bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyclospora Cayetanensis Presence in the Environment—A Case Study in the Chicago Metropolitan Area
Authors: Onstad Nora H. , Beever Jonathan E. , Miller Matthew R. , Green Michelle L. , Witola William H. , Davidson Paul C.
Published: July 2019

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an emerging foodborne protozoan pathogen. Similar to other gastrointestinal illnesses, cyclosporiasis causes prolonged diarrhea. Unlike Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora oocysts are not infective when they are shed by infected individuals. Oocysts mature in the environment for 7–10 days before sporulating. Little is known about how C. cayetanensis is transported in the environment and which factors inhibit or promote sporulation. Water and fresh produce, such as leafy greens and berries, are common sources of infection. Contact with soil has also been correlated with Cyclospora infection. In addition to acting as a vector to transport oocysts from the environment to the body, water and soil may be important reservoirs to not only allow C. cayetanensis to persist, but also transport the oocysts from one location to another. This study examined a snapshot of an urban area near Chicago where human waste sporadically enters the environment via combined sewer outfalls (CSO). A total of 61 samples were collected from three CSO discharge events. Most of the 21 positive samples were wildlife feces (n = 13), and a few were soil (n = 7). There was one positive water sample. PCR analysis of soil, water, and wildlife feces indicated the presence of C. cayetanensis in the environment, suggesting likely transport of oocysts by wildlife. Given the emerging threat of cyclosporiasis, additional studies are needed to confirm and expand this case study.
Recreational Ecology: A Review of Research and Gap Analysis
Authors: Sumanapala Daminda , Wolf Isabelle D.
Published: July 2019

Recreational ecology is an internationally evolving research field addressing the high demand for nature-based tourism and recreation, and its environmental impacts. This review aimed to analyze the research effort of recreational ecology studies published in four renowned journals in the field, the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Management, the Journal of Environmental Management, and Environmental Management. Between 1976 and 2017, this review identified 145 papers focused on recreational ecology. The majority of research investigated the direct impacts of terrestrial activities in protected areas, in particular the impacts of walking and hiking on vegetation and trail conditions, and the impacts of wildlife viewing. A conceptual model was developed to describe the varied relationships between nature-based tourists and recreationists and the environment. Future research in recreational ecology should broaden its agenda to increase knowledge on indirect and long-term impacts; including on cryptic or less popular species; establish more specifically how the intensity of impacts depends on the amount of use other than in trampling studies; extend to other geographic areas such as developing countries, and nature-based spaces that are less protected and exposed to high visitation such as urban environments. Importantly, a much stronger focus needs to be on interdisciplinary approaches incorporating both environmental and social science techniques to determine ways of how visitor experiential needs can be reconciled with environmental conservation concerns in a rapidly increasing tourism and recreation economy.
Integrating Phylogeographic Analysis and Geospatial Methods to Infer Historical Dispersal Routes and Glacial Refugia of Liriodendron chinense
Authors: Shen Yufang , Cheng Yanli , Li Kangqin , Li Huogen
Published: July 2019

Liriodendron chinense (Hemsl.), a Tertiary relic tree, is mainly distributed in subtropical China. The causes of the geographical distribution pattern of this species are poorly understood. In this study, we inferred historical dispersal routes and glacial refugia of this species by combining genetic data (chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), and nuclear DNA (nDNA)) and geospatial data (climate and geology) with the methods of landscape genetics. Additionally, based on sequence variation at multiple loci, we employed GenGIS and Barrier software to analyze L. chinense population genetic structure. Dispersal corridors and historical gene flow between the eastern and western populations were detected, and they were located in mountainous regions. Based on species distribution model (SDMs), the distribution patterns in paleoclimatic periods were consistent with the current pattern, suggesting the presence of multiple refuges in multiple mountainous regions in China. The genetic structure analysis clustered most eastern populations into a clade separated from the western populations. Additionally, a genetic barrier was detected between the eastern and western populations. The dispersal corridors and historical gene flow detected here suggested that the mountains acted as a bridge, facilitating gene flow between the eastern and western populations. Due to Quaternary climatic fluctuations, the habitats and dispersal corridors were frequently inhabited by warm-temperate evergreen forests, which may have fragmented L. chinense habitats and exacerbated the differentiation of eastern and western populations. Ultimately, populations retreated to multiple isolated mountainous refugia, shaping the current geographical distribution pattern. These dispersal corridors and montane refugia suggested that the mountains in subtropical China play a crucial role in the conservation of genetic resources and migration of subspecies or related species in this region.
Mixed Fermentation with Metschnikowia pulcherrima Using Different Grape Varieties
Authors: Duarte Filomena L. , Egipto Ricardo , Baleiras-Couto M. Margarida
Published: July 2019

