bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MOTIVASI BONUS, PAJAK, DAN UTANG DALAM TINDAKAN MANAJEMEN LABA (STUDI PERUSAHAAN MANUFAKTUR YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA PERIODE 2013-2015)
Authors: Kusumawardani Novia Fitri , Dewi R. Rosiyana
Published: November 2017

The objective of the empirical study is to examine and analyze the influence of Bonus Motivation, Tax Motivation, and Debt Motivation in Earning Management. The variables studied are bonus, tax, debt, firm size, and earning management. The sample of this study is the manufacture company that listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2013 until 2015. The sample used in this study were 165 samples. The classical assumption used is normality test, multicollinearity, autocorrelation, and heteroscedasticity test. Hypothesis test used is the coefficient of determination (R ²), simultant test (F-test) and invidual test(t-test). The results of this study indicate that (1) Bonus Motivation has positive significant influence in earning management. (2) Tax Motivation has positive significant influence in earning management (3) Debt Motivation has positive significant influence in earning management.Keywords: Earning Management, Bonus, Income Tax, Debt to Assets Ratio, Firm Size.
ANALISA KEBIJAKAN INDUSTRI MINYAK DAN GAS BUMI: Studi Perbandingan Pada Kontrak Bagi Hasil Minyak Dan Gas Bumi di Indonesia dan Malaysia
Authors: Sobirin Miftah
Published: November 2017

Industri minyak dan gas bumi meliputi usaha pencarian (eksplorasi), pengembangan, produksi, pengolahan, pengangkutan, dan pemasaran produk hasil industri minyak dan gas bumf. Di Indonesia kegiatan eksplorasi minyak dan gas bumi dilakukan hampir seluruhrtya oleh kontraktor minyak asing. Mereka melakukan kerjasama dengan Pemerintah dalam bentuk Kontrak Bagi Hasil (KBH)/Production Sharing Contract (PSC). Pada kontrak tersebut Pemerintah memberikan kuasa kepada kontraktor untuk melakukan eksplorasi terhadap suatu wilayah tertentu yang mengandung minyak dan gas bumi selama jangka walctu 30 tahun. Jika minyak atau gas bumi telah ditemukan, hasilnya akan dibagi antara Pemerintah dan KBH sesuai dengan kontrak yang disepakati bersama. Seluruh biaya yang dikeluarkan oleh KBH selama eksplorasi sampai dengan ditemukannya minyak dan gas bumi akan diganti oleh Pemerintah Mau yang lazim disebut cost recovery.
The S66 noncovalent interactions benchmark reconsidered using explicitly correlated methods near the basis set limit
Authors: Kesharwani Manoj Kumar , Karton Amir , Sylvetsky Nitai , M. L. Martin Jan
Published: November 2017

The S66 benchmark for noncovalent interactions has been re-evaluated using explicitly correlated methods with basis sets near the one-particle basis set limit. It is found that post-MP2 “high-level corrections” are treated adequately well using a combination of CCSD(F12*) with (aug-)cc-pVTZ-F12 basis sets on the one hand, and (T) extrapolated from conventional CCSD(T)/heavy-aug-cc-pV{D,T}Z on the other hand. Implications for earlier benchmarks on the larger S66x8 problem set in particular, and for accurate calculations on noncovalent interactions in general, are discussed. At a slight cost in accuracy, (T) can be considerably accelerated by using sano-V{D,T}Z+ basis sets, while half-counterpoise CCSD(F12*)(T)/cc-pVDZ-F12 offers the best compromise between accuracy and computational cost.
A Função Social da Propriedade e a Progressividade Extrafiscal do IPTU
Authors: Dos Santos Andréa Cristina Correia de Souza Renault Baêta
Published: November 2017

O presente trabalho visa analisar a função social da propriedade e a progressividade extrafiscal do IPTU. Para tanto é imprescindível fazer um estudo acerca dos aspectos relevantes do referido imposto, como fato gerador, base de cálculo, sujeitos ativo e passivo e alíquotas. Posteriormente será explorada a evolução histórica do direito de propriedade o que possibilitará a compreensão da função social da propriedade urbana. Tal instituto possui grande relevância no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, pois demonstra que a proteção ao direito de propriedade é uma garantia desde que a mesma esteja atrelada à sua função social. Ao final serão feitos apontamentos sobre a extrafiscalidade do IPTU, onde se concluirá que esta função é eficaz instrumento de política urbana para propiciar um melhor aproveitamento do solo e combate à concentração de terras com finalidade eminentemente especulativa. A metodologia a ser utilizada no estudo do tema será observacional exploratória, com análise do objeto desta pesquisa por meio da coleta de doutrina além da análise histórica do instituto da função social da propriedade.
Do Conceito de Insumos para Fins de Não-Cumulatividade da Contribuição ao PIS: Uma Abordagem Teórica e Jurisprudencial.
Authors: Petean Marcus Guimaraes
Published: November 2017

