bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mouse Gonad Development in the Absence of the Pro-Ovary Factor WNT4 and the Pro-Testis Factor SOX9
Authors: Tang Furong , Richardson Nainoa , Albina Audrey , Chaboissier Marie-Christine , Perea-Gomez Aitana
Published: April 2020

The transcription factors SRY and SOX9 and RSPO1/WNT4/β-Catenin signaling act as antagonistic pathways to drive testis and ovary development respectively, from a common gonadal primordium in mouse embryos. In this work, we took advantage of a double knockout mouse model to study gonadal development when Sox9 and Wnt4 are both mutated. We show that the XX gonad mutant for Wnt4 or for both Wnt4 and Sox9 develop as ovotestes, demonstrating that ectopic SOX9 function is not required for the partial female-to-male sex reversal caused by a Wnt4 mutation. Sox9 deletion in XY gonads leads to ovarian development accompanied by ectopic WNT/β-catenin signaling. In XY Sox9 mutant gonads, SRY-positive supporting precursors adopt a female-like identity and develop as pre-granulosa-like cells. This phenotype cannot be fully prevented by the deletion of Wnt4 or Rspo1, indicating that SOX9 is required for the early determination of the male supporting cell identity independently of repressing RSPO1/WNT4/β-Catenin signaling. However, in XY Sox9 Wnt4 double mutant gonads, pre-granulosa cells are not maintained, as they prematurely differentiate as mature granulosa cells and then trans-differentiate into Sertoli-like cells. Together, our results reveal the dynamics of the specific and independent actions of SOX9 and WNT4 during gonadal differentiation: SOX9 is essential in the testis for early specification of male-supporting cells whereas WNT4 functions in the ovary to maintain female-supporting cell identity and inhibit male-specific vascular and steroidogenic cell differentiation.
L-Selectin/CD62L Is a Key Driver of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice and Men
Authors: Drescher Hannah K. , Schippers Angela , Rosenhain Stefanie , Gremse Felix , Bongiovanni Laura , de Bruin Alain , Eswaran Sreepradha , Gallage Suchira U. , Pfister Dominik , Szydlowska Marta , Heikenwalder Mathias , Weiskirchen Sabine , Wagner Norbert , Trautwein Christian , Weiskirchen Ralf , Kroy Daniela C.
Published: April 2020

CD62L (L-Selectin) dependent lymphocyte infiltration is known to induce inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), while its function in the liver, especially in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), remains unclear. We here investigated the functional role of CD62L in NASH in humans as well as in two mouse models of steatohepatitis. Hepatic expression of a soluble form of CD62L (sCD62L) was measured in patients with steatosis and NASH. Furthermore, CD62L−/− mice were fed with a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks or with a high fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks. Patients with NASH displayed increased serum levels of sCD62L. Hepatic CD62L expression was higher in patients with steatosis and increased dramatically in NASH patients. Interestingly, compared to wild type (WT) mice, MCD and HFD-treated CD62L−/− mice were protected from diet-induced steatohepatitis. This was reflected by less fat accumulation in hepatocytes and a dampened manifestation of the metabolic syndrome with an improved insulin resistance and decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Consistent with ameliorated disease, CD62L−/− animals exhibited an enhanced hepatic infiltration of Treg cells and a strong activation of an anti-oxidative stress response. Those changes finally resulted in less fibrosis in CD62L−/− mice. Additionally, this effect could be reproduced in a therapeutic setting by administrating an anti-CD62L blocking antibody. CD62L expression in humans and mice correlates with disease activity of steatohepatitis. CD62L knockout and anti-CD62L-treated mice are protected from diet-induced steatohepatitis suggesting that CD62L is a promising target for therapeutic interventions in NASH.
Improved Color Purity of Monolithic Full Color Micro-LEDs Using Distributed Bragg Reflector and Blue Light Absorption Material
Authors: Chu Shao-Yu , Wang Hung-Yu , Lee Ching-Ting , Lee Hsin-Ying , Laing Kai-Ling , Kuo Wei-Hung , Fang Yen-Hsiang , Lin Chien-Chung
Published: April 2020

In this study, CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) with various dimensions were used as the color conversion materials. QDs with dimensions of 3 nm and 5 nm were excited by gallium nitride (GaN)-based blue micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs) with a size of 30 μm × 30 μm to respectively form the green and red lights. The hybrid Bragg reflector (HBR) with high reflectivity at the regions of the blue, green, and red lights was fabricated on the bottom side of the micro-LEDs to reflect the downward light. This could enhance the intensity of the green and red lights for the green and red QDs/micro-LEDs to 11% and 10%. The distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) was fabricated on the QDs color conversion layers to reflect the non-absorbed blue light that was not absorbed by the QDs, which could increase the probability of the QDs excited by the reflected blue light. The blue light absorption material was deposited on the DBR to absorb the blue light that escaped from the DBR, which could enhance the color purity of the resulting green and red QDs/micro-LEDs to 90.9% and 90.3%, respectively.
Flexural Deflection Prediction of Piezo-Composite Unimorph Actuator Using Material Orthotropy and Nonlinearity of Piezoelectric Material Layer
Authors: Lee Jae Hoon , Yoon Bum Soo , Park Ji-Won , Song Gunho , Yoon Kwang Joon
Published: April 2020

