bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Arabic–Chinese Machine Translation with Linguistic Input Features
Authors: Aqlan Fares , Fan Xiaoping , Alqwbani Abdullah , Al-Mansoub Akram
Published: January 2019

This study presents linguistically augmented models of phrase-based statistical machine translation (PBSMT) using different linguistic features (factors) on the top of the source surface form. The architecture addresses two major problems occurring in machine translation, namely the poor performance of direct translation from a highly-inflected and morphologically complex language into morphologically poor languages, and the data sparseness issue, which becomes a significant challenge under low-resource conditions. We use three factors (lemma, part-of-speech tags, and morphological features) to enrich the input side with additional information to improve the quality of direct translation from Arabic to Chinese, considering the importance and global presence of this language pair as well as the limitation of work on machine translation between these two languages. In an effort to deal with the issue of the out of vocabulary (OOV) words and missing words, we propose the best combination of factors and models based on alternative paths. The proposed models were compared with the standard PBSMT model which represents the baseline of this work, and two enhanced approaches tokenized by a state-of-the-art external tool that has been proven to be useful for Arabic as a morphologically rich and complex language. The experiment was performed with a Moses decoder on freely available data extracted from a multilingual corpus from United Nation documents (MultiUN). Results of a preliminary evaluation in terms of BLEU scores show that the use of linguistic features on the Arabic side considerably outperforms baseline and tokenized approaches, the system can consistently reduce the OOV rate as well.
Surveying Human Habit Modeling and Mining Techniques in Smart Spaces
Authors: Leotta Francesco , Mecella Massimo , Sora Daniele , Catarci Tiziana
Published: January 2019

A smart space is an environment, mainly equipped with Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies, able to provide services to humans, helping them to perform daily tasks by monitoring the space and autonomously executing actions, giving suggestions and sending alarms. Approaches suggested in the literature may differ in terms of required facilities, possible applications, amount of human intervention required, ability to support multiple users at the same time adapting to changing needs. In this paper, we propose a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) that classifies most influential approaches in the area of smart spaces according to a set of dimensions identified by answering a set of research questions. These dimensions allow to choose a specific method or approach according to available sensors, amount of labeled data, need for visual analysis, requirements in terms of enactment and decision-making on the environment. Additionally, the paper identifies a set of challenges to be addressed by future research in the field.
Simple and Efficient Computational Intelligence Strategies for Effective Collaborative Decisions
Authors: Opoku Aboagye Emelia , Kumar Rajesh
Published: January 2019

We approach scalability and cold start problems of collaborative recommendation in this paper. An intelligent hybrid filtering framework that maximizes feature engineering and solves cold start problem for personalized recommendation based on deep learning is proposed in this paper. Present e-commerce sites mainly recommend pertinent items or products to a lot of users through personalized recommendation. Such personalization depends on large extent on scalable systems which strategically responds promptly to the request of the numerous users accessing the site (new users). Tensor Factorization (TF) provides scalable and accurate approach for collaborative filtering in such environments. In this paper, we propose a hybrid-based system to address scalability problems in such environments. We propose to use a multi-task approach which represent multiview data from users, according to their purchasing and rating history. We use a Deep Learning approach to map item and user inter-relationship to a low dimensional feature space where item-user resemblance and their preferred items is maximized. The evaluation results from real world datasets show that, our novel deep learning multitask tensor factorization (NeuralFil) analysis is computationally less expensive, scalable and addresses the cold-start problem through explicit multi-task approach for optimal recommendation decision making.
Investigation on the Mechanical Properties and Post-Cracking Behavior of Polyolefin Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Adhikary Suman Kumar , Rudzionis Zymantas , Balakrishnan Arvind , Jayakumar Vignesh
Published: January 2019

This paper deals with the behavior of concrete’s self-compatibility in a fresh state and its compressive and flexural strength in a hardened state with the addition of polyolefin macro fibers. Four different amounts (3 kg/m3, 4.5 kg/m3, 6 kg/m3, and 9 kg/m3) of polyolefin macro fibers were mixed into the concrete mixture to observe the differences in workability and strength properties between the concrete specimens. As a partial replacement of cement, class C type of fly ash was added to make up 25% of the total cement mass. The water-binder ratio (W/B) of the concrete mix was 0.36. Superplasticizer was added to the concrete mixture to achieve self-compacting properties. The slump test was carried out in the fresh state for determining the flowability. On the 7th and 28th days of the curing process, compression strength tests were performed, and on the 28th day, flexural strength tests and crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) analyses were carried out to determine the strength properties and post-cracking behavior of the concrete samples. Bending strength and post-cracking behavior of the samples were improved by the addition of fibers. The fiber concentration in the concrete mixture greatly influenced the slump flow and self-compaction properties.
The Demographic Diversity of Food Intake and Prevalence of Kidney Stone Diseases in the Indian Continent
Authors: Guha Manalee , Banerjee Hritwick , Mitra Pubali , Das Madhusudan
Published: January 2019

