bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The After-Effect of Accelerated Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation at Different Session Intervals
Authors: Yu Fengyun , Tang Xinwei , Hu Ruiping , Liang Sijie , Wang Weining , Tian Shan , Wu Yi , Yuan Ti-Fei , Zhu Yulian
Published: June 2020

Objective

The study aims to investigate the after-effect of three sessions of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on motor cortical excitability. The iTBS was induced over the primary motor cortex (M1) at different time intervals.

Methods

The study has a crossover design. Sixteen participants were assigned to three groups and received different accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) protocols during each visit: (1) three continuous sessions with no interval (iTBS18000); (2) three iTBS sessions with 10-min intervals (iTBS600 × 3∗10); and (3) three iTBS sessions with 30-min intervals (iTBS600 × 3∗30). As washout period, each visit is separated by at least 7 days. We measured the motor cortical excitability changes and intracortical inhibition.

Results

A dose of 1,800 pulses of aiTBS per day is tolerable. The iTBS1800 led to a reduced cortical excitability; whereas iTBS600 × 3∗10 and iTBS600 × 3∗30 enhanced cortical excitability to a differential extent. After a total dose of 1,800 pulses, iTBS600 × 3∗30 exhibited the longer effect and highest percentage of individuals with enhanced cortical excitability.

Conclusion

The results suggest that aiTBS protocols at different time intervals result in different motor cortical excitability after-effects.
Segmented Standard Taxi Routes—A New Way to Integrate Remotely Piloted Aircraft into Airport Surface Traffic
Authors: Finke Michael , Lorenz Sandro
Published: June 2020

The safe and orderly integration of unmanned aircraft in the airspace is surely among the most difficult challenges to be solved in the near future. However, a safe and fluid traffic management on the ground is not less important and not less challenging, as completely different aspects have to be considered here. Much less work has been done yet to solve this question. In the frame of the project Surface Management Operations (SuMO), a procedural solution has been developed to enable fully integrated unmanned airport ground movements while allowing air traffic controllers to guarantee a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic. This concept is based on the idea of segmented standard taxi routes for unmanned aircraft, while maintaining current procedures for manned aircraft. From 2017 to 2019, a two-stage validation campaign validated this new solution. No concerns regarding safety or human factors issues were revealed. Access and Equity, as well as Interoperability, were found to be very satisfying. A fast time simulation of mixed manned and unmanned traffic, using the proposed solution, was almost as efficient as pure manned traffic and can easily be implemented at medium-size airports. This article provides information about the experimental setup and the conduction of both validations stages, and illustrates obtained results. It closes with a discussion and an outlook.
Response of Upland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Inoculated with Non-Native Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria
Authors: Ouyabe Michel , Irie Kenji , Tanaka Naoto , Kikuno Hidehiko , Pachakkil Babil , Shiwachi Hironobu
Published: June 2020

A deep-rooting upland rice variety (Kinandang Patong) was evaluated for its growth response to bio-fertilization at early stages. Five non-native plant growth-promoting bacteria previously isolated from yams (Dioscorea spp.) were inoculated to upland rice under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. Effects of the inoculation varied depending on bacterial strains and growing conditions. Growth of 14-day rice seedlings was improved by all tested bacterial strains. Under growth chamber, the strain S-333 increased plant length, shoot dry weight and nitrogen content as compared to the control, but total dry weight, nitrogen uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and number of tillers were higher with N fertilizer application. Under greenhouse conditions, most rice growth parameters were improved by inoculation with the strain S-7. The correlations between the bacterial plant-growth-promoting traits and rice growth parameters under growth chamber conditions were all negative for phosphate solubilization indexes. Our results suggest that bacterial inoculation can replace half (S-343 and S-611) of or the full (S-7) rate of chemical N fertilizer required, depending on bacterial strains and growing environments, although δ15N value in control plants was lower than in inoculated plants under growth chamber conditions, suggesting that the bacteria improve rice growth through mechanisms other than biological nitrogen fixation.
Proposed Techniques to Supplement the Loss in Nutrient Cycling for Replanted Coffee Plantations in Vietnam
Authors: Pham The Trinh , Nguyen Ngoc Hoi , Yen Pham Nguyen Dong , Lam Tri Duc , Le Ngoc Thuy Trang
Published: June 2020

Nutrient cycling of the coffee ecosystem is often characterized by nutrient losses during the harvest, tree’s growth, leaching and erosion. The “Coffee Rejuvenation Strategies in Vietnam” has risked not being complete on schedule, with the low survival rate of seedlings on replanted soil, due to the nutrient loss and imbalance supplements after a long-term of monoculture and intensive cultivation. In this study, measures, including biochemical and organic treatments were applied to replanted coffee farm, in order to supplement the loss of nutrient cycling. Survival rate, growth indicators, and soil properties from the controls and treatments, were monitored and compared during the experimental periods. The results suggested the optimal tillage model as follow: Remove old coffee trees with their stumps and roots; liming 1.5 tons/ha; dry tillage soil for the first 6 months; Intercrop Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta) with new coffee plants for the next 6 months; From the second year, apply 5 kg of microbial organic fertilizer /hole/year; bury 30 kg of green manure/hole/2–3 years; apply NPK fertilizers according to the governmental recommended procedure. This would be a proposed integrating tillage method to supplement the lost nutrients and restore the fertility of replanted coffee soil in Vietnam.
Morphological and Chemical Traits as Quality Determinants of Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), on the Example of ‘Standard Winter’ Cultivar
Authors: Kosakowska Olga , Bączek Katarzyna , Przybył Jarosław L. , Pawełczak Anna , Rolewska Katarzyna , Węglarz Zenon
Published: June 2020

