bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New types of chopped semi-finished products development
Authors: Klychkova M. V. , Kichko Y. S. , Romanko M. D. , Miroshnikova E. P.
Published: January 2020

Nowadays there is a need to develop new recipes and technologies that allow the production of chopped semi-finished products with a relatively low cost, original taste and long shelf life. Various curing mixtures, marinades, acid-containing products, seasonings and spices are used to improve the organoleptic characteristics of chopped semi-finished products. They include beer, red wine, lemon juice, marinade (laurel leaves, salt, black peppers, onions, lemon juice or vinegar).Today marinades are a new and little studied raw material for the production of semi-finished products. They give the meat a delicate texture, a pleasant aroma and can eliminate or weaken the undesirable odor, which is achieved by various spices and seasonings adding. The problem of chopped semi-finished products assortment expanding was considered in this paper. The recipe for chopped semi-finished products “Nur” based on several types of marinades with the application of fresh pomegranate seeds was developed to obtain an “original” and unusual new-generation food product. Fresh pomegranate seeds, which give the cutlets an unusual sweet and sour taste, were used in the recipe for all types of cutlets. The composition of the seeds of this fruit includes 15 amino acids and a large amount of fatty acids. Pomegranate is rich in carbohydrates, important B vitamins and vitamin C, minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron). Four types of chopped "Nur" cutlets with pomegranate and Lingonberry, Basil, Picantillo marinades and without adding marinade were made for research. The developed assortment of chopped semi-finished products has high nutritional and biological value, good organoleptic characteristics with a pronounced taste. According to the organoleptic indicators, the best is the chopped Nur cutlet with pomegranate and the addition of Picantillo marinade. Analyzing the data of studies on storage capacity, it should be noted that, subject to the established regime, changes in organoleptic indicators during storage are insignificant. When developing chopped "Nur" cutlets with pomegranate, the Lingonberry, Basil, Picantillo marinades, produced under the Cetrina trademark, cope successfully with the task of flavoring improving.
Hyperbolic Numbers in Modeling Genetic Phenomena
Authors: Petoukhov Sergey
Published: January 2020

The article is devoted to applications of 2-dimensional hyperbolic numbers and their algebraic 2n-dimensional extensions in modeling some genetic and cultural phenomena. Mathematical properties of hyperbolic numbers and of their bisymmetric matrix representations are described in a connection with their application to analyze the following structures: alphabets of DNA nucleobases; inherited phyllotaxis phenomena; Punnett squares in Mendelian genetics; the psychophisical Weber-Fechner law; long literary Russian texts (in their special binary representations). New methods of algebraic analysis of the harmony of musical works are proposed, taking into account the innate predisposition of people to music. The hypothesis is put forward that sets of eigenvectors of matrix representations of basis units of 2n-dimensional hyperbolic numbers play an important role in transmitting biological information and that they can be considered as one of foundations of coding information at different levels of biological organization. In addition, the hypothesis about some analogue of the Weber-Fechner law for sequences of spikes in single nerve fibers is formulated. The proposed algebraic approach is connected with the theme of a grammar of biology and applications of bisymmetric doubly stochastic matrices. Applications of hyperbolic numbers reveal hidden interrelations between structures of different biological and physical phenomena. They lead to new approaches in mathematical modeling genetic phenomena and innate biological structures.
Comparative Study of Tensile Properties between Fused Filament Fabricated and Injection-Molded Wood-PLA Composite Parts
Authors: Zandi M. Damous , Jerez-Mesa Ramon , Llumà Jordi , Jorba-Peiro Jordi , Travieso-Rodriguez J. Antonio
Published: January 2020

The present study evaluates the manufacturing parameters effects on the tensile properties of material composed by polylactic acid (PLA) with wood fibers known as Timberfill. The specimens were built through fused filament fabrication (FFF). The influence of four printing parameters (Layer height, Fill density, Printing velocity, and Orientation) are considered through a L27 Taguchi orthogonal array in order to reduce experimental runs. Tensile test is applied to obtain the response variable used as output results to perform the ANOVA calculations. Fill density is the most influential parameter on the tensile strength, followed by building orientation and layer height, whereas the printing velocity shows no significant influence. The optimal set of parameters and levels is found, being 75% fill density, 0○Z-axis orientation, 0.4 mm layer height, and 40 mm/s velocity as the best combination. Applying this combination showed 9.37 MPa in maximum tension. Lastly, five solid Timberfill specimens manufactured via injection molding technology were also tested and the results compared to the printed samples. The values of the elastic modulus, elastic limit, and maximum tension of the injected samples were almost twofold of those were obtained for the FFF samples, but the maximum elongation of injected specimens was fell sharply.
The Application of Photovoltaic Systems in Sacred Buildings for the Purpose of Electric Power Production: The Case Study of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade
Authors: Sudimac Budimir , Ugrinović Aleksandra , Jurčević Mišo
Published: January 2020

