bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provision of beta‐glucan prebiotics (cellooligosaccharides and kraft pulp) to calves from pre‐ to post‐weaning period on pasture
Authors: Kido Kyoko , Tejima Shigeki , Haramiishi Miyuu , Uyeno Yutaka , Ide Yasuyuki , Kurosu Kazuhiro , Kushibiki Shiro
Published: October 2019

We conducted two feeding experiments to evaluate the effects of supplementation with either cellooligosaccharide or kraft pulp on growth performance in grazing beef calves (Japanese Black) from 4 weeks pre‐weaning to 12 to 16 weeks post‐weaning. In Experiment 1 (20‐week duration), nine calves (2.9‐month‐old females) were assigned to either a control group (CON) or an experimental group (CEL) fed cellooligosaccharide at a rate of 10 g/day mixed with concentrate. Average daily weight gain tended to be greater in CEL than in CON, especially after 1 month of weaning. In Experiment 2 (16‐week duration), 10 calves (2.0‐month‐old females) were assigned to either a control group or an experimental group (KRA) fed kraft pulp at a rate of 10% replacement of total digestible nutrients with concentrate. The proportion of fibrolytic bacteria increased and that of methanogenic Archaea decreased in the rumen microbial community composition of KRA calves in Experiment 2, whereas the decrease in Fibrobacter and Archaea was observed in CEL calves at first 4 weeks in Experiment 1. We conclude that beta‐glucan prebiotic supplementation to grazing calves at pre‐weaning would affect rumen microbial composition and modified rumen fermentation characteristics, leading to a better rumen environment via different means.
Trypanosoma cruzi cleaves galectin-3 N-terminal domain to suppress its innate microbicidal activity
Authors: Pineda M , Corvo L , Callejas-Hernández F , Fresno M , Bonay P
Published: October 2019

Galectin-3 is the best-characterized member of galectins, an evolutionary conserved family of galactoside-binding proteins that play central roles in infection and immunity, regulating inflammation, cell migration and cell apoptosis. Differentially expressed by cells and tissues with immune privilege, they bind not only to host ligands, but also to glycans expressed by pathogens. In this regard, we have previously shown that human galectin-3 recognizes several genetic lineages of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas’ disease or American trypanosomiasis. Herein we describe a molecular mechanism developed by T. cruzi to proteolytically process galectin-3 that generates a truncated form of the protein lacking its N-terminal domain – required for protein oligomerization – but still conserves a functional carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Such processing relies on specific T. cruzi proteases, including Zn-metalloproteases and collagenases, and ultimately conveys profound changes in galectin-3-dependent effects, as chemical inhibition of parasite proteases allows galectin-3 to induce parasite death in vitro. Thus, T. cruzi might have established distinct mechanisms to counteract galectin-3-mediated immunity and microbicide properties. Interestingly, non-pathogenic T. rangeli lacked the ability to cleave galectin-3, suggesting that during evolution two genetically similar organisms have developed different molecular mechanisms that, in the case of T. cruzi, favoured its pathogenicity, highlighting the importance of T. cruzi proteases to avoid immune mechanisms triggered by galectin-3 upon infection. This study provides the first evidence of a novel strategy developed by T. cruzi to abrogate signalling mechanisms associated with galectin-3-dependent innate immunity.
Time delay in seeking treatment for first‐episode schizophrenia: a retrospective study
Authors: Chen Hongguang , Wang Tingwei , Wang Dandan , Gao Xiangqi
Published: October 2019

Aim

A longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with higher risk of relapse and a poorer overall prognosis. The study is designed to explore the duration of untreated schizophrenia and associated factors in Northwest China.

Methods

A total of 7252 patients with first‐episode schizophrenia registered from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2018 in Yulin of China were included. The median delay time was estimated by Kaplan‐Meier survival curve. Two‐level mixed‐effects survival model was used to calculate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for factors associated with treatment delay. The outcome variable of interest was defined as ‘receiving antipsychotic treatment’.

Results

Up to 40.4% of patients with schizophrenia were illiterate and 78% were farmers and 75.6% were living under the national poverty line. The median treatment delay was 30 months (Interquartile range: 2‐217). Older age at onset (age group 21‐28, HR 1.3; 29‐39, HR 1.3; 40 above, HR 1.4), female gender (HR 1.1), unmarried status(HR 1.1) and high educational level (primary, HR 1.4; Junior HR 1.8 and high school and above, HR 1.8) were found to be associated with lower risk of treatment delay. Widowed status (HR 0.6) was associated with an increased risk of treatment delay.

