bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oil Content and Fatty Acid Components of Oilseed Flax under Different Environments in China
Authors: Zhang Jianping , Xie Yaping , Dang Zhao , Wang Limin , Li Wenjuan , Zhao Wei , Zhao Li , Dang Zhanhai
Published: November 2015

The oil content and fatty acid compositions of 12 oilseed flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes (G), selected from 500 G, with high linolenic acid (LIN), were grown under six ecological environments (E) in China. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replications. The oil content ranged from 36.71 to 41.93% with a mean value of 39.37%. The genotype FX‐16 (41.93%) had the highest oil content. Among all stations, Zhangbei Research Station had the highest oil content (41.32%). Zhangya 2 had the highest LIN (55.33%), which was followed by STS (51.85%) and TY‐58 (51.20%). Zhangbei Research Station had the highest LIN (55.16%) followed by Yili Research Station (53.43%). The oil content was positively correlated with linoleic acid (LIO) and LIN, whereas it was negatively associated with palmitic (PAL), stearic (STE), and oleic (OLE) acid. Palmitic acid was negatively correlated with LIO and LIN. These results suggested that E factors (i.e., combinations of diurnal temperature fluctuations, sunshine duration, illumination intensity, rainfall, wind, humidity) strongly influenced the fatty acid composition of different G of oilseed flax. There is a strong G × E interaction for the fatty acid composition.
Pharma Emerging Market’s Scaning by Look and Feel of its Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Kumar Parveen , Tripathy Swagat , Dureja Harish
Published: November 2015

Background:

By 2020, the pharmaceutical business is expected to be more than two folds i.e. US$ 1.3 trillion, in the E7 nations - Brazil, India, China, Mexico, Indonesia, Russia and Turkey - book keeping around for one fifth of worldwide pharmaceutical sales. The paradigm is shifting from developed markets such as the United States and Western Europe to evolving markets such as Brazil, India, China, Mexico, Indonesia, Russia and Turkey. The reasons include growth patterns in developed markets that tend to flatten due to patent expiry, stringent expectation of regulatory authority. Also, high gross domestic product growth rate, large population, high per capita income, high median age population, growing health care needs of the large middle class aging population, emerging health care and insurance sector, etc. are fascinating growth aspects of emerging markets.

Objective:

The present paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with Pharmerging markets.

Conclusion:

The emerging markets promises for profitability, a broad range of variability is observed in drug development, regulatory filing, handling deficiency, managing post approval changes, intellectual property right issues, phase lag, rudimentary healthcare system, lack of infrastructure and markets vulnerable to policy change with regard to marketing are observed. So, it’s obvious that, there can be no “one-strategy for all” approach for emerging markets.
The Smallest Available Estradiol Transdermal Patch: A New Treatment Option for the Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
Authors: Bertonazzi Abigail , Nelson Bridgette , Salvador Jamie , Umland Elena
Published: November 2015

Minivelle® (Noven Therapeutics, LLC, FL, USA) is an estradiol transdermal delivery system that has recently been approved in the USA for prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The decline in estrogen during menopause leads to bone resorption, increasing the risk of fractures. Transdermal estradiol has been shown to increase bone mineral density. Safety studies of transdermal estradiol have shown a decreased risk in cardiovascular disease as compared with oral estrogen therapy. Minivelle is currently the smallest available transdermal estradiol patch, providing the lowest effective dose of estrogen.
Cytotoxic, antimigratory, pro-and antioxidative activities of extracts from medicinal mushrooms on colon cancer cell lines
Authors: Seklic Dragana , Stankovic Milan , Milutinovic Milena , Topuzovic Marina , Stajn Andras , Markovic Snezana
Published: November 2015

Methanol extracts of five commercially available mushroom species (Phellinus
linteus (Berk. et Curt) Teng, Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc., Lentinus
edodes (Berk.) Pegler, Coprinus comatus (O. F. M?ll.) Pers. and Ganoderma
lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst), traditionally used as anticancer agents, were
evaluated in vitro for their total phenol and flavonoid contents, cytotoxic
and antimigratory activities and antioxidant/prooxidant effects on colon
cancer cell lines (HCT-116 and SW-480). Spectrophotometric methods were used
for the determination of total phenol content, flavonoid concentrations and
DPPH activity of the extracts. Cytotoxic activity was measured by the MTT
assay. The antimigratory activity of extracts was determined using the
Transwell assay and immunofluorescence staining of ?-catenin. The
prooxidant/antioxidant status was followed by measuring the superoxide anion
radical (O2?-), nitrite and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations. Our
results show that the highest phenolic and flavonoid content was found in P.
linteus, and its DPPH-scavenging capacity was significantly higher than in
other samples. The P. linteus extract significantly decreased cell viability
of both tested cancer cell lines. All other extracts selectively inhibited
SW-480 cell viability, but did not show significant cytotoxic activity. The
mushroom extracts caused changes in the prooxidant/antioxidant status of
cells, inducing oxidative stress. All extracts tested on HCT-116 cells
demonstrated significant antimigratory effects, which correlated with
increased production of O2?- and a reduced level of ?-catenin protein
expression, while only P. linteus showed the same effect on SW-480 cells. The
results of the present research indicate that the mushroom extracts causes
oxidative stress which has a pronounced impact on the migratory status of
colon cancer cell lines.
Comparison of limb loading and movement of Icelandic horses while tölting and trotting at equal speeds
Authors: Waldern Nina M. , Wiestner Thomas , Ramseier Lea C. , Weishaupt Michael A.
Published: November 2015

OBJECTIVE To compare gait mechanics and limb loading in Icelandic horses tölting and trotting at equal speeds and estimate their impact on orthopedic health.