The study and use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts to wine improvement and diversification has gained considerable relevance in recent years. The present work reports a pilot-scale winery assay of mixed fermentation with a commercial strain of Metschnikowia pulcherrima, tested in five white and nine red grape varieties. Two modalities were assayed, one with the addition of M. pulcherrima at time zero and addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae after 24 h, and a control using only S. cerevisiae at time zero. Fermentation was monitored by daily measurement of density and temperature. Wine physicochemical analysis was performed after winemaking and repeated after four years of aging. Variance and multivariate analysis were used to examine these data. Triangle and ranking tests were performed on the wines obtained, using an experienced sensory panel. Alcoholic fermentation proceeded smoothly until there was complete consumption of the sugars. M. pulcherrima in mixed fermentation, although mainly recommended for white wine, was also tested for red wines. These wines generally presented higher glycerol, reducing sugars and total dry matter, and lower alcohol content, in line with the current market trend. Significant sensory differences among modalities were only obtained for three varieties. Results emphasized that grape variety is a relevant factor in studies with non-Saccharomyces yeasts.
Modelling and Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Selection of Specific Growth Rate Models of Batch Cultivation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast for Ethanol Production
Authors: Petrov Mitko
Published: July 2019

This study is focused on using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) for selecting specific growth rate models of batch cultivation by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ten specific growth rate models—Monod, Mink, Tessier, Moser, Aiba, Andrews, Haldane, Luong, Edward, and Han-Levenspiel—were investigated in order to explain the cell growth kinetics by the dependence on glucose. By using the preference ranking organization method (PROMETHEE) II, it was found that the Andrews model was the highest of rank and was the most appropriate one for modelling.
The Effects of the Floating Action Button on Quality of Experience
Authors: Pibernik Jesenka , Dolic Jurica , Milicevic Hrvoje Abraham , Kanizaj Bojan
Published: July 2019

Google’s Material Design, created in 2014, led to the extended application of floating action buttons (FAB) in user interfaces of web pages and mobile applications. FAB’s roll is to trigger an activity either on the present screen, or it can play out an activity that makes another screen. A few specialists in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design are sceptical regarding the usability of FAB in the interfaces of both web pages and mobile applications. They claim that the use of FAB easily distracts users and that it interferes with using other important functions of the applications, and it is unusable in applications designed for iOS systems. The aim of this paper is to investigate by an experiment the quality of experience (QoE) of a static and animated FAB and compare it to the toolbar alternative. The experimental results of different testing methods rejected the hypothesis that the usage and animation of this UI element has a positive influence on the application usability. However, its static and animated utilization enhanced the ratings of hedonic and aesthetic features of the user experience, justifying the usage of this type of button.
Town-Watching Workshop Using Disaster Information Tweeting and Mapping System
Authors: Utsu Keisuke , Ueta Shun , Tajima Sachi , Kajita Yoshitaka , Murakami Yuji , Uchida Osamu
Published: July 2019

Self- and mutual-help by citizens are important as well as social-help from the local governments, for disaster prevention and mitigation. Then, town watching and disaster prevention map-making workshops are held to review the town and promote self- and mutual-help by citizens. On the other hand, the use of social media for information sharing during and after disasters has been gaining attention. To facilitate information sharing in disasters, we developed a web system, Disaster Information Tweeting and Mapping System (DITS/DIMS). From the above background, we organized a town-watching workshop using DITS/DIMS in October 2018 in Minami Ward, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan; affected area of the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake in September 2018. In this paper, we explain the workshop procedure, outcome, questionnaire survey results, and post-meeting. The questionnaire survey result shows that the workshop educated the participants about posting useful information on social media during a disaster. In addition, at the post-meeting, the participants recognized that they had reviewed the town only from the perspective of “daily life” convenience before the earthquake, and they had not evaluated the “emergency viewpoint.” Therefore, the workshop was a meaningful opportunity for the participants to review the town in terms of disaster prevention and mitigation.
Escape Route Index: A Spatially-Explicit Measure of Wildland Firefighter Egress Capacity
Authors: Campbell Michael J. , Page Wesley G. , Dennison Philip E. , Butler Bret W.
Published: July 2019

For wildland firefighters, the ability to efficiently evacuate the fireline is limited by terrain, vegetation, and fire conditions. The impacts of terrain and vegetation on evacuation time to a safety zone may not be apparent when considering potential control locations either at the time of a wildfire or during pre-suppression planning. To address the need for a spatially-explicit measure of egress capacity, this paper introduces the Escape Route Index (ERI). Ranging from 0 to 1, ERI is a normalized ratio of the distance traveled within a time frame, accounting for impedance by slope and vegetation, to the optimal distance traveled in the absence of these impediments. An ERI approaching 1 indicates that terrain and vegetation conditions should have little impact on firefighter mobility while an ERI approaching 0 is representative of limited cross-country travel mobility. The directional nature of evacuation allows for the computation of four ERI metrics: (1) ERImean (average ERI in all travel directions); (2) ERImin (ERI in direction of lowest egress); (3) ERImax (ERI in direction of highest egress); and (4) ERIazimuth (azimuth of ERImax direction). We demonstrate the implementation of ERI for three different evacuation time frames (10, 20, and 30 min) on the Angeles National Forest in California, USA. A previously published, crowd-sourced relationship between slope and travel rate was used to account for terrain, while vegetation was accounted for by using land cover to adjust travel rates based on factors from the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS). Land cover was found to have a stronger impact on ERI values than slope. We also modeled ERI values for several recent wildland firefighter entrapments to assess the degree to which landscape conditions may have contributed to these events, finding that ERI values were generally low from the crews’ evacuation starting points. We conclude that mapping ERI prior to engaging a fire could help inform overall firefighter risk for a given location and aid in identifying locations with greater egress capacity in which to focus wildland fire suppression, thus potentially reducing risk of entrapment. Continued improvements in accuracy of vegetation density mapping and increased availability of light detection and ranging (lidar) will greatly benefit future implementations of ERI.
Application of a Projection Method for Simulating Flow of a Shear-Thinning Fluid
Authors: Jabbari Masoud , McDonough James , Mitsoulis Evan , Hattel Jesper Henri
Published: July 2019

