and Vitrebond had
significantly higher cytotoxic effects on SHED than composite. Only SHEDs
that have been treated with Fuji I, Fuji IX, Fuji plus and composite
recovered the potential for proliferation, but no chromosome aberrations were
found after treatment with GICs. The cytotoxic effects of GICs on SHEDs were
in strong correlation with combined concentrations of released fluoride,
aluminum and strontium ions. Fuji I exhibited the lowest activity towards
SHEDs; it did not interrupt mitosis and did not induce chromosome
aberrations, and was accompanied by the lowest levels of released F, Al and
Sr ions. Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. ON175069, br.
ON175071 i br. ON175103]
Constructed wetlands in the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater: A review
Authors: Sultana Mar-Yam , Akratos Christos , Vayenas Dimitrios , Pavlou Stavros
Published: March 2015

Due to their simplicity and low operation cost, constructed wetlands are
becoming more prevalent in wastewater treatment all over the world. Their
range of applications is no longer limited to municipal wastewater but has
expanded to the treatment of heavily polluted wastewaters such as
agro-industrial effluents. This paper provides a comprehensive literature
review of the application of constructed wetlands in treating a variety of
agro-industrial wastewaters, and discusses pollutant surface loads and the
role of constructed wetland type, prior-treatment stages and plant species in
pollutant removal efficiency. Results indicate that constructed wetlands can
tolerate high pollutant loads and toxic substances without losing their
removal ability, thus these systems are very effective bio-reactors even in
hostile environments. Additionally, the review outlines issues that could
improve pollutant treatment efficiency and proposes design and operation
suggestions such as suitable vegetation, porous media and constructed wetland
plain view. Finally, a decision tree for designing constructed wetlands
treating agro-industrial wastewaters provides an initial design tool for
scientists and engineers.
Consumer satisfaction with pharmaceutical care in Slovak community pharmacies / Spokojnosť klientov lekární s lekárenskou starostlivosťou na Slovensku
Authors: Mináriková D. , Malovecká I. , Foltán V.
Published: March 2015

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate consumer satisfaction with pharmaceutical care provided in community pharmacies at the region level. Expectations and opinions of consumers were also confronted with the assumptions of pharmacists. Up to 82.0% of consumers confirmed their satisfaction with the care given to them by the pharmacist. A key factor of consumer satisfaction has been the professional (78.7%) and human approach (83.5%) of the pharmacist. A total of 73.6% of consumers in the survey accepted the pharmacist as an expert in medicines. The pharmacist´s self-evaluation was more negative. Monitoring and evaluation of consumer satisfactory with pharmaceutical care is not only essential for improvement of the quality of the healthcare system and for the implementation of pharmaceutical care focussed on the patient, but it may influence the economic and financial outcomes of entities providing pharmaceutical care in community pharmacies.
An Empirical Analysis Of Stock Returns And Volatility: The Case Of Stock Markets From Central And Eastern Europe
Authors: Okičić Jasmina
Published: March 2015

The main goal of this paper is to investigate the behaviour of stock returns in the case of stock markets from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), focusing on the relationship between returns and conditional volatility. Since there is relatively little empirical research on the volatility of stock returns in underdeveloped stock markets, with even fewer studies on markets in the transitional economies of the CEE region, this paper is designed to shed some light on the econometric modelling of the conditional mean and volatility of stock returns from this region. The results presented in this paper provide confirmatory evidence that ARIMA and GARCH processes provide parsimonious approximations of mean and volatility dynamics in the case of the selected stock markets. There is overwhelming evidence corroborating the existence of a leverage effect, meaning that negative shocks increase volatility more than positive shocks do. Since financial decisions are generally based upon the trade-off between risk and return, the results presented in this paper will provide valuable information in decision making for those who are planning to invest in stock markets from the CEE region.
Analysis of Mythical-Metaphorical Narratives as a Resource for Education in the Principles and Values of Sustainability
Authors: Cutanda Grian-Antonio , Murga-Menoyo María Ángeles
Published: March 2015

