bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Produção de hortaliças orgânicas: estudo de caso em uma propriedade do interior de Ijuí, RS
Authors: Carvalhaes Coutinho Luana , Koefender Jana , Prudencio De Mera Claudia , Nicolodi Camera Juliane
Published: June 2019

O crescimento do mercado de produtos orgânicos vem gerando o interesse de agricultores familiares. Estudos são necessários para avaliar o sistema orgânico nesse contexto. O objetivo foi analisar o sistema produtivo orgânico em uma pequena propriedade rural do município de Ijuí, RS. Foi realizado um estudo de caso descritivo e qualitativo, com uma família de agricultores que tem entre as suas atividades agrícolas, a produção orgânica de hortaliças. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi a observação direta e uma entrevista, a fim de analisar as práticas utilizadas no sistema de produção. Discorre, também, sobre os desafios e o confrontamento que os agricultores abordam sobre o sistema, observado na propriedade. A produção de hortaliças é ainda pequena, mas as práticas hoje aplicadas favorecem os sistemas de produção orgânica. Verifica-se também a participação da mulher no sistema produtivo, que atua na mudança de paradigmas e sendo responsável por decisões e a comercialização da produção.
Ortaokul Öğrencileri için Matematiğe Yönelik Tutum Ölçeğini Türkçe’ye Uyarlama Çalışması
Authors: ŞEN Özgür
Published: June 2019

Bu çalışmada, Yáñez-Marquina & Villardón-Gallego tarafından geliştirilen “Ortaokul Öğrencileri için Matematiğe Yönelik Tutum Ölçeği (Scale for Assessing Attitudes towards Mathematics in Secondary Education(SATMAS)” ni Türk kültürüne uyarlama çalışması yapılmıştır. Çalışma, 5, 6, 7 ve 8. sınıfta öğrenim gören 878 ortaokul öğrencisinden alınan veriler ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Açımlayıcı faktör analizi ve doğrulayıcı faktör analizleri uygulanarak ölçeğin yapı geçerliliği incelenmiştir. Ölçeğin özgün formu19 maddeden oluşmaktadır. Analizler doğrultusunda 1 madde ölçekten çıkarılarak dilimiz uyarlamasında 18 madde yer almıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda, uyarlanması yapılan ölçeğin faktör yapısı, özgün yapısıyla tutarlı 3 faktörlü (öz benlik, algılanan faydası ve ilgi) model oluşturduğu görülmüştür. Doğrulayıcı faktör analizi sonuçları ölçeğin literatürde istenilen uyum indekslerini sağlamaktadır. Güvenirlik çalışmasına göre ölçeğin Cronbanch alfa değeri 0.91 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular, uyarlanan ölçeğin ortaokul öğrencilerinin matematiğe yönelik tutumlarını ölçmek için alternatif, kullanışlı, uygulanması kolay, geçerli ve güvenilir bir araç olduğu sonucuna ulaşmıştır.
4. Sınıf Öğrencilerinin Başlık Bulma Becerileri
Authors: BAŞARAN Mustafa
Published: June 2019

Bu
araştırmanın amacı ilkokul 4. sınıf öğrencilerinin metne buldukları başlıkların
yaratıcılık, uzunluk ve içeriği yansıtma açısından uygunluğunu tespit etmektir.
Araştırmanın yöntemi betimsel tarama modellerinden ilişkisel taramadır.
Araştırmanın çalışma evrenini 2018-2019 eğitim öğretim yılında İstanbul Esenler
ilçesindeki devlet ilkokullarında öğrenimlerine devam eden 4. sınıf öğrencileri
oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın örneklemi ise bu evrenden yansız örnekleme
yoluyla seçilen toplam 308 öğrencidir. Araştırma sonucunda öğrencilerin metne
uygun başlık bulma hususunda en çok orijinal/ilgi çekici başlık bulmada sıkıntı
yaşadıkları; metnin içeriğini yansıtan başlık bulmada daha az zorlandıkları;
kısa başlık yazmada ise neredeyse hiç sorun yaşamadıkları görülmüştür. Cinsiyet
değişkeninin öğrencilerin başlık bulma becerileri üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi
bulunmamaktadır. Ayrıca metni derinlemesine anlayan öğrenciler metin içeriğini
yansıtan başlık bulmada daha başarılıdır.
Molecular Study on Dominant Fatty Acid Esters Characterized from Waste Beef Tallow Biodiesel – A Quantum Computational Approach
Authors: Srinivasan Gokul Raghavendra , Shankar Vijayalakshmi , Jambulingam Ranjitha
Published: June 2019

This study deals with computational analysis of dominant fatty acid ethyl esters characterized from the biodiesel produced from waste beef tallow by means of KOH catalyzed ethanol based transesterification. Ethyl palmitate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Stearate and Ethyl Myristate were identified as dominant fatty acid esters and were computed for molecular analysis in Gaussian 09 software using Density Functional Theory (B3LYP method) with 6-31G* as basis set. Geometric parameters were in accordance with existing experimental values and population analysis exhibited negative charge for oxygen atoms, both positive & negative charge for carbon atoms in all ester molecules. The molecular dipole moment was higher for unsaturated ester molecule and quadruple moment proposed electronic dislocation in X+Y direction. Also, energy gap decreased slightly with increasing carbon chain but reduced drastically with increase in unsaturation. Electrostatic potential mapping displayed negative electrostatic potential for oxygen atoms in ester linkage of all ester molecules.
Attention Modulates Electrophysiological Responses to Simultaneous Music and Language Syntax Processing
Authors: Lee Daniel J , Jung Harim , Loui Psyche
Published: June 2019

