bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Hybrid Methodology for Analyzing the Performance of Induction Motors with Efficiency Improvement by Specific Commercial Measures
Authors: Ai Chengliu , Lee Christopher H.T. , Kirtley James L. , Huang Yuanfeng , Wang Haifeng , Zhang Zhiwei
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a hybrid methodology to analyze the commercial measures of changing stator windings and adjusting air gap length to upgrade efficiency of typical three-phase direct-on-line induction motors with die-cast copper rotor (DCR). The calculation is carried out through combining the time-stepping and time-harmonic finite element analysis (FEA) and the circuit equivalent circuit model. Typical full-load performance of stator windings with different air gap lengths are computed by MATLAB invoking the 2D transient and eddy current field analysis in ANSYS/MAXWELL. Then, MATLAB scripts about post-processing of the FEA results are used to obtain the full-load running performance including the loss distribution and circulating current. The MATLAB scripts of circuit model built based on the FEA results is used to compare the overload and starting performance. After that, four stators with the four windings and three DCRs with different air gap of an 11 kW motor are fabricated and tested to validate the calculations. By comparing results from both calculations and measurements, it is shown that the factors of stator windings and air gap length can effectively improve the efficiency of the 11 kW DCR induction motor without the addition of extra materials. The motor with the 11/12 pitch Y-Δ series winding and 0.6 mm air gap has the best performance, in terms of efficiency, overloading capability and starting performance. Its efficiency can increase from 90% to the highest 92.35% by sole adjustment of stator winding and air gap length.
Impact of Silicon Nanoparticles on the Antioxidant Compounds of Tomato Fruits Stressed by Arsenic
Authors: González-Moscoso Magín , Martínez-Villegas Nadia Valentina , Cadenas-Pliego Gregorio , Benavides-Mendoza Adalberto , Rivera-Cruz María del Carmen , González-Morales Susana , Juárez-Maldonado Antonio
Published: November 2019

Tomato fruit is rich in antioxidant compounds such as lycopene and β-carotene. The beneficial effects of the bioactive compounds of tomato fruit have been documented as anticancer activities. The objective of this research was to determine whether arsenic (As) causes changes in the content of antioxidant compounds in tomato fruits and whether Silicon nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) positively influence them. The effects on fruit quality and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds were determined. The results showed that As decreased the oxide-reduction potential (ORP), while lycopene and β-carotene were increased by exposure to As at a low dose (0.2 mg L−1), and proteins and vitamin C decreased due to high doses of As in the interaction with SiO2 NPs. A dose of 250 mg L−1 of SiO2 NPs increased glutathione and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and phenols decreased with low doses of As and when they interacted with the NPs. As for the flavonoids, they increased with exposure to As and SiO2 NPs. The total antioxidant capacity, determined by the ABTS (2,2´-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6-sulfonic acid]) test, showed an increase with the highest dose of As in the interaction with SiO2 NPs. The application of As at low doses induced a greater accumulation of bioactive compounds in tomato fruit; however, these compounds decreased in high doses as well as via interaction with SiO2 NPs, indicating that there was an oxidative burst.
Degradation of Bisphenol A by CeCu Oxide Catalyst in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation: Efficiency, Stability, and Mechanism
Authors: Jiao Zhaojie , Chen Ligong , Zhou Guilin , Gong Haifeng , Zhang Xianming , Liu Yunqi , Gao Xu
Published: November 2019

The CeCu oxide catalyst CC450 was prepared by citric acid complex method and the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) reaction system was established with bisphenol A (BPA) as the target pollutant. By means of characterization, this research investigated the phase structure, surface morphology, reducibility, surface element composition, and valence of the catalyst before and after reuse. The effects of catalyst dosage and pH on the removal efficiency of BPA were also investigated. Five reuse experiments were carried out to investigate the reusability of the catalyst. In addition, this research delved into the changes of pH value, hydroxyl radical concentration, and ultraviolet-visible spectra of BPA in CWPO reaction system. The possible intermediate products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The catalytic mechanism and degradation pathway were also discussed. The results showed that after reaction of 65 min, the removal of BPA and total organic carbon (TOC) could reach 87.6% and 77.9%, respectively. The catalyst showed strong pH adaptability and had high removal efficiency of BPA in the range of pH 1.6–7.9. After five reuses, the removal of BPA remained above 86.7%, with the structure of the catalyst remaining stable to a large extent. With the reaction proceeding, the pH value of the reaction solution increased, the concentration of OH radicals decreased, and the ultraviolet-visible spectrum of BPA shifted to the short wavelength direction, that is, the blue shift direction. The catalysts degraded BPA rapidly in CWPO reaction system and the C–C bond or O–H bond in BPA could be destroyed in a very short time. Also, there may have been two main degradation paths of phenol and ketone.
Depressive Symptoms, Lack of Physical Activity, and Their Combination Towards Health Care Utilisation Frequency
Authors: Haider Sandra , Grabovac Igor , Rieder Anita , Dorner Thomas Ernst
Published: November 2019

