bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Genetic Diversity for a Pre-Breeding Program in Piaractus mesopotamicus by SNPs and SSRs
Authors: Mastrochirico-Filho Vito Antonio , del Pazo Felipe , Hata Milene Elissa , Villanova Gabriela Vanina , Foresti Fausto , Vera Manuel , Martínez Paulino , Porto-Foresti Fábio , Hashimoto Diogo Teruo
Published: September 2019

The pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a Neotropical fish with remarkable productive performance for aquaculture. Knowledge of genetic resources in Neotropical fish is essential for their applications in breeding programs. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of seven farmed populations of pacu which will constitute the basis for a broodstock foundation for coming breeding programs in Brazil. Analysis of one wild population (Paraná River) was used as a reference to compare genetic parameters in the farmed populations. The analyses were performed using 32 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and 8 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. No significant differences in genetic diversity between populations estimated through the number of alleles and allelic richness, observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, and minimum allele frequency were detected (p > 0.05). Low genetic diversity was observed in all farmed stocks and the wild population. Moreover, we detected low genetic structure when comparing farmed and wild populations for SNPs (FST = 0.07; K = 3) and SSRs (FST = 0.08; K = 2). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) demonstrated that genetic variation was mostly within populations. Kinship analysis showed that most fish farms included related individuals at a proportion of at least 25%. Our results suggest that the basal broodstock for pacu breeding programs should be founded with individuals from different fish farms for higher genetic diversity and to avoid inbreeding risks.
Dependence Models of Borehole Expansion on Explosive Charge in Spherical Cavity Blasting
Authors: Težak Denis , Stanković Siniša , Kovač Ivan
Published: September 2019

In geotechnical practice, it is often necessary to improve the properties of soil and rock in which different structures are built. For this purpose, spherical cavity blasting can be applied to expand the borehole. Such expansion may incorporate various constructive elements such as anchors and thus stabilize the slope. The paper presents the method for determining the increased volume, expansion, and deepening of the borehole as a result of spherical cavity blasting. In addition, mathematical models describing the dependency of the borehole expansion on the amount of explosive charge are presented. The models are mutually compared with the Akaike information criterion.
DeCACHe: Supporting Designers in Creating Cognition-Centered Adaptive Cultural Heritage Activities
Authors: Raptis George , Sintoris Christos , Avouris Nikolaos
Published: September 2019

Cultural heritage (CH) institutions attract wide and heterogeneous audiences, which should be efficiently supported and have access to meaningful CH content. This introduces numerous challenges when delivering such experiences, given that people have different cognitive characteristics which influence the way we process information, experience, behave, and acquire knowledge. Our recent studies provide evidence that human cognition should be considered as a personalization factor within CH contexts, and thus we developed a framework that delivers cognition-centered personalized CH activities. The efficiency and the efficacy of the framework have been successfully assessed through two user studies, but non-technical professionals (e.g., CH designers) may face difficulties when attempting to use it and create personalized CH activities. In this paper, we present DeCACHe, which supports CH designers in creating cognition-centered personalized CH activities throughout different phases of the design lifecycle. We also report a user study with seventeen professional CH designers, who used our tool to design CH activities for people with different cognitive characteristics.
Neighborhood Built Environment and Socioeconomic Status are Associated with Active Commuting and Sedentary Behavior, but not with Leisure-Time Physical Activity, in University Students
Authors: Molina-García Javier , Menescardi Cristina , Estevan Isaac , Martínez-Bello Vladimir , Queralt Ana
Published: September 2019

The role of neighborhood characteristics in promoting physical activity and sedentary behaviors (SB) has not been extensively studied in university students. The study purpose was to analyze the associations of neighborhood built environment and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with active commuting, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and SB among university students. This is a cross-sectional study of 308 undergraduate students from two urban universities in Valencia, Spain. Participants’ residential neighborhoods were classified according to walkability and SES levels. Walkability was defined as an index of three built environment attributes (i.e., residential density, land-use mix, and street connectivity) based on geographical information system data. Active commuting to and from university (ACU), active commuting in the neighborhood, LTPA, and SB were evaluated through a questionnaire. Mixed model regression analyses were performed. There were no significant SES–walkability interactions for any of the outcomes analyzed. However, university students living in more walkable areas reported two more ACU trips per week compared to those living in less walkable neighborhoods (p < 0.01). University students living in lower-SES neighborhoods reported more ACU trips per week than those living in higher-SES neighborhoods (p < 0.05). Regarding LTPA, there were no significant SES or walkability main effects. Neighborhood SES was negatively related to active commuting in the neighborhood and to time spent in SB (all p < 0.05). Participants living in lower-SES neighborhoods reported more active commuting per week and had the highest average minutes spent in SB. This study highlights the relevance of assessing university’s residential environment when active transportation and SB are analyzed.
Associations Among Resilience, Stress, Depression, and Internet Gaming Disorder in Young Adults
Authors: Yen Ju-Yu , Lin Huang-Chi , Chou Wei-Po , Liu Tai-Ling , Ko Chih-Hung
Published: September 2019

