bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biogenic Amines in Plant-Origin Foods: Are they Frequently Underestimated in Low-Histamine Diets?
Authors: Sánchez-Pérez Sònia , Comas-Basté Oriol , Rabell-González Judit , Veciana-Nogués M. Teresa , Latorre-Moratalla M. Luz , Vidal-Carou M. Carmen
Published: December 2018

Low-histamine diets are currently used to reduce symptoms of histamine intolerance, a disorder in histamine homeostasis that increases plasma levels, mainly due to reduced diamine-oxidase (DAO) activity. These diets exclude foods, many of them of plant origin, which patients associate with the onset of the symptomatology. This study aimed to review the existing data on histamine and other biogenic amine contents in nonfermented plant-origin foods, as well as on their origin and evolution during the storage or culinary process. The only plant-origin products with significant levels of histamine were eggplant, spinach, tomato, and avocado, each showing a great variability in content. Putrescine has been found in practically all plant-origin foods, probably due to its physiological origin. The high contents of putrescine in certain products could also be related to the triggering of the symptomatology by enzymatic competition with histamine. Additionally, high spermidine contents found in some foods should also be taken into account in these diets, because it can also be metabolized by DAO, albeit with a lower affinity. It is recommended to consume plant-origin foods that are boiled or are of maximum freshness to reduce biogenic amine intake.
Faraday Tomography Tutorial
Authors: Ideguchi Shinsuke , Miyashita Yoshimitsu , Heald George
Published: December 2018

The capabilities of wide-band polarization datasets that are now becoming available from precursors/pathfinders to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), and eventually from the SKA itself, make it possible to use the Faraday tomography technique to facilitate the study of cosmic magnetism. While many programs enabling Faraday tomography have been developed by various authors and it is now becoming easier to apply the required techniques, the interpretation of the results is not straightforward. This is not only because of the lack of a one-to-one relation between the Faraday depth and the physical depth, and observational artifacts such as instrumental polarization, but also because the choice of the method that is used and its settings can be reflected in the results. Thus, it is essential to understand how the various methods enabling Faraday tomography are suited for the efficient application of the technique. In the workshop “The Power of Faraday Tomography”, we organized a Faraday tomography tutorial to help the participants understand the required tools. In this article, we summarize the basics of the techniques, and provide an overview of the tutorial.
UV Monochromatic Imaging of the Protoplanetary Nebula Hen 3-1475 Using HST STIS
Authors: Fang Xuan , Guerrero Martín A. , Gómez de Castro Ana I. , Toalá Jesús A. , Balick Bruce , Riera Angels
Published: December 2018

Collimated outflows and jets play a critical role in shaping planetary nebulae (PNe), especially in the brief transition from a spherical AGB envelope to an aspherical PN, which is called the protoplanetary nebula (pPN) phase. We present UV observations of Hen 3-1475, a bipolar pPN with fast, highly collimated jets, obtained with STIS on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The deep, low-dispersion spectroscopy enabled monochromatic imaging of Hen 3-1475 in different UV nebular emission lines; this is the first of such attempt ever conducted for a pPN. The northwest inner knot (NW1) is resolved into four components in Mg ii λ 2800. Through comparison analysis with the HST optical narrowband images obtained 6 yr earlier, we found that these components of NW1 hardly move, despite of a negative gradient of high radial velocities, from −1550 km s - 1 on the innermost component to ∼−300 km s - 1 on the outermost. These NW1 knot components might thus be quasi-stationary shocks near the tip of the conical outflow of Hen 3-1475.
A-to-I RNA Editing Affects lncRNAs Expression after Heat Shock
Authors: Haas Roni , Ganem Nabeel S. , Keshet Ayya , Orlov Angela , Fishman Alla , Lamm Ayelet T.
Published: December 2018

Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a highly conserved regulatory process carried out by adenosine-deaminases (ADARs) on double-stranded RNA (dsRNAs). Although a considerable fraction of the transcriptome is edited, the function of most editing sites is unknown. Previous studies indicate changes in A-to-I RNA editing frequencies following exposure to several stress types. However, the overall effect of stress on the expression of ADAR targets is not fully understood. Here, we performed high-throughput RNA sequencing of wild-type and ADAR mutant Caenorhabditis elegans worms after heat-shock to analyze the effect of heat-shock stress on the expression pattern of genes. We found that ADAR regulation following heat-shock does not directly involve heat-shock related genes. Our analysis also revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and pseudogenes, which have a tendency for secondary RNA structures, are enriched among upregulated genes following heat-shock in ADAR mutant worms. The same group of genes is downregulated in ADAR mutant worms under permissive conditions, which is likely, considering that A-to-I editing protects endogenous dsRNA from RNA-interference (RNAi). Therefore, temperature increases may destabilize dsRNA structures and protect them from RNAi degradation, despite the lack of ADAR function. These findings shed new light on the dynamics of gene expression under heat-shock in relation to ADAR function.
Charting the Course for Future Developments in Marine Geomorphometry: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Lucieer Vanessa , Lecours Vincent , Dolan Margaret F. J.
Published: December 2018

