bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteome-Wide Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi Exponential and Stationary Growth Phases Reveals a Subcellular Compartment-Specific Regulation
Authors: Avila Carla Cristi , Mule Simon Ngao , Rosa-Fernandes Livia , Viner Rosa , Barisón María Julia , Costa-Martins André Guillherme , De Oliveira Gilberto Santos , Teixeira Marta Maria Geraldes , Marinho Claudio Romero Farias , Silber Ariel Mariano , Palmisano Giuseppe
Published: August 2018

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, cycles through different life stages characterized by defined molecular traits associated with the proliferative or differentiation state. In particular, T. cruzi epimastigotes are the replicative forms that colonize the intestine of the Triatomine insect vector before entering the stationary phase that is crucial for differentiation into metacyclic trypomastigotes, which are the infective forms of mammalian hosts. The transition from proliferative exponential phase to quiescent stationary phase represents an important step that recapitulates the early molecular events of metacyclogenesis, opening new possibilities for understanding this process. In this study, we report a quantitative shotgun proteomic analysis of the T. cruzi epimastigote in the exponential and stationary growth phases. More than 3000 proteins were detected and quantified, highlighting the regulation of proteins involved in different subcellular compartments. Ribosomal proteins were upregulated in the exponential phase, supporting the higher replication rate of this growth phase. Autophagy-related proteins were upregulated in the stationary growth phase, indicating the onset of the metacyclogenesis process. Moreover, this study reports the regulation of N-terminally acetylated proteins during growth phase transitioning, adding a new layer of regulation to this process. Taken together, this study reports a proteome-wide rewiring during T. cruzi transit from the replicative exponential phase to the stationary growth phase, which is the preparatory phase for differentiation.
Assessing the Main Frequencies of Modern and Historical Buildings Using Ambient Noise Recordings: Case Studies in the Historical Cities of Crete (Greece)
Authors: Moisidi Margarita , Vallianatos Filippos , Gallipoli Maria Rosaria
Published: August 2018

Monitoring seismic structural response is an essential issue in earthquake risk assessments and mitigation studies for monumental buildings in order to undertake earthquake disaster management. This study aims at identifying the resonant frequency of soil and modern and historical buildings in three major municipalities of Crete (Heraklion, Chania, and Rethymno) using ambient noise recordings (microtremors) considering the importance of soil–structure interaction to seismic structural response, particularly for historical buildings and monumental structures. In this study, ambient noise recordings have been processed through Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratios (H/V) to preliminarily examine the main frequencies and to examine whether the building has its main frequency close to that of the soil in order to identify potential resonance phenomena. Numerous ambient noise recordings were recorded on the soil, in the basement, and at each n-floor of the buildings. The incorporation of local site conditions and soil-building resonance phenomena into the urban planning development of Crete regarding earthquake risk assessments is necessary. In this direction, microtremors can be used as an effective tool to support civil protection preparation and operational decision-making in terms of earthquake disaster, specifically in the area of Crete, which is characterized by high seismic activity and a high cultural monuments capacity.
Translating Research as an Approach to Enhance Science Engagement
Authors: Juarez Michelle T. , Kenet Chloe M.
Published: August 2018

The impact of research depends on the effective communication of discoveries. Scientific writing is the primary tool for the dissemination of research, and is an important skill that biomedical trainees have to develop. Despite its importance, scientific writing is not part of the mainstream curriculum. One strategy used to teach scientific writing is holding a journal club style discussion of primary research literature that the students are asked to read. However, this activity can result in a passive learning experience and limit the development of trainees’ scientific writing skills. In order to improve trainees’ written communication skills, we tested an exercise that involved generating a revised article describing prior research, in essence “translating” the science into basic language. Following the guidelines set out by “Frontiers for Young Minds” and feedback received from “Young Reviewers”, we wrote a revised article with a simpler description of the research. In this article, we describe this scientific writing exercise, which may ultimately serve as a model for scientists to share their research more efficiently in order to promote better public health outcomes.
Physical and Mental Health Impacts of Household Gardens in an Urban Slum in Lima, Peru
Authors: Korn Abigail , Bolton Susan M. , Spencer Benjamin , Alarcon Jorge A. , Andrews Leann , Voss Joachim G.
Published: August 2018

Rural poverty and lack of access to education has led to urban migration and fed the constant growth of urban slums in Lima, Peru. Inhabitants of these informal settlements lack land rights and access to a public water supply, resulting in poor sanitation, an inability to grow food, and suboptimal health outcomes. A repeated measures longitudinal pilot study utilizing participatory design methods was conducted in Lima between September 2013 and September 2014 to determine the feasibility of implementing household gardens and the subsequent impact of increased green space on well-being. Anthropometric data and a composite of five validated mental health surveys were collected at the baseline, 6-months, and 12-months after garden construction. Significant increases from the baseline in all domains of quality of life, including: physical (p < 0.01), psychological (p = 0.05), social (p = 0.02), environmental (p = 0.02), and overall social capital (p < 0.01) were identified 12 months after garden construction. Life-threatening experiences decreased significantly compared to the baseline (p = 0.02). There were no significant changes in parent or partner empathy (p = 0.21), BMI (p = 0.95), waist circumference (p = 0.18), or blood pressure (p = 0.66) at 6 or 12 months. Improved access to green space in the form of a household garden can significantly improve mental health in an urban slum setting.
The Trade-Off between Optimizing Flight Patterns and Human Health: A Case Study of Aircraft Noise in Queens, NY, USA
Authors: Zafari Zafar , Jiao Boshen , Will Brian , Li Shukai , Muennig Peter Alexander
Published: August 2018

