bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper(II) Bis(diethyldithiocarbamate) Induces the Expression of Syndecan-4, a Transmembrane Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan, via p38 MAPK Activation in Vascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Hara Takato , Tatsuishi Hiroko , Banno Tomomi , Fujie Tomoya , Yamamoto Chika , Naka Hiroshi , Kaji Toshiyuki
Published: October 2018

Proteoglycans synthesized by vascular endothelial cells are important for regulating cell function and the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system. Since we recently reported that copper(II) bis(diethyldithiocarbamate) (Cu(edtc)2) modulates the expression of some molecules involving the antioxidant and blood coagulation systems, we hypothesized that Cu(edtc)2 may regulate the expression of proteoglycans and examined this hypothesis using a bovine aortic endothelial cell culture system. The experiments showed that Cu(edtc)2 induced the expression of syndecan-4, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This induction required the whole structure of Cu(edtc)2—the specific combination of intramolecular copper and a diethyldithiocarbamate structure—as the ligand. Additionally, the syndecan-4 induction by Cu(edtc)2 depended on the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not the Smad2/3, NF-E2-related factor2 (Nrf2), or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways. p38 MAPK may be a key molecule for inducing the expression of syndecan-4 in vascular endothelial cells.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Alzheimer’s Disease: Role of Insulin Signalling and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Tumminia Andrea , Vinciguerra Federica , Parisi Miriam , Frittitta Lucia
Published: October 2018

In the last two decades, numerous in vitro studies demonstrated that insulin receptors and theirs downstream pathways are widely distributed throughout the brain. This evidence has proven that; at variance with previous believes; insulin/insulin-like-growth-factor (IGF) signalling plays a crucial role in the regulation of different central nervous system (CNS) tasks. The most important of these functions include: synaptic formation; neuronal plasticity; learning; memory; neuronal stem cell activation; neurite growth and repair. Therefore; dysfunction at different levels of insulin signalling and metabolism can contribute to the development of a number of brain disorders. Growing evidences demonstrate a close relationship between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. They, in fact, share many pathophysiological characteristics comprising impaired insulin sensitivity, amyloid β accumulation, tau hyper-phosphorylation, brain vasculopathy, inflammation and oxidative stress. In this article, we will review the clinical and experimental evidences linking insulin resistance, T2DM and neurodegeneration, with the objective to specifically focus on insulin signalling-related mechanisms. We will also evaluate the pharmacological strategies targeting T2DM as potential therapeutic tools in patients with cognitive impairment.
Immune Evasion, a Potential Mechanism of Trichothecenes: New Insights into Negative Immune Regulations
Authors: Wu Qinghua , Wu Wenda , Franca Tanos C. C. , Jacevic Vesna , Wang Xu , Kuca Kamil
Published: October 2018

Days ago, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2018 was awarded jointly to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo “for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation”. This news has increased the attention on immunotoxicity and immune evasion mechanisms, which are once again hot research topics. Actually, increasing lines of evidence show that trichothecene mycotoxins have a strong immunosuppressive effect. These mycotoxins suppress the host immunity and make them more sensitive to the infection of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. However, the underlying mechanism(s) in this context is still poorly understood. Interestingly, recent work showed that an immune evasion mechanism might be involved in trichothecene immunotoxicity. In this work, we discuss the potential immune evasion mechanism in trichothecene immunotoxicity. More importantly, under these circumstances, we are pleased to compile a Special Issue entitled “Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Toxicology of Natural and Synthetic Toxins” for the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS). Researchers are encouraged to share their latest interesting findings with the readers of IJMS.
Context-Aware Data Dissemination for ICN-Based Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Li Yuhong , Shi Xinyue , Lindgren Anders , Hu Zhuo , Zhang Peng , Jin Di , Zhou Yingchao
Published: October 2018

Information-centric networking (ICN) technology matches many major requirements of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) in terms of its connectionless networking paradigm accordant with the dynamic environments of VANETs and is increasingly being applied to VANETs. However, wireless transmissions of packets in VANETs using ICN mechanisms can lead to broadcast storms and channel contention, severely affecting the performance of data dissemination. At the same time, frequent changes of topology due to driving at high speeds and environmental obstacles can also lead to link interruptions when too few vehicles are involved in data forwarding. Hence, balancing the number of forwarding vehicular nodes and the number of copies of packets that are forwarded is essential for improving the performance of data dissemination in information-centric networking for vehicular ad-hoc networks. In this paper, we propose a context-aware packet-forwarding mechanism for ICN-based VANETs. The relative geographical position of vehicles, the density and relative distribution of vehicles, and the priority of content are considered during the packet forwarding. Simulation results show that the proposed mechanism can improve the performance of data dissemination in ICN-based VANET in terms of a successful data delivery ratio, packet loss rate, bandwidth usage, data response time, and traversed hops.
Large Scale Advanced Data Analytics on Skin Conditions from Genotype to Phenotype
Authors: Panahiazar Maryam , Fadavi Darya , Aljabban Jihad , Safeer Laraib , Aljabban Imad , Hadley Dexter
Published: October 2018

