bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limitations of Species Distribution Models Based on Available Climate Change Data: A Case Study in the Azorean Forest
Authors: Dutra Silva Lara , Brito de Azevedo Eduardo , Vieira Reis Francisco , Bento Elias Rui , Silva Luís
Published: July 2019

Climate change is gaining attention as a major threat to biodiversity. It is expected to further expand the risk of plant invasion through ecosystem disturbance. Particularly, island ecosystems are under pressure, and climate change may threaten forest-dependent species. However, scientific and societal unknowns make it difficult to predict how climate change and biological invasions will affect species interactions and ecosystem processes. The purpose of this study was to identify possible limitations when making species distribution model projections based on predicted climate change. We aimed to know if climatic variables alone were good predictors of habitat suitability, ensuring reliable projections. In particular, we compared the performance of generalized linear models, generalized additive models, and a selection of machine learning techniques (BIOMOD 2) when modelling the distribution of forest species in the Azores, according to the climatic changes predicted to 2100. Some limitations seem to exist when modelling the effect of climate change on species distributions, since the best models also included topographic variables, making modelling based on climate alone less reliable, with model fit varying among modelling approaches, and random forest often providing the best results. Our results emphasize the adoption of a careful study design and algorithm selection process. The uncertainties associated with climate change effect on plant communities as a whole, including their indigenous and invasive components, highlight a pressing need for integrated modelling, monitoring, and experimental work to better realize the consequences of climate change, in order to ensure the resilience of forest ecosystems in a changing world.
Pangloss: A Tool for Pan-Genome Analysis of Microbial Eukaryotes
Authors: McCarthy Charley G. P. , Fitzpatrick David A.
Published: July 2019

Although the pan-genome concept originated in prokaryote genomics, an increasing number of eukaryote species pan-genomes have also been analysed. However, there is a relative lack of software intended for eukaryote pan-genome analysis compared to that available for prokaryotes. In a previous study, we analysed the pan-genomes of four model fungi with a computational pipeline that constructed pan-genomes using the synteny-dependent Pan-genome Ortholog Clustering Tool (PanOCT) approach. Here, we present a modified and improved version of that pipeline which we have called Pangloss. Pangloss can perform gene prediction for a set of genomes from a given species that the user provides, constructs and optionally refines a species pan-genome from that set using PanOCT, and can perform various functional characterisation and visualisation analyses of species pan-genome data. To demonstrate Pangloss’s capabilities, we constructed and analysed a species pan-genome for the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica and also reconstructed a previously-published species pan-genome for the opportunistic respiratory pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Pangloss is implemented in Python, Perl and R and is freely available under an open source GPLv3 licence via GitHub.
Uncertainty Analysis of Mobile Phone Use and Its Effect on Cognitive Function: The Application of Monte Carlo Simulation in a Cohort of Australian Primary School Children
Authors: Brzozek Christopher , Benke Kurt K. , Zeleke Berihun M. , Croft Rodney J. , Dalecki Anna , Dimitriadis Christina , Kaufman Jordy , Sim Malcolm R. , Abramson Michael J. , Benke Geza
Published: July 2019

Previous epidemiological studies on health effects of radiation exposure from mobile phones have produced inconsistent results. This may be due to experimental difficulties and various sources of uncertainty, such as statistical variability, measurement errors, and model uncertainty. An analytical technique known as the Monte Carlo simulation provides an additional approach to analysis by addressing uncertainty in model inputs using error probability distributions, rather than point-source data. The aim of this investigation was to demonstrate using Monte Carlo simulation of data from the ExPOSURE (Examination of Psychological Outcomes in Students using Radiofrequency dEvices) study to quantify uncertainty in the output of the model. Data were collected twice, approximately one year apart (between 2011 and 2013) for 412 primary school participants in Australia. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate output uncertainty in the model due to uncertainties in the call exposure data. Multiple linear regression models evaluated associations between mobile phone calls with cognitive function and found weak evidence of an association. Similar to previous longitudinal analysis, associations were found for the Go/No Go and Groton maze learning tasks, and a Stroop time ratio. However, with the introduction of uncertainty analysis, the results were closer to the null hypothesis.
The Moderating Role of the School Context on the Effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future
Authors: Bartelink Nina , van Assema Patricia , Jansen Maria , Savelberg Hans , Kremers Stef
Published: July 2019

