bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon Storage and Enhanced Oil Recovery in Pennsylvanian Morrow Formation Clastic Reservoirs: Controls on Oil–Brine and Oil–CO2 Relative Permeability from Diagenetic Heterogeneity and Evolving Wettability
Authors: Rasmussen Lindsey , Fan Tianguang , Rinehart Alex , Luhmann Andrew , Ampomah William , Dewers Thomas , Heath Jason , Cather Martha , Grigg Reid
Published: September 2019

The efficiency of carbon utilization and storage within the Pennsylvanian Morrow B sandstone, Farnsworth Unit, Texas, is dependent on three-phase oil, brine, and CO2 flow behavior, as well as spatial distributions of reservoir properties and wettability. We show that end member two-phase flow properties, with binary pairs of oil–brine and oil–CO2, are directly dependent on heterogeneity derived from diagenetic processes, and evolve progressively with exposure to CO2 and changing wettability. Morrow B sandstone lithofacies exhibit a range of diagenetic processes, which produce variations in pore types and structures, quantified at the core plug scale using X-ray micro computed tomography imaging and optical petrography. Permeability and porosity relationships in the reservoir permit the classification of sedimentologic and diagenetic heterogeneity into five distinct hydraulic flow units, with characteristic pore types including: macroporosity with little to no clay filling intergranular pores; microporous authigenic clay-dominated regions in which intergranular porosity is filled with clay; and carbonate–cement dominated regions with little intergranular porosity. Steady-state oil–brine and oil–CO2 co-injection experiments using reservoir-extracted oil and brine show that differences in relative permeability persist between flow unit core plugs with near-constant porosity, attributable to contrasts in and the spatial arrangement of diagenetic pore types. Core plugs “aged” by exposure to reservoir oil over time exhibit wettability closer to suspected in situ reservoir conditions, compared to “cleaned” core plugs. Together with contact angle measurements, these results suggest that reservoir wettability is transient and modified quickly by oil recovery and carbon storage operations. Reservoir simulation results for enhanced oil recovery, using a five-spot pattern and water-alternating-with-gas injection history at Farnsworth, compare models for cumulative oil and water production using both a single relative permeability determined from history matching, and flow unit-dependent relative permeability determined from experiments herein. Both match cumulative oil production of the field to a satisfactory degree but underestimate historical cumulative water production. Differences in modeled versus observed water production are interpreted in terms of evolving wettability, which we argue is due to the increasing presence of fast paths (flow pathways with connected higher permeability) as the reservoir becomes increasingly water-wet. The control of such fast-paths is thus critical for efficient carbon storage and sweep efficiency for CO2-enhanced oil recovery in heterogeneous reservoirs.
A Novel Feature Selection and Short-Term Price Forecasting Based on a Decision Tree (J48) Model
Authors: Srivastava Ankit Kumar , Singh Devender , Pandey Ajay Shekhar , Maini Tarun
Published: September 2019

A novel feature selection method based on a decision tree (J48) for price forecasting is proposed in this work. The method uses a genetic algorithm along with a decision tree classifier to obtain the minimum number of features giving an optimum forecast accuracy. The usefulness of the proposed approach is established through the performance test of the forecaster using the feature selected by this approach. It is found that the forecast with the selected feature consistently out-performed than that having larger feature set.
The Fault-Tolerant Quad-Channel Brushless Direct Current Motor
Authors: Korkosz Mariusz , Bogusz Piotr , Prokop Jan
Published: September 2019

In this study, a permanent magnet brushless direct current machine with multi-phase windings is proposed for critical drive systems. We have named the solution, which has four-stator winding, a quad-channel permanent magnet brushless direct current (QCBLDC) motor. The stator windings are supplied by four independent power converters under quad-channel operation (QCO) mode. After a fault in either one, two, or three channels, further operation of the machine can be continued in triple-channel operation (TCO) mode, dual-channel operation (DCO) mode, or single-channel operation (SCO) mode. In this paper, a novel mathematical model is proposed for a QCBLDC machine. This model takes into account the nonlinearity of a magnetic circuit and all of the couplings between the phases within a given channel, as well as between channels. Based on numerical calculations, the static electromagnetic moment and the coupled fluxes were determined for the individual windings of the variants and work modes being analyzed. A normal work condition can be achieved in the QCO or DCO modes. For the DCO mode, an acceptable case uses a balanced magnetic pull (A and C channels supplied). The DCO A and B type work mode is comparable to the DCO A and C mode with regard to its efficiency in processing electrical energy. The vibroacoustic parameters of this mode, however, are much worse. In fault states, TCO, DCO, and SCO work modes are possible. As the number of active channels decreases, the efficiency of energy processing also decreases. In a critical situation, the motor works in overload mode (SCO mode). Laboratory tests conducted for one of the variants demonstrated that the TCO work mode is characterized by worse vibroacoustic parameters than the DCO A and C mode.
Estimation of Oil Recovery Factor for Water Drive Sandy Reservoirs through Applications of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Chen Weiqing , Abdulraheem Abdulazeez
Published: September 2019