The use of spatial analytical techniques for describing and classifying seafloor terrain has become increasingly widespread in recent years, facilitated by a combination of improved mapping technologies and computer power and the common use of Geographic Information Systems. Considering that the seafloor represents 71% of the surface of our planet, this is an important step towards understanding the Earth in its entirety. Bathymetric mapping systems, spanning a variety of sensors, have now developed to a point where the data they provide are able to capture seabed morphology at multiple scales, opening up the possibility of linking these data to oceanic, geological, and ecological processes. Applications of marine geomorphometry have now moved beyond the simple adoption of techniques developed for terrestrial studies. Whilst some former challenges have been largely resolved, we find new challenges constantly emerging from novel technology and applications. As increasing volumes of bathymetric data are acquired across the entire ocean floor at scales relevant to marine geosciences, resource assessment, and biodiversity evaluation, the scientific community needs to balance the influx of high-resolution data with robust quantitative processing and analysis techniques. This will allow marine geomorphometry to become more widely recognized as a sub-discipline of geomorphometry as well as to begin to tread its own path to meet the specific challenges that are associated with seabed mapping. This special issue brings together a collection of research articles that reflect the types of studies that are helping to chart the course for the future of marine geomorphometry.
Terraced Iron Formations: Biogeochemical Processes Contributing to Microbial Biomineralization and Microfossil Preservation
Authors: Shuster Jeremiah , Rea Maria Angelica , Etschmann Barbara , Brugger Joël , Reith Frank
Published: December 2018

Terraced iron formations (TIFs) are laminated structures that cover square meter-size areas on the surface of weathered bench faces and tailings piles at the Mount Morgan mine, which is a non-operational open pit mine located in Queensland, Australia. Sampled TIFs were analyzed using molecular and microanalytical techniques to assess the bacterial communities that likely contributed to the development of these structures. The bacterial community from the TIFs was more diverse compared to the tailings on which the TIFs had formed. The detection of both chemolithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria, i.e., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Mariprofundus ferrooxydans, and iron-reducing bacteria, i.e., Acidobacterium capsulatum, suggests that iron oxidation/reduction are continuous processes occurring within the TIFs. Acidophilic, iron-oxidizing bacteria were enriched from the TIFs. High-resolution electron microscopy was used to characterize iron biomineralization, i.e., the association of cells with iron oxyhydroxide mineral precipitates, which served as an analog for identifying the structural microfossils of individual cells as well as biofilms within iron oxyhydroxide laminations—i.e., alternating layers containing schwertmannite (Fe16O16(OH)12(SO4)2) and goethite (FeO(OH)). Kinetic modeling estimated that it would take between 0.25–2.28 years to form approximately one gram of schwertmannite as a lamination over a one-m2 surface, thereby contributing to TIF development. This length of time could correspond with seasonable rainfall or greater than average annual rainfall. In either case, the presence of water is critical for sustaining microbial activity, and subsequently iron oxyhydroxide mineral precipitation. The TIFs from the Mount Morgan mine also contain laminations of gypsum (CaSO·2H2O) alternating with iron oxyhydroxide laminations. These gypsum laminations likely represented drier periods of the year, in which millimeter-size gypsum crystals presumably precipitated as water gradually evaporated. Interestingly, gypsum acted as a substrate for the attachment of cells and the growth of biofilms that eventually became mineralized within schwertmannite and goethite. The dissolution and reprecipitation of gypsum suggest that microenvironments with circumneutral pH conditions could exist within TIFs, thereby supporting iron oxidation under circumneutral pH conditions. In conclusion, this study highlights the relationship between microbes for the development of TIFs and also provides interpretations of biogeochemical processes contributing to the preservation of bacterial cells and entire biofilms under acidic conditions.
Generating Observation-Based Snow Depletion Curves for Use in Snow Cover Data Assimilation
Authors: Arsenault Kristi R. , Houser Paul R.
Published: December 2018

Snow depletion curves (SDC) are functions that are used to show the relationship between snow covered area and snow depth or water equivalent. Previous snow cover data assimilation (DA) studies have used theoretical SDC models as observation operators to map snow depth to snow cover fraction (SCF). In this study, a new approach is introduced that uses snow water equivalent (SWE) observations and satellite-based SCF retrievals to derive SDC relationships for use in an Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) to assimilate snow cover estimates. A histogram analysis is used to bin the SWE observations, which the corresponding SCF observations are then averaged within, helping to constrain the amount of data dispersion across different temporal and regional conditions. Logarithmic functions are linearly regressed with the binned average values, for two U.S. mountainous states: Colorado and Washington. The SDC-based logarithmic functions are used as EnKF observation operators, and the satellite-based SCF estimates are assimilated into a land surface model. Assimilating satellite-based SCF estimates with the observation-based SDC shows a reduction in SWE-related RMSE values compared to the model-based SDC functions. In addition, observation-based SDC functions were derived for different intra-annual and physiographic conditions, and landcover and elevation bands. Lower SWE-based RMSE values are also found with many of these categorical observation-based SDC EnKF experiments. All assimilation experiments perform better than the open-loop runs, except for the Washington region’s 2004–2005 snow season, which was a major drought year that was difficult to capture with the ensembles and observations.
Operative Monographies: Development of a New Tool for the Effective Management of Landslide Risks
Authors: Giordan Daniele , Cignetti Martina , Wrzesniak Aleksandra , Allasia Paolo , Bertolo Davide
Published: December 2018

