bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of hdc Gene from Histamine Producing Bacillus subtillis and Serratia marcescens
Authors: Laxmi C. Aishwarya , Munaliga S. , Babu N.G. Ramesh , Ragunathan R.
Published: September 2017

In the present study, two histamine producing bacteria were used to detect the presence of hdc gene using PCR. The histamine production was confirmed by using Soyabean Casein Digest Agar (Tryptone Soya Agar). The DNA was isolated using Phenol: chloroform method. PCR was carried out using hdc gene and the amplified product was confirmed (657bps and 668 bps respectively). Further, the DNA and the PCR product were transformed into E.coli and the gene transformation was confirmed.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 309-312
Evaluation of Performances of Cowpea (Vigna ungiculata) Genotypes in Agronomy Farm of Lamjung Campus
Authors: Bhattarai Chandan , Marasini Dinesh , Dawadi Prabin , Aryal Sadkishya
Published: September 2017

Seed to seed production experiments for cowpea (Vigna ungiculata) was conducted at Agronomy farm at IAAS Lamjung, and to compare production potentialities of given cowpea genotypes under the given sets of conditions. The treatment consists of two cowpea varieties viz. Prakash (Standard Check) and Malepatan (Local check) and four genotypes; IT 99K-573-2-1, IT 86F-2062-5, IT 93K-452-1, IT 98K-205-8. The experiment was conducted on RCBD design. .All other activities were carried out according to prepared working calendar almost from August 2016 to December 2016.  Data collection were done for pre-determined growth and other yield parameters and was analyzed using MSTAT. Major parameters were Grain yield, Seeds/plant, Pods/plant, plant height, pod length, harvest index and test weight. Result shows maximum grain yield and harvest index was found for Prakash (Standard Check).Plant height and Pods /Plant was found highest for IT 99K-573-2-1. Similarly highest seed weight was found for Prakash (Standard Check) and Seeds/Plant and Pod length was maximum for IT 86F-2062-5.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 382-385
Prevalence of Haemonchus contortus in Goats of Western Chitwan of Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Kashyap , Rana Hari Bahadur , Kaphle Krishna , Khanal Tanka , Raut Rabin
Published: September 2017

The research was done in cross sectional design to study about the prevalence of Haemonchus contortus in goats of Western Chitwan of Nepal. A total of 252 fecal samples were collected through purposive sampling. Fecal samples were examined through sedimentation and floatation method. Egg per gram (EPG) was calculated through Mac Master Counting Technique of positive samples. Total prevalence was found to be 13.89%. Infection of parasite was more prevalent in males (15.18%) than in female (12.86%) but was statistically non-significant (P>0.05). In non-dewormed goats (40.32%), the prevalence was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in dewormed goats (5.26%). The results regarding the relationship between different age groups of goats and H. contortus showed that highest prevalence (14.54%) of parasite was observed in age group of below 1 year and the lowest (12.96%) in age group of  above 2 year, statistically non-significant (P>0.05). Maximum goats were found with medium level of infestation through EPG. This study shows higher prevalence of Haemonchus in non-dewormed than in dewormed goats which is statistically significant at (P<0.05). Thus, effective deworming programme and management must be maintained in order to upgrade the health status and maximize the benefits from the animal.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 321-325
Isolation of Ethidium Bromide Degrading Bacteria from Jharkhand
Authors: Kumar Anil , Swarupa Preeti , Gandhi Vikram Pal , Kumari Snehal
Published: September 2017

Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is a carcinogenic and mutagenic agent which is widely used in research laboratories to probe nucleic acids by gel electrophoresis. It is generally buried underground (for solid waste) or disposed of pouring it down the sink (in case of liquid waste). Soil or drain microbial community may be able to take care of such substance else it will lead to contamination of our underground resources or others through defined and undefined routes. In view of the above assumption and literature reports the present study was undertaken to isolate and evaluate bacteria for removal, by bioaccumulation and /or biotransformation, of EtBr from contaminated sources and wastes, before their disposal to the environment. Two distinct bacteria both motile BR3 and BR4 could be identified from agarose-gel-waste containing 0.5-1.0 µg/ml ethidium bromide. Both bacteria were found to grow on EtBr-NA plate (Nutrient-Agar supplemented with EtBr at a concentration of 30 µg/ml) however only BR3 isolate showed large non-fluorescent-halo zone (characteristic to degradation of EtBr) when exposed to trans-UV light. Other isolate BR4 could accumulate EtBr within the colony biomass but did not showed clear (non-fluorescent) hallow zone around it. However the bacterium is not able to utilize the EtBr as a sole carbon source.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 293-301
Assessment of Antibiotic Residues in the Marketed Meat of Kailali and Kavre of Nepal
Authors: Raut Rabin , Mandal Ram Kumar , Kaphle Krishna , Pant Dinesh , Nepali Suresh , Shrestha Arbindra
Published: September 2017

