bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KAJIAN STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN USAHA MIKRO KECIL DAN MENENGAH (UMKM) DI KOTA TARAKAN
Authors: Ariani Ariani , Utomo Mohamad Nur
Published: April 2020

This research aims to study the developmentand improvement strategy of competitiveness in facing competitive of free market ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015, at SMEs in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan. Analytical method used is descriptive approaches, which is identify the various problems faced by SMEs and analyze them by using SWOT analysis and strategies formula to solve the model. The population of respondents includes all SMEs in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan. Sample method applies purposive sampling. Result of research in the form of development strategy model and improvement of competitiveness SMEs in facing is competitive globalness. Based on internal and external analysis of SMEs in Tarakan City, it can be obtained that the primary strategy is a strategy of growth in which SMEs Tarakan City strengthened the strength of SMEs which is to preserve the quality of raw materials, the legality/permit products included in the qualifications, the highly competitive price and the improvement of human resource development in SMEs in Tarakan City.

 

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji strategi pengembangan dan peningkatan daya saing dalam menghadapi kompetitif pasar bebas ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015, pada UMKM di kota Tarakan, Kalimantan Utara. Penelitian ini menggunakan data primer dan data sekunder.Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah pendekatan deskriptif, yaitu melakukan identifikasi berkaitan dengan berbagai masalah yang dihadapi oleh UMKM dan menganalisisnya dengan menggunakan analisis SWOT kemudian merumuskan model strategi untuk mengatasinya. Populasi responden meliputi seluruh UMKM yang berada di kota Tarakan, Kalimantan Utara.Metode sampel menggunakan purposive sampling.Hasil penelitian berupa model strategi pengembangan dan peningkatan daya saing UMKM dalam menghadapi kompetitif global.Kalimantan Utara.Berdasarkan analisis internal daneksternal UMKM kotaTarakan dapat diperoleh bahwa yang menjadi strategi utama adalah strategi Growth (pertumbuhan) dimana UMKM kotaTarakan memanfaatkan seluruh kekuatan UMKM yaitu mempertahankan kualitas dari bahan baku, legalitas/ijin produk yang masuk dalam kualifikasi, harga yang tetap bersaing dan melakukan peningkatan SDM di dalam UMKM di kotaTarakan.
PERSEPSI KUALITAS DAN PERFORMA SISTEM APLIKASI AKUNTANSI MYOB
Authors: Kristanto Septian Bayu , Windyan Carlin
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study wants to examine the effect of System Quality (SysQua) to Service Quality (ServQua), System Quality (SysQua) to Work Performance (WorkPef), and Service Quality (ServQua) to Work Performance (WorkPef). The object in this research is MYOB accounting software. The data gathers with quesionnaires in 2 types, physicals (paper) and online (using Google form).  From 315 questionnaires distributed consisted of 194 respondents through online, and 116 respondents through paper form. All the questionnaires are returned. The obtained data were analyzed using structural equation modelling. The result of data analysis showed that the System Quality (SysQua) have positive significant effect on the Service Quality (ServQua), Service Quality (ServQua) have positive significant effect on Work Performance (WorkPef), and System Quality (SysQua) have positive significant effect on Work Performance (WorkPef). The overall result indicates that MYOB have a good quality and related to user performance. Specifically, the user refers to basic user, which is university student.

 

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji pengaruh hubungan System Quality (SysQua) terhadap Service Quality (ServQua), System Quality (SysQua) terhadap Work Performance (WorkPef) dan Service Quality (ServQua) terhadap Work Performance (WorkPef). Objek pada penelitian ini yaitu software akuntansi MYOB. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Perolehan data dengan kuesioner terdiri dari 2 tipe yaitu fisik (kertas) dan online (menggunakan Google form). Dari 315 kuesioner yang tersebar terdiri dari 194 responden melalui online dan 116 responden melalui kertas. Semua kuesioner telah kembali. Pengelolahan data menggunakan Structural Equation Model. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa System Quality (SysQua) berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap Service Quality (ServQua), Service Quality (ServQua) berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap Work Performance (WorkPef), dan System Quality (SysQua) berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap Work Performance (WorkPef). Hasil keseluruhan menunjukkan bahwa MYOB memiliki kualitas yang baik dan terkait dengan kinerja pengguna. Secara khusus, pengguna mengacu kepada pengguna tingkat dasar, yang merupakan mahasiswa.
Predictors Employee Performance In Indonesian Manufacturing Company Using Path Anlysis
Authors: Ekasari Agustina , Peranginangin Jasanta
Published: April 2020

This research aims to find path analysis that influencing emloyee performance in Indonesia manufacturing company. Design of this research is quantitative methode, There is 150 questionaires spreaded to manufacturing company. This research using multivariate anlysis with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The result of this paper will described the important factors to build employee performance in manufacturing company. This study will strengtened the previous research about employee performance in manufacturing company. This research finding provides conceptual framework job satisfaction and employee performance. there are six hypotheses developed in this study, there are Four accepted hypotheses and two rejected hypotheses. This research will contributed to the body of knowledge, particularly in human resource management science.
TRANSIVITY ON ELON MUSK’S ONLINE BIOGRAPHY:A SOCIAL ACTORS DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Authors: Prasetyoaji Anggihat
Published: April 2020

