bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Salmonella spp. Isolates from Swine: Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Nguyen Thi Hai , Pham Thi-Thanh-Thao , Turchi Barbara , Fratini Filippo , Ebani Valentina Virginia , Cerri Domenico , Bertelloni Fabrizio
Published: December 2020

Salmonella is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens worldwide. Swine represent typical reservoirs of this bacterium and a frequent source of human infection. Some intrinsic traits make some serovars or strains more virulent than others. Twenty-nine Salmonella spp. isolated from pigs belonging to 16 different serovars were analyzed for gastric acid environment resistance, presence of virulence genes (mgtC, rhuM, pipB, sopB, spvRBC, gipA, sodCI, sopE), antimicrobial resistance and presence of antimicrobial resistance genes (blaTEM, blaPSE-1, aadA1, aadA2, aphA1-lab, strA-strB, tetA, tetB, tetC, tetG, sul1, sul2, sul3). A percentage of 44.83% of strains showed constitutive and inducible gastric acid resistance, whereas 37.93% of strains became resistant only after induction. The genes sopB, pipB and mgtC were the most often detected, with 79.31%, 48.28% and 37.93% of positive strains, respectively. Salmonella virulence plasmid genes were detected in a S. enterica sup. houtenae ser. 40:z4,z23:-strain. Fifteen different virulence profiles were identified: one isolate (ser. Typhimurium) was positive for 6 genes, and 6 isolates (3 ser. Typhimurium, 2 ser. Typhimurium monophasic variant and 1 ser. Choleraesuis) scored positive for 5 genes. None of the isolates resulted resistant to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin, while all isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime, colistin and gentamycin. Many strains were resistant to sulfonamide (75.86%), tetracycline (51.72%), streptomycin (48.28%) and ampicillin (31.03%). Twenty different resisto-types were identified. Six strains (4 ser. Typhimurium, 1 ser. Derby and 1 ser. Typhimurium monophasic variant) showed the ASSuT profile. Most detected resistance genes sul2 (34.48%), tetA (27.58%) and strA-strB (27.58%). Great variability was observed in analyzed strains. S. ser. Typhimurium was confirmed as one of the most virulent serovars. This study underlines that swine could be a reservoir and source of pathogenic Salmonella strains.
Estimating the Cultural Value of Wild Animals in the Qinling Mountains, China: A Choice Experiment
Authors: Hou Yilei , Liu Tianle , Zhao Zheng , Wen Yali
Published: December 2020

In this study, we use the choice experiment method to evaluate the value of wild animals in the surrounding areas of the Changqing National Nature Reserve in China. For areas focused on biodiversity conservation, the results of wild animal value evaluation can provide a basis for the formulation of local ecological compensation standards. We identified wild animals, natural landscape features, infrastructure and facilities, and ticket price as major attributes determining the utility and value of the reserve area. The results of our field survey suggest that the cultural value of wild animals is significantly higher than the value of the infrastructure and other natural landscapes. Tourists indicated a willingness-to-pay of 31.4 Yuan to see wild animals in captivity, compared to 71.9 Yuan to see wild animals in the field. Moreover, tourists with different characteristics have different preferences for the cultural value of wildlife. Female tourists have a higher willingness-to-pay than male tourists. In addition, as age, education, and income level increase, tourists’ willingness-to-pay also increases. These conclusions can provide a reference for local government to formulate wildlife protection compensation and ecotourism ticket pricing.
Movement Patterns and Diel Activity of Anguilla japonica in the Middle Part of a Large River in South Korea
Authors: Kim Jeong-Hui , Park Sang-Hyeon , Baek Seung-Ho , Jang Min-Ho , Yoon Ju-Duk
Published: December 2020

To investigate movement patterns and diel activities of Anguilla japonica in the freshwater ecosystem, we applied acoustic telemetry on A. japonica in the Geum River, a large river in South Korea. The acoustic tags were attached on 19 individuals of A. japonica (12 with a depth sensor) in May and October 2015 and tracked at approximately 100-km sections from an estuary barrage by 20 automatic listening stations. Only four individuals showed longitudinal movement (mean, 5.2 km), and others were detected by the receivers at release sites; therefore, A. japonica showed high site fidelity. We did not identify seaward migration during the study period (May to November). Conversely, A. japonica showed active diel movement. The number of detections (p = 0.002) and movement distance (p = 0.004) were higher at night-time (18:00–06:00). As most individuals were actively moving at nighttime, we confirmed that A. japonica is nocturnal, although few individuals also showed daytime movement. Although the population and habitats of A. japonica have been decreasing simultaneously, the East-Asian countries are still severely exploiting rivers and streams to use water resources, and result in habitat simplification generated. Therefore, these results contribute to effective A. japonica management regarding habitat and population conservation and restoration.
Antibacterial Activity of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by the Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Bacillus sp. BO53 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327
Authors: Garrido Anette , Atencio Librada A. , Bethancourt Rita , Bethancourt Ariadna , Guzmán Héctor , Gutiérrez Marcelino , Durant-Archibold Armando A.
Published: December 2020

