bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Silyl Ether-Based Acid-Cleavable Antibody-MMAE Conjugates with Appropriate Stability and Efficacy
Authors: Wang Yanming , Fan Shiyong , Xiao Dian , Xie Fei , Li Wei , Zhong Wu , Zhou Xinbo
Published: July 2019

Antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) is a novel efficient drug delivery system that has been successfully used in clinical practice, and it has become a research hotspot in the anti-tumor drug field. Acid-cleavable linkers were first used in clinical ADCs, but their structural variety (e.g., hydrazone and carbonate) is still limited, and their stability is usually insufficient. Designing novel acid-cleavable linkers for the conjugation of the popular cytotoxin monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) has always been a significant topic. In this paper, we generate a novel, silyl ether-based acid-cleavable antibody-MMAE conjugate, which skillfully achieves efficient combination of amino-conjugated MMAE with the acid-triggered silyl ether group by introducing p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (PHB). The stability, acid-dependence cleavage, effective mechanism, efficacy and safety of the resulting ADC were systematically studied; the results show that it exhibits a significant improvement in stability, while maintaining appropriate efficacy and controlled therapeutic toxicity. This strategy is expected to expand a new type of acid-cleavable linkers for the development of ADCs with highly potent payloads.
Detection of AR-V7 in Liquid Biopsies of Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer Patients: A Comparison of AR-V7 Analysis in Circulating Tumor Cells, Circulating Tumor RNA and Exosomes
Authors: Nimir Mohammed , Ma Yafeng , Jeffreys Sarah A. , Opperman Thomas , Young Francis , Khan Tanzila , Ding Pei , Chua Wei , Balakrishnar Bavanthi , Cooper Adam , De Souza Paul , Becker Therese M.
Published: July 2019

Detection of androgen receptor (AR) variant 7 (AR-V7) is emerging as a clinically important biomarker in castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Detection is possible from tumor tissue, which is often inaccessible in the advanced disease setting. With recent progress in detecting AR-V7 in circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor RNA (ctRNA) and exosomes from prostate cancer patients, liquid biopsies have emerged as an alternative to tumor biopsy. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether these approaches differ in sensitivity in order to achieve the best possible biomarker characterization for the patient. In this study, blood samples from 44 prostate cancer patients were processed for CTCs and ctRNA with subsequent AR-V7 testing, while exosomal RNA was isolated from 16 samples and tested. Detection of AR and AR-V7 was performed using a highly sensitive droplet digital PCR-based assay. AR and AR-V7 RNA were detectable in CTCs, ctRNA and exosome samples. AR-V7 detection from CTCs showed higher sensitivity and has proven specificity compared to detection from ctRNA and exosomes. Considering that CTCs are almost always present in the advanced prostate cancer setting, CTC samples should be considered the liquid biopsy of choice for the detection of this clinically important biomarker.
Physicochemical Properties of Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia In-Flight Particles during Supersonic Atmospheric Plasma Spray
Authors: Ma Guozheng , He Pengfei , Chen Shuying , Kang Jiajie , Wang Haidou , Liu Ming , Zhao Qin , Li GuoLu
Published: July 2019

In order to achieve better knowledge of the thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) by supersonic atmospheric plasma spraying (SAPS) process, an experimental study was carried out to elaborate the physicochemical properties of particles in-flight during the SAPS process. One type of commercially available agglomerated and sintered yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) powder was injected into the SAPS plasma jet and collected by the shock chilling method. The YSZ particles’ in-flight physicochemical properties during the SAPS process, including melting state, morphology, microstructure, particle size distribution, element composition changes, and phase transformation, have been systematically analyzed. The melting state, morphology, and microstructure of the collected particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size distribution was measured by a laser diffraction particle size analyzer (LDPSA). Element compositions were quantitatively analyzed by an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer (EPMA). Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method was used to analyze the phase transformation. The results showed that the original YSZ powder injected into the SAPS plasma jet was quickly heated and melted from the outer layer companied with breakup and collision-coalescence. The outer layer of the collected particles containing roughly hexagonal shaped grains exhibited a surface texture with high sphericity and the inside was dense with a hollow structure. The median particle size had decreased from 45.65 to 42.04 μm. In addition to this, phase transformation took place, and the content of the zirconium (Zr) and yttrium (Y) elements had decreased with the evaporation of ZrO2 and Y2O3.
Ti(C, N) as Barrier Coatings
Authors: Banaszek Katarzyna , Klimek Leszek
Published: July 2019

