bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbohydrate status of sucrose-fed broccoli head during storage and the activity and gene expression of sucrose synthase
Authors: Baclayon Dewoowoogen , Matsui Toshiyuki
Published: November 2019

Quality deterioration in broccoli is associated with rapid loss of sucrose after harvest. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the influence of exogenous application of 10% (w/v) sucrose to broccoli heads during storage at 20oC on the activity and gene expression of sucrose synthase. The level of sucrose in the branchlets and florets tissues was improved only within a day and 2 days, respectively, from treatment. The enzyme activity in both portions was inconsistent with SS gene expression thereafter. The decline in sucrose could be a consequence of concerted actions of other harvest related genes in addition to SS. It is possible that SS could be encoded by multi-genes as exhibited in other plant species. Further characterization or isolation of different SS isoforms and their expressions during postharvest senescence would be helpful in the regulation of sugar metabolism in harvested heads during storage.
Antimicrobial property of chitosan and induction of systemic acquired resistance for the control of rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Swings et al.)
Authors: Modina Ivy , Calibo Candelario , Borines Lucia
Published: November 2019

Chitosan has been reported to have antimicrobial property to some pathogen species as well as an elicitor of resistance in plants , particularly Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). A bioassay of chitosan against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) was conducted to determine its antimicrobial property against bacterial blight pathogen and the optimum concentration that is most inhibitory to the pathogen. Chitosan was also tested as foliar spray to rice plants to evaluate its potential to induce SAR against bacterial blight disease.
Chitosan treatments (300 ppm, 400 ppm, and 500 ppm) possessed antimicrobial property against Xoo in vitro, producing zones of inhibition which were generally significantly bigger than those of the control (streptomycin, acetic acid, and sterile distilled water) at 2, 4, and 6 days after inoculation. Chitosan-sprayed plants showed significantly shorter bacterial blight lesions which were comparable to the plants sprayed with streptomycin, and Boost, a commercial plant defense activator and a known inducer of SAR. Chitosan is found effective in reducing bacterial blight lesions in rice plants due to its antimicrobial property and also most likely due to the induction of SAR.
Study on Regulation of Growth and Biosynthesis of Cellulolytic Enzymes from Newly Isolated Aspergillus fumigatus ABK9
Authors: DAS ARPAN , PAUL TANMAY , HALDER SUMAN KUMAR , MAITY CHIRANJIT , DAS MOHAPATRA PRADEEP KUMAR , PATI BIKASH RANJAN , MONDAL KESHAB CHANDRA
Published: November 2019

This study was aimed to evaluate the pattern of cellulase biosynthesis from Aspergillusfumigatus ABK9 under submerged fermentation. Production was increased concomitantly with fungal growth up to 72 h and reached maximum (Xmax -6.72 g/l) with specific growth rate (mu max) of 0.126/h. Highest specific rate of enzyme production (q ) was found at initial medium pH of 5.0 and incubation temperature of 30 degrees C. At the same time, in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose concentration of 0.5 mg/ml, the production of cellulolytic enzymes, viz, carboxymethyl cellulase activity (CMCase), filter paper degrading activity (FPase) and P-glucosidase activity reached maximum of 132.2, 21.3 and 28.9 U/ml, respectively. Cellulase biosynthesis was induced in respect to higher volumetric production rate (Qp), specific rate of enzymes production (qp, U/g biomass/h) and enzyme/biomass yield (YE/X) when grown in carboxymethyl cellulose in comparison to other saccharides as sole carbon source. Induction ratios (IR) of cellulases were between 12.3 and 24.4 in the presence of 1.5% (w/v) CMC in the culture media. The strain was quite resistant to catabolic repression by glucose up to 0.4% (w/v). Cellulases production was greatly influenced in the presence of yeast extract and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2POA) as nitrogen and phosphate sources in the culture media. C/N ratio of 10.0 and C/P ratio of 4.0 proved to be the best for the production of enzyme cocktail. Along with the high production yield, the crude enzymes showed a promising cellulose hydrolyzing efficiency of rice straw, indicating the enzyme could be beneficial for its large scale industrial exploitation.
Integrative Vectors for Gene Deletion and Replacement
Authors: SEKTAS MARIAN , GREGOROWICZ MAGDALENA , KUCHARSKA MAGDALENA , JODELKO EWA
Published: November 2019

An improved method for gene deletion or replacement in Escherichia coli was developed. It employs a set of integrative vectors and two helper plasmids, as a temporary source of RecA and Flp activities. The integrative vectors combine several useful features including three different selection markers placed between two parallel oriented Flp recombinase target (FRT) sites. Each marker is flanked by two MCSs, for cloning the chosen homologous fragments of DNA to gene targeting. The vectors contain two properly oriented E. coli Chi sites for recombination enhancement. When required, selection markers can be excised from the chromosome resulting in unmarked strains.
Adherence of Group B Streptococci to Human Rectal and Vaginal Epithelial Cell Lines in Relation to Capsular Polysaccharides as well as Alpha-Like Protein Genes – Pilot Study
Authors: BODASZEWSKA-LUBAS MALGORZATA , BRZYCHCZY-WLOCH MONIKA , ADAMSKI PAWEL , GOSIEWSKI TOMASZ , STRUS MAGDALENA , HECZKO PIOTR B.
Published: November 2019

