bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gerakan Literasi dalam Pembelajaran Bahasa Indonesia Berbasis Kearifan Lokal Menuju Siswa Berkarakter
Authors: Joyo Aceng
Published: July 2018

The purpose of writing is to describe the movement of literacy in Indonesian language learning based on local wisdom towards students characterized by using text close to the student environment. Problem-based research method and literature literature review. The result of the research shows that literacy movement in Indonesian language learning can be related to local wisdom considering that the values ​​prevailing in society are not fully understood by the students. The development of students character values ​​in Indonesian language subjects is done through learning language skills, namely writing and reading skills. In accordance with the purpose of learning Indonesian, which is to develop students competence in the use of Indonesian language in accordance with the context of student life. The utilization of learning resources based on local wisdom will affect the results and values ​​of the characters. Utilization of the texts of the observation of the existing environment near the students will affect the literacy movement of writing and reading.

Keywords: Literacy, Local Wisdom, Character
Moisture Behavior of Thermal Insulation Coating Consisted of Vacuum-Hollow Nano-Ceramic Microspheres
Authors: Bozsaky Dávid
Published: July 2018

Nanotechnology-based thermal insulation materials have appeared in building industry in the last two decades. Among them thermal insulating coatings consisted of vacuum-hollow nano-ceramic microspheres are the subjects of most professional discussion. Most studies about these coatings focus only on examination of thermodynamic properties, because there is still no consensus in academic circles about thermodynamic processes inside nano-ceramic coatings. These professional discussions distract attention from other unknown but also important material properties, like behavior by contact with moisture. This paper summarizes the results of moisture behavior tests with nano-ceramic thermal insulation coatings which were conducted to determine the time trend of water absorption, as well as volume, mass and thermal insulation quality changes caused by increasing moisture content. Analyzing the results mathematical connections were found to describe the relation between water content, dimensional and thermal conductivity changes.
Climate Conditions in ISO Container Shipments from Hungary to South Africa and Asia
Authors: Csavajda Péter , Böröcz Péter
Published: July 2018

The aim of this paper is to provide useful information about climate conditions of transcontinental shipments from Hungary and compare them to the climate profiles of conditioning standards. The climatic environments inside ISO intermodal containers carrying automotive products to three different destinations in India, China and South Africa were measured. All three recorded surveys contain temperature and relative humidity data while the containers were stored outdoors and indoors and travelled on truck, rail and ship. The measured data was analyzed and mean statistical values of daily temperature and RH shifts were determined for each route. The recorded data shows that 50 % of maximum temperature and RH shifts occurred in the EU continent. Temperature and relative humidity distribution as a function of cumulative percentages [%] of the duration of total shipping was also determined and compared to the climate profiles of conditioning standards. It shows that peak temperature and RH ranges occur mostly in the defined duration of conditioning testing time.
Advanced Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Chen Tin-Chih Toly , Liu Cheng-Li , Lin Hong-Dar
Published: July 2018

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been extensively applied to a wide range of disciplines, such as system identification and control, decision making, pattern recognition, medical diagnosis, finance, data mining, visualization, and others. With advances in computing and networking technologies, more complicated forms of ANNs are expected to emerge, requiring the design of advanced learning algorithms. This Special Issue is intended to provide technical details of the construction and training of advanced ANNs.
Re-Examining the “What is Manga” Problematic: The Tension and Interrelationship between the “Style” Versus “Made in Japan” Positions
Authors: Kacsuk Zoltan
Published: July 2018

The term manga is used to refer to a range of related and at times exclusive domains according to the position of the speaker. In the present paper, I examine one of the fundamental dichotomies underpinning the arguments in relation to the meaning of manga, the tension and interrelationship between the “style” versus “made in Japan” positions. Building on research on manga, comics, and bande dessinée, I outline a framework that attempts to take stock of the most common features associated with works being considered manga. Highlighting some of the possible connections between visual style and content-specific elements on the one hand, and the Japanese language plus the culture of manga production, dissemination, and consumption in Japan on the other hand, I argue that the manga as style position is not as pure a possibility—transcending all cultural and material situatedness—as it is sometimes held up to be. At the same time, the manga is made in Japan position is not as simplistic as it is commonly thought to be and indeed points to a far deeper and more fundamental interrelationship between manga and Japan—as its real and mythical place of origin—than its proponents might actually articulate.
Collision Strengths and Effective Collision Strengths for Allowed Transitions among the n ≤ 5 Degenerate Levels of Atomic Hydrogen
Authors: Aggarwal Kanti M. , Owada Ryu , Igarashi Akinori
Published: July 2018

We report calculations of collision strengths and effective collision strengths for 26 allowed transitions among the n≤ 5 degenerate levels of atomic hydrogen for which the close-coupling (CC) and Born approximations have been used. Results are listed over a wide range of energies (up to 100 Ryd) and temperatures (up to 107 K), sufficient for applications over a variety of plasmas, including fusion. Similar results have also been calculated for deuterium, but they negligibly differ with those of hydrogen.
With Great Age Comes Great Metastatic Ability: Ovarian Cancer and the Appeal of the Aging Peritoneal Microenvironment
Authors: Harper Elizabeth I. , Sheedy Emma F. , Stack M. Sharon
Published: July 2018

