bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connected Process Design for Hot Working of a Creep-Resistant Mg–4Al–2Ba–2Ca Alloy (ABaX422)
Authors: Rao Kamineni Pitcheswara , Chalasani Dharmendra , Suresh Kalidass , Prasad Yellapregada Venkata Rama Krishna , Dieringa Hajo , Hort Norbert
Published: June 2018

With a view to design connected processing steps for the manufacturing of components, the hot working behavior of the ABaX422 alloy has been characterized for the as-cast and extruded conditions. In the as-cast condition, the alloy has a limited workability, due to the presence of a large volume of intermetallic phases at the grain boundaries, and is not suitable to process at high speeds. A connected processing step has been designed on the basis of the results of the processing map for the as-cast alloy, and this step involves the extrusion of the cast billet to obtain a 12 mm diameter rod product at a billet temperature of 390 °C and at a ram speed of 1 mm s−1. The microstructure of the extruded rod has a finer grain size, with redistributed fine particles of the intermetallic phases. The processing map of the extruded rod exhibited two new domains, and the one in the temperature range 360–420 °C and strain rate range 0.2–10 s−1 is useful for manufacturing at high speeds, while the lower temperature develops a finer grain size in the product to improve the room temperature strength and ductility. The area of the flow instability is also reduced by the extrusion step, widening the workability window.
Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanoparticles Derived from Silkworm Excrement as On–Off–On Fluorescent Sensors to Detect Fe(III) and Biothiols
Authors: Lu Xingchang , Liu Chen , Wang Zhimin , Yang Junyi , Xu Mengjing , Dong Jun , Wang Ping , Gu Jiangjiang , Cao Feifei
Published: June 2018

On–off–on fluorescent sensors based on emerging carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) or carbon dots (CDs) have attracted extensive attention for their convenience and efficiency. In this study, dumped silkworm excrement was used as a novel precursor to prepare fluorescent nitrogen-doped CNPs (N-CNPs) through hydrothermal treatment. The obtained N-CNPs showed good photoluminescent properties and excellent water dispersibility. Thus, they were applied as fluorescence “on–off–on” probes for the detection of Fe(III) and biothiols. The “on–off” process was achieved by adding Fe(III) into N-CNP solution, which resulted in the selective fluorescence quenching, with the detection limit of 0.20 μM in the linear range of 1–500 μM. Following this, the introduction of biothiols could recover the fluorescence efficiently, in order to realize the “off–on” process. By using glutathione (GSH) as the representative, the linear range was in the range of 1–1000 μM, and the limit of detection was 0.13 μM. Moreover, this useful strategy was successfully applied for the determination of amounts of GSH in fetal calf serum samples.
Mediterranean Diet Score: Associations with Metabolic Products of the Intestinal Microbiome, Carotid Plaque Burden, and Renal Function
Authors: Pignanelli Michael , Just Caroline , Bogiatzi Chrysi , Dinculescu Vincent , Gloor Gregory B. , Allen-Vercoe Emma , Reid Gregor , Urquhart Bradley L. , Ruetz Kelsey N. , Velenosi Thomas J. , Spence J. David
Published: June 2018

Metabolic products of the intestinal microbiome such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) that accumulate in renal failure (gut-derived uremic toxins, GDUTs) affect atherosclerosis and increase cardiovascular risk. We hypothesized that patients on a Mediterranean diet and those consuming lower amounts of dietary precursors would have lower levels of GDUTs. Patients attending vascular prevention clinics completed a Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and had plasma levels of TMAO, p-cresylsulfate, hippuric acid, indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl glucuronide, phenyl acetyl glutamine, and phenyl sulfate measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Carotid plaque burden was measured by ultrasound; CKD-Epi equations were used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate. In total, 276 patients completed the study. Even moderate renal function significantly increased plasma GDUTs, which were significantly associated with higher carotid plaque burden. There was no significant difference in plasma levels of any GDUT associated with a Mediterranean diet score or with intake of dietary precursors. In omnivorous patients with vascular disease, the intake of dietary precursors of intestinal metabolites or adherence to a Mediterranean diet did not change plasma GDUT. Approaches other than diet, such as probiotics and repopulation of the intestinal microbiome, may be required to mitigate the adverse effects of GDUTs.
In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Radical Scavenging Properties of Chinotto (Citrus myrtifolia Raf.) Essential Oils
Authors: Plastina Pierluigi , Apriantini Astari , Meijerink Jocelijn , Witkamp Renger , Gabriele Bartolo , Fazio Alessia
Published: June 2018

Chinotto (Citrus myrtifolia Raf.) is a widely diffused plant native from China and its fruits have a wide-spread use in confectionary and drinks. Remarkably, only little has been reported thus far on its bioactive properties, in contrast to those of the taxonomically related bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso). The present study aimed to investigate potential in vitro anti-inflammatory and radical scavenging properties of chinotto essential oils (CEOs) and to establish to what extent their composition and bioactivities are dependent on maturation. Essential oil from half ripe chinotto (CEO2) reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inflammatory genes, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264,7 macrophages. Limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate, and γ-terpinene were found to be the main components in CEO2. Moreover, CEO2 showed high radical scavenging activity measured as Trolox equivalents (TE) against both 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS). These findings show that chinotto essential oil represents a valuable part of this fruit and warrants further in vivo studies to validate its anti-inflammatory potential.
TRPM6 is Essential for Magnesium Uptake and Epithelial Cell Function in the Colon
Authors: Luongo Francesca , Pietropaolo Giuseppe , Gautier Mathieu , Dhennin-Duthille Isabelle , Ouadid-Ahidouch Halima , Wolf Federica I. , Trapani Valentina
Published: June 2018

