bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“This Isn’t Just about Things, It’s about People and Their Future”: A Qualitative Analysis of the Working Conditions and Strains of Social Workers in Refugee and Homeless Aid
Authors: Wirth Tanja , Mette Janika , Nienhaus Albert , Schillmöller Zita , Harth Volker , Mache Stefanie
Published: October 2019

Large parts of Europe have been affected by an influx of refugees and increasing homelessness in recent years. Social workers provide care services for refugees and homeless people, but little is known about their working conditions. The aim of this study was to examine their job demands, resources and health strains. 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted with social workers in refugee and homeless aid in Hamburg and Berlin between October and December 2017. The interviews were analysed following Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. Additionally, the job demands and resources of social workers with and without long-term psychological strain were compared. Respondents particularly experienced demands concerning their job content and work organisation, including emotional and quantitative demands. Appreciation expressed by clients and social support from the team served as key resources. Respondents had problems switching off from work, were exhausted and exhibited signs of long-term psychological strain, such as symptoms of burnout or depressive states. Workers reporting long-term psychological strain were more likely to consider themselves as being adversely constrained by legal requirements and to describe inadequate supervision offers and team conflicts. In conclusion, the results indicate the need for job-specific health promotion measures reducing particularly demands concerning social workers’ job content and work organisation and further strengthening their social support.
Engagement of Fathers in Parent Group Interventions for Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Smythe Tracey , Duttine Antony , Vieira Ana Carolina Dias , Castro Barbara da Silveira Madeira de , Kuper Hannah
Published: October 2019

We aimed to explore the engagement of fathers in a community-based group intervention (Juntos) for children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and their caregivers in Brazil. Six Juntos groups were facilitated from August 2017 to May 2018. We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention for fathers of children with CZS. Methods included participant observation, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews of fathers with a child enrolled in the program. Data collected were transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed to explore father preference for, and beliefs about the intervention and to assess potential barriers and enablers to their involvement. Forty-nine families (61 participants) enrolled, of whom 20% (12/61) were fathers. Seven (58%) fathers attended more than 7 out of 10 sessions. The content of Juntos was found to be acceptable to those fathers who attended. Participation in the group offered fathers the opportunity to share experiences of caring for their child and demonstrate their importance as care agents. Work commitments, and the view of mothers as primary caregivers were barriers to engagement of fathers. Facilitators to engagement included a presentation of clear objectives for fathers’ involvement and the opportunity to learn a practical skill related to caring for their child. A better understanding of the perspectives of fathers is crucial to help increase their involvement in parenting interventions.
Persistent Hearing Loss among World Trade Center Health Registry Residents, Passersby and Area Workers, 2006–2007
Authors: Cone James E. , Stein Cheryl R. , Lee David J. , Flamme Gregory A. , Brite Jennifer
Published: October 2019

Background: Prior studies have found that rescue and recovery workers exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) disaster have evidence of increased persistent hearing and other ear-related problems. The potential association between WTC disaster exposures and post-9/11 persistent self-reported hearing problems or loss among non-rescue and recovery survivors has not been well studied. Methods: We used responses to the World Trade Center Health Registry (Registry) enrollment survey (2003–2004) and first follow-up survey (2006–2007) to model the association between exposure to the dust cloud and persistent hearing loss (n = 22,741). Results: The prevalence of post-9/11 persistent hearing loss among survivors was 2.2%. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of hearing loss for those who were in the dust cloud and unable to hear was 3.0 (95% CI: 2.2, 4.0). Survivors with persistent sinus problems, headaches, PTSD and chronic disease histories had an increased prevalence of reported hearing problems compared to those without symptoms or chronic problems. Conclusions: In a longitudinal study, we observed an association between WTC-related exposures and post-9/11 self-reported hearing loss among disaster survivors.
Frailty Prevalence and Association with Health-Related Quality of Life Impairment among Rural Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Anh Trung , Nguyen Long Hoang , Nguyen Thanh Xuan , Nguyen Thu Thi Hoai , Nguyen Huong Thi Thu , Nguyen Tam Ngoc , Pham Hai Quang , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M. , Pham Thang , Vu Huyen Thi Thanh
Published: October 2019

Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is critical to evaluate the burden of frailty in the older population.This study explored the prevalence of frailty among Vietnamese older people in rural communities, determined the factors associated with frailty, and examined the differences in HRQOL between non-frail, pre-frail, and frail people. A cross-sectional study was conducted on older adults (≥60 years old) residing in Soc Son district, northern Vietnam. Non-frailty, pre-frailty, and frailty conditions were evaluated using Fried’s frailty criteria. The EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels(EQ-5D-5L) instrument was employed to measure HRQOL. Socioeconomic, behavioral, health status, and healthcare utilization characteristics were collected as covariates. Among 523 older adults, 65.6% were pre-frail, and 21.7% were frail. The mean EQ-5D-5L indexes of the non-frailty, pre-frailty, and frailty groups were 0.70 (SD = 0.18), 0.70 (SD = 0.19), and 0.58 (SD = 0.20), respectively. The differences were found between non-frailty and frailty groups (p < 0.01), as well as the pre-frailty and frailty groups (p<0.01). After adjusting for covariates, the estimated mean difference in the HRQOL between the non-frailty and frailty groups was −0.10 (95%CI= −0.17; −0.02) (R2 = 45.2%), showing a 10% reduction of the maximum EQ-5D-5L index.This study emphasized the high prevalence of frailty among older adults in the rural communities of Vietnam. Frailty was found to be associated with a small reduction of HRQOL in this population.
Predicting Posttraumatic Growth among Firefighters: The Role of Deliberate Rumination and Problem-Focused Coping
Authors: Yang Seung-Kyoung , Ha Yeongmi
Published: October 2019

Exposure to work-related traumatic incidents in firefighters may result in positive psychological changes which are termed “posttraumatic growth”. This study aimed to construct structure equation modeling based on the model of posttraumatic growth in firefighters. Methods: A total of 226 firefighters who had experienced a work-related traumatic incident participated. The participants from three municipal fire departments and seven fire stations completed an anonymous survey asking about extraversion, optimism, calling in the workplace, problem-focused coping, deliberate rumination, and posttraumatic growth. The model fit indices were suitable for the recommended level. Seven of the 11 paths established in the initial hypothetical model were identified. The variables of deliberate rumination, problem-focused coping, and extraversion had a significant effect on the posttraumatic growth of firefighters, with an explanatory power of 38.7%. The findings show that it is important to develop strategies to enhance deliberate rumination and problem-focused coping for firefighters after work-related traumatic events.
Effects of Early Retirement Policy Changes on Working until Retirement: Natural Experiment
Authors: Boot Cécile R.L. , Scharn Micky , van der Beek Allard J. , Andersen Lars L. , Elbers Chris T.M. , Lindeboom Maarten
Published: October 2019

Many European countries have implemented pension reforms to increase the statutory retirement age with the aim of increasing labor supply. However, not all older workers may be able or want to work to a very high age. Using a nation-wide register data of labor market transitions, we investigated in this natural experiment the effect of an unexpected change in the Dutch pension system on labor market behaviors of older workers. Specifically, we analyzed transitions in labor market positions over a 5-year period in two nation-wide Dutch cohorts of employees aged 60 years until they reached the retirement age (n = 23,703). We compared transitions between the group that was still entitled to receive early retirement benefits to a group that was no longer entitled to receive early retirement benefits. Results showed that the pension reform was effective in prolonging work participation until the statutory retirement age (82% vs. 61% at age 64), but also to a larger proportion of unemployment benefits in the 1950 cohort (2.0–4.2%) compared to the 1949 cohort (1.4–3.2%). Thus, while ambitious pension reforms can benefit labor supply, the adverse effects should be considered, especially because other studies have shown a link between unemployment and poor health.
The LQB-223 Compound Modulates Antiapoptotic Proteins and Impairs Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Migration
Authors: Lemos Lauana Greicy Tonon , Longo Gabriel Mello da Cunha , Mendonça Bruna dos Santos , Robaina Marcela Cristina , Brum Mariana Concentino Menezes , Cirilo Caíque de Assis , Gimba Etel Rodrigues Pereira , Costa Paulo Roberto Ribeiro , Buarque Camilla Djenne , Nestal de Moraes Gabriela , Maia Raquel Ciuvalschi
Published: October 2019

Drug resistance represents a major issue in treating breast cancer, despite the identification of novel therapeutic strategies, biomarkers, and subgroups. We have previously identified the LQB-223, 11a-N-Tosyl-5-deoxi-pterocarpan, as a promising compound in sensitizing doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells, with little toxicity to non-neoplastic cells. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying LQB-223 antitumor effects in 2D and 3D models of breast cancer. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells had migration and motility profile assessed by wound-healing and phagokinetic track motility assays, respectively. Cytotoxicity in 3D conformation was evaluated by measuring spheroid size and performing acid phosphatase and gelatin migration assays. Protein expression was analyzed by immunoblotting. Our results show that LQB-223, but not doxorubicin treatment, suppressed the migratory and motility capacity of breast cancer cells. In 3D conformation, LQB-223 remarkably decreased cell viability, as well as reduced 3D culture size and migration. Mechanistically, LQB-223-mediated anticancer effects involved decreased proteins levels of XIAP, c-IAP1, and Mcl-1 chemoresistance-related proteins, but not survivin. Survivin knockdown partially potentiated LQB-223-induced cytotoxicity. Additionally, cell treatment with LQB-223 resulted in changes in the mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, suggesting that it might modulate cell plasticity. Our data demonstrate that LQB-223 impairs 3D culture growth and migration in 2D and 3D models of breast cancer exhibiting different phenotypes.
Gas6/TAM System: A Key Modulator of the Interplay between Inflammation and Fibrosis
Authors: Bellan Mattia , Cittone Micol Giulia , Tonello Stelvio , Rigamonti Cristina , Castello Luigi Mario , Gavelli Francesco , Pirisi Mario , Sainaghi Pier Paolo
Published: October 2019