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for ovarian cancer. Older women have higher rates of diagnosis and death associated with the disease. In mouse models, it was shown that aged mice had greater tumor burden than their younger counterparts when intraperitoneally injected with ovarian tumor cells. While very few papers have been published looking at the direct link between ovarian cancer metastasis and age, there is a wealth of information on how age affects metastatic microenvironments. Mesothelial cells, the peritoneal extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, adipocytes and immune cells all exhibit distinct changes with age. The aged peritoneum hosts a higher number of senescent cells than its younger counterpart, in both the mesothelium and the stroma. These senescent cells promote an inflammatory profile and overexpress Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), which remodel the ECM. The aged ECM is also modified by dysregulated collagen and laminin synthesis, increases in age-related crosslinking and increasing ovarian cancer invasion into the matrix. These changes contribute to a vastly different microenvironment in young and aged models for circulating ovarian cancer cells, creating a more welcoming “soil”.
Underutilization of Hepatitis C Virus Seropositive Donor Kidneys in the United States in the Current Opioid Epidemic and Direct-Acting Antiviral Era
Authors: Li Andrew A. , Cholankeril George , Cheng Xingxing S. , Tan Jane C. , Kim Donghee , Toll Alice E. , Nair Satheesh , Ahmed Aijaz
Published: July 2018

In recent years, the opioid epidemic and new hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments have changed the landscape of organ procurement and allocation. We studied national trends in solid organ transplantation (2000–2016), focusing on graft utilization from HCV seropositive deceased donors in the pre-2014 (2000–2013) versus current (2014–2016) eras with a retrospective analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database. During the study period, HCV seropositive donors increased from 181 to 661 donors/year. The rate of HCV seropositive donor transplants doubled from 2014 to 2016. Heart and lung transplantation data were too few to analyze. A higher number of HCV seropositive livers were transplanted into HCV seropositive recipients during the current era: 374 versus 124 liver transplants/year. Utilization rates for liver transplantation reached parity between HCV seropositive and non-HCV donors. While the number of HCV seropositive kidneys transplanted to HCV seropositive recipients increased from 165.4 to 334.7 kidneys/year from the pre-2014 era to the current era, utilization rates for kidneys remained lower in HCV seropositive than in non-HCV donors. In conclusion, relative underutilization of kidneys from HCV seropositive versus non-HCV donors has persisted, in contrast to trends in liver transplantation.
Projected Affinity Values for Nyström Spectral Clustering
Authors: He Li , Zhu Haifei , Zhang Tao , Yang Honghong , Guan Yisheng
Published: July 2018

In kernel methods, Nyström approximation is a popular way of calculating out-of-sample extensions and can be further applied to large-scale data clustering and classification tasks. Given a new data point, Nyström employs its empirical affinity vector, k, for calculation. This vector is assumed to be a proper measurement of the similarity between the new point and the training set. In this paper, we suggest replacing the affinity vector by its projections on the leading eigenvectors learned from the training set, i.e., using k*=∑i=1ckTuiui instead, where ui is the i-th eigenvector of the training set and c is the number of eigenvectors used, which is typically equal to the number of classes designed by users. Our work is motivated by the constraints that in kernel space, the kernel-mapped new point should (a) also lie on the unit sphere defined by the Gaussian kernel and (b) generate training set affinity values close to k. These two constraints define a Quadratic Optimization Over a Sphere (QOOS) problem. In this paper, we prove that the projection on the leading eigenvectors, rather than the original affinity vector, is the solution to the QOOS problem. The experimental results show that the proposed replacement of k by k* slightly improves the performance of the Nyström approximation. Compared with other affinity matrix modification methods, our k* obtains comparable or higher clustering performance in terms of accuracy and Normalized Mutual Information (NMI).
Some Results on ℓ1 Polynomial Trend Filtering
Authors: Yamada Hiroshi , Du Ruixue
Published: July 2018

ℓ1 polynomial trend filtering, which is a filtering method described as an ℓ1-norm penalized least-squares problem, is promising because it enables the estimation of a piecewise polynomial trend in a univariate economic time series without prespecifying the number and location of knots. This paper shows some theoretical results on the filtering, one of which is that a small modification of the filtering provides not only identical trend estimates as the filtering but also extrapolations of the trend beyond both sample limits.
Suppression Research Regarding Low-Frequency Oscillation in the Vehicle-Grid Coupling System Using Model-Based Predictive Current Control
Authors: Wang Yaqi , Liu Zhigang
Published: July 2018

