bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuous-Flow Biocatalytic Process for the Synthesis of the Best Stereoisomers of the Commercial Fragrances Leather Cyclohexanol (4-Isopropylcyclohexanol) and Woody Acetate (4-(Tert-Butyl)Cyclohexyl Acetate)
Authors: Tentori Francesca , Brenna Elisabetta , Crotti Michele , Pedrocchi-Fantoni Giuseppe , Ghezzi Maria Chiara , Tessaro Davide
Published: January 2020

Leather cyclohexanol (4-(isopropyl)cyclohexanol) and woody acetate (4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexyl acetate) are commercialized for functional perfumery applications as mixtures of cis- and trans-isomers. The cis-isomers are more potent odorants than the corresponding trans counterparts, but they are the less favoured products in most of the classical synthetic routes. Known stereoselective routes to cis-4-alkylcyclohexanols are characterized by a high environmental burden and/or troublesome reaction work-up. In this work, we examine the use of commercial alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) to produce cis-4-alkylcyclohexanols, including the two derivatives with isopropyl and tert-butyl substituents, by the stereoselective reduction of the corresponding ketones. High conversions and diastereoisomeric excess values were achieved with five of the eighteen tested ADHs. To complete the synthetic approach to woody acetate, Candida antarctica A (CALA) was employed as a catalyst for the enzymatic acetylation of cis-4-(tert-butyl)cyclohexanol. In order to provide a technological upgrade to the production of the most odorous isomers of the two commercial fragrances, we designed a continuous-flow process based on the combination of in-line enzymatic steps with in-line work-up, effectively providing samples of cis-leather cyclohexanol and cis-woody acetate with high diastereoisomeric purity.
The Catalytic Performance of Ni-Co/Beta Zeolite Catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis
Authors: Sadek Renata , Chalupka Karolina A. , Mierczynski Pawel , Maniukiewicz Waldemar , Rynkowski Jacek , Gurgul Jacek , Lasoń-Rydel Magdalena , Casale Sandra , Brouri Dalil , Dzwigaj Stanislaw
Published: January 2020

The influence of nickel introduction on the catalytic performance of cobalt micro- and mesoporous Beta zeolite catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis was studied. Catalysts containing 3 wt% of nickel and 10 wt% of cobalt were prepared by co-impregnation and sequential impregnation and comprehensively characterized by XRD, XPS, NH3-TPD, TPR-H2 and TEM EDX techniques. Neither the dealumination of Beta zeolite nor the incorporation of Co and Ni affected its structure, as shown by XRD and BET investigations. The presence of nickel results in the decrease in the temperature of the cobalt oxide reduction, evidenced by TPR-H2 and the increase of CO conversion. Among all the tested catalysts, the best catalytic properties in FTS showed that based on microporous dealuminated zeolites with a very high CO conversion, near 100%, and selectivity to liquid products of about 75%. In case of dealuminated samples, the presence of Ni decreased the selectivity to liquid products. All catalysts under study showed high resistance to deactivation during the whole time of synthesis (24 h). The very high stability of nickel-cobalt based Beta catalysts was probably due to the hydrogen spillover from metallic nickel particles to cobalt oxides, which decreased re-oxidation of the active phase, sintering and the creation of the carbon on the catalyst surface. Moreover, the presence of Ni on the surface of cobalt-based Beta catalysts could obstruct the formation of graphitic carbon and, in consequence, delay the deactivation of the catalyst.
Frequency Splitting and Transmission Characteristics of MCR-WPT System Considering Non-Linearities of Compensation Capacitors
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Chang , Wang Xiaofeng , Ge Weimin
Published: January 2020

The frequency splitting phenomenon and transmission characteristics have been research hotspots in the field of magnetically coupled resonance wireless power transfer (MCR-WPT). In this paper, non-linear dynamics theory was innovatively introduced into the research, and non-linear coupled transmission dynamics modelling of the MCR-WPT system was established considering the non-linearities of the compensation capacitor. The mechanism of the frequency splitting phenomenon of the MCR-WPT system was revealed through systematic mathematical analyses based on the modelling. The analysis results showed that the system usually has dual natural frequencies which are low resonance frequency and high resonance frequency. Based on non-linear dynamics theory, the transmission characteristics of the system with different non-linear parameters were discussed comprehensively in relation to the modelling. The results of the numerical simulations and theoretical analyses showed that non-linear parameters can cause the jumping phenomena with the output responses, and the output responses in the vicinities of the lower resonance frequencies were extremely sensitive to changes in the coupling coefficient. According to analyses of the linear and non-linear systems, the energy transmissions performed in the vicinity of the high resonance frequency had a wider working frequency band and a better transmission stability under non-linear conditions.
A Low-Dropout Regulator with PSRR Enhancement through Feed-Forward Ripple Cancellation Technique in 65 nm CMOS Process
Authors: Choe Young-Joe , Nam Hyohyun , Park Jung-Dong
Published: January 2020

