bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infectious Disease Prevalence and Factors Associated with Upper Respiratory Infection in Cats Following Relocation
Authors: Aziz Mehnaz , Janeczko Stephanie , Gupta Maya
Published: June 2018

Feline relocation is used increasingly in animal welfare to decrease shelter euthanasia rates and increase positive outcomes. Concerns about infectious disease introduction and transmission are often expressed; however, little research has been conducted on even the baseline prevalence of infectious disease following relocation. This study, which collected data on 430 cats relocated through an established program over 7 months, evaluated the prevalence of upper respiratory infection (URI), feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and dermatophytosis at one destination agency. The period prevalence was 25.8% for URI, 1.6% for FPV and 0.9% for dermatophytosis. Mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to investigate factors associated with URI. Younger age, increased time in transport, and increased length of stay at the destination agency were associated with increased URI prevalence following relocation. The findings of this study reveal that certain highly contagious and environmentally persistent infectious diseases, such as FPV and dermatophytosis, are uncommon following relocation in an established program; however, URI in relocated cats should be proactively managed. Animal welfare agencies can use this information to guide shelter and relocation operations and mitigate the impact of URI in relocated cats.
Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: A Perspective on Synthesis, Drugs, Antimicrobial Activity, and Toxicity
Authors: Arias Laís Salomão , Pessan Juliano Pelim , Vieira Ana Paula Miranda , Lima Taynara Maria Toito de , Delbem Alberto Carlos Botazzo , Monteiro Douglas Roberto
Published: June 2018

Medical applications and biotechnological advances, including magnetic resonance imaging, cell separation and detection, tissue repair, magnetic hyperthermia and drug delivery, have strongly benefited from employing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) due to their remarkable properties, such as superparamagnetism, size and possibility of receiving a biocompatible coating. Ongoing research efforts focus on reducing drug concentration, toxicity, and other side effects, while increasing efficacy of IONPs-based treatments. This review highlights the methods of synthesis and presents the most recent reports in the literature regarding advances in drug delivery using IONPs-based systems, as well as their antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms. Furthermore, the toxicity of IONPs alone and constituting nanosystems is also addressed.
Comparison Among Different Rainfall Energy Harvesting Structures
Authors: Viola Fabio
Published: June 2018

In this paper, an experimental comparison between different rainfall harvesting devices through the study of the electrical rectifying circuit is proposed. In more detail, three harvesting structures are considered: the cantilever, the bridge and the floating circle. Different waveforms were acquired and discussed. The processed data were compared in order to suggest the best choice for the rectifying circuit, from the simplest one to that most frequently endorsed in the technical literature.
Estimation of the Impact of Ozone on Four Economically Important Crops in the City Belt of Central Mexico
Authors: Ruiz-Suárez Luis Gerardo , Mar-Morales Bertha Eugenia , García-Reynoso José Agustín , Andraca-Ayala Gema Luz , Torres-Jardón Ricardo , García-Yee José Santos , Barrera-Huertas Hugo Alberto , Gavilán-García Arturo , Basaldud Cruz Roberto
Published: June 2018

In this work, we report the economic impact of exposure to high ozone concentrations on four important crops in the area of influence of the Mexico City Megalopolis. Estimated yield losses were as follows: maize: 3%; oats: 26%; beans: 14%; sorghum: 15%. The information needed to estimate the impact of air pollution in Mexico is decidedly deficient. Regarding ozone, the coverage provided by the monitoring networks is strongly focused on urban monitoring and its consistency over time is highly irregular. Apart from the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) and less than a handful of other cities, the quality of the data is poor. Ozone in rural areas can be estimated with air quality models. However, these models depend on a high-resolution emissions inventory, which has only been done through validation processes in the MCMA. With these limitations, we set out to estimate the economic impact of exposure to ozone in these crops with a varying degree of sensitivity to ozone in the city belt of Central Mexico. To this end, we developed a procedure that makes optimal use of the sparse information available for construction of AOT40 (accumulated exposure over the threshold of 40 ppb) exceedance maps for the 2011 growing season. We believe that, due to the way in which we dealt with the sparse information and the uncertainty regarding the available data, our findings lie on the safe side of having little knowledge such that they may be useful to decision-makers. We believe that this procedure can be extended to the rest of the country, and that it may be useful to developing countries with similar monitoring and modeling capacities. In addition, these impacts are not evenly distributed in the region and sometimes they were greater in municipalities that have a higher index of poverty. Air pollution arriving from urban areas increases the social inequalities to which these already vulnerable populations are exposed.
Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Antibiotic Detection: A Review
Authors: Mehlhorn Asol , Rahimi Parvaneh , Joseph Yvonne
Published: June 2018