The present research aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by octocoral-associated bacteria Bacillus sp. BO53 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327. The volatilome bioactivity of both bacteria species was evaluated against human pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumanni, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this regard, the in vitro tests showed that Bacillus sp. BO53 VOCs inhibited the growth of P. aeruginosa and reduced the growth of S. aureus and A. baumanni. Furthermore, Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327 strongly inhibited the growth of A. baumanni, and P. aeruginosa. VOCs were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) joined to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methodology. Nineteen VOCs were identified, where 5-acetyl-2-methylpyridine, 2-butanone, and 2-nonanone were the major compounds identified on Bacillus sp. BO53 VOCs; while 1-pentanol, 2-butanone, and butyl formate were the primary volatile compounds detected in Pseudoalteromonas sp. GA327. We proposed that the observed bioactivity is mainly due to the efficient inhibitory biochemical mechanisms of alcohols and ketones upon antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is the first report which describes the antibacterial activity of VOCs emitted by octocoral-associated bacteria.
Use of Parabens (Methyl and Butyl) during the Gestation Period: Mitochondrial Bioenergetics of the Testes and Antioxidant Capacity Alterations in Testes and Other Vital Organs of the F1 Generation
Authors: Oliveira Maria Manuel , Martins Fátima , Silva Mónica G. , Correia Elisete , Videira Romeu , Peixoto Francisco
Published: December 2020

Since the mid-1920s, parabens have been widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in processed foods and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. Paraben use continues to generate considerable controversy, both in the general population and in the scientific community itself. The primary purpose of our study was to determine whether parabens (methyl and butyl at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight by subcutaneous injection) during pregnancy of adult female Wistar rats can have an impact on the F1 generation. As far as we know, we are the first to demonstrate that using parabens during pregnancy has negative repercussions on the mitochondrial bioenergetics and antioxidant activity of testicular germ cells in the F1 generation. Our study showed that there was a 48.7 and 59.8% decrease in the respiratory control index with 100 and 200 mg/kg of butylparaben, respectively. Cytochrome c oxidase activity was significantly inhibited (45 and 51%) in both groups. In addition, 200 mg/kg butylparaben promoted a marked decrease in citrate synthase activity, indicating that mitochondrial content decreased in the germ cells, especially spermatocytes and spermatids. Mitochondrial ROS production increased in groups exposed to parabens in a concentration-dependent manner, especially the butyl one (102 and 130%). The groups exposed to butylparaben showed an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, while glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) decreased. With methylparaben, only differences in SOD and GR were observed; for the latter, this only occurred with the highest concentration. The glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) ratio did not undergo any significant change. However, there was a considerable increase in hydroperoxide content in animals exposed to butylparaben, with 100 and 200 mg/kg resulting in 98.6 and 188% increase, respectively. Furthermore, several other organs also showed alterations in antioxidant capacity due to paraben use. In summary, our study demonstrates that paraben use during pregnancy will cause severe changes in the mitochondrial bioenergetics and antioxidant capacity of testicular germ cells and the antioxidant capacity of several other F1 generation organs.
Hydrogen Sulfide and Carnosine: Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Kidney and Brain Axis
Authors: Calabrese Vittorio , Scuto Maria , Salinaro Angela Trovato , Dionisio Giuseppe , Modafferi Sergio , Ontario Maria Laura , Greco Valentina , Sciuto Sebastiano , Schmitt Claus Peter , Calabrese Edward J. , Peters Verena
Published: December 2020

Emerging evidence indicates that the dysregulation of cellular redox homeostasis and chronic inflammatory processes are implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney and brain disorders. In this light, endogenous dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exert cytoprotective actions through the modulation of redox-dependent resilience pathways during oxidative stress and inflammation. Several recent studies have elucidated a functional crosstalk occurring between kidney and the brain. The pathophysiological link of this crosstalk is represented by oxidative stress and inflammatory processes which contribute to the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, and dementia during the natural history of chronic kidney disease. Herein, we provide an overview of the main pathophysiological mechanisms related to high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and neurotoxins, which play a critical role in the kidney–brain crosstalk. The present paper also explores the respective role of H2S and carnosine in the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney–brain axis. It suggests that these activities are likely mediated, at least in part, via hormetic processes, involving Nrf2 (Nuclear factor-like 2), Hsp 70 (heat shock protein 70), SIRT-1 (Sirtuin-1), Trx (Thioredoxin), and the glutathione system. Metabolic interactions at the kidney and brain axis level operate in controlling and reducing oxidant-induced inflammatory damage and therefore, can be a promising potential therapeutic target to reduce the severity of renal and brain injuries in humans.
Release of Aloe vera Extracts from Therapeutic Lenses
Authors: Pulliero Alessandra , Profumo Aldo , Izzotti Alberto , Saccà Sergio Claudio
Published: December 2020