This research’s content is the analysis of biography texts about Elon Musk taken from four websites by combining SFL’s transitivity and Leeuwen’s social actor representation approach. The aims of this research are (1) to find the portrayal patterns of the social actor using social actor approach, (2) to find the linguistic evidences of the patterns using transitivity, (3) to explain the portrayal of the social actor based on the patterns found, and (4) to compare the results with the context and genre of biography. This research is categorized as a descriptive-qualitative research by using transitivity and Leeuwen’s social actor approach. Spradely’s method of domain, taxonomy, componential, and cultural context analysis is used to collect and analyze the data. The data sources for this research are four biography texts about Elon Musk taken from Britannica, BBC, Business Insider, and Investopedia. The research produced several results as follows: (1) various social actor representation patterns are used by the writer to convey their intention and stance in relation with the social actor, (2) the processes contained in the texts are identified by using transitivity, thus providing linguistic evidences, (3) representation patterns that are the most consistently occurring are: activation, passivation (subjection and beneficialization), determination, nomination, functionalisation, and instrumentalisation. These patterns can be deduced as the obligatory patterns in biography texts, and (4) the texts analyzed are relevant with the qualities of a biography text.
ANALYSIS OF STUDENT’S ABILITY IN IDENTIFYING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN MARIAH CAREY’S SONGS
Authors: Sembiring Viona BR
Published: April 2020

Figurative language is one way of conveying words other than the normal way. This helps song writers compose and produce beautiful songs. Figurative language is part of semantics. Semantic is the study of meaning that is used to understand human expression through language. With semantic we can know the true or actual meaning in a song. This study aims to find student’s ability in identifying kinds of figurative language and their meanings in lyrics of Mariah carey selected song. Descriptive qualitative method is the method used in this study. The instrument for collecting  the data was test questions which consisted  of 12 questions. In this research, the subject  was  11th grade class of  SMA Swasta  GKPI  Padang  Bulan which consisted  of  28 students. The result  of  data  analysis shows that the students  mean score  is 76,7 the highest score is 92, while the lowest score is 50. There were 4 student, (14,3%), belonged to the very good level and 21 students (75 %), belonged to the good level and there were 3 students, (10,7%), belonged to sufficient level.Kind of figurative language was found in Mariah Carey songs lyric are simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification. The dominant types of figurative language found in Mariah Carey song lyrics is metaphor.From an analysis ,the researcher concluded that most of the students of the second grade class of SMA Swasta GKPI Padang Bulan Medan got dificulties to different between metaphors and personifications in identifying figurative language in mariah carey’s songs lyrics.
Computer-Assisted Aircraft Anti-Icing Fluids Endurance Time Determination
Authors: Gagnon David , Brassard Jean-Denis , Ezzaidi Hassan , Volat Christophe
Published: April 2020

Deicing and anti-icing the aircraft using proper chemical fluids, prior takeoff, are mandatory. A thin layer of ice or snow can compromise the safety, causing lift loss and drag increase. Commercialized deicing and anti-icing fluids all pass a qualification process which is described in Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) documents. Most of them are endurance time tests under freezing and frozen contaminants, under simulated and natural conditions. They all have in common that the endurance times have to be determined by visual inspection. When a certain proportion of the test plate is covered with contaminants, the endurance time test is called. In the goal of minimizing human error resulting from visual inspection and helping in the interpretation of fluid failure, help-decision computer-assisted algorithms have been developed and tested under different conditions. The algorithms are based on common image processing techniques. The algorithms have been tested under three different icing conditions, water spray endurance test, indoor snow test and light freezing rain tests, and were compared to the times determined by three experimented technicians. A total of 14 tests have been compared. From them, 11 gave a result lower than 5% of the results given by the technicians. In conclusion, the computer-assisted algorithms developed are efficient enough to support the technicians in their failure call. However, further works need to be performed to improve the analysis.
Mechanisms of Resistance to NK Cell Immunotherapy
Authors: Sordo-Bahamonde Christian , Vitale Massimo , Lorenzo-Herrero Seila , López-Soto Alejandro , Gonzalez Segundo
Published: April 2020

Immunotherapy has recently been a major breakthrough in cancer treatment. Natural killer (NK) cells are suitable targets for immunotherapy owing to their potent cytotoxic activity that may target cancer cells in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and antigen-unrestricted manner. Current therapies targeting NK cells include monoclonal antibodies that promote NK cell antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the adoptive transfer of NK cells, the redirection of NK cells using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells and the use of cytokines and immunostimulatory drugs to boost the anti-tumor activity of NK cells. Despite some encouraging clinical results, patients receiving these therapies frequently develop resistance, and a myriad of mechanisms of resistance affecting both the immune system and cancer cells have been reported. A first contributing factor that modulates the efficacy of the NK cell therapy is the genetic profile of the individual, which regulates all aspects of NK cell biology. Additionally, the resistance of cancer cells to apoptosis and the immunoediting of cancer cells, a process that decreases their immunogenicity and promotes immunosuppression, are major determinants of the resistance to NK cell therapy. Consequently, the efficacy of NK cell anti-tumor therapy is specific to each patient and disease. The elucidation of such immunosubversive mechanisms is crucial to developing new procedures and therapeutic strategies to fully harness the anti-tumor potential of NK cells.
The Interplay of Dysregulated pH and Electrolyte Imbalance in Cancer
Authors: Alfarouk Khalid O. , Ahmed Samrein B. M. , Ahmed Ahmed , Elliott Robert L. , Ibrahim Muntaser E. , Ali Heyam S. , Wales Christian C. , Nourwali Ibrahim , Aljarbou Ahmed N. , Bashir Adil H. H. , Alhoufie Sari T. S. , Alqahtani Saad Saeed , Cardone Rosa A. , Fais Stefano , Harguindey Salvador , Reshkin Stephan J.
Published: April 2020

