bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting the High-Performance Reconfigurable Computing for Future Datacenters
Authors: Ijaz Qaiser , Bourennane El-Bay , Bashir Ali Kashif , Asghar Hira
Published: April 2020

Modern datacenters are reinforcing the computational power and energy efficiency by assimilating field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The sustainability of this large-scale integration depends on enabling multi-tenant FPGAs. This requisite amplifies the importance of communication architecture and virtualization method with the required features in order to meet the high-end objective. Consequently, in the last decade, academia and industry proposed several virtualization techniques and hardware architectures for addressing resource management, scheduling, adoptability, segregation, scalability, performance-overhead, availability, programmability, time-to-market, security, and mainly, multitenancy. This paper provides an extensive survey covering three important aspects—discussion on non-standard terms used in existing literature, network-on-chip evaluation choices as a mean to explore the communication architecture, and virtualization methods under latest classification. The purpose is to emphasize the importance of choosing appropriate communication architecture, virtualization technique and standard language to evolve the multi-tenant FPGAs in datacenters. None of the previous surveys encapsulated these aspects in one writing. Open problems are indicated for scientific community as well.
Amino Acid Composition of Novel Plant Drinks from Oat, Lentil and Pea
Authors: Bonke Astrid , Sieuwerts Sander , Petersen Iben Lykke
Published: April 2020

Plant-based drinks (PBDs) as alternatives to milk is a fast-growing market in much of the western world, with the demand increasing every year. However, most PBDs from a single plant ingredient do not have an amino acid profile that matches human needs. Therefore, this study set out to combine plant ingredients to achieve a more balanced amino acid profile of novel plant drinks, by combining a high content of oat with the pulses pea (Pisum sativum) and lentil (Lens culinaris) in a solution. After removal of the sediment, the resulting plant drinks were composed of what could be kept in suspension. The amino acid and protein composition of the plant drinks were investigated with capillary electrophoresis, to identify the amino acids, and SDS-PAGE to assess the proteins present. The amino acid profile was compared against recommended daily intake (RDI). It was determined that the plant drinks with only oat and lentil did not have a strong amino acid profile, likely due to the higher pH of the lentil concentrate affecting which proteins could be kept in solution. Plant drinks with a combination of both lentil and pea, or only pea, added to the oat drink had an improved concentration of the amino acids that were otherwise in the low end compared to RDI. This includes a high content of phenylalanine, leucine and threonine, as well as a moderate amount of isoleucine, valine and methionine, and a contribution of histidine and lysine. An assessment of stability and sensory parameters was also conducted, concluding there was an advantage of combining oat with a legume, especially pea.
Enrichment of Mango Fruit Leathers with Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa) Improves Their Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Mphaphuli Tshudufhadzo , Manhivi Vimbainashe E. , Slabbert Retha , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Sivakumar Dharini
Published: April 2020

Natal plum fruit (Carissa macrocarpa) is indigenous to South Africa and a rich source of cyanidin derivatives. Indigenous fruits play a major role in food diversification and sustaining food security in the Southern African region. Agro-processing of indigenous are practiced adopted by the rural African communities in order to reduce the postharvest wastage of fruit commodities. In the current study, Natal plum was added to mango pulp at different ratios (mango and Natal plum (5:1, 3:1, 2:1)) to develop a healthy-functional snack (fruit leather). The effects of added Natal plum on the availability of antioxidant constituents and in vitro antioxidant properties of a mango-based fruit leather were evaluated by comparing with mango fruit leather. Fruit leather containing mango and Natal plum (2:1) retained the highest content of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside chloride, cyanidin- 3-O-β-sambubioside, epicatechin, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin-3-O-rhamnosyl glucoside, catechin, quinic, and chlorogenic acids, and in vitro antioxidant activity. Proximate analysis showed that 100 g of fruit leather (2:1) contained 63.51 g carbohydrate, 40.85 g total sugar, 0.36 g fat, and 269.88 cal. Therefore, enrichment of mango fruit leather with Natal plum (2:1) increases its phytochemical content and dietary phytochemical intake, especially for school children and adolescents.
Application of Enoki Mushroom (Flammulina Velutipes) Stem Wastes as Functional Ingredients in Goat Meat Nuggets
Authors: Banerjee Dipak Kumar , Das Arun K. , Banerjee Rituparna , Pateiro Mirian , Nanda Pramod Kumar , Gadekar Yogesh P. , Biswas Subhasish , McClements David Julian , Lorenzo Jose M.
Published: April 2020