Layered piezo-composite unimorph actuators have been studied by many research teams to provide active vibration control of thin-walled aerospace structures, control the shapes of aircraft wing airfoils, and control the fins of small missiles, because they require less space and provide better frequency responses than conventional electro-magnetic motor actuator systems. However, due to the limited actuation strains of conventional piezo-composite unimorph actuators with poly-crystalline piezoelectric ceramic layers, they have not been implemented effectively as actuators for small aerospace vehicles. In this study, a lightweight piezo-composite unimorph actuator (LIPCA-S2) was manufactured and analyzed to predict its flexural actuation displacement. It was found that the actuated tip displacement of a piezo-composite cantilever could be predicted accurately using the proposed prediction model based on the nonlinear properties of the piezoelectric strain coefficient and elastic modulus of a piezoelectric single crystal.
Recent Advancements in the Use of Aerosol-Assisted Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Deposition
Authors: Palumbo Fabio , Lo Porto Chiara , Fracassi Francesco , Favia Pietro
Published: April 2020

Atmospheric pressure plasma allows for the easy modification of materials’ surfaces for a wide range of technological applications. Coupling the aerosol injection of precursors with atmospheric pressure plasma largely extends the versatility of this kind of process; in fact solid and, in general, scarcely volatile precursors can be delivered to the plasma, extending the variety of chemical pathways to surface modification. This review provides an overview of the state of the art of aerosol-assisted atmospheric pressure plasma deposition. Advantages (many), and drawbacks (few) will be illustrated, as well as hints as to the correct coupling of the atomization source with the plasma to obtain specific coatings. In particular, the deposition of different organic, hybrid inorganic–organic and bioactive nanocomposite coatings will be discussed. Finally, it will be shown that, in particular cases, unique core–shell nanocapsules can be obtained.
Insight into Positional Isomerism of N-(Benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-o/m/p-Nitrobenzamide: Crystal Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis and Interaction Energy
Authors: Binti Abdul Latiff Aqilah , Chong Yan Yi , Mark-Lee Wun Fui , Kassim Mohammad B.
Published: April 2020

The functionalization of N-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)benzamide with a nitro (NO2) substituent influences the solid-state arrangement, absorption and fluorescence properties of these compounds. Each of these compounds crystallised in a different crystal system or space group, namely a monoclinic crystal system with P21/n and C2/c space groups for o-NO2 and m-NO2 derivatives, respectively, and an orthorhombic crystal system (Pbcn space group) for p-NO2 derivative. The o-NO2 substituent with intrinsic steric hindrance engendered a distorted geometry. Conversely, the m-NO2 derivate displayed the most planar geometry among the analogues. The solid-state architectures of these compounds were dominated by the N−H···N and C−H···O intermolecular hydrogen bonds and were further stabilised by other weak interactions. The dimer synthons of the compounds were established via a pair of N−H···N hydrogen bonds. These findings were corroborated by a Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional (2D) fingerprint plot. The interaction energies within the crystal packing were calculated (CE-B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)) and the energy frameworks were modelled by CrystalExplorer17.5. The highly distorted o-NO2 congener synthon relied mainly on the dispersion forces, which included π–π interactions compared to the electrostatic attractions found in m-NO2. Besides, the latter possesses an elevated asphericity character, portraying a marked directionality in the crystal array. The electrostatic and dispersion forces were regarded as the dominant factors in stabilising the crystal packing.
Role of Peroral Cholangioscopy in the Diagnosis of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Authors: Fujisawa Toshio , Ushio Mako , Takahashi Sho , Yamagata Wataru , Takasaki Yusuke , Suzuki Akinori , Okawa Yoshihiro , Ochiai Kazushige , Tomishima Ko , Ishii Shigeto , Saito Hiroaki , Isayama Hiroyuki
Published: April 2020

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by idiopathic biliary stricture followed by progressive cholestasis and fibrosis. When diagnosing PSC, its differentiation from other types of sclerosing cholangitis and cholangiocarcinoma is necessary. The cholangioscopic findings of PSC have not been investigated sufficiently. PSC and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis are difficult to distinguish by peroral cholangioscopy (POCS), but POCS is useful for excluding cholangiocarcinoma. POCS findings vary according to the condition and stage of disease. In the active phase, findings such as mucosal erythema, ulceration, fibrinous white exudate, and an irregular surface are observed and may reflect strong inflammation in the biliary epithelium. On the other hand, findings such as scarring, pseudodiverticula, and bile duct stenosis appear in the chronic phase and may reflect fibrosis and stenosis resulting from repeated inflammation. Observation of inside the bile duct by POCS might confirm the current PSC activity. Because POCS offers not only information regarding the diagnosis of PSC and PSC-associated cholangiocarcinoma but also the current statuses of biliary inflammation and stenosis, POCS could significantly contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of PSC once the characteristic findings of PSC are confirmed by future studies.
Development Design of Wrist-Mounted Dive Computer for Marine Leisure Activities
Authors: Lee Jeongho , Jun Dongsan
Published: April 2020

