bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children’s Imaginaries of Human-Robot Interaction in Healthcare
Authors: Vallès-Peris Núria , Angulo Cecilio , Domènech Miquel
Published: May 2018

This paper analyzes children’s imaginaries of Human-Robots Interaction (HRI) in the context of social robots in healthcare, and it explores ethical and social issues when designing a social robot for a children’s hospital. Based on approaches that emphasize the reciprocal relationship between society and technology, the analytical force of imaginaries lies in their capacity to be embedded in practices and interactions as well as to affect the construction and applications of surrounding technologies. The study is based on a participatory process carried out with six-year-old children for the design of a robot. Imaginaries of HRI are analyzed from a care-centered approach focusing on children’s values and practices as related to their representation of care. The conceptualization of HRI as an assemblage of interactions, the prospective bidirectional care relationships with robots, and the engagement with the robot as an entity of multiple potential robots are the major findings of this study. The study shows the potential of studying imaginaries of HRI, and it concludes that their integration in the final design of robots is a way of including ethical values in it.
Improving Physical Fitness and Cognitive Functions in Middle School Students: Study Protocol for the Chinese Childhood Health, Activity and Motor Performance Study (Chinese CHAMPS)
Authors: Zhou Zhixiong , Dong Shanshan , Yin Jun , Fu Quan , Ren Hong , Yin Zenong
Published: May 2018

Background: Sedentary lifestyles and their associated harmful consequences are public health concerns that impact more than half of the world’s youth population in both developed and developing countries. Methods: The Chinese Childhood Health; Activity and Motor Performance Study (Chinese CHAMPS) was a cluster randomized controlled trial to modify school physical activity policies and the physical education (PE) curriculum; using teacher training and parent engagement to increase opportunities and support students’ physical activity and healthy eating. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study tested the incremental effects of increasing the amount and intensity of physical activity, alongside adding support for healthy eating, on health-related and cognitive function outcomes in Chinese middle school students. Results: The intervention was implemented by PE teachers in 12 middle schools in three Chinese cities, with a targeted enrollment of 650 students from August 2015–June 2016. The assessment of the outcomes involved a test battery of physical fitness and cognitive functioning at both baseline and at the end of the intervention. Process information on implementation was also collected. Discussion: The Chinese CHAMPS is a multi-level intervention that is designed to test the influences of policy and environmental modifications on the physical activity and eating behaviors of middle school students. It also addresses some key weaknesses in school-based physical activity interventions.
Adsorption Performance Analysis of Alternative Reactive Media for Remediation of Aquifers Affected by Heavy Metal Contamination
Authors: Molinari Antonio , Mayacela Rojas Celia , Beneduci Amerigo , Tavolaro Adalgisa , Rivera Velasquez Maria , Fallico Carmine
Published: May 2018

A series of experimental batch tests has been carried out with the aim of improving the knowledge of fundamental processes related to the fate and behavior of heavy metals that can be of environmental concern in groundwater. The analysis of contaminants (i.e., Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) dynamics in different environmental compartments is specifically addressed by comparing the removal efficiencies of different types of reactive materials, three natural (i.e., vegetal fibers, natural limestone and natural zeolite) and one synthetic (i.e., synthetic zeolite). Results stemming from these reactive media has been compared with the outcomes related to the same test performed using zero valent iron which is the reactant usually employed for heavy metals remediation. All tested reactants exhibited important removal percentages, even larger than 90% in most cases, achieved in a contact time ranging between about 12 h and slightly longer than a day (i.e., 30 h). Maximum adsorption percentages are observed for pH ranging between 4 and 8 for all tested materials and contaminants. Our findings provided relevant evidence, to both researchers and technicians, on the competitiveness of the explored alternative mediums with respect to the classical reactants usually employed for heavy metals remediation.
Dose–Response Relationships between Second-Hand Smoke Exposure and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Huang Jingya , Xu Bin , Guo Dan , Jiang Ting , Huang Wei , Liu Guocong , Ye Xiaohua
Published: May 2018

There has been little focus on the possible association between second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Thus, this study aimed to explore the dose–response relationships between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms among adolescents and differentiate these associations in setting-specific exposure and severity-specific outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a stratified cluster sampling method to obtain a representative sample of high school students in Guangzhou, China. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the potential associations between SHS exposure and depressive symptoms. Among 3575 nonsmoking students, 29.6% were classified as having probable depressive symptoms and 9.6% had severe depressive symptoms. There were monotonically increasing dose–response relationships between setting-specific (public places, homes, or indoor/outdoor campuses) SHS exposure and severity-specific (probable or severe) depressive symptoms. When examining these relations by source of exposure, we also observed similar dose–response relationships for SHS exposure in campuses from smoking teachers and from smoking classmates. Our findings suggest that regular SHS exposure is associated with a significant, dose-dependent increase in risk of depressive symptoms among adolescents, and highlight the need for smoke-free environments to protect the health of adolescents.
Personality Traits, Strategies for Coping with Stress and the Level of Internet Addiction—A Study of Polish Secondary-School Students
Authors: Chwaszcz Joanna , Lelonek-Kuleta Bernadeta , Wiechetek Michał , Niewiadomska Iwona , Palacz-Chrisidis Agnieszka
Published: May 2018

