bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated Thermal and Dynamic Analysis of Dry Automotive Clutch Linings
Authors: Gkinis Theofilos , Rahmani Ramin , Rahnejat Homer
Published: October 2019

Optimum operation of clutch systems is dictated by their dynamic as well as thermal performance. Both of these aspects are closely related to the interfacial frictional characteristics of the clutch lining material, which also affects the noise, vibration and harshness response of the entire vehicular powertrain system. Severe operating conditions such as interfacial clutch slip and increased contact pressures occur during clutch engagement, leading to generation of contact heat, and higher clutch system temperature. Therefore, any undesired oscillatory responses, generated during clutch engagement, such as take-up judder phenomenon can exacerbate generated heat due to stick-slip motion. The paper presents an integrated thermal, and 9-DOF dynamic model of a rear wheel drive light truck powertrain system. The model also includes experimentally measured clutch lining frictional variations with interfacial slip speed, non-linear contact pressure profile and generated surface flash temperature. It is shown that severe torsional oscillations known as take-up judder lead to an increased overall clutch temperature. It also shows that ageing of clutch lining material alters its dynamic and thermal performance.
Estimation Modal Parameter Variation with Respect to Internal Energy Variation Based on the Iwan Model
Authors: Lee Jongsuh
Published: October 2019

Typical factors that cause nonlinear behavior in structures are geometric nonlinearity, force and displacement boundary condition nonlinearities, and material nonlinearity. The nonlinearity caused by an increase of the internal energy in built-up structures is mostly due to the displacement boundary condition induced by the contact interface region. This study proposes an experimental mode analysis technique that predicts changes in natural frequencies and damping ratios when the external excitation force increases in a structure’s contact surfaces. Specifically, the nonlinearity of the dynamic characteristics induced by the contact region is described by the constitutive Iwan model. Next, an estimation method was developed for two parameters among the four of the Iwan model. This study used a modal analysis method. As an extension of a previous study, the approximate form of the harmonic excitation-induced force was determined in closed form. The configuration of the numerical model for the full structure was introduced from this resultant form. By using these numerical results, responses in the full structure, according to the harmonic excitation, have been represented in mode summation form. This research proposes an estimation method for two parameters among the four of the constitutive model. The proposed method was verified by simulations conducted with the lumped model and by experiments conducted on a partially connected double beam.
Design and Analysis of a Chinese Medicine Based Humanoid Robotic Arm Massage System
Authors: Pang Zaixiang , Zhang Bangcheng , Yu Junzhi , Sun Zhongbo , Gong Linan
Published: October 2019

This paper presents a humanoid robotic arm massage system with an aim toward satisfying the clinical requirements of pain relief on the waist and legs of older patients during Chinese medicinal massage. On the basis of an in-depth analysis regarding the characteristics of arm joints of the human body and Chinese medicinal massage theory, a humanoid robotic arm massage system was designed by adapting a bottom to top modular method. The combined finite element and kinematic analysis led to an improved performance according to repeated positioning accuracy, massage strength accuracy, and massage effect. The developed humanoid robotic arm was characterized by a compact structure, high precision, light quality, and good stiffness, achieving a good bearing capacity. Due to the PID controller, the numerical simulations and experimental results provided valuable insight into the development of Chinese medicinal massage robots and massage treatments for patients who suffer from lumbar muscle strain.
Characterization of Four Liver-Expressed Antimicrobial Peptides from Antarctic Fish and Their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Borkar Shweta , Nandanwar Sondavid , Lee Jun , Kim Hak
Published: October 2019

Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptides (LEAPs) are cysteine-containing cationic peptides. LEAP-1 and LEAP-2 are eight- and four-cysteine containing antimicrobial peptides found in animals, respectively. LEAP-1 is widely known as antibacterial peptide involved in the innate immunity of fish, but the roles of LEAP-1 and LEAP-2 in Antarctic fish species are unknown. In the present study, we synthesized and characterized novel LEAPs with four and eight cysteine residues, derived from Antarctic notothenioid (Dissostichus mawsoni) and Antarctic eelpout (Lycodichthys dearborni). Circular dichroism spectroscopy of these peptides showed a typical β-sheet conformation. The LEAPs were found to be bactericidal against gram-positive as well as gram-negative bacteria. In the SYTOX green uptake assay, LEAPs did not trigger any significant increase in fluorescence. However, LEAPs competitively bound to DNA and replaced the ethidium bromide (EB) dye. To determine the effect of temperature on the activity of LEAPs, we evaluated the antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes at 5, 15, 25, and 35 °C. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of LEAPs increased with a decrease in temperature, which may indicate that the Antarctic fish LEAP are evolutionarily adapted. Taken together, our results suggest that novel Antarctic LEAPs are bactericidal peptides with the likely mode of action being DNA binding and may be evolved to adapt to cold temperature.
Monitor Cotton Budding Using SVM and UAV Images
Authors: Xia Lang , Zhang Ruirui , Chen Liping , Huang Yanbo , Xu Gang , Wen Yao , Yi Tongchuan
Published: October 2019

