bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The system of the key indicators of formation of attractive investment climate of Ukraine and peculiarities of their management
Authors: Gavatiuk Liudmyla , Korbutiak Alina , Sokrovolska Nataliya , Karvatskyi Maksym , Yurii Eduard
Published: February 2020

Ukraine, as a young country, is creating the investment market, which is the most important component of the national economy under the challenges and threats of the XXI century, instability and hybrid war. The study aims to analyze the investment climate and investment attractiveness of Ukraine and to identify key indicators through the political, legal, economic, social, and other conditions under which its investment market will become attractive. The dynamics investigation of foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows into Ukraine during 2002–2018, their structural analysis enabled to identify the periods of the most significant fluctuations and to state the reasons for such changes, to differentiate priority sectors of the Ukrainian economy being of financial interest to foreign investors, which is as a whole the basis of the attractive investment climate formation and management in the country.The methods of financial management system, including the method of SWOT analysis, were applied to determine investment weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities, considering the peculiarities of their management.As a consequence of the analysis on the reasons for the reduction of foreign investments in the country economy, it is proved that the proposed mechanism for improving the investment climate in the country will allow increasing FDI inflows and financing the general capital investments.
Pathways, background and outcomes of the transition to adulthood in the early 2000s in Hungary
Authors: Murinkó Lívia
Published: February 2020

In the present paper, we analyze the process of the transition to adulthood in contemporary Hungary. We identify typical pathways, describe them in terms of role transitions, as well as regarding their socio-economic and family background and various outcomes. In order to do so, we regard the transition to adulthood as a multi-dimensional and dynamic process. Using longitudinal data from four waves of the Hungarian Generations and Gender Survey (2001–2012), we apply the method of two-step latent class analysis to study the 1981–1983 birth cohort between ages 18–20 and 29–31. Our results indicate that the transitory period between adolescence and adulthood can be characterized by quite different role configurations. Four different pathways were identified. The most common one is characterized by prolonged education and delayed family formation (51%). Every fourth young person become employed early and form their own family late (24%), while 17% belongs to the early family formation group. Interestingly, the pathway that resembles a standard, linear model of transition to adulthood the most (rapid family formation after prolonged education) is the least frequent (9%). The four different pathways differ regarding their background and outcomes. Our results suggest that both becoming independent “too early” and “being stuck” in the postadolescent life phase may be associated with social disadvantage and they contribute to the transmission of social disadvantage across generations. Contrastingly, following the pathway of rapid family formation after prolonged education is a kind of “social privilege” and often leads to the most advantageous socio-economic status and wellbeing at around age 30.
Factores relacionados al diagnóstico de enfermería “deterioro de la dentición” en escolares
Authors: Delgado Galeano Mayut , García  Rueda Alexandra , Ibañez Alfonso Luz Eugenia , Villamizar Carvajal Beatriz , Alarcón Melendez Lizeth Johana
Published: February 2020

Introducción: El abordaje de la salud bucal es prioridad para la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y un factor importante para el desempeño de la enfermería en el entorno escolar. Objetivo: Establecer los factores relacionados con el deterioro de la dentición en escolares de 6 a 12 años.  Materiales y Método: Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, de corte transversal.  Muestra total de 197 estudiantes de primaria.  Muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, con edad entre 6 y 12 años en dos instituciones públicas de Bucaramanga, durante el año 2016. A partir de la revisión de la literatura se elaboró un cuestionario que se utilizó para la recolección de la información, teniendo en cuenta 18 factores relacionados y 15 características definitorias del diagnóstico de la enfermería mencionado y validado. Resultados: Los factores relacionados con mayor proporción fueron: nivel socioeconómico bajo 74,3% (145), sensibilidad al frío 68,5% (135), higiene oral ineficaz 56,3% (111) y predisposición genética 51% (100).  Las características definitorias más frecuentes fueron: mala oclusión, mala alineación dental (98,5%), caries en la corona (70,8%), dientes desgastados, erosión del esmalte, desgaste dental (68,5%), decoloración del esmalte dental (53,8%) y exceso de placa (50,3%). Conclusión: El rol de la enfermería escolar debe identificar los factores relacionados con el diagnóstico que tiene que ver con el “deterioro de la dentición” para orientar las intervenciones en niños escolares, y así mejorar la salud bucal como parte del autocuidado.  La evaluación del estado de la salud bucal es un componente prioritario en la valoración de la enfermería en los escolares. Las características definitorias del diagnóstico más frecuentes en la población infantil evaluada, fueron la mala oclusión y la caries.
Japon Bıldırcınlarında Canlı Ağırlık ile Bazı Yumurta Kalite Özellikleri Arasındaki İlişkiler
Authors: Şengül Ahmet Yusuf , Şengül Turgay , Çelik Şenol
Published: February 2020