This is a cross-sectional study to detect presence of antibiotic residues in meat sample of Kailali and Kavre districts. Each sample out of 55 meat samples (muscles and liver) of poultry-41, goat-12, buffalo-9 and pig-4 from Kailali and Kavre was tested for different groups of antibiotic residues separately. The antibiotics tested were Penicillin, Tetracycline, Aminoglycosides, Macrolides and Sulfonamides. Samples were preserved at -84˚C in the deep freezer after collecting in sterile plastic pouch. Rapid test kit (78.9% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity) of G9 Co. Ltd., Thailand was used to detect residues in the samples. The protocol of kit was followed for the test. The overall prevalence of antibiotic residues in meat was around 22%. Meat samples exceeding the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) were 6. Liver was found with higher number of residues than muscles. The organ and location wise prevalence of residue was found statistically significant at p<0.05. The samples contained alarmingly high level of antibiotic residues which is because of neglecting the withdrawal period. The prescription of antibiotic is not prudent. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 386-389
Bayesian Credible Intervals for Maize Grain Yields of the Maintenance Varieties Evaluated in Sudan
Authors: Omer Siraj Osman , Abdalla Mohammed Salah , Alzain Ibrahim Nuraldin , Dafaalla Abdelmoniea
Published: September 2017

Improved of maintenance crop varieties developed at agricultural research corporation, Wad median, Sudan is intended for seed foundation which is recently established. This study was undertaken to establish statistical investigation using Bayesian estimation for credible interval or posterior interval as a Bayesian strategy for a maintenance variety. Data on grain yield (kg/ha) on a maize crop variety were used. Bayesian posterior information can be annoying to investigate but are important in maintenance varieties that foundational claims are used to make general recommendations for practice. Half normal informative priors set were used. The heritability of yield (varieties)) was (h = 0.75). Predicted posterior means of varieties were shown with a Bayesian interval for scientific inference in the maintenance maize grain yield. Bayesian approach is useful for reducing uncertainty on decisions based on economic evaluation of new maize varieties in Sudan, the use of credible intervals for grain yield allow for early decisions.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(3): 390-396
Continuing the Journey of Educating, Training and Research
Authors: Pradhan Shrestha Basanti Roshan
Published: September 2017

No abstract available
Understanding Trainers Implementing their Occupational Skill in Delivering Training
Authors: Joshi Pashupati
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study was to understand the vocational instructional implementation of occupational skill while delivering hardware maintenance training in Kavraplanchok district of Nepal. A case study research design was applied while carrying out this study. All together five participants were purposefully selected for the study. The study reveals that the training was taken for granted by the trainees. Lack of equipment, tools and resources, same teaching learning methodology, focus on tradition lecture methods and limited time frame were the hindering factor during the implementation of occupational skills by the trainers.
Voyage from the Himalayas to the Highlands: Reflections in Technical Education
Authors: Bhurtel Anup
Published: September 2017

This paper reflects on my journey from the Nepal to the United Kingdom UK) as a student initially and then as a National Health Service (NHS) Grampian’s employee. The purpose of developing this paper was to draw insights on the factors that pulled me as an urban youth for studying andliving in the UK and to present the significance of skills-based technical education for the changing job market. I used analytic autoethnography to carry out this research, where I presented past epiphanies and consecutively interpreted the strong memories of those lived experiences and observations to broaden my theoretical understandings. I argued based on my lived experiences that the scope of the market based technical education is globally prevalent. For this, I have sequentially presented my stories of self-realizations and skills acquisition in the developed country such as the UK from the theoretical ideas of ethnoscapes, new and intelligent urbanism, and credentialism. Moreover, I have illuminated the relevance and significance of market based technicaleducation courses for competing not only in Nepal but also in the global job market of the UK through self-reflection. Findings in this paper suggest the need for the international students to be pre-equipped with market based skills and to opt for market oriented subjects preferably from the field of technical education.
ICT Pedagogy in Higher Education: A Constructivist Approach
Authors: Jha Anila
Published: September 2017

Information and communication technology (ICT) has been an integral part of pedagogy in educational institutions in general and higher education in particular. My focus in this paper is to see how ICT plays a role in constructing knowledge and improving learning in the higher educational institutions. The arguments are based on the review of existing ICT related literature, and in- depth interviews with few ICT pedagogy and social constructivist related educationists. So, the method applied is qualitative. First, ICT plays a role of a means to an end in the sense that it carries messages with higher level of accuracy. Second, it makes the interactions among the target group ‘living’ and creates the environment for effective learning. Third, ICT links the performers (teachers and students) in the learning groups cognitively and affectively to transform the unit of learning among the learners. This means that ICT plays a vital role in the part of the learners in which they are liberated from their teachers’ dominance.
A Weed by Any Other Name: Problems with Defining Weeds in Tropical Queensland
Authors: Wegner Janice
Published: September 2017