Intestinal magnesium (Mg) uptake is essential for systemic Mg homeostasis. Colon cells express the two highly homologous transient receptor potential melastatin type (TRPM) 6 and 7 Mg2+ channels, but their precise function and the consequences of their mutual interaction are not clear. To explore the functional role of TRPM6 and TRPM7 in the colon, we used human colon cell lines that innately express both channels and analyzed the functional consequences of genetic knocking-down, by RNA interference, or pharmacological inhibition, by NS8593, of either channel. TRPM7 silencing caused an increase in Mg2+ influx, and correspondingly enhanced cell proliferation and migration, while downregulation of TRPM6 did not affect significantly either Mg2+ influx or cell proliferation. Exposure to the specific TRPM6/7 inhibitor NS8593 reduced Mg2+ influx, and consequently cell proliferation and migration, but Mg supplementation rescued the inhibition. We propose a model whereby in colon cells the functional Mg2+ channel at the plasma membrane may consist of both TRPM7 homomers and TRPM6/7 heteromers. A different expression ratio between the two proteins may result in different functional properties. Altogether, our findings confirm that TRPM6 cannot be replaced by TRPM7, and that TRPM6/7 complexes and TRPM6/7-mediated Mg2+ influx are indispensable in human epithelial colon cells.
Performance Evaluation of Single-Label and Multi-Label Remote Sensing Image Retrieval Using a Dense Labeling Dataset
Authors: Shao Zhenfeng , Yang Ke , Zhou Weixun
Published: June 2018

Benchmark datasets are essential for developing and evaluating remote sensing image retrieval (RSIR) approaches. However, most of the existing datasets are single-labeled, with each image in these datasets being annotated by a single label representing the most significant semantic content of the image. This is sufficient for simple problems, such as distinguishing between a building and a beach, but multiple labels and sometimes even dense (pixel) labels are required for more complex problems, such as RSIR and semantic segmentation.We therefore extended the existing multi-labeled dataset collected for multi-label RSIR and presented a dense labeling remote sensing dataset termed "DLRSD". DLRSD contained a total of 17 classes, and the pixels of each image were assigned with 17 pre-defined labels. We used DLRSD to evaluate the performance of RSIR methods ranging from traditional handcrafted feature-based methods to deep learning-based ones. More specifically, we evaluated the performances of RSIR methods from both single-label and multi-label perspectives. These results demonstrated the advantages of multiple labels over single labels for interpreting complex remote sensing images. DLRSD provided the literature a benchmark for RSIR and other pixel-based problems such as semantic segmentation.
Adaptive Waveform Design for MIMO Radar-Communication Transceiver
Authors: Yao Yu , Zhao Junhui , Wu Lenan
Published: June 2018

The system architecture for an adaptive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar-communication transceiver is proposed. A waveform design approach for communication data embedding into MIMO radar pulse using M-ary position phase shift keying (MPPSK) waveforms is introduced. A waveform optimization algorithm for the adaptive system is presented. The algorithm aims to improve the target detection performance by maximizing the relative entropy (RE) between the distributions under existence and absence of the target, and minimizing the mutual information (MI) between the current received signals and the estimated signals in the next time instant. The proposed system adapts its MPPSK modulated inter-pulse duration to suit the time-varying environment. With subsequent iterations of the algorithm, simulation results show an improvement in target impulse response (TIR) estimation and target detection probability. Meanwhile, the system is able to transmit data of several Mbps with low symbol error rates.
Stochastic Feedback Based Continuous-Discrete Cubature Kalman Filtering for Bearings-Only Tracking
Authors: He Renke , Chen Shuxin , Wu Hao , Hong Lei , Chen Kun
Published: June 2018

Bearings-only tracking only adopts measurements from angle sensors to realize target tracking, thus, the accuracy of the state prediction has a significant influence on the final results of filtering. There exist unpredictable approximation errors in the process of filtering due to state propagation, discretization, linearization or other adverse effects. The idea of online covariance adaption is proposed in this work, where the post covariance information is proved to be effective for the covariance adaption. With theoretical deduction, the relationship between the posterior covariance and the priori covariance is investigated; the priori covariance is modified online based on the feedback rule of covariance updating. The general framework integrates the continuous-discrete cubature Kalman filtering and the feedback rule of covariance updating. Numerical results illustrated that the proposed method has advantages over decreasing unpredictable errors and improving the computational accuracy and efficiency.
Impact of Sliding Window Length in Indoor Human Motion Modes and Pose Pattern Recognition Based on Smartphone Sensors
Authors: Wang Gaojing , Li Qingquan , Wang Lei , Wang Wei , Wu Mengqi , Liu Tao
Published: June 2018

