bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History, Exemplarity and Improvements: 18th Century Ideas about Man-Made Climate Change
Authors: Eriksen Anne
Published: September 2019

Can grain crops be increased? The issue was heatedly debated in 18th century Denmark-Norway, both for patriotic and economic reasons. The historian Gerhard Schøning (1722–80) answered affirmatively. Chopping down much of the forests that covered Norway would change the climate radically for the better. As a consequence of the warmer weather, the fertility of the soil would improve. Crops would increase, and new and even more delicate types of plants could be introduced. Schøning’s argument was nearly entirely built on examples from Greek and Roman history, cited to demonstrate that since classical times, this kind of changes had already taken place in other parts of Europe. Climate interested a number of 18th century writers. It was not only a part of geotheory, but also included in theories about the history of society, law and culture as well as in medical thought. Ideas about a human-made climate change similar to Schøning’s can be found in texts by e.g. Hume and Buffon. The argument relied on a quantity of examples, as well as on the uncontested exemplarity of classical literature itself. Schøning’s examples represent both series and ideals. The cases he cites are numerous (serial) instantiations of the same general mechanism: The effect of human interventions in nature. Yet at the same time they are models to follow, even if it will take some effort. Norway will never be as warm and fertile as southern countries, but Schøning exhorts his compatriots to “take courage and start!” History consisted of examples to learn from and models to follow.
An Opportunity for Regenerative Rice Production: Combining Plastic Film Cover and Plant Biomass Mulch with No-Till Soil Management to Build Soil Carbon, Curb Nitrogen Pollution, and Maintain High-Stable Yield
Authors: Lv Shi Hua , Dong Yu Jiao , Jiang Yuan , Padilla Hilario , Li Joanne , Uphoff Norman
Published: September 2019

China has attained rice sufficiency with the increased use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, but this has led to serious N pollution. China has the world’s highest use of N with the lowest N use efficiency (NUE). Including livestock production, China’s agriculture sector has surpassed industry as the greatest polluter of water. Using plastic film on raised-beds, combined with improved agronomic practices, can boost rice yield by 50% with 36% less N fertilizer use, 30% higher NUE, and stabilized the yield of 9.75 t ha−1. It also counters the effects of drought and low ambient temperature. A six-year study was conducted combining no-tillage, crop-residue mulch, and plastic cover, alternating organic rice and rapeseed production. All the treatments, fertilized with biogas slurry and rapeseed meal, gave rice yields of 7.0 to 10.7 t ha−1, well above China’s average of 6.5 t ha−1. In this time, soil organic matter increased from 1.6% to 4.2%. In the first four years, the combination of crop-residue mulch with plastic cover had a slightly higher yield than mulch alone. In the fifth and sixth years, the latter treatment surpassed the use of plastic cover with crop-residue mulch. Trials with a biodegradable film show that plastic pollution can be dealt with.
The 3Rs and Humane Experimental Technique: Implementing Change
Authors: Hubrecht Robert C. , Carter Elizabeth
Published: September 2019

In 1959, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Scholars Russell & Burch published the Principles of Humane Experimental Technique in which they laid out the principles of the Three Rs. However, the Three Rs owed much to others. It was UFAW and, in particular, UFAW’s Founder and Director, Major Charles Hume who identified the problem that needed to be tackled, and who developed the non-confrontational approach that was needed to both formulate the questions that needed answers and to obtain the answers from the research community. Russell & Burch’s work was also guided by an expert scientific and technical committee chaired by the Nobel Prize winner Sir Peter Medawar. This essay describes the history of the Three Rs using publications by the protagonists and others as well as material from UFAW’s archives. It describes the background to the employment of Russell & Burch, the methodology of Russell & Burch’s approach and the impact of their work up to the present day—where the Three Rs are incorporated in legislation throughout the world.
Mathematical Model and Numerical Simulation for Tissue Growth on Bioscaffolds
Authors: Lee Hyun Geun , Park Jintae , Yoon Sungha , Lee Chaeyoung , Kim Junseok
Published: September 2019

Tissue growth on bioscaffolds can be controlled using substrate geometry such as substrate curvature. In this study, we present a mathematical model and numerical simulation method for tissue growth on a bioscaffold to investigate the effect of local curvature on tissue growth. The mathematical model is based on the Allen–Cahn (AC) equation, which has been extensively used to model many problems involving motion by mean curvature. By solving the AC equation using the explicit Euler method, the proposed method is simple and fast. Numerical simulations on various geometries are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework on tissue growth on a bioscaffold.
A 5G C-RAN Optical Fronthaul Architecture for Hotspot Areas Using OFDM-Based Analog IFoF Waveforms
Authors: Mitsolidou Charoula , Vagionas Christos , Mesodiakaki Agapi , Maniotis Pavlos , Kalfas George , G. H. Roeloffzen Chris , W. L. van Dijk Paul , M. Oldenbeuving Ruud , Miliou Amalia , Pleros Nikos
Published: September 2019