Fibrosis is the result of an overly abundant deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) due to the fact of repetitive tissue injuries and/or dysregulation of the repair process. Fibrogenesis is a pathogenetic phenomenon which is involved in different chronic human diseases, accounting for a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Despite being triggered by different causative factors, fibrogenesis follows common pathways, the knowledge of which is, however, still unsatisfactory. This represents a significant limit for the development of effective antifibrotic drugs. In the present paper, we aimed to review the current evidence regarding the potential role played in fibrogenesis by growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) and its receptors Tyro3 protein tyrosine kinase (Tyro3), Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (Axl), and Mer tyrosine kinase protooncogene (MerTK) (TAM). Moreover, we aimed to review data about the pathogenetic role of this system in the development of different human diseases characterized by fibrosis. Finally, we aimed to explore the potential implications of these findings in diagnosis and treatment.
Different Modes of Action of Genetic and Chemical Downregulation of Histone Deacetylases with Respect to Plant Development and Histone Modifications
Authors: Lochmanová Gabriela , Ihnatová Ivana , Kuchaříková Hana , Brabencová Sylva , Zachová Dagmar , Fajkus Jiří , Zdráhal Zbyněk , Fojtová Miloslava
Published: October 2019

A high degree of developmental plasticity enables plants to adapt to continuous, often unfavorable and unpredictable changes in their environment. At the molecular level, adaptive advantages for plants are primarily provided by epigenetic machinery including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the activity of noncoding RNA molecules. Using a mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach, we examined the levels of acetylated histone peptide forms in Arabidopsis plants with a loss of function of histone deacetylase 6 (HDA6), and in plants germinated in the presence of HDA inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and sodium butyrate (NaB). Our analyses revealed particular lysine sites at histone sequences targeted by the HDA6 enzyme, and by TSA- and NaB-sensitive HDAs. Compared with plants exposed to drugs, more dramatic changes in the overall profiles of histone post-translational modifications were identified in hda6 mutants. However, loss of HDA6 was not sufficient by itself to induce hyperacetylation to the maximum degree, implying complementary activities of other HDAs. In contrast to hda6 mutants that did not exhibit any obvious phenotypic defects, the phenotypes of seedlings exposed to HDA inhibitors were markedly affected, showing that the effect of these drugs on early plant development is not limited to the modulation of histone acetylation levels.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Dynamin Gene Family in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Transcriptional Regulation of Family Members ARC5 in Hormonal Treatments
Authors: Cao Peng , Liu Xiaohan , Guo Jianchun , Chen Yinhua , Li Shuangbao , Wang Congcong , Huang Wu , Min Yi
Published: October 2019

The Dynamin gene family play a significance role in many physiological processes, especially ARC5 (Accumulation and replication of chloroplasts 5) in the process of plastid division. We performed a genome-wide analysis of the cassava Dynamin family based on the published cassava genome sequence and identified ARC5. 23 cassava Dynamins (MeDynamins) were identified and renamed. 23 MeDynamins were further divided into five major groups based on their structural and phylogenetic characteristics. The segmental duplication events have a significant impact on the expansion of MeDynamins. ARC5 expression analysis showed that there were differences between leaves and roots of cassava at different developmental stages. The tissue-specific expression analysis of the MeDynamins showed that most of MeDynamins were expressed in stem apical meristem and embryogenesis, whereas ARC5 was mainly expressed in leaves. The processing of IAA (Indole-3-acetic Acid) and MeJA (Methyl Jasmonate) verified the prediction results of cis-elements, and ACR5 was closely related to plant growth and positively correlated. It also indicated that high concentrations of MeJA treatment caused the cassava defense mechanism to function in advance. In conclusion, these findings provide basic insights for functional validation of the ARC5 genes in exogenous hormonal treatments.
Mechanism of Signalling and Adaptation through the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Cytoplasmic Chemoreceptor Cluster
Authors: de Beyer Jennifer A. , Szöllössi Andrea , Byles Elaine , Fischer Roman , Armitage Judith P.
Published: October 2019

