bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic Evidence for Bacterial Determinants Influencing Obesity Development
Authors: Isokpehi Raphael , Simmons Shaneka , Johnson Matilda , Payton Marinelle
Published: March 2017

Obesity is a major global public health problem requiring multifaceted interventional approaches including dietary interventions with probiotic bacteria. High-throughput genome sequencing of microbial communities in the mammalian gastrointestinal system continues to present diverse protein function information to understand the bacterial determinants that influence obesity development. The goal of the research reported in this article was to identify biological processes in probiotic bacteria that could influence the mechanisms for the extraction of energy from diet in the human gastrointestinal system. Our research strategy of combining bioinformatics and visual analytics methods was based on the identification of operon gene arrangements in genomes of Lactobacillus species and Akkermansia muciniphila that include at least a gene for a universal stress protein. The two major findings from this research study are related to Lactobacillus plantarum and Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria species which are associated with weight-loss. The first finding is that Lactobacillus plantarum strains have a two-gene operon that encodes a universal stress protein for stress response and the membrane translocator protein (TSPO), known to function in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in humans. The second finding is the presence of a three-gene operon in Akkermansia muciniphila that includes a gene whose human mitochondrial homolog is associated with waist-hip ratio and fat distribution. From a public health perspective, elucidation of the bacterial determinants influencing obesity will help in educating the public on optimal probiotic use for anti-obesity effects.
A Mixed-Methods Examination of Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Overweight and Obese South Asian Men Living in the United Kingdom
Authors: Emadian Amir , Thompson Janice
Published: March 2017

South Asian men living in the UK have higher rates of central obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) compared with their white British counterparts. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) are important risk factors for the development of T2DM. The purpose of this study was to objectively measure PA, ST, and to explore the factors influencing these behaviours in this high-risk population. A mixed-methods cross-sectional research design was employed, including the quantification of PA and ST using the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-long form and accelerometry in overweight and obese UK South Asian men (n = 54), followed by semi-structured interviews in a purposive sub-sample to explore the factors influencing PA and ST (n = 31). Accelerometer-derived moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ST were 298.9 ± 186.6 min/week and 551.4 ± 95.0 min/day, respectively. IPAQ-derived MVPA was significantly lower than accelerometer-derived MVPA (p < 0.001). IPAQ-derived ST was significantly higher than accelerometer-derived ST (p < 0.001). Lack of time and family commitments were identified as the main barriers to being more physically active, with group exercise identified as an important facilitator to being more active. A cultural norm of focusing on promoting education over sport participation during childhood was identified as an important factor influencing long-term PA behaviours. Work commitments and predominantly sedentary jobs were identified as the main barriers to reducing ST. Healthcare professionals and researchers need to consider the socio-cultural factors which affect PA engagement in overweight and obese South Asian men living in the UK, to ensure that advice and future interventions are tailored to address the needs of this population.
Transplantation of Menstrual Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes the Repair of LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Xiang Bingyu , Chen Lu , Wang Xiaojun , Zhao Yongjia , Wang Yanling , Xiang Charlie
Published: March 2017

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) have been shown to be good therapeutic tools in diseases such as ovarian failure and cardiac fibrosis. However, relevant studies of MenSCs in ALI have not yet proceeded. We hypothesized that MenSC could attenuate the inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and promote the repair of damaged lung. ALI model was induced by LPS in C57 mice, and saline or MenSCs were administered via tail vein after four hours. The MenSCs were subsequently detected in the lungs by a live imaging system. The MenSCs not only improved pulmonary microvascular permeability and attenuated histopathological damage, but also mediated the downregulation of IL-1β and the upregulation of IL-10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the damaged lung. Immunohistochemistry revealed the increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the reduced expression of caspase-3 indicating the beneficial effect of MenSCs. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) was also upregulated after MenSCs administrated. As shown using transwell co-culture, the MenSCs also could improve the viability of BEAS-2B cells and inhibit LPS-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that MenSC-based therapies could be promising strategies for treating ALI.
Biosynthesis of α-Glucosidase Inhibitors by a Newly Isolated Bacterium, Paenibacillus sp. TKU042 and Its Effect on Reducing Plasma Glucose in a Mouse Model
Authors: Nguyen Van Bon , Nguyen Anh Dzung , Kuo Yao-Haur , Wang San-Lang
Published: March 2017

Paenibacillus sp. TKU042, a bacterium isolated from Taiwanese soil, produced α-glucosidase inhibitors (aGIs) in the culture supernatant when commercial nutrient broth (NB) was used as the medium for fermentation. The supernatant of fermented NB (FNB) showed stronger inhibitory activities than acarbose, a commercial anti-diabetic drug. The IC50 and maximum α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (aGIA) of FNB and acarbose against α-glucosidase were 81 μg/mL, 92% and 1395 μg/mL, 63%, respectively. FNB was found to be strongly thermostable, retaining 95% of its relative activity, even after heating at 100 °C for 30 min. FNB was also stable at various pH values. Furthermore, FNB demonstrated antioxidant activity (IC50 = 2.23 mg/mL). In animal tests, FNB showed remarkable reductions in the plasma glucose of ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice at a concentration of 200 mg/kg. Combining FNB and acarbose enhanced the effect even more, with an added advantage of eliminating diarrhea. According to HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography) fingerprinting, the Paenibacillus sp. TKU042 aGIs were not acarbose. All of the results suggest that Paenibacillus sp. TKU042 FNB could have potential use as a health food or to treat type 2 diabetes.
In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on the Structural Organization of Chs3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Gohlke Simon , Muthukrishnan Subbaratnam , Merzendorfer Hans
Published: March 2017

