bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone-Loaded, PEGylated, Vertically Aligned, Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Potential Ischemic Stroke Intervention
Authors: Komane Patrick P. , Kumar Pradeep , Marimuthu Thashree , Toit Lisa C. du , Kondiah Pierre P. D. , Choonara Yahya E. , Pillay Viness
Published: June 2018

The complete synthesis, optimization, purification, functionalization and evaluation of vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) was reported for potential application in dexamethasone delivery to the ischemic brain tissue. The conditions for high yield were optimized and carbon nanotubes functionalized and PEGylated prior to dexamethasone loading. Morphological changes were confirmed by SEM and TEM. Addition of functional groups to MWCNTs was demonstrated by FTIR. Thermal stability reduced following MWCNTs functionalization as demonstrated in TGA. The presence of carbon at 2θ of 25° and iron at 2θ of 45° in MWCNTs was illustrated by XRD. Polydispersive index and zeta potential were found to be 0.261 and −15.0 mV, respectively. Dexamethasone release increased by 55%, 65% and 95% in pH of 7.4, 6.5 and 5.5 respectively as evaluated by UV-VIS. The functionalized VA-MWCNTs were demonstrated to be less toxic in PC-12 cells in the concentration range from 20 to 20,000 µg/mL. These findings have demonstrated the potential of VA-MWCNTs in the enhancement of fast and prolonged release of dexamethasone which could lead to the effective treatment of ischemic stroke. More work is under way for targeting ischemic sites using atrial natriuretic peptide antibody in stroke rats.
High Electrochemical Performance Phosphorus-Oxide Modified Graphene Electrode for Redox Supercapacitors Prepared by One-Step Electrochemical Exfoliation
Authors: Zu Lei , Gao Xing , Lian Huiqin , Cai Xiaomin , Li Ce , Zhong Ying , Hao Yicheng , Zhang Yifan , Gong Zheng , Liu Yang , Wang Xiaodong , Cui Xiuguo
Published: June 2018

Phosphorus oxide modified graphene was prepared by one-step electrochemical anodic exfoliation method and utilized as electrode in a redox supercapacitor that contained potassium iodide in electrolytes. The whole preparation process was completed in a few minutes and the yield was about 37.2%. The prepared sample has better electrocatalysis activity for I−/I−3 redox reaction than graphite due to the good charge transfer performance between phosphorus oxide and iodide ions. The maximum discharge specific capacitance is 1634.2 F/g when the current density is 3.5 mA/cm2 and it can keep at 463 F/g after 500 charging–discharging cycles when the current density increased about three times.
Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Electrothermal Self-Healing Microcapsules with Graphene/Polymer Hybrid Shells for Bitumenious Material
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Guo Yandong , Su Junfeng , Zhang Xiaolong , Wang Yingyuan , Tan Yiqiu
Published: June 2018

Self-healing bituminous material has been a hot research topic in self-healing materials, and this smart self-healing approach is a promising a revolution in pavement material technology. Bitumen has a self-healing naturality relating to temperature, healing time, and aging degree. To date, heat induction and microencapsulation rejuvenator are two feasible approaches, which have been put into real applications. However, both methods have disadvantages limiting their practical results and efficiency. It will be an ideal method combining the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages of the above two methods at the same time. The aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize electrothermal self-healing microcapsules containing bituminous rejuvenator with graphene/organic nanohybrid structure shells. The microcapsules owned electric conductivity capability because of the advent of graphene, and realized the self-healing through the two approaches of heat induction and rejuvenation. The microcapsule shells were fabricated using a strength hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) resin and graphene by two-step hybrid polymerization. Experimental tests were carried out to character the morphology, integrity, and shell structure. It was found that the electric charge balance determined the graphene/HMMM microstructure. The graphene content in shells could not be greatly increased under an electrostatic balance in emulsion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicated that the graphene had deposited on shells. TGA/DTG tests implied that the thermal decomposition temperature of microcapsules with graphene had increased to about 350 °C. The thermal conductivity of microcapsules had been sharply increased to about 8.0 W/m2·K with 2.0 wt % graphene in shells. At the same time, electrical resistivity of microcapsules/bitumen samples had a decrease with more graphene in bitumen.
Re: Jones et al., Nutrients 2018, 10, 501
Authors: Lawrence Mark , Woods Julie
Published: June 2018

We read with interest the paper by Jones et al. [1] [...]
A Novel Biomimetic Tool for Assessing Vitamin K Status Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers
Authors: Eersels Kasper , Diliën Hanne , Lowdon Joseph W. , Steen Redeker Erik , Rogosic Renato , Heidt Benjamin , Peeters Marloes , Cornelis Peter , Lux Petra , Reutelingsperger Chris P. , Schurgers Leon J. , Cleij Thomas J. , Van Grinsven Bart
Published: June 2018

