bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UPAYA PENINGKATAN KINERJA PERAWAT GAWAT DARURAT MELALUI BERBAGAI GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN DI RSUD DAERAH ISTIMEWA YOGYAKARTA
Authors: Rahadian Syah Deby Zulkarnain , Nofiyanto Muhamat
Published: March 2018

Background: Nurses in charge of the Emergency Room are required to have more ability than nurses serving patients in other units. Emergency Room is an initial service in a hospital. One's leadership style will greatly affect the effectiveness of a leader. The selection of the right leadership style can lead to the achievement of individual or organizational goals.

Objective: To know the various leadership style used by the head of room in improving the performance of nurses of Emergency Room RSUD in in Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Method: This research includes quantitative research type, using cross sectional approach. The population of this study was the head of the treatment room. Secondary data of nurse's performance is taken from nursing care which is written in medical record file of Emergency Room of RSUD in Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Results: The performance of nurses at Emergency Room RSUD A in the good category was 100%. The performance of nurses at Emergency Room RSUD B in the enough category was 45%. The performance of nurses at Emergency Room C in good category was 80%. The performance of nurses at Emergency Room RSUD D in good category was 55%. The performance of nurses at RSUD E in the good category was 95%. The result of cross tabulation between leadership style and nurse performance of RSUD in the whole DIY with good performance is leader who use democratic leadership style equal to 35%.

Conclusion: Most of the nurse's good performance in Emergency Room is followed by democratic leadership style of head of space. 

Keyword: leadership style, head of space, performance of nurses
Transitional Justice and the Legacy of Nuremberg: The Promise and Problems of Confronting Atrocity in Post-Conflict Societies
Authors: Besmel Parwez , Alvarez Alex
Published: March 2018

It's been over 70 years since the Nuremberg trials helped establish the primacy of legal mechanisms to deal with international human rights abuses, especially for genocide. Since then, we have seen a proliferation of courts and tribunals focused on bringing to justice perpetrators of genocide. In this paper, we critically examine the ways in which Nuremberg shaped and influenced these responses to genocide and to our understanding of the nature of justice in post-conflict societies. In an era when genocides and mass atrocity crimes continue to occur, it is important to understand the benefits and limitations of legal strategies for post-conflict societies and how they influence other transitional justice mechanisms. We bring to light the clear tension between the different goals of international criminal justice, namely punishment, prevention, and peace, and show that increased reliance on punishment does not necessarily brings about peace. To sustain peace and stability in post-conflict era, countries have also turned to truth and reconciliation commission, lustration, and reparation.
Seldom Asked, Seldom Answered: II(b) or Not II(b)?
Authors: Tatz Colin
Published: March 2018

Article II(b) of the UN Genocide Convention is rarely applied to a specific case in genocide studies. The Australian Aboriginal experience illustrates Article II(a) physical killing and II(e) child removal well enough. But in the longer term, II(b)—“causing serious bodily or mental harm”—has been the major process in destroying Aboriginal life and culture since the start of the twentieth century. The physical harm is readily detectable, but it is essentially the “serious mental harm” aspect that is examined here.
Huancavelica, Peru: From Sacred Shrine to Contaminated Capital
Authors: Robins Nicholas A.
Published: March 2018

This essay discusses the work of an American NGO, the Environmental Health Council, in documenting and remediating mercury and other heavy metal contamination in Huancavelica, Peru. The nearby Santa Bárbara and Challacatana hills are among the most extensive cinnabar deposits in the world. Mercury distilled in Huancavelica during the Spanish colonial period was dispatched throughout the Andean region and was a requisite input for the production of silver through the amalgamation process. While this stimulated the rise of modern globalism, it has left extensive contamination in its wake with which contemporary residents contend.
Buoyancy-Induced Heat Transfer inside Compressor Rotors: Overview of Theoretical Models
Authors: Owen J. Michael , Tang Hui , Lock Gary D.
Published: March 2018

Increasing pressures in gas-turbine compressors, particularly in aeroengines where the pressure ratios can be above 50:1, require smaller compressor blades and an increasing focus on blade-clearance control. The blade clearance depends on the radial growth of the compressor discs, which in turn depends on the temperature and stress in the discs. As the flow inside the disc cavities is buoyancy-driven, calculation of the disc temperature is a conjugate problem: the heat transfer from the disc is coupled with the air temperature inside the cavity. The flow inside the cavity is three-dimensional, unsteady and unstable, so computational fluid dynamics is not only expensive and time-consuming, it is also unable to achieve accurate solutions at the high Grashof numbers found in modern compressors. Many designers rely on empirical equations based on inappropriate physical models, and recently the authors have produced a series of papers on physically-based theoretical modelling of buoyancy-induced heat transfer in the rotating cavities found inside compressor rotors. Predictions from these models, all of which are for laminar flow, have been validated using measurements made in open and closed compressor rigs for a range of flow parameters representative of those found inside compressor rotors. (The fact that laminar buoyancy models can be used for large Grashof numbers (up to 10 12 ), where most engineers expect the flow to be turbulent, is attributed to the large Coriolis accelerations in the fluid core and to the fact that there is only a small difference between the rotational speed of the core and that of the discs.) As many as 223 separate tests were analysed in the validation of the models, and good agreement between the predictions and measurements was achieved for most of these cases. This overview paper has collected together the equations from these papers, which should be helpful to designers and research workers. The paper also points out the limitations of the models, all of which are for steady flow, and shows where further experimental evidence is needed.
Hungry Plants—A Short Treatise on How to Feed Crops under Stress
Authors: Haneklaus Silvia , Bloem Elke , Schnug Ewald
Published: March 2018