ANIMALS 12 orthopedically normal Icelandic horses.

PROCEDURES Kinetic and kinematic gait variables were simultaneously recorded as each horse was ridden at a tölt and trot on an instrumented treadmill at 3.4 m/s and 3.9 m/s. Differences between gaits were tested via 1-factor repeated-measures ANOVA.

RESULTS Horses had a higher stride rate and lower stride impulses at a tölt than at a trot. For forelimbs at a tölt, shorter relative stance duration resulted in higher peak vertical force (Fzpeak). Conversely, for hind limbs, longer relative stance duration resulted in lower Fzpeak. The higher head-neck position at a tölt versus trot caused no weight shift to the hind limbs, but a higher forehoof flight arc and lower proretraction movement were identified. Stance durations for forelimbs were briefer than for hind limbs at a tölt, and the inverse was observed at a trot. Minimal height of the horse's trunk at the point of Fzpeak of the respective limb suggested a spring-like mechanism for all limbs at a tölt. Hind limb measurements revealed no evidence of increased collection. Stride-to-stride limb timing varied more at a tölt than at a trot. At a trot, horses had brief or no suspension phases and a slightly 4-beated footfall rhythm was common. Post hoc energetic estimations revealed that tölting at the measured speeds was less advantageous than trotting.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE High forelimb action in Icelandic horses and higher head-neck position at a tölt were associated with more restricted limb proretraction, higher Fzpeak, and faster force onset than at a trot. The impact of these differences on orthopedic health needs to be investigated more in detail.
Effects of high doses of enalapril and benazepril on the pharmacologically activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in clinically normal dogs
Authors: Ames Marisa K. , Atkins Clarke E. , Lee Seunggon , Lantis Andrea C. , zumBrunnen James R.
Published: November 2015

OBJECTIVE To determine whether high doses of enalapril and benazepril would be more effective than standard doses of these drugs in suppressing the furosemide-activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).

ANIMALS 6 healthy Beagles.

PROCEDURES 2 experiments were conducted; each lasted 10 days, separated by a 2-week washout period. In experiment 1, all dogs received furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) and enalapril (1 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) for 8 days (days 0 through 7). In experiment 2, dogs received furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) and benazepril (1 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) for 8 days. Effects on the RAAS were determined by assessing serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity on days −1, 3, and 7; serum aldosterone concentration on days −2, −1, 1, 3, and 7; and the urinary aldosterone-creatinine ratio (UAldo:C) in urine collected in the morning and evening of days −2, −1, 1, 3, and 7.

RESULTS High doses of enalapril and benazepril caused significant reductions in serum ACE activity on all days but were not more effective than standard doses used in other studies. Mean UAldo:C remained significantly higher on days 2 through 7, compared with baseline values. Serum aldosterone concentration also increased after drug administration, which mirrored changes in the UAldo:C.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, administration of high doses of enalapril and benazepril significantly inhibited ACE activity, yet did not prevent increases in mean urine and serum aldosterone concentrations resulting from furosemide activation of RAAS. This suggested that aldosterone breakthrough from ACE inhibition was a dose-independent effect of ACE inhibitors.
Applying ‘mixed methods’ in the study of tourist behaviours in the city – an example of conceptualization and application (discursive article)
Authors: Kotus Jacek , Rzeszewski Michał
Published: November 2015

This article fits into the category of a conceptual-discursive article. Its aim is to discuss the application of ‘mixed methods’ in research concerning tourist behaviours, especially in the city. The article consists of a part presenting a set of methods used to study such behaviours and a part discussing the results concerning the application of a proposed research procedure algorithm. The authors take a behavioural approach and propose using a quasi-experimental method combined with techniques of mobility monitoring (GPS), and the qualitative methods used in sociological research. The article presents a discussion concerning ‘mixed methods’, discusses a proposed algorithm of research procedure and presents conclusions following the joint application of these methods.
First Record of Themira Nigricornis (Meigen, 1826) (Sepsidae: Diptera) in Romania/ Prima semnalare a speciei Themira Nigricornis (Meigen, 1826) (Sepsidae: Diptera) în România
Authors: Iancu Lavinia , Purcărea Cristina
Published: November 2015