A crucial factor in Big Data is to take advantage of available data and use that for new discovery or hypothesis generation. In this study, we analyzed Large-scale data from the literature to OMICS, such as the genome, proteome or metabolome, respectively, for skin conditions. Skin acts as a natural barrier to the world around us and protects our body from different conditions, viruses, and bacteria, and plays a big part in appearance. We have included Hyperpigmentation, Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation, Melasma, Rosacea, Actinic keratosis, and Pigmentation in this study. These conditions have been selected based on reasoning of big scale UCSF patient data of 527,273 females from 2011 to 2017, and related publications from 2000 to 2017 regarding skin conditions. The selected conditions have been confirmed with experts in the field from different research centers and hospitals. We proposed a novel framework for large-scale available public data to find the common genotypes and phenotypes of different skin conditions. The outcome of this study based on Advance Data Analytics provides information on skin conditions and their treatments to the research community and introduces new hypotheses for possible genotype and phenotype targets. The novelty of this work is a meta-analysis of different features on different skin conditions. Instead of looking at individual conditions with one or two features, which is how most of the previous works are conducted, we looked at several conditions with different features to find the common factors between them. Our hypothesis is that by finding the overlap in genotype and phenotype between different skin conditions, we can suggest using a drug that is recommended in one condition, for treatment in the other condition which has similar genes or other common phenotypes. We identified common genes between these skin conditions and were able to find common areas for targeting between conditions, such as common drugs. Our work has implications for discovery and new hypotheses to improve health quality, and is geared towards making Big Data useful.
Digitization and Visualization of Folk Dances in Cultural Heritage: A Review
Authors: Kico Iris , Grammalidis Nikos , Christidis Yiannis , Liarokapis Fotis
Published: October 2018

According to UNESCO, cultural heritage does not only include monuments and collections of objects, but also contains traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed to our descendants. Folk dances represent part of cultural heritage and their preservation for the next generations appears of major importance. Digitization and visualization of folk dances form an increasingly active research area in computer science. In parallel to the rapidly advancing technologies, new ways for learning folk dances are explored, making the digitization and visualization of assorted folk dances for learning purposes using different equipment possible. Along with challenges and limitations, solutions that can assist the learning process and provide the user with meaningful feedback are proposed. In this paper, an overview of the techniques used for the recording of dance moves is presented. The different ways of visualization and giving the feedback to the user are reviewed as well as ways of performance evaluation. This paper reviews advances in digitization and visualization of folk dances from 2000 to 2018.
Statin for Tuberculosis and Pneumonia in Patients with Asthma–Chronic Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome: A Time-Dependent Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Yeh Jun-Jun , Lin Cheng-Li , Hsu Chung-Y. , Shae Zonyin , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: October 2018

We investigated the effects of statins on tuberculosis (TB) and pneumonia risks in asthma–chronic pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) patients. We extracted data of patients diagnosed as having ACOS during 2000–2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and divided them into statin users and nonusers. All study participants were followed up from the index date until death, withdrawal from insurance, or TB and pneumonia occurred (31 December 2011). The cumulative TB and pneumonia incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional regression analysis with time-dependent variables. After adjustments for multiple confounding factors including age, sex, comorbidities, and use of medications [statins, inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), or oral steroids (OSs)], statin use was associated with significantly lower TB [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.70] and pneumonia (aHR 0.52, 95% CI 0.41–0.65) risks. Moreover, aHRs (95% CIs) for statins combined with ICSs and OSs were respectively 0.60 (0.31–1.16) and 0.58 (0.40–0.85) for TB and 0.61 (0.39–0.95) and 0.57 (0.45–0.74) for pneumonia. Thus, statin users had lower TB and pneumonia risks than did nonusers, regardless of age, sex, comorbidities, and ICS or OS use. Pneumonia risk was lower among users of statins combined with ICSs or Oss and TB risk was lower among the users of statins combined with OSs.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Discontinuous Fiber Composites
Authors: Osswald Tim A.
Published: October 2018

The papers published in this special edition of the Journal of Composites Science will give the polymer engineer and scientist insight into what the existing challenges are in the discontinuous fiber composites field, and how these challenges are being addressed by the research community. [...]
Image-Based Surrogates of Socio-Economic Status in Urban Neighborhoods Using Deep Multiple Instance Learning
Authors: Diou Christos , Lelekas Pantelis , Delopoulos Anastasios
Published: October 2018

