bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and Proteome Analysis Reveal Different Nutritional Compound Compositions and Chloroplast Development Situations between Purple-Red and White-Yellow Tea Plant Cultivars
Authors: Ding Yi , Wang Xinchao , Cui Hongchun , Zhao Yun
Published: July 2022

Across the world, most of the main tea plant cultivars are green-leaf cultivars, but colored-leaf cultivars have become increasingly popular in recent years. In this research, the differences between purple-red and white-yellow tea plant cultivars were compared on biochemical and proteome levels. White-yellow cultivars had significantly high amino acid (AA) content and low polyphenols/amino acid (PP/AA), while purple-red cultivars showed high PP/AA. Comprehensive analysis of all nutritional compounds revealed that most of them showed significant positive correlations, except AA, and that there were significant negative correlations between AA and other compounds. The nutritional compounds of some individual cultivars differed from the average trend of the classification, using color as a criterion. Twenty-one differential proteins were detected in the purple-red and yellow-white cultivars. Among these proteins, there were 16 upregulated proteins and 5 downregulated proteins in purple-red cultivars. Most of these proteins act in the photosynthetic system. This indicated that tea plants with purple-red leaves performed better in photosynthesis than yellow-white tea plant cultivars. The chloroplast development of white-yellow tea plant cultivars was obstructed and may introduce AA accumulation.
Baseline Sensitivity and Resistance of Botrytis cinerea to Penthiopyrad in Hebei Province, China
Authors: Bi Qiuyan , Lu Fen , Yang Kexin , Wu Jie , Zhang Shangqing , Han Xiuying , Wang Wenqiao , Zhao Jianjiang
Published: July 2022

Tomato gray mold (TGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a destructive disease of greenhouse tomatoes. Its control mainly depends on the application of chemical fungicides. In China, penthiopyrad has been registered for the management of TGM for about 3 years. In this study, the baseline sensitivity of B. cinerea to penthiopyrad was measured based on mycelial growth and spore germination, using 131 wild isolates collected from Hebei Province. The mean EC50 values 1.054 ± 0.633 mg/L (on mycelial growth) and 0.101 ± 0.037 mg/L (on conidia germination) were used as the baseline sensitivity. Isolates (187) of B. cinerea, sampled from eight regions in Hebei province during 2021 and 2022, were used for resistance studies by mycelial growth method. Based on the resistance factor, these isolates were considered: sensitive (=65 isolates), low (=39 isolates), moderate (=38 isolates), and high (=45 isolates) resistance. All 15 isolates from Raoyang were sensitive to penthiopyrad. Four mutation types in the sdhB subunit, namely H272R, N230I, P225F, and P225L, were associated with the resistance to penthiopyrad. A positive cross-resistance was also recorded between penthiopyrad and fluopyram, boscalid, or pydiflumetofen. These results provide useful information on the chemical control of TGM.
Health Impacts of the Built and Social Environments, and Travel Behavior: The Case of the Sunshine State
Authors: Mahmoudi Jina , Zhang Lei
Published: July 2022

As physical inactivity statistics for the U.S. population show an alarming trend, many health problems have been increasing among Americans in recent decades. Thus, identification of the factors that influence people’s physical activity levels and health outcomes has become ever more essential to promote public health. The built envSFironment is among the main factors that impact individuals’ health outcomes. However, little is known about the health impacts of built environment factors at large geographical scales such as those of the metropolitan area of residence. Further, the health impacts of travel behavior such as telecommuting and teleshopping remain unclear. This study uses an ecological model framework to probe the roles of travel behavior and built as well as social environments at different spatial levels in health. Instrumental variable binary probit models have been developed to examine the complex interlinks between measures of travel behavior, physical activity levels, built and social environment characteristics, and individuals’ health outcomes. Findings indicate that built and social environment factors at different spatial levels, including the metropolitan area, are correlated with individuals’ health outcomes. Additionally, the findings suggest that increased levels of telecommuting and teleshopping within communities may lead to unfavorable health outcomes. The findings shed light on the most promising policy interventions that can promote public health through modifications targeting people’s travel choices as well as the built and social environments within urban areas.
The Influence of Data Density and Integration on Forest Canopy Cover Mapping Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Time Series in Mediterranean Oak Forests
Authors: Nasiri Vahid , Sadeghi Seyed Mohammad Moein , Moradi Fardin , Afshari Samaneh , Deljouei Azade , Griess Verena C. , Maftei Carmen , Borz Stelian Alexandru
Published: July 2022

