bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Permanent, Real-Time Monitoring Network for the Volcanoes Mount Scenery and The Quill in the Caribbean Netherlands
Authors: De Zeeuw-van Dalfsen Elske , Sleeman Reinoud
Published: August 2018

The stratovolcanoes of Mt. Scenery at Saba and The Quill at St. Eustatius in the Caribbean Netherlands, with a total population of about 5200 people, are part of the active volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles but lacked a multiparameter volcano and earthquake monitoring system until the beginning of 2018. The permanent seismic network on the islands has been built up since 2006 and was expanded in 2018 with one permanent Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor at each volcano and a temperature logger on Saba. We provide technical details of all equipment and the installation procedures, and we show the preliminary results of GNSS data processing. Deploying a remote, permanent network of different sensor types under tropical island conditions and sustaining access to real-time high-quality data to monitor the state of volcanoes is an underappreciated challenge. Despite the problems encountered, we operated the network with an overall availability of 84.5% in the first half of 2018 compared to 70.3% in the years before. The main unresolved problem affecting seismic data quality is related to sudden out-of-balance seismometer mass positions. We provide a complete overview of our monitoring network, the various challenges encountered, and the solutions applied, and we address future plans.
Signs in People with Intellectual Disabilities: Interviews with Managers and Staff on the Identification Process of Dementia
Authors: Holst Göran , Johansson Maria , Ahlström Gerd
Published: August 2018

The life expectancy of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) has steadily increased, which has been accompanied by an increased risk of dementia. Staff and managers are key resources for safety diagnosis since they deliver information about people with ID behavior every day. The aim of the present study was to explore the identification process employed by staff and managers to detect signs of suspected dementia in people with an ID within intellectual disability services (ID-services). Twenty managers and 24 staff within an ID-service were interviewed and qualitative latent content analysis was applied. A model consisting of three themes on three levels of resources for the identification process of signs of suspected dementia emerged from the analysis. On the first level was the time and continuity in the care relationship, which is crucial for identifying and responding to changes in cognitive ability that indicate dementia. On the second level, the staff identify deficiencies in their own knowledge, seek support from colleagues and managers within their workplace and, on the third level, outside their workplace. Staff and managers expressed a need for early and continuous guidance and education from specialists in dementia and primary healthcare. This finding indicates an urgent need for intervention research and digital support for staff in dementia care.
Conformational Design and Characterisation of a Truncated Diamine Oxidase from Arthrobacter globiformis
Authors: Razali Nur Nadia , Hashim Nur Hafizah , Leow Adam Thean Chor , Salleh Abu Bakar
Published: August 2018

A functional mini protein can be developed by miniaturising its size. The minimisation technique provides an excellent model system for studying native enzymes, especially in creating an alternative novel biocatalyst. Miniaturised proteins may have enhanced stability, a crucial characteristic for large-scale production and industrial applications. In this study, a huge enzyme molecule, known as diamine oxidase (DAO, comprising 700 amino acids), was selected to undergo the process. By retaining the arrangement of the original functional sites of DAO in the fourth domain, a mini DAO can be designed via homology modelling. After several downsizing processes, a final configuration of 220 amino acids displayed high binding affinity towards histamine, a short-chain substrate that was catalysed by the parental DAO. The configuration also showed enhanced affinity towards a long-chain substrate known as spermidine. The gene for the designed protein was cloned and expressed in pET102/TOPO vector and overexpressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The new mini DAO had similar temperature tolerance and versatile substrates specificity characteristics as its parental protein. An active mini-protein with these characteristics is potentially useful for several applications such as detecting biogenic amines in the biological fluids and the environment that may give rise to health issues.
Exploring Neighborhood Environments and Active Commuting in Chennai, India
Authors: Adlakha Deepti , Hipp J. Aaron , Sallis James F. , Brownson Ross C.
Published: August 2018