Background and Aims: Using gaming to escape emotional difficulty has been suggested to be a candidate mechanism contributing to Internet gaming disorder (IGD). This study evaluated the associations among resilience, perceived stress, depression, and IGD. Methods: A total of 87 participants in an IGD group and 87 participants in a control group were recruited into this study. IGD was diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Stress levels, resilience, and depression were measured by a self-reported questionnaire. Results: The IGD group had a lower resilience, higher perceived stress, and depression than the control group. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that resilience was associated with IGD when perceived stress was controlled. After depression was controlled, resilience and perceived stress were not associated with IGD. Among the IGD group, those with low resilience had higher depression. Furthermore, discipline was the resilience characteristic associated with IGD. Conclusions: Low resilience was associated with a higher risk of IGD. IGD individuals with low resilience had higher depression. Depression was more associated with IGD than resilience. Depression assessments and stress coping interventions should be provided for individuals with IGD who exhibit low resilience or high stress.
Predictive Modeling of Suitable Habitats for Cinnamomum Camphora (L.) Presl Using Maxent Model under Climate Change in China
Authors: Zhang Lei , Jing Zhinong , Li Zuyao , Liu Yang , Fang Shengzuo
Published: September 2019

Rapid changes in global climate exert tremendous pressure on forest ecosystems. Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl is a multi-functional tree species, and its distribution and growth are also affected by climate warming. In order to realize its economic value and ecological function, it is necessary to explore the impact of climate change on its suitable habitats under different scenarios. In this experiment, 181 geographical distribution data were collected, and the MaxEnt algorithm was used to predict the distribution of suitable habitats. To complete the simulation, we selected two greenhouse gas release scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, and also three future time periods, 2025s, 2055s, and 2085s. The importance of environmental variables for modeling was evaluated by jackknife test. Our study found that accumulated temperature played a key role in the distribution of camphor trees. With the change of climate, the area of suitable range will increase and continue to move to the northwest of China. These findings could provide guidance for the plantation establishment and resource protection of camphor in China.
Parenting Styles and Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescence: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Gorostiaga Arantxa , Aliri Jone , Balluerka Nekane , Lameirinhas Joanes
Published: September 2019

A growing body of recent research has identified associations between various parenting practices and styles and internalizing problems among adolescents. However, the reported findings are inconsistent and the studies in question have been conducted from different theoretical backgrounds. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature on the association of parental socialization styles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. To this end, we conducted a systematic search of the PsycInfo, Scopus, Pubmed, and Web of Science databases, covering literature published from 2010 to 2019. The search was restricted to peer-reviewed studies in English or Spanish. The results show that parental warmth, behavioural control, and autonomy granting are inversely related to internalizing symptoms in adolescents. Conversely, psychological control and harsh control by parents are positively associated with adolescent anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Although the associated effect sizes are only small or moderate, the results suggest that these variables should be taken into account when designing programmes aimed at promoting parenting styles conducive to the wellbeing of adolescents.
Inequalities in Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide in Parks and Playgrounds in Greater London
Authors: Sheridan Charlotte E. , Roscoe Charlotte J. , Gulliver John , de Preux Laure , Fecht Daniela
Published: September 2019

Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have been associated with adverse health outcomes in children, including reduced lung function and increased rates of asthma. Many parts of London continue to exceed the annual average NO2 concentration of 40 µg/m3 set by the EU directive. Using high-resolution maps of annual average NO2 for 2016 from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and detailed maps of open spaces from Britain’s national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, we estimated average NO2 concentrations for every open space in Greater London and analysed geospatial patterns comparing Inner verses Outer London and the 32 London Boroughs. Across Greater London, 24% of play spaces, 67% of private parks and 27% of public parks had average levels of NO2 that exceeded the EU limit for NO2. Rates of exceedance were higher in Inner London; open spaces in the City of London had the highest average NO2 values among all the London Boroughs. The closest play space for more than 250,000 children (14% of children) under 16 years old in Greater London had NO2 concentrations above the recommended levels. Of these children, 66% (~165,000 children) lived in the most deprived areas of London, as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivations, where average NO2 concentrations in play spaces were on average 6 µg/m3 higher than for play spaces in the least deprived quintile. More action is needed to reduce NO2 in open spaces to safe levels through pollution reduction and mitigation efforts, as currently, open spaces in Greater London, including play spaces, parks and gardens, still have dangerously high levels of NO2, according to the most recent NO2 map.
Equity-Specific Effects of Interventions to Promote Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Development of a Collaborative Equity-Specific Re-Analysis Strategy
Authors: Czwikla Gesa , Boen Filip , Cook Derek G. , de Jong Johan , Harris Tess , Hilz Lisa K. , Iliffe Steve , Morris Richard , Muellmann Saskia , Peels Denise A. , Pischke Claudia R. , Schüz Benjamin , Stevens Martin , van Lenthe Frank J. , Vanderlinden Julie , Bolte Gabriele
Published: September 2019

