bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Spatial Trends and Influencing Factors for Gastric Cancer Based on Bayesian Statistics: A Case Study of Shanxi, China
Authors: Zhang Gehong , Li Junming , Li Sijin , Wang Yang
Published: August 2018

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. To detect the spatial trends of GC risk based on hospital-diagnosed patients, this study presented a selection probability model and integrated it into the Bayesian spatial statistical model. Then, the spatial pattern of GC risk in Shanxi Province in north central China was estimated. In addition, factors influencing GC were investigated mainly using the Bayesian Lasso model. The spatial variability of GC risk in Shanxi has the conspicuous feature of being ‘high in the south and low in the north’. The highest GC relative risk was 1.291 (95% highest posterior density: 0.789–4.002). The univariable analysis and Bayesian Lasso regression results showed that a diverse dietary structure and increased consumption of beef and cow milk were significantly (p ≤ 0.08) and in high probability (greater than 68%) negatively associated with GC risk. Pork production per capita has a positive correlation with GC risk. Moreover, four geographic factors, namely, temperature, terrain, vegetation cover, and precipitation, showed significant (p < 0.05) associations with GC risk based on univariable analysis, and associated with GC risks in high probability (greater than 60%) inferred from Bayesian Lasso regression model.
Is Infant/Toddler Anemia a Problem across Rural China? A Mixed-Methods Analysis
Authors: Wang Lei , Sun Yonglei , Liu Buyao , Zheng Lijuan , Li Mengjie , Bai Yu , Osborn Annie , Lee Maggie , Rozelle Scott
Published: August 2018

In the past, iron-deficiency anemia in children has had a widespread presence in rural China. Given the recent economic growth in China, it is unclear if anemia among infants/toddlers remains a problem. The objective of this study is to measure the anemia rate in rural Chinese infants/toddlers across four major subpopulations and attempt to discover the sources of anemia. We use a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data on 2909 rural Chinese infants/toddlers and their families with qualitative interviews with 84 caregivers of infants aged 6 to 30 months. Quantitative analysis indicates that the overall prevalence of anemia (43%) within sampled infants/toddlers was high, especially in comparison to the low rates of stunting (2–5%), being underweight (2%), and wasting (2–4%). These findings suggest that in rural China, anemia stems from the poor quality of the diets of infants/toddlers, rather than insufficient quantities of food being consumed. Qualitative analysis illustrates the factors that are contributing to anemia. Caregivers do not understand the causes of this condition, the symptoms that would lead one to recognize this condition, or the steps needed to treat their child with this condition. The findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the limited awareness of anemia among rural Chinese caregivers.
Can Urban-Rural Patterns of Hospital Selection Be Changed Using a Report Card Program? A Nationwide Observational Study
Authors: Yu Tsung-Hsien , Matthes Nikolas , Wei Chung-Jen
Published: August 2018

Background: Guiding patients to choose high-quality healthcare providers helps ensure that patients receive excellent care and helps reduce health disparities among patients of different socioeconomic backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effect of implementing a report-card program on the patterns of hospital selection in patients from different socioeconomic subgroups. Patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) surgery were used as the sample population. Methods: A patient-level, retrospective, observational and cross-sectional study design was conducted. Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data were used and all patients in this database who had received TKR between April 2007–March 2008 (prior to report-card program implementation) and between April 2009–March 2010 (after program implementation) were included. Those patients who were under 18 years of age or who lacked area-of-residence or National Health Insurance premium information were excluded. Travelling distance to the hospital and level of hospital performance were used to evaluate the effect of the report-card program. Results: A total of 32,821 patients were included in this study. The results showed that patterns of hospital selection varied based on the socioeconomic characteristics of patients. In terms of travelling distance and hospital selection, the performance of urban and higher income patients was shorter and better, respectively, than their rural and lower-income peers both before and after report-card-program implementation. Moreover, although the results of multivariate analysis showed that the urban-rural difference in travelling distance enlarged (by 4.75 km) after implementation of the report-card program, this increase was shown to not be significantly related to this program. Furthermore, the results revealed that implementation of the report-card program did not significantly affect the urban-rural difference in terms of level of hospital performance. Conclusions: A successful report-card program should ensure that patients in all socioeconomic groups obtain comprehensive information. However, the results of this study indicate that those in higher socioeconomic subgroups attained more benefits from the program than their lower-subgroup peers. Ensuring that all have equal opportunity to access high-quality healthcare providers may therefore be the next issue that needs to be addressed and resolved.
Healthcare Utilization and All-Cause Premature Mortality in Hungarian Segregated Roma Settlements: Evaluation of Specific Indicators in a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sándor János , Pálinkás Anita , Vincze Ferenc , Kovács Nóra , Sipos Valéria , Kőrösi László , Falusi Zsófia , Pál László , Fürjes Gergely , Papp Magor , Ádány Róza
Published: August 2018

