bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compensation Practice and Job Satisfaction in Selected Consumer Goods in Lagos state Nigeria
Authors: Olive U. Ph.D. Egbuta,
Published: July 2019

Job satisfaction in work organization influences the general efficiency and effectiveness of the whole employees. This is usually the results of the compensation practices that predominate in a firm. This paper examined the Compensation practices and how it affects the job satisfaction of employees of selected consumer goods firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The paper adopted the survey research design through quantitative research approach. Primary data was used through administration of 300 copies of questionnaires to employees in the selected consumer goods firms. Findings reveal that Compensation practice has a positive and significant effect on Job satisfaction (R = 0.296, Adj. R2 =0.071, p < 0.05, F =11.497). It was found that compensation practice significantly affects job satisfaction of employees of selected consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The paper suggests that managers should always think about what compensation packages really motivate and excite their employees.
The Relationship between Foreign Portfolio Investment, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Performance of Nigerian Economy: (1980-2017): An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Ewubare Ekine,D.I, , Brown Dennis , Charity Ajie,
Published: July 2019

The study examined the impact of foreign portfolio investment and Foreign Direct Investment on the performance of the Nigerian Economy over a period of 1980-2017. The data used were purely secondary sourced from the central Bank of Nigeria statistical Bulletin and World Bank Development indicator. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis was used. The findings revealed that the performance of the Nigerian Economy is directly related to inflow of foreign portfolio investment and foreign direct investment and it is also statistically significant at 5% level. This means that a good performance of the economy depends on the inflow of these variables, or that the variables serve as an engine of economic growth. The study therefore recommends that policy makers should work on improvement of economic incentives capable of mobilizing external resources to the country to engender macroeconomic stability. A stable economy will attract foreign investment and this result to increased inflow of foreign capital.
YouTube Commentaries on Trans Time-lapse Videos: Transforming Misgendering Stances into Pedagogical Moments
Authors: Ingram Matthew Bruce
Published: July 2019

The distribution and consumption of transgender time-lapse videos on YouTube have increased over the last few decades, providing trans communities with a valuable resource for self-making. On YouTube, vloggers can present images and videos of their bodies as they document their gender transitions through several practices that rely on temporality and time-space compression. As a genre, time-lapse videos comprise creative worldmaking practices where users document their gender transformations using hundreds to thousands of still photos or video segments which show their social, somatic, and biochemical changes. Although scholars have discussed different worldmaking and community organising practices that take place as trans vloggers display their gendered subjectivities online, there is sparse scholarship studying the recurrent patterns of behaviour on the comment space below these videos. In this article, I draw on critical discourse analytic studies of new media and stance-taking as I review and analyse discriminatory strategies – principally misgendering and ungendering – that YouTubers used to denigrate the self-identified gender of a given vlogger. Stance-taking enables us to identify and track reoccurring attitudes steeped in cisgenderism. At the same time, capturing how vloggers and trans allies respond to (intentional or unintentional) text-based forms of prejudice, can create teachable moments for YouTube spectators. While misgendering stances aim to pressure their targets into certain kinds of gender and sex embodiments, insurrectionary stance-acts co-opt and call out the language of discrimination, lending legitimacy and authority to trans vloggers to create, enact, and live their own genders.
REALTIME MOBILE QUEUE SYSTEM MULTI VENDOR
Authors: Hakimah Rafidah Putri , Usman Nurhasan  , Arhandi Putra Prima , Oktaviansyah Muhammad Rizki
Published: July 2019

Antrian merupakan fenomena yang tak terelakkan dan pasti ditemui pada setiap pelayanan publik. Dimana terlihat jelas bahwa antrian menimbulkan pemborosan waktu dan ketidaknyamanan bagi pelanggan seperti antrian yang panjang sehingga menyebabkan waktu tunggu yang lama. Oleh karena itu, maka dikembangkanlah teknologi berbasis mobile yang akan menggantikan sistem antrian yang ada, sehingga diharapkan dapat memberikan kepuasan kepada pelanggan dalam berbagai pelayanan publik. Selain itu, aplikasi ini diharapkan pula dapat mengorganisir sistem antrian berbagai pelayanan publik (multi vendor) sehingga lebih tertata, rapi dan mudah diakses.
Salud Mental en Cuidadores Primarios de Niños con Parálisis Cerebral en Rehabilitación
Authors: Rubio-Romero Rocío , Gutiérrez-Villalvazo María del Carmen , Castellanos-Valencia Amelia , Flores-Arias Esly Mariana
Published: July 2019