This research aims to prove that the mythical-metaphorical narratives from cultures in harmonic relationship with their natural environment can be considered as an educational resource within the context of education for sustainable development. Using the Earth Charter as a basis and after establishing as analysis categories the competencies that education should foster in the students from this perspective, a content analysis of 28 stories was performed. The results endorse the existing coherence between the materials analysed and the principles and values that the Earth Charter’s text reflects and the relevance of these materials as educational resources within the framework of education for sustainable development.
Investigating Estonian Teachers’ Expectations for the General Education Curriculum
Authors: Viirpalu Piret , Krull Edgar , Mikser Rain
Published: March 2015

Finding a balance between a centralised and decentralised curricular policy for general education and seeing teachers as autonomous agents of curriculum development is a recurrent issue in many countries. Radical reforms bring about the need to investigate whether and to what extent different parties – and first of all, teachers – are ready to accept and internalise the new policies and roles as curriculum leaders to ensure the sustainability of curriculum development. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a questionnaire for investigating Estonian teachers’ curricular work and preferences and to introduce the results of its piloting. The main topics covered by the questionnaire are teachers’ experience and autonomy in using and developing curricula, their preparation for curriculum development and preferences and expectations for the best curricular solutions. The developed questionnaire can be used for investigating teachers’ curricular work and preferences in different national contexts, thus enabling comparative studies across countries with different practices regarding curriculum policy.
Carbon Nanotube-Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Anthraquinone Hair Dyes in Wastewaters
Authors: De Oliveira Ricardo , Hudari Felipe , Franco Jefferson , Zanoni Maria
Published: March 2015

The present work describes the development of a voltammetric sensor for the selective determination of Acid Green 25 (AG25) hair dye, widely used in commercial temporary hair dyes. The method is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes activated in the presence of sulfuric acid, where the anthraquinone group present as a chromophore in the dye molecule is reduced at −0.44 V vs. Ag/AgCl in a reversible process involving two electrons in Britton-Robinson (B-R) buffer solution at pH 4.0. Analytical curves were obtained using square wave voltammetry in the range from 1.0 × 10−7 to 7.0 × 10−6 mol·L−1, achieving a detection limit of 2.7 × 10−9 mol·L−1. The voltammograms recorded for the Acid Black 1 (AB1) dye showed that the azo groups of the dye were reduced on the carbon nanotube-modified electrode (CNTME), presenting a pair of redox peaks at −0.27 V and −0.24 V in the reverse scan. Under these experimental conditions, both dyes could be detected in the water sample, since the AG25 dye is reduced at −0.47 V. The presence of other hair dyes bearing other chromophore groups, such as Acid Black 1, Acid Red 33 and basic blue 99, did not interfere with the method, which showed an average recovery of 96.7 ± 3.5% (n = 5) for AG25 dye determination in the presence of all of these dyes. The method was successfully applied to tap water and wastewater samples collected from a water treatment plant.
Conformational Analysis of Misfolded Protein Aggregation by FRET and Live-Cell Imaging Techniques
Authors: Kitamura Akira , Nagata Kazuhiro , Kinjo Masataka
Published: March 2015

Cellular homeostasis is maintained by several types of protein machinery, including molecular chaperones and proteolysis systems. Dysregulation of the proteome disrupts homeostasis in cells, tissues, and the organism as a whole, and has been hypothesized to cause neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease (HD). A hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders is formation of ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies in neurons, suggesting that the aggregation process of misfolded proteins changes during disease progression. Hence, high-throughput determination of soluble oligomers during the aggregation process, as well as the conformation of sequestered proteins in inclusion bodies, is essential for elucidation of physiological regulation mechanism and drug discovery in this field. To elucidate the interaction, accumulation, and conformation of aggregation-prone proteins, in situ spectroscopic imaging techniques, such as Förster/fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) have been employed. Here, we summarize recent reports in which these techniques were applied to the analysis of aggregation-prone proteins (in particular their dimerization, interactions, and conformational changes), and describe several fluorescent indicators used for real-time observation of physiological states related to proteostasis.
Osteoarthritis in the XXIst Century: Risk Factors and Behaviours that Influence Disease Onset and Progression
Authors: Musumeci Giuseppe , Aiello Flavia , Szychlinska Marta , Di Rosa Michelino , Castrogiovanni Paola , Mobasheri Ali
Published: March 2015