In light of climate changes, technological development and the use of renewable energy sources are considered very important nowadays, both in newly-designed structures and reconstructed historic building, resulting in the reduction of the commercial energy consumption and CO2 environmental emissions. This paper explores the possibilities of improving the energy efficiency of heritage sacred buildings by utilizing photovoltaic systems. As an exceptionally significant cultural good, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade shall serve as a case study, with the aim of examining the methods of mounting photovoltaic (PV) panels, by taking into account the fact that the authenticity and the aesthetic value of this cultural monument must remain intact. A comparative analysis of the two options for installing PV panels on the southwestern roof of the church was performed using simulations in PVgis and PVsist V6.84 software, with the aim of establishing the most efficient option in terms of power generation. The simulation results show that photovoltaic panels can produce 151650 kWh (Option 1) and 150894 kWh (Option 2) per year, while the required amount of energy is 42726.77 kWh. The electricity produced exceeds the electricity requirements for the decorative lighting of the Cathedral Church, so it can be used for other purposes in the sacral complex.
Spatial Analysis of Seasonal Precipitation over Iran: Co-Variation with Climate Indices
Authors: Dehghani Majid , Salehi Somayeh , Mosavi Amir , Nabipour Narjes , Shamshirband Shahab , Ghamisi Pedram
Published: January 2020

Temporary changes in precipitation may lead to sustained and severe drought or massive floods in different parts of the world. Knowing variation in precipitation can effectively help the water resources decision-makers in water resources management. Large-scale circulation drivers have a considerable impact on precipitation in different parts of the world. In this research, the impact of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on seasonal precipitation over Iran was investigated. For this purpose, 103 synoptic stations with at least 30 years of data were utilized. The Spearman correlation coefficient between the indices in the previous 12 months with seasonal precipitation was calculated, and the meaningful correlations were extracted. Then the month in which each of these indices has the highest correlation with seasonal precipitation was determined. Finally, the overall amount of increase or decrease in seasonal precipitation due to each of these indices was calculated. Results indicate the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), NAO, and PDO have the most impact on seasonal precipitation, respectively. Also, these indices have the highest impact on the precipitation in winter, autumn, spring, and summer, respectively. SOI has a diverse impact on winter precipitation compared to the PDO and NAO, while in the other seasons, each index has its special impact on seasonal precipitation. Generally, all indices in different phases may decrease the seasonal precipitation up to 100%. However, the seasonal precipitation may increase more than 100% in different seasons due to the impact of these indices. The results of this study can be used effectively in water resources management and especially in dam operation.
Residual Compressive Strength of Short Tubular Steel Columns with Local Corrosion Damage
Authors: Toledo Kyra Kamille , Kim Hyoung-Seok , Jeong Young-Soo , Kim In-Tae
Published: January 2020

Corrosion is considered as one of the main factors in the structural performance deterioration of steel members. In this study, experimental and numerical methods were used to assess the reduction in compressive strength of short tubular steel columns with local corrosion damage. The corrosion damage was varied with different depths (0, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 4.5, and 6 mm), height (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, and 180 mm), circumference (0, 90, 180, 270, and 360°), and location along the column. A parametric numerical study was performed to establish a correlation between the residual compressive strength and the severity of corrosion damage. The results showed that as the corrosion depth, height and circumference increased, the compressive strength decreased linearly. As for the corrosion height, the residual compressive strength became constant after decreasing linearly when the corrosion height was greater than the half-wavelength of buckling of the short columns. An equation is presented to evaluate the residual compressive strength of short columns with local corrosion wherein the volume of the corrosion damage was used as a reduction factor in calculating the compressive strength. The percentage error using the presented equation was found to be within 11.4%.
COIIoT - An Interface between CoAP and OSGP Protocols for the Integration of Internet of Things Devices with Smart Grids
Authors: Viel Felipe , Augusto Silva Luis , Leithardt Valderi , Villarubia González Gabriel , Celeste Ghizoni Teive Raimundo , Albenes Zeferino Cesar
Published: January 2020

The evolution and miniaturization of the technologies for processing, storage, and communication have enabled computer systems to process a high volume of information and make decisions without human intervention. Within this context, several systems architectures and models have gained prominences, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Grids (SGs). SGs use communication protocols to exchange information, among which the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) stands out. In contrast, this protocol does not have integration support with IoT systems that use some already consolidated communication protocols, such as the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP). Thus, this work develops the integration of the protocols OSGP and CoAP to allow the communication between conventional IoT systems and systems dedicated to SGs. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of this integration, with the minimum impact on the flow of commands and data, making possible the use of the developed CoAP-OSGP Interface for Internet of Things (COIIoT).
Antidiabetic Therapy in the Treatment of NASH
Authors: Sumida Yoshio , Yoneda Masashi , Tokushige Katsutoshi , Kawanaka Miwa , Fujii Hideki , Yoneda Masato , Imajo Kento , Takahashi Hirokazu , Eguchi Yuichiro , Ono Masafumi , Nozaki Yuichi , Hyogo Hideyuki , Koseki Masahiro , Yoshida Yuichi , Kawaguchi Takumi , Kamada Yoshihiro , Okanoue Takeshi , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: January 2020