Forest canopy cover (FCC) is one of the most important forest inventory parameters and plays a critical role in evaluating forest functions. This study examines the potential of integrating Sentinel-1 (S-1) and Sentinel-2 (S-2) data to map FCC in the heterogeneous Mediterranean oak forests of western Iran in different data densities (one-year datasets vs. three-year datasets). This study used very high-resolution satellite images from Google Earth, gridded points, and field inventory plots to generate a reference dataset. Based on it, four FCC classes were defined, namely non-forest, sparse forest (FCC = 1–30%), medium-density forest (FCC = 31–60%), and dense forest (FCC > 60%). In this study, three machine learning (ML) models, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Classification and Regression Tree (CART), were used in the Google Earth Engine and their performance was compared for classification. Results showed that the SVM produced the highest accuracy on FCC mapping. The three-year time series increased the ability of all ML models to classify FCC classes, in particular the sparse forest class, which was not distinguished well by the one-year dataset. Class-level accuracy assessment results showed a remarkable increase in F-1 scores for sparse forest classification by integrating S-1 and S-2 (10.4% to 18.2% increased for the CART and SVM ML models, respectively). In conclusion, the synergetic use of S-1 and S-2 spectral temporal metrics improved the classification accuracy compared to that obtained using only S-2. The study relied on open data and freely available tools and can be integrated into national monitoring systems of FCC in Mediterranean oak forests of Iran and neighboring countries with similar forest attributes.
Object-Based Automatic Mapping of Winter Wheat Based on Temporal Phenology Patterns Derived from Multitemporal Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Imagery
Authors: Wang Limei , Jin Guowang , Xiong Xin , Zhang Hongmin , Wu Ke
Published: July 2022

Although winter wheat has been mapped by remote sensing in several studies, such mapping efforts did not sufficiently utilize contextual information to reduce the noise and still depended heavily on optical imagery and exhausting classification approaches. Furthermore, the influence of similarity measures on winter wheat identification remains unclear. To overcome these limitations, this study developed an object-based automatic approach to map winter wheat using multitemporal Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) imagery. First, after S1 and S2 images were preprocessed, the Simple Non-Iterative Clustering (SNIC) algorithm was used to conduct image segmentation to obtain homogeneous spatial objects with a fusion of S1 and S2 bands. Second, the temporal phenology patterns (TPP) of winter wheat and other typical land covers were derived from object-level S1 and S2 imagery based on the collected ground truth samples, and two improved distance measures (i.e., a composite of Euclidean distance and Spectral Angle Distance, (ESD) and the difference–similarity factor distance (DSF)) were built to evaluate the similarity between two TPPs. Third, winter wheat objects were automatically identified from the segmented spatial objects by the maximum between-class variance method (OTSU) with distance measures based on the unique TPP of winter wheat. According to ground truth data, the DSF measure was superior to other distance measures in winter wheat mapping, since it achieved the best overall accuracy (OA), best kappa coefficient (Kappa) and more spatial details for each feasible band (i.e., NDVI, VV, and VH/VV), or it obtained results comparable to those for the best one (e.g., NDVI + VV). The resultant winter wheat maps derived from the NDVI band with the DSF measure achieved the best accuracy and more details, and had an average OA and Kappa of 92% and 84%, respectively. The VV polarization with the DSF measure produced the second best winter wheat maps with an average OA and Kappa of 91% and 80%, respectively. The results indicate the great potential of the proposed object-based approach for automatic winter wheat mapping for both optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery.
Malectin Domain Protein Kinase (MDPK) Promotes Rice Resistance to Sheath Blight via IDD12, IDD13, and IDD14
Authors: Cui Zhibo , Xue Caiyun , Mei Qiong , Xuan Yuanhu
Published: July 2022

Sheath blight (ShB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani is a major disease of rice, seriously affecting yield; however, the molecular defense mechanism against ShB remains unclear. A previous transcriptome analysis of rice identified that R. solani inoculation significantly induced MDPK. Genetic studies using MDPK RNAi and overexpressing plants identified that MDPK positively regulates ShB resistance. This MDPK protein was found localized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. Yeast one-hybrid assay, electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) showed that the intermediate domain proteins IDD12, IDD13, and IDD14 bind to the MDPK promoter. Moreover, IDD14 was found to interact with IDD12 and IDD13 to form a transcription complex to activate MDPK expression. The three IDDs demonstrated an additive effect on MDPK activation. Further genetic studies showed that the IDD13 and IDD14 single mutants were more susceptible to ShB but not IDD12, while IDD12, IDD13, and IDD14 overexpressing plants were less susceptible than the wild-type plants. The IDD12, IDD13, and IDD14 mutants also proved the additive effect of the three IDDs on MDPK expression, which regulates ShB resistance in rice. Notably, MDPK overexpression maintained normal yield levels in rice. Thus, our study proves that IDD12, IDD13, and IDD14 activate MDPK to enhance ShB resistance in rice. These results improve our knowledge of rice defense mechanisms and provide a valuable marker for resistance breeding.
Rhabdomyolysis-Induced AKI (RIAKI) Including the Role of COVID-19
Authors: Młynarska Ewelina , Krzemińska Julia , Wronka Magdalena , Franczyk Beata , Rysz Jacek
Published: July 2022