In this paper, a first-order projection method is used to solve the Navier–Stokes equations numerically for a time-dependent incompressible fluid inside a three-dimensional (3-D) lid-driven cavity. The flow structure in a cavity of aspect ratio δ = 1 and Reynolds numbers ( 100 , 400 , 1000 ) is compared with existing results to validate the code. We then apply the developed code to flow of a generalised Newtonian fluid with the well-known Ostwald–de Waele power-law model. Results show that, by decreasing n (further deviation from Newtonian behaviour) from 1 to 0.9, the peak values of the velocity decrease while the centre of the main vortex moves towards the upper right corner of the cavity. However, for n = 0.5 , the behaviour is reversed and the main vortex shifts back towards the centre of the cavity. We moreover demonstrate that, for the deeper cavities, δ = 2 , 4 , as the shear-thinning parameter n decreased the top-main vortex expands towards the bottom surface, and correspondingly the secondary flow becomes less pronounced in the plane perpendicular to the cavity lid.
Influence of Pulsed Electric Field and Ohmic Heating Pretreatments on Enzyme and Antioxidant Activity of Fruit and Vegetable Juices
Authors: Mannozzi Cinzia , Rompoonpol Kamon , Fauster Thomas , Tylewicz Urszula , Romani Santina , Dalla Rosa Marco , Jaeger Henry
Published: July 2019

The objective of this work was to optimize pulsed electric field (PEF) or ohmic heating (OH) application for carrot and apple mashes treatment at different preheating temperatures (40, 60 or 80 °C). The effect of tissue disintegration on the properties of recovered juices was quantified, taking into account the colour change, the antioxidant activity and the enzyme activity of peroxidase (POD) in both carrot and apple juice and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in apple juice. Lower ΔE and an increase of the antioxidant activity were obtained for juice samples treated with temperature at 80 °C with or without PEF and OH pretreatment compared with those of untreated samples. The inactivation by 90% for POD and PPO was achieved when a temperature of 80 °C was applied for both carrot and apple mash. A better retention of plant secondary metabolites from carrot and apple mashes could be achieved by additional PEF or OH application. Obtained results are the basis for the development of targeted processing concepts considering the release, inactivation and retention of ingredients.
Phenolic and Antioxidant Analysis of Olive Leaves Extracts (Olea europaea L.) Obtained by High Voltage Electrical Discharges (HVED)
Authors: Žuntar Irena , Putnik Predrag , Bursać Kovačević Danijela , Nutrizio Marinela , Šupljika Filip , Poljanec Andreja , Dubrović Igor , Barba Francisco , Režek Jambrak Anet
Published: July 2019

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate high voltage electrical discharges (HVED) as a green technology, in order to establish the effectiveness of phenolic extraction from olive leaves against conventional extraction (CE). HVED parameters included different green solvents (water, ethanol), treatment times (3 and 9 min), gases (nitrogen, argon), and voltages (15, 20, 25 kV). Methods: Phenolic compounds were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS), while antioxidant potency (total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity) were monitored spectrophotometrically. Data for Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) spectroscopy, colorimetry, zeta potential, particle size, and conductivity were also reported. Results: The highest yield of phenolic compounds was obtained for the sample treated with argon/9 min/20 kV/50% (3.2 times higher as compared to CE). Obtained results suggested the usage of HVED technology in simultaneous extraction and nanoformulation, and production of stable emulsion systems. Antioxidant capacity (AOC) of obtained extracts showed no significant difference upon the HVED treatment. Conclusions: Ethanol with HVED destroys the linkage between phenolic compounds and components of the plant material to which they are bound. All extracts were compliant with legal requirements regarding content of contaminants, pesticide residues and toxic metals. In conclusion, HVED presents an excellent potential for phenolic compounds extraction for further use in functional food manufacturing.
Mycotoxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxins in Agricultural Crop Commodities in the Philippines: A Review
Authors: Balendres Mark , Karlovsky Petr , Cumagun Christian
Published: July 2019