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococci, GBS) constitutes a risk factor for infections of the newborns born by colonized mothers. The adherence of GBS to epithelial cells has been proved to be an important factor in the colonization of mucus membranes of both human rectum and vagina. The objective of the study was to assess the adhesion of the selected GBS strains to the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) and human epidermoid vulvo-vaginal cells (A-431) in relation to the capsular polysaccharides and alpha-like protein genes. GBS strains from the human sources belonging to Ia, Ib, II, III and V serotypes possessing different surface alpha-like protein genes such as the alp 2, alp 3, bca, epsilon and rib in the conventional adherence assay were examined. The adherence of GBS strains to the HT-29 cell line was considerably higher than to the A-431 cell line. For GBS serotype Ia and III, a significant difference between the adhesion to the HT-29 and A-431 cell lines was presented. The adhesion of GBS strains to the HT-29 cell line depended on alpha-like protein genes. The most adhesive ones were the GBS strains containing the rib and alp 2 genes. The adherence of GBS strains to the A-431 cell line depended on both their serotype and alpha-like protein genes. Serotype III adhered to the A-431 cells most tightly, particularly the strains containing the rib and alp 2 genes. GBS strains containing the rib gene adhered to the HT-29 and A-431 cell lines more firmly than GBS strains containing other alpha-like protein genes.
O uso de Florais de Bach para manejo dos sintomas de Autismo Infantil
Authors: Gava Fabiana Gonçalves Seki , Turrini Ruth Natalia Teresa
Published: November 2019

Objetivo: Relatar uma experiência no manejo da exacerbação de comportamento típico em criança autista por meio da terapia floral. Método: Relato de experiência originado de duas consultas de Florais de Bach realizadas em consultório particular, nos meses de abril e maio de 2018, com a mãe de uma criança portadora de autismo. Resultados: Após 14 dias do uso da fórmula Rescue Remedy, Cherry Plum, White Chestnut e Walnut, a mãe referiu melhora nos comportamentos alterados; na segunda consulta a criança mantinha a melhora no comportamento, inclusive no desempenho escolar. Conclusão: Na experiência relatada observou-se o efeito benéfico dos florais no manejo de comportamentos típicos dos transtornos de espectro autista em paciente infantil. Mais pesquisas sobre o uso da terapia floral no manejo de comportamentos exacerbados em crianças autistas são necessárias, incluindo ensaios clínicos, para fortalecimento de evidências científicas.
Негативний вплив перфекціонізму на виконання військових обов’язків
Authors: Кононенко Оксана
Published: November 2019

Середовище і умови військової діяльності пред'являють досить жорсткі вимоги до особистості молодої людини, покликаного на військову службу. Проблема розвитку особистості збройного захисника вітчизни на тлі досить складних соціально-економічних перетворень і реформування суспільства.Питання ефективності підготовки майбутніх офіцерів та виконання військових обов’язків постає актуальним в сучасному українському суспільстві. Отже зростає необхідність в створюванні умов реалізації перспективних можливостей досягнення професійного еталону.Особливості військової служби в сучасних умовах зумовлені низкою зовнішніх (соціально-економічне реформування суспільства) і внутрішніх (реорганізація армії в умовах її різкого скорочення) причин.
Сучасний офіцер для виконання поставлених завдань повинен мати високий рівень компетентності, сумлінність, бути результативним, повністю відданим військовій справі, ототожнювати себе з військовою організацією в цілому. Важливе значення у структурі особистості офіцера мають перфекціоністські риси особистості, відображені у прагненні відповідати високим стандартам військово-професійної діяльності, функціональної результативності та постійного особистісно-професійного самовдосконалення.
Мета статті – на основі аналізу сучасних досліджень довести негативний вплив перфекціонізму на виконання військових обов’язків.
Численні теоретичні та емпіричні дослідження перфекціонізму свідчать про інтерес до перфекціонізму, який виявляється в різних поглядах науковців, що відображають як позитивні, так і негативні його наслідки. З одного боку, перфекціонізм сприяє розвитку професіоналізму, конкурентоспроможності та соціальній активності особистості, яка прагне досягати досконалості в різних сферах життєдіяльності, а з іншого – виступає предиктором формування деструктивних проявів у емоційній сфері, різних видів узалежненої поведінки та соматоморфних розладів.Основними характеристиками особистості із негативним перфекціонізмом є: перманентна невдоволеність зробленим (отриманий результат ніколи не здається достатнім), до себе пред’являються дуже високі очікування, основний мотив поведінки – страх невдачі, схильність до переживання сильної тривоги, сорому, провини; схильність до уникнення (концентрація уваги на власних недоліках і думці про те, як би уникнути помилки). Отже перфекціонізм, а особливо негативний перфекціонізм заважає виконувати на високому рівні військовослужбовцю свої обов’язки.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Оніщик Юрій
Published: November 2019

В оновленому Законі України “Про освіту” [1] визначено нові підходи розвитку освітньої галузі.Однією з новацій освітнього процесу можна вважати запровадження такого елемента системи забез-печення якості освіти як академічна доброчесність. Введення в освітянське законодавство правовихоснов формування інституту академічної доброчесності спрямоване на зміну ціннісних орієнтирів усфері освіти.
Демократія і народовладдя в Україні як предмет юридичної доктрини
Authors: ЮЩИК ОЛЕКСІЙ
Published: November 2019