Chitin biosynthesis in yeast is accomplished by three chitin synthases (Chs) termed Chs1, Chs2 and Chs3, of which the latter accounts for most of the chitin deposited within the cell wall. While the overall structures of Chs1 and Chs2 are similar to those of other chitin synthases from fungi and arthropods, Chs3 lacks some of the C-terminal transmembrane helices raising questions regarding its structure and topology. To fill this gap of knowledge, we performed bioinformatic analyses and protease protection assays that revealed significant information about the catalytic domain, the chitin-translocating channel and the interfacial helices in between. In particular, we identified an amphipathic, crescent-shaped α-helix attached to the inner side of the membrane that presumably controls the channel entrance and a finger helix pushing the polymer into the channel. Evidence has accumulated in the past years that chitin synthases form oligomeric complexes, which may be necessary for the formation of chitin nanofibrils. However, the functional significance for living yeast cells has remained elusive. To test Chs3 oligomerization in vivo, we used bimolecular fluorescence complementation. We detected oligomeric complexes at the bud neck, the lateral plasma membrane, and in membranes of Golgi vesicles, and analyzed their transport route using various trafficking mutants.
HTCRL: A Range-Free Location Algorithm Based on Homothetic Triangle Cyclic Refinement in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhang Dan , Fang Zhiyi , Sun Hongyu , Cao Jie
Published: March 2017

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) have become a significant technology in recent years. They can be widely used in many applications. WSNs consist of a large number of sensor nodes and each of them is energy-constrained and low-power dissipation. Most of the sensor nodes are tiny sensors with small memories and do not acquire their own locations. This means determining the locations of the unknown sensor nodes is one of the key issues in WSN. In this paper, an improved APIT algorithm HTCRL (Homothetic Triangle Cyclic Refinement Location) is proposed, which is based on the principle of the homothetic triangle. It adopts perpendicular median surface cutting to narrow down target area in order to decrease the average localization error rate. It reduces the probability of misjudgment by adding the conditions of judgment. It can get a relatively high accuracy compared with the typical APIT algorithm without any additional hardware equipment or increasing the communication overhead.
Na1+yVPO4F1+y (0 ≤ y≤ 0.5) as Cathode Materials for Hybrid Na/Li Batteries
Authors: Kosova Nina , Rezepova Daria
Published: March 2017

Using Rietveld-refined X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical cycling, it was established that among sodium vanadium fluorophosphate compositions Na1+yVPO4F1+y (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.75), the single-phase material Na1.5VPO4F1.5 or Na3V2(PO4)2F3 with a tetragonal structure (the P42/mnm S.G.) is formed only for y = 0.5. The samples with y < 0.5 and y > 0.5 possessed different impurity phases. Na3V2(PO4)2F3 could be considered as a multifunctional cathode material for the fabrication of lithium-ion and sodium-ion high-energy batteries. The reversible discharge capacity of 116 mAh•g−1 was achieved upon cycling Na3V2(PO4)2F3 in a hybrid Na/Li cell. Decrease in discharge capacity for the other samples was in accordance with the amount of the electrochemically active phase Na3V2(PO4)2F3. Na3V2(PO4)2F3 showed good cycleability and a high rate of performance, presumably due to operation in the mixed Na/Li electrolyte. The study of the structure and composition of charged and discharged samples, and the analysis of differential capacity curves showed a negligible Na/Li electrochemical exchange, and a predominant sodium-based cathode reaction. To increase the degree of the Na/Li electrochemical exchange in Na3V2(PO4)2F3, it needs to be desodiated first in a Na cell, and then cycled in a lithium cell. In this case, the electrolyte would be enriched with the Li ions.
Complex Problem Solving in Assessments of Collaborative Problem Solving
Authors: Graesser Arthur , Kuo Bor-Chen , Liao Chen-Huei
Published: March 2017

Collaborative problem solving (ColPS) proficiency was developed as a new assessment for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in the 2015 international evaluation of student skills and knowledge. The assessment framework defined by the PISA ColPS 2015 expert group crossed three major collaboration processes with four problem solving processes that were adopted from the PISA 2012 individual problem solving assessment to form a matrix of 12 specific skills. The three major collaboration processes are (1) establishing and maintaining shared understanding; (2) taking appropriate action; and (3) establishing and maintaining team organization. The four problem solving processes are exploring and understanding the problem, representing and formulating the problem, planning and executing strategies, and monitoring and reflecting on the problem-solving activities. This article discusses how the problem-solving dimension was integrated with the collaboration dimension. We also discuss how computer agents were involved in the PISA ColPS 2015 assessment in order to ensure a satisfactory assessment of collaborative problem solving. Examples of the use of agents to assess ColPS are provided in the context of a released PISA item and a project conducted in Taiwan.
Chitosan and β-Cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin Polymer Composite Film as a Plant Healthcare Material for Carbendazim-Controlled Release to Protect Rape against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary
Authors: Wang Delong , Jia Mingchen , Wang Lanying , Song Shuang , Feng Juntao , Zhang Xing
Published: March 2017

