bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consciência Estética e Ética de Mário de Andrade
Authors: Mattar Joao
Published: June 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é reconstruir e discutir as reflexões estéticas e éticas do escritor modernista brasileiro Mário de Andrade, procurando demonstrar a riqueza de sua visão. A leitura de alguns de seus poemas e textos críticos, especialmente Prefácio Interessantíssimo e A escrava que não é Isaura, é cotejada com poemas e reflexões de outros escritores, além de alguns estudiosos da sua obra, como João Luiz Lafetá. Inicialmente é explorada a equação “lirismo + arte = poesia”, visitada por Mário de Andrade por diversas perspectivas, resultando na proposta de variantes. Em seguida, observamos as angústias do escritor em relação às opções de participação política dos artistas, especialmente os modernistas brasileiros. O artigo conclui que, em sua obra poética, Mário de Andrade concretizou as propostas de sua reflexão crítica.
Análise da percepção ambiental de estudantes sobre a Baía de Guanabara através de desenhos
Authors: Gonzalez Ana Helena , Rocha Marcelo Borges
Published: June 2019

Considerando a demanda por ações que fortaleçam atitudes em prol da recuperação da Baía de Guanabara (BG), faz-se necessário compreender as percepções que os moradores do seu entorno possuem acerca desse ambiente, para, então, pensar em intervenções e processos em educação ambiental. Assim, o estudo teve como objetivo analisar a percepção ambiental de estudantes sobre a BG utilizando como estratégia metodológica os desenhos produzidos por eles. A pesquisa foi realizada com 19 alunos do 7º ano do ensino fundamental II de uma escola situada na Ilha do Governador. Os desenhos foram analisados através dos princípios da Análise de Conteúdo. Os resultados demonstram que os alunos percebem o ambiente em seus aspectos naturais e humanos, e, apesar de reconhecerem a BG como um ambiente marinho, também fizeram referência ao município em que vivem ao representar elementos urbanos, o que demonstra que, para eles, a cidade também faz parte do cenário da BG. Também foi evidenciada a relação da BG com um ambiente poluído. Dessa forma, as relações traçadas pelos alunos com um ambiente impactado pela ação antrópica demonstra que a poluição e a degradação permeiam fortemente o imaginário dos estudantes investigados em relação a esse espaço.
Artigo 8º, Inciso IX da Lei Maria da Penha: utopia ou uma real possibilidade de aplicação no contexto escolar?
Authors: Albuquerque Anaquel Gonçalves
Published: June 2019

O presente artigo tem por objetivo discutir sobre a efetividade do artigo 8º, inciso IX da Lei Maria da Penha, que ressalta “o destaque, nos currículos escolares de todos os níveis de ensino, para os conteúdos relativos aos direitos humanos, à eqüidade de gênero e de raça ou etnia e ao problema da violência doméstica e familiar contra a mulher.” (Brasil, 2006) Esta abordagem se deu por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, expressando ser de grande relevância em razão dos crescentes casos de violência de gênero em todo o país, ratificando a necessidade de repensar soluções para o problema apresentado. Face a tais questões, conclui-se que apesar de toda evolução social e jurídica no que se refere à criação de mecanismos para coibir a violência de gênero, ainda são notórias as lacunas que impedem uma maior efetividade quanto à aplicação do artigo 8º, inciso IX da Lei Maria da Penha nas escolas, sendo necessárias ações mais precisas por parte do poder público.
Ensino Médio Técnico: As Concepções de avaliação da aprendizagem dos professores do Campus São Vicente
Authors: Lima Silvia Diamantino Ferreira de , Carvalho Edione Teixeira de
Published: June 2019

Este artigo tem como objetivo socializar os resultados de uma investigação cientifica denominada: As concepções sobre avaliação da aprendizagem dos professores que atuam no Ensino Médio no Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso - IFMT, Câmpus São Vicente. A relevância da temática é presumida pois, a avaliação escolar impacta no processo de ensino aprendizagem, sendo o meio de definir o sucesso ou o fracasso do estudante. Preconiza-se que nas concepções sobre avaliação da aprendizagem ou avaliação escolar, duas lógicas evidenciam-se: Avaliação Classificatória e a Avaliação Formativa. Apresenta-se neste cenário uma contextualização desta dualidade e situa o objeto desta investigação frente aos antecedentes teóricos sobre avaliação da aprendizagem Allal (1986), Villas Boas (2014), Luckesi (2002, 2011) Hoffmann (2014), Perrenoud (1998) e Vasconcellos (2007). A investigação científica envolveu estudos de abordagem qualitativa da pesquisa com ênfase na triangulação para produção dos dados, assumindo um caráter interpretativo de categorização destes dados frente ao cenário e panorama da instituição loco deste estudo. Optou-se por entrevistas com os docentes, para as quais utilizou-se um roteiro que norteou o diálogo. Também foram investigados 25 estudantes do curso, matriculados no terceiro ano do Ensino Médio. As questões aqui levantadas contribuíram para um diagnóstico mais claro sobre os fatores que evidenciam o êxito do processo de ensino aprendizagem, além de ampliar o debate sobre como garantir o direito à aprendizagem e à manutenção dos recursos físicos e humanos, garantindo uma educação eficiente e transformadora.
Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy and healing with cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive after periodontal flap surgery
Authors: Mahajani Aditi , K.B Menaka , Ahmed Jagirdar Sayed Asem , Vagrali Manjula , Metgud Renuka , Kaderi Murtaza
Published: June 2019

Surgical pocket therapy entails raising a mucoperiosteal flap in order to carry out effective debridement so as to eliminate periodontal pockets and result in a healthy periodontium. Braided silk is the most commonly used suture material following periodontal flap surgery. Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives are slowly gaining popularity as wound closure agents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antibacterial and healing properties of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives following periodontal flap surgery.