(1) Background: Evidence-based policymaking requires data about the local population’s socioeconomic status (SES) at detailed geographical level, however, such information is often not available, or is too expensive to acquire. Researchers have proposed solutions to estimate SES indicators by analyzing Google Street View images, however, these methods are also resource-intensive, since they require large volumes of manually labeled training data. (2) Methods: We propose a methodology for automatically computing surrogate variables of SES indicators using street images of parked cars and deep multiple instance learning. Our approach does not require any manually created labels, apart from data already available by statistical authorities, while the entire pipeline for image acquisition, parked car detection, car classification, and surrogate variable computation is fully automated. The proposed surrogate variables are then used in linear regression models to estimate the target SES indicators. (3) Results: We implement and evaluate a model based on the proposed surrogate variable at 30 municipalities of varying SES in Greece. Our model has R 2 = 0.76 and a correlation coefficient of 0.874 with the true unemployment rate, while it achieves a mean absolute percentage error of 0.089 and mean absolute error of 1.87 on a held-out test set. Similar results are also obtained for other socioeconomic indicators, related to education level and occupational prestige. (4) Conclusions: The proposed methodology can be used to estimate SES indicators at the local level automatically, using images of parked cars detected via Google Street View, without the need for any manual labeling effort.
Formation Mechanism and Cohesive Energy Analysis of Metal-Coated Graphene Nanocomposites Using In-Situ Co-Reduction Method
Authors: Xue Yuanlin , Chen Wenge , Wang Jiaojiao , Dong Longlong , Zhao Qian , Fu Yongqing
Published: October 2018

Nanocomposite powders based on metal-coated graphene were synthesized using an in-situ co-reduction method in order to improve wettability and interfacial bonding between graphene and metal. Graphene oxide (GO) of 2~3 atomic layers was synthesized using the Hummer’s method with graphite as a raw material and then dispersed into a dispersing agent solution mixed with N-Methyl pyrrolidone and deionized water to form a homogeneous GO suspension, which was finally added into electroless plating solutions for the reduction process. Copper-coated graphene (Cu@graphene) and nickel-coated graphene (Ni@graphene) were synthesized using this one-step and co-reduction method by mixing salt solutions containing metal ions and GOs into the plating solution. The Cu ions or Ni ions were adsorbed and bonded onto the edges and surfaces of graphene, which was reduced from the GOs using a strong reducing agent of ascorbic acid or sodium borohydride. Crystalline Cu particles with an average size of about 200 nm were formed on the surface of graphene, whereas amorphous or nanocrystalline Ni particles with an average size of 55 nm were formed on the surface of graphene. Distribution of these metal particles on the graphene is homogeneous and highly dispersed, which can effectively improve the sinterability of composite powders. Cohesive energy distribution between graphene and metal interface was analyzed using first-principle calculation method. Formation mechanism of metal coated graphene was identified to be that both the GO and metal ions were simultaneously reduced in the reducing agents and thus a chemical bonding of graphene/metal was formed between the metal particles and graphene.
Finite-Element-Mesh Based Method for Modeling and Optimization of Lattice Structures for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Chen Wenjiong , Zheng Xiaonan , Liu Shutian
Published: October 2018

A parameterization modeling method based on finite element mesh to create complex large-scale lattice structures for AM is presented, and a corresponding approach for size optimization of lattice structures is also developed. In the modeling method, meshing technique is employed to obtain the meshes and nodes of lattice structures for a given geometry. Then, a parametric description of lattice unit cells based on the element type, element nodes and their connecting relationships is developed. Once the unit cell design is selected, the initial lattice structure can be assembled by the unit cells in each finite element. Furthermore, modification of lattice structures can be operated by moving mesh nodes and changing cross-sectional areas of bars. The graded and non-uniform lattice structures can be constructed easily based on the proposed modeling method. Moreover, a size optimization algorithm based on moving iso-surface threshold (MIST) method is proposed to optimize lattice structures for enhancing the mechanical performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, numerical examples and experimental testing are presented, and experimental testing shows 11% improved stiffness of the optimized non-uniform lattice structure than uniform one.
Modeling the Hysteresis Loop of Ultra-High Permeability Amorphous Alloy for Space Applications
Authors: Nowicki Michał , Szewczyk Roman , Charubin Tomasz , Marusenkov Andriy , Nosenko Anton , Kyrylchuk Vasyl
Published: October 2018

This paper presents investigation results regarding the Jiles-Atherton-based hysteresis loop modeling of ultra-high permeability amorphous alloy MELTA® MM-5Co. The measurement stand is capable of accurately measuring minor and major hysteresis loops for such a material together with exemplary measurement results. The main source of the measurement error is highlighted, which includes the Earth’s field influence. The results of hysteresis loop modeling with the original Jiles-Atherton model and with two of its modifications are given. In all cases, the parameters of the Jiles-Atherton model were identified in two-step identification on the basis of a differential evolution optimization algorithm. The results indicate that both the original and modified Jiles-Atherton models are suitable for modeling the ultra-soft amorphous alloy. However, the hysteresis model’s parameters vary significantly.
In Situ Vapor Polymerization of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Coated SnO2-Fe2O3 Continuous Electrospun Nanotubes for Rapid Detection of Iodide Ions
Authors: Xu Xiuru , Wang Wei , Sun Bolun , Zhang Xue , Zhao Rui , Wang Ce
Published: October 2018