Food intake plays a pivotal role in human growth, constituting 45% of the global economy and wellbeing in general. The consumption of a balanced diet is essential for overall good health, and a lack of equilibrium can lead to malnutrition, prenatal death, obesity, osteoporosis and bone fractures, coronary heart diseases (CHD), idiopathic hypercalciuria, diabetes, and many other conditions. CHD, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and obesity are extensively discussed in the literature, although there are fragmented findings in the realm of kidney stone diseases (KSD) and their correlation with food intake. KSD associated with hematuria and renal failure poses an increasing threat to healthcare infrastructures and the global economy, and its emergence in the Indian population is being linked to multi-factorial urological disorder resulting from several factors. In this realm, epidemiological, biochemical, and macroeconomic situations have been the focus of research, even though food intake is also of paramount importance. Hence, in this article, we review the corollary associations with the consumption of diverse foods and the role that these play in KSD in an Indian context.
Convergent Evolution of the Seed Shattering Trait
Authors: Di Vittori Valerio , Gioia Tania , Rodriguez Monica , Bellucci Elisa , Bitocchi Elena , Nanni Laura , Attene Giovanna , Rau Domenico , Papa Roberto
Published: January 2019

Loss of seed shattering is a key trait in crop domestication, particularly for grain crops. For wild plants, seed shattering is a crucial mechanism to achieve greater fitness, although in the agricultural context, this mechanism reduces harvesting efficiency, especially under dry conditions. Loss of seed shattering was acquired independently in different monocotyledon and dicotyledon crop species by ‘convergent phenotypic evolution’, leading to similar low dehiscent and indehiscent phenotypes. Here, the main aim is to review the current knowledge about seed shattering in crops, in order to highlight the tissue modifications that underlie the convergent phenotypic evolution of reduced shattering in different types of fruit, from the silique of Brassicaceae species, to the pods of legumes and spikes of cereals. Emphasis is given to legumes, with consideration of recent data obtained for the common bean. The current review also discusses to what extent convergent phenotypes arose from parallel changes at the histological and/or molecular levels. For this reason, an overview is included of the main findings relating to the genetic control of seed shattering in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana and in other important crops.
An Exonic Switch Regulates Differential Accession of microRNAs to the Cd34 Transcript in Atherosclerosis Progression
Authors: Hueso Miguel , Cruzado Josep M. , Torras Joan , Navarro Estanis
Published: January 2019

Background: CD34+ Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) play an important role in the recovery of injured endothelium and contribute to atherosclerosis (ATH) pathogenesis. Previously we described a potential atherogenic role for miR-125 that we aimed to confirm in this work. Methods: Microarray hybridization, TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA) cards, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze expression of the miRNAs, proteins and transcripts here studied. Results: Here we have demonstrated an increase of resident CD34-positive cells in the aortic tissue of human and mice during ATH progression, as well as the presence of clusters of CD34-positive cells in the intima and adventitia of human ATH aortas. We introduce miR-351, which share the seed sequence with miR-125, as a potential effector of CD34. We show a splicing event at an internal/cryptic splice site at exon 8 of the murine Cd34 gene (exonic-switch) that would regulate the differential accession of miRNAs (including miR-125) to the coding region or to the 3’UTR of Cd34. Conclusions: We introduce new potential mediators of ATH progression (CD34 cell-clusters, miR-351), and propose a new mechanism of miRNA action, linked to a cryptic splicing site in the target-host gene, that would regulate the differential accession of miRNAs to their cognate binding sites.
Effects of Socioeconomic Status on Physical and Psychological Health: Lifestyle as a Mediator
Authors: Wang Jian , Geng Liuna
Published: January 2019

Health is correlated to people’s socioeconomic status (SES) and lifestyle. This study examined the impact of SES on respondents’ physical and psychological health. Moreover, we explored the potential mediating effect of lifestyle on the relationship between SES and health. The participants were 986 respondents from the 2015 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship between the variables. The results indicated that SES had a significant impact on people’s physical health, but the impact of SES on psychological health was not significant. Lifestyle had significant positive effects on both physical and psychological health. In addition, lifestyle mediated the relationship between SES and health. This research is helpful in gaining a better understanding of the relationship and mediating mechanism between SES, lifestyle, and health. It is recommended that research with longitudinal design and comprehensive indicators be undertaken in the future.
Correction Workers’ Burnout and Outcomes: A Bayesian Network Approach
Authors: Lee Jin , Henning Robert , Cherniack Martin
Published: January 2019

The present study seeks to demonstrate how Bayesian Network analysis can be used to support Total Worker Health® research on correction workers by (1) revealing the most probable scenario of how psychosocial and behavioral outcome variables in corrections work are interrelated and (2) identifying the key contributing factors of this interdependency relationship within the unique occupational context of corrections work. The data from 353 correction workers from a state department of corrections in the United States were utilized. A Bayesian Network analysis approach was used to probabilistically sort out potential interrelations among various psychosocial and behavioral variables. The identified model revealed that work-related exhaustion may serve as a primary driver of occupational stress and impaired workability, and also that exhaustion limits the ability of correction workers to get regular physical exercise, while their interrelations with depressed mood, a lack of work engagement, and poor work-family balance were also noted. The results suggest the importance of joint consideration of psychosocial and behavioral factors when investigating variables that may impact health and wellbeing of correction workers. Also, they supported the value of adopting the Total Worker Health® framework, a holistic strategy to integrate prevention of work-related injury and illness and the facilitation of worker well-being, when considering integrated health protection and promotion interventions for workers in high-risk occupations.
Infant Food Security in New Zealand: A Multidimensional Index Developed from Cohort Data
Authors: Schlichting Deborah , Hashemi Ladan , Grant Cameron
Published: January 2019

