bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of comparison of clinical outcome treated oocyte with ionomycin and strontium chloride in infertile couple with previous failed in vitro fertilization
Authors: Norozi-Hafshejani Marziyeh , Tavalaee Marziyeh , Nasr- Esfahani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: June 2019

Introduction: Several factors are involved in failed fertilization following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which could be related to sperm, oocyte factors and/or both. Failure in oocyte activation is considered as the most important factor in failed fertilization after ICSI. To overcome this shortcoming, artificial oocyte activation (AOA) after ICSI has been suggested. Commonly, ionomycin and strontium chloride are used as the most efficient agents for oocyte activation in the clinic. In this study, for the first time, the clinical results of ionomycin and strontium chloride were compared on sister oocytes of couples who previously have had fertilization failure after ICSI.
Methods: In this intervention study, 14 couples with male factor infertility and previous failed fertilization after ICSI were included in this study. Oocytes of their wives were divided into two groups. Half of the oocytes after ICSI were treated with ionomicin and other half were treated with strontium chloride. Then, fertilization rate, embryo quality and pregnancy status were compared through SPSS 18 software, Paired sample t-test and chi-square test.
Results: Percentage of fertilization rate was significantly higher in oocytes that were activated using strontium chloride compared to those that were activated with ionomycin (p<0.0001). Although, the pregnancy rate was insignificantly higher in strontium chloride group than ionomycin group (p=0.387), but the quality of embryo was similar between the two groups (p=0.924).
Conclusion: In infertile men with previous failed fertilization after ICSI, the use of strontium chloride can also be recommended for oocyte activation.
EFFECTS OF TOP MANAGEMENT SUPPORT ON KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND SHARING: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST
Authors: Meddour Houcine , Saoula Oussama , Abdul Majid Abdul Halim , Abu Auf Mohamed Abdellatif 
Published: June 2019

Purpose: This paper examines the relationship between top management support and knowledge transfer and sharing in Multimedia Super Corridor MSC status organizations, using trust as a mediator. A theoretical model was tested through a survey carried out by 132 middle managers in MSC status organizations in Malaysia.
Methodology: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis.
Results: The obtained results show that the top management support will facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.
Implications: The empirical evidence confirmed that the direct and indirect relationships between top management support, trust and knowledge transfer, and sharing were found to be fully supported, including the relationship between trust and knowledge transfer and sharing. Finally, trust fully mediates the relationship between top management support and knowledge transfer and sharing.
CRITICAL FACTORS OF THE NATURAL RUBBER PRICE INSTABILITY IN THE WORLD MARKET
Authors: Khin Aye Aye , Leh Bin Raymond Ling , Keong Ooi Chee , Win Yie Foo , Liang Ng Jye 
Published: June 2019

Purpose: Natural rubber (NR) production has a long history and has been contributing as one of the most important economic sectors in Malaysia recently. In enhancing the Malaysian rubber economy, it is crucial to find a balance between supply-side and demand-side considerations in order to stabilize the NR price in the worldwide market. This has raised the motivation and objectives of this research is to investigate the critical factors affecting the NR price instability in the world market, and to estimate and predict the NR price instability and to examine the most related factors that influence the price model by using ex-post and ex-ante forecast analysis. Methodology: Number of profound research methods Vector Error Correction Method (VECM) by Gujarati and Porter; cointegration rank test by Dwyer; and ex-post forecast method by Pindyck and Rubinfeld have been utilized in this study. The data used from 2008 January to 2016 December: monthly time series data. Results: The results show that the explanatory variables of NR production, total NR consumption, crude oil price, and Shanghai NR price indicate a significant relationship with Malaysian NR price (SMR20), on the contrary, the exchange rate is not significant. Implications: The outcome of the study is closely related to the current situation of the exchange rate appreciation in the late of 2017 that may benefit the decision-making process of economic planning for the NR production stability, and price in the worldwide NR market as well.
Caracterización del turista en Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad: el caso de Úbeda y Baeza
Authors: Carrillo-Hidalgo Isabel , Pulido-Fernández Juan Ignacio , Mudarra-Fernández Ana Belén 
Published: June 2019

