bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Model and Analysis of Integrating Wind and PV Power in Remote and Core Areas with Small Hydropower and Pumped Hydropower Storage
Authors: Wang Xianxun , Chen Lihua , Chen Qijuan , Mei Yadong , Wang Hao
Published: December 2018

Small hydropower (SHP) and pumped hydropower storage (PHS) are ideal members of power systems with regard to integrating intermittent power production from wind and PV facilities in modern power systems using the high penetration of renewable energy. Due to the limited capacity of SHP and the geographic restrictions of PHS, these power sources have not been adequately utilized in multi-energy integration. On the one hand, rapidly increasing wind/PV power is mostly situated in remote areas (i.e., mountain and rural areas) and is delivered to core areas (i.e., manufacturing bases and cities) for environmental protection and economic profit. On the other hand, SHP is commonly dispersed in remote areas and PHS is usually located in core areas. This paper proposes a strategy to take advantage of the distribution and regulation features of these renewable energy sources by presenting two models, which includes a remote power system model to explore the potential of SHP to smooth the short-term fluctuations in wind and PV power by minimizing output fluctuations as well as a core power system model to employ PHS to shift the surplus power to the peak period by maximizing the income from selling regenerated power and minimizing output fluctuations. In the proposed first model, the cooperative regulation not only dispatches SHP with a reciprocal output shape to the wind/PV output to smooth the fluctuations but also operates the reservoir with the scheduled total power production by adjusting its output in parallel. The results of a case study based on a municipal power system in Southwestern China show that, with the proposed method, SHP can successfully smooth the short-term fluctuations in wind and PV power without influencing the daily total power production. Additionally, SHP can replace the thermal power production with renewable power production, smooth the thermal output, and further reduce the operation costs of thermal power. By storing the surplus power in the upper reservoir and regenerating the power during the peak period, PHS can obtain not only the economic benefit of selling the power at high prices but also the environmental benefit of replacing non-renewable power with renewable power. This study provides a feasible approach to explore the potential of SHP and PHS in multi-energy integration applications.
A New Method for Computing the Delay Margin for the Stability of Load Frequency Control Systems
Authors: Khalil Ashraf , Swee Peng Ang
Published: December 2018

Open communication is an exigent need for future power systems, where time delay is unavoidable. In order to secure the stability of the grid, the frequency must remain within its limited range which is achieved through the load frequency control. Load frequency control signals are transmitted through communication networks which induce time delays that could destabilize power systems. So, in order to guarantee stability, the delay margin should be computed. In this paper, we present a new method for calculating the delay margin in load frequency control systems. The transcendental time delay characteristics equation is transformed into a frequency dependent equation. The spectral radius was used to find the frequencies at which the root crosses the imaginary axis. The crossing frequencies were determined through the sweeping test and the binary iteration algorithm. A one-area load frequency control system was chosen as a case study. The effectiveness of the proposed method was proven through comparison with the most recent published methods. The method shows its merit with less conservativeness and less computations. The impact of the proportional integral (PI) controller gains on the delay margin was investigated. It was found that increasing the PI controller gains reduces the delay margin.
Financial Market Development and Pollution Nexus in Saudi Arabia: Asymmetrical Analysis
Authors: Mahmood Haider , Alrasheed Abdullatif Sulaiman , Furqan Maham
Published: December 2018

The study is aimed to scrutinize the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in Saudi Arabia by analyzing a period of 1971–2014. Asymmetrical impacts of Financial Market Development (FMD) and energy consumption per capita have also been tested on CO2 emissions per capita. The estimates buoyed the long and short-run relationships in the hypothesized model, and EKC is found to be true in terms of the relationship between income and pollution. Asymmetrical effects of FMD in the long run and asymmetrical effects of energy consumption per capita in the long and short run are presented on the CO2 emissions per capita. A decreasing FMD is found responsible for environmental degradation, and decreasing energy consumption per capita is found helpful in controlling CO2 emissions. The tested effect of the financial crisis is found insignificant on CO2 emissions.
Developing a BLE Beacon-Based Location System Using Location Fingerprint Positioning for Smart Home Power Management
Authors: Ke ChihKun , Wu MeiYu , Chan YuWei , Lu KeCheng
Published: December 2018

In recent years, smart homes have begun to use various sensors to detect the location of users indoors. However, such sensors may not be stable, resulting in high detection error rates. Thus, how to improve indoor positioning accuracy has become an important topic. This study explored Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacon indoor positioning for smart home power management. A novel system framework using BLE Beacon was proposed to detect the user location, and to perform power management in the home through a mobile device application. Since the BLE Beacon may produce a multipath effect, this study used the positioning algorithm and hardware configuration to reduce the error rate. Location fingerprint positioning algorithm and filter modification were used to establish a positioning method for facilitating deployment, and to reduce the required computing resources. The experiments included an observation of the Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) and selecting filters and a discussion of the relationship between the characteristics of the BLE Beacon signal accuracy and the number of the BLE Beacons deployed in the observation space. The BLE Beacon multilateration positioning was combined with the In-Snergy intelligent energy management system for smart home power management. The contribution of this study is to allow users to enjoy smart home services based on their location within the home using a mobile device application.
Total Harmonic Distortion Oriented Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control for Single-Phase Inverters
Authors: Li Po , Li Ruiyu , Feng Haifeng
Published: December 2018

