bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor Volume Dynamics as an Early Biomarker for Patient-Specific Evolution of Resistance and Progression in Recurrent High-Grade Glioma
Authors: Glazar Daniel J. , Grass G. Daniel , Arrington John A. , Forsyth Peter A. , Raghunand Natarajan , Yu Hsiang-Hsuan Michael , Sahebjam Solmaz , Enderling Heiko
Published: June 2020

Recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG) remains incurable with inevitable evolution of resistance and high inter-patient heterogeneity in time to progression (TTP). Here, we evaluate if early tumor volume response dynamics can calibrate a mathematical model to predict patient-specific resistance to develop opportunities for treatment adaptation for patients with a high risk of progression. A total of 95 T1-weighted contrast-enhanced (T1post) MRIs from 14 patients treated in a phase I clinical trial with hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiation (HFSRT; 6 Gy × 5) plus pembrolizumab (100 or 200 mg, every 3 weeks) and bevacizumab (10 mg/kg, every 2 weeks; NCT02313272) were delineated to derive longitudinal tumor volumes. We developed, calibrated, and validated a mathematical model that simulates and forecasts tumor volume dynamics with rate of resistance evolution as the single patient-specific parameter. Model prediction performance is evaluated based on how early progression is predicted and the number of false-negative predictions. The model with one patient-specific parameter describing the rate of evolution of resistance to therapy fits untrained data ( R 2 = 0.70 ). In a leave-one-out study, for the nine patients that had T1post tumor volumes ≥1 cm3, the model was able to predict progression on average two imaging cycles early, with a median of 9.3 (range: 3–39.3) weeks early (median progression-free survival was 27.4 weeks). Our results demonstrate that early tumor volume dynamics measured on T1post MRI has the potential to predict progression following the protocol therapy in select patients with recurrent HGG. Future work will include testing on an independent patient dataset and evaluation of the developed framework on T2/FLAIR-derived data.
Association of Systemic Comorbidities with Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Kawashima Motoko , Yamada Masakazu , Shigeyasu Chika , Suwaki Kazuhisa , Uchino Miki , Hiratsuka Yoshimune , Yokoi Norihiko , Tsubota Kazuo ,   for the DECS-J Study Group
Published: June 2020

We investigated the association between dry eye disease and systemic comorbidities, including dry eye subtype, quality of life (QOL) and health utility among patients with dry eye disease. This cross-sectional, observational study enrolled 449 patients with dry eye disease (386 females; mean age, 62.6 ± 15.7 [range, 21–90] years). Ophthalmic examination findings included tear film break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer I value and keratoconjunctival staining score. QOL and health utility were evaluated using the Dry Eye-Related Quality-of-Life Score (DEQS) and Human Utility Index Mark 3 (HUI-3), respectively. Background information, including systemic comorbidities, was obtained. Prevalence of systemic comorbidities was 48.8% (219/449). No significant difference occurred between DEQS and systemic comorbidity. However, patients with dry eye disease and systemic comorbidities (depression and insomnia) exhibited significantly worse ocular surface parameters, particularly regarding TBUT, than those without. Dry eye disease with insomnia or depression comorbidity significantly correlated with friction-related diseases (including conjunctivochalasis or lid wiper epitheliopathy). A high prevalence of several systemic comorbidities occurred in patients with dry eye disease. This study shows an association between ocular signs and systemic comorbidities, particularly depression and insomnia. Ophthalmologists should be aware of patients’ systemic comorbidities in the diagnosis and management of dry eye disease.
Effects of Trigger Point Dry Needling for the Management of Knee Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rahou-El-Bachiri Youssef , Navarro-Santana Marcos J. , Gómez-Chiguano Guido F , Cleland Joshua A , López-de-Uralde-Villanueva Ibai , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo
Published: June 2020

Background: To evaluate the effect of trigger point dry needling alone or as an adjunct with other interventions on pain and related disability in people with knee pain. Methods: Several electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials where at least one group received dry needling for knee pain. Studies had to include human subjects and collect outcomes on pain and pain-related disability in musculoskeletal knee pain. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Guidelines, methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score, and the quality of evidence by using the GRADE approach. Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated. Results: Ten studies (six patellofemoral pain, two knee osteoarthritis, two post-surgery knee pain) were included. The meta-analysis found moderate effect sizes of dry needling for reducing pain (SMD −0.53, 95% CI −0.87 to −0.19) and improving related disability (SMD −0.58, 95% CI −1.08 to −0.09) as compared to a comparison group at short-term. The main effect was observed for patellofemoral pain (SMD −0.64, 95% CI −1.17 to −0.11). No significant effects were observed at mid- or long-term follow-ups. The risk of bias was generally low, but the heterogenicity and the imprecision of the results downgraded the level of evidence. Conclusion: Low to moderate evidence suggests a positive effect of trigger point dry needling on pain and related disability in patellofemoral pain, but not knee osteoarthritis or post-surgery knee pain, at short-term. More high-quality trials investigating long-term effects are clearly needed.
High Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Older Trauma Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Stassen Robert C. , Reisinger Kostan W. , Al-Ali Moaath , Poeze Martijn , Ten Bosch Jan A. , Blokhuis Taco J.
Published: June 2020

