bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction of osmotic coefficients for ionic liquids in various solvents with artificial neural network
Authors: Yu Cao , Yao Shun , Wang Xianlong , Yao Tian , Song Hang
Published: January 2017

The relationship between the structural descriptions and osmotic coefficients of binary mixtures containing sixteen different ionic liquids and seven kinds of solvents has been investigated by back propagation artificial neural network (BP ANN). The influence of temperature on the osmotic coefficients was considered and the concentrations of ionic liquids were close to 1 mol kg-1, except in acetonitrile. Multi linear regression (MLR) was used to choose the variables for the artificial neural network (ANN) model. A three layer BP ANN with seven variables containing structural descriptions of the ionic liquids and the character of the solvent as input variables was developed. Compared with experimental data, the osmotic coefficients calculated using the ANN model had a high squared correlation coefficient (R2) and a low root mean squared error (RMSE).
Molecular detection of Babesia spp. in ticks sampled from asymptomatic dogs in the area of some Belgrade municipalities
Authors: Davitkov Darko , Terzic Srecko , Davitkov Dajana , Radakovic Milena , Gajic Bojan , Krstic Vanja , Stanimirovic Zoran
Published: January 2017

Babesiosis of domestic animals is a vector transmissible and clinically
significant disease, caused by protozoa of genus Babesia and Theileria.
Possible causative agents for this disease in dogs in Europe are: Babesia
canis, B. gibsoni, B. vogeli and B. microti-like. Diagnostics of babesiosis
of dogs was for a long time based on the visual inspection of stained blood
smear under a microscope, while today there have been increasingly used
molecular methods of detection in precise, species diagnostics. The
objective of this work was molecular detection of the cause of babesiosis of
dogs in the ticks sampled from asymptomatic dogs in the region of some
Belgrade municipalities, all for better understanding of epizootiological
situation. From three sites in Belgrade, there were collected 49 ticks,
sampled from the dogs with no symptoms. There was carried out the
determination of the ticks, and after that, DNA was isolated for molecular
examination. First, there was performed Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR),
for determining the species of the genus Babesia, and after that there was
also carried out the determining of polymorphism in the length of
restriction fragments (RFLP) for the purpose of the causative agent species
determination. Out of the total number of the examined ticks, 18,34% were
positive on Babesia spp. By RFLP method, in two cases (4,08%) B. Gibsoni
was identified, while in 7 cas?es (14,92%) there were no restriction sites
for the used enzymes, what suggests that most likely it was B. canis. The
ticks positive on the cause of babesiosis were: Dermacentor reticulatus (4
cases), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (4 cases) i Ixodes ricinus (1 case). This
work confirms the presence of Babesia spp. in the ticks sampled from
asmptomatic dogs on the teritory of Belgrade as well as the significance of
PCR-RFLP method in diagnostics and identification of the causative agent of
babesiosis in dogs. For the first time in Serbia, there was determined the
presence of B. gibsoni in ticks (Species Rhipicephalus sanguineus)
The program for eradication of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Lazic Sava , Petrovic Tamas , Bugarski Dejan , Jovicin Milovan , Plavsic Budimir , Lupulovic Diana , Lazic Gospava , Polacek Vladimir
Published: January 2017

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis
(IBR/IPV) are diseases that affect cattle population of all breeds,
categories and age. Both diseases, especially infectious bovine
rhinotracheitis (IBR), poses severe health threat and causes major economic
losses and is considered one of the ?most costly? disease in cattle industry.
The causal agent of the disease is a virus and any detection of IBR/IPV
specific antibodies in non-vaccinated cattle, either in blood or milk,
indicates that animal is infected and represents the source of infection.
Countries with developed and intensive cattle breeding have been developed
and implemented their national eradication programs to control IBR/IPV in
accordance with international regulations. In this article, we outlined the
needs and program for the eradication of IBR/IPV in the Republic of Serbia.
The eradication program for IBR/IPV is an extensive process that requires
systematic strategy involving different phases and activities. The
eradication process from the moment of implementation until obtaining
IBR/IPV-free status can last over several years and requires joint work and
considerable financial resources that will be compansated with the
elimination of IBR/IPV from the herd. This article gives an overview of all
stages and activities regarding eradication of the disease and certification
and maintaining of IBR/IPV-free herd status.
Quantification of the force systems delivered by transpalatal arches activated in the six Burstone geometries
Authors: Sakima Maurício Tatsuei , Dalstra Michel , Loiola Angelo Vicentini , Gameiro Gustavo Hauber
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the force systems produced by transpalatal arches (TPAs) activated according to the six classes of geometries described by Burstone and Koenig.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty appliances were tested for first-order activations using a mechanical force testing system. The TPAs were first checked for passivity in sagittal, transverse, and vertical planes at the measuring machine. Then 10 appliances per group were activated using a millimeter template to obtain the six classes of geometries, and the activated appliances were inserted into lingual tubes of the Force System Identification machine that recorded the deactivation forces and moments delivered by both terminal ends of the TPAs.