Roma is the largest ethnic minority of Europe with deprived health status, which is poorly explored due to legal constrains of ethnicity assessment. We aimed to elaborate health indicators for adults living in segregated Roma settlements (SRS), representing the most vulnerable Roma subpopulation. SRSs were mapped in a study area populated by 54,682 adults. Records of all adults living in the study area were processed in the National Institute of Health Insurance Fund Management. Aggregated, age-sex standardized SRS-specific and non-SRS-specific indicators on healthcare utilization and all-cause premature death along with the ratio of them (RR) were computed with 95% confidence intervals. The rate of GP appointments was significantly higher among SRS inhabitants (RR = 1.152, 95% CI: 1.136–1.167). The proportion of subjects hospitalized (RR = 1.286, 95% CI: 1.177–1.405) and the reimbursement for inpatient care (RR = 1.060, 95% CI: 1.057–1.064) were elevated for SRS. All-cause premature mortality was significantly higher in SRSs (RR = 1.711, 1.085–2.696). Our study demonstrated that it is possible to compute the SRS-specific version of routine healthcare indicators without violating the protection of personal data by converting a sensitive ethical issue into a non-sensitive small-area geographical analysis; there is an SRS-specific healthcare utilization pattern, which is associated with elevated costs and increased risk of all-cause premature death.
Integration of Local and Global Support Vector Machines to Improve Urban Growth Modelling
Authors: Mirbagheri Babak , Alimohammadi Abbas
Published: August 2018

The use of local information for the classification and modelling of spatial variables has increased with the application of statistical and machine learning algorithms, such as support vector machines (SVMs). This study presents a new local SVM (LSVM) model that was developed to model the probability of urban development and simulate urban growth in a subregion in the southwestern suburb of the Tehran metropolitan area, Iran, for the periods of 1992–1996 and 1996–2002. Based on the focal training sample, the model was calibrated using the cross-validation method, and the optimal bandwidth was determined. The results were compared with those of a nonlinear global SVM (GSVM) model that was calibrated based on the ten-fold cross-validation method. This study then evaluated an integrated SVM model (LGSVM) obtained based on a weighted combination of the local and global urban development probabilities. A comparison of the probability maps showed a higher accuracy for the LGSVM than for either the LSVM or GSVM model. To assess the performance of the LSVM, GSVM and LGSVM models in the simulation of urban growth, probability maps were employed as the transition rules for urban cellular automata. The results show that a trade-off between local and global SVM models can enhance the performance of urban growth modelling.
The Effect of Ca2+, Lobe-Specificity, and CaMKII on CaM Binding to NaV1.1
Authors: Li Jianing , Yu Zhiyi , Xu Jianjun , Feng Rui , Gao Qinghua , Boczek Tomasz , Liu Junyan , Li Zhi , Wang Qianhui , Lei Ming , Gong Jian , Hu Huiyuan , Minobe Etsuko , Ji Hong-Long , Kameyama Masaki , Guo Feng
Published: August 2018

Calmodulin (CaM) is well known as an activator of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are basic signaling molecules in excitable cells and are crucial molecular targets for nervous system agents. However, the way in which Ca2+/CaM/CaMKII cascade modulates NaV1.1 IQ (isoleucine and glutamine) domain of VGSCs remains obscure. In this study, the binding of CaM, its mutants at calcium binding sites (CaM12, CaM34, and CaM1234), and truncated proteins (N-lobe and C-lobe) to NaV1.1 IQ domain were detected by pull-down assay. Our data showed that the binding of Ca2+/CaM to the NaV1.1 IQ was concentration-dependent. ApoCaM (Ca2+-free form of calmodulin) bound to NaV1.1 IQ domain preferentially more than Ca2+/CaM. Additionally, the C-lobe of CaM was the predominant domain involved in apoCaM binding to NaV1.1 IQ domain. By contrast, the N-lobe of CaM was predominant in the binding of Ca2+/CaM to NaV1.1 IQ domain. Moreover, CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation increased the binding of Ca2+/CaM to NaV1.1 IQ domain due to one or several phosphorylation sites in T1909, S1918, and T1934 of NaV1.1 IQ domain. This study provides novel mechanisms for the modulation of NaV1.1 by the Ca2+/CaM/CaMKII axis. For the first time, we uncover the effect of Ca2+, lobe-specificity and CaMKII on CaM binding to NaV1.1.
Changes in the Proteome of Medicago sativa Leaves in Response to Long-Term Cadmium Exposure Using a Cell-Wall Targeted Approach
Authors: Gutsch Annelie , Zouaghi Salha , Renaut Jenny , Cuypers Ann , Hausman Jean-Francois , Sergeant Kjell
Published: August 2018

