bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the reasons for differentiation between abduction and inference to the best explanation
Authors: Cakic Vladimir
Published: December 2016

Relationship between abduction and Inference to the Best Explanation is not
sufficiently elaborated in contemporary literature. These terms are often
unjustifiably considered to be synonymous. The aim of this paper is to
articulate the meanings of these notions and make a clear distinction between
them. It will be shown that, despite certain similarities, there are
significant differences between abduction and Inference to the Best
Explanation. Charles Sanders Peirce defines abduction as a kind of insight by
which we discover new hypotheses, which are only potential explanations and
truth of which is just assumed. Peirce sees the clear difference between
abduction and induction. On the other hand, according to Peter Lipton,
Inference to the Best Explanation is the kind of induction that compares
potential explanations, filters the best one among them, and justifies our
belief in its truth. We choose between available potential explanations and
the best one of them is actual, i.e. true explanation. I argue that there are
three significant differences between abduction and Inference to the Best
Explanation: (1) their basic purposes, (2) strength of their conclusions, and
(3) manner in which they function as processes.
A defence of Mill`s educational argument in favour of democracy
Authors: Kovacevic Milos
Published: December 2016

In Considerations on Representative Government Mill argues that
representative democracy is the best form of the state organisation for
societies which fulfil necessary conditions for maintaining it. In favour of
his thesis, Mill offers two arguments. One of them shows that rights and
interests of citizens are best guaranteed when they are protected by citizens
themselves. He uses the other (educational) argument to show that
representative democracy is the best state organisation, since it offers
greatest opportunities for citizen education. In this paper, I will defend
only the educational argument in favour of (representative) democracy from
Arneson`s criticism. Arneson tries to show that the main source of
paternalism in Mill`s theory of government lies in the education of citizens
as the main criteria for the good government. Arneson argues that
non-democratic societies can equally well educate citizens as democratic
societies, which shows that the main goal of Mill`s government is
paternalistic. Also, Arneson argues that even if non-democratic societies
couldn?t educate citizens equally well as democratic one, educating citizens
cannot be the main government goal, since it decreases liberties which are
guaranteed by harm principle. I will defend Mill`s main goal of government
from both lines of Arneson`s argumentation.
Economic models as theoretical cases
Authors: Krstic Milos
Published: December 2016

While some people wonder why analyze the models for which assumptions are
known to be false, the economists believe that they can learn a lot in that
way. The article shows that the knowledge that academic economists have
gained largely related to concrete cases and not with rules. Economists often
do not offer general rules or theories which should be compared with
empirical data, but they analyze models that are ?special theoreticall
cases?, and which help the understanding of economic problems, by describing
analogies between the the problem and economic models. Economic models,
empirical data, experimental results, and other sources of knowledge have the
same epistemological status at economists, because they provide the cases
with which they can compare the specific of economic problems.
An important moment in understanding of transcendental apperception or why proof of an external world of G.E. Moore could not be correct
Authors: Stevanovic Aleksandar
Published: December 2016

In this paper author tried to show an important and frequently undetected
element of function of transcendental apperception in philosophy of Immanuel
Kant, and, considering this, to give arguments, why Proof of an external
world of G. E. Moore is incorrect. Explaining the transcendental apperception
as ?feeling of existence? in Prolegomena, Kant has given the element to
interpret the synthesis of transcendental apperception, not only as
fundamental synthesis of knowledge, but also as synthesis of existence given
by power of feeling of pleasure and displeasure. Explaining the interaction
of power of knowledge and power of feeling of existence in the empirical
consciousness, the author gave the arguments for wider interpretation of
function of transcendental apperception. After that, explaining the Proof of
an external world of G. E. Moore, author tried to show, that Moore in
establishing his argument used unacceptable metaphysical and transcendental
presuppositions and ended in situation where he ?know things which he cannot
prove?. The paper ends with conclusion that the things that stay out of
domain of knowledge could not be proved by any means, even when they are
presented with undeniable certainty.
Interferon-γ Limits Diabetogenic CD8+ T-Cell Effector Responses in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Driver John P. , Racine Jeremy J. , Ye Cheng , Lamont Deanna J. , Newby Brittney N. , Leeth Caroline M. , Chapman Harold D. , Brusko Todd M. , Chen Yi-Guang , Mathews Clayton E. , Serreze David V.
Published: December 2016