Few studies assess built environment correlates of active commuting in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), but the different context could yield distinct findings. Policies and investments to promote active commuting remain under-developed in LMICs like India, which grapples with traffic congestion, lack of activity-supportive infrastructure, poor enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, air pollution, and overcrowding. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between home neighborhood environment characteristics and active commuting in Chennai, India. Adults (N = 370, 47.2% female, mean age = 37.9 years) were recruited from 155 wards in the metropolitan area of Chennai in southern India between January and June 2015. Participants self-reported their usual mode of commute to work, with responses recoded into three categories: (1) multi-modal or active commuting (walking and bicycling; n = 56); (2) public transit (n = 52); and (3) private transport (n = 111). Environmental attributes around participants’ homes were assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for India (NEWS-India). Associations between environmental characteristics and likelihood of active commuting and public transit use were modeled using logistic regression with private transport (driving alone or carpool) as the reference category, adjusting for age, gender, and household car ownership. Consistent with other international studies, participants living in neighborhoods with a mix of land uses and a transit stop within a 10-minute walk from home were more likely to use active commuting (both p < 0.01). Land-use mix was significantly associated with the use of public transit compared to private transport (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.2, p = 0.002). Contrary to findings in high-income countries, the odds of active commuting were reduced with improved safety from crime (aOR = 0.2, p = 0.003), aesthetics (aOR = 0.2, p = 0.05), and street connectivity (aOR = 0.2, p = 0.003). Different environmental attributes were associated with active commuting, suggesting that these relationships are complex and may distinctly differ from those in high-income countries. Unexpected inverse associations of perceived safety from crime and aesthetics with active commuting emphasize the need for high-quality epidemiologic studies with greater context specificity in the study of physical activity in LMICs. Findings have public health implications for India and suggest that caution should be taken when translating evidence across countries.
Prevailing over Adversity: Factors Counteracting the Long-Term Negative Health Influences of Social and Material Disadvantages in Youth
Authors: Almquist Ylva B. , Landstedt Evelina , Jackisch Josephine , Rajaleid Kristiina , Westerlund Hugo , Hammarström Anne
Published: August 2018

Disadvantaged circumstances in youth tend to translate into poor health development. However, the fact that this is not always the case has been seen as indicative of differential resilience. The current study highlights factors outside the context of the family with the potential to counteract the long-term negative influences of social and material adversity in adolescence on general health status. This study was based on two waves of questionnaire data from the Northern Swedish Cohort. From the wave in 1981 (age 16), indicators of social and material conditions as well as factors related to school, peers, and spare time were derived. From the wave in 2008 (age 43), information about self-rated health was used. Ordinal logistic regression models (n = 908) showed that adversity in youth was associated with poorer self-rated health in midlife among men and women alike, net of health status at baseline. However, having an advantaged situation with regard to school, peers, or spare time appeared to protect against the detrimental influences of disadvantaged circumstances in the family context on subsequent health. This suggests that health-promoting interventions may benefit from focusing on contexts outside the family in their effort to strengthen processes of resilience among disadvantaged youths.
Pollution Characteristics and Human Health Risks of Elements in Road Dust in Changchun, China
Authors: Li Na , Han Weizheng , Tang Jie , Bian Jianmin , Sun Siyue , Song Tiehong
Published: August 2018

Road dust, which contains trace elements and certain organic matter that can be harmful to human health, plays an important role in atmospheric pollution. In this paper, concentrations of 16 elements in the road dust of Changchun, China were determined experimentally. A total of 100 samples were collected using plastic brushes and dustpans, and the elements were analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). It was indicated that the elements could be divided into major and trace elements. The concentration of trace elements followed the trend: mercury (Hg) > manganese (Mn) > zinc (Zn) > lead (Pb) > chromium (Cr) > copper (Cu) > vanadium (V) > arsenic (As) > nickel (Ni) > cobalt (Co) > cadmium (Cd). Contamination-level-assessment calculated by the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) showed that the pollution-level ranged from non-contaminated to extreme contamination, while the calculations of enrichment factor (EF) showed that EF values exhibited a decreasing trend: Cd > Hg > As > Pb > Cu > Co > Zn > Ni > Cr > V > Mn > Mg > Fe > Sr > Ba. In our study, ingestion was the greatest exposure pathway for humans to intake trace elements by calculating the average daily dose (ADD) from three routes (ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact). According to the health risk assessment results, the non-carcinogenic risks that human beings suffered from these elements were insignificant. Additionally, the hazard quotient (HQ) values were approximately one-tenth in the case of children. Meanwhile, the total excess cancer risk (ECR) was also lower than the acceptable level (10−6–10−4) for both adults and children.
Cancer Risks in Vitiligo Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Taiwan
Authors: Li Cheng-Yuan , Dai Ying-Xiu , Chen Yi-Ju , Chu Szu-Ying , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Wu Chen-Yi , Chen Chih-Chiang , Lee Ding-Dar , Chang Yun-Ting
Published: August 2018

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of melanocytes and associated with other autoimmune disease. Whether the dysregulation of immune system enhances oncogenesis or not remains obscure. Until now, no nationwide population-based study has been conducted regarding this. As such, this paper aims to clarify cancer risk in vitiligo patients. A retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study between 2000 and 2010 was performed based on data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancers were analyzed. Among the 12,391 vitiligo patients (5364 males and 7027 females) and 48,531.09 person-years of observation, a total of 345 cancers were identified. Significantly increased SIRs were observed for prostate cancer in male patients, thyroid cancer and breast cancer in female patients and bladder cancers in both male and female patients. Unfortunately, the low incidence rate of certain cancers limited the power of our statistical analyses. This study demonstrated the patterns of malignancies in vitiligo patients of Taiwan. Compared with the general population, male patients had higher risks of prostate cancer and female patients had higher risks of thyroid cancer and breast cancer. The risks of bladder cancer were also increased in both male and female patients.
The Effect of a Single 30-Min Long Term Evolution Mobile Phone-Like Exposure on Thermal Pain Threshold of Young Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Vecsei Zsuzsanna , Thuróczy György , Hernádi István
Published: August 2018

