bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Lipid Profile in Obesity
Authors: Islam Md Touhidul , Latif Shah Abdul , Reza Md Suhel Al Mujahid , Rokonozzaman M , Haque AQM Ataul
Published: December 2018

Background: Now a day's obesity is a burden Worldwide. The Prevalence of obesity is increasing in both the developed and developing Countries.Objectives: To investigate lipid profile in obesity.Methods: This study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Mymensing Medical College, Mymensing, Bangladesh during the period of January 2009 to December 2009. Lipid profile was measured in 150 cases of over weight and obese.Results: Serum total cholesterol, triacylglecerol, LDLcholesterol were high in obese group but HDL cholesterol was high in non-obese group.Conclusion: Obesity affects blood lipid & lipoprotein metabolism.KYAMC Journal Vol. 9, No.-3, October 2018, Page 115-119
Prevention of Propofol Injection-Induced Pain, USing Lignocaine in large Volume: A Prospective " Randomized Double-Blind Study
Authors: Hossain Muhammad Sazzad , Rahman Md Afzalur , Alamgir Md Mahiuddin , Waliullah Md , Mandal Muhammad Alamgir
Published: December 2018

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Vasico Vaginal Fistula: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Mallik Ashraf Uddin , Rahman Md Mostafizur , Ferdous Baikali
Published: December 2018

Women of middle age having a vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) after hysterectomy represent a devastatingcondition for the surgeon as well as patient in the society. Accurate diagnosis and proper preoperative planning are essential to see a successful outcome. Herein, we report a case of simple VVF developed after abdominal hysterectomy of middle-aged woman repaired successfully and reviewed of literature for simple VVF management and described the pathophysiology of fistula development. We performed a bibliography search carried on Pubmed using keyword "Vesicovaginal Fistula.KYAMC Journal Vol. 9, No.-3, October 2018, Page 136-138
High CA-125 in Endometrioma: An Unusual Presentation
Authors: Musawwir Raihana , Akhter Sheuly , Begum Fatema
Published: December 2018

CA-125 (cancer antigen 125, carcinoma antigen 125, or carbohydrate antigen 125) also known as mucin 16 or MUC16 is a protein of mucin family glycoprotein that is encoded by the MUC16 gene. It is the most frequently used biomarker for ovarian cancer. It may also be elevated in other cancers, including endometrium, fallopian tube, lung, breast and gastrointestinal cancer and in a number of relatively benign conditions, such as endometriosis, menstruation and pregnancy. High plasma levels of more than 200 U/mL are usually suggestive of malignancy but rarely found in benign conditions of female genital tract, like endometriosis. Very high CA- 125 level is suggestive of ovarian malignancy, was noted in case of ovarian endometrioma. This paper describes a case of a 36 years old lady, mother of 2 children, was admitted with large abdominal mass and abdominal pain. CA-125 was found 3500 U/ML. Ovarian malignancy was suspected. During laparotomy, ruptured endometrioma was noted and it was supported by histopathological report which mentioned," No malignancy seen". Endometrioma can't be excluded in high CA-125 level even without features of endometriosis.KYAMC Journal Vol. 9, No.-3, October 2018, Page 139-140
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Purple Grape Juice (Vitis Labrusca) against Temozolamide Treatment in Rat Brains
Authors: Gabardo Tatiane , Frusciante Marina Rocha , Pereira Marinho Jessica , Dos Santos Manuela , Abujamra Ana , Dani Caroline , Funchal Cláudia
Published: December 2018

Considering that grape juice has high levels of phenolic compounds that produce beneficial physiological effects, important for the maintenance of redox balance, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro neuroprotective effect of purple grape juice on the oxidative damage caused by temozolomide (TMZ) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of Wistar rats. In pre-incubation, TMZ increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, enhanced protein oxidation in all tissues studied, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the hippocampus, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, and enhanced catalase (CAT) activity in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. In co-incubation, there was enhanced protein oxidation in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, decreased SOD activity in the cerebellum, inhibition of CAT activity in the hippocampus, and increased CAT activity in the cerebellum. Purple grape juice improved these oxidative alterations. Therefore, the intake of grape juice might have a protective effect against diseases that affect the oxidative status of the central nervous system.
Growth Behavior of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells at Small Scale: Numerical and Experimental Investigations
Authors: Jossen Valentin , Eibl Regine , Kraume Matthias , Eibl Dieter
Published: December 2018