The tropical, warm, and humid conditions that are favorable to the growth and development of mycotoxigenic fungi put the Philippines at a high risk of mycotoxin contamination. To date, seven mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species, four Fusarium species, and one Penicillium species have been isolated from various agricultural crop commodities in the country. There are five mycotoxin groups (aflatoxin, fumonisin, ochratoxin, nivalenol, and zearalenone) that have been detected in both the raw form and the by-products of major crops grown in the country. Since the first scientific report of aflatoxin contamination in the Philippines in 1972, new information has been generated on mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi, but little has been known of other mycotoxins until the last two decades. Further, despite the increase in the understanding of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in the country, very limited knowledge exists on practices and measures that control both the fungi and the toxins. This paper reviews the current literature on mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in the Philippines with emphasis on the last two decades and on other mycotoxins.
Multiply Interpenetrating Polymer Networks: Preparation, Mechanical Properties, and Applications
Authors: Panteli Panayiota A. , Patrickios Costas S.
Published: July 2019

This review summarizes work done on triply, or higher, interpenetrating polymer network materials prepared in order to widen the properties of double polymer network hydrogels (DN), doubly interpenetrating polymer networks with enhanced mechanical properties. The review will show that introduction of a third, or fourth, polymeric component in the DNs would further enhance the mechanical properties of the resulting materials, but may also introduce other useful functionalities, including electrical conductivity, low-friction coefficients, and (bio)degradability.
The Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Skin–Mucus Proteome and Its Nutrient Potential for the Resident Bacterial Community
Authors: Minniti Giusi , Rød Sandve Simen , Padra János Tamás , Heldal Hagen Live , Lindén Sara , Pope Phillip B. , Ø. Arntzen Magnus , Vaaje-Kolstad Gustav
Published: July 2019

Norway is the largest producer and exporter of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) worldwide. Skin disorders correlated with bacterial infections represent an important challenge for fish farmers due to the economic losses caused. Little is known about this topic, thus studying the skin–mucus of Salmo salar and its bacterial community depict a step forward in understanding fish welfare in aquaculture. In this study, we used label free quantitative mass spectrometry to investigate the skin–mucus proteins associated with both Atlantic salmon and bacteria. In particular, the microbial temporal proteome dynamics during nine days of mucus incubation with sterilized seawater was investigated, in order to evaluate their capacity to utilize mucus components for growth in this environment. At the start of the incubation period, the largest proportion of proteins (~99%) belonged to the salmon and many of these proteins were assigned to protecting functions, confirming the defensive role of mucus. On the contrary, after nine days of incubation, most of the proteins detected were assigned to bacteria, mainly to the genera Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas. Most of the predicted secreted proteins were affiliated with transport and metabolic processes. In particular, a large abundance and variety of bacterial proteases were observed, highlighting the capacity of bacteria to degrade the skin–mucus proteins of Atlantic salmon.
Associations between Neighborhood Open Space Features and Walking and Social Interaction in Older Adults—A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Schmidt Tanja , Kerr Jacqueline , Schipperijn Jasper
Published: July 2019

Neighborhood Open Spaces (NOS) such as public spaces around people’s homes, parks and village greens, may support activity and socializing for older adults. These spaces might be especially important for older adults as they typically are less mobile and have smaller activity spaces and social networks than other age groups. The present exploratory sequential mixed methods study investigates the association between built environment features, social interaction, and walking within NOS, among older adults living in a low socio-economic neighborhood in Copenhagen. Interviews, the Community Park Audit Tool, and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) were used to capture quantitative and qualitative data on 353 older adults (59–90 years old) within 11 NOS. Walking was predicted by the condition and shade along paths, seating and landscaping. Social interaction was negatively associated with walking, suggesting that older adults tend to sit down when engaging in social activities. Interviews highlighted the importance of social interaction within NOS. Future designs of NOS should acknowledge the importance of social meeting places, but at the same time provide walkable spaces for older adults to promote healthy aging.
Application of Dynamically Constrained Interpolation Methodology to the Surface Nitrogen Concentration in the Bohai Sea
Authors: Zheng Quanxin , Li Xiaona , Lv Xianqing
Published: July 2019

Observations of ocean pollutants are usually spatiotemporally dispersive, while it is of great importance to obtain continuous distribution of ocean pollutants in a certain area. In this paper, a dynamically constrained interpolated methodology (DCIM) is proposed to interpolate surface nitrogen concentration (SNC) in the Bohai Sea. The DCIM takes the pollutant transport advection diffusion equation as a dynamic constraint to interpolate SNCs and optimizes the interpolation results with adjoint method. Feasibility and validity of the DCIM are testified by ideal twin experiments. In ideal experiments, mean absolute gross errors between interpolated observations and final interpolated SNCs are all no more than 0.03 mg/L, demonstrating that the DCIM can provide convincing results. In practical experiment, SNCs are interpolated and the final interpolated surface nitrogen distribution is acquired. Correlation coefficient between interpolated and observed SNCs is 0.77. In addition, distribution of the final interpolated SNCs shows a good agreement with the observed ones.
Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthoses (DEFO) for Managing Pain, Functional Capacity, and Quality of Life during Prenatal and Postnatal Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Szkwara Jaclyn M. , Milne Nikki , Hing Wayne , Pope Rodney
Published: July 2019