Divers conventionally use underwater notepad or flash to communicate each other in the water. For safe marine leisure activities, touchscreen based intuitive means of communications such as drawing and writing are needed to be integrated into the conventional dive computers. In this paper, we propose a wrist-mounted dive computer, so called DiverPAD, for underwater drawing and writing. For the framework design of proposed DiverPAD, firmware, communication protocol, user interface (UI), and underwater touchscreen functions are designed and integrated on DiverPAD. As a key feature, we deployed an electrical insulator based capacitive touchscreen which enables divers to perform underwater drawing and writing for clear and immediate information delivery in the water.
Thermodynamics-Based Process Sustainability Evaluation
Authors: Varbanov Petar Sabev , Chin Hon Huin , Plesu Popescu Alexandra-Elena , Boldyryev Stanislav
Published: April 2020

This article considers the problem of the evaluation of the sustainability of heterogeneous process systems, which can have different areas of focus: from single process operations to complete supply chains. The proposed method defines exergy-based concepts to evaluate the assets, liabilities, and the exergy footprint of the analysed process systems, ensuring that they are suitable for Life Cycle Assessment. The proposed concepts, evaluation framework and cumulative Exergy Composite Curves allow the quantitative assessment of process systems, including alternative solutions. The provided case studies clearly illustrate the applicability of the method and the close quantitative relationship between the exergy profit and the potential sustainability contribution of the proposed solutions. The first case study demonstrates how the method is applied to the separation and reuse of an acetic-acid-containing waste stream. It is shown that the current process is not sustainable and needs substantial external exergy input and deeper analysis. The second case study concerns Municipal Solid Waste treatment and shows the potential value and sustainability benefit that can be achieved by the extraction of useful chemicals and waste-to-energy conversion. The proposed exergy footprint accounting framework clearly demonstrates the potential to be applied to sustainability assessment and process improvement while simultaneously tracking different kinds of resources and impacts.
Improving the Gordon-Ng Model and Analyzing Thermodynamic Parameters to Evaluate Performance in a Water-Cooled Centrifugal Chiller
Authors: Foliaco Blanca , Bula Antonio , Coombes Peter
Published: April 2020

The Gordon-Ng models are tools that have been used to estimate and evaluate the performance of various types of chillers for several years. A 550 TR centrifugal chiller plant facility was available to collect data from July and September 2018. The authors propose rearranging variables of the traditional (GNU) model based on average electric consumption and through a thermodynamic analysis comparable to the original model. Furthermore, assumptions are validated. Then, by estimation of the parameters of the new model using least square fitting with field training data and comparing to the GNU model and Braun model (based on consumption), it was shown that the proposed model provides a better prediction in order to evaluate consumption of a centrifugal chiller in regular operation, by improving the coefficient of variation (CV), CV = 3.24% and R2 = 92.52% for a filtered sub-data. Through an algorithm built from steady-state cycle analysis, physical parameters (Sgen, Qleak,eq, R) were estimated to compare with the same parameters obtained by regression to check the influence of the interception term in the model. It was found that without an interception term, the estimated parameters achieve relative errors (ER) below 20%. Additional comparison between external and internal power prediction is shown, with CV = 3.57 % and mean relative error (MRE) of 2.7%, achieving better accuracy than GNU and Braun model.
Effects of Cyclic Heating and Water Cooling on the Physical Characteristics of Granite
Authors: Shi Xiangchao , Gao Leiyu , Wu Jie , Zhu Cheng , Chen Shuai , Zhuo Xiao
Published: April 2020

This paper aims to study the effect of cyclic heating and flowing-water cooling conditions on the physical properties of granite. Ultrasonic tests, gas measured porosity, permeability, and microscope observations were conducted on granite after thermal treatment. The results showed that the velocity of P- and S-waves decreased as the number of thermal cycles increased. The porosity increased with the number of the thermal cycles attained at 600 °C, while no apparent changes were observed at 200 and 400 °C. The permeability increased with the increasing number of thermal cycles. Furthermore, microscope observations showed that degradation of the granite after thermal treatment was attributed to a large network of microcracks induced by thermal stress. As the number of thermal cycles increased, the number of transgranular microcracks gradually increased, as well as their length and width. The quantification of microcracks from cast thin section (CTS) images supported the visual observation.
Adolescent’s Collective Intelligence: Empirical Evidence in Real and Online Classmates Groups
Authors: Imbimbo Enrico , Stefanelli Federica , Guazzini Andrea
Published: April 2020