Úbeda y Baeza fueron declaradas Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 2003. Desde entonces, el turismo en estas ciudades se ha convertido en una actividad clave para su economía y se ha incrementado el número de llegadas en más de un cincuenta por ciento. La gestión de cualquier Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad requiere conocer en profundidad al visitante desde diferentes perspectivas: variables sociodemográficas y psicológicas del turista, características del viaje, actividades llevadas a cabo en el destino, la satisfacción con los recursos de este, así como del gasto realizado por el turista durante el viaje y el presupuesto del que parte. En concreto, para el caso de Úbeda y Baeza, se ha podido comprobar que el perfil del turista que las visita coincide a grandes rasgos con el del que acude a otras Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad, establecido en la literatura científica, diferenciándose principalmente en variables más específicas relacionadas con el destino y la propia personalidad del turista. Los resultados alcanzados aportan una información de gran utilidad para gestores y policymakers de las Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad, que podrán adaptar su oferta turística al turista que las visita.
Numerical Investigation of Sand-Screen Performance in the Presence of Adhesive Effects for Enhanced Sand Control
Authors: Shaffee Siti Nur , Luckham Paul F. , Matar Omar K. , Karnik Aditya , Zamberi Mohd Shahrul 
Published: June 2019

Summary
In many industrial processes, an effective particle–filtration system is essential for removing unwanted solids. The oil and gas industry has explored various technologies to control and manage excessive sand production, such as by installing sand screens or injecting consolidation chemicals in sand–prone wells as part of sand–management practices. However, for an unconsolidated sandstone formation, the selection and design of effective sand control remains a challenge. In recent years, the use of a computational technique known as the discrete–element method (DEM) has been explored to gain insight into the various parameters affecting sand–screen–retention behavior and the optimization of various types of sand screens (Mondal et al. 2011, 2012, 2016; Feng et al. 2012; Wu et al. 2016).
In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of particle filtration using a fully coupled computational–fluid–dynamics (CFD)/DEM approach featuring polydispersed, adhesive solid particles. We found that an increase in particle adhesion reduces the amount of solid in the liquid filtrate that passes through the opening of a wire–wrapped screen, and that a solid pack of particle agglomerates is formed over the screen with time. We also determined that increasing particle adhesion gives rise to a decrease in packing density and a diminished pressure drop across the solid pack covering the screen. This finding is further supported by a Voronoi tessellation analysis, which reveals an increase in porosity of the solid pack with elevated particle adhesion. The results of this study demonstrate that increasing the level of particle agglomeration, such as by using an adhesion–promoting chemical additive, has beneficial effects on particle filtration. An important application of these findings is the design and optimization of sand–control processes for a hydrocarbon well with excessive sand production, which is a major challenge in the oil and gas industry.
Elevated plasma D-dimer level is associated with short-term poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a prospective, observational study
Authors: Yao Tao , Tian Bo-Lin , Li Gang , CUI QIN , Wang Cui-fang , Zhang Qi , Peng Bo , Gao Yan , Zhan Yan-Qiang , Hu Dan , Xu Lu , Wang Gao-Hua 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background: Elevated level of plasma D-dimer increases the risk of ischemic stroke, stroke severity and progression of stroke status, but the association between plasma D-dimer level and functional outcome is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Plasma D-dimer level is a determinant of short-term poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
Methods: This prospective study included 877 Chinese patients with AIS admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University within 72 hours of symptom onset. Patients were categorized per plasma D-dimer level: Quartile 1(0.24 mg /L), Quartile 2 (0.25–0.56 mg /L), Quartile 3 (0.57–1.78 mg /L), and Quartile 4 (1.78mg /L). Each patient’s medical record was reviewed, and demographic, clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging information was abstracted. Functional outcome at 90 days was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).
Results: Of 877 patients were included (mean age, 64 years; male, 68.5%), poor outcome was present in 302 (34.4%) patients. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, higher plasma D-dimer level on admission was associated with poor outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.257, 95% CI1.349-3.777 for Q4:Q1; P trend = 0.004). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the best discriminating factor was a plasma D-dimer level 0.315 mg/L for pour outcome [area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.657; sensitivity 83.8%; specificity 41.4%].
Conclusion: Elevated plasma D-dimer level on admission was significantly associated with increased poor outcome after admission for AIS, suggesting the potential role of plasma D-dimer as a predictive marker for short-term poor outcome in patients with AIS.
In Defence of "Belief"
Authors: Lanman Jonathan A. 
Published: June 2019