Background: The current study investigated the moderating role of the school context on the effects of a Dutch health promoting school initiative on children’s health and health behaviors. Methods: The study used a mixed-methods design. The school context (n = 4) was assessed by the characteristics of the school population, teacher’s health-promoting (HP) practices, implementers’ perceived barriers, school’s HP elements, and dominating organizational issues. Outcomes included objectively assessed BMI z-scores and physical activity (PA), and parent and child-reported dietary intake. Analyses included linear mixed models (four intervention schools versus four control schools), and qualitative comparisons between intervention schools with similar HP changes. Results: Effects on outcomes varied considerably across schools (e.g., range in effect size on light PA of 0.01–0.26). Potentially moderating contextual aspects were the child’s socioeconomic background and baseline health behaviors; practices and perceived barriers of employees; and organizational issues at a school level. Conclusions: Similar HP changes lead to different outcomes across schools due to differences in the school context. The adoption of a complex adaptive systems perspective contributes to a better understanding of the variation in effects and it can provide insight on which contextual aspects to focus on or intervene in to optimize the effects of HP initiatives.
Doctors Rule: An Analysis of Health Ministers’ Diaries in Australia
Authors: Cullerton Katherine , White Tom , Lee Amanda
Published: July 2019

Limited progress in nutrition policy action is often blamed on the close relationships the food industry has with health policy decision-makers. This analysis sought to examine this belief through the analysis of health ministers’ diaries. Entries were downloaded from health ministers’ diaries from two states in Australia from January 2013 to June 2018. Entries were coded according to which interest group met with the minister or whether general parliamentary business was undertaken. Coding was also undertaken for any meeting topics related to nutrition policy. Analysis of health ministers’ diaries found that the food industry has limited documented interaction with the two state health ministers in Australia. Instead, medical associations, private hospitals and health services, and sporting associations (rugby league associations) had the most interactions with health ministers. Poor representation was seen on nutrition issues, and there was an apparent lack of nutrition advocates interacting with the health ministers. There are opportunities for nutrition advocates to increase their level of interaction with state health ministers. This could include building alliances with medical associations, as they are in a powerful position, to advocate directly to health ministers. Health ministers’ diaries can provide valuable insights into who is meeting officially with ministers. However, there are also limitations with the dataset.
Integrated Effects of Co-Inoculation with Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria and N2-Fixing Bacteria on Microbial Population and Soil Amendment Under C Deficiency
Authors: Wang Zhikang , Chen Ziyun , Fu Xiangxiang
Published: July 2019

The inoculation of beneficial microorganisms to improve plant growth and soil properties is a promising strategy in the soil amendment. However, the effects of co-inoculation with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and N2-fixing bacteria (NFB) on the soil properties of typical C-deficient soil remain unclear. Based on a controlled experiment and a pot experiment, we examined the effects of PSB (M: Bacillus megaterium and F: Pseudomonas fluorescens), NFB (C: Azotobacter chroococcum and B: Azospirillum brasilence), and combined PSB and NFB treatments on C, N, P availability, and enzyme activities in sterilized soil, as well as the growth of Cyclocarya Paliurus seedlings grow in unsterilized soil. During a 60-day culture, prominent increases in soil inorganic N and available P contents were detected after bacteria additions. Three patterns were observed for different additions according to the dynamic bacterial growth. Synergistic effects between NFB and PSB were obvious, co-inoculations with NFB enhanced the accumulation of available P. However, decreases in soil available P and N were observed on the 60th day, which was induced by the decreases in bacterial quantities under C deficiency. Besides, co-inoculations with PSB and NFB resulted in greater performance in plant growth promotion. Aimed at amending soil with a C supply shortage, combined PSB and NFB treatments are more appropriate for practical fertilization at intervals of 30–45 days. The results demonstrate that co-inoculations could have synergistic interactions during culture and application, which may help with understanding the possible mechanism of soil amendment driven by microorganisms under C deficiency, thereby providing an alternative option for amending such soil.
Integrating Juggling with Math Lessons: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Effects of Physically Active Learning on Maths Performance and Enjoyment in Primary School Children
Authors: van den Berg Vera , Singh Amika S. , Komen Annet , Hazelebach Chris , van Hilvoorde Ivo , Chinapaw Mai J. M.
Published: July 2019

There are tentative indications that physical activity (PA) during school time can be beneficial for children’s academic performance. So far, most studies have focused on the effects of moderate-to-vigorous PA, for example, in the form of energizers or extra physical education lessons. Little is known about the effects of physically active learning, in which PA is integrated with the academic content of the lessons, especially in preadolescent children. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the enjoyment of physically active learning in this age group. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the effects of integrating juggling with math practice in primary school children, on (1) multiplication memorization performance and (2) enjoyment during the math lessons. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial, in which 312 children (mean age 10.4 years) from nine Dutch primary schools participated. Fourteen classes were randomly assigned to either a group that learned juggling whilst practicing multiplication tables (intervention group), or to a group that practiced the same multiplication tables while sedentary (control group). Both interventions had a duration of 5 weeks and consisted of 20 short lessons (4 lessons per week, 5 to 8 min). We used mixed-model analyses to examine the effect of the intervention on multiplication memorization performance. Group (control or intervention) was used as the fixed factor, and class and school as random intercepts. Analyses were adjusted for pretest multiplication performance, age, gender, general motor skill level, physical activity behavior (PAQ-C), and academic math performance. No significant intervention effect on multiplication performance were observed. However, the math-juggling program significantly increased enjoyment of children during the math lessons. We can conclude that the intervention did not improve, but neither deteriorated children’s math performance. The increased enjoyment in the math-juggling group can serve as an important starting point for structurally incorporating physical activities in the classroom setting.
Novel Salicylic Acid Analogs Induce a Potent Defense Response in Arabidopsis
Authors: Palmer Ian Arthur , Chen Huan , Chen Jian , Chang Ming , Li Min , Liu Fengquan , Fu Zheng Qing
Published: July 2019