METHODS: Patients undergoing full mouth periodontal flap surgery were randomly selected for placement of cyanoacrylates or silk sutures using split mouth study design. Wound healing was evaluated at 1 week using Early Wound Healing Index. Supragingival pooled plaque samples were collected for analysis of total bacterial count at 1week follow up using lawn cultures in blood agar. Pain and burning sensation with cyanoacrylates during and post surgery was recorded using a questionnaire.

RESULTS: Silk sutures showed improved wound healing when compared with cyanoacrylates. However, use of cyanoacrylates resulted in reduced bacterial colony counts thereby exhibiting antibacterial properties. Enhanced patient compliance was noted with cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives.

SIGNIFICANCE: Cyanoacrylates can be used as an alternative to silk sutures for periodontal wound closure.

KEY WORDS: Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive, silk sutures, antibacterial efficacy, wound healing
“Minimum invasive procedure for mandibular impacted third molar tooth
(mipmit)-a study to prevent incision and soft tissue handling.”
Authors: Nikam Vishwaraj
Published: June 2019

Management of impacted mandibular third molars with surgical removal is a very common procedure in day-today- practicein whichever Wards or Modified Wards the incisions are performed. In some cases Envelope Flap and other such types of flaps are commonly performed. Incision, reflection of flap, osteotomy, suturing are the normal protocols which give more tissue handling, more trauma to tissue and discomfort to the patient. It also causes swelling and pain. This surgical procedure is needed in deeply seated impacted mandibular third molar tooth. But we observed in some cases of impaction, which werenot deeply seated, half or more than half the crown was clinically visible in the oral cavity. In such cases, we can modify the technique and remove this third molar with minimum invasive conservative approach. From this observation, we modified the technique for surgical removal of partially erupted third molar and inset to avoid incision and bone cutting. This paper suggests management of partially erupted mandibular third molar tooth with minimum invasive technique or conservative approach. We observed, minimum invasive procedures were causing less post-operative complications and it definitely reduces the time to perform the procedure. The prevention of incision with conservative approach is discussed in thirty patients. The purpose of this article is to present the cases that led to this observation, and present the technique modification in design and execution that we have used.[1-5]
Biochar Effects on Mineral Nitrogen Leaching, Moisture Content, and Evapotranspiration after 15N Urea Fertilization for Vegetable Crop
Authors: Ahmed Rasheed , Li Yuzhong , Mao Lili , Xu Chunying , Lin Wei , Ahmed Shakeel , Ahmed Waseem
Published: June 2019

Globally, mineral nitrogen (N) losses as nitrate leaching (NL) are a substantial portion of applied fertilizer and cause surface and sub-surface water contamination. To precisely measure NL and its interlink parameters, biochar soil amendment was tested in this study. Three treatments—biochar (BC), without biochar (WB) with 15N urea (300 kg/ha), and control (no fertilization)—were tested in soil-filled lysimeters (circular PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) tank of 30 cm diameter and 35 cm height) equipped with moisture content sensors and weighing assembly for the consecutive two cropping of Brassica Camprestis Var. Chinensis. The 15N-urea in the first season and the poultry manure in the second season were applied, but the fate of the 15N was examined in leachate, dry matter, and soil. As compared to WB, BC significantly decreased mineral N leaching, including nitrate levels (35%), increased electrical conductivity (68.5%), and water availability (20% inches per foot), while there was a non-significant increase in biomass per plant (2.84%), evapotranspiration (8.33%), dry matter (6.89%), and a decrease in mean leachate volume (7.63%). Moreover, BC accumulated values were higher than WB, as N uptake (38%), water use efficiency (12.24%), maximum fresh weight (11.4%), and soil N retained (185%) after cropping. The soil pH, the bulk density, and the total nitrogen were changed but presented non-significant differences. Therefore, biochar can increase soil N retention and available water to improve water use efficiency and decrease potential N leaching.
Distance from Night Penning Areas as an Effective Proxy to Estimate Site Use Intensity by Grazing Sheep in the Alps
Authors: Ravetto Enri Simone , Gorlier Alessandra , Nota Ginevra , Pittarello Marco , Lombardi Giampiero , Lonati Michele
Published: June 2019

