bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective Annotations Over 3D Models
Authors: Ponchio F. , Callieri M. , Dellepiane M. , Scopigno R.
Published: May 2019

Annotation support in interactive systems is often considered a simple task by the CG community, since it entails the apparently easy selection of a region and its connection with some information. The reality appears more complex. The scope of this paper is two‐fold: first, to review the status of this domain, discussing and characterizing several approaches proposed in literature to manage annotations over geometric models; second, to present in detail an innovative solution proposed and assessed in the framework of Cultural Heritage (CH) applications, called ClippingVolumes. At the annotation definition stage ClippingVolumes uses 3D data to characterize the annotation region; subsequently, annotations are visualized by adopting a two‐pass rendering solution which uses stencil buffers, thus without introducing new geometric elements, changing the topology or duplicating geometry elements. It solves most of the issues that afflict the current state of the art, such as fragmentation, annotation transfer to multiple representations and multi‐resolution data encoding. The latter is a mandatory requirement to produce efficient web‐based systems. We implemented and we fully tested this approach in the framework of a complex system that supports the documentation of CH restoration projects.
Physically Based Real‐Time Rendering of Teeth and Partial Restorations
Authors: Reischl M. , Derzapf E. , Guthe M.
Published: May 2019

Visually accurate real‐time rendering of teeth has many applications ranging from computer games to dental computer aided design (CAD). Similar to skin, the realistic and physically correct appearance of teeth cannot be achieved by simply using opaque diffuse textures, mainly because of the subsurface scattering behaviours of both. While both have a layered structure in common, the scattering characteristics of the teeth layers are drastically different from those of the skin, making rendering much more complicated. We present an approach which uses the Henyey–Greenstein scattering to achieve a near realistic real‐time rendering of human teeth. To simulate the multi‐layered geometry of teeth, we use standardized teeth models with dentin cores and fit them to real scanned teeth or dental restorations. By using a proxy geometry to compute the scattering, we can also render partial restorations as they would look like when attached to the remaining teeth. Finally, we compare our results to the VITA shade systems and human teeth to evaluate the visual fidelity of our approach.
Industrial Distribution and LMDI Decomposition of Trade‐Embodied CO2 in China
Authors: Cao Zi , Wei Jie
Published: May 2019

This paper investigates trade‐embodied CO2 in China, with a special focus on the production processes and materials of each industrial sector from 1990 to 2013. It uses an input–output model, which analyzes the specific causes of periodic waves. Our findings suggest that the machine‐manufacturing sector produced the largest amount of emissions, whereas the metal and nonmetal sector had the highest intensity of emissions. Moreover, the total emission quantities in trade increased from 612 to 3,331 million tons from 1990 to 2013. We employ the log‐mean Divisia index (LMDI) model to decompose the carbon emissions changes into export structure, export volume, energy structure, and energy intensity and estimate the influence of these factors at a number of time points. We find that energy intensity curbed emissions increase and that export volume expansion was the strongest driving force.
A global biodiversity fund to implement distributive justice for genetic resources
Authors: Deplazes‐Zemp Anna
Published: May 2019

This article examines the question of who has a right to control and benefit from genetic resources globally. To this end it draws on different accounts in the resource rights literature with a focus on the specific features that distinguish genetic resources from other types of natural resources. It will be argued that due to the intangible and non‐territorial nature of genetic resources, territorial rights over these resources are difficult to maintain. Moreover, the vulnerability of genetic resources implies that much cost and effort is required to protect them. I will argue that not only benefits resulting from the use of genetic resources but also these costs associated with their protection should be an object of distributive justice. To accommodate these two points I will introduce the model of a global biodiversity fund that could replace the bilateral access and benefit sharing negotiations suggested by the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Spatiotemporal analysis of pine wilt disease: Relationship between pinewood nematode distribution and defence response in Pinus thunbergii seedlings
Authors: Yamaguchi Rimi , Matsunaga Koji , Hirao Tomonori , Tamura Miho , Watanabe Atsushi
Published: May 2019

Pine wilt disease is of major concern as it has destroyed pine forests in East Asia and Europe. Several studies have suggested that invasion by the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes this disease, evokes an excessive defence response in pine trees, resulting in tree death. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated the correlation between PWN distribution and tree defence responses. Therefore, the present study aimed to quantify the number of PWNs and expression levels of putative pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes in different positions of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) seedlings over time. To quantify the number of PWNs in the seedlings, we used TaqMan quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) assay. During the early phase of infection, most PWNs were distributed around the inoculated sites, with only a small number being detected at distant sites, but the expression levels of PR genes were highly upregulated throughout the seedlings. Both the number of PWNs and expression levels of PR genes then increased drastically throughout the seedlings, all of which exhibited external symptoms. Thus, it appears that the rapid migration of PWNs induces a defence response throughout the seedling; however, this may not be effective in controlling these parasites, thereby ultimately leading to plant death.
Pathogens manipulate the preference of vectors, slowing disease spread in a multi‐host system
Authors: Shoemaker Lauren G. , Hayhurst Evelyn , Weiss‐Lehman Christopher P. , Strauss Alexander T. , Porath‐Krause Anita , Borer Elizabeth T. , Seabloom Eric W. , Shaw Allison K.
Published: May 2019