Sarcopenia is related to adverse outcomes in various populations. However, little is known about the prevalence of sarcopenia in polytrauma patients. Identifying the number of patients at risk of adverse outcome will increase awareness to prevent further loss of muscle mass. We utilized data from a regional prospective trauma registry of all polytrauma patients presented between 2015 and 2019 at a single level-I trauma center. Subjects were screened for availability of computed tomography (CT)-abdomen and height in order to calculate skeletal mass index, which was used to estimate sarcopenia. Additional parameters regarding clinical outcome were assessed. Univariate analysis was performed to identify parameters related adverse outcome and, if identified, entered in a multivariate regression analysis. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 33.5% in the total population but was even higher in older age groups (range 60–79 years), reaching 82 % in patients over 80 years old. Sarcopenia was related to 30-day or in-hospital mortality (p = 0.032), as well as age (p < 0.0001), injury severity score (p = 0.026), and Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.001). Log rank analysis identified sarcopenia as an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (p = 0.032). In conclusion, we observed a high prevalence of sarcopenia among polytrauma patients, further increasing in older patients. In addition, sarcopenia was identified as a predictor for 30-day mortality, underlining the clinical significance of identification of low muscle mass on a CT scan that is already routinely obtained in most trauma patients.
Vasopressors and Inotropes in Acute Myocardial Infarction Related Cardiogenic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Karami Mina , Hemradj Veemal V. , Ouweneel Dagmar M. , den Uil Corstiaan A. , Limpens Jacqueline , Otterspoor Luuk C. , Vlaar Alexander P. , Lagrand Wim K. , Henriques José P. S.
Published: June 2020

Vasopressors and inotropes are routinely used in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related cardiogenic shock (CS) to improve hemodynamics. We aimed to investigate the effect of routinely used vasopressor and inotropes on mortality in AMI related CS. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL was performed up to 20 February 2019. Randomized and observational studies reporting mortality of AMI related CS patients were included. At least one group should have received the vasopressor/inotrope compared with a control group not exposed to the vasopressor/inotrope. Exclusion criteria were case reports, correspondence and studies including only post-cardiac surgery patients. In total, 19 studies (6 RCTs) were included, comprising 2478 CS patients. The overall quality of evidence was graded low. Treatment with adrenaline, noradrenaline, vasopressin, milrinone, levosimendan, dobutamine or dopamine was not associated with a difference in mortality between therapy and control group. We found a trend toward better outcome with levosimendan, compared with control (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.47–1.00). In conclusion, we found insufficient evidence that routinely used vasopressors and inotropes are associated with reduced mortality in patients with AMI related CS. Considering the limited evidence, this study emphasizes the need for randomized trials with appropriate endpoints and methodology.
Do Capital Flows Matter for Monetary Policy Setting in Inflation Targeting Economies?
Authors: Arimurti Trinil , Morley Bruce
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study is to determine if capital flows can account for the international effects on domestic monetary policy, using an augmented Taylor rule model. In addition to the standard determinants of nominal interest rates, we include capital flow measures to show how central banks consider this important factor when deciding on the most appropriate monetary policy. Using a panel of inflation targeting economies and the dynamic panel approach, this study finds that capital inflows and outflows are an important determinant of nominal interest rates.
Mapping Tribo-Corrosion Behaviour of TI-6AL-4V Eli in Laboratory Simulated Hip Joint Environments
Authors: Rasool Ghulam , El Shafei Yousuf , Stack Margaret M.
Published: June 2020

Wear and corrosion in artificial hip replacements are known to result in metal ion release and wear debris induced osteolysis. This may lead to pain and sensitivity for patients. This infers that pre-clinical testing is critical in determining the long-term performance, safety, and reliability of the implant materials. For this purpose, micro-abrasion-corrosion tests were carried out on a biocompatible material, Ti-6Al-4V ELI, using a T-66, Plint micro-abrasion test rig in conjunction with Gill Ac corrosion testing apparatus for the range of applied loads and electrical potentials in the hip joint simulated environment. A Ringer’s solution, with and without an abrasive particle (silicon carbide), was used to enable the interactions between abrasion and corrosion. In this paper, the effects of applied load and electrochemical potential on the tribo-corrosion behaviour of Ti-6Al-4V in a bio-simulated environment are presented. The wastage, micro-abrasion-corrosion mechanisms, and synergy behaviour were identified and mapped. A significant difference in corrosion current densities was observed in the presence of abrasive particles, suggesting the removal of the protective oxide layer. The results also indicate that Ti-6Al-4V had significant abrasive wear loss when coupled with a ceramic counterpart. According to the mechanism, micro-abrasion plays a predominant role in the abrasion-corrosion behaviour of this material and the material losses by mechanical processes are substantially larger than losses, due to electrochemical processes.
Friction and Wear Characteristics of Microporous Interface Filled with Mixed Lubricants of M50 Steel at Different Loads
Authors: Liu Xiyao , Lu Zhiwei , Dong Hao , Cao Yan , Qian Xueming
Published: June 2020

