bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Transient Response of Terrestrial Vegetation and Carbon in Northern North America from Climate Change
Authors: Flanagan Steven A. , Hurtt George C. , Fisk Justin P. , Sahajpal Ritvik , Zhao Maosheng , Dubayah Ralph , Hansen Matthew C. , Sullivan Joe H. , Collatz G. James
Published: September 2019

Terrestrial ecosystems and their vegetation are linked to climate. With the potential of accelerated climate change from anthropogenic forcing, there is a need to further evaluate the transient response of ecosystems, their vegetation, and their influence on the carbon balance, to this change. The equilibrium response of ecosystems to climate change has been estimated in previous studies in global domains. However, research on the transient response of terrestrial vegetation to climate change is often limited to domains at the sub-continent scale. Estimation of the transient response of vegetation requires the use of mechanistic models to predict the consequences of competition, dispersal, landscape heterogeneity, disturbance, and other factors, where it becomes computationally prohibitive at scales larger than sub-continental. Here, we used a pseudo-spatial ecosystem model with a vegetation migration sub-model that reduced computational intensity and predicted the transient response of vegetation and carbon to climate change in northern North America. The ecosystem model was first run with a current climatology at half-degree resolution for 1000 years to establish current vegetation and carbon distribution. From that distribution, climate was changed to a future climatology and the ecosystem model run for an additional 2000 simulation years. A model experimental design with different combinations of vegetation dispersal rates, dispersal modes, and disturbance rates produced 18 potential change scenarios. Results indicated that potential redistribution of terrestrial vegetation from climate change was strongly impacted by dispersal rates, moderately affected by disturbance rates, and marginally impacted by dispersal mode. For carbon, the sensitivities were opposite. A potential transient net carbon sink greater than that predicted by the equilibrium response was estimated on time scales of decades–centuries, but diminished over longer time scales. Continued research should further explore the interactions between competition, dispersal, and disturbance, particularly in regards to vegetation redistribution.
Red Wine-Enriched Olive Oil Emulsions: Role of Wine Polyphenols in the Oxidative Stability
Authors: Cinelli Giuseppe , Sbrocchi Giovanni , Iacovino Silvio , Ambrosone Luigi , Ceglie Andrea , Lopez Francesco , Cuomo Francesca
Published: September 2019

The benefits associated with the consumption of red wine due to its rich pool of phenolic compounds are well-recognized, thanks to the antioxidant activity related to these kinds of molecules. However, wine drinking should be done in moderation, or is forbidden for some populations for ethnic or religious reasons. One way to still enjoy the advantages of red wine is to use its dry extract. In order to test the ability of the red wine dry extract to reveal its antioxidant activity, it was solubilized in water to produce water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions based on olive oil. After the selection of the right emulsion composition, kinetics of oil oxidation were carried out in oil and emulsions in the presence of an increasing amount of red wine extract, whose presence influenced the rate of oxidation by slowing it down. This behavior was confirmed by monitoring the oxidation reaction in two ways; i.e., with the classical method that consists of the determination of the peroxide value, and with an accelerated test making use of 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN) and diphenyl1-pyrenylphosphine (DPPP). The first is a molecule that triggers the reaction at 40 °C, and the other is a molecule that by reacting with hydroperoxides becomes fluorescent (DPPP=O). Moreover, by comparing the emulsion structures observed by optical microscopy, no differences in the size of the dispersed aqueous phase were detected with the increase of the wine dry extract, which is an aspect that confirmed that the antioxidant activity was directly proportional to the wine extract concentration, and thus to the phenolic content.
Modeling and Analysis of Autonomous Agents’ Decisions in Learning to Cross a Cellular Automaton-Based Highway
Authors: Xie Shengkun , Lawniczak Anna T. , Gan Chong
Published: September 2019

For a better understanding of the nature of complex systems modeling, computer simulations and the analysis of the resulting data are major tools which can be applied. In this paper, we study a statistical modeling problem of data coming from a simulation model that investigates the correctness of autonomous agents’ decisions in learning to cross a cellular automaton-based highway. The goal is a better understanding of cognitive agents’ performance in learning to cross a cellular automaton-based highway with different traffic density. We investigate the effects of parameters’ values of the simulation model (e.g., knowledge base transfer, car creation probability, agents’ fear and desire to cross the highway) and their interactions on cognitive agents’ decisions (i.e., correct crossing decisions, incorrect crossing decisions, correct waiting decisions, and incorrect waiting decisions). We firstly utilize canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to see if all the considered parameters’ values and decision types are significantly statistically correlated, so that no considered dependent variables or independent variables (i.e., decision types and configuration parameters, respectively) can be omitted from the simulation model in potential future studies. After CCA, we then use the regression tree method to explore the effects of model configuration parameters’ values on the agents’ decisions. In particular, we focus on the discussion of the effects of the knowledge base transfer, which is a key factor in the investigation on how accumulated knowledge/information about the agents’ performance in one traffic environment affects the agents’ learning outcomes in another traffic environment. This factor affects the cognitive agents’ decision-making abilities in a major way in a new traffic environment where the cognitive agents start learning from existing accumulated knowledge/information about their performance in an environment with different traffic density. The obtained results provide us with a better understanding of how cognitive agents learn to cross the highway, i.e., how the knowledge base transfer as a factor affects the experimental outcomes. Furthermore, the proposed methodology can become useful in modeling and analyzing data coming from other computer simulation models and can provide an approach for better understanding a factor or treatment effect.
On NACK-Based rDWS Algorithm for Network Coded Broadcast
Authors: Giri Sovanjyoti , Roy Rajarshi
Published: September 2019