Monitoring the cotton budding rate is important for growers so that they can replant cotton in a timely fashion at locations at which cotton density is sparse. In this study, a true-color camera was mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and used to collect images of young cotton plants to estimate the germination of cotton plants. The collected images were preprocessed by stitching them together to obtain the single orthomosaic image. The support-vector machine method and maximum likelihood classification method were conducted to identify the cotton plants in the image. The accuracy evaluation indicated the overall accuracy of the classification for SVM is 96.65% with the Kappa coefficient of 93.99%, while for maximum likelihood classification, the accuracy is 87.85% with a Kappa coefficient of 80.67%. A method based on the morphological characteristics of cotton plants was proposed to identify and count the overlapping cotton plants in this study. The analysis showed that the method can improve the detection accuracy by 6.3% when compared to without it. The validation based on visual interpretation indicated that the method presented an accuracy of 91.13%. The study showed that the minimal resolution of no less than 1.2 cm/pixel in practice for image collection is necessary in order to recognize cotton plants accurately.
Special Issue on New Industry 4.0 Advances in Industrial IoT and Visual Computing for Manufacturing Processes
Authors: de Lacalle Luis Norberto López , Posada Jorge
Published: October 2019

The new advances of IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things), together with the progress in visual computing technologies, are being addressed by the research community with interesting approaches and results in the Industry 4 [...]
Whole Genome Sequencing of Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer Identifies Germline Alterations in MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways
Authors: Srivastava Aayushi , Kumar Abhishek , Giangiobbe Sara , Bonora Elena , Hemminki Kari , Försti Asta , Bandapalli Obul
Published: October 2019

Evidence of familial inheritance in non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) has accumulated over the last few decades. However, known variants account for a very small percentage of the genetic burden. Here, we focused on the identification of common pathways and networks enriched in NMTC families to better understand its pathogenesis with the final aim of identifying one novel high/moderate-penetrance germline predisposition variant segregating with the disease in each studied family. We performed whole genome sequencing on 23 affected and 3 unaffected family members from five NMTC-prone families and prioritized the identified variants using our Familial Cancer Variant Prioritization Pipeline (FCVPPv2). In total, 31 coding variants and 39 variants located in upstream, downstream, 5′ or 3′ untranslated regions passed FCVPPv2 filtering. Altogether, 210 genes affected by variants that passed the first three steps of the FCVPPv2 were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. These genes were enriched in tumorigenic signaling pathways mediated by receptor tyrosine kinases and G-protein coupled receptors, implicating a central role of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling in familial NMTC. Our approach can facilitate the identification and functional validation of causal variants in each family as well as the screening and genetic counseling of other individuals at risk of developing NMTC.
Effects on the Caco-2 Cells of a Hypoglycemic Protein from Lupin Seeds in a Solution and Adsorbed on Polystyrene Nanoparticles to Mimic a Complex Food Matrix
Authors: Barbiroli Alberto , Capraro Jessica , Marulo Serena , Gamba Marta , Scarafoni Alessio
Published: October 2019

The search for bioactivities influencing the human wellbeing of food proteins and peptides is a topic of broad and current interest. γ-Conglutin (γC) is a lupin seed protein drawing remarkable pharmacological and/or nutraceutical interest, as it is able to reduce hyperglycemia in humans and animal models. The present work deepens our investigations to understand the molecular basis of the in vitro effects of γC by testing the possible metabolic effects on cultivated Caco-2 cells. γC and its derived peptides (obtained via simulated gastrointestinal digestion) did not influence the cell viability at incubation times up to 24 h. The incubation of cells with native or digested γC caused no detectable inflammation processes mediated by Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFκB). We checked if treatment with γC or its derived peptides can elicit the expression of two peptide transporters (Pept-1 and Htp-1) by using an RT-qPCR approach. Native γC caused the halving of Pept-1 expression compared to untreated cells, but this effect disappeared when γC was digested. Either native γC or γC peptides reduced the expression levels of Hpt-1. Finally, this work also sheds light on the possible structural modifications of γC that may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, using an in vitro simulated dispersed system with polystyrene nanoparticles (NPs).
Galactomannan Pentasaccharide Produced from Copra Meal Enhances Tight Junction Integration of Epithelial Tissue through Activation of AMPK
Authors: Nopvichai Chatchai , Pongkorpsakol Pawin , Wongkrasant Preedajit , Wangpaiboon Karan , Charoenwongpaiboon Thanapon , Ito Kazuo , Muanprasat Chatchai , Pichyangkura Rath
Published: October 2019

Mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) is well-known as an effective fed supplement for livestock to increase their nutrients absorption and health status. Pentasaccharide of mannan (MOS5) was reported as a molecule that possesses the ability to increase tight junction of epithelial tissue, but the structure and mechanism of action remains undetermined. In this study, the mechanism of action and structure of MOS5 were investigated. T84 cells were cultured and treated with MOS5 compared with vehicle and compound C, a 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor. The results demonstrated that the ability of MOS5 to increase tight junction integration was inhibited in the presence of dorsomorphine (compound C). Phosphorylation level of AMPK was elevated in MOS5 treated group as determined by Western blot analysis. Determination of MOS5 structure was performed using enzymatic mapping together with 1H, 13C NMR, and 2D-NMR analysis. The results demonstrated that the structure of MOS5 is a β-(1,4)-mannotetraose with α-(1,6)-galactose attached at the second mannose unit from non-reducing end.
Detection of Emerald Ash Borer Infestations in Living Green Ash by Noninvasive Electronic-Nose Analysis of Wood Volatiles
Authors: Wilson A. Dan , Forse Lisa B. , Babst Benjamin A. , Bataineh Mohammad M.
Published: October 2019