У статті розглядається проблема реалізації ідеї народовладдя в умовах розбудови демократичної, соціальної, правової держави в Україні в контексті формування національної юридичної доктрини.
Мета статті полягає у з’ясуванні співвідношення понять “демократія” та “народовладдя” і ролі держави в конституюванні та забезпеченні реального здійснення влади народу.
Відзначається значення етимології слова “демократія” для розуміння її поняття, трактування його різними ідеологічними течіями в сучасному суспільстві.
Вказано три головні варіанти демократичного ідеалу в сучасному світі, якими є ліберальна демократія, соціал-демократія і народна демократія, кожному з яких притаманне різне розуміння поняття “народ”. Охарактеризовано внутрішні суперечності цих варіантів, на які повинна зважати національна юридична доктрина.
Наголошується на негативному значенні ідей ліберальної демократії для здійснення реального народовладдя в Україні, непослідовність і внутрішню суперечливість у визначенні засад конституційного ладу України на основі ідей ліберальної демократії в Конституції України.
Розкривається значення державної влади у визначенні та зміненні демократичного устрою України, підпорядкованість її здійсненню народом його виключного права визначати й змінювати конституційний лад.
Зроблено висновок стосовно закономірності наявності внутрішньої суперечності ліберальної демократії як антинародної по своїй суті форми державного ладу,яка принципово заперечує реалізацію ідеї народовладдя; обґрунтовується об’єктивна необхідність на сучасному етапі розвитку України соціальної демократії.
Констатується нагальна потреба у формуванні науково обґрунтованої юридичної доктрини України, визначаються деякі її важливі положення, зокрема, необхідність визначення національної ідеї та способу її реалізації, заміна формули демократії “Народ – влада – Конституція” на формулу “Народ – Конституція – влада”, зміцнення парламентаризму, значення для цього юридичної доктрини.
Правове регулювання всеукраїнського референдуму за народною ініціативою і розвиток народовладдя
Authors: МЕЛЬНИЧЕНКО ВІКТОР
Published: November 2019

Суспільною реальністю в Україні є поєднання відчуження від влади значної частини громадян із реалізацією політичної активності поза легальними формами та засобами. Значною мірою це зумовлено недосконалістю правового регулювання політичної участі населення. Положення Конституції України стосовно референдуму за народною ініціативою зберігають декларативний характер, відсутній дієвий механізм їх практичної реалізації. Серед широкої громадськості і в наукових колах такий референдум розглядається швидше як засіб досягнення власних цілей тими чи іншими владними суб’єктами, аніж інструмент реального народовладдя. Незважаючи на закріплення цієї форми з 1991 р., вона використовувалася тільки один раз, оцінки цього використання неоднозначні. Протиріччя між суспільною потребою в осмисленні стану і перспектив вдосконалення правового регулювання референдуму за народною ініціативою та недостатністю уваги наукової громадськості до цього питання зумовило звернення до теми дослідження.
Метою статті є формулювання практичних рекомендацій щодо вдосконалення змісту правового регулювання референдуму за народною ініціативою на основі осмислення наявної практики такого регулювання, національного та зарубіжного досвіду й потреби подальшого розвитку народовладдя в Україні.
Розглянуто положення Конституції України, які визначають предмет референдумів за народною ініціативою. Доведено відсутність необхідної визначеності законодавства і можливість його неоднозначного тлумачення. Обґрунтовано використання цієї форми безпосереднього народовладдя виключно для здійснення установчої та законодавчої влади. Показано можливість конкуренції між народом й обраним ним парламентом при здійсненні законодавчої влади та висловлено міркування щодо можливих засобів досягнення узгодженості. Проаналізовано проблему проголошення референдуму за народною ініціативою. Запропоновано термін проголошення визначити безпосередньо в Основному Законі. Наголошується на важливості встановлення більш жорстких вимог до визначення дійсності та результату конституційних референдумів. Висловлені пропозиції щодо врегулювання про цедури референдуму в частині встановлення вимог до законопроєктів, які виносяться на голосування.
Стан правового регулювання референдуму за народною ініціативою дає підстави стверджувати, ймовірніше, про відсутність такого регулювання. Пропонується визначитися з доцільністю збереження цього виду референдуму. У випадку позитивної відповіді запропоновано внести низку змін до Конституції України з метою досягнення необхідної визначеності її положень. Нагальним вважається прийняття закону про всеукраїнський референдум та відображення у ньому висловлених пропозицій.
Progress in the discovery of extant and fossil bryozoans
Authors: Pagès-Escolà M , Bock PE , Gordon DP , Wilson S , Linares C , Hereu B , Costello MJ
Published: November 2019

