bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Entropy of Social Media Location Data for the Detection of Crowd Dynamics Anomalies
Authors: Garcia-Rubio Carlos , Díaz Redondo Rebeca P. , Campo Celeste , Fernández Vilas Ana
Published: December 2018

Evidence of something unusual happening in urban areas can be collected from different data sources, such as police officers, cameras, or specialized physical infrastructures. In this paper, we propose using geotagged posts on location-based social networks (LBSNs) to detect crowd dynamics anomalies automatically as evidence of a potential unusual event. To this end, we use the Instagram API media/search endpoint to collect the location of the pictures posted by Instagram users in a given area periodically. The collected locations are summarized by their centroid. The novelty of our work relies on using the entropy of the sequence of centroid locations in order to detect abnormal patterns in the city. The proposal is tested on a data set collected from Instagram during seven months in New York City and validated with another data set from Manchester. The results have also been compared with an alternative approach, a training phase plus a ranking of outliers. The main conclusion is that the entropy algorithm succeeds inn finding abnormal events without the need for a training phase, being able to dynamically adapt to changes in crowd behavior.
Study on Crash Injury Severity Prediction of Autonomous Vehicles for Different Emergency Decisions Based on Support Vector Machine Model
Authors: Liao Yaping , Zhang Junyou , Wang Shufeng , Li Sixian , Han Jian
Published: December 2018

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of life and property loss to society. Autonomous vehicles can mitigate the losses by making appropriate emergency decision, and the crash injury severity prediction model is the basis for autonomous vehicles to make decisions in emergency situations. In this paper, based on the support vector machine (SVM) model and NASS/GES crash data, three SVM crash injury severity prediction models (B-SVM, T-SVM, and BT-SVM) corresponding to braking, turning, and braking + turning respectively are established. The vehicle relative speed (REL_SPEED) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) are introduced into the impact indicators of the prediction models. Secondly, the ordered logit (OL) and back propagation neural network (BPNN) models are established to validate the accuracy of the SVM models. The results show that the SVM models have the best performance than the other two. Next, the impact of REL_SPEED and GVWR on injury severity is analyzed quantitatively by the sensitivity analysis, the results demonstrate that the increase of REL_SPEED and GVWR will make vehicle crash more serious. Finally, the same crash samples under normal road and environmental conditions are input into B-SVM, T-SVM, and BT-SVM respectively, the output results are compared and analyzed. The results show that with other conditions being the same, as the REL_SPEED increased from the low (0–20 mph) to middle (20–45 mph) and then to the high range (45–75 mph), the best emergency decision with the minimum crash injury severity will gradually transition from braking to turning and then to braking + turning.
The Role of Charging Infrastructure in Electric Vehicle Implementation within Smart Grids
Authors: Kong Qing , Fowler Michael , Entchev Evgueniy , Ribberink Hajo , McCallum Robert
Published: December 2018

In the integration of electric vehicle (EV) fleets into the smart grid context, charging infrastructure serves as the interlinkage between EV fleets and the power grid and, as such, affects the impacts of EV operation on the smart grid. In this study, the impacts of charging infrastructure on the effectiveness of different EV operational modes were simulated using a multi-component modelling approach, which accounts for both stochastic EV fleet charging behaviors as well as optimal energy vector dispatch operation. Moreover, a campus microgrid case study was presented to demonstrate the various design factors and impacts of charging infrastructure implementation affecting EV fleet adoption and operation. Based on results from the study, it was shown that charging infrastructure should be adopted in excess of the minimum required to satisfy EV charging for driving needs. In addressing uncontrolled charging behaviors, additional charging infrastructure improves EV owner convenience and reduces queuing duration. Meanwhile, controlled charging strategies benefit from increased resilience against uncertain charging behavior and operate more optimally in systems subject to time-of-use (TOU) electricity pricing. Lastly, it was demonstrated that successful vehicle-to-grid (V2G) implementation requires charging infrastructure to emulate the availability and fast response characteristics of stationary energy storage systems, which translates to excess charging port availability, long EV plug-in durations, and bi-directional power flow capabilities well beyond the level 2 charging standard.
Power-Split Hydrostatic Transmissions for Wind Energy Systems
Authors: Bottiglione Francesco , Mantriota Giacomo , Valle Marco
Published: December 2018