In this paper, a low-dropout (LDO) regulator with an enhanced power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) is proposed with a feed-forward ripple cancellation technique (FFRC) in 65 nm CMOS technology. This technique significantly improves the PSRR over a wide range of frequencies, compared to a conventional LDO regulator. The LDO regulator provides 35–76.8 dB of PSRR in the range of 1 MHz–1 GHz, which shows up to 30 dB of PSRR improvement, compared with that of the conventional LDO regulator. The implemented LDO regulator has a dropout voltage of 0.22 V and a maximum load current of 20 mA. It can also provide an output voltage of 0.98 V at a range of 1–1.3 V of the input voltage. The load regulation is 2.3 mV/mA while the line regulation is 0.05 V/V. The circuit consumes 385 μA with an input voltage of 1.2 V. The total area without pads is 0.092 mm2.
Comparative Transcriptome Analyses of Gene Response to Different Light Conditions of Camellia oleifera Leaf Using Illumina and Single-Molecule Real-Time-Based RNA-Sequencing
Authors: Song Qianqian , Chen Shipin , Wu Yuefeng , He Yifan , Feng Jinling , Yang Zhijian , Lin Wenjun , Zheng Guohua , Li Yu , Chen Hui
Published: January 2020

Camellia oleifera Abel. is a critical oil tree species. Camellia oil, which is extracted from the seeds, is widely regarded as a premium cooking oil, with the content of oleic acid being over 80%. Light is thought to be one of the largest essential natural components in the regulation of plant developmental processes, and different light qualities can considerably influence plant physiological and phenotypic traits. In this research, we examined the growth and physiological responses of C. oleifera “MIN 43” cultivar plantlets to three different wavelengths of light, containing white, red, and blue light, and we utilized the combination of the PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) and Illumina HiSeq RNA sequencing to obtain the mRNA expression profiles. The results showed that plantlets growing under blue light conditions displayed superior growth performance, including stimulated enhancement of the leaf area, increased leaf number, increased chlorophyll synthesis, and improved photosynthesis. Furthermore, SMAT sequencing created 429,955 reads of inserts, where 406,722 of them were full-length non-chimeric reads, and 131,357 non-redundant isoforms were produced. Abundant differentially expressed genes were found in leaves under different light qualities by RNA-sequencing. Gene expression profiles of actin, dynein, tubulin, defectively organized tributaries 3 (DOT3), and ADP ribosylation factor 5 (ARF5) were associated with the greatest leaf performance occurring under blue light conditions. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis identified hundreds of pathways involved in different light conditions. The pathways of the plant circadian rhythm and hormone signal transduction were associated with different light quality responses in C. oleifera. Phytochrome B (PHYB), constitutively photomorphogenic 1 (COP1), long hypocotyl 5 (HY5), auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA), Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3), and small auxin-up RNA (SAUR), which were differentially expressed genes involved in these two pathways, play a vital role in responses to different wavelengths of light in C. oleifera. In addition, blue light significantly promotes flavonoid biosynthesis via changing expression of related genes.
Study on the Diurnal Dynamic Changes and Prediction Models of the Moisture Contents of Two Litters
Authors: Zhang Yunlin , Sun Ping
Published: January 2020

The occurrence and behavior of forest fires are mainly affected by litter moisture content, which is very important for fire risk forecasting. Errors in models of litter moisture content prediction mainly stem from the neglect of diurnal variation. Consequently, it is essential to determine the diurnal variation of litter moisture content and establish a high-precision prediction model. In this study, the moisture contents of litters of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) and Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) were monitored at 1 h time steps to obtain the diurnal variations of moisture content, and two direct estimation (Nelson and Simard) methods as well as one meteorological factor regression method were selected to establish prediction models at 1 h time steps. The moisture contents of the two litter types showed obvious diurnal variation, and the changes were significantly correlated with the air temperature and relative humidity. The wind speed had no significant effect on the change within 1 h. The mean absolute error (MAE) values of the three prediction models of Mongolian oak were 1.02%, 1.03%, and 1.46%, and those of Korean pine were 0.50%, 0.50%, and 1.95%, respectively. Similarly, the mean relative error (MRE) values of the three prediction models of oak litter were 4.76%, 4.73%, and 6.65%, and those of pine were 3.53%, 3.59%, and 13.26%, respectively. These results indicated that the accuracy of the Nelson and Simard methods was similar, and both met the requirements for the forecasting of forest fire risk. Therefore, the direct estimation method was selected to predict the moisture contents of two litter types in this area.
Peel of Traditional Apple Varieties as a Great Source of Bioactive Compounds: Extraction by Micro-Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion
Authors: Lončarić Ante , Matanović Katarina , Ferrer Perla , Kovač Tihomir , Šarkanj Bojan , Skendrović Babojelić Martina , Lores Marta
Published: January 2020