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing public health problem across the globe, affecting more than half of the over 65 population. In the past, OA was considered a wear and tear disease, leading to the loss of articular cartilage and joint disability. Nowadays, thanks to advancements in molecular biology, OA is believed to be a very complex multifactorial disease. OA is a degenerative disease characterized by “low-grade inflammation” in cartilage and synovium, resulting in the loss of joint structure and progressive deterioration of cartilage. Although the disease can be dependent on genetic and epigenetic factors, sex, ethnicity, and age (cellular senescence, apoptosis and lubricin), it is also associated with obesity and overweight, dietary factors, sedentary lifestyle and sport injuries. The aim of this review is to highlight how certain behaviors, habits and lifestyles may be involved in the onset and progression of OA and to summarize the principal risk factors involved in the development of this complicated joint disorder.
Hierarchical Architecturing for Layered Thermoelectric Sulfides and Chalcogenides
Authors: Jood Priyanka , Ohta Michihiro
Published: March 2015

Sulfides are promising candidates for environment-friendly and cost-effective thermoelectric materials. In this article, we review the recent progress in all-length-scale hierarchical architecturing for sulfides and chalcogenides, highlighting the key strategies used to enhance their thermoelectric performance. We primarily focus on TiS2-based layered sulfides, misfit layered sulfides, homologous chalcogenides, accordion-like layered Sn chalcogenides, and thermoelectric minerals. CS2 sulfurization is an appropriate method for preparing sulfide thermoelectric materials. At the atomic scale, the intercalation of guest atoms/layers into host crystal layers, crystal-structural evolution enabled by the homologous series, and low-energy atomic vibration effectively scatter phonons, resulting in a reduced lattice thermal conductivity. At the nanoscale, stacking faults further reduce the lattice thermal conductivity. At the microscale, the highly oriented microtexture allows high carrier mobility in the in-plane direction, leading to a high thermoelectric power factor.
The Anticancer Effect of (1S,2S,3E,7E,11E)-3,7,11, 15-Cembratetraen-17,2-olide(LS-1) through the Activation of TGF-β Signaling in SNU-C5/5-FU, Fluorouracil-Resistant Human Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Kim Eun-Ji , Kang Jung-Il , Kwak Jeon-Won , Jeon Chan-Hee , Tung Nguyen-Huu , Kim Young-Ho , Choi Cheol-Hee , Hyun Jin-Won , Koh Young-Sang , Yoo Eun-Sook , Kang Hee-Kyoung
Published: March 2015

The anticancer effect of (1S,2S,3E,7E,11E)-3,7,11,15-cembratetraen-17,2-olide (LS-1) from Lobophytum sp. has been already reported in HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effect of LS-1 on the apoptosis induction of SNU-C5/5-FU, fluorouracil-resistant human colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we investigated whether the apoptosis-induction effect of LS-1 could arise from the activation of the TGF-β pathway. In SNU-C5/5-FU treated with LS-1 of 7.1 μM (IC50), we could observe the various apoptotic characteristics, such as the increase of apoptotic bodies, the increase of the sub-G1 hypodiploid cell population, the decrease of the Bcl-2 level, the increase of procaspase-9 cleavage, the increase of procaspase-3 cleavage and the increase of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Interestingly, the apoptosis-induction effect of LS-1 was also accompanied by the increase of Smad-3 phosphorylation and the downregulation of c-Myc in SNU-C5/5-FU. LS-1 also increased the nuclear localization of phospho-Smad-3 and Smad-4. We examined whether LS-1 could downregulate the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a direct inhibitor of TGF-β signaling. LS-1 decreased the CEA level, as well as the direct interaction between CEA and TGF-βR1 in the apoptosis-induction condition of SNU-C5/5-FU. To examine whether LS-1 can induce apoptosis via the activation of TGF-β signaling, the SNU-C5/5-FU cells were treated with LS-1 in the presence or absence of SB525334, a TGF-βRI kinase inhibitor. SB525334 inhibited the effect of LS-1 on the apoptosis induction. These findings provide evidence demonstrating that the apoptosis-induction effect of LS-1 results from the activation of the TGF-β pathway via the downregulation of CEA in SNU-C5/5-FU.
Structural Analysis and Anti-Complement Activity of Polysaccharides from Kjellmaniella crsaaifolia
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Jin Weihua , Sun Delin , Zhao Luyu , Wang Jing , Duan Delin , Zhang Quanbin
Published: March 2015