Antibiotic resistance and, accordingly, their pollution because of uncontrolled usage has emerged as a serious problem in recent years. Hence, there is an increased demand to develop robust, easy, and sensitive methods for rapid evaluation of antibiotics and their residues. Among different analytical methods, the aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) have attracted considerable attention because of good selectivity, specificity, and sensitivity. This review gives an overview about recently-developed aptasensors for antibiotic detection. The use of various aptamer assays to determine different groups of antibiotics, like β-lactams, aminoglycosides, anthracyclines, chloramphenicol, (fluoro)quinolones, lincosamide, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides are presented in this paper.
Ensuring the Safety and Security of Frozen Lung Cancer Tissue Collections through the Encapsulation of Dried DNA
Authors: Washetine Kevin , Kara-Borni Mehdi , Heeke Simon , Bonnetaud Christelle , Félix Jean-Marc , Ribeyre Lydia , Bence Coraline , Ilié Marius , Bordone Olivier , Pedro Marine , Maitre Priscilla , Tanga Virginie , Gormally Emmanuelle , Mossuz Pascal , Lorimier Philippe , Marquette Charles Hugo , Mouroux Jérôme , Cohen Charlotte , Lassalle Sandra , Long-Mira Elodie , Clément Bruno , Dagher Georges , Hofman Véronique , Hofman Paul
Published: June 2018

Collected specimens for research purposes may or may not be made available depending on their scarcity and/or on the project needs. Their protection against degradation or in the event of an incident is pivotal. Duplication and storage on a different site is the best way to assure their sustainability. The conservation of samples at room temperature (RT) by duplication can facilitate their protection. We describe a security system for the collection of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) stored in the biobank of the Nice Hospital Center, France, by duplication and conservation of lyophilized (dried), encapsulated DNA kept at RT. Therefore, three frozen tissue collections from non-smoking, early stage and sarcomatoid carcinoma NSCLC patients were selected for this study. DNA was extracted, lyophilized and encapsulated at RT under anoxic conditions using the DNAshell technology. In total, 1974 samples from 987 patients were encapsulated. Six and two capsules from each sample were stored in the biobanks of the Nice and Grenoble (France) Hospitals, respectively. In conclusion, DNA maintained at RT allows for the conservation, duplication and durability of collections of interest stored in biobanks. This is a low-cost and safe technology that requires a limited amount of space and has a low environmental impact.
Theoretical Study of the Mechanism for CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol Catalyzed by trans-RuH2(CO)(dpa)
Authors: Zhou Jinxia , Huang Liangliang , Yan Wei , Li Jun , Liu Chang , Lu Xiaohua
Published: June 2018

In this work, the reaction mechanism for the conversion of CO2 and H2 to methanol has been researched by density functional theory (DFT). The production of methanol from CO2 and H2 is catalyzed by a univocal bifunctional pincer-type complex trans-RuH2(CO)(dpa) (dpa = bis-(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)amine). The reaction mechanism includes three continuous catalytic processes: (1) CO2 is converted to formic acid; (2) formic acid is converted to formaldehyde and water; (3) formaldehyde is converted to methanol. By computing the catalytic processes, we have shown that the rate-limiting step in the whole process is the direct cleavage of H2. The calculated largest free energy barrier is 21.6 kcal/mol. However, with the help of water, the free energy barrier can be lowered to 12.7 kcal/mol, which suggests viability of trans-RuH2(CO)(dpa) as a catalyst for the direct conversion of CO2 and H2 to methanol.
Family Income Reduces Risk of Obesity for White but Not Black Children
Authors: Assari Shervin
Published: June 2018

Background: Although the protective effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on obesity and cardiovascular disease are well established, these effects may differ across racial and ethnic groups. Aims: Using a national sample, this study investigated racial variation in the association between family income and childhood obesity in White and Black families. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), 2003–2004, a nationally representative survey in the United States. This analysis included 76,705 children 2–17 years old who were either White (n = 67,610, 88.14%) or Black (n = 9095, 11.86%). Family income to needs ratio was the independent variable. Childhood obesity was the outcome. Race was the focal moderator. Logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: Overall, higher income to needs ratio was protective against childhood obesity. Race, however, interacted with income to needs ratio on odds of childhood obesity, indicating smaller effects for Black compared to White families. Race stratified logistic regressions showed an association between family income and childhood obesity for White but not Black families. Conclusions: The protective effect of income against childhood obesity is smaller for Blacks than Whites. Merely equalizing population access to SES and economic resources would not be sufficient for elimination of racial disparities in obesity and related cardiovascular disease in the United States. Policies should go beyond access to SES and address structural barriers in the lives of Blacks which result in a diminished health return of very same SES resources for them. As the likely causes are multi-level barriers, multi-level interventions are needed to eliminate racial disparities in childhood obesity.
Analytical Calculation for Multi-Infeed Interaction Factors Considering Control Modes of High Voltage Direct Current Links
Authors: Xia Chengjun , Hua Xia , Wang Zhen , Huang Zhenlin
Published: June 2018