Human adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs) are a valuable source of cells for clinical applications, especially in the field of regenerative medicine. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the interest in hASCs has greatly increased over the last decade. However, in order to use hASCs in clinically relevant numbers, in vitro expansion is required. Single-use stirred bioreactors in combination with microcarriers (MCs) have shown themselves to be suitable systems for this task. However, hASCs tend to be less robust, and thus, more shear sensitive than conventional production cell lines for therapeutic antibodies and vaccines (e.g., Chinese Hamster Ovary cells CHO, Baby Hamster Kidney cells BHK), for which these bioreactors were originally designed. Hence, the goal of this study was to investigate the influence of different shear stress levels on the growth of humane telomerase reversed transcriptase immortalized hASCs (hTERT-ASC) and aggregate formation in stirred single-use systems at the mL scale: the 125 mL (=SP100) and the 500 mL (=SP300) disposable Corning® spinner flask. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations based on an Euler–Euler and Euler–Lagrange approach were performed to predict the hydrodynamic stresses (0.06–0.87 Pa), the residence times (0.4–7.3 s), and the circulation times (1.6–16.6 s) of the MCs in different shear zones for different impeller speeds and the suspension criteria (Ns1u, Ns1). The numerical findings were linked to experimental data from cultivations studies to develop, for the first time, an unstructured, segregated mathematical growth model for hTERT-ASCs. While the 125 mL spinner flask with 100 mL working volume (SP100) provided up to 1.68 × 105 hTERT-ASC/cm2 (=0.63 × 106 living hTERT-ASCs/mL, EF 56) within eight days, the peak living cell density of the 500 mL spinner flask with 300 mL working volume (SP300) was 2.46 × 105 hTERT-ASC/cm2 (=0.88 × 106 hTERT-ASCs/mL, EF 81) and was achieved on day eight. Optimal cultivation conditions were found for Ns1u < N < Ns1, which corresponded to specific power inputs of 0.3–1.1 W/m3. The established growth model delivered reliable predictions for cell growth on the MCs with an accuracy of 76–96% for both investigated spinner flask types.
Differences in Anxiety Levels of Various Murine Models in Relation to the Gut Microbiota Composition
Authors: Huang Eunchong , Kang Shinwon , Park Haryung , Park Soyoung , Ji Yosep , Holzapfel Wilhelm H.
Published: December 2018

Psychobiotics are probiotic strains that confer mental health benefits to the host through the modulation of the gut microbial population. Mounting evidence shows that the gut microbiota play an important role in communication within the gut–brain axis. However, the relationship between the host genetics and the gut microbiota and their influence on anxiety are still not fully understood. Hence, in our research, we attempted to draw a connection between host genetics, microbiota composition, and anxiety by performing an elevated plus maze (EPM) test on four genetically different mice. Four different breeds of 5-week-old mice were used in this experiment: Balb/c, Orient C57BL/6N, Taconic C57BL/6N, and Taconic C57BL/6J. After 1 week of adaptation, their initial anxiety level was monitored using the EPM test via an EthoVision XT, a standardized software used for behavorial testing. Significant differences in the initial anxiety level and microbial composition were detected. Subsequently, the microbiota of each group was modulated by the administration of either a probiotic, fecal microbiota transplantation, or antibiotics. Changes were observed in host anxiety levels in correlation to the shift of the gut microbiota. Our results suggest that the microbiota, host genetics, and psychological symptoms are strongly related, yet the deeper mechanistic links need further exploration.
New Chitosan/Iron Oxide Composites: Fabrication and Application for Removal of Sr2+ Radionuclide from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Zemskova Larisa , Egorin Andrei , Tokar Eduard , Ivanov Vladimir , Bratskaya Svetlana
Published: December 2018

Here, we discuss the fabrication and problems of application of chitosan-based composite materials for the removal of hazardous metal ions from tap water and wastewater. The chitosan-based composites containing iron oxides for the uptake of Sr2+ ions were fabricated via a co-precipitation method with variation of the iron/chitosan ratio and pH of the medium. The morphology and composition of the fabricated sorbents were characterized using scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. We have shown that the suggested fabrication approach allows for a homogeneous distribution of the inorganic phase in the polymer matrix. Investigations of the sorption performance of the composites have shown that they are efficient sorbents for 90Sr radionuclides uptake from tap water. The composite sorbent containing amorphous iron oxide in a chitosan matrix and calcined at 105 °C showed the best sorption characteristics. We have also demonstrated that there is an optimal iron oxide content in the composite: with increasing oxide content, the efficiency of the sorbents decreases due to poor stability in solution, especially in alkaline media. The alternative approach yielding magnetic chitosan-based composites with sufficiently good sorption performance and stability in neutral and weakly alkaline media is suggested.
The Mechanism of Adsorption, Diffusion, and Photocatalytic Reaction of Organic Molecules on TiO2 Revealed by Means of On-Site Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Observations
Authors: Huo Peipei , Kumar Parveen , Liu Bo
Published: December 2018

The interaction of organic molecules and titanium dioxide (TiO2) plays a crucial role in many industry-oriented applications and an understanding of its mechanism can be helpful for the improvement of catalytic efficiency of TiO2. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been proved to be a powerful tool in characterizing reaction pathways due to its ability in providing on-site images during the catalytic process. Over the past two decades, many research interests have been focused on the elementary reaction steps, such as adsorption, diffusion, and photocatalytic reaction, occurring between organic molecules and model TiO2 surfaces. This review collects the recent studies where STM was utilized to study the interaction of TiO2 with three classes of representative organic molecules, i.e., alcohols, carboxylic acids, and aromatic compounds. STM can provide direct evidence for the adsorption configuration, diffusion route, and photocatalytic pathway. In addition, the combination of STM with other techniques, including photoemission spectroscopy (PES), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory (DFT), have been discussed for more insights related to organic molecules-TiO2 interaction.
DeepFog: Fog Computing-Based Deep Neural Architecture for Prediction of Stress Types, Diabetes and Hypertension Attacks
Authors: Priyadarshini Rojalina , Barik Rabindra Kumar , Dubey Harishchandra
Published: December 2018