Fertilisation is as old as is the cultivation of crops. In the 19th century, plant nutrition became an area of research in the field of agricultural chemistry. Liebig’s “Law of the Minimum” (1855) is still the basis for plant nutrition. It states that the exploitation of the genetically fixed yield potential of crops is limited by that variable, which is insufficiently supplied to the greatest extent. With a view to abiotic and biotic stress factors, this postulation should be extended by the phrase “and/or impaired by the strongest stress factor”. Interactions between mineral elements and plant diseases are well known for essential macro- and micronutrients, and silicon. In comparison, the potential of fertilisation to alleviate abiotic stress has not been compiled in a user-orientated manner. It is the aim of this chapter to summarise the influence of nutrient deficiency in general, and the significance of sodium, potassium, and silicon, in particular, on resistance of crop plants to abiotic stress factors such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal stress. In addition, the significance of seed priming with various nutrients and water to provide tolerance against abiotic stress is discussed. Underlying physiological mechanisms will be elaborated, and information on fertiliser application rates from practical experiences provided.
On Smartphone Power Consumption in Acoustic Environment Monitoring Applications
Authors: Zhidkov Sergey , Sychev Andrey , Zhidkov Alexander , Petrov Alexander
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we provide a systematic analysis of smartphone power consumption in background audio recording scenarios. We report comprehensive measurement results for several Android smartphone models with diverse hardware specifications, running different types of Android operating systems (OS). Our experimental results show that with respect to background audio sensing applications, the major impact on smartphone power consumption is associated with the core audio recording functionality. On the other hand, moderately complex digital signal processing algorithms (e.g., sound pressure level estimation, acoustic feature extraction, and audio fingerprinting) that operate simultaneously with background audio recording do not significantly affect overall smartphone power consumption or battery life. Power consumption varies significantly from model to model, and we found no obvious correlation between the power consumption of background audio recording scenarios and factors such as the year of release, the OS version, or the model of smartphone processor or system-on-chip (SoC) hardware.
Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Method Based on Neutrosophic Soft Rough Information
Authors: Akram Muhammad , Shahzadi Sundas , Smarandache Florentin
Published: March 2018

Soft sets (SSs), neutrosophic sets (NSs), and rough sets (RSs) are different mathematical models for handling uncertainties, but they are mutually related. In this research paper, we introduce the notions of soft rough neutrosophic sets (SRNSs) and neutrosophic soft rough sets (NSRSs) as hybrid models for soft computing. We describe a mathematical approach to handle decision-making problems in view of NSRSs. We also present an efficient algorithm of our proposed hybrid model to solve decision-making problems.
VHL and Hypoxia Signaling: Beyond HIF in Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Qing
Published: March 2018

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is an important tumor suppressor that is lost in the majority of clear cell carcinoma of renal cancer (ccRCC). Its regulatory pathway involves the activity of E3 ligase, which targets hypoxia inducible factor α (including HIF1α and HIF2α) for proteasome degradation. In recent years, emerging literature suggests that VHL also possesses other HIF-independent functions. This review will focus on VHL-mediated signaling pathways involving the latest identified substrates/binding partners, including N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 3 (NDRG3), AKT, and G9a, etc., and their physiological roles in hypoxia signaling and cancer. We will also discuss the crosstalk between VHL and NF-κB signaling. Lastly, we will review the latest findings on targeting VHL signaling in cancer.
Photocatalytic Performance and Degradation Mechanism of Aspirin by TiO2 through Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Li Lezhuo , Ma Qiuling , Wang Sanfan , Song Sanxiang , Li Bo , Guo Ruonan , Cheng Xiuwen , Cheng Qingfeng
Published: March 2018

In the present work, the photocatalytic performance of P25TiO2 was investigated by means of the degradation of aspirin, while the reaction system was systematically optimized by central composite design (CCD) based on the response surface methodology (RSM). In addition, three variables of initial pH value, initial aspirin concentration and P25 concentration were selected to assess the dependence of degradation efficiencies of aspirin. Meanwhile, a predicted model of degradation efficiency was estimated and checked using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that the PC removal of aspirin by P25 was significantly influenced by all these variables in descending order as follows: P25 concentration > initial aspirin concentration > initial pH value. Moreover, the parameters were optimized by the CCD method. Under the conditions of an initial pH value of 5, initial aspirin concentration of 10 mg/L and P25 concentration of 50 mg/L, the degradation efficiency of aspirin was 98.9%with 60 min of Xenon lamp irradiation. Besides, based on the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements, two main PC degradation pathways of aspirin by TiO2 were deduced and the tentative degradation mechanism was also proposed.
Pediatric Melanoma and Drug Development
Authors: Rose Klaus , Grant-Kels Jane
Published: March 2018