Hydrocarbon reserve evaluation is the major concern for all oil and gas operating companies. Nowadays, the estimation of oil recovery factor (RF) could be achieved through several techniques. The accuracy of these techniques depends on data availability, which is strongly dependent on the reservoir age. In this study, 10 parameters accessible in the early reservoir life are considered for RF estimation using four artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. These parameters are the net pay (effective reservoir thickness), stock-tank oil initially in place, original reservoir pressure, asset area (reservoir area), porosity, Lorenz coefficient, effective permeability, API gravity, oil viscosity, and initial water saturation. The AI techniques used are the artificial neural networks (ANNs), radial basis neuron networks, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system with subtractive clustering, and support vector machines. AI models were trained using data collected from 130 water drive sandstone reservoirs; then, an empirical correlation for RF estimation was developed based on the trained ANN model’s weights and biases. Data collected from another 38 reservoirs were used to test the predictability of the suggested AI models and the ANNs-based correlation; then, performance of the ANNs-based correlation was compared with three of the currently available empirical equations for RF estimation. The developed ANNs-based equation outperformed the available equations in terms of all the measures of error evaluation considered in this study, and also has the highest coefficient of determination of 0.94 compared to only 0.55 obtained from Gulstad correlation, which is one of the most accurate correlations currently available.
A Robust Formulation Model for Multi-Period Failure Restoration Problems in Integrated Energy Systems
Authors: Chen Wei , Lou Xiansi , Guo Chuangxin
Published: September 2019

The risks faced by modern energy systems are increasing, primarily caused by natural disasters. As a new form of multi-level energy complimentary utilization, integrated energy systems are attracting more and more attention for their high-efficiency and low-cost. However, due to the deep coupling relationship between systems, they are more susceptible to natural disasters, resulting in a cascading failure. To enhance the resilience of the integrated electricity-gas system, this paper proposes a failure restoration strategy after a natural disaster occurs. First, the temporal constraints of the dispatching model are considered, and the failure restoration problem is molded into a multi-period mixed-integer linear programme, aiming to recover the interrupted loads as much as possible. Second, since the uncertain output of distributed generation sources (DGs) such as wind turbines and photovoltaic systems will threat the reliability of restoration results, the robust formulation model is incorporated to cope with this problem. Third, we propose a new modeling method for radial topology constraints towards failure restoration. Moreover, the Column and Constraints Generation (C&CG) decomposition method is utilized to solve the robust model. Then, the piecewise linearization technique and the linear DistFlow equations are utilized to eliminate the nonlinear terms, providing a model that could be easily solved by an off-shelf commercial solver. The obtained results include the sequence of line/pipeline switchgear actions, the time-series dispatching results of electricity storage system, gas storage system, and the coupling devices including the gas-fired turbine, power to gas equipment. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed restoration strategy is verified by numerical simulation on a 13-6 node integrated energy system.
Temporal Analysis of Bacterial Leaf Blight in Clonal Eucalyptus Plantations in Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Mara Elisa Soares , Silva Fernandes Fabiano , Glória Junior Murilo A. , Soares de Oliveira Alvaro , Mafia Reginaldo Gonçalves , Alves Ferreira Maria
Published: September 2019

Bacterial leaf blight is an important disease in Eucalyptus spp. plantations since it can cause defoliation, affecting plant development. A better understanding of the disease epidemiology is important for its control. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze bacterial leaf blight temporal progress in the initial establishment in the field of different eucalyptus clones. It also targeted to correlate the incidence and area under the disease-progress curve (AUDPC), with variables related to growth and meteorological data. Bacterial leaf blight progress curves were analyzed based on incidence and carried out AUDPC calculation. Pearson’s coefficient was used to verify the correlations between bacterial leaf blight incidence and AUDPC with clone initial growth and meteorological factors. Gompertz or Logistic models were the best adjustment to data, according to the assessed clones. A difference in AUDPC was observed between clones regarding bacterial leaf blight incidence during the assessment period. Clones were divided into three groups with different tolerance levels. A negative correlation was observed between bacterial leaf blight incidence, AUDPC, and growth variables of clones. During the assessment period, average air temperature, rainfall, and air relative humidity favored disease incidence. The clones A469, VM01, and 373 were the most tolerant to the disease.
Adaptation Capacity of Norway Spruce Provenances in Western Latvia
Authors: Zeltiņš Pauls , Katrevičs Juris , Gailis Arnis , Maaten Tiit , Desaine Iveta , Jansons Āris
Published: September 2019