The emerald ash borer (EAB) has been the most destructive and costly nonnative insect to threaten the health of ash (Fraxinus) species in North America for at least the past 25 years. The development of methods for detecting visually-hidden EAB galleries at early stages of infestation would provide a useful tool to more effectively facilitate the planning and implementation of targeted EAB pest-suppression and management activities. We tested the efficacy of using a dual-technology electronic-nose (e-nose)/gas chromatograph device as a means for detection of EAB infestations in green ash trees in different EAB-decline classes by analysis of VOC emissions in sapwood. We found significant differences in VOC profiles for trees from the four decline classes. The VOC composition, quantities, and types of volatile metabolites present in headspace volatiles varied considerably across sample types, and resulted in distinct e-nose smellprint patterns that were characteristic of each unique chemical composition. In addition, specific VOC metabolites were identified as potential healthy and EAB-infestation biomarkers, indicative of the health states of individual trees. Few significant differences in major bark phenolic compounds were found between ash decline classes using LC-MS. The e-nose was effective in discriminating between uninfested and EAB-infested trees based on sapwood VOC emissions.
Is a Virtual Reality Test Able to Predict Current and Retrospective ADHD Symptoms in Adulthood and Adolescence?
Authors: Areces Débora , García Trinidad , Cueli Marisol , Rodríguez Celestino
Published: October 2019

Despite the persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) into adulthood and adolescence, there are few objective, reliable instruments (based on patient performance) that have been shown to be able to predict current and retrospective ADHD symptoms. The present study aimed to explore whether a validated VR test called Nesplora Aquarium is able to predict ADHD symptoms in adults and adolescents, based on both current and retrospective self-reports. A non-clinical sample of 156 adults and adolescents (70 women and 86 men) between 16 and 54 years of age (M = 21.23, SD = 8.04) took part in the study. Virtual reality (VR) variables such as the number of correct answers, omission and commission errors, among others, were used to predict current and retrospective self-reported symptoms of ADHD using multiple regression models. Correct answers and omission errors in the VR test significantly predicted both current and retrospective ADHD symptoms. However, only the number of perseveration errors and gender were able to significantly predict retrospective ADHD symptoms. These findings suggest that inattention problems tend to remain after adolescence, while perseveration errors (which have been related to impulsive behavior) and gender differences tend to diminish.
Protecting Tumors by Preventing Human Papilloma Virus Antigen Presentation: Insights from Emerging Bioinformatics Algorithms
Authors: Gensterblum-Miller Elizabeth , Brenner J. Chad
Published: October 2019

Recent developments in bioinformatics technologies have led to advances in our understanding of how oncogenic viruses such as the human papilloma virus drive cancer progression and evade the host immune system. Here, we focus our review on understanding how these emerging bioinformatics technologies influence our understanding of how human papilloma virus (HPV) drives immune escape in cancers of the head and neck, and how these new informatics approaches may be generally applicable to other virally driven cancers. Indeed, these tools enable researchers to put existing data from genome wide association studies, in which high risk alleles have been identified, in the context of our current understanding of cellular processes regulating neoantigen presentation. In the future, these new bioinformatics approaches are highly likely to influence precision medicine-based decision making for the use of immunotherapies in virally driven cancers.
Translational Potential of MicroRNAs for Preoperative Staging and Prediction of Chemoradiotherapy Response in Rectal Cancer
Authors: Machackova Tana , Prochazka Vladimir , Kala Zdenek , Slaby Ondrej
Published: October 2019

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second cause of cancer-related deaths. Rectal cancer presents roughly one-third of all colorectal cancer cases and differs from it on both anatomical and molecular levels. While standard treatment of colon cancer patients is radical surgery, rectal cancer is usually treated with pre-operative chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision, which requires precise estimation of TNM staging. Unfortunately, stage evaluation is based solely on imaging modalities, and they often do not correlate with postoperative pathological findings. Moreover, approximately half of rectal cancer patients do not respond to such pre-operative therapy, so they are exposed to its toxic effects without any clinical benefit. Thus, biomarkers that could precisely predict pre-operative TNM staging, and especially response to therapy, would significantly advance rectal cancer treatment—but till now, no such biomarker has been identified. In cancer research, microRNAs are emerging biomarkers due to their connection with carcinogenesis and exceptional stability. Circulating miRNAs are promising non-invasive biomarkers that could allow monitoring of a patient throughout the whole therapeutic process. This mini-review aims to summarize the current knowledge on miRNAs and circulating miRNAs involved in the prediction of response to treatment and pre-operative staging in rectal cancer patients.
MicroRNAs Which Can Prognosticate Aggressiveness of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Borkowska Edyta Marta , Konecki Tomasz , Pietrusiński Michał , Borowiec Maciej , Jabłonowski Zbigniew
Published: October 2019

