bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancer Incidence Trend in the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill Area, from 1999 to 2014: An Ecological Study
Authors: Choi Kyung-Hwa , Park Myung-Sook , Ha Mina , Hur Jong-Il , Cheong Hae-Kwan
Published: May 2018

The Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) occurred in the Republic of Korea on 7 December 2007. We aimed to describe the cancer incidence trend in Taean County before and after the oil spill. Five major cancers and leukemia were analyzed. Cancer incidence data were obtained from the Korean National Cancer Center. We compared the standardized incidence rates in Taean with those observed nationwide and selected three coastal areas. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to examine the trends in the average annual percent change and perform comparisons. The incidence rate of prostate cancer increased from 2007 to 2009 at an annual average of 39.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): −25.9, 161.8), 13.5% (95% CI: 11.7, 15.4), and 15.6% (95% CI: 11.9, 19.5), respectively, in Taean, nationwide, and in the coastal areas. The incidence of leukemia among women increased at an annual average of 9.5% (95% CI: −26.6, 63.4) in Taean and 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2, 0.9) nationwide; the rate decreased by 1.9% (95% CI: −12.8, 10.4) in the coastal areas. The trends between Taean County and the coastal areas differed only for prostate cancer (p = 0.0004). The incidence of prostate cancer among Taean County residents has increased since the HSOS.
Mercury Levels in Women and Children from Interior Villages in Suriname, South America
Authors: Ouboter Paul E. , Landburg Gwendolyn , Satnarain Gaitrie U. , Starke Sheryl Y. , Nanden Indra , Simon-Friedt Bridget , Hawkins William B. , Taylor Robert , Lichtveld Maureen Y. , Harville Emily , Wickliffe Jeffrey K.
Published: May 2018

Natural sources of mercury, historical gold mining, and contemporary artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities have led to mercury contamination in Suriname. Our primary objective was to evaluate mercury levels in hair of women and children from interior villages in Suriname where mercury levels in fish are elevated. We also estimated blood levels of mercury using an established mathematical conversion to facilitate comparison with other biomonitoring programs in the United States. Estimated levels of mercury in the blood of participants from Suriname were significantly higher than those in women from a heavy marine fish-consuming population in southeast Louisiana and estimates of the US national average. This includes women from Surinamese villages well upstream of ASGM activities. Since residents in these areas rely heavily on local fish, this is likely the source of their exposure to mercury. The levels in hair are similar to those seen in women from longitudinal studies finding neurological impairments in children exposed pre- and postnatally. Additional biomonitoring and neurodevelopmental assessments are warranted in these areas, as well as other areas of the Suriname. Mercury levels in hair (Suriname) and blood (southeast LA USA) were determined using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS).
Evaluation of a Pilot School-Based Physical Activity Clustered Randomised Controlled Trial—Active Schools: Skelmersdale
Authors: Taylor Sarah L. , Noonan Robert J. , Knowles Zoe R. , Owen Michael B. , McGrane Bronagh , Curry Whitney B. , Fairclough Stuart J.
Published: May 2018

Schools are key environments in which physical activity (PA) can be promoted. Various strategies and opportunities should be used to engage children in PA within schools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the multi-component Active Schools: Skelmersdale (AS:Sk) pilot intervention on children’s PA and sedentary time (ST). The AS:Sk intervention was implemented for eight weeks in four schools with three control schools continuing normal practice. It consisted of eight components: active breaks, bounce at the bell, ‘Born To Move’ videos, Daily Mile or 100 Mile Club, playground activity challenge cards, physical education teacher training, newsletters, and activity homework. Child-level measures were collected at baseline and follow-up, including objectively measured PA. After accounting for confounding variables, the intervention had a significant effect on school day ST which was significantly less for the intervention children by 9 min per day compared to the control group. The AS:Sk pilot intervention was effective in reducing school day ST but significant changes in PA were negligible. To increase the efficacy of the current and future school-based interventions, authors should focus on implementation and process evaluations to better understand how schools are implementing intervention components.
Relationship Between Orthodontic Treatment Need and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among 11–18-Year-Old Adolescents in Lithuania
Authors: Kavaliauskienė Aistė , Šidlauskas Antanas , Zaborskis Apolinaras
Published: May 2018

The aim was to examine the relationship between orthodontic treatment need and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among Lithuanian adolescents aged 11–18 across gender and age groups. A representative cross-sectional study of 911 adolescents aged 11–18 (mean (M) = 15.53; Standard Deviation (SD) = 1.52) was conducted in 26 public schools. The schoolchildren completed the Child Perceptions Questionnaire to evaluate their OHRQoL. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) was used to evaluate the severity of malocclusion. The strength of association between variables was evaluated via negative binomial regression estimating the ratio of sum score means (RSSM). A worse OHRQoL score was associated with a higher grade of IOTN; however, only the Emotional and Social wellbeing domains were significantly affected by malocclusion (RSSM = 1.158; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.083–1.237 and RSSM = 1.205; 95% CI: 1.114–1.304, respectively). The significant association was identified only among females (RSSM = 1.264; 95% CI: 1.176–1.359). A significant association was observed in all age groups for Emotional and Social well-being domains but only in the oldest age group for Oral Symptoms and Functional Limitations domains. Conclusions: Malocclusion has a negative impact on the OHRQoL of young people with emotional and social aspects being the most affected. Girls and older adolescents suffered from malocclusion more than boys and their younger counterparts.
Increased Vaccination Coverage among Adolescents and Young Adults in the District of Palermo as a Result of a Public Health Strategy to Counteract an ‘Epidemic Panic’
Authors: Costantino Claudio , Restivo Vincenzo , Ventura Gianmarco , D’Angelo Claudio , Randazzo Maria , Casuccio Nicolò , Palermo Mario , Casuccio Alessandra , Vitale Francesco
Published: May 2018