Micro matrix solid phase dispersion (micro-MSPD) was optimized by response surface methodology for the extraction of polyphenols from the peel of twelve traditional and eight commercial apple varieties grown in Croatia. The optimized micro-MSPD procedure includes the use of 0.2 g of sample, 0.8 g of dispersant, a 57% solution of methanol in water as the solvent and 5 mL of extract volume. The total polyphenolic index (TPI) and antioxidant activity (AA) were measured by spectrophotometric assays. Eighteen polyphenolic compounds were identified in all investigated apples by HPLC-DAD and LC-(ESI)-MS. The peel of traditional apple varieties had higher contents of all investigated polyphenols. Calculated relative contribution of polyphenol groups indicated non-flavonoids (28.6%) and flavanols (46.2%) as the major contributors to the total polyphenolic content in traditional and commercial apple varieties, respectively. The most abundant polyphenol in traditional apple peel was chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B2 and epicatechin (1143 ± 755 µg/g dw, 954 ± 343 µg/g dw and 560 ± 362 µg/g dw, respectively). The peel of varieties ‘Apistar’, ‘Bobovac’ and ‘Božićnica’ could be highlighted as an important source of polyphenols.
Comparison of Three Methods to Determine the Degree of Substitution of Quinoa and Rice Starch Acetates, Propionates, and Butyrates: Direct Stoichiometry, FTIR, and 1H-NMR
Authors: Abdul Hadi Nabilah , Wiege Berthold , Stabenau Sebastian , Marefati Ali , Rayner Marilyn
Published: January 2020

Rice and quinoa starch esters were prepared by acylation using short-chain fatty acid anhydrides with different chain lengths (acetic, propionic, and butyric anhydride). A direct stoichiometric method based on the acylation reaction was used to determine the degree of substitution (DS) and acyl content (AC). In addition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to validate the conformational changes of acylated starch and 1H-NMR was used as a DS reference method. DS by stoichiometric calculation was shown to be in agreement with FTIR and was comparable with DS obtained from Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Based on this study, stoichiometric calculation allows rapid and direct determination of substitution levels and acyl content without the loss of samples, which provides efficiency and optimization of manufacturing procedures in producing the desired level of esterified starches.
Low Temperature Promotes Anthocyanin Biosynthesis and Related Gene Expression in the Seedlings of Purple Head Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L.)
Authors: He Qiong , Ren Yanjing , Zhao Wenbin , Li Ru , Zhang Lugang
Published: January 2020

To elucidate the effect of low temperature on anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple head Chinese cabbage, we analyzed anthocyanin accumulation and related gene expression in the seedlings of purple head Chinese cabbage, white head parent Chinese cabbage, and its purple male parent under a normal 25 °C temperature and a low 12 °C temperature. Anthocyanin accumulation in purple lines was strongly induced by low temperature, and the total anthocyanin content of seedlings was significantly enhanced. In addition, nearly all phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway genes (PMPGs) were down-regulated, some early biosynthesis genes (EBGs) were up-regulated, and nearly all late biosynthesis genes (LBGs) directly involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis showed higher expression levels in purple lines after low-temperature induction. Interestingly, a R2R3-MYB transcription factor (TF) gene ‘BrMYB2’ and a basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) regulatory gene ‘BrTT8’ were highly up-regulated in purple lines after low temperature induction, and two negative regulatory genes ‘BrMYBL2.1’ and ‘BrLBD38.2’ were up-regulated in the white line. BrMYB2 and BrTT8 may play important roles in co-activating the anthocyanin structural genes in purple head Chinese cabbage after low-temperature induction, whereas down-regulation of BrMYB2 and up-regulation of some negative regulators might be responsible for white head phenotype formation. Data presented here provide new understanding into the anthocyanin biosynthesis mechanism during low temperature exposure in Brassica crops.
Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinases 11 Gene Variants on Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Development and Clinical Characteristics
Authors: Li Chien-Chang , Hsieh Ming-Ju , Wang Shian-Shiang , Hung Sheng-Chun , Lin Chia-Yen , Kuo Chi-Wen , Yang Shun-Fa , Chou Ying-Erh
Published: January 2020

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) is one of the lethal causes of cancer mortality of the genitourinary tract. Carcinogenic epidemiological risk factors exposure and age over 65 years old are associated with UCC risk. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) was suggested as a tumor marker of metastasis and predictor of poor survival in urothelial carcinomas. In this study, we focused on the associations of MMP11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to UCC susceptibility, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognosis. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze five SNPs of MMP11 rs738791, rs2267029, rs738792, rs28382575, and rs131451 in 431 patients with UCC and 650 cancer-free controls. The MMP11 rs28382575 polymorphic “CT” genotype were susceptible to UCC (AOR = 2.045, 95% CI = 1.088 − 3.843; p = 0.026). For MMP11 rs131451, a significant association was found in 166 UCC patients among age ≤ 65 years old who carried MMP11 rs131451 polymorphic “CC” genotype, which is associated with lower risk to develop later tumor T status (T1-T4) (OR = 0.375, 95% CI = 0.159 − 0.887; p = 0.026) compared with the (CT + TT) genotype. Furthermore, patients of UCC with rs738792 polymorphic “CC” genotype were observed to have higher free of relapse (FS) (p = 0.035), disease specific survival rate (p = 0.037), and overall survival rate (p = 0.009) compared with the rs738792 (CT + CC) genotype. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the MMP11 SNPs are associated with UCC susceptibility, clinical status, and disease survival. The MMP11 polymorphisms may have potential to predict UCC susceptibility and prognosis.
Urbanization and Waterborne Pathogen Emergence in Low-Income Countries: Where and How to Conduct Surveys?
Authors: Bastaraud Alexandra , Cecchi Philippe , Handschumacher Pascal , Altmann Mathias , Jambou Ronan
Published: January 2020