The Drop when seen (DWS) technique, an online network coding strategy is capable of making a broadcast transmission over erasure channels more robust. This throughput optimal strategy reduces the expected sender queue length. One major issue with the DWS technique is the high computational complexity. In this paper, we present a randomized version of the DWS technique (rDWS), where the unique strength of the DWS, which is the sender’s ability to drop a packet even before its decoding at receivers, is not compromised. Computational complexity of the algorithms is reduced with rDWS, but the encoding is not throughput optimal here. So, we perform a throughput efficiency analysis of it. Exact probabilistic analysis of innovativeness of a coefficient is found to be difficult. Hence, we carry out two individual analyses, maximum entropy analysis, average understanding analysis, and obtain a lower bound on the innovativeness probability of a coefficient. Based on these findings, innovativeness probability of a coded combination is analyzed. We evaluate the performance of our proposed scheme in terms of dropping and decoding statistics through simulation. Our analysis, supported by plots, reveals some interesting facts about innovativeness and shows that rDWS technique achieves near-optimal performance for a finite field of sufficient size.
Lifts of Symmetric Tensors: Fluids, Plasma, and Grad Hierarchy
Authors: Esen Oğul , Grmela Miroslav , Gümral Hasan , Pavelka Michal
Published: September 2019

Geometrical and algebraic aspects of the Hamiltonian realizations of the Euler’s fluid and the Vlasov’s plasma are investigated. A purely geometric pathway (involving complete lifts and vertical representatives) is proposed, which establishes a link from particle motion to evolution of the field variables. This pathway is free from Poisson brackets and Hamiltonian functionals. Momentum realizations (sections on T * T * Q ) of (both compressible and incompressible) Euler’s fluid and Vlasov’s plasma are derived. Poisson mappings relating the momentum realizations with the usual field equations are constructed as duals of injective Lie algebra homomorphisms. The geometric pathway is then used to construct the evolution equations for 10-moments kinetic theory. This way the entire Grad hierarchy (including entropic fields) can be constructed in a purely geometric way. This geometric way is an alternative to the usual Hamiltonian approach to mechanics based on Poisson brackets.
Earth Sciences Teaching Difficulties in Secondary School: A Teacher’s Point of View
Authors: Chakour Radouan , Alami Anouar , Selmaoui Sabah , Eddif Aâtika , Zaki Moncef , Boughanmi Youssef
Published: September 2019

The teaching of Earth Sciences (ES) is particularly delicate and seems to be problematic for both learners and Moroccan teachers for multiple reasons. Based on this observation, this study aims at identifying the difficulties related to the teaching of ES by exploring the points of view of the Moroccan teachers toward this field. As an investigative tool, we used a questionnaire and semi-directive interviews with nearly 122 secondary school teachers of Life and Earth Sciences (LES). The results of our survey revealed that the major difficulties that hinder the teaching of natural sciences are mainly related to the teachers’ university studies. Most of them had training in biology as well as in the relationship that the natural sciences maintain within time and space, the limited abstraction capacity of unmotivated learners, and the inadequacy of their prerequisites in these sciences. On the other hand, they were aware of the demotivating geological knowledge taught to the learners and the lack of initial and continuous training for teachers, especially for those who specialized in natural sciences.
Application of L1 Trend Filtering Technology on the Current Time Domain Spectroscopy of Dielectrics
Authors: Suo Changyou , Li Zhonghua , Sun Yunlong , Han Yongsen
Published: September 2019

