bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization Design of Injection Strategy for Surfactant-Polymer Flooding Process in Heterogeneous Reservoir under Low Oil Prices
Authors: He Hong , Chen Yuqiu , Yu Qun , Wen Xianli , Liu Haocheng
Published: October 2019

Surfactant–polymer (SP) flooding has significant potential to enhance oil recovery after water flooding in mature reservoirs. However, the economic benefit of the SP flooding process is unsatisfactory under low oil prices. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the chemical costs and improve SP flooding efficiency to make SP flooding more profitable. Our goal was to maximize the incremental oil recovery of the SP flooding process after water flooding by using the equal chemical consumption cost to ensure the economic viability of the SP flooding process. Thus, a systematic study was carried out to investigate the SP flooding process under different injection strategies by conducting parallel sand pack flooding experiments to optimize the SP flooding design. Then, the comparison of the remaining oil distribution after water flooding and SP flooding under different injection strategies was studied. The results demonstrate that the EOR efficiency of the SP flooding process under the alternating injection of polymer and surfactant–polymer (PASP) is higher than that of conventional simultaneous injection of surfactant and polymer. Moreover, as the alternating cycle increases, the incremental oil recovery increases. Based on the analysis of fractional flow, incremental oil recovery, and remaining oil distribution when compared with the conventional simultaneous injection of surfactant and polymer, the alternating injection of polymer and surfactant–polymer (PASP) showed better sweep efficiency improvement and recovered more remaining oil trapped in the low permeability zone. Thus, these findings could provide insights into designing the SP flooding process under low oil prices.
Experimental Study of Electromagnetic-Assisted Rare-Earth Doped Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) Nanofluids on Wettability and Interfacial Tension Alteration
Authors: Lau Zhen Yin , Lee Kean Chuan , Soleimani Hassan , Beh Hoe Guan
Published: October 2019

Applications of nanoparticles (NPs) in the Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method has become a major research field as nanoparticles are found to be able to interfere with the interfacial tension and wettability of multiphase fluids within the reservoir formation with or without the irradiance of the electromagnetic (EM) waves. For future EOR usage, a material with high temperature stability and low losses under oscillating wave is recommended, Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG). This paper describes the synthesis of rare-earth doped YIG (RE-YIG, RE = (Lanthanum (La), Neodymium (Nd) and Samarium (Sm)) and the roles of rare-earth in alteration of magnetic properties. These magnetic properties are believed to have direct relation with the change in wettability, viscosity and interfacial tension of YIG nanofluids. Here we prepared the Y2.8R0.2Fe5O12 (R = La, Nd, Sm) NPs using the sol-gel auto-combustion technique and further annealed at 1000 °C for 3 h. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images reveal the particles having grain size ranging from 100–200 nm with high crystallinity and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) shows varying shift of the peak position due to the bigger size of the rare-earth ions which resulted in structural distortion. The wettability of the nanofluid for all samples shows overall reduction under the influence of EM waves. On the other hand, the interfacial tension (IFT) and viscosity of RE-YIG nanofluids has lower value than the pure YIG nanofluids and decreases when the ionic radius of rare-earth decreases. Sm-YIG has the highest magnitude in IFT and magnetization saturation of 23.54 emu/g which suggests the increase in magnetization might contribute to higher surface tension of oil-nanofluid interface.
Explosion Characteristics and Flame Propagation Behavior of Mixed Dust Cloud of Coal Dust and Oil Shale Dust
Authors: Wang Junfeng , Zhang Yansong , Su Huifeng , Chen Jinshe , Liu Bo , Zhang Yuyuan
Published: October 2019

Coal and oil shale are often mined and utilized together, and mixed dust is easily formed in these processes. In order to ensure safe production in these processes, the explosion characteristics of mixed dust were studied. Using a Godbert-Greenwold (G-G) Furnace experimental device, Hartmann tube experimental device, and 20 L explosion vessel, the oil shale and coal mixed dust ignition sensitivity experiment, flame propagation experiment, and explosion characteristics experiment were carried out. The minimum ignition temperature (MIT), minimum ignition energy (MIE), maximum explosion pressure (Pmax), maximum rate of pressure rise ((dp/dt)max), and explosibility index (KSt) parameters and the flame propagation behavior of the mixed dust were analyzed in detail. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the coal and oil shale dust before and after the explosion was carried out to study the changes in the microscopic morphology of the dust particles. The results show that due to the oil shale having a high volatile content and low moisture content, in the mixture, the greater the percentage of oil shale, the more likely the dust cloud is to be ignited and the faster the explosion flame is propagated; the greater the percentage of oil shale, the greater the (dP/dt)max and KSt will be and, under a high dust concentration, a greater Pmax will be produced. During explosion, coal dust will experience particle pyrolysis and the gas phase combustion of the volatile matter, followed by solid phase combustion of coal char, whereas oil shale dust will only experience particle pyrolysis and the gas phase combustion of the volatile matter.
A New Buck-Boost AC/DC Converter with Two-Terminal Output Voltage for DC Nano-Grid
Authors: Li Xiangkun , Wu Weimin , Wang Houqing , Gao Ning , Chung Henry Shu-hung , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: October 2019