Rhodobacter sphaeroides has two chemotaxis clusters, an Escherichia coli-like cluster with membrane-spanning chemoreceptors and a less-understood cytoplasmic cluster. The cytoplasmic CheA is split into CheA4, a kinase, and CheA3, a His-domain phosphorylated by CheA4 and a phosphatase domain, which together phosphorylate and dephosphorylate motor-stopping CheY6. In bacterial two-hybrid analysis, one major cytoplasmic chemoreceptor, TlpT, interacted with CheA4, while the other, TlpC, interacted with CheA3. Both clusters have associated adaptation proteins. Deleting their methyltransferases and methylesterases singly and together removed chemotaxis, but with opposite effects. The cytoplasmic cluster signal overrode the membrane cluster signal. Methylation and demethylation of specific chemoreceptor glutamates controls adaptation. Tandem mass spectroscopy and bioinformatics identified four putative sites on TlpT, three glutamates and a glutamine. Mutating each glutamate to alanine resulted in smooth swimming and loss of chemotaxis, unlike similar mutations in E. coli chemoreceptors. Cells with two mutated glutamates were more stoppy than wild-type and responded and adapted to attractant addition, not removal. Mutating all four sites amplified the effect. Cells were non-motile, began smooth swimming on attractant addition, and rapidly adapted back to non-motile before attractant removal. We propose that TlpT responds and adapts to the cell’s metabolic state, generating the steady-state concentration of motor-stopping CheY6~P. Membrane-cluster signalling produces a pulse of CheY3/CheY4~P that displaces CheY6~P and allows flagellar rotation and smooth swimming before both clusters adapt.
Methyl Donor Deficiency during Gestation and Lactation in the Rat Affects the Expression of Neuropeptides and Related Receptors in the Hypothalamus
Authors: Saber Cherif Lynda , Pourié Grégory , Geoffroy Andréa , Julien Amélia , Helle Déborah , Robert Aurélie , Umoret Rémy , Guéant Jean-Louis , Bossenmeyer-Pourié Carine , Daval Jean-Luc
Published: October 2019

The micronutrients vitamins B9 and B12 act as methyl donors in the one-carbon metabolism involved in transmethylation reactions which critically influence epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression. Both vitamins are essential for proper development, and their deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with a wide range of disorders, including persisting growth retardation. Energy homeostasis and feeding are centrally regulated by the hypothalamus which integrates peripheral signals and acts through several orexigenic and anorexigenic mediators. We studied this regulating system in a rat model of methyl donor deficiency during gestation and lactation. At weaning, a predominance of the anorexigenic pathway was observed in deficient pups, with increased plasma peptide YY and increased hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, in line with abnormal leptin, ghrelin, and insulin secretion and/or signaling during critical periods of fetal and/or postnatal development of the hypothalamus. These results suggest that early methyl donor deficiency can affect the development and function of energy balance circuits, resulting in growth and weight deficits. Maternal administration of folic acid (3 mg/kg/day) during the perinatal period tended to rectify peripheral metabolic signaling and central neuropeptide and receptor expression, leading to reduced growth retardation.
Delay-Tolerant Sequential Decision Making for Task Offloading in Mobile Edge Computing Environments
Authors: Alghamdi Ibrahim , Anagnostopoulos Christos , P. Pezaros Dimitrios
Published: October 2019

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of mobile devices and their applications. Meanwhile, cloud computing has been considered as the latest generation of computing infrastructure. There has also been a transformation in cloud computing ideas and their implementation so as to meet the demand for the latest applications. mobile edge computing (MEC) is a computing paradigm that provides cloud services near to the users at the edge of the network. Given the movement of mobile nodes between different MEC servers, the main aim would be the connection to the best server and at the right time in terms of the load of the server in order to optimize the quality of service (QoS) of the mobile nodes. We tackle the offloading decision making problem by adopting the principles of optimal stopping theory (OST) to minimize the execution delay in a sequential decision manner. A performance evaluation is provided using real world data sets with baseline deterministic and stochastic offloading models. The results show that our approach significantly minimizes the execution delay for task execution and the results are closer to the optimal solution than other offloading methods.
Linking Smart Governance to Future Generations: A Study on the Use of Local E-Government Service among Undergraduate Students in a Chinese Municipality
Authors: Zhu Yonghan , Kou Guitao
Published: October 2019

Due to the advanced technologies, governments today are facing more challenges in the governance field than ever before. One of the serious issues is how to develop relationships with younger generations. As a purpose of smart governance, sustainability emphasizes the responsibility of government for building a stable association with future generations. This study is devoted to promoting sustainability in the smart governance field through e-government services. It seeks to understand the situation of local e-government use in a special group of future generations: undergraduate students. In order to achieve this objective, this research conducts a case study in Chongqing, the only inland municipality in China. Drawing upon data from a sample of 1046 respondents in 2019, the findings reveal that the way to interact with the government via e-government is by receiving a wide range of undergraduate students at the local level. In this sense, the role of e-government in linking government and younger generations is larger and more significant than previously estimated. Additionally, the results witness a rise of social media in e-government services among younger generations. Based on all these findings, it offers practical suggestions for the future development of e-government services in China.
Survival and Development of Striacosta albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Immature Stages on Dry Beans, non-Bt, Cry1F, and Vip3A Maize
Authors: G. Montezano Débora , Hunt Thomas E. , Specht Alexandre , C. Luz Priscila M. , Peterson Julie A.
Published: October 2019