Conclusions

The median duration of untreated schizophrenia in this study was longer than findings reported in many prior studies. Early age of onset, male patients, widowed status and low education level were at high risk of treatment delay. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia in northwest China should be strengthened.
Cardiac biomarkers associated with epilepsy in a captive baboon pedigree
Authors: Szabó Charles Ákos , Akopian Margarita , González David A. , de la Garza Melissa A. , Carless Melanie A.
Published: October 2019

The epileptic baboon provides a natural model of idiopathic generalized epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). This retrospective, case‐controlled study aims to evaluate cardiac biomarkers of epilepsy, specifically QT‐interval prolongation and heart rate variability (HRV), in pedigreed, captive baboons undergoing scalp electroencephalography (EEG). We retrospectively identified 21 epileptic (nine females, mean age = 11.4 ± 5.4 years) and 19 asymptomatic control (12 females, mean age = 10.5 ± 6.3 years) baboons, who had undergone scalp EEG studies with an artifact‐free, 10‐beat electrocardiogram sample. All baboons were sedated with subanesthetic doses of ketamine prior to electrode placement. PR, QT, and RR intervals were measured, and Fridericia‐corrected QT duration (QTcF) and root mean square of successive differences between RR intervals (RMSSD; representative of HRV) values were compared between the groups. The epilepsy group had significantly prolonged QT and QTcF intervals (P = .005) compared to controls. RMSSD values were nonsignificantly decreased in epileptic baboons compared to the control group. This study demonstrates cardiac repolarization anomalies and reduction of HRV in epileptic baboons, providing new cardiac biomarkers in pedigreed baboons and potential risk factors for SUDEP.
Corporate watchdogs
Authors: Navone Marco , To Thomas
Published: October 2019

We investigate the role of financial analysts as corporate watchdogs. We show that firms that are subject to intense analyst monitoring are more likely to be investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or to be the subject of a securities class action. Using cross‐sectional variations in managerial entrenchment, we find that this effect is not a reflection of the “dark side of analyst coverage,” analysts pushing executives to misbehave to exceed short‐term expectations. Our findings are robust to different identification strategies addressing the endogeneity of analyst coverage decisions.
Biogeochemical and physical controls on methane fluxes from two ferruginous meromictic lakes
Authors: Lambrecht Nicholas , Katsev Sergei , Wittkop Chad , Hall Steven J. , Sheik Cody S. , Picard Aude , Fakhraee Mojtaba , Swanner Elizabeth D.
Published: October 2019

Meromictic lakes with anoxic bottom waters often have active methane cycles whereby methane is generally produced biogenically under anoxic conditions and oxidized in oxic surface waters prior to reaching the atmosphere. Lakes that contain dissolved ferrous iron in their deep waters (i.e., ferruginous) are rare, but valuable, as geochemical analogues of the conditions that dominated the Earth's oceans during the Precambrian when interactions between the iron and methane cycles could have shaped the greenhouse regulation of the planet's climate. Here, we explored controls on the methane fluxes from Brownie Lake and Canyon Lake, two ferruginous meromictic lakes that contain similar concentrations (max. >1 mM) of dissolved methane in their bottom waters. The orderMethanobacterialeswas the dominant methanogen detected in both lakes. At Brownie Lake, methanogen abundance, an increase in methane concentration with respect to depths closer to the sediment, and isotopic data suggest methanogenesis is an active process in the anoxic water column. At Canyon Lake, methanogenesis occurred primarily in the sediment. The most abundant aerobic methane‐oxidizing bacteria present in both water columns were associated with the Gammaproteobacteria, with little evidence of anaerobic methane oxidizing organisms being present or active. Direct measurements at the surface revealed a methane flux from Brownie Lake that was two orders of magnitude greater than the flux from Canyon Lake. Comparison of measured versus calculated turbulent diffusive fluxes indicates that most of the methane flux at Brownie Lake was non‐diffusive. Although the turbulent diffusive methane flux at Canyon Lake was attenuated by methane oxidizing bacteria, dissolved methane was detected in the epilimnion, suggestive of lateral transport of methane from littoral sediments. These results highlight the importance of direct measurements in estimating the total methane flux from water columns, and that non‐diffusive transport of methane may be important to consider from other ferruginous systems.
Binary mixtures of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil with tall fescue: Herbage traits associated with the improved growth performance of beef steers
Authors: Waldron Blair L. , Bingham Troy J. , Creech J. Earl , Peel Michael D. , Miller Rhonda , Jensen Kevin B. , ZoBell Dale R. , Eun Jong‐Su , Heaton Kevin , Snyder Donald L.
Published: October 2019

High nitrogen (N) fertilizer costs and increased environmental stewardship have renewed interest in grass–legume pastures. This research compared herbage mass, nutritive value, steer growth performance and economics of binary mixtures of tall fescue (Schendonorus arundinaceus [Schreb.] Dumort, nom. Cons.) (TF) with alfalfa (ALF) (TF + ALF, Medicago sativa L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) (TF + BFT, Lotus corniculatus L.), to tall fescue with (TF + N) and without N fertilizer (TF–N). Pastures were established in Lewiston, Utah, USA, and rotationally stocked by Angus beef steers for 112 days in 2012 and 2013. Herbage samples were collected prior to each 7‐day stocking period and analyzed for mass and nutritive value. Steers were weighed each 28‐day rotation cycle and cumulative average daily gain (ADG) calculated. Steer performance differed (p = .05) among most treatments with ADG greatest for TF + BFT (0.73 kg/day) and TF + ALF (0.67 kg/day), followed by TF + N (0.61 kg/day) and the least for TF–N (0.40 kg/day). Multivariate analysis indicated that small inherent differences in herbage energy, fiber and digestibility were highly correlated with steer growth. Other variables associated with ADG included legume proportion and herbage mass. Fescue–legume mixtures had 29 to 33% legume proportion, and more (p = .05) favorable energy and fiber concentrations than grass monocultures. Whereas herbage mass was greatest (p = .05) for TF + N (2,956 kg/ha), followed closely by TF + BFT (2,741 kg/ha) and TF + ALF (2,623 kg/ha). Overall, TF + BFT and TF + ALF pastures had less herbage, but better nutritive value and increased steer growth performance compared to TF + N, without the added cost of fertilizer.
Psoriasis as a comorbidity of hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Kjærsgaard Andersen Rune , Saunte Sara K. , Jemec Gregor B. E. , Saunte Ditte M.
Published: October 2019

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and psoriasis (PSO) appear to share important pathogenic elements; in spite of this, the co‐occurrence of the two has been widely unexplored.