During the summer of 2016 four cases of invasive meningococcal disease in rapid succession among young adults in the district of Palermo, Italy, resulting in one death, were widely reported by local and national mass media. The resultant ‘epidemic panic’ among the general population overloaded the vaccination units of the Palermo district over the following months. Strategies implemented by the Sicilian and local public health authorities to counteract ‘meningitis fear’ included the following: (a) extension of active and free-of-charge anti-meningococcal tetravalent vaccination from age class 12–18 to 12–30 years old; (b) implementation of vaccination units during normal clinic hours in rooms tailored for vaccine administration; (c) development of informative institutional tools and timely communication throughout local mass media to reassure the general population. In 2016, an increase in the anti-meningococcal coverage was observed in the Palermo district (+18% for 16-year-olds and +14% for 18-year-olds) and at the regional level (+11.2% and +13.5%, respectively). Concurrent catch-up of other recommended vaccinations for age (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-poliomyelitis and papillomavirus) resulted in a further increase of administered doses. The fear of meningitis, managed by the Sicilian public health authorities, had positive impacts in terms of prevention. In particular, the communication strategies that were adopted contributed to educating Sicilian young adults about vaccination issues.
Supporting Facility Management Processes through End-Users’ Integration and Coordinated BIM-GIS Technologies
Authors: Mirarchi Claudio , Pavan Alberto , De Marco Francesco , Wang Xiangyu , Song Yongze
Published: May 2018

The integration of facility management and building information modelling (BIM) is an innovative and critical undertaking process to support facility maintenance and management. Even though recent research has proposed various methods and performed an increasing number of case studies, there are still issues of communication processes to be addressed. This paper presents a theoretical framework for digital systems integration of virtual models and smart technologies. Based on the comprehensive analysis of existing technologies for indoor localization, a new workflow is defined and designed, and it is utilized in a practical case study to test the model performance. In the new workflow, a facility management supporting platform is proposed and characterized, featuring indoor positioning systems to allow end users to send geo-referenced reports to central virtual models. In addition, system requirements, information technology (IT) architecture and application procedures are presented. Results show that the integration of end users in the maintenance processes through smart and easy tools can overcome the existing limits of barcode systems and building management systems for failure localization. The proposed framework offers several advantages. First, it allows the identification of every element of an asset including wide physical building elements (walls, floors, etc.) without requiring a prior mapping. Second, the entire cycle of maintenance activities is managed through a unique integrated system including the territorial dimension. Third, data are collected in a standard structure for future uses. Furthermore, the integration of the process in a centralized BIM-GIS (geographical information system) information management system admit a scalable representation of the information supporting facility management processes in terms of assets and supply chain management and monitoring from a spatial perspective.
Evaluation of the Cartographical Quality of Urban Plans by Eye-Tracking
Authors: Burian Jaroslav , Popelka Stanislav , Beitlova Marketa
Published: May 2018

This paper describes a study of the evaluation of cartographic quality of urban plans in the Czech Republic using eye-tracking. Although map visualization is a crucial part of the urban planning process, only a few studies have focused on the evaluation of these maps. The plans of four Czech cities with different styles of visualization and legends were used in this eye-tracking experiment. Respondents were required to solve spatial tasks consisting of finding and marking a certain symbol on a map. Statistical analyses of various eye-tracking metrics were used, and the differences between experts and students and between the map and legend sections of the stimuli were explored. The study results showed that the quality of map symbols and the map legend significantly influence the legibility and understandability of urban plans. For correct decision-making, it is essential to produce maps according to certain standards, to make them as clear as possible, and to perform usability testing on them.
Implementation of a Parallel GPU-Based Space-Time Kriging Framework
Authors: Zhang Yueheng , Zheng Xinqi , Wang Zhenhua , Ai Gang , Huang Qing
Published: May 2018

In the study of spatiotemporal geographical phenomena, the space–time interpolation method is widely applied, and the demands for computing speed and accuracy are increasing. For nonprofessional modelers, utilizing the space–time interpolation method quickly is a challenge. To solve this problem, the classical ordinary kriging algorithm was selected and expanded to a spatiotemporal kriging algorithm. Using the OpenCL framework to integrate central processing unit (CPU) and graphic processing unit (GPU) computing resources, a parallel spatiotemporal kriging algorithm was implemented, and three experiments were conducted in this work to verify the results. The results indicated the following: (1) when the size of the prediction point dataset is consistent, the performance of the method is robust with the increasing size of the observation point dataset; (2) the acceleration effect of the parallel method increases with an increased number of predicted points. Compared with the original sequential program, the implementation of the improved parallel framework showed a 3.23 speedup, which obviously shortens the interpolation time; (3) when cross-validating the temperature data in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region, the space–time acceleration model provides a better fit than traditional pure space interpolation.
mTOR Signaling and Neural Stem Cells: The Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Model
Authors: Polchi Alice , Magini Alessandro , Meo Danila Di , Tancini Brunella , Emiliani Carla
Published: May 2018