Common thyme is regarded as one of the most important culinary plants. The purpose of the work was to determine the intraspecific variability of common thyme with respect to morphological and chemical characters including the content and composition of essential oil and phenolic compounds in the herb. The objects of the study were 12 clones, vegetatively multiplied from randomly selected individual plants of cultivar ‘Standard Winter’. The morphological observations and harvest of raw materials were carried out in the first year plants’ vegetation. The highest differences between clones were on fresh and dry weight of herb (CV = 0.38 and 0.36, respectively), width of leaves (CV = 0.21), and density of glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface of leaves (CV = 0.29). Examined clones were also differentiated as to the chemical features. Essential oil content (performed by hydrodestillation) and composition (by GC-MS and GC-FID) were determined and they ranged from 2.10 to 4.38 g × 100 g−1 DW. Here, thymol, γ-terpinen, and p-cymen were the dominant compounds. Clone no. 4 was distinctive as to the highest content of essential oil followed by the highest share of thymol (54.59%). The total content of phenolic acids and flavonoids (determined according to PPh 6th) also differed among clones (CV = 0.38 and 0.36, respectively). Using a validated HPLC-DAD method, the following compounds were identified: caffeic, rosmarinic, p-coumaric acids, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, naryngenin, and (−)-epicatechin. Here, rosmarinic acid followed by luteolin 7-O-glucoside were present in the highest amounts (611.47–2675.59 and 46.77–325.11 mg × 100 g−1 DW, respectively). The highest differences between clones were the contents of p-coumaric acid (CV = 0.59), luteolin 7-O-glucoside (CV = 0.50) and rosmarinic acid (CV = 0.40). Such a high range of variability can provide problems with raw material standardization. Nevertheless, it opens possibilities for breeders, whereas individual plants/clones may become valuable components for breeding.
Biochar Mitigates Combined Effects of Drought and Salinity Stress in Quinoa
Authors: Yang Aizheng , Akhtar Saqib Saleem , Li Lin , Fu Qiang , Li Quanfeng , Naeem Muhammad Asif , He Xinyao , Zhang Ze , Jacobsen Sven-Erik
Published: June 2020

Abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity constantly threaten food security. Biochar as a soil amendment has the potential to ameliorate soil and alleviate drought and salinity stress. Multiple studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar in alleviating independent drought or salinity stress. However, the potential of biochar in mitigating the combined drought and salinity stress on plants has not been studied so far. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted in the climate-controlled chamber with the objective to investigate the effect of biochar on growth, physiology, and yield of quinoa under independent and combined drought and salinity stress. Quinoa plants were subjected to three irrigation treatments i.e., full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI), and alternate root-zone drying irrigation (ARD), two saline water treatments (0 and 400 mM) and two levels of biochar (0% and 5% by weight). In the FI treatment, plants were irrigated daily to maintain pot water-holding capacity. In limited irrigation treatments, 70% water of FI was applied either to the whole pot in DI or to one side of the pot alternating in ARD, respectively. The results showed that combined drought and salinity stress drastically affected growth and performance of quinoa compared to the independent drought or salinity stress. However, soil amendment with biochar had positive effect in mitigating both independent and combined effect of drought and salinity on quinoa plants. Furthermore, biochar amendment in ARD under salinity significantly enhanced plant height, shoot biomass, and grain by 11.7%, 18.8%, and 10.2% as compared with DI under salinity, respectively. In addition, leaf photosynthetic rate (An) and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased under limited saline irrigation. Moreover, the interactive effect of biochar and ARD efficiently adjusted the balance between chemical signal (leaf ABA) and hydraulic signal (leaf water potential). Thus, intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) and yield in ARD were significantly enhanced compared to DI, especially under salinity stress. Overall, biochar in combination with ARD might be a wise approach for sustaining crop productivity in salt affected and drought stressed areas of the world to ensure food security.
UVB Irradiation Induced Cell Damage and Early Onset of Junbb Expression in Zebrafish
Authors: Chen Rui-Yi , Lin Chun-Ju , Liang Sung-Tzu , Villalobos Omar , Villaflores Oliver B. , Lou Bao , Lai Yu-Heng , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: June 2020