Recently, low-frequency oscillation (LFO) has occurred many times in high-speed railways and has led to traction blockades. Some of the literature has found that the stability of the vehicle-grid coupling system could be improved by optimizing the control strategy of the traction line-side converter (LSC) to some extent. In this paper, a model-based predictive current control (MBPCC) approach based on continuous control set in the dq reference frame for the traction LSC for electric multiple units (EMUs) is proposed. First, the mathematical predictive model of one traction LSC is deduced by discretizing the state equation on the alternating current (AC) side. Then, the optimal control variables are calculated by solving the performance function, which involves the difference between the predicted and reference value of the current, as well as the variations of the control voltage. Finally, combined with bipolar sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM), the whole control algorithm based on MBPCC is formed. The simulation models of EMUs’ dual traction LSCs are built in MATLAB/SIMULINK to verify the superior dynamic and static performance, by comparing them with traditional transient direct current control (TDCC). A whole dSPACE semi-physical platform is established to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of MBPCC in real applications. In addition, the simulations of multi-EMUs accessed in the vehicle-grid coupling system are carried out to verify the suppressing effect on LFO. Finally, to find the impact of external parameters (the equivalent leakage inductance of vehicle transformer, the distance to the power supply, and load resistance) on MBPCC’s performance, the sensitivity analysis of these parameters is performed. Results indicate that these three parameters have a tiny impact on the proposed method but a significant influence on the performance of TDCC. Both oscillation pattern and oscillation peak under TDCC can be easily influenced when these parameters change.
An Adaptive-Equivalent Consumption Minimum Strategy for an Extended-Range Electric Bus Based on Target Driving Cycle Generation
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Wang Chantong , Zhao Xin , Guo Chong
Published: July 2018

Energy management strategies based on instantaneous optimization have been widely used in hybrid/plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV/PHEV) in order to improve fuel economy while guaranteeing vehicle performance. In this study, an adaptive-equivalent consumption minimum strategy (A-ECMS) based on target driving cycle (TDC) generation was proposed for an extended-range electric bus (E-REB) operating on fixed routes. Firstly, a Hamilton function and a co-state equation for E-REB were determined according to the Pontryagin Minimum Principle (PMP). Then a series of TDCs were generated using Markov chain, and the optimal solutions under different initial state of charges (SOCs) were obtained using the PMP algorithm, forming the optimal initial co-state map. Thirdly, an adaptive co-state function consisting of fixed and dynamic terms was designed. The co-state map was interpolated using the initial SOC data and the vehicle driving data obtained by an Intelligent Transport System, and thereby the initial co-state values were solved and used as the fixed term. A segmented SOC reference curve was put forward according to the optimal SOC changing curves under different initial SOCs solved by using PMP. The dynamic term was determined using a PI controlling method and by real-time adjusting the co-states to follow the reference curve. Finally with the generated TDCs, the control effect of A-ECMS was compared with PMP and Constant-ECMS, which was showed A-ECMS provided the final SOC closer to the pre-set value and fully used the power of the batteries. The oil consumption solutions were close to the PMP optimized results and thereby the oil depletion was reduced.
Investigation and Analysis of Attack Angle and Rear Flow Condition of Contra-Rotating Small Hydro-Turbine
Authors: Nan Ding , Shigemitsu Toru , Zhao Shengdun
Published: July 2018

At present, there is strong impetus for renewable energy to replace the traditional energy sources because of the environmental pollution. Small hydropower is a promising renewable energy source; however, small hydro-turbines easily become blocked and impacted, and the efficiency of such devices is lower. Therefore, we examined contra-rotating rotors to overcome these disadvantages. We have made modifications to the blade thickness and to the front hub of the original model. In this paper, we focus on the attack angle and rear flow condition of the original model and the modified one. The axial and circumferential velocities are given as outputs, from which the attack angle is then calculated. The results show that the attack angle of new model is smaller at the hub area. The stagnation point of the rear rotor was moved slightly to the pressure surface of the rear blade, and the separation at leading edge area was suppressed. The crowed flow at the tip clearance area is also reduced. The high turbulent kinetic energy area is moved forward to the middle of the blade. The rear rotor’s torque is bigger and changes more smoothly. Therefore, the rear flow conditions of the new model are improved.
Effect of β-Glucans in Diets on Growth, Survival, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Immune System and Intestinal Barrier Gene Expression for Tropical Gar (Atractosteus tropicus) Juveniles
Authors: Nieves-Rodríguez Karen N. , Álvarez-González Carlos Alfonso , Peña-Marín Emyr S. , Vega-Villasante Fernando , Martínez-García Rafael , Camarillo-Coop Susana , Tovar-Ramírez Dariel , Guzmán-Villanueva Laura T. , Andree Karl B. , Gisbert Enric
Published: July 2018

