bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalencia de Cáncer tiroideo en personal permanente de un Hospital General en Ambato
Authors: Bracero Ivar , Freire Luis , López Germánico
Published: May 2018

Determinar prevalencia del Cáncer tiroideo en trabajadores permanentes del Hospital General del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social de Ambato, Ecuador.Método: Se realizó estudio epidemiológico, observacional y transversal en el mencionado Hospital, desde marzo 2015 hasta abril de 2016, analizando evidencias aportadas por las historias clínicas individuales de los trabajadores permanentes del mismo hospital, quedando finalmente la muestra conformada por 280 pacientes. Resultados: Predominaron las mujeres (65%) y la raza mestiza (96.8%), así como las profesiones de médicos, enfermeras y auxiliares de enfermería, representados por el 27.1%, 18.6% y 17.2%, respectivamente. El hipotiroidismo resultó ser el antecedente patológico familiar y personal más frecuente identificado por 32.9% y 7.9%, respectivamente. 9.3 % de la serie presentó nódulos de la tiroides, de los cuales el 61.5% resultó finalmente en alguna variedad de cáncer tiroideo, que a su vez representó el 5.7% de los estudiados. El 75% de los pacientes con cáncer tiroideo se encontraban ocupando puestos laborales cercanos a la principal fuente de radiación del Hospital (servicio de Radiología) de los cuales el 62.5% laboraban a menos de 15 metros de la mencionada fuente y 37.5% eran trabajadores del propio servicio. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de cáncer tiroideo en trabajadores permanentes del Hospital General del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social de Ambato supera el estimado nacional para esta enfermedad, siendo mayor mientras más cerca labore de la principal fuente potencial de riesgo de contaminación ionizante de la institución, lo que presupone una relación directa con la exposición a la radiación generada en el servicio de Radiología hospitalario.

Recibido: 02-03-2017 / Aceptado: 04-05-2017
Diagnóstico Temprano de Persistencia de Conducto Onfalomesentérico.
Authors: Alulema César , Martínez Alejandro , Rodríguez José , Medina Ivan , Marizande Fernanda
Published: May 2018

El conducto onfalomesentérico está presente desde la tercera semana y comunica la cavidad celómica con el intestino medio, la persistencia  del conducto onfalomesentérico da lugar a un número de alteraciones dependientes del lugar donde se produce, sea intestinal o umbilical, se presenta el caso de una RN de sexo femenino en quien se observa un ombligo exudativo persistente, ante la sospecha clínica se realizan exámenes complementarios dentro de los cuales se emplearon estudios imagenológicos contrastados que demostraron una comunicación que posteriormente se definió como persistencia del conducto onfalomesentérico.

Recibido: 10-08-2017 / Aceptado: 12-09-2017
El desarrollo de habilidades investigativas en estudiantes de medicina.
Authors: Hernandez Navarro Elena Vicenta , Leiva Suero Lizette Elena , Cáceres Correa Silvia , Acosta Acosta Josué , Losada Hernández José Omar , Villacís Valencia Sandra Elizabeth , Gordón Villalba, Paulina o Del Rocí
Published: May 2018

Se realiza una investigación en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje de la Carrera de Medicina en la Universidad Técnica de Ambato, la cual estuvo relacionada con el desarrollo de habilidades investigativas para fomentar hábitos de utilización creadora del conocimiento desde el primer año de la carrera. La misma se fundamentó en limitaciones y potencialidades dadas por el manejo inadecuado de las fuentes informativas y en la utilización sistemática de un orden lógico en el enfoque de los problemas de salud presentados en el contenido, con la consiguiente repercusión en la expresión oral durante las exposiciones.  Se diseña una estrategia didáctica para establecer una transformación del estado indeseado del problema. Los resultados muestran evidentes trasformaciones fundamentadas en cuatro ejes, el primero comporta puntajes superiores en los indicadores de logro relacionados con el desarrollo de la habilidad investigativa, el segundo define los fundamentos que sustentan la habilidad investigativa, el tercero comprende los parámetros que son necesarios para fortalecer la adquisición de la habilidad y el cuarto abarca el diseño de una estrategia didáctica para obtener las trasformaciones esperadas. Se concluye que el desarrollo de habilidades investigativas permitió identificar variaciones satisfactorias relacionadas con los indicadores de logro de la habilidad, al abordaje de la perspectiva científica con enfoques más dinámicos y articulados con la práctica profesional.

Recibido: 02-12-2017 / Aceptado: 25-01-2018
CRUP UNA EMERGENCIA PEDIATRICA.
Authors: Naranjo Perugachi Jeaneth , Vinueza Aguay Galo , Bayas Azogue Carolina , Toscano Ponce Andrés , Guerra Tello María
Published: May 2018

