bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Rare Natural Benzo[k,l]xanthene as a Turn-Off Fluorescent Sensor for Cu2+ Ion
Authors: Floresta Giuseppe , Cardullo Nunzio , Spatafora Carmela , Rescifina Antonio , Tringali Corrado
Published: September 2020

Rapid and efficient analyses of copper ions are crucial to providing key information for Cu2+ in living cells because of their biological importance. In this study, we reported one new turn-off fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ with a benzo[k,l]xanthene core, which served as an efficient cation sensor for copper ion over a wide range of other cations (Na+, K+, Ag+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Fe3+) owing to the catechol group in the aromatic core. The sensor showed selectivity for Cu2+ over other ions; the logKβ for Cu2+ binding to compound 1 had a value of 13.265. In the presence of Cu2+, sensor 1 provided significant fluorescence decrement; Co2+, and Ni2+ caused a fluorescence decrement when employed at a higher concentration than Cu2+, while Na+, K+, Hg2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+ metal ions produced only minor changes in fluorescence intensity. Fluorescence experiments demonstrate that compound 1 may have an application as a fluorescent probe for detecting Cu2+ with a limit of detection of 0.574 µM.
Proteomic and Transcriptomic Patterns during Lipid Remodeling in Nannochloropsis gaditana
Authors: Hulatt Chris J. , Smolina Irina , Dowle Adam , Kopp Martina , Vasanth Ghana K. , Hoarau Galice G. , Wijffels René H. , Kiron Viswanath
Published: September 2020

Nutrient limited conditions are common in natural phytoplankton communities and are often used to increase the yield of lipids from industrial microalgae cultivations. Here we studied the effects of bioavailable nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deprivation on the proteome and transcriptome of the oleaginous marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana. Turbidostat cultures were used to selectively apply either N or P deprivation, controlling for variables including the light intensity. Global (cell-wide) changes in the proteome were measured using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) and LC-MS/MS, whilst gene transcript expression of the same samples was quantified by Illumina RNA-sequencing. We detected 3423 proteins, where 1543 and 113 proteins showed significant changes in abundance in N and P treatments, respectively. The analysis includes the global correlation between proteomic and transcriptomic data, the regulation of subcellular proteomes in different compartments, gene/protein functional groups, and metabolic pathways. The results show that triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation under nitrogen deprivation was associated with substantial downregulation of protein synthesis and photosynthetic activity. Oil accumulation was also accompanied by a diverse set of responses including the upregulation of diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), lipase, and lipid body associated proteins. Deprivation of phosphorus had comparatively fewer, weaker effects, some of which were linked to the remodeling of respiratory metabolism.
A Complete Cross Section Data Set for Electron Scattering by Pyridine: Modelling Electron Transport in the Energy Range 0–100 eV
Authors: Costa Filipe , Traoré-Dubuis Ali , Álvarez Lidia , Lozano Ana I. , Ren Xueguang , Dorn Alexander , Limão-Vieira Paulo , Blanco Francisco , Oller Juan C. , Muñoz Antonio , García-Abenza Adrián , Gorfinkiel Jimena D. , Barbosa Alessandra S. , Bettega Marcio H. F. , Stokes Peter , White Ronald D. , Jones Darryl B. , Brunger Michael J. , García Gustavo
Published: September 2020

Electron scattering cross sections for pyridine in the energy range 0–100 eV, which we previously measured or calculated, have been critically compiled and complemented here with new measurements of electron energy loss spectra and double differential ionization cross sections. Experimental techniques employed in this study include a linear transmission apparatus and a reaction microscope system. To fulfill the transport model requirements, theoretical data have been recalculated within our independent atom model with screening corrected additivity rule and interference effects (IAM-SCAR) method for energies above 10 eV. In addition, results from the R-matrix and Schwinger multichannel with pseudopotential methods, for energies below 15 eV and 20 eV, respectively, are presented here. The reliability of this complete data set has been evaluated by comparing the simulated energy distribution of electrons transmitted through pyridine, with that observed in an electron-gas transmission experiment under magnetic confinement conditions. In addition, our representation of the angular distribution of the inelastically scattered electrons is discussed on the basis of the present double differential cross section experimental results.
Progress on Understanding Transcriptional Regulation of Chloroplast Development in Fleshy Fruit
Authors: Jia Ting , Cheng Yuting , Khan Imran , Zhao Xuan , Gu Tongyu , Hu Xueyun
Published: September 2020