The use of wearable and Internet-of-Things (IoT) for smart and affordable healthcare is trending. In traditional setups, the cloud backend receives the healthcare data and performs monitoring and prediction for diseases, diagnosis, and wellness prediction. Fog computing (FC) is a distributed computing paradigm that leverages low-power embedded processors in an intermediary node between the client layer and cloud layer. The diagnosis for wellness and fitness monitoring could be transferred to the fog layer from the cloud layer. Such a paradigm leads to a reduction in latency at an increased throughput. This paper processes a fog-based deep learning model, DeepFog that collects the data from individuals and predicts the wellness stats using a deep neural network model that can handle heterogeneous and multidimensional data. The three important abnormalities in wellness namely, (i) diabetes; (ii) hypertension attacks and (iii) stress type classification were chosen for experimental studies. We performed a detailed analysis of proposed models’ accuracy on standard datasets. The results validated the efficacy of the proposed system and architecture for accurate monitoring of these critical wellness and fitness criteria. We used standard datasets and open source software tools for our experiments.
Contextualizing Narratives of Economic Growth and Navigating Problematic Data: Economic Trends in Ethiopia (1999–2017)
Authors: Cochrane Logan , Bekele Yeshtila W.
Published: December 2018

There are common narratives about economic growth in Ethiopia. We analyze four common narratives, namely, that (1) the economy is transforming from agriculture to industry, (2) that national economic growth has been rapid and sustained, (3) that Ethiopia’s economy is largely agricultural, and (4) that there is a looming debt crisis, largely due to lending from China. In many instances, the justification for these narratives is based upon single years or specific data points. We examine these narratives over the long term, to assess if they are supported by available macroeconomic data. In doing so, we encountered significant issues with data quality and consistency. This article presents the available datasets from 1999 to 2017 and concludes that the commonly made claims about the Ethiopian economy are sometimes accurate, sometimes incomplete, and other times inaccurate. We call for greater attention to primary data, and primary datasets, as opposed to relying upon secondary summaries, single years, or specific data points to make generalized claims.
Supervision of Undergraduate Final Year Projects in Computing: A Case Study
Authors: Hassani Hossein , Kadir Govand , K. Al-Salihi Nawzad , Muhammad Ali Monnet Wrya , Ali-Yahiya Tara , Alizade Fattah
Published: December 2018

Final Year Projects (FYPs) play a significant role in undergraduate education in the computing field of study, and most of the related university departments and schools consider them an essential contribution to this study. However, issues such as whether to assign the projects individually or to a group of students, the procedures followed in their assignment, the supervision process and the evaluation of the outcomes have been of concern to many academics in the field. In this case study, we present the methods for activities such as assignment, supervision, and evaluation of FYPs at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) between the years 2009 and 2017. We discuss the development of our approach and the lessons learned during the mentioned period. Furthermore, we present our current way of managing the FYP module. The aim is to develop a platform for interested and involved academics to discuss the topic further. Sharing the experiences on managing FYPs would not only help in making the module more attractive and beneficial to the students but also in the consolidation of the guidelines and indicators of the proper supervision and a fair evaluation of this significant undergraduate study endeavor.
Correction: Vázquez, J. et al. Simulation Model of a 2-kW IPT Charger with Phase-Shift Control: Validation through the Tuning of the Coupling Factor. Electronics 2018, 7, 255
Authors: Vázquez Javier , Roncero-Sánchez Pedro , Torres Alfonso Parreño
Published: December 2018

The authors wish to make the following correction to our published paper [...]
Spectral and Energy Efficiency of Distributed Massive MIMO with Low-Resolution ADC
Authors: Li Jiamin , Lv Qian , Yang Jing , Zhu Pengcheng , You Xiaohu
Published: December 2018

In this paper, considering a more realistic case where the low-resolution analog-to-digital convertors (ADCs) are employed at receiver antennas, we investigate the spectral and energy efficiency in multi-cell multi-user distributed massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems with two linear receivers. An additive quantization noise model is provided first to study the effects of quantization noise. Using the model provided, the closed-form expressions for the uplink achievable rates with a zero-forcing (ZF) receiver and a maximum ratio combination (MRC) receiver under quantization noise and pilot contamination are derived. Furthermore, the asymptotic achievable rates are also given when the number of quantization bits, the per user transmit power, and the number of antennas per remote antenna unit (RAU) go to infinity, respectively. Numerical results prove that the theoretical analysis is accurate and show that quantization noise degrades the performance in spectral efficiency, but the growth in the number of antennas can compensate for the degradation. Furthermore, low-resolution ADCs with 3 or 4 bits outperform perfect ADCs in energy efficiency. Numerical results imply that it is preferable to use low-resolution ADCs in distributed massive MIMO systems.
Comparing Electrical Energy Storage Technologies Regarding Their Material and Carbon Footprint
Authors: Mostert Clemens , Ostrander Berit , Bringezu Stefan , Kneiske Tanja Manuela
Published: December 2018