Improving the tribological performance of M50 steel under the conditions of wide load range is of great significance. In this study, the interfacial structure of surface micropores filled with Sn–Ag–Cu or Sn–Ag–Cu/whisker carbon nanotubes (whiskerCNT) of M50 material was prepared by laser additive manufacturing and high-temperature infiltration. From 2 to 22 N, the lubrication characteristics of Sn–Ag–Cu and whiskerCNT in surface micropores of M50 was investigated. Results indicate that Sn–Ag–Cu can precipitate to the worn surface and form a lubricating layer, which has a good lubricating effect. Moreover, the flow behavior of Sn–Ag–Cu on a worn surface can play the role of crack healing. At higher load, the strength of the lubricating film is enhanced by whiskerCNT, which renders the lubricating film not vulnerable to premature rupture.
Toward Current Matching in Tandem Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Wei Junfeng , Shao Zhipeng , Pan Bin , Chen Shuanghong , Hu Linhua , Dai Songyuan
Published: June 2020

The tandem pn-type dye-sensitized solar cells (pn-DSCs) have received much attention in the field of photovoltaic technologies because of their great potential to overcome the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limitation that applies to single junction photovoltaic devices. However, factors governing the short-circuit current densities (Jsc) of pn-DSC remain unclear. It is typically believed that Jsc of the pn-DSC is limited to the highest one that the two independent photoelectrodes can achieve. In this paper, however, we found that the available Jsc of pn-DSC is always determined by the larger Jsc that the photoanode can achieve but not by the smaller one in the photocathode. Such experimental findings were verified by a simplified series circuit model, which shows that a breakdown will occur on the photocathode when the photocurrent goes considerably beyond its threshold voltage, thus leading to an abrupt increase in Jsc of the circuit. The simulation results also suggest that a higher photoconversion efficiency of the pn-DSCs can be only achieved when an almost equivalent photocurrent is achieved for the two photoelectrodes.
Description of Residual Stresses in Autofrettaged Open-Ended Cylinders Made of High-Strength Steel
Authors: Alexandrov Sergei , Lyamina Elena , Aoh Jong-Ning , Jeng Yeau-Ren
Published: June 2020

The elastic range in loading–unloading processes is often reduced with a Bauschinger effect. This material property may have a high impact on residual stresses and, as a result, on the performance of autofrettaged cylinders under service conditions. The objective of the present paper is to demonstrate this impact using a material model that accounts for the response of typical high-strength steel. The solution is semi-analytic and, therefore, can be used for fast and accurate analysis of the process of autofrettage. A numerical example illustrates the general solution. This example shows that the Bauschinger effect has a significant impact on the residual circumferential stress in the vicinity of the inner radius of the cylinder. This stress is the most significant quantity of autofrettaged cylinders. Therefore, the main result obtained suggests that even a moderate Bauschinger effect should be taken into account in analyses of the process of autofrettage.
Influence of Controlled Cooling on Crystallinity of Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Scaffolds after Hydrolytic Degradation
Authors: Vazquez-Armendariz Javier , Tejeda-Alejandre Raquel , Rodriguez-Garcia Aida , Vega-Cantu Yadira I. , Mendoza-Buenrostro Christian , Rodriguez Ciro A.
Published: June 2020

The use of hybrid manufacturing to produce bimodal scaffolds has represented a great advancement in tissue engineering. These scaffolds provide a favorable environment in which cells can adhere and produce new tissue. However, there are several areas of opportunity to manufacture structures that provide enough strength and rigidity, while also improving chemical integrity. As an advancement in the manufacturing process of scaffolds, a cooling system was introduced in a fused deposition modeling (FDM) machine to vary the temperature on the printing bed. Two groups of polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were then printed at two different bed temperatures. The rate of degradation was evaluated during eight weeks in Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) in a controlled environment (37 °C–120 rpm) to assess crystallinity. Results showed the influence of the cooling system on the degradation rate of printed scaffolds after the immersion period. This phenomenon was attributable to the mechanism associated with alkaline hydrolysis, where a higher degree of crystallinity obtained in one group induced greater rates of mass loss. The overall crystallinity was observed, through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, to increase with time because of the erosion of some amorphous parts after immersion.
Ore Genesis of the Kuergasheng Pb–Zn Deposit, Xinjiang Province, Northwest China: Constraints from Geology, Fluid Inclusions, and H–O–C–S–Pb Isotopes
Authors: Li Shunda , Chen Chuan , Gao Lingling , Xia Fang , Zhang Xuebing , Wang Keyong , Arkin Kurbanjan
Published: June 2020