Cancer cells and tissues have an aberrant regulation of hydrogen ion dynamics driven by a combination of poor vascular perfusion, regional hypoxia, and increased the flux of carbons through fermentative glycolysis. This leads to extracellular acidosis and intracellular alkalinization. Dysregulated pH dynamics influence cancer cell biology, from cell transformation and tumorigenesis to proliferation, local growth, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, this dysregulated intracellular pH (pHi) drives a metabolic shift to increased aerobic glycolysis and reduced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, referred to as the Warburg effect, or Warburg metabolism, which is a selective feature of cancer. This metabolic reprogramming confers a thermodynamic advantage on cancer cells and tissues by protecting them against oxidative stress, enhancing their resistance to hypoxia, and allowing a rapid conversion of nutrients into biomass to enable cell proliferation. Indeed, most cancers have increased glucose uptake and lactic acid production. Furthermore, cancer cells have very dysregulated electrolyte balances, and in the interaction of the pH dynamics with electrolyte, dynamics is less well known. In this review, we highlight the interconnected roles of dysregulated pH dynamics and electrolytes imbalance in cancer initiation, progression, adaptation, and in determining the programming and reprogramming of tumor cell metabolism.
Transport Metabolons and Acid/Base Balance in Tumor Cells
Authors: Becker Holger M. , Deitmer Joachim W.
Published: April 2020

Solid tumors are metabolically highly active tissues, which produce large amounts of acid. The acid/base balance in tumor cells is regulated by the concerted interplay between a variety of membrane transporters and carbonic anhydrases (CAs), which cooperate to produce an alkaline intracellular, and an acidic extracellular, environment, in which cancer cells can outcompete their adjacent host cells. Many acid/base transporters form a structural and functional complex with CAs, coined “transport metabolon”. Transport metabolons with bicarbonate transporters require the binding of CA to the transporter and CA enzymatic activity. In cancer cells, these bicarbonate transport metabolons have been attributed a role in pH regulation and cell migration. Another type of transport metabolon is formed between CAs and monocarboxylate transporters, which mediate proton-coupled lactate transport across the cell membrane. In this complex, CAs function as “proton antenna” for the transporter, which mediate the rapid exchange of protons between the transporter and the surroundings. These transport metabolons do not require CA catalytic activity, and support the rapid efflux of lactate and protons from hypoxic cancer cells to allow sustained glycolytic activity and cell proliferation. Due to their prominent role in tumor acid/base regulation and metabolism, transport metabolons might be promising drug targets for new approaches in cancer therapy.
Drug Development Targeting the Ubiquitin–Proteasome System (UPS) for the Treatment of Human Cancers
Authors: Zhang Xiaonan , Linder Stig , Bazzaro Martina
Published: April 2020

Cancer cells are characterized by a higher rate of protein turnover and greater demand for protein homeostasis compared to normal cells. In this scenario, the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS), which is responsible for the degradation of over 80% of cellular proteins within mammalian cells, becomes vital to cancer cells, making the UPS a critical target for the discovery of novel cancer therapeutics. This review systematically categorizes all current reported small molecule inhibitors of the various essential components of the UPS, including ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1s), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), ubiquitin ligases (E3s), the 20S proteasome catalytic core particle (20S CP) and the 19S proteasome regulatory particles (19S RP), as well as their mechanism/s of action and limitations. We also discuss the immunoproteasome which is considered as a prospective therapeutic target of the next generation of proteasome inhibitors in cancer therapies.
Representational Rényi Heterogeneity
Authors: Nunes Abraham , Alda Martin , Bardouille Timothy , Trappenberg Thomas
Published: April 2020

A discrete system’s heterogeneity is measured by the Rényi heterogeneity family of indices (also known as Hill numbers or Hannah–Kay indices), whose units are the numbers equivalent. Unfortunately, numbers equivalent heterogeneity measures for non-categorical data require a priori (A) categorical partitioning and (B) pairwise distance measurement on the observable data space, thereby precluding application to problems with ill-defined categories or where semantically relevant features must be learned as abstractions from some data. We thus introduce representational Rényi heterogeneity (RRH), which transforms an observable domain onto a latent space upon which the Rényi heterogeneity is both tractable and semantically relevant. This method requires neither a priori binning nor definition of a distance function on the observable space. We show that RRH can generalize existing biodiversity and economic equality indices. Compared with existing indices on a beta-mixture distribution, we show that RRH responds more appropriately to changes in mixture component separation and weighting. Finally, we demonstrate the measurement of RRH in a set of natural images, with respect to abstract representations learned by a deep neural network. The RRH approach will further enable heterogeneity measurement in disciplines whose data do not easily conform to the assumptions of existing indices.
Research on Modeling of a Micro Variable-Pitch Turboprop Engine Based on Rig Test Data
Authors: Zhao Xiaochun , Huang Xianghua , Xia Tianqian
Published: April 2020

