bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Human FOS Promoter Variants with the Occurrence of Knee-Osteoarthritis in a Case Control Association Study
Authors: Huber René , Kirsten Holger , Näkki Annu , Pohlers Dirk , Thude Hansjörg , Eidner Thorsten , Heinig Matthias , Brand Korbinian , Ahnert Peter , Kinne Raimund W.
Published: March 2019

Our aim was to analyse (i) the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the JUN and FOS core promoters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), knee-osteoarthritis (OA), and normal controls (NC); (ii) their functional influence on JUN/FOS transcription levels; and (iii) their associations with the occurrence of RA or knee-OA. JUN and FOS promoter SNPs were identified in an initial screening population using the Non-Isotopic RNase Cleavage Assay (NIRCA); their functional influence was analysed using reporter gene assays. Genotyping was done in RA (n = 298), knee-OA (n = 277), and NC (n = 484) samples. For replication, significant associations were validated in a Finnish cohort (OA: n = 72, NC: n = 548). Initially, two SNPs were detected in the JUN promoter and two additional SNPs in the FOS promoter in perfect linkage disequilibrium (LD). JUN promoter SNP rs4647009 caused significant downregulation of reporter gene expression, whereas reporter gene expression was significantly upregulated in the presence of the FOS promoter SNPs. The homozygous genotype of FOS promoter SNPs showed an association with the susceptibility for knee-OA (odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.7, p = 0.0086). This association was successfully replicated in the Finnish Health 2000 study cohort (allelic OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.2–2.5, p = 0.006). FOS Promoter variants may represent relevant susceptibility markers for knee-OA.
Neutrophil Cell Shape Change: Mechanism and Signalling during Cell Spreading and Phagocytosis
Authors: Roberts Rhiannon , Hallett Maurice
Published: March 2019

Perhaps the most important feature of neutrophils is their ability to rapidly change shape. In the bloodstream, the neutrophils circulate as almost spherical cells, with the ability to deform in order to pass along narrower capillaries. Upon receiving the signal to extravasate, they are able to transform their morphology and flatten onto the endothelium surface. This transition, from a spherical to a flattened morphology, is the first key step which neutrophils undergo before moving out of the blood and into the extravascular tissue space. Once they have migrated through tissues towards sites of infection, neutrophils carry out their primary role—killing infecting microbes by performing phagocytosis and producing toxic reactive oxygen species within the microbe-containing phagosome. Phagocytosis involves the second key morphology change that neutrophils undergo, with the formation of pseudopodia which capture the microbe within an internal vesicle. Both the spherical to flattened stage and the phagocytic capture stage are rapid, each being completed within 100 s. Knowing how these rapid cell shape changes occur in neutrophils is thus fundamental to understanding neutrophil behaviour. This article will discuss advances in our current knowledge of this process, and also identify an important regulated molecular event which may represent an important target for anti-inflammatory therapy.
eHealth and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Impedovo Donato , Pirlo Giuseppe
Published: March 2019

Artificial intelligence is changing the healthcare industry from many perspectives: diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. A wide range of techniques has been proposed in the literature. In this special issue, 13 selected and peer-reviewed original research articles contribute to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) approaches in various real-world problems. Papers refer to the following main areas of interest: feature selection, high dimensionality, and statistical approaches; heart and cardiovascular diseases; expert systems and e-health platforms.
Characterization and Function of Two Short Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins Involved in the Immunity of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)
Authors: Wei Dong , Liu Yu-Wei , Zhang Ying-Xin , Wang Jin-Jun
Published: March 2019

Peptidoglycans (PGNs) are major bacterial components recognized by the immune systems of insects and mammals. PGN recognition proteins (PGRPs) are widely distributed and highly conserved in vertebrates and invertebrates. PGRPs are a family of pattern recognition receptors that recognize peptidoglycan and regulate immune responses. In this study, we cloned two PGRP genes (BdPGRP-SA and BdPGRP-SD) from Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), which encode 192 and 196 amino acid residues, respectively. Both genes were highly expressed in adults, especially in the fat body and midgut. These two genes were up-regulated when challenged by the immune triggers, PGN-EB (Escherichia coli O111:B4) and PGN-SA (Staphylococcus aureus). The suppression of transcriptional expression of either gene by RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in increased sensitivities to Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus PGNs. Suppression of BdPGRP-SA and -SD expression by RNAi resulted in weak expressions of four antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) upon injected with E. coli or S. aureus. BdPGRP-SA and -SD are involved in recognizing both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria independently to activate the downstream AMP’s response to bacterial infection.
Increased Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Risk in Individuals with Low AMY1 Copy Numbers
Authors: Marquina Clara , Mousa Aya , Belski Regina , Banaharis Harry , Naderpoor Negar , de Courten Barbora
Published: March 2019