Food security (FS) during infancy is associated with lifelong outcomes. New Zealand is a developed economy that reports poor childhood nutrition-related health statistics, particularly among minority children, yet has no measure of FS applicable to infancy. The objective was to develop an FS index for New Zealand infants and examine its association with demographic covariates and health outcomes. Within a large (n = 6853) nationally representative cohort, variables describing infant food consumption, breastfeeding, and maternal food-related coping methods were collected from mothers during late infancy. An FS index was derived using confirmatory factor analysis. Associations were assessed by logistic regressions and described using odds ratios (OR) and ≥95% confidence intervals (CI). Fifteen percent of the cohort was highly FS, 43% tenuously food insecure (FIS), and 16% highly food insecure (FIS). Infants from minority ethnic groups had lower odds of being food secure, as did those born to the youngest mothers, mothers who smoked, or those who lived in low-income households. FIS infants had higher odds of morbidity. Interventions to improve infant FS should focus on improving dietary quality, and should give particular consideration to minority infants. We identified that FIS shows wide ethnic and socioeconomic inequity, and is associated with poorer health. The most important driving factors of FIS included poor quality weaning diets, as well as poverty and its proxies. Any interventions to improve infant FS should focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to recommended intake levels, and should give particular consideration to minority infants.
Ambient Temperature and Associations with Daily Visits to a Psychiatric Emergency Unit in Sweden
Authors: Carlsen Hanne Krage , Oudin Anna , Steingrimsson Steinn , Oudin Åström Daniel
Published: January 2019

High or low ambient temperatures pose a risk factor for the worsening or onset of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ambient temperature and psychiatric emergency visits in an urban region in a temperate climate. The daily number of visits to a psychiatric emergency room (PEVs) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden and the daily mean temperature were extracted for the study period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2017. Case-crossover analysis with distributed lag non-linear models was used to analyse the data by season. The warm season was defined as May to August and the cold season as November to February. Shorter lags periods were used for the warm season than the cold season. In the analysis, temperatures at the 95th percentile was associated with 14% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2%, 28%) increase in PEVs at lag 0–3 and 22% (95%CI: 6%, 40%) for lags 0–14 during the warm season, relative to the seasonal minimum effect temperature (MET). During the cold season temperatures at the 5th percentile were associated with 25% (95% CI: −8%, 13%) and 18% (95% CI: −30%, 98%) increase in PEVs at lags 0–14 and 0–21 respectively. We observed an increased number of PEVs at high and low temperatures; however, not to a statistically significant extent for low temperatures. Our findings are similar to what has been found for somatic diseases and in studies of other mental health outcomes in regions with more extreme climates. This merits the inclusion of individuals with psychiatric disorders in awareness planning for climate warning systems.
The Influencing Factors of Haze Tolerance in China
Authors: Zhou Lingyi , Dai Yixin
Published: January 2019

Haze pollution has become the most serious environmental risk in China and generated a large amount of public concerns. Influencing almost all the citizens in the polluted area, it is necessary and important to take public perception as an essential element in haze abatement. From the perspective of social psychology, this paper explores haze tolerance in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, also the key influential factors on haze tolerance from four dimensions: political trust, perceived risk, cost perception, and haze knowledge. Based on the sample of 517 respondents, the results show that compared with Shanghai and Guangzhou, Beijing residents had the lowest tolerance level of haze pollution but have the highest levels of trust in the government’s capacity to control haze and self-evaluation of their own haze knowledge. People in Shanghai had the lowest cost perception and the strongest willingness to acquire haze knowledge. Meanwhile, the empirical analysis revealed that political trust and cost perception could enhance the public’s haze tolerance while perceived risk and haze knowledge had negative impacts on tolerance. Also, our research could provide some suggestions to government officials when making policies for abating haze pollution from the perspective of social risk control. Policy makers are supposed to launch various policy instruments to control haze effectively and engage the citizens in the decision-making process to improve their political trust, and publicize the knowledge of haze pollution to help the public to acquire objective and scientific knowledge and diminish unnecessary worries.
Impact of Fermentable Fibres on the Colonic Microbiota Metabolism of Dietary Polyphenols Rutin and Quercetin
Authors: Mansoorian Bahareh , Combet Emilie , Alkhaldy Areej , Garcia Ada L. , Edwards Christine Ann
Published: January 2019

