bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Above the Epitranscriptome: RNA Modifications and Stem Cell Identity
Authors: Morena Francesco , Argentati Chiara , Bazzucchi Martina , Emiliani Carla , Martino Sabata
Published: June 2018

Sequence databases and transcriptome-wide mapping have revealed different reversible and dynamic chemical modifications of the nitrogen bases of RNA molecules. Modifications occur in coding RNAs and noncoding-RNAs post-transcriptionally and they can influence the RNA structure, metabolism, and function. The result is the expansion of the variety of the transcriptome. In fact, depending on the type of modification, RNA molecules enter into a specific program exerting the role of the player or/and the target in biological and pathological processes. Many research groups are exploring the role of RNA modifications (alias epitranscriptome) in cell proliferation, survival, and in more specialized activities. More recently, the role of RNA modifications has been also explored in stem cell biology. Our understanding in this context is still in its infancy. Available evidence addresses the role of RNA modifications in self-renewal, commitment, and differentiation processes of stem cells. In this review, we will focus on five epitranscriptomic marks: N6-methyladenosine, N1-methyladenosine, 5-methylcytosine, Pseudouridine (Ψ) and Adenosine-to-Inosine editing. We will provide insights into the function and the distribution of these chemical modifications in coding RNAs and noncoding-RNAs. Mainly, we will emphasize the role of epitranscriptomic mechanisms in the biology of naïve, primed, embryonic, adult, and cancer stem cells.
‘Deeds of Darkness’: Thomas Hardy and Murder
Authors: Vuohelainen Minna
Published: June 2018

Critics have often sought to place Thomas Hardy’s fiction within a realist generic framework, with a significant emphasis on Hardy’s Wessex settings, visual imagination and equation of sight with knowledge. Yet Hardy’s writings frequently disturb realist generic conventions by introducing elements from popular nineteenth-century genres, particularly sensation fiction and the Gothic. This essay considers how murder as a plot device troubles generic boundaries in the novels Desperate Remedies (1871), Far from the Madding Crowd (1874) and Tess of the d’Urbervilles (1891). Set against backgrounds with significant non-realist elements, these texts view murder and its punishment from limited, distorted or averted perspectives that articulate a significant social and cultural critique.
Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Water Quality Indices (WQI): Case of the Ébrié Lagoon, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Naga Coulibaly , Talnan Jean Honoré Coulibaly , Delfin Ochou Abé , Bernard Yapo Ossey , Guillaume Zabi Soko , Henoc Sosthène Aclohou , Mpakama Ziyanda , Issiaka Savané
Published: June 2018

For decades, the Ébrié Lagoon in Côte d’Ivoire has been the receptacle of wastewater effluent and household waste transported by runoff water. This work assesses the spatio-temporal variability of the Ébrié lagoon water quality at the city of Abidjan. The methodological approach used in this study is summarized in three stages: the choice and standardization of the parameters for assessing water quality for uses such as aquaculture, irrigation, livestock watering, and sports and recreation; the weighting of these parameters using the Hierarchical Analysis Process (AHP) of Saaty; and finally, the aggregation of the weighted parameters or factors. Physicochemical and microbiological analysis data on the waters of the Ébrié lagoon for June and December of 2014 and 2015 were provided by the Ivorian Center for Anti-Pollution (Centre Ivoirien Anti-Pollution, CIAPOL), and the concentrations of trace elements in sediments (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) were used. The aggregation of standardized and weighted parameters allowed the calculation of the Water Quality Indices (WQI) by usage for each bays of the lagoon. The results show that in both 2014 and 2015, the waters of the Ébrié lagoon were generally of poor quality for the different uses examined in this study (aquaculture, irrigation, livestock watering, and sport and recreation) with an accentuation in 2015. However, some bays of the lagoon have waters of dubious to satisfactory quality. This study contributes an improved evaluation of the Ébrié lagoon waters.
Eating Healthy, Growing Healthy: Impact of a Multi-Strategy Nutrition Education on the Assortments of Beverages Served in Preschools, Poland
Authors: Myszkowska-Ryciak Joanna , Harton Anna
Published: June 2018

Day-care centers are the ideal place for conducting nutrition intervention to improve children’s nutrition. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-strategy childcare-base intervention in improving compliance with nutrition guidelines regarding beverages supply in preschools. The intervention included the staff training, audit, feedback, and ongoing support provided by trained educators. The emphasis was put on adequate nutrition, including recommended beverages, reducing sugar-sweetened beverages and increasing water availability. Enrolled were 478 full-board preschools from Poland (4.2% of all preschools in the country). The assortment of beverages served to children within ten consecutive days was assessed based on menus and inventory reports at the baseline, and three months after the intervention. Education increased significantly the percentage of preschools serving water to meals and between meals (67% vs. 83% and 93% vs. 99%, respectively), fruit/herbal tea (75% vs. 81%), and natural fruit juices (46% vs. 56%). The percentage of preschools offering fruit/soft drinks decreased from 23% to 15%. This study shows that education has a great potential in improving the assortment of beverages served in preschools. Future research is needed to determine barriers in better optimizing the assortment of beverages in preschool settings.
Physical Activity and Outdoor Play of Children in Public Playgrounds—Do Gender and Social Environment Matter?
Authors: Reimers Anne Kerstin , Schoeppe Stephanie , Demetriou Yolanda , Knapp Guido
Published: June 2018