Objetivo: Identificar la salud mental de los cuidadores primarios de niños con lesión cerebral y su repercusión en la rehabilitación.  Método: Se autoadministró a los cuidadores primarios de niños menores de 5 años con lesión cerebral del Centro de Rehabilitación Infantil Teletón Occidente México, el General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) validado para detectar morbilidad psicológica y  psiquiátrica, los resultados fueron analizados con estadística no paramétrica. Estudio prospectivo, transversal, descriptivo y analítico.  Resultados: Se incluyeron 131 cuidadores; 77% femeninos, 23% masculinos, edad promedio 33 años, rango 20-67. Fueron padres biológicos 95% de los cuidadores. Los resultados mostraron alteración crónica  de su salud mental en el 62%,  siendo el nivel de ansiedad/insomnio el primer indicador en un 40.5%, la disfunción social 45%,  síntomas somáticos 29% y depresión grave 9.2%. Los casos psiquiátricos agudos se cronificaron en 57% (p<.001), siendo la ansiedad e insomnio agudos los principales síntomas afectivos predictores para la etapa crónica (p=.04). Los padres con depresión grave presentan elevado número de inasistencias a las terapias de sus hijos (p=.05). Conclusión: Es importante detectar y tratar tempranamente los trastornos de salud mental del cuidador primario,  a fin de que éste proporcione asistencia integral a la rehabilitación de su hijo.
La Psicología Individual de Alfred Adler – una introducción
Authors: Oberst Ursula
Published: July 2019

Este artículo proporciona una introducción a la Psicología Individual de Alfred Adler (Psicología Adleriana), sus conceptos claves, su visión de la psicopatología y los principios básicos de la intervención terapéutica, tanto clásicos como actuales. Se analizan los siguientes puntos: primero, se destaca que la escasa recepción de esta orientación en los países de habla hispana contrasta con la que tuvo y sigue teniendo  en otros países. Segundo, se describe como a lo largo de su evolución, la Psicología Adleriana y otras orientaciones terapéuticas más recientes se han ido fertilizando mutuamente, y por eso, la Psicología Individual ha experimentado cambios, desarrollos posteriores y una confluencia con otros enfoques. Y tercero, se destaca que la Psicología Individual representa también una filosofía de la vida idealista, con una fuerte implicación ética.
El beneficio oculto de la conducta: un caso de counseling adleriano
Authors: Schläpfer Christelle
Published: July 2019

En este artículo se presenta un caso de counseling desde el enfoque de la Psicología Individual de Alfred Adler. Si bien esta corriente se originó como psicoterapia, en la práctica actual se usa mucho en el formato de counseling (orientación psicológica), e incluso en formato coaching, aunque las diferencias entre un enfoque u otro no siempre están claras. Se explican las diferencias entre las tres formas de trabajar con clientes. Mediante un caso de counseling se ilustra la técnica adleriana de explorar el beneficio de la conducta desasdaptativa y como este conocimiento sirve para movilizar los recursos del cliente.
Bicriteria Vehicle Routing Problem with Preferences and Timing Constraints in Home Health Care Services
Authors: Ait Haddadene Syrine Roufaida , Labadie Nacima , Prodhon Caroline
Published: July 2019

Home Healthcare (HHC) is an emerging and fast-expanding service sector that gives rise to challenging vehicle routing and scheduling problems. Each day, HHC structures must schedule the visits of caregivers to patients requiring specific medical and paramedical services at home. These operations have the potential to be unsuitable if the visits are not planned correctly, leading hence to high logistics costs and/or deteriorated service level. In this article, this issue is modeled as a vehicle routing problem where a set of routes has to be built to visit patients asking for one or more specific service within a given time window and during a fixed service time. Each patient has a preference value associated with each available caregiver. The problem addressed in this paper considers two objectives to optimize simultaneously: minimize the caregivers’ travel costs and maximize the patients’ preferences. In this paper, different methods based on the bi-objective non-dominated sorting algorithm are proposed to solve the vehicle routing problem with time windows, preferences, and timing constraints. Numerical results are presented for instances with up to 73 clients. Metrics such as the distance measure, hyper-volume, and the number of non-dominated solutions in the Pareto front are used to assess the quality of the proposed approaches.
Cross-Country Differences in Entrepreneurial Internationalization Tendencies: Evidence from Germany and Pakistan
Authors: Middermann Laura , Rashid Lubna
Published: July 2019

Previous research has emphasized the importance of entrepreneurial characteristics for international entrepreneurship, hence the application of concepts such as entrepreneurial orientation and global mindset to the study of entrepreneurial internationalization tendencies (EIT). However, literature does not adequately address how EIT differ between countries or manifest in fragile country settings. We address this gap through a quantitative study to investigate EIT in two national settings that largely differ in terms of development, institutional stability, and culture. Through the lens of the institutional theory and the mindset theory, we therefore piloted the study on 112 high-growth startups in Germany and Pakistan. Our findings show, that while entrepreneurs in Germany and Pakistan show comparable levels of innovativeness and proactiveness, they significantly differ in other EIT measures. German entrepreneurs appear to have higher levels of risk-taking, which when explained through the institutional theory lens can be attributed to the higher institutional stability and support as well as social security in Germany. This potentially makes engagement in risky activities, such as business internationalization, more appealing than in Pakistan. However, despite having lower international cognition and international knowledge compared to Germany, Pakistani entrepreneurs appear to exhibit higher degrees of international behavior.
Nanocellulose-Based Inks—Effect of Alginate Content on the Water Absorption of 3D Printed Constructs
Authors: Espinosa Eduardo , Filgueira Daniel , Rodríguez Alejandro , Chinga-Carrasco Gary
Published: July 2019