Importance—Pediatric melanoma occurs, albeit rarely. Should patients be treated by today’s medical standards, or be subjected to medically unnecessary clinical studies? Observations—We identified international, industry-sponsored pediatric melanoma studies triggered by regulatory demands in www.clinicaltrials.gov and further pediatric melanoma studies demanded by European Union pediatric investigation plans. We retrieved related regulatory documents from the internet. We analyzed these studies for rationale and medical beneficence on the basis of physiology, pediatric clinical pharmacology and rationale. Regulatory authorities define children by chronological age, not physiologically. Newborns’ organs are immature but they develop and mature rapidly. Separate proof of efficacy in underage patients is justified formally/regulatorily but lacks medical sense. Children—especially post-puberty—and adults vis-a-vis medications are physiologically very similar. Two adolescent melanoma studies were terminated in 2016 because of waning recruitment, while five studies in pediatric melanoma and other solid tumors, triggered by European Union pediatric investigation plans, continue recruiting worldwide. Conclusions and Relevance—Regulatory-demanded pediatric melanoma studies are medically superfluous. Melanoma patients of all ages should be treated with effective combination treatment. Babies need special attention. Children need dose-finding and pharmacokinetic studies but adolescents metabolize and respond to drugs similarly to adults. Institutional Review Boards/ethics committees should suspend ongoing questionable pediatric melanoma studies and reject newly submitted questionable studies.
Lipid Target in Very High-Risk Cardiovascular Patients: Lesson from PCSK9 Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Ciccarelli Giovanni , D’Elia Saverio , De Paulis Michele , Golino Paolo , Cimmino Giovanni
Published: March 2018

The role of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated by several epidemiological studies. The molecular basis for LDLs in atherosclerotic plaque formation and progression is not completely unraveled yet. Pharmacological modulation of plasma LDL-C concentrations and randomized clinical trials addressing the impact of lipid-lowering interventions on cardiovascular outcome have clearly shown that reducing plasma LDL-C concentrations results in a significant decrease in major cardiovascular events. For many years, statins have represented the most powerful pharmacological agents available to lower plasma LDL-C concentrations. In clinical trials, it has been shown that the greater the reduction in plasma LDL-C concentrations, the lower the rate of major cardiovascular events, especially in high-risk patients, because of multiple risk factors and recurrent events. However, in a substantial number of patients, the recommended LDL target is difficult to achieve because of different factors: genetic background (familial hypercholesterolemia), side effects (statin intolerance), or high baseline plasma LDL-C concentrations. In the last decade, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in LDL metabolism has progressed significantly and the key role of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has emerged. This protein is an enzyme able to bind the LDL receptors (LDL-R) on hepatocytes, favoring their degradation. Blocking PCSK9 represents an intriguing new therapeutic approach to decrease plasma LDL-C concentrations, which in recent studies has been demonstrated to also result in a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events.
The Environmental Consequences of Growth: Empirical Evidence from the Republic of Kazakhstan
Authors: Akbota Amantay , Baek Jungho
Published: March 2018

The main objective of this paper is to examine the effect growth has on CO2 emissions in Kazakhstan, controlling for energy consumption, in the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration framework. We find that the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis seems to hold for Kazakhstan; this effect at a low level of income increases CO2 but at a high level decreases it. We also find that energy consumption increases CO2 emissions.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Propolis Prepared in Different Forms and in Different Solvents Useful for Finished Products
Authors: Galeotti Fabio , Maccari Francesca , Fachini Alfredo , Volpi Nicola
Published: March 2018

Different products from a unique propolis extract obtained by using various solvents such as hydroalcoholic, glycolic (98% propylene glycol), and glyceric solutions, and oil, as well as in powder form, named ESIT12, were prepared. The molecular composition of the different preparations was evaluated and their antioxidant activity determined. All the preparations showed a quite similar polyphenol composition and comparable percentage even if ESIT12 was found to be richer in phenolic acids (caffeic, coumaric, ferulic, and isoferulic). Overall, flavones and flavonols ranged from ~20% up to ~36% in the glyceric extract, while flavanones and diidroflavonols were between ~28% and ~41%. Besides their quite similar composition, glycolic and hydroalcoholic extracts were found to be richer in the total polyphenols content. When the antioxidant properties were determined for the four preparations, the activity was similar among them, thus revealing that it is strictly related to the polyphenols content for propolis products whose composition is quite comparable. To date, very few data are available on propolis composition in glyceric and glycolic extracts and information has never been published on propolis in oil. This study could be of interest to the food and nutraceutical industries to choose suitable solvents and conditions to produce propolis preparations useful for active finished products.
Option Pricing Models Driven by the Space-Time Fractional Diffusion: Series Representation and Applications
Authors: Aguilar Jean-Philippe , Korbel Jan
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we focus on option pricing models based on space-time fractional diffusion. We briefly revise recent results which show that the option price can be represented in the terms of rapidly converging double-series and apply these results to the data from real markets. We focus on estimation of model parameters from the market data and estimation of implied volatility within the space-time fractional option pricing models.
A Simple Method of Interpretating the Effects of Electric Charges on the Volume Phase Transition of Thermosensitive Gels
Authors: Maeda Hiroshi , Sasaki Shigeo , Kawasaki Hideya , Kakehashi Rie
Published: March 2018