Bu çalışma, Japon bıldırcınlarında (Coturnix coturnix japanica) canlı ağırlıktaki değişimin yumurtaların bazı dış ve iç kalite özellikleri üzerine etkilerini ve kalite özellikleri arasındaki ilişkileri araştırmak amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Denemede, bireysel kafeslerde yetiştirilen toplam 30 adet dişi bıldırcın ve bu bıldırcından elde edilen 180 adet yumurta kullanılmıştır. 30 adet bıldırcın ağırlıklarına göre 5 farklı grup olarak ele alınmış ve canlı ağırlık ortalamaları, 1., 2., 3., 4. ve 5. gruplar için sırasıyla; 238,0; 216,0; 202,3; 191,3 ve 174,0 g şeklinde oluşturulmuştur. İncelenen yumurtalar, bıldırcınlardan bireysel olarak toplanmış ve bıldırcınların canlı ağırlık gruplarına göre ayrılarak değerlendirme yapılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, yumurta ağırlığı, kabuk ağırlığı, kabuk kalınlığı, kabuk oranı, ak ağırlığı, ak oranı, sarı ağırlığı, sarı çapı ve sarı oranı gibi özellikler canlı ağırlıktan önemli düzeyde etkilenmiştir. Canlı ağırlık ile yumurta ağırlığı, ak ağırlığı ve sarı ağırlığı arasında önemli ve pozitif (sırasıyla, 0,28; 0,24 ve 0,25); canlı ağırlık ile şekil indeksi ve kabuk ağırlığı arasında ise önemli ve pozitif (sırasıyla, 0,17 ve 0,15) korelasyonlar saptanmıştır.
Doğal Floradan Toplanan Aktaş Yoncalarının (Melilotus alba Desr.) Bazı Kalite Özellikleri
Authors: Gülümser Erdem , Mut Hanife , Çopur Doğrusöz Medine , Başaran Uğur
Published: February 2020

Türkiye‘de kaliteli kaba yem açığı hayvansal üretimin en önemli sorunlarından biri iken, halen çok az sayıda yem bitkisinin tarımı yapılmaktadır. Diğer taraftan bitkisel gen kaynaklarının korunması, bugün dünyanın önemli bir sorunu haline gelmiştir. Nitekim biyolojik çeşitlilik, başta gıda olmak üzere insan yaşamının vazgeçilmez bir öğesi olup, 2030 yılına kadar bu kaynaklarının % 20‘sinin yok olacağı tahmin edilmektedir. Bu araştırma, Bilecik ili doğal florasından toplanan aktaş yoncalarının (Melilotus alba Desr.) bazı kalite özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada bitkiler çiçeklenme döneminde toplanmış ve 17 adet genotip incelenmiştir. Genotiplerde belirlenen kalite özelliklerinden ham protein, ADF, NDF, NYD, K, P, Mg, Ca ve Ca/P değerleri sırasıyla %11,99-21,07; %27,70-40,53; %43,31-55,84; 93,44-147,02; %1,300-2,807; %0,187-0,310; %0,127-0,350; %0,490-1,417 ve %2,05-5,92 arasında değişmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda Bilecik ili doğal florasından toplanan aktaş yoncalarının kalite özellikleri bakımından iyi değere sahip olduğu ve buna göre, 17 farklı lokasyondan toplanan aktaş yoncalarının hayvan beslenmesinde kullanılabileceği ve geleceğe yönelik ıslah çalışmaları için önemli bir potansiyele sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Samsun İli Çarşamba İlçesinde Çiftçilerin Tarımsal Mücadele İlaçları Kullanımında Çevreye Karşı Tutum ve Davranışları
Authors: Bayraktar Aybike , Boz Ismet
Published: February 2020

Bitkisel üretimde tarımsal mücadele ilaçlarının kullanımı verim ve kalite üzerinde olumlu etkilere sahipken, insan ve çevre sağlığına karşı ise olumsuz etkilere sahiptir. Tarımsal mücadelede kimyasal ilaçların yoğun ve bilinçsiz olarak kullanılması ve çevre dostu tarımsal mücadele yöntemlerinin kullanılmaması ile çevre kirlenmektedir. Bu durum uzun vadede biyo-çeşitliliğin azalması ve doğal dengenin bozulması gibi sorunlara neden olmaktadır. Tarımsal üretimde üreticilerin hastalık, zararlı ve yabancı otlar ile mücadele yöntemlerini etkili şekilde uygulayamamaları, gereksiz ve yanlış dozlarda ilaç kullanımının yaygın olması ve kimyasal mücadele dışında kalan yöntemlerin tercih edilmemesi gibi sorunlar bu araştırmanın önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Samsun ili Çarşamba İlçesinde bitkisel üretim yapan üreticilerin tarımsal mücadele ilaçları kullanımında çevreye karşı tutum ve davranışlarını incelemektir. Bu amaçlar doğrultusunda Samsun İli Çarşamba İlçesinde tabakalı oransal örnekleme yöntemi ile belirlenen 112 çiftçi ile anket çalışması yapılmıştır. Araştırma bulgularına göre bölgede çiftçilerin büyük çoğunluğu kimyasal mücadele yöntemlerini kullanırken diğer yöntemleri pek tercih etmemektedir. Çiftçiler ilaçların etki derecesini orta düzeyde bulurken ilaç fiyatlarını yüksek bulmaktadır. Yörede aşırı ilaçlamanın çevreyi olumsuz etkilediği yönünde bir algı varken, biyolojik mücadele yöntemleri yeterince bilinmemektedir. Çiftçilerin tarımsal ilaçları daha bilinçli bir şekilde kullanmaları ve kimyasal mücadele dışındaki yöntemleri uygulamaları için çeşitli araştırma, eğitim ve yayım çalışmaları yapılmalıdır.
Artistic Image as a Result of Reality Reflection and Construction
Authors: Maltseva Elena A.
Published: February 2020