Vitamin K was originally discovered as a cofactor required to activate clotting factors and has recently been shown to play a key role in the regulation of soft tissue calcification. This property of vitamin K has led to an increased interest in novel methods for accurate vitamin K detection. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) could offer a solution, as they have been used as synthetic receptors in a large variety of biomimetic sensors for the detection of similar molecules over the past few decades, because of their robust nature and remarkable selectivity. In this article, the authors introduce a novel imprinting approach to create a MIP that is able to selectively rebind vitamin K1. As the native structure of the vitamin does not allow for imprinting, an alternative imprinting strategy was developed, using the synthetic compound menadione (vitamin K3) as a template. Target rebinding was analyzed by means of UV-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy and two custom-made thermal readout techniques. This analysis reveals that the MIP-based sensor reacts to an increasing concentration of both menadione and vitamin K1. The Limit of Detection (LoD) for both compounds was established at 700 nM for the Heat Transfer Method (HTM), while the optimized readout approach, Thermal Wave Transport Analysis (TWTA), displayed an increased sensitivity with a LoD of 200 nM. The sensor seems to react to a lesser extent to Vitamin E, the analogue under study. To further demonstrate its potential application in biochemical research, the sensor was used to measure the absorption of vitamin K in blood serum after taking vitamin K supplements. By employing a gradual enrichment strategy, the sensor was able to detect the difference between baseline and peak absorption samples and was able to quantify the vitamin K concentration in good agreement with a validation experiment using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). In this way, the authors provide a first proof of principle for a low-cost, straightforward, and label-free vitamin K sensor.
Effects of Glucose with Casein Peptide Supplementation on Post-Exercise Muscle Glycogen Resynthesis in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Matsunaga Yutaka , Sakata Yasuyuki , Yago Takumi , Nakamura Hirohiko , Shimizu Takashi , Takeda Yasuhiro
Published: June 2018

Numerous studies have reported that post-exercise ingestion of carbohydrates with protein supplementation can enhance glycogen recovery. However, few reports have focused on the degrees of degradation of the ingested proteins due to post-exercise glycogen resynthesis. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to clarify the effects of differences in protein degradation on muscle glycogen recovery. Male seven-week-old C57BL/6J mice performed a single bout of 60-min treadmill running exercise and were then orally administered glucose (Glu; 1.5 mg/g body weight (BW)), glucose with casein peptide (Glu + Pep; 1.5 + 0.5 mg/g BW) or its constituent amino acid mixture (Glu + AA; 1.5 + 0.5 mg/g BW). At 120 min after supplementation, the soleus muscle glycogen content in the Glu and Glu + AA groups was significantly higher than that immediately after exercise; however, no such difference was observed in the Glu + Pep group. Blood substrate concentration and insulin signaling did not differ among the three groups. Furthermore, energy expenditure during the recovery period in the Glu + Pep group was significantly higher than that in the Glu and Glu + AA groups. These findings suggest that post-exercise co-ingestion of glucose and casein peptide might delay glycogen resynthesis, at least in part through increased energy expenditure caused by casein peptide ingestion.
Protective Effects of Peucedanum japonicum Extract against Osteoarthritis in an Animal Model Using a Combined Systems Approach for Compound-Target Prediction
Authors: Chun Jin Mi , Lee A Yeong , Kim Joong Sun , Choi Goya , Kim Seung-Hyung
Published: June 2018

Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg is an herbal medicine used to treat neuralgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory-related diseases. However, its effects on osteoarthritis (OA) and its regulatory mechanisms have not been investigated by network analysis. Here, we investigated the pharmacological effects of Peucedanum japonicum extract (PJE) on OA, by combining in vivo effective verification and network pharmacology prediction. Rats in which OA was induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) were treated with PJE (200 mg/kg), and histopathological parameters, weight bearing distribution and inflammatory factors in serum and joint tissue were measured after 28 days of treatment. Additionally, in silico network analysis was used to predict holistic OA regulatory mechanisms of PJE. The results showed that PJE exerted potential protective effects by recovering hind paw weight bearing distribution, alleviating histopathological features of cartilage and inhibiting inflammatory mediator levels in the OA rat model. Furthermore, network analysis identified caspase-3 (CASP3), caspase-7 (CASP7), and cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) as potential target genes; in addition, the TNF (Tumor necrosis factor) signaling pathway was linked to OA therapeutic action. Our combined animal OA model and network analysis confirmed the therapeutic effects of PJE against OA and identified intracellular signaling pathways, active compounds and target genes linked to its therapeutic action.
Synthesis, Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Molecular Docking Studies of the 7-Acetamido Substituted 2-Aryl-5-bromo-3-trifluoroacetylindoles as Potential Inhibitors of Tubulin Polymerization
Authors: Mphahlele Malose J. , Parbhoo Nishal
Published: June 2018