Type 1 diabetes development in the NOD mouse model is widely reported to be dependent on high-level production by autoreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), generally considered a proinflammatory cytokine. However, IFN-γ can also participate in tolerance-induction pathways, indicating it is not solely proinflammatory. This study addresses how IFN-γ can suppress activation of diabetogenic CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T cells transgenically expressing the diabetogenic AI4 T-cell receptor adoptively transferred disease to otherwise unmanipulated NOD.IFN-γnull, but not standard NOD, mice. AI4 T cells only underwent vigorous intrasplenic proliferation in NOD.IFN-γnull recipients. Disease-protective IFN-γ could be derived from any lymphocyte source and suppressed diabetogenic CD8+ T-cell responses both directly and through an intermediary nonlymphoid cell population. Suppression was not dependent on regulatory T cells, but was associated with increased inhibitory STAT1 to STAT4 expression levels in pathogenic AI4 T cells. Importantly, IFN-γ exposure during activation reduced the cytotoxicity of human-origin type 1 diabetes–relevant autoreactive CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these results indicate that rather than marking the most proinflammatory lymphocytes in diabetes development, IFN-γ production could represent an attempted limitation of pathogenic CD8+ T-cell activation. Thus, great care should be taken when designing possible diabetic intervention approaches modulating IFN-γ production.
Synthesis of Xylylene-Bridged Dipalladium Complexes with Imidazole and Triazole-Based Di-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligands
Authors: Du Yufeng , Tang Huiling , Ding Hong , Shi Yanhui , Cao Changsheng , Pang Guangsheng
Published: December 2016

The di-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) dipalladium complexes, [(PdPyBr2)2(di-NHCimi)] and [(PdPyBr2)2(di-NHCtri)], di-NHCimi and di-NHCtri represent an imidazolylidene and a triazolylidene, respectively, featuring a 1,4-xylylene spacer between the carbene units, have been prepared. The influences of the imidazolylidene and triazolidene backbone and different substituents on the catalytic activity have been investigated in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction of styrene with bromobenzene.
Mechanomyographic amplitude and frequency vs. isometric torque relationships in women with higher vs. lower strength
Authors: Gulick Colleen N. , Coburn Jared W. , Galpin Andrew J. , Costa Pablo B.
Published: December 2016

OBJECTIVE:

The study examined mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude(root mean square, RMS) and mean power frequency (MPF) vs. torque relationships during isometric muscle actions in women with higher vs. lower strength.

METHODS:

Eighteen women volunteered to perform isometric leg extensions at 10 to 100% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) on an isokinetic dynamometer. The women were classified into lower strength (n = 10) and higher strength (n= 8) groups based on their isometric MVC values(lower = 98.4 ± 18.3 Nm, higher = 162.8 ± 26.1 Nm). An accelerometer was placed over the vastus lateralis to detect the MMG amplitude (RMS) and frequency (MPF). Torque (Nm) was recorded by the dynamometer.

RESULTS:

Polynomial regression analyses indicated the relationship for normalized MMG amplitude vs. isometric MVC was quadratic for the lower strength group (R2 = 0.989) and linear for the higher strength group(R2 = 0.917). The MMG amplitude of lower strength women increased most between 60 and 100% MVC. For MMG MPF, the relationships were linear for both lower (R2 = 0.495) and higher strength women (R2 = 0.824).

CONCLUSIONS:

The different torque-related responses of MMG amplitude for lower vs. higher strength women likely reflected differences in absolute torque, and thus muscle stiffness, between groups.
Algoplus® Scale in Older Patients with Dementia: A Reliable Real-World Pain Assessment Tool
Authors: Monacelli Fiammetta , Signori Alessio , Roffredo Laura , Pace Katiuscia , Nencioni Alessio , Pickering Gisele , Nicolas Macian , Odetti Patrizio
Published: December 2016

Pain is still a neglected clinical issue in elderly people with dementia and/or communicative disorders, with an unacceptable higher rate of under diagnosis and under treatment. Cognitive deficit and emotional and psychological disturbances entangle pain symptoms, affecting patient self-report. So far, observational pain tools do not have fully adequate clinimetric properties and quality requirements for easy-to-use daily rating. Older patients with dementia represent a clinical challenge. The assessment of pain is important for improving clinical outcomes, such as functional status, frailty trajectories, comorbidity, and quality of life. The PAINAID scale appears to be the most accurate pain tool in people with dementia along with the Algoplus® scale, a recently developed tool to rapidly assess acute pain in hospitals settings. The present study aimed to assess the clinimetric properties of the Algoplus®, as compared to PAINAID, for detecting acute pain in a real-world cohort of hospitalized older patients with dementia.
Properties of essential genes in the protein-protein interaction network of Escherichia coli from the perspective of network theory
Authors: Herrera-Almarza G.C. , Alvarez-Socorro A.J. , González-Díaz L.A.
Published: December 2016

We studied the impact on local and global quantifiers from network science by removing proteins associated with essential genes. From the network of protein-protein interaction of Escherichia coli, we obtained a relationship between (i) the topological and statistics properties of the network and (ii) the essentiality of genes. The analysis of the community structure showed that a significant number of essential genes were located in a particular community, i.e., sharing the same biological functions. This suggests that for better localization of essential genes should include information on the community structure of the network and its functionality through the Gene Ontology terms.
More Strange Return: What Freud Owes Literature
Authors: Deer Jemma
Published: December 2016

