bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Control charts for monitoring the ratio of two Poisson rates
Authors: Yamauchi Tsubasa , Lee Ho Linda
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we are concerning in monitoring the ratio ρ of two Poisson rates by control charts. Let X and Y be two independent Poisson random variables with means λ1 and λ2=λ1/ρ, respectively. The study considers that only individual observations Xi and Yi are available at each sampling time i. The performance in detecting shifts on the ratio ρ using several statistics, some based on normalized transformations, is evaluated by an extensive simulation study. Two types of control charts, Shewhart and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), are considered. The one‐sided control chart with upper control limit (UCL) is applied so that we are focusing on detecting when the ratio ρ shifted to higher rate in this paper. The results pointed out that EWMA control chart is a better alternative. Some guidelines indicating which statistics yield best performance are proposed for the practitioners.
Event‐triggered fault detection for switched systems with time‐varying sojourn probabilities
Authors: Li Jiajia , Wei Guoliang , Ding Derui , Zhang Sunjie
Published: October 2019

In this paper, a codesign strategy of an event‐triggered scheme and a fault detection filter (FDF) is developed for the networked switched systems with delayed measurements. A novel switching rule is proposed to better describe the switching behavior in a real system, under which the probability staying in each subsystem is time varying and results in a piecewise continuous system dynamics. An event‐triggered strategy based on the relative error with respect to the delayed measurement signal is established to reduce the communication burden. Our attention is concentrated on the construction of an event‐triggered fault detection technique for the proposed switched system with delayed measurements. Combining the stochastic analysis techniques and the average dwell time (ADT) method, a sufficient condition is obtained to guarantee the finite‐time boundedness of the generated residual system, the sensitivity of the residual signal to faults, and the disturbance attenuation of the switched system to external disturbances. Based on the established condition, a codesign strategy is developed to get the event‐triggered threshold and the FDF gain. Finally, two simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
Composite DOBC with fuzzy fault‐tolerant control for stochastic systems with unknown nonlinear dynamics
Authors: Sun Shixiang , Ren Tao , Wei Xinjiang
Published: October 2019

A class of stochastic nonlinear systems with fault and multisource disturbances is concerned. The fault is a general bounded actuator fault, and the multiple disturbances include partial‐known information disturbance and white noise. A stochastic adaptive disturbance observer is constructed to estimate the partial‐known information disturbance, based on which the partial‐known information disturbance can be compensated in the feed‐foreword channel immediately. Also, the multiplicative white noise can be attenuated by the designed feedback controller. To make the composite system is satisfactory, a composite disturbance based‐observer control with fuzzy fault‐tolerant control is proposed. The pole placement and LMI method is applied to attenuate and reject the disturbance. Furthermore, the fault can be compensated simultaneously. To verify the feasibility and availability of the designed control scheme, a simulation example is shown finally.
DistributedH∞consensus of second‐order multiagent systems with nonconvex constraints
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Xiang Peng , Zhang Qi , Yuan Zhiming , Li Yonggang
Published: October 2019

In this paper, the distributedH∞consensus problem for second‐order multiagent systems is studied. We first propose a distributed control algorithm based on local information. In the presence of external disturbances, some sufficient conditions are then derived to guarantee that all agents reach the distributedH∞consensus, and meanwhile, the inputs of agents always stay in the nonconvex sets, making the results in this paper more practical. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided to show the effectiveness of the results.
Sampling‐based hierarchical motion planning for a reconfigurable wheel‐on‐leg planetary analogue exploration rover
Authors: Reid William , Fitch Robert , Göktoğan Ali H. , Sukkarieh Salah
Published: October 2019