Background: Few studies have delved into the relationship of the social environment with children’s physical activity and outdoor play in public playgrounds by considering gender differences. The aim of the present study was to examine gender differences and the relationship of the social environment with children’s physical activity and outdoor play in public playgrounds. Methods: A quantitative, observational study was conducted at ten playgrounds in one district of a middle-sized town in Germany. The social environment, physical activity levels, and outdoor play were measured using a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth. Results: In total, 266 observations of children (117 girls/149 boys) between four and 12 years old were used in this analysis. Significant gender differences were found in relation to activity types, but not in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The presence of active children was the main explanatory variable for MVPA. In the models stratified by gender, the presence of opposite-sex children was a significant negative predictor of MVPA in girls but not in boys. Conclusions: The presence of active children contributes to children’s physical activity levels in public playgrounds. Girls’ physical activity seems to be suppressed in the presence of boys.
Self-Reported Sleep Duration and Its Correlates with Sociodemographics, Health Behaviours, Poor Mental Health, and Chronic Conditions in Rural Persons 40 Years and Older in South Africa
Authors: Peltzer Karl , Pengpid Supa
Published: June 2018

This study aims to investigate sleep duration and its association with sociodemographic, health behaviour, mental health, and chronic disease factors among rural individuals 40 years and older in South Africa. Cross-sectional data from the “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH community in South Africa” (HAALSI) baseline survey were analysed. Socio-demographic, clinical, health, and sleep duration data were collected. The total sample included 4725 persons 40 years and older (mean age 61.5 years, SD = 13.0, age range of 40–111 years) in one sub-district in rural South Africa. The mean sleep duration was 8.28 ± 1.93 h. Short (<7 h) and long (≥9 h) sleepers accounted for 13.1% and 40.0% of the sample, respectively. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression, greater wealth status (p < 0.05), inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (p < 0.001), and depressive symptoms (p < 0.05) were associated with a higher odds and physical inactivity (p < 0.05) with a lower odds of short sleep duration. Being male (p < 0.001) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) were associated with a higher odds and being 50 to 69 years old (p < 0.01), having Grade 1 to 11 education (p < 0.05), and greater wealth status (p < 0.001) were associated with a lower odds of long sleep duration. In adjusted multinomial logistic regression, compared to normal sleepers, long sleepers were more likely to have myocardial infarction (p < 0.05). In unadjusted analysis, compared to normal sleepers, short sleepers were more likely to have cataracts (p < 0.05). This study found that a significant proportion of rural dwellers 40 years and older in South Africa had a short sleep duration and a high proportion had a long sleep duration. Some associations, such as depression and myocardial infarction, with short and/or long sleep duration were confirmed, while no associations were found for many chronic conditions.
Using Interpretative Structural Modeling to Identify Critical Success Factors for Safety Management in Subway Construction: A China Study
Authors: Liu Ping , Li Qiming , Bian Jing , Song Liangliang , Xiahou Xiaer
Published: June 2018

With the rapid development of urbanization in China, a vast number of subway projects are under construction and planned in many cities. However, the complexities of the environment in subway construction inherently bring about many uncertainties and risk factors. Understanding the inherent properties of the critical success factors (CSFs) will contribute significantly to the subway construction. From this perspective, this paper aims to identify the CSFs for safety management in subway construction. This study screened preliminary CSFs through a literature review and in-depth interviews with experts in China. Based on the data gathered and subsequently analyzed from the questionnaire surveys, a final total of 24 CSFs were identified. Then, interpretative structural modeling was employed to ascertain the interrelations among them. The result showed that the factors concerning the engineering survey and design not only occupy relatively higher scores in the questionnaire survey but also contribute significantly latent impacts on other factors. In addition, the creation of a reasonable schedule and the investment of the safety measures were also found to have a fundamental impact on the safety management of subway construction. This research guided the safety managers in determining the most important safety factors they must face and provided them valuable information that could promote safety performance and decrease the number of accidents over the course of subway construction.
On the Development of Health-Based Ventilation Guidelines: Principles and Framework
Authors: Carrer Paolo , De Oliveira Fernandes Eduardo , Santos Hugo , Hänninen Otto , Kephalopoulos Stylianos , Wargocki Pawel
Published: June 2018

This paper summarizes the results of HealthVent project. It had an aim to develop health-based ventilation guidelines and through this process contribute to advance indoor air quality (IAQ) policies and guidelines. A framework that allows determining ventilation requirements in public and residential buildings based on the health requirements is proposed. The framework is based on three principles: 1. Criteria for permissible concentrations of specific air pollutants set by health authorities have to be respected; 2. Ventilation must be preceded by source control strategies that have been duly adopted to improve IAQ; 3. Base ventilation must always be secured to remove occupant emissions (bio-effluents). The air quality guidelines defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) outside air are used as the reference for determining permissible levels of the indoor air pollutants based on the principle that there is only one air. It is proposed that base ventilation should be set at 4 L/s per person; higher rates are to be used only if WHO guidelines are not followed. Implementation of the framework requires technical guidelines, directives and other legislation. Studies are also needed to examine the effectiveness of the approach and to validate its use. It is estimated that implementing the framework would bring considerable reduction in the burden of disease associated with inadequate IAQ.
The Vicious Circle of Working Hours, Sleep, and Recovery in Expert Work
Authors: Ropponen Annina , Härmä Mikko , Bergbom Barbara , Nätti Jouko , Sallinen Mikael
Published: June 2018