O presente artigo analisa as principais implicações das normas que regulamentam a apropriação de crédito de PIS no regime não-cumulativo. Para tanto, inicia-se o trabalho com uma abordagem sobre a contribuição ao PIS. Posteriormente, realiza-se uma breve análise sobre a não-cumulatividade. Na seqüência, discute-se o conceito de insumos para a apropriação de créditos. Ao final, apresenta-se uma síntese conclusiva.
Acesso à Justiça e o Meio Alternativo da Arbitagem em Matéria Tributária
Authors: Santos Jazam
Published: November 2017

O artigo visa discutir a possibilidade do uso da técnica da Arbitragem na estabilização de conflitos referentes às matérias de ordem tributária a fim de facilitar o direito ao Acesso à Justiça. Tendo em vista o atual paradigma de mudanças legislativas, as quais dão ênfase aos meios alternativos de tratamento das demandas, preconiza-se, nesse estudo, a ampliação do emprego da forma alternativa da Arbitragem, em que o terceiro, privado e imparcial, acima das partes, aplica na solução dos litígios surgidos entre o contribuinte e a Administração pública. Utilizou-se o método indutivo e a técnica de levantamento bibliográfico.
Dominant Variables That Affect The Level of Profitability in Sharia Banks and Conventional Banks
Authors: Junaeni Irawati
Published: November 2017

This study aims to analyze the dominant factors that affect profitability in the Sharia Commercial Bank and Conventional Bank Indonesia Year 2009-2014. The sample used in this study is 7 Sharia Commercial Banks and 10 Conventional Commercial Banks in Indonesia. The technic sample used in this study by purposive sampling method. This research uses panel data regression methods and estimation model used is a Random Effect Model. The result of research on sharia bank of internal factors concludes that BOPO variable has a significant influence on return on asset (ROA) and from external factors of BI Rate significant effect on return on asset (ROA). While conventional banks of internal factors conclude that BOPO and NPL variable have significant influence to return on asset (ROA) and from external factor conclude that BI Rate has a significant effect to return on asset ROA). In this research, BOPO variable has a more dominant influence on  ROA than other variables.
How Readability Factors Are Differentially Associated With Performance for Students of Different Backgrounds When Solving Mathematics Word Problems
Authors: Walkington Candace , Clinton Virginia , Shivraj Pooja
Published: November 2017

The link between reading and mathematics achievement is well known, and an important question is whether readability factors in mathematics problems are differentially impacting student groups. Using 20 years of data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, we examine how readability factors—such as length, word difficulty, and pronouns—interact with student background characteristics—such as race/ethnicity, mathematics achievement, and socioeconomic status. Textual features that make problems more difficult to process appear to differentially negatively impact struggling students, while features that make language easier to process appear to differentially positively impact struggling students. It is critical that readability along various dimensions be considered when designing instruction and assessment.
A study to assess the knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients at selected hospitals of Bangalore, India
Authors: Thapa Kriti , Samson Vimala W.
Published: November 2017

Background: Mental illness raises many human rights issues. People with mental disorders are exposed to a wide range  of human rights violation both within and outside the health care context. People with mental illness and their families  do not exercise their rights, because of lack of awareness that they have such rights, lack of knowledge about how to effectively assert their rights, and lack of confidence in asserting their rights. The most important factor in ensuring patient’s rights is the knowledge, attitude and commitment of the mental health professionals.Objectives:  The objectives of the study were to assess knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients.Methods: A descriptive approach was adopted for the study. A total of 50 staff nurses working in psychiatric wards of general hospitals and in psychiatric hospitals of Bangalore were selected through purposive sampling technique. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess level of knowledge and a four-point Likert scale was used to assess attitude of nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients.Results: The overall mean knowledge score was 50 percent and the overall mean attitude score was 68.65 percent among  the staff nurses.Conclusion: The results of the study exposed the requirement of continuing education of staff nurses regarding human rights of mentally ill patients. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 6, No. 1, 2017, page: 27-31
Flux linkage estimation with saliency and can effect of a can-shielded switched reluctance motor using a simple circuit network model
Authors: Yu Qiang , He Chang , Tian Lisi , Wang Xuesong , Cheng Yuhu
Published: November 2017

In this paper, a simple magnetic circuit network model is proposed to simulate saliency and can-shield effect with high magnetic saturation for a double salient canned switched reluctance machine. The saliency effect, including rotor position dependent airgap paths and magnetic saturation on poles, is described by discretized and adaptable magnetic reluctance elements. Further, can-shield impact due to electromagnetic coupling in airgap is described by Faraday law of energy conversion. Such a network is featured by adopting characteristic magnetic paths without empirical equations and is applicable to various machine geometries without power density limit.
Thermal modeling and analysis of bearingless permanent magnet synchronous motors
Authors: Su Bokai , Sun Xiaodong , Chen Long , Yang Zebin , Li Ke
Published: November 2017