The application of β-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from yeast at five concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) in formulated diets was evaluated in juveniles for its effects on the growth, survival, digestive enzymatic activity, and expression of genes associated with the immune system (interlukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor (TGF), occludin (OCC), mucin2 (MUC2), lysozyme (LYS), and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2)) in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus). For the experiment, three replicates of 30 fish per experimental unit (70 L) were cultivated for 62 days. The growth results showed no statistically significant differences in relation to weight and total length between treatments. The activity of digestive enzymes (alkaline proteases, trypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and amylase) did not show significant differences between treatments, except for chymotrypsin activity, where fish fed 1.0% and 1.5% of β-glucans showed higher activities compared with the rest of the treatments. On the other hand, the analysis of gene expression did not show significant differences between treatments, although a tendency of increase in the expression of IL-10, TGF, MUC2, and OCC was observed with an addition of 1.5% of the prebiotic, but there was a decrease in the fish fed with 2% of the prebiotic. It is possible to include concentrations of between 0.5% and 1.5% of β-glucans in the diets for A. tropicus, with no detectable adverse effects on growth, survival, digestive enzyme activity, or specific gene expression. β-glucan 1,3/1,6 added at 1.0% and 1.5% in the diet significantly increases chymotrypsin activity.
The Oral Healthcare System in Japan
Authors: Zaitsu Takashi , Saito Tomoya , Kawaguchi Yoko
Published: July 2018

This paper describes the present Japanese oral healthcare system and outlines the future challenges and perspectives for Japan. Japan has developed a system for providing high-quality and appropriate health care efficiently through a universal health insurance system which has been in operation since 1961. This health insurance covers most restorative, prosthetic and oral surgery treatment. Therefore, all people can receive dental treatment at a relatively low cost, with the same fees applying throughout the nation. In Japan, public oral health services are provided by the local governments according to the life stage of their populations. These services are mainly conducted by private dental practitioners under contracts with local governments. National oral health data shows that the oral health of the Japanese population has improved over the last several decades. Future challenges and perspectives for Japanese dentistry include: tackling the regional differences in oral health, decreasing the cost of health expenditure, establishment of sustainable emergency oral healthcare services in times of disaster, and the development a new tele-dental system for remote areas without access to dental professionals.
Land Use Regression Modelling of Outdoor NO2 and PM2.5 Concentrations in Three Low Income Areas in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Saucy Apolline , Röösli Martin , Künzli Nino , Tsai Ming-Yi , Sieber Chloé , Olaniyan Toyib , Baatjies Roslynn , Jeebhay Mohamed , Davey Mark , Flückiger Benjamin , Naidoo Rajen N. , Dalvie Mohammed Aqiel , Badpa Mahnaz , De Hoogh Kees
Published: July 2018

Air pollution can cause many adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. Land use regression (LUR) models are frequently used to describe small-scale spatial variation in air pollution levels based on measurements and geographical predictors. They are particularly suitable in resource limited settings and can help to inform communities, industries, and policy makers. Weekly measurements of NO2 and PM2.5 were performed in three informal areas of the Western Cape in the warm and cold seasons 2015–2016. Seasonal means were calculated using routinely monitored pollution data. Six LUR models were developed (four seasonal and two annual) using a supervised stepwise land-use-regression method. The models were validated using leave-one-out-cross-validation and tested for spatial autocorrelation. Annual measured mean NO2 and PM2.5 were 22.1 μg/m3 and 10.2 μg/m3, respectively. The NO2 models for the warm season, cold season, and overall year explained 62%, 77%, and 76% of the variance (R2). The PM2.5 annual models had lower explanatory power (R2 = 0.36, 0.29, and 0.29). The best predictors for NO2 were traffic related variables (major roads, bus routes). Local sources such as grills and waste burning sites appeared to be good predictors for PM2.5, together with population density. This study demonstrates that land-use-regression modelling for NO2 can be successfully applied to informal peri-urban settlements in South Africa using similar predictor variables to those performed in Europe and North America. Explanatory power for PM2.5 models is lower due to lower spatial variability and the possible impact of local transient sources. The study was able to provide NO2 and PM2.5 seasonal exposure estimates and maps for further health studies.
Adsorption of Trace Estrogens in Ultrapure and Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent by Magnetic Graphene Oxide
Authors: Wang Xianze , Liu Zhongmou , Ying Zhian , Huo Mingxin , Yang Wu
Published: July 2018