A major forthcoming sanitary issue concerns the apparition and spreading of drug-resistant microorganisms, potentially threatening millions of humans. In low-income countries, polluted urban runoff and open sewage channels are major sources of microbes. These microbes join natural microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems already impacted by various chemicals, including antibiotics. These composite microbial communities must adapt to survive in such hostile conditions, sometimes promoting the selection of antibiotic-resistant microbial strains by gene transfer. The low probability of exchanges between planktonic microorganisms within the water column may be significantly improved if their contact was facilitated by particular meeting places. This could be specifically the case within biofilms that develop on the surface of the myriads of floating macroplastics increasingly polluting urban tropical surface waters. Moreover, as uncultivable bacterial strains could be involved, analyses of the microbial communities in their whole have to be performed. This means that new-omic technologies must be routinely implemented in low- and middle-income countries to detect the appearance of resistance genes in microbial ecosystems, especially when considering the new ‘plastic context.’ We summarize the related current knowledge in this short review paper to anticipate new strategies for monitoring and surveying microbial communities.
Analysis Factors That Influence Escalator-Related Injuries in Metro Stations Based on Bayesian Networks: A Case Study in China
Authors: Xing Yingying , Chen Shengdi , Zhu Shengxue , Lu Jian
Published: January 2020

Escalator-related injuries have become an important issue in daily metro operation. To reduce the probability and severity of escalator-related injuries, this study conducted a probability and severity analysis of escalator-related injuries by using a Bayesian network to identify the risk factors that affect the escalator safety in metro stations. The Bayesian network structure was constructed based on expert knowledge and Dempster–Shafer evidence theory, and further modified based on conditional-independence test. Then, 950 escalator-related injuries were used to estimate the posterior probabilities of the Bayesian network with expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm. The results of probability analysis indicate that the most influential factor in four passenger behaviors is failing to stand firm (p = 0.48), followed by carrying out other tasks (p = 0.32), not holding the handrail (p = 0.23), and another passenger’s movement (p = 0.20). Women (p = 0.64) and elderly people (aged 66 years and above, p = 0.48) are more likely to be involved in escalator-related injuries. Riding an escalator with company (p = 0.63) has a relatively high likelihood of resulting in escalator-related injuries. The results from the severity analysis show that head and neck injuries seem to be more serious and are more likely to require an ambulance for treatment. Passengers who suffer from entrapment injury tend to claim for compensation. Severe injuries, as expected, significantly increase the probability of a claim for compensation. These findings could provide valuable references for metro operation corporations to understand the characteristics of escalator-related injuries and develop effective injury prevention measures.
PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Sources and Health Risk during Non-Heating and Heating Periods (Tangshan, China)
Authors: Fang Bo , Zhang Lei , Zeng Hao , Liu Jiajia , Yang Ze , Wang Hongwei , Wang Qian , Wang Manman
Published: January 2020

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may lead to adverse health risks. To understand the potential sources and carcinogenic risks of PAHs in Tangshan, 40 PM2.5 samples were collected for analysis of eighteen PM2.5-bound PAHs during non-heating period and heating period. The results display a significant variation. The median concentration of ∑18PAHs during the heating period (282 ng/m3) was higher than during the non-heating period (185 ng/m3). Especially, the median concentration of Benzopyrene (BaP) during the heating period (61.6 ng/m3) was 16.9-fold that during the non-heating period (3.64 ng/m3). It exceeded BaP annual average limit of China (1 ng/m3). Diagnostic ratios (DRs) and principal component analysis (PCA) both indicated that vehicle emissions and coal and biomass combustion were the dominant contributors of PAHs pollution in Tangshan. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of three age groups (children, teenagers, and adults) ranged from 2.56 × 10−6 to 5.26 × 10−5 during the entire sampling periods. The 95% risk values of adults exceeded 10−4 during the heating periods, indicating a potential health risk from PAHs.
The Role of Age and Gender in Perceived Vulnerability to Infectious Diseases
Authors: Díaz Amelia , Beleña Ángela , Zueco Jesús
Published: January 2020