Defining a 'weed' is more complex than the usual variations of 'a plant out of place'. It depends on time, place and the identity of the people affected by it, and can change as uses are found for an unwanted plant. Whether or not a plant is introduced can also affect its status. This study uses examples of weeds in the Australian state of Queensland.
Conservation Conferences and Expert Networks in the Short Twentieth Century
Authors: de Bont Raf , Schleper Simone , Schouwenburg Hans
Published: September 2017

The twentieth century witnessed the rise of a conservation movement that presented itself as 'international' and 'science-based'. This article analyses the changing transnational networks of experts mobilised by this movement. It does so by studying the participant lists of 21 influential international conservation conferences held between 1913 and 1990. On the basis of a database we were able to trace changes in the national background, disciplinary allegiance and gender balance of conference attendants. Furthermore, we singled out a so-called 'congress elite' of often returning participants, whose background we analyse more in depth. The overall composition of the congress network as well as that of its elite, we show, changed only through a slow and laborious process. This process accounts for both the continuity in the sensibilities of international conservation experts and the gradual changes in their approach.
Towards the Inner History of the Nation: Defining ‘Cultural History’ in Nineteenth-Century Finland
Authors: Rantala Heli
Published: September 2017

This article contributes to the discussion on the European roots of cultural history by exploring the nineteenth-century understanding of cultural history from a Finnish perspective. The article argues that the Finnish case opens a fresh perspective to the history of cultural history by connecting it with the French historiography instead of German Kulturgeschichte. In Finland there is a special tradition of cultural history dating back to the early twentieth century, inspired by the German tradition of Kulturgeschichte. This article focuses on the earlier period, on the mid-nineteenth-century discussion concerning the scope of history and the ways the works of several European historians were reviewed in Finland. In this discussion the orientation was not so much in the German tradition but towards the French way of writing history. An important element in the Finnish discussion was the separation of political or official history from the so called inner history of the people, which was considered as more fundamental and comprehensive than political history. This orientation towards the history of the people was considered as cultural history. The article explores the question of ‘cultural history’ in Finland by drawing on the writings of influential Finnish thinker Johan Vilhelm Snellman (1806–1881).
The ‘Guardian Group’ of Finland: Socializing Measures in the Little Lotta Organization during the 1930s and 1940s
Authors: Paksuniemi Merja , Keskinen Lauri
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this article is to explore the education that a Finnish voluntary organization, Pikkulotat, the Little Lottas, provided for girls aged 8–17 in Finland during the turbulent and highly political 1930s and 40s. Little Lottas, and their adult counterparts the Lotta Svärd, were nationalistic organizations designed to work on the home front in case of war. From an outside perspective, their activity resembled the scout movement. The aim of the organization was to teach girls skills and knowledge that were to be used in national defence work. The Little Lotta organization had approximately 13,000 members in 1935, 24,000 members in 1939 and 52,000 members in 1944 when its activities were shut down due to political reasons.

The primary data of this article consists of magazines Pikkulotta [Little Lotta] (1938–1943), Lottatyttö [Lotta Girl] (1943–1944) and Lotta Svärd (1934–1943). The specific aim of this article is to answer, by using Critical Discourse Analysis as a theoretical tool, the following questions: What were the attributes of a stereotypical Little Lotta? What ideology, skills and guidelines were passed on to readers of previously mentioned magazines? What do texts reveal about the historical context and prevailing culture in which the Little Lotta organization functioned? Results show that members of Little Lotta were given instructions, advice and recommendations that covered all aspects of life: physical appearance, morals, ideology, religion and so on. These measures had three somewhat overlapping aims: 1) to incorporate women into service for the country, 2) to spread officially approved ideologies to homes and, finally, 3) to raise future mothers.
Gender Metaphors in Representations of the Biological Body: An Analysis of Popular Medical Literature Published in Franco's Spain
Authors: García-Fernández Mónica
Published: September 2017

This paper analyses two metaphors used to explain reproduction in Spain's popular medical literature of the 1950s and 1960s, that is, during the middle decades of the Franco dictatorship (1939–1975). By exploring metaphors and advice manuals, I study how knowledge about sexuality is disclosed to non-specialist audiences, and how this reinforces hegemonic discourses that sustain power relations and naturalize gender hierarchies. Precisely the status of advice literature as a hybrid genre makes it an interesting source to study the use of gendered metaphors. The intention to educate common people is evident in a language that uses clear analogies and familiar associations that appeal to common sense and are supposed to be effortlessly grasped by the intended audience. Particularly, I discuss two examples that rely on both textual and visual allegories. On the one hand, I explore the concept of menstruation as a cyclical defeat, which conveys and reinforces assumptions about women's bodies and roles that fit well with the gender politics of the Franco regime. On the other hand, I asses the depiction of the egg and the sperm through the simile of fertilization as a wedding. This image reflects widespread preconceptions about love, marriage, and sex. I argue that, since symbolic representations play a crucial role in shaping gender inequalities, an inquiry of such discourses help us identify those symbols that naturalize stereotypes and allows us to problematize strategies that perpetuate power relations.
Towards Non-Invasive Extraction and Determination of Blood Glucose Levels
Authors: Todd Catherine , Salvetti Paola , Naylor Katy , Albatat Mohammad
Published: September 2017

