bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobility outcomes for those with primary lower limb amputation attending a regional outpatient prosthetic rehabilitation service
Authors: Collins Aoife , Timmons Suzanne
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:

There is an age-related increase in lower limb amputation (LLA) secondary to dysvascular disease, however, the effectiveness of Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) is unknown.

PURPOSE:

The aims of the study were to investigate if a) individuals with primary lower limb amputation (IPLLAs) attending a regional outpatient prosthetic rehabilitation service achieve successful mobility outcomes, b) to examine the multi-disciplinary team’s ability to accurately predict mobility outcome in this cohort and c) to evaluate how pre-amputation mobility levels affect mobility outcomes of IPPLAs attending an outpatient rehabilitation service.

METHODS:

This retrospective observational cohort study included 93 primary, unilateral and bilateral IPPLAs at or proximal to the transtibial level. Pre-rehabilitation (baseline) data was collected between one and six weeks after amputation when clients attended for their pre-rehabilitation MDT Assessment. This data (including Specialist Interest in Amputee Medicine (SIGAM) Score and Pre-Amputation Mobility Status) was gathered to establish their rehabilitation needs. Pre-amputation mobility was characterised as 1) Ambulatory (independent ambulation out of house); 2) Ambulatory/homebound (ambulatory in the home only), 3) Nonambulatory/transfer, 4) Nonambulatory/bedridden. Peri- and post-rehabilitation data (Timed Walking Test (TWT), Locomotor Capabilities Index 5 (LCI-5) and SIGAM Score) was collected at six weeks, six months and twelve months after delivery of prosthesis to the client.

RESULTS:

Fifty-six percent of participants who completed the 12 month post rehabilitation assessment ( n = 68) achieved mobility success. (success was defined as returning to or exceeding baseline mobility scores on the SIGAM for those scoring C-F, and for those who scored A or B at baseline, moving up one category (i.e. going from A to B, or B to C). The pre-rehabilitation SIGAM score was used as a predictor of the IPLLAs expected mobility outcome. There was a highly significant correlation between pre-rehabilitation and 12 month post-rehabilitation SIGAM scores, ( r = 0.89, n = 68, p < 0.001) demonstrating that the MDT’s predictions significantly correlated to the post-rehabilitation SIGAM scores. There was a highly significant association between pre-amputation mobility levels and mobility success post-rehabilitation at 12 month follow-up ( χ2 (3) = 26.43, p < 0.001), such that those who were ambulatory independently pre-amputation were significantly more likely to achieve mobility success post-rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION:

IPLLAs attending an outpatient rehabilitation service can achieve successful mobility outcomes. The MDT was found to be accurate in its predictions of mobility outcome in this cohort. Greater pre-amputation mobility was significantly associated with successful mobility outcomes.
Promoting physical activity for health. A survey of knowledge, confidence and role-perception in final-year UK physiotherapy students
Authors: Clifford Ross
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of global mortality and is a significant independent risk factor for a range of chronic conditions. Advice from a healthcare professional can increase activity levels in adults. Current literature does not identify whether UK physiotherapy undergraduate students are prepared to promote physical activity (PA) for health.

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, confidence and role perception of final-year UK Physiotherapy undergraduate students to promote physical activity for health.

METHODS:

An online cross-sectional survey was used. 19 UK undergraduate Physiotherapy courses participated. Descriptive statistics explored knowledge, confidence and role-perception. Inferential statistics tested the relationships between variables.

RESULTS:

Response rate was 16.6% ( n = 158). The majority of respondents (82% n = 129) had received training in promoting PA for health. 66% ( n = 73) of this group correctly specified a duration, frequency and intensity for current UK PA recommendations for 19–64 year olds. Role perception was extremely high (99%) in the surveyed population. Students reported being confident in giving general PA advice (92%, n = 144). Confidence scores were significantly correlated with training in the promotion of PA for health ( β= 0.38 p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Final-year UK Physiotherapy students perceive a professional role in promoting physical activity for health; and demonstrate good but variable knowledge of this subject. Confidence domain scores were best predicted by training in the promotion of PA for health.
Evaluation of biofeedback based bridging exercises on older adults with low back pain: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Feldwieser Florian , Kiselev Joern , Hardy Sandro , Garcia-Agundez Augusto , Eicher Cornelia , Steinhagen-Thiessen Elisabeth , Göbel Stefan
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND:

Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause for disabilities and reduced autonomy in older adults. Exercise therapy has shown to be effective in the reduction of the symptoms of LBP with bridging exercises as a commonly used intervention. Exercise therapy can be supported with biofeedback-based methods in order to further improve motor control. The availability of relatively inexpensive devices like the Nintendo Wii opens up new methods for the treatment for biofeedback-based exercises for patients with LBP.

METHODS:

We conducted a 3-armed randomized controlled trial (biofeedback, standard care and control) with 62 older adults aged 66 to 89 years and an intervention period of twelve weeks with 2 sessions/week. Primary outcome was the perceived disability using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Additionally, we evaluated usability and user acceptance of the feedback system.