Results:

The overall force system with the actual values of forces and moments recorded by each type of activation was illustrated and compared with the mathematical model reported by Burstone and Koenig. Although a great consistency of the direction of forces and moments were observed, the theoretically feasible force systems could not be fully accomplished by the TPA activated for the six classes of geometries.

Conclusion:

The first-order activations of the TPA can deliver predictable force systems in respect to the direction of forces and moments attainable, but some unexpected forces and moments are also produced. Careful clinical monitoring is, therefore, strongly recommended when using this statically indeterminate system.
Role of Culture in Adoption of Enterprise Collaboration Technologies
Authors: Bedford Denise A. D. , Egan Dominick , Graham Hugh T.
Published: January 2017

The primary goal of this case study is to understand the complexities of organizational culture, and the role that culture plays in using and in implementing collaboration technologies. Culture is defined by E. H. Schein as “a pattern of shared basic assumptions learned by a group as it solved its problems of external adaptation and internal integration.” The levels and types of cultures present in all organizations are explored. Collaboration is defined as the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something. Collaboration exists in all organizations in some form, structured or unstructured, formal or informal. Organizations often fail to consider existing collaboration practices when introducing new technologies. This research takes the form of a case study of a large international development organization. The case study describes the initial successful adoption of collaboration technologies in the late 1990s and considers the reasons for that success. The case study follows the organization through the next generation of collaboration technologies, and highlights how and why the original successes were lost. Ten common points of failure experienced by organizations are described. The case study suggests that success is unlikely where collaboration technologies are not aligned with existing collaboration models and where the culture of the organization is not collaboration oriented. Perspectives and experiences are shared in the hope that others can learn from these successes and failures.
Endoscopic endonasal approach to the ventral brainstem: anatomical feasibility and surgical limitations
Authors: Essayed Walid I. , Singh Harminder , Lapadula Gennaro , Almodovar-Mercado Gustavo J. , Anand Vijay K. , Schwartz Theodore H.
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE

Sporadic cases of endonasal intraaxial brainstem surgery have been reported in the recent literature. The authors endeavored to assess the feasibility and limitations of endonasal endoscopic surgery for approaching lesions in the ventral portion of the brainstem.

METHODS

Five human cadaveric heads were used to assess the anatomy and to record various measurements. Extended transsphenoidal and transclival approaches were performed. After exposing the brainstem, white matter dissection was attempted through this endoscopic window, and additional key measurements were taken.

RESULTS

The rostral exposure of the brainstem was limited by the sella. The lateral limits of the exposure were the intracavernous carotid arteries at the level of the sellar floor, the intrapetrous carotid arteries at the level of the petrous apex, and the inferior petrosal sinuses toward the basion. Caudal extension necessitated partial resection of the anterior C-1 arch and the odontoid process. The midline pons and medulla were exposed in all specimens. Trigeminal nerves were barely visible without the use of angled endoscopes. Access to the peritrigeminal safe zone for gaining entry into the brainstem is medially limited by the pyramidal tract, with a mean lateral pyramidal distance (LPD) of 4.8 ± 0.8 mm. The mean interpyramidal distance was 3.6 ± 0.5 mm, and it progressively decreased toward the pontomedullary junction. The corticospinal tracts (CSTs) coursed from deep to superficial in a craniocaudal direction. The small caliber of the medulla with very superficial CSTs left no room for a safe ventral dissection. The mean pontobasilar midline index averaged at 0.44 ± 0.1.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic endonasal approaches are best suited for pontine intraaxial tumors when they are close to the midline and strictly anterior to the CST, or for exophytic lesions. Approaching the medulla is anatomically feasible, but the superficiality of the eloquent tracts and interposed nerves limit the safe entry zones. Pituitary transposition after sellar opening is necessary to access the mesencephalon.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Regulate the Growth and Phyto-Active Compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza Seedlings
Authors: Yang Ye , Ou Xiaohong , Yang Guang , Xia Yunsheng , Chen Meilan , Guo Lanping , Liu Dahui
Published: January 2017

Roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) are widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) have been shown to enhance plant growth and increase secondary metabolites concentration in many plant species. However, effects of AMFs on S. miltiorrhiza have not been explored. A pot culture was designed as one control (non-AMF) treatment and four AMFs (G.m, Glomus mosseae; G.a, Glomus aggregatum; G.v, Glomus versiforme; G.i, Glomus intraradices) treatments were performed in order to evaluate the effects of AMFs on plant growth, as well as phyto-active compounds’ concentration of S. miltiorrhiza seedlings. Plants were harvested after 90 days: agronomic traits and concentration; and an accumulation of mineral elements, as well as phyto-active compounds were detected. All AMFs inoculated plants formed mycorrhizal structures, and an infection ratio; also, the intensity of inoculated roots was higher than 84.61% and 23.86%, respectively. Mycorrhizal dependency was above 144.62%. Seedlings with AMFs inoculation had significantly higher plant height, leather leaf length, top leaflet size, base leaflet length, taproot length, taproot diameter and biomass than those with non-AMF inoculation. In addition, inoculation with AMFs increased N, P, and K accumulation significantly, but barely had any effect on mineral elements’ concentrations. AMFs inoculation also significantly improved tanshinones concentrations and stimulation in order to accumulate salvianolic acid B. G.v and G.i were effective for seedlings growth; G.m and G.i were also effective for phyto-active compounds. In total, S. miltiorrhiza inoculation with AMFs had positive effects on growth and active components, especially inoculation with G.v.
Tribological Properties of Aluminum Nanoparticles as Additives in an Aqueous Glycerol Solution
Authors: Le Vu , Lin Jau-Wen
Published: January 2017

The object of this research is to investigate the tribological properties of glycerol lubricant with aluminum nanoparticles as an additive and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the dispersive medium for iron to iron friction using a thrust collar tribotester. Meanwhile, the effects of different concentrations of aluminum nanoparticles, SDS, and deionized water in glycerol on tribology properties of iron to iron friction were studied. The experimental parameters were set up according to the Taguchi technique, their influence on the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate were examined by response surface methodology (RSM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods. The analysis results were employed to optimize the parameters to obtain the best lubricant effects. The optimal combination of the parameters for both minimum COF and wear rate was found to be 0.6667 weight percent (wt %) of aluminum nanoparticles, 2 wt % of SDS, and 10 wt % of deionized water content of glycerol. The wear surface topography and the average roughness of the surface were also examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-400 instrument. The results show that aluminum nanoparticles used as an additive in lubricant reduce the surface roughness of a collar remarkably. The energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) was utilized to confirm the deposition of aluminum nanoparticles on the collar surface leading to decreased friction and wear.
Ensemble Classification for Anomalous Propagation Echo Detection with Clustering-Based Subset-Selection Method
Authors: Lee Hansoo , Kim Sungshin
Published: January 2017

Several types of non-precipitation echoes appear in radar images and disrupt the weather forecasting process. An anomalous propagation echo is an unwanted observation result similar to a precipitation echo. It occurs through radar-beam ducting because of the temperature, humidity distribution, and other complicated atmospheric conditions. Anomalous propagation echoes should be removed because they make weather forecasting difficult. In this paper, we suggest an ensemble classification method based on an artificial neural network and a clustering-based subset-selection method. This method allows us to implement an efficient classification method when a feature space has complicated distributions. By separating the input data into atomic and non-atomic clusters, each derived cluster will receive its own base classifier. In the experiments, we compared our method with a standalone artificial neural network classifier. The suggested ensemble classifier showed 84.14% performance, which was about 2% higher than that of the k-means clustering-based ensemble classifier and about 4% higher than the standalone artificial neural network classifier.
Contemporary Temperature Fluctuation in Urban Areas of Pakistan
Authors: Anjum Raheel , He Xiubin , Tanoli Javed , Raza Syed
Published: January 2017

Annual temperature data from thirty meteorological stations in Pakistan’s major urban areas were selected to investigate trends in annual average and maximum temperature during 1970–2009. A combination of parametric and non-parametric tests including linear regression, the Mann-Kendall trend test and Sen’s slope estimator was used for the analysis. Annual average and maximum temperature series showed an overall increasing trend for 90% of the stations and a decreasing trend for 10% of the stations in the study area. The highest significant increment of annual average temperature was observed at Gilgit, Hyderabad, Quetta and Lasbela stations at the rate of 0.49 °C per decade. The highest increment of annual maximum temperature was obtained at Chitral, Gilgit, Nawabshah and Quetta at the rate of 0.31 °C per decade. According to simple linear regression and the Mann-Kendall test, the annual average temperature showed a significant increasing trend for 43% of the stations (at a 0.001 level of significance) and 23% of the stations (at the 0.05 level). Annual maximum temperature showed a significant increasing trend for 26% of the stations (at the 0.001 level of significance) and 23% of the stations (at the 0.05 level). In general, the results showed increasing trends for the considered parameters, although annual average temperature showed a higher increasing rate than annual maximum temperature during the study period.
Aziridine- and Azetidine-Pd Catalytic Combinations. Synthesis and Evaluation of the Ligand Ring Size Impact on Suzuki-Miyaura Reaction Issues
Authors: Boufroura Hamza , Large Benjamin , Bsaibess Talia , Perato Serge , Terrasson Vincent , Gaucher Anne , Prim Damien
Published: January 2017