Depressive symptoms and lack of physical activity are independent factors that lead to higher health care utilisation, often occurring simultaneously. We aimed to assess the effects of depressive symptoms, lack of aerobic physical activity (PA), and the combination of those factors on the probability of using in- and outpatient health care services in men and women. Data from 15,770 people from the nationally representative Austrian Health Interview Survey (AT-HIS) were used. In analysis, depressive symptoms, adjusted for sociodemographic, health related, and lifestyle-related factors were associated with higher odds of outpatient health care utilisation (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.19–2.14) in men and (OR: 2.10; 95%CI: 1.65–2.66) in women, and with higher odds of inpatient health care utilisation (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.09–2.10) in men and (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.64–2.68) in women. However, depressive symptoms were not associated with higher health care utilisation in the fully adjusted models. In men, co-existence of depressive symptoms and lack of health enhancing physical activity (HEPA) was associated with higher odds of using inpatient health care services, compared to the presence of only one or none of the factors. In conclusion, our results show that depressive symptoms are associated with more health care utilisation in both men and women and that the co-existence of both depressive symptoms and lack of HEPA elevated the odds for inpatient health care utilisation in men even more.
Effect of Obesity and Other Risk Factors on Hypertension among Women of Reproductive Age in Ghana: An Instrumental Variable Probit Model
Authors: Oyekale Abayomi Samuel
Published: November 2019

Background: The growing incidence of mortality as a result cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is a major public health concern in several developing countries. In Ghana, unhealthy food consumption pattern and sedentary lifestyle are promoting overweight and obesity, with significant consequences on the incidence of CVDs. Specifically, hypertension morbidity is now a public health concern among Ghanaian health policy makers. This paper analysed the effect of body mass index (BMI)/arm circumference and other associated factors on hypertension risk among women of reproductive ages in Ghana. Methods: The data were collected as Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2014. This paper analysed the subset of the data that were collected from eligible women 15–49 years of age. The total sample was 9396, while 9367 gave consents to have their blood pressure measured. Data were analysed with instrumental probit regression model with consideration of potential endogeneity of BMI and arm circumference. Results: The results showed that 25% of the women were either overweight or obese, while 13.28% were hypertensive. Women from the Greater Accra (18.15%), Ashanti (15.53%) and Volta (15.02%) regions had the highest incidences of hypertension. BMI and arm circumferences were truly endogenous and positively associated with the probability of being hypertensive. Other factors that influenced hypertension were age of women, region of residence, urban/rural residence, being pregnant, access to medical insurance, currently working, consumption of broth cubes, processed can meats, salted meat and fruits. Conclusion: It was concluded that hypertension risk was positively associated with being overweight, obesity, age and consumption of salted meat.It was inter aliaemphasized that engagement in healthy eating with less consumption of salted meats, and more consumption of fruits would assist in controlling hypertension among Ghanaian women.
Capturing the Unconscious—The “Psychoanalytic Core Competency Q-Sort”. An Innovative Tool Investigating Psychodynamic Therapeutic Skills
Authors: Parth Karoline , Wolf Isabelle , Löffler-Stastka Henriette
Published: November 2019

The Psychoanalytic Core Competency Q-Sort (PCC Q-Sort) is a newly developed empirical research tool that allows for the description and illustration of the ways psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapists work. It provides a simple, straightforward rating procedure utilizing a well-established q-sort method. The present pilot study describes the psychoanalytic core competency items and discusses the development procedure of the instrument as well as statistical analysis of ratings from psychoanalytic sessions, including inter-rater reliability as well as preliminary findings on possible construct validity. Additionally, a factor analysis was performed. Values were assessed by applying the PCC Q-Sort to 30 audio recordings of psychoanalytic sessions. The results of the present study indicate that the PCC Q-Sort is a reliable process research instrument that allows for a detailed investigation of psychotherapy processes in psychodynamic psychotherapies and change processes.
A Biophysical Analysis on the Arm Stroke Efficiency in Front Crawl Swimming: Comparing Methods and Determining the Main Performance Predictors
Authors: Peterson Silveira Ricardo , Soares Susana Maria , Zacca Rodrigo , Alves Francisco B. , Fernandes Ricardo J. , Castro Flávio Antônio de Souza , Vilas-Boas João Paulo
Published: November 2019

Purpose: to compare different methods to assess the arm stroke efficiency ( η F ), when swimming front crawl using the arms only on the Measurement of Active Drag System (MAD System) and in a free-swimming condition, and to identify biophysical adaptations to swimming on the MAD System and the main biophysical predictors of maximal swimming speed in the 200 m front crawl using the arms only ( v 200 m ). Methods: fourteen swimmers performed twice a 5 × 200 m incremental trial swimming the front crawl stroke using the arms only, once swimming freely, and once swimming on the MAD System. The total metabolic power was assessed in both conditions. The biomechanical parameters were obtained from video analysis and force data recorded on the MAD System. The η F was calculated using: (i) direct measures of mechanical and metabolic power (power-based method); (ii) forward speed/hand speed ratio (speed-based method), and (iii) the simplified paddle-wheel model. Results: both methods to assess η F on the MAD System differed (p < 0.001) from the expected values for this condition ( η F = 1), with the speed-based method providing the closest values ( η F ~0.96). In the free-swimming condition, the power-based ( η F ~0.75), speed-based ( η F ~0.62), and paddle-wheel ( η F ~0.39) efficiencies were significantly different (p < 0.001). Although all methods provided values within the limits of agreement, the speed-based method provided the closest values to the “actual efficiency”. The main biophysical predictors of v 200 m were included in two models: biomechanical (R2 = 0.98) and physiological (R2 = 0.98). Conclusions: our results suggest that the speed-based method provides the closest values to the “actual η F ” and confirm that swimming performance depends on the balance of biomechanical and bioenergetic parameters
Inhibition of the Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (LMPTP) as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Hepatic Progenitor Cells Lipotoxicity—Short Communication
Authors: Alicka Michalina , Kornicka-Garbowska Katarzyna , Roecken Michael , Marycz Krzysztof
Published: November 2019