Striacosta albicosta is a crop pest that causes economic damage in the United States and Canada. Only maize and dry beans are shown to be suitable hosts, since larval development is incomplete on other hosts. The objective of this study was to describe the developmental parameters of immature stages of S. albicosta feeding on dry beans, non-Bt, Cry1F, and Vip3A maize. For Vip3A, mortality was 100% after 24 h. Larvae feeding on non-Bt maize had the highest larval survival (70.6%) compared to the other hosts. Maize expressing Cry1F had higher survival (31.3%) than dry beans (26.0%). Larvae feeding on dry beans had a significantly faster total development time (74.8 days), compared to 92.5 days for non-Bt and 96.2 days for Cry1F. All larvae developed through seven instars. Pupae from larvae that had fed on non-Bt maize were significantly heavier than pupae from other hosts. An understanding of S. albicosta immature development on various host plants is needed to improve recommendations for effective scouting, treatment timing, and economic thresholds. Differential development can result in an extended adult emergence period, and possibly result in assortative mating between Bt susceptible and resistant populations, which violates the assumption of random mating necessary for current resistance management strategies for Bt maize. Therefore, understanding the impact of host plant and transgenic traits on aspects of pest biology will aid in developing effective integrated pest management and insect resistance management strategies for this pest.
Custom Scrubbing for Robust Configuration Hardening in Xilinx FPGAs
Authors: Giordano Raffaele , Barbieri Dario , Perrella Sabrina , Catalano Roberto
Published: October 2019

The usage of SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays on High Energy Physics detectors is mostly limited by the sensitivity of these devices to radiation-induced upsets in their configuration. These effects may alter the functionality until the next reconfiguration of the device. In this work, we present the radiation testing of a high-speed serial link hardened by a new, custom scrubber designed for Xilinx FPGAs. We compared the performance of our scrubber to the Xilinx Single Event Mitigation (SEM) controller and we measured the impact of the scrubbers on the reliability of the link. Our results show that our scrubber may improve reliability up to 23 times over the SEM.
The Effects of Eplerenone on the Circadian Blood Pressure Pattern and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Resistant Hypertension—A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Krasińska Beata , Cofta Szczepan , Szczepaniak-Chicheł Ludwina , Rzymski Piotr , Trafas Tomasz , Paluszkiewicz Lech , Tykarski Andrzej , Krasiński Zbigniew
Published: October 2019

The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly associated with various significant cardiovascular outcomes such as resistant hypertension (RAH). Despite this, as of now the relationship between high night-time blood pressure (BP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with OSA and RAH is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the addition of eplerenone to a standard antihypertensive therapy on parameters of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) as well as on the results of echocardiography and polysomnography in patients with OSA and RAH. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two study groups: the treatment group, receiving 50 mg/d eplerenone orally for 6 months (n = 51) and the control group, remaining on their standard antihypertensive therapy (n = 51). After that period, a significant reduction in the night-time BP parameters in the treatment group including an increased night blood pressure fall from 4.6 to 8.9% was noted. Additionally, the number of non-dipper patients was reduced by 45.1%. The treatment group also revealed a decrease in left ventricular hypertrophy and in the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) with a positive correlation being observed between these two parameters. This study is the first to report the improvement of the circadian BP profile and the improvement of the left ventricle geometry in patients with OSA and RAH following the addition of selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to antihypertensive therapy.
Urinary Epidermal Growth Factor/Creatinine Ratio and Graft Failure in Renal Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yepes-Calderón Manuela , Sotomayor Camilo G. , Kretzler Matthias , Gans Rijk O. B. , Berger Stefan P. , Navis Gerjan J. , Ju Wenjun , Bakker Stephan J. L.
Published: October 2019

Graft failure (GF) remains a significant limitation to improve long-term outcomes in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Urinary epidermal growth factor (uEGF) is involved in kidney tissue integrity, with a reduction of its urinary excretion being associated with fibrotic processes and a wide range of renal pathologies. We aimed to investigate whether, in RTR, uEGF is prospectively associated with GF. In this prospective cohort study, RTR with a functioning allograft ≥1-year were recruited and followed-up for three years. uEGF was measured in 24-hours urine samples and normalized by urinary creatinine (Cr). Its association with risk of GF was assessed by Cox-regression analyses and its predictive ability by C-statistic. In 706 patients, uEGF/Cr at enrollment was 6.43 [IQR 4.07–10.77] ng/mg. During follow-up, 41(6%) RTR developed GF. uEGF/Cr was inversely associated with the risk of GF (HR 0.68 [95% CI 0.59–0.78]; P < 0.001), which remained significant after adjustment for immunosuppressive therapy, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, and proteinuria. C-statistic of uEGF/Cr for GF was 0.81 (P < 0.001). We concluded that uEGF/Cr is independently and inversely associated with the risk of GF and depicts strong prediction ability for this outcome. Further studies seem warranted to elucidate whether uEGF might be a promising marker for use in clinical practice.
The Effect of Intraoperative Ferric Carboxymaltose in Joint Arthroplasty Patients: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Park Hee-Sun , Kim Tae-Yop , Kim Ha-Jung , Ro Young-Jin , Jang Hwa-Young , Koh Won Uk
Published: October 2019