The multi-infeed interaction factor (MIIF) is used extensively in indicating the degree of interaction among high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converters and is currently calculated by simulation methods according to the definition, or by using the equivalent impedance ratio method. The first method is an experimental calculation method and the second method does not account for the effects of HVDC control modes. An analytical calculation method for MIIF considering control modes of HVDC links is proposed in this paper. First, the voltage variation of converter bus in the context of small disturbance is equated by using the bus impedance matrix. In this way the equations for the solution of MIIF considering HVDC control mode are obtained. Subsequently, based on two rational assumptions, the practical analytical calculation expression of MIIF is deduced in detail. The MIIF calculation method proposed in this paper is an improvement of the equivalent impedance ratio method and reflects the main influencing factors of voltage interaction including HVDC control modes. Moreover, the derived analytical expression can give a fundamental insight into parameter dependencies of voltage interaction. Finally, the validity and accuracy of the proposed approach are demonstrated in both dual-infeed HVDC system and actual large-scale power grid.
Reducing Irradiation Damage in a Long-Life Fast Reactor with Spectral Softening
Authors: Osborne Andrew G. , Deinert Mark R.
Published: June 2018

Long-life fast reactors receive considerable attention for their potential of using uranium efficiently, and because they can operate for extended periods without refueling. However, the main obstacle to achieving maximum operating times and fuel burnup is the neutron radiation damage that accumulates in the cladding and structural materials. Simulations of metal-fueled high-burnup fast reactors showed that the damage in these reactors’ cladding material reached 200 displacements per atom (dpa) long before the maximum burnup was achieved. One possibility for overcoming this problem is spectral softening, which would reduce the kinetic energy imparted to reactor materials when neutrons collide with them. In this work, we compared the peak irradiation damage in metal- and oxide-fueled fast reactors with that in equivalent reactors containing beryllium in the fuel and reflectors. We showed that the peak damage to the cladding in a metal-fueled reactor was reduced from 273 dpa to 230 dpa when beryllium was included in the core. In an oxide-fueled reactor, the peak damage to the cladding was reduced from 225 dpa to 203 dpa. All four reactors were operated with a core-average burnup of 112 MWd/kg of initial heavy metal (IHM), without reshuffling or refueling, and contained the same initial actinide mass profiles.
Synergistic Enhancement of Ternary Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Graphene Oxide/Manganese Oxide Composite as a Symmetrical Electrode for Supercapacitors
Authors: Azman Nur Hawa Nabilah , Lim Hong Ngee , Mamat Md Shuhazlly , Sulaiman Yusran
Published: June 2018

A novel facile preparation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/graphene oxide/manganese oxide (PEDOT/GO/MnO2) ternary composite as an electrode material for a supercapacitor was evaluated. The ternary composite was sandwiched together and separated by filter paper soaked in 1 M KCl in order to investigate the supercapacitive properties. The ternary composite exhibits a higher specific capacitance (239.4 F/g) compared to PEDOT/GO (73.3 F/g) at 25 mV/s. The incorporation of MnO2 which act as a spacer in the PEDOT/GO helps to improve the supercapacitive performance by maximizing the utilization of electrode materials by the electrolyte ions. The PEDOT/GO/MnO2 ternary composite displays a specific energy and specific power of 7.9 Wh/kg and 489.0 W/kg, respectively. The cycling stability test revealed that the ternary composite is able to achieve 95% capacitance retention even after 1000 cycles due to the synergistic effect between the PEDOT, GO, and MnO2 that helps to enhance the performance of the ternary composite for supercapacitor application.
Jaya based Optimization Method with High Dispatchable Distributed Generation for Residential Microgrid
Authors: Samuel Omaji , Javaid Nadeem , Ashraf Mahmood , Ishmanov Farruh , Afzal Muhammad Khalil , Khan Zahoor Ali
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a model for optimal energy management under the time-of-use (ToU) and critical peak price (CPP) market in a microgrid. The microgrid consists of intermittent dispatchable distributed generators, energy storage systems, and multi-home load demands. The optimal energy management problem is a challenging task due to the inherent stochastic behavior of the renewable energy resources. In the past, medium-sized distributed energy resource generation was injected into the main grid with no feasible control mechanism to prevent the waste of power generated by a distributed energy resource which has no control mechanism, especially when the grid power limit is altered. Thus, a Jaya-based optimization method is proposed to shift dispatchable distributed generators within the ToU and CPP scheduling horizon. The proposed model coordinates the power supply of the microgrid components, and trades with the main grid to reduce its fuel costs, production costs, and also maximize the monetary profit from sales revenue. The proposed method is implemented on two microgrid operations: the standalone and grid-connected modes. The simulation results are compared with other optimization methods: enhanced differential evolution (EDE) and strawberry algorithm (SBA). Finally, simulation results show that the Jaya-based optimization method minimizes the fuel cost by up to 38.13%, production cost by up to 93.89%, and yields a monetary benefit of up to 72.78% from sales revenue.
An Improved Heating System with Waste Pressure Utilization in a Combined Heat and Power Unit
Authors: Chen Heng , Xu Jidong , Xiao Yao , Qi Zhen , Xu Gang , Yang Yongping
Published: June 2018