Rhabdomyolysis is a compound disease that may be induced by many factors, both congenital and acquired. Statin therapy is considered one of the most common acquired factors. However, recent scientific reports suggest that serious complications such as rhabdomyolysis are rarely observed. Researchers suggest that, in many cases, side effects that occur with statin therapy, including muscle pain, can be avoided with lower-dose statin therapy or in combination therapy with other drugs. One of the most recent agents discovered to contribute to rhabdomyolysis is COVID-19 disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Rhabdomyolysis is defined as a damage to striated muscle cells with escape of intracellular substances into the bloodstream. These substances, including myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), potassium, and uridine acid, are markers of muscle damage and early complications of rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis. However, in almost 50% of patients, they do not occur. Therefore, the diagnosis is confirmed by serum CK levels five times higher than the upper limit of normal. One of the late complications of this condition is acute kidney injury (AKI), which is immediately life-threatening and has a high mortality rate among patients. Therefore, the prompt detection and treatment of rhabdomyolysis is important. Markers of muscle damage, such as CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin, troponins, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), are important in diagnosis. Treatment of rhabdomyolysis is mainly based on early, aggressive fluid resuscitation. However, therapeutic interventions, such as urinary alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate or the administration of mannitol or furosemide, have not proven to be beneficial. In some patients who develop AKI in the course of rhabdomyolysis, renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required.
BcWRKY33A Enhances Resistance to Botrytis cinerea via Activating BcMYB51-3 in Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage
Authors: Wang Huiyu , Zheng Yushan , Xiao Dong , Li Ying , Liu Tongkun , Hou Xilin
Published: July 2022

The transcription factor WRKY33 is a vital regulator of the biological process of the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea). However, its specific regulatory mechanism remains to be further investigated. In non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC, Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) ssp. Chinensis), our previous study showed that BcWRKY33A is induced not only by salt stress, but also by B. cinerea infection. Here, we noticed that BcWRKY33A is expressed in trichomes and confer plant defense resistance. Disease symptoms and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that BcWRKY33A-overexpressing and -silencing lines were less and more severely impaired, respectively, than wild type upon B. cinerea treatment. Meanwhile, the transcripts’ abundance of indolic glucosinolates’ (IGSs) biosynthetic genes is consistent with plants’ B. cinerea tolerance. Identification and expression pattern analysis of BcMYB51s showed that BcMYB51-3 has a similar trend to BcWRKY33A upon B. cinerea infection. Moreover, BcWRKY33A directly binds to the BcMYB51-3 promoter, which was jointly confirmed by Y1H, dual-LUC, and EMSA assays. The importance of MYB51, the homolog of BcMYB51-3, in the BcWRKY33A-mediated B. cinerea resistance was also verified using the TRV-based VIGS system. Overall, our data concludes that BcWRKY33A directly activates the expression of BcMYB51-3 and downstream IGSs’ biosynthetic genes, thereby improving the B. cinerea tolerance of NHCC plants.
Gut Barrier Damage and Gut Translocation of Pathogen Molecules in Lupus, an Impact of Innate Immunity (Macrophages and Neutrophils) in Autoimmune Disease
Authors: Charoensappakit Awirut , Sae-khow Kritsanawan , Leelahavanichkul Asada
Published: July 2022

The gut barrier is a single cell layer that separates gut micro-organisms from the host, and gut permeability defects result in the translocation of microbial molecules from the gut into the blood. Despite the silent clinical manifestation, gut translocation of microbial molecules can induce systemic inflammation that might be an endogenous exacerbating factor of systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast, circulatory immune-complex deposition and the effect of medications on the gut, an organ with an extremely large surface area, of patients with active lupus might cause gut translocation of microbial molecules, which worsens lupus severity. Likewise, the imbalance of gut microbiota may initiate lupus and/or interfere with gut integrity which results in microbial translocation and lupus exacerbation. Moreover, immune hyper-responsiveness of innate immune cells (macrophages and neutrophils) is demonstrated in a lupus model from the loss of inhibitory Fc gamma receptor IIb (FcgRIIb), which induces prominent responses through the cross-link between activating-FcgRs and innate immune receptors. The immune hyper-responsiveness can cause cell death, especially apoptosis and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETosis), which possibly exacerbates lupus, partly through the enhanced exposure of the self-antigens. Leaky gut monitoring and treatments (such as probiotics) might be beneficial in lupus. Here, we discuss the current information on leaky gut in lupus.
Electronic Structure and Solvation Effects from Core and Valence Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Serum Albumin
Authors: Renault Jean-Philippe , Huart Lucie , Milosavljević Aleksandar R. , Bozek John D. , Palaudoux Jerôme , Guigner Jean-Michel , Marichal Laurent , Leroy Jocelyne , Wien Frank , Hervé Du Penhoat Marie-Anne , Nicolas Christophe
Published: July 2022

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a liquid jet is used to investigate the electronic structure of a solvated protein, yielding insight into charge transfer mechanisms in biological systems in their natural environment. No structural damage was observed in BSA following X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in a liquid jet sample environment. Carbon and nitrogen atoms in different chemical environments were resolved in the X-ray photoelectron spectra of both solid and solvated BSA. The calculations of charge distributions demonstrate the difficulty of assigning chemical contributions in complex systems in an aqueous environment. The high-resolution X-ray core electron spectra recorded are unchanged upon solvation. A comparison of the valence bands of BSA in both phases is also presented. These bands display a higher sensitivity to solvation effects. The ionization energy of the solvated BSA is determined at 5.7 ± 0.3 eV. Experimental results are compared with theoretical calculations to distinguish the contributions of various molecular components to the electronic structure. This comparison points towards the role of water in hole delocalization in proteins.
Hematopoietic–Mesenchymal Signals Regulate the Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Kanazawa Sanshiro , Okada Hiroyuki , Riu Dan , Mabuchi Yo , Akazawa Chihiro , Iwata Junichi , Hoshi Kazuto , Hikita Atsuhiko
Published: July 2022

