bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EDUCATIONAL MEASURES ACCORDING TO ALBANIAN PENAL LEGISLATION
Authors: Prençe Mirgen
Published: December 2019

The paper analyzes the educational measures in the historical field beginning with the Albanian Criminal Code of 1928 until nowadays. The criteria for providing educational measures under the criminal legislation, as well as the assignment and revocation of educational measures, are analyzed. There are comparable types of educational measures under current criminal legislation to those of previous criminal codes to see what educational measures are appropriate to be put in legislation. Comparative aspects occupy a special place where our legislation will be compared with educational measures with some of Balkan states.
REFLECTIONS OT THE OHRID FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF NORTH MACEDONIA
Authors: Bexheti Flakron
Published: December 2019

In this study, we will focus on the Ohrid Agreement that derived from a peaceful conference which put an end to the armed conflict in Macedonia in 2001. We will also approach the causes that led to the conflict, the circumstances created that caused this inter-ethnic military clash, the deadlock of the implementation of the Agreement, within the time frame envisaged in that agreement itself, the attitude of the Albanian and Macedonian political parties towards the Ohrid Framework Agreement and the contribution of the international political factor, which provided their contribution to the achievement of this Agreement from the position of facilitators. A lot has been written and said about this agreement, since its endorsement; numerous comprehensive analyzes have been carried out in various scientific conferences, debate-shave been held at university level and many paper-shave been published in different journals and conference proceedings by various different authors, who expressed their thoughts theoretically, scientifically and empirically, based on their arguments which they claimed were objective and real. I believe that the main cause of the non-implementation of this agreement or the prolongation of its implementation for more than e decade, is the result of the lack of a proper scientific analysis of the genesis of the military conflict between the two largest communities in Macedonia, namely between the Macedonian military and police forces and the NLA.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND SUCCESSFUL MARKETING IN ALBANIAN STAKEHOLDERS
Authors: Dajçi Gerti
Published: December 2019

The key element for a successful organization is to do internal marketing; that is, to gain the support of the stakeholders and the visionary leaders who support the need to implement it. Implementing thoughtful remedies to put in place to overcome these stakeholder barriers and resistance are the opposite forces facing their resistance. Key leaders must empower their stakeholders and generating consensus. To accomplish this, leaders need to embrace their core basic values and beliefs of honesty, reliability, fairness, self-discipline, and develop responsible management practices to meet reasonable stakeholder expectations. The organizations must provide training and learning to empower their employees toward the desired direction, either technical, financial, political, etc. This paper explores, identifies, and assesses an implementation plan for many international organizations. This paper combines relevant literature research that is relevant to the implementation plan, and discusses issues, solutions, execution of the solutions, and evaluation of the implementation plan.
OPERATING BUDGETS AND THE TOURISTIC TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE. THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS OF TOURISM.THEORETICAL TREATMENT ANALYSIS
Authors: Bagniolini Franko
Published: December 2019

Tourism development could be even bigger if more could be done in various elements of transportation systems. It is an important for all its stakeholders to take part to develop tourism in their regions. Tourism sector is one of the main important sectors of the economy. Many countries take advantage of covering the budget deficit with the help of profits coming from tourism. That is why tourism sometimes is called a factory without chimney. But tourism has its own unique features that differentiate this sector from the others. Like in the other service industries, in tourism the customers, that is, the tourists come to the destination where the tourism services are provided. As the matter of fact it is difficult to think of tourism sector without transportation. Transportation is the main mean to carry passengers, that is, the tourists to the actual site where tourism services are performed (Mudsuman, P). In the first models of tourist systems, the emphasis is placed on the components of the two regions’ connectivity, that of tourism and the reception of tourists. Researcher Marioti, for example, proposes three routes for the movement of tourists from their permanent residence (origin) to the tourist region (destination), which are the entrance and exit routes, which in some cases coincide with each other and the entertainment route. While access and exit routes ensure the connection between the two countries, the entertainment route on the other hand ensures the use of touristic structures during travel even though these structures do not belong to the tourist destination.
MicroRNAs in Animal Models of HCC
Authors: Fornari Francesca , Gramantieri Laura , Callegari Elisa , Shankaraiah Ram C. , Piscaglia Fabio , Negrini Massimo , Giovannini Catia
Published: December 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Molecular heterogeneity and absence of biomarkers for patient allocation to the best therapeutic option contribute to poor prognosis of advanced stages. Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with HCC development and progression and influences drug resistance. Therefore, miRNAs have been assayed as putative biomarkers and therapeutic targets. miRNA-based therapeutic approaches demonstrated safety profiles and antitumor efficacy in HCC animal models; nevertheless, caution should be used when transferring preclinical findings to the clinics, due to possible molecular inconsistency between animal models and the heterogeneous pattern of the human disease. In this context, models with defined genetic and molecular backgrounds might help to identify novel therapeutic options for specific HCC subgroups. In this review, we describe rodent models of HCC, emphasizing their representativeness with the human pathology and their usefulness as preclinical tools for assessing miRNA-based therapeutic strategies.
Proteogenomics of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: Complementing Precision Oncology with Phenotypic Data
Authors: Blank-Landeshammer Bernhard , Richard Vincent R. , Mitsa Georgia , Marques Maud , LeBlanc André , Kollipara Laxmikanth , Feldmann Ingo , Couetoux du Tertre Mathilde , Gambaro Karen , McNamara Suzan , Spatz Alan , Zahedi René P. , Sickmann Albert , Batist Gerald , Borchers Christoph H.
Published: December 2019

