bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Overview of Mitigation and Adaptation Needs and Strategies for the Livestock Sector
Authors: Zhang Yuquan , McCarl Bruce , Jones Jason
Published: December 2017

The livestock sector is vulnerable to climate change and related policy in two ways. First, livestock production and performance are directly impacted by climate with many projected effects being negative. Second, the sector may need to alter operations to limit the effects of climate change through adaptation and mitigation. Potential adaptation strategies involve land use decisions, animal feeding changes, genetic manipulation and alterations in species and/or breeds. In terms of mitigation, livestock is a substantial contributor to global non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation opportunities involve altered land use for grazing and feed production, feeding practices, manure treatment and herd size reduction. In addition, strengthening institutions that promote markets and trade, as well as local support programs can help both mitigation and adaptation. Previous literature has summarized the options available to individual producers. This overview extends the literature by including sector-level response as well as the relationships between adaptation and mitigation activities.
Relation between Short-Term and Long-Term Variations of Precipitation
Authors: Hocke Klemens
Published: December 2017

It is often stated that short-term precipitation of synoptical weather is related to trends or interannual variations of precipitation. We analyzed nine long-term series of daily precipitation values of the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-D V2.0). Generally, the mean amplitude of short-term variations increases (decreases) if there is a positive (negative) interannual anomaly of precipitation, respectively. In all cases, the amplitude of the short-term variations (periods < 10 days) clearly correlates with the long-term variations (periods > 1.5 years) of precipitation. The correlation coefficient is between 0.7 and 0.95 at periods <8 days. For Kukuihaele (Hawaii), the correlation maximizes at a period of about 14 days. In the other cases, the maximum of the correlation is reached at periods <5 days.
Crystallization, Structure Determination and Reticular Twinning in Iron(III) Salicylate: Fe[(HSal)(Sal)(H2O)2]
Authors: Van der Horn Jitschaq , Souvignier Bernd , Lutz Martin
Published: December 2017

In this contribution, we present the first crystal structure of iron(III) salicylate without additional counterions. The octahedral complex contains two salicylate and two water molecules as ligands. One salicylate is mono-anionic while the other is di-anionic. Because of the centrosymmetry of the complex, the acidic hydrogen atom is disordered on the midpoint between two salicylate oxygens. The structure determination of the tiny crystal indicates the presence of reticular twinning. The structure solution of the twin is shown and an explanation based on the crystal packing is provided.
A Two-Level Optimal Scheduling Strategy for Central Air-Conditioners Based on Metal Model with Comprehensive State-Queueing Control Models
Authors: Qi Yebai , Wang Dan , Lan Yu , Jia Hongjie , Wang Chengshan , Liu Kaixin , Hu Qing’e , Fan Menghua
Published: December 2017

Unlike some thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) with small capacities, Central Air-conditioner (CAC) has huge potential for demand response because of its large capacity. This paper presents a new CAC control strategy under multiple constraints. The CAC is modeled by three main modules: CAC central unit, water pumps, and temperature simulation of terminal users. The CAC’s power consumption is mainly determined by users’ load ratio. As the information and communication system have become the central nervous system of the smart grid, big data analysis is of great significance. Assuming that reliable two-way communication systems are preset, an integrated parameter priority list (IPPL) control strategy is used to control and monitor CAC. A new intelligent algorithm, Space Exploration and Unimodal Region Elimination (SEUMRE) algorithm, is introduced for solving the optimization problem of demand response targets generation under multiple constraints with the help of big data analysis. In this paper, influences and constrain factors, such as price and users’ comfortable levels are taken into account to satisfy the need of actual situation. Simulation results show that the proposed approach, when comparing with other typical optimization algorithms, yields better performances and efficiency.
Effects of Climate Change on the Climatic Niches of Warm-Adapted Evergreen Plants: Expansion or Contraction?
Authors: Koo Kyung , Park Seon , Seo Changwan
Published: December 2017

Climate change has modified the structure and functions of ecosystems, affecting human well-being. Evergreen plants in the warm-temperate ecosystems will lose climatically suitable habitats under climate change but have not drawn much scholarly interest. Therefore, the present research aimed to predict the future climatic niches of eight coastal warm-adapted evergreen trees under climate change to provide information for an effective management practice. For this purpose, we used the ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) weighted by the TSS value in modelling the climatic niches of those evergreen trees and then ensembled their future distributions predicted under 20 future climate scenarios. Except for Neolitsea sericea (True Skill Statistic (TSS) = 0.79), all projections for the current climatic niches of evergreens showed excellent predictive powers (TSS > 0.85). The results showed that the climatic niches of the four evergreens—Castanopsis cuspidata, Pittosporum tobira, Raphiolepis indica var. umbellate, and Eurya emarginata—would expand to the northern part of the Korean Peninsula (KP) under climate change, but the ones of the remaining four—Kadsura japonica, Neolitsea sericea, Ilex integra, and Dendropanax morbiferus—would shrink. While the climatic niches of Pittosporum tobira showed the rapidest and greatest expansion under climate change, Dendropanax morbiferus was predicted to experience the greatest loss of habitat. On the other hand, regardless of whether the future distributions of climatically suitable habitats would expand or contract, the highly suitable habitats of all species were predicted to decline under climate change. This may indicate that further climate change will degrade habitat suitability for all species within the distribution boundary and restrict continuous habitat expansions of expanding species or accelerate habitat loss of shrinking species. In addition, the future distributions of most coastal evergreens were found to be confined to coastal areas; therefore, sea-level rise would accelerate their habitat loss under climate change. The present study provides primary and practical knowledge for understanding climate-related coastal vegetation changes for future conservation planning, particularly on the Korean Peninsula.
SCMC: An Efficient Scheme for Minimizing Energy in WSNs Using a Set Cover Approach
Authors: Mahlous Ahmed
Published: December 2017