It is well known that the properties of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs), such as their self-renewal ability and multipotency, are maintained through interactions with mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). MSCs are rare cells that are present in the bone marrow and are useful for clinical applications due to their functional ability. To obtain the necessary number of cells, MSCs must be cultured to expand, but this causes a remarkable decrease in stem cell properties, such as multipotency and proliferation ability. In this study, we show that the c-Mpl signal, which is related to the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells, has an important effect on the proliferation and differentiation ability of MSCs. Utilizing a co-culture system comprising MSCs and HSCs, it is suggested that signaling from hematopoietic cells to MSCs supports cell proliferation. Interestingly, the enhanced proliferation ability of the HSCs was decreased in c-Mpl knock-out HSCs (c-Mpl-KO). In addition, the MSCs co-cultured with c-Mpl-KO HSCs had reduced MSC marker expression (PDGFRa and Sca-1) compared to the MSCs co-cultured with c-Mpl-wild-type HSCs. These results suggest that a hematopoietic–mesenchymal signal exists, and that the state of the HSCs is important for the stability of MSC properties.
Sogatella furcifera Saliva Mucin-like Protein Is Required for Feeding and Induces Rice Defences
Authors: Liu Yudi , Yi Jinyu , Jia Haokang , Miao Yutong , Hou Maolin
Published: July 2022

The white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera, is one of the most important piercing-sucking pests of rice (Oryza sativa) in Asia. Mucin-like salivary protein (SFMLP) is highly expressed in the salivary glands of WBPH, which plays an important role in WBPH feeding. In this study, WBPH injected with dsSFMLP had difficulty in sucking phloem sap from rice plants, which significantly reduced their food intake, weight, and survival. In contrast, the knockdown of the SFMLP gene had only a marginal effect on the survival of WBPH fed an artificial diet. Further studies showed that silencing SFMLP resulted in the short and single-branched salivary sheaths secretion and less formation of salivary flanges in rice. These data suggest that SFMLP is involved in the formation of the salivary sheath and is essential for feeding in WBPH. Overexpression of the SFMLP gene in rice plants promoted the feeding of WBPH, whereas silencing the gene in rice plants significantly decreased WBPH performance. Additionally, it was found that overexpression of SFMLP in rice plants elicited the signalling pathway of SA (salicylic acid) while suppressing JA (jasmonic acid); in contrast, silencing of the SFMLP gene in rice plants showed the opposite results. This study clarified the function of SFMLP in WBPH feeding as well as mediating rice defences.
Effect of Chemically Modified Carbon-Coated Iron Nanoparticles on the Structure of Human Atherosclerotic Plaques Ex Vivo and on Adipose Tissue in Chronic Experiment In Vivo
Authors: Akhmedov Shamil , Afanasyev Sergey , Beshchasna Natalia , Trusova Marina , Stepanov Ivan , Rebenkova Mariya , Poletykina Ekaterina , Vecherskiy Yuri , Tverdokhlebov Sergei , Bolbasov Evgeny , Balakin Sascha , Opitz Joerg , Yermakov Anatoly , Kozlov Boris
Published: July 2022

The high mortality rate caused by atherosclerosis makes it necessary to constantly search for new and better treatments. In previous reports, chemically modified carbon-coated iron nanoparticles (Fe@C NPs) have been demonstrated a high biocompatibility and promising anti-plaque properties. To further investigate these effects, the interaction of these nanoparticles with the adipose tissue of Wistar rats (in vivo) and human atherosclerotic plaques (ex vivo) was studied. For the in vivo study, cobalt–chromium (CoCr) alloy tubes, which are used for coronary stent manufacturing, were prepared with a coating of polylactic acid (PLA) which contained either modified or non-modified Fe@C NPs in a 5% by weight concentration. The tubes were implanted into an area of subcutaneous fat in Wistar rats, where changes in the histological structure and functional properties of the surrounding tissue were observed in the case of coatings modified with Fe@C NPs. For the ex vivo study, freshly explanted human atherosclerotic plaques were treated in the physiological solution with doses of modified Fe@C NPs, with mass equal to 5% or 25% relative to the plaques. This treatment resulted in the release of cholesterol-like compounds from the surface of the plaques into the solution, thus proving a pronounced destructive effect on the plaque structure. Chemically modified Fe@C NPs, when used as an anti-atherosclerosis agent, were able to activate the activity of macrophages, which could lead to the destruction of atherosclerotic plaques structures. These findings could prove the fabrication of next-generation vascular stents with built-in anti-atherosclerotic agents.
Transcriptome Profile of Thyroid Glands in Bile Duct Ligation Mouse Model
Authors: Jo Danbi , Kim Hee Kyung , Kim Young-Kook , Song Juhyun
Published: July 2022