RESULTS:

The biofeedback group demonstrated significantly lower levels of perceived disability compared to the control group. Additionally, the Biering-Sørensen test was significantly better in the standard care group compared to both other groups. Usability and user-acceptance for the biofeedback system was low, mostly because of connectivity and comfort problems during exercising.

CONCLUSIONS:

The biofeedback system was able to significantly improve perceived disability and back extensor muscle endurance in older people with subacute low back pain. As the user-acceptance issues were mostly based on technical reasons, higher levels of comfort and dependability of the system could provide an effective method to perform bridging exercises to alleviate the consequences of episodes of low back pain.
Sustain resource teachers in the appropriation of the graphic organizer to facilitate the understanding of disciplinary texts among at risk students at the secondary level
Authors: Granger Nancy , Dubé France
Published: January 2018

In Québec, the resource teacher role is assumed by secondary teachers without experience with at risk students or HDAA (MELS, 2006). Many of them say they have few ideas to sustain students or their teachers of different disciplines who deal with students with low literacy (Granger & Dubé, 2014; Granger, 2012). Our research shows that support for resource teachers for reading and writing strategies can develop a metacognitive dialog by using the graphic organizer, a high cognitive recognized strategy to improve student understanding in all disciplines (Schoenbach, Greenleaf & Murphy, 2012). This appropriation seems to better define the role of resource teachers both pedagogically than didactic
The curriculum
Authors: Rossi Pier Giuseppe
Published: January 2018

The complexity of socio cultural contexts and, consequently, of the school requires an explicit planning that can offer the didactical action a rhizomatic and generative vision.In such direction the models of curriculum of the last century, often characterized by a linear logic, lost much of their efficacy and cannot have an impact any longer with the complexity of reality and of the group class.Reflecting on the curriculum means catching the characterizing elements of the current contexts at the pedagogical and didactical level and reflecting on the elements of continuity and discontinuity from the past that could facilitate the change from linear models to recursive models.  The present article is organized into two parts: in the first there is a comparison between the present and the past, while in the second there is a review of the main contributions that from the Seventies of the last century have provided the basis to define the role and the structure of the curriculum.The article "the curriculum, the macro design and the micro design, and the curriculum transposition, present in the same issue, is the logic continuation of the present contribution.
Economic Impact of Practicing IPM Technology on Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Production in Comilla District of Bangladesh
Authors: Islam S , Islam D M S , Khanum R
Published: January 2018

The present study was conducted to assess the economic impact of practicing Integrated Pest Management technology on bitter gourd production in Chandina upazila under Comilla district of Bangladesh. Sample survey was carried out over 70 bitter gourd producing farms. Out of 70 farmers, 35 for IPM and 35 for Non-IPM farmers were selected. The study revealed that majority of the farmers had moderately favorable attitude towards IPM technology for producing bitter gourd as shown by farmers’ attitude index. IPM farmers earned more profit than Non-IPM farmers on bitter gourd production. The average total cost of bitter gourd production per hectare  was estimated at about Tk 3,68,335 and  4,44,508 for IPM and Non-IPM farmers, respectively. The average gross returns per hectare were found at about Tk 8,60,016; 8,55,642; and 8,15,947 for marginal, small and medium IPM farmers, respectively. The same were Tk 8,22,654; 7,53,373 and 7,48,255 for marginal, small, and medium Non-IPM farmers, respectively. The estimated BCR was higher for IPM farmers (2.29) than Non-IPM farmers (1.69). Partial budget analysis showed that IPM technology was more profitable and net benefit was Tk 1,61,557. Although bitter gourd production was profitable, farmers faced several problems such as lack of training and technical knowledge, inadequate extension services, lack of marketing facilities etc. in using IPM technology.The Agriculturists 2017; 15(2) 11-23
Horizontal Application of Constitutional Rights in Kenya: A Comparative Critique of the Emerging Jurisprudence
Authors: Brian Sang Y. K.
Published: January 2018

This article analyses how constitutional rights in Kenya apply horizontally and their implications for private legal relations. It demonstrates that while Kenyan case law on point is relatively progressive, unresolved conceptual issues remain. It therefore draws on comparable South African and Irish experiences to fill in the normative gaps in Kenya.
The 2014 Referendum in the Scottish Press
Authors: Dekavalla Marina
Published: January 2018

This essay discusses how Scottish newspapers covered the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. It suggests that, in a move away from the positions they had held in the previous decade, indigenous Scottish newspapers openly suggested there was a desire for change in the form of increased devolution. As this option was not on the ballot paper, most of them proposed that increased devolution could still be achieved inside the Union. The mediated debate in the press was not about traditional notions of national identity, but about pragmatic considerations affecting everyday life, such as the future of the economy and public services. Although most of the press in its majority did not support independence, it did not wholeheartedly endorse the status quo either.
Whatever Happened to the Independence Press?
Authors: Walker Richard
Published: January 2018