The current time domain spectroscopy of dielectrics provides important information for the analysis of dielectric properties and mechanisms. However, there is always interference during the testing process, which seriously affects the analysis of the test results. Therefore, the effective filtering of current time domain spectroscopy is particularly necessary. L1 trend filtering can estimate the trend items exactly in a set of time series. It has been widely used in the fields of economics and sociology. Therefore, this paper attempts to apply L1 trend filtering to the current time domain spectroscopy. Firstly, polarization and depolarization currents are measured in the laboratory. Then the test results are filtered by L1 trend filtering and the filtering effects are compared with several common filtering algorithms, such as a sliding mean filter and Savitzky–Golay smoothing filter. Finally, the robustness and time complexity of L1 trend filtering are analyzed. The filtering results show that because the polarization currents vary in a wide range of the time domain (about 2–3 orders of magnitude), smooth and undistorted curves in the whole test time range can hardly be obtained through common filtering algorithms, while they can be obtained by L1 trend filtering. The results of robustness analysis and time complexity analysis show that L1 trend filtering can extract the trend items accurately in the time series under given different noise levels, and the execution time is also lower than 176.67 s when the number of tested points is no more than 20,000. Those results show that L1 trend filtering can be applied to the time domain current spectroscopy of dielectrics.
The Study of the Operational Characteristic of Interleaved Boost Converter with Modified Coupled Inductor
Authors: Frivaldsky Michal , Morgos Jan , Hanko Branislav , Prazenica Michal
Published: September 2019

In this article, design, analysis, and experimental testing of a dual interleaved boost converter with coupled inductor including demagnetizing winding are presented. Proposed topology uses the specific design of boost coils placed within the side parts of the EE core together with a demagnetizing coil located on the center part of the core. Paper describes principles of operational scenarios and characteristics. Through modification of turns ratio between boost coils and demagnetizing coil is possible to achieve high voltage gain. Consequently, the functional performance of this perspective topology is realized experimentally. For that purpose, the physical sample of converter is designed and tested in terms of efficiency considering the change of transferred power or the change of input voltage. Through modification of turns ratio between boost coils and demagnetizing coil is possible to achieve high voltage gain, therefore these dependencies are also evaluated considering also the change of the duty cycle. At the end of the paper basic operational properties are compared to standard boost topologies. It was discovered that even due to higher complexity of the proposed converter oppose to selected topologies, the operational performance is much better considering ripple of the electrical variables, efficiency, or the size of circuit components.
Enhancing the 3GPP V2X Architecture with Information-Centric Networking
Authors: Amadeo Marica , Campolo Claudia , Molinaro Antonella , Harri Jerome , Rothenberg Christian Esteve , Vinel Alexey
Published: September 2019

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications allow a vehicle to interact with other vehicles and with communication parties in its vicinity (e.g., road-side units, pedestrian users, etc.) with the primary goal of making the driving and traveling experience safer, smarter and more comfortable. A wide set of V2X-tailored specifications have been identified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) with focus on the design of architecture enhancements and a flexible air interface to ensure ultra-low latency, highly reliable and high-throughput connectivity as the ultimate aim. This paper discusses the potential of leveraging Information-Centric Networking (ICN) principles in the 3GPP architecture for V2X communications. We consider Named Data Networking (NDN) as reference ICN architecture and elaborate on the specific design aspects, required changes and enhancements in the 3GPP V2X architecture to enable NDN-based data exchange as an alternative/complementary solution to traditional IP networking, which barely matches the dynamics of vehicular environments. Results are provided to showcase the performance improvements of the NDN-based proposal in disseminating content requests over the cellular network against a traditional networking solution.
Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Harpalus sinicus and Its Implications for Phylogenetic Analyses
Authors: Yu Xiaolei , Tan Wei , Zhang Huanyu , Jiang Weiling , Gao Han , Wang Wenxiu , Liu Yuxia , Wang Yu , Tian Xiaoxuan
Published: September 2019

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of Harpalus sinicus (occasionally named as the Chinese ground beetle) which is the first mitochondrial genome for Harpalus. The mitogenome is 16,521 bp in length, comprising 37 genes, and a control region. The A + T content of the mitogenome is as high as 80.6%. A mitochondrial origins of light-strand replication (OL)-like region is found firstly in the insect mitogenome, which can form a stem-loop hairpin structure. Thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs) share high homology, and all of them are under purifying selection. All tRNA genes (tRNAs) can be folded into the classic cloverleaf secondary structures except tRNA-Ser (GCU), which lacks a dihydrouridine (DHU) stem. The secondary structure of two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) is predicted based on previous insect models. Twelve types of tandem repeats and two stem-loop structures are detected in the control region, and two stem-loop structures may be involved in the initiation of replication and transcription. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenomes suggest that Harpalus is an independent lineage in Carabidae, and is closely related to four genera (Abax, Amara, Stomis, and Pterostichus). In general, this study provides meaningful genetic information for Harpalus sinicus and new insights into the phylogenetic relationships within the Carabidae.
Factors Correlated with Smoking Cessation Success in Older Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Chih-Po , Huang Wei-Hsin , You Ching-Hui , Hwang Lee-Ching , Lu I-Jung , Chan Hsin-Lung
Published: September 2019

