bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Método Pilates: benefí­cios e aplicabilidade para melhorar a qualidade de vida
Authors: De Freitas Silva Regina Borges , Guerino Marcelo Renato
Published: April 2019

O método Pilates de condicionamento corporal foi criado por Joseph H. Pilates, que transmitiu os benefí­cios de um equilí­brio perfeito entre corpo e mente, e chamou de Contrologia, coordenação completa do corpo, da mente e do espí­rito. Utilizando princí­pios especí­ficos para promover a integração entre eles, que são a concentração, centro de força (power house), fluidez, precisão, respiração e controle dos movimentos. Como o número de praticantes do método Pilates tem aumentado muito nas últimas décadas demonstra a necessidade de evidências cientí­ficas sobre os benefí­cios desse método. Sendo assim, este artigo teve como objetivo geral verificar através de um levantamento bibliográfico no qual foram realizadas buscas sistematizadas em três bases de dados eletrônicas (Lilacs, Scielo e Google Acadêmico). Os termos de busca utilizados nas bases foram Pilates, método Pilates, indicações do método Pilates e contraindicações do método Pilates. Dentre os resultados, verificou-se que o método Pilates é utilizado como recurso para condicionamento fí­sico e mental em diversas áreas da saúde, e os estudos analisados evidenciaram a eficácia do método Pilates como ferramenta na prevenção, promoção, reabilitação e melhora da qualidade de vida das pessoas que o praticam.Palavras-chave: Pilates, método Pilates, indicações do método Pilates, contraindicações do método Pilates.
Tratamento manipulativo osteopático musculoesquelético em mulheres com incontinência urinária não complicada
Authors: Ponzoni Lilian de Castro , Valentin Ericka Kirsthine , Carrerette Fabricio Borges , Damião Ronaldo
Published: April 2019

Controle eficiente dos mecanismos de fechamento uretral é essencial para continência urinária feminina, envolvendo mecanismo similar ao necessário para estabilidade sacroilí­aca. Estudos demonstraram benefí­cios na reabilitação funcional do assoalho pélvico, após tratamento de pacientes com lombalgia, utilizando técnicas de manipulação osteopática. O objetivo primário deste estudo foi avaliar melhora da incontinência urinária após tratamento manipulativo osteopático musculoesquelético (TMO), associado com fisioterapia pélvica (FP). Participaram pacientes da divisão de fisioterapia da Policlí­nica Piquet Carneiro/UERJ, com diagnóstico de incontinência urinária não complicada, idade entre 21 e 65 anos, que responderam os questionários: International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form - ICIQ, Stress Urinary Incontinance Questionnaire - SUIQ, Overactive Bladder Questionnaire - ICIQ-OAB qol, e o questionário de qualidade de vida e saúde geral – EQ5D. A força perineal foi avaliada através do teste de avaliação funcional do assoalho pélvico, e as pacientes foram divididas em dois grupos: no grupo FP submetidas ao protocolo de FP por 10 semanas, e no grupo TMO submetidas ao mesmo protocolo, associado com TMO, pelo mesmo perí­odo. No presente estudo, a utilização do TMO associado í  FP obteve resultados semelhantes í  utilização de FP isoladamente, não acrescentando melhora na resposta ao tratamento da incontinência urinária não complicada.Palavras-chave: manipulações musculoesqueléticas, incontinência urinária, saúde da mulher.Â
Efeitos de um treinamento fisioterapêutico respiratório em indiví­duos candidatos í cirurgia bariátrica
Authors: Magni Silvana Mayara Pereira , Bianchi Patrí­cia Dall Agnol , Sturmer Giovani , Nicolodi Graziela Vale , Keller Kalina Durigon
Published: April 2019

A obesidade é uma doença crônica relacionada í  incapacidade funcional, qualidade e expectativa de vida reduzida. Dentre as alterações provocadas por esta doença, estão aquelas relacionadas í  mecânica respiratória. O presente estudo objetivou verificar a influência de um programa de treinamento fisioterapêutico sobre a força muscular respiratória em candidatos a cirurgia bariátrica, e correlacionar as variáveis antropométricas e í­ndice de massa corporal (IMC) com os valores obtidos no pré-treinamento. Foram avaliados dados secundários obtidos nos prontuários de um Centro Terapêutico da Obesidade. A amostra foi composta por 107 indiví­duos, com média de idade de 37,2 ± 12,03 anos, peso de 119,75 ± 25,63 kg e IMC 42,90 ± 7,93 kg/m2. Houve melhora significativa (p < 0,0001) na Pressão Inspiratória Máxima (PImáx) e na Pressão Expiratória Máxima (PEmáx) após o treinamento. A PImáx apresentou correlação estatisticamente significativa fraca com o IMC (p = 0,002), circunferência do quadril (p = 0,0067), circunferência abdominal (p = 0,02) e circunferência da cintura (p = 0,001). Quando correlacionada a PEmáx com os valores de circunferências do quadril (p = 0,04), abdominal (p = 0,017) e cintura (p = 0,017), há uma correlação negativa significativa. A obesidade interfere na força muscular respiratória e um programa de treinamento da musculatura inspiratória e expiratória pode aumentar a força muscular e ser utilizada como recurso para prevenção de complicações pós-operatórias de cirurgia bariátrica.Palavras-chave: obesidade, fisioterapia, mecânica respiratória.
Efeito agudo da bandagem elástica no tratamento de cicatrizes de pacientes com sintomas musculoesqueléticos
Authors: Da Fonseca Ariele Farina , Rafael Carla Patrí­cia de Aguiar , Manoel Larissa Nascimento , Pavanelli Ivan Luiz , Santos Kelvin Anequini , Rocha Júnior Paulo Roberto , Moreno Bruno Gonçalves Dias , Do Nascimento Guilherme Batista
Published: April 2019