Lower copy number variations (CNVs) in the salivary amylase gene (AMY1) have been associated with obesity and insulin resistance; however, the relationship between AMY1 and cardiometabolic risk has not been fully elucidated. Using gold-standard measures, we aimed to examine whether AMY1 CNVs are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in an overweight or obese, otherwise healthy population. Fifty-seven adults (58% male) aged 31.17 ± 8.44 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were included in the study. We measured AMY1 CNVs (qPCR); anthropometry (BMI; body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry); cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, serum lipids by ELISA); insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion (intravenous glucose tolerance test), and serum inflammation markers (multiplex assays). Based on previous studies and median values, participants were divided into low (≤4) and high (>4) AMY1 CNV groups. Low AMY1 carriers (n = 29) had a higher fat mass (40.76 ± 12.11 versus 33.33 ± 8.50 kg, p = 0.009) and LDL-cholesterol (3.27 ± 0.80 versus 2.87 ± 0.69 mmol/L, p = 0.038), and higher serum levels of interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (all p < 0.05) compared with high AMY1 carriers (n = 28), but there were no differences in glycaemic measures, including insulin sensitivity or secretion (all p > 0.1). Except for MCP-1, the results remained significant in multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, and fat mass (all p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that low AMY1 CNVs are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and inflammation, but not glucose metabolism, in overweight or obese adults.
Suitability of Metal Block Augmentation for Large Uncontained Bone Defect in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)
Authors: Kang Kwan Su , Tien Trinh Ngoc , Lee Myung Chul , Lee Kwon-Yong , Kim Bongju , Lim Dohyung
Published: March 2019

This study was performed to determine whether metal block augmentation is suitable for large uncontained bone defect via evaluations of differences in biomechanical characteristics among the configurations of metal block augmentations for medium or large uncontained bone defects in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of the proximal tibia with revision TKA were developed and analyzed considering the configurations of the metal block augmentations for medium and large uncontained bone defects. To identify differences in biomechanical characteristics according to the configurations of metal block augmentations, the stress transfer, strain distribution, and peak von Mises stresses (PVMSs) were assessed. Large and medium uncontained bone defects had similar ranges of strain below the critical bone-damage strain for the metal block augmentations, but the strain distribution characteristics differed in response to the metal block-augmentation configurations. PVMSs exceeding the yield strength of the bone cement for the single metal block-augmentation configurations were, on average, 1.4 times higher than those for double metal block-augmentation configurations for both medium and large uncontained bone defects. These findings suggest that metal block augmentation may be suitable for large uncontained bone defects (≤20 mm), compared with the results obtained for metal block augmentation used in medium uncontained bone defects (≤10 mm). If possible, double metal block augmentation is recommended for both medium and large uncontained bone defects rather than single metal block augmentation. It is also recommended that the metal block augmentation should be customized to meet the contact characteristics with the cortical bone, thereby ensuring better stress transfer and reducing the risk of the bone resorption due to stress shielding and bone-cement failure.
Couple Relationship and Parent-Child Relationship Quality: Factors Relevant to Parent-Child Communication on Sexuality in Romania
Authors: Pop Meda Veronica , Rusu Alina Simona
Published: March 2019

This study of parents in Romania explores how perceptions of their couple relationship quality and of factors associated with it (such as sexual communication anxiety and sexual perfectionism) were related to their perception of aspects describing parenting dimensions relevant to the sexual education and sexual health of their children. The hypotheses tested in this study were supported by the data collected from 106 participants (aged 25 to 51 years), parents of 1 to 3 children: (1) sexual communication anxiety with one’s partner (but not sexual perfectionism) is a significant predictor for parents’ self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and communication and parenting behavior related to sexuality education; (2) parents’ self-efficacy and outcome expectancy about parent-child communication on sexual topics (including involvement in risky sexual behaviors) predict the level of parenting behavior in this respect; (3) parents’ sexual communication anxiety (but not their sexual perfectionism) together with their self-efficacy and outcome expectancy regarding parent-child communication about sexuality predict the level of parental sexuality-communication-and-education behavior.
Oxidation Resistance and Microstructure Evaluation of a Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDC) Composite Coating Applied onto Sintered Steel
Authors: Justus Tercius , Gonçalves Priscila , Seifert Martin , Leite Mateus L. , Probst Sônia M. H. , Binder Cristiano , Motz Günter , Klein Aloisio N.
Published: March 2019

Powder metallurgy is a competitive technology to produce ferrous near net shape parts for diverse engineering applications. However, their inherent porosity increases the susceptibility to oxidation and sealing their surface is mandatory to avoid premature degradation. Alongside, polymer derived ceramics (PDCs), such as silicon-carbonitride, have drawn attention concerning their high temperature and chemical stability. However, PDCs undergo volume shrinkage during ceramization that leads to defect formation. The shrinkage can be compensated by the addition of fillers, which are also capable of tailoring the ceramic resulting properties. This work evaluates the processing of PDC-based coatings loaded with ZrO2 and glass fillers to compensate for the shrinkage, densify the coating and seal the sintered steel surface. Therefore, polymeric slurries were sprayed onto sintered steel substrates, which were pyrolyzed at different temperatures for microstructural and oxidation resistance evaluation. Microstructural modifications caused by the enhanced glass viscous flow during pyrolysis at 800 °C resulted in more homogeneous, dense and protective coatings, which reduced the mass gain up to 40 wt% after 100 h of oxidation at 450 °C in air in comparison to the uncoated substrate. Moreover, no macrocracks or spallation were detected, confirming the feasibility of PDC composite barrier coatings for sintered steels.
A Decision Support System for Dynamic Job-Shop Scheduling Using Real-Time Data with Simulation
Authors: Turker Ahmet Kursad , Aktepe Adnan , Inal Ali Firat , Ersoz Olcay Ozge , Das Gulesin Sena , Birgoren Burak
Published: March 2019

