bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigations into Enzymatic Bioconversion to Form Rebaudioside A from Stevioside
Authors: Czinkóczky Réka , Németh Áron
Published: October 2018

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a perennial shrub from South America that produces steviol glycosides which are 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the main sweetening components of its leaves. Steviol glycosides are diterpenoids whose biosynthetic pathways have four steps in common with gibberellic acid formation. The most important enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway expressed by the gene UGT76G1 is referred to as UDP-glycosyltransferase 76G1. It converts stevioside into rebaudioside A. The former has a bitter aftertaste and is a poorer sweetener but is most abundant. This enzyme can be produced in a next generation recombinant way by Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Trichoderma longibrachiatum produces the enzyme β-1,3-glucanase enzyme, which can perform a transglycosylation between stevioside to gain rebaudioside A. In our study, a full-factorial statistical experimental design that applies different glycosyl donors, temperatures, enzyme-to-substrate ratios and pH's as factors in order to achieve higher Reb A ratios in S. rebaudiana extracts after transglycosylation is reported. The presented statistical design was appropriate to indicate relevant and significant factors, providing a good basis for an upcoming experimental design of a real-world optimization.
Posturographic Balance’s Validity in Mental and Physical Fatigue Assessment Among Cadet Pilots
Authors: Cheng Shan , Sun Jicheng , Ma Jin , Dang Weitao , Tang Mengjun , Hui Duoduo , Zhang Lili , Hu Wendong
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND: Postural control is adversely affected by mental and physical fatigue, but its validity in fatigue assessment has not been investigated systemically among pilots. We explored the correlations of posturographic balance with physiological and psychological signals among
cadet pilots.METHODS: In experiment 1, 37 cadet pilots performed a posturographic balance test, heart rate variability (HRV), and profile of mood states (POMS) during 40 h of sleep deprivation. For experiment 2, physiological signals of 60 subjects, including breathing rate (BR),
systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured under the effects of physical fatigue. Then correlations with a mental and physical fatigue index based on effective posturographic parameters with those subjective and objective methods were analyzed by linear regression.RESULTS:
The mental fatigue index correlated linearly with the depression score of the POMS (r = 0.212), standard deviation of normal to normal beats (r = 0.286), and square root of the mean differences of successive beat intervals (r = 0.207). Meanwhile, linear correlations with frequency-domain parameters
of HRV such as total power, low frequency power, and high frequency power were also statistically significant. With the increase in the physical fatigue index, physiological signals such as SBP (r = 0.300), HR (r = 0.349), and BR (r = 0.266) increased linearly.CONCLUSIONS: Impairment
of postural stability can reflect the aggravation of mental and physical fatigue among cadet pilots, which provides a potential method for assessing fatigue level before flight tasks and preventing errors by pilots.Cheng S, Sun J, Ma J, Dang W, Tang M, Hui D, Zhang L, Hu W. Posturographic
balance’s validity in mental and physical fatigue assessment among cadet pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(11):961–966.
F/A-18 Aviator Successfully Returned to Flight After an In-Flight Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Authors: DeYoung Henry , Ahmed Yousef , Buckley Jami
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax (PTX) is a diagnostic challenge in aviators given the common occurrence of musculoskeletal pain after flight and notorious underreporting of symptoms of other diseases in this group.CASE REPORT: A 24-yr-old active duty F/A-18 Weapon
Systems Officer performed an anti-G straining maneuver (AGSM) in response to a 6.5-g warm-up turn during a training flight at 16,000 ft (4876.8 m) above sea level. He immediately developed right-sided thoracic back pain. The flight was terminated, he landed, and the pain improved. Over the
next 5 d, he noticed the insidious development of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea. His symptoms prompted presentation to an aviation medicine clinic where a large right sided PTX was identified. After transfer to a local emergency department, a large bore chest tube was placed. A CT scan
showed bilateral apical blebs requiring right and subsequently left video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) with chemical/mechanical pleurodesis and apical wedge resection. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) showed a mild restriction defect 2-1/2 mo after surgery. The patient also completed cardiopulmonary
exercise testing (CPET), performing better than his predicted reference range. After a high resolution CT showed no remaining signs of bleb or cyst disease and another month of healing he was returned to flight.DISCUSSION: PTX should be considered in aviators with perithoracic pain
after flight as several aspects of flight in high performance aircraft may increase the risk for PTX. These include positive pressure breathing through a facemask, repeated use of the AGSM, and the possibility of bleb expansion at altitude.DeYoung H, Ahmed Y, Buckley J. F/A-18 aviator
successfully returned to flight after an in-flight spontaneous pneumothorax. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(11):1008–1012.
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Pilots
Authors: Distefano Alberto G. , Lam Byron L.
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND: Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common cause of optic neuropathy with the exact pathophysiology unknown. Risk factors include advanced age, small optic nerve head, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.6 High altitude
is considered another risk factor, although only few cases have been reported. No cases of NAION have been reported to occur during flight.CASE REPORT: A 41-yr-old male pilot presented with vision change while performing high G-force maneuvers in an A10 fighter jet. He developed
a paracentral visual field defect superiorly in the left eye. Contrasted MRI was within normal limits. The left optic nerve showed blurred margins while the right was sharp, but cupless. The left eye had similar episodes 16 mo before and 8 mo after, but not during flight.DISCUSSION:
Our case may be the first reported NAION during flight in an airplane pilot. Our patient was an active U.S. Air Force pilot whose second episode of NAION occurred while performing maneuvers in a fighter jet. The patient is younger than expected for NAION and he did not have any of the commonly
associated risk factors. His nonflight episodes suggest he was predisposed to NAION. G-force maneuvers, which restrict blood flow and force blood to the extremities away from the optic nerve head, were the precipitant of his second NAION. With a single case, whether high G maneuvers in general
are a risk factor for NAION is unknown.Distefano AG, Lam BL. Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2018; 89(11):1005–1007.
Efficient Algorithms for Computing the Inner Edit Distance of a Regular Language via Transducers
Authors: Kari Lila , Konstantinidis Stavros , Kopecki Steffen , Yang Meng
Published: October 2018