Metals and their alloys are materials that have long been used in stomatological prosthetics and orthodontics. The side effects of their application include reactions of the body such as allergies. Their source can be corrosion products as well as metal ions released in the corrosion process, which penetrate the surrounding tissue. In order to prevent the harming effect of metal alloys, intensive research has been performed to purify metal prosthetic restorations by way of modifying their surface. The study presents the investigation results of Ti(C, N)-type coatings applied to alloy Ni–Cr by means of the magnetronic method. Five coatings differing in the nitrogen and carbon content were investigated. The studies included the determination of the coatings’ chemical composition, construction, as well as the amount of ions released into the environment: distilled water, 0.9% NaCl and artificial saliva. The performed investigations showed that, in reference to an alloy without a coating, each coating constitutes a barrier reducing the amount of ions transferred into the examined solutions. So, Ti(C, N)-type coatings can be considered for biomedical applications as protective coatings of non-precious metal alloys.
Efficiency of Skin Whitening Cream Containing Etlingera elatior Flower and Leaf Extracts in Volunteers
Authors: Whangsomnuek Nattawut , Mungmai Lapatrada , Mengamphan Kriangsak , Amornlerdpison Doungporn
Published: July 2019

Our previous research demonstrated that Etlingera elatior possesses whitening and anti-aging properties and also contains bioactive ingredients for cosmeceuticals. Therefore, this research work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of whitening cream containing both the flower and leaf extracts of E. elatior in human volunteers and their degree of skin irritation. Both the flower and leaf extracts were formulated as a cosmetic called “FL1 cream”, which was assessed for its physical properties and underwent an accelerated stability test. The FL1 cream was also evaluated for skin irritation and its skin whitening effect among 24 healthy volunteers who used it for four weeks. The FL1 cream demonstrated good physical stability under the various conditions for three months, along with six cycles of heating/cooling. The irritation analysis showed that irritation reactions were absent in all volunteers. The efficiency of FL1 cream in improving the appearance of skin whitening was demonstrated by a significant (p < 0.05) and continuous decrease in melanin content compared with the initial value. Additionally, the L* value was significantly and continuously increased after application of the FL1 cream. The highest melanin reduction was 6.67%. The FL1 cream containing E. elatior extracts can be used as a whitening cream in cosmetics.
Evaluating Approximate Point Forecasting of Count Processes
Authors: Homburg Annika , Weiß Christian H. , Alwan Layth C. , Frahm Gabriel , Göb Rainer
Published: July 2019

In forecasting count processes, practitioners often ignore the discreteness of counts and compute forecasts based on Gaussian approximations instead. For both central and non-central point forecasts, and for various types of count processes, the performance of such approximate point forecasts is analyzed. The considered data-generating processes include different autoregressive schemes with varying model orders, count models with overdispersion or zero inflation, counts with a bounded range, and counts exhibiting trend or seasonality. We conclude that Gaussian forecast approximations should be avoided.
Thermal Decomposition of a Single AdBlue® Droplet Including Wall–Film Formation in Turbulent Cross-Flow in an SCR System
Authors: Nishad Kaushal , Stein Marcus , Ries Florian , Bykov Viatcheslav , Maas Ulrich , Deutschmann Olaf , Janicka Johannes , Sadiki Amsini
Published: July 2019

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) methodology is notably recognized as the widely applied strategy for NOX control in exhaust after-treatment technologies. In real SCR systems, complex unsteady turbulent multi-phase flow phenomena including poly-dispersed AdBlue® spray evolve with a wide ranging relative velocity between the droplet phase and carrier gas phase. This results from an AdBlue® spray that is injected into a mixing pipe which is cross-flowing by a hot exhaust gas. To reduce the complexity while gaining early information on the injected droplet size and velocity needed for a minimum deposition and optimal conversion, a single droplet with a specified diameter is addressed to mimic a spray featuring the same Sauter Mean Diameter. For that purpose, effects of turbulent hot cross-flow on thermal decomposition processes of a single AdBlue® droplet are numerically investigated. Thereby, a single AdBlue® droplet is injected into a hot cross-flowing stream within a mixing pipe in which it may experience phase change processes including interaction with the pipe wall along with liquid wall–film and possible solid deposit formation. First of all, the prediction capability of the multi-component evaporation model and thermal decomposition is evaluated against the detailed simulation results for standing droplet case for which experimental data is not available. Next, exploiting Large Eddy Simulation features the effect of hot turbulent co- and cross-flowing streams on the dynamic droplet characteristics and on the droplet/wall interaction is analyzed for various droplet diameters and operating conditions. This impact is highlighted in terms of droplet evaporation time, decomposition efficiency, droplet trajectories and wall–film formation. It turns out that smaller AdBlue® droplet diameter, higher gas temperature and relative velocity lead to shorter droplet life time as the droplet evaporates faster. Under such conditions, possible droplet/wall interaction processes on the pipe wall or at the entrance front of the monolith may be avoided. Since the ammonia (NH3) gas generated by urea decomposition is intended to reduce NOX emission in the SCR system, it is apparent for the prediction of high NOX removal performance that UWS injector system which allows to realize such operating conditions is favorable to support high conversion efficiency of urea into NH3.
Increased Absorption with Al Nanoparticle at Front Surface of Thin Film Silicon Solar Cell
Authors: Mukti Rokeya Jahan , Hossain Md Rabiul , Islam Ariful , Mekhilef Saad , Horan Ben
Published: July 2019