Edible fleshy fruits are important food sources in the human diet. Their yield and nutritional quality have long been considered as breeding targets for improvement. Various developing fleshy fruits with functional chloroplasts are capable of photosynthesis and contribute to fruit photosynthate, leading to the accumulation of metabolites associated with nutritional quality in ripe fruit. Although tomato high-pigment mutants with dark-green fruits have been isolated for more than 100 years, our understanding of the mechanism of chloroplast development in fleshy fruit remain poor. During the past few years, several transcription factors that regulate chloroplast development in fleshy fruit were identified through map-based cloning. In addition, substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms that how these transcription factors regulate chloroplast development. This review provides a summary and update on this progress, with a framework for further investigations of the multifaceted and hierarchical regulation of chloroplast development in fleshy fruit.
Ribosome Pausing at Inefficient Codons at the End of the Replicase Coding Region Is Important for Hepatitis C Virus Genome Replication
Authors: Gerresheim Gesche K. , Hess Carolin S. , Shalamova Lyudmila A. , Fricke Markus , Marz Manja , Andreev Dmitri E. , Shatsky Ivan N. , Niepmann Michael
Published: September 2020

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects liver cells and often causes chronic infection, also leading to liver cirrhosis and cancer. In the cytoplasm, the viral structural and non-structural (NS) proteins are directly translated from the plus strand HCV RNA genome. The viral proteins NS3 to NS5B proteins constitute the replication complex that is required for RNA genome replication via a minus strand antigenome. The most C-terminal protein in the genome is the NS5B replicase, which needs to initiate antigenome RNA synthesis at the very 3′-end of the plus strand. Using ribosome profiling of cells replicating full-length infectious HCV genomes, we uncovered that ribosomes accumulate at the HCV stop codon and about 30 nucleotides upstream of it. This pausing is due to the presence of conserved rare, inefficient Wobble codons upstream of the termination site. Synonymous substitution of these inefficient codons to efficient codons has negative consequences for viral RNA replication but not for viral protein synthesis. This pausing may allow the enzymatically active replicase core to find its genuine RNA template in cis, while the protein is still held in place by being stuck with its C-terminus in the exit tunnel of the paused ribosome.
Functioning of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Response to Drought Stress in Oat × Maize Addition Lines
Authors: Juzoń Katarzyna , Idziak-Helmcke Dominika , Rojek-Jelonek Magdalena , Warzecha Tomasz , Warchoł Marzena , Czyczyło-Mysza Ilona , Dziurka Kinga , Skrzypek Edyta
Published: September 2020

The oat × maize chromosome addition (OMA) lines, as hybrids between C3 and C4 plants, can potentially help us understand the process of C4 photosynthesis. However, photosynthesis is often affected by adverse environmental conditions, including drought stress. Therefore, to assess the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus in OMA lines under drought stress, the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a fluorescence (CF) parameters were investigated. With optimal hydration, most of the tested OMA lines, compared to oat cv. Bingo, showed higher pigment content, and some of them were characterized by increased values of selected CF parameters. Although 14 days of drought caused a decrease of chlorophylls and carotenoids, only slight changes in CF parameters were observed, which can indicate proper photosynthetic efficiency in most of examined OMA lines compared to oat cv. Bingo. The obtained data revealed that expected changes in hybrid functioning depend more on the specific maize chromosome and its interaction with the oat genome rather than the number of retained chromosomes. OMA lines not only constitute a powerful tool for maize genomics but also are a source of valuable variation in plant breeding, and can help us to understand plant susceptibility to drought. Our research confirms more efficient functioning of hybrid photosynthetic apparatus than oat cv. Bingo, therefore contributes to raising new questions in the fields of plant physiology and biochemistry. Due to the fact that the oat genome is not fully sequenced yet, the mechanism of enhanced photosynthetic efficiency in OMA lines requires further research.
CD8 T Cell Score as a Prognostic Biomarker for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Oshi Masanori , Asaoka Mariko , Tokumaru Yoshihisa , Yan Li , Matsuyama Ryusei , Ishikawa Takashi , Endo Itaru , Takabe Kazuaki
Published: September 2020

CD8 T cell is an essential component of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Using the xCell CD8 T cell score of whole tumor gene expression data, we estimated these cells in total of 3837 breast cancer patients from TCGA, METABRIC and various GEO cohorts. The CD8 score correlated strongly with expression of CD8 genes. The score was highest for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and a high score was associated with high tumor immune cytolytic activity and better survival in TNBC but not other breast cancer subtypes. In TNBC, tumors with a high CD8 score had enriched expression of interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-γ response and allograft rejection gene sets, and greater infiltration of anti-cancerous immune cells. The score strongly correlated with CD4 memory T cells in TNBC, and tumors with both a high CD8 score and high CD4 memory T cell abundance had significantly better survival. Finally, a high CD8 score was significantly associated with high expression of multiple immune checkpoint molecules. In conclusion, a high CD8 T cell score is associated with better survival in TNBC, particularly when tumor CD4 memory T cells were elevated. Our findings also suggest a possible use of the score as a predictive biomarker for response to immune checkpoint therapy.
Clinical Evidence of Antidepressant Effects of Insulin and Anti-Hyperglycemic Agents and Implications for the Pathophysiology of Depression—A Literature Review
Authors: Woo Young Sup , Lim Hyun Kook , Wang Sheng-Min , Bahk Won-Myong
Published: September 2020