Livestock site use intensity can vary widely across a grazing area due to several factors such as topography and distance from sheds and water sources. However, an accurate approximation of animal site use should be assessed for each part of the grazing area to apply effective management strategies. In the Alps, shepherds manage sheep through lenient supervision during the day and confining the animals in temporary night penning areas (TNPA) at night. In our case study, we assessed sheep site use over the grazing area with global positioning system (GPS) collars and calculated the sums of inverse distances from all TNPA (unweighted and weighted on the number of penning nights) and from all water sources, as well as the slope, on 118 sample points. We assessed the relative importance of these variables in affecting site use intensity by animals using different sets of models. Both the unweighted and weighted distances from TNPA were found to be the most important factors. The best fitting model accounted for the weighted distance from TNPA and the distance from water, but the latter showed a lower relative importance. Our study suggests that using the distance from TNPA, preferably weighted on the number of penning nights, is an effective proxy to estimate the spatial variability of sheep stocking rate during grazing in the Alps.
Apple Pomace Extract as a Sustainable Food Ingredient
Authors: Fernandes Pedro A. R. , Ferreira Sónia S. , Bastos Rita , Ferreira Isabel , Cruz Maria T. , Pinto António , Coelho Elisabete , Passos Cláudia P. , Coimbra Manuel A. , Cardoso Susana M. , Wessel Dulcineia F.
Published: June 2019

Apple pomace is a by-product of apple processing industries with low value and thus frequent disposal, although with valuable compounds. Acidified hot water extraction has been suggested as a clean, feasible, and easy approach for the recovery of polyphenols. This type of extraction allowed us to obtain 296 g of extract per kg of dry apple pomace, including 3.3 g of polyphenols and 281 g of carbohydrates. Ultrafiltration and solid-phase extraction using C18 cartridges of the hot water extract suggested that, in addition to the apple native polyphenols detected by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector and mass spectrometry UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn, polyphenols could also be present as complexes with carbohydrates. For the water-soluble polyphenols, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were observed by inhibiting chemically generated hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and nitrogen monoxide radicals (NO•) produced in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. The water-soluble polyphenols, when incorporated into yogurt formulations, were not affected by fermentation and improved the antioxidant properties of the final product. This in vitro research paves the way for agro-food industries to achieve more diversified and sustainable solutions towards their main by-products.
Oxygen Vacancy Enhanced Photoreduction Cr(VI) on Few-Layers BiOBr Nanosheets
Authors: Peng Yin , Kan Pengfei , Zhang Qian , Zhou Yinghua
Published: June 2019

2D nanomaterials, with unique structural and electronic features, had been demonstrated as excellent photocatalysts, whose catalytic properties could be tunable with surface defect engineering. In this work, few-layer BiOBr nanosheets with oxygen vacancies (BiOBr-Ov) have been fabricated by a simple solvothermal reaction with the help of ethylene glycol. The obtained BiOBr-Ov exhibited the superior photocatalytic performance with a complete reduction of Cr(VI) (20 mg/L) within 12 min by visible light irradiation. Moreover, Cr(VI) with a high concentration (such as 30 mg/L) only requires 2 min to be photoreduced completely under solar light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance is contributed to the existence of oxygen vacancies. It has been proved by the results of electrochemical impedance and photocurrent that oxygen vacancies can effectively suppress recombination of photogenerated carriers.
Functionally Significant Features in the 5′ Untranslated Region of the ABCA1 Gene and Their Comparison in Vertebrates
Authors: Dvorak Pavel , Leupen Sarah , Soucek Pavel
Published: June 2019

Single nucleotide polymorphisms located in 5′ untranslated regions (5′UTRs) can regulate gene expression and have clinical impact. Recognition of functionally significant sequences within 5′UTRs is crucial in next-generation sequencing applications. Furthermore, information about the behavior of 5′UTRs during gene evolution is scarce. Using the example of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene (Tangier disease), we describe our algorithm for functionally significant sequence finding. 5′UTR features (upstream start and stop codons, open reading frames (ORFs), GC content, motifs, and secondary structures) were studied using freely available bioinformatics tools in 55 vertebrate orthologous genes obtained from Ensembl and UCSC. The most conserved sequences were suggested as hot spots. Exon and intron enhancers and silencers (sc35, ighg2 cgamma2, ctnt, gh-1, and fibronectin eda exon), transcription factors (TFIIA, TATA, NFAT1, NFAT4, and HOXA13), some of them cancer related, and microRNA (hsa-miR-4474-3p) were localized to these regions. An upstream ORF, overlapping with the main ORF in primates and possibly coding for a small bioactive peptide, was also detected. Moreover, we showed several features of 5′UTRs, such as GC content variation, hairpin structure conservation or 5′UTR segmentation, which are interesting from a phylogenetic point of view and can stimulate further evolutionary oriented research.
The Ionic Liquid Property Explorer: An Extensive Library of Task-Specific Solvents
Authors: Venkatraman Vishwesh , Evjen Sigvart , Chellappan Lethesh Kallidanthiyil
Published: June 2019

Ionic liquids have a broad spectrum of applications ranging from gas separation to sensors and pharmaceuticals. Rational selection of the constituent ions is key to achieving tailor-made materials with functional properties. To facilitate the discovery of new ionic liquids for sustainable applications, we have created a virtual library of over 8 million synthetically feasible ionic liquids. Each structure has been evaluated for their-task suitability using data-driven statistical models calculated for 12 highly relevant properties: melting point, thermal decomposition, glass transition, heat capacity, viscosity, density, cytotoxicity, CO 2 solubility, surface tension, and electrical and thermal conductivity. For comparison, values of six properties computed using quantum chemistry based equilibrium thermodynamics COSMO-RS methods are also provided. We believe the data set will be useful for future efforts directed towards targeted synthesis and optimization.
The Technological Progress of the Fuel Consumption Rate for Passenger Vehicles in China: 2009–2016
Authors: Zheng Jihu , Yu Rujie , Liu Yong , Zou Yuhong , Zhao Dongchang
Published: June 2019