Conservative interventions for addressing prenatal and postnatal ailments have been described in the research literature. Research results indicated that maternity support belts assist with reducing pain and other symptoms in these phases; however, compliance in wearing maternity support belts is poor. To combat poor compliance, commercial manufacturers designed dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFO)/compression garments that target prenatal and postnatal ailments. This systematic review aimed to identify, critically appraise, and synthesize key findings on the effectiveness, the feasibility, and the acceptability of using DEFO to manage ailments during pre-natal and postnatal phases of care. Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies, resulting in 17 studies that met the eligibility criteria. There were variations in DEFO descriptors, including hosiery, support belts, abdominal binders and more, making it difficult to compare findings from the research articles regarding value of DEFO during prenatal and/or postnatal phases. A meta-synthesis of empirical research findings suggests wearing DEFOs during pregnancy has a significant desirable effect for managing pain and improving functional capacity. Further research is required to investigate the use of DEFOs for managing pain in the postnatal period and improving quality life during prenatal and postnatal care.
The Importance of the Built Environment in Person-Centred Rehabilitation at Home: Study Protocol
Authors: Kylén Maya , Von Koch Lena , Pessah-Rasmussen Hélène , Marcheschi Elizabeth , Ytterberg Charlotte , Heylighen Ann , Elf Marie
Published: July 2019

Health services will change dramatically as the prevalence of home healthcare increases. Only technologically advanced acute care will be performed in hospitals. This—along with the increased healthcare needs of people with long-term conditions such as stroke and the rising demand for services to be more person-centred—will place pressure on healthcare to consider quality across the continuum of care. Research indicates that planned discharge tailored to individual needs can reduce adverse events and promote competence in self-management. However, the environmental factors that may play a role in a patient’s recovery process remain unexplored. This paper presents a protocol with the purpose to explore factors in the built environment that can facilitate/hinder a person-centred rehabilitation process in the home. The project uses a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, with ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) and person–environment theories as conceptual frameworks. Data will be collected during home visits 3 months after stroke onset. Medical records, questionnaires, interviews and observations will be used. Workshops will be held to identify what experts and users (patients, significant others, staff) consider important in the built environment. Data will be used to synthesise the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes that are important to support the rehabilitation process at home.
Age- and Maturity-Related Variations in Morphology, Body Composition, and Motor Fitness among Young Female Tennis Players
Authors: Söğüt Mustafa , Luz Leonardo G.O. , Kaya Ömer Barış , Altunsoy Kübra , Doğan Ali Ahmet , Kirazci Sadettin , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Nikolaidis Pantelis Theodoros , Rosemann Thomas , Knechtle Beat
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of age and maturity on anthropometric and various fitness characteristics in young competitive female tennis players. Sixty-one players, aged 10.4–13.2 years (11.8 ± 0.8) were measured for standing and sitting heights, body mass, skinfolds, grip strength, and agility, and dichotomized into two age (U12 and U14) and maturity (earliest and latest) groups according to their chronological age and maturity status. The results revealed significant age effects for stature, sitting height, leg length, and hand grip in favor of the older players. Girls contrasting in maturation differed significantly for all anthropometric and physical performance variables except for body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%), and hexagon agility test. The earliest maturing group showed significantly higher values for anthropometric measures and better results in the hand grip test than the latest maturing group. After controlling for chronological age, differences were revealed between contrasting maturity groups in stature, sitting height, BF%, and the hand grip test. The findings highlight the age- and maturity-related trends in body size and muscular strength among young female tennis players in the pubertal period. Nevertheless, the differences in the body composition and agility of the contrasting age and maturity groups were negligible.
Development of a Hydrologic and Water Allocation Model to Assess Water Availability in the Sabor River Basin (Portugal)
Authors: Bessa Santos Regina Maria , Sanches Fernandes Luís Filipe , Vitor Cortes Rui Manuel , Leal Pacheco Fernando António
Published: July 2019