Accumulation of cadmium (Cd) shows a serious problem for the environment and poses a threat to plants. Plants employing various cellular and molecular mechanisms to limit Cd toxicity and alterations of the cell wall structure were observed upon Cd exposure. This study focuses on changes in the cell wall protein-enriched subproteome of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaves during long-term Cd exposure. Plants grew on Cd-contaminated soil (10 mg/kg dry weight (DW)) for an entire season. A targeted approach was used to sequentially extract cell wall protein-enriched fractions from the leaves and quantitative analyses were conducted with two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) followed by protein identification with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight/time of flight (TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry. In 212 spots that showed a significant change in intensity upon Cd exposure a single protein was identified. Of these, 163 proteins are predicted to be secreted and involved in various physiological processes. Proteins of other subcellular localization were mainly chloroplastic and decreased in response to Cd, which confirms the Cd-induced disturbance of the photosynthesis. The observed changes indicate an active defence response against a Cd-induced oxidative burst and a restructuring of the cell wall, which is, however, different to what is observed in M. sativa stems and will be discussed.
Co-Expression Network Analysis Identifies miRNA–mRNA Networks Potentially Regulating Milk Traits and Blood Metabolites
Authors: Ammah Adolf A. , Do Duy N. , Bissonnette Nathalie , Gévry Nicolas , Ibeagha-Awemu Eveline M.
Published: August 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate mRNA networks to coordinate cellular functions. In this study, we constructed gene co-expression networks to detect miRNA modules (clusters of miRNAs with similar expression patterns) and miRNA–mRNA pairs associated with blood (triacylglyceride and nonesterified fatty acids) and milk (milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose) components and milk fatty acid traits following dietary supplementation of cows’ diets with 5% linseed oil (LSO) (n = 6 cows) or 5% safflower oil (SFO) (n = 6 cows) for 28 days. Using miRNA transcriptome data from mammary tissues of cows for co-expression network analysis, we identified three consensus modules: blue, brown, and turquoise, composed of 70, 34, and 86 miRNA members, respectively. The hub miRNAs (miRNAs with the most connections with other miRNAs) were miR-30d, miR-484 and miR-16b for blue, brown, and turquoise modules, respectively. Cell cycle arrest, and p53 signaling and transforming growth factor–beta (TGF-β) signaling pathways were the common gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enriched for target genes of the three modules. Protein percent (p = 0.03) correlated with the turquoise module in LSO treatment while protein yield (p = 0.003) and milk yield (p = 7 × 10−04) correlated with the turquoise model, protein and milk yields and lactose percent (p < 0.05) correlated with the blue module and fat percent (p = 0.04) correlated with the brown module in SFO treatment. Several fatty acids correlated (p < 0.05) with the blue (CLA:9,11) and brown (C4:0, C12:0, C22:0, C18:1n9c and CLA:10,12) modules in LSO treatment and with the turquoise (C14:0, C18:3n3 and CLA:9,11), blue (C14:0 and C23:0) and brown (C6:0, C16:0, C22:0, C22:6n3 and CLA:10,12) modules in SFO treatment. Correlation of miRNA and mRNA data from the same animals identified the following miRNA–mRNA pairs: miR-183/RHBDD2 (p = 0.003), miR-484/EIF1AD (p = 0.011) and miR-130a/SBSPON (p = 0.004) with lowest p-values for the blue, brown, and turquoise modules, respectively. Milk yield, protein yield, and protein percentage correlated (p < 0.05) with 28, 31 and 5 miRNA–mRNA pairs, respectively. Our results suggest that, the blue, brown, and turquoise modules miRNAs, hub miRNAs, miRNA–mRNA networks, cell cycle arrest GO term, p53 signaling and TGF-β signaling pathways have considerable influence on milk and blood phenotypes following dietary supplementation of dairy cows’ diets with 5% LSO or 5% SFO.
Inhibitory Effect of Opuntia humifusa Fruit Water Extract on Solar Ultraviolet-Induced MMP-1 Expression
Authors: Han Ah-Ram , Lim Tae-Gyu , Song Young-Ran , Jang Mi , Rhee Young Kyoung , Hong Hee-Do , Kim Mi-Hyun , Kim Hyun-Jin , Cho Chang-Won
Published: August 2018

Opuntia humifusa is a type of cactus whose fruits have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether O. humifusa fruit water extract (OHE) has inhibitory effects against solar ultraviolet (sUV)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression. In ex vivo human skin, we found that OHE suppressed sUV radiation-induced MMP-1 expression. The inhibitory effect of OHE was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts. OHE treatment reduced sUV-induced MMP-1 expression by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and phosphorylation of c-Jun, a component of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1). On the other hand, OHE recovered the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and type 1 collagen production attenuated by sUV. As upstream signaling pathways for AP-1, MKK4-JNK, MEK-ERK, and MKK3/6-p38 phosphorylation were downregulated by OHE treatment. In addition, OHE exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity. These findings demonstrate that OHE has a preventive effect against sUV-induced skin damage via suppression of pathways triggered by ROS.
Boron-Implanted Silicon Substrates for Physical Adsorption of DNA Origami
Authors: Takabayashi Sadao , Kotani Shohei , Flores-Estrada Juan , Spears Elijah , Padilla Jennifer E. , Godwin Lizandra C. , Graugnard Elton , Kuang Wan , Sills Scott , Hughes William L.
Published: August 2018

DNA nanostructures routinely self-assemble with sub-10 nm feature sizes. This capability has created industry interest in using DNA as a lithographic mask, yet with few exceptions, solution-based deposition of DNA nanostructures has remained primarily academic to date. En route to controlled adsorption of DNA patterns onto manufactured substrates, deposition and placement of DNA origami has been demonstrated on chemically functionalized silicon substrates. While compelling, chemical functionalization adds fabrication complexity that limits mask efficiency and hence industry adoption. As an alternative, we developed an ion implantation process that tailors the surface potential of silicon substrates to facilitate adsorption of DNA nanostructures without the need for chemical functionalization. Industry standard 300 mm silicon wafers were processed, and we showed controlled adsorption of DNA origami onto boron-implanted silicon patterns; selective to a surrounding silicon oxide matrix. The hydrophilic substrate achieves very high surface selectivity by exploiting pH-dependent protonation of silanol-groups on silicon dioxide (SiO2), across a range of solution pH values and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) buffer concentrations.
The (T, L)-Path Model and Algorithms for Information Dissemination in Dynamic Networks
Authors: Yang Zhiwei , Wu Weigang
Published: August 2018