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine-threonine kinase, plays a pivotal role in regulating cell growth and proliferation. Notably, a great deal of evidence indicates that mTOR signaling is also crucial in controlling proliferation and differentiation of several stem cell compartments. Consequently, dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is often associated with a variety of disease, such as cancer and metabolic and genetic disorders. For instance, hyperactivation of mTORC1 in neural stem cells (NSCs) is associated with the insurgence of neurological manifestation characterizing tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). In this review, we survey the recent contributions of TSC physiopathology studies to understand the role of mTOR signaling in both neurogenesis and tumorigenesis and discuss how these new insights can contribute to developing new therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases and cancer.
Silencing Stem Cell Factor Gene in Fibroblasts to Regulate Paracrine Factor Productions and Enhance c-Kit Expression in Melanocytes on Melanogenesis
Authors: Li Pin-Hui , Liu Li-Heng , Chang Cheng-Chung , Gao Rong , Leung Chung-Hang , Ma Dik-Lung , David Wang Hui-Min
Published: May 2018

Melanogenesis is a complex physiological mechanism involving various paracrine factors. Skin cells such as keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and melanocytes communicate with one another through secreted regulators, thereby regulating the melanocytes’ bio-functions. The stem cell factor (SCF) is a paracrine factor produced by fibroblasts, and its receptor, c-kit, is expressed on melanocytes. Binding of SCF to c-kit activates autophosphorylation and tyrosine kinase to switch on its signal transmission. SCF inhibition does not suppress fibroblast proliferation in MTT assay, and SCF silencing induced mRNA expressions of paracrine factor genes, HGF, NRG-1, and CRH in qPCR results. Following UVB stimulation, gene expressions of HGF, NRG, and CRH were higher than homeostasis; in particular, HGF exhibited the highest correlation with SCF variations. We detected fibroblasts regulated SCF in an autocrine-dependent manner, and the conditioned medium obtained from fibroblast culture was applied to treat melanocytes. Melanogenesis-related genes, tyrosinase and pmel17, were upregulated under conditioned mediums with SCF silencing and exposed to UVB treatments. Melanin quantities in the melanocytes had clearly increased in the pigment content assay. In conclusion, SCF silencing causes variations in both fibroblast paracrine factors and melanocyte melanogenesis, and the differences in gene expressions were observed following UVB exposure.
Lambertianic Acid Sensitizes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis via Inhibition of XIAP/NF-κB and Activation of Caspases and Death Receptor 4
Authors: Ahn Deok Soo , Lee Hyo Jung , Hwang Jisung , Han Hyukgyu , Kim Bonglee , Shim BumSang , Kim Sung-Hoon
Published: May 2018

Lambertianic acid (LA) is a biologically active compound from the leaves of Pinus koraiensis. In the present study, apoptotic mechanisms of LA plus TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were elucidated in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLCs). Cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting were performed. Here, combined treatment of LA and TRAIL increased cytotoxicity, sub-G1 population, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and caspase3/8/9 in A549 and H1299 cells compared to LA or TRAIL alone. Furthermore, combined treatment of LA and TRAIL significantly decreased antiapoptotic proteins such as B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Fas-like inhibitor protein (FLIP), and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), and enhanced the activation of proapoptotic proteins Bid compared to LA or TRAIL alone. In addition, combined treatment of LA and TRAIL upregulated the expression of Death receptor 4 (DR4) and downregulated phosphorylation of nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (p-NF-κB), inhibitory protein of kB family (p-IκB), and FLIP in A549 and H1299 cells along with disrupted binding of XIAP with caspase3 or NF-κB. Overall, these findings suggest that lambertianic acid enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis via inhibition of XIAP/NF-κB in TRAIL resistant NSCLCs.
Metformin Induces Apoptosis and Alters Cellular Responses to Oxidative Stress in Ht29 Colon Cancer Cells: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Sena Paola , Mancini Stefano , Benincasa Marta , Mariani Francesco , Palumbo Carla , Roncucci Luca
Published: May 2018