Analog fronthauling is currently promoted as a bandwidth and energy-efficient solution that can meet the requirements of the Fifth Generation (5G) vision for low latency, high data rates and energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose an analog optical fronthaul 5G architecture, fully aligned with the emerging Centralized-Radio Access Network (C-RAN) concept. The proposed architecture exploits the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique and multicarrier intermediate-frequency-over-fiber (IFoF) signal generation per wavelength in order to satisfy the demanding needs of hotspot areas. Particularly, the fronthaul link employs photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based WDM optical transmitters (Txs) at the baseband unit (BBU), while novel reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) cascaded in an optical bus are used at the remote radio head (RRH) site, to facilitate reconfigurable wavelength switching functionalities up to 4 wavelengths. An aggregate capacity of 96 Gb/s has been reported by exploiting two WDM links carrying multi-IF band orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals at a baud rate of 0.5 Gbd with sub-carrier (SC) modulation of 64-QAM. All signals exhibited error vector magnitude (EVM) values within the acceptable 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) limits of 8%. The longest reach to place the BBU away from the hotspot was also investigated, revealing acceptable EVM performance for fiber lengths up to 4.8 km.
exBAKE: Automatic Fake News Detection Model Based on Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT)
Authors: Jwa Heejung , Oh Dongsuk , Park Kinam , Kang Jang , Lim Heuiseok
Published: September 2019

News currently spreads rapidly through the internet. Because fake news stories are designed to attract readers, they tend to spread faster. For most readers, detecting fake news can be challenging and such readers usually end up believing that the fake news story is fact. Because fake news can be socially problematic, a model that automatically detects such fake news is required. In this paper, we focus on data-driven automatic fake news detection methods. We first apply the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers model (BERT) model to detect fake news by analyzing the relationship between the headline and the body text of news. To further improve performance, additional news data are gathered and used to pre-train this model. We determine that the deep-contextualizing nature of BERT is best suited for this task and improves the 0.14 F-score over older state-of-the-art models.
Analytical Performance Prediction of an Electromagnetic Launcher and Its Validation by Numerical Analyses and Experiments
Authors: Kim Hong-Kyo , Kang Beom-Soo , Moon Young Hoon , Kim Jeong
Published: September 2019

An electromagnetic launcher (EML) is used to generate high launching velocities. The basic governing equation of the propulsion force of an EML is that the propulsion force is directly proportional to current and inductance gradient. L ′ is the inductance gradient that refers to the increase or decrease in the inductance with the length of rails. The inductance gradient is easily calculated because it is a function of the rail shape and frequency. However, current ( I ) flowing in an EML is calculated by the series resistor, inductor, and capacitor (RLC) equation of the equivalent circuit. Here, L is not constant and increases as the projectile muzzles. Owing to the increase in inductance, the current ( I ) and voltage ( V ) vary depending on the projectile position. Therefore, inductance, current, and voltage should be exactly obtained to calculate the exact current at a specific time. This study deals with analytical performance prediction using the relation EML propulsion force with real-time current, which is based on an increase in resistance and inductance at a specific time. To validate this approach, the results of the current waves are compared via numerical analyses and experiments. Using this prediction method, it is possible to determine and optimize the rail shape and length from the capacitor bank and vice versa.
Optimal Scheduling Method of Controllable Loads in Smart Home Considering Re-Forecast and Re-Plan for Uncertainties
Authors: Yoza Akihiro , Uchida Kosuke , Chakraborty Shantanu , Krishna Narayanan , Kinjo Mitsunaga , Senjyu Tomonobu , Yan Zengfeng
Published: September 2019

Renewable energies (REs) such as photovoltaic generation (PV) have been gaining attention in distribution systems. Recently, houses with PV and battery systems, as well as electric vehicles (EV) are expected to contribute to not only the suppression of global warming but also reducing electricity bill on the consumer side. However, there are numerous challenges with the introduction of REs at the demand side such as the actual output of REs often deviating from the forecasted output, which causes fluctuation of the power flow and this is challenging for the distribution or transmission system operator. For this challenge, it is expected that smart grid technology using controllable loads such as a fixed battery or EV battery, can suppress fluctuation of power flow. This paper presents a decision method of optimal scheduling of controllable loads to suppress the fluctuation of power flow by PV output in the smart home. An optimization method to cope with uncertainties such as variability of PV power and effective forecasting methods are considered in the proposed scheme. In order to decrease the expected operational cost and to validate the robustness for the uncertainty’s optimization approach, statistical analysis is executed for the optimal scheduling scheme. From the optimization results, the proposed methodology suppressed the fluctuation of power flow in the smart home and also minimized the consumer operational cost.
Enhanced Production of Carboxymethylcellulase by Recombinant Escherichia coli Strain from Rice Bran with Shifts in Optimal Conditions of Aeration Rate and Agitation Speed on a Pilot-Scale
Authors: Park Chung-Il , Lee Jae-Hong , Li Jianhong , Lee Jin-Woo
Published: September 2019