Background: The study of the immune system has been approached using two separate paths, the biological immune system and the behavioral immune system. Recently, Gangestad and Grebe proposed a unique integrated compensatory immune system, where both systems work together and one of them could compensate for the other when necessary. However, few studies have confirmed the existence of this integrated compensatory immune system. Our study represents an attempt to explore the existence of this unique immune system, investigating if the behavioral immune system variables increase when the biological immune system weakens with age. Material and Methods. The cross-sectional design study was made up of a final sample of 1108 participants (45.2% men and 54.2 women) aged 18–64 years. The younger group (18–21 years) was made up of students, whilst the older groups (22 to 64 years) were composed by their relatives and acquaintances, following the snow ball process. The participants completed the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire that assesses perceived infectability and germ aversion. Correlations, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and independent group comparisons were performed. These analyses showed the relationships between the variables studied, the effects of age and gender in perceived infectability and germ aversion, and the differences that perceived infectability and germ aversion presented in different age-groups separated by gender. Results: A pattern emerged where germ aversion increases as both men and women get older, but perceived infectability decreases up to the age of 50, and then it increases in women from that age onward. Gender differences are only significant in younger participants, with women having higher scores than men in both variables. Conclusion: The results partially support the existence of a unique integrated compensatory biological/behavioral immune system.
Characteristics of Standing Postural Control in Women under Additional Load
Authors: Wojciechowska-Maszkowska Bożena , Borzucka Dorota
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of additional load on postural-stability control in young women. To evaluate postural control in the 34 women in this study (mean age, 20.8 years), we measured postural sway (center of pressure, COP) in a neutral stance (with eyes open) in three trials of 30 s each. Three load conditions were used in the study: 0, 14, and 30 kg. In analysis, we used three COP parameters, variability (linear), mean sway velocity (linear), and entropy (nonlinear). Results suggested that a considerable load on a young woman’s body (approximately 48% of body weight) had significant influence on stability. Specifically, heavy loads triggered random movements, increased the dynamics of postural-stability control, and required more attention to control standing posture. The results of our study indicate that inferior postural control mainly results from insufficient experience in lifting such a load.
Divergent Evolution of Eukaryotic CC- and A-Adding Enzymes
Authors: Erber Lieselotte , Franz Paul , Betat Heike , Prohaska Sonja , Mörl Mario
Published: January 2020

Synthesis of the CCA end of essential tRNAs is performed either by CCA-adding enzymes or as a collaboration between enzymes restricted to CC- and A-incorporation. While the occurrence of such tRNA nucleotidyltransferases with partial activities seemed to be restricted to Bacteria, the first example of such split CCA-adding activities was reported in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here, we demonstrate that the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta also carries CC- and A-adding enzymes. However, these enzymes have distinct evolutionary origins. Furthermore, the restricted activity of the eukaryotic CC-adding enzymes has evolved in a different way compared to their bacterial counterparts. Yet, the molecular basis is very similar, as highly conserved positions within a catalytically important flexible loop region are missing in the CC-adding enzymes. For both the CC-adding enzymes from S. rosetta as well as S. pombe, introduction of the loop elements from closely related enzymes with full activity was able to restore CCA-addition, corroborating the significance of this loop in the evolution of bacterial as well as eukaryotic tRNA nucleotidyltransferases. Our data demonstrate that partial CC- and A-adding activities in Bacteria and Eukaryotes are based on the same mechanistic principles but, surprisingly, originate from different evolutionary events.
Prediction of Protein–Protein Interaction Sites Using Convolutional Neural Network and Improved Data Sets
Authors: Xie Zengyan , Deng Xiaoya , Shu Kunxian
Published: January 2020

Protein–protein interaction (PPI) sites play a key role in the formation of protein complexes, which is the basis of a variety of biological processes. Experimental methods to solve PPI sites are expensive and time-consuming, which has led to the development of different kinds of prediction algorithms. We propose a convolutional neural network for PPI site prediction and use residue binding propensity to improve the positive samples. Our method obtains a remarkable result of the area under the curve (AUC) = 0.912 on the improved data set. In addition, it yields much better results on samples with high binding propensity than on randomly selected samples. This suggests that there are considerable false-positive PPI sites in the positive samples defined by the distance between residue atoms.
Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Modulates Maturation of Dendritic Cells and Their Capacity to Induce Hapten-Induced Contact Hypersensitivity
Authors: Gaffal Evelyn , Kemter Andrea M. , Scheu Stefanie , Leite Dantas Rafael , Vogt Jens , Baune Bernhard , Tüting Thomas , Zimmer Andreas , Alferink Judith
Published: January 2020

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is an established animal model for allergic contact dermatitis. Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in the sensitization phase of CHS by initiating T cell responses to topically applied haptens. The cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) modulate DC functions and inflammatory skin responses, but their influence on the capacity of haptenized DCs to induce CHS is still unknown. We found lower CHS responses to 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB) in wild type (WT) mice after adoptive transfer of haptenized Cnr2−/− and Cnr1−/−/Cnr2−/− bone marrow (BM) DCs as compared to transfer of WT DCs. In contrast, induction of CHS was not affected in WT recipients after transfer of Cnr1−/− DCs. In vitro stimulated Cnr2−/− DCs showed lower CCR7 and CXCR4 expression when compared to WT cells, while in vitro migration towards the chemokine ligands was not affected by CB2. Upregulation of MHC class II and co-stimulatory molecules was also reduced in Cnr2−/− DCs. This study demonstrates that CB2 modulates the maturation phenotype of DCs but not their chemotactic capacities in vitro. These findings and the fact that CHS responses mediated by Cnr2−/− DCs are reduced suggest that CB2 is a promising target for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions.
Genetically Engineered Pigs to Study Cancer
Authors: Kalla Daniela , Kind Alexander , Schnieke Angelika
Published: January 2020