Liver related diseases are the 3rd leading causes (9.3%) of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Japan. T2DM is closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD, can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic failure. There are no established pharmacotherapies for NASH patients with T2DM. Though vitamin E is established as a 1st line agent in NASH without T2DM, its efficacy was recently denied in NASH with T2DM. The effects of pioglitazone on NASH histology with T2DM have extensively been established, but several concerns exist such as body weight gain, fluid retention, cancer incidence, and bone fracture. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are expected to ameliorate NASH　(LEAN study, LEAD trial, and E-LIFT study). Among a variety of SGLT2 inhibitors, dapagliflozin have already entered phase 3 trials (DEAN study). A key clinical question is what kinds of anti-diabetic drugs are the most appropriate for the treatment of NASH to prevent progression of hepatic fibrosis resulting in HCC/liver-related mortality without increasing risk at cardiovascular or renal events. The combination therapies such as glucagon receptor agonist/GLP-1 or gastrointestinal peptide /GLP-1 will be under development. This review focuses on antidiabetic agents and future perspectives on the view of the treatment of NAFLD with T2DM.
Description and Genome Analysis of Methylotetracoccus aquaticus sp. nov. , a Novel Tropical Wetland Methanotroph, with the Amended Description of Methylotetracoccus gen. nov.
Authors: Rahalkar Monali , Khatri Kumal , Mohite Jyoti , Pandit Pranitha , Bahulikar Rahul
Published: January 2020

We enriched and isolated a novel gammproteobacterial methanotroph; strain FWC3, from tropical freshwater wetland, near Nagaon beach, Alibag, India. FWC3 is a coccoid, flesh pink/peach pigmented, non-motile methanotroph and the cells are present in pairs and as tetracocci. The culture can grow on methane (20%) as well as on a wide range of methanol from concentrations (0.02%-5%). Based on the comparison of genome data, FAME analysis, morphological characters and biochemical characters, FWC3 belongs to the tentatively and newly but not validly described genus ‘Methylotetracoccus’ of which only a single species strain was described, Methylotetracoccus oryzae C50C1. The ANI index between FWC3 and C50C1 strains is 94%, and the DDH value is 55.7%, less than the cut-off values 96% and 70%, respectively. The genome size of FWC3 is smaller (3.4 Mbp) compared to that of C50C1 (4.8 Mbp). Additionally, the FAME profile of FWC3 shows differences in cell wall fatty acid profiles compared to Methylotetracoccus oryzae C50C1. Also, there are other differences on the morphological, physiological and genomic levels. We propose FWC3 to be a member of a novel species of the genus Methylotetracoccus, for which the name Methylotetracoccus aquaticus is proposed. Also, an amended description of the genus Methylotetracoccus gen. nov. is given here. FWC3 is available in two international culture collections with the accession numbers: MCC 4198 (Microbial Culture collection, India) and JCM 33786 (Japan Collection of Microorganisms, Japan).
Beyond Modeling: A Roadmap to Community Cyberinfrastructure for Ecological Data-Model Integration
Authors: Fer Istem , Gardella Anthony K. , Shiklomanov Alexey N. , Serbin Shawn P. , De Kauwe Martin G. , Raiho Ann , Johnston Miriam R. , Desai Ankur , Viskari Toni , Quaife Tristan , LeBauer David S. , Cowdery Elizabeth M. , Kooper Rob , Fisher Joshua B. , Poulter Benjamin , Duveneck Matthew J. , Hoffman Forrest M. , Parton William , Mantooth Joshua , Campbell Eleanor E. , Haynes Katherine D. , Schaefer Kevin , Wilcox Kevin R. , Dietze Michael C.
Published: January 2020

In an era of rapid global change, our ability to understand and predict Earth's natural systems is lagging behind our ability to monitor and measure changes in the biosphere. Bottlenecks in our ability to process information have reduced our capacity to fully exploit the growing volume and variety of data. Here, we take a critical look at the information infrastructure that connects modeling and measurement efforts, and propose a roadmap that accelerates production of new knowledge. We propose that community cyberinfrastructure tools can help mend the divisions between empirical research and modeling, and accelerate the pace of discovery. A new era of data-model integration requires investment in accessible, scalable, transparent tools that integrate the expertise of the whole community, not just a clique of ‘modelers’. This roadmap focuses on five key opportunities for community tools: the underlying backbone to community cyberinfrastructure; data ingest; calibration of models to data; model-data benchmarking; and data assimilation and ecological forecasting. This community-driven approach is key to meeting the pressing needs of science and society in the 21st century.
Sole-Source LED Lighting and Fertility Impact Shoot and Root Tissue Mineral Elements in Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra)
Authors: Barickman T. Casey , Kopsell Dean A. , Sams Carl E. , Marrow Robert C.
Published: January 2020