The master regulator of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated plant defense, NPR1 (NONEXPRESSER OF PR GENES 1) and its paralogs NPR3 and NPR4, act as SA receptors. After the perception of a pathogen, plant cells produce SA in the chloroplast. In the presence of SA, NPR1 protein is reduced from oligomers to monomers, and translocated into the nucleus. There, NPR1 binds to TGA, TCP, and WRKY transcription factors to induce expression of plant defense genes. A list of compounds structurally similar to SA was generated using ChemMine Tools and its Clustering Toolbox. Several of these analogs can induce SA-mediated defense and inhibit growth of Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis. These analogs, when sprayed on Arabidopsis, can induce the accumulation of the master regulator of plant defense NPR1. In a yeast two-hybrid system, these analogs can strengthen the interactions among NPR proteins. We demonstrated that these analogs can induce the expression of the defense marker gene PR1. Furthermore, we hypothesized that these SA analogs could be potent tools against the citrus greening pathogen Candidatus liberibacter spp. In fact, our results suggest that the SA analogs we tested using Arabidopsis may also be effective for inducing a defense response in citrus. Several SA analogs consistently strengthened the interactions between citrus NPR1 and NPR3 proteins in a yeast two-hybrid system. In future assays, we plan to test whether these analogs avoid degradation by SA hydroxylases from plant pathogens. In future assays, we plan to test whether these analogs avoid degradation by SA hydroxylases from plant pathogens.
CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated TSPO Gene Knockout alters Respiration and Cellular Metabolism in Human Primary Microglia Cells
Authors: Milenkovic Vladimir M. , Slim Dounia , Bader Stefanie , Koch Victoria , Heinl Elena-Sofia , Alvarez-Carbonell David , Nothdurfter Caroline , Rupprecht Rainer , Wetzel Christian H.
Published: July 2019

The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is an evolutionary conserved cholesterol binding protein localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane. It has been implicated in the regulation of various cellular processes including oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Since the expression of TSPO in activated microglia is upregulated in various neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders, we set out to examine the role of TSPO in an immortalized human microglia C20 cell line. To this end, we performed a dual approach and used (i) lentiviral shRNA silencing to reduce TSPO expression, and (ii) the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate complete TSPO knockout microglia cell lines. Functional characterization of control and TSPO knockdown as well as knockout cells, revealed only low de novo steroidogenesis in C20 cells, which was not dependent on the level of TSPO expression or influenced by the treatment with TSPO-specific ligands. In contrast to TSPO knockdown C20 cells, which did not show altered mitochondrial function, the TSPO deficient knockout cells displayed a significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and cytosolic Ca2+ levels, as well as reduced respiratory function. Performing the rescue experiment by lentiviral overexpression of TSPO in knockout cells, increased oxygen consumption and restored respiratory function. Our study provides further evidence for a significant role of TSPO in cellular and mitochondrial metabolism and demonstrates that different phenotypes of mitochondrial function are dependent on the level of TSPO expression.
EGF Receptor Stalls upon Activation as Evidenced by Complementary Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching Measurements
Authors: Vámosi György , Friedländer-Brock Elza , Ibrahim Shehu M. , Brock Roland , Szöllősi János , Vereb György
Published: July 2019

To elucidate the molecular details of the activation-associated clustering of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), the time course of the mobility and aggregation states of eGFP tagged EGFR in the membranes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was assessed by in situ mobility assays. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to probe molecular movements of small ensembles of molecules over short distances and time scales, and to report on the state of aggregation. The diffusion of larger ensembles of molecules over longer distances (and time scales) was investigated by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Autocorrelation functions could be best fitted by a two-component diffusion model corrected for triplet formation and blinking. The slow, 100–1000 ms component was attributed to membrane localized receptors moving with free Brownian diffusion, whereas the fast, ms component was assigned to cytosolic receptors or their fragments. Upon stimulation with 50 nM EGF, a significant decrease from 0.11 to 0.07 μm2/s in the diffusion coefficient of membrane-localized receptors was observed, followed by recovery to the original value in ~20 min. In contrast, the apparent brightness of diffusing species remained the same. Stripe FRAP experiments yielded a decrease in long-range molecular mobility directly after stimulation, evidenced by an increase in the recovery time of the slow component from 13 to 21.9 s. Our observations are best explained by the transient attachment of ligand-bound EGFRs to immobile or slowly moving structures such as the cytoskeleton or large, previously photobleached receptor aggregates.
Expression and Functional Role of TRPV4 in Bone Marrow-Derived CD11c+ Cells
Authors: Naert Robbe , López-Requena Alejandro , Voets Thomas , Talavera Karel , Alpizar Yeranddy A.
Published: July 2019

