bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Systems Biologic Approach in Cell Signaling and Drug Development Responses—A Mini Review
Authors: Abhyankar Vrushali , Bland Paul , Fernandes Gabriela
Published: May 2018

The immune system is an integral aspect of the human defense system and is primarily responsible for and involved in the communication between the immune cells. It also plays an important role in the protection of the organism from foreign invaders. Recent studies in the literature have described its role in the process of hematopoiesis, lymphocyte recruitment, T cell subset differentiation and inflammation. However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying these observations remain elusive, impeding the elaborate manipulation of cytokine sequential delivery in tissue repair. Previously, the discovery of new drugs and systems biology went hand in hand; although Systems biology as a term has only originated in the last century. Various new chemicals were tested on the human body, and studied through observation. Animal models replaced humans for initial trials, but the interactions, response, dose and effect between animals and humans could not be directly correlated. Therefore, there is a need to form disease models outside of human subjects to check the effectiveness and response of the newer natural or synthetic chemicals. These emulate human disease conditions wherein the behavior of the chemicals would be similar in the disease model and humans.
The Aqueous Electrochemical Response of TiC–Stainless Steel Cermets
Authors: Onuoha Chukwuma , Russell Zhila , Kipouros Georges , Farhat Zoheir , Plucknett Kevin
Published: May 2018

A family of TiC–stainless steel ceramic–metal composites, or cermets, has been developed in the present study, using steel grades of 304 L, 316 L, or 410 L as the binder phase. Melt infiltration was used to prepare the cermets, with the steel binder contents varying between 10–30 vol. %. The corrosion behaviour was evaluated using a range of electrochemical techniques in an aqueous solution containing 3.5 wt. % NaCl. The test methods included potentiodynamic, cyclic, and potentiostatic polarisation. The corroded samples were subsequently characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), while the post-corrosion solutions were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) to determine the residual ionic and particulate material removed from the cermets during electrochemical testing. It was demonstrated that the corrosion resistance was enhanced through decreasing the steel binder content, which arises due to the preferential dissolution of the binder phase, while the TiC ceramic remains largely unaffected. Increasing corrosion resistance was observed in the sequence TiC-304 L > TiC-316 L > TiC-410 L.
Multilayer-Forming Behavior of Cr Nitrides and Carbides for Thermoreactive Deposition
Authors: Park Kyeongmo , Kim Jun-Ho , Kim Sunkwang , Kang Namhyun
Published: May 2018

The effect of a nitride layer on the forming behavior of CrN and (Cr, Fe)7C3 multilayers for thermoreactive deposition (TRD) was investigated. Plasma nitriding followed by TRD (PN-TRD) produced a larger coating thickness than the case of direct TRD with no plasma nitriding. For PN-TRD, an Fe2-3N layer of 10 μm in thickness was produced on AISI 52100 steels using plasma nitriding, followed by TRD using a mixed powder composed of 30 wt % Cr, 2 wt % NH4Cl, and 68 wt % Al2O3. During TRD at 800 °C, a CrN layer of 2 μm in thickness was formed along with a thin layer of mixed carbide (Cr7C3) and nitride (CrN) on top. As the deposition temperature was increased to 950 °C, a new layer of Cr7C3 was formed underneath the outermost layer composed of mixed Cr7C3 and CrN. At 950 °C, a Cr-rich zone indicated a thickness of ~7 μm. As the deposition time increased to 3 h at 950 °C, a new layer of (Cr, Fe)7C3 was produced at the interface between the CrN formed at 800 °C and the base metal. This layer formed because of the abundant resources of Cr and C provided from the TRD powder and base metal, respectively. The multilayer and interface were concretely filled without the formation of voids as the TRD time increased to 6 h at 950 °C. The TRD process on a pre-nitrided layer was successfully applied to produce multilayers of CrN and Cr7C3.
Comparison of Heterotrophic Bioleaching and Ammonium Sulfate Ion Exchange Leaching of Rare Earth Elements from a Madagascan Ion-Adsorption Clay
Authors: Barnett Megan J. , Palumbo-Roe Barbara , Gregory Simon P.
Published: May 2018

Rare earth elements (REE) are considered to be a critical resource, because of their importance in green energy applications and the overdependence on Chinese imports. REE rich ion-adsorption deposits (IAD) result from tropical weathering of REE enriched igneous rocks. Commercial REE leaching from IAD, using salt solutions occurs via an ion-exchange mechanism. Bioleaching of IAD by Aspergillus or Bacillus, was compared to Uninoculated Control and Salt leaching (0.5 M ammonium sulfate) over 60 days. Salt leaching was most effective, followed by Aspergillus, Bacillus then Uninoculated Control. Most of the REE and major elements released by Salt leaching occurred before day 3. With bioleaching, REE and major elements release increased with time and had a greater heavy to light REE ratio. Similar total heavy REE release was observed in Salt leaching and Aspergillus (73.1% and 70.7% Lu respectively). In bioleaching experiments, pH was inversely correlated with REE release (R2 = 0.947 for Lu) indicating leaching by microbially produced acids. These experiments show the potential for bioleaching of REE from IAD, but dissolution of undesirable elements could cause problems in downstream processing. Further understanding of the bioleaching mechanisms could lead to optimization of REE recovery.
Enantiomerically Enriched 1,2-P,N-Bidentate Ferrocenyl Ligands for 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition and Transfer Hydrogenation Reactions
Authors: Utepova Irina A. , Serebrennikova Polina O. , Streltsova Marina S. , Musikhina Alexandra A. , Fedorchenko Tatiana G. , Chupakhin Oleg N. , Antonchick Andrey P.
Published: May 2018