The wide usage of information technologies in production has led to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which has enabled real data collection from production tools that are capable of communicating with each other through the Internet of Things (IoT). Real time data improves production control especially in dynamic production environments. This study proposes a decision support system (DSS) designed to increase the performance of dispatching rules in dynamic scheduling using real time data, hence an increase in the overall performance of the job-shop. The DSS can work with all dispatching rules. To analyze its effects, it is run with popular dispatching rules selected from the literature on a simulation model created in Arena®. When the number of jobs waiting in the queue of any workstation in the job-shop falls to a critical value, the DSS can change the order of schedules in its preceding workstations to feed the workstation as soon as possible. For this purpose, it first determines the jobs in the preceding workstations to be sent to the current workstation, then finds the job with the highest priority number according to the active dispatching rule, and lastly puts this job in the first position in its queue. The DSS is tested under low, normal, and high demand rate scenarios with respect to six performance criteria. It is observed that the DSS improves the system performance by increasing workstation utilization and decreasing both the number of tardy jobs and the amount of waiting time regardless of the employed dispatching rule.
Generalized Hyers-Ulam Stability of the Pexider Functional Equation
Authors: Lee Yang-Hi , Kim Gwang-Hui
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we investigate the generalized Hyers-Ulam stability of the Pexider functional equation f ( x + y , z + w ) = g ( x , z ) + h ( y , w ) .
Constrained FC 4D MITPs for Damageable Substitutable and Complementary Items in Rough Environments
Authors: Halder Jana Sharmistha , Jana Biswapati , Das Barun , Panigrahi Goutam , Maiti Manoranjan
Published: March 2019

Very often items that are substitutable and complementary to each other are sent from suppliers to retailers for business. In this paper, for these types of items, fixed charge (FC) four-dimensional (4D) multi-item transportation problems (MITPs) are formulated with both space and budget constraints under crisp and rough environments. These items are damageable/breakable. The rates of damageability of the items depend on the quantity transported and the distance of travel i.e., path. A fixed charge is applied to each of the routes (independent of items). There are some depots/warehouses (origins) from which the items are transported to the sales counters (destinations) through different conveyances and routes. In proposed FC 4D-MITP models, per unit selling prices, per unit purchasing prices, per unit transportation expenditures, fixed charges, availabilities at the sources, demands at the destinations, conveyance capacities, total available space and budget are expressed by rough intervals, where the transported items are substitutable and complementary in nature. In this business, the demands for the items at the destinations are directly related to their substitutability and complementary natures and prices. The suggested rough model is converted into a deterministic one using lower and upper approximation intervals following Hamzehee et al. as well as Expected Value Techniques. The converted model is optimized through the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) techniques using LINGO 14 software. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the preciseness of the proposed model. As particular cases, different models such as 2D, 3D FCMITPs for two substitute items, one item with its complement and two non substitute non complementary items are derived and results are presented.
Boundary Value Problems for Hybrid Caputo Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Baitiche Zidane , Guerbati Kaddour , Benchohra Mouffak , Zhou Yong
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we discuss the existence of solutions for a hybrid boundary value problem of Caputo fractional differential equations. The main tool used in our study is associated with the technique of measures of noncompactness. As an application, we give an example to illustrate our results.
Transcriptomic-Proteomic Correlation in the Predation-Evoked Venom of the Cone Snail, Conus imperialis
Authors: Jin Ai-Hua , Dutertre Sébastien , Dutt Mriga , Lavergne Vincent , Jones Alun , Lewis Richard J. , Alewood Paul F.
Published: March 2019

Individual variation in animal venom has been linked to geographical location, feeding habit, season, size, and gender. Uniquely, cone snails possess the remarkable ability to change venom composition in response to predatory or defensive stimuli. To date, correlations between the venom gland transcriptome and proteome within and between individual cone snails have not been reported. In this study, we use 454 pyrosequencing and mass spectrometry to decipher the transcriptomes and proteomes of the venom gland and corresponding predation-evoked venom of two specimens of Conus imperialis. Transcriptomic analyses revealed 17 conotoxin gene superfamilies common to both animals, including 5 novel superfamilies and two novel cysteine frameworks. While highly expressed transcripts were common to both specimens, variation of moderately and weakly expressed precursor sequences was surprisingly diverse, with one specimen expressing two unique gene superfamilies and consistently producing more paralogs within each conotoxin gene superfamily. Using a quantitative labelling method, conotoxin variability was compared quantitatively, with highly expressed peptides showing a strong correlation between transcription and translation, whereas peptides expressed at lower levels showed a poor correlation. These results suggest that major transcripts are subject to stabilizing selection, while minor transcripts are subject to diversifying selection.
Steroids from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475 Induced Apoptosis via Retinoid X Receptor (RXR)-α Pathway
Authors: Xie Chun-Lan , Zhang Duo , Xia Jin-Mei , Hu Chao-Chao , Lin Ting , Lin Yu-Kun , Wang Guang-Hui , Tian Wen-Jing , Li Zeng-Peng , Zhang Xiao-Kun , Yang Xian-Wen , Chen Hai-Feng
Published: March 2019