Due to the development and deployment of renewable DC power sources and their inherent advantages for DC loads in applications, the DC nano-grid has attracted more and more research attentions; especially the topologies of AC/DC converters are increasingly studied. When designing an AC to DC converter for a DC nano-grid system, the grounding configuration, which determines the costs, the efficiency as well as the safety, plays an important role. A three-terminal output AC to DC converter based on united grounding configuration has been presented for DC nano-grid. However, it has to be pointed out that the three-terminal output DC nano-grid is not as popular as the two-terminal DC output one, due to the infrastructure consideration. This paper proposes a new Buck-Boost AC to DC converter with two-terminal output voltage for DC nano-grid. The operating principle, the steady-state analysis, and the small signal modelling for the proposed converter working in continuous conduction mode are presented in detail. A 220 V/50 Hz/800 W prototype was fabricated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
A Comprehensive Inverter-BESS Primary Control for AC Microgrids
Authors: Fusero Michele , Tuckey Andrew , Rosini Alessandro , Serra Pietro , Procopio Renato , Bonfiglio Andrea
Published: October 2019

This paper proposes the design of a comprehensive inverter-BESS primary control capable of providing satisfactory performances both in grid-connected and islanded configurations as required by international standards and grid codes, such as IEEE Std. 1547. Such control guarantees smooth and fast dynamic behavior of the converter in islanded configuration as well as fast power control and voltage-frequency support in grid-connected mode. The performances of the proposed primary control are assessed by means of EMT (ElectroMagnetic Transients) simulations in the dedicated software DIgSILENT PowerFactory® (Germany, Gomaringen) . The simulation results show that the proposed BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) primary control is able to regulate frequency and voltage in Grid-Forming mode independently of the number of paralleled generators. This is achieved adopting a virtual generator technique which presents several advantages compared to the conventional one. Moreover, the proposed control can be switched to Grid-Support mode in order to provide fast control actions to allow frequency and voltage support as well as power control following the reference signals from the secondary level.
A Hybrid Compensation Topology for Battery Charging System Based on IPT Technology
Authors: Yang Junfeng , Zhang Xiaodong , Yang Xu , Liu Qiujiang , Sun Yi
Published: October 2019

Based on the double-sided LCC (DLCC) compensation topology circuit, a battery charging method is proposed to meet various charging requirements. Firstly, mathematical model was obtained by modeling primary and secondary sides of DLCC. The current gain and voltage gain of the inductive power transfer (IPT) system are derived. Then, taking into account the smooth conversion of charging mode, the parameter configuration conditions for constant current (CC) output and constant voltage (CV) output are designed systematically. Finally, after choosing parameters, the CC and CV modes can be achieved by adding one switch and an auxiliary capacitor. With few additional components and non-sophisticated control, both cost and complexity can be significantly reduced. An experimental prototype with 64 V charging voltage and 1A charging current is built. The experimental results show that the charging voltage and current fluctuation of the system are small and the method can meet the above requirements.
The Profitability of Cross-Cutting Practices in Butt-Rotten Picea abies Final-Felling Stands
Authors: Kärhä Kalle , Räsänen Mikko , Palander Teijo
Published: October 2019

Research Highlights: This study offers new information on the cross cutting of decayed stems with the sounding of short (0.5 m) offcuts and the bucking of longer (3.0 m) butt-rotten poles. Background and Objectives: The root and butt-rot fungus Heterobasidion annosum sensu lato (Fr.) Bref. causes wood quality damage to trees in softwood forests. When timber is harvested in butt-rotten forests, it is essential that the decayed part of the tree is recognized and cut away from a stem, while the healthy and good quality log section of a stem is cross cut with precision sawlogs. The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of two off-cutting methods on stem processing time, cutting productivity, sawlog volume, and commercial value at the roadside landing when harvesting timber from the butt-rotten Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) final-felling forests. Materials and Methods: The length of the short offcuts used was 0.5 m. The results of the cross-cutting practices were compared to the decayed pulpwood poles of 3 m from the butt of the rotten stems. Time and motion studies were carried out in stands before the profitability calculations. The study data consisted of 1980 Norway spruce sawlog stems. Results: Sounding of the short offcuts added significantly to the stem processing time of butt-rotten stems, but the sawlog volume and the timber value recovery of the stems were higher than those of the decayed pulpwood poles of 3 m. Conclusions: The study concluded that sounding of butt-rotten Norway spruce stems with one to three offcuts is economically profitable if the diameter of the decayed column at the stem stump’s height is small (≤5 cm). In contrast, when the width of the decay is larger (>5 cm), it is more profitable to first cross cut the decayed pulpwood pole of 3 m and then to observe the height of the decayed part of the stem.
Relationship Between Fire and Forest Cover Loss in Riau Province, Indonesia Between 2001 and 2012
Authors: Adrianto H. A. , Spracklen D. V. , Arnold S. R.
Published: October 2019