Various apparently inconsistent experimental observations have been reported on the effects of electric charges on the volume phase transition of thermosensitive gels. A simple method of interpretating these results is presented.
The Roles of Motivation and Coping Behaviours in Managing Stress: Qualitative Interview Study of Hong Kong Expatriate Construction Professionals in Mainland China
Authors: Chan Isabelle , Leung Mei-yung , Liang Qi
Published: March 2018

Driven by fast-growing economies worldwide, the number of international construction projects is booming, and employing expatriates has inevitably become a strategy used by construction firms. However, stress arising from expatriate assignments can lead to early return, assignment failure, and staff turnover, causing in significant losses to an organisation. Extensive research has focused on the effectiveness of coping behaviours in relation to stress. However, studies investigating the antecedents of coping are rare. The limited studies to date tend to focus on content-based motivations (identifying what), instead of on how coping behaviours can be motivated in the stress management process (identifying how). Focus on expatriate construction professionals (ECPs) is further limited. Hence, this study aims to investigate from a process theory perspective the role of motivation in the stress management process. Using a qualitative interview study approach, involving 22 in-depth interviews, this study first identifies the content of motivation, coping behaviours, performance, and stress in the context of Hong Kong ECPs working on cross-cultural projects in China; it then unveils and explains the associations between the identified variables. Based on the results, stakeholders are recommended to review pre-departure training, so as to ensure that key elements such as personal awareness of stress (cognitive, affective, and physical), expectancies of coping strategies on stress (adaptive or maladaptive), and expectancies of the influence of stress on performance are covered.
Announcing the 2018 IJFS Travel Awards for Ph.D Students
Authors: Apergis Nicholas
Published: March 2018

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Therapeutic Properties and Biological Benefits of Marine-Derived Anticancer Peptides
Authors: Kang Hee , Choi Moon-Chang , Seo Chang , Park Yoonkyung
Published: March 2018

Various organisms exist in the oceanic environment. These marine organisms provide an abundant source of potential medicines. Many marine peptides possess anticancer properties, some of which have been evaluated for treatment of human cancer in clinical trials. Marine anticancer peptides kill cancer cells through different mechanisms, such as apoptosis, disruption of the tubulin-microtubule balance, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Traditional chemotherapeutic agents have side effects and depress immune responses. Thus, the research and development of novel anticancer peptides with low toxicity to normal human cells and mechanisms of action capable of avoiding multi-drug resistance may provide a new method for anticancer treatment. This review provides useful information on the potential of marine anticancer peptides for human therapy.
Field-Induced Slow Relaxation in a Dinuclear Dysprosium(III) Complex Based on 3-Methoxycinnamic Acid
Authors: Khalfaoui Ouafa , Beghidja Adel , Long Jérôme , Beghidja Chahrazed , Guari Yannick , Larionova Joulia
Published: March 2018

We report the synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a new dinuclear dysprosium(III) complex based on a 3-methoxycinnamate ligand. The centrosymmetric complex exhibits a field-induced SMM behavior. In contrast to the previously reported lanthanide-based systems with cinnamate derivatives that relax through a combination of Raman and direct processes, an Orbach process is also involved in highlighting the role of the structural organization over the spin-lattice relaxations.
A New Control Strategy for an Electronic Differential System for Urban Electric Vehicles
Authors: Chang Yu-Chen , Lu Chuan-Yi , Chen Wei-Chun , Hu Jia-Sheng , Jiang Jinn-Feng , Chang Tsu-Kun , Wei Hung-Yuan
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a control strategy that is applied in turning control for decentralized electric vehicles known as the electronic differential system. The conventional mechanical differential has drawbacks, such as bulkiness and slow response. The electric system response is not only ten times faster than its mechanical counterpart, but its accurate control even reduces the loss of power from the motor to the wheel. Through the turning radius from the steering angle command that the driver gives, the controller can distribute torque to each wheel. After controlling each wheel’s rotation, the vehicle can turn in neutral steering. The results show that this strategy can be effectively employed on urban roads.
Estimation of the Burden of Serious Human Fungal Infections in Malaysia
Authors: Velayuthan Rukumani , Samudi Chandramathi , Lakhbeer Singh Harvinder , Ng Kee , Shankar Esaki , Denning David
Published: March 2018