Hotspot testing for activating KRAS mutations is used in precision oncology to select colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who are eligible for anti-EGFR treatment. However, even for KRASwildtype tumors anti-EGFR response rates are <30%, while mutated-KRAS does not entirely rule out response, indicating the need for improved patient stratification. We performed proteogenomic phenotyping of KRASwildtype and KRASG12V CRC liver metastases (mCRC). Among >9000 proteins we detected considerable expression changes including numerous proteins involved in progression and resistance in CRC. We identified peptides representing a number of predicted somatic mutations, including KRASG12V. For eight of these, we developed a multiplexed parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mass spectrometry assay to precisely quantify the mutated and canonical protein variants. This allowed phenotyping of eight mCRC tumors and six paired healthy tissues, by determining mutation rates on the protein level. Total KRAS expression varied between tumors (0.47–1.01 fmol/µg total protein) and healthy tissues (0.13–0.64 fmol/µg). In KRASG12V-mCRC, G12V-mutation levels were 42–100%, while one patient had only 10% KRASG12V but 90% KRASwildtype. This might represent a missed therapeutic opportunity: based on hotspot sequencing, the patient was excluded from anti-EGFR treatment and instead received chemotherapy, while PRM-based tumor-phenotyping indicates the patient might have benefitted from anti-EGFR therapy.
Comparative Analysis of Strategies for De Novo Transcriptome Assembly in Prokaryotes: Streptomyces clavuligerus as a Case Study
Authors: Caicedo-Montoya Carlos , Pinilla Laura , Toro León F. , Yepes-García Jeferyd , Ríos-Estepa Rigoberto
Published: December 2019

The performance of software tools for de novo transcriptome assembly greatly depends on the selection of software parameters. Up to now, the development of de novo transcriptome assembly for prokaryotes has not been as remarkable as that for eukaryotes. In this contribution, Rockhopper2 was used to perform a comparative transcriptome analysis of Streptomyces clavuligerus exposed to diverse environmental conditions. The study focused on assessing the incidence of software parameters on software performance for the identification of differentially expressed genes as a final goal. For this, a statistical optimization was performed using the Transrate Assembly Score (TAS). TAS was also used for evaluating the software performance and for comparing it with related tools, e.g., Trinity. Transcriptome redundancy and completeness were also considered for this analysis. Rockhopper2 and Trinity reached a TAS value of 0.55092 and 0.58337, respectively. Trinity assembles transcriptomes with high redundancy, with 55.6% of transcripts having some duplicates. Additionally, we observed that the total number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) and their annotation greatly depends on the method used for removing redundancy and the tools used for transcript quantification. To our knowledge, this is the first work aimed at assessing de novo assembly software for prokaryotic organisms.
Phenotypic Screen with the Human Secretome Identifies FGF16 as Inducing Proliferation of iPSC-Derived Cardiac Progenitor Cells
Authors: Jennbacken Karin , Wågberg Fredrik , Karlsson Ulla , Eriksson Jerry , Magnusson Lisa , Chimienti Marjorie , Ricchiuto Piero , Bernström Jenny , Ding Mei , Ross-Thriepland Douglas , Xue Yafeng , Peiris Diluka , Aastrup Teodor , Tegel Hanna , Hober Sophia , Sivertsson Åsa , Uhlén Mathias , Strömstedt Per-Erik , Davies Rick , Holmberg Schiavone Lovisa
Published: December 2019

Paracrine factors can induce cardiac regeneration and repair post myocardial infarction by stimulating proliferation of cardiac cells and inducing the anti-fibrotic, antiapoptotic, and immunomodulatory effects of angiogenesis. Here, we screened a human secretome library, consisting of 923 growth factors, cytokines, and proteins with unknown function, in a phenotypic screen with human cardiac progenitor cells. The primary readout in the screen was proliferation measured by nuclear count. From this screen, we identified FGF1, FGF4, FGF9, FGF16, FGF18, and seven additional proteins that induce proliferation of cardiac progenitor cells. FGF9 and FGF16 belong to the same FGF subfamily, share high sequence identity, and are described to have similar receptor preferences. Interestingly, FGF16 was shown to be specific for proliferation of cardiac progenitor cells, whereas FGF9 also proliferated human cardiac fibroblasts. Biosensor analysis of receptor preferences and quantification of receptor abundances suggested that FGF16 and FGF9 bind to different FGF receptors on the cardiac progenitor cells and cardiac fibroblasts. FGF16 also proliferated naïve cardiac progenitor cells isolated from mouse heart and human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent cells. Taken together, the data suggest that FGF16 could be a suitable paracrine factor to induce cardiac regeneration and repair.
PatJAZ6 Acts as a Repressor Regulating JA-Induced Biosynthesis of Patchouli Alcohol in Pogostemon Cablin
Authors: Wang Xiaobing , Chen Xiuzhen , Zhong Liting , Zhou Xuanxuan , Tang Yun , Liu Yanting , Li Junren , Zheng Hai , Zhan Ruoting , Chen Likai
Published: December 2019