Close connections between depression and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have been suggested by many epidemiological and experimental studies. Disturbances in insulin sensitivity due to the disruption of various molecular pathways cause insulin resistance, which underpins many metabolic disorders, including diabetes, as well as depression. Several anti-hyperglycemic agents have demonstrated antidepressant properties in clinical trials, probably due to their action on brain targets based on the shared pathophysiology of depression and T2DM. In this article, we review reports of clinical trials examining the antidepressant effect of these medications, including insulin, metformin, glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonists, and briefly consider possible molecular mechanisms underlying the associations between amelioration of insulin resistance and improvement of depressive symptoms. In doing so, we intend to suggest an integrative perspective for understanding the pathophysiology of depression.
Comparison of miRNA Expression Profiles between HIV-1 and HIV-2 Infected Monocyte-Derived Macrophages (MDMs) and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)
Authors: Biswas Santanu , Chen Emily , Haleyurgirisetty Mohan , Lee Sherwin , Hewlett Indira , Devadas Krishnakumar
Published: September 2020

During the progression of HIV-1 infection, macrophage tropic HIV-1 that use the CCR5 co-receptor undergoes a change in co-receptor use to CXCR4 that is predominately T cell tropic. This change in co-receptor preference makes the virus able to infect T cells. HIV-2 is known to infect MDMs and T cells and is dual tropic. The aim of this study was to elucidate the differential expression profiles of host miRNAs and their role in cells infected with HIV-1/HIV-2. To achieve this goal, a comparative global miRNA expression profile was determined in human PBMCs and MDMs infected with HIV-1/HIV-2. Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in HIV-1/HIV-2 infected PBMCs and MDMs using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique. A comparative global miRNA expression profile in infected MDMs and PBMCs with HIV-1 and HIV-2 identified differential expression of several host miRNAs. These differentially expressed miRNAs are likely to be involved in many signaling pathways, like the p53 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, MAPK signaling pathways, FoxO signaling pathway, and viral carcinogenesis. Thus, a comparative study of the differential expression of host miRNAs in MDMs and T cell in response to HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection will help us to identify unique biomarkers that can differentiate HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection.
Flexural and Shear Tests on Reinforced Concrete Bridge Deck Slab Segments with a Textile-Reinforced Concrete Strengthening Layer
Authors: Adam Viviane , Bielak Jan , Dommes Christian , Will Norbert , Hegger Josef
Published: September 2020

Many older bridges feature capacity deficiencies. This is mainly due to changes in code provisions which came along with stricter design rules and increasing traffic, leading to higher loads on the structure. To address capacity deficiencies of bridges, refined structural analyses with more detailed design approaches can be applied. If bridge assessment does not provide sufficient capacity, strengthening can be a pertinent solution to extend the bridge’s service lifetime. For numerous cases, applying an extra layer of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) can be a convenient method to achieve the required resistance. Here, carbon fibre-reinforced polymer reinforcement together with a high-performance mortar was used within the scope of developing a strengthening layer for bridge deck slabs, called SMART-DECK. Due to the high tensile strength of the carbon and its resistance to corrosion, a thin layer with high strength and low additional dead load can be realised. While the strengthening effect of TRC for slabs under flexural loading has already been investigated several times, the presented test programme also covered increase in shear capacity, which is the other crucial failure mode to be considered in design. A total of 14 large-scale tests on TRC-strengthened slab segments were tested under static and cyclic loading. The experimental study revealed high increases in capacity for both bending and shear failure.
Effects of Surface Roughness on the Electrochemical Properties and Galvanic Corrosion Behavior of CFRP and SPCC Alloy
Authors: Kim YoungHwan , Yoo MyeongHan , Moon MinSeok
Published: September 2020

This study investigated the potentiodynamic corrosion behavior of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and automotive rolled mild steel alloy (SPCC alloy) under different surface roughness conditions. Electrochemical characterization was performed using a potentiodynamic corrosion test with 5.0 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution at 25 ± 2 °C, while microstructural and compositional changes before and after corrosion were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The CFRP and SPCC corrosion rate increased as surface roughness increased. Generally, SPCC corroded faster than CFRP. The surface composition of CFRP was not affected by corrosion, regardless of the surface roughness conditions. Conversely, SPCC exhibited remarkable changes due to the formation of oxides, and its corrosion was more severe than that of CFRP as surface roughness increased. We used a double flat electrode cell to conduct a galvanic corrosion test in this study at 25 ± 2 °C. In this galvanic corrosion test, we studied different kinds of surface roughness for SPCC specimens under the CFRP material in its as-received condition and #200 condition. We confirmed that the results of galvanic corrosion for this study have a difference in corrosion amount and corrosion rate of SPCC specimens according to the surface roughness of CFRP.
TG6 Auto-Antibodies in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Authors: Hadjivassiliou Marios , Reunala Timo , Hervonen Kaisa , Aeschlimann Pascale , Aeschlimann Daniel
Published: September 2020