Objectives: Airports in the U.S. have gradually been transitioning to automated flight systems. These systems generate new flight paths over populated areas. While they can improve flight efficiency, the increased noise associated with these novel flight patterns potentially pose serious health threats to the overflown communities. In this case study, we estimated the monetary benefits relative to health losses associated with one significant change in flight patterns at LaGuardia Airport, year-round use of “TNNIS Climb”, which happened in 2012 as a result of flight automation in New York City. Prior to that, the use of the TNNIS Climb was limited to the U.S. Open tennis matches. Methods: We developed a decision-analytic model using Markov health states to compare the costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained associated with the limited use of TNNIS (old status quo) and the year-round use of TNNIS (current status quo). The TNNIS Climb increases airplane noise to above 60 decibels (dB) over some of the most densely populated areas of the city. We used this increased exposure to noise as the basis for estimating ground-level health using data from sound monitors. The total costs (including both direct and indirect costs), QALYs, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were estimated for the limited versus the year-round use of the TNNIS Climb. Results: The incremental lifetime costs and QALYs per person exposed to noise associated with the limited versus the year-round use of TNNIS was $11,288, and 1.13, respectively. Therefore, the limited use of TNNIS had an ICER of $10,006/QALY gained relative to the year-round of TNNIS. Our analyses were robust to changes in assumptions and data inputs. Conclusions: Despite increases in efficiency, flight automation systems without a careful assessment of noise might generate flight paths over densely populated areas and cause serious health conditions for the overflown communities.
Correlation between Non-Polio Acute Flaccid Paralysis Rates with Pulse Polio Frequency in India
Authors: Dhiman Rachana , Prakash Sandeep C. , Sreenivas V. , Puliyel Jacob
Published: August 2018

The last case of polio from India was reported in 2011. That year, the non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (NPAFP) rate in India was 13.35/100,000, where the expected rate is 1–2/100,000. A previous study of data from 2000 to 2010 has detailed the NPAFP rate in a state correlated with the pulse polio rounds conducted there, and the strongest correlation with the NPAFP rate was found when the number of doses from the previous 4 years were used. However, a simple association being found with regression analysis does not prove a causal relationship. After publication of those findings, as the threat of polio had lessened, the number of rounds of OPV administration was brought down. The present study has been done to look at data till the end of 2017, to see if the incidence of NPAFP declined with this reduction in polio immunization rounds. We used polio surveillance data acquired by the Government of India from 2000–2017. Correlation of the NAFP rate to the number of polio rounds in the state was examined, and the cumulative effect of polio doses administered in previous years was sought. NPAFP rate correlated with the OPV pulse polio rounds in that year (R = 0.46; p < 0.001), and the NPAFP rate started to decrease from 2012 when the number of pulse polio rounds had decreased. NPAFP rates in the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar were the highest in the country. Looking at the high-NPAFP states of UP and Bihar, we found that the correlation coefficient was strongest when doses used over 5 years was considered (R = 0.76; p < 0.001). The response to the reduction in OPV rounds (de-challenging) adds credence to the assumption that OPV was responsible for the change in the NPAFP rate. Now that India has been polio-free for over 6 years, we propose that we may be able to reduce NPAFP by further reducing pulse polio rounds.
NOX Inhibition Improves β-Adrenergic Stimulated Contractility and Intracellular Calcium Handling in the Aged Rat Heart
Authors: Valdés Álvaro , Treuer Adriana V. , Barrios Guillermo , Ponce Nikol , Fuentealba Roberto , Dulce Raul A. , González Daniel R.
Published: August 2018