The number of species that exist on Earth has been an intriguing question in ecology and evolution. For marine species, previous works have analysed trends in the discovery of extant species, without comparison to the fossil record. Here, we compared the rate of description between extant and fossil species of the same group of marine invertebrates, Bryozoa. There are nearly 3 times as many described fossil species as there are extant species. This indicates that current biodiversity represents only a small proportion of Earth’s past biodiversity, at least for Bryozoa. Despite these differences, our results showed similar trends in the description of new species between extant and fossil groups. There has been an increase in taxonomic effort during the past century, characterized by an increase in the number of taxonomists, but no change in their relative productivity (i.e. similar proportions of authors described most species). The 20thcentury had the most species described per author, reflecting increased effort in exploration and technological developments. Despite this progress, future projections in the discovery of bryozoan species predict that around 10 and 20% more fossil and extant species than named species, respectively, will be discovered by 2100, representing 2430 and 1350 more fossil and extant species, respectively. This highlights the continued need for both new species descriptions and taxonomic revisions, as well as ecological and biogeographical research, to better understand the biodiversity of Bryozoa.
Resistance, Negotiation and Development: The Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam, 1954–2010
Authors: Nguyen Thao
Published: November 2019

This article discusses the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam to negotiate with the socialist government from 1954 to 2010. It analyses the different dynamics and approaches employed by the Church in the north and south of Vietnam to respond to political pressure. Viewed within a larger context, Rome during these decades played a significant role in shaping the political views of the Vietnamese hierarchy as well as inspiring them to make important choices in the midst of tension and conflict. The article argues that though caught in a complex social and political situation, the Church in Vietnam has continued to thrive and managed gradually to exert its place in Vietnamese society.
Mother of Transracial Adoption: Pearl Buck's Special Needs Adoption and American Self-criticism
Authors: Chung Soojin
Published: November 2019

In 1949, Pearl Sydenstricker Buck founded Welcome House, the first transracial and transnational adoption agency in the country, marking the beginning of the transnational adoption of mixed-race ‘Amerasian’ children. Contrary to the prevailing understanding that her humanitarian advocacy was a political act that promoted American global hegemony during the Cold War period, this article argues that her humanitarian work was motivated primarily by three forces: (1) her sense of American political and moral responsibility, (2) her desire for personal connection and motherhood, and (3) her mission of global friendship and unity. Buck actively fought racism in America, advocating the adoption of mixed-race Asian children and children with disabilities. Unlike evangelical agencies that catered to a conservative Christian audience, Pearl Buck normalised the notion of transracial adoption across America through her potent prose. This study examines her work in the context of the rise of Protestant liberalism, accentuating her role as the pioneer of the transracial and transnational adoption of Amerasian children and demonstrating that her ideology was congruent with her lifetime motto of human solidarity and anti-racism.
Stratejik Liderliğin Mesleki Profesyonellikte Oynadığı Rol
Authors: Akman Yener
Published: November 2019

Bu araştırmada öğretmen görüşlerine göre okul müdürlerinin
göstermiş olduğu stratejik liderlik davranışları ile öğretmenlerin mesleki
profesyonelliği arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Araştırma 2018-2019 eğitim
öğretim yılında Ankara ili Altındağ ilçesinde gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu kamu okullarında görev yapmakta olan 344 öğretmen
oluşturmuştur. İlişkisel tarama modelinin uygulandığı araştırmada veriler nicel
teknikler ile çözümlenmiştir. Veri toplama sürecinde “Stratejik Liderlik
Ölçeği” ve “Öğretmenlerin Mesleki Profesyonelliği Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır.
Araştırma sonucunda öğretmen görüşlerine göre okul müdürlerinin stratejik
liderlik davranışları göstermeleri ve öğretmenlerin mesleki profesyonellik
algılarının göreceli olarak iyi düzeyde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca
değişkenler arasında pozitif yönlü, orta düzeyde ve anlamlı ilişkiler
saptanmıştır. Korelasyon analizine göre dönüşümsel liderlik ile mesleki
profesyonelliğin boyutları olan kişisel gelişim ve duygusal emek arasında en
yüksek düzeyde ilişkinin kurulduğu görülmüştür. Araştırmanın bir diğer sonucu
ise dönüşümsel ve etik liderliğin, kişisel gelişim ve duygusal emeğin ve ayrıca
dönüşümsel ve politik liderliğin mesleki duyarlılığın anlamlı yordayıcıları
olmalarıdır. Ayrıca stratejik liderlik boyutlarının kuruma katkı boyutu
üzerinde herhangi bir yordayıcılığının olmadığı da tespit edilmiştir.
LEGAL REGULATION OF REAL ESTATE USE IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors: Shinkovskaia Anastasia , Chilinger Liliya
Published: November 2019

The central place in the presented article is given to the sphere of legal regulation and changes in the permitted use of real estate in the Russian Federation. We study the basic legal acts, as well as innovations proposed for consideration of the draft Federal Law N 496293-7. In addition, the issues addressed relate to the related legal status of real estate. Concrete examples are given to illustrate the interdepartmental dissociation of government bodies and the problems of variation in the interpretation of land law. In conclusion, a list of measures necessary for making decisions for the problems identified is given.
Designing Cropping Systems to Improve the Management of the Invasive Weed Phalaris minor Retz.
Authors: Xu Gaofeng , Shen Shicai , Zhang Yun , Clements David Roy , Yang Shaosong , Li Jun , Dong Liyao , Zhang Fudou , Jin Guimei , Gao Yuan
Published: November 2019

