bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Triangular Membership Functions Are Successfully Used in F-Transform Applications: A Global Explanation to Supplement the Existing Local Ones
Authors: Kosheleva Olga , Kreinovich Vladik , Nguyen Thach Ngoc
Published: August 2019

The main ideas of F-transform came from representing expert rules. It would be therefore reasonable to expect that the more accurately the membership functions describe human reasoning, the more successful will be the corresponding F-transform formulas. We know that an adequate description of our reasoning corresponds to complicated membership functions—however, somewhat surprisingly, many successful applications of F-transform use the simplest possible triangular membership functions. There exist some explanations for this phenomenon, which are based on local behavior of the signal. In this paper, we supplement these local explanations by a global one: namely, we prove that triangular membership functions are the only one that provide the exact reconstruction of the appropriate global characteristic of the signal.
Galangin Activates Nrf2 Signaling and Attenuates Oxidative Damage, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in a Rat Model of Cyclophosphamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Aladaileh Saleem H. , Abukhalil Mohammad H. , Saghir Sultan A. M. , Hanieh Hamza , Alfwuaires Manal A. , Almaiman Amer A. , Bin-Jumah May , Mahmoud Ayman M.
Published: August 2019

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical application is limited because of its multi-organ toxicity. Galangin (Gal) is a bioactive flavonoid with promising biological activities. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Gal in CP-induced rats. Rats received Gal (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day) for 15 days followed by a single dose of CP at day 16. Cyclophosphamide triggered liver injury characterized by elevated serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and histopathological manifestations. Increased hepatic reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and oxidative DNA damage along with declined glutathione and antioxidant enzymes were demonstrated in CP-administered rats. CP provoked hepatic nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) phosphorylation and increased mRNA abundance of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) both expression and serum levels. Gal prevented CP-induced liver injury, boosted antioxidants and suppressed oxidative stress, DNA damage, NF-κB phosphorylation and pro-inflammatory mediators. Gal diminished Bax and caspase-3, and increased B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in liver of CP-administered rats. In addition, Gal increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression and activated hepatic nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling showed by the increase in Nrf2, NAD(P)H: quinone acceptor oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in CP-administered rats. These findings suggest that Gal prevents CP hepatotoxicity through activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and attenuation of oxidative damage, inflammation and cell death. Therefore, Gal might represent a promising adjuvant therapy to prevent hepatotoxicity in patients on CP treatment.
Overexpression of MiR482c in Tomato Induces Enhanced Susceptibility to Late Blight
Authors: Hong Yu-Hui , Meng Jun , He Xiao-Li , Zhang Yuan-Yuan , Luan Yu-Shi
Published: August 2019

Tomato is the highest-value fruit/vegetable crop worldwide. However, the quality and yield of tomatoes are severely affected by late blight. MicroRNA482s (miR482s) are involved in the plant’s immune system. In this study, miR482c was transiently and stably overexpressed in tomatoes in transgenic plants to explore its mechanism in tomato resistance against late blight. Transgenic tomato plants with transiently overexpressed miR482c displayed a larger lesion area than the control plants upon infection. Furthermore, compared with wild-type (WT) tomato plants, the transgenic tomato plants stably overexpressing miR482c displayed a decreased expression of target genes accompanied by lower peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity activities and higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content, thereby leading to a decline in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability and aggravating the damage of lipid peroxidation product accumulation on the cell membrane, eventually enhancing plant susceptibility. This finding indicates that miR482c may act as a negative regulator in tomato resistance by regulating nucleotide binding sites and leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) expression levels and ROS levels.
Investigation of Cytokine Changes in Osteoarthritic Knee Joint Tissues in Response to Hyperacute Serum Treatment
Authors: Kardos Dorottya , Marschall Bence , Simon Melinda , Hornyák István , Hinsenkamp Adél , Kuten Olga , Gyevnár Zsuzsanna , Erdélyi Gábor , Bárdos Tamás , Paukovits Tamás Mirkó , Magos Krisztián , Béres György , Szenthe Kálmán , Bánáti Ferenc , Szathmary Susan , Nehrer Stefan , Lacza Zsombor
Published: August 2019

One option to fight joint degradation and inflammation in osteoarthritis is the injection of activated blood products into the synovial space. It has been demonstrated that hyperacute serum is the most proliferative among plasma products, so we investigated how the cytokine milieu of osteoarthritic knee joint reacts to hyperacute serum treatment in vitro. Cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovial membrane explanted from osteoarthritic knees were stimulated by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and the concentration of 39 biomarkers was measured in the co-culture supernatant after hyperacute serum treatment. The IL-1β stimulation triggered a strong inflammatory response and enhanced the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and 13 (MMP-3 and MMP-13), while hyperacute serum treatment reduced inflammation by decreasing the concentrations of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 receptor alpha (IL-6Rα), and by increasing the level of interleukin-1 antagonist (IL-1RA) Cell viability increased by day 5 in the presence of hyperacute serum. The level of MMPs-1, 2, and 9 were higher on day 3, but did not increase further until day 5. The concentrations of collagen 1 alpha 1 (COL1A1) and osteonectin were increased and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) was reduced in response to hyperacute serum. We concluded that hyperacute serum treatment induces cell proliferation of osteoarthritic joint tissues and affects the cytokine milieu towards a less inflamed state.
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Interferes with the Apoptosis of Human Skin Mast Cells by a Dual Strategy Involving STAT5/Mcl-1 and JNK/Bcl-xL
Authors: Hazzan Tarek , Eberle Jürgen , Worm Margitta , Babina Magda
Published: August 2019