Music and language are hypothesized to share neural resources, particularly at the level of syntax processing. Recent reports suggest that attention modulates this sharing of neural resources, but the time-course of the effects of attention, and the degree to which attention operates similarly on music and language, are yet unclear. In this EEG study we manipulate the syntactic structure of simultaneously presented musical chord progressions and garden-path sentences in a modified rapid serial visual presentation paradigm, while varying top-down attentional demands to the two modalities. The Early Right Anterior Negativity (ERAN) was observed in response to both attended and unattended musical syntax violations. In contrast, an N400 was only observed in response to attended linguistic syntax violations, and a P3 only in response to attended musical syntax violations. Results show that top-down allocation of attention indeed affects the processing of syntax in both music and language, with different neural resources acting upon the two modalities particularly at later stages of cognitive processing. However, the processing of musical syntax at an earlier stage of the perceptual-cognitive pathway, as indexed by the ERAN, is partially automatic, and is strongly indicative of separate neural resources for music and language.
Impact of toothpaste on oral health-related quality of life in people with dentine hypersensitivity
Authors: Mason Stephen , Burnett Gary R. , Patel Nisha , Patil Avinash , Maclure Robert
Published: June 2019

Background

Dentine hypersensitivity can impact functional status and everyday activities such as eating and talking. This study aimed to assess changes in oral health-related quality of life measures in individuals with dentine hypersensitivity following long-term use (24 weeks) of a commercially available toothpaste marketed for dentine hypersensitivity relief.

Methods

This study was conducted across two sites and enrolled 75 adults with ≥2 non-adjacent sensitive teeth. Participants were assigned to twice-daily brushing with toothpaste containing 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride (1100 ppm fluoride). Every 4 weeks, participant-reported outcomes were assessed using the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ), a condition specific oral health-related quality of life scale that has five domains and includes questions on social and emotional impact, restrictions, adaptations and effect on life overall. Responses to a clinically applied evaporative (air) stimulus were assessed using the examiner-observed Schiff sensitivity scale and Labelled Magnitude Scales (LMS), which included dentine hypersensitivity-specific descriptors of intensity, duration, tolerability and descriptive qualities of the participant’s response.

Results

Participant-reported outcomes demonstrated reduction of the impact of dentine hypersensitivity over time on health-related quality of life, as measured by the DHEQ. This reached statistical significance from Week 8 onwards (p<0.0001 versus baseline) for the Total DHEQ score, with scores continually decreasing at each timepoint. Most domain scores followed a similar pattern. Statistically significant reductions were also detected for the examiner-observed Schiff Sensitivity Scale scores at all timepoints (including at 4 weeks) (p<0.05), which were mirrored by LMS responses. The toothpaste was generally well-tolerated.

Conclusions

These results show that long-term use of a sensitivity toothpaste containing 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride has a beneficial, ongoing, impact on the oral health-related quality of life of people with dentine hypersensitivity.
Does a Bilateral Polypropylene Mesh Alter the Duct Deferens Morphology, Testicular Size and Testosterone Levels? Experimental Study in Rats
Authors: Damous Sergio Henrique Bastos , Damous Luciana Lamarão , Miranda Jocielle Santos , Montero Edna Frasson de Souza , Birolini Claudio , Utiyama Edivaldo Massazo
Published: June 2019

Background

The impact of hernia repair with a polypropylene (PP) mesh on testicular function and fertility remains uncertain, regardless of the technique used. This study evaluated the effect of a PP mesh on duct deferens morphology, testicular size and testosterone levels.

Methods

Forty adult male Wistar rats were distributed into groups according to the surgical procedure: 1) no surgery; 2) inguinotomy; 3) mesh placed on the duct deferens; and 4) mesh placed on the spermatic funiculus. After 90 postoperative days, the inguinal region was resected, and blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum testosterone (pg/dl). The testicle was measured with a pachymeter in the longitudinal and transverse directions to calculate its size (mm). The duct deferens were isolated and sectioned in three axial sections according to the relationship with the mesh — cranial, medial and caudal (1 cm above, at the segment where the mesh was placed, and 1 cm below, respectively). The wall thickness and duct deferens lumen area were measured.

Results

The morphology of the duct deferens was preserved in all groups. The mesh placement did not alter this morphology in any of the analyzed segments. In nonoperated animals, there was an anatomic reduction in the wall thickness of the duct deferens in the caudal segment (p<0.05 1/3 cranial and medial vs. caudal). Surgery, with or without mesh placement, did not alter the morphology, wall thickness or lumen area (p>0.05). In all operated groups, there was a decrease in testicle size (p<0.05); however, the serum testosterone levels were similar among the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Surgery, with or without mesh placement, did not alter the morphology of the duct deferens and, although this treatment resulted in testicular size reduction, it did not affect serum testosterone levels. Future studies should deepen the analysis of the effect of the mesh on the functionality of these organs and the real impact on male fertility.
Prediction of Kidney Transplant Outcome Based On Different DGF Definitions In Chinese Deceased Donation
Authors: Hu Xiao-jun , Zheng Jin , Li Yang , Tian Xiao-hui , Tian Pu-xun , Xiang He-li , Pan Xiao-ming , Ding Chen-guang , Ding Xiao-ming , Xue Wujun
Published: June 2019

Background

Delayed graft function (DGF) is an important complication of kidney transplantation and can be diagnosed according to different definitions. DGF has been proven to be associated with the long-term outcome of kidney transplantation surgery. However, the best DGF definition for predicting renal transplant outcomes in Chinese donations after cardiac death (DCDs) remains to be determined.