Because cropping systems can greatly affect the establishment and spread of alien species populations, the design of cropping systems to control invasive weeds is an important approach for invasive species management in agro-ecosystems to avoid excessive increases in other control measures such as herbicides. The annual weed Phalaris minor Retz. (P. minor) is one of the most troublesome invasive weed species of winter crops in Yunnan Province, China, but the development of cropping systems for ecological control of this weed have received limited research attention. Here, we studied seed dormancy, germination characteristics and reproductive responses of P. minor to various cropping systems to show how cropping systems could be better designed to control P. minor in China. Our research showed that cropping systems significantly affected seed dormancy in submerged paddy fields. Phalaris minor seed remained dormant and the germination rates (less than 10%) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than in maize fields and dry, bare soil conditions. Wheat, faba bean and rapeseed crops had no significant influence (p < 0.05) on the seed germination rate of P. minor, but increasing soil depth significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the germination rate and germination index of this weed. Total biomass, spike biomass, spike number and seed number of P. minor were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with increasing proportions of the three crops (wheat, faba bean and rapeseed), with rapeseed having the strongest inhibition effects among the three crops. The reproductive allocation and reproductive investment of P. minor were also significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in mixed culture with wheat and rapeseed. With increasing proportions of wheat or rapeseed, the specific leaf area of P. minor significantly increased (p < 0.05), but the reverse was true for leaf area and specific leaf weight. Moreover, the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate for P. minor also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) when grown with wheat or rapeseed. These results suggest that optimal cropping systems design could involve planting rapeseed in conjunction with deep plowing and planting rice (continuous submergence underwater) in summer. Such a system could reduce the field populations and seed bank of P. minor, thus providing a sustainable and environmentally friendly means of suppressing P. minor.
Botulism in Wild Birds and Changes in Environmental Habitat: A Relationship to be Considered
Authors: Circella Elena , Camarda Antonio , Bano Luca , Marzano Giacomo , Lombardi Roberto , D’Onghia Francesco , Greco Grazia
Published: November 2019

Any human activity, even if aimed at the improvement of a natural area, can potentially affect wildlife, leading to possible short-term or long-term changes due to the human–wildlife interaction. In this study, a botulism outbreak which occurred in waterfowl in a nature reserve after a conservative environmental action is reported. More than 180 different species of wild birds, including seventy waterfowl species, live in the area. The wildlife reserve rangers built an artificial pond equipped with draining canals in the wetland in order to improve the environment of waterfowl species and to facilitate their supply of food. Then, presumably due to tidal rides, gray mullets (Mugil cephalus) arrived from the sea and settled in the pond. The number of fishes gradually increased, and several fishes died with a peak of mortality in the summer of 2017, creating a great amount of decaying organic material and the optimal conditions for Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin production. A botulism outbreak then occurred rapidly and was characterised by flaccid paralysis and sudden mortality of the birds. Seven mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), 4 common teals (Anas crecca), 1 garganey (Anas querquedula), 2 wood sandpipers (Tringa glareola), 1 little egret (Egretta garzetta), 1 little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), and 4 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) were found dead. Interestingly, the toxin identified as responsible for the disease outbreak was the mosaic of type C and D toxins (C/D type). The prompt removal of the fish carcasses led to a rapid resolution of the outbreak of the disease, highlighting the relevance of a correct management for any action in environmental contexts. The conclusion is that any human activity in wildlife habitats should be carefully considered in order to assess the possible impacts and to quickly identify the possible risks of changes in wildlife population.
Purification and Identification of Antioxidant Alcalase-Derived Peptides from Sheep Plasma Proteins
Authors: Hou Chengli , Wu Liguo , Wang Zhenyu , Saguer Elena , Zhang Dequan
Published: November 2019

In this study, sheep plasma was submitted to Alcalase-hydrolysis and peptides with better antioxidant properties measured through both the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability assays were isolated and identified. After hydrolysate ultrafiltration and semi-preparative reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, nine fractions (F1–F9) were obtained, with the two first (F1 and F2) showing the greatest antioxidant potential. These two fractions were further separated by the AKTA purifier system to generate four (F1-1–F1-4) and five (F2-1–F2-5) fractions, respectively, with two of them (F1-2 and F2-1) exhibiting appreciable FRAP activity and DPPH radical scavenging ability. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, three antioxidant peptides were identified. From their amino acid sequences (QTALVELLK, SLHTLFGDELCK, and MPCTEDYLSLILNR), which include amino acids that have been previously reported as key contributors to the peptide antioxidant properties, it can be maintained that they come mainly from serum albumin. These results suggested that the sheep plasma protein can be considered as a good source of antioxidant peptides and bring forth new possibilities for the utilization of animal blood by-products.
Numerical Analysis on Flexural Behavior of Steel Fiber-Reinforced LWAC Beams Reinforced with GFRP Bars
Authors: Sun Yijia , Liu Yang , Wu Tao , Liu Xi , Lu Haodan
Published: November 2019