Among the many contributing factors in addictions there are also those describing the individual characteristics and ways of dealing with various life challenges. Despite numerous studies in this area, there is still no unambiguous data on the nature and specificity of this relationship in different age groups. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between personality dimensions and strategies of coping with stress and the level of Internet addiction. The study was funded by the Ministry of Health under grant no. 93/HM/2015. The study was carried out in a group of 383 persons aged 15 to 19 (M = 16.6, SD = 0.77) attending secondary schools. The following research tools were used: Ten Item Personality Measure, Brief Cope and Internet Addiction Test. Both specific personality traits and styles of coping with stress are related to the addiction to the analysed medium. The personality traits most strongly associated with the risky Internet use were conscientiousness and emotional stability. An association was demonstrated between Internet addiction and the use of coping strategies, such as disengagement, substance use and self-blame. The results obtained demonstrate a major role of personality-related factors in the development of Internet addiction. The attitude to difficulties seems to be the key issue. The findings presented also make it possible to delineate the areas for improvement (e.g., through psychoeducational interventions) to protect young people from the risk of developing the addiction.
Geographic Prevalence and Mix of Regional Cuisines in Chinese Cities
Authors: Zhu Jingwei , Xu Yang , Fang Zhixiang , Shaw Shih-Lung , Liu Xingjian
Published: May 2018

Previous research on the geographies of food put a considerable focus on analyzing how different types of food or ingredients are consumed across different places. Little is known, however, about how food culture is manifested through various cooking traditions as well as people’s perceptions over different culinary styles. Using a data set captured from one of the largest online review sites in China (www.dianping.com), this study demonstrates how geo-referenced social review data can be leveraged to better understand the geographic prevalence and mix of regional cuisines in Chinese cities. Based on information of millions of restaurants obtained in selected cities (i.e., provincial capitals and municipalities under direct supervision of the Chinese central government), we first measure by each city the diversity of restaurants that serve regional Chinese cuisines using the Shannon entropy, and analyze how cities with different characteristics are geographically distributed. A hierarchical clustering algorithm is then used to further explore the similarities of consumers’ dining options among these cities. By associating each regional Chinese cuisine to its origin, we then develop a weighted distance measure to quantify the geographic prevalence of each cuisine type. Finally, a popularity index (POPU) is introduced to quantify consumers’ preferences for different regional cuisines. We find that: (1) diversity of restaurants among the cities shows an “east–west” contrast that is in general agreement with the socioeconomic divide in China; (2) most of the cities have their own unique characteristics, which are mainly driven by a large market share of the corresponding local cuisine; (3) there exists great heterogeneity of the geographic prevalence of different Chinese cuisines. In particular, Chuan and Xiang, which are famous for their spicy taste, are widely distributed across the mainland China and (4) among the top-tier restaurants ranked by the consumers in a city, the local cuisine is not usually favored, while other cuisines are favored by consumers in many different cities. This study demonstrates the use of social review data as a cost-effective approach of studying urban gastronomy and its relationship with human activities.
Integrating Risk Assessment into Spatial Planning: RiskOTe Decision Support System
Authors: Mileu Nelson , Queirós Margarida
Published: May 2018

The way in which risk maps are used in decision support processes for spatial planning at local scale is critical to helping decision makers in the definition of a prevention strategy to minimize risks. This paper presents a spatial decision support system that is developed to assist spatial planning by integrating the risk management component at municipal level. For the development of the RiskOTe tool, a semi-quantitative risk assessment model was used that assumes risk management to be comprehensive with respect to the type of hazard, vulnerability and risk minimization measures. In this paper, the components for the development of the spatial decision support system are identified, described and implemented using the municipality of Oeiras, in Portugal, as case study. The use of the system allowed the generation of multiple scenarios and outcomes. The results demonstrate that decision-making on the transformation of land uses by integrating risk analysis can be supported on a solid basis of information obtained from a spatial decision support system.
Allocation of Tutors and Study Centers in Distance Learning Using Geospatial Technologies
Authors: Khan Shahid , Mir Kamran , Tahir Ali , Awan Arshad , Nisa Zaib , Gillani Syeda
Published: May 2018

