bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dengue Awareness and Practice Among The People Living in Haraincha Village Development Committee of Eastern Nepal
Authors: KC Heera , Parajuli S.B.
Published: March 2017

Introduction Dengue is an emerging public health problem across the globe. Almost 50% of world's populations are at risk. In Nepal, the first dengue case was reported in 2004. Three major epidemics have occurred since then: in the year 2006, 2010 and 2012. Since there is no specific treatment and vaccine available, awareness is vital to prevent and control it.Objective This study aimed to assess dengue awareness and prevention practice among the people living in Haraincha Village Development Committee of Morang District in Eastern Nepal.Methodology A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from th th 15 October 2013 to 30 November 2013. Data was collected from 122 households by means of interview using semi structured questionnaires and analyzed in SPSS.Results Two percent had history of dengue contracted outside the country. Almost half were aware about dengue. Among them, 91.7% rightly said that dengue is transmitted during rainy season. The most common mode of transmission cited by them was mosquito bite (83.3%) and only two percent rightly said that biting species is Aedes. Ninety two Percent had wrong belief that stagnant dirty water was common breeding site. The common symptoms stated were fever (80%), headache (50%), myalgia (36%), and retro-orbital pain (7%). Almost 92% were aware that dengue is preventable and 68% knew that treatment is available. The common methods of control practiced were using bed nets (81.83%), spray (51.77%), coil (38.41%) and window-door screen (38.41%). Gender (p=<0.001), ethnicity (p=0.004), education (p=0.020) poverty (p=.006) and natural light inside the household (p=0.002) had significant association with respondent being aware of dengue.Conclusion Dengue awareness was not adequate among the residents of Haraincha although preventive practices regarding vector control was noted.Birat Journal of Health Sciences 2016 1(1): 38-46
Surveillance survey of family history in children with neural tube defects
Authors: Dupépé Esther B. , Patel Daxa M. , Rocque Brandon G. , Hopson Betsy , Arynchyna Anastasia A. , Bishop E. Ralee' , Blount Jeffrey P.
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Although there are known risk factors for the development of neural tube defects (NTDs), little is known regarding the role of family history. The authors' goal in this study is to describe the family history in their population of patients with NTDs.

METHODS

Surveys were completed for 254 patients who were accompanied by their biological mother during their annual visit to the multidisciplinary Spina Bifida Clinic at Children's of Alabama. An NTD has been diagnosed in all patients who are seen in this clinic (myelomeningocele, lipomeningocele, split cord malformation, and congenital dermal sinus tract). Each mother answered questions regarding known NTD risk factors and their pregnancy, as well as the family history of NTDs, other CNS disorders, and birth defects.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of family history of NTDs in children with an NTD was 16.9% (n = 43), of which 3.1% (n = 8) were in first-degree relatives. In patients with myelomeningocele, 17.7% (n = 37) had a positive family history for NTDs, with 3.8% in first-degree relatives. Family history in the paternal lineage for all NTDs was 8.7% versus 10.6% in the maternal lineage. Twenty-two patients (8.7%) had a family history of other congenital CNS disorders. Fifteen (5.9%) had a family history of Down syndrome, 12 (4.7%) had a family history of cerebral palsy, and 13 (5.1%) patients had a family history of clubfoot. Fourteen (5.5%) had a family history of cardiac defect, and 13 (5.1%) had a family history of cleft lip or palate.

CONCLUSIONS

The family history of NTDs was 16.9% in children with NTD without a difference between maternal and paternal lineage. This high rate of positive family history suggests that genetics and epigenetics may play a larger role in the pathogenesis of NTD in the modern era of widespread folate supplementation.
A proposal for a new classification of complications in craniosynostosis surgery
Authors: Shastin Dmitri , Peacock Sharron , Guruswamy Velu , Kapetanstrataki Melpo , Bonthron David T. , Bellew Maggie , Long Vernon , Carter Lachlan , Smith Ian , Goodden John , Russell John , Liddington Mark , Chumas Paul
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Complications have been used extensively to facilitate evaluation of craniosynostosis practice. However, description of complications tends to be nonstandardized, making comparison difficult. The authors propose a new pragmatic classification of complications that relies on prospective data collection, is geared to capture significant morbidity as well as any “near misses” in a systematic fashion, and can be used as a quality improvement tool.

METHODS

Data on complications for all patients undergoing surgery for nonsyndromic craniosynostosis between 2010 and 2015 were collected from a prospective craniofacial audit database maintained at the authors' institution. Information on comorbidities, details of surgery, and follow-up was extracted from medical records, anesthetic and operation charts, and electronic databases. Complications were defined as any unexpected event that resulted or could have resulted in a temporary or permanent damage to the child.