Fungal infections (mycoses) are likely to occur more frequently as ever-increasingly sophisticated healthcare systems create greater risk factors. There is a paucity of systematic data on the incidence and prevalence of human fungal infections in Malaysia. We conducted a comprehensive study to estimate the burden of serious fungal infections in Malaysia. Our study showed that recurrent vaginal candidiasis (>4 episodes/year) was the most common of all cases with a diagnosis of candidiasis (n = 501,138). Oesophageal candidiasis (n = 5850) was most predominant among individuals with HIV infection. Candidemia incidence (n = 1533) was estimated in hospitalized individuals, some receiving treatment for cancer (n = 1073), and was detected also in individuals admitted to intensive care units (ICU) (n = 460). In adults with asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) was the second most common respiratory mycoses noticed (n = 30,062) along with severe asthma with fungal sensitization (n = 39,628). Invasive aspergillosis was estimated in 184 cases undergoing anti-cancer treatment and 834 ICU cases. Cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed in 700 subjects with HIV/AIDS and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonitis (PCP) in 1286 subjects with underlying HIV disease. The present study indicates that at least 590,214 of the Malaysian population (1.93%) is affected by a serious fungal infection annually. This problem is serious enough to warrant the further epidemiological studies to estimate the burden of human fungal infections in Malaysia.
FungiDB: An Integrated Bioinformatic Resource for Fungi and Oomycetes
Authors: Basenko Evelina Y. , Pulman Jane A. , Shanmugasundram Achchuthan , Harb Omar S. , Crouch Kathryn , Starns David , Warrenfeltz Susanne , Aurrecoechea Cristina , Stoeckert Christian J. , Kissinger Jessica C. , Roos David S. , Hertz-Fowler Christiane
Published: March 2018

FungiDB (fungidb.org) is a free online resource for data mining and functional genomics analysis for fungal and oomycete species. FungiDB is part of the Eukaryotic Pathogen Genomics Database Resource (EuPathDB, eupathdb.org) platform that integrates genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and phenotypic datasets, and other types of data for pathogenic and nonpathogenic, free-living and parasitic organisms. FungiDB is one of the largest EuPathDB databases containing nearly 100 genomes obtained from GenBank, Aspergillus Genome Database (AspGD), The Broad Institute, Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Ensembl, and other sources. FungiDB offers a user-friendly web interface with embedded bioinformatics tools that support custom in silico experiments that leverage FungiDB-integrated data. In addition, a Galaxy-based workspace enables users to generate custom pipelines for large-scale data analysis (e.g., RNA-Seq, variant calling, etc.). This review provides an introduction to the FungiDB resources and focuses on available features, tools, and queries and how they can be used to mine data across a diverse range of integrated FungiDB datasets and records.
Big Data, Computational Science, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, and Psychology: Connections
Authors: Chang Chia-Lin , McAleer Michael , Wong Wing-Keung
Published: March 2018

The paper provides a review of the literature that connects Big Data, Computational Science, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Management, and Psychology, and discusses research issues that are related to the various disciplines. Academics could develop theoretical models and subsequent econometric and statistical models to estimate the parameters in the associated models, as well as conduct simulation to examine whether the estimators in their theories on estimation and hypothesis testing have good size and high power. Thereafter, academics and practitioners could apply theory to analyse some interesting issues in the seven disciplines and cognate areas.
Monosyllabic Place Holders in Child Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language
Authors: Nicolás Estrella
Published: March 2018

Monosyllabic place holders (MPHs) have been studied extensively in first-language (L1) acquisition of Spanish and other Romance languages. However, the study of MPHs in second-language (L2) acquisition, both by children and adults, has received much less attention. This study provides evidence for the presence of MPHs in the L2 Spanish of two L1 Moroccan Arabic children living in Spain. The age difference between the children (10;9 for Rachida and 6;10 for Khalid) allows us to address the issue of whether the younger child would use MPHs, as is the case in L1 acquisition. However, what the data show is that both children used MPHs, although Khalid’s MPH rate was slightly higher than Rachida’s. Therefore, based on these findings we argue that MPHs can constitute a strategy available for all child learners of Spanish.
Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube-Coated Cotton Yarn for Electrocardiography Transmission
Authors: Zhao Yuliang , Cao Yuying , Liu Junshan , Zhan Zhikun , Li Xiaoli , Li Wen
Published: March 2018

We fabricated a type of conductive fabric, specifically single-wall carbon nanotube-coated cotton yarns (SWNT-CYs), for electrocardiography (ECG) signal transmission utilizing a “dipping and drying” method. The conductive cotton yarns were prepared by dipping cotton yarns in SWNTs (single-wall carbon nanotubes) solutions and then drying them at room temperature—a simple process that shows consistency in successfully coating cotton yarns with conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The influence of fabrication conditions on the conductivity properties of SWNT-CYs was investigated. The results demonstrate that our conductive yarns can transmit weak bio-electrical (i.e., ECG) signals without significant attenuation and distortion. Our conductive cotton yarns, which combine the flexibility of conventional fabrics and the good conductivity of SWNTs, are promising materials for wearable electronics and sensor applications in the future.
Anticancer Activity of Toxins from Bee and Snake Venom—An Overview on Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Moga Marius , Dimienescu Oana , Arvătescu Cristian , Ifteni Petru , Pleş Liana
Published: March 2018