2,2,6,6-tetramethylpyperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were used as ink for three-dimensional (3D) printing of porous structures with potential as wound dressings. Alginate (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) was incorporated into the formulation to facilitate the ionic cross-linking with calcium chloride (CaCl2). The effect of two different concentrations of CaCl2 (50 and 100 mM) was studied. The 3D printed hydrogels were freeze-dried to produce aerogels which were tested for water absorption. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) pictures demonstrated that the higher the concentration of the cross-linker the higher the definition of the printed tracks. CNF-based aerogels showed a remarkable water absorption capability. Although the incorporation of alginate and the cross-linking with CaCl2 led to shrinkage of the 3D printed constructs, the approach yielded suitable porous structures for water and moisture absorption. It is concluded that the 3D printed biocomposite structures developed in this study have characteristics that are promising for wound dressings devices.
PTEN Tumor-Suppressor: The Dam of Stemness in Cancer
Authors: Luongo Francesca , Colonna Francesca , Calapà Federica , Vitale Sara , Fiori Micol E. , De Maria Ruggero
Published: July 2019

PTEN is one of the most frequently inactivated tumor suppressor genes in cancer. Loss or variation in PTEN gene/protein levels is commonly observed in a broad spectrum of human cancers, while germline PTEN mutations cause inherited syndromes that lead to increased risk of tumors. PTEN restrains tumorigenesis through different mechanisms ranging from phosphatase-dependent and independent activities, subcellular localization and protein interaction, modulating a broad array of cellular functions including growth, proliferation, survival, DNA repair, and cell motility. The main target of PTEN phosphatase activity is one of the most significant cell growth and pro-survival signaling pathway in cancer: PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Several shreds of evidence shed light on the critical role of PTEN in normal and cancer stem cells (CSCs) homeostasis, with its loss fostering the CSC compartment in both solid and hematologic malignancies. CSCs are responsible for tumor propagation, metastatic spread, resistance to therapy, and relapse. Thus, understanding how alterations of PTEN levels affect CSC hallmarks could be crucial for the development of successful therapeutic approaches. Here, we discuss the most significant findings on PTEN-mediated control of CSC state. We aim to unravel the role of PTEN in the regulation of key mechanisms specific for CSCs, such as self-renewal, quiescence/cell cycle, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT), with a particular focus on PTEN-based therapy resistance mechanisms and their exploitation for novel therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
NK Cell Induced T Cell Anergy Depends on GRAIL Expression
Authors: Galazka Grazyna , Domowicz Malgorzata , Ewiak-Paszynska Alicja , Jurewicz Anna
Published: July 2019

NK cells (natural killer cells) being a part of the innate immune system have been shown to be involved in immunoregulation of autoimmune diseases. Previously we have shown that HINT1/Hsp70 treatment induced regulatory NK cells ameliorating experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) course and CD4+ T cells proliferation. NK cells were isolated from mice treated with HINT1/Hsp70 and co-cultured with proteolipid protein (PLP)-stimulated CD4+ T cells isolated from EAE mice. Cell proliferation was assessed by thymidine uptake, cytotoxicity by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, protein expression by Western blot, mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR. Gene related to anergy in lymphocytes (GRAIL) expression was downregulated by specific siRNA and GRAIL overexpression was induced by pcDNA-GRAIL transfection. HINT1/Hsp70 pretreatment of EAE SJL/J mice ameliorated EAE course, suppressed PLP-induced T cell proliferation by enhancing T cell expression of GRAIL as GRAIL downregulation restored T cell proliferation. HINT1/Hsp70 treatment induced immunoregulatory NK cells which inhibited PLP-stimulated T cell proliferation not depending on T cell necrosis and apoptosis. This immunoregulatory NK cell function depended on NK cell expression of GRAIL as GRAIL downregulation diminished inhibition of NK cell suppression of T cell proliferation. Similarly GRAIL overexpression in NK cells induced their regulatory function. HINT1/Hsp70 treatment generated regulatory NK cells characterized by expression of GRAIL.
Lipoic Acid Synergizes with Antineoplastic Drugs in Colorectal Cancer by Targeting p53 for Proteasomal Degradation
Authors: Neitzel Carina , Seiwert Nina , Göder Anja , Diehl Erika , Weber Carina , Nagel Georg , Stroh Svenja , Rasenberger Birgit , Christmann Markus , Fahrer Jörg
Published: July 2019

Lipoic acid (LA) is a redox-active disulphide compound, which functions as a pivotal co-factor for mitochondrial oxidative decarboxylation. LA and chemical derivatives were shown to target mitochondria in cancer cells with altered energy metabolism, thereby inducing cell death. In this study, the impact of LA on the tumor suppressor protein p53 was analyzed in various colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, with a focus on the mechanisms driving p53 degradation. First, LA was demonstrated to trigger the depletion of both wildtype and mutant p53 protein in all CRC cells tested without influencing its gene expression and preceded LA-triggered cytotoxicity. Depletion of p53 coincided with a moderate, LA-dependent ROS production, but was not rescued by antioxidant treatment. LA induced the autophagy receptor p62 and differentially modulated autophagosome formation in CRC cells. However, p53 degradation was not mediated via autophagy as shown by chemical inhibition and genetic abrogation of autophagy. LA treatment also stabilized and activated the transcription factor Nrf2 in CRC cells, which was however dispensable for p53 degradation. Mechanistically, p53 was found to be readily ubiquitinylated and degraded by the proteasomal machinery following LA treatment, which did not involve the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2. Intriguingly, the combination of LA and anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil) attenuated p53-mediated stabilization of p21 and resulted in synergistic killing in CRC cells in a p53-dependant manner.
How to Choose the Right Inducible Gene Expression System for Mammalian Studies?
Authors: Kallunki Tuula , Barisic Marin , Jäättelä Marja , Liu Bin
Published: July 2019