The increase in cytosolic Ca2+ is essential in key effector functions of dendritic cells (DCs), including differentiation, maturation, cytokine expression, and phagocytosis. Although several Ca2+-permeable ion channels have been described in DCs, the contribution of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether TRPV4 plays a role in the differentiation, maturation, and phagocytosis of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-induced mouse bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs). Using intracellular Ca2+ imaging experiments, we found that TRPV4 was functionally expressed in the plasma membrane of immature CD11c+ BMDCs and that its activity and expression were downregulated in CD11c+ BMDCs matured with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Comparative analysis of the GM-CSF-stimulated cells showed that Trpv4 knockout and wild-type bone marrow cultures had a similar distribution of differentiated cells, generating a heterogenous culture population rich in CD11c+, CD11b+ cells, and low levels of F4/80+ cells. The lack of TRPV4 did not prevent the LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB, the upregulation of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-12, or the upregulation of the maturation markers CD40, CD80, and CD86. In contrast, TRPV4-deficient CD11c+ BMDCs exhibited a significantly reduced endocytic capacity of IgG-coated beads, but the internalization of uncoated beads in the absence of TRPV4 was not affected. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TRPV4 was dispensable in the differentiation and maturation of mouse CD11c+ BMDCs but contributed to the mechanism underlying Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis. Overall, our results further strengthen the role of TRPV4 in immune-related processes.
Mitochondrial Involvement in Cisplatin Resistance
Authors: Cocetta Veronica , Ragazzi Eugenio , Montopoli Monica
Published: July 2019

Cisplatin is one of the worldwide anticancer drugs and, despite its toxicity and frequent recurrence of resistance phenomena, it still remains the only therapeutic option for several tumors. Circumventing cisplatin resistance remains, therefore, a major goal for clinical therapy and represents a challenge for scientific research. Recent studies have brought to light the fundamental role of mitochondria in onset, progression, and metastasis of cancer, as well as its importance in the resistance to chemotherapy. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the current knowledge about the implication of mitochondria in cisplatin resistance and on the recent development in this research field. Recent studies have highlighted the role of mitochondrial DNA alterations in onset of resistance phenomena, being related both to redox balance alterations and to signal crosstalk with the nucleus, allowing a rewiring of cell metabolism. Moreover, an important role of the mitochondrial dynamics in the adaptation mechanism of cancer cells to challenging environment has been revealed. Giving bioenergetic plasticity to tumor cells, mitochondria allow cells to evade death pathways in stressful conditions, including chemotherapy. So far, even if the central role of mitochondria is recognized, little is known about the specific mechanisms implicated in the resistance. Nevertheless, mitochondria appear to be promising pharmacological targets for overcoming cisplatin resistance, but further studies are necessary.
Anti-Apoptotic Effect of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 40 Activation on Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Injury of Rat Proximal Tubular Cells
Authors: Kim Chang , Joo Soo , Kim In , Choi Hoon-In , Bae Eun , Kim Soo , Ma Seong
Published: July 2019

G-protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) has an anti-apoptotic effect in pancreatic β-cells. However, its role in renal tubular cell apoptosis remains unclear. To explore the role of GPR40 in renal tubular apoptosis, a two-week unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model was used. The protein expression of GPR40 was decreased, while the Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression ratio, the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α mRNA, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) protein were increased in mice with UUO. In vitro, pretreatment of rat proximal tubular (NRK52E) cells with GW9508, a GPR40 agonist, attenuated the decreased cell viability, increased the Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression ratio, increased protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 and activated the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit induced by TNF-α treatment. TNF-α treatment significantly increased the expression of AT1R protein and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whereas GW9508 treatment markedly reversed these effects. Pretreatment with GW1100, a GPR40 antagonist, or silencing of GPR40 in NRK52E cells promoted the increased expression of the cleaved caspase-3 protein by TNF-α treatment. Our results demonstrate that decreased expression of GPR40 is associated with apoptosis via TNF-α and AT1R in the ureteral obstructed kidney. The activation of GPR40 attenuates TNF-α-induced apoptosis by inhibiting AT1R expression and ROS generation through regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Platinum Salts in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Focus on Predictive Factors
Authors: Garutti Mattia , Pelizzari Giacomo , Bartoletti Michele , Malfatti Matilde Clarissa , Gerratana Lorenzo , Tell Gianluca , Puglisi Fabio
Published: July 2019