An improved heating system integrated with waste pressure utilization (WPU) for combined heat and power (CHP) cogeneration was proposed. The new heating system efficiently utilized the excess pressure of the extraction heating steam to drive the WPU turbine and generator for producing electricity, achieving higher energy efficiency and lower fuel consumption of the CHP unit. The results of the detailed thermodynamic analysis showed that applying the proposed concept in a typical 300 MW coal-fired CHP unit could reduce the standard coal consumption rate by 9.84 g/(kW·h), with a thermal efficiency improvement of 1.97% (absolute value). Compared to that of the original heating process, the energy efficiency of the proposed process decreased by 0.55% (absolute value), but its exergy efficiency increased dramatically by 17.97% (absolute value), which meant that the proposed configuration could make better use of the steam energy and contribute to the better performance of the CHP unit. As the unit generation load and supply and return-water temperatures declined and the unit heating load rose, the WPU system would generate more electricity and its energy-saving benefit would be enhanced. This work provides a promising approach to further advance the CHP technology and district heating systems.
Optimizing Waste Heat Utilization in Vehicle Bio-Methane Plants
Authors: Zhen Feng , Zhang Jia , Li Wenzhe , Sun Yongming , Kong Xiaoying
Published: June 2018

Current vehicle bio-methane plants have drawbacks associated with high energy consumption and low recovery levels of waste heat produced during the gasification process. In this paper, we have optimized the performance of heat exchange networks using pinch analysis and through the introduction of heat pump integration technology. Optimal results for the heat exchange network of a bio-gas system producing 10,000 cubic meters have been calculated using a pinch point temperature of 50 °C, a minimum heating utility load of 234.02 kW and a minimum cooling utility load of 201.25 kW. These optimal parameters are predicted to result in energy savings of 116.08 kW (19.75%), whilst the introduction of new heat pump integration technology would afford further energy savings of 95.55 kW (16.25%). The combined energy saving value of 211.63 kW corresponds to a total energy saving of 36%, with economic analysis revealing that these reforms would give annual savings of 103,300 USD. The installation costs required to introduce these process modifications are predicted to require an initial investment of 423,200 USD, which would take 4.1 years to reach payout time based on predicted annual energy savings.
Boundary Conditions Accuracy Effect on the Numerical Simulations of the Thermal Performance of Building Elements
Authors: Fokaides Paris A. , Kylili Angeliki , Kyriakides Ioannis
Published: June 2018

Numerical simulation is widely used in the field of computational building physics for the definition of the thermal performance of building elements. An integral component of numerical simulation using finite elements is the boundary conditions, which, in the case of simulating the thermal performance of a building element, are usually expressed in terms of the external surface temperature as a function of time. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the accuracy of the boundary conditions on the thermal performance simulation of building elements. The assumption that the temperature versus time is a sinusoidal function, applied in standard methods, is comparatively assessed with the actual function for diverse climatic conditions using finite elements simulation. The findings of the analysis indicate that the sinusoidal function fails to accurately simulate real boundary conditions. The originality of this study lies within the adoption of a signal reconstruction algorithm, which follows a novel approach by reconstructing the actual temperature versus time signal for the simulation of the actual boundary conditions.
End-User Software for Efficient Sensor Placement in Jacketed Wine Tanks
Authors: Schmidt Dominik , Freund Maximilian , Velten Kai
Published: June 2018

In food processing, temperature is a key parameter affecting product quality and energy consumption. The efficiency of temperature control depends on the data provided by sensors installed in the production device. In the wine industry, temperature sensor placement inside the tanks is usually predetermined by the tank manufacturers. Winemakers rely on these measurements and configure their temperature control accordingly, not knowing whether the monitored values really represent the wine’s bulk temperature. To address this problem, we developed an end-user software which 1. allows winemakers or tank manufacturers to identify optimal sensor locations for customizable tank geometries and 2. allows for comparisons between actual and optimal sensor placements. The analysis is based on numerical simulations of a user-defined cooling scenario. Case studies involving two different tanks showed good agreement between experimental data and simulations. Implemented based on the scientific Linux operating system gmlinux, the application solely relies on open-source software that is available free of charge.
Micro- and Nanoscale Approaches in Antifungal Drug Discovery
Authors: Willaert Ronnie G.
Published: June 2018