A dynamic network is the abstraction of distributed systems with frequent network topology changes. With such dynamic network models, fundamental distributed computing problems can be formally studied with rigorous correctness. Although quite a number of models have been proposed and studied for dynamic networks, the existing models are usually defined from the point of view of connectivity properties. In this paper, instead, we examine the dynamicity of network topology according to the procedure of changes, i.e., how the topology or links change. Following such an approach, we propose the notion of the “instant path” and define two dynamic network models based on the instant path. Based on these two models, we design distributed algorithms for the problem of information dissemination respectively, one of the fundamental distributing computing problems. The correctness of our algorithms is formally proved and their performance in time cost and communication cost is analyzed. Compared with existing connectivity based dynamic network models and algorithms, our procedure based ones are definitely easier to be instantiated in the practical design and deployment of dynamic networks.
Short Course of Insulin Treatment versus Metformin in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Seghieri Marta , Rebelos Eleni , Mari Andrea , Sciangula Luigi , Giorda Carlo , Ferrannini Ele
Published: August 2018

The ß-cell dysfunction of type 2 diabetes is partly reversible. The optimal time window to induce glycemic remission is uncertain; short courses of insulin treatment have been tested as a strategy to induce remission. In a pilot study in 38 newly-diagnosed patients, we assessed the time-course of insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function (by repeat oral glucose tolerance tests) following a 6-week basal insulin treatment compared to metformin monotherapy in equipoised glycemic control. At 6 weeks, insulin secretion and sensitivity were increased in both groups whilst ß-cell glucose sensitivity was unchanged. From this time onwards, in the insulin group glycemia started to rise at 3 months, and was no longer different from baseline at 1 year. The initial improvement in insulin secretion and sensitivity dissipated. In the metformin group, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels reached a nadir at 8 months, at which time insulin secretion, glucose and insulin sensitivity were significantly better than at baseline and higher than in the insulin group. A short course of basal insulin in newly-diagnosed patients does not appear to offer clinical advantage over recommended initiation with metformin.
Exploiting Read/Write Asymmetry to Achieve Opportunistic SRAM Voltage Switching in Dual-Supply Near-Threshold Processors
Authors: Gu Yunfei , Yan Dengxue , Verma Vaibhav , Wang Pai , Stan Mircea R. , Zhang Xuan
Published: August 2018

Energy-efficient microprocessors are essential for a wide range of applications. While near-threshold computing is a promising technique to improve energy efficiency, optimal supply demands from logic core and on-chip memory are conflicting. In this paper, we perform static reliability analysis of 6T SRAM and discover the variance among different sizing configuration and asymmetric minimum voltage requirements between read and write operations. We leverage this asymmetric property i n near-threshold processors equipped with voltage boosting capability by proposing an opportunistic dual-supply switching scheme with a write aggregation buffer. Our results show that proposed technique improves energy efficiency by more than 21.45% with approximate 10.19% performance speed-up.
Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Temperature Field and Analysis of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Low Power Laser Annealed Welded Joints
Authors: Kumar Uday , Gope D. K. , Srivastava J. P. , Chattopadhyaya Somnath , Das A. K. , Krolczyk Grzegorz
Published: August 2018

In this present work, laser welding experiments were carried out on 1 mm thin Ti6Al4V sheets using a low power Nd-YAG laser machine without using any filler wire and without edge preparation of welding specimens. The influence of different major process control parameters such as welding speed and power on the yield parameters like temperature field, weld bead geometry, microstructure, and mechanical properties are critically investigated. Experimental results are compared in detail with the simulated results obtained using a commercial 3D finite element model. In the simulation model, temperature-dependent thermal and mechanical properties of plates were considered. The temperature readings were recorded with the aid of K type thermocouples. Forced convection has been assumed near weld zone region because of the movement of the shielding gas. Appreciable agreement is found between the experimental and the simulated temperature fields in most of the cases with few exceptions. These deviations on few occasions may be due to the presence of uncertainties inherently present in the experimental domain and uncertainties in the subsequent temperature sensing techniques by the thermocouples. In addition, annealing has been done at 950 °C, 980 °C, and 1010 °C for one selected parameter (192 W, 6 mm/s). The tensile strength of the samples annealed at 980 °C has been found to be 1048 MPa and it is 3% to 4% higher than that of the usual welded samples.
Toward an Improved Understanding of the Role of Dielectrics in Capacitors
Authors: Phillips Jonathan
Published: August 2018

A new fundamental principle of the theory of dielectrics in capacitors is demonstrated. That is, dielectric material in any geometry that reduces the field generated by charges on capacitor electrodes is effective in increasing capacitance. Specifically, it is shown that super dielectric material on the outer surfaces of the electrodes of a parallel plate capacitor increases dielectric constant, as well as energy and power densities, by orders of magnitude. The implicit assumption in all current capacitor theory, that the “capacitor” is only that region occupied by the electrodes and the space between them, is shown to be incorrect.
Calcium Chloride Modified Alginate Microparticles Formulated by the Spray Drying Process: A Strategy to Prolong the Release of Freely Soluble Drugs
Authors: Szekalska Marta , Sosnowska Katarzyna , Czajkowska-Kośnik Anna , Winnicka Katarzyna
Published: August 2018

