A mathematical approach to assess research diversity: operationalization and applicability in communication sciences,political science,and beyond

Scientometrics - With today’s research production and global dissemination, there is growing pressure to assess how academic fields foster diversity. Based on a mathematical problem/solve...     

Sugar Beet Grown Using Nutrient Film Technique: Yield and Nutritional Quality

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L cv Great Western Sugar) was grown using the nutrient film technique with a half-strength modified Hoagland nutrient solution to determine its biomass yield and nutritional quality. After 6 months, storage root and foliage weights per plant were 493·1 g and 551·0 g, respectively. Sucrose content in the fresh storage root was 118·4 g kg⁻¹ but was less than 10 g kg⁻¹ in the fresh leaves and petioles. Some nutrients in the leaves and petioles were analysed to evaluate their potential as a leafy vegetable. Fresh leaf protein, total dietary fibre, mineral (Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe and K), vitamin (carotene, ascorbic acid and thiamine) and oxalic acid concentrations were similar to those of consumer-accepted green vegetables.     

Protective Effect of Melanoidins from Fructose–Glutamic Acid on Polyphenol Oxidase Inactivation by Ultraviolet–Visible Irradiation

Ultraviolet irradiation has been proved to be effective for inactivating polyphenol oxidase in some fruit derivatives. However, some compounds that may be found in these products, such as melanoidins, can protect the enzyme during the irradiation process. In this piece of work, the protective effect of melanoidins synthesized from fructose and glutamic acid on Agaricus bisporus polyphenol oxidase inactivation by ultraviolet–visible irradiation has been assessed. The polymers with molecular mass lower than 150 kDa had a greater protective effect than those molecules higher than 150 kDa. If the obtained melanoidins are not fractioned by their molecular mass, the protective effect that they exert is lower. It was found that the most effective radiation to inactivate this polyphenol oxidase is that between 260 and 310 nm.     

Optimal Management of a Bioreactor for Eutrophicated Water Treatment: A Numerical Approach

This paper presents a numerical algorithm for computing the optimal design variables in the management of a bioreactor for the treatment of eutrophicated water: initial and distributed quantities of phytoplankton added along the process, and total duration of the process. This real-world problem is formulated as a state-control constrained optimal control problem, whose numerical resolution is the main aim of this study. After discretizing the control problem, we present a structured algorithm for solving the discrete state systems, computing the corresponding derivatives, and minimizing the objective function. Finally, the good performance of the algorithm is shown by applying it to a realistic example with two pre-reservoirs.     

Guava seed storage protein: Fractionation and characterization

In the present work, guava seed storage proteins have been fractionated and characterized. Glutelins (86-90 g/100 g) and globulins (≈10 g/100 g) are the main components of the protein extract. Albumins and prolamins are minor components (≈2 g/100 g). Guava seed glutelin extracts, like rice and amaranth glutelins, are legumine-like proteins that, due to their solubility properties, have to be extracted using extreme pH (borate buffer, pH 10, Gt-Bo; NaOH pH 12 Gt-Na), denaturing (borate buffer plus sodium dodecyl sulfate, Gt-BoSDS) or reducing conditions (borate buffer plus 2-mercaptoethanol, Gt-BoME; borate buffer plus sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-mercaptoethanol, Gt-BoSDSME). The highest yield was obtained with SDS extraction, suggesting that proteins in the seeds form aggregates stabilized mainly by non-covalent interactions. Glutelins are mainly composed of 65 and 67 kD subunits, with a lower proportion of 55 kD subunits. These subunits are formed by disulfide bond-linked polypeptides with molecular masses 40-45 kD, 22-27 kD and 23-25 kD, respectively. The guava seeds protein isolate (GSI) exhibited a polypeptide profile very similar to that of the glutelin fraction.The guava seed could be an alternative source of protein for human and animal consume, additional to this to solve at least in part the pollution problem that fruit processing industry has for discarding this material.     

Tracing Nonlinear Equilibrium Paths of Structures Subjected to Thermal Loading

This work presents numerical methods for path tracing and nonlinear stability analysis, including critical point computation and branch-switching, of structures subjected to thermal loading. The differences between the thermal loading case and the standard case of mechanical loading are addressed from both conceptual and computational standpoints. The implementation of the presented methods in a nonlinear finite element system originally designed to deal with mechanical loading is discussed in detail. The techniques presented here are validated by numerical examples.     