In a wind turbine, if a continuously variable transmission is placed between the turbine rotor and the generator, the speed ratio can be tuned to match the variable rotor speed to the constant speed of the electric generator, thus eliminating the need to adapt the frequency to the grid. In this paper, power-split hydrostatic transmission (PS-HTS) architecture is proposed as a suitable continuously variable transmission for application to wind turbine systems. The performance of PS-HTS is modelled and compared with that of previously proposed architectures in which the hydrostatic transmission is placed in-line with traditional drives (in-line HTS). It is shown here that the PS-HTS can improve the annual energy production of a 250 kW rated power wind turbine of about 10–11% by employing a hydrostatic transmission with one-seventh the size of the one requested by in-line HTS architecture.
Comparative Study of the Cross-Flow Heat and Mass Exchangers for Indirect Evaporative Cooling Using Numerical Methods
Authors: Wang Yugang , Huang Xiang , Li Li
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a comparative study of the cross-flow regenerative heat and mass exchanger (HMX) and the conventional cross-flow HMX for indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) with numerical methods. The objective of this study is mainly to clarify the applicability of the two HMXs. The numerical model was built and validated by existing experimental data. The difference in heat and mass transfer between the two HMXs was revealed by analyzing the change of the temperature and moisture content of the air, and the influence of the main operating parameters on the cooling performance of the HMXs was analyzed. In the typical operating conditions, when the HMXs are used alone, the cooling performance of the regenerative HMX is better than that of the conventional HMX under low supply air flow rate. When the HMXs are used in the multistage evaporative cooling systems with high supply air flow rate, the conventional HMX is more suitable as the first stage of the system to pre-cool the supply air, while the regenerative HMX is more suitable as the second stage to re-cool the supply air.
Simulation-Based Evaluation and Optimization of Control Strategies in Buildings
Authors: Kontes Georgios D. , Giannakis Georgios I. , Sánchez Víctor , De Agustin-Camacho Pablo , Romero-Amorrortu Ander , Panagiotidou Natalia , Rovas Dimitrios V. , Steiger Simone , Mutschler Christopher , Gruen Gunnar
Published: December 2018

Over the last several years, a great amount of research work has been focused on the development of model predictive control techniques for the indoor climate control of buildings, but, despite the promising results, this technology is still not adopted by the industry. One of the main reasons for this is the increased cost associated with the development and calibration (or identification) of mathematical models of special structure used for predicting future states of the building. We propose a methodology to overcome this obstacle by replacing these hand-engineered mathematical models with a thermal simulation model of the building developed using detailed thermal simulation engines such as EnergyPlus. As designing better controllers requires interacting with the simulation model, a central part of our methodology is the control improvement (or optimisation) module, facilitating two simulation-based control improvement methodologies: one based in multi-criteria decision analysis methods and the other based on state-space identification of dynamical systems using Gaussian process models and reinforcement learning. We evaluate the proposed methodology in a set of simulation-based experiments using the thermal simulation model of a real building located in Portugal. Our results indicate that the proposed methodology could be a viable alternative to model predictive control-based supervisory control in buildings.
Computational Analysis of a Double-Nozzle Crossflow Hydroturbine
Authors: Adhikari Ram , Wood David
Published: December 2018

The crossflow turbines commonly used in small hydropower systems have a single nozzle. We are unaware of any studies of double-nozzle crossflow turbines which could have twice the power output of the single-nozzle design by doubling the flow through the same runner, with a high maximum efficiency. We present a computational analysis of a double-nozzle crossflow turbine, to determine the turbine efficiency and fundamental flow patterns. This work was based on a single-nozzle crossflow turbine with a maximum efficiency of 88%,
Winding Design and Analysis for a Disc-Type Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor with a PCB Stator
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Lu Huaidong , Li Xiang
Published: December 2018

The stator structure of a disc-type permanent-magnet synchronous motor is a printed circuit board (PCB). The design of stator windings has a direct influence on motor performance and the utilization rate of the stator. However, in some respects, PCB processing technology limits the development of the disc-type electric motor with a PCB stator. For example, the wiring of the stator winding and the connections of the ends are single. In this paper, an improved winding was designed to improve the output power. The analytic expressions for the back electromotive force (EMF) and other parameters such as power, winding resistance, and eddy loss are established, respectively. According to finite-element theory, the characteristics of the improved winding and distributed winding under no load and load were simulated and analyzed. It is concluded that the improved winding not only improves no-load back EMF, along with output power and efficiency under load, but also the utilization rate of the stator was greatly improved. Finally, a prototype was made to verify the design that has a certain reference value for the design of a disc-type permanent-magnet motor with a PCB stator.
Performance Analysis of a RED-MED Salinity Gradient Heat Engine
Authors: Palenzuela Patricia , Micari Marina , Ortega-Delgado Bartolomé , Giacalone Francesco , Zaragoza Guillermo , Alarcón-Padilla Diego-César , Cipollina Andrea , Tamburini Alessandro , Micale Giorgio
Published: December 2018