This paper deals with the thermal modeling and analysis of bearingless permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motors (BPMSMs). A thermal model of the BPMSM is proposed with considering eddy current loss of PMs, copper loss as well as core loss of the stator. To enhance the accuracy of the thermal analysis, core losses of stator core and eddy current losses of PMs are calculated by finite element method (FEM). Furthermore, the heat source, equivalent thermal conductivity of stator/rotor core, equivalent insulation of stator windings insulation, equivalent thermal conductivity of the air gap, and convection coefficients in each motor surface are considered. Finally, the temperature distributions of the BPMSM in three different operation conditions are analyzed in detail. According to the simulation results, it is found that the overheat on PMs and all windings will happen during the peak power condition, and simulation results can provide further basis for the design of BPMSMs, such as insulation level of the winding, the selection of the PMs and the cooling system. Moreover, it lays the theoretical foundation on further studies.
Increased Prevalence of Polyneuropathy in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Conradt Christian , Guo Dianlin , Miclea Anca , Nisslein Thomas , Ismail Chaim , Chatamra Krai , Andersohn Frank
Published: November 2017

Background:

The independent contribution of levodopa exposure and Parkinson’s disease (PD) to the risk of polyneuropathy is not established.

Objective:

This study investigated whether patients with newly diagnosed PD without previous exposure to antiparkinsonian drugs have higher prevalence of polyneuropathy than the general population.

Methods:

Using the UK General Practice Research Database, presence of polyneuropathy in the previous 3 years was assessed.

Results:

Of 5089 PD patients and 19,897 controls, polyneuropathy was confirmed in 15 PD patients (0.29% ) and 24 controls (0.12% ). Polyneuropathy prevalence was 2.4-fold higher in PD patients than controls.

Conclusions:

In this observational study, PD patients had a higher prevalence of preexisting polyneuropathy that cannot be explained by adverse effects of antiparkinsonian drugs.
GC-MS profiling and antidepressant-like effect of the extracts of Hamelia patens in animal model
Authors: Surana Ajaykumar Rikhabchand , Wagh Rajendra Dayaram
Published: November 2017

Hamelia patens is used in folk medicine in the treatment of nervous shock. The present study deals to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of chloroform and methanol extracts of H. patens on the performance of male mice and GC-MS profiling of bioactive extract. Mice were given extracts orally in acute doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg daily for 7 days and then subjected to forced swim test, tail suspension test and open field test. Imipramine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and  fluxetamine (10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were used as the standard in forced swim test and tail suspension test  respectively. GC-MS profiling of chloroform extract was performed to find out the chemical constituents in bioactive fraction. After one-week treatment, the chloroform extract (100 and 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly reduced immobility time in forced swim test and tail suspension test (p<0.05). All extracts did not show any significant change in the locomotor activity in open field test. These data indicate that the extract of H. patens possesses antidepressant-like properties in mice without any significant effect on locomotor activity.

Video Clip of Methodology:

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Structural Performance Optimization and Verification of an Improved Thin-Walled Storage Tank for a Pico-Satellite
Authors: Teng Lai , Jin Zhonghe
Published: November 2017

This paper presents an improved mesh storage tank structure obtained using 3D metal printing. The storage tank structure is optimized using a multi-objective uniform design method. Each parameter influencing the storage tank is considered as the optimization factor, and the compression stress (

σ

), volume utilization ratio (

v

), and weight (

m

, are considered as the optimization objectives. Regression equations were established between the optimization factors and targets, the orders of the six factors affecting three target values are analyzed, and the relative deviations between the regression equation and calculation results for

σ

,

v

, and

m

were 9.72%, 4.15%, and 2.94%, respectively. The optimization results showed that the regression equations can predict the structure performance of the improved storage tank, and the values of the influence factors obtained through the optimization are effective. In addition, the compression stress was improved by 24.98%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 26.86%, and the weight was reduced by 26.83%. The optimized storage tank was developed through 3D metal printing, and the compressive stress was improved by 58.71%, the volume utilization ratio was increased by 24.52%, and the weight was reduced by 11.67%.
Contribution from Selected Organic Species to PM2.5 Aerosol during a Summer Field Campaign at K-Puszta, Hungary
Authors: Maenhaut Willy , Chi Xuguang , Wang Wan , Cafmeyer Jan , Yasmeen Farhat , Vermeylen Reinhilde , Szmigielska Katarzyna , Janssens Ivan , Claeys Magda
Published: November 2017

A summer field campaign was conducted at the forested background site of K-puszta in Hungary. The main aim was to assess the contribution of terpene-derived particulate organic compounds to the PM2.5 organic carbon (OC) and of the secondary organic carbon (SOC) from α-pinene to the OC. The study lasted from 24 May to 29 June 2006; the first half the weather was cold, while the second half was warm. Separate daytime and night-time PM2.5 samples were collected with a high-volume sampler and the samples were analysed by several analytical techniques, including ion chromatography (IC) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The latter technique was used for measuring the terpene-derived species. Ancillary high time resolution measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were made with proton-transfer reaction–mass spectrometry. The temporal and diurnal variability of the particulate compounds and VOCs and interrelationships were examined. It was found that the monoterpenes and a number of terpene-derived particulate compounds, such as cis-pinic and cis-caric acid, exhibited a strong day/night difference during the warm period, with about 10 times higher levels during the night-time. During the warm period, the IC compounds and LC/MS compounds accounted, on average, for 3.1% and 2.0%, respectively, of the OC, whereas the contribution of SOC from α-pinene to the OC was estimated at a minimum of 7.1%.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children with Recurrent Wheeze/Asthma: A Single Centre Study
Authors: Zaffanello Marco , Gasperi Emma , Tenero Laura , Piazza Michele , Pietrobelli Angelo , Sacchetto Luca , Antoniazzi Franco , Piacentini Giorgio
Published: November 2017