The synthesis of new vicinal diamines based on aziridine and azetidine cores as well as the comparison of their catalytic activities as ligand in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction are described in this communication. The synthesis of three- and four-membered ring heterocycles substituted by a methylamine pendant arm is detailed from the parent nitrile derivatives. Complexation to palladium under various conditions has been examined affording vicinal diamines or amine-imidate complexes. The efficiency of four new catalytic systems is compared in the preparation of variously substituted biaryls. Aziridine- and azetidine-based catalytic systems allowed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions from aryl halides including chlorides with catalytic loadings until 0.001% at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to r.t. The evolution of the Pd-metallacycle ring strain moving from azetidine to aziridine in combination with a methylamine or an imidate pendant arm impacted the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction issue.
A Review of Research Evidence on the Antecedents of Transformational Leadership
Authors: Sun Jingping , Chen Xuejun , Zhang Sijia
Published: January 2017

As the most-studied form of leadership across disciplines in both Western and Chinese contexts, transformational school leadership has the potential to suit diverse national and cultural contexts. Given the growing evidence showing the positive effects of transformational leadership on various school outcomes as it relates to school environment, teacher and student achievement, we wanted to explore the factors that gave rise to transformational leadership. The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the antecedents fostering transformational leadership in the contexts of both the United States and China. This paper reviews and discusses the empirical studies of the last two decades, concentrating on the variables that are antecedent to transformational leadership mainly in the educational context, but also in public management, business and psychology. Results show that transformational leadership is related to three sets of antecedents, which include: (1) the leader’s qualities (e.g., self-efficacy, values, traits, emotional intelligence); (2) organizational features (e.g., organization fairness); and (3) the leader’s colleagues’ characteristics (e.g., follower’s initial developmental level). Some antecedents were common to both contexts, while other antecedents appeared to be national context specific. The implications of the findings for future research and leader preparation in different national contexts are discussed.
Dewey on Seriousness, Playfulness and the Role of the Teacher
Authors: Skilbeck Adrian
Published: January 2017

The chapter that John Dewey dedicates to consideration of play and work in the curriculum in Democracy and Education echoes his thoughts on the same subject in How We Think, which preceded Democracy and Education by six years. Dewey closes How We Think with a more expansive treatment of the topic and is keen not only to recast the traditional dichotomy of work and play as distinct kinds of educational activity but to challenge the hierarchical status of the accompanying mental states of seriousness and playfulness. Dewey argues that a combination of playfulness and seriousness represents the ideal mental attitude of the artist: teaching is an art, therefore the teacher is an artist and the ideal mental attitude of the teacher to his or work combines the playful and the serious. It is the task of the teacher to inculcate such habits of mind in his or her students for whom it is implicitly the ideal mental state for learning. It is in the light of this that we should understand what characterises play and work as features of educational activity. Consideration of what Dewey meant is accompanied by an example from contemporary educational practice intended to illustrate Dewey’s sense of purposeful activity in which a playful approach creates the kind of embodied experience that will help students to achieve desired educational outcomes. This will lead to reflection on how the role of the teacher as an artist might be conceived, resisting both the temptation towards an instrumental characterisation of playfulness derived from the application of discoveries in cognitive science to classroom practice and goal-directed notions of seriousness. I will argue that alongside the conventional classroom skills of the teacher, what is required is an authentic presence that is attuned to the nature of what is being taught, together with a concern for the outcomes to be achieved. Such an attunement would allow for playfulness and humour as well as seriousness. It is an attunement between both the individual and others in mutuality and with him or herself. These thoughts will be developed via extended reflection upon two scenes from Alan Bennett’s The History Boys (2006). These scenes draw attention to the importance of conversation for both the teacher/student relationship and as a medium for playful and serious exploration of academic content. If we only think of the Deweyan attitude of the artist in an impersonal sense then the kind of seriousness that is internal to the personal expression of claims about art, ethics, morality, politics, even history, remains unheard, at least in an educational context. It is to this that I turn through consideration of conversation and mutuality in the work of Stanley Cavell via Michael Oakeshott’s observations about seriousness and playfulness in conversation and further comments offered by Paul Standish on what it means to say something.
Assessing the Feasibility of Global Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios
Authors: Gambhir Ajay , Drouet Laurent , McCollum David , Napp Tamaryn , Bernie Dan , Hawkes Adam , Fricko Oliver , Havlik Petr , Riahi Keywan , Bosetti Valentina , Lowe Jason
Published: January 2017