The Sabor River basin is a large basin (3170 km2) located in the northeast of Portugal and used mostly for agroforestry. One problem this basin faces is a lack of water during the dry season, when there is a higher demand for water to irrigate crops. To solve this problem, the Portuguese government created a National Irrigation Program to finance new irrigation areas and improve existing ones. Consequently, it is necessary to evaluate the past and future water availability for agricultural and domestic consumption in the basin. This was done through the development of a hydrological and water allocation model. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model the hydrological processes that took place in the catchment between 1960 and 2008. The MIKE HYDRO Basin was used to simulate water allocation (irrigation and domestic consumption) in a historical view and under two scenarios. The historical view used the time period 1960–2008, and the two scenarios used the same time period but with an increase in the irrigated area. The first scenario simulated the irrigation of the total irrigable area that exists in the basin. The second scenario simulated a 29% increase in the olive grove area and a 24% decrease in the resident population, according to the projection for 2060. The results show that, in the historical view, the average annual water demand deficit was 31% for domestic consumption and 70% for irrigation, which represent 1372 × 103 m3 and 94 × 106 m3 of water, respectively. In the two scenarios, the water demand deficit increased to 37% for domestic consumption and 77% for irrigation. In the first scenario, the average annual water demand deficit was 183 × 106 m3 of water for irrigation. In the second scenario, the average annual water demand deficit was 385 × 103 m3 of water for domestic consumption, and 106 × 106 m3 of water for irrigating the expanded olive grove area. These results demonstrate that Portuguese farmers can use our model as a decision support tool to determine how much water needs to be stored to meet the present and future water demand.
Impact of Active Video Games on Body Mass Index in Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating the Quality of Primary Studies
Authors: Hernández-Jiménez Carlos , Sarabia Raquel , Paz-Zulueta María , Paras-Bravo Paula , Pellico Amada , Ruiz Azcona Laura , Blanco Cristina , Madrazo María , Agudo María Jesus , Sarabia Carmen , Santibáñez Miguel
Published: July 2019

Objective: To study the impact of active video games on Body Mass Index (BMI) in children and adolescents. Design and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were pooled in meta-analysis using the method of random effects or fixed effects, as appropriate, after examination of statistical heterogeneity. Data sources and eligibility criteria for selecting studies. A comprehensive literature research was conducted in Medline (PubMed), ISI web of Knowledge, and SCOPUS up to April 2018, in relation to clinical trials (both controlled and non-controlled) in children and adolescents, whose intervention was based on active video games. Results: The overall intragroup effect of the intervention based on active video games was in favor of the intervention, reaching statistical significance using the fixed effects model: (standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.138; 95% CI (−0.237 to −0.038), p = 0.007 and was of borderline statistical significance in the random effects model: SMD= −0.191; 95% CI (−0.386 to 0.003), p = 0.053. The individual results of the determinations of the 15 included studies for this analysis showed a high heterogeneity among them (I2 = 82.91%). When the intervention was applied to children and adolescents with greater than or equal to 85 (overweight or obese) BMI percentile showed a greater effect in favor of the active video games: SMD= −0.483, p = 0.012. The overall intra-group effect in the control group was close to zero (SMD = 0.087). With respect to the non-standardized mean difference (MD) between groups, it was also in favor of active video games for both BMI (Kg/m2): DM = −0.317, 95% CI (−0.442 to −0.193), p = < 0.001 and BMI z-score: DM = −0.077, 95% CI (−0.139 to −0.016), p = 0.013. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis show a statistically significant effect in favor of using active video games on BMI in children and adolescents. The clinical relevance of this positive effect must be evaluated.
Neuropharmacology of the Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia and Role of Pain: Essential Oil of Bergamot as a Novel Therapeutic Approach
Authors: Scuteri Damiana , Rombolà Laura , Morrone Luigi Antonio , Bagetta Giacinto , Sakurada Shinobu , Sakurada Tsukasa , Tonin Paolo , Corasaniti Maria Tiziana
Published: July 2019

Aging of the population makes of dementia a challenge for health systems worldwide. The cognitive disturbance is a serious but not the only issue in dementia; behavioral and psychological syndromes known as neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia remarkably reduce the quality of life. The cluster of symptoms includes anxiety, depression, wandering, delusions, hallucinations, misidentifications, agitation and aggression. The pathophysiology of these symptoms implicates all the neurotransmitter systems, with a pivotal role for the glutamatergic neurotransmission. Imbalanced glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmissions, over-activation of the extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and alterations of the latter have been linked to the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms experienced by almost the entire demented population. Drugs with efficacy and safety for prevention or long term treatment of these disorders are not available yet. Aromatherapy provides the best evidence for positive outcomes in the control of agitation, the most resistant symptom. Demented patients often cannot verbalize pain, resulting in unrelieved symptoms and contributing to agitation. Bergamot essential oil provides extensive preclinical evidence of analgesic properties. Incidentally, the essential oil of bergamot induces anxyolitic-like effects devoid of sedation, typical of benzodiazepines, with a noteworthy advantage for demented patients. These data, together with the reported safety profile, form the rational basis for bergamot as a neurotherapeutic to be trialed for the control of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The NLRP3 Inflammasome: An Overview of Mechanisms of Activation and Regulation
Authors: Kelley Nathan , Jeltema Devon , Duan Yanhui , He Yuan
Published: July 2019