RESULTS

A total of 108 operations for the treatment of nonsyndromic craniosynostosis were performed in 103 patients during the 5-year study period. Complications were divided into 6 types: 0) perioperative occurrences; 1) inpatient complications; 2) outpatient complications not requiring readmission; 3) complications requiring readmission; 4) unexpected long-term deficit; and 5) mortality. These types were further subdivided according to the length of stay and time after discharge. The overall complication rate was found to be 35.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of children with some sort of complication using the proposed definition was much higher than commonly reported, predominantly due to the inclusion of problems often dismissed as minor. The authors believe that these complications should be included in determining complication rates, as they will cause distress to families and may point to potential areas for improving a surgical service.
Pediatric spinal cord astrocytomas: a retrospective study of 348 patients from the SEER database
Authors: Luksik Andrew S. , Garzon-Muvdi Tomas , Yang Wuyang , Huang Judy , Jallo George I.
Published: March 2017

OBJECTIVE

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors comprise 1%–10% of all childhood central nervous system neoplasms, with astrocytomas representing the most common subtype. Due to their rarity and poor prognosis, large population-based studies are needed to assess the epidemiology and survival risk factors associated with these tumors in the hope of improving outcome. The authors undertook this retrospective study to explore factors that may influence survival in pediatric patients with spinal cord astrocytomas.

METHODS

Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, a prospective cancer registry, the authors retrospectively assessed survival in histologically confirmed, primary spinal cord astrocytomas in patients 21 years of age and younger. Survival was described with Kaplan-Meyer curves, and a multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the association of several variables with survival while controlling for confounding variables.

RESULTS

This analysis of 348 cases showed that age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.09, p = 0.017), nonwhite race (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.11–2.74, p = 0.014), high-grade tumor status (HR 14.67, 95% CI 6.69–32.14, p < 0.001), distant or invasive extension of the tumor (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.02–5.49, p = 0.046), and radiation therapy (HR 3.74, 95% CI 2.18–6.41, p < 0.001) were associated with decreased survival. Partial resection (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16–0.83, p = 0.017) and gross-total resection (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.95, p = 0.039) were associated with improved survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Younger age appears to be protective, while high-grade tumors have a much worse prognosis. Early diagnosis and access to surgery appears necessary for improving outcomes, while radiation therapy has an unclear role. There is still much to learn about this disease in the hope of curing children with the misfortune of having one of these rare tumors.
Ras signaling in aging and metabolic regulation
Authors: Slack Cathy
Published: March 2017

Aberrant signal transduction downstream of the Ras GTPase has a well-established role in tumorigenesis. Mutations that result in hyperactivation of Ras are responsible for a third of all human cancers. Hence, small molecule inhibitors of the Ras signal transduction cascade have been under intense focus as potential cancer treatments. In both invertebrate and mammalian models, emerging evidence has also implicated components of the Ras signaling pathway in aging and metabolic regulation. Here, I review the current evidence for Ras signaling in these newly discovered roles highlighting the interactions between the Ras pathway and other longevity assurance mechanisms. Defining the role of Ras signaling in maintaining age-related health may have important implications for the development of interventions that could not only increase lifespan but also delay the onset and/or progression of age-related functional decline.
A memoir of Hugh Miller (1802–1856) attributed to his son Hugh Miller FGS (1850–1896)
Authors: Taylor M. A.
Published: March 2017

A manuscript memoir of Hugh Miller (1802–1856), geologist, writer and newspaper editor, is attributed to his son Hugh Miller FGS (1850–1896). It is published here, apparently for the first time. It was written sometime in 1881–1896, more probably 1882–1895. Its intended place of publication is discussed. It is an interesting contribution to Miller biography, written by a family member and providing some new information and anecdotes.
The identity of the bird known locally in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Norfolk, United Kingdom, as the Spowe
Authors: Cooke F. , Birkhead T. R.
Published: March 2017

In the kitchen record books of the L'Estrange family in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, there are references to a bird, widely shot on the Norfolk coast, called a Spowe. On the basis of the similarity to the Icelandic name, J. H. Gurney (sen.) and Fisher (in their “An account of birds found in Norfolk” published in 1846) assumed this to be the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) as have all ornithological texts ever since. Internal evidence from the kitchen records strongly suggest that the Spowe was a winter visitor, not a passage migrant, thus throwing considerable doubt on Gurney and Fisher's ascription. We suggest that it is much more likely that the Spowe was the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica).
A brief historical account of an endemic swallowtail butterfly first collected a century ago on Goodenough Island (D'Entrecasteaux group) in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Tennent W. J. , Mitchell D. K.
Published: March 2017

Graphium weiskei goodenovii Rothschild, 1915 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) has been known for over a century only from two male specimens: one in the Natural History Museum, London; the other in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH). Endemic to Goodenough Island, in the D'Entrecasteaux group, Papua New Guinea, it was first collected on the summit of ‘Oiamadawa'a (Mount Madawaa, Mount Madara'a) in 1912 by New Zealand anthropologist Diamond Jenness. The second specimen, which became the holotype, was collected in mountains in the south of the island by Albert Stewart Meek, one of Walter, Lord Rothschild's most prolific collector/explorers for his museum at Tring in Hertfordshire. In each case, capture of specimens was sufficiently notable to be recorded contemporaneously by the captors. These data, and maps and photographs made by the collectors suggest that the butterfly was widespread at moderate to high elevations on Goodenough Island. The authors climbed ‘Oiamadawa'a in 2015 and collected further specimens, now deposited in OUMNH.
‘A Radical causation’: Coleridge's Lyrics and Collective Guilt
Authors: Pladek Brittany
Published: March 2017

