bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laser Irradiation Effects at Different Wavelengths on Phenology and Yield Components of Pretreated Maize Seed
Authors: Hasan Mohammed , Hanafiah Marlia Mohd , Aeyad Taha Ziad , AlHilfy Intsar H. H. , Said Mohd Nizam Mohd
Published: February 2020

This study aims to compare the effects of different laser wavelengths, exposure times, and low-power-intensity laser irradiation on maize seeds. Seeds were exposed to He–Ne (632.8 nm) red laser, Nd:YAG second-harmonic-generation (532 nm) green laser, and diode (410 nm) blue laser. Four different exposure times (45, 65, 85, and 105 s) with different intensity (2 and 4 mW/cm2), for each laser were tested. Phenology and yield components (plant height, leaf area, number of rows per ear, seed yield, harvest index, yield efficiency, and grain weight) were determined. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant height was found comparatively high in blue laser light—211 cm at 85 s. Blue and green laser lights showed significant increases in the number of rows per ear to 39.1 at 85 s and 45 at 65 s, respectively, compared to the control of 36 rows/ear. The order of seed yield was blue (7003.4 kg/ha) > green (6667.8 kg/ha) > red (6568.01 t/ha) based on different exposure times of 85 s, 85 s, and 105 s, respectively, compared to the control of 6.9 kg/ha. The findings indicate the possibility of using blue laser light to manipulate the growth and yield of maize.
Contextual Coefficients Excitation Feature: Focal Visual Representation for Relationship Detection
Authors: Xu Yajing , Yang Haitao , Li Si , Wang Xinyi , Cheng Mingfei
Published: February 2020

Visual relationship detection (VRD), a challenging task in the image understanding, suffers from vague connection between relationship patterns and visual appearance. This issue is caused by the high diversity of relationship-independent visual appearance, where inexplicit and redundant cues may not contribute to the relationship detection, even confuse the detector. Previous relationship detection models have shown remarkable progress in leveraging external textual information or scene-level interaction to complement relationship detection cues. In this work, we propose Contextual Coefficients Excitation Feature (CCEF), a focal visual representation, which is adaptively recalibrated from original visual feature responses by explicitly modeling the interdependencies between features and their contextual coefficients. Specifically, contextual coefficients are obtained by calculation of both the spatial coefficients and generated-label ones. In addition, a conditional Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network (WGAN) regularized with a relationship classification loss is designed to alleviate inadequate training of generated-label coefficients due to long tail distribution of relationship. Experimental results demonstrate the effective improvements of our method on relationship detection. In particular, our method improves the recall from 8.5% to 23.2% of predicting unseen relationship from zero-shot set.
Remediation of Multiply Contaminated Ground via Permeable Reactive Barrier and Electrokinetic Using Recyclable Food Scrap Ash (FSA)
Authors: Kim Dongchan , Han Junggeun
Published: February 2020

A study of the application of electrokinetic (EK) remediation and Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB) using recyclable Foods Scrap Ash (FSA) in multiple contaminated soils was carried out. An FSA was chosen as a PRB fill material due to its highly efficient capacity for contaminant removal. Acetic acid and Brij30 were used as enhancers on copper and phenanthrene, respectively, to improve EK remediation performance in removing the heavy metal and organic contaminants. Copper adsorption in PRB was so substantial that the confirmed removal efficiency was 83.86–90.17% and the remaining amount was 105–212 mg. While a high removal efficiency of acetic acid was observed on copper in multiple contamination soils; the removal of phenanthrene was hardly detected and the recovery rate of the contaminant was low during pretreatment. Therefore; an additional study of pretreatment on the phenanthrene-contaminated kaolinite needs to be performed.
Quartz Enhanced Photoacoustic Detection Based on an Elliptical Laser Beam
Authors: Shang Zhijin , Li Shangzhi , Wu Hongpeng , Dong Lei
Published: February 2020

A quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) sensor system based on an elliptical laser beam for trace gas detection was demonstrated. A Powell lens was exploited to shape the circular laser beam into an elliptical laser beam for the full utilization of the quartz tuning fork (QTF) prong spacing. Based on the finite element modeling (FEM) simulation software COMSOL, the distribution of acoustic pressure on QTF prongs with different beam shapes was simulated theoretically. The experimental results showed that the QEPAS signal based on the elliptical laser beam had a 1.4-fold improvement compared with the circular laser beam, resulting in a minimum detection limit of 418.6 ppmv and the normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) of 1.51 × 10−6 cm−1 W/√Hz at atmospheric pressure.
Apparatus and Method of Defect Detection for Resin Films
Authors: Sheu Ruey-Kai , Teng Ya-Hsin , Tseng Chien-Hao , Chen Lun-Chi
Published: February 2020