Dietary fibre and polyphenols are both metabolised to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and phenolic acids (PA) by the colonic microbiota. These may alter microbiota growth/diversity, but their interaction is not understood. Interactions between rutin and raftiline, ispaghula or pectin were investigated in human faecal batch cultures (healthy participants; 19–33 years, 4 males, 6 females, BMI 18.4–27.4) after a low (poly)phenol diet three days prior to study. Phenolic acids were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and SCFAs by gas chromatography-flame ionisation after 2, 4, 6, and 24 h. Rutin fermentation produced Phenyl acetic acid (PAA), 4-Hydroxy benzoic acid (4-OHBA), 3-Hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (3-OHPAA), 4-Hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (4-OHPAA), 3,4-Dihydroxy phenyl acetic acid (3,4-diOHPAA), 3-Hydroxy phenyl propionic acid (3-OHPPA), and 4-Hydroxy phenyl propionic acid (4-OHPPA). 3,4-DiOHPAA and 3-OHPAA were predominant at 6 h (1.9 ± 1.8 µg/mL, 2.9 ± 2.5 µg/mL, and 0.05 ± 0.0 µg/mL, respectively) and 24 h (5.5 ± 3.3 µg/mL, 3.1 ± 4.2 µg/mL, and 1.2 ± 1.6 µg/mL). Production of all PA except 3-OHPPA and 4-OHPPA was reduced by at least one fibre. Inhibition of PA was highest for rutin (8-fold, p < 0.01), then pectin (5-fold, p < 0.01), and ispaghula (2-fold, p = 0.03). Neither rutin nor quercetin had a detectable impact on SCFA production. These interactions should be considered when assessing dietary polyphenols and potential health benefits.
The Spatial and Social Patterning of Property and Violent Crime in Toronto Neighbourhoods: A Spatial-Quantitative Approach
Authors: Wang Lu , Lee Gabby , Williams Ian
Published: January 2019

Criminal activities are often unevenly distributed over space. The literature shows that the occurrence of crime is frequently concentrated in particular neighbourhoods and is related to a variety of socioeconomic and crime opportunity factors. This study explores the broad patterning of property and violent crime among different socio-economic stratums and across space by examining the neighbourhood socioeconomic conditions and individual characteristics of offenders associated with crime in the city of Toronto, which consists of 140 neighbourhoods. Despite being the largest urban centre in Canada, with a fast-growing population, Toronto is under-studied in crime analysis from a spatial perspective. In this study, both property and violent crime data sets from the years 2014 to 2016 and census-based Ontario-Marginalisation index are analysed using spatial and quantitative methods. Spatial techniques such as Local Moran’s I are applied to analyse the spatial distribution of criminal activity while accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Distance-to-crime is measured to explore the spatial behaviour of criminal activity. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression is conducted to explore the ways in which individual and neighbourhood demographic characteristics relate to crime rates at the neighbourhood level. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) is used to further our understanding of the spatially varying relationships between crime and the independent variables included in the OLS model. Property and violent crime across the three years of the study show a similar distribution of significant crime hot spots in the core, northwest, and east end of the city. The OLS model indicates offender-related demographics (i.e., age, marital status) to be a significant predictor of both types of crime, but in different ways. Neighbourhood contextual variables are measured by the four dimensions of the Ontario-Marginalisation Index. They are significantly associated with violent and property crime in different ways. The GWR is a more suitable model to explain the variations in observed property crime rates across different neighbourhoods. It also identifies spatial non-stationarity in relationships. The study provides implications for crime prevention and security through an enhanced understanding of crime patterns and factors. It points to the need for safe neighbourhoods, to be built not only by the law enforcement sector but by a wide range of social and economic sectors and services.
Mechanistic Computational Models of MicroRNA-Mediated Signaling Networks in Human Diseases
Authors: Zhao Chen , Zhang Yu , Popel Aleksander S.
Published: January 2019

MicroRNAs (miRs) are endogenous non-coding RNA molecules that play important roles in human health and disease by regulating gene expression and cellular processes. In recent years, with the increasing scientific knowledge and new discovery of miRs and their gene targets, as well as the plentiful experimental evidence that shows dysregulation of miRs in a wide variety of human diseases, the computational modeling approach has emerged as an effective tool to help researchers identify novel functional associations between differential miR expression and diseases, dissect the phenotypic expression patterns of miRs in gene regulatory networks, and elucidate the critical roles of miRs in the modulation of disease pathways from mechanistic and quantitative perspectives. Here we will review the recent systems biology studies that employed different kinetic modeling techniques to provide mechanistic insights relating to the regulatory function and therapeutic potential of miRs in human diseases. Some of the key computational aspects to be discussed in detail in this review include (i) models of miR-mediated network motifs in the regulation of gene expression, (ii) models of miR biogenesis and miR–target interactions, and (iii) the incorporation of such models into complex disease pathways in order to generate mechanistic, molecular- and systems-level understanding of pathophysiology. Other related bioinformatics tools such as computational platforms that predict miR-disease associations will also be discussed, and we will provide perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the future development and translational application of data-driven systems biology models that involve miRs and their regulatory pathways in human diseases.
A Proteome Approach Reveals Differences between Fertile Women and Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure on Endometrial Level—Does hCG Render the Endometrium of RIF Patients?
Authors: Bielfeld Alexandra P. , Pour Sarah Jean , Poschmann Gereon , Stühler Kai , Krüssel Jan-Steffen , Baston-Büst Dunja M.
Published: January 2019