In this work poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coated SnO2-Fe2O3 continuous nanotubes with a uniform core–shell structure have been demonstrated for rapid sensitive detection of iodide ions. The SnO2-Fe2O3 nanotubes were firstly fabricated via an electrospinning technique and following calcination process. An in situ polymerization approach was then performed to coat a uniform PEDOT shell on the surface of as-prepared SnO2-Fe2O3 nanotubes by vapor phase polymerization, using Fe2O3 on the surface of nanotubes as an oxidant in an acidic condition. The resultant PEDOT@SnO2-Fe2O3 core-shell nanotubes exhibit a fast response time (~4 s) toward iodide ion detection and a linear current response ranging from 10 to 100 μM, with a detection limit of 1.5 μM and sensitivity of 70 μA/mM/cm2. The facile fabrication process and high sensing performance of this study can promote a wide range of potential applications in human health monitoring and biosensing systems.
Fractal Behavior of a Ternary 4-Point Rational Interpolation Subdivision Scheme
Authors: Peng Kaijun , Tan Jieqing , Li Zhiming , Zhang Li
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a ternary 4-point rational interpolation subdivision scheme is presented, and the necessary and sufficient conditions of the continuity are analyzed. The generalization incorporates existing schemes as special cases: Hassan–Ivrissimtzis’s scheme, Siddiqi–Rehan’s scheme, and Siddiqi–Ahmad’s scheme. Furthermore, the fractal behavior of the scheme is investigated and analyzed, and the range of the parameter of the fractal curve is the neighborhood of the singular point of the rational scheme. When the fractal curve and surface are reconstructed, it is convenient for the selection of parameter values.
Cytotoxic Tricycloalternarene Compounds from Endophyte Alternaria sp. W-1 Associated with Laminaria japonica
Authors: Shen Li , Tian Shu-Juan , Song Hui-Liang , Chen Xi , Guo Hao , Wan Dan , Wang Yu-Rou , Wang Feng-Wu , Liu Li-Jun
Published: October 2018

The chemical investigation of the culture filtrate of endophyte Alternaria sp. W-1 associated with Laminaria japonica provided a new tricycloalternarene compound, 2H-(2E)-tricycloalternarene 12a (1), together with five known analogs: (2E)-tricycloalternarene 12a (2), tricycloalternarene 3a (3), tricycloalternarene F (4), 15-hydroxyl tricycloalternarene 5b (5), and ACTG-Toxin D (6). In vitro cytotoxicity against the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and the human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 was evaluated by the MTT method. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells with IC50 values of 49.7 ± 1.1, 45.8 ± 4.6, and 80.3 ± 3.8 μg/mL, respectively, while the IC50 value of the positive control cisplatin was 6.5 ± 0.5 μg/mL. Compounds 3 and 6 also showed moderate anti-proliferation activity against SGC-7901 cells with IC50 values of 53.2 ± 2.9 and 35.1 ± 0.8 μg/mL, respectively, while the IC50 value of cisplatin was 4.5 ± 0.6 μg/mL. Further studies revealed that the in vitro anticancer activity of compound 3 to SMMC-7721 cells was related to G1 phase cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis, and the induced apoptosis was involved in both the mitochondrial pathway and the death receptor pathway. This is the first report on the anticancer mechanism of tricycloalternarene compounds.
Checkpoint Inhibition: Will Combination with Radiotherapy and Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery Improve Efficacy?
Authors: Lamichhane Purushottam , Amin Neha P. , Agarwal Manuj , Lamichhane Narottam
Published: October 2018

Checkpoint inhibition (CPI) has been a rare success story in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Knowledge gleaned from preclinical studies and patients that do not respond to these therapies suggest that the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and establishment of immunostimulatory conditions, prior to CPI treatment, are required for efficacy of CPI. To this end, radiation therapy (RT) has been shown to promote immunogenic cell-death-mediated tumor-antigen release, increase infiltration and cross-priming of T cells, and decreasing immunosuppressive milieu in the tumor microenvironment, hence allowing CPI to take effect. Preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the combination of RT with CPI have been shown to overcome the resistance to either therapy alone. Additionally, nanoparticle and liposome-mediated delivery of checkpoint inhibitors has been shown to overcome toxicities and improve therapeutic efficacy, providing a rationale for clinical investigations of nanoparticle, microparticle, and liposomal delivery of checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of combined RT and CPI therapies in various cancers, and review findings from studies that evaluated nanoparticle and liposomal delivery of checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatments.
Community Resilience and Long-Term Impacts of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Northern Rwanda
Authors: Otake Yuko
Published: October 2018