The current study investigated the impacts of light quality and different levels of fertility on mineral nutrient concentrations in shoot and root tissues of Chinese kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). ‘Green Lance’ Chinese kale were grown under: 1) fluorescent/incandescent light; 2) 10% blue (447 ± 5 nm) / 90% red (627 ± 5 nm) LED light; 3) 20% blue / 80% red LED light; and 4) 40% blue / 60% red LED light as sole-source lighting at two different levels of fertility. All plants were harvested 30 d after seeding, and shoot and root tissues were analyzed for mineral nutrients. Lighting and fertility interacted to influence kale shoot and root mineral nutrient concentrations. Results indicate sole-source LED lighting used in production can impact mineral nutritional values of baby leafy greens now popular for the packaged market.
Characterization of Multiphase Flow in CHOPS Processes Using a Systematic Framework
Authors: Fan Zhaoqi , Yang Daoyong , Li Xiaoli
Published: January 2020

Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) technique has successfully improved oil recovery from heavy oil reservoirs due to high permeability channels resulted from sand failure and foamy oil flow enhancing heavy oil movability. However, impacts of the sand failure and the foamy oil flow on multiphase fluid flow features are still not properly understood. In this paper, an effective and systematic framework has been proposed to characterize the multiphase fluid flow and determine the three-phase relative permeability of CHOPS processes. A recently developed sand failure criterion and a relative permeability model have been integrated with a reservoir simulator to simulate the CHOPS process. The unknown parameters involved in the systematic framework are intelligently determined by an iterative ensemble smoother (IES) algorithm, which also enables sensitivity analysis on CHOPS production profiles. Subsequently, the proposed framework is tested through a laboratory CHOPS experiment. We obtained not only fairly history-matched production data (i.e., cumulative oil, gas, and sand production), but also satisfactorily converged three-phase relative permeability curves by iteratively assimilating production profiles of the CHOPS experiment. It has also been found that using two sets of three-phase relative permeability is capable of representing the segment-type nature of the multiphase flow and reproducing the transition stage on the production profiles. Furthermore, the comparison between two sets of three-phase relative permeability indicates that the sand failure phenomenon yields a reduced residual oil saturation and an increased oil/gas relative permeability. In addition, the sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the segment-type nature of production profiles results from the variation of key impact factors dominating the multiphase fluid flow in CHOPS processes. Overall, the proposed systematic framework can not only reproduce the physical phenomena of sand failure and foamy oil, but also provide a convenient tool to characterize the multiphase flow in CHOPS processes.
Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) improves regional ventilation in obese patients – a randomized controlled crossover trial
Authors: Weber Jonas , Straka Leonie , Borgmann Silke , Schmidt Johannes , Wirth Steffen , Schumann Stefan
Published: January 2020

Background
In obese patients, high closing capacity and low functional residual capacity increase the risk for expiratory alveolar collapse. Constant expiratory flow, as provided by the new flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) mode, was shown to improve lung recruitment. We hypothesized that lung aeration and respiratory mechanics improve in obese patients during FCV.
Methods
We compared FCV and volume-controlled (VCV) ventilation in 23 obese patients in a randomized cross-over setting. Starting with baseline measurements, ventilation settings were kept identical except for the ventilation mode related differences (VCV: inspiration to expiration ratio 1:2 with passive expiration, FCV: inspiration to expiration ratio 1:1 with active, linearized expiration). Primary endpoint of the study was the change of end-expiratory lung volume compared to baseline ventilation. Secondary endpoints were the change of mean lung volume, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic variables.
Results
The loss of end-expiratory lung volume and mean lung volume compared to baseline was lower during FCV compared to VCV (end-expiratory lung volume: FCV, -126 ± 207 ml; VCV, -316 ± 254 ml; p < 0.001, mean lung volume: FCV, -108.2 ± 198.6 ml; VCV, -315.8 ± 252.1 ml; p < 0.001) and at comparable plateau pressure (baseline, 19.6 ± 3.7; VCV, 20.2 ± 3.4; FCV, 20.2 ± 3.8 cmH2O; p = 0.441), mean tracheal pressure was higher (baseline, 13.1 ± 1.1; VCV, 12.9 ±1.2; FCV, 14.8 ± 2.2 cmH2O; p < 0.001). All other respiratory and hemodynamic variables were comparable between the ventilation modes.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that, compared to VCV, FCV improves regional ventilation distribution of the lung at comparable PEEP, tidal volume, PPlat and ventilation frequency. The increase in end-expiratory lung volume during FCV was probably caused by the increased mean tracheal pressure which can be attributed to the linearized expiratory pressure decline.
Acute myeloid leukemia with inv(16)(p13.1q22) and deletion of the 5’MYH11/3’CBFB gene fusion: a report of two cases and literature review.
Authors: Lv Lili , Yu Jingwei , Qi Zhongxia
Published: January 2020