The spread of vector‐borne pathogens depends on a complex set of interactions among pathogen, vector, and host. In single‐host systems, pathogens can induce changes in vector preferences for infected vs. healthy hosts. Yet it is unclear if pathogens also induce changes in vector preference among host species, and how changes in vector behaviour alter the ecological dynamics of disease spread. Here, we couple multi‐host preference experiments with a novel model of vector preference general to both single and multi‐host communities. We show that viruliferous aphids exhibit strong preferences for healthy and long‐lived hosts. Coupling experimental results with modelling to account for preference leads to a strong decrease in overall pathogen spread through multi‐host communities due to non‐random sorting of viruliferous vectors between preferred and non‐preferred host species. Our results demonstrate the importance of the interplay between vector behaviour and host diversity as a key mechanism in the spread of vectored‐diseases.
Macrophytes moderate the taxonomic and functional composition of phytoplankton assemblages during a nutrient loading experiment
Authors: Barrow Jennifer L. , Beisner Beatrix E. , Giles Rachel , Giani Alessandra , Domaizon Isabelle , Gregory‐Eaves Irene
Published: May 2019

Ponds and shallow lakes are sensitive to eutrophication, which often increases turbidity and produces toxic algal blooms. Previous research has found that the presence of macrophytes in shallow water bodies can mitigate the effects of nutrient loading by promoting water clarity and inhibiting phytoplankton growth. However, there is still little known about how macrophyte abundance modifies the response of phytoplankton taxonomic assemblages, particularly their functional composition, to nutrient loading.

We investigated how macrophyte abundance altered phytoplankton assemblages using experimental ponds that were treated with a nutrient press. Natural communities of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish were seeded in ponds with one of three levels of macrophyte abundance that received weekly nutrient additions. A total of nine ponds (each treatment in triplicate) were monitored for 76 days.

Analyses of Shannon's diversity and functional dispersion revealed significant variation in phytoplankton assemblage composition among macrophyte treatments and through time. Phytoplankton biovolume, community metrics, and the dominant traits were generally more stable in the high macrophyte treatment ponds.

Although nutrient loading did not induce a regime change to a turbid, phytoplankton‐dominated state, phytoplankton assemblages did shift to a dominance of larger, inedible taxa and metaphyton became more abundant in ponds with macrophytes and zooplankton assemblages shifted to smaller species.

Our study demonstrates how functional traits and functional diversity metrics can provide richer insights into the dynamics and causes of shifts in shallow freshwater ecosystems. Macrophyte densities clearly played a significant role in shaping phytoplankton assemblages. Based on the functional traits of phytoplankton distinguished among treatments, we inferred that competition for light, grazing, and, probably, allelochemicals were mechanisms through which macrophytes mediated changes in phytoplankton assemblages.
Co‐expression of TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 is associated with the degree of tumour differentiation in prostate cancer
Authors: Kalantari Elham , Abolhasani Maryam , Roudi Raheleh , Farajollahi Mohammad M. , Farhad Seif , Madjd Zahra , Askarian‐Amiri Shaghayegh , Mohsenzadegan Monireh
Published: May 2019

In vitro experiments demonstrated that stimulation of Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR‐9) by synthetic TLR‐9 ligands induces the invasion of TLR‐9‐expressing prostate cancer cells through matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13). However, the clinical value of TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 co‐expression in the pathophysiology of the prostate is unknown. In the study, we evaluated the expression levels and clinical significance of the TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 in a series of prostate tissues. One hundred and eighty prostate tissues including prostate cancer (PCa) (n = 137), high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN) (n = 18) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 25) were immunostained for the TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 markers. Subsequently, the correlation between the TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 staining scores and clinicopathological parameters was obtained. Higher expressions of TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 were found in PCa and high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia compared to benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues. Among PCa samples, a positive relationship was revealed between the MMP‐13 expression and Gleason score (P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between TLR‐9 expression and regional lymph node involvement (P = 0.04). The expression patterns of TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 markers demonstrated a reciprocal significant correlation between the two markers in the same series of prostate samples (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the Gleason score of TLR‐9high/MMP‐13high and TLR‐9low/MMP‐13low phenotypes showed a significant difference (P = 0.002). Higher expressions of TLR‐9 and MMP‐13 can confer aggressive behaviour to PCa. Therefore, these markers may be used as a valuable target for tailored therapy of PCa.
The impact of variations in transcription of DICER and AGO2 on exacerbation of childhood B‐cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Piroozian Fatemeh , Bagheri Varkiyani Hoda , Koolivand Mohsen , Ansari Maryam , Afsa Masoomeh , AtashAbParvar Ali , MalekZadeh Kianoosh
Published: May 2019