Exact component characteristics are required for establishing an accurate component level aeroengine model. When component characteristics is lacking, the dynamic coefficient method based on test data, is suitable for establishing a single-input and single-output aeroengine model. When it is applied to build multiple-input, multiple-output aeroengine models, some parameters are assumed to be unchanged, which causes large error. An improved modeling method based on rig data is proposed to establish a double-input, double-output model for a micro variable-pitch turboprop engine. The input variables are fuel flow and pitch angle, and the output variables are rotational speeds of the core engine and the propeller. First, in order to gather modeling data, a test bench is designed and rig tests are carried out. Then, two conclusions are obtained by analyzing the rig data, based on which, the power turbine output is taken as the function of the core speed and the propeller speed. The established model has the property that the input variables can vary arbitrarily within the defined domain, without any restriction to the output variables. Simulation results showed that the model has a high dynamic and steady-state accuracy. The maximum error was less than 8%. The real-time performance was greatly improved, compared to the component level model.
The Influence of Internal Heat Exchanger on the Performance of Transcritical CO2 Water Source Heat Pump Water Heater
Authors: Feng Fan , Zhang Ze , Liu Xiufang , Liu Changhai , Hou Yu
Published: April 2020

The characteristics of the transcritical CO2 heat pump water heater (HPWH) system are; a lower inlet hot water temperature (Ti-hw) (sometimes this is lower than the water source temperature), and an outlet gas cooler temperature (To-gc) which is affected by the Ti-hw and often lower than the critical temperature. In order to study the effects of the internal heat exchanger (IHX) on the operational performance of the transcritical CO2 HPWH when To-gc is low, a transcritical CO2 water source HPWH experiment platform is established to conduct experimental research and comparative analysis on the operational performance of the transcritical CO2 water source HPWH, with or without IHX. It is found that, if only the coefficient of performance (COP) and heating at the optimal exhaust pressure of the transcritical CO2 water source HPWH were considered, COP and the heating of the non-IHX system would be slightly higher than those of the IHX system at the lower hot water flow and water source temperature, and this increase was not obvious. At the higher hot water flow rate and water source temperature, COP and the heating of the non-IHX system were also higher than those of the IHX system, and the increase was obvious. The experiment results showed that, near the optimal exhaust pressure, the variation range of COP and heating of the IHX system is relatively small, and the system has a relatively high stability.
Stakeholders’ Views on Multimodal Urban Mobility Futures: A Matter of Policy Interventions or Just the Logical Result of Digitalization?
Authors: Schippl Jens , Arnold Annika
Published: April 2020

It is widely acknowledged that strategies to decarbonize energy systems cannot omit the mobility sector. For several decades, particularly in urban areas, a shift from car-based mobility to more environmental-friendly modes has been high on political agendas. Progress has been made in many urban areas, but so far only in small, rather incremental steps. The dominance of the car has remained largely stable in urban transport. For some time now, many experts have argued that processes of digitalization will co-evolve with societal trends and lead to multimodal urban mobility regimes in which private car usage will lose its dominance. In this paper, we examine if stakeholders active in the field believe that, despite digitalization, policy interventions are essential to achieve such a transition. The analysis draws on concepts from transition research and is based on 10 semi-structured interviews with providers of innovative mobility services that may contribute to more multimodal urban mobility systems. Geographical focus is on the City of Stuttgart (Germany). Results indicate broad agreement amongst the interviewees that digitalization alone is not sufficient for achieving a full-scale transition towards multimodal urban mobility. Policy measures that restrict car-based mobility would also be needed. However, many of the interviewed actors doubt that the essential policy mixes will find the necessary political and societal acceptance. Finally, the paper indicates ways to overcome this dilemma.
“JUMPing into Diabetes Control”: A Group-Setting Self-Empowerment Lifestyle Intervention among Diabetes Patients
Authors: Henry Sheena , Shi Lu , Alexander Virginia , O’Neal Richard , Carey Stephen , Spitler Hugh D. , Leonard Deborah , Chastain Gail , Hassan Lauren , Jindal Meenu
Published: April 2020