The optimal conditions including the aeration rate and agitation speed of bioreactors for the production of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) by a recombinant Escherichia coli KACC 91335P, expressing CMCase gene of B. velezensis A-68, were different from those for its cell growth. The enhanced production of CMCase by E. coli KACC 91335P with the conventional multistage process needs at least two bioreactors. Shifts in the optimal conditions of the aeration rate and agitation speed of the bioreactor from the cell growth of E. coli KACC 91335P to those for its production of CMCase were investigated for development of the simple and economic process with the high productivity and low cost. The production of CMCase by E. coli KACC 91335P with shifts in the optimal conditions of the aeration rate and agitation speed from the cell growth to its production of CMCase in a 100 L pilot-scale bioreactor was 1.36 times higher than that with a fixed optimal conditions of the aeration rate and agitation speed for the production of CMCase and it was even 1.54 times higher than that with a fixed optimal conditions of the aeration rate and agitation speed for cell growth. The best time for the shift in the optimal conditions was found to be the mid-log phase of cell growth. Owing to the mixed-growth-associated production of CMCase by E. coli KACC 91335P, shifts in the optimal conditions of the aeration rate and agitation speed of bioreactors from the cell growth to its production of CMCase seemed to result in relatively more cells for the participation in its production of CMCase, which in turn enhanced its production of CMCase. The process with a simple control for shifts in the aeration rate and agitation speed of a bioreactor for the enhanced production of CMCase by E. coli KACC 91335P on the pilot-scale can be directly applied to the industrial-scaled production of cellulase.
Artificial-Hand Technology—Current State of Knowledge in Designing and Forecasting Changes
Authors: Szkopek Jacek , Redlarski Grzegorz
Published: September 2019

The subject of human-hand versatility has been intensively investigated for many years. Emerging robotic constructions change continuously in order to mimic natural mechanisms as accurately as possible. Such an attitude is motivated by the demand for humanoid robots with sophisticated end effectors and highly biomimic prostheses. This paper provides wide analysis of more than 80 devices that have been created over the last 40 years. It compares both the mechanical structure and various actuators from conventional DC motors and servomechanisms, through pneumatic muscles, to soft actuators and artificial muscles. Described measured factors include angles, forces, torques, tensions, and tactiles. Furthermore, the appropriate statistics of kinematic configuration, as well as the type or number of drive units and sensory systems, show not only recent problems, but also trends that will be followed in the future.
An Overview of Lidar Imaging Systems for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Royo Santiago , Ballesta-Garcia Maria
Published: September 2019

Lidar imaging systems are one of the hottest topics in the optronics industry. The need to sense the surroundings of every autonomous vehicle has pushed forward a race dedicated to deciding the final solution to be implemented. However, the diversity of state-of-the-art approaches to the solution brings a large uncertainty on the decision of the dominant final solution. Furthermore, the performance data of each approach often arise from different manufacturers and developers, which usually have some interest in the dispute. Within this paper, we intend to overcome the situation by providing an introductory, neutral overview of the technology linked to lidar imaging systems for autonomous vehicles, and its current state of development. We start with the main single-point measurement principles utilized, which then are combined with different imaging strategies, also described in the paper. An overview of the features of the light sources and photodetectors specific to lidar imaging systems most frequently used in practice is also presented. Finally, a brief section on pending issues for lidar development in autonomous vehicles has been included, in order to present some of the problems which still need to be solved before implementation may be considered as final. The reader is provided with a detailed bibliography containing both relevant books and state-of-the-art papers for further progress in the subject.
Dimensional Control of Aircraft Transmission Bodies Using CNC Machines and Neuro-Fuzzy Systems
Authors: Bomba Grzegorz , Gierlak Piotr
Published: September 2019

The article deals with the selected aspects of quality control of aircraft accessory drive train bodies. The work presents the concept of control of selected dimensional and shape characteristics. The key issue under consideration is the possibility of replacing the coordinate measuring machines (CMM) in selected measuring operations with a computerized numerical control (CNC) machine, which leads to a lower load on the measuring laboratory. In order to determine the relationship between the measurement results on the CMM in an unmounted state and the results of measurements on the CNC machine in the mounted state, a neuro-fuzzy model was used. The problem is presented for a selected component, which is the cover of the transmission body. Detailed analysis, calculations and neuro-fuzzy modelling of the dependencies between the measurement data were carried out for the selected key geometric characteristic, i.e., the bearing seat position deviation. The obtained results are acceptable from the point of view of quality control.
An Approach to Constructing a Knowledge Graph Based on Korean Open-Government Data
Authors: Lee Jae-won , Park Jaehui
Published: September 2019