The expression of microRNA in eukaryotic cells is subject to tightly regulated processing. The altered expression of microRNAs in a number of cancers suggests their contribution to disease pathogenesis, where processing pathways may be involved in disease pathogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated changes in the profile of two main components of microRNA biogenesis, AGO2 and DICER, and assessed their correlation with disease progression in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). To achieve this aim, 25 patients afflicted with ALL were included in the study along with 25 healthy subjects as control. The expression level of AGO2 and DICER was evaluated by real‐time PCR. The results revealed an increase in the expression of DICER and a decrease in AGO2 in patients. The correlation between the alteration levels of these genes with pathologic events was also studied. This increase or decrease proved to be directly correlated with the progression of the disease particularly in L1 to L2. According to the obtained results, it can be deduced that dysregulation in transcription of DICER and AGO2, involved in the formation of mature microRNAs in cytoplasm of ALL cancer cells, is a part of the pathological molecular mechanism implicated in the exacerbation of this malignancy. Therefore, the genes involved in microRNAs biogenesis that have been studied here could be considered as candidate prognostic markers especially in childhood ALL which will help towards a better understanding of the molecular basis of ALL.
Native and modified porcine plasma protein as wall materials for microencapsulation of natural essential oils
Authors: Samsalee Namfon , Sothornvit Rungsinee
Published: May 2019

Porcine plasma protein (PPP) is of interest as a wall material to encapsulate lemongrass oil, turmeric oil and eucalyptus oil using emulsion technique and freeze drying. The properties of microcapsules were used to evaluate two types of wall material (native porcine plasma protein; NPPP and modified porcine plasma protein; MPPP) at two different ratios of wall material (W) and core material (C) (W:C; 4:1 and 3:1). All NPPP and MPPP emulsions showed Bingham plastic fluid flow behaviours. Moreover, MPPP microcapsules showed lower free oil content on their surface (0.10–0.50%) with higher encapsulation efficiency (91–98%). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy showed the outstanding chemical structure of microcapsules. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy indicated holes on the surface of microcapsules encapsulated with essential oils. Both PPPs can be used as encapsulation material for natural extract and food additives to improve the food texture and as a biopolymer film to maintain the quality of food products.
Bioimpedance as an indicator in the distribution of interface pressure in vulnerable regions for pressure ulcers: A preliminary study
Authors: de Oliveira Karoline Faria , Rodrigues Letícia Pinto , Barichello Elizabeth , Chavaglia Suzel Regina Ribeiro , da Cunha Daniel Ferreira , Ferreira Maria Beatriz Guimarães , Nicolussi Adriana Cristina , de Araújo Cleudmar Amaral , Barbosa Maria Helena
Published: May 2019

Aim

To examine the influence of body mass index, bioimpedance, and skin folds on the distribution of body interface pressure in regions with the potential to develop pressure ulcers in contact with support surfaces.

Design

This was a descriptive and analytical study.

Methods

Twenty healthy volunteer adults were investigated in April 2017. Body mass index, skin folds, waist circumference, bioimpedance, and interface pressure on bony prominences were investigated. Descriptive statistics and correlations were analysed.

Results

Peak pressures in the subscapular region presented moderate and significant correlations with body mass index, waist circumference, total and extracellular body water, fat‐free mass, and lean mass per body segment. The peak pressure on the right heel showed a moderate correlation with total and extracellular body water, fat‐free mass, and lean mass per segment.

Conclusion

The need for multicenter research was evident, focusing on bioimpedance assessment as a risk factor for the development of pressure ulcers.
Failed Securitisation Moves during the 2015 ‘Migration Crisis’
Authors: Hintjens Helen
Published: May 2019

The EU has tried to distinguish itself as respecting human rights in its migration policies. In 2015, mass drownings at sea of refugees from war‐torn and despotic countries like Syria and Eritrea started to rise with the end of Mare Nostrum, the Italian navy's search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. One EU response was to declare a war on “criminal gangs” of smugglers and traffickers, reportedly responsible for the surge in refugee deaths. Equating smugglers’ activities with a “new slave trade”, this “securitization move” failed to gain legitimacy from EU publics and media. Military solutions to refugee flight continued to be proposed, and a second securitization move continued to target smugglers and traffickers, but this time the “referent object” became the West itself, and the EU.
Temporal and spatial predictions of effect of alternative fishing policies for the Gran Canaria marine ecosystem
Authors: Couce Montero Lorena , Christensen Villy , Bilbao Sieyro Alberto , Pérez González Yeray , Jiménez‐Alvarado David , Castro José J.
Published: May 2019

In this paper we consider what may happen to the marine ecosystem of Gran Canaria Island within the 2030 horizon, if fishing strategies different from those currently in place were implemented and we evaluate the effect of, for example, reduction of recreational–artisanal fishing, limitation of catches (e.g. total allowable catches, TAC), or spatial distribution of fishing sectors. From all scenarios tested, only those that significantly reduce the high effort of the recreational fishing would allow the recovery of the most exploited stocks in the marine ecosystem in the short and medium‐term. Moreover, the best management strategy, in contribution to abundance, was obtained with a scenario that has a spatial partition of exploitation rights between artisanal and recreational fishermen and includes no‐fishing zones (NTZ). This work is a first attempt to use spatial and temporal models to assess the effectiveness of alternative fishery policies in the Canary Islands.
Diagnosis and treatment response in the asymmetric variant of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Authors: Lucke Ilse M. , Wieske Luuk , van der Kooi Anneke J. , van Schaik Ivo N. , Eftimov Filip , Verhamme Camiel
Published: May 2019