This article presents an effective structural design arrangement for light trapping in the front surface of a thin film silicon solar cell (TFSC). Front surface light trapping rate is significantly enhanced here by incorporating the Aluminium (Al) nanoparticle arrays into silicon nitride anti-reflection layer. The light trapping capability of these arrays is extensively analyzed via Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method considering the wavelength ranging from 400 to 1100 nm. The outcome indicates that the structural parameters associated with the aluminium nanoparticle arrays like particle radii and separations between adjacent particles, play vital roles in designing the solar cell to achieve better light trapping efficiency. A detailed comparative analysis has justified the effectiveness of this approach while contrasting the results found with commonly used silver nanoparticle arrays at the front surface of the cell. Because of the surface plasmon excitation, lower light reflectance, and significant near field enhancement, aluminium nanoparticle arrays offer broadband light absorption by the cell.
An Investigation into the Limitations of Low Temperature District Heating on Traditional Tenement Buildings in Scotland
Authors: Millar Michael-Allan , Burnside Neil , Yu Zhibin
Published: July 2019

Domestic heating accounts for 64% of domestic energy usage in the UK, yet there are currently very few viable options for low carbon residential heating. The government’s carbon plan commits to improving the uptake of district heating connections in new build dwellings, but the greatest carbon saving can be made through targeting traditional housing stock. This paper aims to quantify the potential carbon and energy savings that can be made by connecting a traditional tenement building to a district heating scheme. The study uses a transient system simulation tool (TRNSYS) model to simulate the radiator system in a tenement block and shows that a significant benefit can be achieved by reducing the supply temperature; however, the minimum supply temperature is drastically limited by the building condition. Therefore, the study also critically compares the benefits of a lower supply temperature against minor refurbishments. It was found that improving building conditions alone could offer a 30% reduction in space heating energy consumption, while building improvements and integration of a river source heat pump could offer almost a 70% reduction. It is the recommendation of this study that a dwelling be improved as much as economically possible to achieve the greatest carbon and energetic savings.
Steady Flow of a Cement Slurry
Authors: Tao Chengcheng , Kutchko Barbara G. , Rosenbaum Eilis , Wu Wei-Tao , Massoudi Mehrdad
Published: July 2019

Understanding the rheological behavior of cement slurries is important in cement and petroleum industries. In this paper, we study the fully developed flow of a cement slurry inside a wellbore. The slurry is modeled as a non-linear fluid, where a constitutive relation for the viscous stress tensor based on a modified form of the second grade (Rivlin–Ericksen) fluid is used;we also propose a diffusion flux vector for the concentration of particles. The one-dimensional forms of the governing equations and the boundary conditions are made dimensionless and solved numerically. A parametric study is performed to present the effect of various dimensionless numbers on the velocity and the volume fraction profiles.
Real-Time Monitoring of Micro-Electricity Generation Through the Voltage Across a Storage Capacitor Charged by a Simple Microbial Fuel Cell Reactor with Fast Fourier Transform
Authors: Su Jung-Chieh , Tang Szu-Ching , Su Po-Jui , Su Jung-Jeng
Published: July 2019

The pattern of micro-electricity production of simple two-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFC) was monitored in this study. Piggery wastewater and anaerobic sludge served as fuel and inocula for the MFC, respectively. The output power, including voltage and current generation, of triplicate MFCs was measured using an on-line monitoring system. The maximum voltage obtained among the triplicates was 0.663 V. We also found that removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the piggery wastewater was 94.99 and 98.63%, respectively. Moreover, analytical results of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) demonstrated that the output current comprised alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) components, ranging from mA to μA.
A Carbide Slag-Based, Ca12Al14O33-Stabilized Sorbent Prepared by the Hydrothermal Template Method Enabling Efficient CO2 Capture
Authors: Ma Xiaotong , Li Yingjie , Qian Yi , Wang Zeyan
Published: July 2019

Calcium looping is a promising technology to capture CO2 from the process of coal-fired power generation and gasification of coal/biomass for hydrogen production. The decay of CO2 capture activities of calcium-based sorbents is one of the main problems holding back the development of the technology. Taking carbide slag as a main raw material and Ca12Al14O33 as a support, highly active CO2 sorbents were prepared using the hydrothermal template method in this work. The effects of support ratio, cycle number, and reaction conditions were evaluated. The results show that Ca12Al14O33 generated effectively improves the cyclic stability of CO2 capture by synthetic sorbents. When the Al2O3 addition is 5%, or the Ca12Al14O33 content is 10%, the synthetic sorbent possesses the highest cyclic CO2 capture performance. Under harsh calcination conditions, the CO2 capture capacity of the synthetic sorbent after 30 cycles is 0.29 g/g, which is 80% higher than that of carbide slag. The superiority of the synthetic sorbent on the CO2 capture kinetics mainly reflects at the diffusion-controlled stage. The cumulative pore volume of the synthetic sorbent within the range of 10–100 nm is 2.4 times as high as that of calcined carbide slag. The structure of the synthetic sorbent reduces the CO2 diffusion resistance, and thus leads to better CO2 capture performance and reaction rate.
Concentrated Photovoltaic/Thermal Hybrid System Coupled with a Thermoelectric Generator
Authors: Lashin Abdelrahman , Al Turkestani Mohammad , Sabry Mohamed
Published: July 2019

Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems have displayed an important cost reduction and in the next few years could offer a competitive cost advantage compared to that of flat plate PV systems. Such CPV systems require some cooling methods to overcome high operating temperatures, which reduces their efficiency significantly. On the other hand, thermoelectric generators (TEG) are devices that convert thermal energy directly to electrical energy, provided that there is a temperature difference between its two faces. A hybrid concentrator photovoltaic/thermal (CPV/T) system is proposed in this work. Such a system uses TEG in a two-fold manner: to passively cool down the CPV cell in order to maintain its power conversion efficiency in such high temperature conditions, and to use the accumulated thermal energy to generate electrical energy, which is added to the system’s total power output. Two types of solar cells were investigated, namely, Ga0.35In0.65P/Ga0.83In0.17As with efficiency an of 28% at 250X, and a Laser Grooved Buried Contact (LGBC) silicon concentrator PV cell with an efficiency of 18.3% at 40X. These cells are assumed to be coupled with two TEGs of the same type but with a different number of junctions. Experimental results showed that coupling TEG modules to a CPV system could be a useful method for enhancing the overall output power, provided that PV cells are chosen with a low efficiency temperature coefficient and high PV performance. Also, TEG modules have to be chosen with a high figure of merit. Moreover, the operating optical concentration ratio, as well as the covered area of the TEG, have to be optimized in order to maximize the total system output.
New Assessment Scales for Evaluating the Degree of Risk of Wind Turbine Blade Damage Caused by Terrain-Induced Turbulence
Authors: Uchida Takanori , Kawashima Yasushi
Published: July 2019

The present study scrutinized the impacts of terrain-induced turbulence on wind turbine blades, examining measurement data regarding wind conditions and the strains of wind turbine blades. Furthermore, we performed a high-resolution large-eddy simulation (LES) and identified the three-dimensional airflow structures of terrain-induced turbulence. Based on the LES results, we defined the Uchida-Kawashima Scale_1 (the U-K scale_1), which is a turbulence evaluation index, and clarified the existence of the terrain-induced turbulence quantitatively. The threshold value of the U-K scale_1 was determined as 0.2, and this index was confirmed to not be dependent on the inflow profile, the influence of the horizontal grid resolution, and the influence of the computed azimuth. In addition, we defined the Uchida-Kawashima Scale_2 (the U-K scale_2), which is a fatigue damage evaluation index based on the measurement data and the design value obtained by DNV GL’s Bladed. DNV GL (Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyed) is a third party certification body in Norway, and Bladed has been the industry standard aero-elastic wind turbine modeling software. Using the U-K scale_2, the following results were revealed: the U-K scale_2 was 0.86 < 1.0 (within the designed value) in the case of northerly wind, and the U-K scale_2 was 1.60 > 1.0 (exceeding the designed value) in the case of easterly wind. As a result, it was revealed that the blades of the target wind turbine were directly and strongly affected by terrain-induced turbulence when easterly winds occurred.
The Influence of Freezing Temperature Storage on the Mechanical Durability of Commercial Pellets from Biomass
Authors: Dyjakon Arkadiusz , Noszczyk Tomasz
Published: July 2019

The interest in pellets utilization for households heating has been growing significantly in the last several years. However, the pellets need to meet certain quality requirements, including the mechanical durability (DU) index. In the winter seasons, the pellets are very often stored in unheated in-door systems or are transported by trucks over long distances. As a result, the pellets are exposed to external weather factors, including very low temperatures (even freezing ones), which can have a negative impact on the quality parameters of the fuel. There are several parameters affecting mechanical durability, but little is known about the influence of a very low temperature on the pellet properties. The aim of this research was to analyze the influence of freezing temperature storage on the mechanical durability of commercial pellets made of different biomass. The research was carried out in accordance with the international standard for solid biofuels PN-EN ISO 17831-1:2016-02. The samples were investigated under three different conditions: after normal storage conditions (20 °C), after frozen storage conditions (−28 °C) and after the defrosting of the pellets. The results revealed that the freezing process and subsequent defrosting of the pellets only causes a small drop in their mechanical durability in comparison to the normal storage conditions. The highest mechanical durability was established for digestate pellet and pine sawdust pellet, at 99.0 ± 0.1% and 98.7 ± 0.1% respectively (p < 0.05). The greatest change of mechanical durability was observed after the defrosting process of pellets, which in the initial stage and at the normal storage temperature were characterized by low mechanical durability. The pellets made of sunflower husk (DU = 87.4%) and coal/straw blend (DU = 96.2%) were distinguished by the highest change in their mechanical durability (ΔDU = 1.7%, p < 0.05). Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the storage of pellets at freezing temperature does not significantly affect their mechanical durability. However, if the mechanical durability decreases, this result is related to pellets with low initial mechanical durability.
Contrasting Development of Canopy Structure and Primary Production in Planted and Naturally Regenerated Red Pine Forests
Authors: Hickey Laura J. , Atkins Jeff , Fahey Robert T. , Kreider Mark R. , Wales Shea B. , Gough Christopher M.
Published: July 2019