In the current study, graphene oxide, Fe3+, and Fe2+ were used for the synthesis of magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) by an in situ chemical coprecipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the well-prepared MGO. The prepared MGO was used as an adsorbent to remove five typical estrogens (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinylestradiol (17α-E2), estriol (E3), and synthetic estrogen (EE2)) at the ppb level from spiked ultrapure water and wastewater treatment plant effluent. The results indicated that the MGO can efficiently remove estrogens from both spiked ultrapure water and wastewater treatment plant effluent in 30 min at wide pH ranges from 3 to 11. The temperature could significantly affect removal performance. A removal efficiency of more than 90% was obtained at 35 °C in just 5 min, but at least 60 min was needed to get the same removal efficiency at 5 °C. In addition, an average of almost 80% of the estrogens can still be removed after 5 cycles of MGO regeneration but less than 40% can be reached after 10 cycles. These results indicate that MGO has potential for practical applications to remove lower levels of estrogens from real water matrixes and merits further evaluation.
A Bibliometric Analysis of the Global Research Trend in Child Maltreatment
Authors: Tran Bach Xuan , Pham Thang Van , Ha Giang Hai , Ngo Anh Toan , Nguyen Long Hoang , Vu Thuc Thi Minh , Do Ha Ngoc , Nguyen Vu , Nguyen Anh Tuan Le , Tran Tung Thanh , Truong Nu Thi , Hoang Vuong Quan , Ho Tung Manh , Dam Nhue Van , Vuong Thu Trang , Nguyen Hung Quang , Le Huong Thi , Do Hoa Thi , Moir Mackenzie , Shimpuku Yoko , Dhimal Meghnath , Arya Shalini Subash , Nguyen Tu Huu , Bhattarai Suraj , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S.H. , Ho Roger C.M.
Published: July 2018

Child maltreatment remains a major health threat globally that requires the understanding of socioeconomic and cultural contexts to craft effective interventions. However, little is known about research agendas globally and the development of knowledge-producing networks in this field of study. This study aims to explore the bibliometric overview on child maltreatment publications to understand their growth from 1916 to 2018. Data from the Web of Science Core Collection were collected in May 2018. Only research articles and reviews written in the English language were included, with no restrictions by publication date. We analyzed publication years, number of papers, journals, authors, keywords and countries, and presented the countries collaboration and co-occurrence keywords analysis. From 1916 to 2018, 47,090 papers (53.0% in 2010–2018) were published in 9442 journals. Child Abuse & Neglect (2576 papers; 5.5%); Children and Youth Services Review (1130 papers; 2.4%) and Pediatrics (793 papers, 1.7%) published the most papers. The most common research areas were Psychology (16,049 papers, 34.1%), Family Studies (8225 papers, 17.5%), and Social Work (7367 papers, 15.6%). Among 192 countries with research publications, the most prolific countries were the United States (26,367 papers), England (4676 papers), Canada (3282 papers) and Australia (2664 papers). We identified 17 authors who had more than 60 scientific items. The most cited papers (with at least 600 citations) were published in 29 journals, headed by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) (7 papers) and the Lancet (5 papers). This overview of global research in child maltreatment indicated an increasing trend in this topic, with the world’s leading centers located in the Western countries led by the United States. We called for interdisciplinary research approaches to evaluating and intervening on child maltreatment, with a focus on low-middle income countries (LMICs) settings and specific contexts.
Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Depression and Anxiety Prevention for Adolescents with a High Familial Risk
Authors: Rasing Sanne P. A. , Creemers Daan H. M. , Vermulst Ad A. , Janssens Jan M. A. M. , Engels Rutger C. M. E. , Scholte Ron H. J.
Published: July 2018

A randomized controlled trail was conducted to examine the effectiveness of a depression and anxiety prevention program ‘Een Sprong Vooruit’ (A Leap Forward) among adolescent girls with a high familial risk (N = 142). The results showed neither effects of the prevention program directly after the intervention, nor at 6 or 12 months follow-up on depression and anxiety symptoms. Further, latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to examine whether the growth functions for the intervention and the control condition were different. The slope representing the change in depression symptoms was not significantly different between the intervention and the control condition. For anxiety symptoms, the difference between slopes was also not significant. Based on these results, we suggested that these high-risk adolescent girls might benefit more from a more intensive prevention program.
Application of Nanoparticles for Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Authors: Ma Xin , Xiong Yunfang , Lee Leo Tsz On
Published: July 2018

Nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted unequivocal attention in recent years due to their potential applications in therapeutics, bio-imaging and material sciences. For drug delivery, NP-based carrier systems offer several advantages over conventional methods. When conjugated with ligands and drugs (or other therapeutic molecules), administrated NPs are able to deliver cargo to targeted sites through ligand-receptor recognition. Such targeted delivery is especially important in cancer therapy. Through this targeted cancer nanotherapy, cancer cells are killed with higher specificity, while the healthy cells are spared. Furthermore, NP drug delivery leads to improved drug load, enhanced drug solubility and stability, and controlled drug release. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a superfamily of cell transmembrane receptors. They regulate a plethora of physiological processes through ligand-receptor-binding-induced signaling transduction. With recent evidence unveiling their roles in cancer, GPCR agonists and antagonists have quickly become new targets in cancer therapy. This review focuses on the application of some notable nanomaterials, such as dendrimers, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles, in GPCR-related cancers.
Crosstalk between Notch, HIF-1α and GPER in Breast Cancer EMT
Authors: De Francesco Ernestina M. , Maggiolini Marcello , Musti Anna Maria
Published: July 2018