A defect inspection of resin films involves processes of detecting defects, size measuring, type classification and reflective action planning. It is not only a process requiring heavy investment in workforce, but also a tension between quality assurance with a 50-micrometer tolerance and visibility of the naked eye. To solve the difficulties of the workforce and time consumption processes of defect inspection, an apparatus is designed to collect high-quality images in one shot by leveraging a large field-of-view microscope at 2K resolution. Based on the image dataset, a two-step method is used to first locate possible defects and predict their types by a defect-shape-based deep learning model using the LeNet-5-adjusted network. The experimental results show that the proposed method can precisely locate the position and accurately inspect the fine-grained defects of resin films.
A Methodology of Interactive Motion Facades Design through Parametric Strategies
Authors: Panya David Stephen , Kim Taehoon , Choo Seungyeon
Published: February 2020

Interactive facades are dynamic in the translation of space in architecture, especially in the aspects of aesthetics, sustainability, adaptation to the environment, and data relay through the medium of light, motion, and embedded technology. The design of interactive facades is complicated and it requires time and effort in the comprehension of the internal functions of the facade from the conceptual stage to occupancy. The existing process of modeling the experimental level of interactive facades through mock-up and prototype models demonstrate a fragmentary outline on which the final development of the interactive façade system is based on. This research aims to analyze the motion aspect of interactive facades design and simplify the conceptual and performance design process through parametric strategies using a multi-hybrid of parametric and simulation tools, such as Rhino Grasshopper, Ladybug, and Daysim, to create interactive facade designs that can verified in a virtual reality environment while generating performance outcomes that can be optimized in a holistic and improved efficient process.
HYDRUS-1D Simulation of Soil Water Dynamics for Sweet Corn under Tropical Rainfed Condition
Authors: Iqbal Mazhar , Kamal Md Rowshon , M. Mohd Fazly , Che Man Hasfalina , Wayayok Aimrun
Published: February 2020

Assessment of soil water balance is essential to understand water dynamics for optimal use of water and fertilizers. The study intended to simulate soil water dynamics in sweet corn production under tropical rainfed conditions. Surface runoff, subsurface leaching, and evapotranspiration are the main components of water balance, especially in tropical environments. Therefore, intensive field experiments and HYDRUS-1D numerical modeling were applied to investigate the water balance components and analyzing water dynamics. The study was carried out in a sweet corn field for two growing seasons under the rainfed conditions at the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Serdang, Malaysia. The total water inputs during the first and second seasons were 75.8 cm and 79.7 cm, respectively. Simulated results of evapotranspiration (ET) accounted for 40.7% and 33.1% of total water input during the first and second seasons. Surface runoff accounted for 41% and 28.6% in the first and second season, respectively. Water leaching accounted for 10.6%–26.8% of total water input during both seasons respectively. As rainfall fulfilled the crop water requirement throughout the growing seasons no additional irrigation was required. The overall simulation results validate the HYDRUS-1D as an effective tool to simulate soil water dynamics under rainfed conditions.
Segmented Composite Optical Parametric Amplification
Authors: Al-Mahmoud Mouhamad , Rangelov Andon A. , Coda Virginie , Montemezzani Germano
Published: February 2020

We propose a novel optical parametric amplification scheme that combines quasi-phase-matching with a composite pulse approach that involves crystal segments of specific lengths. The presented scheme highly increases the robustness of the frequency conversion against variations of the nonlinear coupling and of the pump, idler, or signal wavelengths, and has therefore the potential to enhance high amplification and broadband operation. Simulation examples applied to LiNbO 3 are given.
Grating Lobe-Free Beam Steering through Optical Phase Array Using Phase-Compensated Two Index-Mismatched Silicon Wires-Based Emitters
Authors: Zhang Rong-An , Lin Ting-Sheng , Liu Wai-Ting , Hsu Shih-Hsiang , Chang Che-Chang
Published: February 2020

The beam formation can be treated as the diffraction pattern. A 1-D light detection and ranging beam steering could be derived through a phase shifter array using Rayleigh–Sommerfeld Diffraction, which is then utilized to demonstrate grating lobe-free beam steering from the optical phase array emitter with half-wavelength pitches. The half-wavelength pitch cannot demonstrate beam formation without any evanescent coupling blocking between emitters. Here, two index-mismatched silicon wires in the emitter array are proposed by the optical phase compensation through waveguide width adjustment, to avoid the complex and addressable thermal control on the phase shifters. Moreover, the same output optical waveguide mode needs to be further considered to demonstrate the grating lobe-free beam steering. In order to get the adiabatic connection between two different pitches between the phase shifter and emitter, an optical path equalization will also be applied.
Imagination, Indigeneity, and Computation: The SIGGRAPH 2018 Art Gallery
Authors: Burbano Andres
Published: February 2020

