bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relative influence of nature vs. nurture on the expression of circatidal rhythms in the American horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus
Authors: Thomas TN , Watson WH , Chabot CC
Published: August 2020

The horseshoe crabLimulus polyphemusexhibits rhythmic locomotor behavior that is controlled by both internal clocks and external tidal cycles. Recent findings demonstrate that adult horseshoe crabs from a 2 tides d-1environment usually express 2 bouts of activity d-1, while adults from areas with 1 dominant tide d-1, or with negligible tides (atidal), generally express 1 bout of activity d-1. Horseshoe crabs from these different environments are genetically distinct, so it is not known if these behavioral differences are driven by genetics or by the tides they experience early in life. To address this question, freshly spawned horseshoe crab eggs from populations that experience these 3 distinct environmental tidal regimes were reared in the laboratory under 1 of the above 3 artificial tidal conditions. Then the activity of individual larval and 2ndinstar juveniles was recorded over 3 wk using video tracking software. Endogenous circatidal rhythms were present in most (88/108) of the freshly molted juveniles from all 3 populations, even when they were raised in atidal conditions, indicating a strong genetic influence. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the presence of genetically driven endogenous circatidal rhythms in an individual juvenile marine organism. Nevertheless, the early environment was also capable of having an impact, because it significantly affected rhythm expression in crabs in the 1 tide d-1population. Thus, overall, the tidal environment to which horseshoe crab eggs are exposed during development appears to have less of an influence than genetics on their expression of tidal rhythms of locomotion.
Repeated Elections and Opposition Challenges in Malaysia
Authors: TANIGUCHI YUKIKO
Published: August 2020

Malaysia was a typical example of authoritarian regimes that strengthened the regime through elections for a long time until 2018, but street protests, in which the masses participated on a large scale, have become more active since 1998. Nevertheless, the opposition groups had been challenging the regime through elections and had never tried overthrowing it through the protests. Why was the choice made, and by what mechanism? This paper explores these questions and focuses on the impact of repeated elections on these opposition's changing strategic options. It argues that repeated elections not only strengthened the ruling party's support base but also long moderated mass protests in Malaysia while providing the opposition parties with electoral experience and facilitating coalition formation. That was brought about by the transformation of protests as a means of generating mass discontent against the regime and mobilizing support for the opposition, rather than directly challenging it.
Unsupervised Anomaly Detection in Flight Data Using Convolutional Variational Auto-Encoder
Authors: Memarzadeh Milad , Matthews Bryan , Avrekh Ilya
Published: August 2020

The modern National Airspace System (NAS) is an extremely safe system and the aviation industry has experienced a steady decrease in fatalities over the years. This is in part due the airlines, manufacturers, FAA, and research institutions all continually working to improve the safety of the operations. However, the current approach for identifying vulnerabilities in NAS operations leverages domain expertise using knowledge about how the system should behave within the expected tolerances to known safety margins. This approach works well when the system has a well-defined operating condition. However, the operations in the NAS can be highly complex with various nuances that render it difficult to assess risk based on pre-defined safety vulnerabilities. Moreover, state-of-the-art machine learning models that are developed for event detection in aerospace data usually rely on supervised learning. However, in many real-world problems, such as flight safety, creating labels for the data requires specialized expertise that is time consuming and therefore largely impractical. To address this challenge, we develop a Convolutional Variational Auto-Encoder (CVAE), an unsupervised deep generative model for anomaly detection in high-dimensional time-series data. Validating on Yahoo’s benchmark data as well as a case study of identifying anomalies in commercial flights’ take-offs, we show that CVAE outperforms both classic and deep learning-based approaches in precision and recall of detecting anomalies.
Changes in Soil Erosion Intensity Caused by Land Use and Demographic Changes in the Jablanica River Basin, Serbia
Authors: Gocić Milena , Dragićević Slavoljub , Radivojević Aleksandar , Martić Bursać Nataša , Stričević Ljiljana , Đorđević Milan
Published: August 2020

The aim of this research is to determine the change in the spatial distribution of erosion intensity in the territory of the Jablanica River Basin in the period 1971–2016 caused by land use and demographic changes. The Erosion Potential Method (EPM) was used to quantify changes in erosion intensity and to estimate the total annual sediment yield. The research results show that the value of the erosion coefficient decreased from 0.432 in 1971 to 0.360 in 2016. Specific annual gross erosion in the Jablanica River Basin was 654.41 m3/km2/year in 1971, while in 2016 it was 472.03 m3/km2/year. The analysis of proportional changes was used to determine demographic changes and land use patterns in the basin area. In terms of the scale and intensity of the erosion process, three types and one sub-type of population dynamics of settlements and land use changes were distinguished, respectively: progressive, stagnant, regressive and dominant regressive. It was concluded that the results show the significance of demographic and land use changes in the control of the intensity of erosion. The Soil Erosion Map may be useful to planners and land use managers to take appropriate decisions for soil conservation in the basin.
Essential Oil Content of Baccharis crispa Spreng. Regulated by Water Stress and Seasonal Variation
Authors: Moreno-Pizani Maria Alejandra , Paredes-Trejo Franklin Javier , Farias-Ramirez Asdrubal Jesus , dos Santos Hugo Thaner , Prado Massarioli Adna , Marin Fabio Ricardo , Takeyoshi Bruno Yukio , Alves Marques Patricia Angelica , De Stefano Piedade Sônia Maria , de Alencar Severino Matias
Published: August 2020