Clinical needs for novel antifungal agents have increased due to the increase of people with a compromised immune system, the appearance of resistant fungi, and infections by unusual yeasts. The search for new molecular targets for antifungals has generated considerable research, especially using modern omics methods (genomics, genome-wide collections of mutants, and proteomics) and bioinformatics approaches. Recently, micro- and nanoscale approaches have been introduced in antifungal drug discovery. Microfluidic platforms have been developed, since they have a number of advantages compared to traditional multiwell-plate screening, such as low reagent consumption, the manipulation of a large number of cells simultaneously and independently, and ease of integrating numerous analytical standard operations and large-scale integration. Automated high-throughput antifungal drug screening is achievable by massive parallel processing. Various microfluidic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods have been developed, since they can provide the result in a short time-frame, which is necessary for personalized medicine in the clinic. New nanosensors, based on detecting the nanomotions of cells, have been developed to further decrease the time to test antifungal susceptibility to a few minutes. Finally, nanoparticles (especially, silver nanoparticles) that demonstrated antifungal activity are reviewed.
Fairness and Trust in Virtual Environments: The Effects of Reputation
Authors: Duradoni Mirko , Paolucci Mario , Bagnoli Franco , Guazzini Andrea
Published: June 2018

Reputation supports pro-social behaviors in a variety of social settings and across different ages. When re-encounters are possible, developing a positive reputation can be a valuable asset that will result in better outcomes. However, in real life, cooperative acts are ambiguous and happen in noisy environments in which individuals can have multiple goals, visibility is reduced, and reputation systems may differ. This study examined how reputation within a virtual environment affects fairness in material allocations and trust in information exchange, in a three-actors interaction game in which each player had an incentive to deceive the others. We compared the results of two experimental conditions, one in which informers could be evaluated, and one without reputational opportunities. A reputational system appeared to enhance both trust and fairness even within a virtual environment under anonymous condition. We tested adolescents and adults finding that they were consistently more generous when visibility was increased, but they showed significantly different patterns in resources allocation and information exchange. Male and female participants, across ages, showed other interesting differences. These findings suggest that reputational effects increase fairness and trust even in a noisy, ambiguous and uncertain environment, but this effect is modulated by age and gender.
Pharma-Nutritional Properties of Olive Oil Phenols. Transfer of New Findings to Human Nutrition
Authors: Crespo M. , Tomé-Carneiro Joao , Dávalos Alberto , Visioli Francesco
Published: June 2018

The Mediterranean diet has been long associated with improved cardiovascular prognosis, chemoprevention, and lower incidence of neurodegeneration. Of the multiple components of this diet, olive oil stands out because its use has historically been limited to the Mediterranean basin. The health benefits of olive oil and some of its components are being rapidly decoded. In this paper we review the most recent pharma-nutritional investigations on olive oil biophenols and their health effects, chiefly focusing on recent findings that elucidate their molecular mechanisms of action.
Risk Assessment Uncertainties in Cybersecurity Investments
Authors: Fielder Andrew , König Sandra , Panaousis Emmanouil , Schauer Stefan , Rass Stefan
Published: June 2018

When undertaking cybersecurity risk assessments, it is important to be able to assign numeric values to metrics to compute the final expected loss that represents the risk that an organization is exposed to due to cyber threats. Even if risk assessment is motivated by real-world observations and data, there is always a high chance of assigning inaccurate values due to different uncertainties involved (e.g., evolving threat landscape, human errors) and the natural difficulty of quantifying risk. Existing models empower organizations to compute optimal cybersecurity strategies given their financial constraints, i.e., available cybersecurity budget. Further, a general game-theoretic model with uncertain payoffs (probability-distribution-valued payoffs) shows that such uncertainty can be incorporated in the game-theoretic model by allowing payoffs to be random. This paper extends previous work in the field to tackle uncertainties in risk assessment that affect cybersecurity investments. The findings from simulated examples indicate that although uncertainties in cybersecurity risk assessment lead, on average, to different cybersecurity strategies, they do not play a significant role in the final expected loss of the organization when utilising a game-theoretic model and methodology to derive these strategies. The model determines robust defending strategies even when knowledge regarding risk assessment values is not accurate. As a result, it is possible to show that the cybersecurity investments’ tool is capable of providing effective decision support.
The Patron Game: the Individual Provision of a Public Good
Authors: Filippin Antonio , Raimondi Manuela
Published: June 2018

The Patron Game studies the individual provision of a public good, i.e., a situation in which the cost of contributing exceeds by construction its private return (e.g., volunteering, Open Collaboration projects). We test the Patron Game in the lab finding that contributions are high, though significantly lower than in a classic Public Good Game. Results show that demand effects and the warm glow of giving account almost entirely for the contributions, with the former playing the most prominent role. The social nature of the individual provision of a public good is confirmed by the fact that, even when the efficiency multiplier is removed, contributions are higher than in comparable Dictator Games.
New Media Components and Fertilization to Accelerate the Growth of Citrus Rootstocks Grown in a Greenhouse
Authors: Arce Sandra C. , Rivera Dania
Published: June 2018