In Europe, numerous Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) provenance trials have been established and evaluated at a juvenile age. Still, information about the adaptation potential and long-term fitness of transferred seedlots in the Baltic Sea region is lacking. The aim of the study was to evaluate the adaptation capacity of provenances and assess the patterns of their long-term reaction to environmental transfer. We examined a 32-year-old provenance trial in the mild Baltic Sea coastal climate of Western Latvia. Significant differences in height and stem volume were observed among provenances. Growth superiority for certain local and Carpathian provenances was maintained over more than one-third of the rotation period. The best predictor of climate transfer functions was minimum temperature of the coldest month at the place of origin, explaining 28% variation in tree height. Populations from sites with more frost days and a colder mean annual temperature, minimum temperature, and lower annual heat-moisture index than the planting site were generally taller.
Influence of Spinning Temperature and Filler Content on the Properties of Melt-Spun Soy Flour/Polypropylene Fibers
Authors: Guzdemir Ozgun , Ogale Amod A.
Published: September 2019

Polypropylene (PP) fibers are heavily used in disposable nonwovens fabrics because of their desirable properties and low-cost, but they are not biodegradable. With the goal of reducing non-biodegradable plastic waste in the environment, the primary aim of this study was to produce fibers with reduced content of PP for disposable fabrics by incorporating soy flour, a bio-based renewable material. An optimum processing temperature of 190 °C was established, and thin fibers with a diameter under 60 µm were successfully melt-spun. Inclusion of compatibilized soy (SFM) at 30 wt% resulted in fibers with a tensile modulus of 674 ± 245 MPa and a yield strength of 18 ± 4 MPa. At 15 wt% SFM, fiber tensile modulus and yield strength were 914 ± 164 and 29 ± 3, respectively. Although lower than those of neat PP fibers (1224 ± 136 MPa and 37 ± 3 MPa), these SFM/PP fiber properties are suitable for nonwoven applications. Additionally, partial presence of soy particulates on fiber surface imparted enhanced water absorption and colorability properties to the fibers while imparting the fibers the feel of natural fibers.Although more difficult to produce, soy-PP fibers possessed similar properties as compared to those of than soy-PE fibers reported in earlier studies.
Differential Gene Expression in Articular Cartilage and Subchondral Bone of Neonatal and Adult Horses
Authors: Kemper Ann M. , Drnevich Jenny , McCue Molly E. , McCoy Annette M.
Published: September 2019

Skeletogenesis is complex and incompletely understood. Derangement of this process likely underlies developmental skeletal pathologies. Examination of tissue-specific gene expression may help elucidate novel skeletal developmental pathways that could contribute to disease risk. Our aim was to identify and functionally annotate differentially expressed genes in equine neonatal and adult articular cartilage (AC) and subchondral bone (SCB). RNA was sequenced from healthy AC and SCB from the fetlock, hock, and stifle joints of 6 foals (≤4 weeks of age) and six adults (8–12 years of age). There was distinct clustering by age and tissue type. After differential expression analysis, functional annotation and pathway analysis were performed using PANTHER and Reactome. Approximately 1115 and 3574 genes were differentially expressed between age groups in AC and SCB, respectively, falling within dozens of overrepresented gene ontology terms and enriched pathways reflecting a state of growth, high metabolic activity, and tissue turnover in the foals. Enriched pathways were dominated by those related to extracellular matrix organization and turnover, and cell cycle and signal transduction. Additionally, we identified enriched pathways related to neural development and neurotransmission in AC and innate immunity in SCB. These represent novel potential mechanisms for disease that can be explored in future work.
The Relationship between the Physicochemical Properties and Permeability of the Fluvisols and Eutric Cambisols in the Zagreb Aquifer, Croatia
Authors: Ružičić Stanko , Kovač Zoran , Perković Dario , Bačani Laura , Majhen Ljubica
Published: September 2019

The physicochemical properties of soil and the unsaturated zone can have a large influence on the infiltration of precipitation into an aquifer. Soil permeability presents soil property that can be very variable. The main objectives of this study were to estimate differences in soil permeability in two dominant types of soils—Fluvisols and Eutric Cambisols—in the area of the Zagreb aquifer and determine the relationship between the physicochemical properties and the permeability of the analyzed soils. For this purpose, the particle size distribution, soil water retention curves (SWRCs), hydraulic parameters, and chemical properties of soils (i.e., electrical conductivity (EC), pH, carbonate content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and total concentration of zinc (Zn)) from six soil profiles were observed. In general, the results show that Fluvisols have a smaller amount of clay and a higher amount of sand. Furthermore, particle size distribution indicates that Eutric Cambisols have smaller permeability and a slightly higher capacity for retention. In Eutric Cambisols, the percentages of clay, silt, and sand generally do not change with depth. On average, Fluvisols and Eutric Cambisols become impermeable when they reach different values of water content and effective saturation. All results suggest that Fluvisols generally have to desaturate more than Eutric Cambisols to become impermeable. The proportions of sand and Ks increases through the depth of all analyzed soils, while CEC, EC, and Zn decrease. The total Zn generally decrease with depth, which can be attributed to the aerodeposition in the surface horizons of the analyzed soils and their higher availability for binding/sorption elements. Generally, it can be seen that most Zn concentrations increase until 80 cm in depth, after which they decrease. This result indicates that, in these specific locations, the groundwater body is not under the influence of a potentially toxic metal, in this case Zn. Statistical analysis shows a strong correlation between Zn concentrations and some soil properties, such as soil texture and CEC. This may point to the prevalence of Zn retention. Furthermore, statistical results show that silt has a higher influence on the permeability of Eutric Cambisols than Fluvisols.
Income Volatility and Depressive Symptoms among Elderly Koreans
Authors: Kim Sujin , Subramanian S.V.
Published: September 2019