Thyroid hormone (TH) contributes to multiple cellular mechanisms in the liver, muscle cells, adipose tissue, and brain, etc. In particular, the liver is an important organ in TH metabolism for the conversion of thyronine (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3) by the deiodinase enzyme. TH levels were significantly decreased and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly increased in patients with liver failure compared with normal subjects. Among liver failure diseases, hepatic encephalopathy (HE) deserves more attention because liver damage and neuropathologies occur simultaneously. Although there is numerous evidence of TH dysregulation in the HE model, specific mechanisms and genetic features of the thyroid glands in the HE model are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the significantly different genes in the thyroid glands of a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model as the HE model, compared to the thyroid glands of the control mouse using RNA sequencing. We also confirmed the alteration in mRNA levels of thyroid gland function-related genes in the BDL mouse model. Furthermore, we evaluated the increased level of free T4 and TSH in the BDL mouse blood. Thus, we emphasize the potential roles of TH in liver metabolism and suggest that thyroid dysfunction-related genes in the HE model should be highlighted for finding the appropriate solution for an impaired thyroid system in HE.
Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine in Italy: Brief State of the Art of the Principal Research Centers
Authors: Camponogara Francesca , Zanotti Federica , Trentini Martina , Tiengo Elena , Zanolla Ilaria , Pishavar Elham , Soliani Elisa , Scatto Marco , Gargiulo Paolo , Zambito Ylenia , De Stefano Luca , Ferroni Letizia , Zavan Barbara
Published: July 2022

Regenerative medicine is the branch of medicine that effectively uses stem cell therapy and tissue engineering strategies to guide the healing or replacement of damaged tissues or organs. A crucial element is undoubtedly the biomaterial that guides biological events to restore tissue continuity. The polymers, natural or synthetic, find wide application thanks to their great adaptability. In fact, they can be used as principal components, coatings or vehicles to functionalize several biomaterials. There are many leading centers for the research and development of biomaterials in Italy. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of the art on polymer research for regenerative medicine purposes. The last five years of scientific production of the main Italian research centers has been screened to analyze the current advancement in tissue engineering in order to highlight inputs for the development of novel biomaterials and strategies.
PGC1α Cooperates with FOXA1 to Regulate Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition through the TCF4-TWIST1
Authors: Fang Xue-Quan , Lee Mingyu , Lim Woo-Jin , Lee Seonghoon , Lim Chang-Hoon , Lim Ji-Hong
Published: July 2022

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) is a critical transcriptional coactivator that maintains metabolic homeostasis and energy expenditure by cooperating with various transcription factors. Recent studies have shown that PGC1α deficiency promotes lung cancer metastasis to the bone through activation of TCF4 and TWIST1-mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is suppressed by the inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1); however, it is not clear which transcription factor participates in PGC1α-mediated EMT and lung cancer metastasis. Here, we identified forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) as a potential transcription factor that coordinates with PGC1α and ID1 for EMT gene expression using transcriptome analysis. Cooperation between FOXA1 and PGC1α inhibits promoter occupancy of TCF4 and TWIST1 on CDH1 and CDH2 proximal promoter regions due to increased ID1, consequently regulating the expression of EMT-related genes such as CDH1, CDH2, VIM, and PTHLH. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), a major EMT-promoting factor, was found to decrease ID1 due to the suppression of FOXA1 and PGC1α. In addition, ectopic expression of ID1, FOXA1, and PGC1α reversed TGFβ1-induced EMT gene expression. Our findings suggest that FOXA1- and PGC1α-mediated ID1 expression involves EMT by suppressing TCF4 and TWIST1 in response to TGFβ1. Taken together, this transcriptional framework is a promising molecular target for the development of therapeutic strategies for lung cancer metastasis.
The Structural Flexibility of PR-10 Food Allergens
Authors: Führer Sebastian , Unterhauser Jana , Zeindl Ricarda , Eidelpes Reiner , Fernández-Quintero Monica L. , Liedl Klaus R. , Tollinger Martin
Published: July 2022

PR-10 proteins constitute a major cause of food allergic reactions. Birch-pollen-related food allergies are triggered by the immunologic cross-reactivity of IgE antibodies with structurally homologous PR-10 proteins that are present in birch pollen and various food sources. While the three-dimensional structures of PR-10 food allergens have been characterized in detail, only a few experimental studies have addressed the structural flexibility of these proteins. In this study, we analyze the millisecond-timescale structural flexibility of thirteen PR-10 proteins from prevalent plant food sources by NMR relaxation-dispersion spectroscopy, in a comparative manner. We show that all the allergens in this study have inherently flexible protein backbones in solution, yet the extent of the structural flexibility appears to be strikingly protein-specific (but not food-source-specific). Above-average flexibility is present in the two short helices, α1 and α2, which form a V-shaped support for the long C-terminal helix α3, and shape the internal ligand-binding cavity, which is characteristic for PR-10 proteins. An in-depth analysis of the NMR relaxation-dispersion data for the PR-10 allergen from peanut reveals the presence of at least two subglobal conformational transitions on the millisecond timescale, which may be related to the release of bound low-molecular-weight ligands from the internal cavity.
Promising Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer: The Most Clinically Important miRNAs
Authors: Thomaidou Arsinoe C. , Batsaki Panagiota , Adamaki Maria , Goulielmaki Maria , Baxevanis Constantin N. , Zoumpourlis Vassilis , Fortis Sotirios P.
Published: July 2022