Aloe vera extracts have been used for drug therapy due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and epithelia-regenerative actions. Considering the possible adverse side effects on the corneal surface of anti-microbial agent administration after ocular surgery, it is of interest to identify the ability of Aloe vera extract release from a therapeutic lens to prevent ocular irritation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of different lens types on the availability and efficacy of releasing Aloe vera extracts in which they are soaked. Two lens types were examined: (1) non-ionic hydrogel lenses and (2) ionic hydrogel lenses. Aloe vera availability was quantified by LC–MS, and activity was quantified by a spectrophotometer (Nanodrop) at different times: (a) 30 min, (b) 60 min, (c) 2 h, (d) 6 h, and (e) 24 h. The lens allowing for the most abundant passage of Aloe vera extracts was the ionic hydrogel lens, followed by the non-ionic hydrogel lens. The obtained results demonstrate that the best lens allowing for the high and stable release of Aloe vera extract to the corneal surface are those composed of ionic hydrogels.
Effect of Thermal Exposure on Oil Shale Saturation and Reservoir Properties
Authors: Mukhametdinova Aliya , Mikhailova Polina , Kozlova Elena , Karamov Tagir , Baluev Anatoly , Cheremisin Alexey
Published: December 2020

The experimental and numerical modeling of thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) requires a detailed laboratory analysis of core properties influenced by thermal exposure. To acquire the robust knowledge on the change in rock saturation and reservoir properties, the fastest way is to examine the rock samples before and after combustion. In the current paper, we studied the shale rock properties, such as core saturation, porosity, and permeability, organic matter content of the rock caused by the combustion front propagation within the experimental modeling of the high-pressure air injection. The study was conducted on Bazhenov shale formation rock samples. We reported the results on porosity and permeability evolution, which was obtained by the gas pressure-decay technique. The measurements revealed a significant increase of porosity (on average, for 9 abs. % of porosity) and permeability (on average, for 1 mD) of core samples after the combustion tube experiment. The scanning electron microscopy showed the changes induced by thermal exposure: the transformation of organic matter with and the formation of new voids and micro and nanofractures in the mineral matrix. Low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was chosen as a primary non-disruptive tool for measuring the saturation of core samples in ambient conditions. NMR T1–T2 maps were interpreted to determine the rock fluid categories (bitumen and adsorbed oil, structural and adsorbed water, and mobile oil) before and after the combustion experiment. Changes in the distribution of organic matter within the core sample were examined using 2D Rock-Eval pyrolysis technique. Results demonstrated the relatively uniform distribution of OM inside the core plugs after the combustion.
A Rapid UV/Vis Spectrophotometric Method for the Water Quality Monitoring at On-Farm Root Vegetable Pack Houses
Authors: Radzevičius Algirdas , Dapkienė Midona , Sabienė Nomeda , Dzięcioł Justyna
Published: December 2020

Our research aim was to apply UV/Vis spectrophotometric techniques for the rapid monitoring of the quality of water sourced from on-farm root vegetable washing processes. To achieve this goal, the quality assessment of the washing water and wastewater at different stages of the technological processes was performed using physicochemical, biological, and UV/Vis absorbance measurements as well as statistical methods, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression. Limit values of UV/Vis absorbance at specific wavelengths were predicted in order to adapt them for routine testing and water quality monitoring at the farm packhouses. Results of the lab analyses showed, that the main problems of the water quality were caused by suspended solids (470–3400 mg L−1), organic substances (BOD5 215–2718 mg L−1; COD 540–3229 mg L−1), nitrogen (3–52 mg L−1), phosphorus (1–6 mg L−1), and pathogenic microorganisms (TVC > 300 cfu mL−1, E. coli 5.5 × 103–1.0 × 104 cfu mL−1, intestinal enterococci 2.8 × 102–1.5 × 104 cfu mL−1, coliform bacteria 1.6 × 103–2.0 × 104 cfu mL−1). Suspended solids exceeded the limit values by 10–50 times, organic matter by 10–25 times, dissolved organic carbon by 3–5 times, nitrogen by 3–7 times, total phosphorus by 3–12 times, and microorganisms by 3–10 times. UV/Vis limit values calculated were as follows: A210 nm—3.997–4.009 cm−1, A 240 nm—5.193–5.235 cm−1, A254 nm—4.042–4.047 cm−1, A320 nm—7.387–7.406 cm−1, and A 660 nm—3.937–3.946 cm−1. UV/Vis measurements at A320 nm are proposed for the routine water quality monitoring.
Formulation of Alkali-Activated Slag Binder Destined for Use in Developing Countries
Authors: Bella Nabil , Gudiel Edwin , Soriano Lourdes , Font Alba , Borrachero María Victoria , Paya Jordi , Monzó José Maria
Published: December 2020