This report on the occurrence of Themira nigricornis (Meigen, 1826) (Sepsidae: Diptera) on Romanian territory represents the first record of this species within south-eastern Europe. Adults of T. nigricornis were collected in spring, in the second half of April, from an experimental setting placed in an urban location (Bucharest) in southern Romania. The bait consisted of domestic pig carcass in advanced decomposition stage, placed on soil ground and surrounded by vegetation. The visiting specimens were located around the posterior segment of the pig carcass. The registered abundance of adult individuals was relatively low, with 10 specimens distinguished during two weeks interval. The species was taxonomically characterized and identified. This study, documenting the presence of T. nigricornis in the southern part of Romania, expanded the Fauna Europaea distribution range record of this species, assigning the southernmost location of T. nigricornis in Europe.
Terrestrial Small Mammal Communities from Hârtibaciu Plateau (Romania)/Comunităţi de mamifere mici terestre din Podişul Hârtibaciu (România)
Authors: Benedek Ana Maria , Sîrbu Ioan , Bucur Anca , Cociş Victoria , Răulea Adrian , Vornicu Adriana
Published: November 2015

Small mammal communities were studied by live trapping during August-September 2010 and June-September 2011 in three localities from Hârtibaciu Plateau, in southern Transylvania. The area is situated between 420 and 550 m a.s.l., and represents a mosaic of small patches of different land use. 200 traps were set in lines for three consecutive nights, in 80 different habitats representing 12 habitat types, both cultivated and semi-natural. 1235 small mammals belonging to 15 species (four soricomorphs and 11 rodents) were captured. Abundance of small mammals was expressed by means of capture index (number of individuals caught per 100 active trap-nights). The community structure was strongly shaped by habitat type, even in case of small land patches. Microtus arvalis prevailed in the investigated area, being the dominant species in open fields with high grassy vegetation. The density of this species increased strongly from the beginning of summer to autumn, when the traps were occasionally saturated with field voles.
2014 Wallace Foundation Distinguished Lecture
Authors: Snow Catherine E.
Published: November 2015

Transcending the low status of educational research will require demonstrating its relevance to improvements in practice. Educational progress is most likely to emerge from approaches to research that create an equal footing for practitioners and researchers, recognizing that though these groups accumulate and curate knowledge in different ways, they both have a role in creating tools (curricula, practices, professional development approaches) that can be used to forge lasting improvements. A brief history of the ongoing shift toward practice-embedded educational research (PEER) demonstrates its increasing acceptance and popularity and suggests modifications to the future selection of research topics, funding mechanisms, and professional preparation of both practitioners and researchers.
Biology of Bony Fish Macrophages
Authors: Hodgkinson Jordan , Grayfer Leon , Belosevic Miodrag
Published: November 2015

Macrophages are found across all vertebrate species, reside in virtually all animal tissues, and play critical roles in host protection and homeostasis. Various mechanisms determine and regulate the highly plastic functional phenotypes of macrophages, including antimicrobial host defenses (pro-inflammatory, M1-type), and resolution and repair functions (anti-inflammatory/regulatory, M2-type). The study of inflammatory macrophages in immune defense of teleosts has garnered much attention, and antimicrobial mechanisms of these cells have been extensively studied in various fish models. Intriguingly, both similarities and differences have been documented for the regulation of lower vertebrate macrophage antimicrobial defenses, as compared to what has been described in mammals. Advances in our understanding of the teleost macrophage M2 phenotypes likewise suggest functional conservation through similar and distinct regulatory strategies, compared to their mammalian counterparts. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing teleost macrophage functional heterogeneity, including monopoetic development, classical macrophage inflammatory and antimicrobial responses as well as alternative macrophage polarization towards tissues repair and resolution of inflammation.
Feeding Back the Output or Sharing the State: Which Is Better for the State-Dependent Wiretap Channel?
Authors: Dai Bin , Ma Zheng , Yu Linman
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the general wiretap channel with channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter and noiseless feedback is investigated, where the feedback is from the legitimate receiver to the transmitter, and the CSI is available at the transmitter in a causal or noncausal manner. The capacity-equivocation regions are determined for this model in both causal and noncausal cases, and the results are further explained via Gaussian and binary examples. For the Gaussian model, we find that in some particular cases, the noiseless feedback performs better than Chia and El Gamal’s CSI sharing scheme, i.e., the secrecy capacity of this feedback scheme is larger than that of the CSI sharing scheme. For the degraded binary model, we find that the noiseless feedback performs no better than Chia and El Gamal’s CSI sharing scheme. However, if the cross-over probability of the wiretap channel is large enough, we show that the two schemes perform the same.
The Impact of Changes in Species Richness and Species Replacement on Patterns of Taxonomic Homogenization in the Carpathian Forest Ecosystems
Authors: Durak Tomasz , Durak Roma , Węgrzyn Ewa , Leniowski Konrad
Published: November 2015