The Kuergasheng Pb–Zn deposit is located in the Western Tianshan Orogen, Xinjiang Province, China. The ore bodies are mainly hosted in sandstone of the Tuosikuertawu Formation and are controlled by NW-trending faults. Three paragenetic stages were identified: early pyrite–chalcopyrite–quartz veins (stage 1), middle galena–sphalerite–quartz veins (stage 2), and late sulfide-poor calcite–quartz veins (stage 3). Fluid inclusions (FIs) include liquid-rich aqueous (LV-type), vapor-rich aqueous (VL-type), halite-bearing (S-type), and monophase liquid aqueous (L-type). Homogenization temperatures for FIs from stages 1–3 are 221–251, 173–220, and 145–172 °C, respectively. Stage 1 fluids in LV-, VL-, and S-type FIs yield salinities of 6.2–9.6, 1.7–3.1, and 32.7–34.9 wt % NaCl equiv., respectively. Stage 2 fluids in LV- and S-type FIs have salinities of 5.1–7.9 and 31.9–32.1 wt % NaCl equiv., respectively. Stage 3 fluids in LV- and L-type FIs have salinities of 3.4–5.9 wt % NaCl equiv. Oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon isotopic data (δ18OH2O = −7.7 to 1.7‰, δDH2O = −99.2 to −83.1‰, δ13CH2O = −16.6 to 9.1‰) indicate that the ore-forming fluids have a hybrid origin —an initial magmatic source with input of meteoric water becoming dominant in the later stage. Sulfur and lead isotopic data for galena (δ34S = 5.6 to 6.9‰, 206Pb/204Pb = 18.002–18.273, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.598–15.643, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.097–38.209) reveal that the ore-forming materials were mainly derived from the Beidabate intrusive body and the Tuosikuertawu Formation.
Phospholipid Vesicles for Dermal/Transdermal and Nasal Administration of Active Molecules: The Effect of Surfactants and Alcohols on the Fluidity of Their Lipid Bilayers and Penetration Enhancement Properties
Authors: Natsheh Hiba , Touitou Elka
Published: June 2020

This is a comprehensive review on the use of phospholipid nanovesicles for dermal/transdermal and nasal drug administration. Phospholipid-based vesicular carriers have been widely investigated for enhanced drug delivery via dermal/transdermal routes. Classic phospholipid vesicles, liposomes, do not penetrate the deep layers of the skin, but remain confined to the upper stratum corneum. The literature describes several approaches with the aim of altering the properties of these vesicles to improve their penetration properties. Transfersomes and ethosomes are the most investigated penetration-enhancing phospholipid nanovesicles, obtained by the incorporation of surfactant edge activators and high concentrations of ethanol, respectively. These two types of vesicles differ in terms of their structure, characteristics, mechanism of action and mode of application on the skin. Edge activators contribute to the deformability and elasticity of transfersomes, enabling them to penetrate through pores much smaller than their own size. The ethanol high concentration in ethosomes generates a soft vesicle by fluidizing the phospholipid bilayers, allowing the vesicle to penetrate deeper into the skin. Glycerosomes and transethosomes, phospholipid vesicles containing glycerol or a mixture of ethanol and edge activators, respectively, are also covered. This review discusses the effects of edge activators, ethanol and glycerol on the phospholipid vesicle, emphasizing the differences between a soft and an elastic nanovesicle, and presents their different preparation methods. To date, these differences have not been comparatively discussed. The review presents a large number of active molecules incorporated in these carriers and investigated in vitro, in vivo or in clinical human tests.
Enantioseparation and Determination of Penconazole in Rat Plasma by Chiral LC-MS/MS: Application to a Stereoselective Toxicokinetic Study
Authors: Ma Siman , Lun Jia , Liu Yanru , Jiang Zhen , Guo Xingjie
Published: June 2020

In this study, a specific and sensitive method of liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of penconazole enantiomers in rat plasma. The enantioseparation was achieved on a Chiralpak IC column by using acetonitrile/water (80:20, v/v) as the mobile phase. Penconazole enantiomers and internal standard l-lansoprazole (IS) were detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with positive electrospray ionization source. The method was validated over the concentration range of 2.5–250.0 ng mL−1 for penconazole enantiomers. Good linearity was obtained for both enantiomers with correlation coefficients (R) greater than 0.995. The relative error was well within the admissible range of −1.1–3.2%, and relative standard deviation was less than 6.0%. After validation, the established method was successfully applied to a stereoselective toxicokinetic study in female and male rats after oral administration of 50 mg kg−1 racemic penconazole. This is the first experiment regarding the stereospecific toxicokinetic study of penconazole and the bioanalytical approach for its quantitation in vivo.
Nanoparticle Recognition on Scanning Probe Microscopy Images Using Computer Vision and Deep Learning
Authors: Okunev Alexey G. , Mashukov Mikhail Yu. , Nartova Anna V. , Matveev Andrey V.
Published: June 2020