The 3-trifluoroacetyl–substituted 7-acetamido-2-aryl-5-bromoindoles 5a–h were prepared and evaluated for potential antigrowth effect in vitro against human lung cancer (A549) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells and for the potential to inhibit tubulin polymerization. The corresponding intermediates, namely, the 3-unsubstituted 7-acetyl-2-aryl-5-bromoindole 2a–d and 7-acetamido-2-aryl-5-bromoindole 4a–d were included in the assays in order to correlate both structural variations and cytotoxicity. No cytotoxicity was observed for compounds 2a–d and their 3-trifluoroacetyl–substituted derivatives 5a–d against both cell lines. The 7-acetamido derivatives 4–d exhibited modest cytotoxicity against both cell lines. All of the 3-trifluoroacetyl–substituted 7-acetamido-2-aryl-5-bromoindoles 5e–h were found to be more active against both cell lines when compared to the chemotherapeutic drug, Melphalan. The most active compound, 5g, induced programmed cell death (apoptosis) in a caspase-dependent manner for both A549 and HeLa cells. Compounds 5e–h were found to significantly inhibit tubulin polymerization against indole-3-carbinol and colchicine as reference standards. Molecular docking of 5g into the colchicine-binding site suggests that the compounds bind to tubulin by different type of interactions including pi-alkyl, amide-pi stacked and alkyl interactions as well as hydrogen bonding with the protein residues to elicit anticancer activity.
Use of Irradiated Polymers after Their Lifetime Period
Authors: Manas David , Manas Miroslav , Mizera Ales , Navratil Jan , Ovsik Martin , Tomanova Katarina , Sehnalek Stanislav
Published: June 2018

This article deals with the study of the utilisation of irradiated HDPE products after their end-of-life cycle. Today, polymer waste processing is a matter of evermore intensive discussion. Common thermoplastic waste recycling—especially in the case of wastes with a defined composition—is generally well-known—and frequently used. On the contrary, processing cross-linked plastics is impossible to do in the same way as with virgin thermoplastics—mainly due to the impossibility of remelting them. The possibility of using waste in the form of grit or a powder, made from cross-linked High Density PolyEthylene (rHDPEx) products, after their end-of-life cycle, as a filler for virgin Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE) was tested in a matrix. It was found that both the mechanical behaviour and processability of new composites with an LDPE matrix, with rHDPEx as a filler, depend—to a high degree—on the amount of the filler. The composite can be processed up to 60% of the filler content. The Polymer Mixture Fluidity dropped significantly, in line with the amount of filler, while the mechanical properties, on the other hand, predominantly grew with the increasing amount of rHDPEx.
Green Binder Based on Enzymatically Polymerized Eucalypt Kraft Lignin for Fiberboard Manufacturing: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Gouveia Susana , Otero Luis Alberto , Fernández-Costas Carmen , Filgueira Daniel , Sanromán Ángeles , Moldes Diego
Published: June 2018

The capability of laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila to drive oxidative polymerization of Eucalyptus globulus Kraft lignin (KL) was studied as a previous step before applying this biotechnological approach for the manufacturing of medium-density fiberboards (MDF) at a pilot scale. This method, which improves the self-bonding capacity of wood fibers by lignin enzymatic cross-linking, mimics the natural process of lignification in living plants and trees. An interesting pathway to promote these interactions could be the addition of lignin to the system. The characterization of E. globulus KL after enzymatic treatment showed a decrease of phenolic groups as well as the aromatic protons without loss of aromaticity. There was also an extensive oxidative polymerization of the biomolecule. In the manufacture of self-bonded MDF, the synergy generated by the added lignin and laccase provided promising results. Thus, whenever laccase was present in the treatment, MDF showed an increase in mechanical and dimensional stability for increasing amounts of lignin. In a pilot scale, this method produced MDF that meets the requirements of the European standards for both thickness swell (TS) and internal bonding (IB) for indoor applications.
Dual Stimuli-Responsive P(NIPAAm-co-SPA) Copolymers: Synthesis and Response in Solution and in Films
Authors: Grimm Oliver , Schacher Felix
Published: June 2018

We present the synthesis and solution properties of dual stimuli-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-spiropyran acrylate) (P(NIPAAm-co-SPA)) copolymers of varying composition prepared via nitroxide-mediated copolymerization. The resulting copolymers feature molar masses from 40,000 to 100,000 g/mol according to static light scattering and an SPA content of up to 5.3%. The latter was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy. These materials exhibit reversible response upon irradiation in polymeric films for a minimum of three cycles; their response in solution to both light and temperature was also investigated in an aqueous TRIS buffer (pH 8). Irradiation was carried out using LED setups with wavelengths of 365 and 590 nm. In aqueous solution, a custom-made setup using a fiber-coupled 200 W Hg(Xe) lamp with 340 and 540 nm filters was used and additional heating of the copolymer solutions during irradiation allowed to study influence of the presence of either the spiropyran or merocyanine form on the cloud point temperature. Hereby, it was found that increasing the SPA content leads to a more pronounced difference between both states and decreasing cloud points in general.
Applying High-Resolution Imagery to Evaluate Restoration-Induced Changes in Stream Condition, Missouri River Headwaters Basin, Montana
Authors: Vanderhoof Melanie K. , Burt Clifton
Published: June 2018