The need for electrical energy storage technologies (EEST) in a future energy system, based on volatile renewable energy sources is widely accepted. The still open question is which technology should be used, in particular in such applications where the implementation of different storage technologies would be possible. In this study, eight different EEST were analysed. The comparative life cycle assessment focused on the storage of electrical excess energy from a renewable energy power plant. The considered EEST were lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-sulphur, vanadium redox flow and stationary second-life batteries. In addition, two power-to-gas plants storing synthetic natural gas and hydrogen in the gas grid and a new underwater compressed air energy storage were analysed. The material footprint was determined by calculating the raw material input RMI and the total material requirement TMR and the carbon footprint by calculating the global warming impact GWI. All indicators were normalised per energy fed-out based on a unified energy fed-in. The results show that the second-life battery has the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and material use, followed by the lithium-ion battery and the underwater compressed air energy storage. Therefore, these three technologies are preferred options compared to the remaining five technologies with respect to the underlying assumptions of the study. The production phase accounts for the highest share of GHG emissions and material use for nearly all EEST. The results of a sensitivity analysis show that lifetime and storage capacity have a comparable high influence on the footprints. The GHG emissions and the material use of the power-to-gas technologies, the vanadium redox flow battery as well as the underwater compressed air energy storage decline strongly with increased storage capacity.
New Differential Protection Method for Multiterminal HVDC Cable Networks
Authors: Granizo Arrabé Ricardo , A. Platero Carlos , Álvarez Gómez Fernando , Rebollo López Emilio
Published: December 2018

Ground faults in electrical power systems represent more than 90% of total faults. Their detection, location, and elimination are essential and must be carried out in a precise way to allow multiterminal high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable networks to operate in stable conditions by removing only the faulty cable from service. This paper presents a new differential protection method based on the measurement of currents at both ends of the shields of power cables. This new method is cheaper and easier to set in operation compared to other protection methods that measure currents circulating in the active conductors. The values of such intensities and their polarities were evaluated to know which cable had a ground fault in a multiterminal HVDC cable network. The method was successfully validated by computer simulations, and experimental results were successfully obtained.
Experimental Investigation into the Effects of Thermal Recuperation on the Combustion Characteristics of a Non-Premixed Meso-Scale Vortex Combustor
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Ehsan , Owens Evan , Krohn John , Leylek James
Published: December 2018

In small-scale combustors, the ratio of area to the combustor volume increases and hence heat loss from the combustor’s wall is significantly enhanced and flame quenching occurs. To solve this problem, non-premixed vortex flow is employed to stabilize flames in a meso-scale combustion chamber to generate small-scale power or thrust for propulsion systems. In this experimental investigation, the effects of thermal recuperation on the characteristics of asymmetric non-premixed vortex combustion are studied. The exhaust gases temperature, emissions and the combustor wall temperature are measured to evaluate thermal and emitter efficiencies. The results illustrate that in both combustors (with/without thermal recuperator), by increasing the combustion air mass flowrate, the wall temperature increases while the wall temperature of combustor with thermal recuperator is higher. The emitter efficiency calculated based on the combustor wall temperature is significantly increased by using thermal recuperator. Thermal efficiency of the combustion system increases up to 10% when thermal recuperator is employed especially in moderate Reynolds numbers (combustion air flow rate is 120 mg/s).
Analytical Study of the Electrical Output Characteristics of c-Si Solar Cells by Cut and Shading Phenomena
Authors: Lim Jong Rok , Shin Woo Gyun , Hwang Hyemi , Ju Young-Chul , Ko Suk Whan , Yoon Hee Sang , Kang Gi Hwan
Published: December 2018

Cut solar cells have received considerable attention recently as they can reduce electrical output degradation when the c-Si solar cells (crystalline-silicon solar cells) are shaded. Cut c-Si solar cells have a lower short-circuit current than normal solar cells and the decrease in short-circuit currents is similar to the shading effect of c-Si solar cells. However, the results of this study’s experiment show that the shadow effect of a c-Si solar cell reduces the V o c (open circuit voltage) in the c-Si solar cell but the V o c does not change when the c-Si solar cell is cut because the amount of incident light does not change. In this paper, the limitations of the electrical power analysis of the cut solar cells were identified when only photo current was considered and the analysis of the electric output of the cut c-Si solar cells was interpreted with a method different from that used in previous analyses. Electrical output was measured when the shaded and cut rates of c-Si solar cells were increased from 0% to 25, 50 and 75%, and a new theoretical model was compared with the experimental results using MATLAB.
Effect of Harvest Season on the Fuel Properties of Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby Biomass as Solid Biofuel
Authors: Bilandžija Nikola , Krička Tajana , Matin Ana , Leto Josip , Grubor Mateja
Published: December 2018