This study aimed to investigate working hours, sleep quality and alertness, and recovery and detachment in expert work using a mobile app. The study sample comprised members of The Finnish Business School Graduates and employees of an information technology (IT) company. The final study sample included 154 employees with at least four days of mobile app data. For statistical analyses of the survey and mobile app data (cross-sectional setting), we used logistic regression, and for the day-to-day data, we used multi-level logistic regression to calculate the odds ratios (OR), and a general equation estimates model for regression coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The results showed that moderate to fair sleep quality or alertness at awakening were associated with longer working hours the following day (OR 1.07–1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.22). Recovery and detachment during the preceding day were associated with longer working hours. These associations were the same in the opposite direction. To conclude, the day-to-day ratings of sleep quality and alertness at awakening, and recovery and detachment from work during leisure time were associated with increased working hours the following day. In addition, longer working hours the preceding day were associated with worse ratings of sleep quality, alertness, recovery, and detachment.
Methods of Isolation, Characterization and Expansion of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ASCs): An Overview
Authors: Palumbo Paola , Lombardi Francesca , Siragusa Giuseppe , Cifone Maria Grazia , Cinque Benedetta , Giuliani Maurizio
Published: June 2018

Considering the increasing interest in adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in regenerative medicine, optimization of methods aimed at isolation, characterization, expansion and evaluation of differentiation potential is critical to ensure (a) the quality of stem cells also in terms of genetic stability; (b) the reproducibility of beneficial effects; and (c) the safety of their use. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand the mechanisms that regulate ASC proliferation, growth and differentiation, however standard protocols about harvesting and processing techniques are not yet defined. It is also important to note that some steps in the procedures of harvesting and/or processing have been reported to affect recovery and/or the physiology of ASCs. Even considering the great opportunity that the ASCs provide for the identification of novel molecular targets for new or old drugs, the definition of homogeneous preparation methods that ensure adequate quality assurance and control, in accordance with current GMPs (good manufacturing practices), is required. Here, we summarize the literature reports to provide a detailed overview of the methodological issues underlying human ASCs isolation, processing, characterization, expansion, differentiation techniques, recalling at the same time their basilar principles, advantages and limits, in particular focusing on how these procedures could affect the ASC quality, functionality and plasticity.
Anti-Correlation between the Dynamics of the Active Site Loop and C-Terminal Tail in Relation to the Homodimer Asymmetry of the Mouse Erythroid 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase
Authors: Na Insung , Catena Dominique , Kong Min J. , Ferreira Gloria C. , Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: June 2018

Biosynthesis of heme represents a complex process that involves multiple stages controlled by different enzymes. The first of these proteins is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent homodimeric enzyme, 5-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS), that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in heme biosynthesis, the condensation of glycine with succinyl-CoA. Genetic mutations in human erythroid-specific ALAS (ALAS2) are associated with two inherited blood disorders, X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLPP). XLSA is caused by diminished ALAS2 activity leading to decreased ALA and heme syntheses and ultimately ineffective erythropoiesis, whereas XLPP results from “gain-of-function” ALAS2 mutations and consequent overproduction of protoporphyrin IX and increase in Zn2+-protoporphyrin levels. All XLPP-linked mutations affect the intrinsically disordered C-terminal tail of ALAS2. Our earlier molecular dynamics (MD) simulation-based analysis showed that the activity of ALAS2 could be regulated by the conformational flexibility of the active site loop whose structural features and dynamics could be changed due to mutations. We also revealed that the dynamic behavior of the two protomers of the ALAS2 dimer differed. However, how the structural dynamics of ALAS2 active site loop and C-terminal tail dynamics are related to each other and contribute to the homodimer asymmetry remained unanswered questions. In this study, we used bioinformatics and computational biology tools to evaluate the role(s) of the C-terminal tail dynamics in the structure and conformational dynamics of the murine ALAS2 homodimer active site loop. To assess the structural correlation between these two regions, we analyzed their structural displacements and determined their degree of correlation. Here, we report that the dynamics of ALAS2 active site loop is anti-correlated with the dynamics of the C-terminal tail and that this anti-correlation can represent a molecular basis for the functional and dynamic asymmetry of the ALAS2 homodimer.
The Arabidopsis Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs) and Their Roles in Plant Growth Regulation and Abiotic Stress Responses
Authors: Shi Sujuan , Li Shugui , Asim Muhammad , Mao Jingjing , Xu Dizhi , Ullah Zia , Liu Guanshan , Wang Qian , Liu Haobao
Published: June 2018