Returning to the in/articulations of the death drives in Beyond the Pleasure Principle, this paper speculates about a literary debt that appears and disappears in Freud's essay. It follows the various modes of play within the text: the playing of a child's game, the staging of a tragic play, the magical play of examples, and the animate, incessant play of language—particularly the play of a single letter, O.
Linking HRM Practices and Institutional Setting to Collective Turnover: An Empirical Exploration
Authors: Van Dierendonck Dirk , Lankester Arthur , Zmyslona Maria , Rothweiler Hans
Published: December 2016

The present study addresses the relationship between human resources management (HRM) practices and employee turnover by taking into account the influence of socioeconomic environment. Data was collected at company level with an international sample of 830 companies from 12 countries (Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Brazil, Switzerland, China, France, Italy, Poland, Germany, South Africa, and Spain). A division into four bundles of human resources (HR) practices is introduced: remunerative, communication, developmental, and well-being practices. The influence of the socioeconomic environment was factored in by including the institutional setting in terms of the level of coordination as a country-level variable. The results showed that collective turnover is related to both a country’s institutional determinants and to company HR practices. Remunerative HR practices may have a negative influence in terms of enhancing turnover, particularly within countries high in coordination. HR well-being practices are the most beneficial practices in terms of reducing employee turnover. Our study adds to our knowledge on the relation between HR practices and turnover from an international perspective. It complements the empirical knowledge on the effectiveness of HRM practices in a cross-national setting and supports the notion that the institutional context should be given more attention when studying HR effectiveness.
Numerical Characterization of Protein Sequences Based on the Generalized Chou’s Pseudo Amino Acid Composition
Authors: Li Chun , Li Xueqin , Lin Yan-Xia
Published: December 2016

The technique of comparison and analysis of biological sequences is playing an increasingly important role in the field of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. One of the key steps in developing the technique is to identify an appropriate manner to represent a biological sequence. In this paper, on the basis of three physical–chemical properties of amino acids, a protein primary sequence is reduced into a six-letter sequence, and then a set of elements which reflect the global and local sequence-order information is extracted. Combining these elements with the frequencies of 20 native amino acids, a ( 21 + λ ) dimensional vector is constructed to characterize the protein sequence. The utility of the proposed approach is illustrated by phylogenetic analysis and identification of DNA-binding proteins.
Assessment of the Usability and Accuracy of the Simplified One-Diode Models for Photovoltaic Modules
Authors: Franzitta Vincenzo , Orioli Aldo , Di Gangi Alessandra
Published: December 2016

Models for photovoltaic (PV) cells and panels, based on the diode equivalent circuit, have been widely used because they are effective tools for system design. Many authors have presented simplified one-diode models whose three or four parameters are calculated using the data extracted from the datasheets issued by PV panel manufactures and adopting some simplifying hypotheses and numerical solving techniques. Sometimes it may be difficult to make a choice among so many models. To help researchers and designers working in the area of photovoltaic systems in selecting the model that is fit for purpose, a criterion for rating both the usability and accuracy of simplified one-diode models is proposed in this paper. The paper minutely describes the adopted hypotheses, analytical procedures and operative steps to calculate the parameters of the most famous simplified one-diode equivalent circuits. To test the achievable accuracy of the models, a comparison between the characteristics of some commercial PV modules issued by PV panel manufacturers and the calculated current-voltage (I-V) curves, at constant solar irradiance and/or cell temperature, is carried out. The study shows that, even if different usability ratings and accuracies are observed, the simplified one-diode models can be considered very effective tools.
Community Capitals as Community Resilience to Climate Change: Conceptual Connections
Authors: Kais Shaikh , Islam Md
Published: December 2016

In the last few decades, disaster risk reduction programs and climate initiatives across the globe have focused largely on the intimate connections between vulnerability, recovery, adaptation, and coping mechanisms. Recent focus, however, is increasingly paid to community resilience. Community, placed at the intersection between the household and national levels of social organization, is crucial in addressing economic, social, or environmental disturbances disrupting human security. Resilience measures a community’s capability of bouncing back—restoring the original pre-disaster state, as well as bouncing forward—the capacity to cope with emerging post-disaster situations and changes. Both the ‘bouncing back’ and ‘moving forward’ properties of a community are shaped and reshaped by internal and external shocks such as climate threats, the community’s resilience dimensions, and the intensity of economic, social, and other community capitals. This article reviews (1) the concept of resilience in relation to climate change and vulnerability; and (2) emerging perspectives on community-level impacts of climate change, resilience dimensions, and community capitals. It argues that overall resilience of a place-based community is located at the intersection of the community’s resilience dimensions, community capitals, and the level of climate disruptions.
Predicting Driver Behavior during the Yellow Interval Using Video Surveillance
Authors: Li Juan , Jia Xudong , Shao Chunfu
Published: December 2016