Mast cells (MCs) play critical roles in allergic and inflammatory reactions and contribute to multiple pathologies in the skin, in which they show increased numbers, which frequently correlates with severity. It remains ill-defined how MC accumulation is established by the cutaneous microenvironment, in part because research on human MCs rarely employs MCs matured in the tissue, and extrapolations from other MC subsets have limitations, considering the high level of MC heterogeneity. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)—released by epithelial cells, like keratinocytes, following disturbed homeostasis and inflammation—has attracted much attention, but its impact on skin MCs remains undefined, despite the vast expression of the TSLP receptor by these cells. Using several methods, each detecting a distinct component of the apoptotic process (membrane alterations, DNA degradation, and caspase-3 activity), our study pinpoints TSLP as a novel survival factor of dermal MCs. TSLP confers apoptosis resistance via concomitant activation of the TSLP/ signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-5 / myeloid cell leukemia (Mcl)-1 route and a newly uncovered TSLP/ c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)/ B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-xL axis, as evidenced by RNA interference and pharmacological inhibition. Our findings highlight the potential contribution of TSLP to the MC supportive niche of the skin and, vice versa, highlight MCs as crucial responders to TSLP in the context of TSLP-driven disorders.
Correction: Nikitin, D., et al. Retroelement—Linked Transcription Factor Binding Patterns Point to Quickly Developing Molecular Pathways in Human Evolution. Cells 2019, 8, 130
Authors: Nikitin Daniil , Garazha Andrew , Sorokin Maxim , Penzar Dmitry , Tkachev Victor , Markov Alexander , Gaifullin Nurshat , Borger Pieter , Poltorak Alexander , Buzdin Anton
Published: August 2019

In the article ‘Retroelement—Linked Transcription Factor Binding Patterns Point to Quickly Developing Molecular Pathways in Human Evolution,’ a number of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) mapped on all retroelement classes were incorrectly calculated as sum of TFBS numbers separately mapped on LINEs, SINEs and LTR retrotransposons/endogenous retroviruses (LR/ERVs) [...]
Free-Water Imaging in White and Gray Matter in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Andica Christina , Kamagata Koji , Hatano Taku , Saito Asami , Uchida Wataru , Ogawa Takashi , Takeshige-Amano Haruka , Zalesky Andrew , Wada Akihiko , Suzuki Michimasa , Hagiwara Akifumi , Irie Ryusuke , Hori Masaaki , Kumamaru Kanako K. , Oyama Genko , Shimo Yashushi , Umemura Atsushi , Pantelis Christos , Hattori Nobutaka , Aoki Shigeki
Published: August 2019

This study aimed to discriminate between neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration in the white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) using free-water (FW) imaging. Analysis using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) of 20 patients with PD and 20 healthy individuals revealed changes in FW imaging indices (i.e., reduced FW-corrected fractional anisotropy (FAT), increased FW-corrected mean, axial, and radial diffusivities (MDT, ADT, and RDT, respectively) and fractional volume of FW (FW) in somewhat more specific WM areas compared with the changes of DTI indices. The region-of-interest (ROI) analysis further supported these findings, whereby those with PD showed significantly lower FAT and higher MDT, ADT, and RDT (indices of neuronal degeneration) in anterior WM areas as well as higher FW (index of neuroinflammation) in posterior WM areas compared with the controls. Results of GM-based spatial statistics (GBSS) analysis revealed that patients with PD had significantly higher MDT, ADT, and FW than the controls, whereas ROI analysis showed significantly increased MDT and FW and a trend toward increased ADT in GM areas, corresponding to Braak stage IV. These findings support the hypothesis that neuroinflammation precedes neuronal degeneration in PD, whereas WM microstructural alterations precede changes in GM.
Taking Advantage of the Coordinative Behavior of a Tridentate Schiff Base Ligand towards Pd2+ and Cu2+
Authors: Sanmartín-Matalobos Jesús , Fondo Matilde , Zarepour-Jevinani Morteza , García-Deibe Ana M.
Published: August 2019

We have explored the suitability of an O,N,N–donor Schiff base (H2SB) for obtaining dinuclear complexes with heavy metal ions such as Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ (borderline acids) as well as Pd2+ and Cd2+ (soft acids). Spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the complexation of H2SB and Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Pd2+, and Cd2+ occurred at a 1:1 stoichiometry. We have found two square planar centers with Pd-N-Pd angles of 93.08(11)° and a Pd–Pd distance of 3.0102(4) Å in Pd2(SB)2·Me2CO. This Pd–Pd distance is 30% shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii, which is in accordance with a strong palladophilic interaction. Fluorescence studies on H2SB-M2+ interaction showed that H2SB can detect Cu2+ ions in a sample matrix containing various metal ions (hard, soft, or borderline acids) without interference. Determination of binding constants showed that H2SB has a greater affinity for borderline acids than for soft acids.
Modernized Solar Radio Spectrograph in the L Band Based on Software Defined Radio
Authors: Puricer Pavel , Kovar Pavel , Barta Miroslav
Published: August 2019