A cesariana é a intervenção cirúrgica mais prevalente em mulheres. Estudos descrevem perturbações musculoesqueléticas quando um tecido é comprometido como, por exemplo, a perda da continuidade ocasionada pela cicatriz. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar os efeitos da bandagem elástica na redução da queixa de dor local em estático, dor ao movimento, sensibilidade dolorosa, flexibilidade e função vascular em pacientes com sintomas musculoesqueléticos, submetidas í  cirurgia de cesariana. Foram avaliadas trinta mulheres, pacientes do ambulatório de Fisioterapia ortopédica, com no mí­nimo dezoito anos de idade. Foram avaliadas antes e depois de 24 horas da aplicação da técnica, a dor, com algometria e escala numérica, a flexibilidade, com fita métrica e alterações vasculares, pela termografia. A aplicação da bandagem ocorreu em sentido transversal ou longitudinal da cicatriz com tensão de 50%. Para análise estatí­stica foram utilizados os testes T-Student e Wilcoxon, para variáveis paramétricas e não paramétricas respectivamente, o ní­vel de significância foi de 5%. Os resultados demonstraram uma diminuição das queixas de dor em geral (p = 0,004), dor ao movimento (p = 0,02), sensibilidade dolorosa (p = 0,0001), flexibilidade (p = 0,047) e condição vascular (p = 0,027). Foi possí­vel observar, que após a aplicação da bandagem elástica todas as variáveis analisadas tiveram melhora significativa em relação í  condição inicial.Palavras-chave: cesárea, bandagem elástica, cicatriz, cirurgia, dor.
PENGARUH PERSEPSI KARIER DAN KEDISIPLINAN TERHADAP PRESTASI KERJA
Authors: Widodo Widodo
Published: April 2019

Penelitian bertujuan untuk menjawab perumusan masalah : (a) Apakah terdapat pengaruh Persepsi Karier terhadap Prestasi Kerja? (b) Apakah terdapat pengaruh Kedisiplinan terhadap Prestasi Kerja? (c) Apakah terdapat pengaruh antara pengaruh Persepsi Karier  dan Kedisiplinan  terhadap  Prestasi Kerja?Penelitian ini merupakan studi pustaka terhadap Persepsi karier, Kedisiplinan  dan Prestasi Kerja. Metode yang dilakukan dengan memperguakan penelitian deskriptif kuantitaif.Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa secara bersama-sama terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan antara variabel Persepsi karier (X1) dan variabel Kedisiplinan  (X2) terhadap variabel Prestasi Kerja (Y).Saran yang ditujukan adalah harus meningkatkan persepsi karier, meningkatkan Kedisiplinan dan meningkatkan Prestasi Kerja. Kata kunci:Persepsi karier, Kedisiplinan dan Prestasi Kerja
THE USE OF EUROPEAN CULINARY HERITAGE FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF LEISURE
Authors: Vasiljeva Anastasija
Published: April 2019

Sustainable farming and ecological culinary heritage and food production along with balancedstrategy and technologies could be closely related. This would make conditions for healthy food production.Research objectwas European culinary heritage leisure organization.Research aimwas reveal opportunities for organizing leisure time activities with Europeanculinaryheritage.Research methodswereresearchliterature review and questionnaire survey.Research results revealed that the majority of respondents equated the concept of free time with agood rest tasting and enjoying traditional regional culinary dishes. Regional culinary heritage is one of thebest possibilities to promote traditional regional food as well as to help you spend your leisure timepurposefully.Keywords:leisure, culinary heritage dishes, European Culinary Heritage network.
COMPARING MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP IN KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE CONTEXT: HOW LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND STYLES DIFFERS AMONG ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS?
Authors: MUTLU Mustafa Doruk
Published: April 2019

In today's globalized world, being innovative has become a top priority for many organizations. The knowledge-oriented sectors have started to gain much power and attention for the competing economies. Such developments give rise to new form of organizations named as “knowledge intensive firms (KIFs)” along with a new type of employee called as “knowledge worker.” Such workers use their brain power and think for a living unlike manual workers whose work is mostly based on physical tasks. Knowledge workers are generally work in knowledge intensive firms and use their theoretical and analytical skills to find   creative solutions to complex problems and dealing with uncertainty of knowledge creation through new product or service development. İn fact, the new knowledge and the products they create is not easy to replicate both inside and outside of organization. These workers are the most valuable assets of knowledge intensive organizations. Being expert and skillful gives knowledge workers the autonomy and control power on their job. Traditional approaches and leadership styles of managers are questioned and not welcomed in such settings. Therefore, the changing focus and the nature of these contemporary organizations unearthed new leadership styles and approaches for the executive officers. Interviews with managers and knowledge workers revealed that different managerial skills and leadership styles are favored depending on the organizational levels of managers doing leadership in knowledge intensive setting.
MODELLING IKPOBA RIVER WATER QUALITY USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS (PCA) METHOD
Authors: Okonofua Ehizonomhen Solomon , Nwadialo Ifeanyi Benjamin , Ekun M. O.
Published: April 2019