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors that extend from the oral cavity to the upper gastrointestinal tract. The principal etiologic factors for oral tumors include tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, while human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been accused of a high incidence of pharyngeal tumors. Accordingly, HPV detection has been extensively used to categorize carcinomas of the head and neck. The diverse nature of HNC highlights the necessity for novel, sensitive, and precise biomarkers for the prompt diagnosis of the disease, its successful monitoring, and the timely prognosis of patient clinical outcomes. In this context, the identification of certain microRNAs (miRNAs) and/or the detection of alterations in their expression patterns, in a variety of somatic fluids and tissues, could serve as valuable biomarkers for precision oncology. In the present review, we summarize some of the most frequently studied miRNAs (including miR-21, -375, -99, -34a, -200, -31, -125a/b, -196a/b, -9, -181a, -155, -146a, -23a, -16, -29, and let-7), their role as biomarkers, and their implication in HNC pathogenesis. Moreover, we designate the potential of given miRNAs and miRNA signatures as novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for successful patient stratification. Finally, we discuss the currently ongoing clinical trials that aim to identify the diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility of miRNAs in HNC.
Effect of Propeller Cup on the Reduction of Fuel Consumption in Realistic Weather Conditions
Authors: Tadros Mina , Vettor Roberto , Ventura Manuel , Guedes Soares C.
Published: July 2022

This paper presents the effect of a propeller cup on the propeller cavitation and the fuel consumption of a bulk carrier in both calm water and different weather conditions towards improving the energy efficiency of the ship and reducing the level of emissions in terms of design and operation. Based on the propeller optimization model, previously developed that couples NavCad and a Matlab code to select the geometry and the operating point of the propeller at the engine operating point with minimum fuel consumption, the optimized propeller performance is evaluated for different percentages of the cup; light, medium and heavy and compared with the performance of the propeller without a cup in both calm water and several sea states. By evaluating the cavitation criteria, it is concluded that increasing the percentage of cupping reduces the occurrence of cavitation based on the Keller and Burrill methods; moreover, the fuel consumption is reduced by up to 5.4% and 6.6% at the propeller with a higher percentage of cup compared with the uncapped propeller in calm water and among the ship route, respectively.
Modeling the Mechanical Behavior of Methane Hydrate-Bearing Sand Using the Equivalent Granular Void Ratio
Authors: Shen Jie , Chiu Abraham C. F. , Ng Charles Wang Wai
Published: July 2022

For the safe extraction of methane from hydrate reservoirs, modeling the mechanical behavior of the methane hydrate-bearing soil properly is crucial in order to enable designers to analysis hydrate-dissociation-induced geotechnical failures. Hydrate morphology is one of major factors affecting the mechanical behavior of soil containing hydrate. This paper presents a new constitutive model for methane hydrate-bearing sand (MHBS) using the equivalent granular void ratio as a state variable, which can quantify the effects of the pore-filling and load-bearing hydrate morphology under a unifying framework. The proposed model is a combination of generalized plasticity and an elastic damage model so as to take into account the observed frictional and bonding aspects of MHBS, respectively. By using the concept of state-dependent dilatancy, the equivalent granular void ratio is formulated and adopted in the generalized plasticity model. In addition, a nonlinear damage function is implemented to elucidate the degradation of hydrate bonds with respect to shearing. Compared with the basic generalized plasticity model for host sand, only three additional parameters are required to capture key mechanical behaviors of MHBS. By comparing the triaxial test results of MHBS synthesized from a range of host sands with a predicted behavior by the proposed model, it is demonstrated that the new model can satisfactorily capture the stress–strain and volumetric behavior of MHBS under different hydrate saturations, confining pressures, and void ratios.
Culture of Gracilaria gracilis and Chondracanthus teedei from Vegetative Fragments in the Field and Carpospores in Laboratory
Authors: López-Campos Malurisbel , Pérez-Lloréns José Lucas , Barrena Felipe , Pérez-González Claudia M. , Hernández Ignacio
Published: July 2022