Energy-efficient clustering and routing are well known optimization problems in the study of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) lifetime extension. In this paper, we propose an intelligent hybrid optimization algorithm based on a Set Cover approach to create clusters, and min-cost max-flow for routing (SCMC) to increase the lifetime of WSNs. In our method we used linear programming (LP) to model the WSN optimization problem. This model considers minimizing the energy for all nodes in each set cover (cluster), and then minimizing the routing energy between the nodes and the base station through intermediate nodes, namely cluster heads. To evaluate the performance of our scheme, extensive simulations were conducted with different scenarios. The results show that the set cover approach combined with the min-cost max-flow algorithm reduces energy consumption and increases the network’s lifetime and throughput.
Evaluating Conveyance-Based DEM Correction Technique on NED and SRTM DEMs for Flood Impact Assessment of the 2010 Cumberland River Flood
Authors: Bhuyian Md. , Kalyanapu Alfred , Hossain Faisal
Published: December 2017

This study assessed the uncertainty in flood impact assessment (FIA) that may be introduced by errors in moderate resolution regional and moderate resolution global Digital Elevation Models (DEM). One arc-second National Elevation Dataset (NED) and one arc-second Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEMs were selected to represent moderate resolution regional and global DEMs. The relative performance for scenarios based on each of the DEMs was compared to a “control” terrain (combination of surveyed river bathymetry and a 1/3 arc-second LiDAR for floodplains)-based scenario. Furthermore, a conveyance-based DEM correction technique was applied to the DEMs for investigating the suitability of the technique on selected DEMs, and determining subsequent improvement in the FIA. The May 2010 flood on the Cumberland River near Nashville, TN, was selected as the case study. It was found that the hydraulic properties necessary to implement the selected DEM correction technique could be more readily estimated from NED compared to SRTM. However, this study also prescribed alternate methods to extract necessary hydraulic properties if the DEM quality was compromised. NED-based hydrodynamic modeling resulted in a high overestimation of the simulated flood stage, but the SRTM-based model was unable to produce any reasonable result prior to DEM correction. Nevertheless, after DEM correction, both models became stable and produced less error. Error in simulated flood consequence (i.e., total structures affected and total loss in dollars) also dropped accordingly, following the DEM correction. Therefore, application of this conveyance-based correction technique is reasonably effective on both moderate-resolution regional and global DEMs. The effectiveness of the technique on moderate resolution global DEM underscores the potential for users of remote and data-poor areas.
Myth and One-Dimensionality
Authors: Hansen William
Published: December 2017

A striking difference between the folk-narrative genres of legend and folktale is how the human characters respond to supernatural, otherworldly, or uncanny beings such as ghosts, gods, dwarves, giants, trolls, talking animals, witches, and fairies. In legend the human actors respond with fear and awe, whereas in folktale they treat such beings as if they were ordinary and unremarkable. Since folktale humans treat all characters as belonging to a single realm, folklorists have described the world of the folktale as one-dimensional, in contrast to the two-dimensionality of the legend. The present investigation examines dimensionality in the third major genre of folk narrative: myth. Using the Greek and Hebrew myths of primordial paradise as sample narratives, the present essay finds—surprisingly—that the humans in these stories respond to the otherworldly one-dimensionally, as folktale characters do, and suggests an explanation for their behavior that is peculiar to the world of myth.
Stress-Induced Endocrine and Immune Dysfunctions in Caregivers of People with Eating Disorders
Authors: Romero-Martínez Ángel , Moya-Albiol Luis
Published: December 2017

Caregivers have to cope repeatedly with acute stressors in their daily lives, and this is associated with disturbances in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the immune system. Such disturbances could contribute to the development of health problems in informal caregivers of people with chronic illnesses, such as eating disorders (EDs). The main objective of this study was to examine endocrine (salivary cortisol levels (Csal)), immune (immunoglobulin-A (IgA)), and psychological (anxiety, mood, and anger feelings) responses to an acute psychological stressor in a sample of informal caregivers of individuals with EDs compared to a sample of non-caregivers. In addition, it also aimed to analyze the potential relationship of the aforementioned endocrine and immune response parameters with psychological variables in the caregivers. Caregivers had lower Csal and IgA levels at all assessment points except baseline. Moreover, they also exhibited lower Csal and IgA responses and greater worsening of mood in response to acute psychosocial stress than the non-caregivers, which suggests that caregivers had dampened endocrine and immune reactivity to acute stress. On the other hand, endocrine and immune parameters were unrelated to psychological variables. These findings advance our understanding of how a chronically stressed population reacts to acute stress, and should be considered for the development of effective interventions focused on stress management that could help caregivers to reduce their stress levels, which, in turn, would improve their health.
Microwave-Enhanced Photolysis of Norfloxacin: Kinetics, Matrix Effects, and Degradation Pathways
Authors: Liao Wenchao , Sharma Virender , Xu Su , Li Qingsong , Wang Lei
Published: December 2017

Degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) was studied using a combination of microwave and UV irradiation methods (MW/UV process). Remarkable synergistic effect was found between MW and UV light. The removal rate with the MW/UV process was much faster than that with UV light irradiation only. Degradation of NOR followed second-order kinetics and ~72% of NOR could be removed in the first 5 min of MW/UV reaction. Influence of inorganic ions (cations (K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cu2+) and anions (Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, CO32−)), humic acid (HA) and surfactants (cation, anion, and non-ionic) on the degradation of NOR by the MW/UV process was investigated. Among the ions, Cu2+ and NO3− ions inhibited the degradation of NOR. The presence of HA and surfactants in water showed a slight inhibition on the NOR removal. Furthermore, the NOR degradation in the MW/UV process was primarily caused by the ·OH-photosensitization steps. Seven intermediates formed by the oxidation of NOR were identified and three reaction pathways were proposed. Removals of NOR in tap water (TW), synthetic wastewater (WW), river water (RW), and seawater (SW) were also studied, which demonstrated that the MW/UV process was an effective oxidation technology for degrading fluoroquinolone antibiotics in different water matrices.
Estimated Dietary Intakes of Toxic Elements from Four Staple Foods in Najran City, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohamed Hatem , Haris Parvez , Brima Eid
Published: December 2017

Exposure of the inhabitants of Najran area in Saudi Arabia to the toxic elements As, Cd, Cr, and Pb through foods has not been previously investigated. Exposure to such elements is an important public health issue, so the study described here was performed with the aim of determining estimated dietary intakes (EDIs) for these metals in Najran area. The As, Cd, Cr, and Pb concentrations in four staple foods (rice, wheat, red meat, and chicken) were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed by 80 study participants. These data were used to estimate dietary intakes of the metals in the four staple foods. The mean As, Cd, Cr, and Pb EDIs in the four food types were 1.1 × 10−6–2.6 × 10−5, 1.42 × 10−5–2.2 × 10−4, 3.4 × 10−4–8.0 × 10−4, and 2.3 × 10−5–2.1 × 10−3 mg/kg bw day, respectively. Hazard Quotients (HQ) for all elements did not exceed one. The highest Pb concentration was found for chicken and the source of this toxic element in this food needs to be investigated in the future. The lowest As concentration was found for wheat highest in rice. The EDIs for all elements in the four food types were below the provisional tolerable weekly intakes set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Prevalence of Albuminuria in Children Living in a Rural Agricultural and Fishing Subsistence Community in Lake Chapala, Mexico
Authors: Lozano-Kasten Felipe , Sierra-Diaz Erick , De Jesus Celis-de la Rosa Alfredo , Margarita Soto Gutiérrez María , Aarón Peregrina Lucano Alejandro ,   Research Group on Social and Environmental Determinants in Childhood
Published: December 2017

The occurrence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of unknown etiology in autochthonous child populations residing along the Lake Chapala lakeshore is endemic (Jalisco, México). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of albuminuria in the pediatric population and to measure the glomerular filtration rate in children with two positive albuminuria tests. Urinary albumin was measured in 394 children. Subjects with two or more positive albuminuria test donated blood samples for the determination of serum biomarkers. From a rural community with 565 children under the age of 17 years, 394 (69.7%) participated with first morning urine samples. A total of 180 children were positive (with two or more positive albuminuria tests). The prevalence of albuminuria among the children participating in the study was 45.7%. Of the 180 children with persistent albuminuria, 160 (88.9%) were tested for serum creatinine, urea, and cystatin C. The 68.1% of the children studied, were found in stages 3a and 3b of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification (mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 51.9 and 38.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively). The lowest frequencies were for classifications 1 and 4. None of the subjects was classified as grade 5. The prevalence of albuminuria in children from this rural community is 3–5 times higher than reported in international literature. Regarding GFR, more than 50% of children studied are under 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. It is a priority to find the causes of albuminuria and CKD in this Mexican region.
Sustainable Composite Fused Deposition Modelling Filament Using Post-Consumer Recycled Polypropylene
Authors: Pickering Kim , Stoof David
Published: December 2017