Reducing social inequalities in physical activity (PA) has become a priority for public health. However, evidence concerning the impact of interventions on inequalities in PA is scarce. This study aims to develop and test the application of a strategy for re-analyzing equity-specific effects of existing PA intervention studies in middle-aged and older adults, as part of an international interdisciplinary collaboration. This article aims to describe (1) the establishment and characteristics of the collaboration; and (2) the jointly developed equity-specific re-analysis strategy as a first result of the collaboration. To develop the strategy, a collaboration based on a convenience sample of eight published studies of individual-level PA interventions among the general population of adults aged ≥45 years was initiated (UK, n = 3; The Netherlands, n = 3; Belgium, n = 1; Germany, n = 1). Researchers from these studies participated in a workshop and subsequent e-mail correspondence. The developed strategy will be used to investigate social inequalities in intervention adherence, dropout, and efficacy. This will allow for a comprehensive assessment of social inequalities within intervention benefits. The application of the strategy within and beyond the collaboration will help to extend the limited evidence regarding the effects of interventions on social inequalities in PA among middle-aged and older adults.
Conventional Cigarette and E-Cigarette Smoking among School Personnel in Shanghai, China: Prevalence and Determinants
Authors: Zhu Jingfen , Shi Fanghui , Xu Gang , Li Na , Li Jiahui , He Yaping , Yu Jinming
Published: September 2019

Smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes is widely popular among Chinese students. Considering that school personnel are considered role models in the student community, we investigated the prevalence and determinants of such behavior among high school personnel in China so as to provide references for future related intervention measures. We used a stratified cluster sampling design on a total number of 3311 school employees recruited from 33 representative schools. Complex sampling analysis and logistic regressions were used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Among 3194 participants that met the study criteria, 7.4% were cigarette users, and 3.6% e-cigarette consumers. For conventional cigarette smokers, certain characteristics, such as being older and male, attaining less education, and having been exposed to secondhand smoke, were associated with heavier smoking. Nevertheless, e-cigarette users were predominantly male and of younger age. Those who understood the hazards of conventional cigarette smoking had less inclination to smoke but were at a higher risk of e-cigarette use. Our analysis suggests that it is necessary to target different populations for monitoring and controlling conventional cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use respectively among school personnel. In addition, China is in need of more relevant and strict anti-smoking regulations.
Snowball Effect of User Participation in Online Environmental Communities: Elaboration Likelihood under Social Influence
Authors: Zhang Yali , Zhang Haixin , Yang Zhaojun , Sun Jun , Tan Chrissie Diane
Published: September 2019

Ecological preservation and sustainable development depend on active public involvement. The emergence of online environmental communities greatly facilitates people’s participation in green endeavors. The population penetration of such platforms accelerates as existing users persuade people around them and media coverage further attracts public attention. This snowball effect plays an important role in the user base expansion, but the specific mechanism of social influence involved is yet to be examined. Based on the social influence theory, cognitive response theory, and elaboration likelihood model, this study establishes a research model depicting the relationship between persuasion in terms of social influence and outcomes in terms of behavioral intention and actual participation through the mediation of cognitive responses in terms of perceived value and perceived risk. Empirical results from survey observations show that social influence has both moderated (by education) and mediated (through perceived risk) effects on behavioral intention, which leads to actual participation. Meanwhile, social influence shapes the perceived value, which has a direct and strong impact on actual participation. These central and peripheral routes through which social influence affects individual participation yield useful theoretical and practical implications on human behavior with online environmental communities.
Identifying Methylation Pattern and Genes Associated with Breast Cancer Subtypes
Authors: Chen Lei , Zeng Tao , Pan Xiaoyong , Zhang Yu-Hang , Huang Tao , Cai Yu-Dong
Published: September 2019

Breast cancer is regarded worldwide as a severe human disease. Various genetic variations, including hereditary and somatic mutations, contribute to the initiation and progression of this disease. The diagnostic parameters of breast cancer are not limited to the conventional protein content and can include newly discovered genetic variants and even genetic modification patterns such as methylation and microRNA. In addition, breast cancer detection extends to detailed breast cancer stratifications to provide subtype-specific indications for further personalized treatment. One genome-wide expression–methylation quantitative trait loci analysis confirmed that different breast cancer subtypes have various methylation patterns. However, recognizing clinically applied (methylation) biomarkers is difficult due to the large number of differentially methylated genes. In this study, we attempted to re-screen a small group of functional biomarkers for the identification and distinction of different breast cancer subtypes with advanced machine learning methods. The findings may contribute to biomarker identification for different breast cancer subtypes and provide a new perspective for differential pathogenesis in breast cancer subtypes.
Hydrogen Ion Dynamics of Cancer and a New Molecular, Biochemical and Metabolic Approach to the Etiopathogenesis and Treatment of Brain Malignancies
Authors: Harguindey Salvador , Polo Orozco Julian , Alfarouk Khalid O. , Devesa Jesús
Published: September 2019