The relationship between asthma and sleep-disordered breathing is bidirectional due to common risk factors that promote airway inflammation. Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing and recurrent wheeze/asthma are conditions that involve the upper and the lower respiratory system, respectively. The aim of the present study was to investigate the sleep disordered breathing in children with recurrent wheeze/asthma. This was a retrospective study concerning children older than 2 years who underwent—between January 2014 and November 2016—an in-laboratory overnight polygraphic study. We match the children between those who do or do not have recurrent wheeze/asthma disease. We examined the clinical records of 137 children. We excluded eight patients because of neurological and genetic conditions. Children with recurrent wheeze/asthma (N = 28) were younger (p = 0.002) and leaner (p = 0.013) compared to non-affected children (N = 98). Children with wheeze/asthma and unaffected ones had a similar obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (p = 0.733) and oxygen desaturation index (p = 0.535). The logistic regression analysis, in which the condition of wheeze/asthma (yes/no) was a dependent variable, while demographic (age, sex, body mass index (BMI) Z-score) and polygraphic results during sleep (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index, central apnea index, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and snoring) were covariates, showed that children with wheeze/asthma had higher central apnea index (Exp(B) = 2.212; Wald 6.845; p = 0.009). In conclusion, children with recurrent wheeze/asthma showed an increased number of central sleep apneas than unaffected children. This finding may suggest a dysfunction of the breathing control in the central nervous system during sleep. Systemic or central inflammation could be the cause.
Effect of Initial Surface Roughness on Cavitation Erosion Resistance of Arc-Sprayed Fe-Based Amorphous/Nanocrystalline Coatings
Authors: Lin Jinran , Wang Zehua , Cheng Jiangbo , Kang Min , Fu Xiuqing , Hong Sheng
Published: November 2017

The arc spraying process was used to prepare Fe-based amorphous/nanocrystalline coating. The cavitation erosion behaviors of FeNiCrBSiNbW coatings with different surface roughness levels were investigated in distilled water. The results showed that FeNiCrBSiNbW coating adhered well to the substrate, and was compact with porosity of less than 2%. With increasing initial surface roughness, the coatings showed an increase in mass loss of cavitation erosion damage. The amount of pre-existing defects on the initial surface of the coatings was found to be a significant factor for the difference in the cavitation erosion behavior. The cavitation erosion damage for the coatings was a brittle erosion mode. The evolution of the cavitation erosion mechanism of the coatings with the increase of the initial surface roughness was micro-cracks, pits, detachment of fragments, craters, cracks, pullout of the un-melted particle, and massive exfoliations.
Multilevel Coding for the Full-Duplex Decode-Compress-Forward Relay Channel
Authors: Abotabl Ahmed , Nosratinia Aria
Published: November 2017

The Decode-Compress-Forward (DCF) is a generalization of Decode-Forward (DF) and Compress-Forward (CF). This paper investigates conditions under which DCF offers gains over DF and CF, addresses the problem of coded modulation for DCF, and evaluates the performance of DCF coded modulation implemented via low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and polar codes. We begin by revisiting the achievable rate of DCF in discrete memoryless channels under backward decoding. We then study coded modulation for the decode-compress-forward via multi-level coding. We show that the proposed multilevel coding approaches the known achievable rates of DCF. The proposed multilevel coding is implemented (and its performance verified) via a combination of standard DVB-S2 LDPC codes, and polar codes whose design follows the method of Blasco-Serrano.
Studies on Cup Anemometer Performances Carried out at IDR/UPM Institute. Past and Present Research
Authors: Roibas-Millan Elena , Cubas Javier , Pindado Santiago
Published: November 2017