A data platform collecting the whole metadata held by government agencies and a knowledge graph showing the relationship between the collected open-government data are proposed in this paper. By practically applying the data platform and the knowledge graph to the public sector in Korea, three improvements were expected: (1) enhancing user accessibility across open-government data; (2) allowing users to acquire relevant data as well as desired data with a single query; and (3) enabling data-driven decision-making. In particular, the barriers for citizens to acquire the necessary data have been greatly reduced by using the proposed knowledge graph, which is considered to be important for data-driven decision-making. The reliability and feasibility of constructing a metadata-based open-data platform and a knowledge graph are estimated to be considerably high as the proposed approach is applied to a real service of the public sector in Korea.
The H2S–Nrf2–Antioxidant Proteins Axis Protects Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells of the Native Hibernator Syrian Hamster from Reoxygenation-Induced Cell Death
Authors: Eleftheriadis Theodoros , Pissas Georgios , Nikolaou Evdokia , Liakopoulos Vassilios , Stefanidis Ioannis
Published: September 2019

During hibernation, repeated cycles of ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) leave vital organs without injury. Studying this phenomenon may reveal pathways applicable to improving outcomes in I-R injury-induced human diseases. We evaluated whether the H2S–nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2)–antioxidant proteins axis protects renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) of the native hibernator, the Syrian hamster, from reperfusion-induced cell death. To imitate I-R, the hamsters’, and control mice’s RPTECs were subjected to warm anoxia, washed, and then subjected to reoxygenation in fresh culture medium. Whenever required, the H2S-producing enzymes inhibitor aminooxyacetate or the lipid peroxidation inhibitor α-tocopherol were used. A handmade H2S detection methylene blue assay, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection kit, a LDH release cytotoxicity assay kit, and western blotting were used. Reoxygenation upregulated the H2S-producing enzymes cystathionine beta-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase in the hamster, but not in mouse RPTECs. As a result, H2S production increased only in the hamster RPTECs under reoxygenation conditions. Nrf2 expression followed the alterations of H2S production leading to an enhanced level of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 3 and glutathione reductase, and anti-ferroptotic proteins ferritin H and cystine-glutamate antiporter. The upregulated antioxidant enzymes and anti-ferroptotic proteins controlled ROS production and rescued hamster RPTECs from reoxygenation-induced, lipid peroxidation-mediated cell death. In conclusion, in RPTECs of the native hibernator Syrian hamster, reoxygenation activates the H2S–Nrf2–antioxidant proteins axis, which rescues cells from reoxygenation-induced cell death. Further studies may reveal that the therapeutic activation of this axis in non-hibernating species, including humans, may be beneficial in I-R injury-induced diseases.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Increases the Risk of Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: Ultrastructural Remodeling of the Neurovascular Unit and Diabetic Gliopathy
Authors: Hayden Melvin R.
Published: September 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease–dementia (LOAD) are increasing in global prevalence and current predictions indicate they will only increase over the coming decades. These increases may be a result of the concurrent increases of obesity and aging. T2DM is associated with cognitive impairments and metabolic factors, which increase the cellular vulnerability to develop an increased risk of age-related LOAD. This review addresses possible mechanisms due to obesity, aging, multiple intersections between T2DM and LOAD and mechanisms for the continuum of progression. Multiple ultrastructural images in female diabetic db/db models are utilized to demonstrate marked cellular remodeling changes of mural and glia cells and provide for the discussion of functional changes in T2DM. Throughout this review multiple endeavors to demonstrate how T2DM increases the vulnerability of the brain’s neurovascular unit (NVU), neuroglia and neurons are presented. Five major intersecting links are considered: i. Aging (chronic age-related diseases); ii. metabolic (hyperglycemia advanced glycation end products and its receptor (AGE/RAGE) interactions and hyperinsulinemia-insulin resistance (a linking linchpin); iii. oxidative stress (reactive oxygen–nitrogen species); iv. inflammation (peripheral macrophage and central brain microglia); v. vascular (macrovascular accelerated atherosclerosis—vascular stiffening and microvascular NVU/neuroglial remodeling) with resulting impaired cerebral blood flow.
c-Myc Acts as a Competing Endogenous RNA to Sponge miR-34a, in the Upregulation of CD44, in Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Pie-Che , Yu Chih-Chia , Huang Wen-Yu , Huang Wan-Hong , Chuang Yu-Ming , Lin Ru-Inn , Lin Jora M. J. , Lin Hon-Yi , Jou Yeong-Chin , Shen Cheng-Huang , Chan Michael W. Y.
Published: September 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play a crucial role in the progression of human cancers, including urothelial carcinoma (UC), the sixth-most common cancer in the world. Among them, miR-34a has been implicated in the regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs); however, its role in UC has yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, bioinformatics and experimental analysis confirmed that miR-34a targets CD44 (a CSC surface marker) and c-Myc (a well-known cell cycle regulator) in UC. We found that, surprisingly, most UC cell lines and patient samples did express miR-34a, although epigenetic silencing by promoter hypermethylation of miR-34a expression was observed only in UMUC3 cells, and a subset of patient samples. Importantly, overexpression of c-Myc, a frequently amplified oncogene in UC, was shown to upregulate CD44 expression through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism, such that overexpression of the c-Myc 3′UTR upregulated CD44, and vice versa. Importantly, we observed a positive correlation between the expression of c-Myc and CD44 in clinical samples obtained from UC patients. Moreover, overexpression of a dominant-negative p53 mutant downregulated miR-34a, but upregulated c-Myc and CD44, in UC cell lines. Functionally, the ectopic expression of miR-34a was shown to significantly suppress CD44 expression, and subsequently, suppression of cell growth and invasion capability, while also reducing chemoresistance. In conclusion, it appears that aberrant promoter methylation, and c-Myc-mediated ceRNA mechanisms, may attenuate the function of miR-34a, in UC. The tumor suppressive role of miR-34a in controlling CSC phenotypes in UC deserves further investigation.
Glucose Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Yan Liang , Raj Priyank , Yao Wantong , Ying Haoqiang
Published: September 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers, with a five-year survival rate of around 5% to 8%. To date, very few available drugs have been successfully used to treat PDAC due to the poor understanding of the tumor-specific features. One of the hallmarks of pancreatic cancer cells is the deregulated cellular energetics characterized by the “Warburg effect”. It has been known for decades that cancer cells have a dramatically increased glycolytic flux even in the presence of oxygen and normal mitochondrial function. Glycolytic flux is the central carbon metabolism process in all cells, which not only produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP) but also provides biomass for anabolic processes that support cell proliferation. Expression levels of glucose transporters and rate-limiting enzymes regulate the rate of glycolytic flux. Intermediates that branch out from glycolysis are responsible for redox homeostasis, glycosylation, and biosynthesis. Beyond enhanced glycolytic flux, pancreatic cancer cells activate nutrient salvage pathways, which includes autophagy and micropinocytosis, from which the generated sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids are used to buffer the stresses induced by nutrient deprivation. Further, PDAC is characterized by extensive metabolic crosstalk between tumor cells and cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we will give an overview on recent progresses made in understanding glucose metabolism-related deregulations in PDAC.
Arl13b Regulates Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion by Controlling Integrin-Mediated Signaling
Authors: Casalou Cristina , Faustino Alexandra , Silva Fernanda , Ferreira Inês C. , Vaqueirinho Daniela , Ferreira Andreia , Castanheira Pedro , Barona Teresa , Ramalho José S. , Serpa Jacinta , Félix Ana , Barral Duarte C.
Published: September 2019