Active landslide risk assessment and management are primarily based on the availability of dedicated studies and monitoring activities. The establishment of decision support for the efficient management of active landslides threatening urban areas is a worthwhile contribution. Nowadays, consistent information about major landslide hazards is obtained through an interdisciplinary approach, consisting of field survey data and long-time monitoring, with the creation of a high populated dataset. Nevertheless, the large number and variety of acquired data can generate some criticalities in their management. Data fragmentation and a missing standard format of the data should represent a serious hitch in landslide hazard management. A good organization in a standard format can be a good operative solution. Based on standardized approaches such as the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), we developed a standard document called operative monography. This document summarizes all available information by organizing monitoring data and identifying possible lacks. We tested this approach in the Aosta Valley Region (NW Italy) on five different slow moving landslides monitored for twenty years. The critical analysis of the available dataset modifies a simple sequence of information in a more complex document, adoptable by local and national authorities for a more effective management of active landslides.
Endoscopic Botulinum Toxin for Gastroparesis: Results of a Retrospective Series
Authors: Smeets Fabiënne G. M. , Strijbos Denise , Keszthelyi Daniel , Hoge Chantal V. , Kruimel Joanna W. , Conchillo José M. , Masclee Ad A.M.
Published: December 2018

Beneficial effects of pyloric botulinum toxin injection have been described in a subgroup of gastroparesis patients. Our aim is to evaluate whether clinical, manometric and/or scintigraphic parameters are able to predict treatment outcome. Forty patients (67% female, age 49 (36–56) years) with decompensated gastroparesis treated with botulinum toxin were included in this retrospective analysis. Objective parameters were high-resolution antroduodenal manometry, gastric emptying rate (scintigraphy), and weight change. Subjective treatment outcome was assessed with a Global Physician Assessment Scale. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for treatment outcome. Fourteen patients (35%) were symptom-responders, and 65% of patients were short-term weight-responders. For both subjective and objective treatment outcome, no differences were found in manometric and scintigraphic variables between responders and non-responders. Neither clinical nor manometric or scintigraphic variables could predict subjective and objective treatment outcome. In conclusion, symptom improvement is achieved in a subgroup of gastroparesis patients treated with endoscopic pyloric botulinum toxin. Although the majority of patients were able to maintain their baseline weight at short-term follow-up, a substantial group of patients needed nutritional interventions on long-term follow-up. However, none of the demographic, clinical, scintigraphic, or antroduodenal manometry variables were able to predict either subjective or objective treatment outcome.
Health Contributing Factors in Higher Education Students: The Importance of Family and Friends
Authors: Yubero Santiago , Navarro Raúl , Larrañaga Elisa , Esteban Macarena , Gutiérrez Jesús , Elche María
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to determine well-being and its relationship to social support from friends and family communication in university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1679 university students aged 18–25 years from four universities in Spain. Logistical regression models were tested (p < 0.05). The students in the last year of university reported higher well-being scores in comparison with students in the previous years. Well-being was inversely related to family communication problems. Family communication and social support from friends were the factors that associated the most with better well-being. All the regression models were statistically significant and explained from 16% of the well-being in Year 4 students until 34% of the well-being in Year 1 students. Our findings could be useful for developing interventions to promote health in order to improve college students’ well-being. It is important for strategies to be developed in mental and family health areas.
Evaluation of the Bioavailability and Translocation of Selected Heavy Metals by Brassica juncea and Spinacea oleracea L for a South African Power Utility Coal Fly Ash
Authors: Mashau Aluwani Shiridor , Gitari Mugera Wilson , Akinyemi Segun Ajayi
Published: December 2018