This study explores the critical notion of how feasible it is to achieve long-term mitigation goals to limit global temperature change. It uses a model inter-comparison of three integrated assessment models (TIAM-Grantham, MESSAGE-GLOBIOM and WITCH) harmonized for socio-economic growth drivers using one of the new shared socio-economic pathways (SSP2), to analyse multiple mitigation scenarios aimed at different temperature changes in 2100, in order to assess the model outputs against a range of indicators developed so as to systematically compare the feasibility across scenarios. These indicators include mitigation costs and carbon prices, rates of emissions reductions and energy efficiency improvements, rates of deployment of key low-carbon technologies, reliance on negative emissions, and stranding of power generation assets. The results highlight how much more challenging the 2 °C goal is, when compared to the 2.5–4 °C goals, across virtually all measures of feasibility. Any delay in mitigation or limitation in technology options also renders the 2 °C goal much less feasible across the economic and technical dimensions explored. Finally, a sensitivity analysis indicates that aiming for less than 2 °C is even less plausible, with significantly higher mitigation costs and faster carbon price increases, significantly faster decarbonization and zero-carbon technology deployment rates, earlier occurrence of very significant carbon capture and earlier onset of global net negative emissions. Such a systematic analysis allows a more in-depth consideration of what realistic level of long-term temperature changes can be achieved and what adaptation strategies are therefore required.
The Economy-Carbon Nexus in China: A Multi-Regional Input-Output Analysis of the Influence of Sectoral and Regional Development
Authors: Yan Xin , Ge Jianping
Published: January 2017

China has become the world’s largest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter. Sectoral production activities promote economic development while also adding considerably to national CO2 emissions. Due to their different sectoral structures, each region shows different levels of economic development and CO2 emissions. The Chinese government hopes to achieve the dual objectives of economic growth and CO2 emissions reduction by encouraging those sectors that have high economic influence and low environmental influence. Based on the above background, this study constructed an inter-regional sectoral economic influence coefficient (REIC) and a CO2 emissions influence coefficient (RCIC) based on the basic multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model to analyse the economy-carbon nexus of 17 sectors in 30 regions in China in 2010. The results showed that most Chinese sectors and regions had low CO2 emissions influences in 2010. However, some sectors showed negative environmental influences. Specifically, the mining-related sectors showed high CO2 emissions influence with low economic influence. It is encouraging that some light industry and high-end equipment manufacturing sectors had low CO2 emissions influence with high economic influence. For regions, geographic location and past preferential policies are the most important factors influencing local economic growth and CO2 emissions reduction. Most inland regions have low economic influence with high or low CO2 emissions influence. Meanwhile, most coastal regions showed high economic influence with low CO2 emissions influence. Finally, we propose some policy implications for sectors and regions.
Performance Evaluation of a Solar-Powered Regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle in Different Climate Conditions
Authors: Spayde Emily , Mago Pedro , Cho Heejin
Published: January 2017

A model to evaluate the performance of a solar powered regenerative Organic Rankine Cycle (R-ORC) using five dry organic fluids: RC318, R227ea, R236ea, R236fa, and R218, is presented in this paper. The system is evaluated in two locations in the U.S.: Jackson, MS and Tucson, AZ. The weather data for each location is used to determine the heat available from the solar collector that could be used by the R-ORC to generate power. Results from the R-ORC performance are compared with a basic ORC using first and second law criteria as well as primary energy consumption (PEC) and carbon dioxide emission (CDE) savings for both locations. An economic analysis to determine the maximum capital cost for a desired payback period is presented in this paper. A parametric analysis is also performed to study the effect of the turbine efficiency as well as the open feed organic fluid heater intermediate pressure on the system performance. Results indicate that the R-ORC is able to generate more power than the basic ORC for some of the selected working fluids. For the R-ORC, R236ea is the working fluid that show the best performance among the evaluated fluids under the modeled conditions. On the other hand, the basic ORC with R236ea as the working fluid outperformed three of the fluids in the R-ORC. Also, the R-ORC evaluated in Tucson, AZ is able to generate more power, to provide more PEC and CDE savings, and had a higher available capital cost than the R-ORC evaluated in in Jackson, MS.
Pathological Impairment, Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis of Thymus and Bursa of Fabricius Induced by Aflatoxin-Contaminated Corn in Broilers
Authors: Peng Xi , Bai Shiping , Ding Xuemei , Zhang Keying
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of aflatoxin-contaminated corn on the thymus and bursa of Fabricius (BF) in chickens by detecting histopathological lesions, cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis. A total of 900 COBB500 male broilers were randomly allocated into five groups. The experiment lasted for six weeks and the five dietary treatments consisted of uncontaminated corn (control), 25% contaminated corn, 50% contaminated corn, 75% contaminated corn and 100% contaminated corn groups. The gross changes showed the decreased size of the thymus and BF, as well as the pale color of the BF in the broilers after aflatoxin contaminated diet exposure. There were more nuclear debris in the thymus and BF of birds in the 50%, 75%, and 100% contaminated corn groups, but the pathological impairments of the BF were more obvious than those of the thymus, which showed as more obvious lymphocyte depletion and the proliferation of reticulocytes and fibroblasts. At 21 days of age, the percentage of thymocytes and BF cells in the G2M phase was increased in a dose-dependent manner in the four AFB-contaminated corn groups. However, at 42 days of age, dietary AFB1 induced cell cycle perturbation at the G0G1 phase in thymocytes, but at the G2M phase in BF cells. The increased percentage of apoptotic cells in the thymus and BF were similarly observed in the AFB groups. According to these results, the severity of histopathological lesions may be correlated with the different sensitivity of the two central immune organs when exposed to AFB; different arrested cell cycle phases suggest that different mechanisms may be involved in the lesions of the thymus and BF, which need to be further researched.
Joint Modeling of Multiple Crimes: A Bayesian Spatial Approach
Authors: Liu Hongqiang , Zhu Xinyan
Published: January 2017