Cardiac aging is characterized by alterations in contractility and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) homeostasis. It has been suggested that oxidative stress may be involved in this process. We and others have reported that in cardiomyopathies the NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived superoxide is increased, with a negative impact on [Ca2+]i and contractility. We tested the hypothesis that in the aged heart, [Ca2+]i handling and contractility are disturbed by NOX-derived superoxide. For this we used adults (≈5 month-old) and aged (20–24 month-old) rats. Contractility was evaluated in isolated hearts, challenged with isoproterenol. To assess [Ca2+]i, isolated cardiac myocytes were field-stimulated and [Ca2+]i was monitored with fura-2. Cardiac concentration-response to isoproterenol was depressed in aged compared to adults hearts (p < 0.005), but was restored by NOX inhibitors apocynin and VAS2870. In isolated cardiomyocytes, apocynin increased the amplitude of [Ca2+]i in aged myocytes (p < 0.05). Time-50 [Ca2+]i decay was increased in aged myocytes (p < 0.05) and reduced towards normal by NOX inhibition. In addition, we found that myofilaments Ca2+ sensitivity was reduced in aged myocytes (p < 0.05), and was further reduced by apocynin. NOX2 expression along with NADPH oxidase activity was increased in aged hearts. Phospholamban phosphorylation (Ser16/Thr17) after isoproterenol treatment was reduced in aged hearts compared to adults and was restored by apocynin treatment (p < 0.05). In conclusion, β-adrenergic-induced contractility was depressed in aged hearts, and NOX inhibition restored back to normal. Moreover, altered Ca2+ handling in aged myocytes was also improved by NOX inhibition. These results suggest a NOX-dependent effect in aged myocytes at the level of Ca2+ handling proteins and myofilaments.
Edema Induced by a Crotalus durissus terrificus Venom Serine Protease (Cdtsp 2) Involves the PAR Pathway and PKC and PLC Activation
Authors: Costa Caroline R. C. , Belchor Mariana Novo , Rodrigues Caroline F. B. , Toyama Daniela de Oliveira , De Oliveira Marcos A. , Novaes Danielle P. , Toyama Marcos Hikari
Published: August 2018

Snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs) represent an essential group of enzymatic toxins involved in several pathophysiological effects on blood homeostasis. Some findings suggest the involvement of this class of enzymatic toxins in inflammation. In this paper, we purified and isolated a new gyroxin isoform from the Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) venom, designated as Cdtsp 2, which showed significant proinflammatory effects in a murine model. In addition, we performed several studies to elucidate the main pathway underlying the edematogenic effect induced by Cdtsp 2. Enzymatic assays and structural analysis (primary structure analysis and three-dimensional modeling) were closely performed with pharmacological assays. The determination of edematogenic activity was performed using Cdtsp 2 isolated from snake venom, and was applied to mice treated with protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, dexamethasone (Dexa), antagonists for protease-activated receptors (PARs), or saline (negative control). Additionally, we measured the levels of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Cdtsp 2 is characterized by an approximate molecular mass of 27 kDa, an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.5, and significant fibrinolytic activity, as well as the ability to hydrolyze Nα-benzoyl-l-arginine 4-nitroanilide (BAPNA). Its primary and three-dimensional structures revealed Cdtsp 2 as a typical snake venom serine protease that induces significant edema via the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), involving PARs, PKC, PLC, and COX-2 receptors, as well as inducing a significant increase in MDA levels. Our results showed that Cdtsp 2 is a serine protease with significant enzymatic activity, and it may be involved in the degradation of PAR1 and PAR2, which activate PLC and PKC to mobilize AA, while increasing oxidative stress. In this article, we provide a new perspective for the role of SVSPs beyond their effects on blood homeostasis.
Effects of Oat Bran on Nutrient Digestibility, Intestinal Microbiota, and Inflammatory Responses in the Hindgut of Growing Pigs
Authors: He Beibei , Bai Yu , Jiang Lili , Wang Wei , Li Tiantian , Liu Ping , Tao Shiyu , Zhao Jiangchao , Han Dandan , Wang Junjun
Published: August 2018

Oat bran has drawn great attention within human research for its potential role in improving gut health. However, research regarding the impact of oat bran on nutrient utilization and intestinal functions in pigs is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oat bran on nutrient digestibility, intestinal microbiota, and inflammatory responses in the hindgut of growing pigs. Twenty-six growing pigs were fed either a basal diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 10% oat bran (OB) within a 28 day feeding trial. Results showed that digestibility of dietary gross energy, dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein were lower in the OB group compared to the CON group on day 14, but no differences were observed between the two groups on day 28. In the colon, the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with Prevotella, Butyricicoccus, and Catenibacterium were higher, while those associated with Coprococcus and Desulfovibrio were lower in the OB group compared to the CON group. Oat bran decreased mRNA expression of caecal interleukin-8 (IL-8), as well as colonic IL-8, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of the pigs. In summary, oat bran treatment for 28 day did not affect dietary nutrient digestibility, but promoted the growth of cellulolytic bacteria and ameliorated inflammatory reactions in the hindgut of growing pigs.
Combination ART-Induced Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress, Neurogenic Inflammation and Cardiac Dysfunction in HIV-1 Transgenic (Tg) Rats: Protection by Mg
Authors: Mak I. Tong , Chmielinska Joanna J. , Spurney Christopher F. , Weglicki William B. , Kramer Jay H.
Published: August 2018