This paper examined the effects of brewery wastewater on the quality of water in Ikpoba River which has experienced significant pollution over the years, with the intention of determining the main pollutant in the river water. Samples were recovered from eight (8) different locations covering a total distance of 750 m: one sample from upstream at 150 m from the effluent discharge location, two samples from effluents discharge point and five samples from downstream location at 150 m interval. Samples were taken twice monthly in March, May and July, 2014 during period of intense activity of production. The physcio-chemical analyses of the twenty-five (25) selected parameters were calculated and values obtained were used to calculate the water Quality index of the river. The results indicated that Ikpoba River is severely polluted (WQI = -5429792.89, in SN1, March, 2014) as a result of untreated brewery effluent hence Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to determine the parameter that contributes mainly to the pollution and those that contributed minimally. Evaluation of the PCA results shows that the only reoccurring parameter is Copper hence it is concluded that Copper is the only component factor that influences the river water quality throughout the period under study. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that any proposed treatment method must be targeted at the removal of copper in addition to other factors of high contributory effects.
PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF CEMENT BY COFFEE HUSK ASH FOR C-25 CONCRETE PRODUCTION
Authors: Demissew Abebe , Fufa Fekadu , Assefa Sintayehu
Published: April 2019

Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and binders. From concrete ingredients, the binder and the costliest and environmental-unfriendly element is cement, which is an ecological unsociable process due to the discharge of CO2 gas into the atmosphere and ecological degradation. Coffee husk (CH) has been considered as a category of agriculture by-product; as its quantity rises, the disposal of it is becoming an environmental problem. Hence, this study investigated the suitability of coffee husk ash (CHA) as a partial replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in conventional concrete production. Initially, CH samples were collected from different coffee treatment centres. The CHA was then ground and its chemical and physical properties were investigated using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer method. After that, the pastes containing OPC and CHA at different levels of replacement were investigated. For this purpose, six different concrete mixes with CHA replacement 0, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15% of the OPC were prepared for 25MPa conventional concrete with water to cement ratio of 0.5 and 360 kg/m3 cement content. The results of the study show that, up to 10% replacement of OPC by CHA achieved advanced compressive strength at all test ages, i.e. 7, 14, and 28 days of age using compressive test machine.
We Have to Create A New and Successful Way to Retain Nurses in The Future: How Can We Further Improve Nurses’ Commitment to Their Profession?
Authors: Satoh Miho
Published: April 2019

In the industrial psychology research area, commitment to work has been argued to be a common construct of the psychological attitude to work. Working people have always been likely to commit to their organization. However, as an occupation is a significant aspect of people's lives, commitment to an occupation has recently been attracting a great deal of interest. This trend is no exception in nursing. Occupational commitment is defined as "a psychological link between a person and his or her occupation that is based on an affective reaction to that occupation" [1], or "a commitment to professional objectives, values, beliefs, and willingness to continue in one's profession" [2]. Occupational commitment is related to job attitude or work-related behavior. In particular, occupational commitment is proposed to be a strong predictor of professional turnover intention and motivation for entering a profession [3,4]. When nurse managers discuss nurse turnover or consider an efficient way to recruit and retain nurses, occupational commitment could be the key to success.
Establishment and Characterization of Callus and Cell Suspension Cultures of Selected Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Varieties: A Resource for Gene Discovery in Plant Stress Biology
Authors: Ramulifho Elelwani , Goche Tatenda , Van As Johann , Tsilo Toi John , Chivasa Stephen , Ngara Rudo
Published: April 2019

Sorghum, a naturally drought tolerant crop, is genetically diverse and provides a wide gene pool for exploitation in crop breeding. In this study, we experimentally assessed friable callus induction rates of seven sorghum varieties using shoot explant for the generation of cell suspension cultures. The cell suspensions were characterized in terms of cell growth and viability profiles as well as gene expression following 400 mM sorbitol-induced osmotic stress for 72 h. Only ICSB 338, a drought susceptible variety, was readily amenable to friable callus formation. Cell culture growth plots of both ICSB 338 and White sorghum (used as a reference line) depicted typical sigmoidal curves. Interestingly, Evans blue assay showed that ICSB 338 cell cultures are more susceptible to osmotic stress than the White sorghum cells. The osmotic stress treatment also triggered differential expression of eight target genes between the two cell culture lines. Overall, these results suggest that the genetic diversity of sorghum germplasm influences friable callus induction rates and molecular responses to osmotic stress, and could be further exploited in plant stress biology studies. Therefore, we have developed a valuable resource for use in molecular studies of sorghum in response to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses.
Selection Decisions and Trait Preferences for Local and Imported Cattle and Sheep Breeds in Peri-/Urban Livestock Production Systems in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Authors: Roessler Regina
Published: April 2019