The Notch signaling pathway acts in both physiological and pathological conditions, including embryonic development and tumorigenesis. In cancer progression, diverse mechanisms are involved in Notch-mediated biological responses, including angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT). During EMT, the activation of cellular programs facilitated by transcriptional repressors results in epithelial cells losing their differentiated features, like cell–cell adhesion and apical–basal polarity, whereas they gain motility. As it concerns cancer epithelial cells, EMT may be consequent to the evolution of genetic/epigenetic instability, or triggered by factors that can act within the tumor microenvironment. Following a description of the Notch signaling pathway and its major regulatory nodes, we focus on studies that have given insights into the functional interaction between Notch signaling and either hypoxia or estrogen in breast cancer cells, with a particular focus on EMT. Furthermore, we describe the role of hypoxia signaling in breast cancer cells and discuss recent evidence regarding a functional interaction between HIF-1α and GPER in both breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). On the basis of these studies, we propose that a functional network between HIF-1α, GPER and Notch may integrate tumor microenvironmental cues to induce robust EMT in cancer cells. Further investigations are required in order to better understand how hypoxia and estrogen signaling may converge on Notch-mediated EMT within the context of the stroma and tumor cells interaction. However, the data discussed here may anticipate the potential benefits of further pharmacological strategies targeting breast cancer progression.
Implications of Angiogenesis Involvement in Arthritis
Authors: MacDonald Iona J. , Liu Shan-Chi , Su Chen-Ming , Wang Yu-Han , Tsai Chun-Hao , Tang Chih-Hsin
Published: July 2018

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is essential in the pathogenesis of joint inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), facilitating the invasion of inflammatory cells and increase in local pain receptors that contribute to structural damage and pain. The angiogenic process is perpetuated by various mediators such as growth factors, primarily vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), as well as proinflammatory cytokines, various chemokines, matrix components, cell adhesion molecules, proteases, and others. Despite the development of potent, well-tolerated nonbiologic (conventional) and biologic disease-modifying agents that have greatly improved outcomes for patients with RA, many remain resistant to these therapies, are only partial responders, or cannot tolerate biologics. The only approved therapies for OA include symptom-modifying agents, such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and hyaluronic acid. None of the available treatments slow the disease progression, restore the original structure or enable a return to function of the damaged joint. Moreover, a number of safety concerns surround current therapies for RA and OA. New treatments are needed that not only target inflamed joints and control articular inflammation in RA and OA, but also selectively inhibit synovial angiogenesis, while preventing healthy tissue damage. This narrative review of the literature in PubMed focuses on the evidence illustrating the therapeutic benefits of modulating angiogenic activity in experimental RA and OA. This evidence points to new treatment targets in these diseases.
Single-Step Fabrication of Polymer Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Blattmann Christoph O. , Pratsinis Sotiris E.
Published: July 2018

Polymer nanocomposites are employed in (micro)electronic, biomedical, structural and optical applications. Their fabrication is challenging due to nanoparticle (filler) agglomeration and settling, increased viscosity of blended solutions and multiple tedious processing steps, just to name a few. Often this leads to an upper limit for filler content, requirements for filler–polymer interfacial chemistry and expensive manufacturing. As a result, novel but simple processes for nanocomposite manufacture that overcome such hurdles are needed. Here, a truly single-step procedure for synthesis of polymer nanocomposite films, structures and patterns at high loadings of nanoparticles (for example, >24 vol %) for a variety of compositions is presented. It is highly versatile with respect to rapid preparation of films possessing multiple layers and filler content gradients even on untreated challenging substrates (paper, glass, polymers). Such composites containing homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles even at high loadings can improve the mechanical strength of hydrogels, load-bearing ability of fragile microstructures, gas permeability in thin barriers, performance of dielectrics and device integration in stretchable electronics.
Neuro-Fuzzy Modelling of the Metallic Surface Characterization on Linear Dry Contact between Plastic Material Reinforced with SGF and Alloyed Steel
Authors: Vlădăreanu Victor , Căpitanu Lucian , Vlădăreanu Luige
Published: July 2018

This paper presents the modelling of wear data resulting from linear dry contact using artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) with the aim of constructing predictor models for the depth and volume of the wear scar, with great impact in the characterization of new industrial processes utilizing existing materials. The dataset is the result of laboratory testing, presenting both numerical and categorical variables whose inclusion into the model allows for a number of possibilities. The width of the wear scar was measured on a microscope, and its depth was calculated. A multitude of experimental tests was performed with normal loads and different speeds, which led to some conclusive results, but in some cases, with relatively high variance. Various options for the automatic generation of fuzzy inference systems were also approached (genfis2). The innovative approach was compared with a baseline model featuring multivariate linear regression optimized using gradient descent, drawing on previous experimentation on the same dataset. The models developed can be implemented in future research and in practical applications under similar conditions, aiming to optimize performance by applying Computer Science. The obtained results lead to highly accurate prediction models which are further integrated into various metallic surface characterizations in the wear process for tribological and robotics research in new industrial processes using short glass fiber reinforced polymers.
Global Stability of Within-Host Virus Dynamics Models with Multitarget Cells
Authors: Elaiw Ahmed , Alade Taofeek , Alsulami Saud
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we study the stability analysis of two within-host virus dynamics models with antibody immune response. We assume that the virus infects n classes of target cells. The second model considers two types of infected cells: (i) latently infected cells; and (ii) actively infected cells that produce the virus particles. For each model, we derive a biological threshold number R0. Using the method of Lyapunov function, we establish the global stability of the steady states of the models. The theoretical results are confirmed by numerical simulations.
Conservative treatment of cervical pregnancy with selective unilateral uterine artery embolization
Authors: Nadišauskienė Rūta , Vaicekavičius Edvardas , Tarasevičienė Viktorija , Simanavičiūtė Daiva
Published: July 2018