Carqueja (Baccharis crispa Spreng.) has been primarily used as a medicinal plant around the world. Commercially, the essential oil content of carqueja leaves is the most valuable crop productivity variable. We evaluated the effect of irrigation management in different growing seasons on the essential oil content of carqueja leaves using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located in Southern Brazil, where the crop was cultivated for two years in different growing seasons under six irrigation regimes: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, and 150% of the reference crop evapotranspiration (T25, T50, T75, T100, T125, and T150, respectively). A seasonal pattern was observed in the number of metabolites of sesquiterpenes and phenolics in the essential oil extracted from the biomass; this outcome was correlated with irrigation regimes and air temperature. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses were used to discriminate the influence of abiotic conditions on secondary metabolite profiles. Spathulenol was the most abundant compound in the essential oils (95.43%) collected during the summer (December–March) season during the third harvest (H3) at T150. The essential oil content was 8.84% ± 0.05% and 10.52% ± 0.10% in summer and winter (June–September), respectively, with T100 at 45 and 46 days after planting.
Impact of New Micro Carbon Technology Based Fertilizers on Growth, Nutrient Efficiency and Root Cell Morphology of Capsicum annuum L.
Authors: Antón-Herrero Rafael , García-Delgado Carlos , Mayans Begoña , Camacho-Arévalo Raquel , Eymar Enrique
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of new Micro Carbon Technology (MCT®) fertilizers based on humic acids biologically digested on the growth and development of pepper plants. In this work, the biostimulant effect of MCT® fertilizers was compared to conventional mineral fertilizers. In order to evaluate MCT® fertilizers, a previous chemical characterization (infrared spectroscopy, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry) of seven MCT® fertilizers was performed. Two fertilization tests of pepper plants were carried out in hydroponic conditions, where the fertilization and the age of the plants were studied in order to evaluate the specific effects on roots and leaves. Plant weight and foliar analysis (chlorophyll indices and nutrients) have been determined. Transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize the morphological differences in the root and leaf cells. Comparison between conventional and MCT® based fertilizers showed that, with the MCT® fertilizers, the plant is exposed to the presence of free amino acids (Glycine and Alanine), polyphenols and humic substances. Although no significant differences were found in plant mass production, the plants fertilized with MCT® products presented better nutritional status than plants treated with conventional fertilization in terms of nutrient content in leaves. Important morphological differences in root cells were found. A large central vacuole that represented the 68–83% of the total root cell area was shown if the MCT® products were used, suggesting significant changes of membrane permeability in terms of water adsorption and consequently nutrient storage. The morphological differences observed in the root cells were more noticeable in adult plants.
High-Efficiency Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Mediated Transgenic Hairy Root Induction of Lens culinaris
Authors: Foti Chrysanthi , Pavli Ourania
Published: August 2020

Previous efforts to transform lentil have been considerably hampered by the crop’s recalcitrant nature, giving rise to particularly low transformation and regeneration frequencies. This study aimed at optimizing an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation protocol for the generation of composite lentil plantlets, comprised of transgenic hairy roots and wild-type shoots. Transformation was performed by inoculating the cut hypocotyl of young lentil seedlings, while optimization involved the use of different bacterial strains, namely R1000, K599 and Arqua, and protocols differing in media composition with respect to the presence of acetosyringone and MES. Composite plantlets had a transgenic hairy root system characterized by an increased number of hairy roots at the hypocotyl proximal region, occasionally showing plagiotropic growth. Overall findings underline that transformation frequencies are subject to the bacterial strain, media composition as well as their combined effect. Among strains tested, R1000 proved to be the most capable of hairy root formation, while the presence of both acetosyringone and MES in inoculation and culture media yielded considerably higher transformation rates. The transgenic nature of hairy roots was demonstrated by the Ri T-DNA-mediated transfer of the rolB2 gene and the simultaneous absence of the virCD sequence of A. rhizogenes. Our findings provide strong evidence that A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation may be employed as a suitable approach for generating composite seedlings in lentil, a species whose recalcitrance severely hampers all efforts addressed to transformation and whole plant regeneration procedures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the development of a non-laborious and time-efficient protocol for the generation of transgenic hairy roots in lentil, thus providing an amenable platform for root biology and gene expression studies in the context of improving traits related to biotic and abiotic stress tolerance.
Sustainable Cucurbit Breeding and Production in Asia Using Public–Private Partnerships by the World Vegetable Center
Authors: Dhillon Narinder P.S. , Laenoi Suwannee , Srimat Supornpun , Pruangwitayakun Somchit , Mallappa Anil , Kapur Arvind , Yadav Kamal K. , Hegde Gopalkrishna , Schafleitner Roland , Schreinemachers Pepijn , Hanson Peter
Published: August 2020