Inducible gene expression systems are favored over stable expression systems in a wide variety of basic and applied research areas, including functional genomics, gene therapy, tissue engineering, biopharmaceutical protein production and drug discovery. This is because they are mostly reversible and thus more flexible to use. Furthermore, compared to constitutive expression, they generally exhibit a higher efficiency and have fewer side effects, such as cell death and delayed growth or development. Empowered by decades of development of inducible gene expression systems, researchers can now efficiently activate or suppress any gene, temporarily and quantitively at will, depending on experimental requirements and designs. Here, we review a number of most commonly used mammalian inducible expression systems and provide basic standards and criteria for the selection of the most suitable one.
Inhibition of Caspase-2 Translation by the mRNA Binding Protein HuR: A Novel Path of Therapy Resistance in Colon Carcinoma Cells?
Authors: Eberhardt Wolfgang , Nasrullah Usman , Haeussler Kristina
Published: July 2019

An increased expression and cytoplasmic abundance of the ubiquitous RNA binding protein human antigen R (HuR) is critically implicated in the dysregulated control of post-transcriptional gene expression during colorectal cancer development and is frequently associated with a high grade of malignancy and therapy resistance. Regardless of the fact that HuR elicits a broad cell survival program by increasing the stability of mRNAs coding for prominent anti-apoptotic factors, recent data suggest that HuR is critically involved in the regulation of translation, particularly, in the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) controlled translation of cell death regulatory proteins. Accordingly, data from human colon carcinoma cells revealed that HuR maintains constitutively reduced protein and activity levels of caspase-2 through negative interference with IRES-mediated translation. This review covers recent advances in the understanding of mechanisms underlying HuR’s modulatory activity on IRES-triggered translation. With respect to the unique regulatory features of caspase-2 and its multiple roles (e.g., in DNA-damage-induced apoptosis, cell cycle regulation and maintenance of genomic stability), the pathophysiological consequences of negative caspase-2 regulation by HuR and its impact on therapy resistance of colorectal cancers will be discussed in detail. The negative HuR-caspase-2 axis may offer a novel target for tumor sensitizing therapies.
Synthesis of Silphenylene-Containing Siloxane Resins Exhibiting Strong Hydrophobicity and High Water Vapor Barriers
Authors: Chen Xunjun , Yi Minghao , Wu Shufang , Tan Lewen , Xu Yixin , Guan Zhixing , Ge Jianfang , Yin Guoqiang
Published: July 2019

The novel phenylenedisilane, 1,4-bis(dimethoxyphenylsilyl)benzene (BDMPD), was successfully synthesized via the reaction between trimethoxyphenylsilane (TMPS) and a Grignard reagent originating from 1,4-dibromobenzene. In comparison to common Grignard reactions, this process was a facile one-pot method. 1H NMR spectroscopy, FT-IR measurements, and elemental analysis confirmed the predicted structure of BDMPD. In addition, vinyl-terminated polysiloxanes containing silphenylene units (VPSSP), which were hydrolytically copolymerized from BDMPD, TMPS, and divinyltetramethyldisiloxane, exhibited excellent thermal stabilities (T10%: 502 °C, Rw%: 76.86 beyond 700 °C) and suitable refractive indices (1.542). Furthermore, water contact angle and water vapor permeability tests confirmed that the fully cured siloxane resins containing VPSSP-based silphenylene units exhibited strong hydrophobicity (water contact angle: 119°) and superior water vapor barrier properties, thereby indicating their potential to serve as strong waterproof coatings for moisture-proof applications or as adhesives for use in immersed equipment.
Entropy Production and Its Application to the Coupled Nonequilibrium Processes of ATP Synthesis
Authors: Nath Sunil
Published: July 2019