This study assessed the efficacy of intraoperative high-dose intravenous iron therapy in facilitating recovery from postoperative anemia and reducing the transfusion rate in patients with total knee and total hip arthroplasty. This prospective randomized controlled study involved 58 subjects. Group F received 1000 mg intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and Group C received normal saline. The changes in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, iron metabolism variables, transfusion rates, and the arterial partial pressure of oxygen and the fraction of oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio were recorded. There were 29 patients of each group. The change in Hb levels from baseline to 1 month post-surgery was higher in Group F than in Group C (0.3 ± 1.0 g/dl vs. −0.8 ± 0.8 g/dl, p < 0.001). Functional iron deficiency occurred more frequently in Group C (0% vs. 48.3%, p < 0.001) after the operation. The incidence of postoperative anemia, transfusion rate and P/F ratio did not significantly differ between the two groups. This study suggests that intraoperative high-dose ferric carboxymaltose during lower limb total arthroplasty can facilitate the recovery from postoperative anemia. Although it could not prevent the occurrence of postoperative anemia or the administration of transfusion, this treatment seemed to overcome surgery-related decrease of iron availability.
Mapping Driver Mutations to Histopathological Subtypes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Applying a Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Tsou Peiling , Wu Chang-Jiun
Published: October 2019

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid cancers and informative biomarkers are critical for risk stratification and treatment guidance. About half of PTCs harbor BRAFV600E and 10%–15% have RAS mutations. In the current study, we trained a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model (Google Inception v3) on histopathology images obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to classify PTCs into BRAFV600E or RAS mutations. We aimed to answer whether CNNs can predict driver gene mutations using images as the only input. The performance of our method is comparable to that of recent publications of other cancer types using TCGA tumor slides with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.878–0.951. Our model was tested on separate tissue samples from the same cohort. On the independent testing subset, the accuracy rate using the cutoff of truth rate 0.8 was 95.2% for BRAF and RAS mutation class prediction. Moreover, we showed that the image-based classification correlates well with mRNA-derived expression pattern (Spearman correlation, rho = 0.63, p = 0.002 on validation data and rho = 0.79, p = 2 × 10−5 on final testing data). The current study demonstrates the potential of deep learning approaches for histopathologically classifying cancer based on driver mutations. This information could be of value assisting clinical decisions involving PTCs.
Disordered Eating Behaviours and Eating Disorders in Women in Australia with and Without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Pirotta Stephanie , Barillaro Mary , Brennan Leah , Grassi Angela , Jeanes Yvonne , Joham Anju , Kulkarni Jayashri , Couch Lynn , Lim Siew , Moran Lisa
Published: October 2019

Psychological co-morbidities common in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may contribute to disordered eating and subsequent weight gain. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of disordered eating and a range of eating disorders and demographic risk factors associated with these behaviours within an Australian group of women with and without PCOS. Data from 899 women with (n = 501) and without (n = 398) PCOS were analysed as possibly indicative of disordered eating or eating disorders using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Disordered eating (p = 0.012) but not eating disorders (p = 0.076) were more prevalent in women with PCOS compared to controls. Increased body mass index (BMI) [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.03; 95%; Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01, 1.05, p = 0.012] and older age [OR: 1.05; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.08, p = 0.002] but not PCOS diagnosis [OR: 1.43; 95%CI: 0.96, 2.13 p = 0.078] increased the odds of disordered eating. Increased BMI [OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.06, p < 0.001] and younger age [OR: -0.95; 95%CI: 0.93–0.95, p < 0.001] but not PCOS diagnosis [OR: 1.38; 95%CI: 0.97, 1.95, p = 0.076] increased the odds of an eating disorder. Clinicians are recommended to screen all women with PCOS for possible disordered eating behaviours, with particular attention to women with elevated BMI.
River and Estuary Current Power Overview
Authors: Flambard Jorel , Amirat Yassine , Feld Gilles , Benbouzid Mohamed , Ruiz Nicolas
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a review of the stream current power sector, with a distinction made between the marine (MCP) and the river/estuary current power (RECP). Although scientific literature about MCP is actually well defined, that about RECP seems small, though this domain has some research interest. This paper has thus a special emphasis on this latter, with comparative studies done between these domains. The assessment of the academic and industrial interests for the RECP is first addressed, based on two main scientific resources and a qualitative highlight of its potential. Then, a review of actual constraints restricting its development is introduced, followed by a non-exhaustive presentation of industrial projects. Finally, some development prospects allowing constraints to be mitigated are proposed. Globally, MCP and RECP are treated unconcernedly, with a primary interest on the mechanical converter study and the location energy potential estimation. It has been highlighted that countries with RECP potential are more plentiful, and that undertaken projects can be classified mainly into two categories following the nominal power of the production unit. Furthermore, the river current power growth has been confirmed in recent years, with a majority part of patented hydrokinetic technologies, although commercial deployments are still scarce.
Participatory Rural Appraisal Approaches for Public Participation in EIA: Lessons from South Africa
Authors: Sandham Luke A. , Chabalala Jason J. , Spaling Harry H.
Published: October 2019