Background
Abnormalities of chromosome 16 are found in about 5-8% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The AML with inv(16)(p13.1q22) or t(16;16)(p13.1;q22) is associated with a high rate of complete remission (CR) and favorable overall survival (OS) when treated with high-dose Cytarabine. At the inversion breakpoints, deletion of 3’ CBFB has been reported, but most of them were studied by chromosome and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. The genomic characteristics of such deletions remain largely undefined, hindering further understanding of the clinical significance of the deletions.
Case presentation
We report here two AML cases with inv(16) and deletion of the 5’ MYH11 /3’ CBFB gene fusion, which were characterized by chromosome, FISH, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray analyses. Both cases have achieved CR for more than three years.
Conclusions
Deletion of 3’ CBFB in AML with inv(16) is also accompanied with deletion of 5’ MYH11 in all the cases studied by SNP microarray, suggesting that 3’ CBFB and 5’ MYH11 were most likely deleted together as a fusion product of inv(16) instead of occurring separately. In concert with the findings of other published studies of similar patients, our study suggests that deletion of 5’ MYH11 /3’ CBFB in AML with inv(16) may not have negative impact on the prognosis of the disease.
Critical pathways and factors of non-health outcomes affecting self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes and their differences in patient preference in medical decision-making
Authors: Wang Ming-Jye , Lin Hung-Ming , Hung Li-Chen , Lo Yi-Ting
Published: January 2020

Background The effects of patient sustained self-care behaviors (SCB) on glycemic control are even greater than the effects of medical treatment, indicating the value of identifying the factors that influence SCB. To date, these factors have not been placed in one model to clarify the critical path affecting SCB. The aims of this study were to explore the relationships of these factors and the differences by decision-making preference.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among outpatients with type 2 diabetes at a regional teaching hospital. Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit 316 eligible patients via self-administered questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for analysis.Results Significant direct pathways were identified from health literacy (HL) to self-efficacy (SE), patient empowerment (PE), and SCB; from SE to SCB; and from PE to SCB. Indirect pathways were from HL to SCB via SE or PE. The pathway from HL to SE was significantly stronger in those preferring shared decision-making than in those who preferred physician decision-making.Conclusions HL is a critical factor in improving SCB in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the pathway from HL to SE differed the most by patient preference for making decisions. Therefore, developing an effective promotion strategy and application tools to improve the overall HL of diabetic is the cornerstone of enhancing SCB in this population.
Analysis of Influencing Factors of Community Management of Diabetes based on Adaptive-Lasso Logistic Regression Model
Authors: Lin Wei , Huang Zejuan , Cao Zhiqing , Zhou Jing , Tian Yang , Li Jiawei , Zheng Mingyue
Published: January 2020

Background: Influencing factors of community management of diabetes are complex and controversial, and how to select the most effective multiple influencing factors requires in-depth research. This study aims to analyse multiple influencing factors by adaptive-lasso logistic regression model for the effectiveness of diabetes management of the community to improve the efficiency and reduce the burden of diabetes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey (N=1,127) was adopted to establish the adaptive-lasso logistic regression model of influencing factors for community management of diabetic patients based on cluster sampling data of diabetic patients in Chengdu city, China. By comparing with the full-variable logistic model and the ridge logistic model to find the advantages of the adaptive lasso-logistic regression model in community diabetes management. Results: A total of 1,127 diabetic patients were included in the cross-sectional survey. The latest fasting blood glucose was included in the analysis. Among the included population, 90.6% of them had a fasting glucose level higher than 6.1mol/L, and 9.4% of them were below 6.1mol/L. By cross-validation, after folding eight times, the variables involved in the Adaptive lasso-logistic regression model include age, education level, main source of income, marital status, average monthly income, free medical service, basic medical insurance for residents, hospital history, number of follow-up evaluations by family doctor team, voluntary participation in community blood glucose measurement. The AIC and BIC criteria of adaptive lasso-logistic regression model were 2062 and 1981, which were lower than the full-variable logistic model (2349, 2023) and the ridge logistic model (2312, 2013). From the perspective of time cost, the adaptive-lasso logistic regression model was better than the other two models. Conclusions: The adaptive-lasso logistic regression model can be used to analyse the influencing factors of community management in patients with diabetes. Community intervention and intensive management measures can significantly improve the blood glucose status of patients with diabetes.
In vitro and In vivo recombination of heterologous modular for improving biosynthesis of astaxanthin in yeast
Authors: Qi Dan-Dan , Jin Jin , Liu Duo , Jia Bin , Yuan Ying-Jin
Published: January 2020