Only one Scottish newspaper supported independence in the 2014 referendum. It was joined by The National daily newspaper in November 2014. In one of the most congested newspaper markets in the world why is there so little political diversity among an indigenous press? This article reviews the structural factors constraining ideological diversity regarding self-government in the Scottish press since devolution, and maps the emergence of Scotland's only pro-independence newspapers, the Sunday Herald and The National, and the editorial challenges of both newspapers in covering the SNP Government in Holyrood.
Afterword: 2014 and after: The Changing Anatomy of Civil Society and the Media in Scotland
Authors: McCrone David
Published: January 2018

The Scottish press and media have been credited with keeping alive and amplifying Scottish national identity, and with it, the Scottish Home Rule project. And yet, the Scottish press has undergone a massive decline in sales and readership in the last fifty years. This brief commentary addresses the apparent anomaly that the press, the ostensible carriers of the Scottish political project, are no longer vital to its development in the 21st century.
The 2017 Catalan Independence Referendum: A Symposium
Authors: Cetrà Daniel , Casanas-Adam Elisenda , Tàrrega Mariola
Published: January 2018

This article summarises contributions to an ASEN-Edinburgh (Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism, Edinburgh Branch) symposium held the day after the 2017 Catalan referendum on independence. Daniel Cetrà describes a referendum disputed between legal and democratic legitimacy and grounded on competing visions of nationhood. Elisenda Casanas-Adam argues that there are alternative interpretations of the Spanish constitution which could accommodate Catalan request and highlights the questionable legality of the Spanish authorities’ forceful response. Mariola Tàrrega argues that the Catalan referendum reveals a worrying context where news media become political advocates of opposing worldviews and politicians attribute to news media an overstated capacity to shape nation-building projects.
Impact of Blockage Ratio on Thermal Performance of Delta-Winglet Vortex Generators
Authors: Yaningsih Indri , Wijayanta Agung , Miyazaki Takahiko , Koyama Shigeru
Published: January 2018

The impact of double-sided delta-winglet tape (DWTs) inserts on convective heat transfer and friction behaviors in a tube was experimentally investigated. Three DWTs with ratios of winglet-height (b) to inner tube diameter (di) called blockage ratio (Rb) of 0.28, 0.35 and 0.42 were tested and their performance was compared to that of a longitudinal strip and plain tube under similar test flow conditions. Experiments were conducted over a wide range of flow rates, 3.35 × 10−5–8.33 × 10−5 m3/s, which correspond to 5500 ≤ Reynolds number (Re) ≤ 14,500 in the 14.3 mm i.d. tube. The results revealed that using DWTs dramatically increased the Nusselt number (Nu) by as much as 364.3% and the friction factor (f) by 15.5 times compared with those of a plain tube. Thermal performance (η) increased with a corresponding increase in Rb. The highest thermal performance (η) obtained was 1.4. Showing a notable improvement on the thermal performance of the system, DWTs are proposed as a favorable insert device.
Light Scattering by a Dielectric Sphere: Perspectives on the Mie Resonances
Authors: Tzarouchis Dimitrios , Sihvola Ari
Published: January 2018

Light scattering by a small spherical particle, a central topic for electromagnetic scattering theory, is here considered. In this short review, some of the basic features of its resonant scattering behavior are covered. First, a general physical picture is described by a full electrodynamic perspective, the Lorenz–Mie theory. The resonant spectrum of a dielectric sphere reveals the existence of two distinctive types of polarization enhancement: the plasmonic and the dielectric resonances. The corresponding electrostatic (Rayleigh) picture is analyzed and the polarizability of a homogeneous spherical inclusion is extracted. This description facilitates the identification of the first type of resonance, i.e., the localized surface plasmon (plasmonic) resonance, as a function of the permittivity. Moreover, the electrostatic picture is linked with the plasmon hybridization model through the case of a step-inhomogeneous structure, i.e., a core–shell sphere. The connections between the electrostatic and electrodynamic models are reviewed in the small size limit and details on size-induced aspects, such as the dynamic depolarization and the radiation reaction on a small sphere are exposed through the newly introduced Mie–Padé approximative perspective. The applicability of this approximation is further expanded including the second type of resonances, i.e., the dielectric resonances. For this type of resonances, the Mie–Padé approximation reveals the main character of the two different cases of resonances of either magnetic or electric origin. A unified picture is therefore described encompassing both plasmonic and dielectric resonances, and the resonant conditions of all three different types are extracted as functions of the permittivity and the size of the sphere. Lastly, the directional scattering behavior of the first two dielectric resonances is exposed in a simple manner, namely the Kerker conditions for maximum forward and backscattering between the first magnetic and electric dipole contributions of a dielectric sphere. The presented results address several prominent functional features, aiming at readers with either theoretical or applied interest for the scattering aspects of a resonant sphere.
The Neuroscience of Growth Mindset and Intrinsic Motivation
Authors: Ng Betsy
Published: January 2018