A performance analysis of a salinity gradient heat engine (SGP-HE) is presented for the conversion of low temperature heat into power via a closed-loop Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) coupled with Multi-Effect Distillation (MED). Mathematical models for the RED and MED systems have been purposely developed in order to investigate the performance of both processes and have been then coupled to analyze the efficiency of the overall integrated system. The influence of the main operating conditions (i.e., solutions concentration and velocity) has been quantified, looking at the power density and conversion efficiency of the RED unit, MED Specific Thermal Consumption (STC) and at the overall system exergy efficiency. Results show how the membrane properties (i.e., electrical resistance, permselectivity, water and salt permeability) dramatically affect the performance of the RED process. In particular, the power density achievable using membranes with optimized features (ideal membranes) can be more than three times higher than that obtained with current reference ion exchange membranes. On the other hand, MED STC is strongly influenced by the available waste heat temperature, feed salinity and recovery ratio to be achieved. Lowest values of STC below 25 kWh/m3 can be reached at 100 °C and 27 effects. Increasing the feed salinity also increases the STC, while an increase in the recovery ratio is beneficial for the thermal efficiency of the system. For the integrated system, a more complex influence of operating parameters has been found, leading to the identification of some favorable operating conditions in which exergy efficiency close to 7% (1.4% thermal) can be achieved for the case of current membranes, and up to almost 31% (6.6% thermal) assuming ideal membrane properties.
A Reliable Seawater Desalination System Based on Membrane Technology and Biotechnology Considering Reduction of the Environmental Impact
Authors: Kurihara Masaru , Takeuchi Hiromu , Ito Yohito
Published: December 2018

The application of seawater desalination technology using a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane has been expanding because it requires less energy compared with other distillation methods. Even in Middle Eastern countries where energy costs are lower such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, almost all desalination plants where only water production is required have adopted the RO method. However, large plants in excess of half mega-ton size are required, and Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) operation lacks reliability due to heavy biofouling and large amounts of briny discharge contaminated with chemicals. For reliable desalination systems with lower environmental impact, membrane-processing technology, including biotechnology (such as marine bacteria), has been examined as national research in Japan in the “Mega-ton Water System” project. We examined the influence of chlorination on marine bacteria using the fluorescence microscopic observation method and found that the effect of chlorination is limited. Chlorination sterilization triggers biofouling and sodium bisulfate (SBS) addition as a de-chlorinating agent also triggers biofouling, so a process with no chlorine or SBS addition would reduce biofouling. As polyamide SWRO membranes have low chlorine resistivity, such a process would enable longer membrane life in real plants. We used a biofouling monitoring technology, the Membrane Biofilm Formation Rate (mBFR), to design a process that involves no chlorine or SBS addition and verified it in the Arabian Gulf Sea, of Saudi Arabia, which is one of the most difficult and challenging seawaters in which to control biofouling. Furthermore, by minimizing the addition of a sterilizer, the desalination system became more environmentally friendly.
Biotransformation of Ganoderic Acid A to 3-O-Acetyl Ganoderic Acid A by Soil-isolated Streptomyces sp.
Authors: Chang Te-Sheng , Ko Horng-Huey , Wang Tzi-Yuan , Lee Chun-Hsien , Wu Jiumn-Yih
Published: December 2018

The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum contains many bioactive triterpenoids, ganoderic acid A (GAA) being one of the major ones. The present study explored the microbial biotransformation of GAA, isolating 283 strains of soil actinomycetes and determining their abilities to biotransform GAA with ultra-performance liquid chromatography analysis. One positive strain, AI 045, was selected to validate the biotransformation activity. The strain was identified as Streptomyces sp. based on the sequenced 16S rRNA gene. The produced compound obtained from the biotransformation of GAA was purified with the preparative high-performance liquid chromatography method and identified as 3-O-acetyl GAA based on mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data. The present study is the first report that bacteria have the novel ability to biotransform the triterpenoids of fungus G. lucidum. Moreover, the identified 3-O-acetyl GAA is a new triterpenoid product discovered in microbes.
Body Composition Changes of United States Smokejumpers during the 2017 Fire Season
Authors: Collins Callie N. , Brooks Randall H. , Sturz Benjamin D. , Nelson Andrew S. , Keefe Robert F.
Published: December 2018

Wildland firefighting is arduous work with extreme physical and nutritional demands that often exceeds those of athletes competing in sports. The intensity and duration of job demands, impacts the amount of calories burned, which can influence body composition. The purpose of this study was to determine if the body composition of nine wildland firefighters working as smokejumpers changed throughout the 2017 fire season. Subjects (n = 9) for the study ranged in age from 24–49 (age 30.1 ± 8.3 y). Height (177 ± 18.8 cm) and weight (81.32 ± 6.39 kg) was recorded during initial body composition testing and body fat percentage was determined pre and post-season using Lange skinfold calipers. Outcomes were evaluated using a paired t-test. Body fat percentage was significantly different between pre and post-season (average body fat percentage increase = 1.31%; t = 2.31, p = 0.04, alpha = 0.05). Body weight increased slightly from pre to post-season (average increase in body weight: 0.17 kg), although the differences were not significant (t = 2.31, p = 0.78). Change in body fat percentage without change in body weight suggest that monitoring of WLFF body composition and fitness may be needed help inform dietary and fitness interventions to insure that nutritional demands of this population are sufficient to support physical work on the fireline.
Mining Milk for Factors which Increase the Adherence of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis to Intestinal Cells
Authors: Quinn Erinn M. , Slattery Helen , Thompson Aoife P. , Kilcoyne Michelle , Joshi Lokesh , Hickey Rita M.
Published: December 2018