Bacground: Astaxanthin is a kind of tetraterpene with strong antioxygenic property. Concerning the safety and economy issue the biosynthesis of astaxanthin has greater potential than chemical synthesis and extraction from natural producers. However, the production of astaxanthin in microorganism is still limited by the poor efficiency of heterologous pathway.Results: To address the bottleneck of astaxanthin yield in microbe, we developed the in vitro and in vivo recombination methods to optimize the combination of heterologous modular ofβ-carotene ketolase (crtW) and hydroxylation (crtZ) from different species in engineered yeast strains. Finally, the astaxanthin yield of in vitro recombination and in vivo recombination were enhanced 2.11- to 8.51-fold and 3.05- to 9.71-fold compared to the parent strains, respectively. The highest astaxanthin producing yeast yQDD022 was obtained by the in vivo recombination with 6.05mg/g DCW of the astaxanthin yield. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the astaxanthin producing yeast of the in vivo recombination has higher efficiency and stability than that of the in vitro recombination.Conclusions: Recombination of heterologous modular by in vitro and in vivo provides a simple and efficient way to improve the astaxanthin yield in yeast. Both the in vitro and in vivo recombination methods enable high throughput screening of heterologous pathway by combining crtW and crtZ from different species. And the heterologous pathway constructed by the in vivo recombination is more stable than that of the in vitro recombination. This study not only found the underlying optimal combination of crtZ and crtW, but also provided a reference to greatly enhance desired compounds accumulation by evolving heterologous pathway.
The local hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in cultured human dermal papilla cells
Authors: Lee Eun Young , Nam You Jin , Kang Sangjin , Choi Eun Ju , Han Inbo , Kim Jinwan , Kim Dong Hyun , An Ji Hae , Lee Sunghou , Lee Min Ho , Chung Ji Hyung
Published: January 2020

Background: Stress is an important cause of skin disease, including hair loss. The hormonal response to stress is due to the HPA axis, which comprises hormones such as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) , adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) , and cortisol. Many reports have shown that CRF, a crucial stress hormone, inhibits hair growth and induces hair loss. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of CRF on human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) as well as hair follicles and to investigate whether the HPA axis was established in cultured human DPCs.Results: CRF inhibited hair shaft elongation and induced early catagen transition in human hair follicles. Hair follicle cells, both human DPCs and human ORSCs, expressed CRF and its receptors and responded to CRF. CRF inhibited the proliferation of human DPCs through cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) . Anagen-related cytokine levels were downregulated in CRF-treated human DPCs. Interestingly, increases in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) , ACTH, and cortisol were induced by CRF in human DPCs, and antagonists for the CRF receptor blocked the effects of this hormone. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that stress can cause hair loss by acting through stress hormones. Additionally, these results suggested that a fully functional HPA axis exists in human DPCs and that CRF directly affects human DPCs as well as human hair follicles under stress conditions.
Multiplex and On-site PCR detection of swine diseases based on the microfluidic chip system
Authors: Zhou Bin , Jiang Yan , Wu Yue , Jiang Shan , Wang Kaiming , Zeng Dexin , Chen Gan
Published: January 2020

Background：﻿At present, the process of inspection and quarantine starts with sampling at the customs port, continues with transporting the samples to the central laboratory for inspection experiments, and ends with the inspected results being fed back to the port. This process takes a rather long time, has the risks of degradation of biological samples [32] and generation of pathogenic microorganisms [33], and does not meet the rapid on-site detection demand [34]. Therefore, development of a technology for rapid and high- throughput detection of pathogenic microorganisms at the customs port is of great significance. This study was to develop a microfluidic chip to be applied to rapid high-throughput swine disease detection with higher accuracy and lower risk of spreading pathogenic microorganisms during transportation.Results: PCR technology has the advantages of high accurate and sensitivity in disease detection, clinical testing and food quarantine, so it plays an important role in customs inspection. However, the traditional PCR detection instrument has a large size, is time-consuming and has strict requirements on the experimental environment, which greatly limit its application in on-site testing. In this paper, the clinical samples of four swine diseases were detected by a portable and rapid microfluidic PCR system, which could achieve a on- site real-time quantitative PCR detection. Eight clinical samples were detected together on the microfluidic chip in the system, and the detection results were obtained in about an hour. The detection limit of this microfluidic PCR detection system was as low as 1 copies/μL. The results show that the high sensitivity and specificity of the microfluidic PCR detection system in disease detection will play an important role in customs inspection and quarantine during customs clearance.Conclusion: The microfluidic PCR detection system established in this study could meet the requirements for rapid detection of samples at the customs portThe new method can avoid the risky process of transporting the samples from the sampling site to the testing lab, and drastically reducing the inspection cycle, and would enable parallel inspections on one chip which greatly raising the efficiency of inspection.
Exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and their coping mechanisms in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana
Authors: Bonsu Winifred Serwaa , Adei Dina , Agyemang-Duah Williams
Published: January 2020