This paper argues that the early lyrics of Samuel Taylor Coleridge explore the ethical work of collective guilt, a feeling with enormous Romantic and contemporary significance. Coleridge's lyrics formally model collective guilt while making a cautious case for its social value. By reading ‘Fears in Solitude’ and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner through recent work in social psychology and the philosophy of ethics, I show how Coleridge creates causalities of feeling, affirming meaningful relationships of responsibility that go beyond personal guilt. I conclude that Romantic lyric offers an ideal form not only for illustrating how collective guilt works as a ‘structure of feeling’, but also for examining the emotion's potential to create positive social change.
Organic Agriculture and the Quest for the Holy Grail in Water-Limited Ecosystems: Managing Weeds and Reducing Tillage Intensity
Authors: Lehnhoff Erik , Miller Zachariah , Miller Perry , Johnson Stephen , Scott Tessa , Hatfield Patrick , Menalled Fabian
Published: March 2017

Organic agricultural production has become a major economic and cultural force. However, in water-limited environments the tools used for weed control and nutrient supply, namely tillage and cover crops, may not be environmentally or economically sustainable as tillage damages soil and cover crops use valuable water. Thus, a major challenge has been finding appropriate ways to minimize tillage and terminate cover crops while still controlling weeds and obtaining cover crop ecosystem services. One approach to achieve this is through the economically viable integration of crop and livestock enterprises to manage weeds and terminate cover crops. In this article we (1) review research needs and knowledge gaps in organic agriculture with special focus on water-limited environments; (2) summarize research aimed at developing no-till and reduced tillage in organic settings; (3) assess approaches to integrate crop and livestock production in organic systems; and (4) present initial results from a project assessing the agronomic and weed management challenges of integrated crop-livestock organic systems aimed at reducing tillage intensity in a water-limited environment. The goal of eliminating tillage in water-limited environments remains elusive, and more research is needed to successfully integrate tactics, such as cover crops and livestock grazing to increase organic farm sustainability.
Numerical Control Machine Tool Fault Diagnosis Using Hybrid Stationary Subspace Analysis and Least Squares Support Vector Machine with a Single Sensor
Authors: Gao Chen , Xue Wei , Ren Yan , Zhou Yuqing
Published: March 2017

Tool fault diagnosis in numerical control (NC) machines plays a significant role in ensuring manufacturing quality. However, current methods of tool fault diagnosis lack accuracy. Therefore, in the present paper, a fault diagnosis method was proposed based on stationary subspace analysis (SSA) and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) using only a single sensor. First, SSA was used to extract stationary and non-stationary sources from multi-dimensional signals without the need for independency and without prior information of the source signals, after the dimensionality of the vibration signal observed by a single sensor was expanded by phase space reconstruction technique. Subsequently, 10 dimensionless parameters in the time-frequency domain for non-stationary sources were calculated to generate samples to train the LS-SVM. Finally, the measured vibration signals from tools of an unknown state and their non-stationary sources were separated by SSA to serve as test samples for the trained SVM. The experimental validation demonstrated that the proposed method has better diagnosis accuracy than three previous methods based on LS-SVM alone, Principal component analysis and LS-SVM or on SSA and Linear discriminant analysis.
Improved Gender Recognition during Stepping Activity for Rehab Application Using the Combinatorial Fusion Approach of EMG and HRV
Authors: Rosli Nor , Rahman Mohd , Balakrishnan Malarvili , Komeda Takashi , Mazlan Saiful , Zamzuri Hairi
Published: March 2017

Gender recognition is trivial for a physiotherapist, but it is considered a challenge for computers. The electromyography (EMG) and heart rate variability (HRV) were utilized in this work for gender recognition during exercise using a stepper. The relevant features were extracted and selected. The selected features were then fused to automatically predict gender recognition. However, the feature selection for gender classification became a challenge to ensure better accuracy. Thus, in this paper, a feature selection approach based on both the performance and the diversity between the two features from the rank-score characteristic (RSC) function in a combinatorial fusion approach (CFA) (Hsu et al.) was employed. Then, the features from the selected feature sets were fused using a CFA. The results were then compared with other fusion techniques such as naive bayes (NB), decision tree (J48), k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and support vector machine (SVM). Besides, the results were also compared with previous researches in gender recognition. The experimental results showed that the CFA was efficient and effective for feature selection. The fusion method was also able to improve the accuracy of the gender recognition rate. The CFA provides much better gender classification results which is 94.51% compared to Barani’s work (90.34%), Nazarloo’s work (92.50%), and other classifiers.
Methanation of Carbon Dioxide over Ni–Ce–Zr Oxides Prepared by One-Pot Hydrolysis of Metal Nitrates with Ammonium Carbonate
Authors: Nie Wangxin , Zou Xiujing , Chen Chenju , Wang Xueguang , Ding Weizhong , Lu Xionggang
Published: March 2017