Smoking cessation in the elderly is very important. This study aims to explore the success rate of smoking cessation in the elderly and the factors that predict the success of smoking cessation. We collected data from smokers ≥60 years who visited a medical center in Taiwan during 2017. All patients were prescribed either varenicline or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation. The participants were asked about their smoking status after treatment. In total, 129 participants were enrolled. The three- or six-month point abstinence rate was 48.1%. No significant difference was found among baseline characteristics (including age, gender, underlying diseases, smoking duration, daily consumption amount of cigarette, carbon monoxide concentration, Fagerström test for nicotine dependence scores, and treatment method) between quitters and non-quitters, except for the type of medication used. The proportion of quitters using varenicline was significantly higher than that of non-quitters. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the patients who received varenicline were 3.22 times more likely to quit smoking than those who received NRT. Therefore, we suggest that varenicline use may help in smoking cessation in older adults, compared to NRT. Other baseline characteristics may not affect the success rate of smoking cessation in this population.
Exploring the Impact of the Rational Antibiotic Use System on Hospital Performance: The Direct Effect and the Spillover Effect
Authors: Guo Shanshan , Du Wenchao , Chen Shuqing , Guo Xitong , Ju Xiaofeng
Published: September 2019

Irrational antibiotic usage not only causes an increase in antibiotic-borne diseases, but also inflicts pain on patients, as a result of inappropriate treatment. In order to resolve the hazards caused by irrational antibiotic usage, a kind of e-health service, the Rational Antibiotic Use System (RAUS), has been incorporated into the hospital information system. The RAUS provides doctors and patients with the functions of antibiotic usage monitoring, antibiotic information consultation and antibiotic prescription support. Though existing literature has already proved the usefulness of the RAUS on monitoring doctors’ behavior, the effects on hospital performance from an organizational perspective has rarely been measured by empirical data. Therefore, our study has explored the effects of the RAUS on the performance of a large Chinese hospital, which has implemented the RAUS since March 2014. Through empirical research, we quantified the effects of the implementation of the RAUS on a hospital’s performance from both the direct effects on the “drug income” and the spillover effect on the “treatment income”. The results indicate a significant positive spillover effect on the treatment incomes of a hospital in its inpatient activities (seen as significant in the long term) and in its outpatient activities (seen as significant in both the short and long terms). In addition, this research provides certain theoretical and practical implications for the dilemma of e-health services application in irrational antibiotic usage.
Association between the Occurrence of Primary Hypothyroidism and the Exposure of the Population Near to Industrial Pollutants in São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: Zaccarelli-Marino Maria Angela , Alessi Rudá , Balderi Thalles Zaccarelli , Martins Marco Antonio Garcia
Published: September 2019

Background: Environmental agents interfere with thyroid function at multiple levels. This study was to investigate the association between pollutant concentrations and the primary hypothyroidism (PH) occurrence odds in residents living in the Capuava Petrochemical Complex (CPC) influence area. Methods: This area was evaluated with the combination of the AERMOD dispersion model with the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) meteorological model (2016). The concentration of atmospheric pollutants were analyzed in 2017 using meteorological data on the period from 2005 to 2009, correlating this data with the research done in 2003 to 2005. A home-based questionnaire was applied to evaluate 2004 residents, of both sexes, aged from 8 to 72 years, based on their proximity to the industrial areas; were select residents with PH. Results: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations presented the highest correlations between the PH odds and pollutant concentrations. Conclusion: Air pollution associated with the presence of the CPC is an important environmental factor contributing to the development of PH in the nearby population. As the first study showing this association in Brazil, research should be continued to better understand the mechanisms and to find ways to compensate for or remedy to avoid health impacts in future populations.
Generalized Violence as a Threat to Health and Well-Being: A Qualitative Study of Youth Living in Urban Settings in Central America’s “Northern Triangle”
Authors: De Jesus Maria , Hernandes Carissa
Published: September 2019

El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras rank among the top 10 countries experiencing violence in the world, despite not being at war. Although there is abundant literature on generalized violence in this “northern triangle” of Central America as a driver of out-migration to the United States, very little is known about the perspectives and experiences of youth who do not migrate. This study aimed to elicit the emic perspectives of youth residing in the region on how the day-to-day generalized violence produces a pervasive threat to the overall health and human security of youth as well as the key protective factors and resiliencies at work. We conducted two separate waves of qualitative research in 2015 and 2018 over a 6-month period, which included 60 in-depth interviews and six focus groups among Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Honduran youth living in urban areas. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed two meta-themes: (1) ‘Lack of health,’ defined as not experiencing peace within the family, the community, and the country’ and (2) ‘Resilience.’ Thematic clusters that reflect the first meta-theme are: (1) violence as a common occurrence; (2) living in fear and insecurity; (3) victimization; and (4) lack of state protection and services. Thematic clusters for the second meta-theme are: (1) a positive future outlook and a commitment to education; (2) transnational and local family network support; and (3) engagement in community-based youth groups. To interpret the findings, we adopt the Latin American Social Medicine and Collective Health (LASM-CH) approach that prioritizes perspectives from the region. Generalized violence is conceptualized as a systemic phenomenon that is generated and reproduced through the complex interactions of structural inequities and unequal power relations. The findings of this study provide new insights into the implementation of a different approach to address the generalized violence, insights that may guide multi-sectoral health policies and interventions both in the region and transnationally.
Shift in Potential Malaria Transmission Areas in India, Using the Fuzzy-Based Climate Suitability Malaria Transmission (FCSMT) Model under Changing Climatic Conditions
Authors: Sarkar Soma , Gangare Vinay , Singh Poonam , Dhiman Ramesh C.
Published: September 2019