Bifidobacteria play a vital role in human nutrition and health by shaping and maintaining the gut ecosystem. In order to exert a beneficial effect, a sufficient population of bifidobacteria must colonise the host. In this study, we developed a miniaturised high-throughput in vitro assay for assessing the colonising ability of bacterial strains in human cells. We also investigated a variety of components isolated from different milk sources for their ability to increase the adherence of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697, a common member of the gastrointestinal microbiota of breastfed infants, to HT-29 cells. Both conventional and miniaturised colonisation assays were employed to examine the effect of 13 different milk-derived powders on bacterial adherence, including positive controls which had previously resulted in increased bifidobacterial adherence (human milk oligosaccharides and a combination of 3′- and 6′-sialylactose) to intestinal cells. Immunoglobulin G enriched from bovine whey and goat milk oligosaccharides resulted in increased adhesion (3.3- and 8.3-fold, respectively) of B. infantis to the intestinal cells and the miniaturised and conventional assays were found to yield comparable and reproducible results. This study highlights the potential of certain milk components to favourably modulate adhesion of bifidobacteria to human intestinal cells.
How Widely are Supportive and Flexible Food Service Systems and Mealtime Interventions Used for People in Residential Care Facilities? A Comparison of Dementia-Specific and Nonspecific Facilities
Authors: Milte Rachel , Bradley Clare , Miller Michelle , Farrer Olivia , Crotty Maria
Published: December 2018

While improved mealtime practices can reduce agitation, improve quality of life, and increase food intake for people in aged care, the degree of implementation of these strategies is unknown. This study describes food service practices in residential aged care facilities, focusing on units caring for people with dementia. An online survey was distributed to residential aged care facilities for completion by the food service manager (n = 2057). Of the 204 responses to the survey, 63 (31%) contained a dementia-specific unit. Most facilities used adaptive equipment (90.2%) and commercial oral nutritional supplements (87.3%). A higher proportion of facilities with a dementia-specific service used high-contrast plates (39.7%) than those without (18.4%). The majority of facilities had residents make their choice for the meal more than 24 h prior to the meal (30.9%). Use of high contrast plates (n = 51, 25%) and molds to reform texture-modified meals (n = 41, 20.1%) were used by one-quarter or less of surveyed facilities. There is a relatively low use of environmental and social strategies to promote food intake and wellbeing in residents, with a focus instead on clinical interventions. Research should focus on strategies to support implementation of interventions to improve the mealtime experience for residents.
Submarine Groundwater Discharge Differentially Modifies Photosynthesis, Growth, and Morphology for Two Contrasting Species of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Amato Daniel W. , Smith Celia M. , Duarte Thomas K.
Published: December 2018

On many tropical reefs, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) provides a substantial and often overlooked nutrient source to nearshore ecosystems, yet little is known about the impacts of SGD on the biology of reef organisms. To address this, the physiological responses of the endemic rhodophyte Gracilaria coronopifolia and an invasive congener, Gracilaria salicornia, were examined across an SGD gradient in the field and laboratory. Tissue samples of both species were cultured for 16 days along an onshore-offshore SGD gradient at Wailupe, Oahu. G. salicornia tolerated the extremely variable salinity, temperature, and nutrient levels associated with SGD. In marked contrast, half of G. coronopifolia plants suffered tissue loss and even death at SGD-rich locations in the field and in laboratory treatments simulating high SGD flux. Measurements of growth, photosynthesis, and branch development via two novel metrics indicated that the 27‰ simulated-SGD treatment provided optimal conditions for the apparently less tolerant G. coronopifolia in the laboratory. Benthic community analyses revealed that G. salicornia dominated the nearshore reef exposed to SGD compared with the offshore reef, which had a greater diversity of native algae. Ultimately, SGD inputs to coastal environments likely influence benthic community structure and zonation on otherwise oligotrophic reefs.
Chemical Composition and Safety of Unrecorded Grain Alcohol (Bai Jiu) Samples from Three Provinces in China
Authors: Newman Ian M. , Qian Ling , Tamrakar Niran , Zhang Bo-Bo
Published: December 2018