Accumulating evidence suggests that metformin, used as an antidiabetic drug, possesses anti-cancer properties. Metformin reduced the incidence and growth of experimental tumors in vivo. In a randomized clinical trial among nondiabetic patients, metformin treatment significantly decreased the number of aberrant crypt foci compared to the untreated group with a follow-up of 1 month. In our study, HT29 cells were treated with graded concentrations of metformin, 10 mM/25 mM/50 mM for 24/48 h. We performed immunofluorescence experiments by means of confocal microscopy and western blot analysis to evaluate a panel of factors involved in apoptotic/autophagic processes and oxidative stress response. Moreover, HT29 cells treated with metformin were analyzed by a flow cytometry assay to detect the cell apoptotic rate. The results demonstrate that metformin exerts growth inhibitory effects on cultured HT29 cells by increasing both apoptosis and autophagy; moreover, it affects the survival of cultured cells inhibiting the transcriptional activation of Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). The effects of metformin on HT29 cells were dose- and time-dependent. These results are very intriguing since metformin is emerging as a multi-faceted drug: It has a good safety profile and is associated with low cost and might be a promising candidate for the prevention or the treatment of colorectal cancer.
B-Myb Mediates Proliferation and Migration of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Suppressing IGFBP3
Authors: Fan Xiaoyan , Wang Yitao , Jiang Tinghui , Cai Wei , Jin Yuelei , Niu Yulong , Zhu Huifang , Bu Youquan
Published: May 2018

B-Myb has been shown to play an important oncogenic role in several types of human cancers, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We previously found that B-Myb is aberrantly upregulated in NSCLC, and overexpression of B-Myb can significantly promote NSCLC cell growth and motility. In the present study, we have further investigated the therapeutic potential of B-Myb in NSCLC. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that high expression of B-Myb is significantly associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. A loss-of-function study demonstrated that depletion of B-Myb resulted in significant inhibition of cell growth and delayed cell cycle progression in NSCLC cells. Notably, B-Myb depletion also decreased NSCLC cell migration and invasion ability as well as colony-forming ability. Moreover, an in vivo study demonstrated that B-Myb depletion caused significant inhibition of tumor growth in a NSCLC xenograft nude mouse model. A molecular mechanistic study by RNA-seq analysis revealed that B-Myb depletion led to deregulation of various downstream genes, including insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3). Overexpression of IGFBP3 suppressed the B-Myb-induced proliferation and migration, whereas knockdown of IGFBP3 significantly rescued the inhibited cell proliferation and motility caused by B-Myb siRNA (small interfering RNA). Expression and luciferase reporter assays revealed that B-Myb could directly suppress the expression of IGFBP3. Taken together, our results suggest that B-Myb functions as a tumor-promoting gene via suppressing IGFBP3 and could serve as a novel therapeutic target in NSCLC.
Inhibition of Arachidonate 12/15-Lipoxygenase Improves α-Galactosidase Efficacy in iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes from Fabry Patients
Authors: Chien Yueh , Chou Shih-Jie , Chang Yuh-Lih , Leu Hsin-Bang , Yang Yi-Ping , Tsai Ping-Hsing , Lai Ying-Hsiu , Chen Kuan-Hsuan , Chang Wei-Chao , Sung Shih-Hsien , Yu Wen-Chung
Published: May 2018

(1) Background: A high incidence of intervening sequence (IVS)4+919 G>A mutation with later-onset cardiac phenotype have been reported in a majority of Taiwan Fabry cohorts. Some evidence indicated that conventional biomarkers failed to predict the long-term progression and therapeutic outcome; (2) Methods: In this study, we constructed an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based platform from Fabry cardiomyopathy (FC) patients carrying IVS4+919 G>A mutation to screen for potential targets that may help the conventional treatment; (3) Results: The FC-patient-derived iPSC-differentiated cardiomyocytes (FC-iPSC-CMs) carried an expected IVS4+919 G>A genetic mutation and recapitulated several FC characteristics, including low α-galactosidase A enzyme activity and cellular hypertrophy. The proteomic analysis revealed that arachidonate 12/15-lipoxygenase (Alox12/15) was the most highly upregulated marker in FC-iPSC-CMs, and the metabolites of Alox12/15, 12(S)- and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE), were also elevated in the culture media. Late administration of Alox12/15 pharmacological inhibitor LOXBlock-1 combined with α-galactosidase, but not α-galactosidase alone, effectively reduced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, the secretion of 12(S)- and 15(S)-HETE and the upregulation of fibrotic markers at the late phase of FC; (4) Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that cardiac Alox12/15 and circulating 12(S)-HETE/15(S)-HETE are involved in the pathogenesis of FC with IVS4+919 G>A mutation.
Exploration of ABA Responsive miRNAs Reveals a New Hormone Signaling Crosstalk Pathway Regulating Root Growth of Populus euphratica
Authors: Lian Conglong , Yao Kun , Duan Hui , Li Qing , Liu Chao , Yin Weilun , Xia Xinli
Published: May 2018

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the regulation of plant adaptation, seed germination, and root development in plants. However, the mechanism of ABA regulation of root development is still poorly understood, especially through the miRNA-mediated pathway. Here, small RNA (sRNA)-seq and degradome-seq were used to analyze the miRNAs’ responsive to ABA in the stems and roots of P. euphratica, a model tree species for abiotic stress-resistance research. In total, 255 unique mature sequences, containing 154 known miRNAs and 101 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 33 miRNAs and 54 miRNAs were responsive to ABA in the roots and stems, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of these miRNAs and their targets revealed a new hormone signaling crosstalk model of ABA regulation of root growth through miRNA-mediated pathways, such as peu-miR-n68 mediation of the crosstalk between ABA and the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway and peu-miR477b mediation of the crosstalk between ABA and Gibberellic acid (GA) signaling. Taken together, our genome-wide analysis of the miRNAs provides a new insight into the mechanism of ABA regulation of root growth in Populus.
Why Two? On the Role of (A-)Symmetry in Negative Supercoiling of DNA by Gyrase
Authors: Klostermeier Dagmar
Published: May 2018