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia, as well as insulin resistance (IR). In accordance with the theory linking obesity and IR, excessive accumulation of lipids in insulin-sensitive tissues (lipotoxicity), like liver, alters several cellular functions, including insulin signaling. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to isolate equine hepatic progenitor-like cells (HPCs) and assess whether inhibition of low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMPTP) affects the expression of genes involved in macroautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial dynamics in a palmitate-induced IR model. We demonstrated that LMPTP inhibition significantly enhanced expression of heat shock cognate 70 kDa protein (HSC70), lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), and parkin (PRKN), all master regulators of selective autophagy. We also observed downregulation of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and binding immunoglobulin protein encoded by the HSPA gene. Moreover, LMPTP inhibition increased alternative splicing of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), suggesting high endonuclease activity of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α). Taken together, our data provide convincing evidence that LMPTP inhibition reverses palmitate-induced insulin resistance and lipotoxicity. In conclusion, this study highlights the role of LMPTP in the regulation of CMA, mitophagy, and ER stress, and provides a new in vitro model for studying HPC lipotoxicity in pre-clinical research.
CK2.3, a Mimetic Peptide of the BMP Type I Receptor, Increases Activity in Osteoblasts over BMP2
Authors: Weidner Hilary , Yuan Gao Victor , Dibert Debra , McTague Sean , Eskander Mark , Duncan Randall , Wang Liyun , Nohe Anja
Published: November 2019

Bone is one of the most important organs in the human body. It provides structure, function, and protection for other vital organs; therefore, bone maintenance and homeostasis are critical processes. As humans age, their bone mineral density decreases, which leads to diseases like osteoporosis. This disease affects one in two women and one in five men aged 50 and over. As the aging population increases, the interest and significance of studying this debilitating bone disease becomes more relevant. Current therapeutic products for osteoporosis have many side effects and can be taken for a limited number of years. Most therapeutic products only focus on decreasing bone resorption, not increasing bone formation. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 is an essential growth factor that drives osteoblast differentiation and activity and is essential for bone formation. However, usage in the clinic is unsuccessful due to several side effects. Recently, a signaling disparity in bone marrow stromal cells within the bone morphogenetic protein pathway that led to decreased bone morphogenetic protein 2 responsiveness was identified in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. However, it is unclear how other cell populations, especially osteoblasts, which are key players in bone remodeling, are affected and whether the bone morphogenetic protein pathway is affected during osteoporosis. Our research group designed a novel peptide, casein kinase 2.3, that acts downstream of the bone morphogenetic receptor type Ia and increases bone mineralization in murine cells and primary bovine osteoblasts. The aim of the study presented here was to compare the responsiveness of osteoblasts to bone morphogenetic protein 2 and casein kinase 2.3, especially in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis. Mature osteoblasts were extracted from patients diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis from Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware. They were stimulated with either bone morphogenetic protein 2 or casein kinase 2.3, and their effect on osteoblast activity was determined. The osteoporotic patients showed no mineralization response to bone morphogenetic protein 2 stimulation, while the osteoarthritis patients significantly responded to bone morphogenetic protein 2 stimulation. Furthermore, markers for osteoblast activity were increased by casein kinase 2.3, which was in sharp contrast to bone morphogenetic protein 2. This further supports a major bone morphogenetic protein signaling disparity in both the elderly and those suffering with osteoporosis. Both patient types did significantly respond to casein kinase 2.3. Further analysis of the bone morphogenetic protein pathway could lead to new therapeutic products for osteoporosis.
Pemafibrate Prevents Retinal Pathological Neovascularization by Increasing FGF21 Level in a Murine Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model
Authors: Tomita Yohei , Ozawa Nobuhiro , Miwa Yukihiro , Ishida Ayako , Ohta Masayuki , Tsubota Kazuo , Kurihara Toshihide
Published: November 2019