Chronic effects of a combination antiretroviral therapy (cART = tenofovir/emtricitatine + atazanavir/ritonavir) on systemic and cardiac oxidative stress/injury in HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rats and protection by Mg-supplementation were assessed. cART (low doses) elicited no significant effects in normal rats, but induced time-dependent oxidative/nitrosative stresses: 2.64-fold increased plasma 8-isoprostane, 2.0-fold higher RBC oxidized glutathione (GSSG), 3.2-fold increased plasma 3-nitrotyrosine (NT), and 3-fold elevated basal neutrophil superoxide activity in Tg rats. Increased NT staining occurred within cART-treated HIV-Tg hearts, and significant decreases in cardiac systolic and diastolic contractile function occurred at 12 and 18 weeks. HIV-1 expression alone caused modest levels of oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction. Significantly, cART caused up to 24% decreases in circulating Mg in HIV-1-Tg rats, associated with elevated renal NT staining, increased creatinine and urea levels, and elevated plasma substance P levels. Strikingly, Mg-supplementation (6-fold) suppressed all oxidative/nitrosative stress indices in the blood, heart and kidney and substantially attenuated contractile dysfunction (>75%) of cART-treated Tg rats. In conclusion, cART caused significant renal and cardiac oxidative/nitrosative stress/injury in Tg-rats, leading to renal Mg wasting and hypomagnesemia, triggering substance P-dependent neurogenic inflammation and cardiac dysfunction. These events were effectively attenuated by Mg-supplementation likely due to its substance P-suppressing and Mg’s intrinsic anti-peroxidative/anti-calcium properties.
Heat-Resistant Ferroelectric-Polymer Nanocomposite with High Dielectric Constant
Authors: Mukhin Nikolay , Afanasjev Valentin , Sokolova Irina , Chigirev Dmitry , Kastro Rene , Rudaja Lyudmila , Lebedeva Galina , Oseev Aleksandr , Tumarkin Andrey
Published: August 2018

The high dielectric constant ferroelectric-polymer nanocomposite was developed for producing the heat-resistant and chemical stable planar layers. According to the composite coatings formation conditions, the following value ranges of dielectric constant and loss factor were received: 30–400 for dielectric constant and 0.04–0.1 for loss tangent, accordingly. Unlike of composite components, the obtained composite material is characterized by thermo-stability of electrical parameters up to 250 °C. The dielectric frequency spectra of the composite exhibit two clearly visible peaks in contrast to the spectra of the polymer and ferroelectric ceramics. The developed composite material can be used as a built-in film capacitors material in microelectronic devices.
Enhancement of Electrical Characteristics and Stability of Amorphous Si-Sn-O Thin Film Transistors with SiOx Passivation Layer
Authors: Liu Xianzhe , Wu Weijing , Chen Weifeng , Ning Honglong , Zhang Xiaochen , Yuan Weijian , Xiong Mei , Wang Xiaofeng , Yao Rihui , Peng Junbiao
Published: August 2018

In this research, a passivated methodology was proposed for achieving good electrical characteristics for back-channel-etch (BCE) typed amorphous Si-Sn-O thin film transistors (a-STO TFTs). This methodology implied that the thermal annealing (i.e., pre-annealing) should be carried out before deposition of a SiOx passivation layer. The pre-annealing played an important role in affecting device performance, which did get rid of the contamination of the lithography process. Simultaneously, the acceptor-like sub-gap density of states (DOS) of devices was extracted for further understanding the reason for improving device performance. It found that the SiOx layer could reduce DOS of the device and successfully protect the device from surroundings. Finally, a-STO TFT applied with this passivated methodology could possess good electrical properties including a saturation mobility of 4.2 ± 0.2 cm2/V s, a low threshold voltage of 0.00 V, a large on/off current ratio of 6.94 × 108, and a steep subthreshold swing of 0.23 V/decade. The threshold voltage slightly shifted under bias stresses and recovered itself to its initial state without any annealing procedure, which was attributed to the charge trapping in the bulk dielectric layers or interface. The results of this study indicate that a-STO TFT could be a robust candidate for realizing a large-size and high-resolution display.
Replication of Micro- and Nanofeatures in Injection Molding of Two PLA Grades with Rapid Surface-Temperature Modulation
Authors: Liparoti Sara , Speranza Vito , Pantani Roberto
Published: August 2018

The production by injection molding of polymeric components having micro- and nanometrical surfaces is a complex task. Generally, the accurate replication of micro- and nanometrical features on the polymeric surface during the injection-molding process is prevented by of the low mold temperature adopted to reduce cooling time. In this work, we adopt a system that allows fast heating of the cavity surface during the time the melt reaches the cavity, and fast cooling after heater deactivation. A nickel insert with micro- and nanofeatures in relief is located on the cavity surface. Replication accuracy is analyzed by Atomic Force Microscopy under different injection-molding conditions. Two grades of polylactic acid with different viscosity have been adopted. The results indicate that the higher the cavity surface temperature is, the higher the replication accuracy is. The viscosity has a significant effect only in the replication of the microfeatures, whereas its effect results are negligible in the replication of nanofeatures, thus suggesting that the interfacial phenomena are more important for replication at a nanometric scale. The evolution of the crystallinity degree on the surface also results in a key factor on the replication of nanofeatures.
Acoustofluidic Measurements on Polymer-Coated Microbubbles: Primary and Secondary Bjerknes Forces
Authors: Memoli Gianluca , Baxter Kate O. , Jones Helen G. , Mingard Ken P. , Zeqiri Bajram
Published: August 2018