El presente trabajo es una revisión bibliográfica acerca del Crup, esta enfermedad en la población pediátrica se caracteriza por una inflamación y obstrucción de la vía aérea superior, se presenta en niños comprendidos entre los 3 meses hasta los 2 años de edad, tiene influencia climática pues en la estación fría incrementa su presentación, su etiología es vírica, principalmente los del género Parainfluenzae. Su vía de transmisión es por contacto directo a través de las secreciones infectadas, ocasionando una edematización del epitelio respiratorio de la laringe, subglotis y tráquea. Su cuadro clínico está caracterizado por estridor inspiratorio, disnea, taquipnea, disfonía, tos perruna; y a veces signos de dificultad respiratoria. Su diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y acorde a la sintomatología, mediante las escalas de puntuación de crup, se lo puede clasificar según la gravedad en leve, moderado y severo. El tratamiento del crup está en dependencia de la severidad del cuadro y a parte de las medidas de soporte para el niño se deben utilizar terapéuticas que mejoren la sintomatología como: corticoides, epinefrina nebulizada, oxígeno, heliox o aire humidificado. Para ello se realizó una amplia revisión bibliográfica durante el período comprendido entre Octubre 2016 - Marzo 2017, considerando publicaciones con data inferior a 6 años, en bases de datos validadas por expertos: PUBMED, WILEY, ELSEVIER, UPTODATE.

Recibido: 20-11-2017 / Aceptado: 25-01-2018
Presentación infrecuente de Vólvulo del Sigmoides en 2 casos.
Authors: Aulestia David , Sánchez Byron , Vega Cueva Carlos
Published: May 2018

Los vólvulos constituyen la tercera causa de abdomen obstructivo. Es producida por alteraciones anatómicas, fisiológicas y mecánicas. Varios factores aumentan el riesgo de presentar esta patología siendo representativas la dieta rica en fibra, estreñimiento crónico, adherencias, aumento en la movilidad del colon y alteraciones de la motilidad intestinal asociadas con el embarazo. Reportamos dos casos de presentación infrecuente de vólvulos de sigma, en los que existió antecedentes de resección de colon sigmoides por vólvulo y que acudieron por cuadro de abdomen agudo obstructivo.

Recibido: 01-11-2017 / Aceptado: 20-12-2017
Multi-crops Germplasm Collection from Far Western Development Region of Nepal
Authors: Gupta Salik R , KC Hari B , Shah Uma S , Mandal Dayanand , Bhattarai Mukund
Published: May 2018

To widen the genetic base for further improvement, it is necessary to collect, characterize, evaluate and conserve multi-crops genetic resources. Collection of germplasm from unexplored area was conducted during 2011. A total of 504 samples were collected from Far-Western Development Region of Nepal including a wild species of rice Oryza ruffipogon Griff from Ghoda ghodi tal of Kailali district. A random sampling method was followed for most agricultural crops, where populations were large, and variability was deliberately sought. Sampling was from household stores and from harvested lots, together with individual sampling from fields and markets where appropriate. Greater diversity was found in rice (116) followed by soybean (38), maize (35), beans (28), cowpea (26) and wheat (24). The major achievements of these collections were recognized as the acquisition of additional variability for different multi-crop genetic resources.
Screening Wheat Genotypes for Drought Tolerance and Co-relation Study among Morpho-physiological Traits
Authors: Pokhrel Dipendra , Baral Kiran , Ojha Bishnu R , Ghimirey Surya K , Pandey Madhav P
Published: May 2018

Wheat crop in developing world including Nepal is grown under rainfed condition and thus face moisture stress at one or more growth stages limiting grain yield. An experiment was conducted at Greenhouse to screen the 60 different genotypes of wheat including Nepalese landraces, commercial cultivars CIMMYT derived advanced lines, NWRP derived advanced lines, and three international drought tolerant check cultivars. The wheat genotypes were grown in pots (single plant) arranged in a replicated split plot design under two contrasting moisture regimes, optimum and moisture stressed. The genotypes were evaluated for water use, water use efficiency, plant height, number of tillers and biomass production. The analysis revealed significant variance between environments and among the wheat genotypes for most of these traits. A wide range of variability was observed for water use, water use efficiency, days to anthesis, plant height, number of tillers and biomass yield in both moisture stressed and non stressed environments. Gautam showed superiority than Bhrikuti and Vijaya among Nepalese cultivar for drought adaptive physiological traits. Landrace NPGR 7504 showed high level of water use efficiency and other positive traits for drought adaptation.
Evaluation of Bioavailability of Residues of Pretilachlor in soil and Water under Paddy Cropping Condition and their In!uence on Lemna gibba
Authors: RajaRajeswari Rathinasamy , Sathiyanarayanan Sivanandam , Ramesh Atmakuru , Ayyappan Sornam
Published: May 2018

Pretilachlor is a chloroacetanilide herbicide commonly used to control grasses, broadleaved weeds and floating aquatic species in transplanted and direct seeded rice. Herbicide residues lead to potential risk for aquatic plants and are extremely toxic to the aquatic ecosystem. Pretilachlor a chloroacetanilide herbicide, used in control of grasses, broadleaved weeds and floating aquatic species in transplanted and direct seeded rice. Herbicide residues lead to potential risk for aquatic plants and are extremely toxic to the aquatic ecosystem. The bioavailability and the toxicity of Pretilachlor residues on Lemna gibba was studied after applying the herbicide formulation at the recommended dose 1.25 g.a.i/ha under actual cropping conditions. The concentration of pretilachlor in paddy water and soil was analyzed by HPLC-UV method and its degradation products were confirmed by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI -MS/MS) method. The recovery percentage at the limit of quantification (LOQ) 0.03 ppm was 92-102%. Residues in water dissipated rapidly with DT50 value 1.6 days and went to below detectable level by 15thday. The percentage inhibition of yield based on frond numbers was 97% at this time point, indicating toxicity index (TI) >1.0 to Lemna gibba. The observation recorded on 90th day showed no sign of inhibition of yield of Lemna gibba.
Agro- meteorological Indices in Relation to Phenology and Yields of Promising Wheat Cultivars in Chitwan, Nepal
Authors: Amgain Lal P
Published: May 2018