Alginate (ALG) cross-linking by CaCl2 is a promising strategy to obtain modified-release drug delivery systems with mucoadhesive properties. However, current technologies to produce CaCl2 cross-linked alginate microparticles possess major disadvantages, such as a poor encapsulation efficiency of water-soluble drugs and a difficulty in controlling the process. Hence, this study presents a novel method that streamlines microparticle production by spray drying; a rapid, continuous, reproducible, and scalable technique enabling obtainment of a product with low moisture content, high drug loading, and a high production yield. To model a freely water-soluble drug, metformin hydrochloride (MF) was selected. It was observed that MF was successfully encapsulated in alginate microparticles cross-linked by CaCl2 using a one-step drying process. Modification of ALG provided drug release prolongation—particles obtained from 2% ALG cross-linked by 0.1% CaCl2 with a prolonged MF rate of dissolution of up to 12 h. Cross-linking of the ALG microparticles structure by CaCl2 decreased the swelling ratio and improved the mucoadhesive properties which were evaluated using porcine stomach mucosa.
Investigation of Helium Behavior in RAFM Steel by Positron Annihilation Doppler Broadening and Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Shen Zhenyu , Guo Liping , Zhang Weiping , Jin Shuoxue , Cao Xingzhong , Long Yunxiang , Wei Yaxia
Published: August 2018

The behavior of helium in reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steels was investigated systematically with positron annihilation Doppler broadening measurement and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Specimens were irradiated with helium ions with different energies to various fluences at different temperatures. A threshold fluence was observed above which the rate of formation and growth of helium bubbles dramatically increased. Irradiation at higher temperature could suppress the formation and growth of HenVm clusters with low binding energies and enhance that of helium bubbles and HenVm clusters with high binding energies. Different changes of S parameters were observed in various depth after the irradiation temperature was increased from 523 K to 723 K. Irradiation of 18 keV-He+ enhanced the growth of HenVm clusters and helium bubbles compared with 100 keV-He+ irradiation. A possible mechanism is discussed.
Theoretical Investigation of the Hydrolytic Mechanism of α-Functionalized Alkoxysilanes as Effective Crosslinkers and the Difficulty of Deep Vulcanization in RTV Silicone Rubber
Authors: Xu Huihui , Gao Yanhong , Liu Zihou , Bei Yiling
Published: August 2018

The reactions between α-, γ-ethylenediaminemethyl trimethyl-ketoxime silane (α-, γ-EAMOS) and H2O were investigated on the geometries of stationary points, the reaction pathway (IRC), thermodynamic and kinetic analysis by density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311G (d, p) level. Interestingly, the results showed that the hydrolysis activity of α-EAMOS is higher than that of γ-EAMOS, due to the influence of an amino substituent in position α-C on silicon. α-EAMOS can be used as a superior crosslinker for room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber to achieve rapid crosslinking without a toxic catalyst. Besides, compared with the reaction between α-EAMOS and H2O, the reactivity between α-EAMOS and hydroxy siloxane (HO–Si(CH3)2–OSiH3) was discussed. Particularly, it revealed that the deep vulcanization of RTV silicone rubber is difficult.
Exploring the Self-Assembly Capabilities of ABA-Type SBS, SIS, and Their Analogous Hydrogenated Copolymers onto Different Nanostructures Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Politakos Nikolaos , Kortaberria Galder
Published: August 2018

In this work, the self-assembled morphologies obtained for poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) and poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) (SIS) ABA-type copolymers were investigated before and after hydrogenation of the polydiene block, which led to poly(styrene-b-ethylene)/poly(ethylene-b-styrene) (SEES) and poly(styrene-b-ethylene)/poly(propylene-b-styrene) (SEPS) copolymers, respectively. The evaluation of different morphologies was carried out using atomic force microscopy (AFM), analyzing the effect of various parameters such as the solvent and polymer concentrations employed for film casting (toluene, cyclohexane, or tetrahydrofurane with concentrations of 1 and 3 wt%), together with that of the annealing treatment (thermal annealing at room temperature, and 60, 80, and 100 °C). The effect of these parameters in combination with the chemical nature of the polydiene block led to different morphologies with different topographic aspects affecting the roughness (Ra) of the film.
L-Fuzzy Sets and Isomorphic Lattices: Are All the “New” Results Really New? †
Authors: Klement Erich Peter , Mesiar Radko
Published: August 2018

We review several generalizations of the concept of fuzzy sets with two- or three-dimensional lattices of truth values and study their relationship. It turns out that, in the two-dimensional case, several of the lattices of truth values considered here are pairwise isomorphic, and so are the corresponding families of fuzzy sets. Therefore, each result for one of these types of fuzzy sets can be directly rewritten for each (isomorphic) type of fuzzy set. Finally we also discuss some questionable notations, in particular, those of “intuitionistic” and “Pythagorean” fuzzy sets.
Stability Analysis of an Age-Structured SIR Epidemic Model with a Reduction Method to ODEs
Authors: Kuniya Toshikazu
Published: August 2018