Diabetes is a condition where the body is incapable of proper utilization of glucose and one that, if not properly managed, can lead to critical illness. Glucose monitoring and decision support is vital in avoiding potential adverse health effects. Current methods mainly involve invasive blood extraction for the purposes of blood glucose level notification, yet such methods rely on active user participation and subjective interpretation of the result. This paper reviews existing research in methods of extraction and monitoring of glucose levels. The purpose of this paper is to examine blood glucose extraction methods in addition to indicators of blood glucose level, toward development of an innovative, non-invasive extraction technology. Decision support methods are also analyzed toward customized, automated, and intelligent diabetic management.
Bystander Programs: Accommodating or Derailing Sexism?
Authors: Reid Adam , Dundes Lauren
Published: September 2017

Bystander programs implemented to meet federal requirements to reduce sexual assaults on college campuses in the United States must include primary prevention. Survey data (n = 280) and interview data (n = 20) presented in this paper explore students’ hypothetical and actual willingness to intervene as bystanders. Although most students surveyed (57%) claim they would be very likely to intervene, fewer than half would be very suspicious of someone leading away an intoxicated individual at a party (45% of women and 28% of men: p < 0.01). Interview data reveal how students perceive risk factors at college parties and what types of bystander measures they attempt, including “distractions”, a nonconfrontational tactic in which bystanders avoid more direct but socially risky interventions. Subsumed in many current bystander programs is an invisible element of valorizing harmony. Condoning bystanders’ unwillingness to directly confront seemingly predatory individuals could make change seem out of reach and could also embolden offenders whose behavior is observed and only temporarily thwarted.
The Emerging Role of Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Fu Zheng , Wen Donghua
Published: September 2017

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in the regulation of the cell cycle. PLK1 is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors, and its expression level often correlates with increased cellular proliferation and poor prognosis in cancer patients. It has been suggested that PLK1 controls cancer development through multiple mechanisms that include canonical regulation of mitosis and cytokinesis, modulation of DNA replication, and cell survival. However, emerging evidence suggests novel and previously unanticipated roles for PLK1 during tumor development. In this review, we will summarize the recent advancements in our understanding of the oncogenic functions of PLK1, with a focus on its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor invasion. We will further discuss the therapeutic potential of these functions.
Design and Implementation of a Smart Lithium-Ion Battery System with Real-Time Fault Diagnosis Capability for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Gao Zuchang , Chin Cheng , Chiew Joel , Jia Junbo , Zhang Caizhi
Published: September 2017

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) power systems have been commonly used for energy storage in electric vehicles. However, it is quite challenging to implement a robust real-time fault diagnosis and protection scheme to ensure battery safety and performance. This paper presents a resilient framework for real-time fault diagnosis and protection in a battery-power system. Based on the proposed system structure, the self-initialization scheme for state-of-charge (SOC) estimation and the fault-diagnosis scheme were tested and implemented in an actual 12-cell series battery-pack prototype. The experimental results validated that the proposed system can estimate the SOC, diagnose the fault and provide necessary protection and self-recovery actions under the load profile for an electric vehicle.
TSKT-ORAM: A Two-Server k-ary Tree Oblivious RAM without Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Zhang Jinsheng , Ma Qiumao , Zhang Wensheng , Qiao Daji
Published: September 2017

This paper proposes TSKT-oblivious RAM (ORAM), an efficient multi-server ORAM construction, to protect a client’s access pattern to outsourced data. TSKT-ORAM organizes each of the server storages as a k-ary tree and adopts XOR-based private information retrieval (PIR) and a novel delayed eviction technique to optimize both the data query and data eviction process. TSKT-ORAM is proven to protect the data access pattern privacy with a failure probability of 2 - 80 when system parameter k ≥ 128 . Meanwhile, given a constant-size local storage, when N (i.e., the total number of outsourced data blocks) ranges from 2 16 – 2 34 , the communication cost of TSKT-ORAM is only 22–46 data blocks. Asymptotic analysis and practical comparisons are conducted to show that TSKT-ORAM incurs lower communication cost, storage cost and access delay in practical scenarios than the compared state-of-the-art ORAM schemes.
Potential Use of Plant Waste from the Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian “V3”) as an Antioxidant Source
Authors: Minh Truong Ngoc , Tuyen Phung Thi , Khang Do Tan , Quan Nguyen Van , Ha Pham Thi Thu , Quan Nguyen Thanh , Andriana Yusuf , Fan Xinyan , Van Truong Mai , Khanh Tran Dang , Xuan Tran Dang
Published: September 2017