Human activity recognition (HAR) is essential for understanding people’s habits and behaviors, providing an important data source for precise marketing and research in psychology and sociology. Different approaches have been proposed and applied to HAR. Data segmentation using a sliding window is a basic step during the HAR procedure, wherein the window length directly affects recognition performance. However, the window length is generally randomly selected without systematic study. In this study, we examined the impact of window length on smartphone sensor-based human motion and pose pattern recognition. With data collected from smartphone sensors, we tested a range of window lengths on five popular machine-learning methods: decision tree, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbor, Gaussian naïve Bayesian, and adaptive boosting. From the results, we provide recommendations for choosing the appropriate window length. Results corroborate that the influence of window length on the recognition of motion modes is significant but largely limited to pose pattern recognition. For motion mode recognition, a window length between 2.5–3.5 s can provide an optimal tradeoff between recognition performance and speed. Adaptive boosting outperformed the other methods. For pose pattern recognition, 0.5 s was enough to obtain a satisfactory result. In addition, all of the tested methods performed well.
Psychosocial Traits Characterizing EV Adopters’ Profiles: The Case of Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Authors: Rodríguez-Brito Maria Gracia , Ramírez-Díaz Alfredo J. , Ramos-Real Francisco J. , Perez Yannick
Published: June 2018

The aim of this paper is to analyze Rogers-system categories of electric vehicle adopters in Tenerife (Canary Islands) to highlight the psychological factors defining each category. The paper runs a model to calculate willingness to change and willingness to pay for an electric vehicle following the contingent valuation methodology. A survey performed in Tenerife Island collected data from 444 private cars drivers. The survey contained a set of questions on psychological and car-features issues, as well as other items querying the socioeconomic factors and mobility characteristics of the drivers. This paper brings key contributions to the literature. First, it uses two theoretical frameworks to define the categories of innovators from a psychosocial standpoint. Second, the results will usefully inform both policymakers and automaker marketing departments on specific actions to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. Our results confirm that electric vehicle adopter categories are similar in proportion and characteristics to those of Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, and can be collapsed into two macro-groups of adopters distributed in a 50%–50% split in our sample, i.e., the earlier adopters and the later adopters.
Spatiotemporal Simulation of Future Land Use/Cover Change Scenarios in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area
Authors: Wang Ruci , Derdouri Ahmed , Murayama Yuji
Published: June 2018

Simulating future land use/cover changes is of great importance for urban planners and decision-makers, especially in metropolitan areas, to maintain a sustainable environment. This study examines the changes in land use/cover in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) from 2007 to 2017 as a first step in using supervised classification. Second, based on the map results, we predicted the expected patterns of change in 2027 and 2037 by employing a hybrid model composed of cellular automata and the Markov model. The next step was to decide the model inputs consisting of the modeling variables affecting the distribution of land use/cover in the study area, for instance distance to central business district (CBD) and distance to railways, in addition to the classified maps of 2007 and 2017. Finally, we considered three scenarios for simulating land use/cover changes: spontaneous, sub-region development, and green space improvement. Simulation results show varied patterns of change according to the different scenarios. The sub-region development scenario is the most promising because it balances between urban areas, resources, and green spaces. This study provides significant insight for planners about change trends in the TMA and future challenges that might be encountered to maintain a sustainable region.
Restoration of an Active MV Distribution Grid with a Battery ESS: A Real Case Study
Authors: Manganelli Matteo , Nicodemo Mario , D’Orazio Luigi , Pimpinella Laura , Falvo Maria
Published: June 2018

In order to improve power system operation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) have been installed in high voltage/medium voltage stations by Distribution System Operators (DSOs) around the world. Support for restoration of MV distribution networks after a blackout or HV interruption is among the possible new functionalities of BESSs. With the aim to improve quality of service, the present paper investigates whether a BESS, installed in the HV/MV substation, can improve the restoration process indicators of a distribution grid. As a case study, an actual active distribution network of e-distribuzione, the main Italian DSO, has been explored. The existing network is located in central Italy. It supplies two municipalities of approximately 10,000 inhabitants and includes renewable generation plants. Several configurations are considered, based on: the state of the grid at blackout time; the BESS state of charge; and the involvement of Dispersed Generation (DG) in the restoration process. Three restoration plans (RPs) have been defined, involving the BESS alone, or in coordination with DG. A MATLAB®/Simulink® program has been designed to simulate the restoration process in each configuration and restoration plan. The results show that the BESS improves restoration process quality indicators in different simulated configurations, allowing the operation in controlled island mode of parts of distribution grids, during interruptions or blackout conditions. The defined restoration plans set the priority and the sequence of controlled island operations of parts of the grid to ensure a safe and better restoration. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that a BESS can be a valuable element towards an improved restoration procedure.
The Importance of Water Typologies in Lay Entomologies of Aedes aegypti Habitat, Breeding and Dengue Risk: A Study from Northern Australia
Authors: McNaughton Darlene , Miller Emma R. , Tsourtos George
Published: June 2018