The paper presents the concept, implementation, and test operation of a modernized solar radio spectrograph for an investigation of the solar emission and solar bursts in radio frequency bands. Besides having a strong diagnostic significance for studying the flare energy release, the solar radio bursts can also cause strong interference for radio communication and navigation systems. The current spectrograph for the Ondrejov observatory (Astronomical Institute of Czech Academy of Sciences) was modernized by using a direct-conversion receiver connected to a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for the fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectrum estimation and put into the test operation. The higher time and frequency resolution and lower noise in comparison with the existing analog instrument were reached by the implementation of the latest optimal signal processing methods. To reduce the costs for such modernization, the operating frequency range was divided into four sub-bands of bandwidth 250 MHz, which brings another benefit of greater scalability. The first observations obtained by the new spectrograph and their comparison with the analog device are presented in the paper with future steps to put the spectrograph into the regular operation.
Magnetic-Free Nonreciprocal Multifunction Device Based on Switched Delay Lines
Authors: Wu Fengchuan , Zheng Yuejun , Fu Yunqi
Published: August 2019

A magnetic-free multifunction nonreciprocal device based on switched delay lines (SDLs) has been proposed in this paper. It is constructed with two double balanced gyrators (DBGs) and four baluns, each pair of differential ports of the balun connect the ports at the same orientation of the two DBGs, respectively. Due to the asymmetry of the clock control signals acting on the switches, the time reversal symmetry of the transmission line between the Gilbert quad-switch-sets (GQSS) can be broken to achieve non-reciprocity. It can be used as a circulator, gyrator, or isolator by setting different control signals. The device has infinite working bandwidth in theory based on the SDLs. Common mode interference can be better suppressed by using differential transmission structures. Moreover, power capacity can be improved compared to the previous work. Then, experiments have been done to verify the device as a circulator. Broadband property and the anti-interference property have been verified.
A Novel Image-Restoration Method Based on High-Order Total Variation Regularization Term
Authors: Xiang Jianhong , Ye Pengfei , Wang Linyu , He Mingqi
Published: August 2019

This paper presents two new models for solving image the deblurring problem in the presence of impulse noise. One involves a high-order total variation (TV) regularizer term in the corrected total variation L1 (CTVL1) model and is named high-order corrected TVL1 (HOCTVL1). This new model can not only suppress the defects of the staircase effect, but also improve the quality of image restoration. In most cases, the regularization parameter in the model is a fixed value, which may influence processing results. Aiming at this problem, the spatially adapted regularization parameter selection scheme is involved in HOCTVL1 model, and spatially adapted HOCTVL1 (SAHOCTVL1) model is proposed. When dealing with corrupted images, the regularization parameter in SAHOCTVL1 model can be updated automatically. Many numerical experiments are conducted in this paper and the results show that the two models can significantly improve the effects both in visual quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the expense of a small increase in computational time. Compared to HOCTVL1 model, SAHOCTVL1 model can restore more texture details, though it may take more time.
Coupled Effect of Wet-Dry Cycles and Rainfall on Highway Slope Made of Yazoo Clay
Authors: Khan Sadik , Ivoke John , Nobahar Masoud
Published: August 2019

Expansive Yazoo clay soil is susceptible to volumetric deformation and is dominant in central Mississippi and other neighboring southern states of the United States. Recurring shrink-swell behavior causes a significant problem to infrastructures in the area. Although Yazoo clay causes a significant problem in the deep southern states, limited study has been conducted on the behavior of Yazoo clay, especially in the presence of rainfall. The objective of this current study is to investigate the coupled effect of changes in void ratio due to wet-dry cycles and rainfall on the stability of highway slopes made of Yazoo clay. The finite element method in Plaxis 2D by Bentley System (https://www.plaxis.com/) has been utilized to investigate the coupled effect of changes in mechanical properties and rainfall using flow-deformation and stability analysis. Reconstituted expansive clay soil samples were used for the laboratory experiment. The reconstituted Yazoo clay samples were subjected to 3, 5, and 7 wetting and drying cycles in an enclosed chamber for a 24-h period. The axial deformation of the samples and the change in void ratios at each number of the cycle was closely monitored. The strength change at each wet and dry cycle was also investigated and used for slope stability analysis in the presence of rainfall. The test results indicate that the void ratio increases with the increasing number of wet-dry cycles. A continuous increment in void ratios from 0.99 in an undisturbed state with no wet-dry cycle to 1.49 at the 7th wet-dry cycle, indicating a 48.9% increase, as the wetting and drying cycle increases was recorded; in turn, decreasing the cohesion of the soil by 77%. The factor of safety considering the effect of two total rainfall periods of Rv = 126.2 mm (2 h) and Rv = 271.7 mm (3 days) reduced from 1.7 to 1.2 and 1.68 to 1.02, considering the effect of the 7th wet-dry cycle at the topsoil. The changes in the void ratio due to the wetting and drying cycle of Yazoo clay soil reduces the shear strength to a fully softened condition, increasing the possibility of slope failure. This condition further worsens in the presence of a perched water condition due to the infiltration of rain water.
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase: A Regulator of Cell Growth, Inflammation, Chondrocyte and Bone Cell Receptor-Mediated Gene Expression
Authors: Lu Nathan , Malemud Charles J.
Published: August 2019