This research was conducted to exploit the waste of used plant parts from the widely marketed moth orchid cultivar (Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian “V3”). Various extracts of roots, stems, and leaves were evaluated for total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity. The bound extract from stems contained the highest total phenolics (5.092 ± 0.739 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalent)/g DW (dry weight)). The maximum total flavonoids (2.218 ± 0.021 mg RE (rutin equivalent)/g DW) were found in the hexane extract of leaves. Ethyl acetate extract from roots showed the greatest antioxidant activity compared to other extracts. Of these extracts, the IC50 values of these samples were 0.070 mg/mL, and 0.450 mg/mL in a free radical 1,-diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power method, respectively. The lipid peroxidation inhibition (LPI) was found to be 94.2% using the β-carotene bleaching method. Five phenolic compounds including caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillin, ellagic acid, and cinnamic acid were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is suggested that the roots of the hybrid Phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian “V3” cultivar may be exploited as an effective source of antioxidants.
Using Open Access Satellite Data Alongside Ground Based Remote Sensing: An Assessment, with Case Studies from Egypt’s Delta
Authors: Parcak Sarah , Mumford Gregory , Childs Chase
Published: September 2017

This paper will assess the most recently available open access high-resolution optical satellite data (0.3 m–0.6 m) and its detection of buried ancient features versus ground based remote sensing tools. It also discusses the importance of CORONA satellite data to evaluate landscape changes over the past 50 years surrounding sites. The study concentrates on Egypt’s Nile Delta, which is threatened by rising sea and water tables and urbanization. Many ancient coastal sites will be lost in the next few decades, thus this paper emphasizes the need to map them before they disappear. It shows that high resolution satellites can sometimes provide the same general picture on ancient sites in the Egyptian Nile Delta as ground based remote sensing, with relatively sandier sedimentary and degrading tell environments, during periods of rainfall, and higher groundwater conditions. Research results also suggest potential solutions for rapid mapping of threatened Delta sites, and urge a collaborative global effort to maps them before they disappear.
The Effect of Personal Characteristics, Perceived Threat, Efficacy and Breast Cancer Anxiety on Breast Cancer Screening Activation
Authors: De Pelsmacker Patrick , Lewi Martine , Cauberghe Veroline
Published: September 2017

In order to activate women to participate in breast cancer screening programs, a good understanding is needed of the personal characteristics that influence how women can be activated to search for more information, consult friends and doctors, and participate in breast cancer screening programs. In the current study, we investigate the effect of six personal characteristics that have in previous research been identified as important triggers of health behavior on breast cancer screening activation: Health awareness, Need for Cognition, Affect Intensity, Breast cancer knowledge, Topic involvement, and the Perceived breast cancer risk. We test the effect of these factors on four activation variables: intention of future information seeking, forwarding the message to a friend, talking to a doctor, and actual breast cancer screening attendance. Additionally, we try to unravel the process by means of which the antecedents (the six personal characteristics) lead to activation. To that end, we test the mediating role of perceived breast cancer threat, perceived efficacy of screening, and the evoked breast cancer anxiety as mediators in this process. The data were collected by means of a cross-sectional survey in a sample of 700 Flemish (Belgium) women who were invited to the free-of-charge breast cancer population screening. Screening attendance of this sample was provided by the government agency in charge of the organisation of the screening. Health awareness, affects intensity, topic involvement, and perceived risk have the strongest influence on activation. Breast cancer anxiety and perceived breast cancer threat have a substantial mediation effect on these effects. Efficacy perceptions are less important in the activation process. Increased health awareness and a higher level of perceived risk lead to less participation in the free of charge population based breast screening program. Implications for theory and practice are offered. The limitation of the study is that only a standard invitation message was used. In future research, other types of awareness and activation messages should be tested. Additionally, the analysis could be refined by investigating the potentially different activation process in different subgroups of women.
Anti-Adipogenic Effects on 3T3-L1 Cells and Zebrafish by Tanshinone IIA
Authors: Park Yu-Kyoung , Obiang-Obounou Brice , Lee Jinho , Lee Tae-Yun , Bae Myung-Ae , Hwang Kyu-Seok , Lee Kyung-Bok , Choi Jong-Soon , Jang Byeong-Churl
Published: September 2017

Tanshinone IIA is a diterpene quinone isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge that has traditionally been used in China for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Although there is recent evidence showing that tanshinone IIA has an anti-obesity effect, its underlying mechanism of anti-obesity effect is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of tanshinone IIA on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Notably, tanshinone IIA at 10 μM concentration greatly reduced lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) contents during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation, suggesting its anti-adipogenic effect. On mechanistic levels, tanshinone IIA reduced the expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/5 (STAT-3/5) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone IIA strongly inhibited leptin and resistin mRNA expression in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, the tanshinone IIA’s lipid-reducing effect was also seen in zebrafish. In sum, these findings demonstrate that tanshinone IIA has anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and zebrafish, and its anti-adipogenic effect on 3T3-L1 cells is largely attributable to the reduced expression and/or phosphorylation levels of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, FAS, perilipin A, and STAT-3/5.
A Survey on Information Diffusion in Online Social Networks: Models and Methods
Authors: Li Mei , Wang Xiang , Gao Kai , Zhang Shanshan
Published: September 2017