Two polysaccharides, named KCA and KCW, were extracted from Kjellmaniella crassifolia using dilute hydrochloric acid and water, respectively. Composition analysis showed that these polysaccharides predominantly consisted of fucose, with galactose, mannose and glucuronic acid as minor components. After degradation and partial desulfation, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was performed, which showed that the polysaccharides consisted of sulfated fucooligosaccharides, sulfated galactofucooligosaccharides and methyl glycosides of mono-sulfated/multi-sulfated fucooligosaccharides. The structures of the oligomeric fragments were further characterized by electrospray ionization collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-CID-MS2 and ESI-CID-MS3). Moreover, the activity of KCA and KCW against the hemolytic activity of both the classical and alternative complement pathways was determined. The activity of KCA was found to be similar to KCW, suggesting that the method of extraction did not influence the activity. In addition, the degraded polysaccharides (DKCA and DKCW) displayed lower activity levels than the crude polysaccharides (KCA and KCW), indicating that molecular weight had an effect on activity. Moreover, the desulfated fractions (ds-DKCA and ds-DKCW) showed less or no activity, which confirmed that sulfate was important for activity. In conclusion, polysaccharides from K. crassifolia may be good candidates for the treatment of diseases involving the complement pathway.
QM/MM Calculations with deMon2k
Authors: Salahub Dennis , Noskov Sergei , Lev Bogdan , Zhang Rui , Ngo Van , Goursot Annick , Calaminici Patrizia , Köster Andreas , Alvarez-Ibarra Aurelio , Mejía-Rodríguez Daniel , Řezáč Jan , Cailliez Fabien , De la Lande Aurélien
Published: March 2015

The density functional code deMon2k employs a fitted density throughout (Auxiliary Density Functional Theory), which offers a great speed advantage without sacrificing necessary accuracy. Powerful Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical (QM/MM) approaches are reviewed. Following an overview of the basic features of deMon2k that make it efficient while retaining accuracy, three QM/MM implementations are compared and contrasted. In the first, deMon2k is interfaced with the CHARMM MM code (CHARMM-deMon2k); in the second MM is coded directly within the deMon2k software; and in the third the Chemistry in Ruby (Cuby) wrapper is used to drive the calculations. Cuby is also used in the context of constrained-DFT/MM calculations. Each of these implementations is described briefly; pros and cons are discussed and a few recent applications are described briefly. Applications include solvated ions and biomolecules, polyglutamine peptides important in polyQ neurodegenerative diseases, copper monooxygenases and ultra-rapid electron transfer in cryptochromes.
Recent Advancement on the Optical Properties of Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) Thin Films
Authors: Ye Mingxiao , Winslow Dustin , Zhang Dongyan , Pandey Ravindra , Yap Yoke
Published: March 2015

The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials has led to tremendous interest in the study of graphene and a series of mono- and few-layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). Among these TMDCs, the study of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has gained increasing attention due to its promising optical, electronic, and optoelectronic properties. Of particular interest is the indirect to direct band-gap transition from bulk and few-layered structures to mono-layered MoS2, respectively. In this review, the study of these properties is summarized. The use of Raman and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of MoS2 has become a reliable technique for differentiating the number of molecular layers in 2D MoS2.
Dynamic Modeling of the Human Coagulation Cascade Using Reduced Order Effective Kinetic Models
Authors: Sagar Adithya , Varner Jeffrey
Published: March 2015