Starting from the universal concept of entropy production, a large number of new results are obtained and a wealth of novel thermodynamic, kinetic, and molecular mechanistic insights are provided into the coupling of oxidation and ATP synthesis in the vital process of oxidative phosphorylation (OX PHOS). The total dissipation, Φ , in OX PHOS with succinate as respiratory substrate is quantified from measurements, and the partitioning of Φ into the elementary components of ATP synthesis, leak, slip, and other losses is evaluated for the first time. The thermodynamic efficiency, η , of the coupled process is calculated from the data on Φ and shown to agree well with linear nonequilibrium thermodynamic calculations. Equations for the P/O ratio based on total oxygen consumed and extra oxygen consumed are derived from first principles and the source of basal (state 4) mitochondrial respiration is postulated from molecular mechanistic considerations based on Nath’s two-ion theory of energy coupling within the torsional mechanism of energy transduction and ATP synthesis. The degree of coupling, q , between oxidation and ATP synthesis is determined from the experimental data and the irreversible thermodynamics analysis. The optimality of biological free energy converters is explored in considerable detail based on (i) the standard biothermodynamic approach, and (ii) a new biothermokinetic approach developed in this work, and an effective solution that is shown to arise from consideration of the molecular aspects in Nath’s theory is formulated. New experimental data in state 4 with uncouplers and redox inhibitors of OX PHOS and on respiratory control in the physiological state 3 with ADP and uncouplers are presented. These experimental observations are shown to be incompatible with Mitchell’s chemiosmotic theory. A novel scheme of coupling based on Nath’s two-ion theory of energy coupling within the torsional mechanism is proposed and shown to explain the data and also pass the test of consistency with the thermodynamics, taking us beyond the chemiosmotic theory. It is concluded that, twenty years since its first proposal, Nath’s torsional mechanism of energy transduction and ATP synthesis is now well poised to catalyze the progress of experimental and theoretical research in this interdisciplinary field.
Comparative Study of Three Steganographic Methods Using a Chaotic System and Their Universal Steganalysis Based on Three Feature Vectors
Authors: Battikh Dalia , El Assad Safwan , Hoang Thang Manh , Bakhache Bassem , Deforges Olivier , Khalil Mohamad
Published: July 2019

In this paper, we firstly study the security enhancement of three steganographic methods by using a proposed chaotic system. The first method, namely the Enhanced Edge Adaptive Image Steganography Based on LSB Matching Revisited (EEALSBMR), is present in the spatial domain. The two other methods, the Enhanced Discrete Cosine Transform (EDCT) and Enhanced Discrete Wavelet transform (EDWT), are present in the frequency domain. The chaotic system is extremely robust and consists of a strong chaotic generator and a 2-D Cat map. Its main role is to secure the content of a message in case a message is detected. Secondly, three blind steganalysis methods, based on multi-resolution wavelet decomposition, are used to detect whether an embedded message is hidden in the tested image (stego image) or not (cover image). The steganalysis approach is based on the hypothesis that message-embedding schemes leave statistical evidence or structure in images that can be exploited for detection. The simulation results show that the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and the Fisher Linear Discriminant (FLD) cannot distinguish between cover and stego images if the message size is smaller than 20% in the EEALSBMR steganographic method and if the message size is smaller than 15% in the EDCT steganographic method. However, SVM and FLD can distinguish between cover and stego images with reasonable accuracy in the EDWT steganographic method, irrespective of the message size.
Evaluation of Cooking Quality, Nutritional and Texture Characteristics of Pasta Added with Oat Bran and Apple Flour
Authors: Espinosa-Solis Vicente , Zamudio-Flores Paul Baruk , Tirado-Gallegos Juan Manuel , Ramírez-Mancinas Salvador , Olivas-Orozco Guadalupe Isela , Espino-Díaz Miguel , Hernández-González María , García-Cano Verónica Graciela , Sánchez-Ortíz Olalla , Buenrostro-Figueroa José Juan , Baeza-Jiménez Ramiro
Published: July 2019

This study reports the effect of the addition of oat bran and apple flour on the cooking quality, digestibility, antioxidant, nutritional and texture characteristics of a spaghetti-type pasta. Pasta samples were prepared by substituting 50% of durum wheat semolina with oat bran (OBP) or apple flour (AFP). AFP presented higher cooking loss and water absorption index than the control pasta prepared with 100% durum wheat semolina (WSP). The supplementation of pasta with oat bran increased the total dietary fiber content (16.43% w/w, dw), while apple flour decreased the protein content (11.16% w/w, dw). There was no significant difference in the resistant starch content among all pasta samples. The pasta samples made with 50/50 durum wheat semolina/oat bran and 50/50 durum wheat semolina/apple flour increased the antioxidant activity by ≈46% and ≈97%, respectively. The OBP and AFP samples had a similar texture to the control pasta. A 50% replacement of durum wheat semolina with oat bran in a pasta formulation decreased the caloric content and digestibility of its starch components. These attributes found in the oat bran pasta and apple flour pasta make them a healthy choice for the diet of people with specific nutritional needs.
The Human Coronary Collateral Circulation, Its Extracardiac Anastomoses and Their Therapeutic Promotion
Authors: Reto Bigler Marius , Seiler Christian
Published: July 2019

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of death, and the number of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and exhausted therapeutic options (i.e., percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medical treatment) is on the rise. Therefore, the evaluation of new therapeutic approaches to offer an alternative treatment strategy for these patients is necessary. A promising research field is the promotion of the coronary collateral circulation, an arterio-arterial network able to prevent or reduce myocardial ischemia in CAD. This review summarizes the basic principles of the human coronary collateral circulation, its extracardiac anastomoses as well as the different therapeutic approaches, especially that of stimulating the extracardiac collateral circulation via permanent occlusion of the internal mammary arteries.
Aggregation of Linked Data in the Cultural Heritage Domain: A Case Study in the Europeana Network
Authors: Freire Nuno , Voorburg René , Cornelissen Roland , de Valk Sjors , Meijers Enno , Isaac Antoine
Published: July 2019