The article is devoted to the analysis of artistic image as a gnoseological image. The concept of variety of cognition types, produced by contemporary epistemology, allows to consider art as a special type of cognitive relation to reality, and artistic image as a form of artistic cognition, a result of reality comprehension. In this case, the artistic image is studied from the viewpoint of two concepts — the knowledge understanding as a reflection of reality and as its construction. The analysis of the artistic image within the frame of the first concept (as a result of reality reflection) is traditional for Russian aesthetics. From this point of view, the artistic image is considered in three aspects — objective (it appears through the reality reflection by art), estimative (the artistic image includes an obvious or concealed estimation of reality) and operational (it is connected with creative transformation of reality in the process of its artistic comprehension). The concept of constructivism allows to consider the artistic cognition in other way, as an intense activity of the subject to construct reality. This article bases its argumentation on the idea, by V.A. Lektorsky, of removing the opposition between realism and constructivism through the recognition of the concept of constructive realism. Thereby, the artistic image is presented as the result of the creative activity of the artwork’s author, who transforms the reality, constructs a new, artistic reality, and the addressee, who is included in the artistic reality through actualization, identification, construction of meanings.
Music as Synergy and Non-Classical Model of Man
Authors: Gribanova Lyudmila M.
Published: February 2020

The article explores the phenomenon of music from the viewpoint of Man. In the philosophy of music, the connection with man is getting relevant, replacing the positivism, as well as the speculatism, common to music theories in the past, when formal logical methods were used.

The article focuses on the connection between man’s personal experience, his or her anthropological energy, that is the one that comes from the innermost foundations and utmost underlying feelings of the person (horror, pain, happiness, delight, and self-transcendence), and specific musical energy. In this rendering, we rest on the philosophical concept of the outstanding modern Russian thinker Sergey Khoruzhy. He describes man as an energetic entity formed by a limit-experience, which is the experience of reaching the limits of existence and consciousness. The synergistic approach to man continues the non-classical philosophical tradition of building the model of man using the categories like “energy”, “self-practice”, “limit-experience”, “constitution of man” and excluding the categories like “entity”, “substance”, “subject” present in the classical vision of man in European philosophy of the 17th—19th centuries.

The anthropological component of the non-classical synergistic concept of music includes the comprehension of man through a certain typification of man’s striving to reach the limits. This philosophical anthropology depicts man opening up to the ontological, ontical and virtual limits.

Music, as such synergy, stands for a projection of man, thus becoming the music of ontological, ontical and virtual striving. From this point of view, not only a specific concept of music is formed, different from other concepts, such as the concepts of music as a number and as an expression, but also an approach to the entire historical musical legacy and to musical practice, including composer’s, performer’s and listener’s activities.
BRONZE AGE ANTLER AND BONE SPINDLE WHORLS IN THE SOUTHEAST OF IBERIA
Authors: Basso Rial Ricardo E. , López Padilla Juan Antonio
Published: February 2020

The elaboration of spindle whorls for the manufacture of thread using spindles is attested in the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Neolithic. There is no evidence, however, of the use of materials other than stone or pottery to produce spindle whorls during this period. In the southeastern area of the Iberian Peninsula, spindle whorls of bone and antler begin to appear in archaeological contexts from the middle of the 2nd millennium. In this paper, we analyze the two different types of spindle whorls present and the techniques used in their manufacture. Likewise, we deal with the meanings of their presence in the framework of the textile production during the Middle and Late Bronze Age.
ROE DEER ANTLER AS A RAW MATERIAL IN THE HUNNO-SARMATIAN PERIOD IN THE NORTHERN ALTAI
Authors: Borodovskyi Andriey P. , Michalczewski Krzysztof , Oleszczak Łukasz
Published: February 2020

Antler of Cervidae was an important part of the raw material base in traditional manufacturing in Northern Altai during the Hunno-Sarmatian period (the first half of the 1st millennium CE). Several seasonal migration routes of the roe deer cross this territory. The processing of roe deer antler during the Hunno-Sarmatian period is well documented at several archaeological sites in the inter-mountain valley of the lower Katun River. The assortment of antler products is composed inter alia of tools, composite bow elements, arrowheads and horse harnesses. The natural occurrence and high quantity of the specific antler material affects differences in the technology of manufacture. Generally, the assortment of antler items of the Hunno-Sarmatian period from the Northern Altai is typical of the broader region of Southern Siberia, Central Asia and the forest steppes of Eastern Europe.
APROXIMACIÓN AL PROGRAMA ICONOGRÁFICO Y LA FUNCIÓN DE LOS TEMPLOS DE MILLONES DE AÑOS: EL CASO DE ESTUDIO DELHENEKET-ANKH DE TUTMOSIS III (LUXOR, EGIPTO)
Authors: Chapón Linda
Published: February 2020