Method

A total of 182 DCD kidney transplants from January 2015 to December 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University were diagnosed with DGF according to 6 different DGF definitions. The relationship of the DGF definitions to the three-year graft loss (GL) and 12-month estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) posttransplantation was compared.

Results

The incidence of DGF varied from 5.01% to 50.89% according to the different DGF diagnoses. All DGF definitions were significantly associated with three-year GL and had considerable predictive power for a poorer transplant outcome. None of the DGF definitions were significantly better than the dialysis-based DGF definition.

Conclusion

DGF was a independent risk factor for poorer transplant outcome. In the Chinese DCD population, no definitions were superior to the universally accepted one, namely, the need for hemodialysis in the first week posttransplantation. Combination of need for hemodialysis within the first week and 48h serum creatinine reduction rate has a better predictive value for graft loss.
Interactions between plant defense and prior herbivory alter conditions for a plant virus and its vector
Authors: Shi Xiaobin , Preisser Evan L. , Liu Baiming , Pan Huipeng , Xiang Min , Xie Wen , Wang Shaoli , Wu Qingjun , Li Chuanyou , Liu Yong , Zhou Xuguo , Zhang Youjun
Published: June 2019

Background: While virus-vector-host interactions have been a major focus of both basic and applied ecological research, little is known about how different levels of plant defense interact with prior herbivory to affect these relationships. We used genetically-modified strains of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varying in the jasmonic acid (JA) plant defense pathways to explore how plant defense and prior herbivory affects a plant virus (tomato yellow leaf curl virus, 'TYLCV'), its vector (the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED), and the host.
Results: Virus-free MED preferred low-JA over high-JA plants and had lower fitness on high-JA plants. Viruliferous MED preferred low-JA plants but their survival was unaffected by JA levels. While virus-free MED did not lower plant JA levels, viruliferous MED decreased both JA levels and the expression of JA-related genes. Infestation by viruliferous MED reduced plant JA levels, and TYLCV loads were consistently higher in plants fed upon by viruliferous MED than in plants fed on by virus-free MED. In preference tests, neither virus-free nor viruliferous MED discriminated among JA-varying plants previously exposed to virus-free MED. However, both virus-free and viruliferous MED preferred low-JA plant genotypes when choosing between plants that had both been previously exposed to viruliferous MED. The enhanced preference for low-JA genotypes appears linked to the volatile compound neophytadiene, which was found only in whitefly-infested plants and at concentrations inversely related to plant JA levels.
Conclusions: Our findings illustrate how plant defense can interact with prior herbivory to affect both a plant virus and its whitefly vector, and confirm the induction of neophytadiene by lower JA that may prove useful in pest detection and management.
Thicknesses of macular inner retinal layers in children with anisometropic amblyopia
Authors: Xia Zheren , Chen Hao , Zheng Suilian
Published: June 2019

Background

To investigate the thicknesses of macular inner retinal layers in children with anisometropic amblyopia through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods

Thirty-seven children with anisometropic amblyopia and fifty-seven children with normal vision participated in the study. Both eyes of children with amblyopia and the right eyes of children with normal vision underwent scanning with the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The segmentation of retinal layers was performed automatically to measure individual inner retinal layers in the five sectors of the macula. An independent-sample t-test was used to compare measurements of anisometropic eyes and fellow eyes with control eyes.

Results

There was no significant difference in the total macular thickness in the five sectors between amblyopic and control eyes. However, in the peripheral macular area, three of the four quadrants of both the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness were significantly reduced in amblyopic eyes than in control eyes. Moreover, two of the four quadrants of the GCL thickness and three of the four quadrants of the IPL thickness in the peripheral macular area were significantly reduced in fellow eyes than in control eyes.

Conclusions

The SD-OCT data revealed differences in the thicknesses of some macular inner retinal layers in both eyes of children with anisometropic amblyopia compared with those with emmetropia, indicating that structural changes might exist in the retina of children with amblyopia.
Genome-Wide identification and analysis of the AHL gene family in cotton (Gossypium)
Authors: Zhao Lanjie , Lu Youjun , Chen Wei , Yao Jinbo , Li Yan , Li Qiulin , Pan Jingwen , Fang Shengtao , Sun Jie , Zhang Yongshan
Published: June 2019