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent oncologic cause of death among women and the improvement of its treatments is compelling. Platinum salts (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, and oxaliplatin) are old drugs still used to treat BC, especially the triple-negative subgroup. However, only a subset of patients see a concrete benefit from these drugs, raising the question of how to select them properly. Therefore, predictive biomarkers for platinum salts in BC still represent an unmet clinical need. Here, we review clinical and preclinical works in order to summarize the current evidence about predictive or putative platinum salt biomarkers in BC. The association between BRCA1/2 gene mutations and platinum sensitivity has been largely described. However, beyond the mutations of these two genes, several other proteins belonging to the homologous recombination pathways have been linked to platinum response, defining the concept of BRCAness. Several works, here reviewed, have tried to capture BRCAness through different strategies, such as homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score and genetic signatures. Moreover, p53 and its family members (p63 and p73) might also be used as predictors of platinum response. Finally, we describe the mounting preclinical evidence regarding base excision repair deficiency as a possible new platinum biomarker.
Unraveling the Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Matoba Keiichiro , Takeda Yusuke , Nagai Yosuke , Kawanami Daiji , Utsunomiya Kazunori , Nishimura Rimei
Published: July 2019

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and is therefore a major burden on the healthcare system. Patients with DKD are highly susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease, which contributes to increased morbidity and mortality rates. While progress has been made to inhibit the acceleration of DKD, current standards of care reduce but do not eliminate the risk of DKD. There is growing appreciation for the role of inflammation in modulating the process of DKD. The focus of this review is on providing an overview of the current status of knowledge regarding the pathologic roles of inflammation in the development of DKD. Finally, we summarize recent therapeutic advances to prevent DKD, with a focus on the anti-inflammatory effects of newly developed agents.
Anti-Bacterial Effect of CpG-DNA Involves Enhancement of the Complement Systems
Authors: Kim Te Ha , Park Joongwon , Kim Dongbum , Gautam Avishekh , Akauliya Madhav , Kim Jinsoo , Lee Hanseul , Park Sangkyu , Lee Younghee , Kwon Hyung-Joo
Published: July 2019

CpG-DNA activates the host immune system to resist bacterial infections. In this study, we examined the protective effect of CpG-DNA in mice against Escherichia coli (E. coli) K1 infection. Administration of CpG-DNA increased the survival of mice after E. coli K1 infection, which reduces the numbers of bacteria in the organs. Pre-injection of mice with CpG-DNA before E. coli K1 infection increased the levels of the complement C3 but not C3a and C3b. The survival of the mice after E. coli K1 infection was significantly decreased when the mice were pre-injected with the cobra venom factor (CVF) removing the complement compared to the non-CVF-treated mice group. It suggests that the complement has protective roles against E. coli K1 infection. In addition, the survival of complement-depleted mice was increased by CpG-DNA pre-administration before E. coli K1 infection. Therefore, we suggest that CpG-DNA enhances the anti-bacterial activity of the immune system by augmenting the levels of complement systems after E. coli K1 infection and triggering other factors as well. Further studies are required to investigate the functional roles of the CpG-DNA-induced complement regulation and other factors against urgent bacterial infection.
Analysis of Human Colon by Raman Spectroscopy and Imaging-Elucidation of Biochemical Changes in Carcinogenesis
Authors: Brozek-Pluska Beata , Musial Jacek , Kordek Radzislaw , Abramczyk Halina
Published: July 2019

Noninvasive Raman imaging of non-fixed and unstained human colon tissues based on vibrational properties of noncancerous and cancerous samples can effectively enable the differentiation between noncancerous and tumor tissues. This work aimed to evaluate the biochemical characteristics of colon cancer and the clinical merits of multivariate Raman image and spectroscopy analysis. Tissue samples were collected during routine surgery. The non-fixed, fresh samples were used to prepare micrometer sections from the tumor mass and the tissue from the safety margins outside of the tumor mass. Adjacent sections were used for typical histological analysis. We have found that the chemical composition identified by Raman spectroscopy of the cancerous and the noncancerous colon samples is sufficiently different to distinguish pathologically changed tissue from noncancerous tissue. We present a detailed analysis of Raman spectra for the human noncancerous and cancerous colon tissue. The multivariate analysis of the intensities of lipids/proteins/carotenoids Raman peaks shows that these classes of compounds can statistically divide analyzed samples into noncancerous and pathological groups, reaffirming that Raman imaging is a powerful technique for the histochemical analysis of human tissues. Raman biomarkers based on ratios for lipids/proteins/carotenoids content were found to be the most useful biomarkers in spectroscopic diagnostics.
Author Cooperation Network in Biology and Chemistry Literature during 2014–2018: Construction and Structural Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Jinsong , Yang Xue , Hu Xuan , Li Taoying
Published: July 2019