Cancer represents the disease of the millennium, a major problem in public health. The proliferation of tumor cells, angiogenesis, and the relationship between the cancer cells and the components of the extracellular matrix are important in the events of carcinogenesis, and these pathways are being used as targets for new anticancer treatments. Various venoms and their toxins have shown possible anticancer effects on human cancer cell lines, providing new perspectives in drug development. In this review, we observed the effects of natural toxins from bee and snake venom and the mechanisms through which they can inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. We also researched how several types of natural molecules from venom can sensitize ovarian cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy, with many toxins being helpful for developing new anticancer drugs. This approach could improve the efficiency of standard therapies and could allow the administration of decreased doses of chemotherapy. Natural toxins from bee and snake venom could become potential candidates for the future treatment of different types of cancer. It is important to continue these studies concerning therapeutic drugs from natural resource and, more importantly, to investigate their mechanism of action on cancer cells.
Evidence of Drug–Nutrient Interactions with Chronic Use of Commonly Prescribed Medications: An Update
Authors: Mohn Emily , Kern Hua , Saltzman Edward , Mitmesser Susan , McKay Diane
Published: March 2018

The long-term use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs can induce subclinical and clinically relevant micronutrient deficiencies, which may develop gradually over months or even years. Given the large number of medications currently available, the number of research studies examining potential drug–nutrient interactions is quite limited. A comprehensive, updated review of the potential drug–nutrient interactions with chronic use of the most often prescribed medications for commonly diagnosed conditions among the general U.S. adult population is presented. For the majority of the interactions described in this paper, more high-quality intervention trials are needed to better understand their clinical importance and potential consequences. A number of these studies have identified potential risk factors that may make certain populations more susceptible, but guidelines on how to best manage and/or prevent drug-induced nutrient inadequacies are lacking. Although widespread supplementation is not currently recommended, it is important to ensure at-risk patients reach their recommended intakes for vitamins and minerals. In conjunction with an overall healthy diet, appropriate dietary supplementation may be a practical and efficacious way to maintain or improve micronutrient status in patients at risk of deficiencies, such as those taking medications known to compromise nutritional status. The summary evidence presented in this review will help inform future research efforts and, ultimately, guide recommendations for patient care.
Lignocellulose-Chitosan-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites with Improved Mechanical Strength, Dimensional Stability and Fire Retardancy
Authors: Wang Zhe , Yan Yutao , Shen Xiaoping , Qian Temeng , Wang Junjie , Sun Qingfeng , Jin Chunde
Published: March 2018

A novel composite composed of lignocellulose (LC), glutaraldehyde crosslinked chitosan (GC) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was fabricated by the hot-pressing process. The effect of the additional GC and MWCNT on the mechanical strength, dimensional stability and fire retardancy of lignocellulose composites was investigated. The results showed that LC/GC/MWCNT composite exhibited the maximum modulus of rupture (MOR) of 35.3 MPa, modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 2789.1 MPa and internal bonding (IB) strength of 1.2 MPa. Meanwhile, the LC/GC/MWCNT composite displayed improved dimensional stability with a thickness swelling (TS) value of 22.4%. Besides, the LC/GC/MWCNT composite exhibited improved fire retardancy with a limiting oxygen index of 29.0%. The peak heat release rate, the total heat release, the total smoke production and the maximum smoke production ratio of LC/GC/MWCNT composite decreased by 15.9%, 10.7%, 45.5% and 20.7% compared with those of LC composite, respectively. Therefore, the LC/GC/MWCNT composite may be a promising candidate for green wood based composites.
Laser Requirements for High-Order Harmonic Generation by Relativistic Plasma Singularities
Authors: Pirozhkov Alexander , Esirkepov Timur , Pikuz Tatiana , Faenov Anatoly , Sagisaka Akito , Ogura Koichi , Hayashi Yukio , Kotaki Hideyuki , Ragozin Eugene , Neely David , Koga James , Fukuda Yuji , Nishikino Masaharu , Imazono Takashi , Hasegawa Noboru , Kawachi Tetsuya , Daido Hiroyuki , Kato Yoshiaki , Bulanov Sergei , Kondo Kiminori , Kiriyama Hiromitsu , Kando Masaki
Published: March 2018