Online cultural heritage resources are widely available through digital libraries maintained by numerous organizations. In order to improve discoverability in cultural heritage, the typical approach is metadata aggregation, a method where centralized efforts such as Europeana improve the discoverability by collecting resource metadata. The redefinition of the traditional data models for cultural heritage resources into data models based on semantic technology has been a major activity of the cultural heritage community. Yet, linked data may bring new innovation opportunities for cultural heritage metadata aggregation. We present the outcomes of a case study that we conducted within the Europeana cultural heritage network. In this study, the National Library of The Netherlands contributed by providing the role of data provider, while the Dutch Digital Heritage Network contributed as an intermediary aggregator that aggregates datasets and provides them to Europeana, the central aggregator. We identified and analyzed the requirements for an aggregation solution for the linked data, guided by current aggregation practices of the Europeana network. These requirements guided the definition of a workflow that fulfils the same functional requirements as the existing one. The workflow was put into practice within this study and has led to the development of software applications for administrating datasets, crawling the web of data, harvesting linked data, data analysis and data integration. We present our analysis of the study outcomes and analyze the effort necessary, in terms of technology adoption, to establish a linked data approach, from the point of view of both data providers and aggregators. We also present the expertise requirements we identified for cultural heritage data analysts, as well as determining which supporting tools were required to be designed specifically for semantic data.
Impact Assessment of Biological Control-Based Integrated Pest Management in Rice and Maize in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Authors: Babendreier Dirk , Wan Min , Tang Rui , Gu Rui , Tambo Justice , Liu Zhi , Grossrieder Manfred , Kansiime Monica , Wood Anna , Zhang Feng , Romney Dannie
Published: July 2019

The impact and sustainability of two interventions that have been formulated to introduce integrated pest management (IPM) into rice and maize crops in Southwestern China, Laos, and Myanmar between 2011 and 2016, and were assessed at the end of 2017. From 22 Trichogramma rearing facilities established during the interventions, 11 were still producing substantial quantities of biocontrol agents 1.5 years after project support had ended, while seven had stopped operations completely, and four were doing stock rearing only. Through the implementation of biological control-based IPM, slightly higher yields were achieved in maize and rice (4–10%), when compared to control farmers, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the use of pesticides nearly halved when farmers started using Trichogramma egg-cards as a biological control agent. Support from either public or private institutions was found to be important for ensuring the sustainability of Trichogramma rearing facilities. Many of the suggested IPM measures were not adopted by smallholder farmers, indicating that the positive impacts of the interventions mostly resulted from the application of Trichogramma biological control agents. The following assessment suggests that further promotion of IPM adoption among farmers is needed to upscale the already positive effects of interventions that facilitate reductions in synthetic pesticide use, and the effects on sustainable agricultural production of rice and maize in the target area more generally.
Impacts of Deciduous Leaf Litter and Snow Presence on Nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Overwintering Survival in Coastal New England, USA
Authors: Linske Megan A. , Stafford Kirby C. , Williams Scott C. , Lubelczyk Charles B. , Welch Margret , Henderson Elizabeth F.
Published: July 2019

Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) are the vector for pathogens that cause more cases of human disease than any other arthropod. Lyme disease is the most common, caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt, and Brenner) in the northeastern United States. Further knowledge of seasonal effects on survival is important for management and modeling of both blacklegged ticks and tick-borne diseases. The focus of our study was on the impact of environmental factors on overwintering success of nymphal blacklegged ticks. In a three-year field study conducted in Connecticut and Maine, we determined that ground-level conditions play an important role in unfed nymphal overwintering survival. Ticks in plots where leaf litter and snow accumulation were unmanipulated had significantly greater survival compared to those where leaf litter was removed (p = 0.045) and where both leaf litter and snow were removed (p = 0.008). Additionally, we determined that the key overwintering predictors for nymphal blacklegged tick survival were the mean and mean minimum temperatures within a year. The findings of this research can be utilized in both small- and large-scale management of blacklegged ticks to potentially reduce the risk and occurrence of tick-borne diseases.
A Note on Type 2 Degenerate q-Euler Polynomials
Authors: Kim Taekyun , Kim Dae San , Kim Han Young , Pyo Sung-Soo
Published: July 2019

Recently, type 2 degenerate Euler polynomials and type 2 q-Euler polynomials were studied, respectively, as degenerate versions of the type 2 Euler polynomials as well as a q-analog of the type 2 Euler polynomials. In this paper, we consider the type 2 degenerate q-Euler polynomials, which are derived from the fermionic p-adic q-integrals on Z p , and investigate some properties and identities related to these polynomials and numbers. In detail, we give for these polynomials several expressions, generating function, relations with type 2 q-Euler polynomials and the expression corresponding to the representation of alternating integer power sums in terms of Euler polynomials. One novelty about this paper is that the type 2 degenerate q-Euler polynomials arise naturally by means of the fermionic p-adic q-integrals so that it is possible to easily find some identities of symmetry for those polynomials and numbers, as were done previously.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Prostate Cancer Development: Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Testa Ugo , Castelli Germana , Pelosi Elvira
Published: July 2019