Recently, discussions have considered how mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) can build upon local resilience in war-affected settings. To contribute to the knowledge in this field, the paper explored the gap between MHPSS and local communities in terms of perceived mental health problems and healing processes, and how the gap could be filled. Qualitative research was conducted in northern Rwanda with 43 participants between 2015 and 2016. Findings revealed how three particular gaps can isolate MHPSS recipients in their local community. First, whereas MHPSS applies bio-psychological frameworks to post-genocide mental health, community conceptualisations emphasise social aspects of suffering. Second, unlike MHPSS which encourages ‘talking’ about trauma, ‘practicing’ mutual support plays a major role in the community healing process. Third, MHPSS focuses on one part of the community (those who share the same background) and facilitates their healing in intervention groups. However, healing in natural communities continues in everyday life, through mutual support among different people. Despite these gaps, MHPSS recipients can be (re)integrated into the community through sharing suffering narratives and sharing life with other community members. The paper highlights the ways in which MHPSS could inclusively support different social groups in the overall geographical community, allowing members to preserve the existing reciprocity and recover collective life through their own initiatives.
The Radiostability of Meropenem Trihydrate in Solid State
Authors: Kilińska Karolina , Cielecka-Piontek Judyta , Skibiński Robert , Szymanowska Daria , Miklaszewski Andrzej , Bednarski Waldemar , Tykarska Ewa , Stasiłowicz Anna , Zalewski Przemysław
Published: October 2018

The influence of ionising radiation on the physicochemical properties of meropenem trihydrate in solid state was studied for doses of e-beam radiation: 25 kGy and 400 kGy. In the first part of our studies, we evaluated the possibility of applying radiosterilization to obtain sterile meropenem. No changes for meropenem irradiated with a dose of 25 kGy, the dose required to attain sterility, was confirmed in the results of spectroscopic (FT-IR), thermal (DSC, TGA) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) studies. The radiation dose of 25 kGy produces no more than about 1500 ppm of radical defects. The chromatographic studies of irradiated meropenem in solutions did not show any chemical degradation. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of meropenem irradiated with the dose of 25 kGy was unchanged. Based on the received results, we can conclude that radiostelization is a promising, alternative method for obtaining sterile meropenem. In the second part of the research, meropenem was exposed to e-beam radiation at the 400 kGy dose rate. It was confirmed, that reducing of antimicrobial activity could be connected with the degradation of β-lactam ring and changes in the trans-hydroxyethyl group. Apart from chemical changes, changes in the physical stability of irradiated meropenem (400 kGy) was also observed.
Identification and Quantification of Flavanol Glycosides in Vitis vinifera Grape Seeds and Skins during Ripening
Authors: Zerbib Marie , Cazals Guillaume , Enjalbal Christine , Saucier Cédric
Published: October 2018

Monomeric and dimeric flavanol glycosides were analyzed in Vitis vinifera grapes and seeds during ripening. An analytical method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QQQ-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was employed. Three grape varieties (Merlot, Syrah and Tannat) were chosen and grape berries were sampled at different stages of development. Ten monoglycosylated and six diglycosylated flavanol monomers were detected. Twelve monoglycosylated and three diglycosylated flavanol dimers were also detected for all three grape varieties. All diglycosides were detected for the first time in Vitis vinifera grapes, though some of these compounds were only detected in skins or seeds. Furthermore, the evolution of all these compounds was studied, and a decrease in monomeric (epi) catechin monoglycosides was observed during ripening for Tannat, Merlot and Syrah grape skins. The dimers would appear to accumulate in skin tissues up to mid-summer (after veraison) and decrease when grape berries reached maturity.
Carbon Consumption Patterns of Microbial Communities Associated with Peltigera Lichens from a Chilean Temperate Forest
Authors: Almendras Katerin , Leiva Diego , Carú Margarita , Orlando Julieta
Published: October 2018

Lichens are a symbiotic association between a fungus and a green alga or a cyanobacterium, or both. They can grow in practically any terrestrial environment and play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as assisting in soil formation and degrading soil organic matter. In their thalli, they can host a wide diversity of non-photoautotrophic microorganisms, including bacteria, which play important functions and are considered key components of the lichens. In this work, using the BioLog® EcoPlate system, we studied the consumption kinetics of different carbon-sources by microbial communities associated with the thallus and the substrate of Peltigera lichens growing in a Chilean temperate rain forest dominated by Nothofagus pumilio. Based on the similarity of the consumption of 31 carbon-sources, three groups were formed. Among them, one group clustered the microbial metabolic profiles of almost all the substrates from one of the sampling sites, which exhibited the highest levels of consumption of the carbon-sources, and another group gathered the microbial metabolic profiles from the lichen thalli with the most abundant mycobiont haplotypes. These results suggest that the lichen thallus has a higher impact on the metabolism of its microbiome than on the microbial community of its substrate, with the latter being more diverse in terms of the metabolized sources and whose activity level is probably related to the availability of soil nutrients. However, although significant differences were detected in the microbial consumption of several carbon-sources when comparing the lichen thallus and the underlying substrate, d-mannitol, l-asparagine, and l-serine were intensively metabolized by both communities, suggesting that they share some microbial groups. Likewise, some communities showed high consumption of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, d-galacturonic acid, and itaconic acid; these could serve as suitable sources of microorganisms as bioresources of novel bioactive compounds with biotechnological applications.
Synthesis of Novel FTY720 Analogs with Anticancer Activity through PP2A Activation
Authors: Shrestha Jitendra , Ki Sung Hwan , Shin Sang Mi , Kim Seon Woong , Lee Joo-Youn , Jun Hee-Sook , Lee Taeho , Kim Sanghee , Baek Dong Jae , Park Eun-Young
Published: October 2018