Background: Members of the AT-HOOK MOTIF CONTAINING NUCLEAR LOCALIZED (AHL) family are involved in various plant biological processes via protein-DNA and protein-protein interaction. However, the systematic identification and analysis of AHL gene family have yet not to be reported in cotton.
Results: To investigate the potential functions of AHLs in cotton, genome-wide identification, expressions and structure analysis of the AHL gene family were performed in this study. 48, 51 and 99 AHL genes were identified from the G.raimondii, G.arboreum and G.hirsutum genome respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that the AHLs in cotton evolved into 2 clades, Clade-A with 4-5 introns and Clade-B with intronless (excluding AHL20-2). Based on the composition of the AT-hook motif(s) and PPC/DUF 296 domain, AHL proteins were classified into three types (Type-I/-II/-III), with Type-I AHLs forming Clade-B, and the other two types together diversifying in Clade-A. The detection of synteny and collinearity showed that the AHLs expanded with specific WGD in cotton, and AHL20-2 showed the tendency of increasing intron in three different Gossypium spp. The ratios of non-synonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks) substitution rates of orthologous gene pairs revealed that the AHL genes of G.hirsutum had undergone through various selection pressures, purifying selection mainly in A-subgenome and positive selection mainly in D-subgenome. Examination of their expression patterns showed most of AHLs of Clade-B expressed predominantly in stem, while those of Clade-A in ovules, suggesting that the AHLs within each clade shared similar expression patterns with each other. qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed that some GhAHLs higher expression in stems and ovules.
Conclusion: In this study, 48, 51 and 99 AHL genes were identified from three cotton genomes respectively. AHLs in cotton were classified into two clades by phylogenetic relationship and three type based on the composition of motif and domain. The AHLs expanded with segmental duplication, not tandem duplication. The expression profiles of GhAHLs revealed abundant differences in expression levels in various tissues and at different stages of ovules development. Our study provided significant insights into the potential functions of AHLs in regulating the growth and development in cotton.
Neuropilin 1 modulates TGF-β1-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ding Zongli , Du Wenwen , Lei Zhe , Zhang Yang , Zhu Jianjie , Zeng Yuanyuan , Wang Shengjie , Zheng Yulong , Liu Zeyi , Huang Jian-an
Published: June 2019

Background: TGF-β1 signaling is a potent inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancers. Our previous study has indicated that NRP1 was significantly up-regulated and acted as a vital promoter in the metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the function of NRP1 in regulation of TGF-β1-induced EMT and NSCLC cell migration and invasion remained unclear.
Methods: The differential expression level of NRP1 was determined by RT-PCR analysis in human tissue samples with or without lymph node metastasis. Transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to determine cell ability of migration. Lentivirus-mediated stable knockdown and overexpression of NRP1 cell lines were constructed. Exogenous TGF-β1 stimulation, SIS3 treatment, western blot analysis and in vivo metastatic model were utilized to clarify the underlying regulatory mechanism.
Results: Increased expression of NRP1 was found in metastatic NSCLC tissues and can promote NSCLC metastasis in vivo. Transwell assays, wound healing assay and western blot analysis showed that knockdown of NRP1 significantly inhibited TGF-β1-mediated EMT and migratory and invasive capabilities of A549 and H226 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of NRP1 could weak the decreased migratory and invasive capabilities with SIS3 treatment. Co-IP data showed that NRP1 can interact with TGFβRⅡ to induce EMT.
Conclusion: This is the first time to report that NRP1 can modulate TGF-β1-induced EMT and cell migration and invasion in NSCLC.
Changes in Vessel Density of the Patients with Narrow Antenior Chamber after an Acute Intraocular Pressure Elevation Observed by OCT Angiography
Authors: Ma ziwei , QIU WENHAN , ZHOU DANNI , YANG WEIHUA , PAN XUEFENG , CHEN HONG
Published: June 2019

Background:Although the pathogenesis of glaucoma is not fully understood ,an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major factor contributing to its development and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the vessel densities of the macula and optic nerve head (ONH) after an acute elevation in the intraocular pressure (IOP) observed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods: This was a prospective comparative study of subjects with narrow anterior chamber angles who underwent laser peripheral iridotomies (LPIs). The IOP was measured before and one hour after the LPI. The retinal vessel densities of the macula and ONH were measured using OCTA at the baseline and one hour after the LPI.
Results: A total of 64 eyes of 51 individuals were enrolled in this study, and 58 eyes of 43 individuals finally completed the study with a mean IOP rise of 10.5 ± 7.6 mmHg after the LPI. Based on the magnitude of the rise in the IOP, we divided the subjects into three groups: group A = IOP rise ≤ 10 mmHg, group B = 10 mmHg < IOP rise ≤ 20 mmHg, and group C = IOP rise > 20 mmHg. The vessel density did not differ after the acute IOP elevation in either the macular region or papillary region in group A or group B (p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference in group C (p < 0.05). However, when the subjects were not separated into groups, the vessel densities of the ONH and macular region did not differ between the measurements obtained at the baseline and one hour after the LPI (p>0.05). The correlation existed in peripapillary and macular vessel density (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: In these subjects with narrow antenior chamber, an acute mild or moderate IOP elevation for one hour after the LPI did not affect the vessel density in the macula or ONH, as examined using OCTA. However, when the IOP rise was greater than 20 mmHg, the macular and papillary vessel density decreased significantly.
Prevalence of hepatitis C infection among the general population and high-risk groups in the EU/EEA: A systematic review update
Authors: HAN Ru , ZHOU Junwen , N Clément François , Toumi Mondher
Published: June 2019