The Carpathians are Eastern Europe’s largest contiguous forest ecosystem and a hotspot of biodiversity. However, not much is known about changes in species diversity in these forests. Here we investigate the long-time changes in the diversity of plant communities in the Eastern Carpathian beech forests. We also inquire about the similarity of plant communities between managed and protected forests. We conduct our analyses using not only the broad-sense measure of changes in β diversity (βsor) but also the measures that reveal whether the changes result from spatial turnover (βsim) or nestedness (βnes). Our study demonstrated that the mean species richness did not significantly change over time in both forest types. However, we found a significant decrease of species diversity in protected forests and the same trend, but on a smaller scale, in managed forests. In both forest types the decrease of species diversity was mainly caused by spatial turnover, while nestedness-related changes were relatively small. However, the direction of changes in βnes differed in managed and unmanaged forests in such a way that it reduced the decrease of species diversity in managed forests and amplified the decrease of species diversity in unmanaged forests. We discuss our findings in terms of biotic homogenization.
Daptomycin-Nonsusceptible Staphylococcus aureus: The Role of Combination Therapy with Daptomycin and Gentamicin
Authors: Jiang Jhih-Hang , Peleg Anton
Published: November 2015

Reduced susceptibility to daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus has now been described, leading to clinical failures. Here we determined the impact of daptomycin and gentamicin combination therapy on bactericidal activity and resistance emergence using daptomycin-susceptible and -resistant isolates with mutations linked to previous daptomycin or vancomycin exposure. Enhanced killing of S. aureus was observed when gentamicin was combined with daptomycin, most commonly with daptomycin concentrations below the peak serum free-drug concentrations achieved with standard dosing. Synergy was seen with daptomycin-susceptible isolates and with isolates resistant to vancomycin and daptomycin. Combination therapy also prevented the emergence of resistance. Daptomycin and gentamicin combination therapy may provide the synergy required to prevent emergence of resistance when daptomycin levels are below peak serum concentrations as would be found in deep-seated, complicated infections.
Healthy versus Unhealthy Suppliers in Food Desert Neighborhoods: A Network Analysis of Corner Stores’ Food Supplier Networks
Authors: Mui Yeeli , Lee Bruce , Adam Atif , Kharmats Anna , Budd Nadine , Nau Claudia , Gittelsohn Joel
Published: November 2015

Background: Products in corner stores may be affected by the network of suppliers from which storeowners procure food and beverages. To date, this supplier network has not been well characterized. Methods: Using network analysis, we examined the connections between corner stores (n = 24) in food deserts of Baltimore City (MD, USA) and their food/beverage suppliers (n = 42), to determine how different store and supplier characteristics correlated. Results: Food and beverage suppliers fell into two categories: Those providing primarily healthy foods/beverages (n = 15) in the healthy supplier network (HSN) and those providing primarily unhealthy food/beverages (n = 41) in the unhealthy supplier network (UHSN). Corner store connections to suppliers in the UHSN were nearly two times greater (t = 5.23, p < 0.001), and key suppliers in the UHSN core were more diverse, compared to the HSN. The UHSN was significantly more cohesive and densely connected, with corner stores sharing a greater number of the same unhealthy suppliers, compared to HSN, which was less cohesive and sparsely connected (t = 5.82; p < 0.001). Compared to African Americans, Asian and Hispanic corner storeowners had on average −1.53 (p < 0.001) fewer connections to suppliers in the HSN (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings indicate clear differences between corner stores’ HSN and UHSN. Addressing ethnic/cultural differences of storeowners may also be important to consider.
Cytidine 5′-Diphosphocholine (Citicoline) in Glaucoma: Rationale of Its Use, Current Evidence and Future Perspectives
Authors: Roberti Gloria , Tanga Lucia , Michelessi Manuele , Quaranta Luciano , Parisi Vincenzo , Manni Gianluca , Oddone Francesco
Published: November 2015

Cytidine 5′-diphosphocholine or citicoline is an endogenous compound that acts in the biosynthetic pathway of phospholipids of cell membranes, particularly phosphatidylcholine, and it is able to increase neurotrasmitters levels in the central nervous system. Citicoline has shown positive effects in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as in amblyopia. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease currently considered a disease involving ocular and visual brain structures. Neuroprotection has been proposed as a valid therapeutic option for those patients progressing despite a well-controlled intraocular pressure, the main risk factor for the progression of the disease. The aim of this review is to critically summarize the current evidence about the effect of citicoline in glaucoma.
RpoN Regulates Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa via Modulating the PqsR Quorum Sensing Regulator
Authors: Cai Zhao , Liu Yang , Chen Yicai , Yam Joey , Chew Su , Chua Song , Wang Ke , Givskov Michael , Yang Liang
Published: November 2015