As a ubiquitous secondary messenger in plant signaling systems, calcium ions (Ca2+) play essential roles in plant growth and development. Within the cellular signaling network, the accurate decoding of diverse Ca2+ signal is a fundamental molecular event. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), identified commonly in plants, are a kind of vital regulatory protein deciphering calcium signals triggered by various developmental and environmental stimuli. This review chiefly introduces Ca2+ distribution in plant cells, the classification of Arabidopsis thaliana CDPKs (AtCDPKs), the identification of the Ca2+-AtCDPK signal transduction mechanism and AtCDPKs’ functions involved in plant growth regulation and abiotic stress responses. The review presents a comprehensive overview of AtCDPKs and may contribute to the research of CDPKs in other plants.
Exploring the Roles of CREBRF and TRIM2 in the Regulation of Angiogenesis by High-Density Lipoproteins
Authors: Wong Nathan K. P. , Cheung Helena , Solly Emma L. , Vanags Laura Z. , Ritchie William , Nicholls Stephen J. , Ng Martin K. C. , Bursill Christina A. , Tan Joanne T. M.
Published: June 2018

Angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels, is crucial in the physiological response to ischemia, though it can be detrimental as part of inflammation and tumorigenesis. We have previously shown that high-density lipoproteins (HDL) modulate angiogenesis in a context-specific manner via distinct classical signalling pathways, enhancing hypoxia-induced angiogenesis while suppressing inflammatory-driven angiogenesis. Whether additional novel targets exist to account for these effects are unknown. A microarray approach identified two novel genes, cyclic-adenosine-monophosphate-response-element-binding protein 3 regulatory factor (CREBRF) and tripartite motif-containing protein 2 (TRIM2) that were upregulated by reconstituted HDL (rHDL). We measured CREBRF and TRIM2 expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells following incubation with rHDL and exposure to either hypoxia or an inflammatory stimulus. We found that CREBRF and TRIM2 mRNA were significantly upregulated by rHDL, particularly in response to its phospholipid component 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine, however, protein expression was not significantly altered. Knockdown of TRIM2 impaired endothelial cell tubulogenesis in vitro in both hypoxia and inflammation, implying a necessary role in angiogenesis. Furthermore, TRIM2 knockdown attenuated rHDL-induced tubule formation in hypoxia, suggesting that it is important in mediating the pro-angiogenic action of rHDL. Our study has implications for understanding the regulation of angiogenesis in both of these pathophysiological contexts by HDL.
2-[2-Methyl-5-phenyl-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-2-oxo-N-(pyridin-4-yl) acetamide
Authors: Saeedian Moghadam Ebrahim , Amini Mohsen
Published: June 2018

We synthesized 2-[2-methyl-5-phenyl-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-2-oxo-N-(pyridin-4-yl) acetamide 4 as a novel compound derived from the indibulin and combretastatin scaffolds, which are known anti-mitotic agents, using a multistep reaction. We tested its cytotoxic activity against three breast cancer cell lines, namely, MCF-7, T47-D, and MDA-MB 231 as well as normal cell line NIH-3T3, by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The biological activity results showed good cytotoxicity on cancerous cell lines (IC50 value 27.7–39.2 µM) and low toxicity on normal cell line (NIH-3T3, IC50 value > 100 µM).
Processing Techniques for Bioresorbable Nanoparticles in Fabricating Flexible Conductive Interconnects
Authors: Li Jiameng , Luo Shiyu , Liu Jiaxuan , Xu Hang , Huang Xian
Published: June 2018

Bioresorbable electronics (or transient electronics) devices can be potentially used to replace build-to-last devices in consumer electronics, implantable devices, and data security, leading to reduced electronic waste and surgical processes through controllable dissolution. Recent development of printing bioresorbable electronics leads to bioresorbable conductive pastes or inks that can be used to make interconnects, circuit traces, and sensors, offering alternative solutions for the predominant complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes in fabrication of bioresorbable electronics. However, the conductivities offered by current bioresorbable pastes and processing techniques are still much lower than those of the bulk metals, demanding further improvement in both paste composition and process optimization. This paper aims at exploring several influential factors such as paste compositions and processing techniques in determining conductivities of bioresorbable patterns. Experimental results reveal that an optimized paste constituent with a ratio of Zn:PVP:glycerol:methanol = 7:0.007:2:1 by weight can generate stable conductive pastes suitable for a screen printing process. In addition, a high conductivity of 60,213.6 S/m can be obtained by combining hot rolling and photonic sintering. The results demonstrate that large-scale transient electronics can be obtained by combining screen printing, hot rolling and photonic sintering approaches with optimized paste compositions, offering important experimental proofs and approaches for further improving the conductivity of bioresorbable pastes or inks that can accommodate the demands for mass fabrication and practical use in electronic industry.
Comparison of Tensile and Compressive Properties of Carbon/Glass Interlayer and Intralayer Hybrid Composites
Authors: Wu Weili , Wang Qingtao , Li Wei
Published: June 2018