Post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PP) with differing harakeke and hemp fibre contents was used to fabricate a range of 3D printing feedstock filaments. The most successful filaments in terms of tensile properties contained 30 wt % harakeke and had a tensile strength and Young’s modulus of 41 MPa and 3.8 GPa respectively. Comparing these results to those of post-consumer recycled PP filament, showed improvements in tensile strength and Young’s modulus of 77% and 275%. The composite that showed the least shrinkage consisted of 30 wt % harakeke with a shrinkage value of 0.34% corresponding to a net reduction of 84% relative to post-consumer PP.
Investigation of Quasi-Static and Dynamic Material Properties of a Structural Sheet Molding Compound Combined with Acoustic Emission Damage Analysis
Authors: Trauth Anna , Pinter Pascal , Weidenmann Kay
Published: December 2017

Sheet molding compounds (SMC) are discontinuously fiber-reinforced thermosets, attractive to the automotive industry due to their outstanding specific strength and stiffness, combined with a cost efficient manufacturing process. Increasingly important for structural components, a structural SMC-based improved resin formulation featuring no fillers is investigated in this study. The influence of fiber volume content, fiber length, and manufacturing induced fiber orientation on quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties of vinylester-based SMC is characterized. Stiffness and strength increased with increasing fiber volume content for tensile, compression, and flexural loadings. Fiber length distribution did not significantly influence the mechanical properties of the material. The movement of the conveyor belt leads to an anisotropic fiber orientation and orientation-dependent mechanical properties. Acoustic emission coupled with machine learning algorithms enabled the investigation of the damage mechanisms of this discontinuous glass fiber SMC. The acoustic emission analysis was validated with micro computed tomography of damaged specimens. The dominant failure mechanisms of the SMC exposed to bending loading were matrix cracking and interface failure.
Forwarding Path Limitation and Instruction Allocation for In-Order Processor with ALU Cascading
Authors: Kobayashi Ryotaro , Suzuki Anri , Shimada Hajime
Published: December 2017

Much research focuses on many-core processors, which possess a vast number of cores. Their area, energy consumption, and performance have a tendency to be proportional to the number of cores. It is better to utilize in-order (IO) execution for better area/energy efficiency. However, expanding two-way IO to three-way IO offers very little improvement, since data dependency limits the effectiveness. In addition, if the core is changed from IO to out-of-order (OoO) execution to improve Instruction Per Cycle(IPC), area and energy consumption increases significantly. The combination of IO execution and Arithmetic Logic Unit(ALU) cascading is an effective solution to alleviate this problem. However, ALU cascading is implemented by complex bypass circuits because it requires a connection between all outputs and all inputs of all ALUs. The hardware complexity of the bypass circuits increases area, energy consumption, and delay. In this study, we proposed a mechanism that limits the number of the forwarding paths and allocates instructions to ALUs in accordance with the limited paths. This mechanism scales down bypass circuits to reduce the hardware complexity. Our evaluation results show that our proposed mechanism can reduce the area by 38.7%, the energy by 41.1%, and the delay by 23.2% with very little IPC loss on average, as compared with the conventional mechanism.
Damage Equivalent Test Methodologies as Design Elements for Journal Bearing Systems
Authors: Summer Florian , Bergmann Philipp , Grün Florian
Published: December 2017

The current paper addresses the field of experimental research of journal bearing systems. In this regard, the challenges are dealt with concerning simultaneous testing with a close correlation to the industrial application and with a high resolution of tribological processes. Concerning this aspect, two damage equivalent laboratory test methodologies for journal slide bearing systems are presented, and their ability to visualize certain performance parameters of bearing systems are emphasized (for instance friction performance, (start stop) wear processes, and seizure events). The results clearly emphasize that the applied methodologies provide accurate findings regarding specific effects of selective parameters/changes on the performance of bearing systems, such as polymer overlays may result in improved mixed friction sliding conditions if designed properly, and they provide superior start stop wear resistance; the use of specific corrosion inhibitors can successfully prevent tribo-corrosion on bronze bearings; a decrease of oil viscosity increases solid friction share but decreases fluid friction; lubricant anti-wear additives are able to improve seizure resistance and sliding properties of bearing systems depending on formulation harmonization; and novel bearing material coatings, e.g., sputtered SnCu, can significantly improve emergency running capabilities.
Acoustic Anomalies and Fast Relaxation Dynamics of Amorphous Progesterone as Revealed by Brillouin Light Scattering
Authors: Kim Tae , Yoo Hyojong , Ko Jae-Hyeon
Published: December 2017

The amorphous state of pharmaceuticals has attracted much attention due to its high bioavailability and other advantages. The stability of the amorphous state in relation with the local molecular mobility is important from both fundamental and practical points of view. The acoustic properties of amorphous progesterone, one of the representative steroid hormones, were investigated by using a Brillouin inelastic light scattering technique. The Brillouin spectrum of the longitudinal acoustic mode exhibited distinct changes at the glass transition and the cold-crystallization temperatures. The acoustic dispersions of the longitudinal sound velocity and the acoustic absorption coefficient were attributed to the fast and possibly the secondary relaxation processes in the glassy and supercooled liquid states, while the structural relaxation process was considered as the dominant origin for the significant acoustic damping observed even in the liquid phase. The persisting acoustic dispersion in the liquid state was attributed to the single-molecule nature of the progesterone which does not exhibit hydrogen bonds in the condensed states.
Landscape of Research Areas for Zeolites and Metal-Organic Frameworks Using Computational Classification Based on Citation Networks
Authors: Ogawa Takaya , Iyoki Kenta , Fukushima Tomohiro , Kajikawa Yuya
Published: December 2017