Recent decades have seen groundbreaking advances in cancer research. Genetically engineered animal models, mainly in mice, have contributed to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in cancer. However, mice are not ideal for translating basic research into studies closer to the clinic. There is a need for complementary information provided by non-rodent species. Pigs are well suited for translational biomedical research as they share many similarities with humans such as body and organ size, aspects of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and can provide valuable means of developing and testing novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Porcine oncology is a new field, but it is clear that replication of key oncogenic mutation in pigs can usefully mimic several human cancers. This review briefly outlines the technology used to generate genetically modified pigs, provides an overview of existing cancer models, their applications and how the field may develop in the near future.
Heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] Compounds with Isomeric Dibromo-1,10-Phenanthroline Ligands
Authors: Nohara Isaak , Keller Aramis , Tarassenko Nikolai , Prescimone Alessandro , Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: January 2020

A series of [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] compounds are reported in which N^N is 2,9-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline (2,9-Br2phen), 3,8-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline (3,8-Br2phen) or 4,7-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline (4,7-Br2phen) and P^P is bis(2-(diphenylphosphano)phenyl)ether (POP) or 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphano)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (xantphos). The compounds were characterized by solution multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and a single-crystal X-ray analysis. Each compound underwent a partially reversible or irreversible copper-centred oxidation, the highest potential being for 2,9-Br2phen-containing compounds. In solution, the compounds are weak yellow or orange emitters, whereas powdered samples exhibit yellow emissions with photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 45% for [Cu(xantphos)(2,9-Br2phen)][PF6] with an excited state lifetime τ1/2 = 9.9 μs. Values of λemmax for [Cu(POP)(2,9-Br2phen)][PF6] and [Cu(xantphos)(2,9-Br2phen)][PF6] are blue-shifted with respect to compounds with the 3,8-and 4,7-isomers, both in solution and in the solid state.
Comparative Analysis of the Diversity of the Microbial Communities between Non-Fertilized and Fertilized Eggs of Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål
Authors: Shentu Xuping , Xiao Yin , Song Yang , Cao Zhenyan , Fan Jingxuan , Yu Xiaoping
Published: January 2020

Yeast-like symbionts (YLSs), harbored in the abdominal fat body of brown planthoppers (BPHs), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, play an important role in the growth, development, and reproduction of their host. However, little is known about the diversity of the symbiotic fungal YLSs that are harbored in the eggs of BPHs and the difference between fertilized eggs and non-fertilized eggs. Here, we investigate the fungal community compositions of non-fertilized and fertilized eggs of BPHs and identified the YLSs in the hemolymph by qPCR. A total of seven phyla, 126 genera, and 158 species were obtained from all samples, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most predominant phyla in the non-fertilized and fertilized eggs. The richness index indicated that microbial diversity in the non-fertilized and fertilized eggs exhibited a profound difference. In addition, 11 strains were only identified in the fertilized eggs, and these strains provide new insights into the constitution of species in YLSs. The difference of Pichia guilliermondii in the female hemolymph indicated that fertilization affected the diversity in the eggs by changing the YLSs in the hemolymph. Our research provides a comprehensive understanding of YLS species and their abundance in the eggs of BPHs, and it primarily explores how the changes of YLSs in the hemolymph lead to this difference.
Impact of Vitamin C and Thiamine Administration on Delirium-Free Days in Patients with Septic Shock
Authors: Park Jong Eun , Shin Tae Gun , Jo Ik Joon , Jeon Kyeongman , Suh Gee Young , Park Minsu , Won Hojeong , Chung Chi Ryang , Hwang Sung Yeon
Published: January 2020

Sepsis is a common cause of delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). Recently, vitamin C and thiamine administration has been gaining interest as a potential adjunct therapy for sepsis. We investigated the impact of early vitamin C and thiamine administration on ICU delirium-free days among critically ill patients in septic shock. We performed a single-center, retrospective study of patients who visited the emergency department (ED) from January 2017 to July 2018. We categorized patients into a treatment (received vitamin C and thiamine) and control group. We compared delirium-free days within 14 days after ICU admission using propensity score matching. Of 435 patients with septic shock, we assigned 89 propensity score-matched pairs to the treatment and control groups. The median delirium-free days did not differ between treatment (11, interquartile range [IQR] 5–14 days) and control (12, IQR 6–14 days) groups (p = 0.894). Secondary outcomes were not different between the two groups, including delirium incidence and 28-day mortality. These findings were consistent after subgroup analysis for patients who met the sepsis-3 definition of septic shock. Vitamin C and thiamine administration showed no association with ICU delirium-free days among patients in septic shock.
Platelet Function Test Use for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in the Early 2020s
Authors: Fontana Pierre , Roffi Marco , Reny Jean-Luc
Published: January 2020