Globally, planted forests are rapidly replacing naturally regenerated stands but the implications for canopy structure, carbon (C) storage, and the linkages between the two are unclear. We investigated the successional dynamics, interlinkages and mechanistic relationships between wood net primary production (NPPw) and canopy structure in planted and naturally regenerated red pine (Pinus resinosa Sol. ex Aiton) stands spanning ≥ 45 years of development. We focused our canopy structural analysis on leaf area index (LAI) and a spatially integrative, terrestrial LiDAR-based complexity measure, canopy rugosity, which is positively correlated with NPPw in several naturally regenerated forests, but which has not been investigated in planted stands. We estimated stand NPPw using a dendrochronological approach and examined whether canopy rugosity relates to light absorption and light–use efficiency. We found that canopy rugosity increased similarly with age in planted and naturally regenerated stands, despite differences in other structural features including LAI and stem density. However, the relationship between canopy rugosity and NPPw was negative in planted and not significant in naturally regenerated stands, indicating structural complexity is not a globally positive driver of NPPw. Underlying the negative NPPw-canopy rugosity relationship in planted stands was a corresponding decline in light-use efficiency, which peaked in the youngest, densely stocked stand with high LAI and low structural complexity. Even with significant differences in the developmental trajectories of canopy structure, NPPw, and light use, planted and naturally regenerated stands stored similar amounts of C in wood over a 45-year period. We conclude that widespread increases in planted forests are likely to affect age-related patterns in canopy structure and NPPw, but planted and naturally regenerated forests may function as comparable long-term C sinks via different structural and mechanistic pathways.
An Image Authentication Scheme Using Merkle Tree Mechanisms
Authors: Chen Yi-Cheng , Chou Yueh-Peng , Chou Yung-Chen
Published: July 2019

Research on digital image processing has become quite popular and rapid in recent years, and scholars have proposed various image verification mechanisms. Similarly , blockchain technology has also become very popular in recent years. This paper proposes a new image verification mechanism based on the Merkle tree technique in the blockchain. The Merkle tree root in the blockchain mechanism provides a reliable environment for storage of image features. In image verification, the verification of each image can be performed by the Merkle tree mechanism to obtain the hash value of the Merkle tree node on the path. In addition, the method combines the Inter-Planetary File System (IPFS) to improve the availability of images. The main purpose of this paper is to achieve the goal of image integrity verification. The proposed method can not only verify the integrity of the image but also restore the tampered area in the case of image tampering. Since the proposed method employs the blockchain mechanism, the image verification mechanism does not need third party resources . The verification method is performed by each node in the blockchain network. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method successfully achieved the goal of image authentication and tampered area restoration.
Insight into the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Lysosomal Storage Disorders
Authors: Tancini Brunella , Buratta Sandra , Sagini Krizia , Costanzi Eva , Delo Federica , Urbanelli Lorena , Emiliani Carla
Published: July 2019

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have received increasing attention over the last two decades. Initially, they were considered as just a garbage disposal tool; however, it has progressively become clear that their protein, nucleic acid (namely miRNA and mRNA), and lipid contents have signaling functions. Besides, it has been established that cells release different types of vesicular structures for which characterization is still in its infancy. Many stress conditions, such as hypoxia, senescence, and oncogene activation have been associated with the release of higher levels of EVs. Further, evidence has shown that autophagic–lysosomal pathway abnormalities also affect EV release. In fact, in neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of toxic proteins, although it has not become clear to what extent the intracellular storage of undigested materials itself has beneficial/adverse effects, these proteins have also been shown to be released extracellularly via EVs. Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are characterized by accumulation of undigested substrates within the endosomal–lysosomal system, due either to genetic mutations in lysosomal proteins or to treatment with pharmacological agents. Here, we review studies investigating the role of lysosomal and autophagic dysfunction on the release of EVs, with a focus on studies exploring the release of EVs in LSD models of both genetic and pharmacological origin. A better knowledge of EV-releasing pathways activated in lysosomal stress conditions will provide information on the role of EVs in both alleviating intracellular storage of undigested materials and spreading the pathology to the neighboring tissue.
Steroids as Environmental Compounds Recalcitrant to Degradation: Genetic Mechanisms of Bacterial Biodegradation Pathways
Authors: Olivera Elías R. , Luengo José M.
Published: July 2019