Public participation in environmental impact assessment (EIA) often falls short of the requirements of best practice in the move towards sustainable development, particularly for disadvantaged and marginalized communities. This paper explores the value of a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach for improved public participation in a sample of EIA’s for photovoltaic projects in South Africa. PRA was conducted post facto making use of selected PRA tools. Findings show that a great deal more information was obtained by the PRA approach, confirming the perceived weakness of traditional PP for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. It is concluded that a PRA approach has considerable potential for improving meaningful public participation, which should improve EIA, build capacity in those communities, and enhance livelihoods and sustainable resource use.
Utilization of Finite Element Analysis for Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering
Authors: Hassan Chaudhry R. , Qin Yi-Xian , Komatsu David E. , Uddin Sardar M.Z.
Published: October 2019

Scaffold design plays an essential role in tissue engineering of articular cartilage by providing the appropriate mechanical and biological environment for chondrocytes to proliferate and function. Optimization of scaffold design to generate tissue-engineered cartilage has traditionally been conducted using in-vitro and in-vivo models. Recent advances in computational analysis allow us to significantly decrease the time and cost of scaffold optimization using finite element analysis (FEA). FEA is an in-silico analysis technique that allows for scaffold design optimization by predicting mechanical responses of cells and scaffolds under applied loads. Finite element analyses can potentially mimic the morphology of cartilage using mesh elements (tetrahedral, hexahedral), material properties (elastic, hyperelastic, poroelastic, composite), physiological loads by applying loading conditions (static, dynamic), and constitutive stress–strain equations (linear, porous–elastic, biphasic). Furthermore, FEA can be applied to the study of the effects of dynamic loading, material properties cell differentiation, cell activity, scaffold structure optimization, and interstitial fluid flow, in isolated or combined multi-scale models. This review covers recent studies and trends in the use of FEA for cartilage tissue engineering and scaffold design.
The Combined Effects of Sr(II) and Poly(Acrylic Acid) on the Morphology of Calcite
Authors: Kim Hak Yeong , Yang Taewook , Huh Wansoo , Kwark Young-Je , Lee Yunsang , Kim Il Won
Published: October 2019

Biomineralization of calcium carbonate has interesting characteristics of intricate morphology formation with controlled crystal polymorphs. In particular, modification of calcite morphology with diverse additives has been the focus of many biomimetic and bioinspired studies. The possible role of strontium ions in enhancing the morphology-modifying ability of macromolecules was investigated. In the present study, concentrations of strontium ions were comparable to that in seawater, and anionic poly(acrylic acid) and cationic poly(ethylene imine) were used as model macromolecules. When strontium ions were combined with anionic poly(acrylic acid), new types of calcite surfaces, most likely {hk0}, appeared to drastically change the morphology of the crystals, which was not observed with cationic poly(ethylene imine). This behavior of strontium ions was quite similar to that of magnesium ions, which is intriguing because both ions are available from seawater to be utilized during biomineralization.
Connectedness and Path Connectedness of Weak Efficient Solution Sets of Vector Optimization Problems via Nonlinear Scalarization Methods
Authors: Xu Xin , Xu Yang Dong
Published: October 2019

The connectedness and path connectedness of the solution sets to vector optimization problems is an important and interesting study in optimization theories and applications. Most papers involving the direction established the connectedness and connectedness for the solution sets of vector optimization problems or vector equilibrium problems by means of the linear scalarization method rather than the nonlinear scalarization method. The aim of the paper is to deal with the connectedness and the path connectedness for the weak efficient solution set to a vector optimization problem by using the nonlinear scalarization method. Firstly, the union relationship between the weak efficient solution set to the vector optimization problem and the solution sets to a series of parametric scalar minimization problems, is established. Then, some properties of the solution sets of scalar minimization problems are investigated. Finally, by using the union relationship, the connectedness and the path connectedness for the weak efficient solution set of the vector optimization problem are obtained.
Group Geometrical Axioms for Magic States of Quantum Computing
Authors: Planat Michel , Aschheim Raymond , Amaral Marcelo M. , Irwin Klee
Published: October 2019

Let H be a nontrivial subgroup of index d of a free group G and N be the normal closure of H in G. The coset organization in a subgroup H of G provides a group P of permutation gates whose common eigenstates are either stabilizer states of the Pauli group or magic states for universal quantum computing. A subset of magic states consists of states associated to minimal informationally complete measurements, called MIC states. It is shown that, in most cases, the existence of a MIC state entails the two conditions (i) N = G and (ii) no geometry (a triple of cosets cannot produce equal pairwise stabilizer subgroups) or that these conditions are both not satisfied. Our claim is verified by defining the low dimensional MIC states from subgroups of the fundamental group G = π 1 ( M ) of some manifolds encountered in our recent papers, e.g., the 3-manifolds attached to the trefoil knot and the figure-eight knot, and the 4-manifolds defined by 0-surgery of them. Exceptions to the aforementioned rule are classified in terms of geometric contextuality (which occurs when cosets on a line of the geometry do not all mutually commute).
A Note on Double Conformable Laplace Transform Method and Singular One Dimensional Conformable Pseudohyperbolic Equations
Authors: Eltayeb Hassan , Mesloub Said , T. Abdalla Yahya , Kılıçman Adem
Published: October 2019