The impact of different amounts (2%, 4% and 6%) of enoki (Flammulina velutipes) mushroom stem waste (MSW) powder on the physicochemical quality, color and textural, oxidative stability, sensory attributes and shelf-life of goat meat nuggets was evaluated. These mushroom by-products (MSW powder) contained a good source of protein (13.5%), ash (8.2%), total phenolics content (6.3 mg GAE/g), and dietary fiber (32.3%) and also exhibited the potential to be strong antioxidants, due to their good metal chelating ability (41.3%), reducing power (60.1%), and free radical scavenging activity (84.2%). Mushroom stem waste improved (p < 0.05) the emulsion stability, dietary fiber, ash and phenolics content of nuggets compared to control. Although no significant differences (p > 0.05) in expressible water and textural properties were observed among the formulations, but MSW powder improved the water holding capacity and slightly decreased the hardness. Further, the inclusion of MSW significantly (p < 0.05) improved the oxidative stability and shelf-life of treated nuggets by reducing lipid oxidation during the nine-day storage period. Again, the inclusion of MSW did not negatively affect the color and sensory attributes of treated meat nuggets. Overall, our results suggest that enoki mushroom stem waste (4%) can be used as a value-added functional ingredient to produce nutritionally improved and healthier meat products.
CDH1 Mutation Distribution and Type Suggests Genetic Differences between the Etiology of Orofacial Clefting and Gastric Cancer
Authors: Selvanathan Arthavan , Nixon Cheng Yee , Zhu Ying , Scietti Luigi , Forneris Federico , Moreno Uribe Lina M. , Lidral Andrew C. , Jezewski Peter A. , Mulliken John B. , Murray Jeffrey C. , Buckley Michael F. , Cox Timothy C. , Roscioli Tony
Published: April 2020

Pathogenic variants in CDH1, encoding epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), have been implicated in hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), lobular breast cancer, and both syndromic and non-syndromic cleft lip/palate (CL/P). Despite the large number of CDH1 mutations described, the nature of the phenotypic consequence of such mutations is currently not able to be predicted, creating significant challenges for genetic counselling. This study collates the phenotype and molecular data for available CDH1 variants that have been classified, using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria, as at least ‘likely pathogenic’, and correlates their molecular and structural characteristics to phenotype. We demonstrate that CDH1 variant type and location differ between HDGC and CL/P, and that there is clustering of CL/P variants within linker regions between the extracellular domains of the cadherin protein. While these differences do not provide for exact prediction of the phenotype for a given mutation, they may contribute to more accurate assessments of risk for HDGC or CL/P for individuals with specific CDH1 variants.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Gene Expression and Regulatory Characteristics Associated with Different Vernalization Periods in Brassica rapa
Authors: Dai Yun , Zhang Shujiang , Sun Xiao , Li Guoliang , Yuan Lingyun , Li Fei , Zhang Hui , Zhang Shifan , Chen Guohu , Wang Chenggang , Sun Rifei
Published: April 2020

Brassica rapa is an important Chinese vegetable crop that is beneficial to human health. The primary factor affecting B. rapa yield is low temperature, which promotes bolting and flowering, thereby lowering its commercial value. However, quickened bolting and flowering can be used for rapid breeding. Therefore, studying the underlying molecular mechanism of vernalization in B. rapa is crucial for solving production-related problems. Here, the transcriptome of two B. rapa accessions were comprehensively analyzed during different vernalization periods. During vernalization, a total of 974,584,022 clean reads and 291.28 Gb of clean data were obtained. Compared to the reference genome of B. rapa, 44,799 known genes and 2280 new genes were identified. A self-organizing feature map analysis of 21,035 differentially expressed genes was screened in two B. rapa accessions, ‘Jin Wawa’ and ‘Xiao Baojian’. The analysis indicated that transcripts related to the plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, photoperiod and circadian clock, and vernalization pathways changed notably at different vernalization periods. Moreover, different expression patterns of TPS, UGP, CDF, VIN1, and seven hormone pathway genes were observed during vernalization between the two accessions. The transcriptome results of this study provide a new perspective on the changes that occur during B. rapa vernalization, as well as serve as an excellent reference for B. rapa breeding.
The POU Transcription Factor POU-M2 Regulates Vitellogenin Receptor Gene Expression in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Shen Guanwang , Chen Enxiang , Ji Xiaocun , Liu Lina , Liu Jianqiu , Hua Xiaoting , Li Dan , Xiao Yingdan , Xia Qingyou
Published: April 2020

Vitellogenin receptors (VgRs) play critical roles in egg formation by transporting vitellogenin (Vg) into oocytes in insects. Although the function of VgR in insects is well studied, the transcriptional regulation of this gene is still unclear. Here, we cloned the promoter of the VgR gene from Bombyx mori (BmVgR), and predicted many POU cis-response elements (CREs) in its promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the POU transcription factor POU-M2 bound directly to the CREs of the promoter. Overexpression of POU-M2 in an ovarian cell line (BmNs) enhanced BmVgR transcription and promoter activity detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and luciferase reporter assays. Analyses of expression patterns indicated that POU-M2 was expressed in ovary at day two of wandering stage initially, followed by BmVgR. RNA interference of POU-M2 significantly reduced the transcription of BmVgR in ovary and egg-laying rate. Our results suggest a novel function for the POU factor in silkworm oogenesis by its involvement in BmVgR regulation and expands the understanding of POU factors in insect VgR expression.
Domesticated gag Gene of Drosophila LTR Retrotransposons Is Involved in Response to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Makhnovskii Pavel , Balakireva Yevheniia , Nefedova Lidia , Lavrenov Anton , Kuzmin Ilya , Kim Alexander
Published: April 2020

Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most extensively used genetic model organisms for studying LTR retrotransposons that are represented by various groups in its genome. However, the phenomenon of molecular domestication of LTR retrotransposons has been insufficiently studied in Drosophila, as well as in other invertebrates. The present work is devoted to studying the role of the domesticated gag gene, Gagr, in the Drosophila genome. The Gagr gene has been shown to be involved in the response to stress caused by exposure to ammonium persulfate, but not in the stress response to oligomycin A, zeomycin, and cadmium chloride. Ammonium persulfate tissue specifically activates the expression of Gagr in the tissues of the carcass, but not in the gut. We found that the Gagr gene promoter contains one binding motif for the transcription factor kayak, a component of the JNK signaling pathway, and two binding motifs for the transcription factor Stat92E, a component of the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. Remarkably, Gagr orthologs contain the second binding motif for Stat92E only in D. melanogaster, D. simulans and D. sechellia, whereas in D. yakuba and D. erecta, Gagr orthologs contain a single motif, and there are no binding sites for Stat92E in the promoters of Gagr orthologs in D. ananassae and in species outside the melanogaster group. The data obtained indicate the formation of the protective function of the Gagr gene during evolution.
Transcriptomic and ChIP-seq Integrative Analysis Reveals Important Roles of Epigenetically Regulated lncRNAs in Placental Development in Meishan Pigs
Authors: Deng Dadong , Tan Xihong , Han Kun , Ren Ruimin , Cao Jianhua , Yu Mei
Published: April 2020

The development of the placental fold, which increases the maternal–fetal interacting surface area, is of primary importance for the growth of the fetus throughout the whole pregnancy. However, the mechanisms involved remain to be fully elucidated. Increasing evidence has revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a new class of RNAs with regulatory functions and could be epigenetically regulated by histone modifications. In this study, 141 lncRNAs (including 73 up-regulated and 68 down-regulated lncRNAs) were identified to be differentially expressed in the placentas of pigs during the establishment and expanding stages of placental fold development. The differentially expressed lncRNAs and genes (DElncRNA-DEgene) co-expression network analysis revealed that these differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were mainly enriched in pathways of cell adhesion, cytoskeleton organization, epithelial cell differentiation and angiogenesis, indicating that the DElncRNAs are related to the major events that occur during placental fold development. In addition, we integrated the RNA-seq (RNA sequencing) data with the ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing) data of H3K4me3/H3K27ac produced from the placental samples of pigs from the two stages (gestational days 50 and 95). The analysis revealed that the changes in H3K4me3 and/or H3K27ac levels were significantly associated with the changes in the expression levels of 37 DElncRNAs. Furthermore, several H3K4me3/H3K27ac-lncRNAs were characterized to be significantly correlated with genes functionally related to placental development. Thus, this study provides new insights into understanding the mechanisms for the placental development of pigs.
Effects of the Musical Sound Environment on Communicating Emotion
Authors: Meng Qi , Jiang Jiani , Liu Fangfang , Xu Xiaoduo
Published: April 2020

The acoustic environment is one of the factors influencing emotion, however, existing research has mainly focused on the effects of noise on emotion, and on music therapy, while the acoustic and psychological effects of music on interactive behaviour have been neglected. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of music on communicating emotion including evaluation of music, and d-values of pleasure, arousal, and dominance (PAD), in terms of sound pressure level (SPL), musical emotion, and tempo. Based on acoustic environment measurement and a questionnaire survey with 52 participants in a normal classroom in Harbin city, China, the following results were found. First, SPL was significantly correlated with musical evaluation of communication: average scores of musical evaluation decreased sharply from 1.31 to −2.13 when SPL rose from 50 dBA to 60 dBA, while they floated from 0.88 to 1.31 between 40 dBA and 50 dBA. Arousal increased with increases in musical SPL in the negative evaluation group. Second, musical emotions had significant effects on musical evaluation of communication, among which the effect of joyful-sounding music was the highest; and in general, joyful- and stirring-sounding music could enhance pleasure and arousal efficiently. Third, musical tempo had significant effect on musical evaluation and communicating emotion, faster music could enhance arousal and pleasure efficiently. Finally, in terms of social characteristics, familiarity, gender combination, and number of participants affected communicating emotion. For instance, in the positive evaluation group, dominance was much higher in the single-gender groups. This study shows that some music factors, such as SPL, musical emotion, and tempo, can be used to enhance communicating emotion.
How to Reduce Excessive Use of the Health Care Service in Medical Aid Beneficiaries: Effectiveness of Community-Based Case Management
Authors: Kim Myung Ja , Lee Eunhee
Published: April 2020