This study evaluated the physicochemical and mineralogical properties, mobile chemical species bioavailability and translocation in Brassica juncea and Spinacea oleracea L. plants of a South African coal-fired power utility. Coal-fly-ash (CFA) disposal is associated with various environmental and health risks, including air, soil, surface, and groundwater pollution due to the leaching of toxic heavy metals; these ends up in food webs affecting human health, while repeated inhalation causes bronchitis, silicosis, hair loss, and lung cancer. The morphology and chemical and mineralogical composition of CFA were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction, respectively. In pot-culture experiments, S. oleracea L. and B. juncea plants were grown in three sets of pots containing CFA (Set 1), soil (Set 2), and a mixture of CFA plus soil at a ratio of 1:1 (50% CFA: 50% soil, Set 3), while no plants were grown in Set 4 as a control for the leachate samples. SEM showed that the surface morphology of CFA has a lower degree of sphericity with the irregular agglomerations of many particles. XRF results revealed that CFA contains 43.65%, 22.68%, and 10.89% of SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3, respectively, which indicates that CFA is an aluminosilicate material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that CFA contains mullite as a major phase, followed by quartz mineral phases. Chemical species such as B, Ba, Mo, and Cr were occurring at higher concentrations in the leachates for most weeks in the pot-culture experiments, especially for CFA and soil + CFA growth media. However, there was a common trend for all growth media of chemical-species concentrations declining with time, which might have been caused by plant uptake or wash-off with water during irrigation; even for the growth media as well, where no plants were grown. Chemical species, such as Fe, Mn, B, Ba, and Zn, accumulated highly in most parts of the plant species. However, B. juncea showed higher potential to accumulate chemical species as compared to S. oleracea L. Bioconcentration and translocation factors (BF and TF) showed that B. juncea was the most effective in terms of bioconcentration and translocation of most of the chemical species. This indicates that B. juncea has potential in application for the phytoremediation of CFA dumps, and could contribute to the remediation of CFA dumps and the reduction of potential health and environmental impact associated with CFA.
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Six Criteria Air Pollutants in Fujian Province, China
Authors: Fu Weicong , Chen Ziru , Zhu Zhipeng , Liu Qunyue , Van den Bosch Cecil C. Konijnendijk , Qi Jinda , Wang Mo , Dang Emily , Dong Jianwen
Published: December 2018

Air pollution has become a critical issue in the urban areas of southeastern China in recent years. A complete understanding of the tempo-spatial characteristics of air pollution can help the public and governmental bodies manage their lives and work better. In this study, data for six criteria air pollutants (including particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3)) from 37 sites in nine major cities within Fujian Province, China were collected between January 2015 to December 2016, and analyzed. We analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of these six criteria pollutants, as well as the attainment rates, and identified what were the major pollutants. Our results show that: (1) the two-year mean values of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded the Chinese National Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) standard I levels, whereas other air pollutants were below the CAAQS standard I; (2) the six criteria air pollutants show spatial variations (i.e. most air pollutants were higher in the city center areas, followed by suburban areas and exurban areas, except for O3; and the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, O3 were higher in coastal cities than in inland cities); (3) seasonal variations and the no attainment rates of air pollutants were found to be higher in cold seasons and lower in warm seasons, except for O3; (4) the most frequently present air pollutant was PM10, with PM2.5 and O3 being the second and third most frequent, respectively; (5) all the air pollutants, except O3, showed positive correlations with each other. These results provide additional information for the effective control of air pollution in the province of Fujian.
Occupational Diseases among Workers in Lower and Higher Socioeconomic Positions
Authors: Van der Molen Henk F. , De Vries Sanne , Sluiter Judith K.
Published: December 2018

Background: To determine differences between workers in lower and higher socioeconomic positions (SEP) in incidences of occupational disease (OD) and incapacity for work due to ODs. Methods: From a Dutch dynamic prospective cohort of occupational physicians (OPs), ODs assessed by OPs were retrieved for lower and higher SEP groups. Results: Among the lower SEP, musculoskeletal disorders, and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) comprised two-thirds of the OD diagnoses. Among the higher SEP, stress/burnout comprised 60% of the OD diagnoses. Temporary and permanent incapacity for work due to work-related lower back disorders and repetitive strain injuries differed significantly between workers in lower compared to higher SEP. Conclusions: Occupational diseases occur at a 2.7 higher incidence rate for workers in lower SEP compared with higher SEP. Incapacity for work varies between the type of OD and the level of SEP.
Predictive Effects of Sex, Age, Depression, and Problematic Behaviors on the Incidence and Remission of Internet Addiction in College Students: A Prospective Study
Authors: Hsieh Kuan-Ying , Hsiao Ray C. , Yang Yi-Hsin , Liu Tai-Ling , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: December 2018

The aim of the study was to determine the predictive effects of sex, age, depression, and problematic behaviors on the incidence and remission of internet addiction (IA) in college students over a one-year follow-up. A total of 500 college students (262 women and 238 men) were recruited. The predictive effects of sex, age, severity of depression, self-harm/suicidal behaviors, eating problems, risk-taking behaviors, substance use, aggression, and uncontrollable sexual encounters on the incidence and remission of IA over a one-year follow-up were examined. The one-year incidence and remission rates for IA were 7.5% and 46.4%, respectively. Severity of depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviors, and uncontrollable sexual encounters at the initial investigation predicted the incidence of IA in a univariate analysis, whereas only severity of depression predicted the incidence of IA in a multivariable logistic regression (p = 0.015, odds ratio = 1.105, 95% confidence intervals: 1.021–1.196). A relatively young age predicted the remission of IA. Depression and young age predicted the incidence and remission, respectively, of IA in college students in the one-year follow-up.
Unhealthy Lifestyle and Nutritional Habits Are Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases Regardless of Professed Religion in University Students
Authors: Navarro-Prado Silvia , Schmidt-RioValle Jacqueline , Montero-Alonso Miguel A. , Fernández-Aparicio Ángel , González-Jiménez Emilio
Published: December 2018