Agro-meteorological indices are the major yield governing factors especially under rainfed ecosystem. The major agro-meteorological indices (phenology, and heat and radiation use efficiencies) of four wheat cultivars were evaluated from the rainfed field experiment (2008-09). The experiment was conducted in RCBD with three replications. The total rainfall received during the winter season (1994-95 to 2008-09) showed satisfactory winter rainfall during wheat growing season except year 2008-09. The agro-meteorological results indicated that the number of days required to attain different phenological stages were comparatively longer in early sowing than the late sown wheat. None of the wheat cultivars could show stable yield in late planting conditions suggesting early planting for higher yield. Early sowing wheat achived the higher and stable heat, radiation and heliothermal indices thus resulting into higher grain yield. The agro-meteorological indices could therefore be helpful in predicting the phenology, growth and yields of wheat. However, more research is needed in other agro-ecological areas to validate the output further.
Effect of Sowing Dates and Varities on Yield and Yield Attributes of Direct Seeded Rice in Chitwan Condition
Authors: Dawadi KP , Chaudhary NK
Published: May 2018

Rice transplanting and sowing time sometimes get delayed due to lack of assured irrigation or surplus of rainfall. Moreover, no specific varieties have been specifically developed for this purpose. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of sowing dates and varieties on growth and yield of direct seeded rice during rainy season in 2010. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four sowing dates and three varieties in sub plot. Sowing date on June 13th contributed to higher grain yield; higher gross return; net return and higher B:C ratio per hectare. Similarly, the variety Hardinath-1 excelled better in all these parameters with early maturity. The interaction effect of Hardinath-1 with June 13 sowing took lower days for maturity; produced higher number of effective tillers (386.3); heat use efficiency (2.14); straw yield (7.43 t ha-1); and relatively higher grain yield (4.22 t ha-1); gross return (Rs.108.55 thousand); net return (Rs. 51.22 thousands) and B:C ratio (1.89). Therefore, variety Hardinath-1 with June 13 sowing is best suited to get higher yield, timely maturity and higher economic return in Chitwan conditions.
Unlocking Uncultivated Food for Mountain Livelihood: Case from Hindu Kush Himalayas
Authors: Aryal Kamal , Kotru Rajan , Phuntsho Karma
Published: May 2018

Throughout the Hindu Kush Himalayas, uncultivated plants provide a green social and cultural security to millions of people supporting their livelihood. Review on evaluating the multifunctional role of uncultivated plants in perspective of livelihood support finds that plants add diversity to local food systems, reinforce local culture and contribute diversity to farming systems, and finally are important for household food and nutrition security, social security, income generation and health care. Further, this paper clarifies that local people maintain and conserve diversity for the sake of use. The wise conservation and use of uncultivated plants are essential elements for increasing food security, eliminating poverty, and maintaining the environment. However, the value and potential of uncultivated plants for food and nutrition security, household level health care, income generation opportunity are not yet realized. Fast changing climate and early projections on its impacts suggest that such programmes must increasingly consider the sustenance of ecosystem that promotes uncultivated plants as basis for the welfare of millions.
Universal Alienation, Formal and Real Subsumption of Society Under Capital, Ongoing Primitive Accumulation by Dispossession: Reflections on the Marx@200-Contributions by David Harvey and Michael Hardt/Toni Negri
Authors: Fuchs Christian
Published: May 2018

This contribution presents reflections on the contributions of and the debate between David Harvey and Michael Hardt/Toni Negri that we feature as the opening part of the tripleC-special issue “Marx@200: Debating Capitalism & Perspectives for the Future of Radical Theory”. My reflection contextualises the debate by a) discussing the origin and genesis of Marx’s concepts of alienation, formal/real subsumption, and primitive accumulation and b) situating the arguments in earlier works by Harvey, Hardt and Negri. This paper points out differences as well as the strong commonalities between the works of Michael Hardt/Toni Negri and David Harvey. It discusses how the categories of universal alienation, formal/real subsumption of society under capital, original/ongoing primitive accumulation of capital are related. Harvey and Hardt/Negri show that Marx’s theory and politics are alive 200 years after his birth and will haunt capitalism as long as it exists. The paper concludes by arguing that Harvey’s concept of anti-value and the autonomous notion of self-valorisation point towards democratic, commons-based alternatives to capitalism.
An Analysis of Marx’s Legacy in the Field of Communication Studies
Authors: Kayıhan Bahar
Published: May 2018