China has set stringent fuel consumption rate (FCR) targets to address the serious environmental and energy security problems caused by vehicles. Estimating the technological progress and tradeoffs between FCR and vehicle attributes is important for assessing the viability of meeting future targets. In this paper, we explored the relationship between vehicle FCR and other attributes using a regression model with data from 2009–2016. We also quantified the difference in the tradeoff between local and joint venture brands. The result showed that from 2009 to 2016, if power and curb mass were held constant, 2.3% and 2.9% annual technological progress should have been achieved for local and joint venture brands, respectively. The effectiveness of fuel-efficient technologies for joint venture brands is generally better than that of local brands. Impacts of other attributes on FCR were also assessed. The joint venture brands made more technological progress with FCR improvement than that of local brands. Even if 100% of technological progress (assume the technological progress in the future were the same as that of 2009–2016) investment were used to improve actual FCR after 2016, it would be difficult to meet 2020 target. Accelerating the adoption of fuel-efficient technologies, and controlling weight and performance, are both needed to achieve the 2020 and 2025 targets.
Design of Diamond Power Devices: Application to Schottky Barrier Diodes
Authors: Rouger Nicolas , Maréchal Aurélien
Published: June 2019

Owing to its outstanding electro-thermal properties, such as the highest thermal conductivity (22 W/(cm∙K) at room temperature), high hole mobility (2000 cm2/(V∙s)), high critical electric field (10 MV/cm) and large band gap (5.5 eV), diamond represents the ultimate semiconductor for high power and high temperature power applications. Diamond Schottky barrier diodes are good candidates for short-term implementation in power converters due to their relative maturity. Nonetheless, diamond as a semiconductor for power devices leads to specificities such as incomplete dopant ionization at room temperature and above, and the limited availability of implantation techniques. This article presents such specificities and their impacts on the optimal design of diamond Schottky barrier diodes. First, the tradeoff between ON-state and OFF-state is discussed based on 1D analytical models. Then, 2D numerical studies show the optimal design of floating metal rings to improve the effective breakdown voltage. Both analyses show that the doping of the drift region must be reduced to reduce leakage currents and to increase edge termination efficiency, leading to better figures of merit. The obtained improvements in breakdown voltage are compared with fabrication challenges and the impacts on forward voltage drop.
Luminaire Digital Design Flow with Multi-Domain Digital Twins of LEDs
Authors: Martin Genevieve , Marty Christophe , Bornoff Robin , Poppe Andras , Onushkin Grigory , Rencz Marta , Yu Joan
Published: June 2019

At present, when designing a Light Emitting Diode (LED) luminaire, different strategies of development are followed depending on the size of the company. Since on LED datasheets there is only limited information provided, companies designing LED luminaires spend a lot of effort gathering the required input of LED details to be able to design reliable products. Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) do not have the bandwidth to gather such input and solely rely on empirical approaches leading to approximated luminaire designs, while larger companies use advanced hardware and software tools to characterize parts, design versions, and finally optimize all design steps. In both cases, considerable time and money is spent on prototyping, sampling, and laboratory testing. Digitalization of the complete product development (also known as Industry 4.0 approach) at all integration levels of the solid state lighting (SSL) supply chain would provide the remedy for these pains. The Delphi4LED European project aimed at developing multi-domain compact models of LED (for a consistent, combined description of electronic, thermal, and optical properties of LEDs) as digital twins of the physical products to support virtual prototyping during the design of luminaires. This paper provides an overview of the Delphi4LED approach aimed at supporting new, completely digital workflows both for SMEs and larger companies (Majors) along with some comparison with the traditional luminaire design. Two demonstration experiments are described: One to show the achievable benefits of the approach and another one to demonstrate the ease of use and ability to be accommodated in a larger scale product design for assessing design choices like e.g., number and type of LEDs versus electrical/thermal conditions and constraints, in a tool agnostic manner.
Effectiveness of Selected Neural Network Structures Based on Axial Flux Analysis in Stator and Rotor Winding Incipient Fault Detection of Inverter-fed Induction Motors
Authors: Skowron Maciej , Wolkiewicz Marcin , Orlowska-Kowalska Teresa , Kowalski Czeslaw T.
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a comparative study on the application of different neural network structures to early detection of electrical faults in induction motor drives. The diagnosis inference of the stator inter-turn short-circuits and broken rotor bars is based on the analysis of an axial flux of the induction motor. In order to automate the fault detection process, three different structures of neural networks were used: multi-layer perceptron, self-organizing Kohonen network and recursive Hopfield network. Tests were carried out for various levels of stator and rotor failures. In order to assess the sensitivity of the applied neural detectors, the tests were carried out for variable load conditions and for different values of the supply voltage frequency. Experimental results of the elaborated neural detectors are presented and discussed.
Tailoring Ni and Sr2Mg0.25Ni0.75MoO6−δ Cermet Compositions for Designing the Fuel Electrodes of Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells
Authors: Skutina Lubov S. , Vylkov Aleksey A. , Kuznetsov Dmitry K. , Medvedev Dmitry A. , Shur Vladimir Ya.
Published: June 2019