Background. Cervical pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, and the most effective method of its treatment is still under investigation. We would like to call attention to selective uterine artery embolization as an effective modern treatment method. Case. A patient with suspected cervical pregnancy and 7-week amenorrhea was admitted to the hospital after unsuccessful use of emergency contraception. Transvaginal ultrasound showed gestational sack located 11 mm from the external cervical os. Crown-rump length was 11.2 cm, and the fetal heartbeat was present. The level of serum chorionic gonadotropin was 31 930 U/L. Treatment with systemic methotrexate was unsuccessful, and unilateral uterine artery embolization was performed followed by dilatation and curettage of the cervical canal. Three days after the procedure, sonographic examination showed contracted cervical canal. After a period of two months, normal uterine artery flow was registered by Doppler ultrasonography on both sides. Conclusion. Uterine artery embolization in case of cervical pregnancy reduces the risk of bleeding and can be the method of choice when treatment with methotrexate fails. Unilateral embolization is effective when angiography shows unequal disposition of the arterial connections supplying the embryo.
Ischemic cardiomyopathy: possibilities of surgical treatment
Authors: Benetis Rimantas , Šimukauskienė Agnė , Jankauskienė Loreta , Kavoliūnienė Aušra
Published: July 2018

The high morbidity and mortality in patients with serious heart failure is a therapeutic challenge for current medicine. The leading cause of left ventricular dysfunction remains ischemic heart disease. Coronary artery bypass surgery is a treatment of choice in moderate-to-severe ischemic cardiomyopathy. The scarcity of completed prospective randomized clinical trials and high surgical risks create significant uncertainty concerning the optimal current treatment strategy. The role of imaging techniques of assessment for myocardial viability based on current guidelines may be very important in clinical decision-making. Present paper reviews some of the relevant literature concerning surgical treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy and current evidence-based recommendations on this method of treatment. In advanced heart failure, coronary revascularization alone is an insufficient treatment modality. In the presence of moderate-to-severe ischemic mitral regurgitation, mitral valve repair or replacement should be considered at coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. One of the most common mechanisms of ischemic mitral regurgitation is Carpentier’s type IIIb dysfunction, in which an undersized mitral anuloplasty might be helpful. Surgery of left ventricular shape and volume restoration leads to improvement of left ventricular function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. When the results from three ongoing prospective randomized studies – the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Disease trial, Heart Failure Revascularization trial, the PET and Recovery Following Revascularization-2 trial – determining outcome of revascularization versus medical therapy are available, clinicians will have reliable data for making decisions concerning the optimum treatment strategy. At present, the choice of management still remains based on the data obtained from available retrospective trials or the state of art in the field.
2D Optical Gratings Based on Hexagonal Voids on Transparent Elastomeric Substrate
Authors: Piccolo Valentina , Chiappini Andrea , Armellini Cristina , Barozzi Mario , Lukowiak Anna , Sazio Pier-John , Vaccari Alessandro , Ferrari Maurizio , Zonta Daniele
Published: July 2018

A chromatic vectorial strain sensor constituted by hexagonal voids on transparent elastomeric substrate has been successfully fabricated via soft colloidal lithography. Initially a highly ordered 1.6 microns polystyrene spheres monolayer colloidal crystal has been realized by wedge-shaped cell method and used as a suitable mold to replicate the periodic structure on a polydimethylsiloxane sheet. The replicated 2D array is characterized by high periodicity and regularity over a large area, as evidenced by morphological and optical properties obtained by means of SEM, absorption and reflectance spectroscopy. In particular, the optical features of the nanostructured elastomer have been investigated in respect to uniaxial deformation up to 10% of its initial length, demonstrating a linear, tunable and reversible response, with a sensitivity of 4.5 ± 0.1 nm/%. Finally, it has been demonstrated that the specific geometrical configuration allows determining simultaneously the vectorial strain-stress information in the x and y directions.
Synthesis and PI3 Kinase Inhibition Activity of Some Novel Trisubstituted Morpholinopyrimidines
Authors: Wright Emily W. , Nelson Ronald A. , Karpova Yelena , Kulik George , Welker Mark E.
Published: July 2018