The influence of β-cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin (β-CD-EP) polymers on the improvement of the solubility and antifungal activity of carbendazim has been investigated. Meanwhile, the potential of the chitosan and β-CD-EP composite film used as a plant healthcare material for carbendazim-controlled release to protect rape against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary has been evaluated. β-CD-EP-1 and 2 (β-CD content, 750 mg/g and 440 mg/g, respectively) were found to significantly improve the solubility of the guest molecule carbendazim (17.9 and 18.5 times, respectively) and the 1:1 stoichiometry of the host-guest was confirmed by the Job’s plot. A slight synergism was observed for the β-CD-EP/carbendazim complex against S. sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, indicating an enhancement to the bioavailability of carbendazim. The in vitro release studies revealed that β-CD-EP polymers could efficiently modulate carbendazim release behaviors, such as the release retard and rate. The in vivo efficacy experiments demonstrated that the β-CD-EP/carbendazim and chitosan composite film could significantly prolong the effective duration of carbendazim at a concentration of 100 μg/mL compared with spraying carbendazim at 500 μg/mL. Thereby, a highly useful and strategic concept in plant disease control by a plant healthcare material—the chitosan and polymeric β-CD-EP composite film—is provided, which could also serve as a concept for related plant diseases.
LiV3O8/Polytriphenylamine Composites with Enhanced Electrochemical Performances as Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Zhu Limin , Yu Ziheng , Xie Lingling , Cao Xiaoyu
Published: March 2017

LiV3O8/polytriphenylamine composites are synthesized by a chemical oxidative polymerization process and applied as cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries (RLB). The structure, morphology, and electrochemical performances of the composites are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, galvanostatic discharge/charge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the polytriphenylamine particles were composited with LiV3O8 nanorods which acted as a protective barrier against the side reaction of LiV3O8, as well as a conductive network to reduce the reaction resistance among the LiV3O8 particles. Among the LiV3O8/polytriphenylamine composites, the 17 wt % LVO/PTPAn composite showed the largest d100 spacing. The electrochemical results showed that the 17 wt % LVO/PTPAn composite maintained a discharge capacity of 271 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 60 mA·g−1, as well as maintaining 236 mAh·g−1 at 240 mA·g−1 after 50 cycles, while the bare LiV3O8 sample retained only 169 and 148 mAh·g−1, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) results implied that the 17 wt % LVO/PTPAn composite demonstrated a decreased charge transfer resistance and increased Li+ ion diffusion ability, therefore manifesting better rate capability and cycling performance compared to the bare LiV3O8 sample.
Fabrication of Biocompatible Potassium Sodium Niobate Piezoelectric Ceramic as an Electroactive Implant
Authors: Chen Wei , Yu Zunxiong , Pang Jinshan , Yu Peng , Tan Guoxin , Ning Chengyun
Published: March 2017

The discovery of piezoelectricity in natural bone has attracted extensive research in emulating biological electricity for various tissue regeneration. Here, we carried out experiments to build biocompatible potassium sodium niobate (KNN) ceramics. Then, influence substrate surface charges on bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein adsorption and cell proliferation on KNN ceramics surfaces was investigated. KNN ceramics with piezoelectric constant of ~93 pC/N and relative density of ~93% were fabricated. The adsorption of protein on the positive surfaces (Ps) and negative surfaces (Ns) of KNN ceramics with piezoelectric constant of ~93 pC/N showed greater protein adsorption capacity than that on non-polarized surfaces (NPs). Biocompatibility of KNN ceramics was verified through cell culturing and live/dead cell staining of MC3T3. The cells experiment showed enhanced cell growth on the positive surfaces (Ps) and negative surfaces (Ns) compared to non-polarized surfaces (NPs). These results revealed that KNN ceramics had great potential to be used to understand the effect of surface potential on cells processes and would benefit future research in designing piezoelectric materials for tissue regeneration.
Damage Evolution in Complex-Phase and Dual-Phase Steels during Edge Stretching
Authors: Pathak Nikky , Butcher Cliff , Worswick Michael , Bellhouse Erika , Gao Jeff
Published: March 2017