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is Pakistan’s largest distance learning institute, providing education to 1.4 million students. This is a fairly large setup across a country where students are highly geographically distributed. Currently, the system works using a manual approach, which is not efficient. Allocation of tutors and study centers to students plays a key role in creating a better learning environment for distance learning. Assigning tutors and study centers to distance learning students is a challenging task when there is a huge geographic spread. Using geospatial technologies in open and distance learning can fix allocation problems. This research analyzes real data from the twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The results show that geospatial technologies can be used for efficient and proper resource utilization and allocation, which in turn can save time and money. The overall idea fits into an improved distance learning framework and related analytics.
hackAIR: Towards Raising Awareness about Air Quality in Europe by Developing a Collective Online Platform
Authors: Kosmidis Evangelos , Syropoulou Panagiota , Tekes Stavros , Schneider Philipp , Spyromitros-Xioufis Eleftherios , Riga Marina , Charitidis Polychronis , Moumtzidou Anastasia , Papadopoulos Symeon , Vrochidis Stefanos , Kompatsiaris Ioannis , Stavrakas Ilias , Hloupis George , Loukidis Andronikos , Kourtidis Konstantinos , Georgoulias Aristeidis K. , Alexandri Georgia
Published: May 2018

Although air pollution is one of the most significant environmental factors posing a threat to human health worldwide, air quality data are scarce or not easily accessible in most European countries. The current work aims to develop a centralized air quality data hub that enables citizens to contribute to air quality monitoring. In this work, data from official air quality monitoring stations are combined with air pollution estimates from sky-depicting photos and from low-cost sensing devices that citizens build on their own so that citizens receive improved information about the quality of the air they breathe. Additionally, a data fusion algorithm merges air quality information from various sources to provide information in areas where no air quality measurements exist.
Comprehensive Analysis of System Calibration between Optical Camera and Range Finder
Authors: Choi Kang Hyeok , Kim Changjae , Kim Yongil
Published: May 2018

This paper describes the comprehensive analysis of system calibration between an optical camera and a range finder. The results suggest guidelines for accurate and efficient system calibration enabling high-quality data fusion. First, self-calibration procedures were carried out using a testbed designed for both the optical camera and range finder. The interior orientation parameters of the utilized sensors were precisely computed. Afterwards, 92 system calibration experiments were carried out according to different approaches and data configurations. For comparison of the various experimental results, two measures, namely the matching rate of fusion data and the standard deviation of relative orientation parameters derived after system calibration procedures, were considered. Among the 92 experimental cases, the best result (the matching rate of 99.08%) was shown for the use of the one-step system calibration method and six datasets from multiple columns. Also, the root mean square values of the residuals after the self- and system calibrations were less than 0.8 and 0.6 pixels, respectively. In an overall evaluation, it was confirmed that the one-step system calibration method using four or more datasets provided more stable and accurate relative orientation parameters and data fusion results than the other cases.
The Influence of Geographic Factors on Information Dissemination in Mobile Social Networks in China: Evidence from WeChat
Authors: Liu Liang , Chen Bin , Ai Chuan , He Lingnan , Wang Yiping , Qiu Xiaogang , Lu Xin
Published: May 2018

Mobile social networking services provide efficient and easy communication, enabling users to create, retrieve and disseminate messages on the go while making their messages widely available. Despite growing evidence suggesting that geographic location and distance restrict online communication and interaction patterns, the role of geographic factors on the information dissemination in mobile social networks is often overlooked. We conducted a large-scale analysis on how the geographic factors influence the information dissemination in mobile social networks, by using two different datasets which recorded billions of users’ viewing and forwarding activities corresponding as well as the temporal and geographic information. The effects of two geographic factors, namely location and distance, on the probability and velocity of information dissemination were explored by measuring the geographic distribution of the four key indicators, namely viewing probability, forwarding probability, response time, and decision-making time. The results verify the distance decay effect of the information dissemination probability, and demonstrate that the velocity of information dissemination is not dependent on geographic distance. Furthermore, both the probability and velocity of information dissemination show heterogeneity and diversity of geographic location. Our research makes up for the gap in the relationship between geographic factors and information dissemination in mobile social networks. Our findings can provide suggestions for mobile social services, public opinion regulation and precision marketing.
Annexins—Coordinators of Cholesterol Homeostasis in Endocytic Pathways
Authors: Rentero Carles , Blanco-Muñoz Patricia , Meneses-Salas Elsa , Grewal Thomas , Enrich Carlos
Published: May 2018