Reconfigurable mobile planetary rovers are versatile platforms that may safely traverse cluttered environments by morphing their physical geometry. Planning paths for these adaptive robots is challenging due to their many degrees of freedom, and the need to consider potentially continuous platform reconfiguration along the length of the path. We propose a novel hierarchical structure for asymptotically optimal (AO) sampling‐based planners and specifically apply it to the state‐of‐the‐art Fast Marching Tree (FMT*) AO planner. Our algorithm assumes a decomposition of the full configuration space into multiple subspaces, and begins by rapidly finding a set of paths through one such subspace. This set of solutions is used to generate a biased sampling distribution, which is then explored to find a solution in the full configuration space. This technique provides a novel way to incorporate prior knowledge of subspaces to efficiently bias search within existing AO sampling‐based planners. Importantly, probabilistic completeness and asymptotic optimality are preserved. Experimental results in simulation are provided that benchmark the algorithm against state‐of‐the‐art sampling‐based planners without the hierarchical variation. Additional experimental results performed with a physical wheel‐on‐leg platform demonstrate application to planetary rover mobility and showcase how constraints such as actuator failures and sensor pointing may be easily incorporated into the planning problem. In minimizing an energy objective that combines an approximation of the mechanical work required for platform locomotion with that required for reconfiguration, the planner produces intuitive behaviors where the robot dynamically adjusts its footprint, varies its height, and clambers over obstacles using legged locomotion. These results illustrate the generality of the planner in exploiting the platform's mechanical ability to fluidly transition between various physical geometric configurations, and wheeled/legged locomotion modes, without the need for predefined configurations.
SPARC promotes self-renewal of limbal epithelial stem cells and ocular surface restoration through JNK and p38-MAPK signaling pathways
Authors: Zhu Jing , Wang Le-yi , Li Chong-yun , Wu Jia-yin , Zhang Yu-ting , Pang Kun-peng , Wei Yan , Du Li-qun , Liu Mei , Wu Xin-yi
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) on the maintenance of limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) stemness and restoration of ocular surface. To determine the suitable concentration of SPARC for LESC culture, the marker expression, mitogenic effect, and holoclone-forming capacity of LESCs treated with different concentrations of SPARC were analyzed. To investigate the mechanism of SPARC's action on the preservation of LESCs stemness, the phosphorylation of related signaling pathways was evaluated by Western blotting. A corneal wound model was established to verify the function of SPARC in ocular surface repair. Consecutive subculturing, colony-forming efficiency, immunofluorescence, and 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine incorporation assays indicated that 1 μg/mL SPARC was a suitable concentration to stimulate LESC proliferation and preserve their proliferative potential. Compared with a control group, 1 μg/mL SPARC effectively increased the expression of ABCG-2, Bmi-1, and Ki67, while decreasing that of CK3/12. The mitogenic effect of SPARC on LESCs was found to be mediated by the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38-MAPK signaling pathways, whereas the inhibitors of JNK and p38 MAPK reduced the marker expression and mitogenic capacity of LESCs. In a corneal injury model, SPARC facilitated corneal epithelial wound healing and promoted the proliferation of p63α-positive cells both in the limbus and in the epithelial healing front. SPARC promotes proliferation while suppressing spontaneous differentiation of LESCs through JNK and p38-MAPK signaling pathways, suggesting that SPARC is a promising factor for the improvement of LESCs culture in vitro and in vivo.
1968 in German-speaking Switzerland: Controversies and Interpretations
Authors: Ritzer Nadine
Published: October 2019

Nadine Ritzer explores how the events of 1968 have been, and are still, taught in German-speaking Switzerland. Focusing on and contrasting the Prague Spring and the Vietnam War, Ritzer explores varying responses to binary approaches toward the Cold War and the relationship between East and West. The chapter traces the shifts in teaching both events that have occurred, particularly looking at how these narratives destabilised the region’s own established ideologies, and how textbook design also had implications for the degrees of criticism levelled at these discourses. The chapter, relying on first person accounts, delineates how teachers themselves often deviated from textbooks in the classroom when approaching both the Prague Spring and the Vietnam War.
Selecting, Stretching and Missing the Frame: Making Sense of the Cold War in German and Swiss History Classrooms
Authors: Christophe Barbara
Published: October 2019

Christophe explores approaches to teaching the Cold War using the case studies of two teachers, one German, one Swiss, and analyses ‘classroom talk’ and teaching techniques to understand how they, both consciously and unconsciously, manipulate their own frames, which she defines as cognitive frameworks inevitably affected by cultural conditioning. Drawing on this research, Christophe articulates her own theory, which, also influenced by recent anthropological studies, postcolonialism and theories of discourse analysis, illustrates how current analytical categories limit understanding of and teaching of the Cold War. Competing approaches to remembering the Cold War, often disregarded, are crucial in classrooms, as students otherwise misunderstand teachers’ mnemonic framing techniques, as they expose unconscious bias and the interdependence of fact and frame.
Textbook Memories of the Cold War: Introduction to Part One
Authors: Christophe Barbara
Published: October 2019

In this introduction to the first part of the edited volume, Barbara Christophe presents the contributions focusing on analyses of how school history textbooks portray the events of the Cold War, or indeed fail to portray them. Christophe also provides an overview of relevant approaches in textbook research to date.
The large charge limit of scalar field theories, and the Wilson-Fisher fixed point at 𝜖 = 0
Authors: Arias-Tamargo G. , Rodriguez-Gomez D. , Russo J.G.
Published: October 2019

Abstract

We study the sector of large charge operators ϕ

n
(ϕ being the complexified scalar field) in the O(2) Wilson-Fisher fixed point in 4−E dimensions that emerges when the coupling takes the critical value g ∼ 𝜖. We show that, in the limit g → 0, when the theory naively approaches the gaussian fixed point, the sector of operators with n → ∞ at fixed g n
2
≡ λ remains non-trivial. Surprisingly, one can compute the exact 2-point function and thereby the non-trivial anomalous dimension of the operator ϕ

n
by a full resummation of Feynman diagrams. The same result can be reproduced from a saddle point approximation to the path integral, which partly explains the existence of the limit. Finally, we extend these results to the three-dimensional O(2)-symmetric theory with (

$$ \overline{\phi} $$

ϕ
¯

ϕ)3 potential.
Calculating the Rotor Between Conformal Objects
Authors: Lasenby J. , Hadfield H. , Lasenby A.
Published: October 2019