Gracilarioids and Gigartinales are of great economic importance due to the phycocolloids they contain in their cell wall and are used in different industries worldwide. Field and laboratory cultures of two species of red seaweeds (Gracilaria gracilis and Chondracanthus teedei), confirmed after DNA analysis, were carried out to foster the increasing use of this species in Spain as a food source. Vegetative cultures carried out in an open-lock gate within a traditional salina in the ay of Cadiz (Southern Spain) rendered maximum growth rates in April (3.64% day−1) for G. gracilis and in November (4.68% day−1) for C. teedei, the latter showing significant differences between the months of the year. For laboratory cultures, samples of the two species used for sporulation were obtained from tidal creeks in several nearby locations of the Bay. In order to grow fertile carposporophytes from spores, Provasoli enriched seawater medium (ES medium), Miquel A + B and f/2 were used as culture medium at a temperature of 18 °C and irradiance of 30 µmol m−2 s−1 in 12:12 h photoperiod. Both species developed a basal disc after 12–15 days in ES medium and Miquel A + B, and new microscopic seedlings were observed at 20–25 days in ES medium. With f/2 medium, no growth was observed after sporulation. The life cycle of G. gracilis was completed in ES medium over a period of 11 months with a mean growth rate of 3.28% day−1. The present study is an important step towards the development of seaweed cultivation in the Bay of Cadiz, especially in integrated multi-trophic cultivation in salinas as part of the more sustainable use of the marine resources in coastal communities.
Insight on the Void Ratio–Suction Relationship of Compacted Bentonite during Hydration
Authors: Wang Yang , Teng Jun , Huang Qi , Wang Wei , Ren Zhenyang
Published: July 2022

Investigation on swelling characteristics of buffer/backfill materials during hydration is an important issue in the design of artificial barriers in high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal repositories. In this work, for clarifying the characteristic of void ratio–suction relationship for compacted bentonite on hydration path, suction-controlled swelling deformation tests under constant vertical stresses 0.001~40 MPa were carried out on compacted bentonite specimens. Four different types of void ratio-suction curves indicated that swelling-collapse behavior under hydration depends on suction and over-consolidation ratio (OCR), based on which the swelling index was defined. Then, equations were proposed for describing the swelling-collapse characteristic of void ratio–suction curves. Simulation results of suction-controlled swelling deformation tests show that the different types of the hydration deformation curves could be well described by the proposed equations. Obviously, the proposed equations could be used for description and prediction of swelling characteristics of compacted bentonite during hydration, which is also of great importance for the safety assessment of the HLW repositories.
Sigma Identification Protocol Construction Based on MPF Defined over Non-Commuting Platform Group
Authors: Mihalkovich Aleksejus , Luksys Kestutis , Sakalauskas Eligijus
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we present the construction of a sigma identification protocol based on matrix power function (MPF) defined over a certain non-commuting platform group. We use the previously defined templates for generating public parameters of our protocol to overcome the problem that a two-sided MPF in general is not associative. We prove that the proposed sigma identification protocol is resistant to eavesdropping adversary attacks. Furthermore, relying on the asymptotic knowledge soundness property proven in this paper, we show that our protocol is also resistant against active adversary attacks with an overwhelming probability.
Cognitive Trait Model: Measurement Model for Mastery Level and Progression of Learning
Authors: Choi Jaehwa
Published: July 2022

This paper seeks to establish a framework which operationalizes cognitive traits as a portion of the predefined mastery level, the highest level expected to successfully perform all of the relevant tasks of the target trait. This perspective allows us to use and interpret the cognitive trait levels in relative quantities (e.g., %s) of the mastery level instead of relative standings (i.e., rankings) on an unbounded continuum. To facilitate the proposed perspective, this paper presents an analytical framework that has support on the [0, 1] trait continuum with truncated logistic link functions. The framework provides a solution to cope with the chronic question of “relative standings or magnitudes of learning outcome?” in measuring cognitive traits. The proposed framework is articulated relative to the traditional models and is illustrated with both simulated and empirical datasets within the Bayesian framework, estimated with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method.
Support Vector Machine with Robust Low-Rank Learning for Multi-Label Classification Problems in the Steelmaking Process
Authors: Li Qiang , Liu Chang , Guo Qingxin
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we present a novel support vector machine learning method for multi-label classification in the steelmaking process. The steelmaking process involves complicated physicochemical reactions. The end-point temperature is the key to the steelmaking process. According to the initial furnace condition information, the end-point temperature can be predicted using a data-driven method. Based on the setting value of the temperature before tapping, multi-scale predicted errors of the end-point temperature can be calculated and divided into different ranges. The quality evaluation problem can be attributed to the multi-label classification problem of molten steel quality. To solve the classification problem, considering that it is difficult to capture nonlinear relationships between the input and output in linear models, we propose a novel support vector machine with robust low-rank learning, which has the characteristics of class imbalance without label correlations; a low-rank constraint is used to deal with high-order label correlations in low-dimensional space. Furthermore, we derive an accelerated proximal gradient algorithm and then extend it to handle the nonlinear multi-label classifiers. To validate the proposed model, experiments are conducted with real data from a practical steelmaking problem. The results show that the proposed model can effectively solve the multi-label classification problem in industrial production. To evaluate the proposed approach as a general classification approach, we test it on multi-label classification benchmark datasets. The results illustrate that the proposed approach performs better than other state-of-the-art approaches across different scenarios.
Pseudo Steady-State Period in Non-Stationary Infinite-Server Queue with State Dependent Arrival Intensity
Authors: Nazarov Anatoly , Dudin Alexander , Moiseev Alexander
Published: July 2022