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family of signaling molecules. ERK is predominantly found in two forms, ERK1 (p44) and ERK2 (p42), respectively. There are also several atypical forms of ERK, including ERK3, ERK4, ERK5 and ERK7. The ERK1/2 signaling pathway has been implicated in many and diverse cellular events, including proliferation, growth, differentiation, cell migration, cell survival, metabolism and transcription. ERK1/2 is activated (i.e., phosphorylated) in the cytosol and subsequently translocated to the nucleus, where it activates transcription factors including, but not limited to, ETS, c-Jun, and Fos. It is not surprising that the ERK1/2 signaling cascade has been implicated in many pathological conditions, namely, cancer, arthritis, chronic inflammation, and osteoporosis. This narrative review examines many of the cellular events in which the ERK1/2 signaling cascade plays a critical role. It is anticipated that agents designed to inhibit ERK1/2 activation or p-ERK1/2 activity will be developed for the treatment of those diseases characterized by dysregulated gene expression through ERK1/2 activation.
New Era of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition: Next-Generation Sequencing by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Sampling for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Imaoka Hiroshi , Sasaki Mitsuhito , Hashimoto Yusuke , Watanabe Kazuo , Ikeda Masafumi
Published: August 2019

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal cancer with an increasing incidence. Despite improvements in chemotherapy, patients with pancreatic cancer continue to face poor prognoses. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is the primary method for obtaining tissue samples of pancreatic cancer. Due to advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, multiple parallel sequencing can be applied to EUS-TA samples. Genomic biomarkers for therapeutic stratification in pancreatic cancer are still lacking, however, NGS can unveil potential predictive genomic biomarkers of treatment response. Thus, the importance of NGS using EUS-TA samples is becoming recognized. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in EUS-TA application for NGS of pancreatic cancer.
Appressorium: The Breakthrough in Dikarya
Authors: Demoor Alexander , Silar Philippe , Brun Sylvain
Published: August 2019

Phytopathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi often penetrate living hosts by using appressoria and related structures. The differentiation of similar structures in saprotrophic fungi to penetrate dead plant biomass has seldom been investigated and has been reported only in the model fungus Podospora anserina. Here, we report on the ability of many saprotrophs from a large range of taxa to produce appressoria on cellophane. Most Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were able to form appressoria. In contrast, none of the three investigated Mucoromycotina was able to differentiate such structures. The ability of filamentous fungi to differentiate appressoria no longer belongs solely to pathogenic or mutualistic fungi, and this raises the question of the evolutionary origin of the appressorium in Eumycetes.
Correlation between Thiopurine S-Methyltransferase Genotype and Adverse Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients
Authors: Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe , Adriani Alessandro , Caviglia Gian Paolo , De Nicolò Amedeo , Agnesod Danilo , Simiele Marco , Riganò Danila , Pellicano Rinaldo , Canaparo Roberto , Di Perri Giovanni , D’Avolio Antonio , Luzza Francesco , Abenavoli Ludovico , Saracco Giorgio Maria , Astegiano Marco
Published: August 2019

Background and Objectives: In patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), the use of azathioprine results in adverse events at a rate of 5% to 20%. The aim of the study was to assess a possible correlation between genetic variability of the enzyme thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and the development of toxicity to azathioprine. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, single center, blind, case-control study was conducted on 200 IBD patients, of whom 60 cases suspended azathioprine due to toxicity (leukopenia, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and nausea or vomiting), and 140 controls continued treatment with the drug without adverse events. Results: In the entire cohort, only 8 cases of heterozygous mutations of TPMT were observed, corresponding to 4% mutated haplotype rate, much lower than that reported in literature (close to 10%). No homozygous mutation was found. Regarding the TPMT allelic variants, we did not find any statistically significant difference between patients who tolerated azathioprine and those who suffered from adverse events. (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.08–7.72; p = 0.82). Conclusions: According to our study, in IBD patients, the search for TPMT gene mutations before starting treatment with azathioprine is not helpful in predicting the occurrence of adverse events. Importantly, patients with allelic variants should not be denied the therapeutic option of azathioprine, as they may tolerate this drug.
Exploring Submerged Forward Osmosis for Water Recovery and Pre-Concentration of Wastewater before Anaerobic Digestion: A Pilot Scale Study
Authors: Ferrari Federico , Pijuan Maite , Rodriguez-Roda Ignasi , Blandin Gaetan
Published: August 2019