Dengue fever is making a significant comeback globally and its control still depends largely on residents’ actions. Community awareness and education are central to its management; however, programmes have had limited impact, because they are often based on short-term research and limited awareness of the socio-ecological contexts wherein local knowledge of dengue and its vectors (lay entomology) is produced and enacted in and through place. Long-term studies of lay knowledge of dengue vectors are very rare, even though they are essential to the development of effective, targeted community education campaigns and mobilisation. In this paper, we examine the popular belief that dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, is ubiquitous in the north Australian landscape and demonstrate how local typologies of water are central to the reasoning underwriting this assumption. We show how these logics are fortified by people’s lived experiences of mosquitoes and the watery abodes they are thought to reside in, as well as through key messages from health education. We posit that long term, context-sensitive research approaches are better able to identify, understand and later address and challenge assumptions and may be more effective at informing, empowering and mobilizing the public to combat dengue fever.
Disinfection Methods for Swimming Pool Water: Byproduct Formation and Control
Authors: Ilyas Huma , Masih Ilyas , Van der Hoek Jan Peter
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a comprehensive and critical comparison of 10 disinfection methods of swimming pool water: chlorination, electrochemically generated mixed oxidants (EGMO), ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, UV/chlorine, UV/hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), UV/H2O2/chlorine, ozone (O3)/chlorine, O3/H2O2/chlorine, O3/UV and O3/UV/chlorine for the formation, control and elimination of potentially toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs): trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), trihaloacetaldehydes (THAs) and chloramines (CAMs). The statistical comparison is carried out using data on 32 swimming pools accumulated from the reviewed studies. The results indicate that O3/UV and O3/UV/chlorine are the most promising methods, as the concentration of the studied DBPs (THMs and HANs) with these methods was reduced considerably compared with chlorination, EGMO, UV irradiation, UV/chlorine and O3/chlorine. However, the concentration of the studied DBPs including HAAs and CAMs remained much higher with O3/chlorine compared with the limits set by the WHO for drinking water quality. Moreover, the enhancement in the formation of THMs, HANs and CH with UV/chlorine compared with UV irradiation and the increase in the level of HANs with O3/UV/chlorine compared with O3/UV indicate the complexity of the combined processes, which should be optimized to control the toxicity and improve the quality of swimming pool water.
Ostanek morskega psa iz spodnjeoligocenskih plasti Poljšice / The shark remain from the Early Oligocene beds of Poljšica, Slovenia
Authors: Šoster Aleš , Pavšič Jernej , Mikuž Vasja
Published: June 2018

V prispevku je predstavljen apikalni del zobne krone morskega psa vrste Carcharocles angustidens (Agassiz, 1835) iz oligocenskih plasti Poljšice pri Podnartu. Drugod v Sloveniji tovrstni ostanki še niso bili najdeni. Ključne besede: morski pes, Otodontidae, spodnji oligocen - rupelij, Poljšica pri Podnartu We are presenting the apical part of the tooth crown belonging to Carcharocles angustidens (Agassiz, 1835) found in Oligocene beds of Poljšica near Podnart. This is the only specimen of the species found so far in Slovenia. Key words: shark, Otodontidae, Early Oligocene - Rupelian, Poljšica at Podnart, Slovenia
Técnicas de refuerzo sísmico para la recuperación estructural del patrimonio arquitectónico chileno construido en adobe
Authors: Torres Gilles C. , Jorquera Silva N.
Published: June 2018

El terremoto del Maule del año 2010 de magnitud 8.8Mw, dejó severamente dañadas las estructuras de adobe que conforman gran parte del patrimonio colonial rural chileno. En ese contexto, y como parte de un programa gubernamental de reconstrucción patrimonial, se desarrollaron una serie de intervenciones destinadas a la recuperación estructural y arquitectónica de las obras dañadas, pese a la inexistencia en ese entonces, de una normativa específica que regulara dichas intervenciones. Así, las actuaciones de reconstrucción, refuerzo y consolidación estructural, se realizaron teniendo como referentes investigaciones internacionales, adaptándolas a la realidad de las tipologías locales, en una suerte de laboratorio real donde el desempeño estructural de los inmuebles será puesto a prueba en futuros sismos. En este artículo se caracterizan y analizan comparativamente los sistemas de refuerzo empleados en edificios religiosos y viviendas de adobe, en función de las características tipológicas y de los daños sufridos.
Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase Is Required for MC3T3 Osteoblast–Mediated Protection of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells from Apoptosis
Authors: Sterner Rosalie M. , Kremer Kimberly N. , Dudakovic Amel , Westendorf Jennifer J. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Hedin Karen E.
Published: June 2018