The JASMONATE ZIM DOMAIN (JAZ) proteins act as negative regulators in the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways of plants, and these proteins have been reported to play key roles in plant secondary metabolism mediated by JA. In this study, we firstly isolated one JAZ from P. cablin, PatJAZ6, which was characterized and revealed based on multiple alignments and a phylogenic tree analysis. The result of subcellular localization indicated that the PatJAZ6 protein was located in the nucleus of plant protoplasts. The expression level of PatJAZ6 was significantly induced by the methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Furthermore, by means of yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified two transcription factors that interact with the PatJAZ6, the PatMYC2b1 and PatMYC2b2. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of PatJAZ6 caused a decrease in expression abundance, resulting in a significant increase in the accumulation of patchouli alcohol. Moreover, we overexpressed PatJAZ6 in P. cablin, which down-regulated the patchoulol synthase expression, and then suppressed the biosynthesis of patchouli alcohol. The results demonstrate that PatJAZ6 probably acts as a repressor in the regulation of patchouli alcohol biosynthesis, contributed to a model proposed for the potential JA signaling pathway in P. cablin.
Integration of Epigallocatechin Gallate in Gelatin Sponges Attenuates Matrix Metalloproteinase-Dependent Degradation and Increases Bone Formation
Authors: Huang Anqi , Honda Yoshitomo , Li Peiqi , Tanaka Tomonari , Baba Shunsuke
Published: December 2019

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are well-known gelatinases that disrupt the extracellular matrix, including gelatin. However, the advantages of modulating MMP expression in gelatin-based materials for applications in bone regenerative medicine have not been fully clarified. In this study, we examined the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol catechin isolated from green tea, on MMP expression in gelatin sponges and its association with bone formation. Four gelatin sponges with or without EGCG were prepared and implanted into bone defects for up to 4 weeks. Histological and immunohistological staining were performed. Micro-computed tomography was used to estimate the bone-forming capacity of each sponge. Our results showed that EGCG integration attenuated MMP-2 (70.6%) and -9 expression (69.1%) in the 1 week group, increased residual gelatin (118.7%), and augmented bone formation (101.8%) in the 4 weeks group in critical-sized bone defects of rat calvaria compared with vacuum-heated gelatin sponges without EGCG. Moreover, vacuum-heated gelatin sponges with EGCG showed superior bone formation compared with other sponges. The results indicated that integration of EGCG in gelatin-based materials modulated the production and activity of MMP-2 and -9 in vivo, thereby enhancing bone-forming capacity.
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonists Have an Anti-apoptotic Effect on Cumulus Cells
Authors: Scaruffi Paola , Stigliani Sara , Cardinali Barbara , Massarotti Claudia , Lambertini Matteo , Sozzi Fausta , Dellepiane Chiara , Merlo Domenico Franco , Anserini Paola , Del Mastro Lucia
Published: December 2019

Background: Ovaries are sensitive to chemotherapy, which may lead to early depletion of primordial follicle reserve. One strategy for gonadal function preservation is temporary ovarian suppression with Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone agonists (GnRHa) during chemotherapy. To date, GnRHa protective mechanism of action remains not fully elucidated. Methods: We collected 260 immature cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COC) from 111 women < 38 years old, with a normal ovarian reserve. The COC were randomly assigned to the following groups: (a) control; culture with the addition of (b) GnRHa; (c) cyclophosphamide; (d) cyclophosphamide plus GnRHa. After in vitro treatments, RNA and proteins were extracted from oocytes and cumulus cells (CC), separately. Potential effects of drugs were evaluated on GnRH receptors, apoptosis pathways, ceramide pathway, and glutathione synthesis by quantitative PCR and, whenever possible, by Western blot. Results: Cyclophosphamide triggered activation of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis mediated by BAX in CC. The co-administration of GnRHa inhibited the apoptosis pathway in CC. According to our model, the GnRHa does not directly act on oocytes, which do not express GnRH receptors. Moreover, glutathione synthesis was decreased after GnRHa treatment both in CC and oocytes. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the protective mechanisms induced by GnRHa is mediated by an anti-apoptotic effect on CC.
Bone Pain in Cancer Patients: Mechanisms and Current Treatment
Authors: Zajączkowska Renata , Kocot-Kępska Magdalena , Leppert Wojciech , Wordliczek Jerzy
Published: December 2019

The skeletal system is the third most common site for cancer metastases, surpassed only by the lungs and liver. Many tumors, especially those of the breast, prostate, lungs, and kidneys, have a strong predilection to metastasize to bone, which causes pain, hypercalcemia, pathological skeletal fractures, compression of the spinal cord or other nervous structures, decreased mobility, and increased mortality. Metastatic cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) is a type of chronic pain with unique and complex pathophysiology characterized by nociceptive and neuropathic components. Its treatment should be multimodal (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), including causal anticancer and symptomatic analgesic treatment to improve quality of life (QoL). The aim of this paper is to discuss the mechanisms involved in the occurrence and persistence of cancer-associated bone pain and to review the treatment methods recommended by experts in clinical practice. The final part of the paper reviews experimental therapeutic methods that are currently being studied and that may improve the efficacy of bone pain treatment in cancer patients in the future.
Re-Evaluating Biologic Pharmacotherapies That Target the Host Response during Sepsis
Authors: Tuttle Kristopher M. , McDonald Matthew D. , Anderson Ethan J.
Published: December 2019