The acoustically-driven dynamics of isolated particle-like objects in microfluidic environments is a well-characterised phenomenon, which has been the subject of many studies. Conversely, very few acoustofluidic researchers looked at coated microbubbles, despite their widespread use in diagnostic imaging and the need for a precise characterisation of their acoustically-driven behaviour, underpinning therapeutic applications. The main reason is that microbubbles behave differently, due to their larger compressibility, exhibiting much stronger interactions with the unperturbed acoustic field (primary Bjerknes forces) or with other bubbles (secondary Bjerknes forces). In this paper, we study the translational dynamics of commercially-available polymer-coated microbubbles in a standing-wave acoustofluidic device. At increasing acoustic driving pressures, we measure acoustic forces on isolated bubbles, quantify bubble-bubble interaction forces during doublet formation and study the occurrence of sub-wavelength structures during aggregation. We present a dynamic characterisation of microbubble compressibility with acoustic pressure, highlighting a threshold pressure below which bubbles can be treated as uncoated. Thanks to benchmarking measurements under a scanning electron microscope, we interpret this threshold as the onset of buckling, providing a quantitative measurement of this parameter at the single-bubble level. For acoustofluidic applications, our results highlight the limitations of treating microbubbles as a special case of solid particles. Our findings will impact applications where knowing the buckling pressure of coated microbubbles has a key role, like diagnostics and drug delivery.
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Mediated Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles Stabilized by Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) with Application in Heat Management Systems for Internal Combustion Chambers
Authors: Dzimitrowicz Anna , Cyganowski Piotr , Pohl Pawel , Jermakowicz-Bartkowiak Dorota , Terefinko Dominik , Jamroz Piotr
Published: August 2018

Poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-stabilized Pt nanoparticles (PVP-PtNPs) were produced in a continuous-flow reaction-discharge system by application of direct current atmospheric pressure glow discharge (dc-APGD) operated between the surface of a flowing liquid anode (FLA) and a pin-type tungsten cathode. Synthesized PVP-PtNPs exhibited absorption across the entire UV/Vis region. The morphology and elemental composition of PVP-PtNPs were determined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray scattering (EDX), respectively. As assessed by TEM, PVP-PtNPs were approximately spherical in shape, with an average size of 2.9 ± 0.6 nm. EDX proved the presence of Pt, C, and O. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) confirmed PtNPs functionalization with PVP. As determined by DLS, the average size of PtNPs stabilized by PVP was 111.4 ± 22.6 nm. A fluid containing resultant PVP-PtNPs was used as a heat conductive layer for a spiral radiator managing heat generated by a simulated internal combustion chamber. As compared to water, the use of PVP-PtNPs enhanced efficiency of the system, increasing the rate of heat transfer by 80% and 30% during heating and cooling, respectively.
Exploration of the Association between Dietary Fiber Intake and Hypertension among U.S. Adults Using 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Guidelines: NHANES 2007–2014
Authors: Sun Baoqi , Shi Xiaoyan , Wang Tong , Zhang Dongfeng
Published: August 2018

This study aimed to explore the association between dietary fiber intake and hypertension risk using 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Blood Pressure Guidelines. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2014 were used in this study. Dietary fiber data were obtained through two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 80 mmHg or treatment with hypertensive medications. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to evaluate the associations between dietary intakes of total, cereal, vegetable, and fruit fiber and hypertension. A total of 18,433 participants aged 18 years or older were included in the analyses. After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), race, educational level, smoking status, family income, and total daily energy intake, compared with the lowest tertile, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of hypertension for the highest tertile intakes of total, cereal, vegetable, and fruit fiber were 0.62 (0.52–0.75), 0.80 (0.67–0.96), 0.82 (0.69–0.98), and 0.86 (0.71–1.04), respectively. Dose-response analyses revealed that the risk of hypertension was associated with total fiber intake in a nonlinear trend, while the relationships were linear for cereal and vegetable fiber intakes. Our results suggested that the intakes of total, cereal, and vegetable fiber, but not fruit fiber, were associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in U.S. adults.
Quality of Prenatal and Childhood Diet Predicts Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Children in Mexico City
Authors: Malin Ashley J. , Busgang Stefanie A. , Cantoral Alejandra J. , Svensson Katherine , Orjuela Manuela A. , Pantic Ivan , Schnaas Lourdes , Oken Emily , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Téllez-Rojo Martha M. , Wright Robert O. , Gennings Chris
Published: August 2018

Adequate nutrition is important for neurodevelopment. Although nutrients are ingested in combination, the impact of specific nutrients within the context of a nutrient mixture has not been studied with respect to health, such as neurodevelopment. Therefore, we examined the impact of prenatal and childhood nutrient mixtures on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Participants included mother–child pairs in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment, and Social Stress (PROGRESS) prospective birth cohort in Mexico City. We assessed prenatal and child micro- and macronutrient profiles among 65 and 329 children, respectively, via food frequency questionnaires. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of 4–6 year-old children were measured using the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (MSCA). We conducted weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analyses to calculate indices reflecting “good” and “poor” prenatal and childhood nutrition. After adjusting for maternal education, socioeconomic status, the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score, and total caloric intake, the good prenatal and childhood nutrition indices predicted more favorable neurodevelopment, while both poor nutrition indices predicted poorer neurodevelopment. These associations were stronger in prenatal than childhood models. Monounsaturated fats predicted various neurodevelopmental abilities relatively strongly in both models. Prenatal and childhood consumption of combinations of beneficial nutrients may contribute to more favorable neurodevelopment.
Dietary Intake of Vitamin B12 is Better for Restoring a Low B12 Status Than a Daily High-Dose Vitamin Pill: An Experimental Study in Rats
Authors: Greibe Eva , Nymark Ole , Fedosov Sergey N. , Heegaard Christian W. , Nexo Ebba
Published: August 2018