New communication technologies strengthen existing power relations, helping to maintain class inequalities and alienating people. In the new communication age, human subjectivity itself has become a commodity. This paper analyses the role of Marxist studies in the academic field of communication studies. It focuses on the relevance of Marx's views for understanding communication in the digital era, Marxist communication studies after the expansion of digital media, and new dimensions of communication that have been incorporated into Marxist literature. Topics that matter in this context include the intersection of play and work, media economics in the age of digital communication, digital labour, the online games industry, targeted advertising, newly emerging social inequalities, and surveillance and privacy issues. Also an outlook for potential future Marxist studies of communication is given.
Sexual Capitalism: Marxist Reflections on Sexual Politics, Culture and Economy in the 21st Century
Authors: Reynolds Paul
Published: May 2018

From an apparent impasse and crisis in the 1970s and 1980s – politically and intellectually – Marxism has recovered to offer critical insights into contemporary changes and developments in late capitalist societies. Sexuality has been one area where Marxist critiques of commodification and consumption, reification, cultural production and its hegemonic effects and the structures of feeling and meaning-making that compose contemporary subjectivities have been of significant value in decoding legal, political and cultural changes in the regulation, prohibition and propagation of forms of sex and sexuality. This discussion will draw from some of the most important contributions to Marxist critiques of sexuality, contemporary and historical, to outline the contours of a critique of contemporary sexuality in society, notably Peter Drucker, Holly Lewis, Rosemary Hennessy, David Evans, and Keith Floyd. The Marxist critique of contemporary sexual politics and rights claims both recognises the importance of these struggles and provides a materialist critique that demonstrates both the contemporary power of Marxist analysis and a critical engagement with queer and constructionist “orthodoxies”. Marxism has become a central and important ground for exploring the vagaries of sexuality under capitalism in all its objectifying, commodifying, alienating and exploitative forms.
Skull bone marrow injury caused by MR-guided focused ultrasound for cerebral functional procedures
Authors: Schwartz Michael L. , Yeung Robert , Huang Yuexi , Lipsman Nir , Krishna Vibhor , Jain Jennifer D. , Chapman Martin G. , Lozano Andres M. , Hynynen Kullervo
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

One patient for whom an MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) pallidotomy was attempted was discovered to have multiple new skull lesions with the appearance of infarcts on the MRI scan 3 months after his attempted treatment. The authors conducted a retrospective review of the first 30 patients treated with MRgFUS to determine the incidence of skull lesions in patients undergoing these procedures and to consider possible causes.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the MRI scans of the first 30 patients, 1 attempted pallidotomy and 29 ventral intermediate nucleus thalamotomies, was conducted. The correlation of the mean skull density ratio (SDR) and the maximum energy applied in the production or attempted production of a brain lesion was examined.

RESULTS

Of 30 patients treated with MRgFUS for movement disorders, 7 were found to have new skull lesions that were not present prior to treatment and not visible on the posttreatment day 1 MRI scan. Discomfort was reported at the time of treatment by some patients with and without skull lesions. All patients with skull lesions were completely asymptomatic. There was no correlation between the mean SDR and the presence or absence of skull lesions, but the maximum energy applied with the Exablate system was significantly greater in patients with skull lesions than in those without.

CONCLUSIONS

It is known that local skull density, thickness, and SDR vary from location to location. Sufficient energy transfer resulting in local heating sufficient to produce a bone lesion may occur in regions of low SDR. A correlation of lesion location and local skull properties should be made in future studies.
Ectopic rhabdoid meningioma of the orbit in a child: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Yeşiltaş Yağmur Seda , Gündüz Kaan , Okçu Heper Aylin , Erden Esra
Published: May 2018

In August 2016, an 11-year-old boy presented to the authors’ institution with a right orbital tumor that was located superotemporally (superolaterally) and adherent to the sclera. The patient’s past medical history revealed that he had undergone 2 previous craniotomies elsewhere in June 2008 and July 2010 for a superomedially located orbital lesion that had been histopathologically diagnosed as a neurothekeoma. After the second craniotomy, the patient underwent adjuvant intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the right medial orbit. At the authors’ institution, total excision of the orbital tumor was performed via an anterior conjunctival orbitotomy. Histopathological examination revealed a rhabdoid meningioma. Review of the histopathology obtained at the time of previous tumor excisions showed that the lesion was misdiagnosed as neurothekeoma and instead represented a meningioma from the beginning. The patient was started on a regimen of oral sunitinib and remained free of recurrence at 1.5 years of follow-up. Ectopic meningioma of the orbit is a rare entity. Rhabdoid meningioma is a rarely seen subtype of meningioma, accounting for 1%–3% of all intracranial meningiomas. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of an ectopic orbital rhabdoid meningioma reported in the literature. They suspect that tumor seeding during the previous surgeries might have played a role in the occurrence of the tumor in an orbital location not targeted by IMRT.
Postoperative changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment in sitting position in adolescents with idiopathic thoracic scoliosis treated with posterior fusion: an initial analysis
Authors: Zhu Weiguo , Liu Zhen , Sha Shifu , Guo Jing , Bao Hongda , Xu Leilei , Qiu Yong , Zhu Zezhang
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have reported spinal straightening and pelvic retroversion when changing from erect to sitting posture in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), which were thought to be related to low-back pain after sitting for long periods. However, the sitting sagittal alignment after posterior spinal fusion has not been evaluated. This study aims to assess the influence of posterior fusion surgery upon sitting sagittal spinopelvic alignment in adolescents with idiopathic thoracic curves (thoracic AIS [T-AIS]).