We discuss requirements on relativistic-irradiance (I0 > 1018 W/cm2) high-power (multi-terawatt) ultrashort (femtosecond) lasers for efficient generation of high-order harmonics in gas jet targets in a new regime discovered recently (Pirozhkov et al., 2012). Here, we present the results of several experimental campaigns performed with different irradiances, analyse the obtained results and derive the required laser parameters. In particular, we found that the root mean square (RMS) wavefront error should be smaller than ~100 nm (~λ/8). Further, the angular dispersion should be kept considerably smaller than the diffraction divergence, i.e., μrad level for 100–300-mm beam diameters. The corresponding angular chirp should not exceed 10−2 μrad/nm for a 40-nm bandwidth. We show the status of the J-KAREN-P laser (Kiriyama et al., 2015; Pirozhkov et al., 2017) and report on the progress towards satisfying these requirements.
Delay-Aware Energy-Efficient Routing towards a Path-Fixed Mobile Sink in Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wu Shaobo , Chou Wusheng , Niu Jianwei , Guizani Mohsen
Published: March 2018

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) involve more mobile elements with their widespread development in industries. Exploiting mobility present in WSNs for data collection can effectively improve the network performance. However, when the sink (i.e., data collector) path is fixed and the movement is uncontrollable, existing schemes fail to guarantee delay requirements while achieving high energy efficiency. This paper proposes a delay-aware energy-efficient routing algorithm for WSNs with a path-fixed mobile sink, named DERM, which can strike a desirable balance between the delivery latency and energy conservation. We characterize the object of DERM as realizing the energy-optimal anycast to time-varying destination regions, and introduce a location-based forwarding technique tailored for this problem. To reduce the control overhead, a lightweight sink location calibration method is devised, which cooperates with the rough estimation based on the mobility pattern to determine the sink location. We also design a fault-tolerant mechanism called track routing to tackle location errors for ensuring reliable and on-time data delivery. We comprehensively evaluate DERM by comparing it with two canonical routing schemes and a baseline solution presented in this work. Extensive evaluation results demonstrate that DERM can provide considerable energy savings while meeting the delay constraint and maintaining a high delivery ratio.
Short-Term Wind Electric Power Forecasting Using a Novel Multi-Stage Intelligent Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Haoran , Zhao Huiru , Guo Sen
Published: March 2018

As the most efficient renewable energy source for generating electricity in a modern electricity network, wind power has the potential to realize sustainable energy supply. However, owing to its random and intermittent instincts, a high permeability of wind power into a power network demands accurate and effective wind energy prediction models. This study proposes a multi-stage intelligent algorithm for wind electric power prediction, which combines the Beveridge–Nelson (B-N) decomposition approach, the Least Square Support Vector Machine (LSSVM), and a newly proposed intelligent optimization approach called the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA). For data preprocessing, the B-N decomposition approach was employed to disintegrate the hourly wind electric power data into a deterministic trend, a cyclic term, and a random component. Then, the LSSVM optimized by the GOA (denoted GOA-LSSVM) was applied to forecast the future 168 h of the deterministic trend, the cyclic term, and the stochastic component, respectively. Finally, the future hourly wind electric power values can be obtained by multiplying the forecasted values of these three trends. Through comparing the forecasting performance of this proposed method with the LSSVM, the LSSVM optimized by the Fruit-fly Optimization Algorithm (FOA-LSSVM), and the LSSVM optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO-LSSVM), it is verified that the established multi-stage approach is superior to other models and can increase the precision of wind electric power prediction effectively.
Alternative Use of Extracts of Chipilín Leaves (Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn) as Antimicrobial
Authors: Miranda-Granados Johana , Chacón Cesar , Ruiz-Lau Nancy , Vargas-Díaz María , Zepeda L. , Alvarez-Gutiérrez Peggy , Meza-Gordillo Rocio , Lagunas-Rivera Selene
Published: March 2018

The genus Crotalaria comprises about 600 species that are distributed throughout the tropics and subtropical regions of the world; they are antagonistic to nematodes in sustainable crop production systems, and have also shown antimicrobial capacity. Chipilín (C. longirostrata), which belongs to this genus, is a wild plant that grows in the state of Chiapas (Mexico) and is traditionally is used as food. Its leaves also have medicinal properties and are used as hypnotics and narcotics; however, the plant has received little research attention to date. In the experimental part of this study, dried leaves were macerated by ethanol. The extract obtained was fractionated with ethyl ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, 2-propanone, and water. The extracts were evaluated against three bacteria—namely, Escherichia coli (Ec), Citrobacter freundii (Cf), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se)—and three fungi—Fusarium oxysporum A. comiteca (FoC), Fusarium oxysporum A. tequilana (FoT), and Fusarium solani A. comiteca (FSC). During this preliminary study, a statistical analysis of the data showed that there is a significant difference between the control ciprofloxacin (antibacterial), the antifungal activity experiments (water was used as a negative control), and the fractions used. The aqueous fraction (WF) was the most active against FoC, FsC, and FoT (30.65, 20.61, and 27.36% at 96 h, respectively) and the ethyl ether fraction (EEF) was the most active against Se (26.62% at 48 h).
Land-Acquisition and Resettlement (LAR) Conflicts: A Perspective of Spatial Injustice of Urban Public Resources Allocation
Authors: Zhu Jinxia , Xu Qian , Pan Yi , Qiu Lefeng , Peng Yi , Bao Haijun
Published: March 2018