About 20% of spirits consumed in China are “unrecorded”, where these spirits are produced in small-scale distilleries and sold outside the systems of taxation and quality control. Researchers visited small distilleries in rural Yunnan, Hubei and Anhui and purchased 56 samples of unrecorded bai jiu. Seven samples of the recorded bai jiu were purchased as reference samples. An independent laboratory conducted a blind analysis of the samples. Results were compared to the standards for unrecorded alcohol adopted by the European Commission’s Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA). No samples exceeded the AMPHORA guidelines for methanol, ethyl acetate, lead and cadmium; one sample exceeded 1000 g/hL of combined higher alcohols; one sample exceeded 100 mg/L of arsenic; and three samples exceeded 50g/hL of acetaldehyde, but only by relatively small amounts. Low-priced unrecorded bai jiu averaged 9.8 RMB/jin (500 mL), compared to 10.7 RMB/jin for inexpensive recorded bai jiu. The low-priced unrecorded bai jiu samples had a mean alcohol-by-volume of 51.8%, compared to 50.1% for the recorded bai jiu samples. The results did not raise any critical safety issues with unrecorded bai jiu, but there may be long-term health risks related to ethanol, acetaldehyde and arsenic. The social ties between the bai jiu makers and the people who consume their product are a deterrent to adulteration; but when bai jiu is sold outside of the social circle, the deterrent disappears.
Untapped Resources: 10- to 13-Year-Old Primary Schoolchildren’s Views on Additional Physical Activity in the School Setting: A Focus Group Study
Authors: Van den Berg Vera , Vos Eline E. , De Groot Renate H. M. , Singh Amika S. , Chinapaw Mai J. M.
Published: December 2018

Schools are considered ideal venues to promote physical activity (PA) in children. However, a knowledge gap exists on how to adequately integrate PA into the school day and in particular, on the preferences of children regarding additional PA in school. Therefore, the aim of our qualitative study was to gain comprehensive insight into 10–13-year-old primary schoolchildren’s perspectives on how to increase PA in the school setting. We conducted nine focus groups (32 girls and 20 boys) with children attending the final two grades of primary school in the Netherlands. We used inductive thematic analysis to analyze the data. The results showed that children were enthusiastic about additional PA in school. Children suggested various ways to increase PA, including more time for PA in the existing curriculum, e.g., physical education (PE), recess, and occasional activities, such as field trips or sports days; school playground adaptation; improving the content of PE; and implementing short PA breaks and physically active academic lessons. Children emphasized variation and being given a voice in their PA participation as a prerequisite to keep PA enjoyable and interesting in the long term. Finally, children mentioned the role of the teacher and making efforts to accommodate all children and their different preferences as important. Children have concrete ideas, acknowledging the challenges that accompany integrating additional PA in school. We therefore recommend actively involving children in efforts to increase school-based PA and to make “additional PA in school” a shared project of teachers and students.
Conceptualizing Family Influences on Children’s Energy Balance-Related Behaviors: Levels of Interacting Family Environmental Subsystems (The LIFES Framework)
Authors: Niermann Christina Y.N. , Gerards Sanne M.P.L. , Kremers Stef P.J.
Published: December 2018

Healthy or unhealthy behavioral patterns develop and are maintained in a family context. The importance of the family environment for children’s and adolescents’ energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) has been shown previously. However, the way different family environmental factors are interrelated and interact with personal factors (e.g., motivation) are not well understood. Furthermore, the majority of studies have focused on the parent-child subsystem. However, there are family-level socialization dynamics that affect the development of a healthy lifestyle beyond the impact of parenting behaviors. The current paper aims to synthesize theoretical and empirical literature on different types of family influences. The Levels of Interacting Family Environmental Subsystems (LIFES) framework incorporates family influences on three levels (immediate, proximal, distal) and of three subsystems (individual, parent-child, family), relates them to each other and postulates potential paths of influence on children’s EBRBs. Several studies examining specific sections of the framework provide empirical support for LIFES’ propositions. Future studies should place their research in the context of the interrelationship of different family environmental influences. A better understanding of the interrelated influences would enhance the understanding of the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity among children and is crucial for the development of effective interventions.
Relationship between Daytime Sleepiness and Health Utility in Patients after Cardiac Surgery: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Izawa Kazuhiro P. , Kasahara Yusuke , Hiraki Koji , Hirano Yasuyuki , Oka Koichiro , Watanabe Satoshi
Published: December 2018