Worldwide cement production is around 4.2 billion tons, and the fabrication of one ton of ordinary Portland cement emits around 900 kg of CO2. Blast furnace slag (BFS) is a byproduct used to produce alkali-activated materials (AAM). BFS production was estimated at about 350 million tons in 2018, and the BFS reuse rate in construction materials of developing countries is low. AAM can reduce CO2 emissions in relation to Portland cement materials: Its use in construction would be a golden opportunity for developing countries in forthcoming decades. The present research aims to formulate AAM destined for future applications in developing countries. Two activators were used: NaOH, Na2CO3, and a mixture of both. The results showed that compressive strengths within the 42–56 MPa range after 28 curing days were obtained for the Na2CO3-activated mortars. The characterization analysis confirmed the presence of hydrotalcite, carbonated phases, CSH and CASH. The economic study showed that Na2CO3 was the cheapest activator in terms of the relative cost per ton and MPa of manufactured mortars. Finally, the environmental benefits of mortars based on this reagent were evidenced, and, in terms of kgCO2 emissions per ton and MPa, the mortars with Na2CO3 yielded 50% lower values than with NaOH.
Acoustic-Based Position Estimation of an Object and a Person Using Active Localization and Sound Field Analysis
Authors: Kim Kihyun , Wang Semyung , Ryu Homin , Lee Sung Q.
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a new method to estimate the position of an object and a silent person with a home security system using a loudspeaker and an array of microphones. The conventional acoustic-based security systems have been developed to detect intruders and estimate the direction of intruders who generate noise. However, there is a need for a method to estimate the distance and angular position of a silent intruder for interoperation with the conventional security sensors, thus overcoming the disadvantage of acoustic-based home security systems, which operate only when sound is generated. Therefore, an active localization method is proposed to estimate the direction and distance of a silent person by actively detecting the sound field variation measured by the microphone array after playing the sound source in the control zone. To implement the idea of the proposed method, two main aspects were studied. Firstly, a signal processing method that estimates the position of a person by the reflected sound, and secondly, the environment in which the proposed method can be operated through a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation and the acoustic parameters of early decay time (EDT) and reverberation time (RT20). Consequently, we verified that with the proposed method it is possible to estimate the position of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and a person by using their reflection in a classroom.
Local Weather Conditions Create Structural Differences between Shallow Firn Columns at Summit, Greenland and WAIS Divide, Antarctica
Authors: McDowell Ian E. , Albert Mary R. , Lieblappen Stephanie A. , Keegan Kaitlin M.
Published: December 2020

Understanding how physical characteristics of polar firn vary with depth assists in interpreting paleoclimate records and predicting meltwater infiltration and storage in the firn column. Spatial heterogeneities in firn structure arise from variable surface climate conditions that create differences in firn grain growth and packing arrangements. Commonly, estimates of how these properties change with depth are made by modeling profiles using long-term estimates of air temperature and accumulation rate. Here, we compare surface meteorology and firn density and permeability in the depth range of 3.5–11 m of the firn column from cores collected at Summit, Greenland and WAIS Divide, Antarctica, two sites with the same average accumulation rate and mean annual air temperature. We show that firn at WAIS Divide is consistently denser than firn at Summit. However, the difference in bulk permeability of the two profiles is less statistically significant. We argue that differences in local weather conditions, such as mean summer temperatures, daily temperature variations, and yearly wind speeds, create the density discrepancies. Our results are consistent with previous results showing density is not a good indicator of firn permeability within the shallow firn column. Future modeling efforts should account for these weather variables when estimating firn structure with depth.
Detailed Characterization of the Cooperative Binding of Piperine with Heat Shock Protein 70 by Molecular Biophysical Approaches
Authors: Zazeri Gabriel , Povinelli Ana Paula Ribeiro , Lima Marcelo de Freitas , Cornélio Marinônio Lopes
Published: December 2020

In this work, for the first time, details of the complex formed by heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) independent nucleotide binding domain (NBD) and piperine were characterized through experimental and computational molecular biophysical methods. Fluorescence spectroscopy results revealed positive cooperativity between the two binding sites. Circular dichroism identified secondary conformational changes. Molecular dynamics along with molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) reinforced the positive cooperativity, showing that the affinity of piperine for NBD increased when piperine occupied both binding sites instead of one. The spontaneity of the complexation was demonstrated through the Gibbs free energy (∆G < 0 kJ/mol) for different temperatures obtained experimentally by van’t Hoff analysis and computationally by umbrella sampling with the potential of mean force profile. Furthermore, the mean forces which drove the complexation were disclosed by van’t Hoff and MM/PBSA as being the non-specific interactions. In conclusion, the work revealed characteristics of NBD and piperine interaction, which may support further drug discover studies.
Protocol for Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Green Peta , Loftus Andrea , Anderson Rebecca
Published: December 2020

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating disorder with an approximate lifetime prevalence of 1–3%. Despite advances in leading treatment modalities, including pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, some cases remain treatment resistant. Non-invasive brain stimulation has been explored in this treatment-resistant population with some promising findings; however, a lack of methodological rigor has reduced the quality of the findings. The current paper presents the protocol for conducting research into the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of OCD. A double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted involving active tDCS vs. sham tDCS on 40 general OCD patients. The intervention consists of 2 mA anodal stimulation over the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) with the cathode positioned over the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Participants will receive 10 sessions of 20 min of either sham- or active-tDCS over 4 weeks. Outcomes will be categorical and dimensional measures of OCD, as well as related secondary clinical measures (depression, anxiety, quality of life), and neurocognitive functions (inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility).
Influence of the Cross-Sectional Shape of a Reinforced Bimodular Beam on the Stress-Strain State in a Transverse Impact
Authors: Beskopylny Alexey , Kadomtseva Elena , Meskhi Besarion , Strelnikov Grigory , Polushkin Oleg
Published: December 2020