Five new ergostanes, penicisteroids D−H (1−5), were isolated from the liquid culture of the deep-sea-derived fungus Penicillium granulatum MCCC 3A00475, along with 27 known compounds. The structures of the new steroids were established mainly on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR as well as HRESIMS data. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 1 were confirmed unambiguously by the single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 2 and 4–7 showed moderate antiproliferative effects selectively against 12 different cancer cell lines with IC50 values of around 5 μM. Compounds 2 and 6, potent RXRα binders with Kd values of 13.8 and 12.9 μM, respectively, could induce apoptosis by a Retinoid X Receptor (RXR)-α-dependent mechanism by regulating RXRα transcriptional expression and promoting the poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Moreover, they could inhibit proliferation by cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase.
Mechanical Properties and Application of Right-Hand Rolling-Thread Steel Bolt in Deep and High-Stress Roadway
Authors: Zhang Jinpeng , Liu Limin , Shao Jun , Li Qinghai
Published: March 2019

The left-hand rolling-thread steel bolt has been proposed as a new bolt for controlling roadway surrounding rock. To explore the mechanism of a left-hand rolling-thread steel bolt in roadway surrounding rock control, its pretightening forces, tensile strengths, anchoring forces, and maximum working resistances were compared to normal right-hand full-thread steel bolts in the engineering context of the 1301 haulage roadway in the Daxing Coal Mine. Then, the left-hand threaded steel bolt was applied to the 1301 haulage roadway that the right-hand threaded steel bolt failed to control. The results indicated that due to the different effective tensile section area, the yield strength and tensile strength of the left-hand threaded steel bolt with the same material and diameter were more than 10% larger than those of the right-hand threaded steel bolt. Due to the different thread directions, the anchoring forces of the Φ18 and Φ20 left-hand threaded steel bolts were 46.2% and 33.3% greater than those of the right-hand threaded steel bolts, respectively. In the 1301 haulage roadway, the maximum pull-out force of the left-hand rolling-thread steel bolt with the same diameter was obviously greater than that of the right-hand full thread steel bolt. The displacements of the 1301 haulage roadway supported by the left-hand threaded steel bolt were not great. So, the left-hand threaded steel bolt can effectively control the surrounding rock in the 1301 haulage roadway.
Duplex and Superduplex Stainless Steels: Microstructure and Property Evolution by Surface Modification Processes
Authors: Tahchieva Alisiya Biserova , Llorca-Isern Núria , Cabrera José-María
Published: March 2019

The paper presents an overview of diffusion surface treatments, especially nitriding processes, applied to duplex and superduplex stainless steels in the last five years. Research has been done mainly to investigate different nitriding processes in order to optimize parameters for the most appropriate procedure. The scope has been to improve mechanical and wear resistance without prejudice to the corrosion properties of the duplex and superduplex stainless steels. Our investigation also aimed to understand the effect of the nitriding layer on the precipitation of secondary phases after any heating step.
Mechanical Properties of Direct-Quenched Ultra-High-Strength Steel Alloyed with Molybdenum and Niobium
Authors: Hannula Jaakko , Porter David , Kaijalainen Antti , Somani Mahesh , Kömi Jukka
Published: March 2019

The direct quenching process is an energy- and resource-efficient process for making high-strength structural steels with good toughness, weldability, and bendability. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the effect of molybdenum and niobium on the microstructures and mechanical properties of laboratory rolled and direct-quenched 11 mm thick steel plates containing 0.16 wt.% C. Three of the studied compositions were niobium-free, having molybdenum contents of 0 wt.%, 0.25 wt.%, and 0.5 wt.%. In addition, a composition containing 0.25 wt.% molybdenum and 0.04 wt.% niobium was studied. Prior to direct quenching, finish rolling temperatures (FRTs) of about 800 °C and 900 °C were used to obtain different levels of austenite pancaking. The final direct-quenched microstructures were martensitic and yield strengths varied in the range of 766–1119 MPa. Mo and Nb additions led to a refined martensitic microstructure that resulted in a good combination of strength and toughness. Furthermore, Mo and Nb alloying significantly reduced the amount of strain-induced ferrite in the microstructure at lower FRTs (800 °C). The steel with 0.5 wt.% Mo exhibited a high yield strength of 1119 MPa combined with very low 28 J transition temperature of −95 °C in the as-quenched condition. Improved mechanical properties of Mo and Mo–Nb steels can be attributed to the improved boron protection. Also, the crystallographic texture of the investigated steels showed that Nb and Nb–Mo alloying increased the amount of {112}<131> and {554}<225> texture components. The 0Mo steel also contained the texture components of {110}<110> and {011}<100>, which can be considered to be detrimental for impact toughness properties.
Advanced Non-Destructive in Situ Characterization of Metals with the French Collaborating Research Group D2AM/BM02 Beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Authors: Chahine Gilbert André , Blanc Nils , Arnaud Stephan , De Geuser Frédéric , Guinebretière René , Boudet Nathalie
Published: March 2019