METHODS

A total of 44 T-AIS patients (30 Lenke I and 14 Lenke II) from the authors’ center were included in this study. Preoperative and postoperative long-cassette lateral radiographs of the spine and pelvis were obtained with the patients in standing and sitting positions. Thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic tilt (PT) were measured on standing and sitting lateral radiographs. Patients were divided into selective thoracic fusion (STF) and nonselective thoracic fusion (NSTF) groups.

RESULTS

At baseline, TK, LL, and SS decreased by 27.5%, 42.1%, and 31.1%, respectively, from the standing to the sitting position, while PT increased by 193.6%. After posterior spinal fusion, increased TK, LL, and SS and corresponding decreased PT were observed compared to baseline parameters in the sitting position. Comparison of postoperative sitting and standing values for the whole cohort showed that the mean LS and SS values were significantly lower in the sitting position (decreased by 14.0% and 13.9%, respectively, compared to standing), whereas the mean PT value was significantly greater (increased by 39.0%, compared to standing). Similar changes were also observed in the STF group: postoperatively the mean LL value was 15.6% lower in sitting than in standing, while the mean SS value was 11.5% lower. However, no obvious changes of the postoperative values in sitting were found in the NSTF group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonselective thoracic fusion surgery in T-AIS patients diminished spinal straightening and pelvic retroversion during sitting. Reducing distal fusion levels was of special value in not only saving more lumbar mobility, but also preserving the function of pelvic posterior rotation.
Complication rates for preexisting baclofen pumps and ventricular shunts following scoliosis correction: a preliminary study
Authors: Dallas Jonathan , Sborov Katherine D. , Guidry Bradley S. , Chotai Silky , Bonfield Christopher M.
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Many patients undergoing spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis have preexisting neurosurgical implants, including ventricular shunts (VSs) for hydrocephalus and baclofen pumps (BPs) for spastic cerebral palsy. Recent studies have discussed a possible increase in implant complication rates following spinal fusion, but published data are inconclusive. The authors therefore, sought to investigate: 1) the rate of implant complications following fusion, 2) possible causes of these complications, and 3) factors that place patients at higher risk for implant-related complications.

METHODS

Cases involving pediatric patients with a preexisting VS or BP who underwent spinal fusion for scoliosis correction between 2005 and 2016 at a single tertiary children’s hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, implant characteristics, spinal fusion details, neurosurgical follow-up, and implant complications in the 180 days following fusion were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall, 75 patients who underwent scoliosis correction had preexisting implants: 39 had BPs, 31 VSs, and 5 both. The patients’ mean age at fusion was 13.49 ± 2.78 years (range 3.62–18.81 years), and the mean time from the most recent previous implant surgery to fusion was 5.70 ± 4.65 years (range 0.10–17.3 years). The mean preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles were 62.4° ± 18.9° degrees (range 20.9°–109.0°) and 23.5° ± 13.3° degrees (range 2.00°–67.3°), respectively. No VS complications were identified. Two patients with BPs were found to have complications (unintentional cutting of their BP catheter during posterior spinal fusion) within 180 days postfusion. There were no recorded neurosurgical implant infections, failures, fractures, or dislodgements. Although 10 patients required at least 1 surgical procedure for irrigation and debridement of the spine wound following fusion, there were no abdominal or cranial implant wound infections requiring revision, and no implants required removal.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that spinal fusion for scoliosis correction does not increase the rates of complications involving previously placed neurosurgical implants. A large-scale, prospective, multicenter study is needed to fully explore and confirm this finding.
Platform Molecule Removal from Aqueous Mixture with Organophilic Pervaporation: Experiments and Modelling
Authors: Haáz Enikő , Valentinyi Nóra , Tarjani Ariella Janka , Fózer Daniel , André Anita , Khaled Mohamed Selim Asmaa , Rahimli Fuad , Nagy Tibor , Mizsey Péter , Deák Csaba , Tóth András József
Published: May 2018

The work is motivated by a separation problem, which is ethanol removal from aqueous mixtures with membranes. Ethanol can be considered as promising biomass based platform molecule. The platform molecule includes several building-block chemicals grouped together, resulting in a range of downstream chemical products. To solve the target, organophilic pervaporation system is investigated using benchmarked Sulzer PERVAP™ 4060 membranes. Separation factors, total permeation fluxes, permeances and selectivities are experimentally determined. The target of this work is to parameter estimation for semi-empirical pervaporation model. The measured data are evaluated with improved pervaporation model by Valentinyi et al. [1]. Three different polymeric flat sheet membranes are investigated, PERVAP™ 4060, PERVAP™ 1060 and CELFA-CMG-OG010. It is found that the model can be applied also for each organophilic separation case.
Simulation of Random Events for Air Traffic Applications
Authors: Puechmorel Stéphane , Dufour Guillaume , Fèvre Romain
Published: May 2018