In this paper we will address the problem of recovering covariant transformations between objects—specifically; lines, planes, circles, spheres and point pairs. Using the covariant language of conformal geometric algebra (CGA), we will derive such transformations in a very simple manner. In CGA, rotations, translations, dilations and inversions can be written as a single rotor, which is itself an element of the algebra. We will show that the rotor which takes a line to a line (or plane to a plane etc) can easily be formed and we will investigate the nature of the rotors formed in this way. If we can recover the rotor between one object and another of the same type, a useable metric which tells us how close one line (plane etc) is to another, can be a function of how close this rotor is to the identity. Using these ideas, we find that we can define metrics for a number of common problems, specifically recovering the transformation between sets of noisy objects.
Multiple model synchronization with multiary delta lenses with amendment andK-Putput
Authors: Diskin Zinovy , König Harald , Lawford Mark
Published: October 2019

Multiple (more than 2) model synchronization is ubiquitous and important for MDE, but its theoretical underpinning gained much less attention than the binary case. Specifically, the latter was extensively studied by the bx community in the framework of algebraic models for update propagation called
lenses
. We make a step to restore the balance and propose a notion of multiary delta lens. Besides multiarity, our lenses feature
reflective
updates, when consistency restoration requires some amendment of the update that violated consistency, and a reasonable
Put Put law
that requires compatibility of update propagation with update composition for a precisely specified restricted class of composable update pairs. We emphasize the importance of various ways of lens composition for practical applications of the framework, and prove several composition results.
Study on the Segmentation of the Right Posterior Sector of the Liver
Authors: Minami Takayuki , Ebata Tomoki , Yokoyama Yukihiro , Igami Tsuyoshi , Mizuno Takashi , Yamaguchi Junpei , Onoe Shunsuke , Watanabe Nobuyuki , Nagino Masato
Published: October 2019

Background

The border between segments VI and VII of the right posterior sector of the liver is controversial owing to lack of anatomical landmarks. This study aimed to examine the segmentation of the right posterior sector.

Methods

Using three‐dimensional software, ramification type of the right posterior portal vein (RPPV) was analysed in 100 patients.

Results

A bow‐shaped anatomy, in which the RPPV exhibits a downward convex bow shape with several ramifications, was found in 50 patients. A bifurcation anatomy, in which the RPPV bifurcates into the cranial and caudal branches, was observed in 45 patients. In the bow‐shaped anatomy, setting the segmentation was difficult due to lack of definite landmarks; thus, the downward portal branches were determined as segment VI branches, while horizontal and upward branches were determined as segment VII branches. In the bow‐shaped anatomy, the incidence of full exposure of a thick branch of the right hepatic vein on virtual transection surface was 60.0%, while in the bifurcation anatomy, it was only 11.1%. No relations were observed between RPPV anatomy and main PV/right hepatic vein anatomy. The volumes of segments VI and VII were equal in both the bow‐shaped and bifurcation anatomy.

Conclusions

The bow‐shaped and bifurcation types are commonly observed in RPPV anatomy. In the bifurcation anatomy, the right posterior sector is divided into segments VI and VII. In the bow‐shaped anatomy, setting the segmentation was difficult, thus it may be compelled to be arbitrarily determined.
Radioembolization with 90Y Resin Microspheres of Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases After Initial Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy
Authors: Braat A. J. A. T. , Ahmadzadehfar H. , Kappadath S. C. , Stothers C. L. , Frilling A. , Deroose C. M. , Flamen P. , Brown D. B. , Sze D. Y. , Mahvash A. , Lam M. G. E. H.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) and radioembolization are increasingly used in neuroendocrine neoplasms patients. However, concerns have been raised on cumulative hepatotoxicity. The aim of this sub-analysis was to investigate hepatotoxicity of yttrium-90 resin microspheres radioembolization in patients who were previously treated with PRRT.

Methods

Patients treated with radioembolization after systemic radionuclide treatment were retrospectively analysed. Imaging response according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumours (RECIST) v1.1 and clinical response after 3 months were collected. Clinical, biochemical and haematological toxicities according to common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) v4.03 were also collected. Specifics on prior PRRT, subsequent radioembolization treatments, treatments after radioembolization and overall survival (OS) were collected.

Results

Forty-four patients were included, who underwent a total of 58 radioembolization procedures, of which 55% whole liver treatments, at a median of 353 days after prior PRRT. According to RECIST 1.1, an objective response rate of 16% and disease control rate of 91% were found after 3 months. Clinical response was seen in 65% (15/23) of symptomatic patients after 3 months. Within 3 months, clinical toxicities occurred in 26%. Biochemical and haematological toxicities CTCAE grade 3–4 occurred in ≤ 10%, apart from lymphocytopenia (42%). Radioembolization-related complications occurred in 5% and fatal radioembolization-induced liver disease in 2% (one patient). A median OS of 3.5 years [95% confidence interval 1.8–5.1 years] after radioembolization for the entire study population was found.