The bone marrow microenvironment harbors and protects leukemic cells from apoptosis-inducing agents via mechanisms that are incompletely understood. We previously showed SDF-1 (CXCL-12), a chemokine readily abundant within the bone marrow microenvironment, induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells that express high levels of the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4. However, differentiating osteoblasts found within this niche protect cocultured AML cells from apoptosis. Additionally, this protection was abrogated upon treatment of the differentiating osteoblasts with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi). In this study, we begin to characterize and target the molecular mechanisms that mediate this osteoblast protection. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that HDACi treatment of differentiating osteoblasts (mouse MC3T3 osteoblast cell line) reduced expression of multiple genes required for osteoblast differentiation, including genes important for producing mineralized bone matrix. Interestingly, pretreating differentiating osteoblasts with cyclosporine A, a drug known to inhibit osteoblast differentiation, similarly impaired osteoblast-mediated protection of cocultured AML cells (KG1a and U937 human AML cell lines). Both HDACi and cyclosporine A reduced osteoblast expression of the key mineralization enzyme tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP; encoded by Alpl). Moreover, specifically reducing TNAP expression or activity in differentiating osteoblasts significantly impaired the ability of the osteoblasts to protect cocultured AML cells. Together, our results indicate that inhibiting osteoblast matrix mineralization by specifically targeting TNAP is sufficient to significantly impair osteoblast-mediated protection of AML cells. Therefore, designing combination therapies that additionally target the osteoblast-produced mineralized bone matrix may improve treatment of AML by reducing the protection of leukemic cells within the bone marrow microenvironment.
A Diverse Lipid Antigen–Specific TCR Repertoire Is Clonally Expanded during Active Tuberculosis
Authors: DeWitt William S. , Yu Krystle K. Q. , Wilburn Damien B. , Sherwood Anna , Vignali Marissa , Day Cheryl L. , Scriba Thomas J. , Robins Harlan S. , Swanson Willie J. , Emerson Ryan O. , Bradley Philip H. , Seshadri Chetan
Published: June 2018

Human T cells that recognize lipid Ags presented by highly conserved CD1 proteins often express semi-invariant TCRs, but the true diversity of lipid Ag–specific TCRs remains unknown. We use CD1b tetramers and high-throughput immunosequencing to analyze thousands of TCRs from ex vivo–sorted or in vitro–expanded T cells specific for the mycobacterial lipid Ag, glucose monomycolate. Our results reveal a surprisingly diverse repertoire resulting from editing of germline-encoded gene rearrangements analogous to MHC-restricted TCRs. We used a distance-based metric (TCRDist) to show how this diverse TCR repertoire builds upon previously reported conserved motifs by including subject-specific TCRs. In a South African cohort, we show that TCRDist can identify clonal expansion of diverse glucose monomycolate–specific TCRs and accurately distinguish patients with active tuberculosis from control subjects. These data suggest that similar mechanisms govern the selection and expansion of peptide and lipid Ag–specific T cells despite the nonpolymorphic nature of CD1.
Blocking TIR Domain Interactions in TLR9 Signaling
Authors: Javmen Artur , Szmacinski Henryk , Lakowicz Joseph R. , Toshchakov Vladimir Y.
Published: June 2018

Interaction of TLR9 with ligands activates NF-κB, leading to proinflammatory cytokine production. Excessive TLR activation is a pathogenic factor for inflammatory diseases. This study has examined cell-permeating decoy peptides (CPDPs) derived from the TLR9 Toll/IL-1R resistance (TIR) domain. CPDP 9R34, which included AB loop, β-strand B, and N-terminal BB loop residues, inhibited TLR9 signaling most potently. CPDPs derived from α-helices C, D, and E (i.e., 9R6, 9R9, and 9R11) also inhibited TLR9-induced cytokines but were less potent than 9R34. 9R34 did not inhibit TLR2/1, TLR4, or TLR7 signaling. The N-terminal deletion modification of 9R34, 9R34-ΔN, inhibited TLR9 as potently as the full length 9R34. Binding of 9R34-ΔN to TIR domains was studied using cell-based Förster resonance energy transfer/fluorescence lifetime imaging approach. Cy3-labeled 9R34-ΔN dose-dependently decreased fluorescence lifetime of TLR9 TIR–Cerulean (Cer) fusion protein. Cy3–9R34-ΔN also bound TIRAP TIR, albeit with a lesser affinity, but not MyD88 TIR, whereas CPDP from the opposite TIR surface, 9R11, bound both adapters and TLR9. i.p. administration of 9R34-ΔN suppressed oligonucleotide-induced systemic cytokines and lethality in mice. This study identifies a potent, TLR9-specific CPDP that targets both receptor dimerization and adapter recruitment. Location of TIR segments that represent inhibitory CPDPs suggests that TIR domains of TLRs and TLR adapters interact through structurally homologous surfaces within primary receptor complex, leading to formation of a double-stranded, filamentous structure. In the presence of TIRAP and MyD88, primary complex can elongate bidirectionally, from two opposite ends, whereas in TIRAP-deficient cells, elongation is unidirectional, only through the αE side.
The role of community volunteers in PMTCT programme: Lessons from selected sites in Zambia to strengthen health education on infant feeding and follow-up of HIV-positive mother-infant pair
Authors: Ngoma-Hazemba Alice , Ncama Busisiwe P.
Published: June 2018

Background: A global debate surrounding health care delivery at the lowest level of the community has aroused interest among researchers. In settings where skilled health workforce is scarce, the community relies on volunteers to provide care.Aim: To explore the role of community-based volunteers (CBVs) and their perspectives on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and infant feeding to gain insights into the implementation of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) interventions at community level.Setting: The study was conducted in Lusaka using Ngombe and Chelstone health facilities to recruit participants. Fieldwork took place from January 2014 to September 2014.Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study employing focus group discussions was conducted with CBVs. Convenient sampling was used to recruit 10 participants from each site. All transcribed interviews were imported into the Nvivo 10 for open coding and analysis.Results: Although the role of community volunteers was to support and teach mothers on infant feeding in relation to HIV, the known cultural norms and practices had a bearing on how they tailored their information on breastfeeding to mothers. However, their link of the community to the health facilities cannot be overemphasised in these settings.Conclusion: The role of community volunteers in PMTCT interventions can be strengthened by improving their training through use of appropriate educational materials and support of required resources. Lessons from these sites can inform future research to design communitybased interventions and develop health education materials that are sensitive to cultural norms and practices in this and similar settings.
Evaluation of real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for clinical diagnosis of West Nile virus in patients
Authors: Kumar Jyoti S. , Saxena Divyasha , Parida Manmohan , Rathinam Sivakumar
Published: June 2018