The future implications of climate change on malaria transmission at the global level have already been reported, however such evidences are scarce and limited in India. Here our study aims to assess, identify and map the potential effects of climate change on Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria transmission in India. A Fuzzy-based Climate Suitability Malaria Transmission (FCSMT) model under the GIS environment was generated using Temperature and Relative Humidity data, extracted from CORDEX South Asia for Baseline (1976–2005) and RCP 4.5 scenario for future projection by the 2030s (2021–2040). National malaria data were used at the model analysis stage. Model outcomes suggest that climate change may significantly increase the spatial spread of Pv and Pf malaria with a numerical increase in the transmission window’s (TW) months, and a shift in the months of transmission. Some areas of the western Himalayan states are likely to have new foci of Pv malaria transmission. Interior parts of some southern and eastern states are likely to become more suitable for Pf malaria transmission. Study has also identified the regions with a reduction in transmission months by the 2030s, leading to unstable malaria, and having the potential for malaria outbreaks.
Evaluation of Public Health Emergency Management in China: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wang Jia , Yuan Beibei , Li Zhengmao , Wang Zhifeng
Published: September 2019

To summarize the present status of health emergency management assessment in China, a comprehensive search of Chinese databases for research that explicitly mention health emergency assessment indicators and indicator systems was performed. Studies were evaluated using the Ekman quality assessment tool, and data were extracted with an original extraction form. Sixty-one studies were included. There are many types and methods of health emergency management assessment in China, and the dimensions and the indicators involved are complex. Legal, regulatory, and policy bases for such assessment need to be further strengthened. The relevance of the entire assessment process and its practical application should be enhanced. In the occupational practice, appropriate evaluation methods should be selected according to respective evaluation purposes, evaluation objects, and contents. Laws, regulations, and policies in the evaluation of health emergency management should be improved. Finally, further correlational research on health emergency management evaluation system processes should be explored and improved.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Ecological Total-Factor Energy Efficiency and Their Drivers in China at the Prefecture Level
Authors: Li Guangdong
Published: September 2019

Improvement of ecological total-factor energy efficiency (ETFEE) is crucial for transformation of China’s economic growth pattern, energy conservation and emissions abatement. Here we combined the epsilon-based measure (EBM) and the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) productivity index to evaluate ETFEE and ecological total-factor energy productivity (ETFEP) and its decompositions for 283 prefecture-level cities in China between 2003 and 2013. A spatial econometric model is used to investigate factors influencing ETFEE and ETFEP. Results indicated that ETFEE, ETFEP and corresponding trends differ significantly depending on whether environmental constraints are considered. No convergence trend was found in ETFEE between prefecture-level cities. Technical progress plays the largest role in increasing ETFEP growth. Pure efficiency change and scale efficiency change, however, are the main hindering factors. Boosting cumulative technological progress, cumulative scale efficiency growth rate and cumulative pure efficiency growth rate are important means of increasing ETFEP. I also found that areas with high levels of economic development do not completely overlap with areas of high ETFEE. Surprisingly, the fiscal expenditure on scientific undertakings and technological spillover effects from foreign direct investment (FDI) have not substantially increased ETFEE. Whereas increased industrialization hinders the improvement of ETFEE. Furthermore, reducing per capita energy consumption help boost ETFEE. In addition, endowment advantages of factors of production have a positive overall effect on improving ETFEE. Lastly, important policy implications are inferred.
Automatic Identification of Overpass Structures: A Method of Deep Learning
Authors: Li Hao , Hu Maosheng , Huang Youxin
Published: September 2019