The objectives were to (a) assess the diagnostic value of testing clinically affected and unaffected limbs with nerve conduction studies (NCS) in patients with the asymmetric chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) variant and to define the most useful strategy for diagnosis, and (b) describe treatment response and long‐term outcome. We performed a retrospective study and included patients with a multifocal distribution of symptoms and signs, who met the probable or definite EFNS/PNS diagnostic categories for CIDP. We included 34 patients and 32 NCS datasets were available. Of these 32 patients, 25 (78%) met the electrodiagnostic criteria for definite or probable CIDP and seven (22%) for possible CIDP. Patients fulfilling the possible electrodiagnostic criteria and a supportive criterion were considered as probable CIDP. NCS of the clinically affected forearm and leg led to a probable or definite diagnosis in 13 patients (41%). Measuring both arms up to Erb's point led to a probable or definite diagnosis in 25 patients (78%), after which NCS of both legs did not contribute to additional probable or definite diagnoses. In total, 30% of patients treated with dexamethasone and 94% of patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) responded. IVIg withdrawal attempts were successful in 21% of patients. After measuring the clinically affected arm up to Erb's point, NCS of the unaffected arm to Erb's point has the highest additional diagnostic yield in patients with asymmetric CIDP. Patients seem to respond better to IVIg than to corticosteroids and long‐term treatment is often required, although IVIg withdrawal was successful in 21%.
Progranulin and beta‐catenin in psoriasis: An immunohistochemical study
Authors: Farag Azza Gaber Antar , Shoaib Mohamed Abdalmoneim , Samaka Rehab Mounir , Abdou Asmaa Gaber , Mandour Marwa Mahmoud , Ibrahim Reda Abdel Latif
Published: May 2019

Background/Objectives

Progranulin (PGRN) is a secreted glycoprotein that was investigated in many skin diseases. It plays an important role in inflammatory response and autophagy which could be mediated through Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. However, the role of PGRN in pathogenesis of psoriasis has not been clearly well‐known. Therefore, we aimed by this study to investigate the possible role of progranulin in psoriasis pathogenesis through evaluation of its immunohistochemical expression in lesional and perilesional skin of psoriasis patients and to investigate if its hypothesized role is mediated through β‐catenin or not.

Methods

This case‐control study was carried out on 37 patients presented with variable degrees of psoriasis vulgaris severity vs 37 age and sex‐matched apparently healthy volunteers. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score was used to evaluate the severity of psoriasis. From all cases (lesional and perilesional) and controls, skin biopsies were taken for histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of PGRN and β‐catenin.

Results

There was a significant stepwise upregulation of PGRN from controls (76.2 ± 11.9) to perilesional (178.7 ± 11.8) and lesional (242.7 ± 12.7) psoriatic skin (P < 0.001). PGRN expression was significantly correlated with psoriasis severity (r = 0.61; P < 0.001). β‐catenin showed a significant stepwise downregulation from control (210.0 ± 19.3) to perilesional (131.4 ± 9.2) and lesional (97.3 ± 11.5) psoriatic skin(P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between PGRN and β‐catenin expression in psoriatic skin (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Progranulin has a pro‐inflammatory effect in the psoriasis pathogenesis, which could be mediated through a decreasing β‐catenin expression in psoriasis. PGRN may be used as a target for immunotherapy in psoriasis management program.
Microscopic colitis: Struggling with an invisible, disabling disease
Authors: Pihl Lesnovska Katarina , Münch Andreas , Hjortswang Henrik
Published: May 2019

Background and aims

Microscopic colitis causes chronic or recurrent nonbloody, watery diarrhoea, which is associated with urgency, faecal incontinence and abdominal pain. The patient's health‐related quality of life is often impaired. In microscopic colitis, health‐related quality of life has been studied using questionnaires originally constructed and validated for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of microscopic colitis on everyday life.

Methods and results

Inductive, qualitative, semi‐structured interviews were performed with 15 persons suffering from microscopic colitis. Content analysis was used to explore the impact of the condition on everyday life. The study followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. The qualitative inductive content analysis generated one theme and five subthemes. The theme was “struggling with an invisible, disabling disease.” The five subthemes were as follows: physical experience of bowel function; associated symptoms affecting quality of life; impact of the disease on everyday life; disease‐related worry; and strategies for managing everyday life.

Conclusions

The semi‐structured interviews with persons suffering from microscopic colitis provided a wide spectrum of answers to the question of how everyday life is affected. Microscopic colitis can be a disabling life experience, and patients develop different strategies to adapt, cope and regain their previous performance level.