The mission of the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) is research and development to realize the potential of vegetables for healthier lives and more resilient livelihoods. WorldVeg operates across Asia and Africa, and its breeding portfolio comprises global as well as traditional vegetables. Cucurbit crops make an important contribution to global food and nutrition security and are economically important to smallholder farmers in Asia, who account for 83% of global cucurbit production. The global cucurbit breeding program of WorldVeg focuses on four species: bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), tropical pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula), and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica syn. L. aegyptiaca). Improved cultivars have been developed by the private seed industry, however, repeated recycling of lines derived from elite hybrids has narrowed the genetic base and reduced genetic gains for yield and other key traits. This trend will continue unless a concerted effort is made to introduce new genetic variability into elite hybrids. WorldVeg has organized a breeding consortium with seed companies to facilitate access to the Center’s new breeding lines derived from hitherto unexploited landraces to develop genetically diverse, improved cucurbit cultivars with enhanced yield and resistance to major diseases. Through this partnership, WorldVeg presents its improved lines and F1 hybrids at Crop Field Days for selection by private seed industry staff engaged in breeding, product development, and sales and marketing.
Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) Winter Foraging Preferences in Northern Poland—The Role of Woody Vegetation Composition and Anthropopression Level
Authors: Jackowiak Mateusz , Busher Peter , Krauze-Gryz Dagny
Published: August 2020

We studied beavers’ dietary preferences and the role of several factors (such as plant species, size and anthropopression level) that affect the beavers’ foraging in northern Poland. Woody plants along the river were measured and classified according to species in six 100 m-long transects that were characterized by a diversified human disturbance level. Ivlev’s electivity index was used to present the beavers’ preferences for various plant species and sizes, and the generalized linear model was used to assess the significance of studied factors in beavers’ browsing choices. Most popular in the beavers’ diets were willows (Salix), maples (Acer) and alder (Alnus), but only willows and maples were preferred. We noted a decrease in the beavers’ foraging preference in parallel to an increase in the shoot diameter; plants with a diameter below 10 cm were preferred. All factors included in the generalized linear model (GLM) were significant in shaping the beavers’ foraging choices. A negative correlation between the shoot diameter and the human disturbance level was found, but the species composition of the browsed woody plants was the same in each transect. Beavers’ foraging preferences, as observed in our study, were similar to those described in the literature and confirmed the role of woody species and their diameters in shaping the beavers’ diet. We also suggested the potential role of anthropopression in the shaping of the beavers’ foraging behaviors.
Home Range Estimates and Habitat Use of Siberian Flying Squirrels in South Korea
Authors: Kim Jong-U. , Kim Jun-Soo , Jeon Jong-Hoon , Lee Woo-Shin
Published: August 2020

Conservation measures or management guidelines must be based on species’ ecological data. The home range of the target species was studied to understand its spatial ecology, in order to protect it. The Siberian flying squirrel is the only flying squirrel species present and is considered as a protected species in South Korea. In this study, we investigated the home range, habitat use, and daily movement of Siberian flying squirrels from February 2015 to June 2016 at Mt. Baekwoon, Gangwon Province, South Korea. We tracked 21 flying squirrels using radio transmitters and analyzed the home range of 12 individuals. Flying squirrels appeared to have an overall mean home range of 18.92 ± 14.80 ha with a core area of 3.54 ha ± 3.88 ha. Movement activity peaked between 18:00–19:00 with the longest distance traveled, coinciding with sunset. In addition, we observed the preference of Siberian flying squirrels to the old deciduous forest with dense crowns. The results of the present study indicate that it is important to manage their habitat; for instance, preserving an appropriate size of mature deciduous forest is essential for Siberian flying squirrels. While our study provides needed baseline information on the spatial activity of the species, further research on topics such as the national distribution, behavior, and population dynamics of Siberian flying squirrels is needed in South Korea.
Beyond Glucocorticoids: Integrating Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into Animal Welfare Research
Authors: Whitham Jessica C. , Bryant Jocelyn L. , Miller Lance J.
Published: August 2020