Although the majority of mobile phone (MP) users do not attribute adverse effects on health or well-being to MP-emitted radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs), the exponential increase in the number of RF devices necessitates continuing research aimed at the objective investigation of such concerns. Here we investigated the effects of acute exposure from Long Term Evolution (LTE) MP EMFs on thermal pain threshold in healthy young adults. We use a protocol that was validated in a previous study in a capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia model and was also successfully used to show that exposure from an RF source mimicking a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) MP led to mildly stronger desensitization to repeated noxious thermal stimulation relative to the sham condition. Using the same experimental design, we did not find any effects of LTE exposure on thermal pain threshold. The present results, contrary to previous evidence obtained with the UMTS modulation, are likely to originate from placebo/nocebo effects and are unrelated to the brief acute LTE EMF exposure itself. The fact that this is dissimilar to our previous results on UMTS exposure implies that RF modulations might differentially affect pain perception and points to the necessity of further research on the topic.
Joint Alternate Small Convolution and Feature Reuse for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Gao Hongmin , Yang Yao , Li Chenming , Zhou Hui , Qu Xiaoyu
Published: August 2018

A hyperspectral image (HSI) contains fine and rich spectral information and spatial information of ground objects, which has great potential in applications. It is also widely used in precision agriculture, marine monitoring, military reconnaissance and many other fields. In recent years, a convolutional neural network (CNN) has been successfully used in HSI classification and has provided it with outstanding capacity for improving classification effects. To get rid of the bondage of strong correlation among bands for HSI classification, an effective CNN architecture is proposed for HSI classification in this work. The proposed CNN architecture has several distinct advantages. First, each 1D spectral vector that corresponds to a pixel in an HSI is transformed into a 2D spectral feature matrix, thereby emphasizing the difference among samples. In addition, this architecture can not only weaken the influence of strong correlation among bands on classification, but can also fully utilize the spectral information of hyperspectral data. Furthermore, a 1 × 1 convolutional layer is adopted to better deal with HSI information. All the convolutional layers in the proposed CNN architecture are composed of small convolutional kernels. Moreover, cascaded composite layers of the architecture consist of 1 × 1 and 3 × 3 convolutional layers. The inputs and outputs of each composite layer are stitched as the inputs of the next composite layer, thereby accomplishing feature reuse. This special module with joint alternate small convolution and feature reuse can extract high-level features from hyperspectral data meticulously and comprehensively solve the overfitting problem to an extent, in order to obtain a considerable classification effect. Finally, global average pooling is used to replace the traditional fully connected layer to reduce the model parameters and extract high-dimensional features from the hyperspectral data at the end of the architecture. Experimental results on three benchmark HSI datasets show the high classification accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Novel Method for Virtual Restoration of Cultural Relics with Complex Geometric Structure Based on Multiscale Spatial Geometry
Authors: Hou Miaole , Yang Su , Hu Yungang , Wu Yuhua , Jiang Lili , Zhao Sizhong , Wei Putong
Published: August 2018

Because of the age of relics and the lack of historical data, the geometric forms of missing parts can only be judged by the subjective experience of repair personnel, which leads to varying restoration effects when the geometric structure of the complex relic is reconstructed. Therefore, virtual repair effects cannot fully reflect the historical appearance of cultural relics. In order to solve this problem, this paper presents a virtual restoration method based on the multiscale spatial geometric features of cultural relics in the case of complex construction where the geometric shape of the damaged area is unknown, using the Dazu Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva statue in China as an example. In this study, the global geometric features of the three-dimensional (3D) model are analyzed in space to determine the geometric shape of the damaged parts of cultural relics. The local geometric features are represented by skeleton lines based on regression analysis, and a geometric size prediction model of the defective parts is established, which is used to calculate the geometric dimensions of the missing parts. Finally, 3D surface reconstruction technology is used to quantitate virtual restoration of the defective parts. This method not only provides a new idea for the virtual restoration of artifacts with complex geometric structure, but also may play a vital role in the protection of cultural relics.
Studies on Three-Dimensional (3D) Modeling of UAV Oblique Imagery with the Aid of Loop-Shooting
Authors: Li Jia , Yao Yongxiang , Duan Ping , Chen Yun , Li Shuang , Zhang Chi
Published: August 2018