We examined the impact of a group-based self-empowerment intervention among diabetes patients, which uses multidisciplinary education, collaborative learning, peer support, and development of diabetes-specific social capital to improve glycemic control and weight management. Thirty-five patients who had primary care established at the Prisma Health Upstate, Internal Medicine Resident clinic and held the diagnosis of diabetes for longer than one year were recruited for our single-arm pilot intervention. Each group intervention session involved one to two internal medicine resident physician facilitators, a clinical diabetic educator, and 5–10 patients. Each session had a framework facilitated by the resident, with most of the discussion being patient-led, aiming to provide a collaborative learning environment and create a support group atmosphere to encourage self-empowerment. Patients’ hemoglobin A1c level and body mass index (BMI) before the intervention and 3 to 6 months after completion were collected from the laboratory results obtained in the participants’ routine clinic visits. All graduates from this three-week intervention were invited to attend monthly maintenance sessions, and we tracked the HgbA1c measures of 29 JUMP graduates one year after the intervention, even though 13 of the 29 chose not to participate in the monthly maintenance sessions. The pre-intervention HgbA1c level averaged 8.84%, whereas the post-intervention HgbA1c level averaged 7.81%. A paired t test showed that this pre–post difference of 1.03 percentage points was statistically significant (p = 0.0007). For BMI, there was an average decline of 0.78 from the pre-intervention mean value of 40.56 to the post-intervention mean value of 39.78 (p = 0.03). Among the 29 participants who agreed to participate in our follow-up measure of their HgbA1c status one year after the intervention, a paired t test showed that there was no significant difference between the post-JUMP measure and the follow-up measure (p = 0.808). There was no statistically significant difference between the HgbA1c level of those participating in the maintenance program and that of those not participating (post-intervention t test of between-group difference: p = 0.271; follow-up t test of between-group difference: p = 0.457). Our single-arm, pilot study of the three-week group intervention of self-empowerment shows promising results in glycemic control and weight loss. The short duration and small number of sessions expected could make it more feasible for implementation and dissemination as compared with popular intervention protocols that require much longer periods of attendance, if the effectiveness of this patient group-based self-empowerment approach can be further established by randomized controlled studies in the future.
Container Type and Substrate Affect Root Zone Temperature and Growth of ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae
Authors: Witcher Anthony L. , Pickens Jeremy M. , Blythe Eugene K.
Published: April 2020

Root zone temperature (RZT) in nursery containers commonly exceeds ambient temperature during the growing season, negatively impacting crop growth and quality. Black nursery containers absorb radiant heat resulting in excessive RZT, yet other types of containers and different substrates can moderate RZT. We conducted studies in Tennessee and Alabama to evaluate the effects of container type and substrate on RZT and growth of ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii × plicata ‘Green Giant’). Trade gallon arborvitae were transplanted into black, white, or air pruning containers filled with pine bark (PB) or 4 PB: 1 peatmoss (v:v) (PB:PM). Plants grown in PB:PM were larger and had greater shoot and root biomass than plants grown in PB, likely due to increased volumetric water content. Plant growth response to container type varied by location, but white containers with PB:PM produced larger plants and greater biomass compared with the other container types. Root zone temperature was greatest in black containers and remained above 38 °C and 46 °C for 15% and 17% longer than white and air pruning containers, respectively. Utilizing light color containers in combination with substrates containing peatmoss can reduce RZT and increase substrate moisture content thus improving crop growth and quality.
Can the Performance Gap between Women and Men be Reduced in Ultra-Cycling?
Authors: Baumgartner Sabrina , Sousa Caio Victor , Nikolaidis Pantelis T. , Knechtle Beat
Published: April 2020

This study examined a large dataset of ultra-cycling race results to investigate the sex difference in ultra-cycling performance (100 to 500 miles) according to age and race distance. Data from the time period 1996–2018 were obtained from online available database of the ultra-cycling marathon association (UMCA), including distance-limited ultra-cycling races (100, 200, 400, and 500 miles). A total of 12,716 race results were analyzed to compare the performance between men and women by calendar year, age group (18–34, 35–44, 45–59, and 60+ years), and race distance. Men were faster than women in 100 and 200 mile races, but no sex differences were identified for the 400 and 500 mile races. The performance ratio (average cycling speedmen/average cycling speedwomen) was smaller in the 200 mile races compared to the 100 mile races and remained stable in the 400 and 500 mile races. In all race distances, the difference in average cycling speed between women and men decreased with increasing age. The gender gap in performance was closed in several distance-limited ultra-cycling races, such as the 400 and 500 mile races.
Evaluation of a Community-Led Intervention in South London: How Much Standardization Is Possible?
Authors: Bolton Derek , Khazaezadeh Nina , Carr Ewan , Bolton Matthew , Platsa Eirini , Moore-Shelley Imogen , Luderowski Ana , Demilew Jill , Brown June
Published: April 2020

It is widely recognized that public health interventions benefit from community engagement and leadership, yet there are challenges to evaluating complex, community-led interventions assuming hierarchies of evidence derived from laboratory experimentation and clinical trials. Particular challenges include, first, the inconsistency of the intervention across sites and, second, the absence of researcher control over the sampling frame and methodology. This report highlights these challenges as they played out in the evaluation of a community-organized health project in South London. The project aimed to benefit maternal mental health, health literacy, and social capital, and especially to engage local populations known to have reduced contact with statutory services. We evaluated the project using two studies with different designs, sampling frames, and methodologies. In one, the sampling frame and methodology were under community control, permitting a comparison of change in outcomes before and after participation in the project. In the other, the sampling frame and methodology were under researcher control, permitting a case-control design. The two evaluations led to different results, however: participants in the community-controlled study showed benefits, while participants in the researcher-controlled study did not. The principal conclusions are that while there are severe challenges to evaluating a community-led health intervention using a controlled design, the measurement of pre-/post-participation changes in well-defined health outcomes should typically be a minimum evaluation requirement, and confidence in attributing causation of any positive changes to participation can be increased by use of interventions in the project and in the engagement process itself that have a credible theoretical and empirical basis.
The Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Yun-A , Cho Yoon Jeong , Kwak Sang Gyu
Published: April 2020