At a signalized intersection, drivers must make a stop/go decision at the onset of the yellow signal. Incorrect decisions would lead to red light running (RLR) violations or crashes. This study aims to predict drivers’ stop/go decisions and RLR violations during yellow intervals. Traffic data such as vehicle approaching speed, acceleration, distance to the intersection, and occurrence of RLR violations are gathered by a Vehicle Data Collection System (VDCS). An enhanced Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is used to extract moving vehicles from target lanes, and the Kalman Filter (KF) algorithm is utilized to acquire vehicle trajectories. The data collected from the VDCS are further analyzed by a sequential logit model, and the relationship between drivers’ stop/go decisions and RLR violations is identified. The results indicate that the distance of vehicles to the stop line at the onset of the yellow signal is an important predictor for both drivers’ stop/go decisions and RLR violations. In addition, vehicle approaching speed is a contributing factor for stop/go decisions. Furthermore, the accelerations of vehicles after the onset of the yellow signal are positively related to RLR violations. The findings of this study can be used to predict the probability of drivers’ RLR violations and improve traffic safety at signalized intersections.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours of Healthcare Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS Coronavirus and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases
Authors: Alsahafi Abdullah , Cheng Allen
Published: December 2016

Background: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has experienced a prolonged outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus since 2012. Healthcare workers (HCWs) form a significant risk group for infection. Objectives: The aim of this survey was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, infection control practices and educational needs of HCWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to MERS coronavirus and other emerging infectious diseases. Methods: 1500 of HCWs from Saudi Ministry of Health were invited to fill a questionnaire developed to cover the survey objectives from 9 September 2015 to 8 November 2015. The response rate was about 81%. Descriptive statistics was used to summarise the responses. Results: 1216 HCWs were included in this survey. A total of 56.5% were nurses and 22% were physicians. The most common sources of MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) information were the Ministry of Health (MOH) memo (74.3%). Only (47.6%) of the physicians, (30.4%) of the nurses and (29.9%) of the other HCWs were aware that asymptomatic MERS-CoV was described. Around half of respondents who having been investigated for MERS-CoV reported that their work performance decreased while they have suspicion of having MERS-CoV and almost two thirds reported having psychological problems during this period. Almost two thirds of the HCWs (61.2%) reported anxiety about contracting MERS-CoV from patients. Conclusions: The knowledge about emerging infectious diseases was poor and there is need for further education and training programs particularly in the use of personal protective equipment, isolation and infection control measures. The self-reported infection control practices were sub-optimal and seem to be overestimated.
Biological Activities of Extracts from Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.): A Review
Authors: Liu Yilong , Zhang Wenna , Xu Changjie , Li Xian
Published: December 2016

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a subtropical fruit tree with high medicinal value native to China. Different organs of loquat have been used historically as folk medicines and this has been recorded in Chinese history for thousands of years. Research shows that loquat extracts contain many antioxidants, and different extracts exhibit bioactivity capable of counteracting inflammation, diabetes, cancer, bacterial infection, aging, pain, allergy and other health issues. Bioactive compounds such as phenolics and terpenoids have been isolated and characterized to provide a better understanding of the chemical mechanisms underlying the biological activities of loquat extracts. As the identification of compounds progresses, studies investigating the in vivo metabolism, bioavailability, and structure–activity relationships, as well as potential toxicity of loquat extracts in animal or cell models are receiving more attention. In addition, genetic studies and breeding of loquat germplasms for high contents of health-benefiting compounds may provide new insight for the loquat industry and research. This review is focused on the main medicinal properties reported and the possible pharmaceutically active compounds identified in different loquat extracts.
Ghrelin Attenuates Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction Following Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice
Authors: Cheng Yijun , Wei Yongxu , Yang Wenlei , Cai Yu , Chen Bin , Yang Guoyuan , Shang Hanbing , Zhao Weiguo
Published: December 2016

Intestinal barrier dysfunction remains a critical problem in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and is associated with poor prognosis. Ghrelin, a brain-gut peptide, has been shown to exert protection in animal models of gastrointestinal injury. However, the effect of ghrelin on intestinal barrier dysfunction post-ICH and its possible underlying mechanisms are still unknown. This study was designed to investigate whether ghrelin administration attenuates intestinal barrier dysfunction in experimental ICH using an intrastriatal autologous blood infusion mouse model. Our data showed that treatment with ghrelin markedly attenuated intestinal mucosal injury at both histomorphometric and ultrastructural levels post-ICH. Ghrelin reduced ICH-induced intestinal permeability according to fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated-dextran (FITC-D) and Evans blue extravasation assays. Concomitantly, the intestinal tight junction-related protein markers, Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and claudin-5 were upregulated by ghrelin post-ICH. Additionally, ghrelin reduced intestinal intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression at the mRNA and protein levels following ICH. Furthermore, ghrelin suppressed the translocation of intestinal endotoxin post-ICH. These changes were accompanied by improved survival rates and an attenuation of body weight loss post-ICH. In conclusion, our results suggest that ghrelin reduced intestinal barrier dysfunction, thereby reducing mortality and weight loss, indicating that ghrelin is a potential therapeutic agent in ICH-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction therapy.
The Coexistence of Hypertension and Ovariectomy Additively Increases Cardiac Apoptosis
Authors: Lin Yi-Yuan , Cheng Yu-Jung , Hu Jun , Chu Li-Xi , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Kao Chung-Lan , Lin Tzer-Bin , Kuo Chia-Hua , Yang Ai-Lun , Lee Shin-Da
Published: December 2016