Oblique imagery obtained from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been widely applied to large-scale three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction; however, the problems of partially missing model details caused by such factors as occlusion, distortion, and airflow, are still not well resolved. In this paper, a loop-shooting-aided technology is used to solve the problem of details loss in the 3D model. The use of loop-shooting technology can effectively compensate for losses caused by occlusion, distortion, or airflow during UAV flight and enhance the 3D model details in large scene- modeling applications. Applying this technology involves two key steps. First, based on the 3D modeling construction process, the missing details of the modeling scene are found. Second, using loop-shooting image sets as the data source, incremental iterative fitting based on aerotriangulation theory is used to compensate for the missing details in the 3D model. The experimental data used in this paper were collected from Yunnan Normal University, Chenggong District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, China. The experiments demonstrate that loop-shooting significantly improves the aerotriangulation accuracy and effectively compensates for defects during 3D large-scale model reconstruction. In standard-scale distance tests, the average relative accuracy of our modeling algorithm reached 99.87% and achieved good results. Therefore, this technique not only optimizes the model accuracy and ensures model integrity, but also simplifies the process of refining the 3D model. This study can be useful as a reference and as scientific guidance in large-scale stereo measurements, cultural heritage protection, and smart city construction.
Plasma Gelsolin: Indicator of Inflammation and Its Potential as a Diagnostic Tool and Therapeutic Target
Authors: Piktel Ewelina , Levental Ilya , Durnaś Bonita , Janmey Paul A. , Bucki Robert
Published: August 2018

Gelsolin, an actin-depolymerizing protein expressed both in extracellular fluids and in the cytoplasm of a majority of human cells, has been recently implicated in a variety of both physiological and pathological processes. Its extracellular isoform, called plasma gelsolin (pGSN), is present in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, milk, urine, and other extracellular fluids. This isoform has been recognized as a potential biomarker of inflammatory-associated medical conditions, allowing for the prediction of illness severity, recovery, efficacy of treatment, and clinical outcome. A compelling number of animal studies also demonstrate a broad spectrum of beneficial effects mediated by gelsolin, suggesting therapeutic utility for extracellular recombinant gelsolin. In the review, we summarize the current data related to the potential of pGSN as an inflammatory predictor and therapeutic target, discuss gelsolin-mediated mechanisms of action, and highlight recent progress in the clinical use of pGSN.
Development of a Graphene Oxide-Incorporated Polydimethylsiloxane Membrane with Hexagonal Micropillars
Authors: Lin Yi-Ying , Chien Yueh , Chuang Jen-Hua , Chang Chia-Ching , Yang Yi-Ping , Lai Ying-Hsiu , Lo Wen-Liang , Chien Ke-Hung , Huo Teh-Ia , Wang Chien-Ying
Published: August 2018

Several efforts have been made on the development of bioscaffolds including the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer for supporting cell growth into stable sheets. However, PDMS has several disadvantages, such as intrinsic surface hydrophobicity and mechanical strength. Herein, we generated a novel PDMS-based biomimetic membrane by sequential modifications of the PMDS elastomer with graphene oxide (GO) and addition of a hexagonal micropillar structure at the bottom of the biomembrane. GO was initially homogenously mixed with pure PDMS and then was further coated onto the upper surface of the resultant PDMS. The elastic modulus and hydrophilicity were significantly improved by such modifications. In addition, the development of hexagonal micropillars with smaller diameters largely improved the ion permeability and increased the motion resistance. We further cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells on the surface of this modified PDMS biomembrane and assayed its biocompatibility. Remarkably, the GO incorporation and coating exhibited beneficial effect on the cell growth and the new formation of tight junctions in RPE cells. Taken together, this GO-modified PDMS scaffold with polyhexagonal micropillars may be utilized as an ideal cell sheet and adaptor for cell cultivation and can be used in vivo for the transplantation of cells such as RPE cells.
Etoposide-Induced Apoptosis in Cancer Cells Can Be Reinforced by an Uncoupled Link between Hsp70 and Caspase-3
Authors: Sverchinsky Dmitry V. , Nikotina Alina D. , Komarova Elena Y. , Mikhaylova Elena R. , Aksenov Nikolay D. , Lazarev Vladimir F. , Mitkevich Vladimir A. , Suezov Roman , Druzhilovskiy Dmitry S. , Poroikov Vladimir V. , Margulis Boris A. , Guzhova Irina V.
Published: August 2018