The role of microstructural damage in controlling the edge stretchability of Complex-Phase (CP) and Dual-Phase (DP) steels was evaluated using hole tension experiments. The experiments considered a tensile specimen with a hole at the center of specimen that is either sheared (sheared edge condition) or drilled and then reamed (reamed edge condition). The damage mechanism and accumulation in the CP and DP steels were systematically characterized by interrupting the hole tension tests at different strain levels using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and optical microscopy. Martensite cracking and decohesion of ferrite-martensite interfaces are the dominant nucleation mechanisms in the DP780. The primary source of void nucleation in the CP800 is nucleation at TiN particles, with secondary void formation at martensite/bainite interfaces near the failure strain. The rate of damage evolution is considerably higher for the sheared edge in contrast with the reamed edge since the shearing process alters the microstructure in the shear affected zone (SAZ) by introducing work-hardening and initial damage behind the sheared edge. The CP microstructures were shown to be less prone to shear-induced damage than the DP materials resulting in much higher sheared edge formability. Microstructural damage in the CP and DP steels was characterized to understand the interaction between microstructure, damage evolution and edge formability during edge stretching. An analytical model for void evolution and coalescence was developed and applied to predict the damage rate in these rather diverse microstructures.
An Assessment of Subsurface Residual Stress Analysis in SLM Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Mishurova Tatiana , Cabeza Sandra , Artzt Katia , Haubrich Jan , Klaus Manuela , Genzel Christoph , Requena Guillermo , Bruno Giovanni
Published: March 2017

Ti-6Al-4V bridges were additively fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) under different scanning speed conditions, to compare the effect of process energy density on the residual stress state. Subsurface lattice strain characterization was conducted by means of synchrotron diffraction in energy dispersive mode. High tensile strain gradients were found at the frontal surface for samples in an as-built condition. The geometry of the samples promotes increasing strains towards the pillar of the bridges. We observed that the higher the laser energy density during fabrication, the lower the lattice strains. A relief of lattice strains takes place after heat treatment.
Outdoor Cultivation of Marine Diatoms for Year-Round Production of Biofuels
Authors: Matsumoto Mitsufumi , Nojima Daisuke , Nonoyama Tomomi , Ikeda Kiichi , Maeda Yoshiaki , Yoshino Tomoko , Tanaka Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2017

Biofuel production using microalgae is believed to have the advantage of continuous year-round production over crop plants, which have strong seasonality. However, actual year-round production of microalgal lipids using outdoor mass cultivation has rarely been demonstrated. In our previous study, it was demonstrated that the oleaginous diatom, Fistulifera solaris, was culturable in outdoor bioreactors from spring to autumn, whereas biomass and lipid production in winter failed because F. solaris did not grow below 15 °C. Therefore, another candidate strain that is culturable in winter is required. In this study, a cold-tolerant diatom, Mayamaea sp. JPCC CTDA0820, was selected as a promising candidate for biofuel production in winter. Laboratory-scale characterization revealed that this diatom was culturable at temperatures as low as 10 °C. Subsequently, F. solaris (April–October) and Mayamaea sp. JPCC CTDA0820 (November–March) were cultured in outdoor open-pond bioreactors, wherein year-round production of diatom lipids was successfully demonstrated. The maximal values of areal productivities of biomass and lipids reached to 9.79 and 1.80 g/(m2 day) for F. solaris, and 8.62 and 0.92 g/(m2 day) for Mayamaea sp. JPCC CTDA0820, respectively. With the combined use of these two diatom species, stable year-round production of microalgal lipids became possible.
Experimental Analysis of Fabrication Parameters in the Development of Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices (µPADs)
Authors: Lee Wilson , Gomez Frank
Published: March 2017

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) have emerged as viable multiplexable platforms with the potential to transcend existing analytical techniques in resource-limited settings. µPADs are fabricated by patterning hydrophobic materials on hydrophilic paper. Reproducibility in fabrication is essential in a myriad of applications and particularly, in the development of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices that utilize paper-based platforms. A critical step in fabrication involves the wax heating process that determines the channel dimensions and the depth at which hydrophobic wax material permeates paper to create barriers. In this paper, we assess µPAD viability by examining two fabrication parameters that affect wax ink spreading and permeation using a commercial heat press: temperature and time of heating. Analysis of the µPADs revealed that functional chips could be fabricated at temperatures between 143 and 215 °C and time of heating between 50 and 135 s, while non-functioning chips were obtained at temperatures between 76 and 140 °C and time of heating between 5 and 45 s. Wax ink spread and permeated paper consistently between 143 and 215 °C. Also shown is a simple three dimensional (3D) microfluidic channel fabricated in a single sheet of cellulose paper utilizing the fabrication conditions described herein. This work demonstrates that controlling the extent of wax printing in the fabrication process of a µPAD can yield versatile and interesting devices for use in both resource-rich and -limited settings.
Subcritical Fluid Extraction of Chinese Quince Seed: Optimization and Product Characterization
Authors: Wang Li , Wu Min , Liu Hua-Min , Ma Yu-Xiang , Wang Xue-De , Qin Guang-Yong
Published: March 2017