Steroids are perhydro-1,2-cyclopentanophenanthrene derivatives that are almost exclusively synthesised by eukaryotic organisms. Since the start of the Anthropocene, the presence of these molecules, as well as related synthetic compounds (ethinylestradiol, dexamethasone, and others), has increased in different habitats due to farm and municipal effluents and discharge from the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the highly hydrophobic nature of these molecules, as well as the absence of functional groups, makes them highly resistant to biodegradation. However, some environmental bacteria are able to modify or mineralise these compounds. Although steroid-metabolising bacteria have been isolated since the beginning of the 20th century, the genetics and catabolic pathways used have only been characterised in model organisms in the last few decades. Here, the metabolic alternatives used by different bacteria to metabolise steroids (e.g., cholesterol, bile acids, testosterone, and other steroid hormones), as well as the organisation and conservation of the genes involved, are reviewed.
Building a Practice-Based Research Agenda for Wildfire Smoke and Health: A Report of the 2018 Washington Wildfire Smoke Risk Communication Stakeholder Synthesis Symposium
Authors: Errett Nicole A. , Roop Heidi A. , Pendergrast Claire , Kramer C. Bradley , Doubleday Annie , Tran Kim Anh , Busch Isaksen Tania M.
Published: July 2019

Background: As climate change is expected to result in more frequent, larger fires and associated smoke impacts, creating and sustaining wildfire smoke-resilient communities is an urgent public health priority. Following two summers of persistent and extreme wildfire smoke events in Washington state, the need for additional research on wildfire smoke health impacts, risk communication, and risk reduction, and an associated greater coordination between researcher and practitioner communities, is of paramount importance. Objectives: On 30 October 2018, the University of Washington hosted a Wildfire Smoke Risk Communication Stakeholder Synthesis Symposium in Seattle, Washington. The goals of the symposium were to identify and prioritize practice-based information gaps necessary to promote effective wildfire smoke risk communication and risk reduction across Washington state, foster collaboration among practitioners and academics to address information gaps using research, and provide regional stakeholders with access to the best available health and climate science about current and future wildfire risks. Methods: Seventy-six Washington state practitioners and academics with relevant professional responsibilities or expertise in wildfire smoke and health engaged in small group discussions using the “World Café Method” to identify practice-relevant research needs related to wildfire smoke and health. Notes from each discussion were coded and qualitatively analyzed using a content analysis approach. Discussion: Washington state’s public health and air quality practitioners need additional evidence to communicate and reduce wildfire smoke risk. Exposure, health risk, risk communication, behavior change and interventions, and legal and policy research needs were identified, along with the need to develop research infrastructure to support wildfire smoke and health science. Practice-relevant, collaborative research should be prioritized to address this increasing health threat.
Dropout from Court-Mandated Intervention Programs for Intimate Partner Violence Offenders: The Relevance of Alcohol Misuse and Cognitive Impairments
Authors: Romero-Martínez Ángel , Lila Marisol , Gracia Enrique , Moya-Albiol Luis
Published: July 2019

There is considerable interest in offering insight into the mechanisms that might explain why certain perpetrators of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) drop out of interventions. Although several socio-demographic variables and attitudes towards IPVAW have been proposed as risk factors for IPVAW perpetrators’ dropout, less attention has been paid to alcohol misuse, and its interactions with empathic and cognitive deficits, in the discontinuation of the treatment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to compare the profile of a carefully selected sample of IPVAW perpetrators, divided into four groups: those who completed the intervention with low (n = 267) and high alcohol consumption (n = 67); and those who dropped out before the intervention ended with low (n = 62).and high alcohol consumption (n = 27). Furthermore, we also studied the initial risk before the intervention started and the official IPVAW recidivism during the first year after the intervention ended. Our results revealed that IPVAW perpetrators, especially those who did not complete the intervention and had high alcohol consumption/alcohol misuse, were less accurate in decoding emotional facial signals and presented more errors and perseverative errors than those who completed the intervention. These differences were particularly marked in comparison with those who showed less alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the first group also presented the highest risk (assessed by therapists) and official recidivism rate (official records). Conversely, the lowest rate of IPVAW reoffending was presented by IPVAW treatment completers with low alcohol consumption. Hence, our study identifies different targets that should be addressed during the initial stages of interventions in order to prevent or reduce IPVAW dropout, which in turn might reduce violence recidivism in the long term through their effects on emotional information processing and behavioural regulation.
Solutions and Integrated Strategies for the Control and Mitigation of Plastic and Microplastic Pollution
Authors: Prata Joana C. , Silva Ana L. Patrício , da Costa João P. , Mouneyrac Catherine , Walker Tony R. , Duarte Armando C. , Rocha-Santos Teresa
Published: July 2019