Relevance to clinical practice

There are new and interesting findings in our study that everyday life still remains affected even when patients are in remission. These findings have relevance in clinical practice and may create a better understanding of the patient's symptoms and situation.
Forgiveness in leader–member exchange relationships: Mediating and moderating mechanisms
Authors: Radulovic Ana B. , Thomas Geoff , Epitropaki Olga , Legood Alison
Published: May 2019

Guided by the relationship science literature, we developed and tested a model of forgiveness in leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships across three independent studies. Study 1 utilized a sample of 254 employees from eight organizations located in four countries and showed that higher quality LMX led to higher job satisfaction and subjective well‐being via greater follower's forgiveness and subsequent follower's relational efforts. Building on Study 1, Study 2 (N = 95) adopted an experimental scenario design in order to examine the association between LMX and forgiveness as well as the moderating role of forgiveness climate. LMX was found to positively affect forgiveness, and forgiveness climate was found to be a significant moderator. Study 3 was a time‐lagged study that utilized a sample of 262 working professionals in the United States and provided support for our hypothesized model. Overall, our three studies cast light on forgiveness processes in LMX relationships and show that forgiveness can be used as a relationship maintenance strategy that yields positive outcomes.

Practitioner points

Managers and HR representatives should promote forgiveness via trainings and interventions in order to gain the positive outcomes of job satisfaction and subjective well‐being following interpersonal transgressions in organizations.

Forgiveness climate can act as a contextual moderator that facilitates forgiveness in leader–follower relationships. Therefore, organizations should create environments that encourage forgiveness and relationship repair across all levels of their hierarchy.
Risk factors for development of urinary tract infection in children with nephrolithiasis
Authors: Cetin Nuran , Gencler Aylin , Kavaz Tufan Aslı
Published: May 2019

Aim

Nephrolithiasis is one of the causes of urinary tract infection (UTI). In this study, we investigated risk factors for UTI in children with nephrolithiasis.

Methods

The data from the patients with nephrolithiasis were evaluated in this retrospective follow‐up study. Patients with a history of UTI before admission and congenital anomaly of kidney or urinary tract were excluded. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with UTI (recurrent UTI and single UTI) and patients without UTI.

Results

A total of 599 patients were included in this study. UTI occurred in 181 (30.2%) patients. There was a positive association between the size of stone and UTI (odds ratio (OR): 1.355, P = 0.007). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the cut‐off value of the size of stone for UTI was 5.3 mm, with a sensitivity of 74.9% and a specificity of 66.1% (area under the curve: 0.572 ± 0.028, P = 0.013). The presence of a metabolic risk factor and age at diagnosis under 2 years were significantly associated with both UTI and recurrence of UTI (OR: 2.272, P = 0.021, OR: 1.809, P = 0.028, respectively, for metabolic risk factor; OR: 1.212, P = 0.041, OR: 1.122, P = 0.046, respectively, for age at diagnosis under 2 years). Hypercalciuria was significantly associated with the recurrence of UTI (OR: 1.854, P = 0.017).

Conclusions

The age at diagnosis, the presence of a metabolic risk factor and size of stone are significant risk factors for UTI in children with nephrolithiasis. The patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria, metabolic risk factor and age at diagnosis under 2 years have increased risk of recurrence of UTI.
Visceral adipogenesis inhibited by Pref‐1 is associated with peritoneal angiogenesis
Authors: Jing Ran , Feng Hao , Jiang Na , Zhang He , Fang Wei , Ni Zhaohui , Yuan Jiangzi
Published: May 2019

Aim

Studies showed an increased visceral adipose tissue and peritoneal angiogenesis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. However, the relationship between the visceral adipose expands and peritoneal angiogenesis remains unclear.

Methods

Pref‐1 (preadipocyte factor‐1) recombinant adeno‐associated virus (AAV) and control AAV were constructed. Mice were divided into four groups, mice in control and PD group were injected intraperitoneally with PBS, mice in control‐AAV‐PD were injected intraperitoneally with plaque‐forming unit (PFU) control AAV and mice in pref‐1‐AAV‐PD group were injected with PFU recombinant AAV. Two weeks later, control group was injected intraperitoneally with normal saline while other groups were injected intraperitoneally with 4.25% peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF). Thirty days later, viscerall adipose tissue was collected and weighed. Pref‐1 protein expression was measured by Western blot, and peritoneal permeability was measured by Evans blue. Cluster of differentiation 31(CD31) immunohistochemical staining was used to detect mesenteric blood vessel number, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Pref‐1 protein expression increased in pref‐1‐AAV‐PD group. Visceral adipose expanded in PD and control‐AAV‐PD group while decreased in pref‐1‐AAV‐PD group, which approves PD fluid enhance visceral adipogensis, and the process could be inhibited by Pref‐1 recombinant AAV. The reduction of peritoneal vessel number and the decrease of vascular permeability as well as down‐regulation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor observed in pref‐1‐AAV‐PD group suggested peritoneal angiogenesis could be inhibited following visceral adipose tissue reduction.