By now, personal life has been invaded by online social networks (OSNs) everywhere. They intend to move more and more offline lives to online social networks. Therefore, online social networks can reflect the structure of offline human society. A piece of information can be exchanged or diffused between individuals in social networks. From this diffusion process, lots of latent information can be mined. It can be used for market predicting, rumor controlling, and opinion monitoring among other things. However, the research of these applications depends on the diffusion models and methods. For this reason, we survey various information diffusion models from recent decades. From a research process view, we divide the diffusion models into two categories—explanatory models and predictive models—in which the former includes epidemics and influence models and the latter includes independent cascade, linear threshold, and game theory models. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the research methods and techniques, and compare them according to the above categories. The whole research structure of the information diffusion models based on our view is given. There is a discussion at the end of each section, detailing related models that are mentioned in the literature. We conclude that these two models are not independent, they always complement each other. Finally, the issues of the social networks research are discussed and summarized, and directions for future study are proposed.
A Dynamic Spectrum Allocation Algorithm for a Maritime Cognitive Radio Communication System Based on a Queuing Model
Authors: Zhang Jingbo , Yang Jianyu , Zhang Yiying , Zhang Shufang
Published: September 2017

With the rapid development of maritime digital communication, the demand for spectrum resources is increasing, and building a maritime cognitive radio communication system is an effective solution. In this paper, the problem of how to effectively allocate the spectrum for secondary users (SUs) with different priorities in a maritime cognitive radio communication system is studied. According to the characteristics of a maritime cognitive radio and existing research about cognitive radio systems, this paper establishes a centralized maritime cognitive radio communication model and creates a simplified queuing model with two queues for the communication model. In the view of the behaviors of SUs and primary users (PUs), we propose a dynamic spectrum allocation (DSA) algorithm based on the system status, and analyze it with a two-dimensional Markov chain. Simulation results show that, when different types of SUs have similar arrival rates, the algorithm can vary the priority factor according to the change of users’ status in the system, so as to adjust the channel allocation, decreasing system congestion. The improvement of the algorithm is about 7–26%, and the specific improvement is negatively correlated with the SU arrival rate.
Towards a Novel Approach for Tumor Volume Quantification
Authors: Kharbach Amina , Bellach Benaissa , Rahmoune Mohammed , Rahmoun Mohammed , Kacem Hanane
Published: September 2017

In medical image processing, evaluating the variations of lesion volume plays a major role in many medical applications. It helps radiologists to follow-up with patients and examine the effects of therapy. Several approaches have been proposed to meet with medical expectations. The present work comes within this context. We present a new approach based on the local dissimilarity volume (LDV) that is a 3D representation of the local dissimilarity map (LDM). This map presents a useful means to compare two images, offering a localization of information. We proved the effectiveness of this method (LDV) compared to medical techniques used by radiologists. The result of simulations shows that we can quantify lesion volume by using the LDV method, which is an efficient way to calculate and localize the volume variation of anomalies. It allowed a time savings with the compete satisfaction of an expert during the medical treatment.
Smelting of Scandium by Microwave Irradiation
Authors: Fujii Satoshi , Tsubaki Shuntaro , Inazu Naomi , Suzuki Eiichi , Wada Yuji
Published: September 2017

Scandium is being explored as an alloying element for aluminum alloys, which are gaining importance as high-performance lightweight structural alloys in the transportation industry. A few years ago, Sc was also found to be suitable for use in electrical devices. High-Sc-content ScAlN thin films have attracted significant attention because of their strong piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric response of ScAlN suggests that ScAlN thin films formed on a hard substrate would be suitable surface acoustic wave wideband filters for next-generation wireless communication systems. However, it is often difficult to use ScAlN thin films in MEMS devices—including acoustic ones—because of the extremely high price of metallic Sc, given the difficulty associated with smelting it. Here, we propose a novel process for smelting Sc metal by microwave irradiation. Sc metal was able to be obtained successfully from ScF3 through a microwave-irradiation-based carbon reduction reaction. The reaction temperature for this reduction process was approximately 880°C, which is half of that for the conventional smelting process involving reduction with Ca. Thus, the proposed microwave irradiation process has significant potential for use in the smelting of Sc metal.
Acoustic Manipulation of Bio-Particles at High Frequencies: An Analytical and Simulation Approach
Authors: Samandari Mohamadmahdi , Abrinia Karen , Sanati-Nezhad Amir
Published: September 2017