Background: The molecular signature of endometrial receptivity still remains barely understood, especially when focused on the possible benefit of therapeutical interventions and implantation-related pathologies. Therefore, the protein composition of tissue and isolated primary cells (endometrial stromal cells, ESCs) from endometrial scratchings of ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques) patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) was compared to volunteers with proven fertility during the time of embryo implantation (LH + 7). Furthermore, an analysis of the endometrial tissue of fertile women infused with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was conducted. Methods: Endometrial samples (n = 6 RIF, n = 10 fertile controls) were split into 3 pieces: 1/3 each was frozen in liquid nitrogen, 1/3 fixed in PFA and 1/3 cultured. Protein lysates prepared from fresh frozen tissue were processed for mass spectrometric analysis. Results: Three proteins (EPPK1, BCLAF1 and PTMA) showed a statistically altered abundance in the endometrial tissue of RIF patients. Furthermore, pathways like metabolism, immune system, ferroptosis and the endoplasmic reticulum were altered in RIF patients. Remarkably, endometrial tissues of RIF patients showed a significantly higher (p-value = 9 × 10−8) protein intensity correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.95) compared to fertile women (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.88). The in vivo infusion of hCG stimulated proteins of endocytosis, HIF1 signalling and chemokine production. Notably, patients suffering from RIF had a clinical pregnancy rate of 19% after the intrauterine infusion of hCG before embryo transfer (ET) compared to their failed previous cycles. Conclusion: Our study showed for the first time that the endometrial proteome composition of RIF patients differs from fertile controls during the window of implantation. The intrauterine infusion of hCG prior to an embryo transfer might improve the chemokine triggered embryo-endometrial dialogue and intensify the angiogenesis and immune response. From a clinical point of view, the hCG infusion prior to an embryo transfer might increase the pregnancy rate of RIF patients.
The Effect of Psyllium Husk on Intestinal Microbiota in Constipated Patients and Healthy Controls
Authors: Jalanka Jonna , Major Giles , Murray Kathryn , Singh Gulzar , Nowak Adam , Kurtz Caroline , Silos-Santiago Inmaculada , Johnston Jeffrey M. , de Vos Willem M. , Spiller Robin
Published: January 2019

Psyllium is a widely used treatment for constipation. It traps water in the intestine increasing stool water, easing defaecation and altering the colonic environment. We aimed to assess the impact of psyllium on faecal microbiota, whose key role in gut physiology is being increasingly recognised. We performed two randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trials comparing 7 days of psyllium with a placebo (maltodextrin) in 8 healthy volunteers and 16 constipated patients respectively. We measured the patients’ gastrointestnal (GI) transit, faecal water content, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and the stool microbiota composition. While psyllium supplement had a small but significant effect on the microbial composition of healthy adults (increasing Veillonella and decreasing Subdoligranulum), in constipated subjects there were greater effects on the microbial composition (increased Lachnospira, Faecalibacterium, Phascolarctobacterium, Veillonella and Sutterella and decreased uncultured Coriobacteria and Christensenella) and alterations in the levels of acetate and propionate. We found several taxa to be associated with altered GI transit, SCFAs and faecal water content in these patients. Significant increases in three genera known to produce butyrate, Lachnospira, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium, correlated with increased faecal water. In summary, psyllium supplementation increased stool water and this was associated with significant changes in microbiota, most marked in constipated patients.
Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α (HIF-1α) and Genes of Related Pathways in Altered Gravity
Authors: Vogel Johannes , Thiel Cora Sandra , Tauber Svantje , Stockmann Christian , Gassmann Max , Ullrich Oliver
Published: January 2019

Immune system deterioration in space represents a major risk, which has to be mitigated for exploration-class missions into the solar system. Altered gravitational forces have been shown to regulate adaptation processes in cells of the immune system, which are important for appropriate risk management, monitoring and development of countermeasures. T lymphocytes and cells of the monocyte-macrophage system are highly migratory cell types that frequently encounter a wide range of oxygen tensions in human tissues and in hypoxic areas, even under homeostatic conditions. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and 2 (HIF’s) might have an important role in activation of T cells and cells of the monocyte-macrophages system. Thus, we investigated the regulation of HIF-dependent and, therefore, hypoxia-signaling systems in both cell types in altered gravity and performed transcript and protein analysis from parabolic flight and suborbital ballistic rocket experiments. We found that HIF-1α and HIF-1-dependent transcripts were differently regulated in altered gravity, whereas HIF-1α-dependent gene expression adapted after 5 min microgravity. Inter-platform comparisons identified PDK1 as highly responsive to gravitational changes in human U937 myelomonocytic cells and in Jurkat T cells. We suggest HIF-1 as a potential pharmacological target for counteracting immune system deterioration during space flight.
Lectin Sequence Distribution in QTLs from Rice (Oryza sativa) Suggest a Role in Morphological Traits and Stress Responses
Authors: Tsaneva Mariya , De Schutter Kristof , Verstraeten Bruno , Van Damme Els J.M.
Published: January 2019