The treatment of cancer has been slowly but steadily progressing during the last fifty years. Some tumors with a high mortality in the past are curable nowadays. However, there is one striking exception: glioblastoma multiforme. No real breakthrough has been hitherto achieved with this tumor with ominous prognosis and very short survival. Glioblastomas, being highly glycolytic malignancies are strongly pH-dependent and driven by the sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1) and other proton (H+) transporters. Therefore, this is one of those pathologies where the lessons recently learnt from the new pH-centered anticancer paradigm may soon bring a promising change to treatment. This contribution will discuss how the pH-centric molecular, biochemical and metabolic perspective may introduce some urgently needed and integral novel treatments. Such a prospective therapeutic approach for malignant brain tumors is developed here, either to be used alone or in combination with more standard therapies.
MET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Regulates the Expression of Co-Stimulatory and Co-Inhibitory Molecules in Tumor Cells and Contributes to PD-L1-Mediated Suppression of Immune Cell Function
Authors: Ahn Hyun Kyung , Kim Sehui , Kwon Dohee , Koh Jaemoon , Kim Young A. , Kim Kwangsoo , Chung Doo Hyun , Jeon Yoon Kyung
Published: September 2019

The MET tyrosine receptor kinase is essential for embryonic development and tissue regeneration by promoting cell survival, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. It also contributes to tumor development and progression through diverse mechanisms. Using human cancer cell lines, including Hs746T (MET-mutated/amplified), H596 (MET-mutated), and H1993 (MET-amplified) cells, as well as BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells, we investigated whether MET is involved in the regulation of immune checkpoint pathways. In a microarray analysis, MET suppression using a MET inhibitor or siRNAs up-regulated co-stimulatory molecules, including 4-1BBL, OX40L, and CD70, and down-regulated co-inhibitory molecules, especially PD-L1, as validated by measuring total/surface protein levels in Hs746T and H1993 cells. MET activation by HGF consistently increased PD-L1 expression in H596 and BEAS-2B cells. Co-culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with Hs746T cells suppressed interferon-γ production by the immune cells, which was restored by MET inhibition or PD-L1 blockade. A significant positive correlation between MET and PD-L1 expression in lung cancer was determined in an analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and in an immunohistochemistry study. The former also showed an association of MET overexpression in a PD-L1high tumor with the decreased expressions of T-cell effector molecules. In summary, our results point to a role for MET overexpression/activation in the immune escape of tumors by PD-L1 up-regulation. MET-targeted-therapy combined with immunotherapy may therefore be an effective treatment strategy in patients with MET-dependent cancer.
Long Non-Coding RNAs Modulate Sjögren’s Syndrome Associated Gene Expression and Are Involved in the Pathogenesis of the Disease
Authors: Dolcino Marzia , Tinazzi Elisa , Vitali Claudio , Papa Nicoletta Del , Puccetti Antonio , Lunardi Claudio
Published: September 2019

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSjS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder, primarily affecting exocrine glands; its pathogenesis is still unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and a comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs expression in pSjS is still lacking. To this aim, the expression of more than 540,000 human transcripts, including those ascribed to more than 50,000 lncRNAs is profiled at the same time, in a cohort of 16 peripheral blood mononuclear cells PBMCs samples (eight pSjS and eight healthy subjects). A complex network analysis is carried out on the global set of molecular interactions among modulated genes and lncRNAs, leading to the identification of reliable lncRNA-miRNA-gene functional interactions. Taking this approach, a few lncRNAs are identified as targeting highly connected genes in the pSjS transcriptome, since they have a major impact on gene modulation in the disease. Such genes are involved in biological processes and molecular pathways crucial in the pathogenesis of pSjS, including immune response, B cell development and function, inflammation, apoptosis, type I and gamma interferon, epithelial cell adhesion and polarization. The identification of deregulated lncRNAs that modulate genes involved in the typical features of the disease provides insight in disease pathogenesis and opens avenues for the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
Significant Correlation Between Grip Strength and m2bpgi in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Yoh Kazunori , Iwata Yoshinori , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Kishino Kyohei , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Takata Ryo , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Ishii Noriko , Yuri Yukihisa , Nishimura Takashi , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: September 2019