In the field of antithrombotics, precision medicine is of particular interest, as it may lower the incidence of potentially life-threatening side effects. Indeed, antiplatelet drugs such as P2Y12 inhibitors are one of the most common causes of emergency admissions for drug-related adverse events. The last ten years have seen a continuous debate on whether platelet function tests (PFTs) should be used to tailor antiplatelet drugs to cardiovascular patients. Large-scale randomized studies investigating the escalation of antiplatelet therapies according to the results of PFTs were mostly negative. Potent P2Y12 inhibitors are recommended as a first-line treatment in acute coronary syndrome patients, bringing the bleeding risk at the forefront. De-escalation from prasugrel or ticagrelor to clopidogrel is now considered, with or without the use of a PFT. This review covers recent advances in escalation and de-escalation strategies based on PFTs in various clinical settings. It also describes the main features of the most popular platelet function tests as well as the potential added value of genetic testing. Finally, we detail practical suggestions on how PFTs could be used in clinical practice.
SERS-Based Liquid Biopsy of Gastrointestinal Tumors Using a Portable Raman Device Operating in a Clinical Environment
Authors: Avram Lucretia , Iancu Stefania D. , Stefancu Andrei , Moisoiu Vlad , Colnita Alia , Marconi Daniel , Donca Valer , Buzdugan Elena , Craciun Rares , Leopold Nicolae , Crisan Nicolae , Coman Ioan , Crisan Dana
Published: January 2020

Early diagnosis based on screening is recognized as one of the most efficient ways of mitigating cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Therefore, reliable but cost-effective methodologies are needed. By using a portable Raman spectrometer, a small and easily transportable instrument, the needs of modern diagnosis in terms of rapidity, ease of use and flexibility are met. In this study, we analyzed the diagnostic accuracy yielded by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based profiling of serum, performed with a portable Raman device operating in a real-life hospital environment, in the case of 53 patients with gastrointestinal tumors and 25 control subjects. The SERS spectra of serum displayed intense bands attributed to carotenoids and purine metabolites such as uric acid, xanthine and hypoxanthine, with different intensities between the cancer and control groups. Based on principal component analysis-quadratic discriminant analysis (PCA-QDA), the cancer and control groups were classified with an accuracy of 76.92%. By combining SERS spectra with general inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein levels, neutrophil counts, platelet counts and hemoglobin levels, the discrimination accuracy was increased to 83.33%. This study highlights the potential of SERS-based liquid biopsy for the point-of-care diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors using a portable Raman device operating in a clinical setting.
Development and Characterization of Stable Polymer Formulations for Manufacturing Magnetic Composites
Authors: Nagarajan Balakrishnan , Kamkar Milad , Schoen Martin A.W. , Sundararaj Uttandaraman , Trudel Simon , Qureshi Ahmed Jawad , Mertiny Pierre
Published: January 2020

Polymer bonded permanent magnets find significant applications in a multitude of electrical and electronic devices. In this study, magnetic particle-loaded epoxy resin formulations were developed for in-situ polymerization and material jetting based additive manufacturing processes. Fundamental material and process issues like particle settling at room temperature and elevated temperature curing, rheology control and geometric stability of the magnetic polymer during the thermal curing process are addressed. Control of particle settling, modifications in rheological behavior and geometric stability were accomplished using an additive that enabled the modification of the formulation behavior at different process conditions. The magnetic particle size and additive loading were found to influence the rheological properties significantly. The synergistic effect of the additive enabled the developing of composites with engineered magnetic filler loading. Morphological characterization using scanning electron microscopy revealed a homogenous particle distribution in composites. It was observed that the influence of temperature was profound on the coercive field and remanent magnetization of the magnetic composites. The characterization of magnetic polymers and composites using rheometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry analysis enabled the correlating of the behavior observed in different stages of the manufacturing processes. Furthermore, this fundamental research facilitates a pathway to construct robust materials and processes to develop magnetic composites with engineered properties.
An Integrated Coastal Sediment Management Plan: The Example of the Tuscany Region (Italy)
Authors: Pranzini Enzo , Cinelli Irene , Cipriani Luigi E. , Anfuso Giorgio
Published: January 2020