Bladder cancer (BC) is still characterized by a very high death rate in patients with this disease. One of the reasons for this is the lack of adequate markers which could help determine the biological potential of the tumor to develop into its invasive stage. It has been found that some microRNAs (miRNAs) correlate with disease progression. The purpose of this study was to identify which miRNAs can accurately predict the presence of BC and can differentiate low grade (LG) tumors from high grade (HG) tumors. The study included 55 patients with diagnosed bladder cancer and 30 persons belonging to the control group. The expression of seven selected miRNAs was estimated with the real-time PCR technique according to miR-103-5p (for the normalization of the results). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the feasibility of using selected markers as biomarkers for detecting BC and discriminating non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC) from muscle invasive BC (MIBC). For HG tumors, the relevant classifiers are miR-205-5p and miR-20a-5p, whereas miR-205-5p and miR-182-5p are for LG (AUC = 0.964 and AUC = 0.992, respectively). NMIBC patients with LG disease are characterized by significantly higher miR-130b-3p expression values compared to patients in HG tumors.
Ligand-Independent EGFR Activation by Anchorage-Stimulated Src Promotes Cancer Cell Proliferation and Cetuximab Resistance via ErbB3 Phosphorylation
Authors: Nozaki Masami , Yasui Hiroki , Ohnishi Yuichi
Published: October 2019

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway plays an important role in the progression of cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis in patients. The monoclonal antibody cetuximab, which displays EGFR extracellular domain-specific binding, has proven effective in the treatment of locally advanced disease and relapsed/metastatic disease. However, the effects of cetuximab are weaker than those of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study investigates differences in the effects on cell growth of cetuximab and EGFR TKI AG1478 at the molecular level using oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines. First, we found that there were EGFR-inhibitor-sensitive (EIS) and EGFR-inhibitor-resistant cell lines. The EIS cell lines expressed not only EGFR but also ErbB3, and both were clearly phosphorylated. The levels of phosphorylated ErbB3 were unaffected by cetuximab but were reduced by AG1478. EGFR ligand treatment increased the levels of phosphorylated EGFR but not phosphorylated ErbB3. Moreover, when EIS cell lines that were only capable of anchorage-dependent growth were grown in suspension, cell growth was suppressed and the levels of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Src, and ErbB3 were significantly reduced. The levels of phosphorylated ErbB3 were unaffected by the FAK inhibitor PF573228, but were reduced by Src inhibition. Finally, combining cetuximab and a Src inhibitor produced an additive effect on the inhibition of EIS cell line growth.
ALDH1A2 Is a Candidate Tumor Suppressor Gene in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Choi Jung-A , Kwon Hyunja , Cho Hanbyoul , Chung Joon-Yong , Hewitt Stephen M. , Kim Jae-Hoon
Published: October 2019

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2 (ALDH1A2) is a rate-limiting enzyme involved in cellular retinoic acid synthesis. However, its functional role in ovarian cancer remains elusive. Here, we found that ALDH1A2 was the most prominently downregulated gene among ALDH family members in ovarian cancer cells, according to complementary DNA microarray data. Low ALDH1A2 expression was associated with unfavorable prognosis and shorter disease-free and overall survival for ovarian cancer patients. Notably, hypermethylation of ALDH1A2 was significantly higher in ovarian cancer cell lines when compared to that in immortalized human ovarian surface epithelial cell lines. ALDH1A2 expression was restored in various ovarian cancer cell lines after treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine. Furthermore, silencing DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) or 3B (DNMT3B) restored ALDH1A2 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines. Functional studies revealed that forced ALDH1A2 expression significantly impaired the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and their invasive activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that ALDH1A2 expression is regulated by the epigenetic regulation of DNMTs, and subsequently that it might act as a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer, further suggesting that enhancing ALDH1A2-linked signaling might provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention in ovarian cancer.
RAD52 as a Potential Target for Synthetic Lethality-Based Anticancer Therapies
Authors: Toma Monika , Sullivan-Reed Katherine , Śliwiński Tomasz , Skorski Tomasz
Published: October 2019

Alterations in DNA repair systems play a key role in the induction and progression of cancer. Tumor-specific defects in DNA repair mechanisms and activation of alternative repair routes create the opportunity to employ a phenomenon called “synthetic lethality” to eliminate cancer cells. Targeting the backup pathways may amplify endogenous and drug-induced DNA damage and lead to specific eradication of cancer cells. So far, the synthetic lethal interaction between BRCA1/2 and PARP1 has been successfully applied as an anticancer treatment. Although PARP1 constitutes a promising target in the treatment of tumors harboring deficiencies in BRCA1/2—mediated homologous recombination (HR), some tumor cells survive, resulting in disease relapse. It has been suggested that alternative RAD52-mediated HR can protect BRCA1/2-deficient cells from the accumulation of DNA damage and the synthetic lethal effect of PARPi. Thus, simultaneous inhibition of RAD52 and PARP1 might result in a robust dual synthetic lethality, effectively eradicating BRCA1/2-deficient tumor cells. In this review, we will discuss the role of RAD52 and its potential application in synthetic lethality-based anticancer therapies.
Plant-Mediated Enantioselective Transformation of Indan-1-One and Indan-1-ol
Authors: Mączka Wanda , Wińska Katarzyna , Grabarczyk Małgorzata , Galek Renata
Published: October 2019