Background: Participatory approaches of designing livestock breeding programs for tropical production systems have been extensively applied for rural livestock, whereas the peri-/urban livestock production sector tends to be widely neglected. In order to ensure the viability of the commercial cattle and sheep production sector in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, structured breed improvement programs are needed. The study aims to better understand selection decisions of cattle and sheep breeders and their trait preferences for local and imported breeds. Methods: 49 cattle and 31 sheep breeders in peri-/urban areas of the city were approached in personal interviews. Data were analyzed in R version 3.5.1. Results: The main motivation for keeping cattle and sheep was to generate regular cash income through the selling of milk (cattle only) and surplus animals. Some (modern) breeders used imported breeds because of higher production performances. For imported cattle breeds, improved breeding technologies and management were applied to further enhance production outputs. Nevertheless, local livestock breeds were predominantly used due to their good adaptation. Conclusions: Selection decisions and trait preferences for local and imported cattle and sheep breeds were strongly based on performance traits. Especially sheep breeders, but also traditional cattle breeders, did not record performance traits and did not take conscious breeding decisions.
Compression Stockings Suppressed Reduced Muscle Blood Volume and Oxygenation Levels Induced by Persistent Sitting
Authors: Kinoshita Misato , Kurosawa Yuko , Fuse Sayuri , Tanaka Riki , Tano Nobuko , Kobayashi Ryota , Kime Ryotaro , Hamaoka Takafumi
Published: April 2019

This study quantitatively analyzed the effects of 3 h of constant sitting on skeletal muscle oxygenation in the lower extremities, using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (NIRTRS). The effects of compression stockings were also evaluated. Eleven healthy men (age, 30.0 ± 6.7 years) maintained their knee joints at 90° flexion during 3 h of constant sitting and wore a compression stocking on either the right or left leg. The side the stocking was worn was chosen randomly. Subsequently, leg circumference and extracellular water were measured. After 3 h of sitting, both factors increased significantly in uncompressed limbs. Furthermore, intracellular water and muscle oxygenation had significantly decreased. In contrast, extracellular water had not increased in the limbs wearing compression stockings. Furthermore, the increased circumference of compressed limbs was significantly smaller than that of uncompressed limbs. Decreases in oxygenated hemoglobin and total hemoglobin were significantly smaller in compressed limbs than in uncompressed limbs (oxy-Hb; p = 0.021, total-Hb; p = 0.013). Three hours of sitting resulted in decreased intracellular water and increased extracellular water in the lower extremities, leading to reduced blood volume and oxygenation levels in skeletal muscle. Compression stockings successfully suppressed these negative effects.
Sustainable Silicon Waste Material Utilization for Road Construction: An Application of Modified Binder for Marshall Stability Analysis
Authors: Hasnain Saeed Muhammad , Shah Syyed Adnan Raheel , Arshad Hunain , Waqar Ahsan , Imam Mansoor Abdul Hamid , Sadiq Abdullah Naveed , Hafeez Salman , Mansoor Junaid , Waseem Muhammad
Published: April 2019

Across the globe, sustainable infrastructure development—in context of road networks, and recycling waste material and production—are the two predominant factors associated with the construction industry in making roads and developing transportation networks. Globally, millions of tons of basic hot mix asphalt are produced, which are being utilized to generate large volumes of the finished road material. This study deals with the method of modifying bitumen by adding a silicon mobile cover waste material in a cost-effective manner, that can yield improved characteristic properties to bitumen, in a sustainable way to save material, improve quality/performance and reduce costs. In this investigation, globally produced and used mobile silicon cover accessories were utilized as a partial replacement (at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) with bitumen. A large quantity of used silicon phone covers are thrown in the garbage and dumped in grounds as a waste material worldwide. Modifying bitumen with up to 40% silicon, using a potentially viable waste available in large quantities, was proven to be stabilized according to ASTM Marshall Test criteria of stability (>9) and flow(within range 2–4) in road construction. The results of the investigation are promising, and the use of silicon waste could mark a significant impact on the economics of road construction industry for sustainable infrastructure development by saving bitumen, which is a costly resource.
Mitochondrial Flexibility of Breast Cancers: A Growth Advantage and a Therapeutic Opportunity
Authors: Avagliano Angelica , Ruocco Maria Rosaria , Aliotta Federica , Belviso Immacolata , Accurso Antonello , Masone Stefania , Montagnani Stefania , Arcucci Alessandro
Published: April 2019

Breast cancers are very heterogeneous tissues with several cell types and metabolic pathways together sustaining the initiation and progression of disease and contributing to evasion from cancer therapies. Furthermore, breast cancer cells have an impressive metabolic plasticity that is regulated by the heterogeneous tumour microenvironment through bidirectional interactions. The structure and accessibility of nutrients within this unstable microenvironment influence the metabolism of cancer cells that shift between glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In this scenario, the mitochondrial energetic pathways of cancer cells can be reprogrammed to modulate breast cancer’s progression and aggressiveness. Moreover, mitochondrial alterations can lead to crosstalk between the mitochondria and the nucleus, and subsequently affect cancer tissue properties. This article reviewed the metabolic plasticity of breast cancer cells, focussing mainly on breast cancer mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming and the mitochondrial alterations influencing nuclear pathways. Finally, the therapeutic strategies targeting molecules and pathways regulating cancer mitochondrial alterations are highlighted.
A Novel Dictionary-Driven Mental Spelling Application Based on Code-Modulated Visual Evoked Potentials
Authors: Gembler Felix , Volosyak Ivan
Published: April 2019