In the present work, the research derived from a wide experience on cup anemometer calibration works at IDR/UPM Institute (Instituto Universitario de Microgravedad “Ignacio Da Riva”) is summarized. This research started in 2008, analyzing large series of calibrations, and is focused on two main aspects: (1) developing a procedure to predict the degradation level of these wind sensors when working on the field and (2) modeling cup anemometer performances. The wear and tear level of this sensor is evaluated studying the output signal and its main frequencies through Fourier analysis. The modeling of the cup anemometer performances is carried out analyzing first the cup aerodynamics. As a result of this process, carried out through several testing and analytical studies since 2010, a new analytical method has been developed. This methodology might represent an alternative to the classic approach used in the present standards of practice such as IEC 64000-12.
Identifying Reliable Opportunistic Data for Species Distribution Modeling: A Benchmark Data Optimization Approach
Authors: Lin Yu-Pin , Lin Wei-Chih , Lien Wan-Yu , Anthony Johnathen , Petway Joy
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study is to increase the number of species occurrence data by integrating opportunistic data with Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) benchmark data via a novel optimization technique. The optimization method utilizes Natural Language Processing (NLP) and a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to maximize the average likelihood of species occurrence in maximum entropy presence-only species distribution models (SDM). We applied the Kruskal–Wallis test to assess the differences between the corresponding environmental variables and habitat suitability indices (HSI) among datasets, including data from GBIF, Facebook (FB), and data from optimally selected FB data. To quantify uncertainty in SDM predictions, and to quantify the efficacy of the proposed optimization procedure, we used a bootstrapping approach to generate 1000 subsets from five different datasets: (1) GBIF; (2) FB; (3) GBIF plus FB; (4) GBIF plus optimally selected FB; and (5) GBIF plus randomly selected FB. We compared the performance of simulated species distributions based on each of the above subsets via the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). We also performed correlation analysis between the average benchmark-based SDM outputs and the average dataset-based SDM outputs. Median AUCs of SDMs based on the dataset that combined benchmark GBIF data and optimally selected FB data were generally higher than the AUCs of other datasets, indicating the effectiveness of the optimization procedure. Our results suggest that the proposed approach increases the quality and quantity of data by effectively extracting opportunistic data from large unstructured datasets with respect to benchmark data.
A Combinational Buffer Management Scheme in Mobile Opportunistic Network
Authors: Yuan Peiyan , Yu Hai
Published: November 2017

Nodes in Mobile Opportunistic Network (MON) have to cache packets to deal with the intermittent connection. The buffer management strategy obviously impacts the performance of MON, and it attracts more attention recently. Due to the limited storage capacity of nodes, traditional buffer management strategies just drop messages based on the property of message, and they neglect the collaboration between neighbors, resulting in an ineffective performance improvement. Therefore, effective buffer management strategies are necessary to ensure that each node has enough buffer space to store the message when the node buffer is close to congestion. In this paper, we propose a buffer management strategy by integrating the characteristics of messages and nodes, and migrate the redundant messages to the neighbor to optimize the total utility, instead of deleting them. The simulation experiment results show that it can obviously improve the delivery ratio, the overhead ratio and the average delays, and reduce the amount of hops compared with the traditional ones.
Body Burden of Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethene (DDE) and Childhood Pulmonary Function
Authors: Balte Pallavi , Kühr Joachim , Kruse Herrman , Karmaus Wilfried
Published: November 2017

Longitudinal studies have shown that early life exposure to dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) can lead to growth reduction during childhood and adolescence. In addition, DDE exposure has been linked to respiratory tract infections and an increased risk of asthma in children. Our aim was to understand the relationships between DDE exposure and pulmonary function in children, and, particularly, whether associations are mediated by the height of the children. We used data from an environmental epidemiologic study conducted in central Germany in children aged 8-10 years. The pulmonary function (forced vital capacity, FVC, and forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1) were measured in three consecutive years. Blood DDE levels were measured at 8 and 10 years. We used linear mixed models for repeated measurements and path analyses to assess the association between blood levels of DDE and pulmonary function measurements. All models were adjusted for confounders. Linear mixed approaches and modelling concurrent effects showed no significant associations. The path analytical models demonstrated that DDE measured at eight years had significant, inverse, indirect, and total effects on FVC at ten years (n = 328; −0.18 L per μg/L of DDE) and FEV1 (n = 328; −0.17 L per μg/L of DDE), mediated through effects of DDE on height and weight. The DDE burden reduces pulmonary function through its diminishing effects on height and weight in children. Further studies are required to test these associations in other samples, preferably from a region with ongoing, high DDT application.
Humidity May Modify the Relationship between Temperature and Cardiovascular Mortality in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Zeng Jie , Zhang Xuehai , Yang Jun , Bao Junzhe , Xiang Hao , Dear Keith , Liu Qiyong , Lin Shao , Lawrence Wayne , Lin Aihua , Huang Cunrui
Published: November 2017

Background: The evidence of increased mortality attributable to extreme temperatures is widely characterized in climate-health studies. However, few of these studies have examined the role of humidity on temperature-mortality association. We investigated the joint effect between temperature and humidity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in Zhejiang Province, China. Methods: We collected data on daily meteorological and CVD mortality from 11 cities in Zhejiang Province during 2010–2013. We first applied time-series Poisson regression analysis within the framework of distributed lag non-linear models to estimate the city-specific effect of temperature and humidity on CVD mortality, after controlling for temporal trends and potential confounding variables. We then applied a multivariate meta-analytical model to pool the effect estimates in the 11 cities to generate an overall provincial estimate. The joint effects between them were calculated by the attributable fraction (AF). The analyses were further stratified by gender, age group, education level, and location of cities. Results: In total, 120,544 CVD deaths were recorded in this study. The mean values of temperature and humidity were 17.6 °C and 72.3%. The joint effect between low temperature and high humidity had the greatest impact on the CVD death burden over a lag of 0–21 days with a significant AF of 31.36% (95% eCI: 14.79–38.41%), while in a condition of low temperature and low humidity with a significant AF of 16.74% (95% eCI: 0.89, 24.44). The AFs were higher at low temperature and high humidity in different subgroups. When considering the levels of humidity, the AFs were significant at low temperature and high humidity for males, youth, those with a low level of education, and coastal area people. Conclusions: The combination of low temperature and high humidity had the greatest impact on the CVD death burden in Zhejiang Province. This evidence has important implications for developing CVD interventions.
Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and Associated Risk Factors among Rural-to-Urban Migrant Children in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Jun , Liu Ke , Zheng Jing , Liu Jiali , You Liming
Published: November 2017