To investigate whether the coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy will increase cardiac Fas receptor and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways, histopathological analysis, the TUNEL assay and Western blotting were performed on the excised hearts from three groups of female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which were divided into a sham-operated group (SHR-Sham), bilaterally ovariectomized group (SHR-OVX) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). Compared with the WKY group, the SHR-Sham group exhibited decreased protein levels of ERα, ERβ, p-Akt/Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and p-Bad and decreased further in the SHR-OVX group, as well as protein levels of t-Bid, Bak, Bad, Bax, cytochrome c, activated caspase-9 and activated caspase-3 (mitochondria-dependent apoptosis) increased in the SHR-Sham group and increased further in the SHR-OVX group. Compared with the WKY group, protein levels of Fas ligand, TNF-α, Fas death receptors, TNFR1, FADD and activated caspase-8 (Fas receptor-dependent apoptosis) increased in the SHR-Sham group, but did not increase in the SHR-OVX group, except Fas ligand and TNF-α. The coexistence of hypertension and ovariectomy attenuated the estrogen receptor survival pathway and appeared to additively increase the cardiac mitochondria-dependent, but not the Fas receptor-dependent apoptosis pathway, which might provide one possible mechanism for the development of cardiac abnormalities in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
Internet Databases of the Properties, Enzymatic Reactions, and Metabolism of Small Molecules—Search Options and Applications in Food Science
Authors: Minkiewicz Piotr , Darewicz Małgorzata , Iwaniak Anna , Bucholska Justyna , Starowicz Piotr , Czyrko Emilia
Published: December 2016

Internet databases of small molecules, their enzymatic reactions, and metabolism have emerged as useful tools in food science. Database searching is also introduced as part of chemistry or enzymology courses for food technology students. Such resources support the search for information about single compounds and facilitate the introduction of secondary analyses of large datasets. Information can be retrieved from databases by searching for the compound name or structure, annotating with the help of chemical codes or drawn using molecule editing software. Data mining options may be enhanced by navigating through a network of links and cross-links between databases. Exemplary databases reviewed in this article belong to two classes: tools concerning small molecules (including general and specialized databases annotating food components) and tools annotating enzymes and metabolism. Some problems associated with database application are also discussed. Data summarized in computer databases may be used for calculation of daily intake of bioactive compounds, prediction of metabolism of food components, and their biological activity as well as for prediction of interactions between food component and drugs.
Nutraceutical Supplements in the Management and Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Authors: Castrogiovanni Paola , Trovato Francesca , Loreto Carla , Nsir Houda , Szychlinska Marta , Musumeci Giuseppe
Published: December 2016

Nutraceuticals are dietary compounds which have a role in the balance of anabolic and catabolic signals in joints. Their regulatory function on homeostasis of cartilage metabolism nutraceuticals is increasingly considered for the management and, above all, the prevention of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage and synovium inflammation that can cause joint stiffness, swelling, pain, and loss of mobility. It is a multifactorial disease and, due to the great percentage of people suffering from it and the general increase in life expectancy, OA is considered as one of the most significant causes of disability in the world. OA impairs the structural integrity of articular cartilage that greatly depends on a balance between the anabolic and catabolic processes which occur in chondrocytes and synovial fluid of the joints, therefore the integration with nutraceutical compounds in diet increases the treatment options for patients with established OA beyond traditional rehabilitation, medications, and surgical strategies. In our review, with respect to the current literature, we highlight some of many existing nutraceutical compounds that could be used as integrators in a daily diet thanks to their easy availability, such as in olive oil, fish oil, and botanical extracts used as non-pharmacologic treatment.
Comparison of Small RNA Profiles of Glycine max and Glycine soja at Early Developmental Stages
Authors: Sun Yuzhe , Mui Zeta , Liu Xuan , Yim Aldrin , Qin Hao , Wong Fuk-Ling , Chan Ting-Fung , Yiu Siu-Ming , Lam Hon-Ming , Lim Boon
Published: December 2016

Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs; from PHAS loci), play key roles in plant development. Cultivated soybean, Glycine max, contributes a great deal to food production, but, compared to its wild kin, Glycine soja, it may lose some genetic information during domestication. In this work, we analyzed the sRNA profiles of different tissues in both cultivated (C08) and wild soybeans (W05) at three stages of development. A total of 443 known miRNAs and 15 novel miRNAs showed varying abundances between different samples, but the miRNA profiles were generally similar in both accessions. Based on a sliding window analysis workflow that we developed, 50 PHAS loci generating 55 21-nucleotide phasiRNAs were identified in C08, and 46 phasiRNAs from 41 PHAS loci were identified in W05. In germinated seedlings, phasiRNAs were more abundant in C08 than in W05. Disease resistant TIR-NB-LRR genes constitute a very large family of PHAS loci. PhasiRNAs were also generated from several loci that encode for NAC transcription factors, Dicer-like 2 (DCL2), Pentatricopeptide Repeat (PPR), and Auxin Signaling F-box 3 (AFB3) proteins. To investigate the possible involvement of miRNAs in initiating the PHAS-phasiRNA pathway, miRNA target predictions were performed and 17 C08 miRNAs and 15 W05 miRNAs were predicted to trigger phasiRNAs biogenesis. In summary, we provide a comprehensive description of the sRNA profiles of wild versus cultivated soybeans, and discuss the possible roles of sRNAs during soybean germination.
Aortic Stiffness as a Surrogate Endpoint to Micro- and Macrovascular Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Cardoso Claudia , Salles Gil
Published: December 2016

Increased aortic stiffness has been recognized as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in some clinical conditions, such as in patients with arterial hypertension and end-stage renal disease, in population-based samples and, more recently, in type 2 diabetic patients. Patients with type 2 diabetes have higher aortic stiffness than non-diabetic individuals, and increased aortic stiffness has been correlated to the presence of micro- and macrovascular chronic diabetic complications. We aimed to review the current knowledge on the relationships between aortic stiffness and diabetic complications, their possible underlying physiopathological mechanisms, and their potential applications to clinical type 2 diabetes management.
A Review of Targeted Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Specific Pharmacotherapy
Authors: Ataya Ali , Cope Jessica , Alnuaimat Hassan
Published: December 2016

Significant advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension over the past two decades have led to the development of targeted therapies and improved patient outcomes. Currently, a broad armamentarium of pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific drugs exists to assist in the treatment of this complex disease state. In this manuscript, we provide a comprehensive review of the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific therapies, and their supporting evidence for adults, targeting the nitric oxide, soluble guanylate cyclase, endothelin, and prostacyclin pathways.
A General Accelerated Degradation Model Based on the Wiener Process
Authors: Liu Le , Li Xiaoyang , Sun Fuqiang , Wang Ning
Published: December 2016

Accelerated degradation testing (ADT) is an efficient tool to conduct material service reliability and safety evaluations by analyzing performance degradation data. Traditional stochastic process models are mainly for linear or linearization degradation paths. However, those methods are not applicable for the situations where the degradation processes cannot be linearized. Hence, in this paper, a general ADT model based on the Wiener process is proposed to solve the problem for accelerated degradation data analysis. The general model can consider the unit-to-unit variation and temporal variation of the degradation process, and is suitable for both linear and nonlinear ADT analyses with single or multiple acceleration variables. The statistical inference is given to estimate the unknown parameters in both constant stress and step stress ADT. The simulation example and two real applications demonstrate that the proposed method can yield reliable lifetime evaluation results compared with the existing linear and time-scale transformation Wiener processes in both linear and nonlinear ADT analyses.
Optoelectronic Properties and the Electrical Stability of Ga-Doped ZnO Thin Films Prepared via Radio Frequency Sputtering
Authors: Jen Shien-Uang , Sun Hui , Chiang Hai-Pang , Chen Sheng-Chi , Chen Jian-Yu , Wang Xin
Published: December 2016

In this work, Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films were deposited via radio frequency sputtering at room temperature. The influence of the Ga content on the film’s optoelectronic properties as well as the film’s electrical stability were investigated. The results showed that the film’s crystallinity degraded with increasing Ga content. The film’s conductivity was first enhanced due to the replacement of Zn2+ by Ga3+ before decreasing due to the separation of neutralized gallium atoms from the ZnO lattice. When the Ga content increased to 15.52 at %, the film’s conductivity improved again. Furthermore, all films presented an average transmittance exceeding 80% in the visible region. Regarding the film’s electrical stability, GZO thermally treated below 200 °C exhibited no significant deterioration in electrical properties, but such treatment over 200 °C greatly reduced the film’s conductivity. In normal atmospheric conditions, the conductivity of GZO films remained very stable at ambient temperature for more than 240 days.
Isolation and Cytotoxic Investigation of Flacourtin from Oncoba spinosa
Authors: Balogun Olaoye , Ajayi Olukayode , Lawal Olayinka
Published: December 2016

Background: Oncoba spinosa, an endangered medicinal plant whose secondary metabolites have not been extensively profiled, and which is hitherto yet to be examined for cytotoxicity, is being investigated in this study. Methods: Leaves of Oncoba spinosa (800 g) were extracted with 95% aqueous methanol. The crude extract was partitioned with n-hexane and the resultant defatted extract was extensively chromatographed on silica gel to yield compound 1 which was subjected to spectroscopic analysis. A brine shrimps lethality test was used to establish the cytotoxicity potentials of the isolated compound and the plant extracts. Results: Compound 1 was elucidated as flacourtin, 3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethylphenyl-6-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside. The LD50 values obtained were less than 1000 µg/mL for flacourtin and the plant extracts. Conclusion: Flacourtin is being reported for the first time in the O. spinosa. The preliminary toxicity assay indicated that flacourtin and the plant extracts were not cytotoxic; thus, the tradomedicinal uses of the plant may portend no danger.
Reviewing the History of Pandemic Influenza: Understanding Patterns of Emergence and Transmission
Authors: Saunders-Hastings Patrick , Krewski Daniel
Published: December 2016