Tensile and compressive properties of interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites were investigated in this paper. The tensile modulus and compression modulus of interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites are the same under the same mixed ratio, the tensile strength is much superior to the compression strength, and while the tensile modulus and strength increase along with the carbon fiber content, the compression values change slightly. The influence of stacking structures on the tensile and compressive strengths is opposite to the ratio of T/C (tensile/compression) strength for interlayer hybrid composites, and while the tensile and compression strengths with glass fiber sandwiching carbon fiber can reach the maximum value, the ratio of T/C strength is minimum. For structures with carbon fiber sandwiching glass fiber, or with asymmetric structures, the tensile and compressive strengths are at a low value. For intralayer hybrid structures, while the carbon/glass (C/G) dispersion degree is high, the tensile and compression strengths are low. The experimental tensile and compressive strengths for interlayer and intralayer hybrid composites are greater than the theoretical values, which demonstrates that strength conforms well to the positive hybrid effect. The tensile fracture strain is greater than the compression fracture strain for hybrid composites, with both of them basically maintained at the same level.
Synthesis of Honeycomb-Like Carbon Foam from Larch Sawdust as Efficient Absorbents for Oil Spills Cleanup and Recovery
Authors: Tan Jia , Li Wei , Ma Chunhui , Wu Qiong , Xu Zhou , Liu Shouxin
Published: June 2018

Hydrophobic oil absorbents with interconnected porous structure have been widely used in dealing with the pervasive environmental issue of oil spills. In this work, hydrophobic foams with 3D interconnected porous honeycomb structures of liquefied-larch-based polymer foam (LLB-PF) and its carbonized product liquefied-larch-based carbon foam (LLB-CF) was prepared from larch sawdust waste and used for oil and organics separation. The results revealed that the 3D interconnected and open-cell honeycomb structure of LLB-PF was formed simultaneously during self-foaming, which remained intact even after carbonization. The two ultralight foams, especially LLB-PF, exhibited remarkable oil/water selectivity. The foams exhibited efficient and rapid absorption capacities, not only for oils but also for organic solvents. LLB-PF and LLB-CF could absorb tetrachloromethane and epoxidized soybean oil up to 88 and 153 times their own weight, respectively. The recycle tests showed that LLB-PF and LLB-CF exhibited excellent absorption capacities even after five cycles, demonstrating an excellent cyclability. The high oil and organic solvent absorption performance along with the renewable and low-cost starting materials positions LLB-PF and LLB-CF foams as promising candidates with great potential for oil and organics cleanup.
Parental attitudes towards children’s vaccination
Authors: Žagminas Kęstutis , Šurkienė Genė , Urbanovič Natalija , Stukas Rimantas
Published: June 2018

Objective. To assess parental attitudes and knowledge about children’s vaccination. Methods. In this study, 20 day-care centers, 25 schools, and 6 health centers were randomly selected in Vilnius, and an anonymous survey of 2743 parents was conducted. Females made up 85.2% of all respondents, males –14.8%; the mean age was 35.7 years. Results. Two-thirds of respondents (66.7%) agreed that vaccines for children’s immunization are safe; 80.7% stated that vaccination is more beneficial than harmful. Only 16.9% of parents indicated that vaccines cause adverse events more frequently than other medical treatment, 62.7% that vaccines are amongst the most effective and least costly forms of medical treatment, and 35.9% that vaccines always warrant protection. Majority of parents agreed that children’s vaccination is essential (89.0%), and children should be vaccinated regularly according schedule (88.6%). Only 30.1% of respondents agreed with the idea of taking a newly developed vaccine even if it has been carefully tested for safety; 42.3% of respondents could afford to pay for nonreimbursed vaccines. On an average, 38.0% of respondents know that they should be revaccinated every 10 years against diphtheria and tetanus, 61.3% have never been vaccinated against influenza. The main sources of information on vaccination are medical institutions (92.2%), print media (38.1%), and broadcast media (38.2%). Conclusions. While most of respondents can be characterized as having a positive opinion about vaccination, 20–40% of respondents indicated insufficient knowledge on this issue. For implementing the new vaccines, communication efforts should focus on clarifying correct parental beliefs about immunization. Vaccines for child should be reimbursed on the same basis as other medical treatment. Vaccination of adult and risk groups should be emphasized in the national vaccination program.
Assessing Novel Drugs and Radiation Technology in the Chemoradiation of Oropharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Cristaudo Agostino , Hickman Mitchell , Fong Charles , Sanghera Paul , Hartley Andrew
Published: June 2018

Integrating immunotherapy, proton therapy and biological dose escalation into the definitive chemoradiation of oropharyngeal cancer poses several challenges. Reliable and reproducible data must be obtained in a timely fashion. However, despite recent international radiotherapy contouring guidelines, controversy persists as to the applicability of such guidelines to all cases. Similarly, a lack of consensus exists concerning both the definition of the organ at risk for oral mucositis and the most appropriate endpoint to measure for this critical toxicity. Finally, the correlation between early markers of efficacy such as complete response on PET CT following treatment and subsequent survival needs elucidation for biological subsets of oropharyngeal cancer.
Advanced Non-Destructive Testing in Steels
Authors: Hristoforou Evangelos
Published: June 2018

The quality of steel and its corresponding products depends on the distribution and level of stress on the steel’s volume and surface, since the stress gradient is responsible for steel cracking generation and failure[...]
A Novel Self-Calibration Method and Experiment of MEMS Gyroscope Based on Virtual Coriolis Force
Authors: Wang Minruihong , Cao Huiliang , Shen Chong , Chai Jin
Published: June 2018