Los Templos de Millones de Años, un tipo de edificio de culto que tuvo su apogeo durante el Reino Nuevo Egipcio, estaban destinados al culto del rey soberano y del Dios que acogía, esencialmente Amón-Ra. Encarnaban la simbiosis del rey y la divinidad y la eterna regeneración del poder real. En este sentido, si bien su arquitectura y programa decorativo podían ser parecidos al de otros templos propiamente “divinos”, estos debían manifestar una serie de patrones que marcaban las funciones que los hacía únicos. El Heneket-Ankh de Tutmosis III, situado en la orilla oeste de Tebas, es uno de aquellos Templos de Millones de Años. Su decoración ha sido objeto reciente de estudio y permite contribuir al conocimiento que tenemos de este tipo de templos, así como de su programa decorativo y simbólico.
Impact of Multienzymes Dose Supplemented Continuously or Intermittently in Drinking Water on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Blood Constituents of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Attia Youssef , El-kelawy Mahmoud , Al-Harthi Mohammed , El-Shafey Ali
Published: February 2020

The aim of this work was to study the continuous or intermittent impact of a multienzyme supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites of broilers, and to evaluate production index of dietary supplementation. A total of 315 unsexed day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed to seven treatments groups, keeping initial body weights similar, in 35-floor pens (replicates) of nine chicks per replicate (pen) and five experimental units per treatment. All experimental groups were fed the same basal diet and administered seven multienzyme treatments: the 1st group (control) did not receive any enzyme supplementation; the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were administered multienzymes at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mL/L drinking water, respectively. Each enzyme supplemented-group was divided into two subgroups, with additives being applied either continuously (24 h/day) or intermittently (12 h/day) from 1 to 35 days old. Regardless of administration method, multienzyme supplements at 1.0 mL/L water along with a corn-soybean meal diet increased the body weight gain (BWG) by 7.8% compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1–21 of age. In addition, 1.5 mL/L water significantly improved BWG by 5.1% of broilers compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1–35 of age. Enzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L water significantly enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 4.3% during days 1–21 of age, and FCR by 5.2% and European production index (EPI) by 10.4% during days 1–35 of age compared to the group on 0.5 mL/L water. For the whole period, there were improvements of beneficial consideration in BWG (4.0%), FCR (4.0%), and European production index (8.2%) due to continuous multienzyme supplementation at 0.5 mL/L water compared to the same dose added intermittently. A similar trend was observed due to intermittent multienzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water that resulted in increased BWG by (6.4%) and improved FCR by (6.7%) and EPI by (12.7%). Intermittent administration significantly increased feed intake of broilers during 22–35 days of age compared to continuous supplementation. Multienzymes at different doses did not significantly affect the digestibility of nutrients, blood serum biochemical constituent, inner body organs, and markers of functions of liver and renal organs. In conclusion, the highest BWG and the best FCR and EPI for the whole period were from broilers given continuous 1 and 1.5 mL/L drinking water or intermittent multienzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L drinking water. Furthermore, intermittent supplementation of enzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water and continuous supplementation at 0.5 mL/L drinking water can be investigated in further experiments as a tool to improve broiler growth performance and economic traits and to decrease the cost of enzyme application.
Internal Model Variability of the Regional Coupled System Model GCOAST-AHOI
Authors: Ho-Hagemann Ha Thi Minh , Hagemann Stefan , Grayek Sebastian , Petrik Ronny , Rockel Burkhardt , Staneva Joanna , Feser Frauke , Schrum Corinna
Published: February 2020

Simulations of a Regional Climate Model (RCM) driven by identical lateral boundary conditions but initialized at different times exhibit the phenomenon of so-called internal model variability (or in short, Internal Variability—IV), which is defined as the inter-member spread between members in an ensemble of simulations. Our study investigates the effects of air-sea coupling on IV of the regional atmospheric model COSMO-CLM (CCLM) of the new regional coupled system model GCOAST-AHOI (Geesthacht Coupled cOAstal model SysTem: Atmosphere, Hydrology, Ocean and Sea Ice). We specifically address physical processes parameterized in CCLM, which may cause a large IV during an extreme event, and where this IV is affected by the air-sea coupling. Two six-member ensemble simulations were conducted with GCOAST-AHOI and the stand-alone CCLM (CCLM_ctr) for a period of 1 September–31 December 2013 over Europe. IV is expressed by spreads within the two sets of ensembles. Analyses focus on specific events during this period, especially on the storm Christian occurring from 27 to 29 October 2013 in northern Europe. Results show that simulations of CCLM_ctr vary largely amongst ensemble members during the storm. By analyzing two members of CCLM_ctr with opposite behaviors, we found that the large uncertainty in CCLM_ctr is caused by a combination of two factors (1) uncertainty in parameterization of cloud-radiation interaction in the atmospheric model. and (2) lack of an active two-way air-sea interaction. When CCLM is two-way coupled with the ocean model, the ensemble means of GCOAST-AHOI and CCLM_ctr are relatively similar, but the spread is reduced remarkably in GCOAST-AHOI, not only over the ocean where the coupling is done but also over land due to the land-sea interactions.
Proteomic Analysis of Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB Mouse Brain
Authors: De Pasquale Valeria , Costanzo Michele , Siciliano Rosa , Mazzeo Maria , Pistorio Valeria , Bianchi Laura , Marchese Emanuela , Ruoppolo Margherita , Pavone Luigi , Caterino Marianna
Published: February 2020

Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB) is an inherited metabolic disease due to deficiency of α-N-Acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) enzyme with subsequent storage of undegraded heparan sulfate (HS). The main clinical manifestations of the disease are profound intellectual disability and neurodegeneration. A label-free quantitative proteomic approach was applied to compare the proteome profile of brains from MPS IIIB and control mice to identify altered neuropathological pathways of MPS IIIB. Proteins were identified through a bottom up analysis and 130 were significantly under-represented and 74 over-represented in MPS IIIB mouse brains compared to wild type (WT). Multiple bioinformatic analyses allowed to identify three major clusters of the differentially abundant proteins: proteins involved in cytoskeletal regulation, synaptic vesicle trafficking, and energy metabolism. The proteome profile of NAGLU−/− mouse brain could pave the way for further studies aimed at identifying novel therapeutic targets for the MPS IIIB. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD017363.
Dose Reduction to the Swallowing Apparatus and the Salivary Glands by De-Intensification of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: First (Treatment Planning) Results of the Prospective Multicenter DIREKHT Trial
Authors: Haderlein Marlen , Speer Stefan , Ott Oliver , Lettmaier Sebastian , Hecht Markus , Semrau Sabine , Frey Benjamin , Scherl Claudia , Iro Heinrich , Kesting Marco , Fietkau Rainer
Published: February 2020

Aim: Evaluating radiotherapy treatment plans of the prospective DIREKHT trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02528955) investigating de-intensification of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Patients and Methods: The first 30 patients from the DIREKHT trial of the leading study centre were included in this analysis. Standard treatment plans and study treatment plans derived from the protocol were calculated for each patient. Sizes of planning target volumes (PTVs) and mean doses to organs at risk were compared using the Student’s t-test with paired samples. Results: Mean PTV3 including primary tumor region and ipsilateral elective neck up to a dose of 50 Gy in the study treatment plans was 662 mL (+/− 165 mL standard deviation (SD)) and therefore significantly smaller than those of the standard treatment plans (1166 mL (+/− 266 mL SD). In the medial and inferior constrictor muscles, cricopharyngeal muscle, glottic and supraglottic laryngeal areas, arytenoid cartilages, contralateral major salivary glands highly significant dose reductions (p < 0.0001) of more than 10 Gy were achieved in study treatment plan compared to standard treatment plan. Conclusion: De-intensification of radiotherapy led to smaller planning target volumes and clinical relevant dose reductions in the swallowing apparatus and in the contralateral salivary glands.
Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 5-Scramblase Signaling Complex Mediates Neuronal Phosphatidylserine Externalization and Apoptosis
Authors: Guo Jizheng , Li Jie , Xia Lin , Wang Yang , Zhu Jinhang , Du Juan , Lu Yungang , Liu Guodong , Yao Xiaoqiang , Shen Bing
Published: February 2020

Phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1), a lipid-binding and Ca2+-sensitive protein located on plasma membranes, is critically involved in phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, an important process in cell apoptosis. Transient receptor potential canonical 5 (TRPC5), is a nonselective Ca2+ channel in neurons that interacts with many downstream molecules, participating in diverse physiological functions including temperature or mechanical sensation. The interaction between TRPC5 and PLSCR1 has never been reported. Here, we showed that PLSCR1 interacts with TRPC5 through their C-termini in HEK293 cells and mouse cortical neurons. Formation of TRPC5-PLSCR1 complex stimulates PS externalization and promotes cell apoptosis in HEK293 cells and mouse cerebral neurons. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that PS externalization in cortical neurons induced by artificial cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was reduced in TRPC5 knockout mice compared to wild-type mice, and that the percentage of apoptotic neurons was also lower in TRPC5 knockout mice than in wild-type mice. Collectively, the present study suggested that TRPC5-PLSCR1 is a signaling complex mediating PS externalization and apoptosis in neurons and that TRPC5 plays a pathological role in cerebral-ischemia reperfusion injury.
Cancer Stem Cells: Devil or Savior—Looking behind the Scenes of Immunotherapy Failure
Authors: Castagnoli Lorenzo , De Santis Francesca , Volpari Tatiana , Vernieri Claudio , Tagliabue Elda , Di Nicola Massimo , Pupa Serenella M.
Published: February 2020

Although the introduction of immunotherapy has tremendously improved the prognosis of patients with metastatic cancers of different histological origins, some tumors fail to respond or develop resistance. Broadening the clinical efficacy of currently available immunotherapy strategies requires an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying cancer immune escape. Globally, tumor cells evade immune attack using two main strategies: avoiding recognition by immune cells and instigating an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Emerging data suggest that the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy or molecularly targeted therapy is related to the ability of these therapies to target cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, little is known about the role of CSCs in mediating tumor resistance to immunotherapy. Due to their immunomodulating features and plasticity, CSCs can be especially proficient at evading immune surveillance, thus potentially representing the most prominent malignant cell component implicated in primary or acquired resistance to immunotherapy. The identification of immunomodulatory properties of CSCs that include mechanisms that regulate their interactions with immune cells, such as bidirectional release of particular cytokines/chemokines, fusion of CSCs with fusogenic stromal cells, and cell-to-cell communication exerted by extracellular vesicles, may significantly improve the efficacy of current immunotherapy strategies. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current scientific evidence linking CSC biological, immunological, and epigenetic features to tumor resistance to immunotherapy.
Deep Neural Networks and Transfer Learning for Food Crop Identification in UAV Images
Authors: Chew Robert , Rineer Jay , Beach Robert , O’Neil Maggie , Ujeneza Noel , Lapidus Daniel , Miano Thomas , Hegarty-Craver Meghan , Polly Jason , Temple Dorota S.
Published: February 2020