The concept of edit distance and its variants has applications in many areas such as computational linguistics, bioinformatics, and synchronization error detection in data communications. Here, we revisit the problem of computing the inner edit distance of a regular language given via a Nondeterministic Finite Automaton (NFA). This problem relates to the inherent maximal error-detecting capability of the language in question. We present two efficient algorithms for solving this problem, both of which execute in time O ( r 2 n 2 d ) , where r is the cardinality of the alphabet involved, n is the number of transitions in the given NFA, and d is the computed edit distance. We have implemented one of the two algorithms and present here a set of performance tests. The correctness of the algorithms is based on the connection between word distances and error detection and the fact that nondeterministic transducers can be used to represent the errors (resp., edit operations) involved in error-detection (resp., in word distances).
Relationship of Salinity Tolerance to Na+ Exclusion, Proline Accumulation, and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Rice Seedlings
Authors: Abdelaziz Maha Nagy , Xuan Tran Dang , Mekawy Ahmad Mohammad M. , Wang Hongliang , Khanh Tran Dang
Published: October 2018

Rice is a staple crop for over 50% of the world’s population, but its sensitivity to salinity poses a threat to meeting the worldwide demand. This study investigated the correlation of salinity tolerance to Na+ exclusion, proline accumulation, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in some rice cultivars originating from Egypt. Giza 182 was shown to be the most tolerant of the five cultivars, as judged by visual symptoms of salt injury, growth parameters, and patterns of Na+ accumulation, while Sakha 105 appeared to be highly susceptible. In detail, Giza 182 accumulated the lowest Na+ concentration and maintained a much lower Na+/K+ ratio in all plant organs in comparison to Sakha 105. The salinity-tolerant varieties had higher accumulation of proline than the salinity-susceptible cultivars. The salinity-tolerant Giza 182 accumulated a higher concentration of proline, but the lipid peroxidation (MDA) level was significantly reduced compared to in the salinity-susceptible Sakha 105. In addition, Giza 182 had stronger activity of both catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) compared to Sakha 105. The findings of this study reveal that the salinity tolerance in rice is primarily attributable to Na+ exclusion, the accumulation of proline in rice organs, a low Na+/K+ ratio, and a low level of lipid peroxidation. The levels of the antioxidant enzymes CAT and APX and the accumulation of proline may play important roles in salinity tolerance in rice. However, the comparative involvement of individual antioxidant enzymes in salinity stress in rice should be further investigated. Giza 182 has the potential to be cultivated in salinity-affected areas, although the effects of salinity stress on its grain yield and quality should be evaluated during the full crop cycle.
RNA Sequencing-Based Whole-Transcriptome Analysis of Friesian Cattle Fed with Grape Pomace-Supplemented Diet
Authors: Iannaccone Marco , Elgendy Ramy , Giantin Mery , Martino Camillo , Giansante Daniele , Ianni Andrea , Dacasto Mauro , Martino Giuseppe
Published: October 2018