This report addresses the SIGGRAPH 2018 Art Gallery (Vancouver, 2018), its curatorial process, the conceptual guidelines, the methodological approaches, and the sources behind it. The gallery has emphasized a transdisciplinary perspective combining creative and critical projects coming from art, science, and technology. The exhibition was one component of the SIGGRAPH conference, and it was built upon five conceptual nodes, in this text, particular attention is paid to the historical node. The SIGGRAPH Art Gallery is an international show that in 2018 included the work of artists, engineers, and scientists from more than twelve countries participating in the exhibition in situ and from other ten countries participating in the online exhibition. In general terms, the dialog between a diverse set of projects is one of the most compelling aspects of the exposition, the participation of Indigenous artists working with digital media represented one of the most challenging and positive elements of the gallery. The theoretical reflections of Friedrich Kittler about the museums and their relationship with computation and information were a permanent source of inspiration. This text is located halfway between a report and a paper. Therefore, some sections are written in the first person.
Term Logic
Authors: Simons Peter
Published: February 2020

The predominant form of logic before Frege, the logic of terms has been largely neglected since. Terms may be singular, empty or plural in their denotation. This article, presupposing propositional logic, provides an axiomatization based on an identity predicate, a predicate of non-existence, a constant empty term, and term conjunction and negation. The idea of basing term logic on existence or non-existence, outlined by Brentano, is here carried through in modern guise. It is shown how categorical syllogistic reduces to just two forms of inference. Tree and diagram methods of testing validity are described. An obvious translation into monadic predicate logic shows the system is decidable, and additional expressive power brought by adding quantifiers enables numerical predicates to be defined. The system’s advantages for pedagogy are indicated.
A Discussion on the Existence of Best Proximity Points That Belong to the Zero Set
Authors: Karapınar Erdal , Abbas Mujahid , Farooq Sadia
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we investigate the existence of best proximity points that belong to the zero set for the α p -admissible weak ( F , φ ) -proximal contraction in the setting of M-metric spaces. For this purpose, we establish φ -best proximity point results for such mappings in the setting of a complete M-metric space. Some examples are also presented to support the concepts and results proved herein. Our results extend, improve and generalize several comparable results on the topic in the related literature.
In Situ Measurement of Orthotropic Thermal Conductivity on Commercial Pouch Lithium-Ion Batteries with Thermoelectric Device
Authors: Aiello Luigi , Kovachev Georgi , Brunnsteiner Bernhard , Schwab Martin , Gstrein Gregor , Sinz Wolfgang , Ellersdorfer Christian
Published: February 2020

In this paper, the direct measurement of the orthotropic thermal conductivity on a commercial Li-ion pouch battery is presented. The samples under analysis are state-of-the art batteries obtained from a fully electric vehicle commercialized in 2016. The proposed methodology does not require a laboratory equipped to manage hazardous chemical substances as the battery does not need to be disassembled. The principle of the measurement methodology consists of forcing a thermal gradient on the battery along the desired direction and measuring the heat flux and temperature after the steady state condition has been reached. A thermoelectric device has been built in order to force the thermal gradient and keep it stable over a long period of time in order to be able to observe the temperatures in steady state condition. Aligned with other measurement methodologies, the results revealed that the thermal conductivity in the thickness direction (0.77 Wm−1K−1) is lower with respect to the other two directions (25.55 Wm−1K−1 and 25.74 Wm−1K−1) to about a factor ×35.
Hemoglobin Reassembly of Antimicrobial Fragments from the Midgut of Triatoma infestans
Authors: Diniz Laura Cristina Lima , da Silva Junior Pedro Ismael
Published: February 2020

Hemoglobin is one of the most important molecules of the human body. Beyond its physiological activity, hemoglobins are able to inhibit the growth of several microorganisms. Since 1999, studies have reported that antimicrobial peptides can be produced by blood-feeding insects through hemoglobin digestion, and it has been reported that Triatoma infestans can generate an antimicrobial fragment from human fibrinopeptide. Thus T. infestans intestinal content was analyzed through Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), the eluted fractions were tested against Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the active fractions submitted to mass spectrometry. The data obtained were compared to hemoglobin databases to verify the presence of hemoglobin-derived fragments. Ten fractions eluted from chromatography presented antimicrobial activity, and when analyzed through mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 8 murine hemoglobin α-chain fragments and 24 fragments from murine hemoglobin β fragments. Through the compilation of the fragments is possible to obtain over 67% coverage of both sequences. Part of the amino acid sequences corresponds to the sequences already identified on other intestinal contents of arthropods, and are highly conserved between the blood of other wild animals that are the most common intermediate hosts of Chagas’ disease in Brazil and some of the main natural blood source for triatomines.
Recent Advances in Allogeneic CAR-T Cells
Authors: Kim Dong , Cho Je-Yoel
Published: February 2020

In recent decades, great advances have been made in the field of tumor treatment. Especially, cell-based therapy targeting tumor associated antigen (TAA) has developed tremendously. T cells were engineered to have the ability to attack tumor cells by generating CAR constructs consisting of genes encoding scFv, a co-stimulatory domain (CD28 or TNFRSF9), and CD247 signaling domains for T cell proliferation and activation. Principally, CAR-T cells are activated by recognizing TAA by scFv on the T cell surface, and then signaling domains inside cells connected by scFv are subsequently activated to induce downstream signaling pathways involving T cell proliferation, activation, and production of cytokines. Many efforts have been made to increase the efficacy and persistence and also to decrease T cell exhaustion. Overall, allogeneic and universal CAR-T generation has attracted much attention because of their wide and prompt usage for patients. In this review, we summarized the current techniques for generation of allogeneic and universal CAR-T cells along with their disadvantages and limitations that still need to be overcome.
Molecular Characterization, Nutritional and Insulin Regulation of Elovl6 in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Li Yongnan , Pang Yuning , Zhao Zengqi , Xiang Xiaojun , Mai Kangsen , Ai Qinghui
Published: February 2020