Degradation of streams and associated riparian habitat across the Missouri River Headwaters Basin has motivated several stream restoration projects across the watershed. Many of these projects install a series of beaver dam analogues (BDAs) to aggrade incised streams, elevate local water tables, and create natural surface water storage by reconnecting streams with their floodplains. Satellite imagery can provide a spatially continuous mechanism to monitor the effects of these in-stream structures on stream surface area. However, remote sensing-based approaches to map narrow (e.g., <5 m wide) linear features such as streams have been under-developed relative to efforts to map other types of aquatic systems, such as wetlands or lakes. We mapped pre- and post-restoration (one to three years post-restoration) stream surface area and riparian greenness at four stream restoration sites using Worldview-2 and 3 images as well as a QuickBird-2 image. We found that panchromatic brightness and eCognition-based outputs (0.5 m resolution) provided high-accuracy maps of stream surface area (overall accuracy ranged from 91% to 99%) for streams as narrow as 1.5 m wide. Using image pairs, we were able to document increases in stream surface area immediately upstream of BDAs as well as increases in stream surface area along the restoration reach at Robb Creek, Alkali Creek and Long Creek (South). Although Long Creek (North) did not show a net increase in stream surface area along the restoration reach, we did observe an increase in riparian greenness, suggesting increased water retention adjacent to the stream. As high-resolution imagery becomes more widely collected and available, improvements in our ability to provide spatially continuous monitoring of stream systems can effectively complement more traditional field-based and gage-based datasets to inform watershed management.
Satellite-Based Evaluation of the Post-Fire Recovery Process from the Worst Forest Fire Case in South Korea
Authors: Ryu Jae-Hyun , Han Kyung-Soo , Hong Sungwook , Park No-Wook , Lee Yang-Won , Cho Jaeil
Published: June 2018

The worst forest fire in South Korea occurred in April 2000 on the eastern coast. Forest recovery works were conducted until 2005, and the forest has been monitored since the fire. Remote sensing techniques have been used to detect the burned areas and to evaluate the recovery-time point of the post-fire processes during the past 18 years. We used three indices, Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Gross Primary Production (GPP), to temporally monitor a burned area in terms of its moisture condition, vegetation biomass, and photosynthetic activity, respectively. The change of those three indices by forest recovery processes was relatively analyzed using an unburned reference area. The selected unburned area had similar characteristics to the burned area prior to the forest fire. The temporal patterns of NBR and NDVI, not only showed the forest recovery process as a result of forest management, but also statistically distinguished the recovery periods at the regions of low, moderate, and high fire severity. The NBR2.1 for all areas, calculated using 2.1 μm wavelengths, reached the unburned state in 2008. The NDVI for areas with low and moderate fire severity levels became significantly equal to the unburned state in 2009 (p > 0.05), but areas with high severity levels did not reach the unburned state until 2017. This indicated that the surface and vegetation moisture conditions recovered to the unburned state about 8 years after the fire event, while vegetation biomass and health required a longer time to recover, particularly for high severity regions. In the case of GPP, it rapidly recovered after about 3 years. Then, the steady increase in GPP surpassed the GPP of the reference area in 2015 because of the rapid growth and high photosynthetic activity of young forests. Therefore, the concluding scientific message is that, because the recovery-time point for each component of the forest ecosystem is different, using only one satellite-based indicator will not be suitable to understand the post-fire recovery process. NBR, NDVI, and GPP can be combined. Further studies will require more approaches using various terms of indices.
High-Resolution Remote Sensing Image Classification Method Based on Convolutional Neural Network and Restricted Conditional Random Field
Authors: Pan Xin , Zhao Jian
Published: June 2018

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can adapt to more complex data, extract deeper characteristics from images, and achieve higher classification accuracy in remote sensing image scene classification and object detection compared to traditional shallow-model methods. However, directly applying common-structure CNNs to pixel-based remote sensing image classification will lead to boundary or outline distortions of the land cover and consumes enormous computation time in the image classification stage. To solve this problem, we propose a high-resolution remote sensing image classification method based on CNN and the restricted conditional random field algorithm (CNN-RCRF). CNN-RCRF adopts CNN superpixel classification instead of pixel-based classification and uses the restricted conditional random field algorithm (RCRF) to refine the superpixel result image into a pixel-based result. The proposed method not only takes advantage of the classification ability of CNNs but can also avoid boundary or outline distortions of the land cover and greatly reduce computation time in classifying images. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested with two high-resolution remote sensing images, and the experimental results show that the CNN-RCRF outperforms the existing traditional methods in terms of overall accuracy, and CNN-RCRF’s computation time is much less than that of traditional pixel-based deep-model methods.
Pilot-Scale Anaerobic Co-Digestion of the OFMSW: Improving Biogas Production and Startup
Authors: Stan Constantin , Collaguazo Gerardo , Streche Constantin , Apostol Tiberiu , Cocarta Diana
Published: June 2018

This paper presents experimental results regarding anaerobic co-digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and fruit and vegetable waste in order to establish the efficiency of a 2 m3 volume pilot plant in terms of biogas and methane yield and stability of the process. The research study presents the feasibility of developing anaerobic digestion as an effective method for municipal solid waste management. The experiments were conducted in mesophilic conditions (35 °C). Domestic waste water was used as inoculum. The results showed that the inoculum presence, temperature, and pH control, were essential in order to improve biogas production and its composition. Using liquid inoculum, the CH4 percentage in the biogas oscillated between 44% and 51%, and the biogas production from 0.504 and 0.6 m3/day. Compared to domestic waste water, animal manure increased the CH4 concentration in biogas (up to 63%), while the daily biogas production increased by 26% and varied from 0.693 to 0.786 m3. The cumulative biogas production at the end of the experiments were 11.7 m3 and 15.89 m3, respectively. Using inoculum and co-digestion, the plant startup time was significantly reduced, the total solids content decreased from 22.7% to 19.8%, while the volatile solids decreased from 37.6% to 31.2%.
‘They had to Go’: Indian Older Adults’ Experiences of Rationalizing and Compensating the Absence of Migrant Children
Authors: Bailey Ajay , Hallad Jyoti , James K. S.
Published: June 2018