We sought to compare the impact upon grip strength (GS) between the Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) and the Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients (n = 376: 171 males and 205 females, and 137 liver cirrhosis (LC) cases (36.4%)). Factors linked to the low GS (<26 kg in male and <18 kg in female) were also investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The median GS in males was 35.5 kg, while that in females was 21.1 kg. The median M2BPGi was 1.11 cutoff index, whereas the median FIB4 index was 2.069. In both male (P < 0.0001) and female (P = 0.0001), GS in LC patients was significantly lower than that in non-LC patients. In males, M2BPGi (r = −0.4611, P < 0.0001) and the FIB4 index (r = −0.4556, P < 0.0001) significantly correlated with GS. Similarly, in females, M2BPGi (r = −0.33326, P < 0.0001) and our FIB4 index (r = −0.26388, P = 0.0001) also significantly correlated with GS. In the multivariate analyses of factors linked to the low GS, independent factors were: M2BPGi (P = 0.0003) and skeletal muscle index (P = 0.0007) in males, and age (P < 0.0001) and serum albumin level (P = 0.0484) in females. In conclusion, liver fibrosis markers were well-correlated with GS in CLD patients. In particular, M2BPGi can be helpful for predicting the low GS in male patients.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Is Associated with Less Oxidative Stress and Faster Recovery of Antioxidant Capacity than Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Komosa Anna , Perek Bartłomiej , Rzymski Piotr , Lesiak Maciej , Siller-Matula Jolanta M. , Grygier Marek , Puślecki Mateusz , Misterski Marcin , Olasińska-Wiśniewska Anna , Ropacka-Lesiak Mariola , Krasiński Zbigniew , Niedzielski Przemysław , Mularek-Kubzdela Tatiana , Poniedziałek Barbara
Published: September 2019

The objective of this study was to compare oxidative stress indices in 24 patients (mean ± SD age 71 ± 13 years) undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) versus transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), copper/zinc ratio (Cu/Zn), activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assessed at four different time-points: pre-procedure, immediately post-procedure, and one day and two days after the procedure. All oxidative stress parameters were comparable in both groups pre-procedure. TAC decreased significantly when assessed immediately after procedures in both groups (p < 0.001); however, the magnitude of the reduction was more pronounced after SAVR (88% decrease from baseline: 1.8 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.03 mM) compared to TAVR procedures (53% decrease from baseline: 1.9 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 mM; p < 0.001). TAC returned to baseline two days after TAVR in all patients, but was still reduced by 55% two days after SAVR. In concordance, TBARS levels and Cu/Zn ratio increased significantly with maximum levels immediately after procedures in both groups (p < 0.001), but the magnitude of the increase was significantly higher in SAVR compared to TAVR (TBARS: 3.93 ± 0.61 µM vs. 1.25 ± 0.30 µM, p = 0.015; Cu/Zn ratio: 2.33 ± 0.11 vs. 1.80 ± 0.12; p < 0.001). Two days after the procedure, TBARS levels and the Cu/Zn ratio returned to baseline after TAVR, with no full recovery after SAVR. TAVR is associated with a lesser redox imbalance and faster recovery of antioxidant capacity compared to SAVR.
Towards Circulating-Tumor DNA-Based Precision Medicine
Authors: Hironaka-Mitsuhashi Ai , Sanchez Calle Anna , Ochiya Takahiro , Takayama Shin , Suto Akihiko
Published: September 2019

In the era of precision medicine, targeted therapies have been implemented for various diseases. Genomic information guides decision-making in cancer treatment. The improvements in next-generation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction have made it possible to access the genetic information using circulating-tumor DNAs (ctDNAs). Molecular characteristics of individual tumors can be obtained by analysis of ctDNAs, thus making them excellent tools to guide decision-making during treatment. In oncology, the use of ctDNAs in clinical practice is now gaining importance. Molecular analysis of ctDNAs has potential for multiple clinical applications, including early diagnosis, prognosis of disease, prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers, and monitoring response to therapy and clonal evolution. In this paper, we highlight the applications of ctDNAs in cancer management, especially in metastatic setting, and summarize recent studies about the use of ctDNAs as predictive biomarkers for the therapeutic adaptation/response in lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. These studies offer the evidence to use ctDNAs as a promising approach to solve unmet clinical needs.
Disentangling Civilian and Military Spending Shocks: A Bayesian DSGE Approach for the US Economy
Authors: Lorusso Marco , Pieroni Luca
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we disentangle public spending components in order analyse their effects on the U.S. economy. Our Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Model (DSGE) model includes both civilian and military expenditures. We take into account the changes in the effects of these public spending components before and after the structural break that occurred in the U.S. economy around 1980, namely financial liberalisation. Therefore, we estimate our model with Bayesian methods for two sample periods: 1954:3–1979:2 and 1983:1–2008:2. Our results suggest that total government spending has a positive effect on output, but it induces a fall in private consumption. Moreover, we find important differences between the effects of civilian and military spending. In the pre-1980 period, higher civilian spending induced a rise in private consumption, whereas military spending shocks systematically decreased it. Our findings indicate that civilian spending has a more positive impact on output than military expenditure. Our robustness analysis assesses the impact of public spending shocks under alternative monetary policy assumptions.
The Rights of Refugee Children and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Authors: Lawrence Jeanette A. , Dodds Agnes E. , Kaplan Ida , Tucci Maria M.
Published: September 2019