The field of porous materials is widely spreading nowadays, and researchers need to read tremendous numbers of papers to obtain a “bird’s eye” view of a given research area. However, it is difficult for researchers to obtain an objective database based on statistical data without any relation to subjective knowledge related to individual research interests. Here, citation network analysis was applied for a comparative analysis of the research areas for zeolites and metal-organic frameworks as examples for porous materials. The statistical and objective data contributed to the analysis of: (1) the computational screening of research areas; (2) classification of research stages to a certain domain; (3) “well-cited” research areas; and (4) research area preferences of specific countries. Moreover, we proposed a methodology to assist researchers to gain potential research ideas by reviewing related research areas, which is based on the detection of unfocused ideas in one area but focused in the other area by a bibliometric approach.
Global Analysis and Optimal Control of a Periodic Visceral Leishmaniasis Model
Authors: ELmojtaba Ibrahim , Biswas Santanu , Chattopadhyay Joydev
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we propose and analyze a mathematical model for the dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis with seasonality. Our results show that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable under certain conditions when R 0 , the basic reproduction number, is less than unity. When R 0 > 1 and under some conditions, then our system has a unique positive ω -periodic solution that is globally asymptotically stable. Applying two controls, vaccination and treatment, to our model forces the system to be non-periodic, and all fractions of infected populations settle on a very low level.
Spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3′-oxindoles] and Their Indoline Analogues as New 5-HT6 Receptor Chemotypes
Authors: Kelemen Ádám , Satala Grzegorz , Bojarski Andrzej , Keserű György
Published: December 2017

Synthetic derivatives of spiro[pyrrolidinyl-3,3′-oxindole] alkaloids (coerulescine analogues) were investigated as new ligands for aminergic G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The chemical starting point 2′-phenylspiro[indoline-3,3′-pyrrolidin]-2-one scaffold was identified by virtual fragment screening utilizing ligand- and structure based methods. As a part of the hit-to-lead optimization a structure-activity relationship analysis was performed to explore the differently substituted 2′-phenyl-derivatives, introducing the phenylsulphonyl pharmacophore and examining the corresponding reduced spiro[pyrrolidine-3,3′-indoline] scaffold. The optimization process led to ligands with submicromolar affinities towards the 5-HT6 receptor that might serve as viable leads for further optimization.
Two-Ply Composite Membranes with Separation Layers from Chitosan and Sulfoethylcellulose on a Microporous Support Based on Poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide)
Authors: Kononova Svetlana , Kruchinina Elena , Petrova Valentina , Baklagina Yulia , Romashkova Kira , Orekhov Anton , Klechkovskaya Vera , Skorik Yury
Published: December 2017

Two-ply composite membranes with separation layers from chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose were developed on a microporous support based on poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide) and investigated by use of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. The pervaporation properties of the membranes were studied for the separation of aqueous alcohol (ethanol, propan-2-ol) mixtures of different compositions. When the mixtures to be separated consist of less than 15 wt % water in propan-2-ol, the membranes composed of polyelectrolytes with the same molar fraction of ionogenic groups (-NH3+ for chitosan and -SO3− for sulfoethylcellulose) show high permselectivity (the water content in the permeate was 100%). Factors affecting the structure of a non-porous layer of the polyelectrolyte complex formed on the substrate surface and the contribution of that complex to changes in the transport properties of membranes are discussed. The results indicate significant prospects for the use of chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose for the formation of highly selective pervaporation membranes.
Amniotic Fluid Arginine from Gestational Weeks 13 to 15 Is a Predictor of Birth Weight, Length, and Head Circumference
Authors: Bjørke-Jenssen Astrid , Ueland Per , Bjørke-Monsen Anne-Lise
Published: December 2017

Arginine is a constituent of proteins and a precursor for polyamines and nitric oxide, and is essential for placentation, angiogenesis, and growth. Maternal plasma arginine concentrations are found to be lower in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction, and arginine supplementation in later pregnancy is reported to increase birth weight. We measured arginine and the metabolites asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in the amniotic fluid obtained in pregnancy weeks 13 to 15 from 363 pregnancies with a documented normal outcome and related the concentrations to birth weight, length, and head circumference. Arginine was higher in the amniotic fluid from female (mean 40.8 (SD 10.6) µmol/L) compared to male fetuses (37.4 (SD 11.2) µmol/L, p = 0.003). Despite the gender difference, arginine in the amniotic fluid from gestational weeks 13–15 was the strongest predictor for birth weight, length, and head circumference. ADMA was a strong predictor for birth weight and length, SDMA for birth weight, while Arg/ADMA and Arg/SDMA only predicted head circumference in multiple linear regression models. Due to increased arginine demands, pregnancy is considered a state of relative arginine deficiency. Our findings reflect the importance of a good maternal arginine status in early pregnancy, an observation that should be evaluated in an intervention study.
Unexpected Binding Mode of a Potent Indeno[1,2-b]indole-Type Inhibitor of Protein Kinase CK2 Revealed by Complex Structures with the Catalytic Subunit CK2α and Its Paralog CK2α′
Authors: Hochscherf Jennifer , Lindenblatt Dirk , Witulski Benedict , Birus Robin , Aichele Dagmar , Marminon Christelle , Bouaziz Zouhair , Le Borgne Marc , Jose Joachim , Niefind Karsten
Published: December 2017