Rural-to-urban migration, which has achieved a huge scale during China’s economic reform, is a potential risk factor for the mental health of migrant children. To test this hypothesis, this study assessed the mental health status of rural-to-urban migrant children. Guided by Andersen’s behavioral model, the study explored the risk factors associated with mental health. The study recruited 1182 fifth/sixth-grade children from four private and four public primary schools in Guangzhou in 2014 in a descriptive cross-sectional design. Mental health status was measured by the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Predisposing characteristics including demographics (e.g., age, gender), social structure (e.g., education, occupation) and health beliefs (health attitude) were recorded. Enabling characteristics including family and community resources and the need for health services were analyzed to explore the risk factors. The results indicate that more rural-to-urban migrant children were classified in the abnormal (21.0%) or borderline (18.8%) categories based on the total difficulties scores, the proportions of which were much higher than those of local children (9.8% abnormal, 13.8% borderline). Factors associated with a greater likelihood of mental health problems included single-parent families, seeking health information actively, family income cannot meet basic needs and poor perceived health status. Compared with the local children, the rural-to-urban migrant children had relatively poor mental health, hence monitoring and supporting mental health for rural-urban migrant children is critical.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Social Vulnerability Index for Use in the Dutch Context
Authors: Bunt Steven , Steverink Nardi , Andrew Melissa K. , Schans Cees P. van der , Hobbelen Hans
Published: November 2017

Being able to identify socially frail older adults is essential for designing interventions and policy and for the prediction of health outcomes, both on the level of individual older adults and of the population. The aim of the present study was to adapt the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to the Dutch language and culture for those purposes. A systematic cross-cultural adaptation of the initial Social Vulnerability Index was performed following five steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, back translation, a Delphi procedure, and a test for face validity and feasibility. The main result of this study is a face-valid 32 item Dutch version of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI-D) that is feasible in health care and social care settings. The SVI-D is a useful index to measure social frailty in Dutch-language countries and offers a broad, holistic quantification of older people’s social circumstances related to the risk of adverse health outcomes.
Comprehensive Survey on Improved Focality and Penetration Depth of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Employing Multi-Coil Arrays
Authors: Wei Xile , Li Yao , Lu Meili , Wang Jiang , Yi Guosheng
Published: November 2017

Multi-coil arrays applied in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are proposed to accurately stimulate brain tissues and modulate neural activities by an induced electric field (EF). Composed of numerous independently driven coils, a multi-coil array has alternative energizing strategies to evoke EFs targeting at different cerebral regions. To improve the locating resolution and the stimulating focality, we need to fully understand the variation properties of induced EFs and the quantitative control method of the spatial arrangement of activating coils, both of which unfortunately are still unclear. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of EF properties was performed based on multi-coil arrays. Four types of planar multi-coil arrays were used to study the relationship between the spatial distribution of EFs and the structure of stimuli coils. By changing coil-driven strategies in a basic 16-coil array, we find that an EF induced by compactly distributed coils decays faster than that induced by dispersedly distributed coils, but the former has an advantage over the latter in terms of the activated brain volume. Simulation results also indicate that the attenuation rate of an EF induced by the 36-coil dense array is 3 times and 1.5 times greater than those induced by the 9-coil array and the 16-coil array, respectively. The EF evoked by the 36-coil dispense array has the slowest decay rate. This result demonstrates that larger multi-coil arrays, compared to smaller ones, activate deeper brain tissues at the expense of decreased focality. A further study on activating a specific field of a prescribed shape and size was conducted based on EF variation. Accurate target location was achieved with a 64-coil array 18 mm in diameter. A comparison between the figure-8 coil, the planar array, and the cap-formed array was made and demonstrates an improvement of multi-coil configurations in the penetration depth and the focality. These findings suggest that there is a tradeoff between attenuation rate and focality in the application of multi-coil arrays. Coil-energizing strategies and array dimensions should be based on an adequate evaluation of these two important demands and the topological structure of target tissues.
Visualization of Features in 3D Terrain
Authors: Dübel Steve , Schumann Heidrun
Published: November 2017