Inverters are commonly controlled to generate AC current and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is the core index in judging the control effect. In this paper, a THD oriented Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS MPC) scheme is proposed for the single-phase inverter, where a optimization problem is solved to obtain the switching law for realization. Different from the traditional cost function, which focuses on the instantaneous deviation of amplitude between predictive current and its reference, we redesign a cost function that is the linear combination of the current fundamental tracking error, instantaneous THD value and DC component in one fundamental cycle (for 50 Hz, it is 0.02 s). Iterative method is developed for rapid calculation of this cost function. By choosing a switching state from a FCS to minimize the cost function, a FCS MPC is finally constructed. Simulation results in Matlab/Simulink and experimental results on rapid control prototype platform show the effect of this method. Analyses illustrate that, by choosing suitable weight of the cost function, the performance of this THD oriented FCS MPC method is better than the traditional one.
Three-Phase Saturated-Core Fault Current Limiter
Authors: Shen Haocong , Mei Fei , Zheng Jianyong , Sha Haoyuan , She Changjia
Published: December 2018

The saturated-core fault current limiter (SFCL) is widely used to limit the fault current. However, in the conventional SFCL structure, alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) coils are wound on different loosely coupled cores. Owing to the leakage inductance, the traditional structure demonstrates relatively large demand for DC excitation power and excessive impedance during saturation. In this study, a new structure for winding closely coupled DC and AC coils on the same core in three phases is proposed to reduce the influence of leakage reactance on the SFCL performance. The leakage magnetic flux generated by both structures is analyzed by performing finite element analysis simulations and utilizing a magnetic field division method. The impedance of the limiter is measured at different DC currents and air gaps to optimize its dynamic performance. A fabricated prototype of the proposed limiter exhibits smaller steady-state losses and high current-limiting capability.
Bank Retreat and Streambank Morphology of a Meandering River during Summer and Single Flood Events in Northern Norway
Authors: Foerst Markus , Rüther Nils
Published: December 2018

In recent years, advanced methods for measuring riverbank migration have been used to understand the process of river planform evolution. However, the role of the so-called outer secondary cell in the hydraulic pattern in bank erosion remains unclear. For this purpose, a natural river meander with high curvature bends and steep riverbanks was chosen to quantify bank migration by high-resolution terrestrial laser scanning of three patches along two river bends in four time intervals. The first two time intervals were seasonal, from spring to autumn, and with relatively few water level changes, whereas the third and fourth time intervals were short, just before and after single flood peak events. The yielded point clouds were filtered and digital elevation models (DEMs) were created. These DEMs were used to analyze bank retreat, riverbank morphology, and slope gradient changes in order to understand the role of the outer secondary cell in these processes. In addition, it is shown that storm events causing short peaks in river discharge are less important for river migration than longer-lasting medium discharge.
Modelization of Nutrient Removal Processes at a Large WWTP Using a Modified ASM2d Model
Authors: Drewnowski Jakub , Makinia Jacek , Kopec Lukasz , Fernandez-Morales Francisco-Jesus
Published: December 2018

The biodegradation of particulate substrates starts by a hydrolytic stage. Hydrolysis is a slow reaction and usually becomes the rate limiting step of the organic substrates biodegradation. The objective of this work was to evaluate a novel hydrolysis concept based on a modification of the activated sludge model (ASM2d) and to compare it with the original ASM2d model. The hydrolysis concept was developed in order to accurately predict the use of internal carbon sources in enhanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes at a full scale facility located in northern Poland. Both hydrolysis concepts were compared based on the accuracy of their predictions for the main processes taking place at a full-scale facility. From the comparison, it was observed that the modified ASM2d model presented similar predictions to those of the original ASM2d model on the behavior of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4-N, NO3-N, and PO4-P. However, the modified model proposed in this work yield better predictions of the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) (up to 5.6 and 5.7%) as well as in the phosphate release and uptake rates.
Effects of Air Pollution Control on Urban Development Quality in Chinese Cities Based on Spatial Durbin Model
Authors: Feng Yanchao , Wang Xiaohong , Du Wenchao , Liu Jun
Published: December 2018