Community-based case management for medical aid beneficiaries was implemented in Korea to promote the rational use of medical care and stabilize the financial system. This study investigated the economic impact of community-based case management on reductions in healthcare utilization and costs. This was a program study using a national database to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based case management in changing not only healthcare utilization and costs but also client-centered outcomes using the NHI database and 198 regional databases. A total of 1741 case management clients were included in this study. The case management clients were categorized into three targeted groups and were provided individualized services according to the groups. Client-centered outcomes, such as health-related quality of life (QOL), self-care ability, and having a support system, increased after case management. Healthcare utilization and costs decreased significantly after case management. However, there was no significant difference in the decrease between the groups. An increase in healthcare utilization among medical aid beneficiaries has been observed due to the aging population and an increase in the number of recipients. To reduce healthcare utilization and costs while maintaining the health status of the beneficiaries, it is necessary to expand targeted case management.
The Phenomenology of Group Stalking (‘Gang-Stalking’): A Content Analysis of Subjective Experiences
Authors: Sheridan Lorraine , James David , Roth Jayden
Published: April 2020

Epidemiological data suggest that as many as 0.66% of adult women and 0.17% of adult men in the western world may suffer the subjective experience of being group-stalked (‘gang stalked’) at some point in their lives. Yet the gang stalking experience has been subject to little scientific study. This paper reports an attempt to elicit the core phenomena involved in gang-stalking by allowing them to emerge de novo through the qualitative analysis of accounts of individuals who describe being gang-stalked. Fifty descriptions of gang-stalking that satisfied study inclusion criteria were identified from the internet and subjected to content analysis. Twenty-four core phenomena were elicited, together with 11 principal sequelae of the experience of being gang-stalked. These were then divided into groups, producing a framework for the phenomena of the gang-stalking experience. The results were compared with frequencies of the same categories of experience then extracted from the original data of the only previous study on gang-stalking phenomena. Whilst the methodology of the current study was more rigorous, the core phenomena were similar in each. The current study confirmed the seriousness of the sequelae of the gang-stalking experience. These support the need for further exploration of the phenomenon, for which this study forms a basis.
Effects of Brain Breaks Videos on the Motives for the Physical Activity of Malaysians with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Hidrus Aizuddin , Kueh Yee Cheng , Norsaádah Bachok , Chang Yu-Kai , Hung Tsung-Min , Naing Nyi Nyi , Kuan Garry
Published: April 2020

Brain Breaks videos are web-based structured physical activity (PA) videos that aim at stimulating an interest in learning and promoting health. Exercise is one of the important treatment regimens for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effects that Brain Breaks videos have on the motives for PA, as measured by the Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale-Malay (PALMS-M), and the amount of PA, as measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Malay (IPAQ-M), in T2DM patients (the most common type of diabetes mellitus patients). This study was conducted using a randomized, double-blind design and grouped subjects under two research conditions: an experimental group given Brain Breaks videos and a control group. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 70 T2DM patients (male = 39, female = 31) with the mean age of 57.6 (SD = 8.5) from Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan. Over a four-month period, the participants in the experimental group were asked to perform PA daily based on a Brain Breaks video (10 min in duration) that was shared through a WhatsApp group. All participants from both groups answered the PALMS-M questionnaire five times: pre-intervention, the end of the first month, second month, and third month, and post-intervention. A repeated measure multivariate analysis of variance and a repeated measure analysis of variance were performed for the analyses of the data. The results demonstrated that four (appearance, others’ expectations, physical condition, and mastery) out of eight motives for PA produced a significant mean score difference between the two study groups. All eight motives for PA showed an upward trend for the experimental group during the study period, while the control group showed a downward trend for all motives during the study period. As for the amount of PA, both groups showed significant differences (p = 0.001). The amount of PA increased in the experimental group during the study period, while it decreased in the control group. Therefore, Brain Breaks videos can be considered as an effective intervention for motivating T2DM patients for PA and improving their amount of PA.
Health-Literate Healthcare Organizations and Quality of Care in Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in Tuscany
Authors: Bonaccorsi Guglielmo , Romiti Anna , Ierardi Francesca , Innocenti Maddalena , Del Riccio Marco , Frandi Silvia , Bachini Letizia , Zanobini Patrizio , Gemmi Fabrizio , Lorini Chiara
Published: April 2020