Resilience to uncertainties must be ensured in air traffic management. Unexpected events can either be disruptive, like thunderstorms or the famous volcano ash cloud resulting from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in Iceland, or simply due to imprecise measurements or incomplete knowledge of the environment. While human operators are able to cope with such situations, it is generally not the case for automated decision support tools. Important examples originate from the numerous attempts made to design algorithms able to solve conflicts between aircraft occurring during flights. The STARGATE (STochastic AppRoach for naviGATion functions in uncertain Environment) project was initiated in order to study the feasibility of inherently robust automated planning algorithms that will not fail when submitted to random perturbations. A mandatory first step is the ability to simulate the usual stochastic phenomenons impairing the system: delays due to airport platforms or air traffic control (ATC) and uncertainties on the wind velocity. The work presented here will detail algorithms suitable for the simulation task.
High-Throughput Phenotyping of Seed/Seedling Evaluation Using Digital Image Analysis
Authors: Zhang Chongyuan , Si Yongsheng , Lamkey Jacob , Boydston Rick A. , Garland-Campbell Kimberly A. , Sankaran Sindhuja
Published: May 2018

Image-based evaluation of phenotypic traits has been applied for plant architecture, seed, canopy growth/vigor, and root characterization. However, such applications using computer vision have not been exploited for the purpose of assessing the coleoptile length and herbicide injury in seeds. In this study, high-throughput phenotyping using digital image analysis was applied to evaluate seed/seedling traits. Images of seeds or seedlings were acquired using a commercial digital camera and analyzed using custom-developed image processing algorithms. Results from two case studies demonstrated that it was possible to use image-based high-throughput phenotyping to assess seeds/seedlings. In the seedling evaluation study, using a color-based detection method, image-based and manual coleoptile length were positively and significantly correlated (p < 0.0001) with reasonable accuracy (r = 0.69–0.91). As well, while using a width-and-color-based detection method, the correlation coefficient was also significant (p < 0.0001, r = 0.89). The improvement of the germination protocol designed for imaging will increase the throughput and accuracy of coleoptile detection using image processing methods. In the herbicide study, using image-based features, differences between injured and uninjured seedlings can be detected. In the presence of the treatment differences, such a technique can be applied for non-biased symptom rating.
Salt Stress Effects on Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Plants with and without Seaweed Extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) Application
Authors: Bonomelli Claudia , Celis Valentina , Lombardi Gian , Mártiz Johanna
Published: May 2018

Salinity is one of the major factors limiting avocado yield, primarily due to the high concentration of ions in irrigation water. An experiment was conducted on 2 year old avocado plants (Persea americana Mill.) cv. Hass, grafted onto Duke 7 clonal rootstock growing in pots, to determine the effect of salt stress on growth, as well as physiological and biochemical responses, and the effect of seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) on salinity stress. Treatments consisted of different types of irrigation water: distilled water, 9 mM NaCl water, distilled water + 2.25 mL of seaweed extract, 9 mM NaCl water + 2.25 mL of seaweed extract and, 9 mM NaCl water + 1.5 mL of seaweed extract. The irrigation treatment was applied every 15 days for 8 months. Treatments with salt reduced plant growth by approximately 50% of the fresh weight of all avocado plant tissues. Seaweed extract reduced the effects of abiotic stress only at an early stage, and increased potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in leaves.
Real-Time Estimation for Cutting Tool Wear Based on Modal Analysis of Monitored Signals
Authors: Chi Yongjiao , Dai Wei , Lu Zhiyuan , Wang Meiqing , Zhao Yu
Published: May 2018

There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of product safety and the quality problems during processing. The working status of cutting tools may lead to project delay and cost overrun if broken down accidentally, and tool wear is crucial to processing precision in mechanical manufacturing, therefore, this study contributes to this growing area of research by monitoring condition and estimating wear. In this research, an effective method for tool wear estimation was constructed, in which, the signal features of machining process were extracted by ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and were used to estimate the tool wear. Based on signal analysis, vibration signals that had better linear relationship with tool wearing process were decomposed, then the intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), frequency spectrums of IMFs and the features relating to amplitude changes of frequency spectrum were obtained. The trend that tool wear changes with the features was fitted by Gaussian fitting function to estimate the tool wear. Experimental investigation was used to verify the effectiveness of this method and the results illustrated the correlation between tool wear and the modal features of monitored signals.
Optimal Release Time and Sensitivity Analysis Using a New NHPP Software Reliability Model with Probability of Fault Removal Subject to Operating Environments
Authors: Song Kwang Yoon , Chang In Hong , Pham Hoang
Published: May 2018

With the latest technological developments, the software industry is at the center of the fourth industrial revolution. In today’s complex and rapidly changing environment, where software applications must be developed quickly and easily, software must be focused on rapidly changing information technology. The basic goal of software engineering is to produce high-quality software at low cost. However, because of the complexity of software systems, software development can be time consuming and expensive. Software reliability models (SRMs) are used to estimate and predict the reliability, number of remaining faults, failure intensity, total and development cost, etc., of software. Additionally, it is very important to decide when, how, and at what cost to release the software to users. In this study, we propose a new nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP) SRM with a fault detection rate function affected by the probability of fault removal on failure subject to operating environments and discuss the optimal release time and software reliability with the new NHPP SRM. The example results show a good fit to the proposed model, and we propose an optimal release time for a given change in the proposed model.
Insights of Crosstalk between p53 Protein and the MKK3/MKK6/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in Cancer
Authors: Stramucci Lorenzo , Pranteda Angelina , Bossi Gianluca
Published: May 2018