Grape pomace (GPO), the main by-product of the wine making process, is a rich source of polyphenols with potent antioxidant properties. Recently, GPO has emerged as a potential feed additive in livestock nutrition, with several reports describing its beneficial effects on animals’ overall health status or production traits. However, little is known about it from a molecular biology standpoint. In the present study, we report the first RNA sequencing-based whole-transcriptome profiling of Friesian calves fed with a GPO-supplemented diet. We identified 367 differentially expressed genes (p < 0.05) in the GPO-supplemented calves (n = 5), when compared with unsupplemented control group (n = 5). The pathway analysis showed that ‘cholesterol lipid biosynthesis’ was the most negatively-enriched (p < 0.001) pathway in the GPO-supplemented animals. In specific terms, five important genes coding for cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes, namely the Farnesyl-diphosphate Farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT-1), Squalene Epoxidase (SQLE), NAD(P)-dependent Steroid Dehydrogenase-like (NSDHL), Methylsterol Monooxygenase (MSMO)-1, and Sterol-C5-desaturase (SC5D), two major transcription factors (the Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Transcription Factor 1 and 2), as well as the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR), were all downregulated following GPO supplementation. Such an effect was mirrored by a reduction of blood cholesterol levels (p = 0.07) and a lowered (p < 0.001) Malondialdehyde (lipid oxidation marker) level in carcasses. We provide evidence on the effects of GPO-supplemented diets on the whole-transcriptome signature in veal calves, which mainly reflects an antioxidant activity.
Decentralization of Virtual Linkage in Formation Control of Multi-Agents via Consensus Strategies
Authors: Liu Yi , Gao Junyao , Shi Xuanyang , Jiang Chunyu
Published: October 2018

Featured Application: This paper addresses the formation control of a team of agents based on the decentralized control and the recently introduced reconfigurable virtual linkage approach. Following a decentralized control architecture, a decentralized virtual linkage approach is introduced. As compared to the original virtual linkage approach, the proposed approach uses decentralized architecture rather than hierarchical architecture, which does not require role assignments in each virtual link. In addition, each agent can completely decide its movement with only exchanging states with part of the team members, which makes this approach more suitable for situations when a large number of agents and/or limited communication are involved. Furthermore, the reconfiguration ability is enhanced in this approach by introducing the scale factor of each virtual link. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulation results.
Ground Control System Based Routing for Reliable and Efficient Multi-Drone Control System
Authors: Lee Woonghee , Lee Joon Yeop , Lee Jiyeon , Kim Kangho , Yoo Seungho , Park Seongjoon , Kim Hwangnam
Published: October 2018

Various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also called drones, have developed based on advances in hardware and software technologies. Thus, service providers in diverse areas have tried to utilize drones to create more effective solutions. In many cases, employing multiple drones is more effective to perform the given mission than using a single drone. To utilize multiple drones, the drones should be strongly connected, but it is not trivial to construct reliable and efficient networks for drones due to their high mobility. Therefore, we propose a ground control system (GCS) routing protocol (GCS-routing) to overcome this limitation and provide reliable and efficient multi-drone control system, where GCS-routing maximizes GCS utilization. GCS is the essential component of flying ad-hoc network (FANET) and can obtain information about drones. Using this information, GCS-routing can provide more effective routing, predict any topology changes, and react immediately. GCS-routing does not issue any periodic HELLO message for neighbor discovery or link cost estimation, which significantly enhances network performance. We implemented GCS-routing on real drones, and applied GCS-routing to actual drone fleets, as well as simulations to evaluate GCS-routing performance. The results clearly identify the advantages of the proposed routing protocol for drone networks compared with current routing protocols.
Numerical Investigation of the Nonlinear Composite Action of FRP-Concrete Hybrid Beams/Decks
Authors: Gong Jianwu , Zou Xingxing , Shi Han , Jiang Cheng , Li Zhaochao
Published: October 2018

Interfacial slip can cause rigidity degradation and stress concentration in fiber-reinforced polymer-concrete hybrid beam (FCHB). Therefore, precisely evaluating the composite action between fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and concrete of FCHB plays a pivotal role in structural analysis and design. Previous push-out tests showed that most connections for FCHB behave nonlinearly in load-slip relationships even at a low load level. However, existing analytical equations have their limitations due to the assumption of linear load-slip interfacial relationship which is not suitable for FCHB. The originality of this paper is to propose a finite difference method (FDM) to elaborate the interfacial slip and shear stress. FDM agreed well with the analytical solutions of the linear load-slip relationships for connections. Results indicate that higher accurateness can be obtained by using more elements. And 40 elements for half span of FCHB can reduce the error of numerical results to 1%. Then, the proposed FDM was expanded to predict the interfacial behavior of FCHB considering nonlinear interfacial load-slip relationships. It was found that perforated FRP rib connections can ensure nearly full composite action and the bolted connection can lead to a very high slip level. The use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) results in a higher degree of composite action than normal concrete. The deflection considering slip was computed by adding deformation under full composition action and that caused by the slip effect. It was suggested that high strength steel bolts are effective both in normal concrete and UHPC. When the slip modulus is suggested to be larger than 20 kN/mm, the capacity per bolt should be larger than 20 kN.
Modeling Membrane Curvature Generation due to Membrane–Protein Interactions
Authors: Alimohamadi Haleh , Rangamani Padmini
Published: October 2018