The alternative sigma factor RpoN regulates many cell functions, such as motility, quorum sensing, and virulence in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). P. aeruginosa often evolves rpoN-negative variants during the chronic infection in cystic fibrosis patients. It is unclear how RpoN interacts with other regulatory mechanisms to control virulence of P. aeruginosa. In this study, we show that RpoN modulates the function of PqsR, a quorum sensing receptor regulating production of virulence factors including the phenazine pyocyanin. The ∆rpoN mutant is able to synthesize 4-quinolone signal molecule HHQ but unable to activate PqsR and Pseudomonas quinolone signal (pqs) quorum sensing. The ∆rpoN mutant produces minimal level of pyocyanin and is unable to produce the anti-staphylococcal agents. Providing pqsR in trans in the ∆rpoN mutant restores its pqs quorum sensing and virulence factor production to the wild-type level. Our study provides evidence that RpoN has a regulatory effect on P. aeruginosa virulence through modulating the function of the PqsR quorum sensing regulator.
The Importance of Caveolin-1 as Key-Regulator of Three-Dimensional Growth in Thyroid Cancer Cells Cultured under Real and Simulated Microgravity Conditions
Authors: Riwaldt Stefan , Bauer Johann , Pietsch Jessica , Braun Markus , Segerer Jürgen , Schwarzwälder Achim , Corydon Thomas , Infanger Manfred , Grimm Daniela
Published: November 2015

We recently demonstrated that the CAV1 gene was down-regulated, when poorly differentiated thyroid FTC-133 cancer cells formed spheroids under simulated microgravity conditions. Here, we present evidence that the caveolin-1 protein is involved in the inhibition of spheroid formation, when confluent monolayers are exposed to microgravity. The evidence is based on proteins detected in cells and their supernatants of the recent spaceflight experiment: “NanoRacks-CellBox-Thyroid Cancer”. The culture supernatant had been collected in a special container adjacent to the flight hardware incubation chamber and stored at low temperature until it was analyzed by Multi-Analyte Profiling (MAP) technology, while the cells remaining in the incubation chamber were fixed by RNAlater and examined by mass spectrometry. The soluble proteins identified by MAP were investigated in regard to their mutual interactions and their influence on proteins, which were associated with the cells secreting the soluble proteins and had been identified in a preceding study. A Pathway Studio v.11 analysis of the soluble and cell-associated proteins together with protein kinase C alpha (PRKCA) suggests that caveolin-1 is involved, when plasminogen enriched in the extracellular space is not activated and the vascular cellular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) mediated cell–cell adhesion is simultaneously strengthened and activated PRKCA is recruited in caveolae, while the thyroid cancer cells do not form spheroids.
Genetic Regulation of Sinoatrial Node Development and Pacemaker Program in the Venous Pole
Authors: Ye Wenduo , Song Yingnan , Huang Zhen , Zhang Yanding , Chen Yiping
Published: November 2015

The definitive sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary pacemaker of the mammalian heart, develops from part of pro-pacemaking embryonic venous pole that expresses both Hcn4 and the transcriptional factor Shox2. It is noted that ectopic pacemaking activities originated from the myocardial sleeves of the pulmonary vein and systemic venous return, both derived from the Shox2+ pro-pacemaking cells in the venous pole, cause atrial fibrillation. However, the developmental link between the pacemaker properties in the embryonic venous pole cells and the SAN remains largely uncharacterized. Furthermore, the genetic program for the development of heterogeneous populations of the SAN is also under-appreciated. Here, we review the literature for a better understanding of the heterogeneous development of the SAN in relation to that of the sinus venosus myocardium and pulmonary vein myocardium. We also attempt to revisit genetic models pertinent to the development of pacemaker activities in the perspective of a Shox2-Nkx2-5 epistatic antagonism. Finally, we describe recent efforts in deciphering the regulatory networks for pacemaker development by genome-wide approaches.
An FSK and OOK Compatible RF Demodulator for Wake Up Receivers
Authors: Taris Thierry , Kraimia Hassène , Belot Didier , Deval Yann
Published: November 2015

This work proposes a novel demodulation circuit to address the implementation of Wake-Up Receivers (Wu-Rx) in Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSN). This RF demodulator, namely Modulated Oscillator for envelOpe Detection (MOOD), is compatible with both FSK and OOK/ASK modulation schemes. The system embeds an LC oscillator, an envelope detector and a base-band amplifier. To optimize the trade-off between RF performances and power consumption, the cross-coupled based oscillator is biased in moderate inversion region. The proof of concept is implemented in a 65 nm CMOS technology and is intended for the 2.4 GHz ISM band. With a supply voltage of 0.5 V, the demodulator consumes 120 μW and demonstrates the demodulation of OOK and FSK at a data rate of 500 kbps.
Human Health Risk Assessment and Safety Threshold of Harmful Trace Elements in the Soil Environment of the Wulantuga Open-Cast Coal Mine
Authors: Jia Jianli , Li Xiaojun , Wu Peijing , Liu Ying , Han Chunyu , Zhou Lina , Yang Liu
Published: November 2015