Accurate projections of seasonal agricultural output are essential for improving food security. However, the collection of agricultural information through seasonal agricultural surveys is often not timely enough to inform public and private stakeholders about crop status during the growing season. Acquiring timely and accurate crop estimates can be particularly challenging in countries with predominately smallholder farms because of the large number of small plots, intense intercropping, and high diversity of crop types. In this study, we used RGB images collected from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flown in Rwanda to develop a deep learning algorithm for identifying crop types, specifically bananas, maize, and legumes, which are key strategic food crops in Rwandan agriculture. The model leverages advances in deep convolutional neural networks and transfer learning, employing the VGG16 architecture and the publicly accessible ImageNet dataset for pretraining. The developed model performs with an overall test set F1 of 0.86, with individual classes ranging from 0.49 (legumes) to 0.96 (bananas). Our findings suggest that although certain staple crops such as bananas and maize can be classified at this scale with high accuracy, crops involved in intercropping (legumes) can be difficult to identify consistently. We discuss the potential use cases for the developed model and recommend directions for future research in this area.
Genome-Wide Identification of lncRNAs During Rice Seed Development
Authors: Zhao Juan , Ajadi Abolore Adijat , Wang Yifeng , Tong Xiaohong , Wang Huimei , Tang Liqun , Li Zhiyong , Shu Yazhou , Liu Xixi , Li Shufan , Wang Shuang , Liu Wanning , Zhang Jian
Published: February 2020

Rice seed is a pivotal reproductive organ that directly determines yield and quality. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as key regulators in plant development, but the roles of lncRNAs in rice seed development remain unclear. In this study, we performed a paired-end RNA sequencing in samples of rice pistils and seeds at three and seven days after pollination (DAP) respectively. A total of 540 lncRNAs were obtained, among which 482 lncRNAs had significantly different expression patterns during seed development. Results from semi-qPCR conducted on 15 randomly selected differentially expressed lncRNAs suggested high reliability of the transcriptomic data. RNA interference of TCONS_00023703, which is predominantly transcribed in developing seeds, significantly reduced grain length and thousand-grain weight. These results expanded the dataset of lncRNA in rice and enhanced our understanding of the biological functions of lncRNAs in rice seed development
Preliminary Evidence for the Role Played by South Westerly Wind Strength on the Marine Diatom Content of an Antarctic Peninsula Ice Core (1980–2010)
Authors: Allen Claire S. , Thomas Elizabeth R. , Blagbrough Hilary , Tetzner Dieter R. , Warren Richard A. , Ludlow Emily C. , Bracegirdle Thomas J.
Published: February 2020

Winds in the Southern Ocean drive exchanges of heat and carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere. Wind dynamics also explain the dominant patterns of both basal and surface melting of glaciers and ice shelves in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. Long records of past wind strength and atmospheric circulation are needed to assess the significance of these recent changes. Here we present evidence for a novel proxy of past south westerly wind (SWW) strength over the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas, based on diatoms preserved in an Antarctic Peninsula ice core. Ecological affinities of the identified diatom taxa indicate an almost exclusively marine assemblage, dominated by open ocean taxa from the Northern Antarctic Zone (NAZ). Back-trajectory analysis shows the routes of air masses reaching the ice core site and reveals that many trajectories involve contact with surface waters in the NAZ of the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. Correlation analyses between ice core diatom abundance and various wind vectors yield positive and robust coefficients for the 1980–2010 period, with average annual SWW speeds exhibiting the strongest match. Collectively, the data presented here provide new evidence that diatoms preserved in an Antarctic Peninsula ice core offer genuine potential as a new proxy for SWW strength.
Uncovering the Relationship between Human Connectivity Dynamics and Land Use
Authors: Novović Olivera , Brdar Sanja , Mesaroš Minučer , Crnojević Vladimir , N. Papadopoulos Apostolos
Published: February 2020

CDR (Call Detail Record) data are one type of mobile phone data collected by operators each time a user initiates/receives a phone call or sends/receives an sms. CDR data are a rich geo-referenced source of user behaviour information. In this work, we perform an analysis of CDR data for the city of Milan that originate from Telecom Italia Big Data Challenge. A set of graphs is generated from aggregated CDR data, where each node represents a centroid of an RBS (Radio Base Station) polygon, and each edge represents aggregated telecom traffic between two RBSs. To explore the community structure, we apply a modularity-based algorithm. Community structure between days is highly dynamic, with variations in number, size and spatial distribution. One general rule observed is that communities formed over the urban core of the city are small in size and prone to dynamic change in spatial distribution, while communities formed in the suburban areas are larger in size and more consistent with respect to their spatial distribution. To evaluate the dynamics of change in community structure between days, we introduced different graph based and spatial community properties which contain latent footprint of human dynamics. We created land use profiles for each RBS polygon based on the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service Urban Atlas data set to quantify the correlation and predictivennes of human dynamics properties based on land use. The results reveal a strong correlation between some properties and land use which motivated us to further explore this topic. The proposed methodology has been implemented in the programming language Scala inside the Apache Spark engine to support the most computationally intensive tasks and in Python using the rich portfolio of data analytics and machine learning libraries for the less demanding tasks.
Surviving the Antarctic Winter—Life Stage Cold Tolerance and Ice Entrapment Survival in The Invasive Chironomid Midge Eretmoptera murphyi
Authors: Bartlett Jesamine C. , Convey Peter , Hayward Scott A. L.
Published: February 2020