The spatiotemporal regulation of calcium (Ca2+) storage in late endosomes (LE) and lysosomes (Lys) is increasingly recognized to influence a variety of membrane trafficking events, including endocytosis, exocytosis, and autophagy. Alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis within the LE/Lys compartment are implicated in human diseases, ranging from lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) to neurodegeneration and cancer, and they correlate with changes in the membrane binding behaviour of Ca2+-binding proteins. This also includes Annexins (AnxA), which is a family of Ca2+-binding proteins participating in membrane traffic and tethering, microdomain organization, cytoskeleton interactions, Ca2+ signalling, and LE/Lys positioning. Although our knowledge regarding the way Annexins contribute to LE/Lys functions is still incomplete, recruitment of Annexins to LE/Lys is greatly influenced by the availability of Annexin bindings sites, including acidic phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA), cholesterol, and phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate (PIP2). Moreover, the cytosolic portion of LE/Lys membrane proteins may also, directly or indirectly, determine the recruitment of Annexins to LE. Strikingly, within LE/Lys, AnxA1, A2, A6, and A8 differentially contribute to cholesterol transport along the endocytic route, in particular, cholesterol transfer between LE and other compartments, positioning Annexins at the centre of major pathways mediating cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Underlying mechanisms include the formation of membrane contact sites (MCS) and intraluminal vesicles (ILV), as well as the modulation of LE-cholesterol transporter activity. In this review, we will summarize the current understanding how Annexins contribute to influence LE/Lys membrane transport and associated functions.
The Rules and Functions of Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling Proteins
Authors: Fu Xuekun , Liang Chao , Li Fangfei , Wang Luyao , Wu Xiaoqiu , Lu Aiping , Xiao Guozhi , Zhang Ge
Published: May 2018

Biological macromolecules are the basis of life activities. There is a separation of spatial dimension between DNA replication and RNA biogenesis, and protein synthesis, which is an interesting phenomenon. The former occurs in the cell nucleus, while the latter in the cytoplasm. The separation requires protein to transport across the nuclear envelope to realize a variety of biological functions. Nucleocytoplasmic transport of protein including import to the nucleus and export to the cytoplasm is a complicated process that requires involvement and interaction of many proteins. In recent years, many studies have found that proteins constantly shuttle between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. These shuttling proteins play a crucial role as transport carriers and signal transduction regulators within cells. In this review, we describe the mechanism of nucleocytoplasmic transport of shuttling proteins and summarize some important diseases related shuttling proteins.
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Is Involved in Non-Obese Diabetic Mouse Thymocyte Migration Disorders
Authors: Lemos Julia P. , Smaniotto Salete , Messias Carolina V. , Moreira Otacilio C. , Cotta-de-Almeida Vinicius , Dardenne Mireille , Savino Wilson , Mendes-da-Cruz Daniella A.
Published: May 2018

NOD (non-obese diabetic) mice spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes following T cell-dependent destruction of pancreatic β cells. Several alterations are observed in the NOD thymus, including the presence of giant perivascular spaces (PVS) filled with single-positive (SP) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells that accumulate in the organ. These cells have a decreased expression of membrane CD49e (the α5 integrin chain of the fibronectin receptor VLA-5 (very late antigen-5). Herein, we observed lower sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) expression in NOD mouse thymocytes when compared with controls, mainly in the mature SP CD4+CD62Lhi and CD8+CD62Lhi subpopulations bearing the CD49e− phenotype. In contrast, differences in S1P1 expression were not observed in mature CD49e+ thymocytes. Functionally, NOD CD49e− thymocytes had reduced S1P-driven migratory response, whereas CD49e+ cells were more responsive to S1P. We further noticed a decreased expression of the sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) in NOD SP thymocytes, which can lead to a higher sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) expression around PVS and S1P1 internalization. In summary, our results indicate that the modulation of S1P1 expression and S1P/S1P1 interactions in NOD mouse thymocytes are part of the T-cell migratory disorder observed during the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.
SOX7 Target Genes and Their Contribution to Its Tumor Suppressive Function
Authors: Zhang Yumeng , Stovall Daniel , Wan Meimei , Zhang Qiang , Chou Jeff , Li Dangdang , Sui Guangchao
Published: May 2018

SOX7 is a transcription factor and acts as a tumor suppressor, but its target genes in cancers are poorly explored. We revealed SOX7-mediated gene expression profile in breast cancer cells using microarray chips and discovered multiple altered signaling pathways. When combinatorially analyzing the microarray data with a gene array dataset from 759 breast cancer patients, we identified four genes as potential targets of SOX7 and validated them by quantitative PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Among these four genes, we determined that SOX7-activated SPRY1 and SLIT2, and SOX7-repressed TRIB3 and MTHFD2 could all differentially contribute to SOX7-mediated tumor suppression. Overall, we identified multiple cancer-related pathways mediated by SOX7 and for the first time revealed SOX7-regulated target genes in a cancer-relevant context.
PIEZO1 Channel Is a Potential Regulator of Synovial Sarcoma Cell-Viability
Authors: Suzuki Takahisa , Muraki Yukiko , Hatano Noriyuki , Suzuki Hiroka , Muraki Katsuhiko
Published: May 2018