Identifying, counting and measuring particles is an important component of many research studies. Images with particles are usually processed by hand using a software ruler. Automated processing, based on conventional image processing methods (edge detection, segmentation, etc.) are not universal, can only be used on good-quality images and need to set a number of parameters empirically. In this paper, we present results from the application of deep learning to automated recognition of metal nanoparticles deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite on images obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We used the Cascade Mask-RCNN neural network. Training was performed on a dataset containing 23 STM images with 5157 nanoparticles. Three images containing 695 nanoparticles were used for verification. As a result, the trained neural network recognized nanoparticles in the verification set with 0.93 precision and 0.78 recall. Predicted contour refining with 2D Gaussian function was a proposed option. The accuracies for mean particle size calculated from predicted contours compared with ground truth were in the range of 0.87–0.99. The results were compared with outcomes from other generally available software, based on conventional image processing methods. The advantages of deep learning methods for automatic particle recognition were clearly demonstrated. We developed a free open-access web service “ParticlesNN” based on the trained neural network, which can be used by any researcher in the world.
Evolutionary Understanding of Aquaporin Transport System in the Basal Eudicot Model Species Aquilegia coerulea
Authors: Singh Shweta , Bhatt Vacha , Kumar Virender , Kumawat Surbhi , Khatri Praveen , Singla Pankaj , Shivaraj S.M. , Nadaf Altaf , Deshmukh Rupesh , Sharma Tilak Raj , Sonah Humira
Published: June 2020

Aquaporins (AQPs) play a pivotal role in the cellular transport of water and many other small solutes, influencing many physiological and developmental processes in plants. In the present study, extensive bioinformatics analysis of AQPs was performed in Aquilegia coerulea L., a model species belonging to basal eudicots, with a particular focus on understanding the AQPs role in the developing petal nectar spur. A total of 29 AQPs were identified in Aquilegia, and their phylogenetic analysis performed with previously reported AQPs from rice, poplar and Arabidopsis depicted five distinct subfamilies of AQPs. Interestingly, comparative analysis revealed the loss of an uncharacterized intrinsic protein II (XIP-II) group in Aquilegia. The absence of the entire XIP subfamily has been reported in several previous studies, however, the loss of a single clade within the XIP family has not been characterized. Furthermore, protein structure analysis of AQPs was performed to understand pore diversity, which is helpful for the prediction of solute specificity. Similarly, an AQP AqcNIP2-1 was identified in Aquilegia, predicted as a silicon influx transporter based on the presence of features such as the G-S-G-R aromatic arginine selectivity filter, the spacing between asparagine-proline-alanine (NPA) motifs and pore morphology. RNA-seq analysis showed a high expression of tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) and plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) in the developing petal spur. The results presented here will be helpful in understanding the AQP evolution in Aquilegia and their expression regulation, particularly during floral development.
Selenium Enrichment Enhances the Quality and Shelf Life of Basil Leaves
Authors: Puccinelli Martina , Pezzarossa Beatrice , Rosellini Irene , Malorgio Fernando
Published: June 2020

The biofortification of leafy vegetables with selenium (Se) is a good way to increase human dietary Se intake. In addition, selenium delays plant senescence by enhancing the antioxidant capacity of plant tissues, decreasing postharvest losses. We investigated the effects of selenium addition on the production and quality of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaves of two harvesting phases, hereafter referred to as cuts, during the crop cycle. Plants were hydroponically grown and treated with 0 (control), 4, 8 and 12 mg Se L−1 as selenate. To evaluate the growth, nutritional value and quality of the basil leaves, selected qualitative parameters were determined at harvest and after five days of storage. Application of Se at varying rates (4, 8 and 12 mg L−1) was associated with an increased leaf selenium concentration in the first, but not the second cut. The application of Se significantly affected the antioxidant capacity as well as the total phenol and rosmarinic acid contents at harvest. The reduction in ethylene production observed in the plants at 4 mg Se L−1 after five days of storage suggests that this Se treatment could be used to prolong and enhance the shelf-life of basil. The daily consumption of 10 g of Se-enriched basil leaves, which, as an example, are contained in a single portion of Italian pesto sauce, would also satisfy the recommended selenium supplementation in humans.
Comparative Analyses of Four Chemicals Used to Control Black Mold Disease in Tomato and Its Effects on Defense Signaling Pathways, Productivity and Quality Traits
Authors: El-Garhy Hoda A. S. , Abdel-Rahman Fayz A. , Shams Abdelhakeem S. , Osman Gamal H. , Moustafa Mahmoud M. A.
Published: June 2020

The field application of safe chemical inducers plays a vital role in the stimulation of systematic acquired resistance (SAR) of plants. In this study, the efficacy use of three and six field applications with chitosan, lithovit, and K-thiosulfate at 4 g L−1 and salicylic acid at 1.5 g L−1 in improving tomato productivity, quality, and modifying the defense signaling pathways to the Alternaria alternata infection was investigated. Salicylic acid was the most effective in vitro where it completely inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternata. The highest yield quantity was recorded with six applications with Chitosan followed by Salicylic acid; also, they were the most effective treatments in controlling the Alternaria alternata infection in tomato fruits. The maximum increase in chitinase and catalase activity of tomato fruits was observed at five days after inoculation, following treatment with six sprays of salicylic acid followed by chitosan. The transcript levels of seven defense-related genes: ethylene-responsive transcription factor 3 (RAP), xyloglucan endotransglucosylase 2 (XET-2), catalytic hydrolase -2 (ACS-2), proteinase inhibitor II (PINII), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 5 (PAL5), lipoxygenase D (LOXD), and pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1) were upregulated in response to all treatments. The highest expression levels of the seven studied genes were recorded in response to six foliar applications with chitosan. Chitosan followed by salicylic acid was the most effective among the tested elicitors in controlling the black mold rot in tomato fruits. In conclusion, pre-harvest chitosan and salicylic acid in vivo application with six sprays could be recommended as effective safe alternatives to fungicides against black mold disease in tomato fruits.
Melatonin Suppressed the Heat Stress-Induced Damage in Wheat Seedlings by Modulating the Antioxidant Machinery
Authors: Buttar Zeeshan Ali , Wu Sheng Nan , Arnao Marino B. , Wang Chaojie , Ullah Ikram , Wang Chengshe
Published: June 2020