An insect’s ability to tolerate winter conditions is a critical determinant of its success. This is true for both native and invasive species, and especially so in harsh polar environments. The midge Eretmoptera murphyi (Diptera, Chironomidae) is invasive to maritime Antarctic Signy Island, and the ability of fourth instar larvae to tolerate freezing is hypothesized to allow the species to extend its range further south. However, no detailed assessment of stress tolerance in any other life stage has yet been conducted. Here, we report that, although larvae, pupae and adults all have supercooling points (SCPs) of around −5 °C, only the larvae are freeze-tolerant, and that cold-hardiness increases with larval maturity. Eggs are freeze-avoiding and have an SCP of around −17 °C. At −3.34 °C, the CTmin activity thresholds of adults are close to their SCP of −5 °C, and they are likely chill-susceptible. Larvae could not withstand the anoxic conditions of ice entrapment or submergence in water beyond 28 d. The data obtained here indicate that the cold-tolerance characteristics of this invasive midge would permit it to colonize areas further south, including much of the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
A New Risk Variant for Multiple Sclerosis at 11q23.3 Locus Is Associated with Expansion of CXCR5+ Circulating Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Gil-Varea Elia , Fedetz Maria , Eixarch Herena , Spataro Nino , Villar Luisa María , Urcelay Elena , Saiz Albert , Fernández Óscar , Leyva Laura , Ramió-Torrentà Lluís , Vandenbroeck Koen , Otaegui David , Castillo-Triviño Tamara , Izquierdo Guillermo , Malhotra Sunny , Bosch Elena , Navarro Arcadi , Alcina Antonio , Montalban Xavier , Matesanz Fuencisla , Comabella Manuel
Published: February 2020

Genome-wide association studies and meta-analysis have contributed to the identification of more than 200 loci associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, a proportion of MS heritability remains unknown. We aimed to uncover new genetic variants associated with MS and determine their functional effects. For this, we resequenced the exons and regulatory sequences of 14 MS risk genes in a cohort of MS patients and healthy individuals (n = 1070) and attempted to validate a selection of signals through genotyping in an independent cohort (n = 5138). We identified three new MS-associated variants at C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5), Ts translation elongation factor, mitochondrial (TSFM) and cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1). Rs10892307 resulted in a new signal at the CXCR5 region that explains one of the associations with MS within the locus. This polymorphism and three others in high linkage disequilibrium mapped within regulatory regions. Of them, rs11602393 showed allele-dependent enhancer activity in the forward orientation as determined by luciferase reporter assays. Immunophenotyping using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MS patients associated the minor allele of rs10892307 with increased percentage of regulatory T cells expressing CXCR5. This work reports a new signal for the CXCR5 MS risk locus and points to rs11602393 as the causal variant. The expansion of CXCR5+ circulating regulatory T cells induced by this variant could cause its MS association.
A Comprehensive Review of the Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Applications of Red Seaweeds (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Cotas João , Leandro Adriana , Pacheco Diana , Gonçalves Ana M. M. , Pereira Leonel
Published: February 2020

The red seaweed group (Rhodophyta) is one of the phyla of macroalgae, among the groups Phaeophyceae and Chlorophyta, brown and green seaweeds, respectively. Nowadays, all groups of macroalgae are getting the attention of the scientific community due to the bioactive substances they produce. Several macroalgae products have exceptional properties with nutraceutical, pharmacological, and biomedical interest. The main compounds studied are the fatty acids, pigments, phenols, and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are the most exploited molecules, which are already widely used in various industries and are, presently, entering into more advanced applications from the therapeutic point of view. The focuses of this review are the red seaweeds’ compounds, its proprieties, and its uses. Moreover, this work discusses new possible applications of the compounds of the red seaweeds.
Apoptosis Induced by (−)-Epicatechin in Human Breast Cancer Cells is Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Pereyra-Vergara Fernando , Olivares-Corichi Ivonne María , Perez-Ruiz Adriana Guadalupe , Luna-Arias Juan Pedro , García-Sánchez José Rubén
Published: February 2020