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an extraintestinal manifestation of gluten sensitivity, in which an autoimmune response is directed against transglutaminase 3 (TG3), an epidermal transglutaminase. TG2 is the autoantigen in celiac disease (CD), defined by the presence of enteropathy, and TG6 is the autoantigen in neurological manifestations of gluten sensitivity. The interplay between B cell responses to these 3 transglutaminases in developing the clinical spectrum of disease manifestations is not completely understood. Also, the individual or combined diagnostic and predictive value of the respective autoantibodies is not fully explored. We examined the prevalence of TG6 antibodies in a cohort of patients with DH. TG6 positivity was found in 13/33 (39%), with IgA detected in 11 patients, IgG in 3, and both in 1. This was significantly higher compared to what is seen in the classic CD cases (14%) in a Finnish population. TG6 positive baseline samples constituted 60% of DH patients with no enteropathy (n = 10), as opposed to 17% positivity in those with overt enteropathy (n = 12; Marsh IIIB). Repeat testing after adherence to a gluten-free diet for 1 year showed reduced titers for TG6 antibodies in 11/13 (85%), whereby 7 patients were now TG6 antibody-negative. Four patients seroconverted and tested positive for TG6 antibodies at one year, due to the ongoing exposure to gluten. We report another patient who presented with neurological manifestations (encephalopathy) leading to the diagnosis of CD, who was intermittently adhering to a gluten-free diet. Serological testing at baseline showed him to be positive for antibodies to all 3 transglutaminases. Eleven years later, he developed DH. He also subsequently developed ataxia and peripheral neuropathy. Although TG3 and TG6 autoantibodies are linked to certain disease manifestations, TG2, TG3, and TG6 autoantibodies can be present across the spectrum of GRD patients and might develop years before onset of symptoms of extraintestinal manifestations. This is consistent with gluten-dependent adaptive immunity being a necessary but not sufficient pretext to organ-specific damage. TG6 antibodies appear to develop more frequently in patients where tolerance to gluten was broken but, either there was no development of the molecular state driving the tissue destruction at the level of the gut, or perhaps more likely, there was more resistance to developing this phenotype.
The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) as a Screening Tool for Risk of Malnutrition: Optimal Cutoff, Factor Structure, and Validation in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Lau Sabrina , Pek Kalene , Chew Justin , Lim Jun Pei , Ismail Noor Hafizah , Ding Yew Yoong , Cesari Matteo , Lim Wee Shiong
Published: September 2020

Malnutrition is an independent marker of adverse outcomes in older adults. While the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) for anorexia has been validated as a nutritional screening tool, its optimal cutoff and validity in healthy older adults is unclear. This study aims to determine the optimal cutoff for SNAQ in healthy community-dwelling older adults, and to examine its factor structure and validity. We studied 230 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 67.2 years) who were nonfrail (defined by Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses & Loss (FRAIL) criteria). When compared against the risk of malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the optimal cutoff for SNAQ was ≤15 (area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve: 0.706, sensitivity: 69.2%, specificity: 61.3%). Using exploratory factor analysis, we found a two-factor structure (Factor 1: Appetite Perception; Factor 2: Satiety and Intake) which accounted for 61.5% variance. SNAQ showed good convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity. In logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, education and MNA, SNAQ ≤15 was significantly associated with social frailty, unlike SNAQ ≤4 (odds ratio (OR) 1.99, p = 0.025 vs. OR 1.05, p = 0.890). Our study validates a higher cutoff of ≤15 to increase sensitivity of SNAQ for anorexia detection as a marker of malnutrition risk in healthy community-dwelling older adults, and explicates a novel two-factor structure which warrants further research.
Associations between Genotype–Diet Interactions and Weight Loss—A Systematic Review
Authors: Bayer Sandra , Winkler Vincent , Hauner Hans , Holzapfel Christina
Published: September 2020

Studies on the interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and macronutrient consumption on weight loss are rare and heterogeneous. This review aimed to conduct a systematic literature search to investigate genotype–diet interactions on weight loss. Four databases were searched with keywords on genetics, nutrition, and weight loss (PROSPERO: CRD42019139571). Articles in languages other than English and trials investigating special groups (e.g., pregnant women, people with severe diseases) were excluded. In total, 20,542 articles were identified, and, after removal of duplicates and further screening steps, 27 articles were included. Eligible articles were based on eight trials with 91 SNPs in 63 genetic loci. All articles examined the interaction between genotype and macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, protein) on the extent of weight loss. However, in most cases, the interaction results were not significant and represented single findings that lack replication. The publications most frequently analyzed genotype–fat intake interaction on weight loss. Since the majority of interactions were not significant and not replicated, a final evaluation of the genotype–diet interactions on weight loss was not possible. In conclusion, no evidence was found that genotype–diet interaction is a main determinant of obesity treatment success, but this needs to be addressed in future studies.
DGLA from the Microalga Lobosphaera Incsa P127 Modulates Inflammatory Response, Inhibits iNOS Expression and Alleviates NO Secretion in RAW264.7 Murine Macrophages
Authors: Novichkova Ekaterina , Chumin Katya , Eretz-Kdosha Noy , Boussiba Sammy , Gopas Jacob , Cohen Guy , Khozin-Goldberg Inna
Published: September 2020