Forest and peatland fires occur regularly across Indonesia, resulting in large greenhouse gas emissions and causing major air quality issues. Over the last few decades, Indonesia has also experienced extensive forest loss and conversion of natural forest to oil palm and timber plantations. Here we used data on fire hotspots and tree-cover loss, as well as information on the extent of peat land, protected areas, and concessions to explore spatial and temporal relationships among forest, forest loss, and fire frequency. We focus on the Riau Province in Central Sumatra, one of the most active regions of fire in Indonesia. We find strong relationships between forest loss and fire at the local scale. Regions with forest loss experienced six times as many fire hotspots compared to regions with no forest loss. Forest loss and maximum fire frequency occurred within the same year, or one year apart, in 70% of the 1 km2 cells experiencing both forest loss and fire. Frequency of fire was lower both before and after forest loss, suggesting that most fire is associated with the forest loss process. On peat soils, fire frequency was a factor 10 to 100 lower in protected areas and natural forest logging concessions compared to oil palm and wood fiber (timber) concessions. Efforts to reduce fire need to address the underlying role of land-use and land-cover change in the occurrence of fire. Increased support for protected areas and natural forest logging concessions and restoration of degraded peatlands may reduce future fire risk. During times of high fire risk, fire suppression resources should be targeted to regions that are experiencing recent forest loss, as these regions are most likely to experience fire.
Comparison of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Sun-, Oven- and Freeze-Dried Ginger Extracts
Authors: Mustafa Iswaibah , Chin Nyuk Ling , Fakurazi Sharida , Palanisamy Arulselvan
Published: October 2019

The effects of different drying methods, including sun-, oven-, and freeze-drying on the changes in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Rubra) rhizome were studied. Sun-, oven-, and freeze-dried ginger showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in phenolic content by 1.79, 1.53, and 1.91-fold; flavonoid content increased by 6.06, 5.27, and 4.90-fold; FRAP increased by 3.95, 3.51, and 3.15-fold; ABTS•+ scavenging activity increased by 2.07, 1.72, and 1.61-fold; and DPPH• inhibition increased by 78%, 58%, and 56%, respectively. Dried ginger also exhibited better inhibitory effects on the lipopolysaccharides-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7. The drying process demonstrated a positive effect on the bioactivities of ginger. The sun-dried ginger exhibited the most potent antioxidant properties with the best enhanced anti-inflammatory activity followed by the oven-dried ginger and lastly, the freeze-dried ginger.
Conservation Genetic Assessment of Savannah Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Greater Kruger Biosphere, South Africa
Authors: Santos Teresa L. , Fernandes Carlos , Henley Michelle D. , Dawson Deborah A. , Mumby Hannah S.
Published: October 2019

Savannah elephant populations have been severely reduced and fragmented throughout its remaining range. In general, however, there is limited information regarding their genetic status, which is essential knowledge for conservation. We investigated patterns of genetic variation in savannah elephants from the Greater Kruger Biosphere, with a focus on those in previously unstudied nature reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park, using dung samples from 294 individuals and 18 microsatellites. The results of genetic structure analyses using several different methods of ordination and Bayesian clustering strongly suggest that elephants throughout the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) constitute a single population. No evidence of a recent genetic bottleneck was detected using three moment-based approaches and two coalescent likelihood methods. The apparent absence of a recent genetic bottleneck associated with the known early 1900s demographic bottleneck may result from a combination of rapid post-bottleneck population growth, immigration and long generation time. Point estimates of contemporary effective population size (Ne) for the GKNP were ~ 500–700, that is, at the low end of the range of Ne values that have been proposed for maintaining evolutionary potential and the current ratio of Ne to census population size (Nc) may be quite low (<0.1). This study illustrates the difficulties in assessing the impacts on Ne in populations that have suffered demographic crashes but have recovered rapidly and received gene flow, particularly in species with long generation times in which genetic time lags are longer. This work provides a starting point and baseline information for genetic monitoring of the GKNP elephants.
Monitoring Groundwater Change in California’s Central Valley Using Sentinel-1 and GRACE Observations
Authors: Liu Zhen , Liu Pang-Wei , Massoud Elias , Farr Tom G , Lundgren Paul , Famiglietti James S.
Published: October 2019