Humans create teams to be more successful in a large variety of tasks. Groups are characterized by an emergent property called collective intelligence, which leads them to be smarter than single individuals. Previous studies proved that collective intelligence characterizes both real and online environments, focusing on adults’ performances. In this work, we explored which factors promote group success in an offline and online logical task with adolescents. Five hundred and fifty high school students participated in the experiment and faced Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices, first by themselves using the computer, then in a group. Groups interactions could have been computer-mediated or face-to-face, and the participants were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental conditions. Results suggest that groups perform better than singles, regardless of the experimental condition. Among adolescents, online groups performance was negatively affected by participants’ average perception of group cohesion, the difficulty of the problem, and the number of communicative exchanges that occur in the interaction. On the contrary, the factors that improve their performances were the average intelligence of the teammates, their levels of neuroticism, and the group heterogeneity in terms of social abilities. This work contributes to the literature with a comprehensive model of collective intelligence among young people.
Mobile Application to Provide Traffic Congestion Estimates and Tourism Spots to Promote Additional Stopovers
Authors: Aoyagi Saizo , Le Yiping , Shimizu Tetsuo , Takahashi Kazuki
Published: April 2020

In Japan, traffic congestions often occur on the expressways connecting tourism areas with the Tokyo metropolitan area. This congestion can be mitigated if tourists delayed their departure of homeward trips to avoid peak traffic hours. A potential method to promote staggered departure times is providing the estimates of near-future traffic congestion. This study hypothesized and experimentally confirmed that some tourists would delay their departure to avoid traffic based on near-future traffic estimates. The experiment was conducted in the Yatsugatake area using a mobile application that provided this information to tourists. The results suggest that approximately 40% of self-driving tourists will perform an additional stopover if the returning route is congested and near-future traffic congestion estimate is provided.
Study of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) Associated with Allelopathic Trait in Rice
Authors: Chung Ill-Min , Ham Tae-Ho , Cho Gi-Won , Kwon Soon-Wook , Lee Yoonjung , Seo Jeonghwan , An Yeon-Ju , Kim So-Yeon , Kim Seung-Hyun , Lee Joohyun
Published: April 2020

In rice there are few genetic studies reported for allelopathy traits, which signify the ability of plants to inhibit or stimulate growth of other plants in the environment, by exuding chemicals. QTL analysis for allelopathic traits were conducted with 98 F8 RILs developed from the cross between the high allelopathic parents of ‘Sathi’ and non-allelopathic parents of ‘Nong-an’. The performance of allelopathic traits were evaluated with inhibition rate on root length, shoot length, total length, root weight, shoot weight, and total weight of lettuce as a receiver plant. With 785 polymorphic DNA markers, we constructed a linkage map showing a total of 2489.75 cM genetic length and 3.17 cM of average genetic distance between each adjacent marker. QTL analysis detected on QTL regions on chromosome 8 responsible for the inhibition of shoot length and inhibition of total length. The qISL-8 explained 20.38% of the phenotypic variation for the inhibition on the shoot length. The qITL-8 explained 14.93% of the phenotypic variation for the inhibition on total length. The physical distance of the detected QTL region was 194 Kbp where 31 genes are located.
Study of the Relationship between Polymorphisms in the IL-8 Gene Promoter Region and Coccidiosis Resistance Index in Jinghai Yellow Chickens
Authors: Wang Xiao-Hui , Yu Hai-Liang , Zou Wen-Bin , Mi Chang-Hao , Dai Guo-Jun , Zhang Tao , Zhang Gen-Xi , Xie Kai-Zhou , Wang Jin-Yu
Published: April 2020

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) participates in the immune response and has the function of inducing neutrophils to release lysosomal enzymes and eliminate pathogens. This study was to investigate the effect of single nucleotide mutations in the IL-8 gene promoter region on the coccidiosis resistance index. In this study, 180 infected Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) Jinghai yellow chickens were used as experimental samples. DNA sequencing technology was used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-8 gene promoter region. The association between these SNPs and coccidiosis resistance indexes (including superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)) were analyzed. Three SNPs (T-550C, G-398T, and T-360C) were detected. Significant associations were found between each genotype at the T-550C site with NO (p-value = 0.006) and IL-8 (p-value = 0.034) indexes. Significant associations were found between each genotype at the G-398T site with SOD (p-value = 0.042), CAT (p-value = 0.049), NO (p-value = 0.008), and IL-2 (p-value = 0.044) indexes. Significant associations were found between each genotype at the T-360C site with SOD (p-value = 0.007), NO (p-value = 0.046), IL-2 (p-value = 0.041), IL-8 (p-value = 0.039), and IFN-γ (p-value = 0.042) indexes. Haplotype analysis showed that multiple indexes of the H1H3 haplotype combination were significantly higher than other haplotype combinations. Therefore, mutation of the IL-8 gene promoter region has a significant regulatory effect on the coccidiosis resistance index, with a change in transcription factor binding potentially altering IL-8 gene expression, thereby further affecting the IL-8 level in plasma. However, the specific mechanism needs further study.
Rising Roles of Small Noncoding RNAs in Cotranscriptional Regulation: In Silico Study of miRNA and piRNA Regulatory Network in Humans
Authors: Chetta Massimiliano , Di Pietro Lorena , Bukvic Nenad , Lattanzi Wanda
Published: April 2020