Breast cancer is the first cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, according to the most recent estimates. This mortality is mainly caused by the tumors’ ability to form metastases. Cancer cell migration and invasion are essential for metastasis and rely on the interplay between actin cytoskeleton remodeling and cell adhesion. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which cancer cell invasion is controlled may provide new strategies to impair cancer progression. We investigated the role of the ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf)-like (Arl) protein Arl13b in breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro, using breast cancer cell lines and in vivo, using mouse orthotopic models. We show that Arl13b silencing inhibits breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as cancer progression in vivo. We also observed that Arl13b is upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and patient tissue samples. Moreover, we found that Arl13b localizes to focal adhesions (FAs) and interacts with β3-integrin. Upon Arl13b silencing, β3-integrin cell surface levels and FA size are increased and integrin-mediated signaling is inhibited. Therefore, we uncover a role for Arl13b in breast cancer cell migration and invasion and provide a new mechanism for how ARL13B can function as an oncogene, through the modulation of integrin-mediated signaling.
Genome-Wide Methylation Profiling in Canine Mammary Tumor Reveals miRNA Candidates Associated with Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Jeong Su-Jin , Lee Kang-Hoon , Nam A-Reum , Cho Je-Yoel
Published: September 2019

Genome-wide methylation profiling is used in breast cancer (BC) studies, because DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic regulator of gene expression, involved in many diseases including BC. We investigated genome-wide methylation profiles in both canine mammary tumor (CMT) tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and found unique CMT-enriched methylation signatures. A total of 2.2–4.2 million cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) sites were analyzed in both CMT tissues and PBMCs, which included 40,000 and 28,000 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with 341 and 247 promoters of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in CMT tissues and PBMCs, respectively. Genes related to apoptosis and ion transmembrane transport were hypermethylated, but cell proliferation and oncogene were hypomethylated in tumor tissues. Gene ontology analysis using DMGs in PBMCs revealed significant methylation changes in the subset of immune cells and host defense system-related genes, especially chemokine signaling pathway-related genes. Moreover, a number of CMT tissue-enriched DMRs were identified from the promoter regions of various microRNAs (miRNAs), including cfa-mir-96 and cfa-mir-149, which were reported as cancer-associated miRNAs in humans. We also identified novel miRNAs associated with CMT which can be candidates for new miRNAs associated with human BC. This study may provide new insight for a better understanding of aberrant methylation associated with both human BC and CMT, as well as possible targets for methylation-based BC diagnostic markers.
Circular RNAs in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Their Microarray-Based Identification, Analytical Validation, and Potential Use in a Clinico-Genomic Model to Improve Prognostic Accuracy
Authors: Franz Antonia , Ralla Bernhard , Weickmann Sabine , Jung Monika , Rochow Hannah , Stephan Carsten , Erbersdobler Andreas , Kilic Ergin , Fendler Annika , Jung Klaus
Published: September 2019