The concept of Health-Literate Healthcare Organization (HLHO) concerns the strategies by which healthcare organizations make it easier for people to navigate, understand, and use information and services to take care of their health. The aims of this study were to validate the HLHO-10 questionnaire in the Italian language; to measure the degree of implementation of the 10 attributes of HLHOs in a sample of hospitals placed in Tuscany; and to assess the association between the degree of implementation of the 10 attributes of HLHOs and the perceived quality of care. This was a cross-sectional study where data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire including three sections: a descriptive section, a section focused on the perceived quality, and the Italian version of the HLHO-10 questionnaire. A total amount of 405 healthcare managers answered the questionnaire (54.9%). The analysis shows that the HLHO score is significantly associated with the type of hospitals: accredited private hospitals have higher HLHO scores. Moreover, the perceived quality increases with the increasing of the HLHO score, with the highest coefficient for local public hospitals. In conclusion, Organizational Health Literacy culture should be an integral element for the management to improve the quality of care.
Characteristics Associated with Improved Physical Performance among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in a Community-Based Falls Prevention Program
Authors: Scronce Gabrielle , Zhang Wanqing , Smith Matthew Lee , Mercer Vicki Stemmons
Published: April 2020

This was a retrospective analysis of quasi-longitudinal data from an ongoing, community-based falls prevention program. The purpose was to identify participant characteristics predicting improvement on physical performance measures associated with falls risk. Community-dwelling older adults ≥60 years old participated in a community-based implementation of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP). Participants with increased falls risk (n = 353) were provided with individualized exercises from OEP and were invited to return for monthly follow-up. One hundred twenty-eight participants returned for at least two follow-up visits within 6 months of their initial visit (mean time to second follow-up = 93 days with standard deviation = 43 days). Outcome measures assessed at initial and all follow-up visits included Four Stage Balance Test (4SBT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Chair Rise Test (CRT). Distributions were examined, and results were categorized to depict improvement from initial visit (IVT) to second follow-up visit (F2). Key predictor variables were included in multivariable linear or logistic regression models. Improved 4SBT performance was predicted by greater balance confidence. Better TUG performance at F2 was predicted by no use of assistive device for walking, higher scores on cognitive screening, and better IVT TUG performance. Improvement on CRT was predicted by younger age and lower scores on cognitive screening. While improvements on each of the three measures were predicted by a unique combination of variables, these variables tended to be associated with less frailty.
Dementia Literacy in the Greater Bay Area, China: Identifying the At-Risk Population and the Preferred Types of Mass Media for Receiving Dementia Information
Authors: Leung Angela Y. M. , Molassiotis Alex , Zhang June , Deng Renli , Liu Ming , Van Iat Kio , Leong Cindy Siu U , Leung Isaac S. H. , Leung Doris Y. P. , Lin Xiaoling , Loke Alice Y.
Published: April 2020

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the dementia literacy of community-dwelling adults in four cities (Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau, and Zhuhai) of the Greater Bay Area of China, and to determine their mass media preferences for receiving dementia information. Methods: The survey was completed by 787 community-dwelling adults. Dementia literacy was indirectly measured using two validated scales—the 30-item Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale and the 20-item Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). Participants were also asked to indicate whether they wanted to receive dementia information via digital or traditional media. Chi-square tests, logistic regressions, and MANOVA analyses were conducted. Results: Unemployed or retired people had poor attitudes towards dementia and lower levels of knowledge about dementia. Single, cohabiting, or divorced people in Hong Kong and Macau had lower DAS scores than married people. Young people and those with a secondary education preferred to get their dementia information from social media. People with a tertiary education and employed people enjoyed searching government or hospital websites for information. Middle-aged, unemployed, or retired people tended to learn about dementia from television or radio. Conclusion: It is worth educating the public about dementia and developing strategies consistent with their preferences for types of mass media.
iTRAQ-Based Proteomic Analysis of Watermelon Fruits in Response to Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus Infection
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Bi Xinyue , An Mengnan , Xia Zihao , Wu Yuanhua
Published: April 2020

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is an important viral pathogen on cucurbit plants worldwide, which can cause severe fruit decay symptoms on infected watermelon (usually called “watermelon blood flesh”). However, the molecular mechanism of this disease has not been well understood. In this study, we employed the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technique to analyze the proteomic profiles of watermelon fruits in response to CGMMV infection. A total of 595 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified, of which 404 were upregulated and 191 were downregulated. Functional annotation analysis showed that these DAPs were mainly involved in photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, plant–pathogen interaction, and protein synthesis and turnover. The accumulation levels of several proteins related to chlorophyll metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, heat shock proteins, thioredoxins, ribosomal proteins, translation initiation factors, and elongation factors were strongly affected by CGMMV infection. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was performed between CGMMV-responsive proteome and transcriptome data of watermelon fruits obtained in our previous study, which could contribute to comprehensively elucidating the molecular mechanism of “watermelon blood flesh”. To confirm the iTRAQ-based proteome data, the corresponding transcripts of ten DAPs were validated by determining their abundance via quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). These results could provide a scientific basis for in-depth understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CGMMV-induced “watermelon blood flesh”, and lay the foundation for further functional exploration and verification of related genes and proteins.
The Vascular Involvement in Soft Tissue Fibrosis—Lessons Learned from Pathological Scarring
Authors: Huang Chenyu , Ogawa Rei
Published: April 2020