The design of new electrode materials for solid oxide electrochemical cells, which are stable against redox processes as well as exhibiting carbon/sulphur tolerance and high electronic conductivity, is a matter of considerable current interest as a means of overcoming the disadvantages of traditional Ni-containing cermets. In the present work, composite materials having the general formula (1−x)Sr2Mg0.25Ni0.75MoO6−δ + xNiO (where x = 0, 15, 30, 50, 70 and 85 mol.%) were successfully prepared to be utilised in solid oxide fuel cells. A detailed investigation of the thermal, electrical, and microstructural properties of these composites, along with their phase stability in oxidising and reducing atmospheres, was carried out. While possessing low thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) values, the composites having low Ni content (15 mol.%–70 mol.%) did not satisfy the requirement of high electronic conductivity. Conversely, the 15Sr2Mg0.25Ni0.75MoO6−δ + 85NiO samples demonstrated very high electrical conductivity (489 S sm−1 at 850 °C in wet H2) due to well-developed Ni-based networks, and no deterioration of thermal properties (TEC values of 15.4 × 10−6 K−1 in air and 14.5 × 10−6 K−1 in 50%H2/Ar; linear expansion behaviour in both atmospheres). Therefore, this material has potential for use as a component of a fuel cell electrode system.
Assessment of Diatom Assemblages in Close Proximity to Mining Activities in Nunavik, Northern Quebec (Canada)
Authors: Lavoie Isabelle , Morin Soizic , Laderriere Vincent , Paris Louise-Emmanuelle , Fortin Claude
Published: June 2019

Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada) is experiencing a mining boom. While several studies have been conducted in the region in relation to climate change, the effects of mining have received much less attention. In this study, we explored the use of biofilms in natural streams as an indicator of potential stress on living organisms caused by metal contamination from nickel mining activities. More specifically, we assessed diatom assemblages and the presence of teratologies (morphologic abnormalities) as a response to metals in streams located in close proximity to mining sites. Metal concentrations (as well as other cations), anions and pH values varied markedly among stations. Different diatom assemblage structures (four biotypes, i.e., groups of samples with similar diatom species composition) were observed depending on the level and the type of contamination. The frequency of diatom teratologies was higher in metal contaminated sites. The present study lays the foundation for bioassessment of metal contamination in low Arctic streams using diatom-based approaches, and will serve as a point in time reference for future evaluation of ecosystems degradation or recovery in Nunavik.
Dynamic Oral Texture Properties of Selected Indigenous Complementary Porridges Used in African Communities
Authors: Makame James , Cronje Tanita , Emmambux Naushad M. , De Kock Henriette
Published: June 2019

Child malnutrition remains a major public health problem in low-income African communities, caused by factors including the low nutritional value of indigenous/local complementary porridges (CP) fed to infants and young children. Most African children subsist on locally available starchy foods, whose oral texture is not well-characterized in relation to their sensorimotor readiness. The sensory quality of CP affects oral processing (OP) abilities in infants and young children. Unsuitable oral texture limits nutrient intake, leading to protein-energy malnutrition. The perception of the oral texture of selected African CPs (n = 13, Maize, Sorghum, Cassava, Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), Cowpea, and Bambara) was investigated by a trained temporal-check-all-that-apply (TCATA) panel (n = 10), alongside selected commercial porridges (n = 19). A simulated OP method (Up-Down mouth movements- munching) and a control method (lateral mouth movements- normal adult-like chewing) were used. TCATA results showed that Maize, Cassava, and Sorghum porridges were initially too thick, sticky, slimy, and pasty, and also at the end not easy to swallow even at low solids content—especially by the Up-Down method. These attributes make CPs difficult to ingest for infants given their limited OP abilities, thus, leading to limited nutrient intake, and this can contribute to malnutrition. Methods to improve the texture properties of indigenous CPs are needed to optimize infant nutrient intake.
Lipids and Fatty Acids in Italian Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Cultivars
Authors: Narducci Valentina , Finotti Enrico , Galli Vincenzo , Carcea Marina
Published: June 2019

The level of variation in lipids and their fatty acids was determined in the grains of 10 popular durum wheat cultivars commercially grown in Central and Southern Italy. Samples were harvested for two consecutive years to account for differences due to changes in climatic conditions. Total fat content was determined by means of the International Association of Cereal Science and Technology (ICC) Standard Method No. 136, whereas the fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography. Total lipid content ranged from 2.97% to 3.54% dry basis (d.b.) in the year 2010 and from 3.10% to 3.50% d.b. in the year 2011, and the average value was 3.22% d.b. considering both years together. Six main fatty acids were detected in all samples in order of decreasing amounts: linoleic (C18:2) > palmitic (C16:0) ≈ oleic (C18:1) > linolenic (C18:3) > stearic (C18:0) > palmitoleic (C16:1). Significant variations in the levels of single acids between two years were observed for three samples. These results will be very useful in the updating of food composition databases in general and will help authorities to set proper quality standards for wholegrain flours and products where the germ should be preserved, considering also the recent interest of industry and consumers for these kinds of products.
First Generation Feminist? Auto-Ethnographic Reflections on Politicisation and Finding a Home within Feminism
Authors: Turbine Vikki
Published: June 2019