Detection of mechanical stress is essential for diverse biological functions including touch, audition, and maintenance of vascular myogenic tone. PIEZO1, a mechano-sensing cation channel, is widely expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and is expected to be involved in important biological functions. Here, we examined the possibility that PIEZO1 is involved in the regulation of synovial sarcoma cell-viability. Application of a PIEZO1 agonist Yoda1 effectively induced Ca2+ response and cation channel currents in PIEZO1-expressing HEK (HEK-Piezo1) cells and synovial sarcoma SW982 (SW982) cells. Mechanical stress, as well as Yoda1, induced the activity of an identical channel of conductance with 21.6 pS in HEK-Piezo1 cells. In contrast, Yoda1 up to 10 μM had no effects on membrane currents in HEK cells without transfecting PIEZO1. A knockdown of PIEZO1 with siRNA in SW982 cells abolished Yoda1-induced Ca2+ response and significantly reduced cell cell-viability. Because PIEZO1 is highly expressed in SW982 cells and its knockdown affects cell-viability, this gene is a potential target against synovial sarcoma.
Arthroprotective Effects of Cf-02 Sharing Structural Similarity with Quercetin
Authors: Liu Feng-Cheng , Lu Jeng-Wei , Chien Chiao-Yun , Huang Hsu-Shan , Lee Chia-Chung , Lien Shiu-Bii , Lin Leou-Chyr , Chen Liv Weichien , Ho Yi-Jung , Shen Min-Chung , Ho Ling-Jun , Lai Jenn-Haung
Published: May 2018

In this study, we synthesized hundreds of analogues based on the structure of small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) that were previously identified in our laboratory with the aim of identifying potent yet safe compounds for arthritis therapeutics. One of the analogues was shown to share structural similarity with quercetin, a potent anti-inflammatory flavonoid present in many different fruits and vegetables. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of this compound, namely 6-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazine-2,4(3H)-dione (Cf-02), in a side-by-side comparison with quercetin. Chondrocytes were isolated from pig joints or the joints of patients with osteoarthritis that had undergone total knee replacement surgery. Several measures were used to assess the immunomodulatory potency of these compounds in tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)-stimulated chondrocytes. Characterization included the protein and mRNA levels of molecules associated with arthritis pathogenesis as well as the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)–nitric oxide (NO) system and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cultured chondrocytes and proteoglycan, and aggrecan degradation in cartilage explants. We also examined the activation of several important transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), and activator protein-1 (AP-1). Our overall results indicate that the immunomodulatory potency of Cf-02 is fifty-fold more efficient than that of quercetin without any indication of cytotoxicity. When tested in vivo using the induced edema method, Cf-02 was shown to suppress inflammation and cartilage damage. The proposed method shows considerable promise for the identification of candidate disease-modifying immunomodulatory drugs and leads compounds for arthritis therapeutics.
Osteogenic Differentiation Modulates the Cytokine, Chemokine, and Growth Factor Profile of ASCs and SHED
Authors: Mussano Federico , Genova Tullio , Petrillo Sara , Roato Ilaria , Ferracini Riccardo , Munaron Luca
Published: May 2018

Great efforts have been made to improve bone regeneration techniques owing to a growing variety of sources of stem cells suitable for autologous transplants. Specifically, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and stems cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) hold great potential for bone tissue engineering and cell therapy. After a preliminary characterization of the main biomolecules ASCs and SHED released in their conditioned media, cells were kept both in normal and osteo-inducing conditions. Conventional assays were performed to prove their osteogenic potential such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) (for RUNX-2, collagen type I, osteopontin and osteonectin), alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin production, and von Kossa staining. Conditioned media were tested again after the osteogenic induction and compared to maintaining condition both at base line and after 14 days of culture. The osteogenic condition inhibited the release of all the biomolecules, with the exception, concerning SHED, of growth-regulated alpha protein precursor (GROα), and, to a lesser extent, interleukin (IL)-8. In conclusion, our data support that undifferentiated ASCs and SHED may be preferable to committed ones for general cell therapy approaches, due to their higher paracrine activity. Osteoinduction significantly affects the cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor profile in a differential way, as SHED kept a more pronounced pro-angiogenic signature than ASCs.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Waterlogging-Sensitive and Waterlogging-Tolerant Chrysanthemum morifolium Cultivars under Waterlogging Stress and Reoxygenation Conditions
Authors: Zhao Nan , Li Chuanwei , Yan Yajun , Cao Wen , Song Aiping , Wang Haibin , Chen Sumei , Jiang Jiafu , Chen Fadi
Published: May 2018

Waterlogging stress is among the most severe abiotic stressors in the breeding and the production of Chrysanthemum morifolium. However, the mechanism underlying the response to waterlogging and post-waterlogging reoxygenation in C. morifolium remains unknown. In this study, we compared the differences between the transcriptomes of two chrysanthemum cultivars, i.e., the waterlogging-tolerant cultivar “Nannongxuefeng” and the waterlogging-sensitive cultivar “Qinglu”, by performing RNA-seq to elucidate the possible mechanism of waterlogging and reoxygenation in C. morifolium. “Nannongxuefeng” had a higher ethylene production under the waterlogging and reoxygenation conditions. Furthermore, the expression of transcription factors and genes that are involved in the hormone response, N-end rule pathway and ROS signaling significantly differed between the two cultivars. “Nannongxuefeng” and “Qinglu” significantly differed in their response to waterlogging and reoxygenation, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying the response to waterlogging and guidance for the breeding of C. morifolium.
Fatty Acid β-Oxidation Is Essential in Leptin-Mediated Oocytes Maturation of Yellow Catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco
Authors: Song Yu-Feng , Tan Xiao-Ying , Pan Ya-Xiong , Zhang Li-Han , Chen Qi-Liang
Published: May 2018