Soft tissue fibrosis in important organs such as the heart, liver, lung, and kidney is a serious pathological process that is characterized by excessive connective tissue deposition. It is the result of chronic but progressive accumulation of fibroblasts and their production of extracellular matrix components such as collagens. Research on pathological scars, namely, hypertrophic scars and keloids, may provide important clues about the mechanisms that drive soft tissue fibrosis, in particular the vascular involvement. This is because these dermal fibrotic lesions bear all of the fibrotic characteristics seen in soft tissue fibrosis. Moreover, their location on the skin surface means they are readily observable and directly treatable and therefore more accessible to research. We will focus here on the roles that blood vessel-associated cells play in cutaneous scar pathology and assess from the literature whether these cells also contribute to other soft tissue fibroses. These cells include endothelial cells, which not only exhibit aberrant functions but also differentiate into mesenchymal cells in pathological scars. They also include pericytes, hepatic stellate cells, fibrocytes, and myofibroblasts. This article will review with broad strokes the roles that these cells play in the pathophysiology of different soft tissue fibroses. We hope that this brief but wide-ranging overview of the vascular involvement in fibrosis pathophysiology will aid research into the mechanisms underlying fibrosis and that this will eventually lead to the development of interventions that can prevent, reduce, or even reverse fibrosis formation and/or progression.
Peptides for Health Benefits 2019
Authors: Martínez-Villaluenga Cristina , Hernández-Ledesma Blanca
Published: April 2020

In recent years, peptides have received increased interest in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and various other fields [...]
Immunological Aspects of the Tumor Microenvironment and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Carcinogenesis
Authors: Baj Jacek , Brzozowska Karolina , Forma Alicja , Maani Amr , Sitarz Elżbieta , Portincasa Piero
Published: April 2020

Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative, microaerophilic pathogen often results in gastric cancer in a subset of affected individuals. This explains why H. pylori is the only bacterium classified as a class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Several studies have pinpointed mechanisms by which H. pylori alters signaling pathways in the host cell to cause diseases. In this article, the authors have reviewed 234 studies conducted over a span of 18 years (2002–2020). The studies investigated the various mechanisms associated with gastric cancer induction. For the past 1.5 years, researchers have discovered new mechanisms contributing to gastric cancer linked to H. pylori etiology. Alongside alteration of the host signaling pathways using oncogenic CagA pathways, H. pylori induce DNA damage in the host and alter the methylation of DNA as a means of perturbing downstream signaling. Also, with H. pylori, several pathways in the host cell are activated, resulting in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), together with the induction of cell proliferation and survival. Studies have shown that H. pylori enhances gastric carcinogenesis via a multifactorial approach. What is intriguing is that most of the targeted mechanisms and pathways appear common with various forms of cancer.
Histopathologic Features of Lymphedema: A Molecular Review
Authors: Li Claire Y. , Kataru Raghu P. , Mehrara Babak J.
Published: April 2020

An estimated 5 million people in the United States are affected by secondary lymphedema, with most cases attributed to malignancies or malignancy-related treatments. The pathogenesis of secondary lymphedema has historically been attributed to lymphatic injury or dysfunction; however, recent studies illustrate the complexity of lymphedema as a disease process in which many of its clinical features such as inflammation, fibrosis, adipogenesis, and recurrent infections contribute to on-going lymphatic dysfunction in a vicious cycle. Investigations into the molecular underpinning of these features further our understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease and suggests new therapeutics.
Epigenetic Alterations Associated with the Overall Survival and Recurrence Free Survival among Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Ghantous Yasmen , Nashef Aysar , Abu-Elnaaj Imad
Published: April 2020

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a fatal disease caused by complex interactions between environmental, genomic, and epigenetic alterations. In the current study, we aimed to identify clusters of genes whose promoter methylation status correlated with various tested clinical features. Molecular datasets of genetic and methylation analysis based on whole-genome sequencing of 159 OSCC patients were obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal. Genes were clustered based on their methylation status and were tested for their association with demographic, pathological, and clinical features of the patients. Overall, seven clusters of genes were revealed that showed a significant association with the overall survival/recurrence free survival of patients. The top ranked genes within cluster 4, which showed the worst prognosis, primarily acted as paraneoplastic genes, while the genes within cluster 6 primarily acted as anti-tumor genes. A significant difference was found regarding the mean age in the different clusters. No significant correlation was found between the tumor staging and the different clusters. In conclusion, our result provided a proof-of-principle for the existence of phenotypic diversity among the epigenetic clusters of OSCC and demonstrated the utility of the use epigenetics alterations in devolving new prognostic and therapeutics tools for OSCC patients.
Spectrum Correction Using Modeled Panchromatic Image for Pansharpening
Authors: Tsukamoto Naoko , Sugaya Yoshihiro , Omachi Shinichiro
Published: April 2020