Background & objectives:

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus. The disease can be diagnosed by isolation followed by fluorescent antibody tests, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. These diagnostic methods are laborious and time-consuming. The present study was aimed to evaluate the real-time reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method for rapid, early and accurate diagnosis of WNV.

Methods:

A one-step single tube accelerated quantitative RT-LAMP assay was evaluated by targeting the Env gene of WNV. The gene amplification was accomplished by incubating the reaction mixture at 63°C for 60 min in both real time turbidimeter as well as routine laboratory water bath/dry heating bath. To rule out contamination issues, proper negative controls, including no template, no primer; and no enzyme, were always kept alongside each run. The RT-LAMP assay was evaluated on 105 clinical samples from individuals having ocular infection.

Results:

Of the 105 samples tested, 27 were positive for WNV by RT-LAMP assay. The comparative evaluation with conventional RT-PCR revealed 100 per cent accordance with sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 95 per cent, respectively. The specificity of this assay was confirmed with serum samples obtained from patients with dengue and chikungunya.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The RT-LAMP test seemed to be a sensitive and specific method for rapid detection of WNV infection and would be useful for rapid screening of a large number of clinical samples in endemic areas during outbreaks.
Host-targeted therapy for tuberculosis
Authors: Desikan Prabha , Rangnekar Aseem
Published: June 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Every year millions of people die due to TB. Drug resistance has been a major factor that has obstructed successful control and treatment of TB. As the rate of spread of drug-resistant TB outpaces the rate of discovery of new anti-tubercular drugs, targeted therapy may provide a new approach to TB cure. In a scenario where drug resistance is spreading rapidly, and existing drugs regimens seem to be dwindling away, this review summarizes the concept of host-targeted therapy which may be the ray of hope for the effective management and control of the rapidly spreading drug-resistant TB (multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant).
A Rare Cause of Obstructive Jaundice: Cecal Herniation through the Foramen of Winslow
Authors: Welaratne Ivan , Nasoodi Afshin
Published: June 2018

Internal abdominal hernias are rarely reported in the literature and have a very low rate of preoperative diagnosis. It is even rarer that they present with jaundice. A 59-year-old Caucasian female presented with a short history of jaundice, dark urine, epigastric pain, vomiting, and obstipation. Her liver biochemistry profile revealed a mixed cholestatic/hepatocellular pattern with significantly elevated bilirubin. She urgently underwent abdominal imaging which provided a preoperative diagnosis of internal herniation of the cecum within the lesser sac through the foramen of Winslow. The dilated bowel was compressing the common bile duct explaining the jaundice. This was repaired intraoperatively by anchoring the mobile cecum. In this case, we highlight the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for internal herniation on abdominal imaging with clinical evidence of intestinal obstruction. A foramen of Winslow hernia should be further suspected in the presence of jaundice.
Managing pulmonary embolism secondary to suppurative deep vein thrombophlebitis due to community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus in a resource-poor setting
Authors: Grewal M , Gupta S , Muranjan M , Karande S
Published: June 2018

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are rare and life threatening emergencies in children. We report an 11-year old female who presented with acute complaints of high grade fever, pain in the left thigh and inability to walk and breathlessness since 6 days. On physical examination, there was a diffuse tender swelling of the left thigh, tachypnea, tachycardia with hyperdynamic precordium and bilateral basal crepitations. Ultrasonography and venous doppler of lower limbs showed mild effusion of left hip joint and thrombus in the left common femoral vein and left external iliac vein suggesting a diagnosis of septic arthritis with thrombophlebitis. The tachypnea and tachycardia which was out of proportion to fever and crepitations on auscultation prompted suspicion of an embolic phenomenon. Radiograph of the chest revealed multiple wedge shaped opacities in the right middle zone and lower zone suggestive of pulmonary embolism and left lower zone consolidation. For corroboration, computed tomography pulmonary angiography and computed tomography of abdomen was performed which showed pulmonary thromboembolism and deep venous thrombosis extending up to infrarenal inferior vena cava. On further workup, magnetic resonance imaging of hips showed left femoral osteomyelitis and multiple intramuscular abscesses in the muscles around the hip joint. Blood culture grew methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics were changed according to culture sensitivity and there was a dramatic response. After four weeks of anticoagulation and antibiotics the child became asymptomatic and thrombus resolved. Thus, it is crucial to consider methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection as an important infection when we encounter such a clinical scenario. This case report highlights an unusual and potentially life threatening presentation of a virulent strain of a common pathogen, which when diagnosed was completely amenable to treatment.
FAIR v1.3: a simple emissions-based impulse response and carbon cycle model
Authors: Smith Christopher J. , Forster Piers M. , Allen Myles , Leach Nicholas , Millar Richard J. , Passerello Giovanni A. , Regayre Leighton A.
Published: June 2018