Ni–Ce–Zr mixed oxides were prepared through one-pot hydrolysis of mixed metal nitrates with ammonium carbonate for CO2 methanation. The effects of Ce/Zr molar ratio and Ni content on catalysts’ physical and chemical properties, reduction degree of Ni2+, and catalytic properties were systematically investigated. The results showed that Zr could lower metallic Ni particle sizes and alter interaction between Ni and supports, resulting in enhancements in the catalytic activity for CO2 methanation. The Ni–Ce–Zr catalyst containing 40 wt % Ni and Ce/Zr molar ratio of 9:1 exhibited the optimal catalytic properties, with 96.2% CO2 conversion and almost 100% CH4 selectivity at a low temperature of 275 °C. During the tested period of 500 h, CO2 conversion and CH4 selectivity over Ni–Ce–Zr catalyst kept constant under 300 °C.
Climatic Study of the Marine Surface Wind Field over the Greek Seas with the Use of a High Resolution RCM Focusing on Extreme Winds
Authors: Vagenas Christos , Anagnostopoulou Christina , Tolika Konstantia
Published: March 2017

The marine surface wind field (10 m) over the Greek seas is analyzed in this study using The RegCM. The model’s spatial resolution is dynamically downscaled to 10 km × 10 km, in order to simulate more efficiently the complex coastlines and the numerous islands of Greece. Wind data for the 1980–2000 and 2080–2100 periods are produced and evaluated against real observational data from 15 island and coastal meteorological stations in order to assess the model’s ability to reproduce the main characteristics of the surface wind fields. RegCM model shows a higher simulating skill to project seasonal wind speeds and direction during summer and the lowest simulating skill in the cold period of the year. Extreme wind speed thresholds were estimated using percentiles indices and three Peak Over Threshold (POT) techniques. The mean threshold values of the three POT methods are used to examine the inter-annual distribution of extreme winds in the study region. The highest thresholds were observed in three poles; the northeast, the southeast, and the southwest of Aegean Sea. Future changes in extreme speeds show a general increase in the Aegean Sea, while lower thresholds are expected in the Ionian Sea. Return levels for periods of 20, 50, 100, and 200 years are estimated.
A Distribution Family Bridging the Gaussian and the Laplace Laws, Gram–Charlier Expansions, Kurtosis Behaviour, and Entropy Features
Authors: Faliva Mario , Zoia Maria
Published: March 2017

The paper devises a family of leptokurtic bell-shaped distributions which is based on the hyperbolic secant raised to a positive power, and bridges the Laplace and Gaussian laws on asymptotic arguments. Moment and cumulant generating functions are then derived and represented in terms of polygamma functions. The behaviour of shape parameters, namely kurtosis and entropy, is investigated. In addition, Gram–Charlier-type (GCT) expansions, based on the aforementioned distributions and their orthogonal polynomials, are specified, and an operational criterion is provided to meet modelling requirements in a possibly severe kurtosis and skewness environment. The role played by entropy within the kurtosis ranges of GCT expansions is also examined.
Epistemic Game Theory and Logic: Introduction
Authors: Weirich Paul
Published: March 2017

Epistemic game theory and the systems of logic that support it are crucial for understanding rational behavior in interactive situations in which the outcome for an agent depends, not just on her own behavior, but also on the behavior of those with whom she is interacting. Scholars in many fields study such interactive situations, that is, games of strategy. [...]
Assessment of Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate Based on the Optimised DRASTIC Models in the GIS Environment (Case of Sidi Rached Basin, Algeria)
Authors: Saida Sbargoud , Tarik Hartani , Abdellah Aidaoui , Farid Herda , Hakim Bachir
Published: March 2017

The DRASTIC model was tested on the Mitidja aquifer to assess vulnerability to nitrate pollution. Vulnerability indexes were obtained from classic DRASTIC (MDC) and pesticide DRASTIC (MDP) coupled with a geographic information system in which the weights of the model’s parameters were calculated using two weighting techniques: analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and single parameter sensitivity analysis (SPSA). The correlations between vulnerability indexes produced by both models and actual nitrate concentration values—measured from 34 system aquifers—show that the best combination is obtained from MDP–AHP (R = 0.72) followed by MDP–SPSA (R = 0.68), MDC–AHP (R = 0.67), MDC–SPSA (R =0.65), MDP (R = 0.64) and lastly MDC (R = 0.60). Pesticide DRASTIC/Analytic hierarchy Process (MDP–AHP) may be recommended as the best model for this case study. This result is important for the spatial analysis of nitrate pollution and will contribute to better management of intensive agricultural plans.
The Promise and the Challenge of Technology-Facilitated Methods for Assessing Behavioral and Cognitive Markers of Risk for Suicide among U.S. Army National Guard Personnel
Authors: Baucom Brian , Georgiou Panayiotis , Bryan Craig , Garland Eric , Leifker Feea , May Alexis , Wong Alexander , Narayanan Shrikanth
Published: March 2017

Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death for Americans in 2015 and rates have been steadily climbing over the last 25 years. Rates are particularly high amongst U.S. military personnel. Suicide prevention efforts in the military are significantly hampered by the lack of: (1) assessment tools for measuring baseline risk and (2) methods to detect periods of particularly heightened risk. Two specific barriers to assessing suicide risk in military personnel that call for innovation are: (1) the geographic dispersion of military personnel from healthcare settings, particularly amongst components like the Reserves; and (2) professional and social disincentives to acknowledging psychological distress. The primary aim of this paper is to describe recent technological developments that could contribute to risk assessment tools that are not subject to the limitations mentioned above. More specifically, Behavioral Signal Processing can be used to assess behaviors during interaction and conversation that likely indicate increased risk for suicide, and computer-administered, cognitive performance tasks can be used to assess activation of the suicidal mode. These novel methods can be used remotely and do not require direct disclosure or endorsement of psychological distress, solving two challenges to suicide risk assessment in military and other sensitive settings. We present an introduction to these technologies, describe how they can specifically be applied to assessing behavioral and cognitive risk for suicide, and close with recommendations for future research.
The Salutary Influence of Forest Bathing on Elderly Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Mao Genxiang , Cao Yongbao , Wang Bozhong , Wang Sanying , Chen Zhuomei , Wang Jirong , Xing Wenmin , Ren Xiaoxu , Lv Xiaoling , Dong Jianhua , Chen Shasha , Chen Xiuyuan , Wang Guofu , Yan Jing
Published: March 2017

Abstract: The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that forest bathing would be beneficial for elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) as an adjunctive therapy. Two groups of participants with CHF were simultaneously sent to the forest or an urban control area for a four-day trip, respectively. Subjects exposed to the forest site showed a significant reduction of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in comparison to that of the city group and their own baseline levels. The values for the cardiovascular disease related pathological factors, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), and constituents of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), including renin, angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II (ANGII), and ANGII receptor type 1 or 2 (AT1 or AT2) in subjects exposed to the forest environment were lower than those in the urban control group. Obviously, a decreased level of inflammatory cytokines and improved antioxidant function was observed in the forest group rather than in the city group. The assessment of the profile of mood states (POMS) indicated that the negative emotional mood state was alleviated after forest bathing. As anticipated, a better air quality in the forest site was observed according to the detection of PM2.5 (particulate matter <2.5 μm) and negative ions. These results provided direct evidence that forest bathing has a beneficial effect on CHF patients, and thus may pave the way for potential development of forest bathing as an effective adjunctive therapy on cardiovascular disorders.
A Sparse Voxel Octree-Based Framework for Computing Solar Radiation Using 3D City Models
Authors: Liang Jianming , Gong Jianhua
Published: March 2017

An effective three-dimensional (3D) data representation is required to assess the spatial distribution of the photovoltaic potential over urban building roofs and facades using 3D city models. Voxels have long been used as a spatial data representation, but practical applications of the voxel representation have been limited compared with rasters in traditional two-dimensional (2D) geographic information systems (GIS). We propose to use sparse voxel octree (SVO) as a data representation to extend the GRASS GIS r.sun solar radiation model from 2D to 3D. The GRASS GIS r.sun model is nested in an SVO-based computing framework. The presented 3D solar radiation computing framework was applied to 3D building groups of different geometric complexities to demonstrate its efficiency and scalability. We presented a method to explicitly compute diffuse shading losses in r.sun, and found that diffuse shading losses can reduce up to 10% of the annual global radiation under clear sky conditions. Hence, diffuse shading losses are of significant importance especially in complex urban environments.
MicroRNA-17-92 Regulates the Transcription Factor E2F3b during Myogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Tang Zhixiong , Liu Nian , Luo Lan , Kang Kang , Li Li , Ni Ruiyang , Qiu Huiling , Gou Deming
Published: March 2017

Myogenic differentiation, which occurs during muscle development, is a highly ordered process that can be regulated by E2F transcription factors. Available data show that E2F3b, but not E2F3a, is upregulated and required for myogenic differentiation. However, the regulation of E2F3b expression in myogenic differentiation is not well understood. To investigate whether E2Fb expression is controlled by miRNAs, we used bioinformatics to combine the database of microRNAs downregulated during myogenesis and those predicted to target E2F3. This identified miR-17 and miR-20a as miRNAs potentially involved in E2F3 regulation. We found that miR-17-92 controls the expression of E2F3b in C2C12 cells during myogenic differentiation. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-20a regulates the expression of E2F3b proteins in vivo using a muscle regeneration model.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Metabolism and Its Role in the Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Wollny Tomasz , Wątek Marzena , Durnaś Bonita , Niemirowicz Katarzyna , Piktel Ewelina , Żendzian-Piotrowska Małgorzata , Góźdź Stanisław , Bucki Robert
Published: March 2017