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation has drawn more attention over these past few decades since it causes severe DNA damage and induces inflammatory response. Serial gene profiling and high throughput data in UVB-associated phenomenon in human cultured cells or full rack of human skin have been investigated. However, results using different tissue models lead to ambiguity in UVB-induced pathways. In order to systematically understand the UVB-associated reactions, the zebrafish model was used, and whole organism gene profiling was performed to identify a novel biomarker which can be used to generate a new mechanistic approach for further screening on a UVB-related system biology. In this study, detailed morphological assays were performed to address biological response after receiving UVB irradiation at morphological, cellular, and molecular levels. Microarray screening and whole genome profiling revealed that there is an early onset expression of junbb in zebrafish embryos after UVB irradiation. Also, the identified novel biomarker junbb is more sensitive to UVB response than mmps which have been used in mouse models. Moreover, cellular and molecular response chronology after UVB irradiation in zebrafish provide a solid and fundamental mechanism for use in a UV radiation-associated study in the future.
High-Precision Noncontact Guided Wave Tomographic Imaging of Plate Structures Using a DHB Algorithm
Authors: Park Junpil , Lee Jaesun , Le Zong , Cho Younho
Published: June 2020

The safety diagnostic inspection of large plate structures, such as nuclear power plant containment liner plates and aircraft wings, is an important issue directly related to the safety of life. This research intends to present a more quantitative defect imaging in the structural health monitoring (SHM) technique by using a wide range of diagnostic techniques using guided ultrasound. A noncontact detection system was applied to compensate for such difficulties because direct access inspection is not possible for high-temperature and massive areas such as nuclear power plants and aircraft. Noncontact systems use unstable pulse laser and air-coupled transducers. Automatic detection systems were built to increase inspection speed and precision and the signal was measured. In addition, a new Difference Hilbert Back Projection (DHB) algorithm that can replace the reconstruction algorithm for the probabilistic inspection of damage (RAPID) algorithm used for imaging defects has been successfully applied to quantitative imaging of plate structure defects. Using an automatic detection system, the precision and detection efficiency of data collection has been greatly improved, and the same results can be obtained by reducing errors in experimental conditions that can occur in repeated experiments. Defects were made in two specimens, and comparative analysis was performed to see if each algorithm can quantitatively represent defects in multiple defects. The new DHB algorithm presented the possibility of observing and predicting the growth direction of defects through the continuous monitoring system.
Terahertz Thermal Sensing by Using a Defect-Containing Periodically Corrugated Gold Waveguide
Authors: Xue Jiu-Ling , Xu Lan-Lan , Wang Tian-Tian , Fan Ya-Xian , Tao Zhi-Yong
Published: June 2020

A terahertz (THz) thermal sensor has been developed by using a periodically corrugated gold waveguide. A defect was positioned in the middle of this waveguide. The periodicities of waveguides can result in Bragg and non-Bragg gaps with identical and different transverse mode resonances, respectively. Due to the local resonance of the energy concentration in the inserted tube, a non-Bragg defect state (NBDS) was observed to arise in the non-Bragg gap. It exhibited an extremely narrow transmission peak. The numerical results showed that by using the here proposed waveguide structure, a NBDS would appear at a resonance frequency of 0.695 THz. In addition, a redshift of this frequency was observed to occur with an increase in the ambient temperature. It was also found that the maximum sensitivity can reach 11.5 MHz/K for an optimized defect radius of 0.9 times the mean value of the waveguide inner tube radius, and for a defect length of 0.2 (or 0.8) times the corrugation period. In the present simulations, a temperature modification of the Drude model was also used. By using this model, the thermal sensing could be realized with an impressive sensitivity. This THz thermal sensor is thereby very promising for applications based on high-precision temperature measurements and control.
Effect of Liquid Viscosity and Flow Orientation on Initial Waves in Annular Gas–Liquid Flow
Authors: Isaenkov Sergey V. , Vozhakov Ivan S. , Cherdantsev Mikhail V. , Arkhipov Dmitry G. , Cherdantsev Andrey V.
Published: June 2020

The complex wave structure of annular gas–liquid flow with disturbance waves and liquid entrainment is a result of the evolution of high-frequency initial waves, appearing at the very inlet of the flow, prior to the hydrodynamic stabilization of liquid film. This stage of flow evolution is studied experimentally, using a shadow technique, and theoretically, using a linear stability analysis of the Orr–Sommerfeld equation in both phases. The present work is focused on the comparison of earlier results obtained in air–water downward flow with the new results obtained in upward flow and with more viscous liquids. The flow orientation affects the shape of the liquid film prior to stabilization; the initial film area is thicker but shorter in upward flow. Upward flow orientation also leads to a lower frequency and the increment of growth of initial waves. The viscosity effect is found to be weak if flow rates of both phases are the same. The model is mostly able to reproduce the qualitative trends, but the quantitative agreement is not reached. Experimental observations indicate that the liquid flow within the initial area is significantly different from the stabilized flow of gas-sheared liquid film, which is used in the model. This difference could explain the discrepancy; further development of the model should be aimed at taking into account the evolution of the velocity profile inside the liquid film during the stage of hydrodynamic stabilization.
Evaluation of Time and Frequency Condition Indicators from Vibration Signals for Crack Detection in Railway Axles
Authors: Sánchez Réne-Vinicio , Lucero Pablo , Macancela Jean-Carlo , Rubio Alonso Higinio , Cerrada Mariela , Cabrera Diego , Castejón Cristina
Published: June 2020