To alter and adjust the shape of the plasma membrane, cells harness various mechanisms of curvature generation. Many of these curvature generation mechanisms rely on the interactions between peripheral membrane proteins, integral membrane proteins, and lipids in the bilayer membrane. Mathematical and computational modeling of membrane curvature generation has provided great insights into the physics underlying these processes. However, one of the challenges in modeling these processes is identifying the suitable constitutive relationships that describe the membrane free energy including protein distribution and curvature generation capability. Here, we review some of the commonly used continuum elastic membrane models that have been developed for this purpose and discuss their applications. Finally, we address some fundamental challenges that future theoretical methods need to overcome to push the boundaries of current model applications.
Biomechanics in Soft Mechanical Sensing: From Natural Case Studies to the Artificial World
Authors: Astreinidi Blandin Afroditi , Bernardeschi Irene , Beccai Lucia
Published: October 2018

Living beings use mechanical interaction with the environment to gather essential cues for implementing necessary movements and actions. This process is mediated by biomechanics, primarily of the sensory structures, meaning that, at first, mechanical stimuli are morphologically computed. In the present paper, we select and review cases of specialized sensory organs for mechanical sensing—from both the animal and plant kingdoms—that distribute their intelligence in both structure and materials. A focus is set on biomechanical aspects, such as morphology and material characteristics of the selected sensory organs, and on how their sensing function is affected by them in natural environments. In this route, examples of artificial sensors that implement these principles are provided, and/or ways in which they can be translated artificially are suggested. Following a biomimetic approach, our aim is to make a step towards creating a toolbox with general tailoring principles, based on mechanical aspects tuned repeatedly in nature, such as orientation, shape, distribution, materials, and micromechanics. These should be used for a future methodical design of novel soft sensing systems for soft robotics.
Effect of Eye-Object Distance on Body Sway during Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation
Authors: Aoki Osamu , Otani Yoshitaka , Morishita Shinichiro
Published: October 2018

Gazing at objects at a near distance (small eye-object distance) can reduce body sway. However, whether body sway is regulated by movement in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction remains unclear. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can induce body tilting in the mediolateral or anteroposterior direction. This study examined the directionality of the eye-object distance effect, using body-tilting GVS manipulations. Ten healthy subjects (aged 21.1 ± 0.3 years) stood on a force plate covered with a piece of foamed rubber and either closed their eyes or gazed at a marker located 0.5 m, 1.0 m, or 1.5 m in front of them. The GVS polarities were set to evoke rightward, forward, and backward body tilts. To compare the effects of eye-object distance in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions, the root mean square (RMS) of the center of pressure (COP) without GVS was subtracted from the COP RMS during GVS. For swaying in the mediolateral direction, significant visual condition-related differences were found during rightward and forward GVS (p < 0.05). Thus, reductions in mediolateral body sway are more evident for smaller eye-object distances during rightward GVS. It would be appropriate to use body-tilting GVS to detect the directionality of the eye-object distance effect.
Revocable Identity-Based Encryption and Server-Aided Revocable IBE from the Computational Diffie-Hellman Assumption
Authors: Hu Ziyuan , Liu Shengli , Chen Kefei , Liu Joseph K.
Published: October 2018

An Identity-based encryption (IBE) simplifies key management by taking users’ identities as public keys. However, how to dynamically revoke users in an IBE scheme is not a trivial problem. To solve this problem, IBE scheme with revocation (namely revocable IBE scheme) has been proposed. Apart from those lattice-based IBE, most of the existing schemes are based on decisional assumptions over pairing-groups. In this paper, we propose a revocable IBE scheme based on a weaker assumption, namely Computational Diffie-Hellman (CDH) assumption over non-pairing groups. Our revocable IBE scheme is inspired by the IBE scheme proposed by Döttling and Garg in Crypto2017. Like Döttling and Garg’s IBE scheme, the key authority maintains a complete binary tree where every user is assigned to a leaf node. To adapt such an IBE scheme to a revocable IBE, we update the nodes along the paths of the revoked users in each time slot. Upon this updating, all revoked users are forced to be equipped with new encryption keys but without decryption keys, thus they are unable to perform decryption any more. We prove that our revocable IBE is adaptive IND-ID-CPA secure in the standard model. Our scheme serves as the first revocable IBE scheme from the CDH assumption. Moreover, we extend our scheme to support Decryption Key Exposure Resistance (DKER) and also propose a server-aided revocable IBE to decrease the decryption workload of the receiver. In our schemes, the size of updating key in each time slot is only related to the number of newly revoked users in the past time slot.
Developing Self-Similar Hybrid Control Architecture Based on SGAM-Based Methodology for Distributed Microgrids
Authors: Gupta Pragya Kirti , Duchon Markus
Published: October 2018