Methods

To explore the co‐occurrence of HS and PSO, we recorded the number of patients attending the outpatient clinic at the Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark, for the ICD10 diagnosis HS (DL73.2) or PSO (DL40.0, DL40.3, DL40.4, DL40.8, and DL40.9). Data were further compared with previously reported Danish national prevalence rates for HS and PSO.

Results

A total of 1,036 patients were included from the outpatient clinic: 440 HS, 624 PSO, and 28 with both diagnoses. In total 6.4% of HS patients had PSO, and 4.5% of PSO patients had HS. HS patients had OR = 2.99 (95% CI 2.04–4.38) of having PSO as compared to the background population. For PSO patients, they had OR = 2.56 (95% CI 1.74–3.77).

Discussion

We found a strong association between HS and PSO, which implies a possible comorbidity between PSO and HS that has not previously been properly elucidated. Such a connection could be a common inflammatory pathway driven by the increased secretion of IL‐12/23 and TNFα that is a hallmark of both diseases.
Historical contingency, niche conservatism and the tendency for some taxa to be more diverse towards the poles
Authors: Morales‐Castilla Ignacio , Davies T. Jonathan , Rodríguez Miguel Á.
Published: October 2019

Aim

We test the ability of the biotic exchange across the Bering land bridge coupled to niche conservatism to explain current day mammalian diversity gradients.

Location

The Holarctic.

Taxon

Mammals.

Methods

We compared the diversity within clades that participated in the exchange (colonizers), whose ancestors withstood the Beringian cold temperatures, with that within clades that did not participate (sedentaries). We contrasted biogeographical patterns, tested the ability of environmental models to predict species richness of colonizers and sedentaries across continents and, compared richness‐climate relationships between colonizers and sedentaries controlling for phylogenetic effects.

Results

We find that assemblages of colonizers are more diverse towards higher latitudes, opposing the traditional latitudinal diversity gradient which is followed by sedentaries. Despite the long passage of time since this major dispersal event, we find that the geographic distribution of colonizers is more strongly correlated with the distributions of other colonizers inhabiting a different continent than to the distribution of sedentary species.

Main conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of historical migrations and dispersal in configuring present‐day diversity gradients. We also suggest that colonizers may be particularly vulnerable to future climate change because of the predicted disproportionate decrease in climate space in the extra‐tropical realm where they are currently most diverse.
Social Support and Patterns of Institutionalization Among Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Oh Anna , Patel Kanan , Boscardin W. John , Max Wendy , Stephens Caroline , Ritchie Christine S. , Smith Alexander K.
Published: October 2019

OBJECTIVES

To identify participants living at home and to estimate the risk of their transition into an institutional setting.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative survey of US adults aged 65 and older.

SETTING

US national sample.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 4712 NHATS participants were living at home in 2011. Residential transitions were described every year through 2017.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was transition time into an institutional setting. Primary predictors were social support factors (living spouse, lives with others, presence of social network, and participation in social activities). Covariates included age, sex, race, cognitive status, functional disability, multimorbidity, and Medicaid enrollment. A Fine and Gray hazards model estimated the risk of transition into an institutional setting, with death before institutionalization considered a competing risk.

RESULTS

In 2011, 4712 NHATS participants were living at home (78 ± 8 y; 57% female; 80% white; 10% probable dementia; 7% with three or more activities of daily living disabilities). By 2017, 58% remained at home, 17% had either transitioned to an institution or died in an institution, and 25% died before institutionalization. In multivariable analyses that adjusted for age, sex, race, cognitive status, functional disability, multimorbidity, and Medicaid enrollment, participants were more likely to move out of the home into an institution if they had no social network (0 vs three or more people; subhazard ratio [sHR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2–2.5; P = .003) or lived alone (sHR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.6–2.2; P < .0001). Older adults who enjoyed going to the movies, dinner, or the casino and visiting family or friends had a lower probability of institutionalization compared with participants who did not enjoy these activities or did not visit family or friends (adjusted sHR = .7; 95% CI = .6–.9; adjusted sHR = .7; 95% CI = .6–.9, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Policy initiatives should target older adults with limited social support to reduce the risk of moving from home into an institution. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2622–2627, 2019
Safety and mechanism of action of noninvasive radiofrequency treatment for vaginal laxity: Histological study in the swine vaginal model
Authors: Kent David E. , Bernardy Jan
Published: October 2019

Background

Structural changes in collagen and elastin fiber density have been previously evaluated by qualitative histological studies; however, quantitative evaluations are lacking.