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by the systemic inflammatory response during sepsis is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year, and despite broad consensus concerning its pathophysiology, no specific or effective therapies exist. Recent efforts to treat and/or prevent MODS have included a variety of biologics, recombinant proteins targeting various components of the host response to the infection (e.g., inflammation, coagulation, etc.) Improvements in molecular biology and pharmaceutical engineering have enabled a wide range of utility for biologics to target various aspects of the systemic inflammatory response. The majority of clinical trials to date have failed to show clinical benefit, but some have demonstrated promising results in certain patient populations. In this review we summarize the underlying rationale and outcome of major clinical trials where biologics have been tested as a pharmacotherapy for MODS in sepsis. A brief description of the study design and overall outcome for each of the major trials are presented. Emphasis is placed on discussing targets and/or trials where promising results were observed. Post hoc analyses of trials where therapy demonstrated harm or additional risk to certain patient subgroups are highlighted, and details are provided about specific trials where more stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria are warranted.
Modeling the Effect of Hypoxia and DNA Repair Inhibition on Cell Survival after Photon Irradiation
Authors: Liew Hans , Klein Carmen , Zenke Frank T. , Abdollahi Amir , Debus Jürgen , Dokic Ivana , Mairani Andrea
Published: December 2019

Mechanistic approaches to modeling the effects of ionizing radiation on cells are on the rise, promising a better understanding of predictions and higher flexibility concerning conditions to be accounted for. In this work we modified and extended a previously published mechanistic model of cell survival after photon irradiation under hypoxia to account for radiosensitization caused by deficiency or inhibition of DNA damage repair enzymes. The model is shown to be capable of describing the survival data of cells with DNA damage repair deficiency, both under norm- and hypoxia. We find that our parameterization of radiosensitization is invariant under change of oxygen status, indicating that the relevant parameters for both mechanisms can be obtained independently and introduced freely to the model to predict their combined effect.
Differential Regulation of Anthocyanin Synthesis in Apple Peel under Different Sunlight Intensities
Authors: Chen Weifeng , Zhang Mengxia , Zhang Guojing , Li Pengmin , Ma Fengwang
Published: December 2019

Sunlight radiation is a main environmental factor which affects anthocyanin synthesis. To clarify the regulatory mechanism of sunlight on the synthesis of anthocyanin in apple peel, bagged apples were exposed to diverse intensities of sunlight through different shading treatments. Under an increased solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light intensity, the concentration of anthocyanin in apple peels was consistent with the Michaelis–Menten equation. Under lower sunlight intensities, diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI, an inhibitor of plasma membrane NAD(P)H oxidase) treatment increased both the concentration of cyanidin-3-glycoside and the activity of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR). However, under higher sunlight intensities, DPI treatment decreased the concentrations of cyanidin-3-glycoside and quercetin-3-glycoside, as well as the activities of DFR and UDP-glycose: flavonoid 3-O-glycosyltransferase (UFGT). These results indicate that, under low sunlight intensity, anthocyanin synthesis in apple peel was limited by the supply of the substrate cyanidin, which was regulated by the DFR activity. Nevertheless, after exposure to high sunlight intensity, the anthocyanin produced in the apple peel was dependent on UFGT activity.
Analysis of the Molecular Signaling Signatures of Muscle Protein Wasting Between the Intercostal Muscles and the Gastrocnemius Muscles in db/db Mice
Authors: Kim Kun Woo , Baek Mi-Ock , Choi Ji-Young , Son Kuk Hui , Yoon Mee-Sup
Published: December 2019

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients suffer from dyspnea, which contributes to disease-related morbidity. Although T2D has been reported to induce a catabolic state in skeletal muscle, whether T2D induces muscle wasting in respiratory muscles has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examine the difference in the molecular signaling signature of muscle wasting between the intercostal and gastrocnemius muscles using db/db mice, a well-known diabetic mouse model. Akt phosphorylation was significantly decreased in both the intercostal and gastrocnemius muscles of db/db mice and was accompanied by a decrease in mTORC1 activity. In addition, FoxO phosphorylation was suppressed, and ubiquitin-proteasome degradation, characterized by the level of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1, was subsequently enhanced in both muscle types of db/db mice. An increase in LC3BII levels and a decrease in p62 levels marked the occurrence of substantial autophagy in the gastrocnemius muscle but not in the intercostal muscles of db/db mice. Therefore, we suggest that the signaling events of muscle wasting in the intercostal muscles of db/db mice are different from those in the gastrocnemius muscle of db/db mice.
Near-Infrared Markers based on Bacterial Phytochromes with Phycocyanobilin as a Chromophore
Authors: Stepanenko Olesya V. , Stepanenko Olga V. , Shpironok Olesya G. , Fonin Alexander V. , Kuznetsova Irina M. , Turoverov Konstantin K.
Published: December 2019