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are the complex systems that control and coordinate physical infrastructures, which may be geographically apart, via the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). One such application of CPS is smart microgrids. Microgrids comprise both power consuming and power producing infrastructure and are capable of operating in grid connected and disconnected modes. Due to the presence of heterogeneous smart devices communicating over multiple communication protocols in a distributed environment, a system architecture is required. The objective of this paper is to approach the microgrid architecture from the software and systems’ design perspective. The architecture should be flexible to support various multiple communication protocols and is able to integrate various hardware technologies. It should also be modular and scalable to support various functionalities such as island mode operations, energy efficient operations, energy trading, predictive maintenance, etc. These requirements are the basis for designing the software architecture for the smart microgrids that should be able to manage not only electrical but all energy related systems. In this work, we propose a distributed, hybrid control architecture suited for microgrid environments, where entities are geographically distant and need to operate in a cohesive manner. The proposed system architecture supports various design philosophies such as component-based design, hierarchical composition of components, peer-to-peer design, distributed decision-making and controlling as well as plug-and-play during runtime. A unique capability of the proposed system architecture is the self-similarity of the components for the distributed microgrids. The benefit of the approach is that it supports these design philosophies at all the levels in the hierarchy in contrast to a typical centralized architectures where decisions are taken only at the global level. The proposed architecture is applied to a real system of 13 residential buildings in a low-voltage distribution network. The required implementation and deployment details for monitoring and controlling 13 residential buildings are also discussed in this work.
Fault Diagnosis and Minimum Rational Entropy Fault Tolerant Control of Stochastic Distribution Collaborative Systems
Authors: Yao Lina , Wu Wei , Kang Yunfeng , Li Lifan
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a fault-tolerant control scheme is presented for a class of stochastic distribution collaborative control systems, which are composed of three subsystems connected in series to complete the control target. The radial basis function neural network is used to approximate the output probability density function of the third subsystem, which is also the output of the entire system. When fault occurs in the first subsystem, an adaptive diagnostic observer is designed to estimate the value of fault. However, the first subsystem does not have the ability of self-recovery, minimum rational entropy controllers are designed in the latter subsystems to compensate the influence of the fault and minimize the entropy of the system output. A numerical simulation is given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Electrical Circuit Modelling of Double Layer Capacitors for Power Electronics and Energy Storage Applications: A Review
Authors: Jiya Immanuel N. , Gurusinghe Nicoloy , Gouws Rupert
Published: October 2018

There has been increasing interests in the use of double layer capacitors (DLCs)—most commonly referred to as supercapacitors (SCs), ultra-capacitors (UCs), or hybrid capacitors (HCs)—in the field of power electronics. This increased interest in the hybridization of energy storages for automotive applications over the past few years is because of their advantage of high power density over traditional battery technologies. To facilitate accurate design and simulation of these systems, there is a need to make use of accurate and well validated models. Several models have been postulated in literature, however, these models have various limitations and strengths, ranging from the ease of use down to the complexity of characterization and parameter identification. The aim of this paper is to review and compare these models, specifically focusing on the models that predict the electrical characteristics of DLCs. The uniqueness of this review is that it focusses on the electrical circuit models of DLCs, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the different available models and the various areas for improvement.
Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of Zebrafish Intestinal Development
Authors: San Bilge , Aben Marco , Elurbe Dei M. , Voeltzke Kai , Den Broeder Marjo J. , Rougeot Julien , Legler Juliette , Kamminga Leonie M.
Published: October 2018

Many regulatory pathways are conserved in the zebrafish intestine compared to mammals, rendering it a strong model to study intestinal development. However, the (epi)genetic regulation of zebrafish intestinal development remains largely uncharacterized. We performed RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing for activating (H3K4me3) and repressive (H3K27me3) chromatin marks on isolated intestines at 5, 7, and 9 days post-fertilization (dpf), during which zebrafish transit from yolk dependence to external feeding. RNA-sequencing showed the enrichment of metabolic maintenance genes at all time points and a significant increase in lipid metabolism between 5 and 9 dpf. A strong correlation was observed between gene expression and presence of chromatin marks on gene promoters; H3K4me3-marked genes were expressed higher than H3K27m3-marked genes. Next, we studied a key epigenetic player, Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2). Ezh2 places the repressive H3K27me3 mark on the genome and is highly conserved in vertebrates. We used the nonsense mutant allele ezh2(hu5670) to study the effect of ezh2 loss on intestinal development. These mutants survived gastrulation and died around 11 dpf, showing severe morphological defects in the intestine and liver, accompanied by decreased intestinal (fabp2) and hepatic (fabp10a) marker expressions. Our results suggest that Ezh2 is essential for proper intestinal tissue maintenance and overall survival.
On the Cooperation between Epigenetics and Transcription Factor Networks in the Specification of Tissue Stem Cells
Authors: Thalheim Torsten , Hopp Lydia , Binder Hans , Aust Gabriela , Galle Joerg
Published: October 2018