The main purpose of this work was to discover the way to obtain pure enantiomers of indan-1-ol. The subject of the study was the ability of the plant enzyme system to reduce the carbonyl group of indan-1-one, as well as to oxidize the hydroxyl group of racemic indan-1-ol. Locally available fruit and vegetables were selected for stereoselective biotransformation. During the reduction, mainly alcohol of the S-(+)-configuration with a high enantiomeric excess (ee = 99%) was obtained. The opposite enantiomer was obtained in bioreduction with the apple and parsley. Racemic indan-1-ol was oxidized by all catalysts. The best result was obtained for the Jerusalem artichoke: Over 50% conversion was observed after 1 h, and the enantiomeric excess of unreacted R-(–)-indan1-ol was 100%.
Single and Dual Metal Oxides as Promising Supports for Carbon Monoxide Removal from an Actual Syngas: The Crucial Role of Support on the Selectivity of the Au–Cu System
Authors: Cifuentes Bernay , Bustamante Felipe , Cobo Martha
Published: October 2019

A catalytic screening was performed to determine the effect of the support on the performance of an Au–Cu based system for the removal of CO from an actual syngas. First, a syngas was obtained from reforming of ethanol. Then, the reformer outlet was connected to a second reactor, where Au–Cu catalysts supported on several single and dual metal oxides (i.e., CeO2, SiO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, La2O3, Fe2O3, CeO2-SiO2, CeO2-ZrO2, and CeO2-Al2O3) were evaluated. AuCu/CeO2 was the most active catalyst due to an elevated oxygen mobility over the surface, promoting CO2 formation from adsorption of C–O* and OH− intermediates on Au0 and CuO species. However, its lower capacity to release the surface oxygen contributes to the generation of stable carbon deposits, which lead to its rapid deactivation. On the other hand, AuCu/CeO2-SiO2 was more stable due to its high surface area and lower formation of formate and carbonate intermediates, mitigating carbon deposits. Therefore, use of dual supports could be a promising strategy to overcome the low stability of AuCu/CeO2. The results of this research are a contribution to integrated production and purification of H2 in a compact system.
Plasma-Assisted Selective Catalytic Reduction for Low-Temperature Removal of NOx and Soot Simulant
Authors: Nguyen Van Toan , Nguyen Duc Ba , Heo Iljeong , Mok Young Sun
Published: October 2019

The challenge that needs to be overcome regarding the removal of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and soot from exhaust gases is the low activity of the selective catalytic reduction of NOx at temperatures fluctuating from 150 to 350 °C. The primary goal of this work was to enhance the conversion of NOx and soot simulant by employing a Ag/α-Al2O3 catalyst coupled with dielectric barrier discharge plasma. The results demonstrated that the use of a plasma-catalyst process at low operating temperatures increased the removal of both NOx and naphthalene (soot simulant). Moreover, the soot simulant functioned as a reducing agent for NOx removal, but with low NOx conversion. The high efficiency of NOx removal required the addition of hydrocarbon fuel. In summary, the combined use of the catalyst and plasma (specific input energy, SIE ≥ 60 J/L) solved the poor removal of NOx and soot at low operating temperatures or during temperature fluctuations in the range of 150–350 °C. Specifically, highly efficient naphthalene removal was achieved with low-temperature adsorption on the catalyst followed by the complete decomposition by the plasma-catalyst at 350 °C and SIE of 90 J/L.
Characterization of Human Transition Zone Reveals a Putative Progenitor-Enriched Niche of Corneal Endothelium
Authors: Yam Gary Hin-Fai , Seah Xinyi , Yusoff Nur Zahirah Binte M , Setiawan Melina , Wahlig Stephen , Htoon Hla Myint , Peh Gary S.L. , Kocaba Viridiana , Mehta Jodhbir S
Published: October 2019

The corneal endothelium regulates corneal hydration to maintain the transparency of cornea. Lacking regenerative capacity, corneal endothelial cell loss due to aging and diseases can lead to corneal edema and vision loss. There is limited information on the existence of corneal endothelial progenitors. We conducted ultrastructural examinations and expression analyses on the human transition zone (TZ) at the posterior limbus of corneal periphery, to elucidate if the TZ harbored progenitor-like cells, and to reveal their niche characteristics. Within the narrow TZ (~190 μm width), the inner TZ—adjacent to the peripheral endothelium (PE)—contained cells expressing stem/progenitor markers (Sox2, Lgr5, CD34, Pitx2, telomerase). They were located on the inner TZ surface and in its underlying stroma. Lgr5 positive cells projected as multicellular clusters into the PE. Under transmission electron microscopy and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, the terminal margin of Descemet’s membrane was inserted beneath the TZ surface, with the distance akin to the inner TZ breadth. Porcine TZ cells were isolated and proliferated into a confluent monolayer and differentiated to cells expressing corneal endothelial markers (ZO1, Na+K+ATPase) on cell surface. In conclusion, we have identified a novel inner TZ containing progenitor-like cells, which could serve the regenerative potential for corneal endothelium.
Mechanisms Underlying Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Hepatic Fibrosis
Authors: Khatun Mousumi , Ray Ratna B.
Published: October 2019