Elongation of very long-chain fatty acids protein 6 (Elovl6) is a crucial enzyme in the synthesis of endogenous fatty acids, which participates in the energy balance and metabolic diseases. The main objective of this study was to explore the molecular characterization of Elovl6 and the regulation of elovl6 expression in response to dietary fatty acids and insulin. In the present study, the ORF (open reading frame) of Elovl6 from rainbow trout was cloned and characterized, which showed a high identity (87%) with mammals and other teleost. The results of quantitative PCR showed that the transcriptional levels of elovl6 from rainbow trout that were fed diets containing soybean oil (enriched with 18:2n-6, linoleic acid (LA)) or linseed oil (enriched with 18:3n-3, α-linolenic acid (ALA)) were lower than those in the group that were fed diets containing fish oil (enriched with 20:5n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 22:6n-3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)). Correspondingly, mRNA expression of elovl6 in hepatocytes treated with DHA was dramatically higher than that in LA and ALA groups. The transcriptional expression of elovl6 in hepatocytes treated with insulin was also significantly increased. Moreover, the dual luciferase assay showed the transcription factor CREB1 dramatically up-regulated the promoter activity of elovl6, while FOXO1 significantly down-regulated the elovl6 promoter activity in rainbow trout. The differences in transcriptional expression of crbe1 and foxo1 may contribute to the increase or decrease of elovl6 expression in rainbow trout in response to fatty acids or insulin. These findings revealed the molecular characterization of elovl6 and the regulation of elovl6 expression by CREB1 and FOXO1 in rainbow trout in response to dietary fatty acids or insulin.
Systematic Analysis of Monoterpenes: Advances and Challenges in the Treatment of Peptic Ulcer Diseases
Authors: Périco Larissa Lucena , Emílio-Silva Maycon Tavares , Ohara Rie , Rodrigues Vinícius Peixoto , Bueno Gabriela , Barbosa-Filho José Maria , Rocha Lúcia Regina Machado da , Batista Leônia Maria , Hiruma-Lima Clélia Akiko
Published: February 2020

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a multifactorial and complex disease caused by an imbalance of protective and aggressive factors (endogenous and exogenous). Despite advances in recent years, it is still responsible for substantial mortality and triggering clinical problems. Over the last decades, the understanding of PUD has changed a lot with the discovery of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, this disease continues to be a challenge due to side-effects, incidence of relapse from use of various anti-ulcer medicines, and the rapid appearance of antimicrobial resistance with current H. pylori therapies. Consequently, there is the need to identify more effective and safe anti-ulcer agents. The search for new therapies with natural products is a viable alternative and has been encouraged. The literature reports the importance of monoterpenes based on the extensive pharmacological action of this class, including wound healing and anti-ulcerogenic agents. In the present study, 20 monoterpenes with anti-ulcerogenic properties were evaluated by assessing recent in vitro and in vivo studies. Here, we review the anti-ulcer effects of monoterpenes against ulcerogenic factors such as ethanol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and Helicobacter pylori, highlighting challenges in the field.
Application of Water Treated with Low-Temperature Low-Pressure Glow Plasma for Quality Improvement of Barley and Malt
Authors: Pater Aneta , Zdaniewicz Marek , Satora Paweł , Khachatryan Gohar , Oszczęda Zdzisław
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study is to determine the quality of water treated with low-temperature, low-pressure glow plasma, either in the air or under nitrogen, in order to obtain high-quality brewer’s malt. To this end, plasma-treated spring water was used for barley grain soaking. In two-row spring barley grain, the procedure provided significantly higher water uptake capacity and grain sensitivity to water, as well as energy and germination capacity. The resulting malt showed improved moisture and 1000-grain mass. Furthermore, laboratory wort produced from the malt by the congress method did not differ statistically from a control sample in terms of filtration time, pH, turbidity, color, extract, free amino nitrogen compounds, and aromatic composition.
How A Novel Scientific Concept Was Coined the “Molten Globule State”
Authors: Kuroda Yutaka , Endo Shigeru , Nakamura Haruki
Published: February 2020

As a tribute to Professor Oleg B. Ptitsyn, we organized an interview with Professor Akiyoshi Wada held in Tokyo in the middle of September 2019. Both Professor A. Wada and the late Professor O. B. Ptitsyn greatly contributed to the field of protein biophysics, and they played leading roles in establishing the concept of the “Molten Globule state” 35–40 years ago. This editorial is intended to recount, as accurately as possible, some episodes during the early days of protein research that led to the discovery of this state, and how this concept was coined the “Molten Globule state” and came to be widely accepted by biophysicists, biochemists, and molecular biologists.
Electrophiles against (Skin) Diseases: More Than Nrf2
Authors: Hennig Paulina , Fenini Gabriele , Di Filippo Michela , Beer Hans-Dietmar
Published: February 2020