Railway safety is a matter of importance as a single failure can involve risks associated with economic and human losses. The early fault detection in railway axles and other railway parts represents a broad field of research that is currently under study. In the present work, the problem of the early crack detection in railway axles is addressed through condition-based monitoring, with the evaluation of several condition indicators of vibration signals on time and frequency domains. To achieve this goal, we applied two different approaches: in the first approach, we evaluate only the vibrations signals captured by accelerometers placed along the longitudinal direction and, in the second approach, a data fusion technique at the condition indicator level was conducted, evaluating six accelerometers by merging the indicator conditions according to the sensor placement. In both cases, a total of 54 condition indicators per vibration signal was calculated and selecting the best features by applying the Mean Decrease Accuracy method of Random Forest. Finally, we test the best indicators with a K-Nearest Neighbor classifier. For the data collection, a real bogie test bench has been used to simulate crack faults on the railway axles, and vibration signals from both the left and right sides of the axle were measured. The results not only show the performance of condition indicators in different domains, but also show that the fusion of condition indicators works well together to detect a crack fault in railway axles.
LSTM and Bat-Based RUSBoost Approach for Electricity Theft Detection
Authors: Adil Muhammad , Javaid Nadeem , Qasim Umar , Ullah Ibrar , Shafiq Muhammad , Choi Jin-Ghoo
Published: June 2020

The electrical losses in power systems are divided into non-technical losses (NTLs) and technical losses (TLs). NTL is more harmful than TL because it includes electricity theft, faulty meters and billing errors. It is one of the major concerns in the power system worldwide and incurs a huge revenue loss for utility companies. Electricity theft detection (ETD) is the mechanism used by industry and academia to detect electricity theft. However, due to imbalanced data, overfitting issues and the handling of high-dimensional data, the ETD cannot be applied efficiently. Therefore, this paper proposes a solution to address the above limitations. A long short-term memory (LSTM) technique is applied to detect abnormal patterns in electricity consumption data along with the bat-based random under-sampling boosting (RUSBoost) technique for parameter optimization. Our proposed system model uses the normalization and interpolation methods to pre-process the electricity data. Afterwards, the pre-processed data are fed into the LSTM module for feature extraction. Finally, the selected features are passed to the RUSBoost module for classification. The simulation results show that the proposed solution resolves the issues of data imbalancing, overfitting and the handling of massive time series data. Additionally, the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art techniques; i.e., support vector machine (SVM), convolutional neural network (CNN) and logistic regression (LR). Moreover, the F1-score, precision, recall and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve metrics are used for the comparative analysis.
Development of an Anthropomorphic Prosthetic Hand with Underactuated Mechanism
Authors: Ryu Wooseok , Choi Youngjin , Choi Yong Je , Lee Yeong Geol , Lee Sungon
Published: June 2020

An anthropomorphic prosthetic hand for wrist or forearm amputees is developed herein. The prosthetic hand was designed with an underactuated mechanism, which makes self-adaptive grasping possible, as well as natural motions such as flexion and extension. The finger and thumb modules were designed with four degrees of freedom by motions of the distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and metacarpophalangeal joints. In this research, we pursued several novel trials in prosthetic hand design. By using two four-bar linkages composed of a combination of linkages and gears for coupling joints at each finger, it was possible to make a compact design, and the linkage has advantages such as accurate positioning, uniform power transmission, and high payload. Also, by using constant-velocity joints, torque is transferred to finger modules regardless of adduction/abduction motions. In addition, adduction/abduction and self-adaptive grasping motions are passively realized using torsional springs. The developed prosthetic hand was fabricated with a weight of 475 g and a human hand size of 175 mm. Experiments with diverse objects showed its good functionality.
Revisiting Primordial Black Hole Evolution
Authors: Khlopov Maxim , Paik Biplab , Ray Saibal
Published: June 2020

Primordial black holes (PBHs) are the sensitive probe for physics and cosmology of very early Universe. The observable effect of their existence depends on the PBH mass. Mini PBHs evaporate and do not survive to the present time, leaving only background effect of products of their evaporation, while PBHs evaporating now can be new exotic sources of energetic particles and gamma rays in the modern Universe. Here we revisit the history of evolution of mini PBHs. We follow the aspects associated with growth versus evaporation rate of “a mini PBH being trapped inside intense local cosmological matter inhomogeneity”. We show that the existence of baryon accretion forbidden black hole regime enables constraints on mini PBHs with the mass M ≤ 5.5 × 10 13 g. On the other hand, we propose the mechanism of delay of evaporation of primordial population of PBHs of primordial mass range 5.5 × 10 13 g ≤ M ≤ 5.1 × 10 14 g. It can provide their evaporation to be the main contributor to γ -ray flux distribution in the current Universe. At the final stage of evaporation these PBHs can be the source of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and gamma radiation challenging probe for their existence in the LHAASO experiment.
Extracellular Vesicles from Healthy Cells Improves Cell Function and Stemness in Premature Senescent Stem Cells by miR-302b and HIF-1α Activation
Authors: Mas-Bargues Cristina , Sanz-Ros Jorge , Román-Domínguez Aurora , Gimeno-Mallench Lucia , Inglés Marta , Viña José , Borrás Consuelo
Published: June 2020