Novel complexes of 1,2-P,N-bidentate ferrocenyl ligands with AgOAc or with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] as catalysts have been studied in asymmetric synthesis. The catalytic activity of these systems have been studied in [3+2]-cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with olefins and the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones.
Molecular Docking of Potential Inhibitors of Broccoli Myrosinase
Authors: Román J. , Castillo A. , Mahn A.
Published: May 2018

Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites occurring in Brassicaceae plants whose hydrolysis may yield isothiocyanates, widely recognized as health-promoting compounds. Myrosinase catalyzes this conversion. The chemical mechanism involves an unstable intermediary (thiohydroxamate-O-sulfonate) that spontaneously decomposes into isothiocyanates or other non-bioactive compounds depending on pH and cofactors. At acidic pH, non-bioactive compounds such as nitriles and thiocyanates are formed, while at neutral pH isothiocyanates are obtained. Broccoli myrosinase has been poorly studied so far. Recently, its amino acidic sequence was elucidated, and a structural model was built. The aim of this work was to study the molecular interaction of broccoli myrosinase with different ligands at acidic pH to propose possible inhibitors that prevent formation of undesirable compounds at acidic pH, and that at neutral pH dissociate from the enzyme, allowing formation of isothiocyanates. The interaction between broccoli myrosinase and 40 ligands was studied by molecular docking simulations. Both the enzyme and each inhibitor were set at pH 3.0. Amygdaline and arbutin showed the highest affinity to broccoli myrosinase in this condition. The residues that stabilize the complexes agree with those that stabilize the substrate (Gln207, Glu429, Tyr352, and Ser433). Accordingly, amygdaline and arbutin would perform as competitive inhibitors of myrosinase at pH 3.0.
An Experimental Approach to the Synthesis and Optimisation of a ‘Green’ Nanofibre
Authors: Pervez Md. Nahid , Stylios George K.
Published: May 2018

Currently, green-based materials are receiving attention in a quest to achieve a sustainable environment for human life. Herein, we report an investigation of developing a simple novel green nanofibre by using H2O2-assisted water soluble chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (WSCHT/PVA) in the presence of water as an eco-friendly solvent. The effect of various process parameters on the mean fibre diameter was investigated based on the Taguchi L9 ( 3 4 ) orthogonal array experimental design. Optimal process parameters were determined using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of diameter according to the ‘smaller-the-better’ concept. Accordingly, the smallest fibre diameter observed was 122 nm and it was yielded at solution concentration of 10%; a voltage of 16 kV; a flow rate of 0.7 mL h−1; and a collection distance of 8 cm. The implications of a green environmentally sustainable material impact on a number of diverse end uses.
Endocannabinoids in Body Weight Control
Authors: Horn Henrike , Böhme Beatrice , Dietrich Laura , Koch Marco
Published: May 2018

Maintenance of body weight is fundamental to maintain one’s health and to promote longevity. Nevertheless, it appears that the global obesity epidemic is still constantly increasing. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid messengers that are involved in overall body weight control by interfering with manifold central and peripheral regulatory circuits that orchestrate energy homeostasis. Initially, blocking of eCB signaling by first generation cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) inverse agonists such as rimonabant revealed body weight-reducing effects in laboratory animals and men. Unfortunately, rimonabant also induced severe psychiatric side effects. At this point, it became clear that future cannabinoid research has to decipher more precisely the underlying central and peripheral mechanisms behind eCB-driven control of feeding behavior and whole body energy metabolism. Here, we will summarize the most recent advances in understanding how central eCBs interfere with circuits in the brain that control food intake and energy expenditure. Next, we will focus on how peripheral eCBs affect food digestion, nutrient transformation and energy expenditure by interfering with signaling cascades in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, fat depots and endocrine glands. To finally outline the safe future potential of cannabinoids as medicines, our overall goal is to address the molecular, cellular and pharmacological logic behind central and peripheral eCB-mediated body weight control, and to figure out how these precise mechanistic insights are currently transferred into the development of next generation cannabinoid medicines displaying clearly improved safety profiles, such as significantly reduced side effects.
Eluding National Boundaries: A Case Study of Commodified Citizenship and the Transnational Capitalist Class
Authors: Grell-Brisk Marilyn
Published: May 2018