Gyrase is a type IIA topoisomerase that catalyzes negative supercoiling of DNA. The enzyme consists of two GyrA and two GyrB subunits. It is believed to introduce negative supercoils into DNA by converting a positive DNA node into a negative node through strand passage: First, it cleaves both DNA strands of a double-stranded DNA, termed the G-segment, and then it passes a second segment of the same DNA molecule, termed the T-segment, through the gap created. As a two-fold symmetric enzyme, gyrase contains two copies of all elements that are key for the supercoiling reaction: The GyrB subunits provide two active sites for ATP binding and hydrolysis. The GyrA subunits contain two C-terminal domains (CTDs) for DNA binding and wrapping to stabilize the positive DNA node, and two catalytic tyrosines for DNA cleavage. While the presence of two catalytic tyrosines has been ascribed to the necessity of cleaving both strands of the G-segment to enable strand passage, the role of the two ATP hydrolysis events and of the two CTDs has been less clear. This review summarizes recent results on the role of these duplicate elements for individual steps of the supercoiling reaction, and discusses the implications for the mechanism of DNA supercoiling.
Tryptophan-Containing Dual Neuroprotective Peptides: Prolyl Endopeptidase Inhibition and Caenorhabditis elegans Protection from β-Amyloid Peptide Toxicity
Authors: Manzanares Paloma , Martínez Roberto , Garrigues Sandra , Genovés Salvador , Ramón Daniel , Marcos Jose F. , Martorell Patricia
Published: May 2018

Neuroprotective peptides represent an attractive pharmacological strategy for the prevention or treatment of age-related diseases, for which there are currently few effective therapies. Lactoferrin (LF)-derived peptides (PKHs) and a set of six rationally-designed tryptophan (W)-containing heptapeptides (PACEIs) were characterized as prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitors, and their effect on β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) toxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was evaluated. Two LF-derived sequences, PKH8 and PKH11, sharing a W at the C-terminal end, and the six PACEI heptapeptides (PACEI48L to PACEI53L) exhibited significant in vitro PEP inhibition. The inhibitory peptides PKH11 and PACEI50L also alleviated Aβ-induced paralysis in the in vivo C. elegans model of AD. Partial or total loss of the inhibitory effect on PEP was achieved by the substitution of W residues in PKH11 and PACEI50L and correlated with the loss of protection against Aβ toxicity, pointing out the relevance of W on the neuroprotective activity. Further experiments suggest that C. elegans protection might not be mediated by an antioxidant mechanism but rather by inhibition of Aβ oligomerization and thus, amyloid deposition. In conclusion, novel natural and rationally-designed W-containing peptides are suitable starting leads to design effective neuroprotective agents.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Benzimidazole-Derived Biocompatible Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes as Anticancer Chemotherapeutics
Authors: AlAjmi Mohamed , Hussain Afzal , Rehman Md. , Khan Azmat , Shaikh Perwez , Khan Rais
Published: May 2018

Herein, we have synthesized and characterized a new benzimidazole-derived “BnI” ligand and its copper(II) complex, [Cu(BnI)2], 1, and zinc(II) complex, [Zn(BnI)2], 2, using elemental analysis and various spectroscopic techniques. Interaction of complexes 1 and 2 with the biomolecules viz. HSA (human serum albumin) and DNA were studied using absorption titration, fluorescence techniques, and in silico molecular docking studies. The results exhibited the significant binding propensity of both complexes 1 and 2, but complex 1 showed more avid binding to HSA and DNA. Also, the nuclease activity of 1 and 2 was analyzed for pBR322 DNA, and the results obtained confirmed the potential of the complexes to cleave DNA. Moreover, the mechanistic pathway was studied in the presence of various radical scavengers, which revealed that ROS (reactive oxygen species) are responsible for the nuclease activity in complex 1, whereas in complex 2, the possibility of hydrolytic cleavage also exists. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the ligand and complexes 1 and 2 were studied on a panel of five different human cancer cells, namely: HepG2, SK-MEL-1, HT018, HeLa, and MDA-MB 231, and compared with the standard drug, cisplatin. The results are quite promising against MDA-MB 231 (breast cancer cell line of 1), with an IC50 value that is nearly the same as the standard drug. Apoptosis was induced by complex 1 on MDA-MB 231 cells predominantly as studied by flow cytometry (FACS). The adhesion and migration of cancer cells were also examined upon treatment of complexes 1 and 2. Furthermore, the in vivo chronic toxicity profile of complexes 1 and 2 was also studied on all of the major organs of the mice, and found them to be less toxic. Thus, the results warrant further investigations of complex 1.
Oxidative Stress in Preeclampsia and Placental Diseases
Authors: Aouache Rajaa , Biquard Louise , Vaiman Daniel , Miralles Francisco
Published: May 2018