In transnational families, it is often the older adults who are left-behind or choose to stay behind. Currently the population aged 60 years and older in India constitutes over 7 percent of the total population (1.25 billion) and is projected to triple in the next four decades. In the past family has been the major source of support in later life. One of the consequences of increased mobility is the decreasing role of family in care provision. The Indian middle-class norms on higher education, which stressed on engineering and medicine, have resulted in professionally educated children leaving the parental home to seek work and thus family life in other geographical locations. In this paper we examine how transregional and transnational mobilities and the resulting absences impact the lives of older adults. We draw upon 37 in-depth interviews conducted in Dharwad district of Karnataka, India. The results show that older adults employ two strategies of rationalizing absence and compensating absence of migrant children. These strategies reflect the resilience of the older adults to make sense of this trans-local family life, that in a previous generation they were not aware of.
A Running Start or a Clean Slate? How a History of Cooperation Affects the Ability of Cities to Cooperate on Environmental Governance
Authors: Mu Rui , Spekkink Wouter
Published: June 2018

Since 2013, the Chinese central government has pushed cooperation on environmental governance in Urban Agglomerations (UAs). In some of these UAs, cities have previously been developing environmental governance activities autonomously, in the absence of inter-city cooperation, while on others, spontaneous cooperation has previously taken place. These differences in historical context provide us with an opportunity to study, in a comparative way, how a history of cooperation influences the effectiveness of inter-city cooperation on environmental governance. Our approach to carrying out this comparison is to reconstruct the trajectories of events that describe the evolution of environmental governance in two UAs (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta), covering the period from the early 90s to 2016. The main findings of this study are that the trajectory of environmental governance in a historical context of prior spontaneous cooperation is more effective in achieving goal intertwinement than that in a historical context of no prior cooperation; and that informal forms of cooperation, along with decentralized coordination by local actors, are critical and more influential in bringing about more effective cooperation. On the other hand, in a historical context of no prior cooperation there is an opportunity to design a cooperative structure from scratch; in this process attention should be paid to the creation of an equal playing ground, with balanced costs and benefits for all partners. By contrast, cooperation on environmental governance in a context where there is a history of spontaneous cooperation the central government can still play a role in the further facilitation of cooperation.
Investigation of the Relationship among University–Research Institute–Industry Innovations Using a Coupling Coordination Degree Model
Authors: Li Jing , Fang Hong , Fang Siran , Siddika Sultana Easmin
Published: June 2018

With the socio-economic development in China, the central government pays more and more attention to innovations. Universities, research institutes, and industries (URI) are the main bodies of innovation. Therefore, in order to perform sustainable development of innovation, it is essential for Chinese policy makers to better understand the relationship among URI innovations. In this paper, indicators for evaluating URI innovations are collected, which are classified into three subsystems. Utilizing regional data from 2009–2015 in China, the entropy method is subsequently used to examine the contribution of indicators to the relative innovation subsystems. Then, a coupling coordination degree model is developed based on the physical concept “coupling” to investigate the relationship of URI innovation subsystems in China. The results reveal that in the period of study: (1) research and development (R&D) input and output indicators are both important to the regional innovation levels of URI, namely, they are critical for improving the coupling coordination degree among the three innovation subsystems; (2) There is an increasing trend of the coupling coordination of URI innovation system in China; however, the gap between regions/provinces becomes larger due to different innovative resource endowments and socio-economic development conditions. The results shown in this paper can provide important implications for policy makers to obtain the sustainable development of URI innovation subsystems in China.
Enhancement of E-Commerce Websites with Semantic Web Technologies
Authors: Necula Sabina-Cristiana , Păvăloaia Vasile-Daniel , Strîmbei Cătălin , Dospinescu Octavian
Published: June 2018

This paper analyses the potential enhancement of e-commerce websites with Semantic web technologies from the consumers’ informational perceived satisfaction point of view. Information quality is a central preoccupation in the field of business information systems’ discipline and it relates to the semantic interoperability field of research. The purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between the enhancement of product text descriptions with semantic annotations and the perceived consumers’ satisfaction. We conducted and analyzed a survey questionnaire addressed to e-commerce consumers who bought online products. We found that consumers are interested in finding products with synonym names or that belong to different categories, not necessarily from the same category of products. In addition, consumers are interested about additional text descriptions on different product characteristics and on information about the importance of product characteristics. The main conclusion is that the perceived satisfaction of the online consumers is influenced by an enhanced user experience that relates to specific Semantic web technologies.
Membrane Repair Mechanisms against Permeabilization by Pore-Forming Toxins
Authors: Etxaniz Asier , González-Bullón David , Martín César , Ostolaza Helena
Published: June 2018