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the main staple crops worldwide but suffers from important yield losses due to different abiotic and biotic stresses. Analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTL) is a classical genetic method which enables the creation of more resistant cultivars but does not yield information on the genes directly involved or responsible for the desired traits. Lectins are known as proteins with diverse functions in plants. Some of them are abundant proteins in seeds and are considered as storage/defense proteins while other lectins are known as stress-inducible proteins, implicated in stress perception and signal transduction as part of plant innate immunity. We investigated the distribution of lectin sequences in different QTL related to stress tolerance/resistance, morphology, and physiology through mapping of the lectin sequences and QTL regions on the chromosomes and subsequent statistical analysis. Furthermore, the domain structure and evolutionary relationships of the lectins in O. sativa spp. indica and japonica were investigated. Our results revealed that lectin sequences are statistically overrepresented in QTLs for (a)biotic resistance/tolerance as well as in QTLs related to economically important traits such as eating quality and sterility. These findings contribute to the characterization of the QTL sequences and can provide valuable information to the breeders.
Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd In Vitro Cultures: Establishment, Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Activities
Authors: Abbasi Bilal Haider , Siddiquah Aisha , Tungmunnithum Duangjai , Bose Shankhamala , Younas Muhammad , Garros Laurine , Drouet Samantha , Giglioli-Guivarc’h Nathalie , Hano Christophe
Published: January 2019

Isodon rugosus (Wall. ex Benth.) Codd accumulates large amounts of phenolics and pentacyclic triterpenes. The present study deals with the in vitro callus induction from stem and leaf explants of I. rugosus under various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for the production of antioxidant and anti-ageing compounds. Among all the tested PGRs, thidiazuron (TDZ) used alone or in conjunction with α-napthalene acetic acid (NAA) induced highest callogenesis in stem-derived explants, as compared to leaf-derived explants. Stem-derived callus culture displayed maximum total phenolic content and antioxidant activity under optimum hormonal combination (3.0 mg/L TDZ + 1.0 mg/L NAA). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of plectranthoic acid (373.92 µg/g DW), oleanolic acid (287.58 µg/g DW), betulinic acid (90.51 µg/g DW), caffeic acid (91.71 µg/g DW), and rosmarinic acid (1732.61 µg/g DW). Complete antioxidant and anti-aging potential of extracts with very contrasting phytochemical profiles were investigated. Correlation analyses revealed rosmarinic acid as the main contributor for antioxidant activity and anti-aging hyaluronidase, advance glycation end-products inhibitions and SIRT1 activation, whereas, pentacyclic triterpenoids were correlated with elastase, collagenase, and tyrosinase inhibitions. Altogether, these results clearly evidenced the great valorization potential of I. rugosus calli for the production of antioxidant and anti-aging bioactive extracts for cosmetic applications.
Do Neural Stem Cells Have a Choice? Heterogenic Outcome of Cell Fate Acquisition in Different Injury Models
Authors: Beyer Felix , Samper Agrelo Iria , Küry Patrick
Published: January 2019

The adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is generally considered as repair restricted organ with limited capacities to regenerate lost cells and to successfully integrate them into damaged nerve tracts. Despite the presence of endogenous immature cell types that can be activated upon injury or in disease cell replacement generally remains insufficient, undirected, or lost cell types are not properly generated. This limitation also accounts for the myelin repair capacity that still constitutes the default regenerative activity at least in inflammatory demyelinating conditions. Ever since the discovery of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) residing within specific niches of the adult brain, as well as the description of procedures to either isolate and propagate or artificially induce NSCs from various origins ex vivo, the field has been rejuvenated. Various sources of NSCs have been investigated and applied in current neuropathological paradigms aiming at the replacement of lost cells and the restoration of functionality based on successful integration. Whereas directing and supporting stem cells residing in brain niches constitutes one possible approach many investigations addressed their potential upon transplantation. Given the heterogeneity of these studies related to the nature of grafted cells, the local CNS environment, and applied implantation procedures we here set out to review and compare their applied protocols in order to evaluate rate-limiting parameters. Based on our compilation, we conclude that in healthy CNS tissue region specific cues dominate cell fate decisions. However, although increasing evidence points to the capacity of transplanted NSCs to reflect the regenerative need of an injury environment, a still heterogenic picture emerges when analyzing transplantation outcomes in injury or disease models. These are likely due to methodological differences despite preserved injury environments. Based on this meta-analysis, we suggest future NSC transplantation experiments to be conducted in a more comparable way to previous studies and that subsequent analyses must emphasize regional heterogeneity such as accounting for differences in gray versus white matter.
Clinical and Rehabilitative Predictors of Peak Oxygen Uptake Following Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: Uithoven Katelyn E. , Smith Joshua R. , Medina-Inojosa Jose R. , Squires Ray W. , Van Iterson Erik H. , Olson Thomas P.
Published: January 2019