Prostate cancer is the most frequent nonskin cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in man. Prostate cancer is a clinically heterogeneous disease with many patients exhibiting an aggressive disease with progression, metastasis, and other patients showing an indolent disease with low tendency to progression. Three stages of development of human prostate tumors have been identified: intraepithelial neoplasia, adenocarcinoma androgen-dependent, and adenocarcinoma androgen-independent or castration-resistant. Advances in molecular technologies have provided a very rapid progress in our understanding of the genomic events responsible for the initial development and progression of prostate cancer. These studies have shown that prostate cancer genome displays a relatively low mutation rate compared with other cancers and few chromosomal loss or gains. The ensemble of these molecular studies has led to suggest the existence of two main molecular groups of prostate cancers: one characterized by the presence of ERG rearrangements (~50% of prostate cancers harbor recurrent gene fusions involving ETS transcription factors, fusing the 5′ untranslated region of the androgen-regulated gene TMPRSS2 to nearly the coding sequence of the ETS family transcription factor ERG) and features of chemoplexy (complex gene rearrangements developing from a coordinated and simultaneous molecular event), and a second one characterized by the absence of ERG rearrangements and by the frequent mutations in the E3 ubiquitin ligase adapter SPOP and/or deletion of CDH1, a chromatin remodeling factor, and interchromosomal rearrangements and SPOP mutations are early events during prostate cancer development. During disease progression, genomic and epigenomic abnormalities accrued and converged on prostate cancer pathways, leading to a highly heterogeneous transcriptomic landscape, characterized by a hyperactive androgen receptor signaling axis.
Immunotherapies and Targeted Therapies in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rawla Prashanth , Barsouk Adam , Hadjinicolaou Andreas V. , Barsouk Alexander
Published: July 2019

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer deaths, and while mortality has largely improved in the developed world, five-year survival for metastatic disease remains dismally low at only 15%. Fortunately, nearly a dozen targeted therapies and immunotherapies have been FDA approved in the past decade for certain patient profiles with metastatic CRC (mCRC), and many others are under development. Checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab have proven effective at extending survival for mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient and high microsatellite instability (MSI) mCRC patients. In combination with chemotherapy in first- and second-line treatment, antiangiogenic (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VGEF)) agent bevacizumab has been shown to increase mCRC survival. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) agents panitumumab and cetuximab, in combination with chemotherapy, have also prolonged survival among KRAS and all RAS wild-type mCRC patients. Among these patients, anti-EGFR therapy has been found to be more efficacious than bevacizumab. Improved selectivity has allowed small-molecule receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors to target VEGF and EGFR with greater efficacy and tolerability. Combinations of immunotherapies, RTKs, monoclonal antibodies, and cytotoxic drugs are being investigated to provide broad-spectrum protection against relapse by simultaneously targeting many cancer hallmarks. Lastly, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy has shown promise for HER2-positive mCRC patients, though larger clinical trials are required to secure FDA approval.
Wild Nutria (Myocastor coypus) Is a Potential Reservoir of Carbapenem-Resistant and Zoonotic Aeromonas spp. in Korea
Authors: Lim Se Ra , Lee Do-Hun , Park Seon Young , Lee Seungki , Kim Hyo Yeon , Lee Moo-Seung , Lee Jung Ro , Han Jee Eun , Kim Hye Kwon , Kim Ji Hyung
Published: July 2019

The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas spp. is a serious public and animal health concern. Wild animals serve as reservoirs, vectors, and sentinels of these bacteria and can facilitate their transmission to humans and livestock. The nutria (Myocastor coypus), a semi-aquatic rodent, currently is globally considered an invasive alien species that has harmful impacts on natural ecosystems and carries various zoonotic aquatic pathogens. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant zoonotic Aeromonas spp. in wild invasive nutrias captured in Korea during governmental eradication program. Three potential zoonotic Aeromonas spp. (A. hydrophila, A. caviae, and A. dhakensis) were identified among isolates from nutria. Some strains showed unexpected resistance to fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems. In carbapenem-resistant isolates, the cphA gene, which is related to intrinsic resistance of Aeromonas to carbapenems, was identified, and phylogenetic analysis based on this gene revealed the presence of two major groups represented by A. hydrophila (including A. dhakensis) and other Aeromonas spp. These results indicate that wild nutrias in Korea are a potential reservoir of zoonotic and antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas spp. that can cause infection and treatment failure in humans. Thus, measures to prevent contact of wild nutrias with livestock and humans are needed.
Oxidative Stress Response of Aspergillus oryzae Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide and Menadione Sodium Bisulfite
Authors: Shao Huanhuan , Tu Yayi , Wang Yijing , Jiang Chunmiao , Ma Long , Hu Zhihong , Wang Jiangfan , Zeng Bin , He Bin
Published: July 2019