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) based on code-modulated visual evoked potentials (c-VEPs) typically utilize a synchronous approach to identify targets (i.e., after preset time periods the system produces command outputs). Hence, users have only a limited amount of time to fixate a desired target. This hinders the usage of more complex interfaces, as these require the BCI to distinguish between intentional and unintentional fixations. In this article, we investigate a dynamic sliding window mechanism as well as the implementation of software-based stimulus synchronization to enable the threshold-based target identification for the c-VEP paradigm. To further improve the usability of the system, an ensemble-based classification strategy was investigated. In addition, a software-based approach for stimulus on-set determination is proposed, which allows for an easier setup of the system, as it reduces additional hardware dependencies. The methods were tested with an eight-target spelling application utilizing an n-gram word prediction model. The performance of eighteen participants without disabilities was tested; all participants completed word- and sentence spelling tasks using the c-VEP BCI with a mean information transfer rate (ITR) of 75.7 and 57.8 bpm, respectively.
HAMP Downregulation Contributes to Aggressive Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Mechanism Mediated by Cyclin4-Dependent Kinase-1/STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Shen Ying , Li Xin , Su Yanwei , Badshah Shaikh Atik , Zhang Bin , Xue Yanru , Shang Peng
Published: April 2019

Background: Hepcidin encoded by HAMP is vital to regulating proliferation, metastasis, and migration. Hepcidin is secreted specifically by the liver. This study sought to examine the functional role of hepcidin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Data in the Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to analyze HAMP expression as it relates to HCC prognosis. We then used the 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometric analysis, respectively, to assess proliferation, migration, and the cell cycle. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to find pathways affected by HAMP. Results: HAMP expression was lower in hepatocellular carcinoma samples compared with adjacent normal tissue controls. Low HAMP expression was linked with a higher rate of metastasis and poor disease-free status. Downregulation of HAMP induced SMMC-7721 and HepG-2 cell proliferation and promoted their migration. HAMP could affect the cell cycle pathway and Western blotting, confirming that reduced HAMP levels activated cyclin-dependent kinase-1/stat 3 pathway. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that HAMP functions as a tumor suppressor gene. The role of HAMP in cellular proliferation and metastasis is related to cell cycle checkpoints. HAMP could be considered as a diagnostic biomarker and targeted therapy in HCC.
The Effect of the National Plan (2010–2020) on the Development of Special Education in China: Evidence from Before–After Design at a 7-Year Interval
Authors: Alduais Ahmed , Deng Meng
Published: April 2019

The possible effect of the National Plan on the development of special education has not been examined, and there is no published evidence concerning both national and international readership about the realisation of this policy document in China. Given this, we conducted a before–after design study at a 7-year interval including six variables of special education: number of schools, total enrolment, new enrolment, graduates, educational personnel, and full-time teachers. The data were retrieved from the National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC). The results indicated two patterns of special education development in China. First, the National Plan has quantitatively affected some special education services (schools, new enrolments, educational personnel, and full-time teachers). Second, the National Plan has possibly resulted into better control of the quality of special education—evidenced by an insignificant increase in total enrolment and graduates at the two compared intervals.
Automatic Scene Recognition through Acoustic Classification for Behavioral Robotics
Authors: Aziz Sumair , Awais Muhammad , Akram Tallha , Khan Umar , Alhussein Musaed , Aurangzeb Khursheed
Published: April 2019

Classification of complex acoustic scenes under real time scenarios is an active domain which has engaged several researchers lately form the machine learning community. A variety of techniques have been proposed for acoustic patterns or scene classification including natural soundscapes such as rain/thunder, and urban soundscapes such as restaurants/streets, etc. In this work, we present a framework for automatic acoustic classification for behavioral robotics. Motivated by several texture classification algorithms used in computer vision, a modified feature descriptor for sound is proposed which incorporates a combination of 1-D local ternary patterns (1D-LTP) and baseline method Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC). The extracted feature vector is later classified using a multi-class support vector machine (SVM), which is selected as a base classifier. The proposed method is validated on two standard benchmark datasets i.e., DCASE and RWCP and achieves accuracies of 97.38 % and 94.10 % , respectively. A comparative analysis demonstrates that the proposed scheme performs exceptionally well compared to other feature descriptors.
An Ontology-Based Framework for Building Energy Management with IoT
Authors: Lork Clement , Choudhary Vishal , Hassan Naveed Ul , Tushar Wayes , Yuen Chau , Ng Benny Kai Kiat , Wang Xinyu , Liu Xiang
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we develop an ontology-based framework for energy management in buildings. We divide the functional architecture of a building energy management system into three interconnected modules that include building management system (BMS), benchmarking (BMK), and evaluation & control (ENC) modules. The BMS module is responsible for measuring several useful environmental parameters, as well as real-time energy consumption of the building. The BMK module provides the necessary information required to understand the context and cause of building energy efficiency or inefficiency, and also the information which can further differentiate normal and abnormal energy consumption in different scenarios. The ENC module evaluates all the information coming from BMS and BMK modules, the information is contextualized, and finally the cause of energy inefficiency/abnormality and mitigating control actions are determined. Methodology to design appropriate ontology and inference rules for various modules is also discussed. With the help of actual data obtained from three different rooms in a commercial building in Singapore, a case study is developed to demonstrate the application and advantages of the proposed framework. By mitigating the appropriate cause of abnormal inefficiency, we can achieve 5.7%, 11.8% and 8.7% energy savings in Room 1, Room 2, and Room 3 respectively, while creating minimum inconvenience for the users.
Generator Maintenance Scheduling Method Using Transformation of Mixed Integer Polynomial Programming in a Power System Incorporating Demand Response
Authors: Jo Hyung-Chul , Ko Rakkyung , Joo Sung-Kwan
Published: April 2019