FTY720 inhibits various cancers through PP2A activation. The structure of FTY720 is also used as a basic structure for the design of sphingosine kinase (SK) inhibitors. We have synthesized derivatives using an amide chain in FTY720 with a phenyl backbone, and then compounds were screened by an MTT cell viability assay. The PP2A activity of compound 7 was examined. The phosphorylation levels of AKT and ERK, downstream targets of PP2A, in the presence of compound 7, were determined. Compound 7 may exhibit anticancer effects through PP2A activation rather than the mechanism by inhibition of SK1 in cancer cells. In the docking study of compound 7 and PP2A, the amide chain of compound 7 showed an interaction with Asn61 that was different from FTY720, which is expected to affect the activity of the compound.
Safety and Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gray Richard , Hillel Stav A. , Brown Ellie , Al Ghareeb Amal
Published: October 2018

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of some psychiatric disorders. It remains uncertain, however, whether ACT is safe and effective in treating schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (e.g., psychosis). This protocol describes the methodology for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy of ACT in the treatment of psychosis. The review will be guided by the standards set by the Cochrane Collaboration. We will search the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), EMCARE, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases for randomized controlled trials, whose arms are ACT and any comparator, as well as ClinicalTrials.gov, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), and Current Controlled Trials (ISRCTN), for unpublished and ongoing trials. The primary outcome will be any standard (or surrogate) measure of psychotic pathology. The meta-analysis will summarize short-term and long-term effects and different control conditions with or without treatment as usual or comparative to other interventions. In cases where heterogeneity is detected (via χ2 and I2), we will adopt the random effects model for computation.
Use of Electrosprayed Agave Fructans as Nanoencapsulating Hydrocolloids for Bioactives
Authors: Ramos-Hernández Jorge A. , Ragazzo-Sánchez Juan A. , Calderón-Santoyo Montserrat , Ortiz-Basurto Rosa I. , Prieto Cristina , Lagaron Jose M.
Published: October 2018

High degree of polymerization Agave fructans (HDPAF) are presented as a novel encapsulating material. Electrospraying coating (EC) was selected as the encapsulation technique and β-carotene as the model bioactive compound. For direct electrospraying, two encapsulation methodologies (solution and emulsion) were proposed to find the formulation which provided a suitable particle morphology and an adequate concentration of β-carotene encapsulated in the particles to provide a protective effect of β-carotene by the nanocapsules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed spherical particles with sizes ranging from 440 nm to 880 nm depending on the concentration of HDPAF and processing parameters. FTIR analysis confirmed the interaction and encapsulation of β-carotene with HDPAF. The thermal stability of β-carotene encapsulated in HDPAF was evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The study showed that β-carotene encapsulated in HDPAF by the EC method remained stable for up to 50 h of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Therefore, HDPAF is a viable option to formulate nanocapsules as a new encapsulating material. In addition, EC allowed for increases in the ratio of β-carotene:polymer, as well as its photostability.
Ginger Extract Ameliorates Obesity and Inflammation via Regulating MicroRNA-21/132 Expression and AMPK Activation in White Adipose Tissue
Authors: Kim Seunghae , Lee Mak-Soon , Jung Sunyoon , Son Hye-Yeon , Park Seonyoung , Kang Bori , Kim Seog-Young , Kim In-Hwan , Kim Chong-Tai , Kim Yangha
Published: October 2018

Ginger is a plant whose rhizome is used as a spice or folk medicine. We aimed to investigate the effect of ginger root extract on obesity and inflammation in rats fed a high-fat diet. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed either a 45% high-fat diet (HF), HF + hot-water extract of ginger (WEG; 8 g/kg diet), or HF + high-hydrostatic pressure extract of ginger (HPG; 8 g/kg diet) for 10 weeks. The HPG group had lower body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) mass compared to the HF group. Serum and hepatic lipid levels of HPG group were lower, while fecal lipid excretion of the HPG group was higher than that of the HF group. In the WAT of the WEG and HPG groups, mRNA levels of adipogenic genes were lower than those of the HF group. Moreover, HPG group had lower mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines than did the HF group. MicroRNA (miR)-21 expression was down-regulated by both WEG and HPG. Additionally, miR-132 expression was down-regulated by HPG. The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity of HPG group was greater than that of the HF group. HPG may have beneficial effects on obesity and inflammation, partially mediated by regulation of miR-21/132 expression and AMPK activation in WAT.
Adipose Tissue Lipophilic Index and Risk of Ischemic Stroke—A Danish Case-Cohort Study
Authors: Tram Linda , Krogh Venø Stine , Dahm Christina Catherine , H. Thomsen Birthe , Berg Johansen Martin , Overvad Kim , Berg Schmidt Erik
Published: October 2018