With the rapid development of urbanization, industrialization, and motorization, a large number of Chinese cities have been affected by heavy air pollution. In order to promote the development quality of Chinese cities, mixed regulations to control air pollution have been implemented under the lead of government. The principal component analysis and efficacy coefficient method are used to estimate urban development quality, according to the panel data of 285 prefecture-level cities in China over the period 2003–2016. On this basis, the paper uses the spatial Durbin model to study the direct impact and the spatial spillover effect of air pollution control on urban development quality in China. Results show that the control of smoke and dust has improved urban development quality in China, however, the control of sulfur dioxide has led to the decline of urban development quality in China. Furthermore, the impact of air pollution control on urban development quality in the eastern region is of great significance in statistical tests, while the situation in the central and western regions has not passed the test, implying the spatial heterogeneity among different regions. The different effects of air pollution control on urban development quality in different regions also illustrate the consciousness and supervision of local governments’ environment protection. Finally, the effects decomposition of the influencing factors based on spatial Durbin model (SDM) also supports the robust findings. Promoting the upgrading of energy consumption structure, raising awareness of environmental protection and supervision, and strengthening cooperation of different regions are suggested. Further recommendations are provided to improve the conceptual design and increase the credibility of our research. Our study not only provides new evidence on the impact of air pollution control on urban development quality in China, but also proposes a new perspective to promote urban development quality in China.
Perceived Facilitators and Barriers in Response to a Walking Intervention in Rural Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Frensham Lauren J. , Parfitt Gaynor , Stanley Rebecca , Dollman James
Published: December 2018

Physical activity has numerous associated benefits for cancer survivors. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural and remote Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rate after the diagnosis of cancer. The purpose of this qualitative study was to (a) investigate factors that motivated or inhibited walking in rural participants during a 12-week intervention and (b) to investigate factors that motivated or inhibited physical activity behavior change three months post-intervention. Ten cancer survivors living in rural areas of South Australia participated in a 12-week computer-delivered walking-based intervention during which they reported daily steps, daily affect, and ratings of perceived exertion. Based on this information, individualized daily step goals were sent to them to increase walking. Following the intervention, participants engaged in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. Participants identified a range of physical, psychological, social, environmental, and organizational motivators and barriers. Participants appreciated the monitoring and support from the research team, but some voiced a need for better transition to post-program and many desired ongoing support to maintain their motivation. Future studies should incorporate strategies to help walking behavior to become more intrinsically motivated and therefore sustained.
Heavy Metal and Metalloid Pollution of Soil, Water and Foods in Bangladesh: A Critical Review
Authors: Islam M. Mominul , Karim Md. Rezaul , Zheng Xin , Li Xiaofang
Published: December 2018

Bangladesh is a densely populated developing country. Both industrialization and geological sources have caused widespread heavy metal and metalloid pollution in Bangladesh, which is now posing substantial threats to the local people. In this review, we carried out one of the most exhaustive literature analyses on the current status of Bangladesh heavy metal and metalloid pollution, covering water, soil, and foods. Analysis showed that soils near high traffic and industrial areas contain high concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids. Agricultural land and vegetables in sewage-irrigated areas were also found to be heavy metal- and metalloid-contaminated. River water, sediment, and fish from the Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, and Karnaphuli rivers are highly contaminated with cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and chromium (Cr). Particularly, groundwater arsenic (As) pollution associated with high geological background levels in Bangladesh is well reported and is hitherto the largest mass poisoning in the world. Overall, the contamination levels of heavy metals and metalloids vary among the cities, with industrial areas being most polluted. In all, this review provides a quantitative identification of the As, Pb, Cd, and Cr contamination hotspots in Bangladesh based on the literature, which may be useful to environmental restorationists and local policy makers.
Effect of Road Safety Education on Road Risky Behaviors of Spanish Children and Adolescents: Findings from a National Study
Authors: Alonso Francisco , Esteban Cristina , Useche Sergio , Colomer Natura
Published: December 2018

Background: Road Safety Education (RSE) is widely known as a reliable determinant of the future results for what concerns health and welfare and as an undisputable factor which contributes to the social behavior of individuals and to their mid- and long-term road safety outcomes. However, its development has been relatively scarce in most countries, a fact which has contributed to letting matters as delicate as traffic crashes, largely explained by road misbehaviors, continue to be a prevalent problem, thus affecting the health of the community. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between demographic and RSE-related variables and the self-reported road risky behavior of Spanish students. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a representative sample of 4062 (51.5% males and 48.5% females) participants attending primary (47.5%), secondary (40.7%), and high school (11.7%) was gathered through a national survey on RSE and road behaviors. Results: A set of significant associations between demographic factors, RSE variables, and self-reported road behaviors was found. Furthermore, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) allowed us to establish that age and observed misbehaviors (positively), and attitudes towards road safety and risk perception (negatively), have a direct link with the road risky behavior of children and young people. The knowledge of traffic rules was not a significant predictor of road behavior. Conclusions: The results of this study show that, together with demographic factors such as age, RSE-related variables have an effect on the road behavior of children and young people. They also suggest the need for strengthening actions to be implemented in road safety (Road Safety Education) at scholar and community levels.
Mother’s Fruit Preferences and Consumption Support Similar Attitudes and Behaviors in Their Children
Authors: Groele Barbara , Głąbska Dominika , Gutkowska Krystyna , Guzek Dominika
Published: December 2018