How to explore the interaction between an individual researcher and others in scientific research, find out the degree of association among individual researchers, and evaluate the contribution of researchers to the whole according to the mechanism and law of interaction, is of great significance to grasp the overall trend of the field. Scholars mostly use bibliometrics to solve these problems and analyze the citation and cooperation among academic achievements from the dimension of “quantity”. However, there is still no mature method for scholars to explore the evolution of knowledge and the relationship between authors; this paper tries to fill this gap. We narrow down the scope of research and focus the research content on the literature in biology and chemistry, collect all the papers from PubMed system (a very comprehensive authoritative database of biomedical papers) during 2014–2018, and take year as a specific analysis unit so as to improve the accuracy of the analysis. Then, we construct the author cooperation networks. Finally, through the above methods and steps, we identify the core authors of each year, analyze the recent cooperative relationships among authors, and predict some changes in the cooperative relationship among the authors based on the networks’ analytical data, evaluating and estimating the role that authors play in the overall field. Therefore, we expect that the cooperative authorship networks supported by the complex network theory can better explain the author’s cooperative relationship.
CNS Infections Caused by Brown-Black Fungi
Authors: Velasco Jon , Revankar Sanjay
Published: July 2019

Central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by brown-black or dematiaceous fungi are distinctly rare and represent a small proportion of infections termed phaeohyphomycoses. However, these are becoming more commonly reported. Though many fungi have been implicated in disease, most cases are caused by only a few species, Cladophialophora bantiana being the most common. Most of the fungi described are molds, and often cause infection in immunocompetent individuals, in contrast to infection with other more common molds such as Aspergillus, which is usually seen in highly immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis is challenging, as there are no specific tests for this group of fungi. In addition, these infections are often refractory to standard drug therapies, requiring an aggressive combined surgical and medical approach to improve outcomes, yet mortality remains high. There are no standardized treatments due to a lack of randomized clinical trials, though guidelines have been published based on available data and expert opinion.
Effect of CNTs in Copper Matrix on Mechanical Characteristics and Tribological Behavior under Dry Sliding and Boundary Lubrication Conditions
Authors: Zhao Lin , Yao Pingping , Zhou Haibin , Gong Taimin , Deng Minwen , Zhang Zhongyi , Xiao Yelong , Deng Hui , Li Yang , Luo Fenghua
Published: July 2019

In the present work, the mechanical and tribological properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced Cu matrix composites featuring 0–1.8 vol% CNTs prepared by spark plasma sintering under dry sliding and boundary lubrication conditions were investigated. The results of microstructure revealed that the bonding interface in Cu/CNT composites was very well established. Additionally, the addition of CNTs has a positive effect on improving the hardness and tensile strength of the composites, while the stress–strain response quasi-static tensile test confirms the same results. CNTs are proved to lead to certain self-lubrication. The addition of CNTs could result in decreased coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rates by reducing adhesive wear under dry sliding conditions, while the oil lubricating film was the major reason for decreased COF under boundary lubrication conditions.
Complex Study of Eutectoidal Phase Transformation of 2507-Type Super-Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: Mészáros István , Bögre Bálint
Published: July 2019

The aim of this work was to study expansively the process of the eutectoidal phase transformation of 2507-type super-duplex stainless steel. Three sample sets were prepared. The first sample set was made to investigate the effect of the previous cold rolling and heat treatment for the eutectoidal phase transformation. Samples were cold rolled at seven different rolling reductions which was followed by heat treatment at five different temperatures. The second sample set was prepared to determine the activation energy of the eutectoidal decomposition process using the Arrhenius equation. Samples were cold rolled at seven different rolling reductions and were heat treated at the same temperature during eight different terms. A third sample set was made to study how another plastic-forming technology, beside the cold rolling, can influence the eutectoidal decomposition. Samples were elongated by single axis tensile stress and were heat treated at the same temperature. The results of the first and the third sample sets were compared. The rest δ-ferrite contents were calculated using the results of AC and DC magnetometer measurements. DC magnetometer was used as a feritscope device in this work. Light microscope and electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD) images demonstrated the process of the eutectoidal decomposition. The thermoelectric power and the hardness of the samples were measured. The results of the thermoelectric power measurement were compared with the results of the δ-ferrite content measurement. The accurate value of the coercive field was determined by a Foerster-type DC coercimeter device.
Femtosecond Laser Nano/Micro Textured Ti6Al4V Surfaces—Effect on Wetting and MG-63 Cell Adhesion
Authors: Schnell Georg , Staehlke Susanne , Duenow Ulrike , Nebe J. Barbara , Seitz Hermann
Published: July 2019