Periodic preventive maintenance of generators is required to maintain the reliable operation of a power system. However, generators under maintenance cannot supply electrical energy to the power system; therefore, it is important to determine an optimal generator maintenance schedule to facilitate efficient supply. The schedule should consider various constraints of the reliability-based demand response program, power system security, and restoration. Determining the optimal generator maintenance schedule is generally formulated as a non-linear optimization problem, which leads to difficulties in obtaining the optimal solution when the various power system constraints are considered. This study proposes a generator maintenance scheduling (GMS) method using transformation of mixed integer polynomial programming in a power system incorporating demand response. The GMS method is designed to deal with various system requirements and characteristics of demand response within a power system. A case study is conducted using data from the Korean power system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for determining the optimal maintenance schedule. The results show that the proposed GMS method can be used to facilitate the efficient and reliable operation of a power system, by considering the applicable system constraints.
Geographically Weighted Negative Binomial Regression Model Predicts Wildfire Occurrence in the Great Xing’an Mountains Better Than Negative Binomial Model
Authors: Su Zhangwen , Hu Haiqing , Tigabu Mulualem , Wang Guangyu , Zeng Aicong , Guo Futao
Published: April 2019

Wildfire is a major disturbance that affects large area globally every year. Thus, a better prediction of the likelihood of wildfire occurrence is essential to develop appropriate fire prevention measures. We applied a global negative Binomial (NB) and a geographically weighted negative Binomial regression (GWNBR) models to determine the relationship between wildfire occurrence and its drivers factors in the boreal forests of the Great Xing’an Mountains, northeast China. Using geo-weighted techniques to consider the geospatial information of meteorological, topographic, vegetation type and human factors, we aimed to verify whether the performance of the NB model can be improved. Our results confirmed that the model fitting and predictions of GWNBR model were better than the global NB model, produced more precise and stable model parameter estimation, yielded a more realistic spatial distribution of model predictions, and provided the detection of the impact hotpots of these predictor variables. We found slope, vegetation cover, average precipitation, average temperature, and average relative humidity as important predictors of wildfire occurrence in the Great Xing’an Mountains. Thus, spatially differing relations improves the explanatory power of the global NB model, which does not explain sufficiently the relationship between wildfire occurrence and its drivers. Thus, the GWNBR model can complement the global NB model in overcoming the issue of nonstationary variables, thereby enabling a better prediction of the occurrence of wildfires in large geographical areas and improving management practices of wildfire.
Examining Changes in Stem Taper and Volume Growth with Two-Date 3D Point Clouds
Authors: Luoma Ville , Saarinen Ninni , Kankare Ville , Tanhuanpää Topi , Kaartinen Harri , Kukko Antero , Holopainen Markus , Hyyppä Juha , Vastaranta Mikko
Published: April 2019

Exact knowledge over tree growth is valuable information for decision makers when considering the purposes of sustainable forest management and planning or optimizing the use of timber, for example. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) can be used for measuring tree and forest attributes in very high detail. The study aims at characterizing changes in individual tree attributes (e.g., stem volume growth and taper) during a nine year-long study period in boreal forest conditions. TLS-based three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data were used for identifying and quantifying these changes. The results showed that observing changes in stem volume was possible from TLS point cloud data collected at two different time points. The average volume growth of sample trees was 0.226 m3 during the study period, and the mean relative change in stem volume was 65.0%. In addition, the results of a pairwise Student’s t-test gave strong support (p-value 0.0001) that the used method was able to detect tree growth within the nine-year period between 2008–2017. The findings of this study allow the further development of enhanced methods for TLS-based single tree and forest growth modeling and estimation, which can thus improve the accuracy of forest inventories and offer better tools for future decision-making processes.
A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires
Authors: Robinne François-Nicolas , Bladon Kevin D. , Silins Uldis , Emelko Monica B. , Flannigan Mike D. , Parisien Marc-André , Wang Xianli , Kienzle Stefan W. , Dupont Diane P.
Published: April 2019