The skin represents an indispensable barrier between the organism and the environment and is the first line of defense against exogenous insults. The transcription factor NRF2 is a central regulator of cytoprotection and stress resistance. NRF2 is activated in response to oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electrophiles. These electrophiles oxidize specific cysteine residues of the NRF2 inhibitor KEAP1, leading to KEAP1 inactivation and, subsequently, NRF2 activation. As oxidative stress is associated with inflammation, the NRF2 pathway plays important roles in the pathogenesis of common inflammatory diseases and cancer in many tissues and organs, including the skin. The electrophile and NRF2 activator dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an established and efficient drug for patients suffering from the common inflammatory skin disease psoriasis and the neuro-inflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS). In this review, we discuss possible molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic activity of DMF and other NRF2 activators. Recent evidence suggests that electrophiles not only activate NRF2, but also target other inflammation-associated pathways including the transcription factor NF-κB and the multi-protein complexes termed inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are central regulators of inflammation and are involved in many inflammatory conditions. Most importantly, the NRF2 and inflammasome pathways are connected at different levels, mainly antagonistically.
Comparing Interfacial Trp, Interfacial His and pH Dependence for the Anchoring of Tilted Transmembrane Helical Peptides
Authors: Afrose Fahmida , Koeppe II Roger E.
Published: February 2020

Charged and aromatic amino acid residues, being enriched toward the terminals of membrane-spanning helices in membrane proteins, help to stabilize particular transmembrane orientations. Among them, histidine is aromatic and can be positively charge at low pH. To enable investigations of the underlying protein-lipid interactions, we have examined the effects of single or pairs of interfacial histidine residues using the constructive low-dynamic GWALP23 (acetyl-GG2ALW5LALALALALALALW19LAG22A-amide) peptide framework by incorporating individual or paired histidines at locations 2, 5, 19 or 22. Analysis of helix orientation by means of solid-state 2H NMR spectra of labeled alanine residues reveals marked differences with H2,22 compared to W2,22. Nevertheless, the properties of membrane-spanning H2,22WALP23 helices show little pH dependence and are similar to those having Gly, Arg or Lys at positions 2 and 22. The presence of H5 or H19 influences the helix rotational preference but not the tilt magnitude. H5 affects the helical integrity, as residue 7 unwinds from the core helix; yet once again the helix orientation and dynamic properties show little sensitivity to pH. The overall results reveal that the detailed properties of transmembrane helices depend upon the precise locations of interfacial histidine residues.
Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 Inhibitor Butyrolactone I Elicits a Partial Agonist Activity of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ
Authors: Ahn Sungjin , Jang Dong Man , Park Sung Chul , An Seungchan , Shin Jongheon , Han Byung Woo , Noh Minsoo
Published: February 2020

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived cytokine having an insulin-sensitizing activity. During the phenotypic screening of secondary metabolites derived from the marine fungus Aspergillus terreus, a poly cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor butyrolactone I affecting CDK1 and CDK5 was discovered as a potent adiponectin production-enhancing compound in the adipogenesis model of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). CDK5 inhibitors exhibit insulin-sensitizing activities by suppressing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). However, the adiponectin production-enhancing activities of butyrolactone I have not been correlated with the potency of CDK5 inhibitor activities. In a target identification study, butyrolactone I was found to directly bind to PPARγ. In the crystal structure of the human PPARγ, the ligand-binding domain (LBD) in complex with butyrolactone I interacted with the amino acid residues located in the hydrophobic binding pockets of the PPARγ LBD, which is a typical binding mode of the PPARγ partial agonists. Therefore, the adiponectin production-enhancing effect of butyrolactone I was mediated by its polypharmacological dual modulator activities as both a CDK5 inhibitor and a PPARγ partial agonist.
Indoleacetic Acid Levels in Wheat and Rice Seedlings under Oxygen Deficiency and Subsequent Reoxygenation
Authors: Yemelyanov Vladislav V. , Lastochkin Victor V. , Chirkova Tamara V. , Lindberg Sylvia M. , Shishova Maria F.
Published: February 2020