The identification of overpass structures in road networks has great significance for multi-scale modeling of roads, congestion analysis, and vehicle navigation. The traditional vector-based methods identify overpasses by the methodologies coming from computational geometry and graph theory, and they overly rely on the artificially designed features and have poor adaptability to complex scenes. This paper presents a novel method of identifying overpasses based on a target detection model (Faster-RCNN). This method utilizes raster representation of vector data and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to learn task adaptive features from raster data, then identifies the location of an overpass by a Region Proposal network (RPN). The contribution of this paper is: (1) An overpass labelling geodatabase (OLGDB) for the OpenStreetMap (OSM) road network data of six typical cities in China is established; (2) Three different CNNs (ZF-net, VGG-16, Inception-ResNet V2) are integrated into Faster-RCNN and evaluated by accuracy performance; (3) The optimal combination of learning rate and batchsize is determined by fine-tuning; and (4) Five geometric metrics (perimeter, area, squareness, circularity, and W/L) are synthetized into image bands to enhance the training data, and their contribution to the overpass identification task is determined. The experimental results have shown that the proposed method has good accuracy performance (around 90%), and could be improved with the expansion of OLGDB and switching to more sophisticated target detection models. The deep learning target detection model has great application potential in large-scale road network pattern recognition, it can task-adaptively learn road structure features and easily extend to other road network patterns.
Rare Human Missense Variants can affect the Function of Disease-Relevant Proteins by Loss and Gain of Peroxisomal Targeting Motifs
Authors: Chong Cheng-Shoong , Kunze Markus , Hochreiter Bernhard , Krenn Martin , Berger Johannes , Maurer-Stroh Sebastian
Published: September 2019

Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) resulting in amino acid substitutions (i.e., missense variants) can affect protein localization by changing or creating new targeting signals. Here, we studied the potential of naturally occurring SNVs from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) to result in the loss of an existing peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) or gain of a novel PTS1 leading to mistargeting of cytosolic proteins to peroxisomes. Filtering down from 32,985 SNVs resulting in missense mutations within the C-terminal tripeptide of 23,064 human proteins, based on gene annotation data and computational prediction, we selected six SNVs for experimental testing of loss of function (LoF) of the PTS1 motif and five SNVs in cytosolic proteins for gain in PTS1-mediated peroxisome import (GoF). Experimental verification by immunofluorescence microscopy for subcellular localization and FRET affinity measurements for interaction with the receptor PEX5 demonstrated that five of the six predicted LoF SNVs resulted in loss of the PTS1 motif while three of five predicted GoF SNVs resulted in de novo PTS1 generation. Overall, we showed that a complementary approach incorporating bioinformatics methods and experimental testing was successful in identifying SNVs capable of altering peroxisome protein import, which may have implications in human disease.
Reparative and Regenerative Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells—Promising Potential for Kidney Transplantation?
Authors: Pool Merel , Leuvenink Henri , Moers Cyril
Published: September 2019

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess reparative, regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. The current literature suggests that MSCs could improve kidney transplant outcome via immunomodulation. In many clinical domains, research has also focussed on the regenerative and reparative effects of therapies with MSCs. However, in the field of transplantation, data on this subject remain scarce. This review provides an overview of what is known about the regenerative and reparative effects of MSCs in various fields ranging from wound care to fracture healing and also examines the potential of these promising MSC properties to improve the outcome of kidney transplantations.
Exogenous Expression of an Alternative Splicing Variant of Myostatin Prompts Leg Muscle Fiber Hyperplasia in Japanese Quail
Authors: Chen Paula Renee , Suh Yeunsu , Shin Sangsu , Woodfint Rachel Marie , Hwang Seongsoo , Lee Kichoon
Published: September 2019

Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates muscle growth and development through inhibiting myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Five alternative splicing isoforms of MSTN (MSTN-A to MSTN-E) have been discovered in domestic avian species. MSTN-A has high expression in skeletal muscle and encodes the full-length peptide with anti-myogenic activity. Another isoform, MSTN-B, is also highly expressed in skeletal muscle and encodes a truncated peptide that has pro-myogenic capabilities in vitro, which include promoting the proliferation and differentiation of quail muscle precursor cells. The objective of this study was to investigate overexpression of MSTN-B in vivo by using two independent lines of transgenic Japanese quail with expression directed in the skeletal muscle. Unexpectedly, the chicken skeletal muscle alpha actin 1 (cACTA1) promoter resulted in restricted exogenous MSTN-B protein expression to certain skeletal muscles, such as the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior, but not the pectoralis major muscle. Gastrocnemius weight as a percentage of body weight in transgenic quail was increased compared to non-transgenic quail at posthatch day 21 (D21) and posthatch D42. An increase in the size of the gastrocnemius in transgenic quail was attributed to an increase in fiber number but not fiber cross-sectional area (CSA). During embryonic development, paired box 7 (PAX7) expression was prolonged in the transgenic embryos, but other myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) were unchanged after MSTN-B overexpression. Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the regulation of skeletal muscle development by alternative splicing mechanisms in avians.
Fluorescent Radiosensitizing Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Jiménez Sánchez Gloria , Maury Pauline , Stefancikova Lenka , Campion Océane , Laurent Gautier , Chateau Alicia , Bouraleh Hoch Farhan , Boschetti Frédéric , Denat Franck , Pinel Sophie , Devy Jérôme , Porcel Erika , Lacombe Sandrine , Bazzi Rana , Roux Stéphane
Published: September 2019