Aim

To evaluate quantitative changes in collagen and elastin fibers in the vaginal wall in a porcine model after volumetric radiofrequency heating with an intravaginal applicator.

Methods

An animal model was used (domestic pig, multipara: 5.67 ± 0.94 deliveries, 3 years of age). Three pigs under general anesthesia were treated (8‐minute, vaginal canal area) once per week for the course of three weeks. There were 2 follow‐up evaluations at one and four weeks. Histology specimens were obtained via punch biopsy under ultrasound control. Ultrasound video measurements of the vaginal wall thickness were also obtained. Tissue samples were stained by H&E as well as stains for collagen and elastin fibers.

Results

Elastin (P < .001) and collagen (P < .01) fiber density increased after every treatment. The measured increase in fibers was highest at the one‐week follow‐up. Elastin accounted on average for 51.46 ± 16.86% of the tissue examined (increase of 36.8% points), while collagen accounted on average for 44.83 ± 18.92% (increase of 17.1% points). The number of synthetically active cells was increased by 16%. While vaginal wall thickness did show an increase of 1.66 mm (32%), this tendency was not statistically significant (P > .05).

Conclusion

Results suggest that volumetric heating of vaginal tissue produced quantitative improvement in the connective tissue organization in a porcine study. Neocollagenesis and neoelastogenesis were observed with an increased number of synthetically active cells.
Ecological drivers of tree assemblage in tropical, subtropical and subalpine forests
Authors: Asefa Mengesha , Wen Han‐Dong , Brown Calum , Cao Min , Xu Kun , Hu Yue‐Hua
Published: October 2019

Aims

It is widely accepted that deterministic and neutral dispersal processes are two of the principal mechanisms driving community assembly. However, the relative importance of these ecological drivers between distinct life stages both at community and individual species levels remains poorly understood in different vegetation types. Here, we address the following questions: (a) is there a ubiquitous process shaping tree assemblage; (b) how does the relative importance of environmental and dispersal processes vary through ontogeny in different vegetation types; and (c) will the spatial patterns of trees at community and individual species levels reflect similar contribution between ecological processes?

Location

Yunnan province, southwest China.

Methods

We used the Homogeneous Poisson, Homogeneous Thomas, Inhomogeneous Poisson, and Inhomogeneous Thomas point process models to predict the effect of stochastic, dispersal and/or environmental processes, respectively, on the distribution of trees across ontogeny in tropical, subtropical and subalpine forests. To evaluate the relative importance of models, we compared the observed and simulated patterns of the species–area relationship and the pair correlation function g(r) at community and species level, respectively.

Results

The Homogeneous Thomas model was the model with the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC) scores across ontogeny and forest types at community level. At the species level, however, Homogeneous Thomas, and Inhomogeneous Thomas predicted the distribution of large and small trees, respectively, with lower AIC values in two of our three plots. In the third plot, the Homogeneous Thomas model is dominant across ontogeny at the species level.

Conclusions

Tree communities are assembled mainly by the dispersal process at community level. The relative importance of ecological processes for species distribution varies across life stages at the species level, suggesting that there is an ontogenetic shift of ecological processes in shaping tree distribution. Using different summary statistics at both community and species levels helps to discern the different spatial structures of species and increases our appreciation of the processes underpinning community assembly.
Cytosolic GABA inhibits anion transport by wheat ALMT1
Authors: Long Yu , Tyerman Stephen D. , Gilliham Matthew
Published: October 2019

Anion transport by aluminium‐activated malate transporter (ALMT) proteins is negatively regulated by gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), which increases in concentration during stress.

Here, the interaction between GABA and wheat (Triticum aestivum, Ta) TaALMT1 heterologously‐expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes was investigated.

GABA inhibited anion transport by TaALMT1 in membrane patches from the cytosolic, not extracellular membrane face, via a reduction in open probability (NPopen), not an inhibition of channel current magnitude. TaALMT1 currents in patches frequently exhibited rundown with complete removal of cytosolic factors, but were partially sustained by protein kinase C dependent phosphorylation. When applied to whole oocytes a GABA‐analogue‐BODIPY conjugate inhibited TaALMT1 anion currents from the cytoplasmic face only, whereas free GABA inhibited from both the inside and outside consistent with GABA traversing the TaALMT1 pore then acting from the inside.

We propose GABA does not competitively inhibit ALMT conductance through the same pore but rather leads to an allosteric effect, reducing anion channel opening frequency. Across plants GABA is a conserved regulator of anion transport via ALMTs – a family with numerous physiological roles beyond Al3+ tolerance. Our data suggests that a GABA–ALMT interaction from the cytosolic face has the potential to form part of a novel plant signalling pathway.
Phenological plasticity is a poor predictor of subalpine plant population performance following experimental climate change
Authors: Block Sebastián , Alexander Jake M. , Levine Jonathan M.
Published: October 2019