Insufficient fruit intake is observed worldwide despite the generally higher preference for consumption of fruits than vegetables. For children, the determinants of consumption, such as at-home accessibility and parental consumption patterns, may especially influence fruit intake. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between fruit consumption behaviors and the preferences of mothers and their declared behaviors and preferences of children. The study was conducted in national samples of Polish (n = 1200) and Romanian (n = 1157) mothers of children aged 3–10 years (random quota sampling; quotas: age, education and place of residence) by using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Mothers were asked about their general frequency of fruit consumption and their and their children’s most preferred fruits. A 24-h dietary recall of fruit intake was conducted for mothers and children. Significant associations were observed for (1) fruit consumption behaviors of mothers and children, (2) fruit consumption preferences of mothers and their declared preferences of their children, and (3) fruit consumption preferences of mothers and behaviors of their children. The associations were very strong for all fruits, both for Polish and Romanian samples. In order to increase the fruit intake of children, it is necessary to influence the fruit consumption preferences and behaviors of mothers.
Loss of Multimerin-2 and EMILIN-2 Expression in Gastric Cancer Associate with Altered Angiogenesis
Authors: Andreuzzi Eva , Capuano Alessandra , Pellicani Rosanna , Poletto Evelina , Doliana Roberto , Maiero Stefania , Fornasarig Mara , Magris Raffaella , Colombatti Alfonso , Cannizzaro Renato , Spessotto Paola , Mongiat Maurizio
Published: December 2018

Gastric cancer is a deadly tumor and a relatively common disease worldwide. Surgical resection and chemotherapy are the main clinical options to treat this type of disease, however the median overall survival rate is limited to one year. Thus, the development of new therapies is a highly necessary clinical need. Angiogenesis is a promising target for this tumor type, however clinical trials with the use of anti-angiogenic drugs have so far not met expectations. Therefore, it is important to better characterize the expression of molecules whose expression levels may impact on the efficacy of the treatments. In this study the characteristics of the gastric tumor associated blood vessels were first assessed by endomicroscopy. Next, we analyzed the expression of Multimerin-2, EMILIN-2 and EMILIN-1, three molecules of the EMI Domain ENdowed (EDEN) protein family. These molecules play important functions in the tumor microenvironment, affecting cancer progression both directly and indirectly impinging on angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. All the molecules were highly expressed in the normal mucosa whereas in a number of patients their expression was altered. We consider that better characterizing the gastric tumor microenvironment and the quality of the vasculature may achieve effective patient tailored therapies.
UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Reveals Hypoglycemic Effects of Rehmannia glutinosa, Coptis chinensis and Their Combination on High-Fat-Diet-Induced Diabetes in KK-Ay Mice
Authors: Qin Zhenxian , Wang Wei , Liao Dengqun , Wu Xiaoying , Li Xian’en
Published: December 2018

Diabetes is a worldwide severe health issue which causes various complications. This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG), Coptis chinensis (CC) alone and their combination on high-fat-diet-induced diabetes in mice via biochemical assays and UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based serum metabolomic analysis. Diabetic KK-Ay mice were induced by high-fat diet and treated for eight weeks, separately with RG, CC and their combination and the positive control drug metformin. Administration of RG and CC alone, and their combination could decrease the fasting blood glucose level, ameliorate the tolerance of glucose, and recover the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in sera of diabetic mice. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) on serum metabolomes revealed that 79 ESI+ and 76 ESI− metabolites were changed by diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to the normal control. Heatmaps on these diabetes-related metabolites showed that CC and RG/CC were clustered closer with the normal control, indicating that they had the better antidiabetic effects at the metabolite level. Fifteen of the differential metabolites in DM serum were annotated and their related metabolic pathways were lipid metabolism. These data suggested that RG and CC alone and in combination treatment had the antidiabetic activity in lowering glycemia and improving lipid metabolism. UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-based metabolomics shed light on the differential metabolite effects of RG and CC in DM treatment. However, it should be noted that some differential metabolites were possibly generated or not detected due to our groupwise run order, which possibly contributed to or covered the group difference in our experiment. They need to be further discriminated in the future work.
Overexpression of Arabidopsis OPR3 in Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Alters Plant Development and Freezing Tolerance
Authors: Pigolev Alexey V. , Miroshnichenko Dmitry N. , Pushin Alexander S. , Terentyev Vasily V. , Boutanayev Alexander M. , Dolgov Sergey V. , Savchenko Tatyana V.
Published: December 2018