Recent human-interface wildfires around the world have raised concerns regarding the reliability of freshwater supply flowing from severely burned watersheds. Degraded source water quality can often be expected after severe wildfire and can pose challenges to drinking water facilities by straining treatment response capacities, increasing operating costs, and jeopardizing their ability to supply consumers. Identifying source watersheds that are dangerously exposed to post-wildfire hydrologic changes is important for protecting community drinking-water supplies from contamination risks that may lead to service disruptions. This study presents a spatial index of watershed exposure to wildfires in the province of Alberta, Canada, where growing water demands coupled with increasing fire activity threaten municipal drinking-water supplies. Using a multi-criteria analysis design, we integrated information regarding provincial forest cover, fire danger, source water volume, source-water origin (i.e., forested/un-forested), and population served. We found that (1) >2/3 of the population of the province relies on drinking-water supplies originating in forested watersheds, (2) forest cover is the most important variable controlling final exposure scores, and (3) watersheds supplying small drinking water treatment plants are particularly exposed, especially in central Alberta. The index can help regional authorities prioritize the allocation of risk management resources to mitigate adverse impacts from wildfire. The flexible design of this tool readily allows its deployment at larger national and continental scales to inform broader water security frameworks.
Fluidized Bed Drying of Pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.) Seeds
Authors: Mujaffar Saheeda , Ramsumair Sheena
Published: April 2019

Pumpkin seeds are a major agricultural waste from the fresh-cut produce industry. The objective of this study was to investigate the drying behavior of untreated, whole pumpkin seeds in a fluidized bed dryer at 50–80 °C (2.87 m/s), with a view to producing a high-quality pumpkin powder from dried seeds. Seeds were dried at 50–80 °C to an average equilibrium moisture value of 0.035 to 0.006 g H2O/g DM (3.4 to 0.6% wb). Drying occurred in the falling rate period only and drying rate constants ranged from 0.0226 to 0.0900 1/min with corresponding diffusivity values for the first falling-rate period ranging from 4.68 to 18.63 × 10−10 m2/s. The activation energy (Ea)—for the first falling rate period was determined to be 43.9 kJ/mol. Of the nineteen thin layer models tested, the Alibas model could be successfully used as a general model to predict the Moisture Ratio (MR) data for all temperatures investigated. After drying, seeds were blended to produce powders, which were found to be high in fat, crude protein and fiber.
Risk Factors of Lyme Disease: An Intersection of Environmental Ecology and Systems Science
Authors: Sharareh Nasser , Behler Rachael P. , Roome Amanda B. , Shepherd Julian , Garruto Ralph M. , Sabounchi Nasim S.
Published: April 2019

Lyme disease (LD) cases have been on the rise throughout the United States, costing the healthcare system up to $1.3 billion per year, and making LD one of the greatest threats to public health. Factors influencing the number of LD cases range from environmental to system-level variables, but little is known about the influence of vegetation (canopy, understory, and ground cover) and human behavioral risk on LD cases and exposure to infected ticks. We determined the influence of various risk factors on the risk of exposure to infected ticks on 22 different walkways using multinomial logistic regression. The model classifies the walkways into high-risk and low-risk categories with 90% accuracy, in which the understory, human risk, and number of rodents are significant indicators. These factors should be managed to control the risk of transmission of LD to humans.
Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cao Meng , Quan Minghui , Zhuang Jie
Published: April 2019

Enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can lead to substantial health benefits. Comparisons between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on CRF for children and adolescents are inconsistent and inconclusive. The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to compare the effects between HIIT and MICT on CRF in children and adolescents. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant articles. The standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to determine the pooled effect size of HIIT and MICT on CRF. A total of 563 subjects from 17 studies (18 effects) were identified. The pooled effect size was 0.51 (95% CI = 0.33–0.69) comparing HIIT to MICT. Moreover, intervention duration, exercise modality, work and rest ratio, and total bouts did not significantly modify the effect of HIIT on CRF. It is concluded that compared with endurance training, HIIT has greater improvements on cardiorespiratory fitness among children and adolescents.
Increased Prevalence of Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Socio-Environmental Risk Factors among Overweight and Obese Youths in Mexico and the United States
Authors: Flores Yvonne N. , Contreras Zuelma A. , Ramírez-Palacios Paula , Morales Leo S. , Edwards Todd C. , Gallegos-Carrillo Katia , Salmerón Jorge , Lang Cathy M. , Sportiche Noémie , Patrick Donald L.
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study was to examine various psychosocial, behavioral, and socio-environmental factors in a multiethnic sample of healthy-weight, overweight, and obese youths in the United States (US) and Mexico and determine differences by sex. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 633 youths aged 11–18 years who completed a self-reported questionnaire. Height and weight were measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Overweight and obese youth in both countries were significantly more likely to report a higher body image dissatisfaction (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67 and OR= 2.95, respectively), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.08 and OR = 1.12, respectively), perceive themselves as overweight (OR = 2.57) or obese (OR = 5.30), and a lower weight-specific quality of life (OR = 0.97 and OR = 0.95, respectively) than healthy-weight youth. Obese youth have lower healthy lifestyle priorities (OR = 0.75) and are less likely to be physically active (OR = 0.79) and eat breakfast (OR = 0.47) than healthy-weight youth. Additionally, overweight and obese youth are more likely to engage in weight control behaviors (OR = 5.19 and OR = 8.88, respectively) and restrained eating than healthy-weight youth. All the aforementioned results had a p-value of <0.05, which was considered statistically significant. The association between these factors and overweight or obesity remained significant after controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and country. In conclusion, obesity was associated with a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and socio-environmental risk factors in both countries. Our findings support the need for multifactorial approaches when developing interventions to address the growing problem of obesity among youth in the US and Mexico.
Changes in the Soil Microbiome in Eggplant Monoculture Revealed by High-Throughput Illumina MiSeq Sequencing as Influenced by Raw Garlic Stalk Amendment
Authors: Ghani Muhammad Imran , Ali Ahmad , Atif Muhammad Jawaad , Ali Muhammad , Amin Bakht , Anees Muhammad , Khurshid Haris , Cheng Zhihui
Published: April 2019