Aging is accompanied by the accumulation of senescent cells that alter intercellular communication, thereby impairing tissue homeostasis and reducing organ regenerative potential. Recently, the administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles has proven to be more effective and less challenging than current stem cell-based therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain a cell-specific cargo of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids that are released and taken up by probably all cell types, thereby inducing functional changes via the horizontal transfer of their cargo. Here, we describe the beneficial properties of extracellular vesicles derived from non-senescent MSC, cultured in a low physiological oxygen tension (3%) microenvironment into prematurely senescent MSC, cultured in a hyperoxic ambient (usual oxygen culture conditions, i.e., 21%). We observed that senescent MCS, treated with EVs from non-senescent MCS, showed reduced SA-β-galactosidase activity levels and pluripotency factor (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and cMYC, or OSKM) overexpression and increased glycolysis, as well as reduced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Moreover, these EVs’ cargo induced the upregulation of miR-302b and HIF-1α levels in the target cells. We propose that miR-302b triggered HIF-1α upregulation, which in turn activated different pathways to delay premature senescence, improve stemness and switch energetic metabolism towards glycolysis. Taken together, we suggest that EVs could be a powerful tool to restore altered intercellular communication and improve stem cell function and stemness, thus delaying stem cell exhaustion in aging.
Evaluation of Ethnic Variations in Visceral, Subcutaneous, Intra-Pancreatic, and Intra-Hepatic Fat Depositions by Magnetic Resonance Imaging among New Zealanders
Authors: Yang John Zhiyong , Dokpuang Dech , Nemati Reza , He Kevin Haokun , Zheng Andy Baige , Petrov Maxim S. , Lu Jun
Published: June 2020

Anthropometric indices, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist to height ratio (WHtR), have limitations in accurately predicting the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome due to ethnic differences in fat distribution. Recent studies showed that the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) deposition and fat content of internal organs, most notably intra-hepatic and intra-pancreatic fat, has emerged as a more important parameter. In this study, we aimed to assess the coordination between the traditional anthropometric indices and the various fat depositions within different ethnicities in New Zealand. We recruited 104 participants with different ethnic backgrounds, including New Zealand Europeans, Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand), Pacific Islanders (PI), and Asians. Their weight, height, and WC were measured, and subcutaneous, visceral, intra-hepatic, and intra-pancreatic fat depositions were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The result showed VAT, but not subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) depositions at all levels were significantly varied among the three groups. BMI was associated best with L23SAT in NZ Europeans (30%) and L45VAT in Māori/PI (24.3%). WC and WHtR were correlated well with L45SAT in the total population (18.8% and 12.2%, respectively). Intra-pancreatic fat deposition had a positive Pearson relationship with NZ European BMI and Māori/PI WC, but no regression correlation with anthropometric indices. Conventional anthropometric indices did not correspond to the same fat depositions across different ethnic groups.
Fibrillar Collagen Type I Participates in the Survival and Aggregation of Primary Hepatocytes Cultured on Soft Hydrogels
Authors: Serna-Márquez Nathalia , Rodríguez-Hernández Adriana , Ayala-Reyes Marisol , Martínez-Hernández Lorena Omega , Peña-Rico Miguel Ángel , Carretero-Ortega Jorge , Hautefeuille Mathieu , Vázquez-Victorio Genaro
Published: June 2020

Liver is an essential organ that carries out multiple functions such as glycogen storage, the synthesis of plasma proteins, and the detoxification of xenobiotics. Hepatocytes are the parenchyma that sustain almost all the functions supported by this organ. Hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells respond to the mechanical alterations that occur in the extracellular matrix (ECM) caused by organogenesis and regenerating processes. Rearrangements of the ECM modify the composition and mechanical properties that result in specific dedifferentiation programs inside the hepatic cells. Quiescent hepatocytes are embedded in the soft ECM, which contains an important concentration of fibrillar collagens in combination with a basement membrane-associated matrix (BM). This work aims to evaluate the role of fibrillar collagens and BM on actin cytoskeleton organization and the function of rat primary hepatocytes cultured on soft elastic polyacrylamide hydrogels (PAA HGs). We used rat tail collagen type I and Matrigel® as references of fibrillar collagens and BM respectively and mixed different percentages of collagen type I in combination with BM. We also used peptides obtained from decellularized liver matrices (dECM). Remarkably, hepatocytes showed a poor adhesion in the absence of collagen on soft PAA HGs. We demonstrated that collagen type I inhibited apoptosis and activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) in primary hepatocytes cultured on soft hydrogels. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was not able to rescue cell viability in conjugated BM but affected cell aggregation in soft PAA HGs conjugated with combinations of different proportions of collagen and BM. Interestingly, actin cytoskeleton was localized and preserved close to plasma membrane (cortical actin) and proximal to intercellular ducts (canaliculi-like structures) in soft conditions; however, albumin protein expression was not preserved, even though primary hepatocytes did not remodel their actin cytoskeleton significantly in soft conditions. This investigation highlights the important role of fibrillar collagens on soft hydrogels for the maintenance of survival and aggregation of the hepatocytes. Data suggest evaluating the conditions that allow the establishment of optimal biomimetic environments for physiology and cell biology studies, where the phenotype of primary cells may be preserved for longer periods of time.
The Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on P3 Event-Related Potentials during a Bayesian Oddball Task
Authors: Warren Claire , Maraver María , de Luca Alberto , Kopp Bruno
Published: June 2020