The paper considers the stress-strain state of a reinforced concrete beam, as a bimodular material, under the action of an impact. The behavior of bimodular concretes with different moduli of elasticity in tension and compression has not been studied enough. At the same time, taking into account the bimodularity of concrete makes it possible to design a more economical structure, especially for dynamic load. In this article, the impact is considered as an absolutely plastic impact of an absolutely rigid body on an elastic system. The stress state is investigated for beams of rectangular, T-section and I-sections, and is compared with and without the bimodularity of reinforced concrete. The analysis of the dependence of the stress state on the shape, cross-sectional dimensions, and the location of reinforcing bars in the compressed and tensioned zones was carried out for lightweight concrete (Et < Ec) and for heavy concrete (Et > Ec) under the action of shock load with and without regard to the mass of the beam. The numerical study shows that taking into account the mass of the beam upon impact significantly decreases the magnitude of the normal stresses in both the tensioned and compressed zones. Beams of rectangular cross-section have the highest load-bearing capacity when the cross-section height is equal for both light and heavy concrete. An increase in the size of the flange of the I-beam in the stretched zone leads to a sharp decrease in normal tensile stresses and a slight increase in normal compressive stresses. The proposed engineering method makes it possible to numerically study the effect on the stress-strain state of a beam under the action of a concentrated impact of various geometric characteristics of the cross-section, bimodularity of the material, size, number and location of reinforcement.
The RASSF1A Tumor Suppressor Binds the RasGAP DAB2IP and Modulates RAS Activation in Lung Cancer
Authors: Harrell Stewart Desmond R. , Schmidt M. Lee , Donninger Howard , Clark Geoffrey J.
Published: December 2020

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lung cancer is commonly driven by mutations in the RAS oncogenes, the most frequently activated oncogene family in human disease. RAS-induced tumorigenesis is inhibited by the tumor suppressor RASSF1A, which induces apoptosis in response to hyperactivation of RAS. RASSF1A expression is suppressed in cancer at high rates, primarily owing to promoter hypermethylation. Recent reports have shown that loss of RASSF1A expression uncouples RAS from apoptotic signaling in vivo, thereby enhancing tumor aggressiveness. Moreover, a concomitant upregulation of RAS mitogenic signaling upon RASSF1A loss has been observed, suggesting RASSF1A may directly regulate RAS activation. Here, we present the first mechanistic evidence for control of RAS activation by RASSF1A. We present a novel interaction between RASSF1A and the Ras GTPase Activating Protein (RasGAP) DAB2IP, an important negative regulator of RAS. Using shRNA-mediated knockdown and stable overexpression approaches, we demonstrate that RASSF1A upregulates DAB2IP protein levels in NSCLC cells. Suppression of RASSF1A and subsequent downregulation of DAB2IP enhances GTP loading onto RAS, thus increasing RAS mitogenic signaling in both mutant- and wildtype-RAS cells. Moreover, co-suppression of RASSF1A and DAB2IP significantly enhances in vitro and in vivo growth of wildtype-RAS cells. Tumors expressing wildtype RAS, therefore, may still suffer from hyperactive RAS signaling when RASSF1A is downregulated. This may render them susceptible to the targeted RAS inhibitors currently in development.
Calcium Increase and Substance P Release Induced by the Neurotoxin Brevetoxin-1 in Sensory Neurons: Involvement of PAR2 Activation through Both Cathepsin S and Canonical Signaling
Authors: Pierre Ophélie , Fouchard Maxime , Buscaglia Paul , Le Goux Nelig , Leschiera Raphaël , Mignen Olivier , Fluhr Joachim W. , Misery Laurent , Le Garrec Raphaële
Published: December 2020

Red tides involving Karenia brevis expose humans to brevetoxins (PbTxs). Oral exposition triggers neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, whereas inhalation induces a respiratory syndrome and sensory disturbances. No curative treatment is available and the pathophysiology is not fully elucidated. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), cathepsin S (Cat-S) and substance P (SP) release are crucial mediators of the sensory effects of ciguatoxins (CTXs) which are PbTx analogs. This work explored the role of PAR2 and Cat-S in PbTx-1-induced sensory effects and deciphered the signaling pathway involved. We performed calcium imaging, PAR2 immunolocalization and SP release experiments in monocultured sensory neurons or co-cultured with keratinocytes treated with PbTx-1 or P-CTX-2. We demonstrated that PbTx-1-induced calcium increase and SP release involved Cat-S, PAR2 and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). The PbTx-1-induced signaling pathway included protein kinase A (PKA) and TRPV4, which are compatible with the PAR2 biased signaling induced by Cat-S. Internalization of PAR2 and protein kinase C (PKC), inositol triphosphate receptor and TRPV4 activation evoked by PbTx-1 are compatible with the PAR2 canonical signaling. Our results suggest that PbTx-1-induced sensory disturbances involve the PAR2-TRPV4 pathway. We identified PAR2, Cat-S, PKA, and PKC that are involved in TRPV4 sensitization induced by PbTx-1 in sensory neurons.
Design and Implementation of Automated Steganography Image-Detection System for the KakaoTalk Instant Messenger
Authors: Park Jun , Cho Youngho
Published: December 2020