Commodified citizenship—pay x number of dollars and you can have all the rights of citizenship without any of the traditional duties and obligations—has been on the rise in developing countries since the early 1990s. This article is a case study of such a program on the island nation of Dominica. Ostensibly established as a means to aid the country in its efforts to move away from a monoagricultural economy, this article demonstrates that in reality, the government has become fully dependent on the commodified citizenship program, which has become its primary source of quick liquid revenue. Furthermore, we argue that the program can be an excellent tool for the transnational capitalist class which needs to work around political restrictions on their cross-border movements. With a growing effort to impede movement across countries and re-entrenchment of national border across the world, efforts to penetrate national border boundaries and established systems of exclusions through the visa processes have prompted creative and alternative routes for cross-border mobility. The contention here is that commodified citizenship is just one such creative alternative route and is especially ingenious as it is fully legal and uses the very institutions that seek to hinder mobility.
Sustainable Implementation of Access Control
Authors: Muntean Mihaela , Dijmărescu Laurenţiu
Published: May 2018

Sustainable implementation of access control implies approaches at different levels. Beyond the authorization framework at application level, the demarche will be strengthened by providing security objects at database level. In terms of sustainable information systems, the proposal extends the integrated security approach of an SAP application with initiatives at database level programmed in PL/SQL. The organization’s policies and procedures are taken into consideration.
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps
Authors: Gebresselassie Mahtot , Sanchez Thomas W.
Published: May 2018

In the smart city, information and communications technologies (ICTs) are proposed as solutions to urban challenges, including sustainability concerns. While sustainability commonly refers to economic and environmental dimensions, the concept also contains a social component. Our study asked how smartphone applications (apps) address social-sustainability challenges in urban transport, if at all. We focused on transport disadvantages experienced due to low income, physical disability, and language barriers. A review of 60 apps showed that transport apps respond to these equity and inclusion issues in two ways: (a) by employing a universal design in general-use apps, including cost-conscious features, and providing language options; and (b) by specifically developing smartphone apps for persons with disabilities. The article discusses the study by positioning it in the literature of smart cities as well as socially sustainable transport.
What’s Fair Is Fair: Leveling the Playing Field for Young Scientists
Authors: Yewdell Jonathan W.
Published: May 2018

Like every MD Ph.D. pup, I was faced with the BIG decision: medicine or science?[...]
Dynamics of Bacterial Community Diversity and Structure in the Terminal Reservoir of the South-To-North Water Diversion Project in China
Authors: Qu Jiangqi , Jia Chengxia , Liu Qing , Li Zhi , Liu Pan , Yang Mu , Zhao Meng , Li Wentong , Zhu Hua , Zhang Qingjing
Published: May 2018

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is the largest water transfer project in the world, and its purpose is to relax water constraints in a region facing severe water scarcity. Bacterial communities from these reservoirs are important to human health, and analyzing their diversity and structure is crucial to water safety. Here, we investigated the dynamics of bacterial communities and their relationship with environmental parameters in the terminal reservoir (Miyun Reservoir) of the Middle Route of the SNWDP by high-throughput sequencing technology. Our results showed that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacterioidetes were the most abundant phyla in the water column, and the community composition fluctuated seasonally. Moreover, the detected diversity of the bacterial community composition provided novel insights into the ongoing biogeochemical processes. The temperature was positively correlated with the dominant bacteria, with other factors, including the total dissolved solids, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen and total nitrogen, shaping the structure and distribution of the microbial community. Furthermore, the metagenome showed broad phylogenetic diversity, indicating that organisms were involved in multiple essential environmental processes. This work is important for building a database to understand how microbial communities change after water transfers.
PERSPECTIVES OF THE AIR TRANSPORTATION MARKET IN UKRAINE
Authors: OLESHKO Tamara , HEIETS Iryna
Published: May 2018

The paper considers the current situation in the air transportation market in Ukraine. It is shown that, in the Ukrainian segment of the global aviation market, the effectiveness of passenger traffic and air transportation in reference to passenger per kilometer may grow in national and international flight routes. The authors justify the rapid increase in civil aviation efficiency and high capability of the air transport industry of Ukraine, taking into account the global rates of civil aviation development.
Possible Accretion Disk Origin of the Emission Variability of a Blazar Jet
Authors: Chatterjee Ritaban , Roychowdhury Agniva , Chandra Sunil , Sinha Atreyee
Published: May 2018