To date, few studies have evaluated the possible association between religion and nutritional habits, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk in the university population. This study identified differences in the eating habits of Christian and Muslim university students and determined a possible association between the impact of religion on their lifestyles and the parameters related to cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional study was performed with a sample population of 257 students (22.4 ± 4.76 year) at the campus of the University of Granada in Melilla (Spain). An anthropometric evaluation and a dietary assessment were performed. Blood pressure was also measured. There was a higher prevalence of overweight (29.1%) among Christian university students. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was similar between Christians and Muslims (48.3%) but was higher among Christian males (74.5%). Christian students presented higher levels of visceral fat. Students of both religions ingested carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids and total cholesterol, proteins, sodium and alcohol in excess. Significant positive correlations were found between food energy, sweets, snacks, soft drinks and body mass index (BMI) in both sexes and between the consumption of sausages-fatty meats and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body adiposity index (BAI) variables. Muslim students were less likely to consume alcohol (odds ratio [OR] = 7.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.27, 14.54). Christian and Muslim students presented improvable lifestyles and intake patterns. The high intake of saturated fatty acids, total cholesterol, sodium and alcohol in Christian students could lead to the early development of cardiovascular disease.
Cartographic Line Generalization Based on Radius of Curvature Analysis
Authors: Kolanowski Bogdan , Augustyniak Jacek , Latos Dorota
Published: December 2018

Cartographic generalization is one of the important processes of transforming the content of both analogue and digital maps. The process of reducing details on the map has to be conducted in a planned way in each case when the map scale is to be reduced. As far as digital maps are concerned, numerous algorithms are used for the generalization of vector line elements. They are used if the scale of the map (on screen or printed) is changed, or in the process of smoothing vector lines (e.g., contours). The most popular method of reducing the number of vertices of a vector line is the Douglas-Peucker algorithm. An important feature of most algorithms is the fact that they do not take into account the cartographic properties of the transformed map element. Having analysed the existing methods of generalization, the authors developed a proprietary algorithm that is based on the analysis of the curvature of the vector line and fulfils the condition of objective generalization for elements of digital maps that may be used to transform open and closed vector lines. The paper discusses the operation of this algorithm, along with the graphic presentation of the generalization results for vector lines and the analysis of their accuracy. Treating the set of verification radii of a vector line as a statistical series, the authors propose applying statistical indices of position of these series, connected with the shape of the vector line, as the threshold parameters of generalization. The developed algorithm allows for linking the generalization parameters directly to the scale of the topographic map that was obtained after generalization. The results of the operation of the algorithm were compared to the results of the reduction of vertices with use of the Douglas-Peucker algorithm. The results demonstrated that the proposed algorithm not only reduced the number of vertices, but that it also smoothed the shape of physiographic lines, if applied to them. The authors demonstrated that the errors of smoothing and position of vertices did not exceed the acceptable values for the relevant scales of topographic maps. The developed algorithm allows for adjusting the surface of the generalized areas to their initial value more precisely. The advantage of the developed algorithm consists in the possibility to apply statistical indices that take the shape of lines into account to define the generalization parameters.
Regulatory Efficacy of Spirulina platensis Protease Hydrolyzate on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats
Authors: Hua Pengpeng , Yu Zhiying , Xiong Yu , Liu Bin , Zhao Lina
Published: December 2018

Lipid metabolism disorder (LMD) is a public health issue. Spirulina platensis is a widely used natural weight-reducing agent and Spirulina platensis is a kind of protein source. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Spirulina platensis protease hydrolyzate (SPPH) on the lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Our study showed that SPPH decreased the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST), but increased the level of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in serum and liver. Moreover, SPPH had a hypolipidemic effect as indicated by the down-regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), SREBP-1c, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and the up-regulation of adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα (PPARα) at the mRNA level in liver. SPPH treatment enriched the abundance of beneficial bacteria. In conclusion, our study showed that SPPH might be produce glucose metabolic benefits in rats with diet-induced LMD. The mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of SPPH on the metabolism remain to be further investigated. Collectively, the above-mentioned findings illustrate that Spirulina platensis peptides have the potential to ameliorate lipid metabolic disorders, and our data provides evidence that SPPH might be used as an adjuvant therapy and functional food in obese and diabetic individuals.
Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 5B (eIF5B) Cooperates with eIF1A and eIF5 to Facilitate uORF2-Mediated Repression of ATF4 Translation
Authors: Ross Joseph A. , Bressler Kamiko R. , Thakor Nehal
Published: December 2018