Protein kinase CK2, a member of the eukaryotic protein kinase superfamily, is associated with cancer and other human pathologies and thus an attractive drug target. The indeno[1,2-b]indole scaffold is a novel lead structure to develop ATP-competitive CK2 inhibitors. Some indeno[1,2-b]indole-based CK2 inhibitors additionally obstruct ABCG2, an ABC half transporter overexpressed in breast cancer and co-responsible for drug efflux and resistance. Comprehensive derivatization studies revealed substitutions of the indeno[1,2-b]indole framework that boost either the CK2 or the ABCG2 selectivity or even support the dual inhibition potential. The best indeno[1,2-b]indole-based CK2 inhibitor described yet (IC50 = 25 nM) is 5-isopropyl-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyl-oxy)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroindeno[1,2-b]indole-9,10-dione (4p). Herein, we demonstrate the membrane permeability of 4p and describe co-crystal structures of 4p with CK2α and CK2α′, the paralogs of human CK2 catalytic subunit. As expected, 4p occupies the narrow, hydrophobic ATP site of CK2α/CK2α′, but surprisingly with a unique orientation: its hydrophobic substituents point towards the solvent while its two oxo groups are hydrogen-bonded to a hidden water molecule. An equivalent water molecule was found in many CK2α structures, but never as a critical mediator of ligand binding. This unexpected binding mode is independent of the interdomain hinge/helix αD region conformation and of the salt content in the crystallization medium.
Morphology, Nucleation, and Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Mixed with a Polycarbonate/MWCNTs Masterbatch
Authors: Gumede Thandi P. , Luyt Adriaan S. , Hassan Mohammad K. , Pérez-Camargo Ricardo A. , Tercjak Agnieszka , Müller Alejandro J.
Published: December 2017

In this study, nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with a (polycarbonate (PC)/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)) masterbatch in a twin-screw extruder. The nanocomposites contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 wt % MWCNTs. Even though PCL and PC have been reported to be miscible, our DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), SAXS (Small Angle X-ray Scattering), and WAXS (Wide Angle X-ray Scattering) results showed partial miscibility, where two phases were formed (PC-rich and PCL-rich phases). In the PC-rich phase, the small amount of PCL chains included within this phase plasticized the PC component and the PC-rich phase was therefore able to crystallize. In contrast, in the PCL-rich phase the amount of PC chains present generates changes in the glass transition temperature of the PCL phase that were much smaller than those predicted by the Fox equation. The presence of two phases was corroborated by SEM, TEM, and AFM observations where a fair number of MWCNTs diffused from the PC-rich phase to the PCL-rich phase, even though there were some MWCNTs agglomerates confined to PC-rich droplets. Standard DSC measurements demonstrated that the MWCNTs nucleation effects are saturated at a 1 wt % MWCNT concentration on the PCL-rich phase. This is consistent with the dielectric percolation threshold, which was found to be between 0.5 and 1 wt % MWCNTs. However, the nucleating efficiency was lower than literature reports for PCL/MWCNTs, due to limited phase mixing between the PC-rich and the PCL-rich phases. Isothermal crystallization experiments performed by DSC showed an increase in the overall crystallization kinetics of PCL with increases in MWCNTs as a result of their nucleating effect. Nevertheless, the crystallinity degree of the nanocomposite containing 4 wt % MWCNTs decreased by about 15% in comparison to neat PCL. This was attributed to the presence of the PC-rich phase, which was able to crystallize in view of the plasticization effect of the PCL component, since as the MWCNT content increases, the PC content in the blend also increases. The thermal conductivities (i.e., 4 wt % MWCNTs) were enhanced by 20% in comparison to the neat material. The nanocomposites prepared in this work could be employed in applications were electrical conductivity is required, as well as lightweight and tailored mechanical properties.
Economic Benefit from Progressive Integration of Scheduling and Control for Continuous Chemical Processes
Authors: Beal Logan , Petersen Damon , Pila Guilherme , Davis Brady , Warnick Sean , Hedengren John
Published: December 2017