Biomass obtained from cultivated energy crops is one of the raw materials with the highest potential in renewable energy production. Although such biomass can be used in production of lignocellulose bioethanol, it is currently mostly used as solid fuel for generating heat and/or electric energy via combustion processes. Calorific values, proximate and ultimate analysis, cell structure and micro- and macro-elements data are considered as basic parameters in the valorization of fuel properties during biomass combustion processes. Energy crops are cultivated with the aim to produce the largest possible quantity of biomass with minimal agro-technical inputs. One of these crops is Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby. Given the fact that the chemical composition of biomass is influenced by a number of agro-ecological and agro-technical factors, the aim of this work was to determine the fuel properties of Sida hermaphrodita biomass obtained from three different harvest seasons (autumn, winter and spring) and cultivated in the area of the Republic of Croatia. On the basis of these investigations it was possible to conclude that harvest delaying towards spring season had a positive impact on suitability of using biomass of Sida hermaphrodita in the combustion process, which primarily means significant lowering the contents of moisture (18.64%), ash (1.94%), and nitrogen (0.65%), but also means increasing the contents of fixed carbon (6.21%) and lignin (25.45%).
Understanding Land–Atmosphere–Climate Coupling from the Canadian Prairie Dataset
Authors: Betts Alan K. , Desjardins Raymond L.
Published: December 2018

Analysis of the hourly Canadian Prairie data for the past 60 years has transformed our quantitative understanding of land–atmosphere–cloud coupling. The key reason is that trained observers made hourly estimates of the opaque cloud fraction that obscures the sun, moon, or stars, following the same protocol for 60 years at all stations. These 24 daily estimates of opaque cloud data are of sufficient quality such that they can be calibrated against Baseline Surface Radiation Network data to yield the climatology of the daily short-wave, long-wave, and total cloud forcing (SWCF, LWCF and CF, respectively). This key radiative forcing has not been available previously for climate datasets. Net cloud radiative forcing changes sign from negative in the warm season, to positive in the cold season, when reflective snow reduces the negative SWCF below the positive LWCF. This in turn leads to a large climate discontinuity with snow cover, with a systematic cooling of 10 °C or more with snow cover. In addition, snow cover transforms the coupling between cloud cover and the diurnal range of temperature. In the warm season, maximum temperature increases with decreasing cloud, while minimum temperature barely changes; while in the cold season with snow cover, maximum temperature decreases with decreasing cloud, and minimum temperature decreases even more. In the warm season, the diurnal ranges of temperature, relative humidity, equivalent potential temperature, and the pressure height of the lifting condensation level are all tightly coupled to the opaque cloud cover. Given over 600 station-years of hourly data, we are able to extract, perhaps for the first time, the coupling between the cloud forcing and the warm season imbalance of the diurnal cycle, which changes monotonically from a warming and drying under clear skies to a cooling and moistening under cloudy skies with precipitation. Because we have the daily cloud radiative forcing, which is large, we are able to show that the memory of water storage anomalies, from precipitation and the snowpack, goes back many months. The spring climatology shows the memory of snowfall back through the entire winter, and the memory in summer, goes back to the months of snowmelt. Lagged precipitation anomalies modify the thermodynamic coupling of the diurnal cycle to the cloud forcing, and shift the diurnal cycle of the mixing ratio, which has a double peak. The seasonal extraction of the surface total water storage is a large damping of the interannual variability of precipitation anomalies in the growing season. The large land-use change from summer fallow to intensive cropping, which peaked in the early 1990s, has led to a coupled climate response that has cooled and moistened the growing season, lowering cloud-base, increasing equivalent potential temperature, and increasing precipitation. We show a simplified energy balance of the Prairies during the growing season, and its dependence on reflective cloud.
Depositional Model, Pebble Provenance and Possible Reservoir Potential of Cretaceous Conglomerates: Example from the Southern Slope of Medvednica Mt. (Northern Croatia)
Authors: Sremac Jasenka , Velić Josipa , Bošnjak Marija , Velić Ivo , Kudrnovski Davor , Troskot-Čorbić Tamara
Published: December 2018

Upper Cretaceous deposits in Medvednica Mt. are composed of coarse-grained conglomerates, sandstones, shales and the pelagic Scaglia Limestones. Such deposits in the wider region possess reservoir potential, not previously studied in Northern Croatia. Modal composition of conglomerates, size and distribution of clasts, porosity and permeability were studied from one new exposure in Medvednica Mt., and the results were compared with previously published data from neighboring successions. Conglomerates are polymictic, clast- to matrix-supported, with clasts and matrix entirely composed of local bedrocks. Porosity varies between 4.98 to 10.89% and permeability from 1.13 to 43.3 mD. Overlying pelagic Scaglia Limestones contain pelagic foraminifera of the latest Santonian to Early Campanian age (83 to 85 Ma). Clasts were eroded from the local hinterland, probably transported to the beach by short-term torrents and deposited along the shelves of the proto-Medvednica Island. Previously presumed alluvial transport is not likely. Deposition took place in a Gosau-type basin during the subsidence phase, additionally controlled by a third-order sea-level change at the Santonian-Campanian boundary. According to this study, Upper Cretaceous clastites possess possible reservoir potential, and deserve more attention in future hydrocarbon research in Croatia.
Cyclic Behavior Associated with the Degassing Process at the Shallow Submarine Volcano Tagoro, Canary Islands, Spain
Authors: Fraile-Nuez Eugenio , Santana-Casiano J. Magdalena , González-Dávila Melchor , Vázquez Juan T. , Fernández-Salas Luis Miguel , Sánchez-Guillamón Olga , Palomino Desirée , Presas-Navarro Carmen
Published: December 2018