The incorporation of plant residues into soil can be considered a keystone sustainability factor in improving soil structure function. However, the effects of plant residue addition on the soil microbial communities involved in biochemical cycles and abiotic stress phenomena are poorly understood. In this study, experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of raw garlic stalk (RGS) amendment in avoiding monoculture-related production constraints by studying the changes in soil chemical properties and microbial community structures. RGS was applied in four different doses, namely the control (RGS0), 1% (RGS1), 3% (RGS2), and 5% (RGS3) per 100 g of soil. The RGS amendment significantly increased soil electrical conductivity (EC), N, P, K, and enzyme activity. The soil pH significantly decreased with RGS application. High-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed significant alterations in bacterial community structures in response to RGS application. Among the 23 major taxa detected, Anaerolineaceae, Acidobacteria, and Cyanobacteria exhibited an increased abundance level. RGS2 increased some bacteria reported to be beneficial including Acidobacteria, Bacillus, and Planctomyces (by 42%, 64%, and 1% respectively). Furthermore, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fungal regions revealed significant diversity among the different treatments, with taxa such as Chaetomium (56.2%), Acremonium (4.3%), Fusarium (4%), Aspergillus (3.4%), Sordariomycetes (3%), and Plectosphaerellaceae (2%) showing much abundance. Interestingly, Coprinellus (14%) was observed only in RGS-amended soil. RGS treatments effectively altered soil fungal community structures and reduced certain known pathogenic fungal genera, i.e., Fusarium and Acremonium. The results of the present study suggest that RGS amendment potentially affects the microbial community structures that probably affect the physiological and morphological attributes of eggplant under a plastic greenhouse vegetable cultivation system (PGVC) in monoculture.
Aerosolized Bovine Lactoferrin Counteracts Infection, Inflammation and Iron Dysbalance in A Cystic Fibrosis Mouse Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Chronic Lung Infection
Authors: Cutone Antimo , Lepanto Maria Stefania , Rosa Luigi , Scotti Mellani Jinnett , Rossi Alice , Ranucci Serena , De Fino Ida , Bragonzi Alessandra , Valenti Piera , Musci Giovanni , Berlutti Francesca
Published: April 2019

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting several organs including airways. Bacterial infection, inflammation and iron dysbalance play a major role in the chronicity and severity of the lung pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional iron-chelating glycoprotein of innate immunity, in a CF murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic lung infection. To induce chronic lung infection, C57BL/6 mice, either cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-deficient (Cftrtm1UNCTgN(FABPCFTR)#Jaw) or wild-type (WT), were intra-tracheally inoculated with multidrug-resistant MDR-RP73 P. aeruginosa embedded in agar beads. Treatments with aerosolized bovine Lf (bLf) or saline were started five minutes after infection and repeated daily for six days. Our results demonstrated that aerosolized bLf was effective in significantly reducing both pulmonary bacterial load and infiltrated leukocytes in infected CF mice. Furthermore, for the first time, we showed that bLf reduced pulmonary iron overload, in both WT and CF mice. In particular, at molecular level, a significant decrease of both the iron exporter ferroportin and iron storage ferritin, as well as luminal iron content was observed. Overall, bLf acts as a potent multi-targeting agent able to break the vicious cycle induced by P. aeruginosa, inflammation and iron dysbalance, thus mitigating the severity of CF-related pathology and sequelae.
Iron-Induced Liver Injury: A Critical Reappraisal
Authors: Bloomer Steven A. , Brown Kyle E.
Published: April 2019

Iron is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of human liver diseases. Hereditary hemochromatosis is the classical example of a liver disease caused by iron, but iron is commonly believed to contribute to the progression of other forms of chronic liver disease such as hepatitis C infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this review, we present data from cell culture experiments, animal models, and clinical studies that address the hepatotoxicity of iron. These data demonstrate that iron overload is only weakly fibrogenic in animal models and rarely causes serious liver damage in humans, calling into question the concept that iron overload is an important cause of hepatotoxicity. In situations where iron is pathogenic, iron-induced liver damage may be potentiated by coexisting inflammation, with the resulting hepatocyte necrosis an important factor driving the fibrogenic response. Based on the foregoing evidence that iron is less hepatotoxic than is generally assumed, claims that assign a causal role to iron in liver injury in either animal models or human liver disease should be carefully evaluated.