The San Joaquin Valley and Tulare basins in California’s Central Valley have intensive agricultural activity and groundwater demand that has caused significant subsidence and depletion of water resources in the past. We measured groundwater pumping-induced land subsidence in the southern Central Valley from March 2015 to May 2017 using Sentinel-1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data. The InSAR measurements provided fine spatial details of subsidence patterns and displayed a superposition of secular and seasonal variations that were coherent across our study region and correlated with precipitation variability and changes in freshwater demand. Combining InSAR and Global Positioning System (GPS) data, precipitation, and in situ well records showed a broad scale slowdown/cessation of long term subsidence in the wetter winter of 2017, likely reflecting the collective response of the Central Valley aquifer system to heavier-than-usual precipitation. We observed a very good temporal correlation between the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite groundwater anomaly (GWA) variation and long-term subsidence records, regardless of local hydrogeology and mechanical properties. This indicates the subsidence from satellite geodesy is a very useful indicator for tracking groundwater storage change. With the continuing acquisition of Sentinel-1 and other satellites, we anticipate decadal-scale subsidence records with a spatial resolution of tens to hundreds of meters will be available in the near future to be combined with basin-averaged GRACE measurements to improve our estimate of time-varying groundwater change.
Analysis of Land Use Change and Its Impact on the Hydrology of Kakia and Esamburmbur Sub-Watersheds of Narok County, Kenya
Authors: Marie Mireille Nzitonda , M. Mwangi Hosea , K. Mwangi John , Mwangi Gathenya John
Published: October 2019

Narok town is one of the places in Kenya which experience catastrophic floods. Many lives have been lost and valuable property destroyed in recent years. Change in land use/land cover upstream of the town area may have contributed significantly to the severity and frequency of flooding events. Runoff, which contributes to floods in Narok town, comes from Kakia and Esamburmbur sub-catchments of Enkare Narok watershed. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of land use/land cover change on the hydrology of Kakia and Esamburmbur sub-watersheds. To detect land use/land cover change, Landsat satellite images from 1985 to 2019 were used. Using supervised classification in Erdas Imagine 2014, land use of the study area was classified into four classes, i.e., forest, rangeland, agriculture and built-up areas. Five land use maps (1985, 1995, 2000, 2010, and 2019) were developed and used to perform land use change analysis. There was rampart conversion of forest to other land uses. Between 1985 and 2019, the forest and rangeland declined by 40.3% and 25.6% of the study area, respectively, while agriculture and built-up areas increased by 55.2% and 10.6% of the study area respectively. Analysis of soil hydrological properties indicate that the infiltration rate and soil hydraulic conductivity were greatest in forest than in other land use types. The basic infiltration rate in forest land was 89.1 cm/h while in rangeland and agricultural land, it was 7.9 cm/h and 15 cm/h respectively. At the top-soil layer, average soil hydraulic conductivity under forest was 46.3 cm/h, under rangeland, 2.6 cm/h and under agriculture, 4.9 cm/h. The low hydraulic conductivity in rangeland and agriculture was attributed to compaction by farm machinery (tractors) and livestock respectively. An interesting observation was made in rangelands where the top layer (0–20 cm) had a higher bulk density and a lower hydraulic conductivity as compared to the next deeper layer (20–40 cm). This was attributed to the combined impact of compaction and localised pressure by hooves of livestock which only have an impact on the top layer. The findings of this study show that land use has a major impact on soil hydrological properties and imply that the observed land use changes negatively affected the soil hydrological properties of the watershed. The decreased infiltration in the increasing areas of degraded land (mainly agriculture and rangeland) and increase in built-up area in Narok town are the possible causes of the increased flood risk in Narok town. It is recommended that flood risk management strategies in Narok town include watershed management to enhance water infiltration.
Predictors of Health-Seeking Behavior for Fever Cases among Caregivers of Under-Five Children in Malaria-Endemic Area of Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Oluchi Sampson , Manaf Rosliza , Ismail Suriani , Udeani Theophilus
Published: October 2019

Fever is one of the most common symptoms of pediatric illnesses; it is an important early symptom of malaria. Fever had served as the entry point for presumptive treatment of malaria among children in Nigerian. Appropriate HSB is important when seeking treatment for fever among under-five children; this will help for better prognosis because treatment will be initiated early. This study attempted to identify caregiver’s HSB for under-five children with fever. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Imo-State, Nigeria. Appropriate HSB was operationally defined as seeking treatment from health facility within 24 h of fever. Data were obtained using pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Simple and multiple logistic regression were used to determine predictors of appropriate HSB. A total of 559 eligible respondents were recruited; 103 (18.6%) caregivers had appropriate HSB. The predictors of HSB are being male child (aOR = 2.760; 95% CI:1.536–4.958), the age of child younger than 27 months (aOR = 2.804; 95% CI:1.485–5.295), employed caregivers (aOR = 1.882; 95% CI:1.014–3.493), number of household members (aOR = 2.504; 95% CI:1.464–4.283), and caregivers who decided to seek treatment at early stage (aOR = 7.060; 95% CI:1.616–30.852). Only 18.6% caregivers practiced appropriate HSB for fever cases among under-five children. It is essential to educate caregivers and emphasise on early treatment of fever and appropriate use of health facilities for fever. The findings will be used to improve intervention at the community level and will be compared with follow-up data to evaluate their effectiveness.
Why Are You Running and Does It Hurt? Pain, Motivations and Beliefs about Injury Prevention among Participants of a Large-Scale Public Running Event
Authors: Wilke Jan , Vogel Oliver , Vogt Lutz
Published: October 2019