Conclusion

Visceral adipose expands is associated with peritoneal angiogenesis in PD treatment, and prevention of visceral adipogenesis may be an alternative way to protect the validity of peritoneum. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensing β‐carotene oxidation in photosystem II to master plant stress tolerance
Authors: D'Alessandro Stefano , Havaux Michel
Published: May 2019

Stressful environmental conditions lead to the production of reactive oxygen species in the chloroplasts, due to limited photosynthesis and enhanced excitation pressure on the photosystems. Among these reactive species, singlet oxygen (1O2), which is generated at the level of the PSII reaction center, is very reactive, readily oxidizing macromolecules in its immediate surroundings, and it has been identified as the principal cause of photooxidative damage in plant leaves. The two β‐carotene molecules present in the PSII reaction center are prime targets of 1O2 oxidation, leading to the formation of various oxidized derivatives. Plants have evolved sensing mechanisms for those PSII‐generated metabolites, which regulate gene expression, putting in place defense mechanisms and alleviating the effects of PSII‐damaging conditions. A new picture is thus emerging which places PSII as a sensor and transducer in plant stress resilience through its capacity to generate signaling metabolites under excess light energy. This review summarizes new advances in the characterization of the apocarotenoids involved in the PSII‐mediated stress response and of the pathways elicited by these molecules, among which is the xenobiotic detoxification.
The influence of maternal body mass index, maternal diabetes mellitus, and maternal smoking during pregnancy on the risk of childhood‐onset type 1 diabetes mellitus in the offspring: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Hidayat Khemayanto , Zou Sheng‐Yi , Shi Bi‐Min
Published: May 2019

There is emerging evidence that events occurring before and shortly after birth may be important in determining the risk of childhood‐onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We aimed to summarize and synthesize the associations between maternal body mass index (BMI), maternal diabetes mellitus (DM), and maternal smoking during pregnancy and the risk of childhood‐onset T1DM in the offspring by performing a systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies. A random effects model was used to generate the summary risk estimates. The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant observational studies. Twenty one observational studies were included in the present meta‐analysis. Compared with offspring of mothers with normal weight, offspring of women with overweight or obesity were at an increased risk of developing childhood‐onset T1DM (overweight: relative risk [RR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03‐1.15; obesity: RR 1.25, 95% CI, 1.16‐1.34; per 5 kg m−2 increase in BMI: RR 1.10, 95% CI, 1.06‐1.13). No association was found for maternal underweight (RR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.75‐1.13). Maternal DM was associated with an increased risk of childhood‐onset T1DM (RR 3.26, 95% CI, 2.84‐3.74). Regarding the type of maternal DM, the greatest risk of T1DM in the offspring appeared to be conferred by maternal T1DM (RR 4.46, 95% CI, 2.89‐6.89), followed by maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (RR 1.66, 95% CI, 1.16‐2.36), and lastly by maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus (RR 1.11, 95% CI, 0.69‐1.80). Additional analysis of studies comparing maternal versus paternal T1DM within the same population revealed that offspring of fathers with T1DM had a 1.5 times higher risk of developing childhood‐onset T1DM than offspring of mothers with T1DM (RR 9.58, 95% CI, 6.33‐14.48 vs. RR 6.24, 95% CI, 5.52‐7.07). Furthermore, a reduced risk of childhood‐onset T1DM was observed in infants born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy compared with infants born to mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy (RR 0.79, 95% CI, 0.71‐0.87). In summary, our findings add further evidence that early‐life events or environmental factors may play a role in modulating infants' risk of developing T1DM later in life.
Oral epithelial dysplasia: Causes, quantification, prognosis, and management challenges
Authors: Tilakaratne Wanninayake M. , Jayasooriya Primali R. , Jayasuriya Nadeena S. , De Silva Rohana Kumara
Published: May 2019

Oral epithelial dysplasia is a spectrum of architectural and cytological epithelial changes caused by accumulation of genetic changes, and is associated with an increased risk of progression to squamous cell carcinoma. It is a microscopic diagnosis of immense clinical importance. The initial reports of oral potentially malignant disorders with oral epithelial dysplasia transforming to oral cancer helped in understanding the nature of oral malignancies. Since then, clinical studies on oral potentially malignant disorders have combined microscopic findings of oral epithelial dysplasia to assess the malignant transformation potential of different grades of epithelial dysplasia. A significant amount of scientific literature has amassed on oral epithelial dysplasia relating to aspects of its diagnosis and management. However, the evidence base is weak as a result of the significant variability of published research. Poorly described study methods, variability in different oral epithelial dysplasia grading systems, inter‐ and intra‐examiner variability causing issues of reliability, inadequate sample size, and inconsistent durations of follow‐up are some of the methodological issues contributing to the failure to provide dependable information. Randomized clinical trials on the malignant transformation potential of oral epithelial dysplasia and its treatment outcomes are limited. This comprehensive literature review on oral epithelial dysplasia summarizes the scientific knowledge published in the scientific literature in English since its first description. The historical development, etiological factors, grading systems, diagnostic criteria, assessment of risk factors and prevention of malignant transformation, management principles of different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia (surgical and nonsurgical), recommendations on follow‐up, and prognostic indicators are discussed in detail.
Kick‐starting diffusion: Explaining the varying frequency of preferential trade agreements’ environmental provisions by their initial conditions
Authors: Morin Jean‐Frédéric , Blümer Dominique , Brandi Clara , Berger Axel
Published: May 2019