Background: Although significant improvement in efficacy measured by a sustained virological response, the high acquisition costs of direct-acting antivirals limit the access for patients and influence the costs of healthcare resource utilisation in hepatitis C. It is important to have the latest estimates of prevalence, especially in high-risk groups, for cost of illness, cost-effectiveness and budget impact studies.
Methods: Original studies on the estimates of the prevalence among general and high-risk populations in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) were retrieved from Medline and Embase for the period from 2015 to 2018. All included studies were evaluated for risk of selection bias and summarised together in a narrative form. Results from previous reviews and updated searches were compared per country among different populations, respectively.
Results: Among the 3871 studies identified, 46 studies were included: 20 studies were used for the estimate of the general population; 3 for men who have sex with men (MSM); 6 for prisoners; and 17 for people who inject drugs (PWID). Compared with the results reported in previous systematic reviews, the updated estimates were lower than previously in most available countries. Anti-HCV general population prevalence estimates ranged from 0.54% to 1.50% by country. The highest prevalence of anti-HCV was found among PWID (range of 7.90% - 82.00%), followed by prisoners (7.00% - 41.00%), HIV-positive MSM (1.80% - 7.10%), HIV-negative MSM (0.20% - 1.80%), pregnant women (0.10% - 1.32%) and first-time blood donors (0.03% - 0.09%).
Conclusions: Our study highlights the heterogeneity in anti-HCV prevalence across different population groups in EU/EEA. The prevalence also varies widely between European countries. There are many countries that are not represented in our results, highlighting the need for the development of robust epidemiological studies.
Physiological and transcriptome analysis reveal molecular mechanism in Salvia miltiorrhiza leaves of near-isogenic male fertile lines and male sterile lines
Authors: Wang Ruihong , Jiang Han , Zhou Ziyun , Guo Hongbo , Dong Juane
Published: June 2019

Background:
Our previous study found that male sterility in Salvia miltiorrhiza could result in stunted growth, reduced biomass, decreased primary metabolism, and increased secondary metabolism, but their molecular mechanisms have not yet been revealed. In this article, we investigated the underlying mechanism of male sterility to plant growth and metabolic yield by using physiological analysis and mRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
Results:
In this study, transcriptomic and physiological analysis were performed to identify the mechanism of male sterile mutants to plant growth and metabolic yield. Through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, it was found that the pathways were mainly enriched in processes including organ development, primary metabolic process and secondary metabolic process. Physiological analysis showed that the chloroplast structure of male sterile mutants of S. miltiorrhiza was abnormally developed, which could result in decrease in leaf gas exchange (A, E and gs), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv, Fm and Fv/Fm), and the chlorophyll content. Among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the expression levels of 7 genes involved to photosynthesis-related pathway were down-regulated in male sterile lines of S. miltiorrhiza, which was consistent with the corresponding phenotypic changes in chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content and leaf gas exchange. Transcriptomic analysis established the role of disproportionating enzyme 1 (DPE1) as catalyzing the degradation of starch, and the role sucrose synthase 3 (SUS3) and cytosolic invertase 2 (CINV2) as catalyzing the degradation of sucrose in the S. miltiorrhiza mutants. The results also confirmed that phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) was involved in the biosynthesis of rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B, and flavone synthase (FLS) was an important enzyme catalyzing steps of flavonoid biosynthesis.
Conclusions:
Our results from the physiological and transcriptome analysis reveal underlying mechanism of plant growth and metabolic yield in male sterile mutants, and provide insight into the crop yield of S. miltiorrhiza.
Manganese removal processes at 10 groundwater fed full-scale drinking water treatment plants
Authors: Breda I. L. , Ramsay L. , Søborg D. A. , Dimitrova R. , Roslev P.
Published: June 2019

Manganese (Mn) removal in drinking water filters is facilitated by biological and physico-chemical processes. However, there is limited information about the dominant processes for Mn removal in full-scale matured filters with different filter materials over filter depth. Water and filter material samples were collected from 10 full-scale drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) to characterise the Mn removal processes, to evaluate the potential use of enhancers and to gain further insight on operational conditions of matured filters for the efficient Mn removal. The first-order Mn removal constant at the DWTPs varied from 10−2 to 10−1 min−1. The amount of Mn coating on the filter material grains showed a strong correlation with the amount of iron, calcium and total coating, but no correlation with the concentration of ATP. Inhibition of biological activity showed that Mn removal in matured filters was dominated by physico-chemical processes (59–97%). Addition of phosphorus and trace metals showed limited effect on Mn removal capacity, indicating that the enhancement of Mn removal in matured filters is possible but challenging. There was limited effect of the filter material type (quartz, calcium carbonate and anthracite) on Mn removal in matured filters, which can be relevant information for the industry when assessing filter designs and determining returns of investments.

This article has been made Open Access thanks to the kind support of CAWQ/ACQE (https://www.cawq.ca).
Biodegradation of polyvinyl alcohol by different dominant degrading bacterial strains in a baffled anaerobic bioreactor
Authors: Wu H. F. , Yue L. Z. , Jiang S. L. , Lu Y. Q. , Wu Y. X. , Wan Z. Y.
Published: June 2019