Land acquisition and resettlement (LAR) is an important step in urban development. As one of the ‘externalities of development’, LAR conflicts have affected social stability and development in rural areas of China. With social conflict research shifting from value identity to resource allocation, few studies have examined the relationship between the spatial injustice of urban public resources and LAR conflict. To mitigate this research gap and formulate effective policies, this study aims to reinterpret the obstacles of LAR conflicts from the perspective of the spatial injustice of urban public facilities allocation in Hangzhou City by examining 195 administrative litigation cases. Spatial accessibility was used for estimating the spatial justice of urban public resources allocation. A classification and regression tree (CART) model was applied to identify the advantage and disadvantage factors behind LAR conflict, and explored the logical and structural relationships among these factors. Results showed that a spatial mismatch between the spatial behavior preferences of human activity and the spatial injustice of urban public resources allocation had significantly accelerated LAR conflicts. When the spatial behavior preferences of human activity and spatial distribution of urban public resources correspond to each other pre- and after LAR, basic rights to social space are safeguarded and various groups can equitably share spatial resources. There are no conflicts. Conversely, respondents expressed a high level of dissatisfaction in comparison to their pre-LAR conditions, and LAR conflict undeniably occurs. This approach also proposes some good LAR policies by regulating the spatial injustice of urban public resources allocation associated with LAR with the aim of long-term urban sustainable development for Hangzhou.
Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi: An Unusual Cause of Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Robson Christopher , O’Sullivan Matthew , Sivagnanam Shobini
Published: March 2018

While typhoid fever is a common infection, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is a rare cause of endocarditis. We describe the case of a 20-year-old male who was treated for a primary episode of microbiologically-confirmed typhoid fever. He presented six weeks post-discharge with fever and lethargy. S. Typhi was again identified in blood cultures, and echocardiography identified a mitral valve lesion. Our case suggests that a relapse of typhoid should prompt further investigation for a deep-seated infection, including consideration of echocardiographic evaluation to rule out infective endocarditis.
Transcriptome Analysis of Epithelioma Papulosum Cyprini Cells Infected by Reovirus Isolated from Allogynogenetic Silver Crucian Carp
Authors: Ba Cui-Yu , Du Xiao-Yan , Zhang Pei-Jun , Chen Ping , Cai Ya-Nan , Li Yue-Hong
Published: March 2018

The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and major signal transduction pathways that were related to the immune response of epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells to reoviruses isolated from allogynogenetic silver crucian carp. The study also lays a theoretical foundation for the pathogenesis and immunity of the reovirus, which is helpful to the breeding of cyprinids fish. Reovirus infected and uninfected EPC cells were analyzed by using a new-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. DEGs were identified, annotated, and classified, and the signal pathways involved in the response to reovirus infection were identified by using bioinformatics tool. The data were assembled into 92,101 contigs with an average length of 835.24 bp and an N50 value of 1432 nt. Differential expression analysis of all the genes identified 3316 DEGs at a false discovery rate (FDR) of <0.01 and a fold-change of ≥3, of which 1691 were upregulated genes, 1625 were downregulated, and about 305 were immune-related genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis resulted in the annotation of 3941 GO terms, including 2719 biological processes (37,810 unigenes), 376 cell components (7943 unigenes), and 846 molecular functions (11,750 unigenes). KEGG metabolic pathway analysis matched the DEGs from pre-and post-infection EPC cells to 193 pathways, of which 35 were immune-related, including the Toll-like receptor, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and the JAK-STAT signaling pathways.
Immunogenicity in African Green Monkeys of M Protein Mutant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectors and Contribution of Vector-Encoded Flagellin
Authors: Westcott Marlena , Smedberg Jason , Jorgensen Matthew , Puckett Shelby , Lyles Douglas
Published: March 2018

Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a promising platform for vaccine development. M51R VSV, an attenuated, M protein mutant strain, is an effective inducer of Type I interferon and dendritic cell (DC) maturation, which are desirable properties to exploit for vaccine design. We have previously evaluated M51R VSV (M51R) and M51R VSV that produces flagellin (M51R-F) as vaccine vectors using murine models, and found that flagellin enhanced DC activation and VSV-specific antibody production after low-dose vaccination. In this report, the immunogenicity of M51R vectors and the adjuvant effect of virus-produced flagellin were evaluated in nonhuman primates following high-dose (108 pfu) and low-dose (105 pfu) vaccination. A single intramuscular vaccination of African green monkeys with M51R or M51R-F induced VSV-specific, dose-dependent humoral immune responses. Flagellin induced a significant increase in antibody production (IgM, IgG and neutralizing antibody) at the low vaccination dose. A VSV-specific cellular response was detected at 6 weeks post-vaccination, but was neither dose-dependent nor enhanced by flagellin; similar numbers of VSV-specific, IFNγ-producing cells were detected in lymph node and spleen of all animals. These results indicate that virus-directed, intracellular flagellin production may improve VSV-based vaccines encoding heterologous antigens by lowering the dose required to achieve humoral immunity.