We analyze X-ray light curves of the blazar Mrk 421 obtained from the Soft X-ray Imaging Telescope (SXT) and the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument on board the Indian space telescope AstroSat and archival observations from Swift. We show that the X-ray power spectral density (PSD) is a piece-wise power-law with a break; i.e., the index becomes more negative below a characteristic “break timescale.” Galactic black hole (BH) X-ray binaries and Seyfert galaxies exhibit a similar characteristic timescale in their X-ray variability that is proportional to their respective BH mass. X-rays in these objects are produced in the accretion disk or corona. Hence, such a timescale is believed to be linked to the properties of the accretion flow. Any relation observed between events in the accretion disk and those in the jet can be used to characterize the disk–jet connection. However, evidence of such a link has been scarce and indirect. Mrk 421 is a BL Lac object that has a prominent jet pointed toward us and a weak disk emission, and it is assumed that most of its X-rays are generated in the jet. Hence, the existence of the break in its X-ray PSD may indicate that changes in the accretion disk, which may be the source of the break timescale, are translating into the jet where the X-rays are produced.
Testing camera traps as a potential tool for detecting nest predation of birds in a tropical rainforest environment
Authors: Ribeiro-Silva Laís , Perrella Daniel Fernandes , Biagolini-Jr Carlos , Zima Paulo , Piratelli Augusto J. , Schlindwein Marcelo , Galetti-Jr Pedro , Francisco Mercival
Published: May 2018

Identification of the predators of bird nests is essential to test ecological and evolutionary hypotheses and to make practical management decisions. A variety of nest monitoring devices have been proposed but many remain difficult to set up in the field. The aim of this study was to test camera traps as a potential tool to study predation of natural nests in a tropical rainforest environment. Specifically, we registered the predators, assessed their size range, and we compared the use of one and two cameras per nest. Of 122 nests from 24 bird species, 45 (37%) were depredated, and the cameras recorded the predator species in 29 of the total of depredated nests (64%). We identified predators in eight of 16 depredated nests (50%) in which we used one camera trap per nest, and we identified predators in 21 of 29 depredated nests (72%) when we used two camera traps per nest. The predators included six species of birds and six species of mammals, with body masses varying from 20 g to 16.5 kg. Causes for 10 of the 16 detection failures were identified and are discussed. These results suggest that camera traps are viable tools to investigate nest predation in a tropical rainforest area.
Discovery of a rare hybrid specimen known as Maria’s bird of paradise at the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum in Braunschweig
Authors: Koch André
Published: May 2018

The discovery of a rare hybrid specimen of Maria’s bird of paradise (Paradisaeamaria, i.e., P.guilielmi × P.raggianaaugustaevictoriae) in the ornithological collection of the Staatliches Naturhistorisches Museum in Braunschweig (SNMB) is reported. Until today only six male specimens (deposited in the natural history museums in Berlin and New York) and presumably one female have been identified in collections world-wide. The male specimen in Braunschweig corresponds well in its plumage colouration with an historical illustration and photographs of the original type specimen from the 19th century housed at the Berlin collection. It shows intermediate characteristics between both parental species, viz. the Emperor bird of paradise (P.guilielmi) and the Raggiana bird of paradise (P.raggianaaugustaevictoriae). In addition, we try to elucidate the circumstances how this rare specimen of hybrid origin, which formerly belonged to the natural history collection of the factory owner Walter Behrens from Bad Harzburg, came to the SNMB. Our unexpected discovery highlights the importance to maintain, support and study also smaller private natural history collections, since they may house historical voucher specimens of high scientific value.
Understanding Egyptian Consumers' Intentions in Online Shopping
Authors: Elseidi Reham I.
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this article is to investigate the factors that impact on Egyptian consumers' attitudes and intentions to use online shopping by integrating the technology acceptance models of Davis, and Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of reasoned action. In addition, other variables will be added such as trust and perceived enjoyment for its theoretical framework. A total 306 current internet users in Egypt provided usable responses. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the proposed model and research hypotheses. The findings showed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust and perceived enjoyment were the significant predictors of attitude toward online shopping; whereas, attitude, perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment were the most important factors affect the behavioural intention toward online shopping. The article provides some useful suggestions for the practitioners within the online shopping field.
Exploring Online Marketing Adoption Factors Among Used Car Sellers in Ghana
Authors: Ibrahim Masud , Mensah Anthony' Freeman , Asare Frederick
Published: May 2018

This article seeks to explore factors responsible for the adoption of online marketing by second hand (used) car dealers to sellers in Ghana. A conceptual framework was adopted from the extant literature using the Technology Acceptance Model as a theoretical base. This article adopts a quantitative research approach. Data for the study was obtained from 60 second hand car sellers through a self-administered questionnaire. Findings from this study revealed that factors responsible for online marketing adoption by second hand car dealers in Ghana are: perceived usefulness (marketing online, customer demand and increase productivity; ease of use (ability to upload pictures, interaction with clients, and online vehicles sales) of the platform. The study however, found no significant relationship between IT knowledge of the owner/manager, age of business and adoption of the online technology. This article highlights the importance of technology adoption in business among SMEs from technologically disadvantaged market.
If my cholesterol is…then I foresee…: patient accounts of uncertainty
Authors: Drummond Darlene K.
Published: May 2018