Jasmonates are plant hormones that are involved in the regulation of different aspects of plant life, wherein their functions and molecular mechanisms of action in wheat are still poorly studied. With the aim of gaining more insights into the role of jasmonic acid (JA) in wheat growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses, we have generated transgenic bread wheat plants overexpressing Arabidopsis 12-OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE 3 (AtOPR3), one of the key genes of the JA biosynthesis pathway. Analysis of transgenic plants showed that AtOPR3 overexpression affects wheat development, including germination, growth, flowering time, senescence, and alters tolerance to environmental stresses. Transgenic wheat plants with high AtOPR3 expression levels have increased basal levels of JA, and up-regulated expression of ALLENE OXIDE SYNTHASE, a jasmonate biosynthesis pathway gene that is known to be regulated by a positive feedback loop that maintains and boosts JA levels. Transgenic wheat plants with high AtOPR3 expression levels are characterized by delayed germination, slower growth, late flowering and senescence, and improved tolerance to short-term freezing. The work demonstrates that genetic modification of the jasmonate pathway is a suitable tool for the modulation of developmental traits and stress responses in wheat.
The miRNA Expression Profile of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Reveals Novel Potential Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Venkatesha Shivaprasad H. , Dudics Steven , Song Yang , Mahurkar Anup , Moudgil Kamal D.
Published: December 2018

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating autoimmune disease affecting over 2.3 million people worldwide, and it is characterized by inflammation and demyelination of nerve cells. The currently available biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of MS have inherent limitations, therefore, additional new biomarkers are needed. We studied the microRNA (miRNA) profile of splenocytes of mice having experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model of human MS. A miRNA-microarray analysis revealed increased expression of nine miRNAs (let-7e, miR-23b, miR-31, miR-99b, miR-125a, miR-146b, miR-155, miR-193b, and miR-221) following EAE development. Interestingly, serum levels of miR-99b, miR-125a, and miR-146b were significantly higher in EAE mice compared to normal mice. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the experimentally validated as well as predicted gene targets of specific miRNAs that are important for disease progression in MS. Specifically, we observed inverse correlation in the levels of miR-99b versus LIF, and between miR-125a versus BDNF and LIF. Our results suggest that above-mentioned miRNAs may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS, and that miR-99b, miR-125a, and miR-146b in particular may serve as useful biomarkers for disease activity.
Inhibition of Ceramide De Novo Synthesis Affects Adipocytokine Secretion and Improves Systemic and Adipose Tissue Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Blachnio-Zabielska Agnieszka U. , Razak Hady Hady , Markowski Adam R. , Kurianiuk Adam , Karwowska Alicja , Górski Jan , Zabielski Piotr
Published: December 2018

Ceramide accumulation in muscle and in liver is implicated in the induction of insulin resistance. Much less in known about the role of ceramide in adipose tissue. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of ceramide in adipose tissue and to clarify whether lipids participate in the regulation of adipocytokine secretion. The experiments were performed on male Wistar rats divided into three groups: 1. Control, 2. fed high fat diet (HFD), and 3. fed HFD and treated with myriocin. Ceramide (Cer) and diacylglycerol (DAG) content were analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) phosphorylation was analyzed by Western Blot. Plasma adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentration were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) was also performed. In HFD group, total DAG and Cer content was elevated in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, which was accompanied by increased glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR value. Myriocin treatment restored HOMA-IR as well as glucose and insulin concentration to control values. Moreover, myriocin decreased not only Cer, but also DAG levels in both fat depots. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between adiponectin (negative) and TNF-α (positive) and Cer in both fat tissues, which suggests that Cer is involved in the regulation of adipocytokine secretion.
Clinical Significance of CUB and Sushi Multiple Domains 1 Inactivation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Jung Ah Ra , Eun Young-Gyu , Lee Young Chan , Noh Joo Kyung , Kwon Kee Hwan
Published: December 2018

Although the genetic alteration of CUB and Sushi multiple domains 1 (CSMD1) is known to be associated with poor prognosis in several cancers, there is a lack of clinical relevance in head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to offer insight into the clinical significance of CSMD1, utilizing a multimodal approach that leverages publicly available independent genome-wide expression datasets. CSMD1-related genes were found and analyzed to examine the clinical significance of CSMD1 inactivation in the HNSCC cohort of publicly available databases. We analyzed the frequency of somatic mutations, clinicopathologic characteristics, association with immunotherapy-related gene signatures, and the pathways of gene signatures. We found 363 CSMD1-related genes. The prognosis of the CSMD1-inactivated subgroup was poor. FBXW7, HLA-A, MED1, NOTCH2, NOTCH3, and TP53 had higher mutation rates in the CSMD1-inactivated subgroups. The Interferon-gamma score and immune signature score were elevated in CSMD1-inactivated subgroups. We identified several CSMD1-related pathways, such as the phosphatidylinositol signaling system and inositol phosphate metabolism. Our study using three large and independent datasets suggests that CSMD1-related gene signatures are associated with the prognosis of HNSCC patients.
Regenerative Capacity of Endogenous Factor: Growth Differentiation Factor 11; a New Approach of the Management of Age-Related Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Rochette Luc , Meloux Alexandre , Rigal Eve , Zeller Marianne , Cottin Yves , Malka Gabriel , Vergely Catherine
Published: December 2018