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often causes liver diseases, including fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver fibrosis is the outcome of the wound healing response to tissue damage caused by chronic HCV infection. This process is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, such as collagen fibers secreted by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Activation of HSCs from the quiescent stage is mediated by different mechanisms, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines released from HCV-infected hepatocytes and liver macrophages. HCV infection modulates the expression of different microRNAs that can be transported and delivered to the HSCs via exosomes released from infected cells, also leading to the development of advanced disease pathogenesis. Although recent advancements in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment can efficiently control viremia, there are very few treatment strategies available that can be effective at preventing pathogenesis in advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in patients. Assessment of fibrosis is considered to be the major part of proper patient care and decision making in clinical practice. In this review, we highlighted the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms responsible for the progression of liver fibrosis in chronically HCV-infected patients, and currently available methods for evaluation of fibrosis in patients. A detailed understanding of these aspects at the molecular level may contribute to the development of new therapies targeting HCV-related liver fibrosis.
Effect of Pressure Treatment on the Specific Surface Area in Kaolin Group Minerals
Authors: Kwon Soyeon , Hwang Huijeong , Lee Yongjae
Published: October 2019

Pressure can tailor the properties of a material by changing its atomistic arrangements and/or crystal morphology. We have investigated the changes in the adsorption properties of kaolin group minerals as a function of pressure treatment in the gigapascal range. External pressures have been applied using a large volume press (LVP) to kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) and halloysite (H4Al2O9Si2·2H2O), which represent natural 2D layered and 1D nanowire structures, respectively. Powdered samples have been compressed up to 3 GPa in 1 GPa steps at room temperature and recovered by up to ca. 0.35 g from each pressure step. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements were conducted using N2 gas to measure the specific surface area, pore size distribution, and pore volume of the pressure-treated samples. As the treatment pressure increased, kaolinite showed an increase in the adsorption behavior from nonpores to mesopores, whereas halloysite responded in an opposite manner to show a decrease in its adsorption capability. We discuss the contrasting effects of pressure-treatment on the two morphologically distinct kaolin group minerals based on field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images measured on each recovered material. We observed that the layers in kaolinite separate into smaller units upon increasing pressure treatment, whereas the tubes in halloysite become flattened, which led to the contrasting changes in surface area. Further study is in progress to compare this effect to when water is used as the pressure-transmitting medium.
Ocular Surface Workup in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Treated with Intense Regulated Pulsed Light
Authors: Vigo Luca , Taroni Leonardo , Bernabei Federico , Pellegrini Marco , Sebastiani Stefano , Mercanti Andrea , Di Stefano Nicola , Scorcia Vincenzo , Carones Francesco , Giannaccare Giuseppe
Published: October 2019

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate changes of signs and symptoms in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) treated with intense regulated pulsed light (IRPL), and to further investigate which parameter could predict positive outcomes of the procedure. Twenty-eight patients who bilaterally received three IRPL sessions at day 1, 15, and 45 satisfied the criteria and were included in the study. Non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), meibography, tear osmolarity, and ocular discomfort symptoms were measured before and 30 days after the last IRPL session. Qualified or complete success was defined in the presence of an improvement of symptoms associated with an increase of NIBUT (< or ≥ 20%). After IRPL treatment, median NIBUT and LLT increased from 7.5 to 10.2 s and 2.0 to 3.0, respectively (p <0.001); tear osmolarity decreased from 304.0 to 301.0 mOsm/L (p = 0.002). Subjective symptoms improved after IRPL in 26 patients. Qualified success was reached in 34 eyes, while complete success in 16 eyes. Patients with lower baseline break-up time (BUT) values showed better response to treatment (p = 0.04). In conclusion, IRPL improved signs and symptoms in MGD patients, while lower baseline NIBUT values were predictive of better response to IRPL.
Memory Optimization for Bit-Vector-Based Packet Classification on FPGA
Authors: Li Chenglong , Li Tao , Li Junnan , Li Dagang , Yang Hui , Wang Baosheng
Published: October 2019

High-performance packet classification algorithms have been widely studied during the past decade. Bit-Vector-based algorithms proposed for FPGA can achieve very high throughput by decomposing rules delicately. However, the relatively large memory resources consumption severely hinders applications of the algorithms extensively. It is noteworthy that, in the Bit-Vector-based algorithms, stringent memory resources in FPGA are wasted to store relatively plenty of useless wildcards in the rules. We thus present a memory-optimized packet classification scheme named WeeBV to eliminate the memory occupied by the wildcards. WeeBV consists of a heterogeneous two-dimensional lookup pipeline and an optimized heuristic algorithm for searching all the wildcard positions that can be removed. It can achieve a significant reduction in memory resources without compromising the high throughput of the original Bit-Vector-based algorithms. We implement WeeBV and evaluate its performance by simulation and FPGA prototype. Experimental results show that our approach can save 37% and 41% memory consumption on average for synthetic 5-tuple rules and OpenFlow rules respectively.
Study of Leading-Edge Dimple Effects on Airfoil Flow Using Tomographic PIV and Temperature Sensitive Paint
Authors: Stolt Adam J. , Ullah Al Habib , Estevadeordal Jordi
Published: October 2019