The association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with functional dyspepsia has been well studied. However, the data on the relationship between H. pylori infection and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are conflicting. This study aims to elucidate the association between H. pylori infection and IBS. PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and SCOPUS databases were searched to identify eligible English articles published up to December 2019. Cross-sectional studies, case–control studies and cohort studies reporting both prevalence of H. pylori infection and IBS were selected for the detailed review. The pooled odds ratio (ORs) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of 7269 individuals in four cross-sectional studies and six case-control studies were included. The prevalence of H. pylori infection ranged from 12.8% to 73.4% in the control group, and 9.7% to 72.1% in the IBS group. The combined OR for H. pylori infection was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93–1.29, I2: 37.5%). In a subgroup analysis of IBS defined according to Rome criteria, the OR for H. pylori infection was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93–1.30, I2 = 31.7%). In this meta-analysis, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with IBS. Well-designed studies are needed to identify the relationship between H. pylori infection and IBS.
The Preventive Effect of Lactoferrin-Containing Yogurt on Gastroenteritis in Nursery School Children—Intervention Study for 15 Weeks
Authors: Tsukahara Teruomi , Fujimori Anri , Misawa Yuka , Oda Hirotsugu , Yamauchi Koji , Abe Fumiaki , Nomiyama Tetsuo
Published: April 2020

To evaluate the effects of bovine lactoferrin (LF)-containing yogurt on gastroenteritis in nursery school children during the winter season, we conducted a randomized prospective study. A total of 1296 children were randomized into a group in which LF was provided in yogurt (LF group, n = 661) and a non-LF consumption group (control group, n = 635). The LF group was given LF-containing yogurt (100 mg/day) on all 5 weekdays for approximately 15 weeks, and the control group consumed fruit jelly instead of the yogurt. The final totals of 578 children as the LF group and 584 as the control group were analyzed. The total number of children who were absent from school due to vomiting was significantly lower in the LF group compared to the control, accounting for ≥3 days in any week: 10/234 (4.3%) vs. 49/584 (8.4%), respectively; p = 0.04. Regarding the relationship between absences due to vomiting and the consumption of the LF-containing yogurt, the adjusted odds ratio for absence due to vomiting was 2.48 (95% CI: 1.19–5.14) in the LF children who consumed LF-containing yogurt ≤2 days/week compared to the LF children who consumed the yogurt ≥ 3 days/week. The consumption of LF-containing yogurt (100 mg/day) for ≥3 days/week might help alleviate the symptom of vomiting in nursery school children during the winter.
Long Term Risks to Neonatal Health from Exposure to War—9 Years Long Survey of Reproductive Health and Contamination by Weapon-Delivered Heavy Metals in Gaza, Palestine
Authors: Manduca Paola , Al Baraquni Nabil , Parodi Stefano
Published: April 2020

Introduction: High levels of environmental contaminants with long term effects and teratogenic and carcinogenic potential, such as heavy metals, were introduced by weaponry in war areas in the last decades. Poorer reproductive health and increases in non-communicable diseases were reported after wars and are the suspected long term effects of contamination by stable war remnants. Although potentially affecting millions of people, this is still an understudied issue of public health. Background: Gaza, Palestine since 2006 has been an object of repeated severe military attacks that left heavy metals remnants in the environment, in wound tissues and that were assumed by the population. Retrospective studies showed a progressive increase in birth defects since the 2006 attacks. In 2011 we started surveillance at birth alongside analysis of the heavy metals load carried by pregnant women and their babies. Methods: We used protocols for birth registration which also document the extent of exposures to attacks, war remnants and to other environmental risks that allow comparison of 3 data sets—2011, 2016 and 2018–2019 (4000–6000 women in each set). By ICP/MS analysis we determined the content of 23 metals in mothers’ hair. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed. Results: Comparison of data in birth registers showed a major increase in the prevalence in birth defects and preterm babies between 2011 and 2016, respectively from 1.1 to 1.8% and from 1.1 to 7.9%, values remaining stable in 2019. Negative outcomes at birth in 2016 up to 2019 were associated with exposure of the mothers to the attacks in 2014 and/or to hot spots of heavy metals contamination. Metal loads since the attacks in 2014 were consistently high until 2018–2019 for barium, arsenic, cobalt, cadmium, chrome, vanadium and uranium, pointing to these metals as potential inducers for the increased prevalence of negative health outcomes at birth since 2016. Conclusions: Bodily accumulation of metals following exposure whilst residing in attacked buildings predispose women to negative birth outcomes. We do not know if the metals act in synergy. Trial for mitigation of the documented negative effects of high metal load on reproductive health, and ensuing perinatal deaths, could now be done in Gaza, based on this documentary record. High load of heavy metals may explain recent increases in non-communicable diseases and cancers at all ages in Gaza. Modern war’s legacy of diseases and deaths extends in time to populations and demands monitoring.
Internet-Related Addictions: From Measurements to Interventions
Authors: Mo Phoenix K. H. , Chen Juliet Honglei , Lau Joseph T. F. , Wu Anise M. S.
Published: April 2020