In this paper, we are concerned with the asymptotic stability of the nontrivial endemic equilibrium of an age-structured susceptible-infective-recovered (SIR) epidemic model. For a special form of the disease transmission function, we perform the reduction of the model into a four-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We show that the unique endemic equilibrium of the reduced system exists if the basic reproduction number for the original system is greater than unity. Furthermore, we perform the stability analysis of the endemic equilibrium and obtain a fourth-order characteristic equation. By using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion, we numerically show that the endemic equilibrium is asymptotically stable in some epidemiologically relevant parameter settings.
Cnidarian Interaction with Microbial Communities: From Aid to Animal’s Health to Rejection Responses
Authors: Stabili Loredana , Parisi Maria Giovanna , Parrinello Daniela , Cammarata Matteo
Published: August 2018

The phylum Cnidaria is an ancient branch in the tree of metazoans. Several species exert a remarkable longevity, suggesting the existence of a developed and consistent defense mechanism of the innate immunity capable to overcome the potential repeated exposure to microbial pathogenic agents. Increasing evidence indicates that the innate immune system in Cnidarians is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but also is crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the Cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal’s health for several functions, including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Sometimes, the shifts in the normal microbiota may be used as “early” bio-indicators of both environmental changes and/or animal disease. Here the Cnidarians relationships with microbial communities and the potential biotechnological applications are summarized and discussed.
Interlaboratory Coverage Test on Plant Food Bioactive Compounds and Their Metabolites by Mass Spectrometry-Based Untargeted Metabolomics
Authors: Koistinen Ville Mikael , Bento da Silva Andreia , Abrankó László , Low Dorrain , Garcia Villalba Rocio , Tomás Barberán Francisco , Landberg Rikard , Savolainen Otto , Alvarez-Acero Inmaculada , De Pascual-Teresa Sonia , Van Poucke Christof , Almeida Conceição , Petrásková Lucie , Valentová Kateřina , Durand Stephanie , Wiczkowski Wiesław , Szawara-Nowak Dorota , González-Domínguez Raúl , Llorach Rafael , Andrés-Lacueva Cristina , Aura Anna-Marja , Seppänen-Laakso Tuulikki , Hanhineva Kati , Manach Claudine , Bronze Maria Rosário
Published: August 2018

Bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods, and their metabolites derived from gut microbiota and endogenous metabolism, represent thousands of chemical structures of potential interest for human nutrition and health. State-of-the-art analytical methodologies, including untargeted metabolomics based on high-resolution mass spectrometry, are required for the profiling of these compounds in complex matrices, including plant food materials and biofluids. The aim of this project was to compare the analytical coverage of untargeted metabolomics methods independently developed and employed in various European platforms. In total, 56 chemical standards representing the most common classes of bioactive compounds spread over a wide chemical space were selected and analyzed by the participating platforms (n = 13) using their preferred untargeted method. The results were used to define analytical criteria for a successful analysis of plant food bioactives. Furthermore, they will serve as a basis for an optimized consensus method.
New Detector Sensitivity Calibration and the Calculation of the Interaction Force between Particles Using an Optical Tweezer
Authors: Yale Pavel , Konin Jean-Michel Edoukoua , Kouacou Michel Abaka , Zoueu Jérémie Thouakesseh
Published: August 2018

We propose a new approach to calculate the sensitivity factor of the detector in optical tweezers. In this work, we used a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a quadrant photodiode (QPD) for the extraction of the various positions occupied by the trapped object (in this case, silica beads of different diameters). Image-J software and the Boltzmann statistical method were then used to estimate the sensitivity of the detector. Silica beads of diameter 0.8 µm, 2 µm, a system of 2 µm bead stuck to 4.5 µm one and another system of 2 µm beads stuck to 2 µm one, were studied. This work contributes significantly to making better calibration of the detector without taking into account the geometry of the object imprisoned in the optical trap. We further developed an approach to calculate the interaction force between two microbeads. This approach does not require any knowledge of solvent viscosity and works for all types of samples.
Electrospun Three-Dimensional Nanofibrous Structure via Probe Arrays Inducing
Authors: Liu Yifang , Liu Ruimin , Wang Xiang , Jiang Jiaxin , Li Wenwang , Liu Juan , Guo Shumin , Zheng Gaofeng
Published: August 2018

The fast and precise direct-printing of micro three-dimensional (3D) structures is the important development trend for micro/nano fabrication technique. A novel method with probe arrays was built up to realize the controllable deposition of 3D electrospun nanofibrous structures. Firstly, several 3D nanofibrous structures were built on a single probe and 2-, 3-probes, which indicated that the probe height and probe interval played a key role on the 3D structure morphology. Then, different stereo nanofibrous structures based on multiprobe arrays were achieved accurately and the effects of processing parameters, including the probe height, probe interval, applied voltage and flow rate on the deposition behaviors of electrospun nanofiber over the probe arrays were investigated. The deposition area of 3D electrospun nanofibrous structures decreased with the increase of probe interval, applied voltage, and flow rate. Several 3D nanofibrous structures of special shapes including convex, triangle wave, inverted cone and complex curved surface were demonstrated by controlling the configuration of probe arrays and electrospinning parameters. This work provides an effective and simple way for the construction of 3D electrospun nanofibrous structures, which has great potentials in various medical and industrial applications.
Combined DFT and XPS Investigation of Cysteine Adsorption on the Pyrite (1 0 0) Surface
Authors: Zheng Xingfu , Pan Xuan , Nie Zhenyuan , Yang Yi , Liu Lizhu , Yang Hongying , Xia Jinlan
Published: August 2018