Refugee children are identified as rights-bearers by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), but their rights are not uniformly honored in the policies and practices of contemporary states. How the CRC’s safeguards for refugee children’s rights are honored depends partly on what it means to be ‘a refugee child’ and partly on how the claims of refugee children’s rights are recognized, respected, and implemented in international and national legal and bureaucratic systems. We examine the CRC’s affirmation of the rights of the child and analyze the CRC’s articles in relation to the rights related to the life circumstances of refugee children and state responsibilities. Following an analysis of resistance to the CRC’s mandates by contemporary states, we relate refugee children’s rights to their refugee and developmental experiences and argue for repositioning refugee children into the center of protection dialogue and practice, internationally and nationally.
Improved Electrochemical Properties of LiMn2O4-Based Cathode Material Co-Modified by Mg-Doping and Octahedral Morphology
Authors: Zhao Hongyuan , Nie Yongfang , Que Dongyang , Hu Youzuo , Li Yongfeng
Published: September 2019

In this work, the spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material was prepared by high-temperature solid-phase method and further optimized by co-modification strategy based on the Mg-doping and octahedral morphology. The octahedral LiMn1.95Mg0.05O4 sample belongs to the spinel cubic structure with the space group of Fd3m, and no other impurities are presented in the XRD patterns. The octahedral LiMn1.95Mg0.05O4 particles show narrow size distribution with regular morphology. When used as cathode material, the obtained LiMn1.95Mg0.05O4 octahedra shows excellent electrochemical properties. This material can exhibit high capacity retention of 96.8% with 100th discharge capacity of 111.6 mAh g−1 at 1.0 C. Moreover, the rate performance and high-temperature cycling stability of LiMn2O4 are effectively improved by the co-modification strategy based on Mg-doping and octahedral morphology. These results are mostly given to the fact that the addition of magnesium ions can suppress the Jahn–Teller effect and the octahedral morphology contributes to the Mn dissolution, which can improve the structural stability of LiMn2O4.
Design Variation of a Dual-Antigen Liposomal Vaccine Carrier System
Authors: Nayerhoda Roozbeh , Hill Andrew , Beitelshees Marie , Jones Charles , Pfeifer Blaine
Published: September 2019

The enclosed work focuses on the construction variables associated with a dual-antigen liposomal carrier, delivering encapsulated polysaccharides and surface-localized proteins, which served as a vaccine delivery device effective against pneumococcal disease. Here, the goal was to better characterize and compare the carrier across a range of formulation steps and assessment metrics. Specifically, the vaccine carrier was subjected to new methods of liposomal formation, including alterations to the base components used for subsequent macromolecule encapsulation and surface attachment, with characterization spanning polysaccharide encapsulation, liposomal size and charge, and surface protein localization. Results demonstrate variations across the liposomal constructs comprised two means of surface-localizing proteins (either via metal or biological affinity). In general, final liposomal constructs demonstrated a size and zeta potential range of approximately 50 to 600 nm and −4 to −41 mV, respectively, while demonstrating at least 60% polysaccharide encapsulation efficiency and 60% protein surface localization for top-performing liposomal carrier constructs. The results, thus, indicate that multiple formulations could serve in support of vaccination studies, and that the selection of a suitable final delivery system would be dictated by preferences or requirements linked to target antigens and/or regulatory demands.
Holography with Photochromic Diarylethenes
Authors: Oggioni Luca , Pariani Giorgio , Zamkotsian Frédéric , Bertarelli Chiara , Bianco Andrea
Published: September 2019

Photochromic materials are attractive for the development of holograms for different reasons: they show a modulation of the complex refractive index, meaning they are suitable for both amplitude and phase holograms; they are self-developing materials, which do not require any chemical process after the light exposure to obtain the final hologram; the holograms are rewritable, making the system a convenient reconfigurable platform for these types of diffractive elements. In this paper, we will show the features of photochromic materials, in particular diarylethenes in terms of the modulation of a transparency and refractive index, which are mandatory for their use in holography. Moreover, we report on the strategies used to write binary and grayscale holograms and their achieved results. The outcomes are general, and they can be further applied to other classes of photochromic materials in order to optimize the system for achieving high efficiency and high fidelity holograms.
High Temperature Resistant Separator of PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2 for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Haijuan , Li Ling , Zheng Shuaizhi , Wang Xinming , Ma Zengsheng
Published: September 2019

To improve the thermal shrinkage and ionic conductivity of the separator for lithium-ion batteries, adding carboxylic titanium dioxide nanofiber materials into the matrix is proposed as an effective strategy. In this regard, a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene)/dibutyl phthalate/carboxylic titanium dioxide (PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2) composite separator is prepared with the phase inversion method. When the content of TiO2 nanofibers reaches 5%, the electrochemical performance of the battery and ion conductivity of the separator are optimal. The PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2 (5%) composite separator shows about 55.5% of porosity and 277.9% of electrolyte uptake. The PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2 (5%) composite separator has a superior ionic conductivity of 1.26 × 10 −3 S cm−1 and lower interface impedance at room temperature, which brings about better cycle and rate performance. In addition, the cell assembled with a PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2 separator can be charged or discharged normally and has an outstanding discharge capacity of about 150 mAh g−1 at 110 °C. The battery assembled with the PVDF-HFP/DBP/C-TiO2 composite separator exhibits excellent electrochemical performance under high and room temperature environments.
The Application of Electrical Parameters to Reflect the Hydration Process of Cement Paste with Rice Husk Ash
Authors: Wang Hui , Hu Lingxuan , Cao Peng , Luo Baoxin , Tang Jing , Shi Feiting , Yu Jinyan , Li Hongjie , Jin Kaikai
Published: September 2019