The Hsp70 chaperone binds and inhibits proteins implicated in apoptotic signaling including Caspase-3. Induction of apoptosis is an important mechanism of anti-cancer drugs, therefore Hsp70 can act as a protective system in tumor cells against therapeutic agents. In this study we present an assessment of candidate compounds that are able to dissociate the complex of Hsp70 with Caspase-3, and thus sensitize cells to drug-induced apoptosis. Using the PASS program for prediction of biological activity we selected a derivative of benzodioxol (BT44) that is known to affect molecular chaperones and caspases. Drug affinity responsive target stability and microscale thermophoresis assays indicated that BT44 bound to Hsp70 and reduced the chaperone activity. When etoposide was administered, heat shock accompanied with an accumulation of Hsp70 led to an inhibition of etoposide-induced apoptosis. The number of apoptotic cells increased following BT44 administration, and forced Caspase-3 processing. Competitive protein–protein interaction and immunoprecipitation assays showed that BT44 caused dissociation of the Hsp70–Caspase-3 complex, thus augmenting the anti-tumor activity of etoposide and highlighting the potential role of molecular separators in cancer therapy.
The γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Alleviates Salt Stress Damage during Seeds Germination of White Clover Associated with Na+/K+ Transportation, Dehydrins Accumulation, and Stress-Related Genes Expression in White Clover
Authors: Cheng Bizhen , Li Zhou , Liang Linlin , Cao Yiqin , Zeng Weihang , Zhang Xinquan , Ma Xiao , Huang Linkai , Nie Gang , Liu Wei , Peng Yan
Published: August 2018

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of soaking with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) seed germination under salt stress induced by 100 mM NaCl. Seeds soaking with GABA (1 μM) significantly alleviated salt-induced decreases in endogenous GABA content, germination percentage, germination vigor, germination index, shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, and root activity of seedling during seven days of germination. Exogenous application of GABA accelerated starch catabolism via the activation of amylase and also significantly reduced water-soluble carbohydrate, free amino acid, and free proline content in seedlings under salt stress. In addition, improved antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPOX, CAT, APX, DHAR, GR and MDHR) and gene transcript levels (Cu/ZnSOD, FeSOD, MnSOD, CAT, GPOX, APX, MDHR, GPX and GST) was induced by seeds soaking with GABA, followed by decreases in O2∙−, H2O2, and MDA accumulation during germination under salt stress. Seeds soaking with GABA could also significantly improve Na+/K+ content and transcript levels of genes encoding Na+/K+ transportation (HKT1, HKT8, HAL2, H+-ATPase and SOS1) in seedlings of white clover. Moreover, exogenous GABA significantly induced the accumulation of dehydrins and expression of genes encoding dehydrins (SK2, Y2K, Y2SK, and dehydrin b) in seedlings under salt stress. These results indicate that GABA mitigates the salt damage during seeds germination through enhancing starch catabolism and the utilization of sugar and amino acids for the maintenance of growth, improving the antioxidant defense for the alleviation of oxidative damage, increasing Na+/K+ transportation for the osmotic adjustment, and promoting dehydrins accumulation for antioxidant and osmotic adjustment under salt stress.
Opposite Polarity Monospore Genome De Novo Sequencing and Comparative Analysis Reveal the Possible Heterothallic Life Cycle of Morchella importuna
Authors: Liu Wei , Chen LianFu , Cai YingLi , Zhang QianQian , Bian YinBing
Published: August 2018

Morchella is a popular edible fungus worldwide due to its rich nutrition and unique flavor. Many research efforts were made on the domestication and cultivation of Morchella all over the world. In recent years, the cultivation of Morchella was successfully commercialized in China. However, the biology is not well understood, which restricts the further development of the morel fungus cultivation industry. In this paper, we performed de novo sequencing and assembly of the genomes of two monospores with a different mating type (M04M24 and M04M26) isolated from the commercially cultivated strain M04. Gene annotation and comparative genome analysis were performed to study differences in CAZyme (Carbohydrate-active enzyme) enzyme content, transcription factors, duplicated sequences, structure of mating type sites, and differences at the gene and functional levels between the two monospore strains of M. importuna. Results showed that the de novo assembled haploid M04M24 and M04M26 genomes were 48.98 and 51.07 Mb, respectively. A complete fine physical map of M. importuna was obtained from genome coverage and gene completeness evaluation. A total of 10,852 and 10,902 common genes and 667 and 868 endemic genes were identified from the two monospore strains, respectively. The Gene Ontology (GO) and KAAS (KEGG Automatic Annotation Serve) enrichment analyses showed that the endemic genes performed different functions. The two monospore strains had 99.22% collinearity with each other, accompanied with certain position and rearrangement events. Analysis of complete mating-type loci revealed that the two monospore M. importuna strains contained an independent mating-type structure and remained conserved in sequence and location. The phylogenetic and divergence time of M. importuna was analyzed at the whole-genome level for the first time. The bifurcation time of morel and tuber was estimated to be 201.14 million years ago (Mya); the two monospore strains with a different mating type represented the evolution of different nuclei, and the single copy homologous genes between them were also different due to a genetic differentiation distance about 0.65 Mya. Compared with truffles, M. importuna had an extension of 28 clusters of orthologous genes (COGs) and a contraction of two COGs. The two different polar nuclei with different degrees of contraction and expansion suggested that they might have undergone different evolutionary processes. The different mating-type structures, together with the functional clustering and enrichment analysis results of the endemic genes of the two different polar nuclei, imply that M. importuna might be a heterothallic fungus and the interaction between the endemic genes may be necessary for its complete life history. Studies on the genome of M. importuna facilitate a better understanding of morel biology and evolution.
Ceramide Metabolism Balance, a Multifaceted Factor in Critical Steps of Breast Cancer Development
Authors: García-González Victor , Díaz-Villanueva José Fernando , Galindo-Hernández Octavio , Martínez-Navarro Israel , Hurtado-Ureta Gustavo , Pérez-Arias Abril Alicia
Published: August 2018