Gene expression regulation is achieved through an intricate network of molecular interactions, in which trans-acting transcription factors (TFs) and small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), play a key role. Recent observations allowed postulating an interplay between TFs and sncRNAs, in that they may possibly share DNA-binding sites. The aim of this study was to analyze the complete subset of miRNA and piRNA sequences stored in the main databases in order to identify the occurrence of conserved motifs and subsequently predict a possible innovative interplay with TFs at a transcriptional level. To this aim, we adopted an original in silico workflow to search motifs and predict interactions within genome-scale regulatory networks. Our results allowed categorizing miRNA and piRNA motifs, with corresponding TFs sharing complementary DNA-binding motifs. The biological interpretation of the gene ontologies of the TFs permitted observing a selective enrichment in developmental pathways, allowing the distribution of miRNA motifs along a topological and chronological frame. In addition, piRNA motifs were categorized for the first time and revealed specific functional implications in somatic tissues. These data might pose experimental hypotheses to be tested in biological models, towards clarifying novel in gene regulatory routes.
A High-Quality Genome Sequence of Model Legume Lotus japonicus (MG-20) Provides Insights into the Evolution of Root Nodule Symbiosis
Authors: Li Haoxing , Jiang Fan , Wu Ping , Wang Ke , Cao Yangrong
Published: April 2020

Lotus japonicus is an important model legume for studying symbiotic nitrogen fixation as well as plant development. A genomic sequence of L. japonicus (MG20) has been available for more than ten years. However, the low quality of the genome limits its application in functional genomic studies. Therefore, it is necessary to assemble high-quality chromosome sequences of L. japonicus using new sequencing technology to facilitate the study of functional genomics. In this report, we used the third-generation sequencing combined with the Illumina HiSeq platform to sequence the genome of L. japonicus (MG20). We obtained 544 Mb of genomic sequence using third-generation assembly. Based on sequence analysis, 357 Mb of repeats, 28,251 genes, 626 tRNAs, 1409 rRNAs, and 1233 pseudogenes were predicted in the genome. A total of 27,991 genes were annotated into databases. Compared to the previously published data, the new genome database contains complete L. japonicus sequences in the proper order and orientation with a contig N50 2.81Mb and an excellent genome coverage, which provides more accurate genome information and more precise assembly for functional genomic study.
Factors Obscuring the Role of E. coli from Domestic Animals in the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis: An Evidence-Based Review
Authors: Loayza Fernanda , Graham Jay P. , Trueba Gabriel
Published: April 2020

Recent studies have found limited associations between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in domestic animals (and animal products), and AMR in human clinical settings. These studies have primarily used Escherichia coli, a critically important bacterial species associated with significant human morbidity and mortality. E. coli is found in domestic animals and the environment, and it can be easily transmitted between these compartments. Additionally, the World Health Organization has highlighted E. coli as a “highly relevant and representative indicator of the magnitude and the leading edge of the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) problem”. In this paper, we discuss the weaknesses of current research that aims to link E. coli from domestic animals to the current AMR crisis in humans. Fundamental gaps remain in our understanding the complexities of E. coli population genetics and the magnitude of phenomena such as horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or DNA rearrangements (transposition and recombination). The dynamic and intricate interplay between bacterial clones, plasmids, transposons, and genes likely blur the evidence of AMR transmission from E. coli in domestic animals to human microbiota and vice versa. We describe key factors that are frequently neglected when carrying out studies of AMR sources and transmission dynamics.
Qualitative Evaluation of the STOEMP Network in Ghent: An Intersectoral Approach to Make Healthy and Sustainable Food Available to All
Authors: Vos Marjolijn , Romeo-Velilla Maria , Stegeman Ingrid , Bell Ruth , van der Vliet Nina , Van Lippevelde Wendy
Published: April 2020

The STOEMP network is, to our knowledge, one of the first initiatives to bring different sectors together in a municipality so as to increase accessibility to healthy and sustainable foods for all, with particular attention for the disadvantaged population. This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth insight into how the STOEMP network aims to reach its goal of making healthy, sustainable food available to everyone, through an intersectoral, collaborative process, exploring the facilitators and challenges of taking a systems-oriented approach to achieving this. Interviews were conducted among 15 stakeholders of the STOEMP network between March–July 2019 in Ghent (Belgium). Factors that facilitated the development and work of the network are reported, including having an external, neutral process manager, shared values, multisector engagement, enthusiasm, resources, and sense of ownership, as well as the barriers that were faced, such as time issues, uncertainty regarding continuation and funding, and discrepancy in visions. These issues reflect the strengths and challenges of taking a systems approach that aims to formulate solutions to widening access to healthy and sustainable foods. STOEMP would like to influence policy and thereby strengthen its impact, but needs further discussions to collectively formulate exact needs.
Application of an Enhanced Version of Recursive Operability Analysis for Combustible Dusts Risk Assessment
Authors: Barozzi Marco , Copelli Sabrina , Scotton Martina Silvia , Torretta Vincenzo
Published: April 2020