Chinese quince seed (CQS) is an underutilized oil source and a potential source of unsaturated fatty acids and α-tocopherol-rich oil. Subcritical fluid (SCF) extraction is executed at lower pressures and temperatures than the pressures and temperatures used in supercritical fluid extraction. However, no studies on the SCF extraction of CQS oil are reported. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of SCF for the extraction of CQS oil and to compare the use of SCF with the classical Soxhlet (CS) and supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction methods. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the extraction conditions: temperature (45–65 °C), time (30–50 min), and solvent/solid ratio (5–15 mL/g). The optimization results showed that the highest yield (27.78%) was obtained at 56.18 °C, 40.20 min, and 12.57 mL/g. The oil extracted by SCF had a higher unsaturated fatty acid content (86.37%–86.75%), higher α-tocopherol content (576.0–847.6 mg/kg), lower acid value (3.97 mg/g), and lower peroxide value (0.02 meq O2/kg) than extractions using CS and SC-CO2 methods. The SCF-defatted meal of oilseed exhibited the highest nitrogen solubility index (49.64%) and protein dispersibility index (50.80%), demonstrating that SCF extraction was a promising and efficient technique as an alternative to CS and SC-CO2 methods, as very mild operating conditions and an eco-friendly solvent can be used in the process with maximum preservation of the quality of the meal.
Hydrogen Sulphide Production in Healthy and Ulcerated Gastric Mucosa of Rats
Authors: Bronowicka-Adamska Patrycja , Wróbel Maria , Magierowski Marcin , Magierowska Katarzyna , Kwiecień Sławomir , Brzozowski Tomasz
Published: March 2017

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is produced endogenously via two enzymes dependent on pyridoxal phosphate (PLP): cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS, EC 4.2.1.22), cystathionase γ-liase (CTH, EC 4.4.1.1), and a third, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST, EC 2.8.1.2). H2S strengthens the defence mechanisms of the gastric mucosal barrier, and plays an important role in gastroprotection, including the increased resistance to damage caused by various irritants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The study was conducted to determine the role of H2S in ulcerated gastric mucosa of rats caused by immobilization in cold water (WRS). The activity and expression of γ-cystathionase, cystathionine β-synthase, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, and rhodanese was compared with healthy mucosa, together with H2S generation, and cysteine, glutathione, and cystathionine levels. The results showed that the defence mechanism against stress is associated with stimulation of the production of H2S in the tissue and confirmed the observed advantageous effect of H2S on healing of gastric ulcers. In case of animals pretreated with exogenous sources of H2S and NaHS, and some changes observed in the ulcerated gastric mucosa tend to return to values found in the healthy tissue, a finding that is in accordance with the previously determined gastroprotective properties of H2S. The results presented in this paper point to the possible role of rhodanese in H2S production in the gastric mucosa of rats, together with the earlier mentioned three enzymes, which are all active in this tissue.
Choerosponins A and B, Two New Cytotoxic Bridged-Ring Ketones and the Determination of Their Absolute Configurations
Authors: Li Chang-Wei , Han Bing , Cai Bing , Cui Cheng-Bin
Published: March 2017

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of antitumor compounds from the stem barks of Choerospondias axillaries (Roxb.) Burtt et Hill (Anacardiaceae) afforded two new cytotoxic bridged-ring ketones, choerosponins A (1) and B (2), and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods; their stereochemistry was determined by NOE difference experiments, CD spectra and the modified Mosher’s method. Compound 1 has a rare dioxatricyclo skeleton. Flow cytometry and SRB methods were employed to evaluate the antitumor activity of the two compounds against tsFT210, HCT-15, HeLa, A2780 and MCF-7 cell lines, and both of them showed strong cytotoxicity. MTT and paper disc methods were also used to evaluate their anti-hypoxia and antibacterial activities, and both of them showed no apparent activities.
Constituents of the Roots of Dichapetalum pallidum and Their Anti-Proliferative Activity
Authors: Osei-Safo Dorcas , Dziwornu Godwin Akpeko , Appiah-Opong Regina , Chama Mary Anti , Tuffour Isaac , Waibel Reiner , Amewu Richard , Addae-Mensah Ivan
Published: March 2017

As part of our search for bioactive compounds from the Dichapetalaceae, repeated chromatographic purification of the roots of a hitherto unexamined species, Dichapetalum pallidum, led to the isolation of the newly occurring 7-hydroxydichapetalin P (1) and the known dichapetalins A (2) and X (3). Also isolated were the known compounds friedelin-2,3-lactone (4), friedelan-3-one (6), friedelan-3β-ol (7) and pomolic (8), as well as the dipeptide aurantiamide acetate (5). The compounds were characterized by direct interpretation of their IR, 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectral data and by comparison of their physico-chemical data, including their chromatographic profiles, with the literature and authentic samples in our compound library for the genus Dichapetalum. The compounds were assayed for their anti-proliferative activities against the human T-lymphocytic leukemia (Jurkat), acute promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) and T-lymphoblast-like leukemia (CEM) cell lines. Overall, dichapetalin X showed the strongest (3.14 μM) and broadest cytotoxic activities against all the leukemic cell lines tested, exhibiting even stronger activities than the standard compound, curcumin.
On a First Evaluation of ROMOT—A RObotic 3D MOvie Theatre—For Driving Safety Awareness
Authors: Casas Sergio , Portalés Cristina , García-Pereira Inma , Fernández Marcos
Published: March 2017