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) may act as novel cancer biomarkers. However, a genome-wide evaluation of circRNAs in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has yet to be conducted. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and validate circRNAs in ccRCC tissue with a focus to evaluate their potential as prognostic biomarkers. A genome-wide identification of circRNAs in total RNA extracted from ccRCC tissue samples was performed using microarray analysis. Three relevant differentially expressed circRNAs were selected (circEGLN3, circNOX4, and circRHOBTB3), their circular nature was experimentally confirmed, and their expression—along with that of their linear counterparts—was measured in 99 malignant and 85 adjacent normal tissue samples using specifically established RT-qPCR assays. The capacity of circRNAs to discriminate between malignant and adjacent normal tissue samples and their prognostic potential (with the endpoints cancer-specific, recurrence-free, and overall survival) after surgery were estimated by C-statistics, Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, decision curve analysis, and Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. CircEGLN3 discriminated malignant from normal tissue with 97% accuracy. We generated a prognostic for the three endpoints by multivariate Cox regression analysis that included circEGLN3, circRHOBT3 and linRHOBTB3. The predictive outcome accuracy of the clinical models based on clinicopathological factors was improved in combination with this circRNA-based signature. Bootstrapping as well as Akaike and Bayesian information criteria confirmed the statistical significance and robustness of the combined models. Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and the lack of external validation. The study demonstrated the promising potential of circRNAs as diagnostic and particularly prognostic biomarkers in ccRCC patients.
The YAP1–NMU Axis Is Associated with Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Poor Outcome: Identification of a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target
Authors: Yoo Wonbeak , Lee Jaemin , Jun Eunsung , Noh Kyung Hee , Lee Sangmin , Jung Dana , Jung Kwang Hwa , Kim Ji-Su , Park Yun-Yong , Kim Song Cheol , Kim Seokho
Published: September 2019

Yes-associated protein (YAP)-1 is highly upregulated in pancreatic cancer and associated with tumor progression. However, little is known about the role of YAP1 and related genes in pancreatic cancer. Here, we identified target genes regulated by YAP1 and explored their role in pancreatic cancer progression and the related clinical implications. Analysis of different pancreatic cancer databases showed that Neuromedin U (NMU) expression was positively correlated with YAP1 expression in the tumor group. The Cancer Genome Atlas data indicated that high YAP1 and NMU expression levels were associated with poor mean and overall survival. YAP1 overexpression induced NMU expression and transcription and promoted cell motility in vitro and tumor metastasis in vivo via upregulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas specific inhibition of NMU in cells stably expressing YAP1 had the opposite effect in vitro and in vivo. To define this functional association, we identified a transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) binding site in the NMU promoter and demonstrated that YAP1–TEAD binding upstream of the NMU gene regulated its transcription. These results indicate that the identified positive correlation between YAP1 and NMU is a potential novel drug target and biomarker in metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The Incomplete Puzzle of the BCL2 Proteins
Authors: Flores-Romero Hector , García-Sáez Ana J.
Published: September 2019

The proteins of the BCL2 family are key players in multiple cellular processes, chief amongst them being the regulation of mitochondrial integrity and apoptotic cell death. These proteins establish an intricate interaction network that expands both the cytosol and the surface of organelles to dictate the cell fate. The complexity and unpredictability of the BCL2 interactome resides in the large number of family members and of interaction surfaces, as well as on their different behaviours in solution and in the membrane. Although our current structural knowledge of the BCL2 proteins has been proven therapeutically relevant, the precise structure of membrane-bound complexes and the regulatory effect that membrane lipids exert over these proteins remain key questions in the field. Here, we discuss the complexity of BCL2 interactome, the new insights, and the black matter in the field.
Piezoresistive Characteristics of Nylon Thread Resistive Memories for Wearable Strain Sensors
Authors: Kang Ting-Kuo
Published: September 2019