Phenological shifts, changes in the seasonal timing of life cycle events, are among the best documented responses of species to climate change. However, the consequences of these phenological shifts for population dynamics remain unclear. Population growth could be enhanced if species that advance their phenology benefit from longer growing seasons and gain a pre‐emptive advantage in resource competition. However, it might also be reduced if phenological advances increase exposure to stresses, such as herbivores and, in colder climates, harsh abiotic conditions early in the growing season. We exposed subalpine grasslands to ~3 K of warming by transplanting intact turfs from 2000 m to 1400 m elevation in the eastern Swiss Alps, with turfs transplanted within the 2000 m site acting as a control. In the first growing season after transplantation, we recorded species’ flowering phenology at both elevations. We also measured species’ cover change for three consecutive years as a measure of plant performance. We used models to estimate species’ phenological plasticity (the response of flowering time to the change in climate) and analysed its relationship with cover changes following climate change. The phenological plasticity of the 18 species in our study varied widely but was unrelated to their changes in cover. Moreover, early‐ and late‐flowering species did not differ in their cover response to warming, nor in the relationship between cover changes and phenological plasticity. These results were replicated in a similar transplant experiment within the same subalpine community, established one year earlier and using larger turfs. We discuss the various ecological processes that can be affected by phenological shifts, and argue why the population‐level consequences of these shifts are likely to be species‐ and context‐specific. Our results highlight the importance of testing assumptions about how warming‐induced changes in phenotypic traits, like phenology, impact population dynamics.
Fragmentation and the context‐dependence of dispersal syndromes: matrix harshness modifies resident‐disperser phenotypic differences in microcosms
Authors: Jacob Staffan , Laurent Estelle , Morel‐Journel Thibaut , Schtickzelle Nicolas
Published: October 2019

Habitat fragmentation, the conversion of landscapes into patchy habitats separated by unsuitable environments, is expected to reduce dispersal among patches. However, its effects on dispersal should depend on dispersal syndromes, i.e. how dispersal covaries with phenotypic traits, because these syndromes can drastically alter dispersal and subsequent ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Our comprehension of whether environmental factors such as habitat fragmentation generate and/or modify dispersal syndromes (i.e. conditional dispersal syndromes) is therefore key for biodiversity forecasting. Here we tested whether habitat fragmentation modulates dispersal syndromes by experimentally manipulating matrix harshness, a critical feature of habitat fragmentation, in ciliate microcosms. We found evidence for dispersal syndromes involving multiple traits linked to morphology (elongation and size), movement (velocity and linearity) and demography (growth rate and maximal population density). More importantly, these syndromes were modified by matrix harshness, with increased differences between residents and dispersers in morphology and movement traits, and decreased differences in growth rate as the matrix became increasingly harsh. Our findings thus reveal that habitat fragmentation can mediate the intensity and form of dispersal syndromes, a context‐dependence that could have important consequences for ecological and evolutionary dynamics under environmental changes.
Co‐administration of chitin micro‐particle and Leishmania antigen proposed a new immune adjuvant against experimental leishmaniasis
Authors: Azizi Mahdieh , Yousefi Roya , Yeganeh Farshid , Mami Sanaz , Haji Molla Hoseini Mostafa
Published: October 2019

Aims

We investigated the protective effect of chitin micro‐particle (CMP) as an adjuvant against Leishmania infection in BALB/c mice.

Methods

Mice were immunized subcutaneously with soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) plus CMP (100 µg SLA + 100 µg CMP/100 µL) as the test group. Three weeks after the last immunization, test and control groups were infected by Leishmania major (L major). Eight weeks post‐infection, evaluation of parasites load in lymph nodes was performed using limiting dilution assay. Then, the spleen cell cytokine response (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐17 and IL‐27) to SLA among vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups was investigated using ELISA. Serum levels of IgG1 and IgG2a were measured as well.

Results

The SLA plus CMP group demonstrated the protection. The responses included reduced lesion formation and lower parasite load. Also, in comparison with control group higher levels of IFN‐γ and, IL‐10 in the culture of spleen cells, and lower levels of IgG1 in sera were seen in SLA plus CMP group.

Conclusion

The data supported the possibility of using CMP as a suitable adjuvant in Leishmania vaccination.
Bringing Voters into the Equation: An Individual‐Level Analysis of the Vice Presidential Home State Advantage
Authors: Devine Christopher J. , Kopko Kyle C.
Published: October 2019

This article critiques two leading analyses of the vice presidential home state advantage (VP HSA) and uses their fundamental methodological insights to develop a comprehensive, individual‐level analysis aimed at resolving a major conflict in the political science literature. Our analyses of the 1952–2016 American National Election Studies and the 2008–16 Cooperative Congressional Election Studies provide no evidence of a statistically significant VP HSA. These results are consistent with Devine and Kopko's findings, and inconsistent with Heersink and Peterson's, regarding the VP HSA, in general. However, they are also inconsistent with Devine and Kopko's previous findings regarding a conditional advantage based upon home state population and candidate experience. These results underscore the importance of using individual‐ rather than aggregate‐level data to analyze voting behavior, whenever possible.
Optimal Matching Approaches in Health Policy Evaluations Under Rolling Enrolment
Authors: Pimentel Samuel D. , Forrow Lauren Vollmer , Gellar Jonathan , Li Jiaqi
Published: October 2019