The measurement of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is an important metric for evaluating cardiac transplantation (HTx) eligibility. However, it is unclear which factors (e.g., recipient demographics, clinical parameters, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation) influence VO2peak following HTx. Consecutive HTx patients with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between 2007–2016 were included. VO2peak was measured from CPET standard protocol. Regression analyses determined predictors of the highest post-HTx VO2peak (i.e., quartile 4: VO2peak > 20.1 mL/kg/min). One hundred-forty HTx patients (women: n = 41 (29%), age: 52 ± 12 years, body mass index (BMI): 27 ± 5 kg/m2) were included. History of diabetes (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.17, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.04–0.77, p = 0.021), history of dyslipidemia (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19–0.93, p = 0.032), BMI (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82–0.99, p = 0.022), hemoglobin (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.04–1.61, p = 0.020), white blood cell count (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66–0.98, p = 0.033), CR exercise sessions (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.15, p < 0.001), and pre-HTx VO2peak (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07–1.29, p = 0.001) were significant predictors. Multivariate analysis showed CR exercise sessions (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.16, p = 0.002), and pre-HTx VO2peak (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.04–1.30, p = 0.007) were independently predictive of higher post-HTx VO2peak. Pre-HTx VO2peak and CR exercise sessions are predictive of a greater VO2peak following HTx. These data highlight the importance of CR exercise session attendance and pre-HTx fitness in predicting VO2peak post-HTx.
Application of a Perception Neuron® System in Simulation-Based Surgical Training
Authors: Kim Hyun Soo , Hong Nhayoung , Kim Myungjoon , Yoon Sang Gab , Yu Hyeong Won , Kong Hyoun-Joong , Kim Su-Jin , Chai Young Jun , Choi Hyung Jin , Choi June Young , Lee Kyu Eun , Kim Sungwan , Kim Hee Chan
Published: January 2019

While multiple studies show that simulation methods help in educating surgical trainees, few studies have focused on developing systems that help trainees to adopt the most effective body motions. This is the first study to use a Perception Neuron® system to evaluate the relationship between body motions and simulation scores. Ten medical students participated in this study. All completed two standard tasks with da Vinci Skills Simulator (dVSS) and five standard tasks with thyroidectomy training model. This was repeated. Thyroidectomy training was conducted while participants wore a perception neuron. Motion capture (MC) score that indicated how long the tasks took to complete and each participant’s economy-of-motion that was used was calculated. Correlations between the three scores were assessed by Pearson’s correlation analyses. The 20 trials were categorized as low, moderate, and high overall-proficiency by summing the training model, dVSS, and MC scores. The difference between the low and high overall-proficiency trials in terms of economy-of-motion of the left or right hand was assessed by two-tailed t-test. Relative to cycle 1, the training model, dVSS, and MC scores all increased significantly in cycle 2. Three scores correlated significantly with each other. Six, eight, and six trials were classified as low, moderate, and high overall-proficiency, respectively. Low- and high-scoring trials differed significantly in terms of right (dominant) hand economy-of-motion (675.2 mm and 369.4 mm, respectively) (p = 0.043). Perception Neuron® system can be applied to simulation-based training of surgical trainees. The motion analysis score is related to the traditional scoring system.
Total Reference Air Kerma is Associated with Late Bowel Morbidity in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Image-Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy
Authors: Bockel Sophie , Escande Alexandre , Dumas Isabelle , Manea Elena , Morice Philippe , Gouy Sebastien , Deutsch Eric , Haie-Meder Christine , Chargari Cyrus
Published: January 2019

No dose volume parameter has been identified to predict late bowel toxicities in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients treated with image-guided adaptive brachytherapy. We examined the incidence of bowel toxicities according to the total reference air kerma (TRAK) in 260 LACC patients. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, late morbidity positively correlated with a TRAK ≥2 cGy (centigray) at 1 meter, emphasizing the importance of this parameter in term of late bowel morbidity. Objective: There is no validated dose volume parameter to predict late bowel toxicities in cervical cancer patients treated with image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT). We examined the incidence of bowel toxicities according to the TRAK, which is proportional to the integral dose to the patients. Material/Methods: Clinical data of 260 LACC patients treated with curative intent from 2004 to 2016 were examined. Patients received chemoradiation plus a pulse-dose rate IGABT boost. The relationship between TRAK and morbidity was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional-hazards model on event-free periods. Results: Median follow-up was 5.2 years (SE (Standard Error): 0.21). Probability of survival without late bowel toxicity Grade ≥ 2 rate for patients without recurrence (n = 227) at 5 years was 66.4% (SE 3.7). In univariate analysis, bowel and/or sigmoid dose/volume parameters were not significant. Late morbidity positively correlated with active smoking, CTVHR volume >25 cm3, and a TRAK ≥2 cGy at 1 meter. In multivariate analysis, the following factors were significant: Active smoking (p < 0.001; HR: 2.6; 95%CI: 1.4–5.0), and the TRAK (p = 0.02; HR: 2.4; 95%CI: 1.2–5.0). Conclusion: TRAK was associated with late bowel toxicities probability, suggesting that the integral dose should be considered, even in the era of IGABT.
The ‘Amoeboid Predator-Fungal Animal Virulence’ Hypothesis
Authors: Casadevall Arturo , Fu Man , Guimaraes Allan , Albuquerque Patricia
Published: January 2019