Animal welfare researchers are committed to identifying novel measures for enhancing the quality of life of individual animals. Recently, welfare scientists have emphasized the need for tracking multiple indicators of an animal’s behavioral, emotional and mental health. Researchers are currently focused on integrating non-invasive physiological biomarkers to gain insight into an individual’s welfare status. Most commonly, the animal welfare community has analyzed glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolites as a measure of stress. While glucocorticoids provide valuable information about hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, there are limitations to utilizing these hormones as the sole measure of long-term stress and welfare. Other biomarkers, such as dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate ester—collectively referred to as DHEA(S)—help provide a more complete picture of HPA activity. DHEA(S) counteracts the effects glucocorticoids by having anti-aging, immune-enhancing and neuroprotective properties. Recent studies have examined the ratio of glucocorticoids to DHEA(S) as a way to better understand how the HPA axis is functioning. There is evidence that this ratio serves as an indicator of immune function, mental health, cognitive performance and overall welfare. We review studies that employed the glucocorticoid:DHEA(S) ratio, outline methodological considerations and discuss how researchers can integrate glucocorticoids, DHEA(S) and the glucocorticoid:DHEA(S) ratio into welfare assessments.
Synergy of Linezolid with Several Antimicrobial Agents against Linezolid-Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Strains
Authors: Valderrama María-José , Alfaro María , Rodríguez-Avial Icíar , Baos Elvira , Rodríguez-Avial Carmen , Culebras Esther
Published: August 2020

Linezolid is a synthetic oxazolydinone active against multi-resistant Gram-positive cocci that inhibits proteins synthesis by interacting with the 50S ribosomal subunit. Although linezolid-resistant strains are infrequent, several outbreaks have been recently described, associated with prolonged treatment with the antibiotic. As an alternative to monotherapy, the combination of different antibiotics is a commonly used option to prevent the selection of resistant strains. In this work, we evaluated combinations of linezolid with classic and new aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin and plazomicin), carbapenems (doripenem, imipenem and meropenem) and fosfomycin on several linezolid- and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, isolated in a hospital intensive care unit in Madrid, Spain. Using checkerboard and time-kill assays, interesting synergistic effects were encountered for the combination of linezolid with imipenem in all the staphylococcal strains, and for linezolid–doripenem in S.epidermidis isolates. The combination of plazomicin seemed to also have a good synergistic or partially synergistic activity against most of the isolates. None of the combinations assayed showed an antagonistic effect.
Fosfomycin as Partner Drug for Systemic Infection Management. A Systematic Review of Its Synergistic Properties from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Antonello Roberta Maria , Principe Luigi , Maraolo Alberto Enrico , Viaggi Valentina , Pol Riccardo , Fabbiani Massimiliano , Montagnani Francesca , Lovecchio Antonio , Luzzati Roberto , Di Bella Stefano
Published: August 2020

Fosfomycin is being increasingly prescribed for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. In patients with systemic involvement, intravenous fosfomycin is usually administered as a partner drug, as part of an antibiotic regimen. Hence, the knowledge of fosfomycin pharmacodynamic interactions (synergistic, additive, indifferent and antagonistic effect) is fundamental for a proper clinical management of severe bacterial infections. We performed a systematic review to point out fosfomycin’s synergistic properties, when administered with other antibiotics, in order to help clinicians to maximize drug efficacy optimizing its use in clinical practice. Interactions were more frequently additive or indifferent (65.4%). Synergism accounted for 33.7% of total interactions, while antagonism occurred sporadically (0.9%). Clinically significant synergistic interactions were mostly distributed in combination with penicillins (51%), carbapenems (43%), chloramphenicol (39%) and cephalosporins (33%) in Enterobactaerales; with linezolid (74%), tetracyclines (72%) and daptomycin (56%) in Staphylococcus aureus; with chloramphenicol (53%), aminoglycosides (43%) and cephalosporins (36%) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; with daptomycin (97%) in Enterococcus spp. and with sulbactam (75%) and penicillins (60%) and in Acinetobacter spp. fosfomycin-based antibiotic associations benefit from increase in the bactericidal effect and prevention of antimicrobial resistances. Taken together, the presence of synergistic interactions and the nearly total absence of antagonisms, make fosfomycin a good partner drug in clinical practice.
Trends in Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Escherichia coli Isolates in a Taiwanese Child Cohort with Urinary Tract Infections between 2004 and 2018
Authors: Chen Hung-En , Tain You-Lin , Kuo Hsiao-Ching , Hsu Chien-Ning
Published: August 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the annual incidence of Escherichia coli isolates in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the antimicrobial resistance of the third-generation cephalosporin (3GCs) to E. coli, including the factors associated with the resistance in hospitalized children in Taiwan. A large electronic database of medical records combining hospital admission and microbiological data during 2004–2018 was used to study childhood UTIs in Taiwan. Annual incidence rate ratios (IRR) of E. coli in children with UTIs and its resistant rate to the 3GCs and other antibiotics were estimated by linear Poisson regression. Factors associated with E. coli resistance to 3GCs were assessed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. E. coli UTIs occurred in 10,756 unique individuals among 41,879 hospitalized children, with 92.58% being community associated based on urine culture results reported within four days after the hospitalization. The overall IRR E. coli UTI was 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99–1.02) in community-associated (CA) and 0.96 (0.90–1.02) in healthcare-associated infections. The trend in 3GCs against E. coli increased (IRR 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.24) over time in CA-UTIs. Complex chronic disease (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.04; 95% CI, 1.47–2.83) and antibiotics therapy ≤ 3 months prior (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.15–1.94) were associated with increased risk of 3GCs resistance to E. coli. The study results suggested little or no change in the trend of E. coli UTIs in Taiwanese youths over the past 15 years. Nevertheless, the increase in 3GCs-resistant E. coli was substantial. Interventions for children with complex chronic comorbidities and prior antibiotic treatment could be effective in reducing the incidence of 3GCs-resistant E. coli in CA-UTIs in this region and more generally.
Current Landscape of NRF2 Biomarkers in Clinical Trials
Authors: Yagishita Yoko , Gatbonton-Schwager Tonibelle N. , McCallum Melissa L. , Kensler Thomas W.
Published: August 2020