Our actions can be triggered by intentions, incentives or intrinsic values. Recent neuroscientific research has yielded some results about the growth mindset and intrinsic motivation. With the advances in neuroscience and motivational studies, there is a global need to utilize this information to inform educational practice and research. Yet, little is known about the neuroscientific interplay between growth mindset and intrinsic motivation. This paper attempts to draw on the theories of growth mindset and intrinsic motivation, together with contemporary ideas in neuroscience, outline the potential for neuroscientific research in education. It aims to shed light on the relationship between growth mindset and intrinsic motivation in terms of supporting a growth mindset to facilitate intrinsic motivation through neural responses. Recent empirical research from the educational neuroscience perspective that provides insights into the interplay between growth mindset and intrinsic motivation will also be discussed.
Experimental Study of Self-Compacting Mortar Incorporating Recycled Glass Aggregate
Authors: Tuaum Awetehagn , Shitote Stanley , Oyawa Walter
Published: January 2018

This experimental research is focused on the development of self-compacting mortar incorporating recycled glass aggregate (SCM-RGA) as partial substitution of fine aggregate (wt 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%). The fresh and hardened mechanical properties as well as durability of SCM-RGA mixes were investigated. Limestone powder (LP) was used as filler that constitutes 20% of the powder volume to reduce the amount of cement. The SCM-RGA mixtures were designed based on Japanese mix design method. The experimental test results showed that the slump flow of SCM-RGA mixes decreased and V-funnel flow time increased when the content of recycled glass aggregate (RGA) increased. The bulk density, compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption and sorptivity of SCM-RGA mixes were decreased as RGA content increased. Moreover, the accelerated mortar bar test results showed that the expansion due to alkali–silica reaction (ASR) of SCM-RGA mixes increased as the content of RGA increased although the expansion of all mixes were within acceptable limit and potentially innocuous. In conclusion, up to 30% of RGA can be successfully integrated in SCM mixes that offers comparable strength performance, sorptivity enhancement and without long term detrimental ASR effect, and thus, contributes towards sustainable solid waste management, conservation of natural resources and environmental protection.
Preservation Strategies for Southern Morocco’s At-Risk Built Heritage
Authors: Rodríguez-Navarro Pablo , Gil Piqueras Teresa
Published: January 2018

Morocco has a vernacular architectural heritage of recognized value, which constitutes an indissoluble part of its cultural legacy. In the south of the country, specifically in the High Atlas mountain range and the pre-Saharan oases, we mainly find earth constructions of an incomparable landscape integration and plasticity. However, the political and social changes of the last decades are favoring the abandonment of these constructions, placing many of them at risk of disappearing. The objective of this contribution is to reveal the characteristics and weaknesses that the new constructions present today. The method used has consisted in analyzing the preservation actions that are being carried out, both by the Moroccan public administration and by private individuals, including those developed by the authors through documentation, cataloging, virtualization, and restoration.
Effect of the Ultrasonic Substrate Vibration on Nucleation and Crystallization of PbI2 Crystals and Thin Films
Authors: Zabihi Fatemeh , Eslamian Morteza
Published: January 2018

Preparation of defect-free and well-controlled solution-processed crystalline thin films is highly desirable for emerging technologies, such as perovskite solar cells. In this work, using PbI2 as a model solution with a vast variety of applications, we demonstrate that the excitation of a liquid thin film by imposed ultrasonic vibration on the film substrate significantly affects the nucleation and crystallization kinetics of PbI2 and the morphology of the resulting solid thin film. It is found that by applying ultrasonic vibration to PbI2 solution spun onto an ITO substrate with a moderate power and excitation duration (5 W and 1 min for the 40 kHz transducer used in this study), the nucleation rate increases and the crystals transform from 2D or planar to epitaxial 3D columnar structures, resulting in the suppression of crystallization dewetting. The effects of various induced physical phenomena as a result of the excitation by ultrasonic vibration are discussed, including microstreaming and micromixing, increased heat transfer and local temperature, a change in the thermodynamic state of the solution, and a decrease in the supersaturation point. It is shown that the ultrasonic-assisted solution deposition of the PbI2 thin films is controllable and reproducible, a process which is low-cost and in line with the large-scale fabrication of such solution-processed thin films.
Uttarakhand Medicinal Plants Database (UMPDB): A Platform for Exploring Genomic, Chemical, and Traditional Knowledge
Authors: Kumar Anuj , Kumar Rohit , Sharma Mansi , Kumar Upendra , Gajula M. , Singh Krishna
Published: January 2018

Medicinal plants are the main natural pools for the primary health care system, ethno-medicine, as well as traditional Indian system of several medicines. Uttarakhand also known as ‘Herbal State’, is a rich source of medicinal plants and traditional medicinal knowledge. A great deal of information about medicinal plants of Uttarakhand is scattered in different forms. Although many medicinal plant databases are available, currently there is no cohesive manually curated database of medicinal plants widely distributed in Uttarakhand state. A comprehensive database has been developed, known as the Uttarakhand Medicinal Plants Database (UMPDB). UMPDB provides extensive information on botanical name, common name, taxonomy, genomic taxonomy id, habit, habitat, location in Uttarakhand, part use, medicinal use, genomic information (including number of nucleotides, proteins, ESTs), chemical information, and scientific literature. Annotated medicinal plants integrated in the current version of the database were collected from the existing books, databases, and available literature. The current version of UMPDB contains the 1127 records of medicinal plants which belong to 153 plant families distributed across 13 districts of Uttarakhand. The primary goal of developing this database is to provide traditional, genomic, and chemical descriptions of the medicinal plants exclusively found in various regions of Uttarakhand. We anticipate that embedded information in the database would help users to readily obtain desired information.
Technoeconomic and Policy Drivers of Project Performance for Bioenergy Alternatives Using Biomass from Beetle-Killed Trees
Authors: Campbell Robert , Anderson Nathaniel , Daugaard Daren , Naughton Helen
Published: January 2018