The lack of oxygen and post-anoxic reactions cause significant alterations of plant growth and metabolism. Plant hormones are active participants in these alterations. This study focuses on auxin–a phytohormone with a wide spectrum of effects on plant growth and stress tolerance. The indoleacetic acid (IAA) content in plants was measured by ELISA. The obtained data revealed anoxia-induced accumulation of IAA in wheat and rice seedlings related to their tolerance of oxygen deprivation. The highest IAA accumulation was detected in rice roots. Subsequent reoxygenation was accompanied with a fast auxin reduction to the control level. A major difference was reported for shoots: wheat seedlings contained less than one-third of normoxic level of auxin during post-anoxia, while IAA level in rice seedlings rapidly recovered to normoxic level. It is likely that the mechanisms of auxin dynamics resulted from oxygen-induced shift in auxin degradation and transport. Exogenous IAA treatment enhanced plant survival under anoxia by decreased electrolyte leakage, production of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation. The positive effect of external IAA application coincided with improvement of tolerance to oxygen deprivation in the 35S:iaaM × 35S:iaaH lines of transgene tobacco due to its IAA overproduction.
Accumulation of Anthocyanins through Overexpression of AtPAP1 in Solanum nigrum Lin. (Black Nightshade)
Authors: Chhon Saophea , Jeon Jin , Kim Joonyup , Park Sang Un
Published: February 2020

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) belongs to the Solanaceae family and is used as a medicinal herb with health benefits. It has been reported that the black nightshade plant contains various phytochemicals that are associated with antitumor activities. Here we employed a genetic approach to study the effects of overexpression of Arabidopsis thaliana production of anthocyanin pigment 1 (AtPAP1) in black nightshade. Ectopic expression of AtPAP1 resulted in enhanced accumulation of anthocyanin pigments in vegetative and reproductive tissues of the transgenic plants. Analysis of anthocyanin revealed that delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside-5-O-glucoside, delphinidin 3,5-O-diglucoside, delphinidin 3-O-rutinoside, petunidin 3-O-rutinoside (cis-p-coumaroyl)-5-O-glucoside, petunidin 3-(feruloyl)-rutinoside-5-glucoside, and malvidin 3-(feruloyl)-rutinoside-5-glucoside are highly induced in the leaves of AtPAP1 overexpression lines. Furthermore, ectopic expression of AtPAP1 evoked expression of early and late biosynthetic genes of the general phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways that include phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT), which suggests these genes might be transcriptional targets of AtPAP1 in black nightshade. Concomitantly, the total content of anthocyanin in the transgenic black nightshade plants was higher compared to the control plants, which supports phenotypic changes in color. Our data demonstrate that a major anthocyanin biosynthetic regulator, AtPAP1, can induce accumulation of anthocyanins in the heterologous system of black nightshade through the conserved flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in plants.
Jasmonate and Ethylene-Regulated Ethylene Response Factor 22 Promotes Lanolin-Induced Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in ‘Zaosu’ Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) Fruit
Authors: Wu Ting , Liu Han-Ting , Zhao Guang-Ping , Song Jun-Xing , Wang Xiao-Li , Yang Cheng-Quan , Zhai Rui , Wang Zhi-Gang , Ma Feng-Wang , Xu Ling-Fei
Published: February 2020

Anthocyanin contributes to the coloration of pear fruit and enhances plant defenses. Members of the ethylene response factor (ERF) family play vital roles in hormone and stress signaling and are involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Here, PbERF22 was identified from the lanolin-induced red fruit of ‘Zaosu’ pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) using a comparative transcriptome analysis. Its expression level was up- and down-regulated by methyl jasmonate and 1-methylcyclopropene plus lanolin treatments, respectively, which indicated that PbERF22 responded to the jasmonate- and ethylene-signaling pathways. In addition, transiently overexpressed PbERF22 induced anthocyanin biosynthesis in ‘Zaosu’ fruit, and a quantitative PCR analysis further confirmed that PbERF22 facilitated the expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic structural and regulatory genes. Moreover, a dual luciferase assay showed that PbERF22 enhanced the activation effects of PbMYB10 and PbMYB10b on the PbUFGT promoter. Therefore, PbERF22 responses to jasmonate and ethylene signals and regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis. This provides a new perspective on the correlation between jasmonate–ethylene crosstalk and anthocyanin biosynthesis.
Physiological and Pathological Roles of RAD52 at DNA Replication Forks
Authors: Malacaria Eva , Honda Masayoshi , Franchitto Annapaola , Spies Maria , Pichierri Pietro
Published: February 2020

Understanding basic molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of cancer cells is of outmost importance for identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for patient stratification and better therapy selection. One of these mechanisms, the response to replication stress, fuels cancer genomic instability. It is also an Achille’s heel of cancer. Thus, identification of pathways used by the cancer cells to respond to replication-stress may assist in the identification of new biomarkers and discovery of new therapeutic targets. Alternative mechanisms that act at perturbed DNA replication forks and involve fork degradation by nucleases emerged as crucial for sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics agents inducing replication stress. Despite its important role in homologous recombination and recombinational repair of DNA double strand breaks in lower eukaryotes, RAD52 protein has been considered dispensable in human cells and the full range of its cellular functions remained unclear. Very recently, however, human RAD52 emerged as an important player in multiple aspects of replication fork metabolism under physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we describe recent advances on RAD52’s key functions at stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks, in particular, the unexpected role of RAD52 as a gatekeeper, which prevents unscheduled processing of DNA. Last, we will discuss how these functions can be exploited using specific inhibitors in targeted therapy or for an informed therapy selection.
Targeting Cancer Metabolism to Resensitize Chemotherapy: Potential Development of Cancer Chemosensitizers from Traditional Chinese Medicines
Authors: Guo Wei , Tan Hor-Yue , Chen Feiyu , Wang Ning , Feng Yibin
Published: February 2020