Ever since the invention of the World Wide Web in 1989 [...]
Effects of Particulate Matter on the Incidence of Respiratory Diseases in the Pisan Longitudinal Study
Authors: Fasola Salvatore , Maio Sara , Baldacci Sandra , La Grutta Stefania , Ferrante Giuliana , Forastiere Francesco , Stafoggia Massimo , Gariazzo Claudio , Viegi Giovanni ,   on behalf of the BEEP Collaborative Group
Published: April 2020

The current study aimed at assessing the effects of exposure to Particulate Matter (PM) on the incidence of respiratory diseases in a sub-sample of participants in the longitudinal analytical epidemiological study in Pisa, Italy. Three hundred and five subjects living at the same address from 1991 to 2011 were included. Individual risk factors recorded during the 1991 survey were considered, and new cases of respiratory diseases were ascertained until 2011. Average PM10 and PM2.5 exposures (µg/m3, year 2011) were estimated at the residential address (1-km2 resolution) through a random forest machine learning approach, using a combination of satellite data and land use variables. Multivariable logistic regression with Firth’s correction was applied. The median (25th–75th percentile) exposure levels were 30.1 µg/m3 (29.9–30.7 µg/m3) for PM10 and 19.3 µg/m3 (18.9–19.4 µg/m3) for PM2.5. Incidences of rhinitis and chronic phlegm were associated with increasing PM2.5: OR = 2.25 (95% CI: 1.07, 4.98) per unit increase (p.u.i.) and OR = 4.17 (1.12, 18.71) p.u.i., respectively. Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with PM10: OR = 2.96 (1.50, 7.15) p.u.i. These results provide new insights into the long-term respiratory health effects of PM air pollution.
Developmental Exposure to the Flame Retardant Mixture Firemaster 550 Compromises Adult Bone Integrity in Male but not Female Rats
Authors: Macari Soraia , Rock Kylie D. , Santos Mariana S. , Lima Virgínia T. M. , Szawka Raphael E. , Moss Jamal , Horman Brian , Patisaul Heather B.
Published: April 2020

Flame retardants (FRs) are used in a variety of common items from furniture to carpet to electronics to reduce flammability and combustion, but the potential toxicity of these compounds is raising health concerns globally. Organophosphate FRs (OPFRs) are becoming more prevalent as older, brominated FRs are phased out, but the toxicity of these compounds, and the FR mixtures that contain them, is poorly understood. Work in a variety of in vitro model systems has suggested that FRs may induce metabolic reprogramming such that bone density is compromised at the expense of increasing adiposity. To address this hypothesis, the present studies maternally exposed Wistar rat dams orally across gestation and lactation to 1000 µg daily of the FR mixture Firemaster 550 (FM 550) which contains a mixture of brominated FRs and OPFRs. At six months of age, the offspring of both sexes were examined for evidence of compromised bone composition. Bone density, composition, and marrow were all significantly affected, but only in males. The fact that the phenotype was observed months after exposure suggests that FM 550 altered some fundamental aspect of mesenchymal stem cell reprogramming. The severity of the phenotype and the human-relevance of the dose employed, affirm this is an adverse outcome meriting further exploration.
Pharmacological Inhibition and Activation of the Ca2+ Activated Cl− Channel TMEM16A
Authors: Centeio Raquel , Cabrita Inês , Benedetto Roberta , Talbi Khaoula , Ousingsawat Jiraporn , Schreiber Rainer , Sullivan John K. , Kunzelmann Karl
Published: April 2020

TMEM16A is a Ca2+ activated Cl− channel with important functions in airways, intestine, and other epithelial organs. Activation of TMEM16A is proposed as a therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) to reinstall airway Cl− secretion and to enhance airway surface liquid (ASL). This CFTR-agnostic approach is thought to improve mucociliary clearance and lung function in CF. This could indeed improve ASL, however, mucus release and airway contraction may also be induced by activators of TMEM16A, particularly in inflamed airways of patients with asthma, COPD, or CF. Currently, both activators and inhibitors of TMEM16A are developed and examined in different types of tissues. Here we compare activation and inhibition of endogenous and overexpressed TMEM16A and analyze potential off-target effects. The three well-known blockers benzbromarone, niclosamide, and Ani9 inhibited both TMEM16A and ATP-induced Ca2+ increase by variable degrees, depending on the cell type. Niclosamide, while blocking Ca2+ activated TMEM16A, also induced a subtle but significant Ca2+ store release and inhibited store-operated Ca2+ influx. Niclosamide, benzbromarone and Ani9 also affected TMEM16F whole cell currents, indicating limited specificity for these inhibitors. The compounds Eact, cinnamaldehyde, and melittin, as well as the phosphatidylinositol diC8-PIP2 are the reported activators of TMEM16A. However, the compounds were unable to activate endogenous TMEM16A in HT29 colonic epithelial cells. In contrast, TMEM16A overexpressed in HEK293 cells was potently stimulated by these activators. We speculate that overexpressed TMEM16A might have a better accessibility to intracellular Ca2+, which causes spontaneous activity even at basal intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Small molecules may therefore potentiate pre-stimulated TMEM16A currents, but may otherwise fail to activate silent endogenous TMEM16A.
Role of Somatostatin in the Regulation of Central and Peripheral Factors of Satiety and Obesity
Authors: Kumar Ujendra , Singh Sneha
Published: April 2020