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system that mediates caspase-1 activation and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β/IL-18 in response to microbial infection and cellular damage. However, the aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome has been linked with several inflammatory disorders, which include cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by diverse stimuli, and multiple molecular and cellular events, including ionic flux, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the production of reactive oxygen species, and lysosomal damage have been shown to trigger its activation. How NLRP3 responds to those signaling events and initiates the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome is not fully understood. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by multiple signaling events, and its regulation by post-translational modifications and interacting partners of NLRP3.
Novel Evidence of the Increase in Angiogenic Factor Plasma Levels after Lineage-Negative Stem/Progenitor Cell Intracoronary Infusion in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Baumert Bartłomiej , Przybycień Krzysztof , Paczkowska Edyta , Kotowski Maciej , Pius-Sadowska Ewa , Safranow Krzysztof , Peregud-Pogorzelski Jarosław , Kornacewicz-Jach Zdzisława , Peregud-Pogorzelska Małgorzata , Machaliński Bogusław
Published: July 2019

Cell therapy raises hope to reduce the harmful effects of acute myocardial ischemia. Stem and progenitor cells (SPCs) may be a valuable source of trophic factors. In this study, we assessed the plasma levels of selected trophic factors in patients undergoing application of autologous bone marrow (BM)-derived, lineage-negative (Lin−) stem/progenitor cells into the coronary artery in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. The study group consisted of 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous revascularization and, afterwards, Lin− stem/progenitor cell administration into the infarct-related artery. The control group consisted of 19 patients. BM Lin− cells were isolated using immunomagnetic methods. Peripheral blood was collected on day 0, 2, 4, and 7 and after the first and third month to assess the concentration of selected trophic factors using multiplex fluorescent bead-based immunoassays. We found in the Lin− group that several angiogenic trophic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, Angiopoietin-1, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-aa) plasma level significantly increased to the 4th day after myocardial infarction. In parallel, we noticed a tendency where the plasma levels of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor were increased in the Lin– group. The obtained results suggest that the administered SPCs may be a valuable source of angiogenic trophic factors for damaged myocardium, although this observation requires further in-depth studies.
PEA-15 C-Terminal Tail Allosterically Modulates Death-Effector Domain Conformation and Facilitates Protein–Protein Interactions
Authors: Crespo-Flores Sergio L. , Cabezas Andres , Hassan Sherouk , Wei Yufeng
Published: July 2019

Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes, 15 kDa (PEA-15) exerts its regulatory roles on several critical cellular pathways through protein–protein interactions depending on its phosphorylation states. It can either inhibit the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activities when it is dephosphorylated or block the assembly of death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and the subsequent activation of apoptotic initiator, caspase-8, when it is phosphorylated. Due to the important roles of PEA-15 in regulating these pathways that lead to opposite cellular outcomes (cell proliferation vs. cell death), we proposed a phosphostasis (phosphorylation homeostasis) model, in which the phosphorylation states of the protein are vigorously controlled and regulated to maintain a delicate balance. The phosphostasis gives rise to the protective cellular functions of PEA-15 to preserve optimum cellular conditions. In this article, using advanced multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques combined with a novel chemical shift (CS)-Rosetta algorithm for de novo protein structural determination, we report a novel conformation of PEA-15 death-effector domain (DED) upon interacting with ERK2. This new conformation is modulated by the irregularly structured C-terminal tail when it first recognizes and binds to ERK2 at the d-peptide recruitment site (DRS) in an allosteric manner, and is facilitated by the rearrangement of the surface electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions on the DED. In this ERK2-bound conformation, three of the six helices (α2, α3, and α4) comprising the DED reorient substantially in comparison to the free-form structure, exposing key residues on the other three helices that directly interact with ERK2 at the DEF-docking site (docking site for ERK, FxF) and the activation loop. Additionally, we provide evidence that the phosphorylation of the C-terminal tail leads to a distinct conformation of DED, allowing efficient interactions with Fas-associated death domain (FADD) protein at the DISC. Our results substantiate the allosteric regulatory roles of the C-terminal tail in modulating DED conformation and facilitating protein–protein interactions of PEA-15.
Searching for Potential Lipid Biomarkers of Parkinson’s Disease in Parkin-Mutant Human Skin Fibroblasts by HILIC-ESI-MS/MS: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Calvano Cosima D. , Ventura Giovanni , Sardanelli Anna Maria M. , Savino Laura , Losito Ilario , De Michele Giuseppe , Palmisano Francesco , Cataldi Tommaso R. I.
Published: July 2019