Airfoil blades can experience a significant change of angle of attack during operation cycles, which may lead to static or dynamic stall in various applications. It is unclear how elements distributed at the leading edge would affect the aerodynamic performance and stall behaviors. In the present study, a distributed dimples configuration was investigated and compared to a baseline smooth NACA0015 airfoil at low Reynolds numbers. Two- and four-camera, tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV), and temperature sensitive paint (TSP) techniques were set up to gather flow and surface information near the curved leading-edge surface and to study flow separation. Results suggest that distributed dimples configuration create abrupt separation leading to stall and induce a similar stall compared to the smooth model. However, the stall is induced more abruptly and with different flow patterns. Results show that patterns of separated shear layer at stalled conditions were enhanced by the current configuration. Effect of these structures on the boundary layer transition were also analyzed based on combined tomographic PIV and TSP measurement techniques.
Biological Network Approaches and Applications in Rare Disease Studies
Authors: Zhang Peng , Itan Yuval
Published: October 2019

Network biology has the capability to integrate, represent, interpret, and model complex biological systems by collectively accommodating biological omics data, biological interactions and associations, graph theory, statistical measures, and visualizations. Biological networks have recently been shown to be very useful for studies that decipher biological mechanisms and disease etiologies and for studies that predict therapeutic responses, at both the molecular and system levels. In this review, we briefly summarize the general framework of biological network studies, including data resources, network construction methods, statistical measures, network topological properties, and visualization tools. We also introduce several recent biological network applications and methods for the studies of rare diseases.
Severe Peripheral Joint Laxity is a Distinctive Clinical Feature of Spondylodysplastic-Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)-B4GALT7 and Spondylodysplastic-EDS-B3GALT6
Authors: Caraffi Stefano Giuseppe , Maini Ilenia , Ivanovski Ivan , Pollazzon Marzia , Giangiobbe Sara , Valli Maurizia , Rossi Antonio , Sassi Silvia , Faccioli Silvia , Di Rocco Maja , Magnani Cinzia , Campos-Xavier Belinda , Unger Sheila , Superti-Furga Andrea , Garavelli Livia
Published: October 2019

Variations in genes encoding for the enzymes responsible for synthesizing the linker region of proteoglycans may result in recessive conditions known as “linkeropathies”. The two phenotypes related to mutations in genes B4GALT7 and B3GALT6 (encoding for galactosyltransferase I and II respectively) are similar, characterized by short stature, hypotonia, joint hypermobility, skeletal features and a suggestive face with prominent forehead, thin soft tissue and prominent eyes. The most outstanding feature of these disorders is the combination of severe connective tissue involvement, often manifesting in newborns and infants, and skeletal dysplasia that becomes apparent during childhood. Here, we intend to more accurately define some of the clinical features of B4GALT7 and B3GALT6-related conditions and underline the extreme hypermobility of distal joints and the soft, doughy skin on the hands and feet as features that may be useful as the first clues for a correct diagnosis.
Transcription Factor CEBPB Inhibits the Expression of the Human HTR1A by Binding to 5′ Regulatory Region In Vitro
Authors: Liu Yong-Ping , Wu Xue , Meng Jing-Hua , Ding Mei , Xu Feng-Ling , Zhang Jing-Jing , Yao Jun , Wang Bao-Jie
Published: October 2019

This study identified a transcription factor that might bind to the 5′ regulatory region of the HTR1A and explored the potential effect on 5-HT1A receptor expression. Based on JASPAR predictions, the binding of the transcription factor was demonstrated using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Vectors over-expressing the transcription factor were co-transfected into HEK-293 and SK-N-SH cells with the recombinant pGL3 vector, and relative fluorescence intensity was measured to determine regulatory activity. Additionally, the qRT-PCR and Western blot were also used to identify whether the transcription factor modulated the endogenous expression of 5-HT1A receptor. The results suggest that the transcription factor CCAA/T enhancer binding protein beta (CEBPB) likely binds to the −1219 to −1209 bp (ATG+1) region of the HTR1A. Two sequences located in the −722 to −372 bp and −119 to +99 bp were also identified. Although the effect of CEBPB on endogenous 5-HT1A receptor expression was not significant, it exhibited the strong inhibition on the relative fluorescence intensity and the mRNA level of HTR1A. CEBPB inhibited the human HTR1A expression by binding to the sequence −1219–−1209 bp. This is useful and informative for ascertaining the regulation of 5-HT1A receptor and mental diseases.
A TAC3 Missense Variant in a Domestic Shorthair Cat with Testicular Hypoplasia and Persistent Primary Dentition
Authors: Hug Petra , Kern Patricia , Jagannathan Vidhya , Leeb Tosso
Published: October 2019