Vitamin B12 (B12) is present in foods of animal origin, and vegans are encouraged to take supplements with synthetic B12 in order to ensure a sufficient uptake. Recent rat studies suggest that natural (hydroxo-B12, HO-B12) and synthetic (cyano-B12, CN-B12) B12 behave differently in the body. Here, we test if a daily vitamin pill matches dietary B12 in ability to restore a low B12 status in rats. B12-depleted male Wistar rats (n = 60) were divided into five groups (n = 12 in each) and subjected to two weeks intervention with various schemes of B12 supplementation. Two “dietary” groups received a low-B12 chow that was fortified with either HO-B12 or CN-B12 providing a continuous supply. Two “pill” groups received a single daily dose of CN-B12, where the vitamin content either matched or exceeded by factor four the provisions for the “dietary” groups. A control group received the low-B12 chow without B12 fortification. B12 was measured in plasma and tissues. Dietary B12 provides 35% more B12 to the tissues than an equivalent single daily dose (p < 0.0001). Natural B12 delivers 25% more B12 to the liver than synthetic B12 (p = 0.0007). A fourfold increase in B12, supplemented as a single daily dose, does not provide any extra B12 to the tissues (p = 0.45). We conclude that dietary B12 is better at rescuing a low B12 status than a daily vitamin pill.
Composite Biopolymer-Based Wafer Dressings Loaded with Microbial Biosurfactants for Potential Application in Chronic Wounds
Authors: Akiyode Olufunke , Boateng Joshua
Published: August 2018

In this study two bioactive polysaccharide polymers kappa-carrageenan (CARR) and sodium alginate (SA) incorporated with microbial biosurfactants (BSs) were formulated as medicated wafer dressings for potential application in chronic wounds. Wafers were loaded with BSs at concentrations of 0.1% and 0.2% rhamnolipids (RL) and 0.1% and 5% sophorolipids (SL) and were functionally characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), texture analysis (mechanical strength and in vitro wound adhesion), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and exudate handling properties (pore analysis, swelling index, water absorption (Aw), equilibrium water content (EWC), evaporative water loss (EWL) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The wafers were tactile and ductile in appearance with a hardness range of 2.7–4.1 N and can withstand normal stresses but are also flexible to prevent damage to newly formed skin tissues. Wafers were porous (SEM) with pore sizes ranging from 78.8 to 141 µm, and BSs were not visible on the wafer surface or pore walls. The BSs enhanced the porosity of the wafers with values above 98%, while the Aw and EWC ranged from 2699–3569% and 96.58–98.00%, respectively. The EWL ranged from 85 to 86% after 24 h while the WVTR ranged from 2702–3080 g/m2 day−1. The compatibility of BSs within the CARR-SA matrix was confirmed by seven characteristic functional groups which were consistently transmitted in the ATR-FTIR spectra. These novel medicated dressing prototypes can potentially help to achieve more rapid wound healing.
Synergetic Use of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Data for Soil Moisture Mapping at Plot Scale
Authors: Attarzadeh Reza , Amini Jalal , Notarnicola Claudia , Greifeneder Felix
Published: August 2018

This paper presents an approach for retrieval of soil moisture content (SMC) by coupling single polarization C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical data at the plot scale in vegetated areas. The study was carried out at five different sites with dominant vegetation cover located in Kenya. In the initial stage of the process, different features are extracted from single polarization mode (VV polarization) SAR and optical data. Subsequently, proper selection of the relevant features is conducted on the extracted features. An advanced state-of-the-art machine learning regression approach, the support vector regression (SVR) technique, is used to retrieve soil moisture. This paper takes a new look at soil moisture retrieval in vegetated areas considering the needs of practical applications. In this context, we tried to work at the object level instead of the pixel level. Accordingly, a group of pixels (an image object) represents the reality of the land cover at the plot scale. Three approaches, a pixel-based approach, an object-based approach, and a combination of pixel- and object-based approaches, were used to estimate soil moisture. The results show that the combined approach outperforms the other approaches in terms of estimation accuracy (4.94% and 0.89 compared to 6.41% and 0.62 in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and R2), flexibility on retrieving the level of soil moisture, and better quality of visual representation of the SMC map.
Sentinel-2 Image Fusion Using a Deep Residual Network
Authors: Palsson Frosti , Sveinsson Johannes R. , Ulfarsson Magnus O.
Published: August 2018