In Puerto Rico, oranges made up $6,452,000 of the agricultural gross income for 2014–2015. Today, citrus greening (CG) is the most aggressive disease affecting the citrus industry in the whole world. This disease causes dieback of the plant, among other symptoms, which is resulting in the reduction of citrus trees in the field across the world. Currently, it is recommended to grow citrus rootstocks in nurseries to produce disease-free trees. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate (before and after grafting) the effect of different substrate mixes and quantities of fertilizers on the rootstocks Carrizo citrange and Swingle citrumelo in order to accelerate their development inside of a protected structure. The treatments were: Promix + sand (control) (1:1), Promix + sand + coco peat (1:1:1), Promix + sand + coffee compost (1:1:1) and Promix + sand + rice husk (1:1:1). Two 18-6-2 fertilizer treatments were also evaluated: 5.6 g and 8.5 g. The substrate that contained 33% rice husks negatively influenced every parameter evaluated for both rootstocks. Carrizo presented better development on the coffee compost mix, while Swingle did not exhibit significant differences among any substrates, except on rice husk, for most of the parameters. “Rhode Red Valencia” presented better results for dry weight when grafted on Carrizo with the coffee substrate. The rice husk substrate is not recommended for the citrus tree production at the nursery level.
Occupational Physical Activity Habits of UK Office Workers: Cross-Sectional Data from the Active Buildings Study
Authors: Smith Lee , Sawyer Alexia , Gardner Benjamin , Seppala Katri , Ucci Marcella , Marmot Alexi , Lally Pippa , Fisher Abi
Published: June 2018

Habitual behaviours are learned responses that are triggered automatically by associated environmental cues. The unvarying nature of most workplace settings makes workplace physical activity a prime candidate for a habitual behaviour, yet the role of habit strength in occupational physical activity has not been investigated. Aims of the present study were to: (i) document occupational physical activity habit strength; and (ii) investigate associations between occupational activity habit strength and occupational physical activity levels. A sample of UK office-based workers (n = 116; 53% female, median age 40 years, SD 10.52) was fitted with activPAL accelerometers worn for 24 h on five consecutive days, providing an objective measure of occupational step counts, stepping time, sitting time, standing time and sit-to-stand transitions. A self-report index measured the automaticity of two occupational physical activities (“being active” (e.g., walking to printers and coffee machines) and “stair climbing”). Adjusted linear regression models investigated the association between occupational activity habit strength and objectively-measured occupational step counts, stepping time, sitting time, standing time and sit-to-stand transitions. Eighty-one per cent of the sample reported habits for “being active”, and 62% reported habits for “stair climbing”. In adjusted models, reported habit strength for “being active” were positively associated with average occupational sit-to-stand transitions per hour (B = 0.340, 95% CI: 0.053 to 0.627, p = 0.021). “Stair climbing” habit strength was unexpectedly negatively associated with average hourly stepping time (B = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.01 to −0.00, p = 0.006) and average hourly occupational step count (B = −38.34, 95% CI: −72.81 to −3.88, p = 0.030), which may reflect that people with stronger stair-climbing habits compensate by walking fewer steps overall. Results suggest that stair-climbing and office-based occupational activity can be habitual. Interventions might fruitfully promote habitual workplace activity, although, in light of potential compensation effects, such interventions should perhaps focus on promoting moderate-intensity activity.
Measuring the Impact of Environment on the Health of Large Cities
Authors: Stauber Christine , Adams Ellis A. , Rothenberg Richard , Dai Dajun , Luo Ruiyan , Weaver Scott R. , Prasad Amit , Kano Megumi , Heath John
Published: June 2018

The relative significance of indicators and determinants of health is important for local public health workers and planners. Of similar importance is a method for combining and evaluating such markers. We used a recently developed index, the Urban Health Index (UHI), to examine the impact of environmental variables on the overall health of cities. We used the UHI to rank 57 of the world’s largest cities (based on population size) in low- and middle-income countries. We examined nine variables in various combinations that were available from the Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in these countries. When arranged in ascending order, the distribution of UHIs follows the previously described pattern of gradual linear increase, with departures at each tail. The rank order of cities did not change materially with the omission of variables about women’s health knowledge or childhood vaccinations. Omission of environmental variables (a central water supply piped into homes, improved sanitation, and indoor solid fuel use) altered the rank order considerably. The data suggest that environmental indicators, measures of key household level risk to health, may play a vital role in the overall health of urban communities.
Effect of Montmorillonite on 4-Nonylphenol Enrichment in Zebrafish
Authors: Qian Kun , Jiang Xiaofeng , Sun Laiyu , Zhou Guoqing , Ge Haixia , Fang Xinqiang , Xiao Li , Wu Qiong
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of montmorillonite on nonylphenol (4-nonylphenol, 4-NP) enrichment in a zebrafish model. The AB strain zebrafish were used as the animal subjects, and three concentration gradients were set for both nonylphenol and montmorillonite, according to their actual concentrations in aquaculture water in Huzhou City. A group treated with nonylphenol alone was also set, adding up to 12 experimental groups. Concentrations of nonylphenol enriched in the liver, muscle and gills of zebrafish were detected by solid phase microextraction–high performance liquid chromatography at Days 7, 15 and 30, respectively. Additionally, the relative enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the glutathione S-transferase (GST) were also detected, and the data were statistically analyzed. The results showed that the concentrations of nonylphenol in zebrafish peaked at Day 7 and gradually decreased afterwards for all the experimental groups. The montmorillonite reduces short-term accumulation of nonylphenol in gills, and the high concentration of nonylphenol facilitates its enrichment in liver and muscle, while the low concentration of nonylphenol does not. Meanwhile, the low concentration of nonylphenol in liver exerts an influence on the inductive effect of SOD and GST, while the high concentration of nonylphenol shows the inhibiting effect of SOD and GST.
Changes in Risk Perception of the Health Effects of Radiation and Mental Health Status: The Fukushima Health Management Survey
Authors: Suzuki Yuriko , Takebayashi Yoshitake , Yasumura Seiji , Murakami Michio , Harigane Mayumi , Yabe Hirooki , Ohira Tetsuya , Ohtsuru Akira , Nakajima Satomi , Maeda Masaharu
Published: June 2018