This study examines the relationship between volatile income and depression, and moderating effects of living arrangements among older adults in South Korea. Using the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, we studied 4123 adults aged 60 or older. Income volatility was defined as the variance of logged income across four assessments from 2006 to 2012. Depression was measured as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scores in 2012. It was examined whether income volatility was related to depressive symptoms, and whether the association depended on co-residence with children. In results, income volatility was not related to CES-D scores in main-effect models without an interaction term. The relationship between income volatility and depressive symptoms depended on co-residence with children (p < 0.001). Higher income volatility was linked to increased risks of CES-D scores among the elderly living without children (incident rate ratio (IRR): 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.50, p-value: 0.005) whereas it was related to lower CES-D scores among those co-residing with children (IRR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52–0.88, p-value: 0.003). Absolute income volatility has detrimental psychological consequences for older adults who live on their own. The finding implies that social protection policies for elderly households that live with an unstable income are needed.
Evaluation of Air Contamination in Orthopaedic Operating Theatres in Hospitals in Southern Italy: The IMPACT Project
Authors: Montagna Maria Teresa , Rutigliano Serafina , Trerotoli Paolo , Napoli Christian , Apollonio Francesca , D’Amico Alessandro , De Giglio Osvalda , Diella Giusy , Lopuzzo Marco , Marzella Angelo , Mascipinto Simona , Pousis Chrysovalentinos , Albertini Roberto , Pasquarella Cesira , D’Alessandro Daniela , Serio Gabriella , Caggiano Giuseppina
Published: September 2019

Postoperative infections are a concern, especially in total knee and total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated the air quality in orthopaedic operating theatres in southeastern Italy to determine the level of bacterial contamination as a risk factor for postoperative infection. Thirty-five hospitals with operating theatres focused on total knee and total hip arthroplasty participated. We sampled the air passively and actively before surgeries began for the day (at rest) and 15 min after the surgical incision (in operation). We evaluated bacterial counts, particle size, mixed vs turbulent airflow systems, the number of doors, number of door openings during procedures and number of people in the operating theatre. We found no bacterial contamination at rest for all sampling methods, and significantly different contamination levels at rest vs in operation. We found no association between the number of people in the surgical team and bacteria counts for both mixed and turbulent airflow systems, and low bacterial loads, even when doors were always open. Overall, the air quality sampling method and type of ventilation system did not affect air quality.
Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus spp. in Houseflies and Blowflies from Farms and Their Environmental Settings
Authors: Poudel Anil , Hathcock Terri , Butaye Patrick , Kang Yuan , Price Stuart , Macklin Kenneth , Walz Paul , Cattley Russell , Kalalah Anwar , Adekanmbi Folesade , Wang Chengming
Published: September 2019

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is rising globally at an alarming rate. While multiple active surveillance programs have been established to monitor the antimicrobial resistance, studies on the environmental link to antimicrobial spread are lacking. Methods: A total of 493 flies were trapped from a dairy unit, a dog kennel, a poultry farm, a beef cattle unit, an urban trash facility and an urban downtown area to isolate Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus spp. for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular characterization. Results: E. coli, K. pneumoniae and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus were recovered from 43.9%, 15.5% and 66.2% of the houseflies, and 26.0%, 19.2%, 37.0% of the blowflies, respectively. In total, 35.3% of flies were found to harbor antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and 9.0% contained multidrug-resistant isolates. Three Staphylococcus aureus isolates were recovered from blowflies while three extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-carrying E. coli and one ESBL-carrying K. pneumoniae were isolated from houseflies. Whole genome sequencing identified the antimicrobial resistance genes blaCMY-2 and blaCTXM-1 as ESBLs. Conclusion: Taken together, our data indicate that flies can be used as indicators for environmental contamination of antimicrobial resistance. More extensive studies are warranted to explore the sentinel role of flies for antimicrobial resistance.
Work-Related Burdens and Requirements for Health Promotion Programs for Nursing Staff in Different Care Settings: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Otto Ann-Kathrin , Bischoff Laura L. , Wollesen Bettina
Published: September 2019