Abstract. Simple climate models can be valuable if they are able to
replicate aspects of complex fully coupled earth system models. Larger
ensembles can be produced, enabling a probabilistic view of future climate
change. A simple emissions-based climate model, FAIR, is presented, which
calculates atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and effective
radiative forcing (ERF) from greenhouse gases, aerosols, ozone and other
agents. Model runs are constrained to observed temperature change from 1880
to 2016 and produce a range of future projections under the Representative
Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios. The constrained estimates of
equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS), transient climate response (TCR) and
transient climate response to cumulative CO2 emissions (TCRE) are 2.86
(2.01 to 4.22) K, 1.53 (1.05 to 2.41) K and 1.40 (0.96 to
2.23) K (1000 GtC)−1 (median and 5–95 % credible intervals). These are
in good agreement with the
likely Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)
range, noting that AR5 estimates were derived from a combination of climate
models, observations and expert judgement. The ranges of future projections
of temperature and ranges of estimates of ECS, TCR and TCRE are somewhat
sensitive to the prior distributions of ECS∕TCR parameters but less
sensitive to the ERF from a doubling of CO2 or the observational
temperature dataset used to constrain the ensemble. Taking these
sensitivities into account, there is no evidence to suggest that the median
and credible range of observationally constrained TCR or ECS differ from
climate model-derived estimates. The range of temperature projections under
RCP8.5 for 2081–2100 in the constrained FAIR model ensemble is lower than
the emissions-based estimate reported in AR5 by half a degree, owing to
differences in forcing assumptions and ECS∕TCR distributions.
El periodismo cultural
Authors: Martínez Néstor
Published: June 2018

Cultura y periodismos, una mezcla que involucra un campo demasiado amplio y otro demasiado restringido. Sin embargo, tiene roces comunes en los que interviene el periodista, armonizado esos conceptos para el público en general. El presente artículo nos acerca a la teorización de esa armonización, al tiempo que nos revela algo de la faceta del periodismo cultural.Revista de Museología "Kóot" No.9 2018: 63-68
Primera lectura a El Túnel de Ernesto Sábato
Authors: Fúnez Rubén
Published: June 2018

La primera pregunta que me suscitó el libro de Sábato, El túnel, una vez que lo abrí fue ¿qué significa un túnel? Pienso que la pregunta vino suscitada, quizá, por lo que han dicho que afirma el psicoanálisis sobre túneles y laberintos; de todos modos, fue una inquietud que ha acompañado la lectura de la novela, desde su primera página hasta la última. La segunda pregunta, que además ha servido de conducción heurística, ha sido ¿por qué Castel mata a María? Todos los lectores sabemos que la novela va a ser el relato de un asesinato, que me llevó a pensar en la Crónica de una muerte anunciada, de G. Márquez, por eso, pienso que tenemos que saber cuáles son las razones para que se pueda llevar a cabo un hecho así.Y en la novela de Sábato la pregunta es mucho más importante porque Castel piensa que la única persona en el mundo que ha comprendido sus cuadros es precisamente María, entonces uno no puede dejarse de preguntar: si esto ha sido así, cómo es posible que opte por matarla. La tercera pregunta ha sido suscitada ante el empeño del grupo de lectores con los cuales estuvimos leyendo la novela de entender la trama como una mera novela romántica, en la que una calculadora María se burla de un enfermo Castel, frente a ellos quise que comprendieran mejor tanto a Castel como a María como metáforas que simbolizan experiencias humanas. De hecho, el mismo Castel afirma que “todo esto tiene algo que ver con la humanidad en general ¿comprende?” Por lo tanto, lo que hay que preguntarse es qué simbolizan Castel y María. Y la cuarta pregunta que me suscitó la lectura por su presencia agobiante a lo largo de toda la novela ha sido qué significa necesitar a otra persona. La necesidad que dice tener Castel de María es desesperante.Revista de Museología "Kóot" No.9 2018: 120-130
Entrevista a la arquitecta Ehrentraut Schott-Katstaller
Authors: Departamento de Organización del Espacio Equipo de investigación
Published: June 2018

No abstract availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 150, 2017: 143-153
Momentos, espacios y paisajes : Exposición de Arquitectura en El Salvador
Authors: Manzano Carlos
Published: June 2018

No abstract availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 150, 2017: 119-141
Effects of Soil Type on Floristics and Stand Structure in Amazon Unflooded Forests
Authors: Myster Randall
Published: June 2018