Aging is a complicated pathophysiological process accompanied by a wide array of biological adaptations. The physiological deterioration correlates with the reduced regenerative capacity of tissues. The rejuvenation of tissue regeneration in aging organisms has also been observed after heterochronic parabiosis. With this model, it has been shown that exposure to young blood can rejuvenate the regenerative capacity of peripheral tissues and brain in aged animals. An endogenous compound called growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is a circulating negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that raising GDF11 levels could potentially treat or prevent cardiac diseases. The protein GDF11 is found in humans as well as animals. The existence of endogenous regulators of regenerative capacity, such as GDF11, in peripheral tissues and brain has now been demonstrated. It will be important to investigate the mechanisms with therapeutic promise that induce the regenerative effects of GDF11 for a variety of age-related diseases.
Microgravity Affects Thyroid Cancer Cells during the TEXUS-53 Mission Stronger than Hypergravity
Authors: Kopp Sascha , Krüger Marcus , Bauer Johann , Wehland Markus , Corydon Thomas J. , Sahana Jayashree , Nassef Mohamed Zakaria , Melnik Daniela , Bauer Thomas J. , Schulz Herbert , Schütte Andreas , Schmitz Burkhard , Oltmann Hergen , Feldmann Stefan , Infanger Manfred , Grimm Daniela
Published: December 2018

Thyroid cancer is the most abundant tumor of the endocrine organs. Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer is still difficult to treat. Human cells exposed to long-term real (r-) and simulated (s-) microgravity (µg) revealed morphological alterations and changes in the expression profile of genes involved in several biological processes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of short-term µg on poorly differentiated follicular thyroid cancer cells (FTC-133 cell line) resulting from 6 min of exposure to µg on a sounding rocket flight. As sounding rocket flights consist of several flight phases with different acceleration forces, rigorous control experiments are mandatory. Hypergravity (hyper-g) experiments were performed at 18g on a centrifuge in simulation of the rocket launch and s-µg was simulated by a random positioning machine (RPM). qPCR analyses of selected genes revealed no remarkable expression changes in controls as well as in hyper-g samples taken at the end of the first minute of launch. Using a centrifuge initiating 18g for 1 min, however, presented moderate gene expression changes, which were significant for COL1A1, VCL, CFL1, PTK2, IL6, CXCL8 and MMP14. We also identified a network of mutual interactions of the investigated genes and proteins by employing in-silico analyses. Lastly, µg-samples indicated that microgravity is a stronger regulator of gene expression than hyper-g.
α-Chymotrypsin Immobilized on a Low-Density Polyethylene Surface Successfully Weakens Escherichia coli Biofilm Formation
Authors: Cattò Cristina , Secundo Francesco , James Garth , Villa Federica , Cappitelli Francesca
Published: December 2018

The protease α-chymotrypsin (α-CT) was covalently immobilized on a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) surface, providing a new non-leaching material (LDPE-α-CT) able to preserve surfaces from biofilm growth over a long working timescale. The immobilized enzyme showed a transesterification activity of 1.24 nmol/h, confirming that the immobilization protocol did not negatively affect α-CT activity. Plate count viability assays, as well as confocal laser scanner microscopy (CLSM) analysis, showed that LDPE-α-CT significantly impacts Escherichia coli biofilm formation by (i) reducing the number of adhered cells (−70.7 ± 5.0%); (ii) significantly affecting biofilm thickness (−81.8 ± 16.7%), roughness (−13.8 ± 2.8%), substratum coverage (−63.1 ± 1.8%), and surface to bio-volume ratio (+7.1 ± 0.2-fold); and (iii) decreasing the matrix polysaccharide bio-volume (80.2 ± 23.2%). Additionally, CLSM images showed a destabilized biofilm with many cells dispersing from it. Notably, biofilm stained for live and dead cells confirmed that the reduction in the biomass was achieved by a mechanism that did not affect bacterial viability, reducing the chances for the evolution of resistant strains.
Rapid Detection and Identification of Antimicrobial Peptide Fingerprints of Nasal Fluid by Mesoporous Silica Particles and MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometry: From the Analytical Approach to the Diagnostic Applicability in Precision Medicine
Authors: Preianò Mariaimmacolata , Maggisano Giuseppina , Murfuni Maria , Villella Chiara , Colica Carmela , Fregola Annalisa , Pelaia Corrado , Lombardo Nicola , Pelaia Girolamo , Savino Rocco , Terracciano Rosa
Published: December 2018