Conclusion

Radioembolization after systemic radionuclide treatments is safe, and the occurrence of radioembolization-induced liver disease is rare.

Level of Evidence

4, case series.
Electro-optic sensor for static fields
Authors: Grasdijk J. O. , Bai X. F. , Engin I. , Jungmann K. , Krause H. J. , Niederländer B. , Offenhäuser A. , Repetto M. , Willmann L. , Zimmer S.
Published: October 2019

A sensor has been developed for low frequency and DC electric fields E. The device is capable of measuring fields with $$\varDelta \mathrm{E}= 4$$ΔE=4 (1) V/cm resolution. It is based on a Y-cut Z-propagation lithium niobate electro-optic crystal. For a particular commercially available bare crystal, we achieved an in air time constant $$\tau _\mathrm{c}(\mathrm air)= 6.4(1.8)$$τc(air)=6.4(1.8) h for the decay of the electro-optic signal. This enables field monitoring for several hours. As an application, we demonstrated that a constant electric field $$E^{\mathrm{ext}} = 640$$Eext=640 V/cm applied via external electrodes to a particular spherical glass container holding an Xe/He gas mixture decays inside this cell with a time constant $$\tau _{E}^{\mathrm{glass}} = 2.5(5)$$τEglass=2.5(5) h. This is sufficient for the needs of experiments searching for a permanent electric dipole moment in $$^{129}$$129Xe. An integrated electric field sensor has been constructed which is coupled to a light source and light detectors via optical fibers. The sensor head does not contain any electrically conducting material.
Effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the mTORC1 pathway on the risk of brain metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Yiquan , Huang Yina , Weng Lihong , Zheng Jiankun , Huang Yi , Lin Ying , Zhao Yunan , Li Hongru , Chen Yusheng
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway plays a vital role in cancer development and progression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between genotype variants in mTORC1 pathway and the risk of brain metastasis (BM) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We extracted genomic DNA from blood samples of 501 NSCLC patients and genotyped eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three core genes [mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mammalian lethal with sec-13 protein 8 (mLST8) and regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (RPTOR)] of the mTORC1 pathway. The associations between these SNPs and the risk of BM development were assessed.

Results

The AG/GG genotype of mLST8:rs26865 and TC/CC genotype of mLST8:rs3160 were associated with an increased risk of BM [hazard ratios (HR) 2.938, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.664–5.189, p < 0.001 and HR = 2.490, 95% CI = 1.543–4.016, p < 0.001, respectively]. These risk polymorphisms had a cumulative effect on BM risk, with two risk genotypes exhibiting the highest increased risk (p < 0.001). Furthermore, these risk SNPs were associated with the lymph node metastasis (N2/3), body mass index (BMI) (≥ 25 kg/m2), high level of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen and Ki-67 proliferation index. Moreover, patients with AG/GG genotype of mLST8:rs26865 had significantly lower median overall survival than those with AA genotype (12.1 months versus 21.6 months, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that polymorphisms in mTORC1 pathway were significantly associated with increased risk of BM and may be valuable biomarkers to identify NSCLC patients with a high risk of BM.
On Hopf bifurcation in the problem of motion of a heavy particle on a rotating sphere: the viscous friction case
Authors: Kuleshov A. S. , Shalimova E. S. , Steindl A.
Published: October 2019

We investigate the Hopf bifurcation of a mass on a rotating sphere under the influence of gravity and viscous friction. After determining the equilibria, we study their stability and calculate the first Lyapunov coefficient to determine the post-critical behavior. It is found that the bifurcating periodic branches are initially stable. For several inclination angles of the sphere’s rotation axis, the periodic solutions are calculated numerically, which shows that for large inclination angles turning points occur, at which the periodic solutions become unstable. We also investigate the limiting case of small friction coefficients, when the mass moves close to the equator of the rotating sphere.
Does certification improve hired labour conditions and wageworker conditions at banana plantations?
Authors: van Rijn Fédes , Fort Ricardo , Ruben Ruerd , Koster Tinka , Beekman Gonne
Published: October 2019