The transcription factor NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2; encoded by NFE2L2) plays a critical role in the maintenance of cellular redox and metabolic homeostasis, as well as the regulation of inflammation and cellular detoxication pathways. The contribution of the NRF2 pathway to organismal homeostasis is seen in many studies using cell lines and animal models, raising intense attention towards targeting its clinical promise. Over the last three decades, an expanding number of clinical studies have examined NRF2 inducers targeting an ever-widening range of diseases. Full understanding of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of drug candidates rely partly on the identification, validation, and use of biomarkers to optimize clinical applications. This review focuses on results from clinical trials with four agents known to target NRF2 signaling in preclinical studies (dimethyl fumarate, bardoxolone methyl, oltipraz, and sulforaphane), and evaluates the successes and limitations of biomarkers focused on expression of NRF2 target genes and others, inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers, carcinogen metabolism and adduct biomarkers in unavoidably exposed populations, and targeted and untargeted metabolomics. While no biomarkers excel at defining pharmacodynamic actions in this setting, it is clear that these four lead clinical compounds do touch the NRF2 pathway in humans.
Expression of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene from Rat Leads to Oxidative Stress in Potato Plants
Authors: Kostyn Kamil , Boba Aleksandra , Kostyn Anna , Kozak Bartosz , Starzycki Michał , Kulma Anna , Szopa Jan
Published: August 2020

Catecholamines are biogenic aromatic amines common among both animals and plants. In animals, they are synthesized via tyrosine hydroxylation, while both hydroxylation or decarboxylation of tyrosine are possible in plants, depending on the species, though no tyrosine hydroxylase—a counterpart of the animal enzyme—has been identified yet. It is known that in potato plants, it is the decarboxylation of tyrosine that leads to catecholamine production. In this paper, we present the effects of the induction of an alternative route of catecholamine production by introducing the tyrosine hydroxylase gene from rat. We demonstrate that an animal system can be used by the plant. However, it does not function to synthesize catecholamines. Instead, it leads to elevated reactive oxygen species content and a constant stress condition in the plant, which responds with elevated antioxidant levels and improved resistance to infection.
The Antiaging Effect of Active Fractions and Ent-11α-Hydroxy-15-Oxo-Kaur-16-En-19-Oic Acid Isolated from Adenostemma lavenia (L.) O. Kuntze at the Cellular Level
Authors: Batubara Irmanida , Astuti Rika Indri , Prastya Muhammad Eka , Ilmiawati Auliya , Maeda Miwa , Suzuki Mayu , Hamamoto Akie , Takemori Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

Background: The extract of Adenostemma lavenia (L.) O. Kuntze leaves has anti-inflammatory activities and is used as a folk medicine to treat patients with hepatitis and pneumonia in China and Taiwan. The diterpenoid ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (11αOH-KA) is the major ingredient in the extract and has wide-spectrum biological activities, such as antitumor and antimelanogenic activities, as well as anti-inflammatory activity. However, the physical and biological properties of this compound as an antioxidant or antiaging agent have not been reported yet. Methods: In addition to in vitro assays, we monitored antioxidative and antiaging signals in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (yeast) and mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. Results: A. lavenia water and chloroform fractions showed antioxidant properties in vitro. The A. lavenia extracts and 11αOH-KA conferred resistance to H2O2 to S. pombe and B16F10 cells and extended the yeast lifespan in a concentration-dependent manner. These materials maintained the yeast mitochondrial activity, even in a high-glucose medium, and induced an antioxidant gene program, the transcriptional factor pap1+ and its downstream ctt1+. Accordingly, 11αOH-KA activated the antioxidative transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2, NRF2, the mammalian ortholog of pap1+, in B16F10 cells, which was accompanied by enhanced hemeoxygenase expression levels. These results suggest that 11αOH-KA and A. lavenia extracts may protect yeast and mammalian cells from oxidative stress and aging. Finally, we hope that these materials could be helpful in treating COVID-19 patients, because A. lavenia extracts and NRF2 activators have been reported to alleviate the symptoms of pneumonia in model animals.
Stability of Phenolic Compounds in Grape Stem Extracts
Authors: Esparza Irene , Cimminelli María José , Moler Jose Antonio , Jiménez-Moreno Nerea , Ancín-Azpilicueta Carmen
Published: August 2020