Organic dust explosions were and are still today a critical issue in the food, pharmaceutical, and fine chemical industry. Materials such as flour, corn starch, sugar and APIs represent a cause of severe accidents. In this framework, we investigated a modified version of Recursive Operability Analysis−Incidental Sequence Diagrams (ROA–ISD), called ROA Plus−ISD, specifically tailored to describe industrial processes involving organic combustible dusts. Compared to more classical techniques such as Hazard and Operability (HazOp), ROA−ISD allows for a direct generation of fault trees, providing a useful tool to connect Qualitative with Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). ROA Plus−ISD is very similar to ROA−Cause Consequence Diagrams (CCD), which has already proven to be an effective tool to perform both risk assessment on existing plants and reconstructing already occurred accidents, given its logical structure and width of the application fields. In this work, we modified specific parts of the standard ROA−CCD method: (1) the Failure Mode and Operability Analysis (FMEA) database has been structured in order to retrieve the well-known explosion pentagon (for dusts) and all the instruments, devices, apparatuses and controllers typical of industries which process organic dusts; (2) a new comprehensive list of process variables has been compiled. In this way, it is possible to tailor the information required for the generation of the fault trees concerning top events involving mainly dust explosions and fires. This method has been implemented in order to reconstruct the dynamics of the February 2008 Imperial Sugar refinery plant accident (Port Wentworth, GA, USA). Results demonstrated the applicability of the enhanced method by highlighting the criticalities of the process already showed by a previously detailed reconstruction performed by the Chemical Safety Board.
Relevant Work Factors Associated with Voice Disorders in Early Childhood Teachers: A Comparison between Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers in Yancheng, China
Authors: Tao Yaping , Lee Charles Tzu-Chi , Hu Yih-Jin , Liu Qiang
Published: April 2020

Background: Early childhood teachers consist of kindergarten and elementary school teachers in the lower grades. Young children at school may increase the vocal load of these teachers. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of voice disorders and the associated factors in early childhood teachers, and to determine if differences exist between kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Method: A cross-sectional survey was performed in July 2019 as a network questionnaire. Through cluster sampling, teachers (n = 414) from all five public kindergartens (n = 211) in the urban area of Yancheng, China, and four public elementary schools (n = 203) in the same school district participated in this study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations among the prevalence of voice disorders in the teachers, school type, and relevant factors. Results: Our results indicated, based on the Voice Handicap Index scale (VHI-10, China), that the prevalence of voice disorders in early childhood teachers was 59.7%, while that in elementary school teachers (65.5%) was significantly higher than that in kindergarten teachers (54.0%) during the previous semester. Contributing factors included daily class hours, classroom air humidity, and speaking loudly during teaching. Additionally, certain types of voice usage in teaching such as falsetto speak, speaking more than other teachers, not using vocal techniques, and habitual voice clearing, were significantly associated with voice disorders. Conclusion: Most early childhood teachers have voice disorders. Compared with the kindergarten teachers, the elementary school teachers experienced a significantly higher prevalence of voice disorders. Several factors among work organization, work environment, and types of voice usage in teaching were associated with the voice disorders in early childhood teachers. The finding suggests that voice training should be provided for early childhood teachers, classroom teaching time should be decreased, and the number of teachers in basic subjects should be increased in the lower grades of elementary schools.
Twenty-Year Span of Global Coronavirus Research Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Zhou Yi , Chen Liyu
Published: April 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic aroused global public concern and became a major medical issue. This study aims to investigate the global research routine and trends of coronavirus over the last twenty years based on the production, hotspots, and frontiers of published articles as well as to provide the global health system with a bibliometric reference. The Web of Science core collection database was retrieved for coronavirus articles published from 1 January 2000 to 17 March 2020. Duplicates and discrete papers were excluded. Analysis parameters including time, regions, impact factors, and citation times were processed through professional software. A total of 9043 coronavirus articles originated from 123 countries and were published in 1202 journals. The USA contributed most articles (3101) followed by China (2230). The research was published in specialized journals including the Journal of Virology. Universities were the main institutions of science progress. High-impact articles covered fields of basic science and clinical medicine. There were two sharp increases in research yields after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks. International collaborations promoted study progress, and universities and academies act as the main force in coronavirus research. More research on prevention and treatment is needed according to an analysis of term density.
A Review of Atrial Fibrillation Detection Methods as a Service
Authors: Faust Oliver , Ciaccio Edward J. , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: April 2020

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a common heart arrhythmia that often goes undetected, and even if it is detected, managing the condition may be challenging. In this paper, we review how the RR interval and Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, incorporated into a monitoring system, can be useful to track AF events. Were such an automated system to be implemented, it could be used to help manage AF and thereby reduce patient morbidity and mortality. The main impetus behind the idea of developing a service is that a greater data volume analyzed can lead to better patient outcomes. Based on the literature review, which we present herein, we introduce the methods that can be used to detect AF efficiently and automatically via the RR interval and ECG signals. A cardiovascular disease monitoring service that incorporates one or multiple of these detection methods could extend event observation to all times, and could therefore become useful to establish any AF occurrence. The development of an automated and efficient method that monitors AF in real time would likely become a key component for meeting public health goals regarding the reduction of fatalities caused by the disease. Yet, at present, significant technological and regulatory obstacles remain, which prevent the development of any proposed system. Establishment of the scientific foundation for monitoring is important to provide effective service to patients and healthcare professionals.
The Relationship between Weight Status, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Life Satisfaction in a Sample of Spanish Adolescents
Authors: Baile José Ignacio , Guevara Raquel María , González-Calderón María José , Urchaga José David
Published: April 2020