In this paper, we introduce ROMOT, a RObotic 3D-MOvie Theatre, and present a case study related to driving safety. ROMOT is built with a robotic motion platform, includes multimodal devices, and supports audience-film interaction. We show the versatility of the system by means of different types of system setups and generated content that includes a first-person movie and others involving the technologies of virtual, augmented, and mixed realities. Finally, we present the results of some preliminary user tests made at the laboratory level, including the system usability scale. They give satisfactory scores for the usability of the system and the individual’s satisfaction.
Pathophysiological Significance of Dermatan Sulfate Proteoglycans Revealed by Human Genetic Disorders
Authors: Mizumoto Shuji , Kosho Tomoki , Yamada Shuhei , Sugahara Kazuyuki
Published: March 2017

The indispensable roles of dermatan sulfate-proteoglycans (DS-PGs) have been demonstrated in various biological events including construction of the extracellular matrix and cell signaling through interactions with collagen and transforming growth factor-β, respectively. Defects in the core proteins of DS-PGs such as decorin and biglycan cause congenital stromal dystrophy of the cornea, spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, and Meester-Loeys syndrome. Furthermore, mutations in human genes encoding the glycosyltransferases, epimerases, and sulfotransferases responsible for the biosynthesis of DS chains cause connective tissue disorders including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity characterized by skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and tissue fragility, and by severe skeletal disorders such as kyphoscoliosis, short trunk, dislocation, and joint laxity. Glycobiological approaches revealed that mutations in DS-biosynthetic enzymes cause reductions in enzymatic activities and in the amount of synthesized DS and also disrupt the formation of collagen bundles. This review focused on the growing number of glycobiological studies on recently reported genetic diseases caused by defects in the biosynthesis of DS and DS-PGs.
Liposomal Formulations in Clinical Use: An Updated Review
Authors: Bulbake Upendra , Doppalapudi Sindhu , Kommineni Nagavendra , Khan Wahid
Published: March 2017

Liposomes are the first nano drug delivery systems that have been successfully translated into real-time clinical applications. These closed bilayer phospholipid vesicles have witnessed many technical advances in recent years since their first development in 1965. Delivery of therapeutics by liposomes alters their biodistribution profile, which further enhances the therapeutic index of various drugs. Extensive research is being carried out using these nano drug delivery systems in diverse areas including the delivery of anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory drugs and therapeutic genes. The significant contribution of liposomes as drug delivery systems in the healthcare sector is known by many clinical products, e.g., Doxil®, Ambisome®, DepoDur™, etc. This review provides a detailed update on liposomal technologies e.g., DepoFoam™ Technology, Stealth technology, etc., the formulation aspects of clinically used products and ongoing clinical trials on liposomes.
Competence-Based Curricula in the Context of Bologna and EU Higher Education Policy
Authors: Davies Howard
Published: March 2017

At the turn of the century European higher education policy became twin-track. The Bologna Process was launched and ran alongside developments in European legislation. Both tracks displayed a preoccupation with competences, in relation both to citizenship and to labour market needs. Scrutiny of important policy texts (Key Competences, the European Qualifications Framework, ECTS, the Bologna three-cycle degree structure) shows that ‘competence’ has never been given a precise and secure definition. Only very recently has the term entered the discourse of EU legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications. Current work on competence-based curricula in sectoral professions, including pharmacy, has helped bring the two policy tracks into closer alignment. The examples of competences identified in specific professional contexts can assist EU and Bologna policy-makers as they confront future challenges.
Study of the Effect of Nematic Order Degradation in Liquid Crystal-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors
Authors: Abuabed Alaeddin
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a new analysis of optical sensors based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon and nematic liquid crystal (LC) sensitive layer in the partially ordered state. In particular, the paper studies the influence of degradation in the LC ordering state on the behavior of the plasmon resonance parameters. The degradation in the LC ordering is represented by the order parameter. The explicit treatment of the order parameter is critical when trying to differentiate between a change in alignment and a degradation of alignment in LC in response to the presence of an external stimulus in LC based sensors. When a reduction in ordering occurs, ignoring the order parameter can produce misleading results. This sensor has potential applications in chemical and biological systems. The paper presents a tracking method for the state of alignment and degree of ordering of the partially ordered LC film. This can be achieved via the SPR propagation constant and the critical angle at the interface between a metal and an LC film.
A Novel Biomimetic Approach to Repair Enamel Cracks/Carious Damages and to Reseal Dentinal Tubules by Amorphous Polyphosphate
Authors: Müller Werner , Ackermann Maximilian , Neufurth Meik , Tolba Emad , Wang Shunfeng , Feng Qingling , Schröder Heinz , Wang Xiaohong
Published: March 2017