Microalgae have been considered as a renewable source of nutritional, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compounds. The ability to produce health-beneficial long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) is of high interest. LC-PUFA and their metabolic lipid mediators, modulate key inflammatory pathways in numerous models. In particular, the metabolism of arachidonic acid under inflammatory challenge influences the immune reactivity of macrophages. However, less is known about another omega-6 LC-PUFA, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), which exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activities, which contrast with its delta-5 desaturase product, arachidonic acid (ARA). In this work, we examined whether administrating DGLA would modulate the inflammatory response in the RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line. DGLA was applied for 24 h in the forms of carboxylic (free) acid, ethyl ester, and ethyl esters obtained from the DGLA-accumulating delta-5 desaturase mutant strain P127 of the green microalga Lobosphaera incisa. DGLA induced a dose-dependent increase in the RAW264.7 cells’ basal secretion of the prostaglandin PGE1. Upon bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimuli, the enhanced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β), was affected little by DGLA, while interleukin 6 (IL-6), nitric oxide, and total reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased significantly. DGLA administered at 100 µM in all forms attenuated the LPS-induced expression of the key inflammatory genes in a concerted manner, in particular iNOS, IL-6, and LxR, in the form of free acid. PGE1 was the major prostaglandin detected in DGLA-supplemented culture supernatants, whose production prevailed over ARA-derived PGE2 and PGD2, which were less affected by LPS-stimulation compared with the vehicle control. An overall pattern of change indicated DGLA’s induced alleviation of the inflammatory state. Finally, our results indicate that microalgae-derived, DGLA-enriched ethyl esters (30%) exhibited similar activities to DGLA ethyl esters, strengthening the potential of this microalga as a potent source of this rare anti-inflammatory fatty acid.
Dietary Polyphenols and Human Health
Authors: Tresserra-Rimbau Anna
Published: September 2020

Plant-based foods are the main source of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, a large family of compounds with highly diverse chemical structures [...]
Promoting Healthy Eating among Young People—A Review of the Evidence of the Impact of School-Based Interventions
Authors: Chaudhary Abina , Sudzina František , Mikkelsen Bent Egberg
Published: September 2020

Intro: Globally, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing among children and younger adults and is associated with unhealthy dietary habits and lack of physical activity. School food is increasingly brought forward as a policy to address the unhealthy eating patterns among young people. Aim: This study investigated the evidence for the effectiveness of school-based food and nutrition interventions on health outcomes by reviewing scientific evidence-based intervention studies amongst children at the international level. Methods: This study was based on a systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. Three electronic databases were systematically searched, reference lists were screened for studies evaluating school-based food and nutrition interventions that promoted children’s dietary behaviour and health aiming changes in the body composition among children. Articles dating from 2014 to 2019 were selected and reported effects on anthropometry, dietary behaviour, nutritional knowledge, and attitude. Results: The review showed that school-based interventions in general were able to affect attitudes, knowledge, behaviour and anthropometry, but that the design of the intervention affects the size of the effect. In general, food focused interventions taking an environmental approach seemed to be most effective. Conclusions: School-based interventions (including multicomponent interventions) can be an effective and promising means for promoting healthy eating, improving dietary behaviour, attitude and anthropometry among young children. Thus, schools as a system have the potential to make lasting improvements, ensuring healthy school environment around the globe for the betterment of children’s short- and long-term health.
Micronutrient Deficiencies in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Jamil Omar , Gonzalez-Heredia Raquel , Quadri Pablo , Hassan Chandra , Masrur Mario , Berger Reed , Bernstein Karen , Sanchez-Johnsen Lisa
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study was to conduct a literature review to examine micronutrient deficiencies in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. We conducted a literature review using PubMed and Cochrane databases to examine micronutrient deficiencies in SG patients in order to identify trends and find consistency in recommendations. Seventeen articles were identified that met the defined criteria. Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D were the primary micronutrients evaluated. Results demonstrate the need for consistent iron and B12 supplementation, in addition to a multivitamin, while vitamin D supplementation may not be necessary. Additional prospective studies to establish a clearer picture of micronutrient deficiencies post-SG are needed.
Transposon Insertion in the purL Gene Induces Biofilm Depletion in Escherichia coli ATCC 25922
Authors: Cepas Virginio , Ballén Victoria , Gabasa Yaiza , Ramírez Miriam , López Yuly , Soto Sara Mª
Published: September 2020