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is the main pollutant in printing and dyeing wastewaters. This pollutant exhibits great demand, poor biodegradability and refractory degradation. In this study, PVA wastewater treatment experiments were conducted in a stably operating baffled anaerobic bioreactor (ABR) by using simulated PVA wastewater. The PVA degradation pathway and mechanism of the mixed dominant PVA-degrading bacterial strains were identified through the analysis of their degradation products. From the results, we inferred that PVA was degraded in a stepwise process under the synergistic action of different extracellular and intracellular enzymes produced by the mixed dominant PVA-degrading bacterial strains. In this process, PVA was first degraded into ketones, fatty acids and alcohols. It was then regenerated into acetic acid, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Finally, these substances could be further utilized by methanogens. PVA was thus degraded completely. This study may serve as a reference for future works on the degradation of PVA in the ecological environment. It may also guide the sustainable development of PVA.
Dental İmplant Tedavisinde Başarı Faktörlerinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: ATALA Mustafa Hayati , USTAOĞLU Gülbahar , ÇETİN Hülya
Published: June 2019

AmaçBu çalışmanın amacı, implant tedavisinde başarının, yaş, cinsiyet, sistemik durum, protetik tedavi çeşidi ve cerrahi teknik ile ilişkisini inceleyerek oluşabilecek başarısızlıkların önüne geçilmesini sağlamaktır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya 2011–2017 döneminde Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi’nde dental implant tedavisi görmüş toplam 877 hasta dahil edildi. Toplam 3033 adet dental implanta dair arşiv kayıtları ve radyografiler retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi.BulgularYaşa göre implant kaybetme oranları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunurken (p=0,0001), implant kaybı açısından iki cinsiyet arasında anlamlı fark bulunmadı (p=0,157). Hastalar sistemik rahatsızlıkları açısından değerlendirildiğinde en yaygın görülen hastalıklar hipertansiyon, diyabet, kardiyovasküler hastalıklar, tiroit hastalıkları ve osteoporoz idi. 3033 implantın 2905’i kemik-seviyesi, 128’i doku-seviyesi implant olup, 952’si posteriyor maksilla, 398’i anteriyor maksilla, 1042’si posteriyor mandibula, 641’i anteriyor mandibulaya yerleştirilmişti. İmplant lokasyonu ile kaybedilen implant sayısı arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmadı. Dental implantlar 513 adet tek kron, 700 köprü ve 260 hareketli protez ile restore edildi. Overdenture protezlerin 50 adeti bar bağlantılı, 210 adeti de Locator ataçman şeklindeydi. Protez tipi ve implant kayıp oranları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farkbulundu (p=0,007).Tartışma ve Sonuç: İmplant tedavisinin başarısında hastanın sistemik ve lokal açıdan dikkatlice değerlendirilmesi ve doğru bir protetik planlama büyük önem taşımaktadır.
Retroaortik sol renal venin klinik ve radyolojik önemi
Authors: AKTAŞ Fatma
Published: June 2019

Amaç:Retroaortik
sol renal ven radyolojik görüntüleme sıklığının artması nedeniyle son yıllarda
sıklığı görece artan anatomik varyasyondur. Sıklıkla asemptomatiktir. Biz
çalışmamızda kontrastlı abdomen bilgisayarlı tomografi  tetkikinde 
retroaortik sol renal ven saptanan hastalarda sol renal ven ve sol
gonodal ven çaplarını ölçerek asemptomatik hastalarda vende basınç artışı olup
olmadığını göstermeyi amaçladık.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çekilen
kontrastlı abdomen BT tetkiklerinde saptanan retroaortik sol renal veni bulunan
138 hasta ve hasta grubu ile yaş ve cinsiyet benzerliği bulunan 100 kişi dahil
edildi. Sol renal ven çapı, retroaortik sol renal venin aorta posteriorunda en
dar olduğu segmentte çapı ve sol gonadal ven çapı ölçüldü.Bulgular:Kontrol
grubu ve retroaortik sol renal ven bulunan hastaların preaortik segmentte sol
renal ven çapları karşılaştırıldığında, retroaortik sol renal ven bulunan
hastalarda anlamlı olarak daha yüksek bulundu. Aynı zamanda sol gonadal ven
çapları retroaortik sol renal ven bulunan hastalarda kontrol grubu ile
karşılaştırıldığında artmış olarak bulundu.Sonuç:

Sonuç
olarak retroaortik sol renal ven sıklıkla asemptomatik seyreden anatomik bir
varyasyon olmakla birlikte sol renal venin aorta arkasında sıkışması ile sol
renal ven ve gonadal venlerde basınç artışına neden olabilir. Bu basınç artışı
kadınlarda pelvik konjesyon erkeklerde ise varikosel etyolojisinde önemlidir.
Aynı zamanda retroaortik sıkışma sendromuna neden olarak hematüri ve yan ağrısı
gibi klinik semptomlara yol açabilir.
İntravenöz ve İntramüsküler Enjeksiyon Bilgilendirilmiş Onam Formlarının Okunabilirlik Açısından Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: EBEM Emre , TUTAR Mahmut Sami , YILDIZ Munise , CANITEZ Ahmet , KARA Özlem , KOZANHAN Betül
Published: June 2019