Tagoro, the most recently discovered shallow submarine volcano on the Canary Islands archipelago, Spain, has been studied from the beginning of its eruptive phase in October 2011 until November 2018. In March 2012, it became an active hydrothermal system involving a release of heat and gases that produce significant physical–chemical anomalies in the surrounding waters close to the seabed. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) and wavelet time-domain-frequency analysis techniques applied to filtered time series of temperature, salinity, pressure, pH, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) data from a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) device mounted on a mooring and deployed at the deepest part of the main crater at a depth of 127 m, have been used to better understand the dynamic processes of the emissions during Tagoro’s degasification phase. Our results highlight that the hydrothermal system exhibited a stationary cyclic degassing behavior with a strong peak of a 140-min period centered on a significant interval of 130–170 min at 99.9% confidence. Moreover, important physical–chemical anomalies are still present in the interior of the main crater, such as: (i) thermal increase of +2.55 °C, (ii) salinity decrease of −1.02, (iii) density decrease of −1.43 (kg∙m−3), and (iv) pH decrease of −1.25 units. This confirms that, five years after its origin, the submarine volcano Tagoro is still actively in a degassing phase.
Urban Space and Gender Performativity in Knut Hamsun’s Hunger and Cora Sandel’s Alberta and Freedom
Authors: Langås Unni
Published: December 2018

In this article, I discuss the combination of city life and gender performativity in two Norwegian classics, Knut Hamsun’s Hunger (2016) [Sult, 1890] and Cora Sandel’s Alberta and Freedom (1984) [Alberte og friheten, 1931]. These are modernist novels depicting lonely human subjects in an urban space, the first one featuring a man in Kristiania (now Oslo) in the 1880s, the second one a woman and her female acquaintances in Paris in the 1920s. I interpret and compare the two novels by focusing on their intertwined construction of gender performativity and urban space. Gender norms of the city life are critical premises for how the subjects manage to negotiate with different options and obstacles through their modern existences. To both protagonists, inferior femininity is a constant option and threat, but their responses and actions are different. The strategy of the male subject in Hunger is to fight his way up from humiliation by humiliating the female other; the strategy of the female subject in Alberta and Freedom is instead to seek solidarity with persons who have experiences similar to her own. Hamsun’s man and Sandel’s woman both perceive their own bodies as crucial to the interpretation of their physical surroundings. However, while the hero in Hunger must deal with a body falling apart and a confrontation with the world that depends on a totally fragmented bodily experience, the heroine in Alberta and Freedom instead sees herself as a body divided between outer appearance and inner inclinations. Both novels stage a person with writing proclivities in a city setting where the success or failure of artistic work is subjected to the mechanisms of a market economy. Their artistic ambitions are to a large extent decided by their material conditions, which seem to manipulate Hamsun’s hero out of the whole business, and Sandel’s heroine to stay calm and not give up. Yet the novels share the belief in the body’s basis as a denominator for the perception and interpretation of sensual and cognitive impressions of the world.
Nonparametric Conditional Heteroscedastic Hourly Probabilistic Forecasting of Solar Radiation
Authors: Boland John , Grantham Adrian
Published: December 2018

We develop a new probabilistic forecasting method for global horizontal irradiation (GHI) by extending our previous bootstrap method to a case of an exponentially decaying heteroscedastic model for tracking dynamics in solar radiance. Our previous method catered for the global systematic variation in variance of solar radiation, whereas our new method also caters for the local variation in variance. We test the performance of our new probabilistic forecasting method against our old probabilistic forecasting method at three locations: Adelaide, Darwin, and Mildura. These locations are chosen to represent three distinct climates. The prediction interval coverage probability, prediction interval normalized averaged width and Winkler score results from our new probabilistic forecasting method are encouraging. Our new method performs better than our previous method at Adelaide and Mildura; regions with a higher proportion of clear-sky days, whereas our previous method performs better than our new method at Darwin; a region with a lower proportion of clear-sky days. These results suggest that the ideal probabilistic forecasting method might be climate specific.
Plasma Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the PREVEND Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Flores-Guerrero Jose L. , Osté Maryse C. J. , Kieneker Lyanne M. , Gruppen Eke G. , Wolak-Dinsmore Justyna , Otvos James D. , Connelly Margery A. , Bakker Stephan J. L. , Dullaart Robin P. F.
Published: December 2018

Plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are linked to metabolic disease, but their relevance for prediction of type 2 diabetes development is unclear. We determined the association of plasma BCAAs with type 2 diabetes risk in the prevention of renal and vascular end-stage disease (PREVEND) cohort. The BCAAs were measured by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We evaluated the prospective associations of BCAAs with type 2 diabetes in 6244 subjects. The BCAAs were positively associated with HOMA-IR after multivariable adjustment (p < 0.0001). During median follow-up for 7.5 years, 301 cases of type 2 diabetes were ascertained. The Kaplan-Meier plot demonstrated that patients in the highest BCAA quartile presented a higher risk (p log-rank < 0.001). Cox regression analyses revealed a positive association between BCAA and type 2 diabetes; the hazard ratio (HR) for the highest quartile was 6.15 (95% CI: 4.08, 9.24, p < 0.0001). After adjustment for multiple clinical and laboratory variables, the association remained (HR 2.80 (95% CI: 1.72, 4.53), p < 0.0001). C-statistics, Net reclassification improvement, and −2 log likelihood were better after adding BCAAs to the traditional risk model (p = 0.01 to <0.001). In conclusions, high concentrations of BCAAs associate with insulin resistance and with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This association is independent of multiple risk factors, HOMA-IR and β cell function.
Appropriate Imaging Modality for the Etiologic Diagnosis of Congenital Single-Sided Deafness in Children
Authors: Lee Sang-Yeon , Kim Shin Hye , Bae Yun Jung , Kim Eun Hee , Koo Ja-Won , Choi Byung Yoon
Published: December 2018

We aimed to compare the diagnostic yield between temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) and internal auditory canal MRI (IAC MRI) for the etiologic diagnosis of children with congenital single-sided deafness (SSD) and the evaluation of cochlear implant (CI) candidacy. In the original cohort, 24 subjects with congenital SSD were enrolled and underwent both TBCT and IAC MRI. We recruited an additional 22 consecutive infants with congenital SSD (the supplementary cohort) and evaluated in particular the cochlear nerve (CN) integrity using IAC MRI. Cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) was classified as ‘absent’, ‘small’, and ‘indeterminate’ via mutual comparison between optical and parameters based on the MRI results. The most common etiologies were CND in the original cohort (19 out of 24). Notably, accurate evaluations of CN status (‘small CN’ = 2, ‘indeterminate CN’ = 2), inner ear malformations, and brain abnormalities were possible only with MRI. The ‘indeterminate CN’ tended to be more frequently detected in SSD ears than in unaffected ears. MRI appeared to be more accurate than TBCT in a meticulous differentiation of CN, which is crucial for the selection of appropriate CI candidacy among congenital SSD children. Additionally, we introduced the novel concept of ‘indeterminate CN’, of which the causal relationship with SSD awaits confirmation.
Decreased Bioelectrical Impedance Phase Angle in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Więch Paweł , Bazaliński Dariusz , Sałacińska Izabela , Binkowska-Bury Monika , Korczowski Bartosz , Mazur Artur , Kózka Maria , Dąbrowski Mariusz
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the body composition and nutritional status of hospitalized pediatric patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with phase angle (PA) calculation. PA is considered to be a useful and very sensitive indicator of the nutritional and functional status, and it has not yet been evaluated in such a population. Sixty-three pediatric patients aged 4 to 18 years, with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, were included in the study. The control group consisted of 63 healthy children and adolescents strictly matched by gender and age in a 1:1 case: control manner. In both groups, BIA with PA calculation was performed. Diabetic patients, in comparison to control subjects, had a highly significantly lower PA of 4.85 ± 0.86 vs. 5.62 ± 0.81, p < 0.001. They also demonstrated a lower percentage of body cell mass (BCM%), 46.89 ± 5.67% vs. 51.40 ± 4.19%, p < 0.001; a lower body cell mass index (BCMI), 6.57 ± 1.80% vs. 7.37 ± 1.72%, p = 0.004; and a lower percentage of muscle mass (MM%), 44.61 ± 6.58% vs. 49.40 ± 7.59%, p < 0.001, compared to non-diabetic controls. The significantly lower PA value in diabetic patients indicate their worse nutritional and functional status compared to healthy subjects. To assess the predictive and prognostic value of this finding in this population, further prospective studies involving larger sample of patients are required.
Awareness, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Meningococcal B Vaccine among Pediatricians in Italy
Authors: Ferrara Pietro , Stromillo Lucia , Albano Luciana
Published: December 2018

Background and objectives: Vaccination against bacterial pathogens is decisive for preventing invasive meningococcal disease and pediatricians play a pivotal role in vaccination compliance and coverage. The aim of this study was to investigate awareness, attitude, and practices toward the vaccine against Meningococcal B serogroup (4CMenB) among a sample of Italian pediatricians. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire from March to May 2015. Three multivariate logistic regression models were built to identify factors associated with the outcomes of interest. Results: The data showed that 95.5% of the interviewees correctly responded about the availability of 4CMenB vaccine in Italy, while only 28.0% knew the vaccination schedule for children aged two years or under. This knowledge was significantly higher in younger pediatricians and in those who worked a higher number of hours per week. Pediatricians self-reported a positive attitude toward the utility and safety of 4CMenB vaccine. Those pediatricians with a strong positive attitude toward the utility of the vaccine, who knew the vaccination schedules for children of two years or under, and who declared a satisfactory or good knowledge about the vaccine were more likely to inform parents about its availability in Italy, recommend the vaccination, and verify patients’ vaccination status, in their daily practice. Conclusions: The study highlights factors that currently influence pediatricians’ practices regarding the 4CMenB vaccine. The results showed the possible actions recommended to improve physicians’ awareness and behaviors in order to improve the vaccination compliance and invasive meningococcal diseases prevention.
Natural Negative Allosteric Modulators of 5-HT3 Receptors
Authors: Al Kury Lina T. , Mahgoub Mohamed , Howarth Frank Christopher , Oz Murat
Published: December 2018