The ability to non-destructively measure the structural properties of devices, either in situ or operando, are now possible using an intense X-ray synchrotron source combined with specialized equipment. This tool attracted researchers, in particular metallurgists, to attempt more complex and ambitious experiments aimed at answering unresolved questions in formation mechanisms, phase transitions, and magnetism complex alloys for industrial applications. In this paper, we introduce the diffraction diffusion anomale multi-longueur d’onde (D2AM) beamline, a French collaborating research group (CRG) beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), partially dedicated to in situ X-ray scattering experiments. The design of the beamline combined with the available equipment (two-dimensional fast photon counting detectors, sophisticated high precision kappa diffractometer, a variety of sample environments, continuous scanning for X-ray imaging, and specific software for data analysis) has made the D2AM beamline a highly efficient tool for advanced, in situ synchrotron characterization in materials science, e.g., single crystal or polycrystalline materials, powders, liquids, thin films, or epitaxial nanostructures. This paper gathers the main elements and equipment available at the beamline and shows its potential and flexibility in performing a wide variety of temporally, spatially, and energetically resolved X-ray synchrotron scattering measurements in situ.
Influence of the Quenching and Partitioning Process on the Transformation Kinetics and Hardness in a Lean Medium Manganese TRIP Steel
Authors: Kaar Simone , Schneider Reinhold , Krizan Daniel , Béal Coline , Sommitsch Christof
Published: March 2019

The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) process of lean medium Mn steels is a novel approach for producing ultra-high strength and good formable steels. First, the steel is fully austenitized, followed by quenching to a specific quenching temperature (TQ) in order to adjust an appropriate amount of initial martensite (α’initial). Subsequently, the steel is reheated to a partitioning temperature (TP) in order to ensure C-partitioning from α’initial to remaining austenite (γremain) and thus retained austenite (RA) stabilization. After isothermal holding, the steel is quenched to room temperature (RT), in order to achieve a martensitic-austenitic microstructure, where the meta-stable RA undergoes the strain-induced martensitic transformation by the so-called transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. This paper systematically investigates the influence of the Q&P process on the isothermal bainitic transformation (IBT) kinetics in a 0.2C-4.5Mn-1.3Al lean medium Mn steel by means of dilatometry. Therefore, the Q&P annealing approach was precisely compared to the TRIP-aided bainitic ferrite (TBF) process, where the samples were directly quenched to the temperature of the IBT after full austenitization. The results indicated an accelerated IBT for the Q&P samples, caused by the formation of α’initial during quenching below the martensite start (MS) temperature. Furthermore, a significant influence of the annealing parameters, such as TQ and TP, was observed with regard to the transformation behavior. For further characterization, light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied, showing a microstructure consisting of a martensitic-bainitic matrix with finely distributed RA islands. Saturation magnetization method (SMM) was used to determine the amount of RA, which was primarily depending on TQ. Furthermore, the hardness according to Vickers revealed a remarkable impact of the annealing parameters, such as TQ and TP, on the predicted mechanical properties.
The Effect of Exercise Training on Myocardial and Skeletal Muscle Metabolism by MR Spectroscopy in Rats with Heart Failure
Authors: Shi Mingshu , Ellingsen Øyvind , Bathen Tone Frost , Høydal Morten A. , Stølen Tomas , Esmaeili Morteza
Published: March 2019

The metabolism and performance of myocardial and skeletal muscle are impaired in heart failure (HF) patients. Exercise training improves the performance and benefits the quality of life in HF patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine the metabolic profiles in myocardial and skeletal muscle in HF and exercise training using MRS, and thus to identify targets for clinical MRS in vivo. After surgically establishing HF in rats, we randomized the rats to exercise training programs of different intensities. After the final training session, rats were sacrificed and tissues from the myocardial and skeletal muscle were extracted. Magnetic resonance spectra were acquired from these extracts, and principal component and metabolic enrichment analysis were used to assess the differences in metabolic profiles. The results indicated that HF affected myocardial metabolism by changing multiple metabolites, whereas it had a limited effect on skeletal muscle metabolism. Moreover, exercise training mainly altered the metabolite distribution in skeletal muscle, indicating regulation of metabolic pathways of taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and carnitine synthesis.
Microbiological Testing for the Proper Assessment of the Hygiene Status of Beef Carcasses
Authors: Camargo Anderson Carlos , Cossi Marcus Vinícius Coutinho , Silva Wladimir Padilha da , Bersot Luciano dos Santos , Landgraf Mariza , Baranyi József , Franco Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo , Luís Augusto Nero
Published: March 2019