Amaç: Bu araştırmada üniversite ve devlet hastaneleri ile özel
hastanelerde kullanılan bir dizi intra­venöz (İV) ve intramüsküler (İM)
enjeksiyon bilgilendirilmiş onam formunun okunabilirlik düzeyini değerlendirmek
amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Toplam 90 (45 İV, 45 İM enjeksiyon) bilgilendirilmiş
onam formu 45 hasta­neden temin edildi. Formlar Bezirci–Yılmaz tarafından geliştirilen
bilgisayar yazılımına aktarıldı. Formlardaki hece sayısı, kelime sayısı, 4+
heceli kelime sayısı hesaplandı. Ardından her bir formun okunabilirlik değeri
Ateşman ve Bezirci–Yılmaz formülleriyle hesaplandı. Üniversite, devlet ve özel
hastane formlarının okunabilirlik değeri ortalamaları İV ve İM enjeksiyon
formları için ayrı ayrı kar­şılaştırıldı. Bulgular: İM enjeksiyon onam formlarının ortalama hece sayısı, ortalama
kelime sayısı, ortalama 4+ heceli kelime sayısı, ve de Ateşman ve Bezirci–Yılmaz
okunabilirlik değerleri ortalamaları açı­sından hastaneler arasında
istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı fark bulunamadı (sırasıyla p=0,73; p=0,73; p=0,57;
p=0,56; p=0,92). İV enjeksiyon onam formlarının ortalama hece sayısı, ortalama
kelime sayısı, ortalama 4+ heceli kelime sayısı, Ateşman ve Bezirci–Yılmaz
okunabilirlik değerleri ortala­maları açısından da hastaneler arasında
istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı fark yoktu (sırasıyla p=0,53; p=0,34; p=0,42;
p=0,59; p=0,53). Tüm formların Ateşman okunabilirlik değeri ortalaması “orta güç­lükte”,
Bezirci–Yılmaz okunabilirlik değeri ortalaması ise “ortaöğretim” seviyesinde
bulundu.

Tartışma ve Sonuç: Bu çalışmada hastanelerde
kullanılan İV ve İM enjeksiyon bilgilendirilmiş onam formlarının okunabilirliğinin
oldukça düşük olduğu ve bu formların toplumun geneli tarafın­dan kolayca
okunabilecek biçimde revize edilmesi gerektiği tespit edilmiştir.
Identification of Quinolone and Colistin Resistance Genes in Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated from Mucosal Samples of Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Healthy Subjects
Authors: Mahmoudi Hassan , Ghiasvand Sima , Zarei Omid , Hossainpour Hadi , Alikhani Mohammad Y.
Published: June 2019

Introduction:

Antibiotic resistance and extensive use of antibiotics are amongst the major causes of failure in antibiotic treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate antibiotic resistance patterns and to identify resistance genes of quinolones and colistin in Escherichia coli. There are a very few patents on E. coli isolated from colorectal cancer. So, this study demonstrates that some bacteria resistant to ciprofloxacin have not resistance genes.Moreover, new patterns for E. coli are presented for isolates of patients with colorectal cancer.

Materials and Methods:

Of the three healthy people, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients and colorectal cancer patients, 40 E. coli strains isolated after confirmation by biochemical and molecular methods. The susceptibility of isolates to antibiotics was investigated using disk diffusion test. After deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify genes encoding resistance to ciprofloxacin (qnr A, qnr B) and colistin (mcr-1).

Results:

The results showed that E. coli isolates from colorectal cancer patients had the highest resistance to piperacillin (67.5%), ceftazidime (47.5%), and cefepime (42.5%). Also, E. coli strains isolated from IBD patients showed resistance to antibiotic ceftazidime 13%. More than 95% of E. coli strains isolated from healthy people were susceptible to antibiotics. Based on the results, 18 (15%) E. coli strains showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. The qnr A gene was detected in 61.11% isolates; however, qnr B was detected in 9 (50%) isolates. Isolates resistant to colistin were not observed.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate increased resistance of E. coli to ciprofloxacin in comparison with prior studies. Further research in this field will increase our knowledge and more effective exposure to the antibiotic resistance of the pathogenic microorganisms.
Statistical Learning Models for Sleep Quality Prediction Using Electrocardiograms
Authors: Ogundare Oluwatosin
Published: June 2019

Background:

The sleep quality prediction has implications beyond trivial. It enables the holistic management of the clinical ramifications of treating sleep disorders, which include providing a foundational framework for mitigating sleep medication abuse and sleep medication dosage control due to the foreknowledge of the quality of a future sleep episode. Sleep Quality (SQ) is presented as a function of sleep stages and as such, predicting sleep quality will involve predicting the future realization of a sleep episode in terms of transition between different sleep stages. Electrocardiograms (ECG) provided by the National Sleep Research Resource (NSRR) are analyzed and a Sleep Quality (SQ) value is predicted on an interval (0,1).

Methods:

This research uses Support Vector Machines (SVM) and a polynomial regression model to forecast the Sleep Quality (SQ) of a future sleep episode. The statistical learning models are trained on the features extracted from the Electrocardiograms (ECG) signals in the training set. The datasets are composed of ECG signal from patients in the NSSR Sleep Health Heart Study (SHHS).

Results:

A confusion matrix comparing measuredvs. predicted is presented as a measure of the performance of the SVM sleep stage as well as the comparison of the observedvs. predicted hypnogram in some cases. The Sleep Quality (SQ) values derived from classified forecasted PSD is compared with the measured Sleep Quality (SQ) values. Finally, a paired t-test is used to compare the predicted Sleep Quality (SQ) with the measured Sleep Quality (SQ) to determine if the difference between the two sets is significant.