Organized running events have gained substantial popularity. This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, knowledge about injury prevention as well as the attitudes and motivations of individuals participating in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in Frankfurt (Germany). A total of 720 recreational runners completed a digital questionnaire immediately prior to the start. The majority of them displayed low to moderate physical activity levels and were rather unambitious regarding targeted finishing time. One quarter (25.3%) participated for the first time in an organized race. The most stated reasons to register were team building (76.4%) and experiencing the run’s atmosphere (50.6%). In contrast, improving health played a minor role (19.4%). More than one in five individuals (n = 159 runners) reported pain, with the most common locations being the knee and lower back. Both at rest (3.2/10 on a numerical rating scale) and during activity (4.7/10), average pain intensity was clinically relevant. Almost three thirds of the participants believed that stretching and wearing appropriate shoes would be effective for injury prevention while other methods such as resistance training, balance exercise or wearing of orthoses were rarely named. Musculoskeletal pain is a significant burden in runners participating in an urban mass event. In view of the poor knowledge about injury prevention, organizers and coaches may consider offering structured preparation programs as well as tailored running-related health education.
Living with Urinary Incontinence: Potential Risks of Women’s Health? A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Female Patients Seeking Care for the First Time in a Specialized Center
Authors: Pintos-Díaz María Zahara , Alonso-Blanco Cristina , Parás-Bravo Paula , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Paz-Zulueta María , Fradejas-Sastre Víctor , Palacios-Ceña Domingo
Published: October 2019

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) represents a complex problem which commonly affects women and influences their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of a group of women with urinary incontinence. Methods: A qualitative exploratory study. Purposeful sampling was used. Recruited patients were females aged >18 years old with positive symptoms, signs of urinary incontinence, and attending a specialized urinary incontinence center for the first time. We collected data using interviews and participants’ personal letters. A thematic analysis was performed. Results: 18 women participated with a mean age of 47.32 years. Four themes emerged: (a) Experiencing uncontrolled urinary leakage, (b) Information based on beliefs and myths regarding UI, (c) Adapting to change and developing strategies, (d) The role of education. Women’s experiences were accompanied by feelings of stress and shame. A lack of information regarding UI was found, together with numerous misconceptions. Urinary incontinence triggers many changes in women. Some women may develop feelings of rejection towards their own body. Family involvement during these times is essential for education and promoting healthy sexual practices. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of developing educational programs that focus on women’s information and education regarding triggering factors and coping strategies.
The Contribution of Sustainable Tourism to Economic Growth and Employment in Pakistan
Authors: Manzoor Faiza , Wei Longbao , Asif Muhammad , Haq Muhammad Zia ul , Rehman Hafiz ur
Published: October 2019

In the global economy, tourism is one of the most noticeable and growing sectors. Thissector plays an important role in boosting a nation’s economy. An increase in tourism flow canbring positive economic outcomes to the nations, especially in gross domestic product (GDP) andemployment opportunities. In South Asian countries, the tourism industry is an engine ofeconomic development and GDP growth. This study investigates the impact of tourism onPakistan’s economic growth and employment. The period under study was from 1990 to 2015. Tocheck whether the variables under study were stationary, augmented Dickey–Fuller andPhillips–Perron unit root tests were applied. A regression technique and Johansen cointegrationapproach were employed for the analysis of data. The key finding of this study shows that there isa positive and significant impact of tourism on Pakistan’s economic growth as well as employmentsector and there is also a long‐run relationship among the variables under study. This studysuggests that legislators should focus on the policies with special emphasis on the promotion oftourism due to its great potential throughout the country. Policy implications of this recent studyand future research suggestions are also mentioned.
Long-Term Drug Misuse Increases the Risk of Cognitive Dysfunctions in Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: Key Intervention Targets for Reducing Dropout and Reoffending
Authors: Romero-Martínez Ángel , Lila Marisol , Moya-Albiol Luis
Published: October 2019