The cognitive science of religion seeks to explain reli­gious beliefs. Yet "belief" as a term has been criticised by many anthropologists, psychologists, and philosophers. The main criti­cisms of "belief" are that beliefs are unobservable, that they do not exist, and that the word ‘belief’ is a western construct unsuitable for comparative use. All of these criticisms may seem to render a "sci­ence of belief" naïve and mistaken. Utilizing the work of the cog­nitive sciences, and the philosophical view of functionalism that underlies them, I will offer a minimal definition of belief that will allow for a science of belief and withstand such criticisms.
Uncertainty quantification of water age in water supply systems by use of spectral propagation
Authors: Braun Mathias , Piller Olivier , Deuerlein Jochen , Mortazavi Iraj , Iollo Angelo 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Water distribution networks are critical infrastructures that should ensure the reliable supply of high quality potable water to its users. Numerical models of these networks are generally governed by many parameters for which the exact value is not known. This may be due to a lack of precise knowledge like for consumer demand or due to a lack of accessibility as for the pipe roughness. For network managers, the effect of these uncertainties on the network state is important information that supports them in the decision-making process. This effect is generally evaluated by propagating the uncertainties using the mathematical model. In the past, perturbation, fuzzy and stochastic collocation methods have been used for uncertainty propagation. However, these methods are limited either in the accuracy of the results or the computational effort of the necessary calculations. This paper uses an alternative spectral approach that uses the polynomial chaos expansion and has the potential to give results of comparable accuracy to the Monte Carlo sampling through the definition of a stochastic model. This approach is applied to the hydraulic model of two real networks in order to evaluate the influence of uncertain demands on the water age.
Development of a basin management program to improve water quality in rivers based on an environmental water quality predictive model
Authors: Calvo-Brenes G. , Mora-Molina J. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
This research has the aim of establishing the amount of land that the Conservation Area National System (SINAC) needs to buy and specifying its use inside the Golfo Dulce Forest Reserve in order to maintain the good quality of the rivers. The study was done inside Rincon sub-basin in the Osa Peninsula, a land dedicated to primary and secondary forest (Melina tree plantations), mangrove forest, urbanism, chaparral, pasture for grazing livestock and crop cultivation, mainly rice and African palm; uses that may change in time affecting the actual water quality (WQ) in rivers and the bay. Changes in land uses modify the WQ and it can be predicted using WQ models based on environmental variables through the evaluation of different scenarios. It was found through modeling that pasture or chaparral land use has no negative impact on WQ; all the contrary happens with increments in crop cultivation or human population. At the present, the coastal area, adjacent to the reserve, has low agricultural activity but that could increase over time, affecting the WQ. Therefore, SINAC should continue with its acquisition land activity to counteract the negative environmental effect of agricultural activity to preserve the actual good quality of the rivers.
Genome-Wide Analysis of Low Dose Bisphenol-A (BPA) Exposure in Human Prostate Cells
Authors: Renaud Ludivine , Huff Matthew , da Silveira Willian A. , Angert Mila , Haas Martin , Hardiman Gary 
Published: June 2019

:
Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have the potential to cause adverse effects on
wildlife and human health. Two important EDCs are the synthetic estrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol
(EE2) and bisphenol-A (BPA) both of which are xenoestrogens (XEs) as they bind the estrogen receptor
and disrupt estrogen physiology in mammals and other vertebrates. In the recent years the influence
of XEs on oncogenes, specifically in relation to breast and prostate cancer has been the subject of
considerable study.

Methodology:
In this study, healthy primary human prostate epithelial cells (PrECs) were exposed to
environmentally relevant concentrations of BPA (5nM and 25nM BPA) and interrogated using a
whole genome microarray.