After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, numerous evacuees reported poor mental health status and high-risk perceptions of the health effects of radiation. However, the temporal associations between these variables have not yet been examined. Using data from the Fukushima Health Survey, we examined changes in risk perception of the health effects of radiation over time and assessed the effects of mental health on such changes using logistic regression analysis. Risk perception for delayed effect pertains a brief on health effect in later life (delayed effect), whereas that of genetic effect pertains a brief on health effect of future children and grandchildren (genetic effect). We found that many participants showed consistently high or low-risk perceptions over all three study years (2011–2013) (for delayed effect: 59% and 41% of participants were in the low and high-risk perception groups, respectively; for genetic effect: 47% and 53%, respectively). Stronger traumatic reactions (≥50 on the PTSD Checklist–Specific) significantly affected the odds of being in the high-risk perception group for the delayed and genetic effects, with the associations being strongest soon after the disaster: The adjusted ORs (95%CIs) were 2.05 (1.82–2.31), 1.86 (1.61–2.15), and 1.88 (1.62–2.17) for the delayed effect in 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively, and 2.18 (1.92–2.48), 2.05 (1.75–2.40), and 1.82 (1.55–2.15) for the genetic effect. As initial mental health status had the strongest impact on later risk perceptions of radiation, it should be considered in early response and communication efforts.
Heavy Metals’ Effect on Susceptibility to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Implication of Lead, Cadmium, and Antimony
Authors: Lee Min-Jing , Chou Miao-Chun , Chou Wen-Jiun , Huang Chien-Wei , Kuo Ho-Chang , Lee Sheng-Yu , Wang Liang-Jen
Published: June 2018

Background: Heavy metals are known to be harmful for neurodevelopment and they may correlate to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we aim to explore the relationships between multiple heavy metals (manganese, lead, cadmium, mercury, antimony, and bismuth), neurocognitive function, and ADHD symptoms. Methods: We recruited 29 patients with ADHD inattentive type (ADHD-I), 47 patients with ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity type (ADHD-H/I), and 46 healthy control children. Urine samples were obtained to measure the levels of the aforementioned heavy metals in each child. Participants’ cognitive function and clinical symptoms were assessed, respectively. Results: We found ADHD-H/I patients demonstrated the highest antimony levels (p = 0.028), and ADHD-I patients demonstrated the highest cadmium levels (p = 0.034). Antimony levels were positively correlated with the severity of ADHD symptoms that were rated by teachers, and cadmium levels were negatively correlated with the Full Scale Intelligence Quotient. Lead levels were negatively correlated with most indices of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), but positively correlated with inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Lead, cadmium and antimony were associated with susceptibility to ADHD and symptom severity in school-age children. Eliminating exposure to heavy metals may help to prevent neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
Measuring the Impacts of Water Safety Plans in the Asia-Pacific Region
Authors: Kumpel Emily , Delaire Caroline , Peletz Rachel , Kisiangani Joyce , Rinehold Angella , De France Jennifer , Sutherland David , Khush Ranjiv
Published: June 2018

This study investigated the effectiveness of Water Safety Plans (WSP) implemented in 99 water supply systems across 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. An impact assessment methodology including 36 indicators was developed based on a conceptual framework proposed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and before/after data were collected between November 2014 and June 2016. WSPs were associated with infrastructure improvements at the vast majority (82) of participating sites and to increased financial support at 37 sites. In addition, significant changes were observed in operations and management practices, number of water safety-related meetings, unaccounted-for water, water quality testing activities, and monitoring of consumer satisfaction. However, the study also revealed challenges in the implementation of WSPs, including financial constraints and insufficient capacity. Finally, this study provided an opportunity to test the impact assessment methodology itself, and a series of recommendations are made to improve the approach (indicators, study design, data collection methods) for evaluating WSPs.
Effect of Time and Mixing in Thermal Pretreatment on Faecal Indicator Bacteria Inactivation
Authors: Yin Fubin , Dong Hongmin , Shang Bin , Zhang Wanqin
Published: June 2018