Grape stem is rich in phenolic compounds, especially stilbenes. These antioxidants can be degraded during the storage of grape stem extracts for long periods of time. The aim of this work was to analyze the stability of Mazuelo stem extracts during storage at 25 and 40 °C, in two different light conditions (amber and transparent vials). The stability of the antioxidants was studied after 2, 4 and 6 months of conservation. Gallic acid and the quercetin derivative concentration were stable throughout the storage period. In contrast, catechin disappeared from all the extracts in just two months of storage. Anthocyanins were significantly affected by temperature, and light enhanced their degradation when the extracts were kept at 40 °C. Resveratrol and viniferin showed a similar behavior. Their concentration decreased from the beginning of storage, and in both cases, they were significantly affected by both temperature and light.
Modulation and Protection Effects of Antioxidant Compounds against Oxidant Induced Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish
Authors: Boix Nuria , Teixido Elisabet , Pique Ester , Llobet Juan Maria , Gomez-Catalan Jesus
Published: August 2020

The antioxidant effect of compounds is regularly evaluated by in vitro assays that do not have the capability to predict in vivo protective activity or to determine their underlying mechanisms of action. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental system to evaluate the in vivo protective effects of different antioxidant compounds, based on the zebrafish embryo test. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH), tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) and lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli (LPS), chemicals that are known inducers of oxidative stress in zebrafish. The developmental toxic effects (lethality or dysmorphogenesis) induced by these chemicals were modulated with n-acetyl l-cysteine and Nω-nitro l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, dimethyl maleate and dl-buthionine sulfoximine in order to validate the oxidant mechanism of oxidative stress inducers. The oxidant effects of tBOOH, TCHQ, and LPS were confirmed by the determination of significant differences in the comparison between the concentration–response curves of the oxidative stress inducers and of the modulators of antioxidant status. This concept was also applied to the study of the effects of well-known antioxidants, such as vitamin E, quercetin, and lipoic acid. Our results confirm the zebrafish model as an in vivo useful tool to test the protective effects of antioxidant compounds.
Antioxidant Properties and Reported Ethnomedicinal Use of the Genus Echium (Boraginaceae)
Authors: Jin Ju , Boersch Mark , Nagarajan Akshaya , Davey Andrew K. , Zunk Matthew
Published: August 2020

The genus Echium L. from the Boraginaceae family consists of 67 recognised species. The genus is widely distributed in the Mediterranean, having been documented in the traditional medicine of the area since 300 B.C. Current pharmacological studies have validated early ethnomedicinal properties showing that Echium spp. possesses antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Nevertheless, only limited papers report specifically on the phytochemistry of this genus. Furthermore, the potential of utilising extracts from Echium species as natural antioxidant preparations has been significantly neglected. For the first time, this review comprehensively describes and discusses the presence of recorded Echium species with ethnomedicinal uses, their antioxidative properties in vitro and in vivo when available, and major phytochemical components recognised as potent antioxidants, as well as the possibilities and opportunities for future research.
In Vitro Antioxidant, Antiinflammation, and Anticancer Activities and Anthraquinone Content from Rumex crispus Root Extract and Fractions
Authors: Eom Taekil , Kim Ekyune , Kim Ju-Sung
Published: August 2020

Rumex crispus is a perennial plant that grows in humid environments across Korea. Its roots are used in traditional Korean medicine to treat several diseases, including diseases of the spleen and skin and several inflammatory pathologies. In this study, different solvent fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) from an ethanol extract of R. crispus roots were evaluated for the presence and composition of anthraquinone compounds and antioxidants by checking for such things as free radical scavenging activity, and electron and proton atom donating ability. In addition, anti-inflammatory activity was measured by NO scavenging activity and inflammatory cytokine production; furthermore, anti-cancer activity was measured by apoptosis-inducing ability. Polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds were shown to be abundant in the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions, which also exhibited strong antioxidant activity, including free radical scavenging and positive results in FRAP, TEAC, and ORAC assays. HPLC analysis revealed that the dichloromethane fractions had higher anthraquinone contents than the other fractions; the major anthraquinone compounds included chrysophanol, emodin, and physcione. In addition, results of the anti-inflammatory assays showed that the ethyl acetate fraction showed appreciable reductions in the levels of nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in Raw 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the anthraquinone-rich dichloromethane fraction displayed the highest anticancer activity when evaluated in a human hepatoma cancer cell line (HepG2), in which it induced increased apoptosis mediated by p53 and caspase activation.
Pursuing the Elixir of Life: In Vivo Antioxidative Effects of Manganosalen Complexes
Authors: Rouco Lara , González-Noya Ana M. , Pedrido Rosa , Maneiro Marcelino
Published: August 2020