As the popularity of social network service (SNS) messengers (such as Telegram, WeChat or KakaoTalk) grows rapidly, cyberattackers and cybercriminals start targeting them, and from various media, we can see numerous cyber incidents that have occurred in the SNS messenger platforms. Especially, according to existing studies, a novel type of botnet, which is the so-called steganography-based botnet (stego-botnet), can be constructed and implemented in SNS chat messengers. In the stego-botnet, by using various steganography techniques, every botnet communication and control (C&C) messages are secretly embedded into multimedia files (such as image or video files) frequently shared in the SNS messenger. As a result, the stego-botnet can hide its malicious messages between a bot master and bots much better than existing botnets by avoiding traditional botnet-detection methods without steganography-detection functions. Meanwhile, existing studies have focused on devising and improving steganography-detection algorithms but no studies conducted automated steganography image-detection system although there are a large amount of SNS chatrooms on the Internet and thus may exist many potential steganography images on those chatrooms which need to be inspected for security. Consequently, in this paper, we propose an automated system that detects steganography image files by collecting and inspecting all image files shared in an SNS chatroom based on open image steganography tools. In addition, we implement our proposed system based on two open steganography tools (Stegano and Cryptosteganography) in the KakaoTalk SNS messenger and show our experimental results that validate our proposed automated detection system work successfully according to our design purposes.
Cobalt–Chromium Dental Alloys: Metal Exposures, Toxicological Risks, CMR Classification, and EU Regulatory Framework
Authors: Vaicelyte Alina , Janssen Christine , Le Borgne Marc , Grosgogeat Brigitte
Published: December 2020

During the 20th century, metal alloys have assumed an important role as restorative materials. Among existing examples, cobalt–chromium (Co–Cr) alloys increasingly began to be used in medicine and especially in dentistry. Their success is mainly due to their mechanical properties such as stiffness, strength and corrosion resistance, thus allowing a high biocompatibility. There are quite meaningful data on the corrosion and toxicity of Co–Cr alloys for their use in restorative materials such as dental prostheses. Toxicological studies following Co and Cr exposures in the oral cavity are more difficult to conduct because there are many different situations leading to the release of metal ions and wear particles. Furthermore, the links between exposure and the appearance of local or systemic toxicity are not automatic. Since 2017, the European Union (EU) regulatory framework for Co–Cr alloys has been undergoing profound changes. A new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) (2017/745) will be applied in May 2021 with the need to consider that Co metal is a new carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic to reproduction (CMR) substance. On 18 February 2020, the 14th Adaptation to Technical Progress (ATP14) to the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation was published, including the harmonised classification for Co metal as a CMR 1B substance. In this context, the use of Co might be forbidden if the medical devices are invasive and as soon as they include more than 0.1% (m/m) Co. This review provides a specific overview on Co–Cr dental alloys in terms of metal ions and wear particles release, toxicological risks, and the actual and new EU regulatory framework.
Designing (Ultra)Fine-Grained High-Entropy Alloys by Spark Plasma Sintering and Equal-Channel Angular Pressing
Authors: Rymer Lisa-Marie , Lindner Thomas , Frint Philipp , Löbel Martin , Lampke Thomas
Published: December 2020

Single-phase, face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy alloys (HEA) are promising materials for future applications. In order to improve the mechanical properties, especially the tensile strength of these materials, this study focuses on the combination of spark plasma sintering (SPS) and equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). The initial fine-grained microstructure produced by SPS is further refined by ECAP in a 90°-die. Optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) confirm this considerable grain refinement, leads to a grain size below 1 µm after 1 ECAP pass. An alternating arrangement of fine-grained areas and much coarser regions, aligned under an angle of approximately 27°, is found. Moreover, a first microstructural investigation of the twin structure is conducted. The mechanical behavior was investigated by hardness measurements and tensile testing. Both the hardness and tensile strength are remarkably increased after ECAP. In contrast, the uniform elongation and elongation at fracture are significantly reduced due to the strengthening mechanisms of strain hardening and grain refinement. It is concluded that the combination of SPS and ECAP is an attractive approach for designing (ultra)fine-grained HEAs with superior properties. The investigated techniques could be applied to understand the underlying microstructural mechanisms.
Failure of Lactate Clearance Predicts the Outcome of Critically Ill Septic Patients
Authors: Bruno Raphael Romano , Wernly Bernhard , Binneboessel Stephan , Baldia Philipp , Duse Dragos Andrei , Erkens Ralf , Kelm Malte , Mamandipoor Behrooz , Osmani Venet , Jung Christian
Published: December 2020