A nylon thread (NT) resistive memory is fabricated by performing a simple dip-and-dry solution process using graphene–poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive ink. The piezoresistive characteristics of the NT resistive memory are further evaluated for wearable strain sensors. While a stretching strain (ε) is applied to the NT resistive memory, the relative resistance change of low-resistance state (LRS) is found to be higher than that of high-resistance state (HRS). This result implies that the contribution of the local overlapping interconnection change in graphene and PEDOT:PSS materials to the LRS resistance change is greater than that to the HRS resistance change. In addition, through many cycles of repeatedly stretching and releasing the LRS of the NT resistive memory at a fixed ε = 7.1%, a gauge factor of approximately 22 is measured and achieved for a highly sensitive and durable strain sensor. Finally, the actual integration of the NT resistive memory into textiles can provide resistive memory and piezoresistive sensor applications simultaneously for wearable electronic textiles.
The Synthesis of a Superhydrophobic and Thermal Stable Silica Coating via Sol-Gel Process
Authors: Vidal Karmele , Gómez Estíbaliz , Goitandia Amaia Martínez , Angulo-Ibáñez Adrián , Aranzabe Estíbaliz
Published: September 2019

A super-hydrophobic surface at a high temperature (400 °C) using the sol-gel method with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) as precursors has been obtained. The effects of the coatings’ ages, deposited times and thicknesses on the hydrophobicity of the silica coatings have been analysed. The morphology, chemical composition, thermal degradation and hydrophobicity of the resulting surfaces have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transfer infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), Thermogravimetry (TGA) and water contact angle (WCA) measurement. The results show that an average water contact angle of 149° after been cured at 400 °C for a coating aged for 5 days, and four deposition cycles using a dipping rate of 1000 mm/min was achieved.
Special Issue: Genomic Analyses of Avian Evolution
Authors: Houde Peter
Published: September 2019

“Genomic Analyses of Avian Evolution” is a “state of the art” showcase of the varied and rapidly evolving fields of inquiry enabled and driven by powerful new methods of genome sequencing and assembly as they are applied to some of the world’s most familiar and charismatic organisms—birds. The contributions to this Special Issue are as eclectic as avian genomics itself, but loosely interrelated by common underpinnings of phylogenetic inference, de novo genome assembly of non-model species, and genome organization and content.
Functional Cognitive Disorder: Diagnostic Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: Pennington Catherine , Ball Harriet , Swirski Marta
Published: September 2019

Functional cognitive disorder describes patients with persistent, troublesome subjective cognitive complaints that are inconsistent with a recognized disease process, and where significant discrepancies are found between subjective and objectively observed cognitive functioning. The etiology is heterogeneous and potentially related to underlying psychological factors. Making a diagnosis of functional cognitive disorder can be challenging and there is the potential for misdiagnosis of early-stage neurodegeneration. We compared neuropsychological findings in three groups: functional cognitive disorder (FCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and healthy controls. Participants were recruited from the ReMemBr Group Clinic, North Bristol NHS Trust, and via Join Dementia Research. Both the FCD and MCI groups showed elevated prospective and retrospective memory symptom scores. Performance on the Montreal cognitive assessment was equivalent in the FCD and MCI groups, both being impaired compared with the controls. The FCD group was younger than those with MCI. We discuss challenges and controversies in the diagnosis of functional cognitive disorder, alongside illustrative cases and proposals for areas of research priority.
Prediction of the Superficial Heat Source Parameters for TIG Heating Process Using FEM and ANN Modeling
Authors: Wróbel Joanna , Kulawik Adam
Published: September 2019

The basic problem of the numerical model’s quenching process is establishing the characteristics of the boundary conditions. The existing descriptions of the boundary conditions, which represent the parameters of equipment used in heat treatment processes, do not accurately reflect the actual process conditions. In the present study, the method of choice for superficial heat source parameters for TIG (tungsten inert gas) heating is modeled using artificial neural networks (ANN) and the finite element method (FEM). A comparison of the calculations obtained from the numerical model of non-steady state heat transfer with the results of the experimental studies is presented. The possibility of using ANN to compute the parameters of the boundary conditions for the heating treatment is analyzed. A multilayer feed-forward backpropagation network is developed and trained using value of temperature in the selected nodes obtained from numerical simulation.
A Nonvolatile Fractional Order Memristor Model and Its Complex Dynamics
Authors: Wu Jian , Wang Guangyi , Iu Herbert Ho-Ching , Shen Yiran , Zhou Wei
Published: September 2019

It is found that the fractional order memristor model can better simulate the characteristics of memristors and that chaotic circuits based on fractional order memristors also exhibit abundant dynamic behavior. This paper proposes an active fractional order memristor model and analyzes the electrical characteristics of the memristor via Power-Off Plot and Dynamic Road Map. We find that the fractional order memristor has continually stable states and is therefore nonvolatile. We also show that the memristor can be switched from one stable state to another under the excitation of appropriate voltage pulse. The volt–ampere hysteretic curves, frequency characteristics, and active characteristics of integral order and fractional order memristors are compared and analyzed. Based on the fractional order memristor and fractional order capacitor and inductor, we construct a chaotic circuit, of which the dynamic characteristics with respect to memristor’s parameters, fractional order α, and initial values are analyzed. The chaotic circuit has an infinite number of equilibrium points with multi-stability and exhibits coexisting bifurcations and coexisting attractors. Finally, the fractional order memristor-based chaotic circuit is verified by circuit simulations and DSP experiments.
Online Signature Analysis for Characterizing Early Stage Alzheimer’s Disease: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Wang Zelong , Abazid Majd , Houmani Nesma , Garcia-Salicetti Sonia , Rigaud Anne-Sophie
Published: September 2019