Ultrasmall polyaminocarboxylate-coated gold nanoparticles (NPs), Au@DTDTPA and Au@TADOTAGA, that have been recently developed exhibit a promising potential for image-guided radiotherapy. In order to render the radiosensitizing effect of these gold nanoparticles even more efficient, the study of their localization in cells is required to better understand the relation between the radiosensitizing properties of the agents and their localization in cells and in tumors. To achieve this goal, post-functionalization of Au@DTDTPA nanoparticles by near-infrared (NIF) organic dyes (aminated derivative of cyanine 5, Cy5-NH2) was performed. The immobilization of organic Cy5-NH2 dyes onto the gold nanoparticles confers to these radiosensitizers fluorescence properties which can be exploited for monitoring their internalization in cancerous cells, for determining their localization in cells by fluorescence microscopy (a common and powerful imaging tool in biology), and for following up on their accumulation in tumors after intravenous injection.
Cellular Mechanism Underlying rTMS Treatment for the Neural Plasticity of Nervous System in Drosophila Brain
Authors: Luo Ying , Yang Junqing , Wang Hong , Gan Zongjie , Ran Donzhi
Published: September 2019

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used as a research tool and clinical treatment for the non-clinical and clinical populations, to modulate brain plasticity. In the case of neurologic and psychiatric disease, there is significant evidence to suggest that rTMS plays an important role in the functional recovery after neurological dysfunction. However, the causal role for rTMS in the recovery of nervous dysfunction remains unclear. The purpose of the present study is to detect the regulation of rTMS on the excitatory neuronal transmission and specify the mode of action of rTMS on the neural plasticity using Drosophila whole brain. Therefore, we identified the effects of rTMS on the neural plasticity of central neural system (CNS) by detecting the electrophysiology properties of projection neurons (PNs) from adult Drosophila brain after rTMS. Using patch clamp recordings, we recorded the mini excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) of PNs after rTMS at varying frequencies (1 Hz and 100 Hz) and intensities (1%, 10%, 50%, and 100%). Then, the chronic electrophysiology recordings, including mEPSC, spontaneous action potential (sAP), and calcium channel currents from PNs after rTMS at low frequency (1 Hz), with low intensity (1%) were detected and the properties of the recordings were analyzed. Finally, the frequency and decay time of mEPSC, the resting potential and frequency of sAP, and the current density and rise time of calcium channel currents were significantly changed by rTMS. Our work reveals that rTMS can be used as a tool to regulate the presynaptic function of neural circuit, by modulating the calcium channel in a frequency-, intensity- and time-dependent manner.
Insights into the Role of MicroRNAs in the Onset and Development of Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Simeoli Raffaele , Fierabracci Alessandra
Published: September 2019

Diabetic neuropathy is a serious complication of chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes patients. This complication can involve both peripheral sensorimotor and autonomic nervous system. The precise nature of injury to the peripheral nerves mediated by chronic hyperglycemia is unknown; however, several mechanisms have been proposed including polyol pathway activation, enhanced glycation of proteins and lipids, increased oxidative stress, and cytokine release in the site of injury. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that mediate RNA interference by post-transcriptionally modulating gene expression and protein synthesis. Therefore, they have been implicated in several developmental, physiological, and pathophysiological processes where they modulate the expression of different proteins. Recently, miRNAs gained an increasing attention also for their role as diagnostic test in many diseases due to their stability in serum and their easy detection. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that miRNAs may be involved in diabetic neuropathy although their role in the onset and the development of this complication is not fully understood. In this review, we discuss the most recent literature providing evidence for miRNAs role in diabetic neuropathy opening new pathways to improve both early diagnosis and treatment of this complication.
Can Isogroup Selection of Highly Zoophagous Lines of a Zoophytophagous Bug Improve Biocontrol of Spider Mites in Apple Orchards?
Authors: Dumont François , Réale Denis , Lucas Éric
Published: September 2019