In this study, soil samples were collected from a large-scale open-cast coal mine area in Inner Mongolia, China. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), beryllium (Be) and nickel (Ni) in soil samples were detected using novel collision/reaction cell technology (CCT) with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS; collectively ICP-CCT-MS) after closed-vessel microwave digestion. Human health risk from As, Cd, Be and Ni was assessed via three exposure pathways—inhalation, skin contact and soil particle ingestion. The comprehensive carcinogenic risk from As in Wulantuga open-cast coal mine soil is 6.29–87.70-times the acceptable risk, and the highest total hazard quotient of As in soils in this area can reach 4.53-times acceptable risk levels. The carcinogenic risk and hazard quotient of Cd, Be and Ni are acceptable. The main exposure route of As from open-cast coal mine soils is soil particle ingestion, accounting for 76.64% of the total carcinogenic risk. Considering different control values for each exposure pathway, the minimum control value (1.59 mg/kg) could be selected as the strict reference safety threshold for As in the soil environment of coal-chemical industry areas. However, acceptable levels of carcinogenic risk are not unanimous; thus, the safety threshold identified here, calculated under a 1.00 × 10−6 acceptable carcinogenic risk level, needs further consideration.
Improved PPP Ambiguity Resolution Considering the Stochastic Characteristics of Atmospheric Corrections from Regional Networks
Authors: Li Yihe , Li Bofeng , Gao Yang
Published: November 2015

With the increased availability of regional reference networks, Precise Point Positioning (PPP) can achieve fast ambiguity resolution (AR) and precise positioning by assimilating the satellite fractional cycle biases (FCBs) and atmospheric corrections derived from these networks. In such processing, the atmospheric corrections are usually treated as deterministic quantities. This is however unrealistic since the estimated atmospheric corrections obtained from the network data are random and furthermore the interpolated corrections diverge from the realistic corrections. This paper is dedicated to the stochastic modelling of atmospheric corrections and analyzing their effects on the PPP AR efficiency. The random errors of the interpolated corrections are processed as two components: one is from the random errors of estimated corrections at reference stations, while the other arises from the atmospheric delay discrepancies between reference stations and users. The interpolated atmospheric corrections are then applied by users as pseudo-observations with the estimated stochastic model. Two data sets are processed to assess the performance of interpolated corrections with the estimated stochastic models. The results show that when the stochastic characteristics of interpolated corrections are properly taken into account, the successful fix rate reaches 93.3% within 5 min for a medium inter-station distance network and 80.6% within 10 min for a long inter-station distance network.
Addendum: Li, Y.; Shi, X.; Wei, L.; Zou, J.; Chen, F. Assigning Main Orientation to an EOH Descriptor on Multispectral Images. Sensors 2015, 15, 15595–15610.
Authors: Li Yong , Shi Xiang , Wei Lijun , Zou Junwei , Chen Fang
Published: November 2015

The authors wish to update the Acknowledgments section in their paper published in Sensors [1], doi:10.3390/s150715595, http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/7/15595. [...]
Effect of Pore Size and Film Thickness on Gold-Coated Nanoporous Anodic Aluminum Oxide Substrates for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensor
Authors: Kassu Aschalew , Farley Carlton , Sharma Anup , Kim Wonkyu , Guo Junpeng
Published: November 2015

A sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering chemical sensor is demonstrated by using inexpensive gold-coated nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide substrates. To optimize the performance of the substrates for sensing by the Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique, the size of the nanopores is varied from 18 nm to 150 nm and the gold film thickness is varied from 30 nm to 120 nm. The sensitivity of gold-coated nanoporous surface enhanced Raman scattering sensor is characterized by detecting low concentrations of Rhodamine 6G laser dye molecules. The morphology of the SERS substrates is characterized by atomic force microscopy. Optical properties of the nanoporous SERS substrates including transmittance, reflectance, and absorbance are also investigated. Relative signal enhancement is plotted for a range of substrate parameters and a detection limit of 10−6 M is established.
Facing the Gender Gap in Aging: Italian Women’s Pension in the European Context
Authors: Zanier Maria , Crespi Isabella
Published: November 2015

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the phenomenon of increasing gender inequalities that happen at old age regarding women’s pension. Moving from recent life-course theories and studies, this study analyzes the reasons behind gender-biased pension levels and how their cumulative effects result in (continuous) significant gender gaps. The article presents a European overview of pension gender gap, focusing on family and work-life issues in Italy. This is one of the first critical reviews of the small but growing literature and national data concerning the effect of gender inequalities related to pension gaps in Italy. In the past, research on the balance of welfare provision between State, family, and market has ignored gender, while more recent studies have barely explored how gender roles, changing over time, interact with the shifts in pension policies. Considering the effects of work-life balance policies since the 2000 Lisbon agenda process and its development, the study especially focuses on the Italian case within the European context. The article examines how the choices in work-life balance policies vary between different national contexts and welfare regimes, by highlighting the Italian case. In this country, welfare and social policy regimes remain very unbalanced, showing a lack of awareness of family and women’s needs, as in many Southern countries, and Italy is not able to give appropriate answers to these problems and to the question of the growing gender gap. This article finally shows the poignancy of structural and cultural reasons for gender differentiated pension levels in Italy, within the European context, according to patterns of employment, marital, and maternal status between earlier and later generations of women.
Languaging the Borders of Europe
Authors: Kramsch Olivier , Aparna Kolar , Degu Huda
Published: November 2015