Although several studies have been conducted to study leptin function, information is very scarce on the molecular mechanism of leptin in fatty acid β-oxidation and oocytes maturation in fish. In this study, we investigated the potential role of fatty acid β-oxidation in leptin-mediated oocytes maturation in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. Exp. 1 investigated the transcriptomic profiles of ovary and the differential expression of genes involved in β-oxidation and oocytes maturation following rt-hLEP injection; rt-hLEP injection was associated with significant changes in the expression of genes, including twenty-five up-regulated genes (CPT1, Acsl, Acadl, Acadm, Hadhb, Echsl, Hsd17b4, Acca, PPARα, CYP8B1, ACOX1, ACBP, MAPK, RINGO, Cdc2, MEK1, IGF-1R, APC/C, Cdk2, GnRHR, STAG3, SMC1, FSHβ and C-Myc) and ten down-regulated gene (PPARγ, FATCD36, UBC, PDK1, Acads, Raf, Fizzy, C3H-4, Raf and PKC), involved in fatty acid β-oxidation and oocytes maturation. In Exp. 2, rt-hLEP and specific inhibitors AG490 (JAK-STAT inhibitor) were used to explore whether leptin induced oocytes maturation, and found that leptin incubation increased the diameters of oocytes and percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD)-MII oocytes, up-regulated mRNA levels of genes involved in oocytes maturation and that leptin-induced oocyte maturation was related to activation of JAK-STAT pathway. In Exp. 3, primary oocytes of P. fulvidraco were treated with (R)-(+)-etomoxir (an inhibitor of β-oxidation) or l-carnitine (an enhancer of β-oxidation) for 48 h under rt-hLEP incubation. Exp. 3 indicated that the inhibition of fatty acid β-oxidation resulted in the down-regulation of gene expression involved in oocytes maturation, and repressed the leptin-induced up-regulation of these gene expression. Activation of fatty acid β-oxidation improved the maturation rate and mean diameter of oocytes, and up-regulated gene expression involved in oocytes maturation. Leptin is one of the main factors that links fatty acid β-oxidation with oocyte maturation; β-oxidation is essential for leptin-mediated oocyte maturation in fish.
Integrative Bioinformatics and Functional Analyses of GEO, ENCODE, and TCGA Reveal FADD as a Direct Target of the Tumor Suppressor BRCA1
Authors: Nguyen Dinh-Duc , Lee Dong , Kim Sinae , Kang Keunsoo , Rhee Je-keun , Chang Suhwan
Published: May 2018

BRCA1 is a multifunctional tumor suppressor involved in several essential cellular processes. Although many of these functions are driven by or related to its transcriptional/epigenetic regulator activity, there has been no genome-wide study to reveal the transcriptional/epigenetic targets of BRCA1. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of genomics/transcriptomics data to identify novel BRCA1 target genes. We first analyzed ENCODE data with BRCA1 chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing results and identified a set of genes with a promoter occupied by BRCA1. We collected 3085 loci with a BRCA1 ChIP signal from four cell lines and calculated the distance between the loci and the nearest gene transcription start site (TSS). Overall, 66.5% of the BRCA1-bound loci fell into a 2-kb region around the TSS, suggesting a role in transcriptional regulation. We selected 45 candidate genes based on gene expression correlation data, obtained from two GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) datasets and TCGA data of human breast cancer, compared to BRCA1 expression levels. Among them, we further tested three genes (MEIS2, CKS1B and FADD) and verified FADD as a novel direct target of BRCA1 by ChIP, RT-PCR, and a luciferase reporter assay. Collectively, our data demonstrate genome-wide transcriptional regulation by BRCA1 and suggest target genes as biomarker candidates for BRCA1-associated breast cancer.
Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Salehi Bahare , Kumar Nanjangud , Şener Bilge , Sharifi-Rad Mehdi , Kılıç Mehtap , Mahady Gail , Vlaisavljevic Sanja , Iriti Marcello , Kobarfard Farzad , Setzer William , Ayatollahi Seyed , Ata Athar , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: May 2018