Beyond their role as structural molecules, sphingolipids are involved in many important cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and migration. Altered sphingolipid metabolism is observed in many pathological conditions including gastrointestinal diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a state of complex, unpredictable, and destructive inflammation of unknown origin within the gastrointestinal tract. The mechanisms explaining the pathophysiology of IBD involve signal transduction pathways regulating gastro-intestinal system’s immunity. Progressive intestinal tissue destruction observed in chronic inflammation may be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a sphingolipid metabolite, functions as a cofactor in inflammatory signaling and becomes a target in the treatment of IBD, which might prevent its conversion to cancer. This paper summarizes new findings indicating the impact of (S1P) on IBD development and IBD-associated carcinogenesis.
Possible Roles of CC- and CXC-Chemokines in Regulating Bovine Endometrial Function during Early Pregnancy
Authors: Sakumoto Ryosuke , Hayashi Ken-Go , Fujii Shiori , Kanahara Hiroko , Hosoe Misa , Furusawa Tadashi , Kizaki Keiichiro
Published: March 2017

The aim of the present study was to determine the possible roles of chemokines in regulating bovine endometrial function during early pregnancy. The expression of six chemokines, including CCL2, CCL8, CCL11, CCL14, CCL16, and CXCL10, was higher in the endometrium at 15 and 18 days of pregnancy than at the same days in non-pregnant animals. Immunohistochemical staining showed that chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, and CXCR3) were expressed in the epithelial cells and glandular epithelial cells of the bovine endometrium as well as in the fetal trophoblast obtained from a cow on day 18 of pregnancy. The addition of interferon-τ (IFNT) to an endometrial tissue culture system increased CCL8 and CXCL10 expression in the tissues, but did not affect CCL2, CCL11, and CCL16 expression. CCL14 expression by these tissues was inhibited by IFNT. CCL16, but not other chemokines, clearly stimulated interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) and myxovirus-resistance gene 1 (MX1) expression in these tissues. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) expression decreased after stimulation with CCL8 and CCL14, and oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression was decreased by CCL2, CCL8, CCL14, and CXCL10. Collectively, the expression of chemokine genes is increased in the endometrium during early pregnancy. These genes may contribute to the regulation of endometrial function by inhibiting COX2 and OTR expression, subsequently decreasing prostaglandin production and preventing luteolysis in cows.
Governance of Land Use Planning to Reduce Fire Risk to Homes Mediterranean France and California
Authors: Kocher Susan , Butsic Van
Published: March 2017

Wildfire is a natural part of forested Mediterranean systems. As humans continue to live and build housing in these areas, wildfire is a constant threat to homes and lives. The goal of this paper is to describe aspects of land-use planning that are used to reduce wildfire risk in institutionally divergent regions; southern France and California. By reviewing relevant legislation and planning documents and conducting in person interviews with fire and planning professionals, we identify the institutions which participate in land use planning to reduce fire risk and the key laws and regulations that guide planning decisions. Our results indicate that France has a more centralized system for planning for fire, with national level entities heavily involved in local land use planning. California, on the other hand sees almost no federal oversite, and, while state law requires local plans to include wildfire risk, most fine grain decisions are left to local planners and decision makers. In both regions, however, we see a reliance on technical support provided from outside local jurisdictions. Increased coordination between local, regional, and national governments could improve land use planning in both locations.
Fatigue Damage and Lifetime of SiC/SiC Ceramic-Matrix Composite under Cyclic Loading at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Li Longbiao
Published: March 2017

In this paper, the fatigue damage and lifetime of 2D SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) under cyclic fatigue loading at 750, 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300 °C in air and in steam atmosphere have been investigated. The damage evolution versus applied cycles of 2D SiC/SiC composites were analyzed using fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy, fatigue hysteresis modulus, fatigue peak strain and interface shear stress. The presence of steam accelerated the damage development inside of SiC/SiC composites, which increased the increasing rate of the fatigue hysteresis dissipated energy and the fatigue peak strain, and the decreasing rate of the fatigue hysteresis modulus and the interface shear stress. The fatigue life stress-cycle (S-N) curves and fatigue limit stresses of 2D SiC/SiC composites at different temperatures in air and in steam condition have been predicted. The fatigue limit stresses approach 67%, 28%, 39% 17% and 28% tensile strength at 750, 1000, 1100, 1200 and 1300 °C in air, and 49%, 10%, 9% and 19% tensile strength at 750, 1000, 1200 and 1300 °C in steam conditions, respectively.
One-Pot Route towards Active TiO2 Doped Hierarchically Porous Cellulose: Highly Efficient Photocatalysts for Methylene Blue Degradation
Authors: Sun Xiaoxia , Wang Kunpeng , Shu Yu , Zou Fangdong , Zhang Boxing , Sun Guangwu , Uyama Hiroshi , Wang Xinhou
Published: March 2017

In this study, novel photocatalyst monolith materials were successfully fabricated by a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. By adding a certain amount of ethyl acetate (as non-solvent) into a cellulose/LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution, and successively adding titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), cellulose/TiO2 composite monoliths with hierarchically porous structures were easily formed. The obtained composite monoliths possessed mesopores, and two kinds of macropores. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) measurements were adopted to characterize the cellulose/TiO2 composite monolith. The cellulose/TiO2 composite monoliths showed high efficiency of photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of methylene blue dye, which was decomposed up to 99% within 60 min under UV light. Moreover, the composite monoliths could retain 90% of the photodegradation efficiency after 10 cycles. The novel NIPS technique has great potential for fabricating recyclable photocatalysts with highly efficiency.
Identification and Characterization of Spontaneous Auxotrophic Mutants in Fusarium langsethiae
Authors: Gavrilova Olga , Skritnika Anna , Gagkaeva Tatiana
Published: March 2017