Three-dimensional nonlinear finite-element (FE) models using an explicit algorithm were established to simulate the behavior of beams reinforced with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars cast using lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) with and without steel fibers, and the progressive damage model was employed to simulate the rupture of GFRP. The developed FE model was evaluated by test results, and it exhibited good agreement with the test results in terms of moment–deflection response, serviceability performance, ultimate capacity, and failure mode. Influencing factors, including the section height, reinforcement ratio, and span length were discussed according to the established FE model. It was revealed that the reinforcement ratio corresponding to balanced failure was higher than that given by code ACI 440.1R, which confirmed the necessity of the amplification factor of a balanced reinforcement ratio to ensure concrete crushing of the beam. For specimens that failed due to concrete crushing, the increase in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement ratio did not significantly improve the ultimate capacity, but it did have an obvious effect on the reduction of deflection at service load. Moreover, a greater reinforcement ratio was needed for beams when the span length increased.
Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Pectin-Based Films and Their Application in Sustainable Aroma Barrier Multilayer Packaging
Authors: Akinalan Balik Busra , Argin Sanem , Lagaron Jose M. , Torres-Giner Sergio
Published: November 2019

Pectin was first dissolved in distilled water and blended with low contents of polyethylene oxide 2000 (PEO2000) as the carrier polymer to produce electrospun fibers. The electrospinning of the water solution of pectin at 9.5 wt% containing 0.5 wt% PEO2000 was selected as it successfully resulted in continuous and non-defected ultrathin fibers with the highest pectin content. However, annealing of the resultant pectin-based fibers, tested at different conditions, developed films with low mechanical integrity, high porosity, and also dark color due to their poor thermal stability. Then, to improve the film-forming process of the electrospun mats, two plasticizers, namely glycerol and polyethylene glycol 900 (PEG900), were added to the selected pectin solution in the 2–3 wt% range. The optimal annealing conditions were found at 150 °C with a pressure of 12 kN load for 1 min when applied to the electrospun pectin mats containing 5 wt% PEO2000 and 30 wt% glycerol and washed previously with dichloromethane. This process led to completely homogenous films with low porosity and high transparency due to a phenomenon of fibers coalescence. Finally, the selected electrospun pectin-based film was applied as an interlayer between two external layers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by the electrospinning coating technology and the whole structure was annealed to produce a fully bio-based and biodegradable multilayer film with enhanced barrier performance to water vapor and limonene.
Engineering Functionalized Chitosan-Based Sorbent Material: Characterization and Sorption of Toxic Elements
Authors: Khan Adnan , Ali Nisar , Bilal Muhammad , Malik Sumeet , Badshah Syed , Iqbal Hafiz M. N.
Published: November 2019

The present study reports the engineering of functionalized chitosan (CH)-based biosorbent material. Herein, a two-step reaction was performed to chemically modify the CH using 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl) piperazine to incorporate nitrogen basic centers for cations sorption from the aqueous environment. The resultant functionalized chitosan-based sorbent material was designated as CH-ANP and characterized using various analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 13C NMR (in solid-state), X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. Then, the newly engineered CH-ANP was employed for the removal of copper, lead, and cadmium in the aqueous medium. Langmuir sorption isotherm analysis revealed that the highest sorption abilities achieved were 2.82, 1.96, and 1.60 mmol g−1 for copper, cadmium, and lead, respectively. Linear and nonlinear regression methods were deployed on the sorption data to study the behavior of the Langmuir, the Freundlich, and the Temkin sorption isotherms. Among the four different forms, the Langmuir isotherm type 1 fit well to the experimental data as compared to the other models. It also showed the lowest values of error, and a higher correlation coefficient than the Freundlich and Temkin models; thus it was the best fit with the experimental data compared to the latter two models. In conclusion, the findings suggest that chemically modified novel materials with enhanced Lewis basic centers are useful and promising candidates for the sorption of various toxic cations in aqueous solution.
IL-24 Inhibits Lung Cancer Growth by Suppressing GLI1 and Inducing DNA Damage
Authors: Panneerselvam Janani , Srivastava Akhil , Mehta Meghna , Chen Allshine , Zhao Yan D. , Munshi Anupama , Ramesh Rajagopal
Published: November 2019

Aberrant expression of GLI1 is responsible for aggressive tumor behavior and survival due to its effects on the DNA damage response (DDR). We investigated whether interleukin (IL)-24, a tumor suppressor, inhibits GLI1 and the associated DDR pathway in human NSCLCs. IL-24 treatment reduces mRNA and protein expression of GLI1 in lung tumor cells, but not in normal cells. GLI1 reporter assay and mRNA studies demonstrated that IL-24 regulates GLI1 at the post-transcriptional level by favoring mRNA degradation. Associated with GLI1 inhibition was marked suppression of the ATM-mediated DDR pathway resulting in increased DNA damage, as evidenced by γ-H2AX foci and Comet assay. Furthermore, attenuation of GLI1-associated DDR by IL-24 increased caspase-3 and PARP activity, resulting in cancer cell apoptosis. GLI1 inhibition and overexpression confirmed that IL-24-mediated anti-tumor effects involved the GLI-dependent pathway. Finally, we observed that IL-24-mediated alteration in GLI1 is independent of the canonical hedgehog-signaling pathway. Our study provides evidence that IL-24 treatment induces DNA damage, and reduces GLI1 expression and offers an opportunity for testing IL-24-based therapy for inhibiting GLI1 in lung cancer.
Occupational Chemical Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk According to Hormone Receptor Status: A Systematic Review
Authors: Leso Veruscka , Ercolano Maria Luigia , Cioffi Dante Luigi , Iavicoli Ivo
Published: November 2019