Based on natural principles, we developed a novel toothpaste, containing morphogenetically active amorphous calcium polyphosphate (polyP) microparticles which are enriched with retinyl acetate (“a-polyP/RA-MP”). The spherical microparticles (average size, 550 ± 120 nm), prepared by co-precipitating soluble Na-polyP with calcium chloride and supplemented with retinyl acetate, were incorporated into a base toothpaste at a final concentration of 1% or 10%. The “a-polyP/RA-MP” ingredient significantly enhanced the stimulatory effect of the toothpaste on the growth of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). This increase was paralleled by an upregulation of the MSC marker genes for osteoblast differentiation, collagen type I and alkaline phosphatase. In addition, polyP, applied as Zn-polyP microparticles (“Zn-a-polyP-MP”), showed a distinct inhibitory effect on growth of Streptococcus mutans, in contrast to a toothpaste containing the broad-spectrum antibiotic triclosan that only marginally inhibits this cariogenic bacterium. Moreover, we demonstrate that the “a-polyP/RA-MP”-containing toothpaste efficiently repairs cracks/fissures in the enamel and dental regions and reseals dentinal tubules, already after a five-day treatment (brushing) of teeth as examined by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and semi-quantitative EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). The occlusion of the dentin cracks by the microparticles turned out to be stable and resistant against short-time high power sonication. Our results demonstrate that the novel toothpaste prepared here, containing amorphous polyP microparticles enriched with retinyl acetate, is particularly suitable for prevention/repair of (cariogenic) damages of tooth enamel/dentin and for treatment of dental hypersensitivity. While the polyP microparticles function as a sealant for dentinal damages and inducer of remineralization processes, the retinyl acetate acts as a regenerative stimulus for collagen gene expression in cells of the surrounding tissue, the periodontium.
Anamnesis and the Silent Narrator in Plato and John
Authors: Parsenios George
Published: March 2017

The Gospel of John is often compared to the dialogues of Plato by those who connect Johannine theology and Platonic philosophy. The comparison operates on the level of ideas. The present paper does not ignore issues of theology and philosophy but grounds a comparison of John and Plato first and foremost on the literary level. In several key places in John 1, 3, and 14, the Johannine narrator recedes from view and is unexpectedly silent where one would expect a narrator’s comment to organize the conversations and interactions between characters in John. Plato also renders the voice of the narrator silent in a dialogue like the Theaetetus. This paper argues that John and Plato both suppress the narrator’s voice in order to further their anamnetic efforts and to make later generations not only readers but participants in their original conversations.
Multivariate Functional Time Series Forecasting: Application to Age-Specific Mortality Rates
Authors: Gao Yuan , Shang Han
Published: March 2017

This study considers the forecasting of mortality rates in multiple populations. We propose a model that combines mortality forecasting and functional data analysis (FDA). Under the FDA framework, the mortality curve of each year is assumed to be a smooth function of age. As with most of the functional time series forecasting models, we rely on functional principal component analysis (FPCA) for dimension reduction and further choose a vector error correction model (VECM) to jointly forecast mortality rates in multiple populations. This model incorporates the merits of existing models in that it excludes some of the inherent randomness with the nonparametric smoothing from FDA, and also utilizes the correlation structures between the populations with the use of VECM in mortality models. A nonparametric bootstrap method is also introduced to construct interval forecasts. The usefulness of this model is demonstrated through a series of simulation studies and applications to the age-and sex-specific mortality rates in Switzerland and the Czech Republic. The point forecast errors of several forecasting methods are compared and interval scores are used to evaluate and compare the interval forecasts. Our model provides improved forecast accuracy in most cases.
A Smart Sensor for Defending against Clock Glitching Attacks on the I2C Protocol in Robotic Applications
Authors: Jiménez-Naharro Raúl , Gómez-Bravo Fernando , Medina-García Jonathan , Sánchez-Raya Manuel , Gómez-Galán Juan
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a study about hardware attacking and clock signal vulnerability. It considers a particular type of attack on the clock signal in the I2C protocol, and proposes the design of a new sensor for detecting and defending against this type of perturbation. The analysis of the attack and the defense is validated by means of a configurable experimental platform that emulates a differential drive robot. A set of experimental results confirm the interest of the studied vulnerabilities and the efficiency of the proposed sensor in defending against this type of situation.
A Power Planning Algorithm Based on RPL for AMI Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Miguel Marcio , Jamhour Edgard , Pellenz Marcelo , Penna Manoel
Published: March 2017

The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is an architecture for two-way communication between electric, gas and water meters and city utilities. The AMI network is a wireless sensor network that provides communication for metering devices in the neighborhood area of the smart grid. Recently, the applicability of a routing protocol for low-power and lossy networks (RPL) has been considered in AMI networks. Some studies in the literature have pointed out problems with RPL, including sub-optimal path selection and instability. In this paper, we defend the viewpoint that careful planning of the transmission power in wireless RPL networks can significantly reduce the pointed problems. This paper presents a method for planning the transmission power in order to assure that, after convergence, the size of the parent set of the RPL nodes is as close as possible to a predefined size. Another important feature is that all nodes in the parent set offer connectivity through links of similar quality.
DOA Estimation of Coherent Signals on Coprime Arrays Exploiting Fourth-Order Cumulants
Authors: Hu Yang , Liu Yimin , Wang Xiqin
Published: March 2017