Microbiological testing is an important quality management tool in the food industry. In this study, the hygiene status of beef carcasses sampled in eight Brazilian slaughterhouses was assessed by enumeration of different hygiene indicator microorganisms, and a model to establish potential associations among these counts was proposed. The carcasses (n = 464) were surface sampled at four slaughtering steps (step 1: Hide after bleeding; step 2: Carcass after hide removal; step 3: Carcass after evisceration; step 4: Carcass after end washing) and subjected to a counting of mesophilic aerobes (MA), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), total coliforms (TC), and Escherichia coli (EC) using Petrifilm™ plates. Among the sampled beef carcasses (step 4), 32 (6.9%) and 71 (15.3%) presented counts above the microbiological criteria established by (EC) No. 1441/2007 for MA and EB, respectively. Thus, indicating that improvements in slaughter hygiene and a review of process controls are demanded in some of the studied slaughterhouses. The log count differences of EC, TC, and EB from MA were considered as response variables as a function of the slaughtering steps. Differential log counts changed consistently with the steps. The measurements, including the patterns in their inherently random variability, were fairly predictable from steps 1 and 4. The results indicated that differential log counts for TC and EC are not relevant, as their concentrations and random pattern can be inferred from counts of MA and EB. The proposed model can be used as a valuable tool for the design and adoption of feasible quality control programs in beef industries. The adoption of such a tool should have a positive contribution on consumers’ health and enhance product quality.
Phenotypic and Molecular Analyses of Rhizoctonia spp. Associated with Rice and Other Hosts
Authors: Sandoval Regina Faye C. , Cumagun Christian Joseph R.
Published: March 2019

Forty-two Rhizoctonia isolates were collected from rice, mung bean, and grasses from Laguna, Philippines. Sixteen isolates were binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR), while 26 were multinucleate Rhizoctonia (MNR). BNR isolates produced white to brown, small sclerotia (<1.0 mm) except for mung bean isolates. Twenty MNR isolates produced big (>1.0 mm), light to dark brown sclerotia, three produced salmon-colored masses in the medium, and three did not produce sclerotia. Twenty-three MNR isolates were identified as R. solani AG1-IA using specific primers. Deduced Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences of BNR isolates D1FL, NVL, and ScNL shared 100, 97, and 100% identity with R. oryzae-sativae, respectively, while MNR isolates BMgL, IbMgL, and MaSL that produced salmon-colored masses shared 100, 90, and 100% identity with R. oryzae, respectively. Preliminary analysis of the DNA fingerprint patterns generated by repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) clustered the 42 isolates into three: R. solani, R. oryzae-sativae, and R. oryzae, together with Ceratobasidium sp. R. solani isolates were pathogenic on rice (TN1), barnyard grass, mungbean (Pagasa 3), and tomato (Athena), while R. oryzae and R. oryzae-sativae isolates were only pathogenic on rice, Echinochloa crus-galli, and tomato. R. solani and R. oryzae were found to be more virulent than R. oryzae-sativae.
Origin and Evolution of Ore-Forming Fluid and Gold-Deposition Processes at the Sanshandao Gold Deposit, Jiaodong Peninsula, Eastern China
Authors: Liu Yazhou , Yang Liqiang , Wang Sirui , Liu Xiangdong , Wang Hao , Li Dapeng , Wei Pengfei , Cheng Wei , Chen Bingyu
Published: March 2019

The Early Cretaceous Sanshandao gold deposit, the largest deposit in the Sanshandao-Cangshang goldfield, is located in the northwestern part of the Jiaodong peninsula. It is host to Mesozoic granitoids and is controlled by the north by northeast (NNE) to northeast (NE)-trending Sanshandao-Cangshang fault. Two gold mineralizations were identified in the deposit’s disseminated and stockwork veinlets and quartz–sulfide veins, which are typically enveloped by broad alteration selvages. Based on the cross-cutting relationships and mineralogical and textural characteristics, four stages have been identified for both styles of mineralization: Pyrite–quartz (stage 1), quartz–pyrite (stage 2), quartz–pyrite–base metal–sulfide (stage 3), and quartz–carbonate (stage 4), with gold mainly occurring in stages 2 and 3. Three types of fluid inclusion have been distinguished on the basis of fluid-inclusion assemblages in quartz and calcite from the four stages: Pure CO2 gas (type I), CO2–H2O inclusions (type II), and aqueous inclusions (type III). Early-stage (stage 1) quartz primary inclusions are only type II inclusions, with trapping at 280–400 °C and salinity at 0.35 wt %–10.4 wt % NaCl equivalent. The main mineralizing stages (stages 2 and 3) typically contain primary fluid-inclusion assemblages of all three types, which show similar phase transition temperatures and are trapped between 210 and 320 °C. The late stage (stage 4) quartz and calcite contain only type III aqueous inclusions with trapping temperatures of 150–230 °C. The δ34S values of the hydrothermal sulfides from the main stage range from 7.7‰ to 12.6‰ with an average of 10.15‰. The δ18O values of hydrothermal quartz mainly occur between 9.7‰ and 15.1‰ (mainly 10.7‰–12.5‰, average 12.4‰); calculated fluid δ18O values are from 0.97‰ to 10.79‰ with a median value of 5.5‰. The δDwater values calculated from hydrothermal sericite range from −67‰ to −48‰. Considering the fluid-inclusion compositions, δ18O and δD compositions of ore-forming fluids, and regional geological events, the most likely ultimate potential fluid and metal would have originated from dehydration and desulfidation of the subducting paleo-Pacific slab and the subsequent devolatilization of the enriched mantle wedge. Fluid immiscibility occurred during the main ore-forming stage due to pressure decrease from the early stage (165–200 MPa) to the main stage (90–175 MPa). Followed by the changing physical and chemical conditions, the metallic elements (including Au) in the fluid could no longer exist in the form of complexes and precipitated from the fluid. Water–rock sulfidation and pressure fluctuations, with associated fluid unmixing and other chemical changes, were the two main mechanisms of gold deposition.
Amyloid-Targeting PET Tracer [18F]Flutemetamol Accumulates in Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Hellberg Sanna , Silvola Johanna M.U. , Liljenbäck Heidi , Kiugel Max , Eskola Olli , Hakovirta Harri , Hörkkö Sohvi , Morisson-Iveson Veronique , Hirani Ella , Saukko Pekka , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Knuuti Juhani , Saraste Antti , Roivainen Anne
Published: March 2019