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a major public health problem, with an important mortality rate in women across the world. In this regard, it has been well-established that drug misuse explains (at least in part) an increased risk of IPVAW perpetration. Even though alcohol is the most widely studied drug underlying IPVAW, other drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine also seem to be significant indicators of this type of violence. Nonetheless, little is known about mediators, such as cognitive domains that facilitate proneness to violence after drug consumption. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study was to compare drug misuse patterns and cognitive performance in a carefully selected sample of IPVAW perpetrators (n = 63) and a group of non-violent men (control group; n = 39). Second, we also aimed to study the association between different patterns of drug misuse and cognitive performance and several facets of IPVAW perpetration (i.e., severity of injuries and type of aggression). Our results revealed that IPVAW perpetrators showed considerably higher levels of sustained drug misuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and heroin) for years and worse cognitive performance than controls. Moreover, the highest drug misuse sustained over time was related to the worst cognitive performance and the highest IPVAW severity. Finally, alcohol and cocaine seemed to be related to IPVAW and risk of reoffending. Whereas, cannabis, heroin, and MDMA were related to the existence of a previous criminal record (delinquency without violence). Hence, research in this field would help to develop coadjutant treatments and intervention packages to reduce drug misuse in the initial stages, which in turn would reduce cognitive impairments in IPVAW perpetrators. These expected improvements might produce an increase in treatment adherence and a decrease in the risk of future IPVAW reoffending.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: Linkages with Stunting in Rural Ethiopia
Authors: Kwami Corina Shika , Godfrey Samuel , Gavilan Hippolyte , Lakhanpaul Monica , Parikh Priti
Published: October 2019

Stunting is a global burden affecting nearly 160 million children younger than five years of age. Whilst the linkages between nutrition and stunting are well recognized, there is a need to explore environmental factors such as water and sanitation, which may influence feeding practices and result in potential infection pathways. This paper explores the linkages between stunting and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) factors in Ethiopia, which is a relatively understudied context. The research draws upon baseline data for children under the age of five from 3200 households across four regions in Ethiopia as part of a wider study and integrated program led by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Using World Health Organization (WHO) z-scoring, the average stunting rate in the sample is 47.5%. This paper also takes into account demographic and social behavioural factors such as the age, gender of children, and gender of the primary caregiver, in addition to handwashing behaviour and drinking water facilities. The evidence recommends efforts to improve handwashing behaviour for mothers and children with a focus on access to clean water. Higher stunting rates with an increase in the age of children highlight the need for continued interventions, as efforts to improve nutrition and WASH behaviours are most effective early on in promoting long-term health outcomes for children.
Active or Passive Commuter? Discrepancies in Cut-off Criteria among Adolescents
Authors: Zaragoza Javier , Corral Ana , Estrada Sergio , Abós Ángel , Aibar Alberto
Published: October 2019

Active commuting to school has health implications for young people. Previous research has shown the need to consistently define the concept of “active commuter”, given that assessment as well as comparison between studies may be hindered by current discrepancies in frequency criteria. Using a sample of 158 Spanish students (12th–13th grade, 60.8% girls), the current study aimed to compare several cut-off criteria to rigorously identify the frequency of weekly active trips to school in order to categorize adolescents as active or passive commuters, and to analyze whether the threshold living distance to school is associated with the different trip cut-off criteria. Percentages of active commuters ranged from 75% to 88.6%, varying significantly depending on the cut-off criteria (5–10 active trips/week) used. The results also support the need to be stricter in the selection of a cut-off criterion when the distance to the school becomes shorter. Our findings highlight the importance of following a standard criterion to classify individuals as active or passive commuters, considering the characteristics of the context in which each study is conducted.
Enhancing Primary Adherence to Prescribed Medications through an Organized Health Status Assessment-Based Extension of Primary Healthcare Services
Authors: Harsha Nouh , Papp Magor , Kőrösi László , Czifra Árpád , Ádány Róza , Sándor János
Published: October 2019

This study was part of monitoring an intervention aimed at developing a general practitioner cluster (GPC) model of primary healthcare (PHC) and testing its effectiveness in delivering preventive services integrated into the PHC system. The aim was to demonstrate whether GPC operation could increase the percentage of drugs actually dispensed. Using national reference data of the National Health Insurance Fund for each anatomical–therapeutic chemical classification ATC group of drugs, dispensed-to-prescribed ratios standardized (sDPR) for age, sex, and exemption certificate were calculated during the first quarter of 2012 (before-intervention) and the third quarter of 2015 (post-intervention). The after-to-before ratios of the sDPR as the relative dispensing ratio (RDR) were calculated to describe the impact of the intervention program. The general medication adherence increased significantly in the intervention area (RDR = 1.064; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.054–1.073). The most significant changes were observed for cardiovascular system drugs (RDR = 1.062; 95% CI: 1.048–1.077) and for alimentary tract and metabolism-specific drugs (RDR = 1.072; 95% CI: 1.049–1.097). The integration of preventive services into a PHC without any specific medication adherence-increasing activities is beneficial for medication adherence, especially among patients with cardiovascular, alimentary tract, and metabolic disorders. Monitoring the percentage of drugs actually dispensed is a useful element of PHC-oriented intervention evaluation frames.
The Effect of Polyphenols on Hypercholesterolemia through Inhibiting the Transport and Expression of Niemann–Pick C1-Like 1
Authors: Kobayashi Shoko
Published: October 2019