Faecal indicator bacteria of faecal coliform, Salmonella spp., and faecal Streptococcus are present at high levels in faecal sludge and affect human health. Mesophilic anaerobic digestion cannot reduce faecal indicator bacteria to meet the standards for biosolids; therefore, the thermal pretreatment of faecal sludge is essential. The main objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of thermal (70 °C) pretreatment time (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 min) and mixing velocity gradient (no mixing, 133, 191, and 238 s−1) on faecal indicator bacteria inactivation and determine the kinetics of the inactivation. The results showed that mixing has a more positive effect on pretreatment; thermal pretreatment with mixing was able to completely inactivate faecal indicator bacteria within 80 min, and inactivation followed first-order kinetics. In addition, under optimal mixing at a velocity gradient 191 s−1, the thermal pretreatment with mixing had a positive effect on the sludge solubilisation. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD, 71,430 mg L−1) and soluble protein (7.96 g L−1) were higher than the values obtained with thermal pretreatment without mixing, which were a SCOD value of 63,600 mg L−1 and soluble protein of 6.78 g L−1.
Adherence to European Clinical Practice Guidelines for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Cohort Study
Authors: Pepió Vilaubí Josep , Orozco-Beltrán Domingo , Gonçalves Alessandra , Rodriguez Cumplido Dolors , Aguilar Martin Carina , Lopez-Pineda Adriana , Gil-Guillen Vicente , Quesada Jose , Carratala-Munuera Concepcion
Published: June 2018

To provide a better understanding of the actions taken within health systems and their results, this study aims to assess clinicians’ adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding recommended treatments in patients with cardiovascular disease in primary care settings, and to determine the associated factors. We conducted an ambispective cohort study in 21 primary care centres in 8 Spanish regions. Patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke and/or peripheral arterial disease were included. Patients who received the treatment recommended in the European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention (CPG’s adherent group) were compared with patients who did not (CPG’s non-adherent group). The outcome variables were cardiovascular hospital admissions, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality during follow-up. Of the 438 participants, 38.6% (n = 169) received the drug therapies recommended in the guidelines. The factors that increased the likelihood of good adherence to CPG’s were being diagnosed with hypertension (p = 0.001), dyslipidaemia (p < 0.001) or diabetes (p = 0.001), and not having a psychiatric disorder (p = 0.005). We found no statistically significant association between good adherence to CPG’s and lower incidence of events (p = 0.853). Clinician adherence to guidelines for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease was low in the primary care setting.
The Impact of the Nitric Oxide (NO)/Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC) Signaling Cascade on Kidney Health and Disease: A Preclinical Perspective
Authors: Krishnan Shalini , Kraehling Jan , Eitner Frank , Bénardeau Agnès , Sandner Peter
Published: June 2018

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a highly prevalent disease with a substantial medical need for new and more efficacious treatments. The Nitric Oxide (NO), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling cascade regulates various kidney functions. cGMP directly influences renal blood flow, renin secretion, glomerular function, and tubular exchange processes. Downregulation of NO/sGC/cGMP signaling results in severe kidney pathologies such as CKD. Therefore, treatment strategies aiming to maintain or increase cGMP might have beneficial effects for the treatment of progressive kidney diseases. Within this article, we review the NO/sGC/cGMP signaling cascade and its major pharmacological intervention sites. We specifically focus on the currently known effects of cGMP on kidney function parameters. Finally, we summarize the preclinical evidence for kidney protective effects of NO-donors, PDE inhibitors, sGC stimulators, and sGC activators.
Effect of Different Preconditioning Regimens on the Expression Profile of Murine Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells
Authors: Baer Patrick C. , Overath Jürgen M. , Urbschat Anja , Schubert Ralf , Koch Benjamin , Bohn Asanke A. , Geiger Helmut
Published: June 2018

Stem cell-based therapies require cells with a maximum regenerative capacity in order to support regeneration after tissue injury and organ failure. Optimization of this regenerative potential of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) or their conditioned medium by in vitro preconditioning regimens are considered to be a promising strategy to improve the release of regenerative factors. In the present study, MSC were isolated from inguinal adipose tissue (mASC) from C57BL/6 mice, cultured, and characterized. Then, mASC were either preconditioned by incubation in a hypoxic environment (0.5% O2), or in normoxia in the presence of murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) or tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) for 48 h. Protein expression was measured by a commercially available array. Selected factors were verified by PCR analysis. The expression of 83 out of 308 proteins (26.9%) assayed was found to be increased after preconditioning with TNFα, whereas the expression of 61 (19.8%) and 70 (22.7%) proteins was increased after incubation with EGF or in hypoxia, respectively. Furthermore, we showed the proliferation-promoting effects of the preconditioned culture supernatants on injured epithelial cells in vitro. Our findings indicate that each preconditioning regimen tested induced an individual expression profile with a wide variety of factors, including several growth factors and cytokines, and therefore may enhance the regenerative potential of mASC for cell-based therapies.