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the accumulation of oxidized lipids in the artery wall, which triggers an inflammatory response. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) presents amyloid-like structural properties, and different amyloid species have recently been recognized in atherosclerotic plaques. Therefore, we studied the uptake of the amyloid imaging agent [18F]Flutemetamol in atherosclerotic plaques. The binding of [18F]Flutemetamol to human carotid artery plaque was studied in vitro. In vivo uptake of the tracer was studied in hypercholesterolemic IGF-II/LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice and C57BL/6N controls. Tracer biodistribution was studied in vivo with PET/CT, and ex vivo by gamma counter and digital ex vivo autoradiography. The presence of amyloid, ox-LDL, and macrophages in the plaques was examined by immunohistochemistry. [18F]Flutemetamol showed specific accumulation in human carotid plaque, especially in areas positive for amyloid beta. The aortas of IGF-II/LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice showed large thioflavin-S-positive atherosclerotic plaques containing ox-LDL and macrophages. Autoradiography revealed 1.7-fold higher uptake in the plaques than in a lesion-free vessel wall, but no difference in aortic tissue uptake between mouse strains were observed in the in vivo PET/CT. In conclusion, [18F]Flutemetamol binds to amyloid-positive areas in human atherosclerotic plaques. Further studies are warranted to clarify the uptake mechanisms, and the potential of the tracer for in vivo imaging of atherosclerosis in patients.
Predicting Ewing Sarcoma Treatment Outcome Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
Authors: Chaber Radosław , Arthur Christopher J. , Łach Kornelia , Raciborska Anna , Michalak Elżbieta , Bilska Katarzyna , Drabko Katarzyna , Depciuch Joanna , Kaznowska Ewa , Cebulski Józef
Published: March 2019

Background: Improved outcome prediction is vital for the delivery of risk-adjusted, appropriate and effective care to paediatric patients with Ewing sarcoma—the second most common paediatric malignant bone tumour. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of tissues allows the bulk biochemical content of a biological sample to be probed and makes possible the study and diagnosis of disease. Methods: In this retrospective study, FTIR spectra of sections of biopsy-obtained bone tissue were recorded. Twenty-seven patients (between 5 and 20 years of age) with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma of bone were included in this study. The prognostic value of FTIR spectra obtained from Ewing sarcoma (ES) tumours before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analysed in combination with various data-reduction and machine learning approaches. Results: Random forest and linear discriminant analysis supervised learning models were able to correctly predict patient mortality in 92% of cases using leave-one-out cross-validation. The best performing model for predicting patient relapse was a linear Support Vector Machine trained on the observed spectral changes as a result of chemotherapy treatment, which achieved 92% accuracy. Conclusion: FTIR spectra of tumour biopsy samples may predict treatment outcome in paediatric Ewing sarcoma patients with greater than 92% accuracy.
G-Quadruplexes as An Alternative Recognition Element in Disease-Related Target Sensing
Authors: Ida Jeunice , Chan Soo Khim , Glökler Jörn , Lim Yee Ying , Choong Yee Siew , Lim Theam Soon
Published: March 2019

G-quadruplexes are made up of guanine-rich RNA and DNA sequences capable of forming noncanonical nucleic acid secondary structures. The base-specific sterical configuration of G-quadruplexes allows the stacked G-tetrads to bind certain planar molecules like hemin (iron (III)-protoporphyrin IX) to regulate enzymatic-like functions such as peroxidase-mimicking activity, hence the use of the term DNAzyme/RNAzyme. This ability has been widely touted as a suitable substitute to conventional enzymatic reporter systems in diagnostics. This review will provide a brief overview of the G-quadruplex architecture as well as the many forms of reporter systems ranging from absorbance to luminescence readouts in various platforms. Furthermore, some challenges and improvements that have been introduced to improve the application of G-quadruplex in diagnostics will be highlighted. As the field of diagnostics has evolved to apply different detection systems, the need for alternative reporter systems such as G-quadruplexes is also paramount.
CuDDI: A CUDA-Based Application for Extracting Drug-Drug Interaction Related Substance Terms from PubMed Literature
Authors: Lu Yin , Ramachandra Aditya Chandra Vothgod , Pham Minh , Tu Yi-Cheng , Cheng Feng
Published: March 2019