The Niemann–Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) protein is a cholesterol transporter that is expressed in the small intestine. This report describes the discovery of NPC1L1, its transport properties, and the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on NPC1L1. NPC1L1 was identified in 2004 while searching for ezetimibe molecular targets. Excessive synthesis of cholesterol results in hyperlipidemia, which increases the amount of bile cholesterol excreted into the duodenum. The inhibition of NPC1L1 decreases blood cholesterol because food and bile cholesterol are also absorbed from NPC1L1 in the intestine. Some polyphenols, particularly luteolin, have been reported as NPC1L1-mediated anti-dyslipidemia constituents. Luteolin affects NPC1L1 through two mechanisms. Luteolin directly inhibits NPC1L1 by binding to it, which occurs in a short timeframe similar to that for ezetimibe. The other mechanism is the inhibition of NPC1L1 expression. Luteolin reduced the binding of Sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) in the promoter region of the NPC1L1 gene and decreased mRNA levels of SREBP2 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α. These data suggest that luteolin decreases the expression of NPC1L1 through regulation of transcription factors. This review also explores the effect of other polyphenols on NPC1L1 and hypercholesterolemia.
Molecular Mechanisms of the Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: An Updated View
Authors: Guzzi Francesco , Cirillo Luigi , Roperto Rosa Maria , Romagnani Paola , Lazzeri Elena
Published: October 2019

Increasing evidence has demonstrated the bidirectional link between acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) such that, in the clinical setting, the new concept of a unified syndrome has been proposed. The pathophysiological reasons, along with the cellular and molecular mechanisms, behind the ability of a single, acute, apparently self-limiting event to drive chronic kidney disease progression are yet to be explained. This acute injury could promote progression to chronic disease through different pathways involving the endothelium, the inflammatory response and the development of fibrosis. The interplay among endothelial cells, macrophages and other immune cells, pericytes and fibroblasts often converge in the tubular epithelial cells that play a central role. Recent evidence has strengthened this concept by demonstrating that injured tubules respond to acute tubular necrosis through two main mechanisms: The polyploidization of tubular cells and the proliferation of a small population of self-renewing renal progenitors. This alternative pathophysiological interpretation could better characterize functional recovery after AKI.
Quercetin, a Promising Clinical Candidate for The Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
Authors: Vicente-Vicente Laura , González-Calle David , Casanova Alfredo Ginés , Hernández-Sánchez María Teresa , Prieto Marta , Rama-Merchán Juan Carlos , Martín-Moreiras Javier , Martín-Herrero Francisco , Sánchez Pedro Luis , López-Hernández Francisco J. , Cruz-González Ignacio , Morales Ana Isabel
Published: October 2019

Iodinated contrast media (CM) are the leading cause of acute renal failure of toxic origin. Between 21% and 50% of patients that receive them develop contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). All prophylactic measures used so far have failed to provide effective prevention. Since oxidative stress is involved in the damage, a possible preventive strategy could be the administration of antioxidant substances, such as quercetin. This compound has shown renoprotective effects in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quercetin may be helpful in preventing CIN in patients undergoing coronary catheterization. A clinical phase II study was conducted. Patients were distributed in two groups, namely, CM (patients who only received contrast media) and CM+Q (patients who were pretreated with quercetin orally for 3–5 days). Results showed less incidence of CIN in the CM+Q group, possibly due to glomerular protection, evidenced by a lower increase in serum creatinine and albuminuria; and a lower decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Furthermore, in this group, the relative risk of developing CIN observed in patients that received a high dose of contrast media was inferior. In conclusion, this is the first study that demonstrates that quercetin is a promising safe candidate in preventing CIN.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Carboxylesterases (COEs) in the Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)
Authors: Xia Jixing , Xu Haifeng , Yang Zezhong , Pan Huipeng , Yang Xin , Guo Zhaojiang , Yang Fengshan , Guo Litao , Sun Xiaodong , Wang Shaoli , Wu Qingjun , Xie Wen , Zhang Youjun
Published: October 2019

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), an important invasive pest that causes severe damage to crops worldwide, has developed resistance to a variety of insecticides. Carboxylesterases (COEs) are important multifunctional enzymes involved in the growth, development, and xenobiotic metabolism of insects. However, systematic studies on the COEs of B. tabaci are scarce. Here, 42 putative COEs in different functional categories were identified in the Mediterranean species of B. tabaci (B. tabaci MED) based on a genome database and neighbor-joining phylogeny. The expression patterns of the COEs were affected by the development of B. tabaci. The expression levels of six COEs were positively correlated with the concentration of imidacloprid to which B. tabaci adults were exposed. The mortality of B. tabaci MED adults fed dsBTbe5 (67.5%) and dsBTjhe2 (58.4%) was significantly higher than the adults fed dsEGFP (41.1%) when treated with imidacloprid. Our results provide a basis for functional research on COEs in B. tabaci and provide new insight into the imidacloprid resistance of B. tabaci.
Hsp90 and Its Co-Chaperones in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Bohush Anastasiia , Bieganowski Paweł , Filipek Anna
Published: October 2019