The adsorption of cysteine on the pyrite (1 0 0) surface was evaluated by using first-principles-based density functional theory (DFT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The frontier orbitals analyses indicate that the interaction of cysteine and pyrite mainly occurs between HOMO of cysteine and LUMO of pyrite. The adsorption energy calculation shows that the configuration of the -OH of -COOH adsorbed on the Fe site is the thermodynamically preferred adsorption configuration, and it is the strongest ionic bond according to the Mulliken bond populations. As for Fe site mode, the electrons are found transferred from cysteine to Fe of pyrite (1 0 0) surface, while there is little or no electron transfer for S site mode. Projected density of states (PDOS) is analyzed further in order to clarify the interaction mechanism between cysteine and the pyrite (1 0 0) surface. After that, the presence of cysteine adsorption on the pyrite (1 0 0) surface is indicated by the qualitative results of the XPS spectra. This study provides an alternative way to enhance the knowledge of microbe–mineral interactions and find a route to improve the rate of bioleaching.
Linking Aromatic Hydroxy Metabolic Functionalization of Drug Molecules to Structure and Pharmacologic Activity
Authors: El-Haj Babiker M. , Ahmed Samrein B. M. , Garawi Mousa A. , Ali Heyam S.
Published: August 2018

Drug functionalization through the formation of hydrophilic groups is the norm in the phase I metabolism of drugs for the modification of drug action. The reactions involved are mainly oxidative, catalyzed mostly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes. The benzene ring, whether phenyl or fused with other rings, is the most common hydrophobic pharmacophoric moiety in drug molecules. On the other hand, the alkoxy group (mainly methoxy) bonded to the benzene ring assumes an important and sometimes essential pharmacophoric status in some drug classes. Upon metabolic oxidation, both moieties, i.e., the benzene ring and the alkoxy group, produce hydroxy groups; the products are arenolic in nature. Through a pharmacokinetic effect, the hydroxy group enhances the water solubility and elimination of the metabolite with the consequent termination of drug action. However, through hydrogen bonding, the hydroxy group may modify the pharmacodynamics of the interaction of the metabolite with the site of parent drug action (i.e., the receptor). Accordingly, the expected pharmacologic outcome will be enhancement, retention, attenuation, or loss of activity of the metabolite relative to the parent drug. All the above issues are presented and discussed in this review using selected members of different classes of drugs with inferences regarding mechanisms, drug design, and drug development.
The Liver Protection Effects of Maltol, a Flavoring Agent, on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice via Inhibiting Apoptosis and Inflammatory Response
Authors: Liu Wei , Wang Zi , Hou Jin-gang , Zhou Yan-dan , He Yu-fang , Jiang Shuang , Wang Ying-ping , Ren Shen , Li Wei
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether maltol could protect from hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in vivo by inhibition of apoptosis and inflammatory responses. In this work, maltol was administered at a level of 100 mg/kg for 15 days prior to exposure to a single injection of CCl4 (0.25%, i.p.). The results clearly indicated that the intrapulmonary injection of CCl4 resulted in a sharp increase in serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), irreducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels. Histopathological examination demonstrated severe hepatocyte necrosis and the destruction of architecture in liver lesions. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis suggested an accumulation of iNOS, NF-κB, IL-1β and TNF-α expression. Maltol, when administered to mice for 15 days, can significantly improve these deleterious changes. In addition, TUNEL and Hoechst 33258 staining showed that a liver cell nucleus of a model group diffused uniform fluorescence following CCl4 injection. Maltol pretreatment groups did not show significant cell nuclear condensation and fragmentation, indicating that maltol inhibited CCl4-induced cell apoptosis. By evaluating the liver catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and further using a single agent to evaluate the oxidative stress in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by immunofluorescence staining, maltol dramatically attenuated the reduction levels of hepatic CAT, GSH and SOD, and the over-expression levels of CYP2E1 and HO-1. In the mouse model of CCl4-induced liver injury, we have demonstrated that the inflammatory responses were inhibited, the serum levels of ALT and AST were reduced, cell apoptosis was suppressed, and liver injury caused by CCl4 was alleviated by maltol, demonstrating that maltol may be an efficient hepatoprotective agent.
In Vitro Ecological Response of the Human Gut Microbiome to Bioactive Extracts from Edible Wild Mushrooms
Authors: Vamanu Emanuel , Gatea Florentina , Sârbu Ionela
Published: August 2018