Pharmacogenomics of Methotrexate Membrane Transport Pathway: Can Clinical Response to Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Predicted?

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could be used as predictors of patients’ therapeutic outcome variability. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the influence of SNPs in genes encoding for MTX membrane transport proteins in order to predict clinical response to MTX. Methods: Clinicopathological data from 233 RA patients treated with MTX were collected, clinical response defined, and patients genotyped for 23 SNPs. Genotype and haplotype analyses were performed using multivariate methods and a genetic risk index (GRI) for non-response was created. Results: Increased risk for non-response was associated to SLC22A11 rs11231809 T carriers; ABCC1 rs246240 G carriers; ABCC1 rs3784864 G carriers; CGG haplotype for ABCC1 rs35592, rs2074087 and rs3784864; and CGG haplotype for ABCC1 rs35592, rs246240 and rs3784864. GRI demonstrated that patients with Index 3 were 16-fold more likely to be non-responders than those with Index 1. Conclusions: This study revealed that SLC22A11 and ABCC1 may be important to identify those patients who will not benefit from MTX treatment, highlighting the relevance in translating these results to clinical practice. However, further validation by independent studies is needed to develop the field of personalized medicine to predict clinical response to MTX treatment.     

Occurrence and mass flows of fluorochemicals in the Glatt Valley watershed, Switzerland

Fluorochemicals are persistent contaminants that are globally distributed in air, water, sediments, and biota. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in mitigating pollutant releases from municipalities to aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, because WWTPs are point sources of fluorochemicals, it is important to understand their contribution to fluorochemical burdens in the greater context of watersheds. To this end, over a 1 week period, the mass flows of 11 fluorochemicals from seven WWTPs that discharge effluent into the Glatt River in Switzerland were measured and compared to the measured mass flows within the Glatt River. Overall, the fluorochemicals were not removed efficiently during wastewater treatment. Effluents from WWTPs and Glatt River water were dominated by perfluorooctane sulfonate, which was detected in all samples, followed by perfluorohexane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoate. The mass flows of fluorochemicals emanating from WWTPs were found to be conserved within the 35 km Glatt River, which indicates that input from the WWTPs is additive and that removal within the Glatt River is not significant. Per capita discharges of fluorochemicals were calculated from the populations served by the WWTPs studied; the values determined also account for the fluorochemical content of Lake Greifen (Greifensee), which is a lake at the headwaters of the Glatt River that also receives treated wastewater.     

Profile of breastfeeding in children under 2 years old in the city of Itupeva, SP, Brazil

The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of breastfeeding and to identify variables associated with median breastfeeding length. It is a cross-sectional population-based study carried out in a representative sample of 261 children under 2 years old randomly selected in the urban area of Itupeva city, SP, Brazil. The breastfeeding patterns recommended by WHO were used. The frequency and the median length of breastfeeding were estimated by life tables technique. The Wilcoxon test was used to identify association between breastfeeding and the categorical variables (p<0.05) in the bivariate analysis. For the multivariate analysis, the variables associated with the breastfeeding length (Wilcoxon test; p<0.10) were inserted in a Cox Regression model. Almost 100% of the children have initiated breastfeeding and 41.0% were in breastfeeding at the moment of the interview. The median length of breastfeeding was 7.2 months and exclusive breastfeeding was only 28 days. It was observed association between the breastfeeding length and the following variables: father's schooling, mother's marital status, number of children, sequence of birth, bottle-feeding and pacifier use. The Cox regression model selected as significant variables: sequence of birth (HR=1.68; IC95%=1.03-2.73), bottle-feeding use (HR=15.20; IC95%=3.69-62.01) and pacifier use (HR=2.84; IC95%=1.95-4.19). The current pattern of breastfeeding in Itupeva is still far from the WHO recommendations; therefore, encouragement and support to breastfeeding need to be intensified. Variables influencing breastfeeding should be considered in the attempt to increase breastfeeding. Health workers should dedicate all their efforts to increase the exclusive breastfeeding period in children under 6 months of age and increase the total breastfeeding period.