Proper folding is crucial for proteins to achieve functional activity in the cell. However, it often occurs that proteins are improperly folded (misfolded) and form aggregates, which are the main hallmark of many diseases including cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and many others. Proteins that assist other proteins in proper folding into three-dimensional structures are chaperones and co-chaperones. The key role of chaperones/co-chaperones is to prevent protein aggregation, especially under stress. An imbalance between chaperone/co-chaperone levels has been documented in neurons, and suggested to contribute to protein misfolding. An essential protein and a major regulator of protein folding in all eukaryotic cells is the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). The function of Hsp90 is tightly regulated by many factors, including co-chaperones. In this review we summarize results regarding the role of Hsp90 and its co-chaperones in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and prionopathies.
Role of Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention
Authors: Ranjan Alok , Ramachandran Sharavan , Gupta Nehal , Kaushik Itishree , Wright Stephen , Srivastava Suyash , Das Hiranmoy , Srivastava Sangeeta , Prasad Sahdeo , Srivastava Sanjay K.
Published: October 2019

The use of synthetic, natural, or biological agents to minimize the occurrence of cancer in healthy individuals is defined as cancer chemoprevention. Chemopreventive agents inhibit the development of cancer either by impeding DNA damage, which leads to malignancy or by reversing or blocking the division of premalignant cells with DNA damage. The benefit of this approach has been demonstrated in clinical trials of breast, prostate, and colon cancer. The continuous increase in cancer cases, failure of conventional chemotherapies to control cancer, and excessive toxicity of chemotherapies clearly demand an alternative approach. The first trial to show benefit of chemoprevention was undertaken in breast cancer patients with the use of tamoxifen, which demonstrated a significant decrease in invasive breast cancer. The success of using chemopreventive agents for protecting the high risk populations from cancer indicates that the strategy is rational and promising. Dietary components such as capsaicin, cucurbitacin B, isoflavones, catechins, lycopenes, benzyl isothiocyanate, phenethyl isothiocyanate, and piperlongumine have demonstrated inhibitory effects on cancer cells indicating that they may serve as chemopreventive agents. In this review, we have addressed the mechanism of chemopreventive and anticancer effects of several natural agents.
Methionine Adenosyltransferase 1a (MAT1A) Enhances Cell Survival During Chemotherapy Treatment and is Associated with Drug Resistance in Bladder Cancer PDX Mice
Authors: Martin Kelly A. , Hum Nicholas R. , Sebastian Aimy , He Wei , Siddiqui Salma , Ghosh Paramita M. , Pan Chong-xian , de Vere White Ralph , Loots Gabriela G.
Published: October 2019

Bladder cancer is among the top ten most common cancers, with about ~380,000 new cases and ~150,000 deaths per year worldwide. Tumor relapse following chemotherapy treatment has long been a significant challenge towards completely curing cancer. We have utilized a patient-derived bladder cancer xenograft (PDX) platform to characterize molecular mechanisms that contribute to relapse following drug treatment in advanced bladder cancer. Transcriptomic profiling of bladder cancer xenograft tumors by RNA-sequencing analysis, before and after relapse, following a 21-day cisplatin/gemcitabine drug treatment regimen identified methionine adenosyltransferase 1a (MAT1A) as one of the significantly upregulated genes following drug treatment. Survey of patient tumor sections confirmed elevated levels of MAT1A in individuals who received chemotherapy. Overexpression of MAT1A in 5637 bladder cancer cells increased tolerance to gemcitabine and stalled cell proliferation rates, suggesting MAT1A upregulation as a potential mechanism by which bladder cancer cells persist in a quiescent state to evade chemotherapy.
Personalized Treatment Response Assessment for Rare Childhood Tumors Using Microcalorimetry–Exemplified by Use of Carbonic Anhydrase IX and Aquaporin 1 Inhibitors
Authors: Gros Stephanie J. , Holland-Cunz Stefan G. , Supuran Claudiu T. , Braissant Olivier
Published: October 2019

We present a novel approach to a personalized therapeutic concept for solid tumors. We illustrate this on a rare childhood tumor for which only a generalized treatment concept exists using carbonic anhydrase IX and aquaporin 1 inhibitors. The use of microcalorimetry as a refined in vitro method for evaluation of drug susceptibility in organotypic slice culture has not previously been established. Rapid microcalorimetric drug response assessment can refine a general treatment concept when it is applied in cases in which tumors do not respond to conventional chemo-radiation treatment. For solid tumors, which do not respond to classical treatment, and especially for rare tumors without an established protocol rapid microcalorimetric drug response testing presents an elegant novel approach to test alternative therapeutic approaches. While improved treatment concepts have led to improved outcome over the past decades, the prognosis of high risk disease is still poor and rethinking of clinical trial design is necessary. A small patient population combined with the necessity to assess experimental therapies for rare solid tumors rather at the time of diagnosis than in relapsed or refractory patients provides great challenges. The possibility to rapidly compare established protocols with innovative therapeutics presents an elegant novel approach to refine and personalize treatment.