Results:
Exposure to 5 and 25nM BPA resulted in 7,182 and 7,650 differentially expressed (DE)
genes, respectively in treated PrECs. Exposure to EE2 had the greatest effect on the PrEC transcriptome
(8,891 DE genes).

Conclusion:
We dissected and investigated the nature of the non-estrogenic gene signature associated
with BPA with a focus on transcripts relevant to epigenetic modifications. The expression of transcripts
encoding nuclear hormone receptors as well as histone and DNA methylation, modifying enzymes
were significantly perturbed by exposure to BPA.
PPAR Ligands Containing Stilbene Scaffold
Authors: Fantacuzzi Marialuigia , De Filippis Barbara , Amoroso Rosa , Giampietro Letizia 
Published: June 2019

:
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcriptional factors which belong
to the ligand-activated nuclear receptor superfamily. They are ubiquitously expressed throughout
the body. So far, three major subtypes have been identified, PPARα, PPARβ/δ and PPARγ. They are
crucial for lipid and glucose metabolism and are also involved in the regulation of several types of tumors,
inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and infertility. The importance of these transcription factors
in physiology and pathophysiology has been largely investigated.

:
Synthetic PPAR ligands are widely used in the treatment of dyslipidemia (e.g. fibrates - PPARα activators)
or in diabetes mellitus (e.g. thiazolidinediones - PPARγ agonists) while a new generation of dual
agonists reveals hypolipemic, hypotensive, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant action.
Many natural ligands, including polyphenolic compounds, influence the expression of these receptors.
They have several health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
antineoplastic activities. Resveratrol, a stilbene polyphenol, is a biological active modulator of several
signaling proteins, including PPARs. Given the enormous pharmacological potential of resveratrol,
stilbene-based medicinal chemistry had a rapid increase covering various areas of research.

:
The present review discusses ligands of PPARs that contain stilbene scaffold and summarises the different
types of compounds on the basis of chemical structure.
Efficient FIR Filter Architecture using FPGA
Authors: Jameil Ahmed K. , Ahmed Yassir A. , Albawi Saad 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Advance communication systems require new techniques for FIR filters
with resource efficiency in terms of high performance and low power consumption. Lowcomplexity
architectures are required by FIR filters for implementation in field programmable gate
Arrays (FPGA). In addition, FIR filters in multistandard wireless communication systems must have
low complexity and be reconfigurable. The coefficient multipliers of FIR filters are complicated.

Objective:
The implementation and application of high tap FIR filters by a partial product reduce
this complexity. Thus, this article proposes a novel digital finite impulse response (FIR) filter architecture
with FPGA.

Method:
The proposed technique FIR filter is based on a new architecture method and implemented
using the Quartus II design suite manufactured by Altera. Also, the proposed architecture is coded
in Verilog HDL and the code developed from the proposed architecture has been simulated using
Modelsim. This efficient FIR filter architecture is based on the shift and add method. Efficient circuit
techniques are used to further improve power and performance. In addition, the proposed architecture
achieves better hardware requirements as multipliers are reduced. A 10-tap FIR filter is implemented
on the proposed architecture.

Results:
The design’s example demonstrates a 25% reduction in resource usage compared to existing
reconfigurable architectures with FPGA synthesis. In addition, the speed of the proposed architecture
is 37% faster than the best performance of existing methods.

Conclusion:
The proposed architecture offers low power and improved speed with the lowcomplexity
design that gives the best architecture FIR filter for both reconfigurable and fixed applications.
THE INFLUENCE OF DESTINATION IMAGES ON REVISIT INTENTION IN MOUNT BATUR
Authors: Agustina Ni Ketut Wiwiek 
Published: June 2019