Applying forward osmosis directly on raw municipal wastewater is of high interest for the simultaneous production of a high quality permeate for water reuse and pre-concentrating wastewater for anaerobic digestion. This pilot scale study investigates, for the first time, the feasibility of concentrating real raw municipal wastewater using a submerged plate and frame forward osmosis module (0.34 m2) to reach 70% water recovery. Membrane performance, fouling behavior, and effective concentration of wastewater compounds were examined. Two different draw solutions (NaCl and MgCl2), operating either with constant draw concentration or in batch with draw dilution over time, were evaluated. Impact of gas sparging on fouling and external concentration polarization was also assessed. Water fluxes up to 15 L m−2 h−1 were obtained with clean water and 35 g NaCl/L as feed and draw solution, respectively. When using real wastewater, submerged forward osmosis proved to be resilient to clogging, demonstrating its suitability for application on municipal or other complex wastewater; operating with 11.7 g NaCl/L constant draw solution, water and reverse salt fluxes up to 5.1 ± 1.0 L m−2 h−1 and 4.8 ± 2.6 g m−2 h−1 were observed, respectively. Positively, total and soluble chemical oxygen demand concentration factors of 2.47 ± 0.15 and 1.86 ± 0.08, respectively, were achieved, making wastewater more suitable for anaerobic treatment.
Antibacterial Activity and Mode of Action of Dihydromyricetin from Ampelopsis grossedentata Leaves against Food-Borne Bacteria
Authors: Xiao Xiao-Nian , Wang Fan , Yuan Yi-Ting , Liu Jing , Liu Yue-Zhen , Yi Xing
Published: August 2019

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) has recently attracted increased interest due to its considerable health-promoting activities but there are few reports on its antibacterial activity and mechanism. In this paper, the activity and mechanisms of DMY from Ampelopsis grossedentata leaves against food-borne bacteria are investigated. Moreover, the effects of pH, thermal-processing, and metal ions on the antibacterial activity of DMY are also evaluated. The results show that DMY exhibits ideal antibacterial activity on five types of food-borne bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The activities of DMY against bacteria are extremely sensitive to pH, thermal-processing, and metal ions. The morphology of the tested bacteria is changed and damaged more seriously with the exposure time of DMY. Furthermore, the results of the oxidative respiratory metabolism assay and the integrity of the cell membrane and wall tests revealed that the death of bacteria caused by DMY might be due to lysis of the cell wall, leakage of intracellular ingredients, and inhibition of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) pathway.
Methylation of the RELA Gene is Associated with Expression of NF-κB1 in Response to TNF-α in Breast Cancer
Authors: Jeong Young Ju , Oh Hoon Kyu , Choi Hye Ryeon
Published: August 2019

The nuclear factor (NF)-κB family of transcriptional factors plays a critical role in inflammation, immunoregulation, cell differentiation, and tumorigenesis. This study aims to investigate the role of methylation of genes encoding for the NF-κB family in breast cancer. We analyze the DNA methylation status of the NFKB1 gene and the RELA gene in breast cancer using pyrosequencing. The expression of NF-κB1 and RELA proteins is assessed and the level of RNA transcripts in frozen tissue is determined using RT-PCR. There is no statistically significant difference in the methylation status of the NFKB1 and the RELA genes between tumors and normal tissues. The methylation status of the NFKB1 gene and the RELA gene is not significantly associated with the levels of NF-κB1 transcripts in tumor tissues. However, the methylation level of the RELA gene is significantly associated with the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. In addition, the level of NF-κB1 transcripts was associated with the levels of TNF-α and IL-4. In tumors with positive TNF-α, the increased methylation level of the RELA gene is significantly associated with the positive expression of NF-κB1 transcripts. These results demonstrate that the level of the RELA gene methylation is related to the levels of NF-κB1 transcripts under the influence of TNF-α. Further study is needed to determine how TNF-α is involved in the methylation of the RELA gene and the subsequent expression of NF-κB1.
Green Extraction of Phenolic Acids from Artemisia argyi Leaves by Tailor-Made Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Duan Li , Zhang Chenmeng , Zhang Chenjing , Xue Zijing , Zheng Yuguang , Guo Long
Published: August 2019

The Artemisia argyi leaf (AL) has been used as a traditional medicine and food supplement in China and other Asian countries for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies disclosed that AL contains various bioactive constituents. Among bioactive constituents, phenolic acids have been recognized as the main active compounds in AL. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been focused on extraction method for the bioactive phenolic acids from AL. Nowadays, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are emerging as a new type of green and sustainable solvent for efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from natural products. In the present study, an environmentally friendly extraction method based on DESs was established to extract bioactive phenolic acids from ALs. Diverse tailor-made solvents, including binary and ternary DESs, were explored for simultaneous extraction of four phenolic acids (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid) from AL. The results indicated that the ternary DES composed of a 2:1:2 molar ratio of choline chloride, malic acid, and urea showed enhanced extraction yields for phenolic acids compared with conventional organic solvents and other DESs. Subsequently, the extraction parameters for the four phenolic acids by selected tailor-made DESs, including liquid–solid ratios, water content (%) in the DESs, and extraction time, were optimized using response surface methodology and the optimal extraction conditions were: extraction time, 23.5 min; liquid–solid ratio, 57.5 mL/g (mL of DES/g dry weight of plant material); water content, 54%. The research indicated that DESs were efficient and sustainable green extraction solvents for extraction of bioactive phenolic acids from natural products. Compared to the conventional organic solvents, the DESs have a great potential as possible alternatives to those organic solvents in health-related areas such as food and pharmaceuticals.
Process Intensification for the Synthesis of 6-Allyl-6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ol from 1-Allylpyridinium Salt Using a Continuous UV-Light Photoflow Approach
Authors: Fortunato Milene A. G. , Ly Chi-Phong , Siopa Filipa , Afonso Carlos A. M.
Published: August 2019