Permeabilization of the plasma membrane represents an important threat for any cell, since it compromises its viability by disrupting cell homeostasis. Numerous pathogenic bacteria produce pore-forming toxins that break plasma membrane integrity and cause cell death by colloid-osmotic lysis. Eukaryotic cells, in turn, have developed different ways to cope with the effects of such membrane piercing. Here, we provide a short overview of the general mechanisms currently proposed for plasma membrane repair, focusing more specifically on the cellular responses to membrane permeabilization by pore-forming toxins and presenting new data on the effects and cellular responses to the permeabilization by an RTX (repeats in toxin) toxin, the adenylate cyclase toxin-hemolysin secreted by the whooping cough bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which we have studied in the laboratory.
Resveratrol Ameliorates Microcystin-LR-Induced Testis Germ Cell Apoptosis in Rats via SIRT1 Signaling Pathway Activation
Authors: Liu Haohao , Zhang Shenshen , Liu Chuanrui , Wu Jinxia , Wang Yueqin , Yuan Le , Du Xingde , Wang Rui , Marwa Phelisters Wegesa , Zhuang Donggang , Cheng Xuemin , Zhang Huizhen
Published: June 2018

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a cyclic heptapeptide produced by cyanobacteria, is a strong reproductive toxin. Studies performed in rat Sertoli cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells have demonstrated typical apoptosis after MC-LR exposure. However, little is known on how to protect against the reproductive toxicity induced by MC-LR. The present study aimed to explore the possible molecular mechanism underlying the anti-apoptosis and protective effects of resveratrol (RES) on the co-culture of Sertoli–germ cells and rat testes. The results demonstrated that MC-LR treatment inhibited the proliferation of Sertoli–germ cells and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and Bcl-2 were inhibited, while p53 and Ku70 acetylation, Bax expression, and cleaved caspase-3 were upregulated by MC-LR. However, RES pretreatment ameliorated MC-LR-induced apoptosis and SIRT1 inhibition, and downregulated the MC-LR-induced increase in p53 and Ku70 acetylation, Bax expression, and caspase-3 activation. In addition, RES reversed the MC-LR-mediated reduction in Ku70 binding to Bax. The present study indicated that the administration of RES could ameliorate MC-LR-induced Sertoli–germ cell apoptosis and protect against reproductive toxicity in rats by stimulating the SIRT1/p53 pathway, suppressing p53 and Ku70 acetylation and enhancing the binding of Ku70 to Bax.
Basics of Antibody Phage Display Technology
Authors: Ledsgaard Line , Kilstrup Mogens , Karatt-Vellatt Aneesh , McCafferty John , Laustsen Andreas H.
Published: June 2018

Antibody discovery has become increasingly important in almost all areas of modern medicine. Different antibody discovery approaches exist, but one that has gained increasing interest in the field of toxinology and antivenom research is phage display technology. In this review, the lifecycle of the M13 phage and the basics of phage display technology are presented together with important factors influencing the success rates of phage display experiments. Moreover, the pros and cons of different antigen display methods and the use of naïve versus immunized phage display antibody libraries is discussed, and selected examples from the field of antivenom research are highlighted. This review thus provides in-depth knowledge on the principles and use of phage display technology with a special focus on discovery of antibodies that target animal toxins.
Genetic Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses Detected in Spanish Assaf Sheep with Different Mammary Lesions
Authors: Gayo Elena , Cuteri Vincenzo , Polledo Laura , Rossi Giacomo , García Marín Juan F. , Preziuso Silvia
Published: June 2018

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread in many countries and cause economically relevant, slow, and persistent diseases in sheep and goats. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SRLVs is useful to improve the diagnostic tools used in the eradication programs. In this study, SRLVs detected in Spanish Assaf sheep with different grades of lymphoproliferative mastitis were sequenced. Genetic characterization showed that most samples belonged to type A and were closer to Spanish SRLV isolates previously classified as A2/A3. Four samples belonged to subtype B2 and showed higher homology with Italian B2 strains than with Spanish B2 isolates. Amino acid sequences of immuno-dominant epitopes in the gag region were very conserved while more alterations were found in the LTR sequences. No significant correlations were found between grades of mastitis and alterations in the sequences although samples with similar histological features were phylogenetically closer to each other. Broader genetic characterization surveys in samples with different grades of SRLV-lesions are required for evaluating potential correlations between SRLV sequences and the severity of diseases.
The First Isolation and Whole Genome Sequencing of Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus from Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient with Encephalitis
Authors: Russell Jessica S. , Caly Leon , Kostecki Renata , McGuinness Sarah L. , Carter Glen , Bulach Dieter , Seemann Torsten , Stinear Tim P. , Baird Rob , Catton Mike , Druce Julian
Published: June 2018