Ceramides are key lipids in energetic-metabolic pathways and signaling cascades, modulating critical physiological functions in cells. While synthesis of ceramides is performed in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is altered under overnutrition conditions, proteins associated with ceramide metabolism are located on membrane arrangement of mitochondria and ER (MAMs). However, ceramide accumulation in meta-inflammation, condition that associates obesity with a chronic low-grade inflammatory state, favors the deregulation of pathways such as insulin signaling, and induces structural rearrangements on mitochondrial membrane, modifying its permeability and altering the flux of ions and other molecules. Considering the wide biological processes in which sphingolipids are implicated, they have been associated with diseases that present abnormalities in their energetic metabolism, such as breast cancer. In this sense, sphingolipids could modulate various cell features, such as growth, proliferation, survival, senescence, and apoptosis in cancer progression; moreover, ceramide metabolism is associated to chemotherapy resistance, and regulation of metastasis. Cell–cell communication mediated by exosomes and lipoproteins has become relevant in the transport of several sphingolipids. Therefore, in this work we performed a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art about the multifaceted roles of ceramides, specifically the deregulation of ceramide metabolism pathways, being a key factor that could modulate neoplastic processes development. Under specific conditions, sphingolipids perform important functions in several cellular processes, and depending on the preponderant species and cellular and/or tissue status can inhibit or promote the development of metabolic and potentially breast cancer disease.
Clinicopathologic Significance of VHL Gene Alteration in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Review
Authors: Kim Hyeong Su , Kim Jung Han , Jang Hyun Joo , Han Boram , Zang Dae Young
Published: August 2018

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is inactivated frequently in sporadic clear-cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) by genetic alteration (mutation, loss of heterozygosity, or promoter hypermethylation). However, the pathological or prognostic significance of VHL gene alteration has not been well defined. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the association between VHL alteration and clinopathologic findings in ccRCCs. We performed a systematic computerized search of online databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (up to July 2018). From ten studies, 1,082 patients were included in the pooled analyses of odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for pathological features (nuclear grade and disease stage) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs for overall survival (OS). VHL alteration was not significantly associated with nuclear grade (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.59–1.06, p = 0.12) or disease stage (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.79–1.46, p = 0.65). There was also no significant correlation between VHL alteration and OS (HR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.43–1.29, p = 0.30). When we pooled HRs for OS according to the VHL alteration types, the combined HRs were 0.72 (95% CI: 0.47–1.11, p = 0.14) for VHL mutations and 1.32 (95% CI: 0.70–2.47, p = 0.39) for methylation. In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates that VHL gene alteration is not significantly associated with the pathological features and survival in patients with ccRCC.
LncRNA RP11-79H23.3 Functions as a Competing Endogenous RNA to Regulate PTEN Expression through Sponging hsa-miR-107 in the Development of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Chi Hong , Yang Rui , Zheng Xiaying , Zhang Luyu , Jiang Rong , Chen Junxia
Published: August 2018

Accumulating evidence indicates that the aberrant expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer development. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in bladder cancer (BC) remain largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in BC using a microarray assay. We found that lncRNA RP11-79H23.3 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were significantly downregulated in BC tissues and cells. Meanwhile, RP11-79H23.3 expression was negatively correlated with clinical stage in BC. Functionally, we found that overexpression of RP11-79H23.3 could suppress cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression, rearrange the cytoskeleton, and induce apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, upregulation of RP11-79H23.3 inhibited the angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and lung metastasis in vivo, whereas RP11-79H23.3 knockdown exerted a contrary role. Mechanistically, we identified that RP11-79H23.3 could directly bind to miR-107 and abolish the suppressive effect on target gene PTEN, which leads to inactivation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Taken together, we first demonstrated that RP11-79H23.3 might suppress the pathogenesis and development of BC by acting as a sponge for miR-107 to increase PTEN expression. Our research revealed that RP11-79H23.3 could be a potential target for diagnosis and therapy of BC.
Bone Regeneration Using Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Injectable Thermo-Gelling Hydrogel Scaffold Containing Platelet-Rich Plasma and Biphasic Calcium Phosphate
Authors: Liao Han Tsung , Tsai Ming-Jin , Brahmayya Manuri , Chen Jyh-Ping
Published: August 2018