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a pleiotropic signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in the regulation of various environmental stresses, including heat stress (HS). In this study, a 100 μM melatonin (MT) pretreatment followed by exposure to heat stress for different time periods was found to efficiently reduce oxidative stress by preventing the over-accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), lowering the lipid peroxidation content (malondialdehyde (MDA) content), and increasing proline (Pro) biosynthesis. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), were increased substantially in MT-pretreated wheat seedlings. The presence of MT significantly improved the heat tolerance of wheat seedlings by modulating their antioxidant defense system, activating the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) cycle comprising ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and increasing glutathione reductase (GR) activities. It also held the photosynthetic machinery stable by increasing the chlorophyll content. Enhancement in the endogenous MT contents was also observed in the MT+HS-treated plants. Furthermore, the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes TaSOD, TaPOD, and TaCAT, and anti-stress responsive genes, such as TaMYB80, TaWRKY26, and TaWRKY39, was also induced in MT-treated seedlings. Due to these notable changes, an improvement in stress resistance was observed in MT-treated seedlings compared with control. Taken together, our findings suggest that MT can play a key role in boosting the stress tolerance of plants by modulating the antioxidant defense system and regulating the transcription of stress-responsive genes.
Ethnomedicinal Plant Knowledge of the Karen in Thailand
Authors: Phumthum Methee , Balslev Henrik , Kantasrila Rapeeporn , Kaewsangsai Sukhumaabhorn , Inta Angkhana
Published: June 2020

The Thai Karen, the largest hill-tribe in Thailand, guard substantial ethnomedicinal plant knowledge, as documented in several studies that targeted single villages. Here, we have compiled information from all the reliable and published sources to present a comprehensive overview of the Karen ethnomedicinal plant knowledge. Our dataset covers 31 Karen villages distributed over eight provinces in Thailand. We used the Cultural Importance Index (CI) to determine which species were the most valuable to the Karen and the Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) to evaluate how well distributed the knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants was in various medicinal use categories. In the 31 Karen villages, we found 3188 reports of ethnomedicinal plant uses of 732 species in 150 plant families. Chromolaena odorata, Biancaea sappan, and Tinospora crispa were the most important medicinal plants, with the highest CI values. The Leguminosae, Asteraceae, Zingiberaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae, Acanthaceae, Apocynaceae, and Menispermaceae were the families with the highest CI values in the mentioned order. A high proportion of all the 3188 Karen use reports were used to treat digestive, general and unspecified, musculoskeletal, and skin disorders.
Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein–Client Protein Interactions
Authors: Dirk Lynnette M. A. , Abdel Caser Ghaafar , Ahmad Imran , Neta Izabel Costa Silva , Pereira Cristiane Carvalho , Pereira Francisco Elder Carlos Bezerra , Unêda-Trevisoli Sandra Helena , Pinheiro Daniel Guariz , Downie Allan Bruce
Published: June 2020

The intrinsically disordered proteins belonging to the LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT protein (LEAP) family have been ascribed a protective function over an array of intracellular components. We focus on how LEAPs may protect a stress-susceptible proteome. These examples include instances of LEAPs providing a shield molecule function, possibly by instigating liquid-liquid phase separations. Some LEAPs bind directly to their client proteins, exerting a holdase-type chaperonin function. Finally, instances of LEAP–client protein interactions have been documented, where the LEAP modulates (interferes with) the function of the client protein, acting as a surreptitious rheostat of cellular homeostasis. From the examples identified to date, it is apparent that client protein modulation also serves to mitigate stress. While some LEAPs can physically bind and protect client proteins, some apparently bind to assist the degradation of the client proteins with which they associate. Documented instances of LEAP–client protein binding, even in the absence of stress, brings to the fore the necessity of identifying how the LEAPs are degraded post-stress to render them innocuous, a first step in understanding how the cell regulates their abundance.
Micropropagation of Alocasia longiloba Miq and Comparative Antioxidant Properties of Ethanolic Extracts of the Field-Grown Plant, In Vitro Propagated and In Vitro-Derived Callus
Authors: Abdulhafiz Ferid , Mohammed Arifullah , Kayat Fatimah , Zakaria Suhana , Hamzah Zulhazman , Reddy Pamuru Ramachandra , Gundala Prasada Babu , Reduan Mohd Farhan Hanif
Published: June 2020