Biomarkers engineered on the basis of bacterial phytochromes with biliverdin IXα (BV) cofactor as a chromophore are increasingly used in cell biology and biomedicine, since their absorption and fluorescence spectra lie within the so-called optical “transparency window” of biological tissues. However, the quantum yield of BV fluorescence in these biomarkers does not exceed 0.145. The task of generating biomarkers with a higher fluorescence quantum yield remains relevant. To address the problem, we proposed the use of phycocyanobilin (PCB) as a chromophore of biomarkers derived from bacterial phytochromes. In this work, we characterized the complexes of iRFP713 evolved from RpBphP2 and its mutant variants with different location of cysteine residues capable of covalent tetrapyrrole attachment with the PCB cofactor. All analyzed proteins assembled with PCB were shown to have a higher fluorescence quantum yield than the proteins assembled with BV. The iRFP713/V256C and iRFP713/C15S/V256C assembled with PCB have a particularly high quantum yield of 0.5 and 0.45, which exceeds the quantum yield of all currently available near-infrared biomarkers. Moreover, PCB has 4 times greater affinity for iRFP713/V256C and iRFP713/C15S/V256C proteins compared to BV. These data establish iRFP713/V256C and iRFP713/C15S/V256C assembled with the PCB chromophore as promising biomarkers for application in vivo. The analysis of the spectral properties of the tested biomarkers allowed for suggesting that the high-fluorescence quantum yield of the PCB chromophore can be attributed to the lower mobility of the D-ring of PCB compared to BV.
Reflectance According to Cell Size, Foaming Ratio and Refractive Index of Microcellular Foamed Amorphous Polymer
Authors: Cha Sung Woon , Cho Soo-hyun , Sohn Joo Seong , Ryu Youngjae , Ahn Jeonghun
Published: December 2019

Microcellular foamed plastic has a cell size of approximately 0.1 to 10 microns inside a foamed polymer and a cell density in the range of 109 to 1015 cells/cm3. Typically, the formation of numerous uniform cells inside a polymer can be effectively used for various purposes, such as lightweight materials, insulation and sound absorbing materials. However, it has recently been reported that these dense cell structures, which are induced through microcellular foaming, can affect the light passing through the medium, which affects the haze and permeability and causes the diffused reflection of light to achieve high diffuse reflectivity. In this study, the effects of cell size, foaming ratio and refractive index on the optical performance were investigated by applying the microcellular foaming process to three types of amorphous polymer materials. Thus, this study experimentally confirmed that the advantages of porous materials can be implemented as optical properties by providing a high specific surface area as a small and uniform cell formed by inducing a high foaming ratio through a microcellular foaming process.
Functional Characteristics of Caffeoyl Shikimate Esterase in Larix Kaempferi and Monolignol Biosynthesis in Gymnosperms
Authors: Wang Xuechun , Chao Nan , Zhang Meng , Jiang Xiangning , Gai Ying
Published: December 2019

Caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE) has been reported to be involved in lignin biosynthesis; however, studies of CSE in gymnosperms are lacking. In this study, CSE was successfully cloned from Larix kaempferi (LkCSE) based on Larix laricina transcriptome screening. LkCSE was likely to have catalytic activity based on homologous sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses of CSEs from different species. In vitro assays with the recombinant enzyme validated the catalytic activity of LkCSE, indicating its function in converting caffeoyl shikimate into caffeate and shikimate. Additionally, the optimum reaction pH and temperature of LkCSE were determined to be 6.0 and 30 °C, respectively. The values of Km and Vmax of CSE for caffeoyl shikimate were 98.11 μM and 14.44 nM min−1, respectively. Moreover, LkCSE was observed to have tissue expression specificity and was abundantly expressed in stems and leaves, especially stems, which was 50 times higher than the expression levels of roots. Lastly, translational fusion assays using LkCSE fused with green fluorescent proteins (GFP) in tobacco leaves indicated that LkCSE was localized in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These results revealed that CSE clearly functions in gymnosperms and it is possible for LkCSE to interact with other ER-resident proteins and regulate mass flux in the monolignol biosynthesis pathway.
Highly Porous Polymer-Derived Bioceramics Based on a Complex Hardystonite Solid Solution
Authors: Elsayed Hamada , Secco Michele , Zorzi Federico , Schuhladen Katharina , Detsch Rainer , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Bernardo Enrico
Published: December 2019

Highly porous bioceramics, based on a complex hardystonite solid solution, were developed from silicone resins and micro-sized oxide fillers fired in air at 950 °C. Besides CaO, SrO, MgO, and ZnO precursors, and the commercial embedded silicone resins, calcium borate was essential in providing the liquid phase upon firing and favouring the formation of an unprecedented hardystonite solid solution, corresponding to the formula (Ca0.70Sr0.30)2(Zn0.72Mg0.15Si0.13) (Si0.85B0.15)2O7. Silicone-filler mixtures could be used in the form of thick pastes for direct ink writing of reticulated scaffolds or for direct foaming. The latter shaping option benefited from the use of hydrated calcium borate, which underwent dehydration, with water vapour release, at a low temperature (420 °C). Both scaffolds and foams confirmed the already-obtained phase assemblage, after firing, and exhibited remarkable strength-to-density ratios. Finally, preliminary cell tests excluded any cytotoxicity that could be derived from the formation of a boro-silicate glassy phase.
Influence of In-Situ Electrochemical Oxidation on Implant Surface and Colonizing Microorganisms Evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Göltz Maximilian , Koch Maximilian , Detsch Rainer , Karl Matthias , Burkovski Andreas , Rosiwal Stefan
Published: December 2019