Background Daytime sleepiness can be assessed by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), which is widely used in the field of sleep medicine as a subjective measure of a patient’s sleepiness. Also, health utility assessed by the mean Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D) score, one of several preference-based utility measures, is an important measure in health care. We aimed to examine age-related differences in daytime sleepiness and health utility and their relationship in patients 5 months after cardiac surgery. Methods; This cross-sectional study assessed 51 consecutive cardiac surgery patients who were divided into a middle-aged (<65 years, n = 29) and older-age group (≥65 years, n = 22). The mean ESS and SF-6D utility scores were measured at 5 months after cardiac surgery and compared. In addition, the relationship between ESS and SF-6D utility scores were assessed. Results; There were no significant differences between the middle-aged and older-aged groups in either the mean ESS (5.14 ± 2.96 vs. 4.05 ± 3.23, p = 0.22) or SF-6D utility (0.72 ± 0.14 vs. 0.71 ± 0.10, p = 0.76) scores. However, there was a negative correlation between both values in all of the patients after cardiac surgery (r = −0.41, p = 0.003). Conclusions; Although there were no age-related differences in the ESS and SF-6D utility values between the two groups, there was a negative correlation between these values in all patients at 5 months after cardiac surgery. This suggested that sleepiness is associated with decreased utility scores in patients at 5 months after cardiac surgery.
New Burnout Evaluation Model Based on the Brief Burnout Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties for Nursing
Authors: Pérez-Fuentes María del Carmen , Molero Jurado María del Mar , Martos Martínez África , Gázquez Linares José Jesús
Published: December 2018

Health care personnel are considered one of the worker sectors most exposed to heavier workloads and work stress. One of the consequences associated with the exposure to chronic stress is the development of burnout syndrome. Given that evaluating this syndrome requires addressing the context in which they are to be used, the purpose of this work was to analyze the psychometric properties and structure of the Burnout Brief Questionnaire (CBB), and to propose a more suitable version for its application to health professionals, and more specifically nurses. The final study sample was made up of 1236 working nursing professionals. An exploratory factorial analysis was carried out and a new model was proposed through a confirmatory factorial analysis. Thus, validation of the CBB questionnaire for nursing health care personnel showed an adequate discrimination of the items and a high internal consistency of the scale. With respect to the factorial analysis, four factors were extracted from the revised model. Specifically, these new factors, called job dissatisfaction, social climate, personal impact, and motivational abandonment, showed an adequate index of adjustment. Thus, the Brief Burnout Questionnaire Revised for nursing staff has favorable psychometric properties, and this model can be applied to all health care professionals.
Bake-Out Strategy Considering Energy Consumption for Improvement of Indoor Air Quality in Floor Heating Environments
Authors: Park Seonghyun , Seo Janghoo
Published: December 2018

Improved quality of life has led to a growing demand for better indoor air quality (IAQ). Buildings are becoming more airtight and insulated in order to minimize energy consumption. The importance of both energy conservation and IAQ improvement has been recognized and addressed by many studies. Bake-out is the process of using indoor heating to remove volatile compounds present in building materials and furnishings so that they can be vented out into the atmosphere. Indiscriminate use of heating to increase the surface temperature of materials during this process can result in significant loss of energy. Therefore, energy-efficient bake-out should be performed by considering both the floor temperature and the emission amount of pollutants. This study aims to investigate an effective and economical bake-out implementation strategy via experimentation and computational fluid dynamics analysis. The results showed weak direct correlation between the heating energy consumption and the amount of pollutants emitted. The study also highlights the passive option of installing sorptive building materials for improving IAQ economically.
Pastoral Practices and Common Use of Pastureland: The Case of Karakul, North-Eastern Tajik Pamirs
Authors: Watanabe Teiji , Shirasaka Shigeru
Published: December 2018

This study describes pastoralism practiced in the Karakul village, Northeast of Tajikistan, and discusses its sustainability. Tajikistan introduced a market economy at independence in 1991, and pastoralism is now practiced on a family-unit basis. The families in Karakul graze livestock in their summer pastureland (jailoo) and move their livestock to winter pastureland around the village (kyshtoo). They make groups for pasturage with several families in jailoo and also in kyshtoo. Each group pastures their livestock every day, using a system called novad. In addition to jailoo and kyshtoo, they also practice pastoralism on two additional kinds of pastureland: küzdöö (spring pastureland) and bäärlöö (autumn pastureland). Still, now, the Karakul villagers use their pastureland as the commons: the Karakul village has not established private possession of pastureland even after a law enabled the division of common pastureland among individual families. Using the pastureland as the commons would be preferred by the local pastoralists. However, the free pasture access as the commons may result in a loss of sustainability as a trade-off. Regardless of privatization or the continued use of the commons, the possible development of the uneven use of the pastureland is inferred and should be avoided, and the introduction of a local management structure is urgently needed.
Current Landscape and the Potential Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors and Selenium in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Treatment
Authors: Garje Rohan , An Josiah J. , Sanchez Kevin , Greco Austin , Stolwijk Jeffrey , Devor Eric , Rustum Youcef , Zakharia Yousef
Published: December 2018