Single sensor fusion is the fusion of two or more spectrally disjoint reflectance bands that have different spatial resolution and have been acquired by the same sensor. An example is Sentinel-2, a constellation of two satellites, which can acquire multispectral bands of 10 m, 20 m and 60 m resolution for visible, near infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR). In this paper, we present a method to fuse the fine and coarse spatial resolution bands to obtain finer spatial resolution versions of the coarse bands. It is based on a deep convolutional neural network which has a residual design that models the fusion problem. The residual architecture helps the network to converge faster and allows for deeper networks by relieving the network of having to learn the coarse spatial resolution part of the inputs, enabling it to focus on constructing the missing fine spatial details. Using several real Sentinel-2 datasets, we study the effects of the most important hyperparameters on the quantitative quality of the fused image, compare the method to several state-of-the-art methods and demonstrate that it outperforms the comparison methods in experiments.
A Method for 6D Pose Estimation of Free-Form Rigid Objects Using Point Pair Features on Range Data
Authors: Vidal Joel , Lin Chyi-Yeu , Lladó Xavier , Martí Robert
Published: August 2018

Pose estimation of free-form objects is a crucial task towards flexible and reliable highly complex autonomous systems. Recently, methods based on range and RGB-D data have shown promising results with relatively high recognition rates and fast running times. On this line, this paper presents a feature-based method for 6D pose estimation of rigid objects based on the Point Pair Features voting approach. The presented solution combines a novel preprocessing step, which takes into consideration the discriminative value of surface information, with an improved matching method for Point Pair Features. In addition, an improved clustering step and a novel view-dependent re-scoring process are proposed alongside two scene consistency verification steps. The proposed method performance is evaluated against 15 state-of-the-art solutions on a set of extensive and variate publicly available datasets with real-world scenarios under clutter and occlusion. The presented results show that the proposed method outperforms all tested state-of-the-art methods for all datasets with an overall 6.6% relative improvement compared to the second best method.
A Trusted Lightweight Communication Strategy for Flying Named Data Networking
Authors: Barka Ezedin , Kerrache Chaker Abdelaziz , Hussain Rasheed , Lagraa Nasreddine , Lakas Abderrahmane , Bouk Safdar Hussain
Published: August 2018

Flying Ad hoc Network (FANET) is a new resource-constrained breed and instantiation of Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) employing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as communicating nodes. These latter follow a predefined path called ’mission’ to provide a wide range of applications/services. Without loss of generality, the services and applications offered by the FANET are based on data/content delivery in various forms such as, but not limited to, pictures, video, status, warnings, and so on. Therefore, a content-centric communication mechanism such as Information Centric Networking (ICN) is essential for FANET. ICN addresses the problems of classical TCP/IP-based Internet. To this end, Content-centric networking (CCN), and Named Data Networking (NDN) are two of the most famous and widely-adapted implementations of ICN due to their intrinsic security mechanism and Interest/Data-based communication. To ensure data security, a signature on the contents is appended to each response/data packet in transit. However, trusted communication is of paramount importance and currently lacks in NDN-driven communication. To fill the gaps, in this paper, we propose a novel trust-aware Monitor-based communication architecture for Flying Named Data Networking (FNDN). We first select the monitors based on their trust and stability, which then become responsible for the interest packets dissemination to avoid broadcast storm problem. Once the interest reaches data producer, the data comes back to the requester through the shortest and most trusted path (which is also the same path through which the interest packet arrived at the producer). Simultaneously, the intermediate UAVs choose whether to check the data authenticity or not, following their subjective belief on its producer’s behavior and thus-forth reducing the computation complexity and delay. Simulation results show that our proposal can sustain the vanilla NDN security levels exceeding the 80% dishonesty detection ratio while reducing the generated end-to-end delay to less than 1 s in the worst case and reducing the average consumed energy by more than two times.
Green Building Occupant Satisfaction: Evidence from the Australian Higher Education Sector
Authors: Khoshbakht Maryam , Gou Zhonghua , Xie Xiaohuan , He Baojie , Darko Amos
Published: August 2018

Universities spend billions of dollars on green buildings as a sustainability commitment. This research investigates occupant satisfaction with indoor environmental quality (IEQ), building design (BD), and facilities management (FM) in five highly ranked green higher educational buildings in the subtropical climate of Australia, in comparison to nine non-green counterparts. The results disclose that the green building users were more consistently satisfied than the non-green building users with BD&FM elements, such as design, needs from facilities, building image, cleaning, the availability of meeting rooms, and storage. On the other hand, the study revealed weaknesses of green buildings in IEQ, such as noise, ventilation, and artificial lighting. The individual environmental control positively correlated with satisfaction in non-green buildings, but did not significantly affect satisfaction in green buildings. This study also identified the influences of non-environmental factors on occupant satisfaction, such as gender, age, sitting close to a window, hours spent in the building and in the workstation, and the number of people sharing office space. The research provides evidence and guidance for investing in, designing, and managing green educational facilities.
What Makes Pension Reforms Sustainable?
Authors: Grech Aaron George
Published: August 2018