Since the beginning of the epidemic, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected around 70 million people worldwide, most of whom reside is sub-Saharan Africa. There have been very promising developments in the treatment of HIV with anti-retroviral drug cocktails. However, drug resistance to anti-HIV drugs is emerging, and many people infected with HIV have adverse reactions or do not have ready access to currently available HIV chemotherapies. Thus, there is a need to discover new anti-HIV agents to supplement our current arsenal of anti-HIV drugs and to provide therapeutic options for populations with limited resources or access to currently efficacious chemotherapies. Plant-derived natural products continue to serve as a reservoir for the discovery of new medicines, including anti-HIV agents. This review presents a survey of plants that have shown anti-HIV activity, both in vitro and in vivo.
Functionalized o-Quinones: Concepts, Achievements and Prospects
Authors: Martyanov Konstantin , Kuropatov Viacheslav
Published: May 2018

o-Quinones are both well-studied and promising redox-active chelating ligands. There are plenty of interesting effects to be found on o-quinone-derived metallocomplexes, such as photo-thermo mechanical effect in solid phase and in solution, luminescence, SMM properties and so on. A combination o-quinone function with an additional coordination site or redox active fragment in the same molecule might sufficiently extend an assembling as well as functional capability of such ligand in complexes. In this paper, the authors focus on o-quinones decorated with additional non-dioxolene chelating coordination site or with electron donor redox active annelated fragments.
Local Insect Damage Reduces Fluctuating Asymmetry in Next-year’s Leaves of Downy Birch
Authors: Kozlov Mikhail , Gavrikov Dmitry , Zverev Vitali , Zvereva Elena
Published: May 2018

Insect herbivory imposes stress on host plants. This stress may cause an increase in leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA), which is defined as the magnitude of the random deviations from a symmetrical leaf shape. We tested the hypothesis that differences in leaf FA among individual shoots of downy birch, Betula pubescens, are at least partly explained by local damage caused by insects in the previous year. Unexpectedly, we found that in the year following the damage imposed by miners, leafrollers and defoliators, damaged birch shoots produced leaves with lower FAs compared to shoots from the same tree that had not been damaged by insects. This effect was consistent among the different groups of insects investigated, but intra-species comparisons showed that statistical significance was reached only in shoots that had been damaged by the birch leaf roller, Deporaus betulae. The detected decrease in leaf FA in the year following the damage agrees with the increases in shoot performance and in antiherbivore defence. The present results indicate that within-plant variation in leaf FA may have its origin in previous-year damage by insects, and that FA may influence the current-year’s distribution of herbivory.
Functional Significance of the Adcy10-Dependent Intracellular cAMP Compartments
Authors: Pozdniakova Sofya , Ladilov Yury
Published: May 2018

Mounting evidence confirms the compartmentalized structure of evolutionarily conserved 3′–5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, which allows for simultaneous participation in a wide variety of physiological functions and ensures specificity, selectivity and signal strength. One important player in cAMP signaling is soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). The intracellular localization of sAC allows for the formation of unique intracellular cAMP microdomains that control various physiological and pathological processes. This review is focused on the functional role of sAC-produced cAMP. In particular, we examine the role of sAC-cAMP in different cellular compartments, such as cytosol, nucleus and mitochondria.
Association of Cardiovascular Health with Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Intima Media Thickness: The Kardiovize Study
Authors: Hruskova Jana , Maugeri Andrea , Podroužková Helena , Štípalová Tatiana , Jakubík Juraj , Barchitta Martina , Medina-Inojosa Jose , Homolka Martin , Agodi Antonella , Kunzova Sarka , Sochor Ondrej , Lopez-Jimenez Francisco , Vinciguerra Manlio
Published: May 2018