In spite of the apparent rise in feminism, who gets to know about feminism is still fraught and impartial. How then, do we come to find ‘a home’ in and for feminism when it has been absent from our formative politicisation? How comfortable is that home for working-class academics? In this paper, I reflect on my feminist genealogy—from growing up as a working-class girl in a small Scottish town in an area of deprivation to becoming a first generation feminist academic in a Russell Group University in the UK. This paper builds on the wealth of research exploring the trajectories of working-class women within academia by engaging genealogy research to explore how one develops as a feminist within academia—which can also be a strange place for first generation academics. As an undergraduate coming of age in the ‘post-feminist’ 1990s, access to the language and politics of feminism was beyond my grasp. I came to feminism relatively late in my life and academic career—it was in my doctoral research that I really became engaged academically and as a named political identity. I employ auto-ethnography in this paper and reflect on how our intimate others are always implicated in our own stories. This allows me to highlight how inherited experiences, memories, and embodiments are key. Intergenerational learning can make us implicitly feminist before we learn the formal language of feminism. The stories I choose to tell and ‘memories’ I invoke here are re-crafted and recalled in response to what frustrates me now. That young women are still telling the same stories that I tell here.
Association between Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use and Chronic Diseases in the Elderly
Authors: Wang Tzu-Chueh , Ku Pou-Jen , Lu Hai-Lin , Hsu Kung-Chuan , Trezise Damien , Wang Hue-Yu
Published: June 2019

Long-term continuous exposure to potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) can lead to adverse events in the elderly. However, the effects of long-term exposure of the elderly to PIM and the relationship between PIM and chronic diseases remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the continuous use of PIMs in a community-dwelling elderly population. A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted using community pharmacy–filed dispensing records from the Hcare system. Twenty-three community pharmacies were sampled from 2013 to 2015 to obtain records of patients above 65 years-old with continuous prescriptions. PIM were identified according to the 2015 Beers Criteria. The prevalence of patients using PIM was highest in patients with co-morbid mental disorders (40.05%), followed by neurological system disorders (28.91%). Patients who were prescribed a PIM were more than three times as likely to have a mental disorder as those (odds ratio 3.16, 95% confidence interval: 3.06–3.28) with non-chronic diseases. The most prescribed PIM agents were central nervous system drugs (53.16%), and benzodiazepines (35.15%). Patients with mental disorders had the highest rate of long-term persistent PIM exposure, with benzodiazepines being the most frequently dispensed. Drug safety concerns should be closely monitored in elderly patients with the abovementioned conditions.
Optimal Evacuation Strategy for Parking Lots Considering the Dynamic Background Traffic Flows
Authors: Mao Xinhua , Yuan Changwei , Gan Jiahua , Zhou Jibiao
Published: June 2019

An optimal evacuation strategy for parking lots can shorten evacuation times and reduce casualties and economic loss. However, the impact of dynamic background traffic flows in a road network on the evacuation plan is rarely taken into account in existing approaches. This research develops an optimal evacuation model with total evacuation time minimization by dividing the evacuation process in a parking lot into two periods. In the first period, a queuing theory is used to estimate the queuing time, and in the second period, a traffic flow equilibrium model and an intersection delay model are employed to simulate vehicles’ route choice. To deal with these models, a modified ant colony algorithm is developed. The results of a numerical example prove that the proposed method has an advantage in improving evacuation efficiency. The results also show that background traffic flows affect not only vehicles’ average queuing time in parking lots but also optimal evacuation route choice. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis indicates that the minimum threshold of headway time that allows vehicles out of a parking lot to merge into the background traffic flows on the roads connecting the exits has a great impact on average queuing time, average travel time, and total evacuation time.
Parental Socialization Styles: The Contribution of Paternal and Maternal Affect/Communication and Strictness to Family Socialization Style
Authors: Axpe Inge , Rodríguez-Fernández Arantzazu , Goñi Eider , Antonio-Agirre Iratxe
Published: June 2019

The aim of this study is two-fold: (a) to determine the general degree of family affect/communication and strictness by examining the combination of the two classical dimensions of mother parenting style: affect/communication and strictness, and (b) to analyze the impact of both parents’ affect and strictness on the family style, thereby exploring the specific contribution made by each parent’s style and dimension. Participants were 1190 Spanish students, 47.1% boys and 52.3% girls (M = 14.68; SD = 1.76). The Affect Scale (EA-H) and the Rules and Demandingness Scale (ENE-H) (both by Fuentes, Motrico, and Bersabé, 1999) were used. Structural equation models (SEMs) were extracted using the EQS program. The results reveal that it is not the father’s and the mother’s parenting style combined, but rather the combination of maternal and paternal affect/communication, and maternal and paternal strictness which generates one perception of family affect and another of family strictness. The results also indicated that the weight of both dimensions varies in accordance with the parent’s gender, with maternal dimensions playing a more important role in family socialization style.
Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Campylobacter Species Isolated from Paediatric Stool and Water Samples in the Northwest Province, South Africa
Authors: Chukwu Martina O. , Abia Akebe Luther King , Ubomba-Jaswa Eunice , Obi Lawrence , Dewar John Barr
Published: June 2019

Antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter could adversely affect treatment outcomes, especially in children. We investigated the antibiotic susceptibility profiles, virulence potentials and genetic relatedness of Campylobacter spp. from paediatric and water samples in the North West Province, South Africa. Overall, 237 human and 20 water isolates were identified using culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined using the disk diffusion method. Gradient strips were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of each antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance (gryA, tetO and 23S rRNA 2075G and 2074C) and virulence (cadF and ciaB) genes were also investigated using PCR. A phylogenetic tree to ascertain the clonality between water and clinical isolates was constructed using MEGA 7. Overall, 95% (water) and 64.7% (human) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic tested. The highest resistance was against clarithromycin (95%) for water and ampicillin (60.7%) for human isolates. The 23S rRNA 2075G/2074C mutation was the most expressed resistance gene. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed eight intermixed clades within water and human Campylobacter isolates. This study suggests the possible circulation of potentially pathogenic antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter in the Northwest Province, South Africa with drinking water being a possible vector for disease transmission in this area.
Identifying and Predicting the Geographical Distribution Patterns of Oncomelania hupensis
Authors: Niu Yingnan , Li Rendong , Qiu Juan , Xu Xingjian , Huang Duan , Shao Qihui , Cui Ying
Published: June 2019

Schistosomiasis is a snail-borne parasitic disease endemic to the tropics and subtropics, whose distribution depends on snail prevalence as determined by climatic and environmental factors. Here, dynamic spatial and temporal patterns of Oncomelania hupensis distributions were quantified using general statistics, global Moran’s I, and standard deviation ellipses, with Maxent modeling used to predict the distribution of habitat areas suitable for this snail in Gong’an County, a severely affected region of Jianghan Plain, China, based on annual average temperature, humidity of the climate, soil type, normalized difference vegetation index, land use, ditch density, land surface temperature, and digital elevation model variables; each variable’s contribution was tested using the jackknife method. Several key results emerged. First, coverage area of O. hupensis had changed little from 2007 to 2012, with some cities, counties, and districts alternately increasing and decreasing, with ditch and bottomland being the main habitat types. Second, although it showed a weak spatial autocorrelation, changing negligibly, there was a significant east–west gradient in the O. hupensis habitat area. Third, 21.9% of Gong’an County’s area was at high risk of snail presence; and ditch density, temperature, elevation, and wetting index contributed most to their occurrence. Our findings and methods provide valuable and timely insight for the control, monitoring, and management of schistosomiasis in China.
Mediators of Physical Activity Protection against ROS-Linked Skeletal Muscle Damage
Authors: Di Meo Sergio , Napolitano Gaetana , Venditti Paola
Published: June 2019

Unaccustomed and/or exhaustive exercise generates excessive free radicals and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leading to muscle oxidative stress-related damage and impaired contractility. Conversely, a moderate level of free radicals induces the body’s adaptive responses. Thus, a low oxidant level in resting muscle is essential for normal force production, and the production of oxidants during each session of physical training increases the body’s antioxidant defenses. Mitochondria, NADPH oxidases and xanthine oxidases have been identified as sources of free radicals during muscle contraction, but the exact mechanisms underlying exercise-induced harmful or beneficial effects yet remain elusive. However, it is clear that redox signaling influences numerous transcriptional activators, which regulate the expression of genes involved in changes in muscle phenotype. The mitogen-activated protein kinase family is one of the main links between cellular oxidant levels and skeletal muscle adaptation. The family components phosphorylate and modulate the activities of hundreds of substrates, including transcription factors involved in cell response to oxidative stress elicited by exercise in skeletal muscle. To elucidate the complex role of ROS in exercise, here we reviewed the literature dealing on sources of ROS production and concerning the most important redox signaling pathways, including MAPKs that are involved in the responses to acute and chronic exercise in the muscle, particularly those involved in the induction of antioxidant enzymes.
Exploring the Relationship of Relative Telomere Length and the Epigenetic Clock in the LipidCardio Cohort
Authors: Banszerus Verena L. , Vetter Valentin M. , Salewsky Bastian , König Maximilian , Demuth Ilja
Published: June 2019