Large-scale clinical trials, such as the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) studies, have shown that the administration of fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonist, suppresses the progression of diabetic retinopathy. In this paper, we reveal a therapeutic effect of a selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα), pemafibrate, against pathological angiogenesis in murine models of retinopathy. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) was induced in C57BL/6J mice by exposure to 85% oxygen from postnatal day eight (P8) for 72 h. Vehicle, pemafibrate or fenofibrate was administrated by oral gavage from P12 to P16 daily. Administration of pemafibrate, but not fenofibrate, significantly reduced pathological angiogenesis in OIR. After oral pemafibrate administration, expression levels of downstream PPARα targets such as acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (Acox1), fatty acid binding protein 4 (Fabp4), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (Fgf21) were significantly increased in the liver but not in the retina. A significant increase in plasma FGF21 and reduced retinal hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa) were also observed after this treatment. In an in vitro HIF-luciferase assay, a long-acting FGF21 analogue, but not pemafibrate, suppressed HIF activity. These data indicate that SPPARMα pemafibrate administration may prevent retinal pathological neovascularization by upregulating FGF21 in the liver.
Where Could Research on Immunosenescence Lead?
Authors: De la Fuente Mónica
Published: November 2019

In the special issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) entitled: Immunosenescence and related processes, eight relevant articles are presented [...]
Benzo[b]tellurophenes as a Potential Histone H3 Lysine 9 Demethylase (KDM4) Inhibitor
Authors: Kim Yoon-Jung , Lee Dong Hoon , Choi Yong-Sung , Jeong Jin-Hyun , Kwon So Hee
Published: November 2019

Gene expression and tumor growth can be regulated by methylation levels of lysine residues on histones, which are controlled by histone lysine demethylases (KDMs). Series of benzo[b]tellurophene and benzo[b]selenophene compounds were designed and synthesized and they were evaluated for histone H3 lysine 9 demethylase (KDM4) inhibitory activity. Among the carbamates, alcohol and aromatic derivatives, tert-butyl benzo[b]tellurophen-2-ylmethylcarbamate (compound 1c) revealed KDM4 specific inhibitory activity in cervical cancer HeLa cells, whereas the corresponding selenium or oxygen substitute compounds did not display any inhibitory activity toward KDM4. Compound 1c also induced cell death in cervical and colon cancer but not in normal cells. Thus, compound 1c, a novel inhibitor of KDM4, constitutes a potential therapeutic and research tool against cancer.
Global Proteomic Analysis Reveals Widespread Lysine Succinylation in Rice Seedlings
Authors: Zhang Kai , Xiong Yehui , Sun Wenxian , Wang Guo-Liang , Liu Wende
Published: November 2019

Lysine succinylation (Ksu) is a dynamic and reversible post-translational modification that plays an important role in many biological processes. Although recent research has analyzed Ksu plant proteomes, little is known about the scope and cellular distribution of Ksu in rice seedlings. Here, we report high-quality proteome-scale Ksu data for rice seedlings. A total of 710 Ksu sites in 346 proteins with diverse biological functions and subcellular localizations were identified in rice samples. About 54% of the sites were predicted to be localized in the chloroplast. Six putative succinylation motifs were detected. Comparative analysis with succinylation data revealed that arginine (R), located downstream of Ksu sites, is the most conserved amino acid surrounding the succinylated lysine. KEGG pathway category enrichment analysis indicated that carbon metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism pathways were significantly enriched. Additionally, we compared published Ksu data from rice embryos with our data from rice seedlings and found conserved Ksu sites between the two rice tissues. Our in-depth survey of Ksu in rice seedlings provides the foundation for further understanding the biological function of lysine-succinylated proteins in rice growth and development.
Waste Autochthonous Tuscan Olive Leaves (Olea europaea var. Olivastra seggianese) as Antioxidant Source for Biomedicine
Authors: De la Ossa Jose Gustavo , Felice Francesca , Azimi Bahareh , Esposito Salsano Jasmine , Digiacomo Maria , Macchia Marco , Danti Serena , Di Stefano Rossella
Published: November 2019

Olive leaf extract (OLE) can be obtained as biowaste and is extensively used a food supplement and an over-the-counter drug for its beneficial effects. New studies have investigated OLE concerning the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. This in vitro study aims to evaluate if OLE extracted from the Tuscan Olea europaea protects endothelial cells against oxidative stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methods: OLE total polyphenols (TPs) were characterized by the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Endothelial cells were grown in conventional cultures (i.e., two-dimensional, 2D) and on a biomaterial scaffold (i.e., three-dimensional, 3D) fabricated via electrospinning. Cell viability and ROS measurement after H2O2 insults were performed. Results: OLE TP content was 23.29 mg GAE/g, and oleuropein was the principal compound. The dose-dependent viability curve highlighted the absence of significant cytotoxic effects at OLE concentrations below 250 µg/mL TPs. By using OLE preconditioning at 100 µg/mL, cell viability decrease was observed, being in 3D lower than in the 2D model. OLE was protective against ROS in both models. Conclusions: OLE represents a high-value antioxidant source obtained by biowaste that is interesting for biomedical products. Using a 3D scaffold could be the best predictive model to mimic the physiological conditions of vascular tissue reaction.
Transcriptomic and Co-Expression Network Profiling of Shoot Apical Meristem Reveal Contrasting Response to Nitrogen Rate between Indica and Japonica Rice Subspecies
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxiang , Zhou Juan , Huang Niansheng , Mo Lanjing , Lv Minjia , Gao Yingbo , Chen Chen , Yin Shuangyi , Ju Jing , Dong Guichun , Zhou Yong , Yang Zefeng , Li Aihong , Wang Yulong , Huang Jianye , Yao Youli
Published: November 2019