Transcutaneous auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique associated with possible modulation of norepinephrinergic (NE) activity. NE is suspected to contribute to generation of the P3 event-related potential. Recent evidence has produced equivocal evidence whether taVNS influences the P3 in healthy individuals during oddball tasks. We examined the effect of taVNS on P3 amplitudes using a novel visual Bayesian oddball task, which presented 200 sequences of three stimuli. The three consecutive stimuli in each sequence are labelled Draw 1, Draw 2 and Draw 3. In total, 47 Subjects completed this visual Bayesian oddball task under randomised sham and active taVNS stimulation in parallel with an electroencephalographic (EEG) recording. We conducted exploratory analyses of the effect of taVNS on P3 amplitudes separately for Draws. We found typical oddball effects on P3 amplitudes at Draws 1 and 2, but not Draw 3. At Draw 2, the oddball effect was enhanced during active compared to sham taVNS stimulation. These data provide evidence that taVNS influences parietal P3 amplitudes under specific circumstances. Only P3 amplitudes at Draw 2 were affected, which may relate to closure of Bayesian inference after Draw 2. Our findings seemingly support previously reported links between taVNS and the NE system.
Tumor-Suppressive miR-192-5p Has Prognostic Value in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Flammang Isabelle , Reese Moritz , Ströse Anda , Yang Zixuan , Eble Johannes , Dhayat Sameer
Published: June 2020

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by fast tumor progression and diagnosis at advanced, inoperable stages. Previous studies could demonstrate an involvement of miR-192-5p in epigenetic regulation of visceral carcinomas. Due to contradictory results, however, the clinical utility of miR-192-5p in PDAC has yet to be determined. MiR-192-5p expression was analyzed by RT-qRT-PCR in human PDAC and benign tissue (n = 78), blood serum (n = 81) and serum exosomes (n = 74), as well as in PDAC cell lines (n = 5), chemoresistant cell clones (n = 2), and pancreatic duct cell line H6c7. Analysis of EMT-associated (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition) proteins was performed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. MiR-192-5p was deregulated in PDAC as compared to healthy controls (HCs), with downregulation in macrodissected tissue (p < 0.001) and upregulation in blood serum of PDAC UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) stage IV (p = 0.016) and serum exosomes of PDAC UICC stages II to IV (p < 0.001). MiR-192-5p expression in tumor tissue was significantly lower as compared to corresponding peritumoral tissue (PDAC UICC stage II: p < 0.001; PDAC UICC stage III: p = 0.024), while EMT markers ZEB1 and ZEB2 were more frequently expressed in tumor tissue as compared to peritumoral tissue, HCs, and chronic pancreatitis. Tissue-derived (AUC of 0.86; p < 0.0001) and exosomal (AUC of 0.83; p = 0.0004) miR-192-5p could differentiate between PDAC and HCs with good accuracy. Furthermore, high expression of miR-192-5p in PDAC tissue of curatively resected PDAC patients correlated with prolonged overall and recurrence-free survival in multivariate analysis. In vitro, miR-192-5p was downregulated in gemcitabine-resistant cell clones of AsPC-1 (p = 0.029). Transient transfection of MIA PaCa-2 cells with miR-192-5p mimic resulted in downregulation of ZEB2. MiR-192-5p seems to possess a tumor-suppressive role and high potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in PDAC.
Relationships between Dietary Patterns and Indices of Arterial Stiffness and Central Arterial Wave Reflection in 9–11-Year-Old Children
Authors: Saeedi Pouya , Haszard Jillian , Stoner Lee , Skeaff Sheila , Black Katherine , Davison Brittany , Harrex Harriet , Meredith-Jones Kim , Quigg Robin , Wong Jyh , Skidmore Paula
Published: June 2020

Arterial stiffness is an important marker of vascular damage and a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Given that pathophysiological processes leading to an increased arterial stiffness begin during childhood, the aim of this clustered observational study was to determine the relationship between modifiable factors including dietary patterns and indices of aortic arterial stiffness and wave reflection in 9–11-year-old children. Data collection was conducted between April and December 2015 in 17 primary schools in Dunedin, New Zealand. Dietary data were collected using a previously validated food frequency questionnaire and identified using principal component analysis method. Arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, PWV) and central arterial wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx) were measured using the SphygmoCor XCEL system (Atcor Medical, Sydney, Australia). Complete data for PWV and AIx analyses were available for 389 and 337 children, respectively. The mean age of children was 9.7 ± 0.7 years, 49.0% were girls and 76.0% were classified as “normal weight”. The two identified dietary patterns were “Snacks” and “Fruit and Vegetables”. Mean PWV and AIx were 5.8 ± 0.8 m/s and −2.1 ± 14.1%, respectively. There were no clinically meaningful relationships between the identified dietary pattern scores and either PWV or AIx in 9–11-year-old children.
Nonuniform Slip Effect in Wetting Films
Authors: Tsekov Roumen
Published: June 2020