For bone regeneration, a biocompatible thermo-gelling hydrogel, hyaluronic acid-g-chitosan-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (HA-CPN) was used as a three-dimensional organic gel matrix for entrapping rabbit adipose-derived stem cells (rASCs). Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramic microparticles were embedded within the gel matrix as a mineralized bone matrix, which was further fortified with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with osteo-inductive properties. In vitro culture of rASCs in HA-CPN and HA-CPN/PRP/BCP was compared for cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Overall, HA-CPN/PRP/BCP was a better injectable cell carrier for osteogenesis of rASCs with increased cell proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase activity, enhanced calcium deposition and mineralization of extracellular matrix, and up-regulated expression of genetic markers of osteogenesis. By implanting HA-CPN/PRP/BCP/rASCs constructs in rabbit critical size calvarial bone defects, new bone formation at the defect site was successfully demonstrated from computed tomography, and histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Taken together, by combining PRP and BCP as the osteo-inductive and osteo-conductive factor with HA-CPN, we successfully demonstrated the thermo-gelling composite hydrogel scaffold could promote the osteogenesis of rASCs for bone tissue engineering applications.
Jasmonates: News on Occurrence, Biosynthesis, Metabolism and Action of an Ancient Group of Signaling Compounds
Authors: Wasternack Claus , Strnad Miroslav
Published: August 2018

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its related derivatives are ubiquitously occurring compounds of land plants acting in numerous stress responses and development. Recent studies on evolution of JA and other oxylipins indicated conserved biosynthesis. JA formation is initiated by oxygenation of α-linolenic acid (α-LeA, 18:3) or 16:3 fatty acid of chloroplast membranes leading to 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) as intermediate compound, but in Marchantia polymorpha and Physcomitrella patens, OPDA and some of its derivatives are final products active in a conserved signaling pathway. JA formation and its metabolic conversion take place in chloroplasts, peroxisomes and cytosol, respectively. Metabolites of JA are formed in 12 different pathways leading to active, inactive and partially active compounds. The isoleucine conjugate of JA (JA-Ile) is the ligand of the receptor component COI1 in vascular plants, whereas in the bryophyte M. polymorpha COI1 perceives an OPDA derivative indicating its functionally conserved activity. JA-induced gene expressions in the numerous biotic and abiotic stress responses and development are initiated in a well-studied complex regulation by homeostasis of transcription factors functioning as repressors and activators.
Low P16INK4A Expression Associated with High Expression of Cancer Stem Cell Markers Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer after Radiotherapy
Authors: Fu Hung-Chun , Chuang I-Chieh , Yang Yi-Chien , Chuang Pei-Chin , Lin Hao , Ou Yu-Che , Chang Chien Chan-Chao , Huang Hui-Shan , Kang Hong-Yo
Published: August 2018

Previous studies have suggested that cancer stem cells (CSCs) resisted radiotherapy and chemotherapy. P16INK4A is a biomarker for cervical carcinogenesis and reduces proliferation of stem cells. We aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (P16INK4A), sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2), and Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A1 (ALDH1A1) in cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy and cervical cell line models. The expressions of P16INK4A, SOX2, and ALDH1A1 were performed by immunohistochemical staining of tumor samples from 139 cervical cancer patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages Ib to IV. The staining showed high expression in 100, 107, and 13 patients with P16INK4A (>80%), SOX2 (≥10%), and ALDH1A1 (50%), respectively. The high-P16INK4A group had a higher five-year overall survival (OS) rate and disease-free survival (DFS) than the low-P16INK4A group (OS: 62.0% and 35.2%, p = 0.016; DFS: 60.0% and 31.2%, p = 0.002). The low-P16INK4A/high-SOX2 and low-P16INK4A/high-ALDH1A1 groups had a worse five-year OS and DFS rate than the high-P16INK4A/low-SOX2 and high-P16INK4A/low-ALDH1A1 groups, respectively. Depletion of P16INK4A promoted chemoresistance and radioresistance of cervical cancer cells increased the expression of SOX2 and ALDH1A1 and exhibited higher self-renewal ability. These results suggest that lower P16INK4A expression associated with higher CSC markers predicts poor prognostic outcomes and is a promising target in patients with cervical cancer.
Risk Stratification on Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma from Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Authors: Kimura Noriko , Takekoshi Kazuhiro , Naruse Mitsuhide
Published: August 2018