The importance of unflooded forests in the Amazon and the need to investigate how their soils affect their floristics and stand structure, lead me to set up and sampled trees in four plots in terra firme forest, in white sand forest and in palm forest at the same site in the Peruvian Amazon. I found (1) the white sand forest plot had 15 families with Clusiaceae, Malvaceae and Myrtaceae the most common and Pachira brevipes the most common species, (2) the palm forest plot had 6 families with Arecaceae, Clusiaceae and Fabaceae the most common and Socratea exorrhiza the most common species, and (3) the terra firme forest plot had 47 families with Myristicacea, Fabaceae and Bombacace the most common and Otoba parvifolia and Astrocaryum murumura the most common species. For the stand structure of these forests, (1) terra firme had more stems and larger stems than white sand and palm, and while palm had more stems than white sand, white sand had larger stems than palm, (2) species richness was greatest in terra firme and decreased by a factor of three in white sand, and by a factor of five in palm, (3) basal area decreased from terra firme to white sand, but white sand and palm were comparable, (4) white sand had the greatest above-ground biomass, followed by terra firme and palm, and (5) white sand and palm were much more open forests than terra firme. Results strongly suggest that soils are a significant causal factor in determining floristic and structural differences among these Amazon forests, where the richer soil of terra firme forest helps produce both more structure and a richer floristics compared to the poor soil of palm forests and the even poorer soil of white sand forests.
Língua inglesa como terceira língua: considerações sobre o ensino de línguas estrangeiras para estudantes surdos na educação básica brasileira
Authors: Kupske Felipe Flores
Published: June 2018

Ainda so poucos os estudos no Brasil que buscam deslindar o desenvolvimento de lnguas estrangeiras em contextos formais de instruo por estudantes surdos. Como consequncia, o ensino de lngua inglesa na escola inclusiva ainda se constitui como uma prtica norteada por poucas bases tericas. Nesse sentido, este trabalho busca discutir o ensino de lngua inglesa para estudantes surdos na educao bsica, trazendo tona questes de motivao, transferncia lingustica e de interpretao no processo de ensino. Em nosso levantamento emprico e bibliogrfico, percebemos que o ensino de lngua inglesa mais complexo para o estudante surdo, pois considerada sua terceira lngua, dependente do sistema de Libras e do portugus. Notamos que o estudante surdo continua margem educacional e, no caso do ensino de lnguas, a situao agravada, pois, nem sempre, tem oportunidades de interagir organicamente ou v a lngua estrangeira como relevante, dada sua configurao metodolgica usual.
Folhetos de cordel no ensino de língua materna: A aula de leitura revisitada
Authors: Rodrigues Linduarte Pereira , Silva Rodrigo Nunes da
Published: June 2018

O estudo traz uma reflexo sobre mtodos e prticas de leitura para aulas de Lngua Materna, tendo em vista formar leitores proficientes, levando em considerao as tradies orais de transmisso cultural. Aponta possibilidades de abordagem do discurso ps-moderno a partir do folheto de cordel. Objetiva sugerir um trabalho em turmas de ensino mdio, com vistas a desenvolver a proficincia leitora e o aprimoramento de conhecimentos essenciais contemporaneidade. A proposta situa-se numa perspectiva educacional, perpassando as teorias da anlise do discurso (AD) e da linguagem. Para tanto, apoia-se em estudos j realizados por Bakhtin/Voloshinov (2004), Hall (2005), Orlandi (2009), Possenti (2009), Sacristn (2002), entre outros. O propsito foi despertar nos alunos o gosto pela leitura e a funcionalidade de gneros discursivos diversos na escola e na sociedade, o que em nossa prtica foi evidenciado pela leitura do cordel.
Limites e possibilidades do direito à educação pública: contribuições freireanas ao Ensino Musical
Authors: Carvalho Celso Do Prado Ferraz de , Carvalho Mauricio Braz de
Published: June 2018

O presente artigo se insere nas discusses acerca do retorno do Ensino Musical educao bsica brasileira, em decorrncia da Lei n 11.769 sancionada em Agosto de 2008 pelo ento presidente Luiz Incio Lula da Silva. Tendo como foco o universo sociocultural da Escola Pblica o texto busca argumentar, que os objetivos poltico-pedaggicos a serem delineados pela Formao Musical, devem ser constitudos a partir de uma compreenso mais ampla sobre o processo de construo social da escola pblica brasileira, da apreenso de suas determinaes histrico-sociais e das insuficincias marcantes em sua expanso, bem como de suas aberturas a usos e apropriaes voltadas a uma formao efetivamente democrtica e emancipadora. Para tais objetivos, recorre-se, dentre outros, ao pensamento educacional de Paulo Freire.
Crise ambiental, consumo e artefatos culturais: provocações ao tempo contemporâneo
Authors: Henning Paula Corrêa , Vieira Virginia Tavares , Henning Clarissa Corrêa
Published: June 2018

O presente artigo trata de uma pesquisa que tem como escopo articular o campo da Educao Ambiental e os estudos da mdia. Ao estudar alguns de seus discursos entende-se que a mdia coloca em operao uma relao de poder ao fabricar verdades, produzir sentidos e constituir sujeitos. Destacamos o forte apelo miditico na constituio de um sujeito contemporneo preocupado com a vida humana no planeta Terra. Diante do cenrio contemporneo, problematizamos especificamente o campo da Educao Ambiental e discutimos fragmentos de discursos miditicos que engendram o sujeito ecolgico. Para este texto tratamos dois discursos profundamente divergentes o da crise ambiental e o da incitao permanente ao consumo. Alm disso, colocamos em suspenso os discursos apocalpticos de fim do mundo devido ao mau uso dos recursos naturais. Como concluso, provoca-se o leitor a pensar atravessamentos de tais ditos em nossas vidas.