The purpose of this article is to obtain the exact and approximate numerical solutions of linear and nonlinear singular conformable pseudohyperbolic equations and conformable coupled pseudohyperbolic equations through the conformable double Laplace decomposition method. Further, the numerical examples were provided in order to demonstrate the efficiency, high accuracy, and the simplicity of present method.
Existence, Nonexistence and Multiplicity of Positive Solutions for Singular Boundary Value Problems Involving φ-Laplacian
Authors: Kim Chan-Gyun
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we establish the results on the existence, nonexistence and multiplicity of positive solutions to singular boundary value problems involving φ -Laplacian. Our approach is based on the fixed point index theory. The interesting point is that a result for the existence of three positive solutions is given.
A New X-Bar Control Chart for Using Neutrosophic Exponentially Weighted Moving Average
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , AL-Marshadi Ali Hussein , Khan Nasrullah
Published: October 2019

The existing Shewhart X-bar control charts using the exponentially weighted moving average statistic are designed under the assumption that all observations are precise, determined, and known. In practice, it may be possible that the sample or the population observations are imprecise or fuzzy. In this paper, we present the designing of the X-bar control chart under the symmetry property of normal distribution using the neutrosophic exponentially weighted moving average statistics. We will first introduce the neutrosophic exponentially weighted moving average statistic, and then use it to design the X-bar control chart for monitoring the data under an uncertainty environment. We will determine the neutrosophic average run length using the neutrosophic Monte Carlo simulation. The efficiency of the proposed plan will be compared with existing control charts.
Using a Time Delay Neural Network Approach to Diagnose the Out-of-Control Signals for a Multivariate Normal Process with Variance Shifts
Authors: Shao Yuehjen E. , Lin Shih-Chieh
Published: October 2019

With the rapid development of advanced sensor technologies, it has become popular to monitor multiple quality variables for a manufacturing process. Consequently, multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) charts have been commonly used for monitoring multivariate processes. The primary function of MSPC charts is to trigger an out-of-control signal when faults occur in a process. However, because two or more quality variables are involved in a multivariate process, it is very difficult to diagnose which one or which combination of quality variables is responsible for the MSPC signal. Though some statistical decomposition methods may provide possible solutions, the mathematical difficulty could confine the applications. This study presents a time delay neural network (TDNN) classifier to diagnose the quality variables that cause out-of-control signals for a multivariate normal process (MNP) with variance shifts. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach, a series of simulated experiments were conducted. The results were compared with artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM) and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) classifiers. It was found that the proposed TDNN classifier was able to accurately recognize the contributors of out-of-control signal for MNPs.
Online Bi-Criteria Scheduling on Batch Machines with Machine Costs
Authors: Li Wenhua , Zhai Weina , Chai Xing
Published: October 2019

We consider online scheduling with bi-criteria on parallel batch machines, where the batch capacity is unbounded. In this paper, online means that jobs’ arrival is over time. The objective is to minimize the maximum machine cost subject to the makespan being at its minimum. In unbounded parallel batch scheduling, a machine can process several jobs simultaneously as a batch. The processing time of a job and a batch is equal to 1. When job J j is processed on machine M i , it results cost c i j . We only consider two types of cost functions: c i j = a + c j and c i j = a · c j , where a is the fixed cost of machines and c j is the cost of job J j . The number of jobs is n and the number of machines is m. For this problem, we provide two online algorithms, which are showed to be the best possible with a competitive ratio of ( 1 + β m , ⌈ n m ⌉ ) , where β m is the positive root of the equation ( 1 + β m ) m + 1 = β m + 2 .
The Non-Eigenvalue Form of Liouville’s Formula and α-Matrix Exponential Solutions for Combined Matrix Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
Authors: Li Zhien , Wang Chao , Agarwal Ravi P.
Published: October 2019

In this paper, the non-eigenvalue forms of Liouville’s formulas for delta, nabla and α -diamond matrix dynamic equations on time scales are given and proved. Meanwhile, a diamond matrix exponential function (or α -matrix exponential function) is introduced and some classes of homogenous linear diamond- α dynamic equations which possess the α -matrix exponential solutions is studied. The difference and relation of non-eigenvalue forms of Liouville’s formulas among these representative types of dynamic equations is investigated. Moreover, we establish some sufficient conditions to guarantee transformational relation of Liouville’s formulas and exponential solutions among these types of matrix dynamic equations. In addition, we provide several examples on various time scales to illustrate the effectiveness of our result.