Manganosalen complexes are coordination compounds that possess a chelating salen-type ligand, a class of bis-Schiff bases obtained by condensation of salicylaldehyde and a diamine. They may act as catalytic antioxidants mimicking both the structure and the reactivity of the native antioxidant enzymes active site. Thus, manganosalen complexes have been shown to exhibit superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and they could potentially facilitate the scavenging of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby restoring the redox balance in damaged cells and organs. Initial catalytic studies compared the potency of these compounds as antioxidants in terms of rate constants of the chemical reactivity against ROS, giving catalytic values approaching and even exceeding that of the native antioxidative enzymes. Although most of these catalytic studies lack of biological relevance, subsequent in vitro studies have confirmed the efficiency of many manganosalen complexes in oxidative stress models. These synthetic catalytic scavengers, cheaper than natural antioxidants, have accordingly attracted intensive attention for the therapy of ROS-mediated injuries. The aim of this review is to focus on in vivo studies performed on manganosalen complexes and their activity on the treatment of several pathological disorders associated with oxidative damage. These disorders, ranging from the prevention of fetal malformations to the extension of lifespan, include neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and cardiovascular diseases; tissue injury; and other damages related to the liver, kidney, or lungs.
Total Dietary Antioxidant Capacity and Longitudinal Trajectories of Body Composition
Authors: van der Schaft Niels , Trajanoska Katerina , Rivadeneira Fernando , Ikram M. Arfan , Schoufour Josje D. , Voortman Trudy
Published: August 2020

Although there is some evidence that total dietary antioxidant capacity (TDAC) is inversely associated with the presence of obesity, no longitudinal studies have been performed investigating the effect of TDAC on comprehensive measures of body composition over time. In this study, we included 4595 middle-aged and elderly participants from the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort. We estimated TDAC among these individuals by calculating a ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) score based on data from food-frequency questionnaires. Body composition was assessed by means of dual X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and every subsequent 3–5 years. From these data, we calculated fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), android-to-gynoid fat ratio (AGR), body fat percentage (BF%) and body mass index (BMI). We also assessed hand grip strength at two time points and prevalence of sarcopenia at one time point in a subset of participants. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models or multinomial logistic regression models with multivariable adjustment. We found that higher FRAP score was associated with higher FFMI (0.091 kg/m2 per standard deviation (SD) higher FRAP score, 95% CI 0.031; 0.150), lower AGR (−0.028, 95% CI −0.053; −0.003), higher BMI (0.115, 95% CI 0.020; 0.209) and lower BF% (−0.223, 95% CI −0.383; −0.064) across follow-up after multivariable adjustment. FRAP score was not associated with hand grip strength or sarcopenia. Additional adjustment for adherence to dietary guidelines and exclusion of individuals with comorbid disease at baseline did not change our results. In conclusion, dietary intake of antioxidants may positively affect the amount of lean mass and overall body composition among the middle-aged and elderly.
Astaxanthin Protects Retinal Photoreceptor Cells against High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress by Induction of Antioxidant Enzymes via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Pathway
Authors: Lai Tso-Ting , Yang Chung-May , Yang Chang-Hao
Published: August 2020

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication that can lead to severe visual impairment in patients with diabetes. The elevated oxidative stress and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by hyperglycemia have been reported to play an important role in the complex pathogenesis of DR. Astaxanthin (AST), a natural carotenoid derivative, has been recently recognized as a strong free radical scavenger and might, therefore, be beneficial in different diseases, including DR. In this study, we evaluated the potential role of AST as an antioxidative and antiapoptotic agent in protecting retinal cells and also investigated the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in AST-mediated effects. We treated high glucose-cultured mouse photoreceptor cells (661W) with different concentrations of AST and analyzed ROS production and cell apoptosis in the different regimens. Moreover, we also analyzed the expression of PI3K, Akt, Nrf2, and Phase II enzymes after AST treatment. Our results showed that AST dose-dependently reduced ROS production and attenuated 661W cell apoptosis in a high glucose environment. Importantly, its protective effect was abolished by treatment with PI3K or Nrf2 inhibitors, indicating the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway. These results suggest AST as a nutritional supplement that could benefit patients with DR.
Effect of the Directional Components of Earthquakes on the Seismic Behavior of an Unanchored Steel Tank
Authors: Zhang Rulin , Chu Shili , Sun Kailai , Zhang Zhongtao , Wang Huaifeng
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates the effect of the multi-directional components of ground motion on an unanchored steel storage tank. Both the liquid sloshing effect and contact behavior between the foundation and tank are included in the study. A three-dimensional model for a foundation–structure–liquid system is numerically simulated using the finite element method. The Lagrange fluid finite element method (FEM) in ANSYS is used to consider the liquid–solid interaction. In the liquid–structure–foundation interaction model, the contact and target elements are adapted to simulate the nonlinear uplift and slip effects between the tank and the foundation. Three earthquake ground motions are selected for evaluating the seismic behavior of the tank. Comparisons are made on the horizontal displacement, “elephant-foot” deformation, stress, base shear and moment, sloshing of the liquid, uplift, as well as slip behavior under the application of the unidirectional, bi-directional and tri-directional components. Under the selected ground motions, the horizontal bi-directional seismic component has great influence on the liquid sloshing in the tank studied in this paper. The vertical seismic component produces high compressive axial stress, and it also makes the uplift and slide of the tank bottom increase significantly. The applicability of this conclusion should be carefully considered when applied to other types of ground motion inputs.
Effect of Magnesium Ion Concentration on the Scale Inhibition of Heat Exchanger in Circulating Cooling Water under Alternating Electric Field
Authors: Zhang Zhihao , Jia Yun , Zhao Judong
Published: August 2020