For centuries, novel strains of influenza have emerged to produce human pandemics, causing widespread illness, death, and disruption. There have been four influenza pandemics in the past hundred years. During this time, globalization processes, alongside advances in medicine and epidemiology, have altered the way these pandemics are experienced. Drawing on international case studies, this paper provides a review of the impact of past influenza pandemics, while examining the evolution of our understanding of, and response to, these viruses. This review argues that pandemic influenza is in part a consequence of human development, and highlights the importance of considering outbreaks within the context of shifting global landscapes. While progress in infectious disease prevention, control, and treatment has improved our ability to respond to such outbreaks, globalization processes relating to human behaviour, demographics, and mobility have increased the threat of pandemic emergence and accelerated global disease transmission. Preparedness planning must continue to evolve to keep pace with this heightened risk. Herein, we look to the past for insights on the pandemic experience, underlining both progress and persisting challenges. However, given the uncertain timing and severity of future pandemics, we emphasize the need for flexible policies capable of responding to change as such emergencies develop.
Plant Responses to Climate Change: The Case Study of Betulaceae and Poaceae Pollen Seasons (Northern Italy, Vignola, Emilia-Romagna)
Authors: Mercuri Anna , Torri Paola , Fornaciari Rita , Florenzano Assunta
Published: December 2016

Aerobiological data have especially demonstrated that there is correlation between climate warming and the pollination season of plants. This paper focuses on airborne pollen monitoring of Betulaceae and Poaceae, two of the main plant groups with anemophilous pollen and allergenic proprieties in Northern Italy. The aim is to investigate plant responses to temperature variations by considering long-term pollen series. The 15-year aerobiological analysis is reported from the monitoring station of Vignola (located near Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region) that had operated in the years 1990–2004 with a Hirst spore trap. The Yearly Pollen Index calculated for these two botanical families has shown contrasting trends in pollen production and release. These trends were well identifiable but fairly variable, depending on both meteorological variables and anthropogenic causes. Based on recent reference literature, we considered that some oscillations in pollen concentration could have been a main effect of temperature variability reflecting global warming. The duration of pollen seasons of Betulaceae and Poaceae, depending on the different species included in each family, has not unequivocally been determined. Phenological responses were particularly evident in Alnus and especially in Corylus as a general moving up of the end of pollination. The study shows that these trees can be affected by global warming more than other, more tolerant, plants. The research can be a contribution to the understanding of phenological plant responses to climate change and suggests that alder and hazelnut trees have to be taken into high consideration as sensible markers of plant responses to climate change.
Investigating the Synergistic Effects of Combined Modified Alginates on Macrophage Phenotype
Authors: Bygd Hannah , Bratlie Kaitlin
Published: December 2016

Understanding macrophage responses to biomaterials is crucial to the success of implanted medical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery vehicles. Cellular responses to materials may depend synergistically on multiple surface chemistries, due to the polyvalent nature of cell–ligand interactions. Previous work in our lab found that different surface functionalities of chemically modified alginate could sway macrophage phenotype toward either the pro-inflammatory or pro-angiogenic phenotype. Using these findings, this research aims to understand the relationship between combined material surface chemistries and macrophage phenotype. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion, nitrite production, and arginase activity were measured and used to determine the ability of the materials to alter macrophage phenotype. Cooperative relationships between pairwise modifications of alginate were determined by calculating synergy values for the aforementioned molecules. Several materials appeared to improve M1 to M2 macrophage reprogramming capabilities, giving valuable insight into the complexity of surface chemistries needed for optimal incorporation and survival of implanted biomaterials.
Allocating Group-Level Payments for Ecosystem Services: Experiences from a REDD+ Pilot in Tanzania
Authors: Robinson Elizabeth , Albers H. , Lokina Razack , Meshack Charles
Published: December 2016