Breast cancers include a heterogeneous group of diseases with clinical behaviors that may vary according to the hormonal receptor status. However, limited knowledge is available on the role of breast cancer environmental and occupational risk factors in the onset of specific molecular disease phenotypes. Therefore, the aim of this review was to provide an overview on the possible correlation between occupational chemical exposures and breast cancers with a specific receptor pattern. Pubmed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases were systematically reviewed to identify all the studies addressing chemical exposure in workplaces and risk of breast cancer classified according to the presence of estrogen and/or progesterone receptors. Some positive associations were reported between solvent, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, organophosphoric insecticide, and synthetic fiber exposure and estrogen receptor-positive cases, while other investigations demonstrated a relationship with receptor-negative tumors or failed to detect any significant effect. Overall, further investigation should overcome limitations due to the self-reported information on work histories, the chemical classification in general categories, and the lack of environmental or biological monitoring exposure data. This may support the development of suitable and individually “tailored” occupational risk assessment and management strategies to protect the health of exposed workers, particularly those with hypersusceptibility conditions.
Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) as an Addition to Long-Term Results after High-Precision Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Patients with Secreting and Non-Secreting Pituitary Adenomas: A Retrospective Cohort Study up to 17-Years Follow-Up
Authors: Kessel Kerstin A. , Diehl Christian D. , Oechsner Markus , Meyer Bernhard , Gempt Jens , Zimmer Claus , Schmidt-Graf Friederike , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: November 2019

High-precision radiotherapy has been established as a valid and effective treatment option in patients with pituitary adenomas. We report on outcome after fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in correlation with patient-reported outcomes (PROs). We analyzed 69 patients treated between 2000 and 2019. FSRT was delivered with a median total dose of 54 Gy (single fraction: 1.8 Gy). PRO questionnaires were sent to 28 patients. Median overall survival was 17.2 years; mean local control was 15.6 years (median not reached). Median follow-up was 5.8 years. Twenty (71%) patients participated in the PRO assessment. Physicians reported symptoms grade ≥3 in 6 cases (9%). Of all, 35 (51%) patients suffered from hypopituitarism at baseline, and during follow-up, new or progressive hypopituitarism was observed in 11 cases (16%). Patients reported 10 cases of severe side effects. Most of these symptoms were already graded as CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) grade 2 by a physician in a previous follow-up exam. PROs are an essential measure and only correlate to a certain extent with the physician-reported outcomes. For high-precision radiotherapy of pituitary adenomas, they confirm excellent overall outcomes and low toxicity. In the future, the integration of PROs paired with high-end treatment will further improve outcomes.
Photoimmunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer: A Unique Niche in the Management of Advanced Disease
Authors: Nath Shubhankar , Saad Mohammad Ahsan , Pigula Michael , Swain Joseph W.R. , Hasan Tayyaba
Published: November 2019

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the leading cause of gynecological cancer-related deaths in the United States, with five-year survival rates of 15–20% for stage III cancers and 5% for stage IV cancers. The standard of care for advanced OvCa involves surgical debulking of disseminated disease in the peritoneum followed by chemotherapy. Despite advances in treatment efficacy, the prognosis for advanced stage OvCa patients remains poor and the emergence of chemoresistant disease localized to the peritoneum is the primary cause of death. Therefore, a complementary modality that is agnostic to typical chemo- and radio-resistance mechanisms is urgently needed. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a photochemistry-based process, is an ideal complement to standard treatments for residual disease. The confinement of the disease in the peritoneal cavity makes it amenable for regionally localized treatment with PDT. PDT involves photochemical generation of cytotoxic reactive molecular species (RMS) by non-toxic photosensitizers (PSs) following exposure to non-harmful visible light, leading to localized cell death. However, due to the complex topology of sensitive organs in the peritoneum, diffuse intra-abdominal PDT induces dose-limiting toxicities due to non-selective accumulation of PSs in both healthy and diseased tissue. In an effort to achieve selective damage to tumorous nodules, targeted PS formulations have shown promise to make PDT a feasible treatment modality in this setting. This targeted strategy involves chemical conjugation of PSs to antibodies, referred to as photoimmunoconjugates (PICs), to target OvCa specific molecular markers leading to enhanced therapeutic outcomes while reducing off-target toxicity. In light of promising results of pilot clinical studies and recent preclinical advances, this review provides the rationale and methodologies for PIC-based PDT, or photo-immunotherapy (PIT), in the context of OvCa management.
Extract from Broccoli Byproducts to Increase Fresh Filled Pasta Shelf Life
Authors: Angiolillo Luisa , Spinelli Sara , Conte Amalia , Del Nobile Matteo Alessandro
Published: November 2019