This paper proposes an effective method to calibrate the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) vibratory gyroscope based on the virtual Coriolis force. This method utilizes a series of voltage signals to simulate the Coriolis force input, and the gyroscope output is monitored to obtain the scale factor characteristics of the gyroscopes. The scale factor and bias parameters of the gyroscope can be calibrated conveniently and efficiently in the sense-mode open loop. The calibration error of the scale factor based on the turntable and the virtual Coriolis force method is only 1.515%, which proves the correction of the method proposed in this paper. Meanwhile, the non-linearity and bias value of the turntable and the virtual Coriolis force method are 742 ppm and 42.04 mV and 3389 ppm and 0.66 mV, respectively.
Synthesis of Antibacterial Nisin–Peptoid Hybrids Using Click Methodology
Authors: Bolt Hannah L. , Kleijn Laurens H. J. , Martin Nathaniel I. , Cobb Steven L.
Published: June 2018

Antimicrobial peptides and structurally related peptoids offer potential for the development of new antibiotics. However, progress has been hindered by challenges presented by poor in vivo stability (peptides) or lack of selectivity (peptoids). Herein, we have developed a process to prepare novel hybrid antibacterial agents that combine both linear peptoids (increased in vivo stability compared to peptides) and a nisin fragment (lipid II targeting domain). The hybrid nisin–peptoids prepared were shown to have low micromolar activity (comparable to natural nisin) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Feature Selection via Swarm Intelligence for Determining Protein Essentiality
Authors: Fang Ming , Lei Xiujuan , Cheng Shi , Shi Yuhui , Wu Fang-Xiang
Published: June 2018

Protein essentiality is fundamental to comprehend the function and evolution of genes. The prediction of protein essentiality is pivotal in identifying disease genes and potential drug targets. Since the experimental methods need many investments in time and funds, it is of great value to predict protein essentiality with high accuracy using computational methods. In this study, we present a novel feature selection named Elite Search mechanism-based Flower Pollination Algorithm (ESFPA) to determine protein essentiality. Unlike other protein essentiality prediction methods, ESFPA uses an improved swarm intelligence–based algorithm for feature selection and selects optimal features for protein essentiality prediction. The first step is to collect numerous features with the highly predictive characteristics of essentiality. The second step is to develop a feature selection strategy based on a swarm intelligence algorithm to obtain the optimal feature subset. Furthermore, an elite search mechanism is adopted to further improve the quality of feature subset. Subsequently a hybrid classifier is applied to evaluate the essentiality for each protein. Finally, the experimental results show that our method is competitive to some well-known feature selection methods. The proposed method aims to provide a new perspective for protein essentiality determination.
Drug Delivery Systems from Self-Assembly of Dendron-Polymer Conjugates †
Authors: Bolu Burcu Sumer , Sanyal Rana , Sanyal Amitav
Published: June 2018

This review highlights the utilization of dendron-polymer conjugates as building blocks for the fabrication of nanosized drug delivery vehicles. The examples given provide an overview of the evolution of these delivery platforms, from simple micellar containers to smart stimuli- responsive drug delivery systems through their design at the macromolecular level. Variations in chemical composition and connectivity of the dendritic and polymeric segments provide a variety of self-assembled micellar nanostructures that embody desirable attributes of viable drug delivery systems.
DNA Interaction with Head-to-Tail Associates of Cationic Surfactants Prevents Formation of Compact Particles
Authors: Kasyanenko Nina , Unksov Ivan , Bakulev Vladimir , Santer Svetlana
Published: June 2018

Cationic azobenzene-containing surfactants are capable of condensing DNA in solution with formation of nanosized particles that can be employed in gene delivery. The ratio of surfactant/DNA concentration and solution ionic strength determines the result of DNA-surfactant interaction: Complexes with a micelle-like surfactant associates on DNA, which induces DNA shrinkage, DNA precipitation or DNA condensation with the emergence of nanosized particles. UV and fluorescence spectroscopy, low gradient viscometry and flow birefringence methods were employed to investigate DNA-surfactant and surfactant-surfactant interaction at different NaCl concentrations, [NaCl]. It was observed that [NaCl] (or the Debye screening radius) determines the surfactant-surfactant interaction in solutions without DNA. Monomers, micelles and non-micellar associates of azobenzene-containing surfactants with head-to-tail orientation of molecules were distinguished due to the features of their absorption spectra. The novel data enabled us to conclude that exactly the type of associates (together with the concentration of components) determines the result of DNA-surfactant interaction. Predomination of head-to-tail associates at 0.01 M < [NaCl] < 0.5 M induces DNA aggregation and in some cases DNA precipitation. High NaCl concentration (higher than 0.8 M) prevents electrostatic attraction of surfactants to DNA phosphates for complex formation. DAPI dye luminescence in solutions with DNA-surfactant complexes shows that surfactant tails overlap the DNA minor groove. The addition of di- and trivalent metal ions before and after the surfactant binding to DNA indicate that the bound surfactant molecules are located on DNA in islets.
Psychosocial Correlates of Food Addiction and Its Association with Quality of Life in a Non-Clinical Adolescent Sample
Authors: Zhao Zhongyi , Ma Yanan , Han Yanshuo , Liu Yang , Yang Keming , Zhen Shihan , Wen Deliang
Published: June 2018