The author examines the talk of patients with high cholesterol as they discuss their experiences of adding a statin to their treatment regimen. The primary objective was to understand patients’ expectations of statins, and their beliefs and feelings as they continued or discontinued use, and to better understand why adherence to a statin regimen is particularly low. While numerous studies report reasons for nonadherence, few apply theory to provide plausible explanations. Analysis of the focus group data revealed three major themes. First, patients do not view high cholesterol as serious in light of other major health problems like diabetes and cancer within the household. Second, patients believe statins are effective in lowering cholesterol but risky. Third, many patients do not understand how high levels of cholesterol are produced in the body and how statins interrupt that process. Problematic integration theory is used to explain the uncertainty patients experience when given a diagnosis of high cholesterol, the use of statins to control it, and the quality of information received about both cholesterol and statins.
The significance of cultural norms and clinical logics for the perception of possible relapse in rural Northern Norway – sensing symptoms of cancer
Authors: Skowronski Magdalena , Risør Mette Bech , Foss Nina
Published: May 2018

Little is known about the process from experiencing indeterminate bodily sensations to perceiving them as possible symptoms of cancer relapse. We explore how such processes are related to local values and to clinical practice in rural Northern Norway. One-year ethnographic fieldwork was conducted in a coastal village involving ten key participants residing in the village who had undergone cancer treatment from six months to five years earlier. The village has instability in primary health care staffing, which influences how and when indeterminate bodily sensations are presented to shifting GPs. The participants feel that they have to present clear symptoms, so they hesitate to see the doctor for such bodily sensations. Moreover, the personal evaluation of bodily sensations is embedded in local values in the village. Core values are to contribute to the common good, not be a burden, be positive and avoid focusing on difficult things. Participants’ inner dialogues with co-villagers and health personnel lead to not sharing concerns about bodily sensations, even though they might be symptoms of relapse. We suggest a rethinking and relocation of Hay’s analysis of social legitimation in sense-tosymptom processes in order to grasp the experiences of cancer in rural Northern Norway.
Our family portrait: the church as a model of social support
Authors: Ngenye Liza
Published: May 2018

The church means many things to many people. Some would describe it as a culture, network, organization, or family. The purpose of this study is to understand of the role of the church in providing social support to individual church members and to uncover meanings prescribed by individuals about the nature of social support in the church. I analyze the context in which church practices are embedded, the processes of creating social support, and the meanings of church-related activities and gatherings that contribute to social support. The study examines how the health-related needs of church members are not only physiological but also accounted for in emotional, psychological and social terms. By using metaphor as a framework for interpretation of members’ meanings, my analysis of social support is broadened to include religious contexts. This study adds to growing literature on the connection between religion, communication and health.
Bad girl and unmet family planning need among Sub-Saharan African adolescents: the role of sexual and reproductive health stigma
Authors: Hall Kelli Stidham , Manu Abubakar , Morhe Emmanuel , Dalton Vanessa K. , Challa Sneha , Loll Dana , Dozier Jessica L. , Zochowski Melissa K. , Boakye Andrew , Harris Lisa H.
Published: May 2018

Adolescent pregnancy contributes to high maternal mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. We explored stigma surrounding adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and its impact on young Ghanaian women’s family planning (FP) outcomes. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 63 women ages 15-24 recruited from health facilities and schools in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Purposive sampling provided diversity in reproductive/relationship/socioeconomic/religious characteristics. Using both deductive and inductive approaches, our thematic analysis applied principles of grounded theory. Participants described adolescent SRH experiences as cutting across five stigma domains. First, community norms identified non-marital sex and its consequences (pregnancy, childbearing, abortion, sexually transmitted infections) as immoral, disrespectful, and disobedient, resulting in bad girl labeling. Second, enacted stigma entailed gossip, marginalization, and mistreatment from all community members, especially healthcare workers. Third, young sexually active, pregnant, and childbearing women experienced internalized stigma as disgrace, shame and shyness. Fourth, non-disclosure and secret-keeping were used to avoid/reduce stigma. Fifth, stigma resilience was achieved through social support. Collectively, SRH stigma precluded adolescents’ use of FP methods and services. Our resulting conceptual model of adolescent SRH stigma can guide health service, public health, and policy efforts to address unmet FP need and de-stigmatize SRH for young women worldwide.
College students' communication about complementary and alternative medicine practices
Authors: Carmack Heather J. , Serafin Julie A.
Published: May 2018

While the use of Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) has increased over the last two decades, how patients communicate about their decisions to use CAM has yet to be fully explored. The purpose of this study is to examine college students’ decision-making and communication about CAM. Fourteen college students participated in semi-structured focus group interviews about their CAM use and communication about CAM with family, friends, and health care providers. Participants use CAM to improve their physical and mental health. However, they have difficulties justifying their decision to practice CAM to others. They relied on CAM not only for physical and mental stability, but also as a sounding board for larger spiritual issues. Participants use passive communication strategies to communicate about their CAM use and often do not disclose CAM use to their providers because of the stigmas related to CAM. There is potential danger for CAM users who do not disclose CAM use to providers, family, and friends. More efforts are needed to encourage open and honest communication about CAM use.
Scaling community-based services in Gauteng, South Africa: A comparison of three workforce-planning scenarios
Authors: Bennett Rod , Marcus Tessa S. , Abbott Geoff , Hugo Jannie F
Published: May 2018