It is generally accepted that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA and histone methylations, affect transcription and that a gene’s transcription feeds back on its epigenetic profile. Depending on the epigenetic modification, positive and negative feedback loops have been described. Here, we study whether such interrelation are mandatory and how transcription factor networks affect it. We apply self-organizing map machine learning to a published data set on the specification and differentiation of murine intestinal stem cells in order to provide an integrative view of gene transcription and DNA, as well as histone methylation during this process. We show that, although gain/loss of H3K4me3 at a gene promoter is generally considered to be associated with its increased/decreased transcriptional activity, such an interrelation is not mandatory, i.e., changes of the modification level do not necessarily affect transcription. Similar considerations hold for H3K27me3. In addition, even strong changes in the transcription of a gene do not necessarily affect its H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modification profile. We provide a mechanistic explanation of these phenomena that is based on a model of epigenetic regulation of transcription. Thereby, the analyzed data suggest a broad variance in gene specific regulation of histone methylation and support the assumption of an independent regulation of transcription by histone methylation and transcription factor networks. The results provide insights into basic principles of the specification of tissue stem cells and highlight open questions about a mechanistic modeling of this process.
The Role of Age and Multimorbidity in Shaping Older African American Men’s Experiences with Patient–Provider Communication
Authors: Perry Ramona G. , Mitchell Jamie A. , Hawkins Jaclynn , Johnson-Lawrence Vicki
Published: October 2018

This study investigated factors associated with older African American men’s unmet health communication needs in the context of patient–provider interactions. Responses to a health survey were analyzed for 430 African American men attending a Midwest community health fair. The outcome measure was the extent to which men could get their health-related questions answered during recent medical visits. Men’s mean age was 54; 39% had one chronic condition and 22% had two or more comorbidities. The 53% who usually or always had their questions answered were older, had less comorbidity, higher educational attainment, higher annual incomes, were more likely to be married and have any type of insurance, and have a personal physician. Access to care was the primary factor in shaping men’s opportunities to ask health-related questions, and older multimorbid and low-income African American men may face increased barriers to healthcare access, and thus barriers to patient-centered care and communication.
Uncovering the Morphology of Kōm ad-Dikka in Alexandria
Authors: Damir Mirhan
Published: October 2018

The historical residential area of Kōm ad–Dikka in Alexandria has experienced morphological transformation from the ancient era until the present. Each historical period had a physical impact on the city’s urban structure that in turn struggled to survive the successive one with its different urban conception. However, the sinuous streets of this area, which probably date back to the late Egyptian Medieval period, are characterized as being the only surviving organic fabric intra–muros that was not altered during the Egyptian Modern period. In the absence of scientific publications regarding the history of Kōm ad–Dikka, this paper elaborately investigated its chronological history since the ancient era until the mid-twentieth century. Based on an in-depth investigation of historical maps and memoirs, this paper revealed the possible reasons behind the area’s extant sinuous urban form and postulated reconstructions of its urban morphology through sequential phases.
Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being: A Multidimensional Measure
Authors: Viejo Carmen , Gómez-López Mercedes , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario
Published: October 2018

Over the last few years, different theoretical approaches have emerged advocating for a positive understanding of adolescence, recognizing it as a stage characterized by plasticity, the acquisition of competences and the achievement of satisfactory levels of well-being and positive adjustment. Based on Ryff’s multidimensional model of psychological well-being, this study aims: (1) to develop an adjusted measuring instrument for adolescents (Brief Scale of Psychological Well-Being for Adolescents), as well as analysing its psychometric properties; and (2) to conduct a descriptive analysis of the levels of psychological and subjective well-being among adolescent boys and girls. A sample of 1590 Andalusian adolescents (51% girls), aged between 13 and 19 years old participated in this study. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed the validity of the instrument, with a multidimensional factorial solution of four factors (self-acceptance, positive interpersonal relationships, autonomy and life development) with good levels of internal consistency. Descriptive analyses showed good scores of psychological and subjective well-being among the adolescents, with a significant impact of sex and age in both measures of well-being. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of considering adolescent well-being from a multidimensional view and the need to promote positive development from a multifactorial perspective which takes into account the diversity of the variables involved.
Depression and Its Association with Health-Related Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women in Korea
Authors: Park Hyejin , Kim Kisok
Published: October 2018