Most recent preferential trade agreements (PTAs) include environmental provisions. While a number of these environmental provisions remain rare and are incorporated in just a few PTAs, others are widely popular and are duplicated in more than 100 PTAs. We still lack a convincing explanation for this varying frequency. While the diffusion literature typically tries to explain how diffusion occurs, we investigate why certain provisions diffuse more often than others. We hypothesise that the initial conditions under which provisions first emerge determine the scope of their diffusion. Our results support this hypothesis and indicate that provisions originating from intercontinental agreements diffuse more often than others. At the same time, provisions first designed by economically powerful or environmentally credible countries are not related to more frequent occurrences of diffusion. These findings are of interest for the literatures on international institutions' design, interaction and diffusion.
Drawing‐Writing Culture: The Truth‐Fiction Spectrum of an Ethno‐Graphic Novel on the Sri Lankan Civil War and Migration
Authors: Dix Benjamin , Kaur Raminder ,   with illustrations by Lindsay Pollock
Published: May 2019

With our focus on an “ethno‐graphic novel” on the Sri Lankan civil war and the forcible displacement and migration of Tamil survivors, we make two main propositions while reflecting on the “graphic narrative turn” that has emerged in anthropology in recent years. First, we inscribe drawing into the “writing of cultures” where words have held a superior status in ethnographic representations. Rather than seeing drawings as perceptive tools for recording scenes in fieldwork alone, we extend them to a representational practice where they can have a deep, intricate, and equivalent entanglement with words to create synchronous affective intensities among a larger audience. Our second proposal follows Jean Rouch on cinéma vérité to interrogate assumptions about truth and fiction as portrayed by film representations. We propose a theory and practice for graphic novel production that we have termed vérités graphiques (literally, graphic realities). This describes the collaborative and interactive engagement with people's contributions and views, and their distillation and fictionalization through the ethno‐graphic form. We diverge from cinéma vérité, however, by highlighting a truth‐fiction spectrum that further challenges the presumed objectivity of what is seen, experienced, co‐created, and revealed.
Photography, Contemplation, and the Worship of Sri Ramakrishna
Authors: Buckley Liam
Published: May 2019

Examining the worship of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph provides insight into how a photograph becomes a sacrament—its status transformed from mundane to metaphysical. Sri Ramakrishna's image generates highly contemplative and interior experiences for his devotees. During the aarati worship service, the photograph is phenomenal. It is encountered on levels of bodily sensation that are the very substance of devotional activity—touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing. In particular, it is the act of devotional singing that finally renders the living presence of the photograph into something that can be experienced. The aarati hymns not only contain expressions of worship and faith. The very act of singing and making sound brings an immediacy to the experience of the living presence of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph.
MERE SCIENCE: MAPPING THE LAND BRIDGE BETWEEN EMOTION, POLITICS, AND ETHICS
Authors: Schaefer Donovan O.
Published: May 2019

Lisa Sideris's Consecrating Science: Wonder, Knowledge, and the Natural World (2017) proposes that the call by some science advocates for a new moral framework based on scientific wonder is flawed. Sideris develops a typology of “wonder” with two separate affective axes: “true wonder” that is the prerogative of a sort of dwelling with the overwhelming mystery of life, and “curiosity” that presses to resolve puzzles and break through into a space of total clarity. The former, Sideris writes, is an ethical resource that, by placing the human self against the backdrop of the unknowable cosmic expanse, prompts humility and genuine admiration for nature. The latter is the theater of “mere science.” This essay follows suit with Sideris's line of questioning, but also pushes back on the correlation of wonder with ethical attentiveness and proposes ways that science in its puzzle‐solving mode can be brought back into the ethical conversation.
WONDER OPENS THE HEART: POPE FRANCIS AND LISA SIDERIS ON NATURE, ENCOUNTER, AND WONDER
Authors: McGuigan Colin
Published: May 2019

This article argues that Pope Francis's invocations of wonder can speak to and at times challenge Lisa Sideris's recent contributions to the interdisciplinary discussion of wonder, science, and religion. Although the importance of wonder to Pope Francis's 2015 environmental encyclicalLaudato si’is acknowledged, it has not been widely recognized that wonder is implicated in and forms connections between multiple concepts and postures acknowledged as defining marks of Francis's papacy: coming out of oneself, encountering others, going to the margins; aversion to doctrinal rigidity; compassion, mercy, tenderness, and humility; to name a few. These defining concepts and stances resonate strongly with certain views on wonder, ethics, and ecology recently articulated by Lisa Sideris. In Francis, however, one finds a more affirming treatment of science‐based wonder and a response to Sideris's criticism of theistic wonder.
THE SHAPE OF THIS WONDER? CONSECRATED SCIENCE AND NEW COSMOLOGY AFFECTS
Authors: O'Dell‐Chaib Courtney
Published: May 2019