Background: The introduction of community-based services through community health workers is an opportunity to redefine the approach and practice of primary health care. Based on bestpractice community oriented primary care (COPC), a COPC planning toolkit has been developed to model the creation of a community-based tier in an integrated district health system.Aim: The article describes the methodologies and assumptions used to determine workforce numbers and service costs for three scenarios and applies them to the poorest 60% of the population in Gauteng, South Africa.Setting: The study derives from a Gauteng Department of Health, Family Medicine (University of Pretoria) partnership to support information and communication technology (ICT)-enabled COPC through community-based health teams (termed as ward-based outreach teams).Methods: The modelling uses national census age, gender and income data at small area level, provincial facility and national burden of disease data. Service calculations take into account multidimensional poverty, demand-adjusted burden of disease and available work time adjusted for conditions of employment and geography.Results: Assuming the use of ICT for each, a health workforce of 14 819, 17 925 and 7303 is required per scenario (current practice, national norms and full-time employed COPC), respectively. Total service costs for the respective scenarios range from R1.1 billion, through R947 million to R783 million.Conclusion: Modelling shows that delivering ICT-enabled COPC with full-time employees is the optimal scenario. It requires the smallest workforce, is the most economical, even when individual community health worker costs of employment are twice those of current practice, and is systemically the most effective.
The Frequency of Lymphocytes Containing Dumbbell-Shaped Nuclei Depends on Ionizing Radiation Dose and Correlates with Appearance of Chromosomal Aberrations
Authors: Kravtsov Viacheslav Yu. , Livanova Alexandra A. , Belyakov Oleg V. , Fedortseva Regina F.
Published: May 2018

Nuclear anomalies of different types appear in cells in response to the action of ionizing radiation after the passage of the first mitotic division. In this article, we present the results of the study of the frequency of occurrence of three types of nuclear anomalies (“tailed” nuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and dumbbell-shaped nuclei) in vitro in human lymphocytes cultured with cytochalasin B when exposed to X-rays at doses of 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 Gy. To stop the cell cycle of cultured lymphocytes after the first mitotic division, a cytokinesis block was performed using cytochalasin B. Dose-dependent curves of the occurrence of lymphocytes containing “tailed” nuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, or dumbbell-shaped nuclei after irradiation have been constructed. At the same time, frequencies of occurrence of chromosomal aberrations (dicentric and ring chromosomes) in the culture of lymphocytes exposed to the same radiation doses were studied. Comparison of the frequencies of occurrence of dicentric and ring chromosomes with frequencies of occurrence of nuclear anomalies allows us to conclude that these nuclear anomalies are formed as a result of chromosomal aberrations arising in lymphocytes under the action of ionizing radiation. More than that, most of the chromosomal aberrations are converted into dumbbell-shaped nuclei in vitro in the culture of lymphocytes in the cytochalasin block.
Benign Sclerosing and Fibrosing Conditions of the Abdomen and Their Potential Mimics
Authors: Mullineux Joseph H , Ivan Catalin V , Pancholi Jay , Verma Ratan , Rajesh Arumugam , Verma Sadhna , Stephenson James A
Published: May 2018

The process of abnormal reparative or reactive processes in the abdominal cavity, can lead to sclerosis and fibrous deposition. The relatively recent discovery of an IgG4 subgroup of immune mediated sclerosing disease 1,2 has thrown some light on the pathophysiology of these conditions. Firstly, our pictorial review aims to describe imaging findings to enhance the general radiologist's recognition and interpretation of this varied group of benign sclerotic and fibrotic abdominal processes. Secondly, along with the imaging findings, we bring into discussion the potential mimics of these pathologic processes to minimise interpretational errors. Moreover, some of the mimics of these processes are in the spectrum of malignant disease. Most importantly, to ensure a correct diagnosis thorough clinical and histopathological assessment are required to support the imaging findings presented in this review.
Expectations of Field Supervisors in Kenya: Implications for Community-based Human Service Practicums
Authors: Kabaria-Muriithi Joan , VanLeeuwen Charlene A , Kathuri-Ogola Lucy , Weeks Lori E
Published: May 2018