The observation that some aspects of amoeba-fungal interactions resemble animal phagocytic cell-fungal interactions, together with the finding that amoeba passage can enhance the virulence of some pathogenic fungi, has stimulated interest in the amoeba as a model system for the study of fungal virulence. Amoeba provide a relatively easy and cheap model system where multiple variables can be controlled for the study of fungi-protozoal (amoeba) interactions. Consequently, there have been significant efforts to study fungal–amoeba interactions in the laboratory, which have already provided new insights into the origin of fungal virulence as well as suggested new avenues for experimentation. In this essay we review the available literature, which highlights the varied nature of amoeba-fungal interactions and suggests some unsolved questions that are potential areas for future investigation. Overall, results from multiple independent groups support the ‘amoeboid predator–fungal animal virulence hypothesis’, which posits that fungal cell predation by amoeba can select for traits that also function during animal infection to promote their survival and thus contribute to virulence.
Preparation of La0.7Ca0.3−xSrxMnO3 Manganites by Four Synthesis Methods and Their Influence on the Magnetic Properties and Relative Cooling Power
Authors: Botello-Zubiate María E. , Grijalva-Castillo María C. , Soto-Parra Daniel , Sáenz-Hernández Renee J. , Santillán-Rodríguez Carlos R. , Matutes-Aquino José A.
Published: January 2019

Manganites of the family La0.7Ca0.3−xSrxMnO3 were fabricated by four preparation methods: (a) the microwave-assisted sol-gel Pechini method; (b) sol-gel Pechini chemical synthesis; (c) solid-state reaction with a planetary mill; and (d) solid-state reaction with an attritor mill, in order to study the effect of the preparation route used on its magnetocaloric and magnetic properties. In addition, the manganites manufactured by the Pechini sol-gel method were compacted using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) to determine how the consolidation process influences its magnetocaloric properties. The Curie temperatures of manganites prepared by the different methods were determined in ~295 K, with the exception of those prepared by a solid-state reaction with an attritor mill which was 301 K, so there is no correlation between the particle size and the Curie temperature. All samples gave a positive slope in the Arrot plots, which implies that the samples underwent a second order Ferromagnetic (FM)–Paramagnetic (PM) phase transition. Pechini sol-gel manganite presents higher values of Relative Cooling Power (RCP) than the solid-state reaction manganite, because its entropy change curves are smaller, but wider, associated to the particle size obtained by the preparation method. The SPS technique proved to be easier and faster in producing consolidated solids for applications in active magnetic regenerative refrigeration compared with other compaction methods.
Effect of Heat Treatment Condition on the Flow Behavior and Recrystallization Mechanisms of Aluminum Alloy 7055
Authors: Liao Bin , Cao Lingfei , Wu Xiaodong , Zou Yan , Huang Guangjie , Rometsch Paul A. , Couper Malcolm J. , Liu Qing
Published: January 2019

The flow behavior and the microstructural evolution of aluminum alloy 7055 in two heat treatment conditions (homogenized vs. pre-rolled, solution treated, stretched and naturally aged (T3)) were investigated for a height reduction of 60% with deformation temperatures ranging from 370 °C to 450 °C and strain rates ranging from 0.01 s−1 to 10 s−1. Flow stress decline ratio maps as a function of deformation temperature and strain rate were produced along with processing maps at a strain of 0.8 to reveal optimum hot-working conditions for deformation at strain rates of 0.01 s−1 to 0.1 s−1. The results showed that the stress drop ratio during deformation is higher for the homogenized condition than for the pre-rolled, T3 condition. A higher degree of recrystallization after deformation was observed in the pre-rolled, T3 condition due to finer second phase particles, smaller grain size, and more numerous sub-grains. The mechanism for deformation softening is discussed in the context of grain boundary characteristics.
PCSEL Performance of Type-I InGaAsSb Double-QWs Laser Structure Prepared by MBE
Authors: Cheng Hui-Wen , Lin Shen-Chieh , Li Zong-Lin , Sun Kien-Wen , Lee Chien-Ping
Published: January 2019

This paper discusses the issue of controlling the epitaxial growth of mixed group V alloys to form a type-I InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb double quantum wells (QWs) structure. We also discuss the run-to-run reproducibility of lattice-matched AlGaAsSb alloys and strained In0.35Ga0.65As0.095Sb0.905 in terms of growth parameters (V/III ratio, Sb2/As2 ratio). Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) was used to grow two type-I InGaAsSb double-QWs laser structures differing only in the composition of the bottom cladding layer: Al0.85Ga0.15As0.072Sb0.928 (sample A) and Al0.5Ga0.5As0.043Sb0.957 (sample B). Both samples were respectively used in the fabrication of photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs). Sample A presented surface lasing action from circular as well as triangular photonic crystals. Sample B did not present surface lasing due to the deterioration of the active region during the growth of the upper cladding. Our findings underline the importance of temperature in the epitaxial formation of AlxGa1−xAsySb1−y in terms of lasing performance.