Peri-implantitis is a worldwide increasing health problem, caused by infection of tissue and bone around an implant by biofilm-forming microorganisms. Effects of peri-implantitis treatment using mechanical debridement, air particle abrasion and electrochemical disinfection on implant surface integrity were compared. Dental implants covered with bacterial biofilm were cleaned using mechanical debridement and air particle abrasion. In addition, implants were disinfected using a novel electrochemical technique based on an array of boron-doped diamond (BDD) coated electrodes. Following treatment and preparation, the implants were inspected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mechanical debridement led to changes in surface topography destroying the manufacturer’s medium-rough surface by scratch formation. Air particle abrasion led to accumulation of the abrasive used on the implant surface. With both treatment options, appearance of bacteria and yeasts was not affected. In contrast, electrochemical disinfection did not cause alterations of the implant surface but resulted in distorted microbial cells. Electrochemical disinfection of implant surfaces using BDD electrodes may constitute a promising treatment option for cleaning dental implant surfaces without negatively affecting materials and surface properties.
Impact of the Cultivation Technique on the Production of Secondary Metabolites by Chrysosporium lobatum TM-237-S5, Isolated from the Sponge Acanthella cavernosa
Authors: Le Goff Géraldine , Lopes Philippe , Arcile Guillaume , Vlachou Pinelopi , Van Elslande Elsa , Retailleau Pascal , Gallard Jean-François , Weis Michal , Benayahu Yehuda , Fokialakis Nikolas , Ouazzani Jamal
Published: December 2019

The fungi Chrysosporium lobatum TM-237-S5 was isolated from the sponge Acanthella cavernosa, collected from the mesophotic coral ecosystem of the Red Sea. The strain was cultivated on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, coupling solid-state fermentation and solid-state extraction (SSF/SSE) with a neutral macroreticular polymeric adsorbent XAD Amberlite resin (AMBERLITE XAD1600N). The SSF/SSE lead to high chemodiversity and productivity compared to classical submerged cultivation. Ten phenalenone related compounds were isolated and fully characterized by one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR and HRMS. Among them, four were found to be new compounds corresponding to isoconiolactone, (-)-peniciphenalenin F, (+)-8-hydroxyscleroderodin, and (+)-8-hydroxysclerodin. It is concluded that SSF/SSE is a powerful strategy, opening a new era for the exploitation of microbial secondary metabolites.
The Synthesis, Self-Assembled Structures, and Microbicidal Activity of Cationic Gemini Surfactants with Branched Tridecyl Chains
Authors: Pisárčik Martin , Pupák Matúš , Lukáč Miloš , Devínsky Ferdinand , Hubčík Lukáš , Bukovský Marián , Horváth Branislav
Published: December 2019

Cationic gemini surfactants with polymethylene spacer and linear alkyl chains containing an even number of carbon atoms have been extensively studied in the recent past, with the emphasis put on the determination of their aggregation behaviour in aqueous solution and their biological properties. However, the information on the aggregation of branched gemini surfactants with an odd number of carbon atoms in their alkyl chains is only sparsely reported in the literature. To help cover this gap in the research of cationic gemini surfactants, a series of branched bisammonium cationic gemini surfactants with an odd number of carbon atoms in alkyl chains (tridecane-2-yl chains) and a polymethylene spacer with a variable length ranging from 3 to 12 carbon atoms have been synthesized and investigated. Critical micelle concentration, which was determined by three methods, was found to be in the order 10−4 mol/L. A comparison of the obtained data of the novel series of tridecyl chain geminis with those of gemini surfactants with dodecyl chains and an identical spacer structure revealed that structural differences between both series of gemini surfactants result in different aggregation and surface properties for surfactants with 6 and 8 methylene groups in the spacer (N,N’-bis(tridecane-2-yl)-N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylhexane-1,6-diaminium dibromide and N,N’-bis(tridecane-2-yl)-N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyloctane-1,8-diaminium dibromide) with the cmc values 8.2 × 10−4 mol/L and 6.5 × 10−4 mol/L, respectively, as determined by surface tension measurements. Particle size analysis showed the formation of small stable spherical micelles in the interval between 2.8 and 5 nm and with zeta potential around +50 mV, which are independent of surfactant concentration and increase with the increasing spacer length. Microbicidal activity of 13-s-13 gemini surfactants was found to be efficient against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and yeast.
Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Activity of Pyrazine Compounds
Authors: Parsonidis Panagiotis , Shaik Mahammad , Serafeim Athanasia Panagiota , Vlachou Ioanna , Daikopoulou Vasiliki , Papasotiriou Ioannis
Published: December 2019