As a result of widespread mortality from beetle infestation in the forests of the western United States, there are substantial stocks of biomass suitable as a feedstock for energy production. This study explored the financial viability of four production pathway scenarios for the conversion of beetle-killed pine to bioenergy and bioproducts in the Rocky Mountains. Monte Carlo simulation using data obtained from planned and existing projects was used to account for uncertainty in key technoeconomic variables and to provide distributions of project net present value (NPV), as well as for sensitivity analysis of key economic and production variables. Over a 20-year project period, results for base case scenarios reveal mean NPV ranging from a low of −$8.3 million for electric power production to a high of $76.0 million for liquid biofuel with a biochar co-product. However, under simulation, all scenarios had conditions resulting in both positive and negative NPV. NPV ranged from −$74.5 million to $51.4 million for electric power, and from −$21.6 million to $246.3 million for liquid biofuels. The potential effects of economic trends and public policies that aim to promote renewable energy and biomass utilization are discussed for each production pathway. Because the factors that most strongly affect financial viability differ across projects, the likely effects of particular types of policies are also shown to vary substantially.
Organic Soiling: The Role of Pollen in PV Module Performance Degradation
Authors: Conceição Ricardo , Silva Hugo , Mirão José , Collares-Pereira Manuel
Published: January 2018

Soiling is a problem for solar energy harvesting technologies, such as in photovoltaic modules technologies. This paper describes not only one complete year of Soiling Ratioindex and rates measured in a rural environment of Southern Europe, but also focuses on the seasonal variation of the type of soiling, mainly spring and summer. The Soiling Ratio index is calculated based on the maximum power output and short circuit current of two photovoltaic (PV) panels, along with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray of glass samples to provide visual and chemical inspection of the type of soiling. Mass accumulation on glass samples mounted on a “glass tree” was weekly measured with a microbalance and related with the Soiling Ratio metrics. Soiling rates were calculated to infer the degree of soiling for each season and the respective comparison made. Results show a soiling rate of 4.1%/month in April (spring), 1.9%/month in July (summer) and 1.6%/month in September (fall). Rain (the main natural cleaning agent of the photovoltaic modules) as well as aerosol optical depth (proxy for atmospheric particle concentration) were correlated with the Soiling Ratio. In-depth analysis on the type of organic soiling was performed.
A Revised Historical Fire Regime Analysis in Tunisia (1985–2010) from a Critical Analysis of the National Fire Database and Remote Sensing
Authors: Belhadj-Khedher Chiraz , Koutsias Nikos , Karamitsou Anastasia , EI-Melki Taoufik , Ouelhazi Bahri , Hamdi Abdelazziz , Nouri Habiba , Mouillot Florent
Published: January 2018

Long-term fire history reconstructions provide fruitful information in the context of global change. Global remotely-sensed burned areas offer a uniform estimate of fire regimes worldwide, but hardly capture small fire events and cover only the last 20 years. Burned areas from national statistics often lack credibility due to discrepancies in fire report protocols between countries, partial data records and uncertain burned area estimates from field observations. However, they constitute a unique and valuable alternative long-term key source of information. We provide here a detailed critical analysis of the fire database in Tunisia, on the southern boundary of the Mediterranean basin and with a contrasted socio-economic environment compared to the more studied European side. We analyzed the fire record database with a quality checking protocol, combined with remote sensing burned area characterization from Landsat images. The high uncertainties in fire numbers could not lead to any conclusion for an accurate trend estimate. The corrected burned area lead to an average yearly burned area of 1799 ha year−1 compared to previous estimates of 1017 ha year−1, leading to a fraction of burnable land affected by fires of 0.19%, on the lowest range of observations in the Mediterranean basin. From this corrected database, we revised the usually assumed burned area decrease in this region, with no significant trend detected over the 1985–2010 period. We conclude on the need for thorough assessment of data quality in fire history reconstruction from national statistics to prevent misleading conclusions, and for an increased credibility, in order to be further used in fire models benchmarking or fire weather analysis. Our results can contribute to the under-represented fire regime analysis on the southern boundary of the Mediterranean basin.
Comparison of Timber Extraction Productivity between Winch and Grapple Skidding: A Case Study in Southern Italian Forests
Authors: Proto Andrea , Macrì Giorgio , Visser Rien , Russo Diego , Zimbalatti Giuseppe
Published: January 2018