(−)-Epicatechin is a phenolic compound with antioxidant activity that is present in natural food and drinks, such as cocoa and red wine. Evidence suggests that (−)-epicatechin exhibits anticancer activity; however, its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of (−)-epicatechin and its mechanism of action in breast cancer cells. We assessed the anticancer activity by cell proliferation assays, apoptosis by DNA fragmentation and flow cytometry. The expression of proteins associated with apoptosis was analyzed by the human apoptosis array. MitoSOXTM Red and biomarkers of oxidative damage were used to measure the effect of (−)-epicatechin on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular damage, respectively. (−)-Epicatechin treatment caused a decreasing in the viability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. This cell death was associated with DNA fragmentation and an apoptotic proteomic profile. Further, (−)-epicatechin in MDA-MB-231 cells upregulated death receptor (DR4/DR5), increased the ROS production, and modulated pro-apoptotic proteins. In MCF-7 cells, (−)-epicatechin did not involve death receptor; however, an increase in ROS and the upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bad and Bax) were observed. These changes were associated with the apoptosis activation through the intrinsic pathway. In conclusion, this study shows that (−)-epicatechin has anticancer activity in breast cancer cells and provides novel insight into the molecular mechanism of (−)-epicatechin to induce apoptosis.
Hierarchical Nanoporous Sn/SnOx Systems Obtained by Anodic Oxidation of Electrochemically Deposited Sn Nanofoams
Authors: Gurgul Magdalena , Lytvynenko Anton S. , Jarosz Magdalena , Gawlak Karolina , Sulka Grzegorz D. , Zaraska Leszek
Published: February 2020

A simple two-step electrochemical method for the fabrication of a new type of hierarchical Sn/SnOx micro/nanostructures is proposed for the very first time. Firstly, porous metallic Sn foams are grown on Sn foil via hydrogen bubble-assisted electrodeposition from an acidulated tin chloride electrolyte. As-obtained metallic foams consist of randomly distributed dendrites grown uniformly on the entire metal surface. The estimated value of pore diameter near the surface is ~35 µm, while voids with a diameter of ~15 µm appear in a deeper part of the deposit. Secondly, a layer of amorphous nanoporous tin oxide (with a pore diameter of ~60 nm) is generated on the metal surface by its anodic oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte (1 M NaOH) at the potential of 4 V for various durations. It is confirmed that if only optimal conditions are applied, the dendritic morphology of the metal foam does not change significantly, and an open-porous structure is still preserved after anodization. Such kinds of hierarchical nanoporous Sn/SnOx systems are superhydrophilic, contrary to those obtained by thermal oxidation of metal foams which are hydrophobic. Finally, the photoelectrochemical activity of the nanostructured metal/metal oxide electrodes is also presented.
The Gut Microbiota and Its Implication in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Related Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Sanchez-Rodriguez Estefania , Egea-Zorrilla Alejandro , Plaza-Díaz Julio , Aragón-Vela Jerónimo , Muñoz-Quezada Sergio , Tercedor-Sánchez Luis , Abadia-Molina Francisco
Published: February 2020

The importance of gut microbiota in health and disease is being highlighted by numerous research groups worldwide. Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, is responsible for about 50% of all cardiovascular deaths. Recently, gut dysbiosis has been identified as a remarkable factor to be considered in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this review, we briefly discuss how external factors such as dietary and physical activity habits influence host-microbiota and atherogenesis, the potential mechanisms of the influence of gut microbiota in host blood pressure and the alterations in the prevalence of those bacterial genera affecting vascular tone and the development of hypertension. We will also be examining the microbiota as a therapeutic target in the prevention of CVDs and the beneficial mechanisms of probiotic administration related to cardiovascular risks. All these new insights might lead to novel analysis and CVD therapeutics based on the microbiota.
Characterisation of Extracts and Anti-Cancer Activities of Fomitopsis pinicola
Authors: Bishop Karen S.
Published: February 2020

Fomitopsis pinicola (Sw. Karst) is a common bracket fungus, with a woody texture. It is found predominantly in coniferous forests in temperate regions throughout Europe and Asia. Fomitopsis pinicola has been extensively used for medicinal purposes, particularly in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine. In this mini-review, the anti-cancer characteristics of F. pinicola extracts were investigated. In vitro experiments revealed the pro-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of extracts, whilst two of three in vivo studies reported an inhibition of tumour growth and prolonged survival. Only studies wherein fungal specimens were sourced from Europe or Asia were included in this review, as samples sourced as F. pinicola from North America were probably not F. pinicola, but a different species. Although not one of the most revered fungal species, F. pinicola has been used as a medicinal fungus for centuries, as well as consumed as a health food supplement. To date, the results from only three in vivo studies, investigating anti-cancer properties, have been published. Further studies, using comprehensively identified specimens, are required to fully elucidate the anti-cancer properties of F. pinicola extracts.
European Regulatory Framework and Safety Assessment of Food-Related Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Vettorazzi Ariane , López de Cerain Adela , Sanz-Serrano Julen , Gil Ana G. , Azqueta Amaya
Published: February 2020

A great variety of functional foods, nutraceuticals, or foods with bioactive compounds are provided nowadays to consumers. Aware of the importance of the safety aspects, the food industry has to comply with different legal requirements around the world. In this review, the European regulatory framework for food-related bioactive compounds is summarized. The term ‘bioactive compound’ is not defined in the European regulations, however, since they can be part of food supplements, fortified foods, or novel food, they are included within the legal requirements of those corresponding types of foods or supplements. Lists of authorized compounds/foods appear in the correspondent regulations, however, when a new compound/food is going to be launched into the market, its safety assessment is essential. Although the responsibility for the safety of these compounds/foods lies with the food business operator placing the product on the market, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carries out scientific evaluations to assess the risks for human health. To facilitate this procedure, different guidelines exist at the European level to explain the tier toxicity testing approach to be considered. This approach divides the evaluation into four areas: (a) toxicokinetics; (b) genotoxicity; (c) subchronic and chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity; and (d) reproductive and developmental toxicity.