Diet may influence the risk of ischemic stroke by several mechanisms. A potential and hitherto unknown mechanism may relate to an effect on the lipophilic index, which is a new and convenient indicator of membrane fluidity. This study investigated the association between the adipose tissue lipophilic index and ischemic stroke and its subtypes. A case-cohort study was conducted based on the Danish cohort study Diet, Cancer, and Health, which includes 57,053 subjects aged 50–64 years at enrolment. A subcohort (n = 3500) was randomly drawn from the whole cohort. All ischemic stroke cases were validated and categorized into subtypes. The lipophilic index was calculated based on fatty acid profiles in adipose tissue. Subjects were divided into quintiles and a weighted Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate hazard ratios. After appropriate exclusions, a subcohort of 3194 subjects and 1752 cases of ischemic stroke were included. When comparing the fifth quintile of the lipophilic index with the first quintile, the hazard ratio for ischemic stroke was 0.92 (95% confidence interval 0.75, 1.13) and the trend across quintiles was not statistically significant (p = 0.1727). In conclusion, no association was found between the lipophilic index and ischemic stroke or its subtypes.
Challenges and Considerations When Balancing the Risks of Contaminants with the Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables for Infants and Toddlers
Authors: Callen Cheryl , Bhatia Jatinder , Czerkies Laura , Klish William J. , Gray George M.
Published: October 2018

Background: Fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy diet, particularly in children; however, parents may be concerned about contaminants found in fruits and vegetables. Making informed food choices for children requires understanding and balancing the risks of contaminant exposure with the importance of providing a healthy diet. The objective of this work is to identify fruits and vegetables commonly consumed by infants and toddlers; identify potential contaminants in fruits and vegetables; and outline considerations in assessing contaminant risks in food categories with a critical role in a healthy diet. Method: Commonly consumed fruits and vegetables were obtained from the Feeding Infants & Toddlers Study (FITS 2016). The US Food and Drug Administration Total Diet Study was reviewed for contaminant occurrence, and multiple experts were consulted on considerations in assessing risk of certain contaminants. Results: FITS data show eight fruits and nine vegetables account for over 80% of consumption in infants and toddlers. Several contaminants have been detected in fruits and vegetables. Questions to be addressed prior to establishing contaminant guidance were identified. Conclusion: Contaminant guidance for fruits and vegetables consumed by infants and toddlers raises several challenges. Expertise from multiple disciplines is required to find an approach that maximizes public health benefit.
Inflammatory Markers in Anorexia Nervosa: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Dalton Bethan , Campbell Iain C. , Chung Raymond , Breen Gerome , Schmidt Ulrike , Himmerich Hubertus
Published: October 2018

Inflammation has been suggested to play a pathophysiological role in anorexia nervosa (AN). In this exploratory cross-sectional study, we measured serum concentrations of 40 inflammatory markers (including cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people with AN (n = 27) and healthy controls (HCs) (n = 13). Many of these inflammatory markers had not been previously quantified in people with AN. Eating disorder (ED) and general psychopathology symptoms were assessed. Body mass index (BMI) and body composition data were obtained. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-15, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 concentrations were significantly elevated and concentrations of BDNF, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A were significantly lower in AN participants compared to HCs. Age, BMI, and percentage body fat mass were identified as potential confounding variables for several of these inflammatory markers. Of particular interest is that most of the quantified markers were unchanged in people with AN, despite them being severely underweight with evident body fat loss, and having clinically significant ED symptoms and severe depression and anxiety symptoms. Future research should examine the replicability of our findings and consider the effect of additional potential confounding variables, such as smoking and physical activity, on the relationship between AN and inflammation.
Sterically Stabilized RIPL Peptide-Conjugated Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Characterization, Cellular Uptake, Cytotoxicity, and Biodistribution
Authors: Kim Chang Hyun , Sung Si Woo , Lee Eun Seok , Kang Tae Hoon , Yoon Ho Yub , Goo Yoon Tae , Cho Ha Ra , Kim Dong Yoon , Kang Myung Joo , Choi Yong Seok , Lee Sangkil , Choi Young Wook
Published: October 2018

As a platform for hepsin-specific drug delivery, we previously prepared IPLVVPLRRRRRRRRC peptide (RIPL)-conjugated nanostructured lipid carriers (RIPL-NLCs) composed of Labrafil® M 1944 CS (liquid oil) and Precirol® ATO 5 (solid lipid). In this study, to prevent the recognition by the mononuclear phagocyte system, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified RIPL-NLCs (PEG-RIPL-NLCs) were prepared using PEG3000 at different grafting ratios (1, 5, and 10 mole %). All prepared NLCs showed a homogeneous dispersion (130–280 nm), with zeta potentials varying from −18 to 10 mV. Docetaxel (DTX) was successfully encapsulated in NLCs: encapsulation efficiency (93–95%); drug-loading capacity (102–109 µg/mg). PEG-RIPL-NLCs with a grafting ratio of 5% PEG or higher showed significantly reduced protein adsorption and macrophage phagocytosis. The uptake of PEG(5%)-RIPL-NLCs by cancer cell lines was somewhat lower than that of RIPL-NLCs because of the PEG-induced steric hindrance; however, the uptake level of PEG-RIPL-NLCs was still greater than that of plain NLCs. In vivo biodistribution was evaluated after tail vein injection of NLCs to normal mice. Compared to RIPL-NLCs, PEG(5%)-RIPL-NLCs showed lower accumulation in the liver, spleen, and lung. In conclusion, we found that PEG(5%)-RIPL-NLCs could be a promising nanocarrier for selective drug targeting with a high payload of poorly water-soluble drugs.
Hitting the Wall—Sensing and Signaling Pathways Involved in Plant Cell Wall Remodeling in Response to Abiotic Stress
Authors: Novaković Lazar , Guo Tingting , Bacic Antony , Sampathkumar Arun , Johnson Kim L.
Published: October 2018