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) and sympathetic paraganglioma (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors characterized by catecholamine production in the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal paraganglia. PCC and PGL (PPGL) with metastasis was termed malignant PPGL. However, the distinction between “benign” and “malignant” PPGLs has been debated. Currently, all PPGLs are believed to have some metastatic potential and are assigned malignant tumors (ICD-O/3) by the WHO Classification of Endocrine Organs (2017, 4th edition). Therefore, the previous categories benign and malignant PPGL have been eliminated in favor of risk stratification approach. The Grading of Adrenal Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma (GAPP) is a tool for risk stratification for predicting metastasis and the prognosis of patients. At least 30% of PPGLs are hereditary, with 20 genes identified and genotype-phenotype correlations clarified. Of these genes, VHL, RET and NF1 have been well investigated and are the primary cause of bilateral PCC. In addition, mutation of succinate dehydrogenase gene subunits SDHB and SDHD are strongly correlated with extra-adrenal location, younger age, multiple tumors, metastasis and poor prognosis. Disease stratification by catecholamine phenotype and molecular profiling correlates with histological grading by GAPP. PPGLs should be understood comprehensively based on clinical, biochemical, molecular and pathological data for patient care. A flow chart for pathological diagnosis is included.
Green Rust: The Simple Organizing ‘Seed’ of All Life?
Authors: Russell Michael J.
Published: August 2018

Korenaga and coworkers presented evidence to suggest that the Earth’s mantle was dry and water filled the ocean to twice its present volume 4.3 billion years ago. Carbon dioxide was constantly exhaled during the mafic to ultramafic volcanic activity associated with magmatic plumes that produced the thick, dense, and relatively stable oceanic crust. In that setting, two distinct and major types of sub-marine hydrothermal vents were active: ~400 °C acidic springs, whose effluents bore vast quantities of iron into the ocean, and ~120 °C, highly alkaline, and reduced vents exhaling from the cooler, serpentinizing crust some distance from the heads of the plumes. When encountering the alkaline effluents, the iron from the plume head vents precipitated out, forming mounds likely surrounded by voluminous exhalative deposits similar to the banded iron formations known from the Archean. These mounds and the surrounding sediments, comprised micro or nano-crysts of the variable valence FeII/FeIII oxyhydroxide known as green rust. The precipitation of green rust, along with subsidiary iron sulfides and minor concentrations of nickel, cobalt, and molybdenum in the environment at the alkaline springs, may have established both the key bio-syntonic disequilibria and the means to properly make use of them—the elements needed to effect the essential inanimate-to-animate transitions that launched life. Specifically, in the submarine alkaline vent model for the emergence of life, it is first suggested that the redox-flexible green rust micro- and nano-crysts spontaneously precipitated to form barriers to the complete mixing of carbonic ocean and alkaline hydrothermal fluids. These barriers created and maintained steep ionic disequilibria. Second, the hydrous interlayers of green rust acted as engines that were powered by those ionic disequilibria and drove essential endergonic reactions. There, aided by sulfides and trace elements acting as catalytic promoters and electron transfer agents, nitrate could be reduced to ammonia and carbon dioxide to formate, while methane may have been oxidized to methyl and formyl groups. Acetate and higher carboxylic acids could then have been produced from these C1 molecules and aminated to amino acids, and thence oligomerized to offer peptide nests to phosphate and iron sulfides, and secreted to form primitive amyloid-bounded structures, leading conceivably to protocells.
Monosaccharides and Their Derivatives in Carbonaceous Meteorites: A Scenario for Their Synthesis and Onset of Enantiomeric Excesses
Authors: Cooper George , Rios Andro C. , Nuevo Michel
Published: August 2018

Carbonaceous meteorites provide the best glimpse into the solar system’s earliest physical and chemical processes. These ancient objects, ~4.56 billion years old, contain evidence of phenomena ranging from solar system formation to the synthesis of organic compounds by aqueous and (likely) low-temperature photolytic reactions. Collectively, chemical reactions resulted in an insoluble kerogen-like carbon phase and a complex mixture of discrete soluble compounds including amino acids, nucleobases, and monosaccharide (or “sugar”) derivatives. This review presents the documented search for sugars and their derivatives in carbonaceous meteorites. We examine early papers, published in the early 1960s, and note the analytical methods used for meteorite analysis as well as conclusions on the results. We then present the recent finding of sugar derivatives including sugar alcohols and several sugar acids: The latter compounds were found to possess unusual “d” enantiomeric (mirror-image) excesses. After discussions on the possible roles of interstellar grain chemistry and meteorite parent body aqueous activity in the synthesis of sugar derivatives, we present a scenario that suggests that most of Earth’s extraterrestrial sugar alcohols (e.g., glycerol) were synthesized by interstellar irradiation and/or cold grain chemistry and that the early solar disk was the location of the initial enantiomeric excesses in meteoritic sugar derivatives.