In this study, we present a novel modeling approach which combines ordinary differential equation (ODE) modeling with logical rules to simulate an archetype biochemical network, the human coagulation cascade. The model consisted of five differential equations augmented with several logical rules describing regulatory connections between model components, and unmodeled interactions in the network. This formulation was more than an order of magnitude smaller than current coagulation models, because many of the mechanistic details of coagulation were encoded as logical rules. We estimated an ensemble of likely model parameters (N = 20) from in vitro extrinsic coagulation data sets, with and without inhibitors, by minimizing the residual between model simulations and experimental measurements using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Each parameter set in our ensemble corresponded to a unique particle in the PSO. We then validated the model ensemble using thrombin data sets that were not used during training. The ensemble predicted thrombin trajectories for conditions not used for model training, including thrombin generation for normal and hemophilic coagulation in the presence of platelets (a significant unmodeled component). We then used flux analysis to understand how the network operated in a variety of conditions, and global sensitivity analysis to identify which parameters controlled the performance of the network. Taken together, the hybrid approach produced a surprisingly predictive model given its small size, suggesting the proposed framework could also be used to dynamically model other biochemical networks, including intracellular metabolic networks, gene expression programs or potentially even cell free metabolic systems.
Bio-Optics Based Sensation Imaging for Breast Tumor Detection Using Tissue Characterization
Authors: Lee Jong-Ha , Kim Yoon , Park Hee-Jun
Published: March 2015

The tissue inclusion parameter estimation method is proposed to measure the stiffness as well as geometric parameters. The estimation is performed based on the tactile data obtained at the surface of the tissue using an optical tactile sensation imaging system (TSIS). A forward algorithm is designed to comprehensively predict the tactile data based on the mechanical properties of tissue inclusion using finite element modeling (FEM). This forward information is used to develop an inversion algorithm that will be used to extract the size, depth, and Young's modulus of a tissue inclusion from the tactile data. We utilize the artificial neural network (ANN) for the inversion algorithm. The proposed estimation method was validated by a realistic tissue phantom with stiff inclusions. The experimental results showed that the proposed estimation method can measure the size, depth, and Young's modulus of a tissue inclusion with 0.58%, 3.82%, and 2.51% relative errors, respectively. The obtained results prove that the proposed method has potential to become a useful screening and diagnostic method for breast cancer.
A Model-Based 3D Template Matching Technique for Pose Acquisition of an Uncooperative Space Object
Authors: Opromolla Roberto , Fasano Giancarmine , Rufino Giancarlo , Grassi Michele
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a customized three-dimensional template matching technique for autonomous pose determination of uncooperative targets. This topic is relevant to advanced space applications, like active debris removal and on-orbit servicing. The proposed technique is model-based and produces estimates of the target pose without any prior pose information, by processing three-dimensional point clouds provided by a LIDAR. These estimates are then used to initialize a pose tracking algorithm. Peculiar features of the proposed approach are the use of a reduced number of templates and the idea of building the database of templates on-line, thus significantly reducing the amount of on-board stored data with respect to traditional techniques. An algorithm variant is also introduced aimed at further accelerating the pose acquisition time and reducing the computational cost. Technique performance is investigated within a realistic numerical simulation environment comprising a target model, LIDAR operation and various target-chaser relative dynamics scenarios, relevant to close-proximity flight operations. Specifically, the capability of the proposed techniques to provide a pose solution suitable to initialize the tracking algorithm is demonstrated, as well as their robustness against highly variable pose conditions determined by the relative dynamics. Finally, a criterion for autonomous failure detection of the presented techniques is presented.
Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links between Neighborhood Fear, Parental Support, and Depression among African American Emerging Adults
Authors: Assari Shervin , Smith Jocelyn , Caldwell Cleopatra , Zimmerman Marc
Published: March 2015

The transition to adulthood is a developmental period marked by increased stress, especially among African Americans. In addition to stress related to emerging adulthood, neighborhood fear may contribute to depressive symptoms for African Americans. We examined gender differences in longitudinal associations between changes in perceived neighborhood fear, parental support, and depressive symptoms among African American youth who were in transition to adulthood. Five hundred and thirteen African American youths (235 males and 278 females) were included in the study. An increase in perceived neighborhood fear was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, and change in perceived maternal support was predictive of depressive symptoms among males, but not females. The findings suggest that policies and programs should help parents provide support to young adult children who live in violent neighborhoods as a strategy to prevent depressive symptoms during emerging adulthood.