TP53 is universally recognized as a pivotal protein in cell-cycle fate and apoptotic induction and, unsurprisingly, it is one of the most commonly hijacked control mechanisms in cancer. Recently, the kinase MKK3 emerged as a potential therapeutic target in different types of solid tumor being linked to mutant p53 gain-of-function. In this review, we summarize the delicate relationship among p53 mutational status, MKK3/MKK6 and the downstream activated master kinase p38MAPK, dissecting a finely-tuned crosstalk, in a potentially cell-context dependent scenario that urges towards a deeper characterization of the different molecular players involved in this signaling cascade and their interactions.
ARTD10/PARP10 Induces ADP-Ribosylation of GAPDH and Recruits GAPDH into Cytosolic Membrane-Free Cell Bodies When Overexpressed in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Mayo Emilia , Fabrizio Gaia , Scarpa Emanuele Salvatore , Stilla Annalisa , Dani Nadia , Chiacchiera Fulvio , Kleine Henning , Attanasio Francesca , Lüscher Bernhard , Di Girolamo Maria
Published: May 2018

Protein ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational modification of cellular proteins that is catalysed by enzymes that transfer one (mono) or several (poly) units of ADP-ribose from β-NAD+ to a specific amino acid of the target protein. The most studied member of the ADP-ribosyltransferase family is PARP1 (also known as ADP-ribosyltransferase diphtheria toxin-like 1, ARTD1), which is directly activated by DNA strand breaks and is involved in DNA damage repair, chromatin remodelling and transcriptional regulation. Much less is known about the further 16 members of this family. Among these, ARTD10/PARP10 has been previously characterised as a mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase with a role in cell proliferation and in NF-kB signalling. In the present study, we identified the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH as an interactor and a novel cellular target for ARTD10/PARP10. Moreover, we detected the co-localisation of GAPDH and ARTD10/PARP10 in well-defined cytosolic bodies, which we show here to be membrane-free, rounded structures using immunogold labelling and electron microscopy. Using the cognitive binding module macro domain to visualise ADP-ribosylated proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy in cells over-expressing the ARTD10/PARP10 enzyme, we show that the staining of the ARTD10/PARP10-dependent cytosolic bodies was lost when the cells were treated with compounds that inhibit ARTD10/PARP10, either by directly inhibiting the enzyme or by reducing the cellular NAD+ levels. In parallel, the same treatment affected the co-localisation of GAPDH and ARTD10/PARP10, as GAPDH disappeared from the cytosolic cell bodies, which indicates that its presence there depends on the catalytic activity of ARTD10/PARP10. In line with this, in cells over-expressing the ARTD10/PARP10 catalytic domain alone, which we show here to form stress granules, GAPDH was recruited into stress granules. These data identify ARTD10/PARP10 as the enzyme that modifies and recruits GAPDH into cytosolic structures.
Superhydrophobic Bilayer Coating Based on Annealed Electrospun Ultrathin Poly(ε-caprolactone) Fibers and Electrosprayed Nanostructured Silica Microparticles for Easy Emptying Packaging Applications
Authors: Lasprilla-Botero Juliana , Torres-Giner Sergio , Pardo-Figuerez Maria , Álvarez-Láinez Mónica , M. Lagaron Jose
Published: May 2018

A coating rendering superhydrophobic properties to low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films used in packaging applications was herein generated by means of the electrohydrodynamic processing (EHDP) technique. To this end, electrospun ultrathin poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers, followed by electrosprayed nanostructured silica (SiO2) microparticles, were deposited on top of the LDPE film. Various electrospinning and electrospraying times were tested and optimized followed by a thermal post-treatment to provide physical adhesion between the bilayer coating and the LDPE substrate. The morphology, hydrophobicity, permeance to limonene, and thermal stability of the resultant nanostructured coatings were characterized. It was observed that by controlling both the deposition time of the electrospun ultrathin PCL fibers and the electrosprayed SiO2 microparticles, as well as the conditions of the thermal post-treatment, effective superhydrophobic coatings were developed onto the LDPE films. The resultant multilayer presented a hierarchical micro/nanostructured surface with an apparent contact angle of 157° and a sliding angle of 8°. The addition of silica reduced, to some extent, the limonene (aroma) barrier, likely due to the increased surface-to-volume ratio, which allowed permeant sorption to occur but improved the thermal stability of the LDPE/PCL film. As a result, the developed multilayer system of LDPE/PCL/SiO2 has significant potential for use in easy-to-empty packaging applications of high water activity products.
Study of Near-Cup Droplet Breakup of an Automotive Electrostatic Rotary Bell (ESRB) Atomizer Using High-Speed Shadowgraph Imaging
Authors: Wilson Jacob E. , Grib Stephen W. , Darwish Ahmad Adnan , Renfro Michael W. , Adams Scott A. , Salaimeh Ahmad A.
Published: May 2018