A variety of cellular stresses lead to global translation attenuation due to phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2), which decreases the availability of the eIF2-GTP-Met-tRNAi ternary complex. However, a subset of mRNAs continues to be translated by non-canonical mechanisms under these conditions. In fact, although translation initiation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is normally repressed by an upstream open reading frame (uORF), a decreased availability of ternary complex leads to increased translation of the main ATF4-coding ORF. We show here that siRNA-mediated depletion of eIF5B—which can substitute for eIF2 in delivering Met-tRNAi—leads to increased levels of ATF4 protein in mammalian cells. This de-repression is not due to phosphorylation of eIF2α under conditions of eIF5B depletion. Although eIF5B depletion leads to a modest increase in the steady-state levels of ATF4 mRNA, we show by polysome profiling that the depletion of eIF5B enhances ATF4 expression primarily at the level of translation. Moreover, eIF5B silencing increases the expression of an ATF4-luciferase translational reporter by a mechanism requiring the repressive uORF2. Further experiments suggest that eIF5B cooperates with eIF1A and eIF5, but not eIF2A, to facilitate the uORF2-mediated repression of ATF4 translation.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Link between Diet and DNA Methylation
Authors: Kadayifci Fatma Zehra , Zheng Shasha , Pan Yuan-Xiang
Published: December 2018

DNA methylation is a vital modification process in the control of genetic information, which contributes to the epigenetics by regulating gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Abnormal DNA methylation—both hypomethylation and hypermethylation—has been associated with improper gene expression, leading to several disorders. Two types of risk factors can alter the epigenetic regulation of methylation pathways: genetic factors and modifiable factors. Nutrition is one of the strongest modifiable factors, which plays a direct role in DNA methylation pathways. Large numbers of studies have investigated the effects of nutrition on DNA methylation pathways, but relatively few have focused on the biochemical mechanisms. Understanding the biological mechanisms is essential for clarifying how nutrients function in epigenetics. It is believed that nutrition affects the epigenetic regulations of DNA methylation in several possible epigenetic pathways: mainly, by altering the substrates and cofactors that are necessary for proper DNA methylation; additionally, by changing the activity of enzymes regulating the one-carbon cycle; and, lastly, through there being an epigenetic role in several possible mechanisms related to DNA demethylation activity. The aim of this article is to review the potential underlying biochemical mechanisms that are related to diet modifications in DNA methylation and demethylation.
Expression Characteristics and Functional Analysis of the ScWRKY3 Gene from Sugarcane
Authors: Wang Ling , Liu Feng , Zhang Xu , Wang Wenju , Sun Tingting , Chen Yufeng , Dai Mingjian , Yu Shengxiao , Xu Liping , Su Yachun , Que Youxiong
Published: December 2018

The plant-specific WRKY transcriptional regulatory factors have been proven to play vital roles in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there are few studies on the WRKY gene family in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.). In the present study, the characterization of a new subgroup, IIc WRKY protein ScWRKY3, from a Saccharum hybrid cultivar is reported. The ScWRKY3 protein was localized in the nucleus of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and showed no transcriptional activation activity and no toxic effects on the yeast strain Y2HGold. An interaction between ScWRKY3 and a reported sugarcane protein ScWRKY4, was confirmed in the nucleus. The ScWRKY3 gene had the highest expression level in sugarcane stem pith. The transcript of ScWRKY3 was stable in the smut-resistant Saccharum hybrid cultivar Yacheng05-179, while it was down-regulated in the smut-susceptible Saccharum hybrid cultivar ROC22 during inoculation with the smut pathogen (Sporisorium scitamineum) at 0–72 h. ScWRKY3 was remarkably up-regulated by sodium chloride (NaCl), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA), but it was down-regulated by salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Moreover, transient overexpression of the ScWRKY3 gene in N. benthamiana indicated a negative regulation during challenges with the fungal pathogen Fusarium solani var. coeruleum or the bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum in N. benthamiana. The findings of the present study should accelerate future research on the identification and functional characterization of the WRKY family in sugarcane.
Histone H3 Lysine 9 Acetylation is Downregulated in GDM Placentas and Calcitriol Supplementation Enhanced This Effect
Authors: Hepp Paula , Hutter Stefan , Knabl Julia , Hofmann Simone , Kuhn Christina , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo
Published: December 2018