Despite the fact that there are several anticancer drugs available, cancer has evolved using different pathways inside the cell. The protein tyrosine phosphatases pathway is responsible for monitoring cell proliferation, diversity, migration, and metabolism. More specifically, the SHP2 protein, which is a member of the PTPs family, is closely related to cancer. In our efforts, with the aid of a structure-based drug design, we optimized the known inhibitor SHP099 by introducing 1-(methylsulfonyl)-4-prolylpiperazine as a linker. We designed and synthesized three pyrazine-based small molecules. We started with prolines as cyclic amines, confirming that our structures had the same interactions with those already existing in the literature, and, here, we report one new hydrogen bond. These studies concluded in the discovery of methyl (6-amino-5-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)pyrazin-2-yl)prolylprolinate hydrochloride as one of the final compounds which is an active and acceptable cytotoxic agent.
Improving the Yields and Reaction Rate in the Ethanolysis of Soybean Oil by Using Mixtures of Lipase CLEAs
Authors: Ramos Margarita Díaz , Miranda Letícia Passos , Fernandez-Lafuente Roberto , Kopp William , Tardioli Paulo Waldir
Published: December 2019

Due to the heterogeneity of oils, the use of mixtures of lipases with different activity for a large number of glycerol-linked carboxylic acids that compose the substrate has been proposed as a better alternative than the use of one specific lipase preparation in the enzymatic synthesis of biodiesel. In this work, mixtures of lipases from different sources were evaluated in their soluble form in the ethanolysis of soybean oil. A mixture of lipases (50% of each lipase, in activity basis) from porcine pancreas (PPL) and Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (TLL) gave the highest fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) yield (around 20 wt.%), while the individual lipases gave FAEE yields 100 and 5 times lower, respectively. These lipases were immobilized individually by the cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) technique, yielding biocatalysts with 89 and 119% of expressed activity, respectively. A mixture of these CLEAs (also 50% of each lipase, in activity basis) gave 90.4 wt.% FAEE yield, while using separately CLEAs of PPL and TLL, the FAEE yields were 84.7 and 75.6 wt.%, respectively, under the same reaction conditions. The mixture of CLEAs could be reused (five cycles of 6 h) in the ethanolysis of soybean oil in a vortex flow-type reactor yielding an FAEE yield higher than 80% of that of the first batch.
2-Unsubstituted Imidazole N-Oxides as Novel Precursors of Chiral 3-Alkoxyimidazol-2-ylidenes Derived from trans-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane and Other Chiral Amino Compounds
Authors: Mlostoń Grzegorz , Celeda Małgorzata , Jasiński Marcin , Urbaniak Katarzyna , Boratyński Przemysław J. , Schreiner Peter R. , Heimgartner Heinz
Published: December 2019

‘Desymmetrization’ of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane by treatment with α,ω-dihalogenated alkylation reagents leads to mono-NH2 derivatives (‘primary-tertiary diamines’). Upon reaction with formaldehyde, these products formed monomeric formaldimines. Subsequently, reactions of the formaldimines with α-hydroxyiminoketones led to the corresponding 2-unsubstituted imidazole N-oxide derivatives, which were used here as new substrates for the in situ generation of chiral imidazol-2-ylidenes. Upon O-selective benzylation, new chiral imidazolium salts were obtained, which were deprotonated by treatment with triethylamine in the presence of elemental sulfur. Under these conditions, the intermediate imidazol-2-ylidenes were trapped by elemental sulfur, yielding the corresponding chiral non-enolizable imidazole-2-thiones in good yields. Analogous reaction sequences, starting with imidazole N-oxides derived from enantiopure primary amines, amino alcohols, and amino acids, leading to the corresponding 3-alkoxyimidazole-2-thiones were also studied.
Vitamin D Concentration during Early Pregnancy and Adverse Outcomes among HIV-Negative Women in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Kalinjuma Aneth V. , Darling Anne Marie , Sudfeld Christopher R. , Mugusi Ferdinand , Wright Julie , Abioye Ajibola I. , Aboud Said , McDonald Chloe , Hertzmark Ellen , Kain Kevin C. , Fawzi Wafaie W.
Published: December 2019

We examined the associations of plasma vitamin D concentration and adverse pregnancy outcomes among HIV-negative women in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. We used an unmatched case-control study design, with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration assessed in the first trimester. Cases were individuals with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, premature birth, or small for gestational age births (SGA). Unconditional logistic regression and weighted logistic regression models were used to describe the associations of 25(OH)D concentration with the composite of adverse pregnancy outcome and individual adverse pregnancy outcomes, respectively. We included 310 cases and 321 controls. In controls, 5(2%) were vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL), and 17(5%) had insufficient 25(OH)D concentration (20.0–29.9 ng/mL). Women with 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL had 1.82 times the odds of occurrence of the composite adverse pregnancy outcome (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 0.56–5.93; p = 0.32), however we noted a non-linear association between 25(OH)D concentration and adverse pregnancy outcome (p = 0.02). We found a 3-fold increased odds of stillbirth in women with low 25(OH)D concentration (OR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.18–8.23, p = 0.02). Vitamin D concentration in early pregnancy may be an important factor in determining the course of pregnancy. Further research is needed to investigate whether the association of maternal 25(OH)D concentration in early pregnancy and stillbirth is causal.
Energy-Efficient Cluster-Head Selection for Wireless Sensor Networks Using Sampling-Based Spider Monkey Optimization
Authors: Lee Jin-Gu , Chim Seyha , Park Ho-Hyun
Published: December 2019