Current Escherichia coli antibiofilm treatments comprise a combination of antibiotics commonly used against planktonic cells, leading to treatment failure. A better understanding of the genes involved in biofilm formation could facilitate the development of efficient and specific new antibiofilm treatments. A total of 2578 E. coli mutants were generated by transposon insertion, of which 536 were analysed in this study. After sequencing, Tn263 mutant, classified as low biofilm-former (LF) compared to the wild-type (wt) strain (ATCC 25922), showed an interruption in the purL gene, involved in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. To elucidate the role of purL in biofilm formation, a knockout was generated showing reduced production of curli fibres, leading to an impaired biofilm formation. These conditions were restored by complementation of the strain or addition of exogenous inosine. Proteomic and transcriptional analyses were performed to characterise the differences caused by purL alterations. Thirteen proteins were altered compared to wt. The corresponding genes were analysed by qRT-PCR not only in the Tn263 and wt, but also in clinical strains with different biofilm activity. Overall, this study suggests that purL is essential for biofilm formation in E. coli and can be considered as a potential antibiofilm target.
Adenosine Signaling in Autoimmune Disorders
Authors: Magni Giulia , Ceruti Stefania
Published: September 2020

The molecular components of the purinergic system (i.e., receptors, metabolizing enzymes and membrane transporters) are widely expressed in the cells of the immune system. Additionally, high concentrations of adenosine are generated from the hydrolysis of ATP in any “danger” condition, when oxygen and energy availability dramatically drops. Therefore, adenosine acts as a retaliatory metabolite to counteract the nucleotide-mediated boost of the immune reaction. Based on this observation, it can be foreseen that the recruitment with selective agonists of the receptors involved in the immunomodulatory effect of adenosine might represent an innovative anti-inflammatory approach with potential exploitation in autoimmune disorders. Quite surprisingly, pro-inflammatory activity exerted by some adenosine receptors has been also identified, thus paving the way for the hypothesis that at least some autoimmune disorders may be caused by a derailment of adenosine signaling. In this review article, we provide a general overview of the roles played by adenosine on immune cells with a specific focus on the development of adenosine-based therapies for autoimmune disorders, as demonstrated by the exciting data from concluded and ongoing clinical trials.
Highly Thermal Stable Phenolic Resin Based on Double-Decker-Shaped POSS Nanocomposites for Supercapacitors
Authors: Chen Wei-Cheng , Liu Yuan-Tzu , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: September 2020

In this study we incorporated various amounts of a double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) into phenolic/DDSQ hybrids, which we prepared from a bifunctionalized phenolic DDSQ derivative (DDSQ-4OH), phenol, and CH2O under basic conditions (with DDSQ-4OH itself prepared through hydrosilylation of nadic anhydride with DDSQ and subsequent reaction with 4-aminophenol). We characterized these phenolic/DDSQ hybrids using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; 1H, 13C, and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); and thermogravimetric analysis. The thermal decomposition temperature and char yield both increased significantly upon increasing the DDSQ content, with the DDSQ units providing an inorganic protection layer on the phenolic surface, as confirmed through XPS analyses. We obtained carbon/DDSQ hybrids from the phenolic/DDSQ hybrids after thermal curing and calcination at 900 °C; these carbon/DDSQ hybrids displayed electrochemical properties superior to those of previously reported counterparts.
In Situ Aircraft Measurements of CO2 and CH4: Mapping Spatio-Temporal Variations over Western Korea in High-Resolutions
Authors: Li Shanlan , Kim Youngmi , Kim Jinwon , Kenea Samuel Takele , Goo Tae-Young , Labzovskii Lev D. , Byun Young-Hwa
Published: September 2020

A cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) G-2401m analyzer onboard a Beechcraft King Air 350, a new Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) research aircraft measurement platform since 2018, has been used to measure in situ CO2, CH4, and CO. We analyzed the aircraft measurements obtained in two campaigns: a within-boundary layer survey over the western Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea) for analyzing the CO2 and CH4 emission characteristics for each season (the climate change monitoring (CM) CM mission), and a low altitude survey over the Yellow Sea for monitoring the pollutant plumes transported into Korea from China (the environment monitoring (EM) mission). This study analyzed CO2, CH4, and CO data from a total of 14 flights during 2019 season. To characterize the regional combustion sources signatures of CO2 and CH4, we calculated the short-term (1-min slope based on one second data) regression slope of CO to CO2 and CH4 to CO enhancements (subtracted with background level, present as ∆CO, ∆CO2, and ∆CH4); slope filtered with correlation coefficients (R2) (<0.4 were ignored). These short-term slope analyses seem to be sensitive to aircraft measurements in which the instrument samples short-time varying mixtures of different air masses. The EM missions all of which were affected by pollutants emitted in China, show the regression slope between ∆CO and ∆CO2 with of 1.8–6% and 0.3–0.7 between ∆CH4 and ∆CO. In particular, the regression slope between ∆CO and ∆CO2 increased to >4% when air flows from east-central China such as Hebei, Shandong, and Jiangsu provinces, etc., sustained for 1–3 days, suggesting pollutants from these regions were most likely characterized by incomplete fossil fuel combustions at the industries. Over 80% of the observations in the Western Korea missions were attributed to Korean emission sources with regression slope between ∆CO and ∆CO2 of 0.5–1.9%. The CO2 emissions hotspots were mainly located in the north-Western Korea of high population density and industrial activities. The higher CH4 were observed during summer season with the increasing concentration of approximately 6% over the background level, it seems to be attributed to biogenic sources such as rice paddies, landfill, livestock, and so on. It is also noted that occurrences of high pollution episodes in North-Western Korea are more closely related to the emissions in China than in Korea.
Evaluation of GEOS-Simulated L-Band Microwave Brightness Temperature Using Aquarius Observations over Non-Frozen Land across North America
Authors: Park Jongmin , Forman Barton A. , Reichle Rolf H. , De Lannoy Gabrielle , Tarik Saad B.
Published: September 2020