Despite the ever-rising incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and its implications for long-term health of mothers and offspring, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. To contribute to this, the present study’s objectives are to conduct a sex-specific analysis of active histone modifications in placentas affected by GDM and to investigate the effect of calcitriol on trophoblast cell’s transcriptional status. The expression of Histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) and Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) was evaluated in 40 control and 40 GDM (20 male and 20 female each) placentas using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo and primary human villous trophoblast cells were treated with calcitriol (48 h). Thereafter, western blots were used to quantify concentrations of H3K9ac and the transcription factor FOXO1. H3K9ac expression was downregulated in GDM placentas, while H3K4me3 expression was not significantly different. Cell culture experiments showed a slight downregulation of H3K9ac after calcitriol stimulation at the highest concentration. FOXO1 expression showed a dose-dependent increase. Our data supports previous research suggesting that epigenetic dysregulations play a key role in gestational diabetes mellitus. Insufficient transcriptional activity may be part of its pathophysiology and this cannot be rescued by calcitriol.
Do Androgens Modulate the Pathophysiological Pathways of Inflammation? Appraising the Contemporary Evidence
Authors: Traish Abdulmaged , Bolanos Jose , Nair Sunil , Saad Farid , Morgentaler Abraham
Published: December 2018

The role of testosterone in the pathophysiology of inflammation is of critical clinical importance; however, no universal mechanism(s) has been advanced to explain the complex and interwoven pathways of androgens in the attenuation of the inflammatory processes. PubMed and EMBASE searches were performed, including the following key words: “testosterone”, “androgens”, “inflammatory cytokines”, “inflammatory biomarkers” with focus on clinical studies as well as basic scientific studies in human and animal models. Significant benefits of testosterone therapy in ameliorating or attenuating the symptoms of several chronic inflammatory diseases were reported. Because anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy is the mainstay for the treatment of moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease; including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and because testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men with chronic inflammatory conditions reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-6, we suggest that testosterone therapy attenuates the inflammatory process and reduces the burden of disease by mechanisms inhibiting inflammatory cytokine expression and function. Mechanistically, androgens regulate the expression and function of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CRP (C-reactive protein). Here, we suggest that testosterone regulates multiple and overlapping cellular and molecular pathways involving a host of immune cells and biochemical factors that converge to contribute to attenuation of the inflammatory process.
Towards Age Determination of Southern King Crab (Lithodes santolla) Off Southern Chile Using Flexible Mixture Modeling
Authors: Contreras-Reyes Javier E. , López Quintero Freddy O. , Yáñez Alejandro A.
Published: December 2018

This study addresses the problem of age determination of the southern king crab (Lithodes santolla). Given that recapture is difficult for this species and, thus, age cannot be directly determined with the help of the annual marks on the shell, the von Bertalanffy growth function (vBGF) cannot be used to directly model length-frequency data (LFD). To determine age classes, some researchers have proposed using the MIX algorithm that consists of sampling realization of a finite mixture of normal (FMN) distributions for each LFD. However, normality assumption in age-length data has been questioned in several works related to fish growth analysis. For this study, we considered the biological information of the southern king crab for the period 2007–2015 and localization between 50 ∘ 06 ′ – 53 ∘ 15 ′ S and 76 ∘ 36 ′ – 72 ∘ 18 ′ W. We assumed that LFD could be modelled by the novel class of finite mixture of skew-t (FMST). Assigned age classes were used to estimate the vBGF parameters. The estimated vBGF parameters were L ∞ = 176.756 cm, K = 0.151 year − 1 , t 0 = − 1.678 year for males, and L ∞ = 134.799 cm, K = 0.220 year − 1 , t 0 = − 1.302 year for females. This study concludes that (a) FMST modal decomposition can detect a group of younger individuals at age 2, given that those individuals have LFD with a left heavy-tail and asymmetry; (b) FMST produces a better representation of LFD than the FMN model; (c) males have bigger L ∞ but grow slower than females; and (d) as expected, a high correlation exists among the vBGF estimates.
The Zebrafish as a Model Host for Invasive Fungal Infections
Authors: Rosowski Emily E. , Knox Benjamin P. , Archambault Linda S. , Huttenlocher Anna , Keller Nancy P. , Wheeler Robert T. , Davis J. Muse
Published: December 2018

The zebrafish has become a widely accepted model host for studies of infectious disease, including fungal infections. The species is genetically tractable, and the larvae are transparent and amenable to prolonged in vivo imaging and small molecule screening. The aim of this review is to provide a thorough introduction into the published studies of fungal infection in the zebrafish and the specific ways in which this model has benefited the field. In doing so, we hope to provide potential new zebrafish researchers with a snapshot of the current toolbox and prior results, while illustrating how the model has been used well and where the unfulfilled potential of this model can be found.
Linking Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: A Review with Evidence from the Land-Use Sectors
Authors: Kongsager Rico
Published: December 2018