Plastic pollution is generated by the unsustainable use and disposal of plastic products in modern society, threatening economies, ecosystems, and human health. Current clean-up strategies have attempted to mitigate the negative effects of plastic pollution but are unable to compete with increasing quantities of plastic entering the environment. Thus, reducing inputs of plastic to the environment must be prioritized through a global multidisciplinary approach. Mismanaged waste is a major land-based source of plastic pollution that can be reduced through improvements in the life-cycle of plastics, especially in production, consumption, and disposal, through an Integrated Waste Management System. In this review paper, we discuss current practices to improve life cycle and waste management of plastics that can be implemented to reduce health and environmental impacts of plastics and reduce plastics pollution. Ten recommendations for stakeholders to reduce plastic pollution include (1) regulation of production and consumption; (2) eco-design; (3) increasing the demand for recycled plastics; (4) reducing the use of plastics; (5) use of renewable energy for recycling; (6) extended producer responsibility over waste; (7) improvements in waste collection systems; (8) prioritization of recycling; (9) use of bio-based and biodegradable plastics; and (10) improvement in recyclability of e-waste.
Well-Being and Romantic Relationships: A Systematic Review in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Authors: Gómez-López Mercedes , Viejo Carmen , Ortega-Ruiz Rosario
Published: July 2019

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are both stages in which romantic relationships play a key role in development and can be a source of both well-being and negative outcomes. However, the limited number of studies prior to adulthood, along with the multiplicity of variables involved in the romantic context and the considerable ambiguity surrounding the construct of well-being, make it difficult to reach conclusions about the relationship between the two phenomena. This systematic review synthesizes the results produced into this topic over the last three decades. A total of 112 studies were included, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. On the one hand, these works revealed the terminological heterogeneity in research on well-being and the way the absence of symptoms of illness are commonly used to measure it, while on the other hand, they also showed that romantic relationships can be an important source of well-being for both adolescents and emerging adults. The findings underline the importance of providing a better definition of well-being, as well as to attribute greater value to the significance of romantic relationships. Devoting greater empirical, educational, and community efforts to romantic development in the stages leading up to adulthood are considered necessary actions in promoting the well-being of young people.
Measuring Rural Food Environments for Local Action in Australia: A Systematic Critical Synthesis Review
Authors: Love Penelope , Whelan Jillian , Bell Colin , McCracken Jane
Published: July 2019

Poor diet is a significant contributor to obesity and chronic disease. With all being more prevalent in rural than urban Australia, modifying the food environment is a potential intervention point to improve the health of rural populations. This review examined the applicability of measurement tools used in rural food environment research for rural Australia. Six electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature, published in English between 2006 and 2018, including at least one objective measure of the Community or Consumer Food Environment in a rural or mixed rural/urban context. One-hundred and seventy-seven papers were returned after removal of duplicates, with a final review of 25. Most studies were cross-sectional, with one intervention study of quasi-experimental design. Nine studies employed a conceptual model; there was considerable variability in tools used; and few described psychometric testing. The most common attribute measured was price, followed by available healthy options. The findings of this review do not offer a suite of ‘gold standard’ measurement tools known to be reliable, valid and sensitive to change to assess the community or consumer food environments in rural Australian towns. However, recommendations are proposed to progress this important area of research within a rural context.
Alcohol Use Disorder among Patients Suffered from Road Collisions in a Vietnamese Delta Province
Authors: Vu Hai Minh , Tran Tung Thanh , Vu Giang Thu , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Nguyen Chau Minh , Vu Linh Gia , Tran Tung Hoang , Tran Bach Xuan , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S.H. , Ho Roger C.M.
Published: July 2019

Traffic collisions have continuously been ranked amongst the top causes of deaths in Vietnam. In particular, drinking has been recognized as a major factor amplifying the likelihood of traffic collisions in various settings. This study aims to examine the relationship between alcohol use and traffic collisions in the current context of Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 413 traffic collisions patients in six health facilities in the Thai Binh Province to investigate the level of alcohol consumption and identify factors influencing alcohol use among these patients. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) scale was used to determine the problematic drinking behavior of the participants. The percentage of patients having problematic drinking was more than 30%. Being male, having a high household income, and working as farmer/worker were risk factors for alcohol abuse. People causing accidents and patients with a traumatic brain injury had a higher likelihood of drinking alcohol before the accidents. This study highlights the necessity of more stringent laws on reducing drink-driving in Vietnam. In addition, more interventions, especially those utilizing mass media like educational campaign of good behavior on social networks, are necessary to reduce alcohol consumption in targeted populations in order to decrease the prevalence and burden of road injuries.
Early Response of Radish to Heat Stress by Strand-Specific Transcriptome and miRNA Analysis
Authors: Yang Zhuang , Li Wen , Su Xiao , Ge Pingfei , Zhou Yan , Hao Yuanyuan , Shu Huangying , Gao Chonglun , Cheng Shanhan , Zhu Guopeng , Wang Zhiwei
Published: July 2019