Forests in southern Italy are mainly located in mountainous areas, where ground-based extraction is still the most common harvesting technique. In particular, 60% of southern Italy’s forests are on slopes with an angle of inclination between 20–60%. The low level of mechanization in forest operations is due to the difficult site conditions, as well as the small-scale characteristics of both the forest owners and the harvesting contractors. The most common work method uses chainsaws to fell the trees, and animals or farm tractors equipped with winches for bunching and extraction. This study assesses the productivity and cost effectiveness of extraction with a purpose-built John Deere 548H skidder, including a comparison of winch and grapple configurations. The results show that the productivity of skidding depends on distance as well as the condition of the skid trail. The number of trees per cycle and volume of each load also had a clear effect. While large purpose-built skidders represent a significant investment, this study demonstrates that the productivity is very high compared to traditional extraction methods and the resulting extraction costs are very competitive. As such, this study indicates that, over time, southern Italian harvesting operations should invest in purpose-built harvesting systems.
Massive Sequencing: A New Tool for the Control of Alcoholic Fermentation in Wine?
Authors: Kioroglou Dimitrios , LLeixá Jessica , Mas Albert , Portillo Maria
Published: January 2018

In wine industry, there is a prevalent use of starter cultures to promote a controlled and efficient alcoholic fermentation preventing the growth of spoilage microbes. However, current trends in enology aim to combine the guaranteed success of monitored process and the complexity of fermentations either by inoculating autochthonous starters or by performing spontaneously to produce distinctive wines. To understand the complex roles of microorganisms on wine fermentation, we must understand their population dynamics and their relationships with wine quality and metabolome. Current metagenomics techniques based on massive sequencing are gaining relevance to study the diversity and evolution of microbial population on every stage of the wine making process. This new tool and technique increases the throughput and sensitivity to study microbial communities. This review focuses on the current knowledge about wine alcoholic fermentation, the contribution of massive sequencing techniques and the possibility of using this tool for microbial control.
Spatial Distribution, Chemical Fraction and Fuzzy Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments from the Honghu Lake, China
Authors: Li Fei , Xiao Minsi , Zhang Jingdong , Liu Chaoyang , Qiu Zhenzhen , Cai Ying
Published: January 2018

Spatial concentrations and chemical fractions of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd) in 16 sampling sites from the Honghu Lake were investigated using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and optimized BCR (the European Community Bureau of Reference) three-stage extraction procedure. Compared with the corresponding probable effect levels (PELs), adverse biological effects of the studied five sediment metals decreased in the sequence of Cr > Cu > Zn > Pb > Cd. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values for Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in each sampling site were at un-contamination level, while the values for Cd varied from un-contamination level to moderate contamination level. Spatially, the enrichment degree of Cd in lower part of the South Lake, the west part of the North Lake and the outlet were higher than the other parts of Honghu Lake. For metal chemical fractions, the proportions of the acid-extractable fraction of five metal contents were in the descending order: Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cr. Cd had the highest bioaccessibility. Being the above indexes focused always on heavy metals’ total content or chemical fraction in deterministic assessment system, which may confuse decision makers, the fuzzy comprehensive risk assessment method was established based on PEI (Potential ecological risk index), RAC (Risk assessment code) and fuzzy theory. Average comprehensive risks of heavy metals in sediments revealed the following orders: Cd (considerable risk) > Cu (moderate risk) > Zn (low risk) > Pb > Cr. Thus, Cd and Cu were determined as the pollutants of most concern. The central part of South Honghu Lake (S4, S5, S6, S9, S12 and S14), east part of the North Honghu Lake (S1) and outlet of outlet of the Honghu Lake (S10) were recommended as the priority control areas. Specifically, it is necessary to pay more attention to S1, S4, S5, S6, S9 and S16 when decision making for their calculated membership values (probabilities) of adjacent risk levels quite close.
Annoyance Judgment and Measurements of Environmental Noise: A Focus on Italian Secondary Schools
Authors: Minichilli Fabrizio , Gorini Francesca , Ascari Elena , Bianchi Fabrizio , Coi Alessio , Fredianelli Luca , Licitra Gaetano , Manzoli Federica , Mezzasalma Lorena , Cori Liliana
Published: January 2018

The effects of noise on students’ health, well-being, and learning are of growing concern among both the general public and policy-makers in Europe. Several studies have highlighted the consequences of noise on children’s learning and performance at school. This study investigates the relationship between noise judgment in school goers aged 11–18 and noise measurements aimed at evaluating their exposure at school. For this purpose, a questionnaire was administered to 521 individuals in 28 classrooms in eight schools of four cities in Italy, with different environmental characteristics. Using a Likert-type scale, a selected set of responses related to noise generated an Annoyance Index (AI) score for each student and a classroom median score (MAI). From the noise data acquired, a global noise score (GNS) was assigned to each classroom. A higher AI was found in industrialized areas and among younger students. No significant differences in noise judgment were found by gender. A significant inverse correlation was described between MAI and GNS, thus the better the acoustic quality of the classrooms, the less the perceived noise and annoyance. The results show that noise perception and consequent disturbance are highly correlated with classroom acoustics, and confirm that annoyance represents the most widespread subjective response to noise.
Operational Efficiency of Bank Loans and Deposits: A Case Study of Vietnamese Banking System
Authors: Nguyen Tram , Tripe David , Ngo Thanh
Published: January 2018