In 3D terrain analysis, topographical characteristics, such as mountains or valleys, and geo-spatial data characteristics, such as specific weather conditions or objects of interest, are important features. Visual representations of these features are essential in many application fields, e.g., aviation, meteorology, or geo-science. However, creating suitable representations is challenging. On the one hand, conveying the topography of terrain models is difficult, due to data complexity and computational costs. On the other hand, depicting further geo-spatial data increases the intricacy of the image and can lead to visual clutter. Moreover, perceptional issues within the 3D presentation, such as distance recognition, play a significant role as well. In this paper, we address the question of how features in the terrain can be visualized appropriately. We discuss various design options to facilitate the awareness of global and local features; that is, the coarse spatial distribution of characteristics and the fine-granular details. To improve spatial perception of the 3D environment, we propose suitable depth cues. Finally, we demonstrate the feasibility of our approach by a sophisticated framework called TedaVis that unifies the proposed concepts and facilitates designing visual terrain representations tailored to user requirements.
A Role of Sp1 Binding Motifs in Basal and Large T-Antigen-Induced Promoter Activities of Human Polyomavirus HPyV9 and Its Variant UF-1
Authors: Moens Ugo , Song Xiaobo , Van Ghelue Marijke , Lednicky John , Ehlers Bernhard
Published: November 2017

Human polyomavirus 9 (HPyV9) was originally detected in the serum of a renal transplant patient. Seroepidemiological studies showed that ~20–50% of the human population have antibodies against this virus. HPyV9 has not yet been associated with any disease and little is known about the route of infection, transmission, host cell tropism, and genomic variability in circulating strains. Recently, the HPyV9 variant UF-1 with an eight base-pair deletion, a thirteen base-pair insertion and with point mutations, creating three putative Sp1 binding sites in the late promoter was isolated from an AIDS patient. Transient transfection studies with a luciferase reporter plasmid driven by HPyV9 or UF1 promoter demonstrated that UF1 early and late promoters were stronger than HPyV9 promoters in most cell lines, and that the UF1 late promoter was more potently activated by HPyV9 large T-antigen (LTAg). Mutation of two Sp1 motifs strongly reduced trans-activation of the late UF1 promoter by HPyV9 LTAg in HeLa cells. In conclusion, the mutations in the UF1 late promoter seem to strengthen its activity and its response to stimulation by HPyV9 LTAg in certain cells. It remains to be investigated whether these promoter changes have an influence on virus replication and affect the possible pathogenic properties of the virus.
Regulation of Chemokine–Receptor Interactions and Functions
Authors: Stone Martin
Published: November 2017

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection. As early as 2000 years ago, the Roman encyclopaedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus recognised four cardinal signs of this response—redness, heat, swelling and pain; a fifth sign is loss of function.[...]
Environmental Burkholderia cenocepacia Strain Enhances Fitness by Serial Passages during Long-Term Chronic Airways Infection in Mice
Authors: Bragonzi Alessandra , Paroni Moira , Pirone Luisa , Coladarci Ivan , Ascenzioni Fiorentina , Bevivino Annamaria
Published: November 2017

Burkholderia cenocepacia is an important opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, and has also been isolated from natural environments. In previous work, we explored the virulence and pathogenic potential of environmental B. cenocepacia strains and demonstrated that they do not differ from clinical strains in some pathogenic traits. Here, we investigated the ability of the environmental B. cenocepacia Mex1 strain, isolated from the maize rhizosphere, to persist and increase its virulence after serial passages in a mouse model of chronic infection. B. cenocepacia Mex1 strain, belonging to the recA lineage IIIA, was embedded in agar beads and challenged into the lung of C57Bl/6 mice. The mice were sacrificed after 28 days from infection and their lungs were tested for bacterial loads. Agar beads containing the pool of B. cenocepacia colonies from the four sequential passages were used to infect the mice. The environmental B. cenocepacia strain showed a low incidence of chronic infection after the first passage; after the second, third and fourth passages in mice, its ability to establish chronic infection increased significantly and progressively up to 100%. Colonial morphology analysis and genetic profiling of the Mex1-derived clones recovered after the fourth passage from infected mice revealed that they were indistinguishable from the challenged strain both at phenotypic and genetic level. By testing the virulence of single clones in the Galleria mellonella infection model, we found that two Mex1-derived clones significantly increased their pathogenicity compared to the parental Mex1 strain and behaved similarly to the clinical and epidemic B. cenocepacia LMG16656T. Our findings suggest that serial passages of the environmental B. cenocepacia Mex1 strain in mice resulted in an increased ability to determine chronic lung infection and the appearance of clonal variants with increased virulence in non-vertebrate hosts.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Lysine Acetylation in Fish CIK Cells Infected with Aquareovirus
Authors: Guo Hong , Zhang Jie , Wang Yaping , Bu Chen , Zhou Yanyan , Fang Qin
Published: November 2017