Reducing nitrogen (N) input is a key measure to achieve a sustainable rice production in China, especially in Jiangsu Province. Tiller is the basis for achieving panicle number that plays as a major factor in the yield determination. In actual production, excessive N is often applied in order to produce enough tillers in the early stages. Understanding how N regulates tillering in rice plants is critical to generate an integrative management to reduce N use and reaching tiller number target. Aiming at this objective, we utilized RNA sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to compare the transcriptomes surrounding the shoot apical meristem of indica (Yangdao6, YD6) and japonica (Nipponbare, NPB) rice subspecies. Our results showed that N rate influenced tiller number in a different pattern between the two varieties, with NPB being more sensitive to N enrichment, and YD6 being more tolerant to high N rate. Tiller number was positively related to N content in leaf, culm and root tissue, but negatively related to the soluble carbohydrate content, regardless of variety. Transcriptomic comparisons revealed that for YD6 when N rate enrichment from low (LN) to medium (MN), it caused 115 DEGs (LN vs. MN), from MN to high level (HN) triggered 162 DEGs (MN vs. HN), but direct comparison of low with high N rate showed a 511 DEGs (LN vs. HN). These numbers of DEG in NPB were 87 (LN vs. MN), 40 (MN vs. HN), and 148 (LN vs. HN). These differences indicate that continual N enrichment led to a bumpy change at the transcription level. For the reported sixty-five genes which affect tillering, thirty-six showed decent expression in SAM at tiller starting phase, among them only nineteen being significantly influenced by N level, and two genes showed significant interaction between N rate and variety. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the majority of the common DEGs are involved in general stress responses, stimulus responses, and hormonal signaling process. WGCNA network identified twenty-two co-expressing gene modules and ten candidate hubgenes for each module. Several genes associated with tillering and N rate fall on the related modules. These indicate that there are more genes participating in tillering regulation in response to N enrichment.
Ischemic Postconditioning Reduces Reperfusion Arrhythmias by Adenosine Receptors and Protein Kinase C Activation but Is Independent of KATP Channels or Connexin 43
Authors: Diez Emiliano , Sánchez Jose , Prado Natalia , Ponce Zumino Amira , García-Dorado David , Miatello Roberto , Rodríguez-Sinovas Antonio
Published: November 2019

Ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) reduces reperfusion arrhythmias but the antiarrhythmic mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze IPoC electrophysiological effects and the role played by adenosine A1, A2A and A3 receptors, protein kinase C, ATP-dependent potassium (KATP) channels, and connexin 43. IPoC reduced reperfusion arrhythmias (mainly sustained ventricular fibrillation) in isolated rat hearts, an effect associated with a transient delay in epicardial electrical activation, and with action potential shortening. Electrical impedance measurements and Lucifer-Yellow diffusion assays agreed with such activation delay. However, this delay persisted during IPoC in isolated mouse hearts in which connexin 43 was replaced by connexin 32 and in mice with conditional deletion of connexin 43. Adenosine A1, A2A and A3 receptor blockade antagonized the antiarrhythmic effect of IPoC and the associated action potential shortening, whereas exogenous adenosine reduced reperfusion arrhythmias and shortened action potential duration. Protein kinase C inhibition by chelerythrine abolished the protective effect of IPoC but did not modify the effects on action potential duration. On the other hand, glibenclamide, a KATP inhibitor, antagonized the action potential shortening but did not interfere with the antiarrhythmic effect. The antiarrhythmic mechanisms of IPoC involve adenosine receptor activation and are associated with action potential shortening. However, this action potential shortening is not essential for protection, as it persisted during protein kinase C inhibition, a maneuver that abolished IPoC protection. Furthermore, glibenclamide induced the opposite effects. In addition, IPoC delays electrical activation and electrical impedance recovery during reperfusion, but these effects are independent of connexin 43.
Establishing a System for Functional Characterization of Full-Length cDNAs of Camellia sinensis
Authors: Lin Lin , Cai Weiwei , Du Zhenghua , Zhang Wenjing , Xu Quanming , Sun Weijiang , Chen Mingjie
Published: November 2019

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is enriched with bioactive secondary metabolites, and is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages globally. Two tea reference genomes have been reported; however, the functional analysis of tea genes has lagged, mainly due to tea’s recalcitrance to genetic transformation and the absence of alternative high throughput heterologous expression systems. A full-length cDNA collection with a streamlined cloning system is needed in this economically important woody crop species. RNAs were isolated from nine different vegetative tea tissues, pooled, then used to construct a normalized full-length cDNA library. The titer of unamplified and amplified cDNA library was 6.89 × 106 and 1.8 × 1010 cfu/mL, respectively; the library recombinant rate was 87.2%. Preliminary characterization demonstrated that this collection can complement existing tea reference genomes and facilitate rare gene discovery. In addition, to streamline tea cDNA cloning and functional analysis, a binary vector (pBIG2113SF) was reengineered, seven tea cDNAs isolated from this library were successfully cloned into this vector, then transformed into Arabidopsis. One FL-cDNA, which encodes a putative P1B-type ATPase 5 (CsHMA5), was characterized further as a proof of concept. We demonstrated that overexpression of CsHMA5 in Arabidopsis resulted in copper hyposensitivity. Thus, our data demonstrated that this represents an efficient system for rare gene discovery and functional characterization of tea genes. The integration of a tea FL-cDNA collection with efficient cloning and a heterologous expression system would facilitate functional annotation and characterization of tea genes.
Endomorphin-2- and Neurotensin- Based Chimeric Peptide Attenuates Airway Inflammation in Mouse Model of Nonallergic Asthma
Authors: Russjan Ewelina , Andrzejewski Kryspin , Sulejczak Dorota , Kleczkowska Patrycja , Kaczyńska Katarzyna
Published: November 2019