Emerging from a discomfort with the blind spots encountered within and across theorizations of language and space in the field of human geography, in this article, we argue for “making space” for conceptualizations that speak from and through the everyday territories of migrants in Europe today. Inspired by a range of writers thinking postcolonially and multi/trans-lingually, the authors draw on their own embodied migrant experience to argue for re-envisioning Europe’s borders through multiple languaging practices. “Languaging”, in this view, takes linguistic practices in a migrant context as an inherently prosthetic activity, whereby any dominant, national host language is inevitably subject to the subterranean rumblings of all the languages a migrant brings with her on her global journeys. Conceived as being saturated with prosthetic “absence(s)”, migrant languaging practices rework cultural geography’s bounded, inward-looking, and security-fixated understanding of the language/territory nexus, the better to open a vital space for re-envisioning language’s everyday territories as sites for translational solidarity and becoming.
Quantitative Assessment of the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production (HANPP) in the Coastal Areas of Jiangsu, China
Authors: Zhang Fangyi , Pu Lijie , Huang Qing
Published: November 2015

Global increases in population and consumption have raised concerns regarding the sustainability of the current and future use of natural resources. The human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) provides a useful measure for determining human-derived alterations in the amount of biomass that is available in ecosystems each year. HANPP was calculated based on vegetation modelling, agricultural statistics, and remote sensing data on land use and land cover to assess the human impacts on ecosystems in the coastal areas of Jiangsu, China. The results showed that HANPP increased from 332 g·C/m2/year in 2000 to 442 g·C/m2/year in 2010, with an average annual increase of 2.9%. The proportion of appropriated net primary production increased from 50.3% to 71.0% of NPPpot, mainly driven by HANPPharv (harvested NPP) with an increase from 45.2% to 61.3% of NPPpot. Additionally, the spatial variation in average HANPP was striking among counties in the observed period with the lowest and highest values of 21.8% and 63.8% of NPPpot, respectively. Further analysis showed that observed levels of HANPP are high due to a high level of biomass harvest from cropland and the increases in fertilizer use, farmland irrigation rate and population and economic growth explain the trends in HANPP in the coastal areas of Jiangsu.
Factors Explaining Households’ Cash Payment for Solid Waste Disposal and Recycling Behaviors in South Africa
Authors: Oyekale Abayomi
Published: November 2015

Environmental safety is one of the top policy priorities in some developing countries. This study analyzed the factors influencing waste disposal and recycling by households in South Africa. The data were collected by Statistics South Africa in 2012 during the General Household Survey (GHS). Analysis of the data was carried out with the Bivariate Probit model. The results showed that 56.03% and 31.98% of all the households disposed waste through local authority/private companies and own refuse dump sites, respectively. Limpopo and Mpumalanga had the highest usage of own refuse dump sites and dumping of waste anywhere. Littering (34.03%) and land degradation (31.53%) were mostly perceived by the households, while 38.42% were paying for waste disposal and 8.16% would be willing to pay. Only 6.54% and 1.70% of all the households were recycling and selling waste respectively with glass (4.10%) and papers (4.02%) being most recycled. The results of the Bivariate Probit model identified income, access to social grants, Indian origin, and attainment of formal education as significant variables influencing payment for waste disposal and recycling. It was inter alia recommended that revision of environmental law, alleviating poverty, and gender sensitive environmental education and awareness creation would enhance environmental conservation behaviors in South Africa.
Preparation of Pickering emulsions through interfacial adsorption by soft cyclodextrin nanogels
Authors: Kawano Shintaro , Kida Toshiyuki , Akashi Mitsuru , Sato Hirofumi , Shizuma Motohiro , Ono Daisuke
Published: November 2015

Background: Emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles are known as Pickering emulsions. To date, soft microgel particles as well as inorganic and organic particles have been utilized as Pickering emulsifiers. Although cyclodextrin (CD) works as an attractive emulsion stabilizer through the formation of a CD–oil complex at the oil–water interface, a high concentration of CD is normally required. Our research focuses on an effective Pickering emulsifier based on a soft colloidal CD polymer (CD nanogel) with a unique surface-active property.

Results: CD nanogels were prepared by crosslinking heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin with phenyl diisocyanate and subsequent immersion of the resulting polymer in water. A dynamic light scattering study shows that primary CD nanogels with 30–50 nm diameter assemble into larger CD nanogels with 120 nm diameter by an increase in the concentration of CD nanogel from 0.01 to 0.1 wt %. The CD nanogel has a surface-active property at the air–water interface, which reduces the surface tension of water. The CD nanogel works as an effective Pickering emulsion stabilizer even at a low concentration (0.1 wt %), forming stable oil-in-water emulsions through interfacial adsorption by the CD nanogels.