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) is an important worldwide commercial freshwater culture species. However, grass carp reovirus (GCRV) causes serious hemorrhagic disease in fingerlings and yearlings of fishes. To understand the molecular pathogenesis of host cells during GCRV infection, intensive proteomic quantification analysis of lysine acetylation in Ctenopharyngodon idella kidney (CIK) cells was performed. Using dimethylation labeling-based quantitative proteomics, 832 acetylated proteins with 1391 lysine acetylation sites were identified in response to GCRV infection, among which 792 proteins with 1323 sites were quantifiable. Bioinformatics analysis showed that differentially expressed lysine acetylated proteins are involved in diverse cellular processes and associated with multifarious functions, suggesting that extensive intracellular activities were changed upon viral infection. In addition, extensive alterations on host–protein interactions at the lysine acetylation level were also detected. Further biological experiments showed that the histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) could significantly suppress the GCRV replication. To our knowledge, this is the first to reveal the proteome-wide changes in host cell acetylome with aquatic virus infection. The results provided in this study laid a basis for further understanding the host response to aquareovirus infection in the post-translational modification aspect by regulating cell lysine acetylation conducive to viral replication.
Glue for Manufacturing Heel Prick Filter Cards Does Not Interfere with the Measurement of Analytes for Newborn Screening
Authors: Maase Rose , Bouva Marelle , Schielen Peter
Published: November 2017

Population-based newborn screening (NBS) using blood collected and dried on filter paper was developed in the 1960s and remains the international standard for NBS programs. Glue, used in the manufacture of dried blood collection cards, may present a source of contamination and is often considered as a possible cause of anomalous results in routine screening. Our study evaluates this potential contamination on NBS analyses. EBF#1003 glue was blotted onto dried blood collection cards made of Whatman grade 903 filter paper (Whatman#903) and adult whole blood was pipetted onto the dried glue blots. In addition, blank glue blots (i.e., no blood) and dried blood spots (DBSs) in the absence of glue were prepared. The DBSs and blank samples were run in duplicate as routine samples for NBS. DBS absorption time and diameter, the effect of glue on measurements (concentrations and variation) were assessed. DBS absorption time and shape were equivalent for DBSs prepared in the absence and presence of undiluted glue. DBS diameter increased when prepared in the presence of glue. When EBF#1003 was diluted prior to use, DBS absorption time increased, and DBSs were non-uniform. Glue, diluted or not, did not produce measurements above the established Limit of Detection (LOD) for all assays used in the current Dutch screening programme. For all analytes with concentrations in the quantifiable range, contamination with glue had no effect on measurement variation, as it appeared equivalent to variation in untreated DBSs. Our data show that, in the unlikely event of contamination of Whatman#903 with EBF#1003, there is no effect on the measured concentration of analytes.
Mechanistic Implications for the Ni(I)-Catalyzed Kumada Cross-Coupling Reaction
Authors: Iffland Linda , Petuker Anette , Van Gastel Maurice , Apfel Ulf-Peter
Published: November 2017

Herein we report on the cross-coupling reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with aryl halides using the well-defined tetrahedral Ni(I) complex, [(Triphos)NiICl] (Triphos = 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane). In the presence of 0.5 mol % [(Triphos)NiICl], good to excellent yields (75–97%) of the respective coupling products within a reaction time of only 2.5 h at room temperature were achieved. Likewise, the tripodal Ni(II)complexes [(κ2-Triphos)NiIICl2] and [(κ3-Triphos)NiIICl](X) (X = ClO4, BF4) were tested as potential pre-catalysts for the Kumada cross-coupling reaction. While the Ni(II) complexes also afford the coupling products in comparable yields, mechanistic investigations by UV/Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy indicate a Ni(I) intermediate as the catalytically active species in the Kumada cross-coupling reaction. Based on experimental findings and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a plausible Ni(I)-catalyzed reaction mechanism for the Kumada cross-coupling reaction is presented.
Synthesis of a Dichlorodigermasilane: Double Si–Cl Activation by a Ge=Ge Unit
Authors: Sugahara Tomohiro , Tokitoh Norihiro , Sasamori Takahiro
Published: November 2017

Halogenated oligosilanes and oligogermanes are interesting compounds in oligosilane chemistry from the viewpoint of silicon-based-materials. Herein, it was demonstrated that a 1,2-digermacyclobutadiene derivative could work as a bis-germylene building block towards double Si–Cl activation to give a halogenated oligometallane, a bis(chlorogermyl)dichlorosilane derivative.
Nitrogen (N) Mineral Nutrition and Imaging Sensors for Determining N Status and Requirements of Maize
Authors: Rhezali Abdelaziz , Lahlali Rachid
Published: November 2017

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most limiting factors for maize (Zea mays L.) production worldwide. Over-fertilization of N may decrease yields and increase NO3− contamination of water. However, low N fertilization will decrease yields. The objective is to optimize the use of N fertilizers, to excel in yields and preserve the environment. The knowledge of factors affecting the mobility of N in the soil is crucial to determine ways to manage N in the field. Researchers developed several methods to use N efficiently relying on agronomic practices, the use of sensors and the analysis of digital images. These imaging sensors determine N requirements in plants based on changes in Leaf chlorophyll and polyphenolics contents, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the Dark Green Color index (DGCI). Each method revealed limitations and the scope of future research is to draw N recommendations from the Dark Green Color Index (DGCI) technology. Results showed that more effort is needed to develop tools to benefit from DGCI.