Nano- and microstructured titanium surfaces have recently attracted attention in the field of regenerative medicine because of the influence which surface characteristics such as roughness and wettability can have on cellular processes. This study focuses on the correlation of surface properties (wettability and nano/micro texture) of laser-structured Ti6Al4V samples with pronounced cell adhesion. Samples were structured with multiple laser parameters in order to create a range of surface properties. Surface characterization was performed by contact angle measurements 1 and 7 days after laser processing. The arithmetic mean roughness of the material surface in an area (Sa) was determined by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Immediately after wettability tests of the laser-structured surfaces, in vitro experiments with human MG-63 osteoblasts were carried out. For this purpose, the cell morphology and actin cytoskeleton organization were analyzed using CLSM and scanning electron microscopy. On rough microstructures with deep cavities, the cell growth and spreading were inhibited. An improved cellular adhesion and growth on nanostructured and sinusoidal microstructured surfaces could be demonstrated, regardless of hydrophilicity of the surfaces.
Shape-Memory Polymers in Dentistry: Systematic Review and Patent Landscape Report
Authors: Bruni Alessandro , Serra Francesca Giulia , Deregibus Andrea , Castroflorio Tommaso
Published: July 2019

Objective: To perform a systematic review (SR) of existing literature and a patent landscape report (PLR) regarding the potential applications of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) in dentistry. Search strategy: Clinical and Biomedical online databases (Pubmed, Medline via Embase, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library), Materials Science and Engineering databases (IEEE Explore, Compendex, Proquest), Material Science and Chemical database (Reaxys) so as Patents databases (Questel-Orbit, Espacenet, Patentscope) were consulted as recently as January 2019 to identify all papers and patents potentially relevant to the review. The reference lists of all eligible studies were hand searched for additional published work. Results: After duplicate selection and extraction procedures, 6 relevant full-text articles from the initial 302 and 45 relevant patents from 497 were selected. A modified Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist of 14 items for reporting pre-clinical in-vitro studies was used to rate the methodological quality of the selected papers. The overall quality was judged low. Conclusions: Despite the great potential and versatility of SMPs, it was not possible to draw evidence-based conclusions supporting their immediate employment in clinical dentistry. This was due to the weak design and a limited number of studies included within this review and reflects the fact that additional research is mandatory to determine whether or not the use of SMPs in dentistry could be effective. Nevertheless, the qualitative analysis of selected papers and patents indicate that SMPs are promising materials in dentistry because of their programmable physical properties. These findings suggest the importance of furtherly pursuing this line of research.
Water Uptake and Transport Properties of La1−xCaxScO3−α Proton-Conducting Oxides
Authors: Lesnichyova Alyona , Stroeva Anna , Belyakov Semyon , Farlenkov Andrey , Shevyrev Nikita , Plekhanov Maksim , Khromushin Igor , Aksenova Tatyana , Ananyev Maxim , Kuzmin Anton
Published: July 2019

In this study, oxide materials La1−xCaxScO3−α (x = 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10) were synthesized by the citric-nitrate combustion method. Single-phase solid solutions were obtained in the case of calcium content x = 0.03 and 0.05, whereas a calcium-enriched impurity phase was found at x = 0.10. Water uptake and release were studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis, thermodesorption spectroscopy and dilatometry. It was shown that lower calcium content in the main phase leads to a decrease in the water uptake. Conductivity was measured by four-probe direct current (DC) and two-probe ascension current (AC) methods at different temperatures, pO2 and pH2O. The effects of phase composition, microstructure and defect structure on electrical conductivity, as well as correlation between conductivity and water uptake experiments, were discussed. The contribution of ionic conductivity of La1−xCaxScO3−α rises with decreasing temperature and increasing humidity. The domination of proton conductivity at temperatures below 500 °C under oxidizing and reducing atmospheres is exhibited. Water uptake and release as well as transport properties of La1−xCaxScO3−α are compared with the properties of similar proton electrolytes, La1−xSrxScO3−α, and the possible reasons for their differences were discussed.
Pore Structure Damages in Cement-Based Materials by Mercury Intrusion: A Non-Destructive Assessment by X-Ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Wang Xiaohu , Peng Yu , Wang Jiyang , Zeng Qiang
Published: July 2019

Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) is questioned for possibly damaging the micro structure of cement-based materials (CBMs), but this theme still has a lack of quantitative evidence. By using X-ray computed tomography (XCT), this study reported an experimental investigation on probing the pore structure damages in paste and mortar samples after a standard MIP test. XCT scans were performed on the samples before and after mercury intrusion. Because of its very high mass attenuation coefficient, mercury can greatly enhance the contrast of XCT images, paving a path to probe the same pores with and without mercury fillings. The paste and mortar showed the different MIP pore size distributions but similar intrusion processes. A grey value inverse for the pores and material skeletons before and after MIP was found. With the features of excellent data reliability and robustness verified by a threshold analysis, the XCT results characterized the surface structure of voids, and diagnosed the pore structure damages in terms of pore volume and size of the paste and mortar samples. The findings of this study deepen the understandings in pore structure damages in CBMs by mercury intrusion, and provide methodological insights in the microstructure characterization of CBMs by XCT.
Evaluation of Interfacial Fracture Toughness and Interfacial Shear Strength of Typha Spp. Fiber/Polymer Composite by Double Shear Test Method
Authors: Ikramullah  , Rizal Samsul , Nakai Yoshikazu , Shiozawa Daiki , Khalil H.P.S. Abdul , Huzni Syifaul , Thalib Sulaiman
Published: July 2019

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the Mode II interfacial fracture toughness and interfacial shear strength of Typha spp. fiber/PLLA and Typha spp. fiber/epoxy composite by using a double shear stress method with 3 fibers model composite. The surface condition of the fiber and crack propagation at the interface between the fiber and the matrix are observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Alkali treatment on Typha spp. fiber can make the fiber surface coarser, thus increasing the value of interfacial fracture toughness and interfacial shear strength. Typha spp. fiber/epoxy has a higher interfacial fracture value than that of Typha spp. fiber/PLLA. Interfacial fracture toughness on Typha spp. fiber/PLLA and Typha spp. fiber/epoxy composite model specimens were influenced by the matrix length, fiber spacing, fiber diameter and bonding area. Furthermore, the interfacial fracture toughness and the interfacial fracture shear stress of the composite model increased with the increasing duration of the surface treatment.
Experimental Investigation of Generating Laser Beams of on-Demand Lateral Field Distribution from Digital Lasers
Authors: Huang Cing-Yi , Chang Kuo-Chih , Chu Shu-Chun
Published: July 2019

A new type of laser system, known as a digital laser, was proposed in 2013. Many well-known laser beams with known analytical forms have been successfully generated in digital lasers. However, for a light field that does not have an analytical form, such as a multi-point light field or a light field with an arbitrary lateral distribution, how to generate such a light field from a digital laser has not been explored. The goal of this study was to experimentally explore how to generate an on-demand lateral laser field in a digital laser. In this study, a multi-point Gaussian laser beam was successfully generated in a digital laser by both controlling the range of the laser gain and the modulation of the phase boundary of the end of the cavity. This study then generated laser beams with an on-demand lateral field distribution by generating a superimposed multi-point laser field in a digital laser. Examples of triangles, rectangles, and letter T-shaped light fields produced by digital lasers were experimentally demonstrated. In summary, this study experimentally showed that a laser beam with an on-demand lateral field distribution could be generated in a digital laser by generating a superimposed multi-point laser field in a digital laser, in which a laser gain region covering the entire intra-cavity multi-point light field and the projected SLM (spatial light modulator) modulation function adopting a mimic amplitude mask are both used.
Enhanced Oil Spill Remediation by Adsorption with Interlinked Multilayered Graphene
Authors: Vocciante Marco , Finocchi Antonio , De Folly D′Auris Alessandra , Conte Alessandro , Tonziello Jacopo , Pola Annalisa , Reverberi Andrea Pietro
Published: July 2019

The performances of an innovative material based on graphene multilayers in a 3D structure similar to expanded graphite, Grafysorber® G+ (Directa Plus), have been tested via in field applications on a real contaminated site. Several experimental tests were performed using Grafysorber® inside adsorbent devices (booms and pillows) to treat waters polluted by oil. The experimental campaign was carried out with the aim of comparing the performances of Grafysorber® with those of polypropylene (PP), which is the material used worldwide in case of water oil spill clean-up activities. The results achieved have confirmed a considerably higher selective adsorption capacity of Grafysorber® compared to PP, and configure the new material as a promising alternative to standard materials in enhancing oil spill remediation by selective adsorption.
Marine Biosurfactants: Biosynthesis, Structural Diversity and Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Kubicki Sonja , Bollinger Alexander , Katzke Nadine , Jaeger Karl-Erich , Loeschcke Anita , Thies Stephan
Published: July 2019

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms. Marine bacteria have recently emerged as a rich source for these natural products which exhibit surface-active properties, making them useful for diverse applications such as detergents, wetting and foaming agents, solubilisers, emulsifiers and dispersants. Although precise structural data are often lacking, the already available information deduced from biochemical analyses and genome sequences of marine microbes indicates a high structural diversity including a broad spectrum of fatty acid derivatives, lipoamino acids, lipopeptides and glycolipids. This review aims to summarise biosyntheses and structures with an emphasis on low molecular weight biosurfactants produced by marine microorganisms and describes various biotechnological applications with special emphasis on their role in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments. Furthermore, novel exploitation strategies are suggested in an attempt to extend the existing biosurfactant portfolio.