In this study, an efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for A. longiloba and the antioxidant properties of field-grown plant, in vitro-derived greenhouse-grown plant and in vitro-derived callus extracts were compared. The A. longiloba seeds tested using tetrazolium chloride salt exhibited 89% viability. Due to poor germination capacity of A. longiloba seeds, the seeds were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4). The maximum seed germination of 87% was observed at 30% H2SO4 treatment after 19.00 d, whereas GA3 treatment showed maximum germination of 53% after 22 d. In vitro shoot multiplication was carried out using various types of cytokinins alone or in combination with auxin. Among them, 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) single treatment was found to be the best hormone. The highest shoot-length (7.26 cm) and maximum number of shoots per explant (18) were recorded at 3-mg L−1 BAP. For in vitro rooting, indole-3-acetic acid at 0.5-mg L−1 was found to be the optimum concentration. Callus was induced using various types of auxins alone or in combinations with cytokinins. The highest percentage of callus of 91 and fresh weight of 6 g was obtained with 3-mg L−1 IAA. The plantlets produced in the current study were subjected to acclimatization. The combination of topsoil and peat moss at 1:2 ratio was found to be the best soil media. In this study, in vitro-derived callus extract showed the highest phenolic content (538 mg GAE), followed by extracts of field-grown plant parts, i.e., fruit and petiole (504 and 300 mg GAE) while in vitro plant extract showed the lowest (98 mg GAE). Meanwhile, the highest flavonoids was recorded in petiole extract. Comparative antioxidant activity study shows, in vitro-derived callus exhibited better DPPH-radical-scavenging activity (IC50: 0.113-mg mL−1) whereas the extracts of petiole, fruit and in vitro plant showed 0.126-, 0.137- and 0.173-mg mL−1, respectively. At the same time, the fruit extract showed better (IC50: 0.088-mg mL−1) ABTS radical scavenging activity than all extracts tested. In conclusion, the in vitro-derived callus extract could be favored for high TPC and better DPPH scavenging activity. Hence, the present study was conducted to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol and to compare the antioxidant activity of the field-grown plant, in vitro plant and in vitro derived callus extracts of A. longiloba.
Indications for a Central Role of Hexokinase Activity in Natural Variation of Heat Acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Atanasov Vasil , Fürtauer Lisa , Nägele Thomas
Published: June 2020

Diurnal and seasonal changes of abiotic environmental factors shape plant performance and distribution. Changes of growth temperature and light intensity may vary significantly on a diurnal, but also on a weekly or seasonal scale. Hence, acclimation to a changing temperature and light regime is essential for plant survival and propagation. In the present study, we analyzed photosynthetic CO2 assimilation and metabolic regulation of the central carbohydrate metabolism in two natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana that originate from north western Russia and south Italy during exposure to heat and a combination of heat and high light. Our findings indicate that it is hardly possible to predict photosynthetic capacities under combined stress from single stress experiments. Further, capacities of hexose phosphorylation were found to be significantly lower in the Italian than in the Russian accession, which could explain an inverted sucrose-to-hexose ratio. Together with the finding of significantly stronger accumulation of anthocyanins under heat/high light, these observations indicate a central role of hexokinase activity in the stabilization of photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism during environmental changes.
Kineto-Elasto-Static Design of Underactuated Chopstick-Type Gripper Mechanism for Meal-Assistance Robot
Authors: Oka Tomohiro , Solis Jorge , Lindborg Ann-Louise , Matsuura Daisuke , Sugahara Yusuke , Takeda Yukio
Published: June 2020

Our research aims at developing a meal-assistance robot with vision system and multi-gripper that enables frail elderly to live more independently. This paper presents a development of a chopstick-type gripper for a meal-assistance robot, which is capable of adapting its shape and contact force with the target food according to the size and the stiffness. By solely using position control of the driving motor, the above feature is enabled without relying on force sensors. The gripper was designed based on the concept of planar 2-DOF under-actuated mechanism composed of a pair of four-bar chains having a torsion spring at one of the passive joints. To clarify the gripping motion and relationship among the contact force, food’s size and stiffness, and gripping position, kineto-elasto-static analysis of the mechanism was carried out. It was found from the result of the analysis that the mechanism was able to change its gripping force according to the contact position with the target object, and this mechanical characteristic was utilized in its grasp planning in which the position for the gripping the object was determined to realize a simple control system, and sensitivity of the contact force due to the error of the stiffness value was revealed. Using a three-dimensional (3D) printed prototype, an experiment to measure the gripping force by changing the contact position was conducted to validate the mechanism feature that can change its gripping force according to the size and the stiffness and the contact force from the analysis results. Finally, the gripper prototype was implemented to a 6-DOF robotic arm and an experiment to grasp real food was carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed grasp planning.
Laboratory Evaluations of Correction Equations with Multiple Choices for Seed Low-Cost Particle Sensing Devices in Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Wen-Cheng Vincent , Lung Shih-Chun Candice , Liu Chun Hu , Shui Chen-Kai
Published: June 2020