Extending the lifetime and stability of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) through efficient energy consumption remains challenging. Though clustering has improved energy efficiency through cluster-head selection, its application is still complicated. In existing cluster-head selection methods, the locations where cluster-heads are desirable are first searched. Next, the nodes closest to these locations are selected as the cluster-heads. This location-based approach causes problems such as increased computation, poor selection accuracy, and the selection of duplicate nodes. To solve these problems, we propose the sampling-based spider monkey optimization (SMO) method. If the sampling population consists of nodes to select cluster-heads, the cluster-heads are selected among the nodes. Thus, the problems caused by different locations of nodes and cluster-heads are resolved. Consequently, we improve lifetime and stability of WSNs through sampling-based spider monkey optimization and energy-efficient cluster head selection (SSMOECHS). This study describes how the sampling method is used in basic SMO and how to select cluster-heads using sampling-based SMO. The experimental results are compared to similar protocols, namely low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy centralized (LEACH-C), particle swarm optimization clustering protocol (PSO-C), and SMO based threshold-sensitive energy-efficient delay-aware routing protocol (SMOTECP), and the results are shown in both homogeneous and heterogeneous setups. In these setups, SSMOECHS improves network lifetime and stability periods by averages of 13.4%, 7.1%, 34.6%, and 1.8%, respectively.
Deep Green Diagnostics: Urban Green Space Analysis Using Deep Learning and Drone Images
Authors: Moreno-Armendáriz Marco , Calvo Hiram , Duchanoy Carlos , López-Juárez Anayantzin , Vargas-Monroy Israel , Suarez-Castañon Miguel
Published: December 2019

Nowadays, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this number continues increasing. Consequently, there are more and more scientific publications that analyze health problems of people associated with living in these highly urbanized locations. In particular, some of the recent work has focused on relating people’s health to the quality and quantity of urban green areas. In this context, and considering the huge amount of land area in large cities that must be supervised, our work seeks to develop a deep learning-based solution capable of determining the level of health of the land and to assess whether it is contaminated. The main purpose is to provide health institutions with software capable of creating updated maps that indicate where these phenomena are presented, as this information could be very useful to guide public health goals in large cities. Our software is released as open source code, and the data used for the experiments presented in this paper are also freely available.
Sensing-Based Dynamic Spectrum Sharing in Integrated Wireless Sensor and Cognitive Satellite Terrestrial Networks
Authors: Hu Jing , Li Guangxia , Bian Dongming , Tang Jingyu , Shi Shengchao
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a cognitive satellite communication based wireless sensor network, which combines the wireless sensor network and the cognitive satellite terrestrial network. To address the conflict between the continuously increasing demand and the spectrum scarcity in the space network, the cognitive satellite terrestrial network becomes a promising candidate for future hybrid wireless networks. With the higher transmit capacity demand in satellite networks, explicit concerns on efficient resource allocation in the cognitive network have gained more attention. In this background, we propose a sensing-based dynamic spectrum sharing scheme for the cognitive satellite user, which is able to maximize the ergodic capacity of the satellite user with the interference of the primary terrestrial user below an acceptable average level. Firstly, the cognitive satellite user monitors the channel allocated to the terrestrial user through the wireless sensor network; then, it adjusts the transmit power based on the sensing results. If a terrestrial user is busy, the satellite user can access the channel with constrained power to avoid deteriorating the communication quality of the terrestrial user. Otherwise, if the terrestrial user is idle, the satellite user allocates the transmit power based on its benefit to enhance the capacity. Since the sensing-based dynamic spectrum sharing optimization problem can be modified into a nonlinear fraction programming problem in perfect/imperfect sensing conditions, respectively, we solve them by the Lagrange duality method. Computer simulations have shown that, compared with the opportunistic spectrum access, the proposed method can increase the channel capacity more than 20 % for P a v = 10 dB in a perfect sensing scenario. In an imperfect sensing scenario, P a v = 15 dB and Q a v = 5 dB, the optimal sensing time achieving the highest ergodic capacity is about 2.34 ms when the frame duration is 10 ms.
How Does Emotional Labor Impact Employees’ Perceptions of Well-Being? Examining the Mediating Role of Emotional Disorder
Authors: Yao Lixia , Gao Jie , Chen Chengye , Mu Dan
Published: December 2019

Since bank employees are prone to high psychological pressure, it is key to explore the influencing mechanism of their emotional labor so as to relieve their pressure, as well as improve organizational performance and service quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of emotional labor on bank employees’ well-being and to determine the mediating role of emotional disorder in this relationship. Employees responded to a survey regarding their use of emotional labor as well as perceptions of their well-being and emotional disorder. The results showed that employees’ use of emotional labor was related to their perceptions of well-being and confirmed the mediating role of emotional disorder in this relationship. The results indicated that surface acting has a significant negative impact on employee well-being, while deep acting has a significant positive impact. Moreover, emotional disorder played a role in mediating emotional labor and employee well-being, and emotional disorder was positively correlated with surface acting and negatively correlated with deep acting. The results revealed that developing deep-acting skills is important for increasing front-line bank staff’s well-being in China, who are accustomed to repressing their emotions, and emotional disorder might occur more often than has been previously believed, which worsens their well-being.