We aimed to explore the online signature modality for characterizing early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A few studies have explored this modality, whereas many on online handwriting have been published. We focused on the analysis of raw temporal functions acquired by the digitizer on signatures produced during a simulated check-filling task. Sample entropy was exploited to measure the information content in raw time sequences. We show that signatures of early-stage AD patients have lower information content than those of healthy persons, especially in the time sequences of pen pressure and pen altitude angle with respect to the tablet. The combination of entropy values on two signatures for each person was classified with two linear classifiers often used in the literature: support vector machine and linear discriminant analysis. The improvements in sensitivity and specificity were significant with respect to the a priori group probabilities in our population of AD patients and healthy subjects. We show that altitude angle, when combined with pen pressure, conveys crucial information on the wrist-hand-finger system during signature production for pathology detection.
An Effective Bearing Fault Diagnosis Technique via Local Robust Principal Component Analysis and Multi-Scale Permutation Entropy
Authors: Ge Mao , Lv Yong , Zhang Yi , Yi Cancan , Ma Yubo
Published: September 2019

The acquired bearing fault signal usually reveals nonlinear and non-stationary nature. Moreover, in the actual environment, some other interference components and strong background noise are unavoidable, which lead to the fault feature signal being weak. Considering the above issues, an effective bearing fault diagnosis technique via local robust principal component analysis (LRPCA) and multi-scale permutation entropy (MSPE) was introduced in this paper. Robust principal component analysis (RPCA) has proven to be a powerful de-noising method, which can extract a low-dimensional submanifold structure representing signal feature from the signal trajectory matrix. However, RPCA can only handle single-component signal. Therefore, in order to suppress background noise, an improved RPCA method named LRPCA is proposed to decompose the signal into several single-components. Since MSPE can efficiently evaluate the dynamic complexity and randomness of the signals under different scales, the fault-related single-components can be identified according the MPSE characteristic of the signals. Thereafter, these identified components are combined into a one-dimensional signal to represent the fault feature component for further diagnosis. The numerical simulation experimentation and the analysis of bearing outer race fault data both verified the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Generic Ontology of Energy Consumption Households
Authors: Kott Joanna , Kott Marek
Published: September 2019

The smart concept has changed both household electrical systems (smart home) and the whole electric power system (smart grid). It has facilitated much more efficient electrical energy management. Therefore, there is a need to develop a detailed model and knowledge base at the micro-system level, which can respond to changes in the electric power system. Extensive knowledge (know-how), large financial outlays, and access to modern technologies are necessary in order to design and build a functional smart grid. The first installations were made in highly developed countries. Currently, a significant proportion of newly built power installations in Europe have the features of a smart grid type. Developing countries, such as Poland, should benefit from the experience of other countries in the process of building modern installations. The article addresses the energy performance of a household and the ontology of a household micro-system, while taking into account the possibility of it being controlled via energy management systems (EMS).
Effect of Acid/Ethanol Ratio on Medium Chain Carboxylate Production with Different VFAs as the Electron Acceptor: Insight into Carbon Balance and Microbial Community
Authors: Bao Shuai , Wang Qingyan , Zhang Panyue , Zhang Qi , Wu Yan , Li Fan , Tao Xue , Wang Siqi , Nabi Mohammad , Zhou Yazhou
Published: September 2019

Medium chain carboxylates (MCCs) are important precursors for biodiesel production. Using chain elongation to produce MCCs is an emerging bioenergy technology. In this study, batch tests were conducted to investigate fermentative MCC production through chain elongation from acetate, propionate, n-butyrate, and ethanol. The effect of the acid/ethanol ratio on MCC production by mixed culture was investigated. Better MCC production, especially n-caproate production, was achieved at optimal acid/ethanol ratios of 1:4, 1:3, and 1:2 with acetate, propionate, and n-butyrate as the electron acceptor, respectively. The n-caproate concentration was high, up to 41.54 mmol/L, and the highest n-caproate production efficiency was 57.96% with the n-butyrate/ethanol ratio of 1:2. The higher concentration of ethanol might stimulate the growth of chain elongation bacteria to promote chain elongation. The highest MCC production efficiency with different electron acceptors corresponded to less carbon loss and a higher chain elongation degree. In addition, with the optimal acid/ethanol ratio, the substrate was maximally utilized for chain elongation. The microbial community analysis confirmed the carbon balance analysis with the maximum relative abundance of 52.66–60.55% of the n-caproate producer Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12 enriched by the optimal acid/ethanol ratios with different volatile fatty acids (VFAs) as electron acceptors.