A multivariate Bayesian spatial modeling approach was used to jointly model the counts of two types of crime, i.e., burglary and non-motor vehicle theft, and explore the geographic pattern of crime risks and relevant risk factors. In contrast to the univariate model, which assumes independence across outcomes, the multivariate approach takes into account potential correlations between crimes. Six independent variables are included in the model as potential risk factors. In order to fully present this method, both the multivariate model and its univariate counterpart are examined. We fitted the two models to the data and assessed them using the deviance information criterion. A comparison of the results from the two models indicates that the multivariate model was superior to the univariate model. Our results show that population density and bar density are clearly associated with both burglary and non-motor vehicle theft risks and indicate a close relationship between these two types of crime. The posterior means and 2.5% percentile of type-specific crime risks estimated by the multivariate model were mapped to uncover the geographic patterns. The implications, limitations and future work of the study are discussed in the concluding section.
Bone Niches, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, and Vessel Formation
Authors: Tamma Roberto , Ribatti Domenico
Published: January 2017

Bone marrow (BM) is a source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are localized in both the endosteum, in the so-called endosteal niche, and close to thin-walled and fenestrated sinusoidal vessel in the center of BM, in the so-called vascular niche. HSCs give rise to all types of mature blood cells through a process finely controlled by numerous signals emerging from the bone marrow niches where HSCs reside. This review will focus on the description of the role of BM niches in the control of the fate of HSCs and will also highlight the role of the BM niches in the regulation of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Moreover, alterations of the signals in niche microenvironment are involved in many aspects of tumor progression and vascularization and further knowledge could provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Player–Game Interaction and Cognitive Gameplay: A Taxonomic Framework for the Core Mechanic of Videogames
Authors: Sedig Kamran , Parsons Paul , Haworth Robert
Published: January 2017

Cognitive gameplay—the cognitive dimension of a player’s experience—emerges from the interaction between a player and a game. While its design requires careful consideration, cognitive gameplay can be designed only indirectly via the design of game components. In this paper, we focus on one such component—the core mechanic—which binds a player and game together through the performance of essential interactions. Little extant research has been aimed at developing frameworks to support the design of interactions within the core mechanic with cognitive gameplay in mind. We present a taxonomic framework named INFORM (Interaction desigN For the cORe Mechanic) to address this gap. INFORM employs twelve micro-level elements that collectively give structure to any individual interaction within the core mechanic. We characterize these elements in the context of videogames, and discuss their potential influences on cognitive gameplay. We situate these elements within a broader framework that synthesizes concepts relevant to game design. INFORM is a descriptive framework, and provides a common vocabulary and a set of concepts that designers can use to think systematically about issues related to micro-level interaction design and cognitive gameplay.
Mammary Gland Involution Provides a Unique Model to Study the TGF-β Cancer Paradox
Authors: Guo Qiuchen , Betts Courtney , Pennock Nathan , Mitchell Elizabeth , Schedin Pepper
Published: January 2017

Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in cancer has been termed the “TGF-β paradox”, acting as both a tumor suppresser and promoter. The complexity of TGF-β signaling within the tumor is context dependent, and greatly impacted by cellular crosstalk between TGF-β responsive cells in the microenvironment including adjacent epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, and hematopoietic cells. Here we utilize normal, weaning-induced mammary gland involution as a tissue microenvironment model to study the complexity of TGF-β function. This article reviews facets of mammary gland involution that are TGF-β regulated, namely mammary epithelial cell death, immune activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. We outline how distinct cellular responses and crosstalk between cell types during physiologically normal mammary gland involution contribute to simultaneous tumor suppressive and promotional microenvironments. We also highlight alternatives to direct TGF-β blocking anti-cancer therapies with an emphasis on eliciting concerted microenvironmental-mediated tumor suppression.
Influence of Trunk Extensor Muscles Fatigue on the Postural Control and Sensorimotor Integration
Authors: Dos Santos Rocha José , Pirôpo Uanderson , Da Silva Passos Rafael , Couto David , Dos Santos Alice , Argolo Ana , Andrade Helder , Casotti Cezar , Pereira Rafael
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to investigate the effect of trunk extensor muscles fatigue, through a submaximum and time-limited isometric task, on the postural control and sensorimotor integration of young healthy adults. Previously and after a submaximum and time-limited isometric fatigue protocol of trunk extension muscles, 30 s stabilometric recordings were taken in both conditions: eyes opened and closed. The center of pressure (CoP) displacement in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions, as well as the total displacement (TD) of CoP were analyzed from the recordings with both conditions (eyes opened and closed) and moments (PRE and POST fatigue protocol). Additionally, the Romberg Index was calculated for CoP displacement in the AP and ML directions, as well as for TD PRE and POST fatigue protocol. Significant differences between the studied parameters of pre- and post-fatigue protocol were not observed. The applied fatigue protocol was not able to modify the postural control, as well as the capacity of integrating sensorial information in the absence of vision, of young healthy subjects. These results indicate that proprioceptive information remains reliable after the used fatigue protocol, allowing subjects to keep a satisfactory straight posture.
Characterization of the New Status of Nador Lagoon (Morocco) after the Implementation of the Management Plan
Authors: Mohamed Najih , Driss Nachite , Nadia Berday , Roberto Pastres , Abdeljaouad Lamrini , Nor-dine Rezzoum
Published: January 2017