Zoophytophagous predators provide benefits in agroecosystems when feeding on pests, but they can also cause crop damage. Optimizing the use of zoophytophagous predators as biocontrol agents would require improving pest control and/or limiting damage. Populations of a zoophytophagous species can be composed of a mix of individuals diverging in their level of diet specialization. Consequently, depending on their level of zoophagy, individuals would vary widely in the benefits and risks they provide to pest management. We tested the hypothesis that manipulating the composition of the population of a zoophytophagous insect, the mullein bug, Campylomma verbasci (Hemiptera: Miridae), towards an increased zoophagy would increase their net benefit in an apple orchard. We compared the inherent benefits and risks of two different isogroup lines of mullein bug that genetically differed in their level of zoophagy. In spring, when damage occurs, both strains infrequently punctured apple fruit, which rarely lead to damage and therefore represented a low risk. During summer, only the highly-zoophagous line impacted the spider mite population, while the lowly-zoophagous line did not differ from the control treatments. We concluded that manipulating the composition of the zoophytophagous predator population provided extra net benefits that improved pest control.
Association between Albumin-Bilirubin Grade and Non-Protein Respiratory Quotient in Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases
Authors: Takata Ryo , Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Yoh Kazunori , Iwata Yoshinori , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Kishino Kyohei , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Ishii Noriko , Yuri Yukihisa , Nishimura Takashi , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: September 2019

We sought to elucidate the relationship between albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade and non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) calculated by indirect calorimetry in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients (n = 601, median age = 63 years). Factors linked to npRQ < 0.85, which is reported to be an optimal cutoff point for the prognosis in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, were also investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. The median npRQ for all cases was 0.86. In total, 253 patients (42.1%) had npRQ < 0.85. The proportions of patients with npRQ < 0.85 in LC and non-LC patients were 51.9% (166/320) in LC patients and 31.0% (87/281) in non-LC patients (p < 0.0001). The median npRQ in ALBI grades 1, 2, and 3 for all cases were: 0.89, 0.85, and 0.82 (overall p < 0.0001). The proportions of patients with npRQ < 0.85 were 31.0% (71/229) in ALBI grade 1, 46.34% (152/328) in ALBI grade 2, and 68.18% (30/44) in ALBI grade 3 (overall p < 0.0001). In multivariate analyses of factors linked to npRQ < 0.85, ALBI grade 3 (p = 0.0095, hazard ratio = 3.242, ALBI grade 1 as a reference) was an independent predictor along with prothrombin time (p = 0.0139). In conclusion, ALBI grade can be a useful marker for npRQ in patients with CLDs.
A Rational Method for the Design of Sand Dike/Dune Systems at Sheltered Sites; Wadden Sea Coast of Texel, The Netherlands
Authors: Perk Luitze , van Rijn Leo , Koudstaal Kimberley , Fordeyn Jan
Published: September 2019

A rational method for the design of sand dike/dune systems at sheltered sites is presented, focussing on the cross-shore dimensions of the sand dike in relation to the local wave climate, tidal regime and available sandy materials. The example case is the new sand dike/dune system along the south-east coast of Texel, The Netherlands. The old dike protecting the island was not sufficiently strong to withstand an extreme storm event and has been strengthened by a new sand dune/dike. Various empirical and numerical models have been used, compared and validated to determine the erosion volumes during annual conditions and extreme storm events. Potential wind-induced (aeolian) sediment transport and erosion is also studied using the modified Bagnold-equation including the effects of grain size, moisture content and vegetation. The overall design method resulted into an innovative design solution, guarantying a naturally integrated and resilient sand protection as well as optimal coastal safety.
Three-Dimensional Cellular Automata Simulation of the Austenitizing Process in GCr15 Bearing Steel
Authors: Su Fuyong , Liu Wenli , Wen Zhi
Published: September 2019

On the basis of the two-dimensional cellular automaton model, a three-dimensional cellular automaton model of austenitizing process was established. By considering the orientation of pearlite layer and the direction of austenite grain growth, the velocity of the interface was calculated during the austenitizing process. The austenitizing process of GCr15 steel was simulated, and the anisotropy of grain growth rate during austenitization was demonstrated by simulation results. By comparing the simulation results with the experimental data, it was found that the calculated results of the three-dimensional cellular automaton model established in this paper were in good agreement with the experimental results. By using this model, the three-dimensional austenitizing process of GCr15 steel at different temperatures and under different processing times can be analyzed, and the degree of austenitization can be predicted.
Structure and Stability of Partial Dislocation Complexes in 3C-SiC by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Sarikov Andrey , Marzegalli Anna , Barbisan Luca , Montalenti Francesco , Miglio Leo
Published: September 2019

In this work, the structure and stability of partial dislocation (PD) complexes terminating double and triple stacking faults in 3C-SiC are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The stability of PD complexes is demonstrated to depend primarily on the mutual orientations of the Burgers vectors of constituent partial dislocations. The existence of stable complexes consisting of two and three partial dislocations is established. In particular, two types of stable double (or extrinsic) dislocation complexes are revealed formed by two 30° partial dislocations with different orientations of Burgers vectors, or 30° and 90° partial dislocations. Stable triple PD complexes consist of two 30° partial dislocations with different orientations of their Burgers vectors and one 90° partial dislocation, and have a total Burgers vector that is equal to zero. Results of the simulations agree with experimental observations of the stable PD complexes forming incoherent boundaries of twin regions and polytype inclusions in 3C-SiC films.