Plant cells are surrounded by highly dynamic cell walls that play important roles regulating aspects of plant development. Recent advances in visualization and measurement of cell wall properties have enabled accumulation of new data about wall architecture and biomechanics. This has resulted in greater understanding of the dynamics of cell wall deposition and remodeling. The cell wall is the first line of defense against different adverse abiotic and biotic environmental influences. Different abiotic stress conditions such as salinity, drought, and frost trigger production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which act as important signaling molecules in stress activated cellular responses. Detection of ROS by still-elusive receptors triggers numerous signaling events that result in production of different protective compounds or even cell death, but most notably in stress-induced cell wall remodeling. This is mediated by different plant hormones, of which the most studied are jasmonic acid and brassinosteroids. In this review we highlight key factors involved in sensing, signal transduction, and response(s) to abiotic stress and how these mechanisms are related to cell wall-associated stress acclimatization. ROS, plant hormones, cell wall remodeling enzymes and different wall mechanosensors act coordinately during abiotic stress, resulting in abiotic stress wall acclimatization, enabling plants to survive adverse environmental conditions.
Preparation of a Chemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Reinforced Epoxy Resin Polymer as a Composite for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Microwave-Absorbing Applications
Authors: Ahmad Ahmad Fahad. , Ab Aziz Sidek , Abbas Zulkifly , Obaiys Suzan Jabbar , Khamis Ahmad Mamoun , Hussain Intesar Razaq , Zaid Mohd Hafiz Mohd
Published: October 2018

The preparation of chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and the optimization of epoxy resins’ properties using micro or nanofillers are now common practices. rGO nanoparticles (60 nm) based on an epoxy resin polymer were prepared at the concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% weight percentage with fixed 6-mm thicknesses. The dielectric properties of the composites were measured by the reflection/transmission technique in connection with a vector network analyser (VNA) at a frequency range of 8–12 GHz. The microwave absorption and shielding effectiveness properties were calculated by using the reflection S11 and transmission S21 results. The microstructure and morphology of the polymer and the rGO/cured epoxy composites were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and the X-ray Diffraction (X-RD) technique for characterizing crystalline materials. The dielectric and other properties of the rGO/cured epoxy composites were investigated based on the filler load and frequency. It was found that the applied frequency and the filler concentrations affected the dielectric properties of the rGO/cured epoxy composites. The results showed that the introduction of rGO particles to the composites increased their dielectric properties smoothly. The study of the dependence on frequency of both the dielectric constant ε′ and the dielectric loss ε″ showed a decrease in both quantities with increasing frequency, indicating a normal behaviour of the dielectrics. Cole–Cole plots were drawn with ε′ and ε″. A theoretical simulation in terms of the Cole–Cole dispersion law indicates that the Debye relaxation processes in the rGO/cured epoxy composites are improved due to the presence of the rGO filler. Moreover, with the addition of rGO as a filler into the Epoxy matrix, it now exhibits promise as a lightweight material for microwave absorption as well as an effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material.
Confucian Democracy and a Pluralistic Li-Ki Metaphysics
Authors: Lee Hyo-Dong
Published: October 2018

This essay explores the possible constructive role of a Confucian metaphysics in the pluralistic Confucian-democratic context of South Korea. In his recent landmark study, Sungmoon Kim has argued that South Korean democracy is sustained by a public culture of civility that is grounded in Confucian habits and mores and yet is pluralistic in ethos. I appreciatively interrogate Kim’s thesis in order to advance a claim that a comprehensive Confucian doctrine such as Confucian metaphysics can contribute significantly to the flourishing of Confucian democratic public culture, provided that it affirm a pluralistic ontology. I contend that the tradition of Korean Neo-Confucian li-ki metaphysics, particularly one found in the works of Nongmun Im Seong-ju, offers rich resources for a pluralistic ontology despite its history of ethical monism. By putting Nongmun’s thought in conversation with some of the contemporary critiques of the Schmittian (mis-)appropriation of the notion of popular sovereignty, I outline a pluralized version of the Rousseauian general will—a kind of critically affectionate solidarity of diverse groups of people—that is Confucian in character. My claim is that such a critically affectionate solidarity finds its grounds in and draws its nourishment from a pluralistic Confucian ontology.