There is extensive scientific evidence that both adaptation and mitigation are essential to address the problem of climate change. However, there is still limited knowledge about the possibilities for exploiting the interrelationships between these measures in the design and implementation of climate change activities. In this paper, first the adaptation–mitigation dichotomy and definitions of adaptation and mitigation are discussed. This is followed by a comprehensive scrutiny of the perceptual overlaps and distinctions between adaptation and mitigation, which include a meta-analysis of synergies and trade-offs between adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture and forestry sectors. The analysis shows that activities greatly depend on their context, design and implementation, so actions have to be tailored to the specific conditions, as few, if any, outcomes are universal. The analysis also indicates that the forestry sector delivers more synergies and has more trade-offs when compared to agriculture, which could be because of the fact that forest areas contain significantly more carbon, but at the same time they also compete with alternative land-uses. The article closes by going through a list of research gaps related to the linking of adaptation and mitigation and by providing implications for climate change policy.
Impact of Rearing Conditions on the Ambrosia Beetle’s Microbiome
Authors: Ibarra-Juarez Luis Arturo , Desgarennes Damaris , Vázquez-Rosas-Landa Mirna , Villafan Emanuel , Alonso-Sánchez Alexandro , Ferrera-Rodríguez Ofelia , Moya Andrés , Carrillo Daniel , Cruz Luisa , Carrión Gloria , López-Buenfil Abel , García-Avila Clemente , Ibarra-Laclette Enrique , Lamelas Araceli
Published: December 2018

Ambrosia beetles, along with termites and leafcutter ants, are the only fungus-farming lineages within the tree of life. Bacteria harbored by ambrosia beetles may play an essential role in the nutritional symbiotic interactions with their associated fungi; however, little is known about the impact of rearing conditions on the microbiota of ambrosia beetles. We have used culture-independent methods to explore the effect of rearing conditions on the microbiome associated with Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus, and Xyleborus volvulus, evaluating different media in laboratory-controlled conditions and comparing wild and laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that rearing conditions affected the fungal and bacterial microbiome structure and had a strong influence on bacterial metabolic capacities. We propose that the rearing conditions influence the ambrosia-associated fungal and bacterial communities. Furthermore, bacterial microbiome flexibility may help beetles adapt to different substrates.
Tetrahydro-1,4-thiazine-3,5-dione
Authors: Aitken R. , Slawin Alexandra , Yeh Pei-pei
Published: December 2018

The X-ray structure of the title compound contains eight molecules in the unit cell which form the basis of a herringbone arrangement of hydrogen bonded ribbons.
Titanium Plasma-Sprayed Coatings on Polymers for Hard Tissue Applications
Authors: Wypych Artur , Siwak Piotr , Andrzejewski Daniel , Jakubowicz Jaroslaw
Published: December 2018

The paper presents the results of titanium plasma spraying (TPS) on polymer substrates. Polyethylene (PE300), polyamide PA6, and fiber glass-reinforced polyamide (PA6.6-GF30) were used as substrates. The PE300 and PA6.6-GF30 substrates exhibited appropriate behavior during the TPS process, whereas the PA6 substrate did not “accept” Ti during plasma spraying, and the coating did not form. The TPS coatings exhibited low porosity and high homogeneity, and they had a typical multilayer structure composed of Ti and its oxides. The nanoindentation test showed good mechanical properties of the coatings and demonstrated a hardness and a Young’s modulus of approximately 400 HV and 200 GPa, respectively. The bending test confirmed the good adhesion of the titanium coatings to the polymer substrates. The Ti coatings did not fall off the substrate after its significant bending deformation.
Incorporating Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Glass Waste as Supplementary Cementing Material (SCM) in Cement Mortars—Rationale Based on Hydration, Durability, and Pore Characteristics
Authors: Kim Seong Kyum , Hanif Asad , Jang Il Young
Published: December 2018

This paper assesses the feasibility of using liquid crystal display (LCD) waste glass as a supplementary cementing material in cement mortars. Two different sizes of LCD waste glass powder (LGP) particles were used (5 µm and 12 µm) with two substitution levels with cement in mortar (10% and 20%). The resulting mortars were evaluated for strength, hydration, porosity and durability through various experimental techniques. It was found that LGP particles lead to appreciable strength gain at all ages in comparison with control mortar, especially significant strength gain of 18% was observed at 28-day. This is attributed to the greater gel-space ratio as corroborated by the experimental determination of porosity, which is found less for LGP-incorporated mortars as compared to control cement mortar. The smaller particle size of LGPs not only accelerates the pozzolanic reaction in alkaline cementitious matrix, but also fills the smaller pores, thus reducing porosity and contributing to strength gain. Increased hydration was also elucidated qualitatively by backscattered electron imaging. Due to the increased hydration in LGP-incorporated pastes and mortars, the durability (in terms of chloride ion permeability) has also been found improved. Thus, it is established that 10% (by weight) of cement can be replaced with 12 μm LGP, whereas 20% can be replaced with 5 μm LDP for improved strength and durability. Incorporating LCD waste in mortars and concretes as partial replacement of cement can not only help utilize this potentially hazardous waste, but also significantly reduce the associated carbon dioxide emissions, thus promoting sustainable development.