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of extract from broccoli byproducts, as a green alternative to chemical preservation strategies for fresh filled pasta. In order to prove its effectiveness, three different percentages (10%, 15%, and 20% v/w) of extract were added to the filling of pasta. A shelf life test was carried out by monitoring microbiological and sensory quality. The content of phenolic compounds before and after in vitro digestion of pasta samples was also recorded. Results underlined that the addition of the natural extract helped to record a final shelf life of about 24 days, that was 18 days longer in respect to the control sample. Furthermore, results highlighted that the addition of byproducts extract to pasta also increased its phenolic content after in vitro digestion. Therefore, broccoli byproducts could be valorized for recording extracts that are able to prolong shelf life and increase the nutritional content of fresh filled pasta.
Acrylamide and Thermal-Processing Indexes in Market-Purchased Food
Authors: Michalak Joanna , Czarnowska-Kujawska Marta , Gujska Elżbieta
Published: November 2019

Determining acrylamide (AA) content in foods using chromatographic methods is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need to develop a simple, economical method for monitoring the content of acrylamide in foods. This study analysed whether there is a relationship between acrylamide levels with some heat-induced parameters, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and browning, in order to assess their usefulness in predicting the potential acrylamide levels in market-purchased food. Sixty plant-based food products were tested. The correlation coefficients for AA levels with L*, a* and b* values and HMF content were significant (p < 0.05) for French fries and potato chips. There was no statistically significant correlation between thermal-processing indexes (HMF and colour parameters) and acrylamide levels in commercial bread, breakfast cereals and biscuits. The results indicate that these classical thermal-processing indexes are not directly related to the acrylamide content in commercial cereal-based food and they cannot be indicators of AA level. Thus, the correlation between HMF and colour parameters with acrylamide content depends on the type of food and it is difficult to estimate the amount of AA based on these classical thermal-processing indexes of market-purchased food.
Environmental Influences on Mammographic Breast Density in California: A Strategy to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
Authors: Cohn Barbara A. , Terry Mary Beth
Published: November 2019

State legislation in many U.S. states, including California, mandates informing women if they have dense breasts on screening mammography, meaning over half of their breast tissue is comprised of non-adipose tissue. Breast density is important to interpret screening sensitivity and is an established breast cancer risk factor. Environmental chemical exposures may play an important role in this, especially during key windows of susceptibility for breast development: in utero, during puberty, pregnancy, lactation, and the peri-menopause. There is a paucity of research, however, examining whether environmental chemical exposures are associated with mammographic breast density, and even less is known about environmental exposures during windows of susceptibility. Now, with clinical breast density scoring being reported routinely for mammograms, it is possible to find out, especially in California, where there are large study populations that can link environmental exposures during windows of susceptibility to breast density. Density scores are now available throughout the state through electronic medical records. We can link these with environmental chemical exposures via state-wide monitoring. Studying the effects of environmental exposure on breast density may provide valuable monitoring and etiologic data to inform strategies to reduce breast cancer risk.
A Simple Method for Assessing the Mental Health Status of Students in Higher Education
Authors: Bíró Éva , Ádány Róza , Kósa Karolina
Published: November 2019

Mental health problems are common among students in higher education all over the world, so identifying those who are at higher risk would allow the targeted provision of help. Our goal was to develop an assessment tool to identify students at risk for vulnerable mental health status. This tool was created from the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and Antonovsky’s abbreviated sense of coherence scale and was tested to distinguish between those with high or low mental resilience. Predictive ability was characterized by likelihood ratios taking the Beck Depression Inventory and perceived health as references. One-quarter (95% CI 21.1% to 29.7%) of the students had been in vulnerable mental health characterized by low sense of coherence and high distress, whereas 28.4% (95% CI 24.2% to 33.1%) seemed resilient, having high sense of coherence and low distress. The high negative predictive value of the assessment tool reliably identified resilient students in comparison with both the Beck Depression Inventory (98.6%) and perceived health status (83.9%). Use of the assessment tool is recommended for students to distinguish between those at decreased and increased risk in terms of mental health. Mental health services should be offered to students at higher risk.
Costs and Willingness to Pay for Pit Latrine Emptying Services in Kigali, Rwanda
Authors: Burt Zachary , Sklar Rachel , Murray Ashley
Published: November 2019

Kigali, Rwanda lacks a centralized sewer system, which leaves residents to choose between on-site options; the majority of residents in informal settlements use pit latrines as their primary form of sanitation. When their pits fill, the pits are either sealed, or emptied; emptying is often done by hand and then dumped in the environment, putting the residents and the broader population at risk of infectious disease outbreaks. In this paper, we used revealed and stated preference models to: (1) estimate the demand curve for improved emptying services; and, (2) evaluate household preferences and the willingness to pay (WTP) for different attributes of improved emptying services. We also quantify the costs of improved service delivery at different scales of production. The study included 1167 households from Kigali, Rwanda across 30 geographic clusters. Our results show that, at a price of US$79 per pit, 15% of all the pits would be emptied by improved emptying services, roughly the current rate of manual emptying. Grouping empties by neighborhood and ensuring that each truck services an average of four households per day could reduce the production costs to US$44 per empty, ensuring full cost coverage at that price. At a lower price of US$24, we estimate that the sealing of pits might be fully eliminated, with full coverage of improved emptying services for all pits; this would require a relatively small subsidy of US$20 per empty. Our results show that households had strong preferences for fecal sludge (FS) treatment, formalized services (which include worker protections), and distant disposal. The results from the study indicate a few key policies and operational strategies that can be used for maximizing the inclusion of low-income households in safely managed sanitation services, while also incorporating household preferences and participation.