Comparison group selection is paramount for health policy evaluations, where randomization is seldom practicable. Rolling enrolment is common in these evaluations, introducing challenges for comparison group selection and inference. We propose a novel framework, GroupMatch, for comparison group selection under rolling enrolment, founded on the notion of time agnosticism: two subjects with similar outcome trajectories but different enrolment periods may be more prognostically similar and produce better inference if matched, than two subjects with the same enrolment period but different pre-enrolment trajectories. We articulate the conceptual advantages of this framework and demonstrate its efficacy in a simulation study and in an application to a study of the effect of falls in Medicare Advantage patients.
Expanding and Repositioning Cognitive Science
Authors: Rosenbloom Paul S. , Forbus Kenneth D.
Published: October 2019

Cognitive science has converged in many ways with cognitive psychology, but while also maintaining a distinctive interdisciplinary nature. Here we further characterize this existing state of the field before proposing how it might be reconceptualized toward a broader and more distinct, and thus more stable, position in the realm of sciences.
Effect of Milling Time on the Synthesis of In-situ Cu-25 Vol. % WC Nanocomposite by Mechanical Alloying
Authors: Bashirom Nurulhuda , Kassim Hazni Fazliana
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a study on the effect of milling time on the synthesis of Cu-WC nanocomposites by mechanical alloying (MA). The Cu-WC nanocomposite with a nominal composition of 25 vol.% of WC was produced in-situ via MA from elemental powders of copper (Cu), tungsten (W), and graphite (C). These powders were milled in the high-energy “Pulverisette 6” planetary ball mill according to the composition Cu-34.90 wt.% W-2.28 wt.% C. The powders were milled in the different milling times; 16 hours, 32 hours, and 48 hours at rotational speed of 600 rpm. The milling process was conducted under argon atmosphere by using a stainless steel vial and 10 mm diameter of stainless steel balls, with ball-to-powder weight ratio (BPR) 10:1. The as-milled powders were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD result indicated the formation of WC after milling for 32 hours, and the peak broadening was observed at higher milling time. From SEM observations, the particle size of Cu-25 vol.% WC composites was gradually refined with increasing milling time until the homogenous microstructure was obtained at 48 hours of milling, even though there were still some unreacted W particles existed in the matrix. Increasing milling time resulted in smaller crystallite size and higher lattice strain of Cu. The overall result demonstrates that the longer milling time can be used to achieve WC reinforced copper matrix nanocomposite.
Effect of La Doped on the Conductivity of the Perovskite Type PbZrO3
Authors: Che Abdullah Salmie Suhana , Wan Nordin Imaduddin Helmi , Mohamed Salleh Siti Hawa , Esaka Takao
Published: October 2019

Electrochemical properties of Pb1-xLaxZrO3+x/2 with perovskite structure have been studied. The powdery Pb1-xLaxZrO3+x/2 has been prepared by solid-state reaction method. The X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that Pb1-xLaxZrO3+x/2 (x = 0.0-0.05) sintered at 900 ˚C was single phase structure. The electrical conductivity of the material has been investigated. By doping La at the lead site, the electrical conductivity of the Pb1-xLaxZrO3+x/2 system decreased. The undoped compound showed the highest electrical conductivity of ca. 10-3 S/cm. Electromotive Force (EMF) measurements of oxygen concentration cell confirm that the charge carrier of La doped PbZrO3 was the oxide ion.
Study on the Properties of Al-Al2O3 Composite Using Synthesized Alumina from Sol Gel Technique
Authors: Mohamad Hasmaliza , Abdul Rani Hanisah
Published: October 2019

Alumina reinforced aluminum is one of metal matrix composite (MMC) systems that can maintain its properties although at high temperature. Among various processes to produce MMC, powder metallurgy is the best method because of its efficiency dispersion of fine alumina particles. In this study, alumina powders were synthesized through sol gel method which is known as one of the ideal method to produce good properties of powders. The performances of synthesized alumina powders were then observed through the fabrication of composite. The percentage of alumina (0wt%, 10wt%, 20wt% and 30wt %) and sintering temperature (500°C and 550°C) were varied in order to observed their effects on the produced composite. Result shows that by increasing the percentage of alumina and sintering temperature, mechanical properties were increased where 30wt% alumina and 550°C sintering temperature give the optimum results. Comparison study by using 30wt% alumina and 550°C sintering temperature on the composite using synthesize and commercial alumina shows similar/comparable properties of composite.
Development of Waste Rubber as a Binder Component for Metal Injection Moulding Process
Authors: Omar Mohd Afian , Abdullah Norsyakira , Mohd Zainon Nurazilah , Roslani Norazlan , Subuki Istikamah
Published: October 2019

One of the keys to successful production of MIM is the selection of the binders. The binder-system provides the metal powder with the fluidity necessary for moulding. It also strongly influences the maximum solid fraction of the mixture that can be moulded, the green strength of the moulded part and, the properties of the final products after the debinding process. There are various binder-systems that have been developed for use in practice of the MIM. To overcome at least some of the problems associated with the other systems, a eco-friendly biopolymer composite binder based on natural sources and waste materials had been successfully developed at the Structural Materials Programme of SIRIM Berhad. This consists of natural sources based biopolymer constituents, particularly palm stearin and waste rubber as a back bone polymer. The new system has been successfully used for metal powders to produce precision metal component. The physical and mechanical properties of the sintered samples will be discussed. The highest sintered density achieved was 99.8% of theoretical density with the tensile strength of 517 MPa.
Effect of Stearic Acid on Rheological Properties of 316L Feedstock for Metal injection Moulding
Authors: Subuki Istikamah , Ismail Muhammad Hussain , Amir Amalina , Omar Mohd Afian
Published: October 2019