Manipulation of micro and nano particles in microfluidic devices with high resolution is a challenge especially in bioengineering applications where bio-particles (BPs) are separated or patterned. While acoustic forces have been used to control the position of BPs, its theoretical aspects need further investigation particularly for high-resolution manipulation where the wavelength and particle size are comparable. In this study, we used a finite element method (FEM) to amend analytical calculations of acoustic radiation force (ARF) arising from an imposed standing ultrasound field. First, an acoustic solid interaction (ASI) approach was implemented to calculate the ARF exerted on BPs and resultant deformation induced to them. The results were then used to derive a revised expression for the ARF beyond the small particle assumption. The expression was further assessed in numerical simulations of one- and multi-directional standing acoustic waves (SAWs). Furthermore, a particle tracing scheme was used to investigate the effect of actual ARF on separation and patterning applications under experimentally-relevant conditions. The results demonstrated a significant mismatch between the actual force and previous analytical predictions especially for high frequencies of manipulation. This deviation found to be not only because of the shifted ARF values but also due to the variation in force maps in multidirectional wave propagation. Findings of this work can tackle the simulation limitations for spatiotemporal control of BPs using a high resolution acoustic actuation.
A Method to Encapsulate Small Organic Molecules in Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Based on the Supramolecular Chemistry of Cyclodextrin
Authors: Zhu Zhongming , Li Feng , Zhong Fei , Zhai Kang , Tao Wei , Sun Gengyun
Published: September 2017

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CPNPs) encapsulating small organic molecules, such as imaging agents and drugs, are considered to be ideal devices for cancer diagnosis or therapy. However, it is generally difficult to encapsulate small organic molecules in CPNPs because of the lack of solubility in water or binding affinity to calcium phosphate. To solve these issues, we utilized the carboxymethyl β-cyclodextrin (CM-β-CD) to increase the solubility and binding affinity to small organic molecules for the encapsulation into CPNPs in this work. The results indicated that the model molecules, hydrophilic rhodamine B (RB) and hydrophobic docetaxel (Dtxl), are successfully encapsulated into CPNPs with the assistance of CM-β-CD. We also demonstrated the CPNPs could be remarkably internalized into A549 cells, resulting in the efficient inhibition of tumor cells’ growth.
Serum Concentration of Leptin in Pregnant Adolescents Correlated with Gestational Weight Gain, Postpartum Weight Retention and Newborn Weight/Length
Authors: Sámano Reyna , Martínez-Rojano Hugo , Chico-Barba Gabriela , Godínez-Martínez Estela , Sánchez-Jiménez Bernarda , Montiel-Ojeda Diana , Tolentino Maricruz
Published: September 2017

Introduction: Gestational weight gain is an important modifiable factor known to influence fetal outcomes including birth weight and adiposity. Leptin is normally correlated with adiposity and is also known to increase throughout pregnancy, as the placenta becomes a source of leptin synthesis. Several studies have reported positive correlations between cord blood leptin level and either birthweight or size for gestational age, as well as body mass index (BMI). Objective: To determine the correlation of prenatal leptin concentration in pregnant adolescents with their gestational weight gain, postpartum weight retention, and weight/length of their newborn. Methods: A cohort study was conducted on pregnant Mexican adolescents from Gestational Week 26–28 to three months postpartum (n = 168 mother–child dyads). An anthropometric assessment was made of each pregnant adolescent, and the serum level of leptin and the intake of energy were determined. The newborn was evaluated each month during postpartum. Clinical records were reviewed to obtain sociodemographic data. Bivariate correlations, tests for repeating measurements and logistic regression models were performed. Results: Leptin concentration gradually increased during the third trimester of pregnancy. At Gestation Week 36, leptin level correlated with gestational weight gain. When comparing adolescents that had the lowest and highest concentration of leptin, the former presented a mean of 6 kg less in gestational weight gain (inter-subject leptin concentration, p = 0.001; inter-subject energy intake, p = 0.497). Leptin concentration and gestational weight gain exerted an effect on the weight of the newborn (inter-subject leptin concentration for Week 32, p = 0.024; inter-subject gestational weight gain, p = 0.011). Newborn length was associated with leptin concentration at Week 28 (leptin effect, p = 0.003; effect of gestational weight gain, p = 0.722). Conclusions: Pregnant adolescents with leptin concentration over 20 ng/mL showed a greater gestational weight gain. Leptin concentration correlated with length and weight of the newborn.
Explicit and Implicit Approach vs. Avoidance Tendencies towards High vs. Low Calorie Food Cues in Patients with Obesity and Active Binge Eating Disorder
Authors: Paslakis Georgios , Kühn Simone , Grunert Sebastian , Erim Yesim
Published: September 2017

Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) suffer from regular food binges with loss of control. This may be due to dysfunctional approach vs. avoidance tendencies towards food in BED. We applied an approach-avoidance task (AAT), in which n = 24 patients with obesity and active BED (OB-BED), n = 32 patients with obesity without current BED (OB), and n = 25 healthy controls (CO) either approached (“pulled”) or avoided (“pushed”) high (HC) vs. low calorie (LC) food pictures. We tested the hypothesis that OB-BED patients would show an approach bias (measured as different response times RT) towards HC food compared to the other groups. While there was no main effect for group or direction of movement, a significant main effect for calorie (p < 0.001; RT for HC significantly slower than for LC) was found. Repeated measures ANOVA (rm-ANOVA) for comparison of OB-BED vs. OB vs. CO revealed a significant three-fold interaction group × direction × calorie (p = 0.02). Against our hypothesis, the OB-BED group showed an avoidance bias for LC. In explicit ratings, OB-BED reported a significantly reduced urge to consume LC food compared to the OB group. Similar to OB-BED, CO also showed an avoidance bias for LC. The implications of our results are discussed and future directions in this field of research are presented.
Cynanchum wilfordii Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase and Androgen Receptor Activities in a Rat Model
Authors: Lee Gyuok , Shin Jawon , Choi Hakjoon , Jo Ara , Pan SangO , Bae Donghyuck , Lee Yongwook , Choi Chulyung
Published: September 2017