Nursing staff in all settings have multiple work-related problems due to patient handling and occupational stressors, which result in high stress levels and low back pain. In this context the importance of health promotion becomes apparent. The aim of this study is to analyse whether nursing staff (in elderly care, hospitals, home care, or trainees) show different levels of work-related burdens and whether they require individualized components in health promotion programs. N = 242 German nurses were included in a quantitative survey (Health survey, Screening Scale (SSCS) of Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress, Slesina). The differences were tested using Chi2-Tests, Kruskal–Wallis Test and one-way ANOVA. Nurses differed in stress loads and were chronically stressed (F(3236) = 5.775, p = 0.001). Nurses in home care showed the highest SSCS-values with time pressure as the most important straining factor. The physical strains also placed a particular burden on nurses in home care, whereas they still reported higher physical well-being in contrast to nurses in elderly care (Chi2 = 24.734, p < 0.001). Nurses in elderly care and home care preferred strength training whereas nurses in hospitals and trainees favoured endurance training. Targeted programs are desirable for the reduction of work-related burdens. While nurses in elderly care and home care need a combination of ergonomic and strength training, all nurses require additional stress management. Planning should take into account barriers like perceived additional time consumption. Therefore, health promotion programs for all settings should be implemented during working time at the work setting and should consider the working schedule.
Inversion of Wind-Stress Drag Coefficient in Simulating Storm Surges by Means of Regularization Technique
Authors: Xu Junli , Zhang Yuhong , Lv Xianqing , Liu Qiang
Published: September 2019

In this study, water levels observed at tide stations in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea during Typhoons 7203 and 8509 were assimilated into a numerical assimilation storm surge model combined with regularization technique to study the wind-stress drag coefficient. The Tikhonov regularization technique with different regularization parameters was tested during the assimilation. Using the regularization technique, the storm surge elevations were successfully simulated in the whole sea areas during Typhoons 7203 and 8509. The storm surge elevations calculated with the regularization technique and the elevations calculated with independent point method were separately compared with the observed data. Comparison results demonstrated that the former was closer to the observed data. The regularization technique had the best performance when the regularization parameter was 100. The spatial distribution of the inverted drag coefficient, storm surge elevations, and the wind fields during both typhoons were presented. Simulated results indicated that the change of drag coefficient is more significant in the coastal regions of the Bohai Sea and north of the Yellow Sea. Further analysis showed that the rising water elevation in the Bohai Sea is mostly attributed to the influence of onshore winds, and the negative storm surge in the South Yellow Sea is mainly caused by offshore winds.
Linkages between Respiratory Symptoms in Women and Biofuel Use: Regional Case Study of Rajasthan, India
Authors: Parikh Priti , Kwami Corina Shika , Vivekanand Vivekanand , Paritosh Kunwar , Lakhanpaul Monica
Published: September 2019

Women in low and middle-income countries predominantly use biofuel for cooking, resulting in potential adverse health outcomes. In India, it is estimated that about 40% of total primary energy consumption is in the domestic sector with biofuels alone accounting for about 75% of domestic energy consumption. This study assesses linkages between wood consumption and perceptions of women’s health, combining results from a rapid assessment of eight rural districts in Rajasthan with a regression analysis of data from Rajasthan State (sample size 41,965 women) from the Demographic and Health Survey 7 dataset (2015–2016). The results of the rapid survey indicate that women who cook with biofuels perceive adverse health outcomes. Educational level, income, and age have an impact on fuel consumption and clean fuel purchased. The regression model drawing upon data on women at a regional level in Rajasthan yielded significant results suggesting a strong association between fuel type and symptoms of respiratory infection controlling for age and education. This research is timely as it provides valuable evidence for India’s Ujjawala Scheme which has the mandate of providing LPG connections to women from below the poverty line.
Processing and Maturation of Cathepsin C Zymogen: A Biochemical and Molecular Modeling Analysis
Authors: Lamort Anne-Sophie , Hamon Yveline , Czaplewski Cezary , Gieldon Artur , Seren Seda , Coquet Laurent , Lecaille Fabien , Lesner Adam , Lalmanach Gilles , Gauthier Francis , Jenne Dieter , Korkmaz Brice
Published: September 2019