Preeclampsia is a persistent hypertensive gestational disease characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria, which presents from the second trimester of pregnancy. At the cellular level, preeclampsia has largely been associated with the release of free radicals by the placenta. Placenta-borne oxidative and nitrosative stresses are even sometimes considered as the major molecular determinants of the maternal disease. In this review, we present the recent literature evaluating free radical production in both normal and pathological placentas (including preeclampsia and other major pregnancy diseases), in humans and animal models. We then assess the putative effects of these free radicals on the placenta and maternal endothelium. This analysis was conducted with regard to recent papers and possible therapeutic avenues.
Ethyl Acetate Fraction from Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) Ameliorates Cerebral Neuronal Loss and Cognitive Deficit via the JNK/Akt Pathway in TMT-Induced Mice
Authors: Kim Jong Min , Park Seon Kyeong , Kang Jin Yong , Park Su Bin , Yoo Seul Ki , Han Hye Ju , Kim Chul-Woo , Lee Uk , Kim Sea-Hyun , Heo Ho Jin
Published: May 2018

This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant capacity and protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from persimmon (Diospyros kaki) (EFDK) on H2O2-induced hippocampal HT22 cells and trimethyltin chloride (TMT)-induced Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. EFDK had high antioxidant activities and neuroprotective effects in HT22 cells. EFDK ameliorated behavioral and memory deficits in Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. Also, EFDK restored the antioxidant system by regulating malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced gluthathione (GSH), and the cholinergic system by controlling the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and expression. EFDK enhanced mitochondrial function by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Ultimately, EFDK regulated the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway and apoptotic pathway by suppressing the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1pSer), phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (p-NF-κB), Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and cytosolic cytochrome c, and increasing the expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and mitochondrial cytochrome c. This study suggested that EFDK had antioxidant activity and a neuroprotective effect, and ameliorated cognitive abnormalities in TMT-induced mice by regulating the JNK/Akt and apoptotic pathway.
Alpha-Mannosidosis: Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Ceccarini Maria Rachele , Codini Michela , Conte Carmela , Patria Federica , Cataldi Samuela , Bertelli Matteo , Albi Elisabetta , Beccari Tommaso
Published: May 2018

Alpha-mannosidosis (α-mannosidosis) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the lysosomal α-d-mannosidase. So far, 155 variants from 191 patients have been identified and in part characterized at the biochemical level. Similarly to other lysosomal storage diseases, there is no relationship between genotype and phenotype in alpha-mannosidosis. Enzyme replacement therapy is at the moment the most effective therapy for lysosomal storage disease, including alpha-mannosidosis. In this review, the genetic of alpha-mannosidosis has been described together with the results so far obtained by two different therapeutic strategies: bone marrow transplantation and enzyme replacement therapy. The primary indication to offer hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients affected by alpha-mannosidosis is preservation of neurocognitive function and prevention of early death. The results obtained from a Phase I–II study and a Phase III study provide evidence of the positive clinical effect of the recombinant enzyme on patients with alpha-mannosidosis.
The Effect of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Wharton’s Jelly in Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Is Dose-Dependent and Can Be Facilitated by Repeated Application
Authors: Krupa Petr , Vackova Irena , Ruzicka Jiri , Zaviskova Kristyna , Dubisova Jana , Koci Zuzana , Turnovcova Karolina , Urdzikova Lucia Machova , Kubinova Sarka , Rehak Svatopluk , Jendelova Pavla
Published: May 2018

Human mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly (WJ-MSCs) were used for the treatment of the ischemic-compression model of spinal cord injury in rats. To assess the effectivity of the treatment, different dosages (0.5 or 1.5 million cells) and repeated applications were compared. Cells or saline were applied intrathecally by lumbar puncture for one week only, or in three consecutive weeks after injury. Rats were assessed for locomotor skills (BBB, rotarod, flat beam) for 9 weeks. Spinal cord tissue was morphometrically analyzed for axonal sprouting, sparing of gray and white matter and astrogliosis. Endogenous gene expression (Gfap, Casp3, Irf5, Cd86, Mrc1, Cd163) was studied with quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR). Significant recovery of functional outcome was observed in all of the treated groups except for the single application of the lowest number of cells. Histochemical analyses revealed a gradually increasing effect of grafted cells, resulting in a significant increase in the number of GAP43+ fibers, a higher amount of spared gray matter and reduced astrogliosis. mRNA expression of macrophage markers and apoptosis was downregulated after the repeated application of 1.5 million cells. We conclude that the effect of hWJ-MSCs on spinal cord regeneration is dose-dependent and potentiated by repeated application.
Doxycycline Impairs Mitochondrial Function and Protects Human Glioma Cells from Hypoxia-Induced Cell Death: Implications of Using Tet-Inducible Systems
Authors: Luger Anna-Luisa , Sauer Benedikt , Lorenz Nadja I. , Engel Anna L. , Braun Yannick , Voss Martin , Harter Patrick N. , Steinbach Joachim P. , Ronellenfitsch Michael W.
Published: May 2018