Certification of banana plantations is widely used as a device for protecting and improving socio-economic conditions of wageworkers, including their incomes, working conditions and—increasingly—voice [related to labour relations and workplace representation]. However, to date, evidence about the effectiveness of certification in these domains is scarce. We collected detailed field data on (1) economic benefits for improving household income, (2) social benefits for labour practices, and (3) the voice of wageworkers focusing on identity and identification issues amongst wageworkers at Fairtrade certified banana plantations and comparable, non-certified plantations in the Dominican Republic. We used different types of regression models to identify significant relationships. Econometrical analysis of survey results complemented by field observations and outcomes from in-depth stakeholder interviews indicate that the impact of Fairtrade certification on wageworkers’ economic benefits is rather limited. However, the impact on the voice of wageworkers (job satisfaction, sense of ownership, trust), is more evident. On Fairtrade certified plantations workers are more satisfied with the course of life and better represented. Thus while the additional value of Fairtrade certification on primary wages seems limited, Fairtrade has relevant positive effects on the labour force, particularly by delivering in-kind benefits, offering a sense of job-security, improving voice and enabling private savings. Benefits of (Fairtrade) certification, but also other interventions with a similar purpose, might therefore not be discerned in terms of economic benefits such as wages or basic labour conditions that are under direct control of (inter)national law, but they should be identified in terms of social benefits and improved norms of conduct for wageworker engagement.
The Inclusiveness and Emptiness of Gong Qi: A Non-Anglophone Perspective on Ethics from a Sino-Japanese Corporation
Authors: Dai Wenjin , Gosling Jonathan , Pye Annie
Published: October 2019

This article introduces a non-Anglophone concept of gong qi (communal vessel, 公器) as a metaphor for ‘corporation’. It contributes an endogenous perspective from a Sino-Japanese organizational context that enriches mainstream business ethics literature, otherwise heavily reliant on Western traditions. We translate the multi-layered meanings of gong qi based on analysis of its ideograms, its references into classical philosophies, and contemporary application in this Japanese multinational corporation in China. Gong qi contributes a perspective that sees a corporation as an inclusive and virtuous social entity, and also addresses the elusive, implicit, and forever evolving nature of organizational life that is rarely noticed. We propose gong qi can be applied in other organizations and wider cultural contexts to show a new way of seeing and understanding business ethics and organization. Rather than considering virtue as a list of definable individual qualities, we suggest that the metaphor of gong qi reveals how virtue can be experienced as indeterminate, yet immanently present, like the substance of emptiness. This, then allows us to see the virtue of immanence, the beauty of implicitness, and hence, the efficacy of gong qi.
Molecular Variants in Human Trace Amine-Associated Receptors and Their Implications in Mental and Metabolic Disorders
Authors: Rutigliano Grazia , Zucchi Riccardo
Published: October 2019

We provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence on the pathophysiological implications of genetic variants in the human trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) superfamily. Genes coding for trace amine-associated receptors (taars) represent a multigene family of G-protein-coupled receptors, clustered to a small genomic region of 108 kb located in chromosome 6q23, which has been consistently identified by linkage analyses as a susceptibility locus for schizophrenia and affective disorders. Most TAARs are expressed in brain areas involved in emotions, reward and cognition. TAARs are activated by endogenous trace amines and thyronamines, and evidence for a modulatory action on other monaminergic systems has been reported. Therefore, linkage analyses were followed by fine mapping association studies in schizophrenia and affective disorders. However, none of these reports has received sufficient universal replication, so their status remains uncertain. Single nucleotide polymorphisms intaarshave emerged as susceptibility loci from genome-wide association studies investigating migraine and brain development, but none of the detected variants reached the threshold for genome-wide significance. In the last decade, technological advances enabled single-gene or whole-exome sequencing, thus allowing the detection of rare genetic variants, which may have a greater impact on the risk of complex disorders. Using these approaches, severaltaars(especiallytaar1) variants have been detected in patients with mental and metabolic disorders, and in some cases, defective receptor function has been demonstrated in vitro. Finally, with the use of transcriptomic and peptidomic techniques, dysregulations of TAARs (especially TAAR6) have been identified in brain disorders characterized by cognitive impairment.
Photogeneration of reactive oxygen species over ultrafine TiO2 particles functionalized with rutin–ligand induced sensitization and crystallization effects
Authors: Łabuz Przemysław , Gryboś Joanna , Pietrzyk Piotr , Sobańska Kamila , Macyk Wojciech , Sojka Zbigniew
Published: October 2019