Policymakers pushing pension reforms have tended to justify changes on the basis that they would make systems more sustainable by lowering future spending on pensions. This is a rather narrow interpretation of sustainability that fails to consider that other fiscal programs may need to accommodate the impact of reforms that reduce pension system adequacy. In this light, this article argues that in order to correctly assess the sustainability of pension reforms, one needs to adopt a more holistic framework that encapsulates the interaction between pension system goals and constraints. In a number of countries, reforms focused solely on reducing future spending were followed by reforms that restored generosity. A holistic approach to assess pension sustainability could help limit this cycle of reform and increase trust in pension systems.
Pricing Strategies for Competitive Water Supply Chains under Different Power Structures: An Application to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China
Authors: Du Wenyi , Fan Yubing , Yan Lina
Published: August 2018

Under two different power structures, where the supplier and the distributor, respectively, are modeled as the leader, this paper studies water pricing strategies in two competing water resources supply chains. We assume that each water supply chain consists of a risk-neutral water supplier and a risk-neutral water distributor. We build different decision models for two competitive water resources supply chains, derive the optimal decision strategies for the water supply chain members, and analyze how competition intensity affects these decisions. Analytical results show that when the supplier is the leader, its water wholesale price is always higher than that when the distributor serves as the leader. On the other hand, the retail price and the two supply chains’ channel profits depend on the competition intensity, but are independent of the power structure. To illustrate the proposed models, we apply them to examine the water pricing strategies in the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. The results showed significant insights into the pricing strategies of water resources in different routes of this massive water diversion project.
Executives’ Assessments of Evolutionary and Leapfrog Modes: An Ambidexterity Explanation Logic
Authors: Xie Yu , Du Yi-Fei , Boadu Francis , Shi Xuan-Ya
Published: August 2018

Under the background of resource dependence, it is of great significance to study the emerging market multinationals’ (EMNEs) entry mode into international market. How do complementary assets and expansion opportunities in a host country market influence the EMNEs executive’s entry mode choice? We adopt policy capture method to designed questionnaire and administered to high-level EMNEs executives in China. The results show that the availability of complementary assets in the host country market have a positive influence on EMNEs executives’ evolutionary and leapfrog entry modes choice, and EMNEs executives’ preferences for leapfrog mode over evolutionary mode is positively related to the host country’s complementary assets. The expansion opportunities in the host country market have a positive influence on EMNEs executives’ evolutionary and leapfrog entry modes choice. This shows that expansion opportunities in the host country market have a similar degree of attraction for executives’ evolutionary and leapfrog modes. Unlike most current studies, which advocate that leapfrog is mainly used to obtain international assets, while evolutionary approach is more suitable for seeking international opportunities. This paper shows that the opportunity factors play the same important role as assets factors in promoting EMNEs executives’ springboard behavior. It also reveals the ambidexterity logic in EMNEs executives’ decision-making process.
Sustainable Selective Mitigation Interventions towards Effective Earthquake Risk Reduction at the Community Scale
Authors: Polese Maria , Gaetani d’Aragona Marco , Di Ludovico Marco , Prota Andrea
Published: August 2018

Risk reduction policies are crucial in regions of high seismic risk, having significant exposure and building vulnerability. In Italy, the Sismabonus incentive mechanism was recently approved, which regulates the possibility of benefiting tax deductions after seismic strengthening interventions on buildings. This paper presents a simplified approach for evaluating the effects of implementation of the Sismabonus policy at the territorial scale. Considering only reinforced concrete RC building typologies, a speed method for calculating the probability of being in relevant risk classes is introduced and it is applied to a town in southern Italy. The evaluation is based on simplified modeling of lateral seismic behavior and on the estimate of the peak ground acceleration corresponding to the attainment of building capacity. The effect of possible retrofit interventions is also considered. This performance-based procedure allows for taking into account the cost for selective retrofit interventions and contemporarily to estimate the variation of mean expected annual loss that is obtained with building upgrading.
Peak Carbon Emissions in China: Status, Key Factors and Countermeasures—A Literature Review
Authors: Dong Feng , Hua Yifei , Yu Bolin
Published: August 2018

China is continually increasing its efforts to reduce carbon emissions due to dual pressure domestically and internationally. Specifically, China has committed to achieving peak carbon emissions no later than 2030. As an international goal, carbon emission peak in China has generated considerable research interest. However, most scholars only focus on a partial aspect of peak carbon emissions. Through a review of literature from numerous sources, this paper provides a more systematic analysis than previously available of how China can reach its peak carbon emissions as early as possible. This study first elaborates the status of peak carbon emissions in China from regional and sectoral perspectives and summarizes the various predictions. Then, five main driving factors of carbon emission peak in China are investigated, i.e., economic development, urbanization, energy-related issues, foreign direct investment and technology, and transportation. Corresponding to these five factors, some specific and practical recommendations are proposed. Furthermore, regional differences and spatial “spillovers” must be taken into account, thereby achieving a “win-win” solution with respect to the integration of emission mitigation and economic development, as well as reaching the desired target of peak carbon emissions.