L-band brightness temperature (Tb) is one of the key remotely-sensed variables that provides information regarding surface soil moisture conditions. In order to harness the information in Tb observations, a radiative transfer model (RTM) is investigated for eventual inclusion into a data assimilation framework. In this study, Tb estimates from the RTM implemented in the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) were evaluated against the nearly four-year record of daily Tb observations collected by L-band radiometers onboard the Aquarius satellite. Statistics between the modeled and observed Tb were computed over North America as a function of soil hydraulic properties and vegetation types. Overall, statistics showed good agreement between the modeled and observed Tb with a relatively low, domain-average bias (0.79 K (ascending) and −2.79 K (descending)), root mean squared error (11.0 K (ascending) and 11.7 K (descending)), and unbiased root mean squared error (8.14 K (ascending) and 8.28 K (descending)). In terms of soil hydraulic parameters, large porosity and large wilting point both lead to high uncertainty in modeled Tb due to the large variability in dielectric constant and surface roughness used by the RTM. The performance of the RTM as a function of vegetation type suggests better agreement in regions with broadleaf deciduous and needleleaf forests while grassland regions exhibited the worst accuracy amongst the five different vegetation types.
Sensing Archaeology in the North: The Use of Non-Destructive Geophysical and Remote Sensing Methods in Archaeology in Scandinavian and North Atlantic Territories
Authors: Cuenca-García Carmen , Risbøl Ole , Bates C. Richard , Stamnes Arne Anderson , Skoglund Fredrik , Ødegård Øyvind , Viberg Andreas , Koivisto Satu , Fuglsang Mikkel , Gabler Manuel , Schlosser Mauritsen Esben , Perttola Wesa , Solem Dag-Øyvind
Published: September 2020

In August 2018, a group of experts working with terrestrial/marine geophysics and remote sensing methods to explore archaeological sites in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden gathered together for the first time at the Workshop ‘Sensing Archaeology in The North’. The goal was to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and consider future directions for further developing these methods and strategies for their use in archaeology. After the event, this special journal issue was arranged to publish papers that are based on the workshop presentations, but also to incorporate work that is produced by other researchers in the field. This paper closes the special issue and further aims to provide current state-of-the-art for the methods represented by the workshop. Here, we introduce the aspects that inspired the organisation of the meeting, a summary of the 12 presentations and eight paper contributions, as well as a discussion about the main outcomes of the workshop roundtables, including the production of two searchable databases (online resources and equipment). We conclude with the position that the ‘North’, together with its unique cultural heritage and thriving research community, is at the forefront of good practice in the application and development of sensing methods in archaeological research and management. However, further method development is required, so we claim the support of funding bodies to back research efforts based on testing/experimental studies to: explore unknown survey environments and identify optimal survey conditions, as well as to monitor the preservation of archaeological remains, especially those that are at risk. It is demonstrated that remote sensing and geophysics not only have an important role in the safeguarding of archaeological sites from development and within prehistorical-historical research, but the methods can be especially useful in recording and monitoring the increased impact of climate change on sites in the North.
Use of Visible and Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Models to Determine Soil Erodibility Factor (K) in an Ecologically Restored Watershed
Authors: Jiang Qinghu , Chen Yiyun , Hu Jialiang , Liu Feng
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to assess the ability of using visible and near-infrared reflectance (Vis–NIR) spectroscopy to quantify soil erodibility factor (K) rapidly in an ecologically restored watershed. To achieve this goal, we explored the performance and transferability of the developed spectral models in multiple land-use types: woodland, shrubland, terrace, and slope farmland (the first two types are natural land and the latter two are cultivated land). Subsequently, we developed an improved approach by combining spectral data with related topographic variables (i.e., elevation, watershed location, slope height, and normalized height) to estimate K. The results indicate that the calibrated spectral model using total samples could estimate K factor effectively (R2CV = 0.71, RMSECV = 0.0030 Mg h Mj−1 mm−1, and RPDCV = 1.84). When predicting K in the new samples, models performed well in natural land soils (R2P = 0.74, RPDP = 1.93) but failed in cultivated land soils (R2P = 0.24, RPDP = 0.99). Furthermore, the developed models showed low transferability between the natural and cultivated land datasets. The results also indicate that the combination of spectral data with topographic variables could slightly increase the accuracies of K estimation in total and natural land datasets but did not work for cultivated land samples. This study demonstrated that the Vis–NIR spectroscopy could be used as an effective method in predicting K. However, the predictability and transferability of the calibrated models were land-use type dependent. Our study also revealed that the coupling of spectrum and environmental variable is an effective improvement of K estimation in natural landscape region.
Color Image Generation from Range and Reflection Data of LiDAR
Authors: Kim Hyun-Koo , Yoo Kook-Yeol , Jung Ho-Youl
Published: September 2020