Cysteine cathepsin C (CatC) is a ubiquitously expressed, lysosomal aminopeptidase involved in the activation of zymogens of immune-cell-associated serine proteinases (elastase, cathepsin G, proteinase 3, neutrophil serine proteinase 4, lymphocyte granzymes, and mast cell chymases). CatC is first synthetized as an inactive zymogen containing an intramolecular chain propeptide, the dimeric form of which is processed into the mature tetrameric form by proteolytic cleavages. A molecular modeling analysis of proCatC indicated that its propeptide displayed a similar fold to those of other lysosomal cysteine cathepsins, and could be involved in dimer formation. Our in vitro experiments revealed that human proCatC was processed and activated by CatF, CatK, and CatV in two consecutive steps of maturation, as reported for CatL and CatS previously. The unique positioning of the propeptide domains in the proCatC dimer complex allows this order of cleavages to be understood. The missense mutation Leu172Pro within the propeptide region associated with the Papillon–Lefèvre and Haim–Munk syndrome altered the proform stability as well as the maturation of the recombinant Leu172Pro proform.
Proposed Tandem Effect of Physical Activity and Sirtuin 1 and 3 Activation in Regulating Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Pacifici Francesca , Di Cola Davide , Pastore Donatella , Abete Pasquale , Guadagni Fiorella , Donadel Giulia , Bellia Alfonso , Esposito Eleonora , Salimei Chiara , Sinibaldi Salimei Paola , Ricordi Camillo , Lauro Davide , Della-Morte David
Published: September 2019

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are seven nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent protein deacetylases enzymes (SIRT1–7) that play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Among those, the most studied are SIRT1 and SIRT3, a nuclear SIRT and a mitochondrial SIRT, respectively, which significantly impact with an increase in mammals’ lifespan by modulating metabolic cellular processes. Particularly, when activated, both SIRT1 and 3 enhance pancreatic β-cells’ insulin release and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress pancreatic damage, maintaining then glucose homeostasis. Therefore, SIRT1 and 3 activators have been proposed to prevent and counteract metabolic age-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Physical activity (PA) has a well-established beneficial effect on phenotypes of aging like β-cell dysfunction and diabetes mellitus. Recent experimental and clinical evidence reports that PA increases the expression levels of both SIRT1 and 3, suggesting that PA may exert its healthy contribute even by activating SIRTs. Therefore, in the present article, we discuss the role of SIRT1, SIRT3, and PA on β-cell function and on diabetes. We also discuss the possible interaction between PA and activation of SIRTs as a possible therapeutic strategy to maintain glucose hemostasis and to prevent T2DM and its complications, especially in the elderly population.
Evaluating Novel Targets of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Pig Models
Authors: Baehr Andrea , Klymiuk Nikolai , Kupatt Christian
Published: September 2019

Coronary heart diseases are of high relevance for health care systems in developed countries regarding patient numbers and costs. Disappointingly, the enormous effort put into the development of innovative therapies and the high numbers of clinical studies conducted are counteracted by the low numbers of therapies that become clinically effective. Evidently, pre-clinical research in its present form does not appear informative of the performance of treatments in the clinic and, even more relevant, it appears that there is hardly any consent about how to improve the predictive capacity of pre-clinical experiments. According to the steadily increasing relevance that pig models have gained in biomedical research in the recent past, we anticipate that research in pigs can be highly predictive for ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) therapies as well. Thus, we here describe the significance of pig models in IRI, give an overview about recent developments in evaluating such models by clinically relevant methods and present the latest insight into therapies applied to pigs under IRI.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Modulates Glucose Metabolism by Targeting AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Pathway
Authors: Kim Nami , Kang Mi Sun , Nam Miso , Kim Shin Ae , Hwang Geum-Sook , Kim Hyeon Soo
Published: September 2019

EPA, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, exerts beneficial effects on human health. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying EPA function are poorly understood. The object was to illuminate molecular mechanism underlying EPA’s role. Here, 1H-NMR-based metabolic analysis showed enhanced branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and lactate following EPA treatment in skeletal muscle cells. EPA regulated mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate. Furthermore, EPA induced calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK) through the generation of intracellular calcium. This induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) that led to glucose uptake, and the translocation of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscles. In conclusion, EPA exerts benign effects on glucose through the activation of AMPK-p38 MAPK signaling pathways in skeletal muscles.
Proteomic Biomarkers of Retinal Inflammation in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Youngblood Hannah , Robinson Rebekah , Sharma Ashok , Sharma Shruti
Published: September 2019

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a sight-threatening neurovasculopathy, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. DR arises as the result of prolonged hyperglycemia and is characterized by leaky retinal vasculature, retinal ischemia, retinal inflammation, angiogenesis, and neovascularization. The number of DR patients is growing with an increase in the elderly population, and therapeutic approaches are limited, therefore, new therapies to prevent retinal injury and enhance repair are a critical unmet need. Besides vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced vascular proliferation, several other mechanisms are important in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, including vascular inflammation. Thus, combining anti-VEGF therapy with other new therapies targeting these pathophysiological pathways of DR may further optimize treatment outcomes. Technological advancements have allowed for high-throughput proteomic studies examining biofluids such as aqueous humor, vitreous humor, tear, and serum. Many DR biomarkers have been identified, especially proteins involved in retinal inflammatory processes. This review attempts to summarize the proteomic biomarkers of DR-associated retinal inflammation identified over the last several years.
Relationship Between Intermittent Hypoxia and Type 2 Diabetes in Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Ota Hiroyo , Fujita Yukio , Yamauchi Motoo , Muro Shigeo , Kimura Hiroshi , Takasawa Shin
Published: September 2019

