bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Content of Selected Vitamins and Antioxidants in Colored and Nonpigmented Varieties of Quinoa, Barley, and Wheat Grains
Authors: Granda Leiter , Rosero Amparo , Benešová Karolína , Pluháčková Helena , Neuwirthová Jana , Cerkal Radim
Published: September 2018

The diversity in human diets that can be reached by proper use of different crops and varieties, including some underutilized ones, is a potentially powerful strategy to ensure food security and prevent serious health problems caused by current diets that are often not fulfilling nutritional requirements.

In the framework of this research, the content of tocopherols and tocotrienols, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and superoxide dismutase in nine varieties of quinoa, both colored and nonpigmented, obtained from 4 different countries, was investigated and compared to the content of the same vitamins and antioxidants in barley and wheat, both colored and nonpigmented, cultivated in the same experimental field. The aim of this work was to create a crop diversity strategy and encourage the consumption of underutilized crops to ensure that the human diet fulfills nutritional requirements.

The contents of vitamin B1, B2, B6, tocopherol, and tocotrienol isomers and superoxide dismutase were determined via HPLC; imaging techniques were used to evaluate the seed color. Quinoa grains had the greatest concentration of tocopherol isomers and activity, represented mainly by α‐tocopherol and γ‐tocopherol. Wheat and barley seeds had substantial concentrations of tocopherols and tocotrienols. The concentration of riboflavin was greater in barley and wheat than in quinoa, the concentrations of pyridoxine and thiamine were variety‐dependent in all grains. Quinoa grains had greater concentration of superoxide dismutase compared to wheat and barley. The richness of each variety and crop should be recognized and used integrally to improve the diet quality.

Practical Application

Nutritional potential of crops was evaluated from the viewpoint of selected vitamins and antioxidants to create a well‐balanced diet. Combined use of both traditional (wheat, barley) and underutilized crops (quinoa) is recommended. HPLC methods and image analysis were successfully used as viable tools for food quality determination.
Testing the potential of Twitter mining methods for data acquisition: Evaluating novel opportunities for ecological research in multiple taxa
Authors: Hart Adam G. , Carpenter William S. , Hlustik‐Smith Estelle , Reed Matt , Goodenough Anne E.
Published: September 2018

Social media provides unique opportunities for data collection. Retrospective analysis of social media posts has been used in seismology, political science and public risk perception studies but has not been used extensively in ecological research. There is currently no assessment of whether such data are valid and robust in ecological contexts.

We used “Twitter mining” methods to search Twitter (a microblogging site) for terms relevant to three nationwide UK ecological phenomena: winged ant emergence; autumnal house spider sightings; and starling murmurations. To determine the extent to which Twitter‐mined data were reliable and suitable for answering specific ecological questions the data so gathered were analysed and the results directly compared to the findings of three published studies based on primary data collected by citizen scientists during the same time period.

Twitter‐mined data proved robust for quantifying temporal ecological patterns. There was striking similarity in the temporal patterns of winged ant emergence between previously published work and our analysis of Twitter‐mined data at national scales; this was also the case for house spider sightings. Spatial data were less available but analysis of Twitter‐mined data was able to replicate most spatial findings from all three studies. Baseline ecological findings, such as the sex ratio of house spider sightings, could also be replicated. Where Twitter mining was less successful was answering specific questions and testing hypotheses. Thus, we were unable to determine the influence of microhabitat on winged ants or test predation and weather hypotheses for initiation of murmuration behaviour.

Twitter mining clearly has great potential to generate spatiotemporal ecological data and to answer specific ecological questions. However, we found that the types and usefulness of data differed substantially between the three phenomena. Consequently, we suggest that understanding users' behaviour when posting on ecological topics would be useful if using social media is to generate ecological data.
Positive association between cholesterol in human seminal plasma and sperm counts: results from a cross‐sectional cohort study and immunohistochemical investigations
Authors: de Neergaard R. , Nielsen J. E. , Jørgensen A. , Toft B. G. , Goetze J. P. , Jørgensen N.
Published: September 2018

Background

Cholesterol is essential for cell membrane stability, permeability, and fluidity. Cholesterol is present in seminal plasma, but whether a relationship between the level of cholesterol in seminal plasma and semen quality exists remains to be elucidated.

Objectives

To explore the association between cholesterol levels in seminal plasma and serum cholesterols, semen quality, and serum reproductive hormones. Secondly, to explore whether the associations are biologically plausible.

Materials and Methods

An association study between cholesterol levels in seminal plasma and semen quality in 403 men, median age 19 years, from the general population. Additionally, an immunohistochemical evaluation of proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism and transport in tissues from the male reproductive tract (testis, epididymis, prostate, and seminal vesicle). Tissue specimens were investigated by immunohistochemistry for markers of cholesterol metabolism and transport (ABCA1, ABCG1, CYP11A1, CYP51A1, HMGCR, LAL, LCAT, LDLR, and SOAT1).