Community-based learning (CBL), which provides opportunities for undergraduate students to develop disciplinary and work-related knowledge and skills, is increasingly becoming an integral component of higher education. Similar to other countries, there is a widespread belief among employers in Kenya that there is a mismatch between university programs and labour market demands. In order to enhance the employability of graduates, many departments at a Kenyan university have incorporated work-integrated experiential learning opportunities such as practicums in the educational experience for undergraduate students. The aim of this article is to describe the expectations of field supervisors in host organisations participitating in a community-based human services program at a Kenyan University. Fifteen purposively sampled field supervisors participated in individual face-to-face interviews that included questions about their understanding of the department’s expectations of student learning activities during practicums, knowledge of the academic preparation of students in the program and challenges associated with the supervisory role. Six field supervisors exhibited some level of understanding of the expectations of their role in working with practicum students, while nine field supervisors indicated unclear expectations of the students’ practicum experience. Thematic analysis revealed key themes related to: (1) student abilities, learning goals and their contributions to the host organisations, and (2) the academic program of study and academic support available from the university faculty or staff to field supervisors. The results of our study revealed a lack of clarity around practicum expectations for most of the field supervisors interviewed and insufficient preparation of the community-based organisations to host a practicum student. Several recommendations are identified to clarify the expectations of community partner organisations and the staff providing student supervision to ensure benefits for both students and the host organisation. Results from this study can be used to inform the development or improvement of practicum opportunities focused on producing a skilled workforce.
Effects of temporal averaging on short-term irradiance variability under mixed sky conditions
Authors: Lohmann Gerald M. , Monahan Adam H.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Characterizations of short-term variability in solar radiation are required to successfully integrate large numbers of photovoltaic power systems into the electrical grid. Previous studies have used ground-based irradiance observations with a range of different temporal resolutions and a systematic analysis of the effects of temporal averaging on the representation of variability is lacking. Using high-resolution surface irradiance data with original temporal resolutions between 0.01 and 1 s from six different locations in the Northern Hemisphere, we characterize the changes in representation of temporal variability resulting from time averaging. In this analysis, we condition all data to states of mixed skies, which are the most potentially problematic in terms of local PV power volatility. Statistics of clear-sky index k* and its increments Δk*τ (i.e., normalized surface irradiance and changes therein over specified intervals of time) are considered separately. Our results indicate that a temporal averaging time scale of around 1 s marks a transition in representing single-point irradiance variability, such that longer averages result in substantial underestimates of variability. Higher-resolution data increase the complexity of data management and quality control without appreciably improving the representation of variability. The results do not show any substantial discrepancies between locations or seasons.
Validation of MODIS 3 km land aerosol optical depth from NASA's EOS Terra and Aqua missions
Authors: Gupta Pawan , Remer Lorraine A. , Levy Robert C. , Mattoo Shana
Published: May 2018