Inducible gene expression is an important tool in molecular biology research to study protein function. Most frequently, the antibiotic doxycycline is used for regulation of so-called tetracycline (Tet)-inducible systems. In contrast to stable gene overexpression, these systems allow investigation of acute and reversible effects of cellular protein induction. Recent reports have already called for caution when using Tet-inducible systems as the employed antibiotics can disturb mitochondrial function and alter cellular metabolism by interfering with mitochondrial translation. Reprogramming of energy metabolism has lately been recognized as an important emerging hallmark of cancer and is a central focus of cancer research. Therefore, the scope of this study was to systematically analyze dose-dependent metabolic effects of doxycycline on a panel of glioma cell lines with concomitant monitoring of gene expression from Tet-inducible systems. We report that doxycycline doses commonly used with inducible expression systems (0.01–1 µg/mL) substantially alter cellular metabolism: Mitochondrial protein synthesis was inhibited accompanied by reduced oxygen and increased glucose consumption. Furthermore, doxycycline protected human glioma cells from hypoxia-induced cell death. An impairment of cell growth was only detectable with higher doxycycline doses (10 µg/mL). Our findings describe settings where doxycycline exerts effects on eukaryotic cellular metabolism, limiting the employment of Tet-inducible systems.
A Novel Rough WASPAS Approach for Supplier Selection in a Company Manufacturing PVC Carpentry Products
Authors: Stojić Gordan , Stević Željko , Antuchevičienė Jurgita , Pamučar Dragan , Vasiljević Marko
Published: May 2018

The decision-making process requires the prior definition and fulfillment of certain factors, especially when it comes to complex areas such as supply chain management. One of the most important items in the initial phase of the supply chain, which strongly influences its further flow, is to decide on the most favorable supplier. In this paper a selection of suppliers in a company producing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) carpentry was made based on the new approach developed in the field of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). The relative values of the weight coefficients of the criteria are calculated using the rough analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method. The evaluation and ranking of suppliers is carried out using the new rough weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method. In order to determine the stability of the model and the ability to apply the developed rough WASPAS approach, the paper analyzes its sensitivity, which involves changing the value of the coefficient λ in the first part. The second part of the sensitivity analysis relates to the application of different multi-criteria decision-making methods in combination with rough numbers that have been developed in the very recent past. The model presented in the paper is solved by using the following methods: rough Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), rough Evaluation based on Distancefrom Average Solution (EDAS), rough MultiAttributive Border Approximation area Comparison (MABAC), rough Višekriterijumsko kompromisno rangiranje (VIKOR), rough MultiAttributiveIdeal-Real Comparative Analysis (MAIRCA) and rough Multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis plus the full multiplicative form (MULTIMOORA). In addition, in the third part of the sensitivity analysis, the Spearman correlation coefficient (SCC) of the ranks obtained was calculated which confirms the applicability of all the proposed approaches. The proposed rough model allows the evaluation of alternatives despite the imprecision and lack of quantitative information in the information-management process.
Multimedia Storytelling in Journalism: Exploring Narrative Techniques in Snow Fall
Authors: Van Krieken Kobie
Published: May 2018

News stories aim to create an immersive reading experience by virtually transporting the audience to the described scenes. In print journalism, this experience is facilitated by text-linguistic narrative techniques, such as detailed scene reconstructions, a chronological event structure, point-of-view writing, and speech and thought reports. The present study examines how these techniques are translated into journalistic multimedia stories and explores how the distinctive features of text, image, video, audio, and graphic animations are exploited to immerse the audience in otherwise distant news events. To that end, a case study of the New York Times multimedia story Snow Fall is carried out. Results show that scenes are vividly reconstructed through a combination of text, image, video, and graphic animation. The story’s event structure is expressed in text and picture, while combinations of text, video, and audio are used to represent the events from the viewpoints of news actors. Although text is still central to all narrative techniques, it is complemented with other media formats to create various multimedia combinations, each intensifying the experience of immersion.
Double Distance-Calculation-Pruning for Similarity Search
Authors: Pola Ives Renê Venturini , Pola Fernanda Paula Barbosa , Eler Danilo Medeiros
Published: May 2018

Many modern applications deal with complex data, where retrieval by similarity plays an important role. Complex data main comparison mechanisms are based on similarity predicates. They are usually immersed in metric spaces where distance functions are employed to express the similarity and a lower bound property is usually employed to prevent distance calculations. Retrieval by similarity is implemented by unary and binary operators. Most of the studies aimed at improving the efficiency of unary operators, either by using metric access methods or mathematical properties to prune parts of the search space during query answering. Studies on binary operators to solve similarity joins aim to improve efficiency and most of them use only the metric lower bound property for pruning. However, they are dependent on the query parameters, such as the range radius. In this paper, we propose a generic concept that uses both lower and upper bound properties based on the Metric Spaces Theory to increase the avoidance of element comparisons. The concept can be applied on any existing similarity retrieval method. We analyzed the prunability power increase and show an example of its application on classical join nested loops algorithms. Practical evaluation over both synthetic and real data sets shows that our method reduced the number of distance evaluations on similarity joins.
Inventions and Innovation in Integration of Renewable Energy Systems
Authors: Chirapongsananurak Pisitpol , Santoso Surya
Published: May 2018