We examined anti-inflammatory potency of hybrid peptide-PK20, composed of neurotensin (NT) and endomorphin-2 (EM-2) pharmacophores in a murine model of non-atopic asthma induced by skin sensitization with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and intratracheal challenge of cognate hapten. Mice received intraperitoneally PK20, equimolar mixture of its structural elements (MIX), dexamethasone (DEX), or NaCl. Twenty-four hours following hapten challenge, the measurements of airway responsiveness to methacholine were taken. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) and lungs were collected for further analyses. Treatment with PK20, similarly to dexamethasone, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells, concentration of mouse mast cell protease, IL-1β, IL-12p40, IL-17A, CXCL1, RANTES in lungs and IL-1α, IL-2, IL-13, and TNF-α in BALF. Simple mixture of NT and EM-2 moieties was less potent. PK20, DEX, and MIX significantly decreased malondialdehyde level and secretory phospholipase 2 activity in lungs. Intensity of NF-κB immunoreactivity was diminished only after PK20 and DEX treatments. Neither PK20 nor mixture of its pharmacophores were as effective as DEX in alleviating airway hyperresponsiveness. PK20 effectively inhibited hapten-induced inflammation and mediator and signaling pathways in a manner seen with dexamethasone. Improved anti-inflammatory potency of the hybrid over the mixture of its moieties shows its preponderance and might pose a promising tool in modulating inflammation in asthma.
Evaluation of the Reactivity and Receptor Competition of HLA-G Isoforms toward Available Antibodies: Implications of Structural Characteristics of HLA-G Isoforms
Authors: Furukawa Atsushi , Meguro Manami , Yamazaki Rika , Watanabe Hiroshi , Takahashi Ami , Kuroki Kimiko , Maenaka Katsumi
Published: November 2019

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-G, which consists of seven splice variants, is a tolerogenic immune checkpoint molecule. It plays an important role in the protection of the fetus from the maternal immune response by binding to inhibitory receptors, including leukocyte Ig-like receptors (LILRs). Recent studies have also revealed that HLA-G is involved in the progression of cancer cells and the protection from autoimmune diseases. In contrast to its well characterized isoform, HLA-G1, the binding activities of other major HLA-G isoforms, such as HLA-G2, toward available anti-HLA-G antibodies are only partially understood. Here, we investigate the binding specificities of anti-HLA-G antibodies by using surface plasmon resonance. MEM-G9 and G233 showed strong affinities to HLA-G1, with a nM range for their dissociation constants, but did not show affinities to HLA-G2. The disulfide-linker HLA-G1 dimer further exhibited significant avidity effects. On the other hand, 4H84 and MEM-G1, which can be used for the Western blotting of HLA-G isoforms, can bind to native HLA-G2, while MEM-G9 and G233 cannot. These results reveal that HLA-G2 has a partially intrinsically disordered structure. Furthermore, MEM-G1, but not 4H84, competes with the LILRB2 binding of HLA-G2. These results provide novel insight into the functional characterization of HLA-G isoforms and their detection systems.
Clinical Implications of Extracellular HMGA1 in Breast Cancer
Authors: Méndez Olga , Pérez José , Soberino Jesus , Racca Fabricio , Cortés Javier , Villanueva Josep
Published: November 2019

The unconventional secretion of proteins is generally caused by cellular stress. During the tumorigenesis, tumor cells experience high levels of stress, and the secretion of some theoretically intracellular proteins is activated. Once in the extracellular space, these proteins play different paracrine and autocrine roles and could represent a vulnerability of cancer. One of these proteins is the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1), which is frequently overexpressed in tumors and presents a low expression in normal adult tissues. We have recently described that HMGA1 establishes an autocrine loop in invasive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The secretion of HMGA1 and its binding to the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) mediates the migration, invasion, and metastasis of TNBC cells and predicts the onset of metastasis in these patients. In this review, we summarized different strategies to exploit the novel tumorigenic phenotype mediated by extracellular HMGA1. We envisioned future clinical applications where the association between its change in subcellular localization and breast cancer progression could be used to predict tumor aggressiveness and guide treatment decisions. Furthermore, we proposed that targeting extracellular HMGA1 as monotherapy using monoclonal antibodies, or in combination with chemotherapy and other targeted therapies, could bring new therapeutic options for TNBC patients.
A Review of Climate Change Impacts to Oil Sector Critical Services and Suggested Recommendations for Industry Uptake
Authors: Katopodis Theodoros , Sfetsos Athanasios
Published: November 2019