Drug-drug interaction (DDI) is becoming a serious issue in clinical pharmacy as the use of multiple medications is more common. The PubMed database is one of the biggest literature resources for DDI studies. It contains over 150,000 journal articles related to DDI and is still expanding at a rapid pace. The extraction of DDI-related information, including compounds and proteins from PubMed, is an essential step for DDI research. In this paper, we introduce a tool, CuDDI (compute unified device architecture-based DDI searching), for identification of DDI-related terms (including compounds and proteins) from PubMed. There are three modules in this application, including the automatic retrieval of substances from PubMed, the identification of DDI-related terms, and the display of relationship of DDI-related terms. For DDI term identification, a speedup of 30–105 times was observed for the compute unified device architecture (CUDA)-based version compared with the implementation with a CPU-based Python version. CuDDI can be used to discover DDI-related terms and relationships of these terms, which has the potential to help clinicians and pharmacists better understand the mechanism of DDIs. CuDDI is available at: https://github.com/chengusf/CuDDI.
Identification of the Tetrel Bonds between Halide Anions and Carbon Atom of Methyl Groups Using Electronic Criterion
Authors: Bartashevich Ekaterina , Matveychuk Yury , Tsirelson Vladimir
Published: March 2019

The consideration of the disposition of minima of electron density and electrostatic potential along the line between non-covalently bound atoms in systems with Hal−···CH3–Y (Hal− = Cl, Br; Y = N, O) fragments allowed to prove that the carbon atom in methyl group serves as an electrophilic site provider. These interactions between halide anion and carbon in methyl group can be categorized as the typical tetrel bonds. Statistics of geometrical parameters for such tetrel bonds in CSD is analyzed. It is established that the binding energy in molecular complexes with tetrel bonds correlate with the potential acting on an electron in molecule (PAEM). The PAEM barriers for tetrel bonds show a similar behavior for both sets of complexes with Br− and Cl− electron donors.
Antioxidant, Gastroprotective, Cytotoxic Activities and UHPLC PDA-Q Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Identification of Metabolites in Baccharis grisebachii Decoction
Authors: Gómez Jessica , Simirgiotis Mario J. , Lima Beatriz , Paredes Jésica D. , Villegas Gabutti Carlos M. , Gamarra-Luques Carlos , Bórquez Jorge , Luna Lorena , Wendel Graciela H. , Maria Alejandra O. , Feresin Gabriela E. , Tapia Alejandro
Published: March 2019

The decoction of the local plant Baccharis grisebachii is used as a digestive, gastroprotective, external cicatrizing agent and antiseptic in Argentine. A lyophilized decoction (BLD) from the aerial parts of this plant was evaluated regarding its anti-ulcer, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities and the bioactivities were supported by UHPLC-MS metabolome fingerprinting which revealed the presence of several small bioactive compounds. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by DPPH, TEAC, FRAP and lipoperoxidation inhibition in erythrocytes methods, and the antibacterial activity was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The BLD showed a moderate free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH (EC50 = 106 µg/mL) and lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes assays (67%, at 250 µg/mL). However, the BLD had the highest gastroprotective effect at a dose of 750 mg/kg with a ninety-three percent inhibition of damage through a mechanism that involve NO and prostaglandins using the ethanol-induced gastric damage in a standard rat model. On the other hand, BLD does not induce cytotoxic changes on human tumor and no-tumor cell lines at the concentrations assayed. Regarding the metabolomic analysis, thirty-one compounds were detected and 30 identified based on UHPLC-OT-MS including twelve flavonoids, eleven cinnamic acid derivatives, one coumarin, one stilbene and two other different phenolic compounds. The results support that the medicinal decoction of Baccharis grisebachii is a valuable natural product with gastroprotective effects and with potential to improve human health that opens a pathway for the development of important phytomedicine products.
Radicinin, a Fungal Phytotoxin as a Target-Specific Bioherbicide for Invasive Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) Control
Authors: Masi Marco , Freda Fabrizio , Sangermano Felicia , Calabrò Viola , Cimmino Alessio , Cristofaro Massimo , Meyer Susan , Evidente Antonio
Published: March 2019

The fungal pathogens Cochliobolus australiensis and Pyricularia grisea have recently been isolated from diseased leaves of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in its North American range, and their ability to produce phytotoxic metabolites that could potentially be used as natural herbicides against this invasive weed was investigated. Fourteen secondary metabolites obtained from in vitro cultures of these two pathogens were tested by leaf puncture assay on the host plant at different concentrations. Radicinin and (10S, 11S)-epi-pyriculol proved to be the most promising compounds. Thus, their phytotoxic activity was also evaluated on non-host indigenous plants. Radicinin demonstrated high target-specific toxicity on buffelgrass, low toxicity to native plants, and no teratogenic, sub-lethal, or lethal effects on zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio) embryos. It is now under consideration for the development of a target-specific bioherbicide to be used against buffelgrass in natural systems where synthetic herbicides cause excessive damage to native plants.