Purpose: Early lactate clearance is an important parameter for prognosis assessment and therapy control in sepsis. Patients with a lactate clearance >0% might differ from patients with an inferior clearance in terms of intensive care management and outcomes. This study analyzes a large collective with regards to baseline risk distribution and outcomes. Methods: In total, 3299 patients were included in this analysis, consisting of 1528 (46%) ≤0% and 1771 (54%) >0% patients. The primary endpoint was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to compare both groups: A baseline model (model 1) with lactate clearance as a fixed effect and ICU as a random effect was installed. For model 2, patient characteristics (model 2) were included. For model 3, intensive care treatment (mechanical ventilation and vasopressors) was added to the model. Models 1 and 2 were used to evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Model 3 was only used to evaluate the primary outcomes. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The cohorts had no relevant differences regarding the gender, BMI, age, heart rate, body temperature, and baseline lactate. Neither the primary infection focuses nor the ethnic background differed between both groups. In both groups, the most common infection sites were of pulmonary origin, the urinary tract, and the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with lactate clearance >0% evidenced lower sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores (7 ± 6 versus 9 ± 6; p < 0.001) and creatinine (1.53 ± 1.49 versus 1.80 ± 1.67; p < 0.001). The ICU mortality differed significantly (14% versus 32%), and remained this way after multivariable adjustment for patient characteristics and intensive care treatment (aOR 0.43 95% CI 0.36–0.53; p < 0.001). In the additional sensitivity analysis, the lack of lactate clearance was associated with a worse prognosis in each subgroup. Conclusion: In this large collective of septic patients, the 6 h lactate clearance is an independent method for outcome prediction.
Examining the Causal Structures of Deep Neural Networks Using Information Theory
Authors: Marrow Scythia , Michaud Eric J. , Hoel Erik
Published: December 2020

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are often examined at the level of their response to input, such as analyzing the mutual information between nodes and data sets. Yet DNNs can also be examined at the level of causation, exploring “what does what” within the layers of the network itself. Historically, analyzing the causal structure of DNNs has received less attention than understanding their responses to input. Yet definitionally, generalizability must be a function of a DNN’s causal structure as it reflects how the DNN responds to unseen or even not-yet-defined future inputs. Here, we introduce a suite of metrics based on information theory to quantify and track changes in the causal structure of DNNs during training. Specifically, we introduce the effective information (EI) of a feedforward DNN, which is the mutual information between layer input and output following a maximum-entropy perturbation. The EI can be used to assess the degree of causal influence nodes and edges have over their downstream targets in each layer. We show that the EI can be further decomposed in order to examine the sensitivity of a layer (measured by how well edges transmit perturbations) and the degeneracy of a layer (measured by how edge overlap interferes with transmission), along with estimates of the amount of integrated information of a layer. Together, these properties define where each layer lies in the “causal plane”, which can be used to visualize how layer connectivity becomes more sensitive or degenerate over time, and how integration changes during training, revealing how the layer-by-layer causal structure differentiates. These results may help in understanding the generalization capabilities of DNNs and provide foundational tools for making DNNs both more generalizable and more explainable.
Set-Wise Differential Interaction between Copy Number Alterations and Gene Expressions of Lower-Grade Glioma Reveals Prognosis-Associated Pathways
Authors: Cho Seong Beom
Published: December 2020

The integrative analysis of copy number alteration (CNA) and gene expression (GE) is an essential part of cancer research considering the impact of CNAs on cancer progression and prognosis. In this research, an integrative analysis was performed with generalized differentially coexpressed gene sets (gdCoxS), which is a modification of dCoxS. In gdCoxS, set-wise interaction is measured using the correlation of sample-wise distances with Renyi’s relative entropy, which requires an estimation of sample density based on omics profiles. To capture correlations between the variables, multivariate density estimation with covariance was applied. In the simulation study, the power of gdCoxS outperformed dCoxS that did not use the correlations in the density estimation explicitly. In the analysis of the lower-grade glioma of the cancer genome atlas program (TCGA-LGG) data, the gdCoxS identified 577 pathway CNAs and GEs pairs that showed significant changes of interaction between the survival and non-survival group, while other benchmark methods detected lower numbers of such pathways. The biological implications of the significant pathways were well consistent with previous reports of the TCGA-LGG. Taken together, the gdCoxS is a useful method for an integrative analysis of CNAs and GEs.
Reading Motivation, Alcohol and Drug Use in Future Teachers in Preschool and Primary School
Authors: de la Rocha Díaz María , Méndez Inmaculada , Ruiz-Esteban Cecilia
Published: December 2020