Results

Trend analyses showed that total amount of total cholesterol in seminal plasma was positively associated with sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and morphology (all p < 0.008, adjusted). Cholesterol concentrations in seminal plasma were neither associated with serum cholesterol and lipid levels nor serum reproductive hormone (FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, sex‐hormone‐binding globulin, inhibin b) levels. All investigated markers of cholesterol metabolism and transport were expressed in the investigated tissue specimens to varying degrees.

Discussion

Seminal plasma level of cholesterol was positively associated with semen parameters. The presence of proteins and enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and maturing germ cells in the seminiferous tubules supports the view that cholesterol may be important for spermatogenesis.

Conclusion

Cholesterol level in seminal plasma may be an indicator of semen quality. Investigations are needed to corroborate or refute our findings and to clarify the exact role of cholesterols for semen quality.
Analysis of differentially expressed genes and the promoters in bovine endometrium throughout estrus cycle and early pregnancy
Authors: Musavi Sayed A.A. , Yamashita Seiya , Fujihara Taisuke , Masaka Hironori , Islam Md. Rashedul , Kim Sangwan , Gotoh Takafumi , Kawahara Manabu , Tashiro Kosuke , Yamauchi Nobuhiko
Published: September 2018

Endometrial gene expression is primarily regulated by the ovarian steroids and pregnancy recognition factors. This study was aimed to characterize differential expression genes (DEGs) in bovine endometrium together with the analysis of their promoter region. Bovine uteri at follicular stage (FS), luteal stage (LS), and implantation stage (IS) at Day 18 of pregnancy were collected. Total RNA extracted and prepared cDNA were then subjected to high‐throughput sequencing. For promoter analysis, 1 kb upstream promoter region of each DEG was analyzed. The numbers of highly expressed DEGs were 496 and 597 at FS and LS, respectively. When compared the gene expression of IS with LS, 383 and 346 DEGs showed higher and lower expression at IS, respectively. It was also observed that 20–30 transcription factors (TFs) were included in each DEGs. In addition, promoter analyses estimated 150–160 TFs for each stage. DLX4 and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) at FS, and IRF5, IRF9, STAT1, and STAT2 at IS were in common to DEGs and estimated TFs, respectively. This study highlighted potential molecular mechanisms controlling endometrial function during estrus cycle and IS, which will further guide to better understand the endometrial functions in future studies.
The use of direct oral anticoagulants in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Parker Kathrine , Thachil Jecko
Published: September 2018

Increasing use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has made management of non‐valvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism easier in most patients. But the presence of co‐existing renal impairment could render the use of DOACs problematic because all of these drugs have varying degrees of renal excretion. In this paper we address misconceptions about the safety and efficacy of DOACs in moderate‐severe renal impairment by presenting a summary of the literature from phase III trials and real‐world studies. It also addresses the important consideration of correct estimate of renal function for DOAC dosing. It is hoped that the review will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians involved in anticoagulation decision‐making in patients with renal impairment to guide the choice of most suitable agent. Accurate dosing is of particular relevance as registry data suggests it is done inconsistently and may be resulting in avoidable thromboembolic and bleeding events.
Closure of the perineal defect after abdominoperineal excision for rectal adenocarcinoma – ACPGBI Position Statement
Authors: Foster J. D. , Tou S. , Curtis N. J. , Smart N. J. , Acheson A. , Maxwell‐Armstrong C. , Watts A. , Singh B. , Francis N. K.
Published: September 2018

Background

Perineal wound morbidity is common following abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (APE). There is no consensus on the optimum perineal reconstruction method after APE, and in particular ‘extra‐levator APE’ (ELAPE).

Methods

A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed. This position statement formulated clinical questions and graded the evidence to make recommendations.

Results

Perineal wound complications may be higher following ELAPE compared to ‘conventional APE (cAPE)’ however there is insufficient evidence to recommend cAPE over ELAPE with regards to the impact upon perineal wound healing. The majority of cAPE studies have used primary closure with varying complication rates reported. Where concerns regarding perineal wound healing exist, myocutaneous flap closure may be considered as an alternative method. There is minimal available evidence on perineal mesh reconstruction following cAPE. Primary closure, mesh use and myocutaneous flap reconstruction following ELAPE has been reported although variations in definitions and low‐quality of available evidence limit comparison. There is insufficient evidence to recommend one particular method of perineal closure after ELAPE. Primary perineal closure is likely to have a higher risk of perineal herniation. Myocutaneous flaps and biological mesh have been effectively used in ELAPE closure. There is insufficient evidence to support one particular type of flap or mesh. Perineal wound complication rates are significantly increased when neo‐adjuvant radiotherapy is delivered, regardless of surgical technique. There is no evidence that laparoscopy reduces APE perineal wound complications.