In the last two decades, the discovery of various pathways involved in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has led to the development of biologically-driven targeted therapies. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), angiogenic growth factors, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) gene mutations, and oncogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in the pathogenesis and drug resistance of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. These insights have led to the development of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, and immunotherapeutic agents, which have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with advanced RCC. HIF inhibitors will be a valuable asset in the growing therapeutic armamentarium of RCC. Various histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, selenium, and agents like PT2385 and PT2977 are being explored in various clinical trials as potential HIF inhibitors, to ameliorate the outcomes of RCC patients. In this article, we will review the current treatment options and highlight the potential role of selenium in the modulation of drug resistance biomarkers expressed in clear cell RCC (ccRCC) tumors.
Local and Systemic Cytokine Profiling for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Study Cancer Cachexia in an Era of Precision Medicine
Authors: Gerber Michael H. , Underwood Patrick W. , Judge Sarah M. , Delitto Daniel , Delitto Andrea E. , Nosacka Rachel L. , DiVita Bayli B. , Thomas Ryan M. , Permuth Jennifer B. , Hughes Steven J. , Wallet Shannon M. , Judge Andrew R. , Trevino Jose G.
Published: December 2018

Cancer cachexia is a debilitating condition seen frequently in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The underlying mechanisms driving cancer cachexia are not fully understood but are related, at least in part, to the immune response to the tumor both locally and systemically. We hypothesize that there are unique differences in cytokine levels in the tumor microenvironment and systemic circulation between PDAC tumors and that these varying profiles affect the degree of cancer cachexia observed. Patient demographics, operative factors, oncologic factors, and perioperative data were collected for the two patients in the patient derived xenograft (PDX) model. Human pancreatic cancer PDX were created by implanting fresh surgical pancreatic cancer tissues directly into immunodeficient mice. At PDX end point, mouse tumor, spleen and muscle tissues were collected and weighed, muscle atrophy related gene expression measured, and tumor and splenic soluble proteins were analyzed. PDX models were created from surgically resected patients who presented with different degrees of cachexia. Tumor free body weight and triceps surae weight differed significantly between the PDX models and control (P < 0.05). Both PDX groups had increased atrophy related gene expression in muscle compared to control (FoxO1, Socs3, STAT3, Acvr2b, Atrogin-1, MuRF1; P < 0.05). Significant differences were noted in splenic soluble protein concentrations in 14 of 15 detected proteins in tumor bearing mice when compared to controls. Eight splenic soluble proteins were significantly different between PDX groups (P < 0.05). Tumor soluble proteins were significantly different between the two PDX groups in 15 of 24 detected proteins (P < 0.05). PDX models preserve the cachectic heterogeneity found in patients and are associated with unique cytokine profiles in both the spleen and tumor between different PDX. These data support the use of PDX as a strategy to study soluble cachexia protein markers and also further efforts to elucidate which cytokines are most related to cachexia in order to provide potential targets for immunotherapy.
GPCR Modulation in Breast Cancer
Authors: Lappano Rosamaria , Jacquot Yves , Maggiolini Marcello
Published: December 2018

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer found in women living in developed countries. Endocrine therapy is the mainstay of treatment for hormone-responsive breast tumors (about 70% of all breast cancers) and implies the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. In contrast, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly heterogeneous disease that may account for up to 24% of all newly diagnosed cases, is hormone-independent and characterized by a poor prognosis. As drug resistance is common in all breast cancer subtypes despite the different treatment modalities, novel therapies targeting signaling transduction pathways involved in the processes of breast carcinogenesis, tumor promotion and metastasis have been subject to accurate consideration. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell-surface receptors involved in the development and progression of many tumors including breast cancer. Here we discuss data regarding GPCR-mediated signaling, pharmacological properties and biological outputs toward breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. Furthermore, we address several drugs that have shown an unexpected opportunity to interfere with GPCR-based breast tumorigenic signals.
Lipopolysaccharide-Preconditioned Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Induce M1 Polarization of Macrophages through Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: Kang Hyejong , Lee Myung-Ju , Park Sang June , Lee Myung-Shin
Published: December 2018

Periodontitis is a common disease characterized by chronic inflammation and tissue destruction of gums. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), derived from the periodontium, have stem cell properties similar to those of mesenchymal stem cells. PDLSCs possess not only the potential to differentiate into other tissues, but also immunomodulatory abilities. Macrophages play a critical role in periodontal disease, but little is known regarding the role of PDLSCs in macrophage modulation during inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of PDLSCs on the macrophage cell line. While the conditioned media from PDLSCs under normal culture conditions did not affect macrophage polarization, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-preconditioned PDLSCs induced significant changes in M1 polarization. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the conditioned media of LPS-preconditioned PDLSCs induced strong M1 polarization of macrophages. Additionally, the M1 polarization was abolished by DNase I treatment of EVs. Therefore, the LPS-stimulated PDLSCs induce M1 polarization of macrophages through EVs, suggesting that the EVs from PDLSCs might be a potential therapeutic target for inflammation in the periodontium.
The Different Facades of Retinal and Choroidal Endothelial Cells in Response to Hypoxia
Authors: Alizadeh Effat , Mammadzada Parviz , André Helder
Published: December 2018