Menopause is associated with depressive symptoms that can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, participants (n = 3860) were selected from the 2013–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The sociodemographic characteristics, medical history of depression, and EQ-5D scores of the participants were obtained from the KNHANES dataset. Age, educational level, and income were associated with HRQoL in these participants. Moreover, depression exerted a considerable influence on HRQoL in postmenopausal women. The adjusted odds ratios in participants with depression for the EQ-5D dimensions were as follows: 5.52 (95% CI = 4.04–7.55, p < 0.001) for anxiety/depression, 3.86 (95% CI = 2.78–5.36, p < 0.001) for usual activities, and 2.52 (95% CI = 1.68–3.78, p < 0.001) for self-care. Our findings suggest a strong association between depression and HRQoL. Hence, preventing the onset or exacerbation of depression may significantly improve quality of life in postmenopausal women.
The Association between Stressful Events and Food Insecurity: Cross-Sectional Evidence from Australia
Authors: Temple Jeromey B.
Published: October 2018

A considerable body of empirical evidence exists on the demographic and socio-economic correlates of food insecurity in Australia. An important omission from recent studies, however, is an understanding of the role of stressful life events, or stressors in explaining exposure to food insecurity. Using nationally representative data from the 2014 General Social Survey and multivariable logistic regression, this paper reports on the association between 18 discrete stressors and the likelihood of reporting food insecurity in Australia. The results, adjusted for known correlates of food insecurity and complex survey design, show that exposure to stressors significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Importantly, stressors related to employment and health approximately doubled the odds of experiencing food insecurity. The results underscore the complex correlates of food insecurity and indicates that conceptually it interacts with many important social and economic problems in contemporary Australia. There is no simple fix to food insecurity and solutions require co-ordination across a range of social and economic policies.
Portable Analyzer for On-Site Determination of Dissolved Organic Carbon—Development and Field Testing
Authors: Glorian Heinrich , Schmalz Viktor , Lochyński Paweł , Fremdling Paul , Börnick Hilmar , Worch Eckhard , Dittmar Thomas
Published: October 2018

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a sum parameter that is frequently used in water analytics. Highly resolved and accurate DOC data are necessary, for instance, for water quality monitoring and for the evaluation of the efficiency of treatment processes. The conventional DOC determination methods consist of on-site sampling and subsequent analysis in a stationary device in a laboratory. However, especially in regions where no or only poorly equipped laboratories are available, this method bears the risk of getting erroneous results. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to set up a reliable and portable DOC analyzer for on-site analysis. The presented DOC system is equipped with an electrolysis-based decomposition cell with boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDD) that oxidizes the organic compounds to carbon dioxide. Within this study, the influence of different electrode materials and the composition of the applied electrolytes on the DOC decomposition in an undivided electrolytic cell were systematically investigated. Furthermore, some technical aspects of the portable prototype are discussed. After a detailed validation, the prototype was used in an ongoing monitoring program in Northern India. The limit of detection is 0.1 mg L−1 C with a relative standard deviation of 2.3% in a linear range up to 1000 mg L C−1. The key features of the portable DOC analyzer are: No need for ultra-pure gases, catalysts or burning technology, an analyzing time per sample below 5 min, and a reliable on-site DOC determination.
Whole Genome Transcriptome Analysis of the Association between Obesity and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Caucasian Women
Authors: Mamidi Tarun K. K. , Wu Jiande , Tchounwou Paul B. , Miele Lucio , Hicks Chindo
Published: October 2018

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, with poor outcomes. The molecular basis of TNBC remains poorly understood. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the association between obesity and TNBC in premenopausal and postmenopausal Caucasian women using transcription profiling. Methods: We compared gene expression levels of tumor samples drawn from normal weight, overweight, and obese pre and postmenopausal women diagnosed with TNBC. We performed hierarchical clustering to assess similarity in patterns of gene expression profiles, and conducted network and pathway analysis to identify molecular networks and biological pathways. Results: We discovered gene signatures distinguishing normal weight from obese, normal weight from overweight, and overweight from obese individuals in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The analysis revealed molecular networks and biological pathways associating obesity with TNBC. The discovered pathways included the unfolded protein response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, B cell receptor, and autophagy signaling pathways in obese premenopausal women; and the integrin, axonal guidance, ERK/MAPK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase) and glutathione biosynthesis signaling pathways in obese postmenopausal women. Conclusions: The results suggest that both overweight and obese status are associated with TNBC, highlighting the need for conformation of these results in independent studies.
Effect of Caregiver’s Mental Health on Early Childhood Development across Different Rural Communities in China
Authors: Zhang Siqi , Dang Ruirui , Yang Ning , Bai Yu , Wang Lei , Abbey Cody , Rozelle Scott
Published: October 2018