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a very common disease involving intermittent hypoxia (IH), recurrent symptoms of deoxygenation during sleep, strong daytime sleepiness, and significant loss of quality of life. A number of epidemiological researches have shown that SAS is an important risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), which is associated with SAS regardless of age, gender, or body habitus. IH, hallmark of SAS, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SAS and experimental studies with animal and cellular models indicate that IH leads to attenuation of glucose-induced insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells and to enhancement of insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and cells, such as liver (hepatocytes), adipose tissue (adipocytes), and skeletal muscles (myocytes). In this review, we focus on IH-induced dysfunction in glucose metabolism and its underlying molecular mechanisms in several cells and tissues related to glucose homeostasis.
Epigenetic Alterations of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) in Cancer
Authors: Ban Hyun , Han Tae-Su , Hur Keun , Cho Hyun-Soo
Published: September 2019

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with various physiological processes (protein refolding and degradation) involved in the responses to cellular stress, such as cytotoxic agents, high temperature, and hypoxia. HSPs are overexpressed in cancer cells and play roles in their apoptosis, invasion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The regulation or translational modification of HSPs is recognized as a therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs. Among the regulatory processes associated with HSP expression, the epigenetic machinery (miRNAs, histone modification, and DNA methylation) has key functions in cancer. Moreover, various epigenetic modifiers of HSP expression have also been reported as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers of cancer. Thus, in this review, we describe the epigenetic alterations of HSP expression in cancer cells and suggest that HSPs be clinically applied as diagnostic and therapeutic markers in cancer therapy via controlled epigenetic modifiers.
Chirality-Dependent Adsorption between Amphipathic Peptide and POPC Membrane
Authors: Chen Ke , Sheng Yuebiao , Wang Jun , Wang Wei
Published: September 2019

The interactions between chiral molecules and cell membranes have attracted more and more attention in recent decades, due to their importance in molecular science and medical applications. It is observed that some peptides composed of different chiral amino acids may have distinct interactions with a membrane. How does the membrane exhibit a selective behavior related to the chirality of the peptides? Microscopically, the interactions between the peptides and the membrane are poorly understood. In this work, we study the interactions between an amphipathic peptide (C6) and POPC membrane with simulations. The kinetics and thermodynamics of peptide enantiomers during the adsorption to the membrane are characterized with direct simulations and umbrella sampling. It is observed that there are slow kinetics for the peptide composed of D-type amino acids. Along the observed pathways, the free energy landscapes are determined with umbrella sampling techniques. A free-energy barrier for the peptide composed of D-amino acids is observed, which is consistent with the kinetic observations. The results indicate the concurrent adsorption and rotation of the peptide helix. The local interactions between the peptides and the membrane are examined in detail, including the contact interactions between the peptides and the membrane, and the distributions of the lipids around the peptide. There are observable differences of the local interactions for the cases related to different peptide enantiomers. These results further demonstrate the importance of the rotation of peptide helix during the adsorption. More interestingly, all these kinetic differences between peptide enantiomers can be explained based on the conformations of the residue Trp and interactions between Trp and lipid molecules. These results give us a molecular understanding of the mechanism of the chirality-dependent peptide–membrane interactions, and may provide clues to designing systems which are sensitive to the chirality of membranes.
Role of GOLPH3 and TPX2 in Neuroblastoma DNA Damage Response and Cell Resistance to Chemotherapy
Authors: Ognibene Marzia , Podestà Marina , Garaventa Alberto , Pezzolo Annalisa
Published: September 2019

Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive, relapse-prone infancy tumor of the sympathetic nervous system and is the leading cause of death among preschool age diseases, so the search for novel therapeutic targets is crucial. Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) has been reported to be involved in the development, and in the DNA damage response, of various human cancers. Golgi dispersal is a common feature of DNA damage response in mammalian cells. Understanding how cells react to DNA damage is essential in order to recognize the systems used to escape from elimination. We induced DNA damage in two human neuroblastoma cell lines by curcumin. The exposure of neuroblastoma cells to curcumin induced: (a) up-regulation of GOLPH3+ cells; (b) augmentation of double-strand breaks; (c) Golgi fragmentation and dispersal throughout the cytoplasm; (d) increase of apoptosis and autophagy; (e) increased expression of TPX2 oncoprotein, able to repair DNA damage. Primary neuroblastoma samples analysis confirmed these observations. Our findings suggest that GOLPH3 expression levels may represent a clinical marker of neuroblastoma patients’ responsiveness to DNA damaging therapies—and of possible resistance to them. Novel molecules able to interfere with GOLPH3 and TPX2 pathways may have therapeutic benefits when used in combination with standard DNA damaging therapeutic agents in neuroblastoma
Influence of Distance from the Host on Parasitisation by Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Authors: Baser Nuray , Lo Verde Gabriella , Kaçar Gülay , Lamaj Flutura , Verrastro Vincenzo , Lombardo Alberto , Tortorici Francesco , Caleca Virgilio
Published: September 2019