This work investigated the effect of magnesium ion concentration on the formation of mineral scale in circulating cooling water under alternating electric field treatment (AEFT) by using a self-made power plant circulating cooling water simulator. In this experiment, the circulating cooling water used was artificial hard water. Three experimental groups with different magnesium ion concentrations and three corresponding control groups were studied. Scale inhibition rate, fouling resistance, calcium ion concentration, crystal phase, and crystal morphology were discussed. Results showed that 4 mmol/L magnesium chloride promoted the formation of scale on the copper tube wall, and the average scale inhibition rate was −107.86%. When the magnesium chloride concentration was 6 mmol/L, the situation was reversed, and the average scale inhibition rate reached 59.11%. The changes in calcium ion concentration supported the scale inhibition rate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photos showed the change in the composition of calcium carbonate crystals. The results showed that the effect of AEFT on fouling resistance is nonlinearly related to the concentration of magnesium ions in circulating cooling water.
Evaluation of Combined Satellite and Radar Data Assimilation with POD-4DEnVar Method on Rainfall Forecast
Authors: Wang Jingnan , Zhang Lifeng , Guan Jiping , Zhang Mingyang
Published: August 2020

Satellite and radar observations represent two fundamentally different remote sensing observation types, providing independent information for numerical weather prediction (NWP). Because the individual impact on improving forecast has previously been examined, combining these two resources of data potentially enhances the performance of weather forecast. In this study, satellite radiance, radar radial velocity and reflectivity are simultaneously assimilated with the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD)-based ensemble four-dimensional variational (4DVar) assimilation method (referred to as POD-4DEnVar). The impact is evaluated on continuous severe rainfall processes occurred from June to July in 2016 and 2017. Results show that combined assimilation of satellite and radar data with POD-4DEnVar has the potential to improve weather forecast. Averaged over 22 forecasts, RMSEs indicate that though the forecast results are sensitive to different variables, generally the improvement is found in different pressure levels with assimilation. The precipitation skill scores are generally increased when assimilation is carried out. A case study is also examined to figure out the contributions to forecast improvement. Better intensity and distribution of precipitation forecast is found in the accumulated rainfall evolution with POD-4DEnVar assimilation. These improvements are attributed to the local changes in moisture, temperature and wind field. In addition, with radar data assimilation, the initial rainwater and cloud water conditions are changed directly. Both experiments can simulate the strong hydrometeor in the precipitation area, but assimilation spins up faster, strengthening the initial intensity of the heavy rainfall. Generally, the combined assimilation of satellite and radar data results in better rainfall forecast than without data assimilation.
Validation and Application of Two New Core Stability Tests in Professional Football
Authors: Etxaleku Saioa , Izquierdo Mikel , Bikandi Eder , García Arroyo Jaime , Sarriegi Iñigo , Sesma Iosu , Setuain Igor
Published: August 2020

The purpose of the first study was to validate two newly proposed core stability tests; Prone Plank test (PPT) and Closed Kinetic Chain test (CCT), for evaluating the strength of the body core. Subsequently, these tests were employed in a longitudinal prospective study implementing a core stability training program with a professional Spanish football team. For the validation study, 22 physically active men (Tegner Scale 6–7) performed three trials of the PPT and CCT tests in two different testing sessions separated by one week. In the longitudinal study, 13 male professional football players were equally evaluated (PPT and CCT) before and after the competitive session in which they completed a core training program. Intra-/intersession, and intertester, reliability was analyzed. PPT and CCT demonstrated excellent to good test–retest reliability and acceptable error measurement (ICCs for intratester and intrasession reliability ranged from 0.77 to 0.94 for the PPT, and 0.8–0.9 for the CCT) in all but one of the testing conditions (female tester for CCT test; ICC = 0.38). Significant improvements on core strength were found from pre to post evaluation in both the PPT (p < 0.01) and CCT (p < 0.01) after the implementation of a core training program in professional football players.