Background: Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) play a pivotal role in innate host defense and in immune response. The delineation of new MS-based profiling tools, which are able to produce panels of AMP of the nasal fluid (NF), may be attractive for the discovery of new potential diagnostic markers of respiratory disorders. Methods: Swabs collected NF from healthy patients and from patients with respiratory disorders. We used a fast procedure based on mesoporous silica particles (MPS) to enrich NF in its AMP component in combination with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS as a key tool for rapidly analyzing clinical samples. Results: Reproducible MS peptide fingerprints were generated for each subject and several AMP were detected including (Human Neutrophil Peptides) HNPs, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, Peptide P-D, II-2, β-MSP, SLPI, Lysozyme-C, and their proteo-forms. In particular, Statherin, Thymosin-β4, and Peptide P-D were accurately identified by direct MS/MS sequencing. Examples of applicability of this tool are shown. AMP fingerprints were obtained before and after a nasal polypectomy as well as before and post-treatment with azelastine/fluticasone in one case of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: The potential of our platform to be implemented by new mesoporous materials for capturing a wider picture of AMP might offer an amazing opportunity for diagnostic clinical studies on individual and population scales.
Transcriptome Sequencing and Biochemical Analysis of Perianths and Coronas Reveal Flower Color Formation in Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Authors: Li Xi , Tang Dongqin , Du Hui , Shi Yimin
Published: December 2018

Narcissus pseudonarcissus is an important bulbous plant with white or yellow perianths and light yellow to orange-red coronas, but little is known regarding the biochemical and molecular basis related to flower color polymorphisms. To investigate the mechanism of color formation, RNA-Seq of flower of two widely cultured cultivars (‘Slim Whitman’ and ‘Pinza’) with different flower color was performed. A total of 84,463 unigenes were generated from the perianths and coronas. By parallel metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, we provide an overview of carotenoid biosynthesis, degradation, and accumulation in N. pseudonarcissus. The results showed that the content of carotenoids in the corona was higher than that in the perianth in both cultivars. Accordingly, phytoene synthase (PSY) transcripts have a higher abundance in the coronas than that in perianths. While the expression levels of carotenoid biosynthetic genes, like GGPPS, PSY, and LCY-e, were not significantly different between two cultivars. In contrast, the carotenoid degradation gene NpCCD4 was highly expressed in white-perianth cultivars, but was hardly detected in yellow-perianth cultivars. Silencing of NpCCD4 resulted in a significant increase in carotenoid accumulation, especially in all-trans-β-carotene. Therefore, we presume that NpCCD4 is a crucial factor that causes the low carotenoid content and color fading phenomenon of ‘Slim Whitman’ by mediating carotenoid turnover. Our findings provide mass RNA-seq data and new insights into carotenoid metabolism in N. pseudonarcissus.
The Impact of Protein Acetylation/Deacetylation on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ren Jingjing , Panther Eric , Liao Xiaofeng , Grammer Amrie C. , Lipsky Peter E. , Reilly Chris M.
Published: December 2018

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Although the exact cause of SLE has not been identified, it is clear that both genetics and environmental factors trigger the disease. Identical twins have a 24% chance of getting lupus disease if the other one is affected. Internal factors such as female gender and sex hormones, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus and other genetic polymorphisms have been shown to affect SLE, as well as external, environmental influences such as sunlight exposure, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, and certain infections. Several studies have reported and proposed multiple associations between the alteration of the epigenome and the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Epigenetic factors contributing to SLE include microRNAs, DNA methylation status, and the acetylation/deacetylation of histone proteins. Additionally, the acetylation of non-histone proteins can also influence cellular function. A better understanding of non-genomic factors that regulate SLE will provide insight into the mechanisms that initiate and facilitate disease and also contribute to the development of novel therapeutics that can specifically target pathogenic molecular pathways.
Oviposition by Spodoptera exigua on Solanum dulcamara Alters the Plant’s Response to Herbivory and Impairs Larval Performance
Authors: Geuss Daniel , Lortzing Tobias , Schwachtje Jens , Kopka Joachim , Steppuhn Anke
Published: December 2018

Plant resistance traits against insect herbivores are extremely plastic. Plants respond not only to the herbivory itself, but also to oviposition by herbivorous insects. How prior oviposition affects plant responses to larval herbivory is largely unknown. Combining bioassays and defense protein activity assays with microarray analyses and metabolite profiling, we investigated the impact of preceding oviposition on the interaction of Solanum dulcamara with the generalist lepidopteran herbivore Spodoptera exigua at the levels of the plant’s resistance, transcriptome and metabolome. We found that oviposition increased plant resistance to the subsequent feeding larvae. While constitutive and feeding-induced levels of defensive protease inhibitor activity remained unaffected, pre-exposure to eggs altered S. dulcamara’s transcriptional and metabolic response to larval feeding in leaves local and systemic to oviposition. In particular, genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism were more strongly expressed in previously oviposited plants, which was reflected by reciprocal changes of primary metabolites upstream and within these pathways. Our data highlight that plants integrate signals from non-threatening life stages of their natural enemies to optimize their response when they become actually attacked. The observed transcriptional and metabolic reshaping of S. dulcamara’s response to S. exigua herbivory suggests a role of phenylpropanoids in oviposition-primed plant resistance.
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Transmission: A Comparison of Incriminated Vectors
Authors: Rozo-Lopez Paula , Drolet Barbara , Londoño-Renteria Berlin
Published: December 2018