Oxidative stress response protects organisms from deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cellular components and cause disturbance of the cellular homeostasis. Although the defensive biochemical mechanisms have been extensively studied in yeast and other filamentous fungi, little information is available about Aspergillus oryzae. We investigated the effect of two oxidant agents (menadione sodium bisulfite, MSB, and hydrogen peroxide, H2O2) on cellular growth and antioxidant enzyme induction in A. oryzae. Results indicated severe inhibition of biomass and conidia production when high concentration of oxidants was used. Transcriptomic analysis showed an up-regulated expression of genes involved in oxidoreduction, such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, it was observed that oxidative stress stimuli enhanced the expression of Yap1 and Skn7 transcription factors. Further, metabolomic analysis showed that glutathione content was increased in the oxidative treatments when compared with the control. Moreover, the content of unsaturated fatty acid decreased with oxidative treatment accompanying with the down-regulated expression of genes involved in linoleic acid biosynthesis. This study provided a global transcriptome characterization of oxidative stress response in A. oryzae, and can offer multiple target genes for oxidative tolerance improvement via genetic engineering.
Mineralogical Diversity of Ca2SiO4-Bearing Combustion Metamorphic Rocks in the Hatrurim Basin: Implications for Storage and Partitioning of Elements in Oil Shale Clinkering
Authors: Sokol Ella , Kokh Svetlana , Sharygin Victor , Danilovsky Victoria , Seryotkin Yurii , Liferovich Ruslan , Deviatiiarova Anna , Nigmatulina Elena , Karmanov Nikolay
Published: July 2019

This is the first attempt to provide a general mineralogical and geochemical survey of natural Ca2SiO4-bearing combustion metamorphic (CM) rocks produced by annealing and decarbonation of bioproductive Maastrichtian oil shales in the Hatrurim Basin (Negev Desert, Israel). We present a synthesis of data collected for fifteen years on thirty nine minerals existing as fairly large grains suitable for analytical examination. The Hatrurim Ca2SiO4-bearing CM rocks, which are natural analogs of industrial cement clinker, have been studied comprehensively, with a focus on several key issues: major- and trace-element compositions of the rocks and their sedimentary precursors; mineral chemistry of rock-forming phases; accessory mineralogy; incorporation of heavy metals and other trace elements into different phases of clinker-like natural assemblages; role of trace elements in stabilization/destabilization of Ca2SiO4 polymorphic modifications; mineralogical diversity of Ca2SiO4-bearing CM rocks and trace element partitioning during high-temperature–low-pressure anhydrous sintering. The reported results have implications for mineral formation and element partitioning during high-temperature–low-pressure combustion metamorphism of trace element-loaded bituminous marine chalky sediments (“oil shales”) as well as for the joint effect of multiple elements on the properties and hydration behavior of crystalline phases in industrial cement clinkers.
Genesis of Pyrite Concretions: Constraints from Mineral and Geochemical Features of Longtan Formation in Anhui Province, Eastern China
Authors: He Qing , An Yanfei , Sun Fangji , Lai Chunkit
Published: July 2019

The occurrence of pyrite concretions in the Permian Longtan Formation sheds light on the paragenesis, formation conditions and regional paleoenvironment. We analyzed the mineral and geochemical characteristics of pyrite concretions using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) from the Longtan Formation shales in Anhui, Eastern China. These pyrite concretions consist of two types, each with a distinct nucleus and outer layer: The former is mainly made up of quartz, bivalve fragments and minor gypsum, ankerite, siderite and pyrite, the latter consists of pyrite (FeS2) in the voids of quartz. Based on the correlation matrix and geochemical/mineralogical affinity, trace elements in the pyrite concretions fall into three groups, that is, I (Sr, Ba, Rb and K) in calcic minerals from bivalve-bearing nucleus, II (Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf) in certain heavy minerals and III (V, Cr, Co and Ni) in pyrites. Mineral assemblage and paragenetic analysis show that the formation of pyrite concretions can be divided into three stages: (1) deposition of bivalve-bearing nucleus, (2) lithification of diatoms and (3) diagenesis of pyrite. Mineral and geochemical indicators suggest that the formation environment of pyrite concretions has undergone a major shift from lagoon with intense evaporation, to strong reducing marsh.
Sustainable Magnetic Materials (from Chitosan and Municipal Biowaste) for the Removal of Diclofenac from Water
Authors: Nisticò Roberto , Bianco Prevot Alessandra , Magnacca Giuliana , Canone Lorenzo , García-Ballesteros Sara , Arques Antonio
Published: July 2019

The photodegradation of an aqueous solution of diclofenac (DCF) has been attempted in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and organic/inorganic hybrid magnetic materials under simulated and real solar light. The hybrid magnetic materials have been prepared via coprecipitation synthesis starting from iron(II) and iron(III) inorganic salts in the presence of bioderived organic products (i.e., chitosan or bio-based substances isolated from commercially available composted urban biowastes) acting as stabilizers of the iron-containing phase. In addition to the as prepared hybrid materials, the corresponding materials obtained after a pyrolytic step at low temperature (550 °C) have been tested. The obtained results evidenced the capability of the materials to activate hydrogen peroxide at mild pH promoting DCF (photo) degradation. All the materials feature also as adsorbents since a decrease of DCF is observed also when working in the dark and in the absence of hydrogen peroxide.