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remain the most common and devastating side-effects associated with cancer chemotherapy. In recent decades, several lines of research emphasize the importance of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3; serotonin) receptors in the pathogenesis and treatment of CINV. 5-HT3 receptors are members of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate the rapid and transient membrane-depolarizing effect of 5-HT in the central and peripheral nervous system. These receptors play important roles in nausea and vomiting, as well as regulation of peristalsis and pain transmission. The development of antagonists for 5-HT3 receptor dramatically improved the treatment of CINV in cancer patients. In fact, the most common use of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to date is the treatment of nausea and vomiting. In recent years, there has been an increasing tendency to use natural plant products as important therapeutic entities in the treatment of various diseases. In this article, we examined the results of earlier studies on the actions of natural compounds on the functional properties of 5-HT3 receptors. It is likely that these natural modulators of 5-HT3 receptors can be employed as lead structures for the synthesis of therapeutic agents for treating CINV in future clinical studies.
Further Stabilization of Alcalase Immobilized on Glyoxyl Supports: Amination Plus Modification with Glutaraldehyde
Authors: Hussain Fouzia , Arana-Peña Sara , Morellon-Sterling Roberto , Barbosa Oveimar , Ait Braham Sabrina , Kamal Shagufta , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto
Published: December 2018

Alcalase was immobilized on glyoxyl 4% CL agarose beads. This permitted to have Alcalase preparations with 50% activity retention versus Boc-l-alanine 4-nitrophenyl ester. However, the recovered activity versus casein was under 20% at 50 °C, as it may be expected from the most likely area of the protein involved in the immobilization. The situation was different at 60 °C, where the activities of immobilized and free enzyme became similar. The chemical amination of the immobilized enzyme or the treatment of the enzyme with glutaraldehyde did not produce any significant stabilization (a factor of 2) with high costs in terms of activity. However, the modification with glutaraldehyde of the previously aminated enzyme permitted to give a jump in Alcalase stability (e.g., with most than 80% of enzyme activity retention for the modified enzyme and less than 30% for the just immobilized enzyme in stress inactivation at pH 7 or 9). This preparation could be used in the hydrolysis of casein at pH 9 even at 67 °C, retaining around 50% of the activity after 5 hydrolytic cycles when the just immobilized preparation was almost inactive after 3 cycles. The modified enzyme can be reused in hydrolysis of casein at 45 °C and pH 9 for 6 cycles (6 h) without any decrease in enzyme activity.
Quantification of Total Phenolic and Carotenoid Content in Blackberries (Rubus Fructicosus L.) Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Toledo-Martín Eva María , García-García María del Carmen , Font Rafael , Moreno-Rojas José Manuel , Salinas-Navarro María , Gómez Pedro , Del Río-Celestino Mercedes
Published: December 2018

A rapid method to quantify the total phenolic content (TPC) and total carotenoid content (TCC) in blackberries using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was carried out aiming to provide reductions in analysis time and cost for the food industry. A total of 106 samples were analysed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method for TPC and a method based on Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometer for TCC. The average contents found for TPC and TCC were 24.27 mg·g−1 dw and 8.30 µg·g−1 dw, respectively. Modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression was used for obtaining the calibration models of these compounds. The RPD (ratio of the standard deviation of the reference data to the standard error of prediction (SEP)) values from external validation for both TPC and TCC were between 1.5 < RPDp < 2.5 and RER values (ratio of the range in the reference data to SEP) were 5.92 for TPC and 8.63 for TCC. These values showed that both equations were suitable for screening purposes. MPLS loading plots showed a high contribution of sugars, chlorophyll, lipids and cellulose in the modelling of prediction equations.
Semisynthesis and Inhibitory Effects of Solidagenone Derivatives on TLR-Mediated Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Cuadrado Irene , Amesty Ángel , Cedrón Juan , Oberti Juan , Estévez-Braun Ana , Hortelano Sonsoles , De las Heras Beatriz
Published: December 2018

A series of nine derivatives (2–10) were prepared from the diterpene solidagenone (1) and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies. Their ability to inhibit inflammatory responses elicited in peritoneal macrophages by TLR ligands was investigated. Compounds 5 and 6 showed significant anti-inflammatory effects, as they inhibited the protein expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12) induced by the ligand of TLR4, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), acting at the transcriptional level. Some structure–activity relationships were outlined. Compound 5 was selected as a representative compound and molecular mechanisms involved in its biological activity were investigated. Inhibition of NF-κB and p38 signaling seems to be involved in the mechanism of action of compound 5. In addition, this compound also inhibited inflammatory responses mediated by ligands of TLR2 and TLR3 receptors. To rationalize the obtained results, molecular docking and molecular dynamic studies were carried out on TLR4. All these data indicate that solidagenone derivative 5 might be used for the design of new anti-inflammatory agents.