Conclusion

This position statement updates clinicians on current evidence around perineal closure after APE surgery.
“The Inimba It Cuts”: A Reconsideration of Mother Love in the Context of Poverty
Authors: Rubin Sarah E.
Published: September 2018

Considerations of motherhood in contexts of poverty often explore how material scarcity transforms or degrades women's capacity to love or nurture their children. In this article, I focus on Xhosa mothers who live in the extreme poverty of an urban township on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, and how they struggle with the decision to send their children to be raised by other mother‐figures. My argument reveals that the Xhosa idiominimbaoffers three models for mother love, but poverty exacerbates the contradictions between the models and intensifies the moral dilemma of sending. I demonstrate how, for these Xhosa township mothers, poverty intersects with mother love in unexpected ways whereby the model itself is not remade or profoundly transformed, rather the moral stakes seem higher for the mothers who perceive mother love as crucial to their children's well‐being and integral to their selfhood as good mothers. In developing this argument, I aim to further our understandings of poverty and the complex ways that they intersect and interact with cultural models and practice.
A particle swarm optimizer with modified velocity update and adaptive diversity regulation
Authors: Çomak Emre
Published: September 2018

This study introduces reverse direction supported particle swarm optimization (RDS‐PSO) with an adaptive regulation procedure. It benefits from identifying the global worst and global best particles to increase the diversity of the PSO. The velocity update equation of the original PSO was changed according to this idea. To control the impacts of the global best and global worst particles on the velocity update equation, the alpha parameter was added to the velocity update equation. Moreover, a procedure for diversity regulation based on cosine amplitude or max–min methods was introduced. Alpha value was changed adaptively with respect to this diversity measure. Besides, RDS‐PSO was implemented with both linearly increasing and decreasing inertia weight (with 1,000 and 2,000 iterations) in order to survey the effects of these variations on RDS‐PSO performances. Six most commonly used benchmark functions and three medical classification problems were selected as experimental data sets. All experimental results showed that when the grain searching ability is not so small in the last generations, the algorithm performance continues to increase. Experimental proof of it was showed up especially in RDS‐PSO using the cosine amplitude approach. Because the best results among all the RDS‐PSO types for decreasing inertia weight modes were obtained with 2,000 maximal iterations rather than 1,000 ones.
Exploring changes in oral hygiene behaviour in patients with diabetes and periodontal disease: A feasibility study
Authors: Jaedicke Katrin M. , Bissett Susan M. , Finch Tracy , Thornton Jared , Preshaw Philip M.
Published: September 2018

Objective

Exploring the feasibility to understand changes in oral hygiene behaviour using the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model applied to qualitative research interviews in patients with diabetes and periodontitis undergoing standard periodontitis treatment.

Methods

Patients with type 1/2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis (n = 8) received standard non‐surgical periodontal treatment accompanied with personalized oral hygiene instructions by a dental hygienist. Clinical indices (% bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), % of sites with PD ≥ 5 mm, periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA) and periodontal inflammatory surface area (PISA) were recorded pre‐ and post‐treatment. At 3 months post‐treatment, patients were interviewed using a topic guide relating to oral health. A behaviour change framework was constructed from elements of the HAPA model and used directly to map interview data to evaluate oral hygiene behaviour in these patients.

Results

Data from this feasibility study suggest a clinical improvement in periodontal status, albeit only monitored for 3 months. Application of the HAPA model highlighted the behavioural change pathway that diabetes patients undertake before, during and after periodontal treatment. The data suggest that patients move through all elements of the motivation phase and all elements of the volition phase except for the recovery self‐efficacy element.

Conclusion

The novel approach of applying the HAPA model to qualitative research data allowed for the collection of richer data compared to quantitative analysis only. Findings suggest that, in general, patients with periodontitis and diabetes successfully manage to incorporate new oral hygiene behaviours into their daily routine.
Amaranth functional cookies exert potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activities
Authors: Sabbione Ana Clara , Suárez Santiago , Añón María Cristina , Scilingo Adriana
Published: September 2018

In this study, amaranth flour was used as an ingredient to prepare gluten‐free cookies. The production process and attributes of amaranth cookies were characterised, and the potential use of amaranth flour as a functional ingredient was analysed. Cookies exhibited a non‐uniform reddish brown colour and a cookie factor ratio of 4.5 ± 0.6. Storage studies indicated that after 3 weeks at room temperature cookies presented slight variations in the texture. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of this product was able to release peptides capable of exerting potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activities, IC50 values of 0.22 ± 0.04 and 0.23 ± 0.03 mg mL−1 protein, respectively. This work demonstrates for the first time that food made with amaranth flour exerts potential antithrombotic and antihypertensive activity. In conclusion, these amaranth cookies could be an alternative way of incorporating potentially health beneficial products for people who choose a conscious diet, including coeliac or vegan consumers.
Marine cultural heritage: frontier or centre?
Authors: Lehman Jessica
Published: September 2018