A number of new substituted morpholinopyrimidines were prepared utilizing sequential nucleophilic aromatic substitution and cross-coupling reactions. One of the disubstituted pyrimidines was converted into two trisubstituted compounds which were screened as PI3K inhibitors relative to the well-characterized PI3K inhibitor ZSTK474, and were found to be 1.5–3-times more potent. A leucine linker was attached to the most active inhibitor since it would remain on any peptide-containing prodrug after cleavage by prostate-specific antigen, and it did not prevent inhibition of AKT phosphorylation and hence the inhibition of PI3K by the modified inhibitor.
The Current Status of Heterogeneous Palladium Catalysed Heck and Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions
Authors: Mpungose Philani P. , Vundla Zanele P. , Maguire Glenn E. M. , Friedrich Holger B.
Published: July 2018

In the last 30 years, C–C cross coupling reactions have become a reliable technique in organic synthesis due their versatility and efficiency. While drawbacks have been experienced on an industrial scale with the use of homogenous systems, many attempts have been made to facilitate a heterogeneous renaissance. Thus, this review gives an overview of the current status of the use of heterogeneous catalysts particularly in Suzuki and Heck reactions. Most recent developments focus on palladium immobilised or supported on various classes of supports, thus this review highlights and discuss contributions of the last decade.
Eating Behaviors in Postpartum: A Qualitative Study of Women with Obesity
Authors: Faria-Schützer Débora Bicudo , Surita Fernanda Garanhani , Rodrigues Larissa , Turato Egberto Ribeiro
Published: July 2018

In postpartum, women experience major changes in their lives; they are forced to deal with new internal and external demands for attention and care for themselves and the baby. Postpartum feeding also suffers changes in this stage of life, because women find more barriers to healthy eating, which can put them at greater risk of overweight or obesity. This is a qualitative study, through in-depth semi-directed interviews in an intentional sample with postpartum women with obesity, closed by saturation and qualitative content analysis. Sixteen women were included. Three categories emerged from this analysis: (1) from pregnancy to postpartum: changes in body and eating behavior; (2) eating to fill the void of helplessness felt during the postpartum period; and (3) breastfeeding and baby feeding. Women with obesity eat to relieve unpleasant feelings during the postnatal period. The postpartum period is an opportune moment to introduce long-term changes in the eating behaviors and mental wellbeing of these women. Healthcare teams need to restructure to provide more focused follow-up care for women with obesity during the postnatal period in terms of their physical and emotional health.
Looking for Novel Capsid Protein Multimerization Inhibitors of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Sierra Natalia , Folio Christelle , Robert Xavier , Long Mathieu , Guillon Christophe , Álvarez Guzmán
Published: July 2018

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a member of the retroviridae family of viruses. It causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in worldwide domestic and non-domestic cats and is a cause of an important veterinary issue. The genome organization of FIV and the clinical characteristics of the disease caused by FIV are similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both viruses infect T lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages, with a similar replication cycle in infected cells. Thus, the infection of cats with FIV is also a useful tool for the study and development of novel drugs and vaccines against HIV. Anti-retroviral drugs studied extensively with regards to HIV infection have targeted different steps of the virus replication cycle: (1) disruption of the interaction with host cell surface receptors and co-receptors; (2) inhibition of fusion of the virus and cell membranes; (3) blocking of the reverse transcription of viral genomic RNA; (4) interruption of nuclear translocation and integration of viral DNA into host genomes; (5) prevention of viral transcript processing and nuclear export; and (6) inhibition of virion assembly and maturation. Despite the great success of anti-retroviral therapy in slowing HIV progression in humans, a similar therapy has not been thoroughly investigated for FIV infection in cats, mostly because of the little structural information available for FIV proteins. The FIV capsid protein (CA) drives the assembly of the viral particle, which is a critical step in the viral replication cycle. During this step, the CA protein oligomerizes to form a protective coat that surrounds the viral genome. In this work, we perform a large-scale screening of four hundred molecules from our in-house library using an in vitro assembly assay of p24, combined with microscale thermophoresis, to estimate binding affinity. This screening led to the discovery of around four novel hits that inhibited capsid assembly in vitro. These may provide new antiviral drugs against FIV.
Highly Sensitive Acetone Gas Sensor Based on g-C3N4 Decorated MgFe2O4 Porous Microspheres Composites
Authors: Zhang Run , Wang Yan , Zhang Zhanying , Cao Jianliang
Published: July 2018

The g-C3N4 decorated magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) porous microspheres composites were successfully obtained via a one-step solvothermal method. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared MgFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravity and differential scanning calorimeter (TG–DSC) and N2-sorption. The gas sensing properties of the samples were measured and compared with a pure MgFe2O4-based sensor. The maximum response of the sensor based on MgFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites with 10 wt % g-C3N4 content to acetone is improved by about 145 times, while the optimum temperature was lowered by 60 °C. Moreover, the sensing mechanism and the reason for improving gas sensing performance were also discussed.