Radish is a crucial vegetable crop of the Brassicaceae family with many varieties and large cultivated area in China. Radish is a cool season crop, and there are only a few heat tolerant radish varieties in practical production with little information concerning the related genes in response to heat stress. In this work, some physiological parameter changes of young leaves under short-term heat stress were detected. Furthermore, we acquired 1802 differentially expressed mRNAs (including encoding some heat shock proteins, heat shock factor and heat shock-related transcription factors), 169 differentially expressed lncRNAs and three differentially expressed circRNAs (novel_circ_0000265, novel_circ_0000325 and novel_circ_0000315) through strand-specific RNA sequencing technology. We also found 10 differentially expressed miRNAs (ath-miR159b-3p, athmiR159c, ath-miR398a-3p, athmiR398b-3p, ath-miR165a-5p, ath-miR169g-3p, novel_86, novel_107, novel_21 and ath-miR171b-3p) by small RNA sequencing technology. Through function prediction and enrichment analysis, our results suggested that the significantly possible pathways/complexes related to heat stress in radish leaves were circadian rhythm-plant, photosynthesis—antenna proteins, photosynthesis, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, arginine and proline metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, peroxisome and plant hormone signal transduction. Besides, we identified one lncRNA–miRNA–mRNAs combination responsive to heat stress. These results will be helpful for further illustration of molecular regulation networks of how radish responds to heat stress.
Application of Butylamine as a Conjugative Reagent to On-Column Derivatization for the Determination of Antioxidant Amino Acids in Brain Tissue, Plasma, and Urine Samples
Authors: Borowczyk Kamila , Olejarz Patrycja , Kamińska Adrianna , Głowacki Rafał , Chwatko Grażyna
Published: July 2019

(1) Antioxidants are involved in body protection mechanisms against reactive oxygen species. Amino acids such as glutathione (GSH) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) are known to be involved in providing protection against oxidative lethality. A quick and simple method for the determination of NAC and GSH in various biological matrices such as urine, plasma, and homogenates of brain tissues has been developed and described in this work. (2) The assay is based on reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography with spectrofluorimetric detection and on-column derivatization. Butylamine and o-phthaldialdehyde have been used as derivatization reagents. Since o-phthaldialdehyde constitutes a part of the mobile phase, the derivatization reaction and chromatographic separation occur simultaneously. (3) Linearity in the detector response for NAC in human urine was observed in the range of 5–200 nmol mL−1, and NAC and GSH in the brain tissue homogenates were observed in the range of 0.5–5 nmol mL−1 and 0.5–15 nmol mL−1, respectively. Human plasma linearity ranges covered 0.25–5.00 nmol mL−1 and 0.5–15 nmol mL−1 for NAC and GSH, respectively. The LODs for NAC and GSH were 0.01 and 0.02 nmol mL−1 while the LOQs were 0.02 and 0.05 nmol mL−1, respectively. The usefulness of the proposed method was proven through its application to real samples.
Unhealthy Levels of Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Mexican Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes and Its Association to Altered Expression of miRNAs Involved with Metabolic Disease
Authors: Martínez-Ibarra Alejandra , Martínez-Razo Luis Daniel , Vázquez-Martínez Edgar Ricardo , Martínez-Cruz Nayeli , Flores-Ramírez Rogelio , García-Gómez Elizabeth , López-López Marisol , Ortega-González Carlos , Camacho-Arroyo Ignacio , Cerbón Marco
Published: July 2019

Several studies indicate that bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates may have a role in the development of metabolic diseases using different molecular pathways, including epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. However, it is unclear whether exposure to these chemicals modifies serum levels of miRNAs associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. In the present study, we evaluated the serum levels of miRNAs associated with GDM (miR-9-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-29a-3p and miR-330-3p) and urinary levels of phthalate metabolites (mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and mono(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (MEHP)) and bisphenol A in GDM patients and women without GDM during the second trimester of gestation. We observed higher levels of miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p and miR-330-3p in sera of patients with GDM compared to non-diabetic subjects. Phthalates were detected in 97–100% of urine samples, while BPA only in 40%. Urinary MEHP and BPA concentrations were remarkably higher in both study groups compared to previously reported data. Unadjusted MEHP levels and adjusted BPA levels were higher in non-diabetics than in GDM patients (p = 0.03, p = 0.02). We found positive correlations between adjusted urinary MBzP levels and miR-16-5p expression levels (p < 0.05), adjusted MEHP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.05). We also found negative correlations between unadjusted and adjusted MBP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05), unadjusted MiBP concentrations and miR-29a-3p expression levels (p < 0.01). Urinary MEHP levels reflect a striking exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in pregnant Mexican women. This study highlights the need for a regulatory strategy in the manufacture of several items containing endocrine disruptors in order to avoid involuntary ingestion of these compounds in the Mexican population.