Background: Despite the contribution of the baking industry to employment creation and income generation in low-and middle-income countries, the sector is also prone to occupational health and safety challenges which could undermine the quality of life and wellbeing of bakers within the industry. However, studies on the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers and the strategies they employ to control their exposure to occupational hazards are still lacking in Ghana. In this study, we aimed at examining the exposure to occupational hazards among bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana and further explore their coping mechanisms. Methods: By employing a cross-sectional design, the study was conducted among 172 bakers in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. A questionnaire consisting of both closed and open-ended questions was used to take data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were adopted to analyze the data. Results: We found that the participants were exposed to different types of occupational hazards including physical (noise, flour dust/smoke, fire, and high temperature), biological (mosquitoes, insects and rodents), psychosocial (stress, verbal abuse, and poor interpersonal relationship), chemical (chemicals in the local soap used to clean and wash napkins after baking), and ergonomic hazards (standing, sitting and bending repetitively). Some of the coping mechanisms employed to reduce exposure to the various types of occupational hazards comprise the use of a wooden and metallic peel to place and remove bread from the oven, removing excess fire from the oven with a peel, use of mosquito repellent and coil, rest breaks and staying hydrated. Conclusion: The findings from this study are therefore critical to informing policymakers in implementing occupational health and safety policies to safeguard the health of bakers in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries. We suggest that there should be participatory and action-oriented programs organized for bakers at their weekly meetings to discuss relevant occupational health and safety issues. Union executives should carry out worksite inspection accompanied by a checklist to monitor the progress of the sessions held during meetings.
Gene networks and expression quantitative trait loci associated with platinum-based chemotherapy response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Choi Jihoon , Tarnouskaya Anastasiya , Nesdoly Sean , Topouza Danai G. , Koti Madhuri , Duan Qingling
Published: January 2020

Background A major impediment in the treatment of ovarian cancer is the relapse of platinum-resistant tumors, which occurs in approximately 25% of patients. A better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying platinum-based response will improve treatment efficacy through genetic testing and novel therapies.Methods Using data from high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we classified those who remained progression-free for 12 months following platinum-based chemotherapy as “chemo-sensitive” (N=160) and those who had recurrence within six months as “chemo-resistant” (N=110). Univariate and multivariate analysis of expression microarrays identified differentially expressed genes and co-expression gene networks associated with chemotherapy response. Moreover, we integrated genomics data to determine expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL).Results Differential expression of the Valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene and five co-expression gene networks were associated with chemotherapy response in HGSOC. VCP and the gene networks contribute to protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, which has been implicated in chemotherapy response. These findings were successfully replicated using independent replication cohort. Furthermore, 192 QTLs were associated with these gene networks and BRCA2 expression.Conclusion This study implicates both known and novel genes as well as biological networks underlying response to platinum-based chemotherapy among HGSOC patients.
Clinicopathological significance and prognosis of long noncoding RNA SNHG16 expression in human cancers: a meta-analysis
Authors: Jiao Ruonan , Jiang Wei , Wei Xin , Zhang Mengpei , Zhao Si , Huang Guangming
Published: January 2020

Background Recent studies have highlighted the important role of long non-coding RNA SNHG16 in various human cancers. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of SNHG16 expression on clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with different kinds of human cancers.Methods We performed a systematic search in electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, to investigate the potential association between SNHG16 expression and prognostic significance and clinical features in cancer patients. Odds ratios (ORs) or hazards ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled to estimate the prognosis value of SNHG16 by StataSE 15.0 software.Results A total of 16 eligible studies with 1299 patients were enrolled in our meta-analysis. The results revealed that increased expression level of SNHG16 was significantly associated with larger tumor size (OR: 3.357; 95% CI: 2.173-5.185; P < 0.001), advanced TNM stage (OR: 2.930; 95% CI: 1.522-5.640; P = 0.001) and poor histological grade (OR: 3.943; 95% CI: 1.955-7.952; P < 0.001), but not correlated with smoking status (P = 0.489), sex (P = 0.932), distant metastasis (P = 0.052), or lymph node metastasis (P = 0.155). Moreover, the pooled HR showed that elevated expression SNHG16 was associated with a significantly poorer overall survival (OS) (HR=1.866, 95% CI: 1.571-2.216, P <0.001).Conclusions LncRNA SNHG16 overexpression might serve as a convinced unfavorable prognostic factor, which provides a basis for medical workers to evaluate the prognosis of patients and to help the decision-making process.
Factors associated with maternal near-miss at Public hospitals of South-East Ethiopia: An institutional based cross-sectional study
Authors: Mekonnen Ashenafi , Fikadu Genet , Seyoum Kenbon , Ganfure Gemechu , Degno Sisay , Atlaw Daniel , Nigussie Abebaw
Published: January 2020

Background Maternal near-miss precedes maternal mortality and women are still alive indicating that the numbers of near misses occur more often than maternal mortality. This study aims to assess the prevalence of maternal near-miss and associated factors at public hospitals of Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia.Methods Facility-based cross-sectional study design was carried out from October 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019, among 300 women admitted to maternity wards. A structured questionnaire and checklist were used to collect data. Epi-info for data entry and statistical package for social science for analysis were used. The descriptive findings were summarized using tables and text. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05 were used to examine the association between the independent and dependent variables.Result The prevalence of maternal near-miss in our study area was 28.7%. Being age less than 20 years, age of first marriage less than 20 years, having husband with primary school complete and being from rural residence are factors significantly associated with maternal near miss. The zonal health department in collaboration with the education department and Justice Office has to mitigate early marriage by educating the community about the impacts of early marriage on health.
Lower level of complement component C3 and C3a in the plasma means poor outcome in the patients with hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Li Qian , Lu Qing , Zhu Meng-Qi , Huang Chong , Yu Kang-Kang , Huang Yu-Xian , Zhao Xu , Luo Xing-Guang , Zheng Jian-Ming
Published: January 2020