This paper considers the problem of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of coherent signals on passive coprime arrays, where we resort to the fourth-order cumulants of the received signal to explore more information. A fourth-order cumulant matrix (FCM) is introduced for the coprime array. The special structure of the FCM is combined with the array configuration to resolve the coherent signals. Since each sparse array of a coprime array is uniform, a series of overlapping identical subarrays can be extracted. Using this property, we propose a generalized spatial smoothing scheme applied to the FCM. From the smoothed FCM, the DOAs of both the coherent and independent signals can be successfully estimated on the pseudo-spectrum generated by the fourth-order MUSIC algorithm. To overcome the problem of occasional false peaks appearing on the pseudo-spectrum, we use a supplementary sparse array whose inter-sensor spacing is coprime to that of either existing sparse array. From the combined spectrum aided by the supplementary sensors, the false peaks are removed while the true peaks remain. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated by simulation examples.
Automatic Camera Calibration Using Active Displays of a Virtual Pattern
Authors: Tan Lei , Wang Yaonan , Yu Hongshan , Zhu Jiang
Published: March 2017

Camera calibration plays a critical role in 3D computer vision tasks. The most commonly used calibration method utilizes a planar checkerboard and can be done nearly fully automatically. However, it requires the user to move either the camera or the checkerboard during the capture step. This manual operation is time consuming and makes the calibration results unstable. In order to solve the above problems caused by manual operation, this paper presents a full-automatic camera calibration method using a virtual pattern instead of a physical one. The virtual pattern is actively transformed and displayed on a screen so that the control points of the pattern can be uniformly observed in the camera view. The proposed method estimates the camera parameters from point correspondences between 2D image points and the virtual pattern. The camera and the screen are fixed during the whole process; therefore, the proposed method does not require any manual operations. Performance of the proposed method is evaluated through experiments on both synthetic and real data. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve stable results and its accuracy is comparable to the standard method by Zhang.
A Correlation-Based Joint CFAR Detector Using Adaptively-Truncated Statistics in SAR Imagery
Authors: Ai Jiaqiu , Yang Xuezhi , Zhou Fang , Dong Zhangyu , Jia Lu , Yan He
Published: March 2017

Traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detectors only use the contrast information between ship targets and clutter, and they suffer probability of detection (PD) degradation in multiple target situations. This paper proposes a correlation-based joint CFAR detector using adaptively-truncated statistics (hereafter called TS-2DLNCFAR) in SAR images. The proposed joint CFAR detector exploits the gray intensity correlation characteristics by building a two-dimensional (2D) joint log-normal model as the joint distribution (JPDF) of the clutter, so joint CFAR detection is realized. Inspired by the CFAR detection methodology, we design an adaptive threshold-based clutter truncation method to eliminate the high-intensity outliers, such as interfering ship targets, side-lobes, and ghosts in the background window, whereas the real clutter samples are preserved to the largest degree. A 2D joint log-normal model is accurately built using the adaptively-truncated clutter through simple parameter estimation, so the joint CFAR detection performance is greatly improved. Compared with traditional CFAR detectors, the proposed TS-2DLNCFAR detector achieves a high PD and a low false alarm rate (FAR) in multiple target situations. The superiority of the proposed TS-2DLNCFAR detector is validated on the multi-look Envisat-ASAR and TerraSAR-X data.
Ecopreneurship and Ecopreneurs: Limits, Trends and Characteristics
Authors: Santini Cristina
Published: March 2017

The research topic of Ecopreneurship is growing and new questions emerge, whilst others remain unanswered. This paper provides an extensive literature review and aims to highlight research outputs and trends in ecopreneurship. Besides a reflection on the main features, motivations and typologies of ecopreneurs, the paper provides a focus on the relationship between agribusiness and ecopreneurship in order to outline issues that hopefully will be further investigated and extended to other businesses. By following the main trends within the academic debate, the paper provides insights into the defining the distinguishing traits of ecopreneurship when compared to traditional entrepreneurship. The author provides an overview of research issues that could be explored in the future.
Using Fuzzy DEA for Green Suppliers Selection Considering Carbon Footprints
Authors: Yu Min-Chun , Su Min-Hong
Published: March 2017

Due to increasing global environmental awareness, supply chains that consider environmental protection tend to be favored by green-minded customers. In addition to adapting to the technology required for green supply chains and developing contingency plans, organizations must consider reducing their carbon footprint to meet corporate objectives and reducing their carbon footprint. To address this issue, this paper aims at establishing a decision-making process for buyers with sustainability in mind. A fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) model was developed to select the most suitable supplier. Production costs, lead time, and supply chain carbon footprints were used as the input criteria, and quality and demand quantity were used as the output criteria. Buyer-seller supply chains and non-cooperative and cooperative models were employed separately to calculate associative efficiency. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to understand the effects carbon footprints have on efficiency. This study found that suppliers with low carbon footprints exhibited poor efficiency, which may be attributed to the additional effort required to select raw materials. Additionally, suppliers with different supply chain operation models exhibited differing efficiencies. Therefore, suppliers must consider the balance between carbon footprint reduction and costs, and buyers must consider environmental criteria when selecting green suppliers.