This paper aims to study the electrical parameters (electrical resistivity and alternating current (AC) impedance spectroscopy) of cement paste with rice husk ash (RHA). The water to cement (Mass ratio of water to cement (w/c)) ratios of the paste in this study varied from 0.4 to 0.5. The mass ratio of rice husk ash in each w/c ratio of specimens ranged from 0% to 15% by t mass of cement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the microstructures of specimens. Moreover, the slump flow and plastic viscosity of fresh paste were determined. The results indicated that with the increasing dosage of RHA, the fluidity decreased, while the plastic viscosity increased. Meanwhile, a high w/c ratio led to a low plastic viscosity and high slump flow. The electrical resistivity of RHA cement paste gradually ascended with the increasing curing period. The conduction of specimens intricately changed by mixing RHA, a reasonable equivalent circuit was selected to describe the conduction mechanism by AC impedance spectroscopy. Additionally, the results of XRD and SEM showed that RHA could effectively promote the hydration process as well as decrease the size and number of cracks in hardened cement paste.
Design and Construction of a Moving Cassette Electronic Gear-Shift for Human Powered Vehicles
Authors: Baldissera Paolo , Delprete Cristiana , Zahar Anatolii
Published: September 2019

In this article, the design and implementation of an electronic bicycle gear-shift with moving cassette is presented. The niche context where the needs developed is explained and the project evolution over two versions is described. Technical aspects considered in the design phase are discussed and detailed explanations of hardware layout and control software logic are given. Performance of the two implemented versions are compared through data recorded during the target competition (pedaling cadence and torque), highlighting the higher reliability of the second design thanks to mechanical simplification and a more stable position feedback. An additional comparison with cadence data from other competitors in a speed-challenge competition is then presented to highlights the main benefit obtained: a reduced variance in cadence that enables the rider to pedal at his optimal rate since the early stage and through the whole run-up. Finally, the current development of the project under a Proof of Concept grant is presented by discussing its potential application on the standard bicycle market, the need for an assessment of its value proposition and the main obstacles to overcome for complying (or not) with the current market standards. The article offers an overview of practical aspects to be considered when designing high-speed human powered vehicle transmissions, including technical details of an innovative solution and critical considerations about the possibility of such a specific design to develop within the standard bicycle market.
On Uniquely 3-Colorable Plane Graphs without Adjacent Faces of Prescribed Degrees
Authors: Li Zepeng , Matsumoto Naoki , Zhu Enqiang , Xu Jin , Jensen Tommy
Published: September 2019

A graph G is uniquely k-colorable if the chromatic number of G is k and G has only one k-coloring up to the permutation of the colors. For a plane graph G, two faces f 1 and f 2 of G are adjacent ( i , j )-faces if d ( f 1 ) = i, d ( f 2 ) = j, and f 1 and f 2 have a common edge, where d ( f ) is the degree of a face f. In this paper, we prove that every uniquely three-colorable plane graph has adjacent ( 3 , k )-faces, where k ≤ 5. The bound of five for k is the best possible. Furthermore, we prove that there exists a class of uniquely three-colorable plane graphs having neither adjacent ( 3 , i )-faces nor adjacent ( 3 , j )-faces, where i , j are fixed in { 3 , 4 , 5 } and i ≠ j. One of our constructions implies that there exists an infinite family of edge-critical uniquely three-colorable plane graphs with n vertices and 7 3 n - 14 3 edges, where n ( ≥ 11 ) is odd and n ≡ 2 ( mod 3 ).
Bayesian Inference of δ = P(X < Y) for Burr Type XII Distribution Based on Progressively First Failure-Censored Samples
Authors: Byrnes Jessie Marie , Lin Yu-Jau , Tsai Tzong-Ru , Lio Yuhlong
Published: September 2019

Let X and Y follow two independent Burr type XII distributions and δ = P ( X < Y ) . If X is the stress that is applied to a certain component and Y is the strength to sustain the stress, then δ is called the stress–strength parameter. In this study, The Bayes estimator of δ is investigated based on a progressively first failure-censored sample. Because of computation complexity and no closed form for the estimator as well as posterior distributions, the Markov Chain Monte Carlo procedure using the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm via Gibbs sampling is built to collect a random sample of δ via the joint distribution of the progressively first failure-censored sample and random parameters and the empirical distribution of this collected sample is used to estimate the posterior distribution of δ . Then, the Bayes estimates of δ using the square error, absolute error, and linear exponential error loss functions are obtained and the credible interval of δ is constructed using the empirical distribution. An intensive simulation study is conducted to investigate the performance of these three types of Bayes estimates and the coverage probabilities and average lengths of the credible interval of δ . Moreover, the performance of the Bayes estimates is compared with the maximum likelihood estimates. The Internet of Things and a numerical example about the miles-to-failure of vehicle components for reliability evaluation are provided for application purposes.
Individual Variability in Dispersal and Invasion Speed
Authors: Morris Aled , Börger Luca , Crooks Elaine
Published: September 2019