This paper examines whether there is a causal relationship between bank loans and deposits in the Vietnamese banking system and the efficiency of the use of loans and deposits by the Vietnamese banks. In a country such as Vietnam, where inter-bank money markets are relatively underdeveloped, one would expect a reasonably strong relationship between deposits and loans. A pooled cross-sectional sample of financial ratios is collected from annual reports of 44 Vietnamese banks covering the period 2008–2015. The explanatory power of instrumental variables in relation to the endogenous variables is tested. A deterministic frontier model based on corrected ordinary least squares, estimated by three-stage least squares on a simultaneous equations model, is employed to derive the frontiers for the sampled banks as well as to estimate the causality between bank loans and deposits. Our findings suggest that, in an underdeveloped banking system such as Vietnam, bank deposits have a positive and significant impact on bank loans, but the reverse relationship is not significant. It is further suggested that in deposit-taking and loan-creating activities, Vietnamese banks performed moderately well over the period examined; however, in the near future, they should start to focus more on deposit-taking activities.
Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Protection Associated with Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure in a Rat Model: Role of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Aguilar Miguel , González-Candia Alejandro , Rodríguez Jorge , Carrasco-Pozo Catalina , Cañas Daniel , García-Herrera Claudio , Herrera Emilio , Castillo Rodrigo
Published: January 2018

More than 140 million people live and works (in a chronic or intermittent form) above 2500 m worldwide and 35 million live in the Andean Mountains. Furthermore, in Chile, it is estimated that 55,000 persons work in high altitude shifts, where stays at lowlands and interspersed with working stays at highlands. Acute exposure to high altitude has been shown to induce oxidative stress in healthy human lowlanders, due to an increase in free radical formation and a decrease in antioxidant capacity. However, in animal models, intermittent hypoxia (IH) induce preconditioning, like responses and cardioprotection. Here, we aimed to describe in a rat model the responses on cardiac and vascular function to 4 cycles of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH). Twelve adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two equal groups, a four-cycle of IHH, and a normobaric hypoxic control. Intermittent hypoxia was induced in a hypobaric chamber in four continuous cycles (1 cycle = 4 days hypoxia + 4 days normoxia), reaching a barometric pressure equivalent to 4600 m of altitude (428 Torr). At the end of the first and fourth cycle, cardiac structural, and functional variables were determined by echocardiography. Thereafter, ex vivo vascular function and biomechanical properties were determined in femoral arteries by wire myography. We further measured cardiac oxidative stress biomarkers (4-Hydroxy-nonenal, HNE; nytrotirosine, NT), reactive oxygen species (ROS) sources (NADPH and mitochondrial), and antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPx, and superoxide dismutase, SOD). Our results show a higher ejection and shortening fraction of the left ventricle function by the end of the 4th cycle. Further, femoral vessels showed an improvement of vasodilator capacity and diminished stiffening. Cardiac tissue presented a higher expression of antioxidant enzymes and mitochondrial ROS formation in IHH, as compared with normobaric hypoxic controls. IHH exposure determines a preconditioning effect on the heart and femoral artery, both at structural and functional levels, associated with the induction of antioxidant defence mechanisms. However, mitochondrial ROS generation was increased in cardiac tissue. These findings suggest that initial states of IHH are beneficial for cardiovascular function and protection.
Do Neuroendocrine Peptides and Their Receptors Qualify as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Osteoarthritis?
Authors: Grässel Susanne , Muschter Dominique
Published: January 2018

Joint tissues like synovium, articular cartilage, meniscus and subchondral bone, are targets for neuropeptides. Resident cells of these tissues express receptors for various neuroendocrine-derived peptides including proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, i.e., α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and β-endorphin (β-ED), and sympathetic neuropeptides like vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide y (NPY). Melanocortins attained particular attention due to their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in several tissues and organs. In particular, α-MSH, ACTH and specific melanocortin-receptor (MCR) agonists appear to have promising anti-inflammatory actions demonstrated in animal models of experimentally induced arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). Sympathetic neuropeptides have obtained increasing attention as they have crucial trophic effects that are critical for joint tissue and bone homeostasis. VIP and NPY are implicated in direct and indirect activation of several anabolic signaling pathways in bone and synovial cells. Additionally, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) proved to be chondroprotective and, thus, might be a novel target in OA. Taken together, it appears more and more likely that the anabolic effects of these neuroendocrine peptides or their respective receptor agonists/antagonists may be exploited for the treatment of patients with inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases in the future.
Effect of Cyclic Dynamic Compressive Loading on Chondrocytes and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Co-Cultured in Highly Elastic Cryogel Scaffolds
Authors: Chen Chih-Hao , Kuo Chang-Yi , Chen Jyh-Ping
Published: January 2018