Background: Most studies related to food addiction have focused on assessing food addiction among adult populations. However, evidence in adolescents has been limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of food addiction in a non-clinical adolescent sample. Psychosocial correlations of food addiction and associations with different quality of life dimensions were also tested. Methods: The sample included 593 Chinese adolescents (51.9% female; age range: 13–17 years). All participants provided sociodemographic information and completed questionnaires regarding food addiction, depression, self-esteem, loneliness, psychosocial problems, and quality of life (QoL). Results: The prevalence of food addiction was 6.91% in our sample. A multivariable logistic regression indicated that food addiction was associated with depression (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.32–5.05), low self-esteem (AOR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.31–5.78), and loneliness (AOR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.14–4.65). After multivariable adjustments for sociodemographic and psychological variables, food addiction was associated with lower overall QoL and psychosocial health of QoL. Conclusions: Food addiction may be common among Chinese adolescents. Food addiction was associated with depression, low self-esteem, and loneliness. Lastly, food addiction was also associated with lower overall QoL and psychosocial health of QoL. Future public health programs and interventions consider targeting the factors associated with food addiction to increase healthy eating behaviors among adolescents.
Microencapsulation and the Characterization of Polyherbal Formulation (PHF) Rich in Natural Polyphenolic Compounds
Authors: Hussain Syed Ammar , Hameed Ahsan , Nazir Yusuf , Naz Tahira , Wu Yang , Suleria Hafiz Ansar Rasul , Song Yuanda
Published: June 2018

Microencapsulation of polyherbal formulation (PHF) extract was carried out by freeze drying method, by employing gum arabic (GA), gelatin (GE), and maltodextrin (MD) with their designated different combinations as encapsulating wall materials. Antioxidant components (i.e., total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoids contents (TFC), and total condensed tannins (TCT)), antioxidant activity (i.e., DPPH, β-carotene & ABTS+ assays), moisture contents, water activity (aw), solubility, hygroscopicity, glass transition temperature (Tg), particle size, morphology, in vitroα-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition and bioavailability ratios of the powders were investigated. Amongst all encapsulated products, TB (5% GA & 5% MD) and TC (10% GA) have proven to be the best treatments with respect to the highest preservation of antioxidant components. These treatments also exhibited higher antioxidant potential by DPPH and β-carotene assays and noteworthy for an ABTS+ assays. Moreover, the aforesaid treatments also demonstrated lower moisture content, aw, particle size and higher solubility, hygroscopicity and glass transition temperature (Tg). All freeze dried samples showed irregular (asymmetrical) microcrystalline structures. Furthermore, TB and TC also illustrated the highest in vitro anti-diabetic potential due to great potency for inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. In the perspective of bioavailability, TA, TB and TC demonstrated the excellent bioavailability ratios (%). Furthermore, the photochemical profiling of ethanolic extract of PHF was also revealed to find out the bioactive compounds.
Irisin Serum Levels in Metabolic Syndrome Patients Treated with Three Different Diets: A Post-Hoc Analysis from a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Osella Alberto R. , Colaianni Graziana , Correale Mario , Pesole Pasqua L. , Bruno Irene , Buongiorno Claudia , Deflorio Valentina , Leone Carla M. , Colucci Silvia Concetta , Grano Maria , Giannelli Gianluigi
Published: June 2018

Background: Irisin, a hormone-like myokine, regulates energy homeostasis and mediates the benefits of physical activity on health. Methods: To estimate the effect of different diets on irisin concentrations in subjects with the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Methods: Subjects with MetS were derived from a population survey; 163 subjects were enrolled and randomized to a: Low Glycaemic Index (LGID), Mediterranean (MD) or Low Glycaemic Index Mediterranean (LGIMD) Diet, and the groups were compared, also with 80 controls without MetS. Sociodemographic, medical and nutritional data were collected and fasting blood samples drawn. Subjects underwent LUS and bioimpedentiometry. Generalized Estimating Equations were performed. Results: At baseline, lower irisin concentrations were observed in MetS subjects. Mean irisin levels increased in all diet groups but only the LGID group reached statistical significance, as well as showing an interaction between LGID and time at the sixth month examination (4.57, 95% CI −1.27, 7.87). There was a positive effect of Vegetable Proteins (0.03, 95% CI −0.01,0.06) and Saturated Fatty Acids (0.04, 95% CI 0.01, 0.07) on irisin concentrations. In the LGIMD, a positive effect on Fat-Free Mass (0.38, 95% CI 0.19, 0.57) and a negative effect on the Body Mass Index (−0.75, 95% CI −1.30, −0.19) were observed. Conclusions: There seems to be a link between diet and muscle physiology. We showed that patients following a LGID had higher levels of irisin, a promising biomarker of muscle activity.
Pastoralism in Latin America: An Ensemble of Religious Governmental Technologies in Colonial Costa Rica
Authors: Zavala-Pelayo Edgar
Published: June 2018