Abstract. In addition to the standard resolution product (10 km), the MODerate
resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 (C006) data release
included a higher resolution (3 km). Other than accommodations for the two
different resolutions, the 10 and 3 km Dark Target (DT) algorithms are
basically the same. In this study, we perform global validation of the higher-resolution aerosol optical depth (AOD) over global land by comparing against
AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) measurements. The MODIS–AERONET collocated
data sets consist of 161 410 high-confidence AOD pairs from 2000 to 2015 for
Terra MODIS and 2003 to 2015 for Aqua MODIS. We find that 62.5 and 68.4 % of AODs retrieved from Terra MODIS and Aqua MODIS, respectively, fall
within previously published expected error bounds of ±(0.05 + 0.2 × AOD), with a high correlation (R= 0.87). The scatter is not
random, but exhibits a mean positive bias of ∼ 0.06 for Terra
and ∼ 0.03 for Aqua. These biases for the 3 km product are
approximately 0.03 larger than the biases found in similar validations of the
10 km product. The validation results for the 3 km product did not have a
relationship to aerosol loading (i.e., true AOD), but did exhibit dependence
on quality flags, region, viewing geometry, and aerosol spatial variability.
Time series of global MODIS–AERONET differences show that validation is not
static, but has changed over the course of both sensors' lifetimes, with
Terra MODIS showing more change over time. The likely cause of the change of
validation over time is sensor degradation, but changes in the distribution
of AERONET stations and differences in the global aerosol system itself could
be contributing to the temporal variability of validation.
REVERSE INFORMATION MODELING FOR HISTORIC ARTEFACTS: TOWARDS THE DEFINITION OF A LEVEL OF ACCURACY FOR RUINED HERITAGE
Authors: Santagati C. , Lo Turco M. , Garozzo R.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. In recent years, there has been an increasing attention towards the use of the BIM (Building Information Modeling) approach in the cultural heritage domain. The stringent regulatory requirements in terms of BIM adoption in the field of public works in the short term will also have an impact on the historical heritage that characterises most European cities. However, when it comes to historical architecture, especially if it is in a state of ruin/abandonment, several critical issues arise. The first issue concerns the geometric simplification of architectural components provided by common commercial BIM platforms, that leads to search for other solutions. Another theme is the software interoperability, when sharing data between different platforms in order to enrich the digital model with not geometric information. Therefore, this research explores the concept of model tolerance and level of accuracy referring to a very complex architectural building. As case of study the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in ancient Misterbianco (Sicily) has been chosen. The church was covered by the Etna eruption of 1669 and was recently brought to light during the excavations carried out by the Superintendence to Cultural Heritage of Catania. The state of decay of the church (warped floor, curved and out of lead walls, deteriorated altars and undamaged surfaces) makes it an excellent test bench on which to explore all the emerged criticalities, set up a feasible workflow and define a Level of Accuracy for complex or ruined architectural heritage.
ACQUISITION OF GEOMETRICAL DATA OF SMALL RIVERS WITH AN UNMANNED WATER VEHICLE
Authors: Sardemann H. , Eltner A. , Maas H.-G.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Rivers with small- and medium-scaled catchments have been increasingly affected by extreme events, i.e. flash floods, in the last years. New methods to describe and predict these events are developed in the interdisciplinary research project EXTRUSO. Flash flood events happen on small temporal and spatial scales, stressing the necessity of high-resolution input data for hydrological and hydrodynamic modelling. Among others, the benefit of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) will be evaluated in the project. This article introduces a boat-based approach for the acquisition of geometrical and morphological data of small rivers and their banks. An unmanned water vehicle (UWV) is used as a multi-sensor platform to collect 3D-point clouds of the riverbanks, as well as bathymetric measurements of water depth and river morphology. The UWV is equipped with a mobile Lidar, a panorama camera, an echo sounder and a positioning unit. Whole (sub-) catchments of small rivers can be digitalized and provided for hydrological modelling when UWV-based and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) based point clouds are fused.
3DNOW: IMAGE-BASED 3D RECONSTRUCTION AND MODELING VIA WEB
Authors: Tefera Y. , Poiesi F. , Morabito D. , Remondino F. , Nocerino E. , Chippendale P.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. This paper presents a web-based 3D imaging pipeline, namely 3Dnow, that can be used by anyone without the need of installing additional software other than a browser. By uploading a set of images through the web interface, 3Dnow can generate sparse and dense point clouds as well as mesh models. 3D reconstructed models can be downloaded with standard formats or previewed directly on the web browser through an embedded visualisation interface. In addition to reconstructing objects, 3Dnow offers the possibility to evaluate and georeference point clouds. Reconstruction statistics, such as minimum, maximum and average intersection angles, point redundancy and density can also be accessed. The paper describes all features available in the web service and provides an analysis of the computational performance using servers with different GPU configurations.
TRAJECTORY BASED 3D FRAGMENT TRACKING IN HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Watson E. , Maas H.-G. , Schäfer F. , Hiermaier S.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. Collisions between space debris and satellites in Earth’s orbits are not only catastrophic to the satellite, but also create thousands of new fragments, exacerbating the space debris problem. One challenge in understanding the space debris environment is the lack of data on fragmentation and breakup caused by hypervelocity impacts. In this paper, we present an experimental measurement technique capable of recording 3D position and velocity data of fragments produced by hypervelocity impact experiments in the lab. The experimental setup uses stereo high-speed cameras to record debris fragments generated by a hypervelocity impact. Fragments are identified and tracked by searching along trajectory lines and outliers are filtered in 4D space (3D + time) with RANSAC. The method is demonstrated on a hypervelocity impact experiment at 3.2 km/s and fragment velocities and positions are measured. The results demonstrate that the method is very robust in its ability to identify and track fragments from the low resolution and noisy images typical of high-speed recording.
PLANE-BASED REGISTRATION OF SEVERAL THOUSAND LASER SCANS ON STANDARD HARDWARE
Authors: Wujanz D. , Schaller S. , Gielsdorf F. , Gründig L.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The automatic registration of terrestrial laser scans appears to be a solved problem in science as well as in practice. However, this assumption is questionable especially in the context of large projects where an object of interest is described by several thousand scans. A critical issue inherently linked to this task is memory management especially if cloud-based registration approaches such as the ICP are being deployed. In order to process even thousands of scans on standard hardware a plane-based registration approach is applied. As a first step planar features are detected within the unregistered scans. This step drastically reduces the amount of data that has to be handled by the hardware. After determination of corresponding planar features a pairwise registration procedure is initiated based on a graph that represents topological relations among all scans. For every feature individual stochastic characteristics are computed that are consequently carried through the algorithm. Finally, a block adjustment is carried out that minimises the residuals between redundantly captured areas. The algorithm is demonstrated on a practical survey campaign featuring a historic town hall. In total, 4853 scans were registered on a standard PC with four processors (3.07 GHz) and 12 GB of RAM.
CLASSIFICATION OF MOBILE LASER SCANNING POINT CLOUDS OF URBAN SCENES EXPLOITING CYLINDRICAL NEIGHBOURHOODS
Authors: Zheng M. , Lemmens M. , van Oosterom P.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. This paper presents our work on automated classification of Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) point clouds of urban scenes with features derived from cylinders around points of consideration. The core of our method consists of spanning up a cylinder around points and deriving features, such as reflectance, height difference, from the points present within the cylindrical neighbourhood. Crucial in the approach is the selection of features from the points within the cylinder. An overall accuracy could be achieved, exploiting two bench mark data sets (Paris-rue-Madame and IQmulus & TerraMobilita) of 83 % and 87 % respectively.