Background: Intima-media thickness (IMT) has been proposed as a measurement of subclinical atherosclerosis and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a fat depot between the pericardium and myocardium and has been associated with coronary atherosclerosis. The relationship between IMT and EAT thickness has not been reported before. We investigated the relationship between EAT thickness, IMT, CVD risk factors, and ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics using subjects from the Kardiovize Brno 2030 cohort study, a random urban sample population in Central Europe. Methods: We studied 102 individuals (65 males) aged 25–64 years (median = 37 years) with no current or past CVD history. We measured IMT using a vascular ultrasound and EAT thickness using transthoracic echocardiography, and collected data on anthropometric factors, CVD risk factors, and CVH score. Correlation tests and multiple linear regression models were applied. Results: In the age- and gender-adjusted model, we demonstrated that, among CVD risk factors, only BMI was significantly and positively associated with EAT thickness (β = 0.182, SE = 0.082, p = 0.030), while no significant associations with IMT were evident. Although both EAT thickness and IMT were negatively correlated with CVH score (r = −0.45, p < 0.001, and r = −0.38, p < 0.001, respectively), we demonstrated that overall CVH score (β = −0.262; SE = 0.077; p = 0.001), as well as BMI (β = −1.305; SE = 0.194; p < 0.001) and blood pressure CVH metrics (β = −0.607; SE = 0.206; p = 0.004) were significantly associated with EAT thickness but not with IMT. Conclusions: Our study is important as it demonstrated for the first time that CVH is associated with EAT thickness. Interestingly, this relationship seems to be dependent on BMI and blood pressure rather than on the other CVH metrics. However, outcome-driven studies are required to confirm these findings.
Credit Ratings and Liquidity Risk for the Optimization of Debt Maturity Structure
Authors: Sajjad Faiza , Zakaria Muhammad
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between credit rating scales and debt maturity choices. A liquidity hypothesis is used to formulate the testable proposition and conceptual framework. Generalized linear model (GLM) and pooled ordinary least square (OLS) are utilized by SAS programming to test the proposed hypothesis. Other different estimation techniques are also used for robust evidence. Results suggest that companies with high and low ratings have a shorter debt maturity. Companies with medium ratings have longer debt maturity structure. Liquidity shows a negative association with longer debt maturity structure. It is evident that at high rating scale with high liquidity, and at lower rating scales with lower liquidity firms have a shorter debt maturity. Mid rated firms with a low probability of refinancing risk show longer debt maturity structure. Considering refinancing risk by Asian companies make the nonlinear relationship between credit ratings and debt maturity choices. Results suggest the importance of credit ratings for the optimization of debt maturity structure of Asian firms, which was totally overlooked by the past studies. The findings of this study are consistent with the liquidity hypothesis. The findings also motivating financial managers and investors to consider credit ratings as a measure of financial constraints.
Symmetric Encryption Relying on Chaotic Henon System for Secure Hardware-Friendly Wireless Communication of Implantable Medical Systems
Authors: Belkhouja Taha , Du Xiaojiang , Mohamed Amr , Al-Ali Abdulla K. , Guizani Mohsen
Published: May 2018

Healthcare remote devices are recognized as a promising technology for treating health related issues. Among them are the wireless Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs): These electronic devices are manufactured to treat, monitor, support or replace defected vital organs while being implanted in the human body. Thus, they play a critical role in healing and even saving lives. Current IMDs research trends concentrate on their medical reliability. However, deploying wireless technology in such applications without considering security measures may offer adversaries an easy way to compromise them. With the aim to secure these devices, we explore a new scheme that creates symmetric encryption keys to encrypt the wireless communication portion. We will rely on chaotic systems to obtain a synchronized Pseudo-Random key. The latter will be generated separately in the system in such a way that avoids a wireless key exchange, thus protecting patients from the key theft. Once the key is defined, a simple encryption system that we propose in this paper will be used. We analyze the performance of this system from a cryptographic point of view to ensure that it offers a better safety and protection for patients.
The Potential for Enhanced Water Decoupling in the Jordan Basin through Regional Agricultural Best Practice
Authors: Gilmont Michael , Nassar Lara , Rayner Steve , Tal Nadav , Harper Erica , Salem Hilmi S.
Published: May 2018

This paper examines the differences in agricultural water application per crop ton output in semi-arid jurisdictions in the Jordan Basin, focusing on Israel and Jordan, with some analysis relevant to Palestine. In order to understand differences in water application, it delivers a nationally averaged assessment of applied water application for 14 key regional crops, with most cases suggesting Israeli best practice in water application per unit crop. The paper draws on a secondary assessment of agricultural water intensity and primary data from farmer interviews to demonstrate differences in applied water productivity and agricultural context. The analysis suggests a conservative estimate that a difference of 168 Million Cubic Meters (MCM)/yr (33% of agriculture and 18% of national total) exists in terms of water application for a given crop production in Jordan when compared with Israel. The paper then proposes further work required to establish how differences in water application might translate into differences in agricultural water productivity, and thereby potential water savings that might enable growth of production within current agricultural allocations, allowing new future resources to be allocated to other economic and social needs. The paper also delivers a preliminary analysis of the political and institutional landscape for implementation, assessing the challenges of institutional silos and overlap that some policy stakeholders see as hindering cross-sectoral progress. The paper concludes by examining the limitations of the analysis, and it proposes future work to deepen the robustness of results and examines some of the challenges facing improved agricultural water productivity and changing farm behaviour in the region.
All Their Eggs in One Basket? Ideological Congruence in Congress and the Bicameral Origins of Concentrated Delegation to the Bureaucracy
Authors: Peterson Jordan Carr
Published: May 2018

What drives congressional choices to concentrate implementation authority for legislative enactments among relatively few bureaucratic institutions? And are increased levels of concentration in implementation power associated with intercameral ideological proximity in Congress? I theorize that greater ideological congruity between the House and Senate drives increased levels of concentration in delegated implementation authority to federal agencies. By examining every significant legislative enactment from 1947 to 2012 that delegates implementation responsibility to at least one federal agency, I consider the legislative dynamics of decisions regarding the range of institutions charged with policy implementation in the American administrative state. I find that increased concentration of implementation authority is associated with greater ideological congruence between pivotal members of the House and the Senate. These results suggest that the preferences of key officials in Congress contribute to defining the breadth of bureaucratic implementation authority in the federal policy process.