Marine cultural heritage is an area of emerging international interest among different sectors of society. Drawing together a diverse set of literatures on marine cultural heritage, maritime archaeology, the development of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, and ocean politics more broadly, this paper examines the ways in which marine cultural heritage might be understood as a frontier in terms not only of spatial territory, but also for knowledge, governance, and politics. As such, marine cultural heritage may bring the disciplinary practices of maritime archaeology into contact with more radical marine politics of postcolonial, subaltern, and Black scholarship. This analysis thus suggests stakes of marine cultural heritage for different communities, reaching far beyond the sites and objects themselves, and shows why marine cultural heritage is emerging as an urgent and dynamic concern at the present moment. Yet ultimately, whether or not marine cultural heritage is truly a frontier is a question that has different meanings depending on the perspective from which it is asked. These differing perspectives illuminate the changing meaning of ocean space as well as struggles over material and immaterial marine resources, and suggest that the frontier is itself a contested concept.
Using the Pack‐and‐a‐Half Rule to Eliminate Backroom Inventories in Retail Operations
Authors: Eroglu Cuneyt , Williams Brent D. , Waller Matthew A.
Published: September 2018

In the retail industry, backroom inventories are typically associated with higher labor costs and greater operational complexity. Thus, retailers look for ways to eliminate backroom inventories. A heuristic used for this purpose is the pack‐and‐a‐half rule which suggests that the shelf space allocated for a product should be at least 50% larger than the case pack quantity in which the product is delivered. Despite its popularity among retailers, the pack‐and‐a‐half rule has been ignored in the academic literature. We introduce the pack‐and‐a‐half rule, assess its impact on a retailer's profits, identify cost, demand, and product characteristics driving this impact, and propose a modification. Based on an analysis of data obtained from a retailer on 1,986 SKUs in 20 categories, we find that the pack‐and‐a‐half rule decreases a retailer's profits, on average, by 10% when applied uniformly across all SKUs. Further, this decrease is significantly affected by product depth, product width, demand elasticity, case pack quantity, and inventory carrying cost. Finally, we develop a set of modifications based on these variables where the pack‐and‐a‐half rule is applied selectively and in a stepwise fashion. These modifications limit the decrease in a retailer's profits to a range between 6% and 7%.
The impact of a primary health care intervention on infant feeding practices: a cluster randomised controlled trial in Brazil
Authors: Ferreira V. R. , Sangalli C. N. , Leffa P. S. , Rauber F. , Vitolo M. R.
Published: September 2018

Background

Proper feeding practices in early life can enhance the full human potential development of children. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a primary health care intervention on infant feeding practices among children from low‐income families.

Methods

A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Healthcare centres were randomised into intervention (n = 9) and control (n = 11) groups. In intervention sites, health workers were trained in accordance with the national guidelines. Infant feeding practices were assessed in children at 6 months (n = 617) and 12 months (n = 516) of age. Feeding practice quality was assessed using the Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI). Additionally, we evaluated the introduction of nonrecommended foods.

Results

At 6 months, the mean ICFI score was higher in the intervention group [MD = 0.22; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.24–1.11]. The prevalence of infants who met the recommendation for meat into the food‐frequency score was higher in the intervention than the control group [relative risk (RR) = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.26–2.11]. At 12 months of age, the ICFI mean (MD = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.35–0.56) and the prevalence of children who met the recommendation for dietary diversity (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.01–1.22) and meal frequency (RR = 4.68; 95% CI = 1.34–16.36) were higher in the intervention group, although only among children who had more than seven follow‐up appointments during the first year of life. The children from intervention group had a significant delay for added sugar (MD = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.13–0.89), tea (mean = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.13–0.82), jelly (MD = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.11–0.58) and filled cookies (MD = 0.29; 95% CI = 0.06–0.52) compared to the control group.

Conclusions

The health workers’ training was effective with respect to improving infant feeding practices.
A modified temporary tracheostomy in dogs: outcome and complications in 21 dogs (2012 to 2017)
Authors: Bird F. G. , Vallefuoco R. , Dupré G. , Brissot H.
Published: September 2018

Objectives

To describe a modified temporary tracheostomy that included placing a Penrose drain sling dorsal to the trachea. To report outcomes and complications in brachycephalic versus non‐brachycephalic breeds.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective review of signalment, diagnosis, outcome, complications and management of dogs that underwent modified temporary tracheostomy.

Results

Twenty‐one dogs were included. Tracheostomy tubes were maintained for periods ranging from 1 to 21 days (median 4 days). There were no intraoperative complications or complications related to the placement of the Penrose drain. Postoperative complications occurred in eight dogs, including dislodgement of the tracheostomy tube (n=6), obstruction of the tracheostomy tube (n=1), subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum (n=1). Twenty dogs survived until discharge; one was euthanised due to persistence of primary disease. The complication rate in brachycephalic breeds and non‐brachycephalic was 37∙5 and 40%, respectively. Tube dwell duration of 4 days or longer was associated with a higher complication rate.

Clinical Significance

The modified temporary tracheostomy appears to simplify tracheostomy care, improve tracheostomy outcome and reduce tube‐associated mortality compared with standard tracheostomy. In this study, brachycephalic dogs did not have a higher complication rate than non‐brachycephalic dogs.
Assessing the relationship between community dispersion and disturbance in a soft‐sediment ecosystem
Authors: Gerwing Travis G. , Allen Gerwing Alyssa M. , Macdonald Tara , Cox Kieran , Juanes Francis , Dudas Sarah E.
Published: September 2018

Disturbed ecosystems often exhibit increased community heterogeneity when compared to nondisturbed systems. One way to measure community heterogeneity is statistical dispersion, a measure of how variable individual samples are from the multivariate average of the community condition (species presence/absence and density). In more specific manner, dispersion measures the distance between an individual data point and the centroid, the multivariate average of all data points. Statistical dispersion may be an important parameter to include in environmental assessments, or in studies that attempt to understand the role of disturbances in structuring biological systems. However, disturbances have been observed to increase, decrease, or not impact community dispersion (or community heterogeneity). Therefore, the usefulness of dispersion in studying or identifying disturbances is unclear. We tested if a mechanical disturbance increased community dispersion using the infaunal community of the intertidal mudflats along the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. We observed no statistically significant increase in community dispersion with varying frequency and intensity of a mechanical disturbance. This is likely a result of disturbed and nondisturbed treatments being dominated by the same six taxa, thus minimizing dispersion. Therefore, in ecosystems where differences in community successional stages are subtle (a result of changes in relative abundance rather than species replacement), community dispersion may not be an informative parameter when investigating disturbance. Despite this, we suggest that dispersion can be a useful variable to include in studies attempting to understand or identify disturbances; however, dispersion should only be one parameter amongst many used to understand or identify disturbances.
The effect of maternity practices on exclusive breastfeeding rates in U.S. hospitals
Authors: Patterson Julie A. , Keuler Nicholas S. , Olson Beth H.
Published: September 2018

The Baby‐friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) includes a set of 10 evidenced‐based maternity practices that when used together have been shown to improve breastfeeding outcomes. In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey to assess and monitor these and other evidenced‐based maternity practices. The purpose of this study was to explore individual maternity practices measured in the 2013 mPINC survey, along with hospital demographic information, and their relationships with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates, using a sample of United States (U.S.) hospitals. We obtained mPINC survey data from 69 BFHI hospitals and 654 non‐BFHI hospitals in the U.S., and EBF rates from The Joint Commission, a leading hospital accreditation agency. On the basis of linear regression analysis, we found that most maternity practices studied were significantly associated with EBF rates (max adjusted R2 = 14.9%). We found a parsimonious model with an adjusted R2 of 47.3%. This study supports the need for a systematic approach in providing breastfeeding support as no one maternity care practice was able to explain the variability in EBF rates as well as a collection of maternity care practices.
miR1432‐OsACOT (Acyl‐CoA thioesterase) module determines grain yield via enhancing grain filling rate in rice
Authors: Zhao Ya‐Fan , Peng Ting , Sun Hong‐Zheng , Teotia Sachin , Wen Hui‐Li , Du Yan‐Xiu , Zhang Jing , Li Jun‐Zhou , Tang Gui‐Liang , Xue Hong‐Wei , Zhao Quan‐Zhi
Published: September 2018

Rice grain filling rate contributes largely to grain productivity and accumulation of nutrients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of development and physiology in plants and become a novel key target for engineering grain size and crop yield. However, there is little studies, so far, showing the miRNA regulation of grain filling and rice yield, in consequence. Here, we show that suppressed expression of rice miR1432 (STTM1432) significantly improves grain weight by enhancing grain filling rate and leads to an increase in overall grain yield up to 17.14% in a field trial. Molecular analysis identified rice Acyl‐CoA thioesterase (OsACOT), which is conserved with ACOT13 in other species, as a major target of miR1432 by cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of miR1432‐resistant form of OsACOT (OXmACOT) resembled the STTM1432 plants, that is, a large margin of an increase in grain weight up to 46.69% through improving the grain filling rate. Further study indicated that OsACOT was involved in biosynthesis of medium‐chain fatty acids. In addition, RNA‐seq based transcriptomic analyses of transgenic plants with altered expression of miR1432 demonstrated that downstream genes of miR1432‐regulated network are involved in fatty acid metabolism and phytohormones biosynthesis and also overlap with the enrichment analysis of co‐expressed genes of OsACOT, which is consistent with the increased levels of auxin and abscisic acid in STTM1432 and OXmACOT plants. Overall, miR1432‐OsACOT module plays an important role in grain filling in rice, illustrating its capacity for engineering yield improvement in crops.
Securing Aquaculture‐Related Resources through Social Interaction in the Pampanga River Delta, Philippines: An Ethnogeographic Perspective on the Strengths and Pitfalls of Social Capital
Authors: Mialhe François , Gunnell Yanni , Dabbadie Lionel , Coloma Gonzalo
Published: September 2018

Social relationships play a pivotal role in agricultural systems because they influence the economic behavior of stakeholders, but sociological studies aimed at understanding these links have until now not focused much on aquaculture. Here we examine how social capital among communities of the Pampanga River delta in the Philippines plays out in the conduct of aquatic livestock breeding, harvesting, and trading, and how it either facilitates or restrains the transformation of individual livelihoods. Relying on a mixed method of field surveys, participant observation, and questionnaires, we construct an ethnographic portrayal of how the main categories of stakeholder involved in aquaculture (from livestock producers to traders via landless gleaners) elaborate strategies to access or control aquaculture‐related resources. We show that the bonding and bridging efforts to construct social capital are strongly embedded in the cultural matrix, and that they are limited by environmental constraints (ecosystem carrying capacity, exposure to natural hazards) and shaped by historical legacies. The resulting pattern of social interactions is overall successful at buffering the negative impact of external forcing factors such as environmental hazards and global market crashes, but we also show how the different outcomes of social exchange are nonetheless unevenly distributed across the spectrum of stakeholders.
Computer-based auditory training improves second-language vowel production in spontaneous speech
Authors: Lengeris Angelos
Published: September 2018

The current study examined the effectiveness of computer-based auditory training on Greek speakers' production of English vowels in read sentences and in spontaneous speech. Another group of Greek speakers served as controls. Improvement was evaluated pre- and post-training via an identification task performed by English listeners and by an acoustic analysis of vowel quality using a combined F1/F2 measure. Auditory training improved English vowel production in read sentences and in spontaneous speech for the trained group, with improvement being larger in read sentences. The results indicate that auditory training can have ecological validity since it enhances learners' production beyond the (read) sentence level.
A machine learning approach for somatic mutation discovery
Authors: Wood Derrick E. , White James R. , Georgiadis Andrew , Van Emburgh Beth , Parpart-Li Sonya , Mitchell Jason , Anagnostou Valsamo , Niknafs Noushin , Karchin Rachel , Papp Eniko , McCord Christine , LoVerso Peter , Riley David , Diaz Luis A. , Jones Siân , Sausen Mark , Velculescu Victor E. , Angiuoli Samuel V.
Published: September 2018

A machine learning approach to detect somatic mutations in cancer patients outperforms existing methods and may improve clinical outcome.
Draft Genome Sequences of Lawsonia intracellularis Swine Strains Causing Proliferative Enteropathy in Japan
Authors: Nishikawa Sayaka , Ogawa Yohsuke , Eguchi Masahiro , Rambukkana Anura , Shimoji Yoshihiro
Published: September 2018

The draft genome sequences of three strains of
Lawsonia intracellularis
, an obligate intracellular animal pathogen responsible for causing proliferative enteropathy, obtained from swine in different prefectures in Japan revealed the absence of a genomic island previously reported to be linked to host adaptation and to high genomic diversity, despite geographical proximity.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterobacter sp. Strain OLF, a Colonizer of Olive Flies
Authors: Estes Anne M. , Hearn David J. , Nadendla Suvarna , Pierson Elizabeth A. , Dunning Hotopp Julie C.
Published: September 2018

Enterobacter
sp. strain OLF colonizes laboratory-reared and wild individuals of the olive fruit fly
Bactrocera oleae
.
Elevated serum adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-α and decreased transthyretin in Japanese elderly women with low grip strength and preserved muscle mass and insulin sensitivity
Authors: Takeuchi Mika , Tsuboi Ayaka , Minato Satomi , Yano Megumu , Kitaoka Kaori , Kurata Miki , Kazumi Tsutomu , Fukuo Keisuke
Published: September 2018

Objective

To determine if adiponectin levels are associated with low grip strength among the elderly independently of insulin resistance and inflammation.

Research design and methods

Cross-sectional associations were analyzed by logistic regression between low grip strength and body composition, elevated serum adiponectin (≥20 mg/L), and biomarkers of nutritious stasis, insulin resistance and inflammation in 179 community-living Japanese women. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the Asian criteria.

Results

No women had sarcopenia. In bivariate analyses, low grip strength (n=68) was positively associated with age, log tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and hyperadiponectinemia (n=37) and inversely with body weight, height, skeletal muscle mass, serum albumin, transthyretin (TTR), fat mass, serum zinc and hemoglobin (all p<0.01). In a fully adjusted model, TTR (0.90: 0.83–0.98, p=0.01) in addition to age (p=0.007), height (p=0.004) and skeletal muscle mass (p=0.008) emerged as independent determinants of low grip strength. When TTR was removed from the full model, TNF-α was associated with low grip strength (7.7; 1.3–45.8, p=0.02). Mean waist circumference and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ between women with and without low grip strength and were within the respective normal range. Women with hyperadiponectinemia had higher percentage of women with low grip strength and lower grip strength (both p<0.01).

Conclusions

Hyperadiponectinemia and elevated TNF-α in addition to decreased TTR, a biomarker of age-related catabolic states, were found in community-living Japanese elderly women with low grip strength and preserved muscle mass and insulin sensitivity.
Association between Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and cholelithiasis: a retrospective cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chien-Hua , Lin Cheng-Li , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: September 2018

Objective

To investigate the relation of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) to cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy in a retrospective population-based study.

Setting

Cohort study.

Participants

We identified 1268 patients aged ≥20 years with HT between 2000 and 2010 as the study cohort.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Patients without HT were randomly selected from a database and propensity-matched with the study cohort at a 1:4 ratio according to age, sex, comorbidities and year of the index date to measure the incidence of cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy.

Results

The cumulative incidence of cholelithiasis was higher in the HT cohort than that in the non-HT cohort (log-rank test, p<0.001), with a 1.91-fold higher risk of choleithiasis (95% CI 1.58 to 2.33) after adjustment for comorbidities. The age-specific relative risk of cholelithiasis in the HT cohort was higher than that in the non-HT cohort for patients aged ≥50 years (adjusted HR (aHR)=2.59, 95% CI 1.33 to 5.03). The sex-specific relative risk of cholelithiasis in the HT cohort was higher than that in the non-HT cohort for women (aHR=1.99, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.44). Compared with those in the non-HT cohort, patients with HT without (aHR=1.95, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.49) and with (aHR=1.94, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.49) thyroxine treatment were associated with a higher risk of cholelithiasis. Compared with those in the non-HT cohort, patients with HT had a higher risk of cholecystectomy (aHR=1.28, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.61).

Conclusions

Inability to obtain information on several potential confounding factors and misclassification of important covariates are the major limitations of the study. Our study indicates HT per se was associated with the development of cholelithiasis, which has been validated by the association between cholecystectomy and HT. Surveys and health education on cholelithiasis in women aged ≥50 years with HT should be considered by clinicians, and further prospective research should be done on this topic.
Emergency medical dispatch recognition, clinical intervention and outcome of patients in traumatic cardiac arrest from major trauma: an observational study
Authors: Prentice Craig , Jeyanathan Jeyasankar , De Coverly Richard , Williams Julia , Lyon Richard
Published: September 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study is to describe the demographics of reported traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) victims, prehospital resuscitation and survival to hospital rate.

Setting

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in south-east England, covering a resident population of 4.5 million and a transient population of up to 8 million people.

Participants

Patients reported on the initial 999 call to be in suspected traumatic cardiac arrest between 1 July 2016 and 31 December 2016 within the trust’s geographical region were identified. The inclusion criteria were all cases of reported TCA on receipt of the initial emergency call. Patients were subsequently excluded if a medical cause of cardiac arrest was suspected.

Outcome measures

Patient records were analysed for actual presence of cardiac arrest, prehospital resuscitation procedures undertaken and for survival to hospital rates.

Results

112 patients were reported to be in TCA on receipt of the 999/112 call. 51 (46%) were found not to be in TCA on arrival of emergency medical services. Of the ‘not in TCA cohort’, 34 (67%) received at least one advanced prehospital medical intervention (defined as emergency anaesthesia, thoracostomy, blood product transfusion or resuscitative thoracotomy). Of the 61 patients in actual TCA, 10 (16%) achieved return-of-spontaneous circulation. In 45 (88%) patients, the HEMS team escorted the patient to hospital.

Conclusion

A significant proportion of patients reported to be in TCA on receipt of the emergency call are not in actual cardiac arrest but are critically unwell requiring advanced prehospital medical intervention. Early activation of an enhanced care team to a reported TCA call allows appropriate advanced resuscitation. Further research is warranted to determine which interventions contribute to improved TCA survival.
Carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Furongian Berry Head Formation (Port au Port Group) and Tremadocian Watts Bight Formation (St. George Group), western Newfoundland, and the correlative significance
Authors: Scorrer Sebastian , Azmy Karem , Stouge Svend
Published: September 2018

Carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Furongian (stage 10; Upper Cambrian) and Tremadocian (lowermost Ordovician) reveals distinct variations from the carbonates of the Berry Head and Watts Bight formations of the East Isthmus Bay section that accumulated in a shallow-marine setting on the eastern Laurentian platform in a passive margin setting in western Newfoundland, Canada. The East Isthmus Bay δ13C values show insignificant correlation with their Sr (R2= 0.04), Mn (R2= 0.001) and Fe (R2= 0.02) counterparts, implying preservation of at least near-primary C-isotope compositions. The investigated section is largely fossil poor, but the δ13C profile shows a pattern with distinct variations that can be matched with those of the western Laurentian Lawson Cove Auxiliary Boundary Stratigraphic Section and Point (ASSP) section, Utah, USA. Therefore, it was possible to reconstruct a conodont biozonal scheme by matching the δ13C profile with its counterpart from the Lawson Cove ASSP section. At the base of the East Isthmus Bay section, the δ13C profile exhibits a broad excursion (the top of the Herllnmaria – Red Tops Boundary), which can be matched with the base of the Eoconodontus Zone (mid-Furongian), followed by an enrichment trend through the Cordylodus intermedius Zone (top Furongian). A positive excursion (Hirsutodontus simplex spike) is recorded in the Cordylodus intermedius Zone (top Cambrian), and a prominent positive peak characteristic for the Cordylodus lindstromi Zone is recorded from the top of the investigated section. The δ13C values of the Newfoundland carbonates are generally ∼1‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite lower than those of Lawson Cove, which is likely attributable to a relatively higher productivity and (or) organic burial in the Utah region.
Hopf Bifurcation of the Wireless Network Congestion Model with State-Dependent Round Trip Delay
Authors: Pei Lijun , Wu Yangyang
Published: September 2018

In this paper, the bifurcation analysis software, DDE-BIFTOOL, is employed to analyze the Hopf bifurcation of the wireless network congestion model with state-dependent round trip delay. Hopf bifurcations are investigated for the four typical work conditions. The corresponding stable and unstable bifurcating periodic solutions are quantitatively and qualitatively verified by nonlinear simulation software, WinPP, respectively, which agree with those of DDE-BIFTOOL very well. The results imply that the channel loss probabilities [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can play a more important role than the speed of the network, i.e. the related link bandwidth [Formula: see text]. For larger [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in Cases 3 and 4, the smaller [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can induce Hopf bifurcation. This will result in the loss of stability and performance degradation. So [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] should be set smaller to avoid congestion, providing a sound theoretical basis and instructions for the congestion control of the wireless network.
A Chaotic System with Infinite Number of Equilibria Located on an Exponential Curve and Its Chaos-Based Engineering Application
Authors: Mobayen Saleh , Volos Christos K. , Kaçar Sezgin , Çavuşoğlu Ünal , Vaseghi Behrouz
Published: September 2018

This paper proposes a novel chaotic system with infinite number of equilibria located on an exponential curve. It signifies an exciting category of dynamical systems which display many features of regular and chaotic motions. The proposed chaotic system belongs to the general category of chaotic systems with hidden attractors. Moreover, some theoretical analyses of the chaotic system’s dynamical characteristics are presented. Using the developed chaotic system, the new random number generator and encryption algorithm have been designed. Encryption application and security analysis are presented verifying its feasibility.
Analyzing Bifurcation, Stability and Chaos for a Passive Walking Biped Model with a Sole Foot
Authors: Fathizadeh Maysam , Taghvaei Sajjad , Mohammadi Hossein
Published: September 2018

Human walking is an action with low energy consumption. Passive walking models (PWMs) can present this intrinsic characteristic. Simplicity in the biped helps to decrease the energy loss of the system. On the other hand, sufficient parts should be considered to increase the similarity of the model’s behavior to the original action. In this paper, the dynamic model for passive walking biped with unidirectional fixed flat soles of the feet is presented, which consists of two inverted pendulums with L-shaped bodies. This model can capture the effects of sole foot in walking. By adding the sole foot, the number of phases of a gait increases to two. The nonlinear dynamic models for each phase and the transition rules are determined, and the stable and unstable periodic motions are calculated. The stability situations are obtained for different conditions of walking. Finally, the bifurcation diagrams are presented for studying the effects of the sole foot. Poincaré section, Lyapunov exponents, and bifurcation diagrams are used to analyze stability and chaotic behavior. Simulation results indicate that the sole foot has such a significant impression on the dynamic behavior of the system that it should be considered in the simple PWMs.
New Discrete Chaotic Multiplicative Maps Based on the Logistic Map
Authors: Aniszewska Dorota
Published: September 2018

Chaos is a phenomenon which cannot be predicted if it manifests itself in a nonlinear system. Simple deterministic models, such as the logistic map [Formula: see text], are constructed to capture the essence of processes observed in nature. They are interesting also from a mathematical point of view: nonlinear models can behave in chaotic and complicated ways. The logistic map is the simplest mathematical model exhibiting chaotic behavior. Therefore, its dynamical properties, stable points and stable cycles are well known and widely described.

In this paper, the properties of multiplicative calculus were employed to transform the classical logistic map into multiplicative ones. The multiplicative logistic maps were tested for chaotic behavior. The Lyapunov exponents together with the bifurcation diagrams are given.
Constrained ternary integers
Authors: Luca Florian , Moree Pieter , Osburn Robert , Eddin Sumaia Saad , Sedunova Alisa
Published: September 2018

An integer [Formula: see text] is said to be ternary if it is composed of three distinct odd primes. In this paper, we asymptotically count the number of ternary integers [Formula: see text] with the constituent primes satisfying various constraints. We apply our results to the study of the simplest class of (inverse) cyclotomic polynomials that can have coefficients that are greater than 1 in absolute value, namely to the [Formula: see text]th (inverse) cyclotomic polynomials with ternary [Formula: see text]. We show, for example, that the corrected Sister Beiter conjecture is true for a fraction [Formula: see text] of ternary integers.