Stearic acid (SA) was used as an additive in the process of metal injection moulding (MIM). It was added to the wax/polymer mixture in order to modify the powder wetting, mould lubrication, mixture viscosity, residual stress and debinding behaviour. In this study, the effect of SA in feedstock formulation on mixing torque and rheological properties was investigated. Further, it’s correlation on the as-moulded and as-debound parts behaviour was also investigated. The results showed that addition of SA significantly reduced the mixing torque value and viscosity which correspond to decreasing in inter-particle friction. As a result, injection moulding could be carried out at a lower temperature to achieve sound moulded parts and increased the removal rate of binder during solvent extraction process. However, it seemed that increasing the SA had a little negative effect on the as-moulded density.
Densification and Mechanical Properties of Y-TZP/25 wt. % ZrB2 Composite
Authors: Mahdi E. M. , Ramesh S. , Amiriyan M. , Tolouei R. , Meenaloshini S. , Teng W. D.
Published: October 2019

Over the last three decades, most of the efforts in mechanics of materials science have been focused to develop tougher and stronger ceramics via cost effective processing techniques. In the present work, 3 mol % Yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) composites with 25 wt. % of ZrB2 was prepared by pressureless sintering method in argon atmosphere over the temperature range of 1350-1550°C for one hour holding time. The influences of zirconium diboride addition in the zirconia matrix, as well as the sintering temperature, on the densification, phase stability and electrical properties of sintered samples have been studied. The results revealed that electrical resistivity values is very low (high electrical conductivity) when 25 wt. % of ZrB2 is incorporated to pure 3Y-TZP.
Prediction of Powder Injection Molding Process Parameters Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Rajabi Javad , Muhamad Norhamidi , Rajabi Maryam , Rajabi Jamal
Published: October 2019

The parameters of Powder Injection Molding (PIM) process were modeled by artificial neural networks (ANNs). The feed-forward multilayer perceptron was utilized and trained by back-propagation algorithm. Particle size, particle morphology, debinding time, and sintering temperature were taken into account and regarded as inputs of the ANN model. The outputs included relative density, wax loss, shrinkage, and hardness. The results obtained using the ANN model were in good agreement with the experimental data. In fact, they displayed an average R-value of 0.95 versus the experimental values. The optimum architecture of ANN was 7-4-1, in which the network was trained with Levenberg–Marquardt training algorithm. Thus, the ANN model can be used to evaluate, calculate, and forecast PIM process parameters.
The Effect of Milling Parameters on Laminated Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)
Authors: N. Khairusshima M. K. , Che Hassan C. H. , Jaharah A. G. , Amin A. K. M.
Published: October 2019

The demand is high in various applications for an inexpensive and feasible alternative to engineering material, namely, the carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite. CFRP is one of the main materials used as a substitute for glass and aramid in aerospace industries. However, many problems arise during machining. Abrasive wear, poor surface finish, burr, and de-lamination, among others, are the common difficulties encountered by the machinist. These problems occur because of the existence of carbon in the CFRP that affects the performance of the tool and the surface quality of the end product. A solid uncoated carbide end mill cutting tool and a CFRP panel with fibre orientation of 0/45° were used to investigate the machinability of CFRP composite during milling; a cutting speed of 16 m/min to 240 m/min with a feed rate of 0.0125 mm/tooth to 0.0125 mm/tooth were set. At higher cutting speed and feed rate, the performance of carbide cutting tool worsens, similar to the de-lamination factor. Tool life is longer at lower cutting speed and feed rate, but a better quality surface is achieved at higher cutting speed. The dimensional precision of CFRP is also better at higher cutting speed and lower feed rate.
Time and Motion Studies of Manual Harvesting Methods for Oil Palm Fruit Bunches: A Malaysian Case Study
Authors: Saibani Nizaroyani , Muhamed Ariff Azly , Maliami Mohd Faizal , Ahmad Rasyidah
Published: October 2019