Interaction of amorphous and crystalline TiO2ultrafine particles (2–6 nm) with rutin results in the formation of colored nanomaterials of an excellent dispersity and enhanced colloidal stability in aqueous media. The FTIR and Raman spectra confirmed attachment of the rutin ligand via vicinal hydroxyl groups in a catechol-like fashion. The binding of rutin to amorphous TiO2gives rise to spontaneous crystallization of the parent nanoparticles into hydrogen titanates (H2Ti3O7and H2Ti12O25). Such structural transformations result in photosensitization toward visible light with enhanced efficiency of the charge separation and interfacial charge transfer processes, confirmed by detailed photoelectrochemical studies of the examined nanomaterials. The effectiveness of the photocatalytic ROS generation reactions was also strongly influenced by hydrogen peroxide, which plays a double role of a reactant prone to reduction and generation of hydroxyl radicals or a redox agent destroying the intra-band gap electronic states, suppressing thereby charge recombination. The photoinduced charge transfer processes lead to generation of various reactive oxygen species, which were detected by EPR using DMPO spin trap (HOO·detection) and in the reaction with terephthalic acid acting as a chemical scavenger (HO·detection). Complexation of TiO2particles with rutin shifts the photogeneration of hydroperoxyl (HOO·) and hydroxyl (HO·) radicals toward visible light (λ > 400 nm). A triple effect of rutin attachment to titania was established. It consists in pronounced photosensitization, promotion of crystallization and enhancement of the colloidal stability of ultrafine titania particles. Environmental implications of these assets on the photoinduced redox reactions with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions upon UV or visible light irradiation were also discussed.
The Development of the Internalization of Sociocultural Body Ideals Scale Using Items From the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire: Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Invariance Testing
Authors: Sicilia Alvaro , Granero-Gallegos Antonio , Alcaraz-Ibáñez Manuel , Griffiths Mark D. , Sánchez-Gallardo Isabel , Medina-Casaubón Jesús
Published: October 2019

Eating disorders and body image disturbance are known to result in unhealthy consequences. When attempting to understand the etiology and management of these disorders, sociocultural models of body image disturbance and disordered eating have been predominant. The objective of the present study was to develop and validate the Internalization of Sociocultural Body Ideals Scale (ISBIS), a psychometric instrument that utilizes items from various versions of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ). The ISBIS was developed to overcome some of the limitations found in existing instruments (including the SATAQ) that assess the internalization of sociocultural body ideals. The sample comprised 1130 students aged between 10 and 14 years. The psychometric properties of the ISBIS were examined using different analyses. The results supported the eight-item structure: four items for thin body ideal internalization and four items for thin body muscular/athletic internalization. The structure showed invariance to gender and achieved acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability indexes. Controlling for gender and body mass index, the results also showed that the internalization of the thin body ideal positively predicted social-physique anxiety in a statistically significant way. The results provide empirical evidence that the ISBIS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing sociocultural body ideals in Spanish preadolescents.
Exploring enabling resources for place-based social entrepreneurship: a participatory study of Green Care practices in Finland
Authors: Moriggi Angela
Published: October 2019

Enabling resources are the array of tangible and intangible assets that social entrepreneurs mobilize or create to bring forward novel place-based initiatives, to respond to unmet sustainability challenges and ideally contribute to virtuous processes of socio-economic transformation. Understanding the role of resources in constraining or enabling the development of social enterprises holds important implications not merely for the initiatives, but also for the places where they are embedded. Existing studies fail to provide a comprehensive, empirically grounded account of resources for place-based social entrepreneurship. This paper aims to fill this gap, by exploring the array of resources that enable and constrain the development of Green Care practice, i.e., nature-based activities with a social innovation purpose. Three communities of Finnish practitioners—a nature-tourism company, a care farm, and a biodynamic farm—were involved over the span of 3 years in research activities conducted with an in-depth qualitative approach. Participants were engaged in several stages of iterative learning combining conventional and action-research methods: semi-structured interviews, participatory mapping, and a co-creation workshop. Results show that entrepreneurs resort to a great variety of enabling resources, inclusive of both tangible and intangible assets, that are only marginally considered by relevant literature. Based on these findings, the paper proposes a novel set of enabling resources, comprehensive of nine clusters: infrastructural, institutional, material, place-specific, organizational culture-related, social, ethical, affective, and competence-related. Two concluding insights can be inferred: understanding resources is paramount to grasp possibilities and challenges of place-based entrepreneurship; in-depth participatory processes are needed for a thorough and grounded investigation of enabling resources in places.
The second official report from Japanese registry for mechanical assisted circulatory support (J-MACS): first results of bridge to bridge strategy
Authors:   the J-MACS investigators, Kinugawa Koichiro , Nishimura Takashi , Toda Koichi , Saiki Yoshikatsu , Niinami Hiroshi , Nunoda Shinichi , Matsumiya Goro , Nishimura Motonobu , Arai Hirokuni , Morita Shigeki , Yanase Masanobu , Fukushima Norihide , Nakatani Takeshi , Sakata Yasushi , Ono Minoru
Published: October 2019

Background

The Japanese registry for mechanical assisted circulatory support (J-MACS) is a prospective registry to collect all data of implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (and part of paracorporeal VAD) established in 2010. The first analytical report was published in 2017. The organization running J-MACS was used to be the pharmaceuticals and medical devices agency (PMDA), but has been changed to the council for clinical use of ventricular assist device related academic societies in 2017.

Methods

Since 2018, we changed the analytical methods as follows: first, we eliminated paracorporeal VAD from the analysis. Second, we included not only primary implantation but bridge to bridge (BTB) implantation of LVAD. Third, we added the analyses of adverse events that were not included in the previous analysis.