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) typically reward landowners for managing their land to provide ecosystem services that would not otherwise be provided. REDD+—Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation—is a form of PES aimed at decreasing carbon emissions from forest conversion and extraction in lower-income countries. A key challenge for REDD+ occurs when it is implemented at a group, rather than an individual landowner, level. Whilst achieving a group-level reduction relies on individuals changing their interaction with the forest, incentives are not aligned explicitly at the individual level. Rather, payments are made to a defined group as a single entity in exchange for verified reduced forest loss, as per a PES scheme. In this paper, we explore how REDD+ has been implemented in one multiple-village pilot in Tanzania with the village defining the group. Our findings suggest that considerable attention has been paid towards monitoring, reporting, verification (MRV), and equity. No explicit mechanism ensures individual compliance with the village-level PES, and few villages allocate funds for explicit enforcement efforts to protect the forest from illegal activities undertaken by individual group members or by outsiders. However, the development of village-level institutions, “social fencing,” and a shared future through equal REDD+ payments, factor into decisions that influence the level of compliance at the village level that the program will eventually achieve.
Tropical Peatland Burn Depth and Combustion Heterogeneity Assessed Using UAV Photogrammetry and Airborne LiDAR
Authors: Simpson Jake , Wooster Martin , Smith Thomas , Trivedi Mandar , Vernimmen Ronald , Dedi Rahman , Shakti Mulya , Dinata Yoan
Published: December 2016

We provide the first assessment of tropical peatland depth of burn (DoB) using structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry, applied to imagery collected using a low-cost, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system operated over a 5.2 ha tropical peatland in Jambi Province on Sumatra, Indonesia. Tropical peat soils are the result of thousands of years of dead biomass accumulation, and when burned are globally significant net sources of carbon emissions. The El Niño year of 2015 saw huge areas of Indonesia affected by tropical peatland fires, more so than any year since 1997. However, the Depth of Burn (DoB) of these 2015 fires has not been assessed, and indeed has only previously been assessed in few tropical peatland burns in Kalimantan. Therefore, DoB remains arguably the largest uncertainty when undertaking fire emissions calculations in these tropical peatland environments. We apply a SfM photogrammetric methodology to map this DoB metric, and also investigate combustion heterogeneity using orthomosaic photography collected using the UAV system. We supplement this information with pre-burn airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, reducing uncertainty by estimating pre-burn soil height more accurately than from interpolation of adjacent unburned areas alone. Our pre-and post-fire Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) show accuracies of 0.04 and 0.05 m (root-mean-square error, RMSE) respectively, compared to ground-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) surveys. Our final DoB map of a 5.2 ha degraded peat swamp forest area neighboring Berbak National Park (Sumatra, Indonesia) shows burn depths extending from close to zero to over 1 m, with a mean (±1σ) DoB of 0.23 ± 0.19 m. This lies well within the range found by the few other studies available (on Kalimantan; none are available on Sumatra). Our combustion heterogeneity analysis suggests the deepest burns, which extend to ~1.3 m, occur around tree roots. We use these DoB data within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default equation for fire emissions to estimate mean carbon emissions as 134 ± 29 t·C∙ha−1 for this peatland fire, which is in an area that had not had a recorded fire previously. This is amongst the highest per unit area fuel consumption anywhere in the world for landscape fires. Our approach provides significant uncertainty reductions in such emissions calculations via the reduction in DoB uncertainty, and by using the UAV SfM approach this is accomplished at a fraction of the cost of airborne LiDAR—albeit over limited sized areas at present. Deploying this approach at locations across Indonesia, sampling a variety of fire-affected landscapes, would provide new and important DoB statistics for producing optimized carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimates from peatland fires.
A Robust Range Grating Lobe Suppression Method Based on Image Contrast for Stepped-Frequency SAR
Authors: Gao Wen-Bin , Long Teng , Ding Ze-Gang , Wu Yi-Rong
Published: December 2016

The magnitude error and phase error (MEPE) in the transfer function of a stepped-frequency synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system results in a periodic MEPE in the synthesized wideband waveform (SWW), which induces the grating lobes in the high-resolution range profile (HRRP). In this paper, a robust data-driven grating lobe suppression (GLS) method is proposed. Based on a contrast-based error estimation method and the grating lobes of the brightest scatterers in the SAR image, the periodic MEPE can be robustly estimated using the proposed method. By compensating the estimated periodic MEPE, the range grating lobes can be suppressed to the background level of the SAR image. Simulation results and real data processing have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method.
Rapid Detection Methods for Asphalt Pavement Thicknesses and Defects by a Vehicle-Mounted Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) System
Authors: Dong Zehua , Ye Shengbo , Gao Yunze , Fang Guangyou , Zhang Xiaojuan , Xue Zhongjun , Zhang Tao
Published: December 2016

The thickness estimation of the top surface layer and surface layer, as well as the detection of road defects, are of great importance to the quality conditions of asphalt pavement. Although ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods have been widely used in non-destructive detection of pavements, the thickness estimation of the thin top surface layer is still a difficult problem due to the limitations of GPR resolution and the similar permittivity of asphalt sub-layers. Besides, the detection of some road defects, including inadequate compaction and delamination at interfaces, require further practical study. In this paper, a newly-developed vehicle-mounted GPR detection system is introduced. We used a horizontal high-pass filter and a modified layer localization method to extract the underground layers. Besides, according to lab experiments and simulation analysis, we proposed theoretical methods for detecting the degree of compaction and delamination at the interface, respectively. Moreover, a field test was carried out and the estimated results showed a satisfactory accuracy of the system and methods.