Electrostatic Rotary bell (ESRB) atomizers are used as the dominant means of paint application by the automotive industry. They utilize the high rotational speed of a cup to induce primary atomization of a liquid along with shaping air to provide secondary atomization and transport. In order to better understand the fluid breakup mechanisms involved in this process, high-speed shadowgraph imaging was used to visualize the edge of a serrated rotary bell at speeds varying between 5000 and 12,000 RPM and with a water flow rate of 250 ccm. A multi-step image processing algorithm was developed to differentiate between ligaments and droplets during the primary atomization process. The results from this experiment showed that higher bell speeds resulted in a 26.8% reduction in ligament and 22.3% reduction in droplet Sauter Mean Diameters (SMD). Additionally, the ligament (ranging from 40 to 400 μm) diameters formed bimodal distributions, while the droplet (ranging from 40 to 300 μm) diameters formed a normal distribution. Velocities were also measured using particle tracking velocimetry, in which size-dependent velocities could then be computed. Droplet velocities were affected more by rotational speed than droplet SMD, while ligaments were affected by other factors than the rotational speed and ligament SMD.
Shannon Entropy in Atoms: A Test for the Assessment of Density Functionals in Kohn-Sham Theory
Authors: Amovilli Claudio , Floris Franca
Published: May 2018

Electron density is used to compute Shannon entropy. The deviation from the Hartree–Fock (HF) of this quantity has been observed to be related to correlation energy. Thus, Shannon entropy is here proposed as a valid quantity to assess the quality of an energy density functional developed within Kohn–Sham theory. To this purpose, results from eight different functionals, representative of Jacob’s ladder, are compared with accurate results obtained from diffusion quantum Monte Carlo (DMC) computations. For three series of atomic ions, our results show that the revTPSS and the PBE0 functionals are the best, whereas those based on local density approximation give the largest discrepancy from DMC Shannon entropy.
Study on Neutron Irradiation-Induced Structural Defects of GaN-Based Heterostructures
Authors: Gu Wenping , Xu Xiaobo , Zhang Lin , Gao Zhiyuan , Hu Xiaochuan , Zhang Zan
Published: May 2018

The GaN-based heterostructures and related HEMTs (High Electron Mobility Transistors) were investigated by 1MeV neutrons at fluences up to 1015 cm−2, yielding an increase of the densities of screw dislocations and edge dislocations for GaN-based heterostructures. It gave the result that neutron irradiation-induced structural defects into GaN-based materials, and the irradiation-induced dislocations would propagate to the material surface causing surface morphology deterioration. However, the GaN-based material strain was robust to neutrons, and the more initial dislocations, the easier to generate irradiation defects and thus, more strongly affecting the electrical property degradations of materials and devices. Meanwhile, the reduction of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) concentration (ns) caused by irradiation-induced defects led to the reducing the drain current. Moreover, the significant degradation of the reverse gate leakage current at fluences ranging from 1014 to 1015 cm−2 could be attributed to the irradiation-induced deep defects. The neutron induced damage was more difficult to anneal recovery than other particles, due to the neutron irradiation-induced deep levels and defect complexes such as defect clusters.
Copper(II) Complexes Based on Aminohydroxamic Acids: Synthesis, Structures, In Vitro Cytotoxicities and DNA/BSA Interactions
Authors: Zhang Jia , Yang Hua , Li Dacheng , Dou Jianmin
Published: May 2018

Four complexes, [Cu2(glyha)(bpy)2(H2O)]·2ClO4·H2O (1), [Cu2(glyha)(phen)2]·2ClO4 (2), [Cu2(alaha)(bpy)2Cl]·Cl·4H2O (3), and [{Cu2(alaha)(phen)2}{Cu2(alaha)(phen)2(NO3)}]·3NO3 (4) (glyha2− = dianion glycinehydroxamic acid, alaha2− = dianion alaninehydroxamic acid, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been successfully synthesized and characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The interactions of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were studied through UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. The results revealed that complexes 1–4 could interact with CT-DNA through intercalation. Interactions of all complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were confirmed by the docking study to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA in a static quenching process. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes was also examined on four tumor cell lines, including human lung carcinoma cell line (A549), human colon carcinoma cell line (HCT-116), human promyelocytic leukemia cell (HL-60) and cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). All complexes exhibited different antitumor activities.
Analysis of an Attached Sunspace with a Thermal Inertia Floor
Authors: Suárez López María , Gutiérrez Trashorras Antonio , Parrondo Gayo Jorge , Blanco Marigorta Eduardo
Published: May 2018

An attached sunspace is a partially or fully glazed enclosure, usually located on the first floor, facing south (in the Northern Hemisphere) and adjacent to a conditioned room. Because of the length and orientation of the glazed area, the temperature in the sunspace is usually higher than outside the building. As a Trombe–Mitchel wall, the sunspace has a considerable mass that accumulates thermal energy, but in this case the thermal mass is located in the floor. This capacity to accumulate thermal energy confers the attached sunspace features beyond passive insulation. The sunspace studied in this paper is part of an experimental building located in the North of Spain that was built in the frame of the so-called ARFRISOL project. It consists of a south-facing glazed exterior wall with both clear glass and semi-transparent photovoltaic panels, an intermediate space with a thick layer of sand over a concrete floor, and a partially glazed interior wall. In this paper, a three-dimensional computational model has been implemented to analyse the thermal behaviour inside the sunspace. This analysis takes into account, among other factors, the effects of sun position, incident solar irradiation and temperature both inside and outside.