Results

As of Oct 2018, 711 primary LVAD implants and 168 BTB implants were enrolled. Survival rate of primary LVAD was 93% at 360 days and 91% at 720 days, and that of BTB was 86% at 360 days and 82% at 720 days.

Conclusion

We first reported the results of BTB in the second official report of J-MACS. The prognosis after LVAD implantation has been kept good in Japanese circumstances.
Colorectal cancer survivors only marginally change their overall lifestyle in the first 2 years following diagnosis
Authors: van Zutphen Moniek , Boshuizen Hendriek C. , Kok Dieuwertje E. , van Baar Harm , Geijsen Anne J. M. R. , Wesselink Evertine , Winkels Renate M. , van Halteren Henk K. , de Wilt Johannes H. W. , Kampman Ellen , van Duijnhoven Fränzel J. B.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

A healthy lifestyle after colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis may improve prognosis. Data related to lifestyle change in CRC survivors are inconsistent and potential interrelated changes are unknown.

Methods

We assessed dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and smoking among 1072 patients diagnosed with stages I–III CRC at diagnosis, 6 months and 2 years post-diagnosis. An overall lifestyle score was constructed based on the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research recommendations (range 0–7). We used linear mixed models to analyze changes in lifestyle over time.

Results

Participants had a mean (± SD) age of 65 ± 9 years and 43% had stage III disease. In the 2 years following CRC diagnosis, largest changes were noted for sugary drinks (− 45 g/day) and red and processed meat intake (− 62 g/week). BMI (+ 0.4 kg/m2), waist circumference (+ 2 cm), and dietary fiber intake (− 1 g/day) changed slightly. CRC survivors did not statistically significant change their mean intake of fruits and vegetables, alcohol, or ultra-processed foods nor did they change their physical activity or smoking behavior. Half of participants made simultaneous changes that resulted in improved concordance with one component as well as deteriorated concordance with another component of the lifestyle score. Overall lifestyle score changed from a mean 3.4 ± 0.9 at diagnosis to 3.5 ± 0.9 2 years post-diagnosis.

Conclusions

CRC survivors hardly improve their overall lifestyle after diagnosis.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Given the importance of a healthy lifestyle, strategies to effectively support behavior changes in CRC survivors need to be identified.
Production of recombinant colicin M in Nicotiana tabacum plants and its antimicrobial activity
Authors: Łojewska Ewelina , Sakowicz Tomasz , Kowalczyk Aleksandra , Konieczka Magdalena , Grzegorczyk Janina , Sitarek Przemysław , Skała Ewa , Czarny Piotr , Śliwiński Tomasz , Kowalczyk Tomasz
Published: October 2019

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms causing a life-threatening infection pose a serious challenge for modern science. The rapidly growing number of incidents for which the use of standard antibiotics is ineffective forces us to develop new alternative methods of killing microorganisms. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPs) can be promising candidates to solve this problem. Colicin-M is one of the representatives of this group and is naturally produced byEscherichia coliacting on other closely related bacterial strains by disrupting their outer cell membrane. This bacteriocin has huge potential as a potent antimicrobial agent, especially, since it was recognized by the FDA as safe. In this work, we present the expression of colicin M in model transgenicNicotiana tabacumL. plants. We demonstrate that purified colicin retains its antibacterial activity against the controlEscherichia colistrains and clinical isolates ofEscherichia coliandKlebsiella pneumoniae. Our results also show that plant-derived ColM is not toxic for L929 and HeLa cell line, which allows us to suppose that plant-based expression could be an alternative production method of such important proteins.
Association of HSPA1B Polymorphisms with Paranoid Schizophrenia in a Polish Population
Authors: Kowalczyk Malgorzata , Kucia Krzysztof , Owczarek Aleksander , Suchanek-Raif Renata , Merk Wojciech , Fila-Danilow Anna , Paul-Samojedny Monika , Choreza Piotr , Kowalski Jan
Published: October 2019

This study aimed to find the potential association betweenHSPA1Bpolymorphisms and risk of paranoid schizophrenia, clinical variables of the disease, and suicidal behavior. A total of 901 unrelated Polish subjects of Caucasian origin (377 schizophrenia patients and 524 controls) were recruited. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped using PCR–RFLP (rs539689, rs9281590) and TaqMan assays (rs263979, rs6547452). A strong tendency towards statistical significance (p = 0.051) was observed in rs539689 allele distribution between patients and controls in overall study subjects. After stratification according to gender, we found that rs539689 was significantly associated with schizophrenia in males, but not in females. The minor allele C had a protective effect in males [OR 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88,p < 0.05)]. In addition, two SNPs (rs539689, rs9281590) were significantly associated with PANSS scores. Another important finding was a strong significant association between theHSPA1Brs539689 polymorphism and attempted suicide in schizophrenic patients. The C/C genotype and C allele were protective against suicidal behavior in entire sample (p < 0.001), in males (p < 001), and in females (p < 0.05), although associations were weaker than in males. Our findings support thatHSPA1Bgene may be involved in susceptibility to schizophrenia and clinical presentation of the disease in a sex-dependent manner, and may play a role in suicidal behavior in the Polish population of schizophrenic patients. Further independent analyses in different populations should be performed to clarify the role ofHSPA1Bin the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Pill-induced esophagitis caused by ingesting excessive caffeine tablets
Authors: Miyata Jun , Ito Yoshiyuki , Ito Shigeji
Published: October 2019