The slip effect in wetting films is theoretically studied, and a nonlinear dependence of the hydrodynamic velocity on the slip length is discovered. It is demonstrated that the hydrodynamic flow is essentially affected by the presence of a nonuniform slip length distribution, leading also to enhancement of the energy dissipation in the films. This effect could dramatically slow the usually quick hydrodynamic flows over superhydrophobic surfaces, for instance.
Inhibition of Poly(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-diethanolamine) on Deposition of Calcium Sulfate Crystal in Simulated Industrial Water
Authors: Chen Jian-Qiu , Liu Ting-Ran , Sun Miao-Miao , Zhao Yu-Zeng , Ge Hong-Hua
Published: June 2020

Calcium sulfate scale is a typical deposit on the equipment pieces or pipes of an industrial water system. Scale inhibitors could obviously reduce the precipitation of calcium sulfate crystal. The development and research of late-model environmentally friendly polymer inhibitors are often urgent problems to be addressed. A water-soluble poly(ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-diethanolamine) (PEDTA-DEA) was successfully synthesized by thermal polycondensation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with diethanolamine (DEA). The polymer product was characterized by Fourier infrared spectrum (FTIR) and the molecular weight was measured by gel chromatography, which confirms the polymerization of the two monomers. The inhibition effect of the polymer against calcium sulfate deposition was studied by static scale inhibition tests. When the Ca2+ concentration is 3000 mg/L, and the dosage of the polymer inhibitor is 10 mg/L, the inhibition effect exceeds 90%. The results show that PEDTA-DEA can inhibit the precipitation of calcium sulfate and reduce the deposition of calcium sulfate scale. The precipitate of calcium sulfate collected from the static scale inhibition test solution was analyzed by FTIR, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results revealed that the addition of the polymer significantly changes the calcium sulfate crystal’s growth shape. Therefore, PEDTA-DEA is a potential calcium sulfate precipitation inhibitor for the industrial water system.
Nutrient Status of Tree Seedlings in a Site Recovering from a Landslide
Authors: Lasota Jarosław , Kraj Wojciech , Honkowicz Bożena , Staszel Karolina , Błońska Ewa
Published: June 2020

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of soil recovery after a landslide on the nutritional status of a young generation of Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) trees. The study was carried out on the site of a landslide that took place in 2010 in the Gorlice Forest District (Southern Poland). Basic soil properties, macro, and microelements content and enzymatic activity were determined in the soil samples that were collected from across the landslide area, from locations distributed by a grid 10 × 10 m (18 points). Plant material samples, collected to indicate nutritional status, were also taken from each point. Results demonstrate that the nutritional status of emerging regeneration depends on soil acidification and soil organic matter content. The pH of the soils on the landslide determines the intensity of nutrient uptake by the young seedlings. The nutrition of young trees varied across the landslide zone, differing in terms of the soil’s organic matter content and its chemical properties. In comparison to the depletion zone, the accumulation zone proved to be substantially richer in soil organic matter, resulting in higher soil biochemical activity. The study demonstrates that Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) is improving nutrient cycling in areas disturbed by landslide.
Evaluating the Drought Code Using In Situ Drying Timelags of Feathermoss Duff in Interior Alaska
Authors: Miller Eric , Wilmore Brenda
Published: June 2020

The Drought Code (DC) is a moisture code of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System underlain by a hydrological water balance model in which drying occurs in a negative exponential pattern with a relatively long timelag. The model derives from measurements from an evaporimeter and no soil parameters are specified, leaving its physical nature uncertain. One way to approximate the attributes of a “DC equivalent soil” is to compare its drying timelag with measurements of known soils. In situ measurements of timelag were made over the course of a fire season in a black spruce-feathermoss forest floor underlain by permafrost in Interior Alaska, USA. On a seasonally averaged basis, timelag was 28 d. The corresponding timelag of the DC water balance model was 60 d. Water storage capacity in a whole duff column 200 mm deep was 31 mm. Using these figures and a relationship between timelag, water storage capacity, and the potential evaporation rate, a “DC equivalent soil” was determined to be capable of storing 66 mm of water. This amount of water would require a soil 366 mm deep, suggesting a revision of the way fire managers in Alaska regard the correspondence between soil and the moisture codes of the FWI. Nearly half of the soil depth would be mineral rather than organic. Much of the soil water necessary to maintain a 60 d timelag characteristic of a “DC equivalent soil” is frozen until after the solstice. Unavailability of frozen water, coupled with a June peak in the potential evaporation rate, appears to shorten in situ timelags early in the season.
Differentially Expressed miRNA-Gene Targets Related to Intramuscular Fat in Musculus Longissimus Dorsi of Charolais × Holstein F2-Crossbred Bulls
Authors: Mir Bilal Ahmad , Reyer Henry , Komolka Katrin , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Kühn Christa , Maak Steffen
Published: June 2020