Recently, it has been reported that a camera-captured-like color image can be generated from the reflection data of 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In this paper, we present that the color image can also be generated from the range data of LiDAR. We propose deep learning networks that generate color images by fusing reflection and range data from LiDAR point clouds. In the proposed networks, the two datasets are fused in three ways—early, mid, and last fusion techniques. The baseline network is the encoder-decoder structured fully convolution network (ED-FCN). The image generation performances were evaluated according to source types, including reflection data-only, range data-only, and fusion of the two datasets. The well-known KITTI evaluation data were used for training and verification. The simulation results showed that the proposed last fusion method yields improvements of 0.53 dB, 0.49 dB, and 0.02 in gray-scale peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), color-scale PSNR, and structural similarity index measure (SSIM), respectively, over the conventional reflection-based ED-FCN. Besides, the last fusion method can be applied to real-time applications with an average processing time of 13.56 ms per frame. The methodology presented in this paper would be a powerful tool for generating data from two or more heterogeneous sources.
ISA 100.11a Networked Control System Based on Link Stability
Authors: Florencio Heitor , Dória Neto Adrião , Martins Daniel
Published: September 2020

Wireless networked control systems (WNCSs) must ensure that control systems are stable, robust and capable of minimizing the effects of disturbances. Due to the need for a stable and secure WNCS, critical wireless network variables must be taken into account in the design. As wireless networks are composed of several links, factors that indicate the performances of these links can be used to evaluate the communication system in the WNCS. This work presents a wireless network control system composed of ISA 100.11a sensors, a network manager, a controller and a wired actuator. The system controls the liquid level in the tank of the coupled tank system. In order to assess the influence of the sensor link failure on the control loop, the controller calculates the link stability and chooses an alternative link in case of instability in the current link. Preliminary tests of WNCS performance were performed to determine the minimum stability value of the link that generates an error in the control loop. Finally, the tests of the control system based on link stability obtained excellent results. Even with disturbances in the network links, the control system error remained below the threshold.
Vibration Analysis of Post-Buckled Thin Film on Compliant Substrates
Authors: Fan Xuanqing , Wang Yi , Li Yuhang , Fu Haoran
Published: September 2020

Buckling stability of thin films on compliant substrates is universal and essential in stretchable electronics. The dynamic behaviors of this special system are unavoidable when the stretchable electronics are in real applications. In this paper, an analytical model is established to investigate the vibration of post-buckled thin films on a compliant substrate by accounting for the substrate as an elastic foundation. The analytical predictions of natural frequencies and vibration modes of the system are systematically investigated. The results may serve as guidance for the dynamic design of the thin film on compliant substrates to avoid resonance in the noise environment.
The Influence of Camera and Optical System Parameters on the Uncertainty of Object Location Measurement in Vision Systems
Authors: Skibicki Jacek , Golijanek-Jędrzejczyk Anna , Dzwonkowski Ariel
Published: September 2020

The article presents the influence of the camera and its optical system on the uncertainty of object position measurement in vision systems. The aim of the article is to present the methodology for estimating the combined standard uncertainty of measuring the object position with a vision camera treated as a measuring device. The identification of factors affecting the location measurement uncertainty and the determination of their share in the combined standard uncertainty will allow determining the parameters of the camera operation, so that the expanded uncertainty is as small as possible in the given measurement conditions. The analysis of the uncertainty estimation presented in the article was performed with the assumption that there is no influence of any external factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, or vibrations).
A Modified Genetic Algorithm with Local Search Strategies and Multi-Crossover Operator for Job Shop Scheduling Problem
Authors: Viana Monique Simplicio , Morandin Junior Orides , Contreras Rodrigo Colnago
Published: September 2020

It is not uncommon for today’s problems to fall within the scope of the well-known class of NP-Hard problems. These problems generally do not have an analytical solution, and it is necessary to use meta-heuristics to solve them. The Job Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) is one of these problems, and for its solution, techniques based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) form the most common approach used in the literature. However, GAs are easily compromised by premature convergence and can be trapped in a local optima. To address these issues, researchers have been developing new methodologies based on local search schemes and improvements to standard mutation and crossover operators. In this work, we propose a new GA within this line of research. In detail, we generalize the concept of a massive local search operator; we improved the use of a local search strategy in the traditional mutation operator; and we developed a new multi-crossover operator. In this way, all operators of the proposed algorithm have local search functionality beyond their original inspirations and characteristics. Our method is evaluated in three different case studies, comprising 58 instances of literature, which prove the effectiveness of our approach compared to traditional JSSP solution methods.