Climate change already has far-reaching impacts on the oil industry, putting the operation, reliability, and growth of the sector at risk. Oil infrastructure has multi-decadal lifetime projections; thus, climate change and extreme weather events such as extreme temperatures, hurricanes, high winds, lightning strikes, storm surges, flooding, etc., pose an extra challenge to the oil supply chain, from upstream to downstream. In this paper, we review the climate change risk assessment frameworks, the impacts of climate change on oil infrastructure, and we identify gaps in the current knowledge, also suggesting future search directions on adapting the oil sector to climate change. The work overviews linkages between climate and oil industry design, operational, and service thresholds in a comprehensive hazard threshold matrix. Existing risk assessment methodologies that account for existing regulatory frameworks and interdependencies with other infrastructures are studied, leading to mitigation, adaptation, and sector resilience recommendations.
The Waggle Dance as an Intended Flight: A Cognitive Perspective
Authors: Menzel Randolf
Published: November 2019

The notion of the waggle dance simulating a flight towards a goal in a walking pattern has been proposed in the context of evolutionary considerations. Behavioral components, like its arousing effect on the social community, the attention of hive mates induced by this behavior, the direction of the waggle run relative to the sun azimuth or to gravity, as well as the number of waggles per run, have been tentatively related to peculiar behavioral patterns in both solitary and social insect species and are thought to reflect phylogenetic pre-adaptations. Here, I ask whether these thoughts can be substantiated from a functional perspective. Communication in the waggle dance is a group phenomenon involving the dancer and the followers that perform partially overlapping movements encoding and decoding the message respectively. It is thus assumed that the dancer and follower perform close cognitive processes. This provides us with access to these cognitive processes during dance communication because the follower can be tested in its flight performance when it becomes a recruit. I argue that the dance message and the landscape experience are processed in the same navigational memory, allowing the bee to fly novel direct routes, a property understood as an indication of a cognitive map.
A Glycoproteinaceous Secretion in the Seminal Vesicles of the Termite Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: Laranjo Lara T. , Haifig Ives , Costa-Leonardo Ana Maria
Published: November 2019

Coptotermes gestroi is a subterranean termite with colonies generally headed by a pair of primary reproductives, although neotenics may occur. In this study, the male reproductive system was compared during different life stages of nymphs, alates, neotenic reproductives, and kings of C. gestroi, focusing on the modifications of this system along the maturation of these individuals. The structure of the male reproductive system follows the pattern described for insects, although C. gestroi males do not exhibit conspicuous penises and differentiated accessory glands. In kings, each testis consisted of about seven lobes, significantly increased in size as compared to younger males. The spermatogenesis begins in third-instar nymphs, which already presented spermatozoa in the testes. The seminal vesicles are individualized in C. gestroi and have a secretory distal portion and a proximal portion with a role in spermatozoa storage. The secretion of the seminal vesicles is strongly periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive, whereas the xylidine Ponceau test revealed proteins that increase in quantity while the males become older. This is the first record of glycoproteins in the lumen of seminal vesicles in termites. Further studies will clarify how they are produced and interact in the physiology and nutrition of the non-flagellate spermatozoa of C. gestroi.
Comment from the Editor of the Special Issue: “Lung Disease on COPD, Asthma, Bronchiectasis, Lung Cancer Screening, IPF”
Authors: Chaudhuri Nazia
Published: November 2019

This Special Issue on lung diseases is aimed at giving emergent researchers and clinicians an important forum to share their original research and expert reviews on key topics within respiratory diseases. This Special Issue will be of interest to general physicians and respiratory specialist and will equip the reader with up-to-date knowledge on a wide array of lung diseases, including interstitial lung diseases, COPD, and Asthma.
We are What We Eat: Impact of Food from Short Supply Chain on Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Santulli Gaetano , Pascale Valeria , Finelli Rosa , Visco Valeria , Giannotti Rocco , Massari Angelo , Morisco Carmine , Ciccarelli Michele , Illario Maddalena , Iaccarino Guido , Coscioni Enrico
Published: November 2019

Food supply in the Mediterranean area has been recently modified by big retail distribution; for instance, industrial retail has favored shipments of groceries from regions that are intensive producers of mass food, generating a long supply chain (LSC) of food that opposes short supply chains (SSCs) that promote local food markets. However, the actual functional role of food retail and distribution in the determination of the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been studied hitherto. The main aim of this study was to test the effects of food chain length on the prevalence of MetS in a population accustomed to the Mediterranean diet. We conducted an observational study in Southern Italy on individuals adhering to the Mediterranean diet. We examined a total of 407 subjects (41% females) with an average age of 56 ± 14.5 years (as standard deviation) and found that being on the Mediterranean diet with a SSC significantly reduces the prevalence of MetS compared with the LSC (SSC: 19.65%, LSC: 31.46%; p: 0.007). Our data indicate for the first time that the length of food supply chain plays a key role in determining the risk of MetS in a population adhering to the Mediterranean diet.
Baseline High-Resolution CT Findings Predict Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: German and Japanese Cohort Study
Authors: Hirano Chihiro , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Horimasu Yasushi , Iwamoto Hiroshi , Fujitaka Kazunori , Hamada Hironobu , Kohno Nobuoki , Komoto Daisuke , Awai Kazuo , Shime Nobuaki , Bonella Francesco , Guzman Josune , Kühl Hilmar , Costabel Ulrich , Hattori Noboru
Published: November 2019