Ocular angiogenic diseases, such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, are associated with severe loss of vision. These pathologies originate from different vascular beds, retinal and choroidal microvasculatures, respectively. The activation of endothelial cells (EC) plays pivotal roles in angiogenesis, often triggered by oxygen deficiency. Hypoxia-inducible factors in ECs mediate the transcription of multiple angiogenic genes, including the canonical vascular endothelial growth factors. ECs show notable heterogeneity in function, structure, and disease, therefore the understanding of retinal/choroidal ECs (REC; CEC) biochemical and molecular responses to hypoxia may offer key insights into tissue-specific vascular targeting treatments. The aim of this review is to discuss the differences spanning between REC and CEC, with focus on their response to hypoxia, which could provide innovative and sustainable strategies for site specific targeting of ocular neovascularization.
Effects of Oxytocin on Fear Memory and Neuroinflammation in a Rodent Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Wang Sheng-Chiang , Lin Chen-Cheng , Chen Chun-Chuan , Tzeng Nian-Sheng , Liu Yia-Ping
Published: December 2018

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced mental disorder characterized by fear extinction abnormalities, which involve biological dysfunctions among fear circuit areas in the brain. Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide that regulates sexual reproduction and social interaction and has recently earned specific attention due to its role in adjusting neurobiological and behavioral correlates of PTSD; however, the mechanism by which this is achieved remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine whether the effects of OXT on traumatic stress-induced abnormalities of fear extinction (specifically induced by single prolonged stress (SPS), an animal model of PTSD) are associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Seven days after SPS, rats received intranasal OXT 40 min before a cue-dependent Pavlovian fear conditioning-extinction test in which rats’ freezing degree was used to reflect the outcome of fear extinction. We also measured mRNA expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), hippocampus, and amygdala at the end of the study, together with plasma oxytocin, corticosterone, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, to reflect the central and peripheral changes of stress-related hormones and cytokines after SPS. Our results suggested that intranasal OXT effectively amends the SPS-impaired behavior of fear extinction retrieval. Moreover, it neurochemically reverses the SPS increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines; thus, IL-1β and IFN-γ can be further blocked by the OXT antagonist atosiban (ASB) in the hippocampus. Peripheral profiles revealed a similar response pattern to SPS of OXT and corticosterone (CORT), and the SPS-induced increase in plasma levels of IL-1β and TNF-α could be reduced by OXT. The present study suggests potential therapeutic effects of OXT in both behavioral and neuroinflammatory profiles of PTSD.
The Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) in Immune and Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Neavin Drew R. , Liu Duan , Ray Balmiki , Weinshilboum Richard M.
Published: December 2018

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a nuclear receptor that modulates the response to environmental stimuli. It was recognized historically for its role in toxicology but, in recent decades, it has been increasingly recognized as an important modulator of disease—especially for its role in modulating immune and inflammatory responses. AHR has been implicated in many diseases that are driven by immune/inflammatory processes, including major depressive disorder, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and allergic responses, among others. The mechanisms by which AHR has been suggested to impact immune/inflammatory diseases include targeted gene expression and altered immune differentiation. It has been suggested that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are near AHR-regulated genes may contribute to AHR-dependent disease mechanisms/pathways. Further, we have found that SNPs that are outside of nuclear receptor binding sites (i.e., outside of AHR response elements (AHREs)) may contribute to AHR-dependent gene regulation in a SNP- and ligand-dependent manner. This review will discuss the evidence and mechanisms of AHR contributions to immune/inflammatory diseases and will consider the possibility that SNPs that are outside of AHR binding sites might contribute to AHR ligand-dependent inter-individual variation in disease pathophysiology and response to pharmacotherapeutics.
Consumer Satisfaction with Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening in a Midwifery-Led Maternity Setting
Authors: Cloete Elza , Gentles Thomas L. , Lutter Robert A. , Richards Kelly , Ward Kim , Bloomfield Frank H.
Published: December 2018

Pulse oximetry screening to detect hypoxaemia in newborn infants was introduced at birthing facilities in New Zealand during a feasibility study determining barriers and enablers to universal screening in a midwifery-led maternity system focused on community values and partnership with, and participation by, consumers. During the 2-year study period, parents of infants who underwent pulse oximetry screening were invited to complete a written survey to investigate consumer satisfaction. Respondents ranked their satisfaction with the test and with information resources on a five-level Likert scale. Additional comments were added in a free text space. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. A total of 657 surveys were included for analysis. Consumers were satisfied with the screening procedure; 94% either agreed or strongly agreed that it is an important health check. Although the quality of information sources was deemed good, a third of participants indicated a wish to obtain more information. Some participants stated that retention of information was an issue, reporting that they were fatigued following the birth. Consumers are receptive to pulse oximetry screening. Sharing information (while considering the receptivity of parents) and engaging the parents of newborn infants are factors that are paramount to the success of newborn screening initiatives.