A new home-made UV photochemical reactor (95 cm of irradiation zone) consisting of a 12 parallel quartz tubes flow reactor, PQT6 (95 cm under irradiation and an internal diameter of 0.6 cm) was assembled to perform photochemical transformations in continuous-flow. PQT6 was evaluated for the photoreaction of 1-allylpyridinium bromide (1a) to 6-allyl-6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ol (2a), in a continuous process. This technology provides reduced reaction times, continuous production of 2a, and a productivity of 129 mg h−1, corresponding to 1.94 g of isolated 2a after 15 h of irradiation.
Composition―Nanostructure Steered Performance Predictions in Steel Wires
Authors: Tian Kun V. , Passaretti Francesca , Nespoli Adelaide , Placidi Ernesto , Condò Roberta , Andreani Carla , Licoccia Silvia , Chass Gregory A. , Senesi Roberto , Cozza Paola
Published: August 2019

Neutron scattering in combination with scanning electron and atomic force microscopy were employed to quantitatively resolve elemental composition, nano- through meso- to metallurgical structures and surface characteristics of two commercial stainless steel orthodontic archwires—G&H and Azdent. The obtained bulk composition confirmed that both samples are made of metastable austenitic stainless steel type AISI 304. The neutron technique’s higher detection sensitivity to alloying elements facilitated the quantitative determination of the composition factor (CF), and the pitting resistance equivalent number (PREN) for predicting austenite stability and pitting-corrosion resistance, respectively. Simultaneous neutron diffraction analyses revealed that both samples contained additional martensite phase due to strain-induced martensite transformation. The unexpectedly high martensite content (46.20 vol%) in G&H was caused by combination of lower austenite stability (CF = 17.37, p = .03), excessive cold working and inadequate thermal treatment during material processing. Together, those results assist in revealing alloying recipes and processing history, and relating these with corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. The present methodology has allowed access to unprecedented length-scale (μm to sub-nm) resolution, accessing nano- through meso-scopic properties. It is envisaged that such an approach can be extended to the study and design of other metallic (bio)materials used in medical sciences, dentistry and beyond.
Hybrid-Transcriptome Sequencing and Associated Metabolite Analysis Reveal Putative Genes Involved in Flower Color Difference in Rose Mutants
Authors: Huang Ping , Lin Furong , Li Bin , Zheng Yongqi
Published: August 2019

Gene mutation is a common phenomenon in nature that often leads to phenotype differences, such as the variations in flower color that frequently occur in roses. With the aim of revealing the genomic information and inner mechanisms, the differences in the levels of both transcription and secondary metabolism between a pair of natural rose mutants were investigated by using hybrid RNA-sequencing and metabolite analysis. Metabolite analysis showed that glycosylated derivatives of pelargonidin, e.g., pelargonidin 3,5 diglucoside and pelargonidin 3-glucoside, which were not detected in white flowers (Rosa ‘Whilte Mrago Koster’), constituted the major pigments in pink flowers. Conversely, the flavonol contents of petal, such as kaempferol-3-glucoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, and rutin, were higher in white flowers. Hybrid RNA-sequencing obtained a total of 107,280 full-length transcripts in rose petal which were annotated in major databases. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis showed that the expression of genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly different, e.g., CHS, FLS, DFR, LDOX, which was verified by qRT-PCR during flowering. Additionally, two MYB transcription factors were found and named RmMYBAN2 and RmMYBPA1, and their expression patterns during flowering were also analyzed. These findings indicate that these genes may be involved in the flower color difference in the rose mutants, and competition between anthocyanin and flavonol biosynthesis is a primary cause of flower color variation, with its regulation reflected by transcriptional and secondary metabolite levels.
Genetic Characterization of Apulian Olive Germplasm as Potential Source in New Breeding Programs
Authors: Sion S. , Taranto F. , Montemurro C. , Mangini G. , Camposeo S. , Falco V. , Gallo A. , Mita G. , Saddoud Debbabi O. , Ben Amar F. , Pavan S. , Roseti V. , Miazzi M. M.
Published: August 2019

The olive is a fruit tree species with a century-old history of cultivation in the Mediterranean basin. In Apulia (Southern Italy), the olive is of main social, cultural and economic importance, and represents a hallmark of the rural landscape. However, olive cultivation in this region is threatened by the recent spread of the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) disease, thus there is an urgent need to explore biodiversity and search for genetic sources of resistance. Herein, a genetic variation in Apulian olive germplasm was explored, as a first step to identify genotypes with enhanced bio-agronomic traits, including resistance to OQDS. A preselected set of nuclear microsatellite markers allowed the acquisition of genotypic profiles, and to define genetic relationships between Apulian germplasm and widespread cultivars. The analysis highlighted the broad genetic variation in Apulian accessions and the presence of different unique genetic profiles. The results of this study lay a foundation for the organization of new breeding programs for olive genetic improvement.
On-Device Deep Learning Inference for Efficient Activity Data Collection
Authors: Mairittha Nattaya , Mairittha Tittaya , Inoue Sozo
Published: August 2019