The present study was carried out in 2011 with the aims of (1) evaluating the changes in sedimentary distribution that occurred in Nador lagoon seabed (Morocco) after the implementation of the lagoon management plan in 2009; and (2) characterizing its new sedimentary status in 2011. Due to the lack of a baseline, we used the 1992 sedimentary status for comparison. The seabed surface sediment distribution showed a great change between 1992 and 2011. We found the same four sediment facies, which were present in 1992, namely: mud, sandy mud, muddy sand, and fine sand. However, in 2011, mud covered more than 54% of the lagoon seabed surface, mostly located in the middle part of the seabed, whereas in 1992, more than 80% of the lagoon seabed was covered by sandy mud. The sediments’ characteristics showed moderately to poorly sorted facies (S0), ranging between platykurtic and leptokurtic (SK) and with various symmetry indices (SG). The organic matter content in sediment has strongly decreased, from values higher than 20% in most areas in 1992 to a mean value of 3.9% in 2011, ranging from 0.2% to 10.4%, thus confirming that the management actions implemented in 2009 were likely effective in reducing the organic pollution.
Towards the Development of an Operational Forecast System for the Florida Coast
Authors: Paramygin Vladimir , Sheng Y. , Davis Justin
Published: January 2017

A nowcasting and forecasting system for storm surge, inundation, waves, and baroclinic flow for the Florida coast has been developed. The system is based on dynamically coupled CH3D and SWAN models and can use a variety of modules to provide different input forcing, boundary and initial conditions. The system is completely automated and operates unattended at pre-scheduled intervals as well as in event-triggered mode in response to Atlantic-basin tropical cyclone advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center. The system provides up to 72-h forecasts forward depending on the input dataset duration. Spatially, the system spans the entire Florida coastline by employing four high-resolution domains with resolutions as fine as 10–30 m in the near-shore and overland to allow the system to resolve fine estuarine details such as in the Intracoastal Waterway and minor tributaries. The system has been validated in both hindcast and nowcast/forecast modes using water level and salinity data from a variety of sources and has been found to run robustly during the test periods. Low level products (e.g., raw output datasets) are disseminated using THREDDS while a custom defined web-based graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for high level access.
Anisotropy of Photopolymer Parts Made by Digital Light Processing
Authors: Monzón Mario , Ortega Zaida , Hernández Alba , Paz Rubén , Ortega Fernando
Published: January 2017

Digital light processing (DLP) is an accurate additive manufacturing (AM) technology suitable for producing micro-parts by photopolymerization. As most AM technologies, anisotropy of parts made by DLP is a key issue to deal with, taking into account that several operational factors modify this characteristic. Design for this technology and photopolymers becomes a challenge because the manufacturing process and post-processing strongly influence the mechanical properties of the part. This paper shows experimental work to demonstrate the particular behavior of parts made using DLP. Being different to any other AM technology, rules for design need to be adapted. Influence of build direction and post-curing process on final mechanical properties and anisotropy are reported and justified based on experimental data and theoretical simulation of bi-material parts formed by fully-cured resin and partially-cured resin. Three photopolymers were tested under different working conditions, concluding that post-curing can, in some cases, correct the anisotropy, mainly depending on the nature of photopolymer.
Scaling-Up Techniques for the Nanofabrication of Cell Culture Substrates via Two-Photon Polymerization for Industrial-Scale Expansion of Stem Cells
Authors: Ricci Davide , Nava Michele , Zandrini Tommaso , Cerullo Giulio , Raimondi Manuela , Osellame Roberto
Published: January 2017