In optimizing the yield of oil palm fruit bunches collection, the mechanization of the collection process is very important. However, before the analysis of the cost benefits of any mechanization development can be utilized, this study has to be carried out. Time and Motion Studies (TMS) is used to identify and measure the efficiency of the oil palm fruit bunches’ manual harvesting technique. The Direct Time Study Technique has been selected to determine and record the time taken by the harvester to harvest the oil palm fruit bunches, where the tool used in this technique is a stopwatch, alongside the Time Study Observation Sheet. Meanwhile, to examine the motions used by the harvester in the harvesting process, the Therblig’s Motion Principle is applied to identify effective and non- effective motions. A field work study has been conducted by monitoring two harvesters and all the real time data is recorded in the time study observation sheet and analyzed to get a value of Normal Time (NT) and also Standard Time (ST) for each work element involved in the manual harvesting process of palm oil. There are seven work elements that have been identified to have been used by the harvester to complete the process, the first element  is searching for the mature palm oil tree (NT= 40.73 seconds), the second element  is adjusting the Aluminium Pole and Knife (APK) cutter (NT= 23.36 seconds), the third element is cutting the oil palm’s frond (NT= 51.30 seconds), the fourth element is cutting  the mature oil palm’s bunches (NT= 60.26 seconds), the fifth element is collecting the oil palm’s frond that  has been cut (NT= 21.69 seconds), the sixth element is putting the oil palm’s bunches that have been cut  into the wheel barrow (NT= 34.25 seconds) and the seventh element  is collecting the loose oil palm fruits or called fruitlets (NT= 77.49 seconds). The study also categorized a few non-effective work elements carried out during the manual harvesting process. The elements are: searching for the oil palm trees that have mature oil palm bunches, adjusting the APK cutter and also collecting the loose oil palm fruitlets off the ground.
Efficiency of Attached-Growth Sequencing Batch Reactor in the Treatment of Recycled Paper Mill Wastewater
Authors: Muhamad Mohd Hafizuddin , Sheikh Abdullah Siti Rozaimah , Abu Hasan Hassimi
Published: October 2019

In this study, an attached-growth bioreactor was operated using granular activated carbon (GAC) with additional biomass; and evaluatedits performance in the treatment of real recycled paper mill effluent at chemical oxygen demand (COD) level in the range of 800-1300 mg/L, a fixed hydraulic retention time of 24 hours and COD:N:P ratio of about 100:5:1. A laboratory-scale aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was used. The efficiency of this biological treatment processwas studiedover a 300-day period, in order to evaluate their performance, especially for the removal of nitrogen compound and of biodegradable organic matter. It has been found that this process was able to remove organic matter (expressed as COD; 91-99%) and turbidity (89-99%) almost completely and simultaneously; the removal of nitrogen (expressed as NH3-N; 70-94%), phosphorus (expressed as PO43-P; 42-71%), suspended solid (81-99%) and colour (72-91%) were sufficiently achieved. The overall performance confirmed that an attached-growth SBR system using additional biomass on GAC is a promising configuration for wastewater treatment in terms of the performance efficiency and process stability under fluctuations of organic load.
Statistical Characterisation of Grain-Size Distribution in Fluvial Sediment of Kelantan Rivers
Authors: Wan Mohtar Wan Hanna Melini , Bassa Nawang Siti Aminah , Porhemmat Mojtaba
Published: October 2019

The characteristic of sediment, in particular the particle size distribution is important to be correctly determined for an accurate representation in sediment transport. This article reports the grain size distributions of soil samples taken from seven tropical rivers i.e. the Sungai (Rivers) of Sam, Galas, Lata Tunggil, Mei, Rek, Peng Datu and the major Sungai Kelantan catchment area which spanned about 11, 900 km2. The Sungai Galas is a direct tributary, whilst the Sungai Sam, Sungai Rek, Sungai Mei and Sungai Lata Tunggil are the tributaries into Sungai Lebir which subsequently feeds the Sungai Kelantan. Each obtained sample was sieved and the soil type distribution was determined. Statistical analysis of the samples was conducted; including the median grain size , mean grain size, standard deviation (sorting), skewness and kurtosis. Most of the samples have insignificant fractions of finer grains, where coarse sand and gravel were the dominant. All sediment samples are negatively skewed towards coarse sand, have very platykurtic kurtosis suggesting that the sediment has single provenance.
Development of Simulation Model to Improve Bus Service Reliability at High-Frequency Operation
Authors: Moosavi Seyed Mohammad Hossein , Ismail Amiruddin , Golzadfar Amin
Published: October 2019

The quality of service provided to passengers in high-frequency bus routes can be affected by variety of factors. According to this fact that high-frequency bus routes have high passenger demand and short headways (less than 10 minutes), interaction between buses would be much higher, causing decline in reliability of service. In order to represent a busy bus operation in Kuala Lumpur city centre network, a simulation model will be calibrated. The calibration and validation parameters for the key bus route will derive from data captured by the Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system and procedures will be outlined to adapt the model to other bus routes. The study is in its initial stage to find out what factors have highest impact on reliability of high-frequency bus services in the city centre. An initial model was developed for forecasting passenger demand by using RSM. The simulation model will first be used to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the factors influencing reliability, such as passenger demand, terminal departure behaviour, and unfilled trips. Next, several operating strategies, including terminal departure and time-point holding will be modelled and evaluated for their potential to improve reliability. Model results show that which strategies and factors can significantly improve bus service reliability.
A REVIEW OF ‘HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION’ INFLUENCE TO HOME NETWORK: A REVIEW OF HCI INFLUENCE TO HN
Authors: Hamid Erman , Jaafar Azizah , Mei Choo Ang
Published: October 2019

There has been a number of researches carried out on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) impact to home networking. Many researchers have stated that the HCI elements are the most important aspects to be considered in making user understand some of issues concerning the Home Network. This paper reviews the existing research related to Human-Computer Interaction, Home Network and Network Management. This paper seeks to identify the effectiveness of existing Network Management Tools and the importance of HCI in dealing with it. In addition, this paper looks into the potential future work that could be done in order to archive desirable goals of Home Network.