A single male domestic shorthair cat that did not complete puberty was reported. At four years of age, it still had primary dentition, testicular hypoplasia, and was relatively small for its age. We hypothesized that the phenotype might have been due to an inherited form of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). We sequenced the genome of the affected cat and compared the data to 38 genomes from control cats. A search for private variants in 40 candidate genes associated with human HH revealed a single protein-changing variant in the affected cat. It was located in the TAC3 gene encoding tachykinin 3, a precursor protein of the signaling molecule neurokinin B, which is known to play a role in sexual development. TAC3 variants have been reported in human patients with HH. The identified feline variant, TAC3:c.220G>A or p.(Val74Met), affects a moderately conserved region of the precursor protein, 11 residues away from the mature neurokinin B sequence. The affected cat was homozygous for the mutant allele. In a cohort of 171 randomly sampled cats, 169 were homozygous for the wildtype allele and 2 were heterozygous. These data tentatively suggest that the identified TAC3 variant might have caused the suppression of puberty in the affected cat.
D-GPM: A Deep Learning Method for Gene Promoter Methylation Inference
Authors: Pan Xingxin , Liu Biao , Wen Xingzhao , Liu Yulu , Zhang Xiuqing , Li Shengbin , Li Shuaicheng
Published: October 2019

Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing generates a comprehensive profiling of the gene methylation levels, but is limited by a high cost. Recent studies have partitioned the genes into landmark genes and target genes and suggested that the landmark gene expression levels capture adequate information to reconstruct the target gene expression levels. This inspired us to propose that the methylation level of the promoters in landmark genes might be adequate to reconstruct the promoter methylation level of target genes, which would eventually reduce the cost of promoter methylation profiling. Here, we propose a deep learning model called Deep-Gene Promoter Methylation (D-GPM) to predict the whole-genome promoter methylation level based on the promoter methylation profile of the landmark genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). D-GPM-15%-7000 × 5, the optimal architecture of D-GPM, acquires the least overall mean absolute error (MAE) and the highest overall Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), with values of 0.0329 and 0.8186, respectively, when testing data. Additionally, the D-GPM outperforms the regression tree (RT), linear regression (LR), and the support vector machine (SVM) in 95.66%, 92.65%, and 85.49% of the target genes by virtue of its relatively lower MAE and in 98.25%, 91.00%, and 81.56% of the target genes based on its relatively higher PCC, respectively. More importantly, the D-GPM predominates in predicting 79.86% and 78.34% of the target genes according to the model distribution of the least MAE and the highest PCC, respectively.
Farmers’ Heterogeneous Willingness to Pay for Farmland Non-Market Goods and Services on the Basis of a Mixed Logit Model—A Case Study of Wuhan, China
Authors: Yang Xin , Zhang Anlu , Zhang Fan
Published: October 2019

The exploration of different stakeholders’ heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland ecological value is a fundamental part of understanding the total value of farmland protection and designing a scientific farmland protection policy. Unlike the homogenous assumption used in the previous studies, the mixed logit model of choice experiment method was applied to estimate respondents’ heterogeneous willingness to pay for farmland non-market value (represented by farmland area, farmland fertility, water quality, air quality, species richness, and recreational value) in this study. Data came from a sample of 289 farmers in Wuhan, China who were face-to-face interviewed. Results showed that: (1) Farmers were unsatisfied with the status quo of the present farmland ecological environment and were willing to pay to preserve all the attributes of farmland non-market value. (2) Farmers had a heterogeneous preference for the status quo and recreational value—the error variances of these two attributes were both significant at the 1% level, and their willingness to pay for the farmland non-market value in Wuhan was 1141.88 Yuan/hm2. (3) Farmers’ cognition degree of farmland importance and whether respondents bought medical insurance or not had significant impacts on their willingness to pay. The results can provide the basic foundation for accurate valuation of farmland non-market services, help farmland regulators make the right farmland conversion decisions, and improve the resource allocation efficiency of local financial expenditure during farmland protection in Wuhan.
Inhibition of Dephosphorylation of Dolichyl Diphosphate Alters the Synthesis of Dolichol and Hinders Protein N-Glycosylation and Morphological Transitions in Candida albicans
Authors: Janik Anna , Niewiadomska Monika , Perlińska-Lenart Urszula , Lenart Jacek , Kołakowski Damian , Skorupińska-Tudek Karolina , Swiezewska Ewa , Kruszewska Joanna S. , Palamarczyk Grażyna
Published: October 2019

The essential role of dolichyl phosphate (DolP) as a carbohydrate carrier during protein N-glycosylation is well established. The cellular pool of DolP is derived from de novo synthesis in the dolichol branch of the mevalonate pathway and from recycling of DolPP after each cycle of N-glycosylation, when the oligosaccharide is transferred from the lipid carrier to the protein and DolPP is released and then dephosphorylated. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the dephosphorylation of DolPP is known to be catalyzed by the Cwh8p protein. To establish the role of the Cwh8p orthologue in another distantly related yeast species, Candida albicans, we studied its mutant devoid of the CaCWH8 gene. A double Cacwh8∆/Cacwh8∆ strain was constructed by the URA-blaster method. As in S. cerevisiae, the mutant was impaired in DolPP recycling. This defect, however, was accompanied by an elevation of cis-prenyltransferase activity and higher de novo production of dolichols. Despite these compensatory changes, protein glycosylation, cell wall integrity, filamentous growth, and biofilm formation were impaired in the mutant. These results suggest that the defects are not due to the lack of DolP for the protein N-glycosylation but rather that the activity of oligosacharyltransferase could be inhibited by the excess DolPP accumulating in the mutant.