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Innovative Composites Based on Organic Modified Zirconium Phosphate and PEOT/PBT Copolymer
Authors: Bastianini Maria , Scatto Marco , Sisani Michele , Scopece Paolo , Patelli Alessandro , Petracci Annarita
Published: May 2018

Polymers are key building blocks in the development of smart materials for biomedical applications, and many polymers offer unique properties for specific applications. A wide range of materials is available through the use of polymer compounds. These compounds can incorporate performance-enhancing fillers, which provide properties not reachable with ordinary neat polymers (e.g., bending stiffness, tensile strength, elongation, torque, biological activity such as antimicrobial properties, cell differentiation). In this work, the preparation of functional biocomposites containing organic modified zirconium phosphate (ZrP) as drug carrier is presented. The composites were prepared by melt compounding, which offers significant promise since it allows an easy customization of the plastic compounds that well suit biomedical applications (devices, long-term implantable polymers, bioresorbable polymers). The obtained polymer composites based on ZrP intercalated with gentamicin (GMT) and poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) were characterized.
Background Subtraction for Moving Object Detection in RGBD Data: A Survey
Authors: Maddalena Lucia , Petrosino Alfredo
Published: May 2018

The paper provides a specific perspective view on background subtraction for moving object detection, as a building block for many computer vision applications, being the first relevant step for subsequent recognition, classification, and activity analysis tasks. Since color information is not sufficient for dealing with problems like light switches or local gradual changes of illumination, shadows cast by the foreground objects, and color camouflage, new information needs to be caught to deal with these issues. Depth synchronized information acquired by low-cost RGBD sensors is considered in this paper to give evidence about which issues can be solved, but also to highlight new challenges and design opportunities in several applications and research areas.
Observations on the Early Establishment of Foliar Endophytic Fungi in Leaf Discs and Living Leaves of a Model Woody Angiosperm, Populus trichocarpa (Salicaceae)
Authors: Huang Yu-Ling , Zimmerman Naupaka , Arnold A.
Published: May 2018

Fungal endophytes are diverse and widespread symbionts that occur in the living tissues of all lineages of plants without causing evidence of disease. Culture-based and culture-free studies indicate that they often are abundant in the leaves of woody angiosperms, but only a few studies have visualized endophytic fungi in leaf tissues, and the process through which most endophytes colonize leaves has not been studied thoroughly. We inoculated leaf discs and the living leaves of a model woody angiosperm, Populus trichocarpa, which has endophytes that represent three distantly-related genera (Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma). We used scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to evaluate the timeline and processes by which they colonize leaf tissue. Under laboratory conditions with high humidity, conidia germinated on leaf discs to yield hyphae that grew epiphytically and incidentally entered stomata, but did not grow in a directed fashion toward stomatal openings. No cuticular penetration was observed. The endophytes readily colonized the interiors of leaf discs that were detached from living leaves, and could be visualized within discs with light microscopy. Although they were difficult to visualize within the interior of living leaves following in vivo inoculations, standard methods for isolating foliar endophytes confirmed their presence.
Mean-Variance Portfolio Selection in a Jump-Diffusion Financial Market with Common Shock Dependence
Authors: Tian Yingxu , Sun Zhongyang
Published: May 2018

This paper considers the optimal investment problem in a financial market with one risk-free asset and one jump-diffusion risky asset. It is assumed that the insurance risk process is driven by a compound Poisson process and the two jump number processes are correlated by a common shock. A general mean-variance optimization problem is investigated, that is, besides the objective of terminal condition, the quadratic optimization functional includes also a running penalizing cost, which represents the deviations of the insurer’s wealth from a desired profit-solvency goal. By solving the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation, we derive the closed-form expressions for the value function, as well as the optimal strategy. Moreover, under suitable assumption on model parameters, our problem reduces to the classical mean-variance portfolio selection problem and the efficient frontier is obtained.
5,6,7,8-Tetrafluoro-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,3,4]oxadiazine
Authors: Zissimou Georgia , Kourtellaris Andreas , Koutentis Panayiotis
Published: May 2018

Treating 1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene (6) with N′-pentafluorophenylbenzohydrazide (7) and K2CO3 (1.1 equiv) in EtOH at ca. 110 °C (sealed tube) for 24 h affords 5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,3,4]oxadiazine (5) (36%) and N′-(2-nitrophenyl)-N′-(perfluorophenyl)benzohydrazide (3) (37%). The X-ray crystallography of 5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-benzo[e][1,3,4]oxadiazine (5) is provided. Microwave irradiation (100 W) of perfluorophenylbenzohydrazide 3 with K2CO3 (1.1 equiv) in THF at ca. 120 °C (sealed tube, 80 PSI) for 3 h gives oxadiazine 5 (85%), while reduction of the nitro group using Sn (4 equiv) in glacial acetic acid at ca. 20 °C for 30 min, followed by cyclodehydration at ca. 118 °C for 20 min and treatment with 2 M NaOH for 24 h resulted in 1-(perfluorophenyl)-3-phenyl-1,2,4-benzotriazin-4-yl (4) with 93% yield.