Previous research has found that there are high rates of developmental delays among infants and toddlers in rural areas of China. Caregiver mental health problems might be one significant predictor of developmental delays among infants and toddlers, as has been found in other areas of the world. One way that the mental health of caregivers could affect early childhood development is through its effect on parenting practices. In this study, we used data from four major subpopulations of rural China to measure the correlation of caregiver mental health problems with the developmental outcomes of infants and toddlers. To do so, the study used the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III (BSID III) to examine the rates of developmental delays among 2514 rural infants/toddlers aged 6–30 months old. The results of the testing demonstrate that 48% of the sample’s infants/toddlers have cognitive delays; 52% have language delays; 53% have social-emotional delays; and 30% have motor delays. The data collection team also assessed caregiver mental health by using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) questionnaire. According to the findings, 39% of caregivers in the sample have symptoms of at least one kind of mental health problem (depression, anxiety, or stress). We also found that most caregivers do not engage in positive parenting practices, while a significant share of caregivers engage in negative parenting practices. The statistical analysis found that showing signs of mental health problems is significantly and negatively associated with infant/toddler developmental outcomes. The study also found that caregivers who show signs of mental health problems are significantly less likely to engage in interactive parenting practices. The study confirms that society needs to pay more attention to caregiver mental health problems in order to improve infant/toddler developmental outcomes in rural China and increase human capital accumulation in China as a whole.
Can Environmental Quality Improvement and Emission Reduction Targets Be Realized Simultaneously? Evidence from China and A Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression Model
Authors: Dong Feng , Wang Yue , Zhang Xiaojie
Published: October 2018

The reductions of industrial pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are important actions to create an ecologically stable civilization. However, there are few reports on the interaction and variation between them. In this study, the vertical and horizontal scatter degree method is used to calculate a comprehensive index of industrial pollution emissions. Then based on carbon density, a geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model is developed to examine the interaction between industrial pollution emissions and carbon emissions. The results specify that there exists spatial autocorrelation for carbon density in China. Overall, the average effect of industrial pollution emissions on carbon density is positive. This indicates that industrial pollution emissions play a driving role in carbon density on the whole, while there are temporal and spatial differences in the interactions at the provincial level. According to the Herfindahl index, neither time nor space can be neglected. Moreover, according to the traditional division of eastern, central and western regions in China, the situation in 30 provinces is examined. Results show that there is little difference in the parameter-estimated results between neighboring provinces. In many provinces, the pull effect of industrial pollution emissions on carbon density is widespread. Thus, carbon emissions could be reduced by controlling industrial pollution emissions in more than 60% of regions. In a few other regions, such as Shanghai and Heilongjiang, the industrial pollution emissions do not have a pull effect on carbon density. But due to spatial and temporal heterogeneity, the effects are different in different regions at different times. It is necessary to consider the reasons for the changes combined with other factors. Finally, the empirical results support pertinent suggestions for controlling future emissions, such as optimizing energy mix and reinforcing government regulation.
HPV16-Related Cervical Cancers and Precancers Have Increased Levels of Host Cell DNA Methylation in Women Living with HIV
Authors: Kremer Wieke , Van Zummeren Marjolein , Heideman Daniëlle , Lissenberg-Witte Birgit , Snijders Peter , Steenbergen Renske , Dreyer Greta , Meijer Chris
Published: October 2018

Data on human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific cervical cancer risk in women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) are needed to understand HPV–HIV interaction and to inform prevention programs for this population. We assessed high-risk HPV type-specific prevalence in cervical samples from 463 WLHIV from South Africa with different underlying, histologically confirmed stages of cervical disease. Secondly, we investigated DNA hypermethylation of host cell genes ASCL1, LHX8, and ST6GALNAC5, as markers of advanced cervical disease, in relation to type-specific HPV infection. Overall, HPV prevalence was 56% and positivity increased with severity of cervical disease: from 28.0% in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 or less (≤CIN1) to 100% in invasive cervical cancer (ICC). HPV16 was the most prevalent type, accounting for 9.9% of HPV-positive ≤CIN1, 14.3% of CIN2, 31.7% of CIN3, and 45.5% of ICC. HPV16 was significantly more associated with ICC and CIN3 than with ≤CIN1 (adjusted for age, ORMH 7.36 (95% CI 2.33–23.21) and 4.37 (95% CI 1.81–10.58), respectively), as opposed to non-16 high-risk HPV types. Methylation levels of ASCL1, LHX8, and ST6GALNAC5 in cervical scrapes of women with CIN3 or worse (CIN3+) associated with HPV16 were significantly higher compared with methylation levels in cervical scrapes of women with CIN3+ associated with non-16 high-risk HPV types (p-values 0.017, 0.019, and 0.026, respectively). When CIN3 and ICC were analysed separately, the same trend was observed, but the differences were not significant. Our results confirm the key role that HPV16 plays in uterine cervix carcinogenesis, and suggest that the evaluation of host cell gene methylation levels may monitor the progression of cervical neoplasms also in WLHIV.