Labeling activity data is a central part of the design and evaluation of human activity recognition systems. The performance of the systems greatly depends on the quantity and “quality” of annotations; therefore, it is inevitable to rely on users and to keep them motivated to provide activity labels. While mobile and embedded devices are increasingly using deep learning models to infer user context, we propose to exploit on-device deep learning inference using a long short-term memory (LSTM)-based method to alleviate the labeling effort and ground truth data collection in activity recognition systems using smartphone sensors. The novel idea behind this is that estimated activities are used as feedback for motivating users to collect accurate activity labels. To enable us to perform evaluations, we conduct the experiments with two conditional methods. We compare the proposed method showing estimated activities using on-device deep learning inference with the traditional method showing sentences without estimated activities through smartphone notifications. By evaluating with the dataset gathered, the results show our proposed method has improvements in both data quality (i.e., the performance of a classification model) and data quantity (i.e., the number of data collected) that reflect our method could improve activity data collection, which can enhance human activity recognition systems. We discuss the results, limitations, challenges, and implications for on-device deep learning inference that support activity data collection. Also, we publish the preliminary dataset collected to the research community for activity recognition.
“They Came Home Over-Empowered”: Identifying Masculinities and Femininities in Food Insecurity Situations in Tanzania
Authors: Bonatti Michelle , Borba Juliano , Schlindwein Izabela , Rybak Constance , Sieber Stefan
Published: August 2019

Gender inequality, embedded in sociocultural structures, persists in Tanzania. It is particularly manifest in access to productive resources, income-generating and employment opportunities, time-use, and educational possibilities. Seeking to contribute to the study of gender roles in Tanzania in the context of food insecurity, this paper presents findings regarding the social role of gender drawn from a study of food security problems and family experiences in Dodoma, Tanzania. The methodology comprised two phases: (1) Face-to-face structured interviews with 333 households; and (2) workshops based on TO—Theater of the Oppressed. These two phases were complemented by repeated research stays in the Dodoma region. TO helps to understand the connections between the private universe of families and their narratives about food insecurity. From the voices of community members in Dodoma, we identify aspects of how men and women perceive the food insecurity situation. Results show that there are several contextual factors related to food insecurity at the community level, and that issues related to domestic violence also appear when cultural patrons and gender roles are questioned. Based on theory and the data collected, we seek not only to comprehend how food insecurity and gender roles are interconnected, but also how to think about new forms of public policies that support gender equality among men and women in rural areas. We conclude that transdisciplinary studies on food insecurity can help public policies address complex scenarios, comprising the multiple and conflicting values present in sociocultural issues, while taking into account individual community needs and specificities.
Current Practice and Future Perspectives for Livestock Production and Industrial Ecology
Authors: Teixeira Ricardo F.M. , Domingos Tiago
Published: August 2019

The year 2016 marked the 10-year anniversary of the publication of the “Livestock’s Long Shadow” FAO report [...]
A Proposal for a Decision-Making Tool in Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Provider Selection Based on Multi-Criteria Analysis and the Fuzzy Approach
Authors: Jovčić Stefan , Průša Petr , Dobrodolac Momčilo , Švadlenka Libor
Published: August 2019

The selection of a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is an important and demanding task for many companies and organizations dealing with distribution activities. To assist in decision making, this paper proposes the implementation of fuzzy logic. To design a fuzzy inference system (FIS), the first prerequisite is to determine a set of evaluation criteria and sub-criteria and to find the relationship between them. This task was solved by an extensive review of the literature and expert opinions on implementing the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The results obtained in the first part of the research, together with data collected from 20 3PL providers, were further used in the second part, which was related to the implementation of the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. Finally, a decision-making tool for 3PL provider selection was designed as an FIS structure, where the inputs were the previously defined criteria and the output was a preference for 3PL selection. The fuzzy rules were generated on the basis of the collected empirical data, the preferences obtained by the TOPSIS method, and expert opinion using the Wang–Mendel method. The proposed fuzzy model is particularly suitable when input data are not crisp values but are provided descriptively through linguistic statements.
Using Twitter to Analyze the Effect of Hurricanes on Human Mobility Patterns
Authors: Ahmouda Ahmed , Hochmair Hartwig H. , Cvetojevic Sreten
Published: August 2019