Conclusion:

This research presents a simple method to forecast Sleep Quality (SQ) values. Consequently, it can be used to establish a personal Sleep Quality (SQ) history for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Quality of Water Used in Selected Poultry Farms in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Authors: Osei Frank B. , Boamah Vivian E. , Agyare Christian , Abaidoo Robert C.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Water plays an important role in both domestic and commercial settings. However, some physicochemical properties and biological contaminants could render water unsafe for use. Contaminated water from various sources is used as drinking water and for processing of animal products in animal farms, which has resulted in infections among animals, including poultry, and contaminated animal products on the market.

Objective:

To determine the physicochemical properties and microbial quality of water used as drinking water in selected poultry farms in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Methods:

The pH, turbidity, conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and total hardness of poultry-drinking-water from 100 farms were assessed following WHO guidelines. The presence of total coliforms and faecal Enterococci was determined using the membrane filtration method. The presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococci were determined using selective culture media and their identities confirmed using biochemical tests.

Results:

pH of the samples ranged from 3.76 to 8.90, turbidity from 0.20 to 617 NTU, conductivity from 23.6 to 1114.0 µS/cm, TDS from 11.3 to 557 mg/L and total hardness from 17.1 to 192.0. Total coliforms and faecal Enterococci were present in 97% and 56% samples respectively. Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and non-coagulase staphylococci were isolated from four samples.

Conclusion:

Water used on poultry farms has varied physicochemical properties and could also be a potential source of pathogenic organisms. There should be regular monitoring and checks on the quality of water used in animal husbandry in order to prevent the use of contaminated water for drinking and processing of animal products.
A Questionnaire-based Assessment of Dietary Adherence and Identification of Barriers to Healthy Eating
Authors: Bishop Karen S. , Yi Weiming , Piper-Jarrett Isabella , Henning Marcus A.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with an extensive list of health benefits for people both with and without a disease.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to develop/modify a questionnaire to investigate the current adherence to a Mediterranean-style dietary eating pattern amongst the New Zealand male population, and to assess the association between perceived barriers to change and behaviours.

Methods:

The development of this questionnaire was based upon a modified 14-point validated Mediterranean diet adherence screener (PREDiMED) and included an additional section wherein we explored the reasons behind men’s food choices and barriers to healthy eating. Questionnaires were analysed from 295 men. Descriptive analyses were used to determine major barriers to change.

Results:

The modification of the PREDiMED questionnaire resulted in a 23 question questionnaire encompassing adherence, demographics and barriers to change. We found that 90.8% of respondents had either low or intermediate adherence to a Mediterranean style diet. Significant associations also existed between adherence and smoking (p=0.003), age (p< 0.01) and opinion of the importance of healthy eating (p< 0.01). We found participants felt the ‘major’ barrier to consume a healthy diet, to be a busy lifestyle, and the most common influencer of food choices was people.

Conclusion:

Through identifying how New Zealand men consume food and how they consider their barriers to change, we can better direct policy to aid changes in behaviour and integrate the Mediterranean style diet to complement the New Zealand food culture.
Synthesis, Characterization and Antifungal Assessment of Optically Active Bis-organotin Compounds Derived from (S)-BINOL Diesters
Authors: Costantino Andrea R. , Neudörfl Jörg M. , Ocampo Romina A. , Svetaz Laura A. , Zacchino Susana A. , Koll Liliana C. , Mandolesi Sandra D.
Published: June 2019

Background:

Organotin(IV) derivatives have appeared recently as potential biologically active metallopharmaceuticals exhibiting a variety of therapeutic activities. Hence, it is important to study the synthesis of new organotin compounds with low toxicity that may be of pharmacological interest.

Objectives:

This study focuses on the synthesis of new bis-stannylated derivatives withC2symmetry that could be tested as antifungal agents against two clinical important fungal species,Cryptococcus neoformansandCandida albicans.

Methods:

The radical addition of triorganotin hydrides (R3SnH) and diorganotin chlorohydrides (R2ClSnH) to bis-α,β-unsaturated diesters derived from (S)-BINOL led to the corresponding new bis-stannylated derivatives withC2symmetry. Nine pure organotin compounds were synthesized with defined stereochemistry. Four of them were enantiomerically pure and four were diastereoisomeric mixtures.

Results:

All new organotin compounds were fully characterized, those with phenyl ligands bonded to tin were the most active compounds against both the strains (Cryptococcus neoformansandCandida albicans), with activity parameters of IC50close to those of the reference drug (amphotericin B).

Conclusion:

Nine pure organotin compounds with C2 symmetry were synthesized with defined stereochemistry and their antifungal properties were tested against two clinical important fungi with IC values close to those of the reference drug. The structure-containing preferably two or three phenyl groups joined to the tin atom were highly active against both the strains compared with those possessing tri-n-butyl groups.
FPGA Implementation of Vedic Squarer for Communication Systems
Authors: Khan Angshuman , Halder Sudip , Saha Souvik , Arya Rajeev
Published: June 2019

Background:

The squarer or squaring circuit is extensively used in communication systems
as a mathematical function with applications of frequency doublers, Finite Impulse Response
(FIR) filters, peak amplitude detectors, digital processors and analog multipliers, etc. and especially
for square law detection circuits.

Objective:

Vedic multipliers are popular mainly for their simplicity in the literature of digital
multipliers.

Methods:

Recently, proposed 2-bit square calculator or self-multiplier already gained the attraction
of the researchers.

Results & Conclusion:

In this paper, two bits squarer or self-multiplier or square calculator has
been successfully coded using VHDL, verified in Xilinx tool and finally implemented in popular
FPGA Spartan kit.