Pansharpening is a method applied for the generation of high-spatial-resolution multi-spectral (MS) images using panchromatic (PAN) and multi-spectral images. A common challenge in pansharpening is to reduce the spectral distortion caused by increasing the resolution. In this paper, we propose a method for reducing the spectral distortion based on the intensity–hue–saturation (IHS) method targeting satellite images. The IHS method improves the resolution of an RGB image by replacing the intensity of the low-resolution RGB image with that of the high-resolution PAN image. The spectral characteristics of the PAN and MS images are different, and this difference may cause spectral distortion in the pansharpened image. Although many solutions for reducing spectral distortion using a modeled spectrum have been proposed, the quality of the outcomes obtained by these approaches depends on the image dataset. In the proposed technique, we model a low-spatial-resolution PAN image according to a relative spectral response graph, and then the corrected intensity is calculated using the model and the observed dataset. Experiments were conducted on three IKONOS datasets, and the results were evaluated using some major quality metrics. This quantitative evaluation demonstrated the stability of the pansharpened images and the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Virtual Replica of a Towing Tank Experiment to Determine the Kelvin Half-Angle of a Ship in Restricted Water
Authors: Terziev Momchil , Zhao Guangwei , Tezdogan Tahsin , Yuan Zhiming , Incecik Atilla
Published: April 2020

The numerical simulation of ship flows has evolved into a highly practical approach in naval architecture. In typical virtual towing tanks, the principle of Galilean relativity is invoked to maintain the ship as fixed, while the surrounding water is prescribed to flow past it. This assumption may be identified, at least partly, as being responsible for the wide-scale adoption of computational solutions within practitioners’ toolkits. However, it carries several assumptions, such as the levels of inlet turbulence and their effect on flow properties. This study presents an alternative virtual towing tank, where the ship is simulated to advance over a stationary fluid. To supplement the present work, the free surface disturbance is processed into Fourier space to determine the Kelvin half-angle for an example case. The results suggest that it is possible to construct a fully unsteady virtual towing tank using the overset method, without relying on Galilean relativity. Differences between theoretical and numerical predictions for the Kelvin half-angle are predominantly attributed to the assumptions used by the theoretical method. The methods presented in this work can potentially be used to validate free-surface flows, even when one does not have access to experimental wave elevation data.
Calculation of Honeycomb Paperboard Resistance to Edge Crush Test
Authors: Kmita-Fudalej Gabriela , Szewczyk Włodzimierz , Kołakowski Zbigniew
Published: April 2020

The article presents the method of calculating the edge crush test (ECT) of honeycomb paperboard. Calculations were made on the basis of mechanical properties of paper raw materials used for the production of cellular paperboard and geometrical parameters describing cellular paperboard. The presented method allows ECT calculation of honeycomb paperboard in the main directions in the paperboard plane; i.e., machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD). The proposed method was verified by comparing the results of calculations with the results of ECT measurements of paperboard with different geometrical parameters made of different fibrous materials.
Electrocatalytic Behavior and Determination of Amitriptyline Drug with MWCNT@Celllulose Composite Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Khan Aftab Aslam Parwaz
Published: April 2020

A novel nanocomposite of cellulose based on multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was synthesized by a simple solution mixing–evaporation method. The morphology, thermal investigations, electrocatalytic oxidation of amitriptyline were analyzed at multi-walled carbon/cellulose nanocomposite in detail. The amitriptyline (AMT) drug was electrochemically studied in a phosphate buffer at different pH using the MWCNT/cellulose modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). As per the linear relationship among AMT along with peak current, differential pulse voltammetry technique has been established for their quantitative pharmaceutical’s determination. The oxidation potential shifted negatively compared to GCE, showing that the MWCNT/cellulose modified electrode had an excellent catalytic activity for the AMT oxidation. The anodic peak current varied linear response with AMT’s concentration in the range of 0.5 to 20.0 μM with a LOD of 0.0845 μM and LOQ of 0.282 μM, respectively. The proposed method was effectively put on the determination of AMT in pharmaceutical and urine samples. This novel methodology is presented here as an example of a complete development methodology for the determination of amitriptyline drug and sensor for use in healthcare fields.
Chitosan/Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) Films with Ciprofloxacin for Application in Vaginal Drug Delivery
Authors: Abilova Guzel K. , Kaldybekov Daulet B. , Irmukhametova Galiya S. , Kazybayeva Diara S. , Iskakbayeva Zhanar A. , Kudaibergenov Sarkyt E. , Khutoryanskiy Vitaliy V.
Published: April 2020