This paper presents the results of a study carried out to support the Region of Tuscany Coastal Sediment Management Plan, with the main aim of establishing the sediment budget considering the time span from 1981–1985 to 2005 for the 56 coastal sectors into which the 215 km-long continental sandy coast of Tuscany (Italy) was divided. The sand stability (according to a stability index) and colour compatibility (according to the CIEL*a*b* colour space with an acceptability range conforming to national guidelines) were determined in order to assess the possibility of using the available sediment in accreting sectors to nourish the beach in eroding areas. Only in two cases—i.e., the updrift of a harbour (at Viareggio) and in a convergence zone (at Marina di Pietrasanta)—are the volumes of sufficient magnitude to support a large nourishment project; however, the mean sand size is too small to guarantee efficient nourishment, even with medium-term stability. In contrast, the colour difference, in most of the cases, was shown to be acceptable. Other small sediment stocks, suitable for colour but not for grain size, can be used for periodic ephemeral nourishment works to support seasonal tourist activities. The limited resources available make it necessary to adopt a plan for their optimal use from a regional perspective. This kind of study is of great interest for the proposal of sound management actions to counteract the increasing erosion processes linked to climate change phenomena and human effects on rivers and coastal systems.
Compressibility Effects on Cavity Dynamics behind a Two-Dimensional Wedge
Authors: Park Sunho , Seok Woochan , Park Sung Taek , Rhee Shin Hyung , Choe Yohan , Kim Chongam , Kim Ji-Hye , Ahn Byoung-Kwon
Published: January 2020

To understand cavity dynamics, many experimental and computational studies have been conducted for many decades. As computational methods, incompressible, isothermal compressible, and fully compressible flow solvers were used for the purpose. In the present study, to understand the compressibility effect on cavity dynamics, both incompressible and fully compressible flow solvers were developed, respectively. Experiments were also carried out in a cavitation tunnel to compare with the computational results. The cavity shedding dynamics, re-entrant jet, transition from bounded shear layer vortices to Karman vortices, and pressure and velocity contours behind the two-dimensional wedge by the two developed solvers were compared at various cavitation numbers.
Impacts of Public and Private Sector Policies on Soybean and Pasture Expansion in Mato Grosso—Brazil from 2001 to 2017
Authors: Picoli Michelle C. A. , Rorato Ana , Leitão Pedro , Camara Gilberto , Maciel Adeline , Hostert Patrick , Sanches Ieda Del’Arco
Published: January 2020

Demand for agricultural exports in Brazil has stimulated the expansion of crop production and cattle raising, which has caused environmental impacts. In response, Brazil developed public policies such as the new Forest Code (FC) and supply chain arrangements such the Soy and the Cattle Moratoriums. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of these policies, considering the trajectories of agricultural expansion in the state of Mato Grosso in three years: 2005 (pre-moratorium and before the new FC), 2010 (post-moratorium and before the new FC) and 2017 (post-moratorium and post-new FC). Our analysis uses a detailed land use change data for both the Amazon and Cerrado biomes in Mato Grosso. In all the years considered, soybean expansion occurred in consolidated production areas and by conversion of pastures. Pasture expansion is influenced by existence of pastures nearby, by areas of secondary vegetation and deforestation. Our data and models show the effectiveness of public policies and private arrangements to reduce direct conversion from forests to crop production. However, our results also provide evidence that soybean expansion has caused indirect impacts by replacing pasture areas and causing pasture expansion elsewhere. Evidence from our work indicates that Brazil needs broader-ranging land use policies than what was done in the 2010s to be able to reach the land use goals stated in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.
Structural and Micromechanical Properties of Ternary Granular Packings: Effect of Particle Size Ratio and Number Fraction of Particle Size Classes
Authors: Wiącek Joanna , Stasiak Mateusz , Kafashan Jalal
Published: January 2020

The confined uniaxial tests of packings with discrete particle size distribution (PSD) were modeled with the discrete element method. Ternary packings of spheres with PSD uniform or nonuniform by number of particles were examined in three-dimensional (3D) system. The study addressed an effect of the particle size ratio and the particle size fraction on structural and micromechanical properties of mixtures. A study of packing structure included porosity and coordination numbers, while the investigation of micromechanical properties included distribution of normal contact forces and stress transmission through the packing. A micro-scale investigation of the effect of particle size ratio on structure and mechanics of the ternary packings revealed a strong relationship between the properties of sample and the value of parameter till its critical value was reached. A further increase in particle size ratio did not significantly affect properties of packings. Contrary to the porosity and coordination numbers, the partial stresses were highly affected by the fraction of particle size classes in ternary mixtures. The contribution of the partial stress into the global stress was determined by number fraction of particles in packings with small particle size ratio, while it was mainly determined by particle size ratio in packings with small particle size ratio.
Solvability of Coupled Systems of Generalized Hammerstein-Type Integral Equations in the Real Line
Authors: Minhós Feliz , de Sousa Robert
Published: January 2020

In this work, we consider a generalized coupled system of integral equations of Hammerstein-type with, eventually, discontinuous nonlinearities. The main existence tool is Schauder’s fixed point theorem in the space of bounded and continuous functions with bounded and continuous derivatives on R , combined with the equiconvergence at ± ∞ to recover the compactness of the correspondent operators. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time where coupled Hammerstein-type integral equations in real line are considered with nonlinearities depending on several derivatives of both variables and, moreover, the derivatives can be of different order on each variable and each equation. On the other hand, we emphasize that the kernel functions can change sign and their derivatives in order to the first variable may be discontinuous. The last section contains an application to a model to study the deflection of a coupled system of infinite beams.