Excess weight has been associated with numerous psychosocial problems and is considered to be one of the most important health problems of today. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between weight status, which is evaluated by means of the body mass index (BMI), and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and life satisfaction (LS) variables in Spanish adolescents, as well as to examine whether gender influences this interrelationship. A total of 1197 subjects studying in their 1st and 4th years of high school (mean age: 14.4 years, SD: 1.69) participated in the study by completing the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire. Then, the participants were grouped into the following categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The results show that boys have significantly higher HRQoL as well as higher levels of LS. On the other hand, only the obese group shows significantly lower scores in both HRQoL and LS than those in the normal-weight group. The interaction of weight category and gender does not have a significant impact on the variables that have been analyzed (HRQoL or LS).
High Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Rural Tanzania—Diagnosis Mainly Based on Fasting Blood Glucose from Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Authors: Grunnet Louise Groth , Hjort Line , Minja Daniel Thomas , Msemo Omari Abdul , Møller Sofie Lykke , Prasad Rashmi B. , Groop Leif , Lusingu John , Nielsen Birgitte Bruun , Schmiegelow Christentze , Bygbjerg Ib Christian , Christensen Dirk Lund
Published: April 2020

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes and increased long-term risk of metabolic diseases for both mother and child. In Tanzania, GDM prevalence increased from 0% in 1991 to 19.5% in 2016. Anaemia has been proposed to precipitate the pathogenesis of GDM. We aimed to examine the prevalence of GDM in a rural area of Tanzania with a high prevalence of anaemia and to examine a potential association between haemoglobin concentration and blood glucose during pregnancy. The participants were included in a population-based preconception, pregnancy and birth cohort study. In total, 538 women were followed during pregnancy and scheduled for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at week 32–34 of gestation. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed according to the WHO 2013 guidelines. Out of 392 women screened, 39% (95% CI: 34.2–44.1) had GDM, the majority of whom (94.1%) were diagnosed based solely on the fasting blood sample from the OGTT. No associations were observed between haemoglobin or ferritin and glucose measurements during pregnancy. A very high prevalence of GDM was found in rural Tanzania. In view of the laborious, costly and inconvenient OGTT, alternative methods such as fasting blood glucose should be considered when screening for GDM in low- and middle-income countries.
Role of kif2c, A Gene Related to ALL Relapse, in Embryonic Hematopoiesis in Zebrafish
Authors: Oh Chang-Kyu , Kang Ji Wan , Lee Yoonsung , Myung Kyungjae , Ha Mihyang , Kang Junho , Kwon Eun Jung , Kim Youngjoo , Oh Sae-Ock , Heo Hye Jin , Kim Shin , Kim Yun Hak
Published: April 2020

Relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is dangerous and it worsens the prognosis of patients; however, prognostic markers or therapeutic targets for ALL remain unknown. In the present study, using databases such as TARGET, GSE60926 and GSE28460, we determined that KIF2C and its binding partner, KIF18B are overexpressed in patients with relapsed ALL compared to that in patients diagnosed with ALL for the first time. As 50% of the residues are exactly the same and the signature domain of KIF2C is highly conserved between human and zebrafish, we used zebrafish embryos as a model to investigate the function of kif2c in vivo. We determined that kif2c is necessary for lymphopoiesis in zebrafish embryos. Additionally, we observed that kif2c is not related to differentiation of HSCs; however, it is important for the maintenance of HSCs as it provides survival signals to HSCs. These results imply that the ALL relapse-related gene KIF2C is linked to the survival of HSCs. In conclusion, we suggest that KIF2C can serve as a novel therapeutic target for relapsed ALL.
Novel Indole-Based Hydrazones as Potent Inhibitors of the α-class Carbonic Anhydrase from Pathogenic Bacterium Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Demir-Yazıcı Kübra , Güzel-Akdemir Özlen , Angeli Andrea , Supuran Claudiu T. , Akdemir Atilla
Published: April 2020