Chitosan (CHI) and chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (CHI/POZ)-based films were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions of polymer blends with different compositions. Ciprofloxacin was used as a model drug in these formulations. The weight, thickness, folding endurance and transparency of blend films were measured and characterised. All films had a uniform thickness (0.06 ± 0.01 mm) and exhibited sufficient flexibility. The surface pHs of films ranged from 3.76 ± 0.49 to 4.14 ± 0.32, which is within the pH range suitable for vaginal applications. The cumulative release of the drug from the films in experiments in vitro was found to be 42 ± 2% and 56 ± 1% for pure CHI and CHI/POZ (40:60) films, respectively. Drug-free chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) films showed weak antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. Drug-loaded CHI and CHI/POZ films showed good antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Mucoadhesive properties of these films with respect to freshly excised sheep vaginal mucosa were evaluated using a tensile method. It was established that all films were mucoadhesive, but an increase in POZ content in the blend resulted in a gradual reduction of their ability to stick to vaginal mucosa. These films could potentially find applications in vaginal drug delivery.
Stress Distribution in Silicon Subjected to Atomic Scale Grinding with a Curved Tool Path
Authors: Fang Xudong , Kang Qiang , Ding Jianjun , Sun Lin , Maeda Ryutaro , Jiang Zhuangde
Published: April 2020

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were applied to study the fundamental mechanism of nanoscale grinding with a modeled tool trajectory of straight lines. Nevertheless, these models ignore curvature changes of actual tool paths, which need optimization to facilitate understanding of the underlying science of the machining processes. In this work, a three-dimensional MD model considering the effect of tool paths was employed to investigate distributions of stresses including hydrostatic stress, von Mises stress, normal and shear stresses during atomic grinding. Simulation results showed that average values of the stresses are greatly influenced by the radius of the tool trajectory and the grinding depth. Besides the averaged stresses, plane stress distribution was also analyzed, which was obtained by intercepting stresses on the internal planes of the workpiece. For the case of a grinding depth of 25 Å and an arc radius 40 Å, snapshots of the stresses on the X–Y, X–Z and Y–Z planes showed internal stress concentration. The results show that phase transformation occurred from α- silicon to β- silicon in the region with hydrostatic stress over 8 GPa. Moreover, lateral snapshots of the three-dimensional stress distribution are comprehensively discussed. It can be deduced from MD simulations of stress distribution in monocrystalline silicon with the designed new model that a curved tool trajectory leads to asymmetric distribution and concentration of stress during atomic-scale grinding. The analysis of stress distribution with varying curve geometries and cutting depths can aid fundamental mechanism development in nanomanufacturing and provide theoretical support for ultraprecision grinding.
Low Ppm Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization in (Mini)Emulsion Systems
Authors: Surmacz Karolina , Chmielarz Paweł
Published: April 2020

In the last decade, unceasing interest in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been noted, especially in aqueous dispersion systems. Emulsion or miniemulsion is a preferred environment for industrial polymerization due to easier heat dissipation and lower production costs associated with the use of water as a dispersant. The main purpose of this review is to summarize ATRP methods used in emulsion media with different variants of initiating systems. A comparison of a dual over single catalytic approache by interfacial and ion pair catalysis is presented. In addition, future development directions for these methods are suggested for better use in biomedical and electronics industries.
Rhombohedral Li1+xYxZr2-x(PO4)3 Solid Electrolyte Prepared by Hot-Pressing for All-Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries
Authors: Li Qinghui , Xu Chang , Huang Bing , Yin Xin
Published: April 2020

NASICON-type solid electrolytes with excellent stability in moisture are promising in all-solid-state batteries and redox flow batteries. However, NASIOCN LiZr2(PO4)3 (LZP), which is more stable with lithium metal than the commercial Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3, exhibits a low Li-ion conductivity of 10−6 S cm−1 because the fast conducting rhombohedral phase only exists above 50 °C. In this paper, the high-ionic conductive rhombohedral phase is stabilized by Y3+ doping at room temperature, and the hot-pressing technique is employed to further improve the density of the pellet. The dense Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 pellet prepared by hot-pressing shows a high Li-ion conductivity of 9 × 10−5 S cm−1, which is two orders of magnitude higher than that of LiZr2(PO4)3. The in-situ formed Li3P layer on the surface of Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 after contact with the lithium metal increases the wettability of the pellet by the metallic lithium anode. Moreover, the Li1.1Y0.1Zr1.9(PO4)3 pellet shows a relatively small interfacial resistance in symmetric Li/Li and all-solid-state Li-metal cells, providing these cells a small overpotential and a long cycling life.
A Modified Ren’s Method with Memory Using a Simple Self-Accelerating Parameter
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Fan Qiannan
Published: April 2020

In this paper, a self-accelerating type method is proposed for solving nonlinear equations, which is a modified Ren’s method. A simple way is applied to construct a variable self-accelerating parameter of the new method, which does not increase any computational costs. The highest convergence order of new method is 2 + 6 ≈ 4.4495 . Numerical experiments are made to show the performance of the new method, which supports the theoretical results.