Cancer is a common and complex disease with high incidence and mortality rates, which causes a severe public health problem worldwide. As one of the standard therapeutic approaches for cancer therapy, the prognosis and outcome of chemotherapy are still far from satisfactory due to the severe side effects and increasingly acquired resistance. The development of novel and effective treatment strategies to overcome chemoresistance is urgent for cancer therapy. Metabolic reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Cancer cells could rewire metabolic pathways to facilitate tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis, as well as chemoresistance. The metabolic reprogramming may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy and rekindle the research enthusiasm for overcoming chemoresistance. This review focuses on emerging mechanisms underlying rewired metabolic pathways for cancer chemoresistance in terms of glucose and energy, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolisms, as well as other related metabolisms. In particular, we highlight the potential of traditional Chinese medicine as a chemosensitizer for cancer chemotherapy from the metabolic perspective. The perspectives of metabolic targeting to chemoresistance are also discussed. In conclusion, the elucidation of the underlying metabolic reprogramming mechanisms by which cancer cells develop chemoresistance and traditional Chinese medicines resensitize chemotherapy would provide us a new insight into developing promising therapeutics and scientific evidence for clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine as a chemosensitizer for cancer therapy.
Inhibition of USP9X Downregulates JAK2-V617F and Induces Apoptosis Synergistically with BH3 Mimetics Preferentially in Ruxolitinib-Persistent JAK2-V617F-Positive Leukemic Cells
Authors: Akiyama Hiroki , Umezawa Yoshihiro , Watanabe Daisuke , Okada Keigo , Ishida Shinya , Nogami Ayako , Miura Osamu
Published: February 2020

JAK2-V617F plays a key role in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasm. However, its inhibitor ruxolitinib has shown limited clinical efficacies because of the ruxolitinib-persistent proliferation of JAK2-V617F-positive cells. We here demonstrate that the USP9X inhibitor WP1130 or EOAI3402143 (G9) inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis more efficiently in cells dependent on JAK2-V617F than on cytokine-activated JAK2. WP1130 preferentially downregulated activated and autophosphorylated JAK2-V617F by enhancing its K63-linked polyubiquitination and inducing its aggresomal translocation to block downstream signaling. Furthermore, JAK2-V617F associated physically with USP9X in leukemic HEL cells. Induction of apoptosis by inhibition of USP9X was mediated through the intrinsic mitochondria-mediated pathway, synergistically enhanced by BH3 mimetics, prevented by overexpression of Bcl-xL, and required oxidative stress to activate stress-related MAP kinases p38 and JNK as well as DNA damage responses in HEL cells. Although autophosphorylated JAK2-V617F was resistant to WP1130 in the ruxolitinib-persistent HEL-R cells, these cells expressed Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL at lower levels and showed an increased sensitivity to WP1130 as well as BH3 mimetics as compared with ruxolitinib-naive HEL cells. Thus, USP9X represents a promising target along with anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members for novel therapeutic strategies against JAK2-V617F-positive myeloproliferative neoplasms, particularly under the ruxolitinib persistence conditions.
MAIT Cells Come to the Rescue in Cancer Immunotherapy?
Authors: Lukasik Zuzanna , Elewaut Dirk , Venken Koen
Published: February 2020

Recent progress in immunobiology has led to the observation that, among cells classically categorized as the typical representatives of the adaptive immune system, i.e., T cells, some possess the phenotype of innate cells. Invariant T cells are characterized by T cell receptors recognizing a limited range of non-peptide antigens, presented only in the context of particular molecules. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are an example of such unconventional cells. In humans, they constitute between 1% and 8% of the peripheral blood T lymphocytes and are further enriched in mucosal tissues, mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver, where they can account for even 40% of all the T cells. MAIT cells recognize antigens in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I-related protein (MR1). Upon activation, they instantly release pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediate cytolytic function towards bacterially infected cells. As such, they have been a rapidly evolving research topic not only in the field of infectious diseases but also in the context of many chronic inflammatory diseases and, more recently, in immuno-oncology. Novel findings suggest that MAIT cells function could also be modulated by endogenous ligands and drugs, making them an attractive target for therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of MAIT cell biology, their role in health and disease and discuss their future potential in cancer immunotherapy. This is discussed through the prism of knowledge and experiences with invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT)—another prominent unconventional T cell subset that shares many features with MAIT cells.
Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Pediatric Colorectal Cancer
Authors: De Pasquale Maria Debora , Crocoli Alessandro , Caldaro Tamara , Rinelli Martina , Spinelli Gian Paolo , Francalanci Paola , Cozza Raffaele , Inserra Alessandro , Miele Evelina
Published: February 2020

Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is very rare in the pediatric and adolescent age range and clinical management is performed according to adult protocols. We report, for the first time in the literature, a case of a child with metastatic CRC successfully treated with panitumumab associated to chemotherapy. Methods: A twelve-year-old male was diagnosed with CRC with nodal metastasis and peritoneal neoplastic effusion. After performing a genetic evaluation, in light of the absence of mutations in RAS family genes, anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody, panitumumab, was added to chemotherapy FOLFOXIRI. Results: The child successfully responded to therapy with normalization of the Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19.9 value after the third cycle of treatment. After the sixth cycle, he underwent surgery that consisted in sigmoid resection with complete D3 lymphadenectomy. At histological evaluation, no residual neoplastic cells were detectable in the surgical specimen. He completed 12 cycles of chemotherapy plus panitumomab and he is alive without disease 14 months from diagnosis. Conclusions: Our results suggest performing mutational screening for colorectal cancer also in the pediatric setting, in order to orient treatment that should include targeted therapies.
Advances in Preclinical Research Models of Radiation-Induced Cardiac Toxicity
Authors: Schlaak Rachel A. , SenthilKumar Gopika , Boerma Marjan , Bergom Carmen
Published: February 2020

Radiation therapy (RT) is an important component of cancer therapy, with >50% of cancer patients receiving RT. As the number of cancer survivors increases, the short- and long-term side effects of cancer therapy are of growing concern. Side effects of RT for thoracic tumors, notably cardiac and pulmonary toxicities, can cause morbidity and mortality in long-term cancer survivors. An understanding of the biological pathways and mechanisms involved in normal tissue toxicity from RT will improve future cancer treatments by reducing the risk of long-term side effects. Many of these mechanistic studies are performed in animal models of radiation exposure. In this area of research, the use of small animal image-guided RT with treatment planning systems that allow more accurate dose determination has the potential to revolutionize knowledge of clinically relevant tumor and normal tissue radiobiology. However, there are still a number of challenges to overcome to optimize such radiation delivery, including dose verification and calibration, determination of doses received by adjacent normal tissues that can affect outcomes, and motion management and identifying variation in doses due to animal heterogeneity. In addition, recent studies have begun to determine how animal strain and sex affect normal tissue radiation injuries. This review article discusses the known and potential benefits and caveats of newer technologies and methods used for small animal radiation delivery, as well as how the choice of animal models, including variables such as species, strain, and age, can alter the severity of cardiac radiation toxicities and impact their clinical relevance.
Colorectal Cancer Research: Basic, Preclinical, and Clinical Approaches
Authors: Beaulieu Jean-François
Published: February 2020

Colorectal cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide [...]
Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Hydrodechlorination Processes—Catalysts and Technologies
Authors: Flid M.R. , Kartashov L.M. , Treger Yu.A.
Published: February 2020

The commercial implementation of hydrodechlorination processes will be an essential step in resolving the problem of environmentally sound organochlorine wastes processing. By now, there is a number of fundamental, applied, and process elaborations of such processes, in which chlorine is almost completely removed from wastes. The review article contains a significant number of results including basic regularities of thermal hydrodechlorination, comprehensive and selective catalytic hydrodechlorination. It discusses thermodynamics, kinetics, and catalysts of gas and liquid phase processes. Considerable attention is paid to hydrodechlorination of vinyl chloride production wastes and utilization of tetrachloromethane, which is the ozone-depleting substance. It also discusses hydrodechlorination of mono- and (poly)chlorobenzenes. The important examples of liquid phase data include hydrogenation using complex hydrides of elements. It also includes several flow sheets of hydrodechlorination processes.
The Evolution, Gene Expression Profile, and Secretion of Digestive Peptidases in Lepidoptera Species
Authors: Lima Lucas R. , Dias Renata O. , Fuzita Felipe Jun , Ferreira Clélia , Terra Walter R. , Silva-Filho Marcio C.
Published: February 2020

Serine peptidases (SPs) are responsible for most primary protein digestion in Lepidoptera species. An expansion of the number of genes encoding trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes and the ability to upregulate the expression of some of these genes in response to peptidase inhibitor (PI) ingestion have been associated with the adaptation of Noctuidae moths to herbivory. To investigate whether these gene family expansion events are common to other Lepidoptera groups, we searched for all genes encoding putative trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes in 23 publicly available genomes from this taxon. Phylogenetic analysis showed that several gene family expansion events may have occurred in the taxon’s evolutionary history and that these events gave rise to a very diverse group of enzymes, including proteins lacking the canonical SP catalytic triad. The expression profile of these enzymes along the midgut and the secretion mechanisms by which these enzymes enter the luminal content were also analyzed in Spodoptera frugiperda larvae using RNA-seq and proteomics. These results support the proposal of a midgut countercurrent flux responsible for the direction of these proteins to the anterior portion of the midgut and show that these enzymes reach the midgut lumen via both exocytosis and microapocrine secretion mechanisms.