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not the complement system is activated systemically activated and to specify the clinical and prognostic implications of its components during hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).Methods Blood samples from twenty-seven patients diagnosed with HBV-ACLF, twenty-five patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B but without liver failure, and nine health volunteers were enrolled in this survey. Plasma complement components were measured with Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlative analysis were assessed between the levels of complement components and the liver failure related index.Results The concentrations of C1q, C3, C3a, C4, C4a and sC5b-9 were significantly higher in the control group than those in the HBV-ACLF group (3.5, 2.4, 2.1, 1.4, 1.3 and 6.0 fold, respectively). However, there was no statistical significance of the differences in the plasma concentrations of mannose binding lectin and factor B between the HBV-ACLF and control groups. The levels of C3 and C3a were inversely correlated with MELDs (P < 0.05) or CLIF-C OFs (P < 0.05).Conclusions Our data demonstrated that the plasma levels of C3 and C3a might be potential novel biomarkers to predict the outcome of HBV-ACLF.
Dihydrolipoic acid protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral deficits and neuroinflammation via regulation of Nrf2/HO-1/ NLRP3 signaling in rat
Authors: Bian Hetao , Wang Gaohua , Huang Junjie , Liang Liang , Zheng Yage , Wei Yanyan , Wang Hui , Xiao Ling , Wang Huiling
Published: January 2020

Background: Recently, depression has been identified as prevalent and severe mental disorder. However, the mechanisms underlying the depression risk remain elusive. The neuroinflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation are known to be involved in the pathology of depression. Dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) has been reported as a strong antioxidant and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in various diseases, albeit the direct relevance between DHLA and depression is yet unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-depressant effects and potential mechanism of DHLA in the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression animal model. Methods: Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were utilized. LPS and DHLA were injected intraperitoneally every 2 days and daily, respectively. Fluoxetine(Flu) was injected intraperitoneally daily. PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK, was injected intraperitoneally one hour before DHLA injection daily. Small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for nuclear factor erythroid 2-like (Nrf2) was injected into the bilateral hippocampus 14 days before the DHLA injection. Depression-like behavior tests were performed. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining detected the ERK/Nrf2/HO-1/ROS/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins. Results: The DHLA and fluoxetine treatment exerted anti-depressant effects in LPS-induced depression rats. The DHLA treatment increased the expression of ERK, Nrf2, and HO-1 but decreased the ROS generation levels and reduced the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1b in LPS-induced depression rats. PD98059 abolished the effects of DHLA on anti-depression as well as the levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins. Similarly, Nrf2 siRNA reversed the anti-depressant effect of DHLA administration via the decreased expression of HO-1. Conclusions: These findings suggested that DHLA exerted anti-depressant-like effects via ERK/Nrf2/HO-1/ROS/NLRP3 pathway in LPS-induced depression rats. Thus, DHLA may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for depression.
Treatment of thoracolumbar fractures by temporary posterior instrumentation with selective fusion schemes
Authors: Zheng Xiaochen , Liu Jia , Jiang Enze , Niu DongYang , Li Peng , Hou XiuWei , Xu Guohua
Published: January 2020

Objective: This retrospective study investigated the clinical and radiographic outcomes following temporary transpedicular posterior instrumentation between two cohorts of patients with thoracolumbar fractures (TLF) who underwent selective or bi-segments intervertebral articular process fusion.Materials and Methods: Patients with TLF who underwent the temporary posterior fixation with selective fusion (Group SF), or bi-segments fusion (Group BF) were studied. Superior intervertebral articular process and interlaminar fusion were performed in Group SF, whereas in Group BF, the patients underwent bi-segments fusion in both superior and inferior articular processes, as well as interlaminar fusion. We measured the distal and proximal intervertebral mobility, regional kyphotic angle, and vertebral height before and after surgery in both groups. Greenough Low-Back Outcome Score was used to assess the clinical outcomes.Results: Sixty-five patients with TLF from T12 to L2 fractures were enrolled in the study period: 23 patients in the Group SF and 22 patients in the Group BF. All the patients experienced fracture healing (mean follow-up time: 19.7 months). The mean postoperative functional outcomes were 65.0±2.0 points for the Low-Back Outcome Score in the Group SF and 65.2±1.8 for the Group BF. A progressive regional kyphotic angle was observed with time regardless of fusion but was not significantly different between the two groups. There was a statistical difference between unfused inferior proximal adjacent and inferior distal adjacent segment regardless of fracture segments.Conclusion: The strategy of selective fusion is reported to be useful for the treatment of patients with TLF. The motion in the un-fused and adjacent segment could be better regained after instrumentation removal in the selectively fusion group.