Due to the increasing resistance of currently used antimicrobial drugs, there is an urgent problem for the treatment of cholera disease, selective inhibition of the α-class carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae (VcCA) presents an alternative therapeutic target. In this study, a series of hydrazone derivatives, carrying the 2-(hydrazinocarbonyl)-3-phenyl-1H-indole-5-sulfonamide scaffold, have been evaluated as inhibitors of the VcCA with molecular modeling studies. The results suggest that these compounds may bind to the active site of VcCA. To verify this, VcCA enzyme inhibition studies were performed and as predicted most of the tested compounds displayed potent inhibitory activities against VcCA with three compounds showing KI values lower than 30 nM. In addition, all these compounds showed selectivity for VcCA and the off-targets hCA I and II.
Targeting Mitochondrial Network Architecture in Down Syndrome and Aging
Authors: Mollo Nunzia , Cicatiello Rita , Aurilia Miriam , Scognamiglio Roberta , Genesio Rita , Charalambous Maria , Paladino Simona , Conti Anna , Nitsch Lucio , Izzo Antonella
Published: April 2020

Mitochondria are organelles that mainly control energy conversion in the cell. In addition, they also participate in many relevant activities, such as the regulation of apoptosis and calcium levels, and other metabolic tasks, all closely linked to cell viability. Functionality of mitochondria appears to depend upon their network architecture that may dynamically pass from an interconnected structure with long tubular units, to a fragmented one with short separate fragments. A decline in mitochondrial quality, which presents itself as an altered structural organization and a function of mitochondria, has been observed in Down syndrome (DS), as well as in aging and in age-related pathologies. This review provides a basic overview of mitochondrial dynamics, from fission/fusion mechanisms to mitochondrial homeostasis. Molecular mechanisms determining the disruption of the mitochondrial phenotype in DS and aging are discussed. The impaired activity of the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α/PPARGC1A and the hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase are emerging as molecular underlying causes of these mitochondrial alterations. It is, therefore, likely that either stimulating the PGC-1α activity or inhibiting mTOR signaling could reverse mitochondrial dysfunction. Evidence is summarized suggesting that drugs targeting either these pathways or other factors affecting the mitochondrial network may represent therapeutic approaches to improve and/or prevent the effects of altered mitochondrial function. Overall, from all these studies it emerges that the implementation of such strategies may exert protective effects in DS and age-related diseases.
Regenerative Rehabilitation for Stroke Recovery by Inducing Synergistic Effects of Cell Therapy and Neurorehabilitation on Motor Function: A Narrative Review of Pre-Clinical Studies
Authors: Ito Akira , Kubo Naoko , Liang Nan , Aoyama Tomoki , Kuroki Hiroshi
Published: April 2020

Neurological diseases severely affect the quality of life of patients. Although existing treatments including rehabilitative therapy aim to facilitate the recovery of motor function, achieving complete recovery remains a challenge. In recent years, regenerative therapy has been considered as a potential candidate that could yield complete functional recovery. However, to achieve desirable results, integration of transplanted cells into neural networks and generation of appropriate microenvironments are essential. Furthermore, considering the nascent state of research in this area, we must understand certain aspects about regenerative therapy, including specific effects, nature of interaction when administered in combination with rehabilitative therapy (regenerative rehabilitation), and optimal conditions. Herein, we review the current status of research in the field of regenerative therapy, discuss the findings that could hold the key to resolving the challenges associated with regenerative rehabilitation, and outline the challenges to be addressed with future studies. The current state of research emphasizes the importance of determining the independent effect of regenerative and rehabilitative therapies before exploring their combined effects. Furthermore, the current review highlights the progression in the treatment perspective from a state of compensation of lost function to that of a possibility of complete functional recovery.
The Dark Side of Orchid Symbiosis: Can Tulasnella calospora Decompose Host Tissues?
Authors: Adamo Martino , Chialva Matteo , Calevo Jacopo , De Rose Silvia , Girlanda Mariangela , Perotto Silvia , Balestrini Raffaella
Published: April 2020

Photosynthetic orchids associate with mycorrhizal fungi that can be mostly ascribed to the “rhizoctonia” species complex. Rhizoctonias’ phylogenetic diversity covers a variety of ecological/nutritional strategies that include, beside the symbiosis establishment with host plants, endophytic and pathogenic associations with non-orchid plants or saprotrophic soil colonization. In addition, orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) that establish a symbiotic relationship with an orchid host can later proliferate in browning and rotting orchid tissues. Environmental triggers and molecular mechanisms governing the switch leading to either a saprotrophic or a mycorrhizal behavior in OMF remain unclear. As the sequenced OMF genomes feature a wide range of genes putatively involved in the degradation of plant cell wall (PCW) components, we tested if these transitions may be correlated with a change in the expression of some PCW degrading enzymes. Regulation of several genes encoding PCW degrading enzymes was evaluated during saprotrophic growth of the OMF Tulasnella calospora on different substrates and under successful and unsuccessful mycorrhizal symbioses. Fungal gene expression in planta was investigated in two orchid species, the terrestrial Mediterranean Serapias vomeracea and the epiphytic tropical Cattleya purpurata. Although we only tested a subset of the CAZyme genes identified in the T. calospora genome, and we cannot exclude therefore a role for different CAZyme families or members inside a family, the results showed that the degradative potential of T. calospora is finely regulated during saprotrophic growth and in symbiosis, often with a different regulation in the two orchid species. These data pose novel questions about the role of fungal PCW degrading enzymes in the development of unsuccessful and successful interactions.