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of the prostate gland. Cynanchum wilfordii has been reported to improve sexual behavior in male rats. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of an aqueous extract of C. wilfordii (CWW) against BPH development in a testosterone-induced BPH rat model. The rats were divided into the following six groups: sham/vehicle; BPH/vehicle; BPH/finasteride; and three CWW doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). After a 4-week treatment with CWW, the rats were euthanized at scheduled times, and their prostates were weighed, followed by a histopathological examination. Prostate growth inhibition rates in rats administered CWW 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were 54.5%, 51.8%, and 50.1%, respectively. The BPH/CWW group showed decreased serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels compared to the BPH/vehicle group. Furthermore, the BPH/CWW group showed reduced prostate testosterone and DHT levels compared to the BPH/vehicle group. Mechanistically, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed downregulated mRNA expression levels of the androgen receptor, 5α-reductase, and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the BPH/CWW200 group compared with those in the testosterone-induced groups. In conclusion, these findings show the effectiveness of CWW in slowing the progression of testosterone-induced BPH in rats.
Procedures for the GMP-Compliant Production and Quality Control of [18F]PSMA-1007: A Next Generation Radiofluorinated Tracer for the Detection of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Cardinale Jens , Martin René , Remde Yvonne , Schäfer Martin , Hienzsch Antje , Hübner Sandra , Zerges Anna-Maria , Marx Heike , Hesse Ronny , Weber Klaus , Smits Rene , Hoepping Alexander , Müller Marco , Neels Oliver , Kopka Klaus
Published: September 2017

Radiolabeled tracers targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have become important radiopharmaceuticals for the PET-imaging of prostate cancer. In this connection, we recently developed the fluorine-18-labelled PSMA-ligand [18F]PSMA-1007 as the next generation radiofluorinated Glu-ureido PSMA inhibitor after [18F]DCFPyL and [18F]DCFBC. Since radiosynthesis so far has been suffering from rather poor yields, novel procedures for the automated radiosyntheses of [18F]PSMA-1007 have been developed. We herein report on both the two-step and the novel one-step procedures, which have been performed on different commonly-used radiosynthesisers. Using the novel one-step procedure, the [18F]PSMA-1007 was produced in good radiochemical yields ranging from 25 to 80% and synthesis times of less than 55 min. Furthermore, upscaling to product activities up to 50 GBq per batch was successfully conducted. All batches passed quality control according to European Pharmacopoeia standards. Therefore, we were able to disclose a new, simple and, at the same time, high yielding production pathway for the next generation PSMA radioligand [18F]PSMA-1007. Actually, it turned out that the radiosynthesis is as easily realised as the well-known [18F]FDG synthesis and, thus, transferable to all currently-available radiosynthesisers. Using the new procedures, the clinical daily routine can be sustainably supported in-house even in larger hospitals by a single production batch.
Waste Picker Organizations and Their Contribution to the Circular Economy: Two Case Studies from a Global South Perspective
Authors: Gutberlet Jutta , Carenzo Sebastián , Kain Jaan-Henrik , Mantovani Martiniano de Azevedo Adalberto
Published: September 2017

The discussion on the circular economy (CE) has attracted a rising interest within global policy and business as a way of increasing the sustainability of production and consumption. Yet the literature mostly portrays a Global North perspective. There is a diverse spectrum of community-based organizations playing important roles in resource recovery and transformation, particularly, but not only, in Global South countries, providing innovative examples for grassroots involvement in waste management and in the CE. This article proposes to add a Southern lens, situated in the context of waste picker organizations, to the concept of CE. The discursive framework in this article couples ecological economy (EE) with social/solidarity economy (SSE), focusing not only on environmental sustainability but also on social, economic, political and cultural dimensions involved in production, consumption and discard. We acknowledge that grassroots movements contribute to policy making and improve urban waste management systems. The paper outlines two empirical studies (Argentina, Brazil) that illustrate how waste picker organizations perform selective waste collection services, engage with municipalities and industries, and practice the CE. The research reveals that social and political facets need to be added to the debate about the CE, linking environmental management and policy with community development and recognizing waste pickers as protagonists in the CE. Our findings emphasize a need for a change of persisting inequalities in public policy by recognizing the importance of popular waste management praxis and knowledge, ultimately redefining the CE.