Obesity is one of the major social and health problems globally and often associated with various other pathological conditions. In addition to unregulated eating behaviour, circulating peptide-mediated hormonal secretion and signaling pathways play a critical role in food intake induced obesity. Amongst the many peptides involved in the regulation of food-seeking behaviour, somatostatin (SST) is the one which plays a determinant role in the complex process of appetite. SST is involved in the regulation of release and secretion of other peptides, neuronal integrity, and hormonal regulation. Based on past and recent studies, SST might serve as a bridge between central and peripheral tissues with a significant impact on obesity-associated with food intake behaviour and energy expenditure. Here, we present a comprehensive review describing the role of SST in the modulation of multiple central and peripheral signaling molecules. In addition, we highlight recent progress and contribution of SST and its receptors in food-seeking behaviour, obesity (orexigenic), and satiety (anorexigenic) associated pathways and mechanism.
Sublethal Radiation Affects Antigen Processing and Presentation Genes to Enhance Immunogenicity of Cancer Cells
Authors: Punnanitinont Achamaporn , Kannisto Eric D. , Matsuzaki Junko , Odunsi Kunle , Yendamuri Sai , Singh Anurag K. , Patnaik Santosh K.
Published: April 2020

While immunotherapy in cancer is designed to stimulate effector T cell response, tumor-associated antigens have to be presented on malignant cells at a sufficient level for recognition of cancer by T cells. Recent studies suggest that radiotherapy enhances the anti-cancer immune response and also improves the efficacy of immunotherapy. To understand the molecular basis of such observations, we examined the effect of ionizing X-rays on tumor antigens and their presentation in a set of nine human cell lines representing cancers of the esophagus, lung, and head and neck. A single dose of 7.5 or 15 Gy radiation enhanced the New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) tumor-antigen-mediated recognition of cancer cells by NY-ESO-1-specific CD8+ T cells. Irradiation led to significant enlargement of live cells after four days, and microscopy and flow cytometry revealed multinucleation and polyploidy in the cells because of dysregulated mitosis, which was also revealed in RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome profiles of cells. Transcriptome analyses also showed that while radiation had no universal effect on genes encoding tumor antigens, it upregulated the expression of numerous genes involved in antigen processing and presentation pathways in all cell lines. This effect may explain the immunostimulatory role of cancer radiotherapy.
Approximation of Finite Hilbert and Hadamard Transforms by Using Equally Spaced Nodes
Authors: Filbir Frank , Occorsio Donatella , Themistoclakis Woula
Published: April 2020

In the present paper, we propose a numerical method for the simultaneous approximation of the finite Hilbert and Hadamard transforms of a given function f, supposing to know only the samples of f at equidistant points. As reference interval we consider [ − 1 , 1 ] and as approximation tool we use iterated Boolean sums of Bernstein polynomials, also known as generalized Bernstein polynomials. Pointwise estimates of the errors are proved, and some numerical tests are given to show the performance of the procedures and the theoretical results.
Lung X-ray Segmentation using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks on Contrast-Enhanced Binarized Images
Authors: Chen Hsin-Jui , Ruan Shanq-Jang , Huang Sha-Wo , Peng Yan-Tsung
Published: April 2020

Automatically locating the lung regions effectively and efficiently in digital chest X-ray (CXR) images is important in computer-aided diagnosis. In this paper, we propose an adaptive pre-processing approach for segmenting the lung regions from CXR images using convolutional neural networks-based (CNN-based) architectures. It is comprised of three steps. First, a contrast enhancement method specifically designed for CXR images is adopted. Second, adaptive image binarization is applied to CXR images to separate the image foreground and background. Third, CNN-based architectures are trained on the binarized images for image segmentation. The experimental results show that the proposed pre-processing approach is applicable and effective to various CNN-based architectures and can achieve comparable segmentation accuracy to that of state-of-the-art methods while greatly expediting the model training by up to 20.74 % and reducing storage space for CRX image datasets by down to 94.6 % on average.
Social Bacteriophages
Authors: Domingo-Calap Pilar , Mora-Quilis Lucas , Sanjuán Rafael
Published: April 2020

Despite their simplicity, viruses can display social-like interactions such as cooperation, communication, and cheating. Focusing on bacteriophages, here we review features including viral product sharing, cooperative evasion of antiviral defenses, prudent host exploitation, superinfection exclusion, and inter-phage peptide-mediated signaling. We argue that, in order to achieve a better understanding of these processes, their mechanisms of action need to be considered in the context of social evolution theory, paying special attention to key population-level factors such as genetic relatedness and spatial structure.