A 19-year-old woman with suicidal thoughts consumed 24 anhydrous caffeine tablets and was admitted to our hospital. After being discharged from the hospital, her oral intake remained impaired because of retrosternal pain and she was readmitted. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed diffuse ulcers throughout the mid-to-lower esophagus; the patient was diagnosed with caffeine-induced esophagitis. She recovered soon after conservative treatment. A follow-up endoscopy performed 1 month after the patient was discharged showed that the ulcers had healed. This case highlights the risk of esophageal injuries after ingesting excessive caffeine tablets, which were sold as dietary supplement without a prescription. Our experience indicates that endoscopic surveillance is advisable to prevent severe complications if a patient presents with esophageal symptoms suggestive of chemical esophagitis.
Regulation of JAK/STAT signal pathway by miR-21 in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Li Hong-Wei , Zeng Hua-Song
Published: October 2019

Background

Overexpression of the components of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling pathway is the key factor of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). The study aims to investigate the association between miR-21 and the JAK/STAT signal pathway in JIA.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in active JIA patients. The relative expressions of miR-21, STAT3 and suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 in PBMCs were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and their expressions were measured by western blotting and dual-luciferase reported assay. Rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cell (RASF) was stimulated to become to osteoclasts using macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and factors that can impact on their differentiation ability were identified through the transfection of LV3-miR-21. The expression of STAT3/p-STAT3 was measured by western blot, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A, p65, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3, MMP-4 and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB after the LV3-miR-21 transfection were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, the miR-21 targeted STAT3 gene was detected by the dual-luciferase reported assay.

Results

The expression of miR-21 was significantly lower in JIA patients than in healthy control (P < 0.05). The level of STAT3 was increased in PBMCs of JIA group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression levels of miR-21 in sJIA and polyarticular JIA groups were negatively correlated with STAT3 (r = − 0.5854/r = − 0.6134, P < 0.05). The expression of STAT3 changed little in PBMCS after the stimulation of IL-6 and not in RASFs with transfection of LV3-miR-21. The expression of p-STAT3 decreased after the stimulation of IL-6 in RASFs transfected by LV3-miR-21 (P < 0.05). RASFs were induced into osteoclasts using M-CSF. The number of osteoclasts as determined by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was significantly lower in group miR-21 mimics as compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

We showed that expression of miR-21 was significantly lower in JIA patients compared with healthy control. MiR-21 might affect the JAK/STAT signal pathway by suppressing the expression of STAT3 and phosphorylation of STAT3. MiR-21 could inhibit the production of osteoclasts induced from RASFs by M-CSF.
Improvement of dyes removal from aqueous solution by Nanosized cobalt ferrite treated with humic acid during coprecipitation
Authors: Ibrahim Shaimaa M. , Badawy Abdelrahman A. , Essawy Hisham A.
Published: October 2019

Highly effective novel adsorbent [CoFe2O4-humic acid(HA)] was synthesized by co-precipitation technique at pH 6 (H6) and pH 8 (H8). XRD,SBETand Zeta-potential measurements were used to study the physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles. XRD results showed that the chemical treatment of CoFe2O4by HA causes the appearance of carbon as new active sites for adsorption process. Batch adsorption tests were achieved to eliminate anionic remazole-red (RR-133) and cationic methylene blue (MB) dyes. The obtained data showed that H6 and H8 solids calcined at 300 and 500 °C have higher adsorption rate for removing of dye than unmodified cobalt iron mixed oxide. The removal reached 100% after a period of dye contact time 2 min and 30 min for RR and MB, respectively. The uptake of RR and MB was much affected by the pH of dye solution. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was the most fitted well and the adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption of dye on adsorbent was chemisorption process. The as-prepared adsorbents can be regenerated and reused four times for both dyes. The efficiency of the prepared nano-samples and durability as adsorbent were accomplished.

Graphic abstract
First report of Fusarium proliferatum causing root rot of Gerbera in China
Authors: Zhao Dailin , Yang Xuehui , Wu Shiping , He Haiyong , Tan Qingqun , Chen Xiaojun , Shi Lejuan
Published: October 2019

In January 2018, gerbera plants showed root rot symptoms were found in a greenhouse at Guizhou Horticultural Institute in Guiyang city, Guizhou Province in southwest China. Morphological and molecular identifications confirmed the isolation of Fusarium proliferatum. The pathogenicity was verified with Koch’s postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming root rot of gerbera caused by Fusarium proliferatum in China.