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is considered the main olive pest worldwide, and has been the target of biological control programmes through the release of the braconid parasitoid Psyttalia concolor. Laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the influence of distance from the host on parasitisation, placing larvae of the substitute host Ceratitis capitata at seven distances (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 mm) and four different time periods (7, 15, 30, 60 min). Moreover, field collected olives of Ogliarola Barese cultivar infested by B. oleae were exposed to P. concolor females to confirm its ability to parasitise B. oleae in small olives. Psyttalia concolor oviposition was inhibited at 2.5 and 3 mm due to the ovipositor length of the parasitoid females (2.7 mm). Hosts were easily parasitised at distances between 0 and 1.5 mm. The thin fruit pulp (up to 3.5 mm) of field collected olives allowed the parasitisation to occur also in mature fruits. At the best combination distance/time (0 mm, 30 min), tests performed with different larvae/parasitoid female ratio showed an increasing emergence of P. concolor (from 20% to 57%) with larvae/parasitoid ratio increasing from 0.11 to 0.74. The results of the present study might optimise the mass rearing of P. concolor, through a proper setting of its parameters, such as the host/parasitoid ratio, exposure distances, and interaction time.
Homotopy Semi-Numerical Modeling of Non-Newtonian Nanofluid Transport External to Multiple Geometries Using a Revised Buongiorno Model
Authors: Ray Atul Kumar , Vasu Buddakkagari , Bég O. Anwar , Gorla Rama S.R. , Murthy P.V.S.N.
Published: September 2019

A semi-analytical solution for the convection of a power-law nanofluid external to three different geometries (i.e., cone, wedge and plate), subject to convective boundary condition is presented. A revised Buongiorno model is employed for the nanofluid transport over the various geometries with variable wall temperature and nanoparticle concentration conditions (non-isothermal and non-iso-solutal). Wall transpiration is included. The dimensional governing equations comprising the conservation of mass, momentum, energy and nanoparticle volume fraction are transformed to dimensionless form using appropriate transformations. The transformed equations are solved using a robust semi-analytical power series method known as the Homotopy analysis method (HAM). The convergence and validation of the series solutions is considered in detail. The variation of order of the approximation and computational time with respect to residual errors for temperature for the different geometries is also elaborated. The influence of thermophysical parameters such as wall temperature parameter, wall concentration parameter for nanofluid, Biot number, thermophoresis parameter, Brownian motion parameter and suction/blowing parameter on the velocity, temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction is visualized graphically and tabulated. The impact of these parameters on the engineering design functions, e.g., coefficient of skin fraction factor, Nusselt number and Sherwood number is also shown in tabular form. The outcomes are compared with the existing results from the literature to validate the study. It is found that thermal and solute Grashof numbers both significantly enhance the flow velocity whereas they suppress the temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction for the three different configurations, i.e., cone, wedge and plate. Furthermore, the thermal and concentration boundary layers are more dramatically modified for the wedge case, as compared to the plate and cone. This study has substantial applications in polymer engineering coating processes, fiber technology and nanoscale materials processing systems.
Decreased Associated Risk of Gout in Diabetes Patients with Uric Acid Urolithiasis
Authors: Liu Chan Jung , Wu Jin Shang , Huang Ho Shiang
Published: September 2019

Uric acid urolithiasis constitutes approximately 7–10% of all urinary stones. Previous studies have revealed that patients with gout do not equally have uric acid stones. Instead, the risk of gout in patients with uric acid stones remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate whether there is different associated risk of gout for diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-diabetes patients with uric acid urolithiasis. Therefore, we examined all baseline chemistries to determine any risk factors or protective factors related to developing gout in patients with uric acid stones. Ninety-nine patients from a single medical center, who had a uric acid component in their stone specimen were enrolled and their medical records were reviewed retrospectively between January 2010 and December 2016. All patients were divided into gout and non-gout groups. Gout was confirmed in 24 patients in this study (24.2%). The proportion of DM was significantly higher in the non-gout group (34.7%) than in the gout group (4.3%, p < 0.05). Renal function was decreased and serum triglyceride was higher in patients with gout. Uric acid urolithiasis patients with DM had a lower risk for gout (adjusted odds ratio: 0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01–0.61, p = 0.015). In 89 patients with predominant uric acid stones (>50% uric acid composition), the risk for gout was still lower in patients with diabetes than non-diabetes (adjusted odds ratio: 0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01–0.61, p = 0.015). These findings suggest that decreased risk of gout is found in uric acid urolithiasis patients with diabetes. Our results imply that patients with uric acid stones should have complete diabetes evaluation before the administration of uric acid controlling medication.