Conclusion: Soft CD nanogel particles adsorb at the oil–water interface with an effective coverage by forming a strong interconnected network and form a stable Pickering emulsion. The adsorption property of CD nanogels on the droplet surface has great potential to become new microcapsule building blocks with porous surfaces. These microcapsules may act as stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and nanocontainers.
Estimation of damage severity using sparse static measurement
Authors: ŠTIMAC GRANDIĆ Ivana , GRANDIĆ Davor
Published: November 2015

A new structural damage estimation procedure using grey relation coefficient and curvature of displacement influence line in beams using sparse measurement is proposed in this paper. The method is based on static structural response which can be obtained using single sensor. Determination of damage location as well as determination of corre­sponding damage severity can be easily calculated with simple arithmetic operations, which is the main advantage of the proposed method. Conducted numerical simulation for different damage scenarios and various measurement sparseness and experimental validation confirm the effectiveness of proposed damage severity estimation procedure.
Malaria and associated co-morbidity in children admitted with fever manifestation in Western Ghana: A retrospective study
Authors: Orish Verner N , Ansong Joseph Y , Anagi Isaac B , Onyeabor Onyekachi S , Sanyaolu Adekunle O , Iriemenam Nnaemeka C
Published: November 2015

Introduction: Children under five years of age are highly vulnerable to malaria infection and often face dire consequences such as severe malaria if they are not promptly and adequately treated with effective anti-malarial medications. We set out to evaluate malaria and associated co-morbidity among children admitted with febrile illness in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. Methodology: This retrospective study focused on children admitted with fever over a three-year period at the pediatric unit of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital. The children were identified, and the medical records of those who were successfully treated and discharged were searched, retrieved, and reviewed. Results: A total of 1,193 children were identified and selected for analysis. The mean duration of admission increased from 2.17 days in 2010 to 3.36 in 2012. Conversely, the mean age decreased from 3.85 years in 2010 to 2.74 in 2012. Overall, laboratory-confirmed malaria prevalence decreased; however, this decrease was only observed among children five years of age or younger, while malaria prevalence increased among children one year of age or younger. The proportion of children with severe malarial anemia significantly increased, while the proportion of those with mild malaria decreased significantly. Conclusions: Despite the general decrease in malaria morbidity seen in this study, children younger than one year of age remain at increased risk of malaria morbidity. With an increase in malaria prevalence among children younger than one year of age over the three years of study, integrated and targeted control measures are highly needed for this age group.
Virology research in a Latin American developing country: a bibliometric analysis of virology in Colombia (2000–2013)
Authors: Ruiz-Saenz Julian , Martinez-Gutierrez Marlen
Published: November 2015

Introduction: Bibliometric analysis demonstrates that the virology research in Latin America has increased. For this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate Colombian publications on viruses and viral diseases in indexed journals during the period from 2000 to 2013. Methodology: The bibliographic data were collected from MedLine, SciELO, LILACS and Scopus databases. The database was constructed in Excel descriptive statistics. The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) was evaluated using the SCImago Journal & Country Rank in 2013 and was used as an indicator of the quality of the journals used by the Colombian researchers. Results: The total number of papers published was 711, of which 40.4% were published in local journals, and 59.6% were published in foreign journals. Most (89.2%) were original papers. Moreover, 34.2% of the papers were published in collaboration with international researchers, with the United States being the most represented. Of the journals used, 85.6% had an SJR, and 14.4% did not. The median SJR of the papers was 0.789, and the median of the papers with international collaborators was higher compared to the SJR of the papers without international collaboration. Papers were most frequently published in journals whose categories were medicine (miscellaneous), virology, and infectious diseases. The viruses that appeared in the papers more frequently were HIV, dengue, and papillomavirus. Conclusions: This study provides data for use in research, health planning, and policy analysis as it relates to virology in Colombia and other developing Latin American countries.
Antibiotics in surgical wards: use or misuse? A newly industrialized country’s perspective
Authors: Lim Mun Kit , Lai Pauline Siew Mei , Ponnampalavanar Sasheela Sri La Sri , Syed Omar Sharifah Faridah , Taib Nur Aishah , Yusof Mohamad Yasim , Italiano Claire Marie , Kong David Chee Ming , Kamarulzaman Adeeba
Published: November 2015

Introduction: Studies exploring the appropriateness of therapeutic antibiotic use among surgical patients are limited, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed in a surgical setting in Malaysia. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted in two surgical wards at a tertiary hospital in Malaysia from November 2012-July 2013. Data was collected using a case report form. The appropriateness of antibiotic therapy was based on compliance with either the Malaysian National Antibiotic Guidelines 2008 or International Clinical Practice Guidelines and determined by an expert panel (consisting of two infectious disease consultants and a pharmacist). Results: Over the study period, a total of 593 antibiotic courses were prescribed for 129 patients (4.6±3.4 antibiotics/patient). Only 34 (26.4%) patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy, whilst 95 (73.6%) patients received at least one course of inappropriate antibiotic therapy. The prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic use was 214 (66.3%) and 55 (42.0%) for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, respectively. The most common causes of inappropriate prophylactic antibiotics were inappropriate timing 20 (36.4%) and inappropriate duration of prophylaxis 19 (34.5%). In cases of inappropriate timing, 9 (45%) were administered too late while 6 (30%) were too early. . In contrast, inappropriate choice of antibiotics (42.1%) and inappropriate indication (40.7%) were the most common reasons encountered for inappropriate therapeutic antibiotics. Conclusion: Our study suggests considerable inappropriate use of both prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics in the surgical wards; highlighting an urgent need for antibiotic stewardship initiatives in this setting.