Murray Valley Encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus. Clinical presentation is rare but severe, with a case fatality rate of 15–30%. Here we report a case of MVEV from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient in the Northern Territory in Australia. Initial diagnosis was performed using both MVEV-specific real-time, and Pan-Flavivirus conventional, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), with confirmation by Sanger sequencing. Subsequent isolation, the first from CSF, was conducted in Vero cells and the observed cytopathic effect was confirmed by increasing viral titre in the real-time PCR. Isolation allowed for full genome sequencing using the Scriptseq V2 RNASeq library preparation kit. A consensus genome for VIDRL-MVE was generated and phylogenetic analysis identified it as Genotype 2. This is the first reported isolation, and full genome sequencing of MVEV from CSF. It is also the first time Genotype 2 has been identified in humans. As such, this case has significant implications for public health surveillance, epidemiology, and the understanding of MVEV evolution.
Single Session of Chiseling Tillage for Soil and Vegetation Restoration in Severely Degraded Shrublands
Authors: Stavi Ilan , Siegal Zehava , Drori Ben , Hyams Eran , Shafir Amir , Kamiski Yevgeni , Al-Ashhab Ashraf , Dorman Michael , Tsoar Asaf
Published: June 2018

While tillage of agricultural lands has been used extensively, its utilization for restoring degraded semi-natural lands is rare. This study was conducted in the arid southern Israel in a shrubland which has faced severe degradation processes over time, including soil erosion and compaction, and negation of vegetation recovery. In 2014, research plots were established for assessing the impact of a single chiseling session on the ecosystem’s restoration capacity. The study treatments included deep chiseling (35 cm), shallow chiseling (20 cm), and control (no-tillage). Data on spontaneously-established vegetation was collected one, two, and three years after the plots’ establishment, and soil data was collected once—three years after the plots’ establishment. Assessments of the vegetation parameters revealed a general similarity between the two chiseling treatments, which were generally better than those of the no-till plots. The soil properties revealed generally greater soil quality under the two chiseling treatments than that under the control plots, and a somewhat better soil quality for the deep chiseling than that for the shallow chiseling. Overall, results of this study show that in severely degraded lands, self-restoration processes are hindered, negating the effectiveness of passive restoration practices, and necessitating active intervention practices to stimulate restoration processes.
Beyond Eutrophication: Vancouver Lake, WA, USA as a Model System for Assessing Multiple, Interacting Biotic and Abiotic Drivers of Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms
Authors: Rollwagen-Bollens Gretchen , Lee Tammy , Rose Vanessa , Bollens Stephen M.
Published: June 2018

Eutrophication of lakes and reservoirs has contributed to an increase in the magnitude and frequency of harmful cyanobacterial blooms; however, the interactive effects of nutrient availability (eutrophication) and other abiotic and biotic drivers have rarely been comprehensively studied in the field. We undertook an eight-year (2005–2013) research program that assessed the interaction of multiple factors driving cyanobacterial blooms in Vancouver Lake, a large, shallow eutrophic lake in Washington, USA. Our program consisted of nearly continuous monthly or weekly monitoring of water quality and plankton community composition over eight years, as well as multiple zooplankton grazing experiments over three years. We found a relatively consistent seasonal succession of phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages, and a pattern of interacting factors influencing cyanobacterial bloom dynamics. Typically, a combined effect of decreased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N), a sudden increase of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (P), and a cascading effect of zooplankton grazing created a ‘perfect storm’ of conditions that promoted the rapid proliferation of cyanobacteria over the two to three weeks before a bloom. At the blooms’ peaks, cyanobacterial carbon biomass reached as high as 20 µg L−1, with total [chl a] often exceeding 750 µg L−1. In the weeks following the blooms’ peaks, [PO4-P] and [NH4-N] dropped and copepod feeding rates fell to near zero, whereas microzooplankton grazing rates reached their maxima. Microzooplankton grazing impact, combined with low nutrient availability, then drove down cyanobacteria abundance. Vancouver Lake serves as a model for understanding multiple, interacting drivers of cyanobacterial bloom dynamics in shallow, temperate lakes, and is therefore an important system in which to investigate new questions related to the science and management of harmful algal blooms.
Erratum: Worqlul, A.W.; et al. Impact of Climate Change on Streamflow Hydrology in Headwater Catchments of the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Water 2018, 10, 120
Authors: Worqlul Abeyou Wale , Dile Yihun Taddele , Ayana Essayas Kaba , Jeong Jaehak , Adem Anwar Assefa , Gerik Thomas
Published: June 2018

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [1]: The second author’s name should be changed from “Yihun Dile Taddele” to “Yihun Taddele Dile”[...]
Luther et ses conjoints : de quelques portraits peints du couple luthérien
Authors: Deschamp Marion
Published: June 2018

Si les portraits de Martin Luther foisonnent dans l’Empire dès 1519, ils ne sauraient se réduire in toto à de simples media publicitaires, destinés à soutenir une propagande prosélyte orchestrée par le Réformateur lui-même. L’exemple des doubles portraits de Luther et de son épouse, Katharina von Bora, peints par Lucas Cranach dès 1525, dévoile des enjeux de représentation plus complexes : ces effigies du couple défroqué s’insèrent certes dans la polémique sur le mariage des prêtres, mais agissent aussi, de manière intraconfessionnelle, comme coefficient d’identité, en imposant visuellement un nouvel ethos pastoral. Le remplacement du portrait de Katharina, dès 1532, par celui de Melanchthon, promu «nouveau conjoint » luthérien, et l’oubli du pendant féminin par la culture visuelle protestante, ainsi que sa captation malveillante par les polémistes catholiques, soulignent par ailleurs l’extrême labilité et l’évolution constante des stratégies de représentations confessionnelles.
La montée en puissance des affrontements dans l’Angleterre henricienne
Authors: Michon Cédric
Published: June 2018