Analysis of 49 strains of Fusarium langsethiae originating from northern Europe (Russia, Finland, Sweden, UK, Norway, and Latvia) revealed the presence of spontaneous auxotrophic mutants that reflect natural intraspecific diversity. Our investigations detected that 49.0% of F. langsethiae strains were auxotrophic mutants for biotin, and 8.2% of the strains required thiamine as a growth factor. They failed to grow on vitamin-free media. For both prototrophic and auxotrophic strains, no growth defect was observed in rich organic media. Without essential vitamins, a significant reduction in the growth of the auxotrophic strains results in a decrease of the formation of T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol. In addition, all analysed F. langsethiae strains were distinguished into two subgroups based on PCR product sizes. According to our results, 26 and 23 strains of F. langsethiae belong to subgroups I and II respectively. We determined that the deletion in the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of the rDNA of F. langsethiae belonging to subgroup II is linked with temperature sensitivity and causes a decrease in strain growth at 30 °C. Four thiamine auxotrophic strains were found in subgroup I, while 21 biotin auxotrophic strains were detected in subgroups II. To the best of our knowledge, the spontaneous mutations in F. langsethiae observed in the present work have not been previously reported.
Ergosteryl 2-naphthoate, An Ergosterol Derivative, Exhibits Antidepressant Effects Mediated by the Modification of GABAergic and Glutamatergic Systems
Authors: Lin Mingzhu , Li Haijun , Zhao Yan , Cai Enbo , Zhu Hongyan , Gao Yugang , Liu Shuangli , Yang He , Zhang Lianxue , Tang Guosheng , Wang Ruiqing
Published: March 2017

Phytosterols are a kind of natural component including sitosterol, campesterol, avenasterol, ergosterol (Er) and others. Their main natural sources are vegetable oils and their processed products, followed by grains, by-products of cereals and nuts, and small amounts of fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. In this study, three new Er monoester derivatives were obtained from the reflux reaction with Er: organic acids (furoic acid, salicylic acid and 2-naphthoic acid), 1-Ethylethyl-3-(3-dimethyllaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) in dichloromethane. Their chemical structures were defined by IR and NMR. The present study was also undertaken to investigate the antidepressant-like effects of Er and its derivatives in male adult mice models of depression, and their probable involvement of GABAergic and glutamatergic systems by the forced swim test (FST). The results indicated that Er and its derivatives display antidepressant effects. Moreover, one derivative of Er, ergosteryl 2-naphthoate (ErN), exhibited stronger antidepressant activity in vivo compared to Er. Acute administration of ErN (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and a combination of ErN (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), reboxetine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), and tianeptine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the immobility time in the FST. Pretreatment with bicuculline (a competitive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist, 4 mg/kg, i.p.) and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA, an agonist at the glutamate site, 75 mg/kg, i.p.) effectively reversed the antidepressant-like effect of ErN (5 mg/kg, i.p.). However, prazosin (a α1-adrenoceptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and haloperidol (a non-selective D2 receptor antagonist, 0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) did not eliminate the reduced immobility time. Altogether, these results indicated that ErN produced antidepressant-like activity, which might be mediated by GABAergic and glutamatergic systems.
Review on the Processing and Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites and Nanocoatings and Their Applications in the Packaging, Automotive and Solar Energy Fields
Authors: Müller Kerstin , Bugnicourt Elodie , Latorre Marcos , Jorda Maria , Echegoyen Sanz Yolanda , Lagaron José , Miesbauer Oliver , Bianchin Alvise , Hankin Steve , Bölz Uwe , Pérez Germán , Jesdinszki Marius , Lindner Martina , Scheuerer Zuzana , Castelló Sara , Schmid Markus
Published: March 2017