In response to Lisa Sideris's provocative new book Consecrating Science: Wonder, Knowledge and the Natural World and in conversation with voices from feminist technoscience, this article challenges the deracinated wonder of new cosmology encounters in two senses. First, by tracing how it is uprooted from critical perspectives on scientific knowledge production. And second, by contending deracinated wonder is ripped from cultural and historical contexts thus erasing embodied inequalities. Deracinated wonder attached to uncritical forms of science, I argue, solidifies new cosmology as an investment in white environmentalism by directing religion and ecology away from pluralities of encounter and the affective weight of environmental degradation and environmental racism.
The Measured and Visualized Behavior of Rotating Stall in an Axial-Flow Compressor and in a Two-Dimensional Cascade
Authors: Sovran Gino
Published: May 2019

The technique of smoke-flow visualization has been used to show clearly the action of the flow field upstream of a single rotor during rotating stall. The flow processes on the blades and in the blade passages of a stationary compressor cascade also have been observed using the same technique. An audio method of detecting rotating-stall patterns has been developed and has indicated that some compressor operating conditions at which no periodic flow disturbance was previously thought to occur actually contained rotating-stall patterns whose number of stalled regions changed very quickly from one value to another. The absolute speed of rotation of a stall zone was reduced to zero and its over-all shape clearly outlined by means of smoke visualization. The qualitative results of all these investigations have given a good physical picture of the rotating-stall phenomenon. Severe reverse flows were found to exist during rotating stall and these caused the formation of reversed flow regions extending upstream of a blade row. Furthermore, the distortions of the flow field in the vicinity of a blade row were found to be of such large magnitude that it does not seem likely that they can be described adequately by any linearized theory. Quantitative investigations were made into the effects of guide-vane turning and axial position on the rotating-stall characteristics of an axial-flow-compressor rotor. The absolute direction of the fluid entering such a configuration was found to affect nearly all facets of rotating-stall behavior.
Availability Balance of Steam Power Plants
Authors: Meyer C. A. , Silvestri G. J. , Martin J. A.
Published: May 2019

The well-known expression for availability, b = h − T0s, is developed in a simple yet general manner. The changes in availability throughout several typical single and double reheat steam plants having different steam conditions have been calculated. Balances of availability are presented for each of the several plants. These balances show the net plant output as the difference between the availability added in the boiler and the various losses in availability throughout the plant.

The maximum plant thermal efficiency (or minimum heat rate) is easily obtained from the ratio of the increase in availability to the heat added in the boiler.

The availability balances present in fine detail the loss distribution throughout the plant. Some very interesting results are obtained. For example, an assumed average plant will have a calculated maximum thermal efficiency of about 75 per cent based on the ratio of the availability and the heat in the high temperature combustion gases. Due to the heat transfer through a temperature difference, this value is reduced to 50 per cent when based on the ratio of the availability and the heat added to the steam in the boiler. This average plant will lose an additional 10 points in thermal efficiency, due to internal losses in availability, resulting in a 40 per cent thermal efficiency (excluding boiler and auxiliary losses). These latter 10 points due to internal losses are roughly divided as follows:

Pressure drop: 0.9

Turbine blading: 5.0

Turbine leakage: 0.6

Turbine leaving and hood: 1.0

Mechanical and generator: 0.7

Feed and healing system: 1.3

and

Feed pump and motor inefficiency: 0.5

Total: 10.0

An availability balance enables one to make an accurate assessment of the losses in any power plant and therefore serves as a very accurate guide in directing development effort toward reducing the more significant losses.
Five Years’ Experience on the Consolidated Edison System With Protection of Turbine Generators and Boilers by Automatic Tripping
Authors: Beattie W. C. , Bauman H. A. , Driscoll J. M. , Onderdonk P. T. , Webb R. L.
Published: May 2019

In 1953 the authors presented a paper entitled “Protection of Turbine Generators and Boilers by Automatic Tripping.” Consolidated Edison now has had five years experience with three 200 mw units so protected. This paper relates the actual shutdowns experienced as a result of the automatic trip system functioning. Troubles, design changes, and additions incorporated in the protection system on new units now being installed are also discussed.
The Calibration of Thermocouples by Freezing-Point Baths and Empirical Equations
Authors: Benedict R. P.
Published: May 2019

A calibration system is described which is based on the use of a few precisely determined experimental values obtained from freezing-point baths. Characteristics of the individual thermocouples at intermediate points are obtained by passing empirical equations of prescribed form through the test values. A program is reviewed, by which a high-speed digital computer accomplishes the necessary conversions, curve fittings, comparisons of individual characteristics with arbitrary reference tables, and the printing out of a table of differences. Test results for a series of iron-constantan thermocouples, over the temperature range 32–1225 F, are presented to illustrate the use of the system and the uncertainties involved. Comparisons are drawn between these results and those obtained by other methods.