We model the growth, dispersal and mutation of two phenotypes of a species using reaction–diffusion equations, focusing on the biologically realistic case of small mutation rates. Having verified that the addition of a small linear mutation term to a Lotka–Volterra system limits it to only two steady states in the case of weak competition, an unstable extinction state and a stable coexistence state, we exploit the fact that the spreading speed of the system is known to be linearly determinate to show that the spreading speed is a nonincreasing function of the mutation rate, so that greater mixing between phenotypes leads to slower propagation. We also find the ratio at which the phenotypes occur at the leading edge in the limit of vanishing mutation.
Statistical Solitons and Inequalities for Statistical Warped Product Submanifolds
Authors: Siddiqui Aliya Naaz , Chen Bang-Yen , Bahadir Oguzhan
Published: September 2019

Warped products play crucial roles in differential geometry, as well as in mathematical physics, especially in general relativity. In this article, first we define and study statistical solitons on Ricci-symmetric statistical warped products R × f N 2 and N 1 × f R . Second, we study statistical warped products as submanifolds of statistical manifolds. For statistical warped products statistically immersed in a statistical manifold of constant curvature, we prove Chen’s inequality involving scalar curvature, the squared mean curvature, and the Laplacian of warping function (with respect to the Levi–Civita connection). At the end, we establish a relationship between the scalar curvature and the Casorati curvatures in terms of the Laplacian of the warping function for statistical warped product submanifolds in the same ambient space.
On Truncation of the Matrix-Geometric Stationary Distributions
Authors: Naumov Valeriy A. , Gaidamaka Yuliya V. , Samouylov Konstantin E.
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we study queueing systems with an infinite and finite number of waiting places that can be modeled by a Quasi-Birth-and-Death process. We derive the conditions under which the stationary distribution for a loss system is a truncation of the stationary distribution of the Quasi-Birth-and-Death process and obtain the stationary distributions of both processes. We apply the obtained results to the analysis of a semi-open network in which a customer from an external queue replaces a customer leaving the system at the node from which the latter departed.
On Two Interacting Markovian Queueing Systems
Authors: Naumov Valeriy A. , Gaidamaka Yuliya V. , Samouylov Konstantin E.
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we study a Markovian queuing system consisting of two subsystems of an arbitrary structure. Each subsystem generates a multi-class Markovian arrival process of customers arriving to the other subsystem. We derive the necessary and sufficient conditions for the stationary distribution to be of product form and consider some particular cases of the subsystem interaction for which these conditions can be easily verified.
A 4th-Order Optimal Extension of Ostrowski’s Method for Multiple Zeros of Univariate Nonlinear Functions
Authors: Behl Ramandeep , Al-Hamdan Waleed M.
Published: September 2019

We present a new optimal class of Ostrowski’s method for obtaining multiple zeros of univariate nonlinear functions. Several researchers tried to construct an optimal family of Ostrowski’s method for multiple zeros, but they did not have success in this direction. The new strategy adopts a weight function approach. The design structure of new families of Ostrowski’s technique is simpler than the existing classical families of the same order for multiple zeros. The classical Ostrowski’s method of fourth-order can obtain a particular form for the simple root. Their efficiency is checked on a good number of relevant numerical examples. These results demonstrate the performance of our methods. We find that the new methods are just as competent as other existing robust techniques available in the literature.
Discovery of Bioactive Indole-Diketopiperazines from the Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium brasilianum Aided by Genomic Information
Authors: Zhang Ya-Hui , Geng Ce , Zhang Xing-Wang , Zhu Hua-Jie , Shao Chang-Lun , Cao Fei , Wang Chang-Yun
Published: September 2019

Identification and analysis of the whole genome of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium brasilianum HBU-136 revealed the presence of an interesting biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) for non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), highly homologous to the BGCs of indole-diketopiperazine derivatives. With the aid of genomic analysis, eight indole-diketopiperazines (1−8), including three new compounds, spirotryprostatin G (1), and cyclotryprostatins F and G (2 and 3), were obtained by large-scale cultivation of the fungal strain HBU-136 using rice medium with 1.0% MgCl2. The absolute configurations of 1−3 were determined by comparison of their experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) with calculated ECD spectra. Selective cytotoxicities were observed for compounds 1 and 4 against HL-60 cell line with the IC50 values of 6.0 and 7.9 μM, respectively, whereas 2, 3, and 5 against MCF-7 cell line with the IC50 values of 7.6, 10.8, and 5.1 μM, respectively.