Based on a critical empirical application of Foucault’s concept of pastoralism and a genealogical research approach, this article suggests that the Catholic regime that operated in Costa Rica during the Spanish colonial period (16th to 19th centuries), developed an ensemble of distinctive ‘technologies of government’—charity, ceremonial strictness, bio-political control, geo-political rule, and administrative efficiency. Drawing on documentary and archival material, the analysis highlights both the governmental ‘logics’ and the governmental ‘techniques’ of the above technologies, as well as their complex centuries-long operation. The conclusions remark how such a complex ensemble of religious governmental technologies problematizes the synchronicistic and reductionist analyses of religion and politics; historical–institutionalist studies of colonial Catholicism in Latin America; and the compartmentalization of sovereignty, discipline, and apparatuses of security that Foucault originally proposed to account for the historical development of governmentality.
Probe of Alcohol Structures in the Gas and Liquid States Using C–H Stretching Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Yu Yuanqin , Fan Wei , Wang Yuxi , Zhou Xiaoguo , Sun Jin , Liu Shilin
Published: June 2018

Vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful tool for probing molecular structures and dynamics since it offers a unique fingerprint that allows molecular identification. One of important aspects of applying vibrational spectroscopy is to develop the probes that can characterize the related properties of molecules such as the conformation and intermolecular interaction. Many examples of vibrational probes have appeared in the literature, including the azide group (–N3), amide group (–CONH2), nitrile groups (–CN), hydroxyl group (–OH), –CH group and so on. Among these probes, the –CH group is an excellent one since it is ubiquitous in organic and biological molecules and the C–H stretching vibrational spectrum is extraordinarily sensitive to the local molecular environment. However, one challenge encountered in the application of C–H probes arises from the difficulty in the accurate assignment due to spectral congestion in the C–H stretching region. In this paper, recent advances in the complete assignment of C–H stretching spectra of aliphatic alcohols and the utility of C–H vibration as a probe of the conformation and weak intermolecular interaction are outlined. These results fully demonstrated the potential of the –CH chemical group as a molecular probe.
Enhanced Hydrogen Detection Based on Mg-Doped InN Epilayer
Authors: Wang Shibo , Wang Xinqiang , Chen Zhaoying , Wang Ping , Qi Qi , Zheng Xiantong , Sheng Bowen , Liu Huapeng , Wang Tao , Rong Xin , Li Mo , Zhang Jian , Yang Xuelin , Xu Fujun , Shen Bo
Published: June 2018

It is a fact that surface electron accumulation layer with sheet electron density in the magnitude of ~1013 cm−2 on InN, either as-grown or Mg-doped, makes InN an excellent candidate for sensing application. In this paper, the response of hydrogen sensors based on Mg-doped InN films (InN:Mg) grown by molecular beam epitaxy has been investigated. The sensor exhibits a resistance variation ratio of 16.8% with response/recovery times of less than 2 min under exposure to 2000 ppm H2/air at 125 °C, which is 60% higher in the magnitude of response than the one based on the as-grown InN film. Hall-effect measurement shows that the InN:Mg with suitable Mg doping level exhibits larger sheet resistance, which accords with buried p-type conduction in the InN bulk. This work shows the advantage of InN:Mg and signifies its potential for sensing application.
Threshold-Based Noise Detection and Reduction for Automatic Speech Recognition System in Human-Robot Interactions
Authors: Lee Sheng-Chieh , Wang Jhing-Fa , Chen Miao-Hia
Published: June 2018

This work develops a speech recognition system that uses two procedures of proposed noise detection and combined noise reduction. The system can be used in applications that require interactive robots to recognize the contents of speech that includes ambient noise. The system comprises two stages, which are the threshold-based noise detection and the noise reduction procedure. In the first stage, the proposed system automatically determines when to enhance the quality of speech based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of the collected speech at all times. In the second stage, independent component analysis (ICA) and subspace speech enhancement (SSE) are employed for noise reduction. Experimental results reveal that the SNR values of the enhanced speech exceed those of the received noisy speech by approximately 20 dB to 25 dB. The noise reduction procedure improves the speech recognition rates by around 15% to 25%. The experimental results indicate that the proposed system can reduce the effect of noise in numerous noisy environments and improve the quality of speech for recognition purposes.
Square-Root Unscented Information Filter and Its Application in SINS/DVL Integrated Navigation
Authors: Guo Yan , Wu Meiping , Tang Kanghua , Zhang Lu
Published: June 2018

To address the problem of low accuracy for the regular filter algorithm in SINS/DVL integrated navigation, a square-root unscented information filter (SR-UIF) is presented in this paper. The proposed method: (1) adopts the state probability approximation instead of the Taylor model linearization in EKF algorithm to improve the accuracy of filtering estimation; (2) selects the most suitable parameter form at each filtering stage to simply the calculation complexity; (3) transforms the square root to ensure the symmetry and positive definiteness of the covariance matrix or information matrix, and then to enhance the stability of the filter. The simulation results indicate that the estimation accuracy of SR-UIF is higher than that of EKF, and similar to UKF; meanwhile the computational complexity of SR-UIF is lower than that of UKF.