Early diagnosis of neural changes causing cerebral impairment is critical for proposing preventive therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Biomarkers currently available cannot be informative of PD onset since they are characterized by analysing post-mortem tissues from patients with severe degeneration of the substantia nigra. Skin fibroblasts (SF) are now recognized as a useful model of primary human cells, capable of reflecting the chronological and biological aging of the subjects. Here a lipidomic study of easily accessible primary SF is presented, based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and mass spectrometry (HILIC/ESI-MS). Phospholipids (PL) from dermal fibroblasts of five PD patients with different parkin mutations and healthy control SF were characterized by single and tandem MS measurements using a hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap and a linear ion trap mass analysers. The proposed approach enabled the identification of more than 360 PL. Univariate statistical analyses highlight abnormality of PL metabolism in the PD group, suggesting down- or up-regulation of certain species according to the extent of disease progression. These findings, although preliminary, suggest that the phospholipidome of human SF represents a source of potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of PD. The dysregulation of ethanolamine plasmalogens in the circulatory system, especially those containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), might be likely associated with neurodegeneration.
NIRF-Molecular Imaging with Synovial Macrophages-Targeting Vsig4 Nanobody for Disease Monitoring in a Mouse Model of Arthritis
Authors: Zheng Fang , Luo Siyu , Ouyang Zhenlin , Zhou Jinhong , Mo Huanye , Schoonooghe Steve , Muyldermans Serge , De Baetselier Patrick , Raes Geert , Wen Yurong
Published: July 2019

Nanobody against V-set and Ig domain-containing 4 (Vsig4) on tissue macrophages, such as synovial macrophages, could visualize joint inflammation in multiple experimental arthritis models via single-photon emission computed tomography imaging. Here, we further addressed the specificity and assessed the potential for arthritis monitoring using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) Cy7-labeled Vsig4 nanobody (Cy7-Nb119). In vivo NIRF-imaging of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was performed using Cy7-Nb119. Signals obtained with Cy7-Nb119 or isotope control Cy7-NbBCII10 were compared in joints of naive mice versus CIA mice. In addition, pathological microscopy and fluorescence microscopy were used to validate the arthritis development in CIA. Cy7-Nb119 accumulated in inflamed joints of CIA mice, but not the naive mice. Development of symptoms in CIA was reflected in increased joint accumulation of Cy7-Nb119, which correlated with the conventional measurements of disease. Vsig4 is co-expressed with F4/80, indicating targeting of the increasing number of synovial macrophages associated with the severity of inflammation by the Vsig4 nanobody. NIRF imaging with Cy7-Nb119 allows specific assessment of inflammation in experimental arthritis and provides complementary information to clinical scoring for quantitative, non-invasive and economical monitoring of the pathological process. Nanobody labelled with fluorescence can also be used for ex vivo validation experiments using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.
Directed Evolution of P450 BM3 towards Functionalization of Aromatic O-Heterocycles
Authors: Santos Gustavo de Almeida , Dhoke Gaurao V. , Davari Mehdi D. , Ruff Anna Joëlle , Schwaneberg Ulrich
Published: July 2019

The O-heterocycles, benzo-1,4-dioxane, phthalan, isochroman, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, benzofuran, and dibenzofuran are important building blocks with considerable medical application for the production of pharmaceuticals. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) Bacillus megaterium 3 (BM3) wild type (WT) from Bacillus megaterium has low to no conversion of the six O-heterocycles. Screening of in-house libraries for active variants yielded P450 BM3 CM1 (R255P/P329H), which was subjected to directed evolution and site saturation mutagenesis of four positions. The latter led to the identification of position R255, which when introduced in the P450 BM3 WT, outperformed all other variants. The initial oxidation rate of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) consumption increased ≈140-fold (WT: 8.3 ± 1.3 min−1; R255L: 1168 ± 163 min−1), total turnover number (TTN) increased ≈21-fold (WT: 40 ± 3; R255L: 860 ± 15), and coupling efficiency, ≈2.9-fold (WT: 8.8 ± 0.1%; R255L: 25.7 ± 1.0%). Computational analysis showed that substitution R255L (distant from the heme-cofactor) does not have the salt bridge formed with D217 in WT, which introduces flexibility into the I-helix and leads to a heme rearrangement allowing for efficient hydroxylation.
Substrate-Related Factors Affecting Cellulosome-Induced Hydrolysis for Lignocellulose Valorization
Authors: Wang Ying , Leng Ling , Islam Md Khairul , Liu Fanghua , Lin Carol Sze Ki , Leu Shao-Yuan
Published: July 2019

Cellulosomes are an extracellular supramolecular multienzyme complex that can efficiently degrade cellulose and hemicelluloses in plant cell walls. The structural and unique subunit arrangement of cellulosomes can promote its adhesion to the insoluble substrates, thus providing individual microbial cells with a direct competence in the utilization of cellulosic biomass. Significant progress has been achieved in revealing the structures and functions of cellulosomes, but a knowledge gap still exists in understanding the interaction between cellulosome and lignocellulosic substrate for those derived from biorefinery pretreatment of agricultural crops. The cellulosomic saccharification of lignocellulose is affected by various substrate-related physical and chemical factors, including native (untreated) wood lignin content, the extent of lignin and xylan removal by pretreatment, lignin structure, substrate size, and of course substrate pore surface area or substrate accessibility to cellulose. Herein, we summarize the cellulosome structure, substrate-related factors, and regulatory mechanisms in the host cells. We discuss the latest advances in specific strategies of cellulosome-induced hydrolysis, which can function in the reaction kinetics and the overall progress of biorefineries based on lignocellulosic feedstocks.