Understanding human mobility patterns becomes essential in crisis management and response. This study analyzes the effect of two hurricanes in the United States on human mobility patterns, more specifically on trip distance (displacement), radius of gyration, and mean square displacement, using Twitter data. The study examines three geographical regions which include urbanized areas (Houston, Texas; Miami-Dade County, Florida) and both rural and urbanized areas (North and South Carolina) affected by hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Harvey (2017). Comparison of movement patterns before, during, and after each hurricane shows that displacement and activity space decreased during the events in the regions. Part of this decline can be potentially tied to observed lower tweet numbers around supply facilities during hurricanes, when many of them are closed, as well as to numerous flooded and blocked roads reported in the affected regions. Furthermore, it is shown that displacement patterns can be modeled through a truncated power-law before, during, and after the analyzed hurricanes, which demonstrates the resilience of human mobility behavior in this regard. Analysis of hashtag use in the three study areas indicates that Twitter contributors post about the events primarily during the hurricane landfall and to some extent also during hurricane preparation. This increase in hurricane-related Twitter topics and decrease in activity space provides a tie between changed travel behavior in affected areas and user perception of hurricanes in the Twitter community. Overall, this study adds to the body of knowledge that connects human mobility to natural crises at the local level. It suggests that governmental and rescue operations need to respond to and be prepared for reduced mobility of residents in affected regions during natural crisis events.
ANALISIS PERBANDINGAN LAPORAN KEUANGAN UNTUK MENILAI KINERJA KEUANGAN PADA KOPERASI SAWIT USAHA MANUNGGAL DESA SERESAM KECAMATAN SEBERIDA TAHUN BUKU 2015 DAN 2016
Authors: Suwaji Suwaji
Published: August 2019

Penelitian ini dilakukan Koperasi Sawit Usaha Manunggal Kecamatan Seberida Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu.Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui bagaimana perubahan yang terjadi pada pos-pos Neraca, Pos- pos Sisa Hasil Usaha, rasio likuiditas, solvabilitas, aktifitas dan rasio profitabilitas. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisisdeskriptif kuantitatif. Dalam pelaksanaan penelitian, penulis melakukan pengumpulan data-data/informasi yang diperlukan berupa data-data keuangan dan data-data lainya yang berkaitan dengan masalah dan tujuan penelitian.Jenis dan sumber data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah data sekunder yaitu, data-data yang diperoleh dari Koperasi Usaha Manunggal meliputi data laporan keuangan koperasi, dan data-data lainya yang terkait dengan materi penelitian. Hasil dari  pembandingan yang dilakukan diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa kinerja keuangan Kopsa. Usaha Manunggal tahun 2016 mengalami penurunan dibanding tahun 2015, penurunan kinerja tersebut bisa dilihat dari; Pendapatan penjualan pada Tahun 2016 turun sebesar 27%. Sisa Hasil Usaha tahun 2016 turun 46%., Rasio Cepat pada tahun 2016 turun sebesar 0,7%. Rasio Hutang Terhadap Modal pada 2016 mengalami peningkatan/naik sebesar 10%. Kemampuan perusahaan dalam membayar biaya bunga dari laba bersih tahun 2016 turun 41%.  Tingkat perputaran aktiva pada 2016 turun 9%. Tingkat perputaran piutang tahun 2016 turun 12%. Working Capital Turn Over atau Tingkat efektifitas penggunaan modal kerja tahun 2016 turun sebesar 2 %.  Gross margin ratio atau perbandingan laba kotor terhadap pendapatan tahun 2016 mengalami peningkatan/naik sebesar 4%. Margin laba bersih tahun 2016 turun 2,5 %.  Rasio Operasi tahun 2016 naik 2%, keadaan-keadaan pada rasio profitabilitas ini menggambarkan pendapatan yang tersisa untuk laba bersih pada tahun 2016 lebih kecil/menurun bila dibanding tahun 2015.
PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM TERHADAP KONSUMEN DALAM PROSES TRANSAKSI USAHA ONLINE DI RENGAT
Authors: Yusnedi Yusnedi
Published: August 2019

Akhir-akhir ini perkembangan bisnis berbasis online semakin tidak terkendali dan cendrung menjadi bisnis yang sangat rentan terhadap penipuan. Untuk mengendalikan dampak negatifnya maka Konsumen harus mendapat perlindungan hukum dalam melakukan transaksi pembelian online. Sebagai salah satu upaya Pemerintah telah berupaya melindungi konsumen transaksi online dengan mengeluarkan PP PSTE tahun 2012 yang mengatur kewajiban pelaku usaha online untuk memberikan perlindungan hukum terhadap konsumen dalam proses transaksi sesuai PP PSTE tahun 2012. Penelitian inibertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana implementasi perlindungan hukum terhadap konsumen dalam proses transaksi usaha online di kota Rengat. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode purposive sampling dengan 40 responden pelaku usaha online. Dari hasil penelitian dikehui bahwa lebih dari 70% responden telah menyampaikan informasi lengkap dan benar mengenai produk (harga, kualitas, merek, spesifikasi) yang ditawarkan, akan tetapi ada sekitar 30% responden yang tidak memberikan jaminan kecacatan dan tidak mencantumkan kontrak dan prosedur pembayaran dalam websitenya. Seluruh responden menyatakan telah menyampaikan informasi mengenai barang yang dikirim kepada konsumen melalui SMS, messenger ataupun telepon. Dari hasil penelitian, dapat diketahui bahwa pelaksanaan perlindungan hukum terhadap konsumen berdasar PPPSTE 2012  oleh responden pelaku usaha online berada dalam kategori “tidak baik” dimana pelaku usaha online hanya menyampaikan informasi produk dan proses transaksi kepada konsumen secara subjektif tanpa mengacu pada peraturan