An infinite-server queueing model with state-dependent arrival process and exponential distribution of service time is analyzed. It is assumed that the difference between the value of the arrival rate and total service rate becomes positive starting from a certain value of the number of customers in the system. In this paper, time until reaching this value by the number of customers in the system is called the pseudo steady-state period (PSSP). Distribution of duration of PSSP, its raw moments and its simple approximation under a certain scaling of the number of customers in the system are analyzed. Novelty of the considered problem consists of an arbitrary dependence of the rate of customer arrival on the current number of customers in the system and analysis of time until reaching from below a certain level by the number of customers in the system. The relevant existing papers focus on the analysis of time interval since exceeding a certain level until the number of customers goes down to this level (congestion period). Our main contribution consists of the derivation of a simple approximation of the considered time distribution by the exponential distribution. Numerical examples are presented, which confirm good quality of the proposed approximation.
Simultaneous State and Kinetic Observation of Class-Controllable Bioprocesses
Authors: Lyubenova Velislava Noreva , Ignatova Maya Naydenova , Shopska Vesela Nevelinova , Kostov Georgi Atanasov , Roeva Olympia Nikolaeva
Published: July 2022

Monitoring of bioprocesses is a challenge in designing modern systems for control. In the biotechnology industry, the lack of reliable hardware sensors for key variables related to the metabolism of microorganisms is a topical problem. This predetermines the progress of a scientific field that relies on the development of software sensors for immeasurable variables. In this paper, a new approach for the monitoring of class-controllable bioprocesses that evolve through various physiological states (metabolic regimes) is proposed. At the core of the approach is the potential to present total biomass as a sum of the biomass concentrations obtained during each of the metabolic regimes. Algorithms for estimation of immeasurable variables and their kinetics are here derived and applied using real experimental data. As a case-study, a fed-batch process for phytase production by E. coli is considered. Effectiveness of the method is proven by using two sets of real experiments. One is used to tune the software sensors and the other to verify the approach. The stability analyses are provided, as well. The obtained results and successful verification confirm the adaptive properties of the approach. The considered software sensors will be further built into an interactive system for training specialists/students of biotechnology.
Clustering and Forecasting Urban Bus Passenger Demand with a Combination of Time Series Models
Authors: Mariñas-Collado Irene , Sipols Ana E. , Santos-Martín M. Teresa , Frutos-Bernal Elisa
Published: July 2022

The present paper focuses on the analysis of large data sets from public transport networks, more specifically, on how to predict urban bus passenger demand. A series of steps are proposed to ease the understanding of passenger demand. First, given the large number of stops in the bus network, these are divided into clusters and then different models are fitted for a representative of each of the clusters. The aim is to compare and combine the predictions associated with traditional methods, such as exponential smoothing or ARIMA, with machine learning methods, such as support vector machines or artificial neural networks. Moreover, support vector machine predictions are improved by incorporating explanatory variables with temporal structure and moving averages. Finally, through cointegration techniques, the results obtained for the representative of each group are extrapolated to the rest of the series within the same cluster. A case study in the city of Salamanca (Spain) is presented to illustrate the problem.
Anti-Pectin Fouling Performance of Dopamine and (3-Aminopropy) Triethoxysilane-Coated PVDF Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: Lu Dengrong , Liu Hongbo , Tang Zhishu , Wang Mei , Song Zhongxing , Zhu Huaxu , Qian Dawei , Shi Xinbo , Li Guolong , Li Bo
Published: July 2022

Due to the diversity and complexity of the components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) extracts, serious membrane fouling has become an obstacle that limits the application of membrane technology in TCM. Pectin, a heteropolysaccharide widely existing in plant cells, is the main membrane-fouling substance in TCM extracts. In this study, a hydrophilic hybrid coating was constructed on the surface of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane co-deposited with polydopamine (pDA) and (3-Aminopropy) triethoxysilane (KH550) for pectin antifouling. Characterization analysis showed that hydrophilic coating containing hydrophilic groups (–NH3, Si-OH, Si-O-Si) formed on the surface of the modified membrane. Membrane filtration experiments showed that, compared with a matched group (FRR: 28.66%, Rr: 26.87%), both the flux recovery rate (FRR) and reversible pollution rate (Rr) of the pDA and KH550 coated membrane (FRR: 48.07%, Rr: 44.46%) increased, indicating that pectin absorbed on the surface of membranes was more easily removed. Based on the extended Derjaguin–Laudau–Verwey–Overbeek (XDLVO) theory, the fouling mechanism of a PVDF UF membrane caused by pectin was analyzed. It was found that, compared with the pristine membrane (144.21 kT), there was a stronger repulsive energy barrier (3572.58 kT) to confront the mutual adsorption between the coated membrane and pectin molecule. The total interface between the modified membrane and the pectin molecule was significantly greater than the pristine membrane. Therefore, as the repulsion between them was enhanced, pectin molecules were not easily adsorbed on the surface of the coated membrane.