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a meat quality indicator associated with taste and juiciness. IMF deposition, influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors, occurs through a transcriptionally coordinated process of adipogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are transcriptional regulators of vital biological processes, including lipid metabolism and adipogenesis. However, in bovines, limited data on miRNA profiling and association with divergent intramuscular fat content, regulated exclusively by genetic parameters, have been reported. Here, a microarray experiment was performed to identify and characterize the miRNA expression pattern in the Musculus longissimus dorsi of F2-cross (Charolais × German Holstein) bulls with high and low IMF. A total of 38 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs), including 33 upregulated and 5 downregulated (corrected p-value ≤ 0.05, FC ≥ ±1.2), were reported. Among DE miRNAs, the upregulated miRNAs miR-105a/b, miR-695, miR-1193, miR-1284, miR-1287-5p, miR-3128, miR-3178, miR-3910, miR-4443, miR-4445 and miR-4745, and the downregulated miRNAs miR-877-5p, miR-4487 and miR-4706 were identified as novel fat deposition regulators. DE miRNAs were further analyzed, along with previously identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the same samples and predicted target genes, using multiple bioinformatic approaches, including target prediction tools and co-expression networks, as well as Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. We identified DE miRNAs and their gene targets associated with bovine intramuscular adipogenesis, and we provide a basis for further functional investigations.
Interactive Impact of Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality on the Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults
Authors: Kim Young-Joo , Yeom Hyun-E
Published: June 2020

Sleep quality is important for the normal functioning of hormonal and metabolic processes in the body; however, few studies have considered the effects of both sleep duration and sleep quality on predicting metabolic syndrome risk. We examined the interactive impact of sleep duration and sleep quality on the risk of developing metabolic syndrome using logistic regression analysis with a threshold based on hours of sleep. Data were collected from 411 adults in South Korea and, according to the estimated threshold of 6 h of sleep (95% Confidence Interval, CI = 5–7 h), participants were classified as short (<6 h) or adequate-long (≥6 h) sleepers. The two groups differed significantly on various health measures. While short sleepers were more likely than adequate-long sleepers to experience adverse health conditions, which increased their risk of developing metabolic syndrome, they were not influenced by sleep quality. For adequate-long sleepers, however, a decrease in sleep quality was associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (odds ratio = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.07–1.43). Our results suggest that both sleep duration and sleep quality are crucial determinants of the development of metabolic syndrome and that it is important to maintain at least 6 h of sleep.
Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration Using the Remote Sensing Method and SEBAL Algorithm: A Case Study in Ein Khosh Plain, Iran
Authors: Ghaderi Amir , Dasineh Mehdi , Shokri Maryam , Abraham John
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) using remote sensing and the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) in the Ilam province, Iran. Landsat 8 satellite images were used to calculate ET during the cultivation and harvesting of wheat crops. The evaluation using SEBAL, along with the FAO-Penman–Monteith method, showed that SEBAL has a sufficient accuracy for estimating ET. The values of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Bias Error (MBE), and correlation coefficient were 0.466, 2.9%, 0.222 mm/day, and 0.97, respectively. Satellite images showed that rainfall, except for the last month of cultivation, provided the necessary water requirements and there was no requirement for the use of other water resources for irrigation, with the exception of late May and early June. The maximum ET on the Ein Khosh Plain occurred in March. The irrigation requirements showed that the Ein Khosh Plain in March, which witnessed the highest ET, did not experience any deficiency of rainfall that month. However, during April and May, with maxima of 50 and 70 mm, respectively, water was needed for irrigation. During the plant growth periods, the greatest and least amount of water required were 231.23 and 19.47 mm/hr, respectively.
Risk Factors in and Long-Term Survival of Patients with Post-Transplantation Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Cheng Ching-Yao , Chen Cheng-Hsu , Wu Ming-Fen , Wu Ming-Ju , Chen Jun-Peng , Liu Ying-Mei , Hou Yu-Chi , Wang Hue-Yu
Published: June 2020

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is associated with infection, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. A retrospective cohort study involving patients who underwent renal transplantation in a transplantation center in Taiwan from January 2000 to December 2018 was conducted to investigate the incidence and risk factors of PTDM and long-term patient and graft survival rates. High age (45–65 vs. <45 years, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.64–5.13, p < 0.001), high body mass index (>27 vs. <24 kg/m2, aOR = 5.35, 95% CI = 2.75–10.42, p < 0.001), and deceased organ donor (cadaveric vs. living, aOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.03–3.93, p = 0.04) were the three most important risk factors for the development of PTDM. The cumulative survival rate of patients and allografts was higher in patients without PTDM than in those with PTDM (p = 0.007 and 0.041, respectively). Concurrent use of calcineurin inhibitors and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORis) decreased the risk of PTDM (tacrolimus vs. tacrolimus with mTORi, aOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.14–0.55, p < 0.001). Investigating PTDM risk factors before and modifying immunosuppressant regimens after transplantation may effectively prevent PTDM development.