To tackle the challenge of the data accuracy issues of low-cost sensors (LCSs), the objective of this work was to obtain robust correction equations to convert LCS signals into data comparable to that of research-grade instruments using side-by-side comparisons. Limited sets of seed LCS devices, after laboratory evaluations, can be installed strategically in areas of interest without official monitoring stations to enable reading adjustments of other uncalibrated LCS devices to enhance the data quality of sensor networks. The robustness of these equations for LCS devices (AS-LUNG with PMS3003 sensor) under a hood and a chamber with two different burnt materials and before and after 1.5 years of field campaigns were evaluated. Correction equations with incense or mosquito coils burning inside a chamber with segmented regressions had a high R2 of 0.999, less than 6.0% variability in the slopes, and a mean RMSE of 1.18 µg/m3 for 0.1–200 µg/m3 of PM2.5, with a slightly higher RMSE for 0.1–400 µg/m3 compared to EDM-180. Similar results were obtained for PM1, with an upper limit of 200 µg/m3. Sensor signals drifted 19–24% after 1.5 years in the field. Practical recommendations are given to obtain equations for Federal-Equivalent-Method-comparable measurements considering variability and cost.
Feature Extraction from Building Submetering Networks Using Deep Learning
Authors: Morán Antonio , Alonso Serafín , Pérez Daniel , Prada Miguel A. , Fuertes Juan José , Domínguez Manuel
Published: June 2020

The understanding of the nature and structure of energy use in large buildings is vital for defining novel energy and climate change strategies. The advances on metering technology and low-cost devices make it possible to form a submetering network, which measures the main supply and other intermediate points providing information of the behavior of different areas. However, an analysis by means of classical techniques can lead to wrong conclusions if the load is not balanced. This paper proposes the use of a deep convolutional autoencoder to reconstruct the whole consumption measured by the submeters using the learnt features in order to analyze the behavior of different building areas. The display of weights and information of the latent space provided by the autoencoder allows us to obtain precise details of the influence of each area in the whole building consumption and its dependence on external factors such as temperature. A submetering network is deployed in the León University Hospital building in order to test the proposed methodology. The results show different correlations between environmental variables and building areas and indicate that areas can be grouped depending on their function in the building performance. Furthermore, this approach is able to provide discernible results in the presence of large differences with respect to the consumption ranges of the different areas, unlike conventional approaches where the influence of smaller areas is usually hidden.
Analysis and Testing of a Suitable Compatible Electrode’s Material for Continuous Measurement of Glucose Concentration
Authors: Slaninova Nikola , Fiedorova Klara , Selamat Ali , Danisova Karolina , Kubicek Jan , Tkacz Ewaryst , Augustynek Martin
Published: June 2020

The subject of the submitted work is the proposal of electrodes for the continual measurement of the glucose concentration for the purpose of specifying further hemodynamic parameters. The proposal includes the design of the electronic measuring system, the construction of the electrodes themselves and the functionality of the entire system, verified experimentally using various electrode materials. The proposed circuit works on the basis of micro-ammeter measuring the size of the flowing electric current and the electrochemical measurement method is used for specifying the glucose concentration. The electrode system is comprised of two electrodes embedded in a silicon tube. The solution consists of the measurement with three types of materials, which are verified by using three solutions with a precisely given concentration of glucose in the form of a mixed solution and enzyme glucose oxidase. For the testing of the proposed circuit and the selection of a suitable material, the testing did not take place on measurements in whole blood. For the construction of the electrodes, the three most frequently used materials for the construction of electrodes used in clinical practice for sensing biopotentials, specifically the materials Ag/AgCl, Cu and Au, were used. The performed experiments showed that the material Ag/AgCl, which had the greatest sensitivity for the measurement even without the enzyme, was the most suitable material for the electrode. This conclusion is supported by the performed statistical analysis. On the basis of the testing, we can come to the conclusion that even if the Ag/AgCl electrode appears to be the most suitable, showing high stability, gold-plated electrodes showed stability throughout the measurement similarly to Ag/AgCl electrodes, but did not achieve the same qualities in sensitivity and readability of the measured results.
Ultrasonic Sensor Fusion Inverse Algorithm for Visually Impaired Aiding Applications
Authors: Kovács György , Nagy Szilvia
Published: June 2020

Depth mapping can be carried out by ultrasound measuring devices using the time of flight method. Ultrasound measurements are favorable in such environments, where the light or radio frequency measurements can not be applied due to the noise level, calculation complexity, reaction time, size and price of the device, accuracy or electromagnetic compatibility. It is also usual to apply and fusion ultrasound sensors with other types of sensors to increase the precision and reliability. In the case of visually impaired people, an echolocation based aid for determining the distance and the direction of obstacles in the surroundings can improve the life quality by giving the possibility to move alone and individually in unlearnt or rapidly changing environments. In the following considerations, a model system is presented which can provide rather reliable position and distance to multiple objects. The mathematical model based on the time of flight method with a correction: it uses the measured analog sensor signals, which represent the probability of the presence of an obstacle. The device consists of multiple receivers, but only one source. The sensor fusion algorithm for this setup and the results of indoor experiments are presented. The mathematical model allows the usage, processing, and fusion of the signals of up to an infinite number of sensors. In addition, the positions of the sensors can be arbitrary, and the mathematical model does not restrict them to be placed in regular formations.