This study presents the effect of two new products based on atomized extracts from edible wild mushrooms (RoBioMush1, RoBioMush2) on the microbiota of three target groups: clinically healthy (NG) individuals, individuals with nutritional disorders (ND), and individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The microbiota fingerprints were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Modulations in the simulated microbiome were established and correlated with the presence of phenolic compounds released in the in vitro environment (a three-stage culture system GIS2 simulator, www.gissystems.ro). The high metabolizing capacity of NG and CVD correlated positively with the rest of the biological activities expressed in vitro. ND microbiota consumed a wide spectrum of monosaccharides from the products. Xylose was present in large quantities in the descending segment (minimum: 175 μg/mL for ND). The primary conclusion was that the microbiological ecosystem was modulated, as proven by the presence of specific biomarkers (e.g., ammonium levels and fingerprints of short-chain fatty acids–SCFAs), which stimulate the organism’s health status and were correlated with the restoration of a normal microbiota fingerprint.
Novel Electrochemical Sensors Based on Cuprous Oxide-Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites Modified Electrode toward Sensitive Detection of Sunset Yellow
Authors: He Quanguo , Liu Jun , Liu Xiaopeng , Xia Yonghui , Li Guangli , Deng Peihong , Chen Dongchu
Published: August 2018

Control and detection of sunset yellow is an utmost demanding issue, due to the presence of potential risks for human health if excessively consumed or added. Herein, cuprous oxide-electrochemically reduced graphene nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (Cu2O-ErGO/GCE) was developed for the determination of sunset yellow. The Cu2O-ErGO/GCE was fabricated by drop-casting Cu2O-GO dispersion on the GCE surface following a potentiostatic reduction of graphene oxide (GO). Scanning electron microscope and X-ray powder diffractometer was used to characterize the morphology and microstructure of the modification materials, such as Cu2O nanoparticles and Cu2O-ErGO nanocomposites. The electrochemical behavior of sunset yellow on the bare GCE, ErGO/GCE, and Cu2O-ErGO/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and second-derivative linear sweep voltammetry, respectively. The analytical parameters (including pH value, sweep rate, and accumulation parameters) were explored systematically. The results show that the anodic peak currents of Cu2O-ErGO /GCE are 25-fold higher than that of the bare GCE, due to the synergistic enhancement effect between Cu2O nanoparticles and ErGO sheets. Under the optimum detection conditions, the anodic peak currents are well linear to the concentrations of sunset yellow, ranging from 2.0 × 10−8 mol/L to 2.0 × 10−5 mol/L and from 2.0 × 10−5 mol/L to 1.0 × 10−4 mol/L with a low limit of detection (S/N = 3, 6.0 × 10−9 mol/L). Moreover, Cu2O-ErGO/GCE was successfully used for the determination of sunset yellow in beverages and food with good recovery. This proposed Cu2O-ErGO/GCE has an attractive prospect applications on the determination of sunset yellow in diverse real samples.
Anti-inflammatory Activity and Phytochemical Profile of Galinsoga Parviflora Cav.
Authors: Studzińska-Sroka Elżbieta , Dudek-Makuch Marlena , Chanaj-Kaczmarek Justyna , Czepulis Natasza , Korybalska Katarzyna , Rutkowski Rafał , Łuczak Joanna , Grabowska Karolina , Bylka Wiesława , Witowski Janusz
Published: August 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a hydroalcoholic extract from Galinsoga parviflora herb (GP) in some aspects of the endothelial cell function necessary for anti-inflammatory activity and wound healing and relate these to the GP phytochemical profile. This study demonstrated that the GP extract caused a dose-dependent reduction of IL-6 secretion on IL-1β-stimulated endothelial cells. The IL-6 release was decreased to 33% ± 9% while this did not influence the IL-6 secretion without stimulation. Additionally, the GP extract exhibited an anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC50 = 0.47 mg/mL), which was evidently stronger than the positive control kaempferol (IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) as well as a moderate and concentration-dependent, antioxidant activity. The results of the scratch assay showed that exposure of the endothelial cells to GP induced complete healing of the damage after 12 h of the study. The phytochemical profile of the extract was studied by using spectrophotometric (total amount of polyphenols and flavonoids) and UPLC (phenolic acids) methods. The main compound in the GP extract was a chlorogenic acid (2.00 ± 0.01 mg/g by UPLC). The total content of polyphenols was 98.30 ± 0.14 mg of chlorogenic acid equivalent/g of the dry herb and content of flavonoids amounted to 6.15 ± 0.41 mg quercetin equivalent/g of the dry herb. Moreover, the presence of flavonoids in G. parviflora was provided after their isolation and identification by spectroscopic methods. In conclusion, it demonstrated that application of GP in the treatment of skin lesions gives possibility of wound healing based on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hyaluronidase-inhibiting activities of G. parviflora herb extract.
Low Temperature Synthesis of Lithium-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Films with Enhanced Field Electron Emission Properties
Authors: Sankaran Kamatchi Jothiramalingam , Panda Kalpataru , Hsieh Ping-Yen , Pobedinskas Paulius , Park Jeong Young , Van Bael Marlies K , Tai Nyan-Hwa , Lin I-Nan , Haenen Ken
Published: August 2018

Low temperature (350 °C) grown conductive nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were realized by lithium diffusion from Cr-coated lithium niobate substrates (Cr/LNO). The NCD/Cr/LNO films showed a low resistivity of 0.01 Ω·cm and excellent field electron emission characteristics, viz. a low turn-on field of 2.3 V/µm, a high-current density of 11.0 mA/cm2 (at 4.9 V/m), a large field enhancement factor of 1670, and a life-time stability of 445 min (at 3.0 mA/cm2). The low temperature deposition process combined with the excellent electrical characteristics offers a new prospective for applications based on temperature sensitive materials.