Performance of integrated production scheduling and advanced process control with disturbances is summarized and reviewed with four progressive stages of scheduling and control integration and responsiveness to disturbances: open-loop segregated scheduling and control, closed-loop segregated scheduling and control, open-loop scheduling with consideration of process dynamics, and closed-loop integrated scheduling and control responsive to process disturbances and market fluctuations. Progressive economic benefit from dynamic rescheduling and integrating scheduling and control is shown on a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) benchmark application in closed-loop simulations over 24 h. A fixed horizon integrated scheduling and control formulation for multi-product, continuous chemical processes is utilized, in which nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) and continuous-time scheduling are combined.
Investigating β-N-Methylamino-l-alanine Misincorporation in Human Cell Cultures: A Comparative Study with Known Amino Acid Analogues
Authors: Onselen Rianita , Downing Simoné , Kemp Gabré , Downing Tim
Published: December 2017

Misincorporation of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) into proteins has been proposed to be a mechanism of toxicity to explain the role of BMAA in neurodegenerative disease development. However, studies have shown that all detectable BMAA can be removed from proteins by SDS-PAGE purification and that the toxicity of l-canavanine cannot be reproduced in prokaryotes or in a rat pheochromocytoma cell line, strongly indicating that the misincorporation hypothesis of BMAA should be re-investigated. The aim of this study was therefore to determine if BMAA misincorporates into proteins in cells of human origin with subsequent misincorporation-type toxicity. Almost complete loss of viability in response to exposure to l-4-fluorophenylalanine and l-m-tyrosine was observed in all of the cell lines, corresponding to a concentration-dependent increase of the analogues in protein extracts from exposed cells. In contrast, BMAA exposure resulted in slight toxicity in one of the cell lines but the observed toxicity was not the result of misincorporation of BMAA into proteins, as no BMAA was detected in any of the SDS-PAGE purified protein extracts that were obtained from the cells following BMAA exposure. The results show that BMAA is not misincorporated into human proteins and that misincorporation is not a valid mechanism of toxicity.
A Portrait of the Sialyl Glycan Receptor Specificity of the H10 Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin—A Picture of an Avian Virus on the Verge of Becoming a Pandemic?
Authors: Schneider Elena , Li Jian , Velkov Tony
Published: December 2017

Pandemic influenza is a constant global threat to human health. In particular, the pandemic potential of novel avian influenza viruses such as the H10N7 and H10N8 avian strains, which recently managed to cross the species barrier from birds to humans, are always of great concern as we are unlikely to have any prior immunity. Human and avian isolates of H10 influenza display the ability to rapidly adapt to replication in mammalian hosts. Fortunately, so far there is no evidence of efficient human-to-human transmission of any avian influenza virus. This review examines all of the available clinical and biological data for H10 influenza viruses with an emphasis on hemagglutinin as it is a major viral antigen that determines host range and immunity. The available glycan binding data on the influenza H10 hemagglutinin are discussed in a structure-recognition perspective. Importantly, this review raises the question of whether the emerging novel avian H10 influenza viruses truly represents a threat to global health that warrants close monitoring.
Oral Plasmacytoma in a Dog
Authors: Pargass Indira , Bally Alissa , Suepaul Rod
Published: December 2017

A 6-year-old male Pit bull mix dog presented for bleeding from the mouth persisting for five days. A clinical evaluation revealed a 2 × 3 cm soft tissue mandibular mass at the crown of the first premolar, as well as a non-regenerative anemia and hyperproteinemia. Cytologic and histopathologic evaluations of the mass were compatible with an oral plasmacytoma.
A Review of Ocean/Sea Subsurface Water Temperature Studies from Remote Sensing and Non-Remote Sensing Methods
Authors: Akbari Elahe , Alavipanah Seyed , Jeihouni Mehrdad , Hajeb Mohammad , Haase Dagmar , Alavipanah Sadroddin
Published: December 2017

Oceans/Seas are important components of Earth that are affected by global warming and climate change. Recent studies have indicated that the deeper oceans are responsible for climate variability by changing the Earth’s ecosystem; therefore, assessing them has become more important. Remote sensing can provide sea surface data at high spatial/temporal resolution and with large spatial coverage, which allows for remarkable discoveries in the ocean sciences. The deep layers of the ocean/sea, however, cannot be directly detected by satellite remote sensors. Therefore, researchers have examined the relationships between salinity, height, and temperature of the oceans/Seas to estimate their subsurface water temperature using dynamical models and model-based data assimilation (numerical based and statistical) approaches, which simulate these parameters by employing remotely sensed data and in situ measurements. Due to the requirements of comprehensive perception and the importance of global warming in decision making and scientific studies, this review provides comprehensive information on the methods that are used to estimate ocean/sea subsurface water temperature from remotely and non-remotely sensed data. To clarify the subsurface processes, the challenges, limitations, and perspectives of the existing methods are also investigated.
Changes in Pan Evaporation and Their Attribution to Climate Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland, the Eastern Edge of the Tibetan Plateau (1969–2014)
Authors: Zhao Nana , Gou Si , Zhang Beibei , Yu Yilei , Han Songjun
Published: December 2017