Stem-cell-based therapies require a high number (106–109) of cells, therefore in vitro expansion is needed because of the initially low amount of stem cells obtainable from human tissues. Standard protocols for stem cell expansion are currently based on chemically-defined culture media and animal-derived feeder-cell layers, which expose cells to additives and to xenogeneic compounds, resulting in potential issues when used in clinics. The two-photon laser polymerization technique enables three-dimensional micro-structures to be fabricated, which we named synthetic nichoids. Here we review our activity on the technological improvements in manufacturing biomimetic synthetic nichoids and, in particular on the optimization of the laser-material interaction to increase the patterned area and the percentage of cell culture surface covered by such synthetic nichoids, from a low initial value of 10% up to 88% with an optimized micromachining time. These results establish two-photon laser polymerization as a promising tool to fabricate substrates for stem cell expansion, without any chemical supplement and in feeder-free conditions for potential therapeutic uses.
Distinguishing Benign from Malignant Pancreatic and Periampullary Lesions Using Combined Use of 1H-NMR Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
Authors: McConnell Yarrow , Farshidfar Farshad , Weljie Aalim , Kopciuk Karen , Dixon Elijah , Ball Chad , Sutherland Francis , Vogel Hans , Bathe Oliver
Published: January 2017

Previous work demonstrated that serum metabolomics can distinguish pancreatic cancer from benign disease. However, in the clinic, non-pancreatic periampullary cancers are difficult to distinguish from pancreatic cancer. Therefore, to test the clinical utility of this technology, we determined whether any pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinoma could be distinguished from benign masses and biliary strictures. Sera from 157 patients with malignant and benign pancreatic and periampullary lesions were analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate projection modeling using SIMCA-P+ software in training datasets (n = 80) was used to generate the best models to differentiate disease states. Models were validated in test datasets (n = 77). The final 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS metabolomic profiles consisted of 14 and 18 compounds, with AUROC values of 0.74 (SE 0.06) and 0.62 (SE 0.08), respectively. The combination of 1H-NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS metabolites did not substantially improve this performance (AUROC 0.66, SE 0.08). In patients with adenocarcinoma, glutamate levels were consistently higher, while glutamine and alanine levels were consistently lower. Pancreatic and periampullary adenocarcinomas can be distinguished from benign lesions. To further enhance the discriminatory power of metabolomics in this setting, it will be important to identify the metabolomic changes that characterize each of the subclasses of this heterogeneous group of cancers.
Chemical Constituents from the Roots and Rhizomes of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum and the In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Authors: Jing Yu , Zhang Yi-Fan , Shang Ming-Ying , Liu Guang-Xue , Li Yao-Li , Wang Xuan , Cai Shao-Qing
Published: January 2017

Anti-inflammatory compounds were investigated from the ethanol extract of the roots and rhizomes of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum, a traditional Chinese medicine called Xixin and used for pain and inflammatory. Nine new compounds were isolated, including six new lignans, neoasarinin A–C (1–3), neoasarininoside A and B (4 and 5), and asarinin B (7), and one new monoterpene, asarincin A (8), two new amides, asaramid II and III (10 and 11), and one new natural monoterpene, asaricin B (9), along with 37 known compounds (6, 12–47). Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and chemical analyses. This is the first report of the absolute configuration of asarinin A (6). The 8-O-4′ neolignans (1–5) were reported in the genus Asarum for the first time. The 15 compounds 17, 19, 22–25, 28, 31, 36, 40, 42, 43, 45–47 were isolated from the genus Asarum, and compounds 16, 32, 33, 37 and 39 were isolated from A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum for the first time. Thirty-seven of the isolates were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity against the release of β-glucuronidase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) induced by the platelet-activating factor (PAF), and compounds 1, 4, 7, 8, 14, 17–19, 22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 40–43, 45, and 46 showed potent anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, with 27.9%–72.6% inhibitions at 10−5 mol/L. The results of anti-inflammatory assay suggested that lignans obtained from the CHCl3 extract might be the main active components of Xixin.
Development of High-Throughput Method for Measurement of Vascular Nitric Oxide Generation in Microplate Reader
Authors: Abd El-Hay Soad , Colyer Christa
Published: January 2017

Background: Despite the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular physiology and pathology, a high-throughput method for the quantification of its vascular generation is lacking. Objective: By using the fluorescent probe 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM), we have optimized a simple method for the determination of the generation of endothelial nitric oxide in a microplate format. Methods: A nitric oxide donor was used (3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride, SIN-1). Different factors affecting the method were studied, such as the effects of dye concentration, different buffers, time of reaction, gain, and number of flashes. Results: Beer’s law was linear over a nanomolar range (1–10 nM) of SIN-1 with wavelengths of maximum excitation and emission at 495 and 525 nm; the limit of detection reached 0.897 nM. Under the optimized conditions, the generation of rat aortic endothelial NO was measured by incubating DAF-FM with serial concentrations (10–1000 µM) of acetylcholine (ACh) for 3 min. To confirm specificity, Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)—the standard inhibitor of endothelial NO synthase—was found to inhibit the ACh-stimulated generation of NO. In addition, vessels pre-exposed for 1 h to 400 µM of the endothelial damaging agent methyl glyoxal showed inhibited NO generation when compared to the control stimulated by ACh. Conclusions: The capability of the method to measure micro-volume samples makes it convenient for the simultaneous handling of a very large number of samples. Additionally, it allows samples to be run simultaneously with their replicates to ensure identical experimental conditions, thus minimizing the effect of biological variability.