Future teachers will have to develop the reading habit in their students, as this is an essential factor in schoolchildren. The lack of reading motivation among young people and the need to have it in order to transmit it has been evidenced. Young people often prefer to spend their leisure time using alcohol and other drugs rather than reading books for pleasure. The factors that influence reading motivation are varied, but the objective of this research work focuses on establishing the relationship between reading motivation and the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs in future teachers of Preschool and Primary Education. A total of 178 subjects among university students were recruited (56.6% girls). The ages ranged from 18 to 34 (M = 21.59, SD = 3.52). The first scale used was the MULTICAGE CAD-4 for behavioral addiction together with a Scale for Characterizing Motivation for Academic Reading (EMLA). The results of the study indicate that those young people who were more involved in the consumption of alcohol and drugs had a lower reading habit. Likewise, the study also reveals significant mean differences in reading motivation based on gender and age. This shows the need to enact healthy habits from the university related to increasing reading motivation and promoting the reading habit in future teachers.
Assessing the Quality of Physical Environments of Early Childhood Schools within the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana Using a Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Design
Authors: Amissah-Essel Salome , Hagan John Elvis , Schack Thomas
Published: December 2020

(1) Background: The last few decades have seen researchers giving considerable attention to the physical context of early childhood care and development (ECCD) centers because many of the underlying processes that link physical context are quite similar to psychosocial environmental factors regarding child development. However, research on the physical environments, and the employees’ understanding of the importance of physical environments, is often underestimated. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of the physical environments of ECCD centers in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana, and ascertain whether being a private or public center (center auspices) would be associated with the quality of its physical environment. A further inquiry into the educators’ understanding of the importance of physical environment on children’s developmental outcomes was made. (2) Methods: Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design, all 160 ECCD centers in the Cape Coast Metropolis were assessed using a modified version of the Children’s Physical Environment Rating Scale (CPERS) and a semi-structured interview guide. (3) Results: Descriptive statistics indicated that more than half of the ECCD centers, 56%, rated “fair” on the quality of their physical environment. Although the locations and sites of these centers were of good quality, other physical environmental characteristics (i.e., “Planning of the Centre”, “Building as a Whole” and “Outdoor Space”) of ECCD centers were also rated to be fair. A Chi-square test showed that center auspices (i.e., being private or public) were not significantly associated with the quality of the physical environments of the centers [χ2(2) = 2.490, p > 0.05], suggesting no significant difference between private and public ECCD centers in terms of the quality of their physical environment. A follow-up qualitative inquiry identified two themes as reasons why play yards in early years’ schools were not good: a ‘‘lack of funding” and “governmental support”. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the physical environments of ECCD centers are, to some extent, compromised. Stakeholders (e.g., Ghana Education Service, non-governmental/religious organizations, and private entrepreneurs) should help improve the quality of physical environments and also provide financial assistance for the provision of basic equipment (e.g., learning materials) for private and public ECCD centers in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Educators require in-service training to boost their in-depth understanding of the importance of physical environments on children’s developmental outcomes. Future studies could target children’s perceptions of their preschools’ physical environments as useful empirical information to help guide appropriate policy interventions.
Combined Access Barring Scheme for IoT Devices Using Bayesian Estimation
Authors: Toor Waqas Tariq , Alvi Maira , Agiwal Mamta
Published: December 2020

This paper focuses on proposing a new access barring scheme for internet of things (IoT) devices in long term evolution advanced (LTE/LTE-A) and 5G networks. Massive number of IoT devices communicating simultaneously is one of the hallmarks of the future communication networks such as 5G and beyond. The problem of congestion also comes with this massive communication for which access barring is one of the solutions. So, it is required that sophisticated access barring techniques are designed such that the congestion is avoided and these devices get served in less time. Legacy access barring schemes like access class barring (ACB) and extended access barring (EAB) suffer from high energy consumption and high access delay respectively. However, our proposed scheme provides less energy consumption than ACB while giving less access delay than EAB. The proposed scheme maximizes the success probability while reducing the number of collisions at the same time. The scheme is based on an approximation of the number of IoT devices based on details available to the eNodeB of the number of idle, successful and collided preambles. Extensive Matlab simulations are performed to validate our claims and analysis.
The Energy Lock-In Effect of Solar Home Systems: A Case Study in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Hassan Olumide , Morse Stephen , Leach Matthew
Published: December 2020

Ongoing reductions in the costs of solar PV and battery technologies have contributed to an increased use of home energy systems in Sub-Saharan African regions without grid access. However, such systems can normally support only low-power end uses, and there has been little research regarding the impact on households unable to transition to higher-wattage energy services in the continued absence of the grid. This paper examines the challenges facing rural energy transitions and whether households feel they are energy ‘locked in’. A mixed-methods approach using questionnaire-based household energy surveys of rural solar home system (SHS) users was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Thematic analysis and a mixture of descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results showed that a significant number of households possessed appliances that could not be powered by their SHS and were willing to spend large sums to connect were a higher-capacity option available. This implied that a significant number of the households were locked into a low-energy future. Swarm electrification technology and energy efficient, DC-powered plug-and-play appliances were suggested as means to move the households to higher tiers of electricity access.