Telomere length has been accepted widely as a biomarker of aging. Recently, a novel candidate biomarker has been suggested to predict an individual’s chronological age with high accuracy: The epigenetic clock is based on the weighted DNA methylation (DNAm) fraction of a number of cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) selected by penalized regression analysis. Here, an established methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension method was adapted, to estimate the epigenetic age of the 1005 participants of the LipidCardio Study, a patient cohort characterised by high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, based on a seven CpGs epigenetic clock. Furthermore, we measured relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) to assess the relationship between the established and the promising new measure of biological age. Both rLTL (0.79 ± 0.14) and DNAm age (69.67 ± 7.27 years) were available for 773 subjects (31.6% female; mean chronological age= 69.68 ± 11.01 years; mean DNAm age acceleration = −0.01 ± 7.83 years). While we detected a significant correlation between chronological age and DNAm age (n = 779, R = 0.69), we found neither evidence of an association between rLTL and the DNAm age (β = 3.00, p = 0.18) nor rLTL and the DNAm age acceleration (β = 2.76, p = 0.22) in the studied cohort, suggesting that DNAm age and rLTL measure different aspects of biological age.
Low Overnight Temperature-Induced Gibberellin Accumulation Increases Locule Number in Tomato
Authors: Li Yanbing , Sun Meihua , Xiang Hengzuo , Liu Yudong , Li Hui , Qi Mingfang , Li Tianlai
Published: June 2019

The number of locules in tomato affects fruit size, shape, and the incidence of malformation. Low temperature increases locule number and the incidences of malformation in tomato plants. In this study, three flower bud developmental stages (pre-flower bud differentiation, sepal and petal primordium formation, and carpel primordium formation) under different night temperatures (10, 15, and 20 °C) were used to analyze the reason behind locule number change using an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach, Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). The results showed that the “plant hormone signal transduction”, “starch and sucrose metabolism”, and “diterpenoid biosynthesis” categories were remarkably activated during flower bud differentiation. Transcripts of gibberellin (GA)-related genes and endogenous levels of GAs were analyzed, and it was discovered that SlGA2ox genes were significantly downregulated and bioactive GA1 and GA4 accumulated at lower overnight temperature. Exogenous application of bioactive GA1, GA4, and PAC (paclobutrazol) showed that GA1 and GA4 increased the locule number, while PAC decreased the locule number. Taken together, our results suggest that lower overnight temperature reduced the expression of SlGA2ox genes, leading to GA1 and GA4 accumulation, thereby increasing locule number in tomato.
Proteomics-Metabolomics Combined Approach Identifies Peroxidasin as a Protector against Metabolic and Oxidative Stress in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Dougan Jodi , Hawsawi Ohuod , Burton Liza J. , Edwards Gabrielle , Jones Kia , Zou Jin , Nagappan Peri , Wang Guangdi , Zhang Qiang , Danaher Alira , Bowen Nathan , Hinton Cimona , Odero-Marah Valerie A.
Published: June 2019

Peroxidasin (PXDN), a human homolog of Drosophila PXDN, belongs to the family of heme peroxidases and has been found to promote oxidative stress in cardiovascular tissue, however, its role in prostate cancer has not been previously elucidated. We hypothesized that PXDN promotes prostate cancer progression via regulation of metabolic and oxidative stress pathways. We analyzed PXDN expression in prostate tissue by immunohistochemistry and found increased PXDN expression with prostate cancer progression as compared to normal tissue or cells. PXDN knockdown followed by proteomic analysis revealed an increase in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and gluconeogenesis pathways. Additionally, Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics confirmed that PXDN knockdown induced global reprogramming associated with increased oxidative stress and decreased nucleotide biosynthesis. We further demonstrated that PXDN knockdown led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Finally, PXDN knockdown decreased colony formation on soft agar. Overall, the data suggest that PXDN promotes progression of prostate cancer by regulating the metabolome, more specifically, by inhibiting oxidative stress leading to decreased apoptosis. Therefore, PXDN may be a biomarker associated with prostate cancer and a potential therapeutic target.
Proteasome and Autophagy-Mediated Impairment of Late Long-Term Potentiation (l-LTP) after Traumatic Brain Injury in the Somatosensory Cortex of Mice
Authors: Feldmann Lucia K. , Le Prieult Florie , Felzen Vanessa , Thal Serge C. , Engelhard Kristin , Behl Christian , Mittmann Thomas
Published: June 2019

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to impaired cognition and memory consolidation. The acute phase (24–48 h) after TBI is often characterized by neural dysfunction in the vicinity of the lesion, but also in remote areas like the contralateral hemisphere. Protein homeostasis is crucial for synaptic long-term plasticity including the protein degradation systems, proteasome and autophagy. Still, little is known about the acute effects of TBI on synaptic long-term plasticity and protein degradation. Thus, we investigated TBI in a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model in the motor and somatosensory cortex of mice ex vivo-in vitro. Late long-term potentiation (l-LTP) was induced by theta-burst stimulation in acute brain slices after survival times of 1–2 days. Protein levels for the plasticity related protein calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) was quantified by Western blots, and the protein degradation activity by enzymatical assays. We observed missing maintenance of l-LTP in the ipsilateral hemisphere, however not in the contralateral hemisphere after TBI. Protein levels of CaMKII were not changed but, interestingly, the protein degradation revealed bidirectional changes with a reduced proteasome activity and an increased autophagic flux in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Finally, LTP recordings in the presence of pharmacologically modified protein degradation systems also led to an impaired synaptic plasticity: bath-applied MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, or rapamycin, an activator of autophagy, both administered during theta burst stimulation, blocked the induction of LTP. These data indicate that alterations in protein degradation pathways likely contribute to cognitive deficits in the acute phase after TBI, which could be interesting for future approaches towards neuroprotective treatments early after traumatic brain injury.