Cet article aborde la question des tensions religieuses dans l’Église d’Angleterre sous le règne d’Henri VIII. S’il est vrai que les prélats d’Etat anglais s’efforcent de coller au mieux aux va-et-vient de la politique religieuse du roi, ils témoignent également d’un attachement très fort aux libertés et aux privilèges de l’Église d’Angleterre. Entre le roi et le pape, l’Église nationale et l’Église universelle, quelles fidélités guident le prélat d’Etat ? Il existe bien une double fidélité du prélat d’Etat anglais. Elle ne réside pas toutefois dans la concurrence exercée par l’autorité pontificale, mais dans l’attachement aux libertés de l’Église nationale. Pour elles, prélats et prélats d’Etat, jeunes et vieux, sont prêts à exposer si ce n’est leur vie, au moins leur avenir et leur carrière.
L’assassinat d’Henri IV. Un essai d’histoire immédiate
Authors: Cassan Michel
Published: June 2018

Événement relaté par des plumes stipendiées de la monarchie dès 1610, surinvesti par l’historiographie, la mort d’Henri IV comporte toujours quelques zones d’ombre qui contribuent à l’actualité récurrente du monarque. Mais ces études ont étonnamment oublié les Français, se contentant de reprendre les rares témoignages d’un Pierre de L’Estoile ou d’un auteur gagé tel Pierre Matthieu. La contribution a cherché, en mobilisant des sources primaires à répondre à une triple interrogation relative aux modalités de l’information politique, à la résolution d’une conflictualité renaissante et à la perception de l’autre – l’étranger, l’espagnol, le réformé -moins de quinze ans après la publication de l’édit de Nantes.
Paul Ferry et la mort du roi (1610-1612)
Authors: Léonard Julien
Published: June 2018

La mort dramatique d’Henri IV (14 mai 1610) a suscité de nombreuses réactions publiques, notamment une production poétique de circonstance. Parmi les poètes qui prennent la plume, le jeune étudiant en théologie de l’académie de Montauban, Paul Ferry, né à Metz, écrit des stances qui permettent d’étudier l’attachement des protestants, notamment messins, à la personne royale. Une fois devenu pasteur et revenu dans sa ville natale, Ferry montre le même loyalisme et l’exprime de diverses manières, notamment dans sa correspondance avec son oncle, procureur royal dans la cité.
Objet externalisé et objet vecteur de sens. De l’archéologie des périodes modernes à l’archéologie historique, un état de la question
Authors: Gelé Agnès
Published: June 2018

L’archéologie des périodes modernes est une discipline relativement récente en France qui s’est développée tout d’abord comme corollaire à l’archéologie préventive avant que des questionnements épistémologiques récents ne se fassent jour. Dans ce contexte spécifique, le rapport aux objets est particulier car il ne s’agit pas d’éléments dont la pérennité a été assurée et qui nous sont parvenus, mais d’objets du quotidien mis au jour dans des contextes d’abandon ou de rejet, le plus souvent brisés. L’objet est alors considéré par les archéologues comme étant de prime abord un élément que l’on peut externaliser afin de l’étudier dans une perspective systémique, les anthropologues s’intéressant aux objets en système, avant d’être envisagé comme un fait social, et les archéologues s’inscrivant alors dans la filiation des sociologues des années 1950 et 1960, mais aussi dans une perspective post-processuelle. Il s’agira d’interroger l’objet polysémique qu’est le verre à boire des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, variant à la fois dans sa forme et dans sa provenance, témoignage de phénomènes de modes traduisant des enjeux sociaux. Il s’agira également de se questionner sur le traitement réservé aux verres portant des décors et messages spécifiques, à caractère familial, politique et/ ou religieux, qui nous sont parvenus pour un certain nombre d’entre eux intacts et que l’on retrouve aujourd’hui dans les musées d’arts décoratifs, par opposition à la verrerie plus commune mise au jour en grand nombre sur divers sites archéologiques.
Tapisseries nomades et déplacements de sacralité dans l’espace paroissial parisien au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Gouzi Christine
Published: June 2018

Art somptuaire, la tapisserie était sous l’ancien régime un des éléments des décors éphémères princiers à la cour mais aussi dans l’espace urbain ; tissu plus commun, elle devenait un objet mobilier utilitaire dans un intérieur noble ou bourgeois. Or la tapisserie est souvent analysée selon ces deux fonctions principales, qui correspondent à une hiérarchie de sa qualité. Cependant, cette hiérarchie est souvent inopérante pour les tentures conservées au sein de l’église paroissiale et monastique aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècle, particulièrement à Paris. L’étude de l’usage de ces tapisseries dans le cadre paroissial, notamment pendant la Fête-Dieu, permet de comprendre la fonction nouvelle qu’occupe cet «objet » au XVIIIe siècle à la ville mais aussi à la cour. La tapisserie devient en effet à ce moment un objet essentiel de dispositifs extérieurs complexes, qui révèlent une imbrication nouvelle entre le pouvoir politique et religieux.