For the last decades, nanocomposites materials have been widely studied in the scientific literature as they provide substantial properties enhancements, even at low nanoparticles content. Their performance depends on a number of parameters but the nanoparticles dispersion and distribution state remains the key challenge in order to obtain the full nanocomposites’ potential in terms of, e.g., flame retardance, mechanical, barrier and thermal properties, etc., that would allow extending their use in the industry. While the amount of existing research and indeed review papers regarding the formulation of nanocomposites is already significant, after listing the most common applications, this review focuses more in-depth on the properties and materials of relevance in three target sectors: packaging, solar energy and automotive. In terms of advances in the processing of nanocomposites, this review discusses various enhancement technologies such as the use of ultrasounds for in-process nanoparticles dispersion. In the case of nanocoatings, it describes the different conventionally used processes as well as nanoparticles deposition by electro-hydrodynamic processing. All in all, this review gives the basics both in terms of composition and of processing aspects to reach optimal properties for using nanocomposites in the selected applications. As an outlook, up-to-date nanosafety issues are discussed.
Deciphering microRNAs and Their Associated Hairpin Precursors in a Non-Model Plant, Abelmoschus esculentus
Authors: Velayudha Vimala Kumar Kavitha , Srikakulam Nagesh , Padbhanabhan Priyavathi , Pandi Gopal
Published: March 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulatory RNAs, originated from hairpin precursors. For the past decade, researchers have been focusing extensively on miRNA profiles in various plants. However, there have been few studies on the global profiling of precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs), even in model plants. Here, for the first time in a non-model plant—Abelmoschus esculentus with negligible genome information—we are reporting the global profiling to characterize the miRNAs and their associated pre-miRNAs by applying a next generation sequencing approach. Preliminarily, we performed small RNA (sRNA) sequencing with five biological replicates of leaf samples to attain 207,285,863 reads; data analysis using miRPlant revealed 128 known and 845 novel miRNA candidates. With the objective of seizing their associated hairpin precursors, we accomplished pre-miRNA sequencing to attain 83,269,844 reads. The paired end reads are merged and adaptor trimmed, and the resulting 40–241 nt (nucleotide) sequences were picked out for analysis by using perl scripts from the miRGrep tool and an in-house built shell script for Minimum Fold Energy Index (MFEI) calculation. Applying the stringent criteria of the Dicer cleavage pattern and the perfect stem loop structure, precursors for 57 known miRNAs of 15 families and 18 novel miRNAs were revealed. Quantitative Real Time (qRT) PCR was performed to determine the expression of selected miRNAs.
New Technologies—Old Anthropologies?
Authors: Checketts Levi
Published: March 2017

Eighty years ago, Nicholas Berdyaev cautioned that new technological problems needed to be addressed with a new philosophical anthropology. Today, the transhumanist goal of mind uploading is perceived by many theologians and philosophers to be dangerous due to its violation of the human person. I contrast transhumanist “patternist” views of the person with Brent Waters’s Augustinian view of the technological pilgrim, Celia Deane-Drummond’s evolutionary Thomistic view of humanity, and Francis Fukuyama’s insistence on the inviolability of “Factor X”. These latter three thinkers all disagree with the patternist position, but their views are also discordant with each other. This disagreement constitutes a challenge for people of faith confronting transhumanism—which view is to be taken right? I contend that Science, Technology and Society (STS) studies can enrich our understanding of the debates by highlighting the transmutation of philosophical view into scientific theory and the intermingled nature of our forms of knowledge. Furthermore, I contend that STS helps Christians understand the evolution of their own anthropologies and suggests some prospects for future theological anthropology.
Actuarial Applications and Estimation of Extended CreditRisk+
Authors: Hirz Jonas , Schmock Uwe , Shevchenko Pavel
Published: March 2017

We introduce an additive stochastic mortality model which allows joint modelling and forecasting of underlying death causes. Parameter families for mortality trends can be chosen freely. As model settings become high dimensional, Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is used for parameter estimation. We then link our proposed model to an extended version of the credit risk model CreditRisk+. This allows exact risk aggregation via an efficient numerically stable Panjer recursion algorithm and provides numerous applications in credit, life insurance and annuity portfolios to derive P&L distributions. Furthermore, the model allows exact (without Monte Carlo simulation error) calculation of risk measures and their sensitivities with respect to model parameters for P&L distributions such as value-at-risk and expected shortfall. Numerous examples, including an application to partial internal models under Solvency II, using Austrian and Australian data are shown.
Biomass Estimation of Xerophytic Forests Using Visible Aerial Imagery: Contrasting Single-Tree and Area-Based Approaches
Authors: Bernasconi Luca , Chirici Gherardo , Marchetti Marco
Published: March 2017

A large part of arid areas in tropical and sub-tropical regions are dominated by sparse xerophytic vegetation, which are essential for providing products and services for local populations. While a large number of researches already exist for the derivation of wall-to-wall estimations of above ground biomass (AGB) with remotely sensed data, only a few of them are based on the direct use of non-photogrammetric aerial photography. In this contribution we present an experiment carried out in a study area located in the Santiago Island in the Cape Verde archipelago where a National Forest Inventory (NFI) was recently carried out together with a new acquisition of a visible high-resolution aerial orthophotography. We contrasted two approaches: single-tree, based on the automatic delineation of tree canopies; and area-based, on the basis of an automatic image classification. Using 184 field plots collected for the NFI we created parametric models to predict AGB on the basis of the crown projection area (CPA) estimated from the two approaches. Both the methods produced similar root mean square errors (RMSE) at pixel level 45% for the single-tree and 42% for the area-based. However, the latest was able to better predict the AGB along all the variable range, limiting the saturation problem which is evident when the CPA tends to reach the full coverage of the field plots. These findings demonstrate that in regions dominated by sparse vegetation, a simple aerial orthophoto can be used to successfully create AGB wall-to-wall predictions. The level of these estimations’ uncertainty permits the derivation of small area estimations useful for supporting a more correct implementation of sustainable management practices of wood resources.