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is a major cause of morbidity and death in IPF. However, sensitive predictive factors of AE-IPF have not been well-investigated. To investigate whether high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) abnormalities predict AE-IPF in independent ethnic cohorts, this study included 121 patients with IPF (54 German and 67 Japanese; mean age, 68.5 ± 7.6 years). Two radiologists independently visually assessed the presence and extent of lung abnormalities in each patient. Twenty-two (18.2%) patients experienced AE-IPF during the follow-up. The incidence of AE-IPF was significantly higher in the Japanese patients (n = 18, 26.9%) than in the German patients (n = 4, 7.3%, p < 0.01). In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, patients with a larger extent of ground glass opacity (GGO), fibrosis, and traction bronchiectasis experienced an earlier onset of AE-IPF (p = 0.0033, 0.0088, and 0.049, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, a larger extent of GGO and fibrosis on HRCT were independent predictors of AE-IPF (p = 0.026 and 0.037, respectively). Additionally, Japanese ethnicity was independently associated with the incidence of AE-IPF after adjustment for HRCT findings (p = 0.0074). In conclusion, a larger extent of GGO and fibrosis on HRCT and Japanese ethnicity appear to be risk factors for AE-IPF.
Perinatal Mental Health in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of an Australian Population-Based Cohort
Authors: Tay Chau Thien , Teede Helena J. , Boyle Jacqueline A. , Kulkarni Jayashri , Loxton Deborah , Joham Anju E.
Published: November 2019

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have many risk factors associated with perinatal mental disorders, but research in this area is scarce. This study aims to compare the prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders in women with and without PCOS, and examine the relationship between PCOS and common perinatal mental disorders. We performed a cross-sectional study on self-reported data of 5239 women born between 1973 to 1978 in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Compared with women not reporting PCOS, women reporting PCOS had higher prevalence of antenatal depression (8.9% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), antenatal anxiety (11.7% vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001), postnatal depression (26.8% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001) and postnatal anxiety (18.4% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001). PCOS was positively associated with antenatal depression and/or anxiety (adjusted odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2–2.6) but not postnatal depression and/or anxiety after controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, reproductive history, obstetric complications and pre-existing depression and anxiety. General perinatal guidelines currently do not recognize PCOS as a risk factor and the international evidence based PCOS guideline noted inadequate evidence in this area. This paper addresses the gap in literature and highlights the need to screen for common perinatal mental disorders in women with PCOS.
Model Tests on the Frequency Responses of Offshore Monopiles
Authors: He Rui , Zhu Tao
Published: November 2019

Monopiles are widely used to support offshore wind turbines as a result of the extensive development of offshore wind energy in coastal areas of China. An offshore wind turbine is a typical high-rise structure sensitive to dynamic loads in ocean environment such as winds, water waves, currents and seismic waves. Most of the existing researches focus on elastic vibration analysis, bearing capacity or cyclic degradation problems. There’re very few studies on vibration of monopiles, especially considering the influence of static loads with different amplitudes, directions, and loading-unloading-reloading processes. In this paper, laboratory-scale 1 g model tests for a monopile in dry sands were carried out to investigate the frequency responses of the monopile under different loading conditions. The bearing capacities of the model monopile were obtained as references, and dynamic loads and static loads with different amplitudes were then applied to the monopile. It was found that (1) the first resonant frequency of the monopile decreases with the increase of dynamic load amplitudes; (2) the first resonant frequency of the monopile steadily increases under the lateral static load and loading-unloading-reloading processes; (3) the frequency responses of the monopile with static loads in different directions are also quite different; (4) damping of the monopile is influenced by the load amplitudes, load frequencies, load directions and soil conditions. Besides, all the tests were conducted in both loose sand and dense sand, and the results are almost consistent in general but more obvious in the dense sand case.
An Universal, Simple, Circular Statistics-Based Estimator of α for Symmetric Stable Family
Authors: SenGupta Ashis , Roy Moumita
Published: November 2019

The aim of this article is to obtain a simple and efficient estimator of the index parameter of symmetric stable distribution that holds universally, i.e., over the entire range of the parameter. We appeal to directional statistics on the classical result on wrapping of a distribution in obtaining the wrapped stable family of distributions. The performance of the estimator obtained is better than the existing estimators in the literature in terms of both consistency and efficiency. The estimator is applied to model some real life financial datasets. A mixture of normal and Cauchy distributions is compared with the stable family of distributions when the estimate of the parameter α lies between 1 and 2. A similar approach can be adopted when α (or its estimate) belongs to (0.5,1). In this case, one may compare with a mixture of Laplace and Cauchy distributions. A new measure of goodness of fit is proposed for the above family of distributions.