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease of veterinary importance, enzootic in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. In the U.S., VS produces devastating economic losses, particularly in the southwestern states where the outbreaks display an occurrence pattern of 10-year intervals. To date, the mechanisms of the geographic spread and maintenance cycles during epizootics remain unclear. This is due, in part, to the fact that VS epidemiology has a complex of variables to consider, including a broad range of vertebrate hosts, multiple routes of transmission, and an extensive diversity of suspected vector species acting as both mechanical and biological vectors. Infection and viral progression within vector species are highly influenced by virus serotype, as well as environmental factors, including temperature and seasonality; however, the mechanisms of viral transmission, including non-conventional pathways, are yet to be fully studied. Here, we review VS epidemiology and transmission mechanisms, with comparisons of transmission evidence for the four most incriminated hematophagous dipteran taxa: Aedes mosquitoes, Lutzomyia sand flies, Simulium black flies, and Culicoides biting midges.
Minor Components Play an Important Role in Interspecific Recognition of Insects: A Basis to Pheromone Based Electronic Monitoring Tools for Rice Pests
Authors: Chen Qing-Hua , Zhu Feng , Tian Zhihua , Zhang Wan-Min , Guo Rong , Liu Wancai , Pan Lieming , Du Yongjun
Published: December 2018

Several lepidopteran species share the same pheromone blend consisting of (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16:Ald) and (Z)-9-hexadecenal (Z9-16:Ald) at different ratios and active doses. In rice pest Chilo suppressalis, (Z)-11-hexadecenol, (Z11-16:OH) and octadecanal (18:Ald) were identified as minor components in the pheromone gland of female moths, and these components were previously not considered as part of the sex pheromone of C. suppressalis. Z11-16:Ald, Z9-16:Ald and (Z)-13-octadecenal (Z13-18:Ald) frequently trapped other lepidopteran species, such as rice pests Scirpophaga incertulas and Mythimna separate, corn and vegetable pests Helicoverpa armigera in the field, suggesting a lack of specificity in the pheromone blend. Our data showed that the minor component Z11-16:OH did not have a synergistic effect on the attractiveness of the blend to C. suppressalis; however, pheromone mixtures containing Z11-16:OH failed in trapping male H. armigera moths. We confirmed the identity and specificity of the C. suppressalis sex pheromone and demonstrated that Z11-16:OH plays a key role in the reproductive isolation of C. suppressalis, M. separata, and H. armigera moths, and a similar role of Z9-18:Ald in that of S. incertulas and C. suppressalis. This phenomenon could be more widely applicable to interspecific interactions in the pheromone communication between insects, which is crucial to developing the electronic automatic counting device for automatically monitoring the pest population by pheromone trapping based on its species specificity.
Beef Cattle Production Systems in South Pantanal: Considerations on Territories and Integration Scales
Authors: Araujo Ana , Monteiro Antônio , Oliveira Gilvan , Silva Luiz , Grilo Luan , Teixeira Débora , Souza Monica
Published: December 2018

Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands in the world. In its southern portion, it hosts significant beef cattle ranching, having a herd of 4,832,200 head of cattle in 2016 (IBGE, 2018). Yet it presents intra-regional differences and complementarities. This article discusses such current territory definition, focusing on cattle ranching in Pantanal, considering its forms of occupation, agents, and its intra-regional flow of cattle. This recognition is essential for the identification of the arrangements developed in the territory, its temporal dynamics and spatial strategies, assuming different forms of interaction with the environment. In order to identify multiple livestock territories and their logics of action, data grouped into four dimensions were considered: (i) agents, (ii) product, (iii) space used, and (iv) flows and circulation, approached in different scales (farms, municipal and units of landscape floodplain/plateau). The analyzes show different forms of domination and territorial appropriation, continuous and discontinuous, permanent and temporary. Mapping of cattle territories in the South Pantanal identified a scenario of multiterritoriality. While maintaining its “nursery” profile, it presents more intensive arrangements with the rearing and fattening phases. New territorialities represented by external agents and the fragmentation of old properties has genereted a new mapping of the “used spaces” for cattle breeding and posed new challenges for the maintenance of the traditional cattle production systems in the region.
A High-Throughput Search for Composition–Phase–Property Relations of Cu–Ni/Ti–Al Elastic Copper Alloys
Authors: Jianwei Wang , Wei Xiao , Chuan Zhang , Lu Sun , Guojie Huang , Jingmin Shi , Ligen Wang
Published: December 2018

A high-throughput method was employed to effectively obtain the cross-scale relationship of elastic copper alloys. Firstly, a Cu–Ni–Ti–Cu25Al–Cu35Sn diffusion multiple was prepared and heat-treated under a specified condition to form a series of diffusion layers with the concentration gradient at the multielement metal interface. Then, the compositions, elastic moduli, and hardness of the Cu–Ni–Al and Cu–Ti–Al ternary copper alloys were tested. Meanwhile, the solid phase sequences in the diffusion zones were predicted by the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram) method. Through these experimental and calculated results, the composition–phase–property relations of the Cu–Ni–Al and Cu–Ti–Al ternary systems were established.