Tourism has become one of idol business in Indonesia, which can be seen by the graph of performance continues to rise up compared to oil, gas, coal, and palm oil which continue to decline. Each destination tries to serve tourists better using many kinds of strategies, one of them is the destination image. This research aims to analyze the influence of destination image on the revisit intention in Mount Batur, Bali. The study is explanatory and done using quantitative and descriptive approaches. The number of samples to be used is 100 samples. The method of data collection is done by questionnaire collection method to analyze the influence of the destination image variable on the variable of revisit intention obtained by descriptive explanation. Based on the results of the research conducted, it shows that the image of the destination has a significant effect on the interest in returning to tourists in Mount Batur, which means that the hypothesis proposed in the study was accepted. This can be seen in the results of the hypothesis test the value of t arithmetic obtained is equal to 7.242 with a significance value of 0.000 smaller than 0.05. Based on the correlation test, the relationship between the two variables is at a moderate level with a percentage of influence of 34.9%. So that from this it is expected that tourists area managers of Mount Batur must try to maintain security, comfort and the environment.
“O TRABALHO VAI SER O ALIMENTO PRA PROLONGAR UM POUQUINHO MAIS A VIDA”: ENVELHECIMENTO, MASCULINIDADE E TRABALHO NO PAMPA SUL-RIOGRANDENSE
Authors: Bilhalva Liza , Rodrigues Marta Bonow 
Published: June 2019

Este artigo é o resultado de observações durante a pesquisa etnográfica para elaboração de um inventário sobre o modo de vida no ambiente da pecuária extensiva no pampa sul-riograndense. O objetivo é apresentar, por meio de texto e imagens, homens que cresceram e envelheceram na região da campanha do Rio Grande do Sul, tanto no meio rural, quanto no urbano, e como constroem suas masculinidades, tendo o trabalho como um de seus principais elementos constituidores.“THE LABOR WILL BE THE FUEL TO EXTEND A LITTLE MORE LIFE ": AGING, MASCULINITY AND LABOR IN THE PAMPA SUL-RIOGRANDENSEAbstract This paper results from observations during the ethnographic research to elaborate an inventory on the way of life in the environment of the extensive cattle breeding in the pampa sul-riograndense. The aim is to present, through text and images, men who have grown up and have grown old in the Campanha region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, both in countryside and town, and how they build their masculinity, taking labor as one of its main constituent elements
Foraging patterns of four sympatric species of silversides (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae) in Lago de Pátzcuaro, Central Mexico
Authors: García-de-León Francisco J , Ramírez-Herrejón Juan P. , García-Ortega Rafael , Hendrickson Dean A. 
Published: June 2019

RESUMEN: Los patrones de forrajeo de cuatro especies simpátricas del género Chirostoma (Chirostoma estor, Chirostoma grandocule, Chirostoma attenuatum y Chirostoma patzcuaro) fueron evaluadas en el Lago de Pátzcuaro, para entender la repartición de recursos alimenticios y su coexistencia simpátrica. La abundancia de invertebrados presa fue estimada en distintos hábitat alimenticios y se midieron parámetros físicos y químicos del hábitat en dos sitios de estudio. Los peces fueron recolectados durante las temporadas de lluvias (Septiembre 1987) y estiaje (Marzo 1988); 242 tractos digestivos fueron analizados. Se revaluó el gremio trófico, la selectividad de las presas, la diversidad y el traslape de dieta. Las cuatro especies fueron determinadas como carnívoros depredadores que se alimentan principalmente de necton y perifiton. La diversidad de la dieta y los patrones de selectividad de presas fueron similares entre los atherinopsidos y el traslape de dieta fue >70%. Los resultados no apoyan la propuesta de que la coexistencia de estas cuatro especies se mantiene por medio de la especialización de su dieta. Se hipotetizó que la coexistencia simpátrica de los atherinopsidos del Lago de Pátzcuaro se explica por la alta disponibilidad de recursos alimenticios y la variación ontogénica de su dieta. Este estudio resalta la importancia de analizar los patrones y mecanismos ecológicos como elementos básicos para el diseño de estrategias de conservación en bandadas de especies, bajo efectos antropogénicos como la pérdida del hábitat y la introducción de especies exóticas. Los esfuerzos de conservación son urgentes para preservar el raro proceso evolutivo de la especiación simpátrica (segregación del hábitat) que ocurre en otros lagos del centro de México, y que posiblemente se ha perdido en el Lago de Pátzcuaro, como resultado del manejo deficiente y estrategias de conservación inadecuadas. PALABRAS CLAVE: Atherinopsidae, interacciones alimenticias, bandadas de especies, procesos evolutivos, conservación.