Decreases in pan evaporation (Epan) over the last decades have been reported in many regions of the world. In this study, changes of Epan in the Zoige Plateau alpine wetland (hereinafter referred to as “Zoige wetland”) and its peripheral regions from 1969 to 2014 were investigated using the PenPan model based on the long-term meteorological data. The contribution of climate factors to Epan change were quantified by using partial derivatives of the PenPan model. Results indicated that Epan in Zoige wetland exhibited an obvious decreasing trend before 1989, but rapidly increased after 1990. The increase in Epan in the Zoige wetland is more significant than that in its peripheral regions and the entire Tibetan Plateau, which contributed to the more significant warming in the Zoige wetland. The pan evaporation in Zoige wetland after 1990 could be mostly attributed to changes in the aerodynamic component, and the decreasing radiation and wind speed is the primary contributor to the decline of pan evaporation during 1969–1989, while increasing air temperature and vapor pressure deficit were the major contributors to the increase of pan evaporation after 1990.
Hospital-acquired gastroenteritis at a referral hospital in Gaborone, Botswana
Authors: Welch Henry , Goldfarb David M. , Moorad Banno , Mokomane Margaret , Smieja Marek , Chakalisa Unoda , Steenhoff Andrew P , Finalle Rodney , Coffin Susan E
Published: December 2017

Background: Hospital-acquired infections, including hospital-acquired gastroenteritis (HAGE), are well documented in Western countries but little is known about these infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Aim: To determine the incidence of and explore modifiable risk factors for HAGE. Methods: A prospective cohort study of children 72 hours after admission or upon admission after recent discharge for a non-GE illness. Children were followed until discharge to ascertain therapies used and adverse outcomes. Enteric pathogens were identified by multiplex PCR. Findings: Virtually all of the 32 children with HAGE were < 2 years (n=30, 94%) and most were male (n=19, 59%). Few had HIV infection (n=6, 19%), severe malnutrition (n=8, 25%), or a history of vitamin A use in the past 6 months (n=2, 6%). The mean monthly incidence of HAGE was 2.3 per 1000 patient days, and associated with the monthly number of community-acquired gastroenteritis (CAGE) admissions (IRR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.04, p=0.025). A stool pathogen was detected in 15/27 (56%) children, including norovirus (n=7, 26%) and rotavirus (n=5, 18%). Most children received oral rehydration solution (n=26, 81%), or IV fluids (n=9, 28%). Antibiotics were administered to 5 (16%) children. Two (6%) children with HAGE were admitted to the ICU and 4 (12%) died. Conclusions: We found HAGE was relatively common and associated with severe outcomes. The monthly incidence of HAGE was associated with CAGE admissions. Common pathogens included norovirus and rotavirus.
Bacterial contamination of frequently touched surfaces in computers in health care settings: a comparative study
Authors: Ali Kawther
Published: December 2017

This study was conducted to detect and compare the presence of bacteria, specifically the pathogens Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin resistant and sensitive), on computer high-touch surfaces (keyboards and mouse) used at a university dental clinic, teaching hospital outpatient clinics, and a university health science centre students’ computer laboratories.Moistened sterile swab samples were obtained from 178 computers and cultured on MacConkey and mannitol salt agars, and then incubated for 48 hours at 37˚C. Representative colonies on the media were chosen, sub-cultured for purity and the species were identified using VITEK-2 and confirmed with VITEK MS when necessary. Of a total of 178 computer surfaces screened in the three locations, 97 (54.5%) were contaminated with bacteria. The differences in the total bacterial contaminations were statistically significant (P=0.001) between students’ computer laboratories (72.9%), hospital outpatient clinics (61.5%), and university dental clinics (32.8%). Staphylococcus aureus was detected on two computer keyboards and mice at two locations, the university dental clinics and the teaching hospital outpatient clinics. In addition, a sample from the teaching hospital’s outpatient clinic contained E. coli. No methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in all locations. In conclusion, computer keyboards and mice in various settings were contaminated with bacteria. Dental, medical, and university students’ laboratories settings had different overall bacterial contamination on computer keyboards and mice, but no detectable differences in S. aureus and E. coli was evident.
Hand hygiene practices amongst patients
Authors: Prasad Ashita , Ng Chok Harrison , Wilkes Lesley
Published: December 2017

Hand hygiene is seen as one of the principal means of preventing hospital based infections for both staff and patients. While there are many guidelines for hand hygiene practices for health professionals, there is a scarcity of research studies about the attitudes and hand hygiene practices among patients. The aim of this study is to explore nurses and patient attitudes and behaviours towards patient hand hygiene at a tertiary teaching hospital in Western Sydney. This descriptive study used patient observations of hand hygiene practices using a validated observation tool; face-to-face interviews with patients and a survey of nurses. Interviews and surveys were textually and quantitatively analysed. A total of 105 patient observations, 50 patient interviews and 51 nurse surveys were collected. The majority of patients and nurses respectively reported hand hygiene as an important aspect of everyday life in preventing infection in the hospital setting. However, this contrasts with the poor patient hand hygiene compliance identified using the patient observation tool. Patient interviews found that more encouragement and education by staff, increased signage and easily accessible facilities will increase hand hygiene practices. This study highlights the importance of patient input in understanding the entirety of hand hygiene practice from both the nurses and patients point of view. Further training of nursing staff in promoting a hand hygiene friendly environment will have a powerful influence among patients and in delivering patient centred care.