In this study, we first used gelatin/chondroitin-6-sulfate/hyaluronan/chitosan highly elastic cryogels, which showed total recovery from large strains during repeated compression cycles, as 3D scaffolds to study the effects of cyclic dynamic compressive loading on chondrocyte gene expression and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Dynamic culture of porcine chondrocytes was studied at 1 Hz, 10% to 40% strain and 1 to 9 h/day stimulation duration, in a mechanical-driven multi-chamber bioreactor for 14 days. From the experimental results, we could identify the optimum dynamic culture condition (20% and 3 h/day) to enhance the chondrocytic phenotype of chondrocytes from the expression of marker (Col I, Col II, Col X, TNF-α, TGF-β1 and IGF-1) genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR) and production of ECM (GAGs and Col II) by biochemical analysis and immunofluorescence staining. With up-regulated growth factor (TGF-β1 and IGF-1) genes, co-culture of chondrocytes with porcine adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) was employed to facilitate chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs during dynamic culture in cryogel scaffolds. By replacing half of the chondrocytes with ASCs during co-culture, we could obtain similar production of ECM (GAGs and Col II) and expression of Col II, but reduced expression of Col I, Col X and TNF-α. Subcutaneous implantation of cells/scaffold constructs in nude mice after mono-culture (chondrocytes or ASCs) or co-culture (chondrocytes + ASCs) and subject to static or dynamic culture condition in vitro for 14 days was tested for tissue-engineering applications. The constructs were retrieved 8 weeks post-implantation for histological analysis by Alcian blue, Safranin O and Col II immunohistochemical staining. The most abundant ectopic cartilage tissue was found for the chondrocytes and chondrocytes + ASCs groups using dynamic culture, which showed similar neo-cartilage formation capability with half of the chondrocytes replaced by ASCs for co-culture. This combined co-culture/dynamic culture strategy is expected to cut down the amount of donor chondrocytes needed for cartilage-tissue engineering.
Frame-Insensitive Expression Cloning of Fluorescent Protein from Scolionema suvaense
Authors: Horiuchi Yuki , Laskaratou Danai , Sliwa Michel , Ruckebusch Cyril , Hatori Kuniyuki , Mizuno Hideaki , Hotta Jun-ichi
Published: January 2018

Expression cloning from cDNA is an important technique for acquiring genes encoding novel fluorescent proteins. However, the probability of in-frame cDNA insertion following the first start codon of the vector is normally only 1/3, which is a cause of low cloning efficiency. To overcome this issue, we developed a new expression plasmid vector, pRSET-TriEX, in which transcriptional slippage was induced by introducing a DNA sequence of (dT)14 next to the first start codon of pRSET. The effectiveness of frame-insensitive cloning was validated by inserting the gene encoding eGFP with all three possible frames to the vector. After transformation with one of these plasmids, E. coli cells expressed eGFP with no significant difference in the expression level. The pRSET-TriEX vector was then used for expression cloning of a novel fluorescent protein from Scolionema suvaense. We screened 3658 E. coli colonies transformed with pRSET-TriEX containing Scolionema suvaense cDNA, and found one colony expressing a novel green fluorescent protein, ScSuFP. The highest score in protein sequence similarity was 42% with the chain c of multi-domain green fluorescent protein like protein “ember” from Anthoathecata sp. Variations in the N- and/or C-terminal sequence of ScSuFP compared to other fluorescent proteins indicate that the expression cloning, rather than the sequence similarity-based methods, was crucial for acquiring the gene encoding ScSuFP. The absorption maximum was at 498 nm, with an extinction efficiency of 1.17 × 105 M−1·cm−1. The emission maximum was at 511 nm and the fluorescence quantum yield was determined to be 0.6. Pseudo-native gel electrophoresis showed that the protein forms obligatory homodimers.
Transcriptome Analysis of Kiwifruit in Response to Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae Infection
Authors: Wang Tao , Wang Gang , Jia Zhan-Hui , Pan De-Lin , Zhang Ji-Yu , Guo Zhong-Ren
Published: January 2018

Kiwifruit bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) has brought about a severe threat to the kiwifruit industry worldwide since its first outbreak in 2008. Studies on other pathovars of P. syringae are revealing the pathogenesis of these pathogens, but little about the mechanism of kiwifruit bacterial canker is known. In order to explore the species-specific interaction between Psa and kiwifruit, we analyzed the transcriptomic profile of kiwifruit infected by Psa. After 48 h, 8255 differentially expressed genes were identified, including those involved in metabolic process, secondary metabolites metabolism and plant response to stress. Genes related to biosynthesis of terpens were obviously regulated, indicating terpens may play roles in suppressing the growth of Psa. We identified 283 differentially expressed resistant genes, of which most U-box domain containing genes were obviously up regulated. Expression of genes involved in plant immunity was detected and some key genes showed differential expression. Our results suggest that Psa induced defense response of kiwifruit, including PAMP (pathogen/microbe-associated molecular patterns)-triggered